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Mechanisms how colorectal cancer (CRC) cells penetrate blood micro-vessel endothelia and metastasise is poorly understood. To study blood endothelial cell (BEC) barrier breaching by CRC emboli, an in vitro assay measuring BEC-free areas underneath SW620 cell spheroids, so called “circular chemorepellent induced defects” (CCIDs, appearing in consequence of endothelial retraction), was adapted and supported by Western blotting, EIA-, EROD- and luciferase reporter assays. Inhibition of ALOX12 or NF-κB in SW620 cells or BECs, respectively, caused attenuation of CCIDs. The FDA approved drugs vinpocetine [inhibiting ALOX12-dependent 12(S)-HETE synthesis], ketotifen [inhibiting NF-κB], carbamazepine and fenofibrate [inhibiting 12(S)-HETE and NF-κB] significantly attenuated CCID formation at low μM concentrations. In the 5-FU-resistant SW620-R/BEC model guanfacine, nifedipine and proadifen inhibited CCIDs stronger than in the naive SW620/BEC model. This indicated that in SW620-R cells formerly silent (yet unidentified) genes became expressed and targetable by these drugs in course of resistance acquisition. Fenofibrate, and the flavonoids hispidulin and apigenin, which are present in medicinal plants, spices, herbs and fruits, attenuated CCID formation in both, naive- and resistant models. As FDA-approved drugs and food-flavonoids inhibited established and acquired intravasative pathways and attenuated BEC barrier-breaching in vitro, this warrants testing of these compounds in CRC models in vivo.

Lymph node metastasis of breast cancer is a clinical marker of poor prognosis. Yet, there exist no therapies targeting mechanisms of intravasation into lymphatics. Herein we report on an effect of the antidyslipidemic drug fenofibrate with vasoprotective activity, which attenuates breast cancer intravasation in vitro, and describe the potential mechanisms. To measure intravasation in a 3-dimensional co-culture model MDA-MB231 and MCF-7 breast cancer spheroids were placed on immortalised lymphendothelial cell (LEC) monolayers. This provokes the formation of circular chemorepellent induced defects (CCIDs) in the LEC barrier resembling entry ports for the intravasating tumour. Furthermore, the expression of adhesion molecules ICAM-1, CD31 and FAK was investigated in LECs by western blotting as well as cell-cell adhesion and NF-κB activity by respective assays. In MDA-MB231 cells the activity of CYP1A1 was measured by EROD assay. Fenofibrate inhibited CCID formation in the MDA-MB231/LEC- and MCF-7/LEC models and the activity of NF-κB, which in turn downregulated ICAM-1 in LECs and the adhesion of cancer cells to LECs. Furthermore, CD31 and the activity of FAK were inhibited. In MDA-MB231 cells, fenofibrate attenuated CYP1A1 activity. Combinations with other FDA-approved drugs, which reportedly inhibit different ion channels, attenuated CCID formation additively or synergistically. In summary, fenofibrate inhibited NF-κB and ICAM-1, and inactivated FAK, thereby attenuating tumour intravasation in vitro. A combination with other FDA-approved drugs further improved this effect. Our new concept may lead to a novel therapy for cancer patients.

Retraction of mesenchymal stromal cells supports the invasion of colorectal cancer cells (CRC) into the adjacent compartment. CRC-secreted 12(S)-HETE enhances the retraction of cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) and therefore, 12(S)-HETE may enforce invasivity of CRC. Understanding the mechanisms of metastatic CRC is crucial for successful intervention. Therefore, we studied pro-invasive contributions of stromal cells in physiologically relevant three-dimensional in vitro assays consisting of CRC spheroids, CAFs, extracellular matrix and endothelial cells, as well as in reductionist models. In order to elucidate how CAFs support CRC invasion, tumour spheroid-induced CAF retraction and free intracellular Ca2+ levels were measured and pharmacological-or siRNA-based inhibition of selected signalling cascades was performed. CRC spheroids caused the retraction of CAFs, generating entry gates in the adjacent surrogate stroma. The responsible trigger factor 12(S)-HETE provoked a signal, which was transduced by PLC, IP3, free intracellular Ca2+, Ca(2+)calmodulin-kinase-II, RHO/ROCK and MYLK which led to the activation of myosin light chain 2, and subsequent CAF mobility. RHO activity was observed downstream as well as upstream of Ca2+ release. Thus, Ca2+ signalling served as central signal amplifier. Treatment with the FDA-approved drugs carbamazepine, cinnarizine, nifedipine and bepridil HCl, which reportedly interfere with cellular calcium availability, inhibited CAF-retraction. The elucidation of signalling pathways and identification of approved inhibitory drugs warrant development of intervention strategies targeting tumour-stroma interaction.

