1. Patient-derived tumor organoids mimic treatment-induced DNA damage response in glioblastomaBernarda Majc, Anamarija Habič, Marta Malavolta, Miloš Vittori, Andrej Porčnik, Roman Bošnjak, Jernej Mlakar, Alenka Matjašič, Andrej Zupan, Marija Skoblar Vidmar, Tamara Lah Turnšek, Aleksander Sadikov, Barbara Breznik, Metka Novak, 2024, original scientific article Abstract: Glioblastoma (GB) is the most common primary malignant brain tumor, characterized by resistance to therapy. Despite aggressive treatment options, GB remains an incurable disease. Invasiveness and heterogeneity are key GB features that cannot be studied in preclinical in vitro models. In this study, we investigated the effects of standard therapy using patient-derived GB organoids (GBOs). GBOs reflect the complexity and heterogeneity of the original tumor tissue. No significant effect on GBO viability or invasion was observed after irradiation and temozolomide treatment. E3 ubiquitin-protein ligase (MDM2), cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor 1A (CDKN1A), and the serine/threonine kinases ATM and ATR were upregulated at the gene and protein levels after treatment. Our results show that the p53 pathway and DNA-damage response mechanisms were triggered, suggesting that GBOs recapitulate GB therapy resistance. GBOs thus provide a highly efficient platform to assess the specific responses of GB patients to therapy and to further explore therapy resistance.
Keywords: cellular physiology, cellular toxicology, in vitro toxicology including 3D culture, technical aspects of cell biology, cancer
Published in DiRROS: 09.09.2024; Views: 80; Downloads: 23
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2. Infiltrating natural killer cells bind, lyse and increase chemotherapy efficacy in glioblastoma stem-like tumorospheresBarbara Breznik, Meng-Wei Ko, Christopher Tse, Po-Chun Chen, Emanuela Senjor, Bernarda Majc, Anamarija Habič, Nicolas Angelillis, Metka Novak, Vera Župunski, Jernej Mlakar, David Nathanson, Anahid Jewett, 2022, original scientific article Abstract: Glioblastomas remain the most lethal primary brain tumors. Natural killer (NK) cell-based therapy is a promising immunotherapeutic strategy in the treatment of glioblastomas, since these cells can select and lyse therapy-resistant glioblastoma stem-like cells (GSLCs). Immunotherapy with super-charged NK cells has a potential as antitumor approach since we found their efficiency to kill patient-derived GSLCs in 2D and 3D models, potentially reversing the immunosuppression also seen in the patients. In addition to their potent cytotoxicity, NK cells secrete IFN-γ, upregulate GSLC surface expression of CD54 and MHC class I and increase sensitivity of GSLCs to chemotherapeutic drugs. Moreover, NK cell localization in peri-vascular regions in glioblastoma tissues and their close contact with GSLCs in tumorospheres suggests their ability to infiltrate glioblastoma tumors and target GSLCs. Due to GSLC heterogeneity and plasticity in regards to their stage of differentiation personalized immunotherapeutic strategies should be designed to effectively target glioblastomas.
