Checkpoint CD47 Function On Tumor Metastasis And Immune Therapy

The immune-reinforcements of Lenvatinib plus anti-PD-1 and their rationale to unite with TACE for unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma treatment

BACKGROUND

Despite encouraging clinical benefits have gained by anti-PD-1 and Lenvatinib combination, in-depth characterizations about the mechanisms of action remain poorly characterized. Furthermore, although the combination of systemic anti-PD-1 or Lenvatinib treatment and locoregional transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) is widely carried out to treat unresectable HCC in clinical, the efficacies of different combination regimens are uncertain due to limited researches.

METHODS

We firstly generated murine HCC models to validate the enhanced anti-tumor effects of anti-PD-1 and Lenvatinib combination therapy. Then single cell mass cytometry (CyTOF) was employed to phenotypically reveal their mechanisms of action. After that, we further compared the effectiveness of TACE plus Lenvatinib (i.e., TACE-Len) dual therapy with TACE, Lenvatinib plus anti-PD-1 (i.e., TACE-Len-PD-1) triple therapy as conversion therapy for unresectable HCC.

RESULTS

Lenvatinib and anti-PD-1 combination could generate activated immune profiles not only by increasing systemic CD4+, CD8+T cells and B cells proportions, but also by weakening the immune-tolerance functions derived from both immunosuppressive cells (i.e., MDSCs) and co-inhibitory mediators (i.e., PD-L1 and LAG-3). Meanwhile, our study also suggested that TACE-Len-PD-1 triple therapy could achieve better clinical responses with powerful immune profiles for unresectable HCC compared to TACE-Len dual therapy.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study provided a delicate immune landscape of anti-PD-1and Lenvatinib combination, and we also offered scientific evidences that TACE-Len-PD-1 triple therapy could fulfill better clinical benefits than TACE-Len dual therapy, which is anticipated to provide objective and effective evidences for clinical use.

Synergistic Antitumor Immunotherapy via Mitochondria Regulation in Macrophages and Tumor Cells by an Iridium Photosensitizer

Mitochondrial targeting has emerged as an attractive method for antitumor treatment. However, most of the mitochondria targeted drugs focused on inhibiting tumor cells, while their potential for activation of immune responses in the tumor microenvironment has rarely been described. In this study, we report a photosensitive iridium complex MitoIrL2, which enabled the simultaneous mitochondrial modulation of macrophages and tumor cells to achieve synergistic antitumor immunity. The adjustment of the mitochondrial respiratory chain, HIF-1α, and the NF-κB pathway in macrophages drove the metabolic reprogramming from oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) to glycolysis, converting protumor M2 into the antitumor M1 phenotype. Downregulated expression of immunosuppressive checkpoint SIRPα has also been observed on macrophages. Meanwhile, the mitochondrial targeting MitoIrL2 enhanced the immunogenic cell death of tumor cells and reversed the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment, which activated the systemic immune response and established long-term immune memory in vivo. This work illustrates a promising strategy to simultaneously regulate macrophages toward the antitumor phenotype and enhance immunogenic cell death in tumor cells for synergistic antitumor immunotherapy.

A pH-responsive phase-transition bi-affinity nanopolymer-assisted exosome metabolomics for early screening of osteoarthritis

Exosomes, emerging as ideal non-invasive biomarkers for disease diagnosis and monitoring, have seldom been explored based on metabolite levels. In this study, we designed and synthesized a pH-responsive phase-transition bifunctional affinity nanopolymer (pH-BiAN) that could efficiently and homogeneously separate exosomes from urine. Specifically, poly-4-vinylpyridine (P4VP) was chosen as the pH-responsive polymer and simultaneously modified with two exosome-affinity components CD63 aptamer and distearoyl phosphoethanolamine (DSPE) through a one-step amide reaction at room temperature. By utilizing two distinct but synergistic affinity mechanisms-the immune affinity between CD63 aptamer and exosomal CD63 proteins, and hydrophobic interactions between the DSPE and the exosomal lipids-pH-BiAN can enable efficient and specific exosome separation. Moreover, during the urine exosome capture procedure, the pH-BiAN outperforms conventional solid exosome separation materials by remaining soluble in the urine sample, significantly enhancing mass transfer and contact efficiency. After exosome capture, pH-BiAN can quickly aggregate and convert to solid upon pH adjustment, allowing for easy centrifugation separation. Afterwards, multiple machine learning models were established by combining liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry/mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) untargeted metabolomics for isolated exosomes, and the clinical accuracy of the training and test sets was more than 0.919, which could well distinguish early osteoarthritis patients from healthy people.

Combining anti-checkpoint immunotherapies and cancer vaccines as a novel strategy in oncological therapy: A review

The field of cancer immunotherapy has experienced remarkable advancements in the treatment of human cancers over recent decades. Therapeutic cancer vaccines have been employed to elicit antitumor immune responses through the generation of specific reactions against tumor-associated antigens. Although preclinical studies have demonstrated hopeful results and at least one product is approved for clinical use, the overall efficacy of cancer vaccines remains restricted. The co-administration of anti-checkpoint antibodies alongside cancer vaccines is proposed as a potential strategy to enhance the clinical efficacy of immunotherapies. Among the various anti-checkpoint agents, monoclonal antibodies targeting CD127, OX40, and CD40 have been further investigated in combined administration with cancer vaccines, demonstrating a synergistic impact on disease outcomes in both animal models and human subjects. This combinational approach has been shown to suppress tumor regression, improve survival rates, and promote the efficacy of cancer vaccines via multiple mechanisms, including the augmentation of generation, activation, and expansion of CD8+ T cells, as well as the production of tumor-inhibitory cytokines. Importantly, the impact of the concurrent administration of anti-checkpoint agents and cancer vaccines surpass those observed with the sole vaccine, indicating that this strategy may offer significant advantages for clinical application in cancer patients. In this review, we aim to provide a comprehensive overview of the significance and therapeutic potential of the combined administration of checkpoint agonist/antagonist antibodies and cancer vaccines for human tumors.

Nanotherapeutics for Macrophage Network Modulation in Tumor Microenvironments: Targets and Tools

Macrophage is an important component in the tumor immune microenvironment, which exerts significant influence on tumor development and metastasis. Due to their dual nature of promoting and suppressing inflammation, macrophages can serve as both targets for tumor immunotherapy and tools for treating malignancies. However, the abundant infiltration of tumor-associated macrophages dominated by an immunosuppressive phenotype maintains a pro-tumor microenvironment, and engineering macrophages using nanotechnology to manipulate the tumor immune microenvironment represent a feasible approach for cancer immunotherapy. Additionally, considering the phagocytic and specifically tumor-targeting capabilities of M1 macrophages, macrophages manipulated through cellular engineering and nanotechnology, as well as macrophage-derived exosomes and macrophage membranes, can also become effective tools for cancer treatment. In conclusion, nanotherapeutics targeting macrophages remains immense potential for the development of macrophage-mediated tumor treatment methods and will further enhance our understanding, diagnosis, and treatment of various malignants.

