Selective depletion of metastatic stem cells as therapy for human colorectal cancer

Selective elimination of metastatic stem cells (MetSCs) promises to block metastatic dissemination. Colorectal cancer (CRC) cells overexpressing CXCR4 display trafficking functions and metastasis‐initiating capacity. We assessed the antimetastatic activity of a nanoconjugate (T22‐GFP‐H6‐FdU) that selectively delivers Floxuridine to CXCR4+ cells. In contrast to free oligo‐FdU, intravenous T22‐GFP‐H6‐FdU selectively accumulates and internalizes in CXCR4+ cancer cells, triggering DNA damage and apoptosis, which leads to their selective elimination and to reduced tumor re‐initiation capacity. Repeated T22‐GFP‐H6‐FdU administration in cell line and patient‐derived CRC models blocks intravasation and completely prevents metastases development in 38–83% of mice, while showing CXCR4 expression‐dependent and site‐dependent reduction in foci number and size in liver, peritoneal, or lung metastases in the rest of mice, compared to free oligo‐FdU. T22‐GFP‐H6‐FdU induces also higher regression of established metastases than free oligo‐FdU, with negligible distribution or toxicity in normal tissues. This targeted drug delivery approach yields potent antimetastatic effect, through selective depletion of metastatic CXCR4+ cancer cells, and validates metastatic stem cells (MetSCs) as targets for clinical therapy.This work was supported by Plan Estatal de I+D+I 2013-2016, Instituto de Salud Carlos III and MINECO (co-funding from FEDER, Integrated Project of Excellence PIE15/00028, PI18/00650, PI15/00378, PI15/00272, PI12/00327, PI17/00150, BIO2013-41019-P CTQ2014-52588-R, and BFU2010-17450), AGAUR (2017 SGR 865, 2017 SGR 229, 2014PROD-00055), MaratóTV3 (416/C/2013), La Caixa Foundation, and CIBER-BBN Nanomets and Nanoprother Intramural Projects, and used CIBER-BBN Nanotoxicology and Protein Production Platforms for its development. GOA and NBT groups are part of the Spanish ICTS- 141007 NANBIOSIS Network for Nanomedicine. M.V.C and U.U. are supported by Miguel Servet and Sara Borrell contracts from ISCIII, respectively. P.A. obtained a Fellowship from the Josep Carreras Research Institute. A.V. received an ICREA ACADEMIA Award.Peer reviewe