1
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Ucche S, Hayakawa Y. Immunological Aspects of Cancer Cell Metabolism. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:5288. [PMID: 38791327 PMCID: PMC11120853 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25105288] [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: 04/12/2024] [Revised: 05/09/2024] [Accepted: 05/09/2024] [Indexed: 05/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Cancer cells adeptly manipulate their metabolic processes to evade immune detection, a phenomenon intensifying the complexity of cancer progression and therapy. This review delves into the critical role of cancer cell metabolism in the immune-editing landscape, highlighting how metabolic reprogramming facilitates tumor cells to thrive despite immune surveillance pressures. We explore the dynamic interactions within the tumor microenvironment (TME), where cancer cells not only accelerate their glucose and amino acid metabolism but also induce an immunosuppressive state that hampers effective immune response. Recent findings underscore the metabolic competition between tumor and immune cells, particularly focusing on how this interaction influences the efficacy of emerging immunotherapies. By integrating cutting-edge research on the metabolic pathways of cancer cells, such as the Warburg effect and glutamine addiction, we shed light on potential therapeutic targets. The review proposes that disrupting these metabolic pathways could enhance the response to immunotherapy, offering a dual-pronged strategy to combat tumor growth and immune evasion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sisca Ucche
- Institute of Natural Medicine, University of Toyama, Toyama 930-0194, Japan;
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Yogyakarta 55281, Indonesia
| | - Yoshihiro Hayakawa
- Institute of Natural Medicine, University of Toyama, Toyama 930-0194, Japan;
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2
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Pfefferle A, Contet J, Wong K, Chen C, Verhoeyen E, Slichter CK, Schluns KS, Cursons J, Berry R, Nikolic I, Rautela J, Huntington ND. Optimisation of a primary human CAR-NK cell manufacturing pipeline. Clin Transl Immunology 2024; 13:e1507. [PMID: 38707997 PMCID: PMC11063921 DOI: 10.1002/cti2.1507] [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: 11/20/2023] [Revised: 03/20/2024] [Accepted: 04/11/2024] [Indexed: 05/07/2024] Open
Abstract
Objectives Autologous chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy of B-cell malignancies achieves long-term disease remission in a high fraction of patients and has triggered intense research into translating this successful approach into additional cancer types. However, the complex logistics involved in autologous CAR-T manufacturing, the compromised fitness of patient-derived T cells, the high rates of serious toxicities and the overall cost involved with product manufacturing and hospitalisation have driven innovation to overcome such hurdles. One alternative approach is the use of allogeneic natural killer (NK) cells as a source for CAR-NK cell therapy. However, this source has traditionally faced numerous manufacturing challenges. Methods To address this, we have developed an optimised expansion and transduction protocol for primary human NK cells primed for manufacturing scaling and clinical evaluation. We have performed an in-depth comparison of primary human NK cell sources as a starting material by characterising their phenotype, functionality, expansion potential and transduction efficiency at crucial timepoints of our CAR-NK manufacturing pipeline. Results We identified adult peripheral blood-derived NK cells to be the superior source for generating a CAR-NK cell product because of a higher maximum yield of CAR-expressing NK cells combined with potent natural, as well as CAR-mediated anti-tumor effector functions. Conclusions Our optimised manufacturing pipeline dramatically improves lentiviral transduction efficiency of primary human NK cells. We conclude that the exponential expansion pre- and post-transduction and high on-target cytotoxicity make peripheral blood-derived NK cells a feasible and attractive CAR-NK cell product for clinical utility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aline Pfefferle
- Biomedicine Discovery Institute and the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular BiologyMonash UniversityClaytonVICAustralia
- oNKo‐Innate Pty LtdMoonee PondsVICAustralia
| | | | | | | | - Els Verhoeyen
- CIRI, Université de Lyon, INSERM U1111, ENS de LyonUniversité Lyon 1, CNRS, UMR 5308LyonFrance
- INSERM, C3MUniversité Côte d'AzurNiceFrance
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Jai Rautela
- Biomedicine Discovery Institute and the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular BiologyMonash UniversityClaytonVICAustralia
- oNKo‐Innate Pty LtdMoonee PondsVICAustralia
| | - Nicholas D Huntington
- Biomedicine Discovery Institute and the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular BiologyMonash UniversityClaytonVICAustralia
- oNKo‐Innate Pty LtdMoonee PondsVICAustralia
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3
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Emilius L, Bremm F, Binder AK, Schaft N, Dörrie J. Tumor Antigens beyond the Human Exome. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:4673. [PMID: 38731892 PMCID: PMC11083240 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25094673] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2024] [Revised: 04/18/2024] [Accepted: 04/22/2024] [Indexed: 05/13/2024] Open
Abstract
With the advent of immunotherapeutics, a new era in the combat against cancer has begun. Particularly promising are neo-epitope-targeted therapies as the expression of neo-antigens is tumor-specific. In turn, this allows the selective targeting and killing of cancer cells whilst healthy cells remain largely unaffected. So far, many advances have been made in the development of treatment options which are tailored to the individual neo-epitope repertoire. The next big step is the achievement of efficacious "off-the-shelf" immunotherapies. For this, shared neo-epitopes propose an optimal target. Given the tremendous potential, a thorough understanding of the underlying mechanisms which lead to the formation of neo-antigens is of fundamental importance. Here, we review the various processes which result in the formation of neo-epitopes. Broadly, the origin of neo-epitopes can be categorized into three groups: canonical, noncanonical, and viral neo-epitopes. For the canonical neo-antigens that arise in direct consequence of somatic mutations, we summarize past and recent findings. Beyond that, our main focus is put on the discussion of noncanonical and viral neo-epitopes as we believe that targeting those provides an encouraging perspective to shape the future of cancer immunotherapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisabeth Emilius
- Department of Dermatology, Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, 91054 Erlangen, Germany; (L.E.); (F.B.); (A.K.B.); (J.D.)
- Comprehensive Cancer Center Erlangen European Metropolitan Area of Nuremberg (CCC ER-EMN), 91054 Erlangen, Germany
- Deutsches Zentrum Immuntherapie (DZI), 91054 Erlangen, Germany
- Bavarian Cancer Research Center (BZKF), 91054 Erlangen, Germany
| | - Franziska Bremm
- Department of Dermatology, Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, 91054 Erlangen, Germany; (L.E.); (F.B.); (A.K.B.); (J.D.)
- Comprehensive Cancer Center Erlangen European Metropolitan Area of Nuremberg (CCC ER-EMN), 91054 Erlangen, Germany
- Deutsches Zentrum Immuntherapie (DZI), 91054 Erlangen, Germany
- Bavarian Cancer Research Center (BZKF), 91054 Erlangen, Germany
| | - Amanda Katharina Binder
- Department of Dermatology, Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, 91054 Erlangen, Germany; (L.E.); (F.B.); (A.K.B.); (J.D.)
- Comprehensive Cancer Center Erlangen European Metropolitan Area of Nuremberg (CCC ER-EMN), 91054 Erlangen, Germany
- Deutsches Zentrum Immuntherapie (DZI), 91054 Erlangen, Germany
- Bavarian Cancer Research Center (BZKF), 91054 Erlangen, Germany
| | - Niels Schaft
- Department of Dermatology, Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, 91054 Erlangen, Germany; (L.E.); (F.B.); (A.K.B.); (J.D.)
- Comprehensive Cancer Center Erlangen European Metropolitan Area of Nuremberg (CCC ER-EMN), 91054 Erlangen, Germany
- Deutsches Zentrum Immuntherapie (DZI), 91054 Erlangen, Germany
- Bavarian Cancer Research Center (BZKF), 91054 Erlangen, Germany
| | - Jan Dörrie
- Department of Dermatology, Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, 91054 Erlangen, Germany; (L.E.); (F.B.); (A.K.B.); (J.D.)
- Comprehensive Cancer Center Erlangen European Metropolitan Area of Nuremberg (CCC ER-EMN), 91054 Erlangen, Germany
- Deutsches Zentrum Immuntherapie (DZI), 91054 Erlangen, Germany
- Bavarian Cancer Research Center (BZKF), 91054 Erlangen, Germany
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4
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Piening A, Ebert E, Gottlieb C, Khojandi N, Kuehm LM, Hoft SG, Pyles KD, McCommis KS, DiPaolo RJ, Ferris ST, Alspach E, Teague RM. Obesity-related T cell dysfunction impairs immunosurveillance and increases cancer risk. Nat Commun 2024; 15:2835. [PMID: 38565540 PMCID: PMC10987624 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-47359-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2023] [Accepted: 03/28/2024] [Indexed: 04/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Obesity is a well-established risk factor for human cancer, yet the underlying mechanisms remain elusive. Immune dysfunction is commonly associated with obesity but whether compromised immune surveillance contributes to cancer susceptibility in individuals with obesity is unclear. Here we use a mouse model of diet-induced obesity to investigate tumor-infiltrating CD8 + T cell responses in lean, obese, and previously obese hosts that lost weight through either dietary restriction or treatment with semaglutide. While both strategies reduce body mass, only dietary intervention restores T cell function and improves responses to immunotherapy. In mice exposed to a chemical carcinogen, obesity-related immune dysfunction leads to higher incidence of sarcoma development. However, impaired immunoediting in the obese environment enhances tumor immunogenicity, making the malignancies highly sensitive to immunotherapy. These findings offer insight into the complex interplay between obesity, immunity and cancer, and provide explanation for the obesity paradox observed in clinical immunotherapy settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander Piening
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Saint Louis University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Emily Ebert
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Saint Louis University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Carter Gottlieb
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Saint Louis University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Niloufar Khojandi
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Saint Louis University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Lindsey M Kuehm
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Saint Louis University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Stella G Hoft
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Saint Louis University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Kelly D Pyles
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Saint Louis University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Kyle S McCommis
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Saint Louis University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Richard J DiPaolo
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Saint Louis University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Stephen T Ferris
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Saint Louis University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Elise Alspach
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Saint Louis University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Ryan M Teague
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Saint Louis University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA.
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5
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Chang CY, Chang SC, Wei YF, Tseng YT, Chou CH, Chen YY, Chen CY, Ye YL. Exploring the evolution of T cell function and diversity across different stages of non-small cell lung cancer. Am J Cancer Res 2024; 14:1243-1257. [PMID: 38590421 PMCID: PMC10998748 DOI: 10.62347/aryh6451] [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: 12/13/2023] [Accepted: 03/11/2024] [Indexed: 04/10/2024] Open
Abstract
The immune system plays a key role in detecting and fighting cancerous tumors. T cells are a crucial component in both natural and therapeutic cancer immunoediting responses, but it is unclear if they are the primary agents of these processes. In this study, patients with lung lesions detected by CT scan were selected, and their peripheral blood samples were analyzed for T cell population and serum cytokines/chemokines. T cell subtypes (CD3, CD4, CD8, CD27, CD28, CD45, CD45RA, CD57, CCR7, and PD1) and serum cytokines/chemokines (IL-2, IL-6, IL-10, IFN-γ, TGF-β, TNFα, CXCL1, CXCL9, and CXCL12) were measured by flow cytometry and analysis before surgical resection or other cancer treatments. The frequency of T cell subpopulations in patients with lung cancer (n = 111) corresponded to those seen in patients with T cell exhaustion. As lung cancer progressed, the proportion of effector memory T cells decreased, while the proportion of naive T cells, PD-1, CD57+, CD28+CD27+, CD45RA+, and CD3+CD4+CCR7 increased. Circulating CD8+PD1+ T cells were positively correlated with intra-tumoral PD-L1 expression. Concurrently, serum levels of IL-2, TGF-β, and CXCL9 decreased, while IL-6, IL-10, IFN-γ, and CXCL12 increased during the progression of lung cancer. In conclusion, T cell dysfunction is associated with cancer progression, particularly in advanced-stage lung cancer, and cancer immunoediting will provide early-stage cancer detection and further therapeutic strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cheng-Yu Chang
- Division of Chest Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Far Eastern Memorial HospitalNew Taipei City, Taiwan
- Department of Nursing, Cardinal Tien Junior College of Healthcare and ManagementNew Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Shih-Chieh Chang
- Division of Chest Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, National Yang-Ming Chiao Tung University HospitalYilan City, Yilan County, Taiwan
| | - Yu-Feng Wei
- School of Medicine for International Students, College of Medicine, I-Shou UniversityKaohsiung, Taiwan
- Department of Internal Medicine, E-Da Cancer Hospital, I-Shou UniversityKaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - Yu-Ting Tseng
- Department of Surgery, National Taiwan University Hospital Yunlin BranchDouliu City, Yunlin County, Taiwan
| | - Chien-Hong Chou
- Department of Internal Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital Yunlin BranchDouliu City, Yunlin County, Taiwan
| | - Ying-Yin Chen
- Department of Internal Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital Yunlin BranchDouliu City, Yunlin County, Taiwan
| | - Chung-Yu Chen
- Department of Internal Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital Yunlin BranchDouliu City, Yunlin County, Taiwan
- Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital and College of Medicine, National Taiwan UniversityTaipei City, Taiwan
| | - Yi-Ling Ye
- Department of Biotechnology, National Formosa UniversityHuwei City, Yunlin County, Taiwan
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6
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Sudo M, Tsutsui H, Fujimoto J. Carbon Ion Irradiation Activates Anti-Cancer Immunity. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:2830. [PMID: 38474078 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25052830] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2024] [Revised: 02/15/2024] [Accepted: 02/26/2024] [Indexed: 03/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Carbon ion beams have the unique property of higher linear energy transfer, which causes clustered damage of DNA, impacting the cell repair system. This sometimes triggers apoptosis and the release in the cytoplasm of damaged DNA, leading to type I interferon (IFN) secretion via the activation of the cyclic GMP-AMP synthase-stimulator of interferon genes pathway. Dendritic cells phagocytize dead cancer cells and damaged DNA derived from injured cancer cells, which together activate dendritic cells to present cancer-derived antigens to antigen-specific T cells in the lymph nodes. Thus, carbon ion radiation therapy (CIRT) activates anti-cancer immunity. However, cancer is protected by the tumor microenvironment (TME), which consists of pro-cancerous immune cells, such as regulatory T cells, myeloid-derived suppressor cells, and tumor-associated macrophages. The TME is too robust to be destroyed by the CIRT-mediated anti-cancer immunity. Various modalities targeting regulatory T cells, myeloid-derived suppressor cells, and tumor-associated macrophages have been developed. Preclinical studies have shown that CIRT-mediated anti-cancer immunity exerts its effects in the presence of these modalities. In this review article, we provide an overview of CIRT-mediated anti-cancer immunity, with a particular focus on recently identified means of targeting the TME.
