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Michikawa C, Gleber-Netto FO, Pickering CR, Rao X, Wang J, Sikora AG, Myers JN, Frederick MJ. Immune infiltration at the primary tumor is associated with clinical outcome of patients with extranodal extension of lymph node metastasis in oral cancer. Oral Oncol 2024; 153:106729. [PMID: 38663156 DOI: 10.1016/j.oraloncology.2024.106729] [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: 10/13/2023] [Revised: 02/09/2024] [Accepted: 02/18/2024] [Indexed: 05/21/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Extranodal extension (ENE) of lymph node metastasis is one of the most reliable prognostic indicators for patients with locally advanced oral cancer. Although multiple reports have found a close relationship between immune infiltration of tumors and patient clinical outcomes, its association with ENE is unknown. METHODS We identified 234 human papillomavirus-negative (HPV-) oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) patients in The Cancer Genome Atlas and investigated the immune infiltration profiles of primary tumors and their association with survival. RESULTS Hierarchical clustering analysis clearly classified the overall immune infiltration status in OSCC into high immune or low immune groups. The combination of ENE positivity and low immune infiltration was strongly associated with poor overall survival (OS) compared to the combination of ENE positivity and high immune infiltration [hazard ratio 2.04 (95 %CI, 1.08-3.83); p = 0.024]. The immune infiltration status was not associated with OS rates in patients with ENE-negative or node negative tumors. CONCLUSION Overall Immune infiltration at the primary site was significantly associated with clinical outcome of OSCC patients with ENE.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chieko Michikawa
- Department of Head and Neck Surgery, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA; Department of Maxillofacial Surgery, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Tokyo, Japan.
| | - Frederico O Gleber-Netto
- Department of Head and Neck Surgery, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Curtis R Pickering
- Department of Head and Neck Surgery, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Xiayu Rao
- Department of Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Jing Wang
- Department of Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Andrew G Sikora
- Department of Head and Neck Surgery, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Jeffrey N Myers
- Department of Head and Neck Surgery, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
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2
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Chekhun V, Pavlova A, Zadvornyi T, Borikun T, Naleskina L, Mushii O, Bazas V, Lukianova N. EXPRESSION OF SPP1 AND SPARC GENES IN TUMOR TISSUE OF PATIENTS WITH BREAST CANCER. Exp Oncol 2024; 46:13-21. [PMID: 38852057 DOI: 10.15407/exp-oncology.2024.01.013] [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: 05/28/2024] [Indexed: 06/10/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Breast cancer (BCa) is one of the most common oncological diseases in women in Ukraine and worldwide, which determines the need to search for new diagnostic and prognostic markers. In this aspect, the study of multicellular proteins, in particular osteopontin (OPN) and osteonectin (ON), in BCа tissue is relevant. The aim of the work was to investigate the expression of SPP1 and SPARC at the mRNA and protein levels in BCa tissue and to assess their relationship with the main clinicopathological BCa characteristics and the survival rates of patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS The work was based on the analysis of the results of the examination and treatment of 60 patients with stage II-III BCa and 15 patients with breast fibroadenomas. SPP1 and SPARC mRNA levels were determined by real-time PCR. The study of the expression of protein products of the SPP1 and SPARC genes was carried out by the immunohistochemical method. RESULTS We have established that the BCa tissue was characterized by 3.5 (p < 0.05) and 7.4 (p < 0.05) lower levels of SPP1 and SPARC mRNA, respectively, compared to the tissue of benign neoplasms, while OPN and ON expression levels were 1.6 (p < 0.05) and 5.6 (p < 0.05) times higher, respectively, compared to fibroadenoma tissue. The analysis of the relationship between the expression of SPP1 and SPARC at the protein and mRNA levels in BCa tissue and the main clinicopathological BCa characteristics revealed its dependence on the presence of metastases in regional lymph nodes, differentiation grade, and the molecular BCa subtype. Also, high expression levels of SPP1 and OPN were associated with worse patient survival rates. CONCLUSION The obtained results indicate the perspective of using SPP1 and SPARC expression indices in BCa tissue to assess the aggressiveness of the cancer course and optimize the tactics of treating patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- V Chekhun
- R.E. Kavetsky Institute of Experimental Pathology, Oncology, and Radiobiology, the NAS of Ukraine, Kyiv, Ukraine
| | - A Pavlova
- R.E. Kavetsky Institute of Experimental Pathology, Oncology, and Radiobiology, the NAS of Ukraine, Kyiv, Ukraine
| | - T Zadvornyi
- R.E. Kavetsky Institute of Experimental Pathology, Oncology, and Radiobiology, the NAS of Ukraine, Kyiv, Ukraine
| | - T Borikun
- R.E. Kavetsky Institute of Experimental Pathology, Oncology, and Radiobiology, the NAS of Ukraine, Kyiv, Ukraine
| | - L Naleskina
- R.E. Kavetsky Institute of Experimental Pathology, Oncology, and Radiobiology, the NAS of Ukraine, Kyiv, Ukraine
| | - O Mushii
- R.E. Kavetsky Institute of Experimental Pathology, Oncology, and Radiobiology, the NAS of Ukraine, Kyiv, Ukraine
| | - V Bazas
- Kyiv City Clinical Oncology Center, Kyiv, Ukraine
| | - N Lukianova
- R.E. Kavetsky Institute of Experimental Pathology, Oncology, and Radiobiology, the NAS of Ukraine, Kyiv, Ukraine
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3
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Yu KX, Yuan WJ, Wang HZ, Li YX. Extracellular matrix stiffness and tumor-associated macrophage polarization: new fields affecting immune exclusion. Cancer Immunol Immunother 2024; 73:115. [PMID: 38693304 PMCID: PMC11063025 DOI: 10.1007/s00262-024-03675-9] [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: 11/12/2023] [Accepted: 03/12/2024] [Indexed: 05/03/2024]
Abstract
In the malignant progression of tumors, there is deposition and cross-linking of collagen, as well as an increase in hyaluronic acid content, which can lead to an increase in extracellular matrix stiffness. Recent research evidence have shown that the extracellular matrix plays an important role in angiogenesis, cell proliferation, migration, immunosuppression, apoptosis, metabolism, and resistance to chemotherapeutic by the alterations toward both secretion and degradation. The clinical importance of tumor-associated macrophage is increasingly recognized, and macrophage polarization plays a central role in a series of tumor immune processes through internal signal cascade, thus regulating tumor progression. Immunotherapy has gradually become a reliable potential treatment strategy for conventional chemotherapy resistance and advanced cancer patients, but the presence of immune exclusion has become a major obstacle to treatment effectiveness, and the reasons for their resistance to these approaches remain uncertain. Currently, there is a lack of exact mechanism on the regulation of extracellular matrix stiffness and tumor-associated macrophage polarization on immune exclusion. An in-depth understanding of the relationship between extracellular matrix stiffness, tumor-associated macrophage polarization, and immune exclusion will help reveal new therapeutic targets and guide the development of clinical treatment methods for advanced cancer patients. This review summarized the different pathways and potential molecular mechanisms of extracellular matrix stiffness and tumor-associated macrophage polarization involved in immune exclusion and provided available strategies to address immune exclusion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ke-Xun Yu
- Department of General Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230022, China
| | - Wei-Jie Yuan
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Hui-Zhen Wang
- Department of General Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230022, China
| | - Yong-Xiang Li
- Department of General Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230022, China.
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4
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Ranji P, Jonasson E, Andersson L, Filges S, Luna Santamaría M, Vannas C, Dolatabadi S, Gustafsson A, Myklebost O, Håkansson J, Fagman H, Landberg G, Åman P, Ståhlberg A. Deciphering the role of FUS::DDIT3 expression and tumor microenvironment in myxoid liposarcoma development. J Transl Med 2024; 22:389. [PMID: 38671504 PMCID: PMC11046918 DOI: 10.1186/s12967-024-05211-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: 01/10/2024] [Accepted: 04/16/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Myxoid liposarcoma (MLS) displays a distinctive tumor microenvironment and is characterized by the FUS::DDIT3 fusion oncogene, however, the precise functional contributions of these two elements remain enigmatic in tumor development. METHODS To study the cell-free microenvironment in MLS, we developed an experimental model system based on decellularized patient-derived xenograft tumors. We characterized the cell-free scaffold using mass spectrometry. Subsequently, scaffolds were repopulated using sarcoma cells with or without FUS::DDIT3 expression that were analyzed with histology and RNA sequencing. RESULTS Characterization of cell-free MLS scaffolds revealed intact structure and a large variation of protein types remaining after decellularization. We demonstrated an optimal culture time of 3 weeks and showed that FUS::DDIT3 expression decreased cell proliferation and scaffold invasiveness. The cell-free MLS microenvironment and FUS::DDIT3 expression both induced biological processes related to cell-to-cell and cell-to-extracellular matrix interactions, as well as chromatin remodeling, immune response, and metabolism. Data indicated that FUS::DDIT3 expression more than the microenvironment determined the pre-adipocytic phenotype that is typical for MLS. CONCLUSIONS Our experimental approach opens new means to study the tumor microenvironment in detail and our findings suggest that FUS::DDIT3-expressing tumor cells can create their own extracellular niche.
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Affiliation(s)
- Parmida Ranji
- Sahlgrenska Center for Cancer Research, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Institute of Biomedicine, Sahlgrenska Academy at University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
- Wallenberg Centre for Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Emma Jonasson
- Sahlgrenska Center for Cancer Research, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Institute of Biomedicine, Sahlgrenska Academy at University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Lisa Andersson
- Sahlgrenska Center for Cancer Research, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Institute of Biomedicine, Sahlgrenska Academy at University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Stefan Filges
- Sahlgrenska Center for Cancer Research, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Institute of Biomedicine, Sahlgrenska Academy at University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Manuel Luna Santamaría
- Sahlgrenska Center for Cancer Research, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Institute of Biomedicine, Sahlgrenska Academy at University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
- Wallenberg Centre for Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Christoffer Vannas
- Sahlgrenska Center for Cancer Research, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Institute of Biomedicine, Sahlgrenska Academy at University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
- Department of Oncology, Region Västra Götaland, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Soheila Dolatabadi
- Sahlgrenska Center for Cancer Research, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Institute of Biomedicine, Sahlgrenska Academy at University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Anna Gustafsson
- Sahlgrenska Center for Cancer Research, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Institute of Biomedicine, Sahlgrenska Academy at University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Ola Myklebost
- Department of Tumor Biology, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
- Institute for Clinical Science, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
| | - Joakim Håkansson
- RISE Unit of Biological Function, Division Materials and Production, RISE Research Institutes of Sweden, Borås, Sweden
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Institute of Biomedicine, Sahlgrenska Academy at University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
- Department of Chemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Science at University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Henrik Fagman
- Sahlgrenska Center for Cancer Research, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Institute of Biomedicine, Sahlgrenska Academy at University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
- Department of Clinical Pathology, Region Västra Götaland, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Göran Landberg
- Sahlgrenska Center for Cancer Research, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Institute of Biomedicine, Sahlgrenska Academy at University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
- Department of Clinical Pathology, Region Västra Götaland, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Pierre Åman
- Sahlgrenska Center for Cancer Research, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Institute of Biomedicine, Sahlgrenska Academy at University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Anders Ståhlberg
- Sahlgrenska Center for Cancer Research, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Institute of Biomedicine, Sahlgrenska Academy at University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.
- Wallenberg Centre for Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.
- Department of Clinical Genetics and Genomics, Region Västra Götaland, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden.
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Wu LX, Zhao MY, Yan N, Zhou YL, Cao LM, Qin YZ, Jiang Q, Xu LP, Zhang XH, Huang XJ, Jiang H, Ruan GR. Extracellular matrix protein 1 (ECM1) is a potential biomarker in B cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Clin Exp Med 2024; 24:56. [PMID: 38546916 PMCID: PMC10978711 DOI: 10.1007/s10238-023-01255-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2023] [Accepted: 12/18/2023] [Indexed: 04/01/2024]
Abstract
B cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is characterized by the highly heterogeneity of pathogenic genetic background, and there are still approximately 30-40% of patients without clear molecular markers. To identify the dysregulated genes in B cell ALL, we screened 30 newly diagnosed B cell ALL patients and 10 donors by gene expression profiling chip. We found that ECM1 transcription level was abnormally elevated in newly diagnosed B cell ALL and further verified in another 267 cases compared with donors (median, 124.57% vs. 7.14%, P < 0.001). ROC analysis showed that the area under the curve of ECM1 transcription level at diagnosis was 0.89 (P < 0.001). Patients with BCR::ABL1 and IKZF1 deletion show highest transcription level (210.78%) compared with KMT2A rearrangement (39.48%) and TCF3::PBX1 rearrangement ones (30.02%) (all P < 0.05). Also, the transcription level of ECM1 was highly correlated with the clinical course, as 20 consecutive follow-up cases indicated. The 5-year OS of patients (non-KMT2A and non-TCF3::PBX1 rearrangement) with high ECM1 transcription level was significantly worse than the lower ones (18.7% vs. 72.9%, P < 0.001) and high ECM1 transcription level was an independent risk factor for OS (HR = 5.77 [1.75-19.06], P = 0.004). After considering transplantation, high ECM1 transcription level was not an independent risk factor, although OS was still poor (low vs. high, 71.1% vs. 56.8%, P = 0.038). Our findings suggested that ECM1 may be a potential molecular marker for diagnosis, minimal residual disease (MRD) monitoring, and prognosis prediction of B cell ALL.Trial registration Trial Registration Registered in the Beijing Municipal Health Bureau Registration N 2007-1007 and in the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry [ChiCTR-OCH-10000940 and ChiCTR-OPC-14005546]; http://www.chictr.org.cn .
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Affiliation(s)
- Li-Xin Wu
- Peking University People's Hospital, Peking University Institute of Hematology, National Clinical Research Center for Hematologic Disease, Beijing Key Laboratory of Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation, Peking University, Beijing, China
- Department of Hematology, Peking University Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen Peking University-The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology Medical Center, Shenzhen, Guangdong province, China
| | - Ming-Yue Zhao
- Peking University People's Hospital, Peking University Institute of Hematology, National Clinical Research Center for Hematologic Disease, Beijing Key Laboratory of Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Nan Yan
- Peking University People's Hospital, Peking University Institute of Hematology, National Clinical Research Center for Hematologic Disease, Beijing Key Laboratory of Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Ya-Lan Zhou
- Peking University People's Hospital, Peking University Institute of Hematology, National Clinical Research Center for Hematologic Disease, Beijing Key Laboratory of Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Lei-Ming Cao
- Peking University People's Hospital, Peking University Institute of Hematology, National Clinical Research Center for Hematologic Disease, Beijing Key Laboratory of Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Ya-Zhen Qin
- Peking University People's Hospital, Peking University Institute of Hematology, National Clinical Research Center for Hematologic Disease, Beijing Key Laboratory of Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Qian Jiang
- Peking University People's Hospital, Peking University Institute of Hematology, National Clinical Research Center for Hematologic Disease, Beijing Key Laboratory of Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Lan-Ping Xu
- Peking University People's Hospital, Peking University Institute of Hematology, National Clinical Research Center for Hematologic Disease, Beijing Key Laboratory of Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Xiao-Hui Zhang
- Peking University People's Hospital, Peking University Institute of Hematology, National Clinical Research Center for Hematologic Disease, Beijing Key Laboratory of Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Xiao-Jun Huang
- Peking University People's Hospital, Peking University Institute of Hematology, National Clinical Research Center for Hematologic Disease, Beijing Key Laboratory of Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation, Peking University, Beijing, China
- Peking-Tsinghua Center for Life Sciences, Academy for Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Hao Jiang
- Peking University People's Hospital, Peking University Institute of Hematology, National Clinical Research Center for Hematologic Disease, Beijing Key Laboratory of Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation, Peking University, Beijing, China.
| | - Guo-Rui Ruan
- Peking University People's Hospital, Peking University Institute of Hematology, National Clinical Research Center for Hematologic Disease, Beijing Key Laboratory of Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation, Peking University, Beijing, China.
