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Biology subjects

Memarzadeh, S.

Publications and source records attributed to Memarzadeh, S..

3 recordsLinked to original sources

Systems serology of responses against tumor antigens in ovarian cancer reveal disrupted Fc-mediated immunity

High-grade serous ovarian cancer (HGSOC) represents 75% of ovarian cancer cases and 80% of deaths, with most patients relapsing despite initial treatment response. The limited effectiveness of immunotherapies in HGSOC indicates urgent need for novel therapeutic approaches. HGSOC patients produce tumor-binding autoantibodies (TBAs) with high tumor selectivity. Since effective antibody-mediated tumor cell killing requires Fc domain interactions with immune cells, we hypothesized that, although TBAs recognize tumor cells, they might still poorly elicit cell killing responses. Using a systems serology approach, we profiled TBA subclass and biophysical interactions with Fc receptors in HGSOC, comparing them to antiviral antibody responses. TBAs were consistently identified within ascites and serum and were heterogeneous in subclass composition. However, TBAs consistently lacked the capacity to bind Fc{gamma}RIIIa despite abundant interaction with Fc{gamma}RIIa and poorly elicited antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity, suggesting their Fc features prevent cell killing responses. Restoring Fc{gamma}RIIIa interaction may be a promising therapeutic approach in HGSOC. HighlightsO_LITBAs in ovarian carcinoma patients consistently lack interaction with Fc{gamma}RIIIa C_LIO_LIAscites- and serum-derived TBAs have heterogeneous subclass composition C_LIO_LISystems analysis shows complex serologic differences between TBAs and antiviral responses C_LIO_LIPatient-expressed TBAs demonstrate little antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity C_LI

cancer biology↗

PGC-1α drives small cell neuroendocrine cancer progression towards an ASCL1-expressing subtype with increased mitochondrial capacity

Adenocarcinomas from multiple tissues can evolve into lethal, treatment-resistant small cell neuroendocrine (SCN) cancers comprising multiple subtypes with poorly defined metabolic characteristics. The role of metabolism in directly driving subtype determination remains unclear. Through bioinformatics analyses of thousands of patient tumors, we identified enhanced PGC-1--a potent regulator of oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS)--in various SCN cancers (SCNCs), closely linked with neuroendocrine differentiation. In a patient-derived prostate tissue SCNC transformation system, the ASCL1-expressing neuroendocrine subtype showed elevated PGC-1 expression and increased OXPHOS activity. Inhibition of PGC-1 and OXPHOS reduced the proliferation of SCN lung and prostate cancer cell lines and blocked SCN prostate tumor formation. Conversely, enhancing PGC- 1 and OXPHOS, validated by small-animal Positron Emission Tomography mitochondrial imaging, tripled the SCN prostate tumor formation rate and promoted commitment to the ASCL1 lineage. These results establish PGC-1 as a driver of SCNC progression and subtype determination, highlighting novel metabolic vulnerabilities in SCNCs across different tissues. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCEOur study provides functional evidence that metabolic reprogramming can directly impact cancer phenotypes and establishes PGC-1-induced mitochondrial metabolism as a driver of SCNC progression and lineage determination. These mechanistic insights reveal common metabolic vulnerabilities across SCNCs originating from multiple tissues, opening new avenues for pan-SCN cancer therapeutic strategies.

cancer biology↗

Miniring approach for high-throughput drug screenings in 3D tumor models

There is increasing interest in developing 3D tumor organoid models for drug development and personalized medicine applications. While tumor organoids are in principle amenable to high-throughput drug screenings, progress has been hampered by technical constraints and extensive manipulations required by current methodologies. Here, we introduce a miniaturized, fully automatable, flexible high-throughput method using a simplified geometry to rapidly establish 3D organoids from cell lines and primary tissue and robustly assay drug responses. As proof of principle, we use our miniring approach to establish organoids of high-grade serous tumors and one carcinosarcoma of the ovaries and screen hundreds of protein kinase compounds currently FDA-approved or in clinical development. In all cases we could identify drugs causing significant reduction in cell viability, number and size of organoids within a week from surgery, a timeline compatible with therapeutic decision making.

cancer biology↗