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Any Role for Microbiota in Cholangiocarcinoma? A Comprehensive Review. Cells 2023; 12:cells12030370. [PMID: 36766711 PMCID: PMC9913249 DOI: 10.3390/cells12030370] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2022] [Revised: 01/09/2023] [Accepted: 01/10/2023] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Alterations in the human microbiota have been linked to carcinogenesis in several cancers. To date, few studies have addressed the role of the microbiota in cholangiocarcinoma (CCA). Our work aims to update the knowledge about the role of the microbiota in the CCA microenvironment, and to highlight possible novel insights for the development of new diagnostic, prognostic, or even therapeutic strategies. We thus conducted a review of the literature. In recent years, great progress has been made in understanding the pathogenesis, the clinical and histological behavior, and the molecular profile of CCA. Much evidence suggests that the bile microbiota plays an essential role in biliary diseases, including CCA. Some studies have demonstrated that alterations in the qualitative and quantitative composition of the intestinal commensal bacteria lead to overall cancer susceptibility through various pathways. Other studies suggest that the gut microbiota plays a role in the pathogenesis and/or progression of CCA. The clinical implications are far-reaching, and the role of the microbiota in the CCA microenvironment may lead to considering the exciting implications of implementing therapeutic strategies that target the microbiota-immune system axis.
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102
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Shi L, Lu J, Zhong D, Song M, Liu J, You W, Li WH, Lin L, Shi D, Chen Y. Clinicopathological and predictive value of MAIT cells in non-small cell lung cancer for immunotherapy. J Immunother Cancer 2023; 11:jitc-2022-005902. [PMID: 36657812 PMCID: PMC9853268 DOI: 10.1136/jitc-2022-005902] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/02/2023] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Immune-checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) remain ineffective in a large group of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients. Mucosal-associated invariant T (MAIT) cells, a population of unconventional innate-like T lymphocytes abundant in the human body, play important roles in human malignancies. Little is known about the immune characteristics of MAIT cells in NSCLC and correlation with prognosis and response rate of ICIs treatment. METHODS To investigate the distribution, activation status, and function of MAIT cells in NSCLC patients and their correlations with anti-PD-1 immunotherapy, MAIT cells in peripheral blood, tumor and paratumor samples from NSCLC patients with or without anti-PD-1 immunotherapy were analyzed using flow cytometry and single-cell RNA-sequencing. RESULTS MAIT cells were enriched in the tumor lesions of NSCLC patients migrating from peripheral blood via the CCR6-CCL20 axis. Both peripheral and tumor-infiltrating MAIT cells displayed an exhausted phenotype with upregulated PD-1, TIM-3, and IL-17A while less IFN-γ. Anti-PD-1 therapy reversed the function of circulating MAIT cells with higher expression of IFN-γ and granzyme B. Subcluster MAIT-17s (defined as cells highly expressing exhausted and Th17-related genes) mainly infiltrated in the non-responsive tissues, while the subcluster MAIT-IFNGRs (cells expressing genes related to cytotoxic function) were mainly enriched in responsive tissues. Moreover, we found predictive value of circulating MAIT cells for anti-PD-1 immunotherapy in NSCLC patients. CONCLUSIONS MAIT cells shifted to an exhausted tumor-promoting phenotype in NSCLC patients and the circulating MAIT subset could be a predictor for patients who respond to anti-PD-1 immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lin Shi
- Department of Medical Oncology, Jiangsu Cancer Hospital, Jiangsu Institute of Cancer Research, Nanjing Medical University Affiliated Cancer Hospital, Nanjing, China,Department of Immunology, Key Laboratory of Human Functional Genomics of Jiangsu Province, Gusu School, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Jinying Lu
- Department of Immunology, Key Laboratory of Human Functional Genomics of Jiangsu Province, Gusu School, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China,Jiangsu Key Lab of Cancer Biomarkers, Prevention and Treatment, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Personalized Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Da Zhong
- Department of Immunology, Key Laboratory of Human Functional Genomics of Jiangsu Province, Gusu School, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Meijuan Song
- Department of Geriatrics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Jian Liu
- Department of Immunology, Key Laboratory of Human Functional Genomics of Jiangsu Province, Gusu School, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China,Jiangsu Key Lab of Cancer Biomarkers, Prevention and Treatment, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Personalized Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Wenhua You
- Department of Immunology, Key Laboratory of Human Functional Genomics of Jiangsu Province, Gusu School, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China,Jiangsu Key Lab of Cancer Biomarkers, Prevention and Treatment, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Personalized Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Wen-Hui Li
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, The Yancheng School of Clinical Medicine of Nanjing Medical University, The Third People’s Hospital of Yancheng, Yancheng, China
| | - Lin Lin
- Department of Gastroenterology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Dongyan Shi
- Department of Immunology, Key Laboratory of Human Functional Genomics of Jiangsu Province, Gusu School, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Yun Chen
- Department of Medical Oncology, Jiangsu Cancer Hospital, Jiangsu Institute of Cancer Research, Nanjing Medical University Affiliated Cancer Hospital, Nanjing, China,Department of Immunology, Key Laboratory of Human Functional Genomics of Jiangsu Province, Gusu School, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China,Jiangsu Key Lab of Cancer Biomarkers, Prevention and Treatment, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Personalized Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
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103
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Lan Z, Zou KL, Cui H, Chen H, Zhao YY, Yu GT. PFC@O 2 Targets HIF-1α to Reverse the Immunosuppressive TME in OSCC. J Clin Med 2023; 12:jcm12020560. [PMID: 36675491 PMCID: PMC9862098 DOI: 10.3390/jcm12020560] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2022] [Revised: 12/20/2022] [Accepted: 01/08/2023] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
As a typical hallmark of solid tumors, hypoxia affects the effects of tumor radiotherapy, chemotherapy, and photodynamic therapy. Therefore, targeting the hypoxic tumor microenvironment (TME) is a promising treatment strategy for cancer therapy. Here, we prepared an Albumin Human Serum (HSA)-coated perfluorocarbon (PFC) carrying oxygen (PFC@O2) to minimize OSCC hypoxia. The results showed that PFC@O2 significantly downregulated the expression of HIF-1α and the number of M2-like macrophages in vitro. Furthermore, PFC@O2 effectively inhibited the growth of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) and reduced the proportion of negative immunoregulatory cells, including myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) and M2-like macrophages of TME in a 4-nitroquinoline N-oxide (4NQO)-induced mouse model. Conversely, the infiltration of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells was significantly increased in TME, suggesting that the anti-tumor immune response was enhanced. However, we also found that hypoxia-relative genes expression was positively correlated with CD68+/CD163+ TAMs in human tissue specimens. In summary, PFC@O2 could effectively inhibit the progression of OSCC by alleviating hypoxia, which provides a practical basis for gas therapy and gas synergistic therapy for OSCC.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Yu-Yue Zhao
- Correspondence: (Y.-Y.Z.); (G.-T.Y.); Tel.: +86-020-81602614 (Y.-Y.Z. & G.-T.Y.)
| | - Guang-Tao Yu
- Correspondence: (Y.-Y.Z.); (G.-T.Y.); Tel.: +86-020-81602614 (Y.-Y.Z. & G.-T.Y.)
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Yang YB, Wu CY, Wang XY, Deng J, Cao WJ, Tang YZ, Wan CC, Chen ZT, Zhan WY, Shan H, Kuang DM, Wei Y. Targeting inflammatory macrophages rebuilds therapeutic efficacy of DOT1L inhibition in hepatocellular carcinoma. Mol Ther 2023; 31:105-118. [PMID: 36183166 PMCID: PMC9840147 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymthe.2022.09.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2022] [Revised: 09/01/2022] [Accepted: 09/28/2022] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Epigenetic reprogramming is a promising therapeutic strategy for aggressive cancers, but its limitations in vivo remain unclear. Here, we showed, in detailed studies of data regarding 410 patients with human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), that increased histone methyltransferase DOT1L triggered epithelial-mesenchymal transition-mediated metastasis and served as a therapeutic target for human HCC. Unexpectedly, although targeting DOT1L in vitro abrogated the invasive potential of hepatoma cells, abrogation of DOT1L signals hardly affected the metastasis of hepatoma in vivo. Macrophages, which constitute the major cellular component of the stroma, abrogated the anti-metastatic effect of DOT1L targeting. Mechanistically, NF-κB signal elicited by macrophage inflammatory response operated via a non-epigenetic machinery to eliminate the therapeutic efficacy of DOT1L targeting. Importantly, therapeutic strategy combining DOT1L-targeted therapy with macrophage depletion or NF-κB inhibition in vivo effectively and successfully elicited cancer regression. Moreover, we found that the densities of macrophages in HCC determined malignant cell DOT1L-associated clinical outcome of the patients. Our results provide insight into the crosstalk between epigenetic reprogramming and cancer microenvironments and suggest that strategies to influence the functional activities of inflammatory cells may benefit epigenetic reprogramming therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi-Bin Yang
- Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Functional Genes, MOE Key Laboratory of Gene Function and Regulation, School of Life Sciences, and The Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510275, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Biomedical Imaging, Guangdong Provincial Engineering Research Center of Molecular Imaging, and The Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Zhuhai 519000, China
| | - Cai-Yuan Wu
- Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Functional Genes, MOE Key Laboratory of Gene Function and Regulation, School of Life Sciences, and The Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510275, China
| | - Xu-Yan Wang
- Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Functional Genes, MOE Key Laboratory of Gene Function and Regulation, School of Life Sciences, and The Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510275, China
| | - Jia Deng
- Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Functional Genes, MOE Key Laboratory of Gene Function and Regulation, School of Life Sciences, and The Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510275, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Biomedical Imaging, Guangdong Provincial Engineering Research Center of Molecular Imaging, and The Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Zhuhai 519000, China
| | - Wen-Jie Cao
- Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Functional Genes, MOE Key Laboratory of Gene Function and Regulation, School of Life Sciences, and The Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510275, China
| | - Yun-Zhi Tang
- Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Functional Genes, MOE Key Laboratory of Gene Function and Regulation, School of Life Sciences, and The Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510275, China
| | - Chao-Chao Wan
- Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Functional Genes, MOE Key Laboratory of Gene Function and Regulation, School of Life Sciences, and The Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510275, China
| | - Zhi-Tian Chen
- Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Functional Genes, MOE Key Laboratory of Gene Function and Regulation, School of Life Sciences, and The Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510275, China
| | - Wan-Yu Zhan
- Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Functional Genes, MOE Key Laboratory of Gene Function and Regulation, School of Life Sciences, and The Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510275, China
| | - Hong Shan
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Biomedical Imaging, Guangdong Provincial Engineering Research Center of Molecular Imaging, and The Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Zhuhai 519000, China.
| | - Dong-Ming Kuang
- Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Functional Genes, MOE Key Laboratory of Gene Function and Regulation, School of Life Sciences, and The Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510275, China.
| | - Yuan Wei
- Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Functional Genes, MOE Key Laboratory of Gene Function and Regulation, School of Life Sciences, and The Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510275, China.
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105
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Li H, Luo Q, Zhang H, Ma X, Gu Z, Gong Q, Luo K. Nanomedicine embraces cancer radio-immunotherapy: mechanism, design, recent advances, and clinical translation. Chem Soc Rev 2023; 52:47-96. [PMID: 36427082 DOI: 10.1039/d2cs00437b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Cancer radio-immunotherapy, integrating external/internal radiation therapy with immuno-oncology treatments, emerges in the current management of cancer. A growing number of pre-clinical studies and clinical trials have recently validated the synergistic antitumor effect of radio-immunotherapy, far beyond the "abscopal effect", but it suffers from a low response rate and toxicity issues. To this end, nanomedicines with an optimized design have been introduced to improve cancer radio-immunotherapy. Specifically, these nanomedicines are elegantly prepared by incorporating tumor antigens, immuno- or radio-regulators, or biomarker-specific imaging agents into the corresponding optimized nanoformulations. Moreover, they contribute to inducing various biological effects, such as generating in situ vaccination, promoting immunogenic cell death, overcoming radiation resistance, reversing immunosuppression, as well as pre-stratifying patients and assessing therapeutic response or therapy-induced toxicity. Overall, this review aims to provide a comprehensive landscape of nanomedicine-assisted radio-immunotherapy. The underlying working principles and the corresponding design strategies for these nanomedicines are elaborated by following the concept of "from bench to clinic". Their state-of-the-art applications, concerns over their clinical translation, along with perspectives are covered.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haonan Li
- Department of Radiology, Department of Biotherapy, Huaxi MR Research Center (HMRRC), Cancer Center, Frontiers Science Center for Disease-Related Molecular Network, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, No. 37 Guoxue Alley, Chengdu 610041, China.
| | - Qiang Luo
- Department of Radiology, Department of Biotherapy, Huaxi MR Research Center (HMRRC), Cancer Center, Frontiers Science Center for Disease-Related Molecular Network, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, No. 37 Guoxue Alley, Chengdu 610041, China.
| | - Hu Zhang
- Amgen Bioprocessing Centre, Keck Graduate Institute, Claremont, CA 91711, USA
| | - Xuelei Ma
- Department of Radiology, Department of Biotherapy, Huaxi MR Research Center (HMRRC), Cancer Center, Frontiers Science Center for Disease-Related Molecular Network, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, No. 37 Guoxue Alley, Chengdu 610041, China.
| | - Zhongwei Gu
- Department of Radiology, Department of Biotherapy, Huaxi MR Research Center (HMRRC), Cancer Center, Frontiers Science Center for Disease-Related Molecular Network, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, No. 37 Guoxue Alley, Chengdu 610041, China.
