Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) is characterized by the Philadelphia chromosome, a minute chromosome that leads to the creation of the fusion gene BCR/ABL and the transcription of the fusion protein BCR/ABL in transformed cells. The constitutively active tyrosine kinase BCR/ABL confers enhanced proliferation and survival on leukemic cells. CML has in only a few decades gone from being a disease with very bad prognosis to being a disease that can be effectively treated with oral tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs). TKIs are drugs inhibiting BCR/ABL as well as other tyrosine kinases. In this thesis, the focus has been on the immune system of CML patients, on immune escape mechanisms present in untreated patients and on how these are affected by TKI therapy. We have found that newly diagnosed, untreated CML patients exert different kinds of immune escape mechanisms. Patients belonging to the Sokal high-risk group had higher levels of myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) as well as high levels of the programmed death receptor 1 (PD-1)-expressing cytotoxic T cells compared to control subjects. Moreover, CML patients had higher levels of myeloid cells expressing the ligand for PD-1, PD-L1. CML patients as well as patients with B cell malignacies had high levels of soluble CD25 in blood plasma. In B cell malignacies, sCD25 was found to be released from T regulatory cells (Tregs). Treatment with the TKIs imatinib or dasatinib decreased the levels of MDSCs in peripheral blood. Tregs on the other hand increased during TKI therapy. The immunostimulatory molecule CD40 as well as NK cells increased during therapy, indicating an immunostimulatory effect of TKIs. When evaluating immune responses, multiplex techniques for quantification of proteins such as cytokines and chemokines are becoming increasingly popular. With these techniques a lot of information can be gained from a small sample volume and complex networks can be more easily studied than when using for example the singleplex ELISA. When comparing different multiplex platforms we found that the absolute protein concentration measured by one platform rarely correlated with the absolute concentration measured by another platform. However, relative quantification was better correlated.

The first end point of this study was to identify specific pro-apoptotic or anti-proliferative factors in the breast cancer cell secretome. To this end, we designed an in vitro screen that effectively cross-cultured 20 breast cancer cell lines in each other's conditioned media. We selected the strongest pro-apoptotic hits and performed further proteomic and biochemical characterization in order to analyze their composition. We determined that the pro-apoptotic activity resided in the soluble, exosome-free secreted fraction of triple negative breast cancer cell conditioned medium and used proteomic insights in order to narrow down the list of possible candidate molecules responsible for the apoptotic effect. The second endpoint of this study was to evaluate the particulate fraction found in breast cancer cell conditioned media for diagnostically significant molecules. We isolated cancer exosomes, employing a serial ultracentrifugation protocol, and were able to establish that the exosome cell surface receptors identically reflect the molecular identity of their cell lines of origin. However, downstream protein kinases within exosomes display patterns of depletion or enrichment in comparison to the corresponding cell lines. Overall, we found that the exosome protein composition in breast cancer is informative enough to guide the choice of specific inhibitor treatment in a clinical setting. / Engineering and Applied Sciences

Kinases play a crucial role in regulating cellular signaling cascades, making them therapeutic targets for several human diseases. In human cancers, mis-regulation and mutations of kinases such as EGFR (epidermal growth factor receptor) have been found to drive malignant transformation. Due to the conserved structural elements of protein kinases, the majority of kinase inhibitors available have a tendency to inhibit multiple targets. The biological impact of this promiscuity is insufficiently defined and the prevalence of cellular compensatory mechanisms additionally varies the clinical responses to drug treatment. In order to understand the relationship between selectivity and efficacy, prior to clinical trials, it is essential to characterize how inhibitors interact with the kinome within a cellular context. Monitoring inhibitor-target interactions generally involves in vitro assaying with purified proteins or protein domains, which compromises the native integrity of the kinases. Cellbased assays either gain outcomes from bulk populations that average out cell variance or phenotypic assays that lack molecular resolution. To obtain information on drug interactions on a single cell level, we have developed a method to measure the direct binding of kinase inhibitors to their targets in situ and in vivo. Kinase inhibitors are chemically tagged with fluorophores that serve as acceptors to genetically tagged donor fluorophores on the enzyme and the interaction is measured using FRET-FLIM. With epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and irreversible EGFR inhibitors as the model system, this approach has been applied to image inhibitor-kinase interactions in live and fixed cells. Using this method, a small panel of tyrosine kinase targets, and labeled inhibitors, we were able to investigate the cross-specificity within the panel. Additionally it was found that the specificity of inhibitors for specific kinase conformations enables the distinction between EGFR in the active and inactive conformation by the inhibitor-probes. / Thesis (Ph.D.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2011.

Medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) is a rare malignant tumor originating from thyroid parafollicular C cells. This tumor accounts for 3-4% of thyroid gland neoplasias. MTC may occur sporadically or inherited. The hereditary MTC is part of syndromes of multiple endocrine neoplasia (MEN) 2A and 2B, familial medullary thyroid carcinoma (FMTC). Germline mutations of the RET (REarranged during Transfection) protooncogene cause hereditary form of cancer, whereas somatic mutations can be present in sporadic form of the disease. The RET gene encodes a receptor tyrosine kinase involved in the activation of intracellular signaling pathways leading to proliferation, growth, differentiation, migration and survival. Nowadays, the only possibility of cure for MTC patients consists of total thyroidectomy associated with lymph node dissection. Based on the knowledge of the pathogenic mechanisms of MTC, new drugs have been developed in attempt to control metastatic disease. Of these, the small-molecule tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) represent one of the most promising agents for MTC treatment and clinical trials have shown encouraging results. Hopefully, the cumulative knowledge about the targets of action of these drugs as well as TKI-associated side effects will help on choosing the best therapeutic approach in order to enhance its benefits.

Introdução: Os inibidores tirosino-quinase (ITQs) constituem uma nova terapia molecular para o carcinoma medular da tireoide (CMT). O vandetanibe, um ITQ que atua contra os receptores VEGFR, EGFR e RET, inibe a transformação e o crescimento do tumor no CMT. No entanto, os ITQs têm importantes efeitos adversos, incluindo o hipotireoidismo. O aumento da expressão da iodotironina desiodase do tipo 3 (D3/DIO3), uma enzima chave na inativação dos hormônios da tireoide, pode ser um possível mecanismo de indução do hipotireoidismo por estas drogas. Objetivo: Investigar os efeitos dos inibidores tirosino-quinase na expressão da D3 em células derivadas do CMT. Métodos: Estudo experimental in vitro, utilizando linhagem de células humanas oriundas de CMT (células TT). As células foram cultivadas em meio específico e tratadas com diferentes doses do ITQ vandetanibe (0,25; 0,5 e 1μM) ou com DMSO. A proliferação celular foi determinada por contagem em câmara de Neubauer. A expressão do mRNA foi avaliada por meio de PCR em tempo real, a expressão proteica por meio de Western Blot e a atividade da D3 foi avaliada por meio da técnica de cromatografia em colunas de Sephadex LH-20. Resultados: A adição do vandetanibe ao meio de cultura causou diminuição do número de células e seu efeito foi tempo e dose dependente, apresentando uma redução máxima (77%) após 6 dias de tratamento na dose de 1μM. Como esperado, o tratamento com vandetanibe inibiu a fosforilação do ERK. Não foram observadas alterações significativas dos níveis de mRNA da DIO3 após 3 (0,02 vs. 0,02 vs. 0,01 vs. 0,01; P = 0,34) ou 6 dias (0,02 vs. 0,02 vs. 0,03 vs. 0,02; P = 0,33) de tratamento. Consequentemente, a expressão proteica da D3 não aumentou nos grupos tratados. No entanto, observou-se um aumento de 2 a 5 vezes na atividade da D3 após 3 dias de tratamento e um aumento de 1,5 a 2,15 vezes em 6 dias de tratamento. Conclusões: O tratamento com vandetanibe não foi associado com níveis aumentados de expressão do mRNA e da proteína da D3 em células derivadas de CMT, embora tenha sido observado um aumento na sua atividade enzimática. / Background: Tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) constitute a novel molecular therapy for medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC). Vandetanib, a TKI that acts against the VEGFR, EGFR and RET receptors, inhibits tumor transformation and growth in MTC. However, TKIs have important adverse effects, including hypothyroidism. Increases in the expression of type 3 iodothyronine deiodinase (D3/DIO3), a key enzyme in the inactivation of thyroid hormones, may be a possible mechanism of induction of hypothyroidism by these drugs. Objective: To investigate the effects of vandetanib on D3 expression in MTC-derived cells. Methods: In vitro experimental study using human MTC cell line (TT cells). Cells were cultured in specific medium and treated with different doses of vandetanib (0.25, 0.5 and 1μM) or DMSO. Cell proliferation was determined by counting in Neubauer's chamber. Expression of mRNA was evaluated by real-time PCR, protein expression by Western Blot and D3 activity was evaluated by Sephadex LH-20 column chromatography. Results: The addition of vandetanib to the culture medium caused a time and dose-dependent decrease in the number of cells, with a maximum reduction (77%) after 6 days of treatment at 1μM dose. As expected, vandetanib treatment inhibited ERK phosphorylation. No significant changes in DIO3 mRNA levels were observed after 3 (0.02 vs. 0.02 vs. 0.01 vs. 0.01; P = 0.34) or 6 days (0.02 vs. 0.02 vs. 0.03 vs. 0.02; P = 0.33) of treatment. Accordingly, D3 protein expression did not increase in treated groups. However, we observed a 2 to 5-fold increase in D3 activity after 3 days of treatment and a 1.5 to 2.15-fold increase in 6 days of treatment. Conclusions: Treatment with vandetanib was not associated with increased DIO3 mRNA and D3 protein expression levels in MTC-derived cells, although an increase in enzyme activity has been observed.

