Expression and function of cytokine interleukin-22 gene in the tumor microenvironment of triple negative breast cancer

BACKGROUND

The tumor microenvironment (TME) and interleukin-22 (IL-22) in cytokines have recently attracted much attention due to their potential impact on tumor biology. However, the role of IL-22 in triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) TME is still poorly understood. This article investigated the gene expression and function of IL-22 in TNBC TME.

METHODS

Tumor samples from TNBC patients were collected, and adjacent noncancerous tissues were used as controls. A functional test was performed to evaluate the impact of IL-22 for TNBC cells, including proliferation, migration, and apoptosis.

RESULTS

IL-22 gene expression in TNBC tumor samples was markedly higher relative to adjacent non-cancerous tissues (P < 0.05). In addition, it was also observed that IL-22facilitated proliferation and migration of TNBC cells, and inhibit apoptosis. This article reveals the role of IL-22 in the TME of TNBC. The up-regulation of IL-22 gene expression in TNBC tumors and its promoting effect on cancer cell invasiveness highlight its potential as a therapeutic target in TNBC treatment strategies.

CONCLUSION

The findings suggested that targeting IL-22 and its related pathways can offer new insights for developing effective therapies for TNBC.

An integrated investigation of sulfotransferases (SULTs) in hepatocellular carcinoma and identification of the role of SULT2A1 on stemness

The cytosolic sulfotransferases (SULTs) are phase II conjugating enzymes, which are widely expressed in the liver and mainly mediate the sulfation of numerous xenobiotics and endogenous compounds. However, the role of various SULTs genes has not been reported in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). This study aims to analyze the expression and potential functional roles of SULTs genes in HCC and to identify the role of SULT2A1 in HCC stemness as well as the possible mechanism. We found that all of the 12 SULTs genes were differentially expressed in HCC. Moreover, clinicopathological features and survival rates were also investigated. Multivariate regression analysis showed that SULT2A1 and SULT1C2 could be used as independent prognostic factors in HCC. SULT1C4, SULT1E1, and SULT2A1 were significantly associated with immune infiltration. SULT2A1 deficiency in HCC promoted chemotherapy resistance and stemness maintenance. Mechanistically, silencing of SULT2A1 activated the AKT signaling pathway, on the one hand, promoted the expression of downstream stemness gene c-Myc, on the other hand, facilitated the NRF2 expression to reduce the accumulation of ROS, and jointly increased HCC stemness. Moreover, knockdown NR1I3 was involved in the transcriptional regulation of SULT2A1 in stemness maintenance. In addition, SULT2A1 knockdown HCC cells promoted the proliferation and activation of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs), thereby exerting a potential stroma remodeling effect. Our study revealed the expression and role of SULTs genes in HCC and identified the contribution of SULT2A1 to the initiation and progression of HCC.

Ionic reverberation modulates the cellular fate of CD8+ tissue resident memory T cells (TRMs) in patients with renal cell carcinoma: A novel mechanism

In metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC), existing treatments including checkpoint inhibitors are failed to cure and/or prevent recurrence of the disease. Therefore, in-depth understanding of tumor tissue resident memory T cells (TRMs) dysfunction are necessitated to enrich efficacy of immunotherapies and increasing disease free survival in treated patients. In patients, we observed dysregulation of K+, Ca2+, Na2+ and Zn2+ ion channels leads to excess infiltration of their respective ions in tumor TRMs, thus ionic gradients are disturbed and cells became hyperpolarized. Moreover, overloaded intramitochondrial calcium caused mitochondrial depolarization and trigger apoptosis of tumor TRMs. Decreased prevalence of activated tumor TRMs reflected our observations. Furthermore, disruptions in ionic concentrations impaired the functional activities and/or suppressed anti-tumor action of circulating and tumor TRMs in RCC. Collectively, these findings revealed novel mechanism behind dysfunctionality of tumor TRMs. Implicating enrichment of activated TRMs within tumor would be beneficial for better management of RCC patients.

Comparison of local excision and total mesorectal excision for rectal cancer: Systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trial

To report the first and largest systematic review and meta-analysis of radomised controlled trials (RCTs) to compare the efficacy and safety of transanal endoscopic microsurgery (TEM) and total mesorectal excision (TME) for rectal cancer for perioperative and oncological outcomes. Methods: We conducted a systematic literature retrieval via PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and Cochrane until December 2022 for RCTs which evaluated the efficacy and/or safety between TEM and TME for rectal cancer. Outcomes included operative time, blood loss, transfusion rates, hospital stay, complication rates, recurrence rates, and mortality. Results: A total of 5 RCTs involving 545 patients (272 TEM versus 273 TME) were included for the meta-analysis. There were no significant differences between the two groups for age, gender, and distance from lower border of tumor to anal verge. Meta-analysis found that the TEM group was significantly favorable than the TME group for blood loss (WMD: 172.01; 95 % CI: 212.78, -131.24; P < 0.00001), hospital stay (WMD: 2.58; 95 % CI: 3.01, -2.16; P < 0.00001), operative time (WMD: 81.86; 95 % CI: 87.51, -76.21; P < 0.00001) and transfusion rates (RR: 0.05; 95 % CI: 0.01, 0.38; P = 0.004). The complication rates (RR: 0.60; 95 % CI: 0.32, 1.11; P = 0.10), recurrence rates (RR: 1.10; 95 % CI: 0.66, 1.83; P = 0.72), and mortality (RR: 1.23; 95 % CI: 0.67, 2.26; P = 0.51) were similar in the two groups. Conclusions: TEM was an effective and safe approach with advantages in perioperative outcomes compared with TME approach. Caution should be exercised in interpreting the differences in surgical complications between TEM and TME group due to significant heterogeneity and instability.

The association between ferroptosis-related patterns and tumor microenvironment in colorectal cancer

Ferroptosis, a form of regulated cell death (RCD), exhibits distinct characteristics such as iron-dependence and lipid peroxidation accumulation (ROS), setting it apart from other types of cell death like apoptosis and necrosis. Its role in cancer biology is increasingly recognized, particularly its potential interaction with tumor microenvironment (TME) and CD8 T cells in cancer immunotherapy. However, the impact of ferroptosis on TME cell infiltration remains unclear. In this study, we conducted unsupervised clustering analysis on patient data from public databases, identifying three ferroptosis patterns with distinct TME cell infiltration characteristics: immune-inflamed, immune-excluded, and immune-desert phenotypes. We developed a ferroptosis score based on differentially expressed genes (DEGs) among these patterns, which correlated with various biological features including chemotherapy-resistance and immune cells infiltration. Despite patients with high ferroptosis scores exhibiting worse prognosis, they showed increased likelihood of benefiting from immunotherapy. Our findings highlight the importance of ferroptosis-related patterns in understanding TME cell infiltration and suggest novel strategies for drug combinations and immune-related therapies.

Single-cell analysis defines highly specific leukemia-induced neutrophils and links MMP8 expression to recruitment of tumor associated neutrophils during FGFR1 driven leukemogenesis

BACKGROUND

Leukemias driven by activated, chimeric FGFR1 kinases typically progress to AML which have poor prognosis. Mouse models of this syndrome allow detailed analysis of cellular and molecular changes occurring during leukemogenesis. We have used these models to determine the effects of leukemia development on the immune cell composition in the leukemia microenvironment during leukemia development and progression.

METHODS

Single cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-Seq) was used to characterize leukemia associated neutrophils and define gene expression changes in these cells during leukemia progression.

RESULTS

scRNA-Seq revealed six distinct subgroups of neutrophils based on their specific differential gene expression. In response to leukemia development, there is a dramatic increase in only two of the neutrophil subgroups. These two subgroups show specific gene expression signatures consistent with neutrophil precursors which give rise to immature polymorphonuclear myeloid-derived suppressor cells (PMN-MDSCs). Analysis of gene expression in these precursor cells identified pathways that were specifically upregulated, the most pronounced of which involved matrix metalloproteinases Mmp8 and Mmp9, during leukemia progression. Pharmacological inhibition of MMPs using Ilomastat preferentially restricted in vitro migration of neutrophils from leukemic mice and led to a significantly improved survival in vivo, accompanied by impaired PMN-MDSC recruitment. As a result, levels of T-cells were proportionally increased. In clinically annotated TCGA databases, MMP8 was shown to act as an independent indicator for poor prognosis and correlated with higher neutrophil infiltration and poor pan-cancer prognosis.

CONCLUSION

We have defined specific leukemia responsive neutrophil subgroups based on their unique gene expression profile, which appear to be the precursors of neutrophils specifically associated with leukemia progression. An important event during development of these neutrophils is upregulation MMP genes which facilitated mobilization of these precursors from the BM in response to cancer progression, suggesting a possible therapeutic approach to suppress the development of immune tolerance.

Dual roles of HK3 in regulating the network between tumor cells and tumor-associated macrophages in neuroblastoma

Neuroblastoma (NB) is the most common and deadliest extracranial solid tumor in children. Targeting tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) is a strategy for attenuating tumor-promoting states. The crosstalk between cancer cells and TAMs plays a pivotal role in mediating tumor progression in NB. The overexpression of Hexokinase-3 (HK3), a pivotal enzyme in glucose metabolism, has been associated with poor prognosis in NB patients. Furthermore, it correlates with the infiltration of M2-like macrophages within NB tumors, indicating its significant involvement in tumor progression. Therefore, HK3 not only directly regulates the malignant biological behaviors of tumor cells, such as proliferation, migration, and invasion, but also recruits and polarizes M2-like macrophages through the PI3K/AKT-CXCL14 axis in neuroblastoma. The secretion of lactate and histone lactylation alterations within tumor cells accompanies this interaction. Additionally, elevated expression of HK3 in M2-TAMs was found at the same time. Modulating HK3 within M2-TAMs alters the biological behavior of tumor cells, as demonstrated by our in vitro studies. This study highlights the pivotal role of HK3 in the progression of NB malignancy and its intricate regulatory network with M2-TAMs. It establishes HK3 as a promising dual-functional biomarker and therapeutic target in combating neuroblastoma.

