The Basis of Oncoimmunology. Cell. 2016;164:1233-1247. [PMID: 26967289 DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2016.01.049]

New mechanism of LncRNA: In addition to act as a ceRNA

Long non-coding RNAs (LncRNAs) are a class of RNA molecules with nucleic acid lengths ranging from 200 bp to 100 kb that cannot code for proteins, which are diverse and widely expressed in both animals and plants. Scholars have found that lncRNAs can regulate human physiological processes at the gene and protein levels, mainly through the regulation of epigenetic, transcriptional and post-transcriptional levels of genes and proteins, as well as in the immune response by regulating the expression of immune cells and inflammatory factors, and thus participate in the occurrence and development of a variety of diseases. From the downstream targets of lncRNAs, we summarize the new research progress of lncRNA mechanisms other than miRNA sponges in recent years, aiming to provide new ideas and directions for the study of lncRNA mechanisms.

Endoplasmic reticulum-targeted iridium(III) photosensitizer induces pyroptosis for augmented tumor immunotherapy

An ideal tumor treatment strategy involves therapeutic approaches that can enhance the immunogenicity of the tumor microenvironment while simultaneously eliminating the primary tumor. A cholic acid-modified iridium(III) (Ir3) photosensitizer, targeted to the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), has been reported to exhibit potent type I and type II photodynamic therapeutic effects against triple-negative breast cancer (MDA-MB-231). This photosensitizer induces pyroptotic cell death mediated by gasdermin E (GSDME) through photodynamic means and enhances tumor immunotherapy. Mechanistic studies have revealed that complex Ir3 induces characteristics of damage-related molecular patterns (DAMPs) in MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells under light conditions. These include cell-surface calreticulin (CRT) eversion, extracellular high mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) and ATP release, accompanied by ER stress and increased reactive oxygen species (ROS). Consequently, complex Ir3 promotes dendritic cell maturation and antigen presentation under light conditions, fully activates T cell-dependent immune response in vivo, and ultimately eliminates distant tumors while destroying primary tumors. In conclusion, immune regulation and targeted intervention mediated by metal complexes represent a new and promising approach to tumor therapy. This provides an effective strategy for the development of combined targeted therapy and immunotherapy.

CD8+ T-cell exhaustion: Impediment to triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) immunotherapy

CD8+ T-cell exhaustion has been identified as a significant contributor to immunosuppression and immune escape in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). Dysfunction due to cell exhaustion is characterized by reduced effector capacity and sustained expression of inhibitory receptors (IRs). The factors contributing to CD8+ T-cell exhaustion are multifaceted, encompassing external influences such as the upregulation of IRs, reduction of effector cytokines, and internal changes within the immune cell, including transcriptomic alterations, epigenetic landscape remodeling, and metabolomic shifts. The impact of the altered TNBC tumor microenvironment (TME) on Tex is also a critical consideration. The production of exhausted CD8+ T-cells (CD8+ Tex) is positively correlated with poor prognosis and reduced response rates to immunotherapy in TNBC patients, underscoring the urgent need for the development of novel TNBC immunotherapeutic strategies that target the mechanisms of CD8+ T-cell exhaustion. This review delineates the dynamic trajectory of CD8+ T-cell exhaustion development in TNBC, provides an update on the latest research advancements in understanding its pathogenesis, and offers insights into potential immunotherapeutic strategies.

Event-free survival in neuroblastoma with MYCN amplification and deletion of 1p or 11q may be associated with altered immune status

BACKGROUND

Neuroblastoma exhibits substantial heterogeneity, which is intricately linked to various genetic alterations. We aimed to explore immune status in the peripheral blood and prognosis of patients with neuroblastoma with different genetic characteristics.

METHODS

We enrolled 31 patients with neuroblastoma and collected samples to detect three genetic characteristics. Peripheral blood samples were tested for immune cells and cytokines by fluorescent microspheres conjugated with antibodies and flow cytometry. Event-free survival (EFS) was analyzed using the Kaplan‒Meier method.

RESULTS

Twenty-two patients had genetic aberrations, including MYCN amplification in 6 patients, chromosome 1p deletion in 9 patients, and chromosome 11q deletion in 14 patients. Two genetic alterations were present in seven patients. The EFS was worse in patients with MYCN amplification or 1p deletion than in the corresponding group, whereas 11q deletion was a prognostic factor only in patients with unamplified MYCN. Changes in immune status revealed a decrease in the proportion of T cells in blood, and an increase in regulatory T cells and immunosuppression-related cytokines such as interleukin (IL)-10. The EFS of the IL-10 high-level group was lower than that of the low-level group. Patients with concomitant genetic alterations and a high level of IL-10 had worse EFS than other patients.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients with neuroblastoma characterized by these genetic characteristics often have suppressed T cell response and an overabundance of immunosuppressive cells and cytokines in the peripheral blood. This imbalance is significantly associated with poor EFS. Moreover, if these patients show an elevated levels of immunosuppressive cytokines such as IL-10, the prognosis will be worse.

Advances and challenges in immunotherapy for locally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is a prevalent malignant tumor of the head and neck, with approximately 70 % of patients being diagnosed at a locally advanced stage. Despite the responsiveness to radiotherapy and chemotherapy, the 5-year survival rate of locally advanced NPC (LANPC) remains at approximately 80 %. Hence, there is an urgent need for novel treatment strategies to improve the prognosis of patients with LANPC. Numerous studies have illustrated the efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) in recurrent/metastatic NPC. Hence, the potential of immunotherapy for LANPC is under investigation. Using the Web of Clinical Trials, we identified 84 relevant trials exploring immunotherapy for NPC, encompassing 17 trials focusing on ICIs for LANPC. Preliminary findings from several trials suggest that adding ICIs into the primary treatment for LANPC significantly enhances the objective response rate and progression-free survival, with manageable safety profiles. However, the type, dosage, and timing of integration (induction phase, concurrent phase, and adjuvant phase) of ICIs into standard primary treatment of LANPC varies among these trials and further researches are warranted. This review provides an overview of immunotherapy principles in NPC, discusses recent advances and challenges associated with ICIs in the primary treatment for LANPC derived from published and ongoing clinical trials, and outlines the current landscape of other immunotherapies in LANPC, such as adoptive cell therapy, immunomodulatory agents, and tumor vaccines in LANPC. These insights aim to inform clinical practice and guide future researches.

Immunologically effective biomaterials enhance immunotherapy of prostate cancer

Prostate cancer (PCa) is one of the most common malignant neoplasms affecting the male population. The onset of the disease is insidious and often associated with severe consequences, such as bone metastases at the time of initial diagnosis. Once it advances to metastatic castration-resistant PCa (mCRPC), conventional treatment methods become ineffective. As research on the mechanism of tumor therapy advances, immunotherapy has been evolving rapidly. However, PCa is a solid tumor type that primarily faces the challenges of poor immunogenicity and inhibitory tumor microenvironment (TME). Fortunately, the extensive use of biomaterials has led to continuous advancement in PCa immunotherapy. These innovative materials aim to address intractable issues, such as immune escape and immune desert, to inhibit tumor progression and metastasis. This detailed review focuses on the regulation of different aspects of tumor immunity by immunologically effective biomaterials, including modulating adaptive immunity, innate immunity, and the immune microenvironment, to enhance the efficacy of PCa immunotherapy. In addition, this review provides a perspective on the future prospects of immunotherapeutic nanoplatforms based on biomaterials in the treatment of PCa.

Efficacy and safety of Anlotinib based neoadjuvant chemotherapy for locally advanced triple negative breast cancer (TNBC)

BACKGROUND

Anlotinib, an oral multitarget tyrosine kinase inhibitor, has shown the ability to inhibit tumor angiogenesis. This study aimed to assess the effectiveness and safety of anlotinib plus docetaxel, epirubicin, and cyclophosphamide (TEC) as a neoadjuvant chemotherapy regimen for locally advanced TNBC.

METHODS

Locally advanced TNBC patients who had received no prior systemic treatment were eligible for this study. The enrolled patients were scheduled to undergo six cycles of anlotinib (12 mg, d1-14, q3w) plus docetaxel (75 mg/m2, d1, q3w), epirubicin (75 mg/m2, d1, q3w) and cyclophosphamide (600 mg/m2, d1, q3w) prior to surgery, unless there was disease progression or severe toxicity. The primary objective of this study was the safety of this therapeutic regimen, and the secondary objective was the tumor response. The safety of this regimen was assessed using Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE) version 4.03 and the efficacy of this treatment was measured using the Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors version 1.1.

