Oncology Commons^™

Aerobic Exercise Alters The Melanoma Microenvironment And Modulates Erk5 S496 Phosphorylation, Hannah Savage, Sumedha Pareek, Jonghae Lee, Riccardo Ballarò, Darlan Conterno Minussi, Karma Hayek, Mumina Sadullozoda, Brooke S Lochmann, Jennifer L Mcquade, Emily C Lavoy, Enrica Marmonti, Hetal Patel, Guangyu Wang, Masaki Imanishi, Sivareddy Kotla, Jun-Ichi Abe, Keri Schadler

Student and Faculty Publications

Exercise changes the tumor microenvironment by remodeling blood vessels and increasing infiltration by cytotoxic immune cells. The mechanisms driving these changes remain unclear. Herein, we demonstrate that exercise normalizes tumor vasculature and upregulates endothelial expression of VCAM1 in YUMMER 1.7 and B16F10 murine models of melanoma but differentially regulates tumor growth, hypoxia, and the immune response. We found that exercise suppressed tumor growth and increased CD8+ T-cell infiltration in YUMMER but not in B16F10 tumors. Single-cell RNA sequencing and flow cytometry revealed exercise modulated the number and phenotype of tumor-infiltrating CD8+ T cells and myeloid cells. Specifically, exercise caused a …

Presence Of Circulating Tumor Cells Predates Imaging Detection Of Relapse In Patients With Stage Iii Melanoma, Anthony Lucci, Sridevi Addanki, Yi-Ju Chiang, Salyna Meas, Vanessa N Sarli, Joshua R Upshaw, Mayank Manchem, Sapna P Patel, Jennifer A Wargo, Jeffrey E Gershenwald, Merrick I Ross

Student and Faculty Publications

Stage III melanoma includes nodal metastasis or in-transit disease. Five-year survival rates vary between 32% and 93%. The identification of high-risk patients is important for clinical decision making. We demonstrated previously that ≥1 circulating tumor cells (CTCs) at baseline was associated with recurrence. In this study, we investigated how frequently CTCs were identified prior to radiologically detected recurrence. Stage III patients (n = 325) had imaging at baseline and q 3 months. Baseline and q 6-12 months blood draws (7.5 mL) were performed to identify CTCs up to 3.5 years from diagnosis. CTC assessment was performed using the immunomagnetic …

A Novel Integrated Approach To Predicting Cancer Immunotherapy Efficacy, Ruihan Luo, Jacqueline Chyr, Jianguo Wen, Yanfei Wang, Weiling Zhao, Xiaobo Zhou

Student and Faculty Publications

Immunotherapies have revolutionized cancer treatment modalities; however, predicting clinical response accurately and reliably remains challenging. Neoantigen load is considered as a fundamental genetic determinant of therapeutic response. However, only a few predicted neoantigens are highly immunogenic, with little focus on intratumor heterogeneity (ITH) in the neoantigen landscape and its link with different features in the tumor microenvironment. To address this issue, we comprehensively characterized neoantigens arising from nonsynonymous mutations and gene fusions in lung cancer and melanoma. We developed a composite NEO2IS to characterize interplays between cancer and CD8+ T-cell populations. NEO2IS improved prediction accuracy of patient responses to immune-checkpoint …

Defining The Cooperation Between Mhc-I And Mhc-Ii Neoantigen-Driven T Cell Responses To Develop Effective Personalized Immunotherapies, Charmelle Williams

Dissertations & Theses (Open Access)

Immune checkpoint therapy (ICT) (e.g. anti-CTLA-4 (α-CTLA-4), anti-PD-1 (α-PD-1)) enables durable T cell-dependent anti-tumor immunity in certain cancer patients. Since a subset of patients respond to ICT, this work aims at developing a more in-depth understanding of T-cell responses to MHC class I (MHC-I) and MHC class II (MHC-II) tumor antigens that are derived from aberrant expression of non-mutant antigens or driver and passenger somatic alterations that can function as tumor neoantigens. We used a poorly immunogenic Braf^v600e Pten^-/- Cdkn2a^-/- YUMM1.7 (Y1.7) murine melanoma line with a paucity of endogenous neoantigens that is unresponsive to ICT, and …

