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Proteoglycan 4 and regorafenib synergistically reduce HCC progression in an orthotopic model

ABSTRACT: Background: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a major therapeutic challenge, with limited long-term benefits from treatments such as regorafenib due to their efficacy and adverse effects. Proteoglycan-4 (PRG4) has previously shown promise in enhancing anti-proliferative effects of multi-kinase inhibitors in simple in vitro two-dimensional (2D) HCC models. Objective: We evaluated the adjuvant effect of PRG4 in enhancing regorafenib’s anti-tumor efficacy in preclinical more complex in vitro three-dimensional (3D) HCC tumoroids, and in vivo HCC models. Design: HLC19 and HLF HCC cell lines were engineered to stably overexpress PRG4. Anti-proliferative effects of PRG4, either alone or in combination with regorafenib, were evaluated in 2D monolayers, 3D Matrigel embedded spheroids and orthotopic xenograft mouse models established via HCC cells intrahepatic injection. RNA sequencing was done to assess the transcriptomic profiles of PRG4 overexpressing spheroids. Results: PRG4 expression partially inhibited HCC tumor growth in vivo, but enhanced regorafenib treatment leading to a near-complete tumor regression. PRG4 expression significantly impaired cell growth in both 2D and 3D HCC models in vitro. In an angiogenesis in vitro model, PRG4 hindered endothelial tubulogenesis both alone and in combination with regorafenib. By transcriptomic analysis of matrigel-embedded HCC cell spheroids exposed to PRG4 and/or regorafenib, PDGF pathway emerged as a target of PRG4 + regorafenib, corroborating the role of PRG4 in impairing angiogenesis. G0/G1 phase of cell cycle resulted more delayed in spheroids exposed to PRG4 and regorafenib than those treated with regorafenib only, compared to untreated cells. Conclusions: PRG4 enhances the anti-tumor activity of regorafenib across various HCC models. These findings support PRG4 as a promising adjuvant candidate to improve clinical outcomes in HCC.

ORGANISM(S): Homo sapiens

PROVIDER: GSE299840 | GEO | 2026/01/14

REPOSITORIES: GEO

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Project description:The traditional method for studying cancer in vitro is to grow immortalized cancer cells in two-dimensional (2D) monolayers on plastic. However, many cellular features are impaired in these unnatural conditions and big alterations in gene expression in comparison to tumors have been reported. Three-dimensional (3D) cell culture models have become increasingly popular and are suggested to be better models than 2D monolayers due to improved cell-to-cell contacts and structures that resemble in vivo architecture. The aim of this study was to develop a simple high-throughput 3D drug screening method and to compare drug responses in JIMT1 breast cancer cells when grown in 2D, in polyHEMA coated anchorage independent 3D models and in Matrigel on-top 3D cell culture models. We screened 102 compounds with multiple concentrations and biological replicates for their effects on cell proliferation. The cells were either treated immediately upon plating or they were allowed to grow in 3D for four days prior to the drug treatment. Big variations in drug responses were observed between the models indicating that comparisons of culture model influenced drug sensitivities cannot be made based on effects of a single drug. However, we show with the 63 most prominent drugs that, in general, JIMT1 cells grown on Matrigel were significantly more sensitive to drugs than cells grown in 2D cultures, while responses of cells grown in polyHEMA resembled those of 2D. Furthermore, comparison of gene expression profiles of the cell culture models to xenograft tumors indicated that cells cultured in Matrigel and as xenografts most closely resembled each other. In this study we also suggest that 3D cultures can provide a platform for systematic experimentation of larger compound collections in a high-throughput mode and be used as alternatives for traditional 2D screens towards better comparability to in vivo state. Gene expression analysis of JIMT1 breast cancer cells cultured as xenografts for 43 days, in two dimensional cultures for seven days (2D7d), in polyHEMA three dimensional cell culture models for four and seven days (PH7d and PH7d), and in Matrigel three dimensional cultures for four and seven days (MG4d and MG7d). Two biological replicates was included for each sample.

Project description:Background and purpose: Combining inhibitors of vascular endothelial growth factor and the programmed cell death protein 1 (PD1) pathway has shown efficacy in multiple cancers, but the disease-specific and agent-specific mechanisms of benefit remain unclear. We examined the efficacy and defined the mechanisms of benefit when combining regorafenib (a multikinase antivascular endothelial growth factor receptor inhibitor) with PD1 blockade in murine hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) models. Basic procedures: We used orthotopic models of HCC in mice with liver damage to test the effects of regorafenib-dosed orally at 5, 10 or 20 mg/kg daily-combined with anti-PD1 antibodies (10 mg/kg intraperitoneally thrice weekly). We evaluated the effects of therapy on tumor vasculature and immune microenvironment using immunofluorescence, flow cytometry, RNA-sequencing, ELISA and pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic studies in mice and in tissue and blood samples from patients with cancer. Main findings: Regorafenib/anti-PD1 combination therapy increased survival compared with regofarenib or anti-PD1 alone in a regorafenib dose-dependent manner. Combination therapy increased regorafenib uptake into the tumor tissues by normalizing the HCC vasculature and increasing CD8 T-cell infiltration and activation at an intermediate regorafenib dose. The efficacy of regorafenib/anti-PD1 therapy was compromised in mice lacking functional T cells (Rag1-deficient mice). Regorafenib treatment increased the transcription and protein expression of CXCL10-a ligand for CXCR3 expressed on tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes-in murine HCC and in blood of patients with HCC. Using Cxcr3-deficient mice, we demonstrate that CXCR3 mediated the increased intratumoral CD8 T-cell infiltration and the added survival benefit when regorafenib was combined with anti-PD1 therapy. Principal conclusions: Judicious regorafenib/anti-PD1 combination therapy can inhibit tumor growth and increase survival by normalizing tumor vasculature and increasing intratumoral CXCR3+CD8 T-cell infiltration through elevated CXCL10 expression in HCC cells.

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Proteoglycan 4 and regorafenib synergistically reduce HCC progression in an orthotopic model

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