RESULTS

A total of 18 patients were included in this study. Participants completed an average of 5.56 neoadjuvant treatment cycles. The objective response rate (ORR) was 83.33%, and the disease control rate was 100%, respectively. The pCR was 55.6%. No patients discontinued therapy because of Adverse effects (AEs). Grade 3 or 4 AEs were observed in 5 cases (27.8%), with neutropenia and palmar-plantar erythrodysesthesia syndrome being the most common.

CONCLUSIONS

Anlotinib combined with TEC as neoadjuvant therapy demonstrated manageable toxicity and promising antitumor activity for locally advanced TNBC. Further investigation of this combination regimen is warranted.

Losartan rewires the tumor-immune microenvironment and suppresses IGF-1 to overcome resistance to chemo-immunotherapy in ovarian cancer

BACKGROUND

Ovarian cancer (OvCa) is the most lethal of the gynecologic malignancies. Immune checkpoint inhibitors, which have revolutionized the treatment of multiple malignancies, have had limited efficacy in OvCa patients. This lack of effectiveness is partly due to the abnormal ovarian tumor microenvironment (TME), displaying a desmoplastic, highly fibrotic extracellular matrix. High extracellular matrix deposition leads to a buildup of compressive forces that cause tumor blood vessel collapse, reduced vessel perfusion, poor delivery of drugs, and compromised trafficking of cytotoxic T-cells to these tumors.

METHODS

Using two syngeneic OvCa models, we tested the effect of losartan, a widely prescribed anti-hypertensive drug, on reprogramming the TME and chemosensitizing the cancer cells.

RESULTS

Losartan treatment (i) reprograms the TME leading to increased vascular perfusion, and thus enhances drug delivery and immune effector cell intratumoral infiltration and function; and (ii) rewires the OvCa cells by suppressing the IGF-1 signaling, resulting in enhanced chemosensitivity. As a result of the combined tumor and stromal effects, losartan treatment enhances the efficacy of chemo-immunotherapy in OvCa models.

CONCLUSION

The safety and low cost ( < $1-2/day) of losartan warrant rapid translation of our findings to patients with OvCa.

Imaging-Based Efficacy Evaluation of Cancer Immunotherapy in Engineered Tumor Platforms and Tumor Organoids

Cancer immunotherapy is used to treat tumors by modulating the immune system. Although the anticancer efficacy of cancer immunotherapy has been evaluated prior to clinical trials, conventional in vivo animal and endpoint models inadequately replicate the intricate process of tumor elimination and reflect human-specific immune systems. Therefore, more sophisticated models that mimic the complex tumor-immune microenvironment must be employed to assess the effectiveness of immunotherapy. Additionally, using real-time imaging technology, a step-by-step evaluation can be applied, allowing for a more precise assessment of treatment efficacy. Here, an overview of the various imaging-based evaluation platforms recently developed for cancer immunotherapeutic applications is presented. Specifically, a fundamental technique is discussed for stably observing immune cell-based tumor cell killing using direct imaging, a microwell that reproduces a confined space for spatial observation, a droplet assay that facilitates cell-cell interactions, and a 3D microphysiological system that reconstructs the vascular environment. Furthermore, it is suggested that future evaluation platforms pursue more human-like immune systems.

Immunomodulatory role of tumor microenvironment on oncological outcomes in advanced laryngeal cancer

BACKGROUND

The study evaluated the prognostic impact of the immune microenvironment in LSCC with markers of major immune cells to identify the key determinants of short-term disease-free survival (ST DFS) and reveal factors related to disease progression.

METHODS

The study cohort included 61 patients who underwent total laryngectomy, 83.6% of whom were male with a mean age of 64.3 years at the time of surgery. Twenty-five patients had long term DFS (over 5 years), 8 - had moderate DFS (between 2 and 5 years), and 28 had short-term DFS (less than 2 years). Immunohistochemical staining and evaluation were performed on samples collected after the laryngectomy.

RESULTS

The samples' assessment revealed that the mean expression of all analysed markers was the highest both in stroma and the tumor compartment for short term DFS (ST DFS) patients. Analysis confirmed that a high stromal density of CD8 cells (p = 0.038) significantly correlated with DFS, and that the increased presence of CD57 cells (p = 0.021) was significantly associated with ST DFS. Moreover, the high density of CD68 cells in the tumor epithelial compartment had a negative prognostic impact on DFS (p = 0.032). Analysis of overall survival in the studied cohort with Kaplan-Meyer curves revealed that a high stromal density of CD68 cells was a significant negative predictor of OS (p = 0.008).

CONCLUSIONS

The observed associations of CD68 cells infiltration with progression and prognosis in patients with LSCC provide potential screening and therapeutic opportunities for patients with unfavourable outcomes.

Potential impact of epithelial splicing regulatory protein 1 (ESRP1) associated with tumor immunity in pancreatic adenocarcinoma

Pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PAAD) is a prevalent and highly malignant gastrointestinal tumor. Therefore, exploring the mechanisms of drug resistance and immune pathways in PAAD is crucial for clinical treatment. In this study, a total of 497 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified between normal and PAAD samples, and which were enriched to 117 GO terms and 7 functional pathways. Subsequently, 5 overall survival-related DEGs (ESRP1, KRT6A, H2BC11, H2BC4 and KLK) was generated using Cox hazards regression analysis in TCGA dataset. Furthermore, the weighted gene co-expression network analysis revealed a strong association between ESRP1 and PAAD among 5 survival-related DEGs. Patients were divided into two clusters based on ESRP1 expression levels, and low ESRP1 expression existed stronger immune infiltration and higher expression of immunomodulatory targets than high ESRP1 expression by single-sample gene set enrichment analysis, which indicated that low ESRP1 expression was associated with longer survival compared to high ESRP1 expression. Finally, our study also found that immune cells distribution and immunomodulatory targets gene expression in the GEO dataset were similar to the TCGA cohort. Overall, our findings suggest that ESRP1 may play a role in influencing immune contexture and regulating immune function of PAAD patients by integrating data from various databases. SIGNIFICANCE: Utilizing TCGA and GEO datasets, this study uncovers the significant impact of epithelial splicing regulatory protein 1 (ESRP1) on PAAD. ESRP1 emerges as a key regulator of immune function, influencing tumor microenvironment and immune cell infiltration. Cluster analysis shows that low ESRP1 expression correlates with enhanced immune activity, predicting better prognosis. This discovery suggests that ESRP1 can serve as a potential biomarker for the prognosis of PAAD, offering new insights into personalized immunotherapy by influencing immune regulation and tumor progression.

Computational immune synapse analysis reveals T-cell interactions in distinct tumor microenvironments

The tumor microenvironment (TME) and the cellular interactions within it can be critical to tumor progression and treatment response. Although technologies to generate multiplex images of the TME are advancing, the many ways in which TME imaging data can be mined to elucidate cellular interactions are only beginning to be realized. Here, we present a novel approach for multipronged computational immune synapse analysis (CISA) that reveals T-cell synaptic interactions from multiplex images. CISA enables automated discovery and quantification of immune synapse interactions based on the localization of proteins on cell membranes. We first demonstrate the ability of CISA to detect T-cell:APC (antigen presenting cell) synaptic interactions in two independent human melanoma imaging mass cytometry (IMC) tissue microarray datasets. We then verify CISA's applicability across data modalities with melanoma histocytometry whole slide images, revealing that T-cell:macrophage synapse formation correlates with T-cell proliferation. We next show the generality of CISA by extending it to breast cancer IMC images, finding that CISA quantifications of T-cell:B-cell synapses are predictive of improved patient survival. Our work demonstrates the biological and clinical significance of spatially resolving cell-cell synaptic interactions in the TME and provides a robust method to do so across imaging modalities and cancer types.

Molecular genetics, therapeutics and RET inhibitor resistance for medullary thyroid carcinoma and future perspectives

Medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) is a rare type of thyroid malignancy that accounts for approximately 1-2% of all thyroid cancers (TCs). MTC include hereditary and sporadic cases, the former derived from a germline mutation of rearrangement during transfection (RET) proto-oncogene, whereas somatic RET mutations are frequently present in the latter. Surgery is the standard treatment for early stage MTC, and the 10-year survival rate of early MTC is over 80%. While for metastatic MTC, chemotherapy showing low response rate, and there was a lack of effective systemic therapies in the past. Due to the high risk (ca. 15-20%) of distant metastasis and limited systemic therapies, the 10-year survival rate of patients with advanced MTC was only 10-40% from the time of first metastasis. Over the past decade, targeted therapy for RET has developed rapidly, bringing hopes to patients with advanced and progressive MTC. Two multi-kinase inhibitors (MKIs) including Cabozantinib and Vandetanib have been shown to increase progression-free survival (PFS) for patients with metastatic MTC and have been approved as choices of first-line treatment. However, these MKIs have not prolonged overall survival (OS) and their utility is limited due to high rates of off-target toxicities. Recently, new generation TKIs, including Selpercatinib and Pralsetinib, have demonstrated highly selective efficacy against RET and more favorable side effect profiles, and gained approval as second-line treatment options. Despite the ongoing development of RET inhibitors, the management of advanced and progressive MTC remains challenging, drug resistance remains the main reason for treatment failure, and the mechanisms are still unclear. Besides, new promising therapeutic approaches, such as novel drug combinations and next generation RET inhibitors are under development. Herein, we overview the pathogenesis, molecular genetics and current management approaches of MTC, and focus on the recent advances of RET inhibitors, summarize the current situation and unmet needs of these RET inhibitors in MTC, and provide an overview of novel strategies for optimizing therapeutic effects.

