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Kaistha BP, Kar G, Dannhorn A, Watkins A, Opoku-Ansah G, Ilieva K, Mullins S, Anderton J, Galvani E, Garcon F, Lapointe JM, Brown L, Hair J, Slidel T, Luheshi N, Ryan K, Hardaker E, Dovedi S, Kumar R, Wilkinson RW, Hammond SA, Eyles J. Efficacy and pharmacodynamic effect of anti-CD73 and anti-PD-L1 monoclonal antibodies in combination with cytotoxic therapy: observations from mouse tumor models. Cancer Biol Ther 2024; 25:2296048. [PMID: 38206570 PMCID: PMC10793677 DOI: 10.1080/15384047.2023.2296048] [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: 01/11/2023] [Accepted: 12/13/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2024] Open
Abstract
CD73 is a cell surface 5'nucleotidase (NT5E) and key node in the catabolic process generating immunosuppressive adenosine in cancer. Using a murine monoclonal antibody surrogate of Oleclumab, we investigated the effect of CD73 inhibition in concert with cytotoxic therapies (chemotherapies as well as fractionated radiotherapy) and PD-L1 blockade. Our results highlight improved survival in syngeneic tumor models of colorectal cancer (CT26 and MC38) and sarcoma (MCA205). This therapeutic outcome was in part driven by cytotoxic CD8 T-cells, as evidenced by the detrimental effect of CD8 depleting antibody treatment of MCA205 tumor bearing mice treated with anti-CD73, anti-PD-L1 and 5-Fluorouracil+Oxaliplatin (5FU+OHP). We hypothesize that the improved responses are tumor microenvironment (TME)-driven, as suggested by the lack of anti-CD73 enhanced cytopathic effects mediated by 5FU+OHP on cell lines in vitro. Pharmacodynamic analysis, using imaging mass cytometry and RNA-sequencing, revealed noteworthy changes in specific cell populations like cytotoxic T cells, B cells and NK cells in the CT26 TME. Transcriptomic analysis highlighted treatment-related modulation of gene profiles associated with an immune response, NK and T-cell activation, T cell receptor signaling and interferon (types 1 & 2) pathways. Inclusion of comparator groups representing the various components of the combination allowed deconvolution of contribution of the individual therapeutic elements; highlighting specific effects mediated by the anti-CD73 antibody with respect to immune-cell representation, chemotaxis and myeloid biology. These pre-clinical data reflect complementarity of adenosine blockade with cytotoxic therapy, and T-cell checkpoint inhibition, and provides new mechanistic insights in support of combination therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Gozde Kar
- Oncology R & D, AstraZeneca, Cambridge, UK
| | | | | | | | - Kristina Ilieva
- Oncology R & D, AstraZeneca, Cambridge, UK
- Immunooncology, MorphoSys AG, Planegg, Germany
| | - Stefanie Mullins
- Oncology R & D, AstraZeneca, Cambridge, UK
- Translational Science, F-Star, Cambridge, UK
| | | | | | | | | | - Lee Brown
- Imaging Sciences, AstraZeneca, Cambridge, UK
| | - James Hair
- Oncology R & D, AstraZeneca, Cambridge, UK
| | - Tim Slidel
- Oncology R & D, AstraZeneca, Cambridge, UK
| | | | - Kelli Ryan
- Oncology R & D, AstraZeneca, Cambridge, UK
| | | | | | - Rakesh Kumar
- Oncology R & D, AstraZeneca, Gaithersburg, MD, USA
| | | | | | - Jim Eyles
- Oncology R & D, AstraZeneca, Cambridge, UK
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Jakab A, Patai ÁV, Darvas M, Tormássi-Bély K, Micsik T. Microenvironment, systemic inflammatory response and tumor markers considering consensus molecular subtypes of colorectal cancer. Pathol Oncol Res 2024; 30:1611574. [PMID: 38645565 PMCID: PMC11026638 DOI: 10.3389/pore.2024.1611574] [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] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2023] [Accepted: 03/12/2024] [Indexed: 04/23/2024]
Abstract
Introduction: Colorectal carcinomas (CRC) are one of the most frequent malignancies worldwide. Based on gene expression profile analysis, CRCs can be classified into four distinct subtypes also known as the consensus molecular subtypes (CMS), which predict biological behaviour. Besides CMS, several other aspects of tumor microenvironment (TME) and systemic inflammatory response (SIR) influence the outcome of CRC patients. TME and inflammation have important role in the immune (CMS1) and mesenchymal (CMS4) subtypes, however, the relationship between these and systemic inflammation has not been assessed yet. Our objective was to evaluate the connection between CMS, TME and SIR, and to analyze the correlation between these markers and routinely used tumor markers, such as CEA (Carcinoembryonic Antigen) and CA19-9 (Carbohydrate Antigen 19-9). Methods: FFPE (Formalin Fixed Paraffin Embedded) samples of 185 CRC patients were collected. TME was described using tumor-stroma ratio (TSR), Klintrup-Makinen (KM) grade, and Glasgow Microenvironment Score (GMS). CMS classification was performed on tissue microarray using MLH1, PMS2, MSH2 and MSH6, and pan-cytokeratin, CDX2, FRMD6, HTR2B and ZEB1 immunohistochemical stains. Pre-operative tumor marker levels and inflammatory markers [C-reactive protein - CRP, albumin, absolute neutrophil count (ANC), absolute lymphocyte count (ALC), absolute platelet count (APC)] and patient history were retrieved using MedSolution database. Results: Amongst TME-markers, TSR correlated most consistently with adverse clinicopathological features (p < 0.001) and overall survival (p < 0.001). Elevated CRP and modified Glasgow Prognostic Score (mGPS) were associated with worse outcome and aggressive phenotype, similarly to tumor markers CEA and CA19-9. Stroma-Tumor Marker score (STM score), a new combined score of CA19-9 and TSR delivered the second best prognostication after mGPS. Furthermore, CMS4 showed association with TSR and several laboratory markers (albumin and platelet derived factors), but not with other SIR descriptors. CMS did not show any association with CEA and CA19-9 tumor markers. Conclusion: More routinely available TME, SIR and tumor markers alone and in combination deliver reliable prognostic data for choosing the patients with higher risk for propagation. CMS4 is linked with high TSR and poor prognosis, but in overall, CMS-classification showed only limited effect on SIR- and tumor-markers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Jakab
- Department of Pathology and Experimental Cancer Research, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
- Interdisciplinary Gastroenterology Working Group, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Árpád V. Patai
- Interdisciplinary Gastroenterology Working Group, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
- Department of Surgery, Transplantation and Gastroenterology, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Mónika Darvas
- Interdisciplinary Gastroenterology Working Group, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
- Department of Surgery, Transplantation and Gastroenterology, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Karolina Tormássi-Bély
- Department of Pathology and Experimental Cancer Research, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
- Interdisciplinary Gastroenterology Working Group, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Tamás Micsik
- Department of Pathology and Experimental Cancer Research, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
- Interdisciplinary Gastroenterology Working Group, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
- Saint George University Teaching Hospital of Fejér County, Székesfehérvár, Hungary
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Ding Z, Ding Q, Li H. The prognostic biomarker TPGS2 is correlated with immune infiltrates in pan-cancer: a bioinformatics analysis. Transl Cancer Res 2024; 13:1458-1478. [PMID: 38617524 PMCID: PMC11009813 DOI: 10.21037/tcr-23-113] [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: 01/29/2023] [Accepted: 10/20/2023] [Indexed: 04/16/2024]
Abstract
Background Tubulin polyglutamylase complex subunit 2 (TPGS2) is an element of the neuronal polyglutamylase complex that plays a role in the post-translational addition of glutamate residues to C-terminal tubulin tails. Recent research has shown that TPGS2 is associated with some tumors, but the roles of TPGS2 in tumor immunity remain unclear. Methods The research data were mainly sourced from The Cancer Genome Atlas. The data were analyzed to identify potential correlations between TPGS2 expression and survival, gene alterations, the tumor mutational burden (TMB), microsatellite instability (MSI), immune infiltration, and various immune-related genes across various cancers. The Wilcoxon rank-sum test was used to identify the significance. A log-rank test and univariate Cox regression analysis were performed to assess the survival state of the patients. Spearman's correlation coefficients were used to show the correlations. Results TPGS2 exhibited abnormal expression patterns in most types of cancers, and has promising prognostic potential in adrenocortical carcinoma and liver hepatocellular carcinoma. Further, TPGS2 expression was significantly correlated with molecular and immune subtypes. Moreover, the single-cell analyses showed that the expression of TPGS2 was associated with the cell cycle, metastasis, invasion, inflammation, and DNA damage. In addition, the immune cell infiltration analysis and gene-set enrichment analysis demonstrated that a variety of immune cells and immune processes were associated with TPGS2 expression in various cancers. Further, immune regulators, including immunoinhibitors, immunostimulators, the major histocompatibility complex, chemokines, and chemokine receptors, were correlated with TPGS2 expression in different cancer types. Finally, the TMB and MSI, which have been identified as powerful predictors of immunotherapy, were shown to be correlated with the expression of TPGS2 across human cancers. Conclusions TPGS2 is aberrantly expressed in most cancer tissues and might be associated with immune cell infiltration in the tumor microenvironment. TPGS2 could serve not only as a biomarker for predicting clinical outcomes, but also as a promising biomarker for evaluating and developing new approaches to immunotherapy in many types of cancers, especially colon adenocarcinoma and stomach adenocarcinoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zujun Ding
- Department of General Surgery, Affiliated Hospital of Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Qing Ding
- Department of Pharmacy, Children’s Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Hang Li
- Department of General Surgery, Affiliated Hospital of Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, China
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Longhini ALF, Fernández-Maestre I, Kennedy MC, Wereski MG, Mowla S, Xiao W, Lowe SW, Levine RL, Gardner R. Development of a customizable mouse backbone spectral flow cytometry panel to delineate immune cell populations in normal and tumor tissues. Front Immunol 2024; 15:1374943. [PMID: 38605953 PMCID: PMC11008467 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2024.1374943] [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] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2024] [Accepted: 03/13/2024] [Indexed: 04/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction In vivo studies of cancer biology and assessment of therapeutic efficacy are critical to advancing cancer research and ultimately improving patient outcomes. Murine cancer models have proven to be an invaluable tool in pre-clinical studies. In this context, multi-parameter flow cytometry is a powerful method for elucidating the profile of immune cells within the tumor microenvironment and/or play a role in hematological diseases. However, designing an appropriate multi-parameter panel to comprehensively profile the increasing diversity of immune cells across different murine tissues can be extremely challenging. Methods To address this issue, we designed a panel with 13 fixed markers that define the major immune populations -referred to as the backbone panel- that can be profiled in different tissues but with the option to incorporate up to seven additional fluorochromes, including any marker specific to the study in question. Results This backbone panel maintains its resolution across different spectral flow cytometers and organs, both hematopoietic and non-hematopoietic, as well as tumors with complex immune microenvironments. Discussion Having a robust backbone that can be easily customized with pre-validated drop-in fluorochromes saves time and resources and brings consistency and standardization, making it a versatile solution for immuno-oncology researchers. In addition, the approach presented here can serve as a guide to develop similar types of customizable backbone panels for different research questions requiring high-parameter flow cytometry panels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Leda F. Longhini
- Flow Cytometry Core Facility, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC), New York, NY, United States
| | - Inés Fernández-Maestre
- Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, United States
- Louis V. Gerstner Jr Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, United States
| | - Margaret C. Kennedy
- Louis V. Gerstner Jr Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, United States
- Department of Cancer Biology and Genetics, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, United States
| | | | - Shoron Mowla
- Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, United States
| | - Wenbin Xiao
- Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, United States
- Center for Hematologic Malignancies, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, United States
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Hematopathology Service, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, United States
| | - Scott W. Lowe
- Department of Cancer Biology and Genetics, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, United States
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, United States
| | - Ross L. Levine
- Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, United States
- Center for Hematologic Malignancies, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, United States
- Department of Medicine, Leukemia Service, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, United States
| | - Rui Gardner
- Flow Cytometry Core Facility, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC), New York, NY, United States
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Chen Y, Zhu L, Wang Y, Hu J, Zhang H, Zhu J, Gong W, Liu X, Xiao F, Li X. Tumor-derived mesenchymal progenitor cell-related genes in the regulation of breast cancer proliferation. Gland Surg 2024; 13:325-339. [PMID: 38601284 PMCID: PMC11002474 DOI: 10.21037/gs-23-387] [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: 09/13/2023] [Accepted: 01/20/2024] [Indexed: 04/12/2024]
Abstract
Background Breast cancer (BC) is one of the most common malignancies worldwide, and its development is affected in various ways by the tumor microenvironment (TME). Tumor-derived mesenchymal progenitor cells (MPCs), as the most important components of the TME, participate in the proliferation and metastasis of BC in several ways. In this study, we aimed to characterize the genes associated with tumor-derived MPCs and determine their effects on BC cells. Methods Tumor-derived MPCs and normal breast tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) were isolated from tissues specimens of patients with BC. We conducted culture and passage, phenotype identification, proliferation and migration detection, inflammatory factor release detection, and other experiments on isolated MPCs from tumors and MSCs from normal breast tissues. Three paired tumor-derived MPCs and normal breast tissue-derived MSCs were then subjected to transcriptome analysis to determine the expression profiles of the relevant genes, and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) was used to further confirm gene expression. Subsequently, the overexpression plasmids were transfected into tumor-derived MPCs, and the expression of various inflammatory factors of tumor-derived MPCs and their proliferation were characterized with a cell viability test reagent (Cell Counting Kit 8). Subsequently, the transfected tumor-derived MPCs were cocultured with BC cells using a conditioned medium coculture method to clarify the role of tumor-derived MSCs in BC. Results Tumor-derived MPCs expressed stem cell characteristics including CD105, CD90, and CD73 and exhibited adipogenic and osteogenic differentiation in vitro. The proliferation of tumor-derived MPCs was significantly lower than that of normal breast tissue-derived MSCs, and the invasive metastatic ability was comparable; however, MPCs were found to release inflammatory factors such as interleukin 6 (IL-6) and transforming growth factor β (TGF-β). Transcriptome analysis showed that stomatin (STOM), collagen and calcium binding EGF domains 1 (CCBE1), and laminin subunit alpha 5 (LAMA5) were significantly upregulated in tumor-derived MPCs. Among them, STOM was highly expressed in tumor-derived MPCs, which mediated the slow proliferation of MPCs and promoted the proliferation of BC cells. Conclusions STOM, CCBE1, and LAMA5 were highly expressed in tumor-derived MPCs, with STOM being found to retard the proliferation of MPCs but promote the proliferation of BC cells. There findings present new possibilities in targeted microenvironmental therapy for BC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yizhu Chen
- Medical School of Chinese PLA, Beijing, China
- Department of General Surgery, The First Medical Center of Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) General Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Li Zhu
- Department of General Surgery, The First Medical Center of Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) General Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Yiming Wang
- School of Nursing, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Jia Hu
- Medical School of Chinese PLA, Beijing, China
- Department of General Surgery, The First Medical Center of Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) General Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Hao Zhang
- Medical Research Institute, Hebei Yanda Hospital, Langfang, China
| | - Jingjin Zhu
- Department of General Surgery, The First Medical Center of Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) General Hospital, Beijing, China
- School of Medicine, Nankai University, Tianjin, China
| | - Wenye Gong
- Medical School of Chinese PLA, Beijing, China
- Department of General Surgery, The First Medical Center of Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) General Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Xiaohan Liu
- Department of General Surgery, The First Medical Center of Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) General Hospital, Beijing, China
- School of Medicine, Nankai University, Tianjin, China
| | - Fengjun Xiao
- Department of Experimental Hematology and Biochemistry, Beijing Institute of Radiation Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Xiru Li
- Department of General Surgery, The First Medical Center of Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) General Hospital, Beijing, China
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Meyiah A, Elkord E. What is the relevance of FoxP3 in the tumor microenvironment and cancer outcomes? Expert Rev Clin Immunol 2024:1-7. [PMID: 38512803 DOI: 10.1080/1744666x.2024.2334258] [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: 01/13/2024] [Accepted: 03/20/2024] [Indexed: 03/23/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Forkhead box P3 (FoxP3) transcription factor plays critical roles in controlling immune responses and cancer progression in different cancers. FoxP3 expression within the tumor microenvironment (TME) may influence clinical outcomes negatively or positively, and it could play dual roles in cancer, either by promoting or inhibiting tumor development and progression. Some studies reported that high levels of FoxP3 could be associated with tumor progression and worse prognosis, while others reported contradictory results. AREAS COVERED In this special report, we present a brief account on the role and function of FoxP3 in the TME, and its contribution to the clinical outcomes of cancer patients. Importantly, we give insights on the potential factors that could contribute to different clinical outcomes in cancer patients. EXPERT OPINION Different studies showed that FoxP3 expression can be associated with bad prognoses in cancer patients. However, FoxP3 could have opposing roles by enhancing cancer progression or regression. Location and expression of FoxP3 in T cells or tumor cells can have different impacts on cancer prognoses. Different factors should be considered to establish FoxP3 as a more robust prognostic biomarker and a potential therapeutic target for enhancing anti-tumor immunity and improving clinical outcomes of cancer patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abdo Meyiah
- Department of Biological Sciences, School of Science, Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University, Suzhou, China
| | - Eyad Elkord
- Department of Biological Sciences, School of Science, Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University, Suzhou, China
- Biomedical Research Center, School of Science, Engineering and Environment, University of Salford, Manchester, UK
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Scheuermann S, Kristmann B, Engelmann F, Nuernbergk A, Scheuermann D, Koloseus M, Abed T, Solass W, Seitz CM. Unveiling spatial complexity in solid tumor immune microenvironments through multiplexed imaging. Front Immunol 2024; 15:1383932. [PMID: 38566984 PMCID: PMC10985204 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2024.1383932] [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] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2024] [Accepted: 02/29/2024] [Indexed: 04/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Deciphering cellular components and the spatial interaction network of the tumor immune microenvironment (TIME) of solid tumors is pivotal for understanding biologically relevant cross-talks and, ultimately, advancing therapies. Multiplexed tissue imaging provides a powerful tool to elucidate spatial complexity in a holistic manner. We established and cross-validated a comprehensive immunophenotyping panel comprising over 121 markers for multiplexed tissue imaging using MACSima™ imaging cyclic staining (MICS) alongside an end-to-end analysis workflow. Applying this panel and workflow to primary cancer tissues, we characterized tumor heterogeneity, investigated potential therapeutical targets, conducted in-depth profiling of cell types and states, sub-phenotyped T cells within the TIME, and scrutinized cellular neighborhoods of diverse T cell subsets. Our findings highlight the advantage of spatial profiling, revealing immunosuppressive molecular signatures of tumor-associated myeloid cells interacting with neighboring exhausted, PD1high T cells in the TIME of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). This study establishes a robust framework for spatial exploration of TIMEs in solid tumors and underscores the potency of multiplexed tissue imaging and ultra-deep cell phenotyping in unraveling clinically relevant tumor components.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sophia Scheuermann
