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Vaghjiani R, Wu R, Tung KH, Ishikawa T, Takabe K. Angiogenesis Is Associated With Aggressive Biology That Counterbalances With Tumor Immunogenicity in Hepatocellular Carcinoma. World J Oncol 2025; 16:173-181. [PMID: 40162113 PMCID: PMC11954604 DOI: 10.14740/wjon2009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2024] [Accepted: 01/17/2025] [Indexed: 04/02/2025] Open
Abstract
Background Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is an arterialized tumor; thus, anti-angiogenesis targeted therapy is in clinical practice. Herein, we hypothesized that HCC with high angiogenesis is biologically aggressive with worse survival. Methods Angiogenesis score (AS) was derived from the Molecular Signatures Database (MSigDB) Hallmark Angiogenesis Gene Set, and median was used to divide high versus low groups. Transcriptome of HCC patients of The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA, n = 386) and GSE76427 (n = 115) cohorts were analyzed. Results High AS correlated with angiogenesis-related gene expressions. Both microvascular and lymphatic endothelial cell infiltrations were higher in high angiogenesis HCC. Surprisingly, no survival difference was seen with varying levels of angiogenesis. High angiogenesis significantly enriched tumor aggravating signaling pathways: glycolysis, Notch, Hedgehog, KRAS, epithelial mesenchymal transition, and transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β) in Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA), but also infiltrated less CD8+ T cells and T-helper 1 cells, and higher M1 macrophages and conventional dendritic cells (cDCs) with elevated cytolytic activity score in both cohorts. In agreement, immune response-related gene sets: inflammatory response, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) signaling, allograft rejection, interferon-alpha, and interferon-gamma were all enriched to high angiogenesis HCC. Programmed cell death protein 1 (PD1), programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1), programmed death ligand 2 (PD-L2), and cytotoxic T lymphocyte-associated protein 4 (CTLA-4) were higher in high angiogenesis HCC in TCGA, but not in GSE76427 cohort. Conclusions Angiogenesis quantified using transcriptome of HCC patients demonstrated that it is associated with aggressive biology but also with tumor immunogenicity and immune response that counterbalance and did not reflect in survival. Given high expression of immune checkpoint molecules, we cannot help but speculate that immunotherapy may be useful for high angiogenesis HCC patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raj Vaghjiani
- Department of Surgical Oncology, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Buffalo, NY, USA
- These authors contributed equally to this work
| | - Rongrong Wu
- Department of Surgical Oncology, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Buffalo, NY, USA
- Department of Breast Surgery and Oncology, Tokyo Medical University, Tokyo, Japan
- These authors contributed equally to this work
| | - Kaity H. Tung
- Department of Surgical Oncology, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Buffalo, NY, USA
- Department of Surgery, University at Buffalo Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, The State University of New York, Buffalo, NY, USA
| | - Takashi Ishikawa
- Department of Breast Surgery and Oncology, Tokyo Medical University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Kazuaki Takabe
- Department of Surgical Oncology, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Buffalo, NY, USA
- Department of Breast Surgery and Oncology, Tokyo Medical University, Tokyo, Japan
- Department of Surgery, University at Buffalo Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, The State University of New York, Buffalo, NY, USA
- Department of Surgery, Niigata University Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Niigata, Japan
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Yokohama City University School of Medicine, Yokohama, Japan
- Department of Breast Surgery, Fukushima Medical University, Fukushima, Japan
- Department of Immunology, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Buffalo, NY, USA
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Lim J, Goh MJ, Song BG, Sinn DH, Kang W, Gwak GY, Choi MS, Lee JH, Cha DI, Gu K, Ha SY, Hwang I, Park WY, Paik YH. Unraveling the immune-activated tumor microenvironment correlated with clinical response to atezolizumab plus bevacizumab in advanced HCC. JHEP Rep 2025; 7:101304. [PMID: 40124166 PMCID: PMC11929055 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhepr.2024.101304] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2024] [Revised: 12/05/2024] [Accepted: 12/10/2024] [Indexed: 03/25/2025] Open
Abstract
Background & Aims Despite atezolizumab plus bevacizumab being a standard treatment for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), a significant proportion of patients do not achieve durable benefit. This study aimed to identify predictive biomarkers for this therapy by investigating the role of immune activation within the tumor microenvironment (TME). Methods We characterized the intratumoral TME of patients with advanced HCC treated with atezolizumab plus bevacizumab using single cell transcriptomics on pretreatment tumor biopsies from 12 patients. To complement and support these findings, we integrated our single cell data with publicly available bulk RNA-sequencing data from independent clinical trial cohorts. Results Patients who responded to combination therapy with atezolizumab plus bevacizumab demonstrated an immune-activated TME, marked by enhanced cytotoxicity and a tumor-specific T cell response. These patients also exhibited an increased proportion of inflammatory cytokine-enriched tumor-associated macrophage clusters with stronger interactions with T cells, an increased population of conventional dendritic cells, and activated antigen-presenting function in tumor endothelial cells. When publicly available bulk RNA-sequencing data from independent clinical trial cohorts were analyzed, these immune activation features were associated with improved progression-free survival (median 10.8 months, 95% CI: 7.3-not reached versus 5.5 months, 95% CI: 4.0-6.7; p <0.001). Conclusions These findings suggest that the existence of an activated immune TME before treatment is crucial for a favorable clinical response in patients with HCC treated with atezolizumab plus bevacizumab. Impact and implications Only a subset of patients with HCC benefit from combination therapy with atezolizumab plus bevacizumab, limiting its clinical utility. In this study, we used single cell RNA analysis to identify TME features associated with a clinical response to this therapy. Our findings suggest that a pre-existing immune-activated TME is crucial for predicting the response to atezolizumab plus bevacizumab. Specifically, features such as enhanced T cell cytotoxicity, inflammatory cytokine-enriched macrophage clusters, active antigen presentation in endothelial cells, and an increased presence of dendritic cells may aid patient selection and inform therapeutic strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinyeong Lim
- Department of Health Science and Technology, Samsung Advanced Institute for Health Science and Technology, Sunkyunkwan University, Seoul, South Korea
- Samsung Genome Institute, Samsung Medical Center, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Myung Ji Goh
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Byeong Geun Song
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Dong Hyun Sinn
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Wonseok Kang
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Geum-Youn Gwak
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Moon Seok Choi
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Joon Hyeok Lee
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Dong Ik Cha
- Department of Radiology and Center for Imaging Science, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Kyowon Gu
- Department of Radiology and Center for Imaging Science, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Sang Yun Ha
- Department of Pathology, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Inwoo Hwang
- Department of Pathology, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Woong-Yang Park
- Department of Health Science and Technology, Samsung Advanced Institute for Health Science and Technology, Sunkyunkwan University, Seoul, South Korea
- Samsung Genome Institute, Samsung Medical Center, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Yong-Han Paik
- Department of Health Science and Technology, Samsung Advanced Institute for Health Science and Technology, Sunkyunkwan University, Seoul, South Korea
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
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Liao Z, Zheng Y, Zhang M, Li X, Wang J, Xu H. Dynamic single-cell transcriptomic reveals the cellular heterogeneity and a novel fibroblast subpopulation in laryngotracheal stenosis. Biol Direct 2025; 20:40. [PMID: 40165307 PMCID: PMC11956221 DOI: 10.1186/s13062-025-00639-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2025] [Accepted: 03/20/2025] [Indexed: 04/02/2025] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Laryngotracheal stenosis (LTS), a pathological narrowing of the upper airway caused by excessive extracellular matrix (ECM) deposition, often leads to dyspnea and even respiratory failure. However, systematic studies addressing the specific subpopulations and their contribution to LTS development still remain underexplored. RESULTS We collected laryngotracheal tissue at multiple time points of LTS rat model, established by injuring their laryngotracheal lining, and performed dynamic single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) to elucidate the transcriptomic atlas of LTS development. The results showed, from the inflammatory state to the repair/fibrotic state, infiltration of immune cells such as monocyte macrophages decreased and fibroblast increased. We delineated the markers and functional status of different fibroblasts subsets and identified that fibrotic fibroblasts may originate from multiple fibroblast subpopulations, including a new subpopulation characterized by the expression of chondrogenic markers such as Ucma and Col2a1, we designated this subcluster as chondrocyte injury-related fibroblasts (CIRF). Furthermore, we categorized monocytes/macrophages into several subtypes and identified that SPP1 high macrophages represented the largest macrophage subpopulation in LTS, providing evidence to clarify the importance of SPP1 macrophages in fibrosis disease. Our findings also revealed the interactions among these cells to explore the molecular mechanism associated with LTS pathogenesis. CONCLUSIONS Our study, for the first time, conducted dynamic scRNA-seq on LTS, revealing the cellular heterogeneity and providing a valuable resource for exploring the intricate molecular landscape of LTS. We propose CIRF may represent a tissue-specific fibroblast lineage in LTS and potentially originate from cells in the perichondrium of the trachea and transform into fibrotic fibroblasts. Integration of our study with those of other respiratory fibrotic diseases will allow for a comprehensive understanding of airway remodeling in respiratory diseases and exploring potential new therapeutic targets for their treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ziwei Liao
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Shanghai Children's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, No. 355, Luding Road, Shanghai, 200062, People's Republic of China
| | - Yangyang Zheng
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Shanghai Children's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, No. 355, Luding Road, Shanghai, 200062, People's Republic of China
| | - Mingjun Zhang
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Shanghai Children's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, No. 355, Luding Road, Shanghai, 200062, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiaoyan Li
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Shanghai Children's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, No. 355, Luding Road, Shanghai, 200062, People's Republic of China.
| | - Jing Wang
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Shanghai Children's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, No. 355, Luding Road, Shanghai, 200062, People's Republic of China.
| | - Hongming Xu
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Shanghai Children's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, No. 355, Luding Road, Shanghai, 200062, People's Republic of China.
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Cao M, Peng W, Cheng B, Wang R, Chen W, Liu L, Huang H, Chen S, Cui H, Liang J, Zhou Q, Xiong S, Bai S, Liu L, Zhao Y. PPY-Induced iCAFs Cultivate an Immunosuppressive Microenvironment in Pancreatic Cancer. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2025:e2413432. [PMID: 40162859 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202413432] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2024] [Revised: 02/20/2025] [Indexed: 04/02/2025]
Abstract
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is characterized by cancer cells surrounded by affluent stromal components, which may underlie their limited response to various therapeutic interventions, including immunotherapy. Inflammatory cancer-associated fibroblasts (iCAFs), a crucial subset of CAFs within the PDAC microenvironment, play a pivotal role in shaping an immunosuppressive microenvironment. In this study, single-cell RNA sequencing analysis is performed to screen for cancer cells-secreted proteins associated with iCAF induction, and PPY (pancreatic polypeptide) is validated as a potent inducer. Unlike previously reported iCAF inducers, PPY is a gastrointestinal hormone predominantly expressed in the pancreas, suggesting that targeting it may have minimal systemic effects. Multiplex immunohistochemistry (mIHC) on human PDAC tissue microarrays, orthotopic allograft mouse models, and co-culture experiments are utilized to validate the crucial role of PPY in iCAF induction. Mechanistic studies integrating mRNA sequencing, immunoprecipitation-mass spectrometry, and molecular docking reveal that PPY induces iCAFs by activating the non-canonical NF-κB pathway through EGFR. Importantly, targeting PPY enhanced the efficacy of anti-PD-1 immunotherapy in KPC (KrasLSL-G12D/+; Trp53LSL-R172H/+; Pdx1-Cre) mice, as evidenced by reduced tumor burden on PET-CT imaging and improved survival. This research is expected to provide a novel strategy for improving immunotherapy in PDAC by targeting a key inducer of iCAFs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mengdie Cao
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Diseases, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China
| | - Wang Peng
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Diseases, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China
| | - Bin Cheng
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Diseases, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China
| | - Ronghua Wang
- Department of Surgery, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, 15213, USA
| | - Wei Chen
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Diseases, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China
- School of Life Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong, 999077, China
| | - Luyao Liu
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Diseases, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China
| | - Hai Huang
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Diseases, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China
| | - Shiru Chen
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Diseases, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China
| | - Haochen Cui
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Diseases, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China
| | - JingWen Liang
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Diseases, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China
| | - Qiaodan Zhou
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Diseases, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China
| | - Si Xiong
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Diseases, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China
| | - Shuya Bai
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Diseases, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China
| | - Luoxia Liu
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China
| | - Yuchong Zhao
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Diseases, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China
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Pu X, Zhang C, Jin J, Jin Y, Ren J, Zhou S, Patel H, Chen J, Wu B, Chen L, Qian H, Lin T. Phase separation of EEF1E1 promotes tumor stemness via PTEN/AKT-mediated DNA repair in hepatocellular carcinoma. Cancer Lett 2025; 613:217508. [PMID: 39884379 DOI: 10.1016/j.canlet.2025.217508] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2024] [Revised: 01/15/2025] [Accepted: 01/27/2025] [Indexed: 02/01/2025]
Abstract
This study aimed to investigate the associations of liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS) and tumor stemness in hepatocellular carcinomas (HCC). LLPS-related genes were extracted from DrLLPS, LLPSDB and PhaSepDB databases. Stemness index (mRNAsi) was calculated based on the data from TCGA and Progenitor Cell Biology Consortium. Through some series of bioinformatics methods, we first found that stemness index mRNAsi was associated with worse survival outcomes, immune infiltration and therapy sensitivity in HCC. G2M checkpoint and DNA repair pathways were significantly activated with high mRNAsi. Totally, 71 differentially expressed LLPS genes in HCC were correlated with mRNAsi, and a mRNAsi-associated LLPS gene signature (KPNA2, EEF1E1 and ATIC) was identified to predict prognosis for HCC patients. mRNAsi-associated LLPS genes contributed to cluster HCC patients into four molecular clusters that markedly differed on survival, immune infiltration and therapy sensitivity. Further in vivo and in vitro experiments showed that EEF1E1 was highly expressed in HepG2 and HCCLM3 cells, and EEF1E1 silencing observably inhibited tumor cell growth, liver cancer stem cells (CSCs) markers (CD133, EpCAM and SOX2) expression, enhanced DNA damage marker γH2AX expression by activating PTEN/AKT pathway. EEF1E1 could undergo LLPS condensates, and roles of EEF1E1 on tumor cells were partly reversed after inhibiting LLPS using 1, 6-hexanediol. In conclusion, EEF1E1 was identified as a phase separation protein and involves in tumor stemness and DNA damage repair in HCC. EEF1E1 and its LLPS condensate may be novel targets to elaborate the underlying mechanisms of CSCs propagation in HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaofan Pu
- Department of General Surgery, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310000, China
| | - Chaolei Zhang
- Department of General Surgery, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310000, China
| | - Junbin Jin
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Shaoxing People's Hospital (Shaoxing Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine), Shaoxing, 312000, Zhejiang, China
| | - Yifeng Jin
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Shaoxing People's Hospital (Shaoxing Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine), Shaoxing, 312000, Zhejiang, China
| | - Jianghao Ren
- Department of General Surgery, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310000, China
| | - Senhao Zhou
- Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310000, China
| | - Harsh Patel
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, St. John's University, Queens, New York, NY 11439, USA
| | - Jingyun Chen
- Department of General Surgery, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310000, China
| | - Bicheng Wu
- The First School of Medicine, School of Information and Engieering, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325000, China
| | - Leyi Chen
- School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310000, China
| | - Haoran Qian
- Department of General Surgery, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310000, China.
| | - Tianyu Lin
- Department of General Surgery, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310000, China.
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Gu Y, Zhang Z, Huang H, Zhu W, Liu H, Zhang R, Weng N, Sun X. The dual role of CXCL9/SPP1 polarized tumor-associated macrophages in modulating anti-tumor immunity in hepatocellular carcinoma. Front Immunol 2025; 16:1528103. [PMID: 40230843 PMCID: PMC11994707 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2025.1528103] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2024] [Accepted: 03/13/2025] [Indexed: 04/16/2025] Open
Abstract
Introduction The main challenge for cancer therapy lies in immuno-suppressive tumor micro-environment. Reprogramming tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) into an anti-tumor phenotype is a promising strategy. Methods A comprehensive analysis by combing multi-regional single-cell, bulk and spatial transcriptome profiling with radiomics characterization was conducted to dissect the heterogeneity of TAMs and resolve the landscape of the CXCL9:SPP1 (CS) macrophage polarity in HCC. Results TAMs were particularly increased in HCC. SPP1+ TAMs and CXCL9+ TAMs were identified as the dominant subtypes with different evolutionary trajectories. SPP1+ TAMs, located in the tumor core, co-localized with cancer-associated fibroblasts to promote tumor growth and further contributed to worse prognosis. In contrast, CXCL9+ TAMs, located in the peritumoral region, synergized with CD8+ T cells to create an immunostimulatory micro-environment. For the first time, we explored the applicability of CS polarity in HCC tumors and revealed several key transcription factors involved in shaping this polarity. Moreover, CS polarity could serve as a potential indicator of prognostic and micro-environmental status for HCC patients. Based on medical imaging data, we developed a radiomics tool, RCSP (Radiogenomics-based CXCL9/SPP1 Polarity), to assist in non-invasively predicting the CS polarity in HCC patients. Conclusion Our research sheds light on the regulatory roles of SPP1+ TAMs and CXCL9+ TAMs in the micro-environment and provides new therapeutic targets or insights for the reprogramming of targeted macrophages in HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Gu
- State Key Laboratory of Digital Medical Engineering, School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing, China
| | - Zhihui Zhang
- College of Acupuncture-Moxibustion and Tuina, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, China
| | - Hao Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Digital Medical Engineering, School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing, China
| | - Wenyong Zhu
- State Key Laboratory of Digital Medical Engineering, School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing, China
| | - Hongjia Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Digital Medical Engineering, School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing, China
| | - Rongxin Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Digital Medical Engineering, School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing, China
| | - Nan Weng
- State Key Laboratory of Digital Medical Engineering, School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing, China
| | - Xiao Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Digital Medical Engineering, School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing, China
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Wu Y, Shi Y, Luo Z, Zhou X, Chen Y, Song X, Liu S. Spatial multi-omics analysis of tumor-stroma boundary cell features for predicting breast cancer progression and therapy response. Front Cell Dev Biol 2025; 13:1570696. [PMID: 40206396 PMCID: PMC11979139 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2025.1570696] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2025] [Accepted: 03/05/2025] [Indexed: 04/11/2025] Open
Abstract
Background The tumor boundary of breast cancer represents a highly heterogeneous region. In this area, the interactions between malignant and non-malignant cells influence tumor progression, immune evasion, and drug resistance. However, the spatial transcriptional profile of the tumor boundary and its role in the prognosis and treatment response of breast cancer remain unclear. Method Utilizing the Cottrazm algorithm, we reconstructed the intricate boundaries and identified differentially expressed genes (DEGs) associated with these regions. Cell-cell co-positioning analysis was conducted using SpaCET, which revealed key interactions between tumor-associated macrophage (TAMs) and cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs). Additionally, Lasso regression analysis was employed to develop a malignant body signature (MBS), which was subsequently validated using the TCGA dataset for prognosis prediction and treatment response assessment. Results Our research indicates that the tumor boundary is characterized by a rich reconstruction of the extracellular matrix (ECM), immunomodulatory regulation, and the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT), underscoring its significance in tumor progression. Spatial colocalization analysis reveals a significant interaction between CAFs and M2-like tumor-associated macrophage (TAM), which contributes to immune exclusion and drug resistance. The MBS score effectively stratifies patients into high-risk groups, with survival outcomes for patients exhibiting high MBS scores being significantly poorer. Furthermore, drug sensitivity analysis demonstrates that high-MB tumors had poor response to chemotherapy strategies, highlighting the role of the tumor boundary in modulating therapeutic efficacy. Conclusion Collectively, we investigate the spatial transcription group and bulk data to elucidate the characteristics of tumor boundary molecules in breast cancer. The CAF-M2 phenotype emerges as a critical determinant of immunosuppression and drug resistance, suggesting that targeting this interaction may improve treatment responses. Furthermore, the MBS serves as a novel prognostic tool and offers potential strategies for guiding personalized treatment approaches in breast cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuanyuan Wu
- Department of Breast Surgery, Longhua Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Youyang Shi
- Department of Breast Surgery, Longhua Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Zhanyang Luo
- Shanghai Pudong Hospital, Fudan University Pudong Medical Center, Shanghai, China
| | - Xiqiu Zhou
- Department of Breast Surgery, Longhua Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Yonghao Chen
- West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Xiaoyun Song
- Department of Breast Surgery, Longhua Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Sheng Liu
- Department of Breast Surgery, Longhua Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
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Ramirez CFA, Akkari L. Myeloid cell path to malignancy: insights into liver cancer. Trends Cancer 2025:S2405-8033(25)00054-8. [PMID: 40140328 DOI: 10.1016/j.trecan.2025.02.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2024] [Revised: 02/12/2025] [Accepted: 02/24/2025] [Indexed: 03/28/2025]
Abstract
Clinically approved treatments for advanced liver cancer often lack potency because of the heterogeneous characteristics of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). This complexity is largely driven by context-dependent inflammatory responses brought on by diverse etiologies, such as metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH), the genetic makeup of cancer cells, and the versatile adaptability of immune cells, such as myeloid cells. In this review, we discuss the evolutionary dynamics of the immune landscape, particularly that of liver-resident Kupffer cells (KCs), TREM2+, and SPP1+ macrophages with an active role during liver disease progression, which eventually fuels hepatocarcinogenesis. We highlight exploitable immunomodulatory avenues amenable to mitigate both the inherent pathological characteristics of liver cancers and the associated external factors that favor malignancy, paving a roadmap toward improving the management and therapeutic outcome for patients with HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christel F A Ramirez
- Division of Tumor Biology and Immunology, Oncode Institute, The Netherlands Cancer Institute, Plesmanlaan 121, 1066 CX Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Leila Akkari
- Division of Tumor Biology and Immunology, Oncode Institute, The Netherlands Cancer Institute, Plesmanlaan 121, 1066 CX Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
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Yu Z, Luo J, An W, Wei H, Li M, He L, Xiao F, Wei H. Migrasome Marker Epidermal Growth Factor Domain-Specific O-GlcNAc Transferase: Pan-Cancer Angiogenesis Biomarker and the Potential Role of circ_0058189/miR-130a-3p/EOGT Axis in Hepatocellular Carcinoma Progression and Sorafenib Resistance. Biomedicines 2025; 13:773. [PMID: 40299340 PMCID: PMC12024942 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines13040773] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2025] [Revised: 03/18/2025] [Accepted: 03/20/2025] [Indexed: 04/30/2025] Open
Abstract
Background: The EGF domain-specific O-GlcNAc transferase (EOGT), a migrasome marker, plays emerging roles in cancer biology through O-GlcNAcylation modifications, yet its pan-cancer functions and therapeutic implications remain underexplored. This study aimed to systematically characterize EOGT's oncogenic mechanisms across malignancies, with particular focus on hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) progression and sorafenib resistance. Methods: Multi-omics analysis integrated TCGA/GTEx data from 33 cancer types with spatial/single-cell transcriptomics and 10 HCC cohorts. Functional validation employed Huh7 cell models with EOGT modulation, RNA sequencing, and ceRNA network construction. Drug sensitivity analysis leveraged GDSC/CTRP/PRISM databases, while immune microenvironment assessment utilized ESTIMATE/TIMER algorithms. Results: EOGT showed cancer-specific dysregulation, marked by significant upregulation in HCC correlating with advanced stages and poor survival. Pan-cancer analysis revealed EOGT's association with genomic instability, tumor stemness, and angiogenesis. Experimental validation demonstrated EOGT's promotion of HCC proliferation and migration. A novel exosomal circ_0058189/miR-130a-3p/EOGT axis was identified, showing that circ_0058189 was upregulated in HCC tissues, plasma samples and exosomes of sorafenib-resistant cells. Conclusion: This study establishes EOGT as a pan-cancer angiogenesis biomarker, while elucidating its role in therapeutic resistance via exosomal circRNA-mediated regulation, providing mechanistic insights for targeted intervention strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhe Yu
- Department of Gastroenterology, Peking University Ditan Teaching Hospital, Beijing 100015, China; (Z.Y.); (J.L.)
