Interleukin-1 receptor antagonist: An alternative therapy for cancer treatment

Clinical and dynamic circulating cytokines profile features of long-term progression-free survival benefit to immune checkpoint inhibitors in advanced non-small cell lung cancer

BACKGROUND

Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) offer durable progression-free survival (PFS) benefit in a subset of patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, the predictors of long-term PFS (LTPFS) remain unclear.

METHODS

Advanced NSCLC patients receiving first-line ICIs monotherapy at Guangdong Lung Cancer Institute between December 2017 and August 2022 were identified. Predictive value of different characteristics was evaluated in LTPFS (PFS ≥ 24 months) compared with short-term PFS (STPFS, PFS ≤ 3 months). Circulating cytokine levels were evaluated in paired peripheral blood samples collected before and after ICIs treatment.

RESULTS

Among 202 patients identified and 171 included (median follow-up: 41.0 months), 44 (25.7%) experienced LTPFS, associated with a 5-year overall survival (OS) rate of 81.2%. Squamous NSCLC, intermediate or poor lung immune prognostic index (LIPI) score, and liver metastases, were negatively associated with LTPFS. High tumor mutational burden (TMB, ≥ 10 mutations/megabase) was enriched in LTPFS compared to STPFS (P = 0.002). Patients with both high TMB and PD-L1 demonstrated the greatest survival benefit from first-line ICIs monotherapy (median PFS: 24.5 months, median OS: 67.0 months). Thirty-eight peripheral blood samples were collected before and after ICIs treatment from 10 patients with LTPFS and 9 with STPFS, which revealed increased CCL11 (P = 0.013) and decreased IL1RA (P = 0.001) and IL17A (P = 0.003) levels in LTPFS after ICIs treatment.

CONCLUSION

Distinct clinical characteristics, including TMB, PD-L1, pathologic subtypes, LIPI score, number of organs involved, metastatic sites, and dynamic circulating cytokines profile features, can distinguish NSCLC patients achieving LTPFS from those with STPFS following first-line ICIs monotherapy.

Genetic determinants of inflammatory cytokines and their causal relationship with inflammatory disorders of breast: a two-sample Mendelian randomization study

This study utilized two-sample MR to investigate causality between genetically predicted inflammatory markers and the risk of IDB. This research leveraged publicly available GWAS summary statistics to collect data on inflammatory cytokines and IDB. The IVW method was primarily employed for causal inference, supplemented by weighted median, mode-based estimation, and MR-Egger regression. Stringent sensitivity methods included Cochran's Q test, MR-Egger regression, MR-PRESSO, and leave-one-out analyses to assess the robustness of the findings. This study selected 452 instrument variables (IVs) related to inflammatory factors. The IVW analysis revealed that GROa and RANTES/CCL5 exhibited causal relationships with IDB. Additionally, after removing outliers, significant causal associations were observed for IL-1ra and IL-9. Notably, the causal associations of RANTES/CCL5 and IL-9 with IBD remained significant after FDR correction. Upon integrating the findings from all sensitivity analyses, it is unlikely that heterogeneity and pleiotropy substantially influenced the observed relationships, underscoring the robustness of our findings. Our MR analysis identified the causal roles of specific inflammatory cytokines such as GROa, RANTES/CCL5, IL-1ra and IL-9 in the development of IDB. These findings deepen our understanding of the complex regulatory mechanisms involving inflammation in breast diseases and suggest directions for future research on biological pathways linking inflammation with IDB.

The role of IL-1 family cytokines in diabetic cardiomyopathy

Diabetic cardiomyopathy (DCM) is the primary cause of heart failure in patients with diabetes and is characterised by contractile dysfunction and left ventricular hypertrophy. The complex pathological and physiological mechanisms underlying DCM have contributed to a limited number of available treatment options. A substantial body of evidence has established that DCM is a low-grade inflammatory cardiovascular disorder, with the interleukin-1 (IL-1) family of cytokines playing crucial roles in initiating inflammatory responses and shaping innate and adaptive immunity. In this review, we aim to provide an overview of the underlying mechanisms of the IL-1 family and their relevance in DCM of various aetiologies. Furthermore, we highlighted potential therapeutic targets within the IL-1 family for the management of DCM.

Inflammation and thrombotic risk in late-stage cervical cancer: An exploratory study of coagulation and cytokine profiles in a South African cohort

PURPOSE

This exploratory study investigates the possible relationship between inflammation and thrombosis in cervical cancer patients in South Africa, highlighting the need for improved thrombotic risk profiling.

METHODS

Thromboelastography (TEG) was used to assess coagulation parameters in platelet-poor plasma (PPP) from a small cohort of late-stage (III and IV) cervical cancer patients (n = 19) and healthy controls (n = 15). Parameters assessed included clotting time, clot formation speed, and clot strength. A Luminex Multiplex assay was used to measure interferon-γ (IFN-γ), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), IL-6, vascular endothelial growth factor-A (VEGF-A), and tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) in PPP. Haematological profiles were also evaluated.

