Tumour necrosis factor and cancer

Butyrate-producing Eubacterium rectale suppresses lymphomagenesis by alleviating the TNF-induced TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB axis

Microbiota-induced tumorigenesis is well established in solid tumors of the gastrointestinal tract but rarely explored in hematologic malignancies. To determine the role of gut microbiota in lymphoma progression, we performed metagenomic sequencing on human primary gastrointestinal B cell lymphomas. We identified a distinct microbiota profile of intestinal lymphoma, with significantly decreased symbiotic microbes, particularly the genus Eubacterium and notably butyrate-producing Eubacterium rectale. Transfer of E. rectale-deficit microbiota of intestinal lymphoma patients to mice caused inflammation and tumor necrosis factor (TNF) production. Conversely, E. rectale treatment reduced TNF levels and the incidence of lymphoma in sensitized Eμ-Myc mice. Moreover, lipopolysaccharide from the resident microbiota of lymphoma patients and mice synergizes with TNF signaling and reinforces the NF-κB pathway via the MyD88-dependent TLR4 signaling, amalgamating in enhanced intestinal B cell survival and proliferation. These findings reveal a mechanism of inflammation-associated lymphomagenesis and a potential clinical rationale for therapeutic targeting of gut microbiota.

Thyroid hormones act as modulators of inflammation through their nuclear receptors

Reciprocal crosstalk between endocrine and immune systems has been well-documented both in physiological and pathological conditions, although the connection between the immune system and thyroid hormones (THs) remains largely unclear. Inflammation and infection are two important processes modulated by the immune system, which have profound effects on both central and peripheral THs metabolism. Conversely, optimal levels of THs are necessary for the maintenance of immune function and response. Although some effects of THs are mediated by their binding to cell membrane integrin receptors, triggering a non-genomic response, most of the actions of these hormones involve their binding to specific nuclear thyroid receptors (TRs), which generate a genomic response by modulating the activity of a great variety of transcription factors. In this special review on THs role in health and disease, we highlight the relevance of these hormones in the molecular mechanisms linked to inflammation upon their binding to specific nuclear receptors. In particular, we focus on THs effects on different signaling pathways involved in the inflammation associated with various infectious and/or pathological processes, emphasizing those mediated by NF-kB, p38MAPK and JAK/STAT. The findings showed in this review suggest new opportunities to improve current therapeutic strategies for the treatment of inflammation associated with several infections and/or diseases, such as cancer, sepsis or Covid-19 infection.

The impact of the prognostic nutritional index (PNI) in gastric cancer

BACKGROUND

Regarding the assessment of patients' immune and nutritional status, prognostic nutritional index (PNI) has been reported as a predictive marker for surgical outcomes in various types of cancer. The aim of our study was to evaluate the effect of PNI in prognosis of gastric cancer patients submitted to curative-intent resectional surgery.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

A retrospective analysis with 637 gastric cancer cases submitted to curative-intent surgery, between 2010 and 2017, in an upper GI surgery unit. We analyzed 396 patients that met the inclusion criteria for this study. The median follow-up was 37 (0-113) months.

RESULTS

According to Youden's method, the optimal PNI cutoff for OS was 41.625 (sensitivity 89.3% and specificity 41.3%). OS was significantly shorter in the lower-PNI group of patients when compared to the higher-PNI group (40.26 vs 77.49 months; p < 0.001). Higher PNI had a positive impact on OS in univariable analysis. When adjusted to pStage, higher PNI was still significantly associated with better OS (HR 0.405; CI 95% 0.253-0.649; p < 0.001). Regarding DFS, higher PNI was associated with better DFS (HR 0.421; CI 95% 0.218-0.815; p = 0.010). Higher-PNI group had a protective effect regarding postoperative morbidity and mortality.

CONCLUSIONS

In this cohort, PNI was disclosed to significantly impact GC patients' OS and DFS, including in multivariable analysis when adjusting for classical prognostic features. PNI can be used to predict patients at increased risk of postoperative morbidity and mortality. This index may be of use in identifying candidate patients who would benefit from perioperative nutritional support to improve surgical outcomes.

Pan-cancer analyses confirmed the cuproptosis-related gene FDX1 as an immunotherapy predictor and prognostic biomarker

Background: The latest research identified cuproptosis as an entirely new mechanism of cell death. However, as a key regulator in copper-induced cell death, the prognostic and immunotherapeutic value of FDX1 in pan-cancer remains unclear.

Methods: Data from the UCSC Xena, GEPIA, and CPTAC were analyzed to conduct an inquiry into the overall differential expression of FDX1 across multiple cancer types. The expression of FDX1 in GBM, LUAD and HCC cell lines as well as their control cell lines was verified by RT-QPCR. The survival prognosis, clinical features, and genetic changes of FDX1 were also evaluated. Finally, the relationship between FDX1 and immunotherapy response was further explored through Gene Set Enrichment Analysis enrichment analysis, tumor microenvironment, immune cell infiltration, immune gene co-expression and drug sensitivity analysis.

Results: The transcription and protein expression of FDX1 were significantly reduced in most cancer types and had prognostic value for the survival of certain cancer patients such as ACC, KIRC, HNSC, THCA and LGG. In some cancer types, FDX1 expression was also markedly correlated with the clinical characteristics, TMB, MSI, and antitumor drug susceptibility or resistance of different tumors. Gene set enrichment analysis showed that FDX1 was significantly associated with immune-related pathways. Moreover, the expression level of FDX1 was confirmed to be strongly correlated with immune cell infiltration, immune checkpoint genes, and immune regulatory genes to a certain extent.

Conclusion: This study comprehensively explored the potential value of FDX1 as a prognostic and immunotherapeutic marker for pan-cancer, providing new direction and evidence for cancer therapy.

Biologic treatment for psoriasis in cancer patients: should they still be considered forbidden?

Available evidence to guide clinicians in the management of psoriasis patients with a history of malignancies is scarce. The latest generation of biological drugs is traditionally considered to be safe in patients with previous malignancy, although only case reports and short case series on the use of biological drugs in this population are available in the literature. In this paper, we present the experience of our clinic on 37 psoriatic patients with a previous diagnosis of neoplasia treated subsequently with biological drugs. Subsequently, a systematic review of the literature was performed and 38 cases were found. The main biologic used in our patients and the patients described in the literature was secukinumab. In both populations treatment with biologics was safe, disease progressions reported were not related to treatment. Based on our experience, which is the largest currently available, and the cases reported in the literature the treatment of psoriasis in patients with previously diagnosed cancer with biologics against TNFalpha, IL17, IL23, and IL12 would appear to be safe. The first experience on the use of Risankizumab and brodalumab on this special population is also reported in our series.

Clinical implication of the advanced lung cancer inflammation index in patients with right-sided colon cancer after complete mesocolic excision: a propensity score-matched analysis

Background

This study aimed to assess the clinical implications of the advanced lung cancer inflammation index (ALI) in patients with right-sided colon cancer (RCC) after complete mesocolic excision (CME).

