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Wang, Xinhui

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Wang

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Xinhui

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Wang, Xinhui

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Now showing 1 - 9 of 9
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    Overexpression of miR-489 enhances efficacy of 5-fluorouracil-based treatment in breast cancer stem cells by targeting XIAP
    (Impact Journals LLC, 2017) Wang, Xuedong; Wang, Xinguo; Gu, Juan; Zhou, Ming; He, Zhimin; Wang, Xinhui; Ferrone, Soldano
    Population of cancer stem cells (CSCs) in breast cancer is reported to be resistant to chemotherapy. Furthermore, many cases of treatment failure are induced by the chemoresistance of CSCs in breast cancer patients. Therefore, novel strategies should be explored urgently to reverse drug-resistance in breast cancer stem cells (BCSCs). In this study, we isolated and cultured the BCSCs from the T-47D and SKBR3 breast cancer cell lines. We observed significant resistance to 5-fluorouracil in BCSCs. Mechanically, we found that expression of miR-489 was decreased in BCSCs. Furthermore, overexpression of miR-489 was found to increase the cytotoxicity of 5-fluorouracil to BCSCs. XIAP, a key anti-apoptotic protein, was proved to be the target of miR-489. We found that enforced expression of XIAP through its recombinant expression vector abolished the effect of miR-489 on reversing the 5-fluorouracil resistance. On the contrary, embelin, a XIAP specific inhibitor, was found to sensitize BCSCs to 5-fluorouracil similarly with miR-489. In summary, our data demonstrate that introduction with miR-489 represents a novel strategy to enhance efficacy of 5-fluorouracil-based treatment in BCSCs.
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    ADAM12-L confers acquired 5-fluorouracil resistance in breast cancer cells
    (Nature Publishing Group UK, 2017) Wang, Xuedong; Wang, Yueping; Gu, Juan; Zhou, Daoping; He, Zhimin; Wang, Xinhui; Ferrone, Soldano
    5-FU-based combinatory chemotherapeutic regimens have been routinely used for many years for the treatment of breast cancer patients. Recurrence and chemotherapeutic drug resistance are two of the most prominent factors that underpin the high mortality rates associated with most breast cancers (BC). Increasing evidence indicates that overexpression of ADAMs could correlate with cancer progression. However, the role of ADAMs in the chemoresistance of cancer cells has rarely been reported. In this study, we observed that 5-FU induces expression of the ADAM12 isoform ADAM12-L but not ADAM12-S in BC cells and in recurrent BC tissues. The overexpression of ADAM12-L in BC cells following 5-FU treatment results in the acquisition of resistance to 5-FU. ADAM12-L overexoression also resulted in increased levels of p-Akt but not p-ERK. These alterations enhanced BC cell growth and invasive abilities. Conversely, ADAM12 knockdown attenuated the levels of p-Akt and restored 5-FU sensitivity in 5-FU-resistant BC cells. ADAM12 knockdown also reduced BC cell survival and invasive abilities. These findings suggest that ADAM12-L mediates chemoresistance to 5-FU and 5-FU-induced recurrence of BC by enhancing PI3K/Akt signaling. The results of this study suggest that specific ADAM12-L inhibition could optimize 5-FU-based chemotherapy of BC, thereby preventing BC recurrence in patients.
