The immune infiltrate in prostate, bladder and testicular tumors: An old friend for new challenges

Application and new findings of scRNA-seq and ST-seq in prostate cancer

Prostate cancer is a malignant tumor of the male urological system with the highest incidence rate in the world, which seriously threatens the life and health of middle-aged and elderly men. The progression of prostate cancer involves the interaction between tumor cells and tumor microenvironment. Understanding the mechanisms of prostate cancer pathogenesis and disease progression is important to guide diagnosis and therapy. The emergence of single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) and spatial transcriptome sequencing (ST-seq) technologies has brought breakthroughs in the study of prostate cancer. It makes up for the defects of traditional techniques such as fluorescence-activated cell sorting that are difficult to elucidate cell-specific gene expression. This review summarized the heterogeneity and functional changes of prostate cancer and tumor microenvironment revealed by scRNA-seq and ST-seq, aims to provide a reference for the optimal diagnosis and treatment of prostate cancer.

Association between metabolic obesity phenotypes and the risk of developing prostate cancer: a propensity score matching study based on Xinjiang

Background

Obesity-induced metabolic dysfunction increases the risk of developing tumors, however, the relationship between metabolic obesity phenotypes and prostate cancer (PCa) remains unclear.

Methods

The term metabolic obesity phenotypes was introduced based on metabolic status and BMI categories. Participants were categorized into four groups: metabolically healthy nonobesity (MHNO), metabolically healthy obesity (MHO), metabolically unhealthy nonobesity (MUNO), and metabolically unhealthy obesity (MUO). Propensity score matching was conducted based on age, ethnicity, marriage, etc. Univariate and multivariate conditional logistic regression analyses were used to assess the relationship between metabolic obesity phenotypes, metabolic risk factors, and PCa. Sensitivity analysis was performed to verify the robustness of the results.

Results

After propensity score matching among 564 PCa patients and 1418 healthy individuals, 209 were selected for each of the case and control groups. There were no statistically significant differences in the basic characteristics between the two groups. Univariate and multivariate conditional logistic regression suggested that the risk of developing PCa in both MHO and MUO individuals was higher than in MHNO individuals. Specifically, the risk of developing PCa in MHO individuals was 2.166 times higher than in MHNO individuals (OR=2.166, 95%CI: 1.133-4.139), and the risk in MUO individuals was is 2.398 times higher than in MHNO individuals(OR=2.398, 95%CI:1.271-4.523). Individuals with hyperglycemia and elevated triglycerides also had a higher risk of developing PCa (hyperglycemia:OR=1.488, 95%CI: 1.001-2.210; elevated triglycerides: OR=2.292, 95%CI: 1.419-3.702). Those with more than or equal to three metabolic risk factors had an increased risk of PCa (OR=1.990, 95%CI: 1.166-3.396). Sensitivity analysis indicated an increased risk of PCa in MUO individuals compared to MHNO individuals.

Conclusion

In this retrospective study, individuals with MHO and MUO had a higher risk of developing PCa.

A bird's eye view of the potential role of NFKBIA in pan-cancer

In the 21st century, cancer remains a serious threat to people's health and has become a prominent public health problem. NFKBIA is involved in the pathological process of many diseases including cancer, but its specific role in pan-cancer has not yet been fully elucidated. This study aims to deepen the understanding of cancer pathology by analyzing the potential functions of NFKBIA in pan-cancer. We used TCGA data to analyze differences of expression of NFKBIA in pan-cancer. We explored the prognostic value, clinical relevance, immune relevance, potential biological function, and diagnosis and treatment value of NFKBIA in pan-cancer through bioinformatics analysis. This study found that in pan-cancer, NFKBIA exhibits differences in expression, which correlate with the prognosis, diagnosis, treatment value and clinical and immune parameters. We have identified that Aspirin, Astaxanthin and Bardoxolone methyl are expected to play a potential therapeutic role in pan-cancer. The results of this study will help to improve our understanding of the role and potential mechanism of NFKBIA in cancer pathology, which may provide guidance for cancer-related research and clinical diagnosis and treatment.