Methods

A total of 441 patients with RCC who underwent CME were included. The optimal cut-off value for the ALI was determined using the X-tile software. Logistic and Cox regression analyses were used to identify risk factors for postoperative complications and long-term outcomes. Predictive nomograms for overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) were constructed after propensity score matching (PSM), and their performance was assessed using the net reclassification improvement index (NRI), integrated discrimination improvement index (IDI), and time-dependent receiver operating characteristic (time-ROC) curve analysis.

Results

The optimal preoperative ALI cut-off value was 36.3. After PSM, ASA classification 3/4, operative duration, and a low ALI were independently associated with postoperative complications in the multivariate analysis (all P<0.05). Cox regression analysis revealed that an age >60 years, a carbohydrate antigen 19-9 (CA19-9) level >37 U/mL, pathological N+ stage, and a low ALI were independently correlated with OS (all P<0.05). A CA19-9 level >37 U/mL, pathological N+ stage, lymphovascular invasion, and a low ALI were independent predictors of DFS (all P<0.05). Predictive nomograms for OS and DFS were constructed using PSM. Furthermore, a nomogram combined with the ALI was consistently superior to a non-ALI nomogram or the pathological tumor-node-metastasis classification based on the NRI, IDI, and time-ROC curve analysis after PSM (all P<0.05).

Conclusion

The ALI was an effective indicator for predicting short- and long-term outcomes in patients with RCC.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12957-022-02712-0.

Salivary Concentrations of Chemerin, α-Defensin 1, and TNF-α as Potential Biomarkers in the Early Diagnosis of Colorectal Cancer

Colorectal cancer is one of the most prevalent cancers worldwide. There is a great interest and need to find simple, inexpensive, and minimally invasive diagnostic tests. The aim of the study was to analyze the salivary concentrations of chemerin, α-defensin 1, and TNF-α in colorectal cancer (CRC) patients and in a healthy control group. The concentration of these proteins was simultaneously determined in the serum of subjects. We also aimed to assess the correlation of these results and selected clinicopathological features. This prospective study was comprised of 39 CRC patients and 40 control group patients. Salivary and serum concentrations were determined by enzyme immunoassays. The salivary and serum concentrations of chemerin, α-defensin 1, and TNF-α were significantly higher in cancer patients compared to the control group. No correlation was found between concentrations of the proteins and the clinical stage of cancer and tumor location. The ROC curve analysis showed that although salivary concentrations of all proteins showed 100% sensitivity and 100% specificity, serum concentrations of the analyzed proteins were characterized by 100% sensitivity and over 90% specificity. The assessment of chemerin, α-defensin 1, and TNF-α concentrations in saliva seem to have great potential as quick and useful biomarkers in the early diagnosis of CRC.

The Role of Inflammatory Mediators in Colorectal Cancer Hepatic Metastasis

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the second leading cause of death in cancer patients in the USA, whereas the major cause of CRC deaths is hepatic metastases. The liver is the most common site of metastasis in patients with CRC due to hepatic portal veins receiving blood from the digestive tract. Understanding the cellular and molecular mechanisms of hepatic metastases is of dire need for the development of potent targeted therapeutics. Immuno-signaling molecules including cytokines and chemokines play a pivotal role in hepatic metastases from CRC. This brief review discusses the involvement of three representative cytokines (TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-1β), a lipid molecule PGE2 and two chemokines (CXCL1 and CXCL2) in the process of CRC liver metastases.

Molecular Characterization, Evolution and Expression Analysis of TNFSF14 and Three TNFSF Receptors in Spotted Gar Lepisosteus oculatus

The tumor necrosis superfamily (TNFSF) and their receptors (TNFRs) play an essential role in inflammatory responses. In this study, tnfsf14, tnfrsf1a, tnfrsf1b and tnfrsf14 were identified in spotted gar. All the genes have conserved genomic organization and synteny with their respective homologs in zebrafish and humans. The putative TNFSF protein contains a typical TNF homology domain in the extracellular region. All three TNFRSFs possess characteristic cysteine-rich domains. TNFRSF1a has a death domain in the cytosolic region which is absent in the TNFRSF1b and TNFRSF14. Notably, TNFRSF14 lacks a transmembrane domain and is predicted to be secreted. Protein structure modeling revealed that the key residues involved in the interaction between TNFSF14 and TNFRSF14 are well conserved in spotted gar. All four genes were ubiquitously expressed in the spleen, liver, kidney, gills and intestine. Infection with Klebsiella pneumoniae resulted in remarkable downregulation of tnfsf14 and tnfrsf14 in tissues but upregulation of tnfrsf1a and tnfrsf1b. The results indicate that tnfsf14, tnfrsf1a, tnfrsf1b and tnfrsf14 are involved in the immune response to bacterial infection, and expand knowledge on the TNF system in the primitive ray-finned fish.

CAR T-Cell-Based gene therapy for cancers: new perspectives, challenges, and clinical developments

Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-T cell therapy is a progressive new pillar in immune cell therapy for cancer. It has yielded remarkable clinical responses in patients with B-cell leukemia or lymphoma. Unfortunately, many challenges remain to be addressed to overcome its ineffectiveness in the treatment of other hematological and solidtumor malignancies. The major hurdles of CAR T-cell therapy are the associated severe life-threatening toxicities such as cytokine release syndrome and limited anti-tumor efficacy. In this review, we briefly discuss cancer immunotherapy and the genetic engineering of T cells and, In detail, the current innovations in CAR T-cell strategies to improve efficacy in treating solid tumors and hematologic malignancies. Furthermore, we also discuss the current challenges in CAR T-cell therapy and new CAR T-cell-derived nanovesicle therapy. Finally, strategies to overcome the current clinical challenges associated with CAR T-cell therapy are included as well.

Digesting the Role of JAK-STAT and Cytokine Signaling in Oral and Gastric Cancers

When small proteins such as cytokines bind to their associated receptors on the plasma membrane, they can activate multiple internal signaling cascades allowing information from one cell to affect another. Frequently the signaling cascade leads to a change in gene expression that can affect cell functions such as proliferation, differentiation and homeostasis. The Janus kinase-signal transducer and activator of transcription (JAK-STAT) and the tumor necrosis factor receptor (TNFR) are the pivotal mechanisms employed for such communication. When deregulated, the JAK-STAT and the TNF receptor signaling pathways can induce chronic inflammatory phenotypes by promoting more cytokine production. Furthermore, these signaling pathways can promote replication, survival and metastasis of cancer cells. This review will summarize the essentials of the JAK/STAT and TNF signaling pathways and their regulation and the molecular mechanisms that lead to the dysregulation of the JAK-STAT pathway. The consequences of dysregulation, as ascertained from founding work in haematopoietic malignancies to more recent research in solid oral-gastrointestinal cancers, will also be discussed. Finally, this review will highlight the development and future of therapeutic applications which modulate the JAK-STAT or the TNF signaling pathways in cancers.