Integrated analyses reveal IDO1 as a prognostic biomarker coexpressed with PD-1 on tumor-associated macrophages in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma

Background

Inhibition of indolamine-2,3-dioxygenase 1 (IDO1) has been proposed as a promising strategy for cancer immunotherapy; however, it has failed in clinical trials. Macrophages in the tumor microenvironment (TME) contribute to immune escape and serve as potential therapeutic targets. This study investigated the expression pattern of IDO1 in TME and its impact on prognosis and therapeutic response of patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC).

Methods

RNA sequencing data from 95 patients with ESCC from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database were used to explore the prognostic value of IDO1. Bioinformatics tools were used to estimate scores for stromal and immune cells in tumour tissues, abundance of eight immune cell types in TME, and sensitivity of chemotherapeutic drugs and immune checkpoint (IC) blockage. The results were validated using digitalized immunohistochemistry and multiplexed immunofluorescence in ESCC tissue samples obtained from our clinical center.

Results

TCGA and validation data suggested that high expression of IDO1 was associated with poor patient survival, and IDO1 was an independent prognostic factor. IDO1 expression positively correlated with macrophages in TME and PDCD1 within diverse IC genes. Single-cell RNA sequencing data analysis and multiplexed immunofluorescence verified the coexpression of IDO1 and PD-1 in tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs). Patients with high IDO1 expression showed increased sensitivity to various chemotherapeutic drugs, while were more likely to resist IC blockage.

Conclusion

This study identifies IDO1 as an independent prognostic indicator of OS in patients with ESCC, reveals a compelling connection of IDO1, PD-1, and TAMs, and explores the sensitivity of patients with high IDO1 expression to chemotherapeutic drugs and their resistance to IC blockade. These findings open new avenues for potential targets in ESCC immunotherapy.

Single-cell transcriptomics reveals tumor-infiltrating B cell function after neoadjuvant pembrolizumab and chemotherapy in non-small cell lung cancer

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is the most pervasive lung cancer subtype. Recent studies have shown that immune checkpoint inhibitors achieved favorable clinical benefits in resectable NSCLC; however, the associated mechanism remains unclear. The role of T cells in antitumor immunity has received considerable attention, while the antitumor effects of tumor-infiltrating B cells (TIBs) in NSCLC remain poorly understood. Here, we conducted a single-cell RNA sequencing analysis of immune cells isolated from 12 patients with stage IIIA NSCLC to investigate B cell subtypes and their functions following neoadjuvant chemoimmunotherapy. We confirmed the simultaneous existence of the 4 B cell subtypes. Among them, memory B cells were found to be associated with a positive therapeutic effect to neoadjuvant chemoimmunotherapy. Furthermore, we found that G protein-coupled receptor 183 was most prevalent in memory B cells and associated with a positive therapeutic response. Multiplex immunofluorescence and flow cytometry experiments in an additional cohort of 22 treatment-naïve and 30 stage IIIA/IIIB NSCLC patients treated with neoadjuvant chemoimmunotherapy verified these findings. Overall, our analysis revealed the functions of TIBs and their potential effect on clinical treatment in NSCLC.

Effect of aberrant fructose metabolism following SARS-CoV-2 infection on colorectal cancer patients' poor prognosis

Most COVID-19 patients have a positive prognosis, but patients with additional underlying diseases are more likely to have severe illness and increased fatality rates. Numerous studies indicate that cancer patients are more prone to contract SARS-CoV-2 and develop severe COVID-19 or even dying. In the recent transcriptome investigations, it is demonstrated that the fructose metabolism is altered in patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection. However, cancer cells can use fructose as an extra source of energy for growth and metastasis. Furthermore, enhanced living conditions have resulted in a notable rise in fructose consumption in individuals' daily dietary habits. We therefore hypothesize that the poor prognosis of cancer patients caused by SARS-CoV-2 may therefore be mediated through fructose metabolism. Using CRC cases from four distinct cohorts, we built and validated a predictive model based on SARS-CoV-2 producing fructose metabolic anomalies by coupling Cox univariate regression and lasso regression feature selection algorithms to identify hallmark genes in colorectal cancer. We also developed a composite prognostic nomogram to improve clinical practice by integrating the characteristics of aberrant fructose metabolism produced by this novel coronavirus with age and tumor stage. To obtain the genes with the greatest potential prognostic values, LASSO regression analysis was performed, In the TCGA training cohort, patients were randomly separated into training and validation sets in the ratio of 4: 1, and the best risk score value for each sample was acquired by lasso regression analysis for further analysis, and the fifteen genes CLEC4A, FDFT1, CTNNB1, GPI, PMM2, PTPRD, IL7, ALDH3B1, AASS, AOC3, SEPINE1, PFKFB1, FTCD, TIMP1 and GATM were finally selected. In order to validate the model's accuracy, ROC curve analysis was performed on an external dataset, and the results indicated that the model had a high predictive power for the prognosis prediction of patients. Our study provides a theoretical foundation for the future targeted regulation of fructose metabolism in colorectal cancer patients, while simultaneously optimizing dietary guidance and therapeutic care for colorectal cancer patients in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Emerging role of immunogenic cell death in cancer immunotherapy: Advancing next-generation CAR-T cell immunotherapy by combination

Immunogenic cell death (ICD) is a stress-driven form of regulated cell death (RCD) in which dying tumor cells' specific signaling pathways are activated to release damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs), leading to the robust anti-tumor immune response as well as a reversal of the tumor immune microenvironment from "cold" to "hot". Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-T cell therapy, as a landmark in anti-tumor immunotherapy, plays a formidable role in hematologic malignancies but falls short in solid tumors. The Gordian knot of CAR-T cells for solid tumors includes but is not limited to, tumor antigen heterogeneity or absence, physical and immune barriers of tumors. The combination of ICD induction therapy and CAR-T cell immunotherapy is expected to promote the intensive use of CAR-T cell in solid tumors. In this review, we summarize the characteristics of ICD, stress-responsive mechanism, and the synergistic effect of various ICD-based therapies with CAR-T cells to effectively improve anti-tumor capacity.

Role of TIM-3 in ovarian cancer: the forsaken cop or a new noble

T cell immunoglobulin and mucin domain-3 (TIM-3), a crucial immune checkpoint following PD1 and CTLA4, is widely found in several immune cells. Nonetheless, its performance in recent clinical trials appears disappointing. Ovarian cancer (OC), a malignant tumor with a high mortality rate in gynecology, faces significant hurdles in immunotherapy. The broad presence of TIM-3 offers a new opportunity for immunotherapy in OC. This study reviews the role of TIM-3 in OC and assesses its potential as a target for immunotherapy. The regulatory effects of TIM-3 on the immune microenvironment in OC are discussed, with a focus on preclinical studies that demonstrate TIM-3's modulation of various immune cells in OC. Additionally, the potential therapeutic advantages and challenges of targeting TIM-3 in OC are examined.

A non-enhanced CT-based deep learning diagnostic system for COVID-19 infection at high risk among lung cancer patients

Background

Pneumonia and lung cancer have a mutually reinforcing relationship. Lung cancer patients are prone to contracting COVID-19, with poorer prognoses. Additionally, COVID-19 infection can impact anticancer treatments for lung cancer patients. Developing an early diagnostic system for COVID-19 pneumonia can help improve the prognosis of lung cancer patients with COVID-19 infection.

Method

This study proposes a neural network for COVID-19 diagnosis based on non-enhanced CT scans, consisting of two 3D convolutional neural networks (CNN) connected in series to form two diagnostic modules. The first diagnostic module classifies COVID-19 pneumonia patients from other pneumonia patients, while the second diagnostic module distinguishes severe COVID-19 patients from ordinary COVID-19 patients. We also analyzed the correlation between the deep learning features of the two diagnostic modules and various laboratory parameters, including KL-6.