Spatial distribution of tumor-associated macrophages in an orthotopic prostate cancer mouse model

Mounting evidence suggests that the immune landscape within prostate tumors influences progression, metastasis, treatment response, and patient outcomes. In this study, we investigated the spatial density of innate immune cell populations within NOD.SCID orthotopic prostate cancer xenografts following microinjection of human DU145 prostate cancer cells. Our laboratory has previously developed nanoscale liposomes that attach to leukocytes via conjugated E-selectin (ES) and kill cancer cells via TNF-related apoptosis inducing ligand (TRAIL). Immunohistochemistry (IHC) staining was performed on tumor samples to identify and quantify leukocyte infiltration for different periods of tumor growth and E-selectin/TRAIL (EST) liposome treatments. We examined the spatial-temporal dynamics of three different immune cell types infiltrating tumors using QuPath image analysis software. IHC staining revealed that F4/80+ tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) were the most abundant immune cells in all groups, irrespective of time or treatment. The density of TAMs decreased over the course of tumor growth and decreased in response to EST liposome treatments. Intratumoral versus marginal analysis showed a greater presence of TAMs in the marginal regions at 3 weeks of tumor growth which became more evenly distributed over time and in tumors treated with EST liposomes. TUNEL staining indicated that EST liposomes significantly increased cell apoptosis in treated tumors. Additionally, confocal microscopy identified liposome-coated TAMs in both the core and periphery of tumors, highlighting the ability of liposomes to infiltrate tumors by "piggybacking" on macrophages. The results of this study indicate that TAMs represent the majority of innate immune cells within NOD.SCID orthotopic prostate tumors, and spatial density varies widely as a function of tumor size, duration of tumor growth, and treatment of EST liposomes.

Nano-formulated delivery of active ingredients from traditional Chinese herbal medicines for cancer immunotherapy

Cancer immunotherapy has garnered promise in tumor progression, invasion, and metastasis through establishing durable and memorable immunological activity. However, low response rates, adverse side effects, and high costs compromise the additional benefits for patients treated with current chemical and biological agents. Chinese herbal medicines (CHMs) are a potential treasure trove of natural medicines and are gaining momentum in cancer immunomodulation with multi-component, multi-target, and multi-pathway characteristics. The active ingredient extracted from CHMs benefit generalized patients through modulating immune response mechanisms. Additionally, the introduction of nanotechnology has greatly improved the pharmacological qualities of active ingredients through increasing the hydrophilicity, stability, permeability, and targeting characteristics, further enhancing anti-cancer immunity. In this review, we summarize the mechanism of active ingredients for cancer immunomodulation, highlight nano-formulated deliveries of active ingredients for cancer immunotherapy, and provide insights into the future applications in the emerging field of nano-formulated active ingredients of CHMs.

Exploring the role of the inflammasomes on prostate cancer: Interplay with obesity

Obesity is a weight-related disorder characterized by excessive adipose tissue growth and dysfunction which leads to the onset of a systemic chronic low-grade inflammatory state. Likewise, inflammation is considered a classic cancer hallmark affecting several steps of carcinogenesis and tumor progression. In this regard, novel molecular complexes termed inflammasomes have been identified which are able to react to a wide spectrum of insults, impacting several metabolic-related disorders, but their contribution to cancer biology remains unclear. In this context, prostate cancer (PCa) has a markedly inflammatory component, and patients frequently are elderly individuals who exhibit weight-related disorders, being obesity the most prevalent condition. Therefore, inflammation, and specifically, inflammasome complexes, could be crucial players in the interplay between PCa and metabolic disorders. In this review, we will: 1) discuss the potential role of each inflammasome component (sensor, molecular adaptor, and targets) in PCa pathophysiology, placing special emphasis on IL-1β/NF-kB pathway and ROS and hypoxia influence; 2) explore the association between inflammasomes and obesity, and how these molecular complexes could act as the cornerstone between the obesity and PCa; and, 3) compile current clinical trials regarding inflammasome targeting, providing some insights about their potential use in the clinical practice.