TUBB, a robust biomarker with satisfying abilities in diagnosis, prognosis, and immune regulation via a comprehensive pan-cancer analysis

Purpose

TUBB can encode a beta-tubulin protein. At present, the role of TUBB has not been ascertained in cancers. Hence, the importance of further systematic pan-cancer analyses is stressed to explore its value in the diagnosis, prognosis, and immune function of cancers.

Methods

By collecting and handling integrative data from the TCGA, Firehose, UCSC Xena, cBioPortal, GEO, CPTAC, TIMER2.0, TISCH, CellMiner, GDSC, and CTRP databases, we explored the potential diagnostic and prognostic roles of TUBB in pan-cancers from multiple angles. Moreover, the GSEA analysis was conducted to excavate the biological functions of TUBB in pan-cancers. In addition, survival profiles were described, and the differential expressions of TUBB in different molecular subtypes were discussed. Also, we utilized the cMAP function to search drugs or micro-molecules that have an impact on TUBB expressions.

Results

Based on the TCGA data, we found that TUBB was differentially expressed in a variety of tumors and showed an early-diagnostic value. Mutations, somatic copy number alterations, and DNA methylation would lead to its abnormal expression. TUBB expressions had relations with many clinical features. What's more, TUBB expressions were validated to be related to many metabolism-related, metastasis-related, and immune-related pathways. High TUBB expressions were proved to have a great impact on the prognosis of various types of cancers and would affect the sensitivity of some drugs. We also demonstrated that the expression of TUBB was significantly correlated to immunoregulator molecules and biomarkers of lymphocyte subpopulation infiltration.

Conclusion

TUBB and its regulatory genes were systemically analyzed in this study, showing that TUBB had satisfying performances in disease diagnosing and prognosis predicting of multiple cancers. It could remodel the tumor microenvironment and play an integral role in guiding cancer therapies and forecasting responses to chemotherapy.

Explainable cancer factors discovery: Shapley additive explanation for machine learning models demonstrates the best practices in the case of pancreatic cancer

Pancreatic cancer is one of digestive tract cancers with high mortality rate. Despite the wide range of available treatments and improvements in surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy, the five-year prognosis for individuals diagnosed pancreatic cancer remains poor. There is still research to be done to see if immunotherapy may be used to treat pancreatic cancer. The goals of our research were to comprehend the tumor microenvironment of pancreatic cancer, found a useful biomarker to assess the prognosis of patients, and investigated its biological relevance. In this paper, machine learning methods such as random forest were fused with weighted gene co-expression networks for screening hub immune-related genes (hub-IRGs). LASSO regression model was used to further work. Thus, we got eight hub-IRGs. Based on hub-IRGs, we created a prognosis risk prediction model for PAAD that can stratify accurately and produce a prognostic risk score (IRG_Score) for each patient. In the raw data set and the validation data set, the five-year area under the curve (AUC) for this model was 0.9 and 0.7, respectively. And shapley additive explanation (SHAP) portrayed the importance of prognostic risk prediction influencing factors from a machine learning perspective to obtain the most influential certain gene (or clinical factor). The five most important factors were TRIM67, CORT, PSPN, SCAMP5, RFXAP, all of which are genes. In summary, the eight hub-IRGs had accurate risk prediction performance and biological significance, which was validated in other cancers. The result of SHAP helped to understand the molecular mechanism of pancreatic cancer.

Demethylases in tumors and the tumor microenvironment: Key modifiers of N6-methyladenosine methylation

RNA methylation modifications are widespread in eukaryotes and prokaryotes, with N6-methyladenosine (m6A) the most common among them. Demethylases, including Fat mass and obesity associated gene (FTO) and AlkB homolog 5 (ALKBH5), are important in maintaining the balance between RNA methylation and demethylation. Recent studies have clearly shown that demethylases affect the biological functions of tumors by regulating their m6A levels. However, their effects are complicated, and even opposite results have appeared in different articles. Here, we summarize the complex regulatory networks of demethylases, including the most important and common pathways, to clarify the role of demethylases in tumors. In addition, we describe the relationships between demethylases and the tumor microenvironment, and introduce their regulatory mechanisms. Finally, we discuss evaluation of demethylases for tumor diagnosis and prognosis, as well as the clinical application of demethylase inhibitors, providing a strong basis for their large-scale clinical application in the future.

Cancer energy reprogramming and the immune responses

Cancer as an uncontrolled growth of cells due to existing mutation in host cells that may proliferate, induce angiogenesis and sometimes metastasize due to the favorable tumor microenvironment (TME). Since it kills more than any disease, biomedical science does not relent in studying the exact pathogenesis. It was believed to be a problem that lies in the nucleus of the host cells; however, recent oncology findings are shifting attention to the mitochondria as an adjuvant to cancer pathogenesis. The changes in the gene are strongly related to cellular metabolism and metabolic reprogramming. It is now understood that reprogramming the TME will have a direct effect on the immune cells' metabolism. Although there are a number of studies on immune cells' response towards tumor energy reprogramming and cancer progression, there is still no existence with the updated collation of these immune cells' response to distinct energy reprogramming in cancer studies. To this end, this mini review shed some light on cancer energy reprogramming mechanisms and enzyme degradation pathways, the cancer pathogenicity activity series involved with reduced lactate production, the specific immune cell responses due to the energy reprogramming. This study highlighted some prospects and future experiments in harnessing the host immune response towards the altered energy metabolism due to cancer.

Single-cell RNA sequencing reveals the MIF-ACKR3 receptor-ligand interaction between iCAFs and tumor cells in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma

BACKGROUND

Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is a malignant tumor of the gastrointestinal tract with a high morbidity and mortality rate. The heterogeneity of ESCC poses challenges in treatment and contributes to the poor prognosis of patients. Therefore, it is crucial to gain a better understanding of the tumor microenvironment (TME) heterogeneity and identify novel therapeutic targets.

METHODS

To solve this problem, we performed a single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) analysis of ESCC samples obtained from the GEO database.

RESULTS

A total of 31,283 single cells were categorized into nine cell types, which included four non-immune cells (epithelial cells, endothelial cells, fibroblasts, schwann cells) and five immune cells (T cells, macrophages, mast cells, neutrophils, B cells). Our study revealed the presence of immunosuppressive tumor microenvironments in ESCC. We have also identified not only inflammatory cancer-associated fibroblast (iCAFs) and myofibroblastic cancer-associated fibroblasts (myCAFs) but also a subset of antigen presenting cancer-associated fibroblasts (apCAFs) which express high levels of HLA class II molecules in ESCC. Furthermore, our analysis of cell communication showed up-regulation of MIF-ACKR3 interaction between iCAFs and tumor cells in tumors compared to normal tissues. Finally, it was demonstrated that macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) facilitates tumor cell migration and invasion through interacting with ACKR3 in vitro.

CONCLUSIONS

This study exposes the features of the tumor microenvironment of ESCC via scRNA-seq and examines the dynamics of various cellular subpopulations, thus facilitating the identification of future therapeutic targets for ESCC.

Glioma hexokinase 3 positively correlates with malignancy and macrophage infiltration

BACKGROUND

Glioma is the main subtype of primary central nervous system (CNS) tumor with high malignancy and poor prognosis under current therapeutic approaches. Glycolysis and suppressive tumor microenvironment (TME) are key markers of glioma with great importance for aggressive features of glioma and inferior clinical outcomes. Hexokinase 3 (HK3) is an important rate-limiting enzyme in glycolysis, but its function in glioma remains unknown.

METHODS

This study comprehensively assessed the expression distribution and immunological effect of HK3 via pan-cancer analysis based on datasets from Genotype Tissue Expression (GTEx), Cancer Cell Line Encyclopedia (CCLE), and The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA). Furthermore, it explored the malignant phenotype and genomic landscape between low-HK3 and high-HK3 expression groups in gliomas from Chinese Glioma Genome Atlas (CGGA) and TCGA. Moreover, data from the TIMER website predicted the relationship between macrophage infiltration and HK3 expression. Also, single-cell sequencing data were used to validate the relationship.

RESULTS

For pan-cancer patients, HK3 was expressed in various cancers. The results showed that HK3 was highly expressed in gliomas and positively correlated with tumor-infiltrating immune cells (TIICs), immune checkpoints, immunomodulators, and chemokines. Meanwhile, HK3 expression was highest in normal immune cells and tissues. In gliomas, the expression of HK3 was found to be closely correlated with the malignant clinical characteristics and the infiltration of macrophages. Also, HK3 was proven to be positively associated with macrophage through single-cell sequencing data and immunohistochemistry techniques. Finally, it is predicted that samples with high HK3 expression are often malignant entities and also significant genomic aberrations of driver oncogenes.

CONCLUSIONS

This is the first comprehensive research to figure out the relationship between HK3 and TME characteristics in gliomas. HK3 is positively associated with macrophage infiltration and can induce the immunosuppressive TME and malignant phenotype of gliomas.