Result

The first diagnostic module achieved an accuracy of 0.9669 on the training set and 0.8884 on the test set, while the second diagnostic module achieved an accuracy of 0.9722 on the training set and 0.9184 on the test set. Strong correlation was observed between the deep learning parameters of the second diagnostic module and KL-6.

Conclusion

Our neural network can differentiate between COVID-19 pneumonia and other pneumonias on CT images, while also distinguishing between ordinary COVID-19 patients and those with white lung. Patients with white lung in COVID-19 have greater alveolar damage compared to ordinary COVID-19 patients, and our deep learning features can serve as an imaging biomarker.

Dihydroartemisinin restores the immunogenicity and enhances the anticancer immunosurveillance of cisplatin by activating the PERK/eIF2α pathway

BACKGROUND

Immunosurveillance is pivotal in the effectiveness of anticancer therapies and tumor control. The ineffectiveness of cisplatin in activating the immunosurveillance is attributed to its lack of adjuvanticity resulting from its inability to stimulate endoplasmic reticulum stress. Dihydroartemisinin demonstrates the anti-tumor effects through various mechanisms, including the activation of the endoplasmic reticulum stress. This study aimed to develop a novel strategy to enhance the immunogenicity of dying tumor cells by combining cisplatin with dihydroartemisinin, thereby triggering effective anti-tumor immunosurveillance and improving the efficacy of cisplatin in clinical practice.

METHODS

Lewis lung carcinoma (LLC) and CT26 colon cancer cell lines and subcutaneous tumor models were used in this study. The importance of immunosurveillance was validated in both immunocompetent and immunodeficient mouse models. The ability of dihydroartemisinin and cisplatin therapy to induce immunogenic cell death and tumor growth control in vivo was validated by prophylactic tumor vaccination and therapeutic tumor models. The underlying mechanism was elucidated through the pharmaceutical or genetic intervention of the PERK/eIF2α pathway in vitro and in vivo.

RESULTS

Dihydroartemisinin enhanced the generation of reactive oxygen species in cisplatin-treated LLC and CT26 cancer cells. The combination treatment of dihydroartemisinin with cisplatin promoted cell death and ensured an optimal release of damage-associated molecular patterns from dying cancer cells, promoting the phagocytosis of dendritic cells. In the tumor vaccination model, we confirmed that dihydroartemisinin plus cisplatin treatment induced immunogenic cell death. Utilizing immunocompetent and immunodeficient mouse models, we further demonstrated that the combination treatment suppressed the tumor growth of CT26 colon cancer and LLC lung cancer, leading to an improved prognosis through the restoration of cytotoxic T lymphocyte responses and reinstatement of anti-cancer immunosurveillance in vivo. Mechanistically, dihydroartemisinin restored the immunogenicity of cisplatin by activating the adjuvanticity of damage-associated molecular patterns, such as calreticulin exposure, through the PERK/eIF2α pathway. Additionally, the inhibition of eIF2α phosphorylation attenuated the anti-tumor efficiency of C + D in vivo.

CONCLUSIONS

We highlighted that dihydroartemisinin acts as an immunogenic cell death rescuer for cisplatin, activating anticancer immunosurveillance in a PERK/eIF2α-dependent manner and offering a strategy to enhance the anti-tumor efficacy of cisplatin in clinical practice.

Cancer organoids 2.0: modelling the complexity of the tumour immune microenvironment

The development of neoplasia involves a complex and continuous interplay between malignantly transformed cells and the tumour microenvironment (TME). Cancer immunotherapies targeting the immune TME have been increasingly validated in clinical trials but response rates vary substantially between tumour histologies and are often transient, idiosyncratic and confounded by resistance. Faithful experimental models of the patient-specific tumour immune microenvironment, capable of recapitulating tumour biology and immunotherapy effects, would greatly improve patient selection, target identification and definition of resistance mechanisms for immuno-oncology therapeutics. In this Review, we discuss currently available and rapidly evolving 3D tumour organoid models that capture important immune features of the TME. We highlight diverse opportunities for organoid-based investigations of tumour immunity, drug development and precision medicine.

N-linked glycosylation of PD-L1/PD-1: an emerging target for cancer diagnosis and treatment

During tumorigenesis and progression, the immune checkpoint programmed death-1 (PD-1) and its ligand programmed death ligand-1 (PD-L1) play critical roles in suppressing T cell-mediated anticancer immune responses, leading to T-cell exhaustion and subsequent tumor evasion. Therefore, anti-PD-L1/PD-1 therapy has been an attractive strategy for treating cancer over the past decade. However, the overall efficacy of this approach remains suboptimal, revealing an urgent need for novel insights. Interestingly, increasing evidence indicates that both PD-L1 on tumor cells and PD-1 on tumor-specific T cells undergo extensive N-linked glycosylation, which is essential for the stability and interaction of these proteins, and this modification promotes tumor evasion. In various preclinical models, targeting the N-linked glycosylation of PD-L1/PD-1 was shown to significantly increase the efficacy of PD-L1/PD-1 blockade therapy. Furthermore, deglycosylation of PD-L1 strengthens the signal intensity in PD-L1 immunohistochemistry (IHC) assays, improving the diagnostic and therapeutic relevance of this protein. In this review, we provide an overview of the regulatory mechanisms underlying the N-linked glycosylation of PD-L1/PD-1 as well as the crucial role of N-linked glycosylation in PD-L1/PD-1-mediated immune evasion. In addition, we highlight the promising implications of targeting the N-linked glycosylation of PD-L1/PD-1 in the clinical diagnosis and treatment of cancer. Our review identifies knowledge gaps and sheds new light on the cancer research field.

Clinical, genomic and immune microenvironmental determinants of nivolumab response in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma

Background

In view of improving biomarkers predicting the efficacy of immunotherapy for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (R/M HNSCC), this multicenter retrospective study aimed to identify clinical, tumor microenvironmental, and genomic factors that are related to therapeutic response to the anti- Programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) antibody, nivolumab, in patients with R/M HNSCC.

Methods

The study compared 53 responders and 47 non-responders, analyzing formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded samples using 14-marker multiplex immunohistochemistry and targeted gene sequencing.

Results

Of 100 patients included, responders had significantly lower smoking and alcohol index, higher incidence of immune related adverse events, and higher PD-1 ligand (PD-L1) expression in immune cells as well as PD-L1 combined positive score (CPS) than non-responders. The frequency of natural killer cells was associated with nivolumab response in patients with prior cetuximab use, but not in cetuximab-naïve status. Age-stratified analysis showed nivolumab response was linked to high CPS and lymphoid-inflamed profiles in patients aged ≥ 65. In contrast, lower NLR in peripheral blood counts was associated with response in patients aged < 65. Notably, TP53 mutation-positive group had lower CPS and T cell densities, suggesting an immune-excluded microenvironment. Patients with altered tumor suppressor gene pathways, including TP53, CDKN2A, and SMAD4 mutations, had lower CPS, higher smoking index, and were associated with poor responses.

Conclusion

Nivolumab treatment efficacy in HNSCC is influenced by a combination of clinical factors, age, prior treatment, immune environmental characteristics, and gene mutation profiles.

Organoids: new frontiers in tumor immune microenvironment research

The tumor microenvironment (TME) contains cells that regulate medication response and cancer growth in a major way. Tumor immunology research has been rejuvenated and cancer treatment has been changed by immunotherapy, a rapidly developing therapeutic approach. The growth patterns of tumor cells in vivo and the heterogeneity, complexity, and individuality of tumors produced from patients are not reflected in traditional two-dimensional tumor cell profiles. On the other hand, an in vitro three-dimensional (3D) model called the organoid model is gaining popularity. It can replicate the physiological and pathological properties of the original tissues in vivo. Tumor cells are the source of immune organoids. The TME characteristics can be preserved while preserving the variety of tumors by cultivating epithelial tumor cells with various stromal and immunological components. In addition to having genetic and physical similarities to human diseases and the ability to partially reconstruct the complex structure of tumors, these models are now widely used in research fields including cancer, developmental biology, regenerative mechanisms, drug development, disease modeling, and organ transplantation. This study reviews the function of organoids in immunotherapy and the tumor immune milieu. We also discuss current developments and suggest translational uses of tumor organoids in immuno-oncology research, immunotherapy modeling, and precision medicine.