Effect of Poly(methacrylic acid) on the Cytokine Level in an In Vivo Tumor Model

Cancer is a leading cause of mortality globally. Despite remarkable improvements in cancer-treatment approaches, disease recurrence and progression remain major obstacles to therapy. While chemotherapy is still a first-line treatment for a variety of cancers, the focus has shifted to the development and application of new approaches to therapy. Nevertheless, the relationship between immune response, neoplastic diseases and treatment efficiency is not fully understood. Therefore, the aim of the study was to investigate the immunopharmacological effects of methacrylic acid homopolymer in an in vivo tumor model. Materials and methods: Monomeric methacrylic acid was used to synthesize polymers. Methacrylic acid was polymerized in dioxane in the presence of 4-Cyano-4-[(dodecylsulfanylthiocarbonyl)sulfanyl]pentanoic acid. To study the molecular weight characteristics of PMAA by GPC, carboxyl groups were preliminarily methylated with diazomethane. An experimental cancer model was obtained by grafting RMK1 breast cancer cells. The serum levels of IL-6, IL-10, IL-17, transforming growth factor β1 (TGF-β1), and tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) were measured by ELISA. Results: The effect of PMAA on the serum concentrations of several cytokines was studied upon its single administration to laboratory animals in early neoplastic process. The IL-6, IL-17 and TGF-β1 concentrations were found to change significantly and reach the level observed in intact rats. The IL-10 concentration tended to normalize. Conclusion: The positive results obtained are the basis for further studies on the effect of methacrylic-acid polymers with different molecular-weight characteristics on the neoplastic process.

Inhibition of cell invasion and migration by targeting matrix metalloproteinase-9 expression via sirtuin 6 silencing in human breast cancer cells

Sirtuin 6 (SIRT6) regulation is involved in carcinogenesis. However, its role in breast cancer (BC) metastasis remains unclear. We investigated the effects of SIRT6 on protein kinase C activator- and cytokine-mediated cancer cell invasion and migration in MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cells and the association between SIRT6 and matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) expression. To assess MMP-9 and SIRT6 expression in patients, protein levels in BC tissues were analyzed. MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cell viability was analyzed using MTT assays. SIRT6 was silenced in both cell lines and protein secretion, expression, and mRNA levels were analyzed. Transcription factor DNA activity was investigated using luciferase assays. Matrigel invasion assays were used to assess the effects of SIRT6 in both cell lines. SIRT6 and MMP-9 expression in cancer tissues was significantly higher than in paired normal breast tissues. 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) or tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) increased MMP-9 expression and cell invasion and migration, but SIRT6 knockdown abolished these effects. SIRT6 overexpression additively increased TPA- and TNF-α-induced MMP-9 expression. SIRT6 knockdown suppressed the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathway and thus TPA- and TNF-α-induced MMP-9 expression. SIRT6 silencing suppressed TPA- and TNF-α-induced nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) and activator protein-1 (AP-1) expressions in both cell lines, and treatment with MAPK, NF-κB, and AP-1 inhibitors reduced MMP-9 expression. The anti-invasive effects of SIRT6 in BC cells might be mediated by suppression of MAPK phosphorylation and reduction in NF-κB and AP-1 DNA activities, leading to MMP-9 downregulation, suggesting that SIRT6 modulation has the potential to target BC metastasis.

SYK Is Associated With Malignant Phenotype and Immune Checkpoints in Diffuse Glioma

Background: Diffuse glioma, the most common intracranial malignant tumor, is characterized by immunosuppression. The prognostic significance and potential therapeutic value of SYK remain obscure. Here, we explored the performance of SYK in predicting patient outcomes and as a therapeutic target.

Methods: The mRNA expression and clinical data for pancancer and normal tissues and more than 2,000 glioma samples were collected from public databases. The expression level of SYK was evaluated by qPCR and IHC. The prognostic value of SYK was assessed using the Kaplan–Meier curves and univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses. A sequence of immune and stromal infiltration analyses was calculated based on the ESTIMATE algorithm, ssGSEA algorithm, TIMER, and single-cell analysis. The SYK-related subtypes were identified via a Consensus Cluster Plus analysis.

Results: SYK was significantly differentially expressed in multiple tumors and normal tissues. Importantly, high-expression SYK was enriched in malignant phenotypes of diffuse gliomas, which was further validated by qPCR and IHC. Survival analysis uncovered that SYK was an independently unfavorable prognostic marker in diffuse glioma. Functional enrichment analysis and immune and stromal infiltration analyses showed that SYK was involved in shaping the immunosuppressive microenvironment of diffuse glioma. Additionally, SYK expression was closely associated with some immune checkpoint molecules and M2 macrophage infiltration, which was validated by IHC and single-cell analysis. Diffuse glioma with Sub1 exhibited a worse prognosis, immunosuppressive microenvironment, and higher expression of immune checkpoint genes.

Conclusion: SYK is involved in shaping the immunosuppressive microenvironment and served as a promising prognosis biomarker and immunotherapeutic target for diffuse glioma.

Exploring the role of biologics in depression

Depression is a chronic and prevalent neuropsychiatric disorder; clinical symptoms include excessive sad mood, anhedonia, increased anxiety, disturbed sleep, and cognitive deficits. The exact etiopathogenesis of depression is not well understood. Studies have suggested that tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and interleukins (ILs) perform vital roles in the pathogenesis and treatment of depression. Increasing evidence suggests the upregulation of TNF-α and ILs expression in patients with depression. Therefore, biologics like TNF inhibitors (etanercept, infliximab, adalimumab) and IL inhibitors (ustekinumab) have become key compounds in the treatment of depression. Interestingly, treatment with an antidepressant has been found to decrease the TNF-α level and improve depression-like behaviors in several preclinical and clinical studies. In the current article, we have reviewed the recent findings linking TNF-α and the pathogenesis of depression proving TNF-α inhibitors as potential new therapeutic agents. Animal models and clinical studies further support that TNF-α inhibitors are effective in ameliorating depression-like behaviors. Moreover, studies showed that peripheral injection of TNF-α exhibits depressive symptoms. These symptoms have been improved by treatment with TNF-α inhibitors. Hence suggesting TNF-α inhibitors as potential new antidepressants for the management of depressive disorder.

Curcuminoids as Modulators of EMT in Invasive Cancers: A Review of Molecular Targets With the Contribution of Malignant Mesothelioma Studies

Curcuminoids, which include natural acyclic diarylheptanoids and the synthetic analogs of curcumin, have considerable potential for fighting against all the characteristics of invasive cancers. The epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a fundamental process for embryonic morphogenesis, however, the last decade has confirmed it orchestrates many features of cancer invasiveness, such as tumor cell stemness, metabolic rewiring, and drug resistance. A wealth of studies has revealed EMT in cancer is in fact driven by an increasing number of parameters, and thus understanding its complexity has now become a cornerstone for defining future therapeutic strategies dealing with cancer progression and metastasis. A specificity of curcuminoids is their ability to target multiple molecular targets, modulate several signaling pathways, modify tumor microenvironments and enhance the host’s immune response. Although the effects of curcumin on these various parameters have been the subject of many reviews, the role of curcuminoids against EMT in the context of cancer have never been reviewed so far. This review first provides an updated overview of all EMT drivers, including signaling pathways, transcription factors, non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) and tumor microenvironment components, with a special focus on the most recent findings. Secondly, for each of these drivers the effects of curcumin/curcuminoids on specific molecular targets are analyzed. Finally, we address some common findings observed between data reported in the literature and the results of investigations we conducted on experimental malignant mesothelioma, a model of invasive cancer representing a useful tool for studies on EMT and cancer.

