Abstract 2634: Predictive value of 18F-FDG PET/CT scanning in combination with clinical parameters in patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma

Objective: To evaluate the association of 18F-2`-deoxy 2`-fluorodeoxyglucose (18F-FDG) PET/CT with clinical parameters in predicting patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma (MM).

Methods: One hundred and twenty MM patients undergoing 18F-FDG PET/CT scanning were analyzed in a retrospective cohort study.

Results: Based on multivariate analysis, β2M, LDH, number of focal lesions (FLs) and SUVmax were significantly correlated with overall survival (OS). These 4 variables were used to construct a new staging system (NSS) based on the number of risk factors. NSS provided a better discrimination of risk between stages III and II than International staging system (ISS) (p < 0.001 vs. p = 0.086). For OS, there was no significant difference among risk groups in Durie-Salmon (DS) stage (p > 0.05). Based on Spearman correlation analysis, presence of lesions in appendicular skeleton, number of FLs and SUVmax appeared to indicate advanced stage of MM. ROC curves which showed the combination of β2M with Calcium got a specificity of 96.3% for the presence of lesions in appendicular skeleton, and LDH alone had 100% specificity in predicting the number of FLs, although the sensitivity was only 50%.

Conclusions: 18F-FDG PET/CT in combination with clinical parameters provided an accurate and simple method for risk stratification of patients with newly diagnosed MM.

Citation Format: Honglei Tu, Fuling Zhou, Yunbao Pan, Francois X Claret. Predictive value of 18F-FDG PET/CT scanning in combination with clinical parameters in patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2018; 2018 Apr 14-18; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2018;78(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 2634.

Genomic Analysis of the Unusual Staphylococcus aureus ST630 Isolates Harboring WTA Glycosyltransferase Genes tarM and tagN

Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) can cause a broad spectrum of diseases ranging from skin infections to life-threatening diseases in both community and hospital settings. The surface-exposed wall teichoic acid (WTA) has a strong impact on host interaction, pathogenicity, horizontal gene transfer, and biofilm formation in S. aureus. The unusual S. aureus ST630 strains containing both ribitol-phosphate (RboP) WTA glycosyltransferase gene tarM and glycerol-phosphate (GroP) WTA glycosyltransferase gene tagN have been found recently. Native PAGE analysis showed that the WTA of tagN, tarM-encoding ST630 strains migrated slower than that of non-tagN-encoding ST630 strains, indicating the differences in WTA structure. Some mobile genetic elements (MGEs) such as the unique GroP-WTA biosynthetic gene cluster (SaGroWI), SCCmec element, and prophages that probably originated from the CoNS were identified in tagN, tarM-encoding ST630 strains. The SaGroWI element was first defined in S. aureus ST395 strain, which was refractory to exchange MGEs with typical RboP-WTA expressing S. aureus but could undergo horizontal gene transfer events with other species and genera via the specific bacteriophage Φ187. Overall, our data indicated that this rare ST630 was prone to acquire DNA from CoNS and might serve as a novel hub for the exchange of MGEs between CoNS and S. aureus. IMPORTANCE The structure of wall-anchored glycopolymers wall teichoic acid (WTA) produced by most Gram-positive bacteria is highly variable. While most dominant Staphylococcus aureus lineages produce poly-ribitol-phosphate (RboP) WTA, the tagN, tarM-encoding ST630 lineage probably has a poly-glycerol-phosphate (GroP) WTA backbone like coagulase-negative staphylococci (CoNS). There is growing evidence that staphylococcal horizontal gene transfer depends largely on transducing helper phages via WTA as the receptor. The structural difference of WTA greatly affects the transfer of mobile genetic elements among various bacteria. With the growing advances in sequencing and analysis technologies, genetic analysis has revolutionized research activities in the field of the important pathogen S. aureus. Here, we analyzed the molecular characteristics of ST630 and found an evolutionary link between ST630 and CoNS. Elucidating the genetic information of ST630 lineage will contribute to understanding the emergence and diversification of new pathogenic strains in S. aureus.

Novel approach by natural language processing for COVID-19 knowledge discovery

BACKGROUND

The impact of COVID-19 on public health has mandated an 'all hands on deck' scientific response. The current clinical study and basic research on COVID-19 are mainly based on existing publications or our knowledge of coronavirus. However, efficiently retrieval of accurate, relevant knowledge on COVID-19 can pose significant challenges for researchers.