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6
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Nazemi M, Yanes B, Martinez ML, Walker HJ, Pham K, Collins MO, Bard F, Rainero E. The extracellular matrix supports breast cancer cell growth under amino acid starvation by promoting tyrosine catabolism. PLoS Biol 2024; 22:e3002406. [PMID: 38227562 PMCID: PMC10791009 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3002406] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2023] [Accepted: 10/26/2023] [Indexed: 01/18/2024] Open
Abstract
Breast tumours are embedded in a collagen I-rich extracellular matrix (ECM) network, where nutrients are scarce due to limited blood flow and elevated tumour growth. Metabolic adaptation is required for cancer cells to endure these conditions. Here, we demonstrated that the presence of ECM supported the growth of invasive breast cancer cells, but not non-transformed mammary epithelial cells, under amino acid starvation, through a mechanism that required macropinocytosis-dependent ECM uptake. Importantly, we showed that this behaviour was acquired during carcinoma progression. ECM internalisation, followed by lysosomal degradation, contributed to the up-regulation of the intracellular levels of several amino acids, most notably tyrosine and phenylalanine. This resulted in elevated tyrosine catabolism on ECM under starvation, leading to increased fumarate levels, potentially feeding into the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle. Interestingly, this pathway was required for ECM-dependent cell growth and invasive cell migration under amino acid starvation, as the knockdown of p-hydroxyphenylpyruvate hydroxylase-like protein (HPDL), the third enzyme of the pathway, opposed cell growth and motility on ECM in both 2D and 3D systems, without affecting cell proliferation on plastic. Finally, high HPDL expression correlated with poor prognosis in breast cancer patients. Collectively, our results highlight that the ECM in the tumour microenvironment (TME) represents an alternative source of nutrients to support cancer cell growth by regulating phenylalanine and tyrosine metabolism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mona Nazemi
- School of Biosciences, The University of Sheffield, Sheffield, United Kingdom
| | - Bian Yanes
- School of Biosciences, The University of Sheffield, Sheffield, United Kingdom
| | - Montserrat Llanses Martinez
- School of Biosciences, The University of Sheffield, Sheffield, United Kingdom
- Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, Singapore
| | - Heather J. Walker
- biOMICS Facility, School of Biosciences, The University of Sheffield, Sheffield, United Kingdom
| | - Khoa Pham
- biOMICS Facility, School of Biosciences, The University of Sheffield, Sheffield, United Kingdom
| | - Mark O. Collins
- School of Biosciences, The University of Sheffield, Sheffield, United Kingdom
- biOMICS Facility, School of Biosciences, The University of Sheffield, Sheffield, United Kingdom
| | - Frederic Bard
- Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, Singapore
- Centre de Recherche en Cancerologie de Marseille, CRCM, Marseille, France
| | - Elena Rainero
- School of Biosciences, The University of Sheffield, Sheffield, United Kingdom
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7
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Afshar K, Sanaei MJ, Ravari MS, Pourbagheri-Sigaroodi A, Bashash D. An overview of extracellular matrix and its remodeling in the development of cancer and metastasis with a glance at therapeutic approaches. Cell Biochem Funct 2023; 41:930-952. [PMID: 37665068 DOI: 10.1002/cbf.3846] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2023] [Revised: 08/16/2023] [Accepted: 08/21/2023] [Indexed: 09/05/2023]
Abstract
The extracellular matrix (ECM) is an inevitable part of tissues able to provide structural support for cells depending on the purpose of tissues and organs. The dynamic characteristics of ECM let this system fluently interact with the extrinsic triggers and get stiffed, remodeled, and/or degraded ending in maintaining tissue homeostasis. ECM could serve as the platform for cancer progression. The dysregulation of biochemical and biomechanical ECM features might take participate in some pathological conditions such as aging, tissue destruction, fibrosis, and particularly cancer. Tumors can reprogram how ECM remodels by producing factors able to induce protein synthesis, matrix proteinase expression, degradation of the basement membrane, growth signals and proliferation, angiogenesis, and metastasis. Therefore, targeting the ECM components, their secretion, and their interactions with other cells or tumors could be a promising strategy in cancer therapies. The present study initially introduces the physiological functions of ECM and then discusses how tumor-dependent dysregulation of ECM could facilitate cancer progression and ends with reviewing the novel therapeutic strategies regarding ECM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kimiya Afshar
- Department of Hematology and Blood Banking, School of Allied Medical Sciences, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mohammad-Javad Sanaei
- Department of Hematology and Blood Banking, School of Allied Medical Sciences, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mehrnaz Sadat Ravari
- Research Center for Hydatid Disease in Iran, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
| | - Atieh Pourbagheri-Sigaroodi
- Department of Hematology and Blood Banking, School of Allied Medical Sciences, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Davood Bashash
- Department of Hematology and Blood Banking, School of Allied Medical Sciences, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
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8
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Portillo AL, Monteiro JK, Rojas EA, Ritchie TM, Gillgrass A, Ashkar AA. Charting a killer course to the solid tumor: strategies to recruit and activate NK cells in the tumor microenvironment. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1286750. [PMID: 38022679 PMCID: PMC10663242 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1286750] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2023] [Accepted: 10/23/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023] Open
Abstract
The ability to expand and activate natural Killer (NK) cells ex vivo has dramatically changed the landscape in the development of novel adoptive cell therapies for treating cancer over the last decade. NK cells have become a key player for cancer immunotherapy due to their innate ability to kill malignant cells while not harming healthy cells, allowing their potential use as an "off-the-shelf" product. Furthermore, recent advancements in NK cell genetic engineering methods have enabled the efficient generation of chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-expressing NK cells that can exert both CAR-dependent and antigen-independent killing. Clinically, CAR-NK cells have shown promising efficacy and safety for treating CD19-expressing hematologic malignancies. While the number of pre-clinical studies using CAR-NK cells continues to expand, it is evident that solid tumors pose a unique challenge to NK cell-based adoptive cell therapies. Major barriers for efficacy include low NK cell trafficking and infiltration into solid tumor sites, low persistence, and immunosuppression by the harsh solid tumor microenvironment (TME). In this review we discuss the barriers posed by the solid tumor that prevent immune cell trafficking and NK cell effector functions. We then discuss promising strategies to enhance NK cell infiltration into solid tumor sites and activation within the TME. This includes NK cell-intrinsic and -extrinsic mechanisms such as NK cell engineering to resist TME-mediated inhibition and use of tumor-targeted agents such as oncolytic viruses expressing chemoattracting and activating payloads. We then discuss opportunities and challenges for using combination therapies to extend NK cell therapies for the treatment of solid tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana L. Portillo
- Department of Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
- McMaster Immunology Research Centre, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
- Centre for Discovery in Cancer Research, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
| | - Jonathan K. Monteiro
- Department of Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
- McMaster Immunology Research Centre, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
- Centre for Discovery in Cancer Research, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
| | - Eduardo A. Rojas
- Department of Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
- McMaster Immunology Research Centre, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
| | - Tyrah M. Ritchie
- Department of Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
- McMaster Immunology Research Centre, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
| | - Amy Gillgrass
- Department of Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
- McMaster Immunology Research Centre, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
- Centre for Discovery in Cancer Research, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
| | - Ali A. Ashkar
- Department of Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
- McMaster Immunology Research Centre, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
- Centre for Discovery in Cancer Research, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
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9
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Ma L, Song K, Zang J. Integrin β5 is an independent prognostic marker for intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma in a Chinese population. Exp Ther Med 2023; 26:532. [PMID: 37869645 PMCID: PMC10587877 DOI: 10.3892/etm.2023.12231] [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: 01/13/2023] [Accepted: 06/21/2023] [Indexed: 10/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) is the second most common primary liver tumor and a major cause of cancer mortality worldwide. Integrin β5 (ITGB5) is considered to be involved in the intercellular signal transduction and regulation of tumorigenesis and development. The present study investigated the association between ITGB5 expression levels and the prognosis of ICC, as well as the effects of ITGB5 on the proliferation and invasion of ICC cells. RNA-sequencing transcriptomic profiling data of ICC samples were retrieved from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) databases. Tissue specimens from patients with ICC treated at Taizhou People's Hospital were collected and the ITGB5 expression levels were evaluated using immunohistochemical staining. The biological function of ITGB5 in ICC was investigated using Gene Ontology (GO), Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA) and in vitro experiments using HuCCT1 cells. After knocking down ITGB5 expression, cell proliferation was detected using Cell Counting Kit-8 assay, while cell invasion was assessed using Transwell assays. According to TCGA dataset, ITGB5 was highly expressed in ICC; however, there was no significant difference in prognosis between patients with high and low ITGB5 expression levels. High expression of ITGB5 was present in the tissues of patients with ICC from the GEO database, which was associated with poor prognosis. Survival analyses of the clinical data obtained in the present study revealed that high expression levels of ITGB5 in patients with ICC were associated with a reduced overall survival. GO and GSEA indicated that genes associated with ITGB5 were enriched in the extracellular matrix-receptor interaction and focal adhesion signaling pathways. Silencing ITGB5 inhibited the proliferation and invasion of ICC cells. In conclusion, ITGB5 may act as an essential regulator of ICC development and progression by influencing the proliferation and invasion of ICC cells. However, future studies with larger sample sizes are required to validate the role of ITGB5 in the prognosis of patients with ICC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lixing Ma
- Department of Surgery, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, Liaoning 116044, P.R. China
| | - Kang Song
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Taixing People's Hospital, The Affiliated Taixing People's Hospital of Yangzhou University, Taixing, Jiangsu 225400, P.R. China
| | - Jinfeng Zang
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, The Affiliated Taizhou People's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Taizhou, Jiangsu 225300, P.R. China
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10
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Steenbruggen TG, Wolf DM, Campbell MJ, Sanders J, Cornelissen S, Thijssen B, Salgado RA, Yau C, O-Grady N, Basu A, Bhaskaran R, Mittempergher L, Hirst GL, Coppe JP, Kok M, Sonke GS, van 't Veer LJ, Horlings HM. B-cells and regulatory T-cells in the microenvironment of HER2+ breast cancer are associated with decreased survival: a real-world analysis of women with HER2+ metastatic breast cancer. Breast Cancer Res 2023; 25:117. [PMID: 37794508 PMCID: PMC10552219 DOI: 10.1186/s13058-023-01717-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2022] [Accepted: 09/21/2023] [Indexed: 10/06/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Despite major improvements in treatment of HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer (MBC), only few patients achieve complete remission and remain progression free for a prolonged time. The tumor immune microenvironment plays an important role in the response to treatment in HER2-positive breast cancer and could contain valuable prognostic information. Detailed information on the cancer-immune cell interactions in HER2-positive MBC is however still lacking. By characterizing the tumor immune microenvironment in patients with HER2-positive MBC, we aimed to get a better understanding why overall survival (OS) differs so widely and which alternative treatment approaches may improve outcome. METHODS We included all patients with HER2-positive MBC who were treated with trastuzumab-based palliative therapy in the Netherlands Cancer Institute between 2000 and 2014 and for whom pre-treatment tissue from the primary tumor or from metastases was available. Infiltrating immune cells and their spatial relationships to one another and to tumor cells were characterized by immunohistochemistry and multiplex immunofluorescence. We also evaluated immune signatures and other key pathways using next-generation RNA-sequencing data. With nine years median follow-up from initial diagnosis of MBC, we investigated the association between tumor and immune characteristics and outcome. RESULTS A total of 124 patients with 147 samples were included and evaluated. The different technologies showed high correlations between each other. T-cells were less prevalent in metastases compared to primary tumors, whereas B-cells and regulatory T-cells (Tregs) were comparable between primary tumors and metastases. Stromal tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes in general were not associated with OS. The infiltration of B-cells and Tregs in the primary tumor was associated with unfavorable OS. Four signatures classifying the extracellular matrix of primary tumors showed differential survival in the population as a whole. CONCLUSIONS In a real-world cohort of 124 patients with HER2-positive MBC, B-cells, and Tregs in primary tumors are associated with unfavorable survival. With this paper, we provide a comprehensive insight in the tumor immune microenvironment that could guide further research into development of novel immunomodulatory strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tessa G Steenbruggen
- Department of Medical Oncology, The Netherlands Cancer Institute, 1066 CX, Amsterdam, North Holland, The Netherlands.
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, 94115, USA.
| | - Denise M Wolf
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, 94115, USA
| | - Michael J Campbell
- Department of Surgery, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, 94115, USA
| | - Joyce Sanders
- Department of Pathology, The Netherlands Cancer Institute, 1066 CX, Amsterdam, North Holland, The Netherlands
| | - Sten Cornelissen
- Core Facility Molecular Pathology and Biobanking, The Netherlands Cancer Institute, 1066 CX, Amsterdam, North Holland, The Netherlands
| | - Bram Thijssen
- Department of Molecular Carcinogenesis, The Netherlands Cancer Institute, 1066 CX, Amsterdam, North Holland, The Netherlands
| | - Roberto A Salgado
- Department of Pathology, GZA-ZNA Hospitals, 2020, Antwerp, Belgium
- Division of Research, Peter Mac Callum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, VIC, 3000, Australia
| | - Christina Yau
- Department of Surgery, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, 94115, USA
| | - Nick O-Grady
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, 94115, USA
| | - Amrita Basu
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, 94115, USA
| | - Rajith Bhaskaran
- Research and Development, Agendia N.V, 1043 NT, Amsterdam, North Holland, The Netherlands
| | - Lorenza Mittempergher
- Research and Development, Agendia N.V, 1043 NT, Amsterdam, North Holland, The Netherlands
| | - Gillian L Hirst
- Department of Surgery, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, 94115, USA
| | - Jean-Philippe Coppe
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, 94115, USA
| | - Marleen Kok
- Department of Medical Oncology, The Netherlands Cancer Institute, 1066 CX, Amsterdam, North Holland, The Netherlands
- Division of Tumor Biology and Immunology, The Netherlands Cancer Institute, 1066 CX, Amsterdam, North Holland, The Netherlands
| | - Gabe S Sonke
- Department of Medical Oncology, The Netherlands Cancer Institute, 1066 CX, Amsterdam, North Holland, The Netherlands
- Department of Clinical Oncology, University of Amsterdam, 1012 WX, Amsterdam, North Holland, The Netherlands
| | - Laura J van 't Veer
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, 94115, USA
| | - Hugo M Horlings
- Department of Pathology, The Netherlands Cancer Institute, 1066 CX, Amsterdam, North Holland, The Netherlands
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11
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Steenbruggen TG, Wolf DM, Thijssen B, Sanders J, Cornelissen S, Salgado R, Mittempergher L, Bhaskaran R, Broeks A, Lips EH, Siesling S, Sonke GS, Horlings HM, van 't Veer LJ. Characterization of the Tumor Microenvironment of De Novo Oligometastatic Breast Cancer in a Nationwide Cohort. JCO Precis Oncol 2023; 7:e2200670. [PMID: 37738542 DOI: 10.1200/po.22.00670] [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: 12/04/2022] [Revised: 04/25/2023] [Accepted: 07/30/2023] [Indexed: 09/24/2023] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE Oligometastatic breast cancer (OMBC) has a more favorable outcome than widespread metastatic breast cancer. Some patients with OMBC achieve long-term remission if treated with multimodality therapy, including systemic and locally ablative therapies. However, not all patients with OMBC benefit from such treatment, while all experience toxicity. To explore biomarkers identifying patients with OMBC and potential long-term survival, we compared tumor-immune characteristics of patients with OMBC and long-term versus shorter-term survival. MATERIALS AND METHODS We collected tumor tissue of 97 patients with de novo OMBC (≤5 metastases) via the Dutch nationwide cancer and pathology registries using a case-control design. Long-term survivors (LTS) were defined as patients alive ≥10 years since OMBC diagnosis. Fifty-five LTS and 42 shorter-term survivors (STS) were included. Median follow-up was 15 years (IQR, 14-16). Tumor characteristics and infiltrating immune cells were assessed by immunohistochemistry and next-generation RNA-sequencing. Association of the resulting 52 biomarkers with long-term survival was assessed using logistic regression. Associations with survival within LTS were assessed using Cox-proportional hazards modeling. P values were adjusted for multiple hypothesis testing. RESULTS Most patients had estrogen receptor (ER)-positive OMBC (n = 86; 89%) and 23 (24%) had human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-positive disease. ER positivity in primary tumors distinguished LTS from STS. In addition, extracellular matrix (ECM)2-low and ECM4-high distinguished between long-term and shorter-term survival. Immune levels in the primary tumor did not associate with LTS. However, within the LTS subset, higher immune levels associated with improved progression-free survival. CONCLUSION We identified tumor and ECM features in the primary tumor of patients with de novo OMBC that were associated with long-term survival. Our data should be validated in other patients with OMBC before they can be used in clinical practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tessa G Steenbruggen
- Department of Medical Oncology, The Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, CA
| | - Denise M Wolf
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, CA
| | - Bram Thijssen
- Division of Molecular Carcinogenesis, The Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Joyce Sanders
- Department of Pathology, The Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Sten Cornelissen
- Core Facility Molecular Pathology & Biobanking, The Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Roberto Salgado
- Department of Pathology, GZA-ZNA Hospitals, Antwerp, Belgium
- Division of Research, Peter Mac Callum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | | | - Rajith Bhaskaran
- Research and Development, Agendia NV, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Annegien Broeks
- Core Facility Molecular Pathology & Biobanking, The Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Esther H Lips
- Department of Molecular Pathology, The Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Sabine Siesling
- Department of Research and Development, Netherlands Comprehensive Cancer Organisation, (IKNL), Utrecht, the Netherlands
- Department of Health Technology and Services Research, Technical Medical Centre, University of Twente, Enschede, the Netherlands
| | - Gabe S Sonke
- Department of Medical Oncology, The Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Hugo M Horlings
- Department of Pathology, The Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Laura J van 't Veer
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, CA
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12
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Anderle N, Schäfer-Ruoff F, Staebler A, Kersten N, Koch A, Önder C, Keller AL, Liebscher S, Hartkopf A, Hahn M, Templin M, Brucker SY, Schenke-Layland K, Schmees C. Breast cancer patient-derived microtumors resemble tumor heterogeneity and enable protein-based stratification and functional validation of individualized drug treatment. J Exp Clin Cancer Res 2023; 42:210. [PMID: 37596623 PMCID: PMC10436441 DOI: 10.1186/s13046-023-02782-2] [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: 04/06/2023] [Accepted: 07/28/2023] [Indexed: 08/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Despite tremendous progress in deciphering breast cancer at the genomic level, the pronounced intra- and intertumoral heterogeneity remains a major obstacle to the advancement of novel and more effective treatment approaches. Frequent treatment failure and the development of treatment resistance highlight the need for patient-derived tumor models that reflect the individual tumors of breast cancer patients and allow a comprehensive analyses and parallel functional validation of individualized and therapeutically targetable vulnerabilities in protein signal transduction pathways. Here, we introduce the generation and application of breast cancer patient-derived 3D microtumors (BC-PDMs). Residual fresh tumor tissue specimens were collected from n = 102 patients diagnosed with breast cancer and subjected to BC-PDM isolation. BC-PDMs retained histopathological characteristics, and extracellular matrix (ECM) components together with key protein signaling pathway signatures of the corresponding primary tumor tissue. Accordingly, BC-PDMs reflect the inter- and intratumoral heterogeneity of breast cancer and its key signal transduction properties. DigiWest®-based protein expression profiling of identified treatment responder and non-responder BC-PDMs enabled the identification of potential resistance and sensitivity markers of individual drug treatments, including markers previously associated with treatment response and yet undescribed proteins. The combination of individualized drug testing with comprehensive protein profiling analyses of BC-PDMs may provide a valuable complement for personalized treatment stratification and response prediction for breast cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicole Anderle
- NMI Natural and Medical Sciences Institute at the University of Tuebingen, 72770, Reutlingen, Germany.
