FOXD1 is a prognostic biomarker and correlated with macrophages infiltration in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma

Neural crest-associated gene FOXD1 induces an immunosuppressive microenvironment by regulating myeloid-derived suppressor cells in melanoma

BACKGROUND

Neural crest-associated genes play pivotal roles in tumor initiation, progression, and the intricate dynamics of the tumor microenvironment (TME). Myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSC) within the TME are important in dampening T cell activity and contributing to resistance against immunotherapeutic interventions. The neural crest-associated gene Forkhead Box D1 (FOXD1) has been identified as an oncogenic factor that induces melanoma dedifferentiation and progression. However, the underlying mechanisms and the impact of FOXD1 on the antitumor immune response remain unclear.

METHODS

To investigate the impacts of FOXD1 on the melanoma microenvironment, we analyzed publicly available datasets from multiple platforms, including TNMplot, TIMER2.0, etc. In addition, FOXD1 was overexpressed (OE) or knocked down in melanoma cells to identify its biological functions in vitro and in vivo. Flow cytometry and arginase activity assay were used to analyze the phenotype and function of MDSC. Western blot, reverse transcription-PCR, or ELISA assays were employed to analyze the expression of FOXD1 and its downstream effectors. In vivo experiments were conducted to investigate the role of FOXD1 in melanoma progression and the influence on MDSC accumulation within the TME.

RESULTS

We demonstrate that increased FOXD1 levels inversely correlated with melanoma responsiveness to immunotherapy. Ex-vivo analyses unveiled that monocytes, exposed to conditioned medium from FOXD1-OE melanoma cells, effectively suppressed T cell proliferation and upregulated the expression of programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) and other immunosuppressive factors. FOXD1 was identified as a direct regulator of interleukin 6 (IL6) expression, which is pivotal for MDSC induction. Blocking IL6 reversed MDSC-associated immunosuppression. Additionally, miR-581, a potential negative regulator of FOXD1, attenuated the impact of FOXD1 on IL6 expression and MDSC differentiation. In vivo experiments demonstrated that tumors derived from FOXD1 OE melanoma cells contained a significantly higher frequency of PD-L1+ MDSC compared with controls, while FOXD1 knockdown resulted in reduced tumor growth and diminished MDSC accumulation.

CONCLUSION

Our study elucidated a novel function of FOXD1 in melanoma pathogenesis, highlighting its role in orchestrating the immunosuppressive TME by promoting the generation of MDSC via IL6 upregulation.

Waterpipe smoke condensate induces epithelial-mesenchymal transformation and promotes metastasis of oral cancer by FOXD1 expression

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE

Smoking is a major contributor to global oral cancer cases, necessitating urgent intervention. FOXD1, involved in developmental processes and various cancers, shows promise as a prognostic marker in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). This study investigates the impact of waterpipe smoke condensate (WPSC) on OSCC, focusing on FOXD1 role in inducing epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and metastasis.

METHODS

The study involved using OSCC cells treated with WPSC to evaluate their proliferation, colony formation, gene expression, and protein levels. The researchers also explored the clinical relevance of their findings using online databases to analyze FOXD1 expression in cancer tissues and its correlation with clinicopathological features and patient survival. Additionally, in silico tools were employed for functional analysis, pathway enrichment, and network exploration.

RESULTS

The study found that WPSC increased the expression of FOXD1 in OSCC cells, which led to increased cell growth. The study also showed that FOXD1 plays a critical role in the EMT process induced by WPSC, as evidenced by changes in the expression of EMT-related genes and proteins. Clinical analysis revealed that FOXD1 was significantly associated with more aggressive tumor features and poorer prognosis in cancer patients.

CONCLUSION

The study highlights FOXD1 as a key player in OSCC pathogenesis and a potential prognostic marker and therapeutic target, particularly when influenced by WPSC exposure. Further research is needed to explore FOXD1 molecular mechanisms and clinical implications to enhance OSCC treatment strategies.

Dissecting multifunctional roles of forkhead box transcription factor D1 in cancers

As a member of the forkhead box (FOX) family of transcription factors (TF), FOXD1 has recently been implicated as a crucial regulator in a variety of human cancers. Accumulating evidence has established dysregulated and aberrant FOXD1 signaling as a prominent feature in cancer development and progression. However, there is a lack of systematic review on this topic. Here, we summarized the present understanding of FOXD1 functions in cancer biology and reviewed the downstream targets and upstream regulatory mechanisms of FOXD1 as well as the related signaling pathways within the context of current reports. We highlighted the functional features of FOXD1 in cancers to identify the future research consideration of this multifunctional transcription factor and potential therapeutic strategies targeting its oncogenic activity.