Macrophage Checkpoint Nanoimmunotherapy Has the Potential to Reduce Malignant Progression in Bioengineered In Vitro Models of Ovarian Cancer

Most ovarian carcinoma (OvCa) patients present with advanced disease at the time of diagnosis. Malignant, metastatic OvCa is invasive and has poor prognosis, exposing the need for improved therapeutic targeting. High CD47 (OvCa) and SIRPα (macrophage) expression has been linked to decreased survival, making this interaction a significant target for therapeutic discovery. Even so, previous attempts have fallen short, limited by CD47 antibody specificity and efficacy. Macrophages are an important component of the OvCa tumor microenvironment and are manipulated to aid in cancer progression via CD47-SIRPα signaling. Thus, we have leveraged lipid-based nanoparticles (LNPs) to design a therapy uniquely situated to home to phagocytic macrophages expressing the SIRPα protein in metastatic OvCa. CD47-SIRPα presence was evaluated in patient histological sections using immunohistochemistry. 3D tumor spheroids generated on a hanging drop array with OVCAR3 high-grade serous OvCa and THP-1-derived macrophages created a representative model of cellular interactions involved in metastatic OvCa. Microfluidic techniques were employed to generate LNPs encapsulating SIRPα siRNA (siSIRPα) to affect the CD47-SIRPα signaling between the OvCa and macrophages. siSIRPα LNPs were characterized for optimal size, charge, and encapsulation efficiency. Uptake of the siSIRPα LNPs by macrophages was assessed by Incucyte. Following 48 h of 25 nM siSIRPα treatment, OvCa/macrophage heterospheroids were evaluated for SIRPα knockdown, platinum chemoresistance, and invasiveness. OvCa patient tumors and in vitro heterospheroids expressed CD47 and SIRPα. Macrophages in OvCa spheroids increased carboplatin resistance and invasion, indicating a more malignant phenotype. We observed successful LNP uptake by macrophages causing significant reduction in SIRPα gene and protein expressions and subsequent reversal of pro-tumoral alternative activation. Disrupting CD47-SIRPα interactions resulted in sensitizing OvCa/macrophage heterospheroids to platinum chemotherapy and reversal of cellular invasion outside of heterospheroids. Ultimately, our results strongly indicate the potential of using LNP-based nanoimmunotherapy to reduce malignant progression of ovarian cancer.

Circulating tumor cells in pancreatic cancer: more than liquid biopsy

Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) are tumor cells that slough off the primary lesions and extravasate into the bloodstream. By forming CTC clusters and interacting with other circulating cells (platelets, NK cells, macrophage, etc.), CTCs are able to survive in the circulatory system of tumor patients and colonize to metastatic organs. In recent years, the potential of CTCs in diagnosis, prognostic assessment, and individualized therapy of various types of tumors has been gradually explored, while advances in biotechnology have made it possible to extract CTCs from patient blood samples. These biological features of CTCs provide us with new insights into cancer vulnerabilities. With the advent of new immunotherapies and personalized medicines, disrupting the heterotypical interaction between CTCs and circulatory cells as well as direct CTCs targeting hold great promise. Pancreatic cancer (PC) is one of the most malignant cancers, in part because of early metastasis, difficult diagnosis, and limited treatment options. Although there is significant potential for CTCs as a biomarker to impact PC from diagnosis to therapy, there still remain a number of challenges to the routine implementation of CTCs in the clinical management of PC. In this review, we summed up the progress made in understanding biological characteristics and exceptional technological advances of CTCs and provided insight into exploiting these developments to design future clinical tools for improving the diagnosis and treatment of PC.

Biomaterial-Based In Situ Cancer Vaccines

Cancer immunotherapies have reshaped the paradigm for cancer treatment over the past decade. Among them, therapeutic cancer vaccines that aim to modulate antigen-presenting cells and subsequent T cell priming processes are among the first FDA-approved cancer immunotherapies. However, despite showing benign safety profiles and the capability to generate antigen-specific humoral and cellular responses, cancer vaccines have been limited by the modest therapeutic efficacy, especially for immunologically cold solid tumors. One key challenge lies in the identification of tumor-specific antigens, which involves a costly and lengthy process of tumor cell isolation, DNA/RNA extraction, sequencing, mutation analysis, epitope prediction, peptide synthesis, and antigen screening. To address these issues, in situ cancer vaccines have been actively pursued to generate endogenous antigens directly from tumors and utilize the generated tumor antigens to elicit potent cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) response. Biomaterials-based in situ cancer vaccines, in particular, have achieved significant progress by taking advantage of biomaterials that can synergize antigens and adjuvants, troubleshoot delivery issues, home, and manipulate immune cells in situ. This review will provide an overview of biomaterials-based in situ cancer vaccines, either living or artificial materials, under development or in the clinic, and discuss the design criteria for in situ cancer vaccines.

Circulating tumor cells: from new biological insights to clinical practice

The primary reason for high mortality rates among cancer patients is metastasis, where tumor cells migrate through the bloodstream from the original site to other parts of the body. Recent advancements in technology have significantly enhanced our comprehension of the mechanisms behind the bloodborne spread of circulating tumor cells (CTCs). One critical process, DNA methylation, regulates gene expression and chromosome stability, thus maintaining dynamic equilibrium in the body. Global hypomethylation and locus-specific hypermethylation are examples of changes in DNA methylation patterns that are pivotal to carcinogenesis. This comprehensive review first provides an overview of the various processes that contribute to the formation of CTCs, including epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), immune surveillance, and colonization. We then conduct an in-depth analysis of how modifications in DNA methylation within CTCs impact each of these critical stages during CTC dissemination. Furthermore, we explored potential clinical implications of changes in DNA methylation in CTCs for patients with cancer. By understanding these epigenetic modifications, we can gain insights into the metastatic process and identify new biomarkers for early detection, prognosis, and targeted therapies. This review aims to bridge the gap between basic research and clinical application, highlighting the significance of DNA methylation in the context of cancer metastasis and offering new avenues for improving patient outcomes.

Role of adhesion molecules in cancer and targeted therapy

Adhesion molecules mediate cell-to-cell and cell-to-extracellular matrix interactions and transmit mechanical and chemical signals among them. Various mechanisms deregulate adhesion molecules in cancer, enabling tumor cells to proliferate without restraint, invade through tissue boundaries, escape from immune surveillance, and survive in the tumor microenvironment. Recent studies have revealed that adhesion molecules also drive angiogenesis, reshape metabolism, and are involved in stem cell self-renewal. In this review, we summarize the functions and mechanisms of adhesion molecules in cancer and the tumor microenvironment, as well as the therapeutic strategies targeting adhesion molecules. These studies have implications for furthering our understanding of adhesion molecules in cancer and providing a paradigm for exploring novel therapeutic approaches.

Design single-stranded DNA aptamer of cluster of differentiation 47 protein by stochastic tunnelling-basin hopping-discrete molecular dynamics method

The formation of the Cluster of Differentiation 47 (CD47, PDB code: 2JJT)/signal regulatory protein α (SIRPα) complex is very important as it protects healthy cells from immune clearance while promoting macrophage phagocytosis for tumour elimination. Although several antibodies have been developed for cancer therapy, new function-blocking aptamers are still under development. This study aims to design the aptamer AptCD47, which can block the formation of the CD47/SIRPα complex. This study employs the MARTINI coarse-grained (CG) force field and the stochastic tunnelling-basin hopping-discrete molecular dynamics (STUN-BH-DMD) method to identify the most stable AptCD47/CD47 complexes. Coarse-grained molecular dynamics (CGMD) simulations were used to obtain root-mean-square deviation (RMSD) and root-mean-square fluctuation (RMSF) analyses. The results demonstrate that the formation of AptCD47/CD47 complexes renders the CD47 structure more stable than the single CD47 molecule in a water environment. The minimum energy pathway (MEP) obtained by the nudged elastic band (NEB) method indicates that the binding processes of 5'-ATTCAATTCC-3' and 5'-AGTGCAATCT-3' to CD47 are barrierless, which is much lower than the binding barrier of SIRPα to CD47 of about 14.23 kcal/mol. Therefore, these two AptCD47/CD47 complexes can create a high spatial binding barrier for SIRPα, preventing the formation of a stable CD47/SIRPα complex. The proposed numerical process with the MARTINI CG force field can be used to design CD47 aptamers that efficiently block SIRPα from binding to CD47.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.

