Understanding the tumor microenvironment for effective immunotherapy

Breast cancer immunotherapy: Realities and advances

Breast cancer (BC) is the most common malignant tumor and the main cause of death in women worldwide. With increased knowledge regarding tumor escape mechanisms and advances in immunology, many new antitumor strategies such as nonspecific immunotherapies, monoclonal antibodies, anticancer vaccines, and oncolytic viruses, among others, make immunotherapy a promising approach for the treatment of BC. However, these approaches still require meticulous assessment and readjustment as resistance and modest response rates remain important barriers. In this article, we aim to summarize the most recent data available in BC immunotherapy to include the results of ongoing clinical trials and approved therapies used as monotherapies or in combination with conventional treatments.

Prognostic signature and immune landscape of 5-methylcytosine-related long non-coding RNAs in gastric cancer

Background

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been demonstrated to be useful in assessing the prognosis of cancer patients. However, few studies have focused on 5-methylcytosine-related lncRNAs (m5C-lncRNAs) in gastric cancer (GC). In this study, we aimed to establish a m5C-lncRNAs prognostic signature (m5C-LPS) and explore its potential impact on guiding clinical practice for GC.

Methods

RNA-sequence and clinicopathological data were retrieved from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database, while the coexpression of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) was determined using Pearson's correlation analysis. A m5C-LPS model was constructed using univariate and Lasso Cox regression, and its prognostic value and accuracy were subsequently validated. Subsequently, the expression of 11 m5C-lncRNAs was verified via quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) in gastric cancer (GC) cell lines. The potential biological mechanism of this signature was elucidated using Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA). Based on the GSEA findings, CIBERSORT and ESTIMATE algorithms were utilized to conduct a comprehensive investigation of the tumor immune microenvironment (TIME) in GC. Additionally, pRRophetic and TIDE algorithms were employed to predict drug sensitivity and the efficacy of immunotherapy for GC patients.

Results

280 lncRNAs were identified as m5C-lncRNAs, including RHPN1-AS1, AC093752.3, TSC22D1-AS1, AL391152.1, MAGI2-AS3, AC048382.2, AL033527.3, AC007405.2, AC036103.1, CCDC183-AS1, and ADORA2A-AS1. Their prognostic value was validated, and the expression of these 11 lncRNAs was confirmed in four gastric cancer cell lines using quantitative reverse transcription PCR (qRT-PCR). A nomogram incorporating a risk score was developed to provide more precise clinical decision-making. Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA) showed that many classical signaling pathways related to tumor progression were enriched in this signature. Analyses related to immunity and drug sensitivity demonstrated distinct differences in features between high-risk and low-risk subgroups.

Conclusion

The m5C-LPS can predict the survival of gastric cancer (GC) patients, provide novel therapeutic targets, and thus offer more thoughtful perspectives for future clinical decisions regarding GC.

The future of interleukin gene therapy in head and neck cancers

INTRODUCTION

Head and neck cancer (HNC), primarily head and neck squamous cell carcinomas, originates from the squamous epithelium in areas like the oral cavity, lip, larynx, and oropharynx. With high morbidity impacting critical functions, combined treatments like surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy often fall short in advanced stages, highlighting the need for innovative therapies.

AREAS COVERED

This review critically evaluates interleukin (IL) gene therapy for treating HNC. The discussion extends to key ILs in HNC, various gene therapy techniques and delivery methods. We particularly focus on the application of IL-2, IL-12, and IL-24 gene therapies, examining their mechanisms and outcomes in preclinical studies and clinical trials. The final sections address IL gene therapy challenges in HNC, exploring solutions and critically assessing future therapeutic directions.

EXPERT OPINION

Despite advancements in genomic and immunotherapy, significant challenges in HNC treatment persist, primarily due to the immunosuppressive nature of the tumor microenvironment and the adverse effects of current therapies. The therapeutic efficacy of IL gene therapy hinges on overcoming these hurdles through refined delivery methods that ensure targeted, tumor-specific gene expression. Future strategies should focus on refining gene delivery methods and combining IL gene therapy with other treatments to optimize efficacy and minimize toxicity.

Reprogramming tumor-associated macrophages using exosomes from M1 macrophages

Macrophages, abundant in tumors, are classified as M1 or M2 types with M2 dominating the tumor microenvironment. Shifting macrophages from M2 to M1 using exosomes is a promising intervention. The properties of exosomes depend on their source cells. M1-exosomes are expected to polarize macrophages towards M1 phenotype. We compared M1-exosomes and M0-exosomes' effects on M2 macrophage polarization. The RAW264.7 cells were cultured and one group of them was exposed to LPS. The serum-free medium was collected and exosomes were extracted. Exosomes were analyzed by scanning and transmission electron microscopy, dynamic light scattering and Western blot. Subsequently, M1 or M0 exosomes were applied to M2 macrophages induced by IL4. The macrophages polarization, including M1 and M2 genes and surface markers expression, cytokines secretion, and phagocytosis ability were evaluated. It was demonstrated that M1-exosomes induced macrophage polarization toward the M1 phenotype, characterized by an upregulation of M1-specific markers and a downregulation of M2 markers. Furthermore, the secretion of TNF-α was increased, while the secretion of IL-10 was decreased. The phagocytosis ability of M1-exosome-treated macrophages was also augmented. This research suggested that M1-exosomes might be promising candidates for modulating immune response in situations marked by an overabundance of M2 polarization, like in cancer.

mRNA vaccines in tumor targeted therapy: mechanism, clinical application, and development trends

Malignant tumors remain a primary cause of human mortality. Among the various treatment modalities for neoplasms, tumor vaccines have consistently shown efficacy and promising potential. These vaccines offer advantages such as specificity, safety, and tolerability, with mRNA vaccines representing promising platforms. By introducing exogenous mRNAs encoding antigens into somatic cells and subsequently synthesizing antigens through gene expression systems, mRNA vaccines can effectively induce immune responses. Katalin Karikó and Drew Weissman were awarded the 2023 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for their great contributions to mRNA vaccine research. Compared with traditional tumor vaccines, mRNA vaccines have several advantages, including rapid preparation, reduced contamination, nonintegrability, and high biodegradability. Tumor-targeted therapy is an innovative treatment modality that enables precise targeting of tumor cells, minimizes damage to normal tissues, is safe at high doses, and demonstrates great efficacy. Currently, targeted therapy has become an important treatment option for malignant tumors. The application of mRNA vaccines in tumor-targeted therapy is expanding, with numerous clinical trials underway. We systematically outline the targeted delivery mechanism of mRNA vaccines and the mechanism by which mRNA vaccines induce anti-tumor immune responses, describe the current research and clinical applications of mRNA vaccines in tumor-targeted therapy, and forecast the future development trends of mRNA vaccine application in tumor-targeted therapy.

Pan-cancer analysis suggests that LY6H is a potential biomarker of diagnosis, immunoinfiltration, and prognosis

LY6H, a member of the lymphocyte antigen-6(LY6) gene family, is located on human chromosomes 6, 8, 11 and 19. This superfamily is characterized by the presence of LU domains. It has demonstrated its emerging significance in various cancers including adenocarcinoma, bladder cancer, ovarian cancer and skin cancer. However, comprehensive pan-cancer analyses have not been conducted to investigate its role in diagnosis, prognosis and immunological prediction. By conducting comprehensive analysis of patient data obtained from publicly available databases, including The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), Genotype-Tissue Expression (GTEx), University of Alabama at Birmingham (UALCAN), The Comparative Toxicological Genomics Database (CTD), cBioportal, cancerSEA, and UCSC, we systematically investigated the differential expression of LY6H in 33 different types of human tumors. Additionally, we thoroughly analyzed the diagnostic, prognostic, and immunoinfiltration value of LY6H. Simultaneously, we examined the correlation between LY6H and tumor stemness, methylation patterns, drug sensitivity, gene alterations as well as single cell functions. Furthermore, protein-protein interaction networks and gene-gene interaction networks for LY6H were constructed. Moreover, we also explored the network relationship between LY6H and chemical compounds or genes. The results revealed that LY6H exhibited high expression levels in most cancers which were further validated through Reverse Transcription-Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) and Immunohistochemistry (IHC) analysis using Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) samples. Moreover, LY6H displayed early diagnostic potential in 12 tumors while also showing positive or negative correlations with prognosis across different tumor types. Additionally, it was found that LY6H played a pivotal role in regulating immune-infiltrating cells across multiple cancers whereas the correlation between LY6H expression and immune-related genes varied depending on their specific types. Furthermore, the expression of LY6H was significantly associated with DNA methylation patterns in 21 cancers. Therefore, LY6H could serve as an adjunctive biomarker for early tumor detection as well as a prognostic indicator for diverse malignancies.

