Epigenetics offers many targets that could revolutionize cancer therapy. Systemic delivery of epigenetic inhibitors is unfeasible due to deleterious effects on regenerating tissue. Delivering inhibitors with cancer- specific bacteria would conquer this critical problem by specifically focusing treatment to tumors and metastases. To date, no one has produced bacteria that modulate epigenetic targets. Bacterial delivery systems would function by transporting peptides and shRNA into cancer cells. Inhibiting the key targets EZH2, NIPP1 and PP1 would disrupt essential cancer cell processes and eliminate cancer stems cells. This will stop tumor spreading and prevent metastasis formation. The proposed research has four Specific Aims that combine the newest developments in the fields of epigenetics and bacterial cancer targeting.
Aim 1 will create a bacterial macromolecule delivery system;
Aim 2 will create a bacterial shRNA delivery system that targets NIPP1 and EZH2;
Aim 3 will create a bacterial peptide delivery system that disrupts NIPP1:PP1 complexes;
and Aim 4 will create failsafe circuitry to clear bacteria after treatment. The effect of gene knockdown and complex disruption will be tested by target-protein measurement, immunoprecipitation, and phosphatase phosphorylase assay. Cell viability and the cancer stem cell populations will be quantified in a tumor-on-a-chip device, subcutaneous tumors and spontaneous metastases in mice. The groundwork for this study has been established by 1) creating a non-toxic bacterial macromolecule delivery system, 2) demonstrating its key components (intracellularly triggered lysis and cytoplasmic localization) and its ability to delive proteins and DNA; 3) validating NIPP1 and EZH2 knockdowns in cancer cells and tumors; and 4) showing that bacterial release of NIPP1:PP1 dissociative peptides induces cancer cell death. The proposed research will build upon a collaboration between Neil Forbes (Chemical Engineering, UMass Amherst, USA), and Aleyde Van Eynde and Mathieu Bollen (Cellular and Molecular Medicine, KU Leuven, Belgium), experts in bacterial cancer treatment and epigenetic regulators. This research will establish a new therapeutic platform for controlled gene and protein delivery into cancer cells. Transient delivery of genes and proteins with bacteria will enable direct targeting of proteins and functions specifically in cancer cells. This study will create an epigenetic therapy with the potential to eradicate metastases and prevent their formation, two urgent clinical problems. Proposed animal experiments will be the first to demonstrate the benefit of a protein-phosphatase-directed therapy that disrupts protein-protein interactions in holoenzymes. The ultimate goal of this project is development of a treatment modality for primary cancers and metastatic disease.

Public Health Relevance

The experimental plan describes a therapeutic strategy to target epigenetic tumor regulators by using bacteria to controllably deliver genes and proteins into cancer cells. In this project, bacteria will be engineered to deliver shRNA, targeting NIPP1 and EZH2, and NIPP1-based peptides that dissociate NIPP1:PP1 complexes. This research will establish a new therapeutic platform that will enable targeting of cancer genes for which no therapy currently exists.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Cancer Institute (NCI)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01CA188382-02
Application #
8919315
Study Section
Drug Discovery and Molecular Pharmacology Study Section (DMP)
Program Officer
Muszynski, Karen
Project Start
2014-09-01
Project End
2019-08-31
Budget Start
2015-09-01
Budget End
2016-08-31
Support Year
2
Fiscal Year
2015
Total Cost
$311,561
Indirect Cost
$102,419
Name
University of Massachusetts Amherst
Department
Engineering (All Types)
Type
Schools of Engineering
DUNS #
153926712
City
Amherst
State
MA
Country
United States
Zip Code
01003
Panteli, Jan T; Forbes, Neil S (2016) Engineered bacteria detect spatial profiles in glucose concentration within solid tumor cell masses. Biotechnol Bioeng 113:2474-84
Brackett, Emily L; Swofford, Charles A; Forbes, Neil S (2016) Microfluidic Device to Quantify the Behavior of Therapeutic Bacteria in Three-Dimensional Tumor Tissue. Methods Mol Biol 1409:35-48
Zhang, Miaomin; Forbes, Neil S (2015) Trg-deficient Salmonella colonize quiescent tumor regions by exclusively penetrating or proliferating. J Control Release 199:180-9
Van Dessel, Nele; Swofford, Charles A; Forbes, Neil S (2015) Potent and tumor specific: arming bacteria with therapeutic proteins. Ther Deliv 6:385-99
Thornlow, Dana N; Brackett, Emily L; Gigas, Jonathan M et al. (2015) Persistent enhancement of bacterial motility increases tumor penetration. Biotechnol Bioeng 112:2397-405
Panteli, Jan T; Forkus, Brittany A; Van Dessel, Nele et al. (2015) Genetically modified bacteria as a tool to detect microscopic solid tumor masses with triggered release of a recombinant biomarker. Integr Biol (Camb) 7:423-34
Swofford, Charles A; Van Dessel, Nele; Forbes, Neil S (2015) Quorum-sensing Salmonella selectively trigger protein expression within tumors. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 112:3457-62