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Cheng J, Wang R, Chen Y. Neuroimmune Interactions in Pancreatic Cancer. Biomedicines 2025; 13:609. [PMID: 40149585 PMCID: PMC11939924 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines13030609] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2025] [Revised: 02/16/2025] [Accepted: 02/24/2025] [Indexed: 03/29/2025] Open
Abstract
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a highly aggressive primary malignancy, and recent technological advances in surgery have opened up more possibilities for surgical treatment. Emerging evidence highlights the critical roles of diverse immune and neural components in driving the aggressive behavior of PDAC. Recent studies have demonstrated that neural invasion, neural plasticity, and altered autonomic innervation contribute to pancreatic neuropathy in PDAC patients, while also elucidating the functional architecture of nerves innervating pancreatic draining lymph nodes. Research into the pathogenesis and therapeutic strategies for PDAC, particularly from the perspective of neuroimmune network interactions, represents a cutting-edge area of investigation. This review focuses on neuroimmune interactions, emphasizing the current understanding and future challenges in deciphering the reciprocal relationship between the nervous and immune systems in PDAC. Despite significant progress, key challenges remain, including the precise molecular mechanisms underlying neuroimmune crosstalk, the functional heterogeneity of neural and immune cell populations, and the development of targeted therapies that exploit these interactions. Understanding the molecular events governing pancreatic neuroimmune signaling axes will not only advance our knowledge of PDAC pathophysiology but also provide novel therapeutic targets. Translational efforts to bridge these findings into clinical applications, such as immunomodulatory therapies and neural-targeted interventions, hold promise for improving patient outcomes. This review underscores the need for further research to address unresolved questions and translate these insights into effective therapeutic strategies for PDAC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jun Cheng
- Operating Room, Department of Anesthesiology, West China Hospital/West China School of Nursing, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China;
| | - Rui Wang
- Division of Pancreatic Surgery, Department of General Surgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China;
| | - Yonghua Chen
- Division of Pancreatic Surgery, Department of General Surgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China;
- Department of General Surgery, West China Tianfu Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
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2
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David P, Kouhestani D, Hansen FJ, Paul S, Czubayko F, Karabiber A, Weisel N, Klösch B, Merkel S, Ole-Baur J, Gießl A, Van Deun J, Vera J, Mittelstädt A, Weber GF. Exosomal CD40, CD25, and Serum CA19-9 as Combinatory Novel Liquid Biopsy Biomarker for the Diagnosis and Prognosis of Patients with Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma. Int J Mol Sci 2025; 26:1500. [PMID: 40003965 PMCID: PMC11854914 DOI: 10.3390/ijms26041500] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2025] [Revised: 02/06/2025] [Accepted: 02/08/2025] [Indexed: 02/27/2025] Open
Abstract
The poor prognosis of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is largely due to several challenges, such as late diagnosis, early metastasis, limited response to chemotherapy, aggressive tumor biology, and high rates of tumor recurrence. Therefore, the development of a non-invasive and effective method for early detection of PDAC is crucial to improving patient outcomes. Continued research and exploration in this area are essential to enhance early detection methods and ultimately improve the prognosis for individuals with PDAC. In this study, we examined 37 exosomal surface proteins through a multiplex flow cytometry test on peripheral plasma samples from a group of 51 clinical control individuals (including healthy volunteers and non-cancer patients (Cholecystectomy, Hernia, healthy volunteers)), 21 pancreatitis, and 48 patients diagnosed with PDAC. Our research findings revealed that the level of exosomal CD40 expression is significantly lower in patients with PDAC and pancreatitis compared to non-cancer patients (p < 0.0001). Additionally, pancreatitis patients exhibited higher levels of exosomal CD25 expression than PDAC patients (p = 0.0104). PDAC patients with higher exo-CD40 had worse survival than patients with lower exo-CD40 (p = 0.0035). Similarly, PDAC patients with higher exo-CD25 showed worse survival in comparison to patients with lower exo-CD25 (p = 0.04). Statistical analysis revealed that exosomal CD40 achieved an AUC of 0.827 in distinguishing PDAC from clinical controls. Combining exo-CD40 along with exo-CD25 and CA19-9 discriminated PDAC patients from clinical controls with an AUC of 0.92. Exo-CD40 and exo-CD25 proteins found in exosomes isolated from plasma can serve as excellent non-invasive biomarkers for the early diagnosis of PDAC. Further larger scale studies are needed to validate combined exo-CD40 and exo-CD25 as a diagnostic tool for the identification of PDAC patients through non-invasive liquid biopsy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul David
- Department of Surgery, University Hospital Erlangen, 91054 Erlangen, Germany; (P.D.); (D.K.); (F.J.H.); (F.C.); (A.K.); (N.W.); (B.K.); (S.M.); (A.M.)
| | - Dina Kouhestani
- Department of Surgery, University Hospital Erlangen, 91054 Erlangen, Germany; (P.D.); (D.K.); (F.J.H.); (F.C.); (A.K.); (N.W.); (B.K.); (S.M.); (A.M.)
| | - Frederik J. Hansen
- Department of Surgery, University Hospital Erlangen, 91054 Erlangen, Germany; (P.D.); (D.K.); (F.J.H.); (F.C.); (A.K.); (N.W.); (B.K.); (S.M.); (A.M.)
| | - Sushmita Paul
- Department of Dermatology, University Hospital Erlangen, 91054 Erlangen, Germany; (S.P.); (J.O.-B.); (J.V.)
