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Farhangnia P, Khorramdelazad H, Nickho H, Delbandi AA. Current and future immunotherapeutic approaches in pancreatic cancer treatment. J Hematol Oncol 2024; 17:40. [PMID: 38835055 DOI: 10.1186/s13045-024-01561-6] [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: 04/09/2024] [Accepted: 05/28/2024] [Indexed: 06/06/2024] Open
Abstract
Pancreatic cancer is a major cause of cancer-related death, but despondently, the outlook and prognosis for this resistant type of tumor have remained grim for a long time. Currently, it is extremely challenging to prevent or detect it early enough for effective treatment because patients rarely exhibit symptoms and there are no reliable indicators for detection. Most patients have advanced or spreading cancer that is difficult to treat, and treatments like chemotherapy and radiotherapy can only slightly prolong their life by a few months. Immunotherapy has revolutionized the treatment of pancreatic cancer, yet its effectiveness is limited by the tumor's immunosuppressive and hard-to-reach microenvironment. First, this article explains the immunosuppressive microenvironment of pancreatic cancer and highlights a wide range of immunotherapy options, including therapies involving oncolytic viruses, modified T cells (T-cell receptor [TCR]-engineered and chimeric antigen receptor [CAR] T-cell therapy), CAR natural killer cell therapy, cytokine-induced killer cells, immune checkpoint inhibitors, immunomodulators, cancer vaccines, and strategies targeting myeloid cells in the context of contemporary knowledge and future trends. Lastly, it discusses the main challenges ahead of pancreatic cancer immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pooya Farhangnia
- Reproductive Sciences and Technology Research Center, Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
- Immunology Research Center, Institute of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
- Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
- Immunology Board for Transplantation and Cell-Based Therapeutics (ImmunoTACT), Universal Scientific Education and Research Network (USERN), Tehran, Iran
| | - Hossein Khorramdelazad
- Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences, Rafsanjan, Iran
| | - Hamid Nickho
- Immunology Research Center, Institute of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
- Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Ali-Akbar Delbandi
- Reproductive Sciences and Technology Research Center, Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
- Immunology Research Center, Institute of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
- Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
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2
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Wu Y, Chen D, Gao Y, Xu Q, Zhou Y, Ni Z, Na M. Immunosuppressive regulatory cells in cancer immunotherapy: restrain or modulate? Hum Cell 2024:10.1007/s13577-024-01083-w. [PMID: 38814516 DOI: 10.1007/s13577-024-01083-w] [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: 04/14/2024] [Accepted: 05/22/2024] [Indexed: 05/31/2024]
Abstract
Immunosuppressive regulatory cells (IRCs) play important roles in negatively regulating immune response, and are mainly divided into myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) and regulatory T cells (Tregs). Large numbers of preclinical and clinical studies have shown that inhibition or reduction of IRCs could effectively elevate antitumor immune responses. However, several studies also reported that excessive inhibition of IRCs function is one of the main reasons causing the side effects of cancer immunotherapy. Therefore, the reasonable regulation of IRCs is crucial for improving the safety and efficiency of cancer immunotherapy. In this review, we summarised the recent research advances in the cancer immunotherapy by regulating the proportion of IRCs, and discussed the roles of IRCs in regulating tumour immune evasion and drug resistance to immunotherapies. Furthermore, we also discussed how to balance the potential opportunities and challenges of using IRCs to improve the safety of cancer immunotherapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan Wu
- Department of Burn and Plastic Surgery, The Affiliated Hospital of Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, 210031, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China
- School of Medicine, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, 212013, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China
| | - Dongfeng Chen
- School of Life Sciences, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, 212013, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China
| | - Yang Gao
- School of Life Sciences, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, 212013, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China
- State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences, University of Macau, Macau, 999078, China
| | - Qinggang Xu
- School of Life Sciences, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, 212013, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China
| | - Yang Zhou
- School of Life Sciences, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, 212013, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhong Ni
- School of Life Sciences, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, 212013, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China
| | - Manli Na
- Department of Burn and Plastic Surgery, The Affiliated Hospital of Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, 210031, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China.
- School of Life Sciences, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, 212013, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China.
- International Genome Center, Jiangsu University, 301 Xuefu Road, Zhenjiang, 212013, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China.
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3
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Zheng R, Liu X, Zhang Y, Liu Y, Wang Y, Guo S, Jin X, Zhang J, Guan Y, Liu Y. Frontiers and future of immunotherapy for pancreatic cancer: from molecular mechanisms to clinical application. Front Immunol 2024; 15:1383978. [PMID: 38756774 PMCID: PMC11096556 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2024.1383978] [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: 02/08/2024] [Accepted: 04/22/2024] [Indexed: 05/18/2024] Open
Abstract
Pancreatic cancer is a highly aggressive malignant tumor, that is becoming increasingly common in recent years. Despite advances in intensive treatment modalities including surgery, radiotherapy, biological therapy, and targeted therapy, the overall survival rate has not significantly improved in patients with pancreatic cancer. This may be attributed to the insidious onset, unknown pathophysiology, and poor prognosis of the disease. It is therefore essential to identify and develop more effective and safer treatments for pancreatic cancer. Tumor immunotherapy is the new and fourth pillar of anti-tumor therapy after surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy. Significant progress has made in the use of immunotherapy for a wide variety of malignant tumors in recent years; a breakthrough has also been made in the treatment of pancreatic cancer. This review describes the advances in immune checkpoint inhibitors, cancer vaccines, adoptive cell therapy, oncolytic virus, and matrix-depletion therapies for the treatment of pancreatic cancer. At the same time, some new potential biomarkers and potential immunotherapy combinations for pancreatic cancer are discussed. The molecular mechanisms of various immunotherapies have also been elucidated, and their clinical applications have been highlighted. The current challenges associated with immunotherapy and proposed strategies that hold promise in overcoming these limitations have also been discussed, with the aim of offering new insights into immunotherapy for pancreatic cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rui Zheng
- Department of Medical Immunology, Medical College of Yan’an University, Yanan, Shaanxi, China
| | - Xiaobin Liu
- Department of Medical Immunology, Medical College of Yan’an University, Yanan, Shaanxi, China
| | - Yufu Zhang
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, The Affiliated Hospital of Yan’an University, Yan’an, Shaanxi, China
| | - Yongxian Liu
- Department of Medical Immunology, Medical College of Yan’an University, Yanan, Shaanxi, China
| | - Yaping Wang
- Department of Medical Immunology, Medical College of Yan’an University, Yanan, Shaanxi, China
| | - Shutong Guo
- Department of Medical Immunology, Medical College of Yan’an University, Yanan, Shaanxi, China
| | - Xiaoyan Jin
- Department of Medical Immunology, Medical College of Yan’an University, Yanan, Shaanxi, China
| | - Jing Zhang
- Department of Medical Immunology, Medical College of Yan’an University, Yanan, Shaanxi, China
| | - Yuehong Guan
- Department of Medical Immunology, Medical College of Yan’an University, Yanan, Shaanxi, China
| | - Yusi Liu
- Department of Medical Immunology, Medical College of Yan’an University, Yanan, Shaanxi, China
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Wang L, Zhang J, Zhang W, Zheng M, Guo H, Pan X, Li W, Yang B, Ding L. The inhibitory effect of adenosine on tumor adaptive immunity and intervention strategies. Acta Pharm Sin B 2024; 14:1951-1964. [PMID: 38799637 PMCID: PMC11119508 DOI: 10.1016/j.apsb.2023.12.004] [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: 07/05/2023] [Revised: 10/02/2023] [Accepted: 11/14/2023] [Indexed: 05/29/2024] Open
Abstract
Adenosine (Ado) is significantly elevated in the tumor microenvironment (TME) compared to normal tissues. It binds to adenosine receptors (AdoRs), suppressing tumor antigen presentation and immune cell activation, thereby inhibiting tumor adaptive immunity. Ado downregulates major histocompatibility complex II (MHC II) and co-stimulatory factors on dendritic cells (DCs) and macrophages, inhibiting antigen presentation. It suppresses anti-tumor cytokine secretion and T cell activation by disrupting T cell receptor (TCR) binding and signal transduction. Ado also inhibits chemokine secretion and KCa3.1 channel activity, impeding effector T cell trafficking and infiltration into the tumor site. Furthermore, Ado diminishes T cell cytotoxicity against tumor cells by promoting immune-suppressive cytokine secretion, upregulating immune checkpoint proteins, and enhancing immune-suppressive cell activity. Reducing Ado production in the TME can significantly enhance anti-tumor immune responses and improve the efficacy of other immunotherapies. Preclinical and clinical development of inhibitors targeting Ado generation or AdoRs is underway. Therefore, this article will summarize and analyze the inhibitory effects and molecular mechanisms of Ado on tumor adaptive immunity, as well as provide an overview of the latest advancements in targeting Ado pathways in anti-tumor immune responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Longsheng Wang
- Zhejiang Province Key Laboratory of Anti-Cancer Drug Research, Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Jie Zhang
- Zhejiang Province Key Laboratory of Anti-Cancer Drug Research, Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Wenxin Zhang
- Zhejiang Province Key Laboratory of Anti-Cancer Drug Research, Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Mingming Zheng
- Zhejiang Province Key Laboratory of Anti-Cancer Drug Research, Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Hongjie Guo
- Zhejiang Province Key Laboratory of Anti-Cancer Drug Research, Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Xiaohui Pan
- Zhejiang Province Key Laboratory of Anti-Cancer Drug Research, Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Wen Li
- Zhejiang Province Key Laboratory of Anti-Cancer Drug Research, Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Bo Yang
- Zhejiang Province Key Laboratory of Anti-Cancer Drug Research, Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
- The Innovation Institute for Artificial Intelligence in Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310018, China
| | - Ling Ding
- Zhejiang Province Key Laboratory of Anti-Cancer Drug Research, Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
- Nanhu Brain-Computer Interface Institute, Hangzhou 311100, China
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5
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Yang H, Zhang Z, Zhao K, Zhang Y, Yin X, Zhu G, Wang Z, Yan X, Li X, He T, Wang K. Targeting the adenosine signaling pathway in macrophages for cancer immunotherapy. Hum Immunol 2024; 85:110774. [PMID: 38521664 DOI: 10.1016/j.humimm.2024.110774] [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: 10/18/2023] [Revised: 02/14/2024] [Accepted: 03/04/2024] [Indexed: 03/25/2024]
Abstract
One of the ways in which macrophages support tumorigenic growth is by producing adenosine, which acts to dampen antitumor immune responses and is generated by both tumor and immune cells in the tumor microenvironment (TME). Two cell surface expressed molecules, CD73 and CD39, boost catalytic adenosine triphosphate, leading to further increased adenosine synthesis, under hypoxic circumstances in the TME. There are four receptors (A1, A2A, A2B, and A3) expressed on macrophages that allow adenosine to perform its immunomodulatory effect. Researchers have shown that adenosine signaling is a key factor in tumor progression and an attractive therapeutic target for treating cancer. Several antagonistic adenosine-targeting biological therapies that decrease the suppressive action of tumor-associated macrophages have been produced and explored to transform this result from basic research into a therapeutic advantage. Here, we'll review the newest findings from studies of pharmacological compounds that target adenosine receptors, and their potential therapeutic value based on blocking the suppressive action of macrophages in tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Han Yang
- Department of Urology, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, Shangdong, China
| | - Zongliang Zhang
- Department of Urology, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, Shangdong, China
| | - Kai Zhao
- Department of Urology, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, Shangdong, China
| | - Yulian Zhang
- Department of Gynecology, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, Shangdong, China
| | - Xinbao Yin
- Department of Urology, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, Shangdong, China
| | - Guanqun Zhu
- Department of Urology, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, Shangdong, China
| | - Zhenlin Wang
- Department of Urology, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, Shangdong, China
| | - Xuechuan Yan
- Department of Urology, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, Shangdong, China
| | - Xueyu Li
- Department of Urology, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, Shangdong, China
| | - Tianzhen He
- Nantong University, Institute of Special Environmental Medicine, Nantong, China.
| | - Ke Wang
- Department of Urology, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, Shangdong, China.