- Department of Cancer Center, Beijing Ditan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100015, China
| | - Jing Luo
- Department of Gastroenterology, Peking University Ditan Teaching Hospital, Beijing 100015, China; (Z.Y.); (J.L.)
| | - Wen An
- Department of Gastroenterology, Beijing Ditan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100015, China; (W.A.); (H.W.); (M.L.); (L.H.)
| | - Herui Wei
- Department of Gastroenterology, Beijing Ditan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100015, China; (W.A.); (H.W.); (M.L.); (L.H.)
| | - Mengqi Li
- Department of Gastroenterology, Beijing Ditan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100015, China; (W.A.); (H.W.); (M.L.); (L.H.)
| | - Lingling He
- Department of Gastroenterology, Beijing Ditan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100015, China; (W.A.); (H.W.); (M.L.); (L.H.)
| | - Fan Xiao
- Institute of Infectious Diseases, Beijing Ditan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100015, China;
| | - Hongshan Wei
- Department of Gastroenterology, Peking University Ditan Teaching Hospital, Beijing 100015, China; (Z.Y.); (J.L.)
- Department of Gastroenterology, Beijing Ditan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100015, China; (W.A.); (H.W.); (M.L.); (L.H.)
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60
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Chen Y, Huang Y, Li W, Zhu T, Cheng M, Wu C, Zhang L, Peng H, Wang K. Intratumoral microbiota-aided fusion radiomics model for predicting tumor response to neoadjuvant chemoimmunotherapy in triple-negative breast cancer. J Transl Med 2025; 23:352. [PMID: 40114207 PMCID: PMC11924647 DOI: 10.1186/s12967-025-06369-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2024] [Accepted: 03/08/2025] [Indexed: 03/22/2025] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Neoadjuvant chemoimmunotherapy (NACI) has emerged as the standard treatment for early-stage triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). However, reliable biomarkers for identifying patients who are likely to benefit from NACI are lacking. This study aims to develop an intratumoral microbiota-aided radiomics model for predicting pathological complete response (pCR) in patients with TNBC. METHODS Intratumoral microbiota are characterized by 16S rDNA sequencing and quantified through experimental assays. Single-cell RNA sequencing is performed to analyze the tumor microenvironment of tumors with various responses to NACI. Radiomics features are extracted from tumor regions on longitudinal magnetic resonance images (MRIs) scanned before and after NACI in the training set. On the basis of treatment response (pCR or non-pCR) and intratumoral microbiota scoring, we select key radiomics features and construct a fusion model integrating multi-timepoint (pre-NACI and post-NACI) MRI to predict the efficacy of immunotherapy, followed by independent external validation. RESULTS A total of 124 patients are enrolled, with 88 in the training set and 36 in the validation set. Tumors from patients who achieves pCR present a significantly greater intratumoral microbiota load than tumors from patients who achieve non-pCR (p < 0.05). Additionally, tumors in non-pCR group exhibit greater infiltration of tumor-associated SPP1+ macrophages, which is negatively correlated with the microbiota load. On the basis of intratumoral microbiota scoring, we select 17 radiomics features and use them to construct the fusion radiomics model. The fusion model achieves the highest AUC of 0.945 in the training set, outperforming pre-NACI (AUC = 0.875) and post-NACI (AUC = 0.917) models. In the validation set, this model maintains a superior AUC of 0.873, surpassing those of pre-NACI (AUC = 0.769) and post-NACI (AUC = 0.802) models. Clinically, the fusion model distinguishes patients who achieve pCR from those who do not with an accuracy of 77.8%. Decision curve analysis demonstrates the superior net clinical benefit of this model across varying risk thresholds. CONCLUSIONS Our intratumoral microbiota-aided radiomics model could serve as a powerful and noninvasive tool for predicting the response of patients with early-stage TNBC to NACI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yilin Chen
- School of Medicine, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, 510006, China
- Department of Breast Cancer, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital (Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences), Southern Medical University, 106 Zhongshan Er Road, Yuexiu District, Guangzhou, 510080, People's Republic of China
| | - Yuhong Huang
- Department of Breast Cancer, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital (Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences), Southern Medical University, 106 Zhongshan Er Road, Yuexiu District, Guangzhou, 510080, People's Republic of China
| | - Wei Li
- Department of Breast Cancer, The First People's Hospital of Foshan, 81 Lingnan Road North, Chancheng District, Foshan, 528000, People's Republic of China
- The Second School of Clinical Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, People's Republic of China
| | - Teng Zhu
- Department of Breast Cancer, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital (Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences), Southern Medical University, 106 Zhongshan Er Road, Yuexiu District, Guangzhou, 510080, People's Republic of China
| | - Minyi Cheng
- Department of Breast Cancer, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital (Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences), Southern Medical University, 106 Zhongshan Er Road, Yuexiu District, Guangzhou, 510080, People's Republic of China
| | - Cangui Wu
- Department of Breast Cancer, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital (Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences), Southern Medical University, 106 Zhongshan Er Road, Yuexiu District, Guangzhou, 510080, People's Republic of China
| | - Liulu Zhang
- Department of Breast Cancer, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital (Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences), Southern Medical University, 106 Zhongshan Er Road, Yuexiu District, Guangzhou, 510080, People's Republic of China
| | - Hao Peng
- Department of Breast Cancer, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital (Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences), Southern Medical University, 106 Zhongshan Er Road, Yuexiu District, Guangzhou, 510080, People's Republic of China.
| | - Kun Wang
- School of Medicine, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, 510006, China.
- Department of Breast Cancer, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital (Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences), Southern Medical University, 106 Zhongshan Er Road, Yuexiu District, Guangzhou, 510080, People's Republic of China.
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Ozasa T, Nakajima M, Tsunedomi R, Goto S, Adachi K, Takahashi H, Tamada K, Nagano H. Novel immune drug combination induces tumour microenvironment remodelling and reduces the dosage of anti-PD-1 antibody. Sci Rep 2025; 15:8956. [PMID: 40089538 PMCID: PMC11910518 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-025-87344-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2024] [Accepted: 01/17/2025] [Indexed: 03/17/2025] Open
Abstract
Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) are effective in clinical settings; however, they present immune-related adverse effects and financial burden. Although dose reduction of ICIs may mitigate these limitations, it could compromise therapeutic efficacy. Using two adjuvants (poly(I:C) and LAG-3-Ig) combined with three neoantigen peptides (Comb), we examined whether Comb could enhance the efficacy of reduced dose of αPD-1 monoclonal antibody (RD-αPD-1 mAb), which has limited efficacy. In a murine colorectal cancer model using an MC38 cell line, Comb addition to RD-αPD-1 mAb enhanced treatment efficacy. Analysis of the tumour microenvironment (TME) in mice treated with Comb using flow cytometry and single-cell RNA sequencing revealed decreased macrophages with highly expressing immunosuppressive genes and increased plasmacytoid dendritic cells with highly expressing antigen-presenting genes. A potent infiltration of CD8+ tumour-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) with an effector profile was only observed in RD-αPD-1 mAb with Comb. Additionally, single-cell T cell receptor repertoire analysis underscored an oligoclonal expansion of CD8+ TILs following treatment with RD-αPD-1 mAb with Comb. This novel immune drug combination may be a promising strategy for reducing αPD-1 mAb dosage while preserving antitumour efficacy through modulating the TME.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takahiro Ozasa
- Department of Gastroenterological, Breast and Endocrine Surgery, Yamaguchi University Graduate School of Medicine, 1-1-1 Minami-Kogushi, Ube, Yamaguchi, 755-8505, Japan
| | - Masao Nakajima
- Department of Gastroenterological, Breast and Endocrine Surgery, Yamaguchi University Graduate School of Medicine, 1-1-1 Minami-Kogushi, Ube, Yamaguchi, 755-8505, Japan
| | - Ryouichi Tsunedomi
- Department of Gastroenterological, Breast and Endocrine Surgery, Yamaguchi University Graduate School of Medicine, 1-1-1 Minami-Kogushi, Ube, Yamaguchi, 755-8505, Japan
- Research Institute for Cell Design Medical Science, Yamaguchi University, Yamaguchi, Japan
| | - Shunsuke Goto
- Department of Urology, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan
| | - Keishi Adachi
- Department of Immunology, Yamaguchi University Graduate School of Medicine, Yamaguchi, Japan
| | - Hidenori Takahashi
- Department of Gastroenterological, Breast and Endocrine Surgery, Yamaguchi University Graduate School of Medicine, 1-1-1 Minami-Kogushi, Ube, Yamaguchi, 755-8505, Japan
| | - Koji Tamada
- Research Institute for Cell Design Medical Science, Yamaguchi University, Yamaguchi, Japan
- Department of Immunology, Yamaguchi University Graduate School of Medicine, Yamaguchi, Japan
| | - Hiroaki Nagano
- Department of Gastroenterological, Breast and Endocrine Surgery, Yamaguchi University Graduate School of Medicine, 1-1-1 Minami-Kogushi, Ube, Yamaguchi, 755-8505, Japan.
- Research Institute for Cell Design Medical Science, Yamaguchi University, Yamaguchi, Japan.
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Souza VGP, Benard KH, Stewart GL, Enfield KSS, Lam WL. Identification of Genomic Instability-Associated LncRNAs as Potential Therapeutic Targets in Lung Adenocarcinoma. Cancers (Basel) 2025; 17:996. [PMID: 40149330 PMCID: PMC11940503 DOI: 10.3390/cancers17060996] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2025] [Revised: 03/11/2025] [Accepted: 03/13/2025] [Indexed: 03/29/2025] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is the most common type of cancer, with lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) as the predominant subtype. Despite advancements in targeted therapies, many NSCLC patients still experience poor outcomes due to treatment resistance and disease progression. Genomic instability (GI), a hallmark of cancer, defined as the increased tendency of DNA mutations and alterations, is closely linked to cancer initiation, progression, and resistance to therapy. Emerging evidence suggests that long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs)-molecules longer than 200 nucleotides that do not encode proteins but regulate gene expression-play critical roles in cancer biology and are associated with GI. However, the relationship between GI and lncRNA expression in LUAD remains poorly understood. METHODS In this study, we analyzed the transcript profiles of lncRNAs and mRNAs from LUAD samples in The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database and classified them based on their Homologous Recombination Deficiency (HRD) score. The HRD score is an unweighted sum of three independent DNA-based measures of genomic instability: loss of heterozygosity, telomeric allelic imbalance, and large-scale transitions. We then performed a differential gene expression analysis to identify lncRNAs and mRNAs that were either upregulated or downregulated in samples with high HRD scores compared to those with low HRD scores. Following this, we conducted a correlation analysis to assess the significance of the association between HRD scores and the expression of both lncRNAs and mRNAs. RESULTS We identified 30 differentially expressed lncRNAs and 200 mRNAs associated with genomic instability. Using an RNA interactome database from sequencing experiments, we found evidence of interactions between GI-associated lncRNAs (GI-lncRNAs) and GI-associated mRNAs (GI-mRNAs). Further investigation showed that some GI-lncRNAs play regulatory and functional roles in LUAD and other diseases. We also found that GI-lncRNAs have potential as prognostic biomarkers, particularly when integrated with HRD stratification. The expression of specific GI-lncRNAs was associated with primary therapy response and immune infiltration in LUAD. Additionally, we identified existing drugs that could modulate GI-lncRNAs, offering potential therapeutic strategies to address GI in LUAD. CONCLUSIONS Our findings suggest that GI-associated lncRNAs could serve as valuable biomarkers for LUAD prognosis and therapeutic response. Furthermore, modulating these lncRNAs presents potential treatment avenues to address genomic instability in LUAD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vanessa G. P. Souza
- British Columbia Cancer Research Institute, Vancouver, BC V5Z 1L3, Canada (W.L.L.)
| | - Katya H. Benard
- British Columbia Cancer Research Institute, Vancouver, BC V5Z 1L3, Canada (W.L.L.)
- Interdisciplinary Oncology Program, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada
| | - Greg L. Stewart
- British Columbia Cancer Research Institute, Vancouver, BC V5Z 1L3, Canada (W.L.L.)
- Interdisciplinary Oncology Program, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada
| | - Katey S. S. Enfield
- British Columbia Cancer Research Institute, Vancouver, BC V5Z 1L3, Canada (W.L.L.)
- Interdisciplinary Oncology Program, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z7, Canada
| | - Wan L. Lam
- British Columbia Cancer Research Institute, Vancouver, BC V5Z 1L3, Canada (W.L.L.)
- Interdisciplinary Oncology Program, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z7, Canada
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Liu M, Hernandez MO, Castven D, Lee HP, Wu W, Wang L, Forgues M, Hernandez JM, Marquardt JU, Ma L. Tumor cell villages define the co-dependency of tumor and microenvironment in liver cancer. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2025:2025.03.07.642107. [PMID: 40161587 PMCID: PMC11952337 DOI: 10.1101/2025.03.07.642107] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/02/2025]
Abstract
Spatial cellular context is crucial in shaping intratumor heterogeneity. However, understanding how each tumor establishes its unique spatial landscape and what factors drive the landscape for tumor fitness remains significantly challenging. Here, we analyzed over 2 million cells from 50 tumor biospecimens using spatial single-cell imaging and single-cell RNA sequencing. We developed a deep learning-based strategy to spatially map tumor cell states and the architecture surrounding them, which we referred to as Spatial Dynamics Network (SDN). We found that different tumor cell states may be organized into distinct clusters, or 'villages', each supported by unique SDNs. Notably, tumor cell villages exhibited village-specific molecular co-dependencies between tumor cells and their microenvironment and were associated with patient outcomes. Perturbation of molecular co-dependencies via random spatial shuffling of the microenvironment resulted in destabilization of the corresponding villages. This study provides new insights into understanding tumor spatial landscape and its impact on tumor aggressiveness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meng Liu
- Cancer Data Science Laboratory, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland 20892, USA
| | - Maria O. Hernandez
- Spatial Imaging Technology Resource, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Darko Castven
- Department of Medicine I, University Medical Center, Lübeck, Germany
| | - Hsin-Pei Lee
- Cancer Data Science Laboratory, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland 20892, USA
| | - Wenqi Wu
- Cancer Data Science Laboratory, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland 20892, USA
| | - Limin Wang
- Laboratory of Human Carcinogenesis, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Marshonna Forgues
- Laboratory of Human Carcinogenesis, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Jonathan M. Hernandez
- Surgical Oncology Program, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland 20892, USA
| | - Jens U. Marquardt
- Department of Medicine I, University Medical Center, Lübeck, Germany
| | - Lichun Ma
- Cancer Data Science Laboratory, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland 20892, USA
- Liver Cancer Program, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland 20892, USA
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Jing SY, Wang HQ, Lin P, Yuan J, Tang ZX, Li H. Quantifying and interpreting biologically meaningful spatial signatures within tumor microenvironments. NPJ Precis Oncol 2025; 9:68. [PMID: 40069556 PMCID: PMC11897387 DOI: 10.1038/s41698-025-00857-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2024] [Accepted: 02/25/2025] [Indexed: 03/15/2025] Open
Abstract
The tumor microenvironment (TME) plays a crucial role in orchestrating tumor cell behavior and cancer progression. Recent advances in spatial profiling technologies have uncovered novel spatial signatures, including univariate distribution patterns, bivariate spatial relationships, and higher-order structures. These signatures have the potential to revolutionize tumor mechanism and treatment. In this review, we summarize the current state of spatial signature research, highlighting computational methods to uncover spatially relevant biological significance. We discuss the impact of these advances on fundamental cancer biology and translational research, address current challenges and future research directions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Si-Yu Jing
- CAS Key Laboratory of Computational Biology, Shanghai Institute of Nutrition and Health, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
| | - He-Qi Wang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Computational Biology, Shanghai Institute of Nutrition and Health, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
| | - Ping Lin
- CAS Key Laboratory of Computational Biology, Shanghai Institute of Nutrition and Health, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
| | - Jiao Yuan
- CAS Key Laboratory of Computational Biology, Shanghai Institute of Nutrition and Health, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhi-Xuan Tang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Computational Biology, Shanghai Institute of Nutrition and Health, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
| | - Hong Li
- CAS Key Laboratory of Computational Biology, Shanghai Institute of Nutrition and Health, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, People's Republic of China.