| | - Franziska Czubayko
- Department of Surgery, University Hospital Erlangen, 91054 Erlangen, Germany; (P.D.); (D.K.); (F.J.H.); (F.C.); (A.K.); (N.W.); (B.K.); (S.M.); (A.M.)
| | - Alara Karabiber
- Department of Surgery, University Hospital Erlangen, 91054 Erlangen, Germany; (P.D.); (D.K.); (F.J.H.); (F.C.); (A.K.); (N.W.); (B.K.); (S.M.); (A.M.)
| | - Nadine Weisel
- Department of Surgery, University Hospital Erlangen, 91054 Erlangen, Germany; (P.D.); (D.K.); (F.J.H.); (F.C.); (A.K.); (N.W.); (B.K.); (S.M.); (A.M.)
| | - Bettina Klösch
- Department of Surgery, University Hospital Erlangen, 91054 Erlangen, Germany; (P.D.); (D.K.); (F.J.H.); (F.C.); (A.K.); (N.W.); (B.K.); (S.M.); (A.M.)
| | - Susanne Merkel
- Department of Surgery, University Hospital Erlangen, 91054 Erlangen, Germany; (P.D.); (D.K.); (F.J.H.); (F.C.); (A.K.); (N.W.); (B.K.); (S.M.); (A.M.)
| | - Jan Ole-Baur
- Department of Dermatology, University Hospital Erlangen, 91054 Erlangen, Germany; (S.P.); (J.O.-B.); (J.V.)
- Medizinische Klinik IV (Hämatologie und Onkologie), Klinikum Bayreuth GmbH, 95445 Bayreuth, Germany
| | - Andreas Gießl
- Department of Ophthalmology, University Hospital Erlangen, 91054 Erlangen, Germany;
| | - Jan Van Deun
- Department of Dermatology, University Hospital Erlangen, 91054 Erlangen, Germany; (S.P.); (J.O.-B.); (J.V.)
| | - Julio Vera
- Department of Dermatology, University Hospital Erlangen, 91054 Erlangen, Germany; (S.P.); (J.O.-B.); (J.V.)
| | - Anke Mittelstädt
- Department of Surgery, University Hospital Erlangen, 91054 Erlangen, Germany; (P.D.); (D.K.); (F.J.H.); (F.C.); (A.K.); (N.W.); (B.K.); (S.M.); (A.M.)
| | - Georg F. Weber
- Department of Surgery, University Hospital Erlangen, 91054 Erlangen, Germany; (P.D.); (D.K.); (F.J.H.); (F.C.); (A.K.); (N.W.); (B.K.); (S.M.); (A.M.)
- Deutsches Zentrum für Immuntherapie, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg and Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, 91054 Erlangen, Germany
- Bavarian Cancer Research Center (BZKF), 91052 Erlangen, Germany
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3
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Sivakumar S, Jainarayanan A, Arbe-Barnes E, Sharma PK, Leathlobhair MN, Amin S, Reiss DJ, Heij L, Hegde S, Magen A, Tucci F, Sun B, Wu S, Anand NM, Slawinski H, Revale S, Nassiri I, Webber J, Hoeltzel GD, Frampton AE, Wiltberger G, Neumann U, Charlton P, Spiers L, Elliott T, Wang M, Couto S, Lila T, Sivakumar PV, Ratushny AV, Middleton MR, Peppa D, Fairfax B, Merad M, Dustin ML, Abu-Shah E, Bashford-Rogers R. Distinct immune cell infiltration patterns in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) exhibit divergent immune cell selection and immunosuppressive mechanisms. Nat Commun 2025; 16:1397. [PMID: 39915477 PMCID: PMC11802853 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-55424-2] [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: 09/28/2023] [Accepted: 12/11/2024] [Indexed: 02/09/2025] Open
Abstract
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma has a dismal prognosis. A comprehensive analysis of single-cell multi-omic data from matched tumour-infiltrated CD45+ cells and peripheral blood in 12 patients, and two published datasets, reveals a complex immune infiltrate. Patients have either a myeloid-enriched or adaptive-enriched tumour microenvironment. Adaptive immune cell-enriched is intrinsically linked with highly distinct B and T cell clonal selection, diversification, and differentiation. Using TCR data, we see the largest clonal expansions in CD8 effector memory, senescent cells, and highly activated regulatory T cells which are induced within the tumour from naïve cells. We identify pathways that potentially lead to a suppressive microenvironment, including investigational targets TIGIT/PVR and SIRPA/CD47. Analysis of patients from the APACT clinical trial shows that myeloid enrichment had a shorter overall survival compared to those with adaptive cell enrichment. Strategies for rationale therapeutic development in this disease include boosting of B cell responses, targeting immunosuppressive macrophages, and specific Treg cell depletion approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shivan Sivakumar
- Department of Oncology, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX3 7LF, UK.
- Kennedy Institute of Rheumatology, Nuffield Department of Orthopaedics, Rheumatology and Musculoskeletal Sciences, University of Oxford, Roosevelt Dr, Headington, Oxford, OX3 7FY, UK.