UBC9 deficiency enhances immunostimulatory macrophage activation and subsequent antitumor T cell response in prostate cancer

The role of tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs), along with the regulatory mechanisms underlying distinct macrophage activation states, remains poorly understood in prostate cancer (PCa). Herein, we report that PCa growth in mice with macrophage-specific Ubc9 deficiency is substantially suppressed compared with that in wild-type littermates, an effect partially ascribed to the augmented CD8+ T cell response. Biochemical and molecular analyses revealed that signal transducer and activator of transcription 4 (STAT4) is a crucial UBC9-mediated SUMOylation target, with lysine residue 350 (K350) as the major modification site. Site-directed mutation of STAT4 (K350R) enhanced its nuclear translocation and stability, thereby facilitating the proinflammatory activation of macrophages. Importantly, administration of the UBC9 inhibitor 2-D08 promoted the antitumor effect of TAMs and increased the expression of PD-1 on CD8+ T cells, supporting a synergistic antitumor efficacy once it combined with the immune checkpoint blockade therapy. Together, our results demonstrate that ablation of UBC9 could reverse the immunosuppressive phenotype of TAMs by promoting STAT4-mediated macrophage activation and macrophage-CD8+ T cell crosstalk, which provides valuable insights to halt the pathogenic process of tumorigenesis.

Fabrication of SEBS Block Copolymer-Based Ultrasound Phantom Containing Mimic Tumors for Ultrasound-Guided Needle Biopsy Training

The creation of various phantoms is important in medical education, especially for intern physicians who need to practice their skills. Ultrasound phantoms are particularly useful for training in ultrasound-guided needle biopsy. SEBS, or poly(styrene-ethylene-butylene-styrene), is a thermoplastic elastomer that can be used with mineral oil to make ultrasound phantoms and a tumor-like structure. SEBS block copolymer-based phantoms are inexpensive, non-toxic and shelf-stable, and are easy to modulate. Most importantly, such ultrasound phantoms have acoustic and mechanical properties similar to those of human soft tissues. The quality of ultrasound images of phantoms and mimic tumors is excellent and can be maintained even after several biopsy needle punctures, making them excellent ultrasound phantoms for physician practice as needed.

Combination Blockade of the IL6R/STAT-3 Axis with TIGIT and Its Impact on the Functional Activity of NK Cells against Prostate Cancer Cells

Background/Aims. Prostate cancer (PCa) is one of the neoplasms with the highest incidence and mortality rate in men worldwide. Advanced stages of the disease are usually very aggressive, and most are treated with chemotherapeutic drugs that generally cause side effects in these patients. However, additional therapeutic targets such as the IL6R/STAT-3 axis and TIGIT have been proposed, mainly due to their relevance in the development of PCa and regulation of NK cell-mediated cytotoxicity. Here, we evaluate the effect of inhibitors directed against these therapeutic targets primarily via an analysis of NK cell function versus prostate cancer cells. Methods. We analyzed the secretion of cytokines, chemokines, and growth factors in 22Rv1, LNCaP, and DU145 cells. In these cells, we also evaluated the expression of NK ligands, IL6R, STAT-3, and phosporylated STAT-3. In NK-92 cells, we evaluated the effects of Stattic (Stt) and tocilizumab (Tcz) on NK receptors. In addition, we assessed if the disruption of the IL6R/STAT-3 pathway and blockade of TIGIT potentiated the cytotoxicity of NK-92 cells versus DU145 cells. Results. DU145 abundantly secretes M-CSF, VEGF, IL-6, CXCL8, and TGF-β. Furthermore, the expression of CD155 was found to increase in accordance with aggressiveness and metastatic status in the prostate cancer cells. Stt and Tcz induce a decrease in STAT-3 phosphorylation in the DU145 cells and, in turn, induce an increase of NKp46 and a decrease of TIGIT expression in NK-92 cells. Finally, the disruption of the IL6R/STAT-3 axis in prostate cancer cells and the blocking of TIGIT on NK-92 were observed to increase the cytotoxicity of NK-92 cells against DU145 cells through an increase in sFasL, granzyme A, granzyme B, and granulysin. Conclusions. Our results reveal that the combined use of inhibitors directed against the IL6R/STAT-3 axis and TIGIT enhances the functional activity of NK cells against castration-resistant prostate cancer cells.

