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Neophytou C, Charalambous A, Voutouri C, Angeli S, Panagi M, Stylianopoulos T, Mpekris F. Sonopermeation combined with stroma normalization enables complete cure using nano-immunotherapy in murine breast tumors. J Control Release 2025; 382:113722. [PMID: 40233830 PMCID: PMC12076078 DOI: 10.1016/j.jconrel.2025.113722] [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: 01/17/2025] [Revised: 04/09/2025] [Accepted: 04/09/2025] [Indexed: 04/17/2025]
Abstract
Nano-immunotherapy shows great promise in improving patient outcomes, as seen in advanced triple-negative breast cancer, but it does not cure the disease, with median survival under two years. Therefore, understanding resistance mechanisms and developing strategies to enhance its effectiveness in breast cancer is crucial. A key resistance mechanism is the pronounced desmoplasia in the tumor microenvironment, which leads to dysfunction of tumor blood vessels and thus, to hypoperfusion, limited drug delivery and hypoxia. Ultrasound sonopermeation and agents that normalize the tumor stroma have been employed separately to restore vascular abnormalities in tumors with some success. Here, we performed in vivo studies in two murine, orthotopic breast tumor models to explore if combination of ultrasound sonopermeation with a stroma normalization drug can synergistically improve tumor perfusion and enhance the efficacy of nano-immunotherapy. We found that the proposed combinatorial treatment can drastically reduce primary tumor growth and in many cases tumors were no longer measurable. Overall survival studies showed that all mice that received the combination treatment survived and rechallenge experiments revealed that the survivors obtained immunological memory. Employing ultrasound elastography and contrast enhanced ultrasound along with proteomics analysis, flow cytometry and immunofluorescene staining, we found the combinatorial treatment reduced tumor stiffness to normal levels, restoring tumor perfusion and oxygenation. Furthermore, it increased infiltration and activity of immune cells and altered the levels of immunosupportive chemokines. Finally, using machine learning analysis, we identified that tumor stiffness, CD8+ T cells and M2-type macrophages were strong predictors of treatment response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Constantina Neophytou
- Cancer Biophysics Laboratory, Department of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, University of Cyprus, Nicosia 1678, Cyprus; Cancer Genetics, Therapeutics & Ultrastructural Pathology Department, The Cyprus Institute of Neurology and Genetics, Nicosia, Cyprus
| | - Antonia Charalambous
- Cancer Biophysics Laboratory, Department of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, University of Cyprus, Nicosia 1678, Cyprus
| | - Chrysovalantis Voutouri
- Cancer Biophysics Laboratory, Department of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, University of Cyprus, Nicosia 1678, Cyprus
| | - Stella Angeli
- Cancer Biophysics Laboratory, Department of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, University of Cyprus, Nicosia 1678, Cyprus; Cancer Genetics, Therapeutics & Ultrastructural Pathology Department, The Cyprus Institute of Neurology and Genetics, Nicosia, Cyprus
| | - Myrofora Panagi
- Cancer Biophysics Laboratory, Department of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, University of Cyprus, Nicosia 1678, Cyprus
| | - Triantafyllos Stylianopoulos
- Cancer Biophysics Laboratory, Department of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, University of Cyprus, Nicosia 1678, Cyprus
| | - Fotios Mpekris
- Cancer Biophysics Laboratory, Department of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, University of Cyprus, Nicosia 1678, Cyprus; Cancer Genetics, Therapeutics & Ultrastructural Pathology Department, The Cyprus Institute of Neurology and Genetics, Nicosia, Cyprus.
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2
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Wang J, Xu X, Wang Y, Zhu Y. Thymidine kinase 1 indicates resistance to immune checkpoint plus tyrosine kinase inhibition in renal cell carcinoma. Cell Oncol (Dordr) 2025; 48:775-787. [PMID: 40009128 PMCID: PMC12119670 DOI: 10.1007/s13402-025-01048-7] [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] [Accepted: 02/12/2025] [Indexed: 02/27/2025] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE Immune checkpoint plus tyrosine kinase inhibition (IO + TKI) has emerged as the first-line therapy in metastatic renal cell carcinoma (RCC), but no biomarker can predict its efficacy. Thymidine kinase 1 (TK1) is closely associated with immune evasion in tumors. METHODS Metastatic RCC patients treated by IO + TKI were enrolled from two cohorts (ZS-MRCC, n = 45; Javelin-101, n = 726). High-risk localized RCC were also enrolled (ZS-HRRCC, n = 40). TK1 was assessed by RNA-sequencing in all cohorts, and the immune contexture was assessed by flow cytometry and immunohistochemistry. RESULTS Higher TK1 expression was found in patients resistant to IO + TKI therapy (p = 0.025). High-TK1 group showed poor progression-free survival (PFS) in both the ZS-MRCC cohort (P = 0.008) and the Javelin-101 cohort (P = 0.036). By multivariate Cox regression, high-TK1 was determined as an independent factor for poor PFS (hazard ratio (HR) = 3.855, P = 0.002). High-TK1 expression was associated with decreased granzyme B+ CD8+ T cells (ρ=-0.22, P = 0.18), increased PD1+ CD4+ T cells (ρ = 0.33, P = 0.04), increased PDL1+ macrophages (ρ = 0.45, P < 0.001), and increased regulatory T cells (ρ = 0.35, P = 0.03). A novel random forest (RF) risk score was built by machine learning based on TK1 and immunologic parameters. Combined IO + TKI therapy surpassed sunitinib monotherapy in the low RF risk score group (HR = 0.158, P < 0.001), but was inferior to sunitinib in the high RF risk score group (HR, 2.195, P < 0.001). CONCLUSION High-TK1 expression could be a potential indicator for therapeutic resistance, poor PFS and immune evasion in metastatic RCC under IO + TKI therapy. The novel RF risk score may help stratify patients for IO + TKI therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiajun Wang
- Department of Urology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, No.180 Fenglin Road, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Xianglai Xu
- Department of Urology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, No.180 Fenglin Road, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Ying Wang
- Department of Critical Care Medicine, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Yanjun Zhu
- Department of Urology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, No.180 Fenglin Road, Shanghai, 200032, China.
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Yao L, Zhou C, Liu L, He J, Wang Y, Wang A. Cancer-associated fibroblasts promote growth and dissemination of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma cells by secreting WNT family member 5A. Mol Cell Biochem 2025; 480:3857-3872. [PMID: 39954174 DOI: 10.1007/s11010-025-05223-0] [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: 12/05/2024] [Accepted: 01/31/2025] [Indexed: 02/17/2025]
Abstract
Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is a common and aggressive subtype of esophageal cancer. This research investigates the functions of cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) in the malignant phenotype of ESCC and probes the underpinning mechanism. Key CAF-associated proteins in ESCC were identified using bioinformatics analyses. ESCC cell lines were co-cultured with CAFs, followed by the addition of neutralizing antibodies against WNT family member 5A (WNT5A) (Anti-WNT5A; AW) and frizzled class receptor 5 (FZD5) (Anti-FZD5; AF), or a human recombinant protein of WNT5A (rWNT5A; rW). The effects of CAF stimulation and the neutralizing or recombinant proteins on the growth and dissemination of ESCC cells were investigated. In addition, ESCC cells were transplanted into nude mice for in vivo assessment of tumor growth and metastasis. WNT5A was identified as a CAF-associated protein linked to poor prognosis in ESCC. Co-culturing with CAFs augmented proliferation, mobility, and apoptosis resistance of ESCC cells. These effects were negated by the AW or AF but restored by rW. WNT5A interacted with FZD5 to activate the WNT signaling in ESCC cells. The rW treatment also enhanced tumorigenesis and metastasis of xenograft tumors in nude mice, with these effects diminished by AW or AF treatment. This study suggests that CAFs promote growth and dissemination of ESCC cell primarily through the secretion of WNT5A.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lishuai Yao
- Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510620, Guangdong, China
| | - Changshuai Zhou
- Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Yiwu, 322000, Zhejiang, China
| | - Libao Liu
- Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510620, Guangdong, China
| | - Jinyuan He
- Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510620, Guangdong, China
| | - Youbo Wang
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200433, China
| | - An Wang
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200433, China.