Aggregable gold nanoparticles for cancer photothermal therapy

Photothermal therapy (PTT) is an important non-invasive cancer treatment method. Enhancing the photothermal conversion efficiency (PCE) of photothermal agents (PTAs) and prolonging their tumor accumulation and retention are effective strategies to enhance the efficiency of cancer PTT. Recently, tremendous progress has been made in developing stimuli-responsive aggregable gold nanoparticles as effective PTAs for PTT. In this review, we discuss the chemical principles underlying gold nanoparticle aggregation and highlight the progress in gold nanoparticle aggregation triggered by different stimuli, especially tumor microenvironment-related factors, for cancer PTT. Covalent condensation reactions, click cycloaddition reactions, chelation reactions, and Au-S bonding, as well as non-covalent electrostatic interactions, hydrophobic interactions, hydrogen bonding, and van der Waals forces play key roles in the aggregation of gold nanoparticles. Enzymes, pH, reactive oxygen species, small molecules, salts, and light drive the occurrence of gold nanoparticle aggregation. Targeted aggregation of gold nanoparticles prolongs tumor accumulation and retention of PTAs and improves PCE, resulting in enhanced tumor PTT. Moreover, the major challenges of aggregable gold nanoparticles as PTAs are pointed out and the promising applications are also prospected at the end. With the deepening of research, we expect aggregable gold nanoparticles to become essential PTAs for tumor therapy.

Targeted Protein Degradation (TPD) for Immunotherapy: Understanding Proteolysis Targeting Chimera-Driven Ubiquitin-Proteasome Interactions

Targeted protein degradation or TPD, is rapidly emerging as a treatment that utilizes small molecules to degrade proteins that cause diseases. TPD allows for the selective removal of disease-causing proteins, including proteasome-mediated degradation, lysosome-mediated degradation, and autophagy-mediated degradation. This approach has shown great promise in preclinical studies and is now being translated to treat numerous diseases, including neurodegenerative diseases, infectious diseases, and cancer. This review discusses the latest advances in TPD and its potential as a new chemical modality for immunotherapy, with a special focus on the innovative applications and cutting-edge research of PROTACs (Proteolysis TArgeting Chimeras) and their efficient translation from scientific discovery to technological achievements. Our review also addresses the significant obstacles and potential prospects in this domain, while also offering insights into the future of TPD for immunotherapeutic applications.

Prognostic and immune infiltration implications of SIGLEC9 in SKCM

The occurrence and progression of skin cutaneous melanoma (SKCM) is strongly associated with immune cells infiltrating the tumor microenvironment (TME). This study examined the expression, prognosis, and immune relevance of SIGLEC9 in SKCM using multiple online databases. Analysis of the GEPIA2 and Ualcan databases revealed that SIGLEC9 is highly expressed in SKCM, and patients with high SIGLEC9 expression had improved overall survival (OS). Furthermore, the mutation rate of SIGLEC9 in SKCM patients was found to be 5.41%, the highest observed. The expression of SIGLEC9 was positively correlated with macrophages, neutrophils and B cells, CD8 + T cells, CD4 + T cells, and dendritic cells, according to TIMER. Based on TCGA-SKCM data, we verified that high SIGLEC9 expression is closely associated with a good prognosis for SKCM patients, including overall survival, progression-free interval, and disease-specific survival. This positive prognosis could be due to the infiltration of immune cells into the TME. Additionally, our analysis of single-cell transcriptome data revealed that SIGLEC9 not only played a role in the normal skin immune microenvironment, but is also highly expressed in immune cell subpopulations of SKCM patients, regulating the immune response to tumors. Our findings suggest that the close association between SIGLEC9 and SKCM prognosis is primarily mediated by its effect on the tumor immune microenvironment.

Multimaterial 3D and 4D Bioprinting of Heterogenous Constructs for Tissue Engineering

Additive manufacturing (AM), which is based on the principle of layer-by-layer shaping and stacking of discrete materials, has shown significant benefits in the fabrication of complicated implants for tissue engineering (TE). However, many native tissues exhibit anisotropic heterogenous constructs with diverse components and functions. Consequently, the replication of complicated biomimetic constructs using conventional AM processes based on a single material is challenging. Multimaterial 3D and 4D bioprinting (with time as the fourth dimension) has emerged as a promising solution for constructing multifunctional implants with heterogenous constructs that can mimic the host microenvironment better than single-material alternatives. Notably, 4D-printed multimaterial implants with biomimetic heterogenous architectures can provide a time-dependent programmable dynamic microenvironment that can promote cell activity and tissue regeneration in response to external stimuli. This paper first presents the typical design strategies of biomimetic heterogenous constructs in TE applications. Subsequently, the latest processes in the multimaterial 3D and 4D bioprinting of heterogenous tissue constructs are discussed, along with their advantages and challenges. In particular, the potential of multimaterial 4D bioprinting of smart multifunctional tissue constructs is highlighted. Furthermore, this review provides insights into how multimaterial 3D and 4D bioprinting can facilitate the realization of next-generation TE applications.

Bioinformatics analysis and identification of cuproptosis-related long non-coding RNAs in colorectal cancer

OBJECTIVE

Identifying precise biomarkers for colorectal cancer (CRC) detection and management remains challenging. Here, we developed an innovative prognostic model for CRC using cuproptosis-related long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs).

METHODS

In this retrospective study, CRC patient transcriptomic and clinical data were sourced from The Cancer Genome Atlas database. Cuproptosis-related lncRNAs were identified and used to develop a prognostic model, which helped categorize patients into high- and low-risk groups. The model was validated through survival analysis, risk curves, independent prognostic analysis, receiver operating characteristic curve analysis, decision curves, and nomograms. In addition, we performed various immune-related analyses. LncRNA expression levels were examined in normal human colorectal epithelial cells (FHC) and CRC cells (HCT-116) using quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR).

RESULTS

Six cuproptosis-related lncRNAs were identified: ZKSCAN2-DT, AL161729.4, AC016394.1, AC007128.2, AL137782.1, and AC099850.3. The prognostic model distinguished between high-/low-risk populations, demonstrating excellent predictive ability for survival outcomes. Immunocorrelation analysis showed significant differences in immune cell infiltration and functions, immune checkpoint expression, and m6A methylation-related genes. The qPCR results showed significant upregulation of ZKSCAN2-DT, AL161729.4, AC016394.1, AC007128.2 in HCT-116 cells, while AL137782.1 and AC099850.3 expression patterns were significantly downregulated.

CONCLUSION

Cuproptosis-related lncRNAs can potentially serve as reliable diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers for CRC.

Spatial dynamics of tertiary lymphoid aggregates in head and neck cancer: insights into immunotherapy response

BACKGROUND

Recurrent/metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (R/M HNSCC) generally has a poor prognosis for patients with limited treatment options. While incorporating immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) has now become the standard of care, the efficacy is variable, with only a subset of patients responding. The complexity of the tumor microenvironment (TME) and the role of tertiary lymphoid structures (TLS) have emerged as critical determinants for immunotherapeutic response.

METHODS

In this study, we analyzed two independently collected R/M HNSCC patient tissue cohorts to better understand the role of TLS in response to ICIs. Utilizing a multi-omics approach, we first performed targeted proteomic profiling using the Nanostring GeoMx Digital Spatial Profiler to quantify immune-related protein expression with spatial resolution. This was further characterized by spatially resolved whole transcriptome profiling of TLSs and germinal centers (GCs). Deeper single-cell resolved proteomic profiling of the TLSs was performed using the Akoya Biosciences Phenocycler Fusion platform.

RESULTS

Our proteomic analysis revealed the presence of T lymphocyte markers, including CD3, CD45, and CD8, expressing cells and upregulation of immune checkpoint marker PD-L1 within tumor compartments of patients responsive to ICIs, indicative of 'hot tumor' phenotypes. We also observed the presence of antigen-presenting cells marked by expression of CD40, CD68, CD11c, and CD163 with upregulation of antigen-presentation marker HLA-DR, in patients responding to ICIs. Transcriptome analysis of TLS and GCs uncovered a marked elevation in the expression of genes related to immune modulation, diverse immune cell recruitment, and a potent interferon response within the TLS structure. Notably, the distribution of TLS-tumor distance was found to be significantly different across response groups (H = 9.28, p = 0.026). The proximity of TLSs to tumor cells was found to be a critical indicator of ICI response, implying that patients with TLSs located further from tumor cells have worse outcomes.

