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Guo T, Xu J. Cancer-associated fibroblasts: a versatile mediator in tumor progression, metastasis, and targeted therapy. Cancer Metastasis Rev 2024; 43:1095-1116. [PMID: 38602594 PMCID: PMC11300527 DOI: 10.1007/s10555-024-10186-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2023] [Accepted: 03/31/2024] [Indexed: 04/12/2024]
Abstract
Tumor microenvironment (TME) has been demonstrated to play a significant role in tumor initiation, progression, and metastasis. Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) are the major component of TME and exhibit heterogeneous properties in their communication with tumor cells. This heterogeneity of CAFs can be attributed to various origins, including quiescent fibroblasts, mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), adipocytes, pericytes, endothelial cells, and mesothelial cells. Moreover, single-cell RNA sequencing has identified diverse phenotypes of CAFs, with myofibroblastic CAFs (myCAFs) and inflammatory CAFs (iCAFs) being the most acknowledged, alongside newly discovered subtypes like antigen-presenting CAFs (apCAFs). Due to these heterogeneities, CAFs exert multiple functions in tumorigenesis, cancer stemness, angiogenesis, immunosuppression, metabolism, and metastasis. As a result, targeted therapies aimed at the TME, particularly focusing on CAFs, are rapidly developing, fueling the promising future of advanced tumor-targeted therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tianchen Guo
- Women's Reproductive Health Laboratory of Zhejiang Province, Women's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310006, Zhejiang, China
| | - Junfen Xu
- Department of Gynecologic Oncology, Women's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310006, Zhejiang, China.
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2
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Zhang H, Zhu K, Zhang R, Guo Y, Wang J, Liu C, Lu X, Zhou Z, Wu W, Zhang F, Song Z, Lin S, Yang C, Li X, Liu Y, Tang Q, Yu X, Xu L, Liu C. Oleic acid-PPARγ-FABP4 loop fuels cholangiocarcinoma colonization in lymph node metastases microenvironment. Hepatology 2024; 80:69-86. [PMID: 38377465 DOI: 10.1097/hep.0000000000000784] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2023] [Accepted: 12/24/2023] [Indexed: 02/22/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS Lymph node metastasis is a significant risk factor for patients with cholangiocarcinoma, but the mechanisms underlying cholangiocarcinoma colonization in the lymph node microenvironment remain unclear. We aimed to determine whether metabolic reprogramming fueled the adaptation and remodeling of cholangiocarcinoma cells to the lymph node microenvironment. APPROACH AND RESULTS Here, we applied single-cell RNA sequencing of primary tumor lesions and paired lymph node metastases from patients with cholangiocarcinoma and revealed significantly reduced intertumor heterogeneity and syntropic lipid metabolic reprogramming of cholangiocarcinoma after metastasis to lymph nodes, which was verified by pan-cancer single-cell RNA sequencing analysis, highlighting the essential role of lipid metabolism in tumor colonization in lymph nodes. Metabolomics and in vivo CRISPR/Cas9 screening identified PPARγ as a crucial regulator in fueling cholangiocarcinoma colonization in lymph nodes through the oleic acid-PPARγ-fatty acid-binding protein 4 positive feedback loop by upregulating fatty acid uptake and oxidation. Patient-derived organoids and animal models have demonstrated that blocking this loop impairs cholangiocarcinoma proliferation and colonization in the lymph node microenvironment and is superior to systemic inhibition of fatty acid oxidation. PPARγ-regulated fatty acid metabolic reprogramming in cholangiocarcinoma also contributes to the immune-suppressive niche in lymph node metastases by producing kynurenine and was found to be associated with tumor relapse, immune-suppressive lymph node microenvironment, and poor immune checkpoint blockade response. CONCLUSIONS Our results reveal the role of the oleic acid-PPARγ-fatty acid-binding protein 4 loop in fueling cholangiocarcinoma colonization in lymph nodes and demonstrate that PPARγ-regulated lipid metabolic reprogramming is a promising therapeutic target for relieving cholangiocarcinoma lymph node metastasis burden and reducing further progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Honghua Zhang
- Department of Biliary-Pancreatic Surgery, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
- Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Precise Diagnosis and Treatment of Biliary Tract Cancer, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Epigenetics and Gene Regulation, Guangdong-Hong Kong Joint Laboratory for RNA medicine, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Ke Zhu
- Department of Biliary-Pancreatic Surgery, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
- Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Precise Diagnosis and Treatment of Biliary Tract Cancer, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Epigenetics and Gene Regulation, Guangdong-Hong Kong Joint Laboratory for RNA medicine, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Rui Zhang
- Department of Biliary-Pancreatic Surgery, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
- Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Precise Diagnosis and Treatment of Biliary Tract Cancer, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yabin Guo
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Epigenetics and Gene Regulation, Guangdong-Hong Kong Joint Laboratory for RNA medicine, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
- Medical Research Center, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jin Wang
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Epigenetics and Gene Regulation, Guangdong-Hong Kong Joint Laboratory for RNA medicine, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
- Medical Research Center, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Chaoqun Liu
- Department of Pathology, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital, Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xinjun Lu
- Department of Biliary-Pancreatic Surgery, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
- Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Precise Diagnosis and Treatment of Biliary Tract Cancer, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Epigenetics and Gene Regulation, Guangdong-Hong Kong Joint Laboratory for RNA medicine, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Ziyu Zhou
- Department of Biliary-Pancreatic Surgery, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
- Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Precise Diagnosis and Treatment of Biliary Tract Cancer, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Epigenetics and Gene Regulation, Guangdong-Hong Kong Joint Laboratory for RNA medicine, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Wenrui Wu
- Department of Biliary-Pancreatic Surgery, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
- Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Precise Diagnosis and Treatment of Biliary Tract Cancer, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Epigenetics and Gene Regulation, Guangdong-Hong Kong Joint Laboratory for RNA medicine, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Fapeng Zhang
- Department of Biliary-Pancreatic Surgery, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
- Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Precise Diagnosis and Treatment of Biliary Tract Cancer, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Epigenetics and Gene Regulation, Guangdong-Hong Kong Joint Laboratory for RNA medicine, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Zhixiao Song
- Department of Biliary-Pancreatic Surgery, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
- Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Precise Diagnosis and Treatment of Biliary Tract Cancer, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Epigenetics and Gene Regulation, Guangdong-Hong Kong Joint Laboratory for RNA medicine, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Shusheng Lin
- Department of Biliary-Pancreatic Surgery, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
- Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Precise Diagnosis and Treatment of Biliary Tract Cancer, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Epigenetics and Gene Regulation, Guangdong-Hong Kong Joint Laboratory for RNA medicine, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Caini Yang
- Department of Biliary-Pancreatic Surgery, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
- Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Precise Diagnosis and Treatment of Biliary Tract Cancer, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Epigenetics and Gene Regulation, Guangdong-Hong Kong Joint Laboratory for RNA medicine, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xiuxian Li
- Department of Biliary-Pancreatic Surgery, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
- Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Precise Diagnosis and Treatment of Biliary Tract Cancer, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Epigenetics and Gene Regulation, Guangdong-Hong Kong Joint Laboratory for RNA medicine, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yang Liu
- Department of Biliary-Pancreatic Surgery, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
- Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Precise Diagnosis and Treatment of Biliary Tract Cancer, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Epigenetics and Gene Regulation, Guangdong-Hong Kong Joint Laboratory for RNA medicine, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Qibin Tang
- Department of Biliary-Pancreatic Surgery, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
- Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Precise Diagnosis and Treatment of Biliary Tract Cancer, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xianhuan Yu
- Department of Biliary-Pancreatic Surgery, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
- Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Precise Diagnosis and Treatment of Biliary Tract Cancer, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Leibo Xu
- Department of Biliary-Pancreatic Surgery, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
- Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Precise Diagnosis and Treatment of Biliary Tract Cancer, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Epigenetics and Gene Regulation, Guangdong-Hong Kong Joint Laboratory for RNA medicine, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Chao Liu
- Department of Biliary-Pancreatic Surgery, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
- Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Precise Diagnosis and Treatment of Biliary Tract Cancer, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Epigenetics and Gene Regulation, Guangdong-Hong Kong Joint Laboratory for RNA medicine, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
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3
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Deng Y, Xia L, Zhang J, Deng S, Wang M, Wei S, Li K, Lai H, Yang Y, Bai Y, Liu Y, Luo L, Yang Z, Chen Y, Kang R, Gan F, Pu Q, Mei J, Ma L, Lin F, Guo C, Liao H, Zhu Y, Liu Z, Liu C, Hu Y, Yuan Y, Zha Z, Yuan G, Zhang G, Chen L, Cheng Q, Shen S, Liu L. Multicellular ecotypes shape progression of lung adenocarcinoma from ground-glass opacity toward advanced stages. Cell Rep Med 2024; 5:101489. [PMID: 38554705 PMCID: PMC11031428 DOI: 10.1016/j.xcrm.2024.101489] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2022] [Revised: 01/26/2024] [Accepted: 03/06/2024] [Indexed: 04/02/2024]