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Affiliation(s)
- Makoto Sudo
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Hyogo Medical University, Nishinomiya 663-8501, Japan
| | - Hiroko Tsutsui
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Hyogo Medical University, Nishinomiya 663-8501, Japan
| | - Jiro Fujimoto
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Hyogo Medical University, Nishinomiya 663-8501, Japan
- Osaka Heavy Ion Therapy Center, Osaka 540-0008, Japan
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7
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Tecalco-Cruz AC, Medina-Abreu KH, Oropeza-Martínez E, Zepeda-Cervantes J, Vázquez-Macías A, Macías-Silva M. Deregulation of interferon-gamma receptor 1 expression and its implications for lung adenocarcinoma progression. World J Clin Oncol 2024; 15:195-207. [PMID: 38455133 PMCID: PMC10915940 DOI: 10.5306/wjco.v15.i2.195] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2023] [Revised: 01/05/2024] [Accepted: 01/30/2024] [Indexed: 02/20/2024] Open
Abstract
Interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) plays a dual role in cancer; it is both a pro- and an antitumorigenic cytokine, depending on the type of cancer. The deregulation of the IFN-γ canonic pathway is associated with several disorders, including vulnerability to viral infections, inflammation, and cancer progression. In particular, the interplay between lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) and viral infections appears to exist in association with the deregulation of IFN-γ signaling. In this mini-review, we investigated the status of the IFN-γ signaling pathway and the expression level of its components in LUAD. Interestingly, a reduction in IFNGR1 expression seems to be associated with LUAD progression, affecting defenses against viruses such as severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2. In addition, alterations in the expression of IFNGR1 may inhibit the antiproliferative action of IFN-γ signaling in LUAD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angeles C Tecalco-Cruz
- Posgrado en Ciencias Genómicas, Universidad Autónoma de la Ciudad de México, CDMX 03100, Mexico
| | - Karen H Medina-Abreu
- Posgrado en Ciencias Genómicas, Universidad Autónoma de la Ciudad de México, CDMX 03100, Mexico
| | | | - Jesus Zepeda-Cervantes
- Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, CDMX 04510, Mexico
| | - Aleida Vázquez-Macías
- Colegio de Ciencias y Humanidades, Universidad Autónoma de la Ciudad de México, CDMX 03100, Mexico
| | - Marina Macías-Silva
- Instituo de Fisiología Celular, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, CDMX 04510, Mexico
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8
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Appiah C, Chen S, Pori AI, Retyunskiy V, Tzeng C, Zhao Y. Study of alloferon, a novel immunomodulatory antimicrobial peptide (AMP), and its analogues. Front Pharmacol 2024; 15:1359261. [PMID: 38434708 PMCID: PMC10904621 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2024.1359261] [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: 12/22/2023] [Accepted: 02/05/2024] [Indexed: 03/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are widely distributed throughout the biosphere and represent a class of conserved peptide molecules with intrinsic antimicrobial properties. Their broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity and low risk to induce resistance have led to increased interest in AMPs as potential alternatives to traditional antibiotics. Among the AMPs, alloferon has been addressed due to its immunomodulatory properties that augment both innate and adaptive immune responses against various pathogens. Alloferon and its analogues have demonstrated pharmaceutical potential through their ability to enhance Natural Killer (NK) cell cytotoxicity and stimulate interferon (IFN) synthesis in both mouse and human models. Additionally, they have shown promise in augmenting antiviral and antitumor activities in mice. In this article, we provide a comprehensive review of the biological effects of alloferon and its analogues, incorporating our own research findings as well. These insights may contribute to a deeper understanding of the therapeutic potential of these novel AMPs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clara Appiah
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Nanjing Tech University, Nanjing, China
| | - Shitian Chen
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Nanjing Tech University, Nanjing, China
| | - Afia Ibnat Pori
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Nanjing Tech University, Nanjing, China
| | | | - Chimeng Tzeng
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
| | - Ye Zhao
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Nanjing Tech University, Nanjing, China
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9
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Stinson JA, Barbosa MMP, Sheen A, Momin N, Fink E, Hampel J, Selting K, Kamerer R, Bailey KL, Wittrup KD, Fan TM. Tumor-localized interleukin-2 and interleukin-12 combine with radiation therapy to safely potentiate regression of advanced malignant melanoma in pet dogs. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.02.12.579965. [PMID: 38405716 PMCID: PMC10888855 DOI: 10.1101/2024.02.12.579965] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/27/2024]
Abstract
The clinical use of interleukin-2 and -12 cytokines against cancer is limited by their narrow therapeutic windows due to on-target, off-tumor activation of immune cells when delivered systemically. Engineering IL-2 and IL-12 to bind to extracellular matrix collagen allows these cytokines to be retained within tumors after intralesional injection, overcoming these clinical safety challenges. While this approach has potentiated responses in syngeneic mouse tumors without toxicity, the complex tumor-immune interactions in human cancers are difficult to recapitulate in mouse models of cancer. This has driven an increased role for comparative oncology clinical trials in companion (pet) dogs with spontaneous cancers that feature analogous tumor and immune biology to human cancers. Here, we report the results from a dose-escalation clinical trial of intratumoral collagen-binding IL-2 and IL-12 cytokines in pet dogs with malignant melanoma, observing encouraging local and regional responses to therapy that may suggest human clinical benefit with this approach.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jordan A. Stinson
- Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA
- Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA
| | | | - Allison Sheen
- Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA
- Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA
| | - Noor Momin
- Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA
- Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
| | - Elizabeth Fink
- Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA
| | - Jordan Hampel
- Department of Veterinary Clinical Medicine, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL
| | - Kimberly Selting
- Department of Veterinary Clinical Medicine, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL
| | - Rebecca Kamerer
- Department of Veterinary Clinical Medicine, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL
| | | | - K. Dane Wittrup
- Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA
- Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA
| | - Timothy M. Fan
- Department of Veterinary Clinical Medicine, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL
- Cancer Center at Illinois, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL
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10
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Pardo-Cea MA, Farré X, Esteve A, Palade J, Espín R, Mateo F, Alsop E, Alorda M, Blay N, Baiges A, Shabbir A, Comellas F, Gómez A, Arnan M, Teulé A, Salinas M, Berrocal L, Brunet J, Rofes P, Lázaro C, Conesa M, Rojas JJ, Velten L, Fendler W, Smyczynska U, Chowdhury D, Zeng Y, He HH, Li R, Van Keuren-Jensen K, de Cid R, Pujana MA. Biological basis of extensive pleiotropy between blood traits and cancer risk. Genome Med 2024; 16:21. [PMID: 38308367 PMCID: PMC10837955 DOI: 10.1186/s13073-024-01294-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2023] [Accepted: 01/22/2024] [Indexed: 02/04/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The immune system has a central role in preventing carcinogenesis. Alteration of systemic immune cell levels may increase cancer risk. However, the extent to which common genetic variation influences blood traits and cancer risk remains largely undetermined. Here, we identify pleiotropic variants and predict their underlying molecular and cellular alterations. METHODS Multivariate Cox regression was used to evaluate associations between blood traits and cancer diagnosis in cases in the UK Biobank. Shared genetic variants were identified from the summary statistics of the genome-wide association studies of 27 blood traits and 27 cancer types and subtypes, applying the conditional/conjunctional false-discovery rate approach. Analysis of genomic positions, expression quantitative trait loci, enhancers, regulatory marks, functionally defined gene sets, and bulk- and single-cell expression profiles predicted the biological impact of pleiotropic variants. Plasma small RNAs were sequenced to assess association with cancer diagnosis. RESULTS The study identified 4093 common genetic variants, involving 1248 gene loci, that contributed to blood-cancer pleiotropism. Genomic hotspots of pleiotropism include chromosomal regions 5p15-TERT and 6p21-HLA. Genes whose products are involved in regulating telomere length are found to be enriched in pleiotropic variants. Pleiotropic gene candidates are frequently linked to transcriptional programs that regulate hematopoiesis and define progenitor cell states of immune system development. Perturbation of the myeloid lineage is indicated by pleiotropic associations with defined master regulators and cell alterations. Eosinophil count is inversely associated with cancer risk. A high frequency of pleiotropic associations is also centered on the regulation of small noncoding Y-RNAs. Predicted pleiotropic Y-RNAs show specific regulatory marks and are overabundant in the normal tissue and blood of cancer patients. Analysis of plasma small RNAs in women who developed breast cancer indicates there is an overabundance of Y-RNA preceding neoplasm diagnosis. CONCLUSIONS This study reveals extensive pleiotropism between blood traits and cancer risk. Pleiotropism is linked to factors and processes involved in hematopoietic development and immune system function, including components of the major histocompatibility complexes, and regulators of telomere length and myeloid lineage. Deregulation of Y-RNAs is also associated with pleiotropism. Overexpression of these elements might indicate increased cancer risk.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miguel Angel Pardo-Cea
- ProCURE, Catalan Institute of Oncology, Oncobell, Bellvitge Institute for Biomedical Research (IDIBELL), L'Hospitalet del Llobregat, 08908, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Xavier Farré
- Genomes for Life - GCAT Lab Group, Institut Germans Trias i Pujol (IGTP), Badalona, 08916, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Anna Esteve
- Badalona Applied Research Group in Oncology (B-ARGO), Catalan Institute of Oncology, Institut Germans Trias i Pujol (IGTP), Badalona, 08916, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Joanna Palade
- Cancer and Cell Biology, Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen), Arizona, Phoenix, AZ, 85004, USA
| | - Roderic Espín
- ProCURE, Catalan Institute of Oncology, Oncobell, Bellvitge Institute for Biomedical Research (IDIBELL), L'Hospitalet del Llobregat, 08908, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Francesca Mateo
- ProCURE, Catalan Institute of Oncology, Oncobell, Bellvitge Institute for Biomedical Research (IDIBELL), L'Hospitalet del Llobregat, 08908, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Eric Alsop
- Cancer and Cell Biology, Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen), Arizona, Phoenix, AZ, 85004, USA
| | - Marc Alorda
- ProCURE, Catalan Institute of Oncology, Oncobell, Bellvitge Institute for Biomedical Research (IDIBELL), L'Hospitalet del Llobregat, 08908, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Natalia Blay
- Genomes for Life - GCAT Lab Group, Institut Germans Trias i Pujol (IGTP), Badalona, 08916, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Alexandra Baiges
- ProCURE, Catalan Institute of Oncology, Oncobell, Bellvitge Institute for Biomedical Research (IDIBELL), L'Hospitalet del Llobregat, 08908, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Arzoo Shabbir
- ProCURE, Catalan Institute of Oncology, Oncobell, Bellvitge Institute for Biomedical Research (IDIBELL), L'Hospitalet del Llobregat, 08908, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Francesc Comellas
- Department of Mathematics, Technical University of Catalonia, Castelldefels, 08860, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Antonio Gómez
- Department of Biosciences, Faculty of Sciences and Technology (FCT), University of Vic - Central University of Catalonia (UVic-UCC), Vic, 08500, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Montserrat Arnan
- Department of Hematology, Catalan Institute of Oncology, Oncobell, Bellvitge Institute for Biomedical Research (IDIBELL), L'Hospitalet del Llobregat, 08908, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Alex Teulé
- Hereditary Cancer Program, Catalan Institute of Oncology, Oncobell, Bellvitge Institute for Biomedical Research (IDIBELL), L'Hospitalet del Llobregat, 08908, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Monica Salinas
- Hereditary Cancer Program, Catalan Institute of Oncology, Oncobell, Bellvitge Institute for Biomedical Research (IDIBELL), L'Hospitalet del Llobregat, 08908, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Laura Berrocal
- OncoGir, Catalan Institute of Oncology, Girona Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBGI), 17190, Salt, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Joan Brunet
- Hereditary Cancer Program, Catalan Institute of Oncology, Oncobell, Bellvitge Institute for Biomedical Research (IDIBELL), L'Hospitalet del Llobregat, 08908, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
- OncoGir, Catalan Institute of Oncology, Girona Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBGI), 17190, Salt, Catalonia, Spain
- Biomedical Research Network Centre in Cancer (CIBERONC), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 28222, Madrid, Spain
| | - Paula Rofes
- Hereditary Cancer Program, Catalan Institute of Oncology, Oncobell, Bellvitge Institute for Biomedical Research (IDIBELL), L'Hospitalet del Llobregat, 08908, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
- Biomedical Research Network Centre in Cancer (CIBERONC), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 28222, Madrid, Spain
| | - Conxi Lázaro
- Hereditary Cancer Program, Catalan Institute of Oncology, Oncobell, Bellvitge Institute for Biomedical Research (IDIBELL), L'Hospitalet del Llobregat, 08908, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
- Biomedical Research Network Centre in Cancer (CIBERONC), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 28222, Madrid, Spain
| | - Miquel Conesa
- Department of Pathology and Experimental Therapies, University of Barcelona (UB), Oncobell, Bellvitge Institute for Biomedical Research (IDIBELL), L'Hospitalet del Llobregat, 08908, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Juan Jose Rojas
- Department of Pathology and Experimental Therapies, University of Barcelona (UB), Oncobell, Bellvitge Institute for Biomedical Research (IDIBELL), L'Hospitalet del Llobregat, 08908, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Lars Velten
- Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST), 08003, Barcelona, Spain
- University Pompeu Fabra (UPF), 08002, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Wojciech Fendler
- Department of Biostatistics and Translational Medicine, Medical University of Lodz, 92-215, Lodz, Poland
| | - Urszula Smyczynska
- Department of Biostatistics and Translational Medicine, Medical University of Lodz, 92-215, Lodz, Poland
| | - Dipanjan Chowdhury
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
- Center for BRCA and Related Genes, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Yong Zeng
- Princess Margaret Cancer Center, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, M5G 2C4, Canada
| | - Housheng Hansen He
- Princess Margaret Cancer Center, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, M5G 2C4, Canada
- Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, M5G 1L7, Canada
| | - Rong Li
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, The George Washington University, Washington, DC, 20052, USA
| | - Kendall Van Keuren-Jensen
- Cancer and Cell Biology, Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen), Arizona, Phoenix, AZ, 85004, USA.
| | - Rafael de Cid
- Genomes for Life - GCAT Lab Group, Institut Germans Trias i Pujol (IGTP), Badalona, 08916, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain.
| | - Miquel Angel Pujana
- ProCURE, Catalan Institute of Oncology, Oncobell, Bellvitge Institute for Biomedical Research (IDIBELL), L'Hospitalet del Llobregat, 08908, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain.
- Biomedical Research Network Centre in Respiratory Diseases (CIBERES), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 28222, Madrid, Spain.
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11
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Karmakar S, Mishra A, Pal P, Lal G. Effector and cytolytic function of natural killer cells in anticancer immunity. J Leukoc Biol 2024; 115:235-252. [PMID: 37818891 DOI: 10.1093/jleuko/qiad126] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2023] [Revised: 09/21/2023] [Accepted: 09/28/2023] [Indexed: 10/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Adaptive immune cells play an important role in mounting antigen-specific antitumor immunity. The contribution of innate immune cells such as monocytes, macrophages, natural killer (NK) cells, dendritic cells, and gamma-delta T cells is well studied in cancer immunology. NK cells are innate lymphoid cells that show effector and regulatory function in a contact-dependent and contact-independent manner. The cytotoxic function of NK cells plays an important role in killing the infected and transformed host cells and controlling infection and tumor growth. However, several studies have also ascribed the role of NK cells in inducing pathophysiology in autoimmune diseases, promoting immune tolerance in the uterus, and antitumor function in the tumor microenvironment. We discuss the fundamentals of NK cell biology, its distribution in different organs, cellular and molecular interactions, and its cytotoxic and noncytotoxic functions in cancer biology. We also highlight the use of NK cell-based adoptive cellular therapy in cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Surojit Karmakar
- Laboratory of Autoimmunity and Tolerance, National Centre for Cell Science, Ganeshkhind, Pune, MH-411007, India
| | - Amrita Mishra
- Laboratory of Autoimmunity and Tolerance, National Centre for Cell Science, Ganeshkhind, Pune, MH-411007, India
| | - Pradipta Pal
- Laboratory of Autoimmunity and Tolerance, National Centre for Cell Science, Ganeshkhind, Pune, MH-411007, India
| | - Girdhari Lal
- Laboratory of Autoimmunity and Tolerance, National Centre for Cell Science, Ganeshkhind, Pune, MH-411007, India
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12
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Low JT, Brown MC, Reitman ZJ, Bernstock JD, Markert JM, Friedman GK, Waitkus MS, Bowie ML, Ashley DM. Understanding and therapeutically exploiting cGAS/STING signaling in glioblastoma. J Clin Invest 2024; 134:e163452. [PMID: 38226619 PMCID: PMC10786687 DOI: 10.1172/jci163452] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/17/2024] Open
Abstract
Since the discovery that cGAS/STING recognizes endogenous DNA released from dying cancer cells and induces type I interferon and antitumor T cell responses, efforts to understand and therapeutically target the STING pathway in cancer have ensued. Relative to other cancer types, the glioma immune microenvironment harbors few infiltrating T cells, but abundant tumor-associated myeloid cells, possibly explaining disappointing responses to immune checkpoint blockade therapies in cohorts of patients with glioblastoma. Notably, unlike most extracranial tumors, STING expression is absent in the malignant compartment of gliomas, likely due to methylation of the STING promoter. Nonetheless, several preclinical studies suggest that inducing cGAS/STING signaling in the glioma immune microenvironment could be therapeutically beneficial, and cGAS/STING signaling has been shown to mediate inflammatory and antitumor effects of other modalities either in use or being developed for glioblastoma therapy, including radiation, tumor-treating fields, and oncolytic virotherapy. In this Review, we discuss cGAS/STING signaling in gliomas, its implications for glioma immunobiology, compartment-specific roles for STING signaling in influencing immune surveillance, and efforts to target STING signaling - either directly or indirectly - for antiglioma therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Zachary J. Reitman
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - Joshua D. Bernstock
- Department of Neurosurgery, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- David H. Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - James M. Markert
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA
| | - Gregory K. Friedman
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA
- Division of Pediatrics, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, USA
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13
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NISHIKAWA H. Establishment of immune suppression by cancer cells in the tumor microenvironment. PROCEEDINGS OF THE JAPAN ACADEMY. SERIES B, PHYSICAL AND BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES 2024; 100:114-122. [PMID: 38346752 PMCID: PMC10978970 DOI: 10.2183/pjab.100.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2023] [Accepted: 10/12/2023] [Indexed: 02/15/2024]
Abstract
With the clinical success of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), cancer immunotherapy has become an important pillar of cancer treatment in various types of cancer. However, more than half of patients fail to respond to ICIs, even in combination, uncovering a limited window of clinical responses. Therefore, it is essential to develop more effective cancer immunotherapies and to define biomarkers for stratifying responders and nonresponders by exploring the immunological landscape in the tumor microenvironment (TME). It has become clear that differences in immune responses in the TME determine the clinical efficacy of cancer immunotherapies. Additionally, gene alterations in cancer cells contribute to the development of the immunological landscape, particularly immune suppression in the TME. Therefore, integrated analyses of immunological and genomic assays are key for understanding diverse immune suppressive mechanisms in the TME. Developing novel strategies to control immune suppression in the TME from the perspective of immunology and the cancer genome is crucial for effective cancer immunotherapy (immune-genome precision medicine).
