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Peritumoral CD90+CD73+ cells possess immunosuppressive features in human non-small cell lung cancer. EBioMedicine 2021; 73:103664. [PMID: 34740105 PMCID: PMC8577354 DOI: 10.1016/j.ebiom.2021.103664] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2019] [Revised: 09/07/2021] [Accepted: 10/18/2021] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Although T cell abundance in solid tumours is associated with better outcomes, it also correlates with a stroma-mediated source of immune suppression driven by TGFβ1 and poor overall survival. Whether this also is observed in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is unknown. Methods We utilized molecular analysis of The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) NSLCC cohort to correlate immune activation (IA) gene expression and extracellular matrix/stromal (ECM/stromal) gene expression with patient survival. In an independent cohort of NSCLC samples, we used flow cytometry to identify mesenchymal subsets and ex vivo functional studies to characterize their immune regulatory function. Findings We observed a high enrichment in a core set of genes defining an IA gene expression signature in NSCLC across TCGA Pan-cancer cohort. High IA signature score correlates with enrichment of ECM/stromal gene signature across TCGA NSCLC datasets. Importantly, a higher ratio of ECM/stromal to IA gene signature score was associated with shorter overall survival. In tumours resected from a separate cohort of NSCLC patients, we identified CD90+CD73+ peritumoral cells that were enriched in the ECM/stromal gene signature, which was amplified by TGFβ1. IFNγ and TNFα-primed peritumoral CD90+CD73+ cells upregulate immune checkpoint molecules PD-L1 and IDO1 and secrete an array of cytokines/chemokines including TGFβ1. Finally, immune primed peritumoral CD90+CD73+ cells suppress T cell function, which was relieved following combined blockade of PD-L1 and TGFβ1 with IDO1 inhibition but not PD-L1 or anti-CD73 alone. Interpretation Our findings suggest that targeting PD-L1 together with independent biological features of the stroma may enhance host antitumor immunity in NSCLC. Funding LW and HY are supported by a 4-year China Scholarship Council award. This work was funded, in part, by a grant from the Cancer League of Bern, Switzerland to SRRH. Laser scanning microscopy imaging was funded by the R'Equip grant from the Swiss National Science Foundation Nr. 316030_145003.
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352
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Fibroblasts as immune regulators in infection, inflammation and cancer. Nat Rev Immunol 2021; 21:704-717. [PMID: 33911232 DOI: 10.1038/s41577-021-00540-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 241] [Impact Index Per Article: 80.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/11/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
In chronic infection, inflammation and cancer, the tissue microenvironment controls how local immune cells behave, with tissue-resident fibroblasts emerging as a key cell type in regulating activation or suppression of an immune response. Fibroblasts are heterogeneous cells, encompassing functionally distinct populations, the phenotypes of which differ according to their tissue of origin and type of inciting disease. Their immunological properties are also diverse, ranging from the maintenance of a potent inflammatory environment in chronic inflammation to promoting immunosuppression in malignancy, and encapsulating and incarcerating infectious agents within tissues. In this Review, we compare the mechanisms by which fibroblasts control local immune responses, as well as the factors regulating their inflammatory and suppressive profiles, in different tissues and pathological settings. This cross-disease perspective highlights the importance of tissue context in determining fibroblast-immune cell interactions, as well as potential therapeutic avenues to exploit this knowledge for the benefit of patients with chronic infection, inflammation and cancer.
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353
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Grünwald BT, Devisme A, Andrieux G, Vyas F, Aliar K, McCloskey CW, Macklin A, Jang GH, Denroche R, Romero JM, Bavi P, Bronsert P, Notta F, O'Kane G, Wilson J, Knox J, Tamblyn L, Udaskin M, Radulovich N, Fischer SE, Boerries M, Gallinger S, Kislinger T, Khokha R. Spatially confined sub-tumor microenvironments in pancreatic cancer. Cell 2021; 184:5577-5592.e18. [PMID: 34644529 DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2021.09.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 188] [Impact Index Per Article: 62.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2021] [Revised: 08/06/2021] [Accepted: 09/14/2021] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
Abstract
Intratumoral heterogeneity is a critical frontier in understanding how the tumor microenvironment (TME) propels malignant progression. Here, we deconvolute the human pancreatic TME through large-scale integration of histology-guided regional multiOMICs with clinical data and patient-derived preclinical models. We discover "subTMEs," histologically definable tissue states anchored in fibroblast plasticity, with regional relationships to tumor immunity, subtypes, differentiation, and treatment response. "Reactive" subTMEs rich in complex but functionally coordinated fibroblast communities were immune hot and inhabited by aggressive tumor cell phenotypes. The matrix-rich "deserted" subTMEs harbored fewer activated fibroblasts and tumor-suppressive features yet were markedly chemoprotective and enriched upon chemotherapy. SubTMEs originated in fibroblast differentiation trajectories, and transitory states were notable both in single-cell transcriptomics and in situ. The intratumoral co-occurrence of subTMEs produced patient-specific phenotypic and computationally predictable heterogeneity tightly linked to malignant biology. Therefore, heterogeneity within the plentiful, notorious pancreatic TME is not random but marks fundamental tissue organizational units.
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Affiliation(s)
- Barbara T Grünwald
- Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, Toronto, ON M5G 1L7, Canada
| | - Antoine Devisme
- Institute of Medical Bioinformatics and Systems Medicine, Medical Center-University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, 79110 Freiburg, Germany; Faculty of Biology, University of Freiburg, 79110 Freiburg, Germany
| | - Geoffroy Andrieux
- Institute of Medical Bioinformatics and Systems Medicine, Medical Center-University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, 79110 Freiburg, Germany; German Cancer Consortium (DKTK) and German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Partner Site Freiburg, 79110 Freiburg, Germany
| | - Foram Vyas
- Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, Toronto, ON M5G 1L7, Canada; Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5G 1L7, Canada
| | - Kazeera Aliar
- Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, Toronto, ON M5G 1L7, Canada
| | - Curtis W McCloskey
- Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, Toronto, ON M5G 1L7, Canada
| | - Andrew Macklin
- Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, Toronto, ON M5G 1L7, Canada
| | - Gun Ho Jang
- PanCuRx Translational Research Initiative, Ontario Institute for Cancer Research, Toronto, ON M5G 0A3, Canada
| | - Robert Denroche
- PanCuRx Translational Research Initiative, Ontario Institute for Cancer Research, Toronto, ON M5G 0A3, Canada
| | - Joan Miguel Romero
- PanCuRx Translational Research Initiative, Ontario Institute for Cancer Research, Toronto, ON M5G 0A3, Canada
| | - Prashant Bavi
- PanCuRx Translational Research Initiative, Ontario Institute for Cancer Research, Toronto, ON M5G 0A3, Canada; Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, University Health Network, Toronto, ON M5G 2M9, Canada
| | - Peter Bronsert
- Core Facility for Histopathology and Digital Pathology, Medical Center-University of Freiburg, 79106 Freiburg, Germany
| | - Faiyaz Notta
- Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, Toronto, ON M5G 1L7, Canada; Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5G 1L7, Canada; PanCuRx Translational Research Initiative, Ontario Institute for Cancer Research, Toronto, ON M5G 0A3, Canada
| | - Grainne O'Kane
- PanCuRx Translational Research Initiative, Ontario Institute for Cancer Research, Toronto, ON M5G 0A3, Canada; Wallace McCain Centre for Pancreatic Cancer, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, Toronto, ON M5G 2M9, Canada
| | - Julie Wilson
- PanCuRx Translational Research Initiative, Ontario Institute for Cancer Research, Toronto, ON M5G 0A3, Canada
| | - Jennifer Knox
- PanCuRx Translational Research Initiative, Ontario Institute for Cancer Research, Toronto, ON M5G 0A3, Canada; Wallace McCain Centre for Pancreatic Cancer, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, Toronto, ON M5G 2M9, Canada
| | - Laura Tamblyn
- Princess Margaret Living Biobank Core, University Health Network, Toronto, ON M5G 1L7, Canada
| | - Molly Udaskin
- Princess Margaret Living Biobank Core, University Health Network, Toronto, ON M5G 1L7, Canada
| | - Nikolina Radulovich
- Princess Margaret Living Biobank Core, University Health Network, Toronto, ON M5G 1L7, Canada
| | - Sandra E Fischer
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, University Health Network, Toronto, ON M5G 2M9, Canada; Division of Anatomic Pathology, Laboratory Medicine Program, University Health Network, Toronto, ON M5G 2C4, Canada
| | - Melanie Boerries
- Institute of Medical Bioinformatics and Systems Medicine, Medical Center-University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, 79110 Freiburg, Germany; German Cancer Consortium (DKTK) and German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Partner Site Freiburg, 79110 Freiburg, Germany.
| | - Steven Gallinger
- PanCuRx Translational Research Initiative, Ontario Institute for Cancer Research, Toronto, ON M5G 0A3, Canada; Department of Surgery, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5T 1P5, Canada; Lunenfeld Tanenbaum Research Institute, Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, ON M5G 1X5, Canada; Hepatobiliary/Pancreatic Surgical Oncology Program, University Health Network, Toronto, ON M5G 2M9, Canada.
| | - Thomas Kislinger
- Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, Toronto, ON M5G 1L7, Canada; Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5G 1L7, Canada.
| | - Rama Khokha
- Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, Toronto, ON M5G 1L7, Canada; Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5G 1L7, Canada.
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354
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Ravensbergen CJ, Polack M, Roelands J, Crobach S, Putter H, Gelderblom H, Tollenaar RAEM, Mesker WE. Combined Assessment of the Tumor-Stroma Ratio and Tumor Immune Cell Infiltrate for Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor Therapy Response Prediction in Colon Cancer. Cells 2021; 10:2935. [PMID: 34831157 PMCID: PMC8616493 DOI: 10.3390/cells10112935] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2021] [Revised: 10/20/2021] [Accepted: 10/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
The best current biomarker strategies for predicting response to immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) therapy fail to account for interpatient variability in response rates. The histologic tumor-stroma ratio (TSR) quantifies intratumoral stromal content and was recently found to be predictive of response to neoadjuvant therapy in multiple cancer types. In the current work, we predicted the likelihood of ICI therapy responsivity of 335 therapy-naive colon adenocarcinoma tumors from The Cancer Genome Atlas, using bioinformatics approaches. The TSR was scored on diagnostic tissue slides, and tumor-infiltrating immune cells (TIICs) were inferred from transcriptomic data. Tumors with high stromal content demonstrated increased T regulatory cell infiltration (p = 0.014) but failed to predict ICI therapy response. Consequently, we devised a hybrid tumor microenvironment classification of four stromal categories, based on histological stromal content and transcriptomic-deconvoluted immune cell infiltration, which was associated with previously established transcriptomic and genomic biomarkers for ICI therapy response. By integrating these biomarkers, stroma-low/immune-high tumors were predicted to be most responsive to ICI therapy. The framework described here provides evidence for expansion of current histological TIIC quantification to include the TSR as a novel, easy-to-use biomarker for the prediction of ICI therapy response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cor J. Ravensbergen
- Department of Surgery, Leiden University Medical Center, Albinusdreef 2, 2300RC Leiden, The Netherlands; (C.J.R.); (M.P.); (R.A.E.M.T.)
| | - Meaghan Polack
- Department of Surgery, Leiden University Medical Center, Albinusdreef 2, 2300RC Leiden, The Netherlands; (C.J.R.); (M.P.); (R.A.E.M.T.)
| | - Jessica Roelands
- Department of Pathology, Leiden University Medical Center, Albinusdreef 2, 2300RC Leiden, The Netherlands; (J.R.); (S.C.)
| | - Stijn Crobach
- Department of Pathology, Leiden University Medical Center, Albinusdreef 2, 2300RC Leiden, The Netherlands; (J.R.); (S.C.)
| | - Hein Putter
- Department of Medical Statistics, Leiden University Medical Center, Albinusdreef 2, 2300RC Leiden, The Netherlands;
| | - Hans Gelderblom
- Department of Medical Oncology, Leiden University Medical Center, Albinusdreef 2, 2300RC Leiden, The Netherlands;
| | - Rob A. E. M. Tollenaar
- Department of Surgery, Leiden University Medical Center, Albinusdreef 2, 2300RC Leiden, The Netherlands; (C.J.R.); (M.P.); (R.A.E.M.T.)
| | - Wilma E. Mesker
- Department of Surgery, Leiden University Medical Center, Albinusdreef 2, 2300RC Leiden, The Netherlands; (C.J.R.); (M.P.); (R.A.E.M.T.)
