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Huang Y, Chen Z, Shen G, Fang S, Zheng J, Chi Z, Zhang Y, Zou Y, Gan Q, Liao C, Yao Y, Kong J, Fan X. Immune regulation and the tumor microenvironment in anti-PD-1/PDL-1 and anti-CTLA-4 therapies for cancer immune evasion: A bibliometric analysis. Hum Vaccin Immunother 2024; 20:2318815. [PMID: 38419524 DOI: 10.1080/21645515.2024.2318815] [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: 11/17/2023] [Accepted: 02/11/2024] [Indexed: 03/02/2024] Open
Abstract
This study aims to conduct a bibliometric analysis, employing visualization tools to examine literature pertaining to tumor immune evasion related to anti-CTLA-4 and anti-PD-1/PD-L1 therapy from 1999 to 2022. A special emphasis is placed on the interplay between tumor microenvironment, signaling pathways, immune cells and immune evasion, with data sourced from the Web of Science core collection (WoSCC). Advanced tools, including VOSviewer, Citespace, and Scimago Graphica, were utilized to analyze various parameters, such as co-authorship/co-citation patterns, regional contributions, journal preferences, keyword co-occurrences, and significant citation bursts. Out of 4778 publications reviewed, there was a marked increase in research focusing on immune evasion, with bladder cancer being notably prominent. Geographically, China, the USA, and Japan were the leading contributors. Prestigious institutions like MD Anderson Cancer Center, Harvard Medical School, Fudan University, and Sun Yat Sen University emerged as major players. Renowned journals in this domain included Frontiers in Immunology, Cancers, and Frontiers in Oncology. Ehen LP and Wang W were identified as prolific authors on this topic, while Topalian SL stood out as one of the most cited. Research current situation is notably pivoting toward challenges like immunotherapy resistance and the intricate signaling pathways driving drug resistance. This bibliometric study seeks to provide a comprehensive overview of past and current research trends, emphasizing the potential role of tumor microenvironment, signaling pathways and immune cells in the context of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) and tumor immune evasion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi Huang
- Department of Urology, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, P. R. China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Epigenetics and Gene Regulation, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, P. R. China
- Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Urological Diseases, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, P. R. China
| | - Zhijian Chen
- Department of Urology, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, P. R. China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Epigenetics and Gene Regulation, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, P. R. China
- Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Urological Diseases, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, P. R. China
| | - Gang Shen
- Department of Urology, DUSHU Lake Hospital Affiliated to Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Shuogui Fang
- Department of Radiotherapy, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, P. R. China
| | - Junjiong Zheng
- Department of Urology, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, P. R. China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Epigenetics and Gene Regulation, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, P. R. China
- Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Urological Diseases, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, P. R. China
| | - Zepai Chi
- Department of urology, Shantou Central Hospital, Shantou, China
| | - Yuanfeng Zhang
- Department of urology, Shantou Central Hospital, Shantou, China
| | - Yitong Zou
- Department of Urology, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, P. R. China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Epigenetics and Gene Regulation, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, P. R. China
- Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Urological Diseases, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, P. R. China
| | - Qinghua Gan
- Department of Urology, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, P. R. China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Epigenetics and Gene Regulation, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, P. R. China
- Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Urological Diseases, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, P. R. China
| | - Chengxiao Liao
- Department of Urology, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, P. R. China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Epigenetics and Gene Regulation, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, P. R. China
- Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Urological Diseases, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, P. R. China
| | - Yuhui Yao
- Department of Urology, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, P. R. China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Epigenetics and Gene Regulation, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, P. R. China
- Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Urological Diseases, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, P. R. China
| | - Jianqiu Kong
- Department of Urology, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, P. R. China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Epigenetics and Gene Regulation, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, P. R. China
- Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Urological Diseases, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, P. R. China
| | - Xinxiang Fan
- Department of Urology, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, P. R. China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Epigenetics and Gene Regulation, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, P. R. China
- Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Urological Diseases, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, P. R. China
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Wang Y, Chen Y, Zhao M. N6-methyladenosine modification and post-translational modification of epithelial-mesenchymal transition in colorectal cancer. Discov Oncol 2024; 15:209. [PMID: 38834851 DOI: 10.1007/s12672-024-01048-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2023] [Accepted: 05/20/2024] [Indexed: 06/06/2024] Open
Abstract
Colorectal cancer is a leading cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide. Traditionally, colorectal cancer has been recognized as a disease caused by genetic mutations. However, recent studies have revealed the significant role of epigenetic alterations in the progression of colorectal cancer. Epithelial-mesenchymal transition, a critical step in cancer cell metastasis, has been found to be closely associated with the tumor microenvironment and immune factors, thereby playing a crucial role in many kinds of biological behaviors of cancers. In this review, we explored the impact of N6-methyladenosine and post-translational modifications (like methylation, acetylation, ubiquitination, SUMOylation, glycosylation, etc.) on the process of epithelial-mesenchymal transition in colorectal cancer and the epigenetic regulation for the transcription factors and pathways correlated to epithelial-mesenchymal transition. Furthermore, we emphasized that the complex regulation of epithelial-mesenchymal transition by epigenetics can provide new strategies for overcoming drug resistance and improving treatment outcomes. This review aims to provide important scientific evidence for the prevention and treatment of colorectal cancer based on epigenetic modifications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yingnan Wang
- Stomatology Hospital, School of Stomatology, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Zhejiang Provincial Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, Key Laboratory of Oral Biomedical Research of Zhejiang Province, Cancer Center of Zhejiang University, Engineering Research Center of Oral Biomaterials and Devices of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou, 310000, China
| | - Yufan Chen
- Stomatology Hospital, School of Stomatology, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Zhejiang Provincial Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, Key Laboratory of Oral Biomedical Research of Zhejiang Province, Cancer Center of Zhejiang University, Engineering Research Center of Oral Biomaterials and Devices of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou, 310000, China
| | - Miaomiao Zhao
- Stomatology Hospital, School of Stomatology, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Zhejiang Provincial Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, Key Laboratory of Oral Biomedical Research of Zhejiang Province, Cancer Center of Zhejiang University, Engineering Research Center of Oral Biomaterials and Devices of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou, 310000, China.
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Jia W, Li N, Wang J, Gong X, Ouedraogo SY, Wang Y, Zhao J, Grech G, Chen L, Zhan X. Immune-related gene methylation prognostic instrument for stratification and targeted treatment of ovarian cancer patients toward advanced 3PM approach. EPMA J 2024; 15:375-404. [PMID: 38841623 PMCID: PMC11148001 DOI: 10.1007/s13167-024-00359-3] [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: 02/03/2024] [Accepted: 04/07/2024] [Indexed: 06/07/2024]
Abstract
Background DNA methylation is an important mechanism in epigenetics, which can change the transcription ability of genes and is closely related to the pathogenesis of ovarian cancer (OC). We hypothesize that DNA methylation is significantly different in OCs compared to controls. Specific DNA methylation status can be used as a biomarker of OC, and targeted drugs targeting these methylation patterns and DNA methyltransferase may have better therapeutic effects. Studying the key DNA methylation sites of immune-related genes (IRGs) in OC patients and studying the effects of these methylation sites on the immune microenvironment may provide a new method for further exploring the pathogenesis of OC, realizing early detection and effective monitoring of OC, identifying effective biomarkers of DNA methylation subtypes and drug targets, improving the efficacy of targeted drugs or overcoming drug resistance, and better applying it to predictive diagnosis, prevention, and personalized medicine (PPPM; 3PM) of OC. Method Hypermethylated subtypes (cluster 1) and hypomethylated subtypes (cluster 2) were established in OCs based on the abundance of different methylation sites in IRGs. The differences in immune score, immune checkpoints, immune cells, and overall survival were analyzed between different methylation subtypes in OC samples. The significant pathways, gene ontology (GO), and protein-protein interaction (PPI) network of the identified methylation sites in IRGs were enriched. In addition, the immune-related methylation signature was constructed with multiple regression analysis. A methylation site model based on IRGs was constructed and verified. Results A total of 120 IRGs with 142 differentially methylated sites (DMSs) were identified. The DMSs were clustered into a high-level methylation group (cluster 1) and a low-level methylation group (cluster 2). The significant pathways and GO analysis showed many immune-related and cancer-associated enrichments. A methylation site signature based on IRGs was constructed, including RORC|cg25112191, S100A13|cg14467840, TNF|cg04425624, RLN2|cg03679581, and IL1RL2|cg22797169. The methylation sites of all five genes showed hypomethylation in OC, and there were statistically significant differences among RORC|cg25112191, S100A13|cg14467840, and TNF|cg04425624 (p < 0.05). This prognostic model based on low-level methylation and high-level methylation groups was significantly linked to the immune microenvironment as well as overall survival in OC. Conclusions This study provided different methylation subtypes for OC patients according to the methylation sites of IRGs. In addition, it helps establish a relationship between methylation and the immune microenvironment, which showed specific differences in biological signaling pathways, genomic changes, and immune mechanisms within the two subgroups. These data provide ones to deeply understand the mechanism of immune-related methylation genes on the occurrence and development of OC. The methylation-site signature is also to establish new possibilities for OC therapy. These data are a precious resource for stratification and targeted treatment of OC patients toward an advanced 3PM approach. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s13167-024-00359-3.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenshuang Jia
- Medical Science and Technology Innovation Center, Shandong Provincial Key Medical and Health Laboratory of Ovarian Cancer Multiomics, & Shandong Key Laboratory of Radiation Oncology, Shandong Cancer Hospital and Institute, Shandong First Medical University, 440 Jiyan Road, Jinan, Shandong 250117 People’s Republic of China
| | - Na Li
- Medical Science and Technology Innovation Center, Shandong Provincial Key Medical and Health Laboratory of Ovarian Cancer Multiomics, & Shandong Key Laboratory of Radiation Oncology, Shandong Cancer Hospital and Institute, Shandong First Medical University, 440 Jiyan Road, Jinan, Shandong 250117 People’s Republic of China
| | - Jingjing Wang
- Department of Pathology, Shandong Cancer Hospital and Institute, Shandong First Medical University, 440 Jiyan Road, Jinan, Shandong 250117 People’s Republic of China
| | - Xiaoxia Gong
- Medical Science and Technology Innovation Center, Shandong Provincial Key Medical and Health Laboratory of Ovarian Cancer Multiomics, & Shandong Key Laboratory of Radiation Oncology, Shandong Cancer Hospital and Institute, Shandong First Medical University, 440 Jiyan Road, Jinan, Shandong 250117 People’s Republic of China
| | - Serge Yannick Ouedraogo
- Medical Science and Technology Innovation Center, Shandong Provincial Key Medical and Health Laboratory of Ovarian Cancer Multiomics, & Shandong Key Laboratory of Radiation Oncology, Shandong Cancer Hospital and Institute, Shandong First Medical University, 440 Jiyan Road, Jinan, Shandong 250117 People’s Republic of China
| | - Yan Wang
- Medical Science and Technology Innovation Center, Shandong Provincial Key Medical and Health Laboratory of Ovarian Cancer Multiomics, & Shandong Key Laboratory of Radiation Oncology, Shandong Cancer Hospital and Institute, Shandong First Medical University, 440 Jiyan Road, Jinan, Shandong 250117 People’s Republic of China
- Department of Gynecological Oncology, Shandong Cancer Hospital and Institute, Shandong First Medical University & Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, 440 Jiyan Road, Jinan, 250117 People’s Republic of China
| | - Junkai Zhao
- Medical Science and Technology Innovation Center, Shandong Provincial Key Medical and Health Laboratory of Ovarian Cancer Multiomics, & Shandong Key Laboratory of Radiation Oncology, Shandong Cancer Hospital and Institute, Shandong First Medical University, 440 Jiyan Road, Jinan, Shandong 250117 People’s Republic of China
| | - Godfrey Grech
- Department of Pathology, University of Malta, Msida, Malta
| | - Liang Chen
- Department of Gynecological Oncology, Shandong Cancer Hospital and Institute, Shandong First Medical University & Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, 440 Jiyan Road, Jinan, 250117 People’s Republic of China
| | - Xianquan Zhan
- Medical Science and Technology Innovation Center, Shandong Provincial Key Medical and Health Laboratory of Ovarian Cancer Multiomics, & Shandong Key Laboratory of Radiation Oncology, Shandong Cancer Hospital and Institute, Shandong First Medical University, 440 Jiyan Road, Jinan, Shandong 250117 People’s Republic of China
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Lee AV, Nestler KA, Chiappinelli KB. Therapeutic targeting of DNA methylation alterations in cancer. Pharmacol Ther 2024; 258:108640. [PMID: 38570075 DOI: 10.1016/j.pharmthera.2024.108640] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2023] [Revised: 03/13/2024] [Accepted: 03/22/2024] [Indexed: 04/05/2024]
Abstract
DNA methylation is a critical component of gene regulation and plays an important role in the development of cancer. Hypermethylation of tumor suppressor genes and silencing of DNA repair pathways facilitate uncontrolled cell growth and synergize with oncogenic mutations to perpetuate cancer phenotypes. Additionally, aberrant DNA methylation hinders immune responses crucial for antitumor immunity. Thus, inhibiting dysregulated DNA methylation is a promising cancer therapy. Pharmacologic inhibition of DNA methylation reactivates silenced tumor suppressors and bolster immune responses through induction of viral mimicry. Now, with the advent of immunotherapies and discovery of the immune-modulatory effects of DNA methylation inhibitors, there is great interest in understanding how targeting DNA methylation in combination with other therapies can enhance antitumor immunity. Here, we describe the role of aberrant DNA methylation in cancer and mechanisms by which it promotes tumorigenesis and modulates immune responses. Finally, we review the initial discoveries and ongoing efforts to target DNA methylation as a cancer therapeutic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abigail V Lee
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, & Tropical Medicine, The George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Kevin A Nestler
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, & Tropical Medicine, The George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Katherine B Chiappinelli
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, & Tropical Medicine, The George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA.
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Yin N, Li X, Zhang X, Xue S, Cao Y, Niedermann G, Lu Y, Xue J. Development of pharmacological immunoregulatory anti-cancer therapeutics: current mechanistic studies and clinical opportunities. Signal Transduct Target Ther 2024; 9:126. [PMID: 38773064 PMCID: PMC11109181 DOI: 10.1038/s41392-024-01826-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: 10/11/2023] [Revised: 03/25/2024] [Accepted: 03/28/2024] [Indexed: 05/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Immunotherapy represented by anti-PD-(L)1 and anti-CTLA-4 inhibitors has revolutionized cancer treatment, but challenges related to resistance and toxicity still remain. Due to the advancement of immuno-oncology, an increasing number of novel immunoregulatory targets and mechanisms are being revealed, with relevant therapies promising to improve clinical immunotherapy in the foreseeable future. Therefore, comprehending the larger picture is important. In this review, we analyze and summarize the current landscape of preclinical and translational mechanistic research, drug development, and clinical trials that brought about next-generation pharmacological immunoregulatory anti-cancer agents and drug candidates beyond classical immune checkpoint inhibitors. Along with further clarification of cancer immunobiology and advances in antibody engineering, agents targeting additional inhibitory immune checkpoints, including LAG-3, TIM-3, TIGIT, CD47, and B7 family members are becoming an important part of cancer immunotherapy research and discovery, as are structurally and functionally optimized novel anti-PD-(L)1 and anti-CTLA-4 agents and agonists of co-stimulatory molecules of T cells. Exemplified by bispecific T cell engagers, newly emerging bi-specific and multi-specific antibodies targeting immunoregulatory molecules can provide considerable clinical benefits. Next-generation agents also include immune epigenetic drugs and cytokine-based therapeutics. Cell therapies, cancer vaccines, and oncolytic viruses are not covered in this review. This comprehensive review might aid in further development and the fastest possible clinical adoption of effective immuno-oncology modalities for the benefit of patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nanhao Yin
- Division of Thoracic Tumor Multimodality Treatment, Cancer Center & State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, and The National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, No. 37, Guoxue Lane, Chengdu, 610041, Sichuan, PR China
| | - Xintong Li
- Division of Thoracic Tumor Multimodality Treatment, Cancer Center & State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, and The National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, No. 37, Guoxue Lane, Chengdu, 610041, Sichuan, PR China
| | - Xuanwei Zhang
- Division of Thoracic Tumor Multimodality Treatment, Cancer Center & State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, and The National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, No. 37, Guoxue Lane, Chengdu, 610041, Sichuan, PR China
| | - Shaolong Xue
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, No. 20, Section 3, South Renmin Road, Chengdu, 610041, Sichuan, PR China
| | - Yu Cao
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Laboratory of Emergency Medicine, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, No. 37, Guoxue Lane, Chengdu, 610041, Sichuan, PR China
- Institute of Disaster Medicine & Institute of Emergency Medicine, Sichuan University, No. 17, Gaopeng Avenue, Chengdu, 610041, Sichuan, PR China
| | - Gabriele Niedermann
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Medical Center-University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, German Cancer Consortium (DKTK) Partner Site DKTK-Freiburg, Robert-Koch-Strasse 3, 79106, Freiburg, Germany.
| | - You Lu
- Division of Thoracic Tumor Multimodality Treatment, Cancer Center & State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, and The National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, No. 37, Guoxue Lane, Chengdu, 610041, Sichuan, PR China.
- Laboratory of Clinical Cell Therapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, No. 2222, Xinchuan Road, Chengdu, 610041, Sichuan, PR China.
| | - Jianxin Xue
- Division of Thoracic Tumor Multimodality Treatment, Cancer Center & State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, and The National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, No. 37, Guoxue Lane, Chengdu, 610041, Sichuan, PR China.
- Laboratory of Clinical Cell Therapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, No. 2222, Xinchuan Road, Chengdu, 610041, Sichuan, PR China.