FOXD1 expression-based prognostic model for uveal melanoma

FOXD1, a new member of the FOX transcription factor family, serves as a mediator and biomarker for cell reprogramming. But its contribution to prognosis of uveal melanoma (UVM) is unclear. This study demonstrated that FOXD1 might promote tumor growth and invasion, because FOXD1 expression was negatively correlated with overall survival, progression-free survival, and disease-specific survival in UVM patients. This conjecture was verified in cell culture with human uveal melanoma cell line (MUM2B) as model cells. Additionally, the biological mechanisms of FOXD1 based on FOXD1-related genomic spectrum, molecular pathways, tumor microenvironment, and drug treatment sensitivity were examined using The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database, aiming to reasonably explain why FOXD1 leads to poor prognosis of UVM. On these bases, a novel tumor prognostic model was established using the FOXD1-related immunomodulators TMEM173, TNFRSF4, TNFSF13, and ULBP1, which will enable the stratification of disease seriousness and clinical treatment for patients.

NUTF2 as a Prognostic Indicator and Potential Therapeutic Target in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Aim: To identify genes associated with the prognosis of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSC) and potential molecular targets for therapy. Materials and Methods: Gene Expression Profiling Interactive Analysis, Human Protein Atlas, University of ALabama at Birmingham CANcer, LinkedOmics, cBioPortal, Cell Counting Kit 8, and polymerase chain reaction were used in this study. Results: The expression level of nuclear transport factor 2 (NUTF2) was elevated in HNSC tissues and was associated with poor prognosis in HNSC patients. NUTF2-targeted intervention inhibited the proliferation of HNSC cells. SEC61G, which was positively correlated with NUTF2, was decreased in HNSC cells with NUTF2 suppression. Conclusions: NUTF2 may be correlated with the prognosis and development of HNSC, laying the foundation for future studies on the potential role of NUTF2 in HNSC.

The Role of Immune Modulatory Cytokines in the Tumor Microenvironments of Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinomas

Simple Summary

Malignant phenotypes of head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCCs) are regulated by the pro- and anti-tumoral activities of immune modulatory cytokines associated with tumor microenvironments (TMEs). We first present the immune modulatory effects of pro-inflammatory cytokines, pro- and anti- (pro-/anti-) inflammatory cytokines, and anti-inflammatory cytokines upon HNSCC phenotypes. We then report our evaluation of the functions of cytokines and chemokines that mediate the crosstalk between tumors and stromal cells, including cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs), myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs), plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs), and tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs). In HNSCCs, the status of lymph node metastasis is an important hallmark of a worse prognosis. Several chemokines mediate lymph node metastases in HNSCC patients. There are therapeutic approaches, using antitumoral cytokines or immunotherapies, that target cytokines, chemokines, or signal molecules essential for the immune evasion of HNSCCs. Finally, modulation by human papilloma virus (HPV) infection in HNSCC phenotypes and the prognostic significance of serum cytokine levels in HNSCC patients are discussed.

Abstract

HNSCCs are the major progressive malignancy of the upper digestive and respiratory organs. Malignant phenotypes of HNSCCs are regulated by the pro- and anti-tumoral activities of the immune modulatory cytokines associated with TMEs, i.e., a representative pro-inflammatory cytokine, interferon (IFN)-γ, plays a role as an anti-tumor regulator against HNSCCs; however, IFN-γ also drives programmed death-ligand (PD-L) 1 expression to promote cancer stem cells. Interleukin (IL)-2 promotes the cytotoxic activity of T cells and natural killer cells; however, endogenous IL-2 can promote regulatory T cells (Tregs), resulting in the protection of HNSCCs. In this report, we first classified and mentioned the immune modulatory aspects of pro-inflammatory cytokines, pro-/anti-inflammatory cytokines, and anti-inflammatory cytokines upon HNSCC phenotypes. In the TME of HNSCCs, pro-tumoral immune modulation is mediated by stromal cells, including CAFs, MDSCs, pDCs, and TAMs. Therefore, we evaluated the functions of cytokines and chemokines that mediate the crosstalk between tumor cells and stromal cells. In HNSCCs, the status of lymph node metastasis is an important hallmark of a worse prognosis. We therefore evaluated the possibility of chemokines mediating lymph node metastases in HNSCC patients. We also mention therapeutic approaches using anti-tumoral cytokines or immunotherapies that target cytokines, chemokines, or signal molecules essential for the immune evasion of HNSCCs. We finally discuss modulation by HPV infection upon HNSCC phenotypes, as well as the prognostic significance of serum cytokine levels in HNSCC patients.