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Dai YW, Pan YT, Lin DF, Chen XH, Zhou X, Wang WM. Bulk anda single-cell transcriptome profiling reveals the molecular characteristics of T cell-mediated tumor killing in pancreatic cancer. Heliyon 2024; 10:e27216. [PMID: 38449660 PMCID: PMC10915414 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e27216] [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: 08/25/2023] [Revised: 02/22/2024] [Accepted: 02/26/2024] [Indexed: 03/08/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Despite the potential of immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) as a promising treatment for Pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PAAD), there is still a need to identify specific subgroups of PAAD patients who may benefit more from ICB. T cell-mediated tumor killing (TTK) is the primary concept behind ICB. We explored subtypes according to genes correlated with the sensitivity to TKK and unraveled their underlying associations for PAAD immunotherapies. Methods Genes that control the responsiveness of T cell-induced tumor destruction (GSTTK) were examined in PAAD, focusing on their varying expression levels and association with survival results. Moreover, samples with PAAD were separated into two subsets using unsupervised clustering based on GSTTK. Variability was evident in the tumor immune microenvironment, genetic mutation, and response to immunotherapy among different groups. In the end, we developed TRGscore, an innovative scoring system, and investigated its clinical and predictive significance in determining sensitivity to immunotherapy. Results Patients with PAAD were categorized into 2 clusters based on the expression of 52 GSTTKs, which showed varying levels and prognostic relevance, revealing unique TTK patterns. Survival outcome, immune cell infiltration, immunotherapy responses, and functional enrichment are also distinguished among the two clusters. Moreover, we found the CATSPER1 gene promotes the progression of PAAD through experiments. In addition, the TRGscore effectively predicted the responses to chemotherapeutics or immunotherapy in patients with PAAD and overall survival. Conclusions TTK exerted a vital influence on the tumor immune environment in PAAD. A greater understanding of TIME characteristics was gained through the evaluation of the variations in TTK modes across different tumor types. It highlights variations in the performance of T cells in PAAD and provides direction for improved treatment approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yin-wei Dai
- Department of Breast Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
| | - Ya-ting Pan
- Department of Gastroenterology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
| | - Dan-feng Lin
- Department of Breast Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
| | - Xiao-hu Chen
- Department of Pathology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
| | - Xiang Zhou
- Department of Breast Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
| | - Wei-ming Wang
- Department of Hepatopancreatobiliary Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
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Chen Y, Zhang F, Zhang B, Trojanowicz B, Hämmerle M, Kleeff J, Sunami Y. Periostin is associated with prognosis and immune cell infiltration in pancreatic adenocarcinoma based on integrated bioinformatics analysis. Cancer Rep (Hoboken) 2024; 7:e1990. [PMID: 38389400 PMCID: PMC10884618 DOI: 10.1002/cnr2.1990] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2023] [Revised: 11/13/2023] [Accepted: 01/15/2024] [Indexed: 02/24/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Pancreatic cancer is one of the most aggressive human malignancies. Previous research has shown that periostin (POSTN) promotes pancreatic cancer cell proliferation, migration, and invasion. Further, POSTN is involved in tumor microenvironment remodeling during tumor progression. However, the relationship between POSTN expression, immune cell infiltration, and the efficacy of immunotherapy in pancreatic cancer is unclear. METHODS We conducted a comprehensive evaluation of POSTN differential expression, examining mRNA and protein levels. To gather data, we utilized various databases including gene expression profiling interactive analysis 2 (GEPIA2), gene expression omnibus (GEO), and the human protein atlas (HPA). To investigate the correlation between POSTN expression and clinical characteristics, we analyzed data from the Kaplan-Meier plotter database and clinical data sourced from the cancer genome atlas (TCGA). Furthermore, we performed gene ontology (GO) analysis, Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes (KEGG) pathway analysis, and gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA). Additionally, we explored the relationship between POSTN expression and immune cell infiltration, as well as the immunophenoscore (IPS), by leveraging the cancer immunome atlas (TCIA) database. Lastly, we examined the tumor mutational burden (TMB) in pancreatic cancer in relation to POSTN expression. RESULTS When compared with healthy pancreatic tissues, pancreatic cancer tissues displayed significantly higher levels of POSTN, which was indicative of a worse prognosis. POSTN expression was closely associated with extracellular matrix (ECM) organization, ECM-receptor interaction, and focal adhesion by GO, KEGG pathway, and GSEA analyses. Higher expression of POSTN was associated with increased infiltration of M2 macrophages. Additionally, increased IPS was linked to lower POSTN expression. IPS scores for CTLA4, PD-1/PDL1, and CTLA4/PD-1/PDL1 immune checkpoint inhibitors were also higher in the POSTN-low expression group, suggesting that lower expression of POSTN is associated with a better outcome with checkpoint inhibitor treatment. CONCLUSION POSTN is related to pancreatic cancer prognosis, and may influence immune cell infiltration. High expression of POSTN is predicted to correlate with lower sensitivity to immunotherapy with checkpoint inhibitors in pancreatic cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yijun Chen
- Department of Visceral, Vascular and Endocrine SurgeryMartin‐Luther‐University Halle‐Wittenberg, University Medical Center HalleHalle (Saale)Germany
| | - Fengyu Zhang
- School of Biomedical Engineering and TechnologyTianjin Medical UniversityTianjinChina
| | - Bolin Zhang
- Department of Visceral, Vascular and Endocrine SurgeryMartin‐Luther‐University Halle‐Wittenberg, University Medical Center HalleHalle (Saale)Germany
| | - Bogusz Trojanowicz
- Department of Visceral, Vascular and Endocrine SurgeryMartin‐Luther‐University Halle‐Wittenberg, University Medical Center HalleHalle (Saale)Germany
| | - Monika Hämmerle
- Institute of Pathology, Martin‐Luther‐University Halle‐WittenbergUniversity Medical Center HalleHalle (Saale)Germany
| | - Jörg Kleeff
- Department of Visceral, Vascular and Endocrine SurgeryMartin‐Luther‐University Halle‐Wittenberg, University Medical Center HalleHalle (Saale)Germany
| | - Yoshiaki Sunami
- Department of Visceral, Vascular and Endocrine SurgeryMartin‐Luther‐University Halle‐Wittenberg, University Medical Center HalleHalle (Saale)Germany
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Feng D, Liu B, Chen Z, Xu J, Geng M, Duan W, Ai J, Zhang H. Discovery of hematopoietic progenitor kinase 1 inhibitors using machine learning-based screening and free energy perturbation. J Biomol Struct Dyn 2024:1-13. [PMID: 38198294 DOI: 10.1080/07391102.2024.2301754] [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: 09/12/2023] [Accepted: 12/30/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2024]
Abstract
Hematopoietic progenitor kinase 1 (HPK1) is a key negative regulator of T-cell receptor (TCR) signaling and a promising target for cancer immunotherapy. The development of novel HPK1 inhibitors is challenging yet promising. In this study, we used a combination of machine learning (ML)-based virtual screening and free energy perturbation (FEP) calculations to identify novel HPK1 inhibitors. ML-based screening yielded 10 potent HPK1 inhibitors (IC50 < 1 μM). The FEP-guided modification of the in-house false-positive hit, DW21302, revealed that a single key atom change could trigger activity cliffs. The resulting DW21302-A was a potent HPK1 inhibitor (IC50 = 2.1 nM) and potently inhibited cellular HPK1 signaling and enhanced T-cell function. Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations and ADME predictions confirmed DW21302-A as candidate compound. This study provides new strategies and chemical scaffolds for HPK1 inhibitor development.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dazhi Feng
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica (SIMM), Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines and Department of Medicinal Chemistry, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Bo Liu
- Division of Antitumor Pharmacology, State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica (SIMM), Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Zhiwei Chen
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica (SIMM), Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Jinyi Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines and Department of Medicinal Chemistry, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Meiyu Geng
- Division of Antitumor Pharmacology, State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica (SIMM), Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- Shandong Laboratory of Yantai Drug Discovery, Bohai Rim Advanced Research Institute for Drug Discovery, Yantai, Shandong, China
| | - Wenhu Duan
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica (SIMM), Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- Shandong Laboratory of Yantai Drug Discovery, Bohai Rim Advanced Research Institute for Drug Discovery, Yantai, Shandong, China
| | - Jing Ai
- Division of Antitumor Pharmacology, State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica (SIMM), Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Hefeng Zhang
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica (SIMM), Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
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Cheng P, Ming S, Cao W, Wu J, Tian Q, Zhu J, Wei W. Recent advances in sonodynamic therapy strategies for pancreatic cancer. WILEY INTERDISCIPLINARY REVIEWS. NANOMEDICINE AND NANOBIOTECHNOLOGY 2024; 16:e1945. [PMID: 38403882 DOI: 10.1002/wnan.1945] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2023] [Revised: 01/11/2024] [Accepted: 01/30/2024] [Indexed: 02/27/2024]
Abstract
Pancreatic cancer, a prevalent malignancy of the digestive system, has a poor 5-year survival rate of around 10%. Although numerous minimally invasive alternative treatments, including photothermal therapy and photodynamic therapy, have shown effectiveness compared with traditional surgical procedures, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy. However, the application of these alternative treatments is constrained by their depth of penetration, making it challenging to treat pancreatic cancer situated deep within the tissue. Sonodynamic therapy (SDT) has emerged as a promising minimally invasive therapy method that is particularly potent against deep-seated tumors such as pancreatic cancer. However, the unique characteristics of pancreatic cancer, including a dense surrounding matrix, high reductivity, and a hypoxic tumor microenvironment, impede the efficient application of SDT. Thus, to guide the evolution of SDT for pancreatic cancer therapy, this review addresses these challenges, examines current strategies for effective SDT enhancement for pancreatic cancer, and investigates potential future advances to boost clinical applicability. This article is categorized under: Therapeutic Approaches and Drug Discovery > Nanomedicine for Oncologic Disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peng Cheng
- Department of Radiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Shuai Ming
- Department of Radiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Wei Cao
- Department of Radiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Jixiao Wu
- School of Materials and Chemistry, State Key Laboratory of Tea Plant Biology and Utilization, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Qiwei Tian
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Molecular Imaging, Shanghai University of Medicine and Health Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Jing Zhu
- School of Materials and Chemistry, State Key Laboratory of Tea Plant Biology and Utilization, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Wei Wei
- Department of Radiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, China
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Ahmadvand M, Barough MS, Barkhordar M, Faridfar A, Ghaderi A, Jalaeikhoo H, Rajaienejad M, Majidzadeh K, Ghavamzadeh A, Sarrami-Forooshani R. Phase I non-randomized clinical trial of allogeneic natural killer cells infusion in acute myeloid leukemia patients. BMC Cancer 2023; 23:1090. [PMID: 37950209 PMCID: PMC10636850 DOI: 10.1186/s12885-023-11610-x] [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: 06/17/2023] [Accepted: 11/03/2023] [Indexed: 11/12/2023] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION A new type of immune cell transplantation called allogeneic NK cell infusion is proposed as a potential universal off-the-shelf cell product for adoptive immune cell therapy in hematologic malignancies. DESIGN A multicentral phase I non-randomized clinical trial was conducted to assess the safety, feasibility, and potential efficacy of adoptively infused NK cells in patients with refractory/relapsed AML. We evaluated the feasibility of the trial by considering cell production, patient selection, and treatment protocol. METHOD Allogeneic NK cells were produced from random healthy unrelated donors; 10 patients were selected according to the inclusion criteria and were included in two groups in case of NK cell dose escalation. Two cell infusions were given, spaced 7 days apart, following a lymphodepletion conditioning regimen of fludarabin-endoxan administered 7 days before the first infusion. The intervention safety was scored using Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE) based on variations in vital signs due to cell infusion. NK cell chimerism, tumor burden, and duration of relapse were considered to be components of efficacy. The pilot feasibility evaluation was checked using the CONSORT platform. RESULTS The NK cell infusion procedure was well tolerated, and no grade 2-5 toxicities related (possible or probable) to PB-NK cell infusion were observed. Four patients developed grade 1 transient chills, headaches, vomiting, and bone pain following each PB-NK cell infusion that were not required hospitalization. One of these patients (p01) died because of severe acute respiratory syndrome. Of 9 evaluable patients, 6 (66.6%) showed stable disease (SD) and 3 (33.3%) presented progressive disease (PD). Of 6 SD patients, 2 (p08 and p09) remained alive in SD and 3 patients (p04, p05 and p07) converted to PD at 9 months after infusion of NK cells, and 1 (p03) was not evaluable due to follow-up loss. No patient achieved complete remission. CONCLUSION The study demonstrated the feasibility and safety of adoptive transfer of random healthy unrelated donor PB-NK cells in refractory/relapsed AML patients and supports continued study in phase II clinical trials in relapsed/refractory AML patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammad Ahmadvand
- Cell Therapy and Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation Research Center, Research Institute for Oncology, Hematology and Cell Therapy, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
| | - Mahdieh Shokrollahi Barough
- ATMP Department, Breast Cancer Research Center, Motamed Cancer Institute, ACECR, P.O. BOX: 15179/64311, Tehran, Iran
| | - Maryam Barkhordar
- Cell Therapy and Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation Research Center, Research Institute for Oncology, Hematology and Cell Therapy, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Ali Faridfar
- ATMP Department, Breast Cancer Research Center, Motamed Cancer Institute, ACECR, P.O. BOX: 15179/64311, Tehran, Iran
| | - Afshin Ghaderi
- Department of Internal Medicine, Hematology and Medical Oncology Ward, Yasuj University of Medical Sciences, Yasuj, Iran
| | - Hasan Jalaeikhoo
- Research Center for Cancer Epidemiology and Screening, Aja University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mohsen Rajaienejad
- ATMP Department, Breast Cancer Research Center, Motamed Cancer Institute, ACECR, P.O. BOX: 15179/64311, Tehran, Iran
| | - Keivan Majidzadeh
- Genetics Department, Breast Cancer Research Center, Motamed Cancer Institute, ACECR, Tehran, Iran
| | - Ardeshir Ghavamzadeh
- ATMP Department, Breast Cancer Research Center, Motamed Cancer Institute, ACECR, P.O. BOX: 15179/64311, Tehran, Iran.