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Zhang Y, Lei Y, Ou Q, Chen M, Tian S, Tang J, Li R, Liang Q, Chen Z, Wang C. Listeria-vectored cervical cancer vaccine candidate strains reduce MDSCs via the JAK-STAT signaling pathway. BMC Biol 2024; 22:88. [PMID: 38641823 PMCID: PMC11031962 DOI: 10.1186/s12915-024-01876-3] [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: 05/10/2023] [Accepted: 03/28/2024] [Indexed: 04/21/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Immunosuppressive status is prevalent in cancer patients and increases the complexity of tumor immunotherapy. It has been found that Listeria-vectored tumor vaccines had the potential ability of two-side regulatory effect on the immune response during immunotherapy. RESULTS The results show that the combined immunotherapy with the LM∆E6E7 and LI∆E6E7, the two cervical cancer vaccine candidate strains constructed by our lab, improves the antitumor immune response and inhibits the suppressive immune response in tumor-bearing mice in vivo, confirming the two-sided regulatory ability of the immune response caused by Listeria-vectored tumor vaccines. The immunotherapy reduces the expression level of myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs)-inducing factors and then inhibits the phosphorylation level of STAT3 protein, the regulatory factor of MDSCs differentiation, to reduce the MDSCs formation ability. Moreover, vaccines reduce the expression of functional molecules associated with MDSCs may by inhibiting the phosphorylation level of the JAK1-STAT1 and JAK2-STAT3 pathways in tumor tissues to attenuate the immunosuppressive function of MDSCs. CONCLUSIONS Immunotherapy with Listeria-vectored cervical cancer vaccines significantly reduces the level and function of MDSCs in vivo, which is the key point to the destruction of immunosuppression. The study for the first to elucidate the mechanism of breaking the immunosuppression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yunwen Zhang
- West China School of Public Health and West China Fourth Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
- Shen Zhen Biomed Alliance Biotech Group Co., Ltd, Shenzhen, China
| | - Yao Lei
- West China School of Public Health and West China Fourth Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Qian Ou
- West China School of Public Health and West China Fourth Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Mengdie Chen
- Shen Zhen Biomed Alliance Biotech Group Co., Ltd, Shenzhen, China
| | - Sicheng Tian
- West China School of Public Health and West China Fourth Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
- Shen Zhen Biomed Alliance Biotech Group Co., Ltd, Shenzhen, China
| | - Jing Tang
- West China School of Public Health and West China Fourth Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Ruidan Li
- West China School of Public Health and West China Fourth Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Qian Liang
- West China School of Public Health and West China Fourth Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Zhaobin Chen
- Shen Zhen Biomed Alliance Biotech Group Co., Ltd, Shenzhen, China.
| | - Chuan Wang
- West China School of Public Health and West China Fourth Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.
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Murthy D, Attri KS, Shukla SK, Thakur R, Chaika NV, He C, Wang D, Jha K, Dasgupta A, King RJ, Mulder SE, Souchek J, Gebregiworgis T, Rai V, Patel R, Hu T, Rana S, Kollala SS, Pacheco C, Grandgenett PM, Yu F, Kumar V, Lazenby AJ, Black AR, Ulhannan S, Jain A, Edil BH, Klinkebiel DL, Powers R, Natarajan A, Hollingsworth MA, Mehla K, Ly Q, Chaudhary S, Hwang RF, Wellen KE, Singh PK. Cancer-associated fibroblast-derived acetate promotes pancreatic cancer development by altering polyamine metabolism via the ACSS2-SP1-SAT1 axis. Nat Cell Biol 2024; 26:613-627. [PMID: 38429478 PMCID: PMC11021164 DOI: 10.1038/s41556-024-01372-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2020] [Accepted: 02/02/2024] [Indexed: 03/03/2024]
Abstract
The ability of tumour cells to thrive in harsh microenvironments depends on the utilization of nutrients available in the milieu. Here we show that pancreatic cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) regulate tumour cell metabolism through the secretion of acetate, which can be blocked by silencing ATP citrate lyase (ACLY) in CAFs. We further show that acetyl-CoA synthetase short-chain family member 2 (ACSS2) channels the exogenous acetate to regulate the dynamic cancer epigenome and transcriptome, thereby facilitating cancer cell survival in an acidic microenvironment. Comparative H3K27ac ChIP-seq and RNA-seq analyses revealed alterations in polyamine homeostasis through regulation of SAT1 gene expression and enrichment of the SP1-responsive signature. We identified acetate/ACSS2-mediated acetylation of SP1 at the lysine 19 residue that increased SP1 protein stability and transcriptional activity. Genetic or pharmacologic inhibition of the ACSS2-SP1-SAT1 axis diminished the tumour burden in mouse models. These results reveal that the metabolic flexibility imparted by the stroma-derived acetate enabled cancer cell survival under acidosis via the ACSS2-SP1-SAT1 axis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Divya Murthy
- Eppley Institute for Research in Cancer and Allied Diseases, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA
| | - Kuldeep S Attri
- Eppley Institute for Research in Cancer and Allied Diseases, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA
| | - Surendra K Shukla
- Eppley Institute for Research in Cancer and Allied Diseases, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA
- Department of Oncology Science, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, USA
| | - Ravi Thakur
- Eppley Institute for Research in Cancer and Allied Diseases, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA
- Department of Oncology Science, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, USA
| | - Nina V Chaika
- Eppley Institute for Research in Cancer and Allied Diseases, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA
| | - Chunbo He
- Eppley Institute for Research in Cancer and Allied Diseases, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA
| | - Dezhen Wang
- Eppley Institute for Research in Cancer and Allied Diseases, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA
| | - Kanupriya Jha
- Department of Biotechnology, School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Bennett University, Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Aneesha Dasgupta
- Eppley Institute for Research in Cancer and Allied Diseases, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA
| | - Ryan J King
- Eppley Institute for Research in Cancer and Allied Diseases, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA
| | - Scott E Mulder
- Eppley Institute for Research in Cancer and Allied Diseases, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA
| | - Joshua Souchek
- Eppley Institute for Research in Cancer and Allied Diseases, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA
| | - Teklab Gebregiworgis
- Department of Chemistry, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE, USA
- Department of Biochemistry, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada
| | - Vikant Rai
- Eppley Institute for Research in Cancer and Allied Diseases, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA
| | - Rohit Patel
- Eppley Institute for Research in Cancer and Allied Diseases, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA
| | - Tuo Hu
- Eppley Institute for Research in Cancer and Allied Diseases, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA
| | - Sandeep Rana
- Eppley Institute for Research in Cancer and Allied Diseases, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA
| | - Sai Sundeep Kollala
- Eppley Institute for Research in Cancer and Allied Diseases, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA
| | - Camila Pacheco
- Eppley Institute for Research in Cancer and Allied Diseases, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA
| | - Paul M Grandgenett
- Eppley Institute for Research in Cancer and Allied Diseases, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA
| | - Fang Yu
- Department of Biostatistics, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA
| | - Vikas Kumar
- Department of Cell Biology, Genetics and Anatomy, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA
| | - Audrey J Lazenby
- Department of Pathology and Microbiology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA
| | - Adrian R Black
- Eppley Institute for Research in Cancer and Allied Diseases, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA
| | - Susanna Ulhannan
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, USA
| | - Ajay Jain
- Department of Surgery, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, USA
| | - Barish H Edil
- Department of Surgery, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, USA
| | - David L Klinkebiel
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA
| | - Robert Powers
- Department of Chemistry, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE, USA
- Nebraska Center for Integrated Biomolecular Communication, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE, USA
| | - Amarnath Natarajan
- Eppley Institute for Research in Cancer and Allied Diseases, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA
| | - Michael A Hollingsworth
- Eppley Institute for Research in Cancer and Allied Diseases, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA
| | - Kamiya Mehla
- Eppley Institute for Research in Cancer and Allied Diseases, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA
- Department of Oncology Science, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, USA
| | - Quan Ly
- Department of Surgical Oncology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA
| | - Sarika Chaudhary
- Department of Biotechnology, School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Bennett University, Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Rosa F Hwang
- Department of Surgical Oncology, Division of Surgery, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Kathryn E Wellen
- Department of Cancer Biology, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Pankaj K Singh
- Eppley Institute for Research in Cancer and Allied Diseases, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA.
- Department of Oncology Science, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, USA.
- OU Health Stephenson Cancer Center, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, USA.
