All Publications


  • Radiotherapy in combination with CD47 blockade elicits a macrophage-mediated abscopal effect. Nature cancer Nishiga, Y., Drainas, A. P., Baron, M., Bhattacharya, D., Barkal, A. A., Ahrari, Y., Mancusi, R., Ross, J. B., Takahashi, N., Thomas, A., Diehn, M., Weissman, I. L., Graves, E. E., Sage, J. 2022

    Abstract

    Radiation therapy is a mainstay of cancer treatment but does not always lead to complete tumor regression. Here we combine radiotherapy with blockade of the 'don't-eat-me' cell-surface molecule CD47 in small cell lung cancer (SCLC), a highly metastatic form of lung cancer. CD47 blockade potently enhances the local antitumor effects of radiotherapy in preclinical models of SCLC. Notably, CD47 blockade also stimulates off-target 'abscopal' effects inhibiting non-irradiated SCLC tumors in mice receiving radiation. These abscopal effects are independent of T cells but require macrophages that migrate into non-irradiated tumor sites in response to inflammatory signals produced by radiation and are locally activated by CD47 blockade to phagocytose cancer cells. Similar abscopal antitumor effects were observed in other cancer models treated with radiation and CD47 blockade. The systemic activation of antitumor macrophages following radiotherapy and CD47 blockade may be particularly important in patients with cancer who suffer from metastatic disease.

    View details for DOI 10.1038/s43018-022-00456-0

    View details for PubMedID 36411318

  • Inter-cellular CRISPR screens reveal regulators of cancer cell phagocytosis. Nature Kamber, R. A., Nishiga, Y., Morton, B., Banuelos, A. M., Barkal, A. A., Vences-Catalan, F., Gu, M., Fernandez, D., Seoane, J. A., Yao, D., Liu, K., Lin, S., Spees, K., Curtis, C., Jerby-Arnon, L., Weissman, I. L., Sage, J., Bassik, M. C. 2021

    Abstract

    Monoclonal antibody therapies targeting tumour antigens drive cancer cell elimination in large part by triggering macrophage phagocytosis of cancer cells1-7. However, cancer cells evade phagocytosis using mechanisms that are incompletely understood. Here we develop a platform for unbiased identification of factors that impede antibody-dependent cellular phagocytosis (ADCP) using complementary genome-wide CRISPR knockout and overexpression screens in both cancer cells and macrophages. In cancer cells, beyond known factors such as CD47, we identify many regulators of susceptibility to ADCP, including the poorly characterized enzyme adipocyte plasma membrane-associated protein (APMAP). We find that loss of APMAP synergizes with tumour antigen-targeting monoclonal antibodies and/or CD47-blocking monoclonal antibodies to drive markedly increased phagocytosis across a wide range of cancer cell types, including those that are otherwise resistant to ADCP. Additionally, we show that APMAP loss synergizes with several different tumour-targeting monoclonal antibodies to inhibit tumour growth in mice. Using genome-wide counterscreens in macrophages, we find that the G-protein-coupled receptor GPR84 mediates enhanced phagocytosis of APMAP-deficient cancer cells. This work reveals a cancer-intrinsic regulator of susceptibility to antibody-driven phagocytosis and, more broadly, expands our knowledge of the mechanisms governing cancer resistance to macrophage phagocytosis.

    View details for DOI 10.1038/s41586-021-03879-4

    View details for PubMedID 34497417

  • Hypofractionated intensity-modulated radiotherapy with concurrent chemotherapy for elderly patients with locally advanced pancreatic carcinoma. Radiation oncology (London, England) Iwai, T., Yoshimura, M., Ashida, R., Goto, Y., Kishi, T., Itasaka, S., Shibuya, K., Kanai, M., Masui, T., Fukuda, A., Isoda, H., Hiraoka, M., Mizowaki, T. 2020; 15 (1): 264

    Abstract

    It is important to understand how elderly patients with locally advanced pancreatic carcinoma (LAPC) should be treated, since the number of elderly cancer patients will increase. However, the optimal treatment for elderly patients with LAPC remains unclear. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of hypofractionated intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) with concurrent gemcitabine for elderly patients with LAPC.We retrospectively analysed the data from LAPC patients aged ≥ 75 years treated with hypofractionated IMRT (48 Gy in 15 fractions) with concurrent weekly gemcitabine at our institution from February 2013 to December 2018. Overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS), locoregional progression-free survival (LRPFS), distant metastasis-free survival (DMFS), and the pattern of recurrence and toxicity were analysed.Fifteen patients received treatment during the study period. The median age was 78 years (range 75-86 years), and the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status (PS) of all patients was 0-1. The median survival time (MST) and median PFS were 20.4 [95% confidence interval (CI) 10.3-36.8] and 13.5 (95% CI 6.4-20.3) months, respectively, and the 1-year OS and PFS rates were 80.0% (95% CI 50-93.1%) and 66.7% (95% CI 37.5-84.6%), respectively. The median LRPFS and median DMFS were 15.6 (95% CI 6.4-36.8) and 14.9 (95% CI 7.0-20.5) months, respectively, and the 1-year LRPFS and DMFS rates were 73.3% (95% CI 43.6-89.1%) and 66.7% (95% CI 37.5-84.6%), respectively. Non-haematologic grade 3 toxicity was observed in three cases, of which only one was induced by radiotherapy, whereas grade 4-5 non-haematologic acute or late toxicities were not observed.The OS and PFS of elderly patients with LAPC treated using hypofractionated IMRT with concurrent gemcitabine were favourable and without the occurrence of severe toxicity. This treatment strategy is feasible and promising for elderly LAPC patients with good PS.