| | - Felix Schäfer-Ruoff
- NMI Natural and Medical Sciences Institute at the University of Tuebingen, 72770, Reutlingen, Germany
| | - Annette Staebler
- Institute of Pathology and Neuropathology, Eberhard Karls University Tuebingen, 72076, Tuebingen, Germany
| | - Nicolas Kersten
- Interfaculty Institute for Bioinformatics and Medical Informatics (IBMI), Eberhard Karls University Tuebingen, Tuebingen, 72076, Germany
- FZI Research Center for Information Technology, 76131, Karlsruhe, Germany
| | - André Koch
- Department of Women's Health, University Women's Hospital, Eberhard Karls University Tuebingen, 72076, Tuebingen, Germany
| | - Cansu Önder
- Department of Women's Health, University Women's Hospital, Eberhard Karls University Tuebingen, 72076, Tuebingen, Germany
| | - Anna-Lena Keller
- NMI Natural and Medical Sciences Institute at the University of Tuebingen, 72770, Reutlingen, Germany
| | - Simone Liebscher
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Department for Medical Technologies and Regenerative Medicine, Eberhard Karls University Tuebingen, 72076, Tuebingen, Germany
| | - Andreas Hartkopf
- Department of Women's Health, University Women's Hospital, Eberhard Karls University Tuebingen, 72076, Tuebingen, Germany
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, University Hospital of Ulm, 89081, Ulm, Germany
| | - Markus Hahn
- Department of Women's Health, University Women's Hospital, Eberhard Karls University Tuebingen, 72076, Tuebingen, Germany
| | - Markus Templin
- NMI Natural and Medical Sciences Institute at the University of Tuebingen, 72770, Reutlingen, Germany
| | - Sara Y Brucker
- Department of Women's Health, University Women's Hospital, Eberhard Karls University Tuebingen, 72076, Tuebingen, Germany
- Cluster of Excellence iFIT (EXC2180) "Image-Guided and Functionally Instructed Tumor Therapies", Eberhard Karls University Tuebingen, 72076, Tuebingen, Germany
| | - Katja Schenke-Layland
- NMI Natural and Medical Sciences Institute at the University of Tuebingen, 72770, Reutlingen, Germany
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Department for Medical Technologies and Regenerative Medicine, Eberhard Karls University Tuebingen, 72076, Tuebingen, Germany
- Cluster of Excellence iFIT (EXC2180) "Image-Guided and Functionally Instructed Tumor Therapies", Eberhard Karls University Tuebingen, 72076, Tuebingen, Germany
| | - Christian Schmees
- NMI Natural and Medical Sciences Institute at the University of Tuebingen, 72770, Reutlingen, Germany.
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13
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Cescon M, Rampazzo E, Bresolin S, Da Ros F, Manfreda L, Cani A, Della Puppa A, Braghetta P, Bonaldo P, Persano L. Collagen VI sustains cell stemness and chemotherapy resistance in glioblastoma. Cell Mol Life Sci 2023; 80:233. [PMID: 37505240 PMCID: PMC10382393 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-023-04887-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2023] [Revised: 07/11/2023] [Accepted: 07/18/2023] [Indexed: 07/29/2023]
Abstract
Microenvironmental factors are known fundamental regulators of the phenotype and aggressiveness of glioblastoma (GBM), the most lethal brain tumor, characterized by fast progression and marked resistance to treatments. In this context, the extracellular matrix (ECM) is known to heavily influence the behavior of cancer cells from several origins, contributing to stem cell niches, influencing tumor invasiveness and response to chemotherapy, mediating survival signaling cascades, and modulating inflammatory cell recruitment. Here, we show that collagen VI (COL6), an ECM protein widely expressed in both normal and pathological tissues, has a distinctive distribution within the GBM mass, strongly correlated with the most aggressive and phenotypically immature cells. Our data demonstrate that COL6 sustains the stem-like properties of GBM cells and supports the maintenance of an aggressive transcriptional program promoting cancer cell proliferation and survival. In particular, we identified a specific subset of COL6-transcriptionally co-regulated genes, required for the response of cells to replicative stress and DNA damage, supporting the concept that COL6 is an essential stimulus for the activation of GBM cell response and resistance to chemotherapy, through the ATM/ATR axis. Altogether, these findings indicate that COL6 plays a pivotal role in GBM tumor biology, exerting a pleiotropic action across different GBM hallmarks, including phenotypic identity and gene transcription, as well as response to treatments, thus providing valuable information for the understanding of the complex microenvironmental cues underlying GBM malignancy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matilde Cescon
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Padova, Via Ugo Bassi 58/B, 35131, Padua, Italy
| | - Elena Rampazzo
- Department of Women and Children's Health, University of Padova, Via Giustiniani 3, 35127, Padua, Italy
- Istituto di Ricerca Pediatrica-Città della Speranza, Corso Stati Uniti 4, 35128, Padua, Italy
| | - Silvia Bresolin
- Department of Women and Children's Health, University of Padova, Via Giustiniani 3, 35127, Padua, Italy
- Istituto di Ricerca Pediatrica-Città della Speranza, Corso Stati Uniti 4, 35128, Padua, Italy
| | - Francesco Da Ros
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Padova, Via Ugo Bassi 58/B, 35131, Padua, Italy
| | - Lorenzo Manfreda
- Department of Women and Children's Health, University of Padova, Via Giustiniani 3, 35127, Padua, Italy
- Istituto di Ricerca Pediatrica-Città della Speranza, Corso Stati Uniti 4, 35128, Padua, Italy
| | - Alice Cani
- Department of Women and Children's Health, University of Padova, Via Giustiniani 3, 35127, Padua, Italy
- Istituto di Ricerca Pediatrica-Città della Speranza, Corso Stati Uniti 4, 35128, Padua, Italy
| | - Alessandro Della Puppa
- Department of Neuroscience, Psychology, Pharmacology and Child Health, Neurosurgery Clinic, Academic Neurosurgery, Careggi University Hospital and University of Florence, Largo Palagi 1, 50139, Florence, Italy
| | - Paola Braghetta
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Padova, Via Ugo Bassi 58/B, 35131, Padua, Italy
| | - Paolo Bonaldo
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Padova, Via Ugo Bassi 58/B, 35131, Padua, Italy
| | - Luca Persano
- Department of Women and Children's Health, University of Padova, Via Giustiniani 3, 35127, Padua, Italy.
- Istituto di Ricerca Pediatrica-Città della Speranza, Corso Stati Uniti 4, 35128, Padua, Italy.
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14
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Samaržija I, Konjevoda P. Extracellular Matrix- and Integrin Adhesion Complexes-Related Genes in the Prognosis of Prostate Cancer Patients' Progression-Free Survival. Biomedicines 2023; 11:2006. [PMID: 37509645 PMCID: PMC10377098 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines11072006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2023] [Revised: 07/12/2023] [Accepted: 07/13/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Prostate cancer is a heterogeneous disease, and one of the main obstacles in its management is the inability to foresee its course. Therefore, novel biomarkers are needed that will guide the treatment options. The extracellular matrix (ECM) is an important part of the tumor microenvironment that largely influences cell behavior. ECM components are ligands for integrin receptors which are involved in every step of tumor progression. An underlying characteristic of integrin activation and ligation is the formation of integrin adhesion complexes (IACs), intracellular structures that carry information conveyed by integrins. By using The Cancer Genome Atlas data, we show that the expression of ECM- and IACs-related genes is changed in prostate cancer. Moreover, machine learning methods revealed that they are a source of biomarkers for progression-free survival of patients that are stratified according to the Gleason score. Namely, low expression of FMOD and high expression of PTPN2 genes are associated with worse survival of patients with a Gleason score lower than 9. The FMOD gene encodes protein that may play a role in the assembly of the ECM and the PTPN2 gene product is a protein tyrosine phosphatase activated by integrins. Our results suggest potential biomarkers of prostate cancer progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ivana Samaržija
- Laboratory for Epigenomics, Division of Molecular Medicine, Ruđer Bošković Institute, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Paško Konjevoda
- Laboratory for Epigenomics, Division of Molecular Medicine, Ruđer Bošković Institute, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
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15
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Blakely B, Shin S, Jin K. Overview of the therapeutic strategies for ER positive breast cancer. Biochem Pharmacol 2023; 212:115552. [PMID: 37068524 PMCID: PMC10394654 DOI: 10.1016/j.bcp.2023.115552] [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: 01/13/2023] [Revised: 03/30/2023] [Accepted: 04/10/2023] [Indexed: 04/19/2023]
Abstract
Estrogen Receptor is the driving transcription factor in about 75% of all breast cancers, which is the target of endocrine therapies, but drug resistance is a common clinical problem. ESR1 point mutations at the ligand binding domain are frequently identified in metastatic tumor and ctDNA (Circulating tumor DNA) derived from ER positive breast cancer patients with endocrine therapies. Although endocrine therapy and CDK4/6 inhibitor therapy have demonstrated preclinical and clinical benefits for breast cancer, the development of resistance remains a significant challenge and the detailed mechanisms, and potential therapeutic targets in advanced breast cancer yet to be revealed. Since a crosstalk between tumor and tumor microenvironment (TME) plays an important role to grow tumor and metastasis, this effect could serve as key regulators in the resistance of endocrine therapy and the transition of breast cancer cells to metastasis. In this article, we have reviewed recent progress in endocrine therapy and the contribution of TME to ER positive breast cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brianna Blakely
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Science, Albany, NY, United States
| | - Seobum Shin
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Science, Albany, NY, United States
| | - Kideok Jin
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Science, Albany, NY, United States.