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8
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Zhu Y, Banerjee A, Xie P, Ivanov AA, Uddin A, Jiao Q, Chi JJ, Zeng L, Lee JY, Xue Y, Lu X, Cristofanilli M, Gradishar WJ, Henry CJ, Gillespie TW, Bhave MA, Kalinsky K, Fu H, Bahar I, Zhang B, Wan Y. Pharmacological suppression of the OTUD4/CD73 proteolytic axis revives antitumor immunity against immune-suppressive breast cancers. J Clin Invest 2024; 134:e176390. [PMID: 38530357 PMCID: PMC11093616 DOI: 10.1172/jci176390] [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: 10/04/2023] [Accepted: 03/12/2024] [Indexed: 03/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Despite widespread utilization of immunotherapy, treating immune-cold tumors remains a challenge. Multiomic analyses and experimental validation identified the OTUD4/CD73 proteolytic axis as a promising target in treating immune-suppressive triple negative breast cancer (TNBC). Mechanistically, deubiquitylation of CD73 by OTUD4 counteracted its ubiquitylation by TRIM21, resulting in CD73 stabilization inhibiting tumor immune responses. We further demonstrated the importance of TGF-β signaling for orchestrating the OTUD4/CD73 proteolytic axis within tumor cells. Spatial transcriptomics profiling discovered spatially resolved features of interacting malignant and immune cells pertaining to expression levels of OTUD4 and CD73. In addition, ST80, a newly developed inhibitor, specifically disrupted proteolytic interaction between CD73 and OTUD4, leading to reinvigoration of cytotoxic CD8+ T cell activities. In preclinical models of TNBC, ST80 treatment sensitized refractory tumors to anti-PD-L1 therapy. Collectively, our findings uncover what we believe to be a novel strategy for targeting the immunosuppressive OTUD4/CD73 proteolytic axis in treating immune-suppressive breast cancers with the inhibitor ST80.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yueming Zhu
- Department of Pharmacology and Chemical Biology and
- Winship Cancer Institute, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Anupam Banerjee
- Laufer Center for Physical and Quantitative Biology, School of Medicine, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, USA
| | - Ping Xie
- Department of Medicine, Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Andrey A. Ivanov
- Department of Pharmacology and Chemical Biology and
- Winship Cancer Institute, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
- Emory Chemical Biology Discovery Center, Emory University School of Medicine, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Amad Uddin
- Department of Pharmacology and Chemical Biology and
| | - Qiao Jiao
- Department of Pharmacology and Chemical Biology and
| | - Junlong Jack Chi
- Department of Pharmacology and Chemical Biology and
- Driskill Graduate Program (DPG), Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Lidan Zeng
- Department of Pharmacology and Chemical Biology and
| | - Ji Young Lee
- Laufer Center for Physical and Quantitative Biology, School of Medicine, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, USA
| | - Yifan Xue
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Xinghua Lu
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | | | - William J. Gradishar
- Department of Medicine, Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Curtis J. Henry
- Winship Cancer Institute, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
- Department of Pediatrics
| | - Theresa W. Gillespie
- Winship Cancer Institute, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
- Department of Surgery, and
- Department of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Manali Ajay Bhave
- Winship Cancer Institute, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
- Department of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Kevin Kalinsky
- Winship Cancer Institute, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
- Department of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Haian Fu
- Department of Pharmacology and Chemical Biology and
- Winship Cancer Institute, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
- Emory Chemical Biology Discovery Center, Emory University School of Medicine, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Ivet Bahar
- Laufer Center for Physical and Quantitative Biology, School of Medicine, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, USA
- Department of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, School of Medicine, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, USA
| | - Bin Zhang
- Department of Medicine, Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Yong Wan
- Department of Pharmacology and Chemical Biology and
- Winship Cancer Institute, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
- Department of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
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9
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Shi S, Luo D, Yang Y, Wang X. Integrative Omics Analysis Reveals Metabolic Features of Ground-Glass Opacity-Associated Lung Cancer. J Cancer 2024; 15:1848-1862. [PMID: 38434969 PMCID: PMC10905408 DOI: 10.7150/jca.92437] [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: 11/21/2023] [Accepted: 01/19/2024] [Indexed: 03/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Background: Ground-glass opacity (GGO)-associated cancers are increasingly prevalent, exhibiting unique clinical and molecular features that suggest the need for a distinct treatment strategy. However, the metabolic characteristics and vulnerabilities of GGO-associated lung cancers remain unexplored. Methods: We conducted metabolomic and transcriptomic analyses on 40 pairs of GGO-associated lung cancer tissues and adjacent normal tissues. By integrating data from TCGA database and single-cell RNA sequencing, we aimed to identify aberrant metabolic pathways, establish a metabolite-associated gene signature, and pinpoint key metabolic genes. The physiological effect of key genes was detected in vitro and vivo assays. Results: We identified a 30-gene metabolite-associated signature and discovered aberrant metabolic pathways for GGO-associated lung cancer at both metabolic and transcriptional levels. Patients with this signature displayed specific prognostic and molecular features. Cox regression analysis, based on the Cancer Genome Atlas Program (TCGA) data, further narrowed down the metabolite-related gene signature, resulting in a 5-gene signature. Confirmed by single-cell RNA sequencing (GSE203360), the 5-gene signature was mainly expressed in cancer cells of GGO tissue. Real-time quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) further validated the differential expression of these genes between GGO and adjacent normal tissue obtained from pulmonary surgery. Finally, our integrative analysis unveiled aberrant histidine metabolism at both the multi-omics and single-cell levels. Moreover, we identified MAOB as a key metabolic gene, demonstrating its ability to suppress cell proliferation, migration, and invasion in LUAD cell lines, both in vitro and in vivo. Conclusions: We identified a specific metabolite-associated gene signature and identified aberrant histidine metabolism in GGO-associated lung cancer from multiple perspectives. Notably, MAOB, a crucial component in histidine metabolism, demonstrated a significant inhibitory effect on the proliferation and metastasis of LUAD, indicating its potential significance in pathogenesis and therapeutic interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuai Shi
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, 410011, Changsha, Hunan Province, China
| | - Dayuan Luo
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, 410011, Changsha, Hunan Province, China
| | - Yanyi Yang
- Heath Management Center, Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, 410011, Changsha, Hunan Province, China
| | - Xiang Wang
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, 410011, Changsha, Hunan Province, China
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10
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Cao Z, Guan M, Cheng C, Wang F, Jing Y, Zhang K, Jiao J, Ruan L, Chen Z. KIF20B and MET, hub genes of DIAPHs, predict poor prognosis and promote pancreatic cancer progression. Pathol Res Pract 2024; 254:155046. [PMID: 38266456 DOI: 10.1016/j.prp.2023.155046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2023] [Revised: 06/13/2023] [Accepted: 06/19/2023] [Indexed: 01/26/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The DIAPHs (DIAPH1, DIAPH2, and DIAPH3) are members of the diaphanous subfamily of the formin family. KIF20B and MET, hub genes of DIAPHs, play crucial roles in cytoskeletal remodeling, cell migration, and adhesion. However, their combined prognostic and treatment value in pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PC) warrants further investigation. METHODS Multiomics analysis tools were used to comprehensively assess the genomic expression and prognostic value of KIF20B and MET in PC. Immune cell infiltration, functional enrichment, single-cell RNA-seq (scRNA) analysis, potential therapeutic drugs, and nomograms were established and analyzed. CCK-8 levels, transwell assay, Co-IP assay, mass spectrometry, and western blotting were performed to assess the role of KIF20B and MET as modulators of β-catenin and Lactate Dehydrogenase A (LDHA) in vitro. Xenograft tumor models were used to evaluate the anti-tumor effects in vivo. RESULTS DIAPHs, KIF20B, and MET were overexpressed and functioned as poor prognostic markers of PC. Immunoinfiltration analysis revealed that pDC and NK cells were enriched with low expression levels of KIF20B and MET, whereas Th2 cells were enriched with high expression levels of these two genes. The copy number variations (CNVs) in KIF20B and MET were positively correlated with B cell and CD4 + T cell infiltration. Immunological checkpoints NT5E and CD44 were positively correlated with KIF20B and MET expression. Moreover, the nomogram constructed based on KIF20B and MET demonstrated predictive value for overall survival. scRNA-Seq analysis indicated that KIF20B and MET were enriched in endothelial, malignant, B, T, and CD8 + T cells, which correlated with glycolysis and the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). The interactions of KIF20B and MET with β-catenin and LDHA were verified by Co-IP assay and mass spectrometry. Knockdown of KIF20B and MET downregulates β-catenin and LDHA in vitro. Furthermore, dual knockdown of KIF20B and MET exhibited a synergistic suppressive effect on PC progression in vitro and in vivo. CONCLUSION DIAPHs, KIF20B, and MET are promising candidates for the prognosis and treatment of PC. More importantly, downregulation of KIF20B and MET inhibited pancreatic cancer progression by regulating LDHA and EMT.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhangqi Cao
- Department of Integrative Oncology, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai 200032, China; Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Mingwei Guan
- Department of Integrative Oncology, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai 200032, China; Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Chienshan Cheng
- Department of Integrative Oncology, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai 200032, China; Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Fengjiao Wang
- Department of Integrative Oncology, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai 200032, China; Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Yanhua Jing
- Department of Integrative Oncology, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai 200032, China; Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Ke Zhang
- Department of Integrative Oncology, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai 200032, China; Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Juying Jiao
- Department of Integrative Oncology, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai 200032, China; Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Linjie Ruan
- Department of Integrative Oncology, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai 200032, China; Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Zhen Chen
- Department of Integrative Oncology, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai 200032, China; Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China.