METHODS

To improve quality in accessing important literature findings, we developed a novel natural language processing (NLP) method to automatically recognize the associations among potential targeted host organ systems, associated clinical manifestations, and pathways. We further validated these associations through clinician experts' evaluations and prioritize candidate drug targets through bioinformatics network analysis.

RESULTS

We found that the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2), a receptor that SARS-CoV-2 required for cell entry, is associated with cardiovascular and endocrine organ system and diseases. Furthermore, we found SARS-CoV-2 is associated with some important pathways such as IL-6, TNF-alpha, and IL-1 beta-induced dyslipidemia, which are related to inflammation, lipogenesis, and oxidative stress mechanisms, suggesting potential drug candidates.

CONCLUSION

We prioritized the list of therapeutic targets involved in antiviral and immune modulating drugs for experimental validation, rendering it valuable during public health crises marked by stresses on clinical and research capacity. Our automatic intelligence pipeline also contributes to other novel and emerging disease management and treatments in the future.

Deciphering COPS5 influence on immune infiltration and prognosis in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma

Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma (HNSCC) is a widespread malignancy originating from the mucous epithelium of the oral cavity, pharynx, and larynx. Despite advances in diagnostic and therapeutic modalities, the prognosis of HNSCC remains challenging. This study investigates the intricate relationship among COPS5, immune infiltration patterns, and prognostic implications in HNSCC. Through comprehensive analyses of 519 HNSCC cases from TCGA and single-cell data from the GEO database, we utilize the CIBERSORT algorithm to discern immune cell dynamics influenced by COPS5 expression. Notably, Treg cells emerge as a central point in the interplay between COPS5 and immune modulation. Further analyses, encompassing differential gene expression, immune-related gene set enrichment, and protein-protein interaction networks, elucidate the molecular landscape associated with COPS5 in HNSCC. A prognostic risk model, incorporating CD27, TNFRSF4, FADD, and PSMD14, is formulated and validated across diverse datasets. The model demonstrates robust predictive power, underscoring its potential as a valuable prognostic tool. These genes, essential for immune regulation and cell cycle control, provide insights into the intricate mechanisms influencing HNSCC progression. In conclusion, this study not only reveals the impact of COPS5 on immune dynamics in HNSCC but also introduces a concise and effective prognostic model.

The third inactivated vaccine booster dramatically enhanced SARS-CoV-2 antibody responses and did not influence the profile of prothrombotic antibody

The purpose of this study is to investigate the production of both severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2)-specific antibodies and autoantibodies in serum following the third booster vaccination of the inactivated COVID-19 vaccine, and to study the effect of B cell subsets with CD27 and CD38 phenotypes in peripheral blood on antibody production. Routine blood indexes, SARS-CoV-2 antibodies, platelet factor 4 and seven antiphospholipid antibodies were detected both before and 2 months after vaccination in the medical staff of the Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University. Peripheral blood B cell subtypes were detected before vaccination. Following immunization, the positive rate of anti-N-S1 immunoglobulin (IgG) had increased from 24.8% to 91.3% and the average antibody concentration had increased by 11 times. The positive rate of neutralizing antibody had increased from 24.8% to 91.3%, the average antibody concentration had increased by 12 times, and the primary increased anti-S1 IgG subtype was that of IgG1. Peripheral blood CD27 + CD38+ B cells were positively correlated with antibody levels after vaccination and were a predictor of the antibody response. In addition, although some indicators showed slight absolute changes, the blood parameters and antiphospholipid antibodies of most volunteers were normal both before and after COVID-19 inactivated vaccine inoculation, and there was no statistical difference in abnormal rates either before or after inoculation. Antibodies in vivo were increased after vaccination with the inactivated vaccine, and IgG1 was the main subtype involved in response to the vaccine. Vaccination with the inactivated COVID-19 vaccine did not appear to affect thrombus-related autoantibodies.