TNF-α-inducing protein of Helicobacter pylori promotes EMT and cancer stem-like cells properties via activation of Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway in gastric cancer cells

Tumor necrosis factor-α-inducing protein (Tipα) is a newly identified toxin, which promotes the inflammation and carcinogenesis caused by Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori). However, its mechanism of pathogenesis is still unclear. To investigate the carcinogenic mechanisms of Tipα, SGC7901 cells and SGC7901-derived cancer stem-like cells (CSCs) were stimulated by recombinant Tipα protein with or without Wnt/β-catenin signaling inhibitor XAV939. qRT-PCR and Western blotting were employed to detect expression of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), CSCs markers, and downstream target genes of this signaling pathway. The cell migration ability was measured by wound healing assay and transwell assay. Our results indicated that Tipα promoted CSC properties of SGC7901 spheroids, including increased expression of CSC specific surface markers CD44, Oct4, Nanog, and an increased capacity for self-renewal. Tipα activated Wnt/β-catenin signaling in both SGC7901 cells or CSCs. Furthermore, Tipα induced the EMT and increased the expressions of downstream target genes of this signaling, including c-myc, cyclin D1, and CD44. However, XAV939 pretreatment inhibited Tipα-induced EMT and CSC properties in SGC7901 cells or CSCs. These results suggest that Tipα promotes EMT and CSC-like properties in gastric cancer cells through activation of Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway, thereby accelerating the progression of gastric cancer.

TNF-α Inhibitors and Other Biologic Agents for the Treatment of Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor-Induced Myocarditis

With anti-PD-1 antibodies serving as a representative drug, immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have become the main drugs used to treat many advanced malignant tumors. However, immune-related adverse events (irAEs), which might involve multiple organ disorders, should not be ignored. ICI-induced myocarditis is an uncommon but life-threatening irAE. Glucocorticoids are the first choice of treatment for patients with ICI-induced myocarditis, but high proportions of steroid-refractory and steroid-resistant cases persist. According to present guidelines, tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) inhibitors are recommended for patients who fail to respond to steroid therapy and suffer from severe cardiac toxicity, although evidence-based studies are lacking. On the other hand, TNF-α inhibitors are contraindicated in patients with moderate-to-severe heart failure. This review summarizes real-world data from TNF-α inhibitors and other biologic agents for ICI-induced myocarditis to provide more evidence of the efficacy and safety of TNF-α inhibitors and other biologic agents.

Context-dependent functions of pattern recognition receptors in cancer

The immune system plays a critical role in shaping all facets of cancer, from the early initiation stage through to metastatic disease and resistance to therapy. Our understanding of the importance of the adaptive arm of the immune system in antitumour immunity has led to the implementation of immunotherapy with immune checkpoint inhibitors in numerous cancers, albeit with differing efficacy. By contrast, the clinical utility of innate immunity in cancer has not been exploited, despite dysregulated innate immunity being a feature of at least one-third of all cancers associated with tumour-promoting chronic inflammation. The past two decades have seen innate immune pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) emerge as critical regulators of the immune response to microbial infection and host tissue damage. More recently, it has become apparent that in many cancer types, PRRs play a central role in modulating a vast array of tumour-inhibiting and tumour-promoting cellular responses both in immune cells within the tumour microenvironment and directly in cancer cells. Herein, we provide a comprehensive overview of the fast-evolving field of PRRs in cancer, and discuss the potential to target PRRs for drug development and biomarker discovery in a wide range of oncology settings.

Molecular and Supramolecular Approach to Highly Photocytotoxic Phthalocyanines with Dual Cell Uptake Pathways and Albumin-Enhanced Tumor Targeting

Phototherapy for non-invasive cancer treatment has been extensively studied. An urgent challenge in phototherapy application is to fabricate appropriate targeted agents to achieve efficient therapeutic effect. Herein, a molecular and supramolecular approach for targeting phototherapy was reasonably designed and realized through the axial sulfonate modification of silicon(IV) phthalocyanines (Pcs), followed by supramolecular interaction with albumin. This approach can not only improve the photoactivities (e.g., fluorescence emission and reactive oxygen species production) of the Pcs but also enhance their tumor targeting. Most importantly, one of the deigned Pcs (4) can target HepG2 cells through dual cell pathways, leading to an extremely high phototoxicity with an EC₅₀ (i.e., concentration of Pcs to kill 50% of cells under light irradiation) value of 2.0 nM. This finding presents a feasible strategy to realize efficient targeting phototherapy.

Establishment of In Vitro and In Vivo Anticolorectal Cancer Efficacy of Lithocholic Acid-Based Imidazolium Salts

Imidazolium salts (IMSs) are the subject of many studies showing their anticancer activities. In this research, a series of novel imidazolium salts substituted with lithocholic acid (LCA) and alkyl chains of various lengths (S1–S10) were evaluated against colon cancer cells. A significant reduction in the viability and metabolic activity was obtained in vitro for DLD-1 and HT-29 cell lines when treated with tested salts. The results showed that the activities of tested agents are directly related to the alkyl chain length, where S6–S8 compounds were the most cytotoxic against the DLD-1 line and S4–S10 against HT-29. The research performed on the xenograft model of mice demonstrated a lower tendency of tumor growth in the group receiving compound S6, compared with the group receiving 5-fluorouracil (5-FU). Obtained results indicate the activity of S6 in the induction of apoptosis and necrosis in induced colorectal cancer. LCA-based imidazolium salts may be candidates for chemotherapeutic agents against colorectal cancer.

MacroH2As regulate enhancer-promoter contacts affecting enhancer activity and sensitivity to inflammatory cytokines

MacroH2A histone variants have a function in gene regulation that is poorly understood at the molecular level. We report that macroH2A1.2 and macroH2A2 modulate the transcriptional ground state of cancer cells and how they respond to inflammatory cytokines. Removal of macroH2A1.2 and macroH2A2 in hepatoblastoma cells affects the contact frequency of promoters and distal enhancers coinciding with changes in enhancer activity or preceding them in response to the cytokine tumor necrosis factor alpha. Although macroH2As regulate genes in both directions, they globally facilitate the nuclear factor κB (NF-κB)-mediated response. In contrast, macroH2As suppress the response to the pro-inflammatory cytokine interferon gamma. MacroH2A2 has a stronger contribution to gene repression than macroH2A1.2. Taken together, our results suggest that macroH2As have a role in regulating the response of cancer cells to inflammatory signals on the level of chromatin structure. This is likely relevant for the interaction of cancer cells with immune cells of their microenvironment.