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11
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Yu W, Li M, Xia J. Identification of immunogenic cell death‑related prognostic signatures in pancreatic cancer. Oncol Lett 2023; 26:473. [PMID: 37809045 PMCID: PMC10551861 DOI: 10.3892/ol.2023.14061] [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: 12/12/2022] [Accepted: 08/22/2023] [Indexed: 10/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Targeting immunogenic cell death (ICD) may enable the response of pancreatic cancer to immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs). The aim of the present study was to elucidate the role of ICD-related genes in pancreatic cancer. Utilizing the k-means method, consensus clustering was employed to effectively group patients with pancreatic cancer. Subsequently, a set of differentially expressed genes was identified between the two subtypes related to ICD, facilitating the execution of a comprehensive enrichment analysis. Furthermore, the construction of an ICD-related prognostic signature (IRPS) was accomplished through LASSO Cox regression, thereby enabling the assessment of responses to both chemotherapy and immunotherapy. In addition, the biological functionality of 5'-nucleotidase ecto (NT5E) was elucidated through experimental investigations. Patients characterized as the ICD high subtype experienced a comparatively shorter overall survival. This subtype exhibited a noteworthy correlation with HLA families and immune checkpoint molecules, underscoring its immunological significance. Subsequently, patients with elevated IRPS risk scores displayed resistance towards immunotherapy interventions. Of note, synergistic downregulation of NT5E in combination with Gemcitabine was observed to significantly induce tumor cell apoptosis, emphasizing its potential therapeutic value. Leveraging ICD-related genes, a novel classification system was meticulously devised to comprehensively evaluate both the clinical outcomes and therapeutic responses of patients diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenjing Yu
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, The 13th People's Hospital of Chongqing, Chongqing 400053, P.R. China
| | - Mei Li
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, The 13th People's Hospital of Chongqing, Chongqing 400053, P.R. China
| | - Jing Xia
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, The 13th People's Hospital of Chongqing, Chongqing 400053, P.R. China
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12
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Xing J, Zhang J, Wang J. The Immune Regulatory Role of Adenosine in the Tumor Microenvironment. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:14928. [PMID: 37834375 PMCID: PMC10573203 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241914928] [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: 09/06/2023] [Revised: 09/30/2023] [Accepted: 10/03/2023] [Indexed: 10/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Adenosine, an immunosuppressive metabolite, is produced by adenosine triphosphate (ATP) released from dying or stressed cells and is found at high levels in the tumor microenvironment of most solid tumors. It mediates pro-tumor activities by inducing tumor cell proliferation, migration or invasion, tumor tissue angiogenesis, and chemoresistance. In addition, adenosine plays an important role in regulating anti-tumor immune responses and facilitating tumor immune escape. Adenosine receptors are broadly expressed by tumor-infiltrated immune cells, including suppressive tumor-associated macrophages and CD4+ regulatory T cells, as well as effector CD4+ T cells and CD8+ cytotoxic T lymphocytes. Therefore, adenosine is indispensable in down-regulating anti-tumor immune responses in the tumor microenvironment and contributes to tumor progression. This review describes the current progress on the role of adenosine/adenosine receptor pathway in regulating the tumor-infiltrating immune cells that contribute to tumor immune evasion and aims to provide insights into adenosine-targeted tumor immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jianlei Xing
- Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medicine, China Medical University, Shenyang 100001, China
- College of Life Science and Bioengineering, Beijing Jiaotong University, Beijing 100044, China
| | - Jinhua Zhang
- College of Life Science and Bioengineering, Beijing Jiaotong University, Beijing 100044, China
| | - Jinyan Wang
- Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medicine, China Medical University, Shenyang 100001, China
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13
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Laubach K, Turan T, Mathew R, Wilsbacher J, Engelhardt J, Samayoa J. Tumor-intrinsic metabolic reprogramming and how it drives resistance to anti-PD-1/PD-L1 treatment. CANCER DRUG RESISTANCE (ALHAMBRA, CALIF.) 2023; 6:611-641. [PMID: 37842241 PMCID: PMC10571065 DOI: 10.20517/cdr.2023.60] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2023] [Revised: 08/15/2023] [Accepted: 08/29/2023] [Indexed: 10/17/2023]
Abstract
The development of immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) therapies has been instrumental in advancing the field of immunotherapy. Despite the prominence of these treatments, many patients exhibit primary or acquired resistance, rendering them ineffective. For example, anti-programmed cell death protein 1 (anti-PD-1)/anti-programmed cell death ligand 1 (anti-PD-L1) treatments are widely utilized across a range of cancer indications, but the response rate is only 10%-30%. As such, it is necessary for researchers to identify targets and develop drugs that can be used in combination with existing ICB therapies to overcome resistance. The intersection of cancer, metabolism, and the immune system has gained considerable traction in recent years as a way to comprehensively study the mechanisms that drive oncogenesis, immune evasion, and immunotherapy resistance. As a result, new research is continuously emerging in support of targeting metabolic pathways as an adjuvant to ICB to boost patient response and overcome resistance. Due to the plethora of studies in recent years highlighting this notion, this review will integrate the relevant articles that demonstrate how tumor-derived alterations in energy, amino acid, and lipid metabolism dysregulate anti-tumor immune responses and drive resistance to anti-PD-1/PD-L1 therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kyra Laubach
- Computational Oncology, AbbVie, South San Francisco, CA 94080, USA
- Immuno-Oncology, AbbVie, South San Francisco, CA 94080, USA
| | - Tolga Turan
- Computational Oncology, AbbVie, South San Francisco, CA 94080, USA
| | - Rebecca Mathew
- Immuno-Oncology, AbbVie, South San Francisco, CA 94080, USA
| | | | | | - Josue Samayoa
- Computational Oncology, AbbVie, South San Francisco, CA 94080, USA
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14
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Graziano V, Dannhorn A, Hulme H, Williamson K, Buckley H, Karim SA, Wilson M, Lee SY, Kaistha BP, Islam S, Thaventhiran JED, Richards FM, Goodwin R, Brais R, Morton JP, Dovedi SJ, Schuller AG, Eyles J, Jodrell DI. Defining the spatial distribution of extracellular adenosine revealed a myeloid-dependent immunosuppressive microenvironment in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. J Immunother Cancer 2023; 11:e006457. [PMID: 37553182 PMCID: PMC10414095 DOI: 10.1136/jitc-2022-006457] [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: 07/16/2023] [Indexed: 08/10/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The prognosis for patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) remains extremely poor. It has been suggested that the adenosine pathway contributes to the ability of PDAC to evade the immune system and hence, its resistance to immuno-oncology therapies (IOT), by generating extracellular adenosine (eAdo). METHODS Using genetically engineered allograft models of PDAC in syngeneic mice with defined and different immune infiltration and response to IOT and autochthonous tumors in KPC mice we investigated the impact of the adenosine pathway on the PDAC tumor microenvironment (TME). Flow cytometry and imaging mass cytometry (IMC) were used to characterize the subpopulation frequency and spatial distribution of tumor-infiltrating immune cells. Mass spectrometry imaging (MSI) was used to visualize adenosine compartmentalization in the PDAC tumors. RNA sequencing was used to evaluate the influence of the adenosine pathway on the shaping of the immune milieu and correlate our findings to published data sets in human PDAC. RESULTS We demonstrated high expression of adenosine pathway components in tumor-infiltrating immune cells (particularly myeloid populations) in the murine models. MSI demonstrated that extracellular adenosine distribution is heterogeneous in tumors, with high concentrations in peri-necrotic, hypoxic regions, associated with rich myeloid infiltration, demonstrated using IMC. Protumorigenic M2 macrophages express high levels of the Adora2a receptor; particularly in the IOT resistant model. Blocking the in vivo formation and function of eAdo (Adoi), using a combination of anti-CD73 antibody and an Adora2a inhibitor slowed tumor growth and reduced metastatic burden. Additionally, blocking the adenosine pathway improved the efficacy of combinations of cytotoxic agents or immunotherapy. Adoi remodeled the TME, by reducing the infiltration of M2 macrophages and regulatory T cells. RNA sequencing analysis showed that genes related to immune modulation, hypoxia and tumor stroma were downregulated following Adoi and a specific adenosine signature derived from this is associated with a poorer prognosis in patients with PDAC. CONCLUSIONS The formation of eAdo promotes the development of the immunosuppressive TME in PDAC, contributing to its resistance to conventional and novel therapies. Therefore, inhibition of the adenosine pathway may represent a strategy to modulate the PDAC immune milieu and improve therapy response in patients with PDAC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vincenzo Graziano
- Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
- Cancer Research UK Cambridge Centre, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Andreas Dannhorn
- Imaging and Data Analytics, Clinical Pharmacology and Safety Sciences (CPSS), AstraZeneca R&D, Cambridge, UK
| | - Heather Hulme
- Imaging and Data Analytics, Clinical Pharmacology and Safety Sciences (CPSS), AstraZeneca R&D, Cambridge, UK
| | - Kate Williamson
- Medical Research Council Toxicology Unit, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Hannah Buckley
- Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | | | - Matthew Wilson
- Oncology R&D, Research and Early Development, AstraZeneca R&D, Cambridge, UK
| | - Sheng Y Lee
- Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Brajesh P Kaistha
- Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Sabita Islam
- Department of Oncology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | | | - Frances M Richards
- Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Richard Goodwin
- Imaging and Data Analytics, Clinical Pharmacology and Safety Sciences (CPSS), AstraZeneca R&D, Cambridge, UK
| | - Rebecca Brais
- Department of Pathology, Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Cambridge, UK
| | - Jennifer P Morton
- Cancer Research UK Beatson Institute, Glasgow, UK
- School of Cancer Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
| | - Simon J Dovedi
- Oncology R&D, Research and Early Development, AstraZeneca R&D, Cambridge, UK
| | | | - Jim Eyles
- Oncology R&D, Research and Early Development, AstraZeneca R&D, Cambridge, UK
| | - Duncan I Jodrell
- Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
- Department of Oncology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
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15
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Bendell J, LoRusso P, Overman M, Noonan AM, Kim DW, Strickler JH, Kim SW, Clarke S, George TJ, Grimison PS, Barve M, Amin M, Desai J, Wise-Draper T, Eck S, Jiang Y, Khan AA, Wu Y, Martin P, Cooper ZA, Elgeioushi N, Mueller N, Kumar R, Patel SP. First-in-human study of oleclumab, a potent, selective anti-CD73 monoclonal antibody, alone or in combination with durvalumab in patients with advanced solid tumors. Cancer Immunol Immunother 2023; 72:2443-2458. [PMID: 37016126 PMCID: PMC10264501 DOI: 10.1007/s00262-023-03430-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2022] [Accepted: 03/19/2023] [Indexed: 04/06/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND CD73 upregulation in tumors leads to local immunosuppression. This phase I, first-in-human study evaluated oleclumab (MEDI9447), an anti-CD73 human IgG1λ monoclonal antibody, alone or with durvalumab in patients with advanced colorectal cancer (CRC), pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), or epidermal growth factor receptor-mutant non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). METHODS Patients received oleclumab 5-40 mg/kg (dose-escalation) or 40 mg/kg (dose-expansion) intravenously every 2 weeks (Q2W), alone (escalation only) or with durvalumab 10 mg/kg intravenously Q2W. RESULTS 192 patients were enrolled, 66 during escalation and 126 (42 CRC, 42 PDAC, 42 NSCLC) during expansion. No dose-limiting toxicities occurred during escalation. In the monotherapy and combination therapy escalation cohorts, treatment-related adverse events (TRAEs) occurred in 55 and 54%, respectively, the most common being fatigue (17 and 25%). In the CRC, PDAC, and NSCLC expansion cohorts, 60, 57, and 45% of patients had TRAEs, respectively; the most common were fatigue (15%), diarrhea (9%), and rash (7%). Free soluble CD73 and CD73 expression on peripheral T cells and tumor cells showed sustained decreases, accompanied by reduced CD73 enzymatic activity in tumor cells. Objective response rate during escalation was 0%. Response rates in the CRC, PDAC, and NSCLC expansion cohorts were 2.4% (1 complete response [CR]), 4.8% (1 CR, 1 partial response [PR]), and 9.5% (4 PRs), respectively; 6-month progression-free survival rates were 5.4, 13.2, and 16.0%. CONCLUSIONS Oleclumab ± durvalumab had a manageable safety profile, with pharmacodynamic activity reflecting oleclumab's mechanism of action. Evidence of antitumor activity was observed in tumor types that are generally immunotherapy resistant. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION Clinicaltrials.gov, NCT02503774; date of registration, July 17, 2015.