    View details for DOI 10.1186/s13014-020-01712-2

    View details for PubMedID 33187523

    View details for PubMedCentralID PMC7666451

  • Immune receptor inhibition through enforced phosphatase recruitment. Nature Fernandes, R. A., Su, L. n., Nishiga, Y. n., Ren, J. n., Bhuiyan, A. M., Cheng, N. n., Kuo, C. J., Picton, L. K., Ohtsuki, S. n., Majzner, R. G., Rietberg, S. P., Mackall, C. L., Yin, Q. n., Ali, L. R., Yang, X. n., Savvides, C. S., Sage, J. n., Dougan, M. n., Garcia, K. C. 2020

    Abstract

    Antibodies that antagonize extracellular receptor-ligand interactions are used as therapeutic agents for many diseases to inhibit signalling by cell-surface receptors1. However, this approach does not directly prevent intracellular signalling, such as through tonic or sustained signalling after ligand engagement. Here we present an alternative approach for attenuating cell-surface receptor signalling, termed receptor inhibition by phosphatase recruitment (RIPR). This approach compels cis-ligation of cell-surface receptors containing ITAM, ITIM or ITSM tyrosine phosphorylation motifs to the promiscuous cell-surface phosphatase CD452,3, which results in the direct intracellular dephosphorylation of tyrosine residues on the receptor target. As an example, we found that tonic signalling by the programmed cell death-1 receptor (PD-1) results in residual suppression of T cell activation, but is not inhibited by ligand-antagonist antibodies. We engineered a PD-1 molecule, which we denote RIPR-PD1, that induces cross-linking of PD-1 to CD45 and inhibits both tonic and ligand-activated signalling. RIPR-PD1 demonstrated enhanced inhibition of checkpoint blockade compared with ligand blocking by anti-PD1 antibodies, and increased therapeutic efficacy over anti-PD1 in mouse tumour models. We also show that the RIPR strategy extends to other immune-receptor targets that contain activating or inhibitory ITIM, ITSM or ITAM motifs; for example, inhibition of the macrophage SIRPα 'don't eat me' signal with a SIRPα-CD45 RIPR molecule potentiates antibody-dependent cellular phagocytosis beyond that of SIRPα blockade alone. RIPR represents a general strategy for direct attenuation of signalling by kinase-activated cell-surface receptors.

    View details for DOI 10.1038/s41586-020-2851-2

    View details for PubMedID 33087934

  • Ubiquitin carboxyl-terminal hydrolase L1 promotes hypoxia-inducible factor 1-dependent tumor cell malignancy in spheroid models. Cancer science Li, X., Hattori, A., Takahashi, S., Goto, Y., Harada, H., Kakeya, H. 2020; 111 (1): 239-252

    Abstract

    Hypoxia-inducible factor 1 (HIF-1) is a critical heterodimeric transcription factor for tumor malignancy. Recently, ubiquitin carboxyl-terminal hydrolase L1 (UCHL1) has been reported to function as a deubiquitinating enzyme for the stabilization of its α subunit (HIF-1α). In the present study, we showed that UCHL1 inhibition can be an effective therapeutic strategy against HIF-1-dependent tumor malignancy. In 2D monolayer culture, a UCHL1 inhibitor suppressed HIF activity and decreased the transcription of HIF downstream genes by inhibiting the UCHL1-mediated accumulation of HIF-1α. Phenotypically, UCHL1 inhibition remarkably blocked cell migration. In 3D spheroid culture models, ectopic expression of UCHL1 significantly upregulated malignancy-related factors such as solidity, volume, as well as viable cell number in an HIF-1α-dependent manner. Conversely, inhibition of the UCHL1-HIF-1 pathway downregulated these malignancy-related factors and also abolished UCHL1-mediated cell proliferation and invasiveness. Finally, inhibition of UCHL1 promoted HIF-1α degradation and lowered the expression of HIF-1 target genes in the 3D model, as also observed in 2D monolayer culture. Our research indicates that the UCHL1-HIF-1 pathway plays a crucial role in tumor malignancy, making it a promising therapeutic target for cancer chemotherapy.

    View details for DOI 10.1111/cas.14236

    View details for PubMedID 31729096

    View details for PubMedCentralID PMC6942421

  • Variation in accumulated dose of volumetric-modulated arc therapy for pancreatic cancer due to different beam starting phases. Journal of applied clinical medical physics Sasaki, M., Nakamura, M., Mukumoto, N., Goto, Y., Ishihara, Y., Nakata, M., Sugimoto, N., Mizowaki, T. 2019; 20 (10): 118-126