Tumor immune microenvironment permissive to metastatic progression of ING4-deficient breast cancer

Deficiencies in the ING4 tumor suppressor are associated with advanced stage tumors and poor patient survival in cancer. ING4 was shown to inhibit NF-kB in several cancers. As NF-kB is a key mediator of immune response, the ING4/NF-kB axis is likely to manifest in tumor-immune modulation but has not been investigated. To characterize the tumor immune microenvironment associated with ING4-deficient tumors, three approaches were employed in this study: First, tissue microarrays composed of 246 primary breast tumors including 97 ING4-deficient tumors were evaluated for the presence of selective immune markers, CD68, CD4, CD8, and PD-1, using immunohistochemical staining. Second, an immune-competent mouse model of ING4-deficient breast cancer was devised utilizing CRISPR-mediated deletion of Ing4 in a Tp53 deletion-derived mammary tumor cell line; mammary tumors were evaluated for immune markers using flow cytometry. Lastly, the METABRIC gene expression dataset was evaluated for patient survival related to the immune markers associated with Ing4-deleted tumors. The results showed that CD68, CD4, CD8, or PD-1, was not significantly associated with ING4-deficient breast tumors, indicating no enrichment of macrophages, T cells, or exhausted T cell types. In mice, Ing4-deleted mammary tumors had a growth rate comparable to Ing4-intact tumors but showed increased tumor penetrance and metastasis. Immune marker analyses of Ing4-deleted tumors revealed a significant increase in tumor-associated macrophages (Gr-1loCD11b+F4/80+) and a decrease in granzyme B-positive (GzmB+) CD4+ T cells, indicating a suppressive and/or less tumoricidal immune microenvironment. The METABRIC data analyses showed that low expression of GZMB was significantly associated with poor patient survival, as was ING4-low expression, in the basal subtype of breast cancer. Patients with GZMB-low/ING4-low tumors had the worst survival outcomes (HR = 2.80, 95% CI 1.36-5.75, p = 0.0004), supportive of the idea that the GZMB-low immune environment contributes to ING4-deficient tumor progression. Collectively, the study results demonstrate that ING4-deficient tumors harbor a microenvironment that contributes to immune evasion and metastasis.

The pathogenic response of cytotoxic T‑lymphocytes, a common therapeutic target for cancer, has a direct impact on treatment outcomes (Review)

Cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs), also known as CD8+ T cells, participate in immune function by secreting various cytokines after recognizing specific antigens and class I major histocompatibility complex molecules associated with tumor cells, and thus have a key role in antitumor immunity. However, certain CD8+ T cells show low reactivity and thus cannot effectively remove tumor cells or viral antigens. Due to this heterogeneity, effective biomarkers representing these differences in CD8+ cells are needed. The identification of suitable biomarkers will also enhance the management of cancer treatment. Recent research has improved the understanding of CD8+ T lymphocytes in the tumor microenvironment and circulatory system. Treatment efficacy is impacted directly by the pathogenic response of CTLs, and thus, the use of adjuvant therapies to address these pathological changes, e.g., stimulating the increase in the proportion of reactive T cells or suppressing the proportion of terminally exhausted T cells, would be advantageous.

Nanosecond pulsed electric field stimulates CD103+ DC accumulation in tumor microenvironment via NK-CD103+ DC crosstalk

CD103+ DC is crucial for antitumor immune response. As a promising local therapy on cancers, nanosecond pulsed electric field (nsPEF) has been widely reported to stimulate anti-tumor immune response, but the underlying relationship between intratumoral CD103+ DC and nsPEF treatment remains enigmatic. Here, we focused on the behavior of CD103+ DC in response to nsPEF treatment and explored the underlying mechanism. We found that the nsPEF treatment led to the activation and accumulation of CD103+ DC in tumor. Depletion of CD103+ DC via Batf3-/- mice demonstrated CD103+ DC was necessary for intratumoral CD8+ T cell infiltration and activation in response to nsPEF treatment. Notably, NK cells recruited CD103+ DC into nsPEF-treated tumor through CCL5. Inflammatory array revealed CD103+ DC-derived IL-12 mediated the CCL5 secretion in NK cells. In addition, the boosted activation and infiltration of intratumoral CD103+ DC were abolished by cGAS-STING pathway inhibition, following IL-12 and CCL5 decreasing. Furthermore, nsPEF treatment promoting CD103+ DC-mediated antitumor response enhanced the effects of CD47 blockade strategy. Together, this study uncovers an unprecedented role for CD103+ DC in nsPEF treatment-elicited antitumor immune response and elucidates the underlying mechanisms.

The opposing effect of acute and chronic Toxoplasma gondii infection on tumor development

BACKGROUND

The interplay between Toxoplasma gondii infection and tumor development is intriguing and not yet fully understood. Some studies showed that T. gondii reversed tumor immune suppression, while some reported the opposite, stating that T. gondii infection promoted tumor growth.

METHODS

We created three mouse models to investigate the interplay between T. gondii and tumor. Model I aimed to study the effect of tumor growth on T. gondii infection by measuring cyst number and size. Models II and III were used to investigate the effect of different stages of T. gondii infection on tumor development via flow cytometry and bioluminescent imaging. Mouse strains (Kunming, BALB/c, and C57BL/6J) with varying susceptibilities to tumors were used in the study.

RESULTS

The size and number of brain cysts in the tumor-infected group were significantly higher, indicating that tumor presence promotes T. gondii growth in the brain. Acute T. gondii infection, before or after tumor cell introduction, decreased tumor growth manifested by reduced bioluminescent signal and tumor size and weight. In the tumor microenvironment, CD4+ and CD8+ T cell number, including their subpopulations (cytotoxic CD8+ T cells and Th1 cells) had a time-dependent increase in the group with acute T. gondii infection compared with the group without infection. However, in the peripheral blood, the increase of T cells, including cytotoxic CD8+ T cells and Th1 cells, persisted 25 days after Lewis lung carcinoma (LLC) cell injection in the group with acute T. gondii. Chronic T. gondii infection enhanced tumor growth as reflected by increase in tumor size and weight. The LLC group with chronic T. gondii infection exhibited decreased percentages of cytotoxic CD8+ T cells and Th1 cells 25 days post-LLC injection as compared with the LLC group without T. gondii infection. At week 4 post-LLC injection, chronic T. gondii infection increased tumor formation rate [odds ratio (OR) 1.71] in both KM and BALB/c mice.

CONCLUSIONS

Our research elucidates the dynamics between T. gondii infection and tumorigenesis. Tumor-induced immune suppression promoted T. gondii replication in the brain. Acute and chronic T. gondii infection had opposing effects on tumor development.

Tumor-Infiltrating T Cells in Skin Basal Cell Carcinomas and Squamous Cell Carcinomas: Global Th1 Preponderance with Th17 Enrichment-A Cross-Sectional Study

Basal cell carcinomas (BCCs) and squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs) are high-incidence, non-melanoma skin cancers (NMSCs). The success of immune-targeted therapies in advanced NMSCs led us to anticipate that NMSCs harbored significant populations of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes with potential anti-tumor activity. The main aim of this study was to characterize T cells infiltrating NMSCs. Flow cytometry and immunohistochemistry were used to assess, respectively, the proportions and densities of T cell subpopulations in BCCs (n = 118), SCCs (n = 33), and normal skin (NS, n = 30). CD8+ T cells, CD4+ T cell subsets, namely, Th1, Th2, Th17, Th9, and regulatory T cells (Tregs), CD8+ and CD4+ memory T cells, and γδ T cells were compared between NMSCs and NS samples. Remarkably, both BCCs and SCCs featured a significantly higher Th1/Th2 ratio (~four-fold) and an enrichment for Th17 cells. NMSCs also showed a significant enrichment for IFN-γ-producing CD8+T cells, and a depletion of γδ T cells. Using immunohistochemistry, NMSCs featured denser T cell infiltrates (CD4+, CD8+, and Tregs) than NS. Overall, these data favor a Th1-predominant response in BCCs and SCCs, providing support for immune-based treatments in NMSCs. Th17-mediated inflammation may play a role in the progression of NMSCs and thus become a potential therapeutic target in NMSCs.

Tumor microenvironment in thyroid cancer: Immune cells, patterns, and novel treatments

The tumor immune microenvironment of thyroid cancer is the heterogeneous histological space in which tumor cells coexist with host cells. Published data from this review were identified by search and selection database of Pubmed, Elsevier, and Science Direct. Searching was made in two steps using different keywords. In thyroid pathology, the inflammatory response is very important, and might have a key role finding new diagnostic and therapeutic methods, particularly in thyroid cancer. Different immune cells may be more or less present in different types of thyroid cancer and may even have different functions, hence the importance of knowing their presence in different thyroid tumor pathologies. Cancer-related inflammation could be a useful target for new diagnostic and therapeutic strategies by analyzing peritumoral and intratumoral immune cells in different types of thyroid tumors. Moreover, novel strategies for thyroid cancer treatments, such as monoclonal antibodies targeting checkpoint inhibitors, are emerging as promising alternatives.