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Affiliation(s)
- Johanna Bendell
- Sarah Cannon Research Institute, Nashville, TN, USA.
- Roche Innovation Center Basel, F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd, Basel, Switzerland.
| | | | - Michael Overman
- University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Anne M Noonan
- Ohio State University, Wexner Medical Center, James Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Dong-Wan Kim
- Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, South Korea
| | | | | | - Stephen Clarke
- Royal North Shore Hospital, St. Leonards, NSW, Australia
| | - Thomas J George
- University of Florida Health Cancer Center, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | | | - Minal Barve
- Mary Crowley Cancer Research, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Manik Amin
- Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
- Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, Norris Cotton Cancer Center, Lebanon, NH, USA
| | - Jayesh Desai
- Royal Melbourne Hospital, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | | | | | - Yu Jiang
- AstraZeneca, Gaithersburg, MD, USA
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Sandip Pravin Patel
- Moores Cancer Center, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, San Diego, CA, USA
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16
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Zhu X, Li S. Nanomaterials in tumor immunotherapy: new strategies and challenges. Mol Cancer 2023; 22:94. [PMID: 37312116 DOI: 10.1186/s12943-023-01797-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2023] [Accepted: 05/31/2023] [Indexed: 06/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Tumor immunotherapy exerts its anti-tumor effects by stimulating and enhancing immune responses of the body. It has become another important modality of anti-tumor therapy with significant clinical efficacy and advantages compared to chemotherapy, radiotherapy and targeted therapy. Although various kinds of tumor immunotherapeutic drugs have emerged, the challenges faced in the delivery of these drugs, such as poor tumor permeability and low tumor cell uptake rate, had prevented their widespread application. Recently, nanomaterials had emerged as a means for treatment of different diseases due to their targeting properties, biocompatibility and functionalities. Moreover, nanomaterials possess various characteristics that overcome the defects of traditional tumor immunotherapy, such as large drug loading capacity, precise tumor targeting and easy modification, thus leading to their wide application in tumor immunotherapy. There are two main classes of novel nanoparticles mentioned in this review: organic (polymeric nanomaterials, liposomes and lipid nanoparticles) and inorganic (non-metallic nanomaterials and metallic nanomaterials). Besides, the fabrication method for nanoparticles, Nanoemulsions, was also introduced. In summary, this review article mainly discussed the research progress of tumor immunotherapy based on nanomaterials in the past few years and offers a theoretical basis for exploring novel tumor immunotherapy strategies in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xudong Zhu
- Department of General Surgery, Cancer Hospital of Dalian University of Technology, Cancer Hospital of China Medical University, Liaoning Cancer Hospital & Institute, Shenyang, Liaoning, 110042, People's Republic of China
| | - Shenglong Li
- Second Ward of Bone and Soft Tissue Tumor Surgery, Cancer Hospital of Dalian University of Technology, Cancer Hospital of China Medical University, Liaoning Cancer Hospital & Institute, Shenyang, Liaoning, 110042, People's Republic of China.
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17
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Strickland LN, Faraoni EY, Ruan W, Yuan X, Eltzschig HK, Bailey-Lundberg JM. The resurgence of the Adora2b receptor as an immunotherapeutic target in pancreatic cancer. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1163585. [PMID: 37187740 PMCID: PMC10175829 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1163585] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2023] [Accepted: 04/19/2023] [Indexed: 05/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is characterized by a dense desmoplastic stroma that impedes drug delivery, reduces parenchymal blood flow, and suppresses the anti-tumor immune response. The extracellular matrix and abundance of stromal cells result in severe hypoxia within the tumor microenvironment (TME), and emerging publications evaluating PDAC tumorigenesis have shown the adenosine signaling pathway promotes an immunosuppressive TME and contributes to the overall low survival rate. Hypoxia increases many elements of the adenosine signaling pathway, resulting in higher adenosine levels in the TME, further contributing to immune suppression. Extracellular adenosine signals through 4 adenosine receptors (Adora1, Adora2a, Adora2b, Adora3). Of the 4 receptors, Adora2b has the lowest affinity for adenosine and thus, has important consequences when stimulated by adenosine binding in the hypoxic TME. We and others have shown that Adora2b is present in normal pancreas tissue, and in injured or diseased pancreatic tissue, Adora2b levels are significantly elevated. The Adora2b receptor is present on many immune cells, including macrophages, dendritic cells, natural killer cells, natural killer T cells, γδ T cells, B cells, T cells, CD4+ T cells, and CD8+ T cells. In these immune cell types, adenosine signaling through Adora2b can reduce the adaptive anti-tumor response, augmenting immune suppression, or may contribute to transformation and changes in fibrosis, perineural invasion, or the vasculature by binding the Adora2b receptor on neoplastic epithelial cells, cancer-associated fibroblasts, blood vessels, lymphatic vessels, and nerves. In this review, we discuss the mechanistic consequences of Adora2b activation on cell types in the tumor microenvironment. As the cell-autonomous role of adenosine signaling through Adora2b has not been comprehensively studied in pancreatic cancer cells, we will also discuss published data from other malignancies to infer emerging therapeutic considerations for targeting the Adora2b adenosine receptor to reduce the proliferative, invasive, and metastatic potential of PDAC cells.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | - Jennifer M. Bailey-Lundberg
- Department of Anesthesiology, Critical Care, and Pain Medicine, McGovern Medical School, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, United States
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18
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Faraoni EY, Singh K, Chandra V, Le Roux O, Dai Y, Sahin I, O'Brien BJ, Strickland LN, Li L, Vucic E, Warner AN, Pruski M, Clark T, Van Buren G, Thosani NC, Bynon JS, Wray CJ, Bar-Sagi D, Poulsen KL, Vornik LA, Savage MI, Sei S, Mohammed A, Zhao Z, Brown PH, Mills T, Eltzschig HK, McAllister F, Bailey-Lundberg JM. CD73-Dependent Adenosine Signaling through Adora2b Drives Immunosuppression in Ductal Pancreatic Cancer. Cancer Res 2023; 83:1111-1127. [PMID: 36720042 PMCID: PMC10071819 DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-22-2553] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2022] [Revised: 01/04/2023] [Accepted: 01/27/2023] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
The microenvironment that surrounds pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is profoundly desmoplastic and immunosuppressive. Understanding triggers of immunosuppression during the process of pancreatic tumorigenesis would aid in establishing targets for effective prevention and therapy. Here, we interrogated differential molecular mechanisms dependent on cell of origin and subtype that promote immunosuppression during PDAC initiation and in established tumors. Transcriptomic analysis of cell-of-origin-dependent epithelial gene signatures revealed that Nt5e/CD73, a cell-surface enzyme required for extracellular adenosine generation, is one of the top 10% of genes overexpressed in murine tumors arising from the ductal pancreatic epithelium as opposed to those rising from acinar cells. These findings were confirmed by IHC and high-performance liquid chromatography. Analysis in human PDAC subtypes indicated that high Nt5e in murine ductal PDAC models overlaps with high NT5E in human PDAC squamous and basal subtypes, considered to have the highest immunosuppression and worst prognosis. Multiplex immunofluorescent analysis showed that activated CD8+ T cells in the PDAC tumor microenvironment express high levels of CD73, indicating an opportunity for immunotherapeutic targeting. Delivery of CD73 small-molecule inhibitors through various delivery routes reduced tumor development and growth in genetically engineered and syngeneic mouse models. In addition, the adenosine receptor Adora2b was a determinant of adenosine-mediated immunosuppression in PDAC. These findings highlight a molecular trigger of the immunosuppressive PDAC microenvironment elevated in the ductal cell of origin, linking biology with subtype classification, critical components for PDAC immunoprevention and personalized approaches for immunotherapeutic intervention. SIGNIFICANCE Ductal-derived pancreatic tumors have elevated epithelial and CD8+GZM+ T-cell CD73 expression that confers sensitivity to small-molecule inhibition of CD73 or Adora2b to promote CD8+ T-cell-mediated tumor regression. See related commentary by DelGiorno, p. 977.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erika Y. Faraoni
- Department of Anesthesiology, McGovern Medical School, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, Texas
| | - Kanchan Singh
- Department of Anesthesiology, McGovern Medical School, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, Texas
| | - Vidhi Chandra
- Department of Clinical Cancer Prevention, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
- The Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, and The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, Texas
| | - Olivereen Le Roux
- Department of Clinical Cancer Prevention, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
| | - Yulin Dai
- Center for Precision Health, School of Biomedical Informatics, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, Texas
| | - Ismet Sahin
- Department of Engineering, Texas Southern University, Houston, Texas
| | - Baylee J. O'Brien
- Department of Anesthesiology, McGovern Medical School, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, Texas
| | - Lincoln N. Strickland
- Department of Anesthesiology, McGovern Medical School, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, Texas
| | - Le Li
- Department of Clinical Cancer Prevention, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
| | - Emily Vucic
- Departments of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology and Medicine, NYU Langone School of Medicine, New York, New York
| | - Amanda N. Warner
- Department of Anesthesiology, McGovern Medical School, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, Texas
- The Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, and The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, Texas
| | - Melissa Pruski
- Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition, Department of Internal Medicine, McGovern Medical School, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, Texas
| | - Trent Clark
- Department of Anesthesiology, McGovern Medical School, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, Texas
| | - George Van Buren
- Division of Surgical Oncology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas
| | - Nirav C. Thosani
- Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition, Department of Internal Medicine, McGovern Medical School, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, Texas
- Center for Interventional Gastroenterology at UTHealth (iGUT), McGovern Medical School, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, Texas
| | - John S. Bynon
- Department of Surgery, McGovern Medical School, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, Texas
| | - Curtis J. Wray
- Department of Surgery, McGovern Medical School, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, Texas
| | - Dafna Bar-Sagi
- Department of Engineering, Texas Southern University, Houston, Texas
| | - Kyle L. Poulsen
- Department of Anesthesiology, McGovern Medical School, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, Texas
- Center for Perioperative Medicine, McGovern Medical School, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, Texas
| | - Lana A. Vornik
- Department of Clinical Cancer Prevention, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
| | - Michelle I. Savage
- Department of Clinical Cancer Prevention, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
| | - Shizuko Sei
- Division of Cancer Prevention, National Cancer Institute, Rockville, Maryland
| | - Altaf Mohammed
- Division of Cancer Prevention, National Cancer Institute, Rockville, Maryland
| | - Zhongming Zhao
- Center for Precision Health, School of Biomedical Informatics, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, Texas
| | - Powel H. Brown
- Department of Clinical Cancer Prevention, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
| | - Tingting Mills
- Department of Biochemistry, McGovern Medical School, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, Texas
| | - Holger K. Eltzschig
- Department of Anesthesiology, McGovern Medical School, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, Texas
- Center for Perioperative Medicine, McGovern Medical School, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, Texas
| | - Florencia McAllister
- Department of Clinical Cancer Prevention, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
- The Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, and The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, Texas
- Department of Gastrointestinal 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
| | - Jennifer M. Bailey-Lundberg
- Department of Anesthesiology, McGovern Medical School, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, Texas
- The Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, and The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, Texas
- Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition, Department of Internal Medicine, McGovern Medical School, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, Texas
- Center for Interventional Gastroenterology at UTHealth (iGUT), McGovern Medical School, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, Texas
- Center for Perioperative Medicine, McGovern Medical School, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, Texas
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19
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Abstract
Metabolic alterations are a key hallmark of cancer cells, and the augmented synthesis and use of nucleotide triphosphates is a critical and universal metabolic dependency of cancer cells across different cancer types and genetic backgrounds. Many of the aggressive behaviours of cancer cells, including uncontrolled proliferation, chemotherapy resistance, immune evasion and metastasis, rely heavily on augmented nucleotide metabolism. Furthermore, most of the known oncogenic drivers upregulate nucleotide biosynthetic capacity, suggesting that this phenotype is a prerequisite for cancer initiation and progression. Despite the wealth of data demonstrating the efficacy of nucleotide synthesis inhibitors in preclinical cancer models and the well-established clinical use of these drugs in certain cancer settings, the full potential of these agents remains unrealized. In this Review, we discuss recent studies that have generated mechanistic insights into the diverse biological roles of hyperactive cancer cell nucleotide metabolism. We explore opportunities for combination therapies that are highlighted by these recent advances and detail key questions that remain to be answered, with the goal of informing urgently warranted future studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas J Mullen
- Eppley Institute for Research in Cancer and Allied Diseases, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA
| | - Pankaj K Singh
- Department of Oncology Science, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, USA.