Made available in DSpace on 2016-08-29T15:34:30Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 tese_6281_Dissertação_Roberta Bitencourt Moreira_2013.pdf: 2949871 bytes, checksum: 0c46a98a4735b38e93978376b508fac6 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2013-03-06 / A Leucemia mielóide crônica (LMC) é caracterizada por uma alteração citogenética conhecida, o cromossomo Philadelphia (Ph),resultado da translocação recíproca t(9;22)(q34;q11).O gene de fusão bcr-abl codifica uma proteína de fusão com atividade tirosina cinase aumentada que desregula vias de transdução de sinais ligadas a proliferação, apoptose e diferenciação celular. A evolução natural da LMC quando não tratada é trifásica, mas atualmente, esta dinâmica foi alterada a partir do desenvolvimento dos inibidores de tirosina cinase (ITC). O imatinibe (Glivec®, Novartis) foi o primeiro ITC aprovado para o tratamento da LMC. A atualização de oito anos do estudo internacional randomizado do interferon e imatinibe (IRIS), ratificou a eficácia e a segurança do uso de imatinibea longo prazo com uma sobrevida global de 85% e uma sobrevida livre de evento de 81%.Entretanto, algumas mutações no domínio cinasedo gene bcr-ablconferem resistência elevada a um ou mais ITC influenciando a escolha da terapia subsequente como no caso de uma mutação T315I, que é altamente resistente ao imatinibe.Apesar de múltiplos fatores contribuírem para a resistência ao imatinibe, a presença de mutação é mais prevalente e tem sido a mais investigada. Diante disso, foram selecionados pacientes de dois hospitais da Região da Grande Vitória que realizam atendimento aos pacientes portadores de LMC pelo Sistema Único de Saúde (SUS) que são encaminhados para o Laboratório de Biologia Molecular do Centro de Transplante de Medula Óssea (CEMO) do Instituto Nacional de Câncer (INCA) para avaliação da resposta molecular aos ITCs, para análise de mutação. Também foi desenvolvido um banco de dados no Microsoft Access® para LMCque permite relacionar informações clínicas e laboratoriais de citogenética e biologia molecular, facilitando o acompanhamento de pacientes com LMC, a compreensão da evolução da doença e o desenvolvimento de pesquisas biotecnológicas. / The chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) is characterized by a cytogenetic alteration known as Philadelphia chromosome (Ph), a result of reciprocal translocation t (9; 22) (q34; q11). The resulting fusion bcr-abl gene encodes a protein with tyrosine kinase constitutive activity that deregulates signal transduction inducing proliferation, apoptosis, and cellular differentiation. The natural evolution of CML is currently changing with the development of tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKI). Imatinib (Gleevec® , Novartis) was the first TKI approved for the treatment of CML. The eight-year update of the international randomized study of interferon and imatinib (IRIS), confirmed the efficacy and safety of imatinib in the long term with an overall survival of 85% and an event-free survival of 81%. However, some mutations in the kinase domain BCR-ABL confer resistance to one or more TKI, influencing the choice of therapy, as in the case of a T315I mutation, which is highly resistant to imatinib. Although many factors contribute to the resistance to imatinib, the presence of mutations is more prevalent and has been further investigated. Therefore, were aimed to perform mutation analysis in patients with a resistant phenotype of two cancer reference hospitals in Vitoria, ES, Brazil. We also developed a CML database relating clinical information and laboratory cytogenetics and molecular biology results, facilitating the monitoring of CML patients, as well as the understanding of disease progression.

