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. 2017 Feb 6;8(13):20729–20740. doi: 10.18632/oncotarget.15117

32-Phosphorus selectively delivered by listeria to pancreatic cancer demonstrates a strong therapeutic effect

Dinesh Chandra 1, Benson Chellakkan Selvanesan 1, Ziqiang Yuan 2, Steven K Libutti 2, Wade Koba 3, Amanda Beck 4, Kun Zhu 1, Arturo Casadevall 5, Ekaterina Dadachova 6, Claudia Gravekamp 1
PMCID: PMC5400540  PMID: 28186976

Abstract

Our laboratory has developed a novel delivery platform using an attenuated non-toxic and non-pathogenic bacterium Listeria monocytogenes that infects tumor cells and selectively survives and multiplies in metastases and primary tumors with help of myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSC) and immune suppression in the tumor microenvironment (TME). 32P was efficiently incorporated into the Listeria bacteria by starvation of the bacteria in saline, and then cultured in phosphorus-free medium complemented with 32P as a nutrient. Listeria-32P kills tumor cells through both 32P-induced ionizing radiation and Listeria-induced reactive oxygen species (ROS). The levels of 32P and Listeria were studied in various normal and tumor tissues, at sequential time points after injection of mice with pancreatic cancer (syngeneic model Panc-02). We found that 32P and Listeria predominantly accumulated in tumors and metastases, with their highest accumulation 4 hrs (32P) and 3 days (Listeria) after injection. Listeria also penetrated the transgenic KPC (conditionally express endogenous Kras-G12D and p53-R172H mutant alleles) pancreatic tumors and metastases. This is remarkable since KPC tumors, like human tumors, exhibit a stromal barrier, which prevents most drugs from penetrating the pancreatic tumors. Therapeutic treatment with Listeria -32P resulted in a strong reduction of the growth of pancreatic cancer at early and late stages in Panc-02 and KPC mice. These results highlight the power of Listeria as new delivery platform of anticancer agents to the TME. Not only were therapeutic levels of radioactive Listeria reached in tumors and metastases but the selective delivery also led to minimal side effects.

Keywords: listeria monocytogenes, 32P, pancreatic cancer, KPC, Panc-02, delivery platform

INTRODUCTION

Poor delivery of anticancer agents to the tumor microenvironment (TME) is often one of the major struggles in cancer therapies. Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a good example because many therapies fail to penetrate the tumors due to a stromal barrier in the PDAC tumors [1, 2]. Moreover, metastases are particularly tough to treat by chemotherapy or small molecules because of inadequate target specificity and/or chemoresistance [3]. PDAC is characterized by its metastatic behavior before the primary tumor can be detected, resulting in a five-year survival rate of less than 5% [4, 5]. Gemcitabine and erlotinib, FDA-approved drugs for pancreatic cancer treatment, improve median survival by less than six months in advanced stage patients, underscoring the need for new alternative approaches [6]. One such approach could be anti-cancer therapy with attenuated Listeria monocytogenes (Listeria) bacteria. Our laboratory discovered that these bacteria selectively infect tumor cells and survive and multiply in tumors and metastases but not in healthy tissues [7, 8]. This is possible because Listeria infects myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSC) [7, 8], which are selectively attracted by the primary tumor through the production of attractants such as granulocyte macrophage-colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF), interleukin (IL)-6, or A100 [9, 10]. Once at the tumor site Listeria spreads from MDSC into tumor cells [7, 8] through a mechanism (polymerization of actin filaments and the production of Listeriolysin O) specific for Listeria [11], and kills the tumor cells through the generation of high levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) [12]. Listeria also infects tumor cells directly [12]. They are protected from immune clearance in both the TME and MDSC because of their strong immune suppression, which is absent in healthy tissues [7, 8]. Based on these results we now use Listeria as a delivery platform for anticancer agents to the TME [7, 8, 13, 14]. In 2013, we demonstrated the power of the Listeria platform by accumulating high levels of 188Rhenium (188Re) through Listeria in the TME, resulting in a strong reduction of the pancreatic cancer [8]. This was the first time that a live attenuated bacterium was successfully used to deliver radioactivity selectively to metastases and tumors. In the current study, we developed a complete different and simplified method of generating radioactive Listeria (RL). Instead of coupling 188Re to Listeria with help of anti-Listeria antibodies we incorporated 32-Phosphorus (32P) directly into the Listeria by using 32P as a nutrient in the culture medium, without the need of antibodies. We found that Listeria and 32P accumulated in tumors and metastases but not healthy tissues. Listeria-32P appeared to be not only more effective than Listeria-188Re, but was also successful against late stage pancreatic cancer. Here, we provide data about a novel and simple method of Listeria-32P generation, its effect on early and advanced pancreatic cancer in Panc-02 and KPC mice, and its toxicity and potential for the treatment of patients with pancreatic and other cancers.