- Department of Pathology, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, USA.
- OU Health Stephenson Cancer Center, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, USA.
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20
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Sherman MH, Beatty GL. Tumor Microenvironment in Pancreatic Cancer Pathogenesis and Therapeutic Resistance. ANNUAL REVIEW OF PATHOLOGY 2023; 18:123-148. [PMID: 36130070 PMCID: PMC9877114 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-pathmechdis-031621-024600] [Citation(s) in RCA: 69] [Impact Index Per Article: 69.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Abstract
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) features a prominent stromal microenvironment with remarkable cellular and spatial heterogeneity that meaningfully impacts disease biology and treatment resistance. Recent advances in tissue imaging capabilities, single-cell analytics, and disease modeling have shed light on organizing principles that shape the stromal complexity of PDAC tumors. These insights into the functional and spatial dependencies that coordinate cancer cell biology and the relationships that exist between cells and extracellular matrix components present in tumors are expected to unveil therapeutic vulnerabilities. We review recent advances in the field and discuss current understandings of mechanisms by which the tumor microenvironment shapes PDAC pathogenesis and therapy resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mara H Sherman
- Department of Cell, Developmental and Cancer Biology; and Knight Cancer Institute, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon, USA;
| | - Gregory L Beatty
- Abramson Cancer Center; and Division of Hematology-Oncology, Department of Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA;
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21
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Benito-Lopez JJ, Marroquin-Muciño M, Perez-Medina M, Chavez-Dominguez R, Aguilar-Cazares D, Galicia-Velasco M, Lopez-Gonzalez JS. Partners in crime: The feedback loop between metabolic reprogramming and immune checkpoints in the tumor microenvironment. Front Oncol 2023; 12:1101503. [PMID: 36713558 PMCID: PMC9879362 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2022.1101503] [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: 11/17/2022] [Accepted: 12/22/2022] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
The tumor microenvironment (TME) is a complex and constantly changing cellular system composed of heterogeneous populations of tumor cells and non-transformed stromal cells, such as stem cells, fibroblasts, endothelial cells, pericytes, adipocytes, and innate and adaptive immune cells. Tumor, stromal, and immune cells consume available nutrients to sustain their proliferation and effector functions and, as a result of their metabolism, produce a wide array of by-products that gradually alter the composition of the milieu. The resulting depletion of essential nutrients and enrichment of by-products work together with other features of the hostile TME to inhibit the antitumor functions of immune cells and skew their phenotype to promote tumor progression. This review briefly describes the participation of the innate and adaptive immune cells in recognizing and eliminating tumor cells and how the gradual metabolic changes in the TME alter their antitumor functions. In addition, we discuss the overexpression of the immune checkpoints and their ligands as a result of nutrient deprivation and by-products accumulation, as well as the amplification of the metabolic alterations induced by the immune checkpoints, which creates an immunosuppressive feedback loop in the TME. Finally, the combination of metabolic and immune checkpoint inhibitors as a potential strategy to treat cancer and enhance the outcome of patients is highlighted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jesus J Benito-Lopez
- Laboratorio de Investigacion en Cancer Pulmonar, Departamento de Enfermedades Cronico-Degenerativas, Instituto Nacional de Enfermedades Respiratorias "Ismael Cosio Villegas", Mexico City, Mexico
- Posgrado en Ciencias Biologicas, Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Mario Marroquin-Muciño
- Laboratorio de Investigacion en Cancer Pulmonar, Departamento de Enfermedades Cronico-Degenerativas, Instituto Nacional de Enfermedades Respiratorias "Ismael Cosio Villegas", Mexico City, Mexico
- Laboratorio de Quimioterapia Experimental, Departamento de Bioquimica, Escuela Nacional de Ciencias Biologicas, Instituto Politecnico Nacional, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Mario Perez-Medina
- Laboratorio de Investigacion en Cancer Pulmonar, Departamento de Enfermedades Cronico-Degenerativas, Instituto Nacional de Enfermedades Respiratorias "Ismael Cosio Villegas", Mexico City, Mexico
- Laboratorio de Quimioterapia Experimental, Departamento de Bioquimica, Escuela Nacional de Ciencias Biologicas, Instituto Politecnico Nacional, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Rodolfo Chavez-Dominguez
- Laboratorio de Investigacion en Cancer Pulmonar, Departamento de Enfermedades Cronico-Degenerativas, Instituto Nacional de Enfermedades Respiratorias "Ismael Cosio Villegas", Mexico City, Mexico
- Posgrado en Ciencias Biologicas, Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Dolores Aguilar-Cazares
- Laboratorio de Investigacion en Cancer Pulmonar, Departamento de Enfermedades Cronico-Degenerativas, Instituto Nacional de Enfermedades Respiratorias "Ismael Cosio Villegas", Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Miriam Galicia-Velasco
- Laboratorio de Investigacion en Cancer Pulmonar, Departamento de Enfermedades Cronico-Degenerativas, Instituto Nacional de Enfermedades Respiratorias "Ismael Cosio Villegas", Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Jose S Lopez-Gonzalez
- Laboratorio de Investigacion en Cancer Pulmonar, Departamento de Enfermedades Cronico-Degenerativas, Instituto Nacional de Enfermedades Respiratorias "Ismael Cosio Villegas", Mexico City, Mexico
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22
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Jacoberger-Foissac C, Cousineau I, Bareche Y, Allard D, Chrobak P, Allard B, Pommey S, Messaoudi N, McNicoll Y, Soucy G, Koseoglu S, Masia R, Lake AC, Seo H, Eeles CB, Rohatgi N, Robson SC, Turcotte S, Haibe-Kains B, Stagg J. CD73 Inhibits cGAS-STING and Cooperates with CD39 to Promote Pancreatic Cancer. Cancer Immunol Res 2023; 11:56-71. [PMID: 36409930 PMCID: PMC9812927 DOI: 10.1158/2326-6066.cir-22-0260] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2022] [Revised: 09/07/2022] [Accepted: 11/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
The ectonucleotidases CD39 and CD73 catalyze extracellular ATP to immunosuppressive adenosine, and as such, represent potential cancer targets. We investigated biological impacts of CD39 and CD73 in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) by studying clinical samples and experimental mouse tumors. Stromal CD39 and tumoral CD73 expression significantly associated with worse survival in human PDAC samples and abolished the favorable prognostic impact associated with the presence of tumor-infiltrating CD8+ T cells. In mouse transplanted KPC tumors, both CD39 and CD73 on myeloid cells, as well as CD73 on tumor cells, promoted polarization of infiltrating myeloid cells towards an M2-like phenotype, which enhanced tumor growth. CD39 on tumor-specific CD8+ T cells and pancreatic stellate cells also suppressed IFNγ production by T cells. Although therapeutic inhibition of CD39 or CD73 alone significantly delayed tumor growth in vivo, targeting of both ectonucleotidases exhibited markedly superior antitumor activity. CD73 expression on human and mouse PDAC tumor cells also protected against DNA damage induced by gemcitabine and irradiation. Accordingly, large-scale pharmacogenomic analyses of human PDAC cell lines revealed significant associations between CD73 expression and gemcitabine chemoresistance. Strikingly, increased DNA damage in CD73-deficient tumor cells associated with activation of the cGAS-STING pathway. Moreover, cGAS expression in mouse KPC tumor cells was required for antitumor activity of the CD73 inhibitor AB680 in vivo. Our study, thus, illuminates molecular mechanisms whereby CD73 and CD39 seemingly cooperate to promote PDAC progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Célia Jacoberger-Foissac
- Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Montreal., Cancer Axis, Centre de Recherche Du Centre Hospitalier de l’Université de Montréal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada., Institut du Cancer de Montréal
| | - Isabelle Cousineau
- Cancer Axis, Centre de Recherche Du Centre Hospitalier de l’Université de Montréal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada., Institut du Cancer de Montréal
| | - Yacine Bareche
- Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Montreal., Cancer Axis, Centre de Recherche Du Centre Hospitalier de l’Université de Montréal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada., Institut du Cancer de Montréal
| | - David Allard
- Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Montreal., Cancer Axis, Centre de Recherche Du Centre Hospitalier de l’Université de Montréal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada., Institut du Cancer de Montréal
| | - Pavel Chrobak
- Cancer Axis, Centre de Recherche Du Centre Hospitalier de l’Université de Montréal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada., Institut du Cancer de Montréal
| | - Bertrand Allard
- Cancer Axis, Centre de Recherche Du Centre Hospitalier de l’Université de Montréal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada., Institut du Cancer de Montréal
| | - Sandra Pommey
- Cancer Axis, Centre de Recherche Du Centre Hospitalier de l’Université de Montréal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada., Institut du Cancer de Montréal
| | - Nouredin Messaoudi
- Department of Surgery, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium., Department of Surgery, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Universitair Ziekenhuis Brussel and Europe Hospitals, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Yannic McNicoll
- Surgery Department, Hôpital Jean-Talon, CIUSSS NIM, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Geneviève Soucy