- Department of Immunology and Immunotherapy, School of Infection, Inflammation and Immunology, College of Medicine and Health, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, B15 2TT, UK.
| | - Ashwin Jainarayanan
- Kennedy Institute of Rheumatology, Nuffield Department of Orthopaedics, Rheumatology and Musculoskeletal Sciences, University of Oxford, Roosevelt Dr, Headington, Oxford, OX3 7FY, UK
- Institute of Developmental and Regenerative Medicine (IDRM), Old Road Campus, Old Rd, Roosevelt Dr, Headington, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX3 7TY, UK
| | - Edward Arbe-Barnes
- Oxford University Clinical Academic Graduate School, John Radcliffe Hospital, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX3 9DU, UK
- UCL Institute of Immunity & Transplantation, The Pears Building, Pond Street, London, NW3 2PP, UK
| | | | - Maire Ni Leathlobhair
- Department of Microbiology, Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland
- Oxford Big Data Institute, Old Road Campus, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX3 7LF, UK
| | - Sakina Amin
- Department of Biochemistry, South Parks Road, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX1 3QU, UK
| | | | - Lara Heij
- GROW School for Oncology and Developmental Biology, Department of Pathology, Maastricht University Medical Center, Maastricht, The Netherlands
- Department of Surgery and Transplantation, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, Aachen, Germany
| | - Samarth Hegde
- Precision Immunology Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, 1 Gustave L. Levy Pl, New York, NY, 10029, USA
| | - Assaf Magen
- Precision Immunology Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, 1 Gustave L. Levy Pl, New York, NY, 10029, USA
| | - Felicia Tucci
- Department of Biochemistry, South Parks Road, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX1 3QU, UK
- Oxford Cancer Centre, Oxford, UK
- Wellcome Centre for Human Genetics, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Bo Sun
- Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX3 7LD, UK
| | - Shihong Wu
- Department of Biochemistry, South Parks Road, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX1 3QU, UK
- Oxford Cancer Centre, Oxford, UK
| | | | - Hubert Slawinski
- Wellcome Centre for Human Genetics, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Santiago Revale
- Wellcome Centre for Human Genetics, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Isar Nassiri
- Wellcome Centre for Human Genetics, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Jonathon Webber
- Kennedy Institute of Rheumatology, Nuffield Department of Orthopaedics, Rheumatology and Musculoskeletal Sciences, University of Oxford, Roosevelt Dr, Headington, Oxford, OX3 7FY, UK
| | - Gerard D Hoeltzel
- Department of Biochemistry, South Parks Road, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX1 3QU, UK
| | - Adam E Frampton
- Minimal Access Therapy Training Unit (MATTU), Leggett Building, University of Surrey, Daphne Jackson Road, Guildford, GU2 7WG, UK
- Department of Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary (HPB) Surgery, Royal Surrey County Hospital, Egerton Road, Guildford, GU2 7XX, UK
- Targeted Cancer Therapy Unit, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Science, University of Surrey, Guildford, GU2 7WG, UK
- Division of Cancer, Department of Surgery and Cancer, Imperial College London, Hammersmith Hospital Campus, London, W12 0NN, UK
| | - Georg Wiltberger
- Department of General, Visceral, and Transplantation Surgery, University Hospital of RWTH Aachen, Aachen, Germany
| | - Ulf Neumann
- Department of General, Visceral, and Transplantation Surgery, University Hospital of RWTH Aachen, Aachen, Germany
- Department of Surgery Maastricht University Medical Center (MUMC), Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Philip Charlton
- Department of Oncology, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX3 7LF, UK
| | - Laura Spiers
- Department of Oncology, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX3 7LF, UK
| | - Tim Elliott
- Centre for Immuno-oncology, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Maria Wang
- Bristol-Myers Squibb, Seattle, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Suzana Couto
- Neomorph, Inc., 5590 Morehouse Dr, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Thomas Lila
- Bristol-Myers Squibb, Seattle, Seattle, WA, USA
| | | | | | - Mark R Middleton
- Department of Oncology, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX3 7LF, UK
| | - Dimitra Peppa
- UCL Institute of Immunity & Transplantation, The Pears Building, Pond Street, London, NW3 2PP, UK
- Nuffield Department of Medicine, Old Road Campus, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX3 7BN, UK
| | - Benjamin Fairfax
- Department of Oncology, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX3 7LF, UK
| | - Miriam Merad
- Precision Immunology Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, 1 Gustave L. Levy Pl, New York, NY, 10029, USA
| | - Michael L Dustin
- Kennedy Institute of Rheumatology, Nuffield Department of Orthopaedics, Rheumatology and Musculoskeletal Sciences, University of Oxford, Roosevelt Dr, Headington, Oxford, OX3 7FY, UK
- Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences Oxford Institute, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX3 7BN, UK
| | - Enas Abu-Shah
- Kennedy Institute of Rheumatology, Nuffield Department of Orthopaedics, Rheumatology and Musculoskeletal Sciences, University of Oxford, Roosevelt Dr, Headington, Oxford, OX3 7FY, UK.
- Sir William Dunn School of Pathology, South Parks Road, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX1 3RE, UK.
| | - Rachael Bashford-Rogers
- Department of Biochemistry, South Parks Road, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX1 3QU, UK.
- Oxford Cancer Centre, Oxford, UK.
- Wellcome Centre for Human Genetics, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.