[Characteristics of peripheral blood lymphocyte subsets in children with mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia under different infection states]

The research investigated the characteristics of lymphocyte subsets in peripheral blood of children with mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia in different infection states. The retrospective cross-sectional study selected 194 children with pneumonia from October 2023 to January 2024 in Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University as the study objects, patients aged 7 months to 13 years old, including 91 female children and 103 male children. According to the types of pathogens, the children with pneumonia were divided into single MP infection group (80 cases), non-MP infection group (29 cases) and mixed pathogen infection group (85 cases). According to the mutation of MP23S rRNA gene, the MPP children were divided into drug-resistance group (112 cases) and non-drug-resistance group (53 cases). According to the results of bronchoscopy and imaging, the MPP children were divided into severe group (35 cases) and mild group (130 cases). Pathogen infection, the percentage and absolute count of lymphocyte subsets in peripheral blood, hypersensitive CRP, interferon-γ, tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-10, interleukin-4, interleukin-6 and interleukin-2 in each group were analyzed retrospectively. The levels of the test items in each group were compared. The value of peripheral blood lymphocyte subsets in the diagnosis of MPP in children was evaluated by ROC curve. The results showed that the co-infection rate of MPP children was 51.51% (85/165). Streptococcus pneumoniae was the most common co-infection (39/85, 45.88%), followed by Haemophilus influenzae (26/85, 30.89%). The mutation rate of MP resistance gene was 67.88% (112/165) in MPP children tested for tNGS in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid. The absolute counts (cells/μl) of CD3+, CD3+CD4+, CD3+CD8+, CD3-CD19+, CD3-CD16+CD56+and CD3+CD16+CD56+ in the simple MP group (1 164, 612, 415, 242, 168, 50) and the mixed pathogen group (1 285, 694, 457, 313, 176, 52) were significantly lower than those in the non-MP group (2 092, 1 037, 660, 541, 295, 86) (P<0.05). There was no significant difference between drug-resistant group and non-drug-resistant group (P>0.05). The CD3+CD4+% (34.91) and the absolute counts of CD3-CD16+CD56+ (148 cells/μl) in severe group was significantly lower than that in mild group (37.91, 187 cells/μl), and CD3-CD19+% (19.48) was significantly higher than that in mild group (16.33) (P<0.05). The median values (cells/μl) of CD3+ (1 093, 925), CD3+CD4+ (576, 543), CD3+CD8+ (401, 356), CD3-CD19+ (238, 234) and CD3-CD16+CD56+ (181, 153) in MPP children aged 4 to 8 years and 9 to 12 years were lower than the reference range in corresponding age. ROC curve analysis showed that the AUC of peripheral blood lymphocyte subsets for MPP diagnosis was 0.813, and the sensitivity was 79.3%, the specificity was 75%. In conclusion, the co-infection rate of MPP children was higher than single MP infection. The characteristics of peripheral blood lymphocyte subsets in children with pneumonia were that the absolute count test value of MPP children was significantly lower than that of non-MP infection, and there are differences between MPP children clinical types.

Serological proteomic profiling uncovered CDK5RAP2 as a novel marker in benign prostatic hyperplasia

BACKGROUND

Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) affects approximately half of men over the age of 50. Early detection and timely treatment facilitate disease intervention and achieve a better clinical outcome. However, current clinical methods, such as prostate specific antigen (PSA), lack the sensitivity to accurately distinguish between BPH and prostate cancer (PCa). Thus, optimal serum markers are warranted to complement existing diagnostic tests.

METHODS

In this study, we recruited 1987 BPH patients and characterized their clinical features. To explore BPH proteomic alterations, a data independent acquisition-based mass spectrometry proteomics approach was adopted for 66 serum samples from healthy males (n = 22), patients with BPH (n = 22) and prostate cancer (n = 22). Bioinformatic evaluations were performed for proteomic profiling and candidate selection. In addition, a promising candidate was further validated with ELISA assay.

RESULTS

Our findings revealed that the level of free PSA correlated with prostate volume. 7.95 % of BPH patients had a PSA value greater than 10 ng/mL, with elevated free PSA, prostate volume, PSA density, and decreased free to total PSA ratio. Mass spectrometry-based serum profiling demonstrated distinct differences between BPH and PCa. CDK5RAP2 was weighted most important in BPH patients' serum and achieved an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.900 in distinguishing BPH and PCa, which was further validated by publicly-available mRNA microarray analysis and cellular phenotype evaluation.

CONCLUSION

Our comprehensive analysis systematically explored BPH serum characteristics, proteomic profiles, and identified novel serum markers that may contribute to the understanding of BPH and facilitate early diagnosis and intervention.

COVID-19 and Cancer: Discovery of Difference in Clinical Immune Indexes

OBJECTIVE

This study explored the consistency and differences in the immune cells and cytokines between patients with COVID-19 or cancer. We further analyzed the correlations between the acute inflammation and cancer-related immune disorder.

