Name: the colon-26 carcinoma tumor-bearing mouse as a model for the study of cancer cachexia
Uploaded: 2016-11-30T14:00:00
Description: Watch this Scientific Journal Video about The Colon-26 Carcinoma Tumor-bearing Mouse as a Model for the Study of Cancer Cachexia at JoVE.com

We thank Richard Lieber and Shannon Bremner for their ImageJ macro and instructions. While at Thomas Jefferson University, this work was supported by the Pennsylvania Department of Health CURE Grant TJU No. 080-37038-AI0801. Subsequently, this study was supported by a grant to AB from the National Institutes of Health (R21CA190028), and by grants to TAZ from the National Institutes of Health (R01CA122596, R01CA194593), the IU Simon Cancer Center, the Lustgarten Foundation, the Lilly Foundation, Inc., and the IUPUI Pancreas Signature Center.

Ethics Statement: All studies described were approved by the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committees of the Thomas Jefferson University and Indiana University School of Medicine.
1. C26 Cell Growth and Preparation
<ol>
	<li>Obtain C26 colorectal cancer cells (Ohio State University Medical Center (OSUMC)) and prepare complete growth medium (i.e., high-glucose Dulbecco&#39;s Modified Eagle&#39;s Medium (DMEM) containing 10% Fetal Bovine Serum (FBS), 1 mM sodium pyruvate, 1% gluta...

<ol>
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Especially in its latest stages, colorectal cancer is associated with the development of cachexia, which is responsible for poorer outcomes and reductions in patient quality of life. Many studies have focused on the treatment of conditions secondary to cancer; however, despite many efforts in this direction, there is still no approved therapy for cancer cachexia21. Thus, it is imperative that animal models resemble the human pathology as closely as possible in order to maximize the translation of findings....

Muscle wasting is a serious complication of various clinical conditions such as cancer, sepsis, liver, cirrhosis, heart and kidney failure, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and AIDS. In particular, muscle wasting is evident in at least 50% of patients with cancer1. Loss of skeletal muscle in cancer results from increased protein degradation due to the over-activation of the skeletal muscle proteolytic systems and/or from decreased protein synthesis6. Lipolysis is also evident, leading to the depletion of adipose tissue. Clinically, cachexia is associated with reduced quality and length of life and is estimated to be the cause of death in 20 - 30% of cancer patients7. Use of experimental models that resemble the human disease as closely as possible would be beneficial. An optimal animal model is characterized by high reproducibility, as well as by limited interference from different therapies and the unpredictable factors of diet, sex, and genetic background that are usually associated with the clinical condition8. So far, cancer cachexia has been studied mainly in animal models characterized by transplantation of cancer cells or injection of carcinogens, although a new method is to use genetically modified mice susceptible to the development of cancer.
Mice bearing the C26 carcinoma (also referred to as colon-26 and adenocarcinoma) represent a well-characterized and extensively used model of cancer cachexia2,5. The growth of the C26 tumor results in body and muscle weight loss, mainly through enhanced fat and protein catabolism9. Generally, a 10% tumor weight versus total body weight is associated with a reduction of 20-25% in skeletal muscle weight and a greater depletion of fat3,10. Hepatomegaly and splenomegaly are also observed with tumor growth, along with the activation of the acute phase response and the elevation of pro-inflammatory cytokine levels3,11. Among these, it is well known that IL-6 plays a pivotal role in mediating muscle wasting in the C26 model, even though this cytokine is probably not the only inducer of cachexia12. Elevated IL-6 causes muscle atrophy through activation of the JAK/STAT3 pathway, and inhibiting this transcription factor can prevent muscle wasting3,4.
During C26-induced muscle wasting, as in many conditions of muscle atrophy, muscle mass is lost largely through reductions in muscle protein content across muscle fibers, not through cell death or loss of fibers13. In C26 cachexia, a shift towards smaller cross-sectional areas is observed in both glycolytic and oxidative fibers2. This is also consistent with reduced muscle strength5. Many groups worldwide have taken advantage of the C26 model in order to discover new mediators of muscle wasting or clinically relevant drugs for cancer cachexia. However, many different procedures for the use of this model have been reported, raising concerns about the consistency of the obtained data and posing barriers to reproducibility in different experimental conditions. Here we report a typical use of this model for the study of cancer cachexia that yields standardized and reproducible data.