CONCLUSION

The study underscores the multifaceted role of TLSs in modulating the immunogenic landscape of the TME in R/M HNSCC, likely influencing the efficacy of ICIs. Spatially resolved multi-omics approaches offer valuable insights into potential biomarkers for ICI response and highlight the importance of profiling the TME complexity when developing therapeutic strategies and patient stratification.

Spatial proteomic profiling of tumor and stromal compartments in non-small-cell lung cancer identifies signatures associated with overall survival

Objectives

Non-small-cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC) is the most prevalent and lethal form of lung cancer. The need for biomarker-informed stratification of targeted therapies has underpinned the need to uncover the underlying properties of the tumor microenvironment (TME) through high-plex quantitative assays.

Methods

In this study, we profiled resected NSCLC tissues from 102 patients by targeted spatial proteomics of 78 proteins across tumor, immune activation, immune cell typing, immune-oncology, drug targets, cell death and PI3K/AKT modules to identify the tumor and stromal signatures associated with overall survival (OS).

Results

Survival analysis revealed that stromal CD56 (HR = 0.384, P = 0.06) and tumoral TIM3 (HR = 0.703, P = 0.05) were associated with better survival in univariate Cox models. In contrast, after adjusting for stage, BCLXL (HR = 2.093, P = 0.02) and cleaved caspase 9 (HR = 1.575, P = 0.1) negatively influenced survival. Delta testing indicated the protective effect of TIM-3 (HR = 0.614, P = 0.04) on OS. In multivariate analysis, CD56 (HR = 0.172, P = 0.001) was associated with better survival in the stroma, while B7.H3 (HR = 1.72, P = 0.008) was linked to poorer survival in the tumor.

Conclusions

Deciphering the TME using high-plex spatially resolved methods is giving us new insights into compartmentalised tumor and stromal protein signatures associated with clinical endpoints in NSCLC.

Natural products as promising modulators of breast cancer immunotherapy

Breast cancer (BC) is the most common malignancy among women and is considered a major global health challenge worldwide due to its high incidence and mortality rates. Treatment strategies for BC is wide-ranging and include surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, targeted hormonal therapy and immunotherapy. Immunotherapy has gained popularity recently and is often integrated as a component of personalized cancer care because it aims to strengthen the immune system and enable it to recognize and eradicate transformed cells. It has fewer side-effects and lower toxicity than other treatment strategies, such as chemotherapy. Many natural products are being investigated for a wide range of therapeutic pharmacological properties, such as immune system modulation and activity against infection, auto-immune disease, and cancer. This review presents an overview of the major immune response-related pathways in BC, followed by detailed explanation of how natural compounds can act as immunomodulatory agents against biomolecular targets. Research has been carried out on many forms of natural products, including extracts, isolated entities, synthetic derivatives, nanoparticles, and combinations of natural compounds. Findings have shown significant regulatory effects on immune cells and immune cytokines that lead to immunogenic cancer cell death, as well as upregulation of macrophages and CD+8 T cells, and increased natural killer cell and dendritic cell activity. Natural products have also been found to inhibit some immuno-suppressive cells such as Treg and myeloid-derived suppressor cells, and to decrease immunosuppressive factors such as TGF-β and IL-10. Also, some natural compounds have been found to target and hinder immune checkpoints such as PD-L1.

A predictive radiotranscriptomics model based on DCE-MRI for tumor immune landscape and immunotherapy in cholangiocarcinoma

This study aims to determine the predictive role of dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (DCE-MRI) derived radiomic model in tumor immune profiling and immunotherapy for cholangiocarcinoma. To perform radiomic analysis, immune related subgroup clustering was first performed by single sample gene set enrichment analysis (ssGSEA). Second, a total of 806 radiomic features for each phase of DCE-MRI were extracted by utilizing the Python package Pyradiomics. Then, a predictive radiomic signature model was constructed after a three-step features reduction and selection, and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was employed to evaluate the performance of this model. In the end, an independent testing cohort involving cholangiocarcinoma patients with anti-PD-1 Sintilimab treatment after surgery was used to verify the potential application of the established radiomic model in immunotherapy for cholangiocarcinoma. Two distinct immune related subgroups were classified using ssGSEA based on transcriptome sequencing. For radiomic analysis, a total of 10 predictive radiomic features were finally identified to establish a radiomic signature model for immune landscape classification. Regarding to the predictive performance, the mean AUC of ROC curves was 0.80 in the training/validation cohort. For the independent testing cohort, the individual predictive probability by radiomic model and the corresponding immune score derived from ssGSEA was significantly correlated. In conclusion, radiomic signature model based on DCE-MRI was capable of predicting the immune landscape of chalangiocarcinoma. Consequently, a potentially clinical application of this developed radiomic model to guide immunotherapy for cholangiocarcinoma was suggested.

Immunotherapy in Breast Cancer

Breast cancer is a disease encompassing a spectrum of molecular subtypes and clinical presentations, each with distinct prognostic implications and treatment responses. Breast cancer has traditionally been considered an immunologically "cold" tumor, unresponsive to immunotherapy. However, clinical trials in recent years have found immunotherapy to be an efficacious therapeutic option for select patients. Breast cancer is categorized into different subtypes ranging from the most common positive hormone receptor (HR+), human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-negative type, to less frequent HER2- positive breast cancer and triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), highlighting the necessity for tailored treatment strategies aimed at maximizing patient outcomes. Despite notable progress in early detection and new therapeutic modalities, breast cancer remains the second leading cause of cancer death in the USA. Moreover, in recent decades, breast cancer incidence rates have been increasing, especially in women younger than the age of 50. This has prompted the exploration of new therapeutic approaches to address this trend, offering new therapeutic prospects for breast cancer patients. Immunotherapy is a class of therapeutic agents that has revolutionized the treatment landscape of many cancers, namely melanoma, lung cancer, and gastroesophageal cancers, amongst others. Though belatedly, immunotherapy has entered the treatment armamentarium of breast cancer, with the approval of pembrolizumab in combination with chemotherapy in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) in the neoadjuvant and advanced settings, thereby paving the path for further research and integration of immune checkpoint inhibitors in other subtypes of breast cancer. Trials exploring various combination therapies to harness the power of immunotherapy in symbiosis with various chemotherapeutic agents are ongoing in hopes of improving response rates and prolonging survival for breast cancer patients. Biomarkers and precise patient selection for the utilization of immunotherapy remain cardinal and are currently under investigation, with some biomarkers showing promise, such as Program Death Lignat-1 (PDL-1) Combined Positive Score, Tumor Mutation Burden (TMB), and Tumor Infiltrating Lymphocytes (TILs). This review will present the current landscape of immunotherapy, particularly checkpoint inhibitors, in different types of breast cancer.

The Complex Tumor Microenvironment in Ovarian Cancer: Therapeutic Challenges and Opportunities

The tumor microenvironment (TME) in ovarian cancer (OC) has much greater complexity than previously understood. In response to aggressive pro-angiogenic stimulus, blood vessels form rapidly and are dysfunctional, resulting in poor perfusion, tissue hypoxia, and leakiness, which leads to increased interstitial fluid pressure (IFP). Decreased perfusion and high IFP significantly inhibit the uptake of therapies into the tumor. Within the TME, there are numerous inhibitor cells, such as myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs), tumor association macrophages (TAMs), regulatory T cells (Tregs), and cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) that secrete high numbers of immunosuppressive cytokines. This immunosuppressive environment is thought to contribute to the lack of success of immunotherapies such as immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) treatment. This review discusses the components of the TME in OC, how these characteristics impede therapeutic efficacy, and some strategies to alleviate this inhibition.

Thetumor microenvironment'sinpancreatic cancer:Effects onimmunotherapy successandnovel strategiestoovercomethehostile environment

Cancer is a significant global health issue that poses a considerable burden on both patients and healthcare systems. Many different types of cancers exist that often require unique treatment approaches and therapies. A hallmark of tumor progression is the creation of an immunosuppressive environment, which poses complex challenges for current treatments. Amongst the most explored characteristics is a hypoxic environment, high interstitial pressure, and immunosuppressive cells and cytokines. Traditional cancer treatments involve radiotherapy, chemotherapy, and surgical procedures. The advent of immunotherapies was regarded as a promising approach with hopes of greatly increasing patients' survival and outcome. Although some success is seen with various immunotherapies, the vast majority of monotherapies are unsuccessful. This review examines how various aspects of the tumor microenvironment (TME) present challenges that impede the success of immunotherapies. Subsequently, we review strategies to manipulate the TME to facilitate the success of immunotherapies.