Abstract
Lung adenocarcinoma is a type of cancer that exhibits a wide range of clinical radiological manifestations, from ground-glass opacity (GGO) to pure solid nodules, which vary greatly in terms of their biological characteristics. Our current understanding of this heterogeneity is limited. To address this gap, we analyze 58 lung adenocarcinoma patients via machine learning, single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq), and whole-exome sequencing, and we identify six lung multicellular ecotypes (LMEs) correlating with distinct radiological patterns and cancer cell states. Notably, GGO-associated neoantigens in early-stage cancers are recognized by CD8+ T cells, indicating an immune-active environment, while solid nodules feature an immune-suppressive LME with exhausted CD8+ T cells, driven by specific stromal cells such as CTHCR1+ fibroblasts. This study also highlights EGFR(L858R) neoantigens in GGO samples, suggesting potential CD8+ T cell activation. Our findings offer valuable insights into lung adenocarcinoma heterogeneity, suggesting avenues for targeted therapies in early-stage disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yulan Deng
- Department of Thoracic Surgery and Institute of Thoracic Oncology, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, China; Western China Collaborative Innovation Center for Early Diagnosis and Multidisciplinary Therapy of Lung Cancer, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Liang Xia
- Department of Thoracic Surgery and Institute of Thoracic Oncology, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, China; Western China Collaborative Innovation Center for Early Diagnosis and Multidisciplinary Therapy of Lung Cancer, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Jian Zhang
- Department of Thoracic Surgery and Institute of Thoracic Oncology, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, China; Western China Collaborative Innovation Center for Early Diagnosis and Multidisciplinary Therapy of Lung Cancer, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Senyi Deng
- Department of Thoracic Surgery and Institute of Thoracic Oncology, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, China; Western China Collaborative Innovation Center for Early Diagnosis and Multidisciplinary Therapy of Lung Cancer, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Mengyao Wang
- Department of Thoracic Surgery and Institute of Thoracic Oncology, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, China; Western China Collaborative Innovation Center for Early Diagnosis and Multidisciplinary Therapy of Lung Cancer, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China; Faculty of Dentistry, The University of Hong Kong, Prince Philip Dental Hospital, Sai Ying Pun, Hong Kong, China
| | - Shiyou Wei
- Department of Thoracic Surgery and Institute of Thoracic Oncology, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, China; Western China Collaborative Innovation Center for Early Diagnosis and Multidisciplinary Therapy of Lung Cancer, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Kaixiu Li
- Department of Thoracic Surgery and Institute of Thoracic Oncology, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, China; Western China Collaborative Innovation Center for Early Diagnosis and Multidisciplinary Therapy of Lung Cancer, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China; Faculty of Dentistry, The University of Hong Kong, Prince Philip Dental Hospital, Sai Ying Pun, Hong Kong, China
| | - Hongjin Lai
- Department of Thoracic Surgery and Institute of Thoracic Oncology, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, China; Western China Collaborative Innovation Center for Early Diagnosis and Multidisciplinary Therapy of Lung Cancer, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Yunhao Yang
- Department of Thoracic Surgery and Institute of Thoracic Oncology, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, China; Western China Collaborative Innovation Center for Early Diagnosis and Multidisciplinary Therapy of Lung Cancer, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Yuquan Bai
- Department of Thoracic Surgery and Institute of Thoracic Oncology, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, China; Western China Collaborative Innovation Center for Early Diagnosis and Multidisciplinary Therapy of Lung Cancer, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Yongcheng Liu
- Department of Thoracic Surgery and Institute of Thoracic Oncology, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, China; Western China Collaborative Innovation Center for Early Diagnosis and Multidisciplinary Therapy of Lung Cancer, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Lanzhi Luo
- Department of Thoracic Surgery and Institute of Thoracic Oncology, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, China; Western China Collaborative Innovation Center for Early Diagnosis and Multidisciplinary Therapy of Lung Cancer, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Zhenyu Yang
- Department of Thoracic Surgery and Institute of Thoracic Oncology, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, China; Western China Collaborative Innovation Center for Early Diagnosis and Multidisciplinary Therapy of Lung Cancer, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Yaohui Chen
- Department of Thoracic Surgery and Institute of Thoracic Oncology, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, China; Western China Collaborative Innovation Center for Early Diagnosis and Multidisciplinary Therapy of Lung Cancer, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Ran Kang
- Department of Thoracic Surgery and Institute of Thoracic Oncology, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, China; Western China Collaborative Innovation Center for Early Diagnosis and Multidisciplinary Therapy of Lung Cancer, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Fanyi Gan
- Department of Thoracic Surgery and Institute of Thoracic Oncology, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, China; Western China Collaborative Innovation Center for Early Diagnosis and Multidisciplinary Therapy of Lung Cancer, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Qiang Pu
- Department of Thoracic Surgery and Institute of Thoracic Oncology, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, China; Western China Collaborative Innovation Center for Early Diagnosis and Multidisciplinary Therapy of Lung Cancer, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Jiandong Mei
- Department of Thoracic Surgery and Institute of Thoracic Oncology, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, China; Western China Collaborative Innovation Center for Early Diagnosis and Multidisciplinary Therapy of Lung Cancer, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Lin Ma
- Department of Thoracic Surgery and Institute of Thoracic Oncology, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, China; Western China Collaborative Innovation Center for Early Diagnosis and Multidisciplinary Therapy of Lung Cancer, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Feng Lin
- Department of Thoracic Surgery and Institute of Thoracic Oncology, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, China; Western China Collaborative Innovation Center for Early Diagnosis and Multidisciplinary Therapy of Lung Cancer, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Chenglin Guo
- Department of Thoracic Surgery and Institute of Thoracic Oncology, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, China; Western China Collaborative Innovation Center for Early Diagnosis and Multidisciplinary Therapy of Lung Cancer, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Hu Liao
- Department of Thoracic Surgery and Institute of Thoracic Oncology, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, China; Western China Collaborative Innovation Center for Early Diagnosis and Multidisciplinary Therapy of Lung Cancer, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Yunke Zhu
- Department of Thoracic Surgery and Institute of Thoracic Oncology, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, China; Western China Collaborative Innovation Center for Early Diagnosis and Multidisciplinary Therapy of Lung Cancer, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Zheng Liu
- Department of Thoracic Surgery and Institute of Thoracic Oncology, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, China; Western China Collaborative Innovation Center for Early Diagnosis and Multidisciplinary Therapy of Lung Cancer, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Chengwu Liu
- Department of Thoracic Surgery and Institute of Thoracic Oncology, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, China; Western China Collaborative Innovation Center for Early Diagnosis and Multidisciplinary Therapy of Lung Cancer, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Yang Hu
- Department of Thoracic Surgery and Institute of Thoracic Oncology, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, China; Western China Collaborative Innovation Center for Early Diagnosis and Multidisciplinary Therapy of Lung Cancer, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Yong Yuan
- Department of Thoracic Surgery and Institute of Thoracic Oncology, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, China; Western China Collaborative Innovation Center for Early Diagnosis and Multidisciplinary Therapy of Lung Cancer, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Zhengyu Zha
- Department of Thoracic Surgery and Institute of Thoracic Oncology, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, China; Western China Collaborative Innovation Center for Early Diagnosis and Multidisciplinary Therapy of Lung Cancer, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Gang Yuan
- Department of Thoracic Surgery and Institute of Thoracic Oncology, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, China; Western China Collaborative Innovation Center for Early Diagnosis and Multidisciplinary Therapy of Lung Cancer, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Gao Zhang
- Faculty of Dentistry, The University of Hong Kong, Prince Philip Dental Hospital, Sai Ying Pun, Hong Kong, China
| | - Luonan Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Cell Biology, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Molecular Andrology, Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China; Center for Excellence in Animal Evolution and Genetics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, China; Key Laboratory of Systems Biology, Hangzhou Institute for Advanced Study, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou, China
| | - Qing Cheng
- Department of Surgery, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Shensi Shen
- Department of Thoracic Surgery and Institute of Thoracic Oncology, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, China; Western China Collaborative Innovation Center for Early Diagnosis and Multidisciplinary Therapy of Lung Cancer, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China.
| | - Lunxu Liu
- Department of Thoracic Surgery and Institute of Thoracic Oncology, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, China; Western China Collaborative Innovation Center for Early Diagnosis and Multidisciplinary Therapy of Lung Cancer, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China.
