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Zhu J, Li K, Xu L, Cai Y, Chen Y, Zhao X, Li H, Huang G, Jin J. Discovery of novel selective PI3Kγ inhibitors through combining machine learning-based virtual screening with multiple protein structures and bio-evaluation. J Adv Res 2022; 36:1-13. [PMID: 35127160 PMCID: PMC8800018 DOI: 10.1016/j.jare.2021.04.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2020] [Revised: 04/09/2021] [Accepted: 04/16/2021] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Phosphoinositide 3-kinase gamma (PI3Kγ) has been regarded as a promising drug target for the treatment of various diseases, and the diverse physiological roles of class I PI3K isoforms (α, β, δ, and γ) highlight the importance of isoform selectivity in the development of PI3Kγ inhibitors. However, the high structural conservation among the PI3K family makes it a big challenge to develop selective PI3Kγ inhibitors. Objectives A novel machine learning-based virtual screening with multiple PI3Kγ protein structures was developed to discover novel PI3Kγ inhibitors. Methods A large chemical database was screened using the virtual screening model, the top-ranked compounds were then subjected to a series of bio-evaluations, which led to the discovery of JN-KI3. The selective inhibition mechanism of JN-KI3 against PI3Kγ was uncovered by a theoretical study. Results 49 hits were identified through virtual screening, and the cell-free enzymatic studies found that JN-KI3 selectively inhibited PI3Kγ at a concentration as low as 3,873 nM but had no inhibitory effect on Class IA PI3Ks, leading to the selective cytotoxicity on hematologic cancer cells. Meanwhile, JN-KI3 potently blocked the PI3K signaling, finally led to distinct apoptosis of hematologic cell lines at a low concentration. Lastly, the key residues of PI3Kγ and the structural characteristics of JN-KI3, which both would influence γ isoform-selective inhibition, were highlighted by systematic theoretical studies. Conclusion The developed virtual screening model strongly manifests the robustness to find novel PI3Kγ inhibitors. JN-KI3 displays a specific cytotoxicity on hematologic tumor cells, and significantly promotes apoptosis associated with the inhibition of the PI3K signaling, which depicts PI3Kγ as a potential target for the hematologic tumor therapy. The theoretical results reveal that those key residues interacting with JN-KI3 are less common compared to most of the reported PI3Kγ inhibitors, indicating that JN-KI3 has novel structural characteristics as a selective PIK3γ inhibitor.
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Key Words
- ADMET, absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion, and toxicity
- AKT, protein kinase B
- AUC, area under receiver operations characteristic curve
- Badapple, bioactivity data associative promiscuity pattern learning engine
- CADD, computer-aided drug design
- CDRA, confirmatory dose–response assays
- DMEM, Dulbecco’s Modified Eagle Medium
- DS3.5, discovery studio 3.5
- FBS, fetal bovine serum
- GPCR, G protein-coupled receptors
- H-bond, hydrogen bond
- Hematologic malignancies
- IMDM, Iscove’s Modified Dulbecco’s Medium
- Ionic, ionic interactions
- JN-KI3
- MD, molecular dynamics
- MM/GBSA, molecular mechanics/generalized born surface area
- Molecular dynamics simulation
- NBC, naive Bayesian classifier
- PAGE, polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis
- PAINS, pan-assay interference compounds
- PARP, poly ADP-ribose polymerase
- PDB, protein data bank
- PI3K, Phosphoinositide 3-kinase
- PI3Kγ
- PSA, primary screening assays
- REOS, rapid elimination of swill
- RMSD, root-mean-squared-deviation
- RMSF, root-mean-squared-fluctuation
- ROC, receiver operations characteristic
- RTK, receptor tyrosine kinases
- SD, standard deviation
- SMILES, simplified molecular input line entry specification
- SP, standard precision
- Selective inhibitor
- VS, virtual screening
- Virtual screening
- Water Bridge, hydrogen bonds through water molecular bridge
- XP, extra precision
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Affiliation(s)
- Jingyu Zhu
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu 214122, China
| | - Kan Li
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu 214122, China
| | - Lei Xu
- Institute of Bioinformatics and Medical Engineering, School of Electrical and Information Engineering, Jiangsu University of Technology, Changzhou 213001, China
| | - Yanfei Cai
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu 214122, China
| | - Yun Chen
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu 214122, China
| | - Xinling Zhao
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu 214122, China
| | - Huazhong Li
- School of Biotechnology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu 21412 2, China
| | - Gang Huang
