PTEN Loss Confers Resistance to Anti-PD-1 Therapy in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer by Increasing Tumor Infiltration of Regulatory T Cells

The crosstalk between lung adenocarcinoma cells and M2 macrophages promotes cancer cell development via the SFRS1/miR-708-5p/PD-L1 axis

This study aimed to elucidate the underlying mechanisms regarding microRNA-708-5p (miR-708-5p) in lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD). Here, the co-culture system of LUAD cells and macrophages, as well as a xenograft mouse model, were established. High levels of miR-708-5p were observed in LUAD. Exosomal miR-708-5p facilitated M2-like phenotype polarization, whereas miR-708-5p inhibition blocked the polarization. Exosomal miR-708-5p was identified as a pivotal signaling molecule for macrophages to mediate tumor cell proliferation, invasion, migration and IFN-γ production in T cells. In addition, miR708-5p was observed to induce PD-L1 expression, and PD-L1 silencing inhibited macrophage-induced tumor cell growth behavior and regulated CD8 T cell activity. In xenograft models, miR-708-5p inhibition and PD-L1 silencing attenuated macrophage-induced tumor growth, induced IFN-γ secretion and CD8 expression, and modulated the PTEN/AKT/mTOR pathway. In LUAD patients, there was an upregulation of both miR-708-5p and PD-L1 expression, accompanied by the activation of PTEN/AKT/mTOR. In conclusion, this study demonstrated the induction of M2 macrophage polarization and PD-L1 expression by exosomal miR-708-5p. We observed that exosomal miR-708-5p mediated the PTEN/AKT/mTOR pathway, diminished CD8 T cell activity and accelerated LUAD progression. The inhibition of specific exosomal miRNA secretion and anti-PD-L1 in the LUAD microenvironment may represent a promising avenue for LUAD immunotherapy.

Ruxolitinib suppresses tumor growth in PTEN-deficient glioblastoma by inhibiting the STAT3-PDL1 axis-mediated the M2 polarization of macrophages

BACKGROUND

Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most malignant form of brain tumor, and GBM patients with poorer prognosis and highly immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (TME) often exhibit PTEN deficiency in their tumor tissues. Therefore, new therapeutic strategies targeting immunosuppressive TME maybe useful in PTEN-deficient GBM.

METHODS

Bioinformatics was used to assess gene expression, survival time and immunoinfiltration in PTEN-deficient GBM. CRISPR-Cas9 was used to construct gene knockout cell lines. C57BL/6 mouse orthotopic GBM models were used to conduct survival analysis and evaluate treatment effect of Ruxolitinib. Flow cytometry, immunohistochemistry, immunofluorescence and quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) to detect the polarization of macrophages. Immunoblotting, immunohistochemistry, qRT-PCR, enzyme linked immunosorbent assay, and dual-luciferase reporter assay were used to conduct mechanism research.

RESULTS

We identified that the elevated levels of phosphorylated STAT3 (p-STAT3) in PTEN-deficient GBM facilitate PDL1 transcription, which subsequently drives M2 polarization of macrophages. Furthermore, PTEN deficiency, along with high expression levels of STAT3 and PDL1, are associated with a shorter survival time in GBM patients. Notably, in orthotopic mouse models of GBM with PTEN deficiency, Ruxolitinib therapy reduces the levels of p-STAT3 and PDL1, inhibits the infiltration of M2 macrophages, and suppresses tumor growth.

CONCLUSIONS

The STAT3-PDL1 axis plays a crucial role in the M2 polarization of macrophages in PTEN-deficient GBM. The blockade of the STAT3-PDL1 axis by Ruxolitinib regulates the anti-tumor immune response and curtails tumor progression in PTEN-deficient GBM, highlighting its significant clinical implications.

Remodeling of Effector and Regulatory T Cells by Capture and Utilization of miRNAs Using Nanocomposite Hydrogel for Tumor-Specific Photothermal Immunotherapy

In immunotherapy for malignant tumors, the dysregulation of the balance between effector T cells and regulatory T cells (Tregs) and the uncertain efficacy due to individual differences have been considered as two critical challenges. In this study, we engineered an injectable nanocomposite hydrogel system (SNAs@M-Gel) capable of suppressing Treg proliferation and blocking PD-1/PD-L1-mediated immune evasion effectively, achieved through the stimulus-responsive modulation of multiple tumor-associated microRNAs. Simultaneously, this system enables microRNA-dependent photothermal immunotherapy, facilitating a highly efficient and personalized approach to tumor treatment. Specifically, oxidized sodium alginate (OSA) and cancer cell membrane (CCM)-encapsulated spherical nucleic acid nanoparticles (SNAs@M) were used to construct the SNAs@M-Gel hydrogel in situ at the tumor site through the formation of pH-sensitive Schiff base bonding and cross-linking using endogenous calcium ions (Ca2+). During treatment, SNAs@M-Gel was retained locally for up to 10 days, and SNAs@M nanoparticles were continuously released into the tumor microenvironment. Through the targeting ability of CCM, SNAs@M precisely entered tumor cells and specifically hybridized with the overexpressed miR-214 and miR-130a, leading to a significant downregulation of PD-L1 expression on tumor cells and the restoration of cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) function suppressed by Tregs, thereby remodeling the immune microenvironment. In addition, miRNAs functioned as cross-linking agents, facilitating the aggregation of SNAs and allowing the localized production of photothermal agents directly inside tumor cells, which, under near-infrared (NIR) irradiation, promoted highly selective photothermal therapy. This cascade of events not only led to the destruction of the primary tumor but also resulted in the release of a substantial number of tumor-related antigens, which triggered the maturation of adjacent dendritic cells (DCs) and subsequent priming of tumor-specific CTLs, while simultaneously depleting Tregs, thereby reversing the tumor-promoting immune microenvironment and enhancing the overall therapeutic efficacy of photothermal immunotherapy.

