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Rakké YS, Buschow SI, IJzermans JNM, Sprengers D. Engaging stimulatory immune checkpoint interactions in the tumour immune microenvironment of primary liver cancers - how to push the gas after having released the brake. Front Immunol 2024; 15:1357333. [PMID: 38440738 PMCID: PMC10910082 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2024.1357333] [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: 12/17/2023] [Accepted: 01/31/2024] [Indexed: 03/06/2024] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) are the first and second most common primary liver cancer (PLC). For decades, systemic therapies consisting of tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) or chemotherapy have formed the cornerstone of treating advanced-stage HCC and CCA, respectively. More recently, immunotherapy using immune checkpoint inhibition (ICI) has shown anti-tumour reactivity in some patients. The combination regimen of anti-PD-L1 and anti-VEGF antibodies has been approved as new first-line treatment of advanced-stage HCC. Furthermore, gemcibatine plus cisplatin (GEMCIS) with an anti-PD-L1 antibody is awaiting global approval for the treatment of advanced-stage CCA. As effective anti-tumour reactivity using ICI is achieved in a minor subset of both HCC and CCA patients only, alternative immune strategies to sensitise the tumour microenvironment of PLC are waited for. Here we discuss immune checkpoint stimulation (ICS) as additional tool to enhance anti-tumour reactivity. Up-to-date information on the clinical application of ICS in onco-immunology is provided. This review provides a rationale of the application of next-generation ICS either alone or in combination regimen to potentially enhance anti-tumour reactivity in PLC patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yannick S. Rakké
- Department of Surgery, Erasmus MC-Transplant Institute, University Medical Center, Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | - Sonja I. Buschow
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Erasmus MC-Cancer Institute-University Medical Center, Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | - Jan N. M. IJzermans
- Department of Surgery, Erasmus MC-Transplant Institute, University Medical Center, Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | - Dave Sprengers
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Erasmus MC-Cancer Institute-University Medical Center, Rotterdam, Netherlands
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2
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Mortezaee K, Majidpoor J. Alternative immune checkpoints in immunoregulatory profile of cancer stem cells. Heliyon 2023; 9:e23171. [PMID: 38144305 PMCID: PMC10746460 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e23171] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2023] [Revised: 11/21/2023] [Accepted: 11/28/2023] [Indexed: 12/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Tumor-mediated bypass of immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) therapy with anti-programmed death-1 (PD-1), anti-programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1, also called B7-H1 or CD274) or anti-cytotoxic T lymphocyte associated antigen-4 (CTLA-4) is a challenge of current years in the area of cancer immunotherapy. Alternative immune checkpoints (AICs) are molecules beyond the common PD-1, PD-L1 or CTLA-4, and are upregulated in patients who show low/no ICI responses. These are members of B7 family including B7-H2 (ICOS-L), B7-H3 (CD276), B7-H4 (B7x), V-domain immunoglobulin suppressor of T cell activation (VISTA), B7-H6, HHLA2 (B7-H5/B7-H7) and catabolic enzymes like indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase 1 (IDO1), and others that are also contributed to the regulation of tumor immune microenvironment (TIME). There is also strong evidence supporting the implication of AICs in regulation of cancer stemness and expanding the population of cancer stem cells (CSCs). CSCs display immunoregulatory capacity and represent multiple immune checkpoints either on their surface or inside. Besides, they are active promoters of resistance to the common ICIs. The aim of this review is to investigate interrelations between AICs with stemness and differentiation profile of cancer. The key message of this paper is that targeted checkpoints can be selected based on their impact on CSCs along with their effect on immune cells. Studies published so far mainly focused on immune cells as a target for anti-checkpoints. Ex vivo engineering of extracellular vesicles (EVs) equipped with CSC-targeted anti-checkpoint antibodies is without a doubt a key therapeutic target that can be under consideration in future research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keywan Mortezaee
- Department of Anatomy, School of Medicine, Kurdistan University of Medical Sciences, Sanandaj, Iran
| | - Jamal Majidpoor
- Department of Anatomy, School of Medicine, Infectious Diseases Research Center, Gonabad University of Medical Sciences, Gonabad, Iran
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3
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Choi JE, Lee JS, Jin MS, Nikas IP, Kim K, Yang S, Park SY, Koh J, Yang S, Im SA, Ryu HS. The prognostic value of a combined immune score in tumor and immune cells assessed by immunohistochemistry in triple-negative breast cancer. Breast Cancer Res 2023; 25:134. [PMID: 37924153 PMCID: PMC10625207 DOI: 10.1186/s13058-023-01710-8] [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: 05/30/2023] [Accepted: 09/13/2023] [Indexed: 11/06/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND This study aimed to develop a novel combined immune score (CIS)-based model assessing prognosis in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). METHODS The expression of eight immune markers (PD-1, PD-L1, PD-L2, IDO, TIM3, OX40, OX40L, and H7-H2) was assessed with immunohistochemistry on the tumor cells (TCs) and immune cells (ICs) of 227 TNBC cases, respectively, and subsequently associated with selected clinicopathological parameters and survival. Data retrieved from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) were further examined to validate our findings. RESULTS All immune markers were often expressed in TCs and ICs, except for PD-1 which was not expressed in TCs. In ICs, the expression of all immune markers was positively correlated between one another, except between PD-L1 and OX40, also TIM3 and OX40. In ICs, PD-1, PD-L1, and OX40L positive expression was associated with a longer progression-free survival (PFS; p = 0.040, p = 0.020, and p = 0.020, respectively). In TCs, OX40 positive expression was associated with a shorter PFS (p = 0.025). Subsequently, the TNBC patients were classified into high and low combined immune score groups (CIS-H and CIS-L), based on the expression levels of a selection of biomarkers in TCs (TCIS-H or TCIS-L) and ICs (ICIS-H or ICIS-L). The TCIS-H group was significantly associated with a longer PFS (p < 0.001). Furthermore, the ICIS-H group was additionally associated with a longer PFS (p < 0.001) and overall survival (OS; p = 0.001), at significant levels. In the multivariate analysis, both TCIS-H and ICIS-H groups were identified as independent predictors of favorable PFS (p = 0.012 and p = 0.001, respectively). ICIS-H was also shown to be an independent predictor of favorable OS (p = 0.003). The analysis of the mRNA expression data from TCGA also validated our findings regarding TNBC. CONCLUSION Our novel TCIS and ICIS exhibited a significant prognostic value in TNBC. Additional research would be needed to strengthen our findings and identify the most efficient prognostic and predictive biomarkers for TNBC patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ji Eun Choi
