@article{FecherHofmannBucketal.2016, author = {Fecher, David and Hofmann, Elisabeth and Buck, Andreas and Bundschuh, Ralph and Nietzer, Sarah and Dandekar, Gudrun and Walles, Thorsten and Walles, Heike and L{\"u}ckerath, Katharina and Steinke, Maria}, title = {Human Organotypic Lung Tumor Models: Suitable For Preclinical \(^{18}\)F-FDG PET-Imaging}, series = {PLoS ONE}, volume = {11}, journal = {PLoS ONE}, number = {8}, doi = {10.1371/journal.pone.0160282}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-179678}, year = {2016}, abstract = {Development of predictable in vitro tumor models is a challenging task due to the enormous complexity of tumors in vivo. The closer the resemblance of these models to human tumor characteristics, the more suitable they are for drug-development and -testing. In the present study, we generated a complex 3D lung tumor test system based on acellular rat lungs. A decellularization protocol was established preserving the architecture, important ECM components and the basement membrane of the lung. Human lung tumor cells cultured on the scaffold formed cluster and exhibited an up-regulation of the carcinoma-associated marker mucin1 as well as a reduced proliferation rate compared to respective 2D culture. Additionally, employing functional imaging with 2-deoxy-2-[\(^{18}\)F]fluoro-D-glucose positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) these tumor cell cluster could be detected and tracked over time. This approach allowed monitoring of a targeted tyrosine kinase inhibitor treatment in the in vitro lung tumor model non-destructively. Surprisingly, FDG-PET assessment of single tumor cell cluster on the same scaffold exhibited differences in their response to therapy, indicating heterogeneity in the lung tumor model. In conclusion, our complex lung tumor test system features important characteristics of tumors and its microenvironment and allows monitoring of tumor growth and -metabolism in combination with functional imaging. In longitudinal studies, new therapeutic approaches and their long-term effects can be evaluated to adapt treatment regimes in future.}, language = {en} } @article{GoetzSendtner2014, author = {G{\"o}tz, Rudolf and Sendtner, Michael}, title = {Cooperation of Tyrosine Kinase Receptor TrkB and Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor Signaling Enhances Migration and Dispersal of Lung Tumor Cells}, series = {PLoS ONE}, volume = {9}, journal = {PLoS ONE}, number = {6}, issn = {1932-6203}, doi = {10.1371/journal.pone.0100944}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-119578}, pages = {e100944}, year = {2014}, abstract = {TrkB mediates the effects of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in neuronal and nonnneuronal cells. Based on recent reports that TrkB can also be transactivated through epidermal growth-factor receptor (EGFR) signaling and thus regulates migration of early neurons, we investigated the role of TrkB in migration of lung tumor cells. Early metastasis remains a major challenge in the clinical management of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). TrkB receptor signaling is associated with metastasis and poor patient prognosis in NSCLC. Expression of this receptor in A549 cells and in another adenocarcinoma cell line, NCI-H441, promoted enhanced migratory capacity in wound healing assays in the presence of the TrkB ligand BDNF. Furthermore, TrkB expression in A549 cells potentiated the stimulatory effect of EGF in wound healing and in Boyden chamber migration experiments. Consistent with a potential loss of cell polarity upon TrkB expression, cell dispersal and de-clustering was induced in A549 cells independently of exogeneous BDNF. Morphological transformation involved extensive cytoskeletal changes, reduced E-cadherin expression and suppression of E-cadherin expression on the cell surface in TrkB expressing tumor cells. This function depended on MEK and Akt kinase activity but was independent of Src. These data indicate that TrkB expression in lung adenoma cells is an early step in tumor cell dissemination, and thus could represent a target for therapy development.}, language = {en} } @article{DonatRotherSchaeferetal.2014, author = {Donat, Ulrike and Rother, Juliane and Sch{\"a}fer, Simon and Hess, Michael and H{\"a}rtl, Barbara and Kober, Christina and Langbein-Laugwitz, Johanna and Stritzker, Jochen and Chen, Nanhai G. and Aguilar, Richard J. and Weibel, Stephanie and Szalay, Alandar A.}, title = {Characterization of Metastasis Formation and Virotherapy in the Human C33A Cervical Cancer Model}, series = {PLoS ONE}, volume = {9}, journal = {PLoS ONE}, number = {6}, issn = {1932-6203}, doi = {10.1371/journal.pone.0098533}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-119674}, pages = {e98533}, year = {2014}, abstract = {More than 90\% of cancer mortalities are due to cancer that has metastasized. Therefore, it is crucial to intensify research on metastasis formation and therapy. Here, we describe for the first time the metastasizing ability of the human cervical cancer cell line C33A in athymic nude mice after subcutaneous implantation of tumor cells. In this model, we demonstrated a steady progression of lumbar and renal lymph node metastases during tumor development. Besides predominantly occurring lymphatic metastases, we visualized the formation of hematogenous metastases utilizing red fluorescent protein (RFP) expressing C33A-RFP cells. RFP positive cancer cells were found migrating in blood vessels and forming micrometastases in lungs of tumor-bearing mice. Next, we set out to analyze the influence of oncolytic virotherapy in the C33A-RFP model and demonstrated an efficient virus-mediated reduction of tumor size and metastatic burden. These results suggest the C33A-RFP cervical cancer model as a new platform to analyze cancer metastases as well as to test novel treatment options to combat metastases.}, language = {en} }