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Li J, Zhao Q, Zhang N, Wu L, Wang Q, Li J, Pan Q, Pu Y, Luo K, Gu Z, He B. Triune Nanomodulator Enables Exhausted Cytotoxic T Lymphocyte Rejuvenation for Cancer Epigenetic Immunotherapy. ACS NANO 2024; 18:13226-13240. [PMID: 38712706 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.4c02337] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/08/2024]
Abstract
Oncogene activation and epigenome dysregulation drive tumor initiation and progression, contributing to tumor immune evasion and compromising the clinical response to immunotherapy. Epigenetic immunotherapy represents a promising paradigm in conquering cancer immunosuppression, whereas few relevant drug combination and delivery strategies emerge in the clinic. This study presents a well-designed triune nanomodulator, termed ROCA, which demonstrates robust capabilities in tumor epigenetic modulation and immune microenvironment reprogramming for cancer epigenetic immunotherapy. The nanomodulator is engineered from a nanoscale framework with epigenetic modulation and cascaded catalytic activity, which self-assembles into a nanoaggregate with tumor targeting polypeptide decoration that enables loading of the immunogenic cell death (ICD)-inducing agent. The nanomodulator releases active factors specifically triggered in the tumor microenvironment, represses oncogene expression, and initiates the type 1 T helper (TH1) cell chemokine axis by reversing DNA hypermethylation. This process, together with ICD induction, fundamentally reprograms the tumor microenvironment and significantly enhances the rejuvenation of exhausted cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs, CD8+ T cells), which synergizes with the anti-PD-L1 immune checkpoint blockade and results in a boosted antitumor immune response. Furthermore, this strategy establishes long-term immune memory and effectively prevents orthotopic colon cancer relapse. Therefore, the nanomodulator holds promise as a standalone epigenetic immunotherapy agent or as part of a combination therapy with immune checkpoint inhibitors in preclinical cancer models, broadening the array of combinatorial strategies in cancer immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junhua Li
- National Engineering Research Center for Biomaterials, College of Biomedical Engineering, Med-X Center for Materials, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610064, China
- Research Institute for Biomaterials, Tech Institute for Advanced Materials, Bioinspired Biomedical Materials & Devices Center, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center for Advanced Inorganic Function Composites, Suqian Advanced Materials Industry Technology Innovation Center, Nanjing Tech University, Nanjing 211816, China
| | - Quan Zhao
- National Engineering Research Center for Biomaterials, College of Biomedical Engineering, Med-X Center for Materials, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610064, China
| | - Nan Zhang
- National Engineering Research Center for Biomaterials, College of Biomedical Engineering, Med-X Center for Materials, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610064, China
| | - Lihuang Wu
- Research Institute for Biomaterials, Tech Institute for Advanced Materials, Bioinspired Biomedical Materials & Devices Center, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center for Advanced Inorganic Function Composites, Suqian Advanced Materials Industry Technology Innovation Center, Nanjing Tech University, Nanjing 211816, China
| | - Qiusheng Wang
- National Engineering Research Center for Biomaterials, College of Biomedical Engineering, Med-X Center for Materials, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610064, China
| | - Jing Li
- National Engineering Research Center for Biomaterials, College of Biomedical Engineering, Med-X Center for Materials, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610064, China
| | - Qingqing Pan
- School of Preclinical Medicine, Chengdu University, Chengdu 610106, China
| | - Yuji Pu
- National Engineering Research Center for Biomaterials, College of Biomedical Engineering, Med-X Center for Materials, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610064, China
| | - Kui Luo
- Department of Radiology, Huaxi MR Research Center (HMRRC), National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, Frontiers Science Center for Disease-Related Molecular Network, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Zhongwei Gu
- Research Institute for Biomaterials, Tech Institute for Advanced Materials, Bioinspired Biomedical Materials & Devices Center, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center for Advanced Inorganic Function Composites, Suqian Advanced Materials Industry Technology Innovation Center, Nanjing Tech University, Nanjing 211816, China
- Department of Radiology, Huaxi MR Research Center (HMRRC), National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, Frontiers Science Center for Disease-Related Molecular Network, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Bin He
- National Engineering Research Center for Biomaterials, College of Biomedical Engineering, Med-X Center for Materials, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610064, China
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Qiu J, Cheng Z, Jiang Z, Gan L, Zhang Z, Xie Z. Immunomodulatory Precision: A Narrative Review Exploring the Critical Role of Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors in Cancer Treatment. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:5490. [PMID: 38791528 PMCID: PMC11122264 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25105490] [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: 03/24/2024] [Revised: 05/11/2024] [Accepted: 05/14/2024] [Indexed: 05/26/2024] Open
Abstract
An immune checkpoint is a signaling pathway that regulates the recognition of antigens by T-cell receptors (TCRs) during an immune response. These checkpoints play a pivotal role in suppressing excessive immune responses and maintaining immune homeostasis against viral or microbial infections. There are several FDA-approved immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), including ipilimumab, pembrolizumab, and avelumab. These ICIs target cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated protein 4 (CTLA-4), programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1), and programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1). Furthermore, ongoing efforts are focused on developing new ICIs with emerging potential. In comparison to conventional treatments, ICIs offer the advantages of reduced side effects and durable responses. There is growing interest in the potential of combining different ICIs with chemotherapy, radiation therapy, or targeted therapies. This article comprehensively reviews the classification, mechanism of action, application, and combination strategies of ICIs in various cancers and discusses their current limitations. Our objective is to contribute to the future development of more effective anticancer drugs targeting immune checkpoints.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junyu Qiu
- College of Basic Medical, Nanchang University, Nanchang 330006, China; (J.Q.); (Z.C.); (Z.J.); (L.G.); (Z.Z.)
- Queen Mary School, Medical Department, Nanchang University, Nanchang 330031, China
| | - Zilin Cheng
- College of Basic Medical, Nanchang University, Nanchang 330006, China; (J.Q.); (Z.C.); (Z.J.); (L.G.); (Z.Z.)
- Queen Mary School, Medical Department, Nanchang University, Nanchang 330031, China
| | - Zheng Jiang
- College of Basic Medical, Nanchang University, Nanchang 330006, China; (J.Q.); (Z.C.); (Z.J.); (L.G.); (Z.Z.)
- Queen Mary School, Medical Department, Nanchang University, Nanchang 330031, China
| | - Luhan Gan
- College of Basic Medical, Nanchang University, Nanchang 330006, China; (J.Q.); (Z.C.); (Z.J.); (L.G.); (Z.Z.)
- Huan Kui School, Medical Department, Nanchang University, Nanchang 330031, China
| | - Zixuan Zhang
- College of Basic Medical, Nanchang University, Nanchang 330006, China; (J.Q.); (Z.C.); (Z.J.); (L.G.); (Z.Z.)
- Queen Mary School, Medical Department, Nanchang University, Nanchang 330031, China
| | - Zhenzhen Xie
- College of Basic Medical, Nanchang University, Nanchang 330006, China; (J.Q.); (Z.C.); (Z.J.); (L.G.); (Z.Z.)
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Wang J, Lou Y, Wang S, Zhang Z, You J, Zhu Y, Yao Y, Hao Y, Liu P, Xu LX. IFNγ at the early stage induced after cryo-thermal therapy maintains CD4 + Th1-prone differentiation, leading to long-term antitumor immunity. Front Immunol 2024; 15:1345046. [PMID: 38827732 PMCID: PMC11140566 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2024.1345046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2023] [Accepted: 04/29/2024] [Indexed: 06/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction Recently, more and more research illustrated the importance of inducing CD4+ T helper type (Th)-1 dominant immunity for the success of tumor immunotherapy. Our prior studies revealed the crucial role of CD4+ Th1 cells in orchestrating systemic and durable antitumor immunity, which contributes to the satisfactory outcomes of the novel cryo-thermal therapy in the B16F10 tumor model. However, the mechanism for maintaining the cryo-thermal therapy-mediated durable CD4+ Th1-dominant response remains uncovered. Additionally, cryo-thermal-induced early-stage CD4+ Th1-dominant T cell response showed a correlation with the favorable prognosis in patients with colorectal cancer liver metastasis (CRCLM). We hypothesized that CD4+ Th1-dominant differentiation induced during the early stage post cryo-thermal therapy would affect the balance of CD4+ subsets at the late phase. Methods To understand the role of interferon (IFN)-γ, the major effector of Th1 subsets, in maintaining long-term CD4+ Th1-prone polarization, B16F10 melanoma model was established in this study and a monoclonal antibody was used at the early stage post cryo-thermal therapy for interferon (IFN)-γ signaling blockade, and the influence on the phenotypic and functional change of immune cells was evaluated. Results IFNγ at the early stage after cryo-thermal therapy maintained long-lasting CD4+ Th1-prone immunity by directly controlling Th17, Tfh, and Tregs polarization, leading to the hyperactivation of Myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) represented by abundant interleukin (IL)-1β generation, and thereby further amplifying Th1 response. Discussion Our finding emphasized the key role of early-phase IFNγ abundance post cryo-thermal therapy, which could be a biomarker for better prognosis after cryo-thermal therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Ping Liu
- School of Biomedical Engineering and Med-X Research Institute, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Lisa X. Xu
- School of Biomedical Engineering and Med-X Research Institute, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
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9
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Ryan AT, Kim M, Lim K. Immune Cell Migration to Cancer. Cells 2024; 13:844. [PMID: 38786066 PMCID: PMC11120175 DOI: 10.3390/cells13100844] [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: 03/23/2024] [Revised: 04/27/2024] [Accepted: 05/03/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Immune cell migration is required for the development of an effective and robust immune response. This elegant process is regulated by both cellular and environmental factors, with variables such as immune cell state, anatomical location, and disease state that govern differences in migration patterns. In all cases, a major factor is the expression of cell surface receptors and their cognate ligands. Rapid adaptation to environmental conditions partly depends on intrinsic cellular immune factors that affect a cell's ability to adjust to new environment. In this review, we discuss both myeloid and lymphoid cells and outline key determinants that govern immune cell migration, including molecules required for immune cell adhesion, modes of migration, chemotaxis, and specific chemokine signaling. Furthermore, we summarize tumor-specific elements that contribute to immune cell trafficking to cancer, while also exploring microenvironment factors that can alter these cellular dynamics within the tumor in both a pro and antitumor fashion. Specifically, we highlight the importance of the secretome in these later aspects. This review considers a myriad of factors that impact immune cell trajectory in cancer. We aim to highlight the immunotherapeutic targets that can be harnessed to achieve controlled immune trafficking to and within tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Allison T. Ryan
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY 14642, USA; (A.T.R.); (M.K.)
- David H. Smith Center for Vaccine Biology and Immunology, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY 14642, USA
| | - Minsoo Kim
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY 14642, USA; (A.T.R.); (M.K.)
- David H. Smith Center for Vaccine Biology and Immunology, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY 14642, USA
| | - Kihong Lim
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY 14642, USA; (A.T.R.); (M.K.)
- David H. Smith Center for Vaccine Biology and Immunology, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY 14642, USA
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10
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Révész M, Oberna F, Slezák A, Tóth E, Ferenczi Ö, Kenessey I, Takácsi-Nagy Z. EZH2 Expression in Head-and-Neck Squamous Cell Cancer in Young Patients. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:5250. [PMID: 38791289 PMCID: PMC11121619 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25105250] [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: 04/05/2024] [Revised: 05/03/2024] [Accepted: 05/09/2024] [Indexed: 05/26/2024] Open
Abstract
EZH2 (Enhancer of zeste homolog 2) promotes tumor growth and survival through numerous mechanisms and is a promising target for novel therapeutic approaches. We aimed to characterize the expression of EZH2 in the tumors of young head-and-neck squamous cell cancer (HNSCC) patients in comparison with the general HNSCC patient population. We used formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue blocks from 68 random young HNSCC patients (≤39 years, median age: 36 years; diagnosed between 2000 and 2018), which were compared with the samples of 58 age- and gender-matched general HNSCC subjects (median age: 62 years; all diagnosed in the year 2014). EZH2 and p53 expression of the tumors was detected using immunohistochemical staining. Lower EZH2 expression was found to be characteristic of the tumors of young HNSCC patients as opposed to the general population (median EZH2 staining intensity: 1 vs. 1.5 respectively, p < 0.001; median fraction of EZH2 positive tumor cells: 40% vs. 60%, respectively, p = 0.003, Mann-Whitney). Cox analysis identified a more advanced T status (T3-4 vs. T1-2), a positive nodal status, and alcohol consumption, but neither intratumoral EZH2 nor p53 were identified as predictors of mortality in the young patient group. The lower EZH2 expression of young HNSCC patients' tumors discourages speculations of a more malignant phenotype of early-onset tumors and suggests the dominant role of patient characteristics. Furthermore, our results might indicate the possibility of an altered efficacy of the novel anti-EZH2 therapies in this patient subgroup.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mónika Révész
- Multidisciplinary Head and Neck Cancer Center, National Institute of Oncology, H-1122 Budapest, Hungary;
| | - Ferenc Oberna
- Multidisciplinary Head and Neck Cancer Center, National Institute of Oncology, H-1122 Budapest, Hungary;
| | - András Slezák
- Center of Tumor Pathology, National Institute of Oncology, H-1122 Budapest, Hungary; (A.S.); (E.T.)
| | - Erika Tóth
- Center of Tumor Pathology, National Institute of Oncology, H-1122 Budapest, Hungary; (A.S.); (E.T.)
| | - Örs Ferenczi
- Center of Radiotherapy, National Institute of Oncology, H-1122 Budapest, Hungary;
| | - István Kenessey
- Hungarian Cancer Registry, National Institute of Oncology, H-1122 Budapest, Hungary;
- Department of Pathology, Forensic and Insurance Medicine, Semmelweis University, H-1091 Budapest, Hungary
- National Tumor Laboratory Project, H-1122 Budapest, Hungary
| | - Zoltán Takácsi-Nagy
- Center of Radiotherapy, National Institute of Oncology, H-1122 Budapest, Hungary;
- National Tumor Laboratory Project, H-1122 Budapest, Hungary
- Department of Oncology, Semmelweis University, H-1083 Budapest, Hungary
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11
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Li X, Tian S, Shi H, Ta N, Ni X, Bai C, Zhu Z, Chen Y, Shi D, Huang H, Chen L, Hu Z, Qu L, Fang Y, Bai C. The golden key to open mystery boxes of SMARCA4-deficient undifferentiated thoracic tumor: focusing immunotherapy, tumor microenvironment and epigenetic regulation. Cancer Gene Ther 2024; 31:687-697. [PMID: 38347129 PMCID: PMC11101339 DOI: 10.1038/s41417-024-00732-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2023] [Revised: 01/08/2024] [Accepted: 01/10/2024] [Indexed: 02/19/2024]
Abstract
SMARCA4-deficient undifferentiated thoracic tumor is extremely invasive. This tumor with poor prognosis is easily confused with SMARCA4-deficent non-small cell lung cancer or sarcoma. Standard and efficient treatment has not been established. In this review, we summarized the etiology, pathogenesis and diagnosis, reviewed current and proposed innovative strategies for treatment and improving prognosis. Immunotherapy, targeting tumor microenvironment and epigenetic regulator have improved the prognosis of cancer patients. We summarized clinicopathological features and immunotherapy strategies and analyzed the progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) of patients with SMARCA4-UT who received immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs). In addition, we proposed the feasibility of epigenetic regulation in the treatment of SMARCA4-UT. To our knowledge, this is the first review that aims to explore innovative strategies for targeting tumor microenvironment and epigenetic regulation and identify potential benefit population for immunotherapy to improve the prognosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiang Li
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, the First Affiliated Hospital of Naval Medical University (Shanghai Changhai Hospital), Shanghai, China
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, General Hospital of Central Theater Command of the Chinese People's Liberation Army, Wuhan, China
| | - Sen Tian
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, the First Affiliated Hospital of Naval Medical University (Shanghai Changhai Hospital), Shanghai, China
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, No. 906 Hospital of the Chinese People's Liberation Army Joint Logistic Support Force, Ningbo, China
| | - Hui Shi
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, the First Affiliated Hospital of Naval Medical University (Shanghai Changhai Hospital), Shanghai, China.
| | - Na Ta
- Department of Pathology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Naval Medical University (Shanghai Changhai Hospital), Shanghai, China
| | - Xiang Ni
- Department of Pathology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Naval Medical University (Shanghai Changhai Hospital), Shanghai, China
| | - Chenguang Bai
- Department of Pathology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Naval Medical University (Shanghai Changhai Hospital), Shanghai, China
| | - Zhanli Zhu
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, the First Affiliated Hospital of Naval Medical University (Shanghai Changhai Hospital), Shanghai, China
| | - Yilin Chen
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, the First Affiliated Hospital of Naval Medical University (Shanghai Changhai Hospital), Shanghai, China
| | - Dongchen Shi
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, the First Affiliated Hospital of Naval Medical University (Shanghai Changhai Hospital), Shanghai, China
| | - Haidong Huang
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, the First Affiliated Hospital of Naval Medical University (Shanghai Changhai Hospital), Shanghai, China
| | - Longpei Chen
- Department of Oncology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Naval Medical University (Shanghai Changhai Hospital), Shanghai, China
| | - Zhenhong Hu
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, General Hospital of Central Theater Command of the Chinese People's Liberation Army, Wuhan, China
| | - Lei Qu
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, General Hospital of Central Theater Command of the Chinese People's Liberation Army, Wuhan, China
| | - Yao Fang
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, General Hospital of Central Theater Command of the Chinese People's Liberation Army, Wuhan, China
| | - Chong Bai
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, the First Affiliated Hospital of Naval Medical University (Shanghai Changhai Hospital), Shanghai, China.