The Breast Cancer Protooncogenes HER2, BRCA1 and BRCA2 and Their Regulation by the iNOS/NOS2 Axis

The expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS; NOS2) and derived NO in various cancers was reported to exert pro- and anti-tumorigenic effects depending on the levels of expression and the tumor types. In humans, the breast cancer level of iNOS was reported to be overexpressed, to exhibit pro-tumorigenic activities, and to be of prognostic significance. Likewise, the expression of the oncogenes HER2, BRCA1, and BRCA2 has been associated with malignancy. The interrelationship between the expression of these protooncogenes and oncogenes and the expression of iNOS is not clear. We have hypothesized that there exist cross-talk signaling pathways between the breast cancer protooncogenes, the iNOS axis, and iNOS-mediated NO mutations of these protooncogenes into oncogenes. We review the molecular regulation of the expression of the protooncogenes in breast cancer and their interrelationships with iNOS expression and activities. In addition, we discuss the roles of iNOS, HER2, BRCA1/2, and NO metabolism in the pathophysiology of cancer stem cells. Bioinformatic analyses have been performed and have found suggested molecular alterations responsible for breast cancer aggressiveness. These include the association of BRCA1/2 mutations and HER2 amplifications with the dysregulation of the NOS pathway. We propose that future studies should be undertaken to investigate the regulatory mechanisms underlying the expression of iNOS and various breast cancer oncogenes, with the aim of identifying new therapeutic targets for the treatment of breast cancers that are refractory to current treatments.

Identification of Genes Related to 5-Fluorouracil Based Chemotherapy for Colorectal Cancer

Background

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most common malignancies and its incidence and mortality are increasing yearly. 5-Fluorouracil (5-FU) has long been used as a standard first-line treatment for CRC patients. Although 5-FU-based chemotherapy is effective for advanced CRC, the consequent resistance remains a key problem and causes the poor prognosis of CRC patients. Thus, there is an urgent need to identify new biomarkers to predict the response to 5-FU-based chemotherapy.

Methods

CRC samples were retrieved from Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) and The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA). The immune-related genes were retrieved from the ImmPort database. Single-cell sequencing results from colorectal cancer were obtained by the ArrayExpress database. 5-FU resistance-related genes were filtered and validated by R packages. ESTIMATE algorithms were used to assess the tumor microenvironment (TME). KEGG and GO analysis were performed to explore the biological signaling pathway for resistant-response patients and sensitive-response patients in the tumor microenvironment. pRRophetic algorithms were used to predict 5-FU sensitivity. GSEA and GSVA analysis was performed to excavate the biological signaling pathway of the RBP7 gene.

Results

Nine immune-related genes were identified to be associated with 5-FU resistance and poor disease-free survival (DFS) of CRC patients and the signature of these genes was developed in a DFS-prognostic model. Four immune-related genes were determined to be associated with 5-FU resistance and overall survival (OS) of CRC patients. The signature of these genes was developed an OS-prognostic model. ESTIMATE scores showed a significant difference between 5-FU resistant and 5-FU sensitive CRC patients. Resistant-response patients and sensitive-response patients to 5-FU based chemotherapy showed different GO and KEGG enrichment on the tumor microenvironment. RBP7, as a tumor immune microenvironment (TIME) related gene, was found to have the potential of predicting chemotherapy resistance and poor prognosis of CRC patients. GSEA analysis showed multiple signaling differences between the high and low expression of RBP7 in CRC patients. Hypoxia and TNFα signaling via NFκB gene sets were significantly different between chemotherapy resistant (RBP7^High) and chemotherapy sensitive (RBP7^Low) patients. Single-cell RNA-seq suggested RBP7 was centrally distributed in endothelial stalk cells, endothelial tip cells, and myeloid cells.

Conclusions

Immune-related genes will hopefully be potential prognostic biomarkers to predict chemotherapy resistance for CRC. RBP7 may function as a tumor microenvironment regulator to induce 5-FU resistance, thereby affecting the prognosis of CRC patients.

Cisplatin Promotes the Efficacy of Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor Therapy by Inducing Ferroptosis and Activating Neutrophils

The combination of immunotherapy with platinum-based chemotherapy has become the first-line treatment for patients with advanced non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with negative driver gene mutations. However, finding an ideal chemotherapeutic regimen for immunotherapy and exploring the underlying mechanism have noticeably attracted clinicians’ attention. In this study, we found that cisplatin induced ferroptosis of tumor cells, followed by N1 neutrophil polarization in the tumor microenvironment, which in turn remodeled the “cold” tumor to a “hot” one through enhancing T-cell infiltration and Th1 differentiation. Based on the important role of tumor ferroptosis in the immune-promoting effect of cisplatin, we noticed that the combination of a ferroptosis activator showed a synergistic effect with chemoimmunotherapy of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-mutant NSCLC, which would be an effective strategy to overcome immunotherapy resistance in NSCLC patients harboring driver mutations.

Anti‑inflammatory effect of red ginseng marc, Artemisia scoparia, Paeonia japonica and Angelica gigas extract mixture in LPS‑stimulated RAW 264.7 cells

A normal inflammatory response is essential in protecting the body from foreign substances. However, excessive inflammation contributes to diseases such as oxidative stress, heart disease, and cancer. In this study, we evaluated the anti-inflammatory effects of RAPA (red ginseng marc, Artemisia scoparia Waldst.et Kit, Paeonia japonica Miyabe & Takeda, and Angelica gigas Nakai extract mixture) in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells (macrophages). RAPA suppressed the expression of inflammatory factors such as iNOS and COX-2 and decreased the production of nitric oxide. In addition, RAPA decreased the expression of the inflammatory cytokines TNF-α and IL-6. Furthermore, RAPA inhibited the phosphorylation of MAPKs such as JNK and ERK as well as IκB and NF-κB. In conclusion, RAPA inhibited production of inflammatory mediators via downregulation of the MAPK and NF-κB signaling pathways in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells. The results of this study demonstrated that RAPA regulates excessive inflammatory responses at the cellular level. Therefore, it is necessary to investigate whether the same effect is observed in vivo through further research.

Charting roadmaps towards novel and safe synergistic immunotherapy combinations

Checkpoint inhibitor-based cancer immunotherapy is often combined in the clinic with other immunotherapy strategies, targeted therapies, chemotherapy or standard-of-care treatments to achieve superior therapeutic efficacy. The large number of immunotherapy combinations that are currently undergoing clinical testing necessitate the establishment of faithful criteria to prioritize optimal combinations with evidence of synergy, to determine their safety and optimal sequence of administration and to identify biomarkers of therapy resistance and response. In this review, we focus on recent developments in immunotherapy combinations and reflect on how combinations should be optimized to maximize the impact of immunotherapy in clinical oncology.

Novel Immune Checkpoints in Esophageal Cancer: From Biomarkers to Therapeutic Targets

Esophageal cancer ranks as the sixth most common cause of cancer death worldwide. Due to the limited efficacy of conventional therapeutic strategies, including surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy, treatments are still far from satisfactory in terms of survival, prompting the search for novel treatment methods. Immune checkpoints play crucial roles in immune evasion mediated by tumor cells, and successful clinical outcomes have been achieved via blocking these pathways. However, only a small fraction of patients can benefit from current immune checkpoint inhibitors targeting programmed cell death ligand-1 (PD-L1) and cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated protein-4. Unfortunately, some patients show primary and/or acquired resistance to immune checkpoint inhibitors. Until now, novel immune checkpoint pathways have rarely been studied in esophageal cancer, and there is a great need for biomarkers to predict who will benefit from existing strategies. Herein, we primarily discuss the roles of new immune checkpoints as predictive biomarkers and therapeutic targets for esophageal cancer. In addition, we summarize the ongoing clinical trials and provide future research directions targeting these pathways.