<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="661">
	<tbody>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:167px;">Cell culture Flasks</td>
			<td style="width:205px;">Falcon - Becton Dickinson</td>
			<td style="width:104px;">35-5001</td>
			<td style="width:185px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:167px;">DMEM</td>
			<td style="width:205px;">Cellgro</td>
			<td style="width:104px;">10-017-CV</td>
			<td style="width:185px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:167px;">FBS</td>
			<td style="width:205px;">Gibco</td>
			<td style="width:104px;">26140</td>
			<td style="width:185px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:167px;">Streptomycin-Penicillin&#160;</td>
			<td style="width:205px;">Cellgro</td>
			<td style="width:104px;">30-002-CI</td>
			<td style="width:185px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:167px;">CD2F1 mice</td>
			<td>Harlan</td>
			<td>060</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:167px;">Anesthesia apparatus</td>
			<td style="width:205px;">EZ-Anesthesia</td>
			<td style="width:104px;">EZ-7000</td>
			<td style="width:185px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:167px;">2-Methyl Butane</td>
			<td style="width:205px;">Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td style="width:104px;">M32631</td>
			<td style="width:185px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:167px;">OCT</td>
			<td style="width:205px;">Tissue-Tek</td>
			<td style="width:104px;">4583</td>
			<td style="width:185px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:167px;">Cryostat</td>
			<td style="width:205px;">Leica</td>
			<td style="width:104px;">CM1850</td>
			<td style="width:185px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:167px;">Cork disks</td>
			<td>Electron Microscopy Sciences</td>
			<td>63305</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="42">
			<td height="42" style="height:42px;width:167px;">Superfrost plus glass slides</td>
			<td>VWR</td>
			<td>48311-703</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="42">
			<td height="42" style="height:42px;width:167px;">Anti-Laminin Rabbit polyclonal antibody</td>
			<td>Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td>L9393</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="42">
			<td height="42" style="height:42px;width:167px;">Anti-Dystrophin Mouse Monoclonal antibody</td>
			<td>Vector Laboratories</td>
			<td>VP-D508</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="42">
			<td height="42" style="height:42px;width:167px;">Alexa Flour 594 anti-mouse IgG</td>
			<td>Life Technologies</td>
			<td>A11062</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="42">
			<td height="42" style="height:42px;width:167px;">Alexa Flour 594 anti-rabbit IgG</td>
			<td>Life Technologies</td>
			<td>A21211</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Hematoxylin</td>
			<td>Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td>GHS216</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Eosin</td>
			<td>Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td>HT110332</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Xylene</td>
			<td>Acros Organics</td>
			<td>422680025</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:167px;">Cytoseal-XYL</td>
			<td style="width:205px;">Thermo</td>
			<td style="width:104px;">8312-4</td>
			<td style="width:185px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:167px;">Microscope</td>
			<td style="width:205px;">Zeiss</td>
			<td style="width:104px;">Observer.Z1&#160;</td>
			<td style="width:185px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:167px;">Bamboo Tablet</td>
			<td style="width:205px;">Wacom</td>
			<td style="width:104px;">CTH-661</td>
			<td style="width:185px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:167px;">Prism 7.0 for Mac OS X</td>
			<td style="width:205px;">GraphPad Software, Inc.</td>
			<td style="width:104px;"></td>
			<td style="width:185px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:167px;">Excel for Mac 2011</td>
			<td style="width:205px;">Microsoft Corp.</td>
			<td style="width:104px;"></td>
			<td style="width:185px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="42">
			<td height="42" style="height:42px;width:167px;">Image J</td>
			<td style="width:205px;">US National Institutes of Health</td>
			<td style="width:104px;">IJ1.46</td>
			<td style="width:185px;">http://rsbweb.nih.gov/ij/download.html</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="22">
			<td height="22" style="height:22px;width:167px;">Microtainer</td>
			<td style="width:205px;">BD</td>
			<td style="width:104px;">365873</td>
			<td style="width:185px;"></td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
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the colon-26 carcinoma tumor-bearing mouse as a model for the study of cancer cachexia