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Affiliation(s)
- Hiroyoshi NISHIKAWA
- Division of Cancer Immunology, Research Institute/Exploratory Oncology Research & Clinical Trial Center (EPOC), National Cancer Center, Tokyo/Chiba, Japan
- Department of Immunology, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Aichi, Japan
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14
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Jia H, Yang H, Xiong H, Luo KQ. NK cell exhaustion in the tumor microenvironment. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1303605. [PMID: 38022646 PMCID: PMC10653587 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1303605] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2023] [Accepted: 10/23/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Natural killer (NK) cells kill mutant cells through death receptors and cytotoxic granules, playing an essential role in controlling cancer progression. However, in the tumor microenvironment (TME), NK cells frequently exhibit an exhausted status, which impairs their immunosurveillance function and contributes to tumor immune evasion. Emerging studies are ongoing to reveal the properties and mechanisms of NK cell exhaustion in the TME. In this review, we will briefly introduce the maturation, localization, homeostasis, and cytotoxicity of NK cells. We will then summarize the current understanding of the main mechanisms underlying NK cell exhaustion in the TME in four aspects: dysregulation of inhibitory and activating signaling, tumor cell-derived factors, immunosuppressive cells, and metabolism and exhaustion. We will also discuss the therapeutic approaches currently being developed to reverse NK cell exhaustion and enhance NK cell cytotoxicity in the TME.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hao Jia
- Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Macau, Taipa, Macao SAR, China
| | - Hongmei Yang
- Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Macau, Taipa, Macao SAR, China
| | - Huaxing Xiong
- Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Macau, Taipa, Macao SAR, China
| | - Kathy Qian Luo
- Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Macau, Taipa, Macao SAR, China
- Ministry of Education Frontiers Science Center for Precision Oncology, University of Macau, Taipa, Macao SAR, China
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15
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Cao LL, Lu H, Soutto M, Bhat N, Chen Z, Peng D, Gomaa A, Wang JB, Xie JW, Li P, Zheng CH, Nomura S, Datta J, Merchant N, Chen ZB, Villarino A, Zaika A, Huang CM, El-Rifai W. Multivalent tyrosine kinase inhibition promotes T cell recruitment to immune-desert gastric cancers by restricting epithelial-mesenchymal transition via tumour-intrinsic IFN-γ signalling. Gut 2023; 72:2038-2050. [PMID: 37402563 PMCID: PMC10592091 DOI: 10.1136/gutjnl-2022-329134] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2022] [Accepted: 06/11/2023] [Indexed: 07/06/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Gastric cancer (GC) ranks fifth in incidence and fourth for mortality worldwide. The response to immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) therapy in GC is heterogeneous due to tumour-intrinsic and acquired immunotherapy resistance. We developed an immunophenotype-based subtyping of human GC based on immune cells infiltration to develop a novel treatment option. DESIGN A algorithm was developed to reclassify GC into immune inflamed, excluded and desert subtypes. Bioinformatics, human and mouse GC cell lines, syngeneic murine gastric tumour model, and CTLA4 blockade were used to investigate the immunotherapeutic effects by restricting receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) signalling in immune desert (ICB-resistant) type GC. RESULTS Our algorithm restratified subtypes of human GC in public databases and showed that immune desert-type and excluded-type tumours are ICB-resistant compared with immune-inflamed GC. Moreover, epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) signalling was highly enriched in immune desert-type GC, and syngeneic murine tumours exhibiting mesenchymal-like, compared with epithelial-like, properties are T cell-excluded and resistant to CTLA4 blockade. Our analysis further identified a panel of RTKs as potential druggable targets in the immune desert-type GC. Dovitinib, an inhibitor of multiple RTKs, strikingly repressed EMT programming in mesenchymal-like immune desert syngeneic GC models. Dovitinib activated the tumour-intrinsic SNAI1/2-IFN-γ signalling axis and impeded the EMT programme, converting immune desert-type tumours to immune inflamed-type tumours, sensitising these mesenchymal-like 'cold' tumours to CTLA4 blockade. CONCLUSION Our findings identified potential druggable targets relevant to patient groups, especially for refractory immune desert-type/ 'cold' GC. Dovitinib, an RTK inhibitor, sensitised desert-type immune-cold GC to CTLA4 blockade by restricting EMT and recruiting T cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Long Long Cao
- Department of Gastric Surgery, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, Fuzhou, China
- Department of Surgery, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida, USA
- Key Laboratory of Ministry of Education of Gastrointestinal Cancer, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Heng Lu
- Department of Surgery, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida, USA
| | - Mohammed Soutto
- Department of Surgery, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida, USA
| | - Nadeem Bhat
- Department of Surgery, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida, USA
| | - Zheng Chen
- Department of Surgery, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida, USA
- Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida, USA
| | - Dunfa Peng
- Department of Surgery, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida, USA
| | - Ahmed Gomaa
- Department of Surgery, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida, USA
| | - Jia Bin Wang
- Department of Gastric Surgery, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, Fuzhou, China
| | - Jian Wei Xie
- Department of Gastric Surgery, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, Fuzhou, China
| | - Ping Li
- Department of Gastric Surgery, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, Fuzhou, China
| | - Chao Hui Zheng
- Department of Gastric Surgery, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, Fuzhou, China
- Key Laboratory of Ministry of Education of Gastrointestinal Cancer, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Sachiyo Nomura
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Jashodeep Datta
- Department of Surgery, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida, USA
- Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida, USA
| | - Nipun Merchant
- Department of Surgery, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida, USA
- Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida, USA
| | - Zhi Bin Chen
- Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida, USA
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida, USA
| | - Alejandro Villarino
- Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida, USA
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida, USA
| | - Alexander Zaika
- Department of Surgery, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida, USA
- Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida, USA
- Department of Veterans Affairs, Miami Healthcare System, Miami, Florida, USA
| | - Chang Ming Huang
- Department of Gastric Surgery, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, Fuzhou, China
- Key Laboratory of Ministry of Education of Gastrointestinal Cancer, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Wael El-Rifai
- Department of Surgery, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida, USA
- Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida, USA
- Department of Veterans Affairs, Miami Healthcare System, Miami, Florida, USA
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16
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Bhoopathi P, Kumar A, Pradhan AK, Maji S, Mannangatti P, Windle JJ, Subler MA, Zhang D, Vudatha V, Trevino JG, Madan E, Atfi A, Sarkar D, Gogna R, Das SK, Emdad L, Fisher PB. Cytoplasmic-delivery of polyinosine-polycytidylic acid inhibits pancreatic cancer progression increasing survival by activating Stat1-CCL2-mediated immunity. J Immunother Cancer 2023; 11:e007624. [PMID: 37935566 PMCID: PMC10649894 DOI: 10.1136/jitc-2023-007624] [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: 09/20/2023] [Indexed: 11/09/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is an aggressive cancer without effective therapies and with poor prognosis, causing 7% of all cancer-related fatalities in the USA. Considering the lack of effective therapies for this aggressive cancer, there is an urgent need to define newer and more effective therapeutic strategies. Polyinosine-polycytidylic acid (pIC) is a synthetic double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) which directly activates dendritic cells and natural killer cells inhibiting tumor growth. When pIC is delivered into the cytoplasm using polyethyleneimine (PEI), pIC-PEI, programmed-cell death is induced in PDAC. Transfection of [pIC]PEI into PDAC cells inhibits growth, promotes toxic autophagy and also induces apoptosis in vitro and in vivo in animal models. METHODS The KPC transgenic mouse model that recapitulates PDAC development in patients was used to interrogate the role of an intact immune system in vivo in PDAC in response to [pIC]PEI. Antitumor efficacy and survival were monitored endpoints. Comprehensive analysis of the tumor microenvironment (TME) and immune cells, cytokines and chemokines in the spleen, and macrophage polarization were analyzed. RESULTS Cytosolic delivery of [pIC]PEI induces apoptosis and provokes strong antitumor immunity in vivo in immune competent mice with PDAC. The mechanism underlying the immune stimulatory properties of [pIC]PEI involves Stat1 activation resulting in CCL2 and MMP13 stimulation thereby provoking macrophage polarization. [pIC]PEI induces apoptosis via the AKT-XIAP pathway, as well as macrophage differentiation and T-cell activation via the IFNγ-Stat1-CCL2 signaling pathways in PDAC. In transgenic tumor mouse models, [pIC]PEI promotes robust and profound antitumor activity implying that stimulating the immune system contributes to biological activity. The [pIC]PEI anti-PDAC effects are enhanced when used in combination with a standard of care (SOC) treatment, that is, gemcitabine. CONCLUSIONS In summary, [pIC]PEI treatment is non-toxic toward normal pancreatic cells while displaying strong cytotoxic and potent immune activating activities in PDAC, making it an attractive therapeutic when used alone or in conjunction with SOC therapeutic agents, potentially providing a safe and effective treatment protocol with translational potential for the effective therapy of PDAC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Praveen Bhoopathi
- Human and Molecular Genetics, Virginia Commonwealth University, School of Medicine, Richmond, Virginia, USA
- VCU Institute of Molecular Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, School of Medicine, Richmond, Virginia, USA
| | - Amit Kumar
- Human and Molecular Genetics, Virginia Commonwealth University, School of Medicine, Richmond, Virginia, USA
- VCU Institute of Molecular Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, School of Medicine, Richmond, Virginia, USA
| | - Anjan K Pradhan
- Human and Molecular Genetics, Virginia Commonwealth University, School of Medicine, Richmond, Virginia, USA
- VCU Institute of Molecular Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, School of Medicine, Richmond, Virginia, USA
| | - Santanu Maji
- Human and Molecular Genetics, Virginia Commonwealth University, School of Medicine, Richmond, Virginia, USA
- VCU Institute of Molecular Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, School of Medicine, Richmond, Virginia, USA
| | - Padmanabhan Mannangatti
- Human and Molecular Genetics, Virginia Commonwealth University, School of Medicine, Richmond, Virginia, USA
- VCU Institute of Molecular Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, School of Medicine, Richmond, Virginia, USA
| | - Jolene J Windle
- Human and Molecular Genetics, Virginia Commonwealth University, School of Medicine, Richmond, Virginia, USA
- VCU Institute of Molecular Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, School of Medicine, Richmond, Virginia, USA
- VCU Massey Comprehensive Cancer Center, Virginia Commonwealth University, School of Medicine, Richmond, Virginia, USA
| | - Mark A Subler
- Human and Molecular Genetics, Virginia Commonwealth University, School of Medicine, Richmond, Virginia, USA
- VCU Institute of Molecular Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, School of Medicine, Richmond, Virginia, USA
| | - Dongyu Zhang
- Surgery, Division of Surgical Oncology, Virginia Commonwealth University, School of Medicine, Richmond, Virginia, USA
| | - Vignesh Vudatha
- Surgery, Division of Surgical Oncology, Virginia Commonwealth University, School of Medicine, Richmond, Virginia, USA
| | - Jose G Trevino
- VCU Massey Comprehensive Cancer Center, Virginia Commonwealth University, School of Medicine, Richmond, Virginia, USA
- Surgery, Division of Surgical Oncology, Virginia Commonwealth University, School of Medicine, Richmond, Virginia, USA
| | - Esha Madan
- VCU Massey Comprehensive Cancer Center, Virginia Commonwealth University, School of Medicine, Richmond, Virginia, USA
- Surgery, Division of Surgical Oncology, Virginia Commonwealth University, School of Medicine, Richmond, Virginia, USA
| | - Azeddine Atfi
- VCU Institute of Molecular Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, School of Medicine, Richmond, Virginia, USA
- VCU Massey Comprehensive Cancer Center, Virginia Commonwealth University, School of Medicine, Richmond, Virginia, USA
- Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Virginia Commonwealth University, School of Medicine, Richmond, Virginia, USA
| | - Devanand Sarkar
- Human and Molecular Genetics, Virginia Commonwealth University, School of Medicine, Richmond, Virginia, USA
- VCU Institute of Molecular Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, School of Medicine, Richmond, Virginia, USA
- VCU Massey Comprehensive Cancer Center, Virginia Commonwealth University, School of Medicine, Richmond, Virginia, USA
| | - Rajan Gogna
- Human and Molecular Genetics, Virginia Commonwealth University, School of Medicine, Richmond, Virginia, USA
- VCU Institute of Molecular Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, School of Medicine, Richmond, Virginia, USA
- VCU Massey Comprehensive Cancer Center, Virginia Commonwealth University, School of Medicine, Richmond, Virginia, USA
| | - Swadesh K Das
- Human and Molecular Genetics, Virginia Commonwealth University, School of Medicine, Richmond, Virginia, USA
- VCU Institute of Molecular Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, School of Medicine, Richmond, Virginia, USA
- VCU Massey Comprehensive Cancer Center, Virginia Commonwealth University, School of Medicine, Richmond, Virginia, USA
| | - Luni Emdad
- Human and Molecular Genetics, Virginia Commonwealth University, School of Medicine, Richmond, Virginia, USA
- VCU Institute of Molecular Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, School of Medicine, Richmond, Virginia, USA
- VCU Massey Comprehensive Cancer Center, Virginia Commonwealth University, School of Medicine, Richmond, Virginia, USA
| | - Paul B Fisher
- Human and Molecular Genetics, Virginia Commonwealth University, School of Medicine, Richmond, Virginia, USA
- VCU Institute of Molecular Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, School of Medicine, Richmond, Virginia, USA
- VCU Massey Comprehensive Cancer Center, Virginia Commonwealth University, School of Medicine, Richmond, Virginia, USA
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17
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Elnaggar M, Chaisuparat R, Ghita I, Bentzen SM, Dyalram D, Ord RA, Lubek JE, Younis RH. Immuno-oncologic signature of malignant transformation in oral squamous cell carcinoma. Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol Oral Radiol 2023; 136:612-622. [PMID: 37739913 DOI: 10.1016/j.oooo.2023.07.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2022] [Revised: 04/25/2023] [Accepted: 07/02/2023] [Indexed: 09/24/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study is to identify the immuno-oncologic (IO) signature at the surgical tumor margin (TM) of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) that is involved in the process of malignant transformation. STUDY DESIGN Under institutional review board approval, TM of 73 OSCC were investigated using immunohistochemistry for the immune biomarker, programmed death ligand-1 (PD-L1). NanoString 770 IO-focused gene set was analyzed in 5 pairs of TM and invasive tumor (T). PD-L1 regulation in response to interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) was investigated in an oral potentially malignant cell line (OPMC). RESULTS Programmed death ligand-1 expression in the epithelial margin directly correlated with its expression in the underlying immune cells (P = .0082). Differential gene expression showed downregulation of PD-L1 and IFN-γ 6 gene signature in the TM relative to T pair.CD8 and macrophages were higher in TM. CNTFR, LYZ, C7, RORC, and FGF13 downregulation in T relative to TM. TDO2, ADAM12, MMP1, LAMC2, MB21D1, TYMP, OASL, COL5A1, exhausted_CD8, Tregs,and NK_CD56dim were upregulated in T relative to TM. Finally, IFN-γ induced upregulation of PD-L1 in the OPMC. CONCLUSIONS Our work suggests a role for IFN-γ in PD-L1 upregulation in OPMC and presents novel IO transcriptional signatures for frankly invasive OSCC relative to TM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manar Elnaggar
- Department of Oncology and Diagnostic Sciences, Division of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology, University of Maryland School of Dentistry, Baltimore, MD, USA; Department of Oral Pathology, Faculty of Dentistry, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt; Department of Oral Pathology, Faculty of Dentistry, Arab Academy for Science and Technology, El Alamein, Egypt
| | - Risa Chaisuparat
- Department of Oral Pathology, Faculty of Dentistry, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Ioana Ghita
- Department of Oncology and Diagnostic Sciences, Division of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology, University of Maryland School of Dentistry, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Soren M Bentzen
- Division of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA; Biostatistics Core, Institute of Clinical and Translational Research, University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD, USA; Biostatistics Division, University of Maryland Marlene and Stewart Greenebaum Comprehensive Cancer Center, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Donita Dyalram
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, University of Maryland School of Dentistry, Baltimore, MD, USA; Head and Neck Surgery Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, University of Maryland Marlene and Stewart Greenebaum Comprehensive Cancer Center, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Robert A Ord
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, University of Maryland School of Dentistry, Baltimore, MD, USA; Head and Neck Surgery Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, University of Maryland Marlene and Stewart Greenebaum Comprehensive Cancer Center, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Joshua E Lubek
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, University of Maryland School of Dentistry, Baltimore, MD, USA; Head and Neck Surgery Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, University of Maryland Marlene and Stewart Greenebaum Comprehensive Cancer Center, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Rania H Younis
- Department of Oncology and Diagnostic Sciences, Division of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology, University of Maryland School of Dentistry, Baltimore, MD, USA; Department of Oral Pathology, Faculty of Dentistry, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt; Division of Tumor Immunology and Immunotherapy, University of Maryland Marlene and Stewart Greenebaum Comprehensive Cancer Center, UMB, Maryland, USA; Department of Pathology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.