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    PDGFRα up-regulation mediated by sonic hedgehog pathway activation leads to BRAF inhibitor resistance in melanoma cells with BRAF mutation
    (Impact Journals LLC, 2014) Sabbatino, Francesco; Wang, YangYang; Wang, Xinhui; Flaherty, Keith; Yu, Ling; Pepin, David; Scognamiglio, Giosue'; Pepe, Stefano; Kirkwood, John M.; Cooper, Zachary A.; Frederick, Dennie T.; Wargo, Jennifer Ann; Ferrone, Soldano; Ferrone, Cristina
    Control of BRAF(V600E) metastatic melanoma by BRAF inhibitor (BRAF-I) is limited by intrinsic and acquired resistance. Growth factor receptor up-regulation is among the mechanisms underlying BRAF-I resistance of melanoma cells. Here we demonstrate for the first time that PDGFRα up-regulation causes BRAF-I resistance. PDGFRα inhibition by PDGFRα-specific short hairpin (sh)RNA and by PDGFRα inhibitors restores and increases melanoma cells' sensitivity to BRAF-I in vitro and in vivo. This effect reflects the inhibition of ERK and AKT activation which is associated with BRAF-I resistance of melanoma cells. PDGFRα up-regulation is mediated by Sonic Hedgehog Homolog (Shh) pathway activation which is induced by BRAF-I treatment. Similarly to PDGFRα inhibition, Shh inhibition by LDE225 restores and increases melanoma cells' sensitivity to BRAF-I. These effects are mediated by PDGFRα down-regulation and by ERK and AKT inhibition. The clinical relevance of these data is indicated by the association of PDGFRα up-regulation in melanoma matched biopsies of BRAF-I +/- MEK inhibitor treated patients with shorter time to disease progression and less tumor regression. These findings suggest that monitoring patients for early PDGFRα up-regulation will facilitate the identification of those who may benefit from the treatment with BRAF-I in combination with clinically approved PDGFRα or Shh inhibitors.
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    Development of a Reactive Stroma Associated with Prostatic Intraepithelial Neoplasia in EAF2 Deficient Mice
    (Public Library of Science, 2013) Pascal, Laura E.; Ai, Junkui; Masoodi, Khalid Z.; Wang, Yujuan; Wang, Dan; Eisermann, Kurtis; Rigatti, Lora H.; O’Malley, Katherine J.; Ma, Hei M.; Wang, Xinhui; Dar, Javid A.; Parwani, Anil V.; Simons, Brian W.; Ittman, Michael M.; Li, Luyuan; Davies, Benjamin J.; Wang, Zhou
    ELL-associated factor 2 (EAF2) is an androgen-responsive tumor suppressor frequently deleted in advanced prostate cancer that functions as a transcription elongation factor of RNA Pol II through interaction with the ELL family proteins. EAF2 knockout mice on a 129P2/OLA-C57BL/6J background developed late-onset lung adenocarcinoma, hepatocellular carcinoma, B-cell lymphoma and high-grade prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia. In order to further characterize the role of EAF2 in the development of prostatic defects, the effects of EAF2 loss were compared in different murine strains. In the current study, aged EAF2−/− mice on both the C57BL/6J and FVB/NJ backgrounds exhibited mPIN lesions as previously reported on a 129P2/OLA-C57BL/6J background. In contrast to the 129P2/OLA-C57BL/6J mixed genetic background, the mPIN lesions in C57BL/6J and FVB/NJ EAF2−/− mice were associated with stromal defects characteristic of a reactive stroma and a statistically significant increase in prostate microvessel density. Stromal inflammation and increased microvessel density was evident in EAF2-deficient mice on a pure C57BL/6J background at an early age and preceded the development of the histologic epithelial hyperplasia and neoplasia found in the prostates of older EAF2−/− animals. Mice deficient in EAF2 had an increased recovery rate and a decreased overall response to the effects of androgen deprivation. EAF2 expression in human cancer was significantly down-regulated and microvessel density was significantly increased compared to matched normal prostate tissue; furthermore EAF2 expression was negatively correlated with microvessel density. These results suggest that the EAF2 knockout mouse on the C57BL/6J and FVB/NJ genetic backgrounds provides a model of PIN lesions associated with an altered prostate microvasculature and reactive stromal compartment corresponding to that reported in human prostate tumors.