- Cancer and cell therapy research center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
| | - Ramin Sarrami-Forooshani
- ATMP Department, Breast Cancer Research Center, Motamed Cancer Institute, ACECR, P.O. BOX: 15179/64311, Tehran, Iran.
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Chouari T, La Costa FS, Merali N, Jessel MD, Sivakumar S, Annels N, Frampton AE. Advances in Immunotherapeutics in Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:4265. [PMID: 37686543 PMCID: PMC10486452 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15174265] [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: 05/05/2023] [Revised: 08/17/2023] [Accepted: 08/22/2023] [Indexed: 09/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) accounts for up to 95% of all pancreatic cancer cases and is the seventh-leading cause of cancer death. Poor prognosis is a result of late presentation, a lack of screening tests and the fact some patients develop resistance to chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Novel therapies like immunotherapeutics have been of recent interest in pancreatic cancer. However, this field remains in its infancy with much to unravel. Immunotherapy and other targeted therapies have yet to yield significant progress in treating PDAC, primarily due to our limited understanding of the disease immune mechanisms and its intricate interactions with the tumour microenvironment (TME). In this review we provide an overview of current novel immunotherapies which have been studied in the field of pancreatic cancer. We discuss their mechanisms, evidence available in pancreatic cancer as well as the limitations of such therapies. We showcase the potential role of combining novel therapies in PDAC, postulate their potential clinical implications and the hurdles associated with their use in PDAC. Therapies discussed with include programmed death checkpoint inhibitors, Cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated protein 4, Chimeric Antigen Receptor-T cell therapy, oncolytic viral therapy and vaccine therapies including KRAS vaccines, Telomerase vaccines, Gastrin Vaccines, Survivin-targeting vaccines, Heat-shock protein (HSP) peptide complex-based vaccines, MUC-1 targeting vaccines, Listeria based vaccines and Dendritic cell-based vaccines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tarak Chouari
- Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Department, Royal Surrey NHS Foundation Trust, Guildford GU2 7XX, UK; (T.C.); (F.S.L.C.); (N.M.)
- Section of Oncology, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Surrey, Guildford GU2 7WG, UK; (M.-D.J.); (N.A.)
| | - Francesca Soraya La Costa
- Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Department, Royal Surrey NHS Foundation Trust, Guildford GU2 7XX, UK; (T.C.); (F.S.L.C.); (N.M.)
| | - Nabeel Merali
- Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Department, Royal Surrey NHS Foundation Trust, Guildford GU2 7XX, UK; (T.C.); (F.S.L.C.); (N.M.)
- Section of Oncology, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Surrey, Guildford GU2 7WG, UK; (M.-D.J.); (N.A.)
- The Minimal Access Therapy Training Unit, University of Surrey, Guildford GU2 7WG, UK
| | - Maria-Danae Jessel
- Section of Oncology, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Surrey, Guildford GU2 7WG, UK; (M.-D.J.); (N.A.)
| | - Shivan Sivakumar
- Oncology Department and Institute of Immunology and Immunotherapy, Birmingham Medical School, University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK;
| | - Nicola Annels
- Section of Oncology, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Surrey, Guildford GU2 7WG, UK; (M.-D.J.); (N.A.)
| | - Adam E. Frampton
- Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Department, Royal Surrey NHS Foundation Trust, Guildford GU2 7XX, UK; (T.C.); (F.S.L.C.); (N.M.)
- Section of Oncology, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Surrey, Guildford GU2 7WG, UK; (M.-D.J.); (N.A.)
- The Minimal Access Therapy Training Unit, University of Surrey, Guildford GU2 7WG, UK
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Liu S, Liu P, Fei X, Zhu C, Hou J, Wang X, Pan Y. Analysis and validation of the potential of the MYO1E gene in pancreatic adenocarcinoma based on a bioinformatics approach. Oncol Lett 2023; 26:285. [PMID: 37274465 PMCID: PMC10236097 DOI: 10.3892/ol.2023.13871] [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: 01/23/2023] [Accepted: 03/22/2023] [Indexed: 06/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PAAD) is a common digestive cancer, and its prognosis is poor. Myosin 1E (MYO1E) is a class I myosin family member whose expression and function have not been reported in PAAD. In the present study, bioinformatics analysis was used to explore the expression levels of MYO1E in PAAD and its prognostic value, and the immunological role of MYO1E in PAAD was analyzed. The study revealed that a variety of malignancies have substantially increased MYO1E expression. Further investigation demonstrated that PAAD tissues exhibited greater levels of MYO1E mRNA and protein expression than normal tissues. High MYO1E expression is associated with poor prognosis in patients with PAAD. MYO1E expression was also associated with pathological stage in patients with PAAD. Functional enrichment analysis demonstrated that MYO1E was linked to multiple tumor-related mechanisms in PAAD. The pancreatic adenocarcinoma tumor microenvironment (TME) was analyzed and it was revealed that MYO1E expression was positively associated with tumor immune cell infiltration. In addition, MYO1E was closely associated with some tumor chemokines/receptors and immune checkpoints. In vitro experiments revealed that the suppression of MYO1E expression could inhibit pancreatic adenocarcinoma cell proliferation, invasion and migration. Through preliminary analysis, the present study evaluated the potential function of MYO1E in PAAD and its function in TME, and MYO1E may become a potential biomarker for PAAD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Songbai Liu
- School of Clinical Medicine, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, Guizhou 550000, P.R. China
| | - Peng Liu
- School of Clinical Medicine, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, Guizhou 550000, P.R. China
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, The Affiliated Hospital of Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, Guizhou 550000, P.R. China
| | - Xiaobin Fei
- School of Clinical Medicine, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, Guizhou 550000, P.R. China
| | - Changhao Zhu
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, Guizhou 550000, P.R. China
| | - Junyi Hou
- School of Clinical Medicine, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, Guizhou 550000, P.R. China
| | - Xing Wang
- School of Clinical Medicine, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, Guizhou 550000, P.R. China
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, Guizhou 550000, P.R. China
| | - Yaozhen Pan
- School of Clinical Medicine, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, Guizhou 550000, P.R. China
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, Guizhou 550000, P.R. China
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Chen Y, Lin X, Zou X, Qian Y, Liu Y, Wang R, Wang X, Yu X, Liu C, Cheng H. A novel immune checkpoint score system for prognostic evaluation in pancreatic adenocarcinoma. BMC Gastroenterol 2023; 23:113. [PMID: 37024802 PMCID: PMC10080823 DOI: 10.1186/s12876-023-02748-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2022] [Accepted: 03/28/2023] [Indexed: 04/08/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PAAD) remains a lethal malignancy making the detection of novel prognostic biomarkers urgent. Limited studies have investigated the predictive capability of immune checkpoints in PAAD. METHOD Gene expression data and correlative clinical information of PAAD cohort were obtained from public databases, including TCGA, ICGC, GTEX and GEO databases. Risk factors were screened and used to establish a risk score model through LASSO and Cox regression analyses. The prognostic ability of the risk score model was demonstrated. The association between risk score with immune cells infiltration, immune checkpoint genes expression, immunogenic cell death, somatic mutations and signaling pathways enrichment were analysed. scRNA-seq data were collected to confirmed the immune checkpoints expression in PAAD samples. The prognosis prediction ability of OX40/TNFRSF4 was identified. The mRNA and protein expression of OX40 in our clinical specimens were examined by RT-PCR and IHC method and its prognosis ability was verified. RESULTS First of all, the difference of immune microenvironment between pancreatic cancer and adjacent tissues was shown. A risk score system based on three immune checkpoints (OX40, TNFSF14 and KIR3DL1) was established. The risk score model was an independent prognostic factor and performed well regarding overall survival (OS) predictions among PAAD patients. A nomogram was established to facilitate the risk model application in clinical prognosis. Immune cells including naive B cells, CD8+ T cells and Tregs were negatively correlated with the risk score. The risk score was associated with expression of immune checkpoint genes, immunogenic cell death related genes and somatic mutations. Glycolysis processes, IL-2-STAT5, IL-6-STAT3, and mTORC1 signaling pathways were enriched in the high-risk score group. Furthermore, scRNA-seq data confirmed that TNFRSF4, TNFSF14 and KIR3DL1 were expressed on immune cells in PAAD samples. We then identified OX40 as an independent prognosis-related gene, and a higher OX40 expression was associated with increased survival rate and immune environment change. In 84 PAAD clinical specimens collected from our center, we confirmed that higher OX40 mRNA expression levels were related to a good prognosis. The protein expression of OX40 on tumor-infiltrating immune cells (TIICs), endothelial cells and tumor cells was verified in PAAD tissues by immunohistochemistry (IHC) method. CONCLUSIONS Overall, our findings strongly suggested that the three-immune checkpoints score system might be useful in the prognosis and design of personalized treatments for PAAD patients. Finally, we identified OX40 as an independent potential biomarker for PAAD prognosis prediction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yusheng Chen
- Department of Pancreatic Surgery, Shanghai Cancer Center, Fudan University, 270 DongAn Road, Xuhui, Shanghai, 200032, People's Republic of China
- Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
- Shanghai Pancreatic Cancer Institute, Shanghai, 200032, China
- Pancreatic Cancer Institute, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Xuan Lin
- Department of Pancreatic Surgery, Shanghai Cancer Center, Fudan University, 270 DongAn Road, Xuhui, Shanghai, 200032, People's Republic of China
- Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
- Shanghai Pancreatic Cancer Institute, Shanghai, 200032, China
- Pancreatic Cancer Institute, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Xuan Zou
- Department of Pancreatic Surgery, Shanghai Cancer Center, Fudan University, 270 DongAn Road, Xuhui, Shanghai, 200032, People's Republic of China
- Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
- Shanghai Pancreatic Cancer Institute, Shanghai, 200032, China
- Pancreatic Cancer Institute, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Yunzhen Qian
- Department of Pancreatic Surgery, Shanghai Cancer Center, Fudan University, 270 DongAn Road, Xuhui, Shanghai, 200032, People's Republic of China
- Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
- Shanghai Pancreatic Cancer Institute, Shanghai, 200032, China
- Pancreatic Cancer Institute, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Yu Liu
- Department of Pancreatic Surgery, Shanghai Cancer Center, Fudan University, 270 DongAn Road, Xuhui, Shanghai, 200032, People's Republic of China
- Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
- Shanghai Pancreatic Cancer Institute, Shanghai, 200032, China
- Pancreatic Cancer Institute, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Ruijie Wang
- Department of Pancreatic Surgery, Shanghai Cancer Center, Fudan University, 270 DongAn Road, Xuhui, Shanghai, 200032, People's Republic of China
- Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
- Shanghai Pancreatic Cancer Institute, Shanghai, 200032, China
- Pancreatic Cancer Institute, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Xu Wang
- Department of Pancreatic Surgery, Shanghai Cancer Center, Fudan University, 270 DongAn Road, Xuhui, Shanghai, 200032, People's Republic of China
- Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
- Shanghai Pancreatic Cancer Institute, Shanghai, 200032, China
- Pancreatic Cancer Institute, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Xianjun Yu
- Department of Pancreatic Surgery, Shanghai Cancer Center, Fudan University, 270 DongAn Road, Xuhui, Shanghai, 200032, People's Republic of China
- Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
- Shanghai Pancreatic Cancer Institute, Shanghai, 200032, China
- Pancreatic Cancer Institute, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Chen Liu
- Department of Pancreatic Surgery, Shanghai Cancer Center, Fudan University, 270 DongAn Road, Xuhui, Shanghai, 200032, People's Republic of China.
- Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China.
- Shanghai Pancreatic Cancer Institute, Shanghai, 200032, China.
- Pancreatic Cancer Institute, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China.
| | - He Cheng
- Department of Pancreatic Surgery, Shanghai Cancer Center, Fudan University, 270 DongAn Road, Xuhui, Shanghai, 200032, People's Republic of China.
- Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China.
- Shanghai Pancreatic Cancer Institute, Shanghai, 200032, China.
- Pancreatic Cancer Institute, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China.
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9
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Panebianco C, Ciardiello D, Villani A, Maiorano BA, Latiano TP, Maiello E, Perri F, Pazienza V. Insights into the role of gut and intratumor microbiota in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma as new key players in preventive, diagnostic and therapeutic perspective. Semin Cancer Biol 2022; 86:997-1007. [PMID: 34838957 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcancer.2021.11.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2021] [Revised: 11/18/2021] [Accepted: 11/24/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Microbiota consists of a dynamic organization of bacteria, viruses, archaea, and fungal species involved in a number of vital functions spanning from the digestion of carbohydrates, vitamin synthesis, involvement in immune system to drug metabolism. More than 95 % of microbiota resides within the gut and it is essential for maintaining gut homeostasis. Dysregulation of gut microbiota contributes to the onset of several non-communicable diseases including cancer. Among the latter, pancreatic cancer is catching the attention of scientists around the globe being one of the most aggressive and resistant to therapies positioning the pancreatic cancer as one of the leading causes of death from cancer worldwide. In recent years, several studies have shown that the gut and tumor microbiota play a key role in the development, progression and prognosis of PDAC, mainly due to microbial ability to modulate host immune system and metabolize drugs. This review will focus on the new insights into the role of the microbiota as a new key player in pancreatic cancer PDAC development and prognosis by enlightening the microbial potential to interact with chemo/immunotherapeutic drugs and to modulate tumor microenvironment, thus impacting on cancer therapy success with the aim to pave the way to new integrative and interventional diagnostics or therapeutics approaches to prevent, diagnose and treat pancreatic cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Concetta Panebianco
- Gastroenterology Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza, San Giovanni Rotondo, Italy
| | - Davide Ciardiello
- Oncology Department, Fondazione IRCCS Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza, San Giovanni Rotondo, Italy; Oncology Unit, Department of Precision Medicine, Università degli Studi della Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", Naples, Italy
| | - Annacandida Villani
- Gastroenterology Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza, San Giovanni Rotondo, Italy
| | - Brigida Anna Maiorano
- Oncology Department, Fondazione IRCCS Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza, San Giovanni Rotondo, Italy; Department of Translational Medicine and Surgery, Catholic University of Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy
| | - Tiziana Pia Latiano
- Oncology Department, Fondazione IRCCS Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza, San Giovanni Rotondo, Italy
| | - Evaristo Maiello
- Oncology Department, Fondazione IRCCS Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza, San Giovanni Rotondo, Italy
| | - Francesco Perri
- Gastroenterology Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza, San Giovanni Rotondo, Italy
| | - Valerio Pazienza
- Gastroenterology Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza, San Giovanni Rotondo, Italy.
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10
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Chen L, Zhang X, Zhang Q, Zhang T, Xie J, Wei W, Wang Y, Yu H, Zhou H. A necroptosis related prognostic model of pancreatic cancer based on single cell sequencing analysis and transcriptome analysis. Front Immunol 2022; 13:1022420. [PMID: 36275722 PMCID: PMC9585241 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.1022420] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2022] [Accepted: 09/26/2022] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Background As a tumor type with high mortality and poor therapeutic effect, the pathogenesis of pancreatic cancer is still unclear. It is necessary to explore the significance of necroptosis in pancreatic cancer. Methods Pancreatic cancer transcriptome data were obtained from the TCGA database, ICGC database, and GSE85916 in the GEO database. The TCGA cohort was set as a training cohort, while the ICGC and GSE85916 cohort were set as the validation cohorts. Single-cell sequencing data of pancreatic cancer were obtained from GSE154778 in the GEO database. The genes most associated with necroptosis were identified by weighted co-expression network analysis and single-cell sequencing analysis. COX regression and Lasso regression were performed for these genes, and the prognostic model was established. By calculating risk scores, pancreatic cancer patients could be divided into NCPTS_high and NCPTS_low groups, and survival analysis, immune infiltration analysis, and mutation analysis between groups were performed. Cell experiments including gene knockdown, CCK-8 assay, clone formation assay, transwell assay and wound healing assay were conducted to explore the role of the key gene EPS8 in pancreatic cancer. PCR assays on clinical samples were further used to verify EPS8 expression. Results We constructed the necroptosis-related signature in pancreatic cancer using single-cell sequencing analysis and transcriptome analysis. The calculation formula of risk score was as follows: NCPTS = POLR3GL * (-0.404) + COL17A1 * (0.092) + DDIT4 * (0.007) + PDE4C * (0.057) + CLDN1 * 0.075 + HMGA2 * 0.056 + CENPF * 0.198 +EPS8 * 0.219. Through this signature, pancreatic cancer patients with different cohorts can be divided into NCPTS_high and NCPTS_low group, and the NCPTS_high group has a significantly poorer prognosis. Moreover, there were significant differences in immune infiltration level and mutation level between the two groups. Cell assays showed that in CAPAN-1 and PANC-1 cell lines, EPS8 knockdown significantly reduced the viability, clonogenesis, migration and invasion of pancreatic cancer cells. Clinical PCR assay of EPS8 expression showed that EPS8 expression was significantly up-regulated in pancreatic cancer (*P<0.05). Conclusion Our study can provide a reference for the diagnosis, treatment and prognosis assessment of pancreatic cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liang Chen
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Conversion Therapy Center for Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Tumors, First Hospital of Jiaxing, Affiliated Hospital of Jiaxing University, Jiaxing, Zhejiang, China
| | - Xueming Zhang
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Conversion Therapy Center for Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Tumors, First Hospital of Jiaxing, Affiliated Hospital of Jiaxing University, Jiaxing, Zhejiang, China
| | - Qixiang Zhang
- Department of Neurosurgery, First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Tao Zhang
- Department of General Surgery, Fuyang Hospital Affiliated to Anhui Medical University, Fuyang, China
| | - Jiaheng Xie
- Department of Burn and Plastic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Wei Wei
- Department of Anesthesiology, Jiaxing First Hospital, Jiaxing, China
| | - Ying Wang
- Department of Neurosurgery, Children's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Hongzhu Yu
- Department of General Surgery, Fuyang Hospital Affiliated to Anhui Medical University, Fuyang, China
| | - Hongkun Zhou
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Conversion Therapy Center for Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Tumors, First Hospital of Jiaxing, Affiliated Hospital of Jiaxing University, Jiaxing, Zhejiang, China
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11
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Ge W, Shentu D, Wang Y, Wang Y, Xue S, Yue M, Mao T, Zhang X, Xu H, Li S, Ma J, Yao J, Cui J, Wang L. A novel angiogenesis-based molecular signature related to prognosis and tumor immune interactions of pancreatic cancer. Front Cell Dev Biol 2022; 10:1001606. [PMID: 36274838 PMCID: PMC9582445 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2022.1001606] [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: 07/23/2022] [Accepted: 09/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Angiogenesis, a hallmark of cancer, is related to prognosis, tumor progression, and treatment response. Nevertheless, the correlation of angiogenesis-based molecular signature with clinical outcome and immune cell infiltration has not been thoroughly studied in pancreatic cancer. In this study, multiple bioinformatics methods were combined to evaluate prognosis, immune cell infiltration, and the alterations of angiogenesis-related genes (ARGs) in PC samples, and further establish a novel angiogenesis-related gene signature. Moreover, the protein and mRNA expression levels of four angiogenesis risk genes were determined by Human Protein Atlas (HPA) database and qPCR analysis, respectively. Here, we recognized two distinct angiogenesis subtypes and two gene subtypes, and revealed the critical roles of ARGs in the tumor immune microenvironment (TIME), clinical features, and prognosis. Consequently, we established an ARGs score to predict prognosis and therapeutic response of PC patients, and validated its robust predictive ability. Additionally, the ARGs score was markedly associated with clinical outcomes, tumor mutation burden (TMB), and chemotherapeutic drug sensitivity. In brief, our findings imply that the ARGs score is a robust prognostic indicator and may contribute to the development of effective individualized therapies for PC.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Jiujie Cui
- *Correspondence: Jiujie Cui, ; Liwei Wang,
| | - Liwei Wang
- *Correspondence: Jiujie Cui, ; Liwei Wang,
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12
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Advanced Research on Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor Therapy. J Clin Med 2022; 11:jcm11185392. [PMID: 36143036 PMCID: PMC9501691 DOI: 10.3390/jcm11185392] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2022] [Accepted: 09/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
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13
