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Čeprnja T, Tomić S, Perić Balja M, Marušić Z, Blažićević V, Spagnoli GC, Juretić A, Čapkun V, Vuger AT, Pogorelić Z, Mrklić I. Prognostic Value of "Basal-like" Morphology, Tumor-Infiltrating Lymphocytes and Multi-MAGE-A Expression in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:4513. [PMID: 38674098 PMCID: PMC11050590 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25084513] [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: 04/01/2024] [Revised: 04/16/2024] [Accepted: 04/19/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
"Basal-like" (BL) morphology and the expression of cancer testis antigens (CTA) in breast cancer still have unclear prognostic significance. The aim of our research was to explore correlations of the morphological characteristics and tumor microenvironment in triple-negative breast carcinomas (TNBCs) with multi-MAGE-A CTA expression and to determine their prognostic significance. Clinical records of breast cancer patients who underwent surgery between January 2017 and December 2018 in four major Croatian clinical centers were analyzed. A total of 97 non-metastatic TNBCs with available tissue samples and treatment information were identified. Cancer tissue sections were additionally stained with programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) Ventana (SP142) and multi-MAGE-A (mAb 57B). BL morphology was detected in 47 (49%) TNBCs and was associated with a higher Ki-67 proliferation index and histologic grade. Expression of multi-MAGE-A was observed in 77 (79%) TNBCs and was significantly associated with BL morphology. Lymphocyte-predominant breast cancer (LPBC) status was detected in 11 cases (11.3%) and significantly correlated with the Ki-67 proliferation index, increased number of intratumoral lymphocytes (itTIL), and PD-L1 expression. No impact of BL morphology, multi-MAGE-A expression, histologic type, or LPBC status on disease-free survival was observed. Our data suggest that tumor morphology could help identify patients with potential benefits from CTA-targeting immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Toni Čeprnja
- Department of Pathology, Forensic Medicine and Cytology, University Hospital of Split, 21000 Split, Croatia; (T.Č.); (S.T.); (I.M.)
| | - Snježana Tomić
- Department of Pathology, Forensic Medicine and Cytology, University Hospital of Split, 21000 Split, Croatia; (T.Č.); (S.T.); (I.M.)
- Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, University of Split, 21000 Split, Croatia
| | - Melita Perić Balja
- Department of Pathology, University Hospital Center “Sestre Milosrdnice”, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Zlatko Marušić
- Department of Pathology, Zagreb University Hospital Center, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
| | | | | | - Antonio Juretić
- Department of Oncology, University Hospital Dubrava, School of Medicine, University of Zagreb, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia;
| | - Vesna Čapkun
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, University Hospital of Split, 21000 Split, Croatia
| | - Ana Tečić Vuger
- Department of Oncology, University Hospital “Sestre Milosrdnice”, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia;
| | - Zenon Pogorelić
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, University Hospital of Split, 21000 Split, Croatia
- Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, University of Split, 21000 Split, Croatia
| | - Ivana Mrklić
- Department of Pathology, Forensic Medicine and Cytology, University Hospital of Split, 21000 Split, Croatia; (T.Č.); (S.T.); (I.M.)
- Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, University of Split, 21000 Split, Croatia
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Meng M, Guo Y, Chen Y, Li X, Zhang B, Xie Z, Liu J, Zhao Z, Liu Y, Zhang T, Qiao Y, Shang B, Zhou Q. Cancer/testis-45A1 promotes cervical cancer cell tumorigenesis and drug resistance by activating oncogenic SRC and downstream signaling pathways. Cell Oncol (Dordr) 2024; 47:657-676. [PMID: 37924456 PMCID: PMC11090944 DOI: 10.1007/s13402-023-00891-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/08/2023] [Indexed: 11/06/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cancer/testis antigen-45A1 (CT45A1) is overexpressed in various types of cancer but is not expressed in healthy women. The role of CT45A1 in cervical cancer has not yet been described in the literature. PURPOSE The aim of this research was to study the role of CT45A1 in cervical cancer progression and drug resistance, elucidate the mechanisms underlying CT45A1-mediated tumorigenesis and investigate CT45A1 as a biomarker for cervical cancer diagnosis, prognostic prediction, and targeted therapy. METHODS The CT45A1 levels in the tumors from cervical cancer patients were measured using immunohistochemical staining. The role and mechanisms underlying CT45A1-mediated cervical cancer cell tumor growth, invasion, and drug resistance were studied using xenograft mice, cervical cancer cells, immunohistochemistry, RNA-seq, real-time qPCR, Chromatin immunoprecipitation and Western blotting. RESULTS CT45A1 levels were notably high in the tumor tissues of human cervical cancer patients compared to the paracancerous tissues (p < 0.001). Overexpression of CT45A1 was closely associated with poor prognosis in cervical cancer patients. CT45A1 promoted cervical cancer cell tumor growth, invasion, neovascularization, and drug resistance. Mechanistically, CT45A1 promoted the expression of 128 pro-tumorigenic genes and concurrently activated key signaling pathways, including the oncogenic SRC, ERK, CREB, and YAP/TAZ signaling pathways. Furthermore, CT45A1-mediated tumorigenesis and drug resistance were markedly inhibited by the small molecule lycorine. CONCLUSION CT45A1 promotes cervical cancer cell tumorigenesis, neovascularization, and drug resistance by activating oncogenic SRC and downstream tumorigenic signaling pathways. These findings provide new insight into the pathogenesis of cervical cancer and offer a new platform for the development of novel therapeutics against cervical cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mei Meng
- Cyrus Tang Hematology Center, Jiangsu Institute of Hematology, Soochow University, 199 Ren Ai Road, Suzhou Industrial Park, Suzhou, Jiangsu, 215123, People's Republic of China
- State Key Laboratory of Radiation Medicine and Protection, School of Radiation Medicine and Protection, Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, 215123, People's Republic of China
- National Clinical Research Center for Hematologic Diseases, The Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, 215123, People's Republic of China
- 2011 Collaborative Innovation Center of Hematology, Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, 215123, People's Republic of China
- The Ninth Affiliated Hospital, Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, 215123, People's Republic of China
| | - Yan Guo
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, 215006, People's Republic of China.