    Abstract

    To assess the effects of different beam starting phases on dosimetric variations in the clinical target volume (CTV) and organs at risk (OARs), and to identify the relationship between plan complexity and the dosimetric impact of interplay effects in volumetric-modulated arc therapy (VMAT) plans for pancreatic cancer.Single and double full-arc VMAT plans were generated for 11 patients. A dose of 50.4 Gy in 28 fractions was prescribed to cover 50% of the planning target volume. Patient-specific Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine-Radiation Therapy plan files were divided into 10 files based on the respiratory phases in four-dimensional computed tomography (4DCT) simulations. The phase-divided VMAT plans were calculated in consideration of the beam starting phase for each arc and were then combined in the mid-ventilation phase of 4DCT (4D plans). The dose-volumetric parameters were compared with the calculated dose distributions without consideration of the interplay effects (3D plans). Additionally, relationships among plan parameters such as modulation complexity scores, monitor units (MUs), and dose-volumetric parameters were evaluated.Dosimetric differences in the median values associated with different beam starting phases were within ± 1.0% and ± 0.2% for the CTV and ± 0.5% and ± 0.9% for the OARs during single and double full-arc VMAT, respectively. Significant differences caused by variations in the beam starting phases were observed only for the dose-volumetric parameters of the CTV during single full-arc VMAT (P < 0.05), associated with moderate or strong correlations between the MUs and the dosimetric differences between the 4D and 3D plans.The beam starting phase affected CTV dosimetric variations of single full-arc VMAT. The use of double full-arc VMAT mitigated this problem. However, variation in the dose delivered to OARs was not dependent on the beam starting phase, even for single full-arc VMAT.

    View details for DOI 10.1002/acm2.12720

    View details for PubMedID 31539194

    View details for PubMedCentralID PMC6806466

  • Evaluation of Dynamic Tumor-tracking Intensity-modulated Radiotherapy for Locally Advanced Pancreatic Cancer. Scientific reports Nakamura, A., Hiraoka, M., Itasaka, S., Nakamura, M., Akimoto, M., Ishihara, Y., Mukumoto, N., Goto, Y., Kishi, T., Yoshimura, M., Matsuo, Y., Yano, S., Mizowaki, T. 2018; 8 (1): 17096

    Abstract

    Intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) is now regarded as an important treatment option for patients with locally advanced pancreatic cancer (LAPC). To reduce the underlying tumor motions and dosimetric errors during IMRT as well as the burden of respiratory management for patients, we started to apply a new treatment platform of the dynamic tumor dynamic tumor-tracking intensity-modulated radiotherapy (DTT-IMRT) using the gimbaled linac, which can swing IMRT toward the real-time tumor position under patients' voluntary breathing. Between June 2013 and March 2015, ten patients were treated, and the tumor-tracking accuracy and the practical benefits were evaluated. The mean PTV size in DTT-IMRT was 18% smaller than a conventional ITV-based PTV. The root-mean-squared errors between the predicted and the detected tumor positions were 1.3, 1.2, and 1.5 mm in left-right, anterior-posterior, and cranio-caudal directions, respectively. The mean in-room time was 24.5 min. This high-accuracy of tumor-tracking with reasonable treatment time are promising and beneficial to patients with LAPC.

    View details for DOI 10.1038/s41598-018-35402-7

    View details for PubMedID 30459454

    View details for PubMedCentralID PMC6244273

  • Clinical evaluation of intensity-modulated radiotherapy for locally advanced pancreatic cancer. Radiation oncology (London, England) Goto, Y., Nakamura, A., Ashida, R., Sakanaka, K., Itasaka, S., Shibuya, K., Matsumoto, S., Kanai, M., Isoda, H., Masui, T., Kodama, Y., Takaori, K., Hiraoka, M., Mizowaki, T. 2018; 13 (1): 118

    Abstract

    The purpose was to retrospectively evaluate the effect of intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) on gastrointestinal (GI) toxicities and outcomes compared to three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy (3DCRT) for locally advanced pancreatic cancer (LAPC).We included 107 consecutive patients who underwent CRT for LAPC from September 2001 to March 2015; 80 patients underwent 3DCRT and 27 patients underwent IMRT. They were compared for GI toxicities, locoregional progression free survival (LRPFS), distant metastasis free survival (DMS), and overall survival (OS).Median radiation dose and fractions for 3DCRT and IMRT were 54 Gy/30 fr. and 48 Gy/15 fr. The regimens of CRT consisted of weekly gemcitabine 250 mg/m2 (for 3DCRT) or 1000 mg/m2 (for IMRT). Acute GI toxicity ≥grade 2 occurred in 32 patients (40%) treated with 3DCRT compared with five patients (19%) treated with IMRT. Late GI toxicity of grade 3 occurred in 10 patients (12%) treated with 3DCRT and one patient (4%) treated with IMRT. Patients who underwent IMRT had superior 1-year LRPFS (73.1% vs. 63.2%, p = 0.035) and 1-year OS (92.3% vs. 68.2%, p = 0.037) as compared with those treated with 3DCRT. Multivariate analysis showed that in IMRT patients, higher dose (≥45 Gy) was an independent factor for better LRPFS and OS.LAPC patients treated with hypofractionated full-dose gemcitabine IMRT had improved OS and LRPFS without increased GI toxicities when compared to those of patients treated with conventionally fractionated low dose gemcitabine 3DCRT. In IMRT patients, higher dose was an independent favorable prognostic factor for better LRPFS and OS, which suggests that dose escalation with IMRT for LAPC is a promising strategy.