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Dimopoulou K, Tiniakos D, Arkadopoulos N, Foukas PG. Landscape of B lymphocytes and plasma cells in digestive tract carcinomas. Ann Gastroenterol 2025; 38:1-11. [PMID: 39802286 PMCID: PMC11724378 DOI: 10.20524/aog.2024.0936] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2023] [Accepted: 04/05/2024] [Indexed: 01/16/2025] Open
Abstract
Digestive tract carcinomas are the most commonly occurring cancers worldwide, but their prognosis with traditional treatments remains poor. T lymphocytes are well-recognized as crucial components of effective anti-tumor immunity, and current immunotherapeutic strategies concentrate mainly on T-cell-mediated immunity reinforcement, whereas the role of B lymphocytes and plasma cells (PCs) has been neglected in the past, and it is only recently that these cells have been considered as key players in the tumor microenvironment (TME). In this review, we describe the complex dual role of B lymphocytes and PCs in promoting and inhibiting tumor progression in the TME of digestive tract carcinomas, and we demonstrate their prognostic value. Furthermore, we highlight their controversial function in cancer and nominate them as additional therapeutic targets for the development of new treatment interventions that might alter the dismal prognosis of digestive tract tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Konstantina Dimopoulou
- Department of Gastroenterology, “Hippokration” General Hospital of Athens, Greece (Konstantina Dimopoulou)
| | - Dina Tiniakos
- Department of Pathology, Aretaieion Hospital, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Greece (Dina Tiniakos)
- Translational and Clinical Research Institute, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle Upon Tyne, UK (Dina Tiniakos)
| | - Nikolaos Arkadopoulos
- 4 Department of Surgery, Attikon University Hospital, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Greece (Nikolaos Arkadopoulos)
| | - Periklis G. Foukas
- 2 Department of Pathology, Attikon University Hospital, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Greece (Periklis G. Foukas)
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van Eijck CWF, Ju J, van 't Land FR, Verheij M, Li Y, Stubbs A, Doukas M, Lila K, Heij LR, Wiltberger G, Alonso L, Malats N, Groot Koerkamp B, Vietsch EE, van Eijck CHJ. The tumor immune microenvironment in resected treatment-naive pancreatic cancer patients with long-term survival. Pancreatology 2024; 24:1057-1065. [PMID: 39218754 DOI: 10.1016/j.pan.2024.08.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2024] [Revised: 07/27/2024] [Accepted: 08/19/2024] [Indexed: 09/04/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is one of the most lethal cancers worldwide. Presently, only a fraction of patients undergo successful surgical resection, the most effective treatment. Enhancing treatment strategies necessitates a deep comprehension of the factors underlying extended survival after surgical resection in patients. METHODS This study aims to identify the important factors of PDAC patients' long-term survival with metatranscriptomics and multiplex immunofluorescence (IF) staining analyses. Specifically, differences in tumor immune microenvironment (TIME) were investigated between treatment-naïve PDAC short-term survivors (STS, overall survival <6 months) and long-term survivors (LTS, overall survival >5 years). RESULTS As a result, we detected 589 over-expressed genes, including HOXB9, CDA, and HOXB8, and 507 under-expressed genes, including AMY2B, SCARA5, and SLC2A2 in LTS. Most of the Reactome overbiological pathways enriched in our data were over-expressed in LTS, such as RHO GTPase Effectors and Cell Cycle Checkpoints. Eleven microbiomes significantly differed between LTS and STS, including Sphingopyxis and Capnocytophaga. Importantly, we demonstrate that the TIME profile with an increased abundance of memory B cells and the reduction of M0 and pro-tumoral M2 macrophages are associated with a good prognosis in PDAC. CONCLUSIONS In this study, we delved into the TIME with metatranscriptomics and IF staining analyses to understand the prerequisite of prolonged survival in PDAC patients. In LTS, several biological pathways were overexpressed, and specific microbiomes were identified. Furthermore, apparent differences in driven immune factors were found that provide valuable insights into developing new treatment strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Casper W F van Eijck
- Erasmus MC Cancer Institute, Department of Surgery, University Medical Center Rotterdam, the Netherlands; Genetic and Molecular Epidemiology Group, Spanish National Cancer Research Centre (CNIO), Madrid, Spain.
| | - Jie Ju
- Department of Pathology and Clinical Bioinformatics, Erasmus University Medical Center Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Freek R van 't Land
- Erasmus MC Cancer Institute, Department of Surgery, University Medical Center Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Maaike Verheij
- Erasmus MC Cancer Institute, Department of Surgery, University Medical Center Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Yunlei Li
- Department of Pathology and Clinical Bioinformatics, Erasmus University Medical Center Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Andrew Stubbs
- Department of Pathology and Clinical Bioinformatics, Erasmus University Medical Center Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Michael Doukas
- Department of Pathology and Clinical Bioinformatics, Erasmus University Medical Center Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Karishma Lila
- Department of Pathology and Clinical Bioinformatics, Erasmus University Medical Center Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Lara R Heij
- Institute of Pathology, Medical Center University Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany; Department of Surgery and Transplantation, University Hospital Essen, Germany; Department of General, Gastrointestinal, Hepatobiliary and Transplant Surgery, RWTH Aachen University Hospital, Aachen, Germany