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65
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Chang J, Lu J, Liu Q, Xiang T, Zhang S, Yi Y, Li D, Liu T, Liu Z, Chen X, Dong Z, Li C, Yi H, Yu S, Huang L, Qu F, Wang M, Wang D, Dong H, Cheng G, Zhu L, Li J, Li C, Wu P, Xie X, Teschendorff AE, Lin D, Wang X, Wu C. Single-cell multi-stage spatial evolutional map of esophageal carcinogenesis. Cancer Cell 2025; 43:380-397.e7. [PMID: 40068596 DOI: 10.1016/j.ccell.2025.02.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2024] [Revised: 01/09/2025] [Accepted: 02/10/2025] [Indexed: 05/13/2025]
Abstract
Cancer development involves the co-evolution of cancer cells and their surrounding microenvironment, yet the dynamics of this interaction within the physical architecture remains poorly understood. Here, we present a spatial transcriptomic map at single-cell resolution, encompassing 127 multi-stage fields of view from 43 patients, to chart the evolutionary trajectories of human esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). By analyzing 6.4 million cells, we reveal that ESCC progression is driven by a proliferative epithelial cell subpopulation that acquires dedifferentiated and invasive characteristics. At the late precancerous stage, these cells disrupt the epithelial-stromal interface and recruit normal fibroblasts via JAG1-NOTCH1 signaling, transforming them into cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs). This interaction leads to the formation of a "CAF-Epi" (CAF and epithelial cell) niche at the tumor edge that shields the tumor from immune surveillance. The CAF-Epi niche formation is a key indicator of progression in ESCC and other squamous cell carcinomas and patient outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiang Chang
- Department of Health Toxicology, Key Laboratory for Environment and Health, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China.
| | - Junting Lu
- Department of Etiology and Carcinogenesis, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences (CAMS) and Peking Union Medical College (PUMC), Beijing 100021, China; Key Laboratory of Cancer Genomic Biology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100021, China
| | - Qingyi Liu
- Department of Etiology and Carcinogenesis, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences (CAMS) and Peking Union Medical College (PUMC), Beijing 100021, China; Key Laboratory of Cancer Genomic Biology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100021, China
| | - Tao Xiang
- Department of Etiology and Carcinogenesis, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences (CAMS) and Peking Union Medical College (PUMC), Beijing 100021, China; Key Laboratory of Cancer Genomic Biology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100021, China
| | - Shaosen Zhang
- Department of Etiology and Carcinogenesis, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences (CAMS) and Peking Union Medical College (PUMC), Beijing 100021, China; Key Laboratory of Cancer Genomic Biology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100021, China
| | - Yonglin Yi
- Department of Etiology and Carcinogenesis, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences (CAMS) and Peking Union Medical College (PUMC), Beijing 100021, China; Key Laboratory of Cancer Genomic Biology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100021, China
| | - Dongxu Li
- Department of Etiology and Carcinogenesis, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences (CAMS) and Peking Union Medical College (PUMC), Beijing 100021, China; Key Laboratory of Cancer Genomic Biology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100021, China
| | - Tianyuan Liu
- Department of Etiology and Carcinogenesis, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences (CAMS) and Peking Union Medical College (PUMC), Beijing 100021, China
| | - Zeyuan Liu
- Changping Laboratory, Beijing 102206, China
| | - Xinjie Chen
- Department of Etiology and Carcinogenesis, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences (CAMS) and Peking Union Medical College (PUMC), Beijing 100021, China; Key Laboratory of Cancer Genomic Biology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100021, China
| | - Zhenghao Dong
- Department of Etiology and Carcinogenesis, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences (CAMS) and Peking Union Medical College (PUMC), Beijing 100021, China
| | - Cainan Li
- Department of Etiology and Carcinogenesis, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences (CAMS) and Peking Union Medical College (PUMC), Beijing 100021, China; Key Laboratory of Cancer Genomic Biology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100021, China
| | - HanZhang Yi
- Department of Etiology and Carcinogenesis, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences (CAMS) and Peking Union Medical College (PUMC), Beijing 100021, China; Key Laboratory of Cancer Genomic Biology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100021, China
| | - Siqi Yu
- Department of Etiology and Carcinogenesis, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences (CAMS) and Peking Union Medical College (PUMC), Beijing 100021, China; Key Laboratory of Cancer Genomic Biology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100021, China
| | - Luwei Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Brain and Cognitive Science, Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100875, China
| | - Fangfei Qu
- Changping Laboratory, Beijing 102206, China
| | - Mengdi Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Brain and Cognitive Science, Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100875, China
| | - Dehe Wang
- Changping Laboratory, Beijing 102206, China
| | - Hao Dong
- State Key Laboratory of Brain and Cognitive Science, Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100875, China
| | - Guoyu Cheng
- Department of Etiology and Carcinogenesis, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences (CAMS) and Peking Union Medical College (PUMC), Beijing 100021, China; Key Laboratory of Cancer Genomic Biology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100021, China
| | - Liang Zhu
- Department of Etiology and Carcinogenesis, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences (CAMS) and Peking Union Medical College (PUMC), Beijing 100021, China; Key Laboratory of Cancer Genomic Biology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100021, China
| | - Jiachen Li
- Department of Etiology and Carcinogenesis, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences (CAMS) and Peking Union Medical College (PUMC), Beijing 100021, China; Key Laboratory of Cancer Genomic Biology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100021, China
| | - Chenying Li
- Department of Etiology and Carcinogenesis, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences (CAMS) and Peking Union Medical College (PUMC), Beijing 100021, China; Key Laboratory of Cancer Genomic Biology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100021, China
| | - Pujie Wu
- Department of Etiology and Carcinogenesis, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences (CAMS) and Peking Union Medical College (PUMC), Beijing 100021, China; Key Laboratory of Cancer Genomic Biology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100021, China
| | - Xiaoting Xie
- Department of Etiology and Carcinogenesis, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences (CAMS) and Peking Union Medical College (PUMC), Beijing 100021, China; Key Laboratory of Cancer Genomic Biology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100021, China
| | - Andrew E Teschendorff
- CAS Key Laboratory of Computational Biology, Shanghai Institute of Nutrition and Health, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China.
| | - Dongxin Lin
- Department of Etiology and Carcinogenesis, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences (CAMS) and Peking Union Medical College (PUMC), Beijing 100021, China; Key Laboratory of Cancer Genomic Biology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100021, China; Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Personalized Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 211166, China; Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Guangzhou 510060, China.
| | - Xiaoqun Wang
- Changping Laboratory, Beijing 102206, China; State Key Laboratory of Brain and Cognitive Science, Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100875, China; State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning, IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, New Cornerstone Science Laboratory, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China.
| | - Chen Wu
- Department of Etiology and Carcinogenesis, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences (CAMS) and Peking Union Medical College (PUMC), Beijing 100021, China; Key Laboratory of Cancer Genomic Biology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100021, China; Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Personalized Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 211166, China; CAMS Oxford Institute, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing 100006, China.
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Chen M, Zhou X, Fan Y, Wang C. Identification and validation of prognostic biomarkers related to tumor immune invasion in pancreatic cancer. Front Genet 2025; 16:1556544. [PMID: 40129606 PMCID: PMC11931078 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2025.1556544] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2025] [Accepted: 02/24/2025] [Indexed: 03/26/2025] Open
Abstract
Background The diagnosis and treatment of pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PAAD) remain clinically challenging, and new molecular markers for prognostic assessment and targeted therapy are urgently needed. The tumor microenvironment (TME) and immune invasion play an important role in pancreatic cancer development and progression. Therefore, immunotherapeutic strategies based on the TME and immune invasion may have important clinical value. Methods In this study, we extracted transcriptome and clinicopathological data for 179 PAAD samples from the TCGA database and evaluated the immune composition, stromal composition, and infiltrating immune cell landscape in the tumor samples. Then, we identified relevant differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and performed functional annotation and prognostic correlation analysis to identify prognostic biomarkers for pancreatic cancer, the correlation between biomarkers and tumor immune invasion was analyzed to reveal the molecular immune mechanism of pancreatic cancer. Finally, GEO databases (GES71729), GEPIA, TISIDB, TIMER databases and RT-PCR were used for further analysis. Results CXCL10 and CXCL11 were highly expressed in pancreatic cancer and associated with poor prognosis of patients through cell adhesion molecules chemokine signaling, cytokine-cytokine receptor interaction, natural killer cell-mediated cytotoxicity, and Toll-like receptor signaling pathways. Finally, the correlation between CXCL10 and CXCL11 and tumor immune invasion was analyzed. The results confirmed that the expression levels of CXCL10 and CXCL11 were positively correlated with the contents of CD8+ T cells. Activated memory CD4+ T cells, M1 macrophages and resting mast cells. The levels of CXCL10 and CXCL11 were related to but negatively correlated with the contents of memory B cells, Tregs and M0 macrophages. Conclusion Our study demonstrates that CXCL10 and CXCL11 are novel biomarkers of TME and immune cell infiltration in pancreatic cancer by affecting the distribution of immune cells. CXCL10 and CXCL11 may be new targets for molecular targeted therapy and immunotherapy of pancreatic cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Chen Wang
- Department of Gastroenterology, Lanzhou University Second Hospital, Lanzhou, China
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Song J, Wei R, Liu C, Zhao Z, Liu X, Wang Y, Liu F, Liu X. Antigen-presenting cancer associated fibroblasts enhance antitumor immunity and predict immunotherapy response. Nat Commun 2025; 16:2175. [PMID: 40038297 PMCID: PMC11880398 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-57465-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2023] [Accepted: 02/23/2025] [Indexed: 03/06/2025] Open
Abstract
Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAF) play a crucial role in tumor progression and immune regulation. However, the functional heterogeneity of CAFs remains unclear. Here, we identify antigen-presenting CAFs (apCAF), characterized by high MHC II expression, in gastric cancer (GC) tumors and find that apCAFs are preferentially located near tertiary lymphoid structures. Both in vivo and in vitro experiments demonstrate that apCAFs promote T cell activation and enhances its cytotoxic and proliferative capacities, thereby strengthening T cell-mediated anti-tumor immunity. Additionally, apCAFs facilitate the polarization of macrophages toward a pro-inflammatory phenotype. These polarized macrophages, in turn, promote the formation of apCAFs, creating a positive feedback loop that amplifies anti-tumor immune responses. Notably, baseline tumors in immunotherapy responders across various cancer types exhibit higher levels of apCAFs infiltration. This study advances the understanding of CAFs heterogeneity in GC and highlights apCAFs as a potential biomarker for predicting immunotherapy response in pan-cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junquan Song
- Department of Gastric Surgery, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, China
- Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College of Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Rongyuan Wei
- Department of Gastric Surgery, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, China
- Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College of Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Chenchen Liu
- Department of Gastric Surgery, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, China
- Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College of Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Zhenxiong Zhao
- Department of Gastric Surgery, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, China
- Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College of Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Xuanjun Liu
- Department of Gastric Surgery, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, China
- Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College of Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yanong Wang
- Department of Gastric Surgery, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, China.
- Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College of Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
| | - Fenglin Liu
- Department of Gastric Surgery, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, China.
- Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College of Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
| | - Xiaowen Liu
- Department of Gastric Surgery, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, China.
- Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College of Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
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Malone CD, Bajaj S, He A, Mody K, Hickey RM, Sarwar A, Krishnan S, Patel TC, Toskich BB. Combining Radioembolization and Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors for the Treatment of Hepatocellular Carcinoma: The Quest for Synergy. J Vasc Interv Radiol 2025; 36:414-424.e2. [PMID: 39586534 DOI: 10.1016/j.jvir.2024.11.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2024] [Revised: 11/06/2024] [Accepted: 11/13/2024] [Indexed: 11/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma is a leading and increasing contributor to cancer-related death worldwide. Recent advancements in both liver-directed therapies in the form of yttrium-90 (90Y) radioembolization (RE) and systemic therapy in the form of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) have expanded treatment options for patients with an otherwise poor prognosis. Despite these gains, ICIs and 90Y-RE each have key limitations with low objective response rates and persistent hazard of out-of-field recurrence, respectively, and overall survival remains low. However, each therapy's strength may mitigate the other's weakness, making them potentially ideal partners for combination treatment strategies. This review discusses the scientific and clinical rationale for combining 90Y-RE with ICIs, highlights early clinical trial data on its safety and effectiveness, and proposes key issues to be addressed in this emerging field. With optimal strategies, combination therapies can potentially result in increasing likelihood of durable and curative outcomes in later stage patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher D Malone
- Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, Missouri.
| | - Suryansh Bajaj
- Department of Radiology, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, Arkansas
| | - Aiwu He
- Division of Gastroenterology and Medical Oncology, MedStar Health, Washington, DC
| | | | - Ryan M Hickey
- Department of Radiology, NYU Langone Health, New York, New York
| | - Ammar Sarwar
- Department of Radiology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Sunil Krishnan
- Vivian L. Smith Department of Neurosurgery, The University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston, Texas
| | - Tushar C Patel
- Department of Transplant, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, Florida
| | - Beau B Toskich
- Division of Vascular and Interventional Radiology, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, Florida
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69
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Xiao L, Shen Z, Pan Z, Qiu Y, Huang D, Liu Y, Liu C, Zhang X. High-dimensional deconstruction of HNSC reveals clinically distinct cellular states and ecosystems that are associated with prognosis and therapy response. J Transl Med 2025; 23:254. [PMID: 40025504 PMCID: PMC11872339 DOI: 10.1186/s12967-025-06299-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2024] [Accepted: 02/23/2025] [Indexed: 03/04/2025] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Characterizing the variety of cell types in the tumor microenvironment (TME) and their organization into cellular communities is vital for elucidating the biological diversity of cancer and informing therapeutic strategies. METHODS Here, we employed a machine learning-based algorithm framework, EcoTyper, to analyze single-cell transcriptomes from 139 patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSC)and gene expression profiles from 983 additional HNSC patients, aiming to delineate the fundamental cell states and ecosystems integral to HNSC. RESULTS A diverse landscape of 66 cell states and 9 ecosystems within the HNSC microenvironment was identified, revealing classical cell types while also expanding upon previous immune classifications. Survival analysis revealed that specific cell states and ecotypes (ecosystems) are associated with patient prognosis, underscoring their potential as indicators of clinical outcomes. Moreover, distinct cell states and ecotypes exhibited varying responses to immunotherapy and chemotherapy, with several showing promise as predictive biomarkers for treatment efficacy. CONCLUSION Our large-scale integrative transcriptome analysis provides high-resolution insights into the cellular states and ecosystems of HNSC, facilitating the discovery of novel biomarkers and supporting the development of precision therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lei Xiao
- Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, 87 Xiangya Road, Changsha, 410008, Hunan, China
- Otolaryngology Major Disease Research Key Laboratory of Hunan Province, Changsha, 410008, Hunan, China
- Clinical Research Center for Pharyngolaryngeal Diseases and Voice Disorders in Hunan Province, Changsha, 410008, Hunan, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders (Xiangya Hospital), Changsha, 410008, Hunan, China
| | - Zhe Shen
- Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, 87 Xiangya Road, Changsha, 410008, Hunan, China
- Otolaryngology Major Disease Research Key Laboratory of Hunan Province, Changsha, 410008, Hunan, China
- Clinical Research Center for Pharyngolaryngeal Diseases and Voice Disorders in Hunan Province, Changsha, 410008, Hunan, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders (Xiangya Hospital), Changsha, 410008, Hunan, China
| | - Zhaoyu Pan
- Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, 87 Xiangya Road, Changsha, 410008, Hunan, China
- Otolaryngology Major Disease Research Key Laboratory of Hunan Province, Changsha, 410008, Hunan, China
- Clinical Research Center for Pharyngolaryngeal Diseases and Voice Disorders in Hunan Province, Changsha, 410008, Hunan, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders (Xiangya Hospital), Changsha, 410008, Hunan, China
| | - Yuanzheng Qiu
- Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, 87 Xiangya Road, Changsha, 410008, Hunan, China
- Otolaryngology Major Disease Research Key Laboratory of Hunan Province, Changsha, 410008, Hunan, China
- Clinical Research Center for Pharyngolaryngeal Diseases and Voice Disorders in Hunan Province, Changsha, 410008, Hunan, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders (Xiangya Hospital), Changsha, 410008, Hunan, China
| | - Donghai Huang
- Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, 87 Xiangya Road, Changsha, 410008, Hunan, China
- Otolaryngology Major Disease Research Key Laboratory of Hunan Province, Changsha, 410008, Hunan, China
- Clinical Research Center for Pharyngolaryngeal Diseases and Voice Disorders in Hunan Province, Changsha, 410008, Hunan, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders (Xiangya Hospital), Changsha, 410008, Hunan, China
| | - Yong Liu
- Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, 87 Xiangya Road, Changsha, 410008, Hunan, China
- Otolaryngology Major Disease Research Key Laboratory of Hunan Province, Changsha, 410008, Hunan, China
- Clinical Research Center for Pharyngolaryngeal Diseases and Voice Disorders in Hunan Province, Changsha, 410008, Hunan, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders (Xiangya Hospital), Changsha, 410008, Hunan, China
| | - Chao Liu
- Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, 87 Xiangya Road, Changsha, 410008, Hunan, China.
- Otolaryngology Major Disease Research Key Laboratory of Hunan Province, Changsha, 410008, Hunan, China.
- Clinical Research Center for Pharyngolaryngeal Diseases and Voice Disorders in Hunan Province, Changsha, 410008, Hunan, China.
- National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders (Xiangya Hospital), Changsha, 410008, Hunan, China.
| | - Xin Zhang
- Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, 87 Xiangya Road, Changsha, 410008, Hunan, China.
- Otolaryngology Major Disease Research Key Laboratory of Hunan Province, Changsha, 410008, Hunan, China.
- Clinical Research Center for Pharyngolaryngeal Diseases and Voice Disorders in Hunan Province, Changsha, 410008, Hunan, China.
- National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders (Xiangya Hospital), Changsha, 410008, Hunan, China.
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Sun Y, Zhou P, Qian J, Zeng Q, Wei G, Li Y, Liu Y, Lai Y, Zhan Y, Wu D, Fang Y. Spermine synthase engages in macrophages M2 polarization to sabotage antitumor immunity in hepatocellular carcinoma. Cell Death Differ 2025; 32:573-586. [PMID: 39658701 PMCID: PMC11894157 DOI: 10.1038/s41418-024-01409-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2024] [Revised: 10/23/2024] [Accepted: 10/28/2024] [Indexed: 12/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Disturbances in tumor cell metabolism reshape the tumor microenvironment (TME) and impair antitumor immunity, but the implicit mechanisms remain elusive. Here, we found that spermine synthase (SMS) was significantly upregulated in tumor cells, which correlated positively with the immunosuppressive microenvironment and predicted poor survival in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients. Via "subcutaneous" and "orthotopic" HCC syngeneic mouse models and a series of in vitro coculture experiments, we identified elevated SMS levels in HCC cells played a role in immune escape mainly through its metabolic product spermine, which induced M2 polarization of tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) and subsequently corresponded with a decreased antitumor functionality of CD8+ T cells. Mechanistically, we discovered that spermine reprogrammed TAMs mainly by activating the PI3K-Akt-mTOR-S6K signaling pathway. Spermine inhibition in combination with immune checkpoint blockade effectively diminished tumor burden in vivo. Our results expand the understanding of the critical role of metabolites in regulating cancer progression and antitumor immunity and open new avenues for developing novel therapeutic strategies against HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yining Sun
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory for Prevention and Control of Major Liver Diseases, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Peitao Zhou
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory for Prevention and Control of Major Liver Diseases, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Junying Qian
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Qin Zeng
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Guangyan Wei
- Department of Radiation Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Yongsheng Li
- Department of General Surgery, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Yuechen Liu
- Department of General Surgery, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Yingjie Lai
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Yizhi Zhan
- Department of General Surgery, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China.
| | - Dehua Wu
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China.
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory for Prevention and Control of Major Liver Diseases, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China.
| | - Yuan Fang
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China.
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory for Prevention and Control of Major Liver Diseases, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China.