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12
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Dai D, Zhuang H, Shu M, Chen L, Long C, Wu H, Chen B. Identification of N7-methylguanosine-related miRNAs as potential biomarkers for prognosis and drug response in breast cancer. Heliyon 2024; 10:e29326. [PMID: 38628712 PMCID: PMC11017060 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e29326] [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: 10/07/2023] [Revised: 03/29/2024] [Accepted: 03/31/2024] [Indexed: 04/19/2024] Open
Abstract
Objectives The impact of N7-methylguanosine (m7G) on tumor progression and the regulatory role of microRNAs (miRNAs) in immune function significantly influence breast cancer (BC) prognosis. Investigating the interplay between m7G modification and miRNAs provides novel insights for assessing prognostics and drug responses in BC. Materials and methods RNA sequences (miRNA and mRNA profiles) and clinical data for BC were acquired from the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database. A miRNA signature associated with 15 m7G in this cohort was identified using Cox regression and LASSO. The risk score model was evaluated using Kaplan-Meier and time-dependent ROC analysis, categorizing patients into high-risk and low-risk groups. Functional enrichment analyses were conducted to explore potential pathways. The immune system, including scores, cell infiltration, function, and drug sensitivity, was examined and compared between high-risk and low-risk groups. A nomogram that combines risk scores and clinical factors was developed and validated. Single-sample gene set enrichment analysis (ssGSEA) was employed to explore m7G-related miRNA signatures and immune cell relationships in the tumor microenvironment. Additionally, drug susceptibility was compared between risk groups. Results Fifteen m7G-related miRNAs were independently correlated with overall survival (OS) in BC patients. Time-dependent ROC analysis yielded area under the curve (AUC) values of 0.742, 0.726, and 0.712 for predicting 3-, 5-, and 10-year survival rates, respectively. The Kaplan-Meier analysis revealed a significant disparity in OS between the high-risk and low-risk groups (p = 1.3e-6). Multiple regression identified the risk score as a significant independent prognostic factor. An excellent calibration nomogram with a C-index of 0.785 (95 % CI: 0.728-0.843) was constructed. In immune analysis, low-risk patients exhibited heightened immune function and increased responsiveness to immunotherapy and chemotherapy compared to high-risk patients. Conclusion This study systematically analyzed m7G-related miRNAs and revealed their regulatory mechanisms concerning the tumor microenvironment (TME), pathology, and the prognosis of BC patient. Based on these miRNAs, a prognostic model and nomogram were developed for BC patients, facilitating prognostic assessments. These findings can also assist in predicting treatment responses and guiding medication selection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Danian Dai
- Department of Vascular and Plastic Surgery, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital (Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences), Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510080, China
| | - Hongkai Zhuang
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510080, China
| | - Mao Shu
- Department of Breast Cancer, Cancer Center, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital (Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences), Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510080, Guangdong, China
| | - Lezi Chen
- Department of Vascular and Plastic Surgery, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital (Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences), Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510080, China
| | - Chen Long
- Department of Pathology, Yueyang Maternal Child Health-Care Hospital, Yueyang, 414000, Hunan, China
| | - Hongmei Wu
- Department of Pathology, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital (Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences), Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Bo Chen
- Department of Breast Cancer, Cancer Center, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital (Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences), Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510080, Guangdong, China
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13
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Peng L, Zhou L, Li H, Zhang X, Li S, Wang K, Yang M, Ma X, Zhang D, Xiang S, Duan Y, Wang T, Sun C, Wang C, Lu D, Qian M, Wang Z. Hippo-signaling-controlled MHC class I antigen processing and presentation pathway potentiates antitumor immunity. Cell Rep 2024; 43:114003. [PMID: 38527062 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2024.114003] [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: 09/23/2023] [Revised: 02/05/2024] [Accepted: 03/11/2024] [Indexed: 03/27/2024] Open
Abstract
The major histocompatibility complex class I (MHC class I)-mediated tumor antigen processing and presentation (APP) pathway is essential for the recruitment and activation of cytotoxic CD8+ T lymphocytes (CD8+ CTLs). However, this pathway is frequently dysregulated in many cancers, thus leading to a failure of immunotherapy. Here, we report that activation of the tumor-intrinsic Hippo pathway positively correlates with the expression of MHC class I APP genes and the abundance of CD8+ CTLs in mouse tumors and patients. Blocking the Hippo pathway effector Yes-associated protein/transcriptional enhanced associate domain (YAP/TEAD) potently improves antitumor immunity. Mechanistically, the YAP/TEAD complex cooperates with the nucleosome remodeling and deacetylase complex to repress NLRC5 transcription. The upregulation of NLRC5 by YAP/TEAD depletion or pharmacological inhibition increases the expression of MHC class I APP genes and enhances CD8+ CTL-mediated killing of cancer cells. Collectively, our results suggest a crucial tumor-promoting function of YAP depending on NLRC5 to impair the MHC class I APP pathway and provide a rationale for inhibiting YAP activity in immunotherapy for cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Linyuan Peng
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, School of Life Science and Technology, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 211198, China
| | - Liang Zhou
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Regional Immunity and Diseases, Cancer Research Center, Department of Pharmacology, Shenzhen University Medical School, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Huan Li
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Regional Immunity and Diseases, Cancer Research Center, Department of Pharmacology, Shenzhen University Medical School, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Xin Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, School of Life Science and Technology, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 211198, China
| | - Su Li
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, School of Life Science and Technology, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 211198, China
| | - Kai Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, School of Life Science and Technology, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 211198, China
| | - Mei Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, School of Life Science and Technology, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 211198, China
| | - Xiaoyu Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, School of Life Science and Technology, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 211198, China
| | - Danlan Zhang
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Regional Immunity and Diseases, Cancer Research Center, Department of Pharmacology, Shenzhen University Medical School, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Siliang Xiang
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, School of Life Science and Technology, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 211198, China
| | - Yajun Duan
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, School of Life Science and Technology, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 211198, China
| | - Tianzhi Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, School of Life Science and Technology, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 211198, China
| | - Chunmeng Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Pharmaceutical Preparations and Excipients, School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 211198, China
| | - Chen Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, School of Life Science and Technology, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 211198, China
| | - Desheng Lu
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Regional Immunity and Diseases, Cancer Research Center, Department of Pharmacology, Shenzhen University Medical School, Shenzhen 518055, China.
| | - Minxian Qian
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, School of Life Science and Technology, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 211198, China.
| | - Zhongyuan Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, School of Life Science and Technology, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 211198, China.
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14
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Ma J, Xin Y, Wang Q, Ding L. Roles of cGAS-STING Pathway in Radiotherapy Combined with Immunotherapy for Hepatocellular Carcinoma. Mol Cancer Ther 2024; 23:447-453. [PMID: 38049087 DOI: 10.1158/1535-7163.mct-23-0373] [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: 06/15/2023] [Revised: 10/14/2023] [Accepted: 11/27/2023] [Indexed: 12/06/2023]
Abstract
Although great strides have been made in the management and treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), its prognosis is still poor yielding a high mortality. Immunotherapy is recommended for treating advanced HCC, but its efficiency is hampered because of hepatic immunosuppression. Stimulator of interferon genes (STING) pathway, serving as a critical cytoplasmic DNA-sensing process, is reported to initiate the antitumor immune response, and link the innate immunity to the adaptive immune system. Radiotherapy has been well acknowledged to induce destruction and release of tumor-derived DNA into the cytoplasm, which then activates the cGAS-STING pathway. On this basis, radiotherapy can be used as a sensitizer for immunotherapy, and its combination with immunotherapy may bring in changes to the suboptimal efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitor monotherapy. In this review, we summarized the roles of cGAS-STING pathway in regulation of radiotherapy combined with immunotherapy for treating HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jianing Ma
- Department of Radiation Oncology and Therapy, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, P.R. China
| | - Yuning Xin
- Department of Radiation Oncology and Therapy, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, P.R. China
| | - Qiang Wang
- Department of Radiation Oncology and Therapy, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, P.R. China
| | - Lijuan Ding
- Department of Radiation Oncology and Therapy, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, P.R. China
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15
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Chaudhri A, Lizee G, Hwu P, Rai K. Chromatin Remodelers Are Regulators of the Tumor Immune Microenvironment. Cancer Res 2024; 84:965-976. [PMID: 38266066 DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-23-2244] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2023] [Revised: 11/24/2023] [Accepted: 01/17/2024] [Indexed: 01/26/2024]
Abstract
Immune checkpoint inhibitors show remarkable responses in a wide range of cancers, yet patients develop adaptive resistance. This necessitates the identification of alternate therapies that synergize with immunotherapies. Epigenetic modifiers are potent mediators of tumor-intrinsic mechanisms and have been shown to regulate immune response genes, making them prime targets for therapeutic combinations with immune checkpoint inhibitors. Some success has been observed in early clinical studies that combined immunotherapy with agents targeting DNA methylation and histone modification; however, less is known about chromatin remodeler-targeted therapies. Here, we provide a discussion on the regulation of tumor immunogenicity by the chromatin remodeling SWI/SNF complex through multiple mechanisms associated with immunotherapy response that broadly include IFN signaling, DNA damage, mismatch repair, regulation of oncogenic programs, and polycomb-repressive complex antagonism. Context-dependent targeting of SWI/SNF subunits can elicit opportunities for synthetic lethality and reduce T-cell exhaustion. In summary, alongside the significance of SWI/SNF subunits in predicting immunotherapy outcomes, their ability to modulate the tumor immune landscape offers opportunities for therapeutic intervention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Apoorvi Chaudhri
- Department of Melanoma Medical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
- Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Gregory Lizee
- Department of Melanoma Medical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
- Department of Immunology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
| | | | - Kunal Rai
- Department of Genomic Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
- MDACC Epigenomics Therapy Initiative, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
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16
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Enbergs N, Halabi EA, Goubet A, Schleyer K, Fredrich IR, Kohler RH, Garris CS, Pittet MJ, Weissleder R. Pharmacological Polarization of Tumor-Associated Macrophages Toward a CXCL9 Antitumor Phenotype. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2024; 11:e2309026. [PMID: 38342608 PMCID: PMC11022742 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202309026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2023] [Revised: 01/16/2024] [Indexed: 02/13/2024]
Abstract
Tumor-associated macrophages (TAM) are a diverse population of myeloid cells that are often abundant and immunosuppressive in human cancers. CXCL9Hi TAM has recently been described to have an antitumor phenotype and is linked to immune checkpoint response. Despite the emerging understanding of the unique antitumor TAM phenotype, there is a lack of TAM-specific therapeutics to exploit this new biological understanding. Here, the discovery and characterization of multiple small-molecule enhancers of chemokine ligand 9 (CXCL9) and their targeted delivery in a TAM-avid systemic nanoformulation is reported. With this strategy, it is efficient encapsulation and release of multiple drug loads that can efficiently induce CXCL9 expression in macrophages, both in vitro and in vivo in a mouse tumor model. These observations provide a window into the molecular features that define TAM-specific states, an insight a novel therapeutic anticancer approach is used to discover.
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Affiliation(s)
- Noah Enbergs
- Center for Systems BiologyMassachusetts General Hospital185 Cambridge St, CPZN 5206BostonMA02114USA
| | - Elias A. Halabi
- Center for Systems BiologyMassachusetts General Hospital185 Cambridge St, CPZN 5206BostonMA02114USA
| | - Anne‐Gaëlle Goubet
- Department of Pathology and ImmunologyUniversity of GenevaGeneva1211Switzerland
- AGORA Cancer CenterSwiss Cancer Center LemanLausanne1011Switzerland
| | - Kelton Schleyer
- Center for Systems BiologyMassachusetts General Hospital185 Cambridge St, CPZN 5206BostonMA02114USA
| | - Ina R. Fredrich
- Center for Systems BiologyMassachusetts General Hospital185 Cambridge St, CPZN 5206BostonMA02114USA
| | - Rainer H. Kohler
- Center for Systems BiologyMassachusetts General Hospital185 Cambridge St, CPZN 5206BostonMA02114USA
| | - Christopher S. Garris
- Center for Systems BiologyMassachusetts General Hospital185 Cambridge St, CPZN 5206BostonMA02114USA
| | - Mikaël J. Pittet
- Department of Pathology and ImmunologyUniversity of GenevaGeneva1211Switzerland
- AGORA Cancer CenterSwiss Cancer Center LemanLausanne1011Switzerland
- Ludwig Institute for Cancer ResearchLausanne1005Switzerland
| | - Ralph Weissleder
- Center for Systems BiologyMassachusetts General Hospital185 Cambridge St, CPZN 5206BostonMA02114USA
- Department of Systems BiologyHarvard Medical School200 Longwood AveBostonMA02115USA
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17
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Li NN, Lun DX, Gong N, Meng G, Du XY, Wang H, Bao X, Li XY, Song JW, Hu K, Li L, Li SY, Liu W, Zhu W, Zhang Y, Li J, Yao T, Mou L, Han X, Hao F, Hu Y, Liu L, Zhu H, Wu Y, Liu B. Targeting the chromatin structural changes of antitumor immunity. J Pharm Anal 2024; 14:100905. [PMID: 38665224 PMCID: PMC11043877 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpha.2023.11.012] [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: 06/16/2023] [Revised: 09/28/2023] [Accepted: 11/21/2023] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Epigenomic imbalance drives abnormal transcriptional processes, promoting the onset and progression of cancer. Although defective gene regulation generally affects carcinogenesis and tumor suppression networks, tumor immunogenicity and immune cells involved in antitumor responses may also be affected by epigenomic changes, which may have significant implications for the development and application of epigenetic therapy, cancer immunotherapy, and their combinations. Herein, we focus on the impact of epigenetic regulation on tumor immune cell function and the role of key abnormal epigenetic processes, DNA methylation, histone post-translational modification, and chromatin structure in tumor immunogenicity, and introduce these epigenetic research methods. We emphasize the value of small-molecule inhibitors of epigenetic modulators in enhancing antitumor immune responses and discuss the challenges of developing treatment plans that combine epigenetic therapy and immunotherapy through the complex interaction between cancer epigenetics and cancer immunology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nian-nian Li
- Weifang People's Hospital, Weifang, Shandong, 261000, China
- School of Life Sciences, Nankai University, Tianjin, 300071, China
| | - Deng-xing Lun
- Weifang People's Hospital, Weifang, Shandong, 261000, China
| | - Ningning Gong
- Weifang Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, Weifang, Shandong, 261000, China
| | - Gang Meng
- Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Sericulture, Ankang University, Ankang, Shaanxi, 725000, China
| | - Xin-ying Du
- Weifang People's Hospital, Weifang, Shandong, 261000, China
| | - He Wang
- Weifang People's Hospital, Weifang, Shandong, 261000, China
| | - Xiangxiang Bao
- Weifang People's Hospital, Weifang, Shandong, 261000, China
| | - Xin-yang Li
- Guizhou Education University, Guiyang, 550018, China
| | - Ji-wu Song
- Weifang People's Hospital, Weifang, Shandong, 261000, China
| | - Kewei Hu
- Weifang Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, Weifang, Shandong, 261000, China
| | - Lala Li
- Guizhou Normal University, Guiyang, 550025, China
| | - Si-ying Li
- Weifang People's Hospital, Weifang, Shandong, 261000, China
| | - Wenbo Liu
- Weifang People's Hospital, Weifang, Shandong, 261000, China
| | - Wanping Zhu
- Weifang People's Hospital, Weifang, Shandong, 261000, China
| | - Yunlong Zhang
- School of Medical Imaging, Weifang Medical University, Weifang, Shandong, 261053, China
| | - Jikai Li
- Department of Bone and Soft Tissue Oncology, Tianjin Hospital, Tianjin, 300299, China
| | - Ting Yao
- School of Life Sciences, Nankai University, Tianjin, 300071, China
- Teda Institute of Biological Sciences & Biotechnology, Nankai University, Tianjin, 300457, China
| | - Leming Mou
- Weifang People's Hospital, Weifang, Shandong, 261000, China
| | - Xiaoqing Han
- Weifang People's Hospital, Weifang, Shandong, 261000, China
| | - Furong Hao
- Weifang People's Hospital, Weifang, Shandong, 261000, China
| | - Yongcheng Hu
- Weifang People's Hospital, Weifang, Shandong, 261000, China
| | - Lin Liu
- School of Life Sciences, Nankai University, Tianjin, 300071, China
| | - Hongguang Zhu
- Weifang People's Hospital, Weifang, Shandong, 261000, China
| | - Yuyun Wu
- Xinqiao Hospital of Army Military Medical University, Chongqing, 400038, China
| | - Bin Liu
- Weifang People's Hospital, Weifang, Shandong, 261000, China
- School of Life Sciences, Nankai University, Tianjin, 300071, China
- Teda Institute of Biological Sciences & Biotechnology, Nankai University, Tianjin, 300457, China
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18
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Huang R, Han B, Zhang Y, Yang J, Wang K, Liu X, Wang Z. Pathway-based stratification of gliomas uncovers four subtypes with different TME characteristics and prognosis. J Cell Mol Med 2024; 28:e18208. [PMID: 38613347 PMCID: PMC11015396 DOI: 10.1111/jcmm.18208] [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: 12/06/2023] [Revised: 01/29/2024] [Accepted: 02/16/2024] [Indexed: 04/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Increasing evidences have found that the interactions between hypoxia, immune response and metabolism status in tumour microenvironment (TME) have clinical importance of predicting clinical outcomes and therapeutic efficacy. This study aimed to develop a reliable molecular stratification based on these key components of TME. The TCGA data set (training cohort) and two independent cohorts from CGGA database (validation cohort) were enrolled in this study. First, the enrichment score of 277 TME-related signalling pathways was calculated by gene set variation analysis (GSVA). Then, consensus clustering identified four stable and reproducible subtypes (AFM, CSS, HIS and GLU) based on TME-related signalling pathways, which were characterized by differences in hypoxia and immune responses, metabolism status, somatic alterations and clinical outcomes. Among the four subtypes, HIS subtype had features of immunosuppression, oxygen deprivation and active energy metabolism, resulting in a worst prognosis. Thus, for better clinical application of this acquired stratification, we constructed a risk signature by using the LASSO regression model to identify patients in HIS subtype accurately. We found that the risk signature could accurately screen out the patients in HIS subtype and had important reference value for individualized treatment of glioma patients. In brief, the definition of the TME-related subtypes was a valuable tool for risk stratification in gliomas. It might serve as a reliable prognostic classifier and provide rational design of individualized treatment, and follow-up scheduling for patients with gliomas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruoyu Huang