RESULTS

Generation and characterization of Listeria-32P

First, the optimal conditions for 32P incorporation were determined, i.e. the highest incorporation of 32P and viability of the Listeria. For this purpose, Listeria bacteria (0.5 × 109 CFU) were first starved in 1 ml of saline at 37°C, and then cultured in 1 ml of Edinburgh Minimal Media Phosphate Free (EMMP) medium complemented with 32P at 37°C. Various starvation times (30–120 min), incorporation times (30–120 min), and amounts of 32P (10–300 μCi) were tested. A reproducible and optimal incorporation protocol was developed consisting of 30 min of starvation of 0.5 × 109 CFU of Listeria in 1 ml of saline, followed by 60 min culture in 1 ml of EMMP medium complemented with 50 μCi of 32P. We found that 93% of all the 32P was incorporated into the Listeria and that the results were highly reproducible (Figure 1A). We did not localize where the 32P was incorporated (cell wall, nucleus, cytoplasm, organelles), but it is expected that 32P incorporates at all place where phosphorus incorporates. Most importantly, we tested if 32P affected the viability of the Listeria.

Figure 1. Generation and characterization of Listeria monocytogenes (Listeria)-32P.

Figure 1

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(A) Incorporation of 32P into Listeria. Listeria was starved in saline and then cultured in phosphate free medium plus 32P. (Incorporation of 32P into Listeria = 32P in Listeria pellet/32P in Listeria pellet plus supernatant × 100%). (B) Viability of Listeria-32P. After incorporation of 32P into Listeria the viability of Listeria was compared to Listeria untreated (Viability of Listeria-32P = CFU of Listeria-32P/CFU of untreated × 100%). (C) Infection rate of tumor cells. Infection of Panc-02 tumor cells with Listeria-32P was compared to Listeria untreated. The number of CFU per well after 1 hr of infection was determined. The error bars represent SEM. Each dot represents one experiment. Unpaired t test *p = 0.0123 (D) Stability of Listeria-32P. The stability of Listeria-32P in serum was analyzed by incubating Listeria-32P with serum at 37°C. After 0, 1, and 3 h, the Listeria-32P bacteria were centrifuged, and the supernatant was analyzed for radioactive counts. The dissociation grade (percent) of the Listeria-32P complex was determined by dividing free radioactivity in the supernatant and baseline radioactivity (total radioactivity incorporated 32P into the Listeria plus free 32P in the supernatant). Data shown are the average of one experiment with n = 3 samples per time point. The error bars represent SEM.

To test the viability of Listeria, serial dilutions of untreated Listeria and Listeria-32P were made on agar plates and the number of CFU of Listeria was determined next day, as described previously [12]. The viability of the Listeria-32P was 69% (Figure 1B).

To test whether Listeria was still functional as a delivery platform for anticancer agents, we determined the infection rate of tumor cells with Listeria-32P. For this purpose, Panc-02 tumor cells were cultured with Listeria or Listeria-32P for 2 hrs, treated with Gentamicin to kill all extracellular bacteria, and then the Panc-02 tumor cells were lysed in water and plated on agar as described previously [8]. The number of Listeria CFUs was determined next day. A small but significant decrease in infection rate of Listeria-32P compared to Listeria was observed (Figure 1C).

Potentially, enzymes in the blood may dissociate 32P from Listeria. We confirmed that Listeria-32P reached the tumor and metastases before substantial dissociation of Listeria-32P could take place. Since it takes a few hours for 32P to accumulate in the TME (see below), we tested the dissociation grade of Listeria-32P in mouse serum after 0, 1, 2, and 3 hrs at 37°C. The dissociation grade after 3 hrs was 15% (Figure 1D).

In summary, a simple stable and reproducible method of generating Listeria-32P has been developed, without killing the Listeria itself (during one overnight), but delivering sufficient radioactivity to kill the tumor cells in vivo (see below).

Accumulation of Listeria and 32P in tumors, metastases, and healthy tissues of Panc-02 model

In a previous study we demonstrated that Listeria accumulated in tumors and metastases but not in normal tissues [8]. In the current study, we analyzed whether 32P affected the biodistribution of Listeria. For this purpose, we compared the number of CFU after injection of Listeria-32P with Listeria alone (Figure 2A). A similar distribution pattern was observed, i.e. in both cases Listeria accumulated in the tumors and metastases but not in normal tissues. However, one interesting difference was observed. The number of CFU of Listeria was higher after the injection of Listeria-32P than of Listeria in tumors and metastases, particular on day 7. On day 1 and 3 after injection of Listeria-32P or Listeria, the bacteria were found at higher numbers in the spleen and/or liver than in other normal tissues similar to the previous study [8] (but at much lower numbers than in tumors and metastases) (Figure 2A). This is partly because the spleen and/or liver are natural homing sites of Listeria. However, on days 14 (day 1 after injection of Listeria-32P) and 17 (day 3 after injection of Listeria-32P) after tumor cell injection, metastases already spread to the pancreas (in close proximity to the spleen) and liver. Therefore, in addition to the homing effect, the presence of metastases in the pancreas may have led to more Listeria bacteria in the spleen and liver than in other normal tissues.