Alteration of functionality and differentiation directed by changing gene expression patterns in myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) in tumor microenvironment and bone marrow through early to terminal phase of tumor progression

Myeloid-derived suppressor cells are heterogenous immature myeloid lineage cells that can differentiate into neutrophils, monocytes, and dendritic cells as well. These cells have been characterized to have potent immunosuppressive capacity in neoplasia and a neoplastic chronic inflammatory microenvironment. Increased accumulation of myeloid-derived suppressor cells was reported with poor clinical outcomes in patients. They support neoplastic progression by abrogating antitumor immunity through inhibition of lymphocyte functions and directly by facilitating tumor development. Yet the shifting genetic signatures of this myeloid lineage cell toward immunosuppressive functionality in progressive tumor development remain elusive. We have attempted to identify the gene expression profile using lineage-specific markers of these unique myeloid lineage cells in a tumor microenvironment and bone marrow using a liquid transplantable mice tumor model to trace the changing influence of the tumor microenvironment on myeloid-derived suppressor cells. We analyzed the phenotype, functional shift, suppressive activity, differentiation status, and microarray-based gene expression profile of CD11b+Gr1+ lineage-specific cells isolated from the tumor microenvironment and bone marrow of 4 stages of tumor-bearing mice and compared them with control counterparts. Our analysis of differentially expressed genes of myeloid-derived suppressor cells isolated from bone marrow and the tumor microenvironment reveals unique gene expression patterns in the bone marrow and tumor microenvironment-derived myeloid-derived suppressor cells. It also suggests T-cell suppressive activity of myeloid-derived suppressor cells progressively increases toward the mid-to-late phase of the tumor and a significant differentiation bias of tumor site myeloid-derived suppressor cells toward macrophages, even in the presence of differentiating agents, indicating potential molecular characteristics of myeloid-derived suppressor cells in different stages of the tumor that can emerge as an intervention target.

Low Expression MCEMP1 Promoting Lung Adenocarcinoma Progression by and its Clinical Value

BACKGROUND

Lung cancer is a highly prevalent tumor with a lack of biological markers that reflect its progression. Mast cell surface membrane protein 1 (MCEMP1, also known as C19ORF59) has not been reported in lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD).

OBJECTIVE

We aimed to investigate the role of MCEMP1 in LUAD.

METHODS

MCEMP1 expression in LUAD was analyzed using The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) data, and conducted univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses to evaluate the prognostic significance of MCEMP1 expression in TCGA. Tumor Immune Estimation Resource (TIMER) was used for examining the correlation between MCEMP1 expression and immune cell infiltration in LUAD. Furthermore, proliferation, migration, invasion, and colony-forming ability were investigated using LUAD cell lines.

RESULTS

MCEMP1 had low expression in LUAD patient tissues and was correlated with lymph node metastasis, differentiation level, and tumor status. The Area under Curve (AUC) value of MCEMP1 for the Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was 0.984. The immune infiltration analysis revealed a correlation between MCEMP1 expression and the extent of macrophages and neutrophil infiltration in LUAD. Additionally, MCEMP1 has low expression in clinical samples, MCEMP1 overexpressed in LUAD cells substantially reduced cell growth, migration, and invasion of malignant cells.

CONCLUSION

Low expression MCEMP1 promotes LUAD progression, which provides new insights and a potential biological target for future LUAD therapies.

CAR-based immunotherapy for breast cancer: peculiarities, ongoing investigations, and future strategies

Surgery, chemotherapy, and endocrine therapy have improved the overall survival and postoperative recurrence rates of Luminal A, Luminal B, and HER2-positive breast cancers but treatment modalities for triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) with poor prognosis remain limited. The effective application of the rapidly developing chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-T cell therapy in hematological tumors provides new ideas for the treatment of breast cancer. Choosing suitable and specific targets is crucial for applying CAR-T therapy for breast cancer treatment. In this paper, we summarize CAR-T therapy's effective targets and potential targets in different subtypes based on the existing research progress, especially for TNBC. CAR-based immunotherapy has resulted in advancements in the treatment of breast cancer. CAR-macrophages, CAR-NK cells, and CAR-mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) may be more effective and safer for treating solid tumors, such as breast cancer. However, the tumor microenvironment (TME) of breast tumors and the side effects of CAR-T therapy pose challenges to CAR-based immunotherapy. CAR-T cells and CAR-NK cells-derived exosomes are advantageous in tumor therapy. Exosomes carrying CAR for breast cancer immunotherapy are of immense research value and may provide a treatment modality with good treatment effects. In this review, we provide an overview of the development and challenges of CAR-based immunotherapy in treating different subtypes of breast cancer and discuss the progress of CAR-expressing exosomes for breast cancer treatment. We elaborate on the development of CAR-T cells in TNBC therapy and the prospects of using CAR-macrophages, CAR-NK cells, and CAR-MSCs for treating breast cancer.

A combination of cuproptosis and lncRNAs predicts the prognosis and tumor immune microenvironment in cervical cancer

BACKGROUND

Cuproptosis induces proteotoxic stress and eventually leads to cell death. However, the relationship between cuproptosis and lncRNAs in cervical cancer has not been fully elucidated. Therefore, we aim to explore the association among lncRNAs, cuproptosis and clinical features in cervical cancer.

METHODS

RNA sequencing, genetic mutations, and clinical data of CESC patients were obtained from TCGA. Cuproptosis-associated genes were gathered. WGCNA was used to cluster important modules, and KEGG, GO, GSEA and GSVA were used to explore functional and pathway enrichment. The association between immune microenvironment and cuproptosis-related lncRNAs was performed by using cibersort algorithm and other platforms, including XCELL, TIMER, QUANTISEQ, MCPCOUNTER and EPIC. Fluorescence quantitative PCR was employed to detect the expression of LINC01833 and LINC02321, and CCK-8 and cell scratch assays were used to assess cell proliferation and migration capabilities after LINCRNA interference.

RESULTS

202 upregulated and 45 downregulated lncRNAs were selected. The survival analysis showed that there was a statistically significant difference in survival rates between the high-risk and low-risk groups. The prognosis of tumour mutation burden and the degree of immune infiltration were differed noticeably between the high-risk and low-risk groups. BHG712, TL-2-105, FR-180204, Masitinib, TAK-715, ODI-027, JW-7-24-2, and OSI-930 had substantially higher IC50 values in the high-risk group. Notably, we found AL360178.1 was associated with RNF44 E3 ubiquitin ligase expression. In cervical cancer cell lines, LINC01833 and LINC02321 displayed significant upregulation. Efficient siRNA transfection led to a decreased expression of LINC01833 and LINC02321. This knockdown significantly hindered both cell proliferation and migration capabilities in cervical cancer cells compared to the negative control.

CONCLUSION

In conclusion, we constructed five cuprotosis-related lncRNA prognostic models, which may be new tumor therapeutic targets for the prevention and treatment of cervical cancer.

Transcriptional regulation of cancer stem cell: regulatory factors elucidation and cancer treatment strategies

Cancer stem cells (CSCs) were first discovered in the 1990s, revealing the mysteries of cancer origin, migration, recurrence and drug-resistance from a new perspective. The expression of pluripotent genes and complex signal regulatory networks are significant features of CSC, also act as core factors to affect the characteristics of CSC. Transcription is a necessary link to regulate the phenotype and potential of CSC, involving chromatin environment, nucleosome occupancy, histone modification, transcription factor (TF) availability and cis-regulatory elements, which suffer from ambient pressure. Especially, the expression and activity of pluripotent TFs are deeply affected by both internal and external factors, which is the foundation of CSC transcriptional regulation in the current research framework. Growing evidence indicates that regulating epigenetic modifications to alter cancer stemness is effective, and some special promoters and enhancers can serve as targets to influence the properties of CSC. Clarifying the factors that regulate CSC transcription will assist us directly target key stem genes and TFs, or hinder CSC transcription through environmental and other related factors, in order to achieve the goal of inhibiting CSC and tumors. This paper comprehensively reviews the traditional aspects of transcriptional regulation, and explores the progress and insights of the impact on CSC transcription and status through tumor microenvironment (TME), hypoxia, metabolism and new meaningful regulatory factors in conjunction with the latest research. Finally, we present opinions on omnidirectional targeting CSCs transcription to eliminate CSCs and address tumor resistance.

CFLAR: A novel diagnostic and prognostic biomarker in soft tissue sarcoma, which positively modulates the immune response in the tumor microenvironment

Anoikis is highly associated with tumor cell apoptosis and tumor prognosis; however, the specific role of anoikis-related genes (ARGs) in soft tissue sarcoma (STS) remains to be fully elucidated. The present study aimed to use a variety of bioinformatics methods to determine differentially expressed anoikis-related genes in STS and healthy tissues. Subsequently, three machine learning algorithms, Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator, Support Vector Machine and Random Forest, were used to screen genes with the highest importance score. The results of the bioinformatics analyses demonstrated that CASP8 and FADD-like apoptosis regulator (CFLAR) exhibited the highest importance score. Subsequently, the diagnostic and prognostic value of CFLAR in STS development was determined using multiple public and in-house cohorts. The results of the present study demonstrated that CFLAR may be considered a diagnostic and prognostic marker of STS, which acts as an independent prognostic factor of STS development. The present study also aimed to explore the potential role of CFLAR in the STS tumor microenvironment, and the results demonstrated that CFLAR significantly enhanced the immune response of STS, and exerted a positive effect on the infiltration of CD8+ T cells and M1 macrophages in the STS immune microenvironment. Notably, the aforementioned results were verified using multiplex immunofluorescence analysis. Collectively, the results of the present study demonstrated that CFLAR may act as a novel diagnostic and prognostic marker for STS, and may positively regulate the immune response of STS. Thus, the present study provided a novel theoretical basis for the use of CFLAR in STS diagnosis, in predicting clinical outcomes and in tailoring individualized treatment options.