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Sererols-Viñas L, Garcia-Vicién G, Ruiz-Blázquez P, Lee TF, Lee YA, Gonzalez-Sanchez E, Vaquero J, Moles A, Filliol A, Affò S. Hepatic Stellate Cells Functional Heterogeneity in Liver Cancer. Semin Liver Dis 2025; 45:33-51. [PMID: 40043738 DOI: 10.1055/a-2551-0724] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/01/2025]
Abstract
Hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) are the liver's pericytes, and play key roles in liver homeostasis, regeneration, fibrosis, and cancer. Upon injury, HSCs activate and are the main origin of myofibroblasts and cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) in liver fibrosis and cancer. Primary liver cancer has a grim prognosis, ranking as the third leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide, with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) being the predominant type, followed by intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (iCCA). Moreover, the liver hosts 35% of all metastatic lesions. The distinct spatial distribution and functional roles of HSCs across these malignancies represent a significant challenge for universal therapeutic strategies, requiring a nuanced and tailored understanding of their contributions. This review examines the heterogeneous roles of HSCs in liver cancer, focusing on their spatial localization, dynamic interactions within the tumor microenvironment (TME), and emerging therapeutic opportunities, including strategies to modulate their activity, and harness their potential as targets for antifibrotic and antitumor interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Sererols-Viñas
- Tumor Microenvironment Plasticity and Heterogeneity Research Group, Institut d'Investigacions Biomediques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Spain
- University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Gemma Garcia-Vicién
- Tumor Microenvironment Plasticity and Heterogeneity Research Group, Institut d'Investigacions Biomediques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Paloma Ruiz-Blázquez
- University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- Tissue Remodeling Fibrosis and Cancer Group, Institute of Biomedical Research of Barcelona, Spanish National Research Council, Barcelona, Spain
- Institute of Biomedical Research of Barcelona (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Spain
- CIBEREHD, National Biomedical Research Institute on Liver and Gastrointestinal Diseases, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - Ting-Fang Lee
- Department of Surgery, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee
| | - Youngmin A Lee
- Department of Surgery, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee
| | - Ester Gonzalez-Sanchez
- HepatoBiliary Tumours Lab, Centro de Investigación del Cáncer and Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular del Cáncer, CSIC-Universidad de Salamanca, Salamanca, Spain
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, University of Salamanca, Salamanca, Spain
| | - Javier Vaquero
- CIBEREHD, National Biomedical Research Institute on Liver and Gastrointestinal Diseases, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
- HepatoBiliary Tumours Lab, Centro de Investigación del Cáncer and Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular del Cáncer, CSIC-Universidad de Salamanca, Salamanca, Spain
- TGF-β and Cancer Group, Oncobell Program, Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBELL), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Anna Moles
- Tissue Remodeling Fibrosis and Cancer Group, Institute of Biomedical Research of Barcelona, Spanish National Research Council, Barcelona, Spain
- Institute of Biomedical Research of Barcelona (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Spain
- CIBEREHD, National Biomedical Research Institute on Liver and Gastrointestinal Diseases, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - Aveline Filliol
- Department of Cancer Biology and Genetics, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
| | - Silvia Affò
- Tumor Microenvironment Plasticity and Heterogeneity Research Group, Institut d'Investigacions Biomediques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Spain
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Yu X, Qian J, Ding L, Pan C, Liu X, Wu Q, Wang S, Liu J, Shang M, Su R, Guo D, Xie H, Yin S, Zhou L, Zheng S. Galectin-1-Induced Tumor Associated Macrophages Repress Antitumor Immunity in Hepatocellular Carcinoma Through Recruitment of Tregs. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2025; 12:e2408788. [PMID: 39853961 PMCID: PMC11923918 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202408788] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2024] [Revised: 12/12/2024] [Indexed: 01/26/2025]
Abstract
Tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) are commonly considered accomplices in tumorigenesis and tumor development. However, the precise mechanism by which tumor cells prompt TAMs to aid in evading immune surveillance remains to be further investigated. Here, it is elucidated that tumor-secreted galectin-1 (Gal1) conferred immunosuppressive properties to TAMs. Specifically, patient specimens and a public database is first used to analyze the clinical relevance of Gal1 in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Then, it is demonstrated that TAMs functioned as a critical mediator in the Gal1-induced progression of HCC and the establishment of an immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment. Furthermore, RNA-sequencing determined that Gal1 promoted the upregulation of chemokine (C-C motif) ligand 20 (CCL20) in TAMs via activating the PI3K/AKT/NF-κB pathway. Employing an anti-CCL20 neutralizing antibody and Foxp3DTR mice, it is demonstrated that CCR6+Foxp3+ regulatory T cells (Tregs) recruited by Gal1-induced TAMs contributed to reduced infiltration and dysfunctional state of CD8+ T cells, subsequently facilitating tumor progression. Targeting Gal1 dampened the secretion of CCL20 and inhibits the recruitment of Tregs, thereby activating anti-tumor immunity and ameliorating anti-PD-1 resistance. Together, this findings revealed that Gal1-induced TAMs recruited Tregs through the CCL20-CCR6 axis. Inhibition of Gal1 improves the effectiveness of anti-PD1 therapy, shedding important new light on the combination immunotherapy of HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xizhi Yu
- Division of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Department of Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, School of MedicineZhejiang UniversityHangzhou310003China
- NHC Key Laboratory of Combined Multi‐organ TransplantationKey Laboratory of Organ TransplantationZhejiang310003China
- Key Laboratory of the diagnosis and treatment of organ Transplantation, Research Unit of Collaborative Diagnosis and Treatment for Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic CancerChinese Academy of Medical Sciences (2019RU019)Hangzhou310003China
- State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious DiseasesNational Clinical Research Center for Infectious DiseasesHangzhou310003China
| | - Junjie Qian
- Division of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Department of Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, School of MedicineZhejiang UniversityHangzhou310003China
- NHC Key Laboratory of Combined Multi‐organ TransplantationKey Laboratory of Organ TransplantationZhejiang310003China
- Key Laboratory of the diagnosis and treatment of organ Transplantation, Research Unit of Collaborative Diagnosis and Treatment for Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic CancerChinese Academy of Medical Sciences (2019RU019)Hangzhou310003China
- State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious DiseasesNational Clinical Research Center for Infectious DiseasesHangzhou310003China
| | - Limin Ding
- Division of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Department of Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, School of MedicineZhejiang UniversityHangzhou310003China
- NHC Key Laboratory of Combined Multi‐organ TransplantationKey Laboratory of Organ TransplantationZhejiang310003China
- Key Laboratory of the diagnosis and treatment of organ Transplantation, Research Unit of Collaborative Diagnosis and Treatment for Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic CancerChinese Academy of Medical Sciences (2019RU019)Hangzhou310003China
- State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious DiseasesNational Clinical Research Center for Infectious DiseasesHangzhou310003China
| | - Caixu Pan
- Division of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Department of Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, School of MedicineZhejiang UniversityHangzhou310003China
- NHC Key Laboratory of Combined Multi‐organ TransplantationKey Laboratory of Organ TransplantationZhejiang310003China
- Key Laboratory of the diagnosis and treatment of organ Transplantation, Research Unit of Collaborative Diagnosis and Treatment for Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic CancerChinese Academy of Medical Sciences (2019RU019)Hangzhou310003China
- State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious DiseasesNational Clinical Research Center for Infectious DiseasesHangzhou310003China
| | - Xi Liu
- Division of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Department of Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, School of MedicineZhejiang UniversityHangzhou310003China
- NHC Key Laboratory of Combined Multi‐organ TransplantationKey Laboratory of Organ TransplantationZhejiang310003China
- Key Laboratory of the diagnosis and treatment of organ Transplantation, Research Unit of Collaborative Diagnosis and Treatment for Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic CancerChinese Academy of Medical Sciences (2019RU019)Hangzhou310003China
- State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious DiseasesNational Clinical Research Center for Infectious DiseasesHangzhou310003China
| | - Qinchuan Wu
- NHC Key Laboratory of Combined Multi‐organ TransplantationKey Laboratory of Organ TransplantationZhejiang310003China
- Key Laboratory of the diagnosis and treatment of organ Transplantation, Research Unit of Collaborative Diagnosis and Treatment for Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic CancerChinese Academy of Medical Sciences (2019RU019)Hangzhou310003China
- State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious DiseasesNational Clinical Research Center for Infectious DiseasesHangzhou310003China
| | - Shuai Wang
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Department of Liver TransplantationShulan (Hangzhou) Hospital Affiliated to Zhejiang Shuren University Shulan International Medical CollegeHangzhou310000China
| | - Jianpeng Liu
- Division of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Department of Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, School of MedicineZhejiang UniversityHangzhou310003China
- NHC Key Laboratory of Combined Multi‐organ TransplantationKey Laboratory of Organ TransplantationZhejiang310003China
- Key Laboratory of the diagnosis and treatment of organ Transplantation, Research Unit of Collaborative Diagnosis and Treatment for Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic CancerChinese Academy of Medical Sciences (2019RU019)Hangzhou310003China
- State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious DiseasesNational Clinical Research Center for Infectious DiseasesHangzhou310003China
| | - Mingge Shang
- Division of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Department of Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, School of MedicineZhejiang UniversityHangzhou310003China
- NHC Key Laboratory of Combined Multi‐organ TransplantationKey Laboratory of Organ TransplantationZhejiang310003China
- Key Laboratory of the diagnosis and treatment of organ Transplantation, Research Unit of Collaborative Diagnosis and Treatment for Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic CancerChinese Academy of Medical Sciences (2019RU019)Hangzhou310003China
- State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious DiseasesNational Clinical Research Center for Infectious DiseasesHangzhou310003China
| | - Rong Su
- NHC Key Laboratory of Combined Multi‐organ TransplantationKey Laboratory of Organ TransplantationZhejiang310003China
- Key Laboratory of the diagnosis and treatment of organ Transplantation, Research Unit of Collaborative Diagnosis and Treatment for Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic CancerChinese Academy of Medical Sciences (2019RU019)Hangzhou310003China
- State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious DiseasesNational Clinical Research Center for Infectious DiseasesHangzhou310003China
| | - Danjing Guo
- NHC Key Laboratory of Combined Multi‐organ TransplantationKey Laboratory of Organ TransplantationZhejiang310003China
- Key Laboratory of the diagnosis and treatment of organ Transplantation, Research Unit of Collaborative Diagnosis and Treatment for Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic CancerChinese Academy of Medical Sciences (2019RU019)Hangzhou310003China
- State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious DiseasesNational Clinical Research Center for Infectious DiseasesHangzhou310003China
| | - Haiyang Xie
- NHC Key Laboratory of Combined Multi‐organ TransplantationKey Laboratory of Organ TransplantationZhejiang310003China
- Key Laboratory of the diagnosis and treatment of organ Transplantation, Research Unit of Collaborative Diagnosis and Treatment for Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic CancerChinese Academy of Medical Sciences (2019RU019)Hangzhou310003China
- State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious DiseasesNational Clinical Research Center for Infectious DiseasesHangzhou310003China
| | - Shengyong Yin
- NHC Key Laboratory of Combined Multi‐organ TransplantationKey Laboratory of Organ TransplantationZhejiang310003China
- Key Laboratory of the diagnosis and treatment of organ Transplantation, Research Unit of Collaborative Diagnosis and Treatment for Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic CancerChinese Academy of Medical Sciences (2019RU019)Hangzhou310003China
- State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious DiseasesNational Clinical Research Center for Infectious DiseasesHangzhou310003China
| | - Lin Zhou
- NHC Key Laboratory of Combined Multi‐organ TransplantationKey Laboratory of Organ TransplantationZhejiang310003China
- Key Laboratory of the diagnosis and treatment of organ Transplantation, Research Unit of Collaborative Diagnosis and Treatment for Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic CancerChinese Academy of Medical Sciences (2019RU019)Hangzhou310003China
- State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious DiseasesNational Clinical Research Center for Infectious DiseasesHangzhou310003China
| | - Shusen Zheng
- Division of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Department of Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, School of MedicineZhejiang UniversityHangzhou310003China
- NHC Key Laboratory of Combined Multi‐organ TransplantationKey Laboratory of Organ TransplantationZhejiang310003China
- Key Laboratory of the diagnosis and treatment of organ Transplantation, Research Unit of Collaborative Diagnosis and Treatment for Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic CancerChinese Academy of Medical Sciences (2019RU019)Hangzhou310003China
- State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious DiseasesNational Clinical Research Center for Infectious DiseasesHangzhou310003China
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Department of Liver TransplantationShulan (Hangzhou) Hospital Affiliated to Zhejiang Shuren University Shulan International Medical CollegeHangzhou310000China
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Leung J, Qu L, Ye Q, Zhong Z. The immune duality of osteopontin and its therapeutic implications for kidney transplantation. Front Immunol 2025; 16:1520777. [PMID: 40093009 PMCID: PMC11906708 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2025.1520777] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2024] [Accepted: 02/10/2025] [Indexed: 03/19/2025] Open
Abstract
Osteopontin (OPN) is a multifunctional glycoprotein with various structural domains that enable it to perform diverse functions in both physiological and pathological states. This review comprehensively examines OPN from multiple perspectives, including its protein structure, interactions with receptors, interactions with immune cells, and roles in kidney diseases and transplantation. This review explores the immunological duality of OPN and its significance and value as a biomarker and therapeutic target in kidney transplantation. In cancer, OPN typically promotes tumor evasion by suppressing the immune system. Conversely, in immune-related kidney diseases, particularly kidney transplantation, OPN activates the immune system by enhancing the migration and activation of immune cells, thereby exacerbating kidney damage. This immunological duality may stem from different OPN splice variants and the exposure, after cleavage, of different structural domains, which play distinct biological roles in cellular interactions. Additionally, OPN has a significant biological impact posttransplantation and on chronic kidney disease and, highlighting its importance as a biomarker and potential therapeutic target. Future research should further explore the specific mechanisms of OPN in kidney transplantation to improve treatment strategies and enhance patient quality of life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junto Leung
- Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Institute of Hepatobiliary Diseases of Wuhan University, Transplant Center of Wuhan University, National Quality Control Center for Donated Organ Procurement, Hubei Key Laboratory of Medical Technology on Transplantation, Hubei Provincial Clinical Research Center for Natural Polymer Biological Liver, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Lei Qu
- Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Institute of Hepatobiliary Diseases of Wuhan University, Transplant Center of Wuhan University, National Quality Control Center for Donated Organ Procurement, Hubei Key Laboratory of Medical Technology on Transplantation, Hubei Provincial Clinical Research Center for Natural Polymer Biological Liver, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Qifa Ye
- Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Institute of Hepatobiliary Diseases of Wuhan University, Transplant Center of Wuhan University, National Quality Control Center for Donated Organ Procurement, Hubei Key Laboratory of Medical Technology on Transplantation, Hubei Provincial Clinical Research Center for Natural Polymer Biological Liver, Wuhan, Hubei, China
- The 3rd Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, NHC Key Laboratory of Translational Research on Transplantation Medicine, Changsha, China
| | - Zibiao Zhong
- Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Institute of Hepatobiliary Diseases of Wuhan University, Transplant Center of Wuhan University, National Quality Control Center for Donated Organ Procurement, Hubei Key Laboratory of Medical Technology on Transplantation, Hubei Provincial Clinical Research Center for Natural Polymer Biological Liver, Wuhan, Hubei, China
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Zhang YT, Wei YN, Liu CC, Yang MQ. Bibliometric analysis: a study of the microenvironment in cervical cancer (2000-2024). Front Oncol 2025; 15:1508173. [PMID: 40083880 PMCID: PMC11903265 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2025.1508173] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2024] [Accepted: 02/06/2025] [Indexed: 03/16/2025] Open
Abstract
Objective The incidence of cervical cancer has increased in recent years. The tumor microenvironment (TME) is the local biological environment involved in tumor occurrence and development. This study aimed to conduct a comprehensive analysis of the global research on the TME in cervical cancer (CC), providing a knowledge framework in this field from a holistic and systematic perspective based on a bibliometric analysis. Methods Studies focusing on the TME in cervical cancer were searched using the Web of Science Core Collection database. The annual output, cooperation, hotspots, research status, and development trends in this field were analyzed using bibliometric softwares (VOSviewer and CiteSpace). Results A total of 1,057 articles published between 2000 and 2024 were selected. The number of publications and citations has recently increased. Cooperation network analysis indicated that China holds the foremost position in research on the TME in cervical cancer with the highest volume of publications, thus exerting the greatest influence. Fudan University had the highest output. Frontiers in Oncology showed the highest degree of productivity in this field. Rofstad, Einar K. made the most article contributions and was the most co-cited author. Four clusters were obtained after a cluster analysis of the keywords: TME, cervical cancer, immunotherapy, and prognosis. Immunotherapy, human papillomavirus, and biomarkers were relatively recent keywords that attracted increasing attention from researchers. Discussion This bibliometric analysis provides a data-based and objective introduction to the TME of cervical cancer, and offers readers a valuable reference for future research. Conclusions Comprehensive research in this field was mainly distributed in the TME of cervical cancer through the analysis of keywords and documents. Sufficient evidence supports mechanism research and application exploration. Further research should explore new topics related to the TME of cervical cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yun-Tao Zhang
- Department of Obstetrics, Changyi People’s Hospital, Changyi, Shandong, China
| | - Yan-Ni Wei
- Faculty of Health Management, Weifang Nursing Vocational College, Weifang, Shandong, China
| | - Chen-Chen Liu
- Department of Pathology, Weifang People’s Hospital (First Affiliated Hospital of Shandong Second Medical University), Weifang, Shandong, China
| | - Mai-Qing Yang
- Department of Pathology, Weifang People’s Hospital (First Affiliated Hospital of Shandong Second Medical University), Weifang, Shandong, China
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Zhang YZ, Ma Y, Ma E, Chen X, Zhang Y, Yin B, Zhao J. Sophisticated roles of tumor microenvironment in resistance to immune checkpoint blockade therapy in hepatocellular carcinoma. CANCER DRUG RESISTANCE (ALHAMBRA, CALIF.) 2025; 8:10. [PMID: 40051497 PMCID: PMC11883234 DOI: 10.20517/cdr.2024.165] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2024] [Revised: 01/13/2025] [Accepted: 02/21/2025] [Indexed: 03/09/2025]
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains a serious threat to global health, with rising incidence and mortality rates. Therapeutic options for advanced HCC are quite limited, and the overall prognosis remains poor. Recent advancements in immunotherapy, particularly immune-checkpoint blockade (ICB) targeting anti-PD1/PD-L1 and anti-CTLA4, have facilitated a paradigm shift in cancer treatment, demonstrating substantial survival benefits across various cancer types, including HCC. However, only a subset of HCC patients exhibit a favorable response to ICB therapy, and its efficacy is often hindered by the development of resistance. There are many studies to explore the underlying mechanisms of ICB response. In this review, we compiled the latest progression in immunotherapies for HCC and systematically summarized the sophisticated mechanisms by which components of the tumor microenvironment (TME) regulate resistance to ICB therapy. Additionally, we also outlined some scientific rationale strategies to boost antitumor immunity and enhance the efficacy of ICB in HCC. These insights may serve as a roadmap for future research and help improve outcomes for HCC patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi-Zhe Zhang
- Hepatobiliary Surgery Center, Department of General Surgery, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200040, China
- Authors contributed equally
| | - Yunshu Ma
- Hepatobiliary Surgery Center, Department of General Surgery, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200040, China
- Authors contributed equally
| | - Ensi Ma
- Liver Transplantation Center, Department of General Surgery, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200040, China
- Institute of Organ Transplantation, Fudan University, Shanghai 200040, China
| | - Xizhi Chen
- Hepatobiliary Surgery Center, Department of General Surgery, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200040, China
| | - Yue Zhang
- The Second School of Clinical Medicine, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou 310053, Zhejiang, China
| | - Baobing Yin
- Hepatobiliary Surgery Center, Department of General Surgery, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200040, China
- Department of Hepatobiliary surgery, National Regional Medical Center, Binhai Campus of the First Affiliated Hospital, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou 350212, Fujian, China
| | - Jing Zhao
- Hepatobiliary Surgery Center, Department of General Surgery, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200040, China
- Department of Hepatobiliary surgery, National Regional Medical Center, Binhai Campus of the First Affiliated Hospital, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou 350212, Fujian, China
- Cancer Metastasis Institute, Fudan University, Shanghai 201206, China
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Fei C, Chen Y, Tan R, Yang X, Wu G, Li C, Shi J, Le S, Yang W, Xu J, Wang L, Zhang Z. Single-cell multi-omics analysis identifies SPP1 + macrophages as key drivers of ferroptosis-mediated fibrosis in ligamentum flavum hypertrophy. Biomark Res 2025; 13:33. [PMID: 40001138 PMCID: PMC11863437 DOI: 10.1186/s40364-025-00746-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2024] [Accepted: 02/11/2025] [Indexed: 02/27/2025] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Ligamentum flavum hypertrophy (LFH) is a primary contributor to lumbar spinal stenosis. However, a thorough understanding of the cellular and molecular mechanisms driving LFH fibrotic progression remains incomplete. METHODS Single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) was performed to construct the single-cell map of human ligamentum flavum (LF) samples. An integrated multi-omics approach, encompassing scRNA-seq, bulk RNA sequencing (bulk RNA-seq), and Mendelian randomization (MR), was applied to conduct comprehensive functional analysis. Clinical tissue specimens and animal models were employed to further confirm the multi-omics findings. RESULTS ScRNA-seq provided a single-cell level view of the fibrotic microenvironment in LF, revealing significantly increased proportions of fibroblasts, myofibroblasts, and macrophages in LFH. Using transmission electron microscopy, single-cell gene set scoring, and MR analysis, ferroptosis was identified as a critical risk factor and pathway within LFH. Subcluster analysis of fibroblasts revealed functional heterogeneity among distinct subpopulations, highlighting the functional characteristics and the metabolic dynamics of fibroblast with a high ferroptosis score (High Ferro-score FB). The quantification of gene expression at single-cell level revealed that ferroptosis increased along with fibrosis in LFH specimens, a finding further validated in both human and mice tissue sections. Consistently, bulk RNA-seq confirmed increased proportions of fibroblasts and macrophages in LFH specimens, underscoring a strong correlation between these cell types through Spearman correlation analysis. Notably, subcluster analysis of the mononuclear phagocytes identified a specific subset of SPP1+ macrophages (SPP1+ Mac) enriched in LFH, which exhibited activation of fibrosis and ferroptosis-related metabolic pathways. Cell-cell communication analysis highlighted that SPP1+ Mac exhibited the strongest outgoing and incoming interactions among mononuclear phagocytes in the LFH microenvironment. Ligand-receptor analysis further revealed that the SPP1-CD44 axis could serve as a key mediator regulating the activity of High Ferro-score FB. Multiplex immunofluorescence confirmed substantial Collagen I deposition and reduced Ferritin Light Chain expression in regions with SPP1-CD44 co-localization in LFH specimens. CONCLUSIONS Our findings indicated that SPP1+ Mac may contribute to LFH fibrosis by regulating ferroptosis in High Ferro-score FB through the SPP1-CD44 axis. This study enhances our understanding of the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying LFH progression, potentially improving early diagnostic strategies and identifying new therapeutic targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chengshuo Fei
- Division of Spine Surgery, Department of Orthopedics, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, China
| | - Yanlin Chen
- Division of Spine Surgery, Department of Orthopedics, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, China
| | - Ruiqian Tan
- Division of Spine Surgery, Department of Orthopedics, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, China
| | - Xinxing Yang
- Division of Spine Surgery, Department of Orthopedics, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, China
| | - Guanda Wu
- Division of Spine Surgery, Department of Orthopedics, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, China
| | - Chenglong Li
- Division of Spine Surgery, Department of Orthopedics, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, China
| | - Jiawei Shi
- Division of Spine Surgery, Department of Orthopedics, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, China
| | - Shiyong Le
- Division of Spine Surgery, Department of Orthopaedics, The Third Affiliated Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510630, China
| | - Wenjie Yang
- Division of Spine Surgery, Department of Orthopedics, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, China
| | - Jiajia Xu
- Division of Spine Surgery, Department of Orthopedics, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, China.
| | - Liang Wang
- Division of Spine Surgery, Department of Orthopaedics, The Third Affiliated Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510630, China.
| | - Zhongmin Zhang
- Division of Spine Surgery, Department of Orthopedics, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, China.