Figure 2. Effect of 32P on biodistribution of Listeria.

Figure 2

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(A) Biodistribution of Listeria. Panc-02 mice were injected intraperitoneal (ip) with 0.5 × 107 CFU of Listeria or Listeria-32P when tumors were 15 mm (day 14 after tumor cell injection), and 1, 3, and 7 days later the mice were euthanized and analyzed for the number of CFU of Listeria in tumors, metastases (predominantly in pancreas and portal liver, mesenteric lymph nodes along GI) and normal tissues as indicated on the x-axis. The error bars represent the SEM. Representative of 2 experiments. Data showing are the average of from n = 3 mice per group. (B) Biodistribution of 32P. Panc-02 mice were injected ip with 107 CFU of Listeria-32P when tumors were 15 mm (day 10 after tumor cell injection), and 1, 4, 24, 48, and 96 hrs later the mice were euthanized and analyzed for radioactive counts (per gram tissue) in tumors, metastases and normal tissues as indicated on the x-axis. n = 5 mice per group. This is the average of one experiment. Mann-Whitney p < 0.05 is significant. All groups were compared to Listeria-32P. The error bars represent the SEM. ns = not significant. LN = lymph nodes, BM = bone marrow, Met = all metastases combined.

To prove the selective delivery of 32P by Listeria to the tumors and metastases, we injected Panc-02 mice with Listeria-32P (107 CFU delivering 1 μCi of radioactivity), and analyzed the radioactive counts at various time points after injection. The 32P uptake was the highest in metastases and tumors, particularly at 1 and 4 hrs after the injection (Figure 2B), while at 24, 48, and 96 hrs the 32P levels decreased but stayed significantly higher in tumors and metastases compared to the normal tissues, with an exception of the liver because metastases already spread to this organ. Also, liver is a natural homing site for Listeria and may have contributed to higher 32P levels compared to other normal tissues.

Optimal dose of Listeria-32P and safety studies

Increasing doses of Listeria-32P were injected in C57Bl/6 mice without cancer and the survival time was determined over the course of the next 5 days. In a previous study we found that the LD50 of Listeria alone is 108 CFU [15). However, since Listeria is incorporated with 32P we tested the LD50 more narrowly. The following doses were tested: 1 × 107, 0.5 × 108, 1 × 108, 2 × 108, 4 × 108, and 8 × 108 CFU of Listeria-32P. As shown in Figure 3A, 107 CFU was the optimal dose because none of the mice died, similar as we found with the Listeria alone [15]. However, all mice died on day 4 when injected with 5 × 107 CFU, and 108 CFU and higher resulted in mice dying on day 3 and thereafter. The LD50 of Listeria-32P is most likely around 2.5 × 107, but this needs to be confirmed. In addition, we analyzed tumor-naïve mice injected with Listeria-32P by pathological examination one month after treatment with 12 doses of 107 CFU of Listeria-32P, and no serious pathological damage was observed (Supplementary Table 1). We also analyzed potential toxicity by pathological examination, 3 months after the last treatment with 12 doses of 107 CFU of Listeria-32P in the Panc-02 mice. Again, no pathological damage could be observed (Supplementary Table 2). In summary, these results indicate that the dose of 107 CFU of Listeria-32P appeared to be the optimal dose for the treatment of pancreatic cancer in Panc-02 mice.

Figure 3. Safety of Listeria-32P.

Figure 3

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(A) Dose limiting Toxicity (DLT) study. C57Bl6 mice (tumor-naïve) were injected ip with various doses of Listeria-32P, and analyzed for survival 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 days later. n = 5 mice per group. This is the average of one experiment. (B) Incorporation of 32P into bone marrow in C57Bl/6 mice without tumors. The mice received Listeria-32P or comparable amounts of 32P every day for 2 weeks. (107 CFU of Listeria-32P represents 1 uCi of 32P). At the end of the 14 treatments all mice were euthanized and tissues were analyzed for radioactive counts using a scintillation counter, and normalized for μCi using a standard curve with known amounts (μCi) of 32P. 32P alone strongly incorporated into bone marrow (BM) cells, but not when delivered through Listeria. The error bars represent SEM. This experiment has been done once with n = 5 mice per group.

Finally, we analyzed whether 32P incorporated into bone marrow cells, because this is often reported for 32P. After 12 doses with 107 CFU of Listeria-32P, 32P was barely incorporated into bone marrow (BM), but when 32P was administered as a single agent its incorporation level was much and significantly higher compared to Listeria-32P (Figure 3B).