Introdução: Os inibidores tirosino-quinase (ITQs) constituem uma nova terapia molecular para o carcinoma medular da tireoide (CMT). O vandetanibe, um ITQ que atua contra os receptores VEGFR, EGFR e RET, inibe a transformação e o crescimento do tumor no CMT. No entanto, os ITQs têm importantes efeitos adversos, incluindo o hipotireoidismo. O aumento da expressão da iodotironina desiodase do tipo 3 (D3/DIO3), uma enzima chave na inativação dos hormônios da tireoide, pode ser um possível mecanismo de indução do hipotireoidismo por estas drogas. Objetivo: Investigar os efeitos dos inibidores tirosino-quinase na expressão da D3 em células derivadas do CMT. Métodos: Estudo experimental in vitro, utilizando linhagem de células humanas oriundas de CMT (células TT). As células foram cultivadas em meio específico e tratadas com diferentes doses do ITQ vandetanibe (0,25; 0,5 e 1μM) ou com DMSO. A proliferação celular foi determinada por contagem em câmara de Neubauer. A expressão do mRNA foi avaliada por meio de PCR em tempo real, a expressão proteica por meio de Western Blot e a atividade da D3 foi avaliada por meio da técnica de cromatografia em colunas de Sephadex LH-20. Resultados: A adição do vandetanibe ao meio de cultura causou diminuição do número de células e seu efeito foi tempo e dose dependente, apresentando uma redução máxima (77%) após 6 dias de tratamento na dose de 1μM. Como esperado, o tratamento com vandetanibe inibiu a fosforilação do ERK. Não foram observadas alterações significativas dos níveis de mRNA da DIO3 após 3 (0,02 vs. 0,02 vs. 0,01 vs. 0,01; P = 0,34) ou 6 dias (0,02 vs. 0,02 vs. 0,03 vs. 0,02; P = 0,33) de tratamento. Consequentemente, a expressão proteica da D3 não aumentou nos grupos tratados. No entanto, observou-se um aumento de 2 a 5 vezes na atividade da D3 após 3 dias de tratamento e um aumento de 1,5 a 2,15 vezes em 6 dias de tratamento. Conclusões: O tratamento com vandetanibe não foi associado com níveis aumentados de expressão do mRNA e da proteína da D3 em células derivadas de CMT, embora tenha sido observado um aumento na sua atividade enzimática. / Background: Tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) constitute a novel molecular therapy for medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC). Vandetanib, a TKI that acts against the VEGFR, EGFR and RET receptors, inhibits tumor transformation and growth in MTC. However, TKIs have important adverse effects, including hypothyroidism. Increases in the expression of type 3 iodothyronine deiodinase (D3/DIO3), a key enzyme in the inactivation of thyroid hormones, may be a possible mechanism of induction of hypothyroidism by these drugs. Objective: To investigate the effects of vandetanib on D3 expression in MTC-derived cells. Methods: In vitro experimental study using human MTC cell line (TT cells). Cells were cultured in specific medium and treated with different doses of vandetanib (0.25, 0.5 and 1μM) or DMSO. Cell proliferation was determined by counting in Neubauer's chamber. Expression of mRNA was evaluated by real-time PCR, protein expression by Western Blot and D3 activity was evaluated by Sephadex LH-20 column chromatography. Results: The addition of vandetanib to the culture medium caused a time and dose-dependent decrease in the number of cells, with a maximum reduction (77%) after 6 days of treatment at 1μM dose. As expected, vandetanib treatment inhibited ERK phosphorylation. No significant changes in DIO3 mRNA levels were observed after 3 (0.02 vs. 0.02 vs. 0.01 vs. 0.01; P = 0.34) or 6 days (0.02 vs. 0.02 vs. 0.03 vs. 0.02; P = 0.33) of treatment. Accordingly, D3 protein expression did not increase in treated groups. However, we observed a 2 to 5-fold increase in D3 activity after 3 days of treatment and a 1.5 to 2.15-fold increase in 6 days of treatment. Conclusions: Treatment with vandetanib was not associated with increased DIO3 mRNA and D3 protein expression levels in MTC-derived cells, although an increase in enzyme activity has been observed.

Medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) is a rare malignant tumor originating from thyroid parafollicular C cells. This tumor accounts for 3-4% of thyroid gland neoplasias. MTC may occur sporadically or inherited. The hereditary MTC is part of syndromes of multiple endocrine neoplasia (MEN) 2A and 2B, familial medullary thyroid carcinoma (FMTC). Germline mutations of the RET (REarranged during Transfection) protooncogene cause hereditary form of cancer, whereas somatic mutations can be present in sporadic form of the disease. The RET gene encodes a receptor tyrosine kinase involved in the activation of intracellular signaling pathways leading to proliferation, growth, differentiation, migration and survival. Nowadays, the only possibility of cure for MTC patients consists of total thyroidectomy associated with lymph node dissection. Based on the knowledge of the pathogenic mechanisms of MTC, new drugs have been developed in attempt to control metastatic disease. Of these, the small-molecule tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) represent one of the most promising agents for MTC treatment and clinical trials have shown encouraging results. Hopefully, the cumulative knowledge about the targets of action of these drugs as well as TKI-associated side effects will help on choosing the best therapeutic approach in order to enhance its benefits.

Avec près de 150 000 décès estimés en 2012 d’après l’Agence internationale pour la Recherche sur le Cancer, le cancer représente la première cause de mortalité en France. Cette maladie est caractérisée par la prolifération anarchique et incontrôlée de certaines cellules de l’organisme qui échappent aux mécanismes de contrôle. A l’heure actuelle, les thérapies anticancéreuses visent principalement ces cellules tumorales en agissant sur des protéines qu’elles surexpriment, telles que les récepteurs aux facteurs de croissance à activité tyrosine kinase.Nos travaux se sont essentiellement portés sur quatre de ces récepteurs : l’EGFR (Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor), le VEGFR (Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor), le PDGFR (Platelet-Derived Growth Factor Receptor) et le récepteur c-Kit. Plusieurs hétérocycles azotés (quinazoline, benzotriazine, thiénopyrimidine) se différenciant par leur motif anilino ou aryloxy en position 4 ont été conçus, synthétisés et évalués pharmacologiquement. Parmi ces produits, les 4-aryloxyquinazolines substituées en position 7 par des chaînes aminoalkoxy se sont révélées être de puissants inhibiteurs des récepteurs VEGFR, PDGFR et c-Kit présentant un fort pouvoir anti-angiogénique. En parallèle de ces travaux, des dérivés de type 2-aminoquinazoliniques ont été conçus. Ces composés substitués par différentes anilines en position 4 ont montré un pouvoir antiprolifératif intéressant grâce à leur intercalation entre les paires de bases de l’ADN. / According to the International Agency for Research on Cancer, cancer is the first cause of death in France with about 150 000 deaths estimated in 2012. This disease is characterized by anarchistic and uncontrolled proliferation of cells that escape control mechanisms. Currently, the anticancer drugs target mainly the cancerous cells that overexpress proteins, such as growth factor receptors with tyrosine kinase activity.Our work is mainly carried on four of these receptors: EGFR (Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor), VEGFR (Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor), PDGFR (Platelet-Derived Growth Factor Receptor) and c-Kit receptor. Several heterocycles (quinazoline, benzotriazine, thienopyrimidine) differing by their aniline or aryloxy moiety in C-4 position were designed, synthesized and evaluated. Among these products, the 4-aryloxyquinazolines substituted by aminoalkoxy chains in C-7 position have the characteristic to be potent inhibitors of VEGFR, PDGFR and c-kit receptor with high anti-angiogenic potency. Simultaneously, 2-aminoquinazoline derivatives were designed. These compounds substituted by various anilines in C-4 position showed interesting antiproliferative activity through their intercalation between the pairs of DNA bases.

In recent years, tyrosine kinase inhibitors have been more and more used for the targeted cancer therapy, due to their ability to disrupt intracellular signalling pathways associated with the development of tumours. Cabozantinib is the tyrosine kinase inhibitor which has been approved for the treatment of thyroid cancer and it is also effective against several other types of cancer. However, multiple drugs combination is often used in anticancer therapy, which may result in their cytochrome P450-mediated interactions. Although this may affect the therapeutic effect of the drugs and cause adverse effects on the organism, very little is known about the effect of cabozantinib on biotransformation enzymes. Therefore, the effect of cabozantinib not only alone but also in combination with the known cytostatic ellipticine on the expression and the activity of cytochromes P450 1A1, 1A2 and 1B1 in rat liver and kidney in vivo was studied in this work. The gene expression was determined by quantitative PCR, the amount of protein was studied by Western blotting and consecutive immunodetection. The enzyme activity was studied using specific marker reactions, 7-ethoxyresorufin O-deethylation for CYP1A1, 7-methoxyresorufin O-demethylation for CYP1A2 and 17β-estradiol 4-hydroxylation for CYP1B1. Our results...