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Chen F, Sheng J, Li X, Gao Z, Zhao S, Hu L, Chen M, Fei J, Song Z. Unveiling the promise of PD1/PD-L1: A new dawn in immunotherapy for cholangiocarcinoma. Biomed Pharmacother 2024; 175:116659. [PMID: 38692063 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2024.116659] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2024] [Revised: 04/18/2024] [Accepted: 04/24/2024] [Indexed: 05/03/2024] Open
Abstract
Cholangiocarcinoma (CCA), a rare yet notably aggressive cancer, has experienced a surge in incidence in recent years. Presently, surgical resection remains the most effective curative strategy for CCA. Nevertheless, a majority of patients with CCA are ineligible for surgical removal at the time of diagnosis. For advanced stages of CCA, the combination of gemcitabine and cisplatin is established as the standard chemotherapy regimen. Despite this, treatment efficacy is often hindered by the development of resistance. In recent times, immune checkpoint inhibitors, particularly those that block programmed death 1 and its ligand (PD1/PD-L1), have emerged as promising strategies against a variety of cancers and are being increasingly integrated into the therapeutic landscape of CCA. A growing body of research supports that the use of PD1/PD-L1 monoclonal antibodies in conjunction with chemotherapy may significantly improve patient outcomes. This article seeks to meticulously review the latest studies on PD1/PD-L1 involvement in CCA, delving into their expression profiles, prognostic significance, contribution to oncogenic processes, and their potential clinical utility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fei Chen
- Department of Surgery, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Jiaxing University, Jiaxing, Zhejiang, China
| | - Jian Sheng
- Department of Research and Teaching, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Jiaxing University, Jiaxing, Zhejiang, China
| | - Xiaoping Li
- Department of Surgery, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Jiaxing University, Jiaxing, Zhejiang, China
| | - Zhaofeng Gao
- Department of Surgery, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Jiaxing University, Jiaxing, Zhejiang, China
| | - Siqi Zhao
- Department of Surgery, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Jiaxing University, Jiaxing, Zhejiang, China
| | - Lingyu Hu
- Department of Surgery, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Jiaxing University, Jiaxing, Zhejiang, China
| | - Minjie Chen
- Department of Surgery, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Jiaxing University, Jiaxing, Zhejiang, China.
| | - Jianguo Fei
- Department of Surgery, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Jiaxing University, Jiaxing, Zhejiang, China.
| | - Zhengwei Song
- Department of Surgery, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Jiaxing University, Jiaxing, Zhejiang, China.
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Tan Z, Li X, Chen X, Wang L, Chen B, Ren S, Zhao M. Ellagic acid inhibits tumor growth and potentiates the therapeutic efficacy of sorafenib in hepatocellular carcinoma. Heliyon 2024; 10:e23931. [PMID: 38205284 PMCID: PMC10777069 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e23931] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2023] [Revised: 12/12/2023] [Accepted: 12/15/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Sorafenib is a classic molecular targeted drug approved for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) therapy. However, a poor response rate and increasing resistance to sorafenib make its therapeutic efficacy suboptimal. Combination treatment with an agent capable of potentiating sorafenib sensitivity may be a promising solution. Aim The aim of this study was to determine the synergistic effect of ellagic acid (EA), a natural polyphenol, and sorafenib on HCC. Methods CCK-8, EdU incorporation and colony formation assays were used to study the effect of EA on HCC cell proliferation. Apoptosis was detected by flow cytometry in HCC cells and TUNEL assay in xenograft tumors. Transcriptome analysis was utilized to investigate alterations in signaling pathways with EA treatment. A xenograft mouse model was used to confirm the synergistic effect of sorafenib and EA on HCC tumors in vivo. Results We found that EA inhibited growth and induced apoptosis in both HCC cells and xenograft tumors. Mechanistically, EA treatment reduced the activation of the MAPK and Akt/mTOR signaling pathways in HCC cells. Furthermore, combined EA and sorafenib treatment further inhibited the MAPK and Akt/mTOR signaling pathways compared to EA or sorafenib alone. EA synergistically potentiated the anticancer activity of sorafenib against HCC both in vitro and in vivo. Conclusion EA inhibits HCC growth by inducing apoptosis through attenuation of the MAPK and Akt/mTOR signaling pathways. EA potentiates the response of HCC tumors to sorafenib both in vitro and in vivo, an effect that may be attributed to further inhibition of the MAPK and Akt/mTOR signaling pathways. These results suggest that EA is an effective adjuvant option for sorafenib therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhenju Tan
- Department of Gastroenterology, The Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, 646000, PR China
| | - Xuemei Li
- Department of Gastroenterology, Clinical Medical College and the First Affiliated Hospital of Chengdu Medical College, Chengdu, 610500, PR China
| | - Xia Chen
