HAMLET - In vivo effects and mechanisms of tumor-cell death

Lotta Gustafsson

HAMLET - In vivo effects and mechanisms of tumor-cell death

Division of Microbiology, Immunology and Glycobiology - MIG

Research output: Thesis › Doctoral Thesis (compilation)

Abstract

HAMLET (human alpha-lactalbumin made lethal to tumor cells), a molecular complex derived from human milk, is an interesting new tool in cancer research since it induces programmed cell death in tumor cells while leaving normal, differentiated cells unharmed.

The in vivo effects of HAMLET were studied in a rat xenograft model of human glioblastoma. HAMLET reduced the tumor volume and delayed the onset of pressure symptoms. Programmed cell death was induced in the tumor, but not in the adjacent normal brain tissue. In non-grafted rats, HAMLET spread throughout the infused brain hemisphere and no significant toxic side-effects were recorded.

The therapeutic effects of HAMLET were investigated further in a placebo-controlled study of patients with skin papillomas. Local application of HAMLET for a three-week period reduced the volume of the papillomas by >75% in all the patients and in 96% of the papillomas as compared with 21% in the placebo-control group. No adverse reactions were reported and there was no difference in outcome for immunosuppressed patients.

A mechanism of tumor-cell death was suggested, one that relates to the partially unfolded state of HAMLET. Massive amounts of HAMLET gained entry into the tumor cells, it interacted with the proteasomes and caused a stress response due to the overload of partially unfolded protein. HAMLET activated the proteasomes in the cytoplasm, but degradation was delayed and fragmentation of the proteasomes was triggered instead. HAMLET and proteasomes translocated to the tumor cell nuclei, where chromatin homeostasis was disrupted. HAMLET-induced tumor-cell death was partially prevented by blocking proteasome activity, supporting the role of proteasomes in cell death.

HAMLET represents a new approach to cancer therapy, having therapeutic effects in vivo and targeting cell death pathways that are susceptible for activation in tumor cells, thus circumventing the roadblocks that prevent cell death in many tumor cells.

Original language	English
Qualification	Doctor
Awarding Institution	Division of Microbiology, Immunology and Glycobiology - MIG
Supervisors/Advisors	Svanborg, Catharina, Supervisor
Award date	2005 May 20
Publisher	Department of Laboratory Medicine, Lund University
ISBN (Print)	91-85439-50-9
Publication status	Published - 2005

Bibliographical note

Defence details

Date: 2005-05-20
Time: 13:00
Place: The GK lecture hall, Biomedical Center, Lund, Sweden.

External reviewer(s)

Name: Heldin, Carl-Henrik
Title: Professor
Affiliation: Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Uppsala, Sweden

---

<div class="article_info">W Fischer, L Gustafsson, A.K. Mossberg, J Gronli, S Mork, R Bjerkvig and C Svanborg. <span class="article_issue_date">2004</span>. <span class="article_title">Human Alpha-Lactalbumin Made Lethal to Tumor Cells (HAMLET) Kills Human Glioblastoma Cells in Brain Xenografts by an Apoptosis-Like Mechanism and Prolongs Survival.</span> <span class="journal_series_title">Cancer Res</span>, <span class="journal_volume">vol 64</span> <span class="journal_pages">pp 2105-2112</span>.</div>
<div class="article_info">L Gustafsson, I Leijonhufvud, A Aronsson, A.K. Mossberg and C Svanborg. <span class="article_issue_date">2004</span>. <span class="article_title">Treatment of Skin Papillomas with Topical Alpha-Lactalbumin-Oleic Acid.</span> <span class="journal_series_title">N Engl J Med</span>, <span class="journal_volume">vol 350</span> <span class="journal_pages">pp 2663-2672. acc edit 2639-2642</span>.</div>
<div class="article_info">L Gustafsson, O Hallgren and C Svanborg. <span class="article_issue_date"></span>. <span class="article_title">Unfolded Protein Overload, Proteasome Activation and Death in HAMLET-Treated Tumor Cells.</span> (submitted)</div>

Subject classification (UKÄ)

Immunology in the Medical Area (including Cell and Immunotherapy)
Microbiology in the Medical Area

Free keywords

Biomedicinska vetenskaper
Biomedical sciences
proteasome stress
HAMLET
human milk
tumor-cell death
clinical trial
rat xenograft model
skin papilloma
glioblastoma

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

HAMLET- In vivo effects and mechanisms of tumor cells death
Gustafsson, L. (Researcher)
2000/09/01 → 2008/09/01
Project: Dissertation

Medverkande i "Fråga doktorn" på Tv avseende avhandlingsarbete
Gustafsson, L. (Contributor)
2004
Activity: Other › Media participation