Comprehensive Analysis Identifies Ameloblastin-Related Competitive Endogenous RNA as a Prognostic Biomarker for Testicular Germ Cell Tumour

Testicular Germ Cell Tumour (TGCT) is one of the most common tumours in young men. Increasing evidence shows that the extracellular matrix has a key role in the prognosis and metastasis of various human cancers. This study analysed the relationship between the matrix protein ameloblastin (AMBN) and potential biological markers associated with TGCT diagnosis and prognosis. The relationship between AMBN and TGCT prognosis was determined by bioinformatic analysis using the expression profiles of three RNAs (long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), microRNAs (miRNAs) and mRNAs) from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database, and available clinical information of the corresponding patients. Prediction and validation of competitive endogenous RNA (ceRNA) regulatory networks related to AMBN was performed. AMBN and its associated ceRNA regulatory network were found to be related to the recurrence of TGCT, and LINC02701 may be used as a diagnostic factor in TGCT. Furthermore, we identified PELATON (Plaque Enriched LncRNA In Atherosclerotic And Inflammatory Bowel Macrophage Regulation) as an independent prognostic factor for TGCT progression-free interval.

Resolving the immune landscape of human prostate at a single-cell level in health and cancer

The prostate gland produces prostatic fluid, high in zinc and citrate and essential for the maintenance of spermatozoa. Prostate cancer is a common condition with limited treatment efficacy in castration-resistant metastatic disease, including with immune checkpoint inhibitors. Using single-cell RNA-sequencing to perform an unbiased assessment of the cellular landscape of human prostate, we identify a subset of tumor-enriched androgen receptor-negative luminal epithelial cells with increased expression of cancer-associated genes. We also find a variety of innate and adaptive immune cells in normal prostate that were transcriptionally perturbed in prostate cancer. An exception is a prostate-specific, zinc transporter-expressing macrophage population (MAC-MT) that contributes to tissue zinc accumulation in homeostasis but shows enhanced inflammatory gene expression in tumors, including T cell-recruiting chemokines. Remarkably, enrichment of the MAC-MT signature in cancer biopsies is associated with improved disease-free survival, suggesting beneficial antitumor functions.

Copy number variation analysis of m6 A regulators identified METTL3 as a prognostic and immune-related biomarker in bladder cancer

PURPOSE

Growing evidence has demonstrated an indispensable role for N⁶ -methyladenosine (m⁶ A) in human diseases, but the copy number variations (CNVs) of m⁶ A regulatory genes in bladder cancer (BLCA) remains largely unknown.

METHODS

We investigated the CNVs on all known m⁶ A regulatory genes using the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database. The association between CNV events and clinicopathological as well as molecular characteristics of BLCA patients were explored. Gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) was implemented to reveal relative cellular processes. Association between m⁶ A regulatory genes and immune infiltrates was analyzed by The Tumor Immune Estimation Resource (TIMER) database.

RESULTS

CNV events of m⁶ A regulatory genes were frequently observed in BLCA. CNVs of METTL3, METTL14, and METTL16 correlated with molecular characteristics of BLCA patients including TP53 mutation. CNVs of METTL3 associated with the overall survival (OS) of BLCA patients. METTL3 was also associated with several cancer-related cellular processes, including mitotic spindle assembly, G2/M checkpoint, and E2F targets signaling pathway. Besides, the CNVs of m⁶ A regulatory genes were correlated with specific kinds of immune infiltrates.

CONCLUSIONS

There are significant correlations between m⁶ A regulatory genes with CNVs and clinicopathological characteristics. METTL3 with CNVs were associated with the immune infiltrates and performed as a prognostic marker in BLCA.

Diagnostic and therapeutic values of PMEPA1 and its correlation with tumor immunity in pan-cancer

AIMS

The prostate transmembrane protein, androgen induced 1 (PMEPA1) is differentially expressed in pan-cancer. However, PMEPA1 specific role in cancers has not been fully clarified. This study aims to explore the potential role of Pmepa1 in pan-cancer and specific cancer, with a view to deepening the research on the pathological mechanism of cancer.

MAIN METHODS

The Perl language and R language were used to identify the correlation between PMEPA1 expression level and clinical indicators, prognosis values, tumor microenvironment, immune cells' infiltration, immune checkpoint genes, TMB and MSI. The Therapeutic Target Database was used for identifying potential therapeutic drugs that target the pathways that are significantly affected by PMEPA1 expression.