| | - Georg Wiltberger
- Department of General, Gastrointestinal, Hepatobiliary and Transplant Surgery, RWTH Aachen University Hospital, Aachen, Germany
| | - Lola Alonso
- Genetic and Molecular Epidemiology Group, Spanish National Cancer Research Centre (CNIO), Madrid, Spain
| | - Núria Malats
- Genetic and Molecular Epidemiology Group, Spanish National Cancer Research Centre (CNIO), Madrid, Spain
| | - Bas Groot Koerkamp
- Erasmus MC Cancer Institute, Department of Surgery, University Medical Center Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Eveline E Vietsch
- Erasmus MC Cancer Institute, Department of Surgery, University Medical Center Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Casper H J van Eijck
- Erasmus MC Cancer Institute, Department of Surgery, University Medical Center Rotterdam, the Netherlands; Genetic and Molecular Epidemiology Group, Spanish National Cancer Research Centre (CNIO), Madrid, Spain
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Li Y, Du Y, Li R, Zhong W, Zou X, Li L, Xu L, Wu L, Che X. Spatial transcriptomics in pancreatic cancer: Advances, prospects and challenges. Crit Rev Oncol Hematol 2024; 203:104430. [PMID: 38942220 DOI: 10.1016/j.critrevonc.2024.104430] [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: 03/14/2024] [Revised: 06/20/2024] [Accepted: 06/24/2024] [Indexed: 06/30/2024] Open
Abstract
Pancreatic cancer remains one of the deadliest malignancies with an overall 5-year survival rate of 13 %. This dismal fact can be partly attributed to currently limited understanding of tumor heterogeneity and immune microenvironment. Traditional bulk-sequencing techniques overlook the diversity of tumor cells, while single-cell sequencing disorganizes the position localizing of cells in tumor microenvironment. The advent of spatial transcriptomics (ST) presents a novel solution by integrating location and whole transcript expression information. This technology allows for detailed observation of spatio-temporal changes across various cell subtypes within the pancreatic tumor microenvironment, providing insights into their potential functions. This review offers an overview of recent studies implementing ST in pancreatic cancer research, highlighting its instrumental role in investigating the heterogeneity and functions of tumor cells, stromal cells, and immune cells. On the basis, we also prospected and summarized the clinical application scenarios, technical limitations and challenges of ST technology in pancreatic cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yunlong Li
- Department of Pancreatic and Gastric Surgery, National Cancer Center, National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100021, China
| | - Yongxing Du
- Department of Pancreatic and Gastric Surgery, National Cancer Center, National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100021, China
| | - Rui Li
- BGI, Shenzhen 518083, China; BGI Research, Shenzhen 518083, China; Institute of Intelligent Medical Research (IIMR), BGI Genomics, Shenzhen 518083, China
| | - Wenhui Zhong
- Department of Pancreatic and Gastric Surgery, National Cancer Center, National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100021, China
| | - Xuanxuan Zou
- BGI, Shenzhen 518083, China; BGI Research, Chongqing 401329, China; BGI Research, Shenzhen 518083, China
| | - Liji Li
- College of Life Sciences, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
| | - Lin Xu
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital and Shenzhen Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Shenzhen 518172, China
| | - Liang Wu
- BGI, Shenzhen 518083, China; BGI Research, Chongqing 401329, China; BGI Research, Shenzhen 518083, China.
| | - Xu Che
- Department of Pancreatic and Gastric Surgery, National Cancer Center, National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100021, China; Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital and Shenzhen Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Shenzhen 518172, China.
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7
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Di Mauro F, Arbore G. Spatial Dissection of the Immune Landscape of Solid Tumors to Advance Precision Medicine. Cancer Immunol Res 2024; 12:800-813. [PMID: 38657223 PMCID: PMC11217735 DOI: 10.1158/2326-6066.cir-23-0699] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2023] [Revised: 01/12/2024] [Accepted: 04/19/2024] [Indexed: 04/26/2024]
Abstract
Chemotherapeutics, radiation, targeted therapeutics, and immunotherapeutics each demonstrate clinical benefits for a small subset of patients with solid malignancies. Immune cells infiltrating the tumor and the surrounding stroma play a critical role in shaping cancer progression and modulating therapy response. They do this by interacting with the other cellular and molecular components of the tumor microenvironment. Spatial multi-omics technologies are rapidly evolving. Currently, such technologies allow high-throughput RNA and protein profiling and retain geographical information about the tumor microenvironment cellular architecture and the functional phenotype of tumor, immune, and stromal cells. An in-depth spatial characterization of the heterogeneous tumor immune landscape can improve not only the prognosis but also the prediction of therapy response, directing cancer patients to more tailored and efficacious treatments. This review highlights recent advancements in spatial transcriptomics and proteomics profiling technologies and the ways these technologies are being applied for the dissection of the immune cell composition in solid malignancies in order to further both basic research in oncology and the implementation of precision treatments in the clinic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesco Di Mauro
- Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy.
- Experimental Immunology Unit, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy.
| | - Giuseppina Arbore
- Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy.
- Experimental Immunology Unit, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy.
