51
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Kwee SA, Tiirikainen M. Beta-catenin activation and immunotherapy resistance in hepatocellular carcinoma: mechanisms and biomarkers. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2021; 7. [PMID: 33553649 PMCID: PMC7861492 DOI: 10.20517/2394-5079.2020.124] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Mutations involving CTNNB1, the gene encoding beta-catenin, and other molecular alterations that affect the Wnt/beta-catenin signaling pathway are exceptionally common in hepatocellular carcinoma. Several of these alterations have also been associated with scarcity of immune cells in the tumor microenvironment and poor clinical response to immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy. In light of these associations, tumor biomarkers of beta-catenin status could have the potential to serve as clinical predictors of immunotherapy outcome. This editorial review article summarizes recent pre-clinical and clinical research pertaining to associations between beta-catenin activation and diminished anti-tumor immunity. Potential non-invasive biomarkers that may provide a window into this oncogenic mechanism of immune evasion are also presented and discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sandi A Kwee
- Cancer Biology Program (SAK) and Population Sciences in the Pacific Program (MT), University of Hawaii Cancer Center, University of Hawaii, Honolulu, Hawaii 96813, USA.,Hamamatsu/Queen's PET Imaging Center, The Queen's Medical Center, Honolulu, Hawaii 96813, USA
| | - Maarit Tiirikainen
- Cancer Biology Program (SAK) and Population Sciences in the Pacific Program (MT), University of Hawaii Cancer Center, University of Hawaii, Honolulu, Hawaii 96813, USA
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52
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Abstract
Over the last few years, cancer immunotherapy experienced tremendous developments and it is nowadays considered a promising strategy against many types of cancer. However, the exclusion of lymphocytes from the tumor nest is a common phenomenon that limits the efficiency of immunotherapy in solid tumors. Despite several mechanisms proposed during the years to explain the immune excluded phenotype, at present, there is no integrated understanding about the role played by different models of immune exclusion in human cancers. Hypoxia is a hallmark of most solid tumors and, being a multifaceted and complex condition, shapes in a unique way the tumor microenvironment, affecting gene transcription and chromatin remodeling. In this review, we speculate about an upstream role for hypoxia as a common biological determinant of immune exclusion in solid tumors. We also discuss the current state of ex vivo and in vivo imaging of hypoxic determinants in relation to T cell distribution that could mechanisms of immune exclusion and discover functional-morphological tumor features that could support clinical monitoring.
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53
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Qi Y, Liu B, Sun Q, Xiong X, Chen Q. Immune Checkpoint Targeted Therapy in Glioma: Status and Hopes. Front Immunol 2020; 11:578877. [PMID: 33329549 PMCID: PMC7729019 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2020.578877] [Citation(s) in RCA: 75] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2020] [Accepted: 10/29/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Glioma is the most malignant primary tumor of the central nervous system and is characterized by an extremely low overall survival. Recent breakthroughs in cancer therapy using immune checkpoint blockade have attracted significant attention. However, despite representing the most promising (immunotherapy) treatment for cancer, the clinical application of immune checkpoint blockade in glioma patients remains challenging due to the "cold phenotype" of glioma and multiple factors inducing resistance, both intrinsic and acquired. Therefore, comprehensive understanding of the tumor microenvironment and the unique immunological status of the brain will be critical for the application of glioma immunotherapy. More sensitive biomarkers to monitor the immune response, as well as combining multiple immunotherapy strategies, may accelerate clinical progress and enable development of effective and safe treatments for glioma patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yangzhi Qi
- Department of Neurosurgery, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Baohui Liu
- Department of Neurosurgery, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Qian Sun
- Department of Neurosurgery, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Xiaoxing Xiong
- Department of Neurosurgery, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Qianxue Chen
- Department of Neurosurgery, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
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54
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Simiczyjew A, Dratkiewicz E, Mazurkiewicz J, Ziętek M, Matkowski R, Nowak D. The Influence of Tumor Microenvironment on Immune Escape of Melanoma. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:E8359. [PMID: 33171792 PMCID: PMC7664679 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21218359] [Citation(s) in RCA: 72] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2020] [Revised: 10/30/2020] [Accepted: 11/05/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
The low efficiency of currently-used anti-cancer therapies poses a serious challenge, especially in the case of malignant melanoma, a cancer characterized by elevated invasiveness and relatively high mortality rate. The role of the tumor microenvironment in the progression of melanoma and its acquisition of resistance to treatment seems to be the main focus of recent studies. One of the factors that, in normal conditions, aids the organism in its fight against the cancer and, following the malignant transformation, adapts to facilitate the development of the tumor is the immune system. A variety of cell types, i.e., T and B lymphocytes, macrophages, and dendritic and natural killer cells, as well as neutrophils, support the growth and invasiveness of melanoma cells, utilizing a plethora of mechanisms, including secretion of pro-inflammatory molecules, induction of inhibitory receptors expression, or depletion of essential nutrients. This review provides a comprehensive summary of the processes regulated by tumor-associated cells that promote the immune escape of melanoma cells. The described mechanisms offer potential new targets for anti-cancer treatment and should be further studied to improve currently-employed therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aleksandra Simiczyjew
- Department of Cell Pathology, Faculty of Biotechnology, University of Wroclaw, Joliot-Curie 14a, 50-383 Wroclaw, Poland; (E.D.); (J.M.); (D.N.)
| | - Ewelina Dratkiewicz
- Department of Cell Pathology, Faculty of Biotechnology, University of Wroclaw, Joliot-Curie 14a, 50-383 Wroclaw, Poland; (E.D.); (J.M.); (D.N.)
| | - Justyna Mazurkiewicz
- Department of Cell Pathology, Faculty of Biotechnology, University of Wroclaw, Joliot-Curie 14a, 50-383 Wroclaw, Poland; (E.D.); (J.M.); (D.N.)
| | - Marcin Ziętek
- Department of Oncology and Division of Surgical Oncology, Wroclaw Medical University, Plac Hirszfelda 12, 53-413 Wroclaw, Poland; (M.Z.); (R.M.)
- Wroclaw Comprehensive Cancer Center, Plac Hirszfelda 12, 53-413 Wroclaw, Poland
| | - Rafał Matkowski
- Department of Oncology and Division of Surgical Oncology, Wroclaw Medical University, Plac Hirszfelda 12, 53-413 Wroclaw, Poland; (M.Z.); (R.M.)
- Wroclaw Comprehensive Cancer Center, Plac Hirszfelda 12, 53-413 Wroclaw, Poland
| | - Dorota Nowak
- Department of Cell Pathology, Faculty of Biotechnology, University of Wroclaw, Joliot-Curie 14a, 50-383 Wroclaw, Poland; (E.D.); (J.M.); (D.N.)
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55
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Martínez-Rey D, Carmona-Rodríguez L, Fernández-Aceñero MJ, Mira E, Mañes S. Extracellular Superoxide Dismutase, the Endothelial Basement Membrane, and the WNT Pathway: New Players in Vascular Normalization and Tumor Infiltration by T-Cells. Front Immunol 2020; 11:579552. [PMID: 33250894 PMCID: PMC7673374 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2020.579552] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2020] [Accepted: 10/12/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) are major players in the immune-mediated control of cancer and the response to immunotherapy. In primary cancers, however, TILs are commonly absent, suggesting T-cell entry into the tumor microenvironment (TME) to be selectively restricted. Blood and lymph vessels are the first barriers that circulating T-cells must cross to reach the tumor parenchyma. Certainly, the crossing of the endothelial cell (EC) basement membrane (EC-BM)—an extracellular matrix underlying EC—is a limiting step in T-cell diapedesis. This review highlights new data suggesting the antioxidant enzyme superoxide dismutase-3 (SOD3) to be a regulator of EC-BM composition in the tumor vasculature. In the EC, SOD3 induces vascular normalization and endows the EC-BM with the capacity for the extravasation of effector T-cells into the TME, which it achieves via the WNT signaling pathway. However, when activated in tumor cells, this same pathway is reported to exclude TILs. SOD3 also regulates TIL density in primary human colorectal cancers (CRC), thus affecting the relapse rate and patient survival.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diego Martínez-Rey
- Department of Immunology and Oncology, Centro Nacional de Biotecnología (CNB/CSIC), Madrid, Spain
| | | | - María Jesús Fernández-Aceñero
- Department of Surgical Pathology, Fundación de Investigación Hospital General Universitario Gregorio Marañón, Madrid, Spain
| | - Emilia Mira
- Department of Immunology and Oncology, Centro Nacional de Biotecnología (CNB/CSIC), Madrid, Spain
| | - Santos Mañes
- Department of Immunology and Oncology, Centro Nacional de Biotecnología (CNB/CSIC), Madrid, Spain
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56
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Feng M, Zhao Z, Yang M, Ji J, Zhu D. T-cell-based immunotherapy in colorectal cancer. Cancer Lett 2020; 498:201-209. [PMID: 33129958 DOI: 10.1016/j.canlet.2020.10.040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2020] [Revised: 09/08/2020] [Accepted: 10/21/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the leading cause of cancer death worldwide. CRC therapeutic strategies include surgical resection, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and other approaches. However, patients with metastatic CRC have worse prognoses. In recent years, T-cell-based immunotherapy has elicited promising responses in B-cell malignancies, melanoma, and lung cancer, but most CRC patients are resistant to immunotherapy, chemotherapy, and targeted therapy. Immune checkpoint inhibitors have shown encouraging results in non-small cell lung cancer, melanoma, and other cancers, but immune checkpoint blockade is only effective for CRC subset with microsatellite instability. Other immunotherapies, such as cytokines, cancer vaccines, small molecules, oncolytic viruses, and chimeric antigen-receptor therapy, are currently in use against CRC. This review analyzes recent developments in immunotherapy for CRC treatment as well as the challenges in overcoming resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mei Feng
- Minhang Hospital and Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Fudan University, Shanghai, 201203, China
| | - Zhongwei Zhao
- Key Laboratory of Imaging Diagnosis and Minimally Invasive Intervention Research, Affiliated Lishui Hospital of Zhejiang University, Lishui, 323000, China
| | - Mengxuan Yang
- Minhang Hospital and Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Fudan University, Shanghai, 201203, China
| | - Jiansong Ji
- Key Laboratory of Imaging Diagnosis and Minimally Invasive Intervention Research, Affiliated Lishui Hospital of Zhejiang University, Lishui, 323000, China.
| | - Di Zhu
- Minhang Hospital and Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Fudan University, Shanghai, 201203, China; Key Laboratory of Smart Drug Delivery, Ministry of Education, & State Key Laboratory of Molecular Engineering of Polymers, School of Pharmacy, Fudan University, Shanghai, 201203, China; Shanghai Engineering Research Center of ImmunoTherapeutics, Fudan University, 201203, China.