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16
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Wang Y, Lv W, Yi Y, Zhang Q, Zhang J, Wu Y. A novel signature based on cancer-associated fibroblast genes to predict prognosis, immune feature, and therapeutic response in breast cancer. Aging (Albany NY) 2023; 15:3480-3497. [PMID: 37142271 PMCID: PMC10449298 DOI: 10.18632/aging.204685] [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: 01/17/2023] [Accepted: 04/17/2023] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
Breast cancer (BC) ranks first in the incidence of tumors in women and remains the most prevalent malignancy in women worldwide. Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) in the tumor microenvironment (TME) profoundly influence the progression, recurrence, and therapeutic resistance in BC. Here, we intended to establish a risk signature based on screened CAF-associated genes in BC (BCCGs) for patient stratification. Initially, BCCGs were screened by a combination of several CAF gene sets. The identified BCGGs were found to differ significantly in the overall survival (OS) of BC patients. Accordingly, we constructed a prognostic prediction signature of 5 BCCGs, which were independent prognostic factors associated with BC based on univariate and multivariate Cox regression. The risk model divided patients into low- and high-risk groups, accompanied by different OS, clinical features, and immune infiltration characteristics. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves and a nomogram further validated the predictive performance of the prognostic model. Notably, 21 anticancer agents targeting these BCCGs possessed better sensitivity in BC patients. Meanwhile, the elevated expression of the majority of immune checkpoint genes suggested that the high-risk group may benefit more from immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) therapy. Taken together, our well-established model is a robust instrument to precisely and comprehensively predict the prognosis, immune features, and drug sensitivity in BC patients, for combating BC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yichen Wang
- Department of Plastic Surgery, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, Hubei, China
| | - Wenchang Lv
- Department of Plastic Surgery, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, Hubei, China
| | - Yi Yi
- Department of Plastic Surgery, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, Hubei, China
| | - Qi Zhang
- Department of Plastic Surgery, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, Hubei, China
| | - Jun Zhang
- Department of Thyroid and Breast Surgery, Shenzhen Qianhai Shekou Free Trade Zone Hospital, Shenzhen 518067, Guangdong, China
| | - Yiping Wu
- Department of Plastic Surgery, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, Hubei, China
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17
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Arima Y, Matsueda S, Saya H. Significance of Cancer-Associated Fibroblasts in the Interactions of Cancer Cells with the Tumor Microenvironment of Heterogeneous Tumor Tissue. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:cancers15092536. [PMID: 37174001 PMCID: PMC10177529 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15092536] [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: 04/01/2023] [Revised: 04/23/2023] [Accepted: 04/26/2023] [Indexed: 05/15/2023] Open
Abstract
The tumor microenvironment (TME) plays a key role in cancer development and progression, as well as contributes to the therapeutic resistance and metastasis of cancer cells. The TME is heterogeneous and consists of multiple cell types, including cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs), endothelial cells, and immune cells, as well as various extracellular components. Recent studies have revealed cross talk between cancer cells and CAFs as well as between CAFs and other TME cells, including immune cells. Signaling by transforming growth factor-β, derived from CAFs, has recently been shown to induce remodeling of tumor tissue, including the promotion of angiogenesis and immune cell recruitment. Immunocompetent mouse cancer models that recapitulate interactions of cancer cells with the TME have provided insight into the TME network and support the development of new anticancer therapeutic strategies. Recent studies based on such models have revealed that the antitumor action of molecularly targeted agents is mediated in part by effects on the tumor immune environment. In this review, we focus on cancer cell-TME interactions in heterogeneous tumor tissue, and we provide an overview of the basis for anticancer therapeutic strategies that target the TME, including immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yoshimi Arima
- Cancer Center, Fujita Health University, Toyoake 470-1192, Japan
| | - Satoko Matsueda
- Cancer Center, Fujita Health University, Toyoake 470-1192, Japan
| | - Hideyuki Saya
- Cancer Center, Fujita Health University, Toyoake 470-1192, Japan
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18
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Minini M, Fouassier L. Cancer-Associated Fibroblasts and Extracellular Matrix: Therapeutical Strategies for Modulating the Cholangiocarcinoma Microenvironment. Curr Oncol 2023; 30:4185-4196. [PMID: 37185432 PMCID: PMC10137461 DOI: 10.3390/curroncol30040319] [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: 02/03/2023] [Revised: 04/04/2023] [Accepted: 04/07/2023] [Indexed: 05/17/2023] Open
Abstract
During the last decade, immunotherapy has radically changed perspectives on anti-tumor treatments. However, solid tumor treatment by immunotherapy has not met expectations. Indeed, poor clinical response to treatment has highlighted the need to understand and avoid immunotherapy resistance. Cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) is the second cause of hepatic cancer-related deaths because of drug inefficacy and chemo-resistance in a majority of patients. Thus, intense research is ongoing to better understand the mechanisms involved in the chemo-resistance processes. The tumor microenvironment (TME) may be involved in tumor therapy resistance by limiting drug access. Indeed, cells such as cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) alter TME by producing in excess an aberrant extracellular matrix (ECM). Interestingly, CAFs are the dominant stromal component in CCA that secrete large amounts of stiff ECM. Stiff ECM could contribute to immune exclusion by limiting anti-tumor T-cells drop-in. Herein, we summarize features, functions, and interactions among CAFs, tumor-associated ECM, and immune cells in TME. Moreover, we discuss the strategies targeting CAFs and the remodeling of the ECM to improve immunotherapy and drug therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mirko Minini
- Centre de Recherche Saint-Antoine, CRSA, Sorbonne Université, INSERM, 75012 Paris, France
| | - Laura Fouassier
- Centre de Recherche Saint-Antoine, CRSA, Sorbonne Université, INSERM, 75012 Paris, France
- Association Pour L'étude des Cancers et Affections des Voies Biliaires (ACABi), 75012 Paris, France
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19
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Dzobo K, Dandara C. The Extracellular Matrix: Its Composition, Function, Remodeling, and Role in Tumorigenesis. Biomimetics (Basel) 2023; 8:146. [PMID: 37092398 PMCID: PMC10123695 DOI: 10.3390/biomimetics8020146] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2023] [Revised: 03/31/2023] [Accepted: 04/03/2023] [Indexed: 04/25/2023] Open
Abstract
The extracellular matrix (ECM) is a ubiquitous member of the body and is key to the maintenance of tissue and organ integrity. Initially thought to be a bystander in many cellular processes, the extracellular matrix has been shown to have diverse components that regulate and activate many cellular processes and ultimately influence cell phenotype. Importantly, the ECM's composition, architecture, and stiffness/elasticity influence cellular phenotypes. Under normal conditions and during development, the synthesized ECM constantly undergoes degradation and remodeling processes via the action of matrix proteases that maintain tissue homeostasis. In many pathological conditions including fibrosis and cancer, ECM synthesis, remodeling, and degradation is dysregulated, causing its integrity to be altered. Both physical and chemical cues from the ECM are sensed via receptors including integrins and play key roles in driving cellular proliferation and differentiation and in the progression of various diseases such as cancers. Advances in 'omics' technologies have seen an increase in studies focusing on bidirectional cell-matrix interactions, and here, we highlight the emerging knowledge on the role played by the ECM during normal development and in pathological conditions. This review summarizes current ECM-targeted therapies that can modify ECM tumors to overcome drug resistance and better cancer treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kevin Dzobo
- Medical Research Council, SA Wound Healing Unit, Hair and Skin Research Laboratory, Division of Dermatology, Department of Medicine, Groote Schuur Hospital, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Anzio Road, Observatory, Cape Town 7925, South Africa
| | - Collet Dandara
- Division of Human Genetics and Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, Department of Pathology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Anzio Road, Observatory, Cape Town 7925, South Africa
- The South African Medical Research Council-UCT Platform for Pharmacogenomics Research and Translation, Department of Pathology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Anzio Road, Observatory, Cape Town 7925, South Africa
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20
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Yuan Z, Li Y, Zhang S, Wang X, Dou H, Yu X, Zhang Z, Yang S, Xiao M. Extracellular matrix remodeling in tumor progression and immune escape: from mechanisms to treatments. Mol Cancer 2023; 22:48. [PMID: 36906534 PMCID: PMC10007858 DOI: 10.1186/s12943-023-01744-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 52.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2023] [Accepted: 02/11/2023] [Indexed: 03/13/2023] Open
Abstract
The malignant tumor is a multi-etiological, systemic and complex disease characterized by uncontrolled cell proliferation and distant metastasis. Anticancer treatments including adjuvant therapies and targeted therapies are effective in eliminating cancer cells but in a limited number of patients. Increasing evidence suggests that the extracellular matrix (ECM) plays an important role in tumor development through changes in macromolecule components, degradation enzymes and stiffness. These variations are under the control of cellular components in tumor tissue via the aberrant activation of signaling pathways, the interaction of the ECM components to multiple surface receptors, and mechanical impact. Additionally, the ECM shaped by cancer regulates immune cells which results in an immune suppressive microenvironment and hinders the efficacy of immunotherapies. Thus, the ECM acts as a barrier to protect cancer from treatments and supports tumor progression. Nevertheless, the profound regulatory network of the ECM remodeling hampers the design of individualized antitumor treatment. Here, we elaborate on the composition of the malignant ECM, and discuss the specific mechanisms of the ECM remodeling. Precisely, we highlight the impact of the ECM remodeling on tumor development, including proliferation, anoikis, metastasis, angiogenesis, lymphangiogenesis, and immune escape. Finally, we emphasize ECM "normalization" as a potential strategy for anti-malignant treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhennan Yuan
- Department of Oncological Surgery, Harbin Medical University Cancer Hospital, Harbin, 150081, China
| | - Yingpu Li
- Department of Oncological Surgery, Harbin Medical University Cancer Hospital, Harbin, 150081, China
| | - Sifan Zhang
- Department of Neurobiology, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, 150081, China
| | - Xueying Wang
- Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, 410008, China
| | - He Dou
- Department of Oncological Surgery, Harbin Medical University Cancer Hospital, Harbin, 150081, China
| | - Xi Yu
- Department of Gynecological Oncology, Harbin Medical University Cancer Hospital, Harbin, 150081, China
| | - Zhiren Zhang
- NHC Key Laboratory of Cell Transplantation, The First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, 150001, China.,Institute of Metabolic Disease, Heilongjiang Academy of Medical Science, Heilongjiang Key Laboratory for Metabolic Disorder and Cancer Related Cardiovascular Diseases, Harbin, 150001, China
| | - Shanshan Yang
- Department of Gynecological Radiotherapy, Harbin Medical University Cancer Hospital, Harbin, 150000, China.
| | - Min Xiao
- Department of Oncological Surgery, Harbin Medical University Cancer Hospital, Harbin, 150081, China.
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21
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Endogenous Extracellular Matrix Regulates the Response of Osteosarcoma 3D Spheroids to Doxorubicin. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:cancers15041221. [PMID: 36831562 PMCID: PMC9954237 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15041221] [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: 01/20/2023] [Revised: 02/07/2023] [Accepted: 02/09/2023] [Indexed: 02/17/2023] Open
Abstract
The extracellular matrix (ECM) modulates cell behavior, shape, and viability as well as mechanical properties. In recent years, ECM disregulation and aberrant remodeling has gained considerable attention in cancer targeting and prevention since it may stimulate tumorigenesis and metastasis. Here, we developed an in vitro model that aims at mimicking the in vivo tumor microenvironment by recapitulating the interactions between osteosarcoma (OS) cells and ECM with respect to cancer progression. We long-term cultured 3D OS spheroids made of metastatic or non-metastatic OS cells mixed with mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs); confirmed the deposition of ECM proteins such as Type I collagen, Type III collagen, and fibronectin by the stromal component at the interface between tumor cells and MSCs; and found that ECM secretion is inhibited by a neutralizing anti-IL-6 antibody, suggesting a new role of this cytokine in OS ECM deposition. Most importantly, we showed that the cytotoxic effect of doxorubicin is reduced by the presence of Type I collagen. We thus conclude that ECM protein deposition is crucial for modelling and studying drug response. Our results also suggest that targeting ECM proteins might improve the outcome of a subset of chemoresistant tumors.
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22
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Ghannam SF, Rutland CS, Allegrucci C, Mongan NP, Rakha E. Defining invasion in breast cancer: the role of basement membrane. J Clin Pathol 2023; 76:11-18. [PMID: 36253088 DOI: 10.1136/jcp-2022-208584] [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: 09/08/2022] [Accepted: 10/01/2022] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Basement membrane (BM) is an amorphous, sheet-like structure separating the epithelium from the stroma. BM is characterised by a complex structure comprising collagenous and non-collagenous proteoglycans and glycoproteins. In the breast, the thickness, density and composition of the BM around the ductal lobular system vary during differing development stages. In pathological conditions, the BM provides a physical barrier that separates proliferating intraductal epithelial cells from the surrounding stroma, and its absence or breach in malignant lesions is a hallmark of invasion and metastases. Currently, diagnostic services often use special stains and immunohistochemistry (IHC) to identify the BM in order to distinguish in situ from invasive lesions. However, distinguishing BM on stained sections, and differentiating the native BM from the reactive capsule or BM-like material surrounding some invasive malignant breast tumours is challenging. Although diagnostic use of the BM is being replaced by myoepithelial cell IHC markers, BM is considered by many to be a useful marker to distinguish in situ from invasive lesions in ambiguous cases. In this review, the structure, function and biological and clinical significance of the BM are discussed in relation to the various breast lesions with emphasis on how to distinguish the native BM from alternative pathological tissue mimicking its histology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Suzan F Ghannam
- Division of cancer and stem cells, school of Medicine, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK
- Histology and Cell Biology, Suez Canal University Faculty of Medicine, Ismailia, Egypt
- Nottingham Breast Cancer Research Centre, Biodiscovery Institute, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK
| | - Catrin Sian Rutland
- Nottingham Breast Cancer Research Centre, Biodiscovery Institute, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK
- School of Veterinary Medicine and Sciences, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK
| | - Cinzia Allegrucci
- Nottingham Breast Cancer Research Centre, Biodiscovery Institute, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK
- School of Veterinary Medicine and Sciences, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK
| | - Nigel P Mongan
- School of Veterinary Medicine and Sciences, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK
- Department of Pharmacology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, New York, USA
| | - Emad Rakha
- Division of cancer and stem cells, school of Medicine, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK
- Nottingham Breast Cancer Research Centre, Biodiscovery Institute, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK
- Histopathology,school of Medicine, University of Nottingham School of Medicine, Nottingham, UK
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23
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Scarini JF, de Lima-Souza RA, Lavareze L, Ribeiro de Assis MCF, Damas II, Altemani A, Egal ESA, dos Santos JN, Bello IO, Mariano FV. Heterogeneity and versatility of the extracellular matrix during the transition from pleomorphic adenoma to carcinoma ex pleomorphic adenoma: cumulative findings from basic research and new insights. FRONTIERS IN ORAL HEALTH 2023; 4:942604. [PMID: 37138857 PMCID: PMC10149834 DOI: 10.3389/froh.2023.942604] [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: 05/12/2022] [Accepted: 03/17/2023] [Indexed: 05/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Pleomorphic adenoma (PA) is the most common salivary gland tumor, accounting for 50%-60% of these neoplasms. If untreated, 6.2% of PA may undergo malignant transformation to carcinoma ex-pleomorphic adenoma (CXPA). CXPA is a rare and aggressive malignant tumor, whose prevalence represents approximately 3%-6% of all salivary gland tumors. Although the pathogenesis of the PA-CXPA transition remains unclear, CXPA development requires the participation of cellular components and the tumor microenvironment for its progression. The extracellular matrix (ECM) comprises a heterogeneous and versatile network of macromolecules synthesized and secreted by embryonic cells. In the PA-CXPA sequence, ECM is formed by a variety of components including collagen, elastin, fibronectin, laminins, glycosaminoglycans, proteoglycans, and other glycoproteins, mainly secreted by epithelial cells, myoepithelial cells, cancer-associated fibroblasts, immune cells, and endothelial cells. Like in other tumors including breast cancer, ECM changes play an important role in the PA-CXPA sequence. This review summarizes what is currently known about the role of ECM during CXPA development.
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Affiliation(s)
- João Figueira Scarini
- Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas, Brazil
- Department of Oral Diagnosis, School of Dentistry, University of Campinas (FOP/UNICAMP), Piracicaba, Brazil
| | - Reydson Alcides de Lima-Souza
- Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas, Brazil
- Department of Oral Diagnosis, School of Dentistry, University of Campinas (FOP/UNICAMP), Piracicaba, Brazil
| | - Luccas Lavareze
- Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas, Brazil
- Department of Oral Diagnosis, School of Dentistry, University of Campinas (FOP/UNICAMP), Piracicaba, Brazil
| | - Maria Clara Falcão Ribeiro de Assis
- Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas, Brazil
- Department of Oral Diagnosis, School of Dentistry, University of Campinas (FOP/UNICAMP), Piracicaba, Brazil
| | - Ingrid Iara Damas
- Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas, Brazil
- Department of Oral Diagnosis, School of Dentistry, University of Campinas (FOP/UNICAMP), Piracicaba, Brazil
| | - Albina Altemani
- Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas, Brazil
| | - Erika Said Abu Egal
- Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas, Brazil
- Biorepository and Molecular Pathology, Huntsman Cancer Institute, University of Utah (UU), Salt Lake City, UT, United States
| | - Jean Nunes dos Santos
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology, School of Dentistry, Federal University of Bahia, Salvador, Brazil
| | - Ibrahim Olajide Bello
- Department of Oral Medicine and Diagnostic Sciences, College of Dentistry, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Fernanda Viviane Mariano
- Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas, Brazil
- Correspondence: Fernanda Viviane Mariano
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24
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Serjanov D, Hyde DR. Extracellular Matrix: The Unexplored Aspects of Retinal Pathologies and Regeneration. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2023; 1415:309-317. [PMID: 37440050 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-031-27681-1_45] [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: 07/14/2023]
Abstract
Nearly a billion people worldwide are affected by vision-impairing conditions, with retinal degenerative diseases being a major cause of blindness. Unfortunately, such diseases are often permanent and progressive, resulting in further degeneration and loss of sight, due to the human retina possessing little, if any, regenerative capacity. Despite numerous efforts and great progress being made to understand the molecular mechanisms of these diseases and possible therapies, the majority of investigations focused on cell-intrinsic factors. However, the microenvironment surrounding retinal cells throughout these processes also plays an important role, though our current understanding of its involvement remains limited. Here we present a brief overview of the current state of the field of extracellular matrix studies within the retina and its potential roles in retinal diseases and potential therapeutic approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dmitri Serjanov
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN, USA
| | - David R Hyde
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN, USA.
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25
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Identification of the Collagen Types Essential for Mammalian Breast Acinar Structures. Gels 2022; 8:gels8120837. [PMID: 36547361 PMCID: PMC9777629 DOI: 10.3390/gels8120837] [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: 11/10/2022] [Revised: 12/12/2022] [Accepted: 12/16/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Modeling human breast tissue architecture is essential to study the pathophysiological conditions of the breast. We report that normal mammary epithelial cells grown in human breast extracellular matrix (ECM) hydrogel formed acini structurally similar to those of human and pig mammary tissues. Type I, II, III and V collagens were commonly identified in human, pig, and mouse breast ECM. Mammary epithelial cells formed acini on certain types or combinations of the four collagens at normal levels of breast tissue elasticity. Comparison of the collagen species in mouse normal breast and breast tumor ECM revealed common and distinct sets of collagens within the two types of tissues. Elevated expression of collagen type I alpha 1 chain (Col1a1) was found in mouse and human breast cancers. Collagen type XXV alpha 1 chain (Col25a1) was identified in mouse breast tumors but not in normal breast tissues. Our data provide strategies for modeling human breast pathophysiological structures and functions using native tissue-derived hydrogels and offer insight into the potential contributions of different collagen types in breast cancer development.