The oncoantigen nucleophosmin-anaplastic lymphoma kinase (NPM-ALK) induces cellular and humoral immune responses in patients with NPM-ALK-positive anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL). We characterize the NPM-ALK-specific T-cell responses in a cohort of pediatric and adolescent ALCL-patients in remission without Human Leucocyte Antigen (HLA)-preselection. First, we assessed NPM-ALK-reactive T-cell responses and their HLA-class I restriction in patients by using dendritic cells (DCs) transfected with in vitro transcribed (IVT) NPM-ALK-RNA for CD8 (n = 20) or CD3 (n = 9) T-cell stimulation. NPM-ALK-specific T-cells were detected in twelve of 29 patients (nine of 20 with CD8-selected and three of nine with CD3-selected cells). Recognition of NPM-ALK was restricted by HLA-C alleles in six of eight, and by HLA-B alleles in four of eight analyzed patients. No NPM-ALK-reactivity was detected in 20 healthy individuals. Second, in order to define possible immunogenic NPM-ALK-epitope regions, DCs pulsed with pools of overlapping long NPM-ALK-peptides were used to stimulate T-cells in further 22 patients and ten controls. Responsive T-cells were detected in 15 patients and in five controls. A peptide pool located in the middle of the kinase domain induced ALK-reactive T-cells in 14 of 15 responsive patients. We could narrow to single peptides between p327-p370 of NPM-ALK in four patients. In conclusion, using IVT-RNA, 40% of NPM-ALK-positive ALCL-patients in remission had detectable NPM-ALK-specific T-cell responses which were mainly restricted by HLA-B and -C alleles. Peptide stimulation of T-cells revealed responses in almost 70% of patients and allowed describing an immunogenic region located in the ALK-kinase domain.

Secretion of 12(S)-HETE by breast cancer emboli provokes "circular chemorepellent induced defects" (CCIDs) in the adjacent lymphatic vasculature facilitating their intravasation and lymph node metastasis which determines prognosis. Therefore, elucidating the mechanism of lymph endothelial cell (LEC) wall disintegration may provide cues for anti-metastatic intervention. The role of intracellular free Ca(2+) for CCID formation was investigated in LECs using MCF-7 or MDA-MB231 breast cancer cell spheroids in a three-dimensional cell co-culture model. 12(S)-HETE elevated the Ca(2+) level in LEC by activating PLC/IP3. Downstream, the Ca(2+)-calmodulin kinase MYLK contributed to the phosphorylation of Ser19-MLC2, LEC contraction and CCID formation. Approved clinical drugs, lidoflazine, ketotifen, epiandrosterone and cyclosporine, which reportedly disturb cellular calcium supply, inhibited 12(S)-HETE-induced Ca(2+) increase, Ser19-MLC2 phosphorylation and CCID formation. This treatment strategy may reduce spreading of breast cancer through lymphatics.

Background: The arachidonic acid metabolite 12(S)-HETE is suspected to enhance metastatic spread by inducing cancer cell- and lymph endothelial cell (LEC) motility. However, the molecular mechanisms leading to 12(S)-HETE-triggered cell migration are still elusive. Methods: To delineate the signalling pathways involved in 12(S)-HETE-mediated migration, inhibitors against RHO and ROCK, and specific siRNAs downregulating 12(S)-HETE receptor (12-HETER) and myosin light chain 2 (MLC2) were used. The breaching of the endothelial barrier was investigated by an assay measuring tumour spheroid-triggered ‘circular chemorepellent-induced defects' (CCIDs), and respective signal transduction was elucidated by western blotting. Results: We provide evidence that 12(S)-HETE phosphorylated (and activated) MLC2, which regulates actin/myosin-based contraction. MLC2 activation was found to be essential for LEC retraction and CCID formation. Furthermore, we show that 12(S)-HETE activated a 12-HETER–RHO–ROCK–MYPT signalling cascade to induce MLC2 function. Conclusions: Signalling via this pathway is described for this metabolite for the first time. This may provide potential targets for the intervention of metastatic colonisation.

