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You H, Wang Y, Wang X, Zhu H, Zhao Y, Qin P, Liu X, Zhang M, Fu X, Xu B, Zhang Y, Wang Z, Gao Q. CD69 + Vδ1γδ T cells are anti-tumor subpopulations in hepatocellular carcinoma. Mol Immunol 2024; 172:76-84. [PMID: 38917598 DOI: 10.1016/j.molimm.2024.06.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2024] [Revised: 06/13/2024] [Accepted: 06/19/2024] [Indexed: 06/27/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND & AIMS Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), one of the malignancies with a wide expression of stress ligands recognized by Vδ1γδ T cells, has received much attention in adoptive immunotherapy of γδ T cells. In this study, we aimed to identify the potential anti-tumor Vδ1γδ T subpopulations in HCC. METHODS Healthy donors (HDs) and HCC patients were recruited from the Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Zhengzhou University. Blood and tumor tissue samples were obtained respectively. Bioinformatics methods were used to analyze total γδ T cells and subsets infiltration, overall survival of HCC patients with high and low infiltration level of Vδ1γδ T cells, and IFNG, granzyme A, granzyme B and perforin expression in TRDV1high/lowCD69high/low groups. CD69 expression and Vδ1γδT cells infiltration in HCC were detected by immunofluorescence. Phenotypic analysis of Vδ1γδ T cells in blood and tumor tissue samples were performed by flow cytometry. RESULTS Vδ1γδ T cells infiltrating in HCC were associated with better clinical outcome. Study in tumor micro-environment (TME) of HCC demonstrated that not total Vδ1γδ T but CD69+ Vδ1γδ subset infiltration was associated with smaller tumor volume. Moreover, HCC patients simultaneously with high TRDV1 and CD69 expression produced more effector molecules and had longer survival time. Since Vδ1γδ T cells in the tumor microenvironment were often difficult to access, we demonstrated that CD69+ Vδ1γδ T cells also existed in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) of HCC and displayed enhanced cytotoxic potentials than HDs. Finally, we investigated the functions and found that CD69+ Vδ1γδ T cells exhibited stronger tumor reactivities when challenged by tumor cells. CONCLUSIONS CD69+ Vδ1γδ T cells are functional Vδ1γδ T cell subsets in patients with HCC. Circulating CD69+ Vδ1γδ T cell is a promising candidate in immunotherapy of HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongqin You
- Department of Immunotherapy, the Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Zhengzhou University & Henan Cancer Hospital, Zhengzhou 450008, China
| | - Yixin Wang
- Department of Immunotherapy, the Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Zhengzhou University & Henan Cancer Hospital, Zhengzhou 450008, China
| | - Xiaokun Wang
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, the Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Zhengzhou University & Henan Cancer Hospital, Zhengzhou 450008, China
| | - Huifang Zhu
- Department of Immunotherapy, the Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Zhengzhou University & Henan Cancer Hospital, Zhengzhou 450008, China
| | - Yajie Zhao
- Department of Breast, the Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Zhengzhou University & Henan Cancer Hospital, Zhengzhou 450008, China
| | - Peng Qin
- Department of Immunotherapy, the Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Zhengzhou University & Henan Cancer Hospital, Zhengzhou 450008, China
| | - Xue Liu
- Department of Immunotherapy, the Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Zhengzhou University & Henan Cancer Hospital, Zhengzhou 450008, China
| | - Mengyu Zhang
- Department of Immunotherapy, the Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Zhengzhou University & Henan Cancer Hospital, Zhengzhou 450008, China
| | - Xiaomin Fu
- Department of Immunotherapy, the Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Zhengzhou University & Henan Cancer Hospital, Zhengzhou 450008, China
| | - Benling Xu
- Department of Immunotherapy, the Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Zhengzhou University & Henan Cancer Hospital, Zhengzhou 450008, China
| | - Yong Zhang
- Department of Immunotherapy, the Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Zhengzhou University & Henan Cancer Hospital, Zhengzhou 450008, China
| | - Zibing Wang
- Department of Immunotherapy, the Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Zhengzhou University & Henan Cancer Hospital, Zhengzhou 450008, China
| | - Quanli Gao
- Department of Immunotherapy, the Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Zhengzhou University & Henan Cancer Hospital, Zhengzhou 450008, China.
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Bao M, Wu A. Understanding the heterogeneity in liver hepatocellular carcinoma with a special focus on malignant cell through single-cell analysis. Discov Oncol 2024; 15:241. [PMID: 38913193 PMCID: PMC11196498 DOI: 10.1007/s12672-024-01115-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2024] [Accepted: 06/20/2024] [Indexed: 06/25/2024] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common form of liver cancer globally and remains a major cause of cancer-related deaths. HCC exhibits significant intra-tumoral and interpatient heterogeneity, impacting treatment efficacy and patient prognosis. METHODS We acquired transcriptome data from the TCGA and ICGC databases, as well as liver cancer chip data from the GEO database, and processed the data for subsequent analysis. We also obtained single cell data from the GEO database and performed data analysis using the Seurat package. To further investigate epithelial cell subgroups and their copy number variations, we used the Seurat workflow for subgroup classification and the InferCNV software for CNV analysis, utilizing endothelial cells as a reference. Pseudo-time analysis and transcription factor analysis of epithelial cells were performed using the monocle2 and SCENIC software, respectively. To assess intercellular communication, we employed the CellChat package to identify potential ligand-receptor interactions. We also analyzed gene expression differences and conducted enrichment analysis using the limma and clusterProfiler packages. Additionally, we established tumor-related risk characteristics using Cox analysis and Lasso regression, and predicted immunotherapy response using various datasets. RESULTS The samples were classified into 23 clusters, with malignant epithelial cells being the majority. Trajectory analysis revealed the differentiation states of the malignant epithelial cells, with cluster 1 being in the terminal state. Functional analysis revealed higher aggressiveness and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) scores in cluster 1, indicating a higher propensity for metastasis. RBP4+ tumor cells were highly enriched with hypoxia process and intensive cell-to-cell communication. A prognostic model was established, and immune infiltration analysis showed increased infiltration in the high-risk group. TP53 demonstrated significant differences in mutation rate between the two risk groups. Validation analysis confirmed the up-regulation of model genes, including AKR1B10, ARL6IP4, ATP6V0B, and BSG in tumor tissues. CONCLUSION A prognostic model was established based on HCC malignant cell associated gene signature, displaying decent prognosis guiding effectiveness in the multiple cohorts. The study provided comprehensive insights into the heterogeneity and potential therapeutic targets of LIHC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mengmeng Bao
- Department of Anesthesiology, Beijing Chaoyang Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100020, China
| | - Anshi Wu
- Department of Anesthesiology, Beijing Chaoyang Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100020, China.
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Zeng D, Yu C, Chen S, Zou L, Chen J, Xu L. Assessment of disease control rate and safety of sorafenib in targeted therapy for advanced liver cancer. World J Surg Oncol 2024; 22:93. [PMID: 38605359 PMCID: PMC11010384 DOI: 10.1186/s12957-024-03364-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2024] [Accepted: 03/22/2024] [Indexed: 04/13/2024] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The clinical efficacy and safety of sorafenib in patients with advanced liver cancer (ALC) were evaluated based on transarterial chemoembolization (TACE). METHODS 92 patients with ALC admitted to our hospital from May 2020 to August 2022 were randomly rolled into a control (Ctrl) group and an observation (Obs) group, with 46 patients in each. Patients in the Ctrl group received TACE treatment, while those in the Obs group received sorafenib molecular targeted therapy (SMTT) on the basis of the treatment strategy in the Ctrl group (400 mg/dose, twice daily, followed by a 4-week follow-up observation). Clinical efficacy, disease control rate (DCR), survival time (ST), immune indicators (CD3+, CD4+, CD4+/CD8+), and adverse reactions (ARs) (including mild fatigue, liver pain, hand-foot syndrome (HFS), diarrhea, and fever) were compared for patients in different groups after different treatments. RESULTS the DCR in the Obs group (90%) was greatly higher to that in the Ctrl group (78%), showing an obvious difference (P < 0.05). The median ST in the Obs group was obviously longer and the median disease progression time (DPT) was shorter, exhibiting great differences with those in the Ctrl group (P < 0.05). Moreover, no great difference was observed in laboratory indicators between patients in various groups (P > 0.05). After treatment, the Obs group exhibited better levels in all indicators. Furthermore, the incidence of ARs in the Obs group was lower and exhibited a sharp difference with that in the Ctrl group (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION SMTT had demonstrated good efficacy in patients with ALC, improving the DCR, enhancing the immune response of the body, and reducing the incidence of ARs, thereby promoting the disease outcome. Therefore, it was a treatment method worthy of promotion and application.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daolin Zeng
- Minimally Invasive Intervention Department, Ganzhou People's Hospital, Ganzhou, Jiangxi, 341000, China
| | - Chunlin Yu
- Minimally Invasive Intervention Department, Ganzhou People's Hospital, Ganzhou, Jiangxi, 341000, China
| | - Shiyao Chen
- Jiangxi Institute of Applied Science and Technology, Nanchang, Jiangxi, 330012, China
| | - Long Zou
- Hepatobiliary Surgery Department, Jiangxi Province Cancer Hospital, Nanchang, Jiangxi, 330029, China
| | - Junjun Chen
- Key Laboratory of Personalized Diagnosis and Treatment of Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma, National Health Commission (NHC), Jiangxi Cancer Hospital of Nanchang Medical College, Nanchang, Jiangxi, 330029, China
| | - Linlong Xu
- Department of Hepato-Biliary-Pancreatic Surgery, Jiujiang First People's Hospital, 48 Taling South Road Jiujiang, Jiujiang, Jiangxi, 332000, China.
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Yang M, Yu T, Han L. Hsa_circ_0010882 facilitates hepatocellular carcinoma progression by modulating M1/M2 macrophage polarization. J Viral Hepat 2024; 31:189-196. [PMID: 38235909 DOI: 10.1111/jvh.13917] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2023] [Revised: 12/12/2023] [Accepted: 12/30/2023] [Indexed: 01/19/2024]
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one common malignant tumour with a high immunosuppressive tumour microenvironment and poor outcomes. This study investigated the influence of hsa_circ_0010882 on M1/M2 macrophage polarization in the progression of HCC. A total of 125 paired tissue specimens from HCC patients who underwent hepatectomy were collected. M1 and M2 phenotypes macrophages were induced using THP-1. After co-cultured with macrophages and transfected HCC cells, the viability, migration and invasion of HCC cells were detected by cellular experiments. Bioinformatic databases and dual-luciferase reporter assays were used to predict and validate the interaction between circ_0010882 and miR-382. Expression of circ_0010882 was increased in HCC tissues and associated with shorter overall survival outcomes. The mRNA expression of M2 macrophage markers Arg-1, CD163 and CD206 were elevated in HCC tissues. Interfering with circ_0010882 increased M1-type macrophage markers (TNF-α and iNOS) while decreasing M2-type macrophage markers (Arg-1 and CD206). Silencing of circ_0010882 strengthened the capacity of M1 macrophages to suppress HCC cell viability, migration capacities and invasion potential while reducing the ability of M2 macrophages to promote above cellular abilities. MiR-382 was a direct target miRNA of circ_0010882. The circ_0010882 expression was increased in HCC tissues and associated with poor prognosis of HCC patients. Silencing of circ_0010882 inhibits macrophage M2 polarization in HCC progression by regulating miR-382 expression. Circ_0010882 may serve as a biomarker to provide novel strategies for the treatment of HCC and patient rehabilitation, thereby improving the prognosis of patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ming Yang
- Department of Medical Oncology, The Affiliated Xuzhou Municipal Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, China
| | - Tao Yu
- Department of Medical Oncology, The Affiliated Xuzhou Municipal Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, China
| | - Li Han
- Department of Medical Oncology, The Affiliated Xuzhou Municipal Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, China
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Jani Y, Jansen CS, Gerke MB, Bilen MA. Established and emerging biomarkers of immunotherapy in renal cell carcinoma. Immunotherapy 2024; 16:405-426. [PMID: 38264827 DOI: 10.2217/imt-2023-0267] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Immunotherapies, such as immune checkpoint inhibitors, have heralded impressive progress for patient care in renal cell carcinoma (RCC). Despite this success, some patients' disease fails to respond, and other patients experience significant side effects. Thus, development of biomarkers is needed to ensure that patients can be selected to maximize benefit from immunotherapies. Improving clinicians' ability to predict which patients will respond to immunotherapy and which are most at risk of adverse events - namely through clinical biomarkers - is indispensable for patient safety and therapeutic efficacy. Accordingly, an evolving suite of therapeutic biomarkers continues to be investigated. This review discusses biomarkers for immunotherapy in RCC, highlighting current practices and emerging innovations, aiming to contribute to improved outcomes for patients with RCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yash Jani
- Mercer University, Macon, GA 31207, USA
| | - Caroline S Jansen
- Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
- Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
| | - Margo B Gerke
- Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
| | - Mehmet Asim Bilen
- Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
- Department of Hematology & Medical Oncology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
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Rouvinov K, Mazor G, Kozlener E, Meirovitz A, Shrem NS, Abu Saleh O, Shalata S, Yakobson A, Shalata W. Cemiplimab as First Line Therapy in Advanced Penile Squamous Cell Carcinoma: A Real-World Experience. J Pers Med 2023; 13:1623. [PMID: 38003938 PMCID: PMC10672594 DOI: 10.3390/jpm13111623] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2023] [Revised: 11/12/2023] [Accepted: 11/15/2023] [Indexed: 11/26/2023] Open
Abstract
In the treatment of cancer, immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have demonstrated significantly greater effectiveness compared to conventional cytotoxic or platinum-based chemotherapies. To assess the efficacy of ICI's in penile squamous cell carcinoma (pSCC) we performed a retrospective observational study. We reviewed electronic medical records of patients with penile squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), diagnosed between January 2020 and February 2023. Nine patients were screened, of whom three were ineligible for chemotherapy and received immunotherapy, cemiplimab, in a first-line setting. Each of the three immunotherapy-treated patients achieved almost a complete response (CR) after only a few cycles of therapy. The first patient had cerebral arteritis during treatment and received a high-dose steroid treatment with resolution of the symptoms of arteritis. After tapering down the steroids dose, the patient continued cemiplimab without further toxicity. The other two patients did not have any toxic side effects of the treatment. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first real world report of near CR with cemiplimab as a first-line treatment in penile SCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keren Rouvinov
- The Legacy Heritage Center & Dr. Larry Norton Institute, Soroka Medical Center and Ben Gurion University, Beer Sheva 84105, Israel
| | - Gal Mazor
- Medical School for International Health, Ben Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva 84105, Israel
| | - Ella Kozlener
- Department of Oncology, Bnei Zion Medical Center, Haifa 31048, Israel
| | - Amichay Meirovitz
- The Legacy Heritage Center & Dr. Larry Norton Institute, Soroka Medical Center and Ben Gurion University, Beer Sheva 84105, Israel
| | - Noa Shani Shrem
- The Legacy Heritage Center & Dr. Larry Norton Institute, Soroka Medical Center and Ben Gurion University, Beer Sheva 84105, Israel
| | - Omar Abu Saleh
- Department of Dermatology and Venereology, Emek Medical Centre, Afula 18341, Israel
| | - Sondos Shalata
- Nutrition Unit, Galilee Medical Center, Nahariya 22000, Israel
| | - Alexander Yakobson
- The Legacy Heritage Center & Dr. Larry Norton Institute, Soroka Medical Center and Ben Gurion University, Beer Sheva 84105, Israel
| | - Walid Shalata
- The Legacy Heritage Center & Dr. Larry Norton Institute, Soroka Medical Center and Ben Gurion University, Beer Sheva 84105, Israel
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Bicer F, Kure C, Ozluk AA, El-Rayes BF, Akce M. Advances in Immunotherapy for Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC). Curr Oncol 2023; 30:9789-9812. [PMID: 37999131 PMCID: PMC10670350 DOI: 10.3390/curroncol30110711] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2023] [Revised: 10/28/2023] [Accepted: 10/31/2023] [Indexed: 11/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the second most common cause of cancer-related deaths in the world. More than half of patients with HCC present with advanced stage, and highly active systemic therapies are crucial for improving outcomes. Immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI)-based therapies have emerged as novel therapy options for advanced HCC. Only one third of patients achieve an objective response with ICI-based therapies due to primary resistance or acquired resistance. The liver tumor microenvironment is naturally immunosuppressive, and specific mutations in cell signaling pathways allow the tumor to evade the immune response. Next, gene sequencing of the tumor tissue or circulating tumor DNA may delineate resistance mechanisms to ICI-based therapy and provide a rationale for novel combination therapies. In this review, we discuss the results of key clinical trials that have led to approval of ICI-based therapy options in advanced HCC and summarize the ongoing clinical trials. We review resistance mechanisms to ICIs and discuss how immunotherapies may be optimized based on the emerging research of tumor biomarkers and genomic alterations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fuat Bicer
- Division of Hematology Oncology, Department of Medicine, University of Cincinnati Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH 45267, USA;
| | - Catrina Kure
- Department of Medicine, Northside Hospital-Gwinnett, Lawrenceville, GA 30046, USA;
| | - Anil A. Ozluk
- Division of Hematology Oncology, Department of Medicine, O’Neal Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Alabama at Birmingham Heersink School of Medicine, Birmingham, AL 35233, USA; (A.A.O.); (B.F.E.-R.)
| | - Bassel F. El-Rayes
- Division of Hematology Oncology, Department of Medicine, O’Neal Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Alabama at Birmingham Heersink School of Medicine, Birmingham, AL 35233, USA; (A.A.O.); (B.F.E.-R.)
| | - Mehmet Akce
- Division of Hematology Oncology, Department of Medicine, O’Neal Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Alabama at Birmingham Heersink School of Medicine, Birmingham, AL 35233, USA; (A.A.O.); (B.F.E.-R.)