Immune Regulation and Immune Therapy in Melanoma: Review with Emphasis on CD155 Signalling

Melanoma is commonly diagnosed in a younger population than most other solid malignancies and, in Australia and most of the world, is the leading cause of skin-cancer-related death. Melanoma is a cancer type with high immunogenicity; thus, immunotherapies are used as first-line treatment for advanced melanoma patients. Although immunotherapies are working well, not all the patients are benefitting from them. A lack of a comprehensive understanding of immune regulation in the melanoma tumour microenvironment is a major challenge of patient stratification. Overexpression of CD155 has been reported as a key factor in melanoma immune regulation for the development of therapy resistance. A more thorough understanding of the actions of current immunotherapy strategies, their effects on immune cell subsets, and the roles that CD155 plays are essential for a rational design of novel targets of anti-cancer immunotherapies. In this review, we comprehensively discuss current anti-melanoma immunotherapy strategies and the immune response contribution of different cell lineages, including tumour endothelial cells, myeloid-derived suppressor cells, cytotoxic T cells, cancer-associated fibroblast, and nature killer cells. Finally, we explore the impact of CD155 and its receptors DNAM-1, TIGIT, and CD96 on immune cells, especially in the context of the melanoma tumour microenvironment and anti-cancer immunotherapies.

Role of T cells in liver metastasis

The liver is a major metastatic site (organ) for gastrointestinal cancers (such as colorectal, gastric, and pancreatic cancers) as well as non-gastrointestinal cancers (such as lung, breast, and melanoma cancers). Due to the innate anatomical position of the liver, the apoptosis of T cells in the liver, the unique metabolic regulation of hepatocytes and other potential mechanisms, the liver tends to form an immunosuppressive microenvironment and subsequently form a pre-metastatic niche (PMN), which can promote metastasis and colonization by various tumor cells(TCs). As a result, the critical role of immunoresponse in liver based metastasis has become increasingly appreciated. T cells, a centrally important member of adaptive immune response, play a significant role in liver based metastases and clarifying the different roles of the various T cells subsets is important to guide future clinical treatment. In this review, we first introduce the predisposing factors and related mechanisms of liver metastasis (LM) before introducing the PMN and its transition to LM. Finally, we detail the role of different subsets of T cells in LM and advances in the management of LM in order to identify potential therapeutic targets for patients with LM.

Associations between immune cell phenotypes and lung cancer subtypes: insights from mendelian randomization analysis

INTRODUCTION

Lung cancer is a common malignant tumor, and different types of immune cells may have different effects on the occurrence and development of lung cancer subtypes, including lung squamous cell carcinoma (LUSC) and lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD). However, the causal relationship between immune phenotype and lung cancer is still unclear.

METHODS

This study utilized a comprehensive dataset containing 731 immune phenotypes from the European Bioinformatics Institute (EBI) to evaluate the potential causal relationship between immune phenotypes and LUSC and LUAD using the inverse variance weighted (IVW) method in Mendelian randomization (MR). Sensitivity analyses, including MR-Egger intercept, Cochran Q test, and others, were conducted for the robustness of the results. The study results were further validated through meta-analysis using data from the Transdisciplinary Research Into Cancer of the Lung (TRICL) data. Additionally, confounding factors were excluded to ensure the robustness of the findings.

RESULTS

Among the final selection of 729 immune cell phenotypes, three immune phenotypes exhibited statistically significant effects with LUSC. CD28 expression on resting CD4 regulatory T cells (OR 1.0980, 95% CI: 1.0627-1.1344, p < 0.0001) and CD45RA + CD28- CD8 + T cell %T cell (OR 1.0011, 95% CI: 1.0007; 1.0015, p < 0.0001) were associated with increased susceptibility to LUSC. Conversely, CCR2 expression on monocytes (OR 0.9399, 95% CI: 0.9177-0.9625, p < 0.0001) was correlated with a decreased risk of LUSC. However, no significant causal relationships were established between any immune cell phenotypes and LUAD.

CONCLUSION

This study demonstrates that specific immune cell types are associated with the risk of LUSC but not with LUAD. While these findings are derived solely from European populations, they still provide clues for a deeper understanding of the immunological mechanisms underlying lung cancer and may offer new directions for future therapeutic strategies and preventive measures.

Advanced Immunomodulatory Biomaterials for Therapeutic Applications

The multifaceted biological defense system modulating complex immune responses against pathogens and foreign materials plays a critical role in tissue homeostasis and disease progression. Recently developed biomaterials that can specifically regulate immune responses, nanoparticles, graphene, and functional hydrogels have contributed to the advancement of tissue engineering as well as disease treatment. The interaction between innate and adaptive immunity, collectively determining immune responses, can be regulated by mechanobiological recognition and adaptation of immune cells to the extracellular microenvironment. Therefore, applying immunomodulation to tissue regeneration and cancer therapy involves manipulating the properties of biomaterials by tailoring their composition in the context of the immune system. This review provides a comprehensive overview of how the physicochemical attributes of biomaterials determine immune responses, focusing on the physical properties that influence innate and adaptive immunity. This review also underscores the critical aspect of biomaterial-based immune engineering for the development of novel therapeutics and emphasizes the importance of understanding the biomaterials-mediated immunological mechanisms and their role in modulating the immune system.

Multiple cancer cell types release LIF and Gal3 to hijack neural signals

Neural signals can significantly influence cancer prognosis. However, how cancer cells may proactively modulate the nervous system to benefit their own survival is incompletely understood. In this study, we report an overlapping pattern of brain responses, including that in the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus, in multiple mouse models of peripheral cancers. A multi-omic screening then identifies leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) and galectin-3 (Gal3) as the key cytokines released by these cancer cell types to trigger brain activation. Importantly, increased plasma levels of these two cytokines are observed in patients with different cancers. We further demonstrate that pharmacologic or genetic blockage of cancer cell-derived LIF or Gal3 signaling abolishes the brain responses and strongly inhibits tumor growth. In addition, ablation of peripheral sympathetic actions can similarly restore antitumor immunity. These results have elucidated a novel, shared mechanism of multiple cancer cell types hijacking the nervous system to promote tumor progression.

Respiratory complex I regulates dendritic cell maturation in explant model of human tumor immune microenvironment

BACKGROUND

Combining cytotoxic chemotherapy or novel anticancer drugs with T-cell modulators holds great promise in treating advanced cancers. However, the response varies depending on the tumor immune microenvironment (TIME). Therefore, there is a clear need for pharmacologically tractable models of the TIME to dissect its influence on mono- and combination treatment response at the individual level.

METHODS

Here we establish a patient-derived explant culture (PDEC) model of breast cancer, which retains the immune contexture of the primary tumor, recapitulating cytokine profiles and CD8+T cell cytotoxic activity.

RESULTS

We explored the immunomodulatory action of a synthetic lethal BCL2 inhibitor venetoclax+metformin drug combination ex vivo, discovering metformin cannot overcome the lymphocyte-depleting action of venetoclax. Instead, metformin promotes dendritic cell maturation through inhibition of mitochondrial complex I, increasing their capacity to co-stimulate CD4+T cells and thus facilitating antitumor immunity.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results establish PDECs as a feasible model to identify immunomodulatory functions of anticancer drugs in the context of patient-specific TIME.

Car T Cells in Solid Tumors: Overcoming Obstacles

Chimeric antigen receptor T cell (CAR T cell) therapy has emerged as a prominent adoptive cell therapy and a therapeutic approach of great interest in the fight against cancer. This approach has shown notorious efficacy in refractory hematological neoplasm, which has bolstered its exploration in the field of solid cancers. However, successfully managing solid tumors presents considerable intrinsic challenges, which include the necessity of guiding the modified cells toward the tumoral region, assuring their penetration and survival in adverse microenvironments, and addressing the complexity of identifying the specific antigens for each type of cancer. This review focuses on outlining the challenges faced by CAR T cell therapy when used in the treatment of solid tumors, as well as presenting optimizations and emergent approaches directed at improving its efficacy in this particular context. From precise localization to the modulation of the tumoral microenvironment and the adaptation of antigen recognition strategies, diverse pathways will be examined to overcome the current limitations and buttress the therapeutic potential of CAR T cells in the fight against solid tumors.