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Meng Y, Yu J, Zhu M, Zhou J, Li N, Liu F, Zhang H, Fang X, Li J, Feng X, Wang L, Jiang H, Lu J, Shao C, Bian Y. CT radiomics signature: a potential biomarker for fibroblast activation protein expression in patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. Abdom Radiol (NY) 2022; 47:2822-2834. [PMID: 35451626 DOI: 10.1007/s00261-022-03512-6] [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: 12/13/2021] [Revised: 03/25/2022] [Accepted: 03/25/2022] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE To develop and validate a radiomics model to predict fibroblast activation protein (FAP) expression in patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). METHODS This retrospective study included consecutive 152 patients with PDAC who underwent MDCT scan and surgical resection from January 2017 to December 2017 (training set) and from January 2018 to April 2018 (validation set). In the training set, 1409 portal radiomic features were extracted from each patient's preoperative imaging. Optimal features were selected using the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) logistic regression algorithm, whereupon the extreme gradient boosting (XGBoost) was developed using the radiomics features. The performance of the XGBoost classifier performance was assessed by its calibration, discrimination, and clinical usefulness. RESULTS The patients were divided into FAP-low (n = 91; 59.87%) and FAP-high (n = 61; 40.13%) groups according to the optimal FAP cutoff (45.71%). Patients in the FAP-low group showed longer survival. The XGBoost classifier comprised 13 selected radiomics features and showed good discrimination in the training set [area under the curve (AUC), 0.97] and the validation set (AUC, 0.75). It also performed well in the calibration test and decision-curve analysis, demonstrating its potential clinical value. CONCLUSIONS The XGBoost classifier based on CT radiomics in the portal venous phase can non-invasively predict FAP expression and may help to improve clinical decision-making in patients with PDAC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yinghao Meng
- Department of Radiology, Changhai Hospital, Naval Medical University, Shanghai, China
- Department of Radiology, No. 971 Hospital of Navy, Qingdao, Shandong, China
| | - Jieyu Yu
- Department of Radiology, Changhai Hospital, Naval Medical University, Shanghai, China
| | - Mengmeng Zhu
- Department of Radiology, Changhai Hospital, Naval Medical University, Shanghai, China
| | - Jian Zhou
- Department of Radiology, Changhai Hospital, Naval Medical University, Shanghai, China
| | - Na Li
- Department of Radiology, Changhai Hospital, Naval Medical University, Shanghai, China
| | - Fang Liu
- Department of Radiology, Changhai Hospital, Naval Medical University, Shanghai, China
| | - Hao Zhang
- Department of Radiology, Changhai Hospital, Naval Medical University, Shanghai, China
| | - Xu Fang
- Department of Radiology, Changhai Hospital, Naval Medical University, Shanghai, China
| | - Jing Li
- Department of Radiology, Changhai Hospital, Naval Medical University, Shanghai, China
| | - Xiaocheng Feng
- Department of Radiology, Changhai Hospital, Naval Medical University, Shanghai, China
| | - Li Wang
- Department of Radiology, Changhai Hospital, Naval Medical University, Shanghai, China
| | - Hui Jiang
- Department of Pathology, Changhai Hospital, Naval Medical University, Shanghai, China
| | - Jianping Lu
- Department of Radiology, Changhai Hospital, Naval Medical University, Shanghai, China
| | - Chengwei Shao
- Department of Radiology, Changhai Hospital, Naval Medical University, Shanghai, China.
- Department of Radiology, Changhai Hospital, 168 Changhai Road, Shanghai, 200433, China.
| | - Yun Bian
- Department of Radiology, Changhai Hospital, Naval Medical University, Shanghai, China.
- Department of Radiology, Changhai Hospital, 168 Changhai Road, Shanghai, 200433, China.
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14
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Lyu Y, Duan B, Liu Z, Yang F, Chen C, Jiang X, Liu X. Sparstolonin B inhibits pancreatic adenocarcinoma through the NF-κB signaling pathway. Exp Cell Res 2022; 417:113214. [PMID: 35594953 DOI: 10.1016/j.yexcr.2022.113214] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2022] [Revised: 05/14/2022] [Accepted: 05/16/2022] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Pancreatic adenocarcinoma is a highly lethal malignant gastrointestinal tumor. Sparstolonin B is an isocoumarin whose anticancer activity has recently received increasing attention. This study aimed to investigate Sparstolonin B's potential antitumor effect on pancreatic adenocarcinoma. The effect of Sparstolonin B on pancreatic cancer target genes and molecular mechanism was predicted via network pharmacology; Sparstolonin B significantly decreased Panc-1 and SW1990 cell viability and effectively suppressed the proliferation, migration, and invasion of pancreatic cancer cells as shown by CCK-8, colony formation, and Transwell assays. Flow cytometry showed that it induced cell cycle arrest and apoptosis. Sparstolonin B also upregulated Bax levels but decreased those of MMP2 and Bcl-2, downregulated IκBα expression, and upregulated p65 and IκBα phosphorylation; however, it had no effect on total NF-κB p65 levels. The NF-κB pathway inhibitor QNZ reversed these effects. The treatment group (26 μmol/L) had reduced graft volume and weight and fewer Ki-67-positive cells than the control group. Therefore, Sparstolonin B can inhibit the growth and induce the apoptosis of pancreatic cancer cells via the NF-κB signaling pathway and may be a potential novel drug for pancreatic cancer treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yang Lyu
- Department of Gastroenterology, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, NO.36, Sanhao Street, Shenyang, Liaoning Province, 110004, PR China
| | - Bowen Duan
- Department of Gastroenterology, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, NO.36, Sanhao Street, Shenyang, Liaoning Province, 110004, PR China
| | - Ziming Liu
- Department of Gastroenterology, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, NO.36, Sanhao Street, Shenyang, Liaoning Province, 110004, PR China
| | - Fan Yang
- Department of Gastroenterology, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, NO.36, Sanhao Street, Shenyang, Liaoning Province, 110004, PR China
| | - Chen Chen
- Department of Gastroenterology, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, NO.36, Sanhao Street, Shenyang, Liaoning Province, 110004, PR China
| | - Xuejiao Jiang
- Department of Gastroenterology, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, NO.36, Sanhao Street, Shenyang, Liaoning Province, 110004, PR China
| | - Xiang Liu
- Department of Gastroenterology, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, NO.36, Sanhao Street, Shenyang, Liaoning Province, 110004, PR China.
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15
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Xie F, Huang X, He C, Wang R, Li S. An Inflammatory Response-Related Gene Signature Reveals Distinct Survival Outcome and Tumor Microenvironment Characterization in Pancreatic Cancer. Front Mol Biosci 2022; 9:876607. [PMID: 35755810 PMCID: PMC9216734 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2022.876607] [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: 02/15/2022] [Accepted: 05/02/2022] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Desmoplasia or rich fibrotic stroma is a typical property of pancreatic cancer (PC), with a significant impact on tumor progression, metastasis, and chemotherapy response. Unusual inflammatory responses are considered to induce fibrosis of tissue, but the expression and clinical significance of inflammatory response-related genes in PC have not been clearly elucidated. Methods: Prognosis-related differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between tumor and normal tissues were identified by comparing the transcriptome data of PC samples based on The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) portal and the Genotype Tissue Expression (GTEx) databases. Samples from the ArrayExpress database were used as an external validation cohort. Results: A total of 27 inflammatory response-related DEGs in PC were identified. Least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) analysis revealed three core genes that served as an inflammatory response gene signature (IRGS), and a risk score was calculated. The diagnostic accuracy of the IRGS was validated in the training (n = 176) and validation (n = 288) cohorts, which reliably predicted the overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) of patients with PC. Furthermore, multivariate analysis identified the risk score as an independent risk factor for OS and DFS. The comprehensive results suggested that a high IRGS score was correlated with decreased CD8+ T-cell infiltration, increased M2 macrophage infiltration, increased occurrence of stroma-activated molecular subtype and hypoxia, enriched myofibroblast-related signaling pathways, and greater benefit from gemcitabine. Conclusion: The IRGS was able to promisingly distinguish the prognosis, the tumor microenvironment characteristics, and the benefit from chemotherapy for PC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fengxiao Xie
- Department of Pancreatobiliary Surgery, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, China.,Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xin Huang
- Department of Pancreatobiliary Surgery, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, China.,Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Guangzhou, China
| | - Chaobin He
- Department of Pancreatobiliary Surgery, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, China.,Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Guangzhou, China
| | - Ruiqi Wang
- Department of Pancreatobiliary Surgery, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, China.,Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Guangzhou, China
| | - Shengping Li
- Department of Pancreatobiliary Surgery, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, China.,Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Guangzhou, China
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16
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Zhang Z, Yang A, Chaurasiya S, Park AK, Lu J, Kim SI, Warner SG, Yuan YC, Liu Z, Han H, Von Hoff D, Fong Y, Woo Y. CF33-hNIS-antiPDL1 virus primes pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma for enhanced anti-PD-L1 therapy. Cancer Gene Ther 2022; 29:722-733. [PMID: 34108669 PMCID: PMC8896143 DOI: 10.1038/s41417-021-00350-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2020] [Revised: 05/10/2021] [Accepted: 05/18/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Immunotherapeutic strategies that combine oncolytic virus (OV) and immune checkpoint inhibitors have the potential to overcome treatment resistance in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), one of the least immunogenic solid tumors. Oncolytic viral chimera, CF33-hNIS-antiPDL1 genetically modified to express anti-human PD-L1 antibody and CF33-hNIS-Δ without the anti-PD-L1 gene, were used to investigate the immunogenic effects of OVs and virus-delivered anti-PD-L1 in PDAC in vitro. Western blot, flow cytometry, and immunofluorescence microscopy were used to evaluate the effects of CF33-hNIS-Δ and IFNγ on PD-L1 upregulation in AsPC-1 and BxPC-3 cells, and CF33-hNIS-antiPDL1 production of anti-PD-L1 and surface PD-L1 blockade of AsPC-1 and BxPC-3 with or without cocultured activated T cells. The cytosolic and cell surface levels of PD-L1 in PDAC cell lines varied; only BxPC-3 showed high cell surface expression. Treatment of these cells with CF33-hNIS-Δ and IFNγ significantly upregulated PD-L1 expression and translocation of PD-L1 from the cytosol onto the cell surface. Following coculture of activated T cells and BxPC-3 with CF33-hNIS-antiPDL1, the cell surface PD-L1 blockade on BxPC-3 cells by virus-delivered anti-PD-L1 antibody increased granzyme B release and prevented virus-induced decrease of perforin release from activated CD8+ T cells. Our results suggest that CF33-IOVs can prime immune checkpoint inhibition of PDAC and enhance antitumor immune killing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhifang Zhang
- Department of Surgery, City of Hope National Medical Center, Duarte, CA, USA
| | - Annie Yang
- Department of Surgery, City of Hope National Medical Center, Duarte, CA, USA
| | | | - Anthony K Park
- Cancer Immunotherapeutics Program, Beckman Research Institute, City of Hope National Medical Center, Duarte, CA, USA
| | - Jianming Lu
- Department of Surgery, City of Hope National Medical Center, Duarte, CA, USA
| | - Sang-In Kim
- Department of Surgery, City of Hope National Medical Center, Duarte, CA, USA
| | - Susanne G Warner
- Department of Surgery, City of Hope National Medical Center, Duarte, CA, USA
- Cancer Immunotherapeutics Program, Beckman Research Institute, City of Hope National Medical Center, Duarte, CA, USA
| | - Yate-Ching Yuan
- Division of Translational Bioinformatics, Center for Informatics, City of Hope National Medical Center, Duarte, CA, USA
| | - Zheng Liu
- Division of Translational Bioinformatics, Center for Informatics, City of Hope National Medical Center, Duarte, CA, USA
| | - Haiyong Han
- The Translational Genomics Research Institute, Phoenix, AZ, USA
| | - Daniel Von Hoff
- The Translational Genomics Research Institute, Phoenix, AZ, USA
| | - Yuman Fong
- Department of Surgery, City of Hope National Medical Center, Duarte, CA, USA
| | - Yanghee Woo
- Department of Surgery, City of Hope National Medical Center, Duarte, CA, USA.