Efficacy and survival studies in Panc-02 mice

We then performed an efficacy study with Listeria-32P in Pan-02 mice aiming to kill the tumor cells through Listeria-induced ROS and 32P. C57Bl/6 mice were injected with 2 × 106 tumor cells in the mammary fat pad and three days later, the mice were treated with 107 CFU of Listeria, every 3 days for 2 weeks (6 doses totally). At the end of the treatments (day 28), primary tumors were undetectable by eye in 100% of the mice and just a few metastases were detected in 20% of the mice that received Listeria-32P (Figure 4A, 4B and Supplementary Figure 1), while in the saline and 32P groups, tumors and metastases as well as ascites were detected in 100% of the mice (Figure 4A, 4B). Also in the group treated with Listeria alone, 100% of the mice developed tumors and metastases, but significantly less than in the saline and 32P groups. To determine whether the mice that received Listeria-32P were really cancer free, a survival study was performed (and further improved the treatment protocol). Tumor-bearing mice received twelve doses 107 CFU of Listeria-32P or Listeria alone, or twelve doses of 32P alone. We found that 43% of the mice that received Listeria-32P was free of cancer (confirmed by pathological examination; Supplementary Table 2), and that the other 57% of the mice treated with Listeria-32P lived twice as long as mice treated with Saline or 32P alone (Figure 4C). The Listeria alone was also effective but significantly less than the Listeria-32P. Early treatment with 32P alone had also some effect on tumors, because free 32P evenly spreads over normal and tumor tissues. However, free 32P is toxic and therefore resulted in early deaths, even before mice in the saline group died.

Figure 4. Testing Listeria-32P in pancreatic cancer model Panc-02.

Figure 4

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(A) Listeria-32P is highly effective against early stage pancreatic cancer. C57Bl/6 mice were injected with 2 × 106 Panc-02 cells in the mammary fat pad, and subsequently injected ip with 107 CFU of Listeria-32P (delivering 1 μCi 32P), 107 CFU of Listeria, 1 μCi 32P, or saline, every 3 days for 2 weeks (starting at day 3 after tumor cell injection). A total of 6 uCi was delivered by Listeria in this experiment. One week after last treatment (day 28) mice were analyzed for tumor weight and frequency of metastases (liver, pancreas, mesenteric lymph nodes, spleen, kidneys). Untreated mice will die around day 30. Mann-Whitney p < 0.05 is significant. All groups were compared to Listeria-32P. The error bars represent the SEM. Representative of two experiments. (B) Example of metastases in liver of Panc-02 mice treated with Listeria-32P, Listeria, 32P or Saline. Representative of two experiments with n = 5 mice per group. An example of 5 livers in each group of one experiment is displayed in the Supplementary Figure 1. (C) Listeria-32P strongly improves survival rate of panc-02 mice. Mice were injected with 2 × 106 Panc-02 tumor cells into the mammary fat pad, and 12 doses of 107 CFU of Listeria-32P (delivering 1 μCi of 32P), were started 3 days after tumor cell injection. The mice were monitored up to day 100 after tumor cell injection. All groups were compared to the saline group. The survival curves were analyzed by Log-rank (Mantel-Cox) test. p > 0.05 is statistically significant. This experiment has been done once with n = 6–7 mice per group. (D) The effect of Listeria-32P on pancreatic cancer in advanced stage (Panc-02 model). Mice were injected with 105 Panc-02 tumor cells in the mammary fat pad. When tumors reached 8–10 mm (10 days after tumor cell injection), and metastases had spread to all organs, the Panc-02 mice received three cycles of 107 CFU of LM-32P or saline on four consecutive days, followed by a rest period of three days after each cycle (12 doses total). The mice were euthanized 6 weeks after tumor cell injection. n = 5 mice per group. The results were averaged. This experiment was performed once. Mann-Whitney p < 0.05 is significant. The error bars represent the SEM. (E) Ascites production in treated and untreated Panc-02 mice with early and advanced pancreatic cancer. At the end of treatments, the production of ascites was graded in the peritoneal cavity in each mouse by visual inspection using a scale from A0 to A5 (A0 = no production, A5 = highest production of ascites), as described in Materials and Methods.

Most patients are diagnosed when the pancreatic cancer has advanced with metastases already spread to the liver and other organs. Therefore, we performed a study to analyze the effect of Listeria-32P on advanced pancreatic cancer, i.e. we now injected 105 tumor cells (because untreated mice with 2 × 106 tumor cells die within 28 days) and treatments (12 doses of 107 CFU of Listeria-32P) were started on day 10 after tumor cell injection (when tumors were 8–10 mm), and mice were euthanized 6 weeks later. As shown in the Figure 4D, Listeria-32P was strongly effective against tumors and metastases when started the treatment at advanced stage. Tumor weight and number of metastases were significantly reduced by Listeria-32P compared to all control groups. However, at this stage of the pancreatic cancer, Listeria alone had no significant effect on tumors or metastases (Supplementary Figure 2).

