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Geukens T, Maetens M, Hooper JE, Oesterreich S, Lee AV, Miller L, Atkinson JM, Rosenzweig M, Puhalla S, Thorne H, Devereux L, Bowtell D, Loi S, Bacon ER, Ihle K, Song M, Rodriguez-Rodriguez L, Welm AL, Gauchay L, Murali R, Chanda P, Karacay A, Naceur-Lombardelli C, Bridger H, Swanton C, Jamal-Hanjani M, Kollath L, True L, Morrissey C, Chambers M, Chinnaiyan AM, Wilson A, Mehra R, Reichert Z, Carey LA, Perou CM, Kelly E, Maeda D, Goto A, Kulka J, Székely B, Szasz AM, Tőkés AM, Van Den Bogaert W, Floris G, Desmedt C. Research autopsy programmes in oncology: shared experience from 14 centres across the world. J Pathol 2024; 263:150-165. [PMID: 38551513 DOI: 10.1002/path.6271] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2023] [Revised: 12/22/2023] [Accepted: 02/09/2024] [Indexed: 05/12/2024]
Abstract
While there is a great clinical need to understand the biology of metastatic cancer in order to treat it more effectively, research is hampered by limited sample availability. Research autopsy programmes can crucially advance the field through synchronous, extensive, and high-volume sample collection. However, it remains an underused strategy in translational research. Via an extensive questionnaire, we collected information on the study design, enrolment strategy, study conduct, sample and data management, and challenges and opportunities of research autopsy programmes in oncology worldwide. Fourteen programmes participated in this study. Eight programmes operated 24 h/7 days, resulting in a lower median postmortem interval (time between death and start of the autopsy, 4 h) compared with those operating during working hours (9 h). Most programmes (n = 10) succeeded in collecting all samples within a median of 12 h after death. A large number of tumour sites were sampled during each autopsy (median 15.5 per patient). The median number of samples collected per patient was 58, including different processing methods for tumour samples but also non-tumour tissues and liquid biopsies. Unique biological insights derived from these samples included metastatic progression, treatment resistance, disease heterogeneity, tumour dormancy, interactions with the tumour micro-environment, and tumour representation in liquid biopsies. Tumour patient-derived xenograft (PDX) or organoid (PDO) models were additionally established, allowing for drug discovery and treatment sensitivity assays. Apart from the opportunities and achievements, we also present the challenges related with postmortem sample collections and strategies to overcome them, based on the shared experience of these 14 programmes. Through this work, we hope to increase the transparency of postmortem tissue donation, to encourage and aid the creation of new programmes, and to foster collaborations on these unique sample collections. © 2024 The Authors. The Journal of Pathology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of The Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tatjana Geukens
- Laboratory for Translational Breast Cancer Research, Department of Oncology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Marion Maetens
- Laboratory for Translational Breast Cancer Research, Department of Oncology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Jody E Hooper
- Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, CA, USA
| | - Steffi Oesterreich
- University of Pittsburgh UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, and Magee Womens Research Institute, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Adrian V Lee
- University of Pittsburgh UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, and Magee Womens Research Institute, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Lori Miller
- University of Pittsburgh UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, and Magee Womens Research Institute, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Jenny M Atkinson
- University of Pittsburgh UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, and Magee Womens Research Institute, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Margaret Rosenzweig
- University of Pittsburgh UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, and Magee Womens Research Institute, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Shannon Puhalla
- University of Pittsburgh UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, and Magee Womens Research Institute, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Heather Thorne
- Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, Australia
- Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia
| | - Lisa Devereux
- Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, Australia
- Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia
| | | | - Sherene Loi
- Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, Australia
- Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia
| | - Eliza R Bacon
- Center for Precision Medicine, City of Hope National Medical Center, Duarte, CA, USA
| | - Kena Ihle
- Center for Precision Medicine, City of Hope National Medical Center, Duarte, CA, USA
| | - Mihae Song
- Center for Precision Medicine, City of Hope National Medical Center, Duarte, CA, USA
| | | | - Alana L Welm