Tumor immunity: A brief overview of tumor‑infiltrating immune cells and research advances into tumor‑infiltrating lymphocytes in gynecological malignancies (Review)

Tumor immunity is a promising topic in the area of cancer therapy. The 'soil' function of the tumor microenvironment (TME) for tumor growth has attracted wide attention from scientists. Tumor-infiltrating immune cells in the TME, especially the tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs), serve a key role in cancer. Firstly, relevant literature was searched in the PubMed and Web of Science databases with the following key words: 'Tumor microenvironment'; 'TME'; 'tumor-infiltrating immunity cells'; 'gynecologic malignancies'; 'the adoptive cell therapy (ACT) of TILs'; and 'TIL-ACT' (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/). According to the title and abstract of the articles, relevant items were screened out in the preliminary screening. The most relevant selected items were of two types: All kinds of tumor-infiltrating immune cells; and advanced research on TILs in gynecological malignancies. The results showed that the subsets of TILs were various and complex, while each subpopulation influenced each other and their effects on tumor prognosis were diverse. Moreover, the related research and clinical trials on TILs were mostly concentrated in melanoma and breast cancer, but relatively few focused on gynecological tumors. In conclusion, the present review summarized the biological classification of TILs and the mechanisms of their involvement in the regulation of the immune microenvironment, and subsequently analyzed the development of tumor immunotherapy for TILs. Collectively, the present review provides ideas for the current treatment dilemma of gynecological tumor immune checkpoints, such as adverse reactions, safety, personal specificity and efficacy.

Cancer‑associated fibroblasts under therapy‑induced senescence in the tumor microenvironment (Review)

Current cancer treatments target tumor cells; however, the tumor microenvironment (TME) induces therapeutic resistance, tumor development and metastasis, thus rendering these treatments ineffective. Research on the TME has therefore concentrated on nonmalignant cells. Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) are a major TME component, which contribute to cancer progression due to their diverse origins, phenotypes and functions, including cancer cell invasion and migration, extracellular matrix remodeling, tumor metabolism modulation and therapeutic resistance. Standard cancer treatment typically exacerbates the senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP) of senescent cancer cells and nonmalignant cells that actively leak proinflammatory signals in the TME. Therapy-induced senescence may impair cancer cell activity and compromise treatment responsiveness. CAFs and SASP are well-studied in the formation and progression of cancer. The present review discusses the current data on CAF senescence caused by anticancer treatment and assesses how senescence-like CAFs affect tumor formation. The development of senolytic medication for aging stromal cells is also highlighted. Combining cancer therapies with senolytics may boost therapeutic effects and provide novel possibilities for research.

USP7 inhibitors suppress tumour neoangiogenesis and promote synergy with immune checkpoint inhibitors by downregulating fibroblast VEGF

BACKGROUND

Understanding how to modulate the microenvironment of tumors that are resistant to immune checkpoint inhibitors represents a major challenge in oncology.Here we investigate the ability of USP7 inhibitors to reprogram the tumor microenvironment (TME) by inhibiting secretion of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) from fibroblasts.

METHODS

To understand the role played by USP7 in the TME, we systematically evaluated the effects of potent, selective USP7 inhibitors on co-cultures comprising components of the TME, using human primary cells. We also evaluated the effects of USP7 inhibition on tumor growth inhibition in syngeneic models when dosed in combination with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs).

RESULTS

Abrogation of VEGF secretion from fibroblasts in response to USP7 inhibition resulted in inhibition of tumor neoangiogenesis and increased tumor recruitment of CD8-positive T-lymphocytes, leading to significantly improved sensitivity to immune checkpoint inhibitors. In syngeneic models, treatment with USP7 inhibitors led to striking tumor responses resulting in significantly improved survival.

CONCLUSIONS

USP7-mediated reprograming of the TME is not linked to its previously characterized role in modulating MDM2 but does require p53 and UHRF1 in addition to the well-characterized VEGF transcription factor, HIF-1α. This represents a function of USP7 that is unique to fibroblasts, and which is not observed in cancer cells or other components of the TME. Given the potential for USP7 inhibitors to transform "immune desert" tumors into "immune responsive" tumors, this paves the way for a novel therapeutic strategy combining USP7 inhibitors with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs).

Cucurbitacin IIa promotes the immunogenic cell death‑inducing effect of doxorubicin and modulates immune microenvironment in liver cancer

The immunogenic cell death (ICD) has aroused great interest in cancer immunotherapy. Doxorubicin (DOX), which can induce ICD, is a widely used chemotherapeutic drug in liver cancer. However, DOX‑induced ICD is not potent enough to initiate a satisfactory immune response. Cucurbitacin IIa (CUIIa), a tetracyclic triterpene, is a biologically active compound present in the Cucurbitaceae family. The present study assessed the effects of the combination of DOX and CUIIa on the viability, colony formation, apoptosis and cell cycle of HepG2 cells. In vivo anticancer effect was performed in mice bearing H22 tumor xenografts. The hallmark expression of ICD was tested using immunofluorescence and an ATP assay kit. The immune microenvironment was analyzed using flow cytometry. The combination of CUIIa and DOX displayed potent apoptosis inducing, cell cycle arresting and in vivo anticancer effects, along with attenuated cardiotoxicity in H22 mice. The combination of DOX and CUIIa also facilitated ICD as manifested by elevated high‑mobility group box 1, calreticulin and ATP secretion. This combination provoked a stronger immune response in H22 mice, including dendritic cell activation, increment of cytotoxic T cells and T helper 1 cells. Moreover, the proportion of immunosuppressive cells including myeloid‑derived suppressor cells, T regulatory cells and M2‑polarized macrophages, decreased. These data suggested that CUIIa is a promising combination partner with DOX for liver cancer treatment, probably via triggering ICD and remolding the immune microenvironment.

Analysis of the effect of CCR7 on the microenvironment of mouse oral squamous cell carcinoma by single-cell RNA sequencing technology

BACKGROUND

Studies have shown that CCR7, an important inflammatory factor, can promote the proliferation and metastasis of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC), but its role in the tumor microenvironment (TME) remains unclear. This paper explores the role of CCR7 in the TME of OSCC.

METHODS

In this work, we constructed CCR7 gene knockout mice and OSCC mouse models. Single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) and bioinformatics were used to analyze the differences in the OSCC microenvironment between three CCR7 gene knockout mice (KO) and three wild-type mice (WT). Immunohistochemistry, immunofluorescence staining, and flow cytometry were used to analyze the expression of key genes in significantly different cell types between the KO and WT groups. An in vitro experiment was used to verify the effect of CCR7 on M2 macrophage polarization.

RESULTS

In the mouse OSCC models, the tumor growth rate in the KO group was significantly lower than that in the WT group. Eight main cell types (including tumor cells, fibroblasts, macrophages, granulocytes, T cells, endothelial cells, monocytes, and B cells) were identified by Seurat analysis. The scRNA-seq results showed that the proportion of tumor cells was lower, but the proportion of inflammatory cells was significantly higher in the KO group than in the WT group. CellPhoneDB analysis results indicated a strong interaction relationship between tumor cells and macrophages, T cells, fibroblasts, and endothelial cells. Functional enrichment results indicated that the expression level of the Dusp1 gene in the KO group was generally higher than that in the WT group in various cell types. Macrophage subclustering results indicated that the proportion of M2 macrophages in the KO group was lower than that in the WT group. In vitro experimental results showed that CCR7 can promote M2 macrophage polarization, thus promoting the proliferation, invasion and migration of OSCC cells.

CONCLUSIONS

CCR7 gene knockout can significantly inhibit the growth of mouse oral squamous cell carcinoma by promoting the polarization of M2 macrophages.

Prognostic Risk Models Using Epithelial Cells Identify β-Sitosterol as a Potential Therapeutic Target Against Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Background

Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is an aggressive and fatal malignancy that leads to epithelial cancer. The association between epithelial cell heterogeneity, prognosis, and immune response in this cancer remains uncertain. This study aimed to investigate epithelial cell heterogeneity in ESCC and develop a predictive risk model using the identified cell types.

Methods

Single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) and differential ESCC gene data were accessed from the Gene Expression Omnibus. Functional enrichment analysis, inferCNV, cell development trajectories, and intercellular communication were analyzed following epithelial cell characterization. Differentially expressed ESCC (n = 773) and epithelial cell marker genes (n = 3407) were intersected to obtain core genes, and epithelial cell-related prognostic genes were identified. LASSO regression analysis was used to construct a prognostic model. The external dataset GSE53624 was used to further validate the stability of the model. Drug sensitivity predictions, and immune cell infiltration were analyzed. Molecular docking clarified the possible therapeutic role of β-sitosterol in ESCC. Finally, wound healing assay, cell colony, and transwell assay were constructed to detect the effects of the core gene PDLIM2 on ESCC cell proliferation, invasion, and migration.

Results

Eight cell clusters were identified, and epithelial cells were categorized into tumor and paratumor groups. The tumor group possessed more chromosomal variants than the paratumor group. Epithelial cells were associated with multiple cell types and significantly correlated with the Wnt, transforming growth factor, and epidermal growth factor signaling pathways. From 231 intersected genes, five core genes were screened for use in the risk model: CTSL, LAPTM4B, MYO10, NCF2, and PDLIM2. These genes may contribute to the cancerous transformation of normal esophageal epithelial cells and thereby act as biomarkers and potential therapeutic targets in patients with ESCC. β-Sitosterol furthermore displayed excellent docking potential with these genes. Meanwhile, further experiments demonstrated that the gene PDLIM2 plays a major role in the progression of oesophageal squamous carcinoma.