- Department of Neurosurgery, Beijing Tiantan HospitalCapital Medical UniversityBeijingChina
- Department of Molecular NeuropathologyBeijing Neurosurgical Institute, Capital Medical UniversityBeijingChina
| | - Bo Han
- Department of Neurosurgery, Beijing Tiantan HospitalCapital Medical UniversityBeijingChina
- Department of Molecular NeuropathologyBeijing Neurosurgical Institute, Capital Medical UniversityBeijingChina
| | - Ying Zhang
- Department of Neurosurgery, Beijing Tiantan HospitalCapital Medical UniversityBeijingChina
- Department of Molecular NeuropathologyBeijing Neurosurgical Institute, Capital Medical UniversityBeijingChina
| | - Jingchen Yang
- Department of Neurosurgery, Beijing Tiantan HospitalCapital Medical UniversityBeijingChina
- Department of Molecular NeuropathologyBeijing Neurosurgical Institute, Capital Medical UniversityBeijingChina
| | - Kuanyu Wang
- Department of Gamma Knife CenterBeijing Neurosurgical Institute, Capital Medical UniversityBeijingChina
| | - Xing Liu
- Department of Neurosurgery, Beijing Tiantan HospitalCapital Medical UniversityBeijingChina
- Department of Molecular NeuropathologyBeijing Neurosurgical Institute, Capital Medical UniversityBeijingChina
| | - Zhiliang Wang
- Department of Neurosurgery, Beijing Tiantan HospitalCapital Medical UniversityBeijingChina
- Department of Molecular NeuropathologyBeijing Neurosurgical Institute, Capital Medical UniversityBeijingChina
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19
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Chomiak AA, Tiedemann RL, Liu Y, Kong X, Cui Y, Wiseman AK, Thurlow KE, Cornett EM, Topper MJ, Baylin SB, Rothbart SB. Select EZH2 inhibitors enhance viral mimicry effects of DNMT inhibition through a mechanism involving NFAT:AP-1 signaling. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2024; 10:eadk4423. [PMID: 38536911 PMCID: PMC10971413 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adk4423] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2023] [Accepted: 02/21/2024] [Indexed: 04/05/2024]
Abstract
DNA methyltransferase inhibitor (DNMTi) efficacy in solid tumors is limited. Colon cancer cells exposed to DNMTi accumulate lysine-27 trimethylation on histone H3 (H3K27me3). We propose this Enhancer of Zeste Homolog 2 (EZH2)-dependent repressive modification limits DNMTi efficacy. Here, we show that low-dose DNMTi treatment sensitizes colon cancer cells to select EZH2 inhibitors (EZH2is). Integrative epigenomic analysis reveals that DNMTi-induced H3K27me3 accumulates at genomic regions poised with EZH2. Notably, combined EZH2i and DNMTi alters the epigenomic landscape to transcriptionally up-regulate the calcium-induced nuclear factor of activated T cells (NFAT):activating protein 1 (AP-1) signaling pathway. Blocking this pathway limits transcriptional activating effects of these drugs, including transposable element and innate immune response gene expression involved in viral defense. Analysis of primary human colon cancer specimens reveals positive correlations between DNMTi-, innate immune response-, and calcium signaling-associated transcription profiles. Collectively, we show that compensatory EZH2 activity limits DNMTi efficacy in colon cancer and link NFAT:AP-1 signaling to epigenetic therapy-induced viral mimicry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alison A. Chomiak
- Department of Epigenetics, Van Andel Institute, Grand Rapids, MI 49503, USA
| | | | - Yanqing Liu
- Department of Epigenetics, Van Andel Institute, Grand Rapids, MI 49503, USA
| | - Xiangqian Kong
- Department of Oncology, the Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
| | - Ying Cui
- Department of Oncology, the Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
| | - Ashley K. Wiseman
- Department of Epigenetics, Van Andel Institute, Grand Rapids, MI 49503, USA
| | - Kate E. Thurlow
- Department of Epigenetics, Van Andel Institute, Grand Rapids, MI 49503, USA
| | - Evan M. Cornett
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indiana University, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA
| | - Michael J. Topper
- Department of Oncology, the Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
| | - Stephen B. Baylin
- Department of Oncology, the Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
| | - Scott B. Rothbart
- Department of Epigenetics, Van Andel Institute, Grand Rapids, MI 49503, USA
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20
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Fischetti I, Botti L, Sulsenti R, Cancila V, Enriquez C, Ferri R, Bregni M, Crivelli F, Tripodo C, Colombo MP, Jachetti E. Combined therapy targeting AR and EZH2 curbs castration-resistant prostate cancer enhancing anti-tumor T-cell response. Epigenomics 2024; 16:653-670. [PMID: 38530086 DOI: 10.2217/epi-2023-0374] [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: 10/25/2023] [Accepted: 03/07/2024] [Indexed: 03/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Aim: Castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) eventually becomes resistant to androgen receptor pathway inhibitors like enzalutamide. Immunotherapy also fails in CRPC. We propose a new approach to simultaneously revert enzalutamide resistance and rewire anti-tumor immunity. Methods: We investigated in vitro and in subcutaneous and spontaneous mouse models the effects of combining enzalutamide and GSK-126, a drug inhibiting the epigenetic modulator EZH2. Results: Enzalutamide and GSK-126 synergized to reduce CRPC growth, also restraining tumor neuroendocrine differentiation. The anti-tumor activity was lost in immunodeficient mice. Indeed, the combination treatment awoke cytotoxic activity and IFN-γ production of tumor-specific CD8+ T lymphocytes. Conclusion: These results promote the combination of enzalutamide and GSK-126 in CRPC, also offering new avenues for immunotherapy in prostate cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irene Fischetti
- Molecular Immunology Unit, Department of Experimental Oncology, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Laura Botti
- Molecular Immunology Unit, Department of Experimental Oncology, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Roberta Sulsenti
- Molecular Immunology Unit, Department of Experimental Oncology, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Valeria Cancila
- Tumor Immunology Unit, Department of Health Sciences, University of Palermo, Italy
| | - Claudia Enriquez
- Molecular Immunology Unit, Department of Experimental Oncology, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Renata Ferri
- Molecular Immunology Unit, Department of Experimental Oncology, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | | | | | - Claudio Tripodo
- Tumor Immunology Unit, Department of Health Sciences, University of Palermo, Italy
| | - Mario P Colombo
- Molecular Immunology Unit, Department of Experimental Oncology, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Elena Jachetti
- Molecular Immunology Unit, Department of Experimental Oncology, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori di Milano, Milan, Italy
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21
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El Baba R, Herbein G. EZH2-Myc Hallmark in Oncovirus/Cytomegalovirus Infections and Cytomegalovirus' Resemblance to Oncoviruses. Cells 2024; 13:541. [PMID: 38534385 DOI: 10.3390/cells13060541] [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: 02/07/2024] [Revised: 03/09/2024] [Accepted: 03/15/2024] [Indexed: 03/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Approximately 15-20% of global cancer cases are attributed to virus infections. Oncoviruses employ various molecular strategies to enhance replication and persistence. Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV), acting as an initiator or promoter, enables immune evasion, supporting tumor growth. HCMV activates pro-oncogenic pathways within infected cells and direct cellular transformation. Thus, HCMV demonstrates characteristics reminiscent of oncoviruses. Cumulative evidence emphasizes the crucial roles of EZH2 and Myc in oncogenesis and stemness. EZH2 and Myc, pivotal regulators of cellular processes, gain significance in the context of oncoviruses and HCMV infections. This axis becomes a central focus for comprehending the mechanisms driving virus-induced oncogenesis. Elevated EZH2 expression is evident in various cancers, making it a prospective target for cancer therapy. On the other hand, Myc, deregulated in over 50% of human cancers, serves as a potent transcription factor governing cellular processes and contributing to tumorigenesis; Myc activates EZH2 expression and induces global gene expression. The Myc/EZH2 axis plays a critical role in promoting tumor growth in oncoviruses. Considering that HCMV has been shown to manipulate the Myc/EZH2 axis, there is emerging evidence suggesting that HCMV could be regarded as a potential oncovirus due to its ability to exploit this critical pathway implicated in tumorigenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ranim El Baba
- Department Pathogens & Inflammation-EPILAB EA4266, University of Franche-Comté UFC, 25000 Besançon, France
| | - Georges Herbein
- Department Pathogens & Inflammation-EPILAB EA4266, University of Franche-Comté UFC, 25000 Besançon, France
- Department of Virology, CHU Besançon, 25030 Besançon, France
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22
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Jimenez J, Amrute J, Ma P, Wang X, Dai R, Lavine KJ. CD40 is an immune checkpoint regulator that potentiates myocardial inflammation through activation and expansion of CCR2 + macrophages and CD8 T-cells. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.03.14.584418. [PMID: 38559055 PMCID: PMC10980053 DOI: 10.1101/2024.03.14.584418] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/04/2024]
Abstract
Novel immune checkpoint therapeutics including CD40 agonists have tremendous promise to elicit antitumor responses in patients resistant to current therapies. Conventional immune checkpoint inhibitors (PD-1/PD-L1, CTLA-4 antagonists) are associated with serious adverse cardiac events including life-threatening myocarditis. However, little is known regarding the potential for CD40 agonists to trigger myocardial inflammation or myocarditis. Here, we leveraged genetic mouse models, single cell sequencing, and cell depletion studies to demonstrate that an anti-CD40 agonist antibody reshapes the cardiac immune landscape through activation of CCR2 + macrophages and subsequent recruitment of effector memory CD8 T-cells. We identify a positive feedback loop between CCR2 + macrophages and CD8 T-cells driven by IL12b, TNF, and IFN-γ signaling that promotes myocardial inflammation and show that prior exposure to CD40 agonists sensitizes the heart to secondary insults and accelerates LV remodeling. Collectively, these findings highlight the potential for CD40 agonists to promote myocardial inflammation and potentiate heart failure pathogenesis.
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23
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Huang W, Zhu Q, Shi Z, Tu Y, Li Q, Zheng W, Yuan Z, Li L, Zu X, Hao Y, Chu B, Jiang Y. Dual inhibitors of DNMT and HDAC induce viral mimicry to induce antitumour immunity in breast cancer. Cell Death Discov 2024; 10:143. [PMID: 38490978 PMCID: PMC10943227 DOI: 10.1038/s41420-024-01895-7] [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: 01/12/2024] [Revised: 02/23/2024] [Accepted: 02/27/2024] [Indexed: 03/18/2024] Open
Abstract
The existing conventional treatments for breast cancer, including immune checkpoint blockade, exhibit limited effects in some cancers, particularly triple-negative breast cancer. Epigenetic alterations, specifically DNMT and HDAC alterations, are implicated in breast cancer pathogenesis. We demonstrated that DNMTs and HDACs are overexpressed and positively correlated in breast cancer. The combination of DNMT and HDAC inhibitors has shown synergistic antitumour effects, and our previously designed dual DNMT and HDAC inhibitor (termed DNMT/HDACi) 15a potently inhibits breast cancer cell proliferation, migration, and invasion and induces apoptosis in vitro and in vivo. Mechanistically, 15a induces a viral mimicry response by promoting the expression of endogenous retroviral elements in breast cancer cells, thus increasing the intracellular level of double-stranded RNA to activate the RIG-I-MAVS pathway. This in turn promotes the production of interferons and chemokines and augments the expression of interferon-stimulated genes and PD-L1. The combination of 15a and an anti-PD-L1 antibody had an additive effect in vivo. These findings indicate that this DNMT/HDACi has immunomodulatory functions and enhances the effectiveness of immune checkpoint blockade therapy. A novel dual DNMT and HDAC inhibitor induces viral mimicry, which induces the accumulation of dsRNA to activate tumoral IFN signalling and cytokine production to enhance the immune response in breast cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenjun Huang
- School of Pharmacy, Shenzhen University Medical School, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, 518055, China
| | - Qingyun Zhu
- School of Pharmacy, Shenzhen University Medical School, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, 518055, China
- The First Affiliated Hospital, Cancer Research Institute, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang, 421001, China
| | - Zhichao Shi
- Institute of Biomedical Health Technology and Engineering, Shenzhen Bay Laboratory, Shenzhen, 518132, China
| | - Yao Tu
- School of Pharmacy, Shenzhen University Medical School, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, 518055, China
| | - Qinyuan Li
- State Key Laboratory of Chemical Oncogenomics, Tsinghua Shenzhen International Graduate School, Shenzhen, 518055, China
| | - Wenwen Zheng
- School of Pharmacy, Shenzhen University Medical School, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, 518055, China
| | - Zigao Yuan
- State Key Laboratory of Chemical Oncogenomics, Tsinghua Shenzhen International Graduate School, Shenzhen, 518055, China
| | - Lulu Li
- State Key Laboratory of Chemical Oncogenomics, Tsinghua Shenzhen International Graduate School, Shenzhen, 518055, China
| | - Xuyu Zu
- The First Affiliated Hospital, Cancer Research Institute, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang, 421001, China
| | - Yue Hao
- School of Pharmacy, Shenzhen University Medical School, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, 518055, China.
| | - Bizhu Chu
- School of Pharmacy, Shenzhen University Medical School, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, 518055, China.
| | - Yuyang Jiang
- School of Pharmacy, Shenzhen University Medical School, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, 518055, China.
- Institute of Biomedical Health Technology and Engineering, Shenzhen Bay Laboratory, Shenzhen, 518132, China.
- State Key Laboratory of Chemical Oncogenomics, Tsinghua Shenzhen International Graduate School, Shenzhen, 518055, China.
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China.
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24
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Ouyang P, Wang L, Wu J, Tian Y, Chen C, Li D, Yao Z, Chen R, Xiang G, Gong J, Bao Z. Overcoming cold tumors: a combination strategy of immune checkpoint inhibitors. Front Immunol 2024; 15:1344272. [PMID: 38545114 PMCID: PMC10965539 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2024.1344272] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2023] [Accepted: 02/26/2024] [Indexed: 04/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors (ICIs) therapy has advanced significantly in treating malignant tumors, though most 'cold' tumors show no response. This resistance mainly arises from the varied immune evasion mechanisms. Hence, understanding the transformation from 'cold' to 'hot' tumors is essential in developing effective cancer treatments. Furthermore, tumor immune profiling is critical, requiring a range of diagnostic techniques and biomarkers for evaluation. The success of immunotherapy relies on T cells' ability to recognize and eliminate tumor cells. In 'cold' tumors, the absence of T cell infiltration leads to the ineffectiveness of ICI therapy. Addressing these challenges, especially the impairment in T cell activation and homing, is crucial to enhance ICI therapy's efficacy. Concurrently, strategies to convert 'cold' tumors into 'hot' ones, including boosting T cell infiltration and adoptive therapies such as T cell-recruiting bispecific antibodies and Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR) T cells, are under extensive exploration. Thus, identifying key factors that impact tumor T cell infiltration is vital for creating effective treatments targeting 'cold' tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peng Ouyang
- Department of General Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Jinan University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Lijuan Wang
- Department of Pathophysiology, School of Medicine, Jinan University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Jianlong Wu
- Department of General Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Jinan University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Yao Tian
- Department of General Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Jinan University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Caiyun Chen
- Department of General Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Jinan University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Dengsheng Li
- Department of General Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Jinan University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Zengxi Yao
- Department of General Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Jinan University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Ruichang Chen
- Department of General Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Jinan University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Guoan Xiang
- Department of General Surgery, Guangdong Second Provincial General Hospital, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Jin Gong
- Department of General Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Jinan University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Zhen Bao
- Department of General Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Jinan University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
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25
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Li C, Wang Z, Yao L, Lin X, Jian Y, Li Y, Zhang J, Shao J, Tran PD, Hagman JR, Cao M, Cong Y, Li HY, Goding CR, Xu ZX, Liao X, Miao X, Cui R. Mi-2β promotes immune evasion in melanoma by activating EZH2 methylation. Nat Commun 2024; 15:2163. [PMID: 38461299 PMCID: PMC10924921 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-46422-5] [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: 10/18/2023] [Accepted: 02/27/2024] [Indexed: 03/11/2024] Open
Abstract
Recent development of new immune checkpoint inhibitors has been particularly successfully in cancer treatment, but still the majority patients fail to benefit. Converting resistant tumors to immunotherapy sensitive will provide a significant improvement in patient outcome. Here we identify Mi-2β as a key melanoma-intrinsic effector regulating the adaptive anti-tumor immune response. Studies in genetically engineered mouse melanoma models indicate that loss of Mi-2β rescues the immune response to immunotherapy in vivo. Mechanistically, ATAC-seq analysis shows that Mi-2β controls the accessibility of IFN-γ-stimulated genes (ISGs). Mi-2β binds to EZH2 and promotes K510 methylation of EZH2, subsequently activating the trimethylation of H3K27 to inhibit the transcription of ISGs. Finally, we develop an Mi-2β-targeted inhibitor, Z36-MP5, which reduces Mi-2β ATPase activity and reactivates ISG transcription. Consequently, Z36-MP5 induces a response to immune checkpoint inhibitors in otherwise resistant melanoma models. Our work provides a potential therapeutic strategy to convert immunotherapy resistant melanomas to sensitive ones.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cang Li
- Skin Disease Research Institute, The 2nd Hospital and School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China
- Research Center for Life Science and Human Health, Binjiang Institute of Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310053, China
| | - Zhengyu Wang
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Arkansas for Medical Science, Little Rock, AR, 72205, USA
| | - Licheng Yao
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Science, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China
| | - Xingyu Lin
- Zhuhai Yu Fan Biotechnologies Co. Ltd, Zhuhai, Guangdong, 51900, China
| | - Yongping Jian
- School of Life Sciences, Henan University, Kaifeng, 475000, China
| | - Yujia Li
- School of Life Sciences, Henan University, Kaifeng, 475000, China
| | - Jie Zhang
- National Key Laboratory for Novel Software Technology, Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Jingwei Shao
- National & Local Joint Engineering Research Center of Targeted and Innovative Therapeutics, International Academy of Targeted Therapeutics and Innovation, College of Pharmacy, Chongqing University of Arts and Sciences, Chongqing, 402160, China
| | - Phuc D Tran
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Arkansas for Medical Science, Little Rock, AR, 72205, USA
| | - James R Hagman
- Department of Immunology and Genomic Medicine, National Jewish Health, Denver, CO, 80206, USA
| | - Meng Cao
- Affiliated Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, School of Pharmacy, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, 210023, China
| | - Yusheng Cong
- Key Laboratory of Aging and Cancer Biology of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou Normal University School of Basic Medical Sciences, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Hong-Yu Li
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Arkansas for Medical Science, Little Rock, AR, 72205, USA.
| | - Colin R Goding
- Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Nuffield Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Oxford, Headington, Oxford, OX3 7DQ, UK.
| | - Zhi-Xiang Xu
- School of Life Sciences, Henan University, Kaifeng, 475000, China.
| | - Xuebin Liao
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Science, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China.
| | - Xiao Miao
- Department of Dermatology, Shuguang Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, 200437, China.
