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Xiao Z, Puré E. The fibroinflammatory response in cancer. Nat Rev Cancer 2025; 25:399-425. [PMID: 40097577 DOI: 10.1038/s41568-025-00798-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/06/2025] [Indexed: 03/19/2025]
Abstract
Fibroinflammation refers to the highly integrated fibrogenic and inflammatory responses mediated by the concerted function of fibroblasts and innate immune cells in response to tissue perturbation. This process underlies the desmoplastic remodelling of the tumour microenvironment and thus plays an important role in tumour initiation, growth and metastasis. More specifically, fibroinflammation alters the biochemical and biomechanical signalling in malignant cells to promote their proliferation and survival and further supports an immunosuppressive microenvironment by polarizing the immune status of tumours. Additionally, the presence of fibroinflammation is often associated with therapeutic resistance. As such, there is increasing interest in targeting this process to normalize the tumour microenvironment and thus enhance the treatment of solid tumours. Herein, we review advances made in unravelling the complexity of cancer-associated fibroinflammation that can inform the rational design of therapies targeting this.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zebin Xiao
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Ellen Puré
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
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Konecnik J, O'Keefe RN, Raghunathan K, Jacob SP, O'Brien M, Huber A, Trivedi P, Dijkstra C, Allam AH, Buchert M, Ernst M, Eissmann MF. Protocol on utilizing murine gastric cancer organoids for modeling subcutaneous, orthotopic primary, and liver metastatic disease in mice. STAR Protoc 2025; 6:103784. [PMID: 40252221 PMCID: PMC12033989 DOI: 10.1016/j.xpro.2025.103784] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2024] [Revised: 02/16/2025] [Accepted: 04/03/2025] [Indexed: 04/21/2025] Open
Abstract
Tumor initiation, growth, and spread are influenced by cancer cell intrinsic and tissue microenvironment factors of the organ the tumor resides in. Here, we provide a protocol on utilizing murine gastric cancer (GC) organoids as transplantable mouse models for subcutaneous, orthotopic primary, and liver metastatic disease. We provide detailed instructions for organoid expansion; processing of GC organoids; and their subsequent subcutaneous, intra-stomach wall, and intra-splenic transplantation. We then detail steps for post-procedure tumor and metastasis monitoring and outcomes. For complete details on the use and execution of this protocol, please refer to Huber et al.1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joshua Konecnik
- Cancer and Inflammation Laboratory, Olivia Newton John Cancer Research Institute and School of Cancer Medicine, La Trobe University, Melbourne, VIC 3083, Australia.
| | - Ryan N O'Keefe
- Cancer and Inflammation Laboratory, Olivia Newton John Cancer Research Institute and School of Cancer Medicine, La Trobe University, Melbourne, VIC 3083, Australia
| | - Kiruthiga Raghunathan
- Cancer and Inflammation Laboratory, Olivia Newton John Cancer Research Institute and School of Cancer Medicine, La Trobe University, Melbourne, VIC 3083, Australia
| | - Saumya P Jacob
- Cancer and Inflammation Laboratory, Olivia Newton John Cancer Research Institute and School of Cancer Medicine, La Trobe University, Melbourne, VIC 3083, Australia
| | - Megan O'Brien
- Cancer and Inflammation Laboratory, Olivia Newton John Cancer Research Institute and School of Cancer Medicine, La Trobe University, Melbourne, VIC 3083, Australia
| | - Anne Huber
- Cancer and Inflammation Laboratory, Olivia Newton John Cancer Research Institute and School of Cancer Medicine, La Trobe University, Melbourne, VIC 3083, Australia
| | - Purva Trivedi
- Cancer and Inflammation Laboratory, Olivia Newton John Cancer Research Institute and School of Cancer Medicine, La Trobe University, Melbourne, VIC 3083, Australia
| | - Christine Dijkstra
- Cancer and Inflammation Laboratory, Olivia Newton John Cancer Research Institute and School of Cancer Medicine, La Trobe University, Melbourne, VIC 3083, Australia
| | - Amr H Allam
- Cancer and Inflammation Laboratory, Olivia Newton John Cancer Research Institute and School of Cancer Medicine, La Trobe University, Melbourne, VIC 3083, Australia
| | - Michael Buchert
- Cancer and Inflammation Laboratory, Olivia Newton John Cancer Research Institute and School of Cancer Medicine, La Trobe University, Melbourne, VIC 3083, Australia
| | - Matthias Ernst
- Cancer and Inflammation Laboratory, Olivia Newton John Cancer Research Institute and School of Cancer Medicine, La Trobe University, Melbourne, VIC 3083, Australia
| | - Moritz F Eissmann
- Cancer and Inflammation Laboratory, Olivia Newton John Cancer Research Institute and School of Cancer Medicine, La Trobe University, Melbourne, VIC 3083, Australia.