Conclusion

We successfully developed a risk model for the prognosis of ESCC based on epithelial cells that addresses the response of ESCC to immunotherapy and offers novel cancer treatment options.

New hopes for the breast cancer treatment: perspectives on the oncolytic virus therapy

Oncolytic virus (OV) therapy has emerged as a promising frontier in cancer treatment, especially for solid tumours. While immunotherapies like immune checkpoint inhibitors and CAR-T cells have demonstrated impressive results, their limitations in inducing complete tumour regression have spurred researchers to explore new approaches targeting tumours resistant to current immunotherapies. OVs, both natural and genetically engineered, selectively replicate within cancer cells, inducing their lysis while sparing normal tissues. Recent advancements in clinical research and genetic engineering have enabled the development of targeted viruses that modify the tumour microenvironment, triggering anti-tumour immune responses and exhibiting synergistic effects with other cancer therapies. Several OVs have been studied for breast cancer treatment, including adenovirus, protoparvovirus, vaccinia virus, reovirus, and herpes simplex virus type I (HSV-1). These viruses have been modified or engineered to enhance their tumour-selective replication, reduce toxicity, and improve oncolytic properties.Newer generations of OVs, such as Oncoviron and Delta-24-RGD adenovirus, exhibit heightened replication selectivity and enhanced anticancer effects, particularly in breast cancer models. Clinical trials have explored the efficacy and safety of various OVs in treating different cancers, including melanoma, nasopharyngeal carcinoma, head and neck cancer, and gynecologic malignancies. Notably, Talimogene laherparepvec (T-VEC) and Oncorine have. been approved for advanced melanoma and nasopharyngeal carcinoma, respectively. However, adverse effects have been reported in some cases, including flu-like symptoms and rare instances of severe complications such as fistula formation. Although no OV has been approved specifically for breast cancer treatment, ongoing preclinical clinical trials focus on four groups of viruses. While mild adverse effects like low-grade fever and nausea have been observed, the effectiveness of OV monotherapy in breast cancer remains insufficient. Combination strategies integrating OVs with chemotherapy, radiotherapy, or immunotherapy, show promise in improving therapeutic outcomes. Oncolytic virus therapy holds substantial potential in breast cancer treatment, demonstrating safety in trials. Multi-approach strategies combining OVs with conventional therapies exhibit more promising therapeutic effects than monotherapy, signalling a hopeful future for OV-based breast cancer treatments.

Ribosomal protein L22 like 1: a promising biomarker for lung adenocarcinoma

No studies have reported the effect of ribosomal protein L22 like 1 (RPL22L1) in lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD). Therefore, we aimed to systematically investigate the role of RPL22L1 in LUAD. The expression of RPL22L1 was analyzed using TCGA, GEO, TIMER, UALCAN databases, and validated by immunohistochemistry (IHC). Gene methylation analysis was performed using the UALCAN, GSCA and MethSurv databases. The immune infiltrates were investigated using the Single Sample Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (ssGSEA), TIMER database, and TISCH database. The results demonstrated that RPL22L1 was up-regulated in LUAD, and verified by IHC. Kaplan-Meier analysis suggested that patients with high RPL22L1 expression had poor prognosis. Multivariate analysis confirmed that RPL22L1 was an independent prognostic factor. Furthermore, RPL22L1 overexpression was associated with hypomethylation, and two CpGs of RPL22L1 were significantly associated with prognosis. Up-regulated RPL22L1 was enriched in MYC targets, E2F targets, G2M checkpoint, mTORC1 signaling, cell cycle, and so on. Moreover, RPL22L1 expression was negatively correlated with immune cell infiltration, and patients with high RPL22L1 expression had lower immune, stromal, and estimate scores. Single-cell analysis suggested that RPL22L1 might have a potential function in the tumor microenvironment (TME) of LUAD. In conclusion, RPL22L1 may be a promising biomarker for LUAD.

DDOST is associated with tumor immunosuppressive microenvironment in cervical cancer

Evidence has revealed that DDOST plays an important role in cancer development and progression. However, there are no reports on functions of DDOST in cervical tumorigenesis. Hence, we investigated the relationship of DDOST with prognosis, mutation, promoter methylation, immune cell infiltration, and drug sensitivity using bioinformatics techniques. Our results demonstrated that DDOST was significantly upregulated in a variety of tumor types and correlated with poor prognosis, including cervical cancer. Cox regression analysis dissected that high DDOST expression was associated with poor survival in cervical cancer patients. Immune infiltration analysis defined that DDOST was negatively correlated with CD8 T cells and NK cells. Strikingly, the sensitivity to multiple drugs was negatively correlated with the expression of DDOST. Therefore, our findings uncovered that DDOST could play an essential role in the tumor microenvironment and tumor immune regulation in cervical cancer, which indicated that DDOST could be a useful biomarker for prognosis and a potential therapeutic target for cancer treatment.

Sensory nerve release of CGRP increases tumor growth in HNSCC by suppressing TILs

BACKGROUND

Perineural invasion (PNI) and nerve density within the tumor microenvironment (TME) have long been associated with worse outcomes in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). This prompted an investigation into how nerves within the tumor microenvironment affect the adaptive immune system and tumor growth.

METHODS

We used RNA sequencing analysis of human tumor tissue from a recent HNSCC clinical trial, proteomics of human nerves from HNSCC patients, and syngeneic orthotopic murine models of HPV-unrelated HNSCC to investigate how sensory nerves modulate the adaptive immune system.

FINDINGS

Calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) directly inhibited CD8 T cell activity in vitro, and blocking sensory nerve function surgically, pharmacologically, or genetically increased CD8 and CD4 T cell activity in vivo.

CONCLUSIONS

Our data support sensory nerves playing a role in accelerating tumor growth by directly acting on the adaptive immune system to decrease Th1 CD4 T cells and activated CD8 T cells in the TME. These data support further investigation into the role of sensory nerves in the TME of HNSCC and points toward the possible treatment efficacy of blocking sensory nerve function or specifically inhibiting CGRP release or activity within the TME to improve outcomes.

FUNDING

1R01DE028282-01, 1R01DE028529-01, 1P50CA261605-01 (to S.D.K.), 1R01CA284651-01 (to S.D.K.), and F31 DE029997 (to L.B.D.).

Innovative prognostic modeling in ESCC: leveraging scRNA-seq and bulk-RNA for dendritic cell heterogeneity analysis

Background

Globally, esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) stands out as a common cancer type, characterized by its notably high rates of occurrence and mortality. Recent advancements in treatment methods, including immunotherapy, have shown promise, yet the prognosis remains poor. In the context of tumor development and treatment outcomes, the tumor microenvironment (TME), especially the function of dendritic cells (DCs), is significantly influential. Our study aims to delve deeper into the heterogeneity of DCs in ESCC using single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) and bulk RNA analysis.

Methods

In the scRNA-seq analysis, we utilized the SCP package for result visualization and functional enrichment analysis of cell subpopulations. CellChat was employed to identify potential oncogenic mechanisms in DCs, while Monocle 2 traced the evolutionary trajectory of the three DC subtypes. CopyKAT assessed the benign or malignant nature of cells, and SCENIC conducted transcription factor regulatory network analysis, offering a preliminary exploration of DC heterogeneity. In Bulk-RNA analysis, we constructed a prognostic model for ESCC prognosis and immunotherapy response, based on DC marker genes. This model was validated through quantitative PCR (qPCR) and immunohistochemistry (IHC), confirming the gene expression levels.

Results

In this study, through intercellular communication analysis, we identified GALECTIN and MHC-I signaling pathways as potential oncogenic mechanisms within dendritic cells. We categorized DCs into three subtypes: plasmacytoid (pDC), conventional (cDC), and tolerogenic (tDC). Our findings revealed that pDCs exhibited an increased proportion of cells in the G2/M and S phases, indicating enhanced cellular activity. Pseudotime trajectory analysis demonstrated that cDCs were in early stages of differentiation, whereas tDCs were in more advanced stages, with pDCs distributed across both early and late differentiation phases. Prognostic analysis highlighted a significant correlation between pDCs and tDCs with the prognosis of ESCC (P< 0.05), while no significant correlation was observed between cDCs and ESCC prognosis (P = 0.31). The analysis of cell malignancy showed the lowest proportion of malignant cells in cDCs (17%), followed by pDCs (29%), and the highest in tDCs (48%), with these results being statistically significant (P< 0.05). We developed a robust ESCC prognostic model based on marker genes of pDCs and tDCs in the GSE53624 cohort (n = 119), which was validated in the TCGA-ESCC cohort (n = 139) and the IMvigor210 immunotherapy cohort (n = 298) (P< 0.05). Additionally, we supplemented the study with a novel nomogram that integrates clinical features and risk assessments. Finally, the expression levels of genes involved in the model were validated using qPCR (n = 8) and IHC (n = 16), thereby confirming the accuracy of our analysis.

Conclusion

This study enhances the understanding of dendritic cell heterogeneity in ESCC and its impact on patient prognosis. The insights gained from scRNA-seq and Bulk-RNA analysis contribute to the development of novel biomarkers and therapeutic targets. Our prognostic models based on DC-related gene signatures hold promise for improving ESCC patient stratification and guiding treatment decisions.