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Xu Q, Ying H, Xie C, Lin R, Huang Y, Zhu R, Liao Y, Zeng Y, Yu F. Characterization of neutrophil extracellular traps related gene pair for predicting prognosis in hepatocellular carcinoma. J Gene Med 2023; 25:e3551. [PMID: 37401256 DOI: 10.1002/jgm.3551] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2023] [Revised: 04/26/2023] [Accepted: 05/24/2023] [Indexed: 07/05/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a malignant disease with a high incidence rate, high mortality and poor prognosis. Neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs), as an extracellular reticular structure, promote the development and progression of cancer in the tumor microenvironment, and have a promising prospect as a prognostic indicator. In the present study, we elucidated the prognostic value of NET-related genes. METHODS The NETs gene pair of The Cancer Genome Atlas cohort was constructed by least absolute shrinkage and selection operator analysis. Samples from the International Cancer Genome Consortium were performed to verify its feasibility. Kaplan-Meier analysis was used to compare the overall survival (OS) rate of the two subgroups. The independent predictors of OS were determined by univariate and multivariate Cox analysis. Furthermore, Gene Ontology term and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway were analyzed by gene set enrichment analysis. The single sample gene set enrichment analysis method was performed to deplore the relationship of risk score with tumor immune microenvironment. The GSE149614 dataset was applied as single cell RNA level validation. PCR was performed to the detect mRNA expression profiles of NETs-related genes. RESULTS Our analysis of the NETs-related model provides a promising prospect as a prognostic indicator. The OS of high-risk group patients was significantly reduced. The risk score was an important independent predictor of HCC prognosis. The Nomogram model suggested a favorable classification performance. The drug resistance and sensitivity of tumor cells to chemotherapeutics was significantly correlated with the prognostic gene expression. The immune status of the two risk groups showed a marked difference. CONCLUSIONS The novel prognostic gene pair and immune landscape could predict the prognosis of HCC patients and provide a new understanding of immunotherapy in HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qian Xu
- Department of Gastroenterology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Huiya Ying
- Department of Gastroenterology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Chunming Xie
- Department of Gastroenterology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Rong Lin
- Department of Gastroenterology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Yangjin Huang
- Department of Gastroenterology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Ruhuang Zhu
- Department of Neurology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Yuejuan Liao
- Department of Gastroenterology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Yuan Zeng
- Department of Gastroenterology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Fujun Yu
- Department of Gastroenterology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China
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Bai XM, He ZH, Wu H, Yang W, Wang S, Zhang ZY, Wu W, Yan K, Chen MH, Nahum Goldberg S. An evaluation of 20-year survival of radiofrequency ablation for hepatocellular carcinoma as first-line treatment. Eur J Radiol 2023; 168:111094. [PMID: 37738836 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejrad.2023.111094] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2023] [Revised: 09/01/2023] [Accepted: 09/12/2023] [Indexed: 09/24/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To evaluate the changes in clinical characteristics, overall survival (OS), and progression-free survival (PFS) by investigating a 20-year cohort of patients with HCC who underwent RFA treatment. METHODS From 2000 to 2020, 505 consecutive patients with HCC underwent ultrasound-guided percutaneous RFA as first-line therapy at a tertiary cancer hospital. We divided the cohort according to the time when hepatitis-B antiviral therapy was covered by national medical insurance coverage (early 2011), including the first decade (2000-2010) and second decade (2011-2020). The prognostic factors for OS were analyzed by the Cox proportional hazard model. OS and PFS in different groups were compared using the Kaplan-Meier method. To reduce selection bias, matched groups of patients were selected using the propensity score matching (PSM) method. RESULTS In total, 726 RFA sessions were performed to treat 867 HCC lesions. Patients treated in the second decade were younger (p =.047), had smaller tumors (p <.001), had lower Child-Pugh scores (p <.001), and had a higher proportion of antiviral treatment (p <.001). A total of 96.0% of patients achieved technical efficacy from the initial RFA. After PSM analysis, improved PFS was found for the second decade (median, 68 vs. 49 months, p =.003), but no significant difference in OS was observed between the two groups (median, 71 vs. 65 months, p =.20). CONCLUSIONS This study demonstrated that improved PFS was achieved in patients with HCC receiving RFA as first-line treatment in the second decade. However, long-term OS was not significantly increased compared to the first decade suggesting that while RFA treatment has improved, it still might not substantially affect OS results.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiu-Mei Bai
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education/Beijing), Department of Ultrasound, Peking University Cancer Hospital & Institute, Beijing, China
| | - Zhong-Hu He
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, Beijing Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research, Department of Genetics, Peking University Cancer Hospital & Institute, Beijing, China
| | - Hao Wu
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education/Beijing), Department of Ultrasound, Peking University Cancer Hospital & Institute, Beijing, China
| | - Wei Yang
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education/Beijing), Department of Ultrasound, Peking University Cancer Hospital & Institute, Beijing, China.
| | - Song Wang
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education/Beijing), Department of Ultrasound, Peking University Cancer Hospital & Institute, Beijing, China
| | - Zhong-Yi Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education/Beijing), Department of Ultrasound, Peking University Cancer Hospital & Institute, Beijing, China
| | - Wei Wu
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education/Beijing), Department of Ultrasound, Peking University Cancer Hospital & Institute, Beijing, China
| | - Kun Yan
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education/Beijing), Department of Ultrasound, Peking University Cancer Hospital & Institute, Beijing, China
| | - Min-Hua Chen
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education/Beijing), Department of Ultrasound, Peking University Cancer Hospital & Institute, Beijing, China
| | - S Nahum Goldberg
- Division of Image-Guided Therapy, Department of Radiology, Hadassah Hebrew University Medical Center, Jerusalem, Israel
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Liu X, Zeng Z, Cao J, Li X, Muhetaer M, Jin Z, Cai H, Lu Z. Sintilimab-Induced Myocarditis in a Patient with Gastric Cancer: A Case Report and Literature Review. J Cardiovasc Dev Dis 2023; 10:422. [PMID: 37887869 PMCID: PMC10607029 DOI: 10.3390/jcdd10100422] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2023] [Revised: 09/15/2023] [Accepted: 09/22/2023] [Indexed: 10/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have emerged as a powerful and efficacious therapeutic approach for many cancer patients. Sintilimab is a fully human IgG4 monoclonal antibody that binds with programmed cell death receptor-1 (PD-1) to block its interaction with ligands, thereby enhancing the antitumor effects of T cells. However, ICIs may induce immune-related adverse events (irAEs) in various systems and organs, with fulminant myocarditis being the most severe one. We report the case of a 45-year-old female with gastric cancer who developed chest pain two weeks after chemotherapy with sintilimab; she was diagnosed with immune-associated fulminant myocarditis and experienced an Adams-Stokes syndrome attack in the hospital. Eventually, she was discharged after being treated with methylprednisolone, immunoglobulin, and an IABP.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xin Liu
- Department of Cardiology, Zhongnan Hospital, Wuhan University, No. 169 Donghu Road, Wuchang District, Wuhan 430071, China; (X.L.); (Z.Z.); (J.C.); (X.L.); (M.M.); (Z.J.)
- Institute of Myocardial Injury and Repair, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, China
| | - Ziyue Zeng
- Department of Cardiology, Zhongnan Hospital, Wuhan University, No. 169 Donghu Road, Wuchang District, Wuhan 430071, China; (X.L.); (Z.Z.); (J.C.); (X.L.); (M.M.); (Z.J.)
- Institute of Myocardial Injury and Repair, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, China
| | - Jianlei Cao
- Department of Cardiology, Zhongnan Hospital, Wuhan University, No. 169 Donghu Road, Wuchang District, Wuhan 430071, China; (X.L.); (Z.Z.); (J.C.); (X.L.); (M.M.); (Z.J.)
- Institute of Myocardial Injury and Repair, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, China
| | - Xianqing Li
- Department of Cardiology, Zhongnan Hospital, Wuhan University, No. 169 Donghu Road, Wuchang District, Wuhan 430071, China; (X.L.); (Z.Z.); (J.C.); (X.L.); (M.M.); (Z.J.)
- Institute of Myocardial Injury and Repair, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, China
| | - Muheremu Muhetaer
- Department of Cardiology, Zhongnan Hospital, Wuhan University, No. 169 Donghu Road, Wuchang District, Wuhan 430071, China; (X.L.); (Z.Z.); (J.C.); (X.L.); (M.M.); (Z.J.)
- Institute of Myocardial Injury and Repair, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, China
| | - Zhili Jin
- Department of Cardiology, Zhongnan Hospital, Wuhan University, No. 169 Donghu Road, Wuchang District, Wuhan 430071, China; (X.L.); (Z.Z.); (J.C.); (X.L.); (M.M.); (Z.J.)
- Institute of Myocardial Injury and Repair, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, China
| | - Huanhuan Cai
- Department of Cardiology, Zhongnan Hospital, Wuhan University, No. 169 Donghu Road, Wuchang District, Wuhan 430071, China; (X.L.); (Z.Z.); (J.C.); (X.L.); (M.M.); (Z.J.)
- Institute of Myocardial Injury and Repair, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, China
| | - Zhibing Lu
- Department of Cardiology, Zhongnan Hospital, Wuhan University, No. 169 Donghu Road, Wuchang District, Wuhan 430071, China; (X.L.); (Z.Z.); (J.C.); (X.L.); (M.M.); (Z.J.)
- Institute of Myocardial Injury and Repair, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, China
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11
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Suresh D, Srinivas AN, Prashant A, Harikumar KB, Kumar DP. Therapeutic options in hepatocellular carcinoma: a comprehensive review. Clin Exp Med 2023; 23:1901-1916. [PMID: 36780119 DOI: 10.1007/s10238-023-01014-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2022] [Accepted: 01/27/2023] [Indexed: 02/14/2023]
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a chronic liver disease that is highly fatal if not detected and treated early. The incidence and death rate of HCC have been increasing in recent decades despite the measures taken for preventive screening and effective diagnostic and treatment strategies. The pathophysiology of HCC is multifactorial and highly complex owing to its molecular and immune heterogeneity, and thus the gap in knowledge still precludes making choices between viable therapeutic options and also the development of effective regimens. The treatment of HCC demands multidisciplinary approaches and primarily depends on tumor stage, hepatic functional reserve, and response to treatment by patients. Although curative treatments are limited but critical in the early stages of cancer, there are numerous palliative treatments available for patients with intermediate and advanced-stage HCC. In recent times, the use of combination therapy has succeeded over the use of monotherapy in the treatment of HCC by achieving effective tumor suppression, increasing survival rate, decreasing toxicity, and also aiding in overcoming drug resistance. This work focuses on reviewing the current and emerging treatment strategies for HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diwakar Suresh
- Department of Biochemistry, CEMR, JSS Medical College, JSS Academy of Higher Education and Research, SS Nagar, Mysuru, 570015, India
| | - Akshatha N Srinivas
- Department of Biochemistry, CEMR, JSS Medical College, JSS Academy of Higher Education and Research, SS Nagar, Mysuru, 570015, India
| | - Akila Prashant
- Department of Biochemistry, CEMR, JSS Medical College, JSS Academy of Higher Education and Research, SS Nagar, Mysuru, 570015, India
| | - Kuzhuvelil B Harikumar
- Cancer Research Program, Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology (RGCB), Thiruvananthapuram, 695014, India
| | - Divya P Kumar
- Department of Biochemistry, CEMR, JSS Medical College, JSS Academy of Higher Education and Research, SS Nagar, Mysuru, 570015, India.
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12
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Zhao Z, Zheng B, Zheng J, Zhang Y, Jiang C, Nie C, Jiang X, Yao D, Zhao H. Integrative Analysis of Inflammatory Response-Related Gene for Predicting Prognosis and Immunotherapy in Glioma. J Mol Neurosci 2023; 73:608-627. [PMID: 37488455 PMCID: PMC10516783 DOI: 10.1007/s12031-023-02142-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2023] [Accepted: 07/10/2023] [Indexed: 07/26/2023]
Abstract
Inflammatory response plays a crucial role in the development and progression of gliomas. Whereas the prognostic esteem of inflammatory response-related genes has never been comprehensively explored in glioma, the RNA-seq information and clinical data of patients with glioma were extracted from TCGA, CGGA, and Rembrandt databases. The differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were picked out between glioma tissue and non-tumor brain tissue (NBT). Then, the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression analysis was performed to construct the prognostic signature in the TCGA cohort and verified in other cohorts. Kaplan-Meier survival analyses were conducted to compare the overall survival (OS) between the high and low-risk groups. Univariate and multivariate Cox analyses were subsequently used to confirm the independent prognostic factors of OS, and then, the nomogram was established based them. Furthermore, immune infiltration, immune checkpoints, and immunotherapy were also probed and compared between high and low-risk groups. The four genes were also analyzed by qRT-PCR, immunohistochemistry, and western blot trials between glioma tissue and NBT. The 39 DEGs were identified between glioma tissue and NBT, of which 31 genes are associated to the prognosis of glioma. The 8 optimal inflammatory response-related genes were selected to construct the prognostic inflammatory response-related signature (IRRS) through the LASSO regression. The effectiveness of the IRRS was verified in the TCGA, CGGA, and Rembrandt cohorts. Meanwhile, a nomogram with better accuracy was established to predict OS based on the independent prognostic factors. The IRRS was highly correlated with clinicopathological features, immune infiltration, and genomic alterations in glioma patients. In addition, four selective genes also verified the difference between glioma tissue and NBT. A novel prognostic signature was associated with the prognosis, immune infiltration, and immunotherapy effect in patients with gliomas. Thus, this study could provide a perspective for glioma prognosis and treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhen Zhao
- Department of Neurosurgery, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430022, China
| | - Baoping Zheng
- Department of Neurosurgery, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430022, China
| | - Jianglin Zheng
- Department of Neurosurgery, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430022, China
| | - Yi Zhang
- Department of Neonatology, Third Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450052, China
| | - Cheng Jiang
- Department of Neurosurgery, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430022, China
| | - Chuansheng Nie
- Department of Neurosurgery, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430022, China
| | - Xiaobing Jiang
- Department of Neurosurgery, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430022, China
| | - Dongxiao Yao
- Department of Neurosurgery, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430022, China.
| | - Hongyang Zhao
- Department of Neurosurgery, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430022, China.