Immune microenvironment and molecular mechanisms in endometrial cancer: implications for resistance and innovative treatments

This review provides a systematic overview of the molecular mechanisms of endometrial cancer and its drug resistance, particularly involving the aberrant activation of some key signaling pathways. These molecular mechanisms significantly affect the therapeutic outcome of endometrial cancer by promoting tumor cell proliferation, anti-apoptosis, and drug resistance. The article also analyzes the critical role of the immune microenvironment in cancer drug resistance, focusing on the impact of immune cells, immune checkpoints, and hypoxic metabolic reprogramming on anticancer therapies. In recent years, immunotherapy and individualized therapy have shown promising clinical outcomes, especially in advanced endometrial cancer. This article summarizes recent advances in related therapeutic strategies and proposes emerging therapeutic strategies by targeting key pathways and modulating the immune microenvironment to overcome drug resistance and improve patient prognosis.

Construction of a circRNA-miRNA-mRNA Regulatory Network for the Immune Regulation of Lung Adenocarcinoma

BACKGROUND

Recent research has highlighted the significance of circular RNAs (circRNAs) as pivotal regulators in the progression of tumors and the therapeutic response in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). These circRNAs function through a sponge mechanism, interacting with microRNAs (miRNAs) to modulate mRNA expression levels. Nevertheless, the precise role of the circRNA-miRNA-mRNA regulatory network in immune regulation within lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) remains inadequately understood.

METHODS AND MATERIALS

We utilized microarray datasets from the GEO NCBI database (GSE101586) to identify differentially expressed circRNAs (DEcircRNAs) in LUAD. CircBank was employed to predict the target miRNAs of DEcircRNAs, which were subsequently intersected with miRNAs from the GSE36681 database. The identified miRNAs were then predicted to target mRNAs using miRDB and miWalk, and intersections with immune-related genes from the IMMPORT database were analyzed. Protein-protein interaction (PPI) networks were constructed using Cytoscape software. The DAVID functional annotation tool was utilized to explore potential biological processes, molecular functions, and KEGG pathways associated with LUAD. Gene expression and Kaplan-Meier survival analyses were conducted to establish a key regulatory network and to assess immune cell infiltration and Pearson correlation for significant target genes. Finally, we selected the most significantly upregulated circRNA with differential expression for validation through in vitro experiments.

RESULTS

Our analysis identified a total of 7 upregulated and 42 downregulated circRNAs, along with 10 significant miRNAs and 20 target mRNAs. KEGG enrichment analysis indicated that these components are primarily enriched in the ErbB signaling pathway. Furthermore, Gene Ontology (GO) analysis revealed significant enrichment in responses to organic substances, cytokine-mediated signaling pathways, cellular responses to cytokines, responses to chemical stimuli, steroid hormone receptor activity, ErbB-3 class receptor binding, oxysterol binding, signal receptor activity, and molecular transducer activity. Notable core mRNAs identified included OAS1, VIPR1, and PIK3R1. Subsequently, we constructed a regulatory network comprising 6 DEcircRNAs, 3 DEmiRNAs, and 3 DEmRNAs. Through ssGSEA and CIBERSORT analyses, we observed significant differences in immune cell infiltration levels between the NSCLC cohort and the control group. Knocking down the expression of hsa_circ_0079557 significantly inhibited the viability, proliferation, migration, and invasion of LUAD cells.

CONCLUSION

We have established a circRNA-miRNA-mRNA regulatory network that offers novel insights into the molecular mechanisms governing immune regulation in LUAD. Future research should aim to translate these findings into clinical applications to enhance patient outcomes.

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.

Potential role of lactylation in intrinsic immune pathways in lung cancer

Lung cancer, one of the most lethal malignancies, has seen its therapeutic strategies become a focal point of significant scientific attention. Intrinsic immune signaling pathways play crucial roles in anti-tumor immunity but face clinical application challenges despite promising preclinical outcomes. Lactylation, an emerging research focus, may influences lung cancer progression by modulating the functions of histones and non-histone proteins. Recent findings have suggested that lactylation regulates key intrinsic immune molecules, including cGAS-STING, TLR, and RIG-I, thereby impacting interferon expression. However, the precise mechanisms by which lactylation governs intrinsic immune signaling in lung cancer remain unclear. This review presents a comprehensive and systematic analysis of the relationship between lactylation and intrinsic immune signaling pathways in lung cancer and emphasizes the innovative perspective of linking lactylation-mediated epigenetic modifications with immune regulation. By thoroughly examining current research findings, this review uncovers potential regulatory mechanisms and highlights the therapeutic implications of targeting lactylation in lung cancer. Future investigations into the intricate interactions between lactylation and intrinsic immunity are anticipated to unveil novel therapeutic targets and strategies, potentially improving patient survival outcomes.