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355
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Wei J, Chen Z, Hu M, He Z, Jiang D, Long J, Du H. Characterizing Intercellular Communication of Pan-Cancer Reveals SPP1+ Tumor-Associated Macrophage Expanded in Hypoxia and Promoting Cancer Malignancy Through Single-Cell RNA-Seq Data. Front Cell Dev Biol 2021; 9:749210. [PMID: 34676217 PMCID: PMC8523849 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2021.749210] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2021] [Accepted: 09/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Hypoxia is a characteristic of tumor microenvironment (TME) and is a major contributor to tumor progression. Yet, subtype identification of tumor-associated non-malignant cells at single-cell resolution and how they influence cancer progression under hypoxia TME remain largely unexplored. Here, we used RNA-seq data of 424,194 single cells from 108 patients to identify the subtypes of cancer cells, stromal cells, and immune cells; to evaluate their hypoxia score; and also to uncover potential interaction signals between these cells in vivo across six cancer types. We identified SPP1+ tumor-associated macrophage (TAM) subpopulation potentially enhanced epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) by interaction with cancer cells through paracrine pattern. We prioritized SPP1 as a TAM-secreted factor to act on cancer cells and found a significant enhanced migration phenotype and invasion ability in A549 lung cancer cells induced by recombinant protein SPP1. Besides, prognostic analysis indicated that a higher expression of SPP1 was found to be related to worse clinical outcome in six cancer types. SPP1 expression was higher in hypoxia-high macrophages based on single-cell data, which was further validated by an in vitro experiment that SPP1 was upregulated in macrophages under hypoxia-cultured compared with normoxic conditions. Additionally, a differential analysis demonstrated that hypoxia potentially influences extracellular matrix remodeling, glycolysis, and interleukin-10 signal activation in various cancer types. Our work illuminates the clearer underlying mechanism in the intricate interaction between different cell subtypes within hypoxia TME and proposes the guidelines for the development of therapeutic targets specifically for patients with high proportion of SPP1+ TAMs in hypoxic lesions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinfen Wei
- School of Biology and Biological Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, China
| | - Zixi Chen
- School of Biology and Biological Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, China
| | - Meiling Hu
- School of Biology and Biological Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, China
| | - Ziqing He
- School of Biology and Biological Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, China
| | - Dawei Jiang
- School of Biology and Biological Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jie Long
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital, Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, Guangzhou, China
| | - Hongli Du
- School of Biology and Biological Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, China
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356
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Quek C, Bai X, Long GV, Scolyer RA, Wilmott JS. High-Dimensional Single-Cell Transcriptomics in Melanoma and Cancer Immunotherapy. Genes (Basel) 2021; 12:1629. [PMID: 34681023 PMCID: PMC8535767 DOI: 10.3390/genes12101629] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2021] [Revised: 10/08/2021] [Accepted: 10/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Recent advances in single-cell transcriptomics have greatly improved knowledge of complex transcriptional programs, rapidly expanding our knowledge of cellular phenotypes and functions within the tumour microenvironment and immune system. Several new single-cell technologies have been developed over recent years that have enabled expanded understanding of the mechanistic cells and biological pathways targeted by immunotherapies such as immune checkpoint inhibitors, which are now routinely used in patient management with high-risk early-stage or advanced melanoma. These technologies have method-specific strengths, weaknesses and capabilities which need to be considered when utilising them to answer translational research questions. Here, we provide guidance for the implementation of single-cell transcriptomic analysis platforms by reviewing the currently available experimental and analysis workflows. We then highlight the use of these technologies to dissect the tumour microenvironment in the context of cancer patients treated with immunotherapy. The strategic use of single-cell analytics in clinical settings are discussed and potential future opportunities are explored with a focus on their use to rationalise the design of novel immunotherapeutic drug therapies that will ultimately lead to improved cancer patient outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Camelia Quek
- Melanoma Institute Australia, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia; (X.B.); (G.V.L.); (R.A.S.); (J.S.W.)
- Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
- Charles Perkins Centre, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
| | - Xinyu Bai
- Melanoma Institute Australia, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia; (X.B.); (G.V.L.); (R.A.S.); (J.S.W.)
- Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
- Charles Perkins Centre, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
| | - Georgina V. Long
- Melanoma Institute Australia, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia; (X.B.); (G.V.L.); (R.A.S.); (J.S.W.)
- Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
- Charles Perkins Centre, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
- Royal North Shore and Mater Hospitals, Sydney, NSW 2065, Australia
| | - Richard A. Scolyer
- Melanoma Institute Australia, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia; (X.B.); (G.V.L.); (R.A.S.); (J.S.W.)
- Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
- Charles Perkins Centre, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
- Tissue Pathology and Diagnostic Oncology, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital and NSW Health Pathology, Sydney, NSW 2050, Australia
| | - James S. Wilmott
- Melanoma Institute Australia, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia; (X.B.); (G.V.L.); (R.A.S.); (J.S.W.)
- Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
- Charles Perkins Centre, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
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357
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Dongre HN, Haave H, Fromreide S, Erland FA, Moe SEE, Dhayalan SM, Riis RK, Sapkota D, Costea DE, Aarstad HJ, Vintermyr OK. Targeted Next-Generation Sequencing of Cancer-Related Genes in a Norwegian Patient Cohort With Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma Reveals Novel Actionable Mutations and Correlations With Pathological Parameters. Front Oncol 2021; 11:734134. [PMID: 34631566 PMCID: PMC8497964 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2021.734134] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2021] [Accepted: 08/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Targeted next-generation sequencing (NGS) is increasingly applied in clinical oncology to advance personalized treatment. Despite success in many other tumour types, use of targeted NGS panels for assisting diagnosis and treatment of head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCC) is still limited. Aim The focus of this study was to establish a robust NGS panel targeting most frequent cancer mutations in long-term preserved formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissue samples of HNSCC from routine diagnostics. Materials and Methods Tumour DNA obtained from archival FFPE tissue blocks of HNSCC patients treated at Haukeland University Hospital between 2003-2016 (n=111) was subjected to mutational analysis using a custom made AmpliSeq Library PLUS panel targeting 31 genes (Illumina). Associations between mutational burden and clinical and pathological parameters were investigated. Mutation and corresponding clinicopathological data from HNSCC were extracted for selected genes from the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and used for Chi-square and Kaplan-Meier analysis. Results The threshold for sufficient number of reads was attained in 104 (93.7%) cases. Although the specific number of PCR amplified reads detected decreased, the number of NGS-annotated mutations did not significantly change with increased tissue preservation time. In HPV-negative carcinomas, mutations were detected mainly in TP53 (73.3%), FAT1 (26.7%) and FLG (16.7%) whereas in HPV-positive, the common mutations were in FLG (24.3%) FAT1 (17%) and FGFR3 (14.6%) genes. Other less common pathogenic mutations, including well reported SNPs were reproducibly identified. Presence of at least one cancer-specific mutations was found to be positively associated with an extensive desmoplastic stroma (p=0.019), and an aggressive type of invasive front (p=0.035), and negatively associated with the degree of differentiation (p=0.041). Analysis of TCGA data corroborated the association between cancer-specific mutations and tumour differentiation and survival analysis showed that tumours with at least one mutation had shorter disease-free and overall survival (p=0.005). Conclusions A custom made targeted NGS panel could reliably detect several specific mutations in archival samples of HNSCCs preserved up to 17 years. Using this method novel associations between mutational burden and clinical and pathological parameters were detected and actionable mutations in HPV-positive HNSCC were discovered.
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Affiliation(s)
- Harsh N Dongre
- Department of Pathology, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway.,Gade Laboratory for Pathology, Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway.,Centre for Cancer Biomarkers CCBIO, Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
| | - Hilde Haave
- Department of Otolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway.,Otolaryngology, Department of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
| | - Siren Fromreide
- Gade Laboratory for Pathology, Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway.,Centre for Cancer Biomarkers CCBIO, Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
| | - Fredrik A Erland
- Department of Otolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway.,Otolaryngology, Department of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
| | - Svein Erik Emblem Moe
- Department of Otolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway.,Otolaryngology, Department of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
| | | | | | - Dipak Sapkota
- Institute of Oral Biology, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Daniela Elena Costea
- Department of Pathology, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway.,Gade Laboratory for Pathology, Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway.,Centre for Cancer Biomarkers CCBIO, Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
| | - Hans Jorgen Aarstad
- Department of Otolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway.,Otolaryngology, Department of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
| | - Olav K Vintermyr
- Department of Pathology, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway.,Gade Laboratory for Pathology, Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
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358
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Ruhland MK, Alspach E. Senescence and Immunoregulation in the Tumor Microenvironment. Front Cell Dev Biol 2021; 9:754069. [PMID: 34692707 PMCID: PMC8529213 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2021.754069] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2021] [Accepted: 09/15/2021] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Immunotherapies have revolutionized cancer treatment, but despite the many lives that have been extended by these therapies many patients do not respond for reasons that are not well understood. The tumor microenvironment (TME) is comprised of heterogeneous cells that regulate tumor immune responses and likely influence immunotherapy response. Senescent (e.g., aged) stroma within the TME, and its expression of the senescence-associated secretory phenotype induces chronic inflammation that encourages tumor development and disease progression. Senescent environments also regulate the function of immune cells in ways that are decidedly protumorigenic. Here we discuss recent developments in senescence biology and the immunoregulatory functions of senescent stroma. Understanding the multitude of cell types present in the TME, including senescent stroma, will aid in the development of combinatorial therapeutic strategies to increase immunotherapy efficacy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Megan K. Ruhland
- Department of Cell, Developmental and Cancer Biology, Knight Cancer Institute, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR, United States
| | - Elise Alspach
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Saint Louis University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, United States
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359
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Soto CA, Lo Celso C, Purton LE, Frisch BJ. From the niche to malignant hematopoiesis and back: reciprocal interactions between leukemia and the bone marrow microenvironment. JBMR Plus 2021; 5:e10516. [PMID: 34693187 PMCID: PMC8520063 DOI: 10.1002/jbm4.10516] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2020] [Revised: 05/03/2021] [Accepted: 05/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The bone marrow microenvironment (BMME) regulates hematopoiesis through a complex network of cellular and molecular components. Hematologic malignancies reside within, and extensively interact with, the same BMME. These interactions consequently alter both malignant and benign hematopoiesis in multiple ways, and can encompass initiation of malignancy, support of malignant progression, resistance to chemotherapy, and loss of normal hematopoiesis. Herein, we will review supporting studies for interactions of the BMME with hematologic malignancies and discuss challenges still facing this exciting field of research. © 2021 The Authors. JBMR Plus published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of American Society for Bone and Mineral Research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Celia A. Soto
- Department of PathologyUniversity of Rochester Medical CenterRochesterNew YorkUSA
| | - Cristina Lo Celso
- Department of Life SciencesImperial College LondonLondonUK
- Sir Francis Crick InstituteLondonUK
| | - Louise E. Purton
- St Vincent's Institute of Medical ResearchFitzroyVictoriaAustralia
- Department of Medicine at St. Vincent's HospitalThe University of MelbourneMelbourneVictoriaAustralia
| | - Benjamin J. Frisch
- Department of PathologyUniversity of Rochester Medical CenterRochesterNew YorkUSA
- Wilmot Cancer InstituteUniversity of Rochester School of Medicine and DentistryRochesterNew YorkUSA
- Center for Musculoskeletal ResearchUniversity of Rochester School of Medicine and DentistryRochesterNew YorkUSA
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360
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Sun Y, Jiang L, Wen T, Guo X, Shao X, Qu H, Chen X, Song Y, Wang F, Qu X, Li Z. Trends in the Research Into Immune Checkpoint Blockade by Anti-PD1/PDL1 Antibodies in Cancer Immunotherapy: A Bibliometric Study. Front Pharmacol 2021; 12:670900. [PMID: 34489691 PMCID: PMC8418110 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2021.670900] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2021] [Accepted: 08/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The programmed death receptor 1 (PD1) and its ligand programmed death receptor ligand 1 (PDL1) are the most widely used immune checkpoints in cancer immunotherapy. The related literature shows the explosive growth trends due to the promising outcomes of tumor regression. The present study aimed to provide a comprehensive bibliometric analysis of the literature on anti-PD1/PDL1 from three perspectives including molecular mechanisms, randomized clinical trials (RCT), and meta-analysis, thus producing a knowledge map reflecting the status of the research, its historical evolution, and developmental trends in related research from 2000 to 2020. We included 11,971, 191, and 335 documents from the Web of Science Core Collection database, respectively, and adopted various bibliometric methods and techniques thereto. The study revealed the major research themes and emergent hotspots based on literature and citation data and outlined the top contributors in terms of journals and countries. The co-occurrence overlay of keywords and terms pertaining to the PD1/PDL1 molecule reflected the progress from the discovery of the PD1/PDL1 molecule to the clinical application of anti-PD1/PDL1. Immune-related adverse events (irAEs) formed a unique cluster in the term co-occurrence analysis of meta-analysis. The historical direct citation network of RCT indicated the development and transformation of cancers and therapy strategies. irAEs and the strategies of combination therapy might become a future focus of research in this cognate area. In summary, the bibliometric study provides a general overview of the landscape on anti-PD1/PDL1 research, allowing researchers to identify the potential opportunities and challenges therein.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yiting Sun
- Department of Medical Oncology, The First Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China.,Key Laboratory of Anticancer Drugs and Biotherapy of Liaoning Province, The First Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China.,Liaoning Province Clinical Research Center for Cancer, The First Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China.,Key Laboratory of Precision Diagnosis and Treatment of Gastrointestinal Tumors, Ministry of Education, The First Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Liqing Jiang
- Department of Medical Oncology, The First Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China.,Key Laboratory of Anticancer Drugs and Biotherapy of Liaoning Province, The First Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China.,Liaoning Province Clinical Research Center for Cancer, The First Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China.,Key Laboratory of Precision Diagnosis and Treatment of Gastrointestinal Tumors, Ministry of Education, The First Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Ti Wen
- Department of Medical Oncology, The First Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China.,Key Laboratory of Anticancer Drugs and Biotherapy of Liaoning Province, The First Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China.,Liaoning Province Clinical Research Center for Cancer, The First Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China.,Key Laboratory of Precision Diagnosis and Treatment of Gastrointestinal Tumors, Ministry of Education, The First Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Xiaoyu Guo
- Department of Medical Oncology, The First Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China.,Key Laboratory of Anticancer Drugs and Biotherapy of Liaoning Province, The First Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China.,Liaoning Province Clinical Research Center for Cancer, The First Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China.,Key Laboratory of Precision Diagnosis and Treatment of Gastrointestinal Tumors, Ministry of Education, The First Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Xinye Shao
- Department of Medical Oncology, The First Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China.,Key Laboratory of Anticancer Drugs and Biotherapy of Liaoning Province, The First Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China.,Liaoning Province Clinical Research Center for Cancer, The First Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China.,Key Laboratory of Precision Diagnosis and Treatment of Gastrointestinal Tumors, Ministry of Education, The First Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Hui Qu
- Department of Medical Oncology, The First Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China.,Key Laboratory of Anticancer Drugs and Biotherapy of Liaoning Province, The First Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China.,Liaoning Province Clinical Research Center for Cancer, The First Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China.,Key Laboratory of Precision Diagnosis and Treatment of Gastrointestinal Tumors, Ministry of Education, The First Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Xi Chen
- Department of Medical Oncology, The First Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China.,Key Laboratory of Anticancer Drugs and Biotherapy of Liaoning Province, The First Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China.,Liaoning Province Clinical Research Center for Cancer, The First Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China.,Key Laboratory of Precision Diagnosis and Treatment of Gastrointestinal Tumors, Ministry of Education, The First Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Yujia Song
- Department of Medical Oncology, The First Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China.,Key Laboratory of Anticancer Drugs and Biotherapy of Liaoning Province, The First Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China.,Liaoning Province Clinical Research Center for Cancer, The First Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China.,Key Laboratory of Precision Diagnosis and Treatment of Gastrointestinal Tumors, Ministry of Education, The First Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Fang Wang
- Department of Medical Oncology, The First Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China.,Key Laboratory of Anticancer Drugs and Biotherapy of Liaoning Province, The First Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China.,Liaoning Province Clinical Research Center for Cancer, The First Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China.,Key Laboratory of Precision Diagnosis and Treatment of Gastrointestinal Tumors, Ministry of Education, The First Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Xiujuan Qu
- Department of Medical Oncology, The First Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China.,Key Laboratory of Anticancer Drugs and Biotherapy of Liaoning Province, The First Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China.,Liaoning Province Clinical Research Center for Cancer, The First Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China.,Key Laboratory of Precision Diagnosis and Treatment of Gastrointestinal Tumors, Ministry of Education, The First Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Zhi Li
- Department of Medical Oncology, The First Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China.,Key Laboratory of Anticancer Drugs and Biotherapy of Liaoning Province, The First Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China.,Liaoning Province Clinical Research Center for Cancer, The First Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China.,Key Laboratory of Precision Diagnosis and Treatment of Gastrointestinal Tumors, Ministry of Education, The First Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China
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361
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Cancer-associated fibroblasts: overview, progress, challenges, and directions. Cancer Gene Ther 2021; 28:984-999. [PMID: 33712707 DOI: 10.1038/s41417-021-00318-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 149] [Impact Index Per Article: 49.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2021] [Revised: 02/12/2021] [Accepted: 02/25/2021] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
Abstract
Tumors are one of the main causes of death in humans. The development of safe and effective methods for early diagnosis and treatment of tumors is a difficult problem that needs to be solved urgently. It is well established that the occurrence of tumors involves complex biological mechanisms, and the tumor microenvironment (TME) plays an important role in regulating the biological behavior of tumors. Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) are a group of activated fibroblasts with significant heterogeneity and plasticity in the tumor microenvironment. They secrete a variety of active factors to regulate tumor occurrence, development, metastasis, and therapeutic resistance. Although most studies suggest that CAFs have significant tumor-promoting functions, some evidence indicates that they may have certain tumor-suppressive functions in the early stage of tumors. Current research on CAFs continues to face many challenges, and the heterogeneity of their origin, phenotype, and function is a major difficulty and hot spot. To provide new perspectives for the research on CAFs and tumor diagnosis and treatment, this review summarizes the definition, origin, biomarkers, generation mechanism, functions, heterogeneity, plasticity, subpopulations, pre-metastasis niches (PMN), immune microenvironment, and targeted therapy of CAFs, describes the research progress and challenges, and proposes possible future research directions based on existing reports.