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57
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Sharma M, Pruitt K. Wnt Pathway: An Integral Hub for Developmental and Oncogenic Signaling Networks. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:E8018. [PMID: 33126517 PMCID: PMC7663720 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21218018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2020] [Revised: 10/25/2020] [Accepted: 10/26/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The Wnt pathway is an integral cell-to-cell signaling hub which regulates crucial development processes and maintenance of tissue homeostasis by coordinating cell proliferation, differentiation, cell polarity, cell movement, and stem cell renewal. When dysregulated, it is associated with various developmental diseases, fibrosis, and tumorigenesis. We now better appreciate the complexity and crosstalk of the Wnt pathway with other signaling cascades. Emerging roles of the Wnt signaling in the cancer stem cell niche and drug resistance have led to development of therapeutics specifically targeting various Wnt components, with some agents currently in clinical trials. This review highlights historical and recent findings on key mediators of Wnt signaling and how they impact antitumor immunity and maintenance of cancer stem cells. This review also examines current therapeutics being developed that modulate Wnt signaling in cancer and discusses potential shortcomings associated with available therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Kevin Pruitt
- Department of Immunology and Molecular Microbiology, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX 79430, USA;
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58
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Rodrigues Mantuano N, Natoli M, Zippelius A, Läubli H. Tumor-associated carbohydrates and immunomodulatory lectins as targets for cancer immunotherapy. J Immunother Cancer 2020; 8:jitc-2020-001222. [PMID: 33020245 PMCID: PMC7537339 DOI: 10.1136/jitc-2020-001222] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/28/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
During oncogenesis, tumor cells present specific carbohydrate chains that are new targets for cancer immunotherapy. Whereas these tumor-associated carbohydrates (TACA) can be targeted with antibodies and vaccination approaches, TACA including sialic acid-containing glycans are able to inhibit anticancer immune responses by engagement of immune receptors on leukocytes. A family of immune-modulating receptors are sialic acid-binding Siglec receptors that have been recently described to inhibit antitumor activity mediated by myeloid cells, natural killer cells and T cells. Other TACA-binding receptors including selectins have been linked to cancer progression. Recent studies have shown that glycan-lectin interactions can be targeted to improve cancer immunotherapy. For example, interactions between the immune checkpoint T cell immunoglobulin and mucin-domain containing-3 and the lectin galectin-9 are targeted in clinical trials. In addition, an antibody against the lectin Siglec-15 is being tested in an early clinical trial. In this review, we summarize the previous and current efforts to target TACA and to inhibit inhibitory immune receptors binding to TACA including the Siglec-sialoglycan axis.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Marina Natoli
- Department of Biomedicine, Universitätsspital Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Alfred Zippelius
- Department of Biomedicine, Universitätsspital Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Heinz Läubli
- Department of Biomedicine, Universitätsspital Basel, Basel, Switzerland
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59
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Yu Y, Yang X, Reghu S, Kaul SC, Wadhwa R, Miyako E. Photothermogenetic inhibition of cancer stemness by near-infrared-light-activatable nanocomplexes. Nat Commun 2020; 11:4117. [PMID: 32807785 PMCID: PMC7431860 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-17768-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2019] [Accepted: 07/17/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Strategies for eradicating cancer stem cells (CSCs) are urgently required because CSCs are resistant to anticancer drugs and cause treatment failure, relapse and metastasis. Here, we show that photoactive functional nanocarbon complexes exhibit unique characteristics, such as homogeneous particle morphology, high water dispersibility, powerful photothermal conversion, rapid photoresponsivity and excellent photothermal stability. In addition, the present biologically permeable second near-infrared (NIR-II) light-induced nanocomplexes photo-thermally trigger calcium influx into target cells overexpressing the transient receptor potential vanilloid family type 2 (TRPV2). This combination of nanomaterial design and genetic engineering effectively eliminates cancer cells and suppresses stemness of cancer cells in vitro and in vivo. Finally, in molecular analyses of mechanisms, we show that inhibition of cancer stemness involves calcium-mediated dysregulation of the Wnt/β-catenin signalling pathway. The present technological concept may lead to innovative therapies to address the global issue of refractory cancers. Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are known to induce chemotherapy resistance, and cause tumour relapse and metastasis. Here, the authors develop photoactive nanocarbon complexes with second near-infrared photothermal ability to target cancer cells overexpressing the receptor TRPV2 and show it to suppress CSCs through dysregulation of the Wnt/β-catenin signalling pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yue Yu
- Graduate School of Advanced Science and Technology, Japan Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, 1-1 Asahidai, Nomi, Ishikawa, 923-1292, Japan.,Biomedical Research Institute, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science & Technology (AIST), Ikeda, 563-8577, Japan
| | - Xi Yang
- Graduate School of Advanced Science and Technology, Japan Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, 1-1 Asahidai, Nomi, Ishikawa, 923-1292, Japan
| | - Sheethal Reghu
- Graduate School of Advanced Science and Technology, Japan Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, 1-1 Asahidai, Nomi, Ishikawa, 923-1292, Japan
| | - Sunil C Kaul
- AIST-INDIA DAILAB, DBT-AIST International Center for Translational & Environmental Research (DAICENTER), Cellular and Molecular Biotechnology Research Institute, AIST, Tsukuba, 305-8565, Japan
| | - Renu Wadhwa
- AIST-INDIA DAILAB, DBT-AIST International Center for Translational & Environmental Research (DAICENTER), Cellular and Molecular Biotechnology Research Institute, AIST, Tsukuba, 305-8565, Japan
| | - Eijiro Miyako
- Graduate School of Advanced Science and Technology, Japan Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, 1-1 Asahidai, Nomi, Ishikawa, 923-1292, Japan.
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60
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Schoenfeld AJ, Hellmann MD. Acquired Resistance to Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors. Cancer Cell 2020; 37:443-455. [PMID: 32289269 PMCID: PMC7182070 DOI: 10.1016/j.ccell.2020.03.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 474] [Impact Index Per Article: 118.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2020] [Revised: 03/02/2020] [Accepted: 03/18/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have rapidly altered the treatment landscape for multiple tumor types, providing unprecedented survival in some patients. Despite the characteristic durability of response to ICI, unfortunately many patients with initial response will later develop acquired resistance. The current understanding of mechanisms of acquired resistance to ICIs is remarkably limited, perhaps restraining effective development of next-generation immunotherapies. Here, we examine the barriers to progress and emerging clinical reports interrogating acquired resistance with the goal to facilitate efforts to overcome acquired resistance to ICIs in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adam J Schoenfeld
- Thoracic Oncology Service, Division of Solid Tumor Oncology, Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, Weill Cornell Medical College, 1275 York Avenue, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Matthew D Hellmann
- Thoracic Oncology Service, Division of Solid Tumor Oncology, Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, Weill Cornell Medical College, 1275 York Avenue, New York, NY 10065, USA.
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61
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Kato D, Yaguchi T, Iwata T, Katoh Y, Morii K, Tsubota K, Takise Y, Tamiya M, Kamada H, Akiba H, Tsumoto K, Serada S, Naka T, Nishimura R, Nakagawa T, Kawakami Y. GPC1 specific CAR-T cells eradicate established solid tumor without adverse effects and synergize with anti-PD-1 Ab. eLife 2020; 9:49392. [PMID: 32228854 PMCID: PMC7108862 DOI: 10.7554/elife.49392] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2019] [Accepted: 03/12/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Current xenogeneic mouse models cannot evaluate on-target off-tumor adverse effect, hindering the development of chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell therapies for solid tumors, due to limited human/mouse cross-reactivity of antibodies used in CAR and sever graft-versus-host disease induced by administered human T cells. We have evaluated safety and antitumor efficacy of CAR-T cells targeting glypican-1 (GPC1) overexpressed in various solid tumors. GPC1-specific human and murine CAR-T cells generated from our original anti-human/mouse GPC1 antibody showed strong antitumor effects in xenogeneic and syngeneic mouse models, respectively. Importantly, the murine CAR-T cells enhanced endogenous T cell responses against a non-GPC1 tumor antigen through the mechanism of antigen-spreading and showed synergistic antitumor effects with anti-PD-1 antibody without any adverse effects in syngeneic models. Our study shows the potential of GPC1 as a CAR-T cell target for solid tumors and the importance of syngeneic and xenogeneic models for evaluating their safety and efficacy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daiki Kato
- Division of Cellular Signaling, Institute for Advanced Medical Research, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.,Laboratory of Veterinary Surgery, Graduate school of agricultural and life sciences, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Tomonori Yaguchi
- Division of Cellular Signaling, Institute for Advanced Medical Research, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Takashi Iwata
- Division of Cellular Signaling, Institute for Advanced Medical Research, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Yuki Katoh
- Division of Cellular Signaling, Institute for Advanced Medical Research, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Kenji Morii
- Division of Cellular Signaling, Institute for Advanced Medical Research, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Kinya Tsubota
- Division of Cellular Signaling, Institute for Advanced Medical Research, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.,Department of Ophthalmology, Tokyo Medical University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Yoshiaki Takise
- Division of Cellular Signaling, Institute for Advanced Medical Research, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Masaki Tamiya
- Division of Cellular Signaling, Institute for Advanced Medical Research, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Haruhiko Kamada
- Center for Drug Design Research, National Institute of Biomedical Innovation, Health and Nutrition, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Hiroki Akiba
- Center for Drug Design Research, National Institute of Biomedical Innovation, Health and Nutrition, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Kouhei Tsumoto
- Center for Drug Design Research, National Institute of Biomedical Innovation, Health and Nutrition, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Satoshi Serada
- Center for Intractable Immune Disease, Kochi Medical School, Kochi University, Kochi, Japan
| | - Tetsuji Naka
- Center for Intractable Immune Disease, Kochi Medical School, Kochi University, Kochi, Japan
| | - Ryohei Nishimura
- Laboratory of Veterinary Surgery, Graduate school of agricultural and life sciences, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Takayuki Nakagawa
- Laboratory of Veterinary Surgery, Graduate school of agricultural and life sciences, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Yutaka Kawakami
- Division of Cellular Signaling, Institute for Advanced Medical Research, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.,Department of immunology, School of Medicine, International University of Health and Welfare, Tokyo, Japan
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62
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Azeem W, Bakke RM, Appel S, Øyan AM, Kalland KH. Dual Pro- and Anti-Inflammatory Features of Monocyte-Derived Dendritic Cells. Front Immunol 2020; 11:438. [PMID: 32292402 PMCID: PMC7120039 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2020.00438] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2019] [Accepted: 02/25/2020] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
The transcription factor β-catenin is able to induce tolerogenic/anti-inflammatory features in different types of dendritic cells (DCs). Monocyte-derived dendritic cells (moDCs) have been widely used in dendritic cell-based cancer therapy, but so far with limited clinical efficacy. We wanted to investigate the hypothesis that aberrant differentiation or induction of dual pro- and anti-inflammatory features may be β-catenin dependent in moDCs. β-catenin was detectable in both immature and lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated DCs. The β-catenin inhibitor ICG-001 dose-dependently increased the pro-inflammatory signature cytokine IL-12p70 and decreased the anti-inflammatory signature molecule IL-10. The β-catenin activator 6-bromoindirubin-3′-oxime (6-BIO) dose-dependently increased total and nuclear β-catenin, and this was associated with decreased IL-12p70, increased IL-10, and reduced surface expression of activation markers, such as CD80 and CD86, and increased expression of inhibitory markers, such as PD-L1. 6-BIO and ICG-001 competed dose-dependently regarding these features. Genome-wide mRNA expression analyses further underscored the dual development of pro- and anti-inflammatory features of LPS-matured moDCs and suggest a role for β-catenin inhibition in production of more potent therapeutic moDCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Waqas Azeem
- Department of Microbiology, Haukeland University Hospital, Helse Bergen, Bergen, Norway.,Department of Clinical Science, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
| | - Ragnhild Maukon Bakke
- Department of Microbiology, Haukeland University Hospital, Helse Bergen, Bergen, Norway
| | - Silke Appel
- Department of Clinical Science, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway.,Broegelmann Research Laboratory, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
| | - Anne Margrete Øyan
- Department of Clinical Science, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway.,Department of Immunology and Transfusion Medicine, Haukeland University Hospital, Helse Bergen, Bergen, Norway
| | - Karl-Henning Kalland
- Department of Microbiology, Haukeland University Hospital, Helse Bergen, Bergen, Norway.,Department of Clinical Science, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway.,Norway Centre for Cancer Biomarkers, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
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63
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Goldsberry WN, Meza-Perez S, Londoño AI, Katre AA, Mott BT, Roane BM, Goel N, Wall JA, Cooper SJ, Norian LA, Randall TD, Birrer MJ, Arend RC. Inhibiting WNT Ligand Production for Improved Immune Recognition in the Ovarian Tumor Microenvironment. Cancers (Basel) 2020; 12:cancers12030766. [PMID: 32213921 PMCID: PMC7140065 DOI: 10.3390/cancers12030766] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2020] [Revised: 03/18/2020] [Accepted: 03/19/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
In ovarian cancer, upregulation of the Wnt/β–catenin pathway leads to chemoresistance and correlates with T cell exclusion from the tumor microenvironment (TME). Our objectives were to validate these findings in an independent cohort of ovarian cancer subjects and determine whether inhibiting the Wnt pathway in a syngeneic ovarian cancer murine model could create a more T-cell-inflamed TME, which would lead to decreased tumor growth and improved survival. We preformed RNA sequencing in a cohort of human high grade serous ovarian carcinoma subjects. We used CGX1321, an inhibitor to the porcupine (PORCN) enzyme that is necessary for secretion of WNT ligand, in mice with established ID8 tumors, a murine ovarian cancer cell line. In order to investigate the effect of decreased Wnt/β–catenin pathway activity in the dendritic cells (DCs), we injected ID8 cells in mice that lacked β–catenin specifically in DCs. Furthermore, to understand how much the effects of blocking the Wnt/β–catenin pathway are dependent on CD8+ T cells, we injected ID8 cells into mice with CD8+ T cell depletion. We confirmed a negative correlation between Wnt activity and T cell signature in our cohort. Decreasing WNT ligand production resulted in increases in T cell, macrophage and dendritic cell functions, decreased tumor burden and improved survival. Reduced tumor growth was found in mice that lacked β–catenin specifically in DCs. When CD8+ T cells were depleted, CGX1321 treatment did not have the same magnitude of effect on tumor growth. Our investigation confirmed an increase in Wnt activity correlated with a decreased T-cell-inflamed environment; a relationship that was further supported in our pre-clinical model that suggests inhibiting the Wnt/β–catenin pathway was associated with decreased tumor growth and improved survival via a partial dependence on CD8+ T cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Whitney N. Goldsberry
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA; (A.I.L.); (A.A.K.); (B.T.M.); (B.M.R.); (N.G.); (J.A.W.); (M.J.B.); (R.C.A.)