- Department of Pathology, Chungnam National University Sejong Hospital, Sejong, Republic of Korea
| | - Jae Seok Lee
- Department of Pathology, Samsung Changwon Hospital, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Changwon, Republic of Korea
| | - Min-Sun Jin
- Department of Pathology, Bucheon St. Mary's Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Bucheon, Republic of Korea
| | - Ilias P Nikas
- School of Medicine, European University Cyprus, Nicosia, Cyprus
| | - Kwangsoo Kim
- Transdisciplinary Department of Medicine and Advanced Technology, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Sunah Yang
- Transdisciplinary Department of Medicine and Advanced Technology, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Soo Young Park
- Department of Pathology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, 103 Daehak-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul, 03080, Republic of Korea
| | - Jiwon Koh
- Department of Pathology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, 103 Daehak-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul, 03080, Republic of Korea
| | - Sohyeon Yang
- Department of Pathology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, 103 Daehak-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul, 03080, Republic of Korea
| | - Seock-Ah Im
- Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul National University College of Medicine, 103 Daehak-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul, 03080, Republic of Korea.
- Cancer Research Institute, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
- Translational Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, 103 Daehak-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul, 03080, Republic of Korea.
| | - Han Suk Ryu
- Department of Pathology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, 103 Daehak-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul, 03080, Republic of Korea.
- Cancer Research Institute, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
- Pharmonoid Co., Ltd., Seoul, Republic of Korea.
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Dong Y, Hu X, Xie S, Song Y, He Y, Jin W, Ni Y, Wang Z, Ding L. ICOSLG-associated immunological landscape and diagnostic value in oral squamous cell carcinoma: a prospective cohort study. Front Cell Dev Biol 2023; 11:1257314. [PMID: 37842091 PMCID: PMC10569602 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2023.1257314] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2023] [Accepted: 09/18/2023] [Indexed: 10/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Background: We previously reported that stroma cells regulate constitutive and inductive PD-L1 (B7-H1) expression and immune escape of oral squamous cell carcinoma. ICOSLG (B7-H2), belongs to the B7 protein family, also participates in regulating T cells activation for tissue homeostasis via binding to ICOS and inducing ICOS+ T cell differentiation as well as stimulate B-cell activation, while it appears to be abnormally expressed during carcinogenesis. Clarifying its heterogeneous clinical expression pattern and its immune landscape is a prerequisite for the maximum response rate of ICOSLG-based immunotherapy in a specific population. Methods: This retrospective study included OSCC tissue samples (n = 105) to analyze the spatial distribution of ICOSLG. Preoperative peripheral blood samples (n = 104) and independent tissue samples (n = 10) of OSCC were collected to analyze the changes of immunocytes (T cells, B cells, NK cells and macrophages) according to ICOSLG level in different cellular contents. Results: ICOSLG is ubiquitous in tumor cells (TCs), cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) and tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs). Patients with high ICOSLGTCs or TILs showed high TNM stage and lymph node metastasis, which predicted a decreased overall or metastasis-free survival. This sub-cohort was featured with diminished CD4+ T cells and increased Foxp3+ cells in invasive Frontier in situ, and increased absolute numbers of CD3+CD4+ and CD8+ T cells in peripheral blood. ICOSLG also positively correlated with other immune checkpoint molecules (PD-L1, CSF1R, CTLA4, IDO1, IL10, PD1). Conclusion: Tumor cell-derived ICOSLG could be an efficient marker of OSCC patient stratification for precision immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuexin Dong
- Central Laboratory of Stomatology, Affiliated Hospital of Medical School, Nanjing Stomatological Hospital, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Xinyang Hu
- Central Laboratory of Stomatology, Affiliated Hospital of Medical School, Nanjing Stomatological Hospital, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Shixin Xie
- Central Laboratory of Stomatology, Affiliated Hospital of Medical School, Nanjing Stomatological Hospital, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Yuxian Song
- Central Laboratory of Stomatology, Affiliated Hospital of Medical School, Nanjing Stomatological Hospital, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Yijia He
- Central Laboratory of Stomatology, Affiliated Hospital of Medical School, Nanjing Stomatological Hospital, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Wanyong Jin
- Central Laboratory of Stomatology, Affiliated Hospital of Medical School, Nanjing Stomatological Hospital, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Yanhong Ni
- Central Laboratory of Stomatology, Affiliated Hospital of Medical School, Nanjing Stomatological Hospital, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Zhiyong Wang
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Affiliated Hospital of Medical School, Nanjing Stomatological Hospital, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Liang Ding
- Central Laboratory of Stomatology, Affiliated Hospital of Medical School, Nanjing Stomatological Hospital, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
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Xiao L, Guan X, Xiang M, Wang Q, Long Q, Yue C, Chen L, Liu J, Liao C. B7 family protein glycosylation: Promising novel targets in tumor treatment. Front Immunol 2022; 13:1088560. [PMID: 36561746 PMCID: PMC9763287 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.1088560] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2022] [Accepted: 11/22/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Cancer immunotherapy, including the inhibition of immune checkpoints, improves the tumor immune microenvironment and is an effective tool for cancer therapy. More effective and alternative inhibitory targets are critical for successful immune checkpoint blockade therapy. The interaction of the immunomodulatory ligand B7 family with corresponding receptors induces or inhibits T cell responses by sending co-stimulatory and co-inhibitory signals respectively. Blocking the glycosylation of the B7 family members PD-L1, PD-L2, B7-H3, and B7-H4 inhibited the self-stability and receptor binding of these immune checkpoint proteins, leading to immunosuppression and rapid tumor progression. Therefore, regulation of glycosylation may be the "golden key" to relieve tumor immunosuppression. The exploration of a more precise glycosylation regulation mechanism and glycan structure of B7 family proteins is conducive to the discovery and clinical application of antibodies and small molecule inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Linlin Xiao