    View details for DOI 10.1186/s13014-018-1063-5

    View details for PubMedID 29940984

    View details for PubMedCentralID PMC6019294

  • Clinical results of dynamic tumor tracking intensity-modulated radiotherapy with real-time monitoring for pancreatic cancers using a gimbal mounted linac. Oncotarget Goto, Y., Ashida, R., Nakamura, A., Itasaka, S., Shibuya, K., Akimoto, M., Mukumoto, N., Matsumoto, S., Kanai, M., Isoda, H., Masui, T., Kodama, Y., Nakamura, M., Takaori, K., Mizowaki, T., Hiraoka, M. 2018; 9 (34): 23628-23635

    Abstract

    We performed dynamic tumor-tracking IMRT (DTT-IMRT) in locally advanced pancreatic cancer (LAPC) patients using a gimbaled linac of Vero4DRT. The purpose of this study is to report the first clinical results.From June 2013 to June 2015, eleven LAPC patients enrolled in this study and DTT-IMRT was successfully performed. The locoregional progression free survival (LRPFS), distant metastasis free survival (DMFS), overall survival (OS), hematologic and gastrointestinal (GI) toxicities were evaluated. Oncologic outcomes were estimated using Kaplan-Meier analysis, and toxicities using CTCAE v4.0.The median radiation dose was 48 Gy (range, 45-51) in 15 fractions. Concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) was performed using gemcitabine in 9 patients and S-1 in one, while one patient refused. With a median follow-up of 22.9 months, 1-year LRPFS, DMFS, and OS rates were 90.9%, 70.7%, and 100%, respectively. Median survival time was 23.6 months. Grade-3 leucopenia and neutropenia were observed in two (18%) and one patient (9%), respectively. Grade-2 acute GI toxicity occurred in 2 patients (18%) and late grade-3 in 1 patient (9%).Preliminarily application of DTT-IMRT using a gimbaled linac on CCRT in LAPC patients resulted in excellent locoregional control and OS without severe toxicity.

    View details for DOI 10.18632/oncotarget.25310

    View details for PubMedID 29805762

    View details for PubMedCentralID PMC5955105

  • Regulatory mechanisms of hypoxia-inducible factor 1 activity: Two decades of knowledge. Cancer science Koyasu, S., Kobayashi, M., Goto, Y., Hiraoka, M., Harada, H. 2018; 109 (3): 560-571

    Abstract

    Hypoxia-inducible factor 1 (HIF-1) is a transcriptional activator of various genes related to cellular adaptive responses to hypoxia. Dysfunctions in the regulatory systems of HIF-1 activity have been implicated in the pathogenesis of various diseases including malignant tumors and, thus, elucidating the molecular mechanisms underlying the activation of HIF-1 is eagerly desired for the development of novel anti-cancer strategies. The importance of oxygen-dependent and ubiquitin-mediated proteolysis of the regulatory subunit of HIF-1 (HIF-1α) was first reported in 1997. Since then, accumulating evidence has shown that HIF-1α may become stable and active even under normoxic conditions; for example, when disease-associated genetic and functional alterations in some genes trigger the aberrant activation of HIF-1 regardless of oxygen conditions. We herein review the last two decades of knowledge, since 1997, on the regulatory mechanisms of HIF-1 activity from conventional oxygen- and proteolysis-dependent mechanisms to up-to-the-minute information on cancer-associated genetic and functional alteration-mediated mechanisms.

    View details for DOI 10.1111/cas.13483

    View details for PubMedID 29285833

    View details for PubMedCentralID PMC5834787

  • A Prospective Study of Intensity-modified Radiation Therapy in Comparison with Conventional 3D-RT for BR Pancreatic Cancer Patients with Arterial Involvement. Anticancer research Masui, T., Takaori, K., Anazawa, T., Sato, A., Nakano, K., Uchida, Y., Yogo, A., Goto, Y., Matsumoto, S., Kodama, Y., Kanai, M., Isoda, H., Mizumoto, M., Kawaguchi, Y., Shibuya, K., Itasaka, S., Uemoto, S. 2017; 37 (12): 7023-7030

    Abstract

    Intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) is a form of radiation therapy that allows accurate irradiation with reduced damage to surrounding tissues. Here, we analyzed borderline-resectable pancreatic cancer (BRPC) with arterial abutment (BR-A) patients with IMRT as neoadjuvant therapy and performed comparisons with patients with conventional RT to clarify the advantages of IMRT as a neoadjuvant therapy.Thirty BR-A patients treated at our hospital between January 2012 and December 2015 were divided into two groups: 12 patients underwent conventional 3D-RT before resection (RT group); and 18 patients underwent IMRT before resection (IMRT group). We analyzed safety, tumor resection rate, histological classification of the tumor and overall survival.The R0 rate was 84% for the IMRT group and 83% for the RT group. Local therapeutic effects as assessed by Evans classification showed a higher local control rate in the IMRT group (Grade: 1, 0%; 2a, 25%; 2b, 41.6%; 3, 17%; 4, 8%) than in the RT group (Grade: 1, 17%; 2a, 50%; 2b, 17%; 3, 17%; 4, 0%). The cumulative dose of S1 treatment as adjuvant therapy was much smaller in the RT group (18.3%) compared to that in the IMRT group (57.1%, p=0.047), and with better subsequent overall survival rate (MST 32 months vs. 13.8 months, p=0.0273).The IMRT group showed a better control rate than the RT group. The neoadjuvant IMRT has advantages of higher completion rate of adjuvant chemotherapy with better nutritional status and better subsequent overall survival rate (OS).