Cite this

@phdthesis{9a7b9f1cbbe941df816fa22c491f0cd7,

title = "HAMLET - In vivo effects and mechanisms of tumor-cell death",

abstract = "HAMLET (human alpha-lactalbumin made lethal to tumor cells), a molecular complex derived from human milk, is an interesting new tool in cancer research since it induces programmed cell death in tumor cells while leaving normal, differentiated cells unharmed. The in vivo effects of HAMLET were studied in a rat xenograft model of human glioblastoma. HAMLET reduced the tumor volume and delayed the onset of pressure symptoms. Programmed cell death was induced in the tumor, but not in the adjacent normal brain tissue. In non-grafted rats, HAMLET spread throughout the infused brain hemisphere and no significant toxic side-effects were recorded. The therapeutic effects of HAMLET were investigated further in a placebo-controlled study of patients with skin papillomas. Local application of HAMLET for a three-week period reduced the volume of the papillomas by >75% in all the patients and in 96% of the papillomas as compared with 21% in the placebo-control group. No adverse reactions were reported and there was no difference in outcome for immunosuppressed patients. A mechanism of tumor-cell death was suggested, one that relates to the partially unfolded state of HAMLET. Massive amounts of HAMLET gained entry into the tumor cells, it interacted with the proteasomes and caused a stress response due to the overload of partially unfolded protein. HAMLET activated the proteasomes in the cytoplasm, but degradation was delayed and fragmentation of the proteasomes was triggered instead. HAMLET and proteasomes translocated to the tumor cell nuclei, where chromatin homeostasis was disrupted. HAMLET-induced tumor-cell death was partially prevented by blocking proteasome activity, supporting the role of proteasomes in cell death. HAMLET represents a new approach to cancer therapy, having therapeutic effects in vivo and targeting cell death pathways that are susceptible for activation in tumor cells, thus circumventing the roadblocks that prevent cell death in many tumor cells.",

keywords = "Biomedicinska vetenskaper, Biomedical sciences, proteasome stress, HAMLET, human milk, tumor-cell death, clinical trial, rat xenograft model, skin papilloma, glioblastoma",

author = "Lotta Gustafsson",

note = "Defence details Date: 2005-05-20 Time: 13:00 Place: The GK lecture hall, Biomedical Center, Lund, Sweden. External reviewer(s) Name: Heldin, Carl-Henrik Title: Professor Affiliation: Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Uppsala, Sweden --- <div class={"}article_info{"}>W Fischer, L Gustafsson, A.K. Mossberg, J Gronli, S Mork, R Bjerkvig and C Svanborg. <span class={"}article_issue_date{"}>2004</span>. <span class={"}article_title{"}>Human Alpha-Lactalbumin Made Lethal to Tumor Cells (HAMLET) Kills Human Glioblastoma Cells in Brain Xenografts by an Apoptosis-Like Mechanism and Prolongs Survival.</span> <span class={"}journal_series_title{"}>Cancer Res</span>, <span class={"}journal_volume{"}>vol 64</span> <span class={"}journal_pages{"}>pp 2105-2112</span>.</div> <div class={"}article_info{"}>L Gustafsson, I Leijonhufvud, A Aronsson, A.K. Mossberg and C Svanborg. <span class={"}article_issue_date{"}>2004</span>. <span class={"}article_title{"}>Treatment of Skin Papillomas with Topical Alpha-Lactalbumin-Oleic Acid.</span> <span class={"}journal_series_title{"}>N Engl J Med</span>, <span class={"}journal_volume{"}>vol 350</span> <span class={"}journal_pages{"}>pp 2663-2672. acc edit 2639-2642</span>.</div> <div class={"}article_info{"}>L Gustafsson, O Hallgren and C Svanborg. <span class={"}article_issue_date{"}></span>. <span class={"}article_title{"}>Unfolded Protein Overload, Proteasome Activation and Death in HAMLET-Treated Tumor Cells.</span> (submitted)</div>",

year = "2005",

language = "English",

isbn = "91-85439-50-9",

series = "New England Journal of Medicine, Cancer Research",

publisher = "Department of Laboratory Medicine, Lund University",

type = "Doctoral Thesis (compilation)",

school = "Division of Microbiology, Immunology and Glycobiology - MIG",

}

TY - THES

T1 - HAMLET - In vivo effects and mechanisms of tumor-cell death

AU - Gustafsson, Lotta

N1 - Defence details Date: 2005-05-20 Time: 13:00 Place: The GK lecture hall, Biomedical Center, Lund, Sweden. External reviewer(s) Name: Heldin, Carl-Henrik Title: Professor Affiliation: Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Uppsala, Sweden --- <div class="article_info">W Fischer, L Gustafsson, A.K. Mossberg, J Gronli, S Mork, R Bjerkvig and C Svanborg. <span class="article_issue_date">2004</span>. <span class="article_title">Human Alpha-Lactalbumin Made Lethal to Tumor Cells (HAMLET) Kills Human Glioblastoma Cells in Brain Xenografts by an Apoptosis-Like Mechanism and Prolongs Survival.</span> <span class="journal_series_title">Cancer Res</span>, <span class="journal_volume">vol 64</span> <span class="journal_pages">pp 2105-2112</span>.</div> <div class="article_info">L Gustafsson, I Leijonhufvud, A Aronsson, A.K. Mossberg and C Svanborg. <span class="article_issue_date">2004</span>. <span class="article_title">Treatment of Skin Papillomas with Topical Alpha-Lactalbumin-Oleic Acid.</span> <span class="journal_series_title">N Engl J Med</span>, <span class="journal_volume">vol 350</span> <span class="journal_pages">pp 2663-2672. acc edit 2639-2642</span>.</div> <div class="article_info">L Gustafsson, O Hallgren and C Svanborg. <span class="article_issue_date"></span>. <span class="article_title">Unfolded Protein Overload, Proteasome Activation and Death in HAMLET-Treated Tumor Cells.</span> (submitted)</div>