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    Ovarian Cancer Spheroid Cells with Stem Cell-Like Properties Contribute to Tumor Generation, Metastasis and Chemotherapy Resistance through Hypoxia-Resistant Metabolism
    (Public Library of Science, 2014) Liao, Jianqun; Qian, Feng; Tchabo, Nana; Mhawech-Fauceglia, Paulette; Beck, Amy; Qian, Zikun; Wang, Xinhui; Huss, Wendy J.; Lele, Shashikant B.; Morrison, Carl D.; Odunsi, Kunle
    Cells with sphere forming capacity, spheroid cells, are present in the malignant ascites of patients with epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) and represent a significant impediment to efficacious treatment due to their putative role in progression, metastasis and chemotherapy resistance. The exact mechanisms that underlie EOC metastasis and drug resistance are not clear. Understanding the biology of sphere forming cells may contribute to the identification of novel therapeutic opportunities for metastatic EOC. Here we generated spheroid cells from human ovarian cancer cell lines and primary ovarian cancer. Xenoengraftment of as few as 2000 dissociated spheroid cells into immune-deficient mice allowed full recapitulation of the original tumor, whereas >105 parent tumor cells remained non-tumorigenic. The spheroid cells were found to be enriched for cells with cancer stem cell-like characteristics such as upregulation of stem cell genes, self-renewal, high proliferative and differentiation potential, and high aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) activity. Furthermore, spheroid cells were more aggressive in growth, migration, invasion, scratch recovery, clonogenic survival, anchorage-independent growth, and more resistant to chemotherapy in vitro. 13C-glucose metabolic studies revealed that spheroid cells route glucose predominantly to anaerobic glycolysis and pentose cycle to the detriment of re-routing glucose for anabolic purposes. These metabolic properties of sphere forming cells appear to confer increased resistance to apoptosis and contribute to more aggressive tumor growth. Collectively, we demonstrated that spheroid cells with cancer stem cell-like characteristics contributed to tumor generation, progression and chemotherapy resistance. This study provides insight into the relationship between tumor dissemination and metabolic attributes of human cancer stem cells and has clinical implications for cancer therapy.
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    Blocking the formation of radiation–induced breast cancer stem cells
    (Impact Journals LLC, 2014) Wang, YangYang; Li, Wende; Patel, Shalin; Cong, Juan; Zhang, Nan; Sabbatino, Francesco; Liu, Xiaoyan; Qi, Yuan; Huang, Peigen; Lee, Hang; Taghian, Alphonse; Li, Jian-Jian; DeLeo, Albert B.; Ferrone, Soldano; Epperly, Michael W.; Ferrone, Cristina; Ly, Amy; Brachtel, Elena; Wang, Xinhui
    The goal of adjuvant (post-surgery) radiation therapy (RT) for breast cancer (BC) is to eliminate residual cancer cells, leading to better local tumor control and thus improving patient survival. However, radioresistance increases the risk of tumor recurrence and negatively affects survival. Recent evidence shows that breast cancer stem cells (BCSCs) are radiation-resistant and that relatively differentiated BC cells can be reprogrammed into induced BCSCs (iBCSCs) via radiation-induced re-expression of the stemness genes. Here we show that in irradiation (IR)-treated mice bearing syngeneic mammary tumors, IR-induced stemness correlated with increased spontaneous lung metastasis (51.7%). However, IR-induced stemness was blocked by targeting the NF-κB- stemness gene pathway with disulfiram (DSF)and Copper (Cu2+). DSF is an inhibitor of aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) and an FDA-approved drug for treating alcoholism. DSF binds to Cu2+ to form DSF-Cu complexes (DSF/Cu), which act as a potent apoptosis inducer and an effective proteasome inhibitor, which, in turn, inhibits NF-κB activation. Treatment of mice with RT and DSF significantly inhibited mammary primary tumor growth (79.4%) and spontaneous lung metastasis (89.6%) compared to vehicle treated mice. This anti-tumor efficacy was associated with decreased stem cell properties (or stemness) in tumors. We expect that these results will spark clinical investigation of RT and DSF as a novel combinatorial treatment for breast cancer.
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    Radiation meets immunotherapy – a perfect match in the era of combination therapy?