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362
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Saint A, Van Obberghen-Schilling E. The role of the tumor matrix environment in progression of head and neck cancer. Curr Opin Oncol 2021; 33:168-174. [PMID: 33720067 DOI: 10.1097/cco.0000000000000730] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) tissue is composed of multiple cell types embedded in an extracellular matrix (ECM) that actively participates in disease progression, spread and treatment response. In this review, we provide an update of our current knowledge about the ECM landscape of HNSCC, its functions, methods of analysis, and nonimmunological stromal targeting strategies that modify the tumor ECM to improve conventional and emerging therapies. RECENT FINDINGS The tumor ECM differs significantly from that of normal tissue in abundance, composition, organization and mechanical properties. In HNSCC, signaling between malignant epithelial cells and stromal cells prompts the upregulation of a set of ECM components that serve as substrates for carcinoma cell migration, modulate the cytokine environment and promote immune evasion in these tumors. Advanced imaging techniques and molecular profiling at the single-cell level have provided valuable insights into our understanding of the tumor ECM and its role in malignancy, and opened new avenues for predictive and potentially actionable biomarker discovery for more effective management of the disease. SUMMARY ECM components upregulated in HNSCC can impact several cancer hallmarks by sustaining proliferative signaling, promoting angiogenesis, facilitating invasion and metastasis, modulating growth suppressor activity, and suppressing antitumoral immunity. The tumor ECM is also involved in treatment resistance, making it a potential therapeutic target.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angélique Saint
- Université Côte d'Azur, CNRS, INSERM, iBV.,Centre Antoine Lacassagne, Nice, France
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363
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Martínez-López A, García-Casas A, Bragado P, Orimo A, Castañeda-Saucedo E, Castillo-Lluva S. Inhibition of RAC1 activity in cancer associated fibroblasts favours breast tumour development through IL-1β upregulation. Cancer Lett 2021; 521:14-28. [PMID: 34419498 DOI: 10.1016/j.canlet.2021.08.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2021] [Revised: 08/11/2021] [Accepted: 08/14/2021] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) are highly abundant stromal components in the tumour microenvironment. These cells contribute to tumorigenesis and indeed, they have been proposed as a target for anti-cancer therapies. Similarly, targeting the Rho-GTPase RAC1 has also been suggested as a potential therapeutic target in cancer. Here, we show that targeting RAC1 activity, either pharmacologically or by genetic silencing, increases the pro-tumorigenic activity of CAFs by upregulating IL-1β secretion. Moreover, inhibiting RAC1 activity shifts the CAF subtype to a more aggressive phenotype. Thus, as RAC1 suppresses the secretion of IL-1β by CAFs, reducing RAC1 activity in combination with the depletion of this cytokine should be considered as an interesting therapeutic option for breast cancer in which tumour cells retain intact IL-1β signalling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angélica Martínez-López
- Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas y Biológicas, Universidad Complutense, Madrid, 28040, Spain; Laboratorio de Biología Celular del Cáncer, Facultad de Ciencias Químico-Biológicas, Universidad Autónoma de Guerrero, Mexico
| | - Ana García-Casas
- Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas y Biológicas, Universidad Complutense, Madrid, 28040, Spain; Instituto de Investigaciones Sanitarias San Carlos (IdISSC), Madrid, 28040, Spain
| | - Paloma Bragado
- Instituto de Investigaciones Sanitarias San Carlos (IdISSC), Madrid, 28040, Spain; Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad Complutense, Madrid, 28040, Spain
| | - Akira Orimo
- Department of Pathology and Oncology, Juntendo University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Eduardo Castañeda-Saucedo
- Laboratorio de Biología Celular del Cáncer, Facultad de Ciencias Químico-Biológicas, Universidad Autónoma de Guerrero, Mexico
| | - Sonia Castillo-Lluva
- Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas y Biológicas, Universidad Complutense, Madrid, 28040, Spain; Instituto de Investigaciones Sanitarias San Carlos (IdISSC), Madrid, 28040, Spain.
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364
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Davis-Marcisak EF, Deshpande A, Stein-O'Brien GL, Ho WJ, Laheru D, Jaffee EM, Fertig EJ, Kagohara LT. From bench to bedside: Single-cell analysis for cancer immunotherapy. Cancer Cell 2021; 39:1062-1080. [PMID: 34329587 PMCID: PMC8406623 DOI: 10.1016/j.ccell.2021.07.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2021] [Revised: 06/16/2021] [Accepted: 07/02/2021] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
Single-cell technologies are emerging as powerful tools for cancer research. These technologies characterize the molecular state of each cell within a tumor, enabling new exploration of tumor heterogeneity, microenvironment cell-type composition, and cell state transitions that affect therapeutic response, particularly in the context of immunotherapy. Analyzing clinical samples has great promise for precision medicine but is technically challenging. Successfully identifying predictors of response requires well-coordinated, multi-disciplinary teams to ensure adequate sample processing for high-quality data generation and computational analysis for data interpretation. Here, we review current approaches to sample processing and computational analysis regarding their application to translational cancer immunotherapy research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily F Davis-Marcisak
- McKusick-Nathans Institute of the Department of Genetic Medicine, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, 550 N Broadway, Suite 1101E, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA; Department of Oncology, Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 1650 Orleans Street, Room 485, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA; Convergence Institute, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA; Bloomberg-Kimmel Immunotherapy Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Atul Deshpande
- Department of Oncology, Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 1650 Orleans Street, Room 485, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA; Convergence Institute, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA; Bloomberg-Kimmel Immunotherapy Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Genevieve L Stein-O'Brien
- McKusick-Nathans Institute of the Department of Genetic Medicine, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, 550 N Broadway, Suite 1101E, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA; Department of Oncology, Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 1650 Orleans Street, Room 485, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA; Convergence Institute, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA; Bloomberg-Kimmel Immunotherapy Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Won J Ho
- Department of Oncology, Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 1650 Orleans Street, Room 485, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA; Convergence Institute, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA; Bloomberg-Kimmel Immunotherapy Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Daniel Laheru
- Department of Oncology, Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 1650 Orleans Street, Room 485, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA; Convergence Institute, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA; Bloomberg-Kimmel Immunotherapy Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Elizabeth M Jaffee
- Department of Oncology, Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 1650 Orleans Street, Room 485, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA; Convergence Institute, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA; Bloomberg-Kimmel Immunotherapy Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Elana J Fertig
- McKusick-Nathans Institute of the Department of Genetic Medicine, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, 550 N Broadway, Suite 1101E, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA; Department of Oncology, Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 1650 Orleans Street, Room 485, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA; Convergence Institute, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA; Bloomberg-Kimmel Immunotherapy Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA; Department of Applied Mathematics and Statistics, Johns Hopkins University Whiting School of Engineering, Baltimore, MD, USA; Department of Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.
| | - Luciane T Kagohara
- Department of Oncology, Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 1650 Orleans Street, Room 485, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA; Convergence Institute, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA; Bloomberg-Kimmel Immunotherapy Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.
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365
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Tang LJW, Zaseela A, Toh CCM, Adine C, Aydar AO, Iyer NG, Fong ELS. Engineering stromal heterogeneity in cancer. Adv Drug Deliv Rev 2021; 175:113817. [PMID: 34087326 DOI: 10.1016/j.addr.2021.05.027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2021] [Revised: 05/19/2021] [Accepted: 05/29/2021] [Indexed: 02/09/2023]
Abstract
Based on our exponentially increasing knowledge of stromal heterogeneity from advances in single-cell technologies, the notion that stromal cell types exist as a spectrum of unique subpopulations that have specific functions and spatial distributions in the tumor microenvironment has significant impact on tumor modeling for drug development and personalized drug testing. In this Review, we discuss the importance of incorporating stromal heterogeneity and tumor architecture, and propose an overall approach to guide the reconstruction of stromal heterogeneity in vitro for tumor modeling. These next-generation tumor models may support the development of more precise drugs targeting specific stromal cell subpopulations, as well as enable improved recapitulation of patient tumors in vitro for personalized drug testing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leon Jia Wei Tang
- Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, Singapore
| | - Ayshath Zaseela
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, National University of Singapore, Singapore
| | | | - Christabella Adine
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, National University of Singapore, Singapore; The N.1 Institute for Health, National University of Singapore, Singapore
| | - Abdullah Omer Aydar
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, National University of Singapore, Singapore
| | - N Gopalakrishna Iyer
- National Cancer Centre Singapore, Singapore; Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore.
| | - Eliza Li Shan Fong
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, National University of Singapore, Singapore; The N.1 Institute for Health, National University of Singapore, Singapore.
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366
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Hot or cold: Bioengineering immune contextures into in vitro patient-derived tumor models. Adv Drug Deliv Rev 2021; 175:113791. [PMID: 33965462 DOI: 10.1016/j.addr.2021.05.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2021] [Revised: 05/02/2021] [Accepted: 05/04/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
In the past decade, immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) have proven to be tremendously effective for a subset of cancer patients. However, it is difficult to predict the response of individual patients and efforts are now directed at understanding the mechanisms of ICI resistance. Current models of patient tumors poorly recapitulate the immune contexture, which describe immune parameters that are associated with patient survival. In this Review, we discuss parameters that influence the induction of different immune contextures found within tumors and how engineering strategies may be leveraged to recapitulate these contextures to develop the next generation of immune-competent patient-derived in vitro models.