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Molecular Imaging, Shanghai University of Medicine and Health Sciences, Shanghai 201318, China
| | - Jian Jin
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu 214122, China
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Liu Y, Song Z, Liu Y, Ma X, Wang W, Ke Y, Xu Y, Yu D, Liu H. Identification of ferroptosis as a novel mechanism for antitumor activity of natural product derivative a2 in gastric cancer. Acta Pharm Sin B 2021; 11:1513-1525. [PMID: 34221865 PMCID: PMC8245858 DOI: 10.1016/j.apsb.2021.05.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2021] [Revised: 04/25/2021] [Accepted: 05/06/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Ferroptosis is a type of cell death accompanied by iron-dependent lipid peroxidation, thus stimulating ferroptosis may be a potential strategy for treating gastric cancer, therapeutic agents against which are urgently required. Jiyuan oridonin A (JDA) is a natural compound isolated from Jiyuan Rabdosia rubescens with anti-tumor activity, unclear anti-tumor mechanisms and limited water solubility hamper its clinical application. Here, we showed a2, a new JDA derivative, inhibited the growth of gastric cancer cells. Subsequently, we discovered for the first time that a2 induced ferroptosis. Importantly, compound a2 decreased GPX4 expression and overexpressing GPX4 antagonized the anti-proliferative activity of a2. Furthermore, we demonstrated that a2 caused ferrous iron accumulation through the autophagy pathway, prevention of which rescued a2 induced ferrous iron elevation and cell growth inhibition. Moreover, a2 exhibited more potent anti-cancer activity than 5-fluorouracil in gastric cancer cell line-derived xenograft mice models. Patient-derived tumor xenograft models from different patients displayed varied sensitivity to a2, and GPX4 downregulation indicated the sensitivity of tumors to a2. Finally, a2 exhibited well pharmacokinetic characteristics. Overall, our data suggest that inducing ferroptosis is the major mechanism mediating anti-tumor activity of a2, and a2 will hopefully serve as a promising compound for gastric cancer treatment.
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Key Words
- 5-FU, 5-fluorouracil
- Autophagy
- CDX, cell line-derived xenograft
- DCFH-DA, dichlorodihydro-fluorescein diacetate
- DCM, dichloromethane
- Ferroptosis
- Ferrous iron
- GPX4
- Gastric cancer
- IKE, imidazole ketone erastin
- JDA derivative
- JDA, Jiyuan oridonin A
- Jiyuan Rabdosia rubescens
- KEGG, Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes
- NAC, N-acetylcysteine
- PARP, poly ADP-ribose polymerase
- PDX, patient-derived tumor xenograft
- PK, pharmacokinetic
- Papp, apparent permeability coefficient
- ROS
- ROS, reactive oxygen species
- RTV, relative tumor volume
- Verp, verapamil
- qRT-PCR, quantitative real time PCR
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Zhang X, Zhang P, An L, Sun N, Peng L, Tang W, Ma D, Chen J. Miltirone induces cell death in hepatocellular carcinoma cell through GSDME-dependent pyroptosis. Acta Pharm Sin B 2020; 10:1397-413. [PMID: 32963939 DOI: 10.1016/j.apsb.2020.06.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 118] [Impact Index Per Article: 29.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2020] [Revised: 06/06/2020] [Accepted: 06/08/2020] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Pyroptosis is a form of programmed cell death, and recently described as a new molecular mechanism of chemotherapy drugs in the treatment of tumors. Miltirone, a derivative of phenanthrene-quinone isolated from the root of Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge, has been shown to possess anti-cancer activities. Here, we found that miltirone inhibited the cell viability of either HepG2 or Hepa1-6 cells, and induced the proteolytic cleavage of gasdermin E (GSDME) in each hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cell line, with concomitant cleavage of caspase 3. Knocking out GSDME switched miltirone-induced cell death from pyroptosis to apoptosis. Additionally, the induction effects of miltirone on GSDME-dependent pyroptosis were attenuated by siRNA-mediated caspase three silencing and the specific caspase three inhibitor Z-DEVD-FMK, respectively. Miltirone effectively elicited intracellular accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), and suppressed phosphorylation of mitogen-activated and extracellular signal-regulated kinase (MEK) and extracellular regulated protein kinases 1/2 (ERK1/2) for pyroptosis induction. Moreover, miltirone significantly inhibited tumor growth and induced pyroptosis in the Hepa1-6 mouse HCC syngeneic model. These results provide a new insight that miltirone is a potential therapeutic agent for the treatment of HCC via GSDME-dependent pyroptosis.