Contemporary Approaches to Immunotherapy of Solid Tumors

In recent years, the arrival of the immunotherapy industry has introduced the possibility of providing transformative, durable, and potentially curative outcomes for various forms of malignancies. However, further research has shown that there are a number of issues that significantly reduce the effectiveness of immunotherapy, especially in solid tumors. First of all, these problems are related to the protective mechanisms of the tumor and its microenvironment. Currently, major efforts are focused on overcoming protective mechanisms by using different adoptive cell therapy variants and modifications of genetically engineered constructs. In addition, a complex workforce is required to develop and implement these treatments. To overcome these significant challenges, innovative strategies and approaches are necessary to engineer more powerful variations of immunotherapy with improved antitumor activity and decreased toxicity. In this review, we discuss recent innovations in immunotherapy aimed at improving clinical efficacy in solid tumors, as well as strategies to overcome the limitations of various immunotherapies.

CircRNA Regulation of T Cells in Cancer: Unraveling Potential Targets

T lymphocytes play a critical role in antitumor immunity, but their exhaustion poses a significant challenge for immune evasion by malignant cells. Circular RNAs (circRNAs), characterized by their covalently closed looped structure, have emerged as pivotal regulators within the neoplastic landscape. Recent studies have highlighted their multifaceted roles in cellular processes, including gene expression modulation and protein function regulation, which are often disrupted in cancer. In this review, we systematically explore the intricate interplay between circRNAs and T cell modulation within the tumor microenvironment. By dissecting the regulatory mechanisms through which circRNAs impact T cell exhaustion, we aim to uncover pathways crucial for immune evasion and T cell dysfunction. These insights can inform innovative immunotherapeutic strategies targeting circRNA-mediated molecular pathways. Additionally, we discuss the translational potential of circRNAs as biomarkers for therapeutic response prediction and as intervention targets. Our comprehensive analysis aims to enhance the understanding of immune evasion dynamics in the tumor microenvironment by facilitating the development of precision immunotherapy.

Application of immune checkpoint inhibitors and microsatellite instability in gastric cancer

In this editorial we comment on the article by Li published in the recent issue of the World Journal of Gastroenterology. We focus specifically on the application of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) and microsatellite instability (MSI) in gastric cancer (GC). The four pillars of GC management have long been considered, including surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy and targeted therapy. However, immunotherapy has recently emerged as a "fifth pillar", and its use is rapidly expanding. There are four principal strategies for tumor immunotherapy: ICIs, tumor vaccines, adoptive immunotherapy and nonspecific immunomodulators. Of them, ICIs are the most advanced and widespread type of cancer immunotherapy for GC. Recent breakthrough results for ICIs have paved the way to a new era of cancer immunotherapy. In particular, inhibition of the PD-1/PD-L1 axis with ICIs, including nivolumab and pembrolizumab, has emerged as a novel treatment strategy for advanced GC. Unfortunately, these therapies are sometimes associated with often subtle, potentially fatal immune-related adverse events (irAEs), including dermatitis, diarrhea, colitis, endocrinopathy, hepatotoxicity, neuropathy and pneumonitis. We must be aware of these irAEs and improve the detection of these processes to prevent inappropriate discharges, emergency department revisits, and downstream complications. Recent studies have revealed that MSI-high or mismatch- repair-deficient tumors, regardless of their primary site, have a promising response to ICIs. So, it is important to detect MSI before applying ICIs for treatment of GC.

Pan-Cancer Analysis and Experimental Validation of CEND1 as a Prognostic and Immune Infiltration-Associated Biomarker for Gliomas

Cell cycle exit and neuronal differentiation 1 (CEND1), highly expressed in the brain, is a specific transmembrane protein which plays a tumor suppressor role. This study is performed to investigate the role of CEND1 in various cancers through pan-cancer analysis, and further investigate its functions in gliomas by cell experiments. The expression and subcellular localization of CEND1 in different cancer types were analyzed utilizing the data from the GEPIA, UCSC, UALCAN and HPA databases. Relationships of CEND1 expression with prognosis, immunomodulation-related genes, immune checkpoint genes, microsatellite instability (MSI), tumor mutation burden (TMB) and RNA modifications were analyzed based on the TCGA database. The ESTIMATE algorithm was utilized to evaluate tumors' StromalScore, Immune Score, and ESTIMATES Score. The cBioPortal database was employed to analyze the categories and frequencies of CEND1 gene alterations. Biological functions and co-expression patterns of CEND1 in gliomas were explored using the LinkedOmics database, and Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analyses were conducted. The interactions between CEND1 and drugs were explored employing the Comparative Toxicogenomics Database and molecular docking technology. Cell experiments were conducted to analyze triptonide's effects on glioma cells through CCK-8, flow cytometry and qRT-PCR. CEND1 was lowly expressed in gliomas, and high CEND1 expression was correlated to better overall survival of glioma patients (HR = 0.65, P = 0.02). Deep deletion was the main type of hereditary change of CEND1 mutation. CEND1 expression was markedly associated with immune infiltration, TMB, MSI, and RNA modification in various tumors (r > 0.3, P < 0.05). CEND1 co-expressed genes in gliomas were markedly correlated with immune responses and cell cycle (FDR < 0.05). Triptonide could bind well to CEND1 (-5.0 kcal/mol), and triptonide could facilitate CEND1 expression in glioma cells and cell apoptosis, and block the cell cycle progression (P < 0.05). CEND1 serves as a potential biomarker for pan-cancer. Particularly in gliomas, CEND1 is a key regulator of cell apoptosis and cell cycle, and a potential target for glioma treatment.

Exosome-related lncRNA score: A value-based individual treatment strategy for predicting the response to immunotherapy in clear cell renal cell carcinoma

BACKGROUND

Exosomes play a crucial role in intercellular communication in clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC), while the long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are implicated in tumorigenesis and progression.

AIMS

The purpose of this study is to construction a exosomes-related lncRNA score and a ceRNA network to predict the response to immunotherapy and potential targeted drug in ccRCC.

METHODS

Data of ccRCC patients were obtained from the TCGA database. Pearson correlation analysis was used to identify eExosomes-related lncRNAs (ERLRs) from Top10 exosomes-related genes that have been screened. The entire cohort was randomly divided into a training cohort and a validation cohort in equal scale. LASSO regression and multivariate cox regression was used to construct the ERLRs-based score. Differences in clinicopathological characteristics, immune microenvironment, immune checkpoints, and drug susceptibility between the high- and low-risk groups were also investigated. Finally, the relevant ceRNA network was constructed by machine learning to analyze their potential targets in immunotherapy and drug use of ccRCC patients.

RESULTS

A score consisting of 4ERLRs was identified, and patients with higher ERLRs-based score tended to have a worse prognosis than those with lower ERLRs-based score. ROC curves and multivariate Cox regression analysis demonstrated that the score could be considered as a risk factor for prognosis in both training and validation cohorts. Moreover, patients with high scores are predisposed to experience poor overall survival, a larger prevalence of advanced stage (III-IV), a greater tumor mutational burden, a higher infiltration of immunosuppressive cells, and a greater likelihood of responding favorably to immunotherapy. The importance of EMX2OS was determined by mechanical learning, and the ceRNA network was constructed, and EMX2OS may be a potential therapeutic target, possibly exerting its function through the EMX2OS/hsa-miR-31-5p/TLN2 axis.

CONCLUSIONS

Based on machine learning, a novel ERLRs-based score was constructed for predicting the survival of ccRCC patients. The ERLRs-based score is a promising potential independent prognostic factor that is closely correlated with the immune microenvironment and clinicopathological characteristics. Meanwhile, we screened out key lncRNAEMX2OS and identified the EMX2OS/hsa-miR-31-5p/TLN2 axis, which may provide new clues for the targeted therapy of ccRCC.