- University of Utah Huntsman Cancer Institute, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
| | - Lisa Gauchay
- University of Utah Huntsman Cancer Institute, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
| | | | - Pharto Chanda
- Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Ali Karacay
- Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | | | - Hayley Bridger
- Cancer Research UK, and UCL Cancer Trials Centre, University College London, London, UK
| | - Charles Swanton
- Cancer Evolution and Genome Instability Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London, UK
- Cancer Research UK Lung Cancer Centre of Excellence, UCL Cancer Institute, London, UK
- Department of Medical Oncology, University College London Hospitals, London, UK
| | - Mariam Jamal-Hanjani
- Cancer Research UK Lung Cancer Centre of Excellence, UCL Cancer Institute, London, UK
- Department of Medical Oncology, University College London Hospitals, London, UK
- Cancer Metastasis Laboratory, University College London Cancer Institute, London, UK
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Lisa A Carey
- University of North Carolina, Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Charles M Perou
- University of North Carolina, Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Erin Kelly
- University of North Carolina, Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Daichi Maeda
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Pathology, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa, Japan
| | - Akiteru Goto
- Department of Cellular and Organ Pathology, Graduate School of Medicine, Akita University, Akita, Japan
| | - Janina Kulka
- Department of Pathology, Forensic and Insurance Medicine, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Borbála Székely
- Department of Pathology, Forensic and Insurance Medicine, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
- National Institute of Oncology, Budapest, Hungary
| | - A Marcell Szasz
- Division of Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine and Oncology, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Anna-Mária Tőkés
- Department of Pathology, Forensic and Insurance Medicine, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
| | | | - Giuseppe Floris
- Department of Pathology, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Christine Desmedt
- Laboratory for Translational Breast Cancer Research, Department of Oncology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
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D'Aguanno S, Brignone M, Scalera S, Chiacchiarini M, Di Martile M, Valentini E, De Nicola F, Ricci A, Pelle F, Botti C, Maugeri-Saccà M, Del Bufalo D. Bcl-2 dependent modulation of Hippo pathway in cancer cells. Cell Commun Signal 2024; 22:277. [PMID: 38755629 PMCID: PMC11097437 DOI: 10.1186/s12964-024-01647-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2024] [Accepted: 05/03/2024] [Indexed: 05/18/2024] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Bcl-2 and Bcl-xL are the most studied anti-apoptotic members of Bcl-2 family proteins. We previously characterized both of them, not only for their role in regulating apoptosis and resistance to therapy in cancer cells, but also for their non-canonical functions, mainly including promotion of cancer progression, metastatization, angiogenesis, and involvement in the crosstalk among cancer cells and components of the tumor microenvironment. Our goal was to identify transcriptional signature and novel cellular pathways specifically modulated by Bcl-2. METHODS We performed RNAseq analysis of siRNA-mediated transient knockdown of Bcl-2 or Bcl-xL in human melanoma cells and gene ontology analysis to identify a specific Bcl-2 transcriptional signature. Expression of genes modulated by Bcl-2 and associated to Hippo pathway were validated in human melanoma, breast adenocarcinoma and non-small cell lung cancer cell lines by qRT-PCR. Western blotting analysis were performed to analyse protein expression of upstream regulators of YAP and in relation to different level of Bcl-2 protein. The effects of YAP silencing in Bcl-2 overexpressing cancer cells were evaluated in migration and cell viability assays in relation to different stiffness conditions. In vitro wound healing assays and co-cultures were used to evaluate cancer-specific Bcl-2 ability to activate fibroblasts. RESULTS We demonstrated the Bcl-2-dependent modulation of Hippo Pathway in cancer cell lines from different tumor types by acting on upstream YAP regulators. YAP inhibition abolished the ability of Bcl-2 to increase tumor cell migration and proliferation on high stiffness condition of culture, to stimulate in vitro fibroblasts migration and to induce fibroblasts activation. CONCLUSIONS We discovered that Bcl-2 regulates the Hippo pathway in different tumor types, promoting cell migration, adaptation to higher stiffness culture condition and fibroblast activation. Our data indicate that Bcl-2 inhibitors should be further investigated to counteract cancer-promoting mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simona D'Aguanno
- Preclinical Models and New Therapeutic Agents Unit, IRCCS Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, 00144, Italy.