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Imani S, Farghadani R, Roozitalab G, Maghsoudloo M, Emadi M, Moradi A, Abedi B, Jabbarzadeh Kaboli P. Reprogramming the breast tumor immune microenvironment: cold-to-hot transition for enhanced immunotherapy. J Exp Clin Cancer Res 2025; 44:131. [PMID: 40281554 PMCID: PMC12032666 DOI: 10.1186/s13046-025-03394-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2025] [Accepted: 04/14/2025] [Indexed: 04/29/2025] Open
Abstract
This review discusses reprogramming the breast tumor immune microenvironment from an immunosuppressive cold state to an immunologically active hot state. A complex interplay is revealed, in which the accumulation of metabolic byproducts-such as lactate, reactive oxygen species (ROS), and ammonia-is shown to impair T-cell function and promote tumor immune escape. It is demonstrated that the tumor microenvironment (TME) is dominated by immunosuppressive cytokines, including interleukin-10 (IL-10), transforming growth factorβ (TGFβ), and IL-35. Notably, IL-35 is produced by regulatory T cells and breast cancer cells. The conversion of conventional T cells into IL-35-producing induced regulatory T cells, along with the inhibition of pro-inflammatory cytokine secretion, contributes to the suppression of anti-tumor immunity. It is further demonstrated that key immune checkpoint molecules-such as PD-1, PDL1, CTLA-4, TIM-3, LAG-3, and TIGIT-are upregulated within the TME, leading to Tcell exhaustion and diminished immune responses. The blockade of these checkpoints is shown to restore T-cell functionality and is proposed as a strategy to convert cold tumors into hot ones with robust effector cell infiltration. The therapeutic potential of chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)T cell therapy is also explored, and targeting specific tumor-associated antigens, such as glycoproteins and receptor tyrosine kinases, is highlighted. It is suggested that CART cell efficacy can be enhanced by combining these cells with immune checkpoint inhibitors and other immunomodulatory agents, thereby overcoming the barriers imposed by the immunosuppressive TME. Moreover, the role of the microbiome in regulating estrogen metabolism and systemic inflammation is reviewed. Alterations in the gut microbiota are shown to affect the TME, and microbiome-based interventions are proposed as an additional means to facilitate the cold-to-hot transition. It is concluded that by targeting the metabolic and immunological pathways that underpin immune suppression-through combination strategies involving checkpoint blockade, CART cell therapies, and microbiome modulation-the conversion of the breast TME from cold to hot can be achieved. This reprogramming is anticipated to enhance immune cell infiltration and function, thereby improving the overall efficacy of immunotherapies and leading to better clinical outcomes for breast cancer patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saber Imani
- Shulan International Medical College, Zhejiang Shuren University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.
| | - Reyhaneh Farghadani
- Jeffrey Cheah School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Monash University Malaysia, Jalan Lagoon Selatan, Bandar Sunway, Subang Jaya, 47500, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia
| | - Ghazaal Roozitalab
- Noncommunicable Diseases Research Center, Fasa University of Medical Sciences, Fasa, Iran
| | - Mazaher Maghsoudloo
- Key Laboratory of Epigenetics and Oncology, The Research Center for Preclinical Medicine, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, 646000, Sichuan, China
| | - Mahdieh Emadi
- Department of Biology, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Atefeh Moradi
- Department of Life Sciences and System Biology, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | - Behnaz Abedi
- Department of Basic Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tabriz, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Parham Jabbarzadeh Kaboli
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw, 02-091, Poland.
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Ababneh E, Velez S, Zhao J. Immune evasion and resistance in breast cancer. Am J Cancer Res 2025; 15:1517-1539. [PMID: 40371160 PMCID: PMC12070088 DOI: 10.62347/pngt6996] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2024] [Accepted: 12/18/2024] [Indexed: 05/16/2025] Open
Abstract
Breast cancer (BC) is the most common malignancy in females with an increasing incidence in the last decade. The previously observed decline in BC mortality rates has also slowed down recently with an increase in the incidence of invasive BC. BC has various molecular subtypes. Among these subtypes, triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) represents the most aggressive BC, with a poor prognosis. Because lack of the hormonal or human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) receptors, TNBC is resistant to hormonal and HER2 targeted therapy effective for other BC subtypes. The good news is that TNBC has recently been considered an immunologically 'hot' tumor. Therefore, immunotherapy, particularly immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy, represents a promising therapeutic approach TNBC. However, a considerable percentage of patients with TNBC do not respond well to immunotherapy, indicating that TNBC seems to adopt several mechanisms to evade immune surveillance. Thus, it is crucial to investigate the mechanisms underlying TNBC immune evasion and resistance to immunotherapy. In this review, we examine and discuss the most recently discovered mechanisms for BC, with a particular focus on TNBC, to evade the immune surveillance via kidnapping the immune checkpoints, suppressing the immune responses in tumor microenvironment and inhibiting the tumor antigen presentation. Evaluation of these mechanisms in BC will hopefully guide future immunotherapeutic research and clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ebaa Ababneh
- Burnett School of Biomedical Science, Medical College, University of Central Florida Orlando, FL, USA
| | - Sarah Velez
- Burnett School of Biomedical Science, Medical College, University of Central Florida Orlando, FL, USA
| | - Jihe Zhao
- Burnett School of Biomedical Science, Medical College, University of Central Florida Orlando, FL, USA
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Dai X, Cao B, Liu X, Meng W, Qiu Y, Sun Y, Zhang L, Li N, Liu Z, Li D, Xiao L, Li B, Zhang Q. Tumor vascular normalization by B7-H3 blockade augments T lymphocyte-mediated antitumor immunity. Eur J Pharmacol 2025; 993:177334. [PMID: 39892447 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejphar.2025.177334] [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: 09/28/2024] [Revised: 01/09/2025] [Accepted: 01/30/2025] [Indexed: 02/03/2025]
Abstract
Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), defined by the absence of estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR), and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2), presents unique clinical challenges and generally predicts a less favorable prognosis. Despite recent advancements in TNBC treatment, a subset of patients remains resistant to immunotherapy. B7-H3, a member of the B7 family of immune checkpoints, is correlated with poor outcomes in various cancers and is distinctively expressed in tumor vasculature, marking it as a potential biomarker for tumor-associated endothelial cells. We found high expression of B7-H3 in the endothelial cells of the postoperative tissue of TNBC patients. Elevated gene expression of CD276 (encoding B7-H3) and PECAM1 (encoding CD31) in TNBC is associated with poor prognosis. Anti-B7-H3 blockade reduces tumor burden and promotes lymphocyte infiltration in a TNBC mouse model. Additionally, anti-B7-H3 blockade promotes tumor vessel normalization and enhances programmed cell death ligand 1 (PD-L1) expression. Synergistic effects were observed when B7-H3 blockade was combined with programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) inhibition in the TNBC mouse model. Furthermore, anti-B7-H3 inhibits human umbilical vein endothelial cell (HUVEC) proliferation by suppression of the nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-κB) signaling pathway. Downregulation of B7-H3 expression in HUVECs promotes lymphocyte trans-endothelial migration. These findings suggest that B7-H3 represents a promising therapeutic target for TNBC, and the combination of anti-B7-H3 and anti-PD-1 therapies may have synergetic effects in treating TNBC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xin Dai
- Department of Medical Oncology, Harbin Medical University Cancer Hospital, Harbin, China; Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
| | - Boran Cao
- Institute of Arthritis Research, Guanghua Integrative Medicine Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Xinnan Liu
- Center for Immune-Related Diseases at Shanghai Institute of Immunology, Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Wangyang Meng
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Yiran Qiu
- Department of Breast Surgery, Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital, Fudan University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Yidan Sun
- Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Lulu Zhang
- The Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
| | - Nan Li
- Department of Pathology, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
| | - Zhenyu Liu
- Department of Medical Oncology, Harbin Medical University Cancer Hospital, Harbin, China
| | - Dan Li
- Center for Immune-Related Diseases at Shanghai Institute of Immunology, Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.
| | - Lianbo Xiao
- Institute of Arthritis Research, Guanghua Integrative Medicine Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China.
| | - Bin Li
- Institute of Arthritis Research, Guanghua Integrative Medicine Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China; Center for Immune-Related Diseases at Shanghai Institute of Immunology, Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China; Department of Thoracic Surgery, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China; Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.
| | - Qingyuan Zhang
- Department of Medical Oncology, Harbin Medical University Cancer Hospital, Harbin, China.