| | - Yu Chen
- Cyrus Tang Hematology Center, Jiangsu Institute of Hematology, Soochow University, 199 Ren Ai Road, Suzhou Industrial Park, Suzhou, Jiangsu, 215123, People's Republic of China
| | - Xu Li
- Cyrus Tang Hematology Center, Jiangsu Institute of Hematology, Soochow University, 199 Ren Ai Road, Suzhou Industrial Park, Suzhou, Jiangsu, 215123, People's Republic of China
| | - Bin Zhang
- National Key Laboratory of Immunity and Inflammation, Suzhou Institute of Systems Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Suzhou, 215123, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhijia Xie
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The Ninth Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, 215123, People's Republic of China
| | - Juntao Liu
- Cyrus Tang Hematology Center, Jiangsu Institute of Hematology, Soochow University, 199 Ren Ai Road, Suzhou Industrial Park, Suzhou, Jiangsu, 215123, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhe Zhao
- CAS Key Laboratory of Nano-Bio Interface, Suzhou Institute of Nano-Tech and Nano-Bionics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Suzhou, 215123, Jiangsu, China
| | - Yuxi Liu
- Cyrus Tang Hematology Center, Jiangsu Institute of Hematology, Soochow University, 199 Ren Ai Road, Suzhou Industrial Park, Suzhou, Jiangsu, 215123, People's Republic of China
| | - Tong Zhang
- Cyrus Tang Hematology Center, Jiangsu Institute of Hematology, Soochow University, 199 Ren Ai Road, Suzhou Industrial Park, Suzhou, Jiangsu, 215123, People's Republic of China
| | - Yingnan Qiao
- Cyrus Tang Hematology Center, Jiangsu Institute of Hematology, Soochow University, 199 Ren Ai Road, Suzhou Industrial Park, Suzhou, Jiangsu, 215123, People's Republic of China
| | - Bingxue Shang
- Institute of Systems Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China.
- Suzhou Institute of Systems Medicine, Suzhou, China.
| | - Quansheng Zhou
- Cyrus Tang Hematology Center, Jiangsu Institute of Hematology, Soochow University, 199 Ren Ai Road, Suzhou Industrial Park, Suzhou, Jiangsu, 215123, People's Republic of China.
- State Key Laboratory of Radiation Medicine and Protection, School of Radiation Medicine and Protection, Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, 215123, People's Republic of China.
- National Clinical Research Center for Hematologic Diseases, The Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, 215123, People's Republic of China.
- 2011 Collaborative Innovation Center of Hematology, Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, 215123, People's Republic of China.
- The Ninth Affiliated Hospital, Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, 215123, People's Republic of China.
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Gan Y, Kang Y, Zhong R, You J, Chen J, Li L, Chen J, Chen L. Cancer testis antigen MAGEA3 in serum and serum-derived exosomes serves as a promising biomarker in lung adenocarcinoma. Sci Rep 2024; 14:7573. [PMID: 38555374 PMCID: PMC10981702 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-58003-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2023] [Accepted: 03/25/2024] [Indexed: 04/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Cancer testis antigen (CTA) Melanoma Antigen Gene A3 (MAGEA3) were overexpressed in multiple tumor types, but the expression pattern of MAGEA3 in the serum of lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) remains unclear. Clinically derived serum and serum exosome samples were used to assess the mRNA expression of MAGEA3 and MAGEA4 by qRT-PCR, and serum MAGEA3 and MAGEA4 protein expression were evaluated by ELISA in total 133 healthy volunteers' and 289 LUAD patients' serum samples. An analysis of the relationship of the mRNA and protein expression of MAGEA3 and MAGEA4 with clinicopathologic parameters was performed and the diagnostic value of MAGEA3 and MAGEA4 was plotted on an ROC curve. In addition, the correlation of MAGEA3 mRNA with infiltrating immune cells was investigated through TIMER, the CIBERSORT algorithm and the TISIDB database. Expression of serum and serum exosome MAGEA3 and MAGEA4 mRNA were significantly higher in LUAD patients than in healthy donors. MAGEA3 mRNA associated with tumor diameter, TMN stage, and NSE in LUAD serum samples, and MAGEA3 mRNA correlated with N stage in serum-derived exosomes, possessing areas under the curve (AUC) of 0.721 and 0.832, respectively. Besides, serum MAGEA3 protein levels were elevated in LUAD patients, and were closely related to stage and NSE levels, possessing AUC of 0.781. Further analysis signified that the expression of MAGEA3 mRNA was positive correlation with neutrophil, macrophages M2, dendritic cells resting, and eosinophilic, but negatively correlated with B cells, plasma cells, CD8 + T cells, CD4 + T cells, Th17 cells, macrophages and dendritic cells. Collectively, our results suggested that the MAGEA3 expression in mRNA and protein were upregulated in LUAD, and MAGEA3 could be used as a diagnostic biomarker and immunotherapy target for LUAD patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuhan Gan
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Shengli Clinical Medical College of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Yanli Kang
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Shengli Clinical Medical College of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Ruifang Zhong
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Shengli Clinical Medical College of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Jianbin You
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Shengli Clinical Medical College of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Jiahao Chen
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Shengli Clinical Medical College of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Ling Li
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Shengli Clinical Medical College of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Jinhua Chen
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Shengli Clinical Medical College of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China.
| | - Liangyuan Chen
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Shengli Clinical Medical College of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China.
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Naik A, Lattab B, Qasem H, Decock J. Cancer testis antigens: Emerging therapeutic targets leveraging genomic instability in cancer. MOLECULAR THERAPY. ONCOLOGY 2024; 32:200768. [PMID: 38596293 PMCID: PMC10876628 DOI: 10.1016/j.omton.2024.200768] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/11/2024]
Abstract
Cancer care has witnessed remarkable progress in recent decades, with a wide array of targeted therapies and immune-based interventions being added to the traditional treatment options such as surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy. However, despite these advancements, the challenge of achieving high tumor specificity while minimizing adverse side effects continues to dictate the benefit-risk balance of cancer therapy, guiding clinical decision making. As such, the targeting of cancer testis antigens (CTAs) offers exciting new opportunities for therapeutic intervention of cancer since they display highly tumor specific expression patterns, natural immunogenicity and play pivotal roles in various biological processes that are critical for tumor cellular fitness. In this review, we delve deeper into how CTAs contribute to the regulation and maintenance of genomic integrity in cancer, and how these mechanisms can be exploited to specifically target and eradicate tumor cells. We review the current clinical trials targeting aforementioned CTAs, highlight promising pre-clinical data and discuss current challenges and future perspectives for future development of CTA-based strategies that exploit tumor genomic instability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adviti Naik
- Cancer Research Center, Qatar Biomedical Research Institute (QBRI), Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU), Qatar Foundation, Doha, Qatar
| | - Boucif Lattab
- Cancer Research Center, Qatar Biomedical Research Institute (QBRI), Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU), Qatar Foundation, Doha, Qatar
| | - Hanan Qasem
- Cancer Research Center, Qatar Biomedical Research Institute (QBRI), Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU), Qatar Foundation, Doha, Qatar
