Inhibitory effect of Endostar on HIF-1 with upregulation of MHC-I in lung cancer cells

Endostar is a human recombinant endostatin which is an attractive anti-angiogenesis protein. Because inefficient antigen presenting MHC class I expression (which can be downregulated by HIF-1) is an important strategy for cancer immune evasion, besides its anti-angiogenesis effect, it remains unclear whether Endostar has an inhibitory effect on HIF-1 expression by upregulating MHC class I expression in cancer cells to facilitate immunotherapies, including PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors. In this study, A549 and NCI-H1299 lung cancer cells were treated with Endostar (6.25 μg/ml, 12.5 μg/ml, and 25 μg/ml, respectively). HIF-1 expression was detected by Immunocytochemistry and Western blot. Proteins of the MHC class I α-heavy chain and β2 m light chain, STAT3 and pSTAT3 were detected by Western blot. The mRNAs of MHC class I α-heavy chain and β2 m light chain were detected by RT-qPCR. It was shown that decreased expression of HIF-1 and promotion of β2-microglobulin were observed after Endostar treatment. In addition, elevated levels of MHC class I α-heavy chain mRNA and protein, as well as downregulation of STAT3 and pSTAT3, were also observed following Endostar treatment. Endostar inhibited HIF-1 expression in A549 and NCI-H1299 lung cancer cells, upregulated expression of MHC class I α-heavy chain and β2 m light chain, with the upregulation of STAT3 and pSTAT3, suggesting involvement of STAT3 pathway. It is important because only in combination with MHC class I on target cells can tumor antigenic peptides be recognized by CD8+ CTLs which destroy target cells. However, MHC class I is frequently deficient in cancer cells.

Mechanism of the N6-methyladenosine reader heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein C facilitating immune escape in thyroid cancer by stabilizing programmed death ligand 1

Thyroid cancer (TC) is a leading malignancy of the endocrine system. We investigated mechanism of the N6-methyladenosine (m6A) reader heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein C (HNRNPC) facilitating immune escape in TC by stabilizing programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1). HNRNPC expression in TC tissues was analyzed using databases. Human TC cells (BHT-101, B-CPAP, SW579) and human thyroid follicular epithelial cells (Nthy-ori3-1) were cultured in vitro. SW579 cells were treated with pcDNA3.1-HNRNPC (oe-HNRNPC) and small interfering (si)-PD-L1, and B-CPAP cells were transfected with si-HNRNPC. HNRNPC and PD-L1 expression levels were assessed by RT-qPCR and Western blot. Cell proliferation, migration and invasion were evaluated by CCK-8, colony formation, and Transwell assays. Carboxyfluorescein diacetate succinimidyl ester-labelled CD8+ T cell proliferation and effector cytokine (interferon-γ, tumor necrosis factor-α) levels were measured by flow cytometry and ELISA. The correlation between HNRNPC and PD-L1 expression in TC tissues, m6A modification sites on PD-L1 messenger RNA (mRNA), and HNRNPC-PD-L1 interaction were analyzed by databases and RIP assay. PD-L1 m6A modification was determined by Me-RIP assay. PD-L1 mRNA stability was detected by treating cells with actinomycin D. HNRNPC was notably highly expressed in TC cells. HNRNPC promoted TC cell proliferation, migration and invasion, facilitating immune escape. Mechanistically, HNRNPC mediated m6A modification to strengthen PD-L1 mRNA stability and up-regulate PD-L1 expression. Moreover, knockdown of PD-L1 partially reversed the promotional effect of HNRNPC on immune escape in TC cells. HNRNPC bolstered PD-L1 stability and up-regulated PD-L1 expression through m6A modification, thus promoting immune escape in TC.

Unravelling the modified T cell receptor through Gen-Next CAR T cell therapy in Glioblastoma: Current status and future challenges

PURPOSE

Despite current technological advancements in the treatment of glioma, immediate alleviation of symptoms can be catered by therapeutic modalities, including surgery, chemotherapy, and combinatorial radiotherapy that exploit aberrations of glioma. Additionally, a small number of target antigens, their heterogeneity, and immune evasion are the potential reasons for developing targeted therapies. This oncologic milestone has catalyzed interest in developing immunotherapies against Glioblastoma to improve overall survival and cure patients with high-grade glioma. The next-gen CAR-T Cell therapy is one of the effective immunotherapeutic strategies in which autologous T cells have been modified to express receptors against GBM and it modulates cytotoxicity.

METHODS

In this review article, we examine preclinical and clinical outcomes, and limitations as well as present cutting-edge techniques to improve the function of CAR-T cell therapy and explore the possibility of combination therapy.

FINDINGS

To date, several CAR T-cell therapies are being evaluated in clinical trials for GBM and other brain malignancies and multiple preclinical studies have demonstrated encouraging outcomes.

IMPLICATIONS

CAR-T cell therapy represents a promising therapeutic paradigm in the treatment of solid tumors but a few limitations include, the blood-brain barrier (BBB), antigen escape, tumor microenvironment (TME), tumor heterogeneity, and its plasticity that suppresses immune responses weakens the ability of this therapy. Additional investigation is required that can accurately identify the targets and reflect the similar architecture of glioblastoma, thus optimizing the efficiency of CAR-T cell therapy; allowing for the selection of patients most likely to benefit from immuno-based treatments.

Mechanistic insights into resistance mechanisms to T cell engagers

T cell engagers (TCEs) represent a groundbreaking advancement in the treatment of B and plasma cell malignancies and are emerging as a promising therapeutic approach for the treatment of solid tumors. These molecules harness T cells to bind to and eliminate cancer cells, effectively bypassing the need for antigen-specific T cell recognition. Despite their established clinical efficacy, a subset of patients is either refractory to TCE treatment (e.g. primary resistance) or develops resistance during the course of TCE therapy (e.g. acquired or treatment-induced resistance). In this review we comprehensively describe the resistance mechanisms to TCEs, occurring in both preclinical models and clinical trials with a particular emphasis on cellular and molecular pathways underlying the resistance process. We classify these mechanisms into tumor intrinsic and tumor extrinsic ones. Tumor intrinsic mechanisms encompass changes within tumor cells that impact the T cell-mediated cytotoxicity, including tumor antigen loss, the expression of immune checkpoint inhibitory ligands and intracellular pathways that render tumor cells resistant to killing. Tumor extrinsic mechanisms involve factors external to tumor cells, including the presence of an immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (TME) and reduced T cell functionality. We further propose actionable strategies to overcome resistance offering potential avenues for enhancing TCE efficacy in the clinic.

Epithelial cell competition is promoted by signaling from immune cells

In epithelial tissues, juxtaposition of cells of different phenotypes can trigger cell competition, a process whereby one type of cell drives death and extrusion of another. During growth and homeostasis, cell competition is thought to serve a quality control function, eliminating cells that are "less fit". Tissues may also attack and eliminate newly arising tumor cells, exploiting mechanisms shared with other instances of cell competition, but that differ, reportedly, in the involvement of the immune system. Whereas immune cells have been shown to play a direct role in killing tumor cells, this has not been observed in other cases of cell competition, suggesting that tissues recognize and handle cancer cells differently. Here, we challenge this view, showing that, in the fruit fly Drosophila, innate immune cells play similar roles in cell killing during classical cell competition as in eliminating tumors. These findings suggest that immune suppression of cancer may exploit the same mechanisms as are involved in promoting phenotypic uniformity among epithelial cells.

CD3xHER2 bsAb-Mediated Activation of Resting T-cells at HER2 Positive Tumor Clusters Is Sufficient to Trigger Bystander Eradication of Distant HER2 Negative Clusters Through IFNγ and TNFα

Bispecific antibodies (bsAbs) bridging CD3 on T-cells to tumor-associated antigens (TAA) on tumor cells can direct T-cell immunity to solid tumors. "Bystander killing", where T-cell targeting of TAA-positive tumor cells also leads to the eradication of TAA-negative cells, may overcome TAA heterogeneity. While bystander activity of activated, engineered T-cells has been shown to be robust and wide-reaching, spatiotemporal aspects of bsAb-mediated bystander activity are unresolved. Here, we developed a model where breast cancer tumoroids varying in HER2 expression were printed in to extracellular matrix (ECM) scaffolds. We generated (1) mixed tumors containing different ratios of HER2+ and HER2- tumor cells, and (2) HER2+ and HER2- tumoroids spaced at different distances within the ECM scaffold. Subsequently, tumors were exposed to peripheral blood-derived T-cells in the presence of CD3xHER2 bsAbs. We find that CD3xHER2 bsAb-mediated interaction of resting, nonactivated T-cells with HER2+ tumor cells is sufficient (1) to eliminate 50% HER2- cells in mixed tumor areas, and (2) to eradicate distant HER2- tumor areas. Such bystander killing involves paracrine IFNγ and TNFα activity but does not require T-cell accumulation in HER2- areas. These findings indicate that bystander eradication of TAA-negative cells can significantly contribute to bsAb therapy for solid tumors.