HOXC9 characterizes a suppressive tumor immune microenvironment and integration with multiple immune biomarkers predicts response to PD-1 blockade plus chemotherapy in lung adenocarcinoma

BACKGROUND

The quest for dependable biomarkers to predict responses to immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) combined with chemotherapy in advanced non-small cell lung cancer remains unfulfilled. HOXC9, known for its role in oncogenesis and creating a suppressive tumor microenvironment (TME), shows promise in enhancing predictive precision when included as a TME biomarker. This study explores the predictive significance of HOXC9 for ICI plus chemotherapy efficacy in lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD).

METHODS

Following the bioinformatic findings, assays were performed to ascertain the effects of Hoxc9 on oncogenesis and response to programmed death 1 (PD-1) blockade. Furthermore, a cohort of LUAD patients were prospectively enrolled to receive anti-PD-1 plus chemotherapy. Based on the expression levels, baseline characteristics, and clinical outcomes, the predictive potential of HOXC9, PD-L1, CD4, CD8, CD68, and FOXP3 was integrally analyzed. HOXC9 not only mediated oncogenesis, but also corelated with suppressive TME. CMT167 and LLC cell lines unveiled the impacts of Hoxc9 on proliferation, invasion, and migration. Subsequently, tumor-bearing murine models were established to validate the inverse relationship between Hoxc9 expression and effective CD8+ T cells.

RESULTS

Inhibition of Hoxc9 significantly curtailed tumor growth (P<0.05), independent of PD-1 blockade. In patient studies, while individual markers fell short in prognosticating survival, a notable elevation in CD8-positive expression was observed in responders (P=0.042). Yet, the amalgamation of HOXC9 with other markers provided a more distinct differentiation between responders and non-responders. Notably, patients displaying PD-L1+/HOXC9- and CD8+/HOXC9- phenotypes exhibited significantly prolonged progression-free survival.

CONCLUSIONS

The expression of HOXC9 may serve as a biomarker to amplifying predictive efficacy for ICIs plus chemotherapy, which is also a viable oncogene and therapeutic target for immunotherapy in LUAD.

Laparoscopic Colorectal Surgery with Anatomical Recognition with Artificial Intelligence Assistance for Nerves and Dissection Layers

BACKGROUND

In digestive tract surgery, dissection of an avascular space consisting of loose connective tissue (LCT) appearing by countertraction improves oncological outcomes and reduces complications.1-3 Kumazu et al.4 described a deep learning approach that automatically segments LCT to help surgeons.4 During left colorectal surgery, lumbar splanchnic, hypogastric, and pelvic visceral nerve injuries cause sexual dysfunction and/or urinary issues.5 As nerve preservation is critical for functional preservation, the AI model Kumazu reported is named Eureka (Anaut Inc., Tokyo, Japan) and was developed to separate nerves automatically. The educative efficacy of intraoperative nerve visualization has been described.6 Artificial intelligence (AI) assisted navigation is expected to aid in the anatomical recognition of nerves and the safe dissection layers surrounding nerves in the future.

METHODS

We used Eureka as an educational tool for surgeons' training during laparoscopic colorectal surgery. The laparoscopic system used was Olympus VISERA ELITE3 (Tokyo, Japan).

RESULTS

Total mesorectal excision (TME) was safely performed with nerve preservation. No postoperative complications occurred. Automatic segmentation and highlighting of LCT in the dissected layers, lumbar splanchnic, hypogastric, and pelvic visceral nerves (S3, S4), were performed in real time.

CONCLUSIONS

In colorectal cancer surgery, the nerves are vital anatomical structures serving as landmarks for dissection. Lumbar splanchnic, hypogastric, and pelvic visceral nerve injuries (S3, S4) cause sexual dysfunction or urinary disorders.5 Nerve preservation is important for functional preservation. AI-assisted navigation methods are noninvasive, user-friendly, and expected to improve in accuracy in the future. They have the potential to develop nerve-guided TME.

Phytocompounds-based therapeutic approach: Investigating curcumin and green tea extracts on MCF-7 breast cancer cell line

BACKGROUND

Breast cancer (BC) has transcended lung cancer as the most common cancer in the world. Due to the disease's aggressiveness, rapid growth, and heterogeneity, it is crucial to investigate different therapeutic approaches for treatment. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), Plant-based therapeutics continue to be utilized as safe/non-toxic complementary or alternative treatments for cancer, even in developed countries, regardless of how cutting-edge conventional therapies are. Despite their low bioavailability, curcumin (CUR) and green tea (GT) represent safer therapeutic options. Due to their potent molecular-modulating properties on various cancer-related molecules and signaling pathways, they are considered gold-standard therapeutic agents and have been incorporated into the development of one or more therapeutic strategies of BC treatment.

METHODS

We investigated the modulatory role of CUR and GT extracts on significant multi molecular targets in MCF-7 BC cell line to assess their potential as BC multi-targeting agents. We analyzed the phytocompounds in GT leaves using High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) techniques. The mRNA expression levels of Raf-1, Telomerase, Tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) and Interleukin-8 (IL-8) genes in MCF-7 cells were quantified using quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR). The cytotoxicity of the extracts was assessed by the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay and the released Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), a valuable marker for identifying the programmed necrosis (necroptosis). Additionally, the concentrations of the necroptosis-related proinflammatory cytokines (TNF-α and IL-8) were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).

RESULTS

In contrast to the GT, the results showed the anticancer and cytotoxic properties of CUR against MCF-7 cells, with a relatively higher level of released LDH. The CUR extract downregulated the oncogenic Raf-1, suppressed the Telomerase and upregulated the TNF-α and IL-8 genes. Results from the ELISA showed a notable increase in IL-8 and TNF-α cytokines levels after CUR treatment, which culminated after 72 h.

CONCLUSIONS

Among both extracts, only CUR effectively modulated the understudy molecular targets, achieving multi-targeting anticancer activity against MCF-7 cells. Moreover, the applied dosage significantly increased levels of the proinflammatory cytokines, which represent a component of the cytokines-targeting-based therapeutic strategy. However, further investigations are recommended to validate this therapeutic approach.

Adjuvant Novel Nanocarrier-Based Targeted Therapy for Lung Cancer

Lung cancer has the lowest survival rate due to its late-stage diagnosis, poor prognosis, and intra-tumoral heterogeneity. These factors decrease the effectiveness of treatment. They release chemokines and cytokines from the tumor microenvironment (TME). To improve the effectiveness of treatment, researchers emphasize personalized adjuvant therapies along with conventional ones. Targeted chemotherapeutic drug delivery systems and specific pathway-blocking agents using nanocarriers are a few of them. This study explored the nanocarrier roles and strategies to improve the treatment profile's effectiveness by striving for TME. A biofunctionalized nanocarrier stimulates biosystem interaction, cellular uptake, immune system escape, and vascular changes for penetration into the TME. Inorganic metal compounds scavenge reactive oxygen species (ROS) through their photothermal effect. Stroma, hypoxia, pH, and immunity-modulating agents conjugated or modified nanocarriers co-administered with pathway-blocking or condition-modulating agents can regulate extracellular matrix (ECM), Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAF),Tyro3, Axl, and Mertk receptors (TAM) regulation, regulatory T-cell (Treg) inhibition, and myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSC) inhibition. Again, biomimetic conjugation or the surface modification of nanocarriers using ligands can enhance active targeting efficacy by bypassing the TME. A carrier system with biofunctionalized inorganic metal compounds and organic compound complex-loaded drugs is convenient for NSCLC-targeted therapy.

The emerging roles of sphingosine 1-phosphate and SphK1 in cancer resistance: a promising therapeutic target

Cancer chemoresistance is a problematic dilemma that significantly restrains numerous cancer management protocols. It can promote cancer recurrence, spreading of cancer, and finally, mortality. Accordingly, enhancing the responsiveness of cancer cells towards chemotherapies could be a vital approach to overcoming cancer chemoresistance. Tumour cells express a high level of sphingosine kinase-1 (SphK1), which acts as a protooncogenic factor and is responsible for the synthesis of sphingosine-1 phosphate (S1P). S1P is released through a Human ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporter to interact with other phosphosphingolipids components in the interstitial fluid in the tumor microenvironment (TME), provoking communication, progression, invasion, and tumor metastasis. Also, S1P is associated with several impacts, including anti-apoptotic behavior, metastasis, mesenchymal transition (EMT), angiogenesis, and chemotherapy resistance. Recent reports addressed high levels of S1P in several carcinomas, including ovarian, prostate, colorectal, breast, and HCC. Therefore, targeting the S1P/SphK signaling pathway is an emerging therapeutic approach to efficiently attenuate chemoresistance. In this review, we comprehensively discussed S1P functions, metabolism, transport, and signaling. Also, through a bioinformatic framework, we pointed out the alterations of SphK1 gene expression within different cancers with their impact on patient survival, and we demonstrated the protein-protein network of SphK1, elaborating its sparse roles. Furthermore, we made emphasis on different machineries of cancer resistance and the tight link with S1P. We evaluated all publicly available SphK1 inhibitors and their inhibition activity using molecular docking and how SphK1 inhibitors reduce the production of S1P and might reduce chemoresistance, an approach that might be vital in the course of cancer treatment and prognosis.