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4
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Chen C, Guo Q, Liu Y, Hou Q, Liao M, Guo Y, Zang Y, Wang F, Liu H, Luan X, Liang Y, Guan Z, Li Y, Liu H, Dong X, Zhang X, Liu J, Xu Q. Single-cell and spatial transcriptomics reveal POSTN + cancer-associated fibroblasts correlated with immune suppression and tumour progression in non-small cell lung cancer. Clin Transl Med 2023; 13:e1515. [PMID: 38115703 PMCID: PMC10731139 DOI: 10.1002/ctm2.1515] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2023] [Revised: 11/27/2023] [Accepted: 12/01/2023] [Indexed: 12/21/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) are potential targets for cancer therapy. Due to the heterogeneity of CAFs, the influence of CAF subpopulations on the progression of lung cancer is still unclear, which impedes the translational advances in targeting CAFs. METHODS We performed single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) on tumour, paired tumour-adjacent, and normal samples from 16 non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients. CAF subpopulations were analyzed after integration with published NSCLC scRNA-seq data. SpaTial enhanced resolution omics-sequencing (Stereo-seq) was applied in tumour and tumour-adjacent samples from seven NSCLC patients to map the architecture of major cell populations in tumour microenvironment (TME). Immunohistochemistry (IHC) and multiplexed IHC (mIHC) were used to validate marker gene expression and the association of CAFs with immune infiltration in TME. RESULTS A subcluster of myofibroblastic CAFs, POSTN+ CAFs, were significantly enriched in advanced tumours and presented gene expression signatures related to extracellular matrix remodeling, tumour invasion pathways and immune suppression. Stereo-seq and mIHC demonstrated that POSTN+ CAFs were in close localization with SPP1+ macrophages and were associated with the exhausted phenotype and lower infiltration of T cells. POSTN expression or the abundance of POSTN+ CAFs were associated with poor prognosis of NSCLC. CONCLUSIONS Our study identified a myofibroblastic CAF subpopulation, POSTN+ CAFs, which might associate with SPP1+ macrophages to promote the formation of desmoplastic architecture and participate in immune suppression. Furthermore, we showed that POSTN+ CAFs associated with cancer progression and poor clinical outcomes and may provide new insights on the treatment of NSCLC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chao Chen
- Department of Thoracic SurgeryPeking University Shenzhen HospitalShenzhen Peking University‐The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology Medical CenterShenzhenChina
| | - Qiang Guo
- BGI ResearchHangzhouChina
- BGI ResearchShenzhenChina
- College of Life SciencesUniversity of Chinese Academy of SciencesBeijingChina
| | - Yang Liu
- BGI ResearchHangzhouChina
- BGI ResearchShenzhenChina
- College of Life SciencesUniversity of Chinese Academy of SciencesBeijingChina
| | - Qinghua Hou
- Department of Thoracic SurgeryPeking University Shenzhen HospitalShenzhen Peking University‐The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology Medical CenterShenzhenChina
| | - Mengying Liao
- Department of PathologyPeking University Shenzhen HospitalShenzhenChina
| | - Yanying Guo
- BGI ResearchHangzhouChina
- BGI ResearchShenzhenChina
| | - Yupeng Zang
- College of Life SciencesUniversity of Chinese Academy of SciencesBeijingChina
| | | | - Huanyu Liu
- Department of PathologyPeking University Shenzhen HospitalShenzhenChina
| | - Xinyu Luan
- Department of Thoracic SurgeryPeking University Shenzhen HospitalShenzhen Peking University‐The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology Medical CenterShenzhenChina
| | - Yanling Liang
- BGI ResearchShenzhenChina
- College of Life SciencesUniversity of Chinese Academy of SciencesBeijingChina
| | - Zhuojue Guan
- College of Life SciencesUniversity of Chinese Academy of SciencesBeijingChina
| | - Yanling Li
- Central Laboratory of Peking University Shenzhen HospitalShenzhenChina
| | - Haozhen Liu
- Department of Thoracic SurgeryPeking University Shenzhen HospitalShenzhen Peking University‐The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology Medical CenterShenzhenChina
| | - Xuan Dong
- BGI ResearchHangzhouChina
- BGI ResearchShenzhenChina
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Human Disease Genomics, Shenzhen Key Laboratory of GenomicsBGI ResearchShenzhenChina
| | - Xiuqing Zhang
- BGI ResearchShenzhenChina
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Human Disease Genomics, Shenzhen Key Laboratory of GenomicsBGI ResearchShenzhenChina
| | - Jixian Liu
- Department of Thoracic SurgeryPeking University Shenzhen HospitalShenzhen Peking University‐The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology Medical CenterShenzhenChina
| | - Qumiao Xu
- BGI ResearchHangzhouChina
- BGI ResearchShenzhenChina
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Human Disease Genomics, Shenzhen Key Laboratory of GenomicsBGI ResearchShenzhenChina
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5
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You T, Tang H, Wu W, Gao J, Li X, Li N, Xu X, Xing J, Ge H, Xiao Y, Guo J, Wu B, Li X, Zhou L, Zhao L, Bai C, Han Q, Sun Z, Zhao RC. POSTN Secretion by Extracellular Matrix Cancer-Associated Fibroblasts (eCAFs) Correlates with Poor ICB Response via Macrophage Chemotaxis Activation of Akt Signaling Pathway in Gastric Cancer. Aging Dis 2023; 14:2177-2192. [PMID: 37199594 PMCID: PMC10676785 DOI: 10.14336/ad.2023.0503] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2023] [Accepted: 05/03/2023] [Indexed: 05/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) therapy has revolutionized cancer treatment, but its clinical benefit is limited in advanced gastric cancer (GC). Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) have been reported to be associated with ICB resistance, but the underlying mechanism has not been fully elucidated. Our previous single-cell RNA-seq analysis of GC revealed that POSTN+FAP+ extracellular matrix CAFs (eCAFs) communicate with macrophages. Here, we evaluated the correlation between eCAFs and ICB response in TCGA-STAD and real-world cohorts. Immune infiltration analysis and correlation analysis were performed to assess the relationship between eCAFs and macrophages. We first confirmed a negative correlation between the abundance of eCAFs and the overall response rate (ORR) to anti-PD-1 treatment in TCGA-STAD and real-world GC cohorts. Overexpression of POSTN in CAFs enhanced macrophage chemotaxis, while POSTN interference showed the opposite effect in vitro and in vivo. Furthermore, the cell density of POSTN+ CAFs was positively correlated with the infiltration level of CD163+ macrophages in GC patient tissues. The results demonstrated that POSTN secreted by CAFs enhances macrophage chemotaxis by activating the Akt signaling pathway in macrophages. Additionally, we found that POSTN+FAP+ eCAFs may exist in multiple solid tumors and are associated with ICB resistance. eCAFs promote macrophage chemotaxis through the secretion of POSTN, thereby leading to ICB resistance. High expression of POSTN is likely to predict a poor response to ICB. POSTN downregulation may be considered as a candidate therapeutic strategy to improve ICB efficacy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tingting You
- Department of Oncology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China.
| | - Hui Tang
- Department of Oncology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China.
| | - Wenjing Wu
- Institute of Basic Medical Sciences Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, School of Basic Medicine Peking Union Medical College, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Center of Excellence in Tissue Engineering Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing Key Laboratory, Beijing, China.
| | - Jingxi Gao
- Institute of Basic Medical Sciences Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, School of Basic Medicine Peking Union Medical College, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Center of Excellence in Tissue Engineering Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing Key Laboratory, Beijing, China.
| | - Xuechun Li
- Department of Stomatology Center, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China.