Discovery and Preclinical Activity of BMS-986351, an Antibody to SIRPα That Enhances Macrophage-mediated Tumor Phagocytosis When Combined with Opsonizing Antibodies

In normal cells, binding of the transmembrane protein CD47 to signal regulatory protein-α (SIRPα) on macrophages induces an antiphagocytic signal. Tumor cells hijack this pathway and overexpress CD47 to evade immune destruction. Macrophage antitumor activity can be restored by simultaneously blocking the CD47-SIRPα signaling axis and inducing a prophagocytic signal via tumor-opsonizing antibodies. We identified a novel, fully human mAb (BMS-986351) that binds SIRPα with high affinity. BMS-986351 demonstrated broad binding coverage across SIRPα polymorphisms and potently blocked CD47-SIRPα binding at the CD47 binding site in a dose-dependent manner. In vitro, BMS-986351 increased phagocytic activity against cell lines from solid tumors and hematologic malignancies, and this effect was markedly enhanced when BMS-986351 was combined with the opsonizing antibodies cetuximab and rituximab. A phase I dose-escalation/-expansion study of BMS-986351 for the treatment of advanced solid and hematologic malignancies is underway (NCT03783403).

SIGNIFICANCE

Increasing the phagocytotic capabilities of tumor-associated macrophages by modulating macrophage-tumor cell surface signaling via the CD47-SIRPα axis is a novel strategy. Molecules targeting CD47 have potential but its ubiquitous expression necessitates higher therapeutic doses to overcome potential antigen sink effects. The restricted expression pattern of SIRPα may limit toxicities and lower doses of the SIRPα antibody BMS-986351 may overcome target mediated drug disposition while maintaining the desired pharmacology.

Extracellular Vesicles, Circulating Tumor Cells, and Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors: Hints and Promises

Immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) therapy has revolutionized the treatment of cancer, in particular lung cancer, while the introduction of predictive biomarkers from liquid biopsies has emerged as a promising tool to achieve an effective and personalized therapy response. Important progress has also been made in the molecular characterization of extracellular vesicles (EVs) and circulating tumor cells (CTCs), highlighting their tremendous potential in modulating the tumor microenvironment, acting on immunomodulatory pathways, and setting up the pre-metastatic niche. Surface antigens on EVs and CTCs have proved to be particularly useful in the case of the characterization of potential immune escape mechanisms through the expression of immunosuppressive ligands or the transport of cargos that may mitigate the antitumor immune function. On the other hand, novel approaches, to increase the expression of immunostimulatory molecules or cargo contents that can enhance the immune response, offer premium options in combinatorial clinical strategies for precision immunotherapy. In this review, we discuss recent advances in the identification of immune checkpoints using EVs and CTCs, their potential applications as predictive biomarkers for ICI therapy, and their prospective use as innovative clinical tools, considering that CTCs have already been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for clinical use, but providing good reasons to intensify the research on both.

Immune evasion in cell-based immunotherapy: unraveling challenges and novel strategies

Cell-based immunotherapies (CBIs), notably exemplified by chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-engineered T (CAR-T) cell therapy, have emerged as groundbreaking approaches for cancer therapy. Nevertheless, akin to various other therapeutic modalities, tumor cells employ counterstrategies to manifest immune evasion, thereby circumventing the impact of CBIs. This phenomenon is facilitated by an intricately immunosuppression entrenched within the tumor microenvironment (TME). Principal mechanisms underpinning tumor immune evasion from CBIs encompass loss of antigens, downregulation of antigen presentation, activation of immune checkpoint pathways, initiation of anti-apoptotic cascades, and induction of immune dysfunction and exhaustion. In this review, we delve into the intrinsic mechanisms underlying the capacity of tumor cells to resist CBIs and proffer prospective stratagems to navigate around these challenges.

CD133, CD47, and PD-L1 Expression in Ovarian High-grade Serous Carcinoma and Its Association with Metastatic Disease: A Cross-sectional Study

INTRODUCTION

Ovarian cancer is a primary cause of cancer-related death in women. At the time of diagnosis, the majority of ovarian malignancies had metastasized. It is believed that cancer stem cells (CSCs) and immune evasion play a crucial role in the metastatic process. The objective of this study was to describe the expression profiles of cluster of differentiation (CD)133, CD47, and programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1) in high-grade serous ovarian cancer (HGSC) as commonly utilized markers for CSCs and immune evasion.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Using an immunohistochemical procedure, 51 HGSC tissue samples were stained with anti-CD133, anti-CD47, and anti-PDL1 antibodies. The samples contained 31 HGSC with metastases and 20 HGSC absent metastases. The expression of CD133, CD47, and PD-L1 was compared between groups.

RESULTS

Strong expression of CD133 and CD47 was seen in 52% and 66% of tissue samples, respectively. Twenty of the thirty-one patients with metastases had a significant level of CD133 expression, with a p-value of 0.039. CD47 expression was increased in 26 of 31 samples with metastatic disease. A 62.7 percent of samples were negative for PD-L1 expression, significantly inversely correlated with HGSC metastatic disease (p=0.023). Although there was no significant association between CD133, CD47, or PD-L1 expression and age, Tumor Infiltrating Lymphocytes demonstrated a significantly varied relationship.

CONCLUSION

Our findings suggested that expression of CD133, CD47, and PD-L1 may have dynamically increased as the primary lesion progressed to the metastatic lesion, implying that these proteins may be involved in the progression of high-grade serous ovarian cancer from the primary to the metastatic stage.

The role of hypoxia and radiation in developing a CTCs-like phenotype in murine osteosarcoma cells

Introduction: Cancer treatment has evolved significantly, yet concerns about tumor recurrence and metastasis persist. Within the dynamic tumor microenvironment, a subpopulation of mesenchymal tumor cells, known as Circulating Cancer Stem Cells (CCSCs), express markers like CD133, TrkB, and CD47, making them radioresistant and pivotal to metastasis. Hypoxia intensifies their stemness, complicating their identification in the bloodstream. This study investigates the interplay of acute and chronic hypoxia and radiation exposure in selecting and characterizing cells with a CCSC-like phenotype. Methods: LM8 murine osteosarcoma cells were cultured and subjected to normoxic (21% O2) and hypoxic (1% O2) conditions. We employed Sphere Formation and Migration Assays, Western Blot analysis, CD133 Cell Sorting, and CD133+ Fluorescent Activated Cell Sorting (FACS) analysis with a focus on TrkB antibody to assess the effects of acute and chronic hypoxia, along with radiation exposure. Results: Our findings demonstrate that the combination of radiation and acute hypoxia enhances stemness, while chronic hypoxia imparts a cancer stem-like phenotype in murine osteosarcoma cells, marked by increased migration and upregulation of CCSC markers, particularly TrkB and CD47. These insights offer a comprehensive understanding of the interactions between radiation, hypoxia, and cellular responses in the context of cancer treatment. Discussion: This study elucidates the complex interplay among radiation, hypoxia, and cellular responses, offering valuable insights into the intricacies and potential advancements in cancer treatment.

Tumor-derived systems as novel biomedical tools-turning the enemy into an ally

Cancer is a complex illness that presents significant challenges in its understanding and treatment. The classic definition, "a group of diseases characterized by the uncontrolled growth and spread of abnormal cells in the body," fails to convey the intricate interaction between the many entities involved in cancer. Recent advancements in the field of cancer research have shed light on the role played by individual cancer cells and the tumor microenvironment as a whole in tumor development and progression. This breakthrough enables the utilization of the tumor and its components as biological tools, opening new possibilities. This article delves deeply into the concept of "tumor-derived systems", an umbrella term for tools sourced from the tumor that aid in combatting it. It includes cancer cell membrane-coated nanoparticles (for tumor theranostics), extracellular vesicles (for tumor diagnosis/therapy), tumor cell lysates (for cancer vaccine development), and engineered cancer cells/organoids (for cancer research). This review seeks to offer a complete overview of the tumor-derived materials that are utilized in cancer research, as well as their current stages of development and implementation. It is aimed primarily at researchers working at the interface of cancer biology and biomedical engineering, and it provides vital insights into this fast-growing topic.

