TY - JOUR A1 - Ascheid, David A1 - Baumann, Magdalena A1 - Funke, Caroline A1 - Volz, Julia A1 - Pinnecker, Jürgen A1 - Friedrich, Mike A1 - Höhn, Marie A1 - Nandigama, Rajender A1 - Ergün, Süleyman A1 - Nieswandt, Bernhard A1 - Heinze, Katrin G. A1 - Henke, Erik T1 - Image-based modeling of vascular organization to evaluate anti-angiogenic therapy JF - Biology Direct N2 - In tumor therapy anti-angiogenic approaches have the potential to increase the efficacy of a wide variety of subsequently or co-administered agents, possibly by improving or normalizing the defective tumor vasculature. Successful implementation of the concept of vascular normalization under anti-angiogenic therapy, however, mandates a detailed understanding of key characteristics and a respective scoring metric that defines an improved vasculature and thus a successful attempt. Here, we show that beyond commonly used parameters such as vessel patency and maturation, anti-angiogenic approaches largely benefit if the complex vascular network with its vessel interconnections is both qualitatively and quantitatively assessed. To gain such deeper insight the organization of vascular networks, we introduce a multi-parametric evaluation of high-resolution angiographic images based on light-sheet fluorescence microscopy images of tumors. We first could pinpoint key correlations between vessel length, straightness and diameter to describe the regular, functional and organized structure observed under physiological conditions. We found that vascular networks from experimental tumors diverted from those in healthy organs, demonstrating the dysfunctionality of the tumor vasculature not only on the level of the individual vessel but also in terms of inadequate organization into larger structures. These parameters proofed effective in scoring the degree of disorganization in different tumor entities, and more importantly in grading a potential reversal under treatment with therapeutic agents. The presented vascular network analysis will support vascular normalization assessment and future optimization of anti-angiogenic therapy. KW - vascular structure KW - cancer KW - tumor microenvironment KW - optical clearing KW - light sheet fluorescence microscopy KW - 3D image analysis Y1 - 2023 U6 - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-357242 VL - 18 ER - TY - THES A1 - Höhn, Marie T1 - Veränderung der Tumorimmunumgebung muriner Mamma-Karzinome durch Inhibierung der Kollagensynthese T1 - Alteration of the tumor immune environment in murine mamma carcinomas by inhibition of collagen synthesis N2 - Das Mamma-Karzinom gehört zu den sogenannten desmoplastischen Tumorarten. Hierbei handelt es sich um Tumoren mit erhöhter Ansammlung von Bindegewebszellen und einer Akkumulation von Extrazellulärer Matrix (EZM). Diese verdichtete EZM wirkt sowohl auf mechanischer als auch auf Signalweg-vermittelter Ebene als eine Barriere, welche die therapeutische Wirksamkeit erheblich vermindert. Einer der Hauptbestandteile der EZM ist Kollagen. Durch Anwendung von Präparaten, welche die Kollagensynthese und -reifung inhibieren, kann die rigide Struktur aufgelockert werden. Daraus ergibt sich eine verbesserte Versorgung mit Nährstoffen und eine verbesserte Infiltrationsmöglichkeit für Immunzellen. Dies ist für die Effizienz der Immuntherapie, welche sich in den letzten Jahren als vielversprechende Alternative zu den Grundsäulen der Krebstherapie entwickelt hat, unabdinglich. In der vorliegenden Arbeit wurden murine Mamma-Karzinome der 4T1-Linie nach Behandlung mit EZM-destabilisierenden Kollageninhibitoren auf ihre Immunumgebung hin untersucht. Verwendet wurden drei Wirkstoffe, welche an unterschiedlichen Punkten in die Kollagensynthese und -reifung eingreifen: βAPN als LOX(L)-Inhibitor, 1,4-DPCA als P4HA-Inhibitor und Minoxidil als LH-Inhibitor. Die Behandlung führte zu einem deutlichen Anstieg aller untersuchten Immunzellen und deutet somit auf eine verbesserte Infiltrationsmöglichkeit hin. Zudem wurde die Expression maligner Signalwege, wie die der Angiogenese, Hypoxie, Metastasierungsneigung, Invasivität und Immunsuppression, verringert und tumorsuppressive Immunantworten verstärkt. Die Kollageninhibition hatte zusätzlich ein verringertes Tumorwachstum und eine Reduktion der Blutgefäßdichte zufolge. Als Fazit gilt es festzuhalten, dass die Verwendung von Kollageninhibitoren in der Immuntherapie eine vielversprechende Option zur Verbesserung der Effizienz dieser Therapeutika darstellt. Diese Erkenntnis gilt es im Rahmen künftiger wissenschaftlicher Untersuchungen weiterzuentwickeln. N2 - The mamma carcinoma is a desmoplastic tumor which shows an accumulation of fibrotic tissue and of extracellular matrix (ECM). This highly dense ECM acts as a physical and signaling-mediated barrier reducing the efficacy of various therapeutic approaches. One of the main components of the ECM is collagen. The rigid structure can be loosened by drugs which inhibit collagen synthesis and maturation. This potentially leads to improved infiltration with nutrients and a better access for immune cells. These are absolutely necessary for the effectiveness of the immune therapy that has been established as a promising alternative approach in the last years in addition to the classical cancer therapy options. In this dissertation murine mamma carcinomas of the 4T1-tumor cell line were treated with collagen inhibitors, with the aim to destabilize the rigid ECM and analyze following changes of the immune environment. The drugs, that were used, inhibit at different stages collagen synthesis and maturation: βAPN as a LOX(L)-inhibitor, 1,4-DPCA as a P4HA-inhibitor and Minoxidil as a LH-inhibitor. The treatment led to an accumulation of different kinds of immune cells which shows the improved infiltration. Furthermore, malignant pathways concerning angiogenesis, hypoxia, invasiveness, metastasis, and immunosuppression are reduced. Tumor suppressive immune responses are enhanced. Moreover, we could ascertain a reduced tumor growth and microvessel density after treatment. All in all, the tumors show, because of the changed quantity and constellation of immune cells, a stronger immune stimulating function. This embodies the promising potential of the usage of collagen inhibitors as an additional treatment to immune therapy to facilitate its efficacy, which has to be examined by further studies. KW - Brustkrebs KW - Kollagen KW - Immunsystem KW - Inhibition KW - Tumor KW - Tumorimmunumgebung KW - Kollageninhibition Y1 - 2023 U6 - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-284929 ER -