Current and Future Trends of Colorectal Cancer Treatment: Exploring Advances in Immunotherapy

Cancer of the colon and rectum (CRC) has been identified among the three most prevalent types of cancer and cancer-related deaths for both sexes. Even though significant progress in surgical and chemotherapeutic techniques has markedly improved disease-free and overall survival rates in contrast to those three decades ago, recent years have seen a stagnation in these improvements. This underscores the need for new therapies aiming to augment patient outcomes. A number of emerging strategies, such as immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) and adoptive cell therapy (ACT), have exhibited promising outcomes not only in preclinical but also in clinical settings. Additionally, a thorough appreciation of the underlying biology has expanded the scope of research into potential therapeutic interventions. For instance, the pivotal role of altered telomere length in early CRC carcinogenesis, leading to chromosomal instability and telomere dysfunction, presents a promising avenue for future treatments. Thus, this review explores the advancements in CRC immunotherapy and telomere-targeted therapies, examining potential synergies and how these novel treatment modalities intersect to potentially enhance each other's efficacy, paving the way for promising future therapeutic advancements.

METTL14 regulates CD8+T-cell activation and immune responses to anti-PD-1 therapy in lung cancer

BACKGROUND

N6-methyladenosine (m6A) modification plays an important role in lung cancer. However, methyltransferase-like 14 (METTL14), which serves as the main component of the m6A complex, has been less reported to be involved in the immune microenvironment of lung cancer. This study aimed to analyze the relationship between METTL14 and the immune checkpoint inhibitor programmed death receptor 1 (PD-1) in lung cancer.

METHODS

CCK-8, colony formation, transwell, wound healing, and flow cytometry assays were performed to explore the role of METTL14 in lung cancer progression in vitro. Furthermore, syngeneic model mice were treated with sh-METTL14 andan anti-PD-1 antibody to observe the effect of METTL14 on immunotherapy. Flow cytometry and immunohistochemical (IHC) staining were used to detect CD8 expression. RIP and MeRIP were performed to assess the relationship between METTL14 and HSD17B6. LLC cells and activated mouse PBMCs were cocultured in vitro to mimic immune cell infiltration in the tumor microenvironment. ELISA was used to detect IFN-γ and TNF-α levels.

RESULTS

The online database GEPIA showed that high METTL14 expression indicated a poor prognosis in patients with lung cancer. In vitro assays suggested that METTL14 knockdown suppressed lung cancer progression. In vivo assays revealed that METTL14 knockdown inhibited tumor growth and enhanced the response to PD-1 immunotherapy. Furthermore, METTL14 knockdown enhanced CD8+T-cell activation and infiltration. More importantly, METTL14 knockdown increased the stability of HSD17B6 mRNA by reducing its m6A methylation. In addition, HSD17B6 overexpression promoted the activation of CD8+ T cells.

CONCLUSION

The disruption of METTL14 contributed to CD8+T-cell activation and the immunotherapy response to PD-1 via m6A modification of HSD17B6, thereby suppressing lung cancer progression.

Therapeutic resurgence of 6-diazo-5-oxo-l-norleucine (DON) through tissue-targeted prodrugs

The recognition that rapidly proliferating cancer cells rely heavily on glutamine for their survival and growth has renewed interest in the development of glutamine antagonists for cancer therapy. Glutamine plays a pivotal role as a carbon source for synthesizing lipids and metabolites through the TCA cycle, as well as a nitrogen source for synthesis of amino acid and nucleotides. Numerous studies have explored the significance of glutamine metabolism in cancer, providing a robust rationale for targeting this metabolic pathway in cancer treatment. The glutamine antagonist 6-diazo-5-oxo-l-norleucine (DON) has been explored as an anticancer therapeutic for nearly six decades. Initial investigations revealed remarkable efficacy in preclinical studies and promising outcomes in early clinical trials. However, further advancement of DON was hindered due to dose-limiting gastrointestinal (GI) toxicities as the GI system is highly dependent on glutamine for regulating growth and repair. In an effort to repurpose DON and mitigate gastrointestinal (GI) toxicity concerns, prodrug strategies were utilized. These strategies aimed to enhance the delivery of DON to specific target tissues, such as tumors and the central nervous system (CNS), while sparing DON delivery to normal tissues, particularly the GI tract. When administered at low daily doses, optimized for metabolic inhibition, these prodrugs exhibit remarkable effectiveness without inducing significant toxicity to normal tissues. This approach holds promise for overcoming past challenges associated with DON, offering an avenue for its successful utilization in cancer treatment.

Exploratory pilot study to characterize the immune landscapes of malignant pleural effusions and their corresponding primary tumors from patients with breast carcinoma and lung adenocarcinoma

INTRODUCTION

Malignant pleural effusion (MPE) is a frequent complication of advanced malignancies. In this pilot study, we characterized the immune landscapes of MPEs, compared them to their primary tumor (PT) samples from breast carcinoma (BC) and lung adenocarcinoma (LADC), and tested the utility of multiplexed image technology in cytological samples.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We evaluated the immune contexture of 6 BC and 5 LADC MPEs and their PTs using 3 multiplex immunofluorescence panels. We explored the associations between sample characteristics and pleural effusion-free survival.

RESULTS

No MPE samples had positive programmed death-ligand 1 expression in malignant cells, although 3 of 11 PTs has positive programmed death-ligand 1 expression (more than 1% expression in malignant cells). Overall, in LADC samples, cluster of differentiation 3 (CD3)+ T cells and CD3+CD8+ cytotoxic T cells predominated (median percentages for MPEs versus PTs: 45.6% versus 40.7% and 4.7% versus 6.6%, respectively) compared with BC. CD68+ macrophages predominated in the BC samples (medians for MPEs 61.2% versus PTs for 57.1%) but not in the LADC samples. Generally in PTs, CD3+CD8+ forkhead box P3+ T cells and the median distances from the malignant cells to CD3+CD8+Ki67+ and CD3+ programmed cell death protein 1 + T cells correlated to earlier MPE after PT diagnosis.

CONCLUSIONS

The immune cell phenotypes in the MPEs and PTs were similar within each cancer type but different between BC versus LADC. An MPE analysis can potentially be used as a substitute for a PT analysis, but an expanded study of this topic is essential.

Differential expression of DMD transcripts as a novel prognostic biomarker in histologically diverse mesotheliomas

Background

The identification of prognostic biomarkers is crucial for guiding treatment strategies in mesothelioma patients. The Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) gene and its specific transcripts have been associated with patient survival in various tumours. In this study, we aimed to investigate the prognostic potential of DMD gene expression and its transcripts in mesothelioma patients.

Methods

We analysed The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) mesothelioma RNAseq, mutation, and clinical data to assess the association between DMD gene expression and its transcripts (Dp427, Dp71 splice variants) and mesothelioma survival. We also evaluated the specific Dp71 transcript as a unique prognostic biomarker across mesothelioma subtypes. Additionally, we performed differential gene expression analysis between high and low DMD gene/transcript expression groups.

Results

The analysis included 57 epithelioid, 23 biphasic, two sarcomatoid, and five not otherwise specified (NOS) histological subtypes of mesothelioma samples. Univariate analysis revealed that high expression of the DMD gene and its Dp71 transcript was significantly associated with shorter survival in mesothelioma patients (P=0.003 and P<0.001, respectively). In a multivariate analysis, the association between Dp71 expression and survival remained significant [hazard ratio (HR) 2.29, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.24-4.23, P=0.008] across all mesothelioma patients, and also among patients with mesotheliomas without deep CDKN2A deletions (HR 3.58, 95% CI: 1.31-9.80, P=0.01). Pathway analysis revealed enrichment of cell cycle (P=3.01×10-4) and homologous recombination (P=0.01) pathways in differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between high and low Dp71 groups. Furthermore, there were correlations between Dp71 transcript expression and tumour microenvironment (TME) cells, including a weak positive correlation with macrophages (R=0.32, P=0.002) specifically M2 macrophages (R=0.34, P=0.001).

Conclusions

Our findings indicate that the differential expression of specific DMD transcripts is associated with poor survival in mesothelioma patients. The specific Dp71 transcript can serve as a potential biomarker for predicting patient survival in diverse histological subtypes of mesothelioma. Further studies are needed to understand the role of specific dystrophin transcripts in cancer and TME cells, and their implications in the pathogenesis and progression of mesothelioma. Identifying patients at risk of poor survival based on DMD transcript expression can guide treatment strategies in mesothelioma, informing decisions regarding treatment intensity, follow-up schedules, eligibility for clinical trials, and ultimately, end-of-life care planning.