- Department of Haematology, Oncology, Gastroenterology, Nephrology, Rheumatology, University Children’s Hospital Tuebingen, Tuebingen, Germany
- iFIT Cluster of Excellence EXC 2180 ‘Image-Guided and Functionally Instructed Tumor Therapies’, University of Tuebingen, Tuebingen, Germany
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), partner site Tuebingen, a partnership between German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) and University Hospital Tuebingen, Tuebingen, Germany
| | - Beate Kristmann
- Department of Haematology, Oncology, Gastroenterology, Nephrology, Rheumatology, University Children’s Hospital Tuebingen, Tuebingen, Germany
| | - Fabienne Engelmann
- Department of Haematology, Oncology, Gastroenterology, Nephrology, Rheumatology, University Children’s Hospital Tuebingen, Tuebingen, Germany
| | - Alice Nuernbergk
- Department of Haematology, Oncology, Gastroenterology, Nephrology, Rheumatology, University Children’s Hospital Tuebingen, Tuebingen, Germany
| | - David Scheuermann
- School of Business and Economics, Faculty of Economics and Social Sciences, University of Tuebingen, Tuebingen, Germany
| | - Marie Koloseus
- Department of Haematology, Oncology, Gastroenterology, Nephrology, Rheumatology, University Children’s Hospital Tuebingen, Tuebingen, Germany
| | - Tayeb Abed
- Institute of Pathology and Neuropathology, University Hospital Tuebingen and Comprehensive Cancer Center, Tuebingen, Germany
| | - Wiebke Solass
- Institute of Tissue Medicine and Pathology (ITMP), University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Christian M. Seitz
- Department of Haematology, Oncology, Gastroenterology, Nephrology, Rheumatology, University Children’s Hospital Tuebingen, Tuebingen, Germany
- iFIT Cluster of Excellence EXC 2180 ‘Image-Guided and Functionally Instructed Tumor Therapies’, University of Tuebingen, Tuebingen, Germany
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), partner site Tuebingen, a partnership between German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) and University Hospital Tuebingen, Tuebingen, Germany
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Sadozai H, Acharjee A, Kayani HZ, Gruber T, Gorczynski RM, Burke B. High hypoxia status in pancreatic cancer is associated with multiple hallmarks of an immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment. Front Immunol 2024; 15:1360629. [PMID: 38510243 PMCID: PMC10951397 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2024.1360629] [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] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2023] [Accepted: 02/12/2024] [Indexed: 03/22/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), the most common form of pancreatic cancer, is a particularly lethal disease that is often diagnosed late and is refractory to most forms of treatment. Tumour hypoxia is a key hallmark of PDAC and is purported to contribute to multiple facets of disease progression such as treatment resistance, increased invasiveness, metabolic reprogramming, and immunosuppression. Methods We used the Buffa gene signature as a hypoxia score to profile transcriptomics datasets from PDAC cases. We performed cell-type deconvolution and gene expression profiling approaches to compare the immunological phenotypes of cases with low and high hypoxia scores. We further supported our findings by qPCR analyses in PDAC cell lines cultured in hypoxic conditions. Results First, we demonstrated that this hypoxia score is associated with increased tumour grade and reduced survival suggesting that this score is correlated to disease progression. Subsequently, we compared the immune phenotypes of cases with high versus low hypoxia score expression (HypoxiaHI vs. HypoxiaLOW) to show that high hypoxia is associated with reduced levels of T cells, NK cells and dendritic cells (DC), including the crucial cDC1 subset. Concomitantly, immune-related gene expression profiling revealed that compared to HypoxiaLOW tumours, mRNA levels for multiple immunosuppressive molecules were notably elevated in HypoxiaHI cases. Using a Random Forest machine learning approach for variable selection, we identified LGALS3 (Galectin-3) as the top gene associated with high hypoxia status and confirmed its expression in hypoxic PDAC cell lines. Discussion In summary, we demonstrated novel associations between hypoxia and multiple immunosuppressive mediators in PDAC, highlighting avenues for improving PDAC immunotherapy by targeting these immune molecules in combination with hypoxia-targeted drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hassan Sadozai
- Centre for Health and Life Sciences, Coventry University, Coventry, United Kingdom
| | - Animesh Acharjee
- Institute of Cancer and Genomic Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom
| | - Hateem Z. Kayani
- Centre for Health and Life Sciences, Coventry University, Coventry, United Kingdom
| | - Thomas Gruber
- Independent Scholar, National Coalition of Independent Scholars, Visp, Switzerland
| | | | - Bernard Burke
- Centre for Health and Life Sciences, Coventry University, Coventry, United Kingdom
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Zheng P, He J, Fu Y, Yang Y, Li S, Duan B, Yang Y, Hu Y, Yang Z, Wang M, Liu Q, Zheng X, Hua L, Li W, Li D, Ding Y, Yang X, Bai H, Long Q, Huang W, Ma Y. Engineered Bacterial Biomimetic Vesicles Reprogram Tumor-Associated Macrophages and Remodel Tumor Microenvironment to Promote Innate and Adaptive Antitumor Immune Responses. ACS Nano 2024; 18:6863-6886. [PMID: 38386537 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.3c06987] [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] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/24/2024]
Abstract
Tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) are among the most abundant infiltrating leukocytes in the tumor microenvironment (TME). Reprogramming TAMs from protumor M2 to antitumor M1 phenotype is a promising strategy for remodeling the TME and promoting antitumor immunity; however, the development of an efficient strategy remains challenging. Here, a genetically modified bacterial biomimetic vesicle (BBV) with IFN-γ exposed on the surface in a nanoassembling membrane pore structure was constructed. The engineered IFN-γ BBV featured a nanoscale structure of protein and lipid vesicle, the existence of rich pattern-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs), and the costimulation of introduced IFN-γ molecules. In vitro, IFN-γ BBV reprogrammed M2 macrophages to M1, possibly through NF-κB and JAK-STAT signaling pathways, releasing nitric oxide (NO) and inflammatory cytokines IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α and increasing the expression of IL-12 and iNOS. In tumor-bearing mice, IFN-γ BBV demonstrated a targeted enrichment in tumors and successfully reprogrammed TAMs into the M1 phenotype; notably, the response of antigen-specific cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) in TME was promoted while the immunosuppressive myeloid-derived suppressor cell (MDSC) was suppressed. The tumor growth was found to be significantly inhibited in both a TC-1 tumor and a CT26 tumor. It was indicated that the antitumor effects of IFN-γ BBV were macrophage-dependent. Further, the modulation of TME by IFN-γ BBV produced synergistic effects against tumor growth and metastasis with an immune checkpoint inhibitor in an orthotopic 4T1 breast cancer model which was insensitive to anti-PD-1 mAb alone. In conclusion, IFN-γ-modified BBV demonstrated a strong capability of efficiently targeting tumor and tuning a cold tumor hot through reprogramming TAMs, providing a potent approach for tumor immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peng Zheng
- Laboratory of Molecular Immunology, Institute of Medical Biology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Kunming 650118, People's Republic of China
- State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Health and Multimorbidity, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, School of Basic Medicine Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100005, People's Republic of China
| | - Jinrong He
- Laboratory of Molecular Immunology, Institute of Medical Biology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Kunming 650118, People's Republic of China
- State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Health and Multimorbidity, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, School of Basic Medicine Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100005, People's Republic of China
| | - Yuting Fu
- Laboratory of Molecular Immunology, Institute of Medical Biology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Kunming 650118, People's Republic of China
- State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Health and Multimorbidity, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, School of Basic Medicine Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100005, People's Republic of China
| | - Ying Yang
- Cell Biology & Molecular Biology Laboratory of Experimental Teaching Center, Faculty of Basic Medical Science, Kunming Medical University, Kunming 650500, People's Republic of China
| | - Shuqin Li
- Laboratory of Molecular Immunology, Institute of Medical Biology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Kunming 650118, People's Republic of China
- Kunming Medical University, Kunming 650500, People's Republic of China
| | - Biao Duan
- Laboratory of Molecular Immunology, Institute of Medical Biology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Kunming 650118, People's Republic of China
- Kunming Medical University, Kunming 650500, People's Republic of China
| | - Ying Yang
- Laboratory of Molecular Immunology, Institute of Medical Biology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Kunming 650118, People's Republic of China
| | - Yongmao Hu
- Laboratory of Molecular Immunology, Institute of Medical Biology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Kunming 650118, People's Republic of China
- School of Life Sciences, Yunnan University, Kunming 650091, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhongqian Yang
- Laboratory of Molecular Immunology, Institute of Medical Biology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Kunming 650118, People's Republic of China
| | - Mengzhen Wang
- Laboratory of Molecular Immunology, Institute of Medical Biology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Kunming 650118, People's Republic of China
| | - Qingwen Liu
- Laboratory of Molecular Immunology, Institute of Medical Biology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Kunming 650118, People's Republic of China
- Kunming Medical University, Kunming 650500, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiao Zheng
- Laboratory of Molecular Immunology, Institute of Medical Biology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Kunming 650118, People's Republic of China
- School of Life Sciences, Yunnan University, Kunming 650091, People's Republic of China
| | - Liangqun Hua
- Laboratory of Molecular Immunology, Institute of Medical Biology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Kunming 650118, People's Republic of China
- School of Life Sciences, Yunnan University, Kunming 650091, People's Republic of China
| | - Weiran Li
- Laboratory of Molecular Immunology, Institute of Medical Biology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Kunming 650118, People's Republic of China
| | - Duo Li
- Laboratory of Molecular Immunology, Institute of Medical Biology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Kunming 650118, People's Republic of China
- Department of Acute Infectious Diseases Control and Prevention, Yunnan Provincial Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Kunming 530112, People's Republic of China
| | - Yiting Ding
- School of Life Sciences, Yunnan University, Kunming 650091, People's Republic of China
| | - Xu Yang
- Laboratory of Molecular Immunology, Institute of Medical Biology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Kunming 650118, People's Republic of China
- State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Health and Multimorbidity, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, School of Basic Medicine Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100005, People's Republic of China
| | - Hongmei Bai
- Laboratory of Molecular Immunology, Institute of Medical Biology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Kunming 650118, People's Republic of China
- State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Health and Multimorbidity, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, School of Basic Medicine Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100005, People's Republic of China
| | - Qiong Long
- Laboratory of Molecular Immunology, Institute of Medical Biology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Kunming 650118, People's Republic of China
- State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Health and Multimorbidity, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, School of Basic Medicine Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100005, People's Republic of China
| | - Weiwei Huang
- Laboratory of Molecular Immunology, Institute of Medical Biology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Kunming 650118, People's Republic of China
- State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Health and Multimorbidity, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, School of Basic Medicine Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100005, People's Republic of China
| | - Yanbing Ma
- Laboratory of Molecular Immunology, Institute of Medical Biology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Kunming 650118, People's Republic of China
- State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Health and Multimorbidity, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, School of Basic Medicine Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100005, People's Republic of China
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10
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Cao Y, Meng F, Cai T, Gao L, Lee J, Solomevich SO, Aharodnikau UE, Guo T, Lan M, Liu F, Li Q, Viktor T, Li D, Cai Y. Nanoparticle drug delivery systems responsive to tumor microenvironment: Promising alternatives in the treatment of triple-negative breast cancer. Wiley Interdiscip Rev Nanomed Nanobiotechnol 2024; 16:e1950. [PMID: 38528388 DOI: 10.1002/wnan.1950] [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] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2023] [Revised: 02/04/2024] [Accepted: 02/11/2024] [Indexed: 03/27/2024]
Abstract
The conventional therapeutic treatment of triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is negatively influenced by the development of tumor cell drug resistant, and systemic toxicity of therapeutic agents due to off-target activity. In accordance with research findings, nanoparticles (NPs) responsive to the tumor microenvironment (TME) have been discovered for providing opportunities to selectively target tumor cells via active targeting or Enhanced Permeability and Retention (EPR) effect. The combination of the TME control and therapeutic NPs offers promising solutions for improving the prognosis of the TNBC because the TME actively participates in tumor growth, metastasis, and drug resistance. The NP-based systems leverage stimulus-responsive mechanisms, such as low pH value, hypoxic, excessive secretion enzyme, concentration of glutathione (GSH)/reactive oxygen species (ROS), and high concentration of Adenosine triphosphate (ATP) to combat TNBC progression. Concurrently, NP-based stimulus-responsive introduces a novel approach for drug dosage design, administration, and modification of the pharmacokinetics of conventional chemotherapy and immunotherapy drugs. This review provides a comprehensive examination of the strengths, limitations, applications, perspectives, and future expectations of both novel and traditional stimulus-responsive NP-based drug delivery systems for improving outcomes in the medical practice of TNBC. This article is categorized under: Therapeutic Approaches and Drug Discovery > Emerging Technologies Nanotechnology Approaches to Biology > Nanoscale Systems in Biology Therapeutic Approaches and Drug Discovery > Nanomedicine for Oncologic Disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ye Cao
- State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Molecules and Druggability Assessment/International Cooperative Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine Modernization and Innovative Drug Development of Ministry of Education (MOE) of China/Guangdong Key Lab of Traditional Chinese Medicine Informatization/International Science and Technology Cooperation Base of Guangdong Province/School of Pharmacy, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Fansu Meng
- Zhongshan Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine Affiliated to Guangzhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Zhongshan, China
| | - Tiange Cai
- College of Life Sciences, Liaoning University, Shenyang, China
| | - Lanwen Gao
- State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Molecules and Druggability Assessment/International Cooperative Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine Modernization and Innovative Drug Development of Ministry of Education (MOE) of China/Guangdong Key Lab of Traditional Chinese Medicine Informatization/International Science and Technology Cooperation Base of Guangdong Province/School of Pharmacy, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jaiwoo Lee
- College of Pharmacy and Research Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Sergey O Solomevich
- Research Institute for Physical Chemical Problems of the Belarusian State University, Minsk, Belarus
| | - Uladzislau E Aharodnikau
- Research Institute for Physical Chemical Problems of the Belarusian State University, Minsk, Belarus
| | - Tingting Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Molecules and Druggability Assessment/International Cooperative Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine Modernization and Innovative Drug Development of Ministry of Education (MOE) of China/Guangdong Key Lab of Traditional Chinese Medicine Informatization/International Science and Technology Cooperation Base of Guangdong Province/School of Pharmacy, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Meng Lan
- State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Molecules and Druggability Assessment/International Cooperative Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine Modernization and Innovative Drug Development of Ministry of Education (MOE) of China/Guangdong Key Lab of Traditional Chinese Medicine Informatization/International Science and Technology Cooperation Base of Guangdong Province/School of Pharmacy, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Fengjie Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Molecules and Druggability Assessment/International Cooperative Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine Modernization and Innovative Drug Development of Ministry of Education (MOE) of China/Guangdong Key Lab of Traditional Chinese Medicine Informatization/International Science and Technology Cooperation Base of Guangdong Province/School of Pharmacy, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Qianwen Li
- State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Molecules and Druggability Assessment/International Cooperative Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine Modernization and Innovative Drug Development of Ministry of Education (MOE) of China/Guangdong Key Lab of Traditional Chinese Medicine Informatization/International Science and Technology Cooperation Base of Guangdong Province/School of Pharmacy, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Timoshenko Viktor
- Faculty of Physics, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, Russia
| | - Detang Li
- The First Clinical Medical School of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine/Department of Pharmacy, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine/Guangdong Clinical Research Academy of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yu Cai
- State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Molecules and Druggability Assessment/International Cooperative Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine Modernization and Innovative Drug Development of Ministry of Education (MOE) of China/Guangdong Key Lab of Traditional Chinese Medicine Informatization/International Science and Technology Cooperation Base of Guangdong Province/School of Pharmacy, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
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11
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Sudo M, Tsutsui H, Fujimoto J. Carbon Ion Irradiation Activates Anti-Cancer Immunity. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:2830. [PMID: 38474078 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25052830] [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: 01/18/2024] [Revised: 02/15/2024] [Accepted: 02/26/2024] [Indexed: 03/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Carbon ion beams have the unique property of higher linear energy transfer, which causes clustered damage of DNA, impacting the cell repair system. This sometimes triggers apoptosis and the release in the cytoplasm of damaged DNA, leading to type I interferon (IFN) secretion via the activation of the cyclic GMP-AMP synthase-stimulator of interferon genes pathway. Dendritic cells phagocytize dead cancer cells and damaged DNA derived from injured cancer cells, which together activate dendritic cells to present cancer-derived antigens to antigen-specific T cells in the lymph nodes. Thus, carbon ion radiation therapy (CIRT) activates anti-cancer immunity. However, cancer is protected by the tumor microenvironment (TME), which consists of pro-cancerous immune cells, such as regulatory T cells, myeloid-derived suppressor cells, and tumor-associated macrophages. The TME is too robust to be destroyed by the CIRT-mediated anti-cancer immunity. Various modalities targeting regulatory T cells, myeloid-derived suppressor cells, and tumor-associated macrophages have been developed. Preclinical studies have shown that CIRT-mediated anti-cancer immunity exerts its effects in the presence of these modalities. In this review article, we provide an overview of CIRT-mediated anti-cancer immunity, with a particular focus on recently identified means of targeting the TME.