| | - Qiyong Gong
- Department of Radiology, Department of Biotherapy, Huaxi MR Research Center (HMRRC), Cancer Center, Frontiers Science Center for Disease-Related Molecular Network, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, No. 37 Guoxue Alley, Chengdu 610041, China. .,Functional and Molecular Imaging Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province and Research Unit of Psychoradiology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Kui Luo
- Department of Radiology, Department of Biotherapy, Huaxi MR Research Center (HMRRC), Cancer Center, Frontiers Science Center for Disease-Related Molecular Network, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, No. 37 Guoxue Alley, Chengdu 610041, China. .,Functional and Molecular Imaging Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province and Research Unit of Psychoradiology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Chengdu 610041, China
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106
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Yu X, Zhu L, Wang T, Chen J. Immune microenvironment of cholangiocarcinoma: Biological concepts and treatment strategies. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1037945. [PMID: 37138880 PMCID: PMC10150070 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1037945] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2022] [Accepted: 03/27/2023] [Indexed: 05/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Cholangiocarcinoma is characterized by a poor prognosis with limited treatment and management options. Chemotherapy using gemcitabine with cisplatin is the only available first-line therapy for patients with advanced cholangiocarcinoma, although it offers only palliation and yields a median survival of < 1 year. Recently there has been a resurgence of immunotherapy studies focusing on the ability of immunotherapy to inhibit cancer growth by impacting the tumor microenvironment. Based on the TOPAZ-1 trial, the US Food and Drug Administration has approved the combination of durvalumab and gemcitabine with cisplatin as the first-line treatment of cholangiocarcinoma. However, immunotherapy, like immune checkpoint blockade, is less effective in cholangiocarcinoma than in other types of cancer. Although several factors such as the exuberant desmoplastic reaction are responsible for cholangiocarcinoma treatment resistance, existing literature on cholangiocarcinoma cites the inflammatory and immunosuppressive environment as the most common factor. However, mechanisms activating the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment contributing to cholangiocarcinoma drug resistance are complicated. Therefore, gaining insight into the interplay between immune cells and cholangiocarcinoma cells, as well as the natural development and evolution of the immune tumor microenvironment, would provide targets for therapeutic intervention and improve therapeutic efficacy by developing multimodal and multiagent immunotherapeutic approaches of cholangiocarcinoma to overcome the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment. In this review, we discuss the role of the inflammatory microenvironment-cholangiocarcinoma crosstalk and reinforce the importance of inflammatory cells in the tumor microenvironment, thereby highlighting the explanatory and therapeutic shortcomings of immunotherapy monotherapy and proposing potentially promising combinational immunotherapeutic strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xianzhe Yu
- Lung Cancer Center, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Chengdu Second People’s Hospital, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Lingling Zhu
- Lung Cancer Center, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Ting Wang
- Lung Cancer Center, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Jiang Chen
- Department of General Surgery, Sir Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
- *Correspondence: Jiang Chen,
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107
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Tang B, Zhu J, Wang Y, Chen W, Fang S, Mao W, Xu Z, Yang Y, Weng Q, Zhao Z, Chen M, Ji J. Targeted xCT-mediated Ferroptosis and Protumoral Polarization of Macrophages Is Effective against HCC and Enhances the Efficacy of the Anti-PD-1/L1 Response. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2023; 10:e2203973. [PMID: 36442849 PMCID: PMC9839855 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202203973] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 46.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2022] [Revised: 10/26/2022] [Indexed: 05/14/2023]
Abstract
Tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) play an essential role in tumor progression, metastasis, and antitumor immunity. Ferroptosis has attracted extensive attention for its lethal effect on tumor cells, but the role of ferroptosis in TAMs and its impact on tumor progression have not been clearly defined. Using transgenic mouse models, this study determines that xCT-specific knockout in macrophages is sufficient to limit tumorigenicity and metastasis in the mouse HCC models, achieved by reducing TAM recruitment and infiltration, inhibiting M2-type polarization, and activating and enhancing ferroptosis activity within TAMs. The SOCS3-STAT6-PPAR-γ signaling may be a crucial pathway in macrophage phenotypic shifting, and activation of intracellular ferroptosis is associated with GPX4/RRM2 signaling regulation. Furthermore, that xCT-mediated macrophage ferroptosis significantly increases PD-L1 expression in macrophages and improves the antitumor efficacy of anti-PD-L1 therapy is unveiled. The constructed Man@pSiNPs-erastin specifically targets macrophage ferroptosis and protumoral polarization and combining this treatment with anti-PD-L1 exerts substantial antitumor efficacy. xCT expression in tumor tissues, especially in CD68+ macrophages, can serve as a reliable factor to predict the prognosis of HCC patients. These findings provide further insight into targeting ferroptosis activation in TAMs and regulating TAM infiltration and functional expression to achieve precise tumor prevention and improve therapeutic efficacy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bufu Tang
- Key Laboratory of Imaging Diagnosis and Minimally Invasive Intervention ResearchInstitute of Imaging Diagnosis and Minimally Invasive Intervention ResearchThe Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical UniversityLishui Hospital of Zhejiang UniversityLishui323000China
| | - Jinyu Zhu
- Key Laboratory of Imaging Diagnosis and Minimally Invasive Intervention ResearchInstitute of Imaging Diagnosis and Minimally Invasive Intervention ResearchThe Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical UniversityLishui Hospital of Zhejiang UniversityLishui323000China
| | - Yajie Wang
- Key Laboratory of Imaging Diagnosis and Minimally Invasive Intervention ResearchInstitute of Imaging Diagnosis and Minimally Invasive Intervention ResearchThe Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical UniversityLishui Hospital of Zhejiang UniversityLishui323000China
| | - Weiqian Chen
- Key Laboratory of Imaging Diagnosis and Minimally Invasive Intervention ResearchInstitute of Imaging Diagnosis and Minimally Invasive Intervention ResearchThe Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical UniversityLishui Hospital of Zhejiang UniversityLishui323000China
- Clinical College of The Affiliated Central HospitalSchool of MedicineLishui UniversityLishui323000China
| | - Shiji Fang
- Key Laboratory of Imaging Diagnosis and Minimally Invasive Intervention ResearchInstitute of Imaging Diagnosis and Minimally Invasive Intervention ResearchThe Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical UniversityLishui Hospital of Zhejiang UniversityLishui323000China
- Clinical College of The Affiliated Central HospitalSchool of MedicineLishui UniversityLishui323000China
| | - Weiyang Mao
- Key Laboratory of Imaging Diagnosis and Minimally Invasive Intervention ResearchInstitute of Imaging Diagnosis and Minimally Invasive Intervention ResearchThe Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical UniversityLishui Hospital of Zhejiang UniversityLishui323000China
- Clinical College of The Affiliated Central HospitalSchool of MedicineLishui UniversityLishui323000China
| | - Ziwei Xu
- Key Laboratory of Imaging Diagnosis and Minimally Invasive Intervention ResearchInstitute of Imaging Diagnosis and Minimally Invasive Intervention ResearchThe Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical UniversityLishui Hospital of Zhejiang UniversityLishui323000China
| | - Yang Yang
- Key Laboratory of Imaging Diagnosis and Minimally Invasive Intervention ResearchInstitute of Imaging Diagnosis and Minimally Invasive Intervention ResearchThe Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical UniversityLishui Hospital of Zhejiang UniversityLishui323000China
- Clinical College of The Affiliated Central HospitalSchool of MedicineLishui UniversityLishui323000China
| | - Qiaoyou Weng
- Key Laboratory of Imaging Diagnosis and Minimally Invasive Intervention ResearchInstitute of Imaging Diagnosis and Minimally Invasive Intervention ResearchThe Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical UniversityLishui Hospital of Zhejiang UniversityLishui323000China
- Clinical College of The Affiliated Central HospitalSchool of MedicineLishui UniversityLishui323000China
| | - Zhongwei Zhao
- Key Laboratory of Imaging Diagnosis and Minimally Invasive Intervention ResearchInstitute of Imaging Diagnosis and Minimally Invasive Intervention ResearchThe Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical UniversityLishui Hospital of Zhejiang UniversityLishui323000China
- Clinical College of The Affiliated Central HospitalSchool of MedicineLishui UniversityLishui323000China
| | - Minjiang Chen
- Key Laboratory of Imaging Diagnosis and Minimally Invasive Intervention ResearchInstitute of Imaging Diagnosis and Minimally Invasive Intervention ResearchThe Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical UniversityLishui Hospital of Zhejiang UniversityLishui323000China
- Clinical College of The Affiliated Central HospitalSchool of MedicineLishui UniversityLishui323000China
| | - Jiansong Ji
- Key Laboratory of Imaging Diagnosis and Minimally Invasive Intervention ResearchInstitute of Imaging Diagnosis and Minimally Invasive Intervention ResearchThe Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical UniversityLishui Hospital of Zhejiang UniversityLishui323000China
- Clinical College of The Affiliated Central HospitalSchool of MedicineLishui UniversityLishui323000China
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Wen J, Wang S, Guo R, Liu D. CSF1R inhibitors are emerging immunotherapeutic drugs for cancer treatment. Eur J Med Chem 2023; 245:114884. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2022.114884] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2022] [Revised: 10/13/2022] [Accepted: 10/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
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Harding JJ, Khalil DN, Fabris L, Abou-Alfa GK. Rational development of combination therapies for biliary tract cancers. J Hepatol 2023; 78:217-228. [PMID: 36150578 PMCID: PMC11111174 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhep.2022.09.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2022] [Revised: 08/06/2022] [Accepted: 09/08/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
Biliary tract cancers are an uncommon set of gastrointestinal malignancies that are associated with high morbidity and mortality rates. Most patients present with incurable locally advanced or metastatic disease. The pathophysiology of biliary tract cancer can be exploited for direct therapeutic benefit, and indeed, chemotherapy, precision medicine, immunotherapy and combination treatments are now applied as both standard-of-care and investigational therapies. In the first-line setting, the immune-based chemotherapy combination of durvalumab plus gemcitabine and cisplatin has recently been shown to improve survival compared to chemotherapy alone. In the second-line, precision medicine can be employed in those with select genetic alterations in IDH1/2 (isocitrate dehydrogenase 1/2), FGFR2 (fibroblast growth factor receptor 2), KRAS, BRAF, ERBB2, NTRK (neurotrophic receptor tyrosine kinase), ROS, RET, and/or deficiencies in mismatch repair enzymes. In those patients without targetable genetic alterations, fluoropyridine doublets lead to modest improvements in outcomes. Next-generation sequencing is critical for direct patient care and to help elucidate genomic mechanisms of resistance in a research context. Currently, multiple clinical trials are ongoing - hence, this review seeks to provide an update on evolving standards of care and ongoing investigational agents, limitations to current treatments, and a framework for effective combination drug development for the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- James J Harding
- Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA; Weill Medical College at Cornell University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Danny N Khalil
- Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA; Weill Medical College at Cornell University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Luca Fabris
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Padua, and Division of General Medicine, Padua University-Hospital, Padua, Italy; Digestive Disease Section, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Ghassan K Abou-Alfa
- Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA; Weill Medical College at Cornell University, New York, NY, USA.
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Saranaruk P, Waraasawapati S, Chamgramol Y, Sawanyawisuth K, Paungpan N, Somphud N, Wongkham C, Okada S, Wongkham S, Vaeteewoottacharn K. Dense GM-CSFR α-expressing immune infiltration is allied with longer survival of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma patients. PeerJ 2023; 11:e14883. [PMID: 36883059 PMCID: PMC9985900 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.14883] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2022] [Accepted: 01/22/2023] [Indexed: 03/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (iCCA) is a cancer arising from intrahepatic bile duct epithelium. An iCCA incidence is increasing worldwide; however, the outcome of the disease is dismal. The linkage between chronic inflammation and iCCA progression is well established, but the roles of granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) remain unrevealed. Thus, a better understanding of GM-CSF functions in CCA may provide an alternative approach to CCA treatment. Methods Differential GM-CSF and GM-CSFRα mRNA expressions in CCA tissues were investigated by Gene Expression Profiling Interactive Analysis (GEPIA) based on The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database. The protein expressions and localizations of GM-CSF and its cognate receptor (GM-CSFRα) in iCCA patients' tissues were demonstrated by the immunohistochemistry (IHC) techniques. The survival analyses were performed using Kaplan-Meier survival analysis with log-rank test and Cox proportional hazard regression model for multivariate analysis. The GM-CSF productions and GM-CSFRα expressions on CCA cells were assessed by ELISA and flow cytometry. The effects of GM-CSF on CCA cell proliferation and migration were evaluated after recombinant human GM-CSF treatment. The relationship between GM-CSF or GM-CSFRα level and related immune cell infiltration was analyzed using the Tumor Immune Estimation Resource (TIMER). Results GEPIA analysis indicated GM-CSF and GM-CSFRα expressions were higher in CCA tissues than in normal counterparts, and high GM-CSFRα was related to the longer disease-free survival of the patients (p < 0.001). IHC analysis revealed that CCA cells differentially expressed GM-CSF, while GM-CSFRα was expressed on cancer-infiltrating immune cells. The patient whose CCA tissue contained high GM-CSF expressed CCA, and moderate to dense GM-CSFRα-expressing immune cell infiltration (ICI) acquired longer overall survival (OS) (p = 0.047), whereas light GM-CSFRα-expressing ICI contributed to an increased hazard ratio (HR) to 1.882 (95% CI [1.077-3.287]; p = 0.026). In non-papillary subtype, an aggressive CCA subtype, patients with light GM-CSFRα-expressing ICI had shorter median OS (181 vs. 351 days; p = 0.002) and the HR was elevated to 2.788 (95% CI [1.299-5.985]; p = 0.009). Additionally, TIMER analysis demonstrated GM-CSFRα expression was positively correlated with neutrophil, dendritic cell, and CD8+ T cell infiltrations, though it was conversely related to M2-macrophage and myeloid-derived suppressor cell infiltration. However, the direct effects of GM-CSF on CCA cell proliferation and migration were not observed in the current study. Conclusions Light GM-CSFRα-expressing ICI was an independent poor prognostic factor for iCCA patients. Anti-cancer functions of GM-CSFRα-expressing ICI were suggested. Altogether, the benefits of acquired GM-CSFRα-expressing ICI and GM-CSF for CCA treatment are proposed herein and require elucidation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paksiree Saranaruk
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand.,Cholangiocarcinoma Research Institute, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand
| | - Sakda Waraasawapati
- Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand
| | - Yaovalux Chamgramol
- Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand
| | - Kanlayanee Sawanyawisuth
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand.,Cholangiocarcinoma Research Institute, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand
| | - Natnicha Paungpan
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand.,Cholangiocarcinoma Research Institute, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand.,Division of Hematopoiesis, Joint Research Center for Human Retrovirus Infection and Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, Japan
| | - Narumon Somphud
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand
| | - Chaisiri Wongkham
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand
| | - Seiji Okada
- Division of Hematopoiesis, Joint Research Center for Human Retrovirus Infection and Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, Japan
| | - Sopit Wongkham
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand.,Cholangiocarcinoma Research Institute, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand.,Division of Hematopoiesis, Joint Research Center for Human Retrovirus Infection and Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, Japan
| | - Kulthida Vaeteewoottacharn
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand.,Cholangiocarcinoma Research Institute, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand.,Division of Hematopoiesis, Joint Research Center for Human Retrovirus Infection and Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, Japan
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Tang Y, Zhou C, Li Q, Cheng X, Huang T, Li F, He L, Zhang B, Tu S. Targeting depletion of myeloid-derived suppressor cells potentiates PD-L1 blockade efficacy in gastric and colon cancers. Oncoimmunology 2022; 11:2131084. [PMID: 36268178 PMCID: PMC9578486 DOI: 10.1080/2162402x.2022.2131084] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) have been demonstrated to suppress antitumor immunity and induce resistance to PD-1/PD-L1 blockade immunotherapy in gastric and colon cancer patients. Herein, we found that MDSCs accumulate in mice bearing syngeneic gastric cancer and colon cancer. Death receptor 5 (DR5), a receptor of TNF-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL), was highly expressed on MDSCs and cancer cells; targeting DR5 using agonistic anti-DR5 antibody (MD5-1) specifically depleted MDSCs and induced enrichment of CD8+ T lymphocytes in tumors and exhibited stronger tumor inhibition efficacy in immune-competent mice than in T-cell-deficient nude mice. Importantly, the combination of MD5-1 and anti-PD-L1 antibody showed synergistic antitumor effects in gastric and colon tumor-bearing mice, resulting in significantly suppressed tumor growth and extended mice survival, whereas single-agent treatment had limited effect. Moreover, the combination therapy induced sustained memory immunity in mice that exhibited complete tumor regression. The enhanced antitumor effect was associated with increased intratumoral CD8+ T-cell infiltration and activation, and a more vigorous tumor-inhibiting microenvironment. In summary, our findings highlight the therapeutic potential of combining PD-L1 blockade therapy with agonistic anti-DR5 antibody that targets MDSCs in gastric and colon cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yao Tang
- State Key Laboratory of Oncogenesis and Related Genes, Department of Oncology, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Cong Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Oncogenesis and Related Genes, Department of Oncology, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Qingli Li
- State Key Laboratory of Oncogenesis and Related Genes, Department of Oncology, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Xiaojiao Cheng
- State Key Laboratory of Oncogenesis and Related Genes, Department of Oncology, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Tinglei Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Oncogenesis and Related Genes, Department of Oncology, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Fuli Li
- State Key Laboratory of Oncogenesis and Related Genes, Department of Oncology, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Lina He
- State Key Laboratory of Oncogenesis and Related Genes, Department of Oncology, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Baiweng Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Oncogenesis and Related Genes, Department of Oncology, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Shuiping Tu
- State Key Laboratory of Oncogenesis and Related Genes, Department of Oncology, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
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Dong P, Yan Y, Fan Y, Wang H, Wu D, Yang L, Zhang J, Yin X, Lv Y, Zhang J, Hou Y, Liu F, Yu X. The Role of Myeloid-Derived Suppressor Cells in the Treatment of Pancreatic Cancer. Technol Cancer Res Treat 2022; 21:15330338221142472. [PMID: 36573015 PMCID: PMC9806441 DOI: 10.1177/15330338221142472] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Pancreatic cancer has the highest mortality rate of all major cancers, with a 5-year survival rate of about 10%. Early warning signs and symptoms of pancreatic cancer are vague or nonexistent, and most patients are diagnosed in Stage IV, when surgery is not an option for about 80%-85% of patients. For patients with inoperable pancreatic cancer, current conventional treatment modalities such as chemotherapy and radiotherapy (RT) have suboptimal efficacy. Tumor progression is closely associated with the tumor microenvironment, which includes peripheral blood vessels, bone marrow-derived inflammatory cells, fibroblasts, immune cells, signaling molecules, and extracellular matrix. Tumor cells affect the microenvironment by releasing extracellular signaling molecules, inducing peripheral immune tolerance, and promoting tumor angiogenesis. In turn, the immune cells of the tumor affect the survival and proliferation of cancer cells. Myeloid-derived suppressor cells are key cellular components in the tumor microenvironment and exert immunosuppressive functions by producing cytokines, recognizing other immune cells, and promoting tumor growth and metastasis. Myeloid-derived suppressor cells are the main regulator of the tumor immune response and a key target for tumor treatments. Since the combination of RT and immunotherapy is the main strategy for the treatment of pancreatic cancer, it is very important to understand the immune mechanisms which lead to MDSCs generation and the failure of current therapies in order to develop new target-based therapies. This review summarizes the research advances on the role of Myeloid-derived suppressor cells in the progression of pancreatic cancer and its treatment application in recent years.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peng Dong
- Department of oncology, The First affiliated hospital of Shandong First Medical University & Shandong Provincial Qianfoshan Hospital, Shandong Key Laboratory of Rheumatic Disease and Translational Medicine, Shandong Lung Cancer Institute, Shandong, China
| | - Yu Yan
- Department of oncology, The First affiliated hospital of Shandong First Medical University & Shandong Provincial Qianfoshan Hospital, Shandong Key Laboratory of Rheumatic Disease and Translational Medicine, Shandong Lung Cancer Institute, Shandong, China
| | - Yujun Fan
- Medical Management Center,Health Commission of Shandong Province, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Hui Wang
- Department of oncology, The First affiliated hospital of Shandong First Medical University & Shandong Provincial Qianfoshan Hospital, Shandong Key Laboratory of Rheumatic Disease and Translational Medicine, Shandong Lung Cancer Institute, Shandong, China
| | - Danzhu Wu
- Department of oncology, The First affiliated hospital of Shandong First Medical University & Shandong Provincial Qianfoshan Hospital, Shandong Key Laboratory of Rheumatic Disease and Translational Medicine, Shandong Lung Cancer Institute, Shandong, China,Department of Oncology, Clinical Medical College of Jining Medical University, Jining, Shandong, China
| | - Liyuan Yang
- Department of oncology, The First affiliated hospital of Shandong First Medical University & Shandong Provincial Qianfoshan Hospital, Shandong Key Laboratory of Rheumatic Disease and Translational Medicine, Shandong Lung Cancer Institute, Shandong, China
| | - Junpeng Zhang
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Shandong Cancer Hospital and Institute, Shandong First Medical University and Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan, China,Department of Oncology, The Second Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine Shandong University, Jinan, China
| | - Xiaoyang Yin
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Shandong Cancer Hospital and Institute, Shandong First Medical University and Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan, China
| | - Yajuan Lv
- Department of oncology, The First affiliated hospital of Shandong First Medical University & Shandong Provincial Qianfoshan Hospital, Shandong Key Laboratory of Rheumatic Disease and Translational Medicine, Shandong Lung Cancer Institute, Shandong, China
| | - Jiandong Zhang
- Department of oncology, The First affiliated hospital of Shandong First Medical University & Shandong Provincial Qianfoshan Hospital, Shandong Key Laboratory of Rheumatic Disease and Translational Medicine, Shandong Lung Cancer Institute, Shandong, China
| | - Yuzhu Hou
- Department of Pathogenic Microbiology and Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, ShaanXi, China
| | - Fengjun Liu
- Department of oncology, The First affiliated hospital of Shandong First Medical University & Shandong Provincial Qianfoshan Hospital, Shandong Key Laboratory of Rheumatic Disease and Translational Medicine, Shandong Lung Cancer Institute, Shandong, China
| | - Xinshuang Yu
- Department of oncology, The First affiliated hospital of Shandong First Medical University & Shandong Provincial Qianfoshan Hospital, Shandong Key Laboratory of Rheumatic Disease and Translational Medicine, Shandong Lung Cancer Institute, Shandong, China,Xinshuang Yu, Department of Oncology, The First affiliated hospital of Shandong First Medical University and Shandong Provincial Qianfoshan Hospital, Shandong Key Laboratory of Rheumatic Disease and Translational Medicine, Shandong Lung Cancer Institute, Shandong, China.