Keywords: glioblastoma, natural killer cells, translational oncology
Published in DiRROS: 16.07.2024; Views: 227; Downloads: 205
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3. Upregulation of cathepsin X in glioblastoma : interplay with γ-enolase and the effects of selective cathepsin X inhibitorsBernarda Majc, Anamarija Habič, Metka Novak, Ana Rotter, Andrej Porčnik, Jernej Mlakar, Vera Župunski, Urša Pečar Fonović, Damijan Knez, Nace Zidar, Stanislav Gobec, Janko Kos, Tamara Lah Turnšek, Anja Pišlar, Barbara Breznik, 2022, original scientific article Keywords: glioblastoma, cathepsin X, γ-enolase, tumor microenvironment, glioblastoma stem cells, cathepsin X inhibitors
Published in DiRROS: 16.07.2024; Views: 193; Downloads: 157
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4. New insights in ATP synthesis as therapeutic target in cancer and angiogenic ocular diseasesCornelis J. F. van Noorden, Bahar Yetkin-Arik, Paola Serrano Martinez, Noëlle Bakker, Mathilda E. van Breest Smallenburg, Reinier O. Schlingemann, Ingeborg Klaassen, Bernarda Majc, Anamarija Habič, Urban Bogataj, Katrin S. Galun, Miloš Vittori, Mateja Erdani-Kreft, Metka Novak, Barbara Breznik, Vashendriya V. V. Hira, 2024, review article Abstract: Lactate and ATP formation by aerobic glycolysis, the Warburg effect, is considered a hallmark of cancer. During angiogenesis in non-cancerous tissue, proliferating stalk endothelial cells (ECs) also produce lactate and ATP by aerobic glycolysis. In fact, all proliferating cells, both non-cancer and cancer cells, need lactate for the biosynthesis of building blocks for cell growth and tissue expansion. Moreover, both non-proliferating cancer stem cells in tumors and leader tip ECs during angiogenesis rely on glycolysis for pyruvate production, which is used for ATP synthesis in mitochondria through oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS). Therefore, aerobic glycolysis is not a specific hallmark of cancer but rather a hallmark of proliferating cells and limits its utility in cancer therapy. However, local treatment of angiogenic eye conditions with inhibitors of glycolysis may be a safe therapeutic option that warrants experimental investigation. Most types of cells in the eye such as photoreceptors and pericytes use OXPHOS for ATP production, whereas proliferating angiogenic stalk ECs rely on glycolysis for lactate and ATP production.
Keywords: aerobic glycolysis, anaerobic glycolysis, angiogenesis, ATP synthesis, cancer cells, cancer stem cells, endothelial cells, energy metabolism, eye diseases, oxidative phosphorylation, pericytes, retina, Warburg effect
Published in DiRROS: 18.06.2024; Views: 263; Downloads: 150
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5. Organoidi glioblastoma razkrivajo odpornost na standardno terapijoBernarda Majc, Anamarija Habič, Marta Malavolta, Aleksander Sadikov, Andrej Porčnik, Jernej Mlakar, Tamara Lah Turnšek, Barbara Breznik, Metka Novak, 2023, published scientific conference contribution abstract Keywords: glioblastom, organoidi, standardna terapija, model ex vivo, biologija raka
Published in DiRROS: 16.06.2023; Views: 633; Downloads: 240
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6. Organoidi glioblastoma kot model za preučevanje odpornosti na terapijoAnamarija Habič, Bernarda Majc, Andrej Porčnik, Roman Bošnjak, Boštjan Markelc, Maja Čemažar, Tamara Lah Turnšek, Barbara Breznik, Metka Novak, 2022, published scientific conference contribution abstract Keywords: glioblastom, organoidi, odpornost, možganski rak, možganski tumor, onkologija
Published in DiRROS: 16.06.2022; Views: 781; Downloads: 288
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7. Odpornost glioblastoma na radioterapijo : vpliv rakavih matičnih celic in mikroo[ko]lja tumorjaBarbara Breznik, Bernarda Majc, Anamarija Habič, Urška Ušeničnik, Andrej Porčnik, Roman Bošnjak, Jernej Mlakar, Marija Skoblar Vidmar, Tanja Jesenko, Maja Čemažar, Tamara Lah Turnšek, Metka Novak, 2022, published scientific conference contribution (invited lecture) Abstract: Glioblastom je najpogostejši možganski tumor pri odraslih z zelo slabo prognozo preživetja bolnikov. Ta je posledica odpornosti glioblastoma na standardno zdravljenje, ki vključuje radioterapijo in kemoterapijo. Z namenom načrtovanja učinkovitejših pristopov zdravljenja preučujemo biološke mehanizme odpornosti glioblastoma na radioterapijo s poudarkom na mikrookolju tumorja in rakavih matičnih celicah. V predkliničnih raziskavah uporabljamo napredne in personalizirane celične modele, ki posnemajo mikrookolje tumorja v bolnikih in z večjo natančnostjo napovedo odziv bolnika na zdravljenje. Hkrati so takšni modeli pomembni za testiranje novih pristopov za zdravljenje kot je imunoterapija.
Keywords: glioblastom, mikrookolje, organoidi, možganski rak, možganski tumor, onkologija
Published in DiRROS: 16.06.2022; Views: 916; Downloads: 260
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