- Department of Gastroenterology, Clinical Medical College and the First Affiliated Hospital of Chengdu Medical College, Chengdu, 610500, PR China
| | - Li Wang
- Department of Gastroenterology, Clinical Medical College and the First Affiliated Hospital of Chengdu Medical College, Chengdu, 610500, PR China
| | - Baijun Chen
- Department of Gastroenterology, Clinical Medical College and the First Affiliated Hospital of Chengdu Medical College, Chengdu, 610500, PR China
| | - Sichong Ren
- Department of Nephrology, Clinical Medical College and the First Affiliated Hospital of Chengdu Medical College, Chengdu, 610500, PR China
| | - Ming Zhao
- Department of Gastroenterology, Clinical Medical College and the First Affiliated Hospital of Chengdu Medical College, Chengdu, 610500, PR China
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Feng Y, Zhao M, Wang L, Li L, Lei JH, Zhou J, Chen J, Wu Y, Miao K, Deng CX. The heterogeneity of signaling pathways and drug responses in intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma with distinct genetic mutations. Cell Death Dis 2024; 15:34. [PMID: 38212325 PMCID: PMC10784283 DOI: 10.1038/s41419-023-06406-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2023] [Revised: 12/18/2023] [Accepted: 12/20/2023] [Indexed: 01/13/2024]
Abstract
Intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) is the second most common malignancy among primary liver cancers, with an increasing overall incidence and poor prognosis. The intertumoral and intratumoral heterogeneity of ICC makes it difficult to find efficient drug therapies. Therefore, it is essential to identify tumor suppressor genes and oncogenes that induce ICC formation and progression. Here, we performed CRISPR/Cas9-mediated genome-wide screening in a liver-specific Smad4/Pten knockout mouse model (Smad4co/co;Ptenco/co;Alb-Cre, abbreviated as SPC), which normally generates ICC after 6 months, and detected that mutations in Trp53, Fbxw7, Inppl1, Tgfbr2, or Cul3 markedly accelerated ICC formation. To illustrate the potential mechanisms, we conducted transcriptome sequencing and found that multiple receptor tyrosine kinases were activated, which mainly upregulated the PI3K pathway to induce cell proliferation. Remarkably, the Cul3 mutation stimulated cancer progression mainly by altering the immune microenvironment, whereas other mutations promoted the cell cycle. Moreover, Fbxw7, Inppl1, Tgfbr2, and Trp53 also affect inflammatory responses, apelin signaling, mitotic spindles, ribosome biogenesis, and nucleocytoplasmic transport pathways, respectively. We further examined FDA-approved drugs for the treatment of liver cancer and performed high-throughput drug screening of the gene-mutant organoids. Different drug responses and promising drug therapies, including chemotherapy and targeted drugs, have been discovered for ICC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yangyang Feng
- Cancer Center, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Macau, Macau SAR, China
- Zhuhai UM Science & Technology Research Institute, Zhuhai, Guangdong, China
- Centre for Precision Medicine Research and Training, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Macau, Macau SAR, China
| | - Ming Zhao
- Cancer Center, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Macau, Macau SAR, China
- Centre for Precision Medicine Research and Training, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Macau, Macau SAR, China
- Department of Gastroenterology, Clinical Medical College and The First Affiliated Hospital of Chengdu Medical College, Chengdu, China
| | - Lijian Wang
- Cancer Center, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Macau, Macau SAR, China
- Centre for Precision Medicine Research and Training, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Macau, Macau SAR, China
| | - Ling Li
- Cancer Center, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Macau, Macau SAR, China
- Centre for Precision Medicine Research and Training, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Macau, Macau SAR, China
| | - Josh Haipeng Lei
- Cancer Center, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Macau, Macau SAR, China
- Centre for Precision Medicine Research and Training, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Macau, Macau SAR, China
| | - Jingbo Zhou
- Cancer Center, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Macau, Macau SAR, China
- Centre for Precision Medicine Research and Training, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Macau, Macau SAR, China
| | - Jinghong Chen
- Cancer Center, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Macau, Macau SAR, China
- Centre for Precision Medicine Research and Training, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Macau, Macau SAR, China
| | - Yumeng Wu
- Cancer Center, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Macau, Macau SAR, China
- Centre for Precision Medicine Research and Training, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Macau, Macau SAR, China
| | - Kai Miao
- Cancer Center, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Macau, Macau SAR, China
- Centre for Precision Medicine Research and Training, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Macau, Macau SAR, China
- MOE Frontiers Science Center for Precision Oncology, University of Macau, Macau SAR, China
| | - Chu-Xia Deng
- Cancer Center, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Macau, Macau SAR, China.
- Zhuhai UM Science & Technology Research Institute, Zhuhai, Guangdong, China.