Fengjun Liu, Department of Oncology, The First affiliated hospital of Shandong First Medical University and Shandong Provincial Qianfoshan Hospital, Shandong Key Laboratory of Rheumatic Disease and Translational Medicine, Shandong Lung Cancer Institute, Shandong, China.
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Chen Y, Sun J, Luo Y, Liu J, Wang X, Feng R, Huang J, Du H, Li Q, Tan J, Ren G, Wang X, Li H. Pharmaceutical targeting Th2-mediated immunity enhances immunotherapy response in breast cancer. J Transl Med 2022; 20:615. [PMID: 36564797 PMCID: PMC9783715 DOI: 10.1186/s12967-022-03807-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2022] [Accepted: 12/02/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Breast cancer is a complex disease with a highly immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment, and has limited clinical response to immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) therapy. T-helper 2 (Th2) cells, an important component of the tumor microenvironment (TME), play an essential role in regulation of tumor immunity. However, the deep relationship between Th2-mediated immunity and immune evasion in breast cancer remains enigmatic. METHODS Here, we first used bioinformatics analysis to explore the correlation between Th2 infiltration and immune landscape in breast cancer. Suplatast tosilate (IPD-1151 T, IPD), an inhibitor of Th2 function, was then employed to investigate the biological effects of Th2 blockade on tumor growth and immune microenvironment in immunocompetent murine breast cancer models. The tumor microenvironment was analyzed by flow cytometry, mass cytometry, and immunofluorescence staining. Furthermore, we examined the efficacy of IPD combination with ICB treatment by evaluating TME, tumor growth and mice survival. RESULTS Our bioinformatics analysis suggested that higher infiltration of Th2 cells indicates a tumor immunosuppressive microenvironment in breast cancer. In three murine breast cancer models (EO771, 4T1 and EMT6), IPD significantly inhibited the IL-4 secretion by Th2 cells, promoted Th2 to Th1 switching, remodeled the immune landscape and inhibited tumor growth. Remarkably, CD8+ T cell infiltration and the cytotoxic activity of cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) in tumor tissues were evidently enhanced after IPD treatment. Furthermore, increased effector CD4+ T cells and decreased myeloid-derived suppressor cells and M2-like macrophages were also demonstrated in IPD-treated tumors. Importantly, we found IPD reinforced the therapeutic response of ICB without increasing potential adverse effects. CONCLUSIONS Our findings demonstrate that pharmaceutical inhibition of Th2 cell function improves ICB response via remodeling immune landscape of TME, which illustrates a promising combinatorial immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuru Chen
- grid.452206.70000 0004 1758 417XChongqing Key Laboratory of Molecular Oncology and Epigenetics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400016 China ,grid.452206.70000 0004 1758 417XDepartment of Endocrine and Breast Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400016 China
| | - Jiazheng Sun
- grid.452206.70000 0004 1758 417XChongqing Key Laboratory of Molecular Oncology and Epigenetics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400016 China ,grid.452206.70000 0004 1758 417XDepartment of Endocrine and Breast Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400016 China
| | - Yachan Luo
- grid.452206.70000 0004 1758 417XDepartment of Pharmacy, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400016 China
| | - Jiazhou Liu
- grid.452206.70000 0004 1758 417XChongqing Key Laboratory of Molecular Oncology and Epigenetics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400016 China ,grid.452206.70000 0004 1758 417XDepartment of Endocrine and Breast Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400016 China
| | - Xiaoyu Wang
- grid.452206.70000 0004 1758 417XChongqing Key Laboratory of Molecular Oncology and Epigenetics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400016 China ,grid.452206.70000 0004 1758 417XDepartment of Endocrine and Breast Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400016 China
| | - Rui Feng
- grid.452206.70000 0004 1758 417XChongqing Key Laboratory of Molecular Oncology and Epigenetics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400016 China ,grid.452206.70000 0004 1758 417XDepartment of Endocrine and Breast Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400016 China
| | - Jing Huang
- grid.452206.70000 0004 1758 417XDepartment of Respiratory, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400016 China
| | - Huimin Du
- grid.452206.70000 0004 1758 417XDepartment of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400016 China
| | - Qin Li
- grid.411610.30000 0004 1764 2878Department of Oncology, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100050 China
| | - Jinxiang Tan
- grid.452206.70000 0004 1758 417XDepartment of Endocrine and Breast Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400016 China
| | - Guosheng Ren
- grid.452206.70000 0004 1758 417XChongqing Key Laboratory of Molecular Oncology and Epigenetics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400016 China ,grid.452206.70000 0004 1758 417XDepartment of Endocrine and Breast Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400016 China
| | - Xiaoyi Wang
- grid.452206.70000 0004 1758 417XDepartment of Endocrine and Breast Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400016 China
| | - Hongzhong Li
- grid.452206.70000 0004 1758 417XChongqing Key Laboratory of Molecular Oncology and Epigenetics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400016 China ,grid.452206.70000 0004 1758 417XDepartment of Endocrine and Breast Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400016 China
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Cheng ASL. Meltdown of the cold tumour microenvironment: a new 'translational' approach to augment immunotherapy efficacy. Gut 2022; 72:gutjnl-2022-328861. [PMID: 36591616 DOI: 10.1136/gutjnl-2022-328861] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2022] [Accepted: 12/06/2022] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Alfred Sze-Lok Cheng
- School of Biomedical Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong
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115
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Zhang FP, Zhu K, Zhu TF, Liu CQ, Zhang HH, Xu LB, Xiao G, Liu C. Intra-Tumoral Secondary Follicle-like Tertiary Lymphoid Structures Are Associated with a Superior Prognosis of Overall Survival of Perihilar Cholangiocarcinoma. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14246107. [PMID: 36551593 PMCID: PMC9776022 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14246107] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2022] [Revised: 12/07/2022] [Accepted: 12/09/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Ectopic lymphoid structures termed tertiary lymphoid structures (TLSs) have an immunomodulatory function and positively affect prognosis in certain cancers. However, their clinical relevance and prognostic utility in perihilar cholangiocarcinoma (pCCA) are unknown. Therefore, determining the involvement and prognostic utility of TLSs in pCCA is the aim of this study. Ninety-three patients with surgically resected pCCA were included retrospectively. Hematoxylin and eosin and immunohistochemical staining identified and classified the TLSs, and multiplex immunofluorescence determined the TLS composition in the pCCA sample. The correlations between clinical features and TLSs were analyzed using either Fisher's exact test or the Chi-squared test. Recurrence-free survival (RFS) and overall survival (OS) correlations with TLSs were analyzed using Cox regression and Kaplan-Meier analyses. We identified TLSs in 86% of patients with pCCA, including lymphoid aggregates (6.45%), primary (13.98%) and secondary follicles (65.59%). Patients with intra-tumoral secondary follicle-like TLSs (S-TLSs) had better OS (p = 0.003) and RFS (p = 0.0313). The multivariate analysis identified the presence of S-TLSs as a good independent prognostic indicator for OS but not for RFS. Interestingly, the presence of S-TLS only indicated better 5-year OS in 54 patients without lymph node metastasis (LNM-, p = 0.0232) but not in the 39 patients with lymph node metastasis (LNM+, p = 0.1244). Intra-tumoral S-TLSs predicted longer OS in patients with surgically resected pCCA, suggesting intra-tumoral S-TLSs' contribution to effective antitumor immunity and that S-TLSs hold promise for diagnostic and therapeutic development in pCCA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fa-Peng Zhang
- Department of Biliary-Pancreatic Surgery, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510120, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Epigenetics and Gene Regulation, Guangdong-Hong Kong Joint Laboratory for RNA Medicine, Department of Biliary-Pancreatic Surgery, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510120, China
| | - Ke Zhu
- Department of Biliary-Pancreatic Surgery, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510120, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Epigenetics and Gene Regulation, Guangdong-Hong Kong Joint Laboratory for RNA Medicine, Department of Biliary-Pancreatic Surgery, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510120, China
| | - Tai-Feng Zhu
- Department of Biliary-Pancreatic Surgery, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510120, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Epigenetics and Gene Regulation, Guangdong-Hong Kong Joint Laboratory for RNA Medicine, Department of Biliary-Pancreatic Surgery, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510120, China
| | - Chao-Qun Liu
- Department of Biliary-Pancreatic Surgery, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510120, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Epigenetics and Gene Regulation, Guangdong-Hong Kong Joint Laboratory for RNA Medicine, Department of Biliary-Pancreatic Surgery, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510120, China
- Department of Pathology, Guangdong Provincial People’s Hospital, Academy of Medical Sciences, Guangzhou 510080, China
| | - Hong-Hua Zhang
- Department of Biliary-Pancreatic Surgery, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510120, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Epigenetics and Gene Regulation, Guangdong-Hong Kong Joint Laboratory for RNA Medicine, Department of Biliary-Pancreatic Surgery, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510120, China
| | - Lei-Bo Xu
- Department of Biliary-Pancreatic Surgery, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510120, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Epigenetics and Gene Regulation, Guangdong-Hong Kong Joint Laboratory for RNA Medicine, Department of Biliary-Pancreatic Surgery, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510120, China
| | - Gang Xiao
- Department of Biliary-Pancreatic Surgery, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510120, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Epigenetics and Gene Regulation, Guangdong-Hong Kong Joint Laboratory for RNA Medicine, Department of Biliary-Pancreatic Surgery, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510120, China
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Guangzhou First People’s Hospital, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510180, China
- Correspondence: (G.X.); (C.L.); Tel.: +86-20-81048236 (G.X.); +86-20-34078840 (C.L.)
| | - Chao Liu
- Department of Biliary-Pancreatic Surgery, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510120, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Epigenetics and Gene Regulation, Guangdong-Hong Kong Joint Laboratory for RNA Medicine, Department of Biliary-Pancreatic Surgery, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510120, China
- Correspondence: (G.X.); (C.L.); Tel.: +86-20-81048236 (G.X.); +86-20-34078840 (C.L.)
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Alvisi G, Termanini A, Soldani C, Portale F, Carriero R, Pilipow K, Costa G, Polidoro M, Franceschini B, Malenica I, Puccio S, Lise V, Galletti G, Zanon V, Colombo FS, De Simone G, Tufano M, Aghemo A, Di Tommaso L, Peano C, Cibella J, Iannacone M, Roychoudhuri R, Manzo T, Donadon M, Torzilli G, Kunderfranco P, Di Mitri D, Lugli E, Lleo A. Multimodal single-cell profiling of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma defines hyperactivated Tregs as a potential therapeutic target. J Hepatol 2022; 77:1359-1372. [PMID: 35738508 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhep.2022.05.043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2021] [Revised: 05/24/2022] [Accepted: 05/31/2022] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND & AIMS The landscape and function of the immune infiltrate of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (iCCA), a rare, yet aggressive tumor of the biliary tract, remains poorly characterized, limiting development of successful immunotherapies. Herein, we aimed to define the molecular characteristics of tumor-infiltrating leukocytes with a special focus on CD4+ regulatory T cells (Tregs). METHODS We used high-dimensional single-cell technologies to characterize the T-cell and myeloid compartments of iCCA tissues, comparing these with their tumor-free peritumoral and circulating counterparts. We further used genomics and cellular assays to define the iCCA-specific role of a novel transcription factor, mesenchyme homeobox 1 (MEOX1), in Treg biology. RESULTS We found poor infiltration of putative tumor-specific CD39+ CD8+ T cells accompanied by abundant infiltration of hyperactivated CD4+ Tregs. Single-cell RNA-sequencing identified an altered network of transcription factors in iCCA-infiltrating compared to peritumoral T cells, suggesting reduced effector functions by tumor-infiltrating CD8+ T cells and enhanced immunosuppression by CD4+ Tregs. Specifically, we found that expression of MEOX1 was highly enriched in tumor-infiltrating Tregs, and demonstrated that MEOX1 overexpression is sufficient to reprogram circulating Tregs to acquire the transcriptional and epigenetic landscape of tumor-infiltrating Tregs. Accordingly, enrichment of the MEOX1-dependent gene program in Tregs was strongly associated with poor prognosis in a large cohort of patients with iCCA. CONCLUSIONS We observed abundant infiltration of hyperactivated CD4+ Tregs in iCCA tumors along with reduced CD8+ T-cell effector functions. Interfering with hyperactivated Tregs should be explored as an approach to enhance antitumor immunity in iCCA. LAY SUMMARY Immune cells have the potential to slow or halt the progression of tumors. However, some tumors, such as intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma, are associated with very limited immune responses (and infiltration of cancer-targeting immune cells). Herein, we show that a specific population of regulatory T cells (a type of immune cell that actually suppresses the immune response) are hyperactivated in intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma. Targeting these cells could enable cancer-targeting immune cells to act more effectively and should be looked at as a potential therapeutic approach to this aggressive cancer type.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giorgia Alvisi
- Laboratory of Translational Immunology, IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, via Manzoni 56, 20089, Rozzano, Milan, Italy
| | - Alberto Termanini
- Bioinformatics Unit, IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, via Manzoni 56, 20089, Rozzano, Milan, Italy
| | - Cristiana Soldani
- Laboratory of Hepatobiliary Immunopathology, IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, via Manzoni 56, 20089, Rozzano, Milan, Italy
| | - Federica Portale
- Laboratory of Tumor Microenvironment, IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, via Manzoni 56, 20089, Rozzano, Milan, Italy
| | - Roberta Carriero
- Bioinformatics Unit, IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, via Manzoni 56, 20089, Rozzano, Milan, Italy
| | - Karolina Pilipow
- Laboratory of Translational Immunology, IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, via Manzoni 56, 20089, Rozzano, Milan, Italy
| | - Guido Costa
- Humanitas University, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Via Rita Levi Montalcini 4, 20090 Pieve Emanuele - Milan, Italy; Division of Hepatobiliary and General Surgery, IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, via Manzoni 56, 20089, Rozzano, Milan, Italy
| | - Michela Polidoro
- Laboratory of Hepatobiliary Immunopathology, IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, via Manzoni 56, 20089, Rozzano, Milan, Italy
| | - Barbara Franceschini
- Laboratory of Hepatobiliary Immunopathology, IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, via Manzoni 56, 20089, Rozzano, Milan, Italy
| | - Ines Malenica
- Laboratory of Hepatobiliary Immunopathology, IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, via Manzoni 56, 20089, Rozzano, Milan, Italy
| | - Simone Puccio
- Laboratory of Translational Immunology, IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, via Manzoni 56, 20089, Rozzano, Milan, Italy; Institute of Genetic and Biomedical Research, UoS Milan, National Research Council, Rozzano, Milan, Italy
| | - Veronica Lise
- Laboratory of Translational Immunology, IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, via Manzoni 56, 20089, Rozzano, Milan, Italy; Humanitas University, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Via Rita Levi Montalcini 4, 20090 Pieve Emanuele - Milan, Italy
| | - Giovanni Galletti
- Laboratory of Translational Immunology, IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, via Manzoni 56, 20089, Rozzano, Milan, Italy
| | - Veronica Zanon
- Laboratory of Translational Immunology, IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, via Manzoni 56, 20089, Rozzano, Milan, Italy
| | - Federico Simone Colombo
- Flow Cytometry Core, IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, via Manzoni 56, 20089, Rozzano, Milan, Italy
| | - Gabriele De Simone
- Flow Cytometry Core, IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, via Manzoni 56, 20089, Rozzano, Milan, Italy
| | - Michele Tufano
- Laboratory of Translational Immunology, IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, via Manzoni 56, 20089, Rozzano, Milan, Italy
| | - Alessio Aghemo
- Humanitas University, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Via Rita Levi Montalcini 4, 20090 Pieve Emanuele - Milan, Italy; Division of Internal Medicine and Hepatology, Department of Gastroenterology, IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, Rozzano, Milan, Italy
| | - Luca Di Tommaso
- Humanitas University, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Via Rita Levi Montalcini 4, 20090 Pieve Emanuele - Milan, Italy; Department of Pathology, IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, via Manzoni 56, 20089, Rozzano, Milan, Italy
| | - Clelia Peano
- Institute of Genetic and Biomedical Research, UoS Milan, National Research Council, Rozzano, Milan, Italy; Genomic Unit, IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, via Manzoni 56, 20089, Rozzano, Milan, Italy; Human Technopole, Viale Rita Levi Montalcini 1, 20157, Milan, Italy
| | - Javier Cibella
- Genomic Unit, IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, via Manzoni 56, 20089, Rozzano, Milan, Italy
| | - Matteo Iannacone
- Division of Immunology, Transplantation and Infectious Diseases, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, 20132 Milan, Italy; Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, 20132 Milan, Italy; Experimental Imaging Centre, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, 20132 Milan, Italy
| | - Rahul Roychoudhuri
- Department of Pathology, University of Cambridge, CB2 3QP, United Kingdom
| | - Teresa Manzo
- Department of Experimental Oncology, European Institute of Oncology- IRCCS, Milan, Italy
| | - Matteo Donadon
- Humanitas University, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Via Rita Levi Montalcini 4, 20090 Pieve Emanuele - Milan, Italy; Division of Hepatobiliary and General Surgery, IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, via Manzoni 56, 20089, Rozzano, Milan, Italy
| | - Guido Torzilli
- Humanitas University, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Via Rita Levi Montalcini 4, 20090 Pieve Emanuele - Milan, Italy; Division of Hepatobiliary and General Surgery, IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, via Manzoni 56, 20089, Rozzano, Milan, Italy
| | - Paolo Kunderfranco
- Bioinformatics Unit, IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, via Manzoni 56, 20089, Rozzano, Milan, Italy
| | - Diletta Di Mitri
- Laboratory of Tumor Microenvironment, IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, via Manzoni 56, 20089, Rozzano, Milan, Italy; Humanitas University, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Via Rita Levi Montalcini 4, 20090 Pieve Emanuele - Milan, Italy
| | - Enrico Lugli
- Laboratory of Translational Immunology, IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, via Manzoni 56, 20089, Rozzano, Milan, Italy.