- The MOE Basic Research and Innovation Center for the Targeted Therapeutics of Solid Tumors, Jiangxi Medical College, Nanchang University, Nanchang, China.
| | - Rutao Cui
- Skin Disease Research Institute, The 2nd Hospital and School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310058, China.
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26
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Xi X, Zhao W. Anti-Tumor Potential of Post-Translational Modifications of PD-1. Curr Issues Mol Biol 2024; 46:2119-2132. [PMID: 38534752 DOI: 10.3390/cimb46030136] [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: 12/14/2023] [Revised: 01/29/2024] [Accepted: 02/04/2024] [Indexed: 03/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Programmed cell death protein-1 (PD-1) is a vital immune checkpoint molecule. The location, stability, and protein-protein interaction of PD-1 are significantly influenced by post-translational modification (PTM) of proteins. The biological information of PD-1, including its gene and protein structures and the PD-1/PD-L1 signaling pathway, was briefly reviewed in this review. Additionally, recent research on PD-1 post-translational modification, including the study of ubiquitination, glycosylation, phosphorylation, and palmitoylation, was summarized, and research strategies for PD-1 PTM drugs were concluded. At present, only a part of PD-1/PD-L1 treated patients (35-45%) are benefited from immunotherapies, and novel strategies targeting PTM of PD-1/PD-L1 may be important for anti-PD-1/PD-L1 non-responders (poor responders).
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoming Xi
- State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Health and Multimorbidity, Institute of Medical Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, School of Basic Medicine Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100005, China
| | - Wuli Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Health and Multimorbidity, Institute of Medical Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, School of Basic Medicine Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100005, China
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27
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Mylod E, O'Connell F, Donlon NE, Davern M, Marion C, Butler C, Reynolds JV, Lysaght J, Conroy MJ. Real-time ex vivo monitoring of NK cell migration toward obesity-associated oesophageal adenocarcinoma following modulation of CX3CR1. Sci Rep 2024; 14:4017. [PMID: 38369570 PMCID: PMC10874956 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-54390-5] [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: 02/12/2024] [Indexed: 02/20/2024] Open
Abstract
Oesophagogastric adenocarcinomas (OAC) are poor prognosis, obesity-associated cancers which may benefit from natural killer (NK) cell-based immunotherapies. Cellular immunotherapies encounter two key challenges to their success in OAC, namely recruitment to extratumoural tissues such as the omentum at the expense of the tumour and an immunosuppressive tumour microenvironment (TME) which can hamper NK cell function. Herein, we examined approaches to overcome the detrimental impact of obesity on NK cells and NK cell-based immunotherapies. We have demonstrated that NK cells migrate preferentially to the chemotactic signals of OAC patient-derived omentum over tumour in an ex vivo model of immune cell migration. We have identified CX3CR1 modulation and/or tumour chemokine profile remodelling as approaches to skew NK cell migration towards tumour. We also report targetable immunosuppressive facets of the obese OAC TME which dampen NK cell function, in particular cytotoxic capabilities. These data provide insights into approaches to therapeutically overcome key challenges presented by obesity and will inform superior design of NK cell-based immunotherapies for OAC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eimear Mylod
- Cancer Immunology Research Group, Department of Anatomy, School of Medicine, Trinity Biomedical Sciences Institute and Trinity St. James's Cancer Institute, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
- Cancer Immunology and Immunotherapy Group, Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, Trinity Translational Medicine Institute and Trinity St. James's Cancer Institute, St. James's Hospital, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Fiona O'Connell
- Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, Trinity Translational Medicine Institute and Trinity St. James's Cancer Institute, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Noel E Donlon
- Cancer Immunology and Immunotherapy Group, Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, Trinity Translational Medicine Institute and Trinity St. James's Cancer Institute, St. James's Hospital, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Maria Davern
- Cancer Immunology and Immunotherapy Group, Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, Trinity Translational Medicine Institute and Trinity St. James's Cancer Institute, St. James's Hospital, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Caroline Marion
- Cancer Immunology Research Group, Department of Anatomy, School of Medicine, Trinity Biomedical Sciences Institute and Trinity St. James's Cancer Institute, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
- Cancer Immunology and Immunotherapy Group, Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, Trinity Translational Medicine Institute and Trinity St. James's Cancer Institute, St. James's Hospital, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Christine Butler
- Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, Trinity Translational Medicine Institute and Trinity St. James's Cancer Institute, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - John V Reynolds
- Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, Trinity Translational Medicine Institute and Trinity St. James's Cancer Institute, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Joanne Lysaght
- Cancer Immunology and Immunotherapy Group, Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, Trinity Translational Medicine Institute and Trinity St. James's Cancer Institute, St. James's Hospital, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Melissa J Conroy
- Cancer Immunology Research Group, Department of Anatomy, School of Medicine, Trinity Biomedical Sciences Institute and Trinity St. James's Cancer Institute, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland.
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Li H, Wang Z, Liang H, Liu X, Liu H, Zhuang Z, Hou J. Depletion of PHLDB2 Suppresses Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition and Enhances Anti-Tumor Immunity in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma. Biomolecules 2024; 14:232. [PMID: 38397469 PMCID: PMC10886581 DOI: 10.3390/biom14020232] [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: 01/08/2024] [Revised: 02/06/2024] [Accepted: 02/15/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024] Open
Abstract
The role of Pleckstrin homology-like domain family B member 2 (PHLDB2) in the regulation of cell migration has been extensively studied. However, the exploration of PHLDB2 in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is still limited in terms of expression, function, and therapeutic potential. In this study, we discovered an upregulation of PHLDB2 expression in HNSCC tissues which was correlated with a negative prognosis in patients with HNSCC. Additionally, we determined that a high level of expression of PHLDB2 is crucial for maintaining cell migration through the regulation of the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). Furthermore, we demonstrated that the ablation of PHLDB2 in tumor cells inhibited tumorigenicity in a C3H syngeneic tumor-bearing mouse model. Mechanistically, PHLDB2 was found to be involved in the regulation of T cell anti-tumor immunity, primarily by enhancing the activation and infiltration of CD8+ T cells. In light of these findings, PHLDB2 emerges as a promising biomarker and therapeutic target for interventions in HNSCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongyu Li
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Hospital of Stomatology, Guanghua School of Stomatology, Sun Yat-sen University, 56 Lingyuan Road West, Guangzhou 510055, China; (H.L.); (Z.W.); (X.L.); (H.L.); (Z.Z.)
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Stomatology, Guangzhou 510080, China
- Guanghua School of Stomatology, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510055, China
| | - Ziyi Wang
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Hospital of Stomatology, Guanghua School of Stomatology, Sun Yat-sen University, 56 Lingyuan Road West, Guangzhou 510055, China; (H.L.); (Z.W.); (X.L.); (H.L.); (Z.Z.)
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Stomatology, Guangzhou 510080, China
- Guanghua School of Stomatology, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510055, China
| | - Huiting Liang
- Department of Stomatology, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Zhuhai 519000, China;
| | - Xiaoyong Liu
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Hospital of Stomatology, Guanghua School of Stomatology, Sun Yat-sen University, 56 Lingyuan Road West, Guangzhou 510055, China; (H.L.); (Z.W.); (X.L.); (H.L.); (Z.Z.)
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Stomatology, Guangzhou 510080, China
- Guanghua School of Stomatology, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510055, China
| | - Haichao Liu
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Hospital of Stomatology, Guanghua School of Stomatology, Sun Yat-sen University, 56 Lingyuan Road West, Guangzhou 510055, China; (H.L.); (Z.W.); (X.L.); (H.L.); (Z.Z.)
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Stomatology, Guangzhou 510080, China
- Guanghua School of Stomatology, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510055, China
| | - Zehang Zhuang
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Hospital of Stomatology, Guanghua School of Stomatology, Sun Yat-sen University, 56 Lingyuan Road West, Guangzhou 510055, China; (H.L.); (Z.W.); (X.L.); (H.L.); (Z.Z.)
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Stomatology, Guangzhou 510080, China
- Guanghua School of Stomatology, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510055, China
| | - Jinsong Hou
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Hospital of Stomatology, Guanghua School of Stomatology, Sun Yat-sen University, 56 Lingyuan Road West, Guangzhou 510055, China; (H.L.); (Z.W.); (X.L.); (H.L.); (Z.Z.)
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Stomatology, Guangzhou 510080, China
- Guanghua School of Stomatology, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510055, China
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Ibrahim ML, Zheng H, Barlow ML, Latif Y, Chen Z, Yu X, Beg AA. Histone Deacetylase Inhibitors Directly Modulate T Cell Gene Expression and Signaling and Promote Development of Effector-Exhausted T Cells in Murine Tumors. JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY (BALTIMORE, MD. : 1950) 2024; 212:737-747. [PMID: 38169329 PMCID: PMC10872871 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.2300475] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2023] [Accepted: 12/05/2023] [Indexed: 01/05/2024]
Abstract
Epigenetic regulation plays a crucial role in the development and progression of cancer, including the regulation of antitumor immunity. The reversible nature of epigenetic modifications offers potential therapeutic avenues for cancer treatment. In particular, histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitors (HDACis) have been shown to promote antitumor T cell immunity by regulating myeloid cell types, enhancing tumor Ag presentation, and increasing expression of chemokines. HDACis are currently being evaluated to determine whether they can increase the response rate of immune checkpoint inhibitors in cancer patients. Although the potential direct effect of HDACis on T cells likely impacts antitumor immunity, little is known about how HDAC inhibition alters the transcriptomic profile of T cells. In this article, we show that two clinical-stage HDACis profoundly impact gene expression and signaling networks in CD8+ and CD4+ T cells. Specifically, HDACis promoted T cell effector function by enhancing expression of TNF-α and IFN-γ and increasing CD8+ T cell cytotoxicity. Consistently, in a murine tumor model, HDACis led to enrichment of CD8+ T cell subsets with high expression of effector molecules (Prf1, Ifng, Gzmk, and Grmb) but also molecules associated with T cell exhaustion (Tox, Pdcd1, Lag3, and Havcr2). HDACis further generated a tumor microenvironment dominated by myeloid cells with immune suppressive signatures. These results indicate that HDACis directly and favorably augment T cell effector function but also increase their exhaustion signal in the tumor microenvironment, which may add a layer of complexity for achieving clinical benefit in combination with immune checkpoint inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammed L Ibrahim
- Department of Immunology, Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, FL
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Hong Zheng
- Department of Immunology, Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, FL
| | | | - Yousuf Latif
- Department of Immunology, Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, FL
| | - Zhihua Chen
- Department of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, FL
| | - Xiaoqing Yu
- Department of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, FL
| | - Amer A Beg
- Department of Immunology, Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, FL
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30
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Luo J, Shi X, Liu Y, Wang J, Wang H, Yang X, Sun Q, Hui Z, Wei F, Ren X, Zhao H. Immune checkpoint ligands expressed on mature high endothelial venules predict poor prognosis of NSCLC: have a relationship with CD8 + T lymphocytes infiltration. Front Immunol 2024; 15:1302761. [PMID: 38390332 PMCID: PMC10882939 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2024.1302761] [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: 09/27/2023] [Accepted: 01/22/2024] [Indexed: 02/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Background An insufficient number of intratumoral CD8+ T lymphocytes is a major barrier to antitumor immunity and immunotherapy. High endothelial venules (HEVs) are the major sites through which lymphocytes enter tumors; however, the molecular mechanism through which HEVs mediate CD8+ T lymphocyte infiltration remains poorly understood. Methods Forty-two patients with stage IIIA lung adenocarcinoma, who underwent surgery, were recruited. Multiplex immunohistochemical staining was conducted on tumor tissues to detect the immune checkpoint ligands (ICLs) expressed in the HEVs, blood vessels, and lymphatics. A new ICL score model was constructed to evaluate ligand expression. The relationship between ICL score, tumor-infiltrating CD8+ T cell frequency, and survival of patients was investigated. Results Mature HEVs, but not blood vessels or lymphatics, mediated CD8+ T cell infiltration. However, the ICLs expressed on mature HEVs could negatively regulate CD8+ T cell entry into tertiary lymphoid structures (TLSs). In addition, according to the results obtained using our ICLtotal score model, the expression of ICLs on HEVs was observed to be a predictor of both CD8+ T cell infiltration and survival, in which a high ICLtotal score > 1 represent a weak CD8+ T cell infiltration and a high ICLtotal score > 2 predicts poor survival. Conclusion Using the ICL score model, we discovered that ICLs expressed on HEVs are indicative of CD8+ T cell subset infiltration in TLSs, as well as of patient survival with lung cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing Luo
- Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin, China
- Tianjin’s Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin, China
- Key Laboratory of Cancer Immunology and Biotherapy, Tianjin, China
- Department of Immunology, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, Tianjin, China
| | - Xiuhuan Shi
- Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin, China
- Tianjin’s Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin, China
- Key Laboratory of Cancer Immunology and Biotherapy, Tianjin, China
- Department of Immunology, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, Tianjin, China
- Department of Medical Oncology, Affiliated Hospital of Inner Mongolia Medical University, Huhhot, China
| | - Yumeng Liu
- Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin, China
- Tianjin’s Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin, China
- Key Laboratory of Cancer Immunology and Biotherapy, Tianjin, China
- Department of Immunology, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, Tianjin, China
| | - Jian Wang
- Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin, China
- Tianjin’s Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin, China
- Key Laboratory of Cancer Immunology and Biotherapy, Tianjin, China
- Department of Immunology, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, Tianjin, China
| | - Hao Wang
- Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin, China
- Tianjin’s Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin, China
- Key Laboratory of Cancer Immunology and Biotherapy, Tianjin, China
- Department of Immunology, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, Tianjin, China
- The Affiliated Jiangning Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Xuena Yang
- Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin, China
- Tianjin’s Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin, China
- Key Laboratory of Cancer Immunology and Biotherapy, Tianjin, China
- Department of Immunology, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, Tianjin, China
| | - Qian Sun
- Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin, China
- Tianjin’s Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin, China
- Key Laboratory of Cancer Immunology and Biotherapy, Tianjin, China
- Department of Immunology, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, Tianjin, China
- Haihe Laboratory of Cell Ecosystem, Tianjin, China
| | - Zhenzhen Hui
- Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin, China
- Tianjin’s Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin, China
- Key Laboratory of Cancer Immunology and Biotherapy, Tianjin, China
- Department of Biotherapy, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, Tianjin, China
| | - Feng Wei
- Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin, China
- Tianjin’s Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin, China
- Key Laboratory of Cancer Immunology and Biotherapy, Tianjin, China
- Department of Immunology, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, Tianjin, China
- Haihe Laboratory of Cell Ecosystem, Tianjin, China
| | - Xiubao Ren
- Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin, China
- Tianjin’s Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin, China
- Key Laboratory of Cancer Immunology and Biotherapy, Tianjin, China
- Department of Immunology, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, Tianjin, China
- Haihe Laboratory of Cell Ecosystem, Tianjin, China
- Department of Biotherapy, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, Tianjin, China
| | - Hua Zhao
- Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin, China
- Tianjin’s Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin, China
- Key Laboratory of Cancer Immunology and Biotherapy, Tianjin, China
- Department of Immunology, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, Tianjin, China
- Haihe Laboratory of Cell Ecosystem, Tianjin, China
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31
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Morrison L, Loibl S, Turner NC. The CDK4/6 inhibitor revolution - a game-changing era for breast cancer treatment. Nat Rev Clin Oncol 2024; 21:89-105. [PMID: 38082107 DOI: 10.1038/s41571-023-00840-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/02/2023] [Indexed: 01/27/2024]
Abstract
Cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK) 4/6 inhibition in combination with endocrine therapy is the standard-of-care treatment for patients with advanced-stage hormone receptor-positive, HER2 non-amplified (HR+HER2-) breast cancer. These agents can also be administered as adjuvant therapy to patients with higher-risk early stage disease. Nonetheless, the clinical success of these agents has created several challenges, such as how to address acquired resistance, identifying which patients are most likely to benefit from therapy prior to treatment, and understanding the optimal timing of administration and sequencing of these agents. In this Review, we describe the rationale for targeting CDK4/6 in patients with breast cancer, including a summary of updated clinical evidence and how this should inform clinical practice. We also discuss ongoing research efforts that are attempting to address the various challenges created by the widespread implementation of these agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Morrison
- Breast Cancer Now Research Centre, The Institute of Cancer Research, London, UK
- Breast Unit, The Royal Marsden Hospital, London, UK
| | - Sibylle Loibl
- German Breast Group, Goethe University, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Nicholas C Turner
- Breast Cancer Now Research Centre, The Institute of Cancer Research, London, UK.
- Breast Unit, The Royal Marsden Hospital, London, UK.