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Merali N, Jessel MD, Arbe-Barnes EH, Ruby Lee WY, Gismondi M, Chouari T, O'Brien JW, Patel B, Osei-Bordom D, Rockall TA, Sivakumar S, Annels N, Frampton AE. Impact of tertiary lymphoid structures on prognosis and therapeutic response in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. HPB (Oxford) 2024; 26:873-894. [PMID: 38729813 DOI: 10.1016/j.hpb.2024.04.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2024] [Revised: 03/27/2024] [Accepted: 04/19/2024] [Indexed: 05/12/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is known to have a heterogeneous desmoplastic tumour microenvironment (TME) with a large number of immunosuppressive cells. Recently, high B-cell infiltration in PDAC has received growing interest as a potential therapeutic target. METHODS Our literature review summarises the characteristics of tumour-associated tertiary lymphoid structures (TLSs) and highlight the key studies exploring the clinical outcomes of TLSs in PDAC patients and the direct effect on the TME. RESULTS The location, density and maturity stages of TLSs within tumours play a key role in determining the prognosis and is a new emerging target in cancer immunotherapy. DISCUSSION TLS development is imperative to improve the prognosis of PDAC patients. In the future, studying the genetics and immune characteristics of tumour infiltrating B cells and TLSs may lead towards enhancing adaptive immunity in PDAC and designing personalised therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nabeel Merali
- Section of Oncology, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Science, University of Surrey, Guildford, UK; Department of Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary (HPB) Surgery, Royal Surrey County Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Egerton Road, Guildford, UK; Minimal Access Therapy Training Unit (MATTU), Royal Surrey County Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Egerton Road, Guildford, UK
| | - Maria-Danae Jessel
- Section of Oncology, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Science, University of Surrey, Guildford, UK
| | - Edward H Arbe-Barnes
- UCL Institute of Immunity and Transplantation, The Pears Building, Pond Street, London, UK
| | - Wing Yu Ruby Lee
- Department of Surgery and Cancer, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Martha Gismondi
- Department of Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary (HPB) Surgery, Royal Surrey County Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Egerton Road, Guildford, UK
| | - Tarak Chouari
- Section of Oncology, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Science, University of Surrey, Guildford, UK; Department of Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary (HPB) Surgery, Royal Surrey County Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Egerton Road, Guildford, UK
| | - James W O'Brien
- Minimal Access Therapy Training Unit (MATTU), Royal Surrey County Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Egerton Road, Guildford, UK
| | - Bhavik Patel
- Section of Oncology, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Science, University of Surrey, Guildford, UK; Department of Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary (HPB) Surgery, Royal Surrey County Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Egerton Road, Guildford, UK; Minimal Access Therapy Training Unit (MATTU), Royal Surrey County Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Egerton Road, Guildford, UK
| | - Daniel Osei-Bordom
- Liver and Digestive Health, University College London, Royal Free Hospital, Pond St, London, UK
| | - Timothy A Rockall
- Minimal Access Therapy Training Unit (MATTU), Royal Surrey County Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Egerton Road, Guildford, UK
| | - Shivan Sivakumar
- Oncology Department and Institute of Immunology and Immunotherapy, Birmingham Medical School, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
| | - Nicola Annels
- Section of Oncology, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Science, University of Surrey, Guildford, UK
| | - Adam E Frampton
- Section of Oncology, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Science, University of Surrey, Guildford, UK; Department of Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary (HPB) Surgery, Royal Surrey County Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Egerton Road, Guildford, UK; Minimal Access Therapy Training Unit (MATTU), Royal Surrey County Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Egerton Road, Guildford, UK.
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9
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Zhu J, Zhang K, Chen Y, Ge X, Wu J, Xu P, Yao J. Progress of single-cell RNA sequencing combined with spatial transcriptomics in tumour microenvironment and treatment of pancreatic cancer. J Transl Med 2024; 22:563. [PMID: 38867230 PMCID: PMC11167806 DOI: 10.1186/s12967-024-05307-3] [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: 11/27/2023] [Accepted: 05/16/2024] [Indexed: 06/14/2024] Open
Abstract
In recent years, single-cell analyses have revealed the heterogeneity of the tumour microenvironment (TME) at the genomic, transcriptomic, and proteomic levels, further improving our understanding of the mechanisms of tumour development. Single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) technology allow analysis of the transcriptome at the single-cell level and have unprecedented potential for exploration of the characteristics involved in tumour development and progression. These techniques allow analysis of transcript sequences at higher resolution, thereby increasing our understanding of the diversity of cells found in the tumour microenvironment and how these cells interact in complex tumour tissue. Although scRNA-seq has emerged as an important tool for studying the tumour microenvironment in recent years, it cannot be used to analyse spatial information for cells. In this regard, spatial transcriptomics (ST) approaches allow researchers to understand the functions of individual cells in complex multicellular organisms by understanding their physical location in tissue sections. In particular, in related research on tumour heterogeneity, ST is an excellent complementary approach to scRNA-seq, constituting a new method for further exploration of tumour heterogeneity, and this approach can also provide unprecedented insight into the development of treatments for pancreatic cancer (PC). In this review, based on the methods of scRNA-seq and ST analyses, research progress on the tumour microenvironment and treatment of pancreatic cancer is further explained.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jie Zhu
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Northern Jiangsu People's Hospital Affiliated Yangzhou University, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Ke Zhang
- Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China
| | - Yuan Chen
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Northern Jiangsu People's Hospital Affiliated Yangzhou University, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Xinyu Ge
- Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China
| | - Junqing Wu
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Northern Jiangsu People's Hospital Affiliated Yangzhou University, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Peng Xu
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Northern Jiangsu People's Hospital Affiliated Yangzhou University, Jiangsu Province, China.
| | - Jie Yao
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Northern Jiangsu People's Hospital Affiliated Yangzhou University, Jiangsu Province, China.