- Correspondence:
| | - Selene Meza-Perez
- Division of Immunology & Rheumatology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA; (S.M.-P.); (T.D.R.)
| | - Angelina I. Londoño
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA; (A.I.L.); (A.A.K.); (B.T.M.); (B.M.R.); (N.G.); (J.A.W.); (M.J.B.); (R.C.A.)
| | - Ashwini A. Katre
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA; (A.I.L.); (A.A.K.); (B.T.M.); (B.M.R.); (N.G.); (J.A.W.); (M.J.B.); (R.C.A.)
| | - Bryan T. Mott
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA; (A.I.L.); (A.A.K.); (B.T.M.); (B.M.R.); (N.G.); (J.A.W.); (M.J.B.); (R.C.A.)
| | - Brandon M. Roane
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA; (A.I.L.); (A.A.K.); (B.T.M.); (B.M.R.); (N.G.); (J.A.W.); (M.J.B.); (R.C.A.)
| | - Nidhi Goel
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA; (A.I.L.); (A.A.K.); (B.T.M.); (B.M.R.); (N.G.); (J.A.W.); (M.J.B.); (R.C.A.)
| | - Jaclyn A. Wall
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA; (A.I.L.); (A.A.K.); (B.T.M.); (B.M.R.); (N.G.); (J.A.W.); (M.J.B.); (R.C.A.)
| | - Sara J. Cooper
- HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology, Huntsville, AL 35806, USA;
| | - Lyse A. Norian
- Department of Nutrition Sciences, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA;
- O’Neal Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
| | - Troy D. Randall
- Division of Immunology & Rheumatology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA; (S.M.-P.); (T.D.R.)
- O’Neal Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
| | - Michael J. Birrer
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA; (A.I.L.); (A.A.K.); (B.T.M.); (B.M.R.); (N.G.); (J.A.W.); (M.J.B.); (R.C.A.)
- O’Neal Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
| | - Rebecca C. Arend
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA; (A.I.L.); (A.A.K.); (B.T.M.); (B.M.R.); (N.G.); (J.A.W.); (M.J.B.); (R.C.A.)
- O’Neal Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
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64
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Routh ED, Pullikuth AK, Jin G, Chifman J, Chou JW, D'Agostino RB, Seino KI, Wada H, Print CG, Zhang W, Lu Y, Miller LD. Transcriptomic Features of T Cell-Barren Tumors Are Conserved Across Diverse Tumor Types. Front Immunol 2020; 11:57. [PMID: 32117236 PMCID: PMC7031496 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2020.00057] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2019] [Accepted: 01/09/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Understanding how tumors subvert immune destruction is essential to the development of cancer immunotherapies. New evidence suggests that tumors limit anti-tumor immunity by exploiting transcriptional programs that regulate intratumoral trafficking and accumulation of effector cells. Here, we investigated the gene expression profiles that distinguish immunologically “cold” and “hot” tumors across diverse tumor types. Methods: RNAseq profiles of tumors (n = 8,920) representing 23 solid tumor types were analyzed using immune gene signatures that quantify CD8+ T cell abundance. Genes and pathways associated with a low CD8+ T cell infiltration profile (CD8-Low) were identified by correlation, differential expression, and statistical ranking methods. Gene subsets were evaluated in immunotherapy treatment cohorts and functionally characterized in cell lines and mouse tumor models. Results: Among different cancer types, we observed highly significant overlap of genes enriched in CD8-Low tumors, which included known immunomodulatory genes (e.g., BMP7, CMTM4, KDM5B, RCOR2) and exhibited significant associations with Wnt signaling, neurogenesis, cell-cell junctions, lipid biosynthesis, epidermal development, and cancer-testis antigens. Analysis of mutually exclusive gene clusters demonstrated that different transcriptional programs may converge on the T cell-cold phenotype as well as predict for response and survival of patients to Nivo treatment. Furthermore, we confirmed that a top-ranking candidate belonging to the TGF-β superfamily, BMP7, negatively regulates CD8+ T cell abundance in immunocompetent murine tumor models, with and without anti-PD-L1 treatment. Conclusions: This study presents the first evidence that solid tumors of diverse anatomical origin acquire conserved transcriptional alterations that may be operative in the T cell-cold state. Our findings demonstrate the potential clinical utility of CD8-Low tumor-associated genes for predicting patient immunotherapy outcomes and point to novel mechanisms with potential for broad therapeutic exploitation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eric D Routh
- Department of Cancer Biology, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, United States
| | - Ashok K Pullikuth
- Department of Cancer Biology, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, United States
| | - Guangxu Jin
- Department of Cancer Biology, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, United States.,Wake Forest Baptist Comprehensive Cancer Center, Winston-Salem, NC, United States
| | - Julia Chifman
- Department of Mathematics and Statistics, American University, Washington, DC, United States
| | - Jeff W Chou
- Department of Biostatistical Sciences, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, United States
| | - Ralph B D'Agostino
- Wake Forest Baptist Comprehensive Cancer Center, Winston-Salem, NC, United States.,Department of Biostatistical Sciences, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, United States
| | - Ken-Ichiro Seino
- Department of Immunobiology, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Haruka Wada
- Department of Immunobiology, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Cristin G Print
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Pathology, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand.,Maurice Wilkins Centre for Molecular Biodiscovery, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Wei Zhang
- Department of Cancer Biology, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, United States.,Wake Forest Baptist Comprehensive Cancer Center, Winston-Salem, NC, United States
| | - Yong Lu
- Wake Forest Baptist Comprehensive Cancer Center, Winston-Salem, NC, United States.,Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, United States
| | - Lance D Miller
- Department of Cancer Biology, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, United States.,Wake Forest Baptist Comprehensive Cancer Center, Winston-Salem, NC, United States
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65
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Immune-resistant mechanisms in cancer immunotherapy. Int J Clin Oncol 2020; 25:810-817. [PMID: 31919690 DOI: 10.1007/s10147-019-01611-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2019] [Accepted: 12/23/2019] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) such as PD-1/PD-L1 antibodies (Abs) and CTLA4 Abs and T cell-based adoptive cell therapies are effective for patients with various cancers. However, response rates of ICI monotherapies are still limited due to lack of immunogenic antigens and various immune-resistant mechanisms. The latter includes adaptive immune resistance that is caused by anti-tumor T cells (e.g. PD-L1 induced by IFN-γ from T cells) and primary immune resistance that is caused by cancer cells (e.g. immunosuppressive cytokines produced by cancer cells). Further understanding of the immune-resistant mechanisms, which may be possible through comparative analyses of responders and non-responders to the immunotherapies, will lead to the identification of new diagnostic biomarkers and therapeutic targets for development of effective cancer immuno therapies.
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66
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Kobayashi Y, Lim SO, Yamaguchi H. Oncogenic signaling pathways associated with immune evasion and resistance to immune checkpoint inhibitors in cancer. Semin Cancer Biol 2019; 65:51-64. [PMID: 31874279 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcancer.2019.11.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2019] [Revised: 11/03/2019] [Accepted: 11/15/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) are novel class of anti-cancer drugs that exhibit significant therapeutic effects even in patients with advanced-stage cancer. However, the efficacy of ICIs is limited due to resistance. Therefore, appropriate biomarkers to select patients who are likely to respond to these drugs as well as combination therapy to overcome the resistance are urgently necessary. Cancer is caused by various genetic alterations that lead to abnormalities in oncogenic signaling pathways. The aberrant oncogenic signaling pathways serve as not only prognostic and predictive biomarkers, but also targets for molecularly targeted therapy. Growing evidence shows that the aberrant oncogenic signaling pathways in cancer cells facilitate the resistance to ICIs by modulating the regulation of immune checkpoint and cancer immune surveillance. Indeed, it has been demonstrated that some molecular targeted therapies significantly improve the efficacy of ICIs in preclinical and clinical studies. In this review, we highlighted several oncogenic signaling pathways including receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs), MAPK, PI3K-AKT-mTOR, JAK-STAT, Hippo, and Wnt pathways, and summarized the recent findings of the mechanisms underlying the regulation of cancer immunity and the ICI resistance induced by these aberrant oncogenic signaling pathways in cancer cells. Moreover, we discussed potential combination therapies with ICIs and molecularly targeted drugs to overcome the resistance and increase the efficacy of ICIs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yoshie Kobayashi
- Cancer Research Center, Qatar Biomedical Research Institute (QBRI), Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU), Qatar Foundation (QF), PO Box 34110, Doha, Qatar
| | - Seung-Oe Lim
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, 47907, USA
| | - Hirohito Yamaguchi
- Cancer Research Center, Qatar Biomedical Research Institute (QBRI), Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU), Qatar Foundation (QF), PO Box 34110, Doha, Qatar.
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67
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DeVito NC, Plebanek MP, Theivanthiran B, Hanks BA. Role of Tumor-Mediated Dendritic Cell Tolerization in Immune Evasion. Front Immunol 2019; 10:2876. [PMID: 31921140 PMCID: PMC6914818 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2019.02876] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2019] [Accepted: 11/22/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The vast majority of cancer-related deaths are due to metastasis, a process that requires evasion of the host immune system. In addition, a significant percentage of cancer patients do not benefit from our current immunotherapy arsenal due to either primary or secondary immunotherapy resistance. Importantly, select subsets of dendritic cells (DCs) have been shown to be indispensable for generating responses to checkpoint inhibitor immunotherapy. These observations are consistent with the critical role of DCs in antigen cross-presentation and the generation of effective anti-tumor immunity. Therefore, the evolution of efficient tumor-extrinsic mechanisms to modulate DCs is expected to be a potent strategy to escape immunosurveillance and various immunotherapy strategies. Despite this critical role, little is known regarding the methods by which cancers subvert DC function. Herein, we focus on those select mechanisms utilized by developing cancers to co-opt and tolerize local DC populations. We discuss the reported mechanisms utilized by cancers to induce DC tolerization in the tumor microenvironment, describing various parallels between the evolution of these mechanisms and the process of mesenchymal transformation involved in tumorigenesis and metastasis, and we highlight strategies to reverse these mechanisms in order to enhance the efficacy of the currently available checkpoint inhibitor immunotherapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas C. DeVito
- Division of Medical Oncology, Department of Medicine, Duke Cancer Institute, Durham, NC, United States
| | - Michael P. Plebanek
- Division of Medical Oncology, Department of Medicine, Duke Cancer Institute, Durham, NC, United States
| | - Bala Theivanthiran
- Division of Medical Oncology, Department of Medicine, Duke Cancer Institute, Durham, NC, United States
| | - Brent A. Hanks
- Division of Medical Oncology, Department of Medicine, Duke Cancer Institute, Durham, NC, United States
- Department of Pharmacology and Cancer Biology, Duke University, Durham, NC, United States
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68
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Yang L, Li A, Lei Q, Zhang Y. Tumor-intrinsic signaling pathways: key roles in the regulation of the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment. J Hematol Oncol 2019; 12:125. [PMID: 31775797 PMCID: PMC6880373 DOI: 10.1186/s13045-019-0804-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 114] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2019] [Accepted: 10/02/2019] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Immunotherapy is a currently popular treatment strategy for cancer patients. Although recent developments in cancer immunotherapy have had significant clinical impact, only a subset of patients exhibits clinical response. Therefore, understanding the molecular mechanisms of immunotherapy resistance is necessary. The mechanisms of immune escape appear to consist of two distinct tumor characteristics: a decrease in effective immunocyte infiltration and function and the accumulation of immunosuppressive cells in the tumor microenvironment. Several host-derived factors may also contribute to immune escape. Moreover, inter-patient heterogeneity predominantly results from differences in somatic mutations between cancers, which has led to the hypothesis that differential activation of specific tumor-intrinsic pathways may explain the phenomenon of immune exclusion in a subset of cancers. Increasing evidence has also shown that tumor-intrinsic signaling plays a key role in regulating the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment and tumor immune escape. Therefore, understanding the mechanisms underlying immune avoidance mediated by tumor-intrinsic signaling may help identify new therapeutic targets for expanding the efficacy of cancer immunotherapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Li Yang
- Biotherapy Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, 450052, People's Republic of China.,Cancer Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, 450052, People's Republic of China.,Henan Key Laboratory for Tumor Immunology and Biotherapy, Zhengzhou, Henan, 450052, People's Republic of China
| | - Aitian Li
- Biotherapy Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, 450052, People's Republic of China.,Cancer Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, 450052, People's Republic of China.,Henan Key Laboratory for Tumor Immunology and Biotherapy, Zhengzhou, Henan, 450052, People's Republic of China
| | - Qingyang Lei
- Biotherapy Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, 450052, People's Republic of China.,Cancer Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, 450052, People's Republic of China.,Henan Key Laboratory for Tumor Immunology and Biotherapy, Zhengzhou, Henan, 450052, People's Republic of China
| | - Yi Zhang
- Biotherapy Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, 450052, People's Republic of China. .,Cancer Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, 450052, People's Republic of China. .,School of Life Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, 450001, People's Republic of China. .,Henan Key Laboratory for Tumor Immunology and Biotherapy, Zhengzhou, Henan, 450052, People's Republic of China.
