The application of lipid-based nanoparticles for COVID-19 vaccines and transthyretin-mediated amyloidosis treatment have highlighted their potential for translation to cancer therapy. However, their use in delivering drugs to solid tumors is limited by ineffective targeting, heterogeneous organ distribution, systemic inflammatory responses, and insufficient drug accumulation at the tumor. Instead, the use of lipid-based nanoparticles to remotely activate immune system responses is an emerging effective strategy. Despite this approach showing potential for treating hematological cancers, its application to treat solid tumors is hampered by the selection of eligible targets, tumor heterogeneity, and ineffective penetration of activated T cells within the tumor. Notwithstanding, the use of lipid-based nanoparticles for immunotherapy is projected to revolutionize cancer therapy, with the ultimate goal of rendering cancer a chronic disease. However, the translational success is likely to depend on the use of predictive tumor models in preclinical studies, simulating the complexity of the tumor microenvironment (e.g., the fibrotic extracellular matrix that impairs therapeutic outcomes) and stimulating tumor progression. This review compiles recent advances in the field of antitumor lipid-based nanoparticles and highlights emerging therapeutic approaches (e.g., mechanotherapy) to modulate tumor stiffness and improve T cell infiltration, and the use of organoids to better guide therapeutic outcomes.

• Klíčová slova
• ECM, immunotherapy, lipid-based nanoparticles, mechanotherapy, tumor,
• MeSH
• familiární amyloidové neuropatie * MeSH
• imunoterapie MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• lipidy MeSH
• nádorové mikroprostředí MeSH
• nádory * terapie   MeSH
• vakcíny proti COVID-19 MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• přehledy MeSH
• Názvy látek
• lipidy MeSH
• vakcíny proti COVID-19 MeSH

Continuous activation of the immune system inside a tissue can lead to remodelling of the tissue structure and creation of a specific microenvironment, such as during the tumour development. Chronic inflammation is a central player in stimulating changes that alter the tissue stroma and can lead to fibrotic evolution. In the colon mucosa, regulatory mechanisms, including TGF-β1, avoid damaging inflammation in front of the continuous challenge by the intestinal microbiome. Inducing either DSS colitis or AOM colorectal carcinogenesis in AVN-Wistar rats, we evaluated at one month after the end of each treatment whether immunological changes and remodelling of the collagen scaffold were already in development. At this time point, we found in both models a general downregulation of pro-inflammatory cytokines and even of TGF-β1, but not of IL-6. Moreover, we demonstrated by multi-photon microscopy the simultaneously presence of pro-fibrotic remodelling of the collagen scaffold, with measurable changes in comparison to the control mucosa. The scaffold was significantly modified depending on the type of induced stimulation. These results suggest that at one month after the end of the DSS or AOM inductions, a smouldering inflammation is present in both induced conditions, since the pro-inflammatory cytokines still exceed, in proportion, the local homeostatic regulation of which TGF-β1 is a part (inflammatory threshold). Such an inflammation appears sufficient to sustain remodelling of the collagen scaffold that may be taken as a possible pathological marker for revealing pre-neoplastic inflammation.

• Klíčová slova
• AOM, DSS-induced colitis, IL-6, chronic inflammation, collagen, colorectal cancer, tissue scaffold, tumour niche,
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH

Observation and analysis of cancer cell behaviour in 3D environment is essential for full understanding of the mechanisms of cancer cell invasion. However, label-free imaging of live cells in 3D conditions is optically more challenging than in 2D. Quantitative phase imaging provided by coherence controlled holographic microscopy produces images with enhanced information compared to ordinary light microscopy and, due to inherent coherence gate effect, enables observation of live cancer cells' activity even in scattering milieu such as the 3D collagen matrix. Exploiting the dynamic phase differences method, we for the first time describe dynamics of differences in cell mass distribution in 3D migrating mesenchymal and amoeboid cancer cells, and also demonstrate that certain features are shared by both invasion modes. We found that amoeboid fibrosarcoma cells' membrane blebbing is enhanced upon constriction and is also occasionally present in mesenchymally invading cells around constricted nuclei. Further, we demonstrate that both leading protrusions and leading pseudopods of invading fibrosarcoma cells are defined by higher cell mass density. In addition, we directly document bundling of collagen fibres by protrusions of mesenchymal fibrosarcoma cells. Thus, such a non-invasive microscopy offers a novel insight into cellular events during 3D invasion.