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Key Words
- 7-AAD, 7-aminoactinomycin D
- AKT, AKT serine/threonine kinase, also known as protein kinase B
- ANOVA, analysis of variance
- BAX, BCL2-associated X
- CCK-8, cell counting kit-8
- CRISPR, clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats
- Cas9, caspase 9
- Cell death
- DCFH-DA, dye 2,7-dichlorofluoresce diacetate
- DMEM, Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium
- DMSO, dimethyl sulfoxide
- ECL, enhanced chemiluminescence
- ERK1/2, extracellular regulated protein kinases 1/2
- FBS, fetal bovine serum
- FITC, fluorescein isothiocyanate
- GAPDH, glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase
- GSDMD, gasdermin D
- GSDME
- GSDME, gasdermin E
- H&E, hematoxylin and eosin
- HCC, hepatocellular carcinoma
- HRP, horseradish peroxidase
- HepG2
- Hepa1-6
- Hepatocellular carcinoma
- IC50, the half maximal inhibitory concentration
- IgG (H + L), immunoglobulin G (heavy chain + light chain)
- KO, knockout
- LDH, lactic dehydrogenase
- MEK, mitogen-activated and extracellular signal-regulated kinase
- MEM, minimum essential medium
- MMP, mitochondrial membrane potential
- MS, mass spectrum
- Miltirone
- N-GSDME, N-terminal GSDME
- NAC, N-acetyl cysteine
- NC, negative control
- NMR, nuclear magnetic resonance
- NS, no significance
- PARP, poly ADP-ribose polymerase
- PBS, phosphate-based buffer
- PI, propidium iodide
- PI3K, phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase
- Pyroptosis
- RIPA, radioimmunoprecipitation assay
- ROS, reactive oxygen species
- SD, standard deviation
- SDS-PAGE, sodium dodecyl sulphate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis
- TBST, Tris-buffered saline with Tween solution
- TCGA, the Cancer Genome Atlas
- VEGF, vascular endothelial growth factor
- gRNA, guide RNA
- i.p., intraperitoneal
- i.v., intravenous
- mTOR, mammalian target of rapamycin
- p-AKT, phosphorylated-AKT
- p-ERK1/2, phosphorylated-ERK1/2
- p-MEK, phosphorylated-MEK
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Al-Saleh F, Khashab F, Fadel F, Al-Kandari N, Al-Maghrebi M. Inhibition of NADPH oxidase alleviates germ cell apoptosis and ER stress during testicular ischemia reperfusion injury. Saudi J Biol Sci 2020; 27:2174-2184. [PMID: 32714044 PMCID: PMC7376125 DOI: 10.1016/j.sjbs.2020.04.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2020] [Revised: 03/26/2020] [Accepted: 04/13/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Testicular torsion and detorsion (TTD) is a serious urological condition affecting young males that is underlined by an ischemia reperfusion injury (tIRI) to the testis as the pathophysiological mechanism. During tIRI, uncontrolled production of oxygen reactive species (ROS) causes DNA damage leading to germ cell apoptosis (GCA). The aim of the study is to explore whether inhibition of NADPH oxidase (NOX), a major source of intracellular ROS, will prevent tIRI-induced GCA and its association with endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress. Sprague-Dawley rats (n = 36) were divided into three groups: sham, tIRI only and tIRI treated with apocynin (a NOX inhibitor). Rats undergoing tIRI endured an ischemic injury for 1 h followed by 4 h of reperfusion. Spermatogenic damage was evaluated histologically, while cellular damages were assessed using real time PCR, immunofluorescence staining, Western blot and biochemical assays. Disrupted spermatogenesis was associated with increased lipid and protein peroxidation and decreased antioxidant activity of the enzyme superoxide dismutase (SOD) as a result of tIRI. In addition, increased DNA double strand breaks and formation of 8-OHdG adducts associated with increased phosphorylation of the DNA damage response (DDR) protein H2AX. The ASK1/JNK apoptosis signaling pathway was also activated in response to tIRI. Finally, increased immuno-expression of the unfolded protein response (UPR) downstream targets: GRP78, eIF2-α1, CHOP and caspase 12 supported the presence of ER stress. Inhibition of NOX by apocynin protected against tIRI-induced GCA and ER stress. In conclusion, NOX inhibition minimized tIRI-induced intracellular oxidative damages leading to GCA and ER stress.