All untreated Panc-02 mice developed ascites in the peritoneal cavity. Listeria-32P strongly reduced the production of ascites in Panc-02 mice with early and advanced pancreatic cancer (Figure 4E). LM-32P completely prevented the production of ascites in Panc-02 mice with early pancreatic cancer and almost completely in Panc-02 mice with advanced pancreatic cancer (20% of the mice produced some ascites graded as A1).

Penetration of Listeria into KPC tumors and selective accumulation of Listeria in the KPC tumors

One of the main reasons for the failure of gemcitabine and other drugs in patients with PDAC is a barrier of stromal cells that prevents the efficient penetration of the chemotherapeutic drugs into the pancreatic tumors [1, 16]. KPC mice, a transgenic mouse tumor model with PDAC (conditionally express endogenous Kras-G12D and p53-R172H mutant alleles) is known for its stromal barrier in the pancreatic tumors, and develops multiple metastases in the liver and lung (1), similar to pancreatic cancer patients. We injected the KPC mice of 6 months (tumors and metastases present) or KPC mice of 6 weeks (no visible malignancies) with 107 CFU of Listeria, and two days later the Listeria bacteria were isolated from healthy tissues, tumors and metastases. Listeria bacteria were abundantly found in the tumors and metastases and much less or not at all in healthy tissues of the 6-month old KPC mice, and also not or much less in all tissues of the 6-weeks old KPC mice without visible malignancies (Figure 5A, 5B). This was confirmed by confocal microscopy. In summary, Listeria bacteria were able to penetrate the KPC tumors and metastases abundantly, while no or much less Listeria bacteria were found in healthy tissues or in potential preneoplastic tissues in the pancreas of the young KPC mice.

Figure 5. Penetration of Listeria into pancreatic tumor, metastases and healthy tissues of KPC model.

Figure 5

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KPC mice received one dose of 107 CFU of Listeria ip. Two days later, the number of CFU of Listeria was measured in all tissues, including the pancreatic tumor and metastases. (A) KPC mouse with late stage pancreatic cancer. (B) KPC mouse with early stage pancreatic cancer (tumor and metastases not detectable yet). Confocal microscopy pictures show the pancreas with or without Listeria of KPC mice with or without pancreatic cancer, respectively.

Efficacy study of Listeria-32P in KPC mice

Finally, we tested the effect of Listeria-32P on tumors and metastases in the KPC mice with advanced stages of pancreatic cancer. Three cycles of 107 CFU of Listeria-32P were injected for four consecutive days (12 doses in total) with three days rest at the end of each cycle. Effect of treatments was monitored before and after treatment by positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) or PET alone. This analysis was used because it mimics the analysis of treatment in cancer patients most closely. Effects of 32P and Listeria alone already have been analyzed in the Panc-02 model. As shown in Figure 6A, before treatment the KPC mouse exhibits a large tumor in the pancreas (PDAC) and metastases in the lungs and liver. Listeria-32P treatment reduced the growth of the PDAC tumors and metastases along the gastro intestines (GI) in mesenteric lymph node areas (SUVmax) significantly (85% and 67%, respectively), while the number of KPC mice with metastases in lungs (1/9) and liver (3/9) were insufficient to demonstrate significance. Even with an extremely large PDAC tumor (largest diameter 2–3 cm; SUVmax before treatment: 6.75 and SUVmax after treatment: 6.35), Listeria-32P was still able to prevent its further progression. An example of PET/CT is shown in Figure 6B. All tumors and metastases were confirmed by pathological examination.

Figure 6. Listeria-32P reduces grow of tumor and metastases (liver and lungs) in KPC mice with advanced pancreatic cancer.

Figure 6

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KPC mice received three cycles of Listeria-32P ip for four consecutive days with 3 days rest between each cycle (12 doses in total). (A) The effect of Listeria-32P treatment (SUVmax) was monitored before and after treatment by PET or PET/CT. The results were averaged and subjected to statistical analysis Mann-Whitney p < 0.05 is significant. The error bars represent SEM. n = 9 KPC mice. (B) Example of Listeria-32P treatment monitored before and after Listeria-32P by PET/CT in KPC mouse.

We also analyzed the SUVmax in KPC mice with advanced pancreatic cancer (8 months of age) before and after Listeria treatment (control group), and compared to non-treated and Listeria-treated Panc-02 mice with advanced pancreatic cancer. Similar to Panc-02 mice with advanced pancreatic cancer, no significant effect of Listeria alone was observed in the KPC mice (Supplementary Figure 2).

DISCUSSION

In the 1890s William Coley injected live bacteria into tumors aiming to boost the immune system against host's own tumors. However, these bacteria were not attenuated and some patients died because of the treatment while others did better than the non-treated patients and their tumors disappeared. We used an attenuated non-toxic and non-virulent Listeria monocytogenes to deliver anticancer agents to the TME. After discovering that Listeria could selectively infect tumor cells with help of MDSC, and survive and multiply in the TME we started using Listeria as a selective delivery platform for anticancer agents [8, 14]. In the study presented here, we developed a new method of generating radioactive Listeria by simply incorporating the 32P directly into the Listeria bacteria during culture. After injection of Listeria-32P into mice with pancreatic cancer, we showed that Listeria and 32P selectively accumulated in tumors and metastases but not in healthy tissues. Listeria-32P showed a great effect on metastases and tumors in both pancreatic cancer models Panc-02 and KPC at early and advanced stages of pancreatic cancer, while Listeria alone showed a significant effect on early pancreatic cancer (Panc-02 mice) but not on advanced pancreatic cancer.