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32
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Gu M, Ren B, Fang Y, Ren J, Liu X, Wang X, Zhou F, Xiao R, Luo X, You L, Zhao Y. Epigenetic regulation in cancer. MedComm (Beijing) 2024; 5:e495. [PMID: 38374872 PMCID: PMC10876210 DOI: 10.1002/mco2.495] [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: 08/07/2023] [Revised: 01/26/2024] [Accepted: 01/30/2024] [Indexed: 02/21/2024] Open
Abstract
Epigenetic modifications are defined as heritable changes in gene activity that do not involve changes in the underlying DNA sequence. The oncogenic process is driven by the accumulation of alterations that impact genome's structure and function. Genetic mutations, which directly disrupt the DNA sequence, are complemented by epigenetic modifications that modulate gene expression, thereby facilitating the acquisition of malignant characteristics. Principals among these epigenetic changes are shifts in DNA methylation and histone mark patterns, which promote tumor development and metastasis. Notably, the reversible nature of epigenetic alterations, as opposed to the permanence of genetic changes, positions the epigenetic machinery as a prime target in the discovery of novel therapeutics. Our review delves into the complexities of epigenetic regulation, exploring its profound effects on tumor initiation, metastatic behavior, metabolic pathways, and the tumor microenvironment. We place a particular emphasis on the dysregulation at each level of epigenetic modulation, including but not limited to, the aberrations in enzymes responsible for DNA methylation and histone modification, subunit loss or fusions in chromatin remodeling complexes, and the disturbances in higher-order chromatin structure. Finally, we also evaluate therapeutic approaches that leverage the growing understanding of chromatin dysregulation, offering new avenues for cancer treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Minzhi Gu
- Department of General SurgeryPeking Union Medical College HospitalPeking Union Medical CollegeChinese Academy of Medical SciencesBeijingP. R. China
- Key Laboratory of Research in Pancreatic TumorChinese Academy of Medical SciencesBeijingP. R. China
- National Science and Technology Key Infrastructure on Translational Medicine in Peking Union Medical College HospitalBeijingP. R. China
| | - Bo Ren
- Department of General SurgeryPeking Union Medical College HospitalPeking Union Medical CollegeChinese Academy of Medical SciencesBeijingP. R. China
- Key Laboratory of Research in Pancreatic TumorChinese Academy of Medical SciencesBeijingP. R. China
- National Science and Technology Key Infrastructure on Translational Medicine in Peking Union Medical College HospitalBeijingP. R. China
| | - Yuan Fang
- Department of General SurgeryPeking Union Medical College HospitalPeking Union Medical CollegeChinese Academy of Medical SciencesBeijingP. R. China
- Key Laboratory of Research in Pancreatic TumorChinese Academy of Medical SciencesBeijingP. R. China
- National Science and Technology Key Infrastructure on Translational Medicine in Peking Union Medical College HospitalBeijingP. R. China
| | - Jie Ren
- Department of General SurgeryPeking Union Medical College HospitalPeking Union Medical CollegeChinese Academy of Medical SciencesBeijingP. R. China
- Key Laboratory of Research in Pancreatic TumorChinese Academy of Medical SciencesBeijingP. R. China
- National Science and Technology Key Infrastructure on Translational Medicine in Peking Union Medical College HospitalBeijingP. R. China
| | - Xiaohong Liu
- Department of General SurgeryPeking Union Medical College HospitalPeking Union Medical CollegeChinese Academy of Medical SciencesBeijingP. R. China
- Key Laboratory of Research in Pancreatic TumorChinese Academy of Medical SciencesBeijingP. R. China
- National Science and Technology Key Infrastructure on Translational Medicine in Peking Union Medical College HospitalBeijingP. R. China
| | - Xing Wang
- Department of General SurgeryPeking Union Medical College HospitalPeking Union Medical CollegeChinese Academy of Medical SciencesBeijingP. R. China
- Key Laboratory of Research in Pancreatic TumorChinese Academy of Medical SciencesBeijingP. R. China
- National Science and Technology Key Infrastructure on Translational Medicine in Peking Union Medical College HospitalBeijingP. R. China
| | - Feihan Zhou
- Department of General SurgeryPeking Union Medical College HospitalPeking Union Medical CollegeChinese Academy of Medical SciencesBeijingP. R. China
- Key Laboratory of Research in Pancreatic TumorChinese Academy of Medical SciencesBeijingP. R. China
- National Science and Technology Key Infrastructure on Translational Medicine in Peking Union Medical College HospitalBeijingP. R. China
| | - Ruiling Xiao
- Department of General SurgeryPeking Union Medical College HospitalPeking Union Medical CollegeChinese Academy of Medical SciencesBeijingP. R. China
- Key Laboratory of Research in Pancreatic TumorChinese Academy of Medical SciencesBeijingP. R. China
- National Science and Technology Key Infrastructure on Translational Medicine in Peking Union Medical College HospitalBeijingP. R. China
| | - Xiyuan Luo
- Department of General SurgeryPeking Union Medical College HospitalPeking Union Medical CollegeChinese Academy of Medical SciencesBeijingP. R. China
- Key Laboratory of Research in Pancreatic TumorChinese Academy of Medical SciencesBeijingP. R. China
- National Science and Technology Key Infrastructure on Translational Medicine in Peking Union Medical College HospitalBeijingP. R. China
| | - Lei You
- Department of General SurgeryPeking Union Medical College HospitalPeking Union Medical CollegeChinese Academy of Medical SciencesBeijingP. R. China
- Key Laboratory of Research in Pancreatic TumorChinese Academy of Medical SciencesBeijingP. R. China
- National Science and Technology Key Infrastructure on Translational Medicine in Peking Union Medical College HospitalBeijingP. R. China
| | - Yupei Zhao
- Department of General SurgeryPeking Union Medical College HospitalPeking Union Medical CollegeChinese Academy of Medical SciencesBeijingP. R. China
- Key Laboratory of Research in Pancreatic TumorChinese Academy of Medical SciencesBeijingP. R. China
- National Science and Technology Key Infrastructure on Translational Medicine in Peking Union Medical College HospitalBeijingP. R. China
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Zakharia Y, Singer EA, Acharyya S, Garje R, Joshi M, Peace D, Baladandayuthapani V, Majumdar A, Li X, Lalancette C, Kryczek I, Zou W, Alva A. Durvalumab and guadecitabine in advanced clear cell renal cell carcinoma: results from the phase Ib/II study BTCRC-GU16-043. Nat Commun 2024; 15:972. [PMID: 38302476 PMCID: PMC10834488 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-45216-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: 09/30/2022] [Accepted: 01/18/2024] [Indexed: 02/03/2024] Open
Abstract
Epigenetic modulation is well established in hematologic malignancies but to a lesser degree in solid tumors. Here we report the results of a phase Ib/II study of guadecitabine and durvalumab in advanced clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC; NCT03308396). Patients received guadecitabine (starting at 60 mg/m2 subcutaneously on days 1-5 with de-escalation to 45 mg/m2 in case of dose limiting toxicity) with durvalumab (1500 mg intravenously on day 8). The study enrolled 57 patients, 6 in phase Ib with safety being the primary objective and 51in phase II, comprising 2 cohorts: 36 patients in Cohort 1 were treatment naive to checkpoint inhibitors (CPI) with 0-1 prior therapies and 15 patients in Cohort 2 were treated with up to two prior systemic therapies including one CPI. The combination of guadecitabine 45 mg/m2 with durvalumab 1500 mg was deemed safe. The primary objective of overall response rate (ORR) in cohort 1 was 22%. Sixteen patients (44%) experienced stable disease (SD). Secondary objectives included overall survival (OS), duration of response, progression-free survival (PFS), clinical benefit rate, and safety as well as ORR for Cohort 2. Median PFS for cohort 1 and cohort 2 were 14.26 and 3.91 months respectively. Median OS was not reached. In cohort 2, one patient achieved a partial response and 60% achieved SD. Asymptomatic neutropenia was the most common adverse event. Even though the trial did not meet the primary objective in cohort 1, the tolerability and PFS signal in CPI naive patients are worth further investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yousef Zakharia
- University of Iowa Holden Comprehensive Cancer Center, Iowa City, IA, USA.
| | - Eric A Singer
- Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbus, OH, USA
- Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey, New Brunswick, NJ, USA
| | | | - Rohan Garje
- University of Iowa Holden Comprehensive Cancer Center, Iowa City, IA, USA
| | | | - David Peace
- University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | | | | | - Xiong Li
- University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | | | | | | | - Ajjai Alva
- University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
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Wang Q, Xie B, Sun J, Li Z, Xiao D, Tao Y, She X. An Investigation of the Immune Microenvironment and Genome during Lung Adenocarcinoma Development. J Cancer 2024; 15:1687-1700. [PMID: 38370388 PMCID: PMC10869965 DOI: 10.7150/jca.92101] [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: 11/10/2023] [Accepted: 01/09/2024] [Indexed: 02/20/2024] Open
Abstract
Background: Adenocarcinoma in situ (AIS) and minimally invasive adenocarcinoma (MIA) are two consecutive pathological processes that occur before invasive lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD). However, our understanding of the immune editing patterns during the progression of LUAD remains limited. Furthermore, we know very little about whether alterations in driver genes are involved in forming the tumor microenvironment (TME). Therefore, it is necessary to elucidate the regulatory role of TME in LUAD development from multiple dimensions, including immune cell infiltration, molecular mutation events, and oncogenic signaling pathways. Methods: We collected 145 surgically resected pulmonary nodule specimens, including 28 cases of AIS, 52 cases of MIA, and 65 cases of LUAD. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) was used to detect the expression of immune markers CD3, CD4, CD8, CD68 and programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1). Genomic data and TMB generated by targeted next-generation sequencing (NGS). Results: LUAD exhibited higher levels of immune cell infiltration, tumor mutation burden (TMB), and activation of oncogenic pathways compared to AIS and MIA. In LUAD, compared to epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) single mutation and wild-type (WT) samples, cases with EGFR co-mutations showed a more pronounced rise in the CD4/CD8 ratio and CD68 infiltration. Patients with low-density lipoprotein (LDL) receptor-related protein 1B (LRP1B) mutation have higher TMB and PD-L1 expression. The transition from AIS to LUAD tends to shift the TME towards the PD-L1+CD8+ subtype (adaptive resistance). Progression-associated mutations (PAMs) were enriched in the lymphocyte differentiation pathway and related to exhausted cells' phenotype. Conclusion: Tumor-infiltrating immune cells tend to accumulate as the depth of LUAD invasion increases, but subsequently develop into an immune exhaustion and immune escape state. Mutations in EGFR and LRP1B could potentially establish an immune niche that fosters tumor growth. PAMs in LUAD may accelerate disease progression by promoting T cell differentiation into an exhausted state.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qingyi Wang
- Department of Pathology, School of Basic Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, 410078, China
- Department of Pathology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410078 China
| | - Bin Xie
- Department of Pathology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410078 China
| | - Jingyue Sun
- Department of Pathology, School of Basic Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, 410078, China
- Department of Pathology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410078 China
| | - Zisheng Li
- Department of Pathology, School of Basic Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, 410078, China
- Department of Pathology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410078 China
| | - Desheng Xiao
- Department of Pathology, School of Basic Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, 410078, China
- Department of Pathology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410078 China
| | - Yongguang Tao
- Cancer Research Institute, School of Basic Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, 410078, China
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion (Central South University), Ministry of Education, Hunan, 410078, China
| | - Xiaoling She
- Department of Pathology, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University Changsha, Hunan, 410011, China
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Wang K, Shi J, Tong X, Qu N, Kong X, Ni S, Xing J, Li X, Zheng M. TG468: a text graph convolutional network for predicting clinical response to immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy. Brief Bioinform 2024; 25:bbae017. [PMID: 38390990 PMCID: PMC10886443 DOI: 10.1093/bib/bbae017] [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: 11/10/2023] [Revised: 12/27/2023] [Accepted: 01/15/2024] [Indexed: 02/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Enhancing cancer treatment efficacy remains a significant challenge in human health. Immunotherapy has witnessed considerable success in recent years as a treatment for tumors. However, due to the heterogeneity of diseases, only a fraction of patients exhibit a positive response to immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) therapy. Various single-gene-based biomarkers and tumor mutational burden (TMB) have been proposed for predicting clinical responses to ICI; however, their predictive ability is limited. We propose the utilization of the Text Graph Convolutional Network (GCN) method to comprehensively assess the impact of multiple genes, aiming to improve the predictive capability for ICI response. We developed TG468, a Text GCN model framing drug response prediction as a text classification task. By combining natural language processing (NLP) and graph neural network techniques, TG468 effectively handles sparse and high-dimensional exome sequencing data. As a result, TG468 can distinguish survival time for patients who received ICI therapy and outperforms single gene biomarkers, TMB and some classical machine learning models. Additionally, TG468's prediction results facilitate the identification of immune status differences among specific patient types in the Cancer Genome Atlas dataset, providing a rationale for the model's predictions. Our approach represents a pioneering use of a GCN model to analyze exome data in patients undergoing ICI therapy and offers inspiration for future research using NLP technology to analyze exome sequencing data.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kun Wang
- School of Life Sciences, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China
| | - Jiangshan Shi
- Drug Discovery and Design Center, State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica Chinese Academy of Sciences; 555 Zuchongzhi Road, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Xiaochu Tong
- Drug Discovery and Design Center, State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica Chinese Academy of Sciences; 555 Zuchongzhi Road, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Ning Qu
- Drug Discovery and Design Center, State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica Chinese Academy of Sciences; 555 Zuchongzhi Road, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Xiangtai Kong
- Drug Discovery and Design Center, State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica Chinese Academy of Sciences; 555 Zuchongzhi Road, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Shengkun Ni
- Drug Discovery and Design Center, State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica Chinese Academy of Sciences; 555 Zuchongzhi Road, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Jing Xing
- Lingang Laboratory, Shanghai 200031, China
| | - Xutong Li
- Drug Discovery and Design Center, State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 555 Zuchongzhi Road, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Mingyue Zheng
- School of Life Sciences, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China
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36
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Zaalberg A, Pottendorfer E, Zwart W, Bergman AM. It Takes Two to Tango: The Interplay between Prostate Cancer and Its Microenvironment from an Epigenetic Perspective. Cancers (Basel) 2024; 16:294. [PMID: 38254784 PMCID: PMC10813511 DOI: 10.3390/cancers16020294] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2023] [Revised: 12/28/2023] [Accepted: 12/28/2023] [Indexed: 01/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Prostate cancer is the second most common cancer in men worldwide and is associated with high morbidity and mortality. Consequently, there is an urgent unmet need for novel treatment avenues. In addition to somatic genetic alterations, deviations in the epigenetic landscape of cancer cells and their tumor microenvironment (TME) are critical drivers of prostate cancer initiation and progression. Unlike genomic mutations, epigenetic modifications are potentially reversible. Therefore, the inhibition of aberrant epigenetic modifications represents an attractive and exciting novel treatment strategy for castration-resistant prostate cancer patients. Moreover, drugs targeting the epigenome also exhibit synergistic interactions with conventional therapeutics by directly enhancing their anti-tumorigenic properties by "priming" the tumor and tumor microenvironment to increase drug sensitivity. This review summarizes the major epigenetic alterations in prostate cancer and its TME, and their involvement in prostate tumorigenesis, and discusses the impact of epigenome-targeted therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anniek Zaalberg
- Division of Oncogenomics, The Netherlands Cancer Institute, Plesmanlaan 121, 1066 CX Amsterdam, The Netherlands; (A.Z.); (E.P.)
| | - Elisabeth Pottendorfer
- Division of Oncogenomics, The Netherlands Cancer Institute, Plesmanlaan 121, 1066 CX Amsterdam, The Netherlands; (A.Z.); (E.P.)
| | - Wilbert Zwart
- Division of Oncogenomics, The Netherlands Cancer Institute, Plesmanlaan 121, 1066 CX Amsterdam, The Netherlands; (A.Z.); (E.P.)
- Laboratory of Chemical Biology and Institute for Complex Molecular Systems, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Eindhoven University of Technology, 5600 MB Eindhoven, The Netherlands
- Oncode Institute
| | - Andries M. Bergman
- Division of Oncogenomics, The Netherlands Cancer Institute, Plesmanlaan 121, 1066 CX Amsterdam, The Netherlands; (A.Z.); (E.P.)