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Affiliation(s)
- Makoto Sudo
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Hyogo Medical University, Nishinomiya 663-8501, Japan
| | - Hiroko Tsutsui
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Hyogo Medical University, Nishinomiya 663-8501, Japan
| | - Jiro Fujimoto
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Hyogo Medical University, Nishinomiya 663-8501, Japan
- Osaka Heavy Ion Therapy Center, Osaka 540-0008, Japan
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12
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Zou G, Anwar J, Pizzi MP, Abdelhakeem A. Unraveling the intricacies of neoadjuvant immune checkpoint blockade in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma: a comprehensive single-cell perspective. J Thorac Dis 2024; 16:826-828. [PMID: 38505072 PMCID: PMC10944718 DOI: 10.21037/jtd-23-1771] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2023] [Accepted: 01/18/2024] [Indexed: 03/21/2024]
Affiliation(s)
- Gengyi Zou
- Department of GI Medical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Junaid Anwar
- Department of Medicine, Baptist Hospitals of Southeast Texas, Beaumont, TX, USA
| | - Melissa P. Pizzi
- Department of GI Medical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Ahmed Abdelhakeem
- Department of Medicine, Baptist Hospitals of Southeast Texas, Beaumont, TX, USA
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13
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Gupta KH, Giurini EF, Zloza A. Seasonal influenza vaccines differentially activate and modulate toll-like receptor expression within the tumor microenvironment. Front Oncol 2024; 14:1308651. [PMID: 38476365 PMCID: PMC10928891 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2024.1308651] [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: 10/06/2023] [Accepted: 01/30/2024] [Indexed: 03/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Toll-like receptors (TLRs) are well-known for their role in cancer development as well as in directing anti-tumor immunity. Because TLRs have also been implicated in the innate recognition of the influenza virus, it was of great interest to investigate the potential TLRs' contribution to the reduction in tumor growth following intratumoral injection of an unadjuvanted influenza vaccine and the lack of antitumor response from an adjuvanted vaccine. In our previous publication, we showed that the unadjuvanted flu vaccine modulates TLR7 expression leading to anti-tumor response in a murine model of melanoma. Here, we show that the unadjuvanted and adjuvanted flu vaccines robustly stimulate different sets of TLRs, TLR3 and TLR7, and TLR4 and TLR9, respectively. In addition, the reduction in tumor growth and improved survival from intratumoral administration of the unadjuvanted vaccine was found to be diminished in TLR7-deficient mice. Finally, we observed that both vaccines have the capacity to modulate TLR expression on both innate and adaptive immune cells. Our findings add to the mechanistic understanding of the parameters that influence tumor outcomes in unadjuvanted and adjuvanted influenza vaccines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kajal H. Gupta
- Division of Surgical Oncology, Department of Surgery, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL, United States
- Division of Pediatric Surgery, Department of Surgery, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL, United States
| | - Eileena F. Giurini
- Division of Surgical Oncology, Department of Surgery, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL, United States
| | - Andrew Zloza
- Division of Surgical Oncology, Department of Surgery, The University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, United States
- Division of Translational and Precision Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL, United States
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14
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Piñeiro R. Editorial: Mechanisms of metastasis from circulating and disseminated tumor cells. Front Cell Dev Biol 2024; 12:1386050. [PMID: 38476261 PMCID: PMC10927939 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2024.1386050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2024] [Accepted: 02/16/2024] [Indexed: 03/14/2024] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Roberto Piñeiro
- Translational Medical Oncology Group (Oncomet), Health Research Institute of Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, Spain
- European Liquid Biopsy Society (ELBS), Hamburg, Germany
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15
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Cao L, Ouyang H. Intercellular crosstalk between cancer cells and cancer-associated fibroblasts via exosomes in gastrointestinal tumors. Front Oncol 2024; 14:1374742. [PMID: 38463229 PMCID: PMC10920350 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2024.1374742] [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: 01/22/2024] [Accepted: 02/08/2024] [Indexed: 03/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Gastrointestinal (GI) tumors are a significant global health threat, with high rates of morbidity and mortality. Exosomes contain various biologically active molecules like nucleic acids, proteins, and lipids and can serve as messengers for intercellular communication. They play critical roles in the exchange of information between tumor cells and the tumor microenvironment (TME). The TME consists of mesenchymal cells and components of the extracellular matrix (ECM), with fibroblasts being the most abundant cell type in the tumor mesenchyme. Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) are derived from normal fibroblasts and mesenchymal stem cells that are activated in the TME. CAFs can secrete exosomes to modulate cell proliferation, invasion, migration, drug resistance, and other biological processes in tumors. Additionally, tumor cells can manipulate the function and behavior of fibroblasts through direct cell-cell interactions. This review provides a summary of the intercellular crosstalk between GI tumor cells and CAFs through exosomes, along with potential underlying mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Longyang Cao
- Department of Gastroenterology, The First Peoples' Hospital of Hangzhou Linan District, Hangzhou, China
| | - Hong Ouyang
- Department of Gastroenterology, The First Peoples' Hospital of Hangzhou Linan District, Hangzhou, China
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16
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Qiu Y, Lu G, Li N, Hu Y, Tan H, Jiang C. Exosome-mediated communication between gastric cancer cells and macrophages: implications for tumor microenvironment. Front Immunol 2024; 15:1327281. [PMID: 38455041 PMCID: PMC10917936 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2024.1327281] [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] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2023] [Accepted: 01/25/2024] [Indexed: 03/09/2024] Open
Abstract
Gastric cancer (GC) is a malignant neoplasm originating from the epithelial cells of the gastric mucosa. The pathogenesis of GC is intricately linked to the tumor microenvironment within which the cancer cells reside. Tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) primarily differentiate from peripheral blood monocytes and can be broadly categorized into M1 and M2 subtypes. M2-type TAMs have been shown to promote tumor growth, tissue remodeling, and angiogenesis. Furthermore, they can actively suppress acquired immunity, leading to a poorer prognosis and reduced tolerance to chemotherapy. Exosomes, which contain a myriad of biologically active molecules including lipids, proteins, mRNA, and noncoding RNAs, have emerged as key mediators of communication between tumor cells and TAMs. The exchange of these molecules via exosomes can markedly influence the tumor microenvironment and consequently impact tumor progression. Recent studies have elucidated a correlation between TAMs and various clinicopathological parameters of GC, such as tumor size, differentiation, infiltration depth, lymph node metastasis, and TNM staging, highlighting the pivotal role of TAMs in GC development and metastasis. In this review, we aim to comprehensively examine the bidirectional communication between GC cells and TAMs, the implications of alterations in the tumor microenvironment on immune escape, invasion, and metastasis in GC, targeted therapeutic approaches for GC, and the efficacy of potential GC drug resistance strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yue Qiu
- Medical Oncology Department of Gastrointestinal Cancer, Cancer Hospital of China Medical University, Liaoning Cancer Hospital and Institute, Shenyang, Liaoning, China
| | - Guimei Lu
- Department of Laboratory, Cancer Hospital of China Medical University, Liaoning Cancer Hospital and Institute, Shenyang, Liaoning, China
| | - Na Li
- Medical Oncology Department of Gastrointestinal Cancer, Cancer Hospital of China Medical University, Liaoning Cancer Hospital and Institute, Shenyang, Liaoning, China
| | - Yanyan Hu
- Medical Oncology Department of Gastrointestinal Cancer, Cancer Hospital of China Medical University, Liaoning Cancer Hospital and Institute, Shenyang, Liaoning, China
| | - Hao Tan
- Thoracic Esophageal Radiotherapy Department, Cancer Hospital of China Medical University, Liaoning Cancer Hospital and Institute, Shenyang, Liaoning, China
| | - Chengyao Jiang
- Department of Gastric Surgery, Cancer Hospital of China Medical University, Liaoning Cancer Hospital & Institute, Shenyang, Liaoning, China
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17
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Šutić M, Dmitrović B, Jakovčević A, Džubur F, Oršolić N, Debeljak Ž, Försti A, Seiwerth S, Brčić L, Madzarac G, Samaržija M, Jakopović M, Knežević J. Transcriptomic Profiling for Prognostic Biomarkers in Early-Stage Squamous Cell Lung Cancer (SqCLC). Cancers (Basel) 2024; 16:720. [PMID: 38398111 PMCID: PMC10887138 DOI: 10.3390/cancers16040720] [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: 12/04/2023] [Revised: 01/26/2024] [Accepted: 01/30/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Squamous cell lung carcinoma (SqCLC) is associated with high mortality and limited treatment options. Identification of therapeutic targets and prognostic biomarkers is still lacking. This research aims to analyze the transcriptomic profile of SqCLC samples and identify the key genes associated with tumorigenesis, overall survival (OS), and a profile of the tumor-infiltrating immune cells. Differential gene expression analysis, pathway enrichment analysis, and Gene Ontology analysis on RNA-seq data obtained from FFPE tumor samples (N = 23) and healthy tissues (N = 3) were performed (experimental cohort). Validation of the results was conducted on publicly available gene expression data using TCGA LUSC (N = 225) and GTEx healthy donors' cohorts (N = 288). We identified 1133 upregulated and 644 downregulated genes, common for both cohorts. The most prominent upregulated genes were involved in cell cycle and proliferation regulation pathways (MAGEA9B, MAGED4, KRT, MMT11/13), while downregulated genes predominately belonged to immune-related pathways (DEFA1B, DEFA1, DEFA3). Results of the survival analysis, conducted on the validation cohort and commonly deregulated genes, indicated that overexpression of HOXC4 (p < 0.001), LLGL1 (p = 0.0015), and SLC4A3 (p = 0.0034) is associated with worse OS in early-stage SqCLC patients. In contrast, overexpression of GSTZ1 (p = 0.0029) and LILRA5 (p = 0.0086) was protective, i.e., associated with better OS. By applying a single-sample gene-set enrichment analysis (ssGSEA), we identified four distinct immune subtypes. Immune cell distribution suggests that the memory T cells (central and effector) and follicular helper T cells could serve as important stratification parameters.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maja Šutić
- Laboratory for Advanced Genomics, Division of Molecular Medicine, Ruđer Bošković Institute, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia;
| | - Branko Dmitrović
- Department of Pathology, Faculty of Dental Medicine and Health Osijek, Clinical Medical Center Osijek, 31000 Osijek, Croatia;
| | - Antonia Jakovčević
- Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, University of Zagreb, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia; (A.J.); (S.S.)
| | - Feđa Džubur
- Clinical Department for Respiratory Diseases Jordanovac, University Hospital Centre Zagreb, School of Medicine, University of Zagreb, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia; (F.D.); (M.S.)
| | - Nada Oršolić
- Division of Animal Physiology, Faculty of Science, University of Zagreb, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia;
| | - Željko Debeljak
- Clinical Institute of Laboratory Diagnostics, University Hospital Center Osijek, 31000 Osijek, Croatia;
- Faculty of Medicine, J.J. Strossmayer University of Osijek, 31000 Osijek, Croatia
| | - Asta Försti
- Hopp Children’s Cancer Center (KiTZ), 69120 Heidelberg, Germany;
- Division of Pediatric Neurooncology, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Sven Seiwerth
- Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, University of Zagreb, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia; (A.J.); (S.S.)
| | - Luka Brčić
- Diagnostic and Research Institute of Pathology, Medical University of Graz, 8010 Graz, Austria;
| | - Goran Madzarac
- Department for Thoracic Surgery, University Hospital Zagreb, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia;
| | - Miroslav Samaržija
- Clinical Department for Respiratory Diseases Jordanovac, University Hospital Centre Zagreb, School of Medicine, University of Zagreb, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia; (F.D.); (M.S.)
| | - Marko Jakopović
- Clinical Department for Respiratory Diseases Jordanovac, University Hospital Centre Zagreb, School of Medicine, University of Zagreb, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia; (F.D.); (M.S.)
| | - Jelena Knežević
- Laboratory for Advanced Genomics, Division of Molecular Medicine, Ruđer Bošković Institute, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia;
- Faculty of Dental Medicine and Health, J.J. Strossmayer University of Osijek, 31000 Osijek, Croatia
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18
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Vahidian F, Lamaze FC, Bouffard C, Coulombe F, Gagné A, Blais F, Tonneau M, Orain M, Routy B, Manem VSK, Joubert P. CXCL13 Positive Cells Localization Predict Response to Anti-PD-1/PD-L1 in Pulmonary Non-Small Cell Carcinoma. Cancers (Basel) 2024; 16:708. [PMID: 38398098 PMCID: PMC10887067 DOI: 10.3390/cancers16040708] [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: 11/18/2023] [Revised: 01/25/2024] [Accepted: 01/29/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Background: Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have revolutionized non-small cell lung cancers (NSCLCs) treatment, but only 20-30% of patients benefit from these treatments. Currently, PD-L1 expression in tumor cells is the only clinically approved predictor of ICI response in lung cancer, but concerns arise due to its low negative and positive predictive value. Recent studies suggest that CXCL13+ T cells in the tumor microenvironment (TME) may be a good predictor of response. We aimed to assess if CXCL13+ cell localization within the TME can predict ICI response in advanced NSCLC patients. Methods: This retrospective study included 65 advanced NSCLC patients treated with Nivolumab/Pembrolizumab at IUCPQ or CHUM and for whom a pretreatment surgical specimen was available. Good responders were defined as having a complete radiologic response at 1 year, and bad responders were defined as showing cancer progression at 1 year. IHC staining for CXCL13 was carried out on a representative slide from a resection specimen, and CXCL13+ cell density was evaluated in tumor (T), invasive margin (IM), non-tumor (NT), and tertiary lymphoid structure (TLS) compartments. Cox models were used to analyze progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) probability, while the Mann-Whitney test was used to compare CXCL13+ cell density between responders and non-responders. Results: We showed that CXCL13+ cell density localization within the TME is associated with ICI efficacy. An increased density of CXCL13+ cells across all compartments was associated with a poorer prognostic (OS; HR = 1.22; 95%CI = 1.04-1.42; p = 0.01, PFS; HR = 1.16; p = 0.02), or a better prognostic when colocalized within TLSs (PFS; HR = 0.84, p = 0.03). Conclusion: Our results support the role of CXCL13+ cells in advanced NSCLC patients, with favorable prognosis when localized within TLSs and unfavorable prognosis when present elsewhere. The concomitant proximity of CXCL13+ and CD20+ cells within TLSs may favor antigen presentation to T cells, thus enhancing the effect of PD-1/PD-L1 axis inhibition. Further validation is warranted to confirm the potential relevance of this biomarker in a clinical setting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fatemeh Vahidian
- Centre de Recherche de l’Institut Universitaire de Cardiologie et de Pneumologie de Québec (IUCPQ), Quebec City, QC G1V 4G5, Canada (F.C.L.); (M.O.)
- Faculty of Medicine, Laval University, Quebec City, QC G1V 4G5, Canada (F.B.)
| | - Fabien C. Lamaze
- Centre de Recherche de l’Institut Universitaire de Cardiologie et de Pneumologie de Québec (IUCPQ), Quebec City, QC G1V 4G5, Canada (F.C.L.); (M.O.)
| | - Cédrik Bouffard
- Centre de Recherche de l’Institut Universitaire de Cardiologie et de Pneumologie de Québec (IUCPQ), Quebec City, QC G1V 4G5, Canada (F.C.L.); (M.O.)
- Faculty of Medicine, Laval University, Quebec City, QC G1V 4G5, Canada (F.B.)
| | - François Coulombe
- Faculty of Medicine, Laval University, Quebec City, QC G1V 4G5, Canada (F.B.)
| | - Andréanne Gagné
- Centre de Recherche de l’Institut Universitaire de Cardiologie et de Pneumologie de Québec (IUCPQ), Quebec City, QC G1V 4G5, Canada (F.C.L.); (M.O.)