| | - Matteo Brignone
- Preclinical Models and New Therapeutic Agents Unit, IRCCS Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, 00144, Italy
| | - Stefano Scalera
- Clinical Trial Center, Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, IRCCS Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, 00144, Italy
| | - Martina Chiacchiarini
- Preclinical Models and New Therapeutic Agents Unit, IRCCS Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, 00144, Italy
| | - Marta Di Martile
- Preclinical Models and New Therapeutic Agents Unit, IRCCS Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, 00144, Italy
| | - Elisabetta Valentini
- Preclinical Models and New Therapeutic Agents Unit, IRCCS Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, 00144, Italy
| | | | - Alessia Ricci
- Department of Pharmacy, University "G. d'Annunzio" of Chieti-Pescara, Chieti, 66100, Italy
| | - Fabio Pelle
- Department of Surgery, Division of Breast Surgery, IRCCS Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, 00144, Italy
| | - Claudio Botti
- Department of Surgery, Division of Breast Surgery, IRCCS Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, 00144, Italy
| | - Marcello Maugeri-Saccà
- Clinical Trial Center, Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, IRCCS Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, 00144, Italy
| | - Donatella Del Bufalo
- Preclinical Models and New Therapeutic Agents Unit, IRCCS Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, 00144, Italy
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Diazzi S, Ablain J. Nonepithelial cancer dissemination: specificities and challenges. Trends Cancer 2024; 10:356-368. [PMID: 38135572 DOI: 10.1016/j.trecan.2023.11.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2023] [Revised: 11/27/2023] [Accepted: 11/28/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023]
Abstract
Epithelial cancers have served as a paradigm to study tumor dissemination but recent data have highlighted significant differences with nonepithelial cancers. Here, we review the current knowledge on nonepithelial tumor dissemination, drawing examples from the latest developments in melanoma, glioma, and sarcoma research. We underscore the importance of the reactivation of developmental processes during cancer progression and describe the nongenetic mechanisms driving nonepithelial tumor spread. We also outline therapeutic opportunities and ongoing clinical approaches to fight disseminating cancers. Finally, we discuss remaining challenges and emerging questions in the field. Defining the core principles underlying nonepithelial cancer dissemination may uncover actionable vulnerabilities of metastatic tumors and help improve the prognosis of patients with cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Serena Diazzi
- Centre de Recherche en Cancérologie de Lyon, Centre Léon Bérard, INSERM U1052, CNRS UMR5286, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, Lyon, France
| | - Julien Ablain
- Centre de Recherche en Cancérologie de Lyon, Centre Léon Bérard, INSERM U1052, CNRS UMR5286, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, Lyon, France.
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Sun W, Zhu Y, Zou Z, Wang L, Zhong J, Shen K, Lin X, Gao Z, Liu W, Li Y, Xu Y, Ren M, Hu T, Wei C, Gu J, Chen Y. An advanced comprehensive muti-cell-type-specific model for predicting anti-PD-1 therapeutic effect in melanoma. Theranostics 2024; 14:2127-2150. [PMID: 38505619 PMCID: PMC10945348 DOI: 10.7150/thno.91626] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2023] [Accepted: 02/26/2024] [Indexed: 03/21/2024] Open
Abstract
Rationale: Immune checkpoint inhibitors targeting the programmed cell death (PD)-1/PD-L1 pathway have promise in patients with advanced melanoma. However, drug resistance usually results in limited patient benefits. Recent single-cell RNA sequencing studies have elucidated that MM patients display distinctive transcriptional features of tumor cells, immune cells and interstitial cells, including loss of antigen presentation function of tumor cells, exhaustion of CD8+T and extracellular matrix secreted by fibroblasts to prevents immune infiltration, which leads to a poor response to immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs). However, cell subgroups beneficial to anti-tumor immunity and the model developed by them remain to be further identified. Methods: In this clinical study of neoadjuvant therapy with anti-PD-1 in advanced melanoma, tumor tissues were collected before and after treatment for single-nucleus sequencing, and the results were verified using multicolor immunofluorescence staining and public datasets. Results: This study describes four cell subgroups which are closely associated with the effectiveness of anti-PD-1 treatment. It also describes a cell-cell communication network, in which the interaction of the four cell subgroups contributes to anti-tumor immunity. Furthermore, we discuss a newly developed predictive model based on these four subgroups that holds significant potential for assessing the efficacy of anti-PD-1 treatment. Conclusions: These findings elucidate the primary mechanism of anti-PD-1 resistance and offer guidance for clinical drug administration for melanoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Sun