Anti-CD47 immunotherapy as a therapeutic strategy for the treatment of breast cancer brain metastasis

The presence of cell surface protein CD47 allows cancer cells to evade innate and adaptive immune surveillance resulting in metastatic spread. CD47 binds to and activates SIRPα on the surface of myeloid cells, inhibiting their phagocytic activity. On the other hand, CD47 binds the matricellular protein Thrombospondin-1, limiting T-cell activation. Thus, blocking CD47 is a potential therapeutic strategy for preventing brain metastasis. To test this hypothesis, breast cancer patient biopsies were stained with antibodies against CD47 to determine differences in protein expression. An anti-CD47 antibody was used in a syngeneic orthotopic triple-negative breast cancer model, and CD47 null mice were used in a breast cancer brain metastasis model by intracardiac injection of the E0771-Br-Luc cell line. Immunohistochemical staining of patient biopsies revealed an 89% increase in CD47 expression in metastatic brain tumors compared to normal adjacent tissue (p ≤ 0.05). Anti-CD47 treatment in mice bearing brain metastatic 4T1br3 orthotopic tumors reduced tumor volume and tumor weight by over 50% compared to control mice (p ≤ 0.05) and increased IBA1 macrophage/microglia marker 5-fold in tumors compared to control (p ≤ 0.05). Additionally, CD47 blockade increased the M1/M2 macrophage ratio in tumors 2.5-fold (p ≤ 0.05). CD47 null mice had an 89% decrease in metastatic brain burden (p ≤ 0.05) compared to control mice in a brain metastasis model. Additionally, RNA sequencing revealed several uniquely expressed genes and significantly enriched genes related to tissue development, cell death, and cell migration tumors treated with anti-CD47 antibodies. Thus, demonstrating that CD47 blockade affects cancer cell and tumor microenvironment signaling to limit metastatic spread and may be an effective therapeutic for triple-negative breast cancer brain metastasis.

New hope for tumor immunotherapy: the macrophage-related "do not eat me" signaling pathway

The "do not eat me" signaling pathway is extremely active in tumor cells, providing a means for these cells to elude macrophage phagocytosis and escape immune surveillance. Representative markers of this pathway, such as CD47 and CD24, are highly expressed in numerous tumors. The interaction of SIRPα with CD47 reduces the accumulation of non-myosin ⅡA on the cell membrane. The combination of CD24 and Siglec10 ultimately leads to the recruitment of SHP-1 or SHP-2 to reduce signal transduction. Both of them weaken the ability of macrophages to engulf tumor cells. Blocking the mutual recognition between CD47-SIRPα or CD24-Siglec10 using large molecular proteins or small molecular drugs represents a promising avenue for tumor immunotherapy. Doing so can inhibit signal transduction and enhance macrophage clearance rates of cancer cells. In this paper, we summarize the characteristics of the drugs that affect the "do not eat me" signaling pathway via classical large molecular proteins and small molecule drugs, which target the CD47-SIRPα and CD24-Siglec10 signaling pathways, which target the CD47-SIRPα and CD24-Siglec10 signaling pathways. We expect it will offer insight into the development of new drugs centered on blocking the "do not eat me" signaling pathway.

Clinical Significance of PD-L1 Status in Circulating Tumor Cells for Cancer Management during Immunotherapy

The approval of monoclonal antibodies against programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) and programmed cell death protein (PD1) has changed the landscape of cancer treatment. To date, many immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have been approved by the FDA for the treatment of metastatic cancer as well as locally recurrent advanced cancer. However, immune-related adverse events (irAEs) of ICIs highlight the need for biomarker analysis with strong predictive value. Liquid biopsy is an important tool for clinical oncologists to monitor cancer patients and administer or change appropriate therapy. CTCs frequently express PD-L1, and this constitutes a clinically useful and non-invasive method to assess PD-L1 status in real-time. This review summarizes all the latest findings about the clinical significance of CTC for the management of cancer patients during the administration of immunotherapy and mainly focuses on the assessment of PD-L1 expression in CTCs.

"Bioinspired" Membrane-Coated Nanosystems in Cancer Theranostics: A Comprehensive Review

Achieving precise cancer theranostics necessitates the rational design of smart nanosystems that ensure high biological safety and minimize non-specific interactions with normal tissues. In this regard, "bioinspired" membrane-coated nanosystems have emerged as a promising approach, providing a versatile platform for the development of next-generation smart nanosystems. This review article presents an in-depth investigation into the potential of these nanosystems for targeted cancer theranostics, encompassing key aspects such as cell membrane sources, isolation techniques, nanoparticle core selection, approaches for coating nanoparticle cores with the cell membrane, and characterization methods. Moreover, this review underscores strategies employed to enhance the multi-functionality of these nanosystems, including lipid insertion, membrane hybridization, metabolic engineering, and genetic modification. Additionally, the applications of these bioinspired nanosystems in cancer diagnosis and therapeutics are discussed, along with the recent advances in this field. Through a comprehensive exploration of membrane-coated nanosystems, this review provides valuable insights into their potential for precise cancer theranostics.

Nanotechnology-based photo-immunotherapy: a new hope for inhibition of melanoma growth and metastasis

Melanoma is the most aggressive form of skin cancer and there is a need for the development of effective anti-melanoma therapies as it shows high metastatic ability and low response rate. In addition, it has been identified that traditional phototherapy could trigger immunogenic cell death (ICD) to activate antitumor immune response, which could not only effectively arrest primary tumor growth, but also exhibit superior effects in terms of anti-metastasis, anti-recurrence for metastatic melanoma treatment However, the limited tumor accumulation of photosensitizers/photothermal agents and immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment severely weaken the immune effects. The application of nanotechnology facilitates a higher accumulation of photosensitizers/photothermal agents at the tumor site, which can thus improve the antitumor effects of photo-immunotherapy (PIT). In this review, we summarize the basic principles of nanotechnology-based PIT and highlight novel nanotechnologies that are expected to enhance the antitumor immune response for improved therapeutic efficacy.

Anti-Tumor Strategies by Harnessing the Phagocytosis of Macrophages

Macrophages are essential for the human body in both physiological and pathological conditions, engulfing undesirable substances and participating in several processes, such as organism growth, immune regulation, and maintenance of homeostasis. Macrophages play an important role in anti-bacterial and anti-tumoral responses. Aberrance in the phagocytosis of macrophages may lead to the development of several diseases, including tumors. Tumor cells can evade the phagocytosis of macrophages, and "educate" macrophages to become pro-tumoral, resulting in the reduced phagocytosis of macrophages. Hence, harnessing the phagocytosis of macrophages is an important approach to bolster the efficacy of anti-tumor treatment. In this review, we elucidated the underlying phagocytosis mechanisms, such as the equilibrium among phagocytic signals, receptors and their respective signaling pathways, macrophage activation, as well as mitochondrial fission. We also reviewed the recent progress in the area of application strategies on the basis of the phagocytosis mechanism, including strategies targeting the phagocytic signals, antibody-dependent cellular phagocytosis (ADCP), and macrophage activators. We also covered recent studies of Chimeric Antigen Receptor Macrophage (CAR-M)-based anti-tumor therapy. Furthermore, we summarized the shortcomings and future applications of each strategy and look into their prospects with the hope of providing future research directions for developing the application of macrophage phagocytosis-promoting therapy.