- Faculty of Medicine, Laval University, Quebec City, QC G1V 4G5, Canada (F.B.)
| | - Florence Blais
- Faculty of Medicine, Laval University, Quebec City, QC G1V 4G5, Canada (F.B.)
| | - Marion Tonneau
- Centre de Recherche du Centre Hospitalier de l’Université de Montréal (CRCHUM), Montréal, QC H2X 0A9, Canada; (M.T.)
| | - Michèle Orain
- Centre de Recherche de l’Institut Universitaire de Cardiologie et de Pneumologie de Québec (IUCPQ), Quebec City, QC G1V 4G5, Canada (F.C.L.); (M.O.)
| | - Bertrand Routy
- Centre de Recherche du Centre Hospitalier de l’Université de Montréal (CRCHUM), Montréal, QC H2X 0A9, Canada; (M.T.)
| | - Venkata S. K. Manem
- Centre de Recherche du CHU de Québec—Université Laval, Quebec City, QC G1V 4G5, Canada
- Department of Mathematics and Computer Science, Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières, Trois-Rivières, QC G8Z 4M3, Canada
| | - Philippe Joubert
- Centre de Recherche de l’Institut Universitaire de Cardiologie et de Pneumologie de Québec (IUCPQ), Quebec City, QC G1V 4G5, Canada (F.C.L.); (M.O.)
- Faculty of Medicine, Laval University, Quebec City, QC G1V 4G5, Canada (F.B.)
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19
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Cai F, Zhang J, Gao H, Shen H. Tumor microenvironment and CAR-T cell immunotherapy in B-cell lymphoma. Eur J Haematol 2024; 112:223-235. [PMID: 37706523 DOI: 10.1111/ejh.14103] [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: 05/21/2023] [Revised: 09/05/2023] [Accepted: 09/05/2023] [Indexed: 09/15/2023]
Abstract
Chimeric receptor antigen T cell (CAR-T cell) therapy has demonstrated effectiveness and therapeutic potential in the immunotherapy of hematological malignancies, representing a promising breakthrough in cancer treatment. Despite the efficacy of CAR-T cell therapy in B-cell lymphoma, response variability, resistance, and side effects remain persistent challenges. The tumor microenvironment (TME) plays an intricate role in CAR-T cell therapy of B-cell lymphoma. The TME is a complex and dynamic environment that includes various cell types, cytokines, and extracellular matrix components, all of which can influence CAR-T cell function and behavior. This review discusses the design principles of CAR-T cells, TME in B-cell lymphoma, and the mechanisms by which TME influences CAR-T cell function. We discuss emerging strategies aimed at modulating the TME, targeting immunosuppressive cells, overcoming inhibitory signaling, and improving CAR-T cell infiltration and persistence. Therefore, these processes enhance the efficacy of CAR-T cell therapy and improve patient outcomes in B-cell lymphoma. Further research will be needed to investigate the molecular and cellular events that occur post-infusion, including changes in TME composition, immune cell interactions, cytokine signaling, and potential resistance mechanisms. Understanding these processes will contribute to the development of more effective CAR-T cell therapies and strategies to mitigate treatment-related toxicities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fengqing Cai
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Children's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, National Clinical Research Center for Child Health, Hangzhou, China
| | - Junfeng Zhang
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Children's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, National Clinical Research Center for Child Health, Hangzhou, China
| | - Hui Gao
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Children's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, National Clinical Research Center for Child Health, Hangzhou, China
| | - Hongqiang Shen
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Children's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, National Clinical Research Center for Child Health, Hangzhou, China
- Department of Hematology-Oncology, Children's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, National Clinical Research Center for Child Health, Hangzhou, China
- Joint Research Center for Immune Landscape and Precision Medicine in Children, Binjiang Institute of Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
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20
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Yang J, Shen L, Yang J, Qu Y, Gong C, Zhou F, Liu Y, Luo M, Zhao L. Complement and coagulation cascades are associated with prognosis and the immune microenvironment of lower-grade glioma. Transl Cancer Res 2024; 13:112-136. [PMID: 38410234 PMCID: PMC10894340 DOI: 10.21037/tcr-23-906] [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: 05/26/2023] [Accepted: 11/29/2023] [Indexed: 02/28/2024]
Abstract
Background Abnormal coagulation is a common feature of glioma. There is a strong correlation between coagulation and the complement system, named complement and coagulation cascades (CCC). However, the role of CCC genes in lower-grade glioma (LGG) remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate the role of CCC genes in LGG. Methods In total, 5,628 differential expressed genes were identified between 498 LGG tissues from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and 207 normal brain tissues from Genotype-Tissue Expression Project (GTEx). Among them, 20 overlapped CCC genes were identified as differentially expressed CCC genes. Then, comprehensive bioinformatics analysis was used to investigate the role of CCC genes in LGG; 271 LGG tissues from the Chinese Glioma Genome Atlas (CGGA) were used as the validation dataset. Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK8) proliferation assay, colony formation assay, and wound healing assay were conducted to explore the anti-glioma effect of the sensitive drugs we predicted. Results We constructed a risk signature consisting of six CCC genes, including F2R, SERPINA1, TFPI, C1QC, C2, and C3AR1. The CCC gene-based risk signature could accurately predict the prognosis of patients with LGG. In addition, we found that the JAK-STAT, NOD-like receptor, Notch, PI3K-Akt, and Rap1 signaling pathways might be activated and had crosstalk with CCC in the high-risk group. Our findings analyses demonstrated that samples in high- and low-risk groups had different immune landscapes. Moreover, patients in the high-risk group might have greater resistance to immunotherapy. We validated the accuracy of the risk signature in predicting immunotherapy response in two public immunotherapy cohorts, GSE135222 and GSE78220. By means of oncoPredict, MG-132, BMS-536924, PLX-4720, and AZD6482 were identified as potential sensitive drugs for high-risk patients, of which MG-132 was particularly recommended for high-risk patients. We performed in vitro experiments to explore the anti-glioma effect of MG-132, and the results demonstrated MG-132 could inhibit the proliferation and migration of glioma cells. Conclusions Our findings show that CCC genes are associated with the prognosis and immune infiltration of LGG and provide possible immunotherapeutic and novel chemotherapeutic strategies for patients with LGG based on the risk signature.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jianmei Yang
- Department of Gastroenterology, Hubei Provincial Hospital of Integrated Chinese & Western Medicine, Wuhan, China
| | - Lei Shen
- Department of Neurosurgery, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Jingyi Yang
- Department of Neurosurgery, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Yinzong Qu
- Department of Gastroenterology, Hubei Provincial Hospital of Integrated Chinese & Western Medicine, Wuhan, China
| | - Chengxian Gong
- Department of Gastroenterology, Hubei Provincial Hospital of Integrated Chinese & Western Medicine, Wuhan, China
| | - Fang Zhou
- Department of Gastroenterology, Hubei Provincial Hospital of Integrated Chinese & Western Medicine, Wuhan, China
| | - Yuhan Liu
- Department of Gastroenterology, Hubei Provincial Hospital of Integrated Chinese & Western Medicine, Wuhan, China
| | - Ming Luo
- Department of Neurosurgery, Wuhan No. 1 Hospital, Wuhan, China
| | - Li Zhao
- Department of Gastroenterology, Hubei Provincial Hospital of Integrated Chinese & Western Medicine, Wuhan, China
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21
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Cornice J, Verzella D, Arboretto P, Vecchiotti D, Capece D, Zazzeroni F, Franzoso G. NF-κB: Governing Macrophages in Cancer. Genes (Basel) 2024; 15:197. [PMID: 38397187 PMCID: PMC10888451 DOI: 10.3390/genes15020197] [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: 01/12/2024] [Revised: 01/26/2024] [Accepted: 01/27/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) are the major component of the tumor microenvironment (TME), where they sustain tumor progression and or-tumor immunity. Due to their plasticity, macrophages can exhibit anti- or pro-tumor functions through the expression of different gene sets leading to distinct macrophage phenotypes: M1-like or pro-inflammatory and M2-like or anti-inflammatory. NF-κB transcription factors are central regulators of TAMs in cancers, where they often drive macrophage polarization toward an M2-like phenotype. Therefore, the NF-κB pathway is an attractive therapeutic target for cancer immunotherapy in a wide range of human tumors. Hence, targeting NF-κB pathway in the myeloid compartment is a potential clinical strategy to overcome microenvironment-induced immunosuppression and increase anti-tumor immunity. In this review, we discuss the role of NF-κB as a key driver of macrophage functions in tumors as well as the principal strategies to overcome tumor immunosuppression by targeting the NF-κB pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica Cornice
- Department of Immunology and Inflammation, Imperial College London, London W12 0NN, UK; (J.C.); (P.A.)
| | - Daniela Verzella
- Department of Biotechnological and Applied Clinical Sciences (DISCAB), University of L’Aquila, 67100 L’Aquila, Italy; (D.V.); (D.C.); (F.Z.)
| | - Paola Arboretto
- Department of Immunology and Inflammation, Imperial College London, London W12 0NN, UK; (J.C.); (P.A.)
| | - Davide Vecchiotti
- Department of Biotechnological and Applied Clinical Sciences (DISCAB), University of L’Aquila, 67100 L’Aquila, Italy; (D.V.); (D.C.); (F.Z.)
| | - Daria Capece
- Department of Biotechnological and Applied Clinical Sciences (DISCAB), University of L’Aquila, 67100 L’Aquila, Italy; (D.V.); (D.C.); (F.Z.)
| | - Francesca Zazzeroni
- Department of Biotechnological and Applied Clinical Sciences (DISCAB), University of L’Aquila, 67100 L’Aquila, Italy; (D.V.); (D.C.); (F.Z.)
| | - Guido Franzoso
- Department of Immunology and Inflammation, Imperial College London, London W12 0NN, UK; (J.C.); (P.A.)
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22
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Lekan AA, Weiner LM. The Role of Chemokines in Orchestrating the Immune Response to Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma. Cancers (Basel) 2024; 16:559. [PMID: 38339310 PMCID: PMC10854906 DOI: 10.3390/cancers16030559] [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: 01/08/2024] [Revised: 01/24/2024] [Accepted: 01/26/2024] [Indexed: 02/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Chemokines are small molecules that function as chemotactic factors which regulate the migration, infiltration, and accumulation of immune cells. Here, we comprehensively assess the structural and functional role of chemokines, examine the effects of chemokines that are present in the pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) tumor microenvironment (TME), specifically those produced by cancer cells and stromal components, and evaluate their impact on immune cell trafficking, both in promoting and suppressing anti-tumor responses. We further explore the impact of chemokines on patient outcomes in PDAC and their role in the context of immunotherapy treatments, and review clinical trials that have targeted chemokine receptors and ligands in the treatment of PDAC. Lastly, we highlight potential strategies that can be utilized to harness chemokines in order to increase cytotoxic immune cell infiltration and the anti-tumor effects of immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Louis M. Weiner
- Department of Oncology, Georgetown Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, Georgetown University Medical Center, 3970 Reservoir Road NW, Washington, DC 20057, USA;
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23
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Mortezaee K, Majidpoor J. An Update of Extracellular Vesicle Involvement in different Steps of Cancer Metastasis and Targeting Strategies. Curr Med Chem 2024; 31:CMC-EPUB-137579. [PMID: 38251694 DOI: 10.2174/0109298673273299231121044055] [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: 07/20/2023] [Revised: 09/24/2023] [Accepted: 10/10/2023] [Indexed: 01/23/2024]
Abstract
Cancer metastasis is the deadliest event in tumorigenesis. Despite extensive research, there are still unsolved challenges regarding early metastasis detection and targeting strategies. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) and their impact on tumorigenic-related events are in the eye of current investigations. EVs represent a plethora of biomarkers and information, and they are considered key determinants in tumor progression and for tumor prognosis and monitoring. EVs are one of the key mediators for inter-cellular communications between tumor cells and their nearby stroma. They are involved in different steps of metastasis from invasion toward formation of pre-metastatic niches (PMNs), and final growth and colonization of tumor cells in desired organ/s of the target. Membrane components of EVs and their cargo can be traced for the identification of tumor metastasis, and their targeting is a promising strategy in cancer therapy. In this review, we aimed to discuss the current understanding of EV-based metastatic predilection in cancer, providing updated information about EV involvement in different metastatic steps and suggesting some strategies to hamper this devastating condition.
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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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24
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Tang X, Wang K, Yang J, Wang Y, Yan Z. A novel immunogenic cell death-related gene risk signature can identify biomarkers of gliomas and predict the immunotherapeutic response. Am J Cancer Res 2024; 14:324-343. [PMID: 38323285 PMCID: PMC10839322] [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] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2023] [Accepted: 01/01/2024] [Indexed: 02/08/2024] Open
Abstract
Immunogenic cell death (ICD) is a type of cell death that plays a pivotal role in immunity. Recent studies have identified the critical role of ICD in glioma treatment. This study aimed to use ICD-associated differentially expressed genes (ICD-DEGs) to predict survival of glioma patients. We investigated the relationship between clinical prognosis and the date-to-clinical prognosis of 1,721 glioma patients by examining the expression, methylation, and mutation status of ICD-related genes (IRGs) in these patients. Our prediction of survival in glioma patients was based on three risk genes, and we explored the association between these genes and clinical outcomes. Additionally, IRG expression was used to stratify glioma patients. We further examined the relationship among the three subgroups in terms of immune microenvironment heterogeneity and immunotherapy response. In addition, this study also included analyses of histograms and sensitivity to antitumor drugs. The expression of these genes was externally validated by RT-qPCR, Western blot (WB), and immunohistochemistry (IHC) in glioma and normal brain tissue. Our findings reveal that most IRGs are overexpressed in glioma tumor tissues, and this high expression was confirmed through histological validation. We successfully developed predictive models for three prognostic genes associated with ICD. These models not only predict survival in glioma but also correlate with the tumor's immune microenvironment. Finally, using consensus clustering, we identified three ICD-associated subtypes. Notably, patients with the C3 subtype showed high levels of immune cell infiltration, whereas those with the C1 subtype exhibited lower levels of immune cell infiltration. We successfully developed an innovative IRG-based systematic approach for evaluating glioma patients. This stratification in experimental studies opens new avenues for prognosis and assessing immunotherapy responses in glioma patients. Our study demonstrates the effectiveness of this approach in treating glioma, potentially paving the way for more promising and effective therapeutic strategies in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuewu Tang
- Longgang District Maternity and Child Healthcare Hospital of Shenzhen City (Longgang Maternity and Child Institute of Shantou University Medical College)Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, Shenzhen Children’s HospitalShenzhen, Guangdong, China
| | - Kan Wang
- Department of Neurosurgery, Harbin Medical UniversityHarbin, Heilongjiang, China
| | - Jinchao Yang
- Longgang District Maternity and Child Healthcare Hospital of Shenzhen City (Longgang Maternity and Child Institute of Shantou University Medical College)Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, Shenzhen Children’s HospitalShenzhen, Guangdong, China
| | - Yuting Wang
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, Shenzhen Children’s HospitalShenzhen, Guangdong, China
| | - Zhiteng Yan
- Longgang District Maternity and Child Healthcare Hospital of Shenzhen City (Longgang Maternity and Child Institute of Shantou University Medical College)Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
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25
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Sari D, Gozuacik D, Akkoc Y. Role of autophagy in cancer-associated fibroblast activation, signaling and metabolic reprograming. Front Cell Dev Biol 2024; 11:1274682. [PMID: 38234683 PMCID: PMC10791779 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2023.1274682] [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: 08/08/2023] [Accepted: 12/08/2023] [Indexed: 01/19/2024] Open
Abstract
Tumors not only consist of cancerous cells, but they also harbor several normal-like cell types and non-cellular components. cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) are one of these cellular components that are found predominantly in the tumor stroma. Autophagy is an intracellular degradation and quality control mechanism, and recent studies provided evidence that autophagy played a critical role in CAF formation, metabolic reprograming and tumor-stroma crosstalk. Therefore, shedding light on the autophagy and its role in CAF biology might help us better understand the roles of CAFs and the TME in cancer progression and may facilitate the exploitation of more efficient cancer diagnosis and treatment. Here, we provide an overview about the involvement of autophagy in CAF-related pathways, including transdifferentiation and activation of CAFs, and further discuss the implications of targeting tumor stroma as a treatment option.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dyana Sari
- Koç University Research Center for Translational Medicine (KUTTAM), Istanbul, Türkiye
| | - Devrim Gozuacik
- Koç University Research Center for Translational Medicine (KUTTAM), Istanbul, Türkiye
- Department of Medical Biology, School of Medicine, Koç University, Istanbul, Türkiye
- Department of Biotechnology, SUNUM Nanotechnology Research and Application Center, Istanbul, Türkiye
| | - Yunus Akkoc
- Koç University Research Center for Translational Medicine (KUTTAM), Istanbul, Türkiye
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26
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Deng X, Zhang C, Yang Y, Wang J, Ye X, Gu J, Zhang X, Jin H. Shenling Baizhu Decoction (SLBZD) may play a synergistic role of tirelizumab in the treatment of colorectal cancer by influencing the imbalance of colon flora and Tumor microenvironment. J Cancer 2024; 15:30-40. [PMID: 38164278 PMCID: PMC10751679 DOI: 10.7150/jca.88854] [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: 08/05/2023] [Accepted: 10/03/2023] [Indexed: 01/03/2024] Open
Abstract
Objective: To explore whether SLBZD can play a synergistic role in promoting the efficacy of PD-1 inhibitors in the treatment of colorectal cancer by influencing the intestinal microenvironment and Tumor microenvironment. Method: Shenling Baizhu Decoction (SLBZD) and tirelizumab (TLzmab) treated the colorectal mouse model. The tumor growth rate, tumor weight, and tumor growth inhibition rate were evaluated. Fecal microbiota was detected by 16S rDNA sequencing and immune cell was detected by the flow cytometry analysis. Result: Compared to tumor weight, there exist significant differences between each group among the three groups. Compared to tumor volume, there was no statistically significant difference in tumor size between the control group and the TLzmab group at 7 days. However, there was a statistical difference in tumor size among the three groups at 18 days. By analyzing the diversity of the Gut microbiota, the diversity decreased after TLzmab treatment with a statistically significant difference. Compared with the control group, the diversity of the TLzmab+SLBZD group increased. The proportion of lymphocytes in the blood was analyzed by flow cytometry. Compared with the control group, Myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) decreased and T regulatory cells (Treg) increased significantly in the TLzmab group. Compared with the control group and TLzmab group, the TLzmab+SLBZD group showed a significant increase in M1 type macrophages, while the M2 type macrophages, MDSCs, and Treg showed a significant decrease. Conclusion: An imbalance of Gut microbiota and imbalance of tumor immune microenvironment will occur during TLzmab treatment, which will lead to poor therapeutic effect of TLzmab or drug resistance. SLBZD will increase the abundance of Gut microbiota, which will lead to the increase of M1 macrophages in the tumor immune microenvironment and the decrease of M2 macrophages and Treg cells, thus exerting the synergistic effect of TLzmab. This study provides a new way to explore the improvement of ICIs through traditional Chinese medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Heiying Jin
- Department of Colorectal Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine,23Nanhu Road, Nanjing 210017, China
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Yerolatsite M, Torounidou N, Gogadis A, Kapoulitsa F, Ntellas P, Lampri E, Tolia M, Batistatou A, Katsanos K, Mauri D. TAMs and PD-1 Networking in Gastric Cancer: A Review of the Literature. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 16:196. [PMID: 38201623 PMCID: PMC10778110 DOI: 10.3390/cancers16010196] [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: 10/20/2023] [Revised: 12/11/2023] [Accepted: 12/27/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Gastric cancer (GC) is one of the most common and aggressive types of cancer. Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have proven effective in treating various types of cancer. The use of ICIs in GC patients is currently an area of ongoing research. The tumor microenvironment (TME) also seems to play a crucial role in cancer progression. Tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) are the most abundant population in the TME. TAMs are capable of displaying programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) on their surface and can form a ligand with programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1), which is found on the surface of cancer cells. Therefore, it is expected that TAMs may significantly influence the immune response related to immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs). AIM OF THE STUDY Understanding the role of TAMs and PD-1/PD-L1 networking in GC. METHODS A systematic review of published data was performed using MEDLINE (PubMed), Embase, and Cochrane databases. We retrieved articles investigating the co-existence of TAMs and PD-1 in GC and the prognosis of patients expressing high levels of PD-1+ TAMs. RESULTS Ten articles with a total of 2277 patients were included in the systematic review. The examined data suggest that the expression of PD-L1 has a positive correlation with the infiltration of TAMs and that patients who express high levels of PD-1+ TAMs may have a worse prognosis than those who express low levels of PD-1+ TAMs. CONCLUSIONS TAMs play a pivotal role in the regulation of PD-1/PD-L1 networking and the progression of GC cells. Nevertheless, additional studies are needed to better define the role of TAMs and PD-1/PD-L1 networking in GC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melina Yerolatsite
- Department of Medical Oncology, University of Ioannina, 45500 Ioannina, Greece; (N.T.); (A.G.); (F.K.); (P.N.); (D.M.)