- Academician Workstation for Oral-Maxillofacial Regenerative Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, China.
| | - Ningning Li
- Department of Oncology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China.
| | - Xiuxiu Xu
- Department of Oncology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China.
| | - Jiazhang Xing
- Department of Oncology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China.
| | - Hui Ge
- Department of Oncology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China.
| | - Yi Xiao
- Department of General Surgery, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China.
| | - Junchao Guo
- Department of General Surgery, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China.
| | - Bin Wu
- Department of General Surgery, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China.
| | - Xiaoyi Li
- Department of General Surgery, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China.
| | - Liangrui Zhou
- Department of Pathology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China.
| | - Lin Zhao
- Department of Oncology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China.
| | - Chunmei Bai
- Department of Oncology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China.
| | - Qin Han
- Institute of Basic Medical Sciences Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, School of Basic Medicine Peking Union Medical College, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Center of Excellence in Tissue Engineering Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing Key Laboratory, Beijing, China.
| | - Zhao Sun
- Department of Oncology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China.
| | - Robert Chunhua Zhao
- Institute of Basic Medical Sciences Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, School of Basic Medicine Peking Union Medical College, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Center of Excellence in Tissue Engineering Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing Key Laboratory, Beijing, China.
- School of Life Sciences, Shanghai University, Shanghai, China
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6
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George N, Bhandari P, Shruptha P, Jayaram P, Chaudhari S, Satyamoorthy K. Multidimensional outlook on the pathophysiology of cervical cancer invasion and metastasis. Mol Cell Biochem 2023; 478:2581-2606. [PMID: 36905477 PMCID: PMC10006576 DOI: 10.1007/s11010-023-04686-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2022] [Accepted: 02/20/2023] [Indexed: 03/12/2023]
Abstract
Cervical cancer being one of the primary causes of high mortality rates among women is an area of concern, especially with ineffective treatment strategies. Extensive studies are carried out to understand various aspects of cervical cancer initiation, development and progression; however, invasive cervical squamous cell carcinoma has poor outcomes. Moreover, the advanced stages of cervical cancer may involve lymphatic circulation with a high risk of tumor recurrence at distant metastatic sites. Dysregulation of the cervical microbiome by human papillomavirus (HPV) together with immune response modulation and the occurrence of novel mutations that trigger genomic instability causes malignant transformation at the cervix. In this review, we focus on the major risk factors as well as the functionally altered signaling pathways promoting the transformation of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia into invasive squamous cell carcinoma. We further elucidate genetic and epigenetic variations to highlight the complexity of causal factors of cervical cancer as well as the metastatic potential due to the changes in immune response, epigenetic regulation, DNA repair capacity, and cell cycle progression. Our bioinformatics analysis on metastatic and non-metastatic cervical cancer datasets identified various significantly and differentially expressed genes as well as the downregulation of potential tumor suppressor microRNA miR-28-5p. Thus, a comprehensive understanding of the genomic landscape in invasive and metastatic cervical cancer will help in stratifying the patient groups and designing potential therapeutic strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Neena George
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Manipal School of Life Sciences, Planetarium Complex, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, Karnataka, 576104, India
| | - Poonam Bhandari
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Manipal School of Life Sciences, Planetarium Complex, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, Karnataka, 576104, India
| | - Padival Shruptha
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Manipal School of Life Sciences, Planetarium Complex, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, Karnataka, 576104, India
| | - Pradyumna Jayaram
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Manipal School of Life Sciences, Planetarium Complex, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, Karnataka, 576104, India
| | - Sima Chaudhari
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Manipal School of Life Sciences, Planetarium Complex, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, Karnataka, 576104, India
| | - Kapaettu Satyamoorthy
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Manipal School of Life Sciences, Planetarium Complex, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, Karnataka, 576104, India.
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7
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Wang L, Yi S, Teng Y, Li W, Cai J. Role of the tumor microenvironment in the lymphatic metastasis of cervical cancer (Review). Exp Ther Med 2023; 26:486. [PMID: 37753293 PMCID: PMC10518654 DOI: 10.3892/etm.2023.12185] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2023] [Accepted: 08/15/2023] [Indexed: 09/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Lymphatic metastasis is the primary type of cervical cancer metastasis and is associated with an extremely poor prognosis in patients. The tumor microenvironment primarily includes cancer-associated fibroblasts, tumor-associated macrophages, myeloid-derived suppressor cells, immune and inflammatory cells, and blood and lymphatic vascular networks, which can promote the establishment of lymphatic metastatic sites within immunosuppressive microenvironments or promote lymphatic metastasis by stimulating lymphangiogenesis and epithelial-mesenchymal transformation. As the most important feature of the tumor microenvironment, hypoxia plays an essential role in lymph node metastasis. In this review, the known mechanisms of hypoxia, and the involvement of stromal components and immune inflammatory cells in the tumor microenvironment of lymphatic metastasis of cervical cancer are discussed. Additionally, a summary of the clinical trials targeting the tumor microenvironment for the treatment of cervical cancer is provided, emphasizing the potential and challenges of immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lufang Wang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430022, P.R. China
| | - Shuyan Yi
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430022, P.R. China
| | - Yun Teng
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine; Key Laboratory of Clinical In Vitro Diagnostic Techniques of Zhejiang Province; Institute of Laboratory Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310000, P.R. China
| | - Wenhan Li
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430022, P.R. China
| | - Jing Cai
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430022, P.R. China
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8
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Ji H, Hu C, Yang X, Liu Y, Ji G, Ge S, Wang X, Wang M. Lymph node metastasis in cancer progression: molecular mechanisms, clinical significance and therapeutic interventions. Signal Transduct Target Ther 2023; 8:367. [PMID: 37752146 PMCID: PMC10522642 DOI: 10.1038/s41392-023-01576-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2022] [Revised: 07/04/2023] [Accepted: 07/26/2023] [Indexed: 09/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Lymph nodes (LNs) are important hubs for metastatic cell arrest and growth, immune modulation, and secondary dissemination to distant sites through a series of mechanisms, and it has been proved that lymph node metastasis (LNM) is an essential prognostic indicator in many different types of cancer. Therefore, it is important for oncologists to understand the mechanisms of tumor cells to metastasize to LNs, as well as how LNM affects the prognosis and therapy of patients with cancer in order to provide patients with accurate disease assessment and effective treatment strategies. In recent years, with the updates in both basic and clinical studies on LNM and the application of advanced medical technologies, much progress has been made in the understanding of the mechanisms of LNM and the strategies for diagnosis and treatment of LNM. In this review, current knowledge of the anatomical and physiological characteristics of LNs, as well as the molecular mechanisms of LNM, are described. The clinical significance of LNM in different anatomical sites is summarized, including the roles of LNM playing in staging, prognostic prediction, and treatment selection for patients with various types of cancers. And the novel exploration and academic disputes of strategies for recognition, diagnosis, and therapeutic interventions of metastatic LNs are also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haoran Ji
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Tissue Engineering, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200011, China
| | - Chuang Hu
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Tissue Engineering, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200011, China
| | - Xuhui Yang
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Tissue Engineering, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200011, China
| | - Yuanhao Liu
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Tissue Engineering, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200011, China
| | - Guangyu Ji
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Tissue Engineering, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200011, China
| | - Shengfang Ge
- Department of Ophthalmology, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Orbital Diseases and Ocular Oncology, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200025, China
| | - Xiansong Wang
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Tissue Engineering, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200011, China.
| | - Mingsong Wang
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Tissue Engineering, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200011, China.