Patients with anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK)-positive anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL) mount a humoral and cellular immune response against ALK. More than 90% of children and adolescents with ALK-positive ALCL have detectable anti-ALK antibodies in serum or plasma, and the antibody titer inversely correlates with the risk of relapse. ALK-specific CD8 and CD4 T cell responses have been described in patients with ALK-positive ALCL. Vaccination with ALK DNA led to protection against lymphoma growth in a murine model. Collectively, these data suggest that the ALK-specific immune response is involved in the control of the disease. The characteristics of the humoral and cellular immune response against ALK as well as tumor immune escape mechanisms have been increasingly investigated. However, tumor and host factors contributing to the individual immune response against ALK are still largely unknown. Depending on the individual strength of the immune response and its determinants, individualized immunological approaches might be appropriate for the consolidation of ALCL patients. Strategies such as ALK vaccination could be effective for those with a pre-existing anti-tumor immunity, while an allogeneic blood stem cell transplantation or check-point inhibition could be effective for others.

RELA, RELB, CREL, NFKB1 and NFKB2, and the upstream regulators NEMO and NIK were knocked-down in lymph endothelial cells (LECs) and in MDA-MB231 breast cancer spheroids to study the contribution of NF-κB in vascular barrier breaching. Suppression of RELA, NFKB1 and NEMO inhibited "circular chemo-repellent induced defects" (CCIDs), which form when cancer cells cross the lymphatic vasculature, by ~20-30%. Suppression of RELB, NFKB2 and NIK inhibited CCIDs by only ~10-15%. In MDA-MB231 cells RELA and NFKB1 constituted MMP1 expression, which caused the activation of PAR1 in adjacent LECs. The knock-down of MMP1 in MDA-MB231 spheroids and pharmacological inhibition of PAR1 in LECs inhibited CCID formation by ~30%. Intracellular Ca(2+) release in LECs, which was induced by recombinant MMP1, was suppressed by the PAR1 inhibitor SCH79797, thereby confirming a functional intercellular axis: RELA/NFKB1 - MMP1 (MDA-MB231) - PAR1 (LEC). Recombinant MMP1 induced PAR1-dependent phosphorylation of MLC2 and FAK in LECs, which is indicative for their activity and for directional cell migration such as observed during CCID formation. The combined knock-down of the NF-κB pathways in LECs and MDA-MB231 spheroids inhibited CCIDs significantly stronger than knock-down in either cell type alone. Also the knock-down of ICAM-1 in LECs (a NF-κB endpoint with relevance for CCID formation) and knock-down of MMP1 in MDA-MB231 augmented CCID inhibition. This evidences that in both cell types NF-κB significantly and independently contributes to tumour-mediated breaching of the lymphatic barrier. Hence, inflamed tumour tissue and/or vasculature pose an additional threat to cancer progression.

A causal link between overexpression of aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) and its target cytochrome P450 1A1 (CYP1A1) and metastatic outgrowth of various cancer entities has been established. Nevertheless, the mechanism how AHR/CYP1A1 support metastasis formation is still little understood. In vitro we discovered a potential mechanism facilitating tumour dissemination based on the production of 12(S)-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid (12(S)-HETE). Utilising a three-dimensional lymph endothelial cell (LEC) monolayer & MDA-MB231 breast cancer cell spheroid co-culture model in combination with knock-down approach allowed elucidation of the molecular/biochemical basis of AHR/CYP1A1-induced tumour breaching through the LEC barrier. Enzyme immunoassay evidenced the potential of recombinant CYP1A1 to synthesise 12(S)-HETE in vitro and qPCR and Western blotting measured gene and protein expression in specific experimental settings. In detail, AHR induced CYP1A1 expression and 12(S)-HETE secretion in tumour spheroids, which caused LEC junction retraction thereby forming large discontinuities allowing transmigration of the tumour. This was enforced by the activating AHR ligand 6-formylindolo (3,3-b)carbazole (FICZ), or inhibited by the AHR antagonist 3,3’-diindolylmethane (DIM) as well as by siRNA against AHR and CYP1A1. AHR and NF-κB were negatively cross talking and therefore, the inhibition of AHR (but not CYP1A1) induced RELA, RELB, NFKB1, NFKB2 and the NF-κB target MMP1, which itself promotes tumour intravasation by a mechanism that is different from 12(S)-HETE. Conversely, the inhibition of NFKB2 induced AHR, CYP1A1 and 12(S)-HETE synthesis. The approved clinical drugs guanfacine and vinpocetine, which inhibit CYP1A1 and NF-κB, respectively, significantly inhibited LEC barrier breaching in vitro indicating an option to reduce metastatic dissemination.