METHODS

This retrospective study involved 167 COVID-19 patients and 218 cancer patients. COVID-19 and cancer were each further divided into two subgroups. Quantitative and qualitative variables were measured by one-way ANOVA and chi-square test, respectively. Herein, we carried out a correlation analysis between immune cells and cytokines and used receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves to discover the optimal diagnostic index.

RESULTS

COVID-19 and cancers were associated with lymphopenia and high levels of monocytes, neutrophils, IL-6, and IL-10. IL-2 was the optimal indicator to differentiate the two diseases. Compared with respiratory cancer patients, COVID-19 patients had lower levels of IL-2 and higher levels of CD3+CD4+ T cells and CD19+ B cells. In the subgroup analysis, IL-6 was the optimal differential diagnostic parameter that had the ability to identify if COVID-19 patients would be severely affected, and severe COVID-19 patients had lower levels of lymphocyte subsets (CD3+ T cells, CD3+CD4+ T cells, CD3+CD8+T cells, and CD19+ B cells) and CD16+CD56+ NK cells and higher level of neutrophils. There were significant differences in the levels of CD3+CD4+ T cells and CD19+ B cells between T1-2 and T3-4 stages as well as IL-2 and CD19+ B cells between N0-1 and N2-3 stages while no significant differences between the metastatic and nonmetastatic cancer patients. Additionally, there were higher correlations between IL-2 and IL-4, TNF-α and IL-2, TNF-α and IL-4, TNF-α and IFN-γ, and CD16+CD56+NK cells and various subsets of T cells in COVID-19 patients. There was a higher correlation between CD3+CD4+ T cells and CD19+ B cells in cancer patients.

CONCLUSION

Inflammation associated with COVID-19 or cancer had effects on patients' outcomes. Accompanied by changes in immune cells and cytokines, there were consistencies, differences, and satisfactory correlations between patients with COVID-19 and those with cancers.

Predictive value of circulating tumor cell counts during the treatment of cancer: interactions with the blood microenvironment

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to evaluate the prognostic value of circulating tumor cell (CTC) in tumor patients during treatment.

METHODS

This study retrospectively analyzed clinical data obtained from 174 cancer patients during treatment. The relationship between the CTC counts and clinicopathological variables was analyzed. A ROC curve was applied to determine the optimal cut-off values and assess the predictive ability of the prognostic indicators. The overall survival (OS) for different prognostic factors was calculated using the Kaplan-Meier method, and the difference between the survival curves was then compared using the log-rank test. Cox regression model was used to investigate the effect of independent factors on patients' survival.

RESULTS

The CTC-positive rate was positively correlated with the clinicopathological variables of TNM stage, tumor differentiation, serum CEA level, and ki-67%. In the differential analysis of hematological microenvironment parameters in CTC-positive and CTC-negative samples, the complete blood count, blood biological chemistry, tumor markers (CEA, CA19-9, CA72-4), and lymphocyte subpopulation were statistically significant. The results of the ROC curve analysis indicated that the serum CEA level was the best diagnostic indicator to discriminate the CTC count in tumor patients. Additionally, the results of the univariate and multivariate analyses of OS in relation to clinical variables revealed that the CTC counts were an independent prognostic factor for unfavorable OS.

CONCLUSION

The CTC counts in patients with tumors undergoing treatment were significantly correlated with hematological microenvironment parameters. The detection of CTCs may therefore be used as an indicator of tumor prognosis.

Spatial Metabolomics and Transcriptomics Reveal Metabolic Reprogramming and Cellular Interactions in Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma with High PD-1 Expression and Therapeutic Response