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Liu M, Li L, Cao L, Li W, Gu X, Yang M, Wu D, Li Y, Deng Y, Zhang J, Yang C, Liang Q, Liu H, Rong P, Ma X, Wang W. Targeted delivery of CCL3 reprograms macrophage antigen presentation and enhances the efficacy of immune checkpoint blockade therapy in hepatocellular carcinoma. J Immunother Cancer 2025; 13:e010947. [PMID: 39988347 PMCID: PMC11848677 DOI: 10.1136/jitc-2024-010947] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2024] [Accepted: 02/05/2025] [Indexed: 02/25/2025] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains a leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide, especially in advanced stages where limited treatment options result in poor prognosis. The immunosuppressive tumor immune microenvironment (TIME), characterized by low immune cell infiltration and exhaustion, limits immunotherapy efficacy. To address this, our study investigates the role of C-C motif chemokine ligand 3 (CCL3) in modulating the HCC TIME. METHODS We analyzed CCL3 expression in human HCC samples from The Cancer Genome Atlas database, focusing on its correlation with inflammatory gene signatures and immune cell infiltration. High-dimensional single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq), flow cytometry, and multiplex immunofluorescence were used to investigate CCL3's effects on macrophage function and T cell activation. The biological impact of CCL3 on macrophages was assessed using co-culture systems, confocal imaging, metabolite detection, and inhibition assays. Preclinical HCC models and ex vivo tumor fragment assays further explored how CCL3 modulates immune responses and enhances immune checkpoint blockade efficacy. RESULTS Our study shows that CCL3 is suppressed in the tumor microenvironment and positively correlates with immune infiltration and inflammatory responses. Targeted liver delivery of rAAV-Ccl3 reprograms the immune microenvironment in HCC, promoting immune cell recruitment and tertiary lymphoid structure formation, thus suppressing tumor growth via immune engagement. Through scRNA-seq, flow cytometry, and multiplex immunofluorescence, we found that CCL3 enhances macrophage antigen uptake and activates cytotoxic T cells. In vivo and in vitro experiments confirmed that CCL3 facilitates T cell infiltration and upregulates MHC II expression on macrophages, enhancing antigen presentation. The CCL3-CCR5 pathway also boosts macrophage metabolism, increasing lysosomal activity and antigen uptake, thereby strengthening adaptive immune responses and increasing sensitivity to immune checkpoint blockade therapies in preclinical models. CONCLUSIONS This study highlights the pivotal role of CCL3 in reshaping the TIME and enhancing antitumor immunity in HCC. By promoting immune cell recruitment and enhancing antigen presentation, CCL3 demonstrates significant potential to improve the efficacy of immunotherapy, particularly in combination with immune checkpoint inhibitors. Targeting CCL3 may help to overcome the immunosuppressive TIME in HCC and improve patient outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Muqi Liu
- Institute for Cell Transplantation and Gene Therapy, Third Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
- Clinical Research Center for Minimally Invasive Diagnosis and Therapy Under Image Navigation, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Linzhe Li
- Institute for Cell Transplantation and Gene Therapy, Third Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Lu Cao
- Institute for Cell Transplantation and Gene Therapy, Third Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
- Clinical Research Center for Minimally Invasive Diagnosis and Therapy Under Image Navigation, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Wei Li
- Institute for Cell Transplantation and Gene Therapy, Third Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
- Clinical Research Center for Minimally Invasive Diagnosis and Therapy Under Image Navigation, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Xingshi Gu
- Institute for Cell Transplantation and Gene Therapy, Third Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Min Yang
- Institute for Cell Transplantation and Gene Therapy, Third Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
- Clinical Research Center for Minimally Invasive Diagnosis and Therapy Under Image Navigation, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Di Wu
- Institute for Cell Transplantation and Gene Therapy, Third Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
- Clinical Research Center for Minimally Invasive Diagnosis and Therapy Under Image Navigation, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Yanan Li
- Institute for Cell Transplantation and Gene Therapy, Third Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
- Clinical Research Center for Minimally Invasive Diagnosis and Therapy Under Image Navigation, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Yao Deng
- Institute for Cell Transplantation and Gene Therapy, Third Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Juan Zhang
- Institute for Cell Transplantation and Gene Therapy, Third Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
- Clinical Research Center for Minimally Invasive Diagnosis and Therapy Under Image Navigation, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Cejun Yang
- Institute for Cell Transplantation and Gene Therapy, Third Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
- Clinical Research Center for Minimally Invasive Diagnosis and Therapy Under Image Navigation, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Qi Liang
- Institute for Cell Transplantation and Gene Therapy, Third Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
- Clinical Research Center for Minimally Invasive Diagnosis and Therapy Under Image Navigation, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Huaping Liu
- Institute for Cell Transplantation and Gene Therapy, Third Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
- Clinical Research Center for Minimally Invasive Diagnosis and Therapy Under Image Navigation, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Pengfei Rong
- Institute for Cell Transplantation and Gene Therapy, Third Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
- Clinical Research Center for Minimally Invasive Diagnosis and Therapy Under Image Navigation, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Xiaoqian Ma
- Institute for Cell Transplantation and Gene Therapy, Third Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
- Clinical Research Center for Minimally Invasive Diagnosis and Therapy Under Image Navigation, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Wei Wang
- Institute for Cell Transplantation and Gene Therapy, Third Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
- Clinical Research Center for Minimally Invasive Diagnosis and Therapy Under Image Navigation, Changsha, Hunan, China
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Jia X, Zhu X, Chen S, Qiu Q, Song W, Zhang S, Dong H, Li Z, Bian S, Wu H, Dai H, Jin C, Zhou M, Chen J, Xuan Z, Liu P, Zeng Q, Xie H, Zheng S, Song P. Comprehensive multi-omics analyses expose a precision therapy strategy that targets replication stress in hepatocellular carcinoma using WEE1 inhibition. J Adv Res 2025:S2090-1232(25)00114-6. [PMID: 39978541 DOI: 10.1016/j.jare.2025.02.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2024] [Revised: 02/10/2025] [Accepted: 02/11/2025] [Indexed: 02/22/2025] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is an extremely heterogeneous malignancy with a poor prognosis, highlighting the need to target specific vulnerabilities within the tumor during treatment. OBJECTIVES This study employs multi-omics analysis techniques to provide novel insights into personalized therapeutic strategies for HCC patients. METHODS We performed proteomic and transcriptomic sequencing on 178 and 94 clinical samples of primary HCC without prior treatment, respectively. We employed an unbiased Kinome CRISPR-Cas9 library screening approach to systematically evaluate and identify novel therapeutic strategies that specifically target replication stress (RS). The synergy between oxaliplatin and adavosertib was verified using in vitro and in vivo models, including hydrodynamic injection, patient-derived organoids, and patient-derived xenografts. RESULTS In both proteomic- and transcriptomic-based subtyping analyses, subtypes characterized by hyperproliferative features demonstrated the poorest prognosis and the highest levels of RS. Among all first-line chemotherapeutic agents in these analyses, oxaliplatin accumulated the highest RS levels in HCC, while resistance remained a major challenge. With unbiased Kinome CRISPR loss-of-function gene screening, WEE1 was identified as a synthetic lethal target of oxaliplatin. The synergy between the WEE1 inhibitor adavosertib and oxaliplatin has been demonstrated in multiple in vitro and in vivo models. Mechanistically, adavosertib inhibits oxaliplatin-induced homologous recombination repair and G2/M checkpoint activation, leading to the accumulation of lethal DNA damage. Furthermore, patients with HCC showing high RS levels had poor prognoses and responded well to adavosertib and oxaliplatin combination treatments. This was validated by preclinical models and unsupervised clustering analysis. CONCLUSIONS Our findings provide promising insights into the precise therapeutic targeting of RS in HCC at both the proteomic and transcriptomic levels. Furthermore, our study highlights the potential of combining oxaliplatin with adavosertib as a treatment approach for HCC. In this study, we analyzed 178 and 94 pairs of clinical HCC samples using proteomic and transcriptomic sequencing, respectively. We discovered that the subtype characterized by high proliferation had the worst prognosis and highest RS level. Drug screening revealed that oxaliplatin promotes RS accumulation in HCC, but its resistance remains a challenge. Through unbiased CRISPR deletion-gene screening, WEE1 was identified as a lethal target of oxaliplatin. The WEE1 inhibitor adavosertib inhibits oxaliplatin-induced DNA repair, leading to lethal DNA damage accumulation. Furthermore, our clustering analysis based on RS levels demonstrated that HCC patients with high RS levels have poorer prognoses and be more beneficial from adavosertib and oxaliplatin combination therapy. These findings support an individualized treatment approach for HCC targeting RS based on WEE1 Inhibition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xing Jia
- Division of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Department of Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310003, China; Thyroid Surgery Department, Zhejiang Cancer Hospital, Hangzhou 310022 Zhejiang, China; NHC Key Laboratory of Combined Multi-organ Transplantation, Hangzhou 310003, China; Key Laboratory of the Diagnosis and Treatment of Organ Transplantation, Research Unit of Collaborative Diagnosis and Treatment for Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Cancer, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences (2019RU019), Hangzhou 310003, China; Key Laboratory of Organ Transplantation, Research Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Hepatobiliary Diseases, Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou 310003, China
| | - Xingxin Zhu
- Division of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Department of Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310003, China; NHC Key Laboratory of Combined Multi-organ Transplantation, Hangzhou 310003, China; Key Laboratory of the Diagnosis and Treatment of Organ Transplantation, Research Unit of Collaborative Diagnosis and Treatment for Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Cancer, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences (2019RU019), Hangzhou 310003, China; Key Laboratory of Organ Transplantation, Research Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Hepatobiliary Diseases, Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou 310003, China
| | - Shinuo Chen
- Division of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Department of Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310003, China; NHC Key Laboratory of Combined Multi-organ Transplantation, Hangzhou 310003, China; Key Laboratory of the Diagnosis and Treatment of Organ Transplantation, Research Unit of Collaborative Diagnosis and Treatment for Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Cancer, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences (2019RU019), Hangzhou 310003, China; Key Laboratory of Organ Transplantation, Research Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Hepatobiliary Diseases, Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou 310003, China
| | - Qiongzi Qiu
- Center for Uterine Cancer Diagnosis & Therapy Research of Zhejiang Province, Women's Reproductive Health Key Laboratory of Zhejiang Province, and Department of Gynecologic Oncology, Women's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310029 Zhejiang, China
| | - Wenfeng Song
- Division of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Department of Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310003, China; NHC Key Laboratory of Combined Multi-organ Transplantation, Hangzhou 310003, China; Key Laboratory of the Diagnosis and Treatment of Organ Transplantation, Research Unit of Collaborative Diagnosis and Treatment for Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Cancer, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences (2019RU019), Hangzhou 310003, China; Key Laboratory of Organ Transplantation, Research Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Hepatobiliary Diseases, Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou 310003, China
| | - Shiyu Zhang
- Division of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Department of Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310003, China; NHC Key Laboratory of Combined Multi-organ Transplantation, Hangzhou 310003, China; Key Laboratory of the Diagnosis and Treatment of Organ Transplantation, Research Unit of Collaborative Diagnosis and Treatment for Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Cancer, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences (2019RU019), Hangzhou 310003, China; Key Laboratory of Organ Transplantation, Research Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Hepatobiliary Diseases, Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou 310003, China
| | - Haijiang Dong
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450052 Henan, China
| | - Zequn Li
- Division of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Department of Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310003, China; NHC Key Laboratory of Combined Multi-organ Transplantation, Hangzhou 310003, China; Key Laboratory of the Diagnosis and Treatment of Organ Transplantation, Research Unit of Collaborative Diagnosis and Treatment for Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Cancer, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences (2019RU019), Hangzhou 310003, China; Key Laboratory of Organ Transplantation, Research Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Hepatobiliary Diseases, Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou 310003, China
| | - Suchen Bian
- Division of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Department of Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310003, China; NHC Key Laboratory of Combined Multi-organ Transplantation, Hangzhou 310003, China; Key Laboratory of the Diagnosis and Treatment of Organ Transplantation, Research Unit of Collaborative Diagnosis and Treatment for Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Cancer, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences (2019RU019), Hangzhou 310003, China; Key Laboratory of Organ Transplantation, Research Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Hepatobiliary Diseases, Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou 310003, China
| | - Hao Wu
- Division of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Department of Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310003, China; NHC Key Laboratory of Combined Multi-organ Transplantation, Hangzhou 310003, China; Key Laboratory of the Diagnosis and Treatment of Organ Transplantation, Research Unit of Collaborative Diagnosis and Treatment for Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Cancer, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences (2019RU019), Hangzhou 310003, China; Key Laboratory of Organ Transplantation, Research Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Hepatobiliary Diseases, Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou 310003, China
| | - Haojiang Dai
- Division of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Department of Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310003, China; NHC Key Laboratory of Combined Multi-organ Transplantation, Hangzhou 310003, China; Key Laboratory of the Diagnosis and Treatment of Organ Transplantation, Research Unit of Collaborative Diagnosis and Treatment for Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Cancer, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences (2019RU019), Hangzhou 310003, China; Key Laboratory of Organ Transplantation, Research Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Hepatobiliary Diseases, Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou 310003, China
| | - Cheng Jin
- Division of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Department of Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310003, China; NHC Key Laboratory of Combined Multi-organ Transplantation, Hangzhou 310003, China; Key Laboratory of the Diagnosis and Treatment of Organ Transplantation, Research Unit of Collaborative Diagnosis and Treatment for Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Cancer, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences (2019RU019), Hangzhou 310003, China; Key Laboratory of Organ Transplantation, Research Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Hepatobiliary Diseases, Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou 310003, China
| | - Mengqiao Zhou
- Division of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Department of Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310003, China; NHC Key Laboratory of Combined Multi-organ Transplantation, Hangzhou 310003, China; Key Laboratory of the Diagnosis and Treatment of Organ Transplantation, Research Unit of Collaborative Diagnosis and Treatment for Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Cancer, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences (2019RU019), Hangzhou 310003, China; Key Laboratory of Organ Transplantation, Research Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Hepatobiliary Diseases, Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou 310003, China
| | - Jun Chen
- Division of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Department of Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310003, China; NHC Key Laboratory of Combined Multi-organ Transplantation, Hangzhou 310003, China; Key Laboratory of the Diagnosis and Treatment of Organ Transplantation, Research Unit of Collaborative Diagnosis and Treatment for Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Cancer, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences (2019RU019), Hangzhou 310003, China; Key Laboratory of Organ Transplantation, Research Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Hepatobiliary Diseases, Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou 310003, China
| | - Zefeng Xuan
- Division of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Department of Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310003, China; NHC Key Laboratory of Combined Multi-organ Transplantation, Hangzhou 310003, China; Key Laboratory of the Diagnosis and Treatment of Organ Transplantation, Research Unit of Collaborative Diagnosis and Treatment for Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Cancer, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences (2019RU019), Hangzhou 310003, China; Key Laboratory of Organ Transplantation, Research Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Hepatobiliary Diseases, Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou 310003, China
| | - Pengfei Liu
- Shanghai Applied Protein Technology Co. Ltd, Shanghai 200000, China
| | - Qiufang Zeng
- Shanghai Applied Protein Technology Co. Ltd, Shanghai 200000, China
| | - Haiyang Xie
- Division of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Department of Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310003, China; NHC Key Laboratory of Combined Multi-organ Transplantation, Hangzhou 310003, China; Key Laboratory of the Diagnosis and Treatment of Organ Transplantation, Research Unit of Collaborative Diagnosis and Treatment for Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Cancer, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences (2019RU019), Hangzhou 310003, China; Key Laboratory of Organ Transplantation, Research Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Hepatobiliary Diseases, Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou 310003, China
| | - Shusen Zheng
- Division of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Department of Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310003, China; NHC Key Laboratory of Combined Multi-organ Transplantation, Hangzhou 310003, China; Key Laboratory of the Diagnosis and Treatment of Organ Transplantation, Research Unit of Collaborative Diagnosis and Treatment for Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Cancer, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences (2019RU019), Hangzhou 310003, China; Key Laboratory of Organ Transplantation, Research Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Hepatobiliary Diseases, Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou 310003, China; Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Shulan (Hangzhou) Hospital, Hangzhou 310003 Zhejiang, China.
| | - Penghong Song
- Division of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Department of Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310003, China; NHC Key Laboratory of Combined Multi-organ Transplantation, Hangzhou 310003, China; Key Laboratory of the Diagnosis and Treatment of Organ Transplantation, Research Unit of Collaborative Diagnosis and Treatment for Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Cancer, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences (2019RU019), Hangzhou 310003, China; Key Laboratory of Organ Transplantation, Research Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Hepatobiliary Diseases, Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou 310003, China; State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310003, China.
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Liu Y, Dong G, Yu J, Liang P. Integration of single-cell and spatial transcriptomics reveals fibroblast subtypes in hepatocellular carcinoma: spatial distribution, differentiation trajectories, and therapeutic potential. J Transl Med 2025; 23:198. [PMID: 39966876 PMCID: PMC11837652 DOI: 10.1186/s12967-025-06192-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2024] [Accepted: 02/01/2025] [Indexed: 02/20/2025] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) are key components of the hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) tumor microenvironment (TME). regulating tumor proliferation, metastasis, therapy resistance, immune evasion via diverse mechanisms. A deeper understanding of the l diversity of CAFs is essential for predicting patient prognosis and guiding treatment strategies. METHODS We examined the diversity of CAFs in HCC by integrating single-cell, bulk, and spatial transcriptome analyses. RESULTS Using a training cohort of 88 HCC single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) samples and a validation cohort of 94 samples, encompassing over 1.2 million cells, we classified three fibroblast subpopulations in HCC: HLA-DRB1 + CAF, MMP11 + CAF, and VEGFA + CAF based on highly expressed genes of which, which are primarily located in normal tissue, tumor boundaries, and tumor interiors, respectively. Cell trajectory analysis revealed that VEGFA + CAFs are at the terminal stage of differentiation, which, notably, is tumor-specific. VEGFA + CAFs were significantly associated with patient survival, and the hypoxic microenvironment was found to be a major factor inducing VEGFA + CAFs. Through cellular communication with capillary endothelial cells (CapECs), VEGFA + CAFs promoted intra-tumoral angiogenesis, facilitating tumor progression and metastasis. Additionally, a machine learning model developed using high-expression genes from VEGFA + CAFs demonstrated high accuracy in predicting prognosis and sorafenib response in HCC patients. CONCLUSIONS We characterized three fibroblast subpopulations in HCC and revealed their distinct spatial distributions within the tumor. VEGFA + CAFs, which was induced by hypoxic TME, were associated with poorer prognosis, as they promote tumor angiogenesis through cellular communication with CapECs. Our findings provide novel insights and pave the way for individualized therapy in HCC patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yue Liu
- School of Medicine, Nankai University, Tianjin, 300071, China
- Department of Ultrasound, Fifth Medical Center of Chinese, PLA General Hospital, Beijing, 100853, China
- Department of Interventional Ultrasound, First Medical Center of Chinese, PLA General Hospital, Beijing, 100853, China
| | - Guoping Dong
- Department of Ultrasound, Fifth Medical Center of Chinese, PLA General Hospital, Beijing, 100853, China
- Department of Interventional Ultrasound, First Medical Center of Chinese, PLA General Hospital, Beijing, 100853, China
| | - Jie Yu
- Department of Ultrasound, Fifth Medical Center of Chinese, PLA General Hospital, Beijing, 100853, China
- Department of Interventional Ultrasound, First Medical Center of Chinese, PLA General Hospital, Beijing, 100853, China
| | - Ping Liang
- School of Medicine, Nankai University, Tianjin, 300071, China.
- Department of Ultrasound, Fifth Medical Center of Chinese, PLA General Hospital, Beijing, 100853, China.
- Department of Interventional Ultrasound, First Medical Center of Chinese, PLA General Hospital, Beijing, 100853, China.
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80
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Chen X, Wu S, He H, Tang J, Zhong Y, Fang H, Huang Q, Hong L, Shao L, Wu J. G2M-checkpoint related immune barrier structure and signature for prognosis and immunotherapy response in hepatocellular carcinoma: insights from spatial transcriptome and machine learning. J Transl Med 2025; 23:202. [PMID: 39966861 PMCID: PMC11837653 DOI: 10.1186/s12967-024-06051-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2024] [Accepted: 12/24/2024] [Indexed: 02/20/2025] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) treatment remains challenging, particularly for immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) non-response patients. Spatial transcriptome (ST) data and machine learning algorithms offer new insights into understanding HCC heterogeneity and ICIs resistance mechanisms. METHODS Utilizing ST data from HCC patients on ICIs treatment, we analyzed pathway activity and immune infiltration. We combined 167 machine learning models to develop a G2M-checkpoint related signature (G2MRS) based on differential gene expression. The four cohorts and in-house cohort was used to validate G2MRS, and KPNA2's role was further examined through in vitro experiments in two different liver cancer cell lines. RESULTS Our analysis revealed a distinct suppressive immune barrier structure (SIBS) in ICIs non-response patients, associated with upregulated G2M-checkpoint levels. G2MRS, consisting of KPNA2, CENPA, and UCK2, accurately predicted HCC prognosis and ICIs response. Further in vitro experiments demonstrated KPNA2's role in regulating migration, proliferation, and apoptosis in liver cancer. CONCLUSIONS This study highlights the importance of spatial heterogeneity and machine learning in refining HCC prognosis and ICIs response prediction. G2MRS and KPNA2 emerge as promising biomarkers for personalized HCC management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xingte Chen
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Clinical Oncology School of Fujian Medical University, Fujian Cancer Hospital, Fuzhou, China
| | - Shiji Wu
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Clinical Oncology School of Fujian Medical University, Fujian Cancer Hospital, Fuzhou, China
| | - Hongxin He
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Clinical Oncology School of Fujian Medical University, Fujian Cancer Hospital, Fuzhou, China
| | - Jingjing Tang
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Clinical Oncology School of Fujian Medical University, Fujian Cancer Hospital, Fuzhou, China
| | - Yaqi Zhong
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Clinical Oncology School of Fujian Medical University, Fujian Cancer Hospital, Fuzhou, China
| | - Huipeng Fang
- Department of Hepatopancreatobiliary Surgery, Clinical Oncology School of Fujian Medical University, Fujian Cancer Hospital, Fuzhou, China
| | - Qizhen Huang
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Mengchao Hepatobiliary Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Liang Hong
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Clinical Oncology School of Fujian Medical University, Fujian Cancer Hospital, Fuzhou, China
| | - Lingdong Shao
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Clinical Oncology School of Fujian Medical University, Fujian Cancer Hospital, Fuzhou, China.
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Clinical Oncology School of Fujian Medical University, 420 Fuma Rd, Jin'an District, Fuzhou, Fujian, China.
| | - Junxin Wu
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Clinical Oncology School of Fujian Medical University, Fujian Cancer Hospital, Fuzhou, China.
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Clinical Oncology School of Fujian Medical University, 420 Fuma Rd, Jin'an District, Fuzhou, Fujian, China.