iMLGAM: Integrated Machine Learning and Genetic Algorithm-driven Multiomics analysis for pan-cancer immunotherapy response prediction

To address the substantial variability in immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) therapy effectiveness, we developed an innovative R package called integrated Machine Learning and Genetic Algorithm-driven Multiomics analysis (iMLGAM), which establishes a comprehensive scoring system for predicting treatment outcomes through advanced multi-omics data integration. Our research demonstrates that iMLGAM scores exhibit superior predictive performance across independent cohorts, with lower scores correlating significantly with enhanced therapeutic responses and outperforming existing clinical biomarkers. Detailed analysis revealed that tumors with low iMLGAM scores display distinctive immune microenvironment characteristics, including increased immune cell infiltration and amplified antitumor immune responses. Critically, through clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats screening, we identified Centrosomal Protein 55 (CEP55) as a key molecule modulating tumor immune evasion, mechanistically confirming its role in regulating T cell-mediated antitumor immune responses. These findings not only validate iMLGAM as a powerful prognostic tool but also propose CEP55 as a promising therapeutic target, offering novel strategies to enhance ICB treatment efficacy. The iMLGAM package is freely available on GitHub (https://github.com/Yelab1994/iMLGAM), providing researchers with an innovative approach to personalized cancer immunotherapy prediction.

VDAC2 loss elicits tumour destruction and inflammation for cancer therapy

Tumour cells often evade immune pressure exerted by CD8+ T cells or immunotherapies through mechanisms that are largely unclear1,2. Here, using complementary in vivo and in vitro CRISPR-Cas9 genetic screens to target metabolic factors, we established voltage-dependent anion channel 2 (VDAC2) as an immune signal-dependent checkpoint that curtails interferon-γ (IFNγ)-mediated tumour destruction and inflammatory reprogramming of the tumour microenvironment. Targeting VDAC2 in tumour cells enabled IFNγ-induced cell death and cGAS-STING activation, and markedly improved anti-tumour effects and immunotherapeutic responses. Using a genome-scale genetic interaction screen, we identified BAK as the mediator of VDAC2-deficiency-induced effects. Mechanistically, IFNγ stimulation increased BIM, BID and BAK expression, with VDAC2 deficiency eliciting uncontrolled IFNγ-induced BAK activation and mitochondrial damage. Consequently, mitochondrial DNA was aberrantly released into the cytosol and triggered robust activation of cGAS-STING signalling and type I IFN response. Importantly, co-deletion of STING signalling components dampened the therapeutic effects of VDAC2 depletion in tumour cells, suggesting that targeting VDAC2 integrates CD8+ T cell- and IFNγ-mediated adaptive immunity with a tumour-intrinsic innate immune-like response. Together, our findings reveal VDAC2 as a dual-action target to overcome tumour immune evasion and establish the importance of coordinately destructing and inflaming tumours to enable efficacious cancer immunotherapy.

Psoriasis and cancer: the role of inflammation, immunosuppression, and cancer treatment

INTRODUCTION

The relationship between psoriasis, immunomodulatory therapies, and the risk of malignancies is complex and still debated. The scarcity of evidence in this field makes clinicians hesitate to prescribe biological therapies for 'difficult-to-treat' patients.

AREAS COVERED

Based on a comprehensive MEDLINE/PUBMED search of articles published up to November 2024, this review synthesizes the current evidence on the association between psoriasis and cancer. This review specifically addresses four key aspects: the overall cancer risk in psoriatic patients, the potential role of cytokines involved in psoriasis pathogenesis in tumor development, the association between biological therapies and the incidence of new malignancies in this population, and the risk of cancer recurrence or progression in patients with a history of malignancy who are treated with biologics.

EXPERT OPINION

Biological therapies do not significantly elevate malignancy risk compared to non-biological treatments or the general population. Evidence is also reassuring for patients with prior malignancy, showing no tumor progression or recurrence. These findings support the timely use of biological treatments in 'difficult-to-treat' patients. Regular cancer screenings and risk-factor minimization should always be recommended for psoriatic patients undergoing immunomodulatory therapies. Multidisciplinary management involving oncologists is suggested, particularly for patients with active and advanced oncological disease.

The NF1 tumor suppressor regulates PD-L1 and immune evasion in melanoma

Hotspot BRAF, hotspot NRAS, and NF1 loss-of-function mutations are found in approximately 50%, 25%, and 15% of cutaneous melanomas, respectively. Compared to mutant BRAF and NRAS, the role of NF1 loss in melanoma remains understudied. NF1 has a RAS GTPase-activating protein (GAP) function; however, studies also support NF1 RAS-independent tumor-suppressor functions. Recent reports indicate that patients with NF1 mutant melanoma have high response rates to anti-PD-1 immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) for reasons that are not entirely clear. Here, we present data demonstrating that NF1 interacts with PD-L1. Furthermore, NF1 loss in melanoma lines increases PD-L1 cell surface expression through a RAS-GAP-independent mechanism. Co-culture experiments demonstrate that NF1 depletion in melanoma increases resistance to T cell killing, which can be abrogated with anti-PD-1/PD-L1 ICIs. These results support a model whereby NF1 loss leads to immune evasion through the PD-L1/PD-1 axis, providing support for the examination of anti-PD-1 therapies in other NF1 mutant cancers.

The role of B2M in cancer immunotherapy resistance: function, resistance mechanism, and reversal strategies

Immunotherapy has emerged as a preeminent force in the domain of cancer therapeutics and achieved remarkable breakthroughs. Nevertheless, the high resistance has become the most substantial impediment restricting its clinical efficacy. Beta-2 microglobulin (B2M), the light chain of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I, plays an indispensable part by presenting tumor antigens to cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) for exerting anti-tumor effects. Accumulating evidence indicates that B2M mutation/defect is one of the key mechanisms underlying tumor immunotherapy resistance. Therefore, elucidating the role played by B2M and devising effective strategies to battle against resistance are pressing issues. This review will systematically expound upon them, aiming to provide insight into the potential of B2M as a promising target in anticancer immune response.

A Distinguished Roadmap of Fibroblast Senescence in Predicting Immunotherapy Response and Prognosis Across Human Cancers

The resistance of tumors to immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) may be intricately linked to cellular senescence, although definitive clinical validation remains elusive. In this study, comprehensive pan-cancer scRNA-seq analyses identify fibroblasts as exhibiting the most pronounced levels of cellular senescence among tumor-associated cell populations. To elucidate this phenomenon, a fibroblast senescence-associated transcriptomic signature (FSS), which correlated strongly with protumorigenic signaling pathways and immune dysregulation that fosters tumor progression, is developed. Leveraging the FSS, the machine learning (ML) framework demonstrates exceptional accuracy in predicting ICI response and survival outcomes, achieving superior area under curve (AUC) values across validation, testing, and in-house cohorts. Strikingly, FSS consistently outperforms established signatures in predictive robustness across diverse cancer subtypes. From an integrative analysis of 17 CRISPR/Cas9 libraries, CDC6 emerges as a pivotal biomarker for pan-cancer ICI response and prognostic stratification. Mechanistically, experimental evidence reveals that CDC6 in tumor cells orchestrates fibroblast senescence via TGF-β1 secretion and oxidative stress, subsequently reprogramming the tumor microenvironment and modulating ICI response. These findings underscore the translational potential of targeting fibroblast senescence as a novel therapeutic strategy to mitigate immune resistance and enhance antitumor efficacy.

Evolutionary trajectories of immune escape across cancers

Immune escape is a critical hallmark of cancer progression and underlies resistance to multiple immunotherapies. However, it remains unclear when the genetic events associated with immune escape occur during cancer development. Here, we integrate functional genomics studies of immunomodulatory genes with a tumor evolution reconstruction approach to infer the evolution of immune escape across 38 cancer types from the Pan-Cancer Analysis of Whole Genomes dataset. Different cancers favor mutations in different immunomodulatory pathways. For example, the antigen presentation machinery is highly mutated in colorectal adenocarcinoma, lung squamous cell carcinoma, and chromophobe renal cell carcinoma, and the protein methylation pathway is highly mutated in bladder transitional cell carcinoma and lung adenocarcinoma. We also observe different timing patterns in multiple immunomodulatory pathways. For instance, mutations impacting genes involved in cellular amino acid metabolism were more likely to happen late in pancreatic adenocarcinoma. Mutations in the glucocorticoid receptor regulatory network pathway tended to occur early, while mutations in the TNF pathways were more likely to occur late in B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Mutations in the NOD1/2 signaling pathway and DNA binding transcription factor activity tended to happen late in breast adenocarcinoma and ovarian adenocarcinoma. Together, these results delineate the evolutionary trajectories of immune escape in different cancer types and highlight opportunities for improved immunotherapy of cancer.