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Afshar-Sterle S, Carli ALE, O'Keefe R, Tse J, Fischer S, Azimpour AI, Baloyan D, Elias L, Thilakasiri P, Patel O, Ferguson FM, Eissmann MF, Chand AL, Gray NS, Busuttil R, Boussioutas A, Lucet IS, Ernst M, Buchert M. DCLK1 induces a pro-tumorigenic phenotype to drive gastric cancer progression. Sci Signal 2024; 17:eabq4888. [PMID: 39288218 DOI: 10.1126/scisignal.abq4888] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2022] [Revised: 03/22/2023] [Accepted: 08/29/2024] [Indexed: 09/19/2024]
Abstract
Doublecortin-like kinase 1 (DCLK1) is a proposed driver of gastric cancer (GC) that phosphorylates serine and threonine residues. Here, we showed that the kinase activity of DCLK1 orchestrated cancer cell-intrinsic and-extrinsic processes that led to pro-invasive and pro-metastatic reprogramming of GC cells. Inhibition of the kinase activity of DCLK1 reduced the growth of subcutaneous xenograft tumors formed from MKN1 human gastric carcinoma cells in mice and decreased the abundance of the stromal markers α-Sma, vimentin, and collagen. Similar effects were seen in mice with xenograft tumors formed from MKN1 cells expressing a kinase-inactive DCLK1 mutant (MKN1D511N). MKN1D511N cells also had reduced in vitro migratory potential and stemness compared with control cells. Mice orthotopically grafted with MKN1 cells overexpressing DCLK1 (MKN1DCLK1) showed increased invasiveness and had a greater incidence of lung metastases compared with those grafted with control MKN1 cells. Mechanistically, we showed that the chemokine CXCL12 acted downstream of DCLK1 in cultured MKN1 cells and in mice subcutaneously implanted with gastric tumors formed by MKN1DCLK1 cells. Moreover, inhibition of the kinase activity of DCLK1 or the expression of DCLK1D511N reversed the pro-tumorigenic and pro-metastatic phenotype. Together, this study establishes DCLK1 as a broadly acting and potentially targetable promoter of GC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shoukat Afshar-Sterle
- Cancer and Inflammation Laboratory, Olivia Newton-John Cancer Research Institute, Heidelberg, VIC, Australia
- School of Cancer Medicine, La Trobe University, Bundoora, VIC, Australia
| | - Annalisa L E Carli
- Cancer and Inflammation Laboratory, Olivia Newton-John Cancer Research Institute, Heidelberg, VIC, Australia
- School of Cancer Medicine, La Trobe University, Bundoora, VIC, Australia
| | - Ryan O'Keefe
- Cancer and Inflammation Laboratory, Olivia Newton-John Cancer Research Institute, Heidelberg, VIC, Australia
- School of Cancer Medicine, La Trobe University, Bundoora, VIC, Australia
| | - Janson Tse
- Cancer and Inflammation Laboratory, Olivia Newton-John Cancer Research Institute, Heidelberg, VIC, Australia
- School of Cancer Medicine, La Trobe University, Bundoora, VIC, Australia
| | - Stefanie Fischer
- Cancer and Inflammation Laboratory, Olivia Newton-John Cancer Research Institute, Heidelberg, VIC, Australia
- School of Cancer Medicine, La Trobe University, Bundoora, VIC, Australia
| | - Alexander I Azimpour
- Cancer and Inflammation Laboratory, Olivia Newton-John Cancer Research Institute, Heidelberg, VIC, Australia
- School of Cancer Medicine, La Trobe University, Bundoora, VIC, Australia
| | - David Baloyan
- Cancer and Inflammation Laboratory, Olivia Newton-John Cancer Research Institute, Heidelberg, VIC, Australia
- School of Cancer Medicine, La Trobe University, Bundoora, VIC, Australia
| | - Lena Elias
- Cancer and Inflammation Laboratory, Olivia Newton-John Cancer Research Institute, Heidelberg, VIC, Australia
- School of Cancer Medicine, La Trobe University, Bundoora, VIC, Australia
| | - Pathum Thilakasiri
- Cancer and Inflammation Laboratory, Olivia Newton-John Cancer Research Institute, Heidelberg, VIC, Australia
- School of Cancer Medicine, La Trobe University, Bundoora, VIC, Australia
| | - Onisha Patel
- ACRF Chemical Biology Division, Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, VIC, Australia
- Department of Medical Biology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Fleur M Ferguson
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry and the Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Moritz F Eissmann
- Cancer and Inflammation Laboratory, Olivia Newton-John Cancer Research Institute, Heidelberg, VIC, Australia
- School of Cancer Medicine, La Trobe University, Bundoora, VIC, Australia
| | - Ashwini L Chand
- Cancer and Inflammation Laboratory, Olivia Newton-John Cancer Research Institute, Heidelberg, VIC, Australia
- School of Cancer Medicine, La Trobe University, Bundoora, VIC, Australia
| | - Nathanael S Gray
- Department of Chemical and Systems Biology, Stanford Cancer Institute, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Rita Busuttil
- Central Clinical School, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
- Department of Gastroenterology, Alfred Hospital, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Alex Boussioutas
- Central Clinical School, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
- Department of Gastroenterology, Alfred Hospital, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Isabelle S Lucet
- ACRF Chemical Biology Division, Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, VIC, Australia
- Department of Medical Biology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Matthias Ernst
- Cancer and Inflammation Laboratory, Olivia Newton-John Cancer Research Institute, Heidelberg, VIC, Australia
- School of Cancer Medicine, La Trobe University, Bundoora, VIC, Australia
| | - Michael Buchert
- Cancer and Inflammation Laboratory, Olivia Newton-John Cancer Research Institute, Heidelberg, VIC, Australia
- School of Cancer Medicine, La Trobe University, Bundoora, VIC, Australia
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