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Yang Y, Shi X. Big lessons from the little Akkermansia muciniphila in hepatocellular carcinoma. Front Immunol 2025; 16:1524563. [PMID: 40028328 PMCID: PMC11868108 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2025.1524563] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2024] [Accepted: 01/30/2025] [Indexed: 03/05/2025] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most frequently occurring type of liver tumor and is considered one of the most common primary malignant neoplasms. The prognosis for HCC is dismal because of its complicated etiology and high level of medication resistance. Immunotherapy is presently regarded as one of the most effective therapeutic options for HCC; nevertheless, because of the disturbance of intestinal flora, immunotherapy shows low antitumor efficacy. An increasing body of research indicates that intestinal flora, particularly Akkermansia muciniphila (A. muciniphila), is vital for the treatment of tumors. Studies have demonstrated that the diminished effectiveness of immunotherapy in cancer patients is associated with a reduction in A. muciniphila levels, suggesting that increasing A. muciniphila levels significantly enhance the efficacy of immunotherapy. A. muciniphila functions as a gut probiotic and can treat and prevent a wide range of illnesses, including cancer. Consequently, preserving A. muciniphila abundance is enough to prevent and lower the danger of developing cancer disorders. In this review, we critically evaluate the current body of research on A. muciniphila, with a primary focus on its biological properties and functions. The different illnesses that A. muciniphila treats were then discussed, particularly the way it works with liver cancer. This review aims to give a novel treatment plan for patients with HCC as well as a theoretical foundation for improving HCC immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanguang Yang
- Laboratory of Integrated Medicine Tumor Immunology, Shanxi University of Chinese Medicine, Taiyuan, China
- Department of Pathobiology and Immunology, Hebei University of Chinese Medicine, Shijiazhuang, China
| | - Xinli Shi
- Laboratory of Integrated Medicine Tumor Immunology, Shanxi University of Chinese Medicine, Taiyuan, China
- Department of Pathobiology and Immunology, Hebei University of Chinese Medicine, Shijiazhuang, China
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Yang H, Li J, Niu Y, Zhou T, Zhang P, Liu Y, Li Y. Interactions between the metabolic reprogramming of liver cancer and tumor microenvironment. Front Immunol 2025; 16:1494788. [PMID: 40028341 PMCID: PMC11868052 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2025.1494788] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2024] [Accepted: 01/29/2025] [Indexed: 03/05/2025] Open
Abstract
Metabolic reprogramming is one of the major biological features of malignant tumors, playing a crucial role in the initiation and progression of cancer. The tumor microenvironment consists of various non-cancer cells, such as hepatic stellate cells, cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs), immune cells, as well as extracellular matrix and soluble substances. In liver cancer, metabolic reprogramming not only affects its own growth and survival but also interacts with other non-cancer cells by influencing the expression and release of metabolites and cytokines (such as lactate, PGE2, arginine). This interaction leads to acidification of the microenvironment and restricts the uptake of nutrients by other non-cancer cells, resulting in metabolic competition and symbiosis. At the same time, metabolic reprogramming in neighboring cells during proliferation and differentiation processes also impacts tumor immunity. This article provides a comprehensive overview of the metabolic crosstalk between liver cancer cells and their tumor microenvironment, deepening our understanding of relevant findings and pathways. This contributes to further understanding the regulation of cancer development and immune evasion mechanisms while providing assistance in advancing personalized therapies targeting metabolic pathways for anti-cancer treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haoqiang Yang
- Third Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Shanxi Bethune Hospital, Shanxi Academy of Medical Sciences, Tongji Shanxi Hospital, Taiyuan, China
| | - Jinghui Li
- Third Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Shanxi Bethune Hospital, Shanxi Academy of Medical Sciences, Tongji Shanxi Hospital, Taiyuan, China
| | - Yiting Niu
- Third Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Shanxi Bethune Hospital, Shanxi Academy of Medical Sciences, Tongji Shanxi Hospital, Taiyuan, China
| | - Tao Zhou
- Third Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Shanxi Bethune Hospital, Shanxi Academy of Medical Sciences, Tongji Shanxi Hospital, Taiyuan, China
| | - Pengyu Zhang
- Third Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Shanxi Bethune Hospital, Shanxi Academy of Medical Sciences, Tongji Shanxi Hospital, Taiyuan, China
| | - Yang Liu
- Third Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Shanxi Bethune Hospital, Shanxi Academy of Medical Sciences, Tongji Shanxi Hospital, Taiyuan, China
| | - Yanjun Li
- Third Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Shanxi Bethune Hospital, Shanxi Academy of Medical Sciences, Tongji Shanxi Hospital, Taiyuan, China
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Shanxi Bethune Hospital, Shanxi Academy of Medical Sciences, TongjiShanxi Hospital, Third Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, Shanxi, China
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Park MS, Jo H, Kim H, Kim JY, Park WY, Paik YH, Yoon Y, Kang W, Won HH. Molecular landscape of tumor-associated tissue-resident memory T cells in tumor microenvironment of hepatocellular carcinoma. Cell Commun Signal 2025; 23:80. [PMID: 39934824 PMCID: PMC11818299 DOI: 10.1186/s12964-025-02070-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2024] [Accepted: 01/29/2025] [Indexed: 02/13/2025] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Immunotherapy for liver cancer is used to rejuvenate tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes by modulating the immune microenvironment. Thus, early protective functions of T cell subtypes with tissue-specific residency have been studied in the tumor microenvironment (TME). We identified tumor-associated tissue-resident memory T (TA-TRM) cells in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and characterized their molecular signatures. METHODS We obtained single-cell RNA and single-cell TCR sequencing data from five patients with HCC. The heterogeneous characteristics of TRM cell subsets within the TME were then investigated and validated. Risk scores were calculated for survival analysis using significant core marker genes based on data from The Cancer Genome Atlas and the International Cancer Genome Consortium. The signaling pathways, trajectories, and clonal diversity of TA-TRM cells were investigated. RESULTS We characterized two TRM clusters (CD69+ and CD103+) that expressed unique signature genes and validated their similar molecular patterns in an independent dataset. Risk scores based on core gene expression in TA-TRM cells were associated with survival in both datasets. Trajectory analysis revealed that the two lineages followed different trajectory paths with distinct marker gene expression across pseudo-time. CD103+ TA-TRM cells showed diverse clonotypes and shared clonotypes with other cell groups. Lower clonal diversity and distinct signaling interactions were observed in the recurrent than in the non-recurrent samples. The CXCL13-CXCR3 interaction between CD103+ TA-TRM and regulatory T cells was observed only in the recurrent samples. CONCLUSIONS We identified two subtypes of TA-TRM cells in HCC and demonstrated their unique molecular signatures, relevance to survival, and distinct signaling networks according to recurrence. The study findings provide a better understanding of the molecular characteristics of TA-TRM cells in HCC and potential immunotherapeutic strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mi-So Park
- Department of Digital Health, Samsung Advanced Institute of Health Sciences and Technology (SAIHST), Sungkyunkwan University, Seoul, 06351, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyeonbin Jo
- Department of Digital Health, Samsung Advanced Institute of Health Sciences and Technology (SAIHST), Sungkyunkwan University, Seoul, 06351, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyeree Kim
- Department of Health Sciences and Technology, Samsung Advanced Institute of Health Sciences and Technology (SAIHST), Sungkyunkwan University, 81 Irwon-Ro, Gangnam-Gu, Seoul, 06351, Republic of Korea
- Institute for Future Medicine, Samsung Medical Center, Seoul, 06351, Republic of Korea
- Department of Pediatric Pneumology, Allergology and Neonatology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Ji Young Kim
- Department of Health Sciences and Technology, Samsung Advanced Institute of Health Sciences and Technology (SAIHST), Sungkyunkwan University, 81 Irwon-Ro, Gangnam-Gu, Seoul, 06351, Republic of Korea
| | - Woong-Yang Park
- Department of Digital Health, Samsung Advanced Institute of Health Sciences and Technology (SAIHST), Sungkyunkwan University, Seoul, 06351, Republic of Korea
- Department of Health Sciences and Technology, Samsung Advanced Institute of Health Sciences and Technology (SAIHST), Sungkyunkwan University, 81 Irwon-Ro, Gangnam-Gu, Seoul, 06351, Republic of Korea
- Institute for Future Medicine, Samsung Medical Center, Seoul, 06351, Republic of Korea
- Samsung Genome Institute, Samsung Medical Center, Seoul, 06351, Republic of Korea
| | - Yong-Han Paik
- Department of Health Sciences and Technology, Samsung Advanced Institute of Health Sciences and Technology (SAIHST), Sungkyunkwan University, 81 Irwon-Ro, Gangnam-Gu, Seoul, 06351, Republic of Korea
- Department of Medicine, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, 81 Irwon-Ro, Gangnam-Gu, Seoul, 06351, Republic of Korea
| | - Yeup Yoon
- Department of Health Sciences and Technology, Samsung Advanced Institute of Health Sciences and Technology (SAIHST), Sungkyunkwan University, 81 Irwon-Ro, Gangnam-Gu, Seoul, 06351, Republic of Korea
- Institute for Future Medicine, Samsung Medical Center, Seoul, 06351, Republic of Korea
- Department of Biopharmaceutical Convergence, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon, 16419, Republic of Korea
| | - Wonseok Kang
- Department of Health Sciences and Technology, Samsung Advanced Institute of Health Sciences and Technology (SAIHST), Sungkyunkwan University, 81 Irwon-Ro, Gangnam-Gu, Seoul, 06351, Republic of Korea.
- Institute for Future Medicine, Samsung Medical Center, Seoul, 06351, Republic of Korea.
- Samsung Genome Institute, Samsung Medical Center, Seoul, 06351, Republic of Korea.
- Department of Medicine, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, 81 Irwon-Ro, Gangnam-Gu, Seoul, 06351, Republic of Korea.
| | - Hong-Hee Won
- Department of Digital Health, Samsung Advanced Institute of Health Sciences and Technology (SAIHST), Sungkyunkwan University, Seoul, 06351, Republic of Korea.
- Department of Health Sciences and Technology, Samsung Advanced Institute of Health Sciences and Technology (SAIHST), Sungkyunkwan University, 81 Irwon-Ro, Gangnam-Gu, Seoul, 06351, Republic of Korea.
- Institute for Future Medicine, Samsung Medical Center, Seoul, 06351, Republic of Korea.
- Samsung Genome Institute, Samsung Medical Center, Seoul, 06351, Republic of Korea.
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Liu R, Ye J, Wang J, Ma W, Qiu Z, Yu J, Wang W. Single-cell landscape of dynamic changes in CD8 + T cells, CD4 + T cells and exhausted T cells in hepatocellular carcinoma. Sci Rep 2025; 15:4130. [PMID: 39900964 PMCID: PMC11791069 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-025-88377-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2024] [Accepted: 01/28/2025] [Indexed: 02/05/2025] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma has a high incidence and poor prognosis. In this study, we investigated the value of T-cell-related genes in prognosis by single-cell sequencing data in hepatocellular carcinoma. Twelve cases of hepatocellular carcinoma single-cell sequencing were included in the study. The high dimensional weighted gene co-expression network analysis (hdWGCNA) was used to identify gene modules associated with CD4+ T cells, CD8+ T cells and exhausted T cells. Altered signaling pathway activity in exhausted T cells was uncovered by the AUCell algorithm. xCELL, TIMER, QUANTISEQ, CIBERSORT and CIBERSORT-abs were performed to explore immune cell infiltration. Immune checkpoint inhibitor genes and TIDE methods were used to predict immunotherapy response. Finally, immunohistochemistry and real-time PCR were used to verify gene expression. The hdWGCNA algorithm identified 40 genes strongly associated with CD4+ T cells, CD8+ T cells and exhausted T cells. Seven genes were finally selected for transcriptome data modeling. The results of the three independent datasets suggested that the model had strong prognostic value. Model genes were critical factors influencing CD4+ T cell and CD8+ T cell infiltration in patients. The efficacy of PD-1 immunotherapy was higher in patients belonging to the low-risk group. Alterations in signaling pathways' activity within exhausted T cells were crucial factors contributing to the decline in immune function. Differential expression of seven genes in CD8+ T cells, CD4+ T cells and exhausted T cells were key targets for improving immunotherapy response in HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rongqiang Liu
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430060, Hubei, China
| | - Jing Ye
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430060, Hubei, China
| | - Jianguo Wang
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430060, Hubei, China
| | - Wangbin Ma
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430060, Hubei, China
| | - Zhendong Qiu
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430060, Hubei, China
| | - Jia Yu
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430060, Hubei, China.
| | - Weixing Wang
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430060, Hubei, China.
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85
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Kong D, Zhang Y, Jiang L, Long N, Wang C, Qiu M. Comprehensive analysis reveals the tumor suppressor role of macrophage signature gene FCER1G in hepatocellular carcinoma. Sci Rep 2025; 15:3995. [PMID: 39893200 PMCID: PMC11787346 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-025-88071-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2024] [Accepted: 01/23/2025] [Indexed: 02/04/2025] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) progression is closely linked to the role of macrophages. This study utilized single-cell RNA sequencing and genomic analysis to explore the characteristic genes of macrophages in HCC and their impact on patient prognosis. We obtained single-cell se-quencing data from seven HCC samples in the GEO database. Through principal component analysis and t-SNE dimensionality reduction, we identified 2,000 highly variable genes and per-formed clustering and annotation of 17 cell clusters, revealing 482 macrophage-related feature genes. A LASSO regression model based on these genes was developed to predict the prognosis of HCC patients, with validation in the TCGA-LIHC cohort demonstrating model accuracy (AUC = 0.78, 0.72, 0.71 for 1-, 3-, and 5-year survival rates, respectively). Additionally, patients in the high-risk group exhibited elevated tumor stemness scores, although no significant differences were observed in microsatellite instability (MSI) and tumor mutational burden (TMB) scores. Immune-related analyses revealed that FCER1G expression was downregulated in HCC and was associated with key pathways such as apoptosis and ferroptosis. Reduced FCER1G expression significantly affected HCC cell proliferation and migration. Our prognostic model provides new insights into precision and immunotherapy for HCC and holds significant implications for future clinical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Deyu Kong
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Chengdu Medical College, National Nuclear Corporation 416 Hospital, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Yiping Zhang
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Chengdu Medical College, National Nuclear Corporation 416 Hospital, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Linxin Jiang
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Chengdu Medical College, National Nuclear Corporation 416 Hospital, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Nana Long
- Sichuan Integrative Medicine Hospital, 610041, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Chengcheng Wang
- Sichuan Integrative Medicine Hospital, 610041, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Min Qiu
- School of Laboratory Medicine, Chengdu Medical College, Chengdu, China.
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Yan J, Jiang Z, Zhang S, Yu Q, Lu Y, Miao R, Tang Z, Fan J, Wu L, Duda DG, Zhou J, Yang X. Spatial‒temporal heterogeneities of liver cancer and the discovery of the invasive zone. Clin Transl Med 2025; 15:e70224. [PMID: 39924620 PMCID: PMC11807767 DOI: 10.1002/ctm2.70224] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2025] [Accepted: 01/19/2025] [Indexed: 02/11/2025] Open
Abstract
Solid tumours are intricate and highly heterogeneous ecosystems, which grow in and invade normal organs. Their progression is mediated by cancer cells' interaction with different cell types, such as immune cells, stromal cells and endothelial cells, and with the extracellular matrix. Owing to its high incidence, aggressive growth and resistance to local and systemic treatments, liver cancer has particularly high mortality rates worldwide. In recent decades, spatial heterogeneity has garnered significant attention as an unfavourable biological characteristic of the tumour microenvironment, prompting extensive research into its role in liver tumour development. Advances in spatial omics have facilitated the detailed spatial analysis of cell types, states and cell‒cell interactions, allowing a thorough understanding of the spatial and temporal heterogeneities of tumour microenvironment and informing the development of novel therapeutic approaches. This review illustrates the latest discovery of the invasive zone, and systematically introduced specific macroscopic spatial heterogeneities, pathological spatial heterogeneities and tumour microenvironment heterogeneities of liver cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiayan Yan
- Department of Liver Surgery & TransplantationLiver Cancer InstituteZhongshan HospitalFudan UniversityShanghaiChina
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer InvasionMinistry of EducationShanghaiChina
- Zhongshan‐BGI Precision Medical CenterZhongshan HospitalFudan UniversityShanghaiChina
| | - Zhifeng Jiang
- Department of Liver Surgery & TransplantationLiver Cancer InstituteZhongshan HospitalFudan UniversityShanghaiChina
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer InvasionMinistry of EducationShanghaiChina
- Zhongshan‐BGI Precision Medical CenterZhongshan HospitalFudan UniversityShanghaiChina
| | - Shiyu Zhang
- Department of Liver Surgery & TransplantationLiver Cancer InstituteZhongshan HospitalFudan UniversityShanghaiChina
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer InvasionMinistry of EducationShanghaiChina
- Zhongshan‐BGI Precision Medical CenterZhongshan HospitalFudan UniversityShanghaiChina
| | - Qichao Yu
- College of Life SciencesUniversity of Chinese Academy of SciencesBeijingChina
- BGI‐ShenzhenBeishan Industrial ZoneShenzhenChina
| | - Yijun Lu
- Department of Liver Surgery & TransplantationLiver Cancer InstituteZhongshan HospitalFudan UniversityShanghaiChina
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer InvasionMinistry of EducationShanghaiChina
- Zhongshan‐BGI Precision Medical CenterZhongshan HospitalFudan UniversityShanghaiChina
| | - Runze Miao
- Department of Liver Surgery & TransplantationLiver Cancer InstituteZhongshan HospitalFudan UniversityShanghaiChina
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer InvasionMinistry of EducationShanghaiChina
- Zhongshan‐BGI Precision Medical CenterZhongshan HospitalFudan UniversityShanghaiChina
| | - Zhaoyou Tang
- Department of Liver Surgery & TransplantationLiver Cancer InstituteZhongshan HospitalFudan UniversityShanghaiChina
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer InvasionMinistry of EducationShanghaiChina
| | - Jia Fan
- Department of Liver Surgery & TransplantationLiver Cancer InstituteZhongshan HospitalFudan UniversityShanghaiChina
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer InvasionMinistry of EducationShanghaiChina
| | - Liang Wu
- BGI‐ShenzhenBeishan Industrial ZoneShenzhenChina
| | - Dan G. Duda
- Steele Laboratories for Tumor BiologyDepartment of Radiation OncologyMassachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical SchoolBostonMassachusettsUSA
| | - Jian Zhou
- Department of Liver Surgery & TransplantationLiver Cancer InstituteZhongshan HospitalFudan UniversityShanghaiChina
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer InvasionMinistry of EducationShanghaiChina
| | - Xinrong Yang
- Department of Liver Surgery & TransplantationLiver Cancer InstituteZhongshan HospitalFudan UniversityShanghaiChina
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer InvasionMinistry of EducationShanghaiChina
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87
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Cheng N, Zhou Q, Jia Z, Mu Y, Zhang S, Wang L, Chen Y. Functionalized biomimetic nanoparticles loaded with salvianolic acid B for synergistic targeted triple-negative breast cancer treatment. Mater Today Bio 2025; 30:101441. [PMID: 39866795 PMCID: PMC11762562 DOI: 10.1016/j.mtbio.2024.101441] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2024] [Revised: 12/16/2024] [Accepted: 12/31/2024] [Indexed: 01/28/2025] Open
Abstract
The therapeutic effect of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is unsatisfactory. The immune "cold" microenvironment caused by tumor-associated fibroblasts (TAFs) has an adverse effect on the antitumor response. Therefore, in this study, mixed cell membrane-coated porous magnetic nanoparticles (PMNPs) were constructed to deliver salvianolic acid B (SAB) to induce an antitumor immune response, facilitating the transition from a "cold" to a "hot" tumor and ultimately enhancing the therapeutic efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitors. PMNP-SAB, which is based on a mixed coating of red blood cell membrane and TAF membrane (named PMNP-SAB@RTM), can simultaneously achieve the dual effects of "immune escape" and "homologous targeting". Under the influence of an external magnetic field (MF), SAB can be targeted and concentrated at the tumor site. The SAB released in tumors can effectively inhibit the production of extracellular matrix (ECM) by TAFs, promote T-cell infiltration, and induce antitumor immune responses. Ultimately, the combination of PMNP-SAB@RTM and BMS-1 (PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitor 1) effectively inhibited tumor growth. Finally, this study presents a precise and effective new strategy for TNBC immunotherapy on the basis of the differentiation of "cold" and "hot" microenvironments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nuo Cheng
- Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Hefei, 230012, China
- MOE-Anhui Joint Collaborative Innovation Center for Quality Improvement of Anhui Genuine Chinese Medicinal Materials, Hefei, 230012, China
| | - Qianqian Zhou
- Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Hefei, 230012, China
- MOE-Anhui Joint Collaborative Innovation Center for Quality Improvement of Anhui Genuine Chinese Medicinal Materials, Hefei, 230012, China
| | - Zongfang Jia
- Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Hefei, 230012, China
- MOE-Anhui Joint Collaborative Innovation Center for Quality Improvement of Anhui Genuine Chinese Medicinal Materials, Hefei, 230012, China
| | - Yang Mu
- Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Hefei, 230012, China
- MOE-Anhui Joint Collaborative Innovation Center for Quality Improvement of Anhui Genuine Chinese Medicinal Materials, Hefei, 230012, China
| | - Sheng Zhang
- Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Hefei, 230012, China
| | - Lei Wang
- Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Hefei, 230012, China
- MOE-Anhui Joint Collaborative Innovation Center for Quality Improvement of Anhui Genuine Chinese Medicinal Materials, Hefei, 230012, China
- Institute of Pharmaceutics, Anhui Academy of Chinese Medicine Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Preparation Technology and Application, Hefei, 230012, China
| | - Yunna Chen
- Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Hefei, 230012, China
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88
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Huang Y, Du Z, Lai Z, Wen D, Huang L, He M, Wu Z, Li H, OuYang H, Wu W, Kan A, Shi M. Single-Nucleus and Spatial Transcriptome Profiling Delineates the Multicellular Ecosystem in Hepatocellular Carcinoma After Hepatic Arterial Infusion Chemotherapy. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2025; 12:e2405749. [PMID: 39686623 PMCID: PMC11791974 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202405749] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2024] [Revised: 11/08/2024] [Indexed: 12/18/2024]