- Centre for Precision Medicine Research and Training, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Macau, Macau SAR, China.
- MOE Frontiers Science Center for Precision Oncology, University of Macau, Macau SAR, China.
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Liu X, Zhang Y, Yang X, Zhang Y, Liu Y, Wang L, Yi T, Yuan J, Wen W, Jian Y. Mitochondrial transplantation inhibits cholangiocarcinoma cells growth by balancing oxidative stress tolerance through PTEN/PI3K/AKT signaling pathway. Tissue Cell 2023; 85:102243. [PMID: 37865041 DOI: 10.1016/j.tice.2023.102243] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2023] [Revised: 10/06/2023] [Accepted: 10/13/2023] [Indexed: 10/23/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) is a serious threat to human health, and tumor development is associated with abnormal mitochondrial function. It is believed that the introduction of healthy mitochondria into tumor cells can induce the oxidative stress in tumor cells to return to normal levels, thus exerting an inhibitory effect on tumor growth. METHODS Mitochondria isolated from 143BρW cells were co-cultured with HuCCT1 cells, and the mitochondria were stained with MitoTracker dye as a tracking label. Changes in apoptosis, proliferation, oxidative stress, and PTEN/PI3K/AKT signaling pathway were assessed. In addition, a CCA nude mouse transplantation tumor model was constructed to analyze the effects of mitochondrial transplantation on the above factors in nude mice. Furthermore, the expression of PTEN was interfered to observe the effect and mechanism of mitochondrial transplantation on the proliferation and apoptosis of CCA cells. RESULTS Mitochondrial transplantation promoted apoptosis and inhibited cell proliferation in CCA cell line. SOD, GSH, and CAT activities were significantly increased, the expression of PTEN was activated, and the expression of p-PI3K and p-AKT were inhibited after mitochondrial transplantation. After mitochondrial transplantation + si-PTEN treatment, cell apoptosis, SOD, GSH, CAT activity, and the expression of PTEN were decreased, while the expression of p-PI3K and p-AKT were significantly enhanced. CONCLUSION This study reveals the anti-tumor potential of mitochondrial transplantation through PTEN/PI3K/AKT signaling pathway to regulate cellular oxidative stress in CCA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaocong Liu
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Chengdu Second People's Hospital, Chengdu, China.
| | - Yuanyuan Zhang
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Chengdu Second People's Hospital, Chengdu, China
| | - Xiaoyan Yang
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Chengdu Second People's Hospital, Chengdu, China
| | - Yan Zhang
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Chengdu Second People's Hospital, Chengdu, China
| | - Yulan Liu
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Chengdu Second People's Hospital, Chengdu, China
| | - Li Wang
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Chengdu Second People's Hospital, Chengdu, China
| | - Ting Yi
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Chengdu Second People's Hospital, Chengdu, China
| | - Jing Yuan
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Chengdu Second People's Hospital, Chengdu, China
| | - Wu Wen
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Chengdu Second People's Hospital, Chengdu, China
| | - Yi Jian
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Chengdu Second People's Hospital, Chengdu, China
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Gehl V, O'Rourke CJ, Andersen JB. Immunogenomics of cholangiocarcinoma. Hepatology 2023:01515467-990000000-00649. [PMID: 37972940 DOI: 10.1097/hep.0000000000000688] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2023] [Accepted: 10/16/2023] [Indexed: 11/19/2023]
Abstract
The development of cholangiocarcinoma spans years, if not decades, during which the immune system becomes corrupted and permissive to primary tumor development and metastasis. This involves subversion of local immunity at tumor sites, as well as systemic immunity and the wider host response. While immune dysfunction is a hallmark of all cholangiocarcinoma, the specific steps of the cancer-immunity cycle that are perturbed differ between patients. Heterogeneous immune functionality impacts the evolutionary development, pathobiological behavior, and therapeutic response of these tumors. Integrative genomic analyses of thousands of primary tumors have supported a biological rationale for immune-based stratification of patients, encompassing immune cell composition and functionality. However, discerning immune alterations responsible for promoting tumor initiation, maintenance, and progression from those present as bystander events remains challenging. Functionally uncoupling the tumor-promoting or tumor-suppressing roles of immune profiles will be critical for identifying new immunomodulatory treatment strategies and associated biomarkers for patient stratification. This review will discuss the immunogenomics of cholangiocarcinoma, including the impact of genomic alterations on immune functionality, subversion of the cancer-immunity cycle, as well as clinical implications for existing and novel treatment strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Virag Gehl
- Department of Health and Medical Sciences, Biotech Research and Innovation Centre (BRIC), University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