- College of Health and Life Sciences (CHLS), Qatar Biomedical Research Institute (QBRI), Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU), Doha, Qatar
| | - Julie Decock
- Cancer Research Center, Qatar Biomedical Research Institute (QBRI), Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU), Qatar Foundation, Doha, Qatar
- College of Health and Life Sciences (CHLS), Qatar Biomedical Research Institute (QBRI), Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU), Doha, Qatar
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Vlasenkova R, Konysheva D, Nurgalieva A, Kiyamova R. Characterization of Cancer/Testis Antigens as Prognostic Markers of Ovarian Cancer. Diagnostics (Basel) 2023; 13:3092. [PMID: 37835834 PMCID: PMC10572515 DOI: 10.3390/diagnostics13193092] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2023] [Revised: 09/22/2023] [Accepted: 09/27/2023] [Indexed: 10/15/2023] Open
Abstract
The main goal of this study was to characterize cancer/testis antigens (CTAs) as potential molecular markers of ovarian cancer. First, we gathered and analyzed a significantly large dataset of 21 selected CTAs that are encoded by 32 genes; the dataset consisted of the mutation data, expression data, and survival data of patients with ovarian cancer (n = 15,665). The 19 functionally significant missense mutations were identified in 9 CTA genes: ACRBP, CCT4, KDM5B, MAGEA1, MAGEA4, PIWIL1, PIWIL2, PRAME, and SPA17. The analysis of the mRNA expression levels of 21 CTAs in healthy and tumor ovarian tissue showed an up-regulation in the expression level of AKAP3, MAGEA4, PIWIL1, and PRAME in tumor samples and a down-regulation in the expression level of CTAG1A, CTAG1B, MAGEC1, and PIWIL2. The CCT4 up-regulation and PRAME mutations were correlated with a good prognosis for ovarian cancer, while higher levels of GAGE2A and CT45A1 mRNAs were correlated with a poor prognosis for ovarian cancer patients. Thus, GAGE2, CT45, CCT4, and PRAME cancer/testis antigens can be considered as potential prognostic markers for ovarian tumors, and GAGE2, CCT4, and PRAME were revealed to be correlated with the prognosis for ovarian cancer patients for the first time.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Ramziya Kiyamova
- Biomarker Research Laboratory, Institute of Fundamental Medicine and Biology, Kazan Federal University, Kazan 420008, Russia; (R.V.)
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Schendel DJ. Evolution by innovation as a driving force to improve TCR-T therapies. Front Oncol 2023; 13:1216829. [PMID: 37810959 PMCID: PMC10552759 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2023.1216829] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2023] [Accepted: 08/16/2023] [Indexed: 10/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Adoptive cell therapies continually evolve through science-based innovation. Specialized innovations for TCR-T therapies are described here that are embedded in an End-to-End Platform for TCR-T Therapy Development which aims to provide solutions for key unmet patient needs by addressing challenges of TCR-T therapy, including selection of target antigens and suitable T cell receptors, generation of TCR-T therapies that provide long term, durable efficacy and safety and development of efficient and scalable production of patient-specific (personalized) TCR-T therapy for solid tumors. Multiple, combinable, innovative technologies are used in a systematic and sequential manner in the development of TCR-T therapies. One group of technologies encompasses product enhancements that enable TCR-T therapies to be safer, more specific and more effective. The second group of technologies addresses development optimization that supports discovery and development processes for TCR-T therapies to be performed more quickly, with higher quality and greater efficiency. Each module incorporates innovations layered onto basic technologies common to the field of immunology. An active approach of "evolution by innovation" supports the overall goal to develop best-in-class TCR-T therapies for treatment of patients with solid cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dolores J. Schendel
- Medigene Immunotherapies GmbH, Planegg, Germany
- Medigene AG, Planegg, Germany
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Li D, Xia L, Huang P, Wang Z, Guo Q, Huang C, Leng W, Qin S. Serine protease PRSS56, a novel cancer-testis antigen activated by DNA hypomethylation, promotes colorectal and gastric cancer progression via PI3K/AKT axis. Cell Biosci 2023; 13:124. [PMID: 37400936 DOI: 10.1186/s13578-023-01060-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2023] [Accepted: 05/27/2023] [Indexed: 07/05/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cancer/testis (CT) antigens/genes are usually overexpressed in cancers and exhibit high immunogenicity, making them promising targets for immunotherapy and cancer vaccines. The role of serine protease PRSS56 in cancers remains unknown to date. METHODS RNA sequencing studies were performed to screen CT genes in gastric cancer (GC) and colorectal cancer (CRC) cells exposed to DNA methyltransferase inhibitor 5-aza-2'-deoxycytidine (5-AZA-CdR). Bioinformatics analysis was conducted to analyze the correlation between PRSS56 expression and DNA methylation. Functional experiments were performed to explore the biological function of PRSS56 in GC and CRC. RESULTS In this study, we identified the testis-specific serine proteases PRSS56 as a novel CT antigen. PRSS56 was frequently overexpressed in various cancers, especially in gastrointestinal cancer. PRSS56 expression was negatively associated with promoter DNA methylation level, and positively associated with gene body methylation level. PRSS56 expression was significantly activated in colorectal and gastric cancer cells exposed to DNA methyltransferase inhibitors. Importantly, our finding highlights that the decreased methylation level of the CpG site cg10242318 in the PRSS56 promoter region resulted in its overexpression in GC and CRC. Additionally, functional assays verified that PRSS56 overexpression activated PI3K-AKT signaling in GC and CRC. CONCLUSION Serine protease PRSS56 is a novel CT antigen that is reactivated in cancers by promoter DNA hypomethylation. PRSS56 functions oncogenic roles in GC and CRC by activating of PI3K/AKT axis. Our results presented here represent the first data on the function of the serine protease PRSS56 in cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dandan Li
- Department of Stomatology, Taihe Hospital and Hubei Key Laboratory of Embryonic Stem Cell Research, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Hubei University of Medicine, Shiyan, Hubei, 442000, P.R. China
- Laboratory of Tumor biology, Academy of Bio-Medicine Research, Hubei University of Medicine, Shiyan, Hubei, 442000, P.R. China
| | - Lingyun Xia
- Department of Stomatology, Taihe Hospital and Hubei Key Laboratory of Embryonic Stem Cell Research, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Hubei University of Medicine, Shiyan, Hubei, 442000, P.R. China
| | - Pan Huang
- Department of Stomatology, Taihe Hospital and Hubei Key Laboratory of Embryonic Stem Cell Research, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Hubei University of Medicine, Shiyan, Hubei, 442000, P.R. China
- Laboratory of Tumor biology, Academy of Bio-Medicine Research, Hubei University of Medicine, Shiyan, Hubei, 442000, P.R. China
| | - Zidi Wang
- Laboratory of Tumor biology, Academy of Bio-Medicine Research, Hubei University of Medicine, Shiyan, Hubei, 442000, P.R. China
| | - Qiwei Guo
- Laboratory of Tumor biology, Academy of Bio-Medicine Research, Hubei University of Medicine, Shiyan, Hubei, 442000, P.R. China
| | - Congcong Huang
- Department of Stomatology, Taihe Hospital and Hubei Key Laboratory of Embryonic Stem Cell Research, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Hubei University of Medicine, Shiyan, Hubei, 442000, P.R. China
- Laboratory of Tumor biology, Academy of Bio-Medicine Research, Hubei University of Medicine, Shiyan, Hubei, 442000, P.R. China
| | - Weidong Leng
- Department of Stomatology, Taihe Hospital and Hubei Key Laboratory of Embryonic Stem Cell Research, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Hubei University of Medicine, Shiyan, Hubei, 442000, P.R. China.
| | - Shanshan Qin
- Department of Stomatology, Taihe Hospital and Hubei Key Laboratory of Embryonic Stem Cell Research, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Hubei University of Medicine, Shiyan, Hubei, 442000, P.R. China.