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69
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Approaches to treat immune hot, altered and cold tumours with combination immunotherapies. Nat Rev Drug Discov 2019; 18:197-218. [PMID: 30610226 DOI: 10.1038/s41573-018-0007-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1922] [Impact Index Per Article: 384.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Immunotherapies are the most rapidly growing drug class and have a major impact in oncology and on human health. It is increasingly clear that the effectiveness of immunomodulatory strategies depends on the presence of a baseline immune response and on unleashing of pre-existing immunity. Therefore, a general consensus emerged on the central part played by effector T cells in the antitumour responses. Recent technological, analytical and mechanistic advances in immunology have enabled the identification of patients who are more likely to respond to immunotherapy. In this Review, we focus on defining hot, altered and cold tumours, the complexity of the tumour microenvironment, the Immunoscore and immune contexture of tumours, and we describe approaches to treat such tumours with combination immunotherapies, including checkpoint inhibitors. In the upcoming era of combination immunotherapy, it is becoming critical to understand the mechanisms responsible for hot, altered or cold immune tumours in order to boost a weak antitumour immunity. The impact of combination therapy on the immune response to convert an immune cold into a hot tumour will be discussed.
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70
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Sahin IH, Akce M, Alese O, Shaib W, Lesinski GB, El-Rayes B, Wu C. Immune checkpoint inhibitors for the treatment of MSI-H/MMR-D colorectal cancer and a perspective on resistance mechanisms. Br J Cancer 2019; 121:809-818. [PMID: 31607751 PMCID: PMC6889302 DOI: 10.1038/s41416-019-0599-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 225] [Impact Index Per Article: 45.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2019] [Revised: 09/01/2019] [Accepted: 09/16/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Metastatic colorectal cancer (CRC) with a mismatch repair-deficiency (MMR-D)/microsatellite instability-high (MSI-H) phenotype carries unique characteristics such as increased tumour mutational burden and tumour-infiltrating lymphocytes. Studies have shown a sustained clinical response to immune checkpoint inhibitors with dramatic clinical improvement in patients with MSI-H/MMR-D CRC. However, the observed response rates range between 30% and 50% suggesting the existence of intrinsic resistance mechanisms. Moreover, disease progression after an initial positive response to immune checkpoint inhibitor treatment points to acquired resistance mechanisms. In this review article, we discuss the clinical trials that established the efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitors in patients with MSI-H/MMR-D CRC, consider biomarkers of the immune response and elaborate on potential mechanisms related to intrinsic and acquired resistance. We also provide a perspective on possible future therapeutic approaches that might improve clinical outcomes, particularly in patients with actionable resistance mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ibrahim Halil Sahin
- Emory University School of Medicine, Winship Cancer Institute, Atlanta, USA.
| | - Mehmet Akce
- Emory University School of Medicine, Winship Cancer Institute, Atlanta, USA
| | - Olatunji Alese
- Emory University School of Medicine, Winship Cancer Institute, Atlanta, USA
| | - Walid Shaib
- Emory University School of Medicine, Winship Cancer Institute, Atlanta, USA
| | - Gregory B Lesinski
- Emory University School of Medicine, Winship Cancer Institute, Atlanta, USA
| | - Bassel El-Rayes
- Emory University School of Medicine, Winship Cancer Institute, Atlanta, USA
| | - Christina Wu
- Emory University School of Medicine, Winship Cancer Institute, Atlanta, USA
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71
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Dzobo K, Thomford NE, Senthebane DA. Targeting the Versatile Wnt/β-Catenin Pathway in Cancer Biology and Therapeutics: From Concept to Actionable Strategy. OMICS-A JOURNAL OF INTEGRATIVE BIOLOGY 2019; 23:517-538. [PMID: 31613700 DOI: 10.1089/omi.2019.0147] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
This expert review offers a critical synthesis of the latest insights and approaches at targeting the Wnt/β-catenin pathway in various cancers such as colorectal cancer, melanoma, leukemia, and breast and lung cancers. Notably, from organogenesis to cancer, the Wnt/β-catenin signaling displays varied and highly versatile biological functions in animals, with virtually all tissues requiring the Wnt/β-catenin signaling in one way or the other. Aberrant expression of the members of the Wnt/β-catenin has been implicated in many pathological conditions, particularly in human cancers. Mutations in the Wnt/β-catenin pathway genes have been noted in diverse cancers. Biochemical and genetic data support the idea that inhibition of Wnt/β-catenin signaling is beneficial in cancer therapeutics. The interaction of this important pathway with other signaling systems is also noteworthy, but remains as an area for further research and discovery. In addition, formation of different complexes by components of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway and the precise roles of these complexes in the cytoplasmic milieu are yet to be fully elucidated. This article highlights the latest medical technologies in imaging, single-cell omics, use of artificial intelligence (e.g., machine learning techniques), genome sequencing, quantum computing, molecular docking, and computational softwares in modeling interactions between molecules and predicting protein-protein and compound-protein interactions pertinent to the biology and therapeutic value of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway. We discuss these emerging technologies in relationship to what is currently needed to move from concept to actionable strategies in translating the Wnt/β-catenin laboratory discoveries to Wnt-targeted cancer therapies and diagnostics in the clinic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kevin Dzobo
- International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB), Cape Town, South Africa.,Division of Medical Biochemistry and Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, Department of Integrative Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Nicholas Ekow Thomford
- Pharmacogenetics Research Group, Division of Human Genetics, Department of Pathology and Institute of Infectious Diseases and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Dimakatso A Senthebane
- International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB), Cape Town, South Africa.,Division of Medical Biochemistry and Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, Department of Integrative Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
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72
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Abstract
'Immune checkpoint blockade' for cancer describes the use of therapeutic antibodies that disrupt negative immune regulatory checkpoints and unleash pre-existing antitumour immune responses. Antibodies targeting the checkpoint molecules cytotoxic T lymphocyte antigen 4 (CTLA4), programmed cell death 1 (PD1) and PD1 ligand 1 (PD-L1) have had early success in the clinic, which has led to approval by the US Food and Drug Administration of multiple agents in several cancer types. Yet, clinicians still have very limited tools to discriminate a priori patients who will and will not respond to treatment. This has fuelled a wave of research into the molecular mechanisms of tumour-intrinsic resistance to immune checkpoint blockade, leading to the rediscovery of biological processes critical to antitumour immunity, namely interferon signalling and antigen presentation. Other efforts have shed light on the immunological implications of canonical cancer signalling pathways, such as WNT-β-catenin signalling, cell cycle regulatory signalling, mitogen-activated protein kinase signalling and pathways activated by loss of the tumour suppressor phosphoinositide phosphatase PTEN. Here we review each of these molecular mechanisms of resistance and explore ongoing approaches to overcome resistance to immune checkpoint blockade and expand the spectrum of patients who can benefit from immune checkpoint blockade.
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73
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Li X, Xiang Y, Li F, Yin C, Li B, Ke X. WNT/β-Catenin Signaling Pathway Regulating T Cell-Inflammation in the Tumor Microenvironment. Front Immunol 2019; 10:2293. [PMID: 31616443 PMCID: PMC6775198 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2019.02293] [Citation(s) in RCA: 162] [Impact Index Per Article: 32.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2019] [Accepted: 09/11/2019] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Immunotherapy with checkpoint inhibitors has greatly prolonged the overall survival of cancer patients in melanoma and many other cancer types. However, only a subset of patients shows clinical responses from these interventions, which was predicated by the T cell-inflamed tumor microenvironment. T cell-inflamed phenotype is characterized by the infiltration of CD8+ T cells, CD8α/CD103-lineage dendritic cells (DCs), as well as high density of forkhead box P3 (FoxP3)+ regulatory T cells (Tregs) that are associated with the efficacy of immune checkpoint blockade. A number of regulators has been associated with T cell-inflammation in the tumor microenvironment, and WNT/β-catenin signaling is one of the best characterized. The tumor-intrinsic WNT/β-catenin signaling activation is frequently associated with poor spontaneous T cell infiltration across most human cancers. In this article, we review the essential roles of WNT/β-catenin signaling in the T cell-inflamed and non-T cell-inflamed tumor microenvironment, including the development and function of immune cells, activation of immune exclusion of tumor cells, and cancer immunosurveillance. We also discuss the impact of this pathway in driving the non-T cell-inflamed tumor microenvironment in other tumor types. To improve immunotherapy efficacy, we argue that targeting Wnt/β-catenin signaling should be a high priority for combinational cancer therapy to restore T cell infiltration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xin Li
- Department of Dermatology, Yueyang Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China.,Institute of Dermatology, Shanghai Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Yanwei Xiang
- Department of Dermatology, Yueyang Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Fulun Li
- Department of Dermatology, Yueyang Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Chengqian Yin
- Department of Pharmacology & Experimental Therapeutics, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Bin Li
- Department of Dermatology, Yueyang Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China.,Institute of Dermatology, Shanghai Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Xisong Ke
- Department of Dermatology, Yueyang Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China.,Center for Chemical Biology, Institute of Interdisciplinary Integrative Medicine Research, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
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74
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Goldsberry WN, Londoño A, Randall TD, Norian LA, Arend RC. A Review of the Role of Wnt in Cancer Immunomodulation. Cancers (Basel) 2019; 11:cancers11060771. [PMID: 31167446 PMCID: PMC6628296 DOI: 10.3390/cancers11060771] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2019] [Revised: 05/17/2019] [Accepted: 05/31/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Alterations in the Wnt signaling pathway are associated with the advancement of cancers; however, the exact mechanisms responsible remain largely unknown. It has recently been established that heightened intratumoral Wnt signaling correlates with tumor immunomodulation and immune suppression, which likely contribute to the decreased efficacy of multiple cancer therapeutics. Here, we review available literature pertaining to connections between Wnt pathway activation in the tumor microenvironment and local immunomodulation. We focus specifically on preclinical and clinical data supporting the hypothesis that strategies targeting Wnt signaling could act as adjuncts for cancer therapy, either in combination with chemotherapy or immunotherapy, in a variety of tumor types.
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Affiliation(s)
- Whitney N Goldsberry
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA.
| | - Angelina Londoño
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA.
| | - Troy D Randall
- Division of Immunology & Rheumatology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA.
| | - Lyse A Norian
- Department of Nutritional Sciences, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA.
| | - Rebecca C Arend
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA.
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75
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Zhongqi F, Xiaodong S, Yuguo C, Guoyue L. Can Combined Therapy Benefit Immune Checkpoint Blockade Response in Hepatocellular Carcinoma? Anticancer Agents Med Chem 2019; 19:222-228. [PMID: 30426903 DOI: 10.2174/1871520618666181114112431] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2017] [Revised: 05/24/2018] [Accepted: 06/20/2018] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Background:
Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common cancers with high mortality
rate. The effects of most therapies are limited. The Immune Checkpoint Blockade (ICB) improves the prognosis
in multiple malignancies. The application of immune checkpoint blockade to hepatocellular carcinoma
patients has recently started. Early phase clinical trials have shown some benefits to cancer patients.
Methods/Results:
This review focuses on the immune system of liver and clinical trials of ICB. In particular, we
analyze the mechanisms by which immune checkpoint blockade therapies can be used for the treatment of hepatocellular
carcinoma patients, then examine the factors in cancer resistance to the therapies and finally suggest
possible combination therapies for the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma patients.