| | - Ana Lleo
- Humanitas University, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Via Rita Levi Montalcini 4, 20090 Pieve Emanuele - Milan, Italy; Division of Internal Medicine and Hepatology, Department of Gastroenterology, IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, Rozzano, Milan, Italy
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Wang T, Xu C, Zhang Z, Wu H, Li X, Zhang Y, Deng N, Dang N, Tang G, Yang X, Shi B, Li Z, Li L, Ye K. Cellular heterogeneity and transcriptomic profiles during intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma initiation and progression. Hepatology 2022; 76:1302-1317. [PMID: 35340039 PMCID: PMC9790314 DOI: 10.1002/hep.32483] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2021] [Revised: 03/23/2022] [Accepted: 03/24/2022] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS Intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) is not fully investigated, and how stromal cells contribute to ICC formation is poorly understood. We aimed to uncover ICC origin, cellular heterogeneity, and critical modulators during ICC initiation/progression, and to decipher how fibroblast and endothelial cells in the stromal compartment favor ICC progression. APPROACH AND RESULTS We performed single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) using AKT/Notch intracellular domain-induced mouse ICC tissues at early, middle, and late stages. We analyzed the transcriptomic landscape, cellular classification and evolution, and intercellular communication during ICC initiation/progression. We confirmed the findings using quantitative real-time PCR, western blotting, immunohistochemistry or immunofluorescence, and gene knockout/knockdown analysis. We identified stress-responding and proliferating subpopulations in late-stage mouse ICC tissues and validated them using human scRNA-seq data sets. By integrating weighted correlation network analysis and protein-protein interaction through least absolute shrinkage and selection operator regression, we identified zinc finger, MIZ-type containing 1 (Zmiz1) and Y box protein 1 (Ybx1) as core transcription factors required by stress-responding and proliferating ICC cells, respectively. Knockout of either one led to the blockade of ICC initiation/progression. Using two other ICC mouse models (YAP/AKT, KRAS/p19) and human ICC scRNA-seq data sets, we confirmed the orchestrating roles of Zmiz1 and Ybx1 in ICC occurrence and development. In addition, hes family bHLH transcription factor 1, cofilin 1, and inhibitor of DNA binding 1 were identified as driver genes for ICC. Moreover, periportal liver sinusoidal endothelial cells could differentiate into tip endothelial cells to promote ICC development, and this was Dll4-Notch4-Efnb2 signaling-dependent. CONCLUSIONS Stress-responding and ICC proliferating subtypes were identified, and Zmiz1 and Ybx1 were revealed as core transcription factors in these subtypes. Fibroblast-endothelial cell interaction promotes ICC development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tingjie Wang
- School of Automation Science and EngineeringFaculty of Electronic and Information EngineeringXi’an Jiaotong UniversityXi’anShaanxiChina
| | - Chuanrui Xu
- School of PharmacyTongji Medical CollegeHuazhong University of Science and TechnologyWuhanChina
| | - Zhijing Zhang
- School of PharmacyTongji Medical CollegeHuazhong University of Science and TechnologyWuhanChina
| | - Hua Wu
- School of PharmacyTongji Medical CollegeHuazhong University of Science and TechnologyWuhanChina
| | - Xiujuan Li
- School of Automation Science and EngineeringFaculty of Electronic and Information EngineeringXi’an Jiaotong UniversityXi’anShaanxiChina
| | - Yu Zhang
- School of PharmacyTongji Medical CollegeHuazhong University of Science and TechnologyWuhanChina
| | - Nan Deng
- School of PharmacyTongji Medical CollegeHuazhong University of Science and TechnologyWuhanChina
| | - Ningxin Dang
- Genome Institutethe First Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong UniversityXi’anShaanxiChina
| | - Guangbo Tang
- School of Life Science and TechnologyXi’an Jiaotong UniversityXi’anShaanxiChina
| | - Xiaofei Yang
- School of Computer Science and TechnologyFaculty of Electronic and Information EngineeringXi’an Jiaotong UniversityXi’anShaanxiChina,Genome Institutethe First Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong UniversityXi’anShaanxiChina,MOE Key Lab for Intelligent Networks & Networks SecurityFaculty of Electronic and Information EngineeringXi’an Jiaotong UniversityXi’anShaanxiChina
| | - Bingyin Shi
- Department of Endocrinologythe First Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong UniversityXi’anShaanxiChina
| | - Zihang Li
- School of Life Science and TechnologyXi’an Jiaotong UniversityXi’anShaanxiChina
| | - Lei Li
- School of PharmacyTongji Medical CollegeHuazhong University of Science and TechnologyWuhanChina
| | - Kai Ye
- School of Automation Science and EngineeringFaculty of Electronic and Information EngineeringXi’an Jiaotong UniversityXi’anShaanxiChina,Genome Institutethe First Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong UniversityXi’anShaanxiChina,School of Life Science and TechnologyXi’an Jiaotong UniversityXi’anShaanxiChina,Faculty of ScienceLeiden UniversityLeidenthe Netherlands,MOE Key Lab for Intelligent Networks & Networks SecurityFaculty of Electronic and Information EngineeringXi’an Jiaotong UniversityXi’anShaanxiChina
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Wu Z, Lei K, Li H, He J, Shi E. Transcriptome-based network analysis related to M2-like tumor-associated macrophage infiltration identified VARS1 as a potential target for improving melanoma immunotherapy efficacy. J Transl Med 2022; 20:489. [PMID: 36303162 PMCID: PMC9615154 DOI: 10.1186/s12967-022-03686-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2022] [Revised: 09/23/2022] [Accepted: 10/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
RATIONALE The M2-like tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) are independent prognostic factors in melanoma. METHODS We performed weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) to identify the module most correlated with M2-like TAMs. The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) patients were classified into two clusters that differed based on prognosis and biological function, with consensus clustering. A prognostic model was established based on the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) of the two clusters. We investigated the difference in immune cell infiltration and immune response-related gene expression between the high and low risk score groups. RESULTS The risk score was defined as an independent prognostic value in melanoma. VARS1 was a hub gene in the M2-like macrophage-associated WGCNA module that the DepMap portal demonstrated was necessary for melanoma growth. Overexpressing VARS1 in vitro increased melanoma cell migration and invasion, while downregulating VARS1 had the opposite result. VARS1 overexpression promoted M2 macrophage polarization and increased TGF-β1 concentrations in tumor cell supernatant in vitro. VARS1 expression was inversely correlated with immune-related signaling pathways and the expression of several immune checkpoint genes. In addition, the VARS1 expression level helped predict the response to anti-PD-1 immunotherapy. Pan-cancer analysis demonstrated that VARS1 expression negatively correlated with CD8 T cell infiltration and the immune response-related pathways in most cancers. CONCLUSION We established an M2-like TAM-related prognostic model for melanoma and explored the role of VARS1 in melanoma progression, M2 macrophage polarization, and the development of immunotherapy resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhengquan Wu
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, University of Munich, 81377, Munich, Germany.,Walter Brendel Center for Experimental Medicine, University of Munich, 81377, Munich, Germany
| | - Ke Lei
- Department of Dermatology, The Second People's Hospital of Chengdu, 610021, Chengdu, People's Republic of China
| | - Huaizhi Li
- Department of Endocrinology, Shenzhen University General Hospital, Shenzhen University, 518055, Shenzhen, People's Republic of China
| | - Jiali He
- Shenzhen Healthcare Committee Office, 518020, Shenzhen, People's Republic of China
| | - Enxian Shi
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, University of Munich, 81377, Munich, Germany.
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Liu H, Zeng X, Ren X, Zhang Y, Huang M, Tan L, Dai Z, Lai J, Xie W, Chen Z, Peng S, Xu L, Chen S, Shen S, Kuang M, Lin S. Targeting tumour-intrinsic N 7-methylguanosine tRNA modification inhibits MDSC recruitment and improves anti-PD-1 efficacy. Gut 2022:gutjnl-2022-327230. [PMID: 36283801 DOI: 10.1136/gutjnl-2022-327230] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2022] [Accepted: 10/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) exhibits very low response rate to immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) and the underlying mechanism is largely unknown. We investigate the tumour immune microenvironment (TIME) of ICCs and the underlying regulatory mechanisms with the aim of developing new target to inhibit tumour growth and improve anti-programmed cell death protein-1 (PD-1) efficacy. DESIGN Tumour tissues from patients with ICC together with hydrodynamic ICC mouse models were employed to identify the key cell population in TIME of ICCs. Functional analysis and mechanism studies were performed using cell culture, conditional knockout mouse model and hydrodynamic transfection ICC model. The efficacy of single or combined therapy with anti-PD-1 antibody, gene knockout and chemical inhibitor were evaluated in vivo. RESULTS Polymorphonuclear myeloid-derived suppressor cells (PMN-MDSCs) are enriched in advanced ICCs and significantly correlated with N7-methylguanosine tRNA methyltransferase METTL1. Using diverse in vivo cancer models, we demonstrate the crucial immunomodulator function of METTL1 in regulation of PMN-MDSC accumulation in TIME and ICC progression. Mechanistically, CXCL8 in human and Cxcl5 in mouse are key translational targets of METTL1 that facilitate its function in promoting PMN-MDSC accumulation in TIME and ICC progression in vivo. Co-blockade of METTL1 and its downstream chemokine pathway enhances the anti-PD-1 efficacy in ICC preclinical mouse models. CONCLUSIONS Our data uncover novel mechanisms underlying chemokine regulation and TIME shaping at the layer of messenger RNA translation level and provide new insights for development of efficient cancer immunotherapeutic strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haining Liu
- Center of Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Xuezhen Zeng
- Center of Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China.,Institute of Precision Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Xuxin Ren
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Yifan Zhang
- Center of Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Manling Huang
- Institute of Precision Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China.,Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Li Tan
- Center of Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Zihao Dai
- Center of Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Jiaming Lai
- Center of Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Wenxuan Xie
- Center of Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Zebin Chen
- Center of Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Sui Peng
- Institute of Precision Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China.,Clinical Trials Unit, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China.,Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Lixia Xu
- Institute of Precision Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China.,Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Shuling Chen
- Institute of Precision Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China.,Division of Interventional Ultrasound, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Shunli Shen
- Center of Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Ming Kuang
- Center of Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China .,Institute of Precision Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China.,Sun Yat-sen University Zhongshan School of Medicine, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Shuibin Lin
- Institute of Precision Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China .,Center for Translational Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
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High Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte Ratio Facilitates Cancer Growth-Currently Marketed Drugs Tadalafil, Isotretinoin, Colchicine, and Omega-3 to Reduce It: The TICO Regimen. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14194965. [PMID: 36230888 PMCID: PMC9564173 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14194965] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2022] [Revised: 10/03/2022] [Accepted: 10/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Several elements that are composed of, or related to, neutrophils, have been shown to inhibit strong immune responses to cancer and promote cancers’ growth. This paper presents the collected data showing these elements and how their coordinated actions as an ensemble facilitate growth in the common cancers. The paper goes on to present a drug regimen, TICO, designed to reduce the cancer growth enhancing effects of the neutrophil related elements. TICO uses four already marketed, readily available generic drugs, repurposed to inhibit neutrophil centered growth facilitation of cancer. Abstract This paper presents remarkably uniform data showing that higher NLR is a robust prognostic indicator of shorter overall survival across the common metastatic cancers. Myeloid derived suppressor cells, the NLRP3 inflammasome, neutrophil extracellular traps, and absolute neutrophil count tend to all be directly related to the NLR. They, individually and as an ensemble, contribute to cancer growth and metastasis. The multidrug regimen presented in this paper, TICO, was designed to decrease the NLR with potential to also reduce the other neutrophil related elements favoring malignant growth. TICO is comprised of already marketed generic drugs: the phosphodiesterase 5 inhibitor tadalafil, used to treat inadequate erections; isotretinoin, the retinoid used for acne treatment; colchicine, a standard gout (podagra) treatment; and the common fish oil supplement omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids. These individually impose low side effect burdens. The drugs of TICO are old, cheap, well known, and available worldwide. They all have evidence of lowering the NLR or the growth contributing elements related to the NLR when clinically used in general medicine as reviewed in this paper.
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Shen R, Li P, Zhang B, Feng L, Cheng S. Decoding the colorectal cancer ecosystem emphasizes the cooperative role of cancer cells, TAMs and CAFsin tumor progression. J Transl Med 2022; 20:462. [PMID: 36209225 PMCID: PMC9548187 DOI: 10.1186/s12967-022-03661-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2022] [Accepted: 09/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Single-cell transcription data provided unprecedented molecular information, enabling us to directly encode the ecosystem of colorectal cancer (CRC). Characterization of the diversity of epithelial cells and how they cooperate with tumor microenvironment cells (TME) to endow CRC with aggressive characteristics at single-cell resolution is critical for the understanding of tumor progression mechanism. Methods In this study, we comprehensively analyzed the single-cell transcription data, bulk-RNA sequencing data and pathological tissue data. In detail, cellular heterogeneity of TME and epithelial cells were analyzed by unsupervised classification and consensus nonnegative matrix factorization analysis, respectively. Functional status of epithelial clusters was annotated by CancerSEA and its crosstalk with TME cells was investigated using CellPhoneDB and correlation analysis. Findings from single-cell transcription data were further validated in bulk-RNA sequencing data and pathological tissue data. Results A distinct cellular composition was observed between tumor and normal tissues, and tumors exhibited immunosuppressive phenotypes. Regarding epithelial cells, we identified one highly invasiveQuery cluster, C4, that correlated closely with tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) and cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs). Further analysis emphasized the TAMs subclass TAM1 and CAFs subclass S5 are closely related with C4. Conclusions In summary, our study elaborates on the cellular heterogeneity of CRC, revealing that TAMs and CAFs were critical for crosstalk network epithelial cells and TME cells. This in-depth understanding of cancer cell-TME network provided theoretical basis for the development of new drugs targeting this sophisticated network in CRC. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12967-022-03661-8.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rongfang Shen
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, Department of Etiology and Carcinogenesis, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, NO. 17 Panjiayuannanli, Chaoyang District, Beijing, 100021, China
| | - Ping Li
- Medical Oncology Department, Pediatric Oncology Center, Beijing Children's Hospital, Capital Medical University, National Center for Children's Health, Beijing Key Laboratory of Pediatric Hematology Oncology, Key Laboratory of Major Diseases in Children, Ministry of Education, Beijing, 100045, China
| | - Botao Zhang
- Department of Neuro-Oncology, Cancer Center, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Lin Feng
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, Department of Etiology and Carcinogenesis, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, NO. 17 Panjiayuannanli, Chaoyang District, Beijing, 100021, China.
| | - Shujun Cheng
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, Department of Etiology and Carcinogenesis, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, NO. 17 Panjiayuannanli, Chaoyang District, Beijing, 100021, China.