- Laboratory of Tumor biology, Academy of Bio-Medicine Research, Hubei University of Medicine, Shiyan, Hubei, 442000, P.R. China.
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8
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Ai H, Yang H, Li L, Ma J, Liu K, Li Z. Cancer/testis antigens: promising immunotherapy targets for digestive tract cancers. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1190883. [PMID: 37398650 PMCID: PMC10311965 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1190883] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2023] [Accepted: 05/26/2023] [Indexed: 07/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Digestive tract cancers, including esophageal, gastric, and colorectal cancers, are the major cause of death among cancer patients worldwide due to the heterogeneity of cancer cells, which limits the effectiveness of traditional treatment methods. Immunotherapy represents a promising treatment strategy for improving the prognosis of patients with digestive tract cancers. However, the clinical application of this approach is limited by the absence of optimal targets. Cancer/testis antigens are characterized by low or absent expression in normal tissues, but high expression in tumor tissues, making them an attractive target for antitumor immunotherapy. Recent preclinical trials have shown promising results for cancer/testis antigen-targeted immunotherapy in digestive cancer. However, practical problems and difficulties in clinical application remain. This review presents a comprehensive analysis of cancer/testis antigens in digestive tract cancers, covering their expression, function, and potential as an immunotherapy target. Additionally, the current state of cancer/testis antigens in digestive tract cancer immunotherapy is discussed, and we predict that these antigens hold great promise as an avenue for breakthroughs in the treatment of digestive tract cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huihan Ai
- Department of General Surgery, The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Zhengzhou University & Henan Cancer Hospital, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
| | - Hang Yang
- Department of General Surgery, The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Zhengzhou University & Henan Cancer Hospital, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
| | - Liang Li
- Department of General Surgery, The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Zhengzhou University & Henan Cancer Hospital, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
| | - Jie Ma
- Department of General Surgery, The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Zhengzhou University & Henan Cancer Hospital, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
| | - Kangdong Liu
- Department of Pathophysiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, China-United States (US) Hormel (Henan) Cancer Institute, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
- Research Center of Basic Medicine, Academy of Medical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
| | - Zhi Li
- Department of General Surgery, The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Zhengzhou University & Henan Cancer Hospital, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
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Yang F, Zhang F, Ji F, Chen J, Li J, Chen Z, Hu Z, Guo Z. Self-delivery of TIGIT-blocking scFv enhances CAR-T immunotherapy in solid tumors. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1175920. [PMID: 37359558 PMCID: PMC10287952 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1175920] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2023] [Accepted: 06/01/2023] [Indexed: 06/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Chimeric antigen receptor T cell therapy has become an important immunotherapeutic tool for overcoming cancers. However, the efficacy of CAR-T cell therapy in solid tumors is relatively poor due to the complexity of the tumor microenvironment and inhibitory immune checkpoints. TIGIT on the surface of T cells acts as an immune checkpoint by binding to CD155 on the tumor cells' surface, thereby inhibiting tumor cell killing. Blocking TIGIT/CD155 interactions is a promising approach in cancer immunotherapy. In this study, we generated anti-MLSN CAR-T cells in combination with anti-α-TIGIT for solid tumors treatment. The anti-α-TIGIT effectively enhanced the efficacy of anti-MLSN CAR-T cells on the killing of target cells in vitro. In addition, we genetically engineered anti-MSLN CAR-T cells with the capacity to constitutively produce TIGIT-blocking single-chain variable fragments. Our study demonstrated that blocking TIGIT significantly promoted cytokine release to augment the tumor-killing effect of MT CAR-T cells. Moreover, the self-delivery of TIGIT-blocking scFvs enhanced the infiltration and activation of MT CAR-T cells in the tumor microenvironments to achieve better tumor regression in vivo. These results suggest that blocking TIGIT effectively enhances the anti-tumor effect of CAR-T cells and suggest a promising strategy of combining CAR-T with immune checkpoints blockade in the treatment of solid tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fan Yang
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Molecular and Medical Biotechnology, College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, China
| | - Fan Zhang
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Molecular and Medical Biotechnology, College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, China
| | - Feng Ji
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Molecular and Medical Biotechnology, College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, China
| | - Jiannan Chen
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Molecular and Medical Biotechnology, College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, China
| | - Jun Li
- CAR-T R&D Department, Nanjing Blue Shield Biotechnology Co., Ltd., Nanjing, China
| | - Zhengliang Chen
- CAR-T R&D Department, Nanjing Blue Shield Biotechnology Co., Ltd., Nanjing, China
| | - Zhigang Hu
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Molecular and Medical Biotechnology, College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, China
| | - Zhigang Guo
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Molecular and Medical Biotechnology, College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, China
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Grizzi F, Chiriva-Internati M, Miranda E, Zaharie R, Hajjar NA, Zaharie F, Del Arco CD, Fernández-Aceñero MJ, Bresalier RS, Moiş E. Sperm protein antigen 17 and Sperm flagellar 1 cancer testis antigens are expressed in a rare case of ciliated foregut cyst of the common hepatic duct. Pathol Res Pract 2023; 247:154546. [PMID: 37224658 DOI: 10.1016/j.prp.2023.154546] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2023] [Revised: 05/10/2023] [Accepted: 05/16/2023] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Ciliated foregut cysts (CFCs) are frequently described in liver, pancreas and gallbladder and generally considered benign although one case of squamous cell metaplasia and five cases of squamous cell carcinoma arising from a ciliated hepatic foregut cyst have been reported. Here we explore two cancer-testis antigens (CTAs), Sperm protein antigen 17 (SPA17) and Sperm flagellar 1 (SPEF1) expression in a rare case of CFC of the common hepatic duct MATERIALS AND METHODS: 3 µm-thick CFC sections were immunohistochemically treated with antibodies raised against human SPA17 or SPEF1. In silico Protein-Protein Interaction (PPI) network and differential protein expression were also investigated RESULTS: Immunohistochemistry revealed SPA17 and SPEF1 in the cytoplasm of ciliated epithelium. SPA17, but not SPEF1, was also detected in cilia. The PPI networks demonstrated that other CTAs are significantly predicted functional partners with SPA17 and SPEF1. The differential protein expression demonstrated that SPA17 was higher in breast cancer, cholangiocarcinoma, liver hepatocellular carcinoma, uterine corpus endometrial carcinoma, gastric adenocarcinoma, cervical squamous cell carcinoma, bladder urothelial carcinoma. SPEF1 expression was higher in breast cancer, cholangiocarcinoma, uterine corpus endometrial carcinoma and kidney renal papillary cell carcinoma CONCLUSIONS: Our study suggests that further characterization of SPA17 and SPEF1 in patients with CFCs might provide significant insights to understand the mechanisms underlying their potential to malignant transformation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabio Grizzi
- Department of Immunology and Inflammation, IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, Rozzano, Milan, Italy; Department of Biomedical Sciences, Humanitas University, Pieve Emanuele, Milan, Italy.