- Division of Medical Oncology, The Netherlands Cancer Institute, Plesmanlaan 121, 1066 CX Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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37
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Yin J, Gu T, Chaudhry N, Davidson NE, Huang Y. Epigenetic modulation of antitumor immunity and immunotherapy response in breast cancer: biological mechanisms and clinical implications. Front Immunol 2024; 14:1325615. [PMID: 38268926 PMCID: PMC10806158 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1325615] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2023] [Accepted: 12/22/2023] [Indexed: 01/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Breast cancer (BC) is the most common non-skin cancer and the second leading cause of cancer death in American women. The initiation and progression of BC can proceed through the accumulation of genetic and epigenetic changes that allow transformed cells to escape the normal cell cycle checkpoint control. Unlike nucleotide mutations, epigenetic changes such as DNA methylation, histone posttranslational modifications (PTMs), nucleosome remodeling and non-coding RNAs are generally reversible and therefore potentially responsive to pharmacological intervention. Epigenetic dysregulations are critical mechanisms for impaired antitumor immunity, evasion of immune surveillance, and resistance to immunotherapy. Compared to highly immunogenic tumor types, such as melanoma or lung cancer, breast cancer has been viewed as an immunologically quiescent tumor which displays a relatively low population of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL), low tumor mutational burden (TMB) and modest response rates to immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI). Emerging evidence suggests that agents targeting aberrant epigenetic modifiers may augment host antitumor immunity in BC via several interrelated mechanisms such as enhancing tumor antigen presentation, activation of cytotoxic T cells, inhibition of immunosuppressive cells, boosting response to ICI, and induction of immunogenic cell death (ICD). These discoveries have established a highly promising basis for using combinatorial approaches of epigenetic drugs with immunotherapy as an innovative paradigm to improve outcomes of BC patients. In this review, we summarize the current understanding of how epigenetic processes regulate immune cell function and antitumor immunogenicity in the context of the breast tumor microenvironment. Moreover, we discuss the therapeutic potential and latest clinical trials of the combination of immune checkpoint blockers with epigenetic agents in breast cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jun Yin
- The University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) Hillman Cancer Center, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
| | - Tiezheng Gu
- The University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) Hillman Cancer Center, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
| | - Norin Chaudhry
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Hematology, Oncology, and Blood and Marrow Transplantation, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, United States
| | - Nancy E. Davidson
- Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Yi Huang
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Hematology, Oncology, and Blood and Marrow Transplantation, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, United States
- Holden Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, United States
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38
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Mondello A, Dal Bo M, Toffoli G, Polano M. Machine learning in onco-pharmacogenomics: a path to precision medicine with many challenges. Front Pharmacol 2024; 14:1260276. [PMID: 38264526 PMCID: PMC10803549 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2023.1260276] [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: 07/17/2023] [Accepted: 12/26/2023] [Indexed: 01/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Over the past two decades, Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS) has revolutionized the approach to cancer research. Applications of NGS include the identification of tumor specific alterations that can influence tumor pathobiology and also impact diagnosis, prognosis and therapeutic options. Pharmacogenomics (PGx) studies the role of inheritance of individual genetic patterns in drug response and has taken advantage of NGS technology as it provides access to high-throughput data that can, however, be difficult to manage. Machine learning (ML) has recently been used in the life sciences to discover hidden patterns from complex NGS data and to solve various PGx problems. In this review, we provide a comprehensive overview of the NGS approaches that can be employed and the different PGx studies implicating the use of NGS data. We also provide an excursus of the ML algorithms that can exert a role as fundamental strategies in the PGx field to improve personalized medicine in cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Maurizio Polano
- Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology Unit, Centro di Riferimento Oncologico di Aviano (CRO), Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS), Aviano, Italy
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Zhu Q, Dai Q, Zhao L, Zheng C, Li Q, Yuan Z, Li L, Xie Z, Qiu Z, Huang W, Liu G, Zu X, Chu B, Jiang Y. Novel dual inhibitors of PARP and HDAC induce intratumoral STING-mediated antitumor immunity in triple-negative breast cancer. Cell Death Dis 2024; 15:10. [PMID: 38182579 PMCID: PMC10770036 DOI: 10.1038/s41419-023-06303-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: 07/08/2023] [Revised: 11/05/2023] [Accepted: 11/13/2023] [Indexed: 01/07/2024]
Abstract
PARP inhibitors and HDAC inhibitors have been approved for the clinical treatment of malignancies, but acquired resistance of or limited effects on solid tumors with a single agent remain as challenges. Bioinformatics analyses and a combination of experiments had demonstrated the synergistic effects of PARP and HDAC inhibitors in triple-negative breast cancer. A series of novel dual PARP and HDAC inhibitors were rationally designed and synthesized, and these molecules exhibited high enzyme inhibition activity with excellent antitumor effects in vitro and in vivo. Mechanistically, dual PARP and HDAC inhibitors induced BRCAness to restore synthetic lethality and promoted cytosolic DNA accumulation, which further activates the cGAS-STING pathway and produces proinflammatory chemokines through type I IFN-mediated JAK-STAT pathway. Moreover, these inhibitors promoted neoantigen generation, upregulated antigen presentation genes and PD-L1, and enhanced antitumor immunity when combined with immune checkpoint blockade therapy. These results indicated that novel dual PARP and HDAC inhibitors have antitumor immunomodulatory functions in triple-negative breast cancer. Novel dual PARP and HDAC inhibitors induce BRCAness to restore synthetic lethality, activating tumoral IFN signaling via the cGAS-STING pathway and inducing cytokine production, promoting neoantigen generation and presentation to enhance the immune response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qingyun Zhu
- The First Affiliated Hospital, Cancer Research Institute, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang, 421001, China
- School of Pharmacy, Shenzhen University Medical School, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, 518055, China
| | - Qiuzi Dai
- State Key Laboratory of Chemical Oncogenomics, Tsinghua Shenzhen International Graduate School, Shenzhen, 518055, China
- Academics Working Station, Hunan Key Laboratory of the Research and Development of Novel Pharmaceutical Preparations, Changsha Medical University, Changsha, 410219, China
| | - Lei Zhao
- School of Pharmacy, Shenzhen University Medical School, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, 518055, China
| | - Chang Zheng
- Department of Breast and Thyroid Surgery, Second People's Hospital of Shenzhen, First Affiliated Hospital of Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, 518035, China
| | - Qinyuan Li
- State Key Laboratory of Chemical Oncogenomics, Tsinghua Shenzhen International Graduate School, Shenzhen, 518055, China
| | - Zigao Yuan
- State Key Laboratory of Chemical Oncogenomics, Tsinghua Shenzhen International Graduate School, Shenzhen, 518055, China
| | - Lulu Li
- State Key Laboratory of Chemical Oncogenomics, Tsinghua Shenzhen International Graduate School, Shenzhen, 518055, China
| | - Zhuoye Xie
- State Key Laboratory of Chemical Oncogenomics, Tsinghua Shenzhen International Graduate School, Shenzhen, 518055, China
| | - Zixuan Qiu
- Institute of Biomedical Health Technology and Engineering, Shenzhen Bay Laboratory, Shenzhen, 518132, China
| | - Wenjun Huang
- School of Pharmacy, Shenzhen University Medical School, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, 518055, China
| | - Guowen Liu
- Department of Breast and Thyroid Surgery, Second People's Hospital of Shenzhen, First Affiliated Hospital of Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, 518035, China
| | - Xuyu Zu
- The First Affiliated Hospital, Cancer Research Institute, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang, 421001, China.
| | - Bizhu Chu
- School of Pharmacy, Shenzhen University Medical School, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, 518055, China.
| | - Yuyang Jiang
- School of Pharmacy, Shenzhen University Medical School, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, 518055, China.
- State Key Laboratory of Chemical Oncogenomics, Tsinghua Shenzhen International Graduate School, Shenzhen, 518055, China.
- Institute of Biomedical Health Technology and Engineering, Shenzhen Bay Laboratory, Shenzhen, 518132, China.
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China.
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Jiang CY, Zhao L, Green MD, Ravishankar S, Towlerton AMH, Scott AJ, Raghavan M, Cusick MF, Warren EH, Ramnath N. Class II HLA-DRB4 is a predictive biomarker for survival following immunotherapy in metastatic non-small cell lung cancer. Sci Rep 2024; 14:345. [PMID: 38172168 PMCID: PMC10764770 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-48546-y] [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: 05/12/2023] [Accepted: 11/28/2023] [Indexed: 01/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) are important treatment options for metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (mNSCLC). However, not all patients benefit from ICIs and can experience immune-related adverse events (irAEs). Limited understanding exists for germline determinants of ICI efficacy and toxicity, but Human Leukocyte Antigen (HLA) genes have emerged as a potential predictive biomarker. We performed HLA typing on 85 patients with mNSCLC, on ICI therapy and analyzed the impact of HLA Class II genotype on progression free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), and irAEs. Most patients received pembrolizumab (83.5%). HLA-DRB4 genotype was seen in 34/85 (40%) and its presence correlated with improved OS in both univariate (p = 0.022; 26.3 months vs 10.2 months) and multivariate analysis (p = 0.011, HR 0.49, 95% CI [0.29, 0.85]). PFS did not reach significance (univariate, p = 0.12, 8.2 months vs 5.1 months). Eleven patients developed endocrine irAEs. HLA-DRB4 was the predominant genotype among these patients (9/11, 81.8%). Cumulative incidence of endocrine irAEs was higher in patients with HLA-DRB4 (p = 0.0139). Our study is the first to suggest that patients with metastatic NSCLC patients on ICI therapy with HLA-DRB4 genotype experience improved survival outcomes. Patients with HLA-DRB4 had the longest median OS (26.3 months). Additionally, we found a correlation between HLA-DRB4 and the occurrence of endocrine irAEs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cindy Y Jiang
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
- Division of Cancer Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Lili Zhao
- Department of Biostatistics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Michael D Green
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | | | - Andrea M H Towlerton
- Clinical Research Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Anthony J Scott
- Division of Clinical Genetics, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Malini Raghavan
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Matthew F Cusick
- Department of Pathology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Edus H Warren
- Clinical Research Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Nithya Ramnath
- Lieutenant Colonel Charles S. Kettles VA Medical Center (VA Ann Arbor Health System), 2215 Fuller Ave, Ann Arbor, MI, 48105, USA.
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
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Santana-Hernández S, Suarez-Olmos J, Servitja S, Berenguer-Molins P, Costa-Garcia M, Comerma L, Rea A, Perera-Bel J, Menendez S, Arpí O, Bermejo B, Martínez MT, Cejalvo JM, Comino-Méndez I, Pascual J, Alba E, López-Botet M, Rojo F, Rovira A, Albanell J, Muntasell A. NK cell-triggered CCL5/IFNγ-CXCL9/10 axis underlies the clinical efficacy of neoadjuvant anti-HER2 antibodies in breast cancer. J Exp Clin Cancer Res 2024; 43:10. [PMID: 38167224 PMCID: PMC10763072 DOI: 10.1186/s13046-023-02918-4] [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: 11/07/2023] [Accepted: 11/29/2023] [Indexed: 01/05/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The variability in responses to neoadjuvant treatment with anti-HER2 antibodies prompts to personalized clinical management and the development of innovative treatment strategies. Tumor-infiltrating Natural Killer (TI-NK) cells can predict the efficacy of HER2-targeted antibodies independently from clinicopathological factors in primary HER2-positive breast cancer patients. Understanding the mechanism/s underlying this association would contribute to optimizing patient stratification and provide the rationale for combinatorial approaches with immunotherapy. METHODS We sought to uncover processes enriched in NK cell-infiltrated tumors as compared to NK cell-desert tumors by microarray analysis. Findings were validated in clinical trial-derived transcriptomic data. In vitro and in vivo preclinical models were used for mechanistic studies. Findings were analysed in clinical samples (tumor and serum) from breast cancer patients. RESULTS NK cell-infiltrated tumors were enriched in CCL5/IFNG-CXCL9/10 transcripts. In multivariate logistic regression analysis, IFNG levels underlie the association between TI-NK cells and pathological complete response to neoadjuvant treatment with trastuzumab. Mechanistically, the production of IFN-ɣ by CD16+ NK cells triggered the secretion of CXCL9/10 from cancer cells. This effect was associated to tumor growth control and the conversion of CD16 into CD16-CD103+ NK cells in humanized in vivo models. In human breast tumors, the CD16 and CD103 markers identified lineage-related NK cell subpopulations capable of producing CCL5 and IFN-ɣ, which correlated with tissue-resident CD8+ T cells. Finally, an early increase in serum CCL5/CXCL9 levels identified patients with NK cell-rich tumors showing good responses to anti-HER2 antibody-based neoadjuvant treatment. CONCLUSIONS This study identifies specialized NK cell subsets as the source of IFN-ɣ influencing the clinical efficacy of anti-HER2 antibodies. It also reveals the potential of serum CCL5/CXCL9 as biomarkers for identifying patients with NK cell-rich tumors and favorable responses to anti-HER2 antibody-based neoadjuvant treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Sonia Servitja
- Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute (IMIM), Barcelona, Spain
- Oncology Department, Hospital del Mar, Barcelona, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Cáncer (CIBERonc), Madrid, Spain
| | | | | | - Laura Comerma
- Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute (IMIM), Barcelona, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Cáncer (CIBERonc), Madrid, Spain
- Pathology Department, Hospital del Mar, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Anna Rea
- University Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Julia Perera-Bel
- Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute (IMIM), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Silvia Menendez
- Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute (IMIM), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Oriol Arpí
- Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute (IMIM), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Begoña Bermejo
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Cáncer (CIBERonc), Madrid, Spain
- Department of Oncology, Hospital Clínico de Valencia, Valencia, Spain
| | | | | | - Iñaki Comino-Méndez
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Cáncer (CIBERonc), Madrid, Spain
- Hospitales Universitarios Regional y Virgen de La Victoria, Málaga, Spain
- The Biomedical Research Institute of Málaga, Málaga, Spain
| | - Javier Pascual
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Cáncer (CIBERonc), Madrid, Spain
- Hospitales Universitarios Regional y Virgen de La Victoria, Málaga, Spain
- The Biomedical Research Institute of Málaga, Málaga, Spain
| | - Emilio Alba
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Cáncer (CIBERonc), Madrid, Spain
- Hospitales Universitarios Regional y Virgen de La Victoria, Málaga, Spain
- The Biomedical Research Institute of Málaga, Málaga, Spain
| | - Miguel López-Botet
- Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute (IMIM), Barcelona, Spain
- University Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Federico Rojo
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Cáncer (CIBERonc), Madrid, Spain
- Department of Pathology, IIS 'Fundación Jimenez Díaz University Hospital', Madrid, Spain
| | - Ana Rovira
- Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute (IMIM), Barcelona, Spain
- Oncology Department, Hospital del Mar, Barcelona, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Cáncer (CIBERonc), Madrid, Spain
| | - Joan Albanell
- Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute (IMIM), Barcelona, Spain
- Oncology Department, Hospital del Mar, Barcelona, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Cáncer (CIBERonc), Madrid, Spain
- University Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Aura Muntasell
- Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute (IMIM), Barcelona, Spain.
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Cáncer (CIBERonc), Madrid, Spain.
- Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Hospital del Mar Research Institute (IMIM), Doctor Aiguader, 88, 08003, Barcelona, Spain.
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42
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Shang Q, Yu X, Sun Q, Li H, Sun C, Liu L. Polysaccharides regulate Th1/Th2 balance: A new strategy for tumor immunotherapy. Biomed Pharmacother 2024; 170:115976. [PMID: 38043444 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2023.115976] [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: 09/20/2023] [Revised: 11/20/2023] [Accepted: 11/29/2023] [Indexed: 12/05/2023] Open
Abstract
T helper (Th) cells have received extensive attention owing to their indispensable roles in anti-tumor immune responses. Th1 and Th2 cells are two key subsets of Th cells that exist in relative equilibrium through the secretion of cytokines that suppress their respective immune response. When the type of cytokine in the tumor microenvironment is altered, this equilibrium may be disrupted, leading to a shift from Th1 to Th2 immune response. Th1/Th2 imbalance is one of the decisive factors in the development of malignant tumors. Therefore, focusing on the balance of Th1/Th2 anti-tumor immune responses may enable future breakthroughs in cancer immunotherapy. Polysaccharides can regulate the imbalance between Th1 and Th2 cells and their characteristic cytokine profiles, thereby improving the tumor immune microenvironment. To our knowledge, this study is the most comprehensive assessment of the regulation of the tumor Th1/Th2 balance by polysaccharides. Herein, we systematically summarized the intrinsic molecular mechanisms of polysaccharides in the regulation of Th1 and Th2 cells to provide a new perspective and potential target drugs for improved anti-tumor immunity and delayed tumor progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qihang Shang
- College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan 250355, China
| | - Xiaoyun Yu
- College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Weifang Medical University, Weifang 261000, China
| | - Qi Sun
- College of First Clinical Medicine, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan 250014, China
| | - Huayao Li
- College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Weifang Medical University, Weifang 261000, China
| | - Changgang Sun
- College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Weifang Medical University, Weifang 261000, China; Department of Oncology, Weifang Traditional Chinese Hospital, Weifang 261000, China.
| | - Lijuan Liu
- Department of Oncology, Weifang Traditional Chinese Hospital, Weifang 261000, China.