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9
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Huang L, Xie Q, Deng J, Wei WF. The role of cancer-associated fibroblasts in bladder cancer progression. Heliyon 2023; 9:e19802. [PMID: 37809511 PMCID: PMC10559166 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e19802] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2023] [Revised: 08/26/2023] [Accepted: 09/01/2023] [Indexed: 10/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) are key stromal cells in the tumor microenvironment (TME) that critically contribute to cancer initiation and progression. In bladder cancer (BCa), there is emerging evidence that BCa CAFs are actively involved in cancer cell proliferation, invasion, metastasis, and chemotherapy resistance. This review outlines the present knowledge of BCa CAFs, with a particular emphasis on their origin and function in BCa progression, and provides further insights into their clinical application.
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Affiliation(s)
- Long Huang
- Department of Urology, Zhuhai People's Hospital (Zhuhai Hospital Affiliated with Jinan University), Zhuhai, Guangdong, China
| | - Qun Xie
- Department of Urology, Zhuhai People's Hospital (Zhuhai Hospital Affiliated with Jinan University), Zhuhai, Guangdong, China
| | - Jian Deng
- Department of Urology, Zhuhai People's Hospital (Zhuhai Hospital Affiliated with Jinan University), Zhuhai, Guangdong, China
| | - Wen-Fei Wei
- Department of Gynecology, Zhuhai People's Hospital (Zhuhai Hospital Affiliated with Jinan University), Zhuhai, Guangdong, China
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
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10
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Cao G, Yue J, Ruan Y, Han Y, Zhi Y, Lu J, Liu M, Xu X, Wang J, Gu Q, Wen X, Gao J, Zhang Q, Kang J, Wang C, Li F. Single-cell dissection of cervical cancer reveals key subsets of the tumor immune microenvironment. EMBO J 2023; 42:e110757. [PMID: 37427448 PMCID: PMC10425846 DOI: 10.15252/embj.2022110757] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2022] [Revised: 04/05/2023] [Accepted: 05/19/2023] [Indexed: 07/11/2023] Open
Abstract
The tumor microenvironment (TME) directly determines patients' outcomes and therapeutic efficiencies. An in-depth understanding of the TME is required to improve the prognosis of patients with cervical cancer (CC). This study conducted single-cell RNA and TCR sequencing of six-paired tumors and adjacent normal tissues to map the CC immune landscape. T and NK cells were highly enriched in the tumor area and transitioned from cytotoxic to exhaustion phenotypes. Our analyses suggest that cytotoxic large-clone T cells are critical effectors in the antitumor response. This study also revealed tumor-specific germinal center B cells associated with tertiary lymphoid structures. A high-germinal center B cell proportion in patients with CC is predictive of improved clinical outcomes and is associated with elevated hormonal immune responses. We depicted an immune-excluded stromal landscape and established a joint model of tumor and stromal cells to predict CC patients' prognosis. The study revealed tumor ecosystem subsets linked to antitumor response or prognosis in the TME and provides information for future combinational immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guangxu Cao
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Shanghai East Hospital, School of MedicineTongji UniversityShanghaiChina
| | - Jiali Yue
- Key Laboratory of Spine and Spinal Cord Injury Repair and Regeneration of Ministry of Education, Department of Orthopedics, Tongji Hospital, Frontier Science Center for Stem Cells, School of Life Science and TechnologyTongji UniversityShanghaiChina
| | - Yetian Ruan
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Shanghai East Hospital, School of MedicineTongji UniversityShanghaiChina
| | - Ya Han
- Key Laboratory of Spine and Spinal Cord Injury Repair and Regeneration of Ministry of Education, Department of Orthopedics, Tongji Hospital, Frontier Science Center for Stem Cells, School of Life Science and TechnologyTongji UniversityShanghaiChina
| | - Yong Zhi
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Shanghai East Hospital, School of MedicineTongji UniversityShanghaiChina
| | - Jianqiao Lu
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Shanghai East Hospital, School of MedicineTongji UniversityShanghaiChina
| | - Min Liu
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Shanghai East Hospital, School of MedicineTongji UniversityShanghaiChina
| | - Xinxin Xu
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Shanghai East Hospital, School of MedicineTongji UniversityShanghaiChina
| | - Jin Wang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Shanghai East Hospital, School of MedicineTongji UniversityShanghaiChina
| | - Quan Gu
- CVR BioinformaticsUniversity of Glasgow Centre for Virus ResearchGlasgowUK
| | - Xuejun Wen
- Department of Chemical and Life Science Engineering, School of EngineeringVirginia Commonwealth UniversityRichmondVirginiaUSA
| | - Jinli Gao
- Department of Pathology, Shanghai East Hospital, School of MedicineTongji UniversityShanghaiChina
| | - Qingfeng Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Spine and Spinal Cord Injury Repair and Regeneration of Ministry of Education, Department of Orthopedics, Tongji Hospital, Frontier Science Center for Stem Cells, School of Life Science and TechnologyTongji UniversityShanghaiChina
| | - Jiuhong Kang
- Clinical and Translational Research Center of Shanghai First Maternity and Infant Hospital, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Signaling and Disease Research, Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, School of Life Sciences and TechnologyTongji UniversityShanghaiChina
| | - Chenfei Wang
- Key Laboratory of Spine and Spinal Cord Injury Repair and Regeneration of Ministry of Education, Department of Orthopedics, Tongji Hospital, Frontier Science Center for Stem Cells, School of Life Science and TechnologyTongji UniversityShanghaiChina
| | - Fang Li
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Shanghai East Hospital, School of MedicineTongji UniversityShanghaiChina
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11
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Wei WF, Zhou HL, Chen PY, Huang XL, Huang L, Liang LJ, Guo CH, Zhou CF, Yu L, Fan LS, Wang W. Cancer-associated fibroblast-derived PAI-1 promotes lymphatic metastasis via the induction of EndoMT in lymphatic endothelial cells. J Exp Clin Cancer Res 2023; 42:160. [PMID: 37415190 DOI: 10.1186/s13046-023-02714-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2023] [Accepted: 05/18/2023] [Indexed: 07/08/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Endothelial-mesenchymal transition (EndoMT) is an emerging adaptive process that modulates lymphatic endothelial function to drive aberrant lymphatic vascularization in the tumour microenvironment (TME); however, the molecular determinants that govern the functional role of EndoMT remain unclear. Here, we show that cancer-associated fibroblast (CAF)-derived PAI-1 promoted the EndoMT of lymphatic endothelial cells (LECs) in cervical squamous cell carcinoma (CSCC). METHODS Immunofluorescent staining of α-SMA, LYVE-1 and DAPI were examined in primary tumour samples obtained from 57 CSCC patients. Assessment of cytokines secreted by CAFs and normal fibroblasts (NFs) was performed using human cytokine antibody arrays. The phenotype of EndoMT in lymphatic endothelial cells (LECs), gene expression levels, protein secretion and activity of signaling pathways were measured by real-time RT-PCR, ELISA or western blotting. The function of lymphatic endothelial monolayers was examined by transwell, tube formation assay, transendothelial migration assay in vitro. Lymphatic metastasis was measured using popliteal lymph node metastasis model. Furthermore, association between PAI-1 expression and EndoMT in CSCC was analyzed by immunohistochemistry. The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) databases was used to assess the association of PAI-1 with survival rate in CSCC. RESULTS CAF-derived PAI-1 promoted the EndoMT of LECs in CSCC. LECs undergoing EndoMT could initiate tumour neolymphangiogenesis that facilitated cancer cell intravasation/extravasation, which in turn promoted lymphatic metastasis in CSCC. Mechanistically, PAI-1 activated the AKT/ERK1/2 pathways by directly interacting with low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein (LRP1), thereby leading to elevated EndoMT activity in LECs. Blockade of PAI-1 or inhibition of LRP1/AKT/ERK1/2 abrogated EndoMT and consequently attenuated CAF-induced tumour neolymphangiogenesis. Furthermore, clinical data revealed that increased PAI-1 levels positively correlated with EndoMT activity and poor prognosis in CSCC patients. CONCLUSION Our data indicate that CAF-derived PAI-1 acts as an important neolymphangiogenesis-initiating molecular during CSCC progression through modulating the EndoMT of LECs, resulting in promotion of metastasis ability in primary site. PAI-1 could serve as an effective prognostic biomarker and therapeutic target for CSCC metastasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wen-Fei Wei
- Department of Gynaecology, Zhuhai People's Hospital (Zhuhai Hospital Affiliated With Jinan University), Zhuhai, 519000, Guangdong, China
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, 510120, Guangdong, China
| | - Hui-Ling Zhou
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, China
| | - Pei-Yu Chen
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, China
| | - Xiao-Lan Huang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, China
| | - Long Huang
- Department of Urology, Zhuhai People's Hospital (Zhuhai Hospital Affiliated With Jinan University), Zhuhai, 519000, Guangdong, China
| | - Luo-Jiao Liang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, China
| | - Chu-Hong Guo
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, China
| | - Chen-Fei Zhou
- Department of Gynecology, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital, Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, Guangzhou, 510080, Guangdong, China
| | - Lan Yu
- Department of Gynecologic Oncology, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Sun Yat-Sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, 510060, Guangdong, China
| | - Liang-Sheng Fan
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, China.