Conclusion:
ICB is a promising therapy for advanced HCC patients. Combined therapy exhibits a great potential
to enhance ICB response in these patients. The better understanding of the factors influencing the sensitivity
of ICB and more clinical trials will consolidate the efficiency and minimize the adverse effects of ICB.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fan Zhongqi
- First Department of Hepatobiliary & Pancreas Surgery, The First Hospital, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin 130021, China
| | - Sun Xiaodong
- First Department of Hepatobiliary & Pancreas Surgery, The First Hospital, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin 130021, China
| | - Chen Yuguo
- First Department of Hepatobiliary & Pancreas Surgery, The First Hospital, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin 130021, China
| | - Lv Guoyue
- First Department of Hepatobiliary & Pancreas Surgery, The First Hospital, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin 130021, China
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76
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Osawa Y, Kojika E, Nishikawa K, Kimura M, Osakaya S, Miyauchi H, Kanto T, Kawakami Y, Kimura K. Programmed cell death ligand 1 (PD-L1) blockade attenuates metastatic colon cancer growth in cAMP-response element-binding protein (CREB)-binding protein (CBP)/β-catenin inhibitor-treated livers. Oncotarget 2019; 10:3013-3026. [PMID: 31105882 PMCID: PMC6508964 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.26892] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2018] [Accepted: 04/14/2019] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Immune checkpoint blockade with specific antibodies can accelerate anti-tumor immunity, resulting in clinical responses in patients with various types of cancer. However, these antibodies achieve only partial tumor regression. Thus, a wide variety of treatment combinations based on programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) pathway inhibition are under development to enhance such therapeutic effects. In this study, the effects of combination treatment using PRI-724, a selective inhibitor of CBP/β-catenin, and an anti-PD-L1 antibody were examined in a mouse model of colon cancer liver metastasis. Mice were inoculated with SL4 colon cancer cells to produce metastatic liver tumors. The combination treatment resulted in regression of tumor growth, whereas monotherapy with each treatment individually failed to exhibit any anti-tumor activity. In addition, co-administration of the inhibitor and antibody induced CD8+CD44lowCD62Llow cells and interferon (IFN)-γ production in CD8+ T-cells in the liver compared with that in control mice. Administration of an anti-CD8 antibody mitigated the anti-tumor effects of the combined treatment of PRI-724 and anti-PD-L1 antibody. In conclusion, targeting CBP/β-catenin, combined with PD-1/PD-L1 immune checkpoint blockade, shows potential as a new therapeutic strategy for treating liver metastasis during colon cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yosuke Osawa
- Department of Hepatology, Tokyo Metropolitan Cancer and Infectious Diseases Center Komagome Hospital, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8677, Japan.,The Research Center for Hepatitis and Immunology, National Center for Global Health and Medicine, Ichikawa 272-8516, Japan
| | - Ekumi Kojika
- Department of Hepatology, Tokyo Metropolitan Cancer and Infectious Diseases Center Komagome Hospital, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8677, Japan
| | - Koji Nishikawa
- Department of Hepatology, Tokyo Metropolitan Cancer and Infectious Diseases Center Komagome Hospital, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8677, Japan
| | - Masamichi Kimura
- Department of Hepatology, Tokyo Metropolitan Cancer and Infectious Diseases Center Komagome Hospital, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8677, Japan
| | - Shigenori Osakaya
- Department of Hepatology, Tokyo Metropolitan Cancer and Infectious Diseases Center Komagome Hospital, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8677, Japan
| | - Hiromi Miyauchi
- Department of Hepatology, Tokyo Metropolitan Cancer and Infectious Diseases Center Komagome Hospital, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8677, Japan
| | - Tatsuya Kanto
- The Research Center for Hepatitis and Immunology, National Center for Global Health and Medicine, Ichikawa 272-8516, Japan
| | - Yutaka Kawakami
- Division of Cellular Signaling, Institute for Advanced Medical Research, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo 160-8582, Japan
| | - Kiminori Kimura
- Department of Hepatology, Tokyo Metropolitan Cancer and Infectious Diseases Center Komagome Hospital, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8677, Japan
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77
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Stakheev D, Taborska P, Strizova Z, Podrazil M, Bartunkova J, Smrz D. The WNT/β-catenin signaling inhibitor XAV939 enhances the elimination of LNCaP and PC-3 prostate cancer cells by prostate cancer patient lymphocytes in vitro. Sci Rep 2019; 9:4761. [PMID: 30886380 PMCID: PMC6423115 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-41182-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2018] [Accepted: 02/28/2019] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Upregulated Wnt/β-catenin signaling is associated with increased cancer cell resistance and cancer cell-elicited immunosuppression. In non-neoplastic immune cells, upregulated Wnt/β-catenin is, however, associated with either immunosuppression or immunostimulation. Therefore, it is difficult to predict the therapeutic impact inhibitors of Wnt/β-catenin signaling will have when combined with cancer immunotherapy. Here, we evaluated the benefit(s) of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling inhibitor XAV939 in the in vitro elimination of LNCaP prostate cancer cells when cocultured with lymphocytes from patients with localized biochemically recurrent prostate cancer (BRPCa). We found that 5 µM XAV939 inhibited β-catenin translocation to the nucleus in LNCaP cells and CD4+ BRPCa lymphocytes without affecting their proliferation and viability. Preconditioning BRPCa lymphocytes with 5 µM XAV939 accelerated the elimination of LNCaP cells during the coculturing. However, during subsequent re-coculturing with fresh LNCaP cells, BRPCa lymphocytes were no longer able to eliminate LNCaP cells unless coculturing and re-coculturing were performed in the presence of 5 µM XAV939. Comparable results were obtained for PC-3 prostate cancer cells. These findings provide a rationale for combining cell-based immunotherapy of PCa with inhibitors of Wnt/β-catenin signaling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dmitry Stakheev
- Institute of Immunology, Charles University, 2nd Faculty of Medicine and Motol University Hospital, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Pavla Taborska
- Institute of Immunology, Charles University, 2nd Faculty of Medicine and Motol University Hospital, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Zuzana Strizova
- Institute of Immunology, Charles University, 2nd Faculty of Medicine and Motol University Hospital, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Michal Podrazil
- Institute of Immunology, Charles University, 2nd Faculty of Medicine and Motol University Hospital, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Jirina Bartunkova
- Institute of Immunology, Charles University, 2nd Faculty of Medicine and Motol University Hospital, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Daniel Smrz
- Institute of Immunology, Charles University, 2nd Faculty of Medicine and Motol University Hospital, Prague, Czech Republic.
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78
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Galluzzi L, Spranger S, Fuchs E, López-Soto A. WNT Signaling in Cancer Immunosurveillance. Trends Cell Biol 2019; 29:44-65. [PMID: 30220580 PMCID: PMC7001864 DOI: 10.1016/j.tcb.2018.08.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 150] [Impact Index Per Article: 30.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2018] [Accepted: 08/23/2018] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Deregulated WNT signaling has been shown to favor malignant transformation, tumor progression, and resistance to conventional cancer therapy in a variety of preclinical and clinical settings. Accumulating evidence suggests that aberrant WNT signaling may also subvert cancer immunosurveillance, hence promoting immunoevasion and resistance to multiple immunotherapeutics, including immune checkpoint blockers. Here, we discuss the molecular and cellular mechanisms through which WNT signaling influences cancer immunosurveillance and present potential therapeutic avenues to harness currently available WNT modulators for cancer immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lorenzo Galluzzi
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY 10065, USA; Sandra and Edward Meyer Cancer Center, New York, NY 10065, USA; Université Paris Descartes/Paris V, 75006 Paris, France.
| | - Stefani Spranger
- The Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA; Department of Biology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Elaine Fuchs
- Robin Chemers Neustein Laboratory of Mammalian Cell Biology and Development, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY 10065, USA; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Alejandro López-Soto
- Departamento de Biología Funcional, Área de Inmunología, Universidad de Oviedo. Instituto Universitario de Oncología del Principado de Asturias (IUOPA), 33006 Oviedo, Spain; Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria del Principado de Asturias (IISPA), 33011 Oviedo, Asturias, Spain.
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79
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Inozume T, Tsunoda T, Morisaki T, Harada K, Shirasawa S, Kawamura T. Acquisition of resistance to vemurafenib leads to interleukin-10 production through an aberrant activation of Akt in a melanoma cell line. J Dermatol 2018; 45:1434-1439. [PMID: 30222203 DOI: 10.1111/1346-8138.14651] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2018] [Accepted: 08/14/2018] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
Serine/threonine-protein kinase B-Raf (BRAF) inhibitors are very effective in treating melanoma with BRAF mutations. BRAF inhibitors suppress aberrant growth of melanoma cells caused by BRAF mutations. BRAF mutations reportedly result in melanoma cells releasing immunosuppressive factors, and BRAF inhibitors elicit anti-melanoma immune responses by reducing such factors. However, immunological characteristics of tumor cells that acquire resistance to BRAF inhibitors remain unknown. Here, we compared immunological characteristics between a melanoma cell line and its vemurafenib-resistant subline. No differences were observed in the status of BRAF mutations, expression of surface molecules related to antitumor T-cell responses or recognition by human leukocyte antigen-A*0201-matched melanoma-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes in a short-term co-culture assay. However, resistant tumor cells released high amounts of interleukin-10 depending on aberrant activation of Akt signaling, and dendritic cell functions were considerably suppressed by culture supernatants of the resistant cells. Our findings demonstrated a novel immunological mechanism contributing to tumor growth owing to drug resistance to BRAF inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takashi Inozume
- Department of Dermatology, University of Yamanashi, Yamanashi, Japan
| | - Toshiyuki Tsunoda
- Department of Cell Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Fukuoka University, Fukuoka, Japan
| | | | - Kazutoshi Harada
- Depaertment of Dermatology, Tokyo Medical University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Seiji Shirasawa
- Department of Cell Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Fukuoka University, Fukuoka, Japan
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80
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Abstract
β-Catenin is essential for embryonic development and required for cell renewal/regeneration in adult life. Cellular β-catenin exists in three different pools: membranous, cytoplasmic and nuclear. In this review, we focus on functions of the nuclear pool in relation to tumorigenesis. In the nucleus, beta-catenin functions as both activator and repressor of transcription in a context-dependent manner. It promotes cell proliferation and supports tumour growth by enhancing angiogenesis. β-Catenin-mediated signalling regulates cancer cell metabolism and is associated with tumour-initiating cells in multiple malignancies. In addition, it functions as both pro- and anti-apoptotic factor besides acting to inhibit recruitment of inflammatory anti-tumour T-cells. Thus, β-catenin appears to possess a multifaceted nuclear function that may significantly impact tumour initiation and progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raju Kumar
- Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, Centre for DNA Fingerprinting and Diagnostics, Hyderabad, India
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81
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Schinzari V, Timperi E, Pecora G, Palmucci F, Gallerano D, Grimaldi A, Covino DA, Guglielmo N, Melandro F, Manzi E, Sagnotta A, Lancellotti F, Sacco L, Chirletti P, Grazi GL, Rossi M, Barnaba V. Wnt3a/β-Catenin Signaling Conditions Differentiation of Partially Exhausted T-effector Cells in Human Cancers. Cancer Immunol Res 2018; 6:941-952. [PMID: 30018041 DOI: 10.1158/2326-6066.cir-17-0712] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2017] [Revised: 03/26/2018] [Accepted: 06/12/2018] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Valeria Schinzari
- Dipartimento di Medicina Interna e Specialità Mediche, "Sapienza" Università di Roma, Policlinico Umberto I, Rome, Italy
| | - Eleonora Timperi
- Dipartimento di Medicina Interna e Specialità Mediche, "Sapienza" Università di Roma, Policlinico Umberto I, Rome, Italy
| | - Giulia Pecora
- Dipartimento di Medicina Interna e Specialità Mediche, "Sapienza" Università di Roma, Policlinico Umberto I, Rome, Italy
| | - Francesco Palmucci
- Dipartimento di Medicina Interna e Specialità Mediche, "Sapienza" Università di Roma, Policlinico Umberto I, Rome, Italy
| | - Daniela Gallerano
- Dipartimento di Medicina Interna e Specialità Mediche, "Sapienza" Università di Roma, Policlinico Umberto I, Rome, Italy
| | - Alessio Grimaldi
- Dipartimento di Medicina Interna e Specialità Mediche, "Sapienza" Università di Roma, Policlinico Umberto I, Rome, Italy
| | - Daniela Angela Covino
- Dipartimento di Medicina Interna e Specialità Mediche, "Sapienza" Università di Roma, Policlinico Umberto I, Rome, Italy
| | - Nicola Guglielmo
- Dipartimento di Chirurgia Generale e Trapianti d'Organo, "Sapienza" Università di Roma, Policlinico Umberto I, Rome, Italy
| | - Fabio Melandro
- Dipartimento di Chirurgia Generale e Trapianti d'Organo, "Sapienza" Università di Roma, Policlinico Umberto I, Rome, Italy
| | - Emy Manzi
- Chirurgia Epato-Bilio-Pancreatica, Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori "Regina Elena," Rome, Italy
| | - Andrea Sagnotta
- Chirurgia Epato-Bilio-Pancreatica, Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori "Regina Elena," Rome, Italy
- Dipartimento di Scienze Medico-Chirurgiche e Medicina Traslazionale, "Sapienza" Università di Roma, Azienda Ospedaliera Sant'Andrea, Rome, Italy
| | - Francesco Lancellotti
- Dipartimento di Scienze Chirurgiche, "Sapienza" Università di Roma, Policlinico Umberto I, Rome, Italy
| | - Luca Sacco
- Dipartimento di Scienze Chirurgiche, "Sapienza" Università di Roma, Policlinico Umberto I, Rome, Italy
| | - Piero Chirletti
- Dipartimento di Scienze Chirurgiche, "Sapienza" Università di Roma, Policlinico Umberto I, Rome, Italy
| | - Gian Luca Grazi
- Chirurgia Epato-Bilio-Pancreatica, Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori "Regina Elena," Rome, Italy
| | - Massimo Rossi
- Dipartimento di Chirurgia Generale e Trapianti d'Organo, "Sapienza" Università di Roma, Policlinico Umberto I, Rome, Italy
| | - Vincenzo Barnaba
- Dipartimento di Medicina Interna e Specialità Mediche, "Sapienza" Università di Roma, Policlinico Umberto I, Rome, Italy.