The emerging tumor microbe microenvironment: From delineation to multidisciplinary approach-based interventions

Intratumoral microbiota has become research hotspots, and emerges as a non-negligent new component of tumor microenvironments (TME), due to its powerful influence on tumor initiation, metastasis, immunosurveillance and prognosis despite in low-biomass. The accumulations of microbes, and their related components and metabolites within tumor tissues, endow TME with additional pluralistic features which are distinct from the conventional one. Therefore, it's definitely necessary to comprehensively delineate the sophisticated landscapes of tumor microbe microenvironment, as well as their functions and related underlying mechanisms. Herein, in this review, we focused on the fields of tumor microbe microenvironment, including the heterogeneity of intratumor microbiota in different types of tumors, the controversial roles of intratumoral microbiota, the basic features of tumor microbe microenvironment (i.e., pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs), typical microbial metabolites, autophagy, inflammation, multi-faceted immunomodulation and chemoresistance), as well as the multidisciplinary approach-based intervention of tumor microbiome for cancer therapy by applying wild-type or engineered live microbes, microbiota metabolites, antibiotics, synthetic biology and rationally designed biomaterials. We hope our work will provide valuable insight to deeply understand the interplay of cancer-immune-microbial, and facilitate the development of microbes-based tumor-specific treatments.

The microbiome: an integral player in immune homeostasis and inflammation in the respiratory tract

The last decade of microbiome research has highlighted its fundamental role in systemic immune and metabolic homeostasis. The microbiome plays a prominent role during gestation and into early life, when maternal lifestyle factors shape immune development of the newborn. Breast milk further shapes gut colonization, supporting the development of tolerance to commensal bacteria and harmless antigens while preventing outgrowth of pathogens. Environmental microbial and lifestyle factors that disrupt this process can dysregulate immune homeostasis, predisposing infants to atopic disease and childhood asthma. In health, the low-biomass lung microbiome, together with inhaled environmental microbial constituents, establishes the immunological set point that is necessary to maintain pulmonary immune defense. However, in disease perturbations to immunological and physiological processes allow the upper respiratory tract to act as a reservoir of pathogenic bacteria, which can colonize the diseased lung and cause severe inflammation. Studying these host-microbe interactions in respiratory diseases holds great promise to stratify patients for suitable treatment regimens and biomarker discovery to predict disease progression. Preclinical studies show that commensal gut microbes are in a constant flux of cell division and death, releasing microbial constituents, metabolic by-products, and vesicles that shape the immune system and can protect against respiratory diseases. The next major advances may come from testing and utilizing these microbial factors for clinical benefit and exploiting the predictive power of the microbiome by employing multiomics analysis approaches.

Synergistic B and T lymphocyte interaction: prognostic implications in non-small cell lung cancer

While T-cell-mediated immune responses in solid tumors have been well-established and have driven major therapeutic advances, our understanding of B-cell biology in cancer is comparatively less developed. A total of 60 lung cancer patients were included, of which 53% were diagnosed at an early stage while 47% were diagnosed at an advanced stage. Flow cytometry was used to analyze the proportion of T and B cells in all blood samples, and the levels of human serum cytokines were also assessed. Compared to the control group, cancer patients showed lower frequencies of IgD+CD27+ marginal B cells and CD32+ B cells, and higher frequencies of T cells with lower CD8+ T cells and higher central memory and naïve CD4+ T cells. Additionally, advanced-stage cancer patients exhibited higher levels of cytokines, a higher proportion of effector memory CD8+ T cells, and a lower frequency of CD27+CD28+CD4+/CD8+ T cells. Linear regression analysis revealed significant correlations between cancer stage and the frequency of B and T cell subsets, leukocyte count, and cytokine levels. Survival analysis demonstrated that patients with higher frequency of class-switched B cells had a worse prognosis, while patients with higher frequency of CD8+ effector T cells and lower frequency of CD4+57+ T cells appeared to have a better survival rate. These findings provide valuable insight into the immunological changes that occur during lung cancer progression and have the potential to inform the development of new immunotherapeutic strategies.

Cancer organoids: A platform in basic and translational research

An accumulation of previous work has established organoids as good preclinical models of human tumors, facilitating translation from basic research to clinical practice. They are changing the paradigm of preclinical cancer research because they can recapitulate the heterogeneity and pathophysiology of human cancers and more closely approximate the complex tissue environment and structure found in clinical tumors than in vitro cell lines and animal models. However, the potential applications of cancer organoids remain to be comprehensively summarized. In the review, we firstly describe what is currently known about cancer organoid culture and then discuss in depth the basic mechanisms, including tumorigenesis and tumor metastasis, and describe recent advances in patient-derived tumor organoids (PDOs) for drug screening and immunological studies. Finally, the present challenges faced by organoid technology in clinical practice and its prospects are discussed. This review highlights that organoids may offer a novel therapeutic strategy for cancer research.

Engineered 3D ex vivo models to recapitulate the complex stromal and immune interactions within the tumor microenvironment

Cancer thrives in a complex environment where interactions between cellular and acellular components, surrounding the tumor, play a crucial role in disease development and progression. Despite significant progress in cancer research, the mechanism driving tumor growth and therapeutic outcomes remains elusive. Two-dimensional (2D) cell culture assays and in vivo animal models are commonly used in cancer research and therapeutic testing. However, these models suffer from numerous shortcomings including lack of key features of the tumor microenvironment (TME) & cellular composition, cost, and ethical clearance. To that end, there is an increased interest in incorporating and elucidating the influence of TME on cancer progression. Advancements in 3D-engineered ex vivo models, leveraging biomaterials and microengineering technologies, have provided an unprecedented ability to reconstruct native-like bioengineered cancer models to study the heterotypic interactions of TME with a spatiotemporal organization. These bioengineered cancer models have shown excellent capabilities to bridge the gap between oversimplified 2D systems and animal models. In this review article, we primarily provide an overview of the immune and stromal cellular components of the TME and then discuss the latest state-of-the-art 3D-engineered ex vivo platforms aiming to recapitulate the complex TME features. The engineered TME model, discussed herein, are categorized into three main sections according to the cellular interactions within TME: (i) Tumor-Stromal interactions, (ii) Tumor-Immune interactions, and (iii) Complex TME interactions. Finally, we will conclude the article with a perspective on how these models can be instrumental for cancer translational studies and therapeutic testing.

Immunosurveillance in clinical cancer management

The progression of cancer involves a critical step in which malignant cells escape from control by the immune system. Antineoplastic agents are particularly efficient when they succeed in restoring such control (immunosurveillance) or at least establish an equilibrium state that slows down disease progression. This is true not only for immunotherapies, such as immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), but also for conventional chemotherapy, targeted anticancer agents, and radiation therapy. Thus, therapeutics that stress and kill cancer cells while provoking a tumor-targeting immune response, referred to as immunogenic cell death, are particularly useful in combination with ICIs. Modern oncology regimens are increasingly using such combinations, which are referred to as chemoimmunotherapy, as well as combinations of multiple ICIs. However, the latter are generally associated with severe side effects compared with single-agent ICIs. Of note, the success of these combinatorial strategies against locally advanced or metastatic cancers is now spurring successful attempts to move them past the postoperative (adjuvant) setting to the preoperative (neoadjuvant) setting, even for patients with operable cancers. Here, the authors critically discuss the importance of immunosurveillance in modern clinical cancer management.

Benefits and Pitfalls of a Glycosylation Inhibitor Tunicamycin in the Therapeutic Implication of Cancers

The aberrant glycosylation is a hallmark of cancer progression and chemoresistance. It is also an immune therapeutic target for various cancers. Tunicamycin (TM) is one of the potent nucleoside antibiotics and an inhibitor of aberrant glycosylation in various cancer cells, including breast cancer, gastric cancer, and pancreatic cancer, parallel with the inhibition of cancer cell growth and progression of tumors. Like chemotherapies such as doxorubicin (DOX), 5'fluorouracil, etoposide, and cisplatin, TM induces the unfolded protein response (UPR) by blocking aberrant glycosylation. Consequently, stress is induced in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) that promotes apoptosis. TM can thus be considered a potent antitumor drug in various cancers and may promote chemosensitivity. However, its lack of cell-type-specific cytotoxicity impedes its anticancer efficacy. In this review, we focus on recent advances in our understanding of the benefits and pitfalls of TM therapies in various cancers, including breast, colon, and pancreatic cancers, and discuss the mechanisms identified by which TM functions. Finally, we discuss the potential use of nano-based drug delivery systems to overcome non-specific toxicity and enhance the therapeutic efficacy of TM as a targeted therapy.