Employing The Enzyme Cofactor Function Of Ascorbic Acid To Affect Oncogenic Pathways In Human Melanoma: Modulating Hypoxia Inducible Factor-1Α And Dna Demethylation To Reduce Malignant Potential, Adam Patrick Fischer

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Dioxygenase enzymes such as the HIF hydroxylases (PHD1-3, FIH) and the Ten-eleven translocation (TET1-3) enzymes regulate the activity of the hypoxia inducible factor-1_a (HIF1_a) transcription factor and the DNA methylation status of cells, respectively. Aberrant accumulation and activation of HIF-1_a can allow malignant cells to acquire attributes that promote progression, chemotherapy resistance, and survival, while aberrant hypermethylation of gene promoters can silence the expression of tumor suppressor genes essential to preventing tumorigenesis. Inadequate levels of intracellular ascorbic acid (AA), a necessary cofactor for optimal dioxygenase enzyme function, could potentiate these tumorigenic conditions. In fact, plasma levels …

Effect Of Receptor-Selective Retinoids On Growth And Differentiation Pathways In Mouse Melanoma Cells, Sejal H. Desai, Goran Boskovic, Linda L. Eastham, Marcia Dawson, Richard M. Niles

Goran Boskovic

Treatment of B16 mouse melanoma cells with all-trans-retinoic acid (ATRA) results in inhibition of cell proliferation and induction of differentiation. Accompanying these events is an induction of retinoic acid receptor β (RARβ) expression, an increase in protein kinase Cα (PKCα) expression, and enhanced activator protein-1 (AP-1) transcriptional activity. These cells express nuclear RARα and RARγ and nuclear retinoid X receptors (RXR) α and β constitutively. We tested the ability of receptor-selective retinoids to induce the biochemical changes found in ATRA-treated melanoma cells and also tested their effectiveness in decreasing anchorage-dependent and -independent growth. The RXR-selective ligand (2E,4E)-6-(5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-3,5,5,8,8-pentamethyl-2-naphthalenyl)-3,7-dimethyl-2,4,6-octatrienoic acid (SR11246) was …

Effect Of Receptor-Selective Retinoids On Growth And Differentiation Pathways In Mouse Melanoma Cells, Sejal H. Desai, Goran Boskovic, Linda L. Eastham, Marcia Dawson, Richard M. Niles

Richard M. Niles

Treatment of B16 mouse melanoma cells with all-trans-retinoic acid (ATRA) results in inhibition of cell proliferation and induction of differentiation. Accompanying these events is an induction of retinoic acid receptor β (RARβ) expression, an increase in protein kinase Cα (PKCα) expression, and enhanced activator protein-1 (AP-1) transcriptional activity. These cells express nuclear RARα and RARγ and nuclear retinoid X receptors (RXR) α and β constitutively. We tested the ability of receptor-selective retinoids to induce the biochemical changes found in ATRA-treated melanoma cells and also tested their effectiveness in decreasing anchorage-dependent and -independent growth. The RXR-selective ligand (2E,4E)-6-(5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-3,5,5,8,8-pentamethyl-2-naphthalenyl)-3,7-dimethyl-2,4,6-octatrienoic acid (SR11246) was …

Effect Of Receptor-Selective Retinoids On Growth And Differentiation Pathways In Mouse Melanoma Cells, Sejal H. Desai, Goran Boskovic, Linda L. Eastham, Marcia Dawson, Richard M. Niles

Linda L. Eastham

Treatment of B16 mouse melanoma cells with all-trans-retinoic acid (ATRA) results in inhibition of cell proliferation and induction of differentiation. Accompanying these events is an induction of retinoic acid receptor β (RARβ) expression, an increase in protein kinase Cα (PKCα) expression, and enhanced activator protein-1 (AP-1) transcriptional activity. These cells express nuclear RARα and RARγ and nuclear retinoid X receptors (RXR) α and β constitutively. We tested the ability of receptor-selective retinoids to induce the biochemical changes found in ATRA-treated melanoma cells and also tested their effectiveness in decreasing anchorage-dependent and -independent growth. The RXR-selective ligand (2E,4E)-6-(5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-3,5,5,8,8-pentamethyl-2-naphthalenyl)-3,7-dimethyl-2,4,6-octatrienoic acid (SR11246) was …