Accuracy evaluation of combining gastroscopy, multi-slice spiral CT, Her-2, and tumor markers in gastric cancer staging diagnosis

Background

To evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of single gastroscopy, multi-slice spiral CT, HER-2 or tumor markers, and their combination in the diagnosis of gastric cancer.

Methods

A total of 98 patients with gastric cancer were selected as the research subjects. All patients underwent preoperative gastroscopy, MSCT, and the expression levels of HER-2, CEA, CA199, CA724, and CA242 were detected. A control group of 98 normal adults was selected to compare the risk factors for gastric cancer and to analyze the data.

Results

There was statistical significance in the expression of the 5 markers in tumor size (P < 0.05), but no statistical significance in other clinical data (P > 0.05). The tumor marker CEA in gastric mucosal tissue of patients with gastric cancer had the highest positive detection rate for gastric cancer, and the difference was statistically significant (P < 0.05) compared with gastroscopy, MSCT and other markers. The combined diagnosis had higher sensitivity, specificity and accuracy compared with the single diagnosis of gastric cancer staging, and the difference was statistically significant (P < 0.05). Compared with normal adults, patients with gastric cancer had statistically significant differences in diet, body mass index, and family genetic history (P < 0.05), while there was no statistically significant difference in whether they had type A blood (P > 0.05).

Conclusion

The combined diagnosis of gastroscopy, MSCT, immunohistochemical marker Her-2, and tumor markers CEA, CA199, CA724, and CA242 can more accurately determine the clinical staging and lesion invasion depth of patients with gastric cancer and can significantly improve the sensitivity of diagnosis.

Multifunctional Nanosystems Powered Photodynamic Immunotherapy

Photodynamic Therapy (PDT) with the intrinsic advantages including non-invasiveness, spatiotemporal selectivity, low side-effects, and immune activation ability has been clinically approved for the treatment of head and neck cancer, esophageal cancer, pancreatic cancer, prostate cancer, and esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. Nevertheless, the PDT is only a strategy for local control of primary tumor, that it is hard to remove the residual tumor cells and inhibit the tumor metastasis. Recently, various smart nanomedicine-based strategies are developed to overcome the barriers of traditional PDT including the drawbacks of traditional photosensitizers, limited tissue penetrability of light, inefficient induction of tumor cell death and tumor resistance to the therapy. More notably, a growing number of studies have focused on improving the therapeutic efficiency by eliciting host immune system with versatile nanoplatforms, which heralds a broader clinical application prospect of PDT in the future. Herein, the pathways of PDT induced-tumor destruction, especially the host immune response is summarized, and focusing on the recent progress of nanosystems-enhanced PDT through eliciting innate immunity and adaptive immunity. We expect it will provide some insights for conquering the drawbacks current PDT and expand the range of clinical application through this review.

Signaling Pathways Tuning Innate Lymphoid Cell Response to Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the deadliest cancers worldwide and its incidence continues to rise globally. Various causes can lead to its development such as chronic viral infections causing hepatitis, cirrhosis or nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). The contribution of immune cells to HCC development and progression has been extensively studied when it comes to adaptive lymphocytes or myeloid populations. However, the role of the innate lymphoid cells (ILCs) is still not well defined. ILCs are a family of lymphocytes comprising five subsets including circulating Natural Killer (NK) cells, ILC1s, ILC2s, ILC3s and lymphocytes tissue-inducer cells (LTi). Mostly located at epithelial surfaces, tissue-resident ILCs and NK cells can rapidly react to environmental changes to mount appropriate immune responses. Here, we provide an overview of their roles and actions in HCC with an emphasis on the importance of diverse signaling pathways (Notch, TGF-β, Wnt/β-catenin…) in the tuning of their response to HCC.

Cytokines: Can Cancer Get the Message?

Simple Summary

Cytokines are important molecular players in cancer development, progression, and potential targets for treatment. Despite being small and overlooked, research has revealed that cytokines influence cancer biology in multiple ways. Cytokines are often found to contribute to immune function, cell damage, inflammation, angiogenesis, metastasis, and several other cellular processes important to tumor survival. Cytokines have also proven to have powerful effects on complex tumor microenvironment molecular biology and microbiology. Due to their heavy involvement in critical cancer-related processes, cytokines have also become attractive therapeutic targets for cancer treatment. In this review, we describe the relationship between several cytokines and crucial cancer-promoting processes and their therapeutic potential.

Abstract

Cytokines are small molecular messengers that have profound effects on cancer development. Increasing evidence shows that cytokines are heavily involved in regulating both pro- and antitumor activities, such as immune activation and suppression, inflammation, cell damage, angiogenesis, cancer stem-cell-like cell maintenance, invasion, and metastasis. Cytokines are often required to drive these cancer-related processes and, therefore, represent an important research area for understanding cancer development and the potential identification of novel therapeutic targets. Interestingly, some cytokines are reported to be related to both pro- and anti-tumorigenicity, indicating that cytokines may play several complex roles relating to cancer pathogenesis. In this review, we discuss some major cancer-related processes and their relationship with several cytokines.

Prognostic and Immunotherapeutic Roles of KRAS in Pan-Cancer

KRAS is one well-established tumor-driver gene associated with cancer initiation, development, and progression. Nonetheless, comparative studies of the relevance of KRAS across diverse tumors remain sparse. We explored the KRAS expression and prognostic values in diverse cancer types via multiple web-based bioinformatics tools, including cBioPortal, Oncomine, PrognoScan, Kaplan–Meier Plotter, etc. We found that KRAS is highly expressed in various malignancies compared to normal cohorts (BRCA, CHOL, ESCA, HNSC, LIHC, LUAD, LUSC, and STAD) and less expressed in COAD, KIRC, READ, and THCA than in normal samples. We observed the dysregulation of the DNA methylation of KRAS in cancers and discovered that numerous oncogenic and tumor-suppressive transcription factors bind the KRAS promoter region. Pan-cancer analysis also showed that a high level of KRAS is associated with poor outcomes. Additionally, KRAS is remarkably correlated with the level of immune cell infiltration and tumorigenic gene signatures. In conclusion, our findings reveal novel insights into KRAS expression and its biological functions in diverse cancer types, indicating that KRAS could serve as a prognostic biomarker and is associated with immune infiltrates.

The Main Structural Unit Elucidation and Immunomodulatory Activity In Vitro of a Selenium-Enriched Polysaccharide Produced by Pleurotus ostreatus

In recent years, the structure of selenium-enriched polysaccharides and their application in immunomodulation have attracted much attention. In previous studies, we extracted and purified a novel selenium-enriched Pleurotus ostreatus polysaccharide called Se-POP-21, but its structure and immunomodulatory activity were still unclear. In this study, the main structural unit formula of Se-POP-21 was characterized by methylation analysis and an NMR experiment. The results showed that the backbone of Se-POP-21 was →[2,6)-α-D-Galp-(1→6)-α-D-Galp-(1]₄→2,4)-β-L-Arap-(1→[2,6)-α-D-Galp-(1→6)-α-D-Galp-(1]₄→, branched chain of β-D-Manp-(1→ and β-D-Manp-(1→4)-β-L-Arap-(1→ connected with →2,6)-α-D-Galp-(1→ and →2,4)-β-L-Arap-(1→,respectively, through the O-2 bond. In vitro cell experiments indicated that Se-POP-21 could significantly enhance the proliferation and phagocytosis of RAW264.7 cells, upregulate the expression of costimulatory molecules CD80/CD86, and promote RAW264.7 cells to secrete NO, ROS, TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 by activating the NF-κB protein. The results of this study indicate that Se-POP-21 can effectively activate RAW264.7 cells. Thus, it has the potential to be used in immunomodulatory drugs or functional foods.