    View details for DOI 10.21873/anticanres.12172

    View details for PubMedID 29187490

  • A circadian clock gene, PER2, activates HIF-1 as an effector molecule for recruitment of HIF-1α to promoter regions of its downstream genes. The FEBS journal Kobayashi, M., Morinibu, A., Koyasu, S., Goto, Y., Hiraoka, M., Harada, H. 2017; 284 (22): 3804-3816

    Abstract

    Hypoxia-inducible factor 1 (HIF-1) is a transcription factor functioning in cellular adaptive responses to hypoxia. Recent studies have suggested that HIF-1 activity is upregulated by one of the important circadian clock genes, period circadian clock 2 (PER2); however, its underlying mechanism remains unclear. Here, we show that PER2 functions as an effector protein for the recruitment of HIF-1α to its cognate enhancer sequence, the hypoxia-response element (HRE). We found that the forced expression of PER2 enhanced HIF-1 activity without influencing expression levels of the regulatory subunit of HIF-1, HIF-1α, at either mRNA or protein levels. A series of coimmunoprecipitation-based experiments revealed that PER2 interacted with HIF-1α and facilitated the recruitment of HIF-1α to HRE derived from vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) promoter. The PER2-mediated activation of HIF-1 was observed only when the asparagine residue at position 803 of HIF-1α (HIF-1α N803) was kept unhydroxylated by hypoxic stimulation, by introducing an N803A point mutation, or by an inhibitor of N803-dioxygenase, deferoxamine. However, the extent of PER-2-HIF-1α interaction was equivalent regardless of the N803 hydroxylation status. Taken together, these results suggest that, with the help of an unknown sensor molecule for the N803 hydroxylation status, PER2 functions as an effector molecule for the recruitment of HIF-1 to promoter regions of its downstream genes. Our findings reveal a novel regulatory step in the activation of HIF-1, which can be targeted to develop therapeutic strategies against HIF-1-related diseases, such as cancers.

    View details for DOI 10.1111/febs.14280

    View details for PubMedID 28963769

  • The emerging roles of the ubiquitination/deubiquitination system in tumor radioresistance regarding DNA damage responses, cell cycle regulation, hypoxic responses, and antioxidant properties: Insight into the development of novel radiosensitizing strategies. Mutation research Goto, Y., Koyasu, S., Kobayashi, M., Harada, H. 2017; 803-805: 76-81

    Abstract

    Radiation therapy is one of the first-line treatments for many cancers, with no less than half of cancer patients receiving it in the US. Despite the development of innovative and high-precision radiation therapy strategies, many patients still experience local tumor recurrence after the treatment, at least in part, due to the existence of radioresistant cells in malignant tumor tissues. Among the various biological processes known to induce radioresistance, a post-translational protein modification, ubiquitination, has received marked attention in recent years. Ubiquitination, in which highly conserved ubiquitin polypeptides are covalently attached to their target proteins, has long been recognized as a system to tag unnecessary proteins for 26S proteasome-dependent proteolysis. However, accumulating lines of evidence recently revealed that it acts as a signal molecule in diverse biological processes as well, and its functional disorder was found to cause not only tumor development and various diseases but also tumor radioresistance. The present review summarizes the latest knowledge about how the cancer-related disorder of the ubiquitination systems induces the radioresistance of cancer cells by influencing intrinsic pathways, each of which potentially affects the radioresistance/radiosensitivity of cells, such as DNA damage responses, cell cycle regulation, hypoxic responses, and antioxidant properties. In addition, this review aims to provide insights into how we can exploit the disorders in order to develop novel radiosensitizing strategies.

    View details for DOI 10.1016/j.mrfmmm.2017.07.007

    View details for PubMedID 28778421

  • Inter- and Intrafractional Variation in the 3-Dimensional Positions of Pancreatic Tumors Due to Respiration Under Real-Time Monitoring. International journal of radiation oncology, biology, physics Akimoto, M., Nakamura, M., Nakamura, A., Mukumoto, N., Kishi, T., Goto, Y., Mizowaki, T., Hiraoka, M. 2017; 98 (5): 1204-1211

    Abstract

    To quantify the 3-dimensional pancreatic tumor motion during the overall treatment course using real-time orthogonal kilovoltage X-ray imaging.This study included 10 patients with pancreatic cancer who underwent 6-port static intensity modulated radiation therapy with real-time tumor tracking in 15 fractions, except for 1 patient (5 fractions). The tumor and abdominal wall positions were acquired simultaneously during the overall treatment course. Then the tumor motion amplitude and reference positions were determined.The mean tumor amplitudes were 4.9, 6.5, and 13.4 mm in the left-right (LR), anterior-posterior (AP), and superior-inferior (SI) directions, respectively. The intrafractional variations of the reference tumor position were up to 5.4, 10.2, and 10.7 mm in the LR, AP, and SI directions, and those of the reference abdominal position were up to 10.5 mm. The reference tumor position drifted significantly in the AP and SI directions after 10 minutes, and that of abdominal wall motion drifted during the first 15 minutes (P<.05). The interfractional variation of the reference tumor position after setup correction, based on bony structures, was up to 8.9, 9.8, and 11.0 mm in the LR, AP, and SI directions, respectively.Appropriate respiratory motion management techniques should be applied for the accurate localization of pancreatic tumors.