Remodelling of the immune landscape by IFNγ counteracts IFNγ-dependent tumour escape in mouse tumour models

Loss of IFNγ-sensitivity by tumours is thought to be a mechanism enabling evasion, but recent studies suggest that IFNγ-resistant tumours can be sensitised for immunotherapy, yet the underlying mechanism remains unclear. Here, we show that IFNγ receptor-deficient B16-F10 mouse melanoma tumours are controlled as efficiently as WT tumours despite their lower MHC class I expression. Mechanistically, IFNγ receptor deletion in B16-F10 tumours increases IFNγ availability, triggering a remodelling of the immune landscape characterised by inflammatory monocyte infiltration and the generation of 'mono-macs'. This altered myeloid compartment synergises with an increase in antigen-specific CD8+ T cells to promote anti-tumour immunity against IFNγ receptor-deficient tumours, with such an immune crosstalk observed around blood vessels. Importantly, analysis of transcriptomic datasets suggests that similar immune remodelling occurs in human tumours carrying mutations in the IFNγ pathway. Our work thus serves mechanistic insight for the crosstalk between tumour IFNγ resistance and anti-tumour immunity, and implicates this regulation for future cancer therapy.

The present and future of the Cancer Dependency Map

Despite tremendous progress in the past decade, the complex and heterogeneous nature of cancer complicates efforts to identify new therapies and therapeutic combinations that achieve durable responses in most patients. Further advances in cancer therapy will rely, in part, on the development of targeted therapeutics matched with the genetic and molecular characteristics of cancer. The Cancer Dependency Map (DepMap) is a large-scale data repository and research platform, aiming to systematically reveal the landscape of cancer vulnerabilities in thousands of genetically and molecularly annotated cancer models. DepMap is used routinely by cancer researchers and translational scientists and has facilitated the identification of several novel and selective therapeutic strategies for multiple cancer types that are being tested in the clinic. However, it is also clear that the current version of DepMap is not yet comprehensive. In this Perspective, we review (1) the impact and current uses of DepMap, (2) the opportunities to enhance DepMap to overcome its current limitations, and (3) the ongoing efforts to further improve and expand DepMap.

Cytokine-armed pyroptosis induces antitumor immunity against diverse types of tumors

Inflammasomes are defense complexes that utilize cytokines and immunogenic cell death (ICD) to stimulate the immune system against pathogens. Inspired by their dual action, we present cytokine-armed pyroptosis as a strategy for boosting immune response against diverse types of tumors. To induce pyroptosis, we utilize designed tightly regulated gasdermin D variants comprising different pore-forming capabilities and diverse modes of activation, representing a toolbox of ICD inducers. We demonstrate that the electrogenic transfer of ICD effector-encoding plasmids into mouse melanoma tumors when combined with intratumoral expression of cytokines IL-1β, IL-12, or IL-18, enhanced anti-tumor immune responses. Careful selection of immunostimulatory molecules is, however, imperative as a combination of IL-1β and IL-18 antagonized the protective effect of pyroptosis by IFNγ-mediated upregulation of several immunosuppressive pathways. Additionally, we show that the intratumoral introduction of armed pyroptosis provides protection against distant tumors and proves effective across various tumor types without inducing systemic inflammation. Deconstructed inflammasomes thus serve as a powerful, tunable, and tumor-agnostic strategy to enhance antitumor response, even against the most resilient types of tumors.

MCRS1 sensitizes T cell-dependent immunotherapy by augmenting MHC-I expression in solid tumors

Dampened antigen presentation underscores the resistance of pancreatic cancer to T cell-mediated anti-tumor immunity, rendering immunotherapy largely ineffective. By high-throughput CRISPR activation perturbation, we discovered that the transcriptional regulator MCRS1 significantly augmented the sensitivity of mouse pancreatic cancer cells to T cell immunity in vitro and in vivo. Mechanistically, MCRS1 interacted with the transcription factor and genome organizer YY1 to coordinately increase the chromatin accessibility and expression of MHC-I genes. Elevated MCRS1 subverted MHC-I suppression and activated anti-tumor T cells, which sensitized mouse pancreatic cancer to α-PD-1 therapy. Remarkably, high MCRS1 expression was associated with increased T cell infiltration and extended survival of patients with pancreatic cancer and was predictive of favorable responses to α-PD-1 therapy in patients with lung cancer. Together, our study uncovers that MCRS1 sensitizes cancer cells to T cell immunity by transcriptionally subverting MHC-I suppression, which enhances the effectiveness of α-PD-1 therapy in mice and humans, paving the way to further improve immunotherapy against solid tumors.

Intracellular zinc protects tumours from T cell-mediated cytotoxicity

Tumour immune evasion presents a significant challenge to the effectiveness of cancer immunotherapies. Recent advances in high-throughput screening techniques have uncovered that loss of antigen presentation and cytokine signalling pathways are central mechanisms by which tumours evade T cell immunity. To uncover additional vulnerabilities in tumour cells beyond the well-recognized antigen presentation pathway, we conducted a genome-wide CRISPR/Cas9 screen to identify genes that mediate resistance to chimeric-antigen receptor (CAR)-T cells, which function independently of classical antigen presentation. Our study revealed that loss of core-binding factor subunit beta (CBFβ) enhances tumour cell resistance to T cell killing, mediated through T cell-derived TNF. Mechanistically, RNA-sequencing and elemental analyses revealed that deletion of CBFβ disrupts numerous pathways including those involved in zinc homoeostasis. Moreover, we demonstrated that modulation of cellular zinc, achieved by supplementation or chelation, significantly altered tumour cell susceptibility to TNF by regulating the levels of inhibitor of apoptosis proteins. Consistent with this, treatment of tumour cells with a membrane-permeable zinc chelator had no impact on tumour cell viability alone, but significantly increased tumour cell lysis by CD8+ T cells in a TNF-dependent but perforin-independent manner. These results underscore the crucial role of intracellular zinc in regulating tumour cell susceptibility to T cell-mediated killing, revealing a novel vulnerability in tumour cells that might be exploited for the development of future cancer immunotherapeutics.

Functional profiling of murine glioma models highlights targetable immune evasion phenotypes

Cancer-intrinsic immune evasion mechanisms and pleiotropy are a barrier to cancer immunotherapy. This is apparent in certain highly fatal cancers, including high-grade gliomas and glioblastomas (GBM). In this study, we evaluated two murine syngeneic glioma models (GL261 and CT2A) as preclinical models for human GBM using functional genetic screens, single-cell transcriptomics and machine learning approaches. Through CRISPR genome-wide co-culture killing screens with various immune cells (cytotoxic T cells, natural killer cells, and macrophages), we identified three key cancer-intrinsic evasion mechanisms: NFκB signaling, autophagy/endosome machinery, and chromatin remodeling. Additional fitness screens identified dependencies in murine gliomas that partially recapitulated those seen in human GBM (e.g., UFMylation). Our single-cell analyses showed that different glioma models exhibited distinct immune infiltration patterns and recapitulated key immune gene programs observed in human GBM, including hypoxia, interferon, and TNF signaling. Moreover, in vivo orthotopic tumor engraftment was associated with phenotypic shifts and changes in proliferative capacity, with murine tumors recapitulating the intratumoral heterogeneity observed in human GBM, exhibiting propensities for developmental- and mesenchymal-like phenotypes. Notably, we observed common transcription factors and cofactors shared with human GBM, including developmental (Nfia and Tcf4), mesenchymal (Prrx1 and Wwtr1), as well as cycling-associated genes (Bub3, Cenpa, Bard1, Brca1, and Mis18bp1). Perturbation of these genes led to reciprocal phenotypic shifts suggesting intrinsic feedback mechanisms that balance in vivo cellular states. Finally, we used a machine-learning approach to identify two distinct immune evasion gene programs, one of which represents a clinically-relevant phenotype and delineates a subpopulation of stem-like glioma cells that predict response to immune checkpoint inhibition in human patients. This comprehensive characterization helps bridge the gap between murine glioma models and human GBM, providing valuable insights for future therapeutic development.

Acute remote ischemic conditioning enhances (CD3+)- but not (FoxP3+)-T-cell invasion in the tumor center and increases IL 17 and TNF-alpha expression in a murine melanoma model

Introduction

Hypoxia can drive tumor progression, suppress anti-tumor immunity, and reduce the effectiveness of radiotherapy and chemotherapy. This study aimed to assess the impact of remote ischemic conditioning (RIC) on tumor oxygenation (sO2) and the anti-tumor immune response.