- Pathology Service, Centre Hospitalier de l’Université de Montréal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | | | - Ricard Masia
- Surface Oncology, Inc. Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | | | - Heewon Seo
- Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Christopher B. Eeles
- Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Neha Rohatgi
- Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Simon C. Robson
- Center for Inflammation Research, Gastroenterology, Departments of Medicine and Anesthesia, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Simon Turcotte
- Cancer Axis, Centre de Recherche Du Centre Hospitalier de l’Université de Montréal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada., Institut du Cancer de Montréal., Hepatopancreatobiliary Surgery & Liver Transplantation Service, Centre Hospitalier de l’Université de Montréal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Benjamin Haibe-Kains
- Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada., Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, Department of Computer Science, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, Ontario Institute for Cancer Research, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, Vector Institute for Artificial Intelligence, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - John Stagg
- Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Montreal., Cancer Axis, Centre de Recherche Du Centre Hospitalier de l’Université de Montréal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada., Institut du Cancer de Montréal.,Correspondence: 900 St-Denis Street, Montréal, QC, Canada, H2X 0A9; ; Tel: 514-890-8000 ex:25170
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23
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O'Brien BJ, Faraoni EY, Strickland LN, Ma Z, Mota V, Mota S, Chen X, Mills T, Eltzschig HK, DelGiorno KE, Bailey‐Lundberg JM. CD73-generated extracellular adenosine promotes resolution of neutrophil-mediated tissue injury and restrains metaplasia in pancreatitis. FASEB J 2023; 37:e22684. [PMID: 36468677 PMCID: PMC9753971 DOI: 10.1096/fj.202201537r] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2022] [Revised: 11/07/2022] [Accepted: 11/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Pancreatitis is currently the leading cause of gastrointestinal hospitalizations in the US. This condition occurs in response to abdominal injury, gallstones, chronic alcohol consumption or, less frequently, the cause remains idiopathic. CD73 is a cell surface ecto-5'-nucleotidase that generates extracellular adenosine, which can contribute to resolution of inflammation by binding adenosine receptors on infiltrating immune cells. We hypothesized genetic deletion of CD73 would result in more severe pancreatitis due to decreased generation of extracellular adenosine. CD73 knockout (CD73-/- ) and C57BL/6 (wild type, WT) mice were used to evaluate the progression and response of caerulein-induced acute and chronic pancreatitis. In response to caerulein-mediated chronic or acute pancreatitis, WT mice display resolution of pancreatitis at earlier timepoints than CD73-/- mice. Using immunohistochemistry and analysis of single-cell RNA-seq (scRNA-seq) data, we determined CD73 localization in chronic pancreatitis is primarily observed in mucin/ductal cell populations and immune cells. In murine pancreata challenged with caerulein to induce acute pancreatitis, we compared CD73-/- to WT mice and observed a significant infiltration of Ly6G+, MPO+, and Granzyme B+ cells in CD73-/- compared to WT pancreata and we quantified a significant increase in acinar-to-ductal metaplasia demonstrating sustained metaplasia and inflammation in CD73-/- mice. Using neutrophil depletion in CD73-/- mice, we show neutrophil depletion significantly reduces metaplasia defined by CK19+ cells per field and significantly reduces acute pancreatitis. These data identify CD73 enhancers as a potential therapeutic strategy for patients with acute and chronic pancreatitis as adenosine generation and activation of adenosine receptors is critical to resolve persistent inflammation in the pancreas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Baylee J. O'Brien
- Center for Perioperative Medicine, Department of Anesthesiology, McGovern Medical SchoolThe University of Texas Health Science Center at HoustonHoustonTexasUSA
| | - Erika Y. Faraoni
- Center for Perioperative Medicine, Department of Anesthesiology, McGovern Medical SchoolThe University of Texas Health Science Center at HoustonHoustonTexasUSA
| | - Lincoln N. Strickland
- Center for Perioperative Medicine, Department of Anesthesiology, McGovern Medical SchoolThe University of Texas Health Science Center at HoustonHoustonTexasUSA
| | - Zhibo Ma
- Gene Expression LaboratoryThe Salk Institute for Biological SciencesSan DiegoCaliforniaUSA
| | - Victoria Mota
- Center for Perioperative Medicine, Department of Anesthesiology, McGovern Medical SchoolThe University of Texas Health Science Center at HoustonHoustonTexasUSA
| | - Samantha Mota
- Center for Perioperative Medicine, Department of Anesthesiology, McGovern Medical SchoolThe University of Texas Health Science Center at HoustonHoustonTexasUSA
- The Graduate School of Biomedical SciencesThe University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center and The University of Texas Health Science Center at HoustonHoustonTexasUSA
| | - Xuebo Chen
- Center for Perioperative Medicine, Department of Anesthesiology, McGovern Medical SchoolThe University of Texas Health Science Center at HoustonHoustonTexasUSA
| | - Tingting Mills
- Department of Biochemistry, McGovern Medical SchoolThe University of Texas Health Science Center at HoustonHoustonTexasUSA
| | - Holger K. Eltzschig
- Center for Perioperative Medicine, Department of Anesthesiology, McGovern Medical SchoolThe University of Texas Health Science Center at HoustonHoustonTexasUSA
| | - Kathleen E. DelGiorno
- Department of Cell and Developmental BiologyVanderbilt UniversityNashvilleTennesseeUSA
| | - Jennifer M. Bailey‐Lundberg
- Center for Perioperative Medicine, Department of Anesthesiology, McGovern Medical SchoolThe University of Texas Health Science Center at HoustonHoustonTexasUSA
- The Graduate School of Biomedical SciencesThe University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center and The University of Texas Health Science Center at HoustonHoustonTexasUSA
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24
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Mullen NJ, Thakur R, Shukla SK, Chaika NV, Kollala SS, Wang D, He C, Fujii Y, Sharma S, Mulder SE, Sykes DB, Singh PK. ENT1 blockade by CNX-774 overcomes resistance to DHODH inhibition in pancreatic cancer. Cancer Lett 2023; 552:215981. [PMID: 36341997 PMCID: PMC10305837 DOI: 10.1016/j.canlet.2022.215981] [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: 09/01/2022] [Revised: 10/19/2022] [Accepted: 10/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Inhibitors of dihydroorotate dehydrogenase (DHODH), a key enzyme for de novo synthesis of pyrimidine nucleotides, have failed in clinical trials for various cancers despite robust efficacy in preclinical animal models. To probe for druggable mediators of DHODH inhibitor resistance, we performed a combination screen with a small molecule library against pancreatic cancer cell lines that are highly resistant to the DHODH inhibitor brequinar (BQ). The screen revealed that CNX-774, a preclinical Bruton tyrosine kinase (BTK) inhibitor, sensitizes resistant cell lines to BQ. Mechanistic studies showed that this effect is independent of BTK and instead results from inhibition of equilibrative nucleoside transporter 1 (ENT1) by CNX-774. We show that ENT1 mediates BQ resistance by taking up extracellular uridine, which is salvaged to generate pyrimidine nucleotides in a DHODH-independent manner. In BQ-resistant cell lines, BQ monotherapy slowed proliferation and caused modest pyrimidine nucleotide depletion, whereas combination treatment with BQ and CNX-774 led to profound cell viability loss and pyrimidine starvation. We also identify N-acetylneuraminic acid accumulation as a potential marker of the therapeutic efficacy of DHODH inhibitors. In an aggressive, immunocompetent pancreatic cancer mouse model, combined targeting of DHODH and ENT1 dramatically suppressed tumor growth and prolonged mouse survival. Overall, our study defines CNX-774 as a previously uncharacterized ENT1 inhibitor and provides strong proof of concept support for dual targeting of DHODH and ENT1 in pancreatic cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas J Mullen
- Eppley Institute for Research in Cancer and Allied Diseases, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, 68198, USA
| | - Ravi Thakur
- Department of Oncology Science, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, 73014, USA
| | - Surendra K Shukla
- Department of Oncology Science, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, 73014, USA
| | - Nina V Chaika
- Eppley Institute for Research in Cancer and Allied Diseases, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, 68198, USA
| | - Sai Sundeep Kollala
- Eppley Institute for Research in Cancer and Allied Diseases, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, 68198, USA
| | - Dezhen Wang
- Eppley Institute for Research in Cancer and Allied Diseases, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, 68198, USA
| | - Chunbo He
- Department of Oncology Science, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, 73014, USA
| | - Yuki Fujii
- Department of Oncology Science, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, 73014, USA
| | - Shikhar Sharma
- Department of Oncology Science, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, 73014, USA
| | - Scott E Mulder
- Eppley Institute for Research in Cancer and Allied Diseases, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, 68198, USA
| | - David B Sykes
- Center for Regenerative Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA; Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Cambridge, MA, 02114, USA
| | - Pankaj K Singh
- Eppley Institute for Research in Cancer and Allied Diseases, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, 68198, USA; Department of Oncology Science, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, 73014, USA; OU Health Stephenson Cancer Center, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, 73104, USA.