    View details for DOI 10.1016/j.ijrobp.2017.03.042

    View details for PubMedID 28721905

  • UCHL1-HIF-1 axis-mediated antioxidant property of cancer cells as a therapeutic target for radiosensitization. Scientific reports Nakashima, R., Goto, Y., Koyasu, S., Kobayashi, M., Morinibu, A., Yoshimura, M., Hiraoka, M., Hammond, E. M., Harada, H. 2017; 7 (1): 6879

    Abstract

    Hypoxia-inducible factor 1 (HIF-1) has been recognized as an important mediator of the reprogramming of carbohydrate metabolic pathways from oxidative phosphorylation to accelerated glycolysis. Although this reprogramming has been associated with the antioxidant and radioresistant properties of cancer cells, gene networks triggering the HIF-1-mediated reprogramming and molecular mechanisms linking the reprogramming with radioresistance remain to be determined. Here, we show that Ubiquitin C-terminal hydrolase-L1 (UCHL1), which we previously identified as a novel HIF-1 activator, increased the radioresistance of cancer cells by producing an antioxidant, reduced glutathione (GSH), through HIF-1-mediated metabolic reprogramming. A luciferase assay to monitor HIF-1 activity demonstrated that the overexpression of UCHL1, but not its deubiquitination activity-deficient mutant (UCHL1 C90S), upregulated HIF-1 activity by stabilizing the regulatory subunit of HIF-1 (HIF-1α) in a murine breast cancer cell line, EMT6. UCHL1 overexpression induced the reprogramming of carbohydrate metabolism and increased NADPH levels in a pentose phosphate pathway (PPP)-dependent manner. The UCHL1-mediated reprogramming elevated intracellular GSH levels, and consequently induced a radioresistant phenotype in a HIF-1-dependent manner. The pharmacological inhibition of PPP canceled the UCHL1-mediated radioresistance. These results collectively suggest that cancer cells acquire antioxidant and radioresistant phenotypes through UCHL1-HIF-1-mediated metabolic reprogramming including the activation of PPP and provide a rational basis for targeting this gene network for radiosensitization.

    View details for DOI 10.1038/s41598-017-06605-1

    View details for PubMedID 28761052

    View details for PubMedCentralID PMC5537219

  • LY6E: a conductor of malignant tumor growth through modulation of the PTEN/PI3K/Akt/HIF-1 axis. Oncotarget Yeom, C. J., Zeng, L., Goto, Y., Morinibu, A., Zhu, Y., Shinomiya, K., Kobayashi, M., Itasaka, S., Yoshimura, M., Hur, C. G., Kakeya, H., Hammond, E. M., Hiraoka, M., Harada, H. 2016; 7 (40): 65837-65848

    Abstract

    Lymphocyte antigen 6 complex, locus E (LY6E) has been implicated in the malignant progression of various types of cancers; however, the underlying mechanism remains unclear. Here, we identified LY6E as an activator of HIF-1 and revealed their mechanistic and functional links in malignant tumor growth. The aberrant overexpression of LY6E increased HIF-1α gene expression principally at the transcription level. This, in turn, led to the expression of the pro-angiogenic factors, VEGFA and PDGFB, through decreases in the expression levels of PTEN mRNA and subsequent activation of the PI3K/Akt pathway. The LY6E-HIF-1 axis functioned to increase tumor blood vessel density and promoted tumor growth in immunodeficient mice. LY6E expression levels were significantly higher in human breast cancers than in normal breast tissues, and were strongly associated with the poor prognoses of various cancer patients. Our results characterized LY6E as a novel conductor of tumor growth through its modulation of the PTEN/PI3K/Akt/HIF-1 axis and demonstrated the validity of targeting this pathway for cancer therapy.

    View details for DOI 10.18632/oncotarget.11670

    View details for PubMedID 27589564

    View details for PubMedCentralID PMC5323196

  • Aberrant IDH3α expression promotes malignant tumor growth by inducing HIF-1-mediated metabolic reprogramming and angiogenesis. Oncogene Zeng, L., Morinibu, A., Kobayashi, M., Zhu, Y., Wang, X., Goto, Y., Yeom, C. J., Zhao, T., Hirota, K., Shinomiya, K., Itasaka, S., Yoshimura, M., Guo, G., Hammond, E. M., Hiraoka, M., Harada, H. 2015; 34 (36): 4758-66

    Abstract

    Cancer cells gain a growth advantage through the so-called Warburg effect by shifting glucose metabolism from oxidative phosphorylation to aerobic glycolysis. Hypoxia-inducible factor 1 (HIF-1) has been suggested to function in metabolic reprogramming; however, the underlying mechanism has not been fully elucidated. We found that the aberrant expression of wild-type isocitrate dehydrogenase 3α (IDH3α), a subunit of the IDH3 heterotetramer, decreased α-ketoglutarate levels and increased the stability and transactivation activity of HIF-1α in cancer cells. The silencing of IDH3α significantly delayed tumor growth by suppressing the HIF-1-mediated Warburg effect and angiogenesis. IDH3α expression was associated with the poor postoperative overall survival of lung and breast cancer patients. These results justify the exploitation of IDH3 as a novel target for the diagnosis and treatment of cancers.