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13
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Lai T, Su X, Chen E, Tao Y, Zhang S, Wang L, Mao Y, Hu H. The DEAD-box RNA helicase, DDX60, Suppresses immunotherapy and promotes malignant progression of pancreatic cancer. Biochem Biophys Rep 2023; 34:101488. [PMID: 37274827 PMCID: PMC10236181 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrep.2023.101488] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2023] [Revised: 05/14/2023] [Accepted: 05/19/2023] [Indexed: 06/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Excessive proliferation, invasion, metastasis, and immune resistance in pancreatic cancer (PC) makes it one of the most lethal malignant tumors. Recently, DDX60 was found to be involved in the development of various tumors and in immunotherapy. Therefore, we aimed to investigate whether DDX60 is a new factor involved in PC immunotherapy. The DDX60 mRNA was screened using transcriptome sequencing (RNA-seq). The Cox and survival analysis of DDX60 was performed using the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) and The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) databases. In addition, clinical and immune infiltration data in the databases were analyzed and plotted using the R language. Clinical samples and in vitro experiments were used to determine the molecular evolution of DDX60 during PC progression. We found that DDX60 was upregulated in PC tissues (P value = 0.0083) and was associated with poor prognosis and short survival time of patients with PC. Results of Gene Ontology, Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes, and gene set variation analyses showed that viral defense, tumor, and immune-related pathways were significantly enriched in samples with high DDX60 expression. The Pearson correlation test demonstrated that DDX60 expression correlated strongly with immune checkpoint and immune system-related metagene clusters. Our results indicated that DDX60 promoted cell proliferation, migration, and invasion and was related to poor prognosis and immune resistance. Therefore, DDX60 may be a promising novel target for PC immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tiantian Lai
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Affiliated Hospital of Jiangnan University, Wuxi, 214122, Jiangsu Province, China
- Wuxi Medical College, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, 214122, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Xiaowen Su
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Affiliated Hospital of Jiangnan University, Wuxi, 214122, Jiangsu Province, China
- Wuxi Medical College, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, 214122, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Enhong Chen
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Affiliated Hospital of Jiangnan University, Wuxi, 214122, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Yue Tao
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Affiliated Hospital of Jiangnan University, Wuxi, 214122, Jiangsu Province, China
- Wuxi Medical College, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, 214122, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Shuo Zhang
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Affiliated Hospital of Jiangnan University, Wuxi, 214122, Jiangsu Province, China
- Wuxi Medical College, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, 214122, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Leisheng Wang
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Affiliated Hospital of Jiangnan University, Wuxi, 214122, Jiangsu Province, China
- Wuxi Medical College, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, 214122, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Yong Mao
- Medical oncology, Affiliated Hospital of Jiangnan University, Wuxi, 214122, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Hao Hu
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Affiliated Hospital of Jiangnan University, Wuxi, 214122, Jiangsu Province, China
- Wuxi Medical College, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, 214122, Jiangsu Province, China
- Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, the Third Hospital Affiliated to Nantong University, Wuxi, 214041, China
- Medical School, Nantong University, Nantong, 226001, China
- Wuxi Institute of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Wuxi, 214122, China
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14
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Zhang Q, Liu J, Lin H, Lin B, Zhu M, Li M. Glucose metabolism reprogramming promotes immune escape of hepatocellular carcinoma cells. EXPLORATION OF TARGETED ANTI-TUMOR THERAPY 2023; 4:519-536. [PMID: 37455832 PMCID: PMC10344893 DOI: 10.37349/etat.2023.00149] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2022] [Accepted: 03/13/2023] [Indexed: 07/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a complex process that plays an important role in its progression. Abnormal glucose metabolism in HCC cells can meet the nutrients required for the occurrence and development of liver cancer, better adapt to changes in the surrounding microenvironment, and escape the attack of the immune system on the tumor. There is a close relationship between reprogramming of glucose metabolism and immune escape. This article reviews the current status and progress of glucose metabolism reprogramming in promoting immune escape in liver cancer, aiming to provide new strategies for clinical immunotherapy of liver cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiuyue Zhang
- Hainan Provincial Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Intervention, Hainan Medical College, Haikou 571199, Hainan Province, China
| | - Jinchen Liu
- Hainan Provincial Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Intervention, Hainan Medical College, Haikou 571199, Hainan Province, China
| | - Haifeng Lin
- Department of Medical Oncology, Second Affiliated Hospital, Hainan Medical College, Haikou 570216, Hainan Province, China
| | - Bo Lin
- Hainan Provincial Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Intervention, Hainan Medical College, Haikou 571199, Hainan Province, China
| | - Mingyue Zhu
- Hainan Provincial Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Intervention, Hainan Medical College, Haikou 571199, Hainan Province, China
| | - Mengsen Li
- Hainan Provincial Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Intervention, Hainan Medical College, Haikou 571199, Hainan Province, China
- Department of Medical Oncology, Second Affiliated Hospital, Hainan Medical College, Haikou 570216, Hainan Province, China
- Institution of Tumor, Hainan Medical College, Haikou 570102, Hainan Province, China
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15
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Huang P, Hu YD, Liu YJ, Li JP, Zhang YH. An Analysis Regarding the Association Between the Nuclear Pore Complex (NPC) and Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC). J Hepatocell Carcinoma 2023; 10:959-978. [PMID: 37377841 PMCID: PMC10292625 DOI: 10.2147/jhc.s417501] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2023] [Accepted: 06/16/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Background The nuclear pore complex (NPC) is the main mediator of nuclear and cytoplasmic communication, and delaying or blocking nuclear RNA export and protein shuttling can inhibit cell proliferation and induce apoptosis. Although NPC is a research hotspot in structural biology, relevant studies in hepatocellular carcinoma are scarce, especially in terms of translation into clinical practice. Methods This study used a bioinformatics approach combining validation experiments to investigate the biological mechanisms that may be related with NPC. A series of experiments performed to explore the function of the Targeting protein for Xenopus kinesin-like protein 2 (TPX2) in HCC. Results Patients with HCC can be divided into two NPC clusters. Patients with high NPC levels (C1) had a shorter survival time than those with low NPC levels (C2) and are characterised by high levels of proliferative signals. We demonstrated that TPX2 regulates HCC growth and inhibits apoptosis in an NPC-dependent manner and contributes to the maintenance of HCC stemness. We developed the NPCScore to predict the prognosis and degree of differentiation in HCC patients. Conclusion NPC plays an important role in the malignant proliferation of HCC. Assessing NPC expression patterns could help enhance our understanding of tumor cell proliferation and could guide more effective chemotherapeutic strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pan Huang
- Department of Oncology, Zhangjiagang TCM Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Zhangjiagang, Jiangsu, 215600, People’s Republic of China
| | - Yi-dou Hu
- Department of Oncology, Zhangjiagang TCM Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Zhangjiagang, Jiangsu, 215600, People’s Republic of China
| | - Yuan-jie Liu
- No. 1 Clinical Medical College, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210023, People’s Republic of China
- Department of Oncology, Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Jiangsu Province Hospital of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210029, People’s Republic of China
| | - Jie-pin Li
- Department of Oncology, Zhangjiagang TCM Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Zhangjiagang, Jiangsu, 215600, People’s Republic of China
- No. 1 Clinical Medical College, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210023, People’s Republic of China
- Key Laboratory of Tumor System Biology of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210029, People’s Republic of China
| | - Yong-hua Zhang
- Department of Oncology, Zhangjiagang TCM Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Zhangjiagang, Jiangsu, 215600, People’s Republic of China
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16
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Kumar A, Pecquenard F, Baydoun M, Quilbé A, Moralès O, Leroux B, Aoudjehane L, Conti F, Boleslawski E, Delhem N. An Efficient 5-Aminolevulinic Acid Photodynamic Therapy Treatment for Human Hepatocellular Carcinoma. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:10426. [PMID: 37445603 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241310426] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2023] [Revised: 06/16/2023] [Accepted: 06/16/2023] [Indexed: 07/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a two-stage treatment relying on cytotoxicity induced by photoexcitation of a nontoxic dye, called photosensitizer (PS). Using 5-aminolevulinic acid (5-ALA), the pro-drug of PS protoporphyrin IX, we investigated the impact of PDT on hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Optimal 5-ALA PDT dose was determined on three HCC cell lines by analyzing cell death after treatment with varying doses. HCC-patient-derived tumor hepatocytes and healthy donor liver myofibroblasts were treated with optimal 5-ALA PDT doses. The proliferation of cancer cells and healthy donor immune cells cultured with 5-ALA-PDT-treated conditioned media was analyzed. Finally, therapy efficacy on humanized SCID mice model of HCC was investigated. 5-ALA PDT induced a dose-dependent decrease in viability, with an up-to-four-fold reduction in viability of patient tumor hepatocytes. The 5-ALA PDT treated conditioned media induced immune cell clonal expansion. 5-ALA PDT has no impact on myofibroblasts in terms of viability, while their activation decreased cancer cell proliferation and reduced the tumor growth rate of the in vivo model. For the first time, 5-ALA PDT has been validated on primary patient tumor hepatocytes and donor healthy liver myofibroblasts. 5-ALA PDT may be an effective anti-HCC therapy, which might induce an anti-tumor immune response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abhishek Kumar
- Univ. Lille, Inserm, CHU Lille, U1189-ONCO-THAI-Assisted Laser Therapy and Immunotherapy for Oncology, F-59000 Lille, France
| | - Florian Pecquenard
- Univ. Lille, Inserm, CHU Lille, U1189-ONCO-THAI-Assisted Laser Therapy and Immunotherapy for Oncology, F-59000 Lille, France
- CHU Lille, Service de Chirurgie Digestive et Transplantations, Université de Lille, F-59037 Lille, France
| | - Martha Baydoun
- Univ. Lille, Inserm, CHU Lille, U1189-ONCO-THAI-Assisted Laser Therapy and Immunotherapy for Oncology, F-59000 Lille, France
| | - Alexandre Quilbé
- Univ. Lille, Inserm, CHU Lille, U1189-ONCO-THAI-Assisted Laser Therapy and Immunotherapy for Oncology, F-59000 Lille, France
| | - Olivier Moralès
- Univ. Lille, Inserm, CHU Lille, U1189-ONCO-THAI-Assisted Laser Therapy and Immunotherapy for Oncology, F-59000 Lille, France
- Univ. Lille, CNRS, Inserm, CHU Lille, UMR9020-U1277-CANTHER-Cancer Heterogeneity Plasticity and Resistance to Therapies, F-59000 Lille, France
| | - Bertrand Leroux
- Univ. Lille, Inserm, CHU Lille, U1189-ONCO-THAI-Assisted Laser Therapy and Immunotherapy for Oncology, F-59000 Lille, France
| | - Lynda Aoudjehane
- INSERM, Institute of Cardiometabolism and Nutrition (ICAN), Sorbonne Université, F-75013 Paris, France
- INSERM, Centre de Recherche Saint-Antoine (CRSA), Sorbonne Université, F-75012 Paris, France
| | - Filomena Conti
- INSERM, Institute of Cardiometabolism and Nutrition (ICAN), Sorbonne Université, F-75013 Paris, France
- INSERM, Centre de Recherche Saint-Antoine (CRSA), Sorbonne Université, F-75012 Paris, France
- Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris (AP-HP), Pitié-Salpêtrière Hospital, Department of Medical Liver Transplantation, F-75013 Paris, France
| | - Emmanuel Boleslawski
- Univ. Lille, Inserm, CHU Lille, U1189-ONCO-THAI-Assisted Laser Therapy and Immunotherapy for Oncology, F-59000 Lille, France
- CHU Lille, Service de Chirurgie Digestive et Transplantations, Université de Lille, F-59037 Lille, France
| | - Nadira Delhem
- Univ. Lille, Inserm, CHU Lille, U1189-ONCO-THAI-Assisted Laser Therapy and Immunotherapy for Oncology, F-59000 Lille, France
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17
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Zhuang Q, Zhao B, Lin Z, Liang Y, Zhao Q, Wang Y, Liao N, Tu H, Zheng Y, Chen H, Zeng Y, Zhang D, Liu X. Navoximod modulates local HSV-1 replication to reshape tumor immune microenvironment for enhanced immunotherapy via an injectable hydrogel. Commun Biol 2023; 6:621. [PMID: 37296221 PMCID: PMC10256817 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-023-04983-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2022] [Accepted: 05/25/2023] [Indexed: 06/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Oncolytic virotherapy can lead to tumor lysis and systemic anti-tumor immunity, but the therapeutic potential in humans is limited due to the impaired virus replication and the insufficient ability to overcome the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (TME). To solve the above problems, we identified that Indoleamine 2, 3-dioxygenase 1 (IDO1) inhibitor Navoximod promoted herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) replication and HSV-1-mediated oncolysis in tumor cells, making it a promising combination modality with HSV-1-based virotherapy. Thus, we loaded HSV-1 and Navoximod together in an injectable and biocompatible hydrogel (V-Navo@gel) for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) virotherapy. The hydrogel formed a local delivery reservoir to maximize the viral replication and distribution at the tumor site with a single-dose injection. Notably, V-Navo@gel improved the disease-free survival time of HCC- bearing mice and protects the mice against tumor recurrence. What's more, V-Navo@gel also showed an effective therapeutic efficacy in the rabbit orthotopic liver cancer model. Mechanistically, we further discovered that our combination strategy entirely reprogramed the TME through single-cell RNA sequencing. All these results collectively indicated that the combination of Navoximod with HSV-1 could boost the viral replication and reshape TME for tumor eradication through the hydrogel reservoir.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiuyu Zhuang
- The United Innovation of Mengchao Hepatobiliary Technology Key Laboratory of Fujian Province, Mengchao Hepatobiliary Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, 350025, P. R. China
- Mengchao Med-X Center, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou, 350116, P. R. China
- The Liver Center of Fujian Province, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, 350025, P. R. China
| | - Binyu Zhao
- The United Innovation of Mengchao Hepatobiliary Technology Key Laboratory of Fujian Province, Mengchao Hepatobiliary Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, 350025, P. R. China
- The Liver Center of Fujian Province, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, 350025, P. R. China
| | - Zhiwen Lin
- The United Innovation of Mengchao Hepatobiliary Technology Key Laboratory of Fujian Province, Mengchao Hepatobiliary Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, 350025, P. R. China
- The Liver Center of Fujian Province, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, 350025, P. R. China
| | - Yuzhi Liang
- The United Innovation of Mengchao Hepatobiliary Technology Key Laboratory of Fujian Province, Mengchao Hepatobiliary Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, 350025, P. R. China
- The Liver Center of Fujian Province, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, 350025, P. R. China
| | - Qingfu Zhao
- The United Innovation of Mengchao Hepatobiliary Technology Key Laboratory of Fujian Province, Mengchao Hepatobiliary Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, 350025, P. R. China
- The Liver Center of Fujian Province, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, 350025, P. R. China
| | - Yunhao Wang
- The United Innovation of Mengchao Hepatobiliary Technology Key Laboratory of Fujian Province, Mengchao Hepatobiliary Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, 350025, P. R. China
- The Liver Center of Fujian Province, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, 350025, P. R. China
| | - Naishun Liao
- The United Innovation of Mengchao Hepatobiliary Technology Key Laboratory of Fujian Province, Mengchao Hepatobiliary Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, 350025, P. R. China
- The Liver Center of Fujian Province, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, 350025, P. R. China
| | - Haibin Tu
- The United Innovation of Mengchao Hepatobiliary Technology Key Laboratory of Fujian Province, Mengchao Hepatobiliary Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, 350025, P. R. China
- The Liver Center of Fujian Province, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, 350025, P. R. China
| | - Youshi Zheng
- The United Innovation of Mengchao Hepatobiliary Technology Key Laboratory of Fujian Province, Mengchao Hepatobiliary Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, 350025, P. R. China
- Mengchao Med-X Center, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou, 350116, P. R. China
- The Liver Center of Fujian Province, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, 350025, P. R. China
| | - Hengkai Chen
- The Liver Center of Fujian Province, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, 350025, P. R. China
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, 350025, P. R. China
| | - Yongyi Zeng
- The United Innovation of Mengchao Hepatobiliary Technology Key Laboratory of Fujian Province, Mengchao Hepatobiliary Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, 350025, P. R. China
- The Liver Center of Fujian Province, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, 350025, P. R. China
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, 350025, P. R. China
| | - Da Zhang
- The United Innovation of Mengchao Hepatobiliary Technology Key Laboratory of Fujian Province, Mengchao Hepatobiliary Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, 350025, P. R. China.
- Mengchao Med-X Center, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou, 350116, P. R. China.
- The Liver Center of Fujian Province, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, 350025, P. R. China.
| | - Xiaolong Liu
- The United Innovation of Mengchao Hepatobiliary Technology Key Laboratory of Fujian Province, Mengchao Hepatobiliary Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, 350025, P. R. China.
- Mengchao Med-X Center, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou, 350116, P. R. China.
- The Liver Center of Fujian Province, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, 350025, P. R. China.
- CAS Key Laboratory of Design and Assembly of Functional Nanostructures, Fujian Institute of Research on the Structure of Matter, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Fuzhou, 350002, P. R. China.