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Shao X, Hua S, Feng T, Ocansey DKW, Yin L. Hypoxia-Regulated Tumor-Derived Exosomes and Tumor Progression: A Focus on Immune Evasion. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms231911789. [PMID: 36233088 PMCID: PMC9570495 DOI: 10.3390/ijms231911789] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2022] [Revised: 09/24/2022] [Accepted: 09/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Tumor cells express a high quantity of exosomes packaged with unique cargos under hypoxia, an important characteristic feature in solid tumors. These hypoxic tumor-derived exosomes are, crucially, involved in the interaction of cancer cells with their microenvironment, facilitating not only immune evasion, but increased cell growth and survival, enhanced angiogenesis, epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT), therapeutic resistance, autophagy, pre-metastasis, and metastasis. This paper explores the tumor microenvironment (TME) remodeling effects of hypoxic tumor-derived exosome towards facilitating the tumor progression process, particularly, the modulatory role of these factors on tumor cell immune evasion through suppression of immune cells, expression of surface recognition molecules, and secretion of antitumor soluble factor. Tumor-expressed exosomes educate immune effector cells, including macrophages, monocytes, T cells, natural killer (NK) cells, dendritic cells (DCs), γδ T lymphocytes, regulatory T cells (Tregs), myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs), mast cells, and B cells, within the hypoxic TME through the release of factors that regulate their recruitment, phenotype, and function. Thus, both hypoxia and tumor-derived exosomes modulate immune cells, growth factors, cytokines, receptor molecules, and other soluble factors, which, together, collaborate to form the immune-suppressive milieu of the tumor environment. Exploring the contribution of exosomal cargos, such as RNAs and proteins, as indispensable players in the cross-talk within the hypoxic tumor microenvironmental provides a potential target for antitumor immunity or subverting immune evasion and enhancing tumor therapies.
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Low Complement Factor H-Related 3 (CFHR3) Expression Indicates Poor Prognosis and Immune Regulation in Cholangiocarcinoma. JOURNAL OF ONCOLOGY 2022; 2022:1752827. [PMID: 36213819 PMCID: PMC9546675 DOI: 10.1155/2022/1752827] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2022] [Revised: 09/06/2022] [Accepted: 09/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Background Cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) is a cancerous tumor that leads to a high rate of morbidity and death. Complement factor H-related 3 (CFHR3) is a gene belonging to the CFHR gene family. In this study, we investigated the usefulness of CFHR3 in the diagnostic stage and CCA prognosis prediction. In the interim, we looked at its coexpressed genes and their roles. The correlation between CFHR3 and immunological infiltration was also investigated. Methods The expression of the genes data and the clinical information were obtained from the databases of The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) together with the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO). The crucial gene was found to be the overlapping gene in the two databases. The area under the curve (AUC) and the Kaplan-Meier survival curve were used to describe the usefulness of the predictive prognosis of CCA patients. Univariate regression analysis and multivariate survival analysis were performed to find the independent prognosis factors. The PPI network was constructed based on the STRING database, and the coexpression approach was utilized in predicting the coexpression genes. Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analyses were also performed to identify the related functions. Additionally, the probable mechanism of the important gene was examined using gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA). The correlation between CFHR3 and immune infiltration was discovered using TIMER. The LncACTdb 3.0 database was used to analyze the location of CFHR3 in the cell. The cBioPortal database was used to find the mutation in CFHR3. Results TCGA datasets and GEO datasets revealed an elevated expression level of CFHR3 in normal tissues as well as a lower expression level in cholangiocarcinoma tissues in the present research. The low expression level of CFHR3 was related to an unfavorable prognosis. Using CFHR3 expression in diagnosis and predicting the patient prognosis (AUC = 1.000) is valuable. Using the CFHR3 gene and a time-lapse prediction, we could estimate survival rates over 1, 2, and 3 years. The AUC values were more than 0.6(AUC = 0.808; 0.760; 0.711). Functional enrichment analysis revealed a substantial correlation between this signature and complement and coagulation cascades. The same outcomes from GSEA were achieved. We found the key gene widely exists in the nucleus, exosomes, and cytoplasm of normal cells using the LncACTdb 3.0 database. In immune regulation analysis, we identified that the expression level of CFHR3 had a positive correlation with infiltrating levels of B cells, neutrophils, and macrophages, but correlated negatively with cholangiocarcinoma cells, CD8+ T cells, and monocytes.
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Liu Z, Zhou Z, Dang Q, Xu H, Lv J, Li H, Han X. Immunosuppression in tumor immune microenvironment and its optimization from CAR-T cell therapy. Am J Cancer Res 2022; 12:6273-6290. [PMID: 36168626 PMCID: PMC9475465 DOI: 10.7150/thno.76854] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2022] [Accepted: 08/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-T cell therapy represents a landmark advance in personalized cancer treatment. CAR-T strategy generally engineers T cells from a specific patient with a new antigen-specificity, which has achieved considerable success in hematological malignancies, but scarce benefits in solid tumors. Recent studies have demonstrated that tumor immune microenvironment (TIME) cast a profound impact on the immunotherapeutic response. The immunosuppressive landscape of TIME is a critical obstacle to the effector activity of CAR-T cells. Nevertheless, every cloud has a silver lining. The immunosuppressive components also shed new inspiration on reshaping a friendly TIME by targeting them with engineered CARs. Herein, we summarize recent advances in disincentives of TIME and discuss approaches and technologies to enhance CAR-T cell efficacy via addressing current hindrances. Simultaneously, we firmly believe that by parsing the immunosuppressive components of TIME, rationally manipulating the complex interactions of immunosuppressive components, and optimizing CAR-T cell therapy for each patient, the CAR-T cell immunotherapy responsiveness for solid malignancies will be substantially enhanced, and novel therapeutic targets will be revealed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zaoqu Liu
- Department of Interventional Radiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan 450052, China.,Interventional Institute of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan 450052, China.,Interventional Treatment and Clinical Research Center of Henan Province, Zhengzhou, Henan 450052, China
| | - Zhaokai Zhou
- Department of Pediatric Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan 450052, China
| | - Qin Dang
- Department of Colorectal Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan 450052, China
| | - Hui Xu
- Department of Interventional Radiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan 450052, China
| | - Jinxiang Lv
- Department of Gastroenterology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan 450052, China
| | - Huanyun Li
- Department of Interventional Radiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan 450052, China
| | - Xinwei Han
- Department of Interventional Radiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan 450052, China.,Interventional Institute of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan 450052, China.,Interventional Treatment and Clinical Research Center of Henan Province, Zhengzhou, Henan 450052, China
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Li PH, Kong XY, He YZ, Liu Y, Peng X, Li ZH, Xu H, Luo H, Park J. Recent developments in application of single-cell RNA sequencing in the tumour immune microenvironment and cancer therapy. Mil Med Res 2022; 9:52. [PMID: 36154923 PMCID: PMC9511789 DOI: 10.1186/s40779-022-00414-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2022] [Accepted: 08/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
The advent of single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) has provided insight into the tumour immune microenvironment (TIME). This review focuses on the application of scRNA-seq in investigation of the TIME. Over time, scRNA-seq methods have evolved, and components of the TIME have been deciphered with high resolution. In this review, we first introduced the principle of scRNA-seq and compared different sequencing approaches. Novel cell types in the TIME, a continuous transitional state, and mutual intercommunication among TIME components present potential targets for prognosis prediction and treatment in cancer. Thus, we concluded novel cell clusters of cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs), T cells, tumour-associated macrophages (TAMs) and dendritic cells (DCs) discovered after the application of scRNA-seq in TIME. We also proposed the development of TAMs and exhausted T cells, as well as the possible targets to interrupt the process. In addition, the therapeutic interventions based on cellular interactions in TIME were also summarized. For decades, quantification of the TIME components has been adopted in clinical practice to predict patient survival and response to therapy and is expected to play an important role in the precise treatment of cancer. Summarizing the current findings, we believe that advances in technology and wide application of single-cell analysis can lead to the discovery of novel perspectives on cancer therapy, which can subsequently be implemented in the clinic. Finally, we propose some future directions in the field of TIME studies that can be aided by scRNA-seq technology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pei-Heng Li
- Department of Thyroid and Parathyroid Surgery, Laboratory of Thyroid and Parathyroid Disease, Frontiers Science Centre for Disease-Related Molecular Network, Department of General Surgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610044, China
| | - Xiang-Yu Kong
- Department of Thyroid and Parathyroid Surgery, Laboratory of Thyroid and Parathyroid Disease, Frontiers Science Centre for Disease-Related Molecular Network, Department of General Surgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610044, China
| | - Ya-Zhou He
- Department of Oncology, West China School of Public Health and West China Fourth Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610044, China
| | - Yi Liu
- Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, Rare Diseases Centre, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610044, China
| | - Xi Peng
- College of Computer Science, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610065, China
| | - Zhi-Hui Li
- Department of Thyroid and Parathyroid Surgery, Laboratory of Thyroid and Parathyroid Disease, Frontiers Science Centre for Disease-Related Molecular Network, Department of General Surgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610044, China
| | - Heng Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Centre, West China Hospital, Sichuan University and Collaborative Innovation Centre, Chengdu, 610044, China
| | - Han Luo
- Department of Thyroid and Parathyroid Surgery, Laboratory of Thyroid and Parathyroid Disease, Frontiers Science Centre for Disease-Related Molecular Network, Department of General Surgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610044, China.
| | - Jihwan Park
- School of Life Sciences, Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology (GIST), Gwangju, 61005, Republic of Korea.
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126
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Li Z, Yu Q, Zhu Q, Yang X, Li Z, Fu J. Applications of machine learning in tumor-associated macrophages. Front Immunol 2022; 13:985863. [PMID: 36211379 PMCID: PMC9538115 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.985863] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2022] [Accepted: 09/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Evaluation of tumor-host interaction and intratumoral heterogeneity in the tumor microenvironment (TME) is gaining increasing attention in modern cancer therapies because it can reveal unique information about the tumor status. As tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) are the major immune cells infiltrating in TME, a better understanding of TAMs could help us further elucidate the cellular and molecular mechanisms responsible for cancer development. However, the high-dimensional and heterogeneous data in biology limit the extensive integrative analysis of cancer research. Machine learning algorithms are particularly suitable for oncology data analysis due to their flexibility and scalability to analyze diverse data types and strong computation power to learn underlying patterns from massive data sets. With the application of machine learning in analyzing TME, especially TAM’s traceable status, we could better understand the role of TAMs in tumor biology. Furthermore, we envision that the promotion of machine learning in this field could revolutionize tumor diagnosis, treatment stratification, and survival predictions in cancer research. In this article, we described key terms and concepts of machine learning, reviewed the applications of common methods in TAMs, and highlighted the challenges and future direction for TAMs in machine learning.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhen Li
- Radiation Oncology Department, Shanghai Jiao Tong University Affiliated Sixth People's Hospital, Shanghai, China
| | - Qijun Yu
- Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
- Institute of Respiratory Diseases, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Qingyuan Zhu
- Radiation Oncology Department, Shanghai Jiao Tong University Affiliated Sixth People's Hospital, Shanghai, China
| | - Xiaojing Yang
- Radiation Oncology Department, Shanghai Jiao Tong University Affiliated Sixth People's Hospital, Shanghai, China
| | - Zhaobin Li
- Radiation Oncology Department, Shanghai Jiao Tong University Affiliated Sixth People's Hospital, Shanghai, China
| | - Jie Fu
- Radiation Oncology Department, Shanghai Jiao Tong University Affiliated Sixth People's Hospital, Shanghai, China
- *Correspondence: Jie Fu,
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127
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Zhou X, Ni Y, Liang X, Lin Y, An B, He X, Zhao X. Mechanisms of tumor resistance to immune checkpoint blockade and combination strategies to overcome resistance. Front Immunol 2022; 13:915094. [PMID: 36189283 PMCID: PMC9520263 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.915094] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2022] [Accepted: 08/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) has rapidly transformed the treatment paradigm for various cancer types. Multiple single or combinations of ICB treatments have been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration, providing more options for patients with advanced cancer. However, most patients could not benefit from these immunotherapies due to primary and acquired drug resistance. Thus, a better understanding of the mechanisms of ICB resistance is urgently needed to improve clinical outcomes. Here, we focused on the changes in the biological functions of CD8+ T cells to elucidate the underlying resistance mechanisms of ICB therapies and summarized the advanced coping strategies to increase ICB efficacy. Combinational ICB approaches and individualized immunotherapies require further in-depth investigation to facilitate longer-lasting efficacy and a more excellent safety of ICB in a broader range of patients.