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18
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Freshour SL, Chen THP, Fisk B, Shen H, Mosior M, Skidmore ZL, Fronick C, Bolzenius JK, Griffith OL, Arora VK, Griffith M. Endothelial cells are a key target of IFN-g during response to combined PD-1/CTLA-4 ICB treatment in a mouse model of bladder cancer. iScience 2023; 26:107937. [PMID: 37810214 PMCID: PMC10558731 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2023.107937] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2023] [Revised: 08/08/2023] [Accepted: 09/13/2023] [Indexed: 10/10/2023] Open
Abstract
To explore mechanisms of response to combined PD-1/CTLA-4 immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) treatment in individual cell types, we generated scRNA-seq using a mouse model of invasive urothelial carcinoma with three conditions: untreated tumor, treated tumor, and tumor treated after CD4+ T cell depletion. After classifying tumor cells based on detection of somatic variants and assigning non-tumor cell types using SingleR, we performed differential expression analysis, overrepresentation analysis, and gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) within each cell type. GSEA revealed that endothelial cells were enriched for upregulated IFN-g response genes when comparing treated cells to both untreated cells and cells treated after CD4+ T cell depletion. Functional analysis showed that knocking out IFNgR1 in endothelial cells inhibited treatment response. Together, these results indicated that IFN-g signaling in endothelial cells is a key mediator of ICB induced anti-tumor activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sharon L. Freshour
- Department of Medicine, Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Timothy H.-P. Chen
- Department of Medicine, Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Bryan Fisk
- Department of Medicine, Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
- McDonnell Genome Institute, Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Haolin Shen
- Department of Medicine, Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Matthew Mosior
- Department of Medicine, Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
- McDonnell Genome Institute, Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Zachary L. Skidmore
- Department of Medicine, Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
- McDonnell Genome Institute, Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Catrina Fronick
- McDonnell Genome Institute, Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Jennifer K. Bolzenius
- Department of Medicine, Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
- Siteman Cancer Center, Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Obi L. Griffith
- Department of Medicine, Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
- McDonnell Genome Institute, Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
- Siteman Cancer Center, Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
- Department of Genetics, Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Vivek K. Arora
- Department of Medicine, Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
- Siteman Cancer Center, Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Malachi Griffith
- Department of Medicine, Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
- McDonnell Genome Institute, Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
- Siteman Cancer Center, Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
- Department of Genetics, Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
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19
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Chen X, Tao Z, Liang Y, Ma M, Adah D, Ding W, Chen L, Li X, Dai L, Fanuel S, Zhao S, Hu W, Wu D, Duan Z, Zhou F, Qin L, Chen X, Yang Z. Plasmodium immunotherapy combined with gemcitabine has a synergistic inhibitory effect on tumor growth and metastasis in murine Lewis lung cancer models. Front Oncol 2023; 13:1181176. [PMID: 37916167 PMCID: PMC10618005 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2023.1181176] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2023] [Accepted: 09/18/2023] [Indexed: 11/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Objective Our previous studies have demonstrated that Plasmodium immunotherapy (infection) has antitumor effects in mice. However, as a new form of immunotherapy, this therapy has a weakness: its specific killing effect on tumor cells is relatively weak. Therefore, we tested whether Plasmodium immunotherapy combined with gemcitabine (Gem), a representative chemotherapy drug, has synergistic antitumor effects. Methods We designed subcutaneously and intravenously implanted murine Lewis lung cancer (LLC) models to test the antitumor effect of Plasmodium chabaudi ASS (Pc) infection in combination with Gem treatment and explored its underlying mechanisms. Results We found that both Pc infection alone and Gem treatment alone significantly inhibited tumor growth in the subcutaneous model, and combination therapy was more effective than either monotherapy. Monotherapy only tended to prolong the survival of tumor-bearing mice, while the combination therapy significantly extended the survival of mice, indicating a significant synergistic effect of the combination. In the mechanistic experiments, we found that the combination therapy significantly upregulated E-cadherin and downregulated Snail protein expression levels, thus inhibiting epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) of tumor cells, which may be due to the blockade of CXCR2/TGF-β-mediated PI3K/Akt/GSK-3β signaling pathway. Conclusion The combination of Pc and Gem plays a synergistic role in inhibiting tumor growth and metastasis, and prolonging mice survival in murine lung cancer models. These effects are partially attributed to the inhibition of EMT of tumor cells, which is potentially due to the blockade of CXCR2/TGF-β-mediated PI3K/Akt/GSK-3β/Snail signaling pathway. The clinical transformation of Plasmodium immunotherapy combined with Gem for lung cancer is worthy of expectation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiao Chen
- Department of Medical Oncology, First Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming, Yunnan, China
- State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, Center for Infection and Immunity, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Zhu Tao
- State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, Center for Infection and Immunity, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
- CAS-Lamvac (Guangzhou) Biomedical Technology Co., Ltd., Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Yun Liang
- State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, Center for Infection and Immunity, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming, Yunnan, China
| | - Meng Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, Center for Infection and Immunity, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
- The Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Laboratory Medical Diagnostics, College of Laboratory Medicine, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Dickson Adah
- State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, Center for Infection and Immunity, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Wenting Ding
- CAS-Lamvac (Guangzhou) Biomedical Technology Co., Ltd., Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Lili Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, Center for Infection and Immunity, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Xiaofen Li
- State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, Center for Infection and Immunity, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Linglin Dai
- State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, Center for Infection and Immunity, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Songwe Fanuel
- State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, Center for Infection and Immunity, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
- Department of Applied Biosciences and Biotechnology, Faculty of Science and Technology, Midlands State University, Gweru, Zimbabwe
| | - Siting Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, Center for Infection and Immunity, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
- CAS-Lamvac (Guangzhou) Biomedical Technology Co., Ltd., Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Wen Hu
- CAS-Lamvac (Guangzhou) Biomedical Technology Co., Ltd., Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Donghai Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, Center for Infection and Immunity, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Ziyuan Duan
- State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, Center for Infection and Immunity, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Fang Zhou
- CAS-Lamvac (Guangzhou) Biomedical Technology Co., Ltd., Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Li Qin
- CAS-Lamvac (Guangzhou) Biomedical Technology Co., Ltd., Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Xiaoping Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, Center for Infection and Immunity, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
- CAS-Lamvac (Guangzhou) Biomedical Technology Co., Ltd., Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Zhaoqing Yang
- Department of Pathogen Biology and Immunology, Kunming Medical University, Kunming, Yunnan, China
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20
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Dhamdhere MR, Spiegelman DV, Schneper L, Erbe AK, Sondel PM, Spiegelman VS. Generation of Novel Immunocompetent Mouse Cell Lines to Model Experimental Metastasis of High-Risk Neuroblastoma. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:4693. [PMID: 37835389 PMCID: PMC10571844 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15194693] [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: 08/29/2023] [Revised: 09/18/2023] [Accepted: 09/21/2023] [Indexed: 10/15/2023] Open
Abstract
NB, being a highly metastatic cancer, is one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths in children. Increased disease recurrence and clinical resistance in patients with metastatic high-risk NBs (HR-NBs) result in poor outcomes and lower overall survival. However, the paucity of appropriate in vivo models for HR-NB metastasis has limited investigations into the underlying biology of HR-NB metastasis. This study was designed to address this limitation and develop suitable immunocompetent models for HR-NB metastasis. Here, we developed several highly metastatic immunocompetent murine HR-NB cell lines. Our newly developed cell lines show 100% efficiency in modeling experimental metastasis in C57BL6 mice and feature metastasis to the sites frequently observed in humans with HR-NB (liver and bone). In vivo validation demonstrated their specifically gained metastatic phenotype. The in vitro characterization of the cell lines showed increased cell invasion, acquired anchorage-independent growth ability, and resistance to MHC-I induction upon IFN-γ treatment. Furthermore, RNA-seq analysis of the newly developed cells identified a differentially regulated gene signature and an enrichment of processes consistent with their acquired metastatic phenotype, including extracellular matrix remodeling, angiogenesis, cell migration, and chemotaxis. The presented newly developed cell lines are, thus, suitable and promising tools for HR-NB metastasis and microenvironment studies in an immunocompetent system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mayura R. Dhamdhere
- Division of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, The Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, Hershey, PA 17033, USA
| | - Dan V. Spiegelman
- Department of Human Oncology, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI 53792, USA; (D.V.S.); (P.M.S.)
| | - Lisa Schneper
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, The Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, Hershey, PA 17033, USA
| | - Amy K. Erbe
- Department of Human Oncology, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI 53792, USA; (D.V.S.); (P.M.S.)
| | - Paul M. Sondel
- Department of Human Oncology, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI 53792, USA; (D.V.S.); (P.M.S.)
| | - Vladimir S. Spiegelman
- Division of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, The Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, Hershey, PA 17033, USA
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21
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Centofanti E, Wang C, Iyer S, Krichevsky O, Oyler-Yaniv A, Oyler-Yaniv J. The spread of interferon-γ in melanomas is highly spatially confined, driving nongenetic variability in tumor cells. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2023; 120:e2304190120. [PMID: 37603742 PMCID: PMC10468618 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2304190120] [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: 03/13/2023] [Accepted: 07/12/2023] [Indexed: 08/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Interferon-γ (IFNγ) is a critical antitumor cytokine that has varied effects on different cell types. The global effect of IFNγ in the tumor depends on which cells it acts upon and the spatial extent of its spread. Reported measurements of IFNγ spread vary dramatically in different contexts, ranging from nearest-neighbor signaling to perfusion throughout the entire tumor. Here, we apply theoretical considerations to experiments both in vitro and in vivo to study the spread of IFNγ in melanomas. We observe spatially confined niches of IFNγ signaling in 3-D mouse melanoma cultures and human tumors that generate cellular heterogeneity in gene expression and alter the susceptibility of affected cells to T cell killing. Widespread IFNγ signaling only occurs when niches overlap due to high local densities of IFNγ-producing T cells. We measured length scales of ~30 to 40 μm for IFNγ spread in B16 mouse melanoma cultures and human primary cutaneous melanoma. Our results are consistent with IFNγ spread being governed by a simple diffusion-consumption model and offer insight into how the spatial organization of T cells contributes to intratumor heterogeneity in inflammatory signaling, gene expression, and immune-mediated clearance. Solid tumors are often viewed as collections of diverse cellular "neighborhoods": Our work provides a general explanation for such nongenetic cellular variability due to confinement in the spread of immune mediators.
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Affiliation(s)
- Edoardo Centofanti
- The Department of Systems Biology at Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA02115
| | - Chad Wang
- The Systems, Synthetic, and Quantitative Biology Graduate Program at Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA02115
| | - Sandhya Iyer
- The Department of Systems Biology at Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA02115
| | - Oleg Krichevsky
- The Department of Physics at Ben Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva8410501, Israel
| | - Alon Oyler-Yaniv
- The Department of Systems Biology at Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA02115
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22
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van den Brink A, Suárez Peredo Rodríguez MF, Foijer F. Chromosomal instability and inflammation: a catch-22 for cancer cells. Chromosome Res 2023; 31:19. [PMID: 37561163 PMCID: PMC10415485 DOI: 10.1007/s10577-023-09730-y] [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: 06/01/2023] [Revised: 07/13/2023] [Accepted: 07/27/2023] [Indexed: 08/11/2023]
Abstract
Chromosomal instability (CIN), an increased rate of chromosomal segregation abnormalities, drives intratumor heterogeneity and affects most human cancers. In addition to chromosome copy number alterations, CIN results in chromosome(s) (fragments) being mislocalized into the cytoplasm in the form of micronuclei. Micronuclei can be detected by cGAS, a double-strand nucleic acid sensor, which will lead to the production of the second messenger 2'3'-cGAMP, activation of an inflammatory response, and downstream immune cell activation. However, the molecular network underlying the CIN-induced inflammatory response is still poorly understood. Furthermore, there is emerging evidence that cancers that display CIN circumvent this CIN-induced inflammatory response, and thus immune surveillance. The STAT1, STAT3, and NF-κB signaling cascades appear to play an important role in the CIN-induced inflammatory response. In this review, we discuss how these pathways are involved in signaling CIN in cells and how they are intertwined. A better understanding of how CIN is being signaled in cells and how cancer cells circumvent this is of the utmost importance for better and more selective cancer treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anouk van den Brink
- European Research Institute for the Biology of Ageing, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Antonius Deusinglaan 1, 9713, AV, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Maria F Suárez Peredo Rodríguez
- European Research Institute for the Biology of Ageing, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Antonius Deusinglaan 1, 9713, AV, Groningen, The Netherlands.
| | - Floris Foijer
- European Research Institute for the Biology of Ageing, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Antonius Deusinglaan 1, 9713, AV, Groningen, The Netherlands.