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43
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Mempel TR, Lill JK, Altenburger LM. How chemokines organize the tumour microenvironment. Nat Rev Cancer 2024; 24:28-50. [PMID: 38066335 DOI: 10.1038/s41568-023-00635-w] [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: 10/05/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023]
Abstract
For our immune system to contain or eliminate malignant solid tumours, both myeloid and lymphoid haematopoietic cells must not only extravasate from the bloodstream into the tumour tissue but also further migrate to various specialized niches of the tumour microenvironment to functionally interact with each other, with non-haematopoietic stromal cells and, ultimately, with cancer cells. These interactions regulate local immune cell survival, proliferative expansion, differentiation and their execution of pro-tumour or antitumour effector functions, which collectively determine the outcome of spontaneous or therapeutically induced antitumour immune responses. None of these interactions occur randomly but are orchestrated and critically depend on migratory guidance cues provided by chemokines, a large family of chemotactic cytokines, and their receptors. Understanding the functional organization of the tumour immune microenvironment inevitably requires knowledge of the multifaceted roles of chemokines in the recruitment and positioning of its cellular constituents. Gaining such knowledge will not only generate new insights into the mechanisms underlying antitumour immunity or immune tolerance but also inform the development of biomarkers (or 'biopatterns') based on spatial tumour tissue analyses, as well as novel strategies to therapeutically engineer immune responses in patients with cancer. Here we will discuss recent observations on the role of chemokines in the tumour microenvironment in the context of our knowledge of their physiological functions in development, homeostasis and antimicrobial responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thorsten R Mempel
- Center for Immunology and Inflammatory Diseases, Division of Rheumatology, Allergy and Immunology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
| | - Julia K Lill
- Center for Immunology and Inflammatory Diseases, Division of Rheumatology, Allergy and Immunology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Lukas M Altenburger
- Center for Immunology and Inflammatory Diseases, Division of Rheumatology, Allergy and Immunology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
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Ren X, Wang X, Zheng G, Wang S, Wang Q, Yuan M, Xu T, Xu J, Huang P, Ge M. Targeting one-carbon metabolism for cancer immunotherapy. Clin Transl Med 2024; 14:e1521. [PMID: 38279895 PMCID: PMC10819114 DOI: 10.1002/ctm2.1521] [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: 08/01/2023] [Revised: 11/15/2023] [Accepted: 12/10/2023] [Indexed: 01/29/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND One-carbon (1C) metabolism is a metabolic network that plays essential roles in biological reactions. In 1C metabolism, a series of nutrients are used to fuel metabolic pathways, including nucleotide metabolism, amino acid metabolism, cellular redox defence and epigenetic maintenance. At present, 1C metabolism is considered the hallmark of cancer. The 1C units obtained from the metabolic pathways increase the proliferation rate of cancer cells. In addition, anticancer drugs, such as methotrexate, which target 1C metabolism, have long been used in the clinic. In terms of immunotherapy, 1C metabolism has been used to explore biomarkers connected with immunotherapy response and immune-related adverse events in patients. METHODS We collected numerous literatures to explain the roles of one-carbon metabolism in cancer immunotherapy. RESULTS In this review, we focus on the important pathways in 1C metabolism and the function of 1C metabolism enzymes in cancer immunotherapy. Then, we summarise the inhibitors acting on 1C metabolism and their potential application on cancer immunotherapy. Finally, we provide a viewpoint and conclusion regarding the opportunities and challenges of targeting 1C metabolism for cancer immunotherapy in clinical practicability in the future. CONCLUSION Targeting one-carbon metabolism is useful for cancer immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinxin Ren
- Department of Head and Neck SurgeryOtolaryngology & Head and Neck Center, Cancer Center, Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital (Affiliated People's Hospital)Hangzhou Medical CollegeHangzhouZhejiangChina
- Key Laboratory of Endocrine Gland Diseases of Zhejiang ProvinceHangzhouZhejiangChina
- Zhejiang Provincial Clinical Research Center for Malignant TumorHangzhouZhejiangChina
- Department of PathologyCancer CenterZhejiang Provincial People's Hospital (Affiliated People's Hospital)Hangzhou Medical CollegeHangzhouZhejiangChina
| | - Xiang Wang
- Department of PharmacyAffiliated Hangzhou First People's HospitalZhejiang University School of MedicineHangzhouZhejiangChina
| | - Guowan Zheng
- Department of Head and Neck SurgeryOtolaryngology & Head and Neck Center, Cancer Center, Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital (Affiliated People's Hospital)Hangzhou Medical CollegeHangzhouZhejiangChina
- Key Laboratory of Endocrine Gland Diseases of Zhejiang ProvinceHangzhouZhejiangChina
- Zhejiang Provincial Clinical Research Center for Malignant TumorHangzhouZhejiangChina
| | - Shanshan Wang
- Department of PharmacyCenter for Clinical PharmacyCancer Center, Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital (Affiliated People's Hospital), Hangzhou Medical CollegeHangzhouZhejiangChina
| | - Qiyue Wang
- Department of Head and Neck SurgeryOtolaryngology & Head and Neck Center, Cancer Center, Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital (Affiliated People's Hospital)Hangzhou Medical CollegeHangzhouZhejiangChina
- Key Laboratory of Endocrine Gland Diseases of Zhejiang ProvinceHangzhouZhejiangChina
- Zhejiang Provincial Clinical Research Center for Malignant TumorHangzhouZhejiangChina
| | - Mengnan Yuan
- Department of PharmacyCenter for Clinical PharmacyCancer Center, Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital (Affiliated People's Hospital), Hangzhou Medical CollegeHangzhouZhejiangChina
| | - Tong Xu
- Department of PharmacyCenter for Clinical PharmacyCancer Center, Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital (Affiliated People's Hospital), Hangzhou Medical CollegeHangzhouZhejiangChina
| | - Jiajie Xu
- Department of Head and Neck SurgeryOtolaryngology & Head and Neck Center, Cancer Center, Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital (Affiliated People's Hospital)Hangzhou Medical CollegeHangzhouZhejiangChina
- Key Laboratory of Endocrine Gland Diseases of Zhejiang ProvinceHangzhouZhejiangChina
- Zhejiang Provincial Clinical Research Center for Malignant TumorHangzhouZhejiangChina
| | - Ping Huang
- Department of PharmacyCenter for Clinical PharmacyCancer Center, Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital (Affiliated People's Hospital), Hangzhou Medical CollegeHangzhouZhejiangChina
| | - Minghua Ge
- Department of Head and Neck SurgeryOtolaryngology & Head and Neck Center, Cancer Center, Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital (Affiliated People's Hospital)Hangzhou Medical CollegeHangzhouZhejiangChina
- Key Laboratory of Endocrine Gland Diseases of Zhejiang ProvinceHangzhouZhejiangChina
- Zhejiang Provincial Clinical Research Center for Malignant TumorHangzhouZhejiangChina
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Ding K, Mou P, Wang Z, Liu S, Liu J, Lu H, Yu G. The next bastion to be conquered in immunotherapy: microsatellite stable colorectal cancer. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1298524. [PMID: 38187388 PMCID: PMC10770832 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1298524] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2023] [Accepted: 11/28/2023] [Indexed: 01/09/2024] Open
Abstract
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide, and its incidence continues to rise, particularly in developing countries. The advent of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) has represented a significant advancement in CRC treatment. Deficient mismatch repair (dMMR) or high microsatellite instability (MSI-H) serves as a biomarker for immunotherapy, with dMMR/MSI-H CRC exhibiting significantly better response rates to immunotherapy compared to proficient mismatch repair (pMMR)or microsatellite stable (MSS) CRC. While some progress has been made in the treatment of pMMR/MSS CRC in recent years, it remains a challenging issue in clinical practice. The tumor microenvironment (TME) plays a crucial role not only in the development and progression of CRC but also in determining the response to immunotherapy. Understanding the characteristics of the TME in pMMR/MSS CRC could offer new insights to enhance the efficacy of immunotherapy. In this review, we provide an overview of the current research progress on the TME characteristics and advancements in immunotherapy for pMMR/MSS CRC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kai Ding
- Department of Gastroenterology, Changzheng Hospital, Naval Medical University, Shanghai, China
| | - Pei Mou
- Department of Ophthalmology, Changzheng Hospital, Naval Medical University, Shanghai, China
| | - Zhe Wang
- Department of General Surgery, Pudong New Area People’s Hospital, Shanghai, China
| | - Shuqing Liu
- Department of Gastroenterology, Changzheng Hospital, Naval Medical University, Shanghai, China
| | - JinPei Liu
- Department of Gastroenterology, Gongli Hospital of Shanghai Pudong New Area, Shanghai, China
| | - Hao Lu
- Department of General Surgery, Changzheng Hospital, Naval Medical University, Shanghai, China
| | - Ganjun Yu
- Department of Immunology, College of Basic Medicine & National Key Laboratory of Immunity and Inflammation, Naval Medical University, Shanghai, China
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Shi X, Peng X, Chen Y, Shi Z, Yue C, Zuo L, Zhang L, Gao S. Overexpression of MTHFD2 represents an inflamed tumor microenvironment and precisely predicts the molecular subtype and immunotherapy response of bladder cancer. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1326509. [PMID: 38130721 PMCID: PMC10733511 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1326509] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2023] [Accepted: 11/21/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Methylenetetrahydrofolate dehydrogenase 2 (MTHFD2), whose aberrant expression is common in cancers, has recently been identified as a potential regulator of immune response. However, its immune-related role in bladder cancer (BLCA) and its association with immunotherapy efficacy remain unclear. Methods RNA sequencing data from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) was applied to analyze the immunological roles and prognostic value of MTHFD2 in pan-cancers. The association of MTHFD2 with several immunological features of tumor microenvironment (TME), including cancer-immunity cycle, immune cells infiltration, immune checkpoints expression, and T cell inflamed score was analyzed in TCGA-BLCA cohort. The predictors of cancer treatments effectiveness, including the expression and mutation of certain genes, molecular subtypes, and several signatures were evaluated as well. These results were validated by another independent cohort (GSE48075). Finally, the predictive value of MTHFD2 for TME and immunotherapy efficacy were validated using immunohistochemistry assay and RNA sequencing data from IMvigor210 cohort, respectively. Results MTHFD2 was found to be positively associated with several immunological features of an inflamed tumor microenvironment (TME) in various cancers and could predict BLCA patients' prognosis. In BLCA, high expression of MTHFD2 was observed to be positively related with the cancer-immunity cycle, the infiltration of several immune cells, and the expression of immunoregulators and T-cell inflamed scores, indicating a positive correlation with the inflamed TME. Moreover, patients with high MTHFD2 expression were more likely to be basal-like subtypes and respond to BLCA treatments, including immunotherapy, chemotherapy, and target therapy. The clinical data of the IMvigor210 cohort confirmed the higher response rates and better survival benefits of immunotherapy in high-MTHFD2-expression patients. Conclusion Collectively, high MTHFD2 predicts an inflamed TME, a basal-like subtype, and a better response to various therapeutic strategies, especially the ICB therapy, in bladder cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaokai Shi
- Department of Urology, ChangZhou No.2 People’s Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, ChangZhou, Jiangsu, China
- Laboratory of Urology, ChangZhou Medical Center, Nanjing Medical University, ChangZhou, Jiangsu, China
| | - Xiangrong Peng
- Department of Urology, ChangZhou No.2 People’s Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, ChangZhou, Jiangsu, China
- Laboratory of Urology, ChangZhou Medical Center, Nanjing Medical University, ChangZhou, Jiangsu, China
| | - Yin Chen
- Department of Urology, ChangZhou No.2 People’s Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, ChangZhou, Jiangsu, China
- Laboratory of Urology, ChangZhou Medical Center, Nanjing Medical University, ChangZhou, Jiangsu, China
| | - Zebin Shi
- Department of Urology, ChangZhou No.2 People’s Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, ChangZhou, Jiangsu, China
- Laboratory of Urology, ChangZhou Medical Center, Nanjing Medical University, ChangZhou, Jiangsu, China
| | - Chuang Yue
- Department of Urology, ChangZhou No.2 People’s Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, ChangZhou, Jiangsu, China
- Laboratory of Urology, ChangZhou Medical Center, Nanjing Medical University, ChangZhou, Jiangsu, China
| | - Li Zuo
- Department of Urology, ChangZhou No.2 People’s Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, ChangZhou, Jiangsu, China
- Laboratory of Urology, ChangZhou Medical Center, Nanjing Medical University, ChangZhou, Jiangsu, China
| | - Lifeng Zhang
- Department of Urology, ChangZhou No.2 People’s Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, ChangZhou, Jiangsu, China
- Laboratory of Urology, ChangZhou Medical Center, Nanjing Medical University, ChangZhou, Jiangsu, China
| | - Shenglin Gao
- Department of Urology, ChangZhou No.2 People’s Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, ChangZhou, Jiangsu, China
- Laboratory of Urology, ChangZhou Medical Center, Nanjing Medical University, ChangZhou, Jiangsu, China
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Mao J, Li J, Chen J, Wen Q, Cao M, Zhang F, Li B, Zhang Q, Wang Z, Zhang J, Shen J. CXCL10 and Nrf2-upregulated mesenchymal stem cells reinvigorate T lymphocytes for combating glioblastoma. J Immunother Cancer 2023; 11:e007481. [PMID: 38056897 PMCID: PMC10711923 DOI: 10.1136/jitc-2023-007481] [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: 11/19/2023] [Indexed: 12/08/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Lack of tumor-infiltrating T lymphocytes and concurrent T-cell dysfunction have been identified as major contributors to glioblastoma (GBM) immunotherapy resistance. Upregulating CXCL10 in the tumor microenvironment (TME) is a promising immunotherapeutic approach that potentially increases tumor-infiltrating T cells and boosts T-cell activity but is lacking effective delivery methods. METHODS In this study, mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) were transduced with a recombinant lentivirus encoding Cxcl10, Nrf2 (an anti-apoptosis gene), and a ferritin heavy chain (Fth) reporter gene in order to increase their CXCL10 secretion, TME survival, and MRI visibility. Using FTH-MRI guidance, these cells were injected into the tumor periphery of orthotopic GL261 and CT2A GBMs in mice. Combination therapy consisting of CXCL10-Nrf2-FTH-MSC transplantation together with immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) was also performed for CT2A GBMs. Thereafter, in vivo and serial MRI, survival analysis, and histology examinations were conducted to assess the treatments' efficacy and mechanism. RESULTS CXCL10-Nrf2-FTH-MSCs exhibit enhanced T lymphocyte recruitment, oxidative stress tolerance, and iron accumulation. Under in vivo FTH-MRI guidance and monitoring, peritumoral transplantation of CXCL10-Nrf2-FTH-MSCs remarkably inhibited orthotopic GL261 and CT2A tumor growth in C57BL6 mice and prolonged animal survival. While ICB alone demonstrated no therapeutic impact, CXCL10-Nrf2-FTH-MSC transplantation combined with ICB demonstrated an enhanced anticancer effect for CT2A GBMs compared with transplanting it alone. Histology revealed that peritumorally injected CXCL10-Nrf2-FTH-MSCs survived longer in the TME, increased CXCL10 production, and ultimately remodeled the TME by increasing CD8+ T cells, interferon-γ+ cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs), GzmB+ CTLs, and Th1 cells while reducing regulatory T cells (Tregs), exhausted CD8+ and exhausted CD4+ T cells. CONCLUSIONS MRI-guided peritumoral administration of CXCL10 and Nrf2-overexpressed MSCs can significantly limit GBM growth by revitalizing T lymphocytes within TME. The combination application of CXCL10-Nrf2-FTH-MSC transplantation and ICB therapy presents a potentially effective approach to treating GBM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiaji Mao
- Department of Radiology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Epigenetics and Gene Regulation, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Jianing Li
- Department of Radiology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Epigenetics and Gene Regulation, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Junwei Chen
- Department of Radiology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Epigenetics and Gene Regulation, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Qin Wen
- Department of Radiology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Epigenetics and Gene Regulation, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Minghui Cao
- Department of Radiology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Epigenetics and Gene Regulation, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Fang Zhang
- Department of Radiology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Epigenetics and Gene Regulation, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Baoxun Li
- Department of Radiology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Epigenetics and Gene Regulation, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Qinyuan Zhang
- Department of Radiology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Epigenetics and Gene Regulation, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Zhe Wang
- Department of Radiology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Epigenetics and Gene Regulation, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Jingzhong Zhang
- The Key Laboratory of Bio-Medical Diagnostics, Suzhou Institute of Biomedical Engineering and Technology, Suzhou, Jiangsu, China
| | - Jun Shen
- Department of Radiology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Epigenetics and Gene Regulation, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
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Xiong D, Zhang L, Sun ZJ. Targeting the epigenome to reinvigorate T cells for cancer immunotherapy. Mil Med Res 2023; 10:59. [PMID: 38044445 PMCID: PMC10694991 DOI: 10.1186/s40779-023-00496-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2023] [Accepted: 11/14/2023] [Indexed: 12/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Cancer immunotherapy using immune-checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) has revolutionized the field of cancer treatment; however, ICI efficacy is constrained by progressive dysfunction of CD8+ tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs), which is termed T cell exhaustion. This process is driven by diverse extrinsic factors across heterogeneous tumor immune microenvironment (TIME). Simultaneously, tumorigenesis entails robust reshaping of the epigenetic landscape, potentially instigating T cell exhaustion. In this review, we summarize the epigenetic mechanisms governing tumor microenvironmental cues leading to T cell exhaustion, and discuss therapeutic potential of targeting epigenetic regulators for immunotherapies. Finally, we outline conceptual and technical advances in developing potential treatment paradigms involving immunostimulatory agents and epigenetic therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dian Xiong
- State Key Laboratory of Oral and Maxillofacial Reconstruction and Regeneration, Key Laboratory of Oral Biomedicine Ministry of Education, Hubei Key Laboratory of Stomatology, School & Hospital of Stomatology, Frontier Science Center for Immunology and Metabolism, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430079, China
| | - Lu Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Oral and Maxillofacial Reconstruction and Regeneration, Key Laboratory of Oral Biomedicine Ministry of Education, Hubei Key Laboratory of Stomatology, School & Hospital of Stomatology, Frontier Science Center for Immunology and Metabolism, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430079, China.
| | - Zhi-Jun Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Oral and Maxillofacial Reconstruction and Regeneration, Key Laboratory of Oral Biomedicine Ministry of Education, Hubei Key Laboratory of Stomatology, School & Hospital of Stomatology, Frontier Science Center for Immunology and Metabolism, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430079, China.
- Department of Oral Maxillofacial-Head Neck Oncology, School and and Hospital of Stomatology, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430079, China.
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Zhang X, Zhang Y, Zhang Q, Lu M, Chen Y, Zhang X, Zhang P. Role of AT-rich interaction domain 1A in gastric cancer immunotherapy: Preclinical and clinical perspectives. J Cell Mol Med 2023; 28:e18063. [PMID: 38041544 PMCID: PMC10902580 DOI: 10.1111/jcmm.18063] [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: 09/13/2023] [Revised: 10/31/2023] [Accepted: 11/14/2023] [Indexed: 12/03/2023] Open
Abstract
The application of immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) using monoclonal antibodies has brought about a profound transformation in the clinical outcomes for patients grappling with advanced gastric cancer (GC). Nonetheless, despite these achievements, the quest for effective functional biomarkers for ICI therapy remains constrained. Recent research endeavours have shed light on the critical involvement of modified epigenetic regulators in the pathogenesis of gastric tumorigenesis, thus providing a glimpse into potential biomarkers. Among these regulatory factors, AT-rich interaction domain 1A (ARID1A), a pivotal constituent of the switch/sucrose non-fermentable (SWI/SNF) complex, has emerged as a promising candidate. Investigations have unveiled the pivotal role of ARID1A in bridging the gap between genome instability and the reconfiguration of the tumour immune microenvironment, culminating in an enhanced response to ICI within the landscape of gastric cancer treatment. This all-encompassing review aims to dissect the potential of ARID1A as a valuable biomarker for immunotherapeutic approaches in gastric cancer, drawing from insights garnered from both preclinical experimentation and clinical observations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuemei Zhang
- Department of Oncology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Youzhi Zhang
- Department of Oncology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
- School of Pharmacy, Hubei University of Science and Technology, Xianning, China
| | - Qiaoyun Zhang
- School of Pharmacy, Hubei University of Science and Technology, Xianning, China
| | - Mengyao Lu
- Department of Oncology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Yuan Chen
- Department of Oncology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Xiaoyu Zhang
- Division of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Department of General Surgery, Huai'an Second People's Hospital, the Affiliated Huai'an Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University, Huaian, China
| | - Peng Zhang
- Department of Oncology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
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Schenkel JM, Pauken KE. Localization, tissue biology and T cell state - implications for cancer immunotherapy. Nat Rev Immunol 2023; 23:807-823. [PMID: 37253877 DOI: 10.1038/s41577-023-00884-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 04/26/2023] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
Tissue localization is a critical determinant of T cell immunity. CD8+ T cells are contact-dependent killers, which requires them to physically be within the tissue of interest to kill peptide-MHC class I-bearing target cells. Following their migration and extravasation into tissues, T cells receive many extrinsic cues from the local microenvironment, and these signals shape T cell differentiation, fate and function. Because major organ systems are variable in their functions and compositions, they apply disparate pressures on T cells to adapt to the local microenvironment. Additional complexity arises in the context of malignant lesions (either primary or metastatic), and this has made understanding the factors that dictate T cell function and longevity in tumours challenging. Moreover, T cell differentiation state influences how cues from the microenvironment are interpreted by tissue-infiltrating T cells, highlighting the importance of T cell state in the context of tissue biology. Here, we review the intertwined nature of T cell differentiation state, location, survival and function, and explain how dysfunctional T cell populations can adopt features of tissue-resident memory T cells to persist in tumours. Finally, we discuss how these factors have shaped responses to cancer immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jason M Schenkel
- Department of Translational Molecular Pathology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA.
- Department of Immunology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA.
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA.
| | - Kristen E Pauken
- Department of Immunology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA.
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