Characterization Of Differentiation And Prognostic Biomarkers On Cd8+ Tumor-Infiltrating Lymphocytes In Metastatic Melanoma, Richard C. Wu

Dissertations & Theses (Open Access)

CD8⁺ cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) frequently infiltrate tumors, yet most melanoma patients fail to undergo tumor regression. We studied the differentiation of the CD8⁺ tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL) from 44 metastatic melanoma patients using known T-cell differentiation markers. We also compared CD8⁺ TIL against the T cells from matched melanoma patients’ peripheral blood. We discovered a novel subset of CD8⁺ TIL co-expressing early-differentiation markers, CD27, CD28, and a late/senescent CTL differentiation marker, CD57. This CD8⁺CD57⁺ TIL expressed a cytolytic enzyme, granzyme B (GB), yet did not express another cytolytic pore-forming molecule, perforin (Perf). In …

Pparα/Γ Expression And Activity In Mouse And Human Melanocytes And Melanoma Cells, Linda Eastham, Caroline Mills, Richard Niles

Linda L. Eastham

Purpose. We examined the expression of PPARs and the effects of PPARα and PPARγ agonists on growth of mouse and human melanocytes and melanoma cells.

Methods. PPARα,β, and PPARγ mRNA qualitative expression in melan-a mouse melanocytes, B16 mouse melanoma, human melanocytes, and A375 and SK-mel28 human melanoma cells was determined by RT-PCR, while quantitative PPARα mRNA levels were determined by QuantiGene assay. PPARα and PPARγ protein was assessed by Western blotting. The effect of natural and synthetic PPAR ligands on cell growth was determined by either hemocytometer counting or crystal violet assay. PPAR transcriptional activity was determined by a PPRE-reporter …

Pparα/Γ Expression And Activity In Mouse And Human Melanocytes And Melanoma Cells, Linda Eastham, Caroline Mills, Richard Niles

Richard M Niles

Purpose. We examined the expression of PPARs and the effects of PPARα and PPARγ agonists on growth of mouse and human melanocytes and melanoma cells.

Methods. PPARα,β, and PPARγ mRNA qualitative expression in melan-a mouse melanocytes, B16 mouse melanoma, human melanocytes, and A375 and SK-mel28 human melanoma cells was determined by RT-PCR, while quantitative PPARα mRNA levels were determined by QuantiGene assay. PPARα and PPARγ protein was assessed by Western blotting. The effect of natural and synthetic PPAR ligands on cell growth was determined by either hemocytometer counting or crystal violet assay. PPAR transcriptional activity was determined by a PPRE-reporter …

Metastatic Disease: Interactions Between Tumor Cells And Host Environment During Cancer Cell Spread, Jennifer M. Maclean

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Tumor and metastasis formation are not cell autonomous phenomena, but rather an evolution of disease within and responding to the host environment. Metastatic spread from a primary tumor occurs as a result of a complex interplay between tumor cells and the host, wherein tumor cells must escape the primary tumor, enter the host vasculature, travel to and arrest in a distant tissue and survive and grow in that new organ. It is known that cells that progress through these stages must both escape and exploit host systems, yet the mechanisms used are not fully understood. Therefore, the goal of this …

Effect Of Receptor-Selective Retinoids On Growth And Differentiation Pathways In Mouse Melanoma Cells, Sejal H. Desai, Goran Boskovic, Linda L. Eastham, Marcia Dawson, Richard M. Niles

Biochemistry and Microbiology

Treatment of B16 mouse melanoma cells with all-trans-retinoic acid (ATRA) results in inhibition of cell proliferation and induction of differentiation. Accompanying these events is an induction of retinoic acid receptor β (RARβ) expression, an increase in protein kinase Cα (PKCα) expression, and enhanced activator protein-1 (AP-1) transcriptional activity. These cells express nuclear RARα and RARγ and nuclear retinoid X receptors (RXR) α and β constitutively. We tested the ability of receptor-selective retinoids to induce the biochemical changes found in ATRA-treated melanoma cells and also tested their effectiveness in decreasing anchorage-dependent and -independent growth. The RXR-selective ligand (2E,4E)-6-(5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-3,5,5,8,8-pentamethyl-2-naphthalenyl)-3,7-dimethyl-2,4,6-octatrienoic acid (SR11246) was …