- Society for Study of Clonal Heterogeneity of Neoplasia (EMEKEN), 45445 Ioannina, Greece
| | - Nanteznta Torounidou
- Department of Medical Oncology, University of Ioannina, 45500 Ioannina, Greece; (N.T.); (A.G.); (F.K.); (P.N.); (D.M.)
- Society for Study of Clonal Heterogeneity of Neoplasia (EMEKEN), 45445 Ioannina, Greece
| | - Aristeidis Gogadis
- Department of Medical Oncology, University of Ioannina, 45500 Ioannina, Greece; (N.T.); (A.G.); (F.K.); (P.N.); (D.M.)
- Society for Study of Clonal Heterogeneity of Neoplasia (EMEKEN), 45445 Ioannina, Greece
| | - Fani Kapoulitsa
- Department of Medical Oncology, University of Ioannina, 45500 Ioannina, Greece; (N.T.); (A.G.); (F.K.); (P.N.); (D.M.)
- Society for Study of Clonal Heterogeneity of Neoplasia (EMEKEN), 45445 Ioannina, Greece
| | - Panagiotis Ntellas
- Department of Medical Oncology, University of Ioannina, 45500 Ioannina, Greece; (N.T.); (A.G.); (F.K.); (P.N.); (D.M.)
| | - Evangeli Lampri
- Department of Pathology, University of Ioannina, 45500 Ioannina, Greece; (E.L.); (A.B.)
| | - Maria Tolia
- Department of Radiotherapy, University of Crete, 71003 Heraklion, Greece;
| | - Anna Batistatou
- Department of Pathology, University of Ioannina, 45500 Ioannina, Greece; (E.L.); (A.B.)
| | | | - Davide Mauri
- Department of Medical Oncology, University of Ioannina, 45500 Ioannina, Greece; (N.T.); (A.G.); (F.K.); (P.N.); (D.M.)
- Society for Study of Clonal Heterogeneity of Neoplasia (EMEKEN), 45445 Ioannina, Greece
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Lurje I, Hammerich L. The suppressive tumor microenvironment of AFP-positive hepatocellular carcinoma and its therapeutic implications. Transl Gastroenterol Hepatol 2023; 9:1. [PMID: 38317743 PMCID: PMC10838608 DOI: 10.21037/tgh-23-81] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2023] [Accepted: 12/04/2023] [Indexed: 02/07/2024] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Isabella Lurje
- Department of Hepatology and Gastroenterology, Campus Charité Mitte and Campus Virchow-Klinikum, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Linda Hammerich
- Department of Hepatology and Gastroenterology, Campus Charité Mitte and Campus Virchow-Klinikum, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
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Majumder A. Evolving CAR-T-Cell Therapy for Cancer Treatment: From Scientific Discovery to Cures. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 16:39. [PMID: 38201467 PMCID: PMC10777914 DOI: 10.3390/cancers16010039] [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: 11/21/2023] [Revised: 12/18/2023] [Accepted: 12/19/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2024] Open
Abstract
In recent years, chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-T-cell therapy has emerged as the most promising immunotherapy for cancer that typically uses patients' T cells and genetically engineered them to target cancer cells. Although recent improvements in CAR-T-cell therapy have shown remarkable success for treating hematological malignancies, the heterogeneity in tumor antigens and the immunosuppressive nature of the tumor microenvironment (TME) limits its efficacy in solid tumors. Despite the enormous efforts that have been made to make CAR-T-cell therapy more effective and have minimal side effects for treating hematological malignancies, more research needs to be conducted regarding its use in the clinic for treating various other types of cancer. The main concern for CAR-T-cell therapy is severe toxicities due to the cytokine release syndrome, whereas the other challenges are associated with complexity and immune-suppressing TME, tumor antigen heterogeneity, the difficulty of cell trafficking, CAR-T-cell exhaustion, and reduced cytotoxicity in the tumor site. This review discussed the latest discoveries in CAR-T-cell therapy strategies and combination therapies, as well as their effectiveness in different cancers. It also encompasses ongoing clinical trials; current challenges regarding the therapeutic use of CAR-T-cell therapy, especially for solid tumors; and evolving treatment strategies to improve the therapeutic application of CAR-T-cell therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Avisek Majumder
- Department of Medicine, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
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30
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Nettnin EA, Nguyen T, Arana S, Barros Guinle MI, Garcia CA, Gibson EM, Prolo LM. Review: therapeutic approaches for circadian modulation of the glioma microenvironment. Front Oncol 2023; 13:1295030. [PMID: 38173841 PMCID: PMC10762863 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2023.1295030] [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: 09/15/2023] [Accepted: 11/28/2023] [Indexed: 01/05/2024] Open
Abstract
High-grade gliomas are malignant brain tumors that are characteristically hard to treat because of their nature; they grow quickly and invasively through the brain tissue and develop chemoradiation resistance in adults. There is also a distinct lack of targeted treatment options in the pediatric population for this tumor type to date. Several approaches to overcome therapeutic resistance have been explored, including targeted therapy to growth pathways (ie. EGFR and VEGF inhibitors), epigenetic modulators, and immunotherapies such as Chimeric Antigen Receptor T-cell and vaccine therapies. One new promising approach relies on the timing of chemotherapy administration based on intrinsic circadian rhythms. Recent work in glioblastoma has demonstrated temporal variations in chemosensitivity and, thus, improved survival based on treatment time of day. This may be due to intrinsic rhythms of the glioma cells, permeability of the blood brain barrier to chemotherapy agents, the tumor immune microenvironment, or another unknown mechanism. We review the literature to discuss chronotherapeutic approaches to high-grade glioma treatment, circadian regulation of the immune system and tumor microenvironment in gliomas. We further discuss how these two areas may be combined to temporally regulate and/or improve the effectiveness of immunotherapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ella A. Nettnin
- Department of Neurosurgery, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, United States
| | - Thien Nguyen
- Division of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital, Palo Alto, CA, United States
| | - Sophia Arana
- Department of Neurosurgery, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, United States
| | | | - Cesar A. Garcia
- Department of Neurosurgery, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, United States
| | - Erin M. Gibson
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, United States
| | - Laura M. Prolo
- Department of Neurosurgery, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, United States
- Division of Pediatric Neurosurgery, Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital, Palo Alto, CA, United States
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31
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Mierke CT. Editorial: Cancer cell adhesion, metastasis, and the immune response. Front Cell Dev Biol 2023; 11:1347446. [PMID: 38149047 PMCID: PMC10749920 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2023.1347446] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2023] [Accepted: 12/05/2023] [Indexed: 12/28/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Claudia Tanja Mierke
- Faculty of Physics and Earth Systems Science, Peter Debye Institute of Soft Matter Physics, Biological Physics Division, Leipzig University, Leipzig, Germany
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32
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Souza VGP, Forder A, Pewarchuk ME, Telkar N, de Araujo RP, Stewart GL, Vieira J, Reis PP, Lam WL. The Complex Role of the Microbiome in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Development and Progression. Cells 2023; 12:2801. [PMID: 38132121 PMCID: PMC10741843 DOI: 10.3390/cells12242801] [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: 11/01/2023] [Revised: 11/30/2023] [Accepted: 12/05/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023] Open
Abstract
In recent years, there has been a growing interest in the relationship between microorganisms in the surrounding environment and cancer cells. While the tumor microenvironment predominantly comprises cancer cells, stromal cells, and immune cells, emerging research highlights the significant contributions of microbial cells to tumor development and progression. Although the impact of the gut microbiome on treatment response in lung cancer is well established, recent investigations indicate complex roles of lung microbiota in lung cancer. This article focuses on recent findings on the human lung microbiome and its impacts in cancer development and progression. We delve into the characteristics of the lung microbiome and its influence on lung cancer development. Additionally, we explore the characteristics of the intratumoral microbiome, the metabolic interactions between lung tumor cells, and how microorganism-produced metabolites can contribute to cancer progression. Furthermore, we provide a comprehensive review of the current literature on the lung microbiome and its implications for the metastatic potential of tumor cells. Additionally, this review discusses the potential for therapeutic modulation of the microbiome to establish lung cancer prevention strategies and optimize lung cancer treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vanessa G. P. Souza
- British Columbia Cancer Research Institute, Vancouver, BC V5Z 1L3, Canada
- Molecular Oncology Laboratory, Experimental Research Unit, School of Medicine, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Botucatu 18618-687, SP, Brazil (P.P.R.)
| | - Aisling Forder
- British Columbia Cancer Research Institute, Vancouver, BC V5Z 1L3, Canada
| | | | - Nikita Telkar
- British Columbia Cancer Research Institute, Vancouver, BC V5Z 1L3, Canada
- British Columbia Children’s Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, BC V5Z 4H4, Canada
| | - Rachel Paes de Araujo
- Molecular Oncology Laboratory, Experimental Research Unit, School of Medicine, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Botucatu 18618-687, SP, Brazil (P.P.R.)
| | - Greg L. Stewart
- British Columbia Cancer Research Institute, Vancouver, BC V5Z 1L3, Canada
| | - Juliana Vieira
- British Columbia Cancer Research Institute, Vancouver, BC V5Z 1L3, Canada
| | - Patricia P. Reis
- Molecular Oncology Laboratory, Experimental Research Unit, School of Medicine, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Botucatu 18618-687, SP, Brazil (P.P.R.)
- Department of Surgery and Orthopedics, Faculty of Medicine, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Botucatu 18618-687, SP, Brazil
| | - Wan L. Lam
- British Columbia Cancer Research Institute, Vancouver, BC V5Z 1L3, Canada
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33
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Lee S, Son JY, Lee J, Cheong H. Unraveling the Intricacies of Autophagy and Mitophagy: Implications in Cancer Biology. Cells 2023; 12:2742. [PMID: 38067169 PMCID: PMC10706449 DOI: 10.3390/cells12232742] [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] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2023] [Revised: 11/21/2023] [Accepted: 11/28/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Autophagy is an essential lysosome-mediated degradation pathway that maintains cellular homeostasis and viability in response to various intra- and extracellular stresses. Mitophagy is a type of autophagy that is involved in the intricate removal of dysfunctional mitochondria during conditions of metabolic stress. In this review, we describe the multifaceted roles of autophagy and mitophagy in normal physiology and the field of cancer biology. Autophagy and mitophagy exhibit dual context-dependent roles in cancer development, acting as tumor suppressors and promoters. We also discuss the important role of autophagy and mitophagy within the cancer microenvironment and how autophagy and mitophagy influence tumor host-cell interactions to overcome metabolic deficiencies and sustain the activity of cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) in a stromal environment. Finally, we explore the dynamic interplay between autophagy and the immune response in tumors, indicating their potential as immunomodulatory targets in cancer therapy. As the field of autophagy and mitophagy continues to evolve, this comprehensive review provides insights into their important roles in cancer and cancer microenvironment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sunmi Lee
- Branch of Molecular Cancer Biology, Division of Cancer Biology, Research Institute, National Cancer Center, Goyang-si 10408, Republic of Korea; (S.L.); (J.-Y.S.)
| | - Ji-Yoon Son
- Branch of Molecular Cancer Biology, Division of Cancer Biology, Research Institute, National Cancer Center, Goyang-si 10408, Republic of Korea; (S.L.); (J.-Y.S.)
| | - Jinkyung Lee
- Department of Cancer Biomedical Science, Graduate School of Cancer Science & Policy, National Cancer Center, Goyang-si 10408, Republic of Korea;
| | - Heesun Cheong
- Branch of Molecular Cancer Biology, Division of Cancer Biology, Research Institute, National Cancer Center, Goyang-si 10408, Republic of Korea; (S.L.); (J.-Y.S.)