- Department of Musculoskeletal Oncology, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center; Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, P. R. China
| | - Yu Zhu
- Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University; Cancer center, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, P. R. China
| | - Zijian Zou
- Department of Musculoskeletal Oncology, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center; Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, P. R. China
| | - Lu Wang
- Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University; Cancer center, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, P. R. China
| | - Jingqin Zhong
- Department of Musculoskeletal Oncology, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center; Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, P. R. China
| | - Kangjie Shen
- Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University; Cancer center, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, P. R. China
| | - Xinyi Lin
- Department of Musculoskeletal Oncology, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center; Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, P. R. China
| | - Zixu Gao
- Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University; Cancer center, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, P. R. China
| | - Wanlin Liu
- Department of Musculoskeletal Oncology, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center; Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, P. R. China
| | - Yinlam Li
- Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University; Cancer center, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, P. R. China
| | - Yu Xu
- Department of Musculoskeletal Oncology, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center; Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, P. R. China
| | - Ming Ren
- Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University; Cancer center, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, P. R. China
| | - Tu Hu
- Department of Musculoskeletal Oncology, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center; Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, P. R. China
| | - Chuanyuan Wei
- Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University; Cancer center, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, P. R. China
| | - Jianying Gu
- Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University; Cancer center, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, P. R. China
| | - Yong Chen
- Department of Musculoskeletal Oncology, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center; Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, P. R. China
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5
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Vittoria MA, Quinton RJ, Ganem NJ. Whole-genome doubling in tissues and tumors. Trends Genet 2023; 39:954-967. [PMID: 37714734 PMCID: PMC10840902 DOI: 10.1016/j.tig.2023.08.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2023] [Revised: 08/19/2023] [Accepted: 08/21/2023] [Indexed: 09/17/2023]
Abstract
The overwhelming majority of proliferating somatic human cells are diploid, and this genomic state is typically maintained across successive cell divisions. However, failures in cell division can induce a whole-genome doubling (WGD) event, in which diploid cells transition to a tetraploid state. While some WGDs are developmentally programmed to produce nonproliferative tetraploid cells with specific cellular functions, unscheduled WGDs can be catastrophic: erroneously arising tetraploid cells are ill-equipped to cope with their doubled cellular and chromosomal content and quickly become genomically unstable and tumorigenic. Deciphering the genetics that underlie the genesis, physiology, and evolution of whole-genome doubled (WGD+) cells may therefore reveal therapeutic avenues to selectively eliminate pathological WGD+ cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marc A Vittoria
- Department of Internal Medicine, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06510, USA.
| | - Ryan J Quinton
- Department of Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Neil J Ganem
- Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology and Oncology, Boston University Chobanian and Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, MA 02118, USA; Department of Pharmacology, Physiology, and Biophysics, Boston University Chobanian and Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, MA 02118, USA.