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is a heterogeneous cancer with variable therapeutic responses, highlighting the need to better understand the molecular factors influencing treatment outcomes. This study aims to explore spatially metabolic and gene expression alterations in NPC patients with different therapeutic responses and PD-1 expression levels. Methods: This study employs spatial metabolomics (SM) and spatial transcriptomics (ST) to investigate significant alterations in metabolic pathways and metabolites in NPC patients exhibiting therapeutic sensitivity or elevated programmed death 1 (PD-1) expression. The spatial distribution of various cell types within the TME and their complex interactions were also investigated. Identified prognostic targets were validated using public datasets from TCGA, and further substantiated by in vitro functional analyses. Results: SM analysis revealed substantial reprogramming in lipid metabolism, branched-chain amino acid (BCAA) metabolism, and glutamine metabolism, which were closely associated with therapeutic response and PD-1 expression. ST analysis highlighted the critical role of interactions between precursor T cells and malignant epithelial cells in modulating therapeutic response in NPC. Notably, six key genes involved in BCAA metabolism (IL4I1, OXCT1, BCAT2, DLD, ALDH1B1, HADH) were identified in distinguishing patients with therapeutic sensitivity from those with therapeutic resistance. Functional validation of DLD and IL4I1 revealed that gene silencing significantly inhibited NPC cell proliferation, colony formation, wound healing, and invasion. Silencing DLD or IL4I1 induced cell cycle arrest. Reduction in α-Ketomethylvaleric acid (KMV) levels was demonstrated upon IL4I1 silencing. Immunohistochemical analysis further confirmed that high expression of these six genes was significantly associated with poor prognosis in NPC patients, a trend corroborated by data from the TCGA head and neck cancer cohort. Conclusions: This study highlights the pivotal roles of key molecular players in therapeutic response in NPC, providing compelling evidence for their potential application as prognostic biomarkers and therapeutic targets, thereby contributing to precision oncology strategies aimed at improving patient outcomes.

Engineered Cas12a-based one-tube detection of DNMT3A R882 H/C mutation in acute myeloid leukemia

Advances in sequencing technologies have identified numerous genetic alterations associated with acute myeloid leukemia (AML), many of which play critical roles in diagnosis, classification, and prognosis. Among these, mutations in the DNA methyltransferase 3 alpha (DNMT3A) gene are particularly prevalent, with the R882H and R882C variants being the most common. Accurate and sensitive detection of DNMT3A mutations is crucial for prognosis, treatment guidance, and early intervention in AML. However, existing detection methods often fail to achieve an optimal balance among sensitivity, turnaround time, and operational simplicity. To address this limitation, we aimed to develop a rapid and highly sensitive method for detecting DNMT3A mutations. The CRISPR/Cas12a system shows promise for genetic detection due to its high sensitivity and single-base specificity. Here, we established a Cas12a-based one-tube assay for the detection of DNMT3A R882 H/C mutations. We utilized the mismatch tolerance of enAsU-R Cas12a to design crRNA for DNMT3A R882 H/C mutation and integrated CRISPR/Cas12a system with ERA. The entire detection process can be completed within 1 h at 37 °C. The optimized detection system demonstrated a sensitivity of 0.1 % when analyzing genomic DNA. To validate its clinical applicability, we tested samples from 49 AML patients and successfully identified all DNMT3A R882H/C-positive cases, including one with a mutation rate as low as 0.24 %. These results highlight the potential of our Cas12a-based one-tube detection system as a rapid, sensitive, and cost-effective method for detecting DNMT3A R882 H/C mutation. This approach could serve as a valuable tool for both diagnostic and therapeutic monitoring.

Intratumoral microbiota associates with systemic immune inflammation state in nasopharyngeal carcinoma

BACKGROUND

The nasopharynx serves as a crucial niche for the microbiome of the upper respiratory tract. However, the association between the intratumoral microbiota and host systemic inflammation and immune status in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) remain uncertain.

METHODS

We performed 5R 16S rDNA sequencing on NPC tissue samples, followed by diversity analysis, LEfSe differential analysis, and KEGG functional prediction. The analyses were based on indices such as AISI, SIRI, PAR, PLR, and NAR. Correlation analyses between microbes and these indices were performed to identify microbes associated with inflammation and immune status. Additionally, regression analysis based on tumor TNM stage was performed to identify key microbes linked to tumor progression. The head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSC) transcriptome and the paired HNSC microbiome data from TCGA were utilized to validate the analyses.

RESULTS

The Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria, Firmicutes, and Bacteroidetes were the most enriched phyla in NPC tissues. Microbes within these phyla demonstrated high sensitivity to changes in host systemic inflammation and immune status. Proteobacteria and Firmicutes showed significant differences between inflammation groups. Actinobacteria varied specifically with platelet-related inflammatory indices, and Bacteroidetes genera exhibited significant differences between NAR groups. Corynebacterium and Brevundimonas significantly impacted the T stage of tumors, with a high load of Corynebacterium within tumors associated with a better prognosis CONCLUSION: Our analysis indicates that Proteobacteria play a crucial role in the inflammatory state of NPC, while Bacteroidetes are more sensitive to the tumor immune status.