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18
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Cheung CCL, Seah YHJ, Fang J, Orpilla NHC, Lau MC, Lim CJ, Lim X, Lee JNLW, Lim JCT, Lim S, Cheng Q, Toh HC, Choo SP, Lee SY, Lee JJX, Liu J, Lim TKH, Tai D, Yeong J. Immunohistochemical scoring of LAG-3 in conjunction with CD8 in the tumor microenvironment predicts response to immunotherapy in hepatocellular carcinoma. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1150985. [PMID: 37342338 PMCID: PMC10277502 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1150985] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2023] [Accepted: 05/04/2023] [Indexed: 06/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) is a systemic therapeutic option for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, low patient response rates necessitate the development of robust predictive biomarkers that identify individuals who will benefit from ICB. A 4-gene inflammatory signature, comprising CD8, PD-L1, LAG-3, and STAT1, was recently shown to be associated with a better overall response to ICB in various cancer types. Here, we examined whether tissue protein expression of CD8, PD-L1, LAG-3, and STAT1 predicts response to ICB in HCC. Methods HCC samples from 191 Asian patients, comprising resection specimens from 124 patients (ICB-naïve) and pre-treatment specimens from 67 advanced HCC patients treated with ICB (ICB-treated), were analyzed for CD8, PD-L1, LAG-3, and STAT1 tissue expression using multiplex immunohistochemistry followed by statistical and survival analyses. Results Immunohistochemical and survival analyses of ICB-naïve samples showed that high LAG-3 expression was associated with shorter median progression-free survival (mPFS) and overall survival (mOS). Analysis of ICB-treated samples revealed that high proportions of LAG-3+ and LAG-3+CD8+ cells pre-treatment were most closely associated with longer mPFS and mOS. Using a log-likelihood model, adding the total LAG-3+ cell proportion to the total CD8+ cell proportion significantly increased the predictive values for mPFS and mOS, compared with the total CD8+ cell proportion alone. Moreover, levels of CD8 and STAT1, but not PD-L1, were significantly correlated with better responses to ICB. After analyzing viral-related and non-viral HCC samples separately, only the LAG3+CD8+ cell proportion was significantly associated with responses to ICB regardless of viral status. Conclusion Immunohistochemical scoring of pre-treatment levels of LAG-3 and CD8 in the tumor microenvironment may help predict ICB benefits in HCC patients. Furthermore, immunohistochemistry-based techniques offer the advantage of being readily translatable in the clinical setting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chun Chau Lawrence Cheung
- Department of Anatomical Pathology, Singapore General Hospital, Singapore, Singapore
- Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Yong Hock Justin Seah
- Department of Anatomical Pathology, Singapore General Hospital, Singapore, Singapore
- Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Juntao Fang
- Department of Anatomical Pathology, Singapore General Hospital, Singapore, Singapore
- Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | | | - Mai Chan Lau
- Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology (IMCB), Agency of Science, Technology, and Research (A*STAR), Singapore, Singapore
| | - Chun Jye Lim
- Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology (IMCB), Agency of Science, Technology, and Research (A*STAR), Singapore, Singapore
| | - Xinru Lim
- Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology (IMCB), Agency of Science, Technology, and Research (A*STAR), Singapore, Singapore
| | - Justina Nadia Li Wen Lee
- Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology (IMCB), Agency of Science, Technology, and Research (A*STAR), Singapore, Singapore
| | - Jeffrey Chun Tatt Lim
- Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology (IMCB), Agency of Science, Technology, and Research (A*STAR), Singapore, Singapore
| | - Sherlly Lim
- Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology (IMCB), Agency of Science, Technology, and Research (A*STAR), Singapore, Singapore
| | - Qing Cheng
- Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore, Singapore
- Center of Statistical Research, School of Statistics, Southwestern University of Finance and Economics, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Han Chong Toh
- Division of Medical Oncology, National Cancer Centre Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Su Pin Choo
- Division of Medical Oncology, National Cancer Centre Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Suat Ying Lee
- Division of Medical Oncology, National Cancer Centre Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Joycelyn Jie Xin Lee
- Division of Medical Oncology, National Cancer Centre Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Jin Liu
- Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Tony Kiat Hon Lim
- Department of Anatomical Pathology, Singapore General Hospital, Singapore, Singapore
- Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore, Singapore
| | - David Tai
- Division of Medical Oncology, National Cancer Centre Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Joe Yeong
- Department of Anatomical Pathology, Singapore General Hospital, Singapore, Singapore
- Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore, Singapore
- Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology (IMCB), Agency of Science, Technology, and Research (A*STAR), Singapore, Singapore
- Singapore Immunology Network (SIgN), Agency of Science, Technology, and Research (A*STAR), Singapore, Singapore
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Brandi N, Renzulli M. The Synergistic Effect of Interventional Locoregional Treatments and Immunotherapy for the Treatment of Hepatocellular Carcinoma. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24108598. [PMID: 37239941 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24108598] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2023] [Revised: 05/05/2023] [Accepted: 05/08/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Immunotherapy has remarkably revolutionized the management of advanced HCC and prompted clinical trials, with therapeutic agents being used to selectively target immune cells rather than cancer cells. Currently, there is great interest in the possibility of combining locoregional treatments with immunotherapy for HCC, as this combination is emerging as an effective and synergistic tool for enhancing immunity. On the one hand, immunotherapy could amplify and prolong the antitumoral immune response of locoregional treatments, improving patients' outcomes and reducing recurrence rates. On the other hand, locoregional therapies have been shown to positively alter the tumor immune microenvironment and could therefore enhance the efficacy of immunotherapy. Despite the encouraging results, many unanswered questions still remain, including which immunotherapy and locoregional treatment can guarantee the best survival and clinical outcomes; the most effective timing and sequence to obtain the most effective therapeutic response; and which biological and/or genetic biomarkers can be used to identify patients likely to benefit from this combined approach. Based on the current reported evidence and ongoing trials, the present review summarizes the current application of immunotherapy in combination with locoregional therapies for the treatment of HCC, and provides a critical evaluation of the current status and future directions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicolò Brandi
- Department of Radiology, IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna, Via Albertoni 15, 40138 Bologna, Italy
| | - Matteo Renzulli
- Department of Radiology, IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna, Via Albertoni 15, 40138 Bologna, Italy
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20
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王 焘, 王 文. [Status Quo and Development of Immunotherapy for Hepatocellular Carcinoma]. SICHUAN DA XUE XUE BAO. YI XUE BAN = JOURNAL OF SICHUAN UNIVERSITY. MEDICAL SCIENCE EDITION 2023; 54:692-698. [PMID: 37248607 PMCID: PMC10475433 DOI: 10.12182/20230560108] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2022] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
Liver cancer is a serious global health problem and a common cause of cancer-related death. Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a common pathological type of liver cancer. The clinical symptoms of early HCC tend to be not obvious and 50% of HCC patients are already in the advanced stage by the time they are diagnosed. Systemic therapy is recommended for the treatment of advanced HCC. With the development of molecular targeted drugs (sorafenib and lenvatinib), some progress has been made in the systemic treatment of advanced HCC, but there is only modest benefit for the survival of HCC patients. In recent years, the emergence of immune checkpoint inhibitors has changed the overall outlook of HCC treatment, providing more possibilities for precise treatment of HCC and showing better treatment outcomes. In particular, the combination therapy of atezolizumab and bevacizumab significantly improved the survival outcomes in HCC patients. In addition, adoptive cell therapy, tumor vaccine, oncolytic viruses, and nonspecific immunotherapy have also emerged as strategies for immunotherapy. Herein, the status quo and development of HCC immunotherapy are reviewed.
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Affiliation(s)
- 焘 王
- 四川大学华西医院 普外科 肝脏外科 (成都 610041)Divsion of Liver Surgery, Department of General Surgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
- 四川大学华西医院 生物治疗科/肿瘤中心和生物治疗全国重点实验室 (成都 610041)Department of Biotherapy/Cancer Center and State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - 文涛 王
- 四川大学华西医院 普外科 肝脏外科 (成都 610041)Divsion of Liver Surgery, Department of General Surgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
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21
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Luo YZ, Zhu H. Immunotherapy for advanced or recurrent hepatocellular carcinoma. World J Gastrointest Oncol 2023; 15:405-424. [PMID: 37009314 PMCID: PMC10052663 DOI: 10.4251/wjgo.v15.i3.405] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2022] [Revised: 02/11/2023] [Accepted: 02/28/2023] [Indexed: 03/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is associated with high morbidity and mortality, and is prone to intra- and extrahepatic metastasis due to the anatomical and functional characteristics of the liver. Due to the complexity and high relapse rate associated with radical surgery or radiofrequency ablation, immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) are increasingly being used to treat HCC. Several immunotherapeutic agents, along with their combinations, have been clinically approved to treat advanced or recurrent HCC. This review discusses the leading ICIs in practice and those currently undergoing randomized phase 1–3 trials as monotherapy or combination therapy. Furthermore, we summarize the rapidly developing alternative strategies such as chimeric antigen receptor-engineered T cell therapy and tumor vaccines. Combination therapy is a promising potential treatment option. These immunotherapies are also summarized in this review, which provides insights into the advantages, limitations, and novel angles for future research in establishing viable and alternative therapies against HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying-Zhe Luo
- Department of Medical Oncology, Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu 610075, Sichuan Province, China
| | - Hong Zhu
- Department of Medical Oncology, Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, Sichuan Province, China
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22
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Li Q, Ma F, Wang JF. Advanced lung cancer inflammation index predicts survival outcomes of hepatocellular carcinoma patients receiving immunotherapy. Front Oncol 2023; 13:997314. [PMID: 36998452 PMCID: PMC10043333 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2023.997314] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2022] [Accepted: 02/28/2023] [Indexed: 03/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Objective We evaluate the predictive significance of the Advanced Lung Cancer Inflammation Index (ALI) in patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) following therapy with immune checkpoint drugs. Methods In 2018-2020, 98 patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma who were treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors at our hospital were compiled. Using the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve, the appropriate cut-off point for ALI was determined. Kaplan-Meier analysis, the Cox proportional hazards model, and Nomogram plots highlighted the relationship between ALI and overall survival (OS). The model was validated using calibration plots, receiver operating characteristic curves (ROC), and decision curve analysis (DCA), which was performed on 52 patient sets by external validation. Results The AUC for ALI was 0.663. The best cutoff value was 36.5, with a median overall survival (OS) of 473 days for patients with ALI≤ 36.5 and 611 days for those with ALI > 36.5. Univariate analysis revealed that the presence or absence of local treatment, alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), and ALI were prognostic factors; LASSO regression analysis identified four candidate variables. Multifactorial COX analysis revealed that high ALI was an independent prognostic factor for overall survival in both groups (HR = 0.411; 95% CI: 0.244-0.651; P<0.001). In addition, the Nomogram model that included ALI was able to predict the success of immunotherapy in patients with advanced liver cancer more accurately. Conclusion ALI is a novel prognostic marker in immunotherapy-treated patients with advanced hepatocellular cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qian Li
- Department of Oncology, The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Zhengzhou University & Henan Cancer Hospital, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Fei Ma
- Department of General Surgery, The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Zhengzhou University & Henan Cancer Hospital, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Ju feng Wang
- Department of Oncology, The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Zhengzhou University & Henan Cancer Hospital, Zhengzhou, China
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23
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Gao YJ, Li SR, Huang Y. An inflammation-related gene landscape predicts prognosis and response to immunotherapy in virus-associated hepatocellular carcinoma. Front Oncol 2023; 13:1118152. [PMID: 36969014 PMCID: PMC10033597 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2023.1118152] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2022] [Accepted: 02/14/2023] [Indexed: 03/11/2023] Open
Abstract
BackgroundDue to the viral infection, chronic inflammation significantly increases the likelihood of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) development. Nevertheless, an inflammation-based signature aimed to predict the prognosis and therapeutic effect in virus-related HCC has rarely been established.MethodBased on the integrated analysis, inflammation-associated genes (IRGs) were systematically assessed. We comprehensively investigated the correlation between inflammation and transcriptional profiles, prognosis, and immune cell infiltration. Then, an inflammation-related risk model (IRM) to predict the overall survival (OS) and response to treatment for virus-related HCC patients was constructed and verified. Also, the potential association between IRGs and tumor microenvironment (TME) was investigated. Ultimately, hub genes were validated in plasma samples and cell lines via qRT-PCR. After transfection with shCCL20 combined with overSLC7A2, morphological change of SMMC7721 and huh7 cells was observed. Tumorigenicity model in nude mouse was established.ResultsAn inflammatory response-related gene signature model, containing MEP1A, CCL20, ADORA2B, TNFSF9, ICAM4, and SLC7A2, was constructed by conjoint analysis of least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) Cox regression and gaussian finite mixture model (GMM). Besides, survival analysis attested that higher IRG scores were positively relevant to worse survival outcomes in virus-related HCC patients, which was testified by external validation cohorts (the ICGC cohort and GSE84337 dataset). Univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses commonly proved that the IRG was an independent prognostic factor for virus-related HCC patients. Thus, a nomogram with clinical factors and IRG was also constructed to superiorly predict the prognosis of patients. Featured with microsatellite instability-high, mutation burden, and immune activation, lower IRG score verified a superior OS for sufferers. Additionally, IRG score was remarkedly correlated with the cancer stem cell index and drug susceptibility. The measurement of plasma samples further validated that CCL20 upexpression and SLC7A2 downexpression were positively related with virus-related HCC patients, which was in accord with the results in cell lines. Furthermore, CCL20 knockdown combined with SLC7A2 overexpression availably weakened the tumor growth in vivo.ConclusionsCollectively, IRG score, serving as a potential candidate, accurately and stably predicted the prognosis and response to immunotherapy in virus-related HCC patients, which could guide individualized treatment decision-making for the sufferers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying-jie Gao
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Bioscience and Technology, Chengdu Medical College, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Shi-rong Li
- Laboratory of Animal Tumor Models, Frontiers Science Center for Disease-related Molecular Network, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Yuan Huang
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Bioscience and Technology, Chengdu Medical College, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
- *Correspondence: Yuan Huang,
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24
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Huang W, Mei J, Liu YJ, Li JP, Zou X, Qian XP, Zhang Y. An Analysis Regarding the Association Between Proteasome (PSM) and Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC). J Hepatocell Carcinoma 2023; 10:497-515. [PMID: 37020465 PMCID: PMC10069642 DOI: 10.2147/jhc.s404396] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2023] [Accepted: 03/27/2023] [Indexed: 03/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Background The Proteasome (PSM) is a large multi-catalytic protease complex consisting of a 20S core particle and a 19S regulatory particle whose main function is to accept and degrade ubiquitinated substrates, are now considered as one of the potential regulators of tumor proliferation, and stemness maintenance. However, to date, studies on the relationship between PSM and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) are limited. Methods This study used a bioinformatics approach combining validation experiments to investigate the biological mechanisms that may be related with PSM. A series of experiments in vivo and in vitro were performed to explore the function of the 26S proteasome non-ATPase regulatory subunit 13 (PSMD13) in HCC. Results HCC patients can be divided into two clusters. Cluster 1 (C1) patients having a significantly worse prognosis than Cluster (C2). Two subtypes had significant differences in proliferation-related signaling. In particular, the frequency of TP53 mutation was significantly higher in C1 than in C2. In addition, PSM-associated genes were highly consistent with the expression of DNA repair-related signatures, suggesting a potential link between PSM and genomic instability. We also found that downregulation of PSMD13 expression significantly inhibited stemness of tumor cells and impaired the Epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT) process. Finally, the correlation between the PSMD13 and Ki67 was found to be strong. Conclusion PSM is a valid predictor of prognosis and therapeutic response in patients with HCC disease. Furthermore, PSMD13 may be a potential therapeutic target.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Huang
- Department of Oncology, Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Jiangsu Province Hospital of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210029, People’s Republic of China
- Comprehensive Cancer Center, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital Clinical College of Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210008, People’s Republic of China
| | - Jia Mei
- Department of Pathology, Nanjing Jinling Hospital, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210001, People’s Republic of China
| | - Yuan-Jie Liu
- Department of Oncology, Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Jiangsu Province Hospital of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210029, People’s Republic of China
- No. 1 Clinical Medical College, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210023, People’s Republic of China
| | - Jie-Pin Li
- Department of Oncology, Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Jiangsu Province Hospital of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210029, People’s Republic of China
- No. 1 Clinical Medical College, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210023, People’s Republic of China
- Zhangjiagang TCM Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Zhangjiagang, Jiangsu, 215600, People’s Republic of China
| | - Xi Zou
- Department of Oncology, Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Jiangsu Province Hospital of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210029, People’s Republic of China
- Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center of Traditional Chinese Medicine in Prevention and Treatment of Tumor, Nanjing, 210023, People’s Republic of China
| | - Xiao-Ping Qian
- Comprehensive Cancer Center, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital Clinical College of Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210008, People’s Republic of China
- The Comprehensive Cancer Center of Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, Medical School of Nanjing University, Clinical Cancer Institute of Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210008, People’s Republic of China
| | - Yu Zhang
- Department of Oncology, Nanjing Jinling Hospital, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210001, People’s Republic of China
- Correspondence: Yu Zhang; Xiao-ping Qian, Email ;
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Lu Z, Liu R, Wang Y, Jiao M, Li Z, Wang Z, Huang C, Shi G, Ke A, Wang L, Fu Y, Xia J, Wen H, Zhou J, Wang X, Ye D, Fan J, Chu Y, Cai J. Ten-eleven translocation-2 inactivation restrains IL-10-producing regulatory B cells to enable antitumor immunity in hepatocellular carcinoma. Hepatology 2023; 77:745-759. [PMID: 35243663 DOI: 10.1002/hep.32442] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2021] [Revised: 02/24/2022] [Accepted: 03/01/2022] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS IL-10-producing regulatory B cells (IL-10 + B cells), a dominant regulatory B cell (Breg) subset, foster tumor progression. However, the mechanisms underlying their generation in HCC are poorly understood. Ten-eleven translocation-2 (TET2), a predominant epigenetic regulatory enzyme in B cells, regulates gene expression by catalyzing demethylation of 5-methylcytosine into 5-hydroxymethyl cytosine (5hmC). In this study, we investigated the role of TET2 in IL-10 + B cell generation in HCC and its prospects for clinical application. APPROACH AND RESULTS TET2 activation in B cells triggered by oxidative stress from the HCC microenvironment promoted IL-10 expression, whereas adoptive transfer of Tet2 -deficient B cells suppressed HCC progression. The aryl hydrocarbon receptor is required for TET2 to hydroxylate Il10 . In addition, high levels of IL-10, TET2, and 5hmc in B cells indicate poor prognosis in patients with HCC. Moreover, we determined TET2 activity using 5hmc in B cells to evaluate the efficacy of anti-programmed death 1 (anti-PD-1) therapy. Notably, TET2 inhibition in B cells facilitates antitumor immunity to improve anti-PD-1 therapy for HCC. CONCLUSIONS Our findings propose a TET2-dependent epigenetic intervention targeting IL-10 + B cell generation during HCC progression and identify the inhibition of TET2 activity as a promising combination therapy with immune checkpoint inhibitors for HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhou Lu
- Department of Liver Surgery and Transplantation , Liver Cancer Institute , Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University , Shanghai , P.R. China.,Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion (Ministry of Education) , Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University , Shanghai , P.R. China.,Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences , Shanghai Key Laboratory of Medical Epigenetics, Institutes of Biomedical Sciences , Fudan University , Shanghai , P.R. China
| | - Ronghua Liu
- Shanghai Fifth People's Hospital , Shanghai Key Laboratory of Medical Epigenetics, Institutes of Biomedical Sciences , Fudan University , Shanghai , P.R. China
| | - Yining Wang
- Department of Liver Surgery and Transplantation , Liver Cancer Institute , Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University , Shanghai , P.R. China.,Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion (Ministry of Education) , Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University , Shanghai , P.R. China
| | - Mengxia Jiao
- Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences , Shanghai Key Laboratory of Medical Epigenetics, Institutes of Biomedical Sciences , Fudan University , Shanghai , P.R. China
| | - Zhongchen Li
- Department of Liver Surgery and Transplantation , Liver Cancer Institute , Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University , Shanghai , P.R. China.,Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion (Ministry of Education) , Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University , Shanghai , P.R. China
| | - Zhiqiang Wang
- Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences , Shanghai Key Laboratory of Medical Epigenetics, Institutes of Biomedical Sciences , Fudan University , Shanghai , P.R. China
| | - Cheng Huang
- Department of Liver Surgery and Transplantation , Liver Cancer Institute , Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University , Shanghai , P.R. China.,Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion (Ministry of Education) , Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University , Shanghai , P.R. China
| | - Guoming Shi
- Department of Liver Surgery and Transplantation , Liver Cancer Institute , Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University , Shanghai , P.R. China.,Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion (Ministry of Education) , Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University , Shanghai , P.R. China
| | - Aiwu Ke
- Department of Liver Surgery and Transplantation , Liver Cancer Institute , Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University , Shanghai , P.R. China.,Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion (Ministry of Education) , Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University , Shanghai , P.R. China
| | - Luman Wang
- Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences , Shanghai Key Laboratory of Medical Epigenetics, Institutes of Biomedical Sciences , Fudan University , Shanghai , P.R. China
| | - Ying Fu
- Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences , Shanghai Key Laboratory of Medical Epigenetics, Institutes of Biomedical Sciences , Fudan University , Shanghai , P.R. China
| | - Jie Xia
- Shanghai Fifth People's Hospital , Shanghai Key Laboratory of Medical Epigenetics, Institutes of Biomedical Sciences , Fudan University , Shanghai , P.R. China
| | - Haoyu Wen
- Department of Thoracic Surgery , Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University , Shanghai , P.R. China
| | - Jian Zhou
- Department of Liver Surgery and Transplantation , Liver Cancer Institute , Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University , Shanghai , P.R. China.,Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion (Ministry of Education) , Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University , Shanghai , P.R. China
| | - Xiaoying Wang
- Department of Liver Surgery and Transplantation , Liver Cancer Institute , Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University , Shanghai , P.R. China.,Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion (Ministry of Education) , Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University , Shanghai , P.R. China
| | - Dan Ye
- Huashan Hospital, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Medical Epigenetics , International Co-laboratory of Medical Epigenetics and Metabolism (Ministry of Science and Technology), Molecular and Cell Biology Laboratory, Institutes of Biomedical Sciences , Fudan University , Shanghai , P.R. China
| | - Jia Fan
- Department of Liver Surgery and Transplantation , Liver Cancer Institute , Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University , Shanghai , P.R. China.,Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion (Ministry of Education) , Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University , Shanghai , P.R. China
| | - Yiwei Chu
- Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences , Shanghai Key Laboratory of Medical Epigenetics, Institutes of Biomedical Sciences , Fudan University , Shanghai , P.R. China
| | - Jiabin Cai
- Department of Liver Surgery and Transplantation , Liver Cancer Institute , Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University , Shanghai , P.R. China.,Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion (Ministry of Education) , Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University , Shanghai , P.R. China
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Yao S, Chen W, Chen T, Zuo H, Bi Z, Zhang X, Pang L, Jing Y, Yin X, Cheng H. A comprehensive computational analysis to explore the importance of SIGLECs in HCC biology. BMC Gastroenterol 2023; 23:42. [PMID: 36803349 PMCID: PMC9938566 DOI: 10.1186/s12876-023-02672-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2021] [Accepted: 02/09/2023] [Indexed: 02/20/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is an aggressive, malignant cancer with a complex pathogenesis. However, effective therapeutic targets and prognostic biomarkers are limited. Sorafenib provides delaying cancer progression and survival improvement in advanced HCC. But despite 10 years of research on the clinical application of sorafenib, predictive markers for its therapeutic effect are lacking. METHODS The clinical significance and molecular functions of SIGLEC family members were assessed by a comprehensive bioinformatic analysis. The datasets included in this study (ICGC-LIRI-JP, GSE22058 and GSE14520) are mainly based on patients with HBV infections or HBV-related liver cirrhosis. The TCGA, GEO, and HCCDB databases were used to explore the expression of SIGLEC family genes in HCC. The Kaplan-Meier Plotter database was used to evaluate relationships between the expression levels of SIGLEC family genes and prognosis. Associations between differentially expressed genes in the SIGLEC family and tumour-associated immune cells were evaluated using TIMER. RESULTS The mRNA levels of most SIGLEC family genes were significantly lower in HCC than in normal tissues. Low protein and mRNA expression levels of SIGLECs were strongly correlated with tumour grade and clinical cancer stage in patients with HCC. Tumour-related SIGLEC family genes were associated with tumour immune infiltrating cells. High SIGLEC expression was significantly related to a better prognosis in patients with advanced HCC treated with sorafenib. CONCLUSIONS SIGLEC family genes have potential prognostic value in HCC and may contribute to the regulation of cancer progression and immune cell infiltration. More importantly, our results revealed that SIGLEC family gene expression may be used as a prognostic marker for HCC patients treated with sorafenib.