| | - Maurizio Chiriva-Internati
- Departments of Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition, Division of Internal Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | | | - Roxana Zaharie
- Iuliu Hațieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Regional Institute of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Nadim Al Hajjar
- Iuliu Hațieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Regional Institute of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Florin Zaharie
- Iuliu Hațieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Regional Institute of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | | | | | - Robert S Bresalier
- Departments of Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition, Division of Internal Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Emil Moiş
- Iuliu Hațieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Regional Institute of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
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11
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Harnessing epithelial-mesenchymal plasticity to boost cancer immunotherapy. Cell Mol Immunol 2023; 20:318-340. [PMID: 36823234 PMCID: PMC10066239 DOI: 10.1038/s41423-023-00980-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2022] [Accepted: 01/17/2023] [Indexed: 02/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) therapy is a powerful option for cancer treatment. Despite demonstrable progress, most patients fail to respond or achieve durable responses due to primary or acquired ICB resistance. Recently, tumor epithelial-to-mesenchymal plasticity (EMP) was identified as a critical determinant in regulating immune escape and immunotherapy resistance in cancer. In this review, we summarize the emerging role of tumor EMP in ICB resistance and the tumor-intrinsic or extrinsic mechanisms by which tumors exploit EMP to achieve immunosuppression and immune escape. We discuss strategies to modulate tumor EMP to alleviate immune resistance and to enhance the efficiency of ICB therapy. Our discussion provides new prospects to enhance the ICB response for therapeutic gain in cancer patients.
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12
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Peng W, Yao C, Pan Q, Zhang Z, Ye J, Shen B, Zhou G, Fang Y. Novel considerations on EGFR-based therapy as a contributor to cancer cell death in NSCLC. Front Oncol 2023; 13:1120278. [PMID: 36910653 PMCID: PMC9995697 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2023.1120278] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2022] [Accepted: 02/10/2023] [Indexed: 02/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) represented by gefitinib and erlotinib are widely used in treating non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, acquired resistance to EGFR-TKI treatment remains a clinical challenge. In recent years, emerging research investigated in EGFR-TKI-based combination therapy regimens, and remarkable achievements have been reported. This article focuses on EGFR-TKI-based regimens, reviews the standard and novel application of EGFR targets, and summarizes the mechanisms of EGFR-TKI combinations including chemotherapy, anti-vascular endothelial growth factor monoclonal antibodies, and immunotherapy in the treatment of NSCLC. Additionally, we summarize clinical trials of EGFR-TKI-based combination therapy expanding indications to EGFR mutation-negative lung malignancies. Moreover, novel strategies are under research to explore new drugs with good biocompatibility. Nanoparticles encapsulating non-coding RNA and chemotherapy of new dosage forms drawn great attention and showed promising prospects in effective delivery and stable release. Overall, as the development of resistance to EGFR-TKIs treatment is inevitable in most of the cases, further research is needed to clarify the underlying mechanism of the resistance, and to evaluate and establish EGFR-TKI combination therapies to diversify the treatment landscape for NSCLC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weiwei Peng
- Department of Medical Oncology, Jiangsu Cancer Hospital & Jiangsu Institute of Cancer Research & The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Chengyun Yao
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Jiangsu Cancer Hospital & Jiangsu Institute of Cancer Research & The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Qin Pan
- Department of Medical Oncology, Liyang People's Hospital, Liyang, China
| | - Zhi Zhang
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Jiangsu Cancer Hospital & Jiangsu Institute of Cancer Research & The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Jinjun Ye
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Jiangsu Cancer Hospital & Jiangsu Institute of Cancer Research & The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Bo Shen
- Department of Medical Oncology, Jiangsu Cancer Hospital & Jiangsu Institute of Cancer Research & The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Guoren Zhou
- Department of Medical Oncology, Jiangsu Cancer Hospital & Jiangsu Institute of Cancer Research & The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Ying Fang
- Department of Medical Oncology, Jiangsu Cancer Hospital & Jiangsu Institute of Cancer Research & The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
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13
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Yang P, Qiao Y, Liao H, Huang Y, Meng M, Chen Y, Zhou Q. The Cancer/Testis Antigen CT45A1 Promotes Transcription of Oncogenic Sulfatase-2 Gene in Breast Cancer Cells and Is Sensible Targets for Cancer Therapy. J Breast Cancer 2023; 26:168-185. [PMID: 37095619 PMCID: PMC10139848 DOI: 10.4048/jbc.2023.26.e5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2022] [Revised: 11/17/2022] [Accepted: 01/31/2023] [Indexed: 02/16/2023] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE Invasive breast carcinomas (BRCAs) are highly lethal. The molecular mechanisms underlying progression of invasive BRCAs are unclear, and effective therapies are highly desired. The cancer-testis antigen CT45A1 promotes overexpression of pro-metastatic sulfatase-2 (SULF2) and breast cancer metastasis to the lungs, but its mechanisms are largely unknown. In this study, we aimed to elucidate the mechanism of CT45A1-induced SULF2 overexpression and provide evidence for targeting CT45A1 and SULF2 for breast cancer therapy. METHODS The effect of CT45A1 on SULF2 expression was assessed using reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction and western blot. The mechanism of CT45A1-induced SULF2 gene transcription was studied using protein-DNA binding assay and a luciferase activity reporter system. The interaction between CT45A1 and SP1 proteins was assessed using immunoprecipitation and western blot. Additionally, the suppression of breast cancer cell motility by SP1 and SULF2 inhibitors was measured using cell migration and invasion assays. RESULTS CT45A1 and SULF2 are aberrantly overexpressed in patients with BRCA; importantly, overexpression of CT45A1 is closely associated with poor prognosis. Mechanistically, gene promoter demethylation results in overexpression of both CT45A1 and SULF2. CT45A1 binds directly to the core sequence GCCCCC in the promoter region of SULF2 gene and activates the promoter. Additionally, CT45A1 interacts with the oncogenic master transcription factor SP1 to drive SULF2 gene transcription. Interestingly, SP1 and SULF2 inhibitors suppress breast cancer cell migration, invasion, and tumorigenicity. CONCLUSION Overexpression of CT45A1 is associated with poor prognosis in patients with BRCA. CT45A1 promotes SULF2 overexpression by activating the promoter and interacting with SP1. Additionally, SP1 and SULF2 inhibitors suppress breast cancer cell migration, invasion, and tumorigenesis. Our findings provide new insight into the mechanisms of breast cancer metastasis and highlight CT45A1 and SULF2 as sensible targets for developing novel therapeutics against metastatic breast cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ping Yang