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Anh NH, Long NP, Min YJ, Ki Y, Kim SJ, Jung CW, Park S, Kwon SW, Lee SJ. Molecular and Metabolic Phenotyping of Hepatocellular Carcinoma for Biomarker Discovery: A Meta-Analysis. Metabolites 2023; 13:1112. [PMID: 37999208 PMCID: PMC10672761 DOI: 10.3390/metabo13111112] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2023] [Revised: 10/20/2023] [Accepted: 10/24/2023] [Indexed: 11/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Identifying and translating hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) biomarkers from bench to bedside using mass spectrometry-based metabolomics and lipidomics is hampered by inconsistent findings. Here, we investigated HCC at systemic and metabolism-centric multiomics levels by conducting a meta-analysis of quantitative evidence from 68 cohorts. Blood transcript biomarkers linked to the HCC metabolic phenotype were externally validated and prioritized. In the studies under investigation, about 600 metabolites were reported as putative HCC-associated biomarkers; 39, 20, and 10 metabolites and 52, 12, and 12 lipids were reported in three or more studies in HCC vs. Control, HCC vs. liver cirrhosis (LC), and LC vs. Control groups, respectively. Amino acids, fatty acids (increased 18:1), bile acids, and lysophosphatidylcholine were the most frequently reported biomarkers in HCC. BAX and RAC1 showed a good correlation and were associated with poor prognosis. Our study proposes robust HCC biomarkers across diverse cohorts using a data-driven knowledge-based approach that is versatile and affordable for studying other diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nguyen Hoang Anh
- College of Pharmacy, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea; (N.H.A.); (Y.J.M.); (S.J.K.); (C.W.J.); (S.W.K.)
| | - Nguyen Phuoc Long
- Department of Pharmacology and PharmacoGenomics Research Center, Inje University College of Medicine, Busan 47392, Republic of Korea
| | - Young Jin Min
- College of Pharmacy, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea; (N.H.A.); (Y.J.M.); (S.J.K.); (C.W.J.); (S.W.K.)
| | - Yujin Ki
- School of Mathematics, Statistics and Data Science, Sungshin Women’s University, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea; (Y.K.); (S.P.)
| | - Sun Jo Kim
- College of Pharmacy, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea; (N.H.A.); (Y.J.M.); (S.J.K.); (C.W.J.); (S.W.K.)
| | - Cheol Woon Jung
- College of Pharmacy, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea; (N.H.A.); (Y.J.M.); (S.J.K.); (C.W.J.); (S.W.K.)
| | - Seongoh Park
- School of Mathematics, Statistics and Data Science, Sungshin Women’s University, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea; (Y.K.); (S.P.)
| | - Sung Won Kwon
- College of Pharmacy, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea; (N.H.A.); (Y.J.M.); (S.J.K.); (C.W.J.); (S.W.K.)
| | - Seul Ji Lee
- College of Pharmacy, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon 24341, Republic of Korea
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Cai X, Tacke F, Guillot A, Liu H. Cholangiokines: undervalued modulators in the hepatic microenvironment. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1192840. [PMID: 37261338 PMCID: PMC10229055 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1192840] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2023] [Accepted: 05/02/2023] [Indexed: 06/02/2023] Open
Abstract
The biliary epithelial cells, also known as cholangiocytes, line the intra- and extrahepatic bile ducts, forming a barrier between intra- and extra-ductal environments. Cholangiocytes are mostly known to modulate bile composition and transportation. In hepatobiliary diseases, bile duct injury leads to drastic alterations in cholangiocyte phenotypes and their release of soluble mediators, which can vary depending on the original insult and cellular states (quiescence, senescence, or proliferation). The cholangiocyte-secreted cytokines (also termed cholangiokines) drive ductular cell proliferation, portal inflammation and fibrosis, and carcinogenesis. Hence, despite the previous consensus that cholangiocytes are bystanders in liver diseases, their diverse secretome plays critical roles in modulating the intrahepatic microenvironment. This review summarizes recent insights into the cholangiokines under both physiological and pathological conditions, especially as they occur during liver injury-regeneration, inflammation, fibrosis and malignant transformation processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiurong Cai
- Department of Hematology, Oncology and Tumor Immunology, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Campus Virchow-Klinikum, Berlin, Germany
| | - Frank Tacke
- Department of Hepatology and Gastroenterology, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Campus Virchow-Klinikum and Campus Charité Mitte, Berlin, Germany
| | - Adrien Guillot
- Department of Hepatology and Gastroenterology, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Campus Virchow-Klinikum and Campus Charité Mitte, Berlin, Germany
| | - Hanyang Liu
- Department of Hepatology and Gastroenterology, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Campus Virchow-Klinikum and Campus Charité Mitte, Berlin, Germany
- Center of Gastrointestinal Diseases, Changzhou Second People's Hospital, Changzhou Medical Center, Nanjing Medical University, Changzhou, China
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