Immune Checkpoint Blockade Delays Cancer Development and Extends Survival in DNA Polymerase Mutator Syndromes

Mutations in the exonuclease domains of the replicative nuclear DNA polymerases POLD1 and POLE are associated with increased cancer incidence, elevated tumor mutation burden (TMB), and enhanced response to immune checkpoint blockade (ICB). Although ICB is approved for treatment of several cancers, not all tumors with elevated TMB respond, highlighting the need for a better understanding of how TMB affects tumor biology and subsequently immunotherapy response. To address this, we generated mice with germline and conditional mutations in the exonuclease domains of Pold1 and Pole. Engineered mice with Pold1 and Pole mutator alleles presented with spontaneous cancers, primarily lymphomas, lung cancer, and intestinal tumors, whereas Pold1 mutant mice also developed tail skin carcinomas. These cancers had highly variable tissue type-dependent increased TMB with mutational signatures associated with POLD1 and POLE mutations found in human cancers. The Pold1 mutant tail tumors displayed increased TMB; however, only a subset of established tumors responded to ICB. Similarly, introducing the mutator alleles into mice with lung cancer driven by mutant Kras and Trp53 deletion did not improve survival, whereas passaging these tumor cells in vitro without immune editing and subsequently implanting them into immunocompetent mice caused tumor rejection in vivo. These results demonstrated the efficiency by which cells with antigenic mutations are eliminated in vivo. Finally, ICB treatment of mutator mice earlier, before observable tumors had developed delayed cancer onset, improved survival and selected for tumors without aneuploidy, suggesting the potential of ICB in high-risk individuals for cancer prevention. Significance: Treating high-mutation burden mice with immunotherapy prior to cancer onset significantly improves survival, raising the possibility of utilizing immune checkpoint blockade for cancer prevention, especially in individuals with increased risk.

Targeting novel regulated cell death: disulfidptosis in cancer immunotherapy with immune checkpoint inhibitors

The battle against cancer has evolved over centuries, from the early stages of surgical resection to contemporary treatments including chemotherapy, radiation, targeted therapies, and immunotherapies. Despite significant advances in cancer treatment over recent decades, these therapies remain limited by various challenges. Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), a cornerstone of tumor immunotherapy, have emerged as one of the most promising advancements in cancer treatment. Although ICIs, such as CTLA-4 and PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors, have demonstrated clinical efficacy, their therapeutic impact remains suboptimal due to patient-specific variability and tumor immune resistance. Cell death is a fundamental process for maintaining tissue homeostasis and function. Recent research highlights that the combination of induced regulatory cell death (RCD) and ICIs can substantially enhance anti-tumor responses across multiple cancer types. In cells exhibiting high levels of recombinant solute carrier family 7 member 11 (SLC7A11) protein, glucose deprivation triggers a programmed cell death (PCD) pathway characterized by disulfide bond formation and REDOX (reduction-oxidation) reactions, termed "disulfidptosis." Studies suggest that disulfidptosis plays a critical role in the therapeutic efficacy of SLC7A11high cancers. Therefore, to investigate the potential synergy between disulfidptosis and ICIs, this study will explore the mechanisms of both processes in tumor progression, with the goal of enhancing the anti-tumor immune response of ICIs by targeting the intracellular disulfidptosis pathway.

Utilizing Nanoparticles to Overcome Anti-PD-1/PD-L1 Immunotherapy Resistance in Non-Small Cell Lung cancer: A Potential Strategy

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related mortality globally, with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) constituting 85% of cases. Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) represented by anti-programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1)/ programmed cell death ligand 1 (PD-L1) have emerged as a promising frontier in cancer treatment, effectively extending the survival of patients with NSCLC. However, the efficacy of ICIs exhibits significant variability across diverse patient populations, with a substantial proportion showing poor responsiveness and acquired resistance in those initially responsive to ICIs treatments. With the advancement of nanotechnology, nanoparticles offer unique advantages in tumor immunotherapy, including high permeability and prolonged retention(EPR) effects, enhanced drug delivery and stability, and modulation of the inflammatory tumor microenvironment(TME). This review summarizes the mechanisms of resistance to ICIs in NSCLC, focusing on tumor antigens loss and defective antigen processing and presentation, failure T cell priming, impaired T cell migration and infiltration, immunosuppressive TME, and genetic mutations. Furthermore, we discuss how nanoparticles, through their intrinsic properties such as the EPR effect, active targeting effect, shielding effect, self-regulatory effect, and synergistic effect, can potentiate the efficacy of ICIs and reverse resistance. In conclusion, nanoparticles serve as a robust platform for ICIs-based NSCLC therapy, aiding in overcoming resistance challenges.