Multiple influence of immune cells in the bone metastatic cancer microenvironment on tumors

Bone is a common organ for solid tumor metastasis. Malignant bone tumor becomes insensitive to systemic therapy after colonization, followed by poor prognosis and high relapse rate. Immune and bone cells in situ constitute a unique immune microenvironment, which plays a crucial role in the context of bone metastasis. This review firstly focuses on lymphatic cells in bone metastatic cancer, including their function in tumor dissemination, invasion, growth and possible cytotoxicity-induced eradication. Subsequently, we examine myeloid cells, namely macrophages, myeloid-derived suppressor cells, dendritic cells, and megakaryocytes, evaluating their interaction with cytotoxic T lymphocytes and contribution to bone metastasis. As important components of skeletal tissue, osteoclasts and osteoblasts derived from bone marrow stromal cells, engaging in 'vicious cycle' accelerate osteolytic bone metastasis. We also explain the concept tumor dormancy and investigate underlying role of immune microenvironment on it. Additionally, a thorough review of emerging treatments for bone metastatic malignancy in clinical research, especially immunotherapy, is presented, indicating current challenges and opportunities in research and development of bone metastasis therapies.

Downregulation of S100A11 promotes T cell infiltration by regulating cancer-associated fibroblasts in prostate cancer

OBJECTIVE

This study aims at revealing the relationship between S100A11 and cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) in prostate cancer and improving T cell infiltration into solid tumors.

METHODS

H&E, IHC and Sirius red staining were used to detect the stroma content in prostate cancer tissues. Stable S100A11 knockdown cell lines DU 145, 22Rv1, RM-1 and NOR-10 were established by lentivirus transfection. Co-culture system of RM-1 and CAFs was established. CCK-8, wound healing and transwell were proceeded to determine proliferation, migration and invasion of prostate cancer cells. Stably knocked-down RM-1 and CAFs were co-injected into C57BL/6 mice to detect the role of S100A11 in vivo. CAFs, CD4+ T cell and CD8+ T cell in these tumors were assessed by IF. T cell profile was analyzed by flow cytometry.

RESULTS

A significant amount of stroma exists in prostate cancer tissues. Downregulation of S100A11 inhibits proliferation, migration and invasion of human prostate cancer cells in vitro, and suppresses the expression of cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) in vivo. Knockdown of S100A11 enhances the inhibitory effect of Erdafitinib on CAFs in both the co-culture system and in vivo. The combined knockdown of S100A11 in tumor cells and CAFs shows a superior therapeutic effect compared to the individual knockdown in tumor cells alone. Knockdown of S100A11, both in RM-1 and CAFs, combined with Erdafitinib treatment reduces tumorigenicity by suppressing the content of CAFs and increasing the infiltration of CD4+ T cell and effective CD8+ T cell in tumor.

CONCLUSION

Downregulation of S100A11 plays a crucial role in enhancing the therapeutic response to Erdafitinib and reversing immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment.

CPXM1 correlates to poor prognosis and immune cell infiltration in gastric cancer

Background

Gastric cancer (GC) is the fourth most common cause of cancer-related death and the fifth most frequent malignant cancer, especially advanced GC. Carboxypeptidase X member 1 (CPXM1) is an epigenetic factor involved in many physiological processes, including osteoclast differentiation and adipogenesis. Several studies have shown the association of CPXM1 with multiple tumors; however, the mechanism of CPXM1 involvement in the progression of GC is yet to be characterized.

Method

CPXM1 expression data were obtained from the Tumor Immune Estimation Resource. The Cancer Genome Atlas and the Gene Expression Omnibus databases were used to obtain patient-matched clinicopathological information, and the Kaplan-Meier plot database was utilized for the prognosis analysis of GC patients. The Catalog of Somatic Mutations in Cancer and cBioportal databases were adopted to study CPXM1 mutations in tumors. Next, we utilized the Gene Ontology, Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes, and Gene Set Enrichment Analysis for mechanism research. Furthermore, we performed tumor microenvironment and immune infiltration analysis based on CPXM1. Finally, we predicted sensitivity to several targeted drugs in GC patients based on CPXM1.CPXM1 is upregulated in GC and is correlated with poor prognosis, gender, and tumor stage in GC patients. Gene enrichment analysis suggested that CPXM1 may regulate the occurrence and progression of GC via the PI3K-AKT and TGF-β pathway. Moreover, CPXM1 expression results in an increase in the proportion of immune and stromal cells. Additionally, the proportion of plasma cells was inversely related to the expression of CPXM1, whereas macrophage M2 expression was proportionate to CPXM1 expression. Finally, six small-molecule drugs that showed notable variations in IC50 between two groups were screened.

Conclusion

These results suggested that CPXM1 regulates the progression of GC and may represent a novel target for the detection and treatment of GC.

Unveiling the immune symphony: decoding colorectal cancer metastasis through immune interactions

Colorectal cancer (CRC), known for its high metastatic potential, remains a leading cause of cancer-related death. This review emphasizes the critical role of immune responses in CRC metastasis, focusing on the interaction between immune cells and tumor microenvironment. We explore how immune cells, through cytokines, chemokines, and growth factors, contribute to the CRC metastasis cascade, underlining the tumor microenvironment's role in shaping immune responses. The review addresses CRC's immune evasion tactics, especially the upregulation of checkpoint inhibitors like PD-1 and CTLA-4, highlighting their potential as therapeutic targets. We also examine advanced immunotherapies, including checkpoint inhibitors and immune cell transplantation, to modify immune responses and enhance treatment outcomes in CRC metastasis. Overall, our analysis offers insights into the interplay between immune molecules and the tumor environment, crucial for developing new treatments to control CRC metastasis and improve patient prognosis, with a specific focus on overcoming immune evasion, a key aspect of this special issue.

Cancer-associated fibroblasts reprogram cysteine metabolism to increase tumor resistance to ferroptosis in pancreatic cancer

Background: Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is an insidious, rapidly progressing malignancy of the gastrointestinal tract. Due to its dense fibrous stroma and complex tumor microenvironment, neither of which is sensitive to radiotherapy, pancreatic adenocarcinoma is one of the malignancies with the poorest prognosis. Therefore, detailed elucidation of the inhibitory microenvironment of PDAC is essential for the development of novel therapeutic strategies. Methods: We analyzed the association between cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) and resistance to ferroptosis in PDAC using conditioned CAF medium and co-culture of pancreatic cancer cells. Abnormal cysteine metabolism was observed in CAFs using non-targeted metabolomics analysis with liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). The regulatory effects of cysteine were investigated in PDAC cells through measurement of cell cloning, cell death, cell function, and EdU assays. The effects of exogenous cysteine intake were examined in a mouse xenograft model and the effects of the cysteine pathway on ferroptosis in PDAC were investigated by western blotting, measurement of glutathione and reactive oxygen species levels, among others. Results: It was found that CAFs played a critical role in PDAC metabolism by secreting cysteine, which could increase tumor resistance to ferroptosis. A previously unrecognized function of the sulfur transfer pathway in CAFs was identified, which increased the extracellular supply of cysteine to support glutathione synthesis and thus inducing ferroptosis resistance. Cysteine secretion by CAFs was found to be mediated by the TGF-β/SMAD3/ATF4 signaling axis. Conclusion: Taken together, the findings demonstrate a novel metabolic relationship between CAFs and cancer cells, in which cysteine generated by CAFs acts as a substrate in the prevention of oxidative damage in PDAC and thus suggests new therapeutic targets for PDAC.

Comprehensive analysis of ALG3 in pan-cancer and validation of ALG3 as an onco-immunological biomarker in breast cancer

ALG3 has significant modulatory function in the process of tumor development. Yet how ALG3 involves in the advancement of different malignancies isn't fully understood. We performed a pan-cancer assessment on ALG3 utilizing datasets from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and Genotype-Tissue Expression (GTEx) to examine its tumor-related roles across malignancies and its link to particular molecules and cells in the tumor microenvironment (TME). Furthermore, we focused on breast cancer to examine the influence of ALG3-mediated signaling pathways and intercellular interactions in the advancement of tumors. The biological effects of ALG3 were verified by breast cancer cells. Enhanced ALG3 expression was discovered to be substantially linked to patients' grim prognoses in a number of malignancies. Furthermore, the expression of ALG3 in the TME was linked to the infiltration of stromal and immune cells, and ALG3-related immune checkpoints, TMB, and MSI were also discovered. We also discovered that cancer patients having a high level of ALG3 exhibited a lower probability of benefiting from immunotherapy. Furthermore, our research found that KEGG enrichment, single-cell RNA and spatial sequencing analyses were effective in identifying key signaling pathways in ALG3-associated tumor growth. In vitro, knockdown of ALG3 could decrease the proliferation of breast cancer cells. In summary, our research offers a comprehensive insight into the advancement of tumors under the mediation of ALG3. ALG3 appears to be intimately associated with tumor development in the TME. ALG3 might be a viable treatment target for cancer therapy, particularly in the case of breast cancer.

Innate and adaptive immune-directed tumour microenvironment in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma

One of the most deadly and aggressive cancers in the world, pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), typically manifests at an advanced stage. PDAC is becoming more common, and by the year 2030, it is expected to overtake lung cancer as the second greatest cause of cancer-related death. The poor prognosis can be attributed to a number of factors, including difficulties in early identification, a poor probability of curative radical resection, limited response to chemotherapy and radiotherapy, and its immunotherapy resistance. Furthermore, an extensive desmoplastic stroma that surrounds PDAC forms a mechanical barrier that prevents vascularization and promotes poor immune cell penetration. Phenotypic heterogeneity, drug resistance, and immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment are the main causes of PDAC aggressiveness. There is a complex and dynamic interaction between tumor cells in PDAC with stromal cells within the tumour immune microenvironment. The immune suppressive microenvironment that promotes PDAC aggressiveness is contributed by a range of cellular and humoral factors, which itself are modulated by the cancer. In this review, we describe the role of innate and adaptive immune cells, complex tumor microenvironment in PDAC, humoral factors, innate immune-mediated therapeutic advances, and recent clinical trials in PDAC.