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Affiliation(s)
- Senbang Yao
- grid.452696.a0000 0004 7533 3408Department of Oncology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230601 Anhui China ,grid.186775.a0000 0000 9490 772XDepartment of Oncology, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui China
| | - Wenjun Chen
- grid.186775.a0000 0000 9490 772XDepartment of Oncology, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui China ,Department of Oncology, Anhui Chest Hospital, Hefei, Anhui China
| | - Tingting Chen
- grid.452696.a0000 0004 7533 3408Department of Oncology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230601 Anhui China
| | - He Zuo
- grid.452696.a0000 0004 7533 3408Department of Oncology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230601 Anhui China ,grid.186775.a0000 0000 9490 772XDepartment of Oncology, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui China
| | - Ziran Bi
- grid.452696.a0000 0004 7533 3408Department of Oncology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230601 Anhui China ,grid.186775.a0000 0000 9490 772XDepartment of Oncology, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui China
| | - Xiuqing Zhang
- grid.452696.a0000 0004 7533 3408Department of Oncology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230601 Anhui China ,grid.186775.a0000 0000 9490 772XDepartment of Oncology, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui China
| | - Lulian Pang
- grid.452696.a0000 0004 7533 3408Department of Oncology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230601 Anhui China ,grid.186775.a0000 0000 9490 772XDepartment of Oncology, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui China
| | - Yanyan Jing
- grid.452696.a0000 0004 7533 3408Department of Oncology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230601 Anhui China ,grid.186775.a0000 0000 9490 772XDepartment of Oncology, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui China
| | - Xiangxiang Yin
- grid.452696.a0000 0004 7533 3408Department of Oncology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230601 Anhui China ,grid.186775.a0000 0000 9490 772XDepartment of Oncology, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui China
| | - Huaidong Cheng
- Department of Oncology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230601, Anhui, China. .,The Third School of Clinical Medicine, Southern Medical University, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China. .,Department of Oncology, Shenzhen Hospital of Southern Medical University, Shenzhen, 518000, Guangdong, China.
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Cammarota A, Zanuso V, Manfredi GF, Murphy R, Pinato DJ, Rimassa L. Immunotherapy in hepatocellular carcinoma: how will it reshape treatment sequencing? Ther Adv Med Oncol 2023; 15:17588359221148029. [PMID: 36643654 PMCID: PMC9837292 DOI: 10.1177/17588359221148029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2022] [Accepted: 12/12/2022] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
The treatment landscape of advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has broadened with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) setting a novel standard of care. With the increased number of therapies either in first or in further line, disentangling the possible treatment sequences has become much more complex. Yet, all the second-line therapies have been evaluated after sorafenib. After ICIs, offering multikinase inhibitors is a widespread approach, either shifting forward sorafenib or lenvatinib, or choosing among regorafenib or cabozantinib, already approved in the refractory setting. Under specific circumstances, ICIs could be maintained beyond disease progression in patients with proven clinical benefit, as supported by some data emerging from phase III clinical trials with immunotherapy in HCC. Rechallenge with ICIs is an additional attractive alternative, although requiring careful and individual evaluation as efficacy and safety of such a strategy have not been yet clarified. Still, a considerable number of patients displays primary resistance to ICIs and might benefit from antiangiogenics either alone or in addition to ICIs instead. Hopefully, the ongoing clinical trials will enlighten regarding the most effective treatment pathways. The identification of predictive correlates of response to immunotherapy will help treatment allocation at each stage, thus representing an urgent matter to address in HCC research. With programmed death ligand 1 expression, tumor mutational burden, and microsatellite status being inadequate biomarkers in HCC, patient characteristics, drug safety profile, and regulatory approval remain key elements to acknowledge in routine practice. Despite the tissue remaining a preferred source, biomarkers discovery could take advantage of liquid biopsy to overcome the matter of tissue availability and track tumor changes. Lastly, tumor genetic phenotypes, tumor microenvironment features, gut microbiome, and markers of immune response and systemic inflammation are all potential emergent predictors of response to ICIs, pending validation in the clinical setting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonella Cammarota
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Humanitas University, Pieve Emanuele (Milan), Italy
- Drug Development Unit, Sarah Cannon Research Institute UK, London, UK
| | - Valentina Zanuso
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Humanitas University, Pieve Emanuele (Milan), Italy
- Medical Oncology and Hematology Unit, IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, Rozzano (Milan), Italy
| | - Giulia Francesca Manfredi
- Division of Internal Medicine, Department of Translational Medicine, University of Piemonte Orientale, Novara, Italy
| | - Ravindhi Murphy
- Department of Surgery & Cancer, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - David James Pinato
- Department of Surgery & Cancer, Imperial College London, London, UK
- Division of Oncology, Department of Translational Medicine, University of Piemonte Orientale, Novara, Italy
| | - Lorenza Rimassa
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Humanitas University, Via Rita Levi Montalcini 4, 20072 Pieve Emanuele (Milan), Italy
- Medical Oncology and Hematology Unit, IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, 20089 Rozzano (Milan), Italy
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Stulpinas R, Zilenaite-Petrulaitiene D, Rasmusson A, Gulla A, Grigonyte A, Strupas K, Laurinavicius A. Prognostic Value of CD8+ Lymphocytes in Hepatocellular Carcinoma and Perineoplastic Parenchyma Assessed by Interface Density Profiles in Liver Resection Samples. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:cancers15020366. [PMID: 36672317 PMCID: PMC9857181 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15020366] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2022] [Revised: 12/28/2022] [Accepted: 01/04/2023] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) often emerges in the setting of long-standing inflammatory liver disease. CD8 lymphocytes are involved in both the antitumoral response and hepatocyte damage in the remaining parenchyma. We investigated the dual role of CD8 lymphocytes by assessing density profiles at the interfaces of both HCC and perineoplastic liver parenchyma with surrounding stroma in whole-slide immunohistochemistry images of surgical resection samples. We applied a hexagonal grid-based digital image analysis method to sample the interface zones and compute the CD8 density profiles within them. The prognostic value of the indicators was explored in the context of clinicopathological, peripheral blood testing, and surgery data. Independent predictors of worse OS were a low standard deviation of CD8+ density along the tumor edge, high mean CD8+ density within the epithelial aspect of the perineoplastic liver-stroma interface, longer duration of surgery, a higher level of aspartate transaminase (AST), and a higher basophil count in the peripheral blood. A combined score, derived from these five independent predictors, enabled risk stratification of the patients into three prognostic categories with a 5-year OS probability of 76%, 40%, and 8%. Independent predictors of longer RFS were stage pT1, shorter duration of surgery, larger tumor size, wider tumor-free margin, and higher mean CD8+ density in the epithelial aspect of the tumor-stroma interface. We conclude that (1) our computational models reveal independent and opposite prognostic impacts of CD8+ cell densities at the interfaces of the malignant and non-malignant epithelium interfaces with the surrounding stroma; and (2) together with pathology, surgery, and laboratory data, comprehensive prognostic models can be constructed to predict patient outcomes after liver resection due to HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rokas Stulpinas
- Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Department of Pathology, Forensic Medicine and Pharmacology, Vilnius University, 03101 Vilnius, Lithuania
- National Center of Pathology, Affiliate of Vilnius University Hospital Santaros Clinics, 08406 Vilnius, Lithuania
- Correspondence:
| | - Dovile Zilenaite-Petrulaitiene
- Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Department of Pathology, Forensic Medicine and Pharmacology, Vilnius University, 03101 Vilnius, Lithuania
- National Center of Pathology, Affiliate of Vilnius University Hospital Santaros Clinics, 08406 Vilnius, Lithuania
| | - Allan Rasmusson
- Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Department of Pathology, Forensic Medicine and Pharmacology, Vilnius University, 03101 Vilnius, Lithuania
- National Center of Pathology, Affiliate of Vilnius University Hospital Santaros Clinics, 08406 Vilnius, Lithuania
| | - Aiste Gulla
- Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Clinical Medicine, Vilnius University, 03101 Vilnius, Lithuania
- Department of Surgery, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Agne Grigonyte
- Faculty of Medicine, Vilnius University, 03101 Vilnius, Lithuania
| | - Kestutis Strupas
- Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Clinical Medicine, Vilnius University, 03101 Vilnius, Lithuania
| | - Arvydas Laurinavicius
- Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Department of Pathology, Forensic Medicine and Pharmacology, Vilnius University, 03101 Vilnius, Lithuania
- National Center of Pathology, Affiliate of Vilnius University Hospital Santaros Clinics, 08406 Vilnius, Lithuania
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Liang L, Wang X, Huang S, Chen Y, Zhang P, Li L, Cui Y. Tyrosine kinase inhibitors as potential sensitizers of adoptive T cell therapy for hepatocellular carcinoma. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1046771. [PMID: 36936932 PMCID: PMC10014465 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1046771] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2022] [Accepted: 02/13/2023] [Indexed: 03/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a high-incidence malignant tumor worldwide and lacks effective treatment options. Targeted drugs are the preferred recommendations for the systemic treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma. Immunotherapy is a breakthrough in the systemic treatment of malignant tumors, including HCC. However, either targeted therapy or immunotherapy alone is inefficient and has limited survival benefits on part of HCC patients. Investigations have proved that tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) have regulatory effects on the tumor microenvironment and immune response, which are potential sensitizers for immunotherapy. Herein, a combination therapy using TKIs and immunotherapy has been explored and demonstrated to improve the effectiveness of treatment. As an effective immunotherapy, adoptive T cell therapy in solid tumors is required to improve tumor infiltration and killing activity which can be possibly achieved by combination with TKIs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Linjun Liang
- Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, China
- Department of Oncology, Shenzhen Qianhai Shekou Free Trade Zone Hospital, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
| | - Xiaoyan Wang
- Department of Oncology, Shenzhen Qianhai Shekou Free Trade Zone Hospital, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
| | - Shuying Huang
- Department of Oncology, Shenzhen Qianhai Shekou Free Trade Zone Hospital, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
| | - Yanwei Chen
- Department of Pulmonary Critical Care Medicine of Tangdu Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi’an, China
| | - Peng Zhang
- Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, China
- *Correspondence: Peng Zhang, ; Liang Li, ; Yong Cui,
| | - Liang Li
- School of Medicine, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
- *Correspondence: Peng Zhang, ; Liang Li, ; Yong Cui,
| | - Yong Cui
- Department of Oncology, Shenzhen Qianhai Shekou Free Trade Zone Hospital, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
- *Correspondence: Peng Zhang, ; Liang Li, ; Yong Cui,
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Shen H, Gu X, Li H, Tang M, Li X, Zhang Y, Su F, Wang Z. Exploring Prognosis, Tumor Microenvironment and Tumor Immune Infiltration in Hepatocellular Carcinoma Based on ATF/CREB Transcription Factor Family Gene-Related Model. J Hepatocell Carcinoma 2023; 10:327-345. [PMID: 36874250 PMCID: PMC9983578 DOI: 10.2147/jhc.s398713] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2022] [Accepted: 02/20/2023] [Indexed: 03/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common form of primary liver cancer. It is the fourth leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide. Deregulation of the ATF/CREB family is associated with the progression of metabolic homeostasis and cancer. Because the liver plays a central role in metabolic homeostasis, it is critical to assess the predictive value of the ATF/CREB family in the diagnosis and prognosis of HCC. Methods Using data from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), this research evaluated the expression, copy number variations, and frequency of somatic mutations of 21 genes in the ATF/CREB family in HCC. A prognostic model based on the ATF/CREB gene family was developed via Lasso and Cox regression analyses, with the TCGA cohort serving as the training dataset and the International Cancer Genome Consortium (ICGC) cohort serving as the validation set. Kaplan-Meier and receiver operating characteristic analyses verified the accuracy of the prognostic model. Furthermore, the association among the prognostic model, immune checkpoints, and immune cells was examined. Results High-risk patients exhibited an unfavorable outcome as opposed to those in the low-risk category. Multivariate Cox analysis revealed that the risk score calculated based on the prognostic model was an independent prognostic factor for HCC. Analysis of immune mechanisms revealed that the risk score had a positive link to the expression of immune checkpoints, particularly CD274, PDCD1, LAG3, and CTLA4. Differences in immune cells and immune-associated roles were found between the high- and low-risk patients, as determined by single-sample gene set enrichment analysis. The core genes ATF1, CREB1, and CREB3 in the prognostic model were shown to be upregulated in HCC tissues as opposed to adjoining normal tissues, and the 10-year overall survival (OS) rate was worse among patients with elevated expression levels of ATF1, CREB1, and CREB3. Elevated expression levels of ATF1, CREB1, and CREB3 in HCC tissues were confirmed by qRT-PCR and immunohistochemistry studies. Conclusion According to the results of our training set and test set, the risk model based on the six ATF/CREB gene signatures predicting prognosis has certain predictive accuracy in predicting the survival of HCC patients. This study provides novel insights into the individualized treatment of patients with HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Honghong Shen
- Department of Medical Oncology, First Affiliated Hospital of Bengbu Medical College, Bengbu, People's Republic of China
| | - Xianhua Gu
- Department of Gynecology Oncology, First Affiliated Hospital of Bengbu Medical College, Bengbu, People's Republic of China
| | - Huiyuan Li
- Department of Medical Oncology, First Affiliated Hospital of Bengbu Medical College, Bengbu, People's Republic of China
| | - Mingyue Tang
- Department of Medical Oncology, First Affiliated Hospital of Bengbu Medical College, Bengbu, People's Republic of China
| | - Xinwei Li
- Department of Medical Oncology, First Affiliated Hospital of Bengbu Medical College, Bengbu, People's Republic of China
| | - Yue Zhang
- Department of Medical Oncology, First Affiliated Hospital of Bengbu Medical College, Bengbu, People's Republic of China
| | - Fang Su
- Department of Medical Oncology, First Affiliated Hospital of Bengbu Medical College, Bengbu, People's Republic of China
| | - Zishu Wang
- Department of Medical Oncology, First Affiliated Hospital of Bengbu Medical College, Bengbu, People's Republic of China
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Gao B, Wang Y, Lu S. Construction and validation of a novel signature based on epithelial-mesenchymal transition-related genes to predict prognosis and immunotherapy response in hepatocellular carcinoma by comprehensive analysis of the tumor microenvironment. Funct Integr Genomics 2022; 23:6. [PMID: 36536232 PMCID: PMC9763151 DOI: 10.1007/s10142-022-00933-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2022] [Revised: 11/30/2022] [Accepted: 11/30/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Immunotherapy has yielded encouraging results in the treatment of advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, the relationship between epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and immunotherapy for HCC has not been adequately explained. In this study, we comprehensively analyzed a bulk RNA sequence dataset of 365 HCC patients in The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) dataset. Subsequently, we constructed a prognostic signature based on 6 EMT-related genes and divided 365 HCC patients into high- and low-risk groups. The predictive efficacy of the signature was well validated in different clinical subgroups and in two independent external datasets. We further explored the relationship between prognostic signature and immunotherapy response in terms of immune cell infiltration, somatic mutations, tumor mutation burden (TMB), microsatellite instability (MSI), immune checkpoint-associated gene expression, single-nucleotide variants (SNV) neoantigens, cancer testicular antigens (CTA) scores, and tumor immune dysfunction and exclusion (TIDE) scores. We validated the predictive efficacy of prognostic signature for immunotherapy response using external independent immunotherapy data. Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) was used to validate EMT-related gene overexpression in HCC tissue samples. Prognostic signature was an independent risk factor affecting the prognosis of HCC patients and has shown superiority in predicting patient survival compared to other clinical factors. Compared with the low-risk group, the proportion of Activated_CD4_T_cell, Type_2_T_helper_cel, and macrophages were higher in the tumor microenvironment of HCC patients in the high-risk group, while the Activated_CD8_T_cell and CD56bright_natural_killer_cell proportions were lower. The prognostic signature was positively correlated with TMB scores, MSI scores, SNV neoantigens scores, expression levels of immune checkpoint-related genes, and TIDE scores, and patients in the high-risk group were more suitable for immunotherapy. qRT-PCR confirms overexpression of 6 EMT-related genes in HCC tissues for the construction of prognostic signature. Our novel prognostic signature can effectively predict the prognosis and immunotherapy response of HCC patients. In the future, it will be an effective tool for physicians to screen suitable immunotherapy populations and improve response rates and overall survival (OS).