In 2009, we reported that LLO induced high levels of ROS through the activation of the NADPH-oxidase pathway, resulting in tumor cell kill through DNA damage [12]. Listeria infection was reported to induce DNA damage in HELA cells, with the mechanism involving LLO blocking of the signaling response to DNA breaks through degradation of Mre11 (sensor of DNA damage), which improved replication of the Listeria bacteria [17]. Since 32P-induced ROS also induces DNA breaks, the LLO-induced decrease in DNA damage responses (DDR), may promote replication of Listeria-32P more than Listeria alone in the TME. If so, this could also happen in normal tissues. We found that the number of CFU of Listeria-32P (Figure 2A) was higher than the CFU of Listeria alone [8] in tumors and metastases, particularly on day 7, supporting the results of Cossart's group. However, this was not observed in normal tissues, i.e. Listeria-32P was present at very low numbers or undetectable on day 7 after injection of Listeria-32P. Most likely, immune responses have eliminated the Listeria-32P in normal tissues efficiently, and consequently eliminated the possibility to promote replication of the Listeria in normal tissues induced by LLO-decreased DDR responses. Also, the 32P levels in normal tissues may have been too low (Figure 2B) to promote replication of Listeria. Of note is that the Cossart group used wild type Listeria that is known to replicate in the liver and in epithelial cells of the GI [18] and that most of their experiments were performed in vitro where immune responses are absent. In summary, 32P and Listeria may have a synergistic effect on tumor cell death but immune responses may have prevented to have this effect on normal cells. Of note is that 1 and 3 months after 12 Listeria-32P treatments no toxic effects were observed in normal tissues. It would be interesting to study mechanism(s) of potential synergistic effect(s) of Listeria and 32P in the TME and normal tissues in more detail.

Most therapies against pancreatic cancer fail because primary tumors are surrounded by a stromal barrier of fibrotic cells that prevent penetration of the drug into the primary tumors [1, 2]. We have shown that Listeria easily penetrates the primary tumor, which is most likely because Listeria uses MDSC as a delivery vehicle [7, 8]. In this regard, both human and mouse PDAC are heavily infiltrated with MDSC [1, 19].

Incorporation of 32P into bone marrow cells is one of the main concerns for clinicians. Indeed, we found that free 32P did incorporate into the bone marrow cells, but interestingly when delivered through Listeria the incorporation into bone marrow cells was minimal. It is possible that 32P is not available for incorporation into bone marrows cells when already incorporated into the Listeria. Alternatively, the Listeria-32P is eliminated by the immune system before it reaches the bone marrow. To further analyze potential toxicity of the Listeria-32P, extensive pathological examinations and toxicity studies were performed (Supplementary Tables 1 and 2). No side effects of the Listeria-32P were observed and none of the mice died from injections with 107 CFU, similar to Listeria alone (Supplementary Table 2). Finally, the same attenuated Listeria strain has been used for almost a decade in immune therapeutic approaches in cancer patients (delivering tumor-associated antigens into antigen-presenting cells), and it was demonstrated that Listeria is safe and non-toxic [20, 21]. Also 32P has been used (at much higher doses than in the current study) for more than 50 years in the clinic to treat polycythemia vera (a hematologic disorder) [22]. Although side effects are known, such as early leucopenia and thrombocytopenia, they resolve spontaneously.

Of note is that Listeria-based vaccines have been tested pre-clinically and clinically [15, 23, 24]. However, these studies are based on a complete different principle, i.e. tumor-associated antigens were delivered into antigen-presenting cells, while in the current study anticancer agent 32P was selectively delivered by Listeria to the TME and into tumor cells, underlining the novelty of our study.

Targeted radionuclide therapy has proven successful in the treatment of several types of cancer through radiolabeled small molecules, monoclonal antibodies (Abs), peptides, and other tumor-targeting vehicles [25], but for pancreatic cancer very modest results both preclinically and in cancer patients with unresectable liver metastases has been shown [26–29]. Therefore, our results are remarkable, and strongly suggest that Listeria-32P has great promise for the treatment of pancreatic cancer. Moreover, Listeria-32P was even more effective than Listeria-188Re, most likely because of the longer half-life of 32P (14 days) compared to 188Re (16.9 hrs), without having serious side effects analyzed 1 and 3 months after 12 treatments with Listeria-32P in Panc-02 mice (Supplementary Tables 1 and 2). Clinically, Listeria-32P is highly attractive because of its simple production (no antibodies are required like with 188Re), and its minimal side effects compared to chemotherapy or radiation, and its remarkable effect on pancreatic cancer.