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Musiu C, Lupo F, Agostini A, Lionetto G, Bevere M, Paiella S, Carbone C, Corbo V, Ugel S, De Sanctis F. Cellular collusion: cracking the code of immunosuppression and chemo resistance in PDAC. Front Immunol 2024; 15:1341079. [PMID: 38817612 PMCID: PMC11137177 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2024.1341079] [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: 11/19/2023] [Accepted: 05/02/2024] [Indexed: 06/01/2024] Open
Abstract
Despite the efforts, pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is still highly lethal. Therapeutic challenges reside in late diagnosis and establishment of peculiar tumor microenvironment (TME) supporting tumor outgrowth. This stromal landscape is highly heterogeneous between patients and even in the same patient. The organization of functional sub-TME with different cellular compositions provides evolutive advantages and sustains therapeutic resistance. Tumor progressively establishes a TME that can suit its own needs, including proliferation, stemness and invasion. Cancer-associated fibroblasts and immune cells, the main non-neoplastic cellular TME components, follow soluble factors-mediated neoplastic instructions and synergize to promote chemoresistance and immune surveillance destruction. Unveiling heterotypic stromal-neoplastic interactions is thus pivotal to breaking this synergism and promoting the reprogramming of the TME toward an anti-tumor milieu, improving thus the efficacy of conventional and immune-based therapies. We underscore recent advances in the characterization of immune and fibroblast stromal components supporting or dampening pancreatic cancer progression, as well as novel multi-omic technologies improving the current knowledge of PDAC biology. Finally, we put into context how the clinic will translate the acquired knowledge to design new-generation clinical trials with the final aim of improving the outcome of PDAC patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chiara Musiu
- Department of Medicine, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Francesca Lupo
- Department of Engineering for Innovation Medicine, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Antonio Agostini
- Medical Oncology, Department of Translational Medicine, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy
- Medical Oncology, Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli Istituti di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS), Rome, Italy
| | - Gabriella Lionetto
- General and Pancreatic Surgery Unit, Pancreas Institute, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Michele Bevere
- ARC-Net Research Centre, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Salvatore Paiella
- General and Pancreatic Surgery Unit, Pancreas Institute, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Carmine Carbone
- Medical Oncology, Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli Istituti di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS), Rome, Italy
| | - Vincenzo Corbo
- Department of Engineering for Innovation Medicine, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Stefano Ugel
- Department of Medicine, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
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11
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Rupp L, Dietsche I, Kießler M, Sommer U, Muckenhuber A, Steiger K, van Eijck CWF, Richter L, Istvanffy R, Jäger C, Friess H, van Eijck CHJ, Demir IE, Reyes CM, Schmitz M. Neoadjuvant chemotherapy is associated with suppression of the B cell-centered immune landscape in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. Front Immunol 2024; 15:1378190. [PMID: 38629072 PMCID: PMC11018975 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2024.1378190] [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: 01/29/2024] [Accepted: 03/18/2024] [Indexed: 04/19/2024] Open
Abstract
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is typically diagnosed at advanced stages and associated with early distant metastasis and poor survival. Besides clinical factors, the tumor microenvironment (TME) emerged as a crucial determinant of patient survival and therapy response in many tumors, including PDAC. Thus, the presence of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes and the formation of tertiary lymphoid structures (TLS) is associated with longer survival in PDAC. Although neoadjuvant therapy (NeoTx) has improved the management of locally advanced tumors, detailed insight into its effect on various TME components is limited. While a remodeling towards a proinflammatory state was reported for PDAC-infiltrating T cells, the effect of NeoTx on B cell subsets, including plasma cells, and TLS formation is widely unclear. We thus investigated the frequency, composition, and spatial distribution of PDAC-infiltrating B cells in primary resected (PR) versus neoadjuvant-treated patients using a novel multiplex immunohistochemistry panel. The NeoTx group displayed significantly lower frequencies of pan B cells, GC B cells, plasmablasts, and plasma cells, accompanied by a reduced abundance of TLS. This finding was supported by bulk RNA-sequencing analysis of an independent fresh frozen tissue cohort, which revealed that major B cell pathways were downregulated in the NeoTx group. We further observed that plasma cells frequently formed aggregates that localized close to TLS and that TLS+ patients displayed significantly higher plasma cell frequencies compared to TLS- patients in the PR group. Additionally, high densities of CD20+ intratumoral B cells were significantly associated with longer overall survival in the PR group. While CD20+ B cells held no prognostic value for NeoTx patients, an increased frequency of proliferating CD20+Ki67+ B cells emerged as an independent prognostic factor for longer survival in the NeoTx group. These results indicate that NeoTx differentially affects PDAC-infiltrating immune cells and may have detrimental effects on the existing B cell landscape and the formation of TLS. Gaining further insight into the underlying molecular mechanisms is crucial to overcome the intrinsic immunotherapy resistance of PDAC and develop novel strategies to improve the long-term outcome of PDAC patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luise Rupp
- Institute of Immunology, Faculty of Medicine Carl Gustav Carus, Technical University Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Ina Dietsche
- Institute of Immunology, Faculty of Medicine Carl Gustav Carus, Technical University Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Maximilian Kießler
- Department of Surgery, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
- Neural Influences in Cancer (NIC), International Research Consortium, Munich, Germany
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Partner Site Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Ulrich Sommer
- Institute of Pathology, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Technical University Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Alexander Muckenhuber
- Institute of Pathology, School of Medicine and Health, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Katja Steiger
- Institute of Pathology, School of Medicine and Health, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Casper W. F. van Eijck
- Department of Surgery, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, Netherlands
- Genetic and Molecular Epidemiology Group, Spanish National Cancer Research Center, Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red Cáncer (CIBERONC), Madrid, Spain
| | - Leonard Richter
- Department of Surgery, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Rouzanna Istvanffy
- Department of Surgery, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Carsten Jäger
- Department of Surgery, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Helmut Friess
- Department of Surgery, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
- Department of General, Visceral and Transplantation Surgery, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Casper H. J. van Eijck
- Department of Surgery, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, Netherlands