    View details for DOI 10.1038/onc.2014.411

    View details for PubMedID 25531325

  • UCHL1 provides diagnostic and antimetastatic strategies due to its deubiquitinating effect on HIF-1α. Nature communications Goto, Y., Zeng, L., Yeom, C. J., Zhu, Y., Morinibu, A., Shinomiya, K., Kobayashi, M., Hirota, K., Itasaka, S., Yoshimura, M., Tanimoto, K., Torii, M., Sowa, T., Menju, T., Sonobe, M., Kakeya, H., Toi, M., Date, H., Hammond, E. M., Hiraoka, M., Harada, H. 2015; 6: 6153

    Abstract

    Hypoxia-inducible factor 1 (HIF-1) plays a role in tumour metastases; however, the genes that activate HIF-1 and subsequently promote metastases have yet to be identified. Here we show that Ubiquitin C-terminal hydrolase-L1 (UCHL1) abrogates the von Hippel-Lindau-mediated ubiquitination of HIF-1α, the regulatory subunit of HIF-1, and consequently promotes metastasis. The aberrant overexpression of UCHL1 facilitates distant tumour metastases in a HIF-1-dependent manner in murine models of pulmonary metastasis. Meanwhile, blockade of the UCHL1-HIF-1 axis suppresses the formation of metastatic tumours. The expression levels of UCHL1 correlate with those of HIF-1α and are strongly associated with the poor prognosis of breast and lung cancer patients. These results indicate that UCHL1 promotes metastases as a deubiquitinating enzyme for HIF-1α, which justifies exploiting it as a prognostic marker and therapeutic target of cancers.

    View details for DOI 10.1038/ncomms7153

    View details for PubMedID 25615526

    View details for PubMedCentralID PMC4317501

  • Clinical outcome and patterns of recurrence of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma with a limited field of postoperative radiotherapy. Japanese journal of clinical oncology Goto, Y., Kodaira, T., Furutani, K., Tachibana, H., Tomita, N., Ito, J., Hanai, N., Ozawa, T., Hirakawa, H., Suzuki, H., Hasegawa, Y. 2013; 43 (7): 719-25

    Abstract

    Postoperative radiotherapy is the standard treatment for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma having high-risk features in surgical specimens. However, its severe toxicity can be a significant problem. This study was undertaken to evaluate the efficacy of our limited-field postoperative radiotherapy with the aim of reducing morbidity by minimizing the radiation field.Between 2000 and 2009, 154 patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma received limited-field postoperative radiotherapy. The reason for postoperative radiotherapy was close/positive margins in 33 patients and extracapsular extension in 91. The median radiation dose was 50 Gy (30-66.4). The radiation field covered the tumor bed without lymph node regions for close/positive margins and only involved sites of the neck region were irradiated for multiple nodes or extracapsular extension.With a median follow-up of 43 months for surviving patients, the 3-year overall survival and progression-free survival rates were 53.7 and 42.1%, respectively. The 3-year rates of progression-free survival of the group having major risks (i.e. close/positive margins and/or extracapsular extension) and the group with other risks were 34.7 and 62.8%, respectively (P < 0.01). Thirty-one local recurrences (20%), of which 22 were located out-of-field, and 44 regional recurrences (29%), of which 16 were located out-of-field, developed. Late toxicity of grade 3 or greater developed in only six patients (3.8%).Although the toxicities associated with limited-field postoperative radiotherapy could be kept to lower levels, the locoregional control rate did not seem to be sufficient. We should arrange the radiation field depending on risk factors.

    View details for DOI 10.1093/jjco/hyt066

    View details for PubMedID 23667153

  • Alternating chemoradiotherapy in patients with nasopharyngeal cancer: prognostic factors and proposal for individualization of therapy. Journal of radiation research Goto, Y., Kodaira, T., Fuwa, N., Mizoguchi, N., Nakahara, R., Nomura, M., Tomita, N., Tachibana, H. 2013; 54 (1): 98-107

    Abstract

    The purpose of this study is to assess the efficacy of alternating chemoradiation in patients with nasopharyngeal cancer. From 1990-2006, 100 patients with nasopharyngeal cancer were treated with alternating chemoradiation at the Aichi Cancer Center. Of these, 4, 2, 23, 34, 13 and 23 patients were staged as I, IIA, IIB, III, IVA and IVB, respectively. The median radiation doses for primary tumors and metastatic lymph nodes were 66.6 Gy (range, 50.4-80.2 Gy) and 66 Gy (range, 40.4-82.2 Gy), respectively. A total of 82 patients received chemotherapy with both cisplatin and 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), while 14 patients received nedaplatin (CDGP) and 5-FU. With a median follow-up of 65.9 months, the 5-year rates of overall survival (OAS) and progression-free survival (PFS) were 78.1% and 68.3%, respectively. On multivariate analysis (MVA), elderly age, N3, and WHO type I histology proved to be significantly unfavorable prognostic factors of OAS. As for PFS, there were T4, N3, and WHO type I histology in MVA. Acute toxicities of hematologic and mucositis/dermatitis ≥ Grade 3 were relatively high (32%); however, they were well-managed. Late toxicities of ≥ Grade 3 were three (3%) mandibular osteomyelitis and one (1%) lethal mucosal bleeding. Results for alternating chemoradiation for nasopharyngeal carcinoma are promising. In order to improve outcomes, usage of intensity-modulated radiation therapy and application of active anticancer agents are hopeful treatments, especially for groups with poor prognosis factors with WHO type I histopathology, T4 and/or N3 disease.