YAP Transcriptional Activity Dictates Cell Response to TNF In Vitro

YAP/TAZ are transcription co-factors recently described responsive to pro-inflammatory cytokines and involved in inflammatory-related disorders. However, the role of tumor necrosis factor (TNF), a major pro-inflammatory cytokine, on YAP signaling is not well understood and controversial. Here, we observe in vitro, using wild type and YAP knockout HEK293 cells, that TNF triggers YAP nuclear translocation and transcriptional activity, thus being dependent on Rho family of GTPases. In response to TNF, YAP transcriptional activity orientates cell fate toward survival. Transcriptional analysis with Nanostring technology reveals that YAP modulates TNF-induced increase in fibro-inflammatory pathways such as NF-κB, inflammasomes, cytokines or chemokines signaling and pro-fibrotic pathways involving TGF-β and extracellular matrix remodeling. Therefore, in response to TNF, YAP acts as a sustainer of the inflammatory response and as a molecular link between inflammation and fibrotic processes. This work identifies that YAP is critical to drive several biological effects of TNF which are involved in cancer and inflammatory disorders.

Design, Synthesis, and Anticancer Activity of Triptycene-Peptide Hybrids that Induce Paraptotic Cell Death in Cancer Cells

We report on the design and synthesis of triptycene-peptide hybrids (TPHs), 5, syn-6, and anti-6, which are conjugates of a triptycene core unit with two or three cationic KKKGG peptides (K: lysine and G: glycine) through a C₈ alkyl chain. It was discovered that syn-6 and anti-6 induce paraptosis, a type of programmed cell death (PCD), in Jurkat cells (leukemia T-lymphocytes). Mechanistic studies indicate that these TPHs induce the transfer of Ca²⁺ from the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) to mitochondria, a loss of mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨ_m), tethering of the ER and mitochondria, and cytoplasmic vacuolization in the paraptosis processes.

Extracellular vesicle proteomic analysis leads to the discovery of HDGF as a new factor in multiple myeloma biology

HDGF is secreted by and found in multiple myeloma cell extracellular vesicles; it activates AKT and sustains multiple myeloma cell growth.

HDGF polarizes naïve macrophages to an M1 phenotype and generates immunosuppressive M-MDSC.

Identifying factors secreted by multiple myeloma (MM) cells that may contribute to MM tumor biology and progression is of the utmost importance. In this study, hepatoma-derived growth factor (HDGF) was identified as a protein present in extracellular vesicles (EVs) released from human MM cell lines (HMCLs). Investigation of the role of HDGF in MM cell biology revealed lower proliferation of HMCLs following HDGF knockdown and AKT phosphorylation following the addition of exogenous HDGF. Metabolic analysis demonstrated that HDGF enhances the already high glycolytic levels of HMCLs and significantly lowers mitochondrial respiration, indicating that HDGF may play a role in myeloma cell survival and/or act in a paracrine manner on cells in the bone marrow (BM) tumor microenvironment (ME). Indeed, HDGF polarizes macrophages to an M1-like phenotype and phenotypically alters naïve CD14⁺ monocytes to resemble myeloid-derived suppressor cells which are functionally suppressive. In summary, HDGF is a novel factor in MM biology and may function to both maintain MM cell viability as well as modify the tumor ME.

Harnessing cytokines and chemokines for cancer therapy

During the past 40 years, cytokines and cytokine receptors have been extensively investigated as either cancer targets or cancer treatments. A strong preclinical rationale supports therapeutic strategies to enhance the growth inhibitory and immunostimulatory effects of interferons and interleukins, including IL-2, IL-7, IL-12 and IL-15, or to inhibit the inflammatory and tumour-promoting actions of cytokines such as TNF, IL-1β and IL-6. This rationale is underscored by the discovery of altered and dysregulated cytokine expression in all human cancers. These findings prompted clinical trials of several cytokines or cytokine antagonists, revealing relevant biological activity but limited therapeutic efficacy. However, most trials involved patients with advanced-stage disease, which might not be the optimal setting for cytokine-based therapy. The advent of more effective immunotherapies and an increased understanding of the tumour microenvironment have presented new approaches to harnessing cytokine networks in the treatment of cancer, which include using cytokine-based therapies to enhance the activity or alleviate the immune-related toxicities of other treatments as well as to target early stage cancers. Many challenges remain, especially concerning delivery methods, context dependencies, and the pleiotropic, redundant and often conflicting actions of many cytokines. Herein, we discuss the lessons learnt from the initial trials of single-agent cytokine-based therapies and subsequent efforts to better exploit such agents for the treatment of solid tumours.

Thromboinflammatory Processes at the Nexus of Metabolic Dysfunction and Prostate Cancer: The Emerging Role of Periprostatic Adipose Tissue

Simple Summary

As overweight and obesity increase among the population worldwide, a parallel increase in the number of individuals diagnosed with prostate cancer was observed. There appears to be a relationship between both diseases where the increase in the mass of fat tissue can lead to inflammation. Such a state of inflammation could produce many factors that increase the aggressiveness of prostate cancer, especially if this inflammation occurred in the fat stores adjacent to the prostate. Another important observation that links obesity, fat tissue inflammation, and prostate cancer is the increased production of blood clotting factors. In this article, we attempt to explain the role of these latter factors in the effect of increased body weight on the progression of prostate cancer and propose new ways of treatment that act by affecting how these clotting factors work.

Abstract

The increased global prevalence of metabolic disorders including obesity, insulin resistance, metabolic syndrome and diabetes is mirrored by an increased incidence of prostate cancer (PCa). Ample evidence suggests that these metabolic disorders, being characterized by adipose tissue (AT) expansion and inflammation, not only present as risk factors for the development of PCa, but also drive its increased aggressiveness, enhanced progression, and metastasis. Despite the emerging molecular mechanisms linking AT dysfunction to the various hallmarks of PCa, thromboinflammatory processes implicated in the crosstalk between these diseases have not been thoroughly investigated. This is of particular importance as both diseases present states of hypercoagulability. Accumulating evidence implicates tissue factor, thrombin, and active factor X as well as other players of the coagulation cascade in the pathophysiological processes driving cancer development and progression. In this regard, it becomes pivotal to elucidate the thromboinflammatory processes occurring in the periprostatic adipose tissue (PPAT), a fundamental microenvironmental niche of the prostate. Here, we highlight key findings linking thromboinflammation and the pleiotropic effects of coagulation factors and their inhibitors in metabolic diseases, PCa, and their crosstalk. We also propose several novel therapeutic targets and therapeutic interventions possibly modulating the interaction between these pathological states.