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Key Words
- 8-OHdG, 8-hydroxy-2′-deoxyguanosine
- ANOVA, analysis of variance
- ASK1, apoptosis signaling kinase 1
- ATF, activating transcription factor
- ATM, ataxia telangiectasia mutated
- BSA, bovine serum albumin
- BTB, blood-testis barrier
- CHOP, CCAAT-enhancer-binding protein homologous protein
- Chk, checkpoint kinase
- DAPI, diamidino phenylindole
- DDR, DNA damage response
- DMSO, dimethyl sulfoxide
- DNA, deoxyribonucleic acid
- ECL, electrochemiluminescence
- ELISA, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay
- ER stress
- ER, endoplasmic reticulum
- GCA, germ cell apoptosis
- GRP78, glucose-related protein 78
- Germ cell apoptosis
- H&E, hematoxylin and eosin
- H2AX, histone variant
- H2O2, hydrogen peroxide
- IAP, inhibitors of apoptosis
- IF, immunofluorescence
- IRE1, inositol requiring kinase 1
- JNK, c-Jun N-terminal Kinase
- MDA, malondialdehyde
- NADP, nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate
- NADPH oxidase
- NOX, NADPH oxidase
- O2, molecular oxygen
- O2−, superoxide anion
- OS, oxidative stress
- Oxidative stress
- PARP, poly ADP-ribose polymerase
- PCC, protein carbonyl content
- PCR, polymerase chain reaction
- PERK, pancreatic ER kinase
- PVDF, polyvinylidene difluoride
- RIPA, radioimmunoprecipitation assay
- RNA, ribonucleic acid
- ROS, reactive oxygen species
- RT, reverse transcription
- SD, standard deviation
- SDS-PAGE, sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis
- SOD, superoxide dismutase
- ST, seminiferous tubule
- TOS, testicular oxidative stress
- TRAF-2, tumor-necrosis-factor receptor-associated factor 2
- TUNEL, terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling
- Testicular ischemia Reperfusion Injury
- UPR, unfolded protein response
- cDNA, complementary DNA
- eIF2α1, eukaryotic initiation factor 2α1
- gDNA, genomic DNA
- i.p., intraperitoneal
- kDa, kilodalton
- mRNA, messenger ribonucleic acid
- p-, phosphorylated
- phox, phagocyte oxidase
- γ-H2AX, 139 serine-phosphorylated histone variant
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Affiliation(s)
- Farah Al-Saleh
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Kuwait University, Jabriyah, Kuwait
| | - Farah Khashab
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Kuwait University, Jabriyah, Kuwait
| | - Fatemah Fadel
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Kuwait University, Jabriyah, Kuwait
| | - Nora Al-Kandari
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Kuwait University, Jabriyah, Kuwait
| | - May Al-Maghrebi
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Kuwait University, Jabriyah, Kuwait
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Zhang DW, Li HY, Lau WY, Cao LQ, Li Y, Jiang XF, Yang XW, Xue P. Gli2 silencing enhances TRAIL-induced apoptosis and reduces tumor growth in human hepatoma cells in vivo. Cancer Biol Ther 2015; 15:1667-76. [PMID: 25535898 DOI: 10.4161/15384047.2014.972286] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Our previous studies have showed that Gli2 played a predominant role in proliferation and apoptosis resistance to TRAIL in hepatoma cells. The purpose of this study was to explore whether Gli2 silencing enhances efficiency of TRAIL for hepatoma in vivo. SMMC-7721-shRNA cells were implanted subcutaneously into nude mices and TRAIL was injected into the peritoneal space. TUNEL assay was used to detect apoptosis of tumor cells. The expression of Gli2, c-FLIPL, c-FLIPS, and Bcl-2 protein was determined by immunohistochemistry, respectively. Apoptosis and the level of caspases proteins in SMMC-7721 and HepG2 cells were detected by Flow cytometry and Western blot. Transcriptional activity of c-FLIP induced by Gli2 was measured by luciferase reporter gene assay. The results showed that lower volumes and weights of tumor were found in mice xenografted with SMMC-7721-shRNA cells as compared with control cells in the presence of TRAIL (P < 0.05). TUNEL