Since cancer cells, when grown as spheroids, display drug sensitivity and radiation resistance patterns such as seen in vivo we recently established a three‑dimensional (3D) in vitro model recapitulating colorectal cancer (CRC)-triggered lymphatic endothelial cell (LEC)‑barrier breaching to study mechanisms of intra‑/extravasation. CRC metastasizes not only through lymphatics but also through blood vessels and here we extend the 3D model to the interaction of blood endothelial cells (BECs) with naive and 5‑fluorouracil (5‑FU)‑resistant CRC CCL227 cells. The 3D model enabled quantifying effects of tumour‑derived microRNA200 (miR200) miR200a, miR200b, miR200c, miR141 and miR429 regarding the induction of so-called 'circular chemorepellent‑induced defects' (CCIDs) within the BEC‑barrier, which resemble gates for tumour transmigration. For this, miR200 precursors were individually transfected and furthermore, the modulation of ZEB family expression was analysed by western blotting. miR200c, miR141 and miR429, which are contained in exosomes from naive CCL227 cells, downregulated the expression of ZEB2, SNAI and TWIST in BECs. The exosomes of 5‑FU‑resistant CCL227‑RH cells, which are devoid of miR200, accelerated CCID formation in BEC monolayers as compared to exosomes from naive CCL227 cells. This confirmed the reported role of ZEB2 and SNAI in CRC metastasis and highlighted the active contribution of the stroma in the metastatic process. CCL227 spheroids affected the integrity of BEC and LEC barriers alike, which was in agreement with the observation that CRC metastasizes via blood stream (into the liver) as well as via lymphatics (into lymph nodes and lungs). This further validated the CRC/LEC and CRC/BEC in vitro model to study mechanisms of CRC spreading through vascular systems. Treatment of CCL227‑RH cells with the HDAC inhibitors mocetinostat and sulforaphane reduced CCID formation to the level triggered by naive CCL227 spheroids, however, without significantly influencing miR200 expression in CCL227-RH cells.

Retraction of mesenchymal stromal cells supports the invasion of colorectal cancer cells (CRC) into the adjacent compartment. CRC-secreted 12(S)-HETE enhances the retraction of cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) and therefore, 12(S)-HETE may enforce invasivity of CRC. Understanding the mechanisms of metastatic CRC is crucial for successful intervention. Therefore, we studied pro-invasive contributions of stromal cells in physiologically relevant three-dimensional in vitro assays consisting of CRC spheroids, CAFs, extracellular matrix and endothelial cells, as well as in reductionist models. In order to elucidate how CAFs support CRC invasion, tumour spheroid-induced CAF retraction and free intracellular Ca2+ levels were measured and pharmacological- or siRNA-based inhibition of selected signalling cascades was performed. CRC spheroids caused the retraction of CAFs, generating entry gates in the adjacent surrogate stroma. The responsible trigger factor 12(S)-HETE provoked a signal, which was transduced by PLC, IP3, free intracellular Ca2+, Ca2+-calmodulin-kinase-II, RHO/ROCK and MYLK which led to the activation of myosin light chain 2, and subsequent CAF mobility. RHO activity was observed downstream as well as upstream of Ca2+ release. Thus, Ca2+ signalling served as central signal amplifier. Treatment with the FDA-approved drugs carbamazepine, cinnarizine, nifedipine and bepridil HCl, which reportedly interfere with cellular calcium availability, inhibited CAF-retraction. The elucidation of signalling pathways and identification of approved inhibitory drugs warrant development of intervention strategies targeting tumour–stroma interaction. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1007/s00018-016-2441-5) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.