- Pasteur-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Rome, Italy
- Center for Life Nano Science, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Rome, Italy
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82
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Cross-Talk between Wnt and Hh Signaling Pathways in the Pathology of Basal Cell Carcinoma. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2018; 15:ijerph15071442. [PMID: 29987229 PMCID: PMC6069411 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph15071442] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2018] [Revised: 07/05/2018] [Accepted: 07/05/2018] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is the most frequently occurring form of all cancers. The cost of care for BCC is one of the highest for all cancers in the Medicare population in the United States. Activation of Hedgehog (Hh) signaling pathway appears to be a key driver of BCC development. Studies involving mouse models have provided evidence that activation of the glioma-associated oncogene (GLI) family of transcription factors is a key step in the initiation of the tumorigenic program leading to BCC. Activation of the Wnt pathway is also observed in BCCs. In addition, the Wnt signaling pathway has been shown to be required in Hh pathway-driven development of BCC in a mouse model. Cross-talks between Wnt and Hh pathways have been observed at different levels, yet the mechanisms of these cross-talks are not fully understood. In this review, we examine the mechanism of cross-talk between Wnt and Hh signaling in BCC development and its potential relevance for treatment. Recent studies have identified insulin-like growth factor 2 mRNA-binding protein 1 (IGF2BP1), a direct target of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling, as the factor that binds to GLI1 mRNA and upregulates its levels and activities. This mode of regulation of GLI1 appears important in BCC tumorigenesis and could be explored in the treatment of BCCs.
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83
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Xie K, Xu L, Wu H, Liao H, Luo L, Liao M, Gong J, Deng Y, Yuan K, Wu H, Zeng Y. OX40 expression in hepatocellular carcinoma is associated with a distinct immune microenvironment, specific mutation signature, and poor prognosis. Oncoimmunology 2018; 7:e1404214. [PMID: 29632718 DOI: 10.1080/2162402x.2017.1404214] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2017] [Revised: 11/04/2017] [Accepted: 11/06/2017] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Immunotherapy's effect against hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is hampered by immunosuppressive mechanisms in the tumor microenvironment. We assessed the clinicopathologic and biologic relevance of OX40, a costimulatory molecular expressed by regulatory T cells (Tregs), in HCC. We analyzed the immunohistochemistry data of 316 patients treated at West China Hospital (WCH) and the RNA sequencing data of 370 patients in The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) to determine the clinicopathologic significance of OX40 in HCC. We also assessed associations between OX40 and multiple immune-related markers. Using the TCGA data, we further characterized the transcriptome, immune cell functions, and mutation signature related to OX40. We found that OX40 expression was higher in HCC than in adjacent liver tissue. In the WCH set, 136 (43%) patients had high-OX40 expression, whereas in the TCGA set, 247 (67%) patients had high-OX40 expression as determined by the X-tile program. High-OX40 expression was associated with high serum alpha-fetoprotein level, vascular invasion, and shorter survival. The prognostic significance of OX40 was validated in additional cohorts. OX40 expression was also associated with CD8A, CD68, LAG3, TIM-3, and PD-1 expression. High-OX40 expression tumors were characterized by upregulated cytokines and exhaustion-specific markers. Analysis of the enrichment data of immune cell types indicated that OX40 expression was associated with the functions of macrophages, plasmacytoid dendritic cells, and co-inhibitory T cells. Finally, high-and low-OX40 expressions were associated with mutations in AKT/mTOR and Wnt/β-catenin signaling, respectively. These results indicate that high-OX40 expression represents the activation of multiple immunosuppressive pathways and provide a rationale for the therapeutic targeting OX40 in HCC patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kunlin Xie
- Department of Liver Surgery & Liver Transplantation, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Lin Xu
- Laboratory of Liver Surgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Hao Wu
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical university, Chongqing, China
| | - Haotian Liao
- Department of Liver Surgery & Liver Transplantation, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Lin Luo
- Department of Liver Surgery & Liver Transplantation, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Mingheng Liao
- Department of Liver Surgery & Liver Transplantation, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Jianping Gong
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical university, Chongqing, China
| | - Yang Deng
- Department of Surgery, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Kefei Yuan
- Laboratory of Liver Surgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Hong Wu
- Department of Liver Surgery & Liver Transplantation, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China.,Laboratory of Liver Surgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Yong Zeng
- Department of Liver Surgery & Liver Transplantation, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China.,Laboratory of Liver Surgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
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84
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Ma X, Zhao X, Yan W, Yang J, Zhao X, Zhang H, Hui Y, Zhang S. Tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes are associated with β-catenin overexpression in breast cancer. Cancer Biomark 2018; 21:639-650. [PMID: 29286921 PMCID: PMC5859492 DOI: 10.3233/cbm-170708] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Inhibition of lymphocytes infiltration and activity may impair antitumor immune response and limit treatment responsiveness. Wnt/β-catenin pathway has been suggested to contribute to immune evasion in tumor by suppressing the function of immune cells and excluding T cell infiltration. However, the effects of Wnt/β-catenin on TILs recruitment remain controversial. OBJECTIVE We aimed to investigate whether intratumoral Wnt/β-catenin signaling could affect the lymphocyte infiltration in breast cancer. METHODS The distribution of stromal TILs, CD8+ and FOXP3+ TIL subsets, and the expression of β-catenin were separately assessed on consecutive sections of 96 breast cancer specimens. RESULTS Both stromal infiltrated TILs and β-catenin expression were upregulated in hormone receptor negative HER2-enriched and TNBC subtypes. Furthermore, high levels of stromal TILs as well as CD8+ or FOXP3+ TIL subsets were associated with β-catenin overexpression by breast cancer, respectively. CONCLUSIONS For the first time, we demonstrated that rather than excluding lymphocytes infiltration as reported in mela-noma, high levels of TILs were associated with β-catenin overexpression in BC. Wnt/β-catenin signaling may play a critical role in BC immunity, particularly in HER2-enriched and triple negative BC, and may serve as a potential target for regulating immune infiltrates in breast cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xingcong Ma
- Department of Oncology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710004, Shaanxi, China
| | - Xiaoyao Zhao
- Department of Oncology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710004, Shaanxi, China
| | - Wanjun Yan
- Department of Oncology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710004, Shaanxi, China
| | - Jun Yang
- Department of Pathology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710004, Shaanxi, China
| | - Xixi Zhao
- Department of Oncology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710004, Shaanxi, China
| | - Hong Zhang
- Department of Oncology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710004, Shaanxi, China
| | - Yuxin Hui
- School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Hunan University of Chinese Medicine, Changsha 410208, Hunan, China
| | - Shuqun Zhang
- Department of Oncology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710004, Shaanxi, China
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85
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Chemical Modulation of WNT Signaling in Cancer. PROGRESS IN MOLECULAR BIOLOGY AND TRANSLATIONAL SCIENCE 2018; 153:245-269. [DOI: 10.1016/bs.pmbts.2017.11.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
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86
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NSD1 inactivation defines an immune cold, DNA hypomethylated subtype in squamous cell carcinoma. Sci Rep 2017; 7:17064. [PMID: 29213088 PMCID: PMC5719078 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-17298-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2017] [Accepted: 11/22/2017] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Chromatin modifying enzymes are frequently mutated in cancer, resulting in widespread epigenetic deregulation. Recent reports indicate that inactivating mutations in the histone methyltransferase NSD1 define an intrinsic subtype of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSC) that features pronounced DNA hypomethylation. Here, we describe a similar hypomethylated subtype of lung squamous cell carcinoma (LUSC) that is enriched for both inactivating mutations and deletions in NSD1. The ‘NSD1 subtypes’ of HNSC and LUSC are highly correlated at the DNA methylation and gene expression levels, featuring ectopic expression of developmental transcription factors and genes that are also hypomethylated in Sotos syndrome, a congenital disorder caused by germline NSD1 mutations. Further, the NSD1 subtype of HNSC displays an ‘immune cold’ phenotype characterized by low infiltration of tumor-associated leukocytes, particularly macrophages and CD8+ T cells, as well as low expression of genes encoding the immunotherapy target PD-1 immune checkpoint receptor and its ligands. Using an in vivo model, we demonstrate that NSD1 inactivation results in reduced T cell infiltration into the tumor microenvironment, implicating NSD1 as a tumor cell-intrinsic driver of an immune cold phenotype. NSD1 inactivation therefore causes epigenetic deregulation across cancer sites, and has implications for immunotherapy.
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87
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Abstract
The canonical Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway, an important modulator of progenitor cell proliferation and differentiation, is highly regulated for the maintenance of critical biological homeostasis. Decades of studies in cancer genetics and genomics have demonstrated that multiple genes encoding key proteins in this signaling pathway serve as targets for recurrent mutational alterations. Among these proteins, β-catenin and adenomatosis polyposis coli (APC) are two key nodes. β-catenin contributes in transporting extracellular signals for nuclear programming. Mutations of the CTNNB1 gene that encodes β-catenin occur in a wide spectrum of cancers. These mutations alter the spatial characteristics of the β-catenin protein, leading to drastic reprogramming of the nuclear transcriptional network. Among the outcomes of this reprogramming are increased cell proliferation, enhanced immunosuppression, and disruption of metabolic regulation. Herein we review the current understanding of CTNNB1 mutations, their roles in tumorigenesis and discuss their possible therapeutic implications for cancer.
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88
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Hargadon KM. Strategies to Improve the Efficacy of Dendritic Cell-Based Immunotherapy for Melanoma. Front Immunol 2017; 8:1594. [PMID: 29209327 PMCID: PMC5702020 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2017.01594] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2017] [Accepted: 11/06/2017] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Melanoma is a highly aggressive form of skin cancer that frequently metastasizes to vital organs, where it is often difficult to treat with traditional therapies such as surgery and radiation. In such cases of metastatic disease, immunotherapy has emerged in recent years as an exciting treatment option for melanoma patients. Despite unprecedented successes with immune therapy in the clinic, many patients still experience disease relapse, and others fail to respond at all, thus highlighting the need to better understand factors that influence the efficacy of antitumor immune responses. At the heart of antitumor immunity are dendritic cells (DCs), an innate population of cells that function as critical regulators of immune tolerance and activation. As such, DCs have the potential to serve as important targets and delivery agents of cancer immunotherapies. Even immunotherapies that do not directly target or employ DCs, such as checkpoint blockade therapy and adoptive cell transfer therapy, are likely to rely on DCs that shape the quality of therapy-associated antitumor immunity. Therefore, understanding factors that regulate the function of tumor-associated DCs is critical for optimizing both current and future immunotherapeutic strategies for treating melanoma. To this end, this review focuses on advances in our understanding of DC function in the context of melanoma, with particular emphasis on (1) the role of immunogenic cell death in eliciting tumor-associated DC activation, (2) immunosuppression of DC function by melanoma-associated factors in the tumor microenvironment, (3) metabolic constraints on the activation of tumor-associated DCs, and (4) the role of the microbiome in shaping the immunogenicity of DCs and the overall quality of anti-melanoma immune responses they mediate. Additionally, this review highlights novel DC-based immunotherapies for melanoma that are emerging from recent progress in each of these areas of investigation, and it discusses current issues and questions that will need to be addressed in future studies aimed at optimizing the function of melanoma-associated DCs and the antitumor immune responses they direct against this cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristian M. Hargadon
- Hargadon Laboratory, Department of Biology, Hampden-Sydney College, Hampden-Sydney, VA, United States
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89
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Human PBMC-transferred murine MHC class I/II-deficient NOG mice enable long-term evaluation of human immune responses. Cell Mol Immunol 2017; 15:953-962. [PMID: 29151581 PMCID: PMC6207709 DOI: 10.1038/cmi.2017.106] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2017] [Revised: 09/05/2017] [Accepted: 09/06/2017] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Immunodeficient mice engrafted with human peripheral blood cells are promising tools for in vivo analysis of human patient individual immune responses. However, when human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) are transferred into NOG (NOD/Shi-scid, IL-2rgnull) mice, severe graft versus host disease (GVHD) hinders long term detailed analysis. Administration of human PBMCs into newly developed murine MHC class I- and class II-deficient NOG (NOG-dKO; NOG- Iab, B2m-double-knockout) mice showed sufficient engraftment of human immune cells with little sign of GVHD. Immunization with influenza vaccine resulted in an increase in influenza-specific human IgG Ab, indicating induction of antigen-specific B cells in the NOG-dKO mice. Immunization with human dendritic cells pulsed with HLA-A2 restricted cytomegalovirus peptide induced specific cytotoxic T cells, indicating the induction of antigen-specific T cells in the NOG-dKO mice. Adoptive cell therapies (ACTs) using melanoma antigen recognized by T cells (MART-1)-specific TCR-transduced activated T cells showed strong tumor growth inhibition in NOG-dKO mice without any sign of GVHD accompanied by preferential expansion of the transferred MART-1-specific T cells. ACTs using cultured human melanoma infiltrating T cells also showed anti-tumor effects against autologous melanoma cells in NOG-dKO mice, in which changes in human cancer phenotypes by immune intervention, such as increased CD271 expression, could be evaluated. Therefore, NOG-dKO mice are useful tools for more detailed analysis of both the induction and effector phases of T-cell and B-cell responses for a longer period than regular NOG mice.