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367
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Liu X, Yao L, Qu J, Liu L, Lu N, Wang J, Zhang J. Cancer-associated fibroblast infiltration in gastric cancer: the discrepancy in subtypes pathways and immunosuppression. J Transl Med 2021; 19:325. [PMID: 34332586 PMCID: PMC8325313 DOI: 10.1186/s12967-021-03012-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2021] [Accepted: 07/23/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Background General role of cancer-associated fibroblast (CAF) and its infiltration characteristics in gastric cancer remains to be unknown. Methods We estimate CAF infiltration in bulk tumor tissue with RNA-seq data and analyzed its relationship with gastric cancer subtype, survival and immune microenvironment. Results We revealed CAF intend to have higher infiltration in diffuse, genomically stable, and advanced gastric cancer. CAF is associated with immunosuppressive microenvironment. Wide transcriptomics alterations occur in high CAF infiltrated gastric cancer, PI3K/AKT, TGFB and Hedgehog pathway are remarkable in this procedure. We utilized receptor tyrosine kinases and TGFB pathway ligands to construct risk score system that can predict survival. Conclusion Thus, CAF is associated with aggressive phenotype of gastric cancer and risk score based on RTK and TGFB pathway ligands expression is a promising tool for assessment of gastric cancer survival. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12967-021-03012-z.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xu Liu
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, 277 West Yanta Road, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China
| | - Li Yao
- Department of Neurology, Xi'an XD Group Hospital, 97 North Fengdeng Road, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China
| | - Jingkun Qu
- Department of Oncology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, 157 West Fifth Street, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China
| | - Lin Liu
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, 277 West Yanta Road, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China
| | - Ning Lu
- Department of Gastroenterology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Medical University, 48 West Fenghao Road, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China
| | - Jiansheng Wang
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, 277 West Yanta Road, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China.
| | - Jia Zhang
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, 277 West Yanta Road, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China.
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368
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Nishikawa H, Koyama S. Mechanisms of regulatory T cell infiltration in tumors: implications for innovative immune precision therapies. J Immunother Cancer 2021; 9:jitc-2021-002591. [PMID: 34330764 PMCID: PMC8327843 DOI: 10.1136/jitc-2021-002591] [Citation(s) in RCA: 121] [Impact Index Per Article: 40.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/11/2021] [Indexed: 11/04/2022] Open
Abstract
With the broad application of cancer immunotherapies such as immune checkpoint inhibitors in multiple cancer types, the immunological landscape in the tumor microenvironment (TME) has become enormously important for determining the optimal cancer treatment. Tumors can be immunologically divided into two categories: inflamed and non-inflamed based on the extent of immune cell infiltration and their activation status. In general, immunotherapies are preferable for the inflamed tumors than for non-inflamed tumors. Regulatory T cells (Tregs), an immunosuppressive subset of CD4+ T cells, play an essential role in maintaining self-tolerance and immunological homeostasis. In tumor immunity, Tregs compromise immune surveillance against cancer in healthy individuals and impair the antitumor immune response in tumor-bearing hosts. Tregs, therefore, accelerate immune evasion by tumor cells, leading to tumor development and progression in various types of cancer. Therefore, Tregs are considered to be a crucial therapeutic target for cancer immunotherapy. Abundant Tregs are observed in the TME in many types of cancer, both in inflamed and non-inflamed tumors. Diverse mechanisms of Treg accumulation, activation, and survival in the TME have been uncovered for different tumor types, indicating the importance of understanding the mechanism of Treg infiltration in each patient when selecting the optimal Treg-targeted therapy. Here, we review recent advances in the understanding of mechanisms leading to Treg abundance in the TME to optimize Treg-targeted therapy. Furthermore, in addition to the conventional strategies targeting cell surface molecules predominantly expressed by Tregs, reagents targeting molecules and signaling pathways specifically employed by Tregs for infiltration, activation, and survival in each tumor type are illustrated as novel Treg-targeted therapies. The effectiveness of immune precision therapy depends on conditions in the TME of each cancer patient.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hiroyoshi Nishikawa
- Division of Cancer Immunology, Research Institute/Exploratory Oncology Research and Clinical Trial Center (EPOC), National Cancer Center, Tokyo/Chiba, Japan .,Department of Immunology, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Shohei Koyama
- Division of Cancer Immunology, Research Institute/Exploratory Oncology Research and Clinical Trial Center (EPOC), National Cancer Center, Tokyo/Chiba, Japan.,Department of Respiratory Medicine and Clinical Immunology, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan
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369
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Extracellular vesicles prime the bone marrow niche. Blood 2021; 138:4-6. [PMID: 34236429 DOI: 10.1182/blood.2021011276] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
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370
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Maia A, Wiemann S. Cancer-Associated Fibroblasts: Implications for Cancer Therapy. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:3526. [PMID: 34298736 PMCID: PMC8307167 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13143526] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2021] [Revised: 07/09/2021] [Accepted: 07/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Tumour cells do not exist as an isolated entity. Instead, they are surrounded by and closely interact with cells of the environment they are emerged in. The tumour microenvironment (TME) is not static and several factors, including cancer cells and therapies, have been described to modulate several of its components. Fibroblasts are key elements of the TME with the capacity to influence tumour progression, invasion and response to therapy, which makes them attractive targets in cancer treatment. In this review, we focus on fibroblasts and their numerous roles in the TME with a special attention to recent findings describing their heterogeneity and role in therapy response. Furthermore, we explore how different therapies can impact these cells and their communication with cancer cells. Finally, we highlight potential strategies targeting this cell type that can be employed for improving patient outcome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Maia
- German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Division of Molecular Genome Analysis, Im Neuenheimer Feld 580, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Stefan Wiemann
- German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Division of Molecular Genome Analysis, Im Neuenheimer Feld 580, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
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371
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Chen PY, Wei WF, Wu HZ, Fan LS, Wang W. Cancer-Associated Fibroblast Heterogeneity: A Factor That Cannot Be Ignored in Immune Microenvironment Remodeling. Front Immunol 2021; 12:671595. [PMID: 34305902 PMCID: PMC8297463 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.671595] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2021] [Accepted: 06/25/2021] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) are important, highly heterogeneous components of the tumor extracellular matrix that have different origins and express a diverse set of biomarkers. Different subtypes of CAFs participate in the immune regulation of the tumor microenvironment (TME). In addition to their role in supporting stromal cells, CAFs have multiple immunosuppressive functions, via membrane and secretory patterns, against anti-tumor immunity. The inhibition of CAFs function and anti-TME therapy targeting CAFs provides new adjuvant means for immunotherapy. In this review, we outline the emerging understanding of CAFs with a particular emphasis on their origin and heterogeneity, different mechanisms of their regulation, as well as their direct or indirect effect on immune cells that leads to immunosuppression.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Liang-Sheng Fan
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Wei Wang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
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372
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Hanley CJ, Thomas GJ. Targeting cancer associated fibroblasts to enhance immunotherapy: emerging strategies and future perspectives. Oncotarget 2021; 12:1427-1433. [PMID: 34262652 PMCID: PMC8274722 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.27936] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2021] [Accepted: 03/24/2021] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Cancer associated fibroblasts are a prominent component of the tumour microenvironment in most solid cancers. This heterogeneous population of cells are known to play an important role in tumour progression and recent studies have demonstrated that CAFs may confer resistance to checkpoint immunotherapy, suggesting that targeting these cells could improve response rates. However, effective clinical strategies for CAF targeting have yet to be identified. In this editorial, we highlight current limitations in our understanding of CAF heterogeneity, and discuss the potential and possible approaches for CAF-directed therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Gareth J Thomas
- School of Cancer Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK.,Cancer Research UK and NIHR Southampton Experimental Cancer Medicine Centre, Southampton, UK
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373
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Bienkowska KJ, Hanley CJ, Thomas GJ. Cancer-Associated Fibroblasts in Oral Cancer: A Current Perspective on Function and Potential for Therapeutic Targeting. FRONTIERS IN ORAL HEALTH 2021; 2:686337. [PMID: 35048030 PMCID: PMC8757746 DOI: 10.3389/froh.2021.686337] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2021] [Accepted: 06/07/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
The role of the tumour microenvironement (TME) in cancer progression and resistance to therapies is now widely recognized. The most prominent non-immune cell type in the microenvironment of oral cancer (OSCC) is cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAF). Although CAF are a poorly characterised and heterogenous cell population, those with an "activated" myofibroblastic phenotype have been shown to support OSCC progression, promoting growth, invasion and numerous other "hallmarks of malignancy." CAF also confer broad resistance to different types of therapy, including chemo/radiotherapy and EGFR inhibitors; consistent with this, CAF-rich OSCC are associated with poor prognosis. In recent years, much CAF research has focused on their immunological role in the tumour microenvironment, showing that CAF shield tumours from immune attack through multiple mechanisms, and particularly on their role in promoting resistance to anti-PD-1/PD-L1 checkpoint inhibitors, an exciting development for the treatment of recurrent/metastatic oral cancer, but which fails in most patients. This review summarises our current understanding of CAF subtypes and function in OSCC and discusses the potential for targeting these cells therapeutically.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kamila J. Bienkowska
- School of Cancer Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom
| | | | - Gareth J. Thomas
- School of Cancer Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom
- Cancer Research UK and National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Southampton Experimental Cancer Medicine Centre, Southampton, United Kingdom
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374
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Mhaidly R, Mechta‐Grigoriou F. Role of cancer-associated fibroblast subpopulations in immune infiltration, as a new means of treatment in cancer. Immunol Rev 2021; 302:259-272. [PMID: 34013544 PMCID: PMC8360036 DOI: 10.1111/imr.12978] [Citation(s) in RCA: 117] [Impact Index Per Article: 39.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2021] [Revised: 04/26/2021] [Accepted: 04/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
The tumor microenvironment (TME) has been identified as one of the driving factors of tumor progression and invasion. Within this microenvironment, cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAF) have multiple tumor-promoting functions and play key roles in drug resistance, through multiple mechanisms, including extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling, production of growth factors, cytokines, and chemokines, and modulation of metabolism and angiogenesis. More recently, a growing body of evidence has shown that CAF also modulate immune cell activity and suppress anti-tumor immune response. In this review, we describe the current knowledge on CAF heterogeneity in terms of identity and functions. Moreover, we analyze how distinct CAF subpopulations differentially interact with immune cells, with a particular focus on T lymphocytes. We address how specific CAF subsets contribute to cancer progression through induction of an immunosuppressive microenvironment. Finally, we highlight potential therapeutic strategies for targeting CAF subpopulations in cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rana Mhaidly
- Institut CurieStress and Cancer LaboratoryEquipe labelisée Ligue Nationale Contre le CancerPSL Research UniversityParisFrance
- U830, InsermParisFrance
| | - Fatima Mechta‐Grigoriou
- Institut CurieStress and Cancer LaboratoryEquipe labelisée Ligue Nationale Contre le CancerPSL Research UniversityParisFrance
- U830, InsermParisFrance
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375
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Turner KM, Yeo SK, Holm TM, Shaughnessy E, Guan JL. Heterogeneity within molecular subtypes of breast cancer. Am J Physiol Cell Physiol 2021; 321:C343-C354. [PMID: 34191627 DOI: 10.1152/ajpcell.00109.2021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Breast cancer is the quintessential example of how molecular characterization of tumor biology guides therapeutic decisions. From the discovery of the estrogen receptor to current clinical molecular profiles to evolving single-cell analytics, the characterization and compartmentalization of breast cancer into divergent subtypes is clear. However, competing with this divergent model of breast cancer is the recognition of intratumoral heterogeneity, which acknowledges the possibility that multiple different subtypes exist within a single tumor. Intratumoral heterogeneity is driven by both intrinsic effects of the tumor cells themselves as well as extrinsic effects from the surrounding microenvironment. There is emerging evidence that these intratumoral molecular subtypes are not static; rather, plasticity between divergent subtypes is possible. Interconversion between seemingly different subtypes within a tumor drives tumor progression, metastases, and treatment resistance. Therapeutic strategies must, therefore, contend with changing phenotypes in an individual patient's tumor. Identifying targetable drivers of molecular heterogeneity may improve treatment durability and disease progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kevin M Turner
- Department of Cancer Biology, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio.,Department of Surgery, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio
| | - Syn Kok Yeo
- Department of Cancer Biology, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio
| | - Tammy M Holm
- Department of Surgery, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio
| | - Elizabeth Shaughnessy
- Department of Surgery, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio
| | - Jun-Lin Guan
- Department of Cancer Biology, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio
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376
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Pradhan RN, Krishnamurty AT, Fletcher AL, Turley SJ, Müller S. A bird's eye view of fibroblast heterogeneity: A pan-disease, pan-cancer perspective. Immunol Rev 2021; 302:299-320. [PMID: 34164824 DOI: 10.1111/imr.12990] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2021] [Accepted: 05/14/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Fibroblasts, custodians of tissue architecture and function, are no longer considered a monolithic entity across tissues and disease indications. Recent advances in single-cell technologies provide an unrestricted, high-resolution view of fibroblast heterogeneity that exists within and across tissues. In this review, we summarize a compendium of single-cell transcriptomic studies and provide a comprehensive accounting of fibroblast subsets, many of which have been described to occupy specific niches in tissues at homeostatic and pathologic states. Understanding this heterogeneity is particularly important in the context of cancer, as the diverse cancer-associated fibroblast (CAF) phenotypes in the tumor microenvironment (TME) are directly impacted by the expression phenotypes of their predecessors. Relationships between these heterogeneous populations often accompany and influence response to therapy in cancer and fibrosis. We further highlight the importance of integrating single-cell studies to deduce common fibroblast phenotypes across disease states, which will facilitate the identification of common signaling pathways, gene regulatory programs, and cell surface markers that are going to advance drug discovery and targeting.