- Genetic and Molecular Epidemiology Group, Spanish National Cancer Research Center, Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red Cáncer (CIBERONC), Madrid, Spain
| | - Ihsan Ekin Demir
- Department of Surgery, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
- Neural Influences in Cancer (NIC), International Research Consortium, Munich, Germany
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Partner Site Munich, Munich, Germany
- Department of General Surgery, Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary (HPB) Unit, School of Medicine, Acibadem Mehmet Ali Aydinlar University, Istanbul, Türkiye
- Else Kröner Clinician Scientist Professor for Translational Pancreatic Surgery, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Carmen Mota Reyes
- Department of Surgery, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
- Neural Influences in Cancer (NIC), International Research Consortium, Munich, Germany
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Partner Site Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Marc Schmitz
- Institute of Immunology, Faculty of Medicine Carl Gustav Carus, Technical University Dresden, Dresden, Germany
- National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT), Partner Site Dresden, Dresden, Germany
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Partner Site Dresden, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
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12
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Vietsch EE, Latifi D, Verheij M, van der Oost EW, de Wilde RF, Haen R, van den Boom AL, Koerkamp BG, Doornebosch PG, van Verschuer VM, Ooms AH, Mohammad F, Willemsen M, Aerts JG, Krog RT, de Miranda NF, van den Bosch TP, Mueller YM, Katsikis PD, van Eijck CH. B cell immune profiles in dysbiotic vermiform appendixes of pancreatic cancer patients. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1230306. [PMID: 38022530 PMCID: PMC10667699 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1230306] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2023] [Accepted: 10/18/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) remains one of the deadliest solid tumors and is resistant to immunotherapy. B cells play an essential role in PDAC progression and immune responses, both locally and systemically. Moreover, increasing evidence suggests that microbial compositions inside the tumor, as well as in the oral cavity and the gut, are important factors in shaping the PDAC immune landscape. However, the gut-associated lymphoid tissue (GALT) has not previously been explored in PDAC patients. In this study, we analyzed healthy vermiform appendix (VA) from 20 patients with PDAC and 32 patients with colon diseases by gene expression immune profiling, flow cytometry analysis, and microbiome sequencing. We show that the VA GALT of PDAC patients exhibits markers of increased inflammation and cytotoxic cell activity. In contrast, B cell function is decreased in PDAC VA GALT based on gene expression profiling; B cells express significantly fewer MHC class II surface receptors, whereas plasma cells express the immune checkpoint molecule HLA-G. Additionally, the vermiform appendix microbiome of PDAC patients is enriched with Klebsiella pneumoniae, Bifidobacterium animalis, and Adlercreutzia equolifaciens, while certain commensals are depleted. Our findings may suggest impaired B cell function within the GALT of PDAC patients, which could potentially be linked to microbial dysbiosis. Additional investigations are imperative to validate our observations and explore these potential targets of future therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eveline E. Vietsch
- Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Erasmus MC Cancer Institute, Rotterdam, Netherlands
- Department of Surgery, Erasmus MC Cancer Institute, Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | - Diba Latifi
- Department of Surgery, Erasmus MC Cancer Institute, Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | - Maaike Verheij
- Department of Surgery, Erasmus MC Cancer Institute, Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | | | | | - Roel Haen
- Department of Surgery, Erasmus MC Cancer Institute, Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | - Anne Loes van den Boom
- Department of Surgery, Erasmus MC Cancer Institute, Rotterdam, Netherlands
- Department of Surgery, Reinier de Graaf Hospital, Delft, Netherlands
| | - Bas Groot Koerkamp
- Department of Surgery, Erasmus MC Cancer Institute, Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | | | | | - Ariadne H.A.G. Ooms
- Department of Pathology, Pathan BV, Rotterdam, Netherlands
- Department of Pathology, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | - Farzana Mohammad
- Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Erasmus MC Cancer Institute, Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | - Marcella Willemsen
- Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Erasmus MC Cancer Institute, Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | - Joachim G.J.V. Aerts
- Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Erasmus MC Cancer Institute, Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | - Ricki T. Krog
- Department of Pathology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands
| | | | | | - Yvonne M. Mueller
- Department of Immunology, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | - Peter D. Katsikis
- Department of Immunology, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, Netherlands
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Fan K, Wei Y, Ou Y, Gong J. Integrated analysis of multiple methods reveals characteristics of the immune microenvironment in medulloblastoma. Brain Tumor Pathol 2023; 40:191-203. [PMID: 37558814 DOI: 10.1007/s10014-023-00467-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2023] [Accepted: 07/18/2023] [Indexed: 08/11/2023]
Abstract
To explore the characteristics of the immune microenvironment (IME) of medulloblastoma (MB) by four methods: flow cytometry (FCM), immunohistochemical (IHC), bulk RNA expression and single cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq), we collected the intraoperative specimens of MB, ependymoma (EPN), high-grade glioma (HGG), and low-grade glioma (LGG) to make a cross-cancer comparison. The specimens were subjected to FCM and IHC respectively, and deconvolution from bulk RNA expression data and scRNA-seq analysis were performed in MB from the GEO database. FCM and IHC analysis found that the proportion of lymphocytes (LC) and T cells between MB and other brain tumors were significantly different. The deconvolution of bulk RNA expression data showed that only the proportion of cell types in MCPCOUNTER changed greatly. scRNA-seq found that the proportion of various immune cells in the IME of MB differed between different subtypes. Techniques such as FCM, IHC, bulk RNA expression, and scRNA-seq can sort out different immune cell subsets to a certain extent and quantify their proportions. The four methods have their own strengthens and limitations, but for highly heterogeneous tumor such as MB, integrated analysis of multiple methods is a better choice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kaiyu Fan
- Department of Neurosurgery, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100070, China
- China National Clinical Research Center for Neurological Diseases, Beijing, 100070, China
| | - Yifan Wei
- MOE Key Laboratory of Bioinformatics, Tsinghua-Peking Joint Center for Life Sciences, Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Structural Biology, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China
| | - Yunwei Ou
- Department of Neurosurgery, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100070, China
- China National Clinical Research Center for Neurological Diseases, Beijing, 100070, China
- Beijing Neurosurgical Institute, Beijing, 100070, China
| | - Jian Gong
- Department of Neurosurgery, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100070, China.
- China National Clinical Research Center for Neurological Diseases, Beijing, 100070, China.
- Beijing Neurosurgical Institute, Beijing, 100070, China.
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