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90
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Szczepaniak Sloane RA, Gopalakrishnan V, Reddy SM, Zhang X, Reuben A, Wargo JA. Interaction of molecular alterations with immune response in melanoma. Cancer 2017; 123:2130-2142. [PMID: 28543700 DOI: 10.1002/cncr.30681] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2016] [Revised: 02/10/2017] [Accepted: 02/21/2017] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Major advances have been made in melanoma treatment with the use of molecularly targeted therapies and immunotherapies, and numerous regimens are now approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for patients with stage IV disease. However, therapeutic resistance remains an issue to both classes of agents, and reliable biomarkers of therapeutic response and resistance are lacking. Mechanistic insights are being gained through preclinical studies and translational research, offering potential strategies to enhance responses and survival in treated patients. A comprehensive understanding of the immune effects of common mutations at play in melanoma is critical, as is an appreciation of the molecular mechanisms contributing to therapeutic resistance to immunotherapy. These mechanisms and the interplay between them are discussed herein. Cancer 2017;123:2130-42. © 2017 American Cancer Society.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Sangeetha M Reddy
- Department of Cancer Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
| | - Xue Zhang
- Department of Surgical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
| | - Alexandre Reuben
- Department of Surgical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
| | - Jennifer A Wargo
- Department of Surgical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas.,Department of Genomic Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
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91
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WNT ligands contribute to the immune response during septic shock and amplify endotoxemia-driven inflammation in mice. Blood Adv 2017; 1:1274-1286. [PMID: 29296769 DOI: 10.1182/bloodadvances.2017006163] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2017] [Accepted: 06/07/2017] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Improved understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying dysregulated inflammatory responses in severe infection and septic shock is urgently needed to improve patient management and identify new therapeutic opportunities. The WNT signaling pathway has been implicated as a novel constituent of the immune response to infection, but its contribution to the host response in septic shock is unknown. Although individual WNT proteins have been ascribed pro- or anti-inflammatory functions, their concerted contributions to inflammation in vivo remain to be clearly defined. Here we report differential expression of multiple WNT ligands in whole blood of patients with septic shock and reveal significant correlations with inflammatory cytokines. Systemic challenge of mice with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) similarly elicited differential expression of multiple WNT ligands with correlations between WNT and cytokine expression that partially overlap with the findings in human blood. Molecular regulators of WNT expression during microbial encounter in vivo are largely unexplored. Analyses in gene-deficient mice revealed differential contributions of Toll-like receptor signaling adaptors, a positive role for tumor necrosis factor, but a negative regulatory role for interleukin (IL)-12/23p40 in the LPS-induced expression of Wnt5b, Wnt10a, Wnt10b, and Wnt11. Pharmacologic targeting of bottlenecks of the WNT network, WNT acylation and β-catenin activity, diminished IL-6, tumor necrosis factor, and IL-12/23p40 in serum of LPS-challenged mice and cultured splenocytes, whereas IL-10 production remained largely unaffected. Taken together, our data support the conclusion that the concerted action of WNT proteins during severe infection and septic shock promotes inflammation, and that this is, at least in part, mediated by WNT/β-catenin signaling.
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92
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Baek DW, Kang BW, Hwang S, Kim JG, Seo AN, Bae HI, Kwon OK, Lee SS, Chung HY, Yu W. Clinical Significance of p53 Protein Expression, Beta-catenin Expression and HER2 Expression for Epstein-Barr Virus-associated Gastric Cancer. Chonnam Med J 2017; 53:140-146. [PMID: 28584793 PMCID: PMC5457949 DOI: 10.4068/cmj.2017.53.2.140] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2017] [Revised: 03/10/2017] [Accepted: 03/16/2017] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
This study assessed the expression of the p53 protein, beta-catenin, and HER2 and their prognostic implications in patients with EBV-associated gastric cancer (EBVaGC). After reviewing 1318 consecutive cases of surgically resected or endoscopic submucosal dissected gastric cancers, 117 patients were identified as EBV-positive using EBV-encoded RNA in-situ hybridization. The immunohistochemistry results were interpreted as follows: strong p53 nuclear expression in at least 50% of tumor nuclei was interpreted as a positive result, strong beta-catenin expression in at least 10% of cytoplasmic nuclei was interpreted as a positive result, and moderate or strong complete or basolateral membrane staining in 10% of tumor cells was interpreted as a positive result for HER2. Immunohistochemical staining for p53 was performed on tumor tissue from 105 patients, among whom 25 (23.8%) tested positive. Meanwhile, beta-catenin expression was positive in 10 patients (17.5%) and HER2 expression was positive in 8 patients (6.8%). The positive expression of p53 was significantly associated with a high T stage (p=0.006). More patients with lymph node metastasis were p53-positive (p=0.013). In the univariate analysis, the p53-positive patients showed significantly decreased disease-free survival (DFS) when compared with the p53-negative patients (p=0.022), although the p53 status was only marginally associated with overall survival (OS) (p=0.080). However, p53 expression showed no prognostic significance on DFS in the multivariate analysis. Moreover, beta-catenin and HER2 showed no association with DFS and OS in the survival analysis. The current study found a significant correlation between p53 expression and tumor progression and lymph node metastases in patients with EBVaGC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dong Won Baek
- Department of Oncology/Hematology, Kyungpook National University Medical Center, Kyungpook National University Cancer Research Institute, Kyungpook National University School of Medicine, Daegu, Korea
| | - Byung Woog Kang
- Department of Oncology/Hematology, Kyungpook National University Medical Center, Kyungpook National University Cancer Research Institute, Kyungpook National University School of Medicine, Daegu, Korea
| | - Soyoon Hwang
- Department of Oncology/Hematology, Kyungpook National University Medical Center, Kyungpook National University Cancer Research Institute, Kyungpook National University School of Medicine, Daegu, Korea
| | - Jong Gwang Kim
- Department of Oncology/Hematology, Kyungpook National University Medical Center, Kyungpook National University Cancer Research Institute, Kyungpook National University School of Medicine, Daegu, Korea
| | - An Na Seo
- Department of Pathology, Kyungpook National University Hospital, Kyungpook National University School of Medicine, Daegu, Korea
| | - Han Ik Bae
- Department of Pathology, Kyungpook National University Hospital, Kyungpook National University School of Medicine, Daegu, Korea
| | - Oh Kyoung Kwon
- Department of Surgery, Kyungpook National University Hospital, Kyungpook National University School of Medicine, Daegu, Korea
| | - Seung Soo Lee
- Department of Surgery, Kyungpook National University Hospital, Kyungpook National University School of Medicine, Daegu, Korea
| | - Ho Young Chung
- Department of Surgery, Kyungpook National University Hospital, Kyungpook National University School of Medicine, Daegu, Korea
| | - Wansik Yu
- Department of Surgery, Kyungpook National University Hospital, Kyungpook National University School of Medicine, Daegu, Korea
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93
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Mahmoud F, Shields B, Makhoul I, Avaritt N, Wong HK, Hutchins LF, Shalin S, Tackett AJ. Immune surveillance in melanoma: From immune attack to melanoma escape and even counterattack. Cancer Biol Ther 2017; 18:451-469. [PMID: 28513269 DOI: 10.1080/15384047.2017.1323596] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Pharmacologic inhibition of the cytotoxic T lymphocyte antigen 4 (CTLA4) and the programmed death receptor-1 (PD1) has resulted in unprecedented durable responses in metastatic melanoma. However, resistance to immunotherapy remains a major challenge. Effective immune surveillance against melanoma requires 4 essential steps: activation of the T lymphocytes, homing of the activated T lymphocytes to the melanoma microenvironment, identification and episode of melanoma cells by activated T lymphocytes, and the sensitivity of melanoma cells to apoptosis. At each of these steps, there are multiple factors that may interfere with the immune surveillance machinery, thus allowing melanoma cells to escape immune attack and develop resistance to immunotherapy. We provide a comprehensive review of the complex immune surveillance mechanisms at play in melanoma, and a detailed discussion of how these mechanisms may allow for the development of intrinsic or acquired resistance to immunotherapeutic modalities, and potential avenues for overcoming this resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fade Mahmoud
- a Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Hematology/Oncology , University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences , Little Rock , Arkansas , USA
| | - Bradley Shields
- b Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology , University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences , Little Rock , Arkansas , USA
| | - Issam Makhoul
- a Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Hematology/Oncology , University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences , Little Rock , Arkansas , USA
| | - Nathan Avaritt
- b Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology , University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences , Little Rock , Arkansas , USA
| | - Henry K Wong
- c Department of Dermatology , University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences , Little Rock , Arkansas , USA
| | - Laura F Hutchins
- a Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Hematology/Oncology , University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences , Little Rock , Arkansas , USA
| | - Sara Shalin
- d Departments of Pathology and Dermatology , University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences , Little Rock , Arkansas , USA
| | - Alan J Tackett
- b Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology , University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences , Little Rock , Arkansas , USA
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94
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Zhan T, Rindtorff N, Boutros M. Wnt signaling in cancer. Oncogene 2017; 36:1461-1473. [PMID: 27617575 PMCID: PMC5357762 DOI: 10.1038/onc.2016.304] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1738] [Impact Index Per Article: 248.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2016] [Revised: 07/07/2016] [Accepted: 07/17/2016] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Wnt signaling is one of the key cascades regulating development and stemness, and has also been tightly associated with cancer. The role of Wnt signaling in carcinogenesis has most prominently been described for colorectal cancer, but aberrant Wnt signaling is observed in many more cancer entities. Here, we review current insights into novel components of Wnt pathways and describe their impact on cancer development. Furthermore, we highlight expanding functions of Wnt signaling for both solid and liquid tumors. We also describe current findings how Wnt signaling affects maintenance of cancer stem cells, metastasis and immune control. Finally, we provide an overview of current strategies to antagonize Wnt signaling in cancer and challenges that are associated with such approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- T Zhan
- German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Division Signaling and Functional Genomics, Heidelberg University, Department Cell and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Medicine Mannheim, Heidelberg, Germany
- Heidelberg University, Department of Internal Medicine II, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Mannheim, Germany
| | - N Rindtorff
- German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Division Signaling and Functional Genomics, Heidelberg University, Department Cell and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Medicine Mannheim, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - M Boutros
- German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Division Signaling and Functional Genomics, Heidelberg University, Department Cell and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Medicine Mannheim, Heidelberg, Germany
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Heidelberg, Germany
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95
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Calderaro J, Rousseau B, Amaddeo G, Mercey M, Charpy C, Costentin C, Luciani A, Zafrani ES, Laurent A, Azoulay D, Lafdil F, Pawlotsky JM. Programmed death ligand 1 expression in hepatocellular carcinoma: Relationship With clinical and pathological features. Hepatology 2016; 64:2038-2046. [PMID: 27359084 DOI: 10.1002/hep.28710] [Citation(s) in RCA: 314] [Impact Index Per Article: 39.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2016] [Accepted: 06/29/2016] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
UNLABELLED The prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains poor, with only one third of patients eligible for curative treatments and very limited survival benefits with the use of sorafenib, the current standard of care for advanced disease. Recently, agents targeting the programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1)/programmed death receptor 1 (PD-1) immune checkpoint were shown to display impressive antitumor activity in various solid or hematological malignancies, including HCC. PD-L1 immunohistochemical expression is thought to represent a biomarker predictive of drug sensitivity. Here, we investigated PD-L1 expression in a series of 217 HCCs and correlated our results with clinical and histological features and immunohistochemical markers (PD-1, cytokeratin 19, glutamine synthetase, and β-catenin expression). PD-L1 expression by neoplastic cells was significantly associated with common markers of tumor aggressiveness (high serum alpha-fetoprotein levels, P = 0.038; satellite nodules, P < 0.001; macrovascular invasion, P < 0.001; microvascular invasion, P < 0.001; poor differentiation, P < 0.001) and with the progenitor subtype of HCC (cytokeratin 19 expression, P = 0.031). High PD-L1 expression by inflammatory cells from the tumor microenvironment also correlated with high serum alpha-fetoprotein levels (P < 0.001), macrovascular invasion (P = 0.001), poor differentiation (P = 0.001), high PD-1 expression (P < 0.001), and the so-called lymphoepithelioma-like histological subtype of HCC (P = 0.003). CONCLUSION PD-L1 expression by either neoplastic or intratumoral inflammatory cells is related to tumor aggressiveness and suggests that the response to treatments targeting the PD-L1/PD-1 immune checkpoint could be restricted to particular HCC variants; thus, enrichment of these tumor subtypes in future clinical trials should be considered. (Hepatology 2016;64:2038-2046).