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Affiliation(s)
- Biao Gao
- School of Medicine, Nankai University, Tianjin, 300300, China
| | - Yafei Wang
- School of Medicine, Nankai University, Tianjin, 300300, China
| | - Shichun Lu
- Faculty of Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Surgery, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, 10058, China. .,Institute of Hepatobiliary Surgery of Chinese PLA, Beijing, 10058, China. .,Key Laboratory of Digital Hepetobiliary Surgery PLA, Beijing, 10058, China.
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Reinders MT, van Erpecum KJ, Smits ML, Braat AJ, de Bruijne J, Bruijnen R, Sprengers D, de Man RA, Vegt E, IJzermans JN, Moelker A, Lam MG. Safety and Efficacy of 166Ho Radioembolization in Hepatocellular Carcinoma: The HEPAR Primary Study. J Nucl Med 2022; 63:1891-1898. [PMID: 35589409 PMCID: PMC9730925 DOI: 10.2967/jnumed.122.263823] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2022] [Revised: 04/18/2022] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
The safety and efficacy of 166Ho radioembolization was first determined in the HEPAR and HEPAR II studies, which, however, excluded patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The aim of this prospective clinical early phase II study was to establish the toxicity profile of 166Ho radioembolization in patients with measurable, liver-dominant HCC; Barcelona clinic liver cancer stage B or C; a Child-Pugh score of no more than B7; and an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status of 0-1 without curative treatment options. Methods: The primary endpoint was a rate of unacceptable toxicity defined as grade 3 hyperbilirubinemia (Common Terminology Cancer Adverse Events, version 4.03) in combination with a low albumin or ascites level in the absence of disease progression or treatment-related serious adverse events. Secondary endpoints included overall toxicity, response, survival, change in α-fetoprotein, and quality of life. Thirty-one patients with Barcelona clinic liver cancer stage B (71%) or C (29%) HCC were included, mostly multifocal (87%) or bilobar (55%) disease. Results: Common grade 1 or 2 clinical toxicity included fatigue (71%), back pain (55%), ascites (32%), dyspnea (23%), nausea (23%), and abdominal pain (23%), with no more than 10% grade 3-5 toxicity. Grade 3 laboratory toxicity (>10%) included an aspartate transaminase and γ-glutamyltransferase increase (16%), hyperglycemia (19%), and lymphopenia (29%). Treatment-related unacceptable toxicity occurred in 3 of 31 patients. At 3 mo, 54% of target lesions showed a complete or partial response according to modified RECIST. Median overall survival was 14.9 mo (95% CI, 10.4-24.9 mo). No significant changes in quality of life or pain were observed. Conclusion: The safety of 166Ho radioembolization was confirmed in HCC, with less than 10% unacceptable toxicity. Efficacy data support further evaluation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Margot T.M. Reinders
- Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, University Medical Centre, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Karel J. van Erpecum
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology University Medical Centre, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Maarten L.J. Smits
- Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, University Medical Centre, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Arthur J.A.T. Braat
- Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, University Medical Centre, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Joep de Bruijne
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology University Medical Centre, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Rutger Bruijnen
- Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, University Medical Centre, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Dave Sprengers
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Erasmus MC–University Medical Centre, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Robert A. de Man
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Erasmus MC–University Medical Centre, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Erik Vegt
- Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Erasmus MC–University Medical Centre, Rotterdam, The Netherlands; and
| | - Jan N.M. IJzermans
- Department of Surgery, Erasmus MC–University Medical Centre, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Adriaan Moelker
- Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Erasmus MC–University Medical Centre, Rotterdam, The Netherlands; and
| | - Marnix G.E.H. Lam
- Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, University Medical Centre, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
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Li Q, Ma F, Tsilimigras DI, Åberg F, Wang JF. The value of the Advanced Lung Cancer Inflammation Index (ALI) in assessing the prognosis of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma treated with camrelizumab: a retrospective cohort study. ANNALS OF TRANSLATIONAL MEDICINE 2022; 10:1233. [PMID: 36544677 PMCID: PMC9761123 DOI: 10.21037/atm-22-5099] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2022] [Accepted: 11/15/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022]
Abstract
Background The Advanced Lung Cancer Inflammation Index (ALI) is considered a useful prognostic biomarker for clinical outcome in patients with malignancy. However, the prognostic value of ALI in patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is unclear. In this study we assessed the prognostic value of the ALI in patients with HCC treated with camrelizumab. Methods This retrospective study analyzed patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma treated with the ICI, camrelizumab alone or in combination at Henan Cancer Hospital from January 2017 to January 2020. Sixty-five patients were finally screened for at least 2 years of follow-up according to the inclusion criteria, with no significant differences in patient baseline data. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to determine the optimal cut-off point for the ALI which was compared to other clinical indicators for predicting survival. A Kaplan-Meier analysis and Cox proportional analysis were conducted to examine the association between the ALI and patient prognosis. Results The median overall survival (OS) for the overall group of patients was 383 days, the area under the curve for ALI was 0.815 and the optimal cut-off value for predicting OS was 34.65. The median OS for patients with an ALI score ≤34.65 was 336 days and that for patients with an ALI score >34.65 was 524 days. The univariate analysis showed that the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) score, aspartate aminotransferase (AST) level, and the ALI score predicted OS. The multivariate analysis showed that the ALI score was an independent prognostic factor of OS in patients with advanced HCC who had been treated with immunotherapy [hazard ratio (HR) =0.285, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.097-0.833, P=0.022]. A nomogram that included ALI performed well relative to the prediction of prognosis after immunotherapy for patients with advanced liver cancer. Conclusions The ALI may be a new prognostic marker in patients with advanced HCC undergoing immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qian Li
- Department of Oncology, The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Henan Cancer Hospital, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Fei Ma
- Department of General Surgery, The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Henan Cancer Hospital, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Diamantis I. Tsilimigras
- Division of Surgical Oncology, Department of Surgery, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center and James Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Fredrik Åberg
- Transplantation and Liver Surgery, Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki University, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Ju Feng Wang
- Department of Oncology, The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Henan Cancer Hospital, Zhengzhou, China
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Motamedi Dehbarez F, Mahmoodi S. Production of a Novel Multi-Epitope Peptide Vaccine against Hepatocellular Carcinoma. IRANIAN JOURNAL OF MEDICAL SCIENCES 2022; 47:558-565. [PMID: 36380977 PMCID: PMC9652490 DOI: 10.30476/ijms.2021.90916.2199] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2021] [Revised: 07/11/2021] [Accepted: 08/28/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the prevalent cancers in the world with a high recurrence rate. In recent years, different researches have focused on designing efficient multi-epitope peptide vaccines against HCC. In designing these vaccines, over-expressed antigens in HCC patients, such as α- fetoprotein (AFP) and glypican-3 (GPC-3), have been employed. In our previous study, a multi-epitope peptide vaccine for HCC was designed by in-silico methods. The designed vaccine construct included the AFP, GPC-3, and aspartyl-β-hydroxylase (ASPH) as CytoLoxic T cell Lymphocytes (CTL), one epitope from Tetanus Toxin Fragment C (TTFrC) as Helper T cell Lymphocytes (HTL), and a segment of microbial heat shock protein (HSP70) peptide407-426 as an adjuvant. All the mentioned parts were connected by appropriate linkers. The aim of this study is the production of the designed vaccine. METHODS This research is experimental and was carried out in Fasa, Iran, in 2017. The designed vaccine construct gene was transformed to the Escherchia coli BL21 (DE3) strain and expressed in different isopropyl β-D-1-thiogalactopyranoside (IPTG) concentrations (0.6 and 1 mM), times (4, 6, 8, 16 hours), and temperatures (25 and 37 °C). Then, the expressed protein was analyzed by Sodium dodecyl-sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) and the Western blot methods. RESULTS The best conditions for protein expression were obtained in the Super Optimal Broth (SOB) medium at 37 °C after the induction of expression by 1 mM IPTG for six hour. CONCLUSION The recombinant HCC vaccine was produced with a proper concentration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fatemeh Motamedi Dehbarez
- Department of Medical Biotechnology, School of Medicine, Fasa University of Medical Sciences, Fasa, Iran
| | - Shirin Mahmoodi
- Department of Medical Biotechnology, School of Medicine, Fasa University of Medical Sciences, Fasa, Iran
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35
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Kan X, Zhou G, Zhang F, Ji H, Shin DS, Monsky W, Zheng C, Yang X. Enhanced efficacy of direct immunochemotherapy for hepatic cancer with image-guided intratumoral radiofrequency hyperthermia. J Immunother Cancer 2022; 10:e005619. [PMID: 36450380 PMCID: PMC9717415 DOI: 10.1136/jitc-2022-005619] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/05/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND It is still a challenge to prevent tumor recurrence post radiofrequency ablation (RFA) of medium-to-large hepatocellular carcinomas (HCC). Immunochemotherapy, a combination of immunotherapy with chemotherapy, has demonstrated a great potential in augmenting the treatment efficacy for some malignancies. In this study, we validated the feasibility of using radiofrequency hyperthermia (RFH)-enhanced intratumoral immunochemotherapy of LTX-315 with liposomal doxorubicin for rat orthotopic HCC. METHODS Different groups of luciferase-labeled rat HCC cells and rat orthotopic HCC models were treated by: (1) phosphate buffered saline; (2) RFH; (3) LTX-315; (4) RFH+LTX-315; (5) liposomal doxorubicin; (6) RFH+liposomal doxorubicin; (7) LTX-315+liposomal doxorubicin; and (8) RFH+LTX-315+liposomal doxorubicin. Cell viabilities and apoptosis of different treatment groups were compared. Changes in tumor sizes were quantified by optical and ultrasound imaging, which were confirmed by subsequent histopathology. The potential underlying biological mechanisms of the triple combination treatment (RFH+LTX-315+liposomal doxorubicin) were explored. RESULTS Flow cytometry and MTS assay showed the highest percentage of apoptotic cells and lowest cell viability in the triple combination treatment group compared with other seven groups (p<0.001). Tumors in this group also presented the most profound decrease in bioluminescence signal intensities and the smallest tumor volumes compared with other seven groups (p<0.001). A significant increase of CD8+ T cells, CD8+/interferon (IFN)-γ+ T cells, CD8+/tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α+ T cells, and natural killer cells, and a significant decrease of regulatory T cells were observed in the tumors (p<0.001). Meanwhile, a significantly higher level of Th1-type cytokines in both plasma (interleukin (IL)-2, IL-12, IL-18, IFN-γ) and tumors (IL-2, IL-18, IFN-γ, TNF-α), as well as a significantly lower Th2-type cytokines of IL-4 and IL-10 in plasma and tumor were detected. CONCLUSIONS Intratumoral RFA-associated RFH could enhance the efficacy of immunochemotherapy of LTX-315 with liposomal doxorubicin for HCC, which may provide a new strategy to increase the curative efficacy of thermal ablation for medium-to-large HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuefeng Kan
- Image-Guided Bio-Molecular Intervention Research and Section of Vascular and Interventional Radiology, Department of Radiology, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, Washington, USA
- Department of Radiology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Guanhui Zhou
- Image-Guided Bio-Molecular Intervention Research and Section of Vascular and Interventional Radiology, Department of Radiology, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, Washington, USA
- Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Interventional Treatment Center, Division of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Zhejiang University School of Medicine First Affiliated Hospital, Hangzhou, China
| | - Feng Zhang
- Image-Guided Bio-Molecular Intervention Research and Section of Vascular and Interventional Radiology, Department of Radiology, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Hongxiu Ji
- Image-Guided Bio-Molecular Intervention Research and Section of Vascular and Interventional Radiology, Department of Radiology, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, Washington, USA
- Department of Pathology, Overlake Medical Center and Incyte Diagnostics, Bellevue, WA, USA
| | - David S Shin
- Image-Guided Bio-Molecular Intervention Research and Section of Vascular and Interventional Radiology, Department of Radiology, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Wayne Monsky
- Image-Guided Bio-Molecular Intervention Research and Section of Vascular and Interventional Radiology, Department of Radiology, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Chuansheng Zheng
- Department of Radiology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Xiaoming Yang
- Image-Guided Bio-Molecular Intervention Research and Section of Vascular and Interventional Radiology, Department of Radiology, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, Washington, USA
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Pu Z, Liu J, Liu Z, Peng F, Zhu Y, Wang X, He J, Yi P, Hu X, Fan X, Chen J. STING pathway contributes to the prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma and identification of prognostic gene signatures correlated to tumor microenvironment. Cancer Cell Int 2022; 22:314. [PMID: 36224658 PMCID: PMC9554977 DOI: 10.1186/s12935-022-02734-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2021] [Accepted: 09/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most malignant solid tumors worldwide. Recent evidence shows that the stimulator of interferon genes (STING) pathway is essential for anti-tumor immunity via inducing the production of downstream inflammatory cytokines. However, its impact on the prognosis and tumor microenvironment of HCC was still limited known. Methods We obtained gene expression profiles of HCC from GEO, TCGA, and ICGC databases, and immune-related genes (IRGs) from the ImmPort database. Multivariate Cox regression was performed to identify independent prognostic factors. Nomogram was established to predict survival probability for individual patients. Kaplan–Meier curve was used to evaluate the survival difference. Afterward, ESTIMATE, TISCH, and TIMER databases were combined to assess the immune cell infiltration. Furthermore, the qPCR, western blotting, and immunohistochemistry were done to evaluate gene expression, and in vitro cell models were built to determine cell migratory ability. Results We found that gene markers of NLRC3, STING1, TBK1, TRIM21, and XRCC6 within STING pathway were independent prognostic factors in HCC patients. Underlying the finding, a predictive nomogram was constructed in TCGA-training cohort and further validated in TCGA-all and ICGC datasets, showing credible performance. Experimentally, up-regulated TBK1 promotes the ability of HCC cell migration. Next, the survival-related immune-related co-expressed gene signatures (IRCGS) (VAV1, RHOA, and ZC3HAV1) were determined in HCC cohorts and their expression was verified in human HCC cells and clinical samples. Furthermore, survival-related IRCGS was associated with the infiltration of various immune cell subtypes in HCC, the transcriptional expression of prominent immune checkpoints, and immunotherapeutic response. Conclusion Collectively, we constructed a novel prognostic nomogram model for predicting the survival probability of individual HCC patients. Moreover, an immune-related prognostic gene signature was determined. Both might function as potential therapeutic targets for HCC treatment in the future. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12935-022-02734-4.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhangya Pu
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Hunan Key Laboratory of Viral Hepatitis, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, No. 87, Xiangya Rd, Kaifu District, Changsha, 410008, Hunan Province, China.,Department of Infectious Disease, The First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310000, Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Jinghua Liu
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Linyi People's Hospital, Linyi, Shandong, China
| | - Zelong Liu
- Division of Interventional Ultrasound, The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Fang Peng
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Hunan Key Laboratory of Viral Hepatitis, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, No. 87, Xiangya Rd, Kaifu District, Changsha, 410008, Hunan Province, China.,NHC Key Laboratory of Cancer Proteomics, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, 41800, Hunan Province, China
| | - Yuanyuan Zhu
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Hunan Key Laboratory of Viral Hepatitis, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, No. 87, Xiangya Rd, Kaifu District, Changsha, 410008, Hunan Province, China.,NHC Key Laboratory of Cancer Proteomics, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, 41800, Hunan Province, China
| | - Xiaofang Wang
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Hunan Key Laboratory of Viral Hepatitis, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, No. 87, Xiangya Rd, Kaifu District, Changsha, 410008, Hunan Province, China
| | - Jiayan He
- Department of General Surgery, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310000, Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Panpan Yi
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Hunan Key Laboratory of Viral Hepatitis, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, No. 87, Xiangya Rd, Kaifu District, Changsha, 410008, Hunan Province, China
| | - Xingwang Hu
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Hunan Key Laboratory of Viral Hepatitis, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, No. 87, Xiangya Rd, Kaifu District, Changsha, 410008, Hunan Province, China.