Role of COL5A1 in lung squamous cell Carcinoma: Prognostic Implications and therapeutic potential

BACKGROUND

Lung squamous cell carcinoma (LUSC) is a significant health concern, characterized by a lack of specific therapies and limited treatment options for patients in advanced stages. This study aims to identify key molecules of prognostic importance in LUSC and provide an experimental foundation for their potential therapeutic applications.

METHODS

Immune-related transcriptome expression analysis was performed on LUSC samples using the NanoString digital gene analysis system to develop a prognostic transcriptomic signature. This was followed by validation within the LUSC cohort database, and the immune properties and cellular functions of the critical molecule were examined through molecular biology experiments.

RESULTS

Advanced nCounter analysis revealed significant differences in the numbers of T cells, cytotoxic cells, B cells, and CD45+ and CD8+ T cells between the OS1 (short-term survival) group and the OS2 (long-term survival) group. A comparison of the differences in tumor immune-related pathways between the two groups revealed that signaling pathways such as the PI3K-AKT, NF-kappaB signaling, Notch signaling, angiogenesis, matrix remodeling, and metastasis pathways were activated in the OS1 subgroup, and DNA damage repair and lymphatic chamber signaling pathways were activated in the OS2 subgroup. We analyzed and compared differentially expressed mRNAs with high expression levels in the OS1 and stage IV groups. Collagen type V alpha 1 (COL5A1) was found to be associated with the prognosis of LUSC. Phenotypic analysis revealed that COL5A1 knockdown inhibited the proliferation, migration, and invasion of SKMES1 cells. Locating COL5A1 was shown to be expressed in CAFs, T cells, and EPI cells through single-cell omics analysis.

CONCLUSION

COL5A1 plays a crucial role in tumor progression, indicating that COL5A1 inhibitors may represent a promising therapeutic strategy for the treatment of LUSC.

PTEN suppresses renal cell carcinoma proliferation and migration via inhibition of the PI3K/AKT pathway

BACKGROUND

Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is a frequent and aggressive type of kidney cancer with limited therapeutic options. Although phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN) have been recognized as a potential tumor suppressor in all kinds of cancers, its function in RCC remains to be thoroughly elucidated.

OBJECTIVE

This article was recruited to examine the PTEN's role in managing the PI3K/AKT pathway and its impact on the RCC cell proliferation and migration.

METHODS

This study collected renal cancer and adjacent non-cancerous tissue samples from our hospital. HK-2 and 786-O cells were used, with 786-O cells divided into control, vector, and oe-PTEN groups. PTEN and related protein levels were detected using RT-qPCR and Western blot. Statistical analyses were performed using the Mann-Whitney U test and Kruskal-Wallis H test. Cell viability and migration were assessed using the CCK-8 assay and wound healing assay. All analyses were conducted with SPSS 22.0 software, with statistical significance defined as p < 0.05.

RESULTS

RT-qPCR results showed that PTEN expression was significantly increased in RCC tumor tissues compared to normal tissues (p < 0.01). However, PTEN mRNA levels were significantly reduced in 786-O cells compared to HK-2 cells (p < 0.01). In 786-O cells with low PTEN expression, further induction of PTEN overexpression significantly inhibited PI3K/AKT signaling activity (p < 0.01), accompanied by decreased cell viability and migration ability. These results indicate that the expression pattern of PTEN in RCC is complex, but its overexpression can exert tumor-suppressive effects by inhibiting the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway.

CONCLUSION

Our findings demonstrate that PTEN overexpression in RCC cells leads to decreased PI3K/AKT signaling, decreasing cell viability and migration. This study highlights the critical role of PTEN in RCC progression and suggests potential therapeutic targets for intervention.

CCR8: a promising therapeutic target against tumor-infiltrating regulatory T cells

Tumor-infiltrating regulatory T (TI-Treg) cells constitute key components within the tumor microenvironment (TME) to suppress antitumor immunity and facilitate tumor progression. Although multiple therapies have been developed to eliminate TI-Treg cells, most of them exhibit only modest efficacy and harbor risks of inducing immune-related adverse events (irAEs). Recent studies demonstrate that CC chemokine receptor (CCR)8 is highly and specifically expressed on effector TI-Treg cells in mice and humans, highlighting CCR8 as a promising target for selective TI-Treg cell depletion in the treatment of various cancers. Here, we concentrate on the latest understanding of CCR8 regarding its expression, functions, and regulation, and summarize the current landscape of CCR8-targeted therapies. With favorable efficacy and safety, the latter represent an important class of next-generation putative cancer immunotherapies.