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23
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Horowitch B, Lee DY, Ding M, Martinez-Morilla S, Aung TN, Ouerghi F, Wang X, Wei W, Damsky W, Sznol M, Kluger H, Rimm DL, Ishizuka J. Subsets of IFN Signaling Predict Response to Immune Checkpoint Blockade in Patients with Melanoma. Clin Cancer Res 2023; 29:2908-2918. [PMID: 37233452 PMCID: PMC10524955 DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-23-0215] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2023] [Revised: 04/01/2023] [Accepted: 05/15/2023] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE IFN signaling in the tumor microenvironment is a critical determinant of both response and resistance of cancer to immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI). We hypothesized that distinct patterns of IFN signaling in melanoma are associated with clinical response or resistance to ICIs. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN Two tissue microarrays containing samples from 97 patients with metastatic melanoma who received nivolumab, pembrolizumab, or a combination of ipilimumab and nivolumab at Yale New Haven Hospital between 2011 and 2017 were randomized into discovery and validation cohorts. Samples were stained and visualized using multiplexed immunofluorescence microscopy for STAT1, STAT1 phosphorylated at Y701 (pSTAT1Y701), and PD-L1, and signals were quantified using the automated quantitative analysis method of quantitative immunofluorescence. Treatment response was assessed using RECIST, and overall survival was analyzed. For in vitro studies, human melanoma cell lines were stimulated with IFNγ and IFNβ, and Western blotting was performed. RESULTS Pretreatment STAT1 levels were higher in responders to ICIs [complete response/partial response/stable disease (SD) for > 6 months] than in nonresponders (SD < 6 months/progressive disease). Higher pretreatment STAT1 levels were associated with improved survival after ICIs in both the discovery and validation cohorts. Western blot analysis of human melanoma cell lines stimulated with IFN demonstrated distinct patterns of upregulation of STAT1 compared with pSTAT1Y701 and PD-L1. When combining STAT1 and PD-L1 markers, patients with STAT1highPD-L1low tumors had improved survival compared with those with STAT1lowPD-L1high tumors. CONCLUSIONS STAT1 may better predict melanoma response to ICIs than current strategies, and combined STAT1 and PD-L1 biomarkers may provide insight into IFN-responsive versus IFN-resistant states.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brooke Horowitch
- Department of Internal Medicine (Oncology), Yale Cancer Center and Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT
- Department of Pathology, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT
- Department of Immunobiology, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT
| | - Daniel Y. Lee
- Department of Internal Medicine (Oncology), Yale Cancer Center and Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT
- Department of Pathology, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT
- Department of Immunobiology, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT
- Department of Internal Medicine, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT
| | - Min Ding
- Department of Internal Medicine (Oncology), Yale Cancer Center and Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT
- Department of Pathology, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT
- Department of Immunobiology, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT
| | | | - Thazin Nwe Aung
- Department of Immunobiology, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT
| | - Feriel Ouerghi
- Department of Quantitative and Computational Biology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA
| | - Xueting Wang
- Department of Biostatistics, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT
| | - Wei Wei
- Department of Biostatistics, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT
| | - William Damsky
- Department of Dermatology, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT
| | - Mario Sznol
- Department of Internal Medicine (Oncology), Yale Cancer Center and Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT
| | - Harriet Kluger
- Department of Internal Medicine (Oncology), Yale Cancer Center and Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT
| | - David L. Rimm
- Department of Immunobiology, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT
| | - Jeffrey Ishizuka
- Department of Internal Medicine (Oncology), Yale Cancer Center and Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT
- Department of Pathology, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT
- Department of Immunobiology, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT
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24
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Ning Y, Fang S, Fang J, Lin K, Nie H, Xiong P, Qiu P, Zhao Q, Wang H, Wang F. Guanylate-binding proteins signature predicts favorable prognosis, immune-hot microenvironment, and immunotherapy response in hepatocellular carcinoma. Cancer Med 2023; 12:17504-17521. [PMID: 37551111 PMCID: PMC10501289 DOI: 10.1002/cam4.6347] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2022] [Revised: 07/01/2023] [Accepted: 07/06/2023] [Indexed: 08/09/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The role of guanylate-binding proteins (GBPs) in various cancers has been elucidated recently. However, our knowledge of the clinical relevance and biological characteristics of GBPs in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains limited. METHODS A total of 955 HCC patients were enrolled from five independent public HCC cohorts. The role of GBP molecules in HCC was preliminarily investigated, and a GBP family signature, termed GBPs-score, was constructed by principal component analysis to combine the GBP molecule values. We revealed the effects of GBP genes and GBPs-score in HCC via well-established bioinformatics methods and validated GBP1-5 experimentally in a tissue microarray (TMA) cohort. RESULTS GBPs molecules were closely associated with the prognosis of patients with HCC, and a high GBPs-score highly inferred a favorable survival outcome. We also revealed high GBPs-score was related to anti-tumor immunity, the immune-hot tumor microenvironment (TME), and immunotherapy response. Among the GBPs members, GBP1-5 rather than GBP6/7 may be dominant in these fields. The TMA analysis based on immunohistochemistry showed positive correlations between GBP1-5 and the immune-hot TME with abundant infiltration of CD8+ T cells in HCC. CONCLUSIONS Our integrative study revealed the genetic and immunologic characterizations of GBPs in HCC and highlighted their potential values as promising biomarkers for prognosis and immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yumei Ning
- Department of GastroenterologyZhongnan Hospital of Wuhan UniversityWuhanChina
- Hubei Clinical Center and Key Lab of Intestinal and Colorectal DiseasesWuhanChina
| | - Shilin Fang
- Department of Infectious DiseaseZhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Hubei AIDS Clinical Training CenterWuhanChina
| | - Jun Fang
- Department of GastroenterologyZhongnan Hospital of Wuhan UniversityWuhanChina
- Renmin Hospital of Huangmei CountyHuanggangChina
| | - Kun Lin
- Department of GastroenterologyZhongnan Hospital of Wuhan UniversityWuhanChina
- Hubei Clinical Center and Key Lab of Intestinal and Colorectal DiseasesWuhanChina
| | - Haihang Nie
- Department of GastroenterologyZhongnan Hospital of Wuhan UniversityWuhanChina
- Hubei Clinical Center and Key Lab of Intestinal and Colorectal DiseasesWuhanChina
| | - Peiling Xiong
- Department of GastroenterologyZhongnan Hospital of Wuhan UniversityWuhanChina
- Hubei Clinical Center and Key Lab of Intestinal and Colorectal DiseasesWuhanChina
| | - Peishan Qiu
- Department of GastroenterologyZhongnan Hospital of Wuhan UniversityWuhanChina
- Hubei Clinical Center and Key Lab of Intestinal and Colorectal DiseasesWuhanChina
| | - Qiu Zhao
- Department of GastroenterologyZhongnan Hospital of Wuhan UniversityWuhanChina
- Hubei Clinical Center and Key Lab of Intestinal and Colorectal DiseasesWuhanChina
| | - Haizhou Wang
- Department of GastroenterologyZhongnan Hospital of Wuhan UniversityWuhanChina
- Hubei Clinical Center and Key Lab of Intestinal and Colorectal DiseasesWuhanChina
| | - Fan Wang
- Department of GastroenterologyZhongnan Hospital of Wuhan UniversityWuhanChina
- Hubei Clinical Center and Key Lab of Intestinal and Colorectal DiseasesWuhanChina
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25
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Gu Y, Zhang Z, Camps MG, Ossendorp F, Wijdeven RH, ten Dijke P. Genome-wide CRISPR screens define determinants of epithelial-mesenchymal transition mediated immune evasion by pancreatic cancer cells. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2023; 9:eadf9915. [PMID: 37450593 PMCID: PMC10348683 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adf9915] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2022] [Accepted: 06/12/2023] [Indexed: 07/18/2023]
Abstract
The genetic circuits that allow cancer cells to evade immune killing via epithelial mesenchymal plasticity remain poorly understood. Here, we showed that mesenchymal-like (Mes) KPC3 pancreatic cancer cells were more resistant to cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL)-mediated killing than the parental epithelial-like (Epi) cells and used parallel genome-wide CRISPR screens to assess the molecular underpinnings of this difference. Core CTL-evasion genes (such as IFN-γ pathway components) were clearly evident in both types. Moreover, we identified and validated multiple Mes-specific regulators of cytotoxicity, such as Egfr and Mfge8. Both genes were significantly higher expressed in Mes cancer cells, and their depletion sensitized Mes cancer cells to CTL-mediated killing. Notably, Mes cancer cells secreted more Mfge8 to inhibit proliferation of CD8+ T cells and production of IFN-γ and TNFα. Clinically, increased Egfr and Mfge8 expression was correlated with a worse prognosis. Thus, Mes cancer cells use Egfr-mediated intrinsic and Mfge8-mediated extrinsic mechanisms to facilitate immune escape from CD8+ T cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuanzhuo Gu
- Oncode Institute and Department of Cell and Chemical Biology, Leiden University Medical Center, Einthovenweg 20, 2333 ZC Leiden, Netherlands
| | - Zhengkui Zhang
- Institutes of Biology and Medical Science, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China
| | - Marcel G. M. Camps
- Department of Immunology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands
| | - Ferry Ossendorp
- Department of Immunology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands
| | - Ruud H. Wijdeven
- Oncode Institute and Department of Cell and Chemical Biology, Leiden University Medical Center, Einthovenweg 20, 2333 ZC Leiden, Netherlands
| | - Peter ten Dijke
- Oncode Institute and Department of Cell and Chemical Biology, Leiden University Medical Center, Einthovenweg 20, 2333 ZC Leiden, Netherlands
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26
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Jou E. Type 1 and type 2 cytokine-mediated immune orchestration in the tumour microenvironment and their therapeutic potential. EXPLORATION OF TARGETED ANTI-TUMOR THERAPY 2023; 4:474-497. [PMID: 37455828 PMCID: PMC10345208 DOI: 10.37349/etat.2023.00146] [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: 02/27/2023] [Accepted: 04/25/2023] [Indexed: 07/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Cancer remains the second leading cause of death worldwide despite modern breakthroughs in medicine, and novel treatments are urgently needed. The revolutionary success of immune checkpoint inhibitors in the past decade serves as proof of concept that the immune system can be effectively harnessed to treat cancer. Cytokines are small signalling proteins with critical roles in orchestrating the immune response and have become an attractive target for immunotherapy. Type 1 immune cytokines, including interferon γ (IFNγ), interleukin-12 (IL-12), and tumour necrosis factor α (TNFα), have been shown to have largely tumour suppressive roles in part through orchestrating anti-tumour immune responses mediated by natural killer (NK) cells, CD8+ T cells and T helper 1 (Th1) cells. Conversely, type 2 immunity involving group 2 innate lymphoid cells (ILC2s) and Th2 cells are involved in tissue regeneration and wound repair and are traditionally thought to have pro-tumoural effects. However, it is found that the classical type 2 immune cytokines IL-4, IL-5, IL-9, and IL-13 may have conflicting roles in cancer. Similarly, type 2 immunity-related cytokines IL-25 and IL-33 with recently characterised roles in cancer may either promote or suppress tumorigenesis in a context-dependent manner. Furthermore, type 1 cytokines IFNγ and TNFα have also been found to have pro-tumoural effects under certain circumstances, further complicating the overall picture. Therefore, the dichotomy of type 1 and type 2 cytokines inhibiting and promoting tumours respectively is not concrete, and attempts of utilising these for cancer immunotherapy must take into account all available evidence. This review provides an overview summarising the current understanding of type 1 and type 2 cytokines in tumour immunity and discusses the prospects of harnessing these for immunotherapy in light of previous and ongoing clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eric Jou
- Queens’ College, University of Cambridge, CB3 9ET Cambridge, UK
- MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, CB2 0QH Cambridge, UK
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Leonhard J, Schaier M, Kälble F, Zeier M, Steinborn A. Exhaustion of CD8 + central memory responder T cell differentiation provokes non-melanoma skin cancer in elderly kidney transplant recipients. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1164284. [PMID: 37287988 PMCID: PMC10242110 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1164284] [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: 02/12/2023] [Accepted: 04/24/2023] [Indexed: 06/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Immunosuppressive therapy prevents graft rejection but increases the risk of non-melanoma skin cancer (NMSC), especially in elderly kidney transplant recipients (KTR). Methods In this study, we separately investigated the differentiation of CD8+ regulatory T cells (Tregs) and responder T cells (Tresps) between healthy KTR without NMSC, KTR developing de-novo NMSC within two years after the enrolment, and KTR with NMSC at the time of enrolment. Antigen-unexperienced CCR7+CD45RA+CD31+ recent thymic emigrant (RTE) cells differentiate via CD45RA-CD31+ memory (CD31+ memory) cells, via resting mature naïve (MN) cells or via direct proliferation into CD45RA-CD31- memory (CD31- memory) cells, consisting of both CCR7+CD45RA- central memory (CM) and CCR7-CD45RA- effector memory (EM) cells. Results We found that both RTE Treg and Tresp differentiation via CD31+ memory Tregs/Tresps was age-independently increased in KTR, who developed de novo NMSC during the follow-up period, causing abundant CM Treg/Tresp production, which may be crucial for cancer immunity. These changes favored a strongly increased CD8+ Treg/Tresp ratio, suggesting this ratio as a reliable marker for de-novo NMSC development in KTR. However, with age, this differentiation was replaced by increased conversion of resting MN Tregs/Tresps into CM Tregs/Tresps, which exhausted for Tresps but not for Tregs. In KTR with already existing NMSC at enrolment, differentiation was maintained via conversion and proliferation of resting MN Tregs/Tresps, which however increasingly exhausted with age, especially for Tresps. This resulted in a strong accumulation of terminally differentiated effector memory (TEMRA) Tresps in elderly individuals. Patients with NMSC recurrence showed increased proliferation of resting MN Tregs/Tresps into EM Tregs/Tresps, which tended to exhaust more rapidly, particularly for Tresps, than in patients without NMSC recurrence. Discussion In conclusion, we provide evidence that immunosuppressive therapy inhibits differentiation of CD8+ Tregs more than that of CD8+ Tresps, resulting in an exhausted Tresp profile, thus providing a possible therapeutic approach to improve poor cancer immunity in elderly KTR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonas Leonhard
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
- Department of Nephrology, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Matthias Schaier
- Department of Nephrology, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Florian Kälble
- Department of Nephrology, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Martin Zeier
- Department of Nephrology, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Andrea Steinborn
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
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van der Mijn JC, Laursen KB, Fu L, Khani F, Dow LE, Nowak DG, Chen Q, Gross SS, Nanus DM, Gudas LJ. Novel genetically engineered mouse models for clear cell renal cell carcinoma. Sci Rep 2023; 13:8246. [PMID: 37217526 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-35106-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2022] [Accepted: 05/12/2023] [Indexed: 05/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Genetically engineered mouse models (GEMMs) are important immunocompetent models for research into the roles of individual genes in cancer and the development of novel therapies. Here we use inducible CRISPR-Cas9 systems to develop two GEMMs which aim to model the extensive chromosome p3 deletion frequently observed in clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC). We cloned paired guide RNAs targeting early exons of Bap1, Pbrm1, and Setd2 in a construct containing a Cas9D10A (nickase, hSpCsn1n) driven by tetracycline (tet)-responsive elements (TRE3G) to develop our first GEMM. The founder mouse was crossed with two previously established transgenic lines, one carrying the tet-transactivator (tTA, Tet-Off) and one with a triple-mutant stabilized HIF1A-M3 (TRAnsgenic Cancer of the Kidney, TRACK), both driven by a truncated, proximal tubule-specific γ-glutamyltransferase 1 (ggt or γGT) promoter, to create triple-transgenic animals. Our results indicate that this model (BPS-TA) induces low numbers of somatic mutations in Bap1 and Pbrm1 (but not in Setd2), known tumor suppressor genes in human ccRCC. These mutations, largely restricted to kidneys and testis, induced no detectable tissue transformation in a cohort of 13 month old mice (N = 10). To gain insights into the low frequencies of insertions and deletions (indels) in BPS-TA mice we analyzed wild type (WT, N = 7) and BPS-TA (N = 4) kidneys by RNAseq. This showed activation of both DNA damage and immune response, suggesting activation of tumor suppressive mechanisms in response to genome editing. We then modified our approach by generating a second model in which a ggt-driven, cre-regulated Cas9WT(hSpCsn1) was employed to introduce Bap1, Pbrm1, and Setd2 genome edits in the TRACK line (BPS-Cre). The BPS-TA and BPS-Cre lines are both tightly controlled in a spatiotemporal manner with doxycycline (dox) and tamoxifen (tam), respectively. In addition, whereas the BPS-TA line relies on paired guide RNAs (gRNAs), the BPS-Cre line requires only single gRNAs for gene perturbation. In the BPS-Cre we identified increased Pbrm1 gene-editing frequencies compared to the BPS-TA model. Whereas we did not detect Setd2 edits in the BPS-TA kidneys, we found extensive editing of Setd2 in the BPS-Cre model. Bap1 editing efficiencies were comparable between the two models. Although no gross malignancies were observed in our study, this is the first reported GEMM which models the extensive chromosome 3p deletion frequently observed in kidney cancer patients. Further studies are required (1) to model more extensive 3p deletions, e.g. impacting additional genes, and (2) to increase the cellular resolution, e.g. by employing single-cell RNAseq to ascertain the effects of specific combinatorial gene inactivation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Johannes C van der Mijn
- Department of Pharmacology, New York Presbyterian Hospital, Weill Cornell Medicine, 1300 York Ave, New York, NY, 10065, USA
- Department of Medical Oncology, The Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Kristian B Laursen
- Department of Pharmacology, New York Presbyterian Hospital, Weill Cornell Medicine, 1300 York Ave, New York, NY, 10065, USA
- Meyer Cancer Center, New York, USA
- Paratus Sciences, Alexandria Bld. West, New York, USA
| | - Leiping Fu
- Department of Pharmacology, New York Presbyterian Hospital, Weill Cornell Medicine, 1300 York Ave, New York, NY, 10065, USA
| | - Francesca Khani
- Department of Pathology, New York Presbyterian Hospital, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
- Meyer Cancer Center, New York, USA
| | - Lukas E Dow
- Department of Biochemistry, New York Presbyterian Hospital, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
- Meyer Cancer Center, New York, USA
| | - Dawid G Nowak
- Department of Pharmacology, New York Presbyterian Hospital, Weill Cornell Medicine, 1300 York Ave, New York, NY, 10065, USA
- Meyer Cancer Center, New York, USA
| | - Qiuying Chen
- Department of Pharmacology, New York Presbyterian Hospital, Weill Cornell Medicine, 1300 York Ave, New York, NY, 10065, USA
| | - Steven S Gross
- Department of Pharmacology, New York Presbyterian Hospital, Weill Cornell Medicine, 1300 York Ave, New York, NY, 10065, USA
| | - David M Nanus
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine, New York Presbyterian Hospital, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
- Meyer Cancer Center, New York, USA
| | - Lorraine J Gudas
- Department of Pharmacology, New York Presbyterian Hospital, Weill Cornell Medicine, 1300 York Ave, New York, NY, 10065, USA.