Identifying prognostic markers in spatially heterogeneous breast cancer microenvironment

To gain deeper insights into the microenvironment of breast cancer, we utilized GeoMx Digital Spatial Profiling (DSP) technology to analyze transcripts from 107 regions of interest in 65 untreated breast cancer tissue samples. Our study revealed spatial heterogeneity in the expression of marker genes in tumor cell enriched, immune cell enriched, and normal epithelial areas. We evaluated a total of 55 prognostic markers in tumor cell enriched regions and 15 in immune cell enriched regions, identifying that tumor cell enriched regions had higher levels of follicular helper T cells, resting dendritic cells, and plasma cells than immune cell enriched regions, while the levels of resting CD4 memory in T cells and regulatory (Treg) T cells were lower. Additionally, we analyzed the heterogeneity of HLA gene families, immunological checkpoints, and metabolic genes in these areas. Through univariate Cox analysis, we identified 5 prognosis-related metabolic genes. Furthermore, we conducted immunostaining experiments, including EMILIN2, SURF4, and LYPLA1, to verify our findings. Our investigation into the spatial heterogeneity of the breast cancer tumor environment has led to the discovery of specific diagnostic and prognostic markers in breast cancer.

Diagnostic utility of PAX2 and PAX5 in distinguishing non-small cell lung cancer from small cell lung cancer

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related death in both men and women and consists of different histological types. Histopathological examination and accurate subtype diagnosis has become increasingly important in guiding patient management and, as such, is the most important currently available lung cancer "biomarker". In this study, we examined the expression of PAX2 and PAX5 by immunohistochemistry in 47 cases of lung cancer and 13 cases of pneumonia. The results demonstrated that PAX2 were detected in 82.8% (24/29) of NSCLC, 0% (0/18) of SCLC and 7.7% (1/13) of pneumonia, respectively; However, PAX5 were detected in 15/18 cases (83.3%) of SCLC, 6.8% (2/29) of NSCLC and 7.7% (1/13) of pneumonia. Further, the samples with lymphatic metastasis had remarkable higher positive PAX2 or PAX5 than that without metastases. Overall, our data indicated that PAX2 and PAX5 differentially expressed in NSCLC and SCLC. Thus, PAX2 and PAX5 are useful biomarker in the differential diagnosis of lung cancer.

Abstract LB-B03: miR-24 acts as a tumor suppressor and radiosensitizer by targeting Jab1/CSN5 functions

Radiotherapy is the standard therapy for head and neck cancer; however, radioresistance can hinder successful treatment and is likely to give rise to local recurrence and distant metastatic relapse. Recent studies revealed the role of microRNA (miRNA)-mRNA mediated regulation in tumorigenesis; however, whether specific miRNAs regulate tumor radioresistance and can be exploited as radiosensitizing agents remains unclear. The purpose of this study was to identify an miRNA signature from differentially expressed miRNAs in radioresistance. Here, we report that miR-24 acts as a tumor suppressor and radiosensitizer in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) cells and mouse models by targeting Jab1/CSN5 and that loss of miR-24 is highly associated with poor survival. When combined with irradiation, miR-24 acted as a radiosensitizer in NPC cells. Jab1/CSN5 functioned in a manner opposite that of miR-24 in NPC tumorigenesis and radioresistance. We demonstrated that miR-24 inhibits Jab1/CSN5 translation, leading to tumor growth inhibition, and sensitizes NPC tumors to radiation in vivo. Moreover, miR-24 inhibits DNA damage repair by targeting JAB1/CSN5. Finally, comparative analysis of paired samples of primary and matched recurrent NPC tissues showed that miR-24 levels were significantly lower and Jab1/CSN5 levels were higher in recurrent NPC than in primary NPC. Our findings identify miR-24 as a tumor suppressor and radiosensitizer miRNA and reveal a new therapeutic strategy for radioresistant tumors.

Citation Format: Francois X. Claret, Sumei Wang, Yunbao Pan, Huiling Yang. miR-24 acts as a tumor suppressor and radiosensitizer by targeting Jab1/CSN5 functions. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR-NCI-EORTC International Conference: Molecular Targets and Cancer Therapeutics; 2015 Nov 5-9; Boston, MA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Mol Cancer Ther 2015;14(12 Suppl 2):Abstract nr LB-B03.