| | - Xuegong Fan
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Hunan Key Laboratory of Viral Hepatitis, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, No. 87, Xiangya Rd, Kaifu District, Changsha, 410008, Hunan Province, China.
| | - Jiang Chen
- Department of General Surgery, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310000, Zhejiang Province, China.
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Wang Y, Peng B, Ning C, He S, Yang H, Mao Y, Sun L. Characterization of immune features and immunotherapy response in subtypes of hepatocellular carcinoma based on mitophagy. Front Immunol 2022; 13:966167. [PMID: 36304466 PMCID: PMC9592915 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.966167] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2022] [Accepted: 09/27/2022] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Mitophagy is suggested to be involved in tumor initiation and development; however, mitophagy heterogeneity in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and its association with immune status and prognosis remain unclear. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified using expression profiles acquired from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA). Mitophagy-related subtypes were identified using the ConsensusClusterPlus software. The differences in prognosis, clinical characteristics, and immune status, including immune cell infiltration, immune function, immune-checkpoint gene expression, and response to immunotherapy, were compared between subtypes. A mitophagy-related gene signature was constructed by applying least absolute shrinkage and selection operator regression to the TCGA cohort. The International Cancer Genome Consortium cohort and the cohort from Peking Union Medical College Hospital were utilized for validation. Carbonyl cyanide m-chlorophenylhydrazone was used to induce mitophagy in HCC cell lines to obtain our own mitophagy signature. Real-time polymerase chain reaction was used for the experimental validation of the expression of model genes. Two mitophagy-related subtypes with distinct prognoses, clinical characteristics, immune states, and biological function patterns were identified based on the mitophagy-related DEGs. The subtype that showed higher mitophagy-related DEG expression had worse survival outcomes, suppressed immune function, higher immune-checkpoint gene expression, and a better response to immunotherapy, indicating that this subpopulation in HCC may benefit from immune-checkpoint blockade therapy and other immunotherapies. A risk model consisting of nine mitophagy-related genes was constructed and its performance was confirmed in two validation cohorts. The risk score was an independent risk factor even when age, sex, and tumor stage were considered. Our study identified two distinct mitophagy subtypes and built a mitophagy signature, uncovering mitophagy heterogeneity in HCC and its association with immune status and prognosis. These findings shed light on the treatment of HCC, especially with immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanan Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Biology, Department of Physiology, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and School of Basic Medicine, Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
- *Correspondence: Lejia Sun, ; Yanan Wang,
| | - Boshizhang Peng
- Peking Union Medical College and Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Chun Ning
- Peking Union Medical College and Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Shuya He
- Department of Physiology, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and School of Basic Medicine, Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Huayu Yang
- Department of Liver Surgery, Peking Union Medical College (PUMC) Hospital, Peking Union Medical College and Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Yilei Mao
- Department of Liver Surgery, Peking Union Medical College (PUMC) Hospital, Peking Union Medical College and Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Lejia Sun
- Department of General Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
- The First School of Clinical Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
- *Correspondence: Lejia Sun, ; Yanan Wang,
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Xue C, Gu X, Zhao Y, Jia J, Zheng Q, Su Y, Bao Z, Lu J, Li L. Prediction of hepatocellular carcinoma prognosis and immunotherapeutic effects based on tryptophan metabolism-related genes. Cancer Cell Int 2022; 22:308. [PMID: 36217206 PMCID: PMC9552452 DOI: 10.1186/s12935-022-02730-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2022] [Accepted: 09/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Background L-tryptophan (Trp) metabolism involved in mediating tumour development and immune suppression. However, comprehensive analysis of the role of the Trp metabolism pathway is still a challenge. Methods We downloaded Trp metabolism-related genes’ expression data from different public databases, including TCGA, Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) and Hepatocellular Carcinoma Database (HCCDB). And we identified two metabolic phenotypes using the ConsensusClusterPlus package. Univariate regression analysis and lasso Cox regression analysis were used to establish a risk model. CIBERSORT and Tracking of Indels by DEcomposition (TIDE) analyses were adopted to assess the infiltration abundance of immune cells and tumour immune escape. Results We identified two metabolic phenotypes, and patients in Cluster 2 (C2) had a better prognosis than those in Cluster 1 (C1). The distribution of clinical features between the metabolic phenotypes showed that patients in C1 tended to have higher T stage, stage, grade, and death probability than those of patients in C2. Additionally, we screened 739 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between the C1 and C2. We generated a ten-gene risk model based on the DEGs, and the area under the curve (AUC) values of the risk model for predicting overall survival. Patients in the low-risk subgroup tended to have a significantly longer overall survival than that of those in the high-risk group. Moreover, univariate analysis indicated that the risk model was significantly correlated with overall survival. Multivariate analysis showed that the risk model remained an independent risk factor in hepatocellular carcinoma (p < 0.0001). Conclusions We identified two metabolic phenotypes based on genes of the Trp metabolism pathway, and we established a risk model that could be used for predicting prognosis and guiding immunotherapy in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12935-022-02730-8.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chen Xue
- State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Infectious Diseases, National Medical Center for Infectious Diseases, Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, No. 79 Qingchun Road, Shangcheng District, Hangzhou, 310003, Zhejiang, China
| | - Xinyu Gu
- State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Infectious Diseases, National Medical Center for Infectious Diseases, Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, No. 79 Qingchun Road, Shangcheng District, Hangzhou, 310003, Zhejiang, China
| | - Yalei Zhao
- State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Infectious Diseases, National Medical Center for Infectious Diseases, Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, No. 79 Qingchun Road, Shangcheng District, Hangzhou, 310003, Zhejiang, China
| | - Junjun Jia
- Division of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Department of Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Qiuxian Zheng
- State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Infectious Diseases, National Medical Center for Infectious Diseases, Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, No. 79 Qingchun Road, Shangcheng District, Hangzhou, 310003, Zhejiang, China
| | - Yuanshuai Su
- State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Infectious Diseases, National Medical Center for Infectious Diseases, Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, No. 79 Qingchun Road, Shangcheng District, Hangzhou, 310003, Zhejiang, China
| | - Zhengyi Bao
- State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Infectious Diseases, National Medical Center for Infectious Diseases, Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, No. 79 Qingchun Road, Shangcheng District, Hangzhou, 310003, Zhejiang, China
| | - Juan Lu
- State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Infectious Diseases, National Medical Center for Infectious Diseases, Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, No. 79 Qingchun Road, Shangcheng District, Hangzhou, 310003, Zhejiang, China.
| | - Lanjuan Li
- State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Infectious Diseases, National Medical Center for Infectious Diseases, Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, No. 79 Qingchun Road, Shangcheng District, Hangzhou, 310003, Zhejiang, China.
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Chen SL, Ho CY, Lin WC, Lee CW, Chen YC, Chen JL, Chen HY. The Characteristics and Mortality of Chinese Herbal Medicine Users among Newly Diagnosed Inoperable Huge Hepatocellular Carcinoma (≥10 cm) Patients: A Retrospective Cohort Study with Exploration of Core Herbs. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:ijerph191912480. [PMID: 36231778 PMCID: PMC9564474 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph191912480] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2022] [Revised: 09/19/2022] [Accepted: 09/27/2022] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
For patients with inoperable huge hepatocellular carcinoma (H-HCC, tumor size ≥10 cm), treatment options are limited. This study aimed to evaluate the characteristics and outcomes of patients with H-HCC who use Chinese herbal medicine (CHM). Multi-institutional cohort data were obtained from the Chang Gung Research Database (CGRD) between 1 January 2002 and 31 December 2018. All patients were followed up for 3 years or until the occurrence of death. Characteristics of CHM users and risk of all-cause mortality were assessed, and core CHMs with potential pharmacologic pathways were explored. Among 1618 patients, clinical features of CHM users (88) and nonusers (1530) were similar except for lower serum α-fetoprotein (AFP) and higher serum albumin levels in CHM users. CHM users had significantly higher 3 year overall survival rates (15.0% vs. 9.7%) and 3 year liver-specific survival rates (13.4% vs. 10.7%), about 3 months longer median survival time, and lower risk of all-cause mortality. Core CHMs were discovered from the prescriptions, including Hedyotis diffusa Willd combined with Scutellaria barbata D.Don, Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge., Curcuma longa L., Rheum palmatum L., and Astragalus mongholicus Bunge. CHM use appears safe and is possibly beneficial for inoperable H-HCC patients; however, further clinical trials are still required.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shu-Ling Chen
- Division of Chinese Internal and Pediatric Medicine, Center for Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taoyuan Branch, Taoyuan 333, Taiwan
| | - Chia-Ying Ho
- Division of Chinese Internal and Pediatric Medicine, Center for Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taoyuan Branch, Taoyuan 333, Taiwan
| | - Wei-Chun Lin
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Linkou Branch, Taoyuan 333, Taiwan
| | - Chao-Wei Lee
- Division of General Surgery, Department of Surgery, Linkou Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taoyuan 333, Taiwan
- College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Guishan, Taoyuan 333, Taiwan
| | - Yu-Chun Chen
- Department of Family Medicine, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei 112, Taiwan
- School of Medicine, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei 112, Taiwan
- Institute of Hospital and Health Care Administration, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei 112, Taiwan
| | - Jiun-Liang Chen
- Division of Chinese Internal and Pediatric Medicine, Center for Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taoyuan Branch, Taoyuan 333, Taiwan
- School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan 333, Taiwan
| | - Hsing-Yu Chen
- Division of Chinese Internal and Pediatric Medicine, Center for Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taoyuan Branch, Taoyuan 333, Taiwan
- School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan 333, Taiwan
- Graduate Institute of Clinical Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan 333, Taiwan
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +886-975366119; Fax: +886-3-3298995
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Abstract
BACKGROUND Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a common malignant tumor worldwide with a poor prognosis. Recent studies have shown that the occurrence, development and prognosis of liver cancer are closely related to tumor microenvironment (TME) and tumor immune infiltration. METHODS Therefore, important information on various diseases can be obtained from public databases such as The Cancer Gene Atlas (TCGA), and ideas or schemes that may be effective for the treatment of various diseases can be screened and analyzed by screening various conditions. In this study, 424 cases of liver hepatocellular carcinoma (LIHC) in the TCGA database and CIBERSORT algorithm were used to calculate the proportion of tumor-invasive immune cells. Combined with the clinical data from TCGA database, it was concluded that T cells regulatory (Tregs) were correlated with the development and prognosis of HCC. Cox regression analysis was used to screen differentially expressed genes, and survival analysis was performed according to the screened differentially expressed genes to see whether there was a significant association with the prognosis of HCC. Then gene ontology and kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes analysis of differentially expressed genes were carried out to explore the possibility of differentially expressed genes becoming potential therapeutic targets of HCC. RESULTS Finally, I identified the gene centromere protein o (CENPO), which is associated with immune cells and improve the prognosis of HCC. CONCLUSION CENPO may be a potential biological therapeutic target for hepatocellular treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhi-Wei Xu
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, China
- *Correspondence: Zhi-Wei Xu, Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, 530021, China (e-mail: )
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PRR7-AS1 Correlates with Immune Cell Infiltration and Is a Diagnostic and Prognostic Marker for Hepatocellular Carcinoma. JOURNAL OF ONCOLOGY 2022; 2022:1939368. [PMID: 36059812 PMCID: PMC9439911 DOI: 10.1155/2022/1939368] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2022] [Revised: 08/04/2022] [Accepted: 08/11/2022] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a highly aggressive malignant disease, and numerous studies have shown that certain functional long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are implicated in the progression of several cancers. The purpose of the research was to determine, using a database, bioinformatics, and statistical analysis, whether or not lncRNA PRR7-AS1 (PRR7-AS1) was related to HCC. TCGA datasets were used to conduct research on the PRR7-AS1 expression pattern in HCC. In order to evaluate the efficacy of GIHCG as a prognostic tool, both survival and Cox regression analyses were carried out. Furthermore, an investigation of the connection between the expression of PRR7-AS1 and immune infiltration in HCC was carried out. In this study, we identified 125 lncRNAs that were significantly dysregulated in HCC and were associated with long-term survival. Among the above 125 lncRNAs, our attention focused on PRR7-AS1. We found that PRR7-AS1 expressions were distinctly overexpressed in HCC samples compared with nontumor samples. ROC assays revealed that PRR7-AS1 effectively differentiated HCC specimens from normal tissues with an AUC of 0.875 (95% CI: 0.840 to 0.911). Moreover, the high PRR7-AS1 expression was associated with advanced clinical stage and poor prognosis of HCC patients. Importantly, the multivariate Cox proportional hazards model suggested that up-expression of PRR7-AS1 was an independent prognostic marker indicating shorter overall survival and disease-specific survival for HCC patients. Finally, we found that PRR7-AS1 expression was associated with the expression of NK CD56bright cells, Th2 cells, TFH, macrophages, Th1 cells, aDC, T helper cells, cytotoxic cells, DC, Tgd, neutrophils, and Th17 cells. Overall, the results of our study show that PRR7-AS1 was a biomarker that could be utilized to predict the prognosis of HCC patients and was linked to the infiltration of immune cells in HCC.
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Targeted Therapy for Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Old and New Opportunities. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14164028. [PMID: 36011021 PMCID: PMC9406380 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14164028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2022] [Revised: 08/15/2022] [Accepted: 08/18/2022] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most frequent primitive cancer of the liver, accounting for 90% of all recorded cases. HCC is the third most common cause of cancer-related death, with a 5-year survival rate of just 3%. In terms of the advanced stages, systemic treatments have allowed patients to achieve clinical benefits, although the prognosis remains very poor. In the past few decades, new molecular targeted therapies have been developed and clinically evaluated with interesting results. However, on the basis of the poor prognoses and the meager benefits deriving from the available systemic therapies, research into new treatments is extremely necessary. In this review, we focus on the available systemic therapies for advanced HCC, with a look toward the future. Abstract Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most frequent primitive cancer of the liver, accounting for 90% of all recorded cases. HCC is the third most common cause of cancer-related death, with a 5-year survival rate of just 3%. In the advanced stages, systemic treatments allow doctors to obtain clinical benefits, although the prognosis remains very poor. In the past few decades, new molecular targeted therapies against receptor tyrosine kinases have been developed and clinically evaluated. Sorafenib was the first oral tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) approved for the treatment of advanced HCC in 2007. Subsequently, other TKIs, including Cabozantinib, Regorafenib, Lenvatinib, and vascular endothelial growth factor receptor (VEGFR) inhibitors such as Ramucirumab and VEGF inhibitors such as Bevacizumab have been approved as first- or second-line treatments. More recently, the combination of immune checkpoint inhibitors and VEGF inhibitors (Atezolizumab plus Bevacizumab) have been analyzed and approved for the treatment of advanced HCC. On the basis of the poor prognoses and the meager benefits deriving from the available systemic therapies, research into new treatments is extremely necessary. In this review, we focus on the available systemic therapies for advanced HCC, with a look toward the future.