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6
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Godoy PM, Oyedeji A, Mudd JL, Morikis VA, Zarov AP, Longmore GD, Fields RC, Kaufman CK. Functional analysis of recurrent CDC20 promoter variants in human melanoma. Commun Biol 2023; 6:1216. [PMID: 38030698 PMCID: PMC10686982 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-023-05526-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2023] [Accepted: 10/30/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Small nucleotide variants in non-coding regions of the genome can alter transcriptional regulation, leading to changes in gene expression which can activate oncogenic gene regulatory networks. Melanoma is heavily burdened by non-coding variants, representing over 99% of total genetic variation, including the well-characterized TERT promoter mutation. However, the compendium of regulatory non-coding variants is likely still functionally under-characterized. We developed a pipeline to identify hotspots, i.e. recurrently mutated regions, in melanoma containing putatively functional non-coding somatic variants that are located within predicted melanoma-specific regulatory regions. We identified hundreds of statistically significant hotspots, including the hotspot containing the TERT promoter variants, and focused on a hotspot in the promoter of CDC20. We found that variants in the promoter of CDC20, which putatively disrupt an ETS motif, lead to lower transcriptional activity in reporter assays. Using CRISPR/Cas9, we generated an indel in the CDC20 promoter in human A375 melanoma cell lines and observed decreased expression of CDC20, changes in migration capabilities, increased growth of xenografts, and an altered transcriptional state previously associated with a more proliferative and less migratory state. Overall, our analysis prioritized several recurrent functional non-coding variants that, through downregulation of CDC20, led to perturbation of key melanoma phenotypes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paula M Godoy
- Division of Medical Oncology, Department of Medicine and Department of Developmental Biology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Abimbola Oyedeji
- Department of Surgery, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
- Siteman Cancer Center, Washington University in Saint Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Jacqueline L Mudd
- Department of Surgery, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
- Siteman Cancer Center, Washington University in Saint Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Vasilios A Morikis
- Departments of Medicine (Oncology) and Cell Biology and Physiology and the ICCE Institute, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA
| | - Anna P Zarov
- Division of Medical Oncology, Department of Medicine and Department of Developmental Biology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Gregory D Longmore
- Siteman Cancer Center, Washington University in Saint Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA
- Departments of Medicine (Oncology) and Cell Biology and Physiology and the ICCE Institute, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA
| | - Ryan C Fields
- Department of Surgery, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
- Siteman Cancer Center, Washington University in Saint Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Charles K Kaufman
- Division of Medical Oncology, Department of Medicine and Department of Developmental Biology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA.
- Siteman Cancer Center, Washington University in Saint Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA.
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7
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Ghorani E, Swanton C, Quezada SA. Cancer cell-intrinsic mechanisms driving acquired immune tolerance. Immunity 2023; 56:2270-2295. [PMID: 37820584 DOI: 10.1016/j.immuni.2023.09.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2023] [Revised: 09/11/2023] [Accepted: 09/11/2023] [Indexed: 10/13/2023]
Abstract
Immune evasion is a hallmark of cancer, enabling tumors to survive contact with the host immune system and evade the cycle of immune recognition and destruction. Here, we review the current understanding of the cancer cell-intrinsic factors driving immune evasion. We focus on T cells as key effectors of anti-cancer immunity and argue that cancer cells evade immune destruction by gaining control over pathways that usually serve to maintain physiological tolerance to self. Using this framework, we place recent mechanistic advances in the understanding of cancer immune evasion into broad categories of control over T cell localization, antigen recognition, and acquisition of optimal effector function. We discuss the redundancy in the pathways involved and identify knowledge gaps that must be overcome to better target immune evasion, including the need for better, routinely available tools that incorporate the growing understanding of evasion mechanisms to stratify patients for therapy and trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ehsan Ghorani
- Cancer Immunology and Immunotherapy Unit, Department of Surgery and Cancer, Imperial College London, London, UK; Department of Medical Oncology, Imperial College London Hospitals, London, UK.
| | - Charles Swanton
- Cancer Research UK Lung Cancer Centre of Excellence, University College London Cancer Institute, London, UK; Cancer Evolution and Genome Instability Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London, UK; Department of Oncology, University College London Hospitals, London, UK
| | - Sergio A Quezada
- Cancer Research UK Lung Cancer Centre of Excellence, University College London Cancer Institute, London, UK; Cancer Immunology Unit, Research Department of Hematology, University College London Cancer Institute, London, UK.
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8
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Wilson HP, Aplin AE. Site matters in metastatic melanoma. Trends Cancer 2023; 9:603-605. [PMID: 37331825 PMCID: PMC10823917 DOI: 10.1016/j.trecan.2023.05.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2023] [Accepted: 05/24/2023] [Indexed: 06/20/2023]
Abstract
Metastasis and cross-therapy resistance to mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) inhibition and immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) are significant clinical issues in melanoma. A new study in NatureMedicine by Liu et al. utilizes metastatic melanoma (MM) tumors from a rapid autopsy cohort to dissect genomic and transcriptomic features of therapy resistance, organ-specific gene signatures, and crosstalk between MM and organ sites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haley P Wilson
- Department of Pharmacology, Physiology, and Cancer Biology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA
| | - Andrew E Aplin
- Department of Pharmacology, Physiology, and Cancer Biology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA; Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA.