KEY FINDINGS

PMEPA1 differential expression significantly correlated with patients' age, race, tumors' stage and status. PMEPA1 high expression was closely correlated with poor prognosis in many cancer types, excluding prostate adenocarcinoma. PMEPA1 expression was closely related to tumor cells and the immune microenvironment in stromal and immune cells' level, immune cells' infiltration, immune checkpoint genes, tumor mutational burden and microsatellite instability. We also found that the activity of the olfactory transduction pathway was closely related to PMEPA1 expression. In pan-cancer, Trifluoperazine and Halofantrine have the potential to reduce PMEPA1 expression.

SIGNIFICANCE

This study integrated existing data to explore PMEPA1 potential function in cancers, provided insights for the future cancer-related studies.

Programmed cell death-ligand 2: A neglected but important target in the immune response to cancer?

Programmed cell death-ligand 2 (PD-L2) is one of the two ligands of the programmed cell death-1 (PD-1) receptor, an inhibitory protein mainly expressed on activated immune cells that is targeted in the clinic, with successful and remarkable results. The PD-1/PD-Ls axis was shown to be one of the most relevant immunosuppressive pathways in the immune microenvironment, and blocking this interaction gave rise to an impressive clinical benefit in a broad variety of solid and hematological malignancies. Although PD-L2 has been historically considered a minor ligand, it binds to PD-1 with a two- to six-fold higher affinity as compared to PD-L1. PD-L2 can be expressed by immune, stromal, or tumor cells. The aims of this narrative review are to summarize PD-L2 biology in the physiological responses of the immune system and its role, expression, and clinical significance in cancer.

Current Status and Future Perspectives of Checkpoint Inhibitor Immunotherapy for Prostate Cancer: A Comprehensive Review

The clinical spectrum of prostate cancer (PCa) varies from castration-naive to metastatic castration-resistant disease. Despite the administration of androgen synthesis inhibitors and chemotherapy regimens for castration-resistant prostate cancer, the treatment options for this entity are limited. The utilization of the immune system against cancer cells shows potential as a therapeutic modality for various solid tumors and hematologic malignancies. With technological advances over the last decade, immunotherapy has become an integral treatment modality for advanced solid tumors. The feasibility of immunotherapy has shown promise for patients with PCa, and with advances in molecular diagnostic platforms and our understanding of immune mechanisms, immunotherapy is reemerging as a potential treatment modality for PCa. Various combinations of individualized immunotherapy and immune checkpoint blockers with androgen receptor-targeted therapies and conventional cytotoxic agents show promise. This article will review the current status of immunotherapy, including new discoveries and precision approaches to PCa, and discuss future directions in the continuously evolving landscape of immunotherapy.

Tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes from human prostate tumors reveal anti-tumor reactivity and potential for adoptive cell therapy

Advanced prostate cancer remains incurable and is the second leading cause of mortality in men. Immunotherapy based on the adoptive transfer of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL) has demonstrated promising clinical results in patients with metastatic melanoma and lately also in other solid tumors. However, the ability to obtain TIL from patients with prostate cancer, considered poorly immunogenic, remains unknown. In this study, we investigate the feasibility of isolating and expanding TIL from primary prostate tumors. We collected tumor specimens from eight patients with diagnosed prostate adenocarcinoma undergoing radical prostatectomy and were able to successfully expand multiple autologous TIL cultures from all patients. Twenty-eight prostate-TIL cultures were further expanded using a standard rapid expansion procedure under Good Manufacturing Practice conditions. TIL cultures were phenotypically characterized for T cell subset composition, differentiation status and co-inhibitory/stimulatory markers such as PD-1, TIM-3, LAG-3, and CD28 and were found to have in general similarity to TIL obtained from patients with melanoma and lung carcinoma previously treated at our center. All analyzed TIL cultures were functional as determined by the capability to produce high level of IFNγ upon stimuli. Most importantly, co-culture assays of prostate-TIL with autologous tumors demonstrated anti-tumor reactivity. In conclusion, these findings demonstrate that functional and anti-tumor reactive TIL can be obtained, despite the immunosuppressive microenvironment of the cancer, thus this study supports the development of TIL therapy for prostate cancer patients.

