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Cavazzoni A, Digiacomo G, Volta F, Alfieri R, Giovannetti E, Gnetti L, Bellini L, Galetti M, Fumarola C, Xu G, Bonelli M, La Monica S, Verzè M, Leonetti A, Eltayeb K, D'Agnelli S, Moron Dalla Tor L, Minari R, Petronini PG, Tiseo M. PD-L1 overexpression induces STAT signaling and promotes the secretion of pro-angiogenic cytokines in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Lung Cancer 2024; 187:107438. [PMID: 38100954 DOI: 10.1016/j.lungcan.2023.107438] [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: 11/22/2023] [Accepted: 12/07/2023] [Indexed: 12/17/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Monoclonal antibodies (ICI) targeting the immune checkpoint PD-1/PD-L1 alone or in combination with chemotherapy have demonstrated relevant benefits and established new standards of care in first-line treatment for advanced non-oncogene addicted non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, a relevant percentage of NSCLC patients, even with high PD-L1 expression, did not respond to ICI, highlighting the presence of intracellular resistance mechanisms that could be dependent on high PD-L1 levels. The intracellular signaling induced by PD-L1 in tumor cells and their correlation with angiogenic signaling pathways are not yet fully elucidated. METHODS The intrinsic role of PD-L1 was initially checked in two PD-L1 overexpressing NSCLC cells by transcriptome profile and kinase array. The correlation of PD-L1 with VEGF, PECAM-1, and angiogenesis was evaluated in a cohort of advanced NSCLC patients. The secreted cytokines involved in tumor angiogenesis were assessed by Luminex assay and their effect on Huvec migration by a non-contact co-culture system. RESULTS PD-L1 overexpressing cells modulated pathways involved in tumor inflammation and JAK-STAT signaling. In NSCLC patients, PD-L1 expression was correlated with high tumor intra-vasculature. When challenged with PBMC, PD-L1 overexpressing cells produced higher levels of pro-angiogenic factors compared to parental cells, as a consequence of STAT signaling activation. This increased production of cytokines involved in tumor angiogenesis largely stimulated Huvec migration. Finally, the addition of the anti-antiangiogenic agent nintedanib significantly reduced the spread of Huvec cells when exposed to high levels of pro-angiogenic factors. CONCLUSIONS In this study, we reported that high PD-L1 modulates STAT signaling in the presence of PBMC and induces pro-angiogenic factor secretion. This could enforce the role of PD-L1 as a crucial regulator of the tumor microenvironment stimulating tumor progression, both as an inhibitor of T-cell activity and as a promoter of tumor angiogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Cavazzoni
- Department of Medicine and Surgery University of Parma, Parma, Italy.
| | - G Digiacomo
- Department of Medicine and Surgery University of Parma, Parma, Italy
| | - F Volta
- Department of Medicine and Surgery University of Parma, Parma, Italy
| | - R Alfieri
- Department of Medicine and Surgery University of Parma, Parma, Italy
| | - E Giovannetti
- Department of Medical Oncology, Amsterdam University Medical Center, VU University, Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Fondazione Pisana per la Scienza ONLUS, Pisa, Italy
| | - L Gnetti
- Pathology Unit, University Hospital of Parma, Parma, Italy
| | - L Bellini
- Italian Society of Medicine and Scientific Divulgation, SIMED, Parma, Italy
| | - M Galetti
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Epidemiology and Hygiene, Italian Workers' Compensation Authority-INAIL, 00078 Rome, Italy
| | - C Fumarola
- Department of Medicine and Surgery University of Parma, Parma, Italy
| | - G Xu
- Department of Medical Oncology, Amsterdam University Medical Center, VU University, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - M Bonelli
- Department of Medicine and Surgery University of Parma, Parma, Italy
| | - S La Monica
- Department of Medicine and Surgery University of Parma, Parma, Italy
| | - M Verzè
- Department of Medicine and Surgery University of Parma, Parma, Italy; Medical Oncology Unit, University Hospital of Parma, Parma, Italy
| | - A Leonetti
- Medical Oncology Unit, University Hospital of Parma, Parma, Italy
| | - K Eltayeb
- Department of Medicine and Surgery University of Parma, Parma, Italy
| | - S D'Agnelli
- Department of Medicine and Surgery University of Parma, Parma, Italy; Medical Oncology Unit, University Hospital of Parma, Parma, Italy
| | | | - R Minari
- Medical Oncology Unit, University Hospital of Parma, Parma, Italy
| | - P G Petronini
- Department of Medicine and Surgery University of Parma, Parma, Italy
| | - M Tiseo
- Department of Medicine and Surgery University of Parma, Parma, Italy; Medical Oncology Unit, University Hospital of Parma, Parma, Italy
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Thapa K, Khan H, Kaur G, Kumar P, Singh TG. Therapeutic targeting of angiopoietins in tumor angiogenesis and cancer development. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2023; 687:149130. [PMID: 37944468 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2023.149130] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2023] [Revised: 10/12/2023] [Accepted: 10/17/2023] [Indexed: 11/12/2023]
Abstract