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128
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Zhang T, Lei X, Jia W, Li J, Nie Y, Mao Z, Wang Y, Tao K, Song W. Peritumor tertiary lymphoid structures are associated with infiltrating neutrophils and inferior prognosis in hepatocellular carcinoma. Cancer Med 2022; 12:3068-3078. [PMID: 36082777 PMCID: PMC9939159 DOI: 10.1002/cam4.5227] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2022] [Revised: 07/08/2022] [Accepted: 08/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The positive prediction of prognosis and immunotherapy within tertiary lymphoid structure (TLS) in cancerous tissue has been well demonstrated, including liver cancer. However, the relationship between TLS and prognosis in the peritumoral region of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has received less attention. Few studies on whether TLS, as a typical representative of acquired immune cell groups, is associated with innate immune cells. The aim of this paper was to identify the prognostic role of peritumor TLS in HCC and to simply explore the relationship with neutrophils infiltration. METHODS This study included cancerous and paracancerous tissue from 170 patients after surgical resection of HCC. TLS was examined and identified by pathological H&E examination, and the impact on prognosis was further classified by determination of total TLS area. Immunohistochemical staining of CD15+ neutrophils was also performed on half of the cases. The obtained results were validated by external public database, as TLS has been widely shown to be tagged with 12 chemokines. RESULTS In peritumoral tissue, the TLS- group had better overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) outcomes compared with the TLS+ group. On the contrary, the intratumor TLS+ group showed better DFS outcomes. When further investigating the relationship between TLS area distribution and DFS, progressively worse prognosis was only found in the peritumor region with increasing TLS density (TLS- vs. TLSL vs. TLSH ). In addition, neutrophil infiltration increased in parallel with TLS density in the peritumoral region, which was not observed in the intratumoral region. CONCLUSIONS TLS might have a dual prognostic role in different regions of HCC. The abundance of peritumoral TLS is an independent influence of DFS. The inconsistent correlation between neutrophils and corresponding TLS in different regions may indicate different pathways of immune aggregation and may serve as an explanation for the different prognosis of TLS, which needs to be specifically explored.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tianchen Zhang
- Department of General surgeryThe First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Medical UniversityXi'anShaanxiChina,Department of Hepatobiliary SurgeryXijing Hospital, The Fourth Military Medical UniversityXi'anShaanxiChina
| | - Xinjun Lei
- Department of Hepatobiliary SurgeryXijing Hospital, The Fourth Military Medical UniversityXi'anShaanxiChina
| | - Weili Jia
- Department of General surgeryThe First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Medical UniversityXi'anShaanxiChina,Department of Hepatobiliary SurgeryXijing Hospital, The Fourth Military Medical UniversityXi'anShaanxiChina
| | - Jianhui Li
- Department of General surgeryThe First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Medical UniversityXi'anShaanxiChina,Department of Hepatobiliary SurgeryXijing Hospital, The Fourth Military Medical UniversityXi'anShaanxiChina
| | - Ye Nie
- Department of General surgeryThe First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Medical UniversityXi'anShaanxiChina,Department of Hepatobiliary SurgeryXijing Hospital, The Fourth Military Medical UniversityXi'anShaanxiChina
| | - Zhenzhen Mao
- Department of Hepatobiliary SurgeryXijing Hospital, The Fourth Military Medical UniversityXi'anShaanxiChina
| | - Yanfang Wang
- Department of General surgeryThe First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Medical UniversityXi'anShaanxiChina,Department of Hepatobiliary SurgeryXijing Hospital, The Fourth Military Medical UniversityXi'anShaanxiChina
| | - Kaishan Tao
- Department of Hepatobiliary SurgeryXijing Hospital, The Fourth Military Medical UniversityXi'anShaanxiChina
| | - Wenjie Song
- Department of Hepatobiliary SurgeryXijing Hospital, The Fourth Military Medical UniversityXi'anShaanxiChina
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129
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Cheng K, Cai N, Zhu J, Yang X, Liang H, Zhang W. Tumor-associated macrophages in liver cancer: From mechanisms to therapy. CANCER COMMUNICATIONS (LONDON, ENGLAND) 2022; 42:1112-1140. [PMID: 36069342 DOI: 10.1002/cac2.12345] [Citation(s) in RCA: 88] [Impact Index Per Article: 44.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2022] [Revised: 06/28/2022] [Accepted: 07/26/2022] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Multidimensional analyses have demonstrated the presence of a unique tumor microenvironment (TME) in liver cancer. Tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) are among the most abundant immune cells infiltrating the TME and are present at all stages of liver cancer progression, and targeting TAMs has become one of the most favored immunotherapy strategies. In addition, macrophages and liver cancer cells have distinct origins. At the early stage of liver cancer, macrophages can provide a niche for the maintenance of liver cancer stem cells. In contrast, cancer stem cells (CSCs) or poorly differentiated tumor cells are key factors modulating macrophage activation. In the present review, we first propose the origin connection between precursor macrophages and liver cancer cells. Macrophages undergo dynamic phenotypic transition during carcinogenesis. In this course of such transition, it is critical to determine the appropriate timing for therapy and block specific markers to suppress pro-tumoral TAMs. The present review provides a more detailed discussion of transition trends of such surface markers than previous reviews. Complex crosstalk occurs between TAMs and liver cancer cells. TAMs play indispensable roles in tumor progression, angiogenesis, and autophagy due to their heterogeneity and robust plasticity. In addition, macrophages in the TME interact with other immune cells by directing cell-to-cell contact or secreting various effector molecules. Similarly, tumor cells combined with other immune cells can drive macrophage recruitment and polarization. Despite the latest achievements and the advancements in treatment strategies following TAMs studies, comprehensive discussions on the communication between macrophages and cancer cells or immune cells in liver cancer are currently lacking. In this review, we discussed the interactions between TAMs and liver cancer cells (from cell origin to maturation), the latest therapeutic strategies (including chimeric antigen receptor macrophages), and critical clinical trials for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (iCCA) to provide a rationale for further clinical investigation of TAMs as a potential target for treating patients with liver cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kun Cheng
- Hepatic Surgery Centre, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, 430030, P. R. China
| | - Ning Cai
- Hepatic Surgery Centre, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, 430030, P. R. China
| | - Jinghan Zhu
- Hepatic Surgery Centre, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, 430030, P. R. China
| | - Xing Yang
- Hepatic Surgery Centre, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, 430030, P. R. China
| | - Huifang Liang
- Hepatic Surgery Centre, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, 430030, P. R. China
| | - Wanguang Zhang
- Hepatic Surgery Centre, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, 430030, P. R. China
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130
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Li T, Liu T, Zhao Z, Pan Y, Xu X, Zhang Y, Zhan S, Zhou S, Zhu W, Guo H, Yang R. Antifungal immunity mediated by C-type lectin receptors may be a novel target in immunotherapy for urothelial bladder cancer. Front Immunol 2022; 13:911325. [PMID: 36131933 PMCID: PMC9483128 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.911325] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2022] [Accepted: 07/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Immunotherapies, such as immune-checkpoint blockade and adoptive T-cell therapy, offer novel treatment options with good efficacy for patients with urothelial bladder cancer. However, heterogeneity and therapeutic resistance have limited the use of immunotherapy. Further research into immune-regulatory mechanisms in bladder cancer is urgently required. Emerging evidence demonstrates that the commensal microbiota and its interactions with host immunity play pivotal roles in a variety of physiological and pathological processes, including in cancer. The gut microbiota has been identified as a potentially effective target of treatment that can be synergized with immunotherapy. The urothelial tract is also a key site for multiple microbes, although the immune-regulatory role of the urinary microbiome in the process of carcinogenesis of bladder cancer remains to be elucidated. We performed a comprehensive analysis of the expression and biological functions of C-type lectin receptors (CLRs), which have been recognized as innate pathogen-associated receptors for fungal microbiota, in bladder cancer. In line with previous research on fungal colonization of the urothelial tract, we found that CLRs, including Dectin-1, Dectin-2, Dectin-3, and macrophage-inducible Ca2+-dependent lectin receptor (Mincle), had a significant association with immune infiltration in bladder cancer. Multiple innate and adaptive pathways are positively correlated with the upregulation of CLRs. In addition, we found a significant correlation between the expression of CLRs and a range of immune-checkpoint proteins in bladder cancer. Based on previous studies and our findings, we hypothesize that the urinary mycobiome plays a key role in the pathogenesis of bladder cancer and call for more research on CLR-mediated anti-fungal immunity against bladder cancer as a novel target for immunotherapy in urothelial bladder cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tianhang Li
- Department of Urology, Affiliated Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Tianyao Liu
- Department of Urology, Affiliated Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Zihan Zhao
- Department of Urology, Affiliated Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Yuchen Pan
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Division of Immunology, Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Xinyan Xu
- Department of Urology, Affiliated Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Yulin Zhang
- Department of Urology, Affiliated Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Shoubin Zhan
- Jiangsu Engineering Research Center for microRNA Biology and Biotechnology, State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Shengkai Zhou
- Jiangsu Engineering Research Center for microRNA Biology and Biotechnology, State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Wenjie Zhu
- Department of Urology, Affiliated Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Hongqian Guo
- Department of Urology, Affiliated Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
- *Correspondence: Rong Yang, ; Hongqian Guo,
| | - Rong Yang
- Department of Urology, Affiliated Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
- *Correspondence: Rong Yang, ; Hongqian Guo,
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Sui H, Dongye S, Liu X, Xu X, Wang L, Jin CQ, Yao M, Gong Z, Jiang D, Zhang K, Liu Y, Liu H, Jiang G, Su Y. Immunotherapy of targeting MDSCs in tumor microenvironment. Front Immunol 2022; 13:990463. [PMID: 36131911 PMCID: PMC9484521 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.990463] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2022] [Accepted: 08/15/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) are a group of heterogeneous cells which are abnormally accumulated during the differentiation of myeloid cells. Immunosuppression is the main functional feature of MDSCs, which inhibit T cell activity in the tumor microenvironment (TME) and promote tumoral immune escape. The main principle for immunotherapy is to modulate, restore, and remodel the plasticity and potential of immune system to have an effective anti-tumor response. In the TME, MDSCs are major obstacles to cancer immunotherapy through reducing the anti-tumor efficacy and making tumor cells more resistant to immunotherapy. Therefore, targeting MDSCs treatment becomes the priority of relevant studies and provides new immunotherapeutic strategy for cancer treatment. In this review, we mainly discuss the functions and mechanisms of MDSCs as well as their functional changes in the TME. Further, we review therapeutic effects of immunotherapy against MDSCs and potential breakthroughs regarding immunotherapy targeting MDSCs and immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongshu Sui
- Department of Histology and Embryolog, School of Clinical and Basic Medical Sciences, Shandong First Medical University & Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Shengyi Dongye
- Department of Pathology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Shandong First Medical University, Taian, Shandong, China
| | - Xiaocui Liu
- Department of Histology and Embryolog, School of Clinical and Basic Medical Sciences, Shandong First Medical University & Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Xinghua Xu
- Department of Histology and Embryolog, School of Clinical and Basic Medical Sciences, Shandong First Medical University & Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Li Wang
- Department of Pathology and Forensic Medicine, School of Clinical and Basic Medical Sciences, Shandong First Medical University & Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Christopher Q. Jin
- Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, United States
| | - Minhua Yao
- Department of Histology and Embryolog, School of Clinical and Basic Medical Sciences, Shandong First Medical University & Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Zhaoqing Gong
- Department of Histology and Embryolog, School of Clinical and Basic Medical Sciences, Shandong First Medical University & Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Daniel Jiang
- Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, United States
| | - Kexin Zhang
- Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, United States
| | - Yaling Liu
- Department of Pathology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Shandong First Medical University, Taian, Shandong, China
- Tuberculosis Prevention and Control Institute of Kashgar, Kashgar City, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, China
| | - Hui Liu
- Department of Histology and Embryolog, School of Clinical and Basic Medical Sciences, Shandong First Medical University & Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan, Shandong, China
- *Correspondence: Hui Liu, ; Guomin Jiang, ; Yanping Su,
| | - Guomin Jiang
- Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, United States
- *Correspondence: Hui Liu, ; Guomin Jiang, ; Yanping Su,
| | - Yanping Su
- Department of Histology and Embryolog, School of Clinical and Basic Medical Sciences, Shandong First Medical University & Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan, Shandong, China
- *Correspondence: Hui Liu, ; Guomin Jiang, ; Yanping Su,
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132
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Fang L, Liu K, Liu C, Wang X, Ma W, Xu W, Wu J, Sun C. Tumor accomplice: T cell exhaustion induced by chronic inflammation. Front Immunol 2022; 13:979116. [PMID: 36119037 PMCID: PMC9479340 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.979116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2022] [Accepted: 08/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The development and response to treatment of tumor are modulated by inflammation, and chronic inflammation promotes tumor progression and therapy resistance. This article summarizes the dynamic evolution of inflammation from acute to chronic in the process of tumor development, and its effect on T cells from activation to the promotion of exhaustion. We review the mechanisms by which inflammatory cells and inflammatory cytokines regulate T cell exhaustion and methods for targeting chronic inflammation to improve the efficacy of immunotherapy. It is great significance to refer to the specific state of inflammation and T cells at different stages of tumor development for accurate clinical decision-making of immunotherapy and improving the efficiency of tumor immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liguang Fang
- College of First Clinical Medicine, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, China
| | - Kunjing Liu
- College of First Clinical Medicine, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, China
| | - Cun Liu
- College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Weifang Medical University, Weifang, China
| | - Xiaomin Wang
- Department of Inspection, The Medical Faculty of Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
| | - Wenzhe Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Macau University of Science and Technology, Macau, Macao SAR, China
| | - Wenhua Xu
- Department of Inspection, The Medical Faculty of Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
| | - Jibiao Wu
- College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, China
| | - Changgang Sun
- College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Weifang Medical University, Weifang, China
- Department of Oncology, Weifang Traditional Chinese Hospital, Weifang, China
- *Correspondence: Changgang Sun,
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133
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Li S, Li F, Xu L, Liu X, Zhu X, Gao W, Shen X. TLR2 agonist promotes myeloid-derived suppressor cell polarization via Runx1 in hepatocellular carcinoma. Int Immunopharmacol 2022; 111:109168. [PMID: 35998504 DOI: 10.1016/j.intimp.2022.109168] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2022] [Revised: 07/24/2022] [Accepted: 08/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) play a critical role in maintaining the tumor immune microenvironment; thus, the promotion of MDSC polarization will improve immunotherapies for cancers. However, the mechanisms involved in controlling MDSC polarization in hepatocellular carcinoma remain largely unclear. In this study, we found that injection of Pam3CSK4 attenuated the process of tumor growth, along with reduction of MDSC and recovery of T cell function. Moreover, Pam3CSK4 promoted MDSC polarization by targeting Runx1. Runx1 inhibitor reversed the therapeutic effect of Pam3CSK4 by increasing tumor size and weight and decreasing the survival rate of tumor mice. In addition, targeting Runx1 reduced the expression of CD11c, F4/80, CD80/CD86 and MHC-II in MDSC after Pam3CSK4 stimulation in vivo and in vitro. MDSC also exhibited consistent changes with increasing reactive oxygen species (ROS) production after Pam3CSK4 and Ro5-3335 treatment. RNA sequence data revealed that tfrc, steap3, and gclm were up-regulated in the Pam3CSK4/Ro5-3335 group compared with Pam3CSK4 treatment alone, suggesting that the regulatory effect of TLR2 and Runx1 on MDSC might act through the ferroptosis pathway. Overall, our study has identified a critical role for TLR2 and Runx1 in regulating the differentiation and function of MDSCs and has provided a new mechanism of controlling MDSC polarization during HCC immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shinan Li
- Institute for Translation Medicine, the First Affiliated Hospital of Jinzhou Medical University, Jinzhou, Liaoning, China; Institute for Translation Medicine, Jinzhou Medical University, Jinzhou, China
| | - Fujie Li
- Institute for Translation Medicine, Jinzhou Medical University, Jinzhou, China
| | - Lijie Xu
- Institute for Translation Medicine, Jinzhou Medical University, Jinzhou, China
| | - Xinying Liu
- Institute for Translation Medicine, Jinzhou Medical University, Jinzhou, China
| | - Xiaoxu Zhu
- Institute for Translation Medicine, Jinzhou Medical University, Jinzhou, China
| | - Wanlin Gao
- Institute for Translation Medicine, Jinzhou Medical University, Jinzhou, China
| | - Xiaokun Shen
- Institute for Translation Medicine, the First Affiliated Hospital of Jinzhou Medical University, Jinzhou, Liaoning, China; Institute for Translation Medicine, Jinzhou Medical University, Jinzhou, China.
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134
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Carloni R, Rizzo A, Ricci AD, Federico AD, De Luca R, Guven DC, Yalcin S, Brandi G. Targeting tumor microenvironment for cholangiocarcinoma: Opportunities for precision medicine. Transl Oncol 2022; 25:101514. [PMID: 35977458 PMCID: PMC9396390 DOI: 10.1016/j.tranon.2022.101514] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2022] [Revised: 08/01/2022] [Accepted: 08/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
CCA has a dismal prognosis, and it is usually diagnosed in advanced stage for which available treatments have limited efficacy. CCA TME presents an abundant desmoplastic stroma and exhibits a high heterogeneity. TME plays a central role in cancer development and in the resistance to treatments. Treatments targeting the TME in association with cytotoxic agents could represent a promising therapeutic strategy.
Systemic treatments (e.g., chemotherapy and targeted therapies) have limited efficacy for patients with locally advanced – unresectable – and metastatic cholangiocarcinoma (CCA), with an overall survival of less than a year. Tumor microenvironment (TME) represents the ecosystem surrounding the tumor which comprises immune cells, fibroblasts, endothelial cells, and a wide range of soluble factors. CCA TME is characterized by an abundant desmoplastic stroma, exhibits a high heterogeneity and it plays a central role in cancer onset and progression. There is growing evidence suggesting that it is possible to target TME in association with other treatment modalities, such as cytotoxic chemotherapy or targeted therapies, paving the way to possible combination strategies with a synergistic effect. Herein, we describe the components of CCA TME – such as cancer-associated fibroblasts and other cells of pivotal importance - with their most relevant interactions, focusing on the preclinical rationale for the development of effective anticancer treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Riccardo Carloni
- Department of Specialized, Experimental and Diagnostic Medicine, University of Bologna, Via Giuseppe Massarenti, 9, Bologna 40138, Italy; Division of Medical Oncology, IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna, Via Albertoni, 15, Bologna 40138, Italy
| | - Alessandro Rizzo
- Struttura Semplice Dipartimentale di Oncologia Medica per la Presa in Carico Globale del Paziente Oncologico "Don Tonino Bello", I.R.C.C.S. Istituto Tumori "Giovanni Paolo II", Viale Orazio Flacco 65, Bari 70124, Italy.