The Role of Estrogen and Estrogen Receptors in Head and Neck Tumors

Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is the most common histological form of head and neck tumors (HNTs), which originate from the epithelium of the lips and oral cavity, pharynx, larynx, salivary glands, nasal cavity, and sinuses. The main risk factors include consumption of tobacco in all forms and alcohol, as well as infections with high-risk human papillomaviruses or the Epstein-Barr virus. Regardless of the etiological agent, the risk of developing different types of HNTs is from two to more than six times higher in males than in females. The reason for such disparities probably lies in a combination of both biological and psychosocial factors. Therefore, it is hypothesized that exposure to female sex hormones, primarily estrogen, provides women with protection against the formation and metastasis of HNTs. In this review, we synthesized available knowledge on the role of estrogen and estrogen receptors (ERs) in the development and progression of HNTs, with special emphasis on membrane ERs, which are much less studied. We can summarize that in addition to epidemiologic studies unequivocally pointing to the protective effect of estrogen in women, an increased expression of both nuclear ERs, ERα, and ERβ, and membrane ERs, ERα36, GPER1, and NaV1.2, was present in different types of HNSCC, for which anti-estrogens could be used as an effective therapeutic approach.

Single-cell data revealed exhaustion of characteristic NK cell subpopulations and T cell subpopulations in hepatocellular carcinoma

BACKGROUND

The treatment and prognosis of patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) have been a major medical challenge. Unraveling the landscape of tumor immune infiltrating cells (TIICs) in the immune microenvironment of HCC is of great significance to probe the molecular mechanisms.

METHODS

Based on single-cell data of HCC, the cell landscape was revealed from the perspective of TIICs. Special cell subpopulations were determined by the expression levels of marker genes. Differential expression analysis was conducted. The activity of each subpopulation was determined based on the highly expressed genes. CTLA4+ T-cell subpopulations affecting the prognosis of HCC were determined based on survival analysis. A single-cell regulatory network inference and clustering analysis was also performed to determine the transcription factor regulatory networks in the CTLA4+ T cell subpopulations.

RESULTS

10 cell types were identified and NK cells and T cells showed high abundance in tumor tissues. Two NK cells subpopulations were present, FGFBP2+ NK cells, B3GNT7+ NK cells. Four T cells subpopulations were present, LAG3+ T cells, CTLA4+ T cells, RCAN3+ T cells, and HPGDS+ Th2 cells. FGFBP2+ NK cells, and CTLA4+ T cells were the exhaustive subpopulation. High CTLA4+ T cells contributed to poor prognostic outcomes and promoted tumor progression. Finally, a network of transcription factors regulated by NR3C1, STAT1, and STAT3, which were activated, was present in CTLA4+ T cells.

CONCLUSION

CTLA4+ T cell subsets in HCC exhibited functional exhaustion characteristics that probably inhibited T cell function through a transcription factor network dominated by NR3C1, STAT1, and STAT3.

Crosstalk between metabolism and cell death in tumorigenesis

It is generally recognized that tumor cells proliferate more rapidly than normal cells. Due to such an abnormally rapid proliferation rate, cancer cells constantly encounter the limits of insufficient oxygen and nutrient supplies. To satisfy their growth needs and resist adverse environmental events, tumor cells modify the metabolic pathways to produce both extra energies and substances required for rapid growth. Realizing the metabolic characters special for tumor cells will be helpful for eliminating them during therapy. Cell death is a hot topic of long-term study and targeting cell death is one of the most effective ways to repress tumor growth. Many studies have successfully demonstrated that metabolism is inextricably linked to cell death of cancer cells. Here we summarize the recently identified metabolic characters that specifically impact on different types of cell deaths and discuss their roles in tumorigenesis.

In situ characterization of the tumor microenvironment

The development of new therapies for cancer is underpinned by an increasing need to comprehensively characterize the tumor microenvironment (TME). While traditional approaches have relied on bulk or single-cell approaches, these are limited in their ability to provide cellular context. Deconvolution of the complex TME is fundamental to understanding tumor dynamics and treatment resistance. Spatially resolved characterization of the TME is likely to provide greater insights into the cellular architecture, tumor-immune cell interactions, receptor-ligand interactions, and cell niches. In turn, these aid in dictating the optimal way in which to target each patient's individual cancer. In this review, we discuss a number of cutting-edge in situ spatial profiling methods giving us new insights into tumor biology.

Knockout cancer by nano-delivered immunotherapy using perfusion-aided scaffold-based tumor-on-a-chip

Cancer is a multifactorial disease produced by mutations in the oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes, which result in uncontrolled cell proliferation and resistance to cell death. Cancer progresses due to the escape of altered cells from immune monitoring, which is facilitated by the tumor's mutual interaction with its microenvironment. Understanding the mechanisms involved in immune surveillance evasion and the significance of the tumor microenvironment might thus aid in developing improved therapies. Although in vivo models are commonly utilized, they could be better for time, cost, and ethical concerns. As a result, it is critical to replicate an in vivo model and recreate the cellular and tissue-level functionalities. A 3D cell culture, which gives a 3D architecture similar to that found in vivo, is an appropriate model. Furthermore, numerous cell types can be cocultured, establishing cellular interactions between TME and tumor cells. Moreover, microfluidics perfusion can provide precision flow rates, thus simulating tissue/organ function. Immunotherapy can be used with the perfused 3D cell culture technique to help develop successful therapeutics. Immunotherapy employing nano delivery can target the spot and silence the responsible genes, ensuring treatment effectiveness while minimizing adverse effects. This study focuses on the importance of 3D cell culture in understanding the pathophysiology of 3D tumors and TME, the function of TME in drug resistance, tumor progression, and the development of advanced anticancer therapies for high-throughput drug screening.

Cuproptosis-related molecular classification and gene signature of hepatocellular carcinoma and experimental verification

Background

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a highly heterogeneous malignancy with poor overall prognosis. Cuproptosis, a recently proposed mode of copper-dependent cell death, plays a critical role in the malignant progression of various tumors; however, the expression and prognostic value of cuproptosis-related regulatory genes in HCC remain unclear.

Methods

Genomic, genetic, and expression profiles of ten key cuproptosis-related regulatory genes were analyzed using The Cancer Genome Atlas Liver Hepatocellular Carcinoma (TCGA-LIHC) dataset and protein expression data from the Human Protein Atlas (HPA) database. Unsupervised clustering of HCC patients based on these ten key cuproptosis-related regulatory genes was used to identify different HCC subtypes and analyze the differences in clinical and immune characteristics among subtypes. Subsequently, univariate Cox and least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) Cox analyses were used to establish a cuproptosis-related prognostic signature, and the accuracy of prognostic signature prediction was internally validated by Kaplan-Meier survival analysis and time-dependent receiver operating characteristic curve in TCGA training and testing cohorts. The prognostic signature was externally validated using TCGA-LIHC entire cohort and International Cancer Genome Consortium Liver Cancer (ICGC-LIRI) cohorts. Finally, the expression landscape of cuproptosis-related regulatory genes in prognostic signature was explored by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR), western blotting and immunohistochemistry (IHC) experiments.

Results

Ten cuproptosis-related genes were differentially expressed in normal and HCC tissues. Unsupervised clustering identified two subtypes and HCC patients with these two subtypes had different clinical prognoses and immune characteristics, as well as different degrees of response to immunotherapy. Lipoyltransferase 1 (LIPT1), dihydrolipoamide s-acetyltransferase (DLAT), and cyclin dependent kinase inhibitor 2A (CDKN2A) were selected to construct a prognostic signature, which significantly distinguished HCC patients with different survival periods in the TCGA training and testing cohorts and was well validated in both the TCGA-LIHC entire cohort and ICGC-LIRI cohort. The risk score of the prognostic signature was confirmed to be an independent prognostic factor, and nomograms were generated to effectively predict the probability of HCC patient survival. The qRT-PCR, western blotting and IHC results also revealed a significant imbalance in the expression of these cuproptosis-related genes in HCC.

Conclusions

The classification and prognostic signature based on cuproptosis-related regulatory genes helps to explain the heterogeneity of HCC, which may contribute to the individualized treatment of patients with the disease.