Differential expression of the TPα and TPβ isoforms of the human T Prostanoid receptor during chronic inflammation of the prostate: Role for FOXP1 in the transcriptional regulation of TPβ during monocyte-macrophage differentiation

Inflammation is linked to prostate cancer (PCa) and to other diseases of the prostate. The prostanoid thromboxane (TX)A₂ is a pro-inflammatory mediator implicated in several prostatic diseases, including PCa. TXA₂ signals through the TPα and TPβ isoforms of the T Prostanoid receptor (TP) which exhibit several functional differences and transcriptionally regulated by distinct promoters Prm1 and Prm3, respectively, within the TBXA2R gene. This study examined the expression of TPα and TPβ in inflammatory infiltrates within human prostate tissue. Strikingly, TPβ expression was detected in 94% of infiltrates, including in B- and T-lymphocytes and macrophages. In contrast, TPα was more variably expressed and, where present, expression was mainly confined to macrophages. To gain molecular insight into these findings, expression of TPα and TPβ was evaluated as a function of monocyte-to-macrophage differentiation in THP-1 cells. Expression of both TPα and TPβ was upregulated following phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate (PMA)-induced differentiation of monocytic THP-1 to their macrophage lineage. Furthermore, FOXP1, an essential transcriptional regulator down-regulated during monocyte-to-macrophage differentiation, was identified as a key trans-acting factor regulating TPβ expression through Prm3 in THP-1 cells. Knockdown of FOXP1 increased TPβ, but not TPα, expression in THP-1 cells, while genetic reporter and chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) analyses established that FOXP1 exerts its repressive effect on TPβ through binding to four cis-elements within Prm3. Collectively, FOXP1 functions as a transcriptional repressor of TPβ in monocytes. This repression is lifted in differentiated macrophages, allowing for upregulation of TPβ expression and possibly accounting for the prominent expression of TPβ in prostate tissue-resident macrophages.

PD-L1 Expression Reveals Significant Association With Squamous Differentiation in Upper Tract Urothelial Carcinoma

OBJECTIVES

Limited literature is available on the tumor microenvironment (TM) of upper tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC). This study comprehensively reviews programmed death 1 receptor (PD-1)-positive and CD8+ tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) and programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1) expression on tumor epithelium (TE).

METHODS

Seventy-two nephroureterectomy specimens were analyzed for PD-L1, PD-1, and CD8. One percent or more tumor and lymphohistiocyte PD-L1 expression was considered positive. TIL density by H&E was scored semiquantitatively from 0 to 3, and CD8+ and PD-1+ TILs were quantified in hotspots.

RESULTS

Of the cases, 37.5% demonstrated PD-L1+ on TE. PD-L1+ TE showed an association with pathologic stage (P = .01), squamous differentiation (SqD) (P < .001), TILs by H&E (P = .02), PD-1+ peritumoral TILs (P = .01), and PD-L1+ peritumoral lymphohistiocytes (P = .002). Finally, there was a significant difference in PD-1+ peritumoral TILs in cases with SqD vs no SqD (P = .03).

CONCLUSIONS

Aggressive UTUC is associated with a distinct TM. Furthermore, TM of UTUC-SqD was distinctly different from those with no SqD, warranting study in a larger cohort.

Stromal lymphocyte infiltration is associated with tumour invasion depth but is not prognostic in high-grade T1 bladder cancer

INTRODUCTION

Assessment of tumour-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) can provide important prognostic information in various cancers and may be of value in predicting response to immunotherapy. The objective of the present study was to investigate the association of stromal lymphocytic infiltration with clinicopathological parameters and their correlation with outcomes in patients with high-grade pT1 non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We retrospectively analysed clinical data and formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissues of 147 patients with primary high-grade pT1 NMIBC who underwent transurethral resection of the bladder. The stromal TIL density was scored as percentage of the stromal area infiltrated by mononuclear inflammatory cells over the total intratumoural stromal area. The main end-point was correlation with cancer-specific survival (CSS).

RESULTS

Median follow-up was 8.2 years (6.1-9.5). Induction Bacillus Calmette-Guérin therapy was undergone by 126 patients (86%). Stromal TILs were high (≥10%) in 82 tumours (56%) and were positively associated with the tumour invasion depth (p = 0.01) and cancers with variant histology (p = 0.01). For the CSS analysis, high (≥10%) versus. low (<10%) stromal TIL hazard ratio (95% confidence interval) was 1.70 (0.7-3.9, p = 0.2).