- Department of Cancer Biomedical Science, Graduate School of Cancer Science & Policy, National Cancer Center, Goyang-si 10408, Republic of Korea;
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Guha A, Goswami KK, Sultana J, Ganguly N, Choudhury PR, Chakravarti M, Bhuniya A, Sarkar A, Bera S, Dhar S, Das J, Das T, Baral R, Bose A, Banerjee S. Cancer stem cell-immune cell crosstalk in breast tumor microenvironment: a determinant of therapeutic facet. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1245421. [PMID: 38090567 PMCID: PMC10711058 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1245421] [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] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2023] [Accepted: 10/25/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Breast cancer (BC) is globally one of the leading killers among women. Within a breast tumor, a minor population of transformed cells accountable for drug resistance, survival, and metastasis is known as breast cancer stem cells (BCSCs). Several experimental lines of evidence have indicated that BCSCs influence the functionality of immune cells. They evade immune surveillance by altering the characteristics of immune cells and modulate the tumor landscape to an immune-suppressive type. They are proficient in switching from a quiescent phase (slowly cycling) to an actively proliferating phenotype with a high degree of plasticity. This review confers the relevance and impact of crosstalk between immune cells and BCSCs as a fate determinant for BC prognosis. It also focuses on current strategies for targeting these aberrant BCSCs that could open avenues for the treatment of breast carcinoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aishwarya Guha
- Department of Immunoregulation and Immunodiagnostics, Chittaranjan National Cancer Institute, Kolkata, India
| | | | - Jasmine Sultana
- Department of Immunoregulation and Immunodiagnostics, Chittaranjan National Cancer Institute, Kolkata, India
| | - Nilanjan Ganguly
- Department of Immunoregulation and Immunodiagnostics, Chittaranjan National Cancer Institute, Kolkata, India
| | - Pritha Roy Choudhury
- Department of Immunoregulation and Immunodiagnostics, Chittaranjan National Cancer Institute, Kolkata, India
| | - Mohona Chakravarti
- Department of Immunoregulation and Immunodiagnostics, Chittaranjan National Cancer Institute, Kolkata, India
| | - Avishek Bhuniya
- Department of Immunoregulation and Immunodiagnostics, Chittaranjan National Cancer Institute, Kolkata, India
| | - Anirban Sarkar
- Department of Immunoregulation and Immunodiagnostics, Chittaranjan National Cancer Institute, Kolkata, India
| | - Saurav Bera
- Department of Immunoregulation and Immunodiagnostics, Chittaranjan National Cancer Institute, Kolkata, India
| | - Sukanya Dhar
- Department of Immunoregulation and Immunodiagnostics, Chittaranjan National Cancer Institute, Kolkata, India
| | - Juhina Das
- Department of Immunoregulation and Immunodiagnostics, Chittaranjan National Cancer Institute, Kolkata, India
| | - Tapasi Das
- Department of Immunoregulation and Immunodiagnostics, Chittaranjan National Cancer Institute, Kolkata, India
| | - Rathindranath Baral
- Department of Immunoregulation and Immunodiagnostics, Chittaranjan National Cancer Institute, Kolkata, India
| | - Anamika Bose
- Department of Pharmaceutical Technology Biotechnology National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER) Sahibzada Ajit Singh (S.A.S.) Nagar, Mohali, Punjab, India
| | - Saptak Banerjee
- Department of Immunoregulation and Immunodiagnostics, Chittaranjan National Cancer Institute, Kolkata, India
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Abaza T, El-Aziz MKA, Daniel KA, Karousi P, Papatsirou M, Fahmy SA, Hamdy NM, Kontos CK, Youness RA. Emerging Role of Circular RNAs in Hepatocellular Carcinoma Immunotherapy. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:16484. [PMID: 38003674 PMCID: PMC10671287 DOI: 10.3390/ijms242216484] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [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] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2023] [Revised: 11/13/2023] [Accepted: 11/15/2023] [Indexed: 11/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a highly fatal malignancy with limited therapeutic options and high recurrence rates. Recently, immunotherapeutic agents such as immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have emerged as a new paradigm shift in oncology. ICIs, such as programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) inhibitors, have provided a new source of hope for patients with advanced HCC. Yet, the eligibility criteria of HCC patients for ICIs are still a missing piece in the puzzle. Circular RNAs (circRNAs) have recently emerged as a new class of non-coding RNAs that play a fundamental role in cancer pathogenesis. Structurally, circRNAs are resistant to exonucleolytic degradation and have a longer half-life than their linear counterparts. Functionally, circRNAs possess the capability to influence various facets of the tumor microenvironment, especially at the HCC tumor-immune synapse. Notably, circRNAs have been observed to control the expression of immune checkpoint molecules within tumor cells, potentially impeding the therapeutic effectiveness of ICIs. Therefore, this renders them potential cancer-immune biomarkers for diagnosis, prognosis, and therapeutic regimen determinants. In this review, the authors shed light on the structure and functional roles of circRNAs and, most importantly, highlight the promising roles of circRNAs in HCC immunomodulation and their potential as promising biomarkers and immunotherapeutic regimen determinants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tasneem Abaza
- Biology and Biochemistry Department, Molecular Genetics Research Team (MGRT), Faculty of Biotechnology, German International University (GIU), Cairo 11835, Egypt; (T.A.); (M.K.A.E.-A.); (K.A.D.)
- Biotechnology and Biomolecular Chemistry Program, Faculty of Science, Cairo University, Giza 12613, Egypt
| | - Mostafa K. Abd El-Aziz
- Biology and Biochemistry Department, Molecular Genetics Research Team (MGRT), Faculty of Biotechnology, German International University (GIU), Cairo 11835, Egypt; (T.A.); (M.K.A.E.-A.); (K.A.D.)
- Biochemistry Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, Al-Azhar University, Assiut Branch, Assiut 71631, Egypt
| | - Kerolos Ashraf Daniel
- Biology and Biochemistry Department, Molecular Genetics Research Team (MGRT), Faculty of Biotechnology, German International University (GIU), Cairo 11835, Egypt; (T.A.); (M.K.A.E.-A.); (K.A.D.)
- Biology and Biochemistry Department, Molecular Genetics Research Team (MGRT), School of Life and Medical Sciences, University of Hertfordshire Hosted by Global Academic Foundation, Cairo 11835, Egypt
| | - Paraskevi Karousi
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Biology, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 15701 Athens, Greece; (P.K.); (M.P.)
| | - Maria Papatsirou
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Biology, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 15701 Athens, Greece; (P.K.); (M.P.)
| | - Sherif Ashraf Fahmy
- Department of Chemistry, School of Life and Medical Sciences, University of Hertfordshire Hosted by Global Academic Foundation, R5 New Garden City, New Capital, Cairo 11835, Egypt;
| | - Nadia M. Hamdy
- Biochemistry Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, Ain Shams University, Cairo 11566, Egypt;
| | - Christos K. Kontos
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Biology, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 15701 Athens, Greece; (P.K.); (M.P.)
| | - Rana A. Youness
- Biology and Biochemistry Department, Molecular Genetics Research Team (MGRT), Faculty of Biotechnology, German International University (GIU), Cairo 11835, Egypt; (T.A.); (M.K.A.E.-A.); (K.A.D.)
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Shao S, Miao H, Ma W. Unraveling the enigma of tumor-associated macrophages: challenges, innovations, and the path to therapeutic breakthroughs. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1295684. [PMID: 38035068 PMCID: PMC10682717 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1295684] [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] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2023] [Accepted: 10/31/2023] [Indexed: 12/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) are integral to the tumor microenvironment (TME), influencing cancer progression significantly. Attracted by cancer cell signals, TAMs exhibit unparalleled adaptability, aligning with the dynamic tumor milieu. Their roles span from promoting tumor growth and angiogenesis to modulating metastasis. While substantial research has explored the fundamentals of TAMs, comprehending their adaptive behavior, and leveraging it for novel treatments remains challenging. This review delves into TAM polarization, metabolic shifts, and the complex orchestration of cytokines and chemokines determining their functions. We highlight the complexities of TAM-targeted research focusing on their adaptability and potential variability in therapeutic outcomes. Moreover, we discuss the synergy of integrating TAM-focused strategies with established cancer treatments, such as chemotherapy, and immunotherapy. Emphasis is laid on pioneering methods like TAM reprogramming for cancer immunotherapy and the adoption of single-cell technologies for precision intervention. This synthesis seeks to shed light on TAMs' multifaceted roles in cancer, pinpointing prospective pathways for transformative research and enhancing therapeutic modalities in oncology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shengwen Shao
- Clinical Research Center, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Medical University, Zhanjiang, Guangdong, China
| | - Huilai Miao
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Medical University, Zhanjiang, Guangdong, China
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Liaobu Hospital of Dongguan City, Dongguan, Guangdong, China
| | - Wenxue Ma
- Department of Medicine, Moores Cancer Center, and Sanford Stem Cell Institute, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States
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Anameriç A, Czerwonka A, Nees M. Optimization of a Three-Dimensional Culturing Method for Assessing the Impact of Cisplatin on Notch Signaling in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma (HNSCC). Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:5320. [PMID: 38001580 PMCID: PMC10670464 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15225320] [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: 09/23/2023] [Revised: 11/01/2023] [Accepted: 11/02/2023] [Indexed: 11/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is a prevalent cancer type, with cisplatin being a primary treatment approach. However, drug resistance and therapy failure pose a significant challenge, affecting nearly 50% of patients over time. This research had two aims: (1) to optimize a 3D cell-culture method for assessing the interplay between tumor cells and cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) in vitro; and (2) to study how cisplatin impacts the Notch pathway, particularly considering the role of CAFs. Using our optimized "3D sheet model" approach, we tested two HNSCC cell lines with different cisplatin sensitivities and moderate, non-mutated NOTCH1 and -3 expressions. Combining cisplatin with a γ-secretase inhibitor (crenigacestat) increased sensitivity and induced cell death in the less sensitive cell line, while cisplatin alone was more effective in the moderately sensitive line and sensitivity decreased with the Notch inhibitor. Cisplatin boosted the expression of core Notch signaling proteins in 3D monocultures of both lines, which was counteracted by crenigacestat. In contrast, the presence of patient-derived CAFs mitigated effects and protected both cell lines from cisplatin toxicity. Elevated NOTCH1 and NOTCH3 protein levels were consistently correlated with reduced cisplatin sensitivity and increased cell survival. Additionally, the Notch ligand JAG2 had additional, protective effects reducing cell death from cisplatin exposure. In summary, we observed an inverse relationship between NOTCH1 and NOTCH3 levels and cisplatin responsiveness, overall protective effects by CAFs, and a potential link between JAG2 expression with tumor cell survival.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Matthias Nees
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Medical University of Lublin, 20-093 Lublin, Poland; (A.A.); (A.C.)
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Luján-Méndez F, Roldán-Padrón O, Castro-Ruíz JE, López-Martínez J, García-Gasca T. Capsaicinoids and Their Effects on Cancer: The "Double-Edged Sword" Postulate from the Molecular Scale. Cells 2023; 12:2573. [PMID: 37947651 PMCID: PMC10650825 DOI: 10.3390/cells12212573] [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: 09/18/2023] [Revised: 10/30/2023] [Accepted: 11/01/2023] [Indexed: 11/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Capsaicinoids are a unique chemical species resulting from a particular biosynthesis pathway of hot chilies (Capsicum spp.) that gives rise to 22 analogous compounds, all of which are TRPV1 agonists and, therefore, responsible for the pungency of Capsicum fruits. In addition to their human consumption, numerous ethnopharmacological uses of chili have emerged throughout history. Today, more than 25 years of basic research accredit a multifaceted bioactivity mainly to capsaicin, highlighting its antitumor properties mediated by cytotoxicity and immunological adjuvancy against at least 74 varieties of cancer, while non-cancer cells tend to have greater tolerance. However, despite the progress regarding the understanding of its mechanisms of action, the benefit and safety of capsaicinoids' pharmacological use remain subjects of discussion, since CAP also promotes epithelial-mesenchymal transition, in an ambivalence that has been referred to as "the double-edge sword". Here, we update the comparative discussion of relevant reports about capsaicinoids' bioactivity in a plethora of experimental models of cancer in terms of selectivity, efficacy, and safety. Through an integration of the underlying mechanisms, as well as inherent aspects of cancer biology, we propose mechanistic models regarding the dichotomy of their effects. Finally, we discuss a selection of in vivo evidence concerning capsaicinoids' immunomodulatory properties against cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francisco Luján-Méndez
- Laboratorio de Biología Celular y Molecular, Facultad de Ciencias Naturales, Universidad Autónoma de Querétaro, Av. De las Ciencias s/n, Juriquilla, Querétaro 76230, Querétaro, Mexico; (F.L.-M.); (O.R.-P.); (J.L.-M.)
| | - Octavio Roldán-Padrón
- Laboratorio de Biología Celular y Molecular, Facultad de Ciencias Naturales, Universidad Autónoma de Querétaro, Av. De las Ciencias s/n, Juriquilla, Querétaro 76230, Querétaro, Mexico; (F.L.-M.); (O.R.-P.); (J.L.-M.)
| | - J. Eduardo Castro-Ruíz
- Escuela de Odontología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Autónoma de Querétaro, Querétaro 76176, Querétaro, Mexico;
| | - Josué López-Martínez
- Laboratorio de Biología Celular y Molecular, Facultad de Ciencias Naturales, Universidad Autónoma de Querétaro, Av. De las Ciencias s/n, Juriquilla, Querétaro 76230, Querétaro, Mexico; (F.L.-M.); (O.R.-P.); (J.L.-M.)
| | - Teresa García-Gasca
- Laboratorio de Biología Celular y Molecular, Facultad de Ciencias Naturales, Universidad Autónoma de Querétaro, Av. De las Ciencias s/n, Juriquilla, Querétaro 76230, Querétaro, Mexico; (F.L.-M.); (O.R.-P.); (J.L.-M.)
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Zhou M, Deng Y, Fu Y, Liang R, Liu Y, Liao Q. A new prognostic model for glioblastoma multiforme based on coagulation-related genes. Transl Cancer Res 2023; 12:2898-2910. [PMID: 37969372 PMCID: PMC10643966 DOI: 10.21037/tcr-23-322] [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: 03/01/2023] [Accepted: 08/10/2023] [Indexed: 11/17/2023]
Abstract
Background Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most aggressive, common, and lethal type of primary brain tumor. Multiple cancers have been associated with abnormalities in the coagulation system that facilitate tumor invasion and metastasis. In GBM, the prognostic value and underlying mechanism of coagulation-related genes (CRGs) have not been explored. Methods RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) and clinical information on GBM were obtained from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and Chinese Glioma Genome Atlas (CGGA), respectively. Following the identification of differentially expressed CRGs (DECRGs) between GBM and control samples, the survival-related DECRGs were selected via univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses to establish a prognostic signature. The prognostic performance and clinical utility of the prognostic signature were assessed by the Kaplan-Meier (KM) analysis and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis, and a nomogram was constructed. The signature genes-related underlying mechanisms were analyzed according to gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA), Gene Ontology (GO), Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG), and single-cell analysis. Finally, the difference in immune cell infiltration, stromal score, immune score, and Estimation of Stromal and Immune cells in Malignant Tumor tissues using Expression data (ESTIMATE) score were compared between different risk groups. Results A 5-gene prognostic signature (PLAUR, GP6, C5AR1, SERPINA5, F2RL2) was established for overall survival (OS) prediction of GBM patients. The predicted efficiency of the prognostic signature was confirmed in TGGA-GBM dataset and validated in the CGGA-GBM dataset, revealing that it could differentiate GBM patients from controls well, and high risk score was accompanied with poor prognosis. Moreover, biological process (BP) and signaling pathway analyses showed that signature genes were mainly enriched in the functions of blood coagulation and tumor invasion and metastasis. Moreover, high-risk patients exhibited higher levels of immune cell infiltration, stromal score, immune score, and ESTIMATE score than that of low-risk patients. Conclusions An analysis of coagulation-related prognostic signatures was conducted in this study, as well as how signature genes may affect GBM progress, providing information that might provide new ideas for the development of GBM-related molecular targeted therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Min Zhou
- Department of Neurosurgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang, China
| | - Yunbo Deng
- Department of Operating Room, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang, China
| | - Ya Fu
- Department of Neurosurgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang, China
| | - Richu Liang
- Department of Neurosurgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang, China
| | - Yang Liu
- Department of Neurosurgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang, China
| | - Quan Liao
- Department of Neurosurgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang, China
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Zhu C, Wu J, Shelat VG, Sayagués JM, Yamamoto S, Yang L, He X. Transmembrane serine protease 2, a SARS-CoV-2 internalization protease, correlates with clinical outcome, molecular features, and immunotherapy response in colorectal cancer. J Gastrointest Oncol 2023; 14:2146-2157. [PMID: 37969833 PMCID: PMC10643587 DOI: 10.21037/jgo-23-641] [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] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2023] [Accepted: 09/24/2023] [Indexed: 11/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Transmembrane serine protease 2 (TMPRSS2) mediates the entry of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) into host cells. The relevant research indicates the intestine to be a target of SARS-CoV-2 infection, and thus we aimed to investigate the correlation between TMPRSS2 expression and the prognosis, molecular features, and immunotherapy response in patients with colorectal cancer (CRC). Methods The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) databases were used in this study and a total of 1,385 patients were identified. The CIBERSORT algorithms were used to evaluate the relative infiltration levels of immune cell types in the tumor microenvironment (TME). The correlation between TMPRSS2 expression and immunotherapy response rate was assessed in another 2 independent cohorts. Results TMPRSS2 expression was significantly downregulated in cancer tissue compared to the adjacent normal tissue, and patients with CRC with lower TMPRSS2 expression showed notably poorer prognosis. Functional enrichment analysis found that low TMPRSS2 expression was significantly associated with cancer metastasis-related pathways. Further analysis based on the miRWalk tool and JASPAR database identified a list of microRNAs (miRNAs) and transcriptional factors targeting TMPRSS2. Distinct differences in immune cell infiltration and tumor purity reflected by estimate and mutant-allele tumor heterogeneity score were observed between patients with low and high TMPRSS2 expression levels. Interestingly, patients with a low TMPRSS2 expression level showed a higher response rate to immunotherapy. Conclusions CRC cells may be more resistant to SARS-CoV-2 infection due to the decreased expression of TMPRSS2, which could be a newly identified biomarker for prognosis and immunotherapy response prediction in patients with CRC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chenjing Zhu