| | - Angela Dalia Ricci
- Medical Oncology Unit, National Institute of Gastroenterology, "Saverio de Bellis" Research Hospital, Castellana Grotte, Italy
| | - Alessandro Di Federico
- Department of Specialized, Experimental and Diagnostic Medicine, University of Bologna, Via Giuseppe Massarenti, 9, Bologna 40138, Italy; Division of Medical Oncology, IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna, Via Albertoni, 15, Bologna 40138, Italy
| | - Raffaele De Luca
- Department of Surgical Oncology, IRCCS Istituto Tumori " Giovanni Paolo ", Bari, Italy
| | - Deniz Can Guven
- Department of Medical Oncology, Hacettepe University Cancer Institute, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Suayib Yalcin
- Department of Medical Oncology, Hacettepe University Cancer Institute, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Giovanni Brandi
- Department of Specialized, Experimental and Diagnostic Medicine, University of Bologna, Via Giuseppe Massarenti, 9, Bologna 40138, Italy; Division of Medical Oncology, IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna, Via Albertoni, 15, Bologna 40138, Italy
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135
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Liu Z, Hu C, Zheng L, Liu J, Li K, Li X, Wang Y, Mu W, Chen T, Shi A, Qiu B, Zhang X, Zhang Z, Xu Y. BMI1 promotes cholangiocarcinoma progression and correlates with antitumor immunity in an exosome-dependent manner. Cell Mol Life Sci 2022; 79:469. [PMID: 35932322 PMCID: PMC11071914 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-022-04500-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2022] [Revised: 07/04/2022] [Accepted: 07/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) is a class of malignant tumors originating from bile duct epithelial cells. Due to difficult early diagnosis and limited treatment, the prognosis of CCA is extremely poor. BMI1 is dysregulated in many human malignancies. However, the prognostic significance and oncogenic role of BMI1 in cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) are not well elucidated. METHODS In the present study, we investigated its clinical importance and the potential mechanisms in the progression of CCA. We detected BMI1 expression in a large CCA cohort. We demonstrated that BMI1 was substantially upregulated in CCA tissues and was identified as an independent prognostic biomarker of CCA. Moreover, overexpression of BMI1 promoted CCA proliferation, migration, and invasion. And BMI1 knockdown could inhibit proliferation and metastases of CCA in vitro and in vitro/vivo validation. Interestingly, we found that CCA-derived exosomes contain BMI1 proteins, which can transfer BMI1 between CCA cells. The unique BMI1-containing exosomes promote CCA proliferation and metastasis through autocrine/paracrine mechanisms. In addition, we demonstrated that BMI1 inhibits CD8+T cell-recruiting chemokines by promoting repressive H2A ubiquitination in CCA cells. CONCLUSIONS BMI1 is an unfavorable prognostic biomarker of CCA. Our data depict a novel function of BMI1 in CCA tumorigenesis and metastasis mediated by exosomes. Besides, BMI1 inhibition may augment immune checkpoint blockade to inhibit tumor progression by activating cell-intrinsic immunity of CCA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zengli Liu
- Department of General Surgery, Qilu Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, 107 Wenhuaxi Road, Jinan, 250012, Shandong, China
| | - Chunxiao Hu
- Department of General Surgery, Qilu Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, 107 Wenhuaxi Road, Jinan, 250012, Shandong, China
| | - Lijie Zheng
- Department of General Surgery, Qilu Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, 107 Wenhuaxi Road, Jinan, 250012, Shandong, China
| | - Jialiang Liu
- Department of General Surgery, Qilu Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, 107 Wenhuaxi Road, Jinan, 250012, Shandong, China
| | - Kangshuai Li
- Department of General Surgery, Qilu Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, 107 Wenhuaxi Road, Jinan, 250012, Shandong, China
| | - Xingyong Li
- Department of General Surgery, Qilu Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, 107 Wenhuaxi Road, Jinan, 250012, Shandong, China
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Shandong Provincial Third Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, 11 Wuyingshan Middle Road, Jinan, 250031, Shandong, China
| | - Yue Wang
- Department of General Surgery, Qilu Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, 107 Wenhuaxi Road, Jinan, 250012, Shandong, China
| | - Wentao Mu
- Department of General Surgery, Qilu Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, 107 Wenhuaxi Road, Jinan, 250012, Shandong, China
| | - Tianli Chen
- Department of General Surgery, Qilu Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, 107 Wenhuaxi Road, Jinan, 250012, Shandong, China
| | - Anda Shi
- Department of General Surgery, Qilu Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, 107 Wenhuaxi Road, Jinan, 250012, Shandong, China
| | - Bo Qiu
- Department of General Surgery, Qilu Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, 107 Wenhuaxi Road, Jinan, 250012, Shandong, China
| | - Xin Zhang
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Qilu Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, 107 Wenhuaxi Road, Jinan, 250012, Shandong, China
| | - Zongli Zhang
- Department of General Surgery, Qilu Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, 107 Wenhuaxi Road, Jinan, 250012, Shandong, China.
| | - Yunfei Xu
- Department of General Surgery, Qilu Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, 107 Wenhuaxi Road, Jinan, 250012, Shandong, China.
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136
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Chen Y, Wang C. Letter to the editor. Hepatology 2022; 76:E36. [PMID: 35294791 DOI: 10.1002/hep.32459] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2022] [Accepted: 02/24/2022] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Yonghao Chen
- Department of Gastroenterology, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Chunhui Wang
- Department of Gastroenterology, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
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137
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Jung K, Jeon YK, Jeong DH, Byun JM, Bogen B, Choi I. VSIG4-expressing tumor-associated macrophages impair anti-tumor immunity. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2022; 628:18-24. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2022.08.055] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2022] [Revised: 08/11/2022] [Accepted: 08/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
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138
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Li W, Wu F, Zhao S, Shi P, Wang S, Cui D. Correlation between PD-1/PD-L1 expression and polarization in tumor-associated macrophages: A key player in tumor immunotherapy. Cytokine Growth Factor Rev 2022; 67:49-57. [PMID: 35871139 DOI: 10.1016/j.cytogfr.2022.07.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2022] [Revised: 07/13/2022] [Accepted: 07/15/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Tumor immunotherapy, such as PD-1/PD-L1 blockade, has shown promising clinical efficacy in patients with various types of tumors. However, the response to PD-1/PD-L1 blockade in a majority of malignancies is limited, indicating an urgent need for a deeper understanding of the mechanisms of PD-1/PD-L1 axis-mediated tumor tolerance. As the most abundant immune cells in the tumor stroma, macrophages display multiple phenotypes and functions in response to the stimuli of the tumor microenvironment. PD-1/PD-L1 has been demonstrated to be highly expressed in tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs), and TAM polarization has been shown to be important during tumor progression. In this review, we outline the relationship between TAM PD-1/PD-L1 expression and polarizations, summarize the involvement of M2 TAMs in PD-1/PD-L1-mediated T-cell exhaustion, and discuss improved approaches for overcoming PD-1/PD-L1 blockade resistance by inducing M2/M1 switching of TAMs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Li
- Center of Research Laboratory, Department of Laboratory Medicine, The First People's Hospital of Lianyungang, Lianyungang, China.
| | - Fenglei Wu
- Department of Oncology, The First People's Hospital of Lianyungang, Lianyungang, China
| | - Shaolin Zhao
- Center of Research Laboratory, Department of Laboratory Medicine, The First People's Hospital of Lianyungang, Lianyungang, China
| | - Peiqin Shi
- Center of Research Laboratory, Department of Laboratory Medicine, The First People's Hospital of Lianyungang, Lianyungang, China
| | - Shengjun Wang
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, The Affiliated People's Hospital, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, China; Department of Immunology, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Laboratory Medicine, School of Medicine, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, China.
| | - Dawei Cui
- Department of Blood Transfusion, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China.
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139
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Ruffolo LI, Jackson KM, Kuhlers PC, Dale BS, Figueroa Guilliani NM, Ullman NA, Burchard PR, Qin SS, Juviler PG, Keilson JM, Morrison AB, Georger M, Jewell R, Calvi LM, Nywening TM, O'Dell MR, Hezel AF, De Las Casas L, Lesinski GB, Yeh JJ, Hernandez-Alejandro R, Belt BA, Linehan DC. GM-CSF drives myelopoiesis, recruitment and polarisation of tumour-associated macrophages in cholangiocarcinoma and systemic blockade facilitates antitumour immunity. Gut 2022; 71:1386-1398. [PMID: 34413131 PMCID: PMC8857285 DOI: 10.1136/gutjnl-2021-324109] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2021] [Accepted: 07/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (iCCA) is rising in incidence, and at present, there are limited effective systemic therapies. iCCA tumours are infiltrated by stromal cells, with high prevalence of suppressive myeloid populations including tumour-associated macrophages (TAMs) and myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs). Here, we show that tumour-derived granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) and the host bone marrow is central for monopoiesis and potentiation of TAMs, and abrogation of this signalling axis facilitates antitumour immunity in a novel model of iCCA. METHODS Blood and tumours were analysed from iCCA patients and controls. Treatment and correlative studies were performed in mice with autochthonous and established orthotopic iCCA tumours treated with anti-GM-CSF monoclonal antibody. RESULTS Systemic elevation in circulating myeloid cells correlates with poor prognosis in patients with iCCA, and patients who undergo resection have a worse overall survival if tumours are more infiltrated with CD68+ TAMs. Mice with spontaneous iCCA demonstrate significant elevation of monocytic myeloid cells in the tumour microenvironment and immune compartments, and tumours overexpress GM-CSF. Blockade of GM-CSF with a monoclonal antibody decreased tumour growth and spread. Mice bearing orthotopic tumours treated with anti-GM-CSF demonstrate repolarisation of immunosuppressive TAMs and MDSCs, facilitating T cell response and tumour regression. GM-CSF blockade dampened inflammatory gene networks in tumours and TAMs. Human tumours with decreased GM-CSF expression exhibit improved overall survival after resection. CONCLUSIONS iCCA uses the GM-CSF-bone marrow axis to establish an immunosuppressive tumour microenvironment. Blockade of the GM-CSF axis promotes antitumour T cell immunity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luis I Ruffolo
- Department of Surgery, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, New York, USA
| | - Katherine M Jackson
- Department of Surgery, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, New York, USA
| | - Peyton C Kuhlers
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Benjamin S Dale
- Department of Surgery, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, New York, USA
| | | | - Nicholas A Ullman
- Department of Surgery, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, New York, USA
| | - Paul R Burchard
- Department of Surgery, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, New York, USA
| | - Shuyang S Qin
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, New York, USA
| | - Peter G Juviler
- Department of Surgery, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, New York, USA
| | - Jessica Millian Keilson
- Division of Surgical Oncology, Department of Surgery, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Ashley B Morrison
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina System, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Mary Georger
- Wilmot Cancer Institute, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, New York, USA
| | - Rachel Jewell
- Department of Surgery, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, New York, USA
| | - Laura M Calvi
- Wilmot Cancer Institute, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, New York, USA
| | - Timothy M Nywening
- Division of Surgical Oncology, Department of Surgery, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Michael R O'Dell
- Wilmot Cancer Institute, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, New York, USA
| | - Aram F Hezel
- Wilmot Cancer Institute, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, New York, USA
| | - Luis De Las Casas
- Department of Pathology, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA
| | - Gregory B Lesinski
- Department of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Winship Cancer Institute, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Jen Jen Yeh
- Departments of Surgery and Pharmacology, Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina System, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | | | - Brian A Belt
- Department of Surgery, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, New York, USA
| | - David C Linehan
- Department of Surgery, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, New York, USA
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140
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Chen R, Zheng D, Li Q, Xu S, Ye C, Jiang Q, Yan F, Jia Y, Zhang X, Ruan J. Immunotherapy of cholangiocarcinoma: Therapeutic strategies and predictive biomarkers. Cancer Lett 2022; 546:215853. [DOI: 10.1016/j.canlet.2022.215853] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2022] [Revised: 07/27/2022] [Accepted: 07/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
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141
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Dominguez-Gutierrez PR, Kwenda EP, Donelan W, Miranda M, Doty A, O'Malley P, Crispen PL, Kusmartsev S. Detection of PD-L1-Expressing Myeloid Cell Clusters in the Hyaluronan-Enriched Stroma in Tumor Tissue and Tumor-Draining Lymph Nodes. JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY (BALTIMORE, MD. : 1950) 2022; 208:2829-2836. [PMID: 35589125 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.2100026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2021] [Accepted: 04/03/2022] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Expression of the transmembrane protein PD-L1 is frequently upregulated in cancer. Because PD-L1-expressing cells can induce apoptosis or anergy of T lymphocytes through binding to the PD1 receptor, the PD-L1-mediated inhibition of activated PD1+ T cells is considered a major pathway for tumor immune escape. However, the mechanisms that regulate the expression of PD-L1 in the tumor microenvironment are not fully understood. Analysis of organotypic tumor tissue slice cultures, obtained from mice with implanted syngeneic tumors (MBT2 bladder tumors in C3H mice, Renca kidney, and CT26 colon tumors in BALB/c mice), as well as from patients with cancer, revealed that tumor-associated hyaluronan (HA) supports the development of immunosuppressive PD-L1+ macrophages. Using genetically modified tumor cells, we identified epithelial tumor cells and cancer-associated mesenchymal fibroblast-like cells as a major source of HA in the tumor microenvironment. These HA-producing tumor cells, and particularly the vimentin-positive fibroblast-like cells of bone marrow origin, directly interact with tumor-recruited myeloid cells to form large stromal congregates/clusters that are highly enriched for both HA and PD-L1. Furthermore, similar cell clusters composed of HA-producing fibroblast-like cells and PD-L1+ macrophages were detected in tumor-draining, but not in distant, lymph nodes. Collectively, our findings indicate that the formation of multiple large HA-enriched stromal clusters that support the development of PD-L1-expressing APCs in the tumor microenvironment and draining lymph nodes could contribute to the immune escape and resistance to immunotherapy in cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Elizabeth P Kwenda
- Department of Urology and Shands Cancer Center, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL; and
| | - William Donelan
- Department of Urology and Shands Cancer Center, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL; and
| | - Mariza Miranda
- Interdisciplinary Center for Biotechnology Research, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL
| | - Andria Doty
- Interdisciplinary Center for Biotechnology Research, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL
| | - Padraic O'Malley
- Department of Urology and Shands Cancer Center, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL; and
| | - Paul L Crispen
- Department of Urology and Shands Cancer Center, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL; and
| | - Sergei Kusmartsev
- Department of Urology and Shands Cancer Center, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL; and
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Pham L, Kyritsi K, Zhou T, Ceci L, Baiocchi L, Kennedy L, Chakraborty S, Glaser S, Francis H, Alpini G, Sato K. The Functional Roles of Immune Cells in Primary Liver Cancer. THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PATHOLOGY 2022; 192:826-836. [PMID: 35337836 PMCID: PMC9194651 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajpath.2022.02.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2021] [Revised: 02/05/2022] [Accepted: 02/18/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Primary liver cancer includes hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and cholangiocarcinoma (CCA). Incidence of liver cancer has been increasing in recent years, and the 5-year survival is <20%. HCC and CCA are often accompanied with a dense stroma coupled with infiltrated immune cells, which is referred to as the tumor microenvironment. Populations of specific immune cells, such as high density of CD163+ macrophages and low density of CD8+ T cells, are associated with prognosis and survival rates in both HCC and CCA. Immune cells in the tumor microenvironment can be a therapeutic target for liver cancer treatments. Previous studies have introduced immunotherapy using immune checkpoint inhibitors, pulsed dendritic cells, or transduced T cells, to enhance cytotoxicity of immune cells and inhibit tumor growth. This review summarizes current understanding of the roles of immune cells in primary liver cancer covering HCC and CCA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Linh Pham
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana; Department of Science and Mathematics, Texas A&M University-Central Texas, Killeen, Texas
| | - Konstantina Kyritsi
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana
| | - Tianhao Zhou
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana
| | - Ludovica Ceci
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana
| | - Leonardo Baiocchi
- Hepatology Unit, Department of Medicine, University of Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy
| | - Lindsey Kennedy
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana; Department of Research, Richard L. Roudebush VA Medical Center, Indianapolis, Indiana
| | - Sanjukta Chakraborty
- Department of Medical Physiology, Texas A&M University College of Medicine, Bryan, Texas
| | - Shannon Glaser
- Department of Medical Physiology, Texas A&M University College of Medicine, Bryan, Texas
| | - Heather Francis
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana; Department of Research, Richard L. Roudebush VA Medical Center, Indianapolis, Indiana
| | - Gianfranco Alpini
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana; Department of Research, Richard L. Roudebush VA Medical Center, Indianapolis, Indiana
| | - Keisaku Sato
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana.
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Lepland A, Malfanti A, Haljasorg U, Asciutto EK, Pickholz M, Bringas M, Đorđević S, Salumäe L, Peterson P, Teesalu T, Vicent MJ, Scodeller P. Depletion of Mannose Receptor-Positive Tumor-associated Macrophages via a Peptide-targeted Star-shaped Polyglutamate Inhibits Breast Cancer Progression in Mice. CANCER RESEARCH COMMUNICATIONS 2022; 2:533-551. [PMID: 36923553 PMCID: PMC10010335 DOI: 10.1158/2767-9764.crc-22-0043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2022] [Revised: 05/03/2022] [Accepted: 06/03/2022] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Although many studies have explored the depletion of tumor-associated macrophages (TAM) as a therapeutic strategy for solid tumors, currently available compounds suffer from poor efficacy and dose-limiting side effects. Here, we developed a novel TAM-depleting agent ("OximUNO") that specifically targets CD206+ TAMs and demonstrated efficacy in a triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) mouse model. OximUNO comprises a star-shaped polyglutamate (St-PGA) decorated with the CD206-targeting peptide mUNO that carries the chemotherapeutic drug doxorubicin (DOX). In the TNBC model, a fluorescently labeled mUNO-decorated St-PGA homed to CD206+ TAMs within primary lesions and metastases. OximUNO exhibited no acute liver or kidney toxicity in vivo. Treatment with OximUNO reduced the progression of primary tumor lesions and pulmonary metastases, significantly diminished the number of CD206+ TAMs and increased the CD8/FOXP3 expression ratio (indicating immunomodulation). Our findings suggest the potential benefit of OximUNO as a TAM-depleting agent for TNBC treatment. Importantly, our studies also represent a novel design of a peptide-targeted St-PGA as a targeted therapeutic nanoconjugate. Significance A peptide-targeted nanoformulation of DOX exclusively eliminates mannose receptor+ TAMs in breast cancer models, generating response without off-target effects (a drawback of many TAM-depleting agents under clinical study).