Abstract
Hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy (HAIC) has emerged as a promising treatment strategy for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), but a detailed understanding of the multicellular ecosystem after HAIC treatment is lacking. Here, we collected tumor samples from treatment-naïve primary and post-HAIC HCC, and integrated single-nucleus RNA sequencing with spatial transcriptomics to characterize the tumor ecosystem in the post-HAIC HCC. Increased fractions and enhanced cellular communication of CD4+ T, CD20+ B, and dendritic cell subtypes were identified in post-HAIC tumors. Moreover, it is substantiated that HAIC promoted tertiary lymphoid structures (TLS) formation, and addressed the roles of TLSs as spatial niches of cellular communication. Specifically, intermediate exhausted CD8+ T cells expressing Granzyme-K and PD-1 (PD-1+CD8+ Tex-int) expanded following HAIC and exhibited a functionally antitumor phenotype. PD-1+CD8+ Tex-int accumulated in the TLS vicinity and disseminated throughout the tumor microenvironment, demonstrating potential as an effective biomarker for HAIC-based treatment in HCC. This study provides valuable resources and biological insights in the cellular underpinnings of HAIC treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- YeXing Huang
- Department of Hepatobiliary OncologySun Yat‐sen University Cancer CenterGuangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for CancerState Key Laboratory of Oncology in South ChinaGuangzhou510060P. R. China
| | - ZeFeng Du
- Department of Hepatobiliary OncologySun Yat‐sen University Cancer CenterGuangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for CancerState Key Laboratory of Oncology in South ChinaGuangzhou510060P. R. China
| | - ZhiCheng Lai
- Department of Hepatobiliary OncologySun Yat‐sen University Cancer CenterGuangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for CancerState Key Laboratory of Oncology in South ChinaGuangzhou510060P. R. China
| | - DongSheng Wen
- Department of Hepatobiliary OncologySun Yat‐sen University Cancer CenterGuangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for CancerState Key Laboratory of Oncology in South ChinaGuangzhou510060P. R. China
| | - LiChang Huang
- Department of Hepatobiliary OncologySun Yat‐sen University Cancer CenterGuangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for CancerState Key Laboratory of Oncology in South ChinaGuangzhou510060P. R. China
| | - MinKe He
- Department of Hepatobiliary OncologySun Yat‐sen University Cancer CenterGuangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for CancerState Key Laboratory of Oncology in South ChinaGuangzhou510060P. R. China
| | - ZiChao Wu
- Department of Hepatobiliary OncologySun Yat‐sen University Cancer CenterGuangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for CancerState Key Laboratory of Oncology in South ChinaGuangzhou510060P. R. China
| | - HuiFang Li
- Department of Hepatobiliary OncologySun Yat‐sen University Cancer CenterGuangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for CancerState Key Laboratory of Oncology in South ChinaGuangzhou510060P. R. China
| | - HanYue OuYang
- Department of Hepatobiliary OncologySun Yat‐sen University Cancer CenterGuangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for CancerState Key Laboratory of Oncology in South ChinaGuangzhou510060P. R. China
| | - WenChao Wu
- Department of Hepatobiliary OncologySun Yat‐sen University Cancer CenterGuangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for CancerState Key Laboratory of Oncology in South ChinaGuangzhou510060P. R. China
| | - Anna Kan
- Department of Hepatobiliary OncologySun Yat‐sen University Cancer CenterGuangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for CancerState Key Laboratory of Oncology in South ChinaGuangzhou510060P. R. China
| | - Ming Shi
- Department of Hepatobiliary OncologySun Yat‐sen University Cancer CenterGuangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for CancerState Key Laboratory of Oncology in South ChinaGuangzhou510060P. R. China
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89
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Chen K, Sui C, Wang Z, Liu Z, Qi L, Li X. Habitat radiomics based on CT images to predict survival and immune status in hepatocellular carcinoma, a multi-cohort validation study. Transl Oncol 2025; 52:102260. [PMID: 39752907 PMCID: PMC11754828 DOI: 10.1016/j.tranon.2024.102260] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2024] [Revised: 11/25/2024] [Accepted: 12/23/2024] [Indexed: 01/25/2025] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE Though several clinicopathological features are identified as prognostic indicators, potentially prognostic radiomic models are expected to preoperatively and noninvasively predict survival for HCC. Traditional radiomic models are lacking in a consideration for intratumoral regional heterogeneity. The study aimed to establish and validate the predictive power of multiple habitat radiomic models in predicting prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). METHODS A total of 232 HCC patients were retrospectively included, including a training/validation cohort and two external testing cohorts from 4 centers. For habitat radiomics, intratumoral habitat partitioning based on CT images was first performed by using Otsu thresholding method. Second, a total of 350 habitat radiomic models were constructed to select the optimal model. Then, both ROC curve analyses and Kaplan-Meier survival curve analyses were applied to assess the predictive performances. Ultimately, an immune status profiling was conducted based on bioinformatic analyses and multiplex immunohistochemistry (mIHC) assays to reveal the potential mechanisms. RESULTS A total of 4 habitats were segmented, and the corresponding habitat radiomic models were constructed based on each habitat and an integration of all the four habitats. Generally, habitat radiomic models outperformed traditional radiomic models in stratifying prognosis for HCC. The habitat radiomic model based on the segmented habitat 4 involving decision tree (DT) screening and random forest (RF) classifier was identified as the optimal model with an AUCmean of 0.806. Distinct resting natural killer (NK) cell infiltrations significantly contributed to the prognosis stratification of HCC by the optimal habitat radiomic model. CONCLUSIONS The habitat radiomic model based on CT images was potentially predictive of overall survival for HCC, with a superiority over the traditional radiomic model. The prognostic power of the habitat radiomic model was partly attributed to the distinct immune status captured in the CT images.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kun Chen
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Zhejiang Cancer Hospital, Hangzhou Institute of Medicine (HIM), Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310022, China; Department of Molecular Imaging and Nuclear Medicine, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin 300060, China
| | - Chunxiao Sui
- Department of Molecular Imaging and Nuclear Medicine, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin 300060, China; Tianjin's Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin 300060, China
| | - Ziyang Wang
- Department of Nuclear medicine, Tianjin Cancer Hospital Airport Hospital, Tianjin 300304, China
| | - Zifan Liu
- Department of Molecular Imaging and Nuclear Medicine, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin 300060, China; Tianjin's Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin 300060, China
| | - Lisha Qi
- Department of Pathology, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin 300060, China; Tianjin's Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin 300060, China.
| | - Xiaofeng Li
- Department of Molecular Imaging and Nuclear Medicine, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin 300060, China; Tianjin's Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin 300060, China.
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90
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Ascari S, Chen R, Vivaldi C, Stefanini B, De Sinno A, Dalbeni A, Federico P, Tovoli F. Advancements in immunotherapy for hepatocellular carcinoma. Expert Rev Anticancer Ther 2025; 25:151-165. [PMID: 39913170 DOI: 10.1080/14737140.2025.2461631] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2024] [Revised: 01/28/2025] [Accepted: 01/29/2025] [Indexed: 02/07/2025]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The advent of immune-based combinations, primarily leveraging immune checkpoint inhibitors, has revolutionized the therapeutic landscape of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The current scenario features multiple therapies that have shown superiority over tyrosine kinase inhibitors; however, the absence of direct comparisons and validated prognostic biomarkers complicates therapeutic decision-making. Additionally, a significant proportion of patients still exhibit primary or secondary resistance to existing immunotherapies, underscoring the ongoing need for novel therapeutic strategies. AREAS COVERED This narrative review discusses current strategies aimed at improving the efficacy of immunotherapy for HCC, focusing on the following aspects: available therapeutic options, identification of prognostic biomarkers, approaches to overcoming resistance (including the development of neoantigen vaccines), and the exploration of adjuvant and neoadjuvant strategies. EXPERT OPINION The future of systemic therapies for HCC is likely to be driven by advancements in immunotherapy. Key areas of exploration for the coming years include the discovery of novel checkpoint inhibitors or complementary agents to enhance tumor response when combined with existing treatments, a shift toward neoadjuvant/perioperative trials instead of traditional adjuvant approaches, and the development of personalized neoantigen vaccines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Ascari
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Rusi Chen
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Caterina Vivaldi
- Unit of Medical Oncology 2, Azienda Ospedaliero- Universitaria Pisana, Pisa, Italy
| | - Bernardo Stefanini
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Andrea De Sinno
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Andrea Dalbeni
- Liver Unit, Medicine Department, University of Verona and University and Hospital Trust (AOUI) of Verona, Verona, Italy
- Unit of General Medicine C, Medicine Department, University of Verona and Hospital Trust (AOUI) of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | | | - Francesco Tovoli
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
- Division of Internal Medicine, Hepatobiliary and Immunoallergic Diseases, IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna, Bologna, Italy
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91
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Wu Y, Fan Y, Miao Y, Li Y, Du G, Chen Z, Diao J, Chen YA, Ye M, You R, Chen A, Chen Y, Li W, Guo W, Dong J, Zhang X, Wang Y, Gu J. uniLIVER: a human liver cell atlas for data-driven cellular state mapping. J Genet Genomics 2025:S1673-8527(25)00032-3. [PMID: 39892777 DOI: 10.1016/j.jgg.2025.01.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2025] [Accepted: 01/22/2025] [Indexed: 02/04/2025]
Abstract
The liver performs several vital functions such as metabolism, toxin removal, and glucose storage through the coordination of various cell types. With the recent breakthrough of the single-cell/single-nucleus RNA-seq (sc/snRNA-seq) techniques, there is a great opportunity to establish a reference cell map of the liver at single-cell resolution with transcriptome-wise features. In this study, we build a unified liver cell atlas uniLIVER (http://lifeome.net/database/uniliver) by integrative analysis of a large-scale sc/snRNA-seq data collection of normal human liver with 331,125 cells and 79 samples from 6 datasets. Moreover, we introduce LiverCT, a novel machine learning based method for mapping any query dataset to the liver reference map by introducing the definition of "variant" cellular states analogy to the sequence variants in genomic analysis. Applying LiverCT on liver cancer datasets, we find that the "deviated" states of T cells are highly correlated with the stress pathway activities in hepatocellular carcinoma, and the enrichments of tumor cells with the hepatocyte-cholangiocyte "intermediate" states significantly indicate poor prognosis. Besides, we find that the tumor cells of different patients have different zonation tendencies and this zonation tendency is also significantly associated with the prognosis. This reference atlas mapping framework can also be extended to any other tissues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanhong Wu
- MOE Key Lab of Bioinformatics, BNRIST Bioinformatics Division, Department of Automation, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Yuhan Fan
- MOE Key Lab of Bioinformatics, BNRIST Bioinformatics Division, Department of Automation, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Yuxin Miao
- MOE Key Lab of Bioinformatics, BNRIST Bioinformatics Division, Department of Automation, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Yuman Li
- MOE Key Lab of Bioinformatics, BNRIST Bioinformatics Division, Department of Automation, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Guifang Du
- Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Center, Beijing Tsinghua Changgung Hospital, Tsinghua University, Beijing 102218, China; Clinical Translational Science Center, Beijing Tsinghua Changgung Hospital, Tsinghua University, Beijing 102218, China
| | - Zeyu Chen
- MOE Key Lab of Bioinformatics, BNRIST Bioinformatics Division, Department of Automation, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Jinmei Diao
- Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Center, Beijing Tsinghua Changgung Hospital, Tsinghua University, Beijing 102218, China; Clinical Translational Science Center, Beijing Tsinghua Changgung Hospital, Tsinghua University, Beijing 102218, China
| | - Yu-Ann Chen
- Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Center, Beijing Tsinghua Changgung Hospital, Tsinghua University, Beijing 102218, China; Clinical Translational Science Center, Beijing Tsinghua Changgung Hospital, Tsinghua University, Beijing 102218, China
| | - Mingli Ye
- Fuzhou Institute of Data Technology, Fuzhou, Fujian 350207, China
| | - Renke You
- Fuzhou Institute of Data Technology, Fuzhou, Fujian 350207, China
| | - Amin Chen
- Fuzhou Institute of Data Technology, Fuzhou, Fujian 350207, China
| | - Yixin Chen
- MOE Key Lab of Bioinformatics, BNRIST Bioinformatics Division, Department of Automation, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Wenrui Li
- MOE Key Lab of Bioinformatics, BNRIST Bioinformatics Division, Department of Automation, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Wenbo Guo
- MOE Key Lab of Bioinformatics, BNRIST Bioinformatics Division, Department of Automation, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Jiahong Dong
- Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Center, Beijing Tsinghua Changgung Hospital, Tsinghua University, Beijing 102218, China; Clinical Translational Science Center, Beijing Tsinghua Changgung Hospital, Tsinghua University, Beijing 102218, China
| | - Xuegong Zhang
- MOE Key Lab of Bioinformatics, BNRIST Bioinformatics Division, Department of Automation, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China; Center for Synthetic and Systems Biology, School of Life Sciences and School of Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Yunfang Wang
- Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Center, Beijing Tsinghua Changgung Hospital, Tsinghua University, Beijing 102218, China; Clinical Translational Science Center, Beijing Tsinghua Changgung Hospital, Tsinghua University, Beijing 102218, China.
| | - Jin Gu
- MOE Key Lab of Bioinformatics, BNRIST Bioinformatics Division, Department of Automation, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China.
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Cheng Y, Chen X, Feng L, Yang Z, Xiao L, Xiang B, Wang X, Liu D, Lin P, Shi J, Song G, Qian W, Zhang B, Xu Y, Gao Z, Chen L, Wu Y, Ma J, Lin Y, Zhao H, Peng L, Mao X, Liu Y, Hou H, Yang M, Ji Y, Wang X, Zhou J, Xu X, Liu X, Wei W, Zhang X, Gao Q, Zhou H, Sun Y, Wu K, Fan J. Stromal architecture and fibroblast subpopulations with opposing effects on outcomes in hepatocellular carcinoma. Cell Discov 2025; 11:1. [PMID: 39870619 PMCID: PMC11772884 DOI: 10.1038/s41421-024-00747-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2024] [Accepted: 10/29/2024] [Indexed: 01/29/2025] Open
Abstract
Dissecting the spatial heterogeneity of cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) is vital for understanding tumor biology and therapeutic design. By combining pathological image analysis with spatial proteomics, we revealed two stromal archetypes in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) with different biological functions and extracellular matrix compositions. Using paired single-cell RNA and epigenomic sequencing with Stereo-seq, we revealed two fibroblast subsets CAF-FAP and CAF-C7, whose spatial enrichment strongly correlated with the two stromal archetypes and opposing patient prognosis. We discovered two functional units, one is the intratumor inflammatory hub featured by CAF-FAP plus CD8_PDCD1 proximity and the other is the marginal wound-healing hub with CAF-C7 plus Macrophage_SPP1 co-localization. Inhibiting CAF-FAP combined with anti-PD-1 in orthotopic HCC models led to improved tumor regression than either monotherapy. Collectively, our findings suggest stroma-targeted strategies for HCC based on defined stromal archetypes, raising the concept that CAFs change their transcriptional program and intercellular crosstalk according to the spatial context.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yifei Cheng
- Department of Liver Surgery and Transplantation, and Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion (Ministry of Education), Liver Cancer Institute, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Xiaofang Chen
- HIM-BGI Omics Center, Zhejiang Cancer Hospital, Hangzhou Institute of Medicine (HIM), Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), BGI Research, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Human Disease Genomics, BGI Research, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
- College of Life Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Li Feng
- Institute of Neuroscience, State Key Laboratory of Neuroscience, Key Laboratory of Primate Neurobiology, Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Zhicheng Yang
- Department of Analytical Chemistry, State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Liyun Xiao
- HIM-BGI Omics Center, Zhejiang Cancer Hospital, Hangzhou Institute of Medicine (HIM), Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), BGI Research, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Human Disease Genomics, BGI Research, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
| | - Bin Xiang
- Key Laboratory of Computational Biology, Shanghai Institute of Nutrition and Health, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Xiaodong Wang
- School of Computer Science and Technology, Xidian University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China
| | - Dongbin Liu
- HIM-BGI Omics Center, Zhejiang Cancer Hospital, Hangzhou Institute of Medicine (HIM), Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), BGI Research, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Human Disease Genomics, BGI Research, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
| | - Penghui Lin
- HIM-BGI Omics Center, Zhejiang Cancer Hospital, Hangzhou Institute of Medicine (HIM), Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), BGI Research, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Human Disease Genomics, BGI Research, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
| | - Jieyi Shi
- Department of Liver Surgery and Transplantation, and Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion (Ministry of Education), Liver Cancer Institute, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Guohe Song
- Department of Liver Surgery and Transplantation, and Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion (Ministry of Education), Liver Cancer Institute, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Wulei Qian
- School of Computer Science and Technology, Xidian University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China
| | - Boan Zhang
- School of Computer Science and Technology, Xidian University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China
| | - Yanan Xu
- Department of Liver Surgery and Transplantation, and Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion (Ministry of Education), Liver Cancer Institute, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Zheng Gao
- Department of Liver Surgery and Transplantation, and Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion (Ministry of Education), Liver Cancer Institute, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Lv Chen
- Department of Liver Surgery and Transplantation, and Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion (Ministry of Education), Liver Cancer Institute, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yingcheng Wu
- Department of Liver Surgery and Transplantation, and Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion (Ministry of Education), Liver Cancer Institute, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Jiaqiang Ma
- Department of Liver Surgery and Transplantation, and Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion (Ministry of Education), Liver Cancer Institute, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Youpei Lin
- Department of Liver Surgery and Transplantation, and Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion (Ministry of Education), Liver Cancer Institute, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Haichao Zhao
- Department of Liver Surgery and Transplantation, and Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion (Ministry of Education), Liver Cancer Institute, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Lihua Peng
- HIM-BGI Omics Center, Zhejiang Cancer Hospital, Hangzhou Institute of Medicine (HIM), Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), BGI Research, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Human Disease Genomics, BGI Research, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
| | | | - Yang Liu
- HIM-BGI Omics Center, Zhejiang Cancer Hospital, Hangzhou Institute of Medicine (HIM), Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), BGI Research, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Human Disease Genomics, BGI Research, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
- College of Life Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Hao Hou
- HIM-BGI Omics Center, Zhejiang Cancer Hospital, Hangzhou Institute of Medicine (HIM), Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), BGI Research, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Human Disease Genomics, BGI Research, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
- College of Life Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Mingyu Yang
- HIM-BGI Omics Center, Zhejiang Cancer Hospital, Hangzhou Institute of Medicine (HIM), Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), BGI Research, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Human Disease Genomics, BGI Research, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
| | - Yuan Ji
- Department of Pathology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Xiaoying Wang
- Department of Liver Surgery and Transplantation, and Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion (Ministry of Education), Liver Cancer Institute, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Jian Zhou
- Department of Liver Surgery and Transplantation, and Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion (Ministry of Education), Liver Cancer Institute, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Xun Xu
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Genome Read and Write, BGI Research, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
| | - Xiyang Liu
- School of Computer Science and Technology, Xidian University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China
| | - Wu Wei
- Key Laboratory of Computational Biology, Shanghai Institute of Nutrition and Health, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Xiaoming Zhang
- The Center for Microbes, Development and Health, Key Laboratory of Molecular Virology & Immunology, Shanghai Institute of Immunity and Infection, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Qiang Gao
- Department of Liver Surgery and Transplantation, and Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion (Ministry of Education), Liver Cancer Institute, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
| | - Hu Zhou
- Department of Analytical Chemistry, State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China.
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.
| | - Yidi Sun
- Institute of Neuroscience, State Key Laboratory of Neuroscience, Key Laboratory of Primate Neurobiology, Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China.
| | - Kui Wu
- HIM-BGI Omics Center, Zhejiang Cancer Hospital, Hangzhou Institute of Medicine (HIM), Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), BGI Research, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Human Disease Genomics, BGI Research, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China.