- Department of Urology, New York Presbyterian Hospital, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA.
- Meyer Cancer Center, New York, USA.
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Han J, Wu M, Liu Z. Dysregulation in IFN-γ signaling and response: the barricade to tumor immunotherapy. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1190333. [PMID: 37275859 PMCID: PMC10233742 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1190333] [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: 03/20/2023] [Accepted: 04/14/2023] [Indexed: 06/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) has been identified as a crucial factor in determining the responsiveness to immunotherapy. Produced primarily by natural killer (NK) and T cells, IFN-γ promotes activation, maturation, proliferation, cytokine expression, and effector function in immune cells, while simultaneously inducing antigen presentation, growth arrest, and apoptosis in tumor cells. However, tumor cells can hijack the IFN-γ signaling pathway to mount IFN-γ resistance: rather than increasing antigenicity and succumbing to death, tumor cells acquire stemness characteristics and express immunosuppressive molecules to defend against antitumor immunity. In this review, we summarize the potential mechanisms of IFN-γ resistance occurring at two critical stages: disrupted signal transduction along the IFNG/IFNGR/JAK/STAT pathway, or preferential expression of specific interferon-stimulated genes (ISGs). Elucidating the molecular mechanisms through which tumor cells develop IFN-γ resistance help identify promising therapeutic targets to improve immunotherapy, with broad application value in conjugation with targeted, antibody or cellular therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiashu Han
- Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
- Department of General Surgery, Peking Union Medical College Hospital (CAMS), Beijing, China
| | - Mengwei Wu
- Department of General Surgery, Peking Union Medical College Hospital (CAMS), Beijing, China
| | - Ziwen Liu
- Department of General Surgery, Peking Union Medical College Hospital (CAMS), Beijing, China
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Massa C, Wang Y, Marr N, Seliger B. Interferons and Resistance Mechanisms in Tumors and Pathogen-Driven Diseases—Focus on the Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC) Antigen Processing Pathway. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24076736. [PMID: 37047709 PMCID: PMC10095295 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24076736] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2022] [Revised: 02/22/2023] [Accepted: 02/25/2023] [Indexed: 04/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Interferons (IFNs), divided into type I, type II, and type III IFNs represent proteins that are secreted from cells in response to various stimuli and provide important information for understanding the evolution, structure, and function of the immune system, as well as the signaling pathways of other cytokines and their receptors. They exert comparable, but also distinct physiologic and pathophysiologic activities accompanied by pleiotropic effects, such as the modulation of host responses against bacterial and viral infections, tumor surveillance, innate and adaptive immune responses. IFNs were the first cytokines used for the treatment of tumor patients including hairy leukemia, renal cell carcinoma, and melanoma. However, tumor cells often develop a transient or permanent resistance to IFNs, which has been linked to the escape of tumor cells and unresponsiveness to immunotherapies. In addition, loss-of-function mutations in IFN signaling components have been associated with susceptibility to infectious diseases, such as COVID-19 and mycobacterial infections. In this review, we summarize general features of the three IFN families and their function, the expression and activity of the different IFN signal transduction pathways, and their role in tumor immune evasion and pathogen clearance, with links to alterations in the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I and II antigen processing machinery (APM). In addition, we discuss insights regarding the clinical applications of IFNs alone or in combination with other therapeutic options including immunotherapies as well as strategies reversing the deficient IFN signaling. Therefore, this review provides an overview on the function and clinical relevance of the different IFN family members, with a specific focus on the MHC pathways in cancers and infections and their contribution to immune escape of tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chiara Massa
- Medical Faculty, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Magdeburger Str. 2, 06112 Halle, Germany
- Institute for Translational Immunology, Brandenburg Medical School Theodor Fontane, Hochstr. 29, 14770 Brandenburg an der Havel, Germany
| | - Yuan Wang
- Medical Faculty, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Magdeburger Str. 2, 06112 Halle, Germany
| | - Nico Marr
- Institute for Translational Immunology, Brandenburg Medical School Theodor Fontane, Hochstr. 29, 14770 Brandenburg an der Havel, Germany
- College of Health and Life Sciences, Hamad Bin Khalifa University, Doha P.O. Box 34110, Qatar
| | - Barbara Seliger
- Medical Faculty, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Magdeburger Str. 2, 06112 Halle, Germany
- Institute for Translational Immunology, Brandenburg Medical School Theodor Fontane, Hochstr. 29, 14770 Brandenburg an der Havel, Germany
- Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology, Perlickstr. 1, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
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31
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Freshour SL, Chen THP, Fisk B, Shen H, Mosior M, Skidmore ZL, Fronick C, Bolzenius JK, Griffith OL, Arora VK, Griffith M. Endothelial cells are a key target of IFN-g during response to combined PD-1/CTLA-4 ICB treatment in a mouse model of bladder cancer. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.03.28.534561. [PMID: 37034778 PMCID: PMC10081275 DOI: 10.1101/2023.03.28.534561] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
To explore mechanisms of response to combined PD-1/CTLA-4 immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) treatment in individual cell types, we generated scRNA-seq using a mouse model of invasive urothelial carcinoma with three conditions: untreated tumor, treated tumor, and tumor treated after CD4+ T cell depletion. After classifying tumor cells based on detection of somatic variants and assigning non-tumor cell types using SingleR, we performed differential expression analysis, overrepresentation analysis, and gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) within each cell type. GSEA revealed that endothelial cells were enriched for upregulated IFN-g response genes when comparing treated cells to both untreated cells and cells treated after CD4+ T cell depletion. Functional analysis showed that knocking out IFNgR1 in endothelial cells inhibited treatment response. Together, these results indicated that IFN-g signaling in endothelial cells is a key mediator of ICB induced anti-tumor activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sharon L. Freshour
- Department of Medicine, Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Timothy H.-P. Chen
- Department of Medicine, Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Bryan Fisk
- Department of Medicine, Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
- McDonnell Genome Institute, Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Haolin Shen
- Department of Medicine, Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Matthew Mosior
- Department of Medicine, Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
- McDonnell Genome Institute, Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Zachary L. Skidmore
- Department of Medicine, Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
- McDonnell Genome Institute, Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Catrina Fronick
- McDonnell Genome Institute, Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Jennifer K. Bolzenius
- Department of Medicine, Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
- Siteman Cancer Center, Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Obi L. Griffith
- Department of Medicine, Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
- McDonnell Genome Institute, Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
- Siteman Cancer Center, Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
- Department of Genetics, Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Vivek K. Arora
- Department of Medicine, Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
- Siteman Cancer Center, Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Malachi Griffith
- Department of Medicine, Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
- McDonnell Genome Institute, Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
- Siteman Cancer Center, Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
- Department of Genetics, Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
- Lead Contact
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32
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Remsik J, Tong X, Kunes RZ, Li MJ, Osman A, Chabot K, Sener UT, Wilcox JA, Isakov D, Snyder J, Bale TA, Chaligné R, Pe'er D, Boire A. Leptomeningeal anti-tumor immunity follows unique signaling principles. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.03.17.533041. [PMID: 36993586 PMCID: PMC10055207 DOI: 10.1101/2023.03.17.533041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/31/2023]
Abstract
Metastasis to the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)-filled leptomeninges, or leptomeningeal metastasis (LM), represents a fatal complication of cancer. Proteomic and transcriptomic analyses of human CSF reveal a substantial inflammatory infiltrate in LM. We find the solute and immune composition of CSF in the setting of LM changes dramatically, with notable enrichment in IFN-γ signaling. To investigate the mechanistic relationships between immune cell signaling and cancer cells within the leptomeninges, we developed syngeneic lung, breast, and melanoma LM mouse models. Here we show that transgenic host mice, lacking IFN-γ or its receptor, fail to control LM growth. Overexpression of Ifng through a targeted AAV system controls cancer cell growth independent of adaptive immunity. Instead, leptomeningeal IFN-γ actively recruits and activates peripheral myeloid cells, generating a diverse spectrum of dendritic cell subsets. These migratory, CCR7+ dendritic cells orchestrate the influx, proliferation, and cytotoxic action of natural killer cells to control cancer cell growth in the leptomeninges. This work uncovers leptomeningeal-specific IFN-γ signaling and suggests a novel immune-therapeutic approach against tumors within this space.
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33
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Shi LZ, Shen H, Ojo OA, Bonner JA. HiJAKing Immunotherapy-Resistant Melanoma for a Cure. Oncologist 2023; 28:196-198. [PMID: 36640142 PMCID: PMC10020808 DOI: 10.1093/oncolo/oyac270] [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: 09/17/2022] [Accepted: 12/02/2022] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Immune checkpoint blockers (ICBs) have brought great promise to patients with advanced melanoma, a tumor type that was claimed largely incurable not long ago. However, therapeutic resistance to ICBs has limited their utility in the clinic. Here, we provide a commentary on recent research endeavors concerning ICB resistance in melanoma patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lewis Zhichang Shi
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Heersink School of Medicine at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB-SOM), Birmingham, AL, USA
- O’Neal Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Alabama School of Medicine, Birmingham, AL, USA
- Department of Microbiology, University of Alabama School of Medicine, Birmingham, AL, USA
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Alabama School of Medicine, Birmingham, AL, USA
- Programs in Immunology, University of Alabama School of Medicine, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Hongxing Shen
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Heersink School of Medicine at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB-SOM), Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Oluwagbemiga A Ojo
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Heersink School of Medicine at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB-SOM), Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - James A Bonner
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Heersink School of Medicine at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB-SOM), Birmingham, AL, USA
- O’Neal Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Alabama School of Medicine, Birmingham, AL, USA
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Coelho MA, Cooper S, Strauss ME, Karakoc E, Bhosle S, Gonçalves E, Picco G, Burgold T, Cattaneo CM, Veninga V, Consonni S, Dinçer C, Vieira SF, Gibson F, Barthorpe S, Hardy C, Rein J, Thomas M, Marioni J, Voest EE, Bassett A, Garnett MJ. Base editing screens map mutations affecting interferon-γ signaling in cancer. Cancer Cell 2023; 41:288-303.e6. [PMID: 36669486 PMCID: PMC9942875 DOI: 10.1016/j.ccell.2022.12.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2022] [Revised: 11/14/2022] [Accepted: 12/22/2022] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Abstract
Interferon-γ (IFN-γ) signaling mediates host responses to infection, inflammation and anti-tumor immunity. Mutations in the IFN-γ signaling pathway cause immunological disorders, hematological malignancies, and resistance to immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) in cancer; however, the function of most clinically observed variants remains unknown. Here, we systematically investigate the genetic determinants of IFN-γ response in colorectal cancer cells using CRISPR-Cas9 screens and base editing mutagenesis. Deep mutagenesis of JAK1 with cytidine and adenine base editors, combined with pathway-wide screens, reveal loss-of-function and gain-of-function mutations, including causal variants in hematological malignancies and mutations detected in patients refractory to ICB. We functionally validate variants of uncertain significance in primary tumor organoids, where engineering missense mutations in JAK1 enhanced or reduced sensitivity to autologous tumor-reactive T cells. We identify more than 300 predicted missense mutations altering IFN-γ pathway activity, generating a valuable resource for interpreting gene variant function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew A Coelho
- Translational Cancer Genomics, Wellcome Sanger Institute, Hinxton, UK; Open Targets, Cambridge, UK
| | - Sarah Cooper
- Gene Editing and Cellular Research and Development, Wellcome Sanger Institute, Hinxton, UK; Open Targets, Cambridge, UK
| | | | - Emre Karakoc
- Translational Cancer Genomics, Wellcome Sanger Institute, Hinxton, UK; Open Targets, Cambridge, UK
| | - Shriram Bhosle
- Translational Cancer Genomics, Wellcome Sanger Institute, Hinxton, UK
| | - Emanuel Gonçalves
- Translational Cancer Genomics, Wellcome Sanger Institute, Hinxton, UK; Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, 1049-001, and, INESC-ID, 1000-029, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Gabriele Picco
- Translational Cancer Genomics, Wellcome Sanger Institute, Hinxton, UK; Open Targets, Cambridge, UK
| | - Thomas Burgold
- Gene Editing and Cellular Research and Development, Wellcome Sanger Institute, Hinxton, UK
| | - Chiara M Cattaneo
- Department of Immunology and Molecular Oncology, Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Open Targets, Cambridge, UK
| | - Vivien Veninga
- Department of Immunology and Molecular Oncology, Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Open Targets, Cambridge, UK
| | - Sarah Consonni
- Translational Cancer Genomics, Wellcome Sanger Institute, Hinxton, UK; Open Targets, Cambridge, UK
| | - Cansu Dinçer
- Translational Cancer Genomics, Wellcome Sanger Institute, Hinxton, UK
| | - Sara F Vieira
- Translational Cancer Genomics, Wellcome Sanger Institute, Hinxton, UK; Open Targets, Cambridge, UK
| | - Freddy Gibson
- Translational Cancer Genomics, Wellcome Sanger Institute, Hinxton, UK
| | - Syd Barthorpe
- Translational Cancer Genomics, Wellcome Sanger Institute, Hinxton, UK
| | - Claire Hardy
- Cancer, Ageing and Somatic Mutation, Wellcome Sanger Institute, Hinxton, UK
| | - Joel Rein
- Cellular Operations and Stem Cell Informatics, Wellcome Sanger Institute, Hinxton, UK
| | - Mark Thomas
- Cellular Operations and Stem Cell Informatics, Wellcome Sanger Institute, Hinxton, UK
| | - John Marioni
- EMBL-European Bioinformatics Institute, Cambridge, UK
| | - Emile E Voest
- Department of Immunology and Molecular Oncology, Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Oncode Institute, Utrecht, the Netherlands; Open Targets, Cambridge, UK
| | - Andrew Bassett
- Gene Editing and Cellular Research and Development, Wellcome Sanger Institute, Hinxton, UK; Open Targets, Cambridge, UK
| | - Mathew J Garnett
- Translational Cancer Genomics, Wellcome Sanger Institute, Hinxton, UK; Open Targets, Cambridge, UK.
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35
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Konishi Y, Terai K. In vivo imaging of inflammatory response in cancer research. Inflamm Regen 2023; 43:10. [PMID: 36750856 PMCID: PMC9903460 DOI: 10.1186/s41232-023-00261-x] [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: 09/07/2022] [Accepted: 01/27/2023] [Indexed: 02/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Inflammation can contribute to the development and progression of cancer. The inflammatory responses in the tumor microenvironment are shaped by complex sequences of dynamic intercellular cross-talks among diverse types of cells, and recapitulation of these dynamic events in vitro has yet to be achieved. Today, intravital microscopy with two-photon excitation microscopes (2P-IVM) is the mainstay technique for observing intercellular cross-talks in situ, unraveling cellular and molecular mechanisms in the context of their spatiotemporal dynamics. In this review, we summarize the current state of 2P-IVM with fluorescent indicators of signal transduction to reveal the cross-talks between cancer cells and surrounding cells including both immune and non-immune cells. We also discuss the potential application of red-shifted indicators along with optogenetic tools to 2P-IVM. In an era of single-cell transcriptomics and data-driven research, 2P-IVM will remain a key advantage in delivering the missing spatiotemporal context in the field of cancer research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yoshinobu Konishi
- grid.65499.370000 0001 2106 9910Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA USA
| | - Kenta Terai
- Department of Pathology and Biology of Diseases, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan.