Immune Profile of Exosomes in African American Breast Cancer Patients Is Mediated by Kaiso/THBS1/CD47 Signaling

African American (AA) women with breast cancer are more likely to have higher inflammation and a stronger overall immune response, which correlate with poorer outcomes. In this report, we applied the nanostring immune panel to identify differences in inflammatory and immune gene expression by race. We observed a higher expression of multiple cytokines in AA patients compared to EA patients, with high expression of CD47, TGFB1, and NFKB1 associated with the transcriptional repressor Kaiso. To investigate the mechanism associated with this expression pattern, we observed that Kaiso depletion results in decreased expression of CD47, and its ligand SIRPA. Furthermore, Kaiso appears to directly bind to the methylated sequences of the THBS1 promotor and repress gene expression. Similarly, Kaiso depletion attenuated tumor formation in athymic nude mice, and these Kaiso-depleted xenograft tissues showed significantly higher phagocytosis and increased infiltration of M1 macrophages. In vitro validation using MCF7 and THP1 macrophages treated with Kaiso-depleted exosomes showed a reduced expression of immune-related markers (CD47 and SIRPA) and macrophage polarization towards the M1 phenotype compared to MCF7 cells treated with exosomes isolated from high-Kaiso cells. Lastly, analysis of TCGA breast cancer patient data demonstrates that this gene signature is most prominent in the basal-like subtype, which is more frequently observed in AA breast cancer patients.

Argon gas plasma-treated physiological solutions stimulate immunogenic cell death and eradicates immunosuppressive CD47 protein in lung carcinoma

Cold atmospheric plasma-treated liquids (PTLs) exhibit selective toxicity toward tumor cells and are provoked by a cocktail of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species in such liquids. Compared to the gaseous phase, these reactive species are more persistent in the aqueous phase. This indirect plasma treatment method has gradually gathered interest in the discipline of plasma medicine to treat cancer. PTL's motivated effect on immunosuppressive proteins and immunogenic cell death (ICD) in solid cancer cells is still not explored. In this study, we aimed to induce immunomodulation by plasma-treated Ringer's lactate (PT-RL) and phosphate-buffered saline (PT-PBS) solutions for cancer treatment. PTLs induced minimum cytotoxicity in normal lung cells and inhibited cancer cell growth. ICD is confirmed by the enhanced expression of damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs). We evidenced that PTLs induce intracellular nitrogen oxide species accumulation and elevate immunogenicity in cancer cells owing to the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines, DAMPs, and reduced immunosuppressive protein CD47 expression. In addition, PTLs influenced A549 cells to elevate the organelles (mitochondria and lysosomes) in macrophages. Taken together, we have developed a therapeutic approach to potentially facilitate the selection of a suitable candidate for direct clinical applications.

CD47 and CD68 expression in breast cancer is associated with tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes, blood vessel invasion, detection mode, and prognosis

CD47 expressed on tumor cells binds to signal regulatory protein alpha on macrophages, initiating inhibition of phagocytosis. We investigated the relationships between tumor expression of CD47 and CD68 macrophage content, subsets of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs), and vascular invasion in breast cancer. A population-based series of 282 cases (200 screen detected and 82 interval patients) from the Norwegian Breast Cancer Screening Program was examined. Immunohistochemical staining for CD47 and CD68 was evaluated on tissue microarray (TMA) slides. For CD47 evaluation, a staining index was used. CD68 tumor-associated macrophages were counted and dichotomized. TIL subsets (CD45, CD3, CD4, CD8, and FOXP3) were counted and dichotomized using immunohistochemistry on TMA slides. Vascular invasion (both lymphatic and blood vessel) was determined on whole tissue slides. High CD47 tumor cell expression or high counts of CD68 macrophages were significantly associated with elevated levels of all TIL subsets (p < 0.02), CD163 macrophages (p < 0.001), blood vessel invasion (CD31 positive) (p < 0.01), and high tumor cell Ki67 (p < 0.004). High CD47 expression was associated with ER negativity (p < 0.001), HER2 positive status (p = 0.03), and interval-detected tumors (p = 0.03). Combined high expression of CD47-CD68 was associated with a shorter recurrence-free survival (RFS) by multivariate analysis (hazard ratio [HR]: 2.37, p = 0.018), adjusting for tumor diameter, histologic grade, lymph node status, and molecular subtype. Patients with luminal A tumors showed a shorter RFS for CD47-CD68 high cases by multivariate assessment (HR: 5.73, p = 0.004). This study demonstrates an association of concurrent high CD47 tumor cell expression and high CD68 macrophage counts with various TIL subsets, blood vessel invasion (CD31 positive), other aggressive tumor features, and interval-presenting breast cancer. Our findings suggest a link between CD47, tumor immune response, and blood vessel invasion (CD31 positive). Combined high expression of CD47-CD68 was an independent prognostic factor associated with poor prognosis in all cases, as well as in the luminal A category.

Self-assembling peptides as immunomodulatory biomaterials

Self-assembling peptides are a type of biomaterial rapidly emerging in the fields of biomedicine and material sciences due to their promise in biocompatibility and effectiveness at controlled release. These self-assembling peptides can form diverse nanostructures in response to molecular interactions, making them versatile materials. Once assembled, the peptides can mimic biological functions and provide a combinatorial delivery of therapeutics such as cytokines and drugs. These self-assembling peptides are showing success in biomedical settings yet face unique challenges that must be addressed to be widely applied in the clinic. Herein, we describe self-assembling peptides' characteristics and current applications in immunomodulatory therapeutics.

The application of exosomes in the early diagnosis and treatment of osteoarthritis

With the increase in human lifespan and the aggravation of global aging, the incidence of osteoarthritis (OA) is increasing annually. To better manage and control the progression of OA, prompt diagnosis and treatment for early-stage OA are important. However, a sensitive diagnostic modality and therapy for early OA have not been well developed. The exosome is a class of extracellular vesicles containing bioactive substances, that can be delivered directly from original cells to neighboring cells to modulate cellular activities through intercellular communication. In recent years, exosomes have been considered important in the early diagnosis and treatment of OA. Synovial fluid exosome and its encapsulated substances, e.g., microRNA, lncRNA, and proteins, can not only distinguish OA stages but also prevent the progression of OA by directly targeting cartilage or indirectly modulating the immune microenvironment in the joints. In this mini-review, we include recent studies on the diagnostic and therapeutic modalities of exosomes and hope to provide a new direction for the early diagnosis and treatment of OA disease in the future.

Design principles of bioinspired interfaces for biomedical applications in therapeutics and imaging

In the past two decades, we have witnessed rapid developments in nanotechnology, especially in biomedical applications such as drug delivery, biosensing, and bioimaging. The most commonly used nanomaterials in biomedical applications are nanoparticles, which serve as carriers for various therapeutic and contrast reagents. Since nanomaterials are in direct contact with biological samples, biocompatibility is one of the most important issues for the fabrication and synthesis of nanomaterials for biomedical applications. To achieve specific recognition of biomolecules for targeted delivery and biomolecular sensing, it is common practice to engineer the surfaces of nanomaterials with recognition moieties. This mini-review summarizes different approaches for engineering the interfaces of nanomaterials to improve their biocompatibility and specific recognition properties. We also focus on design strategies that mimic biological systems such as cell membranes of red blood cells, leukocytes, platelets, cancer cells, and bacteria.