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377
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Gorchs L, Kaipe H. Interactions between Cancer-Associated Fibroblasts and T Cells in the Pancreatic Tumor Microenvironment and the Role of Chemokines. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:2995. [PMID: 34203869 PMCID: PMC8232575 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13122995] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2021] [Revised: 06/10/2021] [Accepted: 06/14/2021] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Less than 10% of patients diagnosed with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) survive 5 years or more, making it one of the most fatal cancers. Accumulation of T cells in pancreatic tumors is associated with better prognosis, but immunotherapies to enhance the anti-tumor activity of infiltrating T cells are failing in this devastating disease. Pancreatic tumors are characterized by a desmoplastic stroma, which mainly consists of activated cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs). Pancreatic CAFs have emerged as important regulators of the tumor microenvironment by contributing to immune evasion through the release of chemokines, cytokines, and growth factors, which alters T-cell migration, differentiation and cytotoxic activity. However, recent discoveries have also revealed that subsets of CAFs with diverse functions can either restrain or promote tumor progression. Here, we discuss our current knowledge about the interactions between CAFs and T cells in PDAC and summarize different therapy strategies targeting the CAF-T cell axis with focus on CAF-derived soluble immunosuppressive factors and chemokines. Identifying the functions of different CAF subsets and understanding their roles in T-cell trafficking within the tumor may be fundamental for the development of an effective combinational treatment for PDAC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laia Gorchs
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, 14152 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Helen Kaipe
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, 14152 Stockholm, Sweden
- Clinical Immunology and Transfusion Medicine, Karolinska University Hospital, 14152 Stockholm, Sweden
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378
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Fibroblasts Influence the Efficacy, Resistance, and Future Use of Vaccines and Immunotherapy in Cancer Treatment. Vaccines (Basel) 2021; 9:vaccines9060634. [PMID: 34200702 PMCID: PMC8230410 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines9060634] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2021] [Revised: 06/03/2021] [Accepted: 06/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Tumors are composed of not only epithelial cells but also many other cell types that contribute to the tumor microenvironment (TME). Within this space, cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) are a prominent cell type, and these cells are connected to an increase in tumor progression as well as alteration of the immune landscape present in and around the tumor. This is accomplished in part by their ability to alter the presence of both innate and adaptive immune cells as well as the release of various chemokines and cytokines, together leading to a more immunosuppressive TME. Furthermore, new research implicates CAFs as players in immunotherapy response in many different tumor types, typically by blunting their efficacy. Fibroblast activation protein (FAP) and transforming growth factor β (TGF-β), two major CAF proteins, are associated with the outcome of different immunotherapies and, additionally, have become new targets themselves for immune-based strategies directed at CAFs. This review will focus on CAFs and how they alter the immune landscape within tumors, how this affects response to current immunotherapy treatments, and how immune-based treatments are currently being harnessed to target the CAF population itself.
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379
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Michelozzi IM, Kirtsios E, Giustacchini A. Driving CAR T Stem Cell Targeting in Acute Myeloid Leukemia: The Roads to Success. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:2816. [PMID: 34198742 PMCID: PMC8201025 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13112816] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2021] [Revised: 05/27/2021] [Accepted: 06/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Current treatment outcome for acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients is unsatisfactory and characterized by high rates of relapse and poor overall survival. Increasing evidence points to a crucial role of leukemic stem cells (LSC) and the bone marrow (BM) leukemic niche, in which they reside, in AML evolution and chemoresistance. Thus, future strategies aiming at improving AML therapeutic protocols are likely to be directed against LSC and their niche. Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cells have been extremely successful in the treatment of relapsed/refractory acute lymphoblastic leukemia and B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma and comparable results in AML are highly desirable. At present, we are at the dawn of CAR T-cell application in AML, with several preclinical studies and few early phase clinical trials. However, the lack of leukemia-specific targets and the genetic and phenotypic heterogeneity of the disease combined with the leukemia-induced remodeling of the BM microenvironment are limiting CAR T-cell exploitation in AML. Here, we reviewed AML-LSC and AML-BM niche features in the context of their therapeutic targeting using CAR T-cells. We summarized recent progress in CAR T-cell application to the treatment of AML, and we discussed the remaining therapeutic challenges and promising novel strategies to overcome them.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ilaria M. Michelozzi
- Molecular and Cellular Immunology Section, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, Zayed Centre for Research into Rare Disease in Children, London WC1N 1DZ, UK;
| | | | - Alice Giustacchini
- Molecular and Cellular Immunology Section, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, Zayed Centre for Research into Rare Disease in Children, London WC1N 1DZ, UK;
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380
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Giorello MB, Borzone FR, Labovsky V, Piccioni FV, Chasseing NA. Cancer-Associated Fibroblasts in the Breast Tumor Microenvironment. J Mammary Gland Biol Neoplasia 2021; 26:135-155. [PMID: 33398516 DOI: 10.1007/s10911-020-09475-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2020] [Accepted: 11/30/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Years of investigation have shed light on a theory in which breast tumor epithelial cells are under the effect of the stromal microenvironment. This review aims to discuss recent findings concerning the phenotypic and functional characteristics of cancer associated fibroblasts (CAFs) and their involvement in tumor evolution, as well as their potential implications for anti-cancer therapy. In this manuscript, we reviewed that CAFs play a fundamental role in initiation, growth, invasion, and metastasis of breast cancer, and also serve as biomarkers in the clinical diagnosis, therapy, and prognosis of this disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- María Belén Giorello
- Laboratorio de Inmunohematología (IBYME) - Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental, Vuelta de Obligado 2490, CP, 1428, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
| | - Francisco Raúl Borzone
- Laboratorio de Inmunohematología (IBYME) - Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental, Vuelta de Obligado 2490, CP, 1428, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Vivian Labovsky
- Laboratorio de Inmunohematología (IBYME) - Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental, Vuelta de Obligado 2490, CP, 1428, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Flavia Valeria Piccioni
- Laboratorio de Oncología Molecular y Nuevos Blancos Terapéuticos (IBYME) y Laboratorio de Inmunohematología (IBYME) - Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental, Vuelta de Obligado 2490, CP, 1428, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Norma Alejandra Chasseing
- Laboratorio de Inmunohematología (IBYME) - Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental, Vuelta de Obligado 2490, CP, 1428, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
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381
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Desbois M, Wang Y. Cancer-associated fibroblasts: Key players in shaping the tumor immune microenvironment. Immunol Rev 2021; 302:241-258. [PMID: 34075584 DOI: 10.1111/imr.12982] [Citation(s) in RCA: 98] [Impact Index Per Article: 32.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2021] [Revised: 04/14/2021] [Accepted: 04/30/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Cancer immunotherapies have rapidly changed the therapeutic landscape for cancer. Nevertheless, most of the patients show innate or acquired resistance to these therapies. Studies conducted in recent years have highlighted an emerging role of cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) in immune regulation that shapes the tumor immune microenvironment (TIME) and influences response to cancer immunotherapies. In this review, we outline recent advances in the understanding of phenotypic and functional heterogeneity of CAFs. We will focus on emerging roles of CAFs in shaping the TIME, especially under a framework of tumor immunity continuum, and discuss current and future CAF-targeting therapeutic strategies in particular in the context of optimizing the success of immunotherapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mélanie Desbois
- Department of Oncology Biomarker Development, Genentech, Inc., South San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Yulei Wang
- Department of Oncology Biomarker Development, Genentech, Inc., South San Francisco, CA, USA
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382
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Akanda ZZ, Neeson PJ, John T, Barnett S, Hanna GG, Miller A, Jennens R, Siva S. A narrative review of combined stereotactic ablative radiotherapy and immunotherapy in metastatic non-small cell lung cancer. Transl Lung Cancer Res 2021; 10:2766-2778. [PMID: 34295676 PMCID: PMC8264312 DOI: 10.21037/tlcr-20-1117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2020] [Accepted: 03/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have significantly improved overall survival (OS) in metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (m-NSCLC). However, not all patients with m-NSCLC benefit from ICIs, and resistance to ICIs is an emerging challenge. The tumour microenvironment (TME) is immunosuppressive, and provides a myriad of mechanisms to facilitate escape of cancer cells from immune surveillance. The TME may also dampen the response to ICIs by inhibiting T cell effector responses. The poor prognosis of m-NSCLC has led to investigation of ICIs combined with other treatments with the intention of modulating the TME and sensitizing tumours to the effects of ICIs. Stereotactic ablative radiotherapy (SABR) in combination with ICIs is an area of intense interest. SABR is thought to evoke a pro-immunogenic response in the TME, with the capacity to turn a “cold”, unresponsive tumour to “hot” and receptive to ICI. In addition to improved local response, SABR is postulated to produce a heightened systemic immune response when compared to conventional radiotherapy (RT). Preclinical studies have demonstrated a synergistic effect of SABR + ICIs, and clinical studies in m-NSCLC showed safety and promising efficacy compared to systemic therapies alone. To optimize ICI + SABR, ICI choice, combinations, dosing and length of treatment, as well as sequencing of ICI + SABR all require further investigation. Appropriate sequencing may depend on the ICI(s) being utilized, with differing sites of metastases possibly eliciting differing immune responses. Single versus multisite radiation is controversial, whilst effects of irradiated tumour volume and nodal irradiation are increasingly recognized. Taken together, there is strong preclinical and biological rationale, with emerging clinical evidence, supporting the strategy of combining SABR + ICIs in m-NSCLC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zarique Z Akanda
- Division of Radiation Oncology and Cancer Imaging, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Paul J Neeson
- Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia.,Division of Cancer Research, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Thomas John
- Division of Medical Oncology, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Stephen Barnett
- Division of Thoracic Surgery, Austin Health, Heidelberg, Australia.,Austin Health Department of Surgery, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Gerard G Hanna
- Division of Radiation Oncology and Cancer Imaging, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, Australia.,Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Alistair Miller
- Division of Respiratory Medicine, The Royal Melbourne Hospital, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Ross Jennens
- Division of Medical Oncology, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Shankar Siva
- Division of Radiation Oncology and Cancer Imaging, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, Australia.,Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
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383
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Bhattacharjee S, Hamberger F, Ravichandra A, Miller M, Nair A, Affo S, Filliol A, Chin L, Savage TM, Yin D, Wirsik NM, Mehal A, Arpaia N, Seki E, Mack M, Zhu D, Sims PA, Kalluri R, Stanger BZ, Olive KP, Schmidt T, Wells RG, Mederacke I, Schwabe RF. Tumor restriction by type I collagen opposes tumor-promoting effects of cancer-associated fibroblasts. J Clin Invest 2021; 131:146987. [PMID: 33905375 PMCID: PMC8159701 DOI: 10.1172/jci146987] [Citation(s) in RCA: 151] [Impact Index Per Article: 50.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2020] [Accepted: 04/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAF) may exert tumor-promoting and tumor-suppressive functions, but the mechanisms underlying these opposing effects remain elusive. Here, we sought to understand these potentially opposing functions by interrogating functional relationships among CAF subtypes, their mediators, desmoplasia, and tumor growth in a wide range of tumor types metastasizing to the liver, the most common organ site for metastasis. Depletion of hepatic stellate cells (HSC), which represented the main source of CAF in mice and patients in our study, or depletion of all CAF decreased tumor growth and mortality in desmoplastic colorectal and pancreatic metastasis but not in nondesmoplastic metastatic tumors. Single-cell RNA-Seq in conjunction with CellPhoneDB ligand-receptor analysis, as well as studies in immune cell-depleted and HSC-selective knockout mice, uncovered direct CAF-tumor interactions as a tumor-promoting mechanism, mediated by myofibroblastic CAF-secreted (myCAF-secreted) hyaluronan and inflammatory CAF-secreted (iCAF-secreted) HGF. These effects were opposed by myCAF-expressed type I collagen, which suppressed tumor growth by mechanically restraining tumor spread, overriding its own stiffness-induced mechanosignals. In summary, mechanical restriction by type I collagen opposes the overall tumor-promoting effects of CAF, thus providing a mechanistic explanation for their dual functions in cancer. Therapeutic targeting of tumor-promoting CAF mediators while preserving type I collagen may convert CAF from tumor promoting to tumor restricting.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Florian Hamberger
- Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Endocrinology, Hannover Medical School, Hanover, Germany
| | | | - Maximilian Miller
- Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, New Jersey, USA
| | - Ajay Nair
- Department of Medicine, Columbia University, New York, New York, USA
| | - Silvia Affo
- Department of Medicine, Columbia University, New York, New York, USA
| | - Aveline Filliol
- Department of Medicine, Columbia University, New York, New York, USA
| | - LiKang Chin
- Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Thomas M. Savage
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Columbia University, New York, New York, USA
| | - Deqi Yin
- Department of Medicine, Columbia University, New York, New York, USA
| | - Naita Maren Wirsik
- Department of General, Visceral and Transplantation Surgery, University Hospital Heidelberg, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Adam Mehal
- Department of Medicine, Columbia University, New York, New York, USA
| | - Nicholas Arpaia
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Columbia University, New York, New York, USA
- Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbia University, New York, New York, USA
| | - Ekihiro Seki
- Department of Medicine, Division of Digestive and Liver Diseases, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Matthias Mack
- Department of Nephrology, University Hospital Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Di Zhu
- Department of Pharmacology, Minhang Hospital and School of Pharmacy, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Peter A. Sims
