Mini-Review: Can the Metastatic Cascade Be Inhibited by Targeting CD147/EMMPRIN to Prevent Tumor Recurrence?

Proteomic analysis of serum small extracellular vesicles identifies diagnostic biomarkers for neuroblastoma

Background

Neuroblastoma (NB) primarily arises in children who are <10 years of age, and originates from developing sympathetic nervous system, which results in tumors in adrenal glands and/or sympathetic ganglia. The diagnosis of NB involves a combination of laboratory and imaging tests, and biopsies. Small extracellular vesicles (sEVs) have gained attention as potential biomarkers for various types of tumors. Here, we performed proteomic analysis of serum sEVs and identified potential biomarkers for NB.

Methods

Label-free proteomics of serum sEVs were performed in the discovery phase. A bulk RNA-seq dataset of NB tissues was used to analyze the association between genes encoding sEVs proteins and prognosis. Potential biomarkers were validated via multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) or western blot analysis in the validation phase. A public single-cell RNA-seq (scRNA-seq) dataset was integrated to analyze the tissue origin of sEVs harboring biomarkers.

Results

A total of 104 differentially expressed proteins were identified in NB patients with label-free proteomics, and 26 potential biomarkers were validated with MRM analysis. Seven proteins BSG, HSP90AB1, SLC44A1, CHGA, ATP6V0A1, ITGAL and SELL showed the strong ability to distinguish NB patients from healthy controls and non-NB patients as well. Integrated analysis of scRNA-seq and sEVs proteomics revealed that these sEVs-derived biomarkers originated from different cell populations in tumor tissues.

Conclusion

sEVs-based biomarkers may aid the molecular diagnosis of NB, representing an innovative strategy to improve NB detection and management.

Engineered CD147-CAR macrophages for enhanced phagocytosis of cancers

Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell therapy has shown promising results in hematologic malignancies, but its effectiveness in solid cancers remains challenging. Macrophages are immune cells residing within the tumor microenvironment. They can phagocytose tumor cells. Recently, CAR macrophages (CAR-M) have been a promising candidate for treating solid cancers. One of the common cancer antigens overexpressed in various types of cancer is CD147. CAR-T and NK cells targeting CD147 antigen have shown significant efficacy against hepatocellular carcinoma. Nevertheless, CAR-M targeting the CD147 molecule has not been investigated. In this study, we generated CAR targeting the CD147 molecule using the THP-1 monocytic cell line (CD147 CAR-M). The CD147 CAR-M exhibited typical macrophage characteristics, including phagocytosis of zymosan bioparticles and polarization ability toward M1 and M2 phenotypes. Furthermore, the CD147 CAR-M demonstrated enhanced anti-tumor activity against K562 and MDA-MB-231 cells without exhibiting off-target cytotoxicity against normal cells. Our research provides valuable insights into the potential of CD147 CAR-M as a promising platform for cancer immunotherapy, with applications in both hematologic malignancies and solid cancers.

Hypoxia-activated ADCC-enhanced humanized anti-CD147 antibody for liver cancer imaging and targeted therapy with improved selectivity

Therapeutic antibodies (Abs) improve the clinical outcome of cancer patients. However, on-target off-tumor toxicity limits Ab-based therapeutics. Cluster of differentiation 147 (CD147) is a tumor-associated membrane antigen overexpressed in cancer cells. Ab-based drugs targeting CD147 have achieved inadequate clinical benefits for liver cancer due to side effects. Here, by using glycoengineering and hypoxia-activation strategies, we developed a conditional Ab-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC)-enhanced humanized anti-CD147 Ab, HcHAb18-azo-PEG5000 (HAP18). Afucosylated ADCC-enhanced HcHAb18 Ab was produced by a fed-batch cell culture system. Azobenzene (Azo)-linked PEG5000 conjugation endowed HAP18 Ab with features of hypoxia-responsive delivery and selective targeting. HAP18 Ab potently inhibits the migration, invasion, and matrix metalloproteinase secretion, triggers the cytotoxicity and apoptosis of cancer cells, and induces ADCC, complement-dependent cytotoxicity, and Ab-dependent cellular phagocytosis under hypoxia. In xenograft mouse models, HAP18 Ab selectively targets hypoxic liver cancer tissues but not normal organs or tissues, and has potent tumor-inhibiting effects. HAP18 Ab caused negligible side effects and exhibited superior pharmacokinetics compared to those of parent HcHAb18 Ab. The hypoxia-activated ADCC-enhanced humanized HAP18 Ab safely confers therapeutic efficacy against liver cancer with improved selectivity. This study highlights that hypoxia activation is a promising strategy for improving the tumor targeting potential of anti-CD147 Ab drugs.

RNA-binding protein DHX9 promotes glioma growth and tumor-associated macrophages infiltration via TCF12

BACKGROUND

Glioma is the most common malignant tumor of the central nervous system, with high heterogeneity, strong invasiveness, high therapeutic resistance, and poor prognosis, comprehending a serious challenge in neuro-oncology. Until now, the mechanisms underlying glioma progression have not been fully elucidated.

METHODS

The expression of DExH-box helicase 9 (DHX9) in tissues and cells was detected by qRT-PCR and western blot. EdU and transwell assays were conducted to assess the effect of DHX9 on proliferation, migration and invasion of glioma cells. Cocultured model was used to evaluate the role of DHX9 on macrophages recruitment and polarization. Animal study was performed to explore the role of DHX9 on macrophages recruitment and polarization in vivo. Bioinformatics analysis, dual-luciferase reporter assay and chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP)-qPCR assay was used to explore the relation between DHX9 and TCF12/CSF1.

RESULTS

DHX9 was elevated in gliomas, especially in glioblastoma multiforme (GBM). Besides promoting the proliferation, migration, and invasion of glioma cells, DHX9 facilitated the infiltration of macrophages into glioma tissues and polarization to M2-like macrophages, known as tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs). DHX9 silencing decreased the expression of colony-stimulating factor 1 (CSF1), which partially restored the inhibitory effect on malignant progress of glioma and infiltration of TAMs caused by DHX9 knockdown by targeting the transcription factor 12 (TCF12). Moreover, TCF12 could directly bind to the promoter region of CSF1.

CONCLUSION

DHX9/TCF12/CSF1 axis regulated the increases in the infiltration of TAMs to promote glioma progression and might be a novel potential target for future immune therapies against gliomas.