- Department of Orthodontics II, Affiliated Stomatological Hospital of Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, China,Oral Disease Research Key Laboratory of Guizhou Tertiary Institution, School of Stomatology, Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, China
| | - Xiaoyan Guan
- Department of Orthodontics II, Affiliated Stomatological Hospital of Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, China,Oral Disease Research Key Laboratory of Guizhou Tertiary Institution, School of Stomatology, Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, China
| | - Mingli Xiang
- Department of Orthodontics II, Affiliated Stomatological Hospital of Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, China,Oral Disease Research Key Laboratory of Guizhou Tertiary Institution, School of Stomatology, Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, China
| | - Qian Wang
- Oral Disease Research Key Laboratory of Guizhou Tertiary Institution, School of Stomatology, Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, China
| | - Qian Long
- Department of Orthodontics II, Affiliated Stomatological Hospital of Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, China,Oral Disease Research Key Laboratory of Guizhou Tertiary Institution, School of Stomatology, Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, China
| | - Chaoyi Yue
- School of Medicine and Technology, Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, China
| | - Lulu Chen
- Department of Orthodontics II, Affiliated Stomatological Hospital of Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, China,Oral Disease Research Key Laboratory of Guizhou Tertiary Institution, School of Stomatology, Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, China
| | - Jianguo Liu
- Oral Disease Research Key Laboratory of Guizhou Tertiary Institution, School of Stomatology, Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, China,*Correspondence: Chengcheng Liao, ; Jianguo Liu,
| | - Chengcheng Liao
- Department of Orthodontics II, Affiliated Stomatological Hospital of Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, China,Oral Disease Research Key Laboratory of Guizhou Tertiary Institution, School of Stomatology, Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, China,*Correspondence: Chengcheng Liao, ; Jianguo Liu,
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6
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Wang L, Li S, Mei J, Ye L. Immunotherapies of retinoblastoma: Effective methods for preserving vision in the future. Front Oncol 2022; 12:949193. [PMID: 36132125 PMCID: PMC9483150 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2022.949193] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2022] [Accepted: 08/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Retinoblastoma is the most common intraocular tumor in children. Patients can be cured by enucleation, but it can lead to vision loss. Chemotherapy is the main method of treatment for RB currently. Unfortunately, chemoresistant and tumor metastasis often happen, resulting in a relatively poor prognosis. Therefore, immunotherapy becomes one of the optimal choices. Targeting not only tumor cells but also the active tumor microenvironment is a novel strategy for RB treatment. Here, we conclude several potential targets for RB immunotherapy, including gangliosides GD2, PD-1 and PD-L1, B7H3, EpCAM and SYK. We also review the techniques for CART, bispecific antibodies and genetically modified Dendritic cells according to the characteristics of different targets and discuss the feasibility of immunotherapy with different targets.
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7
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Borgmann M, Oetting A, Meyer F, Möckelmann N, Droste C, von Bargen CM, Möller-Koop C, Witt M, Borgmann K, Rothkamm K, Betz C, Münscher A, Clauditz TS, Rieckmann T. The prognostic impact of B7-H3 and B7-H4 in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. J Cancer Res Clin Oncol 2022:10.1007/s00432-022-04244-2. [PMID: 35941227 DOI: 10.1007/s00432-022-04244-2] [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: 05/25/2022] [Accepted: 07/29/2022] [Indexed: 10/15/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE Immune checkpoint inhibition is a therapeutic option in many cancer entities. In head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) targeting of the PD-1/PD-L1 (B7-H1) axis is approved in recurrent/metastatic disease and is being explored in the curative setting. Here, we evaluated two related members of the B7 family, B7-H3 & B7-H4, for their prognostic impact under standard treatment. METHODS A tissue microarray (TMA) of a single center HNSCC cohort was stained for B7-H3 and B7-H4. Staining intensity and the number of tumor cells stained were assessed, and the expression was scored according to an established algorithm. Staining scores were correlated with clinicopathological parameters and associated with patient survival. mRNA levels of both proteins were associated with patient outcome using the TCGA dataset. RESULTS mRNA levels of B7-H3 and B7-H4 were not significantly associated with patient survival. TMA analysis revealed interpretable protein staining in 408 samples. Strong staining was the most frequent category for B7-H3 and no staining for B7-H4. In patients with p16-negative oropharyngeal SCC (OPSCC) and in a pooled cohort consisting of p16-negative OPSCC, laryngeal, hypopharyngeal and oral cavity SCC, strong B7-H3 expression was associated with better overall survival. For the latter cohort, this was in part due to reduced lymph node involvement. B7-H3 expression in p16-positive OPSCC and B7-H4 expression were not associated with outcome. CONCLUSION Despite a possible role in tumor immune escape, B7-H3 was associated with favorable prognosis in HPV-negative HNSCC in our cohort. The underlying mechanisms and a potential impact for B7-H3 targeting remain to be elucidated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mara Borgmann
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany.,Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Asklepios Klinik Nord, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Agnes Oetting
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany.,Department of Radiotherapy and Radiation Oncology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Felix Meyer
- Department of Radiotherapy and Radiation Oncology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Nikolaus Möckelmann
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany.,Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Marienkrankenhaus Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Conrad Droste
- University Cancer Center Hamburg (UCCH), University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | | | - Christina Möller-Koop
- Institute of Pathology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Melanie Witt
- Institute of Pathology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Kerstin Borgmann
- Department of Radiotherapy and Radiation Oncology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Kai Rothkamm
- Department of Radiotherapy and Radiation Oncology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Christian Betz
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Adrian Münscher
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany.,Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Marienkrankenhaus Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany
| | | | - Thorsten Rieckmann
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany. .,Department of Radiotherapy and Radiation Oncology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany.