Cancer cachexia is the progressive loss of skeletal muscle mass and adipose tissue, negative nitrogen balance, anorexia, fatigue, inflammation, and activation of lipolysis and proteolysis systems. Cancer patients with cachexia benefit less from anti-neoplastic therapies and show increased mortality1. Several animal models have been established in order to investigate the molecular causes responsible for body and muscle wasting as a result of tumor growth. Here, we describe methodologies pertaining to a well-characterized model of cancer cachexia: mice bearing the C26 carcinoma2-4. Although this model is heavily used in cachexia research, different approaches make reproducibility a potential issue. The growth of the C26 tumor causes a marked and progressive loss of body and skeletal muscle mass, accompanied by reduced muscle cross-sectional area and muscle strength3-5. Adipose tissue is also lost. Wasting is coincident with elevated circulating levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines, particularly Interleukin-6 (IL-6)3, which is directly, although not entirely, responsible for C26 cachexia. It is well-accepted that a primary mechanism by which the C26 tumor induces muscle tissue depletion is the activation of skeletal muscle proteolytic systems. Thus, expression of muscle-specific ubiquitin ligases, such as atrogin-1/MAFbx and MuRF-1, represent an accepted method for the evaluation of the ongoing muscle catabolism2. Here, we present how to execute this model in a reproducible manner and how to excise several tissues and organs (the liver, spleen, and heart), as well as fat and skeletal muscles (the gastrocnemius, tibialis anterior, and quadriceps). We also provide useful protocols that describe how to perform muscle freezing, sectioning, and fiber size quantification.

C26 tumor growth kinetics show a lag phase for the first 7 - 8 d after injection, followed by exponential cell growth (4 - 5 d). The tumor mass eventually reaches ~10% of the body weight (about 2 g; Figure 1A-B). During the first phase, the tumor can be located by palpation only and appears as a small protrusion of the skin. In the second phase, the tumor is observed as a mass under the skin. Rarely, the tumor becomes ulcerated, resulting in an open wound...

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about The Colon-26 Carcinoma Tumor-bearing Mouse as a Model for the Study of Cancer Cachexia at JoVE.com

The Colon-26 Carcinoma Tumor-bearing Mouse as a Model for the Study of Cancer Cachexia

Mice bearing the Colon-26 (C26) carcinoma represent a classical model of cancer cachexia. Progressive muscle wasting occurs in association with tumor growth, over-expression of muscle-specific ubiquitin ligases, and reductions in muscle cross-sectional area. Fat loss is also observed. Cachexia is studied in a time-dependent manner with increasing severity of wasting.

Cancer cachexia is the progressive loss of skeletal muscle mass and adipose tissue, negative nitrogen balance, anorexia, fatigue, inflammation, and ...