| | - Wei Wang
- Department of Gynaecology, Zhuhai People's Hospital (Zhuhai Hospital Affiliated With Jinan University), Zhuhai, 519000, Guangdong, China.
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, China.
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12
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Zheng Q, Jian J, Wang J, Wang K, Fan J, Xu H, Ni X, Yang S, Yuan J, Wu J, Jiao P, Yang R, Chen Z, Liu X, Wang L. Predicting Lymph Node Metastasis Status from Primary Muscle-Invasive Bladder Cancer Histology Slides Using Deep Learning: A Retrospective Multicenter Study. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:cancers15113000. [PMID: 37296961 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15113000] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2023] [Revised: 05/23/2023] [Accepted: 05/29/2023] [Indexed: 06/12/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Accurate prediction of lymph node metastasis (LNM) status in patients with muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC) before radical cystectomy can guide the use of neoadjuvant chemotherapy and the extent of pelvic lymph node dissection. We aimed to develop and validate a weakly-supervised deep learning model to predict LNM status from digitized histopathological slides in MIBC. METHODS We trained a multiple instance learning model with an attention mechanism (namely SBLNP) from a cohort of 323 patients in the TCGA cohort. In parallel, we collected corresponding clinical information to construct a logistic regression model. Subsequently, the score predicted by the SBLNP was incorporated into the logistic regression model. In total, 417 WSIs from 139 patients in the RHWU cohort and 230 WSIs from 78 patients in the PHHC cohort were used as independent external validation sets. RESULTS In the TCGA cohort, the SBLNP achieved an AUROC of 0.811 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.771-0.855), the clinical classifier achieved an AUROC of 0.697 (95% CI, 0.661-0.728) and the combined classifier yielded an improvement to 0.864 (95% CI, 0.827-0.906). Encouragingly, the SBLNP still maintained high performance in the RHWU cohort and PHHC cohort, with an AUROC of 0.762 (95% CI, 0.725-0.801) and 0.746 (95% CI, 0.687-0.799), respectively. Moreover, the interpretability of SBLNP identified stroma with lymphocytic inflammation as a key feature of predicting LNM presence. CONCLUSIONS Our proposed weakly-supervised deep learning model can predict the LNM status of MIBC patients from routine WSIs, demonstrating decent generalization performance and holding promise for clinical implementation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qingyuan Zheng
- Department of Urology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430060, China
- Institute of Urologic Disease, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430060, China
| | - Jun Jian
- Department of Urology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430060, China
- Institute of Urologic Disease, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430060, China
| | - Jingsong Wang
- Department of Urology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430060, China
- Institute of Urologic Disease, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430060, China
| | - Kai Wang
- Department of Urology, People's Hospital of Hanchuan City, Xiaogan 432300, China
| | - Junjie Fan
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
- Trusted Computing and Information Assurance Laboratory, Institute of Software, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China
| | - Huazhen Xu
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, China
| | - Xinmiao Ni
- Department of Urology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430060, China
- Institute of Urologic Disease, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430060, China
| | - Song Yang
- Department of Urology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430060, China
- Institute of Urologic Disease, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430060, China
| | - Jingping Yuan
- Department of Pathology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430060, China
| | - Jiejun Wu
- Department of Urology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430060, China
- Institute of Urologic Disease, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430060, China
| | - Panpan Jiao
- Department of Urology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430060, China
- Institute of Urologic Disease, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430060, China
| | - Rui Yang
- Department of Urology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430060, China
- Institute of Urologic Disease, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430060, China
| | - Zhiyuan Chen
- Department of Urology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430060, China
- Institute of Urologic Disease, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430060, China
| | - Xiuheng Liu
- Department of Urology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430060, China
- Institute of Urologic Disease, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430060, China
| | - Lei Wang
- Department of Urology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430060, China
- Institute of Urologic Disease, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430060, China
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Li Y, Gao X, Huang Y, Zhu X, Chen Y, Xue L, Zhu Q, Wang B, Wu M. Tumor microenvironment promotes lymphatic metastasis of cervical cancer: its mechanisms and clinical implications. Front Oncol 2023; 13:1114042. [PMID: 37234990 PMCID: PMC10206119 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2023.1114042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2022] [Accepted: 04/28/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Although previous studies have shed light on the etiology of cervical cancer, metastasis of advanced cervical cancer remains the main reason for the poor outcome and high cancer-related mortality rate. Cervical cancer cells closely communicate with immune cells recruited to the tumor microenvironment (TME), such as lymphocytes, tumor-associated macrophages, and myeloid-derived suppressor cells. The crosstalk between tumors and immune cells has been clearly shown to foster metastatic dissemination. Therefore, unraveling the mechanisms of tumor metastasis is crucial to develop more effective therapies. In this review, we interpret several characteristics of the TME that promote the lymphatic metastasis of cervical cancer, such as immune suppression and premetastatic niche formation. Furthermore, we summarize the complex interactions between tumor cells and immune cells within the TME, as well as potential therapeutic strategies to target the TME.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuting Li
- National Clinical Research Center for Obstetrical and Gynecological Diseases; Department of Gynecology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China
- Key Laboratory of Cancer Invasion and Metastasis, Ministry of Education, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Xiaofan Gao
- National Clinical Research Center for Obstetrical and Gynecological Diseases; Department of Gynecology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China
- Key Laboratory of Cancer Invasion and Metastasis, Ministry of Education, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Yibao Huang
- National Clinical Research Center for Obstetrical and Gynecological Diseases; Department of Gynecology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China
- Key Laboratory of Cancer Invasion and Metastasis, Ministry of Education, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Xiaoran Zhu
- National Clinical Research Center for Obstetrical and Gynecological Diseases; Department of Gynecology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China
- Key Laboratory of Cancer Invasion and Metastasis, Ministry of Education, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Yingying Chen
- National Clinical Research Center for Obstetrical and Gynecological Diseases; Department of Gynecology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China
- Key Laboratory of Cancer Invasion and Metastasis, Ministry of Education, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Liru Xue
- National Clinical Research Center for Obstetrical and Gynecological Diseases; Department of Gynecology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China
- Key Laboratory of Cancer Invasion and Metastasis, Ministry of Education, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Qingqing Zhu
- National Clinical Research Center for Obstetrical and Gynecological Diseases; Department of Gynecology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China
- Key Laboratory of Cancer Invasion and Metastasis, Ministry of Education, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Bo Wang
- National Clinical Research Center for Obstetrical and Gynecological Diseases; Department of Gynecology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China
- Key Laboratory of Cancer Invasion and Metastasis, Ministry of Education, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Mingfu Wu
- National Clinical Research Center for Obstetrical and Gynecological Diseases; Department of Gynecology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China
- Key Laboratory of Cancer Invasion and Metastasis, Ministry of Education, Wuhan, Hubei, China
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14
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Zhao Z, Li T, Yuan Y, Zhu Y. What is new in cancer-associated fibroblast biomarkers? Cell Commun Signal 2023; 21:96. [PMID: 37143134 PMCID: PMC10158035 DOI: 10.1186/s12964-023-01125-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2023] [Accepted: 04/05/2023] [Indexed: 05/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The tumor microenvironment is one of the important drivers of tumor development. Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) are a major component of the tumor stroma and actively participate in tumor development, invasion, metastasis, drug resistance, and other biological behaviors. CAFs are a highly heterogeneous group of cells, a reflection of the diversity of their origin, biomarkers, and functions. The diversity of CAF origin determines the complexity of CAF biomarkers, and CAF subpopulations expressing different biomarkers may play contrasting roles in tumor progression. In this review, we provide an overview of these emerging CAF biomarkers and the biological functions that they suggest, which may give a better understanding of the relationship between CAFs and tumor cells and be of great significance for breakthroughs in precision targeted therapy for tumors. Video Abstract.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zehua Zhao
- Department of Pathology, Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Dalian University of Technology (Liaoning Cancer Hospital and Institute, Cancer Hospital of China Medical University), No. 44 of Xiaoheyan Road, Dadong District, Shenyang, 110042, China
| | - Tianming Li
- Department of Pathology, Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Dalian University of Technology (Liaoning Cancer Hospital and Institute, Cancer Hospital of China Medical University), No. 44 of Xiaoheyan Road, Dadong District, Shenyang, 110042, China
| | - Yuan Yuan
- Tumor Etiology and Screening Department of Cancer Institute and General Surgery, The First Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China.