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8
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Immune suppressive checkpoint interactions in the tumour microenvironment of primary liver cancers. Br J Cancer 2022; 126:10-23. [PMID: 34400801 PMCID: PMC8727557 DOI: 10.1038/s41416-021-01453-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2020] [Revised: 05/05/2021] [Accepted: 05/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Liver cancer is one of the most prevalent cancers, and the third most common cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide. The therapeutic options for the main types of primary liver cancer-hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and cholangiocarcinoma (CCA)-are very limited. HCC and CCA are immunogenic cancers, but effective immune-mediated tumour control is prevented by their immunosuppressive tumour microenvironment. Despite the critical involvement of key co-inhibitory immune checkpoint interactions in immunosuppression in liver cancer, only a minority of patients with HCC respond to monotherapy using approved checkpoint inhibitor antibodies. To develop effective (combinatorial) therapeutic immune checkpoint strategies for liver cancer, in-depth knowledge of the different mechanisms that contribute to intratumoral immunosuppression is needed. Here, we review the co-inhibitory pathways that are known to suppress intratumoral T cells in HCC and CCA. We provide a detailed description of insights from preclinical studies in cellular crosstalk within the tumour microenvironment that results in interactions between co-inhibitory receptors on different T-cell subsets and their ligands on other cell types, including tumour cells. We suggest alternative immune checkpoints as promising targets, and draw attention to the possibility of combined targeting of co-inhibitory and co-stimulatory pathways to abrogate immunosuppression.
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Rasic P, Jovanovic-Tucovic M, Jeremic M, Djuricic SM, Vasiljevic ZV, Milickovic M, Savic D. B7 homologue 3 as a prognostic biomarker and potential therapeutic target in gastrointestinal tumors. World J Gastrointest Oncol 2021; 13:799-821. [PMID: 34457187 PMCID: PMC8371522 DOI: 10.4251/wjgo.v13.i8.799] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2021] [Revised: 04/19/2021] [Accepted: 07/07/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The most common digestive system (DS) cancers, including tumors of the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) such as colorectal cancer (CRC), gastric cancer (GC) and esophageal cancer (EC) as well as tumors of DS accessory organs such as pancreatic and liver cancer, are responsible for more than one-third of all cancer-related deaths worldwide, despite the progress that has been achieved in anticancer therapy. Due to these limitations in treatment strategies, oncological research has taken outstanding steps towards a better understanding of cancer cell biological complexity and heterogeneity. These studies led to new molecular target-driven therapeutic approaches. Different in vivo and in vitro studies have revealed significant expression of B7 homologue 3 (B7-H3) among the most common cancers of the GIT, including CRC, GC, and EC, whereas B7-H3 expression in normal healthy tissue of these organs was shown to be absent or minimal. This molecule is able to influence the biological behavior of GIT tumors through the various immunological and nonimmunological molecular mechanisms, and some of them are shown to be the result of B7-H3-related induction of signal transduction pathways, such as Janus kinase 2/signal transducer and activator of transcription 3, phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/protein kinase B, extracellular signal-regulated kinase, and nuclear factor-κB. B7-H3 exerts an important role in progression, metastasis and resistance to anticancer therapy in these tumors. In addition, the results of many studies suggest that B7-H3 stimulates immune evasion in GIT tumors by suppressing antitumor immune response. Accordingly, it was observed that experimental depletion or inhibition of B7-H3 in gastrointestinal cancers improved antitumor immune response, impaired tumor progression, invasion, angiogenesis, and metastasis and decreased resistance to anticancer therapy. Finally, the high expression of B7-H3 in most common cancers of the GIT was shown to be associated with poor prognosis. In this review, we summarize the established data from different GIT cancer-related studies and suggest that the B7-H3 molecule could be a promising prognostic biomarker and therapeutic target for anticancer immunotherapy in these tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Petar Rasic
- Department of Abdominal Surgery, Mother and Child Health Care Institute of Serbia “Dr. Vukan Cupic“, Belgrade 11 000, Serbia
| | - Maja Jovanovic-Tucovic
- Institute of Medical and Clinical Biochemistry, School of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Belgrade 11 000, Serbia
| | - Marija Jeremic
- Institute of Medical and Clinical Biochemistry, School of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Belgrade 11 000, Serbia
| | - Slavisa M Djuricic
- Department of Clinical Pathology, Mother and Child Health Care Institute of Serbia “Dr. Vukan Cupic“, Belgrade 11 000, Serbia
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Banja Luka, Banja Luka 78 000, Bosnia and Herzegovina
| | - Zorica V Vasiljevic
- Department of Clinical Microbiology, Mother and Child Health Care Institute of Serbia “Dr. Vukan Cupic“, Belgrade 11 000, Serbia
| | - Maja Milickovic
- Department of Abdominal Surgery, Mother and Child Health Care Institute of Serbia “Dr. Vukan Cupic“, Belgrade 11 000, Serbia
- School of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Belgrade 11 000, Serbia
| | - Djordje Savic
- Department of Abdominal Surgery, Mother and Child Health Care Institute of Serbia “Dr. Vukan Cupic“, Belgrade 11 000, Serbia
- School of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Belgrade 11 000, Serbia
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10
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Muranushi R, Araki K, Yokobori T, Chingunjav B, Hoshino K, Dolgormaa G, Hagiwara K, Yamanaka T, Ishii N, Tsukagoshi M, Igarashi T, Watanabe A, Kubo N, Harimoto N, Shimoda Y, Sano R, Oyama T, Saeki H, Shirabe K. High membrane expression of CMTM6 in hepatocellular carcinoma is associated with tumor recurrence. Cancer Sci 2021; 112:3314-3323. [PMID: 34080242 PMCID: PMC8353897 DOI: 10.1111/cas.15004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2020] [Revised: 05/29/2021] [Accepted: 05/31/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