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25
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Zhang CY, Liu S, Yang M. Clinical diagnosis and management of pancreatic cancer: Markers, molecular mechanisms, and treatment options. World J Gastroenterol 2022; 28:6827-6845. [PMID: 36632312 PMCID: PMC9827589 DOI: 10.3748/wjg.v28.i48.6827] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2022] [Revised: 11/04/2022] [Accepted: 11/29/2022] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Pancreatic cancer (PC) is the third-leading cause of cancer deaths. The overall 5-year survival rate of PC is 9%, and this rate for metastatic PC is below 3%. However, the PC-induced death cases will increase about 2-fold by 2060. Many factors such as genetic and environmental factors and metabolic diseases can drive PC development and progression. The most common type of PC in the clinic is pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma, comprising approximately 90% of PC cases. Multiple pathogenic processes including but not limited to inflammation, fibrosis, angiogenesis, epithelial-mesenchymal transition, and proliferation of cancer stem cells are involved in the initiation and progression of PC. Early diagnosis is essential for curable therapy, for which a combined panel of serum markers is very helpful. Although some mono or combined therapies have been approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration for PC treatment, current therapies have not shown promising outcomes. Fortunately, the development of novel immunotherapies, such as oncolytic viruses-mediated treatments and chimeric antigen receptor-T cells, combined with therapies such as neoadjuvant therapy plus surgery, and advanced delivery systems of immunotherapy will improve therapeutic outcomes and combat drug resistance in PC patients. Herein, the pathogenesis, molecular signaling pathways, diagnostic markers, prognosis, and potential treatments in completed, ongoing, and recruiting clinical trials for PC were reviewed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chun-Ye Zhang
- Christopher S. Bond Life Sciences Center, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, United States
| | - Shuai Liu
- The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310006, Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Ming Yang
- Department of Surgery, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, United States
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Isomoto K, Haratani K, Tsujikawa T, Makutani Y, Kawakami H, Takeda M, Yonesaka K, Tanaka K, Iwasa T, Hayashi H, Ito A, Nishio K, Nakagawa K. Mechanisms of primary and acquired resistance to immune checkpoint inhibitors in advanced non-small cell lung cancer: A multiplex immunohistochemistry-based single-cell analysis. Lung Cancer 2022; 174:71-82. [PMID: 36347190 DOI: 10.1016/j.lungcan.2022.10.012] [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: 08/23/2022] [Revised: 10/07/2022] [Accepted: 10/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have become a key therapeutic modality for advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), but most patients experience primary or acquired resistance to these drugs. We here explored the mechanisms underlying both types of ICI resistance by analysis of the tumor immune microenvironment (TME). MATERIALS AND METHODS Four patients who experienced a long-term response to ICI treatment (progression-free survival [PFS] of ≥12 months) followed by disease progression, after which a rebiopsy was immediately performed (cohort-A), as well as four patients who experienced early tumor progression during ICI treatment (PFS of <9 weeks, cohort-B) were enrolled in this retrospective study. The pretreatment TME was evaluated by 16- or 17-color multiplex immunohistochemistry (mIHC)-based spatial profiling at the single-cell level for both cohorts. In cohort-A, changes in the TME after disease progression during ICI treatment were also investigated by mIHC analysis and transcriptomic analysis. RESULTS Pretreatment tumor tissue from cohort-B manifested poor infiltration of tumor-reactive CD8+ T cells characterized by CD39 and CD103 expression or by programmed cell death-1 expression, implicating insufficient recognition of tumor cells by CD8+ T cells as a mechanism of primary ICI resistance. Analysis of the paired tumor specimens from cohort-A revealed various changes in the TME associated with acquired ICI resistance, including substantial infiltration of myeloid-derived suppressor cells and M2-type tumor-associated macrophages without a marked decline in the number of tumor-reactive CD8+ T cells; a decrease in the number of tumor-reactive CD8+ T cells; and an apparent decrease in neoantigen presentation by tumor cells. CONCLUSION The presence of intratumoral tumor-reactive CD8+ T cells may be a prerequisite for a long-term response to ICI treatment in advanced NSCLC, but it is not sufficient for cancer cell eradication. Various TME profiles are associated with acquired ICI resistance, suggesting that patient-specific strategies to overcome such resistance may be necessary.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kohsuke Isomoto
- Department of Medical Oncology, Kindai University Faculty of Medicine, Osaka-Sayama, Japan
| | - Koji Haratani
- Department of Medical Oncology, Kindai University Faculty of Medicine, Osaka-Sayama, Japan.
| | - Takahiro Tsujikawa
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Yusuke Makutani
- Department of Surgery, Kindai University Faculty of Medicine, Osaka-Sayama, Japan
| | - Hisato Kawakami
- Department of Medical Oncology, Kindai University Faculty of Medicine, Osaka-Sayama, Japan
| | - Masayuki Takeda
- Department of Medical Oncology, Kindai University Faculty of Medicine, Osaka-Sayama, Japan
| | - Kimio Yonesaka
- Department of Medical Oncology, Kindai University Faculty of Medicine, Osaka-Sayama, Japan
| | - Kaoru Tanaka
- Department of Medical Oncology, Kindai University Faculty of Medicine, Osaka-Sayama, Japan
| | - Tsutomu Iwasa
- Department of Medical Oncology, Kindai University Faculty of Medicine, Osaka-Sayama, Japan
| | - Hidetoshi Hayashi
- Department of Medical Oncology, Kindai University Faculty of Medicine, Osaka-Sayama, Japan
| | - Akihiko Ito
- Department of Pathology, Kindai University Faculty of Medicine, Osaka-Sayama, Japan
| | - Kazuto Nishio
- Department of Genome Biology, Kindai University Faculty of Medicine, Osaka-Sayama, Japan
| | - Kazuhiko Nakagawa
- Department of Medical Oncology, Kindai University Faculty of Medicine, Osaka-Sayama, Japan
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Apfelbaum AA, Wrenn ED, Lawlor ER. The importance of fusion protein activity in Ewing sarcoma and the cell intrinsic and extrinsic factors that regulate it: A review. Front Oncol 2022; 12:1044707. [PMID: 36505823 PMCID: PMC9727305 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2022.1044707] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2022] [Accepted: 10/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Accumulating evidence shows that despite clonal origins tumors eventually become complex communities comprised of phenotypically distinct cell subpopulations. This heterogeneity arises from both tumor cell intrinsic programs and signals from spatially and temporally dynamic microenvironments. While pediatric cancers usually lack the mutational burden of adult cancers, they still exhibit high levels of cellular heterogeneity that are largely mediated by epigenetic mechanisms. Ewing sarcomas are aggressive bone and soft tissue malignancies with peak incidence in adolescence and the prognosis for patients with relapsed and metastatic disease is dismal. Ewing sarcomas are driven by a single pathognomonic fusion between a FET protein and an ETS family transcription factor, the most common of which is EWS::FLI1. Despite sharing a single driver mutation, Ewing sarcoma cells demonstrate a high degree of transcriptional heterogeneity both between and within tumors. Recent studies have identified differential fusion protein activity as a key source of this heterogeneity which leads to profoundly different cellular phenotypes. Paradoxically, increased invasive and metastatic potential is associated with lower EWS::FLI1 activity. Here, we review what is currently understood about EWS::FLI1 activity, the cell autonomous and tumor microenvironmental factors that regulate it, and the downstream consequences of these activity states on tumor progression. We specifically highlight how transcription factor regulation, signaling pathway modulation, and the extracellular matrix intersect to create a complex network of tumor cell phenotypes. We propose that elucidation of the mechanisms by which these essential elements interact will enable the development of novel therapeutic approaches that are designed to target this complexity and ultimately improve patient outcomes.
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28
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Kumar A, Taghi Khani A, Sanchez Ortiz A, Swaminathan S. GM-CSF: A Double-Edged Sword in Cancer Immunotherapy. Front Immunol 2022; 13:901277. [PMID: 35865534 PMCID: PMC9294178 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.901277] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 26.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2022] [Accepted: 06/06/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) is a cytokine that drives the generation of myeloid cell subsets including neutrophils, monocytes, macrophages, and dendritic cells in response to stress, infections, and cancers. By modulating the functions of innate immune cells that serve as a bridge to activate adaptive immune responses, GM-CSF globally impacts host immune surveillance under pathologic conditions. As with other soluble mediators of immunity, too much or too little GM-CSF has been found to promote cancer aggressiveness. While too little GM-CSF prevents the appropriate production of innate immune cells and subsequent activation of adaptive anti-cancer immune responses, too much of GM-CSF can exhaust immune cells and promote cancer growth. The consequences of GM-CSF signaling in cancer progression are a function of the levels of GM-CSF, the cancer type, and the tumor microenvironment. In this review, we first discuss the secretion of GM-CSF, signaling downstream of the GM-CSF receptor, and GM-CSF’s role in modulating myeloid cell homeostasis. We then outline GM-CSF’s anti-tumorigenic and pro-tumorigenic effects both on the malignant cells and on the non-malignant immune and other cells in the tumor microenvironment. We provide examples of current clinical and preclinical strategies that harness GM-CSF’s anti-cancer potential while minimizing its deleterious effects. We describe the challenges in achieving the Goldilocks effect during administration of GM-CSF-based therapies to patients with cancer. Finally, we provide insights into how technologies that map the immune microenvironment spatially and temporally may be leveraged to intelligently harness GM-CSF for treatment of malignancies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anil Kumar
- Department of Systems Biology, Beckman Research Institute of City of Hope, Monrovia, CA, United States
| | - Adeleh Taghi Khani
- Department of Systems Biology, Beckman Research Institute of City of Hope, Monrovia, CA, United States
| | - Ashly Sanchez Ortiz
- Department of Systems Biology, Beckman Research Institute of City of Hope, Monrovia, CA, United States
| | - Srividya Swaminathan
- Department of Systems Biology, Beckman Research Institute of City of Hope, Monrovia, CA, United States
- Department of Hematological Malignancies, Beckman Research Institute of City of Hope, Monrovia, CA, United States
- *Correspondence: Srividya Swaminathan,
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Austermann J, Roth J, Barczyk-Kahlert K. The Good and the Bad: Monocytes' and Macrophages' Diverse Functions in Inflammation. Cells 2022; 11:cells11121979. [PMID: 35741108 PMCID: PMC9222172 DOI: 10.3390/cells11121979] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2022] [Revised: 06/08/2022] [Accepted: 06/16/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Monocytes and macrophages are central players of the innate immune response and play a pivotal role in the regulation of inflammation. Thereby, they actively participate in all phases of the immune response, from initiating inflammation and triggering the adaptive immune response, through to the clearance of cell debris and resolution of inflammation. In this review, we described the mechanisms of monocyte and macrophage adaptation to rapidly changing microenvironmental conditions and discussed different forms of macrophage polarization depending on the environmental cues or pathophysiological condition. Therefore, special focus was placed on the tight regulation of the pro- and anti-inflammatory immune response, and the diverse functions of S100A8/S100A9 proteins and the scavenger receptor CD163 were highlighted, respectively. We paid special attention to the function of pro- and anti-inflammatory macrophages under pathological conditions.
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Zhang Y, Murphy S, Lu X. Cancer-cell-intrinsic mechanisms regulate MDSCs through cytokine networks. INTERNATIONAL REVIEW OF CELL AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2022; 375:1-31. [PMID: 36967150 DOI: 10.1016/bs.ircmb.2022.09.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Immunotherapy has shifted the paradigm of cancer treatment. However, the majority of cancer patients display de novo or acquired resistance to immunotherapy. One of the main mechanisms of immunotherapy resistance is the immunosuppressive microenvironment dominated by the myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs). Emerging evidence demonstrates that genetic or epigenetic aberrations in cancer cells shape the accumulation and activation of MDSCs. Understanding this genotype-immunophenotype relationship is critical to the rational design of combination immunotherapy. Here, we review the mechanisms of how molecular changes in cancer cells induce recruitment and reprogram the function of tumor-infiltrating myeloid cells, particularly MDSCs. Tumor-infiltrating MDSCs elicit various pro-tumor functions to promote tumor cell fitness, immune evasion, angiogenesis, tissue remodeling, and metastasis. Through understanding the genotype-immunophenotype relationship between neoplastic cells and MDSCs, new approaches can be developed to tailor current immunotherapy strategies to improve cancer patient outcomes.
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