- Key Laboratory of Cancer Etiology and Prevention in Liaoning Education Department, The First Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China.
- Key Laboratory of GI Cancer Etiology and Prevention in Liaoning Province, The First Hospital of China Medical University, No. 155 of Nanjing Road, Heping District, Shenyang, 110001, China.
| | - Yanmei Zhu
- Department of Pathology, Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Dalian University of Technology (Liaoning Cancer Hospital and Institute, Cancer Hospital of China Medical University), No. 44 of Xiaoheyan Road, Dadong District, Shenyang, 110042, China.
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15
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Sarkar M, Nguyen T, Gundre E, Ogunlusi O, El-Sobky M, Giri B, Sarkar TR. Cancer-associated fibroblasts: The chief architect in the tumor microenvironment. Front Cell Dev Biol 2023; 11:1089068. [PMID: 36793444 PMCID: PMC9923123 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2023.1089068] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 29.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2022] [Accepted: 01/12/2023] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Stromal heterogeneity of tumor microenvironment (TME) plays a crucial role in malignancy and therapeutic resistance. Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) are one of the major players in tumor stroma. The heterogeneous sources of origin and subsequent impacts of crosstalk with breast cancer cells flaunt serious challenges before current therapies to cure triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) and other cancers. The positive and reciprocal feedback of CAFs to induce cancer cells dictates their mutual synergy in establishing malignancy. Their substantial role in creating a tumor-promoting niche has reduced the efficacy of several anti-cancer treatments, including radiation, chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and endocrine therapy. Over the years, there has been an emphasis on understanding CAF-induced therapeutic resistance in order to enhance cancer therapy results. CAFs, in the majority of cases, employ crosstalk, stromal management, and other strategies to generate resilience in surrounding tumor cells. This emphasizes the significance of developing novel strategies that target particular tumor-promoting CAF subpopulations, which will improve treatment sensitivity and impede tumor growth. In this review, we discuss the current understanding of the origin and heterogeneity of CAFs, their role in tumor progression, and altering the tumor response to therapeutic agents in breast cancer. In addition, we also discuss the potential and possible approaches for CAF-mediated therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mrinmoy Sarkar
- Department of Biology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, United States,Cancer Biology and Inflammatory Disorder Division, CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Biology, Kolkata, India
| | - Tristan Nguyen
- Department of Biology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, United States
| | - Esheksha Gundre
- Department of Biology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, United States
| | - Olajumoke Ogunlusi
- Department of Biology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, United States
| | - Mohanad El-Sobky
- Department of Biology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, United States
| | - Biplab Giri
- Department of Physiology, University of Gour Banga, English Bazar, India,*Correspondence: Biplab Giri, ; Tapasree Roy Sarkar,
| | - Tapasree Roy Sarkar
- Department of Biology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, United States,*Correspondence: Biplab Giri, ; Tapasree Roy Sarkar,
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16
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Liu C, Zhang M, Yan X, Ni Y, Gong Y, Wang C, Zhang X, Wan L, Yang H, Ge C, Li Y, Zou W, Huang R, Li X, Sun B, Liu B, Yue J, Yu J. Single-cell dissection of cellular and molecular features underlying human cervical squamous cell carcinoma initiation and progression. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2023; 9:eadd8977. [PMID: 36706185 PMCID: PMC9882988 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.add8977] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 26.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2022] [Accepted: 12/23/2022] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
Cervical squamous cell carcinoma (CESC) is a prototypical human cancer with well-characterized pathological stages of initiation and progression. However, high-resolution knowledge of the transcriptional programs underlying each stage of CESC is lacking, and important questions remain. We performed single-cell RNA sequencing of 76,911 individual cells from 13 samples of human cervical tissues at various stages of malignancy, illuminating the transcriptional tumorigenic trajectory of cervical epithelial cells and revealing key factors involved in CESC initiation and progression. In addition, we found significant correlations between the abundance of specific myeloid, lymphoid, and endothelial cell populations and the progression of CESC, which were also associated with patients' prognosis. Last, we demonstrated the tumor-promoting function of matrix cancer-associated fibroblasts via the NRG1-ERBB3 pathway in CESC. This study provides a valuable resource and deeper insights into CESC initiation and progression, which is helpful in refining CESC diagnosis and for the design of optimal treatment strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chao Liu
- Department of Radiation Oncology and Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Radiation Oncology, Shandong Cancer Hospital and Institute, Shandong First Medical University and Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan 250117, China
- Research Unit of Radiation Oncology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan 250117, China
| | - Min Zhang
- Department of Nephrology, First Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing 100853, China
| | - Xinlong Yan
- Faculty of Environmental and Life Sciences, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing 100124, China
| | - Yanli Ni
- State Key Laboratory of Experimental Hematology, Senior Department of Hematology, Fifth Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing 100071, China
| | - Yandong Gong
- State Key Laboratory of Experimental Hematology, Senior Department of Hematology, Fifth Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing 100071, China
| | - Cong Wang
- Department of Gynecologic Oncology, Shandong Cancer Hospital and Institute, Shandong First Medical University and Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan 250117, China
| | - Xiaoling Zhang
- Department of Gynecologic Oncology, Shandong Cancer Hospital and Institute, Shandong First Medical University and Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan 250117, China
| | - Lingfei Wan
- Faculty of Environmental and Life Sciences, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing 100124, China
| | - Hui Yang
- Faculty of Environmental and Life Sciences, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing 100124, China
| | - Chen Ge
- Faculty of Environmental and Life Sciences, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing 100124, China
| | - Yunqiao Li
- State Key Laboratory of Experimental Hematology, Senior Department of Hematology, Fifth Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing 100071, China
| | - Wenxue Zou
- Department of Radiation Oncology and Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Radiation Oncology, Shandong Cancer Hospital and Institute, Shandong First Medical University and Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan 250117, China
| | - Rui Huang
- Department of Radiation Oncology and Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Radiation Oncology, Shandong Cancer Hospital and Institute, Shandong First Medical University and Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan 250117, China
| | - Xiaohui Li
- Department of Radiation Oncology and Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Radiation Oncology, Shandong Cancer Hospital and Institute, Shandong First Medical University and Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan 250117, China
| | - Bing Sun
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Fifth Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing 100071, China
| | - Bing Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Experimental Hematology, Senior Department of Hematology, Fifth Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing 100071, China
| | - Jinbo Yue
- Department of Radiation Oncology and Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Radiation Oncology, Shandong Cancer Hospital and Institute, Shandong First Medical University and Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan 250117, China
| | - Jinming Yu
- Department of Radiation Oncology and Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Radiation Oncology, Shandong Cancer Hospital and Institute, Shandong First Medical University and Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan 250117, China
- Research Unit of Radiation Oncology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan 250117, China
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17
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Therapeutic Targeting of Cancer-Associated Fibroblasts in the Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Tumor Microenvironment. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:cancers15020335. [PMID: 36672284 PMCID: PMC9856659 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15020335] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2022] [Accepted: 01/01/2023] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Lung cancer is the most frequently diagnosed cancer and the leading cause of cancer death worldwide. The most common lung cancer is non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), with an overall 5-year survival rate of around 20% because NSCLC is a metastatic disease. A better understanding of the mechanism underlying lung cancer metastasis is therefore urgently needed. The tumor microenvironment involves different types of stromal cells and functions as key components in the progression of NSCLC. Through epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), in which epithelial cells lose their polarity and acquire mesenchymal potential, cancer cells acquire metastatic abilities, as well as cancer stem-cell-like potential. We previously reported that cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) interact with lung cancer cells to allow for the acquisition of malignancy and treatment resistance by paracrine loops via EMT signals in the tumor microenvironment. Furthermore, CAFs regulate the cytotoxic activity of immune cells via various cytokines and chemokines, creating a microenvironment of immune tolerance. Regulation of CAFs can therefore affect immune responses. Recent research has shown several roles of CAFs in NSCLC tumorigenesis, owing to their heterogeneity, so molecular markers of CAFs should be elucidated to better classify tumor-promoting subtypes and facilitate the establishment of CAF-specific targeted therapies. CAF-targeted cancer treatments may suppress EMT and regulate the niche of cancer stem cells and the immunosuppressive network and thus may prove useful for NSCLC treatment through multiple mechanisms.