CKLF-like MARVEL transmembrane domain-containing protein 6 (CMTM6) maintains membrane PD-L1 expression by controlling its endosomal recycling. However, in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the correlation among CMTM6, B7 family ligands, and CD8-positive cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs), and the molecular function of CMTM6 in HCC have not been established. We performed immunohistochemistry to evaluate the relationships among CMTM6 expression, clinicopathological factors, B7 family ligands expression, and CTL infiltration in HCC samples. Moreover, we established CMTM6-knockout human HCC cell lines to evaluate the function of human CMTM6 in immune regulation and tumor viability. CMTM6 expression was positively associated with membrane B7 family ligands expression and CTL infiltration in HCC samples. High CMTM6 expression in HCC tissues was associated with the expression of the proliferation marker Ki-67 and shorter recurrence-free survival. In vitro analysis showed the downregulation of membrane B7 family ligands and proliferation potency in the CMTM6-knockout human HCC cell line. High membrane CMTM6 expression was associated with tumor recurrence and proliferation via the regulation of membranous B7 family ligands expression. Thus, CMTM6 might be a biomarker to predict the risk of HCC recurrence and a therapeutic target to suppress tumor growth and increase CTL activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryo Muranushi
- Department of General Surgical Science, Division of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Gunma University Graduate School of Medicine, Maebashi, Japan
| | - Kenichiro Araki
- Department of General Surgical Science, Division of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Gunma University Graduate School of Medicine, Maebashi, Japan
| | - Takehiko Yokobori
- Division of Integrated Oncology Research, Gunma University Initiative for Advanced Research (GIAR), Maebashi, Japan
| | - Batbayar Chingunjav
- Department of General Surgical Science, Division of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Gunma University Graduate School of Medicine, Maebashi, Japan
| | - Kouki Hoshino
- Department of General Surgical Science, Division of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Gunma University Graduate School of Medicine, Maebashi, Japan
| | - Gantumur Dolgormaa
- Department of General Surgical Science, Division of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Gunma University Graduate School of Medicine, Maebashi, Japan
| | - Kei Hagiwara
- Department of General Surgical Science, Division of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Gunma University Graduate School of Medicine, Maebashi, Japan
| | - Takahiro Yamanaka
- Department of General Surgical Science, Division of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Gunma University Graduate School of Medicine, Maebashi, Japan
| | - Norihiro Ishii
- Department of General Surgical Science, Division of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Gunma University Graduate School of Medicine, Maebashi, Japan
| | - Mariko Tsukagoshi
- Department of General Surgical Science, Division of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Gunma University Graduate School of Medicine, Maebashi, Japan.,Department of Innovative Cancer Immunotherapy, Gunma University Graduate School of Medicine, Maebashi, Japan
| | - Takamichi Igarashi
- Department of General Surgical Science, Division of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Gunma University Graduate School of Medicine, Maebashi, Japan
| | - Akira Watanabe
- Department of General Surgical Science, Division of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Gunma University Graduate School of Medicine, Maebashi, Japan
| | - Norio Kubo
- Department of General Surgical Science, Division of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Gunma University Graduate School of Medicine, Maebashi, Japan
| | - Norifumi Harimoto
- Department of General Surgical Science, Division of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Gunma University Graduate School of Medicine, Maebashi, Japan
| | - Yuki Shimoda
- Department of Diagnostic Pathology, Gunma University Graduate School of Medicine, Maebashi, Japan
| | - Rie Sano
- Department of Legal Medicine, Gunma University Graduate School of Medicine, Maebashi, Japan
| | - Tetsunari Oyama
- Department of Diagnostic Pathology, Gunma University Graduate School of Medicine, Maebashi, Japan
| | - Hiroshi Saeki
- Department of General Surgical Science, Division of Gastroenterological Surgery, Gunma University Graduate School of Medicine, Maebashi, Japan
| | - Ken Shirabe
- Department of General Surgical Science, Division of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Gunma University Graduate School of Medicine, Maebashi, Japan
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11
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Chen Z, Wu T, Yan Z, Zhang M. Identification and Validation of an 11-Ferroptosis Related Gene Signature and Its Correlation With Immune Checkpoint Molecules in Glioma. Front Cell Dev Biol 2021; 9:652599. [PMID: 34249910 PMCID: PMC8262596 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2021.652599] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2021] [Accepted: 05/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Glioma is the most common primary malignant brain tumor with significant mortality and morbidity. Ferroptosis, a novel form of programmed cell death (PCD), is critically involved in tumorigenesis, progression and metastatic processes. Methods We revealed the relationship between ferroptosis-related genes and glioma by analyzing the mRNA expression profiles from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), Chinese Glioma Genome Atlas (CGGA), GSE16011, and the Repository of Molecular Brain Neoplasia Data (REMBRANDT) datasets. The least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) Cox regression analysis was performed to construct a ferroptosis-associated gene signature in the TCGA cohort. Glioma patients from the CGGA, GSE16011, and REMBRANDT cohorts were used to validate the efficacy of the signature. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was applied to measure the predictive performance of the risk score for overall survival (OS). Univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses of the 11-gene signature were performed to determine whether the ability of the prognostic signature in predicting OS was independent. Gene Ontology (GO) analysis and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analysis were conducted to identify the potential biological functions and pathways of the signature. Subsequently, we performed single sample gene set enrichment analysis (ssGSEA) to explore the correlation between risk scores and immune status. Finally, seven putative small molecule drugs were predicted by Connectivity Map. Results The 11-gene signature was identified to divide patients into two risk groups. ROC curve analysis indicated the 11-gene signature as a potential diagnostic factor in glioma patients. Multivariate Cox regression analyses showed that the risk score was an independent predictive factor for overall survival. Functional analysis revealed that genes were enriched in iron-related molecular functions and immune-related biological processes. The results of ssGSEA indicated that the 11-gene signature was correlated with the initiation and progression of glioma. The small molecule drugs we selected showed significant potential to be used as putative drugs. Conclusion we identified a novel ferroptosis-related gene signature for prognostic prediction in glioma patients and revealed the relationship between ferroptosis-related genes and immune checkpoint molecules.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhuohui Chen
- Department of Neurology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Tong Wu
- Department of Neurology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Zhouyi Yan
- Department of Neurology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Mengqi Zhang
- Department of Neurology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
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12
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Michelakos T, Kontos F, Barakat O, Maggs L, Schwab JH, Ferrone CR, Ferrone S. B7-H3 targeted antibody-based immunotherapy of malignant diseases. Expert Opin Biol Ther 2021; 21:587-602. [PMID: 33301369 PMCID: PMC8087627 DOI: 10.1080/14712598.2021.1862791] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2020] [Accepted: 12/08/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Introduction: Recent advances in immuno-oncology and bioengineering have rekindled the interest in monoclonal antibody (mAb)-based immunotherapies for malignancies. Crucial for their success is the identification of tumor antigens (TAs) that can serve as targets. B7-H3, a member of the B7 ligand family, represents such a TA. Although its exact functions and receptor(s) remain unclear, B7-H3 has predominantly a pro-tumorigenic effect mainly by suppressing the anti-tumor functions of T-cells.Areas covered: Initially we present a historical perspective on TA-specific antibodies for diagnosis and treatment of malignancies. Following a description of the TA requirements to be an attractive antibody-based immunotherapy target, we show that B7-H3 fulfills these criteria. We discuss its structure and functions. In a review and pooled analysis, we describe the limited B7-H3 expression in normal tissues and estimate B7-H3 expression frequency in tumors, tumor-associated vasculature and cancer initiating cells (CICs). Lastly, we discuss the association of B7-H3 expression in tumors with poor prognosis.Expert opinion: B7-H3 is an attractive target for mAb-based cancer immunotherapy. B7-H3-targeting strategies are expected to be highly effective and - importantly - safe. To fully exploit the diagnostic and therapeutic potential of B7-H3, its expression in pre-malignant lesions, serum, metastases, and CICs requires further investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Theodoros Michelakos
- Department of Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital/Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Filippos Kontos
- Department of Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital/Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Omar Barakat
- Department of Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital/Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Luke Maggs
- Department of Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital/Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Joseph H Schwab
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital/Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Cristina R Ferrone
- Department of Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital/Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Soldano Ferrone
- Department of Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital/Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
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13
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Lee YH, Tai D, Yip C, Choo SP, Chew V. Combinational Immunotherapy for Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Radiotherapy, Immune Checkpoint Blockade and Beyond. Front Immunol 2020; 11:568759. [PMID: 33117354 PMCID: PMC7561368 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2020.568759] [Citation(s) in RCA: 70] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2020] [Accepted: 09/14/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The systemic treatment landscape for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has experienced tremendous paradigm shift towards targeting tumor microenvironment (TME) following recent trials utilizing immune checkpoint blockade (ICB). However, limited success of ICB as monotherapy mandates the evaluation of combination strategies incorporating immunotherapy for improved clinical efficacy. Radiotherapy (RT) is an integral component in treatment of solid cancers, including HCC. Radiation mediates localized tumor killing and TME modification, thereby potentiating the action of ICB. Several preclinical and clinical studies have explored the efficacy of combining RT and ICB in HCC with promising outcomes. Greater efforts are required in discovery and understanding of novel combination strategies to maximize clinical benefit with tolerable adverse effects. This current review provides a comprehensive assessment of RT and ICB in HCC, their respective impact on TME, the rationale for their synergistic combination, as well as the current potential biomarkers available to predict clinical response. We also speculate on novel future strategies to further enhance the efficacy of this combination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yun Hua Lee
- Translational Immunology Institute (TII), SingHealth-DukeNUS Academic Medical Centre, Singapore, Singapore