Material and methods

Fourteen B16-Ova tumor-bearing C57BL/6N mice received six 5-minute RIC cycles, while another fourteen underwent anesthesia only. Pimonidazole was administered 1.5 hours before sacrifice. Blood flow, sO2, and hemoglobin levels were measured in the non-ischemic hind limb and tumor. Tumor hypoxia was assessed using pimonidazole and CA IX immunohistochemistry, and T cell infiltration by CD3 and FoxP3 staining. Serum levels of 23 cytokines were analyzed using a multiplex immunoassay.

Results

Isoflurane anesthesia caused a slight intraindividual increase in blood flow (p = 0.07) and sO2 (p = 0.06) of the hind limb and a sole increase in tumor sO2 (p = 0.035), whereas RIC improved sO2 of the tumor in relation to the hind limb (p=0.03). The median of the tumor oxygen saturation reached 51.4% in the control group and 62.7% in the RIC group (p = 0.09), exhibiting a slight tendency towards better oxygenation in the RIC group. Pimonidazole (p=0.24) and CA IX hypoxia score (p=0.48) did not reveal statistically significant differences between the two groups. In RIC-treated tumors, the number of CD3 (p=0.006), but not FoxP3- positive cells (p = 0.84), in the tumor core was significantly higher compared to the control group. In the RIC group, the mean fluorescence intensity (MFI) of IL-17 was significantly higher (p=0.035), and TNF-α was trend-wise higher (p=0.063) compared to the control group.

Conclusion

Both isoflurane anesthesia and RIC have an impact on microcirculation. The application of RIC counteracted some of the effects of isoflurane, primarily in healthy tissue, and led to a significant improvement in relative tumor tissue oxygenation compared to the non-ischemic hind limb. RIC selectively enhanced immune infiltration within the tumor center, probably by previously activated tumor infiltrating T cells, while having no significant impact on T-regulatory cells. RIC appears to impact the cytokine profile, as indicated by elevated MFIs of TNF-α and IL-17.

High-throughput screening for optimizing adoptive T cell therapies

Adoptive T cell therapy is a pivotal strategy in cancer immunotherapy, demonstrating potent clinical efficacy. However, its limited durability often results in primary resistance. High-throughput screening technologies, which include both genetic and non-genetic approaches, facilitate the optimization of adoptive T cell therapies by enabling the selection of biologically significant targets or substances from extensive libraries. In this review, we examine advancements in high-throughput screening technologies and their applications in adoptive T cell therapies. We highlight the use of genetic screening for T cells, tumor cells, and other promising combination strategies, and elucidate the role of non-genetic screening in identifying small molecules and targeted delivery systems relevant to adoptive T cell therapies, providing guidance for future research and clinical applications.

The hallmarks of cancer immune evasion

According to the widely accepted "three Es" model, the host immune system eliminates malignant cell precursors and contains microscopic neoplasms in a dynamic equilibrium, preventing cancer outgrowth until neoplastic cells acquire genetic or epigenetic alterations that enable immune escape. This immunoevasive phenotype originates from various mechanisms that can be classified under a novel "three Cs" conceptual framework: (1) camouflage, which hides cancer cells from immune recognition, (2) coercion, which directly or indirectly interferes with immune effector cells, and (3) cytoprotection, which shields malignant cells from immune cytotoxicity. Blocking the ability of neoplastic cells to evade the host immune system is crucial for increasing the efficacy of modern immunotherapy and conventional therapeutic strategies that ultimately activate anticancer immunosurveillance. Here, we review key hallmarks of cancer immune evasion under the "three Cs" framework and discuss promising strategies targeting such immunoevasive mechanisms.

Sinensetin inhibits the movement ability and tumor immune microenvironment of non-small cell lung cancer through the inactivation of AKT/β-catenin axis

Although current treatment strategies have improved clinical outcomes of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients, side effect and prognosis remain a hindrance. Thus, safer and more effective therapeutical drugs are needed for NSCLC. Sinensetin (Sin) is a flavonoid from citrus fruits, which exhibits antitumor effect on diverse cancers. However, the effect and mechanism of Sin on NSCLC remain unknown. In this study, NSCLC cell lines, and tumor-bearing mice were treated with Sin. The effect and mechanism of Sin were addressed using cell counting kit-8, transwell, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, hematoxylin and eosin, immunohistochemistry, and western blot analysis assays in both cell and animal models. Sin reduced the cell viability of A549 and H1299, with the IC50 of 81.46 µM and 93.15 µM, respectively. Sin decreased invaded cell numbers, the expression of N-cadherin and vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGFA), while increased the E-cadherin level, the cytotoxicity of CD8+ T cells, and the concentration of interferon-γ (IFN-γ), interleukin-2 (IL-2), and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) in NSCLC cells. Mechanistically, Sin declined the expression of protein kinase B (AKT)/β-catenin pathway, which was restored with the application of SC79, an activator of AKT. The inhibitory role of Sin in NSCLC cell proliferation, invasion, epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and immune escape was reversed by the management of SC79. In vivo, Sin reduced tumor size and weight, and the expression of N-cadherin, VEGFA, and AKT/β-catenin pathway, but enhanced the level of E-cadherin and IFN-γ. Taken together, Sin suppressed cell growth, invasion, EMT and immune escape via AKT/β-catenin pathway in NSCLC.

A co-culture model to study modulators of tumor immune evasion through scalable arrayed CRISPR-interference screens

Cancer cells effectively evade immune surveillance, not only through the well-known PD-1/PD-L1 pathway but also via alternative mechanisms that impair patient response to immune checkpoint inhibitors. We present a novel co-culture model that pairs a reporter T-cell line with different melanoma cell lines that have varying immune evasion characteristics. We developed a scalable high-throughput lentiviral arrayed CRISPR interference (CRISPRi) screening protocol to conduct gene perturbations in both T-cells and melanoma cells, enabling the identification of genes that modulate tumor immune evasion. Our study functionally validates the co-culture model system and demonstrates the performance of the CRISPRi-screening protocol by modulating the expression of known regulators of tumor immunity. Together, our work provides a robust framework for future research aimed at systematically exploring mechanisms of tumor immune evasion.

Cysteamine dioxygenase (ADO) governs cancer cell mitochondrial redox homeostasis through proline metabolism

2-Aminoethanethiol dioxygenase (ADO) is a thiol dioxygenase that sulfinylates cysteamine and amino-terminal cysteines in polypeptides. The pathophysiological roles of ADO remain largely unknown. Here, we demonstrate that ADO expression represents a vulnerability in cancer cells, as ADO depletion led to loss of proliferative capacity and survival in cancer cells and reduced xenograft growth. In contrast, generation of the ADO knockout mouse revealed high tolerance for ADO depletion in adult tissues. To understand the mechanism underlying ADO's essentiality in cancer cells, we characterized the cell proteome and metabolome following depletion of ADO. This revealed that ADO depletion leads to toxic levels of polyamines which can be driven by ADO's substrate cysteamine. Polyamine accumulation in turn stimulated expression of proline dehydrogenase (PRODH) which resulted in mitochondrial hyperactivity and ROS production, culminating in cell toxicity. This work identifies ADO as a unique vulnerability in cancer cells, due to its essential role in maintenance of redox homeostasis through restraining polyamine levels and proline catabolism.

Evolution of Repetitive Elements, Their Roles in Homeostasis and Human Disease, and Potential Therapeutic Applications

Repeating sequences of DNA, or repetitive elements (REs), are common features across both prokaryotic and eukaryotic genomes. Unlike many of their protein-coding counterparts, the functions of REs in host cells remained largely unknown and have often been overlooked. While there is still more to learn about their functions, REs are now recognized to play significant roles in both beneficial and pathological processes in their hosts at the cellular and organismal levels. Therefore, in this review, we discuss the various types of REs and review what is known about their evolution. In addition, we aim to classify general mechanisms by which REs promote processes that are variously beneficial and harmful to host cells/organisms. Finally, we address the emerging role of REs in cancer, aging, and neurological disorders and provide insights into how RE modulation could provide new therapeutic benefits for these specific conditions.

Investigating immune-modulatory function of α-glucopyranose-rich compound polysaccharides by MC38-N4/OT-I co-culture system

The potential antitumor function of polysaccharides is well accepted, it is unclear whether polysaccharides have immunoregulatory effect on CD8+ T lymphocyte cells to attack tumor cells. To evaluate the CD8+ T function enhancing role of polysaccharide compounds, the MC38-N4/OT-I co-culture system was established. The synergistic and complementary immune effect of α-glucopyranose-rich compound polysaccharides can be achieved by manipulating the antigen-specific T-cell expansion capacity and efficacy. This study was designed to investigate the antitumor-enhancement activity of a α-glucopyranose-rich compound polysaccharides by determining the activation of CD8+ T cells in a co-culture system. Compared to the control group (42.5 % ± 0.72 %), the specific α-glucopyranose-rich compound polysaccharides, comprising Agaricus blazei Murill, Grifola frondosa and Pericarpium Citri Reticulatae, demonstrated a significant decrease (20.4 % ± 1.23 %, p < 0.05) in the survival rate of MC38-N4 cells in the co-culture system. Additionally, the α-glucopyranose-rich compound polysaccharides resulted in a substantial increase (p < 0.01) in the proportion of CD8+ T cells and CD62L+ central memory T cells, which is a less differentiated T cell subset with high immune activity. Collectively, we reported that specific polysaccharide combination, which remodel the function of cytotoxic T cells and provided a basis for improving immune functions by using the specific types of polysaccharides.