The overall goals of this protocol are to execute the Colon 26 In Vivo model in a reproducible manor, and to properly investigate the progressive muscle wasting and weakness that occur in association with tumor growth. This model can help answer key questions in a cancer cachexia field about tumor induced muscle loss, muscle weakness, increased muscle catabolism, and hyper inflammatory cytokine levels. The main advantage of this experimental model is that change is consistent with a cachectic phenotype can be easily started in a time dependent manor as the wasting severity increases.Demonstrating these procedures will be Rafael Barreto, a technician from my lab, and Joseph Rupert, a PhD student from Teresa Zimmer's group. To implant the C 26 tumors use a sterile, one millimeter insulin syringe, equipped with a 26 gauge needle to quickly inject one times 10 to the sixth cells subcutaneously and interscapularly into the fat pads of individual, adult, CD two F one mice. Return the animals to their cage after tumor injection, with monitoring.Checking the mice, and recording their body weights daily. When the body weight loss in the tumor host, versus the control animals, reaches five, 10, or 15%compared to their initial body weights, draw one to one point five milliliters of blood by cardiac puncture, and transfer the individual blood samples into empty 18 milligram potassium EDTA tubes. Place the tubes on ice until all of the blood has been collected.Then, centrifuge the samples, collecting the plasma and serum at the end of the centrifugation. To avoid further contamination, spray 70%ethanol over the entire body. Then place the animal on a dissection bed in the supine position, and attach one hind limb to an elevated burette clamp to extend the limb vertically.Using Dumont forceps, grasp the superficial skin of the hind limb and use curved fine scissors to gently remove the skin and fascia, exposing the underlying muscle bellies of the lower limb. Identify the gastrocnemius muscle on the posterior lower limb by its origin at the lateral and medial condyles on the posterior femur, and its insertion at the calcaneus, vial the calcaneal tendon. Use the forceps to grasp the distal end of the gastrocnemius and pull the muscle belly toward it's origin.Then, use scissors to cut the muscle at its origin, as close as possible to the femur and transfer the muscle to a pre-weighed dish. Weigh the dish immediately, and transfer the muscle to a pre-labeled cryo tube. Next, identify the tibialis anterior muscle from its origin at the anterolateral surface of the tibia and its insertion at the medial cuneiform via its distal tendon.Then, grasp the foot by the digits with the index finger and thumb, and insert the tip of the Dumont forceps immediately under the superficial distal tendon of the tibialis. Move the forceps such that the blunt side can be used to detach the tibialis muscle belly from the underlying connective tissue, and use the fine curved scissors to cut the distal tendon. Then, cut the muscle at the origin, as close as possible to the tibia.When all of the muscles have been collected, immerse the bottom half of a plastic, 50 milliliter beaker containing isopentane into liquid nitrogen. When the isopentane becomes slightly viscous, with a solid white laminate lining visible inside the beaker, pour a few drops of embedding medium on a chuck. Then, pick up a muscle by the tendon, and carefully position the end of the fresh muscle on top of the embedding medium.Holding it vertically, relative to the cork. Then, keeping the muscle vertical, dip the chuck and attached muscle into the isopentane bath for seven to 15 seconds until the tissue is completely frozen. A well frozen specimen will appear chalky white.Then, place the muscle in a specimen tube for immediate storage at negative 80 degrees Celsius. To preserve the RNA and enzymatic structure and tibialis samples, it is required to freeze the muscle tissues as soon as possible after their extraction. To section the frozen muscle tissue, first set the working temperature of the Cryostat inner chamber to negative 23 degrees Celsius.Allow the negative 80 degrees Celsius specimen to acclimate to the working temperature for a few hours. Then, obtain multiple eight micron thick sections of the specimen at the mid belly region of the muscle, perpendicular to the mounting axis. Collecting the sections on room temperature glass slides as they are cut.Keep the samples inside the Cryostat chamber until all of the sections have been collected. Then, store the samples at negative 80 degrees Celsius until further analysis. C 26 tumor growth kinetics demonstrate a lag phase for the first seven to eight days after injection, followed by exponential cell growth for four to five days.With the tumor mass eventually reaching approximately 10%of the animal's body weight. Tumor bearing mice appear wasted and exhibit disheveled fur at the end of the experimental period. With 20 to 30%reduction in skeletal muscle weight.The cardiac muscle is also significantly reduced in weight. Although to a lesser extent compared to the other muscles. Interestingly, hepatomegaly and splenomagly are also generally detected in tumor hosts.While the fat mass, similar to the skeletal muscle mass, is severely depleted. Skeletal muscle weight loss is also consistent with, and proportional to, the reduction in muscle fiber size. As observed by immunofluorescent morphometric evaluation of muscle fiber cross-sectional areas.In particular, the frequency distribution analysis demonstrates a shift towards smaller sized fibers in C 26 bearing mice. Suggesting that the whole muscle undergoes atrophy in the presence of a C 26 tumor. Similar results can also be observed by HNE analysis.Although the magnitude of change in the muscle cross-sectional area associated with the cancer growth is slightly different. Proper use of a C 26 model allows for the investigation of tumor derived cachexia. The model closely resembles a human disease showing an overall reduction in mass as well as muscle fiber atrophy, inflammation, and hyper catabolism.When performing this experiment, the strain of six of the mice, the source, and number of tumor cells, and the site of implantation can be modified. Such modifications can lead to differences in the expected outcomes. Despite a few known limitations, such as the non-physiologic growth environment, the dependency on IL six action, and the necessary use of CD two F one or Valve C mice, the C 26 model has greatly contributed to understanding of the molecular mechanisms of cancer induced cachexia.After watching this video, you should have a good understanding of how to replicate the C 26 cancer cachexia model to study the progressive muscle wasting and weakness that typically occur, concurrent with tumor development. Be aware that working with the C 26 model requires familiarity with proper animal handling techniques. Best practices should always be used to execute this protocol as humanely as possible.