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Affiliation(s)
- Julien Calderaro
- Département de Pathologie, Assistance Publique Hôpitaux de Paris, Groupe Hospitalier Henri Mondor, Créteil, France.,INSERM U955, Team 18, Institut Mondor de Recherche Biomédicale, Créteil, France.,Université Paris-Est Créteil, Créteil, France
| | - Benoît Rousseau
- INSERM U955, Team 18, Institut Mondor de Recherche Biomédicale, Créteil, France.,Université Paris-Est Créteil, Créteil, France.,Service d'Oncologie Médicale, Mycologie-Parasitologie et Unité Transversale de Traitement des Infections, Assistance Publique Hôpitaux de Paris, Groupe Hospitalier Henri Mondor, Créteil, France
| | - Giuliana Amaddeo
- INSERM U955, Team 18, Institut Mondor de Recherche Biomédicale, Créteil, France.,Université Paris-Est Créteil, Créteil, France.,Service d'Hépatologie, Mycologie-Parasitologie et Unité Transversale de Traitement des Infections, Assistance Publique Hôpitaux de Paris, Groupe Hospitalier Henri Mondor, Créteil, France
| | - Marion Mercey
- INSERM U955, Team 18, Institut Mondor de Recherche Biomédicale, Créteil, France
| | - Cécile Charpy
- Département de Pathologie, Assistance Publique Hôpitaux de Paris, Groupe Hospitalier Henri Mondor, Créteil, France
| | - Charlotte Costentin
- Service d'Hépatologie, Mycologie-Parasitologie et Unité Transversale de Traitement des Infections, Assistance Publique Hôpitaux de Paris, Groupe Hospitalier Henri Mondor, Créteil, France
| | - Alain Luciani
- INSERM U955, Team 18, Institut Mondor de Recherche Biomédicale, Créteil, France.,Université Paris-Est Créteil, Créteil, France.,Service d'Imagerie Médicale, Mycologie-Parasitologie et Unité Transversale de Traitement des Infections, Assistance Publique Hôpitaux de Paris, Groupe Hospitalier Henri Mondor, Créteil, France
| | - Elie-Serge Zafrani
- Département de Pathologie, Assistance Publique Hôpitaux de Paris, Groupe Hospitalier Henri Mondor, Créteil, France
| | - Alexis Laurent
- Service de Chirurgie Digestive et Hépatobiliaire, Mycologie-Parasitologie et Unité Transversale de Traitement des Infections, Assistance Publique Hôpitaux de Paris, Groupe Hospitalier Henri Mondor, Créteil, France
| | - Daniel Azoulay
- Université Paris-Est Créteil, Créteil, France.,Service de Chirurgie Digestive et Hépatobiliaire, Mycologie-Parasitologie et Unité Transversale de Traitement des Infections, Assistance Publique Hôpitaux de Paris, Groupe Hospitalier Henri Mondor, Créteil, France
| | - Fouad Lafdil
- INSERM U955, Team 18, Institut Mondor de Recherche Biomédicale, Créteil, France.,Université Paris-Est Créteil, Créteil, France
| | - Jean-Michel Pawlotsky
- INSERM U955, Team 18, Institut Mondor de Recherche Biomédicale, Créteil, France.,Université Paris-Est Créteil, Créteil, France.,Service de Virologie, Bactériologie-Hygiène, Mycologie-Parasitologie et Unité Transversale de Traitement des Infections, Assistance Publique Hôpitaux de Paris, Groupe Hospitalier Henri Mondor, Créteil, France
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96
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Immune cell recruitment in teratomas is impaired by increased Wnt secretion. Stem Cell Res 2016; 17:607-615. [PMID: 27838585 DOI: 10.1016/j.scr.2016.10.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2015] [Revised: 10/16/2016] [Accepted: 10/25/2016] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Wnt signaling plays a central role in tumor initiation and tumor progression. Mutations in Wnt pathway components, such as the tumor suppressor APC, lead to malignant transformation. While previous studies focused on Wnt-related changes in cancer cells, the impact of aberrant Wnt signaling on the tumor microenvironment is only beginning to emerge. In order to investigate the role of increased Wnt secretion on tumor growth and the microenvironment, we generated a novel germ cell tumor model by overexpressing the Wnt secretion factor Evi/Wls in mouse embryonic stem cells. Evi-overexpressing teratoma were characterized by enhanced tumor growth in supporting a tumor-promoting role of Wnt secretion. Interestingly, enhanced Evi expression correlated with impaired immune cell recruitment. Specifically, T- and B-cell infiltration was reduced in Evi-overexpressing teratomas, which was independent of teratoma size and differentiation. Our study suggests that Wnt secretion impairs immunosurveillance. Since immune cell infiltration has been shown to have prognostic value, the levels of secreted Wnt activity might impact the efficiency of cancer immunotherapy.
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97
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Zhang SS, Huang ZW, Li LX, Fu JJ, Xiao B. Identification of CD200+ colorectal cancer stem cells and their gene expression profile. Oncol Rep 2016; 36:2252-60. [DOI: 10.3892/or.2016.5039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2016] [Accepted: 08/02/2016] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
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98
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Yaguchi T, Kawakami Y. Cancer-induced heterogeneous immunosuppressive tumor microenvironments and their personalized modulation. Int Immunol 2016; 28:393-9. [PMID: 27401477 DOI: 10.1093/intimm/dxw030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2016] [Accepted: 06/16/2016] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Although recent cancer immunotherapy strategies, including immune-checkpoint blockade (i.e. blocking PD-1, PD-L1 or CTLA-4), have shown durable clinical effects in some (but not all) patients with various advanced cancers, further understanding of human immunopathology, particularly in tumor microenvironments, is essential to improve this type of therapy. The major hurdle for immunotherapy is the immunosuppression that is found in cancer patients. There are two types of immunosuppression: one is induced by gene alterations in cancer; the other is local adaptive immunosuppression, triggered by tumor-specific T cells in tumors. The former is caused by multiple mechanisms via various immunosuppressive molecules and via cells triggered by gene alterations, including activated oncogenes, in cancer cells. The various immunosuppressive mechanisms involve signaling cascades that vary among cancer types, subsets within cancer types and individual cancers. Therefore, personalized immune-interventions are necessary to appropriately target oncogene-induced signaling that modulates anti-cancer immune responses, on the basis of genetic and immunological analysis of each patient. Further understanding of human cancer immunopathology may lead to real improvement of current cancer immunotherapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tomonori Yaguchi
- Division of Cellular Signaling, Institute for Advanced Medical Research, Keio University School of Medicine, 35 Shinanomachi, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 160-8582, Japan
| | - Yutaka Kawakami
- Division of Cellular Signaling, Institute for Advanced Medical Research, Keio University School of Medicine, 35 Shinanomachi, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 160-8582, Japan
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99
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Xia Y, Wu S. Tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase 2 inhibits activation of the β-catenin signaling in melanoma cells. Cell Cycle 2016; 14:1666-74. [PMID: 25839957 DOI: 10.1080/15384101.2015.1030557] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
The tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase (TIMP) family, including TIMP-2, regulates the activity of multifunctional metalloproteinases in pathogenesis of melanoma. The Wnt/β-catenin pathway is constitutively activated and plays a critical role in melanoma progression. However, the relationship between TIMP-2 expression and β-catenin activity is still unclear. We hypothesize that TIMP-2 over expression inhibits the activation of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway in melanoma cells. Protein expression, distribution, and transcriptional activity of β-catenin were assayed in established stable melanoma cell lines: parental A2058 expressing, A2058 T2-1 over-expressing (T2-1), and A2058 T2R-7 under-expressing (T2R-7) TIMP-2. Compared to T2-1 cells at the basal level, T2R-7 showed significantly lower amount protein and weaker immunofluorescence staining of β-catenin. This regulation is through posttranslational level via ubiquitination. Functionally, proliferation and cell growth were lower in T2R-7 compared to A2058 and T2-1. Lithium treatment was used to mimics activation of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway. In T2R-7 cells under-expressing TIMP2, lithium significantly increased total β-catenin, nuclear β-catenin, and its downstream protein phosphor-c-Myc (S62). Nuclear β-catenin staining was enhanced in T2R-7. Beta-catenin transcriptional activity and cell proliferation were also increased significantly. Axins inhibit β-catenin pathway via GSK-3 β. We further found the ratio of p-GSK-3 β (S9) to β-catenin and protein levels of Axins were significantly lower, whereas downstream Wnt 11 was high in T2R-7 treated with lithium. Collectively, the high level of TIMP-2 protein inhibits the activation of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway, thus suppressing proliferation. Insights in the molecular mechanisms of TIMP-2 may provide promising opportunities for anti-proliferative therapeutic intervention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuxuan Xia
- a Department of Biochemistry; Rush University ; Chicago , IL , USA
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100
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Oncogenic CARMA1 couples NF-κB and β-catenin signaling in diffuse large B-cell lymphomas. Oncogene 2016; 35:4269-81. [PMID: 26776161 PMCID: PMC4981874 DOI: 10.1038/onc.2015.493] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2015] [Revised: 10/26/2015] [Accepted: 11/27/2015] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Constitutive activation of the antiapoptotic nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) signaling pathway is a hallmark of the activated B-cell-like (ABC) subtype of diffuse large B-cell lymphomas (DLBCL). Recurrent oncogenic mutations are found in the scaffold protein CARMA1 (CARD11) that connects B-cell receptor (BCR) signaling to the canonical NF-κB pathway. We asked how far additional downstream processes are activated and contribute to the oncogenic potential of DLBCL-derived CARMA1 mutants. To this end, we expressed oncogenic CARMA1 in the NF-κB negative DLBCL lymphoma cell line BJAB. By a proteomic approach we identified recruitment of β-catenin and its destruction complex consisting of APC, AXIN1, CK1α and GSK3β to oncogenic CARMA1. Recruitment of the β-catenin destruction complex was independent of CARMA1-BCL10-MALT1 complex formation or constitutive NF-κB activation and promoted the stabilization of β-catenin. The β-catenin destruction complex was also recruited to CARMA1 in ABC DLBCL cell lines, which coincided with elevated β-catenin expression. In line, β-catenin was frequently detected in non-GCB DLBCL biopsies that rely on chronic BCR signaling. Increased β-catenin amounts alone were not sufficient to induce classical WNT target gene signatures, but could augment TCF/LEF-dependent transcriptional activation in response to WNT signaling. In conjunction with NF-κB, β-catenin enhanced expression of immunosuppressive interleukin-10 and suppressed antitumoral CCL3, indicating that β-catenin can induce a favorable tumor microenvironment. Thus, parallel activation of NF-κB and β-catenin signaling by gain-of-function mutations in CARMA1 augments WNT stimulation and is required for regulating the expression of distinct NF-κB target genes to trigger cell-intrinsic and extrinsic processes that promote DLBCL lymphomagenesis.
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