Bacterial therapies have the potential to transform the field of cancer treatment, particularly against metastatic and incurable cancers. Pilot studies and clinical trials with modified bacteria are published or underway. Examples are Salmonella typhimurium against metastatic melanoma [30, 31], Clostridium butyricum against vascular gliomablastoma [32], and Clostridium novyiNT against solid tumors (NCT01924689). Here we demonstrate that Listeria-32P is highly promising against pancreatic cancer, and a pilot study with Listeria-32P in PDAC patients is under investigation.

In conclusion, the results from this study strongly suggest that Listeria-32P might be particularly useful for unresectable and metastatic cancers, like pancreatic cancer, and may be for other cancers as well.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Mice

Normal female C57BL/6 mice (3 months) were obtained from Charles River and KPC mice (LSL-p53R172/+; LSLKrasG12D; Pdx1-Cre) [33] were generated in the laboratory of Dr. Steven K Libutti. All mice were maintained in the animal husbandry facility of Einstein according to the Association and Accreditation of Laboratory Animal Care (AACAC) guidelines. All mice were kept under BSL-2 and RSL-1B as required for Listeria and 32P treatments.

Cells and cell culture

The highly metastatic Panc-02 cell line was derived in 1984 from a methylcholanthrene-induced ductal adenocarcinoma growing in a C57BL/6 female mouse [34] (kindly provided by Chandan Guha, Department of Radiation Oncology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY). The Panc-02 cells were cultured in McCoy's medium supplemented with 10% FBS, Glutamine (2 mM), non-essential amino acids, sodium pyruvate (1 mM), Hepes (10 mM), and Pen/Strep (100 U/ml) [8].

Listeria monocytogenes (attenuated)

In this study, a highly attenuated Listeria monocytogenes (Listeria) was used as the vehicle for the delivery of 32Phosphorus (32P) to the tumor microenvironment (TME) and was generated in previous studies [15, 35] Briefly, the Listeria plasmid, pGG-34, expresses the positive regulatory factor (prfA) and Listeriolysin O (LLO) [36]. prfA regulates the expression of other virulence genes, and is required for survival in vivo and in vitro. The background strain XFL-7 lacks the prfA gene, and retains the plasmid in vitro and in vivo [36]. The coding region for the C-terminal part of the LLO (cytolytic domain that binds cholesterol in the membranes) protein in the plasmid has been deleted, but Listeria is still able to escape host vacuole [37]. Mutations have been introduced into the prfA gene and the remaining LLO (expressed by the pGG34 vector), which further reduced the pathogenicity of the Listeria [37].

Incorporation of 32P into Listeria bacteria and preparation for injection

Listeria bacteria (0.5 × 109 CFU) were first starved in 1 ml of saline for 30 min at 37°C at 200 rpm, and then cultured in 1 ml of Edinburgh Minimal Media Phosphate Free (EMMP) medium (US Biologicals Life Sciences, Pittsburgh, PA; Catalog: E2205-20), complemented with 50 μCi of 32P in deionized water (Phosphorus-32 Radionuclide Orthophosphoric acid in water; Perkin Elmer, New Rochelle, NY; cat # NEX053S005MC), for 60 min at 37°C and 200 rpm. Subsequently, the Listeria-32P culture was centrifuged and resuspended in 1 ml of saline and diluted with saline (final concentration: 5 × 107 CFU/ml); 200 μl was injected (intraperitoneally) per dose, which equals 107 CFU of Listeria and 1 μCi of 32P. The number of radioactive counts per min was measured in the pellet and supernatant by a gamma counter (1282 CompuGamma CS Gamma Counter, LKB Wallac, Long Island Scientific, East Setauket, NY). To determine the incorporation efficiency of 32P into Listeria, the total number of radioactive counts in the pellet was divided by the total number of radioactive counts in the pellet plus supernatant × 100%.

Dissociation grade of Listeria-32P

Listeria was incorporated with 32P as described above. Subsequently, a stock solution was made of 109 CFU of Listeria-32P in 500 ul mouse serum and incubated at 37°C. At 0, 1, 2, and 3 hrs, 100 ul of the stock solution was centrifuged and the radioactivity was determined in the pellet and supernatant as described previously. The dissociation grade was determined as described previously [8], by dividing the radioactive counts in the supernatant with the radioactive counts in the supernatant plus pellet × 100%.