The formation and progression of tumors in humans are linked to the abnormal development of new blood vessels known as neo-angiogenesis. Angiogenesis is a broad word that encompasses endothelial cell migration, proliferation, tube formation, and intussusception, as well as peri-EC recruitment and extracellular matrix formation. Tumor angiogenesis is regulated by angiogenic factors, out of which some of the most potent angiogenic factors such as vascular endothelial growth factor and Angiopoietins (ANGs) in the body are produced by macrophages and other immune cells within the tumor microenvironment. ANGs have a distinct function in tumor angiogenesis and behavior. ANG1, ANG 2, ANG 3, and ANG 4 are the family members of ANG out of which ANG2 has been extensively investigated owing to its unique role in modifying angiogenesis and its tight association with tumor progression, growth, and invasion/metastasis, which makes it an excellent candidate for therapeutic intervention in human malignancies. ANG modulators have demonstrated encouraging outcomes in the treatment of tumor development, either alone or in conjunction with VEGF inhibitors. Future development of more ANG modulators targeting other ANGs is needed. The implication of ANG1, ANG3, and ANG4 as probable therapeutic targets for anti-angiogenesis treatment in tumor development should be also evaluated. The article has described the role of ANG in tumor angiogenesis as well as tumor growth and the treatment strategies modulating ANGs in tumor angiogenesis as demonstrated in clinical studies. The pharmacological modulation of ANGs and ANG-regulated pathways that are responsible for tumor angiogenesis and cancer development should be evaluated for the development of future molecular therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Komal Thapa
- Chitkara School of Pharmacy, Chitkara University, 174103, Himachal Pradesh, India
| | - Heena Khan
- Chitkara College of Pharmacy, Chitkara University, 140401, Punjab, India
| | - Gagandeep Kaur
- Chitkara School of Pharmacy, Chitkara University, 174103, Himachal Pradesh, India
| | - Puneet Kumar
- Department of Pharmacology, Central University of Punjab, Ghudda, 151401, Bathinda, India
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Roos-Mattila M, Kaprio T, Mustonen H, Hagström J, Saharinen P, Haglund C, Seppänen H. The possible dual role of Ang-2 in the prognosis of pancreatic cancer. Sci Rep 2023; 13:18725. [PMID: 37907568 PMCID: PMC10618172 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-45194-0] [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: 05/15/2023] [Accepted: 10/17/2023] [Indexed: 11/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) features a dense desmoplastic stroma, which raises the intratumoral interstitial pressure leading to vascular collapse and hypoxia, inducing angiogenesis. Vascular growth factors, such as vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and angiopoietin-2 (Ang-2), increase in PDAC. A high VEGF and a high circulating Ang-2 associate with shorter survival in PDAC. In addition to the circulatory Ang-2, PDAC endothelial and epithelial cells express Ang-2. No correlation between tumor epithelial nor endothelial cell Ang-2 expression and survival has been published. We aimed to examine Ang-2 expression and survival. This study comprised PDAC surgical patients at Helsinki University Hospital in 2000-2013. Ang-2 immunohistochemistry staining was completed on 168 PDAC patient samples. Circulating Ang-2 levels were measured using ELISA in the sera of 196 patients. Ang-2 levels were assessed against clinical data and patient outcomes. A low tumor epithelial Ang-2 expression predicted shorter disease-specific survival (DSS) compared with a high expression (p = 0.003). A high serum Ang-2 associated with shorter DSS compared with a low circulating Ang-2 (p = 0.016). Ang-2 seemingly plays a dual role in PDAC survival. Further studies are needed to determine the mechanisms causing tumor cell Ang-2 expression and its positive association with survival.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matilda Roos-Mattila
- Department of Surgery, Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland
- Translational Cancer Medicine Research Program, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
- iCAN, Digital Cancer Precision Medicine, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Tuomas Kaprio
- Department of Surgery, Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland.
- Translational Cancer Medicine Research Program, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.
- iCAN, Digital Cancer Precision Medicine, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland.
- Department of Pathology, Haartmaninkatu 3 (PB 21), University of Helsinki, 00014, Helsinki, Finland.
| | - Harri Mustonen
- Department of Surgery, Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland
- Translational Cancer Medicine Research Program, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
- iCAN, Digital Cancer Precision Medicine, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Jaana Hagström
- Department of Surgery, Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland
- Translational Cancer Medicine Research Program, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
- iCAN, Digital Cancer Precision Medicine, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland
- Department of Oral Pathology and Radiology, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
| | - Pipsa Saharinen
- Wihuri Research Institute, Biomedicum Helsinki, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
- Translational Cancer Medicine Research Program, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
- iCAN, Digital Cancer Precision Medicine, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Caj Haglund
- Department of Surgery, Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland
- Translational Cancer Medicine Research Program, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
- iCAN, Digital Cancer Precision Medicine, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Hanna Seppänen
- Department of Surgery, Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland
- Translational Cancer Medicine Research Program, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
- iCAN, Digital Cancer Precision Medicine, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland
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