- Cancer Immunotherapeutics Program, Beckman Research Institute, City of Hope National Medical Center, Duarte, CA, USA.
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17
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Wang K, Herr I. Machine-Learning-Based Bibliometric Analysis of Pancreatic Cancer Research Over the Past 25 Years. Front Oncol 2022; 12:832385. [PMID: 35419289 PMCID: PMC8995465 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2022.832385] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2021] [Accepted: 03/03/2022] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Machine learning and semantic analysis are computer-based methods to evaluate complex relationships and predict future perspectives. We used these technologies to define recent, current and future topics in pancreatic cancer research. Publications indexed under the Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) term 'Pancreatic Neoplasms' from January 1996 to October 2021 were downloaded from PubMed. Using the statistical computing language R and the interpreted, high-level, general-purpose programming language Python, we extracted publication dates, geographic information, and abstracts from each publication's metadata for bibliometric analyses. The generative statistical algorithm "latent Dirichlet allocation" (LDA) was applied to identify specific research topics and trends. The unsupervised "Louvain algorithm" was used to establish a network to identify relationships between single topics. A total of 60,296 publications were identified and analyzed. The publications were derived from 133 countries, mostly from the Northern Hemisphere. For the term "pancreatic cancer research", 12,058 MeSH terms appeared 1,395,060 times. Among them, we identified the four main topics "Clinical Manifestation and Diagnosis", "Review and Management", "Treatment Studies", and "Basic Research". The number of publications has increased rapidly during the past 25 years. Based on the number of publications, the algorithm predicted that "Immunotherapy", Prognostic research", "Protein expression", "Case reports", "Gemcitabine and mechanism", "Clinical study of gemcitabine", "Operation and postoperation", "Chemotherapy and resection", and "Review and management" as current research topics. To our knowledge, this is the first study on this subject of pancreatic cancer research, which has become possible due to the improvement of algorithms and hardware.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kangtao Wang
- Molecular OncoSurgery, Section Surgical Research, Department of General, Visceral and Transplantation Surgery, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Ingrid Herr
- Molecular OncoSurgery, Section Surgical Research, Department of General, Visceral and Transplantation Surgery, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
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18
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Ge H, Peng L, Sun Z, Liu H, Shen Y, Yao X. Discovery of Novel HPK1 Inhibitors Through Structure-Based Virtual Screening. Front Pharmacol 2022; 13:850855. [PMID: 35370676 PMCID: PMC8967249 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2022.850855] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2022] [Accepted: 02/17/2022] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Hematopoietic progenitor kinase (HPK1) is a negative regulator of T-cell receptor and B-cell signaling, which has been recognized as a novel antitumor target for immunotherapy. In this work, Glide docking-based virtual screening and kinase inhibition assay were performed to identify novel HPK1 inhibitors. The kinase inhibition assay results demonstrated five compounds with IC50 values below 20 μM, and the most potent one (compound M074-2865) had an IC50 value of 2.93 ± 0.09 μM. Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations were performed to delve into the interaction of sunitinib and the identified compound M074-2865 with the kinase domain of HPK1. The five compounds identified in this work could be considered promising hit compounds for further development of HPK1 inhibitors for immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huizhen Ge
- College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Lizeng Peng
- Institute of Agro-Food Science and Technology Shandong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Key Laboratory of Agro-Products Processing Technology of Shandong Province, Key Laboratory of Novel Food Resources Processing Ministry of Agriculture, Jinan, China
| | - Zhou Sun
- Academy of Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies, Qilu University of Technology (Shandong Academy of Sciences), Jinan, China
| | - Huanxiang Liu
- School of Pharmacy, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | | | - Xiaojun Yao
- College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
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Effect of Postoperative ω-3 Fatty Acid Immunonutritional Therapy on NK Cell Gene Methylation in Elderly Patients with Gastric Cancer. Curr Med Sci 2022; 42:373-378. [PMID: 35467300 DOI: 10.1007/s11596-022-2567-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2021] [Accepted: 01/20/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE This study aims to investigate the effect of ω-3 fatty acid immunonutritional therapy on natural killer (NK) cell gene methylation and function in elderly patients with gastric cancer. METHODS A total of 70 cases of elderly patients with gastric cancer were randomized into the ω-3 fatty acid group and placebo group, according to the type of nutritional support administered. The methylation status of the tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α gene promoter in peripheral NK cells was detected by methylation specific polymerase chain reaction, and the TNF-α level in peripheral NK cells was detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. RESULTS After 14 days of immunonutritional therapy with ω-3 fatty acid or placebo, patients in the ω-3 group had significantly higher average NK cell activity (0.27 vs. 0.24, P=0.013) and lower percentages of TNF-α gene promoter methylation (25.7% vs. 60%, P<0.05) than the placebo group. However, there were no significant differences in the concentration of albumin, prealbumin and TNF-α in serum, and the NK cell count between the ω-3 group and placebo group. CONCLUSION The postoperative application of ω-3 fatty acid may improve the activity of NK cells, which is correlated to the methylation status of the TNF-α gene promoter.
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20
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Abstract
The discovery of immune checkpoints (ICs) and the development of specific blockers to relieve immune effector cells from this inhibiting mechanism has changed the view of anti-cancer therapy. In addition to cytotoxic T lymphocyte antigen 4 (CTLA4) and programmed death 1 (PD1), classical ICs of T lymphocytes and recently described also on a fraction of natural killer (NK) cells, several NK cell receptors, including killer immunoglobulin-like inhibitory receptors (KIRs) and NGK2A, have been recognized as checkpoint members typical of the NK cell population. This offers the opportunity of a dual-checkpoint inhibition approach, targeting classical and non-classical ICs and leading to a synergistic therapeutic effect. In this review, we will overview and discuss this new perspective, focusing on the most relevant candidates for this role among the variety of potential NK ICs. Beside listing and defining classical ICs expressed also by NK cells, or non-classical ICs either on T or on NK cells, we will address their role in NK cell survival, chronic stimulation or functional exhaustion, and the potential relevance of this phenomenon on anti-tumor immune response. Furthermore, NK ICs will be proposed as possible new targets for the development of efficient combined immunotherapy, not forgetting the relevant concerns that may be raised on NK IC blockade. Finally, the impact of epigenetic drugs in such a complex therapeutic picture will be briefly addressed.
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21
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Wang X, Li L, Yang Y, Fan L, Ma Y, Mao F. Reveal the Heterogeneity in the Tumor Microenvironment of Pancreatic Cancer and Analyze the Differences in Prognosis and Immunotherapy Responses of Distinct Immune Subtypes. Front Oncol 2022; 12:832715. [PMID: 35252003 PMCID: PMC8891159 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2022.832715] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2021] [Accepted: 01/19/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Purpose The current clinical classification of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) cannot well predict the patient’s possible response to the treatment plan, nor can it predict the patient’s prognosis. We use the gene expression patterns of PDAC patients to reveal the heterogeneity of the tumor microenvironment of pancreatic cancer and analyze the differences in the prognosis and immunotherapy response of different immune subtypes. Methods Firstly, use ICGC’s PACA-AU PDAC expression profile data, combined with the ssGSEA algorithm, to analyze the immune enrichment of the patient’s tumor microenvironment. Subsequently, the spectral clustering algorithm was used to extract different classifications, the PDAC cohort was divided into four subtypes, and the correlation between immune subtypes and clinical characteristics and survival prognosis was established. The patient’s risk index is obtained through the prognostic prediction model, and the correlation between the risk index and immune cells is prompted. Results We can divide the PDAC cohort into four subtypes: immune cell and stromal cell enrichment (Immune-enrich-Stroma), non-immune enrichment but stromal cell enrichment (Non-immune-Stroma), immune-enriched Collective but non-matrix enrichment (Immune-enrich-non-Stroma) and non-immune enrichment and non-stromal cell enrichment (Non-immune-non-Stroma). The five-year survival rate of immune-enrich-Stroma and non-immune-Stroma of PACA-CA is quite different. TCGA-PAAD’s immune-enrich-Stroma and immune-enrich-non-Stroma groups have a large difference in productivity in one year. The results of the correlation analysis between the risk index and immune cells show that the patient’s disease risk is significantly related to epithelial cells, megakaryocyte-erythroid progenitor (MEP), and Th2 cells. Conclusion The tumor gene expression characteristics of pancreatic cancer patients are related to immune response, leading to morphologically recognizable PDAC subtypes with prognostic/predictive significance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoqin Wang
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, China
- *Correspondence: Feifei Mao, ; Xiaoqin Wang,
| | - Lifang Li
- Emergency Department, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, China
| | - Yang Yang
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, The First People’s Hospital of Changzhou, Changzhou, China
| | - Linlin Fan
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, China
| | - Ying Ma
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, China
| | - Feifei Mao
- Tongji University Cancer Center, Shanghai Tenth People’s Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, China
- *Correspondence: Feifei Mao, ; Xiaoqin Wang,
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22
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Topcu KSB, Korucu EN, Menevse E, Kocak N, Duran T. Investigation of the effects of the toll-like receptor 4 pathway on immune checkpoint vista in pancreatic cancer. Invest New Drugs 2022; 40:519-528. [PMID: 35113284 DOI: 10.1007/s10637-021-01209-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2021] [Accepted: 12/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is one of the most common malignant tumors of the pancreas. Preclinical studies show that it evades the immune system with immune checkpoints and promotes tumor development. V-domain Ig suppressor of T cell activation (VISTA) is a new immune-check point from the B7 family and is highly expressed in cancer cells. Overexpression of toll like receptor 4 (TLR4) in pancreatic adenocarcinoma is associated with induced tumorigenesis, tumor growth, resistancy to chemotherapy. Naloxone is an opioid and inhibits TLR4-ligand association. In this study, we investigated the relation of TLR4 and downstream pathways with immune-check point VISTA in pancreatic cancer proliferation. We initially collected pancreatic cancer-related datasets using the GEPIA2 and UALCAN databases. Based on this data obtained the effect of various concentrations and incubation times of naloxone were used on PANC-1 cells proliferation. A combination of naloxone and VISTA-siRNA were applied, and the effect of both naloxone and combined treatment on TLR4, Interleukin 1 receptor associated kinase 4 (IRAK4) and VISTA gene expression were analyzed in pancreatic cancer cells. As a result of analysis with Quantitative Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction (qRT-PCR), gene expression levels of TLR4, IRAK4 and VISTA were significantly suppressed and cell proliferation was significantly reduced. We found that administration of naloxone and VISTA-siRNA in combination with PDAC cells suppressed signaling. Therefore, we considered that the relationship between VISTA and TLR4 signaling pathways and the other possible associated signal molecules may be an important marker in determining the response of immune checkpoint inhibitors in cancer treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kubra Sena Bas Topcu
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Faculty of Science, Bartın University, Bartın, Turkey
| | - Emine Nedime Korucu
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Faculty of Science, Necmettin Erbakan University, Konya, Turkey.