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Jiangsu Cancer Hospital & Jiangsu Institute of Cancer Research & Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing Medical University Affiliated Cancer Hospital, Nanjing, China
| | - Jianfeng Wu
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Jiangsu Cancer Hospital & Jiangsu Institute of Cancer Research & Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing Medical University Affiliated Cancer Hospital, Nanjing, China
| | - Vishal G. Shelat
- Department of General Surgery, Tan Tock Seng Hospital, Singapore, Singapore
| | - José María Sayagués
- Pathology Service, Hospital Clínico Universitario de Salamanca and Biomedical Research Institute of Salamanca (IBSAL), University of Salamanca, Salamanca, Spain
| | - Seiichiro Yamamoto
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Tokai University School of Medicine, Isehara, Japan
| | - Li Yang
- Endoscopy Center, Shanghai Pulmonary Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Xia He
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Jiangsu Cancer Hospital & Jiangsu Institute of Cancer Research & Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing Medical University Affiliated Cancer Hospital, Nanjing, China
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Zheng D, Long S, Xi M. A comprehensive pan-cancer analysis identifies a novel glycolysis score and its hub genes as prognostic and immunological biomarkers. Transl Cancer Res 2023; 12:2852-2874. [PMID: 37969385 PMCID: PMC10643978 DOI: 10.21037/tcr-23-325] [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: 03/02/2023] [Accepted: 08/17/2023] [Indexed: 11/17/2023]
Abstract
Background Glycolysis plays significant roles in tumor progression and immune response. However, the exact role of glycolysis in prognosis and immune regulation has not been explored in all cancer types. This study first calculated a novel glycolysis score and screened out 12 glycolytic hub genes, and comprehensively analyzed molecular expression, clinical implications, and immune features of glycolysis among pan-cancer. Methods The glycolysis score was derived by the single sample gene set enrichment analysis (ssGSEA) algorithm. The correlations of glycolysis with clinical parameters were analyzed using "limma" package. Downstream pathways of glycolysis were identified by Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA). The immune cell infiltration was explored and validated by three databases. The association between glycolysis and some immunotherapy biomarkers was explored by Pearson correlation analysis. Single-nucleotide variation (SNV), copy number variation (CNV), DNA methylation, and drug sensitivity analyses of 12 glycolytic hub genes were investigated. IMvigor210 and GSE91061 immunotherapeutic cohorts were retrieved to assess the ability of glycolysis score to predict immunotherapy efficacy. The expression of glycolysis key genes was detected in normal and endometrial cancer cell lines. Results We found that glycolysis score was generally higher in tumor tissues compared to normal tissues and a high glycolysis score predominated as a risk prognostic factor. A high glycolysis score was associated with decreased immunostimulatory natural killer (NK) cells and CD8+ T cells infiltration, well increased immunosuppressive M2-tumor-associated macrophages (M2-TAM) cells infiltration. Tumor mutational burden (TMB), microsatellite instability (MSI), and immune checkpoints (ICPs) all closely interacted with glycolysis score and the frequency of gene mutation was confirmed to be higher in colon adenocarcinoma (COAD) patients with higher glycolysis score. The SNV, CNV, and DNA methylation of 12 glycolysis key genes occurred at different frequencies and showed different impacts on survival outcomes. The predictive and prognostic value of glycolysis score for immunotherapy outcomes was validated in two immunotherapy cohorts. The expression levels of key genes differ in normal endometrial and three endometrial cancer cell lines. Conclusions This work indicated that glycolysis score and 12 glycolytic hub genes were correlated with an immunosuppressive microenvironment. They could be served as promising biomarkers aiding diagnosis, predicting prognosis and immunotherapy response for some tumor patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Danxi Zheng
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
- Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Related Diseases of Women and Children, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Siyu Long
- Laboratory of Molecular Translational Medicine, Center for Translational Medicine, Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Related Diseases of Women and Children, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Mingrong Xi
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
- Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Related Diseases of Women and Children, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
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Nguyen TA, Le MK, Nguyen PT, Tran NQV, Kondo T, Nakao A. SLC22A3 that encodes organic cation transporter-3 is associated with prognosis and immunogenicity of human lung squamous cell carcinoma. Transl Lung Cancer Res 2023; 12:1972-1986. [PMID: 38025816 PMCID: PMC10654437 DOI: 10.21037/tlcr-23-334] [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: 05/24/2023] [Accepted: 09/26/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023]
Abstract
Background SLC22A3, the gene which encodes organic cation transporter (OCT)-3, has been linked to the prognosis of several types of cancer. However, its role in lung squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC) has not been addressed elsewhere. Methods We analyzed gene expression, DNA methylation, and clinicopathological data from The Cancer Genome Atlas - Lung Squamous Cell Carcinoma (TCGA-LUSC) (n=501), a publicly available database exclusively consisting of LSCC patients. Using a 5 FPKM (fragments per kilobase of exon per million mapped fragments) cut-off, we divided LSCC patients into two groups: patients with tumors possessing high and low SLC22A3 expression (SLC22A3-high and SLC22A3-low, respectively). Prognostic significance was determined through Cox analyses and Kaplan-Meier curves for overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS). Differential methylation position (DMP), differentially gene expression, and pathway analyses were performed. Validation was carried out in GSE74777 (n=107), GSE37745 (n=66), GSE162520 (n=45) and GSE161537 (n=17). Results SLC22A3-high LSCC patients had lower OS and DFS rates than SLC22A3-low LSCC patients. The different expression levels of SLC22A3 in LSCC were correlated with the methylation status of the SLC22A3 gene. Pathway analysis indicated that SLC22A3 expression levels were positively correlated with immune-related pathways such as inflammatory response and abundance of infiltrating immune cells in the tumor microenvironment (TME). Notably, in the SLC22A3-high group, many genes encoding immunological checkpoint inhibitory molecules were upregulated. In addition, SLC22A3 expression positively correlated with the Hot Oral Tumor (HOT) score, indicating high tumor immunogenicity. Conclusions These findings suggest that high expression of SLC22A3 is associated with poor prognosis and high immunogenicity in LSCC tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thuy-An Nguyen
- Department of Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Yamanashi, Yamanashi, Japan
| | - Minh-Khang Le
- Department of Human Pathology, University of Yamanashi, Yamanashi, Japan
| | - Phuc-Tan Nguyen
- Department of Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Yamanashi, Yamanashi, Japan
| | - Nguyen Quoc Vuong Tran
- Department of Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Yamanashi, Yamanashi, Japan
| | - Tetsuo Kondo
- Department of Human Pathology, University of Yamanashi, Yamanashi, Japan
| | - Atsuhito Nakao
- Department of Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Yamanashi, Yamanashi, Japan
- Yamanashi GLIA Center, University of Yamanashi, Yamanashi, Japan
- Atopy Research Center, Juntendo University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
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Guo Z, Jiang P, Dong Q, Zhang Y, Xu K, Zhai Y, He F, Tian C, Sun A. RNF149 Promotes HCC Progression through Its E3 Ubiquitin Ligase Activity. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:5203. [PMID: 37958377 PMCID: PMC10648572 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15215203] [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: 10/03/2023] [Revised: 10/17/2023] [Accepted: 10/24/2023] [Indexed: 11/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) accounts for over 80% of cases among liver cancer, with high incidence and poor prognosis. Thus, it is of valuable clinical significance for discovery of potential biomarkers and drug targets for HCC. In this study, based on the proteomic profiling data of paired early-stage HCC samples, we found that RNF149 was strikingly upregulated in tumor tissues and correlated with poor prognosis in HCC patients, which was further validated by IHC staining experiments of an independent HCC cohort. Consistently, overexpression of RNF149 significantly promoted cell proliferation, migration, and invasion of HCC cells. We further proved that RNF149 stimulated HCC progression via its E3 ubiquitin ligase activity, and identified DNAJC25 as its new substrate. In addition, bioinformatics analysis showed that high expression of RNF149 was correlated with immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (TME), indicating its potential role in immune regulation of HCC. These results suggest that RNF149 could exert protumor functions in HCC in dependence of its E3 ubiquitin ligase activity, and might be a potential prognostic marker and therapeutic target for HCC treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhaoyu Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Proteomics, Beijing Proteome Research Center, National Center for Protein Sciences (Beijing), Beijing Institute of Lifeomics, Beijing 102206, China; (Z.G.); (P.J.); (Q.D.); (Y.Z.); (K.X.); (Y.Z.); (F.H.)
| | - Pei Jiang
- State Key Laboratory of Proteomics, Beijing Proteome Research Center, National Center for Protein Sciences (Beijing), Beijing Institute of Lifeomics, Beijing 102206, China; (Z.G.); (P.J.); (Q.D.); (Y.Z.); (K.X.); (Y.Z.); (F.H.)
- Research Unit of Proteomics Dirven Cancer Precision Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing 102206, China
- International Academy of Phronesis Medicine, Guangzhou 510005, China
| | - Qian Dong
- State Key Laboratory of Proteomics, Beijing Proteome Research Center, National Center for Protein Sciences (Beijing), Beijing Institute of Lifeomics, Beijing 102206, China; (Z.G.); (P.J.); (Q.D.); (Y.Z.); (K.X.); (Y.Z.); (F.H.)
| | - Yiming Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Proteomics, Beijing Proteome Research Center, National Center for Protein Sciences (Beijing), Beijing Institute of Lifeomics, Beijing 102206, China; (Z.G.); (P.J.); (Q.D.); (Y.Z.); (K.X.); (Y.Z.); (F.H.)
- Research Unit of Proteomics Dirven Cancer Precision Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing 102206, China
| | - Kaikun Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Proteomics, Beijing Proteome Research Center, National Center for Protein Sciences (Beijing), Beijing Institute of Lifeomics, Beijing 102206, China; (Z.G.); (P.J.); (Q.D.); (Y.Z.); (K.X.); (Y.Z.); (F.H.)
- Research Unit of Proteomics Dirven Cancer Precision Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing 102206, China
- International Academy of Phronesis Medicine, Guangzhou 510005, China
| | - Yuanjun Zhai
- State Key Laboratory of Proteomics, Beijing Proteome Research Center, National Center for Protein Sciences (Beijing), Beijing Institute of Lifeomics, Beijing 102206, China; (Z.G.); (P.J.); (Q.D.); (Y.Z.); (K.X.); (Y.Z.); (F.H.)
- Research Unit of Proteomics Dirven Cancer Precision Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing 102206, China
| | - Fuchu He
- State Key Laboratory of Proteomics, Beijing Proteome Research Center, National Center for Protein Sciences (Beijing), Beijing Institute of Lifeomics, Beijing 102206, China; (Z.G.); (P.J.); (Q.D.); (Y.Z.); (K.X.); (Y.Z.); (F.H.)
- Research Unit of Proteomics Dirven Cancer Precision Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing 102206, China
- International Academy of Phronesis Medicine, Guangzhou 510005, China
| | - Chunyan Tian
- State Key Laboratory of Proteomics, Beijing Proteome Research Center, National Center for Protein Sciences (Beijing), Beijing Institute of Lifeomics, Beijing 102206, China; (Z.G.); (P.J.); (Q.D.); (Y.Z.); (K.X.); (Y.Z.); (F.H.)
- Research Unit of Proteomics Dirven Cancer Precision Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing 102206, China
| | - Aihua Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Proteomics, Beijing Proteome Research Center, National Center for Protein Sciences (Beijing), Beijing Institute of Lifeomics, Beijing 102206, China; (Z.G.); (P.J.); (Q.D.); (Y.Z.); (K.X.); (Y.Z.); (F.H.)
- Research Unit of Proteomics Dirven Cancer Precision Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing 102206, China
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Shen C, Chai W, Han J, Zhang Z, Liu X, Yang S, Wang Y, Wang D, Wan F, Fan Z, Hu H. Identification and validation of a dysregulated TME-related gene signature for predicting prognosis, and immunological properties in bladder cancer. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1213947. [PMID: 37965307 PMCID: PMC10641729 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1213947] [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] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2023] [Accepted: 10/13/2023] [Indexed: 11/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Background During tumor growth, tumor cells interact with their tumor microenvironment (TME) resulting in the development of heterogeneous tumors that promote tumor occurrence and progression. Recently, there has been extensive attention on TME as a possible therapeutic target for cancers. However, an accurate TME-related prediction model is urgently needed to aid in the assessment of patients' prognoses and therapeutic value, and to assist in clinical decision-making. As such, this study aimed to develop and validate a new prognostic model based on TME-associated genes for BC patients. Methods Transcriptome data and clinical information for BC patients were extracted from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database. Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) and IMvigor210 databases, along with the MSigDB, were utilized to identify genes associated with TMEs (TMRGs). A consensus clustering approach was used to identify molecular clusters associated with TMEs. LASSO Cox regression analysis was conducted to establish a prognostic TMRG-related signature, with verifications being successfully conducted internally and externally. Gene ontology (GO), KEGG, and single-sample gene set enrichment analyses (ssGSEA) were performed to investigate the underlying mechanisms. The potential response to ICB therapy was estimated using the Tumor Immune Dysfunction and Exclusion (TIDE) algorithm and Immunophenoscore (IPS). Additionally, it was found that the expression level of certain genes in the model was significantly correlated with objective responses to anti-PD-1 or anti-PD-L1 treatment in the IMvigor210, GSE111636, GSE176307, or Truce01 (registration number NCT04730219) cohorts. Finally, real-time PCR validation was performed on 10 paired tissue samples, and in vitro cytological experiments were also conducted on BC cell lines. Results In BC patients, 133 genes differentially expressed that were associated with prognosis in TME. Consensus clustering analysis revealed three distinct clinicopathological characteristics and survival outcomes. A novel prognostic model based on nine TMRGs (including C3orf62, DPYSL2, GZMA, SERPINB3, RHCG, PTPRR, STMN3, TMPRSS4, COMP) was identified, and a TMEscore for OS prediction was constructed, with its reliable predictive performance in BC patients being validated. MultiCox analysis showed that the risk score was an independent prognostic factor. A nomogram was developed to facilitate the clinical viability of TMEscore. Based on GO and KEGG enrichment analyses, biological processes related to ECM and collagen binding were significantly enriched among high-risk individuals. In addition, the low-risk group, characterized by a higher number of infiltrating CD8+ T cells and a lower burden of tumor mutations, demonstrated a longer survival time. Our study also found that TMEscore correlated with drug susceptibility, immune cell infiltration, and the prediction of immunotherapy efficacy. Lastly, we identified SERPINB3 as significantly promoting BC cells migration and invasion through differential expression validation and in vitro phenotypic experiments. Conclusion Our study developed a prognostic model based on nine TMRGs that accurately and stably predicted survival, guiding individual treatment for patients with BC, and providing new therapeutic strategies for the disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chong Shen
- Department of Urology, The Second Hospital of Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Urology, Tianjin Institute of Urology, Tianjin, China
| | - Wang Chai
- Department of Urology, The Second Hospital of Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Urology, Tianjin Institute of Urology, Tianjin, China
| | - Jingwen Han
- Department of Urology, The Second Hospital of Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Urology, Tianjin Institute of Urology, Tianjin, China
| | - Zhe Zhang
- Department of Urology, The Second Hospital of Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Urology, Tianjin Institute of Urology, Tianjin, China
| | - Xuejing Liu
- Obstetrics and Gynecology, Haidian Maternal & Child Health Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Shaobo Yang
- Department of Urology, The Second Hospital of Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Urology, Tianjin Institute of Urology, Tianjin, China
| | - Yinlei Wang
- Department of Urology, The Second Hospital of Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Urology, Tianjin Institute of Urology, Tianjin, China
| | - Donghuai Wang
- Department of Urology, The Second Hospital of Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Urology, Tianjin Institute of Urology, Tianjin, China
| | - Fangxin Wan
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, The Second Hospital of Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China
| | - Zhenqian Fan
- Department of Endocrinology, The Second Hospital of Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China
| | - Hailong Hu
- Department of Urology, The Second Hospital of Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Urology, Tianjin Institute of Urology, Tianjin, China
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Cohn DE, Forder A, Marshall EA, Vucic EA, Stewart GL, Noureddine K, Lockwood WW, MacAulay CE, Guillaud M, Lam WL. Delineating spatial cell-cell interactions in the solid tumour microenvironment through the lens of highly multiplexed imaging. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1275890. [PMID: 37936700 PMCID: PMC10627006 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1275890] [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] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2023] [Accepted: 10/11/2023] [Indexed: 11/09/2023] Open
Abstract
The growth and metastasis of solid tumours is known to be facilitated by the tumour microenvironment (TME), which is composed of a highly diverse collection of cell types that interact and communicate with one another extensively. Many of these interactions involve the immune cell population within the TME, referred to as the tumour immune microenvironment (TIME). These non-cell autonomous interactions exert substantial influence over cell behaviour and contribute to the reprogramming of immune and stromal cells into numerous pro-tumourigenic phenotypes. The study of some of these interactions, such as the PD-1/PD-L1 axis that induces CD8+ T cell exhaustion, has led to the development of breakthrough therapeutic advances. Yet many common analyses of the TME either do not retain the spatial data necessary to assess cell-cell interactions, or interrogate few (<10) markers, limiting the capacity for cell phenotyping. Recently developed digital pathology technologies, together with sophisticated bioimage analysis programs, now enable the high-resolution, highly-multiplexed analysis of diverse immune and stromal cell markers within the TME of clinical specimens. In this article, we review the tumour-promoting non-cell autonomous interactions in the TME and their impact on tumour behaviour. We additionally survey commonly used image analysis programs and highly-multiplexed spatial imaging technologies, and we discuss their relative advantages and limitations. The spatial organization of the TME varies enormously between patients, and so leveraging these technologies in future studies to further characterize how non-cell autonomous interactions impact tumour behaviour may inform the personalization of cancer treatment..