- Department of Systems Biology, Columbia University, New York, New York, USA
| | - Raghu Kalluri
- Department of Cancer Biology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Ben Z. Stanger
- Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Kenneth P. Olive
- Department of Medicine, Columbia University, New York, New York, USA
| | - Thomas Schmidt
- Department of General, Visceral and Transplantation Surgery, University Hospital Heidelberg, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Rebecca G. Wells
- Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Ingmar Mederacke
- Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Endocrinology, Hannover Medical School, Hanover, Germany
| | - Robert F. Schwabe
- Department of Medicine, Columbia University, New York, New York, USA
- Institute of Human Nutrition, Columbia University, New York, New York, USA
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384
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Mei Y, Xiao W, Hu H, Lu G, Chen L, Sun Z, Lü M, Ma W, Jiang T, Gao Y, Li L, Chen G, Wang Z, Li H, Wu D, Zhou P, Leng Q, Jia G. Single-cell analyses reveal suppressive tumor microenvironment of human colorectal cancer. Clin Transl Med 2021; 11:e422. [PMID: 34185431 PMCID: PMC8181206 DOI: 10.1002/ctm2.422] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2020] [Revised: 04/26/2021] [Accepted: 05/01/2021] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Profiling heterologous cell types within tumors is essential to decipher tumor microenvironment that shapes tumor progress and determines the outcome of therapeutic response. Here, we comprehensively characterized transcriptomes of 34,037 single cells obtained from 12 treatment-naïve patients with colorectal cancer. Our comprehensive evaluation revealed attenuated B-cell antigen presentation, distinct regulatory T-cell clusters with different origin and novel polyfunctional tumor associated macrophages associated with CRC. Moreover, we identified expanded XCL1+ T-cell clusters associated with tumor mutational burden high status. We further explored the underlying molecular mechanisms by profiling epigenetic landscape and inferring transcription factor motifs using single-cell ATAC-seq. Our dataset and analysis approaches herein provide a rich resource for further study of the impact of immune cells and translational research for human colorectal cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan Mei
- Affiliated Cancer Hospital and Institute of Guangzhou Medical UniversityState Key Laboratory of Respiratory DiseaseGuangzhouChina
- Department of Pathology, Guangdong Provincial People's HospitalGuangdong Academy of Medical SciencesGuangzhouChina
| | - Weiwei Xiao
- Department of Radiation OncologySun Yat‐sen University Cancer CenterGuangzhouChina
| | - Hao Hu
- Endoscopy CenterZhongshan Hospital, Fudan UniversityShanghaiChina
| | - Guanming Lu
- Department of Breast and Thyroid SurgeryAffiliated hospital of Youjiang Medical University for NationalitiesBaiseGuangxiChina
| | - Lingdan Chen
- Affiliated Cancer Hospital and Institute of Guangzhou Medical UniversityState Key Laboratory of Respiratory DiseaseGuangzhouChina
| | - Zhun Sun
- Affiliated Cancer Hospital and Institute of Guangzhou Medical UniversityState Key Laboratory of Respiratory DiseaseGuangzhouChina
| | - Mengdie Lü
- Affiliated Cancer Hospital and Institute of Guangzhou Medical UniversityState Key Laboratory of Respiratory DiseaseGuangzhouChina
| | - Wenhui Ma
- Department of General Surgery, Nanfang HospitalSouthern Medical UniversityGuangzhouChina
| | - Ting Jiang
- Department of Radiation OncologySun Yat‐sen University Cancer CenterGuangzhouChina
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer MedicineSun Yat‐Sen University Cancer CenterGuangzhouChina
| | - YuanHong Gao
- Department of Radiation OncologySun Yat‐sen University Cancer CenterGuangzhouChina
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer MedicineSun Yat‐Sen University Cancer CenterGuangzhouChina
| | - LiRen Li
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer MedicineSun Yat‐Sen University Cancer CenterGuangzhouChina
- Department of Colorectal SurgerySun Yat‐sen University Cancer CenterGuangzhouChina
| | - Gong Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer MedicineSun Yat‐Sen University Cancer CenterGuangzhouChina
- Department of Colorectal SurgerySun Yat‐sen University Cancer CenterGuangzhouChina
| | - Zifeng Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer MedicineSun Yat‐Sen University Cancer CenterGuangzhouChina
| | - Hanjie Li
- Center for Synthetic Immunology, Shenzhen Institute of Synthetic Biology, Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced TechnologyChinese Academy of SciencesShenzhenChina
| | - Duojiao Wu
- Institute of Clinical Science, Zhongshan Hospital, Shanghai Institute of Clinical BioinformaticsFudan UniversityShanghaiChina
| | - Pinghong Zhou
- Endoscopy CenterZhongshan Hospital, Fudan UniversityShanghaiChina
| | - Qibin Leng
- Affiliated Cancer Hospital and Institute of Guangzhou Medical UniversityState Key Laboratory of Respiratory DiseaseGuangzhouChina
| | - Guangshuai Jia
- Affiliated Cancer Hospital and Institute of Guangzhou Medical UniversityState Key Laboratory of Respiratory DiseaseGuangzhouChina
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385
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Wu SZ, Swarbrick A. Single-cell advances in stromal-leukocyte interactions in cancer. Immunol Rev 2021; 302:286-298. [PMID: 34033129 DOI: 10.1111/imr.12976] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2021] [Revised: 04/30/2021] [Accepted: 04/30/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Mesenchymal stromal cells in solid tumors have emerged as important mediators of immune function and response to immunotherapies. As such, comprehensive insights into their biology may reveal new predictors of drug response and new drug targets. While our understanding of mesenchymal biology in cancer is nascent, it is rapidly evolving, driven by advances in single-cell technologies. These studies reveal distinct subclasses of cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) with unique properties for immune regulation and control of leukocyte activity. While these studies have revealed several similarities across distinct types of cancer, they still face key challenges in nomenclature. Single-cell analysis of tumors has also revealed an abundance of perivascular cells with unique biology and associations with immune infiltration. They are often misclassified, likely confounding previous bulk studies, revealing a distinct lineage of cells that remain to be fully characterized. These studies have also shed light on the discrete cell types or transient cell states that shape mesenchymal heterogeneity in tumors, offering insights into new therapeutic strategies to modulate stromal cell differentiation. In this review, we will address how recent advances in single-cell technologies have shaped our understanding of stromal heterogeneity and their coordination of immune responses in cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sunny Z Wu
- The Kinghorn Cancer Centre and Cancer Research Theme, Garvan Institute of Medical Research, Darlinghurst, NSW, Australia.,St Vincent's Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Alexander Swarbrick
- The Kinghorn Cancer Centre and Cancer Research Theme, Garvan Institute of Medical Research, Darlinghurst, NSW, Australia.,St Vincent's Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
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386
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Venning FA, Zornhagen KW, Wullkopf L, Sjölund J, Rodriguez-Cupello C, Kjellman P, Morsing M, Hajkarim MC, Won KJ, Erler JT, Madsen CD. Deciphering the temporal heterogeneity of cancer-associated fibroblast subpopulations in breast cancer. J Exp Clin Cancer Res 2021; 40:175. [PMID: 34016130 PMCID: PMC8138934 DOI: 10.1186/s13046-021-01944-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2020] [Accepted: 04/11/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) comprise a heterogeneous population of stromal cells within the tumour microenvironment. CAFs exhibit both tumour-promoting and tumour-suppressing functions, making them exciting targets for improving cancer treatments. Careful isolation, identification, and characterisation of CAF heterogeneity is thus necessary for ex vivo validation and future implementation of CAF-targeted strategies in cancer. METHODS Murine 4T1 (metastatic) and 4T07 (poorly/non-metastatic) orthotopic triple negative breast cancer tumours were collected after 7, 14, or 21 days. The tumours were analysed via flow cytometry for the simultaneous expression of six CAF markers: alpha smooth muscle actin (αSMA), fibroblast activation protein alpha (FAPα), platelet derived growth factor receptor alpha and beta (PDGFRα and PDGFRβ), CD26/DPP4 and podoplanin (PDPN). All non-CAFs were excluded from the analysis using a lineage marker cocktail (CD24, CD31, CD45, CD49f, EpCAM, LYVE-1, and TER-119). In total 128 murine tumours and 12 healthy mammary fat pads were analysed. RESULTS We have developed a multicolour flow cytometry strategy based on exclusion of non-CAFs and successfully employed this to explore the temporal heterogeneity of freshly isolated CAFs in the 4T1 and 4T07 mouse models of triple-negative breast cancer. Analysing 128 murine tumours, we identified 5-6 main CAF populations and numerous minor ones based on the analysis of αSMA, FAPα, PDGFRα, PDGFRβ, CD26, and PDPN. All markers showed temporal changes with a distinct switch from primarily PDGFRα+ fibroblasts in healthy mammary tissue to predominantly PDGFRβ+ CAFs in tumours. CD26+ CAFs emerged as a large novel subpopulation, only matched by FAPα+ CAFs in abundance. CONCLUSION We demonstrate that multiple subpopulations of CAFs co-exist in murine triple negative breast cancer, and that the abundance and dynamics for each marker differ depending on tumour type and time. Our results form the foundation needed to isolate and characterise specific CAF populations, and ultimately provide an opportunity to therapeutically target specific CAF subpopulations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Freja Albjerg Venning
- Biotech Research and Innovation Centre (BRIC), University of Copenhagen (UCPH), Ole Maaløes Vej 5, 2200, Copenhagen N, Denmark
| | - Kamilla Westarp Zornhagen
- Biotech Research and Innovation Centre (BRIC), University of Copenhagen (UCPH), Ole Maaløes Vej 5, 2200, Copenhagen N, Denmark
| | - Lena Wullkopf
- Biotech Research and Innovation Centre (BRIC), University of Copenhagen (UCPH), Ole Maaløes Vej 5, 2200, Copenhagen N, Denmark
| | - Jonas Sjölund
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Division of Translational Cancer Research, Lund University, Scheelevägen 2, 22381, Lund, Sweden
| | - Carmen Rodriguez-Cupello
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Division of Translational Cancer Research, Lund University, Scheelevägen 2, 22381, Lund, Sweden
| | - Pontus Kjellman
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Division of Translational Cancer Research, Lund University, Scheelevägen 2, 22381, Lund, Sweden
| | - Mikkel Morsing
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Division of Translational Cancer Research, Lund University, Scheelevägen 2, 22381, Lund, Sweden
| | - Morteza Chalabi Hajkarim
- Biotech Research and Innovation Centre (BRIC), University of Copenhagen (UCPH), Ole Maaløes Vej 5, 2200, Copenhagen N, Denmark
- Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Stem Cell Biology, DanStem, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, 2200, Copenhagen N, Denmark
| | - Kyoung Jae Won
- Biotech Research and Innovation Centre (BRIC), University of Copenhagen (UCPH), Ole Maaløes Vej 5, 2200, Copenhagen N, Denmark
- Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Stem Cell Biology, DanStem, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, 2200, Copenhagen N, Denmark
| | - Janine Terra Erler
- Biotech Research and Innovation Centre (BRIC), University of Copenhagen (UCPH), Ole Maaløes Vej 5, 2200, Copenhagen N, Denmark.
| | - Chris Denis Madsen
- Biotech Research and Innovation Centre (BRIC), University of Copenhagen (UCPH), Ole Maaløes Vej 5, 2200, Copenhagen N, Denmark.
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Division of Translational Cancer Research, Lund University, Scheelevägen 2, 22381, Lund, Sweden.
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387
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Raskov H, Orhan A, Gaggar S, Gögenur I. Cancer-Associated Fibroblasts and Tumor-Associated Macrophages in Cancer and Cancer Immunotherapy. Front Oncol 2021; 11:668731. [PMID: 34094963 PMCID: PMC8172975 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2021.668731] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2021] [Accepted: 04/14/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Our understanding of the tumor microenvironment (TME), including the interplay between tumor cells, stromal cells, immune cells, and extracellular matrix components, is mandatory for the innovation of new therapeutic approaches in cancer. The cell-cell communication within the TME plays a pivotal role in the evolution and progression of cancer. Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAF) and tumor-associated macrophages (TAM) are major cell populations in the stroma of all solid tumors and often exert protumorigenic functions; however, the origin and precise functions of CAF and TAM are still incompletely understood. CAF and TAM hold significant potential as therapeutic targets to improve outcomes in oncology when combined with existing therapies. The regulation of CAF/TAM communication and/or their differentiation could be of high impact for improving the future targeted treatment strategies. Nevertheless, there is much scope for research and innovation in this field with regards to the development of novel drugs. In this review, we elaborate on the current knowledge on CAF and TAM in cancer and cancer immunotherapy. Additionally, by focusing on their heterogenous functions in different stages and types of cancer, we explore their role as potential therapeutic targets and highlight certain aspects of their functions that need further research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hans Raskov
- Center for Surgical Science, Zealand University Hospital, Køge, Denmark
| | - Adile Orhan
- Center for Surgical Science, Zealand University Hospital, Køge, Denmark.,Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Shruti Gaggar
- Center for Surgical Science, Zealand University Hospital, Køge, Denmark
| | - Ismail Gögenur
- Center for Surgical Science, Zealand University Hospital, Køge, Denmark.,Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
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388
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Zhang H, Jiang H, Zhu L, Li J, Ma S. Cancer-associated fibroblasts in non-small cell lung cancer: Recent advances and future perspectives. Cancer Lett 2021; 514:38-47. [PMID: 34019960 DOI: 10.1016/j.canlet.2021.05.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2021] [Revised: 05/07/2021] [Accepted: 05/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) constitutes the majority of lung cancer, which is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the world. Nearly 70% of NSCLC patients were diagnosed at advanced stage with only 15% of five-year survival rate. Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) are the major component of tumor microenvironment and account for almost 70% of the cells in tumor tissues. By the crosstalk with cancer cells, CAFs reprogrammed cancer cell metabolism, remodeled extracellular matrix (ECM) and created a supportive niche for cancer stem cells. CAFs lead collective invasion of tumor cells and shape tumor immune microenvironment, promoting tumor metastasis and immune escape. In this review, we have summarized the progress of studies regarding CAFs influences on NSCLC in recent five years from the aspects of cell growth, metabolism, therapy resistance, invasion and metastasis and immune suppression. We have discussed the involved mechanisms and implications for the development of anti-NSCLC therapies. The current strategies of CAFs targeting and elimination have also been generalized. Only better understanding of the molecular biology of CAFs may contribute to the development of novel anti-NSCLC strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongfang Zhang
- Hangzhou Cancer Institution, Affiliated Hangzhou Cancer Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310002, China; Key Laboratory of Clinical Cancer Pharmacology and Toxicology Research of Zhejiang Province, Affiliated Hangzhou First People's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310006, China
| | - Hong Jiang
- Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Affiliated Hangzhou First People's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310006, China
| | - Lucheng Zhu
- Department of Thoracic Oncology, Affiliated Hangzhou Cancer Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310002, China
| | - Jiawei Li
- Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, 310053, China
| | - Shenglin Ma
- Hangzhou Cancer Institution, Affiliated Hangzhou Cancer Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310002, China; Key Laboratory of Clinical Cancer Pharmacology and Toxicology Research of Zhejiang Province, Affiliated Hangzhou First People's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310006, China; Zhejiang University Cancer Center, Hangzhou, 310058, China.