| | - Esma Menevse
- Department of Medical Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Selcuk University, Konya, Turkey
| | - Nadir Kocak
- Department of Medical Genetics, Faculty of Medicine, Selcuk University, Konya, Turkey
| | - Tugce Duran
- Department of Medical Genetics, Faculty of Medicine, KTO Karatay University, Konya, Turkey
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Diverse and precision therapies open new horizons for patients with advanced pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. Hepatobiliary Pancreat Dis Int 2022; 21:10-24. [PMID: 34538570 DOI: 10.1016/j.hbpd.2021.08.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2020] [Accepted: 08/31/2021] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a common cause of cancer-related death, and most patients are with advanced disease when diagnosed. At present, despite a variety of treatments have been developed for PDAC, few effective treatment options are available; on the other hand, PDAC shows significant resistance to chemoradiotherapy, targeted therapy, and immunotherapy due to its heterogeneous genetic profile, molecular signaling pathways, and complex tumor immune microenvironment. Nevertheless, over the past decades, there have been many new advances in the key theory and understanding of the intrinsic mechanisms and complexity of molecular biology and molecular immunology in pancreatic cancer, based on which more and more diverse new means and reasonable combination strategies for PDAC treatment have been developed and preliminary breakthroughs have been made. With the continuous exploration, from surgical local treatment to comprehensive medical management, the research-diagnosis-management system of pancreatic cancer is improving. This review focused on the variety of treatments for advanced PDAC, including traditional chemotherapy, targeted therapy, immunotherapy, microenvironment matrix regulation as well as the treatment targeting epigenetics, metabolism and cancer stem cells. We pointed out the current research bottlenecks and future exploration directions.
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Herbals and Plants in the Treatment of Pancreatic Cancer: A Systematic Review of Experimental and Clinical Studies. Nutrients 2022; 14:nu14030619. [PMID: 35276978 PMCID: PMC8839014 DOI: 10.3390/nu14030619] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2021] [Revised: 01/27/2022] [Accepted: 01/27/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Background: Pancreatic cancer represents the most lethal malignancy among all digestive cancers. Despite the therapeutic advances achieved during recent years, the prognosis of this neoplasm remains disappointing. An enormous amount of experimental (mainly) and clinical research has recently emerged referring to the effectiveness of various plants administered either alone or in combination with chemotherapeutic agents. Apart from Asian countries, the use of these plants and herbals in the treatment of digestive cancer is also increasing in a number of Western countries as well. The aim of this study is to review the available literature regarding the efficacy of plants and herbals in pancreatic cancer. Methods: The authors have reviewed all the experimental and clinical studies published in Medline and Embase, up to June 2021. Results: More than 100 plants and herbals were thoroughly investigated. Favorable effects concerning the inhibition of cancer cell lines in the experimental studies and a favorable clinical outcome after combining various plants with established chemotherapeutic agents were observed. These herbals and plants exerted their activity against pancreatic cancer via a number of mechanisms. The number and severity of side-effects are generally of a mild degree. Conclusion: A quite high number of clinical and experimental studies confirmed the beneficial effect of many plants and herbals in pancreatic cancer. More large, double-blind clinical studies assessing these natural products, either alone or in combination with chemotherapeutic agents should be conducted.
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25
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Zhu PF, Chen YW, Wang MX, Deng YY, Pan SY, Chen ZL, Yang L. Tumor-mutation burden as a marker for immunotherapy of pancreatic cancer: the case report and literature review. Anticancer Drugs 2022; 33:e822-e827. [PMID: 34459462 PMCID: PMC8670360 DOI: 10.1097/cad.0000000000001232] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2021] [Revised: 07/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Pancreatic cancer is digestive cancer with limited therapeutic options and a poor outcome. Pancreatic cancer has a high mortality rate, with a 5-year survival rate of less than 5%. The median survival after metastasis of the disease is less than 6 months. Studies have revealed that the standard treatment, including palliative chemotherapy or immunotherapy, is not significantly effective for pancreatic cancer. Herein, we report a case of pancreatic cancer who benefited from a combination of anti-PD-1 immunotherapy and chemotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peng-Fei Zhu
- Graduate School of Clinical Medicine, Bengbu Medical College, Bengbu, Anhui Province
- Cancer Center, Department of Medical Oncology, Zhejiang Provincial People’s Hospital, People’s Hospital of Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang
| | - Yun-Wang Chen
- Cancer Center, Department of Medical Oncology, Zhejiang Provincial People’s Hospital, People’s Hospital of Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang
- The Qingdao University Medical College, Qingdao, Shandong, People’s Republic of China
| | - Ming-Xing Wang
- Graduate School of Clinical Medicine, Bengbu Medical College, Bengbu, Anhui Province
- Cancer Center, Department of Medical Oncology, Zhejiang Provincial People’s Hospital, People’s Hospital of Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang
| | - Ya-Ya Deng
- Cancer Center, Department of Medical Oncology, Zhejiang Provincial People’s Hospital, People’s Hospital of Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang
- The Qingdao University Medical College, Qingdao, Shandong, People’s Republic of China
| | - Shuang-Yue Pan
- Cancer Center, Department of Medical Oncology, Zhejiang Provincial People’s Hospital, People’s Hospital of Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang
| | - Zhe-Ling Chen
- Cancer Center, Department of Medical Oncology, Zhejiang Provincial People’s Hospital, People’s Hospital of Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang
| | - Liu Yang
- Graduate School of Clinical Medicine, Bengbu Medical College, Bengbu, Anhui Province
- Cancer Center, Department of Medical Oncology, Zhejiang Provincial People’s Hospital, People’s Hospital of Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang
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Selvarajoo N, Stanslas J, Islam MK, Sagineedu SR, Lian HK, Lim JCW. Pharmacological Modulation of Apoptosis and Autophagy in Pancreatic Cancer Treatment. Mini Rev Med Chem 2022; 22:2581-2595. [PMID: 35331093 DOI: 10.2174/1389557522666220324123605] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2021] [Revised: 01/02/2022] [Accepted: 01/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Pancreatic cancer is a fatal malignant neoplasm with infrequent signs and symptoms until a progressive stage. In 2020, GLOBOCAN reported that pancreatic cancer accounts for 4.7% of all cancer deaths. Despite the availability of standard chemotherapy regimens for treatment, the survival benefits are not guaranteed because tumor cells become chemoresistant even due to the development of chemoresistance in tumor cells even with a short treatment course, where apoptosis and autophagy play critical roles. OBJECTIVE This review compiled essential information on the regulatory mechanisms and roles of apoptosis and autophagy in pancreatic cancer, as well as drug-like molecules that target different pathways in pancreatic cancer eradication, with an aim to provide ideas to the scientific communities in discovering novel and specific drugs to treat pancreatic cancer, specifically PDAC. METHOD Electronic databases that were searched for research articles for this review were Scopus, Science Direct, PubMed, Springer Link, and Google Scholar. The published studies were identified and retrieved using selected keywords. DISCUSSION/CONCLUSION Many small-molecule anticancer agents have been developed to regulate autophagy and apoptosis associated with pancreatic cancer treatment, where most of them target apoptosis directly through EGFR/Ras/Raf/MAPK and PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathways. The cancer drugs that regulate autophagy in treating cancer can be categorized into three groups: i) direct autophagy inducers (e.g., rapamycin), ii) indirect autophagy inducers (e.g., resveratrol), and iii) autophagy inhibitors. Resveratrol persuades both apoptosis and autophagy with a cytoprotective effect, while autophagy inhibitors (e.g., 3-methyladenine, chloroquine) can turn off the protective autophagic effect for therapeutic benefits. Several studies showed that autophagy inhibition resulted in a synergistic effect with chemotherapy (e.g., a combination of metformin with gemcitabine/ 5FU). Such drugs possess a unique clinical value in treating pancreatic cancer as well as other autophagy-dependent carcinomas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nityaa Selvarajoo
- Pharmacotherapeutics Unit, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Johnson Stanslas
- Pharmacotherapeutics Unit, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Mohammad Kaisarul Islam
- Pharmacotherapeutics Unit, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Sreenivasa Rao Sagineedu
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, International Medical University, 57000 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Ho Kok Lian
- Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Jonathan Chee Woei Lim
- Pharmacotherapeutics Unit, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia
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Mohseni G, Li J, Ariston Gabriel AN, Du L, Wang YS, Wang C. The Function of cGAS-STING Pathway in Treatment of Pancreatic Cancer. Front Immunol 2021; 12:781032. [PMID: 34858438 PMCID: PMC8630697 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.781032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2021] [Accepted: 10/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
The activation of stimulator of interferon genes (STING) signalling pathway has been suggested to promote the immune responses against malignancy. STING is activated in response to the detection of cytosolic DNA and can induce type I interferons and link innate immunity with the adaptive immune system. Due to accretive evidence demonstrating that the STING pathway regulates the immune cells of the tumor microenvironment (TME), STING as a cancer biotherapy has attracted considerable attention. Pancreatic cancer, with a highly immunosuppressive TME, remains fatal cancer. STING has been applied to the treatment of pancreatic cancer through distinct strategies. This review reveals the role of STING signalling on pancreatic tumors and other diseases related to the pancreas. We then discuss new advances of STING in either monotherapy or combination methods for pancreatic cancer immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ghazal Mohseni
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, The Second Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, China.,Department of Clinical Laboratory Diagnostics, School of Medicine, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, China
| | - Juan Li
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, The Second Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, China
| | - Abakundana Nsenga Ariston Gabriel
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, The Second Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, China.,Department of Clinical Laboratory Diagnostics, School of Medicine, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, China
| | - Lutao Du
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, The Second Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, China
| | - Yun-Shan Wang
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, The Second Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, China
| | - Chuanxin Wang
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, The Second Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, China
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28
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The Immunotherapy for Colorectal Cancer, Lung Cancer and Pancreatic Cancer. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms222312836. [PMID: 34884642 PMCID: PMC8657810 DOI: 10.3390/ijms222312836] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2021] [Revised: 11/24/2021] [Accepted: 11/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Immunotherapy is a novel anti-cancer method which employs a different mechanism to conventional treatment. It has become a significant strategy because it provides a better or an alternative option for cancer patients. Recently, immunotherapy has been increasingly approved for the treatment of cancer; however, it has various limitations; for instance, it is only suitable for specific patients, the response rate is still low in most cases, etc. Colorectal cancer, lung cancer and pancreatic cancer are known as three major death-causing cancers in most countries. In this review, we discuss immunotherapeutic treatment for these three cancers, and consider the option, prospects and limitations of immunotherapy. The development of immunotherapy should focus on the discovery of biomarkers to screen suitable patients, new targets on tumors, neoadjuvant immunotherapy and the combination of immunotherapy with conventional therapeutic methods. We can expect that immunotherapy potentially will develop as one of the best therapies for patients with advanced cancer or poor responses to traditional methods.