- Department of Pathophysiology, School of Medicine, Nantong University, Nantong, P.R. China
| | - Yingnan Qiao
- Cyrus Tang Hematology Center, Jiangsu Institute of Hematology, Soochow University, Suzhou, P.R. China
| | - Huaidong Liao
- Cyrus Tang Hematology Center, Jiangsu Institute of Hematology, Soochow University, Suzhou, P.R. China
| | - Yizheng Huang
- Department of Pathophysiology, School of Medicine, Nantong University, Nantong, P.R. China
| | - Mei Meng
- Cyrus Tang Hematology Center, Jiangsu Institute of Hematology, Soochow University, Suzhou, P.R. China
| | - Yu Chen
- Cyrus Tang Hematology Center, Jiangsu Institute of Hematology, Soochow University, Suzhou, P.R. China
| | - Quansheng Zhou
- Cyrus Tang Hematology Center, Jiangsu Institute of Hematology, Soochow University, Suzhou, P.R. China
- State Key Laboratory of Radiation Medicine and Protection, School of Radiation Medicine and Protection, Soochow University, Suzhou, P.R. China
- 2011 Collaborative Innovation Center of Hematology, Soochow University, Suzhou, P.R. China
- National Clinical Research Center for Hematologic Diseases, The Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, P.R. China
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14
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Comparative RNA-Sequencing Analysis Reveals High Complexity and Heterogeneity of Transcriptomic and Immune Profiles in Hepatocellular Carcinoma Tumors of Viral (HBV, HCV) and Non-Viral Etiology. MEDICINA (KAUNAS, LITHUANIA) 2022; 58:medicina58121803. [PMID: 36557005 PMCID: PMC9785216 DOI: 10.3390/medicina58121803] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2022] [Revised: 12/01/2022] [Accepted: 12/02/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Background and Objectives: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the most common type of primary liver cancer, is the leading cause of cancer-related mortality. It arises and progresses against fibrotic or cirrhotic backgrounds mainly due to infection with hepatitis viruses B (HBV) or C (HCV) or non-viral causes that lead to chronic inflammation and genomic changes. A better understanding of molecular and immune mechanisms in HCC subtypes is needed. Materials and Methods: To identify transcriptional changes in primary HCC tumors with or without hepatitis viral etiology, we analyzed the transcriptomes of 24 patients by next-generation sequencing. Results: We identified common and unique differentially expressed genes for each etiological tumor group and analyzed the expression of SLC, ATP binding cassette, cytochrome 450, cancer testis, and heat shock protein genes. Metascape functional enrichment analysis showed mainly upregulated cell-cycle pathways in HBV and HCV and upregulated cell response to stress in non-viral infection. GeneWalk analysis identified regulator, hub, and moonlighting genes and highlighted CCNB1, ACTN2, BRCA1, IGF1, CDK1, AURKA, AURKB, and TOP2A in the HCV group and HSF1, HSPA1A, HSP90AA1, HSPB1, HSPA5, PTK2, and AURKB in the group without viral infection as hub genes. Immune infiltrate analysis showed that T cell, cytotoxic, and natural killer cell markers were significantly more highly expressed in HCV than in non-viral tumors. Genes associated with monocyte activation had the highest expression levels in HBV, while high expression of genes involved in primary adaptive immune response and complement receptor activity characterized tumors without viral infection. Conclusions: Our comprehensive study underlines the high degree of complexity of immune profiles in the analyzed groups, which adds to the heterogeneous HCC genomic landscape. The biomarkers identified in each HCC group might serve as therapeutic targets.
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15
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Cao YH, Ding J, Tang QH, Zhang J, Huang ZY, Tang XM, Liu JB, Ma YS, Fu D. Deciphering cell-cell interactions and communication in the tumor microenvironment and unraveling intratumoral genetic heterogeneity via single-cell genomic sequencing. Bioengineered 2022; 13:14974-14986. [PMID: 37105769 DOI: 10.1080/21655979.2023.2185434] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/29/2023] Open
Abstract
A tumor's heterogeneity has important implications in terms of its clonal origin, progression, stemness, and drug resistance. Therefore, because of its significance in treatment, it is important to understand the gene expression pattern of a single cell, track gene expression or mutation in heterogeneous cells, evaluate the clonal origin of cancer cells, and determine the selective evolution of different subpopulations of cancer cells. Researchers are able to trace a cell's mutation and identify different types of tumor cells by measuring the whole transcriptome with single-cell sequencing (scRNA-seq). This technology provides a better understanding of the molecular mechanisms driving tumor growth than that offered by traditional RNA sequencing methods. In addition, it has revealed changes in the mutations and functions of somatic cells as a tumor evolves; it has also clarified immune cell infiltration and activation. Research on scRNA-seq technology has recently advanced significantly, suggesting new strategies for the treatment of cancer. In short, cancer researchers have become increasingly dependent on scRNA-seq. This paper reviews the development, detection principles, and processes of scRNA-seq technology and their application in tumor research. It also considers potential clinical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ya-Hong Cao
- Department of Respiratory, Nantong Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, Affiliated Nantong Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital of Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu, China
| | - Jie Ding
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Jingjiang Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, Jingjiang, Jiangsu, China
| | - Qing-Hai Tang
- Hunan Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Biological Resources in the Nanyue Mountainous Region and College of Life Sciences and Environment, Hengyang Normal University, Hengyang, Hunan, China
| | - Jie Zhang
- Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu, China
| | - Zhong-Yan Huang
- Institute of Pancreatic Diseases, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, Huangpu, China
| | - Xiao-Mei Tang
- Institute of Pancreatic Diseases, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, Huangpu, China
| | - Ji-Bin Liu
- Institute of Oncology, Affiliated Tumor Hospital of Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu, China
| | - Yu-Shui Ma
- Cancer Institute, Longhua Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, Xuhui, China
| | - Da Fu
- Institute of Pancreatic Diseases, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, Huangpu, China
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16