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Li Y, Ding T, Zhang T, Liu S, Wang J, Zhou X, Guo Z, He Q, Zhang S. Leveraging Diverse Cell-Death Patterns to Decipher the Interactive Relation of Unfavorable Outcome and Tumor Microenvironment in Breast Cancer. Bioengineering (Basel) 2025; 12:420. [PMID: 40281780 PMCID: PMC12024675 DOI: 10.3390/bioengineering12040420] [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: 02/19/2025] [Revised: 03/25/2025] [Accepted: 04/10/2025] [Indexed: 04/29/2025] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Programmed cell death (PCD) dynamically influences breast cancer (BC) prognosis through interactions with the tumor microenvironment (TME). We investigated 13 PCD patterns to decipher their prognostic impact and mechanistic links to TME-driven outcomes. Our study aimed to explore the complex mechanisms underlying these interactions and establish a prognostic prediction model for breast cancer. METHODS Using TCGA and METABRIC datasets, we integrated single-sample gene set enrichment analysis (ssGSEA), weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA), and Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator (LASSO) to explore PCD-TME interactions. Multi-dimensional analyses included immune infiltration, genomic heterogeneity, and functional pathway enrichment. RESULTS Our results indicated that high apoptosis and pyroptosis activity, along with low autophagy, correlated with favorable prognosis, which was driven by enhanced anti-tumor immunity, including more M1 macrophage polarization and activated CD8+ T cells in TME. PCD-related genes could promote tumor metastasis and poor prognosis via VEGF/HIF-1/MAPK signaling and immune response, including Th1/Th2 cell differentiation, while new tumor event occurrences (metastasis/secondary cancers) were linked to specific clinical features and gene mutation spectrums, including TP53/CDH1 mutations and genomic instability. We constructed a six-gene LASSO model (BCAP31, BMF, GLUL, NFKBIA, PARP3, PROM2) to predict prognosis and identify high-risk BC patients (for five-year survival, AUC = 0.76 in TCGA; 0.74 in METABRIC). Therein, the high-risk subtype patients demonstrated a poorer prognosis, also characterized by lower microenvironment matrix and downregulated immunocyte infiltration. These six gene signatures also showed prognostic value with significant differential expression in gene and protein levels of BC samples. CONCLUSION Our study provided a comprehensive landscape of the cancer survival difference and related PCD-TME interaction axis and highlighted that high-apoptosis/pyroptosis states caused favorable prognosis, underlying mechanisms closely related with the TME where anti-tumor immunity would be beneficial for patient prognosis. These findings highlighted the model's potential for risk stratification in BC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yue Li
- Department of Clinical Laboratories, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an 710004, China; (Y.L.); (T.D.); (Z.G.); (Q.H.)
| | - Ting Ding
- Department of Clinical Laboratories, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an 710004, China; (Y.L.); (T.D.); (Z.G.); (Q.H.)
| | - Tong Zhang
- Department of Clinical Laboratories, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an 710004, China; (Y.L.); (T.D.); (Z.G.); (Q.H.)
| | - Shuangyu Liu
- Department of Clinical Laboratories, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an 710004, China; (Y.L.); (T.D.); (Z.G.); (Q.H.)
| | - Jinhua Wang
- Department of Clinical Laboratories, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an 710004, China; (Y.L.); (T.D.); (Z.G.); (Q.H.)
| | - Xiaoyan Zhou
- Department of Clinical Laboratories, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an 710004, China; (Y.L.); (T.D.); (Z.G.); (Q.H.)
| | - Zeqi Guo
- Department of Clinical Laboratories, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an 710004, China; (Y.L.); (T.D.); (Z.G.); (Q.H.)
| | - Qian He
- Department of Clinical Laboratories, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an 710004, China; (Y.L.); (T.D.); (Z.G.); (Q.H.)
| | - Shuqun Zhang
- Department of Oncology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an 710004, China
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Yang L, Wang X, Wang S, Shen J, Li Y, Wan S, Xiao Z, Wu Z. Targeting lipid metabolism in regulatory T cells for enhancing cancer immunotherapy. Biochim Biophys Acta Rev Cancer 2025; 1880:189259. [PMID: 39798823 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbcan.2025.189259] [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: 06/11/2024] [Revised: 12/30/2024] [Accepted: 01/02/2025] [Indexed: 01/15/2025]
Abstract
As immunosuppressive cells, Regulatory T cells (Tregs) exert their influence on tumor immune escape within the tumor microenvironment (TME) by effectively suppressing the activity of other immune cells, thereby significantly impeding the anti-tumor immune response. In recent years, the metabolic characteristics of Tregs have become a focus of research, especially the important role of lipid metabolism in maintaining the function of Tregs. Consequently, targeted interventions aimed at modulating lipid metabolism in Tregs have been recognized as an innovative and promising approach to enhance the effectiveness of tumor immunotherapy. This review presents a comprehensive overview of the pivotal role of lipid metabolism in regulating the function of Tregs, with a specific focus on targeting Tregs lipid metabolism as an innovative approach to augment anti-tumor immune responses. Furthermore, we discuss potential opportunities and challenges associated with this strategy, aiming to provide novel insights for enhancing the efficacy of cancer immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liu Yang
- Department of Pharmacy, Affiliated Hospital, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan 646000, China; Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology, Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan 646000, China; South Sichuan Institute of Translational Medicine, Luzhou, Sichuan 646000, China; Laboratory of Personalised Cell Therapy and Cell Medicine, Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan 646000, China
| | - Xingyue Wang
- Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology, Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan 646000, China
| | - Shurong Wang
- Department of Pharmacy, Affiliated Hospital, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan 646000, China
| | - Jing Shen
- Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology, Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan 646000, China; South Sichuan Institute of Translational Medicine, Luzhou, Sichuan 646000, China; Laboratory of Personalised Cell Therapy and Cell Medicine, Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan 646000, China
| | - Yaling Li
- Department of Pharmacy, Affiliated Hospital, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan 646000, China
| | - Shengli Wan
- Department of Pharmacy, Affiliated Hospital, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan 646000, China
| | - Zhangang Xiao
- Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology, Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan 646000, China; South Sichuan Institute of Translational Medicine, Luzhou, Sichuan 646000, China; Laboratory of Personalised Cell Therapy and Cell Medicine, Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan 646000, China.
| | - Zhigui Wu
- Department of Pharmacy, Affiliated Hospital, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan 646000, China; Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology, Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan 646000, China; South Sichuan Institute of Translational Medicine, Luzhou, Sichuan 646000, China; Laboratory of Personalised Cell Therapy and Cell Medicine, Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan 646000, China.
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9
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Palma M. Advancing Breast Cancer Treatment: The Role of Immunotherapy and Cancer Vaccines in Overcoming Therapeutic Challenges. Vaccines (Basel) 2025; 13:344. [PMID: 40333213 PMCID: PMC12030785 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines13040344] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2025] [Revised: 03/20/2025] [Accepted: 03/21/2025] [Indexed: 05/09/2025] Open
Abstract
Breast cancer (BC) remains a significant global health challenge due to its complex biology, which complicates both diagnosis and treatment. Immunotherapy and cancer vaccines have emerged as promising alternatives, harnessing the body's immune system to precisely target and eliminate cancer cells. However, several key factors influence the selection and effectiveness of these therapies, including BC subtype, tumor mutational burden (TMB), tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs), PD-L1 expression, HER2 resistance, and the tumor microenvironment (TME). BC subtypes play a critical role in shaping treatment responses. Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) exhibits the highest sensitivity to immunotherapy, while HER2-positive and hormone receptor-positive (HR+) subtypes often require combination strategies for optimal outcomes. High TMB enhances immune responses by generating neoantigens, making tumors more susceptible to immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs); whereas, low TMB may indicate resistance. Similarly, elevated TIL levels are associated with better immunotherapy efficacy, while PD-L1 expression serves as a key predictor of checkpoint inhibitor success. Meanwhile, HER2 resistance and an immunosuppressive TME contribute to immune evasion, highlighting the need for multi-faceted treatment approaches. Current breast cancer immunotherapies encompass a range of targeted treatments. HER2-directed therapies, such as trastuzumab and pertuzumab, block HER2 dimerization and enhance antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC), while small-molecule inhibitors, like lapatinib and tucatinib, suppress HER2 signaling to curb tumor growth. Antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) improve tumor targeting by coupling monoclonal antibodies with cytotoxic agents, minimizing off-target effects. Meanwhile, ICIs, including pembrolizumab, restore T-cell function, and CAR-macrophage (CAR-M) therapy leverages macrophages to reshape the TME and overcome immunotherapy resistance. While immunotherapy, particularly in TNBC, has demonstrated promise by eliciting durable immune responses, its efficacy varies across subtypes. Challenges such as immune-related adverse events, resistance mechanisms, high costs, and delayed responses remain barriers to widespread success. Breast cancer vaccines-including protein-based, whole-cell, mRNA, dendritic cell, and epitope-based vaccines-aim to stimulate tumor-specific immunity. Though clinical success has been limited, ongoing research is refining vaccine formulations, integrating combination therapies, and identifying biomarkers for improved patient stratification. Future advancements in BC treatment will depend on optimizing immunotherapy through biomarker-driven approaches, addressing tumor heterogeneity, and developing innovative combination therapies to overcome resistance. By leveraging these strategies, researchers aim to enhance treatment efficacy and ultimately improve patient outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marco Palma
- Institute for Globally Distributed Open Research and Education (IGDORE), 03181 Torrevieja, Spain
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Wu X, Hou S, Ye Y, Gao Z. CXCR2P1 enhances the response of gastric cancer to PD-1 inhibitors through increasing the immune infiltration of tumors. Front Immunol 2025; 16:1545605. [PMID: 40176817 PMCID: PMC11961440 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2025.1545605] [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: 12/15/2024] [Accepted: 03/03/2025] [Indexed: 04/04/2025] Open
Abstract
Background Recent years, immunotherapy has emerged as a pivotal approach in cancer treatment. However, the response of gastric cancer to immunotherapy exhibits significant heterogeneity. Therefore, the early identification of gastric cancer patients who are likely to benefit from immunotherapy and the discovery of novel therapeutic targets are of critical importance. Materials and methods We collected data from European Nucleotide Archive (ENA) and Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) databases. In project PRJEB25780, we performed WGCNA analysis and Lasso regression and chose CXCR2P1 for the subsequent analysis. Then, we compared the expression difference of CXCR2P1 among different groups. Kaplan-Meier curve was used to analyze the prognostic value of CXCR2P1, which was validated by project IMvigor210 and GEO datasets. ESTIMATE and CIBERSORT algorithm were used to evaluate the reshaping effect of CXCR2P1 to immune microenvironment of tumor. Differentially expressed genes (DEG) analysis, enrichGO analysis, Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA) and co-expression analysis were used to explore the cell biological function and signaling pathway involved in CXCR2P1. Results WGCNA identified CXCR2P1 as a hub gene significantly associated with immune response to PD-1 inhibitors in gastric cancer. CXCR2P1 expression was elevated in responders and correlated with better prognosis. Functional analysis revealed its role in reshaping the tumor immune microenvironment by promoting immune cell infiltration, including M1 macrophages, activated CD4+ T cells, and follicular helper T cells. CXCR2P1 enhanced antigen presentation via the MHC-II complex, influenced key immune pathways, such as Toll-like receptor signaling and T-cell activation, which led to the up-regulation of expression of PD-L1. GSEA showed CXCR2P1 were correlated with microRNAs. Through DEG analysis and expression analysis, MIR215 was identified as a potential direct target of CXCR2P1. Conclusion High expression of CXCR2P1 is correlated with better response to PD-1 inhibitor. It reshapes the immune microenvironment by increasing immune infiltration and changing the fraction of immune cells. In tumor immune microenvironment, CXCR2P1 can promote inflammation, enhance antigen presentation and activate the PD-1/PD-L1-related signaling pathway, which might be achieved by CXCR2P1-MIR215 axis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinchun Wu
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Peking University People`s Hospital, Beijing, China
- Laboratory of Surgical Oncology, Peking University People`s Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Sen Hou
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Peking University People`s Hospital, Beijing, China
- Laboratory of Surgical Oncology, Peking University People`s Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Yingjiang Ye
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Peking University People`s Hospital, Beijing, China
- Laboratory of Surgical Oncology, Peking University People`s Hospital, Beijing, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Colorectal Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment Research, Peking University People’s Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Zhidong Gao
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Peking University People`s Hospital, Beijing, China
- Laboratory of Surgical Oncology, Peking University People`s Hospital, Beijing, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Colorectal Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment Research, Peking University People’s Hospital, Beijing, China
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11
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Wang T, Sun J, Wang L, Lin Y, Wu Z, Jia Q, Zhang S, An J, Ma X, Wu Q, Su Z, Wang H. Therapeutic potential of isochlorogenic acid A from Taraxacum officinale in improving immune response and enhancing the efficacy of PD-1/PD-L1 blockade in triple-negative breast cancer. Front Immunol 2025; 16:1529710. [PMID: 40109332 PMCID: PMC11920172 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2025.1529710] [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: 11/17/2024] [Accepted: 02/19/2025] [Indexed: 03/22/2025] Open
Abstract
Introduction Taraxacum officinale, a traditional medicinal herb, has garnered significant attention for its potential role in the prevention and treatment of breast cancer. Although clinical recognition of its efficacy has gradually increased, research has shown that Taraxacum officinale contains a variety of chemical components, including triterpenes, carbohydrates, flavonoids, phenolic acids, sesquiterpenes, coumarins, fatty acids, and organic acids. However, the pharmacological mechanisms underlying Taraxacum officinale's effects and the identification of its key bioactive components warrant further investigation. Methods Flow cytometry was utilized to investigate the effects of Taraxacum officinale extract (TOE) in combination with PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitor 2 on the immune microenvironment of triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). Active compounds and their potential targets were identified through an integrative approach involving GeneCards, OMIM, and DisGeNET databases, as well as UPLC-Q-Orbitrap MS analysis. Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analyses were conducted, followed by molecular docking to explore compound-target interactions. The anti-proliferative effects of isochlorogenic acid A (ICGA-A) and chicoric acid (CRA) on MDA-MB-231 and 4T1 cells were evaluated using the CCK-8 assay. In vivo validation was performed using a 4T1 murine model and flow cytometry. Results TOE and its active constituents, ICGA-A and CRA, demonstrate potential in augmenting PD-1 blockade therapy for TNBC. This study investigated the combination of ICGA-A and PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitor 2, which significantly enhanced the infiltration of macrophages and CD8+ T cells into tumors in murine models, while concurrently reducing the population of exhausted T cells. Furthermore, CRA notably increased the frequency of CD8+ T cells. Both ICGA-A and CRA therapies were also found to suppress tumor proliferation by inhibiting the FAK/PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway. These findings highlight the potential of ICGA-A and CRA as effective adjuvants to improve the therapeutic efficacy of PD-1 inhibitor-based immunotherapy in TNBC. Discussion ICGA-A and CRA, bioactive compounds from Taraxacum officinale, exhibit significant antitumor activity in TNBC by targeting the FAK/PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway, a critical regulator of cancer progression. Their ability to modulate the tumor immune microenvironment highlights their potential as immune modulators that enhance the efficacy of immunotherapy. These findings suggest that ICGA-A and CRA could serve as promising adjuncts in TNBC treatment, offering a novel strategy to overcome challenges such as therapeutic resistance and limited treatment options. Further investigation is warranted to explore their synergistic effects with immunotherapies in improving TNBC outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tangyi Wang
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Qinghai University Medical College, Xining, Qinghai, China
| | - Jingwei Sun
- Department of Medical Laboratory, Qinghai Provincial People’s Hospital, Xining, Qinghai, China
| | - Li Wang
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Qinghai University Medical College, Xining, Qinghai, China
| | - Yuxin Lin
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Qinghai University Medical College, Xining, Qinghai, China
| | - Zhijing Wu
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Qinghai University Medical College, Xining, Qinghai, China
| | - Qiangqiang Jia
- State Key Laboratory of Plateau Ecology and Agriculture, Qinghai University, Xining, Qinghai, China
| | - Shoude Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Plateau Ecology and Agriculture, Qinghai University, Xining, Qinghai, China
| | - Juan An
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Qinghai University Medical College, Xining, Qinghai, China
- Research Center for High Altitude Medicine, Qinghai University, Xining, Qinghai, China
- Key Laboratory of the Ministry of High Altitude Medicine, Qinghai University, Xining, Qinghai, China
| | - Xueman Ma
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Qinghai University Medical College, Xining, Qinghai, China
- Research Center for High Altitude Medicine, Qinghai University, Xining, Qinghai, China
- Key Laboratory of the Ministry of High Altitude Medicine, Qinghai University, Xining, Qinghai, China
| | - Qiong Wu
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Qinghai University Medical College, Xining, Qinghai, China
- Research Center for High Altitude Medicine, Qinghai University, Xining, Qinghai, China
- Key Laboratory of the Ministry of High Altitude Medicine, Qinghai University, Xining, Qinghai, China
| | - Zhanhai Su
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Qinghai University Medical College, Xining, Qinghai, China
- Research Center for High Altitude Medicine, Qinghai University, Xining, Qinghai, China
- Key Laboratory of the Ministry of High Altitude Medicine, Qinghai University, Xining, Qinghai, China
| | - Haiyan Wang
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Qinghai University Medical College, Xining, Qinghai, China
- Research Center for High Altitude Medicine, Qinghai University, Xining, Qinghai, China
- Key Laboratory of the Ministry of High Altitude Medicine, Qinghai University, Xining, Qinghai, China
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12
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Xin Y, Ma Q, Deng Q, Wang T, Wang D, Wang G. Analysis of single-cell and spatial transcriptomics in TNBC cell-cell interactions. Front Immunol 2025; 16:1521388. [PMID: 40079015 PMCID: PMC11897037 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2025.1521388] [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: 11/01/2024] [Accepted: 02/05/2025] [Indexed: 03/14/2025] Open
Abstract
Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is a highly malignant tumor in women, characterized by high morbidity, mortality, and recurrence rates. Although surgical treatment, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy are the mainstays of current treatment methods, the high heterogeneity of TNBC results in unsatisfactory outcomes with low 5-year survival rates. Rapid advancements in omics technology have propelled the understanding of TNBC molecular biology. The emergence of single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) and spatial transcriptomics (ST) has significantly enhanced knowledge of tumor heterogeneity and the distribution, functionality, and intercellular interactions of various cell types within the tumor microenvironment, including tumor cells, T cells, B cells, macrophages, and fibroblasts. The present study provides an overview of the technical characteristics of scRNA-seq and ST, highlighting their applications in exploring TNBC heterogeneity, cell spatial distribution patterns, and intercellular interactions. This review aims to enhance the comprehension of TNBC at the cellular level for the development of effective therapeutic targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan Xin
- Department of Anesthesiology, The Affiliated Hospital of Changchun University of Chinese Medicine, Changchun, China
| | - Qiji Ma
- Department of Breast and Thyroid Surgery, The Affliated Hospital to Changchun University of Chinese Medicine, Changchun, China
| | - Qiang Deng
- Department of Breast and Thyroid Surgery, The Affliated Hospital to Changchun University of Chinese Medicine, Changchun, China
| | - Tielin Wang
- College of Acupuncture, Moxibustion and Tuina, Changchun University of Chinese Medicine, Changchun, China
| | - Dongxu Wang
- Laboratory Animal Center, College of Animal Science, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Gang Wang
- Department of Breast and Thyroid Surgery, The Affliated Hospital to Changchun University of Chinese Medicine, Changchun, China
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Huang H, Ren L, Zhou Y, Chen P, Zhao H, Li S, Wang H, Li X. KAT7-acetylated YBX1 promotes hepatocellular carcinoma proliferation by reprogramming nucleotide metabolism. BMC Cancer 2025; 25:311. [PMID: 39984921 PMCID: PMC11844059 DOI: 10.1186/s12885-025-13708-w] [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: 10/26/2024] [Accepted: 02/11/2025] [Indexed: 02/23/2025] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Lysine acetylation is a critical post-translational modification regulating tumor initiation and progression. Lysine acetyltransferase 7 (KAT7)-mediated lysine acetylation is frequently dysregulated in cancer. However, the role of KAT7-mediated lysine acetylation in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) progression remains unclear. METHODS Bioinformatic analysis was used to investigate the expression, clinicopathological characteristics and diagnostic prognostic value of KAT7 in HCC. CCK-8 assays, colony-forming assays, apoptosis assays and nude mouse xenograft models were utilized to detect the oncogenic functions of KAT7 in HCC. Immunoprecipitation (IP) assay and mass spectrometry (MS) analysis were performed to identify the KAT7-binding protein Y-box binding protein 1 (YBX1). Transcriptome sequencing and functional enrichment analysis were employed to elucidate the downstream pathway regulated by KAT7 and YBX1. Chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) assay was used to evaluate YBX1 binding to the promoter regions of ribonucleotide reductase regulatory subunit M2 (RRM2) and thymidine kinase 1 (TK1). Weighted gene co-expression network analysis and selection operator regression analysis were used to build risk prediction models. RESULTS This study demonstrated that elevated KAT7 expression is associated with poor prognosis in HCC patients. Knockdown of endogenous KAT7 in HCC cells attenuated tumorigenic phenotypes associated with cell proliferation, colony formation and orthotopic xenograft tumor growth, indicating a pro-tumorigenic role of KAT7 in HCC. YBX1 was identified as a novel non-histone substrate for KAT7, and the E508 residue of KAT7 is essential for binding. Following the functional enrichment analysis, KAT7 and YBX1 were correlated with nucleotide metabolism. Furthermore, KAT7 binds to YBX1 and modulates its post-translational expression, which enhances the transcriptional activity of the central nucleotide metabolism enzymes RRM2 and TK1. Additionally, we constructed a novel prognostic prediction model based on KAT7, YBX1, RRM2 and TK1, which validated the predictive accuracy and prognostic value of KAT7-mediated acetylation is consistent with clinical outcomes in HCC. CONCLUSIONS Our findings highlight that KAT7 acetylates YBX1 and promotes HCC progression by reprogramming nucleotide metabolism, offering therapeutic implications.
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Affiliation(s)
- He Huang
- The First School of Clinical Medicine, Lanzhou University, 222 Tianshui South Road, Lanzhou, 730000, PR China
| | - Longfei Ren
- Department of General Surgery, The First Hospital of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, PR China
| | - Yongqiang Zhou
- The First School of Clinical Medicine, Lanzhou University, 222 Tianshui South Road, Lanzhou, 730000, PR China
| | - Pengyu Chen
- The First School of Clinical Medicine, Lanzhou University, 222 Tianshui South Road, Lanzhou, 730000, PR China
| | - Haixia Zhao
- The First School of Clinical Medicine, Lanzhou University, 222 Tianshui South Road, Lanzhou, 730000, PR China
| | - Shang Li
- The First School of Clinical Medicine, Lanzhou University, 222 Tianshui South Road, Lanzhou, 730000, PR China
| | - Haiping Wang
- Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Regenerative Medicine of Gansu Province, Lanzhou, 730000, PR China
| | - Xun Li
- The First School of Clinical Medicine, Lanzhou University, 222 Tianshui South Road, Lanzhou, 730000, PR China.
- Department of General Surgery, The First Hospital of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, PR China.
- Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Regenerative Medicine of Gansu Province, Lanzhou, 730000, PR China.
- National Clinical Key Specialty of General Surgery, The First Hospital of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, PR China.
- Cancer Prevention and Treatment Center of Lanzhou University School of Medicine, Lanzhou, 730000, PR China.
- Precision Medicine Laboratory, The First Hospital of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, PR China.
- Hepatopancreatobiliary Surgery Institute of Gansu Province, Lanzhou, 730000, PR China.
- Clinical Research Center for General Surgery of Gansu Province, Lanzhou, 730000, PR China.
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An Q, Duan L, Wang Y, Wang F, Liu X, Liu C, Hu Q. Role of CD4 + T cells in cancer immunity: a single-cell sequencing exploration of tumor microenvironment. J Transl Med 2025; 23:179. [PMID: 39953548 PMCID: PMC11829416 DOI: 10.1186/s12967-025-06167-1] [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: 11/08/2024] [Accepted: 01/22/2025] [Indexed: 02/17/2025] Open
Abstract
Recent oncological research has intensely focused on the tumor immune microenvironment (TME), particularly the functions of CD4 + T lymphocytes. CD4+ T lymphocytes have been implicated in antigen presentation, cytokine release, and cytotoxicity, suggesting their contribution to the dynamics of the TME. Furthermore, the application of single-cell sequencing has yielded profound insights into the phenotypic diversity and functional specificity of CD4+ T cells in the TME. In this review, we discuss the current findings from single-cell analyses, emphasizing the heterogeneity of CD4+ T cell subsets and their implications in tumor immunology. In addition, we review the critical signaling pathways and molecular networks underpinning CD4+ T cell activities, thereby offering novel perspectives on therapeutic targets and strategies for cancer treatment and prognosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qi An
- Department of Oncology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430060, China
| | - Li Duan
- Department of Oncology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430060, China
| | - Yuanyuan Wang
- Department of Oncology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430060, China
| | - Fuxin Wang
- Department of Oncology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430060, China
| | - Xiang Liu
- Department of Radiation Oncology, The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Gannan Medical University, Jiangxi, 341000, China.
| | - Chao Liu
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing, 100034, China.
| | - Qinyong Hu
- Department of Oncology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430060, China.
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15
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Nedeljković M, Vuletić A, Mirjačić Martinović K. Divide and Conquer-Targeted Therapy for Triple-Negative Breast Cancer. Int J Mol Sci 2025; 26:1396. [PMID: 40003864 PMCID: PMC11855393 DOI: 10.3390/ijms26041396] [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: 12/16/2024] [Revised: 01/31/2025] [Accepted: 02/04/2025] [Indexed: 02/27/2025] Open
Abstract
Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is the most aggressive and malignant type of breast cancer with limited treatment options and poor prognosis. One of the most significant impediments in TNBC treatment is the high heterogeneity of this disease, as highlighted by the detection of several molecular subtypes of TNBC. Each subtype is driven by distinct mutations and pathway aberrations, giving rise to specific molecular characteristics closely connected to clinical behavior, outcomes, and drug sensitivity. This review summarizes the knowledge regarding TNBC molecular subtypes and how it can be harnessed to devise tailored treatment strategies instead of blindly using targeted drugs. We provide an overview of novel targeted agents and key insights about new treatment modalities with an emphasis on the androgen receptor signaling pathway, cancer stem cell-associated pathways, phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/AKT pathway, growth factor signaling, and immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Milica Nedeljković
- Department of Experimental Oncology, Institute for Oncology and Radiology of Serbia, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia; (A.V.); (K.M.M.)
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Sabit H, Arneth B, Pawlik TM, Abdel-Ghany S, Ghazy A, Abdelazeem RM, Alqosaibi A, Al-Dhuayan IS, Almulhim J, Alrabiah NA, Hashash A. Leveraging Single-Cell Multi-Omics to Decode Tumor Microenvironment Diversity and Therapeutic Resistance. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2025; 18:75. [PMID: 39861138 PMCID: PMC11768313 DOI: 10.3390/ph18010075] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2024] [Revised: 01/03/2025] [Accepted: 01/08/2025] [Indexed: 01/27/2025] Open
Abstract
Recent developments in single-cell multi-omics technologies have provided the ability to identify diverse cell types and decipher key components of the tumor microenvironment (TME), leading to important advancements toward a much deeper understanding of how tumor microenvironment heterogeneity contributes to cancer progression and therapeutic resistance. These technologies are able to integrate data from molecular genomic, transcriptomic, proteomics, and metabolomics studies of cells at a single-cell resolution scale that give rise to the full cellular and molecular complexity in the TME. Understanding the complex and sometimes reciprocal relationships among cancer cells, CAFs, immune cells, and ECs has led to novel insights into their immense heterogeneity in functions, which can have important consequences on tumor behavior. In-depth studies have uncovered immune evasion mechanisms, including the exhaustion of T cells and metabolic reprogramming in response to hypoxia from cancer cells. Single-cell multi-omics also revealed resistance mechanisms, such as stromal cell-secreted factors and physical barriers in the extracellular matrix. Future studies examining specific metabolic pathways and targeting approaches to reduce the heterogeneity in the TME will likely lead to better outcomes with immunotherapies, drug delivery, etc., for cancer treatments. Future studies will incorporate multi-omics data, spatial relationships in tumor micro-environments, and their translation into personalized cancer therapies. This review emphasizes how single-cell multi-omics can provide insights into the cellular and molecular heterogeneity of the TME, revealing immune evasion mechanisms, metabolic reprogramming, and stromal cell influences. These insights aim to guide the development of personalized and targeted cancer therapies, highlighting the role of TME diversity in shaping tumor behavior and treatment outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hussein Sabit
- Department of Medical Biotechnology, College of Biotechnology, Misr University for Science and Technology, P.O. Box 77, Giza 3237101, Egypt
| | - Borros Arneth
- Institute of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiochemistry, Molecular Diagnostics, Hospital of the Universities of Giessen and Marburg (UKGM), Philipps University Marburg, Baldingerstr. 1, 35043 Marburg, Germany
| | - Timothy M. Pawlik
- Department of Surgery, The Ohio State University, Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
| | - Shaimaa Abdel-Ghany
- Department of Environmental Biotechnology, College of Biotechnology, Misr University for Science and Technology, P.O. Box 77, Giza 3237101, Egypt
| | - Aysha Ghazy
- Department of Agricultural Biotechnology, College of Biotechnology, Misr University for Science and Technology, P.O. Box 77, Giza 3237101, Egypt
| | - Rawan M. Abdelazeem
- Department of Medical Biotechnology, College of Biotechnology, Misr University for Science and Technology, P.O. Box 77, Giza 3237101, Egypt
| | - Amany Alqosaibi
- Department of Biology, College of Science, Imam Abdulrahman bin Faisal University, P.O. Box 1982, Dammam 31441, Saudi Arabia
| | - Ibtesam S. Al-Dhuayan
- Department of Biology, College of Science, Imam Abdulrahman bin Faisal University, P.O. Box 1982, Dammam 31441, Saudi Arabia
| | - Jawaher Almulhim
- Department of Biological Sciences, King Faisal University, Alahsa 31982, Saudi Arabia
| | - Noof A. Alrabiah
- Department of Biological Sciences, King Faisal University, Alahsa 31982, Saudi Arabia
| | - Ahmed Hashash
- Department of Biomedicine, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA
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Lin L, Wen J, Xu T, Si Y. TM4SF4 is a diagnostic biomarker accelerating progression of papillary thyroid cancer via AKT pathway. Cancer Biol Ther 2024; 25:2424570. [PMID: 39497261 PMCID: PMC11540099 DOI: 10.1080/15384047.2024.2424570] [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: 06/16/2024] [Revised: 10/27/2024] [Accepted: 10/28/2024] [Indexed: 11/08/2024] Open
Abstract
The incidence of papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) has been steadily rising, though the underlying mechanism remains unclear. This study aims to elucidate the biological role of TM4SF4 in the PTC progression. Our differential expression analysis indicated that TM4SF4 was significantly upregulated in PTC, which was corroborated in both our local cohort and the data from Human Protein Atlas. Additionally, clinical characteristics analysis and receiver operating characteristic curves (ROC) demonstrated that TM4SF4 served as a significant diagnostic marker for PTC. Correlation and enrichment analysis of TM4SF4-related partners suggested that it was involved in cell junction and cohesion processes. Furthermore, immune infiltration analysis revealed a positive correlation between TM4SF4 expression and the immune activation in PTC. Importantly, in vitro experiments demonstrated that TM4SF4 downregulation suppressed the proliferation and metastasis of PTC cell lines while inducing apoptosis. We further discovered that the AKT activator SC79 was able to reverse the malignant behaviors suppression caused by TM4SF4 knockdown, suggesting that TM4SF4 may promote PTC progression via the AKT pathway. In conclusion, our study highlights the oncogenic role of TM4SF4 in PTC and identifies it as a novel biomarker for diagnosis and treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lizhi Lin
- Department of Surgery, Clinical Sciences Lund, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
| | - Jialiang Wen
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Shanghai Pulmonary Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, PR China
| | - Tiansheng Xu
- Department of Anorectal Surgery, The Quzhou Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Quzhou People’s Hospital, Quzhou, Zhejiang, PR China
| | - Yuhao Si
- Department of Anorectal Surgery, The Quzhou Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Quzhou People’s Hospital, Quzhou, Zhejiang, PR China
- Department of Breast Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, PR China
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An J, Lu Y, Chen Y, Chen Y, Zhou Z, Chen J, Peng C, Huang R, Peng F. Spatial transcriptomics in breast cancer: providing insight into tumor heterogeneity and promoting individualized therapy. Front Immunol 2024; 15:1499301. [PMID: 39749323 PMCID: PMC11693744 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2024.1499301] [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: 09/20/2024] [Accepted: 12/05/2024] [Indexed: 01/04/2025] Open
Abstract
A comprehensive understanding of tumor heterogeneity, tumor microenvironment and the mechanisms of drug resistance is fundamental to advancing breast cancer research. While single-cell RNA sequencing has resolved the issue of "temporal dynamic expression" of genes at the single-cell level, the lack of spatial information still prevents us from gaining a comprehensive understanding of breast cancer. The introduction and application of spatial transcriptomics addresses this limitation. As the annual technical method of 2020, spatial transcriptomics preserves the spatial location of tissues and resolves RNA-seq data to help localize and differentiate the active expression of functional genes within a specific tissue region, enabling the study of spatial location attributes of gene locations and cellular tissue environments. In the context of breast cancer, spatial transcriptomics can assist in the identification of novel breast cancer subtypes and spatially discriminative features that show promise for individualized precise treatment. This article summarized the key technical approaches, recent advances in spatial transcriptomics and its applications in breast cancer, and discusses the limitations of current spatial transcriptomics methods and the prospects for future development, with a view to advancing the application of this technology in clinical practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junsha An
- West China School of Pharmacy, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
- State Key Laboratory of Southwestern Chinese Medicine Resources, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
- Cardiovascular Department, Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
| | - Yajie Lu
- West China School of Pharmacy, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Yuxi Chen
- West China School of Pharmacy, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Yuling Chen
- West China School of Pharmacy, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Zhaokai Zhou
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Jianping Chen
- School of Chinese Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Cheng Peng
- State Key Laboratory of Southwestern Chinese Medicine Resources, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
| | - Ruizhen Huang
- Cardiovascular Department, Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
| | - Fu Peng
- West China School of Pharmacy, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
- Key Laboratory of Drug-Targeting and Drug Delivery System of the Education Ministry, Sichuan Engineering Laboratory for Plant-Sourced Drug and Sichuan Research Center for Drug Precision Industrial Technology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
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Yu C, Xing H, Fu X, Zhang Y, Yan X, Feng J, He Z, Ru L, Huang C, Liang J. Effect and mechanisms of shikonin on breast cancer cells in vitro and in vivo. BMC Complement Med Ther 2024; 24:389. [PMID: 39516823 PMCID: PMC11549804 DOI: 10.1186/s12906-024-04671-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2023] [Accepted: 10/01/2024] [Indexed: 11/16/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Breast cancer seriously affects physical and mental health of women. Despite advances in the clinical use of different treatments, breast cancer remains a major cause of mortality. Therefore, it is imperative to identify promising treatment options. In the present study, we investigated the effects of shikonin on 4T1 breast cancer cells and its potential mechanisms of action. METHODS BALB/c-derived mouse breast cancer 4T1 is very close to human breast cancer in growth characteristics and systemic response, so 4T1 cells were selected for further experiments. Cell viability, apoptosis, intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS), mitochondrial activity, and cellular calreticulin (CRT) exposure were assessed to evaluate the antitumor effects and mechanisms of shikonin in vitro. Orthotopic tumor growth inhibition and splenic immune cell regulation by shikonin were evaluated in 4T1 breast cancer orthotopic mice in vivo. RESULTS In vitro, shikonin could inhibit cell proliferation, cause apoptosis, disrupt mitochondrial activity, and induce ROS production and CRT exposure. In vivo, shikonin inhibited tumor growth, increased the proportion of CD8+ T cells, and reduced the proportion of regulatory cells (CD25+ Foxp3+ T cells) in the spleen. CONCLUSIONS Shikonin inhibits the growth of 4T1 breast cancer cells by disrupting mitochondrial activity, promoting oxidative stress, and regulating immune function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chuyi Yu
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, 510405, China
- Artemisinin Research Center, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, 510006, China
| | - Haoyu Xing
- Artemisinin Research Center, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, 510006, China
| | - Xiaguo Fu
- Artemisinin Research Center, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, 510006, China
| | - Yingying Zhang
- Artemisinin Research Center, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, 510006, China
| | - Xiufang Yan
- Artemisinin Research Center, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, 510006, China
| | - Jianjia Feng
- Artemisinin Research Center, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, 510006, China
| | - Zhouqin He
- Artemisinin Research Center, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, 510006, China
| | - Li Ru
- Artemisinin Research Center, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, 510006, China
| | - Chunlong Huang
- Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital Zhuhai Hospital, Zhuhai Golden Bay Center Hospital, Zhuhai, 519090, China.
| | - Jianming Liang
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, 510405, China.
- Artemisinin Research Center, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, 510006, China.
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20
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Li Z, Wu Z, You X, Tang N. Pan-cancer analysis reveals that TK1 promotes tumor progression by mediating cell proliferation and Th2 cell polarization. Cancer Cell Int 2024; 24:329. [PMID: 39343871 PMCID: PMC11440694 DOI: 10.1186/s12935-024-03515-x] [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: 04/24/2024] [Accepted: 09/22/2024] [Indexed: 10/01/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND TK1 (Thymidine kinase 1) is a member of the thymidine kinase family and has been observed to be significantly upregulated in a variety of cancer types. However, the exact roles of TK1 in tumor progression and the tumor immune microenvironment are not fully understood. This study aims to investigate the comprehensive involvement of TK1 in pan-cancer through the utilization of bioinformatics analysis, validation of pathological tissue samples, and in vitro experimental investigations. METHODS The expression profiles together with diagnostic and prognostic role of TK1 in pan-cancer were investigated though TCGA, TARGET, GTEx, and CPTAC databases. The single-sample gene set enrichment analysis (ssGSEA) and single-cell sequencing datasets were used to examine the relationship between TK1 and immune infiltration. The expression of TK1 were verified in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) through qPCR, western blotting and immunohistochemical assays. The proliferative capacity of HCC cell lines was assessed through CCK-8 and colony formation assays, while cytokine levels were measured via ELISA. Furthermore, flow cytometry was utilized to analyze cell cycle distribution and the proportions of Th2 cells. RESULTS TK1 was overexpressed in most cancers and demonstrated significant diagnostic and prognostic value. Among the various immune cells in pan-cancer, Th2 cells exhibited the closest association with TK1. Furthermore, the single-cell atlas provided insights into the distribution and proportion of TK1 in immune cells of HCC. In vitro experiments revealed an elevated expression of TK1 in HCC tissue and cell lines, and its role in influencing HCC cell proliferation by regulating G0/G1 phase arrest. Additionally, TK1 in cancer cells was found to potentially modulate Th2 cell polarization through the chemokine CCL5. CONCLUSION TK1 holds immense potential as a biomarker for pan-cancer diagnosis and prognosis. Additionally, targeting the expression of TK1 represents a promising therapeutic approach that can enhance the efficacy of current anti-tumor immunotherapy by modulating Th2 cell polarization and multiple mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhecheng Li
- Department of General Surgery, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, 410008, China
| | - Zhaoyi Wu
- Department of Thyroid and Breast Surgery, Hunan Provincial People's Hospital, The First Affiliated Hospital of Human Normal University, Changsha, 410008, China
| | - Xing You
- Department of General Surgery, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, 410008, China
| | - Neng Tang
- Department of General Surgery, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, 410008, China.
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21
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Zhang R, Jiang Q, Zhuang Z, Zeng H, Li Y. A bibliometric analysis of drug resistance in immunotherapy for breast cancer: trends, themes, and research focus. Front Immunol 2024; 15:1452303. [PMID: 39188717 PMCID: PMC11345160 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2024.1452303] [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: 06/20/2024] [Accepted: 07/24/2024] [Indexed: 08/28/2024] Open
Abstract
While breast cancer treatments have advanced significantly nowadays, yet metastatic, especially triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), remains challenging with low survival. Cancer immunotherapy, a promising approach for HER2-positive and TNBC, still faces resistance hurdles. Recently, numerous studies have set their sights on the resistance of immunotherapy for breast cancer. Our study provides a thorough comprehension of the current research landscape, hotspots, and emerging breakthroughs in this critical area through a meticulous bibliometric analysis. As of March 26, 2024, a total of 1341 articles on immunology resistance in breast cancer have been gathered from Web of Science Core Collection, including 765 articles and 576 reviews. Bibliometrix, CiteSpace and VOSviewer software were utilized to examine publications and citations per year, prolific countries, contributive institutions, high-level journals and scholars, as well as highly cited articles, references and keywords. The research of immunotherapy resistance in breast cancer has witnessed a remarkable surge over the past seven years. The United States and China have made significant contributions, with Harvard Medical School being the most prolific institution and actively engaging in collaborations. The most contributive author is Curigliano, G from the European Institute of Oncology in Italy, while Wucherpfennig, K. W. from the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in the USA, had the highest citations. Journals highly productive primarily focus on clinical, immunology and oncology research. Common keywords include "resistance", "expression", "tumor microenvironment", "cancer", "T cell", "therapy", "chemotherapy" and "cell". Current research endeavors to unravel the mechanisms of immune resistance in breast cancer through the integration of bioinformatics, basic experiments, and clinical trials. Efforts are underway to develop strategies that improve the effectiveness of immunotherapy, including the exploration of combination therapies and advancements in drug delivery systems. Additionally, there is a strong focus on identifying novel biomarkers that can predict patient response to immunology. This study will provide researchers with an up-to-date overview of the present knowledge in drug resistance of immunology for breast cancer, serving as a valuable resource for informed decision-making and further research on innovative approaches to address immunotherapy resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rendong Zhang
- Department of Breast Surgery, Cancer Hospital of Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, China
| | - Qiongzhi Jiang
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Cancer Hospital of Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, China
| | - Zhemin Zhuang
- Engineering College, Shantou University, Shantou, Guangdong, China
| | - Huancheng Zeng
- Department of Breast Surgery, Cancer Hospital of Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, China
| | - Yaochen Li
- The Central Laboratory, Cancer Hospital of Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, China
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22
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Vidana Gamage HE, Albright ST, Smith AJ, Farmer R, Shahoei SH, Wang Y, Fink EC, Jacquin E, Weisser E, Bautista RO, Henn MA, Schane CP, Nelczyk AT, Ma L, Das Gupta A, Bendre SV, Nguyen T, Tiwari S, Krawczynska N, He S, Tjoanda E, Chen H, Sverdlov M, Gann PH, Boidot R, Vegran F, Fanning SW, Apetoh L, Hergenrother PJ, Nelson ER. Development of NR0B2 as a therapeutic target for the re-education of tumor associated myeloid cells. Cancer Lett 2024; 597:217086. [PMID: 38944231 PMCID: PMC11890212 DOI: 10.1016/j.canlet.2024.217086] [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: 03/08/2024] [Revised: 06/20/2024] [Accepted: 06/25/2024] [Indexed: 07/01/2024]
Abstract
Immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) has had limited utility in several solid tumors such as breast cancer, a major cause of cancer-related mortality in women. Therefore, there is considerable interest in alternate strategies to promote an anti-cancer immune response. A paper co-published in this issue describes how NR0B2, a protein involved in cholesterol homeostasis, functions within myeloid immune cells to modulate the inflammasome and reduce the expansion of immune-suppressive regulatory T cells (Treg). Here, we develop NR0B2 as a potential therapeutic target. NR0B2 in tumors is associated with improved survival for several cancer types including breast. Importantly, NR0B2 expression is also prognostic of ICB success. Within breast tumors, NR0B2 expression is inversely associated with FOXP3, a marker of Tregs. While a described agonist (DSHN) had some efficacy, it required high doses and long treatment times. Therefore, we designed and screened several derivatives. A methyl ester derivative (DSHN-OMe) emerged as superior in terms of (1) cellular uptake, (2) ability to regulate expected expression of genes, (3) suppression of Treg expansion using in vitro co-culture systems, and (4) efficacy against the growth of primary and metastatic tumors. This work identifies NR0B2 as a target to re-educate myeloid immune cells and a novel ligand with significant anti-tumor efficacy in preclinical models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hashni Epa Vidana Gamage
- Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Illinois, USA
| | - Samuel T Albright
- Department of Chemistry, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Illinois, USA
| | - Amanda J Smith
- Department of Chemistry, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Illinois, USA
| | - Rachel Farmer
- Department of Chemistry, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Illinois, USA
| | - Sayyed Hamed Shahoei
- Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Illinois, USA
| | - Yu Wang
- Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Illinois, USA
| | - Emma C Fink
- Department of Cancer Biology, Loyola University Chicago Health Sciences Campus, Illinois, USA
| | | | - Erin Weisser
- Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Illinois, USA
| | - Rafael O Bautista
- Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Illinois, USA
| | - Madeline A Henn
- Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Illinois, USA
| | - Claire P Schane
- Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Illinois, USA
| | - Adam T Nelczyk
- Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Illinois, USA
| | - Liqian Ma
- Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Illinois, USA
| | - Anasuya Das Gupta
- Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Illinois, USA
| | - Shruti V Bendre
- Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Illinois, USA
| | - Tiffany Nguyen
- Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Illinois, USA
| | - Srishti Tiwari
- Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Illinois, USA
| | - Natalia Krawczynska
- Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Illinois, USA; Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Illinois, USA
| | - Sisi He
- Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Illinois, USA
| | - Evelyn Tjoanda
- Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Illinois, USA
| | - Hong Chen
- Food Science & Human Nutrition, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Illinois, USA
| | - Maria Sverdlov
- Research Histology and Tissue Imaging Core, University of Illinois at Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Peter H Gann
- Research Histology and Tissue Imaging Core, University of Illinois at Chicago, Illinois, USA; Department of Pathology, University of Illinois at Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Romain Boidot
- Unit of Molecular Biology, Department of Biology and Pathology of Tumors, Georges-Francois Leclerc Cancer Center, Dijon, France; ICMUB UMR CNRS 6302, Dijon, France
| | | | - Sean W Fanning
- Department of Cancer Biology, Loyola University Chicago Health Sciences Campus, Illinois, USA
| | | | - Paul J Hergenrother
- Department of Chemistry, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Illinois, USA; Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology- Anticancer Discovery from Pets to People, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Illinois, USA; Cancer Center at Illinois, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Illinois, USA
| | - Erik R Nelson
- Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Illinois, USA; Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Illinois, USA; Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology- Anticancer Discovery from Pets to People, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Illinois, USA; Cancer Center at Illinois, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Illinois, USA; Division of Nutritional Sciences, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Illinois, USA.
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Su QY, Li HC, Jiang XJ, Jiang ZQ, Zhang Y, Zhang HY, Zhang SX. Exploring the therapeutic potential of regulatory T cell in rheumatoid arthritis: Insights into subsets, markers, and signaling pathways. Biomed Pharmacother 2024; 174:116440. [PMID: 38518605 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2024.116440] [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: 01/21/2024] [Revised: 03/11/2024] [Accepted: 03/15/2024] [Indexed: 03/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a complex autoimmune inflammatory rheumatic disease characterized by an imbalance between immunological reactivity and immune tolerance. Regulatory T cells (Tregs), which play a crucial role in controlling ongoing autoimmunity and maintaining peripheral tolerance, have shown great potential for the treatment of autoimmune inflammatory rheumatic diseases such as RA. This review aims to provide an updated summary of the latest insights into Treg-targeting techniques in RA. We focus on current therapeutic strategies for targeting Tregs based on discussing their subsets, surface markers, suppressive function, and signaling pathways in RA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qin-Yi Su
- The Second Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Department of Rheumatology, Taiyuan, China; Shanxi Provincial Key Laboratory of Rheumatism Immune Microecology, Taiyuan, Shanxi Province, China; Key Laboratory of Cellular Physiology at Shanxi Medical University, Ministry of Education, Taiyuan, Shanxi Province, China
| | - Huan-Cheng Li
- Shanxi Provincial Key Laboratory of Rheumatism Immune Microecology, Taiyuan, Shanxi Province, China; Key Laboratory of Cellular Physiology at Shanxi Medical University, Ministry of Education, Taiyuan, Shanxi Province, China
| | - Xiao-Jing Jiang
- Shanxi Provincial Key Laboratory of Rheumatism Immune Microecology, Taiyuan, Shanxi Province, China; Key Laboratory of Cellular Physiology at Shanxi Medical University, Ministry of Education, Taiyuan, Shanxi Province, China
| | - Zhong-Qing Jiang
- Shanxi Provincial Key Laboratory of Rheumatism Immune Microecology, Taiyuan, Shanxi Province, China; Key Laboratory of Cellular Physiology at Shanxi Medical University, Ministry of Education, Taiyuan, Shanxi Province, China
| | - Yan Zhang
- Shanxi Provincial Key Laboratory of Rheumatism Immune Microecology, Taiyuan, Shanxi Province, China; Key Laboratory of Cellular Physiology at Shanxi Medical University, Ministry of Education, Taiyuan, Shanxi Province, China
| | - He-Yi Zhang
- Shanxi Provincial Key Laboratory of Rheumatism Immune Microecology, Taiyuan, Shanxi Province, China; Key Laboratory of Cellular Physiology at Shanxi Medical University, Ministry of Education, Taiyuan, Shanxi Province, China
| | - Sheng-Xiao Zhang
- The Second Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Department of Rheumatology, Taiyuan, China; Shanxi Provincial Key Laboratory of Rheumatism Immune Microecology, Taiyuan, Shanxi Province, China; Key Laboratory of Cellular Physiology at Shanxi Medical University, Ministry of Education, Taiyuan, Shanxi Province, China.
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24
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Zhang Z, Wang J, Shi Y, Wang B, Wang D. Cathepsin L promotes oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma development and may be associated with tumour-associated macrophages. Heliyon 2024; 10:e29273. [PMID: 38601581 PMCID: PMC11004422 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e29273] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2024] [Revised: 04/02/2024] [Accepted: 04/03/2024] [Indexed: 04/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is a leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide because existing treatments are often insufficient. Therefore, new, reliable biomarkers must be identified. CTSL overexpression is closely associated with tumour progression and poor prognosis. However, the role and mechanism of CTSL as an oncogene in ESCC remain unclear. Methods Genome-wide association study (GWAS) data were used for Mendelian randomization analysis to investigate the possible relationships between CTSL and ESCC. The correlation between CTSL expression and prognosis was analysed using GEO, TCGA, and GEPIA data. We compared CTSL expression among the cell types using single-cell sequencing. Correlations between CTSL and the tumour microenvironment, immune cell infiltration, tumour mutational load, immunological checkpoints, and treatment sensitivity in patients with ESCC were investigated. Finally, using mouse models and cellular investigations, we assessed the effects of CTSL on the growth, apoptosis, and metastasis of ESCC tumour cells. Results CTSL was overexpressed in ESCC and correlated with prognosis. We also discovered its close association with cell immunity, especially with tumour-associated macrophages and immune checkpoints in the tumour microenvironment. CTSL may play a key role in ESCC development by affecting M2 macrophage polarisation. CTSL and the M2 macrophage marker genes showed significant positive correlations. Mendelian randomization analysis confirmed a relationship between CTSL and ESCC. Finally, our in vitro and in vivo experiments demonstrated that CTSL promoted the proliferation and migration of ESCC cells, validating our bioinformatic analysis. Conclusion CTSL emerged as a crucial gene in ESCC that influences patient prognosis and immunity, particularly in association with M2 macrophages. Therefore, targeting or modulating CTSL levels may provide new therapeutic strategies for patients with ESCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhenhu Zhang
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, 250021, China
| | - Jianyu Wang
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, 250021, China
| | - Yamin Shi
- School of Foreign Languages, Shandong University of Finance and Economics, Jinan, 250014, China
| | - Ben Wang
- Department of Gastroenterology, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, 250021, China
| | - Dong Wang
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, 250021, China
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25
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Said SS, Ibrahim WN. Breaking Barriers: The Promise and Challenges of Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer. Biomedicines 2024; 12:369. [PMID: 38397971 PMCID: PMC10886684 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines12020369] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2023] [Revised: 01/06/2024] [Accepted: 01/08/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is a highly aggressive malignancy with pronounced immunogenicity, exhibiting rapid proliferation and immune cell infiltration into the tumor microenvironment. TNBC's heterogeneity poses challenges to immunological treatments, inducing resistance mechanisms in the tumor microenvironment. Therapeutic modalities, including immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) targeting PD-1, PD-L1, and CTLA-4, are explored in preclinical and clinical trials. Promising results emerge from combining ICIs with anti-TGF-β and VISTA, hindering TNBC tumor growth. TNBC cells employ complex evasion strategies involving interactions with stromal and immune cells, suppressing immune recognition through various cytokines, chemokines, and metabolites. The recent focus on unraveling humoral and cellular components aims to disrupt cancer crosstalk within the tumor microenvironment. This review identifies TNBC's latest resistance mechanisms, exploring potential targets for clinical trials to overcome immune checkpoint resistance and enhance patient survival rates.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Wisam Nabeel Ibrahim
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, QU Health, Qatar University, Doha P.O. Box 2713, Qatar;
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