- Institute of Intelligent Medical Research (IIMR), BGI Genomics, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China.
| | - Jia Fan
- Department of Liver Surgery and Transplantation, and Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion (Ministry of Education), Liver Cancer Institute, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
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Wang H, Zhai M, Li M, Han C, Liu L, Huang C, Zhao L, Yu D, Tao K, Ren J, Lin Z, Zhang T. Phenotypic plasticity and increased infiltration of peripheral blood-derived TREM1 + mono-macrophages following radiotherapy in rectal cancer. Cell Rep Med 2025; 6:101887. [PMID: 39793571 PMCID: PMC11866444 DOI: 10.1016/j.xcrm.2024.101887] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2024] [Revised: 10/29/2024] [Accepted: 12/05/2024] [Indexed: 01/13/2025]
Abstract
In our previously reported phase 2 and phase 3 studies, the combination of short-course radiotherapy and neoadjuvant immunochemotherapy (SIC) is established as effective cancer therapies for locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC). Here, we apply multi-omic analyses to paired pre- and post-treatment LARC specimens undergoing SIC. The peripheral blood-derived TREM1+ mono-macrophage subsets that display a pro-inflammatory phenotype are identified and correlate with complete response to SIC. Mechanically, ionizing radiation (IR) induces peripheral TREM1+ mono-macrophage expansion in tumors. Following IR, the loss of TREM1 in mono-macrophages undermines antitumor immunity by altering mono-macrophage differentiation and inhibiting CD8+ T cell infiltration and activation. The TREM1+ mono-macrophage response may rely on activation of key inflammatory pathways, including nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) signaling and Toll-like receptor pathway. Pharmacological inhibition of TREM1 signaling abolishes IR-induced immunoactivation and reduces combined IR and/or anti-PD-1 treatment. Thus, we establish a crucial role of a mono-macrophage state in mediating effective cancer therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haihong Wang
- Cancer Center, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China; Institute of Radiation Oncology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China; Hubei Key Laboratory of Precision Radiation Oncology, Wuhan, China
| | - Menglan Zhai
- Cancer Center, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China; Institute of Radiation Oncology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China; Hubei Key Laboratory of Precision Radiation Oncology, Wuhan, China
| | - Mingjie Li
- Cancer Center, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China; Institute of Radiation Oncology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China; Hubei Key Laboratory of Precision Radiation Oncology, Wuhan, China
| | - Chaoqun Han
- Division of Gastroenterology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Lichao Liu
- Cancer Center, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China; Institute of Radiation Oncology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China; Hubei Key Laboratory of Precision Radiation Oncology, Wuhan, China
| | - Chuying Huang
- Hubei Selenium and Human Health Institute, The Central Hospital of Enshi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture, Enshi, China; Hubei Provincial Key Lab of Selenium Resources and Bioapplications, Enshi, China
| | - Lei Zhao
- Cancer Center, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China; Institute of Radiation Oncology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China; Hubei Key Laboratory of Precision Radiation Oncology, Wuhan, China
| | - Dandan Yu
- Cancer Center, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China; Institute of Radiation Oncology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China; Hubei Key Laboratory of Precision Radiation Oncology, Wuhan, China
| | - Kaixiong Tao
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Jinghua Ren
- Cancer Center, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China; Institute of Radiation Oncology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China; Hubei Key Laboratory of Precision Radiation Oncology, Wuhan, China
| | - Zhenyu Lin
- Cancer Center, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China; Institute of Radiation Oncology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China; Hubei Key Laboratory of Precision Radiation Oncology, Wuhan, China.
| | - Tao Zhang
- Cancer Center, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China; Institute of Radiation Oncology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China; Hubei Key Laboratory of Precision Radiation Oncology, Wuhan, China.
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94
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Yu XJ, Zou P, Li TQ, Bai XF, Wang SX, Guan JB, Zhao YT, Li MW, Wang X, Wang YG, Hao DJ. Deciphering SPP1-related macrophage signaling in the pathogenesis of intervertebral disc degeneration. Cell Biol Toxicol 2025; 41:33. [PMID: 39825191 PMCID: PMC11748470 DOI: 10.1007/s10565-024-09948-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2024] [Accepted: 11/20/2024] [Indexed: 01/20/2025]
Abstract
This study delved into the molecular mechanisms underlying mechanical stress-induced intervertebral disc degeneration (msi-IDD) through single-cell and high-throughput transcriptome sequencing in mouse models and patient samples. Results exhibited an upsurge in macrophage presence in msi-IDD intervertebral disc (IVD) tissues, with secreted phosphoprotein 1 (SPP1) identified as a pivotal driver exacerbating degeneration via the protein kinase RNA-like endoplasmic reticulum kinase/ activating transcription factor 4/ interleukin-10 (PERK/ATF4/IL-10) signaling axis. Inhibition of SPP1 demonstrated promising outcomes in mitigating msi-IDD progression in both in vitro and in vivo models. These findings underscore the therapeutic promise associated with the modulation of the PERK signaling pathway in IDD, shedding light on the pathogenesis of msi-IDD and proposing a promising avenue for intervention strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiao-Jun Yu
- Department of Spine Surgery, Honghui Hospital, Xi'an Jiaotong University, No.555 Friendship East Road, South Gate, Beilin District, Xi'an, 710054, Shaanxi, China
- Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Spine Bionic Treatment, No.555 Friendship East Road, South Gate, Beilin District, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China
| | - Peng Zou
- Department of Spine Surgery, Honghui Hospital, Xi'an Jiaotong University, No.555 Friendship East Road, South Gate, Beilin District, Xi'an, 710054, Shaanxi, China
- Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Spine Bionic Treatment, No.555 Friendship East Road, South Gate, Beilin District, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China
| | - Tian-Qi Li
- Department of Spine Surgery, Honghui Hospital, Xi'an Jiaotong University, No.555 Friendship East Road, South Gate, Beilin District, Xi'an, 710054, Shaanxi, China
- Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Spine Bionic Treatment, No.555 Friendship East Road, South Gate, Beilin District, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China
| | - Xiao-Fan Bai
- Department of Spine Surgery, Honghui Hospital, Xi'an Jiaotong University, No.555 Friendship East Road, South Gate, Beilin District, Xi'an, 710054, Shaanxi, China
- Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Spine Bionic Treatment, No.555 Friendship East Road, South Gate, Beilin District, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China
| | - Shan-Xi Wang
- Department of Spine Surgery, Honghui Hospital, Xi'an Jiaotong University, No.555 Friendship East Road, South Gate, Beilin District, Xi'an, 710054, Shaanxi, China
- Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Spine Bionic Treatment, No.555 Friendship East Road, South Gate, Beilin District, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China
| | - Jian-Bin Guan
- Department of Spine Surgery, Honghui Hospital, Xi'an Jiaotong University, No.555 Friendship East Road, South Gate, Beilin District, Xi'an, 710054, Shaanxi, China
- Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Spine Bionic Treatment, No.555 Friendship East Road, South Gate, Beilin District, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China
| | - Yuan-Ting Zhao
- Department of Spine Surgery, Honghui Hospital, Xi'an Jiaotong University, No.555 Friendship East Road, South Gate, Beilin District, Xi'an, 710054, Shaanxi, China
- Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Spine Bionic Treatment, No.555 Friendship East Road, South Gate, Beilin District, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China
| | - Meng-Wei Li
- Department of Orthopedics, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China
| | - Xiaodong Wang
- Department of Spine Surgery, Honghui Hospital, Xi'an Jiaotong University, No.555 Friendship East Road, South Gate, Beilin District, Xi'an, 710054, Shaanxi, China
- Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Spine Bionic Treatment, No.555 Friendship East Road, South Gate, Beilin District, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China
| | - Ying-Guang Wang
- Department of Spine Surgery, Honghui Hospital, Xi'an Jiaotong University, No.555 Friendship East Road, South Gate, Beilin District, Xi'an, 710054, Shaanxi, China.
- Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Spine Bionic Treatment, No.555 Friendship East Road, South Gate, Beilin District, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China.
| | - Ding-Jun Hao
- Department of Spine Surgery, Honghui Hospital, Xi'an Jiaotong University, No.555 Friendship East Road, South Gate, Beilin District, Xi'an, 710054, Shaanxi, China.
- Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Spine Bionic Treatment, No.555 Friendship East Road, South Gate, Beilin District, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China.
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Li B, Zeng T, Chen C, Wu Y, Huang S, Deng J, Pang J, Cai X, Lin Y, Sun Y, Chong Y, Li X, Gong J, Tang G. Unraveling the potential mechanism and prognostic value of pentose phosphate pathway in hepatocellular carcinoma: a comprehensive analysis integrating bulk transcriptomics and single-cell sequencing data. Funct Integr Genomics 2025; 25:11. [PMID: 39798003 DOI: 10.1007/s10142-024-01521-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2024] [Revised: 11/25/2024] [Accepted: 12/28/2024] [Indexed: 01/13/2025]
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains a malignant and life-threatening tumor with an extremely poor prognosis, posing a significant global health challenge. Despite the continuous emergence of novel therapeutic agents, patients exhibit substantial heterogeneity in their responses to anti-tumor drugs and overall prognosis. The pentose phosphate pathway (PPP) is highly activated in various tumor cells and plays a pivotal role in tumor metabolic reprogramming. This study aimed to construct a model based on PPP-related Genes for risk assessment and prognosis prediction in HCC patients. We integrated RNA-seq and microarray data from TCGA, GEO, and ICGC databases, along with single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) data obtained from HCC patients via GEO. Based on the "Seurat" R package, we identified distinct gene clusters related to the PPP within the scRNA-seq data. Using a penalized Cox regression model with least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) penalties, we constructed a risk prognosis model. The validity of our risk prognosis model was further confirmed in external cohorts. Additionally, we developed a nomogram capable of accurately predicting overall survival in HCC patients. Furthermore, we explored the predictive potential of our risk model within the immune microenvironment and assessed its relevance to biological function, particularly in the context of immunotherapy. Subsequently, we performed in vitro functional validation of the key genes (ATAD2 and SPP1) in our model. A ten-gene signature associated with the PPP was formulated to enhance the prediction of HCC prognosis and anti-tumor treatment response. Following this, the ROC curve, nomogram, and calibration curve outcomes corroborated the model's robust clinical predictive capability. Functional enrichment analysis unveiled the engagement of the immune system and notable variances in the immune infiltration landscape across the high and low-risk groups. Additionally, tumor mutation frequencies were observed to be elevated in the high-risk group. Based on our analyses, the IC50 values of most identified anticancer agents demonstrated a correlation with the RiskScore. Additionally, the high-risk and low-risk groups exhibited differential sensitivity to various drugs. Cytological experiments revealed that silencing ATAD2 or SPP1 suppresses malignant phenotypes, including viability and migration, in liver cancer cells. In this study, a novel gene signature related to the PPP was developed, demonstrating favorable predictive performance. This signature holds significant guiding value for assessing the prognosis of HCC patients and directing individualized treatment strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bin Li
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Key Laboratory of Liver Disease of Guangdong Province, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510630, China
| | - Tao Zeng
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Key Laboratory of Liver Disease of Guangdong Province, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510630, China
| | - Cui Chen
- Department of Thyroid and Breast Surgery, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510630, China
| | - Yuankai Wu
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Key Laboratory of Liver Disease of Guangdong Province, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510630, China
| | - Shuying Huang
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Key Laboratory of Liver Disease of Guangdong Province, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510630, China
| | - Jing Deng
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Key Laboratory of Liver Disease of Guangdong Province, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510630, China
| | - Jiahui Pang
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Key Laboratory of Liver Disease of Guangdong Province, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510630, China
| | - Xiang Cai
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Key Laboratory of Liver Disease of Guangdong Province, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510630, China
| | - Yuxi Lin
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Key Laboratory of Liver Disease of Guangdong Province, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510630, China
| | - Yina Sun
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510630, China
| | - Yutian Chong
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Key Laboratory of Liver Disease of Guangdong Province, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510630, China
| | - Xinhua Li
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Key Laboratory of Liver Disease of Guangdong Province, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510630, China.
| | - Jiao Gong
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510630, China.
| | - Guofang Tang
- Institute of Infectious Diseases, Guangdong Province, Guangzhou Eighth People's Hospital, Guangzhou Medical University, 8 Huaying Road, Baiyun District, Guangzhou, 510440, China.
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96
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Luan S. The role of histone lactylation genes in hepatocellular carcinoma prognostic models and their immune cell infiltration features: a comprehensive analysis of single-cell, spatial transcriptome, Mendelian randomization and experiment. Discov Oncol 2025; 16:29. [PMID: 39789404 PMCID: PMC11717769 DOI: 10.1007/s12672-025-01775-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2024] [Accepted: 01/03/2025] [Indexed: 01/12/2025] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION With the increasing impact of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) on society, there is an urgent need to propose new HCC diagnostic biomarkers and identification models. Histone lysine lactylation (Kla) affects the prognosis of cancer patients and is an emerging target in cancer treatment. However, the potential of Kla-related genes in HCC is poorly understood. METHODS A variety of machine learning methods were used to construct and validate a model of differentially expressed Kla genes with comprehensive evaluations included ROC, Kaplan‒Meier curve, Cox regression, decision curve. Immune infiltration gathered with spatial transcriptome was performed using integrated data from multiple databases. Furthermore, single-cell analysis was used to discover the cell-cell communication and Mendelian randomization was used to study the causal relationships between immune cell and HCC. Lastly, qRT-PCR was used to verify the expression of Kla genes. RESULTS We established a model consisting of 12 genes that had well prognostic performance and were identified as independent prognostic factors. Single-cell analysis showed that CD8 T+ cells and conventional dendritic cells were enriched in HCC patients. Spatial transcriptomics analysis indicated that the Kla genes influenced the immune characteristics of HCC. Mendelian randomization results showed that TBNK and monocytes were the main risk factors. qRT-PCR validation results indicated that the expression of multiple genes in Huh7 cells was significantly higher than in LO2 cells. CONCLUSION Overall, a Kla-related model was established, which may provide new strategies and insights for the treatment and diagnosis of HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shanjie Luan
- Shandong University School of Medicine, 44 Wenhua Xi Road, Jinan, 250012, Shandong, China.
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97
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Zhao X, Xuan F, Li Z, Yin X, Zeng X, Chen J, Fang C. A KIF20A-based thermosensitive hydrogel vaccine effectively potentiates immune checkpoint blockade therapy for hepatocellular carcinoma. NPJ Vaccines 2025; 10:1. [PMID: 39753573 PMCID: PMC11699128 DOI: 10.1038/s41541-024-01060-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2024] [Accepted: 12/28/2024] [Indexed: 01/06/2025] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a highly prevalent malignancy with limited treatment efficacy despite advances in immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) therapy. The inherently weak immune responses in HCC necessitate novel strategies to improve anti-tumor immunity and synergize with ICB therapy. Kinesin family member 20A (KIF20A) is a tumor-associated antigen (TAA) overexpressed in HCC, and it could be a promising target for vaccine development. This study confirmed KIF20A as a promising immunogenic antigen through transcriptomic mRNA sequencing analysis in the context of HCC. Therefore, we developed a thermosensitive hydrogel vaccine formulation (K/RLip@Gel) to optimize antigen delivery while enabling sustained in vivo release. The vaccine efficiently elicited robust immune responses by activating DCs and T cells. Moreover, K/RLip@Gel improved the therapeutic efficacy of PD-L1 blockade in subcutaneous and orthotopic cell-derived xenograft (CDX) models, along with immune-humanized patient-derived xenograft (PDX) HCC models, which was evidenced by improved maturation of DCs and elevated infiltration and activation of CD8+ T cells. These findings highlight the potential of KIF20A-based vaccines to synergistically improve ICB therapy outcomes in HCC, providing a promising approach for enhancing anti-tumor immunity and improving clinical outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xingyang Zhao
- First Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, General Surgery Center, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Feichao Xuan
- First Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, General Surgery Center, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Zirong Li
- First Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, General Surgery Center, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xiangyi Yin
- First Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, General Surgery Center, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xiaojun Zeng
- First Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, General Surgery Center, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jiali Chen
- First Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, General Surgery Center, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Chihua Fang
- First Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, General Surgery Center, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China.
- Institute of Digital Intelligent Minimally Invasive Surgery, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China.
- Guangdong Provincial Clinical and Engineering Center of Digital Medicine, Guangzhou, China.
- South China Institute of National Engineering Research Center of Innovation and Application of Minimally Invasive Instruments, Guangzhou, China.
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98
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Chen L, Gao Y, Yang H, Su Y, Zhang Y, Lou L, Wang X, Ding D. Long non-coding RNA MSC-AS1 confers imatinib resistance of gastrointestinal stromal tumor cells by activating FNDC1 and ANLN-mediated PI3K/AKT pathway. Hum Cell 2025; 38:38. [PMID: 39751699 DOI: 10.1007/s13577-024-01167-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2024] [Accepted: 12/18/2024] [Indexed: 01/04/2025]
Abstract
Imatinib resistance is a major obstacle to the successful treatment of gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST). Long non-coding RNAs (LncRNAs) have been identified as important regulatory factors in chemotherapy resistance. This study aimed to identify key lncRNAs involved in imatinib resistance of GISTs. First, MSC-AS1 was found to be upregulated in imatinib-resistant GIST tissues and imatinib-resistant GIST cells. Cellular experiments demonstrated that MSC-AS1 overexpression decreased imatinib sensitivity of GIST cells, evidenced by increased cell survival, colony formation, migration, and invasion. Moreover, suppression of MSC-AS1 improved the imatinib resistance of imatinib-resistant GIST cells. Furthermore, MSC-AS1 upregulated the expression of FNDC1 and Anillin via sponging miR-200b-3p, activated the phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase-AKT signaling pathway, and thereby driving imatinib resistance in vitro and in vivo. Overall, this study elucidates the crucial role and mechanism of MSC-AS1 in the imatinib resistance of GIST, providing the potential therapeutic strategy for overcoming the imatinib resistance of GIST.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lin Chen
- Department of Gastrointestinal and Colorectal Surgery, China-Japan Union Hospital of Jilin University, No. 126 Sendai Street, Nanguan District, Changchun, 130031, China
| | - Yongjian Gao
- Department of Gastrointestinal and Colorectal Surgery, China-Japan Union Hospital of Jilin University, No. 126 Sendai Street, Nanguan District, Changchun, 130031, China
| | - Huaixi Yang
- Department of Gastrointestinal and Colorectal Surgery, China-Japan Union Hospital of Jilin University, No. 126 Sendai Street, Nanguan District, Changchun, 130031, China
| | - Yanzhuo Su
- Department of Gastrointestinal and Colorectal Surgery, China-Japan Union Hospital of Jilin University, No. 126 Sendai Street, Nanguan District, Changchun, 130031, China
| | - Yunxin Zhang
- Department of Gastrointestinal and Colorectal Surgery, China-Japan Union Hospital of Jilin University, No. 126 Sendai Street, Nanguan District, Changchun, 130031, China
| | - Lin Lou
- Department of Gastrointestinal and Colorectal Surgery, China-Japan Union Hospital of Jilin University, No. 126 Sendai Street, Nanguan District, Changchun, 130031, China
| | - Xuefeng Wang
- Department of Gastrointestinal and Colorectal Surgery, China-Japan Union Hospital of Jilin University, No. 126 Sendai Street, Nanguan District, Changchun, 130031, China
| | - Dayong Ding
- Department of Gastrointestinal and Colorectal Surgery, China-Japan Union Hospital of Jilin University, No. 126 Sendai Street, Nanguan District, Changchun, 130031, China.
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Ma L, Li CC, Wang XW. Roles of Cellular Neighborhoods in Hepatocellular Carcinoma Pathogenesis. ANNUAL REVIEW OF PATHOLOGY 2025; 20:169-192. [PMID: 39854188 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-pathmechdis-111523-023520] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/26/2025]
Abstract
The development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) involves an intricate interplay among various cell types within the liver. Unraveling the orchestration of these cells, particularly in the context of various etiologies, may hold the key to deciphering the underlying mechanisms of this complex disease. The advancement of single-cell and spatial technologies has revolutionized our ability to determine cellular neighborhoods and understand their crucial roles in disease pathogenesis. In this review, we highlight the current research landscape on cellular neighborhoods in chronic liver disease and HCC, as well as the emerging computational approaches applicable to delineate disease-associated cellular neighborhoods, which may offer insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying HCC pathogenesis and pave the way for effective disease interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lichun Ma
- Cancer Data Science Laboratory, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland, USA;
- Liver Cancer Program, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Cherry Caiyi Li
- Cancer Data Science Laboratory, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland, USA;
| | - Xin Wei Wang
- Liver Cancer Program, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
- Laboratory of Human Carcinogenesis, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
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100
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Du Y, Zhang H, Liu J, Duan X, Chen S, Jiang W. HK3: A potential prognostic biomarker with metastasis inhibition capabilities in hepatocellular carcinoma. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2024; 741:151057. [PMID: 39615209 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2024.151057] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2024] [Revised: 11/06/2024] [Accepted: 11/22/2024] [Indexed: 12/11/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) stands as one of the prevalent malignant tumors worldwide. The effectiveness of immunotherapy frequently depends on the intricate dynamics of immunomodulation within the tumor microenvironment (TME). The current study aims to identify prognostically relevant genes and their functional roles in HCC. This is achieved by utilizing immune scores and mutations as the basis, through the application of bioinformatics and molecular biological analysis. METHODS Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) analysis was conducted using the "clusterProfiler" package for functional enrichment. Cox regression analysis and LASSO regression analysis were performed for prognostic gene screening. Kaplan-Meier curve were further utilized to verify the prognostic value of these genes. The relationship between selected genes and immune cells was analyzed using ssGSEA algorithm and TIMER. The HK3 expression in HCC cells was tested by Western blot. Additionally, wound healing and transwell assays were utilized to detect the impact of HK3 on HCC metastasis. RESULTS Patients who had higher ESTIMATE, stromal, and immune scores exhibited more favorable overall survival rates. There are 17 genes that overlap among the DEGs related to the immune-stromal-ESTIMATE scores, mutated genes, and DEGs in HCC tissues compared to normal tissues. Among the DEGs, three genes (STAB1, COL15A1 and HK3) emerged with the most profound association concerning survival outcomes. Notably, the HK3 genes displayed a pronounced correlation with immune infiltration. Concurrently, diminished expression levels of HK3 were observed in HCC tissues and upregulation of HK3 resulted in a significant reduction in HCC cell metastasis in vitro and in vivo. CONCLUSIONS HK3 emerges as a novel prognostic biomarker for HCC, exerting regulatory influence over cellular proliferation, metastasis, and invasiveness. These findings indicate that HK3 holds promise as a potential candidate for treatment and prognosis of HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yexiang Du
- Department of Anatomy, Basic Medical College, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400016, China
| | - Hongchuan Zhang
- Department of Oncology, Dianjiang People's Hospital of Chongqing, Chongqing, 408300, China
| | - Jialong Liu
- 65136, Troops Hospital of PLA, Dalian, Liaoning, 116300, China
| | - Xiaodong Duan
- Department of Anatomy, Basic Medical College, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400016, China
| | - Suhua Chen
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Guizhou Provincial People's Hospital, Guizhou, 550002, China
| | - Wenbin Jiang
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Guizhou Provincial People's Hospital, Guizhou, 550002, China.
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