Effect of clarythromycin on the distant metastases of human lung cancer cells in SCID mice

Recently, the use of macrolides is suggested to be therapeutically effective in prolonging the survival of patients with inoperable non-small cell lung cancer. The purpose of this study was to examine therapeutic effects of a macrolide, clarythromycin (CAM) on the metastastic developments of two different human non-small cell lung cancers (squamous cell lung carcinoma RERF-LC-AI, and adenocarcinoma PC-14) in severe combined immunodeficient (SCID) mice depleted or undepleted of natural killer (NK) cells, respectively. CAM, injected subcutaneously at doses of 5 and 10 mg/kg body weight/day from day 7 to 41 after i.v. inoculation of human lung cancer cells, was not effective in inhibiting their distant organ metastases in SCID mice. CAM at concentrations of less than 10 μg/ml did not have a direct influence on the proliferation of these tumor cells in vitro. Although CAM alone was not effective in augmenting NK activity, it augmented the IL-2-induced killer (LAK) activity against Daudi cells in vitro. These results suggest that CAM alone may not be enough to control the spread of non-small cell lung cancer in the patient with T cell dysfunction

Identification of actionable targets for breast cancer intervention using a diversity outbred mouse model

HER2-targeted therapy has improved breast cancer survival, but treatment resistance and disease prevention remain major challenges. Genes that enable HER2/Neu oncogenesis are the next intervention targets. A bioinformatics discovery platform of HER2/Neu-expressing Diversity Outbred (DO) F1 Mice was established to identify cancer-enabling genes. Quantitative Trait Loci (QTL) associated with onset ages and growth rates of spontaneous mammary tumors were sought. Twenty-six genes in 3 QTL contain sequence variations unique to the genetic backgrounds that are linked to aggressive tumors and 21 genes are associated with human breast cancer survival. Concurrent identification of TSC22D3, a transcription factor, and its target gene LILRB4, a myeloid cell checkpoint receptor, suggests an immune axis for regulation, or intervention, of disease. We also investigated TIEG1 gene that impedes tumor immunity but suppresses tumor growth. Although not an actionable target, TIEG1 study revealed genetic regulation of tumor progression, forming the basis of the genetics-based discovery platform

Preferential expression of functional IL-17R in glioma stem cells: potential role in self-renewal

Gliomas are the most common primary brain tumor and one of the most lethal solid tumors. Mechanistic studies into identification of novel biomarkers are needed to develop new therapeutic strategies for this deadly disease. The objective for this study was to explore the potential direct impact of IL-17-IL-17R interaction in gliomas. Immunohistochemistry and flow cytometry analysis of 12 tumor samples obtained from patients with high grade gliomas revealed that a considerable population (2-19%) of cells in all malignant gliomas expressed IL-17RA, with remarkable co-expression of the glioma stem cell (GSC) markers CD133, Nestin, and Sox2. IL-17 enhanced the self-renewal of GSCs as determined by proliferation and Matrigel® colony assays. IL-17 also induced cytokine/chemokine (IL-6, IL-8, interferon-γ-inducible protein [IP-10], and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 [MCP-1]) secretion in GSCs, which were differentially blocked by antibodies against IL-17R and IL-6R. Western blot analysis showed that IL-17 modulated the activity of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3), nuclear factor κ-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF-κB), glycogen synthase kinase-3β (GSK-3β) and β-catenin in GSCs. While IL-17R-mediated secretion of IL-6 and IL-8 were significantly blocked by inhibitors of NF-κB and STAT3; NF-κB inhibitor was more potent than STAT3 inhibitor in blocking IL-17-induced MCP-1 secretion. Overall, our results suggest that IL-17-IL-17R interaction in GSCs induces an autocrine/paracrine cytokine feedback loop, which may provide an important signaling component for maintenance/self-renewal of GSCs via constitutive activation of both NF-κB and STAT3. The results also strongly implicate IL-17R as an important functional biomarker for therapeutic targeting of GSCs

Additional file 1: Table S1. of Development of patient-derived xenograft models from a spontaneously immortal low-grade meningioma cell line, KCI-MENG1

Cancer Gene List used for aCGH data filtering