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Research

JoVE Journal

Cancer Research

Study of Viral Vectors in a Three-dimensional Liver Model Repopulated with the Human Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cell Line HepG2

This protocol describes the generation of a three-dimensional (3D) ex vivo liver model and its application to the study and development of viral vector systems. The model is obtained by repopulating the extracellular matrix of a decellularized rat liver with a human hepatocyte cell line. The model permits studies in a vascularized 3D cell system, replacing potentially harmful experiments with living animals. Another advantage is the humanized nature of the model, which is closer to human physiology than animal models.
In this study, we demonstrate the transduction of this liver model with a viral vector derived from adeno-associated viruses (AAV vector). The perfusion circuit that supplies the 3D liver model with media provides an easy means to apply the vector. The system permits monitoring of the major metabolic parameters of the liver. For final analysis, tissue samples can be taken to determine the extent of recellularization by histological techniques. Distribution of the virus vector and expression of the delivered transgene can be analyzed by quantitative PCR (qPCR), Western blotting and immunohistochemistry. Numerous applications of the vector model in basic research and in the development of gene therapeutic applications can be envisioned, including the development of novel antiviral therapeutics, cancer research, and the study of viral vectors and their potential side effects.

The recellularized extracellular matrix of a decellularized rat liver can be used as a humanized, three-dimensional ex vivo model to study the distribution and transgene expression of a virus or viral vector.

This protocol describes the generation of a three-dimensional (3D) ex vivo liver model and its application to the study and development of viral vector ...

A Model for Perineural Invasion in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Perineural invasion (PNI) is found in approximately 40% of head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCC). Despite multimodal treatment with surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy, locoregional recurrences and distant metastases occur at higher rates, and overall survival is decreased by 40% compared to HNSCC without PNI. In vitro studies of the pathways involved in HNSCC PNI have historically been challenging given the lack of a consistent, reproducible assay. Described here is the adaptation of the dorsal root ganglion (DRG) assay for the examination of PNI in HNSCC. In this model, DRG are harvested from the spinal column of a sacrificed nude mouse and placed within a semisolid matrix. Over the subsequent days, neurites are generated and grow in a radial pattern from the cell bodies of the DRG. HNSCC cell lines are then placed peripherally around the matrix and invade preferentially along the neurites toward the DRG. This method allows for rapid evaluation of multiple treatment conditions, with very high assay success rates and reproducibility.

Perineural invasion (PNI) is a common feature of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC), conferring lower survival rates. Its mechanisms are poorly understood. Utilizing neurites generated from murine dorsal root ganglia confined to a semisolid matrix, the pathways involved in the PNI of HNSCC cell lines can be investigated.

Perineural invasion (PNI) is found in approximately 40% of head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCC). Despite multimodal treatment with surgery, ...

A Syngeneic Mouse Model of Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma for Quantitative and Longitudinal Assessment of Preclinical Therapies

Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) affects &#62; 60,000 people in the United States annually, and ~ 30% of RCC patients have multiple metastases at the time of diagnosis. Metastatic RCC (mRCC) is incurable, with a median survival time of only 18 months. Immune-based interventions (e.g., interferon (IFN) and interleukin (IL)-2) induce durable responses in a fraction of mRCC patients, and multikinase inhibitors (e.g., sunitinib or sorafenib) or anti-VEGF receptor monoclonal antibodies (mAb) are largely palliative, as complete remissions are rare. Such shortcomings in current therapies for mRCC patients provide the rationale for the development of novel treatment protocols. A key component in the preclinical testing of new therapies for mRCC is a suitable animal model. Beneficial features that recapitulate the human condition include a primary renal tumor, renal tumor metastases, and an intact immune system to investigate any therapy-driven immune effector responses and the formation of tumor-induced immunosuppressive factors. This report describes an orthotopic mRCC mouse model that has all of these features. We describe an intrarenal implantation technique using the mouse renal adenocarcinoma cell line Renca, followed by the assessment of tumor growth in the kidney (primary site) and lungs (metastatic site).