Targeting the PD-1/PD-L1 Signaling Pathway for Cancer Therapy: Focus on Biomarkers

The PD1/PD-L1 axis plays an important immunosuppressive role during the T-cell-mediated immune response, which is essential for the physiological homeostasis of the immune system. The biology of the immunological microenvironment is extremely complex and crucial for the development of treatment strategies for immunotherapy. Characterization of the immunological, genomic or transcriptomic landscape of cancer patients could allow discrimination between responders and non-responders to anti-PD-1/PD-L1 therapy. Immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) therapy has shown remarkable efficacy in a variety of malignancies in landmark trials and has fundamentally changed cancer therapy. Current research focuses on strategies to maximize patient selection for therapy, clarify mechanisms of resistance, improve existing biomarkers, including PD-L1 expression and tumor mutational burden (TMB), and discover new biomarkers. In this review, we focus on the function of the PD-1/PD-L1 signaling pathway and discuss the immunological, genomic, epigenetic and transcriptomic landscape in cancer patients receiving anti-PD-1/PD-L1 therapy. Finally, we provide an overview of the clinical trials testing the efficacy of antibodies against PD-1/PD-L1.

Current trends in sensitizing immune checkpoint inhibitors for cancer treatment

Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have dramatically transformed the treatment landscape for various malignancies, achieving notable clinical outcomes across a wide range of indications. Despite these advances, resistance to immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) remains a critical clinical challenge, characterized by variable response rates and non-durable benefits. However, growing research into the complex intrinsic and extrinsic characteristics of tumors has advanced our understanding of the mechanisms behind ICI resistance, potentially improving treatment outcomes. Additionally, robust predictive biomarkers are crucial for optimizing patient selection and maximizing the efficacy of ICBs. Recent studies have emphasized that multiple rational combination strategies can overcome immune checkpoint resistance and enhance susceptibility to ICIs. These findings not only deepen our understanding of tumor biology but also reveal the unique mechanisms of action of sensitizing agents, extending clinical benefits in cancer immunotherapy. In this review, we will explore the underlying biology of ICIs, discuss the significance of the tumor immune microenvironment (TIME) and clinical predictive biomarkers, analyze the current mechanisms of resistance, and outline alternative combination strategies to enhance the effectiveness of ICIs, including personalized strategies for sensitizing tumors to ICIs.

Everolimus in pituitary tumor: a review of preclinical and clinical evidence

Although pituitary tumors (PTs) are mostly benign, some PTs are characterized by low surgical resection rates, high recurrence rates, and poor response to conventional treatments and profoundly affect patients' quality of life. Everolimus (EVE) is the only FDA-approved mTOR inhibitor, which can be used for oral treatment. It effectively inhibits tumor cell proliferation and angiogenesis. It has been administered for various neuroendocrine tumors of the digestive tract, lungs, and pancreas. EVE not only suppresses the growth and proliferation of APT cells but also enhances their sensitivity to radiotherapy and chemotherapy. This review introduces the role of the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway in the development of APTs, comprehensively explores the current status of preclinical and clinical research of EVE in APTs, and discusses the blood-brain barrier permeability and safety of EVE.

Engineering exosomes from fibroblast growth factor 1 pre-conditioned adipose-derived stem cells promote ischemic skin flaps survival by activating autophagy

Background

The recovery of ischemic skin flaps is a major concern in clinical settings. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effects of engineered exosomes derived from FGF1 pre-conditioned adipose-derived stem cells (FEXO) on ischemic skin flaps.

Method

6 patients who suffered from pressure ulcer at stage 4 and underwent skin flaps surgery were recruited in this study to screen the potential targets of ischemic skin flaps in FGF family. FGF1 was co-incubated with adipose stem cells, and ultracentrifugation was applied to extract FEXO. Transcriptome sequencing analysis was used to determine the most effective microRNA in FEXO. Animal skin flaps models were established in our study to verify the effects of FEXO. Immunofluorescence (IF), western blotting (WB) and other molecular strategy were used to evaluate the effects and mechanism of FEXO.

Results

FGF1 was expected to be the therapeutic and diagnostic target of ischemic skin flaps, but there is still some deficiency in rescuing skin flaps. FEXO significantly improved the viability of RPSFs and endothelial cells by inhibiting oxidative stress and alleviating apoptosis and pyroptosis through augmenting autophagy flux. In addition, FEXO inhibited the over-activated inflammation responses. Transcriptome sequencing analysis showed that miR-183-5p was significantly elevated in FEXO, and inhibiting miR-183-5p resulted in impaired protective effects of autophagy in skin flaps. The exosomal miR-183-5p markedly enhanced cell viability, inhibited oxidative stress and alleviated apoptosis and pyroptosis in endothelial cells by targeting GPR137 through Pi3k/Akt/mTOR pathway, indicating that GPR137 could also be a therapeutic target of ischemic skin flap. It was also notabale that FGF1 increased the number of exosomes by upregulating VAMP3, which may be a promising strategy for clinical translation.

Conclusion

FEXO markedly improved the survivial rate of ischemic skin flaps through miR-183-5p/GPR137/Pi3k/Akt/mTOR axis, which would be a promising strategy to rescue ischemic skin flaps.