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36
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Mazet JM, Mahale JN, Tong O, Watson RA, Lechuga-Vieco AV, Pirgova G, Lau VWC, Attar M, Koneva LA, Sansom SN, Fairfax BP, Gérard A. IFNγ signaling in cytotoxic T cells restricts anti-tumor responses by inhibiting the maintenance and diversity of intra-tumoral stem-like T cells. Nat Commun 2023; 14:321. [PMID: 36658158 PMCID: PMC9852295 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-35948-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2022] [Accepted: 01/10/2023] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
IFNγ is an immune mediator with concomitant pro- and anti-tumor functions. Here, we provide evidence that IFNγ directly acts on intra-tumoral CD8 T cells to restrict anti-tumor responses. We report that expression of the IFNγ receptor β chain (IFNγR2) in CD8 T cells negatively correlates with clinical responsiveness to checkpoint blockade in metastatic melanoma patients, suggesting that the loss of sensitivity to IFNγ contributes to successful antitumor immunity. Indeed, specific deletion of IFNγR in CD8 T cells promotes tumor control in a mouse model of melanoma. Chronic IFNγ inhibits the maintenance, clonal diversity and proliferation of stem-like T cells. This leads to decreased generation of T cells with intermediate expression of exhaustion markers, previously associated with beneficial anti-tumor responses. This study provides evidence of a negative feedback loop whereby IFNγ depletes stem-like T cells to restrict anti-tumor immunity. Targeting this pathway might represent an alternative strategy to enhance T cell-based therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julie M Mazet
- The Kennedy Institute of Rheumatology, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Jagdish N Mahale
- The Kennedy Institute of Rheumatology, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Orion Tong
- Department of Oncology, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | | | | | - Gabriela Pirgova
- The Kennedy Institute of Rheumatology, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Vivian W C Lau
- The Kennedy Institute of Rheumatology, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Moustafa Attar
- The Kennedy Institute of Rheumatology, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Lada A Koneva
- The Kennedy Institute of Rheumatology, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Stephen N Sansom
- The Kennedy Institute of Rheumatology, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | | | - Audrey Gérard
- The Kennedy Institute of Rheumatology, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.
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37
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Hargadon KM. Genetic dysregulation of immunologic and oncogenic signaling pathways associated with tumor-intrinsic immune resistance: a molecular basis for combination targeted therapy-immunotherapy for cancer. Cell Mol Life Sci 2023; 80:40. [PMID: 36629955 PMCID: PMC11072992 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-023-04689-9] [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: 10/01/2022] [Revised: 01/02/2023] [Accepted: 01/04/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
Since the turn of the century, advances in targeted therapy and immunotherapy have revolutionized the treatment of cancer. Although these approaches have far outperformed traditional therapies in various clinical settings, both remain plagued by mechanisms of innate and acquired resistance that limit therapeutic efficacy in many patients. With a focus on tumor-intrinsic resistance to immunotherapy, this review highlights our current understanding of the immunologic and oncogenic pathways whose genetic dysregulation in cancer cells enables immune escape. Emphasis is placed on genomic, epigenomic, transcriptomic, and proteomic aberrations that influence the activity of these pathways in the context of immune resistance. Specifically, the role of pathways that govern interferon signaling, antigen processing and presentation, and immunologic cell death as determinants of tumor immune susceptibility are discussed. Likewise, mechanisms of tumor immune resistance mediated by dysregulated RAS-MAPK, WNT, PI3K-AKT-mTOR, and cell cycle pathways are described. Finally, this review highlights the ways in which recent insight into genetic dysregulation of these immunologic and oncogenic signaling pathways is informing the design of combination targeted therapy-immunotherapy regimens that aim to restore immune susceptibility of cancer cells by overcoming resistance mechanisms that often limit the success of monotherapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristian M Hargadon
- Hargadon Laboratory, Department of Biology, Hampden-Sydney College, Hampden-Sydney, VA, 23943, USA.
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38
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Ucche S, Yokoyama S, Mojic M, Oki K, Ohshima C, Tsuihiji H, Takasaki I, Tahara H, Hayakawa Y. GSTA4 Governs Melanoma Immune Resistance and Metastasis. Mol Cancer Res 2023; 21:76-85. [PMID: 36162957 DOI: 10.1158/1541-7786.mcr-22-0369] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2022] [Revised: 08/07/2022] [Accepted: 09/20/2022] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
IMPLICATIONS Considering the importance of GSTA4 in controlling IFNγ responsiveness and the metastatic potential of other melanoma cells, our results highlight a novel mechanism whereby cancer cells escape from host immunity and gain metastatic ability by acquiring resistance to oxidative stress responses through the upregulation of GSTA4.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sisca Ucche
- Institute of Natural Medicine, University of Toyama, Toyama, Japan
| | - Satoru Yokoyama
- Institute of Natural Medicine, University of Toyama, Toyama, Japan.,Graduate School of Medicine and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Toyama, Toyama, Japan
| | - Marija Mojic
- Institute of Natural Medicine, University of Toyama, Toyama, Japan
| | - Kohei Oki
- Institute of Natural Medicine, University of Toyama, Toyama, Japan
| | - Chikako Ohshima
- Institute of Natural Medicine, University of Toyama, Toyama, Japan
| | - Haruka Tsuihiji
- Institute of Natural Medicine, University of Toyama, Toyama, Japan
| | - Ichiro Takasaki
- Department of Pharmacology, Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Graduate School of Innovative Life Sciences, University of Toyama, Toyama, Japan
| | - Hideaki Tahara
- The, Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan.,Department of Cancer Drug Discovery and Development, Research Center, Osaka International Cancer Institute, Osaka, Japan
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Ma S, Barr T, Yu J. Recent Advances of RNA m 6A Modifications in Cancer Immunoediting and Immunotherapy. Cancer Treat Res 2023; 190:49-94. [PMID: 38112999 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-031-45654-1_3] [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] [Indexed: 12/21/2023]
Abstract
Cancer immunotherapy, which modulates immune responses against tumors using immune-checkpoint inhibitors or adoptive cell transfer, has emerged as a novel and promising therapy for tumors. However, only a minority of patients demonstrate durable responses, while the majority of patients are resistant to immunotherapy. The immune system can paradoxically constrain and promote tumor development and progression. This process is referred to as cancer immunoediting. The mechanisms of resistance to immunotherapy seem to be that cancer cells undergo immunoediting to evade recognition and elimination by the immune system. RNA modifications, specifically N6-methyladenosine (m6A) methylation, have emerged as a key regulator of various post-transcriptional gene regulatory processes, such as RNA export, splicing, stability, and degradation, which play unappreciated roles in various physiological and pathological processes, including immune system development and cancer pathogenesis. Therefore, a deeper understanding of the mechanisms by which RNA modifications impact the cancer immunoediting process can provide insight into the mechanisms of resistance to immunotherapies and the strategies that can be used to overcome such resistance. In this chapter, we briefly introduce the background of cancer immunoediting and immunotherapy. We also review and discuss the roles and mechanisms of RNA m6A modifications in fine-tuning the innate and adaptive immune responses, as well as in regulating tumor escape from immunosurveillance. Finally, we summarize the current strategies targeting m6A regulators for cancer immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shoubao Ma
- Department of Hematology and Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation, City of Hope National Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, 91010, USA
- Hematologic Malignancies and Stem Cell Transplantation Institute, City of Hope National Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, 91010, USA
| | - Tasha Barr
- Department of Hematology and Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation, City of Hope National Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, 91010, USA
- Hematologic Malignancies and Stem Cell Transplantation Institute, City of Hope National Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, 91010, USA
| | - Jianhua Yu
- Department of Hematology and Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation, City of Hope National Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, 91010, USA.
- Hematologic Malignancies and Stem Cell Transplantation Institute, City of Hope National Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, 91010, USA.
- Department of Immuno-Oncology, Beckman Research Institute, City of Hope, Los Angeles, CA, 91010, USA.
- Comprehensive Cancer Center, City of Hope, Los Angeles, CA, 91010, USA.
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40
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Milutinovic S, Abe J, Jones E, Kelch I, Smart K, Lauder SN, Somerville M, Ware C, Godkin A, Stein JV, Bogle G, Gallimore A. Three-dimensional Imaging Reveals Immune-driven Tumor-associated High Endothelial Venules as a Key Correlate of Tumor Rejection Following Depletion of Regulatory T Cells. CANCER RESEARCH COMMUNICATIONS 2022; 2:1641-1656. [PMID: 36704666 PMCID: PMC7614106 DOI: 10.1158/2767-9764.crc-21-0123] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2021] [Revised: 06/29/2022] [Accepted: 11/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
High endothelial venules (HEV) are specialized post capillary venules that recruit naïve T cells and B cells into secondary lymphoid organs (SLO) such as lymph nodes (LN). Expansion of HEV networks in SLOs occurs following immune activation to support development of an effective immune response. In this study, we used a carcinogen-induced model of fibrosarcoma to examine HEV remodeling after depletion of regulatory T cells (Treg). We used light sheet fluorescence microscopy imaging to visualize entire HEV networks, subsequently applying computational tools to enable topological mapping and extraction of numerical descriptors of the networks. While these analyses revealed profound cancer- and immune-driven alterations to HEV networks within LNs, these changes did not identify successful responses to treatment. The presence of HEV networks within tumors did however clearly distinguish responders from nonresponders. Finally, we show that a successful treatment response is dependent on coupling tumor-associated HEV (TA-HEV) development to T-cell activation implying that T-cell activation acts as the trigger for development of TA-HEVs which subsequently serve to amplify the immune response by facilitating extravasation of T cells into the tumor mass.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefan Milutinovic
- Systems Immunity University Research Institute, Henry Wellcome Building, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Cardiff, United Kingdom
| | - Jun Abe
- Department of Oncology, Microbiology and Immunology, University of Fribourg, Fribourg, Switzerland
| | - Emma Jones
- Systems Immunity University Research Institute, Henry Wellcome Building, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Cardiff, United Kingdom
| | - Inken Kelch
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Kathryn Smart
- Systems Immunity University Research Institute, Henry Wellcome Building, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Cardiff, United Kingdom
| | - Sarah N. Lauder
- Systems Immunity University Research Institute, Henry Wellcome Building, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Cardiff, United Kingdom
| | - Michelle Somerville
- Systems Immunity University Research Institute, Henry Wellcome Building, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Cardiff, United Kingdom
| | - Carl Ware
- Laboratory of Molecular Immunology, Sanford Burnham Prebys, La Jolla, California
| | - Andrew Godkin
- Systems Immunity University Research Institute, Henry Wellcome Building, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Cardiff, United Kingdom
| | - Jens V. Stein
- Department of Oncology, Microbiology and Immunology, University of Fribourg, Fribourg, Switzerland
| | - Gib Bogle
- Auckland Bioengineering Institute, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Awen Gallimore
- Systems Immunity University Research Institute, Henry Wellcome Building, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Cardiff, United Kingdom
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41
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Gauthier T, Chen W. IFN-γ and TGF-β, Crucial Players in Immune Responses: A Tribute to Howard Young. J Interferon Cytokine Res 2022; 42:643-654. [PMID: 36516375 PMCID: PMC9917322 DOI: 10.1089/jir.2022.0132] [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: 06/07/2022] [Accepted: 06/18/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Interferon gamma (IFN-γ) and transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β), both pleiotropic cytokines, have been long studied and described as critical mediators of the immune response, notably in T cells. One of the investigators who made seminal and critical discoveries in the field of IFN-γ biology is Dr. Howard Young. In this review, we provide an overview of the biology of IFN-γ as well as its role in cancer and autoimmunity with an emphasis on Dr. Young's critical work in the field. We also describe how Dr. Young's work influenced our own research studying the role of TGF-β in the modulation of immune responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thierry Gauthier
- Mucosal Immunology Section, National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR), National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - WanJun Chen
- Mucosal Immunology Section, National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR), National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
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42
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Norouzian M, Mehdipour F, Ashraf MJ, Khademi B, Ghaderi A. Regulatory and effector T cell subsets in tumor-draining lymph nodes of patients with squamous cell carcinoma of head and neck. BMC Immunol 2022; 23:56. [PMCID: PMC9664675 DOI: 10.1186/s12865-022-00530-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2022] [Accepted: 11/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Background
A crucial role for the immune system has been proposed in the establishment and progression of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). In this study, we investigated the cytokine and regulatory profiles of T cells in tumor draining lymph nodes (TDLNs) of patients with HNSCC.
Results
The frequencies of CD4+TNF-α+ and CD4+TNF-αhi negatively were associated with poor prognostic factors such as LN involvement (P = 0.015 and P = 0.019, respectively), stage of the disease (P = 0.032 and P = 0.010, respectively) and tumor size (P = 0.026 and P = 0.032, respectively). Frequencies of CD8+IFN-γ+ and CD8+IFN-γ+ TNF-α+ T cells showed negative relationship with tumor grade (P = 0.035 and P = 0.043, respectively). While, the frequencies of CD4+IL-4+, CD8+IL-10+, CD8+IL-4+T cells were higher in advanced stages of the disease (P = 0.042, P = 0.041 and P = 0.030, respectively) and CD4+IFN-γ+TNF-α−, CD8+IL-4+ and CD8+IFN-γ+TNF-α− T cells were higher in patients with larger tumor size (P = 0.026 and P = 0.032, respectively). Negative associations were found between the frequencies of CD4+CD25+Foxp3+ and CD4+CD25+Foxp3+CD127low/− Treg cells and cancer stage (P = 0.015 and P = 0.059).
Conclusion
This study shed more lights on the changes in immune profile of T cells in TDLNs of HNSCC. Larger tumor size and/or LN involvement were associated with lower frequencies of CD4+TNF-α+, CD8+IFN-γ+ and CD8+IFN-γ+TNF-α+ but higher frequency of CD4+IL-4+ T cells. Moreover, Foxp3+Tregs correlated with good prognostic indicators.
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43
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Haddad AF, Young JS, Gill S, Aghi MK. Resistance to immune checkpoint blockade: Mechanisms, counter-acting approaches, and future directions. Semin Cancer Biol 2022; 86:532-541. [PMID: 35276342 PMCID: PMC9458771 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcancer.2022.02.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2021] [Revised: 02/01/2022] [Accepted: 02/16/2022] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
Immunotherapies seek to unleash the immune system against cancer cells. While a variety of immunotherapies exist, one of the most commonly used is immune checkpoint blockade, which refers to the use of antibodies to interfere with immunosuppressive signaling through immune checkpoint molecules. Therapies against various checkpoints have had success in the clinic across cancer types. However, the efficacy of checkpoint inhibitors has varied across different cancer types and non-responsive patient populations have emerged. Non-responders to these therapies have highlighted the importance of understanding underlying mechanisms of resistance in order to predict which patients will respond and to tailor individual treatment paradigms. In this review we discuss the literature surrounding tumor mediated mechanisms of immune checkpoint resistance. We also describe efforts to overcome resistance and combine checkpoint inhibitors with additional immunotherapies. Finally, we provide insight into the future of immune checkpoint blockade, including the need for improved preclinical modeling and predictive biomarkers to facilitate personalized cancer treatments for patients.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Manish K. Aghi
- Corresponding author at: Department of Neurological Surgery, University of California, San Francisco, 505 Parnassus Ave, M-779, San Francisco, CA 94143-0112, USA. (M.K. Aghi)
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44
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Sharma G, Pothuraju R, Kanchan RK, Batra SK, Siddiqui JA. Chemokines network in bone metastasis: Vital regulators of seeding and soiling. Semin Cancer Biol 2022; 86:457-472. [PMID: 35124194 PMCID: PMC9744380 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcancer.2022.02.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2021] [Revised: 01/20/2022] [Accepted: 02/01/2022] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Chemokines are well equipped with chemo-attractive signals that can regulate cancer cell trafficking to specific organ sites. Currently, updated concepts have revealed the diverse role of chemokines in the biology of cancer initiation and progression. Genomic instabilities and alterations drive tumor heterogeneity, providing more options for the selection and metastatic progression to cancer cells. Tumor heterogeneity and acquired drug resistance are the main obstacles in managing cancer therapy and the primary root cause of metastasis. Studies emphasize that multiple chemokine/receptor axis are involved in cancer cell-mediated organ-specific distant metastasis. One of the persuasive mechanisms for heterogeneity and subsequent events is sturdily interlinked with the crosstalk between chemokines and their receptors on cancer cells and tissue-specific microenvironment. Among different metastatic niches, skeletal metastasis is frequently observed in the late stages of prostate, breast, and lung cancer and significantly reduces the survival of cancer patients. Therefore, it is crucial to elucidate the role of chemokines and their receptors in metastasis and bone remodeling. Here, we review the potential chemokine/receptor axis in tumorigenesis, tumor heterogeneity, metastasis, and vicious cycle in bone microenvironment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gunjan Sharma
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, 68198, USA
| | - Ramesh Pothuraju
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, 68198, USA
| | - Ranjana Kumari Kanchan
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, 68198, USA
| | - Surinder Kumar Batra
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, 68198, USA; Fred and Pamela Buffett Cancer Center, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, 68198, USA; Eppley Institute for Research in Cancer and Allied Diseases, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, 68198, USA
| | - Jawed Akhtar Siddiqui
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, 68198, USA; Fred and Pamela Buffett Cancer Center, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, 68198, USA.