HTLV-1 Tax-specific memory cytotoxic T lymphocytes in long-term survivors of aggressive-type adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma

Purpose

Adult T‐cell leukemia/lymphoma (ATLL) is a relatively refractory peripheral T‐cell lymphoma caused by human T‐cell lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV‐1). The objective of this study was to investigate the characteristics of long‐term survivors with ATLL.

Methods

We conducted an observational study of 75 aggressive‐type ATLL patients. Flow cytometry was conducted to analyze HTLV‐1 Tax‐specific cytotoxic T‐lymphocytes (CTLs) and T‐cell receptor Vβ gene repertoire.

Results

We first evaluated six long‐term survivors among 37 patients who were newly diagnosed with ATLL and then treated with intensive chemotherapy without mogamulizumab, a monoclonal antibody for C‐C chemokine receptor four antigen. Reversal of the CD4‐to‐CD8 ratio (CD4/CD8) in peripheral mononuclear cells was observed in all six patients. Three of these six patients showed reversed CD4/CD8 immediately after herpes virus infection. Four of these six patients who could be examined demonstrated long‐term maintenance of HTLV‐1 Tax‐specific CTLs. We subsequently identified four long‐term survivors among 38 patients who were newly diagnosed with ATLL and then treated with intensive chemotherapy plus mogamulizumab. All four patients showed reversed CD4/CD8, and three of the four patients contracted herpes virus infection during immunochemotherapy. Six of the total 10 patients were subjected to CTL analyses. Tax‐specific CTLs were observed, and the CTLs that were almost entirely composed of memory CTLs in all patients were recorded. HTLV‐1 provirus was also detected in all six patients.

Conclusions

These data suggest that Tax‐specific memory CTLs probably, together with anticancer agents, eradicate ATLL cells and exhibit long‐term preventive effects from relapse ATLL. Thus, the strong activation of cellular immunity, such as herpes virus infection, seems to be necessary to induce such a potent number of Tax‐specific CTLs.

Chemical and Biological Evidence of the Efficacy of Shengxian Decoction for Treating Human Lung Adenocarcinoma

Shengxian Decoction (SXT) is a traditional Chinese medicine prescription comprising several anti-cancer medicinal herbs. However, the anti-cancer effect of SXT has rarely been reported. Herein, we explored the therapeutic potential of SXT for the treatment of lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD). High-performance liquid chromatography analysis of crude SXT extract revealed the abundance of mangiferin, an established anti-cancer compound. The serum pharmacological evaluation revealed that serum SXT suppressed A549 lung cancer cell proliferation in vitro. The tumor-inhibitory activity of SXT was confirmed in vivo via tumor formation assays in nude mice. We applied biochemical, histopathological and imaging approaches to investigate the cellular targets of SXT. The results indicated that the treatment with SXT induced tumor necrosis, and downregulated hypoxia-inducible factor 1 alpha in the serum. In vivo biosafety assessment of SXT revealed low levels of toxicity in mouse models. Our study provides the first scientific evidence that SXT effectively represses cancer cell growth and, thus, may serve as a safe anti-cancer agent for LUAD treatment.

Extracellular Release of HMGB1 as an Early Potential Biomarker for the Therapeutic Response in a Xenograft Model of Boron Neutron Capture Therapy

Boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT) is a non-invasive therapeutic technique for treating malignant tumors, however, methods to evaluate its therapeutic efficacy and adverse reactions are lacking. High mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) is an inflammatory molecule released during cell death. Therefore, we aimed to investigate HMGB1 as a biomarker for BNCT response, by examining the early responses of tumor cells to 10B-boronophenylalanine (BPA)-based BNCT in the Kyoto University Nuclear Reactor. Extracellular HMGB1 release was significantly increased in human squamous carcinoma SAS and melanoma A375 cells 24 h after neutron irradiation but not after γ-irradiation. At 3 days post-BPA-based BNCT irradiation in a SAS xenograft mouse model, plasma HMGB1 levels were higher than those in the non-irradiation control, and HMGB1 was detected in both nuclei and cytoplasm in tumor cells. Additionally, increased plasma HMGB1 levels post-BNCT irradiation were detected even when tumors decreased in size. Collectively, these results indicate that the extracellular HMGB1 release occurs at an early stage and is persistent when tumors are reduced in size; therefore, it is a potential biomarker for evaluating the therapeutic response during BNCT.

MAPK signalling-induced phosphorylation and subcellular translocation of PDHE1α promotes tumour immune evasion

Tumour cells utilize multiple strategies to evade the immune system, but the underlying metabolic mechanisms remain poorly understood. The pyruvate dehydrogenase (PDH) complex converts pyruvate to acetyl-coenzyme A in mitochondria, thereby linking glycolysis to the ricarboxylic acid cycle. Here we show that the PDH complex E1 subunit α (PDHE1α) is also located in the cytosol. Cytosolic PDHE1α interacts with IKKβ and protein phosphatase 1B, thereby facilitating the inhibition of the NF-κB pathway. Cytosolic PDHE1α can be phosphorylated at S327 by ERK2 and translocated into mitochondria. Decreased cytosolic PDHE1α levels restore NF-κB signalling, whereas increased mitochondrial PDHE1α levels drive α-ketoglutarate production and promote reactive oxygen species detoxification. Synergistic activation of NF-κB and reactive oxygen species detoxification promotes tumour cell survival and enhances resistance to cytotoxic lymphocytes. Consistently, low levels of PDHE1α phosphorylation are associated with poor prognosis of patients with lung cancer. Our findings show a mechanism through which phosphorylation-dependent subcellular translocation of PDHE1α promotes tumour immune evasion.

Autophagy mediates ER stress and inflammation in Helicobacter pylori-related gastric cancer

Autophagy is a cellular degradation mechanism, which is triggered by the bacterium Helicobacter pylori. A single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in the autophagy gene ATG16L1 (rs2241880, G-allele) has been shown to dysregulate autophagy and increase intestinal endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress. Here, we investigate the role of this SNP in H.pylori-mediated gastric carcinogenesis and its molecular pathways. ATG16L1 rs2241880 was genotyped in subjects from different ethnic cohorts (Dutch and Australian) presenting with gastric (pre)malignant lesions of various severity. Expression of GRP78 (a marker for ER stress) was assessed in gastric tissues. The effect of ATG16L1 rs2241880 on H.pylori-mediated ER stress and pro-inflammatory cytokine induction was investigated in organoids and CRISPR/Cas9 modified cell lines. Development of gastric cancer was associated with the ATG16L1 rs2241880 G-allele. Intestinal metaplastic cells in gastric tissue of patients showed increased levels of ER-stress. In vitro models showed that H.pylori increases autophagy while reducing ER stress, which appeared partly mediated by the ATG16L1 rs2241880 genotype. H.pylori-induced IL-8 production was increased while TNF-α production was decreased, in cells homozygous for the G-allele. The ATG16L1 rs2241880 G-allele is associated with progression of gastric premalignant lesions and cancer. Modulation of H.pylori-induced ER stress pathways and pro-inflammatory mediators by ATG16L1 rs2441880 may underlie this increased risk.