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26
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CAF-immune cell crosstalk and its impact in immunotherapy. Semin Immunopathol 2022; 45:203-214. [PMID: 36480035 PMCID: PMC10121542 DOI: 10.1007/s00281-022-00977-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2022] [Accepted: 11/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
Tumour cells do not exist as isolated entities. Instead, they are surrounded by a variety of cells and extracellular matrix, which form the tumour microenvironment (TME). The interaction between cancer cells and their microenvironment is increasingly acknowledged as essential in dictating the outcome of the patients. The TME includes everything that surrounds tumour cells and is often highjacked by the latter to promote their growth, invasion, and immune escape. Immune cells and cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) are essential components of the TME, and there is increasing evidence that their interaction constitutes a major player not only for tumour progression but also for therapy response.Recent work in the field of immuno-oncology resulted in the development of novel therapies that aim at activating immune cells against cancer cells to eliminate them. Despite their unprecedented success, the lack of response from a large portion of patients highlights the need for further progress and improvement. To achieve its ultimate goal, the interaction between cancer cells and the TME needs to be studied in-depth to allow the targeting of mechanisms that are involved in resistance or refractoriness to therapy. Moreover, predictive and prognostic biomarkers for patient stratification are still missing. In this review, we focus on and highlight the complexity of CAFs within the TME and how their interaction, particularly with immune cells, can contribute to treatment failure. We further discuss how this crosstalk can be further dissected and which strategies are currently used to target them.
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27
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Manjunath M, Nirgude S, Mhatre A, Vemuri SG, Nataraj M, Thumsi J, Choudhary B. Transcriptomic profiling of Indian breast cancer patients revealed subtype-specific mRNA and lncRNA signatures. Front Genet 2022; 13:932060. [PMID: 36386805 PMCID: PMC9641000 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2022.932060] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2022] [Accepted: 09/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Breast cancer (BC) is one of the leading causes of cancer-associated death in women. Despite the progress in therapeutic regimen, resistance and recurrence of breast cancer have affected the overall survival of patients. The present signatures, such as PAM50 and Oncotype DX, do not segregate the Indian breast samples based on molecular subtypes. This study aims at finding signatures of long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) and mRNA in Indian breast cancer patients using RNA-seq. We have analyzed the survival based on the menopausal and hormone status of 380 Indian breast cancer patients, and of these, we have sequenced and analyzed matched tumor–normal transcriptome of 17 (pre- and postmenopausal) Indian breast cancer patients representing six different subtypes, namely, four patients in triple-positive, three patients in estrogen receptor–positive (ER+ve), three patients in estrogen and progesterone receptors–positive (ER+ve, PR+ve), two patients in human epidermal growth factor receptor (Her2+ve), three patients in triple-negative, and one patient in ER+ve and Her2+ve subtypes. We have identified a 25 mRNA–27 lncRNA gene set, which segregated the subtypes in our data. A pathway analysis of the differentially expressed genes revealed downregulated ECM interaction and upregulated immune regulation, cell cycle, DNA damage response and repair, and telomere elongation in premenopausal women. Postmenopausal women showed downregulated metabolism, innate immune system, upregulated translation, sumoylation, and AKT2 activation. A Kaplan–Meier survival analysis revealed that menopausal status, grade of the tumor, and hormonal status displayed statistically significant effects (p < 0.05) on the risk of mortality due to breast cancer. Her2+ve patients showed low overall survival. One of the unique lncRNA-mRNA pairs specific to the EP-subtype, SNHG12 and EPB41, showed interaction, which correlates with their expression level; SNHG12 is downregulated and EPB41 is upregulated in EP samples.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meghana Manjunath
- Institute of Bioinformatics and Applied Biotechnology, Bengaluru, India
- Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, India
| | - Snehal Nirgude
- Institute of Bioinformatics and Applied Biotechnology, Bengaluru, India
- Division of Human Genetics,Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Anisha Mhatre
- Institute of Bioinformatics and Applied Biotechnology, Bengaluru, India
| | - Sai G. Vemuri
- Institute of Bioinformatics and Applied Biotechnology, Bengaluru, India
| | | | | | - Bibha Choudhary
- Institute of Bioinformatics and Applied Biotechnology, Bengaluru, India
- *Correspondence: Bibha Choudhary,
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28
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Celik B, Cicek K, Leal AF, Tomatsu S. Regulation of Molecular Targets in Osteosarcoma Treatment. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:12583. [PMID: 36293439 PMCID: PMC9604206 DOI: 10.3390/ijms232012583] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2022] [Revised: 10/15/2022] [Accepted: 10/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The most prevalent malignant bone tumor, osteosarcoma, affects the growth plates of long bones in adolescents and young adults. Standard chemotherapeutic methods showed poor response rates in patients with recurrent and metastatic phases. Therefore, it is critical to develop novel and efficient targeted therapies to address relapse cases. In this regard, RNA interference technologies are encouraging options in cancer treatment, in which small interfering RNAs regulate the gene expression following RNA interference pathways. The determination of target tissue is as important as the selection of tissue-specific promoters. Moreover, small interfering RNAs should be delivered effectively into the cytoplasm. Lentiviral vectors could encapsulate and deliver the desired gene into the cell and integrate it into the genome, providing long-term regulation of targeted genes. Silencing overexpressed genes promote the tumor cells to lose invasiveness, prevents their proliferation, and triggers their apoptosis. The uniqueness of cancer cells among patients requires novel therapeutic methods that treat patients based on their unique mutations. Several studies showed the effectiveness of different approaches such as microRNA, drug- or chemotherapy-related methods in treating the disease; however, identifying various targets was challenging to understanding disease progression. In this regard, the patient-specific abnormal gene might be targeted using genomics and molecular advancements such as RNA interference approaches. Here, we review potential therapeutic targets for the RNA interference approach, which is applicable as a therapeutic option for osteosarcoma patients, and we point out how the small interfering RNA method becomes a promising approach for the unmet challenge.
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Affiliation(s)
- Betul Celik
- Department of Biological Science, University of Delaware, Newark, DE 19716, USA
- Nemours/Alfred I. DuPont Hospital for Children, Wilmington, DE 19803, USA
| | - Kader Cicek
- Department of Biological Science, University of Delaware, Newark, DE 19716, USA
- Nemours/Alfred I. DuPont Hospital for Children, Wilmington, DE 19803, USA
| | - Andrés Felipe Leal
- Nemours/Alfred I. DuPont Hospital for Children, Wilmington, DE 19803, USA
| | - Shunji Tomatsu
- Nemours/Alfred I. DuPont Hospital for Children, Wilmington, DE 19803, USA
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29
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Hamel KM, Liimatta KQ, Belgodere JA, Bunnell BA, Gimble JM, Martin EC. Adipose-Derived Stromal/Stem Cell Response to Tumors and Wounds: Evaluation of Patient Age. Stem Cells Dev 2022; 31:579-592. [PMID: 35262397 PMCID: PMC9836707 DOI: 10.1089/scd.2021.0280] [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: 10/20/2021] [Accepted: 03/05/2022] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Tumors were characterized as nonhealing wounds by Virchow in 1858 and Dvorak in 1986. Since then, researchers have analyzed tumors from a new perspective. The parallels between tumorigenesis and physiological wound healing can provide a new framework for developing antitumor therapeutics. One commonality between tumors and wounds is the involvement of the stromal environment, particularly adipose stromal/stem cells (ASCs). ASCs exhibit dual functions, in which they stimulate tumor progression and assist in tissue repair and regeneration. Numerous studies have focused on the role of ASCs in cancer and wound healing, but none to date has linked age, cancer, and wound healing. Furthermore, very few studies have focused on the role of donor-specific characteristics of ASCs, such as age and their role in facilitating ASC behavior in cancer and wound healing. This review article is designed to provide important insights into the impact of donor age on ASC tumor and wound response and their role in facilitating ASC behavior in cancer and wound healing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katie M. Hamel
- Department of Biological Engineering, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA
| | - Kara Q. Liimatta
- Department of Biological Engineering, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA
| | - Jorge A. Belgodere
- Department of Biological Engineering, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA
| | - Bruce A. Bunnell
- University of North Texas Health Sciences Center, Fort Worth, Texas, USA
| | | | - Elizabeth C. Martin
- Department of Biological Engineering, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA
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30
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Hamel KM, King CT, Cavalier MB, Liimatta KQ, Rozanski GL, King TA, Lam M, Bingham GC, Byrne CE, Xing D, Collins-Burow BM, Burow ME, Belgodere JA, Bratton MR, Bunnell BA, Martin EC. Breast Cancer-Stromal Interactions: Adipose-Derived Stromal/Stem Cell Age and Cancer Subtype Mediated Remodeling. Stem Cells Dev 2022; 31:604-620. [PMID: 35579936 PMCID: PMC9595652 DOI: 10.1089/scd.2021.0279] [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: 10/20/2021] [Accepted: 05/16/2022] [Indexed: 10/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Adipose tissue is characterized as an endocrine organ that acts as a source of hormones and paracrine factors. In diseases such as cancer, endocrine and paracrine signals from adipose tissue contribute to cancer progression. Young individuals with estrogen receptor-alpha positive (ER-α+) breast cancer (BC) have an increased resistance to endocrine therapies, suggesting that alternative estrogen signaling is activated within these cells. Despite this, the effects of stromal age on the endocrine response in BC are not well defined. To identify differences between young and aged ER-α+ breast tumors, RNA sequencing data were obtained from The Cancer Genome Atlas. Analysis revealed enrichment of matrix and paracrine factors in young (≤40 years old) patients compared to aged (≥65 years old) tumor samples. Adipose-derived stromal/stem cells (ASCs) from noncancerous lipoaspirate of young and aged donors were evaluated for alterations in matrix production and paracrine secreted factors to determine if the tumor stroma could alter estrogen signaling. Young and aged ASCs demonstrated comparable proliferation, differentiation, and matrix production, but exhibited differences in the expression levels of inflammatory cytokines (Interferon gamma, interleukin [IL]-8, IL-10, Tumor necrosis factor alpha, IL-2, and IL-6). Conditioned media (CM)-based experiments showed that young ASC donor age elevated endocrine response in ER-α+ BC cell lines. MCF-7 ER-α+ BC cell line treated with secreted factors from young ASCs had enhanced ER-α regulated genes (PGR and SDF-1) compared to MCF-7 cells treated with aged ASC CM. Western blot analysis demonstrated increased activation levels of p-ER ser-167 in the MCF-7 cell line treated with young ASC secreted factors. To determine if ER-α+ BC cells heightened the cytokine release in ASCs, ASCs were stimulated with MCF-7-derived CM. Results demonstrated no change in growth factors or cytokines when treated with the ER-α+ secretome. In contrast to ER-α+ CM, the ER-α negative MDA-MB-231 derived CM demonstrated increased stimulation of pro-inflammatory cytokines in ASCs. While there was no observed change in the release of selected paracrine factors, MCF-7 cells did induce matrix production and a pro-adipogenic lineage commitment. The adipogenesis was evident by increased collagen content through Sirius Red/Fast Green Collagen stain, lipid accumulation evident by Oil Red O stain, and significantly increased expression in PPARγ mRNA expression. The data from this study provide evidence suggesting more of a subtype-dependent than an age-dependent difference in stromal response to BC, suggesting that this signaling is not heightened by reciprocal signals from ER-α+ BC cell lines. These results are important in understanding the mechanisms of estrogen signaling and the dynamic and reciprocal nature of cancer cell-stromal cell crosstalk that can lead to tumor heterogeneity and variance in response to therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katie M. Hamel
- Department of Biological Engineering, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA
| | - Connor T. King
- Department of Biological Engineering, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA
| | - Maryn B. Cavalier
- Department of Biological Engineering, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA
| | - Kara Q. Liimatta
- Department of Biological Engineering, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA
| | - Grace L. Rozanski
- Department of Biological Engineering, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA
| | - Timothy A. King
- Department of Biological Engineering, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA
| | - Meggie Lam
- Department of Biological Engineering, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA
| | - Grace C. Bingham
- Department of Biological Engineering, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA
| | - C. Ethan Byrne
- Department of Biological Engineering, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA
| | - Diensn Xing
- Department of Biological Engineering, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA
| | - Bridgette M. Collins-Burow
- Section of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Department of Medicine, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA
| | - Matthew E. Burow
- Section of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Department of Medicine, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA
| | - Jorge A. Belgodere
- Department of Biological Engineering, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA
| | | | - Bruce A. Bunnell
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Genetics, University of North Texas Health Sciences Center, Fort Worth, Texas, USA
| | - Elizabeth C. Martin
- Department of Biological Engineering, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA
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Fotsitzoudis C, Koulouridi A, Messaritakis I, Konstantinidis T, Gouvas N, Tsiaoussis J, Souglakos J. Cancer-Associated Fibroblasts: The Origin, Biological Characteristics and Role in Cancer-A Glance on Colorectal Cancer. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14184394. [PMID: 36139552 PMCID: PMC9497276 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14184394] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2022] [Revised: 09/05/2022] [Accepted: 09/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Tumor microenvironment is a major contributor to tumor growth, metastasis and resistance to therapy. It consists of many cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs), which derive from different types of cells. CAFs detected in different tumor types are linked to poor prognosis, as in the case of colorectal cancer. Although their functions differ according to their subtype, their detection is not easy, and there are no established markers for such detection. They are possible targets for therapeutic treatment. Many trials are ongoing for their use as a prognostic factor and as a treatment target. More research remains to be carried out to establish their role in prognosis and treatment. Abstract The therapeutic approaches to cancer remain a considerable target for all scientists around the world. Although new cancer treatments are an everyday phenomenon, cancer still remains one of the leading mortality causes. Colorectal cancer (CRC) remains in this category, although patients with CRC may have better survival compared with other malignancies. Not only the tumor but also its environment, what we call the tumor microenvironment (TME), seem to contribute to cancer progression and resistance to therapy. TME consists of different molecules and cells. Cancer-associated fibroblasts are a major component. They arise from normal fibroblasts and other normal cells through various pathways. Their role seems to contribute to cancer promotion, participating in tumorigenesis, proliferation, growth, invasion, metastasis and resistance to treatment. Different markers, such as a-SMA, FAP, PDGFR-β, periostin, have been used for the detection of cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs). Their detection is important for two main reasons; research has shown that their existence is correlated with prognosis, and they are already under evaluation as a possible target for treatment. However, extensive research is warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charalampos Fotsitzoudis
- Laboratory of Translational Oncology, School of Medicine, University of Crete, 70013 Heraklion, Greece
| | - Asimina Koulouridi
- Laboratory of Translational Oncology, School of Medicine, University of Crete, 70013 Heraklion, Greece
| | - Ippokratis Messaritakis
- Laboratory of Translational Oncology, School of Medicine, University of Crete, 70013 Heraklion, Greece
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +30-2810-394926
| | | | | | - John Tsiaoussis
- Department of Anatomy, School of Medicine, University of Crete, 70013 Heraklion, Greece
| | - John Souglakos
- Laboratory of Translational Oncology, School of Medicine, University of Crete, 70013 Heraklion, Greece
- Department of Medical Oncology, University Hospital of Heraklion, 71110 Heraklion, Greece
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Obesity and cancer-extracellular matrix, angiogenesis, and adrenergic signaling as unusual suspects linking the two diseases. Cancer Metastasis Rev 2022; 41:517-547. [PMID: 36074318 PMCID: PMC9470659 DOI: 10.1007/s10555-022-10058-y] [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: 06/07/2022] [Accepted: 07/29/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Obesity is an established risk factor for several human cancers. Given the association between excess body weight and cancer, the increasing rates of obesity worldwide are worrisome. A variety of obesity-related factors has been implicated in cancer initiation, progression, and response to therapy. These factors include circulating nutritional factors, hormones, and cytokines, causing hyperinsulinemia, inflammation, and adipose tissue dysfunction. The impact of these conditions on cancer development and progression has been the focus of extensive literature. In this review, we concentrate on processes that can link obesity and cancer, and which provide a novel perspective: extracellular matrix remodeling, angiogenesis, and adrenergic signaling. We describe molecular mechanisms involved in these processes, which represent putative targets for intervention. Liver, pancreas, and breast cancers were chosen as exemplary disease models. In view of the expanding epidemic of obesity, a better understanding of the tumorigenic process in obese individuals might lead to more effective treatments and preventive measures.