• MeSH
• buněčná membrána metabolismus   MeSH
• buněčné kultury metody   MeSH
• fibrosarkom diagnostické zobrazování   patologie   MeSH
• holografie přístrojové vybavení   metody   MeSH
• intravitální mikroskopie přístrojové vybavení   metody   MeSH
• invazivní růst nádoru diagnostické zobrazování   patologie   MeSH
• kolagen metabolismus   MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• nádorové buněčné linie MeSH
• pohyb buněk * MeSH
• pseudopodia metabolismus   MeSH
• zobrazování trojrozměrné přístrojové vybavení   metody   MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• Názvy látek
• kolagen MeSH

Fibrosis with excessive amounts of type I collagen is a hallmark of many solid tumours, and fibrosis is a promising target in cancer therapy, but tools for its non-invasive quantification are missing. Here we used magnetic resonance imaging with a gadolinium-based probe targeted to type I collagen (EP-3533) to image and quantify fibrosis in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. An orthotopic syngeneic mouse model resulted in tumours with 2.3-fold higher collagen level compared to healthy pancreas. Animals were scanned at 4.7 T before, during and up to 60 min after i.v. injection of EP-3533, or of its non-binding isomer EP-3612. Ex-vivo quantification of gadolinium showed significantly higher uptake of EP-3533 compared to EP-3612 in tumours, but not in surrounding tissue (blood, muscle). Uptake of EP-3533 visualized in T1-weighted MRI correlated well with spatial distribution of collagen determined by second harmonic generation imaging. Differences in the tumour pharmacokinetic profiles of EP-3533 and EP-3612 were utilized to distinguish specific binding to tumour collagen from non-specific uptake. A model-free pharmacokinetic measurement based on area under the curve was identified as a robust imaging biomarker of fibrosis. Collagen-targeted molecular MRI with EP-3533 represents a new tool for non-invasive visualization and quantification of fibrosis in tumour tissue.

• MeSH
• biologické markery metabolismus   MeSH
• duktální karcinom slinivky břišní metabolismus   patologie   MeSH
• fibróza metabolismus   patologie   MeSH
• gadolinium metabolismus   MeSH
• kolagen metabolismus   MeSH
• kontrastní látky metabolismus   MeSH
• magnetická rezonanční tomografie metody   MeSH
• modely nemocí na zvířatech MeSH
• molekulární zobrazování metody   MeSH
• myši MeSH
• nádorové buněčné linie MeSH
• nádory slinivky břišní metabolismus   patologie   MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• myši MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural MeSH
• Názvy látek
• biologické markery MeSH
• gadolinium MeSH
• kolagen MeSH
• kontrastní látky MeSH

The role of the local microenvironment in influencing cell behavior is central to both normal development and cancer formation. Here, we show that sprouty 1 (SPRY1) modulates the microenvironment to enable proper mammary branching morphogenesis. This process occurs through negative regulation of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) signaling in mammary stroma. Loss of SPRY1 resulted in up-regulation of EGFR-extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) signaling in response to amphiregulin and transforming growth factor alpha stimulation. Consequently, stromal paracrine signaling and ECM remodeling is augmented, leading to increased epithelial branching in the mutant gland. By contrast, down-regulation of EGFR-ERK signaling due to gain of Sprouty function in the stroma led to stunted epithelial branching. Taken together, our results show that modulation of stromal paracrine signaling and ECM remodeling by SPRY1 regulates mammary epithelial morphogenesis during postnatal development.