Targeting autophagy can synergize the efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitors against therapeutic resistance: New promising strategy to reinvigorate cancer therapy

Immune checkpoints are a set of inhibitory and stimulatory molecules/mechanisms that affect the activity of immune cells to maintain the existing balance between pro- and anti-inflammatory signaling pathways and avoid the progression of autoimmune disorders. Tumor cells can employ these checkpoints to evade immune system. The discovery and development of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) was thereby a milestone in the area of immuno-oncology. ICIs stimulate anti-tumor immune responses primarily by disrupting co-inhibitory signaling mechanisms and accelerate immune-mediated killing of tumor cells. Despite the beneficial effects of ICIs, they sometimes encounter some degrees of therapeutic resistance, and thereby do not effectively act against tumors. Among multiple combination therapies have been introduced to date, targeting autophagy, as a cellular degradative process to remove expired organelles and subcellular constituents, has represented with potential capacities to overcome ICI-related therapy resistance. It has experimentally been illuminated that autophagy induction blocks the immune checkpoint molecules when administered in conjugation with ICIs, suggesting that autophagy activation may restrict therapeutic challenges that ICIs have encountered with. However, the autophagy flux can also provoke the immune escape of tumors, which must be considered. Since the conventional FDA-approved ICIs have designed and developed to target programmed cell death receptor/ligand 1 (PD-1/PD-L1) as well as cytotoxic T lymphocyte-associated molecule 4 (CTLA-4) immune checkpoint molecules, we aim to review the effects of autophagy targeting in combination with anti-PD-1/PD-L1- and anti-CTLA-4-based ICIs on cancer therapeutic resistance and tumor immune evasion.

Elevated α-1,2-mannosidase MAN1C1 in glioma stem cells and its implications for immunological changes and prognosis in glioma patients

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most aggressive type of primary brain tumor, and the presence of glioma stem cells (GSCs) has been linked to its resistance to treatments and recurrence. Additionally, aberrant glycosylation has been implicated in the aggressiveness of cancers. However, the influence and underlying mechanism of N-glycosylation on the GSC phenotype and GBM malignancy remain elusive. Here, we performed an in-silico analysis approach on publicly available datasets to examine the function of N-glycosylation-related genes in GSCs and gliomas, accompanied by a qRT-PCR validation experiment. We found that high α-1,2-mannosidase MAN1C1 is associated with immunological functions and worse survival of glioma patients. Differential gene expression analysis and qRT-PCR validation revealed that MAN1C1 is highly expressed in GSCs. Furthermore, higher MAN1C1 expression predicts worse outcomes in glioma patients. Also, MAN1C1 expression is increased in the perinecrotic region of GBM and is associated with immunological and inflammatory functions, a hallmark of the GBM mesenchymal subtype. Further analysis confirmed that MAN1C1 expression is closely associated with infiltrating immune cells and disrupted immune response in the GBM microenvironment. These suggest that MAN1C1 is a potential biomarker for gliomas and may be important as an immunotherapeutic target for GBM.

Engineering immune-evasive allogeneic cellular immunotherapies

Allogeneic cellular immunotherapies hold a great promise for cancer treatment owing to their potential cost-effectiveness, scalability and on-demand availability. However, immune rejection of adoptively transferred allogeneic T and natural killer (NK) cells is a substantial obstacle to achieving clinical responses that are comparable to responses obtained with current autologous chimeric antigen receptor T cell therapies. In this Perspective, we discuss strategies to confer cell-intrinsic, immune-evasive properties to allogeneic T cells and NK cells in order to prevent or delay their immune rejection, thereby widening the therapeutic window. We discuss how common viral and cancer immune escape mechanisms can serve as a blueprint for improving the persistence of off-the-shelf allogeneic cell therapies. The prospects of harnessing genome editing and synthetic biology to design cell-based precision immunotherapies extend beyond programming target specificities and require careful consideration of innate and adaptive responses in the recipient that may curtail the biodistribution, in vivo expansion and persistence of cellular therapeutics.

Unveiling major histocompatibility complex-mediated pan-cancer immune features by integrated single-cell and bulk RNA sequencing

Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have transformed cancer therapy, yet persistent challenges such as low response rate and significant heterogeneity necessitate attention. The pivotal role of the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) in ICI efficacy, its intricate impacts and potentials as a prognostic marker, warrants comprehensive exploration. This study integrates single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq), bulk RNA-seq, and spatial transcriptomic analyses to unveil pan-cancer immune characteristics governed by the MHC transcriptional feature (MHC.sig). Developed through scRNA-seq analysis of 663,760 cells across diverse cohorts and validated in 30 solid cancer types, the MHC.sig demonstrates a robust correlation between immune-related genes and infiltrating immune cells, highlighting its potential as a universal pan-cancer marker for anti-tumor immunity. Screening the MHC.sig for therapeutic targets using CRISPR data identifies potential genes for immune therapy synergy and validates its predictive efficacy for ICIs responsiveness across diverse datasets and cancer types. Finally, analysis of cellular communication patterns reveals interactions between C1QC+macrophages and malignant cells, providing insights into potential therapeutic agents and their sensitivity characteristics. This comprehensive analysis positions the MHC.sig as a promising marker for predicting immune therapy outcomes and guiding combinatorial therapeutic strategies.

GRB7 Plays a Vital Role in Promoting the Progression and Mediating Immune Evasion of Ovarian Cancer

BACKGROUND

Despite breakthroughs in treatment, ovarian cancer (OC) remains one of the most lethal gynecological malignancies, with an increasing age-standardized mortality rate. This underscores an urgent need for novel biomarkers and therapeutic targets. Although growth factor receptor-bound protein 7 (GRB7) is implicated in cell signaling and tumorigenesis, its expression pattern and clinical implications in OC remain poorly characterized.

METHODS

To systematically investigate GRB7's expression in OC, our study utilized extensive datasets from TCGA, GTEx, CCLE, and GEO. The prognostic significance of GRB7 was evaluated by means of Kaplan-Meier and Cox regression analyses. Using a correlation analysis and gene set enrichment analysis, relationships between GRB7's expression and gene networks, immune cell infiltration and immunotherapy response were investigated. In vitro experiments were conducted to confirm GRB7's function in the biology of OC.

RESULTS

Compared to normal tissues, OC tissues exhibited a substantial upregulation of GRB7. Reduced overall survival, disease-specific survival, and disease-free interval were all connected with high GRB7 mRNA levels. The network study demonstrated that GRB7 is involved in pathways relevant to the course of OC and has a positive connection with several key driver genes. Notably, GRB7's expression was linked to the infiltration of M2 macrophage and altered response to immunotherapy. Data from single-cell RNA sequencing data across multiple cancer types indicated GRB7's predominant expression in malignant cells. Moreover, OC cells with GRB7 deletion showed decreased proliferation and migration, as well as increased susceptibility to T cell-mediated cytotoxicity.

CONCLUSION

With respect to OC, our results validated GRB7 as a viable prognostic biomarker and a promising therapeutic target, providing information about its function in tumorigenesis and immune modulation. GRB7's preferential expression in malignant cells highlights its significance in the biology of cancer and bolsters the possibility that it could be useful in enhancing the effectiveness of immunotherapy.

LAG-3 : recent developments in combinational therapies in cancer

The study of anticancer immune responses and in particular the action of immune checkpoint inhibitors that overcome T cell inhibition has revolutionized metastatic patients' care. Unfortunately, many patients are resistant to these innovative immunotherapies. Over the last decade, several immune checkpoint inhibitors, currently available in the clinic, have been developed, such as anti-PD-1/PD-L1 or anti-CTLA-4. More recently, other immune checkpoints have been characterized, among them lymphocyte activation gene 3 (LAG-3). LAG-3 has been the subject of numerous therapeutic studies and may be involved in cancer-associated immune resistance phenomena. This review summarizes the latest knowledge on LAG-3 as an immunotherapeutic target, particularly in combination with standard or innovative therapies. Indeed, many studies are looking at combining LAG-3 inhibitors with chemotherapeutic, immunotherapeutic, radiotherapeutic treatments, or adoptive cell therapies to potentiate their antitumor effects and/or to overcome patients' resistance. We will particularly focus on the association therapies that are currently in phase III clinical trials and innovative combinations in preclinical phase. These new discoveries highlight the possibility of developing other types of therapeutic combinations currently unavailable in the clinic, which could broaden the therapeutic spectrum of personalized medicine.