The oncogenic axis YAP/MYC/EZH2 impairs PTEN tumor suppression activity enhancing lung tumorigenicity

The tumor suppressor PTEN (phosphatase and tensin homolog deleted in chromosome 10) is genetically deleted or downregulated in many cancer types. Loss of PTEN protein expression is frequently found in lung cancer while genetic alterations are less abundant. PTEN expression is regulated at multiple genetic and epigenetic levels and even partial reduction of its expression increases cancer occurrence. We show that YAP and TAZ cooperate with EZH2, and MYC to transcriptionally repress onco-suppressor genes, including PTEN, in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cells. YAP/TAZ-EZH2-MYC transcriptional regulators form a nuclear complex that represses PTEN transcription, while their combinatorial targeting restores PTEN expression, attenuates NSCLC cell growth, and prevents compensatory responses induced by single treatments. Datasets analysis of NSCLC patients revealed that PTEN expression is negatively correlated to YAP/TAZ, EZH2 and MYC and that low expression of PTEN is predictive of poor prognosis, especially at earlier stages of the disease. These findings highlight the repressive role of the YAP/TAZ-EZH2-MYC axis on tumor-suppressor genes and offer a potential therapeutic strategy for lung cancer patients with low PTEN levels.

Worldwide research trends on bone metastases of lung cancer: a bibliometric analysis

Background

Lung cancer has the highest fatality rate among all malignancies worldwide. Within this disease, bone metastasis (BM) emerges as a particularly deleterious site of metastatic dissemination, marked by a dismal prognosis. The objective of this investigation is to shed light on the current international research efforts and the development trajectory on lung cancer BM through a bibliometric analysis (performance and visualization analysis).

Method

Data were obtained from the Web of Science Core Collection repository on lung cancer BM from 1 January 2012 to 1 January 2022. Subsequently, the collected data underwent scrutiny using the VOSviewer software to reveal patterns of co-authorship, co-citation, and keyword analysis, while the CiteSpace software facilitated the generation of keyword cluster maps and performed burst analyses.

Results

The study included 327 papers of 2,154 authors, 587 organizations, and 41 countries, and explored the cooperation between them and the relationships between citations. Over the past decade, published papers showed a steady growth trend. China had the highest production with 189 papers, and USA had the highest collaboration with other countries, with 43 total link strength. Lung Cancer exhibited the highest frequency of co-cited journals, with a co-citation time of 412 and an IF/JCR partition of 6.081/Q1 in 2021. The most frequently co-cited article, authored by Tsuya A and published in Lung Cancer in 2007, amassed 70 co-citations. High-frequency keywords were categorized into four clusters: pathogenesis, treatment and clinical manifestations, prognosis, and diagnosis. In recent years, there has been a significant increase in the strong citation burst strength of keywords such as "predictor," "skeletal-related events," "efficacy," "migration," "docetaxel," and "impact." Lung adenocarcinoma is the most common type of tumor.

Conclusion

This bibliometric study provides a comprehensive analysis of lung cancer BM in the recent 10 years. The field of early diagnosis, pathogenesis, and new treatments is entering a phase of rapid development and remains valuable for future research.

The complex interplay of tumor-infiltrating cells in driving therapeutic resistance pathways

Drug resistance remains a significant challenge in cancer treatment. Recently, the interactions among various cell types within the tumor microenvironment (TME) have deepened our understanding of the mechanisms behind treatment resistance. Therefore, this review aims to synthesize current research focusing on infiltrating cells and drug resistance suggesting that targeting the TME could be a viable strategy to combat this issue. Numerous factors, including inflammation, metabolism, senescence, hypoxia, and angiogenesis, contribute to drug resistance could be a viable strategy to combat this issue. Overexpression of STAT3 is commonly associated with drug-resistant cancer cells or stromal cells. Current research often generalizes the impact of stromal cells on resistance, lacking specificity and statistical robustness. Thus, future research should take notice of this issue and aim to provide high-quality evidence. Despite the existing limitations, targeting the TME to overcome therapy resistance hold promising and valuable potential.

5-Fluorouracil resistance-based immune-related gene signature for COAD prognosis

Background

Drug resistance is the primary obstacle to advanced tumor therapy and the key risk factor for tumor recurrence and death. 5-Fluorouracil (5-FU) chemotherapy is the most common chemotherapy for individuals with colorectal cancer, despite numerous options.

Methods

The Gene Expression Omnibus database was utilized to extract expression profile data of HCT-8 human colorectal cancer wild-type cells and their 5-FU-induced drug resistance cell line. These data were used to identify 5-FU resistance-related differentially expressed genes (5FRRDEGs), which intersected with the colorectal adenocarcinoma (COAD) transcriptome data provided by the Cancer Genome Atlas Program database. A prognostic signature containing five 5FRRDEGs (GOLGA8A, KLC3, TIGD1, NBPF1, and SERPINE1) was established after conducting a Cox regression analysis. We conducted nomogram development, drug sensitivity analysis, tumor immune microenvironment analysis, and mutation analysis to assess the therapeutic value of the prognostic qualities.

Results

We identified 166 5FRRDEGs in patients with COAD. Subsequently, we created a prognostic model consisting of five 5FRRDEGs using Cox regression analysis. The patients with COAD were divided into different risk groups by risk score; the high-risk group demonstrated a worse prognosis than the low-risk group.