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Zhang Q, Wei Y, Li Y, Jiao X. Low MARCO Expression is Associated with Poor Survival in Patients with Hepatocellular Carcinoma Following Liver Transplantation. Cancer Manag Res 2022; 14:1935-1944. [PMID: 35720642 PMCID: PMC9200231 DOI: 10.2147/cmar.s363219] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2022] [Accepted: 05/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Macrophage receptor with collagenous structure (MARCO) reportedly plays a crucial role in the occurrence and development of several cancers. However, the association between MARCO and the prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) post-liver transplantation remains poorly elucidated. Methods We examined MARCO expression at mRNA and protein level in 145 HCC samples and adjacent nontumor tissues using quantitative reverse transcription PCR, Western blot and immunohistochemistry. Furthermore, we analyzed the correlation of MARCO expression with clinicopathologic features and prognosis. Results We assessed the association between MARCO expression and clinicopathologic features and used the Cox proportional hazards regression model to explore the association between MARCO expression and clinical prognosis of patients with HCC post-liver transplantation. We observed that the expression of MARCO at mRNA and protein level in adjacent nontumor tissues was higher than that in the HCC tissues. Low MARCO expression in HCC tissues was correlated with higher alpha-fetoprotein levels, higher incidence of microvascular invasion, and a higher number of patients beyond Milan criteria. Kaplan–Meier survival curves showed that patients with HCC with low MARCO expression exhibited poor overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS). Univariate and multivariate analysis revealed that MARCO expression was an independent prognostic factor for OS (hazard ratio [HR] 2.696, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.335–5.444, P=0.006) and DFS (HR 2.867, 95% CI 1.665–4.936, P<0.001) in patients with HCC post-liver transplantation. Based on immunofluorescence analysis, MARCO expression was primarily localized to macrophages and might be associated with M2-like macrophage polarization during HCC. Conclusion MARCO expression was downregulated in HCC and associated with poor prognosis of patients with HCC post-liver transplantation. Moreover, it could be a potential prognostic marker and therapeutic target in post-liver transplantation HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qi Zhang
- Organ Transplant Center, the First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510080, People's Republic of China
| | - Yuxuan Wei
- Organ Transplant Center, the First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510080, People's Republic of China
| | - Yihu Li
- Organ Transplant Center, the First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510080, People's Republic of China
| | - Xingyuan Jiao
- Organ Transplant Center, the First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510080, People's Republic of China
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Zhou Y, Tian Q, Gao H, Zhu L, Zhang Y, Zhang C, Yang J, Wang B. Immunity and Extracellular Matrix Characteristics of Breast Cancer Subtypes Based on Identification by T Helper Cells Profiling. Front Immunol 2022; 13:859581. [PMID: 35795662 PMCID: PMC9251002 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.859581] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2022] [Accepted: 05/19/2022] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Background The therapeutic effect of immune checkpoint inhibitors on tumors is not only related to CD8+ effector T cells but also sufficiently related to CD4+ helper T (TH) cells. The immune characteristics of breast cancer, including gene characteristics and tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes, have become significant biomarkers for predicting prognosis and immunotherapy response in recent years. Methods Breast cancer samples from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database and triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) samples from GSE31519 in the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database were extracted and clustered based on gene sets representing TH cell signatures. CIBERSORT simulations of immune cell components in the tumor microenvironment and gene set enrichment analyses (GSEAs) were performed in the different clusters to verify the classification of the subtypes. The acquisition of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in the different clusters was further used for Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analyses. The clinical information from different clusters was used for survival analysis. Finally, the surgical tissues of TNBC samples were stained by immunofluorescence staining and Masson’s trichrome staining to explore the correlation of TH cell subtypes with extracellular matrix (ECM). Results The breast cancer samples from the datasets in TCGA database and GEO database were classified into TH-activated and TH-silenced clusters, which was verified by the immune cell components and enriched immune-related pathways. The DEGs of TH-activated and TH-silenced clusters were obtained. In addition to TH cells and other immune-related pathways, ECM-related pathways were found to be enriched by DEGs. Furthermore, the survival data of TCGA samples and GSE31519 samples showed that the 10-year overall survival (p-value < 0.001) and 10-year event-free survival (p-value = 0.162) of the TH-activated cluster were better, respectively. Fluorescent labeling of TH cell subtypes and staining of the collagen area of surgical specimens further illustrated the relationship between TH cell subtypes and ECM in breast cancer, among which high TH1 infiltration was related to low collagen content (p-value < 0.001), while high TH2 and Treg infiltration contained more abundant collagen (p-value < 0.05) in TNBC. With regard to the relationship of TH cell subtypes, TH2 was positively correlated with Treg (p-value < 0.05), while TH1 was negatively correlated with both of them. Conclusions The immune and ECM characteristics of breast cancer subtypes based on TH cell characteristics were revealed, and the relationship between different TH cell subsets and ECM and prognosis was explored in this study. The crosstalk between ECM and TH cell subtypes formed a balanced TME influencing the prognosis and treatment response in breast cancer, which suggests that the correlation between TH cells and ECM needs to be further emphasized in future breast cancer studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan Zhou
- Department of Medical Oncology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, China
| | - Qi Tian
- Department of Medical Oncology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, China
| | - Huan Gao
- Department of Medical Oncology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, China
| | - Lizhe Zhu
- Department of Breast Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, China
| | - Ying Zhang
- Department of Gastroenterology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, China
| | - Chenchen Zhang
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, the 940th Hospital of Joint Logistics Support Force of Chinese People’s Liberation Army, Key Laboratory of Stem Cells and Gene Drug in Gansu Province, Lanzhou, China
| | - Jiao Yang
- Department of Medical Oncology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, China
- *Correspondence: Jiao Yang, ; Bo Wang, ; orcid.org/0000-0001-7633-4435
| | - Bo Wang
- Center for Translational Medicine, the First Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, China
- Key Laboratory for Tumor Precision Medicine of Shaanxi Province, Xi’an, China
- *Correspondence: Jiao Yang, ; Bo Wang, ; orcid.org/0000-0001-7633-4435
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Chinn HK, Gardell JL, Matsumoto LR, Labadie KP, Mihailovic TN, Lieberman NAP, Davis A, Pillarisetty VG, Crane CA. Hypoxia-inducible lentiviral gene expression in engineered human macrophages. J Immunother Cancer 2022; 10:jitc-2021-003770. [PMID: 35728871 PMCID: PMC9214393 DOI: 10.1136/jitc-2021-003770] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Human immune cells, including monocyte-derived macrophages, can be engineered to deliver proinflammatory cytokines, bispecific antibodies, and chimeric antigen receptors to support immune responses in different disease settings. When gene expression is regulated by constitutively active promoters, lentiviral payload gene expression is unregulated, and can result in potentially toxic quantities of proteins. Regulated delivery of lentivirally encoded proteins may allow localized or conditional therapeutic protein expression to support safe delivery of adoptively transferred, genetically modified cells with reduced capacity for systemic toxicities. Methods In this study, we engineered human macrophages to express genes regulated by hypoxia responsive elements included in the lentiviral promoter region to drive conditional lentiviral gene expression only under hypoxic conditions. We tested transduced macrophages cultured in hypoxic conditions for the transient induced expression of reporter genes and the secreted cytokine, interleukin-12. Expression of hypoxia-regulated genes was investigated both transcriptionally and translationally, and in the presence of human tumor cells in a slice culture system. Finally, hypoxia-regulated gene expression was evaluated in a subcutaneous humanized-mouse cancer model. Results Engineered macrophages were shown to conditionally and tranisently express lentivirally encoded gene protein products, including IL-12 in hypoxic conditions in vitro. On return to normoxic conditions, lentiviral payload expression returned to basal levels. Reporter genes under the control of hypoxia response elements were upregulated under hypoxic conditions in the presence of human colorectal carcinoma cells and in the hypoxic xenograft model of glioblastoma, suggesting utility for systemic engineered cell delivery capable of localized gene delivery in cancer. Conclusions Macrophages engineered to express hypoxia-regulated payloads have the potential to be administered systemically and conditionally express proteins in tissues with hypoxic conditions. In contrast to immune cells that function or survive poorly in hypoxic conditions, macrophages maintain a proinflammatory phenotype that may support continued gene and protein expression when regulated by conditional hypoxia responsive elements and naturally traffic to hypoxic microenvironments, making them ideal vehicles for therapeutic payloads to hypoxic tissues, such as solid tumors. With the ability to fine-tune delivery of potent proteins in response to endogenous microenvironments, macrophage-based cellular therapies may therefore be designed for different disease settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Harrison K Chinn
- Ben Towne Center for Childhood Cancer Research, Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Jennifer L Gardell
- Ben Towne Center for Childhood Cancer Research, Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, Washington, USA.,Mozart Therapeutics, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Lisa R Matsumoto
- Ben Towne Center for Childhood Cancer Research, Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Kevin P Labadie
- Department of Surgery, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Tara N Mihailovic
- Department of Surgery, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Nicole A P Lieberman
- Ben Towne Center for Childhood Cancer Research, Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Amira Davis
- Ben Towne Center for Childhood Cancer Research, Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, Washington, USA
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Fang Y, Kang D, Guo W, Zhang Q, Xu S, Huang X, Xi G, He J, Wu S, Li L, Han X, Chen J, Zheng L, Wang C, Chen J. Collagen signature as a novel biomarker to predict axillary lymph node metastasis in breast cancer using multiphoton microscopy. JOURNAL OF BIOPHOTONICS 2022; 15:e202100365. [PMID: 35084104 DOI: 10.1002/jbio.202100365] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2021] [Revised: 01/16/2022] [Accepted: 01/24/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Accurate identification of axillary lymph node (ALN) status is crucial for tumor staging procedure and decision making. This retrospective study of 898 participants from two institutions was conducted. The aim of this study is to evaluate the diagnostic performance of clinical parameters combined with collagen signatures (tumor-associated collagen signatures [TACS] and the TACS corresponding microscopic features [TCMF]) in predicting the probability of ALN metastasis in patients with breast cancer. These findings suggest that TACS and TCMF in the breast tumor microenvironment are both novel and independent biomarkers for the estimation of ALN metastasis. The nomogram based on independent clinical parameters combined with TACS and TCMF yields good diagnostic performance in predicting ALN status.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ye Fang
- Key Laboratory of OptoElectronic Science and Technology for Medicine of Ministry of Education, Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Photonics Technology, Fujian Normal University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Deyong Kang
- Department of Pathology, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, Fuzhou, China
| | - Wenhui Guo
- Department of General Surgery, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, Fuzhou, China
| | - Qingyuan Zhang
- Department of Medical Oncology, Harbin Medical University Cancer Hospital, Harbin, China
| | - Shuoyu Xu
- Department of General Surgery, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, China
| | - Xingxin Huang
- Key Laboratory of OptoElectronic Science and Technology for Medicine of Ministry of Education, Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Photonics Technology, Fujian Normal University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Gangqin Xi
- Key Laboratory of OptoElectronic Science and Technology for Medicine of Ministry of Education, Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Photonics Technology, Fujian Normal University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Jiajia He
- Key Laboratory of OptoElectronic Science and Technology for Medicine of Ministry of Education, Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Photonics Technology, Fujian Normal University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Shulian Wu
- Key Laboratory of OptoElectronic Science and Technology for Medicine of Ministry of Education, Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Photonics Technology, Fujian Normal University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Lianhuang Li
- Key Laboratory of OptoElectronic Science and Technology for Medicine of Ministry of Education, Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Photonics Technology, Fujian Normal University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Xiahui Han
- Key Laboratory of OptoElectronic Science and Technology for Medicine of Ministry of Education, Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Photonics Technology, Fujian Normal University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Jianhua Chen
- College of Life Sciences, Fujian Normal University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Liqin Zheng
- Key Laboratory of OptoElectronic Science and Technology for Medicine of Ministry of Education, Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Photonics Technology, Fujian Normal University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Chuan Wang
- Department of General Surgery, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, Fuzhou, China
| | - Jianxin Chen
- Key Laboratory of OptoElectronic Science and Technology for Medicine of Ministry of Education, Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Photonics Technology, Fujian Normal University, Fuzhou, China
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Feng B, Wu J, Shen B, Jiang F, Feng J. Cancer-associated fibroblasts and resistance to anticancer therapies: status, mechanisms, and countermeasures. Cancer Cell Int 2022; 22:166. [PMID: 35488263 PMCID: PMC9052457 DOI: 10.1186/s12935-022-02599-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 27.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2022] [Accepted: 04/19/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) are critical components of the tumor microenvironment (TME) with diverse functions such as extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling, modulation of metabolism and angiogenesis, and crosstalk with both cancer cells and infiltrating immune cells by production of growth factors, cytokines, and chemokines. Within the TME milieu, CAFs exhibit morphological and functional transitions with relatively specific markers and hold tremendous potential to facilitate tumorigenesis, development, and resistance towards multiple therapeutic strategies including chemotherapy, radiotherapy, targeted therapy, anti-angiogenesis therapy, immunotherapy, and endocrine therapy. Accordingly, CAFs themselves and the downstream effectors and/or signaling pathways are potential targets for optimizing the sensitivity of anti-cancer therapies. This review aims to provide a detailed landscape of the role that CAFs play in conferring therapeutic resistance in different cancers and the underlying mechanisms. The translational and therapeutic perspectives of CAFs in the individualized treatment of malignant tumors are also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bing Feng
- Jiangsu Cancer Hospital & Jiangsu Institute of Cancer Research & The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, 42 Baiziting, Nanjing, 210009, China
| | - Jianzhong Wu
- Jiangsu Cancer Hospital & Jiangsu Institute of Cancer Research & The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, 42 Baiziting, Nanjing, 210009, China
| | - Bo Shen
- Jiangsu Cancer Hospital & Jiangsu Institute of Cancer Research & The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, 42 Baiziting, Nanjing, 210009, China
| | - Feng Jiang
- Jiangsu Cancer Hospital & Jiangsu Institute of Cancer Research & The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, 42 Baiziting, Nanjing, 210009, China.
| | - Jifeng Feng
- Jiangsu Cancer Hospital & Jiangsu Institute of Cancer Research & The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, 42 Baiziting, Nanjing, 210009, China.
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He X, Lee B, Jiang Y. Extracellular matrix in cancer progression and therapy. MEDICAL REVIEW (2021) 2022; 2:125-139. [PMID: 37724245 PMCID: PMC10471113 DOI: 10.1515/mr-2021-0028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2021] [Accepted: 03/31/2022] [Indexed: 09/20/2023]
Abstract
The tumor ecosystem with heterogeneous cellular compositions and the tumor microenvironment has increasingly become the focus of cancer research in recent years. The extracellular matrix (ECM), the major component of the tumor microenvironment, and its interactions with the tumor cells and stromal cells have also enjoyed tremendously increased attention. Like the other components of the tumor microenvironment, the ECM in solid tumors differs significantly from that in normal organs and tissues. We review recent studies of the complex roles the tumor ECM plays in cancer progression, from tumor initiation, growth to angiogenesis and invasion. We highlight that the biomolecular, biophysical, and mechanochemical interactions between the ECM and cells not only regulate the steps of cancer progression, but also affect the efficacy of systemic cancer treatment. We further discuss the strategies to target and modify the tumor ECM to improve cancer therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiuxiu He
- Department of Medical Physics, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Byoungkoo Lee
- The Jackson Laboratory for Genomic Medicine, Farmington, CT, USA
| | - Yi Jiang
- Department of Mathematics and Statistics, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA, USA
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Lepucki A, Orlińska K, Mielczarek-Palacz A, Kabut J, Olczyk P, Komosińska-Vassev K. The Role of Extracellular Matrix Proteins in Breast Cancer. J Clin Med 2022; 11:jcm11051250. [PMID: 35268340 PMCID: PMC8911242 DOI: 10.3390/jcm11051250] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2021] [Revised: 01/16/2022] [Accepted: 02/22/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The extracellular matrix is a structure composed of many molecules, including fibrillar (types I, II, III, V, XI, XXIV, XXVII) and non-fibrillar collagens (mainly basement membrane collagens: types IV, VIII, X), non-collagenous glycoproteins (elastin, laminin, fibronectin, thrombospondin, tenascin, osteopontin, osteonectin, entactin, periostin) embedded in a gel of negatively charged water-retaining glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) such as non-sulfated hyaluronic acid (HA) and sulfated GAGs which are linked to a core protein to form proteoglycans (PGs). This highly dynamic molecular network provides critical biochemical and biomechanical cues that mediate the cell–cell and cell–matrix interactions, influence cell growth, migration and differentiation and serve as a reservoir of cytokines and growth factors’ action. The breakdown of normal ECM and its replacement with tumor ECM modulate the tumor microenvironment (TME) composition and is an essential part of tumorigenesis and metastasis, acting as key driver for malignant progression. Abnormal ECM also deregulate behavior of stromal cells as well as facilitating tumor-associated angiogenesis and inflammation. Thus, the tumor matrix modulates each of the classically defined hallmarks of cancer promoting the growth, survival and invasion of the cancer. Moreover, various ECM-derived components modulate the immune response affecting T cells, tumor-associated macrophages (TAM), dendritic cells and cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAF). This review article considers the role that extracellular matrix play in breast cancer. Determining the detailed connections between the ECM and cellular processes has helped to identify novel disease markers and therapeutic targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arkadiusz Lepucki
- Department of Community Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences in Sosnowiec, Medical University of Silesia in Katowice, 41-200 Sosnowiec, Poland; (A.L.); (K.O.)
| | - Kinga Orlińska
- Department of Community Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences in Sosnowiec, Medical University of Silesia in Katowice, 41-200 Sosnowiec, Poland; (A.L.); (K.O.)
| | - Aleksandra Mielczarek-Palacz
- Department of Immunology and Serology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences in Sosnowiec, Medical University of Silesia, 41-200 Sosnowiec, Poland; (A.M.-P.); (J.K.)
| | - Jacek Kabut
- Department of Immunology and Serology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences in Sosnowiec, Medical University of Silesia, 41-200 Sosnowiec, Poland; (A.M.-P.); (J.K.)
| | - Pawel Olczyk
- Department of Community Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences in Sosnowiec, Medical University of Silesia in Katowice, 41-200 Sosnowiec, Poland; (A.L.); (K.O.)