Fucoxanthin prevents breast cancer metastasis by interrupting circulating tumor cells adhesion and transendothelial migration

Metastasis is the leading cause of cancer-related death and a critical challenge in improving cancer treatment today. Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) adhesion to and across the vascular endothelium are critical steps in the establishment of micrometastatic foci away from the primary tumor. Therefore, we believe that interrupting CTCs adhesion to endothelium and transendothelial migration may efficiently prevent cancer metastasis. Fucoxanthin (Fx) is an algal carotenoid widely distributed in brown algae, macroalgae, and diatoms. Previous studies have found that Fx has various pharmacological activities, including antidiabetic, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-obesity, antimalarial, anticancer, and so on. However, it remains unclear whether Fx has a preventive effect on cancer metastasis. Here, we found that Fx interrupts breast cancer cells MCF-7 adhesion to endothelium and transendothelial migration, thus inhibiting CTCs-based pulmonary metastasis in vivo. The hetero-adhesion assay showed that Fx significantly inhibited the expression of inflammatory factor-induced cell adhesion molecules (CAMs) and the resulting adhesion between MCF-7 cells and endothelial cells. The wound-healing and transwell assays showed that Fx significantly inhibited the motility, invasion, and transendothelial migration abilities of MCF-7 cells. However, the same concentration of Fx did not significantly alter the cell viability, cell cycle, apoptosis, and ROS of breast cancer cells, thus excluding the possibility that Fx inhibits MCF-7 cell adhesion and transendothelial migration through cytotoxicity. Mechanistically, Fx inhibits the expression of CAMs on endothelial cells by inhibiting the NF-кB signaling pathway by down-regulating the phosphorylation level of IKK-α/β, IкB-α, and NF-кB p65. Fx inhibits transendothelial migration of MCF-7 cells by inhibiting Epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT), PI3K/AKT, and FAK/Paxillin signaling pathways. Moreover, we demonstrated that Fx significantly inhibits the formation of lung micrometastatic foci in immunocompetent syngeneic mouse breast cancer metastasis models. We also showed that Fx enhances antitumor immune responses by substantially increasing the subsets of cytotoxic T lymphocytes in the peripheral immune system. This new finding provides a basis for the application of Fx in cancer metastatic chemoprevention and suggests that interruption of the CTCs adhesion to endothelium and transendothelial migration may serve as a new avenue for cancer metastatic chemoprevention.

Exosomes reveal the dual nature of radiotherapy in tumor immunology

Radioresistance is the potential cause of cancer metastasis and recurrence. Radiation‐induced changes in exosomes can partially explain the undesirable prognosis of radiotherapy (RT). Exosomes, newly discovered ways of cell communication, carry the characteristics of their origin, resulting in their diversity. Various exosomes in the tumor microenvironment exert different function in immune response. In this review, the dual effect of RT on the immune system was described, and the effect of radiotherapy on tumors via exosomes was explored. The molecules in exosomes after RT were described to play immunosuppressive and immunocompetent roles: immune‐related receptors and cell signaling molecules involved in both adaptive and innate immune system were present. CD69, TIGIT, TIM‐3, LAG‐3 and the tumor necrosis factor (TNF) family that signal to T cells were shown to be regulated by exosomes after irradiation. The change in innate immunity‐derived like receptors, Leukocyte Immunoglobin‐Like Receptors (LILR) was described, as well as B7‐H3, V‐domain containing Ig suppressor of T cell activation (VISTA), and CD155 on tumor cells. These changed molecules inhibit and activate the immune system through different mechanisms. By analyzing the relationship between exosome‐derived molecules and immunity, this review shows that radiotherapy can induce immunosuppression and immune clearance through exosomes, thereby treating tumors and improving patient prognosis.

An Immunological Perspective of Circulating Tumor Cells as Diagnostic Biomarkers and Therapeutic Targets

Immune modulation is a hallmark of cancer. Cancer-immune interaction shapes the course of disease progression at every step of tumorigenesis, including metastasis, of which circulating tumor cells (CTCs) are regarded as an indicator. These CTCs are a heterogeneous population of tumor cells that have disseminated from the tumor into circulation. They have been increasingly studied in recent years due to their importance in diagnosis, prognosis, and monitoring of treatment response. Ample evidence demonstrates that CTCs interact with immune cells in circulation, where they must evade immune surveillance or modulate immune response. The interaction between CTCs and the immune system is emerging as a critical point by which CTCs facilitate metastatic progression. Understanding the complex crosstalk between the two may provide a basis for devising new diagnostic and treatment strategies. In this review, we will discuss the current understanding of CTCs and the complex immune-CTC interactions. We also present novel options in clinical interventions, targeting the immune-CTC interfaces, and provide some suggestions on future research directions.

Blocking CD47 with restructured peptide nanoparticles for motivating phagocytosis to inhibit tumor progression

Phagocytosis checkpoints, especially targeting CD47, have shown encouraging therapeutic effects. However, there are currently many shortcomings and challenges with immune checkpoint blockades (ICBs). Inspired by the phenomenon of molecular self-assembly,...

Platinum(IV) complexes as inhibitors of CD47-SIRPα axis for chemoimmunotherapy of cancer

Phagocytosis of cancer cells by antigen presenting cells (APCs) is critical to activate the host's immune responses. However, the targeting ability of APCs to cancer cells is limited by the upregulation of transmembrane protein CD47 on the cancer cell surface. Blocking CD47 can affect the macrophage-mediated phagocytosis. Two platinum-based immunomodulators MUP and DMUP were synthesized to enhance the phagocytic activity of macrophages by blocking the CD47-SIRPα axis. These Pt^IV complexes not only showed high antiproliferative activity against a panel of human cancer cell lines, but also cooperated with human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) to suppress cancer cells. They acted as immune checkpoint inhibitors to modulate the immune responses of both cancer and immune cells. In particular, DMUP decreased the expression of CD47 in tumor tissues and promoted the polarization of macrophages from M2 to M1 phenotype in a mouse model of non-small cell lung cancer, thereby enhancing the anticancer effect. By interfering with DNA synthesis and stimulating immune system, DMUP takes the advantage of chemotherapy and immunotherapy to inhibit cancer cells. The dual efficacy of DMUP makes it a potential chemoimmunotherapeutic agent in cancer therapy.

ROS/JNK/C-Jun Pathway is Involved in Chaetocin Induced Colorectal Cancer Cells Apoptosis and Macrophage Phagocytosis Enhancement

There is an urgent need for novel agents for colorectal cancer (CRC) due to the increasing number of cases and drug-resistance related to current treatments. In this study, we aim to uncover the potential of chaetocin, a natural product, as a chemotherapeutic for CRC treatment. We showed that, regardless of 5-FU-resistance, chaetocin induced proliferation inhibition by causing G2/M phase arrest and caspase-dependent apoptosis in CRC cells. Mechanically, our results indicated that chaetocin could induce reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation and activate c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK)/c-Jun pathway in CRC cells. This was confirmed by which the JNK inhibitor SP600125 partially rescued CRC cells from chaetocin induced apoptosis and the ROS scavenger N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC) reversed both the chaetocin induced apoptosis and the JNK/c-Jun pathway activation. Additionally, this study indicated that chaetocin could down-regulate the expression of CD47 at both mRNA and protein levels, and enhance macrophages phagocytosis of CRC cells. Chaetocin also inhibited tumor growth in CRC xenograft models. In all, our study reveals that chaetocin induces CRC cell apoptosis, irrelevant to 5-FU sensitivity, by causing ROS accumulation and activating JNK/c-Jun, and enhances macrophages phagocytosis, which suggests chaetocin as a candidate for CRC chemotherapy.

MATHEMATICAL MODELING OF PANCREATIC CANCER TREATMENT WITH CANCER STEM CELLS

Of all cancers, pancreatic cancer has a significantly low rate of survival, mostly due to lack of early screening. Thus, once detected, pancreatic cancer is usually in later stages, reducing the likelihood of full recovery. The most common treatment strategy is chemotherapy, although several immunotherapeutic drugs show promising results in extending the patient’s lifespan. In this paper, we provide a validated mathematical model for the pancreatic cancer after fitting the parameter values, such as tumor growth rate, inverse carrying capacity, activation and decay rate of pancreatic stellate cells, with the use of the experimental data presented by Cioffi et al. cioffi2015inhibition For treatments with the chemotherapeutic drugs, Abraxane and Gemcitabine, and the immunotherapeutic drug, Anti-CD47, we modified the model accurately and compared the simulation results with the experimental data not only to model pancreatic cancer treatment correctly but also to move forward with other drug trials. Then, we include the cancer stem cells, which are known to initiate tumors and cause a relapse post-chemotherapy, per cancer stem cell hypothesis so that cancer progression can be assessed based on this phenomenon. In addition, we investigate optimal drug protocols. We find out that the most effective treatment is dual therapy due to extending survival time when compared to other drugs. Moreover, this study reveals that drug dose is more effectual than frequency of drug injection on account of different treatment scheduling with the same dose over a week. The model could be a starting point to investigate pancreatic cancer progression based on cancer stem cell hypothesis and shed light on novel drug discoveries.