CRISPR-Cas9 Screening Identifies KRAS-Induced COX2 as a Driver of Immunotherapy Resistance in Lung Cancer

Oncogenic KRAS impairs antitumor immune responses. As effective strategies to combine KRAS inhibitors and immunotherapies have so far proven elusive, a better understanding of the mechanisms by which oncogenic KRAS drives immune evasion is needed to identify approaches that could sensitize KRAS-mutant lung cancer to immunotherapy. In vivo CRISPR-Cas9 screening in an immunogenic murine lung cancer model identified mechanisms by which oncogenic KRAS promotes immune evasion, most notably via upregulation of immunosuppressive COX2 in cancer cells. Oncogenic KRAS potently induced COX2 in both mouse and human lung cancer, which was suppressed using KRAS inhibitors. COX2 acted via prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) to promote resistance to immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) in lung adenocarcinoma. Targeting COX2/PGE2 remodeled the tumor microenvironment by inducing proinflammatory polarization of myeloid cells and influx of activated cytotoxic CD8+ T cells, which increased the efficacy of ICB. Restoration of COX2 expression contributed to tumor relapse after prolonged KRAS inhibition. These results provide the rationale for testing COX2/PGE2 pathway inhibitors in combination with KRASG12C inhibition or ICB in patients with KRAS-mutant lung cancer. Significance: COX2 signaling via prostaglandin E2 is a major mediator of immune evasion driven by oncogenic KRAS that promotes immunotherapy and KRAS-targeted therapy resistance, suggesting effective combination treatments for KRAS-mutant lung cancer.

Neoadjuvant immunochemotherapy improves clinical outcomes of patients with esophageal cancer by mediating anti-tumor immunity of CD8+ T (Tc1) and CD16+ NK cells

Background

Esophageal cancer (ESCA) is one of the most common tumors in the world, and treatment using neoadjuvant therapy (NT) based on radiotherapy and/or chemotherapy has still unsatisfactory results. Neoadjuvant immunochemotherapy (NICT) has also become an effective treatment strategy nowadays. However, its impact on the tumor microenvironment (TME) and regulatory mechanisms on T cells and NK cells needs to be further elucidated.

Methods

A total of 279 cases of ESCA who underwent surgery alone [non-neoadjuvant therapy (NONE)], neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NCT), and NICT were collected, and their therapeutic effect and survival period were compared. Further, RNA sequencing combined with biological information was used to analyze the expression of immune-related genes. Immunohistochemistry, immunofluorescence, and quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) were used to verify the activation and infiltration status of CD8+ T and CD16+ NK cells, as well as the function and regulatory pathway of killing tumor cells.

Results

Patients with ESCA in the NICT group showed better clinical response, median survival, and 2-year survival rates (p < 0.05) compared with the NCT group. Our RNA sequencing data revealed that NICT could promote the expression of immune-related genes. The infiltration and activation of immune cells centered with CD8+ T cells were significantly enhanced. CD8+ T cells activated by PD-1 inhibitors secreted more IFN-γ and cytotoxic effector factor cells through the transcription factor of EOMES and TBX21. At the same time, activated CD8+ T cells mediated the CD16+ NK cell activation and secreted more IFN-γ to kill ESCA cells. In addition, the immunofluorescence co-staining results showed that more CD276+ tumor cells and CD16+ NK cells were existed in pre-NCT and pre-NICT group. However, CD276+ tumor cells were reduced significantly in the post-NICT group, while they still appeared in the post-NCT group, which means that CD16+ NK cells can recognize and kill CD276+ tumor cells after immune checkpoint blocker (ICB) treatment.

Conclusion

NICT can improve the therapeutic effect and survival period of resectable ESCA patients. NICT could promote the expression of immune-related genes and activate CD8+ T and CD16+ NK cells to secrete more IFN-γ to kill ESCA cells. It provides a theoretical basis and clinical evidence for its potential as an NT strategy in ESCA.

A RIPK1-specific PROTAC degrader achieves potent antitumor activity by enhancing immunogenic cell death

Receptor-interacting serine/threonine-protein kinase 1 (RIPK1) functions as a critical stress sentinel that coordinates cell survival, inflammation, and immunogenic cell death (ICD). Although the catalytic function of RIPK1 is required to trigger cell death, its non-catalytic scaffold function mediates strong pro-survival signaling. Accordingly, cancer cells can hijack RIPK1 to block necroptosis and evade immune detection. We generated a small-molecule proteolysis-targeting chimera (PROTAC) that selectively degraded human and murine RIPK1. PROTAC-mediated depletion of RIPK1 deregulated TNFR1 and TLR3/4 signaling hubs, accentuating the output of NF-κB, MAPK, and IFN signaling. Additionally, RIPK1 degradation simultaneously promoted RIPK3 activation and necroptosis induction. We further demonstrated that RIPK1 degradation enhanced the immunostimulatory effects of radio- and immunotherapy by sensitizing cancer cells to treatment-induced TNF and interferons. This promoted ICD, antitumor immunity, and durable treatment responses. Consequently, targeting RIPK1 by PROTACs emerges as a promising approach to overcome radio- or immunotherapy resistance and enhance anticancer therapies.

RNA vaccines for cancer: Principles to practice

Vaccines are the most impactful medicines to improve health. Though potent against pathogens, vaccines for cancer remain an unfulfilled promise. However, recent advances in RNA technology coupled with scientific and clinical breakthroughs have spurred rapid discovery and potent delivery of tumor antigens at speed and scale, transforming cancer vaccines into a tantalizing prospect. Yet, despite being at a pivotal juncture, with several randomized clinical trials maturing in upcoming years, several critical questions remain: which antigens, tumors, platforms, and hosts can trigger potent immunity with clinical impact? Here, we address these questions with a principled framework of cancer vaccination from antigen detection to delivery. With this framework, we outline features of emergent RNA technology that enable rapid, robust, real-time vaccination with somatic mutation-derived neoantigens-an emerging "ideal" antigen class-and highlight latent features that have sparked the belief that RNA could realize the enduring vision for vaccines against cancer.

Enhancing Magnetic Hyperthermia Efficacy through Targeted Heat Shock Protein 90 Inhibition: Unveiling Immune-Mediated Therapeutic Synergy in Glioma Treatment

The induction of heat stress response (HSR) mediated by the generation of heat shock proteins (HSPs) on exposure to magnetic hyperthermia-mediated cancer therapy (MHCT) decreases the efficacy of localized heat treatment at the tumor site, and thus therapy remains a significant challenge. Hence, the present study examined differential HSR elicited in glioma cells post-MHCT under different tumor microenvironment conditions (2D monolayers, 3D monoculture, and coculture spheroids) to recognize target genes that, when downregulated, could enhance the therapeutic effect of MHCT. Gene expression analysis following MHCT revealed that HSP90 was upregulated as compared to HSP70. Hence, to enhance the efficacy of the treatment, a combinatorial strategy using 17-DMAG as an inhibitor of HSP90 following MHCT was investigated. The effects of combinatorial therapy in terms of cell viability, HSP levels by immunofluorescence and gene expression analysis, oxidative stress generation, and alterations in cellular integrity were evaluated, where combinatorial therapy demonstrated an enhanced therapeutic outcome with maximum glioma cell death. Further, in the murine glioma model, a rapid tumor inhibition of 65 and 53% was observed within 8 days at the primary and secondary tumor sites, respectively, in the MCHT + 17-DMAG group, with abscopal effect-mediated complete tumor inhibition at both the tumor sites within 20 days of MHCT. The extracellularly released HSP90 from dying tumor cells further suggested the induction of immune response supported by the upregulation of IFN-γ and calreticulin genes in the MHCT + 17-DMAG group. Overall, our findings indicate that MHCT activates host immune systems and efficiently cooperates with the HSP90 blockade to inhibit the growth of distant metastatic tumors.

Photodynamic Therapy Derived Personalized Whole Cell Tumor Vaccine Prevents Postsurgery Tumor Recurrence and Metastasis

In order to avoid the time-consuming and laborious identification of tumor-specific antigens (TSAs) during the traditional vaccine fabrication process, a versatile photodynamic therapy (PDT)-based method is developed to construct a whole-tumor antigen tumor vaccine (TV) from surgically resected tumor tissues for personalized immunotherapy. Mucoadhesive nanoparticles containing small-molecular photosensitizer are fabricated and directly co-incubated with suspended tumor cells obtained after cytoreduction surgery. After irradiation with a 405 nm laser, potent immunogenic cell death of cancer cells could be induced. Along with the release of TSAs, the as-prepared TV could activate safe and robust tumor-specific immune responses, leading to efficient suppression of postsurgery tumor recurrence and metastasis. The as-prepared TV cannot only be applied alone through various administration routes but also synergize with immunoadjuvant, chemotherapeutics, and immune checkpoint blockers to exert more potent immune responses. This work provides an alternative way to promote the clinical translation of PDT, which is generally restricted by the limited penetration of light. Moreover, the versatile strategy of vaccine fabrication also facilitates the clinical application of personalized whole-cell tumor vaccines.