    View details for DOI 10.1093/jrr/rrs071

    View details for PubMedID 22923747

    View details for PubMedCentralID PMC3534273

  • Treatment outcomes of definitive chemoradiotherapy for patients with hypopharyngeal cancer. Journal of radiation research Nakahara, R., Kodaira, T., Furutani, K., Tachibana, H., Tomita, N., Inokuchi, H., Mizoguchi, N., Goto, Y., Ito, Y., Naganawa, S. 2012; 53 (6): 906-15

    Abstract

    We analyzed the efficacy of definitive chemoradiotherapy (CRT) for patients with hypopharyngeal cancer (HPC). Subjects comprised 97 patients who were treated with definitive CRT from 1990 to 2006. Sixty-one patients (62.9%) with resectable disease who aimed to preserve the larynx received induction chemotherapy (ICT), whereas 36 patients (37.1%) with resectable disease who refused an operation or who had unresectable disease received primary alternating CRT or concurrent CRT (non-ICT). The median dose to the primary lesion was 66 Gy. The median follow-up time was 77 months. The 5-year rates of overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS), local control (LC), and laryngeal preservation were 68.7%, 57.5%, 79.1%, and 70.3%, respectively. The T-stage was a significant prognostic factor in terms of OS, PFS and LC in both univariate and multivariate analyses. The 5-year rates of PFS were 45.4% for the ICT group and 81.9% for the non-ICT group. The difference between these groups was significant with univariate analysis (P = 0.006). Acute toxicity of Grade 3 to 4 was observed in 34 patients (35.1%). Grade 3 dysphagia occurred in 20 patients (20.6%). Twenty-nine (29.8%) of 44 patients with second primary cancer had esophageal cancer. Seventeen of 29 patients had manageable superficial esophageal cancer. The clinical efficacy of definitive CRT for HPC is thought to be promising in terms of not only organ preservation but also disease control. Second primary cancer may have a clinical impact on the outcome for HPC patients, and special care should be taken when screening at follow-up.

    View details for DOI 10.1093/jrr/rrs052

    View details for PubMedID 22843377

    View details for PubMedCentralID PMC3483853

  • Microenvironments and cellular characteristics in the micro tumor cords of malignant solid tumors. International journal of molecular sciences Yeom, C. J., Goto, Y., Zhu, Y., Hiraoka, M., Harada, H. 2012; 13 (11): 13949-65

    Abstract

    Because of the accelerated proliferation of cancer cells and the limited distance that molecular oxygen can diffuse from functional tumor blood vessels, there appears to be a unique histology in malignant solid tumors, conglomerates of micro tumor cords. A functional blood vessel exists at the center of each tumor cord and is sequentially surrounded by well-oxygenated, oxygen-insufficient, and oxygen-depleted cancer cells in the shape of baumkuchen (layered). Cancer cells, by inducing the expression of various genes, adapt to the highly heterogeneous microenvironments in each layer. Accumulated evidence has suggested that not only tumor microenvironments but also cellular adaptive responses to them, influence the radioresistance of cancer cells. However, precisely how these factors affect one another and eventually influence the therapeutic effect of radiation therapy remains to be elucidated. Here, based on recent basic and clinical cancer research, we deduced extrinsic (oxygen concentration, glucose concentration, pH etc.) and intrinsic (transcriptional activity of hypoxia-inducible factor 1, metabolic pathways, cell cycle status, proliferative activity etc.) parameters in each layer of a tumor cord. In addition, we reviewed the latest information about the molecular mechanism linking these factors with both tumor radioresistance and tumor recurrence after radiation therapy.

    View details for DOI 10.3390/ijms131113949

    View details for PubMedID 23203043

    View details for PubMedCentralID PMC3509559

  • Predictive factors for radiation pneumonitis in oesophageal cancer patients treated with chemoradiotherapy without prophylactic nodal irradiation. The British journal of radiology Nomura, M., Kodaira, T., Furutani, K., Tachibana, H., Tomita, N., Goto, Y. 2012; 85 (1014): 813-8

    Abstract

    The objective of this study was to identify clinical and dosimetric factors for the development of radiation pneumonitis (RP) among patients with oesophageal cancer treated with three-dimensional radiotherapy without prophylactic nodal irradiation.125 patients with oesophageal cancer had undergone dose-volume histogram (DVH) metrics and received chemoradiotherapy (CRT). Several clinical and dosimetric factors with regard to the lung were evaluated as predictive factors for the development of symptomatic RP.26 patients (20.8%) developed symptomatic RP classified as greater than or equal to Grade 2. By univariate analysis, body weight loss, tumour length, Stage IV, response to treatment and all DVH parameters proved to be significant factors for the development of RP (p < 0.05). By multivariate analysis, Stage IV and all dosimetric factors were independent predictive factors for the development of symptomatic RP (p < 0.05). Recursive partitioning analysis indicated that V10 values of 24.8% or more and Stage IV were associated with higher development of RP (odds ratio 6.53).Our study demonstrated that severe RP was also developed in patients treated with the minimal radiation field. Stage IV and the dosimetric factors were identified as independent predictive factors for symptomatic RP in oesophageal cancer patients treated with CRT without prophylactic nodal irradiation.

    View details for DOI 10.1259/bjr/13604628

    View details for PubMedID 22253344

    View details for PubMedCentralID PMC3474116