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29
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Cancer Immunotherapy: Current and Future Perspectives on a Therapeutic Revolution. J Clin Med 2021; 10:jcm10225246. [PMID: 34830536 PMCID: PMC8625599 DOI: 10.3390/jcm10225246] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2021] [Accepted: 11/10/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
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30
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Bian Y, Liu YF, Jiang H, Meng Y, Liu F, Cao K, Zhang H, Fang X, Li J, Yu J, Feng X, Li Q, Wang L, Lu J, Shao C. Machine learning for MRI radiomics: a study predicting tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes in patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. Abdom Radiol (NY) 2021; 46:4800-4816. [PMID: 34189612 DOI: 10.1007/s00261-021-03159-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2021] [Revised: 05/24/2021] [Accepted: 05/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To develop and validate a machine learning classifier based on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), for the preoperative prediction of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) in patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). MATERIALS AND METHODS In this retrospective study, 156 patients with PDAC underwent MR scan and surgical resection. The expression of CD4, CD8 and CD20 was detected and quantified using immunohistochemistry, and TILs score was achieved by Cox regression model. All patients were divided into TILs score-low and TILs score-high groups. The least absolute shrinkage and selection operator method and the extreme gradient boosting (XGBoost) were used to select the features and to construct a prediction model. The performance of the models was assessed using the training cohort (116 patients) and the validation cohort (40 patients), and decision curve analysis (DCA) was applied for clinical use. RESULTS The XGBoost prediction model showed good discrimination in the training (AUC 0.86; 95% CI 0.79-0.93) and validation sets (AUC 0.79; 95% CI 0.64-0.93). The sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy for the training set were 86.67%, 75.00%, and 0.81, respectively, whereas those for the validation set were 84.21%, 66.67%, and 0.75, respectively. Decision curve analysis indicated the clinical usefulness of the XGBoost classifier. CONCLUSION The model constructed by XGBoost could predict PDAC TILs and may aid clinical decision making for immune therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yun Bian
- Department of Radiology, Changhai Hospital, Navy Medical University, Shanghai, 200434, China
| | - Yan Fang Liu
- Department of Pathology, Changhai Hospital, Navy Medical University, Shanghai, China
| | - Hui Jiang
- Department of Pathology, Changhai Hospital, Navy Medical University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yinghao Meng
- Department of Radiology, Changhai Hospital, Navy Medical University, Shanghai, 200434, China
| | - Fang Liu
- Department of Radiology, Changhai Hospital, Navy Medical University, Shanghai, 200434, China
| | - Kai Cao
- Department of Radiology, Changhai Hospital, Navy Medical University, Shanghai, 200434, China
| | - Hao Zhang
- Department of Radiology, Changhai Hospital, Navy Medical University, Shanghai, 200434, China
| | - Xu Fang
- Department of Radiology, Changhai Hospital, Navy Medical University, Shanghai, 200434, China
| | - Jing Li
- Department of Radiology, Changhai Hospital, Navy Medical University, Shanghai, 200434, China
| | - Jieyu Yu
- Department of Radiology, Changhai Hospital, Navy Medical University, Shanghai, 200434, China
| | - Xiaochen Feng
- Department of Radiology, Changhai Hospital, Navy Medical University, Shanghai, 200434, China
| | - Qi Li
- Department of Radiology, Changhai Hospital, Navy Medical University, Shanghai, 200434, China
| | - Li Wang
- Department of Radiology, Changhai Hospital, Navy Medical University, Shanghai, 200434, China
| | - Jianping Lu
- Department of Radiology, Changhai Hospital, Navy Medical University, Shanghai, 200434, China
| | - Chengwei Shao
- Department of Radiology, Changhai Hospital, Navy Medical University, Shanghai, 200434, China.
- Department of Radiology, Changhai Hospital, 168 Changhai Road, Shanghai, 200433, China.
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Role of targeted immunotherapy for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) treatment: An overview. Int Immunopharmacol 2021; 95:107508. [PMID: 33725635 DOI: 10.1016/j.intimp.2021.107508] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2020] [Revised: 01/18/2021] [Accepted: 02/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is one of the deadliest solid tumors with a high mortality rate and poor survival rate. Depending on the tumor stage, PDAC is either treated by resection surgery, chemotherapies, or radiotherapies. Various chemotherapeutic agents have been used to treat PDAC, alone or in combination. Despite the combinations, chemotherapy exhibits many side-effects leading to an increase in the toxicity profile amongst the PDAC patients. Additionally, these standard chemotherapeutic agents have only a modest impact on patient survival due to their limited efficacy. PDAC was previously considered as an immunologically silent malignancy, but recent findings have demonstrated that effective immune-mediated tumor cell death can be used for its treatment. PDAC is characterized by an immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment accompanied by the major expression of myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSC) and M2 tumor-associated macrophages. In contrast, the expression of CD8+ T cells is significantly low. Additionally, infiltration of mast cells in PDAC correlates with the poor prognosis. Immunotherapeutic agents target the immunity mediators and empower them to suppress the tumor and effectively treat PDAC. Different targets are studied and exploited to induce an antitumor immune response in PDAC patients. In recent times, site-specific delivery of immunotherapeutics also gained attention among researchers to effectively treat PDAC. In the present review, existing immunotherapies for PDAC treatment along with their limitations are addressed in detail. The review also includes the pathophysiology, traditional strategies and significance of targeted immunotherapies to combat PDAC effectively. Separately, the identification of ideal targets for the targeted therapy of PDAC is also reviewed exhaustively. Additionally, the review also addresses the applications of targeted immunotherapeutics like checkpoint inhibitors, adoptive T-cell therapy etc.
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32
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Atiq S, Atiq OO, Atiq ZO, Samad S, Atiq O. A Case of Metastatic Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma in Complete Remission Using Chemotherapy and Immunotherapy. Cureus 2021; 13:e13133. [PMID: 33728149 PMCID: PMC7935157 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.13133] [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] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Among the various types of cancer, pancreatic cancer is considered to have a particularly grim prognosis. Treatment includes surgery, chemotherapy, or both. While the role of immunotherapy is well-studied in many types of cancer, such is not the case with pancreatic cancer. A 49-year-old female presented to the oncology clinic following a biopsy of a pancreatic mass. CT-guided needle biopsy of the mass demonstrated moderately differentiated pancreatic adenocarcinoma. Positive emission tomography-computed tomography (PET-CT) revealed metastases to the liver. She was started on chemotherapy with FOLFIRINOX (leucovorin calcium, 5-fluorouracil, irinotecan hydrochloride, oxaliplatin) and demonstrated over 60% reduction in the size of liver metastases within three months. PET-CT four months after initiation of chemotherapy revealed no focal avid fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) uptake in the liver, and the pancreatic body mass was stable in size at 3.0 cm with stable standardized uptake value (SUV) max at 2.4, only slightly elevated from 1.9 on the previous scan. Further treatment with chemotherapy was halted after 18 cycles due to side effects. With the patient’s tumor being epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) negative, mismatch repair (MMR) negative, 3% tumor cells PD-L1 positive with 10% tumor-associated immune cells positive, treatment with pembrolizumab was started. Follow-up PET-CTs over the next several months confirmed the patient was in complete remission from metastatic pancreatic cancer. At the time of the report, the patient had a durable response of three years. We report a rare case of complete remission of metastatic pancreatic adenocarcinoma treated with chemotherapy, followed by immunotherapy. With emerging targets for modification of tumor microenvironment, immunotherapy must be further explored in the treatment of pancreatic cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saad Atiq
- Internal Medicine, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, USA
| | - Osman O Atiq
- Internal Medicine, Unity Health System, Searcy, USA
| | - Zainab O Atiq
- Internal Medicine, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, USA
| | - Syed Samad
- Internal Medicine, St. Matthew's University School of Medicine, George Town, CYM
| | - Omar Atiq
- Hematology and Oncology, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, USA
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Hofschröer V, Najder K, Rugi M, Bouazzi R, Cozzolino M, Arcangeli A, Panyi G, Schwab A. Ion Channels Orchestrate Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma Progression and Therapy. Front Pharmacol 2021; 11:586599. [PMID: 33841132 PMCID: PMC8025202 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2020.586599] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2020] [Accepted: 10/30/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma is a devastating disease with a dismal prognosis. Therapeutic interventions are largely ineffective. A better understanding of the pathophysiology is required. Ion channels contribute substantially to the "hallmarks of cancer." Their expression is dysregulated in cancer, and they are "misused" to drive cancer progression, but the underlying mechanisms are unclear. Ion channels are located in the cell membrane at the interface between the intracellular and extracellular space. They sense and modify the tumor microenvironment which in itself is a driver of PDAC aggressiveness. Ion channels detect, for example, locally altered proton and electrolyte concentrations or mechanical stimuli and transduce signals triggered by these microenvironmental cues through association with intracellular signaling cascades. While these concepts have been firmly established for other cancers, evidence has emerged only recently that ion channels are drivers of PDAC aggressiveness. Particularly, they appear to contribute to two of the characteristic PDAC features: the massive fibrosis of the tumor stroma (desmoplasia) and the efficient immune evasion. Our critical review of the literature clearly shows that there is still a remarkable lack of knowledge with respect to the contribution of ion channels to these two typical PDAC properties. Yet, we can draw parallels from ion channel research in other fibrotic and inflammatory diseases. Evidence is accumulating that pancreatic stellate cells express the same "profibrotic" ion channels. Similarly, it is at least in part known which major ion channels are expressed in those innate and adaptive immune cells that populate the PDAC microenvironment. We explore potential therapeutic avenues derived thereof. Since drugs targeting PDAC-relevant ion channels are already in clinical use, we propose to repurpose those in PDAC. The quest for ion channel targets is both motivated and complicated by the fact that some of the relevant channels, for example, KCa3.1, are functionally expressed in the cancer, stroma, and immune cells. Only in vivo studies will reveal which arm of the balance we should put our weights on when developing channel-targeting PDAC therapies. The time is up to explore the efficacy of ion channel targeting in (transgenic) murine PDAC models before launching clinical trials with repurposed drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Karolina Najder