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Tu Z, Peng J, Long X, Li J, Wu L, Huang K, Zhu X. Sperm Autoantigenic Protein 17 Predicts the Prognosis and the Immunotherapy Response of Cancers: A Pan-Cancer Analysis. Front Immunol 2022; 13:844736. [PMID: 35592314 PMCID: PMC9110779 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.844736] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2021] [Accepted: 04/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Sperm autoantigen protein 17 (SPA17) is a highly conserved mammalian protein that participates in the acrosome reaction during fertilization and is a recently reported member of the cancer-testicular antigen (CTA) family. It has been reported that the SPA17 expression is limited in adult somatic tissues and re-expressed in tumor tissues. Recently, studies have found that SPA17 regulates the progression of various cancers, but its role in cancer immunotherapy is not clear. Methods The pan-cancer and normal tissue transcriptional data were acquired from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and the Genotype-Tissue Expression (GTEx) datasets. We explored the SPA17 pan-cancer genomic alteration analysis in the cBioPortal webtool. The Human Protein Atlas (HPA) and ComPPI websites were used to mine the SPA17 protein information. We performed a western blotting assay to validate the upregulated SPA17 expression in clinical glioblastoma (GBM) samples. The univariate Cox regression and Kaplan-Meier method were used to assess the prognostic role of SPA17 in pan-cancer. Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA) was used to search the associated cancer hallmarks with SPA17 expression in each cancer type. TIMER2.0 was the main platform to investigate the immune cell infiltrations related to SPA17 in pan-cancer. The associations between SPA17 and immunotherapy biomarkers were performed by Spearman correlation analysis. The drug sensitivity information from the Connectivity Map (CMap) dataset was downloaded to perform SAP17-specific inhibitor sensitivity analysis. Findings SPA17 was aberrantly expressed in most cancer types and exhibited prognosis predictive ability in various cancers. In addition, our results also show that SPA17 was significantly correlated with immune-activated hallmarks (including pathways and biological processes), immune cell infiltrations, and immunoregulator expressions. The most exciting finding was that SPA17 could significantly predict anti-PDL1 and anti-PD1 therapy responses in cancer patients. Finally, specific inhibitors, like irinotecan and puromycin, which correlate with SPA17 expression in different cancer types, were also screened using Connectivity Map (CMap). Conclusions Our results reveal that SPA17 was abnormally expressed in cancer tissues, and this expression pattern could be associated with immune cell infiltrations in tumor microenvironments. Clinically, SPA17 not only acted as a potent prognostic factor to predict the clinical outcomes of cancer patients but was also a promising immunotherapy predictive biomarker for cancer patients treated with immune-checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs).
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Affiliation(s)
- Zewei Tu
- Department of Neurosurgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, China.,Jiangxi Key Laboratory of Neurological Tumors and Cerebrovascular Diseases, Nanchang, China.,Institute of Neuroscience, Nanchang University, Nanchang, China.,Jiangxi Health Commission (JXHC) Key Laboratory of Neurological Medicine, Nanchang, China
| | - Jie Peng
- The Second Clinical Medical College of Nanchang University, Nanchang, China
| | - Xiaoyan Long
- East China Institute of Digital Medical Engineering, Shangrao, China
| | - Jingying Li
- Department of Comprehensive Intensive Care Unit, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, China
| | - Lei Wu
- Department of Neurosurgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, China.,Jiangxi Key Laboratory of Neurological Tumors and Cerebrovascular Diseases, Nanchang, China.,Institute of Neuroscience, Nanchang University, Nanchang, China.,Jiangxi Health Commission (JXHC) Key Laboratory of Neurological Medicine, Nanchang, China
| | - Kai Huang
- Department of Neurosurgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, China.,Jiangxi Key Laboratory of Neurological Tumors and Cerebrovascular Diseases, Nanchang, China.,Institute of Neuroscience, Nanchang University, Nanchang, China.,Jiangxi Health Commission (JXHC) Key Laboratory of Neurological Medicine, Nanchang, China
| | - Xingen Zhu
- Department of Neurosurgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, China.,Jiangxi Key Laboratory of Neurological Tumors and Cerebrovascular Diseases, Nanchang, China.,Institute of Neuroscience, Nanchang University, Nanchang, China.,Jiangxi Health Commission (JXHC) Key Laboratory of Neurological Medicine, Nanchang, China
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17
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Yang P, Qiao Y, Meng M, Zhou Q. Cancer/Testis Antigens as Biomarker and Target for the Diagnosis, Prognosis, and Therapy of Lung Cancer. Front Oncol 2022; 12:864159. [PMID: 35574342 PMCID: PMC9092596 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2022.864159] [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: 01/28/2022] [Accepted: 03/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Lung cancer is the leading type of malignant tumour among cancer-caused death worldwide, and the 5-year survival rate of lung cancer patients is only 18%. Various oncogenes are abnormally overexpressed in lung cancer, including cancer/testis antigens (CTAs), which are restrictively expressed in the male testis but are hardly expressed in other normal tissues, if at all. CTAs are aberrantly overexpressed in various types of cancer, with more than 60 CTAs abnormally overexpressed in lung cancer. Overexpression of oncogenic CTAs drives the initiation, metastasis and progression of lung cancer, and is closely associated with poor prognosis in cancer patients. Several CTAs, such as XAGE, SPAG9 and AKAP4, have been considered as biomarkers for the diagnosis and prognostic prediction of lung cancer. More interestingly, due to the high immunogenicity and specificity of CTAs in cancer, several CTAs, including CT45, BCAP31 and ACTL8, have been targeted for developing novel therapeutics against cancer. CTA-based vaccines, chimeric antigen receptor-modified T cells (CAR-T) and small molecules have been used in lung cancer treatment in pre-clinical and early clinical trials, with encouraging results being obtained. However, there are still many hurdles to be overcome before these therapeutics can be routinely used in clinical lung cancer therapy. This review summarises the recent rapid progress in oncogenic CTAs, focusing on CTAs as biomarkers for lung cancer diagnosis and prognostic prediction, and as targets for novel anti-cancer drug discovery and lung cancer therapy. We also identify challenges and opportunities in CTA-based cancer diagnosis and treatment. Finally, we provide perspectives on the mechanisms of oncogenic CTAs in lung cancer development, and we also suggest CTAs as a new platform for lung cancer diagnosis, prognostic prediction, and novel anti-cancer drug discovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ping Yang
- Department of Pathophysiology, School of Medicine, Nantong University, Nantong, China
| | - Yingnan Qiao
- Cyrus Tang Hematology Center, Jiangsu Institute of Hematology, Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Mei Meng
- Cyrus Tang Hematology Center, Jiangsu Institute of Hematology, Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Quansheng Zhou
- Cyrus Tang Hematology Center, Jiangsu Institute of Hematology, Soochow University, Suzhou, China.,State Key Laboratory of Radiation Medicine and Protection, School of Radiation Medicine and Protection, Soochow University, Suzhou, China.,2011 Collaborative Innovation Center of Hematology, Soochow University, Suzhou, China.,National Clinical Research Center for Hematologic Diseases, The Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, China