Immune Cytolytic Activity and Strategies for Therapeutic Treatment

Intratumoral immune cytolytic activity (CYT), calculated as the geometric mean of granzyme-A (GZMA) and perforin-1 (PRF1) expression, has emerged as a critical factor in cancer immunotherapy, with significant implications for patient prognosis and treatment outcomes. Immune checkpoint pathways, the composition of the tumor microenvironment (TME), antigen presentation, and metabolic pathways regulate CYT. Here, we describe the various methods with which we can assess CYT. The detection and analysis of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) using flow cytometry or immunohistochemistry provide important information about immune cell populations within the TME. Gene expression profiling and spatial analysis techniques, such as multiplex immunofluorescence and imaging mass cytometry allow the study of CYT in the context of the TME. We discuss the significant clinical implications that CYT has, as its increased levels are associated with positive clinical outcomes and a favorable prognosis. Moreover, CYT can be used as a prognostic biomarker and aid in patient stratification. Altering CYT through the different methods targeting it, offers promising paths for improving treatment responses. Overall, understanding and modulating CYT is critical for improving cancer immunotherapy. Research into CYT and the factors that influence it has the potential to transform cancer treatment and improve patient outcomes.

Increased Apolipoprotein A1 Expression Correlates with Tumor-Associated Neutrophils and T Lymphocytes in Upper Tract Urothelial Carcinoma

An increased neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) is a poor prognostic biomarker in various types of cancer, because it reflects the inhibition of lymphocytes in the circulation and tumors. In urologic cancers, upper tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC) is known for its aggressive features and lack of T cell infiltration; however, the association between neutrophils and suppressed T lymphocytes in UTUC is largely unknown. In this study, we examined the relationship between UTUC-derived factors and tumor-associated neutrophils or T lymphocytes. The culture supernatant from UTUC tumor tissue modulated neutrophils to inhibit T cell proliferation. Among the dominant factors secreted by UTUC tumor tissue, apolipoprotein A1 (Apo-A1) exhibited a positive correlation with NLR. Moreover, tumor-infiltrating neutrophils were inversely correlated with tumor-infiltrating T cells. Elevated Apo-A1 levels in UTUC were also inversely associated with the population of tumor-infiltrating T cells. Our findings indicate that elevated Apo-A1 expression in UTUC correlates with tumor-associated neutrophils and T cells. This suggests a potential immunomodulatory effect on neutrophils and T cells within the tumor microenvironment, which may represent therapeutic targets for UTUC treatment.

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.

State-of-the-Art Cancer Immunotherapies

Cancer immunotherapy is a type of cancer therapy utilizing the immune system to fight against tumors [...].

Sudocetaxel Zendusortide (TH1902) triggers the cGAS/STING pathway and potentiates anti-PD-L1 immune-mediated tumor cell killing

The anticancer efficacy of Sudocetaxel Zendusortide (TH1902), a peptide-drug conjugate internalized through a sortilin-mediated process, was assessed in a triple-negative breast cancer-derived MDA-MB-231 immunocompromised xenograft tumor model where complete tumor regression was observed for more than 40 days after the last treatment. Surprisingly, immunohistochemistry analysis revealed high staining of STING, a master regulator in the cancer-immunity cycle. A weekly administration of TH1902 as a single agent in a murine B16-F10 melanoma syngeneic tumor model demonstrated superior tumor growth inhibition than did docetaxel. A net increase in CD45 leukocyte infiltration within TH1902-treated tumors, especially for tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes and tumor-associated macrophages was observed. Increased staining of perforin, granzyme B, and caspase-3 was suggestive of elevated cytotoxic T and natural killer cell activities. Combined TH1902/anti-PD-L1 treatment led to increases in tumor growth inhibition and median animal survival. TH1902 inhibited cell proliferation and triggered apoptosis and senescence in B16-F10 cells in vitro, while inducing several downstream effectors of the cGAS/STING pathway and the expression of MHC-I and PD-L1. This is the first evidence that TH1902 exerts its antitumor activity, in part, through modulation of the immune tumor microenvironment and that the combination of TH1902 with checkpoint inhibitors (anti-PD-L1) could lead to improved clinical outcomes.

Comprehensive analysis on clinical significance and therapeutic targets of LDL receptor related protein 11 (LRP11) in liver hepatocellular carcinoma

LDL lipoprotein receptor-related protein 11 (LRP11) plays a role in several tumors. However, their roles in hepatocellular carcinoma remain unclear. The present study aimed to explore the expression profile and prognostic value of LRP11 in liver hepatocellular carcinoma (LIHC) patients using various cancer databases and bioinformatic tools. In bioinformatics analysis, The Cancer Genome Atlas datasets showed increased LRP11 expression in tumor tissues compared to that in non-tumor tissues in various cancers. Moreover, patients with high expression LRP11 correlated with poor prognosis and clinical features. The LRP11 expression positively correlated with the infiltration of immune cells such as macrophages, neutrophils, and myeloid-derived suppressor cells and a combination of high LRP11 expression and high immune infiltrates was associated with the worst survival in LIHC tumors. Our results also indicated that LRP11 expression was closely associated with immune-modulate function, such as antigen presentation. In DNA methylation profiling, hypomethylation of LRP11 is widely observed in tumors and has prognostic value in LIHC patients. Functional enrichment analysis revealed that LIHC-specific LRP11 interacting genes are involved in protein binding, intracellular processing, and G-protein-related signaling pathways. Analyses of drug sensitivity and immune checkpoint inhibitor predict a number of drugs that could potentially be used to target LRP11. In addition, in vitro experiments verified the promoting effect of LRP11 on the migration, invasion, and colony formation capacity of hepatocellular carcinoma cells. Collectively, our results aided a better understanding of the clinical significance of LRP11 in gene expression, functional interactions, and epigenetic regulation in LIHC and suggested that it may be a useful prognostic biomarker for LIHC patients.

Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors and Lupus Erythematosus

Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) are the standard of care for a growing number of malignancies. Unfortunately, they are associated with a broad range of unique toxicities that mimic the presentations of primary autoimmune conditions. These adverse events are termed immune-related adverse events (irAEs), of which ICI-lupus erythematosus (ICI-LE) constitutes a small percentage. Our review aims to describe the available literature on ICI-LE and ICI treatment for patients with pre-existing lupus. Most diagnoses of ICI-LE had findings of only cutaneous lupus; four diagnoses of ICI-LE had systemic lupus manifestations. Over 90% (27 of 29) of cases received anti-PD-1/PDL-1 monotherapy, 1 received combination therapy, and 1 received only anti-CTLA-4 treatment. About three-fourths (22 of 29 or 76%) of patients with ICI-lupus were managed with topical steroids, 13 (45%) received hydroxychloroquine, and 10 (34%) required oral corticosteroids. In our case series, none of the patients with pre-existing lupus receiving ICI therapy for cancer had a flare of their lupus, but few had de novo irAE manifestations, all of which were characterized as low-grade. The review of the literature yielded seven ICI-LE flares from a total of 27 patients with pre-existing lupus who received ICI. Most flares were manageable without need for ICI cessation.

Coordinated Immune Cell Networks in the Bone Marrow Microenvironment Define the Graft versus Leukemia Response with Adoptive Cellular Therapy

Understanding how intra-tumoral immune populations coordinate to generate anti-tumor responses following therapy can guide precise treatment prioritization. We performed systematic dissection of an established adoptive cellular therapy, donor lymphocyte infusion (DLI), by analyzing 348,905 single-cell transcriptomes from 74 longitudinal bone-marrow samples of 25 patients with relapsed myeloid leukemia; a subset was evaluated by protein-based spatial analysis. In acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) responders, diverse immune cell types within the bone-marrow microenvironment (BME) were predicted to interact with a clonally expanded population of ZNF683 + GZMB + CD8+ cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) which demonstrated in vitro specificity for autologous leukemia. This population, originating predominantly from the DLI product, expanded concurrently with NK and B cells. AML nonresponder BME revealed a paucity of crosstalk and elevated TIGIT expression in CD8+ CTLs. Our study highlights recipient BME differences as a key determinant of effective anti-leukemia response and opens new opportunities to modulate cell-based leukemia-directed therapy.