assay showed significantly higher apoptosis index (AI) in the SMMC-7721-shRNA group than in the control groups (P < 0.05). There were remarkable positive correlations between Gli2 and c-FLIPL, c-FLIPS, Bcl-2 protein expression. Over-expression of c-FLIP or Bcl-2 in HepG2 cells attenuated TRAIL-induced apoptosis via suppression of caspase-8 or caspase-9 activity, respectively. Luciferase reporter gene assay found a regulatory sequence by which Gli2 activated transcription between -1007 to -244 in the c-FLIP promoter region. This study demonstrates that Gli2 showed regulatory activity on transcription of c-FLIP gene, and Gli2 silencing enhances TRAIL-induced apoptosis via down-regulation of c-FLIP and Bcl-2 in human hepatoma cells in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Da-wei Zhang
- a Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery ; The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University ; Guangzhou , China
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Wu AA, Drake V, Huang HS, Chiu S, Zheng L. Reprogramming the tumor microenvironment: tumor-induced immunosuppressive factors paralyze T cells. Oncoimmunology 2015; 4:e1016700. [PMID: 26140242 DOI: 10.1080/2162402x.2015.1016700] [Citation(s) in RCA: 153] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.0] [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: 12/19/2014] [Revised: 02/02/2015] [Accepted: 02/03/2015] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
It has become evident that tumor-induced immuno-suppressive factors in the tumor microenvironment play a major role in suppressing normal functions of effector T cells. These factors serve as hurdles that limit the therapeutic potential of cancer immunotherapies. This review focuses on illustrating the molecular mechanisms of immunosuppression in the tumor microenvironment, including evasion of T-cell recognition, interference with T-cell trafficking, metabolism, and functions, induction of resistance to T-cell killing, and apoptosis of T cells. A better understanding of these mechanisms may help in the development of strategies to enhance the effectiveness of cancer immunotherapies.
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Key Words
- 1MT, 1-methyltryptophan
- COX2, cyclooxygenase-2
- GM-CSF, granulocyte macrophage colony-stimulating factor
- GPI, glycosylphosphatidylinositol
- Gal1, galectin-1
- HDACi, histone deacetylase inhibitor
- HLA, human leukocyte antigen
- IDO, indoleamine-2,3- dioxygenase
- IL-10, interleukin-10
- IMC, immature myeloid cell
- MDSC, myeloid-derived suppressor cells
- MHC, major histocompatibility
- MICA, MHC class I related molecule A
- MICB, MHC class I related molecule B
- NO, nitric oxide
- PARP, poly ADP-ribose polymerase
- PD-1, program death receptor-1
- PD-L1, programmed death ligand 1
- PGE2, prostaglandin E2
- RCAS1, receptor-binding cancer antigen expressed on Siso cells 1
- RCC, renal cell carcinoma
- SOCS, suppressor of cytokine signaling
- STAT3, signal transducer and activator of transcription 3
- SVV, survivin
- T cells
- TCR, T-cell receptor
- TGF-β, transforming growth factor β
- TRAIL, TNF-related apoptosis-inducing ligand
- VCAM-1, vascular cell adhesion molecule-1
- XIAP, X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis protein
- iNOS, inducible nitric-oxide synthase
- immunosuppression
- immunosuppressive factors
- immunotherapy
- tumor microenvironment
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Affiliation(s)
- Annie A Wu
- Department of Oncology; The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine ; Baltimore, MD USA
| | - Virginia Drake
- School of Medicine; University of Maryland ; Baltimore, MD USA
| | | | - ShihChi Chiu
- College of Medicine; National Taiwan University ; Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Lei Zheng
- Department of Oncology; The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine ; Baltimore, MD USA
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