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389
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Baker AT, Abuwarwar MH, Poly L, Wilkins S, Fletcher AL. Cancer-Associated Fibroblasts and T Cells: From Mechanisms to Outcomes. THE JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY 2021; 206:310-320. [PMID: 33397745 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.2001203] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2020] [Accepted: 11/06/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Over the past decade, T cell immunotherapy has changed the face of cancer treatment, providing robust treatment options for several previously intractable cancers. Unfortunately, many epithelial tumors with high mortality rates respond poorly to immunotherapy, and an understanding of the key impediments is urgently required. Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) comprise the most frequent nonneoplastic cellular component in most solid tumors. Far from an inert scaffold, CAFs significantly influence tumor neogenesis, persistence, and metastasis and are emerging as a key player in immunotherapy resistance. In this review, we discuss the physical and chemical barriers that CAFs place between effector T cells and their tumor cell targets, and the therapies poised to target them.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alfie T Baker
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Clayton 3800, Victoria, Australia
| | - Mohammed H Abuwarwar
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Clayton 3800, Victoria, Australia
| | - Lylarath Poly
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Clayton 3800, Victoria, Australia
| | - Simon Wilkins
- Cabrini Monash University Department of Surgery, Cabrini Hospital, Malvern 3144, Victoria, Australia.,Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne 3004, Victoria, Australia; and
| | - Anne L Fletcher
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Clayton 3800, Victoria, Australia; .,Institute of Immunology and Immunotherapy, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston B15 2TT, United Kingdom
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390
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Kvokačková B, Remšík J, Jolly MK, Souček K. Phenotypic Heterogeneity of Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Mediated by Epithelial-Mesenchymal Plasticity. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:2188. [PMID: 34063254 PMCID: PMC8125677 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13092188] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2021] [Accepted: 04/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is a subtype of breast carcinoma known for its unusually aggressive behavior and poor clinical outcome. Besides the lack of molecular targets for therapy and profound intratumoral heterogeneity, the relatively quick overt metastatic spread remains a major obstacle in effective clinical management. The metastatic colonization of distant sites by primary tumor cells is affected by the microenvironment, epigenetic state of particular subclones, and numerous other factors. One of the most prominent processes contributing to the intratumoral heterogeneity is an epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), an evolutionarily conserved developmental program frequently hijacked by tumor cells, strengthening their motile and invasive features. In response to various intrinsic and extrinsic stimuli, malignant cells can revert the EMT state through the mesenchymal-epithelial transition (MET), a process that is believed to be critical for the establishment of macrometastasis at secondary sites. Notably, cancer cells rarely undergo complete EMT and rather exist in a continuum of E/M intermediate states, preserving high levels of plasticity, as demonstrated in primary tumors and, ultimately, in circulating tumor cells, representing a simplified element of the metastatic cascade. In this review, we focus on cellular drivers underlying EMT/MET phenotypic plasticity and its detrimental consequences in the context of TNBC cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Barbora Kvokačková
- Department of Cytokinetics, Institute of Biophysics of the Czech Academy of Sciences, 612 65 Brno, Czech Republic;
- International Clinical Research Center, St. Anne’s University Hospital, 656 91 Brno, Czech Republic
- Department of Experimental Biology, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, 625 00 Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Ján Remšík
- Human Oncology & Pathogenesis Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY 10065, USA;
| | - Mohit Kumar Jolly
- Centre for BioSystems Science and Engineering, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore 560012, India;
| | - Karel Souček
- Department of Cytokinetics, Institute of Biophysics of the Czech Academy of Sciences, 612 65 Brno, Czech Republic;
- International Clinical Research Center, St. Anne’s University Hospital, 656 91 Brno, Czech Republic
- Department of Experimental Biology, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, 625 00 Brno, Czech Republic
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391
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Yan X, Xie Y, Yang F, Hua Y, Zeng T, Sun C, Yang M, Huang X, Wu H, Fu Z, Li W, Jiao S, Yin Y. Comprehensive description of the current breast cancer microenvironment advancements via single-cell analysis. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL & CLINICAL CANCER RESEARCH : CR 2021; 40:142. [PMID: 33906694 PMCID: PMC8077685 DOI: 10.1186/s13046-021-01949-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2020] [Accepted: 04/15/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Breast cancer is a heterogeneous disease with a complex microenvironment consisting of tumor cells, immune cells, fibroblasts and vascular cells. These cancer-associated cells shape the tumor microenvironment (TME) and influence the progression of breast cancer and the therapeutic responses in patients. The exact composition of the intra-tumoral cells is mixed as the highly heterogeneous and dynamic nature of the TME. Recent advances in single-cell technologies such as single-cell DNA sequencing (scDNA-seq), single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) and mass cytometry have provided new insights into the phenotypic and functional diversity of tumor-infiltrating cells in breast cancer. In this review, we have outlined the recent progress in single-cell characterization of breast tumor ecosystems, and summarized the phenotypic diversity of intra-tumoral cells and their potential prognostic relevance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xueqi Yan
- Department of Oncology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 210029, China
| | - Yinghong Xie
- Department of Oncology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 210029, China
| | - Fan Yang
- Department of Oncology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 210029, China
| | - Yijia Hua
- Department of Oncology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 210029, China
| | - Tianyu Zeng
- Department of Oncology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 210029, China
| | - Chunxiao Sun
- Department of Oncology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 210029, China
| | - Mengzhu Yang
- Department of Oncology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 210029, China
| | - Xiang Huang
- Department of Oncology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 210029, China
| | - Hao Wu
- Department of Oncology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 210029, China
| | - Ziyi Fu
- Department of Oncology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 210029, China
| | - Wei Li
- Department of Oncology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 210029, China.
| | - Shiping Jiao
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, the Affiliated Drum Tower Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, Nanjing, 210029, Jiangsu Province, China. .,Drum Tower Institute of clinical medicine, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210029, Jiangsu Province, China.
| | - Yongmei Yin
- Department of Oncology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 210029, China. .,Jiangsu Key Lab of Cancer Biomarkers, Prevention and Treatment, Collaborative Innovation Center for Personalized Cancer Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, China.
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392
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Colon Fibroblasts and Inflammation: Sparring Partners in Colorectal Cancer Initiation? Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:cancers13081749. [PMID: 33916891 PMCID: PMC8067599 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13081749] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2021] [Revised: 03/24/2021] [Accepted: 03/31/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common cause of cancer-related death. Patients suffering inflammatory bowel disease have an increased risk of CRC. It is admitted that CRC found its origin within crypts of the colon mucosa, which host the intestinal stem cells (ISCs) responsible of the tissue renewal. ISC behavior is controlled by the fibroblasts that surround the crypt. During inflammation, the signals delivered by fibroblasts are altered, leading to stem cells’ dysregulation, possibly turning them into cancer-initiating cells. Here, we reviewed the interplays between the fibroblast and the ISCs, possibly leading to the initiation of CRC due to chronic inflammation. Abstract Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common cause of cancer-related death. Significant improvements in CRC treatment have been made for the last 20 years, on one hand thanks to a better detection, allowing surgical resection of the incriminated area, and on the other hand, thanks to a better knowledge of CRC’s development allowing the improvement of drug strategies. Despite this crucial progress, CRC remains a public health issue. The current model for CRC initiation and progression is based on accumulation of sequential known genetic mutations in the colon epithelial cells’ genome leading to a loss of control over proliferation and survival. However, increasing evidence reveals that CRC initiation is more complex. Indeed, chronic inflammatory contexts, such as inflammatory bowel diseases, have been shown to increase the risk for CRC development in mice and humans. In this manuscript, we review whether colon fibroblasts can go from the main regulators of the ISC homeostasis, regulating not only the renewal process but also the epithelial cells’ differentiation occurring along the colon crypt, to the main player in the initiation of the colorectal cancer process due to chronic inflammation.
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393
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Bejarano L, Jordāo MJC, Joyce JA. Therapeutic Targeting of the Tumor Microenvironment. Cancer Discov 2021; 11:933-959. [PMID: 33811125 DOI: 10.1158/2159-8290.cd-20-1808] [Citation(s) in RCA: 689] [Impact Index Per Article: 229.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2020] [Revised: 02/05/2021] [Accepted: 02/08/2021] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
Strategies to therapeutically target the tumor microenvironment (TME) have emerged as a promising approach for cancer treatment in recent years due to the critical roles of the TME in regulating tumor progression and modulating response to standard-of-care therapies. Here, we summarize the current knowledge regarding the most advanced TME-directed therapies, which have either been clinically approved or are currently being evaluated in trials, including immunotherapies, antiangiogenic drugs, and treatments directed against cancer-associated fibroblasts and the extracellular matrix. We also discuss some of the challenges associated with TME therapies, and future perspectives in this evolving field. SIGNIFICANCE: This review provides a comprehensive analysis of the current therapies targeting the TME, combining a discussion of the underlying basic biology with clinical evaluation of different therapeutic approaches, and highlighting the challenges and future perspectives.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leire Bejarano
- Department of Oncology, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Marta J C Jordāo
- Department of Oncology, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Johanna A Joyce
- Department of Oncology, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland. .,Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
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394
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Gohil SH, Iorgulescu JB, Braun DA, Keskin DB, Livak KJ. Applying high-dimensional single-cell technologies to the analysis of cancer immunotherapy. Nat Rev Clin Oncol 2021; 18:244-256. [PMID: 33277626 PMCID: PMC8415132 DOI: 10.1038/s41571-020-00449-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 143] [Impact Index Per Article: 47.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/30/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Advances in molecular biology, microfluidics and bioinformatics have empowered the study of thousands or even millions of individual cells from malignant tumours at the single-cell level of resolution. This high-dimensional, multi-faceted characterization of the genomic, transcriptomic, epigenomic and proteomic features of the tumour and/or the associated immune and stromal cells enables the dissection of tumour heterogeneity, the complex interactions between tumour cells and their microenvironment, and the details of the evolutionary trajectory of each tumour. Single-cell transcriptomics, the ability to track individual T cell clones through paired sequencing of the T cell receptor genes and high-dimensional single-cell spatial analysis are all areas of particular relevance to immuno-oncology. Multidimensional biomarker signatures will increasingly be crucial to guiding clinical decision-making in each patient with cancer. High-dimensional single-cell technologies are likely to provide the resolution and richness of data required to generate such clinically relevant signatures in immuno-oncology. In this Perspective, we describe advances made using transformative single-cell analysis technologies, especially in relation to clinical response and resistance to immunotherapy, and discuss the growing utility of single-cell approaches for answering important research questions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Satyen H Gohil
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Academic Haematology, University College London Cancer Institute, London, UK
| | - J Bryan Iorgulescu
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Pathology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - David A Braun
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Derin B Keskin
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
- Translational Immunogenomics Lab, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Kenneth J Livak
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA.
- Translational Immunogenomics Lab, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA.
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395
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In-Depth Characterization of Stromal Cells within the Tumor Microenvironment Yields Novel Therapeutic Targets. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:cancers13061466. [PMID: 33806802 PMCID: PMC8005121 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13061466] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2021] [Revised: 03/17/2021] [Accepted: 03/18/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary This up-to-date and in-depth review describes fibroblast-derived cells and their role within the tumor microenvironment for tumor progression. Moreover, targets for future antitumor therapies are summarized and potential aspects for future translational research are outlined. Furthermore, this review discusses the challenges and possible obstacles related to certain treatment targets. Abstract Cells within the tumor stroma are essential for tumor progression. In particular, cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAF) and CAF precursor cells (resident fibroblasts and mesenchymal stromal cells) are responsible for the formation of the extracellular matrix in tumor tissue. Consequently, CAFs directly and indirectly mediate inflammation, metastasis, immunomodulation, angiogenesis, and the development of tumor chemoresistance, which is orchestrated by complex intercellular cytokine-mediated crosstalk. CAFs represent a strategic target in antitumor therapy but their heterogeneity hinders effective treatment regimes. In-depth understanding of CAF subpopulations and knowledge of specific functions in tumor progression will ultimately result in more specific and effective cancer treatments. This review provides a detailed description of CAFs and CAF precursor cells and summarizes possible treatment strategies as well as molecular targets of these cells in antitumor therapies.