Abstract 1855: Jab1/CSN5 a negative regulator of p27 plays a role in the pathogenesis and cisplatin sensitivity of nasopharyngeal carcinoma

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is an Epstein-Barr virus-associated malignancy most common in East Asia and Africa. Previous studies have reported that genetic susceptibility is associated with NPC. Jab1/CSN5 promotes cell growth and proliferation. Recent studies have shown that Jab1/CSN5 is aberrantly expressed, is correlated with low expression of p27, and is associated with advanced tumor stage and poor prognosis in several human cancers. In this study, we examined the functional role and correlation between Jab1/CSN5 and p27 protein expression in NPC tissue samples and cell lines, the association of their expression with clinical outcome and the antitumor effects of cisplatin in NPC cells. Immunohistochemical analysis showed that Jab1/CSN5 aberrant expression was inversely associated with p27 expression in NPC tissue samples, and Jab1/CSN5 overexpression was correlated with poor survival (p&lt;0.01). Further analysis showed that Jab1/CSN5 mediated p27 degradation in a proteasome-dependent manner, and Jab1/CSN5 directly interacted with p27 in NPC cells. In addition, inactivation of Jab1/CSN5 by small interfering RNAs resulted in a remarkable increase in p27 levels and in the inhibition of cell proliferation, thereby indicating that Jab1/CSN5 controls the stability of p27 by targeting it for degradation in NPC. Moreover, suppression of Jab1/CSN5 enhanced the antitumor effects of cisplatin in NPC cells. To our knowledge, these findings are the first to suggest that Jab1/CSN5 overexpression is involved in NPC pathogenesis via Jab1-mediated p27 degradation, thus explaining the low p27 levels seen in NPC. Therefore, Jab1/CSN5 could be a diagnostic marker and a novel therapeutic target in patients with NPC.

Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 103rd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2012 Mar 31-Apr 4; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2012;72(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 1855. doi:1538-7445.AM2012-1855

Intratumoral Stenotrophomonas Maltophilia in Breast Cancer: Unraveling the Interplay with Hormone Receptors and Impact on Tumor Immunity

This study aimed to explore the impact of intratumoral microorganisms in conjunction with hormone receptors on the tumor microenvironment and their potential role in predicting patient prognosis. Significant bacterial variations were identified within ER, PR, HER2, and triple-negative breast cancer subtypes. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis was employed to identify bacteria associated with patient survival. Further, a humanized immune system mouse model bearing breast cancer xenografts was used to evaluate the effects of Stenotrophomonas maltophilia (SMA) on tumor growth and CD8+ T cell infiltration. Additional validation experiments included fluorescence in situ hybridization for SMA, CD8+ T cell chemotaxis, and intracellular cytokine detection. Lawsonella clevelandensis-A, Diaphorobacter nitroreducens, and SMA were identified as significant prognostic species. Notably, tumor-infiltrating immune cells, particularly CD8+ T cells, exhibited a positive association with the presence of SMA. Experimental validation with clinically isolated SMA further confirmed its positive correlation with CD8+ T cell activation. In vivo findings demonstrated that SMA inhibited tumor growth and promoted CD8+ T cell infiltration, highlighting the complex interactions between intratumoral microbiota and tumor immunity in breast cancer. These insights contribute to the understanding of microbial influences on the tumor microenvironment and suggest potential pathways for improving patient prognosis through microbiota modulation.

Single cell analysis unveils the commonality and heterogeneity between nasopharyngeal and oropharyngeal carcinoma

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) and oropharyngeal carcinoma (OPC) are subtypes of head and neck cancer with different treatment effects due to the heterogeneity of tumor microenvironments. This study was to investigate the distinctive tumor microenvironments of NPC and OPC. Analyzing single-cell data from 10 cases of each subtype, we reveal significant differences in cellular composition, with NPC microenvironment dominated by T/NK and B cells, and OPC characterized by prevalent epithelial cells and fibroblasts. Dynamic transitions of CD8 T cells are observed in both tumor types, involving shifts from naivety to cytotoxicity, proliferation, and eventual exhaustion/exhausted states. Additionally, Tregs exhibit heightened proliferative abilities in later developmental stages, concomitant with exhaustion. These highly proliferative T cells and Tregs manifest elevated glycolysis and lactate metabolism activities. Furthermore, we explore intercellular communication between glycolytic malignant epithelial cells and these proliferative T cells. These findings offer comprehensive insights into the heterogeneity of tumor microenvironments and provide a solid foundation for future therapeutic strategies and targeted interventions.