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9
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Gambardella V, Gimeno-Valiente F, Roselló S, Cervantes A. In the literature: July 2023. ESMO Open 2023; 8:101612. [PMID: 37467659 PMCID: PMC10372553 DOI: 10.1016/j.esmoop.2023.101612] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2023] [Accepted: 06/26/2023] [Indexed: 07/21/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- V Gambardella
- Department of Medical Oncology, Biomedical Research Institute INCLIVA, University of Valencia, Valencia; CIBERONC, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - F Gimeno-Valiente
- Cancer Evolution and Genome Instability Laboratory, University College of London Cancer Institute, London, UK
| | - S Roselló
- Department of Medical Oncology, Biomedical Research Institute INCLIVA, University of Valencia, Valencia; CIBERONC, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - A Cervantes
- Department of Medical Oncology, Biomedical Research Institute INCLIVA, University of Valencia, Valencia; CIBERONC, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain.
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10
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Hessey S, Fessas P, Zaccaria S, Jamal-Hanjani M, Swanton C. Insights into the metastatic cascade through research autopsies. Trends Cancer 2023; 9:490-502. [PMID: 37059687 DOI: 10.1016/j.trecan.2023.03.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2023] [Revised: 03/05/2023] [Accepted: 03/07/2023] [Indexed: 04/16/2023]
Abstract
Metastasis is a complex process and the leading cause of cancer-related death globally. Recent studies have demonstrated that genomic sequencing data from paired primary and metastatic tumours can be used to trace the evolutionary origins of cells responsible for metastasis. This approach has yielded new insights into the genomic alterations that engender metastatic potential, and the mechanisms by which cancer spreads. Given that the reliability of these approaches is contingent upon how representative the samples are of primary and metastatic tumour heterogeneity, we review insights from studies that have reconstructed the evolution of metastasis within the context of their cohorts and designs. We discuss the role of research autopsies in achieving the comprehensive sampling necessary to advance the current understanding of metastasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sonya Hessey
- Cancer Research UK Lung Cancer Centre of Excellence, University College London Cancer Institute, London, UK; Cancer Metastasis Laboratory, University College London Cancer Institute, London, UK; Computational Cancer Genomics Research Group, University College London Cancer Institute, London, UK
| | - Petros Fessas
- Cancer Metastasis Laboratory, University College London Cancer Institute, London, UK
| | - Simone Zaccaria
- Cancer Research UK Lung Cancer Centre of Excellence, University College London Cancer Institute, London, UK; Computational Cancer Genomics Research Group, University College London Cancer Institute, London, UK
| | - Mariam Jamal-Hanjani
- Cancer Research UK Lung Cancer Centre of Excellence, University College London Cancer Institute, London, UK; Cancer Metastasis Laboratory, University College London Cancer Institute, London, UK; Department of Oncology, University College London Hospitals, London, UK.
| | - Charles Swanton
- Cancer Research UK Lung Cancer Centre of Excellence, University College London Cancer Institute, London, UK; Department of Oncology, University College London Hospitals, London, UK; Cancer Evolution and Genome Instability Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London, UK.
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Jiang R, Yang M, Zhang S, Huang M. Advances in sequencing-based studies of microDNA and ecDNA: Databases, identification methods, and integration with single-cell analysis. Comput Struct Biotechnol J 2023; 21:3073-3080. [PMID: 37273851 PMCID: PMC10238454 DOI: 10.1016/j.csbj.2023.05.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2022] [Revised: 05/17/2023] [Accepted: 05/17/2023] [Indexed: 06/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Extrachromosomal circular DNA (eccDNA) is a class of circular DNA molecules that originate from genomic DNA but are separate from chromosomes. They are common in various organisms, with sizes ranging from a few hundred to millions of base pairs. A special type of large extrachromosomal DNA (ecDNA) is prevalent in cancer cells. Research on ecDNA has significantly contributed to our comprehension of cancer development, progression, evolution, and drug resistance. The use of next-generation (NGS) and third-generation sequencing (TGS) techniques to identify eccDNAs throughout the genome has become a trend in current research. Here, we briefly review current advances in the biological mechanisms and applications of two distinct types of eccDNAs: microDNA and ecDNA. In addition to presenting available identification tools based on sequencing data, we summarize the most recent efforts to integrate ecDNA with single-cell analysis and put forth suggestions to promote the process.
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