- Institute of Physiology II, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Micol Rugi
- Institute of Physiology II, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Rayhana Bouazzi
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, Section of Internal Medicine, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Marco Cozzolino
- Department of Biophysics and Cell Biology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary
| | - Annarosa Arcangeli
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, Section of Internal Medicine, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Gyorgy Panyi
- Department of Biophysics and Cell Biology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary
| | - Albrecht Schwab
- Institute of Physiology II, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
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Jentzsch V, Davis JAA, Djamgoz MBA. Pancreatic Cancer (PDAC): Introduction of Evidence-Based Complementary Measures into Integrative Clinical Management. Cancers (Basel) 2020; 12:E3096. [PMID: 33114159 PMCID: PMC7690843 DOI: 10.3390/cancers12113096] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2020] [Accepted: 10/09/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The most common form of pancreatic cancer is pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), which comprises some 85% of all cases. Currently, this is the fourth highest cause of cancer mortality worldwide and its incidence is rising steeply. Commonly applied clinical therapies offer limited chance of a lasting cure and the five-year survival rate is one of the lowest of the commonly occurring cancers. This review cultivates the hypothesis that the best management of PDAC would be possible by integrating 'western' clinical medicine with evidence-based complementary measures. Protecting the liver, where PDAC frequently first spreads, is also given some consideration. Overall, the complementary measures are divided into three groups: dietary factors, nutraceutical agents and lifestyle. In turn, dietary factors are considered as general conditioners, multi-factorial foodstuffs and specific compounds. The general conditioners are alkalinity, low-glycemic index and low-cholesterol. The multi-factorial foodstuffs comprise red meat, fish, fruit/vegetables, dairy, honey and coffee. The available evidence for the beneficial effects of the specific dietary and nutraceutical agents was considered at four levels (in order of prominence): clinical trials, meta-analyses, in vivo tests and in vitro studies. Thus, 9 specific agents were identified (6 dietary and 3 nutraceutical) as acceptable for integration with gemcitabine chemotherapy, the first-line treatment for pancreatic cancer. The specific dietary agents were the following: Vitamins A, C, D and E, genistein and curcumin. As nutraceutical compounds, propolis, triptolide and cannabidiol were accepted. The 9 complementary agents were sub-grouped into two with reference to the main 'hallmarks of cancer'. Lifestyle factors covered obesity, diabetes, smoking, alcohol and exercise. An integrative treatment regimen was devised for the management of PDAC patients. This involved combining first-line gemcitabine chemotherapy with the two sub-groups of complementary agents alternately in weekly cycles. The review concludes that integrated management currently offers the best patient outcome. Opportunities to be investigated in the future include emerging modalities, precision medicine, the nerve input to tumors and, importantly, clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valerie Jentzsch
- Department of Life Sciences, Neuroscience Solutions to Cancer Research Group, Imperial College London, South Kensington Campus, London SW7 2AZ, UK; (V.J.); (J.A.A.D.)
- Business School, Imperial College London, South Kensington Campus, London SW7 2AZ, UK
| | - James A. A. Davis
- Department of Life Sciences, Neuroscience Solutions to Cancer Research Group, Imperial College London, South Kensington Campus, London SW7 2AZ, UK; (V.J.); (J.A.A.D.)
| | - Mustafa B. A. Djamgoz
- Department of Life Sciences, Neuroscience Solutions to Cancer Research Group, Imperial College London, South Kensington Campus, London SW7 2AZ, UK; (V.J.); (J.A.A.D.)
- Biotechnology Research Centre, Cyprus International University, Haspolat, Nicosia, TRNC, Mersin 10, Turkey
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Ponath V, Frech M, Bittermann M, Al Khayer R, Neubauer A, Brendel C, Pogge von Strandmann E. The Oncoprotein SKI Acts as A Suppressor of NK Cell-Mediated Immunosurveillance in PDAC. Cancers (Basel) 2020; 12:cancers12102857. [PMID: 33023028 PMCID: PMC7601115 DOI: 10.3390/cancers12102857] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2020] [Revised: 09/23/2020] [Accepted: 09/29/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Pancreatic ductal adeno carcinoma is one of the most lethal solid tumors and the survival rate has not improved significantly over the past decades. The disease is characterized by an immune-suppressive tumor microenvironment, which promotes the limited response to novel immunotherapies. The aim of our study was to contribute to a better understanding of the diminished Natural Killer (NK) cell-activity in pancreatic cancer. We showed that oncoprotein SKI, which is involved in CBP/p300-mediated acetylation, diminished the expression of activating ligands for the cytotoxicity receptor NKG2D on tumor cells, thereby counteracting NK cell-dependent cytotoxicity. Treatment of tumor cells with histone deacetylase inhibitors (HDACi) induced the expression of these ligands and improved NK cell-dependent killing. Thus, we unraveled a so far unknown role of SKI in NK cell-mediated immunosurveillance. Our results suggest that the combination of HDACi with NK cell-based immunotherapies may be beneficial for pancreatic cancer patients. Abstract Drugs targeting epigenetic mechanisms such as histone deacetylase inhibitors (HDACi) suppress tumor growth. HDACi also induce the expression of ligands for the cytotoxicity receptor NKG2D rendering tumors more susceptible to natural killer (NK) cell-dependent killing. The major acetylases responsible for the expression of NKG2D ligands (NKG2D-L) are CBP and p300. The role of the oncogene and transcriptional repressor SKI, an essential part of an HDAC-recruiting co-repressor complex, which competes with CBP/p300 for binding to SMAD3 in TGFβ signaling, is unknown. Here we show that the siRNA-mediated downregulation of SKI in the pancreatic cancer cell lines Panc-1 and Patu8988t leads to an increased target cell killing by primary NK cells. However, the higher cytotoxicity of NK cells did not correlate with the induction of NKG2D-L. Of note, the expression of NKG2D-L and consequently NK cell-dependent killing could be induced upon LBH589 (LBH, panobinostat) or valproic acid (VPA) treatment irrespective of the SKI expression level but was significantly higher in pancreatic cancer cells upon genetic ablation of SKI. These data suggest that SKI represses the inducible expression of NKG2D-L. The combination of HDACi with NK cell-based immunotherapy is an attractive treatment option for pancreatic tumors, specifically for patients with high SKI protein levels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Viviane Ponath
- Institute for Tumor Immunology, Clinic for Hematology, Oncology and Immunology, Philipps University of Marburg, Hans-Meerwein-Strasse 3, 35043 Marburg, Germany; (V.P.); (M.B.); (R.A.K.)
| | - Miriam Frech
- Clinic for Hematology, Oncology, Immunology and Center for Tumor Biology and Immunology, Philipps University of Marburg, Baldingerstrasse, 35037 Marburg, Germany; (M.F.); (A.N.); (C.B.)
| | - Mathis Bittermann
- Institute for Tumor Immunology, Clinic for Hematology, Oncology and Immunology, Philipps University of Marburg, Hans-Meerwein-Strasse 3, 35043 Marburg, Germany; (V.P.); (M.B.); (R.A.K.)
| | - Reem Al Khayer
- Institute for Tumor Immunology, Clinic for Hematology, Oncology and Immunology, Philipps University of Marburg, Hans-Meerwein-Strasse 3, 35043 Marburg, Germany; (V.P.); (M.B.); (R.A.K.)
| | - Andreas Neubauer
- Clinic for Hematology, Oncology, Immunology and Center for Tumor Biology and Immunology, Philipps University of Marburg, Baldingerstrasse, 35037 Marburg, Germany; (M.F.); (A.N.); (C.B.)
| | - Cornelia Brendel
- Clinic for Hematology, Oncology, Immunology and Center for Tumor Biology and Immunology, Philipps University of Marburg, Baldingerstrasse, 35037 Marburg, Germany; (M.F.); (A.N.); (C.B.)
| | - Elke Pogge von Strandmann
- Institute for Tumor Immunology, Clinic for Hematology, Oncology and Immunology, Philipps University of Marburg, Hans-Meerwein-Strasse 3, 35043 Marburg, Germany; (V.P.); (M.B.); (R.A.K.)
- Correspondence: or ; Tel.: +49-6421-2821640; Fax: +49-64212868923
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Wu G, Deng Z, Jin Z, Wang J, Xu B, Zeng J, Peng M, Wen Z, Guo Y. Identification of Prognostic Immune-Related Genes in Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma and Establishment of a Prognostic Nomogram: A Bioinformatic Study. BIOMED RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2020; 2020:1346045. [PMID: 32596278 PMCID: PMC7301181 DOI: 10.1155/2020/1346045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2020] [Accepted: 05/13/2020] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The prognosis of pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PAAD) is extremely poor and has not been improved. Thus, an effective method to assess the prognosis of patients must be established to improve their survival rate. METHOD This study investigated immune-related genes that could be used as potential therapeutic targets for PAAD. Level 3 gene expression data from the PAAD cohort and the relevant clinical information were obtained from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database. For validation, other PAAD datasets (DSE62452) were downloaded from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database. The PAAD datasets from TCGA and GEO were used to screen immune-related genes through the Molecular Signatures Database using gene set enrichment analysis. Then, the overlapping immune-related genes of the two datasets were identified. Coexpression networks of the immune-related genes were constructed. RESULTS A signature of three immune-related genes (CKLF, ERAP2, and EREG) was identified in patients with PAAD. The signature could be used to divide the patients with PAAD into high- and low-risk groups based on their median risk score. Multivariate Cox regression analysis was performed to determine the independent prognostic factors of PAAD. Time-dependent receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was conducted to assess the prediction accuracy of the prognostic signature. Last, a nomogram was established to assess the individualized prognosis prediction model based on the clinical characteristics and risk score of the TCGA PAAD dataset. The accuracy of the prognostic signature was further evaluated through functional evaluation and principal component analysis. CONCLUSIONS The results indicated that the signature of three immune-related genes had excellent predictive value for PAAD. These findings might help improve personalized treatment and medical decisions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guolin Wu
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning 530021, China
| | - Zhenfeng Deng
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning 530021, China
| | - Zongrui Jin
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning 530021, China
| | - Jilong Wang
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning 530021, China
| | - Banghao Xu
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning 530021, China
| | - Jingjing Zeng
- Department of Pathology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning 530021, China
| | - Minhao Peng
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning 530021, China
| | - Zhang Wen
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning 530021, China
| | - Ya Guo
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning 530021, China
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