    (Taylor & Francis, 2015) Soukup, Klara; Wang, Xinhui
    Purpose This review focuses on recent advances in the field of combining radiation with immunotherapy for the treatment of malignant diseases, since various combinatorial cancer therapy approaches have lately proven highly successful. Results: With initial case reports and anecdotes progressively converting into solid clinical data, interest in cancer immunotherapy (CIT) has risen steeply. Especially immune checkpoint blockade therapies have recently celebrated tremendous successes in the treatment of severe malignancies resistant to conventional treatment strategies. Nevertheless, the high variability of patient responses to CIT remains a major hurdle, clearly indicating an urgent need for improvement. It has been suggested that successful cancer therapy most probably involves combinatorial treatment approaches. Radiotherapy (RT) has been proposed as a powerful partner for CIT due to its broad spectrum of immune modulatory characteristics. Several preclinical studies, supported by an increasing number of clinical observations, have demonstrated synergistic interactions between RT and CIT resulting in significantly improved therapy outcomes. Conclusions: Numerous reports have shown that radiation is capable of tipping the scales from tumor immune evasion to elimination in different tumor types. The next puzzle to be solved is the question of logistics – including types, schedule and dosage of combinatorial RT and CIT strategies.
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    Targeting cancer stem cells with p53 modulators
    (Impact Journals LLC, 2016) Zhang, Zhan; Liu, Ling; Gomez-Casal, Roberto; Wang, Xinhui; Hayashi, Ryo; Appella, Ettore; Kopelovich, Levy; DeLeo, Albert B.
    Cancer stem cells (CSC) typically over-express aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH). Thus, ALDHbright tumor cells represent targets for developing novel cancer prevention/treatment interventions. Loss of p53 function is a common genetic event during cancer development wherein small molecular weight compounds (SMWC) that restore p53 function and reverse tumor growth have been identified. Here, we focused on two widely studied p53 SMWC, CP-31398 and PRIMA-1, to target ALDHbright CSC in human breast, endometrial and pancreas carcinoma cell lines expressing mutant or wild type (WT) p53. CP-31398 and PRIMA-1 significantly reduced CSC content and sphere formation by these cell lines in vitro. In addition, these agents were more effective in vitro against CSC compared to cisplatin and gemcitabine, two often-used chemotherapeutic agents. We also tested a combinatorial treatment in methylcholantrene (MCA)-treated mice consisting of p53 SMWC and p53-based vaccines. Yet using survival end-point analysis, no increased efficacy in the presence of either p53 SMWC alone or with vaccine compared to vaccine alone was observed. These results may be due, in part, to the presence of immune cells, such as activated lymphocytes expressing WT p53 at levels comparable to some tumor cells, wherein further increase of p53 expression by p53 SMWC may alter survival of these immune cells and negatively impact an effective immune response. Continuous exposure of mice to MCA may have also interfered with the action of these p53 SMWC, including potential direct interaction with MCA. Nonetheless, the effect of p53 SMWC on CSC and cancer treatment remains of great interest.
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    The HSP90 Inhibitor Ganetespib Radiosensitizes Human Lung Adenocarcinoma Cells
    (MDPI, 2015) Gomez-Casal, Roberto; Bhattacharya, Chitralekha; Epperly, Michael W.; Basse, Per H.; Wang, Hong; Wang, Xinhui; Proia, David A.; Greenberger, Joel S.; Socinski, Mark A.; Levina, Vera
    The molecular chaperone HSP90 is involved in stabilization and function of multiple client proteins, many of which represent important oncogenic drivers in NSCLC. Utilization of HSP90 inhibitors as radiosensitizing agents is a promising approach. The antitumor activity of ganetespib, HSP90 inhibitor, was evaluated in human lung adenocarcinoma (AC) cells for its ability to potentiate the effects of IR treatment in both in vitro and in vivo. The cytotoxic effects of ganetespib included; G2/M cell cycle arrest, inhibition of DNA repair, apoptosis induction, and promotion of senescence. All of these antitumor effects were both concentration- and time-dependent. Both pretreatment and post-radiation treatment with ganetespib at low nanomolar concentrations induced radiosensitization in lung AC cells in vitro. Ganetespib may impart radiosensitization through multiple mechanisms: such as down regulation of the PI3K/Akt pathway; diminished DNA repair capacity and promotion of cellular senescence. In vivo, ganetespib reduced growth of T2821 tumor xenografts in mice and sensitized tumors to IR. Tumor irradiation led to dramatic upregulation of β-catenin expression in tumor tissues, an effect that was mitigated in T2821 xenografts when ganetespib was combined with IR treatments. These data highlight the promise of combining ganetespib with IR therapies in the treatment of AC lung tumors.