CONCLUSIONS

A higher density of stromal TILs was associated with the tumour invasion depth in pT1 NMIBC. The level of TILs was not associated with survival outcomes. These data suggest that tumour aggressiveness is associated with an increased adaptive immune response in pT1 NMIBC. Characterisation of T-cell subtypes along with B-cells may be critical to enhance our knowledge of the host immune response in patients with high-risk NMIBC.

Omega-3 fatty acids decrease prostate cancer progression associated with an anti-tumor immune response in eugonadal and castrated mice

BACKGROUND

Several lines of evidence suggest effects of dietary fat on prostate cancer (PCa) development and progression. Targeting omega (ω)-3:ω6 fatty acids (FA) ratio could be beneficial against PCa by favorably modulating inflammation. Here, we studied the effects of ω3- and ω6-enriched diets on prostate tumor growth and inflammatory response in androgen-deprived and non-deprived conditions.

METHODS

Immune-competent eugonadal and castrated C57BL/6 mice were injected with TRAMP-C2 prostate tumor cells and daily fed with ω3- or ω6-enriched diet. FA and cytokine profiles were measured in blood and tumors using gas chromatography and multiplex immunoassay, respectively. Immune cell infiltration in tumors was profiled by multicolor flow cytometry.

RESULTS

ω3-enriched diet decreased prostate TRAMP-C2 tumor growth in immune-competent eugonadal and castrated mice. Cytokines associated with Th1 immune response (IL-12 [p70], IFN-γ, GM-CSF) and eosinophil recruitment (eotaxin-1, IL-5, and IL-13) were significantly elevated in tumors of ω3-fed mice. Using in vitro experiments, we confirmed ω3 FA-induced eotaxin-1 secretion by tumor cells and that eotaxin-1 secretion was regulated by androgens. Analysis of immune cell infiltrating tumors showed no major difference of immune cells' abundance between ω3- and ω6-enriched diets.

CONCLUSIONS

ω3-enriched diet reduces prostate tumor growth independently of androgen levels. ω3 FA can inhibit tumor cell growth and induce a local anti-tumor inflammatory response. These findings warrant further examination of dietary ω3's potential to slow down the progression of androgen-sensitive and castrate-resistant PCa by modulating immune cell function in tumors.

Prognostic impact of tumor infiltrating lymphocytes on patients with metastatic urothelial carcinoma receiving platinum based chemotherapy

The impact of tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) on survival was confirmed in various cancer types. Our study aims to investigate the prognostic role of TILs on survival in patients with metastatic urothelial carcinoma (mUC) receiving platinum based chemotherapy. Patients who were diagnosed to have pathologically proved mUC between 1997 and 2016 and received palliative chemotherapy with platinum based regimen were recruited into our study. Kaplan-Meier curves and Cox regression analysis were constructed for overall survival (OS). A total of 259 mUC patients were enrolled into our study with median age 63 years and median follow-up visit 13.5 months. Of these patients, 179 (69%) had intense TILs and 80 (31%) had non-intense TILs. The median OS were 15.7 vs. 6.7 months (P = < 0.001) for patients with intense TILs and non-intense TILs, respectively. Subgroup analysis showed that TILs was both prognostically significant no matter for urothelial carcinoma of bladder and upper tract urothelial carcinoma. Multivariate analysis showed that TILs were strongly prognostic factors related to OS. Our study suggested mUC patients with intense TILs were independently associated with survival. Based on our study, TILs is clinically useful for outcomes anticipation and risk stratification, as well as patients counseling.

Noninvasive PET Imaging of T cells

The rapidly evolving field of cancer immunotherapy recently saw the approval of several new therapeutic antibodies. Several cell therapies, for example, chimeric antigen receptor-expressing T cells (CAR-T), are currently in clinical trials for a variety of cancers and other diseases. However, approaches to monitor changes in the immune status of tumors or to predict therapeutic responses are limited. Monitoring lymphocytes from whole blood or biopsies does not provide dynamic and spatial information about T cells in heterogeneous tumors. Positron emission tomography (PET) imaging using probes specific for T cells can noninvasively monitor systemic and intratumoral immune alterations during experimental therapies and may have an important and expanding value in the clinic.