Comprehensive characterization genetic regulation and chromatin landscape of enhancer-associated long non-coding RNAs and their implication in human cancer

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) that emanate from enhancer regions (defined as enhancer-associated lncRNAs, or elncRNAs) are emerging as critical regulators in disease progression. However, their biological characteristics and clinical relevance have not been fully portrayed. Here, based on the traditional expression quantitative loci (eQTL) and our optimized residual eQTL method, we comprehensively described the genetic effect on elncRNA expression in more than 300 lymphoblastoid cell lines. Meanwhile, a chromatin atlas of elncRNAs relative to the genetic regulation state was depicted. By applying the maximum likelihood estimate method, we successfully identified causal elncRNAs for protein-coding gene expression reprogramming and showed their associated single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) favor binding of transcription factors. Further epigenome analysis revealed two immune-associated elncRNAs AL662844.4 and LINC01215 possess high levels of H3K27ac and H3K4me1 in human cancer. Besides, pan-cancer analysis of 3D genome, transcriptome, and regulatome data showed they potentially regulate tumor-immune cell interaction through affecting MHC class I genes and CD47, respectively. Moreover, our study showed there exist associations between elncRNA and patient survival. Finally, we made a user-friendly web interface available for exploring the regulatory relationship of SNP-elncRNA-protein-coding gene triplets (http://bio-bigdata.hrbmu.edu.cn/elncVarReg). Our study provides critical mechanistic insights for elncRNA function and illustrates their implications in human cancer.

Higher senescence associated secretory phenotype and lower defense mediator in urinary extracellular vesicles of elders with and without Parkinson disease

Youth fountain and aging culprits are usually sought and identified in blood but not urine. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) possess parental cell properties, circulate in blood, CSF and urine, and provide paracrine and remote cell–cell communication messengers. This study investigated whether senescence‐associated secretory phenotype (SASP) and immune defense factors in EVs of urine could serve as biomarkers in elderly individuals with and without a comorbidity. Urine samples from young adults and elderly individuals with and without Parkinson disease (PD) were collected and stored at − 80 °C until studies. Urine EVs were separated from a drop-through solution and confirmed by verifying CD9, CD63, CD81 and syntenin expression. The EVs and drop-through solution were subjected to measurement of SASP cytokines and defense factors by Milliplex array assays. Many SASP cytokines and defense factors could be detected in urinary EVs but not urinary solutions. Elderly individuals (age > 60) had significantly higher levels of the SASP-associated factors IL-8, IP-10, GRO, and MCP-1 in EVs (p < 0.05). In contrast, some defense factors, IL-4, MDC and IFNα2 in EVs had significantly lower levels in elderly adults than in young adults (age < 30). Patients with and without PD exhibited a similar SASP profile in EVs but significantly lower levels of IL-10 in the EVs from patients with PD. This study used a simple device to separate urinary EVs from solution for comparisons of SASP and defense mediators between young adults and elders with and without PD. Results from this study indicate that aging signature is present in EVs circulating to urine and the signatures include higher inflammatory mediators and lower defense factors in urinary EVs but not solutions, suggesting a simple method to separate urinary EVs from solutions for searching aging mechanistic biomarkers may make prediction of aging and monitoring of anti-senolytic interventions possible.

Clinical Research on the Mechanisms Underlying Immune Checkpoints and Tumor Metastasis

This study highlights aspects of the latest clinical research conducted on the relationship between immune checkpoints and tumor metastasis. The overview of each immune checkpoint is divided into the following three sections: 1) structure and expression; 2) immune mechanism related to tumor metastasis; and 3) clinical research related to tumor metastasis. This review expands on the immunological mechanisms of 17 immune checkpoints, including TIM-3, CD47, and OX-40L, that mediate tumor metastasis; evidence shows that most of these immune checkpoints are expressed on the surface of T cells, which mainly exert immunomodulatory effects. Additionally, we have summarized the roles of these immune checkpoints in the diagnosis and treatment of metastatic tumors, as these checkpoints are considered common predictors of metastasis in various cancers such as prostate cancer, non-Hodgkin lymphoma, and melanoma. Moreover, certain immune checkpoints can be used in synergy with PD-1 and CTLA-4, along with the implementation of combination therapies such as LIGHT-VTR and anti-PD-1 antibodies. Presently, most monoclonal antibodies generated against immune checkpoints are under investigation as part of ongoing preclinical or clinical trials conducted to evaluate their efficacy and safety to establish a better combination treatment strategy; however, no significant progress has been made regarding monoclonal antibody targeting of CD28, VISTA, or VTCN1. The application of immune checkpoint inhibitors in early stage tumors to prevent tumor metastasis warrants further evidence; the immune-related adverse events should be considered before combination therapy. This review aims to elucidate the mechanisms of immune checkpoint and the clinical progress on their use in metastatic tumors reported over the last 5 years, which may provide insights into the development of novel therapeutic strategies that will assist with the utilization of various immune checkpoint inhibitors.

Anti-CD47 antibody synergizes with cisplatin against laryngeal cancer by enhancing phagocytic ability of macrophages

Cisplatin is mainly used in late-stage or recurrent laryngeal cancer patients. However, the effect of the chemotherapy is limited due to cisplatin resistance. Therefore, we explored the synergized role of immunosuppressive mediator with cisplatin in laryngeal cancer. Cancer cells isolated from tissues of patients with laryngeal cancer were treated with cisplatin to screen the potential immunosuppressive mediator, whose synergized effects with cisplatin were explored both in vivo and in vitro. CD47 was selected for its high expression in cisplatin-treated laryngeal cancer cells. Blocking CD47 expression using its neutralizing antibody (aCD47) synergized with cisplatin to increase macrophage phagocytosis in a co-culture system of human epithelial type 2 (Hep-2) cancer cells with tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs). Moreover, aCD47 together with cisplatin prevented tumor growth by inhibiting proliferation of cancer cells and the secretion of proinflammatory cytokines, as well as by inducing the apoptosis of cancer cells and phagocytosis of TAMs in a Hep-2-implanted mouse tumor model. aCD47 synergized with cisplatin against laryngeal cancer by enhancing the phagocytic ability of TAMs, and the combined therapy of cisplatin and aCD47 might serve as a novel therapeutic strategy against laryngeal cancer.

3D Multicellular Stem-Like Human Breast Tumor Spheroids Enhance Tumorigenicity of Orthotopic Xenografts in Athymic Nude Rat Model

Simple Summary

Breast cancer presents a unique clinical problem because of the variety of cellular subtypes present, including cancer stem cells (CSCs). Breast CSCs can induce the formation of new blood vessels at the site of tumor growth and a develop metastatic phenotype by enhancing a stromal cell response, similar to that of the primary breast cancer. The aim of this study was to investigate breast cancer cells cultured in stromal stem cell factor-supplemented media to generate 3D spheroids that exhibit increased stem-like properties. These 3D stem-like spheroids reproducibly and efficiently established orthotopic breast cancer xenografts in the athymic nude rat. This approach enables a means to develop orthotopic tumors with a stem-like phenotype in a larger athymic rat rodent model of human breast cancer.