Immune checkpoint inhibitors associated cardiovascular immune-related adverse events

Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) are specialized monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) that target immune checkpoints and their ligands, counteracting cancer cell-induced T-cell suppression. Approved ICIs like cytotoxic T-lymphocyte antigen-4 (CTLA-4), programmed death-1 (PD-1), its ligand PD-L1, and lymphocyte activation gene-3 (LAG-3) have improved cancer patient outcomes by enhancing anti-tumor responses. However, some patients are unresponsive, and others experience immune-related adverse events (irAEs), affecting organs like the lung, liver, intestine, skin and now the cardiovascular system. These cardiac irAEs include conditions like myocarditis, atherosclerosis, pericarditis, arrhythmias, and cardiomyopathy. Ongoing clinical trials investigate promising alternative co-inhibitory receptor targets, including T cell immunoglobulin and mucin domain-containing protein 3 (Tim-3) and T cell immunoreceptor with immunoglobulin and ITIM domain (TIGIT). This review delves into the mechanisms of approved ICIs (CTLA-4, PD-1, PD-L1, and LAG-3) and upcoming options like Tim-3 and TIGIT. It explores the use of ICIs in cancer treatment, supported by both preclinical and clinical data. Additionally, it examines the mechanisms behind cardiac toxic irAEs, focusing on ICI-associated myocarditis and atherosclerosis. These insights are vital as ICIs continue to revolutionize cancer therapy, offering hope to patients, while also necessitating careful monitoring and management of potential side effects, including emerging cardiac complications.

NGS-based Tissue-Blood TMB Comparison and Blood-TMB Monitoring in Stage-III Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Treated with Concurrent Chemoradiotherapy

In this study, we analyzed the blood-based TMB (b-TMB) and its dynamic changes in patients with locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer (LA-NSCLC) who received concurrent chemoradiotherapy. Baseline tissue and blood TMB from 15 patients showed a strong positive correlation (Pearson correlation = 0.937), and nearly all mutations were markedly reduced in the later course of treatment, indicating a treatment-related response. This study suggests that in patients with LA-NSCLC, b-TMB is a reliable biomarker, and its dynamic monitoring can help distinguish patients who might benefit most from the consolidated immunotherapy.

Leveraging spatial omics for the development of precision sarcoma treatments

Sarcomas are rare and heterogeneous cancers that arise from bone or soft tissue, and are the second most prevalent solid cancer in children and adolescents. Owing to the complex nature of pediatric sarcomas, the development of therapeutics for pediatric sarcoma has seen little progress in the past decades. Existing treatments are largely limited to chemotherapy, radiation, and surgery. Limited knowledge of the sarcoma tumor microenvironment (TME) and of well-defined target antigens in the different subtypes necessitates an alternative investigative approach to improve treatments. Recent advances in spatial omics technologies have enabled a more comprehensive study of the TME in multiple cancers. In this opinion article we discuss advances in our understanding of the TME of some cancers enabled by spatial omics technologies, and we explore how these technologies might advance the development of precision treatments for sarcoma, especially pediatric sarcoma.

Advances and Challenges in Interventional Immuno-Oncology Locoregional Therapies

Interventional immuno-oncology is making strides in locoregional therapies to address complex tumor microenvironments. Long-standing interventional radiology cancer therapies, such as tumor ablation and embolization, are being recharacterized in the context of immunotherapy. Intratumoral injections, such as those of genetically engineered or unaltered viruses, and the delivery of immune cells, antibodies, proteins, or cytokines into targeted tumors, along with advancements in delivery techniques, have produced promising results in preliminary studies, indicating their antitumor effectiveness. Emerging strategies using DNA scaffolding, polysaccharides, glycan, chitosan, and natural products are also showing promise in targeted cancer therapy. The future of interventional immuno-oncology lies in personalized immunotherapies that capitalize on individual immune profiles and tumor characteristics, along with the exploration of combination therapies. This study will review various interventional immuno-oncology strategies and emerging technologies to enhance delivery of therapeutics and response to immunotherapy.

Frozen tissue coring and layered histological analysis improves cell type-specific proteogenomic characterization of pancreatic adenocarcinoma

BACKGROUND

Omics characterization of pancreatic adenocarcinoma tissue is complicated by the highly heterogeneous and mixed populations of cells. We evaluate the feasibility and potential benefit of using a coring method to enrich specific regions from bulk tissue and then perform proteogenomic analyses.

METHODS

We used the Biopsy Trifecta Extraction (BioTExt) technique to isolate cores of epithelial-enriched and stroma-enriched tissue from pancreatic tumor and adjacent tissue blocks. Histology was assessed at multiple depths throughout each core. DNA sequencing, RNA sequencing, and proteomics were performed on the cored and bulk tissue samples. Supervised and unsupervised analyses were performed based on integrated molecular and histology data.

RESULTS

Tissue cores had mixed cell composition at varying depths throughout. Average cell type percentages assessed by histology throughout the core were better associated with KRAS variant allele frequencies than standard histology assessment of the cut surface. Clustering based on serial histology data separated the cores into three groups with enrichment of neoplastic epithelium, stroma, and acinar cells, respectively. Using this classification, tumor overexpressed proteins identified in bulk tissue analysis were assigned into epithelial- or stroma-specific categories, which revealed novel epithelial-specific tumor overexpressed proteins.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study demonstrates the feasibility of multi-omics data generation from tissue cores, the necessity of interval H&E stains in serial histology sections, and the utility of coring to improve analysis over bulk tissue data.

Current Technologies and Future Perspectives in Immunotherapy towards a Clinical Oncology Approach

Immunotherapy is now established as a potent therapeutic paradigm engendering antitumor immune response against a wide range of malignancies and other diseases by modulating the immune system either through the stimulation or suppression of immune components such as CD4+ T cells, CD8+ T cells, B cells, monocytes, macrophages, dendritic cells, and natural killer cells. By targeting several immune checkpoint inhibitors or blockers (e.g., PD-1, PD-L1, PD-L2, CTLA-4, LAG3, and TIM-3) expressed on the surface of immune cells, several monoclonal antibodies and polyclonal antibodies have been developed and already translated clinically. In addition, natural killer cell-based, dendritic cell-based, and CAR T cell therapies have been also shown to be promising and effective immunotherapeutic approaches. In particular, CAR T cell therapy has benefited from advancements in CRISPR-Cas9 genome editing technology, allowing the generation of several modified CAR T cells with enhanced antitumor immunity. However, the emerging SARS-CoV-2 infection could hijack a patient's immune system by releasing pro-inflammatory interleukins and cytokines such as IL-1β, IL-2, IL-6, and IL-10, and IFN-γ and TNF-α, respectively, which can further promote neutrophil extravasation and the vasodilation of blood vessels. Despite the significant development of advanced immunotherapeutic technologies, after a certain period of treatment, cancer relapses due to the development of resistance to immunotherapy. Resistance may be primary (where tumor cells do not respond to the treatment), or secondary or acquired immune resistance (where tumor cells develop resistance gradually to ICIs therapy). In this context, this review aims to address the existing immunotherapeutic technologies against cancer and the resistance mechanisms against immunotherapeutic drugs, and explain the impact of COVID-19 on cancer treatment. In addition, we will discuss what will be the future implementation of these strategies against cancer drug resistance. Finally, we will emphasize the practical steps to lay the groundwork for enlightened policy for intervention and resource allocation to care for cancer patients.

Associations between HIFs and tumor immune checkpoints: mechanism and therapy

Hypoxia, which activates a variety of signaling pathways to enhance tumor cell growth and metabolism, is among the primary features of tumor cells. Hypoxia-inducible factors (HIFs) have a substantial impact on a variety of facets of tumor biology, such as epithelial-mesenchymal transition, metabolic reprogramming, angiogenesis, and improved radiation resistance. HIFs induce hypoxia-adaptive responses in tumor cells. Many academics have presented preclinical and clinical research targeting HIFs in tumor therapy, highlighting the potential applicability of targeted HIFs. In recent years, the discovery of numerous pharmacological drugs targeting the regulatory mechanisms of HIFs has garnered substantial attention. Additionally, HIF inhibitors have attained positive results when used in conjunction with traditional oncology radiation and/or chemotherapy, as well as with the very promising addition of tumor immunotherapy. Immune checkpoint inhibitors (CPIs), which are employed in a range of cancer treatments over the past decades, are essential in tumor immunotherapy. Nevertheless, the use of immunotherapy has been severely hampered by tumor resistance and treatment-related toxicity. According to research, HIF inhibitors paired with CPIs may be game changers for multiple malignancies, decreasing malignant cell plasticity and cancer therapy resistance, among other things, and opening up substantial new pathways for immunotherapy drug development. The structure, activation mechanisms, and pharmacological sites of action of the HIF family are briefly reviewed in this work. This review further explores the interactions between HIF inhibitors and other tumor immunotherapy components and covers the potential clinical use of HIF inhibitors in combination with CPIs.