Breaking Barriers: The Promise and Challenges of Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is a highly aggressive malignancy with pronounced immunogenicity, exhibiting rapid proliferation and immune cell infiltration into the tumor microenvironment. TNBC's heterogeneity poses challenges to immunological treatments, inducing resistance mechanisms in the tumor microenvironment. Therapeutic modalities, including immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) targeting PD-1, PD-L1, and CTLA-4, are explored in preclinical and clinical trials. Promising results emerge from combining ICIs with anti-TGF-β and VISTA, hindering TNBC tumor growth. TNBC cells employ complex evasion strategies involving interactions with stromal and immune cells, suppressing immune recognition through various cytokines, chemokines, and metabolites. The recent focus on unraveling humoral and cellular components aims to disrupt cancer crosstalk within the tumor microenvironment. This review identifies TNBC's latest resistance mechanisms, exploring potential targets for clinical trials to overcome immune checkpoint resistance and enhance patient survival rates.

MT1G, an emerging ferroptosis-related gene: A novel prognostic biomarker and indicator of immunotherapy sensitivity in prostate cancer

BACKGROUND

Prostate cancer is a leading cause of cancer-related deaths in men worldwide. Despite advances in treatment strategies, there is still a need for novel therapeutic targets and approaches. Ferroptosis has emerged as a critical process in the development and progression of several cancers, including prostate cancer (PCA). In this study, we investigate the role of MT1G, a gene implicated in immune responses and ferroptosis, in the pathogenesis of PCA. Our objective is to elucidate its prognostic significance and its impact on the tumor microenvironment, while exploring its potential in enhancing the sensitivity to immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) therapy.

METHODS

We utilized a combination of in silico analysis and experimental techniques to investigate the role of MT1G in PCA. First, we analyzed large-scale genomic datasets to assess the expression pattern and prognostic significance of MT1G in PCA patients. Subsequently, we performed functional assays to explore the impact of MT1G in PCA and its potential involvement in modulating immune responses. In addition, we conducted in vivo experiments to evaluate the effect of MT1G on tumor growth and response to ICI therapy.

RESULTS

Our analysis revealed that MT1G expression is significantly downregulated in PCA tissues compared to normal prostate tissues and is associated with poor prognosis. Furthermore, MT1G overexpression inhibited the growth of PCA cells in vitro and in vivo. Importantly, we found that MT1G regulates the tumor microenvironment by modulating immune cell infiltration and inhibiting immunosuppressive factors. Furthermore, our study reveals a significant correlation between MT1G expression levels and the response to immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) therapy in prostate cancer (PCA) patients, as MT1G upregulation leads to an increase in PDL-1 expression. These findings underscore the potential of MT1G as a promising predictive biomarker for ICI therapy response in PCA patients.

CONCLUSION

Our study elucidates the pivotal role played by MT1G in the pathogenesis of prostate cancer (PCA) and its profound implications for prognosis. Moreover, it raises the intriguing possibility that MT1G could pave the way for novel therapeutic approaches in PCA treatment. This potential arises from its ability to orchestrate immune infiltration within the tumor microenvironment, consequently enhancing sensitivity to immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) therapy. Therefore, our findings hold substantial promise for advancing our comprehension of PCA and exploring innovative therapeutic strategies.

Identification of angiogenesis-related subtypes, the development of a prognosis model, and features of tumor microenvironment in colon cancer

Angiogenesis is associated with tumor progression, prognosis, and treatment effect. However, the angiogenesis' underlying mechanisms in the tumor microenvironment (TME) still remain unclear. Understanding the dynamic interactions between angiogenesis and TME in colon adenocarcinoma (COAD) is necessary. We downloaded the transcriptome data and corresponding clinical data of colon cancer patients from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) databases, respectively. We identified two distinct angiogenesis-related molecular subtypes (subtype A and subtype B) and assessed the clinical features, prognosis, and infiltrating immune cells of patients in the two subtypes. According to the prognostic differential genes, we defined two different gene clusters to further explore the correlation between angiogenesis and tumor heterogeneity. Then, we construct the prognostic risk scoring model angiogenesis-related gene (ARG-score) including seven genes (ARMCX2, latent transforming growth factor β binding protein 1, ADAM8, FABP4, CCL11, CXCL11, ITLN1) using Lasso-multivariate cox method. We analyzed the correlation between ARG-score and prognosis, clinicopathological features, TME, molecular feature, cancer stem cells (CSCs), and microsatellite instability (MSI) status. To assess the application value of ARG-score in clinical treatment, immunophenotype score was used to predict patients' immunotherapy response in colon cancer. We found the mutations of ARGs in TCGA-COAD dataset from genetic levels and discussed their expression patterns based on TCGA and GEO datasets. We observed important differences in clinicopathological features, prognosis, immune feature, molecular feature between the two molecular subgroups. Then, we established an ARG-score for predicting OS and validated its predictive capability. A high ARG-score characterized by higher transcription level of ARGs, suggested lower MSI-high (MSI-H), lower immune score, and worse clinical stage and survival outcome. Additionally, the ARG-score was remarkably related to the CSCs index and immunotherapy sensitivity. We found two new molecular subtypes and two gene clusters based on ARGs and established an ARG-score. Multilayered analysis revealed that ARGs were remarkably correlated to the heterogeneity of colon cancer patients and explained the process of tumorigenesis and progression better. The ARG-score can help us better assess patients' survival outcomes and provide guidance for individualized treatment.

Cuprotosis clusters predict prognosis and immunotherapy response in low-grade glioma

Cuprotosis, an emerging mode of cell death, has recently caught the attention of researchers worldwide. However, its impact on low-grade glioma (LGG) patients has not been fully explored. To gain a deeper insight into the relationship between cuprotosis and LGG patients' prognosis, we conducted this study in which LGG patients were divided into two clusters based on the expression of 18 cuprotosis-related genes. We found that LGG patients in cluster A had better prognosis than those in cluster B. The two clusters also differed in terms of immune cell infiltration and biological functions. Moreover, we identified differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between the two clusters and developed a cuprotosis-related prognostic signature through the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) analysis in the TCGA training cohort. This signature divided LGG patients into high- and low-risk groups, with the high-risk group having significantly shorter overall survival (OS) time than the low-risk group. Its predictive reliability for prognosis in LGG patients was confirmed by the TCGA internal validation cohort, CGGA325 cohort and CGGA693 cohort. Additionally, a nomogram was used to predict the 1-, 3-, and 5-year OS rates of each patient. The analysis of immune checkpoints and tumor mutation burden (TMB) has revealed that individuals belonging to high-risk groups have a greater chance of benefiting from immunotherapy. Functional experiments confirmed that interfering with the signature gene TNFRSF11B inhibited LGG cell proliferation and migration. Overall, this study shed light on the importance of cuprotosis in LGG patient prognosis. The cuprotosis-related prognostic signature is a reliable predictor for patient outcomes and immunotherapeutic response and can help to develop new therapies for LGG.

Hepatitis B virus-related hepatocellular carcinoma exhibits distinct intratumoral microbiota and immune microenvironment signatures

Emerging evidence supports a high prevalence of cancer type-specific microbiota residing within tumor tissues. The intratumoral microbiome in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), especially in viral (hepatitis B virus [HBV]/hepatitis C virus [HCV]) HCC, has not been well characterized for their existence, composition, distribution, and biological functions. We report herein a finding of specific microbial signature in viral HCC as compared to non-HBV/non-HCV (NBNC) HCC. However, the significantly diverse tumor microbiome was only observed in HBV-related HCC, and Cutibacterium was identified as the representative taxa biomarker. Biological function of the unique tumor microbiota in modulating tumor microenvironment (TME) was characterized by using formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissue-based multiplex immunofluorescence histochemistry (mIFH) allowing simultaneous in situ detection of the liver cancer cells surrounded with high/low density of microbiota, and the infiltrating immune cells. In HBV_HCC, the intratumoral microbiota are positively associated with increased tumor-infiltrating CD8+ T lymphocytes, but not the CD56+ NK cells. Two subtypes of myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs): monocytic MDSCs and polymorphonuclear MDSCs, were also found to be positively correlated with the intratumoral microbiota in HBV_HCC, indicating an inhibitory role of these microbial species in antitumor immunity and the contribution to the liver TME in combination of chronic viral hepatitis during HCC development.

Inhibition of γ-secretase/Notch pathway as a potential therapy for reversing cancer drug resistance

The mechanism of tumor drug resistance is complex and may involve stem cell maintenance, epithelial-mesenchymal transition, the activation of survival signaling pathways, transporter protein expression, and tumor microenvironment remodeling, all of which are linked to γ-secretase/Notch signaling. Increasing evidence has shown that the activation of the γ-secretase/Notch pathway is a key driver of cancer progression and drug resistance development and that γ-secretase inhibitors (GSIs) may be the most promising agents for reversing chemotherapy resistance of tumors by targeting the γ-secretase/Notch pathway. Here, we systematically summarize the roles in supporting γ-secretase/Notch activation-associated transformation of cancer cells into cancer stem cells, promotion of the EMT process, PI3K/Akt, MEK/ERK and NF-κB activation, enhancement of ABC transporter protein expression, and TME alteration in mediating tumor drug resistance. Subsequently, we analyze the mechanism of GSIs targeting the γ-secretase/Notch pathway to reverse tumor drug resistance and propose the outstanding advantages of GSIs in treating breast cancer drug resistance over other tumors. Finally, we emphasize that the development of GSIs for reversing tumor drug resistance is promising.