| | - David Tai
- Division of Medical Oncology, National Cancer Centre, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Connie Yip
- Division of Radiation Oncology, National Cancer Centre, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Su Pin Choo
- Division of Medical Oncology, National Cancer Centre, Singapore, Singapore.,Curie Oncology, Mount Elizabeth Novena Specialist Centre, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Valerie Chew
- Translational Immunology Institute (TII), SingHealth-DukeNUS Academic Medical Centre, Singapore, Singapore
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14
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Chinnadurai R, Scandolara R, Alese OB, Arafat D, Ravindranathan D, Farris AB, El-Rayes BF, Gibson G. Correlation Patterns Among B7 Family Ligands and Tryptophan Degrading Enzymes in Hepatocellular Carcinoma. Front Oncol 2020; 10:1632. [PMID: 33014820 PMCID: PMC7494748 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2020.01632] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2019] [Accepted: 07/27/2020] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Mechanisms of dysfunctional T cell immunity in Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC) need to be well defined. B7 family molecules provide both co-stimulatory and co-inhibitory signals to T cells while tryptophan degrading enzymes like Indoleamine 2,3 dioxygenase (IDO) and Tryptophan 2,3 Dioxygenase (TDO) mediate tumor immune tolerance. It is necessary to identify their in situ correlative expression, which informs targets for combined immunotherapy approaches. We investigated B7 family molecules, IDO, TDO and immune responsive effectors in the tumor tissues of patients with HCC (n = 28) using a pathway-focused quantitative nanoscale chip real-time PCR. Four best correlative expressions, namely (1) B7-1 & PD-L2, (2) B7-H2 & B7-H3, (3) B7-2 & PD-L1, (4) PD-L1 & PD-L2, were identified among B7 family ligands, albeit they express at different levels. Although TDO expression is higher than IDO, PD-L1 correlates only with IDO but not TDO. Immune effector (Granzyme B) and suppressive (PD-1 and TGF-β) genes correlate with IDO and B7-1, B7-H5, PD-L2. Identification of the in situ correlation of PD-L1, PD-L2 and IDO suggest their cumulative immuno suppressive role in HCC. The distinct correlations among B7-1, B7-2, B7-H2, and B7-H3, correlation of PD-1 with non-cognate ligands such as B7-1 and B7-H5, and correlation of tumor lytic enzyme Granzyme B with IDO and PD-L2 suggest that HCC microenvironment is complexly orchestrated with both stimulatory and inhibitory molecules which together neutralize and blunt anti-HCC immunity. Functional assays demonstrate that both PDL-1 and IDO synergistically inhibit T cell responses. Altogether, the present data suggest the usage of combined immune checkpoint blocking strategies targeting co-inhibitory B7 molecules and IDO for HCC management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raghavan Chinnadurai
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Mercer University School of Medicine, Savannah, GA, United States
| | - Rafaela Scandolara
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Mercer University School of Medicine, Savannah, GA, United States
| | - Olatunji B Alese
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, Winship Cancer Institute, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Dalia Arafat
- School of Biology, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Deepak Ravindranathan
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, Winship Cancer Institute, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Alton B Farris
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Bassel F El-Rayes
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, Winship Cancer Institute, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Greg Gibson
- School of Biology, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, United States
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15
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Alpha-Fetoprotein Regulates the Expression of Immune-Related Proteins through the NF- κB (P65) Pathway in Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cells. JOURNAL OF ONCOLOGY 2020; 2020:9327512. [PMID: 32774373 PMCID: PMC7407027 DOI: 10.1155/2020/9327512] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2019] [Revised: 06/19/2020] [Accepted: 07/08/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Background The prognosis of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is poor, with 60% to 70% of patients developing recurrence and metastasis within five years of radical resection. Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) plays a significant role in predicting the recurrence and metastasis of HCC after surgery. However, its role in modulating tumor immunity has not been investigated. Our objective was to examine the effect of AFP on the expression of B7 family and activation of the NF-κB (P65) pathway in HCC. Methods We generated human hepatoma SMMC-7721 cell lines with or without recombinant AFP transfection (AFPup and control groups). Colony formation assay, Transwell invasion assay, and wound healing assay were used to detect the function of AFP. Liver cancer xenografts were made in BALB/c nude male mice (N = 6 per group). After 28 days of inoculation, the expression of immune genes in the HCC tissues, including PD-L (B7-H1), B7-H3, B7-H4, and P65, was evaluated by quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) and western blot. In addition, immunofluorescence was used to determine the subcellular localization of the P65 protein, a key factor in the NF-κB pathway. An online HCC patients' dataset was also used to detect the connection between AFP and P65. Results Overexpression of AFP could enhance proliferation, invasion, and migration of HCC cells. Both qPCR and western blot results demonstrated that the expressions of PD-L1, B7-H4, and P65 were significantly higher in the AFP group compared to the controls (P < 0.05). Immunofluorescence results indicated that the majority of the P65 protein was located in the cytoplasm in the control group but was translocated to the nucleus in the AFPup group. The Spearman correlation coefficient confirms that AFP has a positive correlation with P65 in HCC patients (R = 0.33, P=0.05). Conclusion AFP could enhance proliferation, invasion, and migration in HCC cells. The upregulation of AFP would increase the PD-L1 and B7-H4 mRNA and protein expression in HCC tissues through the upregulation and activation of the P65 protein.