Implementation of an orthotopic model of renal cell carcinoma in immunocompetent mice affords the investigator a clinically-relevant system defined by the presence of a primary renal tumor and lung metastases in the same animal. This system can be used to preclinically test a variety of treatments in vivo.

Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) affects &#62; 60,000 people in the United States annually, and ~ 30% of RCC patients have multiple metastases at the time of ...

A Syngeneic Pancreatic Cancer Mouse Model to Study the Effects of Irreversible Electroporation

Pancreatic cancer (PC), a disease which kills approximately 40,000 patients each year in the US, has successfully evaded several therapeutic approaches including the promising immunotherapeutic strategies. Irreversible electroporation (IRE) is a non-thermal ablation technique that induces tumor cell death without destruction of adjacent collagenous structures, thus enabling the procedure to be performed in tumors very close to blood vessels. Unlike thermal ablation techniques, IRE results in gradual apoptotic cell death, along with immediate ablation induced necrosis, and is currently in clinical use for selected patients with locally advanced PC. An ablative, non-target specific procedure like IRE can induce a myriad of responses in the tumor microenvironment. A few studies have addressed the effects of IRE on tumor growth in other tumor types, but none have focused on PC. We have developed a syngeneic mouse model of PC in which subcutaneous (SQ) and orthotopic tumors can be successfully treated with IRE in a highly controlled setting, facilitating various longitudinal studies post procedure. This animal model serves as a robust system to study the effects of IRE and ways to improve the clinical efficacy of IRE.

Irreversible electroporation (IRE) is a non-thermal ablation technique used for the treatment of locally advanced pancreatic cancer. Being a relatively new technique, the effects of IRE on the tumor growth are poorly understood. We have developed a syngeneic mouse model that facilitates studying the effects of IRE on pancreatic cancer.

Pancreatic cancer (PC), a disease which kills approximately 40,000 patients each year in the US, has successfully evaded several therapeutic approaches ...

Yeast As a Chassis for Developing Functional Assays to Study Human P53

The finding that the well-known mammalian P53 protein can act as a transcription factor (TF) in the yeast S. cerevisiae has allowed for the development of different functional assays to study the impacts of 1) binding site [i.e., response element (RE)] sequence variants on P53 transactivation specificity or 2) TP53 mutations, co-expressed cofactors, or small molecules on P53 transactivation activity. Different basic and translational research applications have been developed. Experimentally, these approaches exploit two major advantages of the yeast model. On one hand, the ease of genome editing enables quick construction of qualitative or quantitative reporter systems by exploiting isogenic strains that differ only at the level of a specific P53-RE to investigate sequence-specificity of P53-dependent transactivation. On the other hand, the availability of regulated systems for ectopic P53 expression allows the evaluation of transactivation in a wide range of protein expression. Reviewed in this report are extensively used systems that are based on color reporter genes, luciferase, and the growth of yeast to illustrate their main methodological steps and to critically assess their predictive power. Moreover, the extreme versatility of these approaches can be easily exploited to study different TFs including P63 and P73, which are other members of TP53 gene family.

Presented here are four protocols to construct and exploit yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae reporter strains to study human P53 transactivation potential, impacts of its various cancer-associated mutations, co-expressed interacting proteins, and the effects of specific small molecules.

The finding that the well-known mammalian P53 protein can act as a transcription factor (TF) in the yeast S. cerevisiae has allowed for the development of ...

Transfer of Manipulated Tumor-associated Neutrophils into Tumor-Bearing Mice to Study their Angiogenic Potential In Vivo