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45
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Lu Q, Liu L, Wang S, Zhang Q, Li L. Comprehensive analysis of m5C-Related lncRNAs in the prognosis and immune landscape of hepatocellular carcinoma. Front Genet 2022; 13:990594. [PMID: 36339006 PMCID: PMC9630339 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2022.990594] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2022] [Accepted: 10/03/2022] [Indexed: 02/13/2024] Open
Abstract
5-Methyladenosine (m5C) is a type of epigenetic modification involved in the progression of various cancers. To investigate the role of m5C-related long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) in the prognosis and immune cell infiltration in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), we obtained patients' clinical information and transcriptome data of HCC from the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database. We applied Pearson correlation analysis to construct an m5C-related lncRNA-messenger RNA (mRNA) co-expression network. Univariate Cox analysis, least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO), and multivariate Cox analysis were employed to establish an m5C-related lncRNA prognostic risk model. We then verified the model using Kaplan-Meier analysis, principal component analysis, as well as univariate and multivariate Cox analyses. The expression of m5C-related lncRNAs was validated in HCC tissues and different cell lines. Combining the risk score and clinicopathological features, a nomogram was established for predicting the overall survival (OS) of HCC patients. Furthermore, gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) revealed that some tumor-associated pathways were significantly enriched in the high-risk group. Immune cell infiltration analysis demonstrated that the levels of Treg cells, neutrophils, and M2 macrophages were higher in the high-risk group. In addition, patients with high tumor mutation burden (TMB) had worse OS than those with low TMB. We also assessed the immune checkpoint level and chemotherapeutic agent sensibility. Then in vitro experiments were performed to examine the biological function of MKLN1-AS in HCC cells and found that knockdown of MKLN1-AS suppressed the proliferation, migration, and invasion. In conclusion, m5C-related lncRNAs played a critical role in predicting the prognosis of patients with HCC and may serve as new therapeutic targets for HCC patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qian Lu
- Department of Gastroenterology, The Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, China
- Institute of Digestive Diseases, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, China
| | - Lianyu Liu
- Institute of Digestive Diseases, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, China
- Department of General Surgery, The Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, China
| | - Shuai Wang
- The Graduate School, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, China
| | - Qi Zhang
- Department of Gastroenterology, The Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, China
- Institute of Digestive Diseases, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, China
| | - Li Li
- Department of Gastroenterology, The Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, China
- Institute of Digestive Diseases, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, China
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46
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Dubrot J, Du PP, Lane-Reticker SK, Kessler EA, Muscato AJ, Mehta A, Freeman SS, Allen PM, Olander KE, Ockerman KM, Wolfe CH, Wiesmann F, Knudsen NH, Tsao HW, Iracheta-Vellve A, Schneider EM, Rivera-Rosario AN, Kohnle IC, Pope HW, Ayer A, Mishra G, Zimmer MD, Kim SY, Mahapatra A, Ebrahimi-Nik H, Frederick DT, Boland GM, Haining WN, Root DE, Doench JG, Hacohen N, Yates KB, Manguso RT. In vivo CRISPR screens reveal the landscape of immune evasion pathways across cancer. Nat Immunol 2022; 23:1495-1506. [PMID: 36151395 DOI: 10.1038/s41590-022-01315-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 23.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2022] [Accepted: 08/15/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
The immune system can eliminate tumors, but checkpoints enable immune escape. Here, we identify immune evasion mechanisms using genome-scale in vivo CRISPR screens across cancer models treated with immune checkpoint blockade (ICB). We identify immune evasion genes and important immune inhibitory checkpoints conserved across cancers, including the non-classical major histocompatibility complex class I (MHC class I) molecule Qa-1b/HLA-E. Surprisingly, loss of tumor interferon-γ (IFNγ) signaling sensitizes many models to immunity. The immune inhibitory effects of tumor IFN sensing are mediated through two mechanisms. First, tumor upregulation of classical MHC class I inhibits natural killer cells. Second, IFN-induced expression of Qa-1b inhibits CD8+ T cells via the NKG2A/CD94 receptor, which is induced by ICB. Finally, we show that strong IFN signatures are associated with poor response to ICB in individuals with renal cell carcinoma or melanoma. This study reveals that IFN-mediated upregulation of classical and non-classical MHC class I inhibitory checkpoints can facilitate immune escape.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juan Dubrot
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Center for Cancer Research, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Center for Applied Medical Research (CIMA), University of Navarra, Pamplona, Spain
| | - Peter P Du
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | | | | | | | - Arnav Mehta
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Center for Cancer Research, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Samuel S Freeman
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Center for Cancer Research, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Peter M Allen
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | | | | | - Clara H Wolfe
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | | | - Nelson H Knudsen
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Center for Cancer Research, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | | | | | | | | | - Ian C Kohnle
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Hans W Pope
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Austin Ayer
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Gargi Mishra
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | | | - Sarah Y Kim
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | | | | | - Dennie T Frederick
- Center for Cancer Research, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Genevieve M Boland
- Center for Cancer Research, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - W Nicholas Haining
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- ArsenalBio, South San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - David E Root
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - John G Doench
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Nir Hacohen
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Center for Cancer Research, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Kathleen B Yates
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA.
- Center for Cancer Research, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.
- Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.
| | - Robert T Manguso
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA.
- Center for Cancer Research, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.
- Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.
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47
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Fu Q, Liu X, Xia H, Li Y, Yu Z, Liu B, Xiong X, Chen G. Interferon-γ induces immunosuppression in salivary adenoid cystic carcinoma by regulating programmed death ligand 1 secretion. Int J Oral Sci 2022; 14:47. [PMID: 36167732 PMCID: PMC9515071 DOI: 10.1038/s41368-022-00197-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2022] [Revised: 07/23/2022] [Accepted: 08/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Interferon-γ (IFN-γ), a key effector molecule in anti-tumor immune response, has been well documented to correlate with the intratumoral infiltration of immune cells. Of interest, however, a high level of IFN-γ has been reported in salivary adenoid cystic carcinoma (SACC), which is actually a type of immunologically cold cancer with few infiltrated immune cells. Investigating the functional significance of IFN-γ in SACC would help to explain such a paradoxical phenomenon. In the present study, we revealed that, compared to oral squamous cell carcinoma cells (a type of immunologically hot cancer), SACC cells were less sensitive to the growth-inhibition effect of IFN-γ. Moreover, the migration and invasion abilities of SACC cells were obviously enhanced upon IFN-γ treatment. In addition, our results revealed that exposure to IFN-γ significantly up-regulated the level of programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1) on SACC cell-derived small extracellular vesicles (sEVs), which subsequently induced the apoptosis of CD8+ T cells through antagonizing PD-1. Importantly, it was also found that SACC patients with higher levels of plasma IFN-γ also had higher levels of circulating sEVs that carried PD-L1 on their surface. Our study unveils a mechanism that IFN-γ induces immunosuppression in SACC via sEV PD-L1, which would account for the scarce immune cell infiltration and insensitivity to immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiuyun Fu
- The State Key Laboratory Breeding Base of Basic Science of Stomatology & Key Laboratory of Oral Biomedicine Ministry of Education, School and Hospital of Stomatology, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Xingchi Liu
- The State Key Laboratory Breeding Base of Basic Science of Stomatology & Key Laboratory of Oral Biomedicine Ministry of Education, School and Hospital of Stomatology, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Houfu Xia
- The State Key Laboratory Breeding Base of Basic Science of Stomatology & Key Laboratory of Oral Biomedicine Ministry of Education, School and Hospital of Stomatology, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China.,Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, School and Hospital of Stomatology, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Yicun Li
- Peking University Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen Peking University-The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology Medical Center, Shenzhen, China
| | - Zili Yu
- The State Key Laboratory Breeding Base of Basic Science of Stomatology & Key Laboratory of Oral Biomedicine Ministry of Education, School and Hospital of Stomatology, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China.,Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, School and Hospital of Stomatology, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Bing Liu
- The State Key Laboratory Breeding Base of Basic Science of Stomatology & Key Laboratory of Oral Biomedicine Ministry of Education, School and Hospital of Stomatology, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China.,Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, School and Hospital of Stomatology, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Xuepeng Xiong
- The State Key Laboratory Breeding Base of Basic Science of Stomatology & Key Laboratory of Oral Biomedicine Ministry of Education, School and Hospital of Stomatology, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China. .,Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, School and Hospital of Stomatology, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China.
| | - Gang Chen
- The State Key Laboratory Breeding Base of Basic Science of Stomatology & Key Laboratory of Oral Biomedicine Ministry of Education, School and Hospital of Stomatology, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China. .,Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, School and Hospital of Stomatology, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China. .,Frontier Science Center for Immunology and Metabolism, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China.
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48
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Mathematical modeling for the combination treatment of IFN- γ and anti-PD-1 in cancer immunotherapy. Math Biosci 2022; 353:108911. [PMID: 36150452 DOI: 10.1016/j.mbs.2022.108911] [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: 03/05/2022] [Revised: 07/12/2022] [Accepted: 09/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
When the immune-checkpoint programmed death-1 (PD-1) binds to its ligand programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1) to form the complex PD-1-PD-L1, this complex inactivates immune cells resulting in cell apoptosis, downregulation of immune reaction, and tumor evasion. The antibody, anti-PD-1 or anti-PD-L1, blocks the PD-1-PD-L1 complex formation to restore the functions of T cells. Combination of anti-PD-1 with other treatment shows promising in different types of cancer treatments. Interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) plays an important role in immune responses. It is mainly regarded as a pro-inflammatory cytokine that promotes the proliferation of CD8+ T cell and cytotoxic T cell, enhances the activation of Th1 cells and CD8+ T cells, and enhances tumor elimination. However, recent studies have been discovering many anti-inflammatory functions of IFN-γ, such as promotion of the PD-L1 expression, T cell apoptosis, and tumor metastasis, as well as inhibition of the immune recognition and the killing rates by T cells. In this work, we construct a mathematical model incorporating pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory functions of IFN-γ to capture tumor growth under anti-PD-1 treatment in the wild type and IFN-γ null mutant melanoma. Our simulation results qualitatively fit experimental data that IFN-γ null mutant with anti-PD-1 obtains the highest tumor reduction comparing to IFN-γ null mutant without anti-PD-1 and wild type tumor with anti-PD-1 therapy. Moreover, our synergy analysis indicates that, in the combination treatment, the tumor volume decreases as either the dosage of anti-PD-1 increases or the IFN-γ production efficiency decreases. Thus, the combination of anti-PD-1 and IFN-γ blockade improves the tumor reduction comparing to the monotherapy of anti-PD-1 or the monotherapy of IFN-γ blockade. We also find a threshold curve of the minimal dosage of anti-PD-1 corresponding to the IFN-γ production efficiency to ensure the tumor reduction under the presence of IFN-γ.
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49
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Gubin MM, Vesely MD. Cancer Immunoediting in the Era of Immuno-oncology. Clin Cancer Res 2022; 28:3917-3928. [PMID: 35594163 PMCID: PMC9481657 DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-21-1804] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2022] [Revised: 03/30/2022] [Accepted: 05/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Basic science breakthroughs in T-cell biology and immune-tumor cell interactions ushered in a new era of cancer immunotherapy. Twenty years ago, cancer immunoediting was proposed as a framework to understand the dynamic process by which the immune system can both control and shape cancer and in its most complex form occurs through three phases termed elimination, equilibrium, and escape. During cancer progression through these phases, tumors undergo immunoediting, rendering them less immunogenic and more capable of establishing an immunosuppressive microenvironment. Therefore, cancer immunoediting integrates the complex immune-tumor cell interactions occurring in the tumor microenvironment and sculpts immunogenicity beyond shaping antigenicity. However, with the success of cancer immunotherapy resulting in durable clinical responses in the last decade and subsequent emergence of immuno-oncology as a clinical subspecialty, the phrase "cancer immunoediting" has recently, at times, been inappropriately restricted to describing neoantigen loss by immunoselection. This focus has obscured other mechanisms by which cancer immunoediting modifies tumor immunogenicity. Although establishment of the concept of cancer immunoediting and definitive experimental evidence supporting its existence was initially obtained from preclinical models in the absence of immunotherapy, cancer immunoediting is a continual process that also occurs during immunotherapy in human patients with cancer. Herein, we discuss the known mechanisms of cancer immunoediting obtained from preclinical and clinical data with an emphasis on how a greater understanding of cancer immunoediting may provide insights into immunotherapy resistance and how this resistance can be overcome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew M. Gubin
- Department of Immunology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center
- The Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
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50
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Shen H, Huang F, Zhang X, Ojo OA, Li Y, Trummell HQ, Anderson JC, Fiveash J, Bredel M, Yang ES, Willey CD, Chong Z, Bonner JA, Shi LZ. Selective suppression of melanoma lacking IFN-γ pathway by JAK inhibition depends on T cells and host TNF signaling. Nat Commun 2022; 13:5013. [PMID: 36008408 PMCID: PMC9411168 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-32754-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2021] [Accepted: 08/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Therapeutic resistance to immune checkpoint blockers (ICBs) in melanoma patients is a pressing issue, of which tumor loss of IFN-γ signaling genes is a major underlying mechanism. However, strategies of overcoming this resistance mechanism have been largely elusive. Moreover, given the indispensable role of tumor-infiltrating T cells (TILs) in ICBs, little is known about how tumor-intrinsic loss of IFN-γ signaling (IFNγR1KO) impacts TILs. Here, we report that IFNγR1KO melanomas have reduced infiltration and function of TILs. IFNγR1KO melanomas harbor a network of constitutively active protein tyrosine kinases centered on activated JAK1/2. Mechanistically, JAK1/2 activation is mediated by augmented mTOR. Importantly, JAK1/2 inhibition with Ruxolitinib selectively suppresses the growth of IFNγR1KO but not scrambled control melanomas, depending on T cells and host TNF. Together, our results reveal an important role of tumor-intrinsic IFN-γ signaling in shaping TILs and manifest a targeted therapy to bypass ICB resistance of melanomas defective of IFN-γ signaling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongxing Shen
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Heersink School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB-SOM), Birmingham, AL, 35233, USA
| | - Fengyuan Huang
- Department of Genetics and Informatics Institute, UAB-SOM, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Xiangmin Zhang
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, 48201, USA
| | - Oluwagbemiga A Ojo
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Heersink School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB-SOM), Birmingham, AL, 35233, USA
| | - Yuebin Li
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Heersink School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB-SOM), Birmingham, AL, 35233, USA
| | - Hoa Quang Trummell
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Heersink School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB-SOM), Birmingham, AL, 35233, USA
| | - Joshua C Anderson
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Heersink School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB-SOM), Birmingham, AL, 35233, USA
| | - John Fiveash
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Heersink School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB-SOM), Birmingham, AL, 35233, USA.,O'Neal Comprehensive Cancer Center, UAB-SOM, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Markus Bredel
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Heersink School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB-SOM), Birmingham, AL, 35233, USA.,O'Neal Comprehensive Cancer Center, UAB-SOM, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Eddy S Yang
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Heersink School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB-SOM), Birmingham, AL, 35233, USA.,O'Neal Comprehensive Cancer Center, UAB-SOM, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Christopher D Willey
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Heersink School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB-SOM), Birmingham, AL, 35233, USA.,O'Neal Comprehensive Cancer Center, UAB-SOM, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Zechen Chong
- Department of Genetics and Informatics Institute, UAB-SOM, Birmingham, AL, USA. .,O'Neal Comprehensive Cancer Center, UAB-SOM, Birmingham, AL, USA.
| | - James A Bonner
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Heersink School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB-SOM), Birmingham, AL, 35233, USA. .,O'Neal Comprehensive Cancer Center, UAB-SOM, Birmingham, AL, USA.
| | - Lewis Zhichang Shi
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Heersink School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB-SOM), Birmingham, AL, 35233, USA. .,O'Neal Comprehensive Cancer Center, UAB-SOM, Birmingham, AL, USA. .,Department of Microbiology, UAB-SOM, Birmingham, AL, USA. .,Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, UAB-SOM, Birmingham, AL, USA. .,Programs in Immunology, UAB-SOM, Birmingham, AL, USA.
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