Aging Increases Susceptibility to Ovarian Cancer Metastasis in Murine Allograft Models and Alters Immune Composition of Peritoneal Adipose Tissue.

Ovarian cancer, the most deadly gynecological malignancy in U.S. women, metastasizes uniquely, spreading through the peritoneal cavity and often generating widespread metastatic sites before diagnosis. The vast majority of ovarian cancer cases occur in women over 40 and the median age at diagnosis is 63. Additionally, elderly women receive poorer prognoses when diagnosed with ovarian cancer. Despite age being a significant risk factor for the development of this cancer, there are little published data which address the impact of aging on ovarian cancer metastasis. Here we report that the aged host is more susceptible to metastatic success using two murine syngeneic allograft models of ovarian cancer metastasis. This age-related increase in metastatic tumor burden corresponds with an increase in tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) in tumor-bearing mice and alteration of B cell-related pathways in gonadal adipose tissue. Based on this work, further studies elucidating the status of B cell TILs in mouse models of metastasis and human tumors in the context of aging are warranted.

Multiparity activates interferon pathways in peritoneal adipose tissue and decreases susceptibility to ovarian cancer metastasis in a murine allograft model.

Ovarian cancer is the fifth leading cause of cancer deaths in U.S. women and the deadliest gynecologic malignancy. This lethality is largely due to the fact that most cases are diagnosed at metastatic stages of the disease when the prognosis is poor. Epidemiologic studies consistently demonstrate that parous women have a reduced risk of developing ovarian cancer, with a greater number of births affording greater protection; however little is known about the impact of parity on ovarian cancer metastasis. Here we report that multiparous mice are less susceptible to ovarian cancer metastasis in an age-matched syngeneic murine allograft model. Interferon pathways were found to be upregulated in healthy adipose tissue of multiparous mice, suggesting a possible mechanism for the multiparous-related protective effect against metastasis. This protective effect was found to be lost with age. Based on this work, future studies exploring therapeutic strategies which harness the multiparity-associated protective effect demonstrated here are warranted.

Targeted nanoconjugate co-delivering siRNA and tyrosine kinase inhibitor to KRAS mutant NSCLC dissociates GAB1-SHP2 post oncogene knockdown.

A tri-block nanoparticle (TBN) comprising of an enzymatically cleavable porous gelatin nanocore encapsulated with gefitinib (tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI)) and surface functionalized with cetuximab-siRNA conjugate has been synthesized. Targeted delivery of siRNA to undruggable KRAS mutated non-small cell lung cancer cells would sensitize the cells to TKI drugs and offers an efficient therapy for treating cancer; however, efficient delivery of siRNA and releasing it in cytoplasm remains a major challenge. We have shown TBN can efficiently deliver siRNA to cytoplasm of KRAS mutant H23 Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC) cells for oncogene knockdown; subsequently, sensitizing it to TKI. In the absence of TKI, the nanoparticle showed minimal toxicity suggesting that the cells adapt a parallel GAB1 mediated survival pathway. In H23 cells, activated ERK results in phosphorylation of GAB1 on serine and threonine residues to form GAB1-p85 PI3K complex. In the absence of TKI, knocking down the oncogene dephosphorylated ERK, and negated the complex formation. This event led to tyrosine phosphorylation at Tyr627 domain of GAB1 that regulated EGFR signaling by recruiting SHP2. In the presence of TKI, GAB1-SHP2 dissociation occurs, leading to cell death. The outcome of this study provides a promising platform for treating NSCLC patients harboring KRAS mutation.