- Correspondence:
| | - Katarzyna Komosińska-Vassev
- Department of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Diagnostics, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences in Sosnowiec, Medical University of Silesia, 41-200 Sosnowiec, Poland;
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Tumor-associated macrophages in cancer: recent advancements in cancer nanoimmunotherapies. J Exp Clin Cancer Res 2022; 41:68. [PMID: 35183252 PMCID: PMC8857848 DOI: 10.1186/s13046-022-02272-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 120] [Impact Index Per Article: 60.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2021] [Accepted: 01/22/2022] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
AbstractCancer immunotherapy has emerged as a novel cancer treatment, although recent immunotherapy trials have produced suboptimal outcomes, with durable responses seen only in a small number of patients. The tumor microenvironment (TME) has been shown to be responsible for tumor immune escape and therapy failure. The vital component of the TME is tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs), which are usually associated with poor prognosis and drug resistance, including immunotherapies, and have emerged as promising targets for cancer immunotherapy. Recently, nanoparticles, because of their unique physicochemical characteristics, have emerged as crucial translational moieties in tackling tumor-promoting TAMs that amplify immune responses and sensitize tumors to immunotherapies in a safe and effective manner. In this review, we mainly described the current potential nanomaterial-based therapeutic strategies that target TAMs, including restricting TAMs survival, inhibiting TAMs recruitment to tumors and functionally repolarizing tumor-supportive TAMs to antitumor type. The current understanding of the origin and polarization of TAMs, their crucial role in cancer progression and prognostic significance was also discussed in this review. We also highlighted the recent evolution of chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-macrophage cell therapy.
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Robertson C, Sebastian A, Hinckley A, Rios-Arce ND, Hynes WF, Edwards SA, He W, Hum NR, Wheeler EK, Loots GG, Coleman MA, Moya ML. Extracellular matrix modulates T cell clearance of malignant cells in vitro. Biomaterials 2022; 282:121378. [PMID: 35121359 DOI: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2022.121378] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2021] [Revised: 12/29/2021] [Accepted: 01/16/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Despite the success of T cell checkpoint therapies, breast cancers rarely express these immunotherapy markers and are believed to be largely "immune cold" with limited inflammation and immune activation. The reason for this limited immune activation remains poorly understood. We sought to determine whether extracellular matrix substrate could contribute to this limited immune activation. Specifically, we asked whether extracellular matrix could alter T cell cytotoxicity against malignant mammary gland carcinoma cells (MCC) in a setup designed to promote maximal T cell efficacy (i.e., rich media with abundant IL2, high ratio of T cells to MCC). We observed that T cell clearance of MCC varied from 0% in collagen 4 or 6 conditions to almost 100% in fibronectin or vitronectin. Transcriptomics revealed that T cell function was defective in MCC/T cell cocultures on collagen 4 (Col4), potentially corresponding to greater expression of cytokines MCC cultured in this environment. In contrast, transcriptomics revealed an effective, exhausted phenotype on vitronectin. The observation that Col4 induces T cell suppression suggests that targeting tumor-ECM interactions may permit new approaches for utilizing immunotherapy in tumors which do not provoke a strong immune response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claire Robertson
- Materials Engineering Division, Engineering Directorate, LLNL,7000 East Ave, Livermore, CA, 94550, USA.
| | - Aimy Sebastian
- Biosciences and Biotechnology Division, Physical and Life Sciences Directorate, LLNL 7000 East Ave, Livermore, CA, 94550, USA
| | - Aubree Hinckley
- Biosciences and Biotechnology Division, Physical and Life Sciences Directorate, LLNL 7000 East Ave, Livermore, CA, 94550, USA
| | - Naiomy D Rios-Arce
- Biosciences and Biotechnology Division, Physical and Life Sciences Directorate, LLNL 7000 East Ave, Livermore, CA, 94550, USA
| | - William F Hynes
- Materials Engineering Division, Engineering Directorate, LLNL,7000 East Ave, Livermore, CA, 94550, USA
| | - Skye A Edwards
- Materials Engineering Division, Engineering Directorate, LLNL,7000 East Ave, Livermore, CA, 94550, USA; Biomedical Engineering, Tufts University, Medford, MA, 02155, USA
| | - Wei He
- Biosciences and Biotechnology Division, Physical and Life Sciences Directorate, LLNL 7000 East Ave, Livermore, CA, 94550, USA
| | - Nicholas R Hum
- Biosciences and Biotechnology Division, Physical and Life Sciences Directorate, LLNL 7000 East Ave, Livermore, CA, 94550, USA
| | - Elizabeth K Wheeler
- Materials Engineering Division, Engineering Directorate, LLNL,7000 East Ave, Livermore, CA, 94550, USA
| | - Gabriela G Loots
- Biosciences and Biotechnology Division, Physical and Life Sciences Directorate, LLNL 7000 East Ave, Livermore, CA, 94550, USA; University of California Merced, School of Natural Sciences, Merced, CA, USA, 5200 North Lake Rd., Merced, CA, 95343, USA
| | - Matthew A Coleman
- Biosciences and Biotechnology Division, Physical and Life Sciences Directorate, LLNL 7000 East Ave, Livermore, CA, 94550, USA; Department of Radiation Oncology, UC Davis, Davis. 4501 X St, Sacramento, CA, 95817, USA
| | - Monica L Moya
- Materials Engineering Division, Engineering Directorate, LLNL,7000 East Ave, Livermore, CA, 94550, USA
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Aggelopoulos CA, Christodoulou AM, Tachliabouri M, Meropoulis S, Christopoulou ME, Karalis TT, Chatzopoulos A, Skandalis SS. Cold Atmospheric Plasma Attenuates Breast Cancer Cell Growth Through Regulation of Cell Microenvironment Effectors. Front Oncol 2022; 11:826865. [PMID: 35111687 PMCID: PMC8801750 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2021.826865] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2021] [Accepted: 12/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Breast cancer exists in multiple subtypes some of which still lack a targeted and effective therapy. Cold atmospheric plasma (CAP) has been proposed as an emerging anti-cancer treatment modality. In this study, we investigated the effects of direct and indirect CAP treatment driven by the advantageous nanosecond pulsed discharge on breast cancer cells of different malignant phenotypes and estrogen receptor (ER) status, a major factor in the prognosis and therapeutic management of breast cancer. The main CAP reactive species in liquid (i.e. H2O2, NO2−/NO3−) and gas phase were determined as a function of plasma operational parameters (i.e. treatment time, pulse voltage and frequency), while pre-treatment with the ROS scavenger NAC revealed the impact of ROS in the treatment. CAP treatment induced intense phenotypic changes and apoptosis in both ER+ and ER- cells, which is associated with the mitochondrial pathway as evidenced by the increased Bax/Bcl-2 ratio and cleavage of PARP-1. Interestingly, CAP significantly reduced CD44 protein expression (a major cancer stem cell marker and matrix receptor), while differentially affected the expression of proteases and inflammatory mediators. Collectively, the findings of the present study suggest that CAP suppresses breast cancer cell growth and regulates several effectors of the tumor microenvironment and thus it could represent an efficient therapeutic approach for distinct breast cancer subtypes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christos A. Aggelopoulos
- Laboratory of Cold Plasma and Advanced Techniques for Improving Environmental Systems, Institute of Chemical Engineering Sciences, Foundation for Research and Technology Hellas (FORTH/ICE-HT), Patras, Greece
- *Correspondence: Christos A. Aggelopoulos, ; Spyros S. Skandalis,
| | - Anna-Maria Christodoulou
- Biochemistry, Biochemical Analysis & Matrix Pathobiology Res. Group, Laboratory of Biochemistry, Department of Chemistry, University of Patras, Patras, Greece
| | - Myrsini Tachliabouri
- Biochemistry, Biochemical Analysis & Matrix Pathobiology Res. Group, Laboratory of Biochemistry, Department of Chemistry, University of Patras, Patras, Greece
| | - Stauros Meropoulis
- Laboratory of Cold Plasma and Advanced Techniques for Improving Environmental Systems, Institute of Chemical Engineering Sciences, Foundation for Research and Technology Hellas (FORTH/ICE-HT), Patras, Greece
| | - Maria-Elpida Christopoulou
- Biochemistry, Biochemical Analysis & Matrix Pathobiology Res. Group, Laboratory of Biochemistry, Department of Chemistry, University of Patras, Patras, Greece
| | - Theodoros T. Karalis
- Biochemistry, Biochemical Analysis & Matrix Pathobiology Res. Group, Laboratory of Biochemistry, Department of Chemistry, University of Patras, Patras, Greece
| | - Athanasios Chatzopoulos
- Biochemistry, Biochemical Analysis & Matrix Pathobiology Res. Group, Laboratory of Biochemistry, Department of Chemistry, University of Patras, Patras, Greece
| | - Spyros S. Skandalis
- Biochemistry, Biochemical Analysis & Matrix Pathobiology Res. Group, Laboratory of Biochemistry, Department of Chemistry, University of Patras, Patras, Greece
- *Correspondence: Christos A. Aggelopoulos, ; Spyros S. Skandalis,
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Waaijer SJH, Suurs FV, Hau CS, Vrijland K, de Visser KE, de Groot DJA, de Vries EGE, Lub-de Hooge MN, Schröder CP. Radiolabeled Monoclonal Antibody Against Colony-Stimulating Factor 1 Receptor Specifically Distributes to the Spleen and Liver in Immunocompetent Mice. Front Oncol 2021; 11:786191. [PMID: 34976826 PMCID: PMC8716378 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2021.786191] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2021] [Accepted: 11/10/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Macrophages can promote tumor development. Preclinically, targeting macrophages by colony-stimulating factor 1 (CSF1)/CSF1 receptor (CSF1R) monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) enhances conventional therapeutics in combination treatments. The physiological distribution and tumor uptake of CSF1R mAbs are unknown. Therefore, we radiolabeled a murine CSF1R mAb and preclinically visualized its biodistribution by PET. CSF1R mAb was conjugated to N-succinyl-desferrioxamine (N-suc-DFO) and subsequently radiolabeled with zirconium-89 (89Zr). Optimal protein antibody dose was first determined in non-tumor-bearing mice to assess physiological distribution. Next, biodistribution of optimal protein dose and 89Zr-labeled isotype control was compared with PET and ex vivo biodistribution after 24 and 72 h in mammary tumor-bearing mice. Tissue autoradiography and immunohistochemistry determined radioactivity distribution and tissue macrophage presence, respectively. [89Zr]Zr-DFO-N-suc-CSF1R-mAb optimal protein dose was 10 mg/kg, with blood pool levels of 10 ± 2% injected dose per gram tissue (ID/g) and spleen and liver uptake of 17 ± 4 and 11 ± 4%ID/g at 72 h. In contrast, 0.4 mg/kg of [89Zr]Zr-DFO-N-suc-CSF1R mAb was eliminated from circulation within 24 h; spleen and liver uptake was 126 ± 44% and 34 ± 7%ID/g, respectively. Tumor-bearing mice showed higher uptake of [89Zr]Zr-DFO-N-suc-CSF1R-mAb in the liver, lymphoid tissues, duodenum, and ileum, but not in the tumor than did 89Zr-labeled control at 72 h. Immunohistochemistry and autoradiography showed that 89Zr was localized to macrophages within lymphoid tissues. Following [89Zr]Zr-DFO-N-suc-CSF1R-mAb administration, tumor macrophages were almost absent, whereas isotype-group tumors contained over 500 cells/mm2. We hypothesize that intratumoral macrophage depletion by [89Zr]Zr-DFO-N-suc-CSF1R-mAb precluded tumor uptake higher than 89Zr-labeled control. Translation of molecular imaging of macrophage-targeting therapeutics to humans may support macrophage-directed therapeutic development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stijn J. H. Waaijer
- Department of Medical Oncology, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands
| | - Frans V. Suurs
- Department of Medical Oncology, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands
| | - Cheei-Sing Hau
- Division of Tumor Biology & Immunology, Oncode Institute, Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Kim Vrijland
- Division of Tumor Biology & Immunology, Oncode Institute, Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Karin E. de Visser
- Division of Tumor Biology & Immunology, Oncode Institute, Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, Netherlands
- Department of Immunohematology and Blood Transfusion, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands
| | - Derk Jan A. de Groot
- Department of Medical Oncology, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands
| | - Elisabeth G. E. de Vries
- Department of Medical Oncology, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands
| | - Marjolijn N. Lub-de Hooge
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Pharmacology, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands
- Department of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands
| | - Carolina P. Schröder
- Department of Medical Oncology, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands
- *Correspondence: Carolina P. Schröder,
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Nersisyan S, Novosad V, Engibaryan N, Ushkaryov Y, Nikulin S, Tonevitsky A. ECM-Receptor Regulatory Network and Its Prognostic Role in Colorectal Cancer. Front Genet 2021; 12:782699. [PMID: 34938324 PMCID: PMC8685507 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2021.782699] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2021] [Accepted: 11/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Interactions of the extracellular matrix (ECM) and cellular receptors constitute one of the crucial pathways involved in colorectal cancer progression and metastasis. With the use of bioinformatics analysis, we comprehensively evaluated the prognostic information concentrated in the genes from this pathway. First, we constructed a ECM-receptor regulatory network by integrating the transcription factor (TF) and 5'-isomiR interaction databases with mRNA/miRNA-seq data from The Cancer Genome Atlas Colon Adenocarcinoma (TCGA-COAD). Notably, one-third of interactions mediated by 5'-isomiRs was represented by noncanonical isomiRs (isomiRs, whose 5'-end sequence did not match with the canonical miRBase version). Then, exhaustive search-based feature selection was used to fit prognostic signatures composed of nodes from the network for overall survival prediction. Two reliable prognostic signatures were identified and validated on the independent The Cancer Genome Atlas Rectum Adenocarcinoma (TCGA-READ) cohort. The first signature was made up by six genes, directly involved in ECM-receptor interaction: AGRN, DAG1, FN1, ITGA5, THBS3, and TNC (concordance index 0.61, logrank test p = 0.0164, 3-years ROC AUC = 0.68). The second hybrid signature was composed of three regulators: hsa-miR-32-5p, NR1H2, and SNAI1 (concordance index 0.64, logrank test p = 0.0229, 3-years ROC AUC = 0.71). While hsa-miR-32-5p exclusively regulated ECM-related genes (COL1A2 and ITGA5), NR1H2 and SNAI1 also targeted other pathways (adhesion, cell cycle, and cell division). Concordant distributions of the respective risk scores across four stages of colorectal cancer and adjacent normal mucosa additionally confirmed reliability of the models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stepan Nersisyan
- Faculty of Biology and Biotechnology, HSE University, Moscow, Russia
| | - Victor Novosad
- Faculty of Biology and Biotechnology, HSE University, Moscow, Russia
- Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
| | - Narek Engibaryan
- Faculty of Biology and Biotechnology, HSE University, Moscow, Russia
| | - Yuri Ushkaryov
- Faculty of Biology and Biotechnology, HSE University, Moscow, Russia
- Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
- Medway School of Pharmacy, University of Kent, Chatham, United Kingdom
| | - Sergey Nikulin
- Faculty of Biology and Biotechnology, HSE University, Moscow, Russia
- P. Hertsen Moscow Oncology Research Institute—Branch, National Medical Research Radiological Centre, Ministry of Health of Russian Federation, Moscow, Russia
- School of Biomedicine, Far Eastern Federal University, Vladivostok, Russia
| | - Alexander Tonevitsky
- Faculty of Biology and Biotechnology, HSE University, Moscow, Russia
- Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
- SRC Bioclinicum, Moscow, Russia
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Sanches SM, Braun AC, Calsavara VF, Barbosa PNVP, Chinen LTD. Comparison of hormonal receptor expression and HER2 status between circulating tumor cells and breast cancer metastases. Clinics (Sao Paulo) 2021; 76:e2971. [PMID: 34644733 PMCID: PMC8478133 DOI: 10.6061/clinics/2021/e2971] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2021] [Accepted: 08/19/2021] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Breast cancer (BC) is the most common neoplasm in women. Biopsy of metastatic lesions is recommended to confirm estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR), and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) status as there are discrepancies in these patterns between primary tumors and metastases in up to 40% of the cases. Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) are related to BC outcomes and could potentially be an alternative to the invasive procedures of metastasis rebiopsy. ISET® technology is not currently employed to detect CTCs in patients with BC. Emerging data support that the characterization of CTC protein expression can refine its prognostic value. Transforming growth factor (TGF)-β plays a role in BC progression and invasiveness. Thus, in this study, we aimed to compare ER, PR, and HER2 expression in primary tumors, CTCs, and metastases and evaluate TGF-β type 1 receptor (TGF-β RI) expression in CTCs as prognostic factor for progression free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS). METHODS This prospective study was conducted at the A.C. Camargo Cancer Center, Brazil. Blood samples were processed in ISET® (Isolation by SizE of Tumors, Rarecells, France) before computed tomography-guided biopsy of suspected metastatic lesions. Protein expression levels in CTCs were compared to those in primary tumors/metastases (medical records). RESULTS Of the 39 patients initially included, 27 underwent both biopsies of metastases and blood collection and were considered for analysis. The concordance rates for ER, PR, and HER2 expression between primary tumors and metastases were high. No loss of HER2 expression at any metastasis site and retention of the same pattern of protein expression in all triple-negative (TN) tumors (92.5%, 81.5% and 96.2% respectively) (p<0.0001) was observed. When metastases/CTCs were classified as TN/non-TN, CTCs showed high specificity (93%), accuracy (84.2%), and negative predictive value (88%). The median OS of patients without TGF-β RI expression in CTCs was 42.6 versus 20.8 months for TGF-β RI expression-positive ones (p>0.05). CONCLUSION The role of CTCs detected by ISET has not yet been established in BC. Here, we suggest that this methodology may be useful to evaluate metastasis in non-TN cases as well as TGF-β RI expression in CTCs, which may impact patient survival. Due to sample limitations, future studies must focus on specific BC subtypes and an expansion of the cohort.