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Komarov IV, Tolstanova G, Kuznietsova H, Dziubenko N, Yanchuk PI, Shtanova LY, Veselsky SP, Garmanchuk LV, Khranovska N, Gorbach O, Dovbynchuk T, Borysko P, Babii O, Schober T, Ulrich AS, Afonin S. Towards in vivo photomediated delivery of anticancer peptides: Insights from pharmacokinetic and -dynamic data. JOURNAL OF PHOTOCHEMISTRY AND PHOTOBIOLOGY. B, BIOLOGY 2022; 233:112479. [PMID: 35660309 DOI: 10.1016/j.jphotobiol.2022.112479] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2022] [Revised: 05/13/2022] [Accepted: 05/17/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
An in vivo study of a photoswitchable cytotoxic peptide LMB040 has been undertaken on a chemically induced hepatocellular carcinoma model in immunocompetent rats. We analysed the pharmacokinetic profile of the less toxic photoform ("ring-closed" dithienylethene) of the compound in tumors, plasma, and healthy liver. Accordingly, the peptide can reach a tumor concentration sufficiently high to exert a cytotoxic effect upon photoconversion into the more active ("ring-open") photoform. Tissue morphology, histology, redox state of the liver, and hepatic biochemical parameters in blood serum were analysed upon treatment with (i) the less active photoform, (ii) the in vivo light-activated alternative photoform, and (iii) compared with a reference chemotherapeutic 5-fluorouracil. We found that application of the less toxic form followed by a delayed in vivo photoconversion into the more toxic ring-open form of LMB040 led to a higher overall survival of the animals, and signs of enhanced immune response were observed compared to the untreated animals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Igor V Komarov
- Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, Kyiv, Ukraine; Lumobiotics, Karlsruhe, Germany; Enamine, Kyiv, Ukraine.
| | | | - Halyna Kuznietsova
- Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, Kyiv, Ukraine; Enamine, Kyiv, Ukraine
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- Lumobiotics, Karlsruhe, Germany; Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Karlsruhe, Germany
| | - Tim Schober
- Lumobiotics, Karlsruhe, Germany; Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Karlsruhe, Germany
| | - Anne S Ulrich
- Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Karlsruhe, Germany; Institute of Organic Chemistry of Karlsruhe KIT, Fritz-Haber-Weg 6, 76131 Karlsruhe, Germany..
| | - Sergii Afonin
- Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Karlsruhe, Germany.
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Liu N, Wang X, Steer CJ, Song G. MicroRNA-206 promotes the recruitment of CD8 + T cells by driving M1 polarisation of Kupffer cells. Gut 2022; 71:1642-1655. [PMID: 34706869 PMCID: PMC9279850 DOI: 10.1136/gutjnl-2021-324170] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2021] [Accepted: 09/02/2021] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Kupffer cells (KCs) protect against hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) by communicating with other immune cells. However, the underlying mechanism(s) of this process is incompletely understood. DESIGN FVB/NJ mice were hydrodynamically injected with AKT/Ras and Sleeping Beauty transposon to induce HCC. Mini-circle and Sleeping Beauty were used to overexpress microRNA-206 in KCs of mice. Flow cytometry and immunostaining were used to evaluate the change in the immune system. RESULTS Hydrodynamic injection of AKT/Ras into mice drove M2 polarisation of KCs and depletion of cytotoxic T cells (CTLs) and promoted HCC development. M1-to-M2 transition of KCs impaired microRNA-206 biogenesis. By targeting Klf4 (kruppel like factor 4) and, thereby, enhancing the production of M1 markers including C-C motif chemokine ligand 2 (CCL2), microRNA-206 promoted M1 polarisation of macrophages. Indeed, microRNA-206-mediated increase of CCL2 facilitated hepatic recruitment of CTLs via CCR2. Disrupting each component of the KLF4/CCL2/CCR2 axis impaired the ability of microRNA-206 to drive M1 polarisation of macrophages and recruit CTLs. In AKT/Ras mice, KC-specific expression of microRNA-206 drove M1 polarisation of KCs and hepatic recruitment of CTLs and fully prevented HCC, while 100% of control mice died from HCC. Disrupting the interaction between microRNA-206 and Klf4 in KCs and depletion of CD8+ T cells impaired the ability of miR-206 to prevent HCC. CONCLUSIONS M2 polarisation of KCs is a major contributor of HCC in AKT/Ras mice. MicroRNA-206, by driving M1 polarisation of KCs, promoted the recruitment of CD8+ T cells and prevented HCC, suggesting its potential use as an immunotherapeutic approach.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ningning Liu
- Department of Medicine, University of Minnesota Twin Cities, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
| | - Xiaomei Wang
- Department of Medicine, University of Minnesota Twin Cities, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
| | - Clifford John Steer
- Department of Medicine, University of Minnesota Twin Cities, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
| | - Guisheng Song
- Department of Medicine, University of Minnesota Twin Cities, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
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Sun L, Yu S, Dong C, Wu Z, Huang H, Chen Z, Wu Z, Yin X. Comprehensive Analysis of Prognostic Value and Immune Infiltration of Ficolin Family Members in Hepatocellular Carcinoma. Front Genet 2022; 13:913398. [PMID: 35928441 PMCID: PMC9343789 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2022.913398] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2022] [Accepted: 06/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective: Ficolin (FCN) family proteins are part of the innate immune system, play a role as recognition molecules in the complement system, and are associated with tumor development. The mechanism of its role in immunotherapy of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is unclear. Methods: In this study, we used the TCGA database, HPA database, Gene Expression Profile Interaction Analysis (GEPIA), Kaplan-Meier plotter, TCGAportal, cBioPortal, GeneMANIA, TIMER, and TISIDB to analyze Ficolin family proteins (FCN1, FCN2 and FCN3, FCNs) in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma for differential expression, prognostic value, genetic alterations, functional enrichment, and immune factor correlation analysis. Results: The expression levels of FCN1/2/3 were significantly reduced in patients with HCC. Among them, FCN3 showed significant correlation with Overall Survival (OS), Progressive Free Survival (PFS) and Relapse Free Survival (RFS) in HCC. FCN1 and FCN3 may be potential prognostic markers for survival in patients with HCC. In addition, the functions of differentially expressed FCNs were mainly related to complement activation, immune response, apoptotic cell clearance and phagocytosis. FCNs were found to be significantly correlated with multiple immune cells and immune factors. Expression of FCN1 and FCN3 differed significantly in the immune and stromal cell component scores of HCC. analysis of the tumor mutation burden (TMB) and microsatellite instability (MSI) of FCNs with pan-cancer showed that FCN3 was significantly correlated with both. Conclusions: Our study provides new insights into the link between the FCN family and immunotherapy for HCC, and FCN3 may serve as a prognostic biomarker for HCC.
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Construction of a Novel Clinical Stage-Related Gene Signature for Predicting Outcome and Immune Response in Hepatocellular Carcinoma. J Immunol Res 2022; 2022:6535009. [PMID: 35865652 PMCID: PMC9296277 DOI: 10.1155/2022/6535009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2022] [Revised: 06/23/2022] [Accepted: 06/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) with high heterogeneity is one of the most frequent malignant tumors. However, there were no studies to create a clinical stage-related gene signature for HCC patients. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) associated with clinical stage of HCC were analyzed based on TCGA datasets. Functional enrichment analysis was carried out by the use of stage-related DEGs. Then, the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression and univariate Cox regression were performed to reduce the overfit and the number of genes for further analysis. Next, survival and ROC assays were carried out to demonstrate the model using TCGA. Functional analysis and immune microenvironment analysis related to stage-related DEGs were performed. Reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) assays were applied to examine the expression and function of PNCK in HCC. In this research, there were 21 DEGs between HCC specimens with stage (I-II) and HCC specimens with stage (III-IV), including 20 increased genes and 1 decreased genes. A novel seven-gene signature (including PITX2, PNCK, GLIS1, SCNN1G, MMP1, ZNF488, and SHISA9) was created for the prediction of outcomes of HCC patients. The ROC curves confirmed the prognostic value of the new model. Cox assays demonstrated that the seven-gene signature can independently forecast overall survival. The immune analysis revealed that patients with low risk score exhibited more immune activities. Moreover, we confirmed that PNCK expressions were distinctly increased in HCC, and its silence suppressed the proliferation of HCC cells. Overall, our research offered a robust and reliable gene signature which displayed an important value in the prediction of overall survival of HCC patients and might deliver more effective personalized therapies.
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circACTG1 Promotes Hepatocellular Carcinoma Progression by Regulating miR-940/RIF1 Axis and Activating AKT/mTOR Pathway. J Immunol Res 2022; 2022:8649386. [PMID: 35769514 PMCID: PMC9234050 DOI: 10.1155/2022/8649386] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2022] [Revised: 05/12/2022] [Accepted: 05/16/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is recognized as the fourth in incidence and the third in mortality worldwide. The onset of HCC is insidious and often asymptomatic at the early stage. HCC is more prone to metastasis, recurrence, and drug resistance than other solid tumors owing to its feature of high heterogeneity. Therefore, what particularly important is to search for effective molecular markers in the occurrence and progression of HCC. Aim To probe into the therapeutic potential of circACTG1 (hsa_circ_0046144) in HCC cell migration and invasion, providing a new insight and molecular target to diagnose and cure HCC patients. Methods The circACTG1 expression in collected HCC cells was determined by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). Assessment for circACTG1 diagnosing capability was analyzed by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves. Transwell assay, wound healing assay, and cell counting kit-8 assay were used for monitoring the effect of circACTG1 in HCC cell invasion, migration, and proliferation, respectively; qPCR, luciferase reporter assay, databases, and Western blot analysis were used for identifying the modulation mechanisms among circACTG1, miRNA-940, and RIF1. What is more, our study verified AKT-mTOR signaling after miR-940 mimic treatment or circACTG1 knockdown. Results circACTG1 was overexpressed in HCC cells and tissues. Knockdown of circACTG1 restrained 97H and Huh7 cell migration and invasion. Significantly, circACTG1 was discovered to serve as a miR-940 sponge. miR-940 activation rebated the circACTG1 level, and conversely, miR-940 inhibition boosted the circACTG1 level. However, this effect or relationship was not seen after circACTG1 mutation. Furtherly, miR-940-downregulated expression was also found in HCC patients, and importantly, miR-940 inhibition reversed circACTG1 expression in 97H cells with circACTG1 knockdown. Moreover, the expression of RIF1 was significantly reduced after inhibiting circACTG1 or overexpressing miR-940 but rescued when both circACTG1 and miR-940 were inhibited. Finally, circACTG1 and miR-940 played significant roles of regulating AKT-mTOR signaling. Conclusion circACTG1 expression remarkably ascended in HCC, which is of certain diagnostic value. Moreover, circACTG1 potentially regulates HCC cell proliferation, invasion, and migration via miR-940/RIF1/AKT/mTOR pathway.
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Liu N, Steer CJ, Song G. MicroRNA-206 enhances antitumor immunity by disrupting the communication between malignant hepatocytes and regulatory T cells in c-Myc mice. Hepatology 2022; 76:32-47. [PMID: 34606648 DOI: 10.1002/hep.32182] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2021] [Revised: 09/27/2021] [Accepted: 09/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS Intertumoral accumulation of regulatory T cells (Tregs) has been implicated in the pathogenesis of HCC. Because of poor understanding of the immunosuppression mechanism(s) in HCC, immunotherapy is largely unsuccessful for the treatment of HCC. APPROACH AND RESULTS Hydrodynamic injection (HDI) of c-Myc into mice resulted in enlarged spleens and lethal HCC associated with an increase in hepatic Tregs and depletion of CTLs (cytotoxic T lymphocytes). Malignant hepatocytes in c-Myc mice overproduced TGFβ1, which enhanced the suppressor function of Tregs and impaired the proliferation and cytotoxicity of CTLs. In addition to activating TGFβ signaling, c-Myc synergized with Yin Yang 1 to impair microRNA-206 (miR-206) biogenesis. HDI of miR-206 fully prevented HCC and the associated enlargement of the spleen, whereas 100% of control mice died from HCC within 5-9 weeks postinjection. Mechanistically, by directly targeting errant kirsten ras oncogene (KRAS) signaling, miR-206 impeded the mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase (MEK)/extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) axis that drives expression of Tgfb1. By blocking the KRAS/MEK/ERK axis, miR-206 prevented TGFβ1 overproduction, thereby impairing the suppressor function and expansion of Tregs, but enhancing the expansion and cytotoxic program of CTLs. Disrupting the interaction between miR-206 and Kras offset the roles of miR-206 in inhibiting immunosuppression and HCC. Depletion of CD8+ T cells impaired the ability of miR-206 to inhibit HCC. CONCLUSIONS c-Myc-educated hepatocytes promoted immunosuppression by overproducing TGFβ1, which promoted HCC development. miR-206, by attenuating TGFβ1 overproduction, disrupted the communication of malignant hepatocytes with CTLs and Tregs, which prevented HCC. miR-206 represents a potential immunotherapeutic agent against HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ningning Liu
- Department of Medicine, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
| | - Clifford J Steer
- Department of Medicine, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA.,Department of Genetics, Cell Biology and Development, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
| | - Guisheng Song
- Department of Medicine, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA.,Department of Genetics, Cell Biology and Development, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
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Chen Y, Hu H, Yuan X, Fan X, Zhang C. Advances in Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors for Advanced Hepatocellular Carcinoma. Front Immunol 2022; 13:896752. [PMID: 35757756 PMCID: PMC9226303 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.896752] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2022] [Accepted: 05/16/2022] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is usually diagnosed in an advanced stage and has become the second deadliest type of cancer worldwide. The systemic treatment of advanced HCC has been a challenge, and for decades was limited to treatment with tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) until the application of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) became available. Due to drug resistance and unsatisfactory therapeutic effects of monotherapy with TKIs or ICIs, multi-ICIs, or the combination of ICIs with antiangiogenic drugs has become a novel strategy to treat advanced HCC. Antiangiogenic drugs mostly include TKIs (sorafenib, lenvatinib, regorafenib, cabozantinib and so on) and anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), such as bevacizumab. Common ICIs include anti-programmed cell death-1 (PD-1)/programmed cell death ligand 1 (PD-L1), including nivolumab, pembrolizumab, durvalumab, and atezolizumab, and anti-cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated protein 4 (CTLA4), including tremelimumab and ipilimumab. Combination therapies involving antiangiogenic drugs and ICIs or two ICIs may have a synergistic action and have shown greater efficacy in advanced HCC. In this review, we present an overview of the current knowledge and recent clinical developments in ICI-based combination therapies for advanced HCC and we provide an outlook on future prospects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yue Chen
- Department of Pathology, Beijing Shijitan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Haoyue Hu
- Department of Medical Oncology, Sichuan Cancer Hospital and Institute, Sichuan Cancer Center, Medicine School of University of Electronic Science and Technology, Chengdu, China
| | - Xianglei Yuan
- Department of Gastroenterology, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Xue Fan
- Department of Medical Oncology, Sichuan Cancer Hospital and Institute, Sichuan Cancer Center, Medicine School of University of Electronic Science and Technology, Chengdu, China
| | - Chengda Zhang
- Department of Gastroenterology, The Third Hospital of Mianyang (Sichuan Mental Health Center), Mianyang, China
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Vulasala SSR, Onteddu NK, Kumar SP, Lall C, Bhosale P, Virarkar MK. Advances and effectiveness of the immunotherapy after liver transplantation. World J Gastrointest Surg 2022; 14:629-631. [PMID: 35979423 PMCID: PMC9258234 DOI: 10.4240/wjgs.v14.i6.629] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2021] [Revised: 01/15/2022] [Accepted: 06/17/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Transplant recipients usually have increased chances of graft rejection and graft vs host disease, requiring chronic immunosuppressive therapy. Nonetheless, long-term immunosuppression risks malignancies such as skin cancer, lymphoma, and Kaposi sarcoma. However, there are very few studies that included solid organ transplant recipients while studying the efficacy of immunotherapy. “Immunotherapy after liver transplantation: Where are we now?” is a study, where the authors described the mechanism of action and outcomes of immune checkpoint inhibitors specific to liver transplant recipients. The authors reported the graft rejection rates and the factors contributing to the rejection in the liver transplant recipients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sai Swarupa R Vulasala
- Department of Radiology, University of Florida College of Medicine, Jacksonville, FL 32209, United States
| | - Nirmal K Onteddu
- Department of Internal Medicine, Flowers Hospital, Dothan, AL 36305, United States
| | - Sindhu P Kumar
- Department of Radiology, University of Florida College of Medicine, Jacksonville, FL 32209, United States
| | - Chandana Lall
- Department of Radiology, University of Florida College of Medicine, Jacksonville, FL 32209, United States
| | - Priya Bhosale
- Division of Diagnostic Imaging, Department of Diagnostic Radiology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, United States
| | - Mayur K Virarkar
- Department of Radiology, University of Florida College of Medicine, Jacksonville, FL 32209, United States
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