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16
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Ganesan B, Parameswaran S, Sharma A, Krishnakumar S. Clinical relevance of B7H3 expression in retinoblastoma. Sci Rep 2020; 10:10185. [PMID: 32576886 PMCID: PMC7311428 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-67101-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2019] [Accepted: 05/22/2020] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Retinoblastoma (RB) is the most common paediatric intraocular tumour. Currently, chemotherapy is widely used to reduce the chance of metastasis as well as for vision salvage. The limitations of chemotherapy for RB include chemoresistance and cytotoxicity. Recently, immunotherapy is considered for treating chemoresistant cancers. Although, several molecular targets are available for immunotherapy in different cancers, we were interested in B7H3, as it was differentially expressed between retinoblastoma and retina in our earlier proteomics study. Hence, in this study we validated the previous finding by Western blotting and immunohistochemistry on primary RB tumor samples. The results suggest significantly increased expression of B7H3 in RB tumor samples compared to retina by western blotting. Immunohistochemistry revealed spatial, inter and intratumoral heterogeneity in the primary RB tumor sections. Correlation of the B7H3 expression with clinical and histopathological data revealed significantly increased expression of B7H3 in poorly differentiated, non-neural invasive tumors and lower expression in neural invasion and severe anaplastic areas of the tumors. B7H3 expression did not significantly vary between low-risk and high-risk tumors. The study also revealed considerably reduced infiltration of T lymphocytes in RB. We conclude that B7H3 is prominently expressed in primary RB tumors and could be used for targeted therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Sowmya Parameswaran
- Radheshyam Kanoi Stem Cell Laboratory, Vision Research Foundation, Chennai, India
| | - Ashwani Sharma
- Department of Chemistry & Biology, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER), Tirupati, India
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17
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Cao D, Chen MK, Zhang QF, Zhou YF, Zhang MY, Mai SJ, Zhang YJ, Chen MS, Li XX, Wang HY. Identification of immunological subtypes of hepatocellular carcinoma with expression profiling of immune-modulating genes. Aging (Albany NY) 2020; 12:12187-12205. [PMID: 32544882 PMCID: PMC7343492 DOI: 10.18632/aging.103395] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2020] [Accepted: 05/20/2020] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Recent studies demonstrate that immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) therapy has achieved success in many types of advanced cancers including advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, ICI therapy is beneficial in only some HCC patients, suggesting that immune-responses are highly variable in HCCs. Therefore, understanding the immune status in HCC microenvironment will facilitate ICI immunotherapy and guide patient selection for the therapy. In this study, we first analyzed the expression profile of immune-modulating genes and their relationship with survival of HCC patients using the data downloaded from The Cancer Genome Atlas - Liver Hepatocellular Carcinoma (TCGA-LIHC) database, and found that the higher expressions of CD276 (B7-H3) and CD47 were significantly associated with poor survival. Then we identified 4 immune subtypes of HCCs with different survivals by using the combination expression of B7-H3 (or CD47) and CD8. Patients with B7-H3low/CD8high or CD47low/CD8high have the best survival while ones with B7-H3high/CD8low or CD47high/CD8low have the worst survival. The 4 immune subtypes were validated in another 72 HCC patients obtained from South China. In conclusion, our findings suggest that HCC patient prognosis is associated with immunophenotypes by T cell infiltration (CD8 expression) and the expression of the adaptive immune resistance gene (B7-H3 or CD47), and this immune classification system will facilitate HCC patient selection for ICI immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Di Cao
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Sun Yat-Sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, China
| | - Meng-Ke Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Sun Yat-Sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, China
| | - Qing-Feng Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Sun Yat-Sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yu-Feng Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Sun Yat-Sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, China
| | - Mei-Yin Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Sun Yat-Sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, China
| | - Shi-Juan Mai
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Sun Yat-Sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yao-Jun Zhang
- Department of Hepatobiliary Oncology, Sun Yat-Sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, China
| | - Min-Shan Chen
- Department of Hepatobiliary Oncology, Sun Yat-Sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xiao-Xing Li
- Precision Medicine Institute, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Hui-Yun Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Sun Yat-Sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, China
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18
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Shrestha R, Bridle KR, Crawford DHG, Jayachandran A. TNF‑α‑mediated epithelial‑to‑mesenchymal transition regulates expression of immune checkpoint molecules in hepatocellular carcinoma. Mol Med Rep 2020; 21:1849-1860. [PMID: 32319631 PMCID: PMC7057769 DOI: 10.3892/mmr.2020.10991] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2019] [Accepted: 01/31/2020] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the fastest growing cause of cancer-related deaths globally. Epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a cellular process that confers HCC tumor cells with the ability to evade the immune system. Immune escape in most tumors, including HCC, is controlled by immune checkpoint molecules. The aim of the present study was to investigate the association between EMT and immune checkpoint in HCC, and identify novel therapeutic targets for HCC. An in vitro model of reversible EMT was utilized based on cytokine tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α treatment of HCC cell lines Hep3B and PLC/PRF/5. Hep3B and PLC/PRF/5 cells were treated with TNF-α, and the EMT status and the expression of immune checkpoint molecules was assessed by reverse transcription-quantitative PCR, western blotting and immunofluorescence. To confirm an association between EMT and immune modulators, cells were exposed to culture medium with TNF-α for 3 days to induce EMT, following which a reversal assay was performed. The expression of immune modulators and mesenchymal-to-epithelial transition (MET) status was investigated upon reversal of EMT. Furthermore, SurvExpress, a web-based platform was utilized to analyze survival and recurrence in a dataset of patients with HCC. TNF-α treatment for 3 days induced EMT in Hep3B and PLC/PRF/5 cells, as demonstrated by the downregulation of epithelial markers along with upregulation in mesenchymal markers. An EMT reversal assay was able to induce MET by increasing epithelial markers and decreasing mesenchymal markers. TNF-α-induced EMT led to the upregulation of immune modulators, including programmed death receptor ligand (PD-L)1, PD-L2, CD73 and B7-H3. In contrast, reversal of EMT suppressed the expression of PD-L1, PD-L2, CD73 and B7-H3. In addition, high expression of TNF-α and PD-L1 in 422 patients with HCC was associated with poor overall survival. The coordinate expression of TNF-α with PD-L2 in this patient cohort was associated with increased HCC recurrence. In conclusion, the present study demonstrated a close association between immune modulator expression and EMT induction/reversal driven by TNF-α.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ritu Shrestha
- University of Queensland, Faculty of Medicine, Greenslopes Private Hospital, Brisbane, QLD 4120, Australia
| | - Kim R Bridle
- University of Queensland, Faculty of Medicine, Greenslopes Private Hospital, Brisbane, QLD 4120, Australia
| | - Darrell H G Crawford
- University of Queensland, Faculty of Medicine, Greenslopes Private Hospital, Brisbane, QLD 4120, Australia
| | - Aparna Jayachandran
- University of Queensland, Faculty of Medicine, Greenslopes Private Hospital, Brisbane, QLD 4120, Australia
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