Pan-cancer analysis of T-cell proliferation regulatory genes as potential immunotherapeutic targets

T cells are the key to killing tumor cells. However, the exact mechanism of their role in cancer is not fully understood. Therefore, a comprehensive understanding of the role of T-cell proliferation regulatory genes in tumors is needed. In our study, we investigated the expression levels of genes controlling T-cell proliferation, their impact on prognosis, and their genetic variations. Additionally, we explored their associations with TMB, MSI, ESTIMATEScore, ImmuneScore, StromalScore, and immune cell infiltration. We examined the role of these genes in cancer-related pathways using GSEA. Furthermore, we calculated their activity levels across various types of cancer. Drug analysis was also conducted targeting these genes. Single-cell analysis, LASSO Cox model construction, and prognosis analysis were performed. We observed distinct expression patterns of T-cell proliferation regulatory genes across different malignant tumors. Their abnormal expression may be caused by CNA and DNA methylation. In certain cancers, they also showed complex associations with TMB and MSI. Moreover, in many tumors, they exhibited significant positive correlations with ESTIMATEScores, ImmuneScore, and StromalScore. Additionally, in most tumors, their GSVA scores were significantly positively correlated with various T-cell subtypes. GSEA analysis revealed their involvement in multiple immune pathways. Furthermore, we found that model scores were associated with patient prognosis and related to tumor malignancy progression. T-cell proliferation regulatory genes are closely associated with the tumor immune microenvironment (TIM), especially T cells. Targeting them may be an essential approach for cancer immunotherapy.

Comprehensive pan-cancer analysis of mitochondrial outer membrane permeabilisation activity reveals positive immunomodulation and assists in identifying potential therapeutic targets for immunotherapy resistance

BACKGROUND

Mitochondrial outer membrane permeabilisation (MOMP) plays a pivotal role in cellular death and immune activation. A deeper understanding of the impact of tumour MOMP on immunity will aid in guiding more effective immunotherapeutic strategies.

METHODS

A comprehensive pan-cancer dataset comprising 30 cancer-type transcriptomic cohorts, 20 immunotherapy transcriptomic cohorts and three immunotherapy scRNA-seq datasets was collected and analysed to determine the influence of tumour MOMP activity on clinical prognosis, immune infiltration and immunotherapy effectiveness. Leveraging 65 scRNA-Seq datasets, the MOMP signature (MOMP.Sig) was developed to accurately reflect tumour MOMP activity. The clinical predictive value of MOMP.Sig was explored through machine learning models. Integration of the MOMP.Sig model and a pan-cancer immunotherapy CRISPR screen further investigated potential targets to overcome immunotherapy resistance, which subsequently underwent clinical validation.

RESULTS

Our research revealed that elevated MOMP activity reduces mortality risk in cancer patients, drives the formation of an anti-tumour immune environment and enhances the response to immunotherapy. This finding emphasises the potential clinical application value of MOMP activity in immunotherapy. MOMP.Sig, offering a more precise indicator of tumour cell MOMP activity, demonstrated outstanding predictive efficacy in machine-learning models. Moreover, with the assistance of the MOMP.Sig model, FOXO1 was identified as a core modulator that promotes immune resistance. Finally, these findings were successfully validated in clinical immunotherapy cohorts of skin cutaneous melanoma and triple-negative breast cancer patients.

CONCLUSIONS

This study enhances our understanding of MOMP activity in immune modulation, providing valuable insights for more effective immunotherapeutic strategies across diverse tumours.

Emerging roles of TBK1 in cancer immunobiology

TANK-binding kinase 1 (TBK1) is a versatile serine/threonine protein kinase with established roles in innate immunity, metabolism, autophagy, cell death, and inflammation. While best known for its role in regulating innate immunity, TBK1 has emerged as a cancer cell-intrinsic immune evasion gene by virtue of its role in modulating cellular responses to inflammatory signals emanating from the immune system. Beyond its effect on cancer cells, TBK1 appears to regulate lymphoid and myeloid cells in the tumor immune microenvironment. In this review, we detail recent advances in our understanding of the tumor-intrinsic and -extrinsic roles and regulation of TBK1 in tumor immunity.

Parabacteroides distasonis-Derived Outer Membrane Vesicles Enhance Antitumor Immunity Against Colon Tumors by Modulating CXCL10 and CD8+ T Cells

Purpose

Given the potent immunostimulatory effects of bacterial outer membrane vesicles (OMVs) and the significant anti-colon tumor properties of Parabacteroides distasonis (Pd), this study aimed to elucidate the role and potential mechanisms of Pd-derived OMVs (Pd-OMVs) against colon cancer.

Methods

This study isolated and purified Pd-OMVs from Pd cultures and assessed their characteristics. The effects of Pd-OMVs on CT26 cell uptake, proliferation, and invasion were investigated in vitro. In vivo, a CT26 colon tumor model was used to investigate the anti-colon tumor effects and underlying mechanisms of Pd-OMVs. Finally, we evaluated the biosafety of Pd-OMVs.

Results

Purified Pd-OMVs had a uniform cup-shaped structure with an average size of 165.5 nm and a zeta potential of approximately -9.56 mV, and their proteins were associated with pathways related to immunity and apoptosis. In vitro experiments demonstrated that CT26 cells internalized the Pd-OMVs, resulting in a significant decrease in their proliferation and invasion abilities. Further in vivo studies confirmed the accumulation of Pd-OMVs in tumor tissues, which significantly inhibited the growth of colon tumors. Mechanistically, Pd-OMVs increased the expression of CXCL10, promoting infiltration of CD8+ T cells into tumor tissues and expression of pro-inflammatory factors TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6. Notably, Pd-OMVs demonstrated a high level of biosafety.

Conclusion

This paper elucidates that Pd-OMVs can exert significant anti-colon tumor effects by upregulating the expression of the chemokine CXCL10, thereby increasing the infiltration of CD8+ T cells into tumors and enhancing antitumor immune responses. This suggests that Pd-OMVs may be developed as a novel nanoscale potent immunostimulant with great potential for application in tumor immunotherapy. As well as developed as a novel nano-delivery carrier for combination with other antitumor drugs.

Transcription Factor ETV4 Activates AURKA to Promote PD-L1 Expression and Mediate Immune Escape in Lung Adenocarcinoma

INTRODUCTION

The occurrence and progression of lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) impair T-cell immune responses, causing immune escape and subsequently affecting the efficacy of immunotherapy in patients. Aurora kinase A (AURKA) is upregulated in varying cancers, but its role in LUAD immune escape is elusive. This work attempted to explore molecular mechanisms of AURKA regulation in LUAD immune escape.

METHODS

Through bioinformatics analysis, AURKA level in LUAD was evaluated, and potential upstream transcription factors of AURKA were predicted using hTFtarget. ETS variant transcription factor 4 (ETV4) expression in LUAD was analyzed through The Cancer Genome Atlas. Pearson's correlation analysis was then utilized to test the correlation between AURKA and ETV4. Interaction and binding between AURKA and ETV4 were validated through dual-luciferase assay and chromatin immunoprecipitation. Quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) tested relative mRNA expression of AURKA and ETV4 in LUAD cells, cell counting kit-8 assayed cell viability, and Western blot analysis was conducted to determine the protein level of programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1). Coculture of LUAD cells with activated CD8+ T cells was carried out, and an LDH assay was used to assess the cytotoxicity of CD8+ T cells against LUAD cells. Interferon-γ (IFN-γ), interleukin-2 (IL-2), and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) levels in the coculture system were assessed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Western blot assessed protein levels of JAK2, p-JAK2, STAT3, and p-STAT3.

RESULTS

Compared to normal tissues, AURKA and ETV4 were upregulated in tumor tissues, and AURKA presented a negative association with CD8+ T-cell immune infiltration but a positive association with PD-L1. qRT-PCR unveiled significantly upregulated mRNA of AURKA and ETV4 in LUAD cells compared to normal lung epithelial cells. Knockdown of AURKA significantly decreased cell viability and PD-L1 protein level in LUAD cells, enhanced cytotoxicity of CD8+ T cells against LUAD cells and IFN-γ, IL-2, and TNF-α expression, while overexpression of AURKA yielded opposite results. Furthermore, the knockdown of ETV4 could reverse the oncogenic characteristics of cells caused by AURKA overexpression.

CONCLUSION

Our study illustrated that ETV4/AURKA axis promoted PD-L1 expression, suppressed CD8+ T-cell activity, and mediated immune escape in LUAD by regulating the JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway.