RESULTS

Cervical cancer patients displayed a significantly shortened clotting time (p = 0.0044) and increased clot strength (p = 0.0003), suggesting enhanced coagulation. IL-1β was notably elevated (p = 0.0200), consistent with an inflammatory environment. Higher lymphocyte, neutrophil, and platelet counts (p = 0.0162, 0.0420, and 0.0374, respectively) were observed, indicating a possible prothrombotic state.

CONCLUSION

These findings suggest a potential link between inflammation and thrombosis in cervical cancer patients. However, due to this study's small sample size and exploratory nature, direct relationships between these factors have yet to be definitively established and remain speculative. Thrombotic risk profiling may still offer value in managing patients, but further investigation is required to confirm these preliminary observations.

Expanding Role of Interleukin-1 Family Cytokines in Acute Ischemic Stroke

Ischemic stroke (IS) is a critical medical condition that results in significant neurological deficits and tissue damage, affecting millions worldwide. Currently, there is a significant lack of reliable tools for assessing and predicting IS outcomes. The inflammatory response following IS may exacerbate tissue injury or provide neuroprotection. This review sought to summarize current knowledge on the IL-1 family's involvement in IS, which includes pro-inflammatory molecules, such as IL-1α, IL-1β, IL-18, and IL-36, as well as anti-inflammatory molecules, like IL-1Ra, IL-33, IL-36A, IL-37, and IL-38. The balance between these opposing inflammatory processes may serve as a biomarker for determining patient outcomes and recovery paths. Treatments targeting these cytokines or their receptors show promise, but more comprehensive research is essential to clarify their precise roles in IS development and progression.

Anakinra-Loaded Sphingomyelin Nanosystems Modulate In Vitro IL-1-Dependent Pro-Tumor Inflammation in Pancreatic Cancer

Pancreatic cancer is a very aggressive disease with a dismal prognosis. The tumor microenvironment exerts immunosuppressive activities through the secretion of several cytokines, including interleukin (IL)-1. The IL-1/IL-1 receptor (IL-1R) axis is a key regulator in tumor-promoting T helper (Th)2- and Th17-type inflammation. Th2 cells are differentiated by dendritic cells endowed with Th2-polarizing capability by the thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP) that is secreted by IL-1-activated cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs). Th17 cells are differentiated in the presence of IL-1 and other IL-1-regulated cytokines. In pancreatic cancer, the use of a recombinant IL-1R antagonist (IL1RA, anakinra, ANK) in in vitro and in vivo models has shown efficacy in targeting the IL-1/IL-1R pathway. In this study, we have developed sphingomyelin nanosystems (SNs) loaded with ANK (ANK-SNs) to compare their ability to inhibit Th2- and Th17-type inflammation with that of the free drug in vitro. We found that ANK-SNs inhibited TSLP and other pro-tumor cytokines released by CAFs at levels similar to ANK. Importantly, inhibition of IL-17 secretion by Th17 cells, but not of interferon-γ, was significantly higher, and at lower concentrations, with ANK-SNs compared to ANK. Collectively, the use of ANK-SNs might be beneficial in reducing the effective dose of the drug and its toxic effects.

Identification of New Chemoresistance-Associated Genes in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer by Single-Cell Transcriptomic Analysis

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is a particularly aggressive mammary neoplasia with a high fatality rate, mainly because of the development of resistance to administered chemotherapy, the standard treatment for this disease. In this study, we employ both bulk RNA-sequencing and single-cell RNA-sequencing (scRNA-seq) to investigate the transcriptional landscape of TNBC cells cultured in two-dimensional monolayers or three-dimensional spheroids, before and after developing resistance to the chemotherapeutic agents paclitaxel and doxorubicin. Our findings reveal significant transcriptional heterogeneity within the TNBC cell populations, with the scRNA-seq identifying rare subsets of cells that express resistance-associated genes not detected by the bulk RNA-seq. Furthermore, we observe a partial shift towards a highly mesenchymal phenotype in chemoresistant cells, suggesting the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) as a prevalent mechanism of resistance in subgroups of these cells. These insights highlight potential therapeutic targets, such as the PDGF signaling pathway mediating EMT, which could be exploited in this setting. Our study underscores the importance of single-cell approaches in understanding tumor heterogeneity and developing more effective, personalized treatment strategies to overcome chemoresistance in TNBC.

IL-1 Family Members in Bone Sarcomas

IL-1 family members have multiple pleiotropic functions affecting various tissues and cells, including the regulation of the immune response, hematopoietic homeostasis, bone remodeling, neuronal physiology, and synaptic plasticity. Many of these activities are involved in various pathological processes and immunological disorders, including tumor initiation and progression. Indeed, IL-1 family members have been described to contribute to shaping the tumor microenvironment (TME), determining immune evasion and drug resistance, and to sustain tumor aggressiveness and metastasis. This review addresses the role of IL-1 family members in bone sarcomas, particularly the highly metastatic osteosarcoma (OS) and Ewing sarcoma (EWS), and discusses the IL-1-family-related mechanisms that play a role in bone metastasis development. We also consider the therapeutic implications of targeting IL-1 family members, which have been proposed as (i) relevant targets for anti-tumor and anti-metastatic drugs; (ii) immune checkpoints for immune suppression; and (iii) potential antigens for immunotherapy.