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JAK2 regulates paclitaxel resistance in triple negative breast cancers. J Mol Med (Berl) 2021; 99:1783-1795. [PMID: 34626199 DOI: 10.1007/s00109-021-02138-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2021] [Revised: 08/20/2021] [Accepted: 09/07/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
We investigated the molecular mechanisms of paclitaxel resistance in TNBC using seven patient-derived xenograft (PDX) models and TNBC cell lines. Among the seven PDX models, four models showed resistance to paclitaxel. Dysregulation of JAK/STAT pathways and JAK2 copy number gains were observed in the four paclitaxel-resistant PDX tumors. In TNBC cell lines, silencing the JAK2 gene showed a significant but mild synergistic effect when combined with paclitaxel in vitro. However, JAK1/2 inhibitor treatment resulted in restoration of paclitaxel sensitivity in two out of four paclitaxel-resistant PDX models and JAK1/2 inhibitor alone significantly suppressed the tumor growth in one out of the two remaining PDX models. Transcriptome data derived from the murine microenvironmental cells revealed an enrichment of genes involved in the cell cycle processes among the four paclitaxel-resistant PDX tumors. Histologic examination of those PDX tumor tissues showed increased Ki67-positive fibroblasts in the tumor microenvironment. Among the four different cancer-associated fibroblast (CAF) subtypes, cycling CAF exhibiting features of active cell cycle was enriched in the paclitaxel-resistant PDX tumors. Additionally, fibroblasts treated with the conditioned media from the JAK2-silenced breast cancer cells showed downregulation of cell cycle-related genes. Our data suggest that the JAK2 gene may play a critical role in determining responses of TNBC to paclitaxel by modulating the intrinsic susceptibility of cancer cells against paclitaxel and also by eliciting functional transitions of CAF subtypes in the tumor microenvironment. KEY MESSAGES : We investigated the molecular mechanisms of paclitaxel resistance in TNBC. JAK2 signaling was associated with paclitaxel resistance in TNBC PDX models. Paclitaxel-resistant PDX tumors were enriched with microenvironment cCAF subpopulation. JAK2 regulated paclitaxel-resistant CAF phenotype transition.
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Aslan M, Hsu EC, Liu S, Stoyanova T. Quantifying the invasion and migration ability of cancer cells with a 3D Matrigel drop invasion assay. Biol Methods Protoc 2021; 6:bpab014. [PMID: 34377838 PMCID: PMC8346651 DOI: 10.1093/biomethods/bpab014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2021] [Revised: 07/09/2021] [Accepted: 07/20/2021] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Metastasis is the main cause of cancer-associated morbidity which will account for ∼ 600,000 deaths in the USA in 2021. Defining new mechanisms that drive cancer metastasis is vital for developing new therapeutic strategies and improving clinical outcomes for cancer patients. Herein, we describe a recently established 3D Matrigel drop invasion assay to measure cancer cell invasion and migration capability in vitro. This assay is a versatile and simple tool to test the ability of cells to invade and migrate, test the functional role of genes of interest in cell invasion and migration, analyze the localization of the target proteins at the cell invasion edge in situ, and screen drug effects on cancer cell invasion and migration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Merve Aslan
- Department of Radiology, Canary Center at Stanford for Cancer Early Detection, Stanford University, 3155 Porter Drive. Palo Alto, CA 94304, USA
| | - En-Chi Hsu
- Department of Radiology, Canary Center at Stanford for Cancer Early Detection, Stanford University, 3155 Porter Drive. Palo Alto, CA 94304, USA
| | - Shiqin Liu
- Department of Radiology, Canary Center at Stanford for Cancer Early Detection, Stanford University, 3155 Porter Drive. Palo Alto, CA 94304, USA
| | - Tanya Stoyanova
- Department of Radiology, Canary Center at Stanford for Cancer Early Detection, Stanford University, 3155 Porter Drive. Palo Alto, CA 94304, USA
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Zhang G, He Y, Liu Y, Du Y, Yang C, Gao F. Reduced hyaluronan cross-linking induces breast cancer malignancy in a CAF-dependent manner. Cell Death Dis 2021; 12:586. [PMID: 34099638 PMCID: PMC8184848 DOI: 10.1038/s41419-021-03875-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2020] [Revised: 05/23/2021] [Accepted: 05/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Hyaluronan (HA) cross-linking is a conformational state of HA, a covalent complex between HA and heavy chains (HCs) from inter-α-trypsin inhibitor (I-α-I) mediated by tumor necrosis factor-induced protein 6 (TSG6). Cross-linked HA has been identified as a protective factor in physiological and inflammatory conditions. However, the state of HA cross-linking in tumor microenvironment has not been fully elucidated. As a major constituent of the extracellular matrix (ECM), HA is mainly synthesized by cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs). Our study aimed to clarify the role of HA cross-linking in breast cancer malignancy. Compared to normal mammary gland tissues, cross-linked HA levels were significantly decreased in breast cancer and associated with tumor malignancy. When NFbs were activated into CAFs, the levels of cross-linked HA and TSG6 were both suppressed. Through upregulating TSG6, CAFs restored the high level of cross-linked HA and significantly inhibited breast cancer malignancy, whereas NFbs promoted the malignancy when the cross-linked HA level was reduced. Furthermore, the inhibitory role of HA cross-linking in tumor malignancy was directly verified using the synthesized HA-HC complex. Collectively, our study found that the deficiency of cross-linked HA induced breast cancer malignancy in a CAF-dependent manner, suggesting that recovering HA cross-linking may be a potential therapeutic strategy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guoliang Zhang
- Department of Molecular Biology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University Affiliated Sixth People's Hospital, 600 Yishan Road, 200233, Shanghai, China.,Department of Clinical Laboratory, Shanghai Jiao Tong University Affiliated Sixth People's Hospital, 600 Yishan Road, 200233, Shanghai, China
| | - Yiqing He
- Department of Molecular Biology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University Affiliated Sixth People's Hospital, 600 Yishan Road, 200233, Shanghai, China
| | - Yiwen Liu
- Department of Molecular Biology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University Affiliated Sixth People's Hospital, 600 Yishan Road, 200233, Shanghai, China
| | - Yan Du
- Department of Molecular Biology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University Affiliated Sixth People's Hospital, 600 Yishan Road, 200233, Shanghai, China
| | - Cuixia Yang
- Department of Molecular Biology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University Affiliated Sixth People's Hospital, 600 Yishan Road, 200233, Shanghai, China. .,Department of Clinical Laboratory, Shanghai Jiao Tong University Affiliated Sixth People's Hospital, 600 Yishan Road, 200233, Shanghai, China.
| | - Feng Gao
- Department of Molecular Biology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University Affiliated Sixth People's Hospital, 600 Yishan Road, 200233, Shanghai, China. .,Department of Clinical Laboratory, Shanghai Jiao Tong University Affiliated Sixth People's Hospital, 600 Yishan Road, 200233, Shanghai, China.
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Persson E, Gregersson P, Gustafsson A, Fitzpatrick P, Rhost S, Ståhlberg A, Landberg G. Patient-derived scaffolds influence secretion profiles in cancer cells mirroring clinical features and breast cancer subtypes. Cell Commun Signal 2021; 19:66. [PMID: 34090457 PMCID: PMC8178857 DOI: 10.1186/s12964-021-00746-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2020] [Accepted: 04/27/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Breast cancer is a common malignancy with varying clinical behaviors and for the more aggressive subtypes, novel and more efficient therapeutic approaches are needed. Qualities of the tumor microenvironment as well as cancer cell secretion have independently been associated with malignant clinical behaviors and a better understanding of the interplay between these two features could potentially reveal novel targetable key events linked to cancer progression. METHODS A newly developed human derived in vivo-like growth system, consisting of decellularized patient-derived scaffolds (PDSs) recellularized with standardized breast cancer cell lines (MCF7 and MDA-MB-231), were used to analyze how 63 individual patient specific microenvironments influenced secretion determined by proximity extension assays including 184 proteins and how these relate to clinical outcome. RESULTS The secretome from cancer cells in PDS cultures varied distinctly from cells grown as standard monolayers and besides a general increase in secretion from PDS cultures, several secreted proteins were only detectable in PDSs. Monolayer cells treated with conditioned media from PDS cultures, further showed increased mammosphere formation demonstrating a cancer stem cell activating function of the PDS culture induced secretion. The detailed secretomic profiles from MCF7s growing on 57 individual PDSs differed markedly but unsupervised clustering generated three separate groups having similar secretion profiles that significantly correlated to different clinical behaviors. The secretomic profile that associated with cancer relapse and high grade breast cancer showed induced secretion of the proteins IL-6, CCL2 and PAI-1, all linked to cancer stem cell activation, metastasis and priming of the pre-metastatic niche. Cancer promoting pathways such as "Suppress tumor immunity" and "Vascular and tissue remodeling" was also linked to this more malignant secretion cluster. CONCLUSION PDSs repopulated with cancer cells can be used to assess how cancer secretion is effected by specific and varying microenvironments. More malignant secretion patterns induced by specific patient based cancer microenvironments could further be identified pinpointing novel therapeutic opportunities targeting micro environmentally induced cancer progression via secretion of potent cytokines. Video abstract.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emma Persson
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Sahlgrenska Center for Cancer Research, Institute of Biomedicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Medicinaregatan 1G, 41390, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Pernilla Gregersson
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Sahlgrenska Center for Cancer Research, Institute of Biomedicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Medicinaregatan 1G, 41390, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Anna Gustafsson
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Sahlgrenska Center for Cancer Research, Institute of Biomedicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Medicinaregatan 1G, 41390, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Paul Fitzpatrick
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Sahlgrenska Center for Cancer Research, Institute of Biomedicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Medicinaregatan 1G, 41390, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Sara Rhost
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Sahlgrenska Center for Cancer Research, Institute of Biomedicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Medicinaregatan 1G, 41390, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Anders Ståhlberg
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Sahlgrenska Center for Cancer Research, Institute of Biomedicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Medicinaregatan 1G, 41390, Gothenburg, Sweden.,Wallenberg Center for Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Gothenburg, 41390, Gothenburg, Sweden.,Department of Clinical Genetics and Genomics, Sahlgrenska University Hostpital, Region Västra Götaland, 41390, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Göran Landberg
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Sahlgrenska Center for Cancer Research, Institute of Biomedicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Medicinaregatan 1G, 41390, Gothenburg, Sweden.
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Ding Y, Labitzky V, Legler K, Qi M, Schumacher U, Schmalfeldt B, Stürken C, Oliveira-Ferrer L. Molecular characteristics and tumorigenicity of ascites-derived tumor cells: mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation as a novel therapy target in ovarian cancer. Mol Oncol 2021; 15:3578-3595. [PMID: 34060699 PMCID: PMC8637562 DOI: 10.1002/1878-0261.13028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2020] [Revised: 04/16/2021] [Accepted: 05/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Ovarian cancer disseminates primarily intraperitoneally. Detached tumor cell aggregates (spheroids) from the primary tumor are regarded as ‘metastatic units’ that exhibit a low sensitivity to classical chemotherapy, probably due to their unique molecular characteristics. We have analyzed the cellular composition of ascites from OvCa patients, using flow cytometry, and studied their behavior in vitro and in vivo. We conclude that ascites‐derived cultured cells from OvCa patients give rise to two subpopulations: adherent cells and non‐adherent cells. Here, we found that the AD population includes mainly CD90+ cells with highly proliferative rates in vitro but no tumorigenic potential in vivo, whereas the NAD population contains principally tumor cell spheroids (EpCAM+/CD24+) with low proliferative potential in vitro. Enriched tumor cell spheroids from the ascites of high‐grade serous OvCA patients, obtained using cell strainers, were highly tumorigenic in vivo and their metastatic spread pattern precisely resembled the tumor dissemination pattern found in the corresponding patients. Comparative transcriptome analyses from ascites‐derived tumor cell spheroids (n = 10) versus tumor samples from different metastatic sites (n = 30) revealed upregulation of genes involved in chemoresistance (TGM1, HSPAs, MT1s), cell adhesion and cell‐barrier integrity (PKP3, CLDNs, PPL), and the oxidative phosphorylation process. Mitochondrial markers (mass and membrane potential) showed a reduced mitochondrial function in tumoroids from tumor tissue compared with ascites‐derived tumor spheroids in flow cytometry analysis. Interestingly, response to OXPHOS inhibition by metformin and IACS010759 in tumor spheroids correlated with the extent of mitochondrial membrane potential measured by fluorescence‐activated cell sorting. Our data contribute to a better understanding of the biology of ovarian cancer spheroids and identify the OXPHOS pathway as new potential treatment option in advanced ovarian cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi Ding
- Department of Gynecology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Germany
| | - Vera Labitzky
- Institute of Anatomy and Experimental Morphology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Germany
| | - Karen Legler
- Department of Gynecology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Germany
| | - Minyue Qi
- Bioinformatic Core Facility, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Germany
| | - Udo Schumacher
- Institute of Anatomy and Experimental Morphology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Germany
| | - Barbara Schmalfeldt
- Department of Gynecology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Germany
| | - Christine Stürken
- Institute of Anatomy and Experimental Morphology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Germany
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