Conclusion

In summary, the 5FRRDEG-based prognostic model is an effective tool for targeted therapy and chemotherapy in patients with COAD. It can accurately predict the survival prognosis of these patients as well as to provide the direction for exploring the resistance mechanism underlying COAD.

Immune Checkpoint Blockade Delays Cancer and Extends Survival in Murine DNA Polymerase Mutator Syndromes

Mutations in polymerases Pold1 and Pole exonuclease domains in humans are associated with increased cancer incidence, elevated tumor mutation burden (TMB) and response to immune checkpoint blockade (ICB). Although ICB is approved for treatment of several cancers, not all tumors with elevated TMB respond. Here we generated Pold1 and Pole proofreading mutator mice and show that ICB treatment of mice with high TMB tumors did not improve survival as only a subset of tumors responded. Similarly, introducing the mutator alleles into mice with Kras/p53 lung cancer did not improve survival, however, passaging mutator tumor cells in vitro without immune editing caused rejection in immune-competent hosts, demonstrating the efficiency by which cells with antigenic mutations are eliminated. Finally, ICB treatment of mutator mice earlier, before observable tumors delayed cancer onset, improved survival, and selected for tumors without aneuploidy, suggesting the use of ICB in individuals at high risk for cancer prevention.

Highlights

Germline somatic and conditional Pold1 and Pole exonuclease domain mutations in mice produce a mutator phenotype. Spontaneous cancers arise in mutator mice that have genomic features comparable to human tumors with these mutations.ICB treatment of mutator mice with tumors did not improve survival as only a subset of tumors respond. Introduction of the mutator alleles into an autochthonous mouse lung cancer model also did not produce immunogenic tumors, whereas passaging mutator tumor cells in vitro caused immune rejection indicating efficient selection against antigenic mutations in vivo . Prophylactic ICB treatment delayed cancer onset, improved survival, and selected for tumors with no aneuploidy.

FOXP3 (in)stability and cancer immunotherapy

Dysregulation of regulatory T cells (Tregs) is described in the context of inflammatory and autoimmune diseases, and cancer. Forkhead box P3 (FOXP3) is a transcription factor that its activity is an indicator of Treg identity. FOXP3 induces metabolic versatility in intra-tumoral Tregs, so that its deficiency mediates Treg instability or even gives rise to the acquisition of effector T cell phenotype. FOXP3 dysregulation and defectiveness occurs upon ubiquitination, methylation and presumably acetylation. Stimulators of PTEN, mammalian target of rapamycin complex 2 (mTORC2), and nucleus accumbens-associated protein-1 (NAC1), and inhibitors of B lymphocyte-induced maturation protein-1 (Blimp-1), Deltex1 (DTX1) and ubiquitin-specific peptidase 22 (USP22) are suggested to hamper FOXP3 stability, and to promote its downregulation and further Treg depletion. A point is that Treg subsets reveal different reliance on FOXP3, which indicates that not all Tregs are strictly dependent on FOXP3, and presumably Tregs with different origin rely on diverse regulators of FOXP3 stability. The focus of this review is over the current understanding toward FOXP3, its activity in Tregs and influence from different regulators within tumor microenvironment (TME). Implication of FOXP3 targeting in cancer immunotherapy is another focus of this paper.

Moving toward improved immune checkpoint immunotherapy for advanced prostate cancer

Human prostate cancer is a heterogenous malignancy that responds poorly to immunotherapy targeting immune checkpoints. The immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment that is typical of human prostate cancer has been the main obstacle to these treatments. The effectiveness of these therapies is also hindered by acquired resistance, leading to slow progress in prostate cancer immunotherapy. Results from the highly anticipated late-stage clinical trials of PD-1/PD-L1 immune checkpoint blockade in patients with advanced prostate cancer have highlighted some of the obstacles to immunotherapy. Despite the setbacks, there is much that has been learned about the mechanisms that drive resistance, and new strategies are being developed and tested. Here, we review the status of immune checkpoint blockade and the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment and discuss factors contributing to innate and adaptive resistance to immune checkpoint blockade within the context of prostate cancer. We then examine current strategies aiming to overcome these challenges as well as prospects.

Cancer biomarkers: Emerging trends and clinical implications for personalized treatment

The integration of cancer biomarkers into oncology has revolutionized cancer treatment, yielding remarkable advancements in cancer therapeutics and the prognosis of cancer patients. The development of personalized medicine represents a turning point and a new paradigm in cancer management, as biomarkers enable oncologists to tailor treatments based on the unique molecular profile of each patient's tumor. In this review, we discuss the scientific milestones of cancer biomarkers and explore future possibilities to improve the management of patients with solid tumors. This progress is primarily attributed to the biological characterization of cancers, advancements in testing methodologies, elucidation of the immune microenvironment, and the ability to profile circulating tumor fractions. Integrating these insights promises to continually advance the precision oncology field, fostering better patient outcomes.