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Affiliation(s)
- David E. Cohn
- Department of Integrative Oncology, British Columbia Cancer Research Centre, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Aisling Forder
- Department of Integrative Oncology, British Columbia Cancer Research Centre, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Erin A. Marshall
- Department of Integrative Oncology, British Columbia Cancer Research Centre, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Emily A. Vucic
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, New York University (NYU) Langone Medical Center, New York, NY, United States
| | - Greg L. Stewart
- Department of Integrative Oncology, British Columbia Cancer Research Centre, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Kouther Noureddine
- Department of Integrative Oncology, British Columbia Cancer Research Centre, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - William W. Lockwood
- Department of Integrative Oncology, British Columbia Cancer Research Centre, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Calum E. MacAulay
- Department of Integrative Oncology, British Columbia Cancer Research Centre, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Martial Guillaud
- Department of Integrative Oncology, British Columbia Cancer Research Centre, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Wan L. Lam
- Department of Integrative Oncology, British Columbia Cancer Research Centre, Vancouver, BC, Canada
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Thomsen LCV, Kleinmanns K, Anandan S, Gullaksen SE, Abdelaal T, Iversen GA, Akslen LA, McCormack E, Bjørge L. Combining Mass Cytometry Data by CyTOFmerge Reveals Additional Cell Phenotypes in the Heterogeneous Ovarian Cancer Tumor Microenvironment: A Pilot Study. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:5106. [PMID: 37894472 PMCID: PMC10605295 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15205106] [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: 09/08/2023] [Revised: 10/06/2023] [Accepted: 10/17/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023] Open
Abstract
The prognosis of high-grade serous ovarian carcinoma (HGSOC) is poor, and treatment selection is challenging. A heterogeneous tumor microenvironment (TME) characterizes HGSOC and influences tumor growth, progression, and therapy response. Better characterization with multidimensional approaches for simultaneous identification and categorization of the various cell populations is needed to map the TME complexity. While mass cytometry allows the simultaneous detection of around 40 proteins, the CyTOFmerge MATLAB algorithm integrates data sets and extends the phenotyping. This pilot study explored the potential of combining two datasets for improved TME phenotyping by profiling single-cell suspensions from ten chemo-naïve HGSOC tumors by mass cytometry. A 35-marker pan-tumor dataset and a 34-marker pan-immune dataset were analyzed separately and combined with the CyTOFmerge, merging 18 shared markers. While the merged analysis confirmed heterogeneity across patients, it also identified a main tumor cell subset, additionally to the nine identified by the pan-tumor panel. Furthermore, the expression of traditional immune cell markers on tumor and stromal cells was revealed, as were marker combinations that have rarely been examined on individual cells. This study demonstrates the potential of merging mass cytometry data to generate new hypotheses on tumor biology and predictive biomarker research in HGSOC that could improve treatment effectiveness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liv Cecilie Vestrheim Thomsen
- Centre for Cancer Biomarkers CCBIO, Department of Clinical Science, University of Bergen, 5021 Bergen, Norway
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Haukeland University Hospital, 5021 Bergen, Norway
- Norwegian Institute of Public Health, 5015 Bergen, Norway
| | - Katrin Kleinmanns
- Centre for Cancer Biomarkers CCBIO, Department of Clinical Science, University of Bergen, 5021 Bergen, Norway
| | - Shamundeeswari Anandan
- Centre for Cancer Biomarkers CCBIO, Department of Clinical Science, University of Bergen, 5021 Bergen, Norway
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Haukeland University Hospital, 5021 Bergen, Norway
| | - Stein-Erik Gullaksen
- Centre for Cancer Biomarkers CCBIO, Department of Clinical Science, University of Bergen, 5021 Bergen, Norway
| | - Tamim Abdelaal
- Delft Bioinformatics Laboratory, Delft University of Technology, 2628XE Delft, The Netherlands
- Department of Radiology, Leiden University Medical Center, 2333ZA Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Grete Alrek Iversen
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Haukeland University Hospital, 5021 Bergen, Norway
| | - Lars Andreas Akslen
- Centre for Cancer Biomarkers CCBIO, Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Bergen, 5021 Bergen, Norway
- Department of Pathology, Haukeland University Hospital, 5021 Bergen, Norway
| | - Emmet McCormack
- Centre for Cancer Biomarkers CCBIO, Department of Clinical Science, University of Bergen, 5021 Bergen, Norway
- Centre for Pharmacy, Department of Clinical Science, University of Bergen, 5021 Bergen, Norway
| | - Line Bjørge
- Centre for Cancer Biomarkers CCBIO, Department of Clinical Science, University of Bergen, 5021 Bergen, Norway
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Haukeland University Hospital, 5021 Bergen, Norway
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Zaarour RF, Ribeiro M, Azzarone B, Kapoor S, Chouaib S. Tumor microenvironment-induced tumor cell plasticity: relationship with hypoxic stress and impact on tumor resistance. Front Oncol 2023; 13:1222575. [PMID: 37886168 PMCID: PMC10598765 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2023.1222575] [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: 05/14/2023] [Accepted: 09/27/2023] [Indexed: 10/28/2023] Open
Abstract
The role of tumor interaction with stromal components during carcinogenesis is crucial for the design of efficient cancer treatment approaches. It is widely admitted that tumor hypoxic stress is associated with tumor aggressiveness and thus impacts susceptibility and resistance to different types of treatments. Notable biological processes that hypoxia functions in include its regulation of tumor heterogeneity and plasticity. While hypoxia has been reported as a major player in tumor survival and dissemination regulation, the significance of hypoxia inducible factors in cancer stem cell development remains poorly understood. Several reports indicate that the emergence of cancer stem cells in addition to their phenotype and function within a hypoxic tumor microenvironment impacts cancer progression. In this respect, evidence showed that cancer stem cells are key elements of intratumoral heterogeneity and more importantly are responsible for tumor relapse and escape to treatments. This paper briefly reviews our current knowledge of the interaction between tumor hypoxic stress and its role in stemness acquisition and maintenance. Our review extensively covers the influence of hypoxia on the formation and maintenance of cancer stem cells and discusses the potential of targeting hypoxia-induced alterations in the expression and function of the so far known stem cell markers in cancer therapy approaches. We believe that a better and integrated understanding of the effect of hypoxia on stemness during carcinogenesis might lead to new strategies for exploiting hypoxia-associated pathways and their targeting in the clinical setting in order to overcome resistance mechanisms. More importantly, at the present time, efforts are oriented towards the design of innovative therapeutical approaches that specifically target cancer stem cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- RF. Zaarour
- Thumbay Research Institute for Precision Medicine, Gulf Medical University, Ajman, United Arab Emirates
| | - M. Ribeiro
- Thumbay Research Institute for Precision Medicine, Gulf Medical University, Ajman, United Arab Emirates
| | - B. Azzarone
- Tumor Immunology Unit, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - S. Kapoor
- Thumbay Research Institute for Precision Medicine, Gulf Medical University, Ajman, United Arab Emirates
| | - S. Chouaib
- Thumbay Research Institute for Precision Medicine, Gulf Medical University, Ajman, United Arab Emirates
- INSERM UMR 1186, Integrative Tumor Immunology and Immunotherapy, Gustave Roussy, Faculty of Medicine, University Paris-Saclay, Villejuif, France
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Wang B, Ge S, Wang Z, Wang W, Wang Y, Leng H, Ma X. Analysis and experimental validation of fatty acid metabolism-related genes prostacyclin synthase (PTGIS) in endometrial cancer. Aging (Albany NY) 2023; 15:10322-10346. [PMID: 37796199 PMCID: PMC10599728 DOI: 10.18632/aging.205080] [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: 07/11/2023] [Accepted: 09/09/2023] [Indexed: 10/06/2023]
Abstract
The deregulation of fatty acid metabolism plays a pivotal role in cancer. Our objective is to construct a prognostic model for patients with endometrial carcinoma (EC) based on genes related to fatty acid metabolism-related genes (FAMGs). RNA sequencing and clinical data for EC were obtained from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA). Lasso-Penalized Cox regression was employed to derive the risk formula for the model, the score = esum(corresponding coefficient × each gene's expression). Gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) was utilized to examine the enrichment of KEGG and GO pathways within this model. Correlation analysis of immune function was conducted using Single-sample GSEA (ssGSEA). The "ESTIMATE" package in R was utilized to evaluate the tumor microenvironment. The support vector machine recursive feature elimination (SVM-RFE) and randomforest maps were employed to identify key genes. The effects of PTGIS on the malignant biological behavior of EC were assessed through CCK-8 assay, transwell invasion assay, cell cycle analysis, apoptosis assay, and tumor xenografts in nude mice. A novel prognostic signature comprising 10 FAMGs (INMT, ACACB, ACOT4, ACOXL, CYP4F3, FAAH, GPX1, HPGDS, PON3, PTGIS) was developed. This risk score serves as an independent prognostic marker validated for EC. According to ssGSEA analysis, the low- and high-risk groups exhibited distinct immune enrichments. The key gene PTGIS was screened by SVM-RFE and randomforest method. Furthermore, we validated the expression of PTGIS through qRT-PCR. In vitro and in vivo experiments also confirmed the effect of PTGIS on the malignant biological behavior of EC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bo Wang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang 110000, Liaoning, People’s Republic of China
| | - Shuwen Ge
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang 110000, Liaoning, People’s Republic of China
| | - Zihao Wang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang 110000, Liaoning, People’s Republic of China
| | - Wantong Wang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang 110000, Liaoning, People’s Republic of China
| | - Yuting Wang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang 110000, Liaoning, People’s Republic of China
| | - Hongrui Leng
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang 110000, Liaoning, People’s Republic of China
| | - Xiaoxin Ma
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang 110000, Liaoning, People’s Republic of China
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Tassi E, Bergamini A, Wignall J, Sant’Angelo M, Brunetto E, Balestrieri C, Redegalli M, Potenza A, Abbati D, Manfredi F, Cangi MG, Magliacane G, Scalisi F, Ruggiero E, Maffia MC, Trippitelli F, Rabaiotti E, Cioffi R, Bocciolone L, Candotti G, Candiani M, Taccagni G, Schultes B, Doglioni C, Mangili G, Bonini C. Epithelial ovarian cancer is infiltrated by activated effector T cells co-expressing CD39, PD-1, TIM-3, CD137 and interacting with cancer cells and myeloid cells. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1212444. [PMID: 37868997 PMCID: PMC10585363 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1212444] [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] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2023] [Accepted: 09/14/2023] [Indexed: 10/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Despite predicted efficacy, immunotherapy in epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) has limited clinical benefit and the prognosis of patients remains poor. There is thus a strong need for better identifying local immune dynamics and immune-suppressive pathways limiting T-cell mediated anti-tumor immunity. Methods In this observational study we analyzed by immunohistochemistry, gene expression profiling and flow cytometry the antigenic landscape and immune composition of 48 EOC specimens, with a focus on tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs). Results Activated T cells showing features of partial exhaustion with a CD137+CD39+PD-1+TIM-3+CD45RA-CD62L-CD95+ surface profile were exclusively present in EOC specimens but not in corresponding peripheral blood or ascitic fluid, indicating that the tumor microenvironment might sustain this peculiar phenotype. Interestingly, while neoplastic cells expressed several tumor-associated antigens possibly able to stimulate tumor-specific TILs, macrophages provided both co-stimulatory and inhibitory signals and were more abundant in TILs-enriched specimens harboring the CD137+CD39+PD-1+TIM-3+CD45RA-CD62L-CD95+ signature. Conclusion These data demonstrate that EOC is enriched in CD137+CD39+PD-1+TIM-3+CD45RA-CD62L-CD95+ T lymphocytes, a phenotype possibly modulated by antigen recognition on neoplastic cells and by a combination of inhibitory and co-stimulatory signals largely provided by infiltrating myeloid cells. Furthermore, we have identified immunosuppressive pathways potentially hampering local immunity which might be targeted by immunotherapeutic approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elena Tassi
- Experimental Hematology Unit, Division of Immunology, Transplantation and Infectious Disease, IRCCS Ospedale San Raffaele, Milano, Italy
- Cell Therapy Immunomonitoring Laboratory (MITiCi), Division of Immunology, Transplantation and Infectious Diseases, IRCCS Ospedale San Raffaele, Milan, Italy
| | - Alice Bergamini
- Università Vita-Salute San Raffaele, Milan, Italy
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, IRCCS Ospedale San Raffaele, Milan, Italy
| | - Jessica Wignall
- Experimental Hematology Unit, Division of Immunology, Transplantation and Infectious Disease, IRCCS Ospedale San Raffaele, Milano, Italy
| | - Miriam Sant’Angelo
- Department of Surgical Pathology, IRCCS Ospedale San Raffaele, Milan, Italy
| | - Emanuela Brunetto
- Department of Surgical Pathology, IRCCS Ospedale San Raffaele, Milan, Italy
| | - Chiara Balestrieri
- Experimental Hematology Unit, Division of Immunology, Transplantation and Infectious Disease, IRCCS Ospedale San Raffaele, Milano, Italy
| | - Miriam Redegalli
- Department of Surgical Pathology, IRCCS Ospedale San Raffaele, Milan, Italy
| | - Alessia Potenza
- Experimental Hematology Unit, Division of Immunology, Transplantation and Infectious Disease, IRCCS Ospedale San Raffaele, Milano, Italy
| | - Danilo Abbati
- Experimental Hematology Unit, Division of Immunology, Transplantation and Infectious Disease, IRCCS Ospedale San Raffaele, Milano, Italy
| | - Francesco Manfredi
- Experimental Hematology Unit, Division of Immunology, Transplantation and Infectious Disease, IRCCS Ospedale San Raffaele, Milano, Italy
- Università Vita-Salute San Raffaele, Milan, Italy
| | - Maria Giulia Cangi
- Department of Surgical Pathology, IRCCS Ospedale San Raffaele, Milan, Italy
| | - Gilda Magliacane
- Department of Surgical Pathology, IRCCS Ospedale San Raffaele, Milan, Italy
| | - Fabiola Scalisi
- Department of Surgical Pathology, IRCCS Ospedale San Raffaele, Milan, Italy
| | - Eliana Ruggiero
- Experimental Hematology Unit, Division of Immunology, Transplantation and Infectious Disease, IRCCS Ospedale San Raffaele, Milano, Italy
| | - Maria Chiara Maffia
- Experimental Hematology Unit, Division of Immunology, Transplantation and Infectious Disease, IRCCS Ospedale San Raffaele, Milano, Italy
| | - Federica Trippitelli
- Experimental Hematology Unit, Division of Immunology, Transplantation and Infectious Disease, IRCCS Ospedale San Raffaele, Milano, Italy
| | - Emanuela Rabaiotti
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, IRCCS Ospedale San Raffaele, Milan, Italy
| | - Raffaella Cioffi
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, IRCCS Ospedale San Raffaele, Milan, Italy
| | - Luca Bocciolone
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, IRCCS Ospedale San Raffaele, Milan, Italy
| | - Giorgio Candotti
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, IRCCS Ospedale San Raffaele, Milan, Italy
| | - Massimo Candiani
- Università Vita-Salute San Raffaele, Milan, Italy
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, IRCCS Ospedale San Raffaele, Milan, Italy
| | - Gianluca Taccagni
- Department of Surgical Pathology, IRCCS Ospedale San Raffaele, Milan, Italy
| | | | - Claudio Doglioni
- Università Vita-Salute San Raffaele, Milan, Italy
- Department of Surgical Pathology, IRCCS Ospedale San Raffaele, Milan, Italy
| | - Giorgia Mangili
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, IRCCS Ospedale San Raffaele, Milan, Italy
| | - Chiara Bonini
- Experimental Hematology Unit, Division of Immunology, Transplantation and Infectious Disease, IRCCS Ospedale San Raffaele, Milano, Italy
- Cell Therapy Immunomonitoring Laboratory (MITiCi), Division of Immunology, Transplantation and Infectious Diseases, IRCCS Ospedale San Raffaele, Milan, Italy
- Università Vita-Salute San Raffaele, Milan, Italy
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50
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Afkhami H, Mahmoudvand G, Fakouri A, Shadab A, Mahjoor M, Komeili Movahhed T. New insights in application of mesenchymal stem cells therapy in tumor microenvironment: pros and cons. Front Cell Dev Biol 2023; 11:1255697. [PMID: 37849741 PMCID: PMC10577325 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2023.1255697] [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: 07/09/2023] [Accepted: 09/11/2023] [Indexed: 10/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Multipotent mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are widely accepted as a useful tool for cell-based therapy of various diseases including malignancies. The therapeutic effects of MSCs are mainly attributed to their immunomodulatory and immunosuppressive properties. Despite the promising outcomes of MSCs in cancer therapy, a growing body of evidence implies that MSCs also show tumorigenic properties in the tumor microenvironment (TME), which might lead to tumor induction and progression. Owing to the broad-spectrum applications of MSCs, this challenge needs to be tackled so that they can be safely utilized in clinical practice. Herein, we review the diverse activities of MSCs in TME and highlight the potential methods to convert their protumorigenic characteristics into onco-suppressive effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hamed Afkhami
- Nervous System Stem Cells Research Center, Semnan University of Medical Sciences, Semnan, Iran
- Cellular and Molecular Research Center, Qom University of Medical Sciences, Qom, Iran
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Shahed University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Golnaz Mahmoudvand
- Student Research Committee, USERN Office, Lorestan University of Medical Sciences, Khorramabad, Iran
| | - Arshia Fakouri
- Student Research Committee, USERN Office, Lorestan University of Medical Sciences, Khorramabad, Iran
| | - Alireza Shadab
- Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Semnan University of Medical Sciences, Semnan, Iran
- Iran University of Medical Sciences, Deputy of Health, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mohamad Mahjoor
- Cellular and Molecular Research Center, Qom University of Medical Sciences, Qom, Iran
- Department of Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
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