Pan-Cancer Analysis of PGAM1 and Its Experimental Validation in Uveal Melanoma Progression

Phosphoglycerate mutase 1 (PGAM1) is a key enzyme regulating cancer glycolysis. However, the expression and function of PGAM1 in uveal melanoma (UVM) are unknown and systematic analysis is lacking. This study performed a comprehensive analysis of PGAM1 expression across 33 cancer types in multiple public databases. Results demonstrated PGAM1 is aberrantly overexpressed in most tumors compared to normal tissues, and this overexpression is associated with poor prognosis, advanced tumor staging, and aggressive clinical phenotypes in multiple cancers including UVM, lung, breast and bladder carcinomas. In addition, PGAM1 expression positively correlated with infiltration levels of tumor-promoting immune cells including macrophages, NK cells, myeloid dendritic cells, etc. Further experiments showed that PGAM1 was overexpressed in UVM cell lines and tissues, and it was positively associated with a poor prognosis of UVM patients. And knockdown of PGAM1 inhibited migration/invasion and induced apoptosis in UVM cells, followed by decreased levels of PD-L1, Snail, and BCl-2 and increased levels of E-cadherin. Additionally, the correlation analysis and molecular docking results suggest that PGAM1 could interact with PD-L1, Snail and BCl-2. Thus, PGAM1 may promote UVM pathogenesis via modulating immune checkpoint signaling, EMT and apoptosis. Collectively, this study reveals PGAM1 as a valuable prognostic biomarker and potential therapeutic target in aggressive cancers including UVM.

Modification of immune cell-derived exosomes for enhanced cancer immunotherapy: current advances and therapeutic applications

Cancer immunotherapy has revolutionized the approach to cancer treatment of malignant tumors by harnessing the body's immune system to selectively target cancer cells. Despite remarkable advances, there are still challenges in achieving successful clinical responses. Recent evidence suggests that immune cell-derived exosomes modulate the immune system to generate effective antitumor immune responses, making them a cutting-edge therapeutic strategy. However, natural exosomes are limited in clinical application due to their low drug delivery efficiency and insufficient antitumor capacity. Technological advancements have allowed exosome modifications to magnify their intrinsic functions, load different therapeutic cargoes, and preferentially target tumor sites. These engineered exosomes exert potent antitumor effects and have great potential for cancer immunotherapy. In this review, we describe ingenious modification strategies to attain the desired performance. Moreover, we systematically summarize the tumor-controlling properties of engineered immune cell-derived exosomes in innate and adaptive immunity. Collectively, this review provides a comprehensive and intuitive guide for harnessing the potential of modified immune cell-derived exosome-based approaches, offering valuable strategies to enhance and optimize cancer immunotherapy.

Integrating single-cell and bulk RNA sequencing reveals CK19 + cancer stem cells and their specific SPP1 + tumor-associated macrophage niche in HBV-related hepatocellular carcinoma

PURPOSE

Cytokeratin 19-positive cancer stem cells (CK19 + CSCs) and their tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) have not been fully explored yet in the hepatitis B virus (HBV)-related hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN

Single-cell RNA sequencing was performed on the viable cells obtained from 11 treatment-naïve HBV-associated HCC patients, including 8 CK19 + patients, to elucidate their transcriptomic landscape, CK19 + CSC heterogeneity, and immune microenvironment. Two in-house primary HCC cohorts (96 cases-related HBV and 89 cases with recurrence), TCGA external cohort, and in vitro and in vivo experiments were used to validate the results.

RESULTS

A total of 64,581 single cells derived from the human HCC and adjacent normal tissues were sequenced, and 11 cell types were identified. The result showed that CK19 + CSCs were phenotypically and transcriptionally heterogeneous, co-expressed multiple hepatics CSC markers, and were positively correlated with worse prognosis. Moreover, the SPP1 + TAMs (TAM_SPP1) with strong M2-like features and worse prognosis were specifically enriched in the CK19 + HCC and promoted tumor invasion and metastasis by activating angiogenesis. Importantly, matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP9) derived from TAM_SPP1, as the hub gene of CK19 + HCC, was activated by the VEGFA signal.

CONCLUSIONS

This study revealed the heterogeneity and stemness characteristics of CK19 + CSCs and specific immunosuppressive TAM_SPP1 in CK19 + HCC. The VEGFA signal can activate TAM_SPP1-derived MMP9 to promote the invasion and metastasis of CK19 + HCC tumors. This might provide novel insights into the clinical treatment of HCC patients.

A novel anoikis-related prognostic signature associated with prognosis and immune infiltration landscape in lung adenocarcinoma

BACKGROUND

One of the most prevalent malignancies in the world is lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD), with a large number of people dying from lung cancer each year. Anoikis has a crucial function in tumor metastasis, promoting cancer cell shedding and survival from the primary tumor site. However, the role of anoikis in LUAD is still unclear.

METHODS

The GeneCard database (https://www.genecards.org/) was utilized to obtain anoikis-related genes with correlation greater than 0.4. Differential analysis was employed to acquire differential genes. Univariate, multifactorial Cox analyses and the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator were then utilized to capture genes connected to overall survival time. These genes were used to build prognostic models. The predictive model was analyzed and visualized. Survival analysis was conducted on the model and risk scores were calculated. The TCGA samples were split into groups of low and high risk depending on risk scores. A Gene Expression Omnibus database sample was used for external verification. Immunization estimates were performed using ESTIMATE, CiberSort and single sample gene set enrichment analysis. The connection between the prognostic gene model and immune cells was analyzed. Drug susceptibility prediction analysis was performed. The clinical information for samples was extracted and analyzed.

RESULTS

We selected six genes related to anoikis in LUAD to construct a prognosis model (CDC25C, ITPRIP, SLCO1B3, CDX2, CSPG4 and PIK3CG). Compared with cases of high-risk scores, the overall survival of those with low risk was significantly elevated based on Kaplan-Meier survival analysis. Immune function analysis exhibited that different risk groups had different immune states. The results of ESTIMATE, CiberSort and single sample gene set enrichment analysis showed great gaps in immunization between patients in the two groups. The normogram of the risk score and the LUAD clinicopathological features was constructed. Principal component analysis showed that this model could effectively distinguish the two groups of LUAD patients.

CONCLUSIONS

We integrated multiple anoikis-related genes to build a prognostic model. This investigation demonstrates that anoikis-related genes can be used as a stratification element for fine therapy of individuals with LUAD.

Shaping immune landscape of colorectal cancer by cholesterol metabolites

Cancer immunotherapies have achieved unprecedented success in clinic, but they remain largely ineffective in some major types of cancer, such as colorectal cancer with microsatellite stability (MSS CRC). It is therefore important to study tumor microenvironment of resistant cancers for developing new intervention strategies. In this study, we identify a metabolic cue that determines the unique immune landscape of MSS CRC. Through secretion of distal cholesterol precursors, which directly activate RORγt, MSS CRC cells can polarize T cells toward Th17 cells that have well-characterized pro-tumor functions in colorectal cancer. Analysis of large human cancer cohorts revealed an asynchronous pattern of the cholesterol biosynthesis in MSS CRC, which is responsible for the abnormal accumulation of distal cholesterol precursors. Inhibiting the cholesterol biosynthesis enzyme Cyp51, by pharmacological or genetic interventions, reduced the levels of intratumoral distal cholesterol precursors and suppressed tumor progression through a Th17-modulation mechanism in preclinical MSS CRC models. Our study therefore reveals a novel mechanism of cancer-immune interaction and an intervention strategy for the difficult-to-treat MSS CRC.

Research progress of N1-methyladenosine RNA modification in cancer

N1-methyladenosine (m1A) is a post-transcriptionally modified RNA molecule that plays a pivotal role in the regulation of various biological functions and activities. Especially in cancer cell invasion, proliferation and cell cycle regulation. Over recent years, there has been a burgeoning interest in investigating the m1A modification of RNA. Most studies have focused on the regulation of m1A in cancer enrichment areas and different regions. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the methodologies employed for the detection of m1A modification. Furthermore, this review delves into the key players in m1A modification, known as the "writers," "erasers," and "readers." m1A modification is modified by the m1A methyltransferases, or writers, such as TRMT6, TRMT61A, TRMT61B, TRMT10C, NML, and, removed by the demethylases, or erasers, including FTO and ALKBH1, ALKBH3. It is recognized by m1A-binding proteins YTHDF1, TYHDF2, TYHDF3, and TYHDC1, also known as "readers". Additionally, we explore the intricate relationship between m1A modification and its regulators and their implications for the development and progression of specific types of cancer, we discuss how m1A modification can potentially facilitate the discovery of novel approaches for cancer diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis. Our summary of m1A methylated adenosine modification detection methods and regulatory mechanisms in various cancers provides useful insights for cancer diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis. Video Abstract.