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396
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Spada S, Tocci A, Di Modugno F, Nisticò P. Fibronectin as a multiregulatory molecule crucial in tumor matrisome: from structural and functional features to clinical practice in oncology. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL & CLINICAL CANCER RESEARCH : CR 2021; 40:102. [PMID: 33731188 PMCID: PMC7972229 DOI: 10.1186/s13046-021-01908-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 67] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2021] [Accepted: 03/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Deciphering extracellular matrix (ECM) composition and architecture may represent a novel approach to identify diagnostic and therapeutic targets in cancer. Among the ECM components, fibronectin and its fibrillary assembly represent the scaffold to build up the entire ECM structure, deeply affecting its features. Herein we focus on this extraordinary protein starting from its complex structure and defining its role in cancer as prognostic and theranostic marker.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sheila Spada
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Annalisa Tocci
- Tumor Immunology and Immunotherapy Unit, IRCCS-Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy
| | - Francesca Di Modugno
- Tumor Immunology and Immunotherapy Unit, IRCCS-Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy.
| | - Paola Nisticò
- Tumor Immunology and Immunotherapy Unit, IRCCS-Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy.
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397
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Huang T, Li F, Cheng X, Wang J, Zhang W, Zhang B, Tang Y, Li Q, Zhou C, Tu S. Wnt Inhibition Sensitizes PD-L1 Blockade Therapy by Overcoming Bone Marrow-Derived Myofibroblasts-Mediated Immune Resistance in Tumors. Front Immunol 2021; 12:619209. [PMID: 33790893 PMCID: PMC8006364 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.619209] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2020] [Accepted: 01/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) has been recognized as one cause of tumor resistance to immune checkpoint blockade therapy, but the underlying mechanisms still remain elusive. In the present study, a bone marrow-derived CAF (BMF) -rich tumor model is successfully established by subcutaneously mixed inoculation of BMFs and tumor cells into mice and the BMF-mixed tumor xenografts are demonstrated to be resistant to anti-PD-L1 antibody immunotherapy compared to the mere tumor xenografts. In vitro assays via the co-culture system of BMFs and tumor cells indicate that the co-cultured BMFs are induced to overexpress PD-L1, while there is no such a phenomenon in the co-cultured cancer cells. The further knock-out of PD-L1 in BMFs rescues the sensitivity of BMF-mixed tumor xenografts to PD-L1 blockade therapy. Mechanistically, via the microarray assay, we identify that the upregulation of PD-L1 in BMFs stimulated by cancer cells is medicated by the activation of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway in BMFs. Moreover, the administration of Wnt/β-catenin signaling inhibitors, including XAV-939 and Wnt-C59, distinctly inhibits the upregulation of PD-L1 expression in the co-cultured BMFs. The further combination administration of XAV-939 significantly potentiates the therapeutic outcome of PD-L1 blockade therapy in BMF-mixed tumors. In summary, our study demonstrates that Wnt inhibition augments PD-L1 blockade efficacy by overcoming BMF-mediated immunotherapy resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tinglei Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Oncogenes and Related Genes, Department of Oncology, Renji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Fuli Li
- State Key Laboratory of Oncogenes and Related Genes, Department of Oncology, Renji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Xiaojiao Cheng
- State Key Laboratory of Oncogenes and Related Genes, Department of Oncology, Renji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Jianzheng Wang
- Department of Oncology, the Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Henan Cancer Hospital, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Wenhui Zhang
- Shanghai Institute of Precision Medicine, Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Baiwen Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Oncogenes and Related Genes, Department of Oncology, Renji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yao Tang
- State Key Laboratory of Oncogenes and Related Genes, Department of Oncology, Renji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Qingli Li
- State Key Laboratory of Oncogenes and Related Genes, Department of Oncology, Renji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Cong Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Oncogenes and Related Genes, Department of Oncology, Renji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Shuiping Tu
- State Key Laboratory of Oncogenes and Related Genes, Department of Oncology, Renji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
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398
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Diao JA, Wang JK, Chui WF, Mountain V, Gullapally SC, Srinivasan R, Mitchell RN, Glass B, Hoffman S, Rao SK, Maheshwari C, Lahiri A, Prakash A, McLoughlin R, Kerner JK, Resnick MB, Montalto MC, Khosla A, Wapinski IN, Beck AH, Elliott HL, Taylor-Weiner A. Human-interpretable image features derived from densely mapped cancer pathology slides predict diverse molecular phenotypes. Nat Commun 2021; 12:1613. [PMID: 33712588 PMCID: PMC7955068 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-21896-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 96] [Impact Index Per Article: 32.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2020] [Accepted: 02/15/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Computational methods have made substantial progress in improving the accuracy and throughput of pathology workflows for diagnostic, prognostic, and genomic prediction. Still, lack of interpretability remains a significant barrier to clinical integration. We present an approach for predicting clinically-relevant molecular phenotypes from whole-slide histopathology images using human-interpretable image features (HIFs). Our method leverages >1.6 million annotations from board-certified pathologists across >5700 samples to train deep learning models for cell and tissue classification that can exhaustively map whole-slide images at two and four micron-resolution. Cell- and tissue-type model outputs are combined into 607 HIFs that quantify specific and biologically-relevant characteristics across five cancer types. We demonstrate that these HIFs correlate with well-known markers of the tumor microenvironment and can predict diverse molecular signatures (AUROC 0.601-0.864), including expression of four immune checkpoint proteins and homologous recombination deficiency, with performance comparable to 'black-box' methods. Our HIF-based approach provides a comprehensive, quantitative, and interpretable window into the composition and spatial architecture of the tumor microenvironment.
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Affiliation(s)
- James A Diao
- PathAI, Inc., Boston, MA, USA
- Program in Health Sciences and Technology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Jason K Wang
- PathAI, Inc., Boston, MA, USA
- Program in Health Sciences and Technology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Wan Fung Chui
- PathAI, Inc., Boston, MA, USA
- Program in Health Sciences and Technology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | | | | | | | - Richard N Mitchell
- Program in Health Sciences and Technology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Pathology, Brigham & Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Murray B Resnick
- PathAI, Inc., Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Pathology, Warren Alpert Medical School, Providence, RI, USA
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399
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Tumor Microenvironment in Metastatic Colorectal Cancer: The Arbitrator in Patients' Outcome. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:cancers13051130. [PMID: 33800796 PMCID: PMC7961499 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13051130] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2021] [Revised: 02/25/2021] [Accepted: 03/02/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Colorectal cancer accounts for approximately 10% of all annually diagnosed cancers worldwide being liver metastasis, the most common cause of death in patients with colorectal cancer. The interplay between tumor and stromal cells in the primary tumor microenvironment and at distant metastases are rising in importance as potential mechanisms of the tumor progression. In this review we discuss the new biomarkers derived from tumor microenvironment and liquid biopsy as emerging prognostic and treatments response markers for metastatic colorectal cancer. We also review the developing new clinical strategies based on tumor microenvironmental cells to tackle metastatic disease in metastatic colorectal cancer patients. Abstract Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most common cancers in western countries. Its mortality rate varies greatly, depending on the stage of the disease. The main cause of CRC mortality is metastasis, which most commonly affects the liver. The role of tumor microenvironment in tumor initiation, progression and metastasis development has been widely studied. In this review we summarize the role of the tumor microenvironment in the liver pre-metastatic niche formation, paying attention to the distant cellular crosstalk mediated by exosomes. Moreover, and based on the prognostic and predictive capacity of alterations in the stromal compartment of tumors, we describe the role of tumor microenvironment cells and related liquid biopsy biomarkers in the delivery of precise medication for metastatic CRC. Finally, we evaluate the different clinical strategies to prevent and treat liver metastatic disease, based on the targeting of the tumor microenvironment. Specifically, targeting angiogenesis pathways and regulating immune response are two important research pipelines that are being widely developed and promise great benefits.
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400
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Gounant V, Duruisseaux M, Soussi G, Van Hulst S, Bylicki O, Cadranel J, Wislez M, Trédaniel J, Spano JP, Helissey C, Chouaid C, Molinier O, Dhalluin X, Doucet L, Hureaux J, Cazes A, Zalcman G. Does Very Poor Performance Status Systematically Preclude Single Agent Anti-PD-1 Immunotherapy? A Multicenter Study of 35 Consecutive Patients. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:cancers13051040. [PMID: 33801285 PMCID: PMC7958129 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13051040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2021] [Revised: 02/23/2021] [Accepted: 02/24/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Immunotherapies prolong survival of metastatic non-small-cell lung cancer patients. However, their efficacy in patients with very poor general condition is unknown. Best supportive care is the standard of care for these patients because chemotherapy is more toxic and less effective than for patients with good general condition. Most patients die within 1 to 4 months of diagnosis. Consecutive metastatic non-small-cell lung cancer patients with very poor general condition receiving compassionate immunotherapy were accrued by 12 French thoracic oncology departments, over 24 months. Tolerance was acceptable. Overall, 20% of patients were alive at 1 year, and 14% at 2 years. We feel that our study results might suggest that some patients with a very poor general condition (namely those without brain metastases or heavy smokers) could derive long-term benefit from immunotherapy as salvage therapy. We initiated such a prospective phase 2 trial based on these results, which is a cause for hope. Abstract Anti-PD-1 antibodies prolong survival of performance status (PS) 0–1 advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (aNSCLC) patients. Their efficacy in PS 3–4 patients is unknown. Conse- cutive PS 3–4 aNSCLC patients receiving compassionate nivolumab were accrued by 12 French thoracic oncology departments, over 24 months. Overall survival (OS) was calculated using the Kaplan-Meier method. Prognostic variables were assessed using Cox proportional hazards models. Overall, 35 PS 3–4 aNSCLC patients (median age 65 years) received a median of 4 nivolumab infusions (interquartile range [IQR], 1–7) as first- (n = 6) or second-line (n = 29) therapy. At a median of 52-month follow-up (95%CI, 41–63), 32 (91%) patients had died. Median progression-free survival was 2.1 months (95%CI, 1.1–3.2). Median OS was 4.4 months (95%CI, 0.5–8.2). Overall, 20% of patients were alive at 1 year, and 14% at 2 years. Treatment-related adverse events occurred in 8/35 patients (23%), mostly of low-grade. After adjustment, brain metastases (HR = 5.2; 95%CI, 9–14.3, p = 0.001) and <20 pack-years (HR = 4.8; 95%CI, 1.7–13.8, p = 0.003) predicted worse survival. PS improvement from 3–4 to 0–1 (n = 9) led to a median 43-month (95%CI, 0–102) OS. Certain patients with very poor general condition could derive long-term benefit from nivolumab salvage therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valérie Gounant
- Department of Thoracic Oncology, Bichat Claude Bernard Hospital, APHP, CIC Inserm 1425, Université de Paris, 75018 Paris, France; (G.S.); (G.Z.)
- Correspondence:
| | - Michael Duruisseaux
- Respiratory Department, Louis Pradel Hospital, Hospices Civils de Lyon, 69002 Lyon, France;
- Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, 69100 Villeurbanne, France
| | - Ghassen Soussi
- Department of Thoracic Oncology, Bichat Claude Bernard Hospital, APHP, CIC Inserm 1425, Université de Paris, 75018 Paris, France; (G.S.); (G.Z.)
| | - Sylvie Van Hulst
- Department of Pneumology, University Hospital of Nîmes, 30900 Nîmes, France;
| | - Olivier Bylicki
- Respiratory Disease Unit, Hôpital d’Instruction des Armées Sainte-Anne, 83800 Toulon, France;
| | - Jacques Cadranel
- Department of Pneumology and Thoracic Oncology, Tenon Hospital, APHP, GRC Theranoscan and Curamus Sorbonne Université, 75020 Paris, France;
| | - Marie Wislez
- Centre de Recherche des Cordeliers, Université de Paris, Sorbonne Université, INSERM, TeamInflammation, Complement, and Cancer, 75006 Paris, France;
- Oncology Thoracic Unit Pulmonology Department, AP-HP, Hôpital Cochin, 75014 Paris, France
| | - Jean Trédaniel
- Groupe Hospitalier Paris Saint-Joseph, Department of Pneumology, Université de Paris, Sorbonne Paris Cité, Unité INSERM UMR-S 1124, 75014 Paris, France;
| | - Jean-Philippe Spano
- Department of Medical Oncology, Pitié-Salpétrière Hospital, APHP, Sorbonne Université, 75013 Paris, France;
| | - Carole Helissey
- Clinical Research Unit, Hôpital d’Instruction des Armées Bégin, 94160 Saint-Mandé, France;
| | - Christos Chouaid
- Department of Pneumology, Centre Hospitalier Intercommunal de Créteil, University Paris–Est Créteil (UPEC), CEpiA (Clinical Epidemiology and Ageing), EA 7376-IMRB, 94000 Créteil, France;
| | - Olivier Molinier
- Department of Pneumology, Centre Hospitalier Le Mans, 72037 Le Mans, France;
| | - Xavier Dhalluin
- Department of Pneumology and Thoracic Oncology, Calmette Hospital, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Lille, 59000 Lille, France;
| | - Ludovic Doucet
- Department of Oncology, Saint Louis Hospital, APHP, 75010 Paris, France;
| | - José Hureaux
- Department of Pneumology, Pόle Hippocrate, University Hospital of Angers, 49100 Angers, France;
| | - Aurélie Cazes
- Department of Pathology, Bichat Claude Bernard Hospital, APHP, Université de Paris, 75018 Paris, France;
| | - Gérard Zalcman
- Department of Thoracic Oncology, Bichat Claude Bernard Hospital, APHP, CIC Inserm 1425, Université de Paris, 75018 Paris, France; (G.S.); (G.Z.)
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