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18
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Khazan-Kost S, Cafri G, Melamed Kadosh D, Mooshayef N, Chatterji S, Dominissini D, Manor S, Zisser B, Broday L, Talalai E, Shemer A, Zadok O, Ofek E, Onn A, Admon A, Peled M. Soluble HLA peptidome of pleural effusions is a valuable source for tumor antigens. J Immunother Cancer 2022; 10:jitc-2021-003733. [PMID: 35580925 PMCID: PMC9114951 DOI: 10.1136/jitc-2021-003733] [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] [Accepted: 03/31/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Soluble human leucocyte antigen (sHLA) molecules, released into the plasma, carry their original peptide cargo and provide insight into the protein synthesis and degradation schemes of their source cells and tissues. Other body fluids, such as pleural effusions, may also contain sHLA-peptide complexes, and can potentially serve as a source of tumor antigens since these fluids are drained from the tumor microenvironment. We explored this possibility by developing a methodology for purifying and analyzing large pleural effusion sHLA class I peptidomes of patients with malignancies or benign diseases. Methods Cleared pleural fluids, cell pellets present in the pleural effusions, and the primary tumor cells cultured from cancer patients’ effusions, were used for immunoaffinity purification of the HLA molecules. The recovered HLA peptides were analyzed by liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) and the resulting LC-MS/MS data were analyzed with the MaxQuant software tool. Selected tumor antigen peptides were tested for their immunogenicity potential with donor peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) in an in vitro assay. Results Mass spectrometry analysis of the pleural effusions revealed 39,669 peptides attributable to 11,305 source proteins. The majority of peptides identified from the pleural effusions were defined as HLA ligands that fit the patients’ HLA consensus sequence motifs. The membranal and soluble HLA peptidomes of each individual patient correlated to each other. Additionally, soluble HLA peptidomes from the same patient, obtained at different visits to the clinic, were highly similar. Compared with benign effusions, the soluble HLA peptidomes of malignant pleural effusions were larger and included HLA peptides derived from known tumor-associated antigens, including cancer/testis antigens, lung-related proteins, and vascular endothelial growth factor pathway proteins. Selected tumor-associated antigens that were identified by the immunopeptidomics were able to successfully prime CD8+ T cells. Conclusions Pleural effusions contain sHLA-peptide complexes, and the pleural effusion HLA peptidome of patients with malignant tumors can serve as a rich source of biomarkers for tumor diagnosis and potential candidates for personalized immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sofia Khazan-Kost
- Faculty of Biology, Technion Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel
| | - Gal Cafri
- Chaim Sheba Medical Center, Ramat Gan, Israel
| | | | - Navit Mooshayef
- Institute of Pulmonary Medicine, Chaim Sheba Medical Center, Ramat Gan, Israel
| | - Sumit Chatterji
- Institute of Pulmonary Medicine, Chaim Sheba Medical Center, Ramat Gan, Israel
| | - Dan Dominissini
- Sheba Cancer Research Center, Chaim Sheba Medical Center, Ramat Gan, Israel.,Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Sigal Manor
- Ezer Mizion Bone Marrow Donor Registry, Petah Tikva, Israel
| | - Bracha Zisser
- Ezer Mizion Bone Marrow Donor Registry, Petah Tikva, Israel
| | - Limor Broday
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Efrosiniia Talalai
- Institute of Pulmonary Medicine, Chaim Sheba Medical Center, Ramat Gan, Israel.,Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Anat Shemer
- Chaim Sheba Medical Center, Ramat Gan, Israel
| | - Oranit Zadok
- Institute of Oncology, Chaim Sheba Medical Center, Ramat Gan, Israel
| | - Efrat Ofek
- Pathology Department, Chaim Sheba Medical Center, Ramat Gan, Israel
| | - Amir Onn
- Institute of Pulmonary Medicine, Chaim Sheba Medical Center, Ramat Gan, Israel.,Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Arie Admon
- Faculty of Biology, Technion Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel
| | - Michael Peled
- Institute of Pulmonary Medicine, Chaim Sheba Medical Center, Ramat Gan, Israel .,Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
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19
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Jia Q, Wang A, Yuan Y, Zhu B, Long H. Heterogeneity of the tumor immune microenvironment and its clinical relevance. Exp Hematol Oncol 2022; 11:24. [PMID: 35461288 PMCID: PMC9034473 DOI: 10.1186/s40164-022-00277-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2022] [Accepted: 04/10/2022] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
During the course of tumorigenesis and subsequent metastasis, malignant cells gradually diversify and become more heterogeneous. Consequently, the tumor mass might be infiltrated by diverse immune-related components, including the cytokine/chemokine environment, cytotoxic activity, or immunosuppressive elements. This immunological heterogeneity is universally presented spatially or varies temporally along with tumor evolution or therapeutic intervention across almost all solid tumors. The heterogeneity of anti-tumor immunity shows a profound association with the progression of disease and responsiveness to treatment, particularly in the realm of immunotherapy. Therefore, an accurate understanding of tumor immunological heterogeneity is essential for the development of effective therapies. Facilitated by multi-regional and -omics sequencing, single cell sequencing, and longitudinal liquid biopsy approaches, recent studies have demonstrated the potential to investigate the complexity of immunological heterogeneity of the tumors and its clinical relevance in immunotherapy. Here, we aimed to review the mechanism underlying the heterogeneity of the immune microenvironment. We also explored how clinical assessments of tumor heterogeneity might facilitate the development of more effective personalized therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qingzhu Jia
- Institute of Cancer, Xinqiao Hospital, Army Military Medical University, Xinqiao Main Street, Chongqing, 400037, China.,Chongqing Key Laboratory of Immunotherapy, Xinqiao Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing, 400037, China
| | - Aoyun Wang
- Institute of Cancer, Xinqiao Hospital, Army Military Medical University, Xinqiao Main Street, Chongqing, 400037, China.,Chongqing Key Laboratory of Immunotherapy, Xinqiao Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing, 400037, China
| | - Yixiao Yuan
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming, 650118, China
| | - Bo Zhu
- Institute of Cancer, Xinqiao Hospital, Army Military Medical University, Xinqiao Main Street, Chongqing, 400037, China. .,Chongqing Key Laboratory of Immunotherapy, Xinqiao Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing, 400037, China.
| | - Haixia Long
- Institute of Cancer, Xinqiao Hospital, Army Military Medical University, Xinqiao Main Street, Chongqing, 400037, China. .,Chongqing Key Laboratory of Immunotherapy, Xinqiao Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing, 400037, China.
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