• Klíčová slova
• EGF signaling, FGF signaling, branching morphogenesis, epithelial–stromal interactions, stromal microenvironment,
• MeSH
• adaptorové proteiny signální transdukční nedostatek   metabolismus   MeSH
• amfiregulin farmakologie   MeSH
• buňky stromatu účinky léků   metabolismus   MeSH
• časosběrné zobrazování MeSH
• epitel růst a vývoj   metabolismus   MeSH
• epitelové buňky cytologie   účinky léků   MeSH
• erbB receptory metabolismus   MeSH
• extracelulární matrix metabolismus   MeSH
• extracelulárním signálem regulované MAP kinasy metabolismus   MeSH
• fibroblasty účinky léků   metabolismus   MeSH
• fosfoproteiny nedostatek   metabolismus   MeSH
• fosforylace účinky léků   MeSH
• kolagen metabolismus   MeSH
• ligandy MeSH
• membránové proteiny nedostatek   metabolismus   MeSH
• mléčné žlázy zvířat účinky léků   metabolismus   MeSH
• morfogeneze * účinky léků   MeSH
• mutace genetika   MeSH
• myši knockoutované MeSH
• myši nahé MeSH
• parakrinní signalizace * účinky léků   MeSH
• pohyb buněk účinky léků   MeSH
• protoonkogenní proteiny c-akt metabolismus   MeSH
• signální transdukce * účinky léků   MeSH
• transformující růstový faktor alfa farmakologie   MeSH
• vývojová regulace genové exprese účinky léků   MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• mužské pohlaví MeSH
• ženské pohlaví MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural MeSH
• Názvy látek
• adaptorové proteiny signální transdukční MeSH
• amfiregulin MeSH
• erbB receptory MeSH
• extracelulárním signálem regulované MAP kinasy MeSH
• fosfoproteiny MeSH
• kolagen MeSH
• ligandy MeSH
• membránové proteiny MeSH
• protoonkogenní proteiny c-akt MeSH
• Spry1 protein, mouse MeSH Prohlížeč
• transformující růstový faktor alfa MeSH

The stroma is a considerable part of the tumor microenvironment. Because of its complexity, it can influence both cancer and immune cells in their behavior and cross-talk. Aside from soluble products released by non-cancer and cancer cells, extracellular matrix components have been increasingly recognized as more than just minor players in the constitution, development and regulation of the tumor microenvironment. The variations in the connective scaffold architecture, induced by transforming growth factor beta, lysyl oxidase and metalloproteinase activity, create different conditions of ECM density and stiffness. They exert broad effects on immune cells (e.g. physical barriers, modulation by release of stored TGF-β1), mesenchymal cells (transition to myofibroblasts), epithelial cells (epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition), cancer cells (progression to metastatic phenotype) and stem cells (activation of differentiation addressed by the microenvironment characteristics). Physiological mechanisms of the wound healing process, as well as mechanisms of fibrosis in some chronic pathologies, closely recall aspects of cancer deregulated biology. Their elucidation can provide a better understanding of tumor microenvironment immunobiology. In the following short review, we will focus on some aspects of the fibrous stroma to highlight its active participation in the tumor microenvironment constitution, tumor progression and the local immunological network.

• Klíčová slova
• Fibrosis, LOX, Stiffness, TGF-β, Tumor microenvironment, Tumor stroma,
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH

Spontaneous regression (SR) of human melanoma is a rare, well-documented phenomenon that is not still fully understood. Its detailed study cannot be performed in patients due to ethical reasons. Using the Melanoma-bearing Libechov Minipig (MeLiM) animals of various ages (from 3 weeks to 8 months) we implemented a long-term monitoring of melanoma growth and SR. We focused on immunohistochemical detection of two important extracellular matrix proteins, collagen IV and laminin, which are associated with cancer. We showed that SR of melanoma is a highly dynamic process. The expression of collagen IV and laminin correlated with changes in population of melanoma cells. Tumours of 3-week-old animals consisted primarily of melanoma cells with a granular expression of collagen IV and laminin around them. Thereafter, melanoma cells were gradually destroyed and tumour tissue was rebuilt into the connective tissue. Collagen IV expression slightly increased in tumours of 10-week-old pigs showing extracellular fibrous appearance. In tumours of older animals, areas lacking melanoma cells demonstrated a low expression and areas still containing melanoma cells a high expression of both proteins. We considered the age of 10 weeks as a turning point in the transition between tumour growth and SR of the MeLiM melanoma.

• Klíčová slova
• MeLiM, collagen IV, laminin, porcine melanoma, spontaneous regression,
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH