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Gulia S, Chandra P, Das A. Combating anoikis resistance: bioactive compounds transforming prostate cancer therapy. Anticancer Drugs 2024:00001813-990000000-00286. [PMID: 38743565 DOI: 10.1097/cad.0000000000001616] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/16/2024]
Abstract
The study aims to discuss the challenges associated with treating prostate cancer (PCa), which is known for its complexity and drug resistance. It attempts to find differentially expressed genes (DEGs), such as those linked to anoikis resistance and circulating tumor cells, in PCa samples. This study involves analyzing the functional roles of these DEGs using gene enrichment analysis, and then screening of 102 bioactive compounds to identify a combination that can control the expression of the identified DEGs. In this study, 53 DEGs were identified from PCa samples including anoikis-resistant PCa cells and circulating tumor cells in PCa. Gene enrichment analysis with regards to functional enrichment of DEGs was performed. An inclusive screening process was carried out among 102 bioactive compounds to identify a combination capable of affecting and regulating the expression of selected DEGs. Eventually, gastrodin, nitidine chloride, chenodeoxycholic acid, and bilobalide were selected, as their combination demonstrated ability to modulate expression of 50 out of the 53 genes targeted. The subsequent analysis focused on investigating the biological pathways and processes influenced by this combination. The findings revealed a multifaceted and multidimensional approach to tumor regression. The combination of bioactive compounds exhibited effects on various genes including those related to production of inflammatory cytokines, cell proliferation, autophagy, apoptosis, angiogenesis, and metastasis. The current study has made a valuable contribution to the development of a combination of bioactive natural compounds that can significantly impede the development of treatment resistance in prostate tumor while countering the tumors' evasion of the immune system. The implications of this study are highly significant as it suggests the creation of an enhanced immunotherapeutic, natural therapeutic concoction with combinatorial potential.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shweta Gulia
- Department of Biotechnology, Delhi technological university, Delhi, India
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2
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Abdul Manap AS, Wisham AA, Wong FW, Ahmad Najmi HR, Ng ZF, Diba RS. Mapping the function of MicroRNAs as a critical regulator of tumor-immune cell communication in breast cancer and potential treatment strategies. Front Cell Dev Biol 2024; 12:1390704. [PMID: 38726321 PMCID: PMC11079208 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2024.1390704] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2024] [Accepted: 04/09/2024] [Indexed: 05/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Among women, breast cancer ranks as the most prevalent form of cancer, and the presence of metastases significantly reduces prognosis and diminishes overall survival rates. Gaining insights into the biological mechanisms governing the conversion of cancer cells, their subsequent spread to other areas of the body, and the immune system's monitoring of tumor growth will contribute to the advancement of more efficient and targeted therapies. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) play a critical role in the interaction between tumor cells and immune cells, facilitating tumor cells' evasion of the immune system and promoting cancer progression. Additionally, miRNAs also influence metastasis formation, including the establishment of metastatic sites and the transformation of tumor cells into migratory phenotypes. Specifically, dysregulated expression of these genes has been associated with abnormal expression of oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes, thereby facilitating tumor development. This study aims to provide a concise overview of the significance and function of miRNAs in breast cancer, focusing on their involvement as tumor suppressors in the antitumor immune response and as oncogenes in metastasis formation. Furthermore, miRNAs hold tremendous potential as targets for gene therapy due to their ability to modulate specific pathways that can either promote or suppress carcinogenesis. This perspective highlights the latest strategies developed for miRNA-based therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aimi Syamima Abdul Manap
- Department of Biomedical Science, College of Veterinary Medicine, King Faisal University, Al-Ahsa, Saudi Arabia
| | | | - Fei Wen Wong
- Faculty of Biosciences, MAHSA University, Kuala Langat, Selangor, Malaysia
| | | | - Zhi Fei Ng
- Faculty of Biosciences, MAHSA University, Kuala Langat, Selangor, Malaysia
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Gaebler D, Hachey SJ, Hughes CCW. Microphysiological systems as models for immunologically 'cold' tumors. Front Cell Dev Biol 2024; 12:1389012. [PMID: 38711620 PMCID: PMC11070549 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2024.1389012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2024] [Accepted: 03/25/2024] [Indexed: 05/08/2024] Open
Abstract
The tumor microenvironment (TME) is a diverse milieu of cells including cancerous and non-cancerous cells such as fibroblasts, pericytes, endothelial cells and immune cells. The intricate cellular interactions within the TME hold a central role in shaping the dynamics of cancer progression, influencing pivotal aspects such as tumor initiation, growth, invasion, response to therapeutic interventions, and the emergence of drug resistance. In immunologically 'cold' tumors, the TME is marked by a scarcity of infiltrating immune cells, limited antigen presentation in the absence of potent immune-stimulating signals, and an abundance of immunosuppressive factors. While strategies targeting the TME as a therapeutic avenue in 'cold' tumors have emerged, there is a pressing need for novel approaches that faithfully replicate the complex cellular and non-cellular interactions in order to develop targeted therapies that can effectively stimulate immune responses and improve therapeutic outcomes in patients. Microfluidic devices offer distinct advantages over traditional in vitro 3D co-culture models and in vivo animal models, as they better recapitulate key characteristics of the TME and allow for precise, controlled insights into the dynamic interplay between various immune, stromal and cancerous cell types at any timepoint. This review aims to underscore the pivotal role of microfluidic systems in advancing our understanding of the TME and presents current microfluidic model systems that aim to dissect tumor-stromal, tumor-immune and immune-stromal cellular interactions in various 'cold' tumors. Understanding the intricacies of the TME in 'cold' tumors is crucial for devising effective targeted therapies to reinvigorate immune responses and overcome the challenges of current immunotherapy approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniela Gaebler
- Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, United States
| | - Stephanie J. Hachey
- Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, United States
| | - Christopher C. W. Hughes
- Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, United States
- Biomedical Engineering, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, United States
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Kawamura I, Ohe R, Suzuki K, Kabasawa T, Kitaoka T, Takahara D, Kono M, Uchiyama N, Musha H, Futakuchi M, Motoi F. Neighboring macrophage-induced alteration in the phenotype of colorectal cancer cells in the tumor budding area. Cancer Cell Int 2024; 24:107. [PMID: 38486225 PMCID: PMC10938821 DOI: 10.1186/s12935-024-03292-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2023] [Accepted: 03/06/2024] [Indexed: 03/18/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND A higher number of tumor buds in the invasive front of colorectal cancer (CRC) specimens has been shown to contribute to a poor prognosis in CRC patients. Because macrophages (Mφs) have been demonstrated to alter the phenotype of cancer cells, we hypothesized that the phenotype of CRC cells in the tumor budding (TB) area might be changed by the interaction between CRC cells and Mφs. METHODS We assessed the expression of topoisomerase 1 in CRC cells to estimate the acquisition of chemoresistance in CRC. To demonstrate the tumor-stromal interaction between CRC cells and Mφs, we assessed two histological findings, the number of Mφs per single CRC cell and the proximity between CRC cells and Mφs by histological spatial analysis using HALO software. RESULTS The expression levels of topoisomerase 1 in CRC cells were decreased in deeper areas, especially in the TB area, compared to the surface area. Our histological spatial analysis revealed that 2.6 Mφs located within 60 μm of a single CRC cell were required to alter the phenotype of the CRC cell. Double-immunofluorescence staining revealed that higher Mφs were positive for interleukin-6 (IL-6) in the TB area and that AE1/AE3-positive CRC cells were also positive for phospho-STAT3 (pSTAT3) in the TB area; thus, the IL-6 receptor (IL-6R)/STAT3 signaling pathway in CRC cells was upregulated by IL-6 derived from neighboring Mφs. CONCLUSION IL-6 secreted from the neighboring Mφs would alter the phenotype of CRC cells via IL-6R/STAT3 signaling pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ichiro Kawamura
- Department of Surgery I, Yamagata University Faculty of Medicine, Yamagata, Japan
- Department of Pathology, Yamagata University Faculty of Medicine, 2-2-2 Iida-Nishi, Yamagata, 990-9585, Japan
| | - Rintaro Ohe
- Department of Pathology, Yamagata University Faculty of Medicine, 2-2-2 Iida-Nishi, Yamagata, 990-9585, Japan.
| | - Kazushi Suzuki
- Department of Pathology, Yamagata University Faculty of Medicine, 2-2-2 Iida-Nishi, Yamagata, 990-9585, Japan
| | - Takanobu Kabasawa
- Department of Pathology, Yamagata University Faculty of Medicine, 2-2-2 Iida-Nishi, Yamagata, 990-9585, Japan
| | - Takumi Kitaoka
- Department of Pathology, Yamagata University Faculty of Medicine, 2-2-2 Iida-Nishi, Yamagata, 990-9585, Japan
| | - Daiichiro Takahara
- Department of Pathology, Yamagata University Faculty of Medicine, 2-2-2 Iida-Nishi, Yamagata, 990-9585, Japan
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Yamagata University Faculty of Medicine, Yamagata, Japan
| | - Michihisa Kono
- Department of Surgery I, Yamagata University Faculty of Medicine, Yamagata, Japan
- Department of Pathology, Yamagata University Faculty of Medicine, 2-2-2 Iida-Nishi, Yamagata, 990-9585, Japan
| | - Naoya Uchiyama
- Department of Pathology, Yamagata University Faculty of Medicine, 2-2-2 Iida-Nishi, Yamagata, 990-9585, Japan
| | - Hiroaki Musha
- Department of Surgery I, Yamagata University Faculty of Medicine, Yamagata, Japan
| | - Mitsuru Futakuchi
- Department of Pathology, Yamagata University Faculty of Medicine, 2-2-2 Iida-Nishi, Yamagata, 990-9585, Japan
| | - Fuyuhiko Motoi
- Department of Surgery I, Yamagata University Faculty of Medicine, Yamagata, Japan
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Al Qutami F, AlHalabi W, Vijayakumar A, Rawat SS, Mossa AH, Jayakumar MN, Samreen B, Hachim MY. Characterizing the Inflammatory Profile of Neutrophil-Rich Triple-Negative Breast Cancer. Cancers (Basel) 2024; 16:747. [PMID: 38398138 PMCID: PMC10886617 DOI: 10.3390/cancers16040747] [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: 11/23/2023] [Revised: 01/31/2024] [Accepted: 02/01/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Breast cancer (BC) is one of the most common types of cancer in women in the United Arab Emirates. Immunogenic tumours, such as triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), show increased neutrophil infiltration, which is associated with poor prognosis and limited efficacy of immunotherapy. This study aims to investigate in vitro the bidirectional effect of neutrophils on metastatic TNBC (MDA-MB-231) compared to less-metastatic luminal breast cancer (MCF-7) cell lines. We found that BC cells or their conditioned medium (CM) reduced the viability of neutrophil-like cells (HL60). This was supported by increased cellular stress and NETosis in differentiated HL60 cells (dHL60) upon exposure to MDA-MB-231 compared to MCF-7-CM using nucleic acid staining essays. Flow cytometry showed comparable expression of inflammatory markers by polymorphonuclear cells (PMN) when treated with MDA-MB-231-CM and standard polarizing cocktails. Furthermore, MDA-MB-231-CM triggered an inflammatory pattern with evidence of stronger adhesion (CD62L) and degranulation (CD11b and CD66b) phenotypes. The proinflammatory polarization of dHL60 by MDA-MB-231-CM was additionally confirmed by the elevated CD54 expression, myeloperoxidase, and CD11b protein levels, which matched an increased transwell migratory capacity. In conclusion, BC might use neutrophils to their benefit through NETosis and complement system activation, which makes this crosstalk a potential mechanism for understanding tumour progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fatma Al Qutami
- Department of Medicine, Mohammed Bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences, Dubai P.O. Box 505055, United Arab Emirates; (F.A.Q.); (W.A.); (A.V.); (S.S.R.); (B.S.)
| | - Walaa AlHalabi
- Department of Medicine, Mohammed Bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences, Dubai P.O. Box 505055, United Arab Emirates; (F.A.Q.); (W.A.); (A.V.); (S.S.R.); (B.S.)
| | - Aswathy Vijayakumar
- Department of Medicine, Mohammed Bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences, Dubai P.O. Box 505055, United Arab Emirates; (F.A.Q.); (W.A.); (A.V.); (S.S.R.); (B.S.)
| | - Surendra Singh Rawat
- Department of Medicine, Mohammed Bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences, Dubai P.O. Box 505055, United Arab Emirates; (F.A.Q.); (W.A.); (A.V.); (S.S.R.); (B.S.)
| | - Abubakr H. Mossa
- Sharjah Institute for Medical Research, College of Medicine, University of Sharjah, Sharjah P.O. Box 27272, United Arab Emirates; (A.H.M.); (M.N.J.)
| | - Manju Nidagodu Jayakumar
- Sharjah Institute for Medical Research, College of Medicine, University of Sharjah, Sharjah P.O. Box 27272, United Arab Emirates; (A.H.M.); (M.N.J.)
| | - Baila Samreen
- Department of Medicine, Mohammed Bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences, Dubai P.O. Box 505055, United Arab Emirates; (F.A.Q.); (W.A.); (A.V.); (S.S.R.); (B.S.)
| | - Mahmood Y. Hachim
- Department of Medicine, Mohammed Bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences, Dubai P.O. Box 505055, United Arab Emirates; (F.A.Q.); (W.A.); (A.V.); (S.S.R.); (B.S.)
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Park S, Choi S, Shimpi AA, Estroff LA, Fischbach C, Paszek MJ. COLLAGEN MINERALIZATION DECREASES NK CELL-MEDIATED CYTOTOXICITY OF BREAST CANCER CELLS VIA INCREASED GLYCOCALYX THICKNESS. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.01.20.576377. [PMID: 38328161 PMCID: PMC10849468 DOI: 10.1101/2024.01.20.576377] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/09/2024]
Abstract
Skeletal metastasis is common in patients with advanced breast cancer, and often caused by immune evasion of disseminated tumor cells (DTCs). In the skeleton, tumor cells not only disseminate to the bone marrow, but also to osteogenic niches in which they interact with newly mineralizing bone extracellular matrix (ECM). However, it remains unclear how mineralization of collagen type I, the primary component of bone ECM, regulates tumor-immune cell interactions. Here, we have utilized a combination of synthetic bone matrix models with controlled mineral content, nanoscale optical imaging, and flow cytometry to evaluate how collagen type I mineralization affects the biochemical and biophysical properties of the tumor cell glycocalyx, a dense layer of glycosylated proteins and lipids decorating their cell surface. Our results suggest that collagen mineralization upregulates mucin-type O-glycosylation and sialylation by tumor cells, which increased their glycocalyx thickness while enhancing resistance to attack by Natural Killer (NK) cells. These changes were functionally linked as treatment with a sialylation inhibitor decreased mineralization-dependent glycocalyx thickness and made tumor cells more susceptible to NK cell attack. Together, our results suggest that interference with glycocalyx sialylation may represent a therapeutic strategy to enhance cancer immunotherapies targeting bone-metastatic breast cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sangwoo Park
- Graduate Field of Biophysics, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
- Robert Frederick Smith School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
| | - Siyoung Choi
- Nancy E. and Peter C. Meinig School of Biomedical Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
| | - Adrian A. Shimpi
- Nancy E. and Peter C. Meinig School of Biomedical Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
| | - Lara A. Estroff
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, 14853, USA
- Kavli Institute at Cornell for Nanoscale Science, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, 14853, USA
| | - Claudia Fischbach
- Nancy E. and Peter C. Meinig School of Biomedical Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
- Kavli Institute at Cornell for Nanoscale Science, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, 14853, USA
| | - Matthew J. Paszek
- Graduate Field of Biophysics, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
- Robert Frederick Smith School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
- Kavli Institute at Cornell for Nanoscale Science, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, 14853, USA
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7
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Lu X, Wang Y, He M, Gou Z. Prognostic value and tumour microenvironment characteristics of the Glasgow Microenvironment Score in primary triple-negative breast cancer. J Clin Pathol 2024; 77:128-134. [PMID: 36600565 DOI: 10.1136/jcp-2022-208601] [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: 09/24/2022] [Accepted: 11/25/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
AIMS The Glasgow Microenvironment Score (GMS) reflects the tumour microenvironment (TME) status by combining inflammatory cell infiltration and the tumour-stroma percentage. This study aimed to investigate the prognostic value and TME characteristics of the GMS for patients with triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). METHODS A total of 123 patients with stage I-III TNBC were enrolled in this study. The association between GMS and clinicopathological characteristics was examined using the Pearson's χ2 test or Fisher's exact test. Kaplan-Meier plots were used to compare survival among the three GMS groups. Cox regression analyses were conducted to test the HR. Microenvironment Cell Populations-counter algorithm was used to estimate the TME components of each case. RESULTS We found that higher GMS score tended to exhibit the lower nuclear grade (p=0.016), more positive lymph nodes (p=0.014) and later tumour, node, metastases stage (p=0.012). GMS was an independent prognostic factor for disease-free survival in TNBC, and GMS 2 showed the worst prognosis (HR=6.42, p=0.028). GMS 0 was more infiltrated with cytotoxic lymphocytes, including CD8+ T cells (p=0.037) and natural killer cells (p=0.005), while GMS 2 was enriched in more endothelial cells (p=0.014) and fibroblasts (p=0.008). CONCLUSION Our study suggested that the GMS is a prognostic indicator for patients with TNBC. As an accessible and effective index, the GMS may be a promising tool to help clinicians assess prognostic risk and TME for patients with TNBC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xunxi Lu
- Department of Pathology, Sichuan University West China Hospital, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Yue Wang
- Department of Pathology, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, Shanghai, China
| | - Mengting He
- West China School of Medicine, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Zongchao Gou
- Department of Breast Surgery, Sichuan University West China Hospital, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
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Liu Y, Liu R, Liu H, Lyu T, Chen K, Jin K, Tian Y. Breast tumor-on-chip: from the tumor microenvironment to medical applications. Analyst 2023; 148:5822-5842. [PMID: 37850340 DOI: 10.1039/d3an01295f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2023]
Abstract
With the development of microfluidic technology, tumor-on-chip models have gradually become a new tool for the study of breast cancer because they can simulate more key factors of the tumor microenvironment compared with traditional models in vitro. Here, we review up-to-date advancements in breast tumor-on-chip models. We summarize and analyze the breast tumor microenvironment (TME), preclinical breast cancer models for TME simulation, fabrication methods of tumor-on-chip models, tumor-on-chip models for TME reconstruction, and applications of breast tumor-on-chip models and provide a perspective on breast tumor-on-chip models. This review will contribute to the construction and design of microenvironments for breast tumor-on-chip models, even the development of the pharmaceutical field, personalized/precision therapy, and clinical medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yiying Liu
- College of Medicine and Biological Information Engineering, Northeastern University, Shenyang 110169, China.
- Foshan Graduate School of Innovation, Northeastern University, Foshan, 528300, China
| | - Ruonan Liu
- College of Medicine and Biological Information Engineering, Northeastern University, Shenyang 110169, China.
| | - He Liu
- College of Medicine and Biological Information Engineering, Northeastern University, Shenyang 110169, China.
| | - Tong Lyu
- College of Medicine and Biological Information Engineering, Northeastern University, Shenyang 110169, China.
| | - Kun Chen
- College of Medicine and Biological Information Engineering, Northeastern University, Shenyang 110169, China.
| | - Kaiming Jin
- College of Medicine and Biological Information Engineering, Northeastern University, Shenyang 110169, China.
| | - Ye Tian
- College of Medicine and Biological Information Engineering, Northeastern University, Shenyang 110169, China.
- Foshan Graduate School of Innovation, Northeastern University, Foshan, 528300, China
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Eliason J, Rao A. Investigating Ecological Interactions in the Tumor Microenvironment using Joint Species Distribution Models for Point Patterns. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.11.14.567108. [PMID: 38014073 PMCID: PMC10680696 DOI: 10.1101/2023.11.14.567108] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2023]
Abstract
The tumor microenvironment (TME) is a complex and dynamic ecosystem that involves interactions between different cell types, such as cancer cells, immune cells, and stromal cells. These interactions can promote or inhibit tumor growth and affect response to therapy. Multitype Gibbs point process (MGPP) models are statistical models used to study the spatial distribution and interaction of different types of objects, such as the distribution of cell types in a tissue sample. Such models are potentially useful for investigating the spatial relationships between different cell types in the tumor microenvironment, but so far studies of the TME using cell-resolution imaging have been largely limited to spatial descriptive statistics. However, MGPP models have many advantages over descriptive statistics, such as uncertainty quantification, incorporation of multiple covariates and the ability to make predictions. In this paper, we describe and apply a previously developed MGPP method, the saturated pairwise interaction Gibbs point process model , to a publicly available multiplexed imaging dataset obtained from colorectal cancer patients. Importantly, we show how these methods can be used as joint species distribution models (JSDMs) to precisely frame and answer many relevant questions related to the ecology of the tumor microenvironment.
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Xulu KR, Nweke EE, Augustine TN. Delineating intra-tumoral heterogeneity and tumor evolution in breast cancer using precision-based approaches. Front Genet 2023; 14:1087432. [PMID: 37662839 PMCID: PMC10469897 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2023.1087432] [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: 11/02/2022] [Accepted: 08/08/2023] [Indexed: 09/05/2023] Open
Abstract
The burden of breast cancer continues to increase worldwide as it remains the most diagnosed tumor in females and the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths. Breast cancer is a heterogeneous disease characterized by different subtypes which are driven by aberrations in key genes such as BRCA1 and BRCA2, and hormone receptors. However, even within each subtype, heterogeneity that is driven by underlying evolutionary mechanisms is suggested to underlie poor response to therapy, variance in disease progression, recurrence, and relapse. Intratumoral heterogeneity highlights that the evolvability of tumor cells depends on interactions with cells of the tumor microenvironment. The complexity of the tumor microenvironment is being unraveled by recent advances in screening technologies such as high throughput sequencing; however, there remain challenges that impede the practical use of these approaches, considering the underlying biology of the tumor microenvironment and the impact of selective pressures on the evolvability of tumor cells. In this review, we will highlight the advances made thus far in defining the molecular heterogeneity in breast cancer and the implications thereof in diagnosis, the design and application of targeted therapies for improved clinical outcomes. We describe the different precision-based approaches to diagnosis and treatment and their prospects. We further propose that effective cancer diagnosis and treatment are dependent on unpacking the tumor microenvironment and its role in driving intratumoral heterogeneity. Underwriting such heterogeneity are Darwinian concepts of natural selection that we suggest need to be taken into account to ensure evolutionarily informed therapeutic decisions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kutlwano Rekgopetswe Xulu
- School of Anatomical Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Ekene Emmanuel Nweke
- Department of Surgery, School of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Tanya Nadine Augustine
- School of Anatomical Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
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11
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Subedi S, Park YP. Single-cell pair-wise relationships untangled by composite embedding model. iScience 2023; 26:106025. [PMID: 36824286 PMCID: PMC9941206 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2023.106025] [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: 09/26/2022] [Revised: 11/24/2022] [Accepted: 01/17/2023] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
In multicellular organisms, cell identity and functions are primed and refined through interactions with other surrounding cells. Here, we propose a scalable machine learning method, termed SPRUCE, which is designed to systematically ascertain common cell-cell communication patterns embedded in single-cell RNA-seq data. We applied our approach to investigate tumor microenvironments consolidating multiple breast cancer datasets and found seven frequently observed interaction signatures and underlying gene-gene interaction networks. Our results implicate that a part of tumor heterogeneity, especially within the same subtype, is better understood by differential interaction patterns rather than the static expression of known marker genes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sishir Subedi
- Bioinformatics Graduate Program, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada,BC Cancer Research, Part of Provincial Health Care Authority, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Yongjin P. Park
- BC Cancer Research, Part of Provincial Health Care Authority, Vancouver, BC, Canada,Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada,Department of Statistics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada,Corresponding author
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12
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Andrade de Oliveira K, Sengupta S, Yadav AK, Clarke R. The complex nature of heterogeneity and its roles in breast cancer biology and therapeutic responsiveness. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2023; 14:1083048. [PMID: 36909339 PMCID: PMC9997040 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2023.1083048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2022] [Accepted: 02/02/2023] [Indexed: 02/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Heterogeneity is a complex feature of cells and tissues with many interacting components. Depending on the nature of the research context, interacting features of cellular, drug response, genetic, molecular, spatial, temporal, and vascular heterogeneity may be present. We describe the various forms of heterogeneity with examples of their interactions and how they play a role in affecting cellular phenotype and drug responses in breast cancer. While cellular heterogeneity may be the most widely described and invoked, many forms of heterogeneity are evident within the tumor microenvironment and affect responses to the endocrine and cytotoxic drugs widely used in standard clinical care. Drug response heterogeneity is a critical determinant of clinical response and curative potential and also is multifaceted when encountered. The interactive nature of some forms of heterogeneity is readily apparent. For example, the process of metastasis has the properties of both temporal and spatial heterogeneity within the host, whereas each individual metastatic deposit may exhibit cellular, genetic, molecular, and vascular heterogeneity. This review describes the many forms of heterogeneity, their integrated activities, and offers some insights into how heterogeneity may be understood and studied in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karla Andrade de Oliveira
- The Hormel Institute, University of Minnesota, Austin, MN, United States
- Department of Biochemistry and Pharmacology, Universidade Federal do Piaui, Piauí, Brazil
| | - Surojeet Sengupta
- The Hormel Institute, University of Minnesota, Austin, MN, United States
| | - Anil Kumar Yadav
- The Hormel Institute, University of Minnesota, Austin, MN, United States
| | - Robert Clarke
- The Hormel Institute, University of Minnesota, Austin, MN, United States
- *Correspondence: Robert Clarke,
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