Abstract

Therapeutic targeting of stem cells needs to be strategically developed to control tumor growth and prevent metastatic burden successfully. Breast cancer presents a unique clinical problem because of the variety of cellular subtypes present, including cancer stem cells (CSCs). The development of 3D stem-like properties of human breast tumor spheroids in stem cell factor conditioned media was investigated in orthotopic xenografts for enhanced tumorgenicity in the athymic nude rat model. MCF-7, ZR-75-1, and MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cell lines were cultured in serum-free, stem cell factor-supplemented medium under non-adherent conditions and passaged to generate 3rd generation spheroids. The spheroids were co-cultured with fetal lung fibroblast (FLF) cells before orthotopic heterotransplantation into the mammary fat pads of athymic nude rats. Excised xenografts were assessed histologically by H&E staining and immunohistochemistry for breast cancer marker (ERB1), proliferation marker (Ki67), mitotic marker (pHH3), hypoxia marker (HIF-2α), CSC markers (CD47, CD44, CD24, and CD133), and vascularization markers (CD31, CD34). Breast cancer cells cultured in stem cell factor supplemented medium generated 3D spheroids exhibited increased stem-like characteristics. The 3D stem-like spheroids co-cultured with FLF as supporting stroma reproducibly and efficiently established orthotopic breast cancer xenografts in the athymic nude rat.

Exosome therapeutics for COVID-19 and respiratory viruses

Respiratory viral diseases are a leading cause of mortality in humans. They have proven to drive pandemic risk due to their complex transmission factors and viral evolution. However, the slow production of effective antiviral drugs and vaccines allows for outbreaks of these diseases, emphasizing a critical need for refined antiviral therapeutics. The delivery of exosomes, a naturally secreted extracellular vesicle, yields therapeutic effects for a variety of diseases, including viral infection. Exosomes and viruses utilize similar endosomal sorting pathways and mechanisms, providing exosomes with the potential to serve as a therapeutic that can target, bind, and suppress cellular uptake of various viruses including the novel severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2. Here, we review the relationship between exosomes and respiratory viruses, describe potential exosome therapeutics for viral infections, and summarize progress toward clinical translation for lung-derived exosome therapeutics.

Correlation of CD47 Expression with Adverse Clinicopathologic Features and an Unfavorable Prognosis in Colorectal Adenocarcinoma

CD47, a transmembrane protein, is widely overexpressed on the tumor cell surface. However, the prognostic significance of CD47 expression in colorectal adenocarcinoma (CRA) has not yet been clarified. Here, we investigated the clinicopathologic significance of CD47 expression in CRA. CD47 expression was evaluated via immunohistochemical analysis of microarray sections of 328 CRA tissues. CD47 expression was observed in 53 (16.2%) of the 328 CRA tissues, and positive expression was associated with lymphatic invasion (p = 0.018), perineural invasion (p = 0.024), tumor budding (p = 0.009), the pathologic N stage (p = 0.022), and the American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) stage (p = 0.027). In survival analyses of 329 patients, a positive CD47 expression was associated with a poor recurrence-free survival (RFS) (p = 0.032). In multivariate analysis, however, it was not an independent prognostic factor. In patients who underwent surgical resection without adjuvant treatment, a positive CD47 expression was associated with a shorter RFS (p = 0.001) but not with cancer-specific survival (CSS). In patients who received postoperative adjuvant treatment, no significant differences were found in both RFS and CSS. In conclusion, we investigated CD47 expression in 328 CRA tissues. A positive CD47 expression was observed in a minority (16.2%) of the tissues and was significantly associated with adverse clinicopathologic features and a poor patient outcome.

Potential of exosomes as diagnostic biomarkers and therapeutic carriers for doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity

Doxorubicin (DOX) is a kind of representative anthracyclines. It has greatly prolonged lifespan of cancer patients. However, a long course of DOX chemotherapy could induce various forms of deaths of cardiomyocytes, such as apoptosis, pyroptosis and ferroptosis, contributing to varieties of cardiac complications called cardiotoxicity. It has become a major concern considering the large number of cancer patients' worldwide and increased survival rates after chemotherapy. Exosomes, a subgroup of extracellular vesicles (EVs), are secreted by nearly all cells and consist of lipid bilayers, nucleic acids and proteins. They can serve as mediators between intercellular communication via the transfer of bioactive molecules from secretory to recipient cells, modulating multiple pathophysiological processes. It has been proven that exosomes in body fluids can serve as biomarkers for doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity (DIC). Moreover, exosomes have attracted considerable attention because of their capacity as carriers of certain proteins, genetic materials (miRNA and lncRNA), and chemotherapeutic drugs to decrease the dosage of DOX and alleviate cardiotoxicity. This review briefly describes the characteristics of exosomes and highlights their clinical application potential as diagnostic biomarkers and drug delivery vehicles for DIC, thus providing a strategy for addressing it based on exosomes.

CD47 expression and CD163+ macrophages correlated with prognosis of pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor

Background

Recent studies have suggested the important roles of CD47 and tumor-associated macrophages in the prognosis and immunotherapy of various human malignancies. However, the clinical significance of CD47 expression and CD163+ TAMs in pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor (PanNET) remains unclear.

Methods

In this study, 47 well-differentiated PanNET resection specimens were collected. CD47 expression and CD163+ macrophages were evaluated using immunohistochemistry and correlated with clinicopathologic properties.

Results

Positive CD47 staining was seen in all PanNETs as well as adjacent normal islets. Compared to normal islets, CD47 overexpressed in PanNETs (p = 0.0015). In the cohort, lymph node metastasis (LNM), lymphovascular invasion (LVI), and perineural invasion (PNI) were found in 36.2, 59.6, and 48.9% of the cases, respectively. Interestingly, PanNETs with LNM, LVI, or PNI had significantly lower H-score of CD47 than those without LNM (p = 0.035), LVI (p = 0.0005), or PNI (p = 0.0035). PanNETs in patients with disease progression (recurrence/death) also showed a significantly lower expression of CD47 than those without progression (p = 0.022). In contrast, CD163+ macrophage counts were significantly higher in cases with LNM, LVI, and PNI.

Conclusions

Our data suggest relative low CD47 expression and high CD163+ TAMs may act as indicators for poor prognosis of PanNETs.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12885-021-08045-7.

Exosomes and Their Role in Cancer Progression

Exosomes from extracellular vesicles can activate or inhibit various signaling pathways by transporting proteins, lipids, nucleic acids and other substances to recipient cells. In addition, exosomes are considered to be involved in the development and progression of tumors from different tissue sources in numerous ways, including remodeling of the tumor microenvironment, promoting angiogenesis, metastasis, and invasion, and regulating the immune escape of tumor cells. However, the precise molecular mechanisms by which exosomes participate in these different processes remains unclear. In this review, we describe the research progress of tumor cell-derived exosomes in cancer progression. We also discuss the prospects of the application of exosomes combined with nanoengineered chemotherapeutic drugs in the treatment of cancer.

Novel targeted therapies of T cell lymphomas

T cell lymphomas (TCL) comprise a heterogeneous group of non-Hodgkin lymphomas (NHL) that often present at an advanced stage at the time of diagnosis and that most commonly have an aggressive clinical course. Treatment in the front-line setting is most often cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone (CHOP) or CHOP-like regimens, which are effective in B cell lymphomas, but in TCL are associated with a high failure rate and frequent relapses. Furthermore, in contrast to B cell NHL, in which substantial clinical progress has been made with the introduction of monoclonal antibodies, no comparable advances have been seen in TCL. To change this situation and improve the prognosis in TCL, new gene-targeted therapies must be developed. This is now possible due to enormous progress that has been made in the last years in the understanding of the biology and molecular pathogenesis of TCL, which enables the implementation of the research findings in clinical practice. In this review, we present new therapies and current clinical and preclinical trials on targeted treatments for TCL using histone deacetylase inhibitors (HDACi), antibodies, chimeric antigen receptor T cells (CARTs), phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase inhibitors (PI3Ki), anaplastic lymphoma kinase inhibitors (ALKi), and antibiotics, used alone or in combinations. The recent clinical success of ALKi and conjugated anti-CD30 antibody (brentuximab-vedotin) suggests that novel therapies for TCL can significantly improve outcomes when properly targeted.