PY - 2005

Y1 - 2005

N2 - HAMLET (human alpha-lactalbumin made lethal to tumor cells), a molecular complex derived from human milk, is an interesting new tool in cancer research since it induces programmed cell death in tumor cells while leaving normal, differentiated cells unharmed. The in vivo effects of HAMLET were studied in a rat xenograft model of human glioblastoma. HAMLET reduced the tumor volume and delayed the onset of pressure symptoms. Programmed cell death was induced in the tumor, but not in the adjacent normal brain tissue. In non-grafted rats, HAMLET spread throughout the infused brain hemisphere and no significant toxic side-effects were recorded. The therapeutic effects of HAMLET were investigated further in a placebo-controlled study of patients with skin papillomas. Local application of HAMLET for a three-week period reduced the volume of the papillomas by >75% in all the patients and in 96% of the papillomas as compared with 21% in the placebo-control group. No adverse reactions were reported and there was no difference in outcome for immunosuppressed patients. A mechanism of tumor-cell death was suggested, one that relates to the partially unfolded state of HAMLET. Massive amounts of HAMLET gained entry into the tumor cells, it interacted with the proteasomes and caused a stress response due to the overload of partially unfolded protein. HAMLET activated the proteasomes in the cytoplasm, but degradation was delayed and fragmentation of the proteasomes was triggered instead. HAMLET and proteasomes translocated to the tumor cell nuclei, where chromatin homeostasis was disrupted. HAMLET-induced tumor-cell death was partially prevented by blocking proteasome activity, supporting the role of proteasomes in cell death. HAMLET represents a new approach to cancer therapy, having therapeutic effects in vivo and targeting cell death pathways that are susceptible for activation in tumor cells, thus circumventing the roadblocks that prevent cell death in many tumor cells.

AB - HAMLET (human alpha-lactalbumin made lethal to tumor cells), a molecular complex derived from human milk, is an interesting new tool in cancer research since it induces programmed cell death in tumor cells while leaving normal, differentiated cells unharmed. The in vivo effects of HAMLET were studied in a rat xenograft model of human glioblastoma. HAMLET reduced the tumor volume and delayed the onset of pressure symptoms. Programmed cell death was induced in the tumor, but not in the adjacent normal brain tissue. In non-grafted rats, HAMLET spread throughout the infused brain hemisphere and no significant toxic side-effects were recorded. The therapeutic effects of HAMLET were investigated further in a placebo-controlled study of patients with skin papillomas. Local application of HAMLET for a three-week period reduced the volume of the papillomas by >75% in all the patients and in 96% of the papillomas as compared with 21% in the placebo-control group. No adverse reactions were reported and there was no difference in outcome for immunosuppressed patients. A mechanism of tumor-cell death was suggested, one that relates to the partially unfolded state of HAMLET. Massive amounts of HAMLET gained entry into the tumor cells, it interacted with the proteasomes and caused a stress response due to the overload of partially unfolded protein. HAMLET activated the proteasomes in the cytoplasm, but degradation was delayed and fragmentation of the proteasomes was triggered instead. HAMLET and proteasomes translocated to the tumor cell nuclei, where chromatin homeostasis was disrupted. HAMLET-induced tumor-cell death was partially prevented by blocking proteasome activity, supporting the role of proteasomes in cell death. HAMLET represents a new approach to cancer therapy, having therapeutic effects in vivo and targeting cell death pathways that are susceptible for activation in tumor cells, thus circumventing the roadblocks that prevent cell death in many tumor cells.

KW - Biomedicinska vetenskaper

KW - Biomedical sciences

KW - proteasome stress

KW - HAMLET

KW - human milk

KW - tumor-cell death

KW - clinical trial

KW - rat xenograft model

KW - skin papilloma

KW - glioblastoma

M3 - Doctoral Thesis (compilation)

SN - 91-85439-50-9

T3 - New England Journal of Medicine, Cancer Research

PB - Department of Laboratory Medicine, Lund University

ER -

HAMLET - In vivo effects and mechanisms of tumor-cell death

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Subject classification (UKÄ)

Free keywords

UN SDGs

Fingerprint

Projects

HAMLET- In vivo effects and mechanisms of tumor cells death

Activities

Medverkande i "Fråga doktorn" på Tv avseende avhandlingsarbete

Cite this