RAB22A as a predictor of exosome secretion in the progression and relapse of multiple myeloma

BACKGROUND

Multiple myeloma (MM) is an incurable malignant plasma cell disease. We explored the role of RAB22A in exosome secretion, epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and immune regulation.

METHODS

We obtained MM samples from Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) data sets. We downloaded the "IOBR" package, and used the "PCA" and "ssGSEA" algorithms to calculate the EMT scores and exosome scores. The "CIBERSORT" package was used to analyze the infiltration of immune cells. We extracted the exosomes of mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) to verify the biological function of RAB22A.

RESULTS

The expression level of RAB22A in smoldering multiple myeloma (SMM) and MM patients was significantly higher than that in normal people and monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS) patients, and the expression level of RAB22A in relapse MM patients was significantly higher than that in newly diagnosed patients. The EMT scores and exosome scores of high RAB22A group were significantly higher than those of low RAB22A group, and the exosome scores of MSC in recurrent patients were significantly higher than those of newly diagnosed patients. In addition, the infiltration levels of monocyte, NK cells resting, eosinophils, T cells regulatory and T cells CD4 memory activated were positively correlated with RAB22A. After down-regulating the expression of RAB22A in MM-MSC, the secretion of exosomes decreased. Compared with the exosomes of MSC in si-RAB22A group, the exosomes in control group significantly promoted the proliferation of MM.

CONCLUSIONS

RAB22A is a potential therapeutic target to improve the prognosis of MM, which is closely related to exosome secretion, EMT and immune cell infiltration.

FSTL3 promotes tumor immune evasion and attenuates response to anti-PD1 therapy by stabilizing c-Myc in colorectal cancer

Programmed cell death 1 ligand 1 (PDL1)/programmed cell death 1 (PD1) blockade immunotherapy provides a prospective strategy for the treatment of colorectal cancer (CRC), but various constraints on the effectiveness of the treatment are still remaining. As reported in previous studies, follistatin-like 3 (FSTL3) could mediate inflammatory response in macrophages by induction lipid accumulation. Herein, we revealed that FSTL3 were overexpressed in malignant cells in the CRC microenvironment, notably, the expression level of FSTL3 was related to tumor immune evasion and the clinical efficacy of anti-PD1 therapy. Further studies determined that hypoxic tumor microenvironment induced the FSTL3 expression via HIF1α in CRC cells, FSTL3 could bind to the transcription factor c-Myc (354-406 amino acids) to suppress the latter's ubiquitination and increase its stability, thereby to up-regulated the expression of PDL1 and indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase 1 (IDO1). The results in the immunocompetent tumor models verified that FSLT3 knockout in tumor cells increased the proportion of CD8+ T cells in the tumor microenvironment, reduced the proportion of regulatory T cells (CD25+ Foxp3+) and exhausted T cells (PD1+ CD8+), and synergistically improved the anti-PD1 therapy efficacy. To sum up, FSTL3 enhanced c-Myc-mediated transcriptional regulation to promote immune evasion and attenuates response to anti-PD1 therapy in CRC, suggesting the potential of FSTL3 as a biomarker of immunotherapeutic efficacy as well as a novel immunotherapeutic target in CRC.

A novel NET-related gene signature for predicting DLBCL prognosis

BACKGROUND

Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) is an aggressive malignancy. Neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) are pathogen-trapping structures in the tumor microenvironment that affect DLBCL progression. However, the predictive function of NET-related genes (NRGs) in DLBCL has received little attention. This study aimed to investigate the interaction between NRGs and the prognosis of DLBCL as well as their possible association with the immunological microenvironment.

METHODS

The gene expression and clinical data of patients with DLBCL were downloaded from the Gene Expression Omnibus database. We identified 148 NRGs through the manual collection of literature. GSE10846 (n = 400, GPL570) was used as the training dataset and divided into training and testing sets in a 7:3 ratio. Univariate Cox regression analysis was used to identify overall survival (OS)-related NETs, and the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator was used to evaluate the predictive efficacy of the NRGs. Kaplan-Meier plots were used to visualize survival functions. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were used to assess the prognostic predictive ability of NRG-based features. A nomogram containing the clinical information and prognostic scores of the patients was constructed using multivariate logistic regression and Cox proportional risk regression models.

RESULTS

We identified 36 NRGs that significantly affected patient overall survival (OS). Eight NRGs (PARVB, LYZ, PPARGC1A, HIF1A, SPP1, CDH1, S100A9, and CXCL2) were found to have excellent predictive potential for patient survival. For the 1-, 3-, and 5-year survival rates, the obtained areas under the receiver operating characteristic curve values were 0.8, 0.82, and 0.79, respectively. In the training set, patients in the high NRG risk group presented a poorer prognosis (p < 0.0001), which was validated using two external datasets (GSE11318 and GSE34171). The calibration curves of the nomogram showed that it had excellent predictive ability. Moreover, in vitro quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) results showed that the mRNA expression levels of CXCL2, LYZ, and PARVB were significantly higher in the DLBCL group.

CONCLUSIONS

We developed a genetic risk model based on NRGs to predict the prognosis of patients with DLBCL, which may assist in the selection of treatment drugs for these patients.