The contribution of neutrophils to the regulation of tumorigenesis is getting increased attention. These cells are heterogeneous, and depending on the tumor milieu can possess pro- or anti-tumor capacity. One of the important cytokines regulating neutrophil functions in a tumor context are type I interferons. In the presence of interferons, neutrophils gain anti-tumor properties, including cytotoxicity or stimulation of the immune system. Conversely, the absence of an interferon signaling results in prominent pro-tumor activity, characterized with strong stimulation of tumor angiogenesis. Recently, we could demonstrate that pro-angiogenic properties of neutrophils depend on the activation of nicotinamide phosphoribosyltransferase (NAMPT) signaling pathway in these cells. Inhibition of this pathway in tumor-associated neutrophils leads to their potent anti-angiogenic phenotype. Here, we demonstrate our newly established model allowing in vivo evaluation of tumorigenic potential of manipulated tumor-associated neutrophils (TANs). Shortly, pro-angiogenic tumor-associated neutrophils can be isolated from tumor-bearing interferon-deficient mice and repolarized into anti-angiogenic phenotype by blocking of NAMPT signaling. The angiogenic activity of these cells can be subsequently evaluated using an aortic ring assay. Anti-angiogenic TANs can be transferred into tumor-bearing wild type recipients and tumor growth should be monitored for 14 days. At day 14 mice are sacrificed, tumors removed and cut with their vascularization assessed. Overall, our protocol provides a novel tool to in vivo evaluate angiogenic capacity of primary cells, such as tumor-associated neutrophils, without a need to use artificial neutrophil cell line models. vc

Here, we show therapeutic potential of anti-angiogenic tumor-associated neutrophils after their transfer into tumor-bearing mice. This protocol can be used to manipulate neutrophil activity ex vivo and to subsequently evaluate their functionality in vivo&#160;in developing tumors. It is an appropriate model for studying potential neutrophil-based immunotherapies.

The contribution of neutrophils to the regulation of tumorigenesis is getting increased attention. These cells are heterogeneous, and depending on the ...

Isolation of Primary Cancer-Associated Fibroblasts from a Syngeneic Murine Model of Breast Cancer for the Study of Targeted Nanoparticles

Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) are key actors in the context of the tumor microenvironment. Despite being reduced in number as compared to tumor cells, CAFs regulate tumor progression and provide protection from antitumor immunity. Emerging anticancer strategies aim to remodel the tumor microenvironment through the ablation of pro-tumorigenic CAFs or reprogramming of CAFs functions and their activation status. A promising approach is the development of nanosized delivery agents able to target CAFs, thus allowing the specific delivery of drugs and active molecules. In this context, a cellular model of CAFs may provide a useful tool for in vitro screening and preliminary investigation of such nanoformulations.
This study describes the isolation and culture of primary CAFs from the syngeneic 4T1 murine model of triple-negative breast cancer. Magnetic beads were used in a 2-step separation process to extract CAFs from dissociated tumors. Immunophenotyping control was performed using flow cytometry after each passage to verify the process yield. Isolated CAFs can be employed to study the targeting capability of different nanoformulations designed to tackle the tumor microenvironment. Fluorescently labeled H-ferritin nanocages were used as candidate nanoparticles to set up the method. Nanoparticles, either bare or conjugated with a targeting ligand, were analyzed for their binding to CAFs. The results suggest that ex vivo extraction of breast CAFs may be a useful system to test and validate nanoparticles for the specific targeting of tumorigenic CAFs.

This paper aims to provide a protocol for the isolation and culture of primary cancer-associated fibroblasts from a syngeneic murine model of triple-negative breast cancer and their application for the preclinical study of novel nanoparticles designed to target the tumor microenvironment.&#160;

Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) are key actors in the context of the tumor microenvironment. Despite being reduced in number as compared to tumor ...

A Three-Dimensional Spheroid Model to Investigate the Tumor-Stromal Interaction in Hepatocellular Carcinoma