Tumor challenge, treatments and analyses

Effect of Listeria-32P on pancreatic cancer in Panc-02 or KPC mice. For the Panc-02 model, C57Bl/6 mice were injected with 2 × 106 or 105 Panc-02 tumor cells, as indicated in the text, in the mammary fat pad as described previously [8]. On day 3 (early stage pancreatic cancer; tumors 1–2 mm) or day 10 (late stage pancreatic cancer; tumors of 8–10 mm), mice were injected with 107 CFU of Listeria-32P (delivers 1 μCi of 32P), every 3 days for 14 days (total 6 doses), intraperitoneal (ip), or with 3 cycles of 4 doses of 107 CFU of Listeria-32P and three days rest after each cycle (total 12 doses), respectively. 107 CFU of Listeria, or 32P alone (1 μCi), or saline were used as the control groups. One week after the last treatment, mice were euthanized and analyzed for the frequency of metastases and tumor weight (in grams) as described previously [8). Briefly, metastases were visible by eye in the pancreas, clustered in area of the portal veins in the liver, in the mesenteric lymph nodes along the gastrointestinus (GI), and less frequently in the diaphragm, spleen and kidneys, while a small tumor develops in the membrane of the peritoneal cavity extended from the mammary fat pad (See Supplementary Figure 3). Counting was based on number and size. KPC mice were treated with 12 doses of Listeria-32P (late stage pancreatic cancer; tumors with a SUVmax: range 2.0–7.0 corresponding with 5–25 mm diameter, at the age of 4.5–5 months), similar as the Panc-02 mice with late stage pancreatic cancer. Effect of Listeria-32P was monitored before and after treatment by PET/CT or PET.

Ascites production in the peritoneal cavity

At the end of treatments with Listeria-32P all mice with early or advanced pancreatic cancer were graded for the production of ascites in the peritoneal cavity of the Panc-02 mice by visual inspection. (KPC mice do not produce ascites because development of metastases in the liver is less aggressive in KPC than Panc-02 mice). The gradation of ascites production was graded from A0 to A5. A0 = no ascites production (0), A1= some ascites production (+), A2 = some to moderate ascites production (++), A3 = moderate ascites production (+++), A4 = moderate-strong ascites production (++++), and A5 = strong ascites production (+++++).

Survival study

C57Bl/6 mice were injected with 2 × 106 Panc-02 tumor cells as described above, and then treated with 12 doses of 107 CFU of Listeria-32P or control groups, with 3 days rest after each cycle, and subsequently monitored according IACUC guidelines.

PET/CT

The KPC mice were monitored for the presence of tumors and metastases by positron emission tomography (PET) using a radioactive tracer [18F] fluoro-2-deoxyglucose (FDG), as described elsewhere [38]. To visualize the organs we used computed Tomography (CT). The effect of treatment on tumor and metastases was determined by the standardized-uptake value (SUV) as described elsewhere [39]. The PET Acquisition was performed by Siemens INVEON Trimodal PET/SPECT/CT scanner, and then processed by IAW (Inveon Acquisition Workplace), and OSEM2D (Ordered Subset Expected Maximization 2D).

Determination of Listeria and radioactive counts in tumor and normal tissues

C57Bl/6 mice were injected with 2 × 106 tumor cells as described above, and 14 days later injected once with a high dose 0.5 × 107 CFU of Listeria-32P or Listeria as indicated in the text. Mice were euthanized at various time points after the injection of Listeria-32P or Listeria, and metastases, tumors and normal tissues were dissected, weighted, and analyzed for the number of CFU of Listeria and gamma radiation in a gamma counter (Wallac, Turku, Finland) as described previously [8].

Confocal microscopy

Ten-micrometer sections were cut from snap-frozen sections of tumor and normal tissues, stained with anti-Listeria antibodies followed by secondary antibody goat anti-rabbit IgG-Cy3-labeled, mounted with DAPI containing mounting medium (Vectashield), and analyzed by and Image J software as described previously [8].

Pathological examination

Tissues were fixed in 10% buffered formalin, processed routinely for paraffin embedding, sectioned at 5 μm, and stained with hematoxylin and eosin (H&E). Each sample was evaluated via light microscopy (using a Zeiss Axioskop2) and photomicropgraphs were taken using a Zeiss AxioCam HRc with Axiovision software.

Statistical analysis

To statistically analyze the effects of Listeria-32P on the growth of metastases and tumors in the pancreatic mice, the Mann-Whitney test was used. Values p < 0.05 were considered statistically significant. For the survival data, the Log-rank Mantel Cox test was used. Values p < 0.05 were considered statistically significant.

SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIALS FIGURES AND TABLES

Acknowledgments

We thank Drs. Rani Sellers for her excellent help with pathological studies of treated and untreated mice with pancreatic cancer.

Footnotes

CONFLICTS OF INTEREST

Conflict of interest: Two joined patent application has been filed by C. Gravekamp, E. Dadachova, A. Casadevall, and D. Chandra. A license agreement for both patents has been established between Einstein and Biopremise.

GRANT SUPPORT

This research was supported by 1R21CA199010-01, The Paul F Glenn Center for the Biology of Human Aging Research 34118A, the Albert Einstein Cancer Center Support P30CA013330 and Shared Resources, NIH S10RR029545, and a Donation of Janet and Marty Spatz.

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