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Affiliation(s)
- Anni Lepland
- Laboratory of Precision and Nanomedicine, Institute of Biomedicine and Translational Medicine, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia
| | - Alessio Malfanti
- Polymer Therapeutics Laboratory, Prince Felipe Research Centre, Valencia, Spain
| | - Uku Haljasorg
- Molecular Pathology Research Group, Institute of Biomedicine and Translational Medicine, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia
| | - Eliana K. Asciutto
- School of Science and Technology, National University of San Martin (UNSAM) ICIFI and CONICET, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Monica Pickholz
- Departamento de Física, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Instituto de Física de Buenos Aires (IFIBA), CONICET-Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Mauro Bringas
- Departamento de Química Inorgánica, Analítica y Química Física, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Fundación Instituto Leloir, Instituto de Investigaciones Bioquímicas de Buenos Aires (IIBBA-CONICET), C1405BWE Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Snežana Đorđević
- Polymer Therapeutics Laboratory, Prince Felipe Research Centre, Valencia, Spain
| | - Liis Salumäe
- Pathology Department, Tartu University Hospital, Tartu, Estonia
| | - Pärt Peterson
- Molecular Pathology Research Group, Institute of Biomedicine and Translational Medicine, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia
| | - Tambet Teesalu
- Laboratory of Precision and Nanomedicine, Institute of Biomedicine and Translational Medicine, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia
- Centre for Nanomedicine and Department of Cell, Molecular and Developmental Biology, University of California, Santa Barbara, California
| | - María J. Vicent
- Polymer Therapeutics Laboratory, Prince Felipe Research Centre, Valencia, Spain
| | - Pablo Scodeller
- Laboratory of Precision and Nanomedicine, Institute of Biomedicine and Translational Medicine, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia
- Department of Immunology and Oncology, Centro Nacional de Biotecnología (CNB-CSIC), Madrid, Spain
- Corresponding Author: Pablo Scodeller, Department of Biomedicine, University of Tartu, Tartu 50411, Estonia. Phone: 372-737-4268; E-mail:
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Bruschini S, Pallocca M, Sperandio E, D'Ambrosio L, Ascenzi F, De Vitis C, Salvati V, Esposito A, Di Martino S, De Nicola F, Paolini F, Fattore L, Alessandrini G, Facciolo F, Foddai ML, Bassi M, Venuta F, D'Ascanio M, Ricci A, D' Andrilli A, Napoli C, Aurisicchio L, Fanciulli M, Rendina EA, Ciliberto G, Mancini R. Deconvolution of malignant pleural effusions immune landscape unravels a novel macrophage signature associated with worse clinical outcome in lung adenocarcinoma patients. J Immunother Cancer 2022; 10:jitc-2021-004239. [PMID: 35584864 PMCID: PMC9119185 DOI: 10.1136/jitc-2021-004239] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 04/27/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Immune checkpoint inhibitors are still unable to provide clinical benefit to the large majority of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients. A deeper characterization of the tumor immune microenvironment (TIME) is expected to shed light on the mechanisms of cancer immune evasion and resistance to immunotherapy. Here, we exploited malignant pleural effusions (MPEs) from lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) patients as a model system to decipher TIME in metastatic NSCLC. Methods Mononuclear cells from MPEs (PEMC) and peripheral blood (PBMC), cell free pleural fluid and/or plasma were collected from a total of 24 LUAD patients and 12 healthy donors. Bulk-RNA sequencing was performed on total RNA extracted from PEMC and matched PBMC. The DEseq2 Bioconductor package was used to perform differential expression analysis and CIBERSORTx for the regression-based immune deconvolution of bulk gene expression data. Cytokinome analysis of cell-free pleural fluid and plasma samples was performed using a 48-Plex Assay panel. THP-1 monocytic cells were used to assess macrophage polarization. Survival analyses on NSCLC patients were performed using KM Plotter (LUAD, N=672; lung squamous cell carcinoma, N=271). Results Transcriptomic analysis of immune cells and cytokinome analysis of soluble factors in the pleural fluid depicted MPEs as a metastatic niche in which all the components required for an effective antitumor response are present, but conscripted in a wound-healing, proinflammatory and tumor-supportive mode. The bioinformatic deconvolution analysis revealed an immune landscape dominated by myeloid subsets with the prevalence of monocytes, protumoral macrophages and activated mast cells. Focusing on macrophages we identified an MPEs-distinctive signature associated with worse clinical outcome in LUAD patients. Conclusions Our study reports for the first time a wide characterization of MPEs LUAD microenvironment, highlighting the importance of specific components of the myeloid compartment and opens new perspectives for the rational design of new therapies for metastatic NSCLC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Bruschini
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, Magna Graecia University of Catanzaro, Catanzaro, Italy.,Department Clinical and Molecular Medicine, Sant' Andrea Hospital-Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Matteo Pallocca
- Biostatistics, Bioinformatics and Clinical Trial Center, IRCCS Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy
| | - Eleonora Sperandio
- Biostatistics, Bioinformatics and Clinical Trial Center, IRCCS Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy
| | - Lorenzo D'Ambrosio
- Tumor Immunology and Immunotherapy Unit, IRCCS Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy
| | - Francesca Ascenzi
- Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine, Sant' Andrea Hospital-Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Claudia De Vitis
- Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine, Sant' Andrea Hospital-Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Valentina Salvati
- Preclinical Models and New Therapeutic Agents Unit, IRCCS Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy
| | - Antonella Esposito
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, Magna Graecia University of Catanzaro, Catanzaro, Italy
| | - Simona Di Martino
- Pathology Unit, IRCCS-Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Francesca Paolini
- Tumor Immunology and Immunotherapy Unit, IRCCS Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy.,HPV-Unit, IRCCS Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy
| | - Luigi Fattore
- SAFU Laboratory, IRCCS Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Francesco Facciolo
- Thoracic Surgery Unit, IRCCS Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy
| | - Maria Laura Foddai
- Immunohematology and Transfusional Medicine Unit, IRCCS Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Federico Venuta
- Thoracic Surgery Unit, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Michela D'Ascanio
- Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine, Sant' Andrea Hospital-Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Alberto Ricci
- Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine, Sant' Andrea Hospital-Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Antonio D' Andrilli
- Thoracic Surgery Unit, Sant' Andrea Hospital-Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Christian Napoli
- Department of Medical Surgical Sciences and Translational Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Maurizio Fanciulli
- SAFU Laboratory, IRCCS Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy
| | - Erino Angelo Rendina
- Thoracic Surgery Unit, Sant' Andrea Hospital-Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Gennaro Ciliberto
- Scientific Directorate, IRCSS Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy
| | - Rita Mancini
- Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine, Sant' Andrea Hospital-Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
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Immunosuppressive cells in cancer: mechanisms and potential therapeutic targets. J Hematol Oncol 2022; 15:61. [PMID: 35585567 PMCID: PMC9118588 DOI: 10.1186/s13045-022-01282-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 154] [Impact Index Per Article: 77.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2022] [Accepted: 05/03/2022] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Immunotherapies like the adoptive transfer of gene-engineered T cells and immune checkpoint inhibitors are novel therapeutic modalities for advanced cancers. However, some patients are refractory or resistant to these therapies, and the mechanisms underlying tumor immune resistance have not been fully elucidated. Immunosuppressive cells such as myeloid-derived suppressive cells, tumor-associated macrophages, tumor-associated neutrophils, regulatory T cells (Tregs), and tumor-associated dendritic cells are critical factors correlated with immune resistance. In addition, cytokines and factors secreted by tumor cells or these immunosuppressive cells also mediate the tumor progression and immune escape of cancers. Thus, targeting these immunosuppressive cells and the related signals is the promising therapy to improve the efficacy of immunotherapies and reverse the immune resistance. However, even with certain success in preclinical studies or in some specific types of cancer, large perspectives are unknown for these immunosuppressive cells, and the related therapies have undesirable outcomes for clinical patients. In this review, we comprehensively summarized the phenotype, function, and potential therapeutic targets of these immunosuppressive cells in the tumor microenvironment.
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146
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Ligon JA, Wessel KM, Shah NN, Glod J. Adoptive Cell Therapy in Pediatric and Young Adult Solid Tumors: Current Status and Future Directions. Front Immunol 2022; 13:846346. [PMID: 35273619 PMCID: PMC8901720 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.846346] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2021] [Accepted: 02/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Advances from novel adoptive cellular therapies have yet to be fully realized for the treatment of children and young adults with solid tumors. This review discusses the strategies and preliminary results, including T-cell, NK-cell and myeloid cell-based therapies. While each of these approaches have shown some early promise, there remain challenges. These include poor trafficking to the tumor as well as a hostile tumor microenvironment with numerous immunosuppressive mechanisms which result in exhaustion of cellular therapies. We then turn our attention to new strategies proposed to address these challenges including novel clinical trials that are ongoing and in development.
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Affiliation(s)
- John A Ligon
- Pediatric Oncology Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States.,Department of Pediatrics, Division of Hematology/Oncology, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, FL, United States
| | - Kristin M Wessel
- Pediatric Oncology Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Nirali N Shah
- Pediatric Oncology Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - John Glod
- Pediatric Oncology Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States
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147
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Luo W, Napoleon JV, Zhang F, Lee YG, Wang B, Putt KS, Low PS. Repolarization of Tumor-Infiltrating Myeloid Cells for Augmentation of CAR T Cell Therapies. Front Immunol 2022; 13:816761. [PMID: 35250995 PMCID: PMC8889096 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.816761] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2021] [Accepted: 01/20/2022] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Although CAR T cell therapies have proven to be effective in treating hematopoietic cancers, their abilities to regress solid tumors have been less encouraging. Mechanisms to explain these disparities have focused primarily on differences in cancer cell heterogeneity, barriers to CAR T cell penetration of solid tumors, and immunosuppressive microenvironments. To evaluate the contributions of immunosuppressive tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) and myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) on CAR T cell efficacies, we have exploited the ability of a folate-targeted Toll-like receptor 7 agonist (FA-TLR7-1A) to specifically reactivate TAMs and MDSCs from an immunosuppressive to pro-inflammatory phenotype without altering the properties of other immune cells. We report here that FA-TLR7-1A significantly augments standard CAR T cell therapies of 4T1 solid tumors in immune competent mice. We further show that co-administration of the FA-TLR7-1A with the CAR T cell therapy not only repolarizes TAMs and MDSCs from an M2-like anti-inflammatory to M1-like pro-inflammatory phenotype, but also enhances both CAR T cell and endogenous T cell accumulation in solid tumors while concurrently increasing their states of activation. Because analogous myeloid cells in healthy tissues ar not altered by administration of FA-TLR7-1A, no systemic activation of the immune system nor accompanying weight loss is observed. These data argue that immunosuppressive myeloid cells contribute prominently to the failure of CAR T cells to eradicate solid tumors and suggest that methods to reprogram tumor associated myeloid cells to a more inflammatory phenotype could significantly augment the potencies of CAR T cell therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weichuan Luo
- Department of Chemistry, Purdue Institute for Drug Discovery and Purdue Center for Cancer Research, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, United States
| | - John V Napoleon
- Department of Chemistry, Purdue Institute for Drug Discovery and Purdue Center for Cancer Research, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, United States
| | - Fenghua Zhang
- Department of Chemistry, Purdue Institute for Drug Discovery and Purdue Center for Cancer Research, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, United States
| | - Yong Gu Lee
- Department of Chemistry, Purdue Institute for Drug Discovery and Purdue Center for Cancer Research, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, United States
| | - Bingbing Wang
- Department of Chemistry, Purdue Institute for Drug Discovery and Purdue Center for Cancer Research, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, United States
| | - Karson S Putt
- Department of Chemistry, Purdue Institute for Drug Discovery and Purdue Center for Cancer Research, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, United States
| | - Philip S Low
- Department of Chemistry, Purdue Institute for Drug Discovery and Purdue Center for Cancer Research, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, United States
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Liu YJ, Han M, Li JP, Zeng SH, Ye QW, Yin ZH, Liu SL, Zou X. An Analysis Regarding the Association Between Connexins and Colorectal Cancer (CRC) Tumor Microenvironment. J Inflamm Res 2022; 15:2461-2476. [PMID: 35449599 PMCID: PMC9017696 DOI: 10.2147/jir.s361362] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2022] [Accepted: 04/06/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Gap junctions, as one of the major ways to maintain social connections between cells, are now considered as one of the potential regulators of tumor metastasis. However, to date, studies on the relationship between gap junctions and colorectal cancer (CRC) are limited. Methods We synthesized connexins-coding gene expression data from public Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) and The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) databases. Bioinformatics analysis was performed using R software and several database resources such as MEXPRESS database, Gene Set Cancer Analysis (GSCA) database, Human Protein Atlas (HPA) database, Tumor Immune Single Cell Hub (TISCH) database, Search Tool for Retrieval of Gene Interaction Relationships (STRING), and Cytoscape software, etc., to investigate the biological mechanisms that may be involved in connexins. Immunofluorescence and immunohistochemical staining were used to validate the expression and localization of GJA4. Results We found that CRC patients can be divided into two connexin clusters and that patients in cluster C1 had shorter survival than in cluster C2. The infiltration of M1 macrophages and NK cells was lower in cluster C1, while the levels of M2 macrophages and immune checkpoints were higher, indicating an immunosuppressed state in cluster C1. In addition, the epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) phenotype was significantly activated in cluster C1. We observed that GJA4 was up-regulated in colorectal cancer tissues, which was related to poor prognosis. It was mainly expressed in fibroblasts, but the expression levels in normal intestinal epithelial cells were low. Finally, we found that GJA4 was associated with M2 macrophages and may be a potential immunosuppressive factor. Conclusion We found that there is a significant correlation between abnormal connexins expression and patients’ prognosis, and connexins play an important role in stromal-tumor interactions. Connexins, especially GJA4, can help enhance our understanding of tumor microenvironment (TME) and may guide more effective immunotherapeutic strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuan-jie Liu
- Department of Oncology, Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Jiangsu Province Hospital of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, People’s Republic of China
- No. 1 Clinical Medical College, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, People’s Republic of China
| | - Mei Han
- Department of Oncology, Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Jiangsu Province Hospital of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, People’s Republic of China
| | - Jie-pin Li
- Department of Oncology, Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Jiangsu Province Hospital of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, People’s Republic of China
- No. 1 Clinical Medical College, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, People’s Republic of China
- Department of Oncology, Zhangjiagang TCM Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Zhangjiagang, People’s Republic of China
| | - Shu-hong Zeng
- Department of Oncology, Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Jiangsu Province Hospital of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, People’s Republic of China
- No. 1 Clinical Medical College, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, People’s Republic of China
| | - Qian-wen Ye
- Department of Oncology, Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Jiangsu Province Hospital of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, People’s Republic of China
- No. 1 Clinical Medical College, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, People’s Republic of China
| | - Zhong-hua Yin
- Department of Oncology, Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Jiangsu Province Hospital of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, People’s Republic of China
- No. 1 Clinical Medical College, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, People’s Republic of China
| | - Shen-lin Liu
- Department of Oncology, Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Jiangsu Province Hospital of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, People’s Republic of China
- No. 1 Clinical Medical College, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, People’s Republic of China
| | - Xi Zou
- Department of Oncology, Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Jiangsu Province Hospital of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, People’s Republic of China
- No. 1 Clinical Medical College, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, People’s Republic of China
- Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center of Traditional Chinese Medicine in Prevention and Treatment of Tumor, Nanjing, People’s Republic of China
- Correspondence: Xi Zou; Shen-lin Liu, Email ;
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Liu S, Cao X, Wang D, Zhu H. Iron metabolism: State of the art in hypoxic cancer cell biology. Arch Biochem Biophys 2022; 723:109199. [DOI: 10.1016/j.abb.2022.109199] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2022] [Revised: 03/25/2022] [Accepted: 03/25/2022] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
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150
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Li XY, Shen Y, Zhang L, Guo X, Wu J. Understanding initiation and progression of hepatocellular carcinoma through single cell sequencing. Biochim Biophys Acta Rev Cancer 2022; 1877:188720. [PMID: 35304295 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbcan.2022.188720] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2022] [Revised: 03/10/2022] [Accepted: 03/11/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Unsatisfied clinical outcome drives to better understand hepatic carcinogenesis, microenvironment and escape of immune surveillance in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Single cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-Seq) has generated enormous data to pinpoint pathophysiologic alterations in tumor microenvironment (TME) or trace lineage development in cancer stem cells (CSCs), circulating tumor cells (CTCs), and subsets of immune cells, such as exhausting T cells, tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs), dendritic cells or other lineages. New insights have significantly advanced current understanding in progression, poor responses to molecular-targeted therapeutics or immune checkpoint inhibitors, metastasis in both basic research and clinical practice. The present review intends to cover a basic workflow of the scRNA-seq technology, existing limitations and improvement areas. Moreover, in-depth understanding in TME, exhausting T cells, CSCs, CTCs, tumor-associated macrophages, dendritic cells in HCC facilitates implementation of personalized and precise therapy in an era of availability with an array of systemic regimens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xin-Yue Li
- Dept. of Medical Microbiology & Parasitology, MOE/NHC/CAMS Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Virology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University Shanghai Medical College, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Yue Shen
- Dept. of Gastroenterology & Hepatology, Zhongshan Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Li Zhang
- Dept. of Medical Microbiology & Parasitology, MOE/NHC/CAMS Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Virology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University Shanghai Medical College, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Xiao Guo
- Dept. of Medical Microbiology & Parasitology, MOE/NHC/CAMS Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Virology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University Shanghai Medical College, Shanghai 200032, China; Pathogenic Research Core Facility, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Jian Wu
- Dept. of Medical Microbiology & Parasitology, MOE/NHC/CAMS Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Virology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University Shanghai Medical College, Shanghai 200032, China; Dept. of Gastroenterology & Hepatology, Zhongshan Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China; Shanghai Institute of Liver Diseases, Fudan University Shanghai Medical College, Shanghai 200032, China.
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