The aggressiveness and lack of well-tolerated and widely effective treatments for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the predominant form of liver cancer, rationalize its rank as the second most common cause of cancer-related death. Preclinical models need to be adapted to recapitulate the human conditions to select the best therapeutic candidates for clinical development and aid the delivery of personalized medicine. Three-dimensional (3D) cellular spheroid models show promise as an emerging in vitro alternative to two-dimensional (2D) monolayer cultures. Here, we describe a 3D tumor spheroid&#160;model which exploits the ability of individual cells to aggregate when maintained in hanging droplets, and is more representative of an in vivo environment than standard monolayers. Furthermore, 3D spheroids can be produced by combining homotypic or heterotypic cells, more reflective of the cellular heterogeneity in vivo, potentially enabling the study of environmental interactions that can influence progression and treatment responses. The current research optimized the cell density to form 3D homotypic and heterotypic tumor spheroids by immobilizing cell suspensions on the lids of standard 10 cm3 Petri dishes. Longitudinal analysis was performed to generate growth curves for homotypic versus heterotypic tumor/fibroblasts spheroids. Finally, the proliferative impact of fibroblasts (COS7 cells) and liver myofibroblasts (LX2) on homotypic tumor (Hep3B) spheroids was investigated. A seeding density of 3,000 cells (in 20 &#181;L media) successfully yielded Huh7/COS7 heterotypic spheroids, which displayed a steady increase in size up to culture day 8, followed by growth retardation. This finding was corroborated using Hep3B homotypic spheroids cultured in LX2 (human hepatic stellate cell line) conditioned medium (CM). LX2 CM triggered the proliferation of Hep3B spheroids compared to control tumor spheroids. In conclusion, this protocol has shown that 3D tumor spheroids can be used as a simple, economical, and prescreen in vitro tool to study tumor-stromal interactions more comprehensively.

Comprehensive in vitro models that faithfully recapitulate the relevant human disease are lacking. The current study presents three-dimensional (3D) tumor spheroid creation and culture, a reliable in vitro tool to study the tumor-stromal interaction in human hepatocellular carcinoma.

The aggressiveness and lack of well-tolerated and widely effective treatments for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the predominant form of liver ...

Molecular and Immunologic Techniques in a Genetically Engineered Mouse Model of Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumor

Gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) is the most common human sarcoma and is typically driven by a single mutation in the KIT receptor. Across tumor types, numerous mouse models have been developed in order to investigate the next generation of cancer therapies. However, in GIST, most in vivo studies use xenograft mouse models which have inherent limitations. Here, we describe an immunocompetent, genetically engineered mouse model of gastrointestinal stromal tumor harboring a KitV558&#916;/+ mutation. In this model, mutant KIT, the oncogene responsible for most GISTs, is driven by its endogenous promoter leading to a GIST which mimics the histological appearance and immune infiltrate seen in human GISTs. Furthermore, this model has been used successfully to investigate both targeted molecular and immune therapies. Here, we describe the breeding and maintenance of a KitV558&#916;/+ mouse colony. Additionally, this paper details the treatment and procurement of GIST, draining mesenteric lymph node, and adjacent cecum in KitV558&#916;/+ mice, as well as sample preparation for molecular and immunologic analyses.

The goal of this manuscript is to describe the KitV558&#916;/+&#160;mouse model and techniques for successful dissection and processing of mouse specimens.

Gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) is the most common human sarcoma and is typically driven by a single mutation in the KIT receptor. Across tumor ...

Non-Invasive PET/MR Imaging in an Orthotopic Mouse Model of Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Preclinical experimental models of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) that recapitulate human disease represent an important tool to study tumorigenesis and evaluate novel therapeutic approaches. Non-invasive whole-body imaging using positron emission tomography (PET) provides critical insights into the in vivo characteristics of tissues at the molecular level in real-time. We present here a protocol for orthotopic HCC xenograft creation with and without hepatic artery ligation (HAL) to induce tumor hypoxia and the assessment of their tumor metabolism in vivo using [18F]Fluoromisonidazole ([18F]FMISO) and [18F]Fluorodeoxyglucose ([18F]FDG) PET/magnetic resonance (MR) imaging. Tumor hypoxia could be readily visualized using the hypoxia marker [18F]FMISO, and it was found that the [18F]FMISO uptake was higher in HCC mice that underwent HAL than in the non-HAL group, whereas [18F]FDG could not distinguish tumor hypoxia between the two groups. HAL tumors also displayed a higher level of hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF)-1&#945; expression in response to hypoxia. Quantification of HAL tumors showed a 2.3-fold increase in [18F]FMISO uptake based on the standardized value uptake (SUV) approach.

Here, we present a protocol to create orthotopic hepatocellular carcinoma xenografts with and without hepatic artery ligation and perform non-invasive positron emission tomography (PET) imaging of tumor hypoxia using [18F]Fluoromisonidazole ([18F]FMISO) and [18F]Fluorodeoxyglucose ([18F]FDG).

Preclinical experimental models of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) that recapitulate human disease represent an important tool to study tumorigenesis and ...