IGSF8 is an innate immune checkpoint and cancer immunotherapy target

Antigen presentation defects in tumors are prevalent mechanisms of adaptive immune evasion and resistance to cancer immunotherapy, whereas how tumors evade innate immunity is less clear. Using CRISPR screens, we discovered that IGSF8 expressed on tumors suppresses NK cell function by interacting with human KIR3DL2 and mouse Klra9 receptors on NK cells. IGSF8 is normally expressed in neuronal tissues and is not required for cell survival in vitro or in vivo. It is overexpressed and associated with low antigen presentation, low immune infiltration, and worse clinical outcomes in many tumors. An antibody that blocks IGSF8-NK receptor interaction enhances NK cell killing of malignant cells in vitro and upregulates antigen presentation, NK cell-mediated cytotoxicity, and T cell signaling in vivo. In syngeneic tumor models, anti-IGSF8 alone, or in combination with anti-PD1, inhibits tumor growth. Our results indicate that IGSF8 is an innate immune checkpoint that could be exploited as a therapeutic target.

Signaling controversy and future therapeutical perspectives of targeting sphingolipid network in cancer immune editing and resistance to tumor necrosis factor-α immunotherapy

Anticancer immune surveillance and immunotherapies trigger activation of cytotoxic cytokine signaling, including tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and TNF-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) pathways. The pro-inflammatory cytokine TNF-α may be secreted by stromal cells, tumor-associated macrophages, and by cancer cells, indicating a prominent role in the tumor microenvironment (TME). However, tumors manage to adapt, escape immune surveillance, and ultimately develop resistance to the cytotoxic effects of TNF-α. The mechanisms by which cancer cells evade host immunity is a central topic of current cancer research. Resistance to TNF-α is mediated by diverse molecular mechanisms, such as mutation or downregulation of TNF/TRAIL receptors, as well as activation of anti-apoptotic enzymes and transcription factors. TNF-α signaling is also mediated by sphingosine kinases (SphK1 and SphK2), which are responsible for synthesis of the growth-stimulating phospholipid, sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P). Multiple studies have demonstrated the crucial role of S1P and its transmembrane receptors (S1PR) in both the regulation of inflammatory responses and progression of cancer. Considering that the SphK/S1P/S1PR axis mediates cancer resistance, this sphingolipid signaling pathway is of mechanistic significance when considering immunotherapy-resistant malignancies. However, the exact mechanism by which sphingolipids contribute to the evasion of immune surveillance and abrogation of TNF-α-induced apoptosis remains largely unclear. This study reviews mechanisms of TNF-α-resistance in cancer cells, with emphasis on the pro-survival and immunomodulatory effects of sphingolipids. Inhibition of SphK/S1P-linked pro-survival branch may facilitate reactivation of the pro-apoptotic TNF superfamily effects, although the role of SphK/S1P inhibitors in the regulation of the TME and lymphocyte trafficking should be thoroughly assessed in future studies.

Pan-cancer analysis implicates novel insights of lactate metabolism into immunotherapy response prediction and survival prognostication

BACKGROUND

Immunotherapy has emerged as a potent clinical approach for cancer treatment, but only subsets of cancer patients can benefit from it. Targeting lactate metabolism (LM) in tumor cells as a method to potentiate anti-tumor immune responses represents a promising therapeutic strategy.

METHODS

Public single-cell RNA-Seq (scRNA-seq) cohorts collected from patients who received immunotherapy were systematically gathered and scrutinized to delineate the association between LM and the immunotherapy response. A novel LM-related signature (LM.SIG) was formulated through an extensive examination of 40 pan-cancer scRNA-seq cohorts. Then, multiple machine learning (ML) algorithms were employed to validate the capacity of LM.SIG for immunotherapy response prediction and survival prognostication based on 8 immunotherapy transcriptomic cohorts and 30 The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) pan-cancer datasets. Moreover, potential targets for immunotherapy were identified based on 17 CRISPR datasets and validated via in vivo and in vitro experiments.

RESULTS

The assessment of LM was confirmed to possess a substantial relationship with immunotherapy resistance in 2 immunotherapy scRNA-seq cohorts. Based on large-scale pan-cancer data, there exists a notably adverse correlation between LM.SIG and anti-tumor immunity as well as imbalance infiltration of immune cells, whereas a positive association was observed between LM.SIG and pro-tumorigenic signaling. Utilizing this signature, the ML model predicted immunotherapy response and prognosis with an AUC of 0.73/0.80 in validation sets and 0.70/0.87 in testing sets respectively. Notably, LM.SIG exhibited superior predictive performance across various cancers compared to published signatures. Subsequently, CRISPR screening identified LDHA as a pan-cancer biomarker for estimating immunotherapy response and survival probability which was further validated using immunohistochemistry (IHC) and spatial transcriptomics (ST) datasets. Furthermore, experiments demonstrated that LDHA deficiency in pancreatic cancer elevated the CD8+ T cell antitumor immunity and improved macrophage antitumoral polarization, which in turn enhanced the efficacy of immunotherapy.

CONCLUSIONS

We unveiled the tight correlation between LM and resistance to immunotherapy and further established the pan-cancer LM.SIG, holds the potential to emerge as a competitive instrument for the selection of patients suitable for immunotherapy.

Enhanced cellular therapy: revolutionizing adoptive cellular therapy

Enhanced cellular therapy has emerged as a novel concept following the basis of cellular therapy. This treatment modality applied drugs or biotechnology to directly enhance or genetically modify cells to enhance the efficacy of adoptive cellular therapy (ACT). Drugs or biotechnology that enhance the killing ability of immune cells include immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) / antibody drugs, small molecule inhibitors, immunomodulatory factors, proteolysis targeting chimera (PROTAC), oncolytic virus (OV), etc. Firstly, overcoming the inhibitory tumor microenvironment (TME) can enhance the efficacy of ACT, which can be achieved by blocking the immune checkpoint. Secondly, cytokines or cytokine receptors can be expressed by genetic engineering or added directly to adoptive cells to enhance the migration and infiltration of adoptive cells to tumor cells. Moreover, multi-antigen chimeric antigen receptors (CARs) can be designed to enhance the specific recognition of tumor cell-related antigens, and OVs can also stimulate antigen release. In addition to inserting suicide genes into adoptive cells, PROTAC technology can be used as a safety switch or degradation agent of immunosuppressive factors to enhance the safety and efficacy of adoptive cells. This article comprehensively summarizes the mechanism, current situation, and clinical application of enhanced cellular therapy, describing potential improvements to adoptive cellular therapy.

Iridium(III)-Based PD-L1 Agonist Regulates p62 and ATF3 for Enhanced Cancer Immunotherapy

Anti-PD-L1 immunotherapy, a new lung cancer treatment, is limited to a few patients due to low PD-L1 expression and tumor immunosuppression. To address these challenges, the upregulation of PD-L1 has the potential to elevate the response rate and efficiency of anti-PD-L1 and alleviate the immunosuppression of the tumor microenvironment. Herein, we developed a novel usnic acid-derived Iridium(III) complex, Ir-UA, that boosts PD-L1 expression and converts "cold tumors" to "hot". Subsequently, we administered Ir-UA combined with anti-PD-L1 in mice, which effectively inhibited tumor growth and promoted CD4+ and CD8+ T cell infiltration. To our knowledge, Ir-UA is the first iridium-based complex to stimulate the expression of PD-L1 by explicitly regulating its transcription factors, which not only provides a promising platform for immune checkpoint blockade but, more importantly, provides an effective treatment strategy for patients with low PD-L1 expression.

Functional genomics identifies N-acetyllactosamine extension of complex N-glycans as a mechanism to evade lysis by natural killer cells

Natural killer (NK) cells are primary defenders against cancer precursors, but cancer cells can persist by evading immune surveillance. To investigate the genetic mechanisms underlying this evasion, we perform a genome-wide CRISPR screen using B lymphoblastoid cells. SPPL3, a peptidase that cleaves glycosyltransferases in the Golgi, emerges as a top hit facilitating evasion from NK cytotoxicity. SPPL3-deleted cells accumulate glycosyltransferases and complex N-glycans, disrupting not only binding of ligands to NK receptors but also binding of rituximab, a CD20 antibody approved for treating B cell cancers. Notably, inhibiting N-glycan maturation restores receptor binding and sensitivity to NK cells. A secondary CRISPR screen in SPPL3-deficient cells identifies B3GNT2, a transferase-mediating poly-LacNAc extension, as crucial for resistance. Mass spectrometry confirms enrichment of N-glycans bearing poly-LacNAc upon SPPL3 loss. Collectively, our study shows the essential role of SPPL3 and poly-LacNAc in cancer immune evasion, suggesting a promising target for cancer treatment.