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18
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Villegas-Pineda JC, Ramírez-de-Arellano A, Bueno-Urquiza LJ, Lizarazo-Taborda MDR, Pereira-Suárez AL. Cancer-associated fibroblasts in gynecological malignancies: are they really allies of the enemy? Front Oncol 2023; 13:1106757. [PMID: 37168385 PMCID: PMC10164963 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2023.1106757] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2022] [Accepted: 03/24/2023] [Indexed: 05/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Molecular and cellular components of the tumor microenvironment are essential for cancer progression. The cellular element comprises cancer cells and heterogeneous populations of non-cancer cells that satisfy tumor needs. Immune, vascular, and mesenchymal cells provide the necessary factors to feed the tumor mass, promote its development, and favor the spread of cancer cells from the primary site to adjacent and distant anatomical sites. Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) are mesenchymal cells that promote carcinogenesis and progression of various malignant neoplasms. CAFs act through the secretion of metalloproteinases, growth factors, cytokines, mitochondrial DNA, and non-coding RNAs, among other molecules. Over the last few years, the evidence on the leading role of CAFs in gynecological cancers has notably increased, placing them as the cornerstone of neoplastic processes. In this review, the recently reported findings regarding the promoting role that CAFs play in gynecological cancers, their potential use as therapeutic targets, and the new evidence suggesting that they could act as tumor suppressors are analyzed and discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julio César Villegas-Pineda
- Departamento de Microbiología y Patología, Centro Universitario de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad de Guadalajara, Guadalajara, Mexico
| | - Adrián Ramírez-de-Arellano
- Instituto de Investigación en Ciencias Biomédicas, Centro Universitario de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad de Guadalajara, Guadalajara, Mexico
| | - Lesly Jazmín Bueno-Urquiza
- Instituto de Investigación en Ciencias Biomédicas, Centro Universitario de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad de Guadalajara, Guadalajara, Mexico
- Departamento de Fisiología, Centro Universitario de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad de Guadalajara, Guadalajara, Mexico
| | | | - Ana Laura Pereira-Suárez
- Departamento de Microbiología y Patología, Centro Universitario de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad de Guadalajara, Guadalajara, Mexico
- Instituto de Investigación en Ciencias Biomédicas, Centro Universitario de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad de Guadalajara, Guadalajara, Mexico
- *Correspondence: Ana Laura Pereira-Suárez,
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19
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Toledo B, Picon-Ruiz M, Marchal JA, Perán M. Dual Role of Fibroblasts Educated by Tumour in Cancer Behavior and Therapeutic Perspectives. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:15576. [PMID: 36555218 PMCID: PMC9778751 DOI: 10.3390/ijms232415576] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2022] [Revised: 11/25/2022] [Accepted: 12/03/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Tumours are complex systems with dynamic interactions between tumour cells, non-tumour cells, and extracellular components that comprise the tumour microenvironment (TME). The majority of TME's cells are cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs), which are crucial in extracellular matrix (ECM) construction, tumour metabolism, immunology, adaptive chemoresistance, and tumour cell motility. CAF subtypes have been identified based on the expression of protein markers. CAFs may act as promoters or suppressors in tumour cells depending on a variety of factors, including cancer stage. Indeed, CAFs have been shown to promote tumour growth, survival and spread, and secretome changes, but they can also slow tumourigenesis at an early stage through mechanisms that are still poorly understood. Stromal-cancer interactions are governed by a variety of soluble factors that determine the outcome of the tumourigenic process. Cancer cells release factors that enhance the ability of fibroblasts to secrete multiple tumour-promoting chemokines, acting on malignant cells to promote proliferation, migration, and invasion. This crosstalk between CAFs and tumour cells has given new prominence to the stromal cells, from being considered as mere physical support to becoming key players in the tumour process. Here, we focus on the concept of cancer as a non-healing wound and the relevance of chronic inflammation to tumour initiation. In addition, we review CAFs heterogeneous origins and markers together with the potential therapeutic implications of CAFs "re-education" and/or targeting tumour progression inhibition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Belén Toledo
- Department of Health Sciences, University of Jaén, E-23071 Jaén, Spain
| | - Manuel Picon-Ruiz
- Biopathology and Regenerative Medicine Institute (IBIMER), Centre for Biomedical Research (CIBM), University of Granada, E-18100 Granada, Spain
- Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria ibs. GRANADA, Hospitales Universitarios de Granada-Universidad de Granada, E-18071 Granada, Spain
- Department of Human Anatomy and Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Granada, E-18016 Granada, Spain
- Excellence Research Unit “Modeling Nature” (MNat), University of Granada, E-18016 Granada, Spain
| | - Juan Antonio Marchal
- Biopathology and Regenerative Medicine Institute (IBIMER), Centre for Biomedical Research (CIBM), University of Granada, E-18100 Granada, Spain
- Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria ibs. GRANADA, Hospitales Universitarios de Granada-Universidad de Granada, E-18071 Granada, Spain
- Department of Human Anatomy and Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Granada, E-18016 Granada, Spain
- Excellence Research Unit “Modeling Nature” (MNat), University of Granada, E-18016 Granada, Spain
| | - Macarena Perán
- Department of Health Sciences, University of Jaén, E-23071 Jaén, Spain
- Biopathology and Regenerative Medicine Institute (IBIMER), Centre for Biomedical Research (CIBM), University of Granada, E-18100 Granada, Spain
- Excellence Research Unit “Modeling Nature” (MNat), University of Granada, E-18016 Granada, Spain
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20
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Li YL, Hung WC. Reprogramming of sentinel lymph node microenvironment during tumor metastasis. J Biomed Sci 2022; 29:84. [PMID: 36266717 PMCID: PMC9583492 DOI: 10.1186/s12929-022-00868-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2022] [Accepted: 10/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Metastasis is a major cause of death in patients with cancer. The two main routes for cancer cell dissemination are the blood and lymphatic systems. The underlying mechanism of hematogenous metastasis has been well characterized in the past few decades. However, our understanding of the molecular basis of lymphatic metastasis remains at a premature stage. Conceptually, cancer cells invade into lymphatic capillary, passively move to collecting lymphatic vessels, migrate into sentinel lymph node (SLN;, the first lymph node to which cancer cells spread from the primary tumor), and enter the blood circulatory system via the subclavian vein. Before arriving, cancer cells release specific soluble factors to modulate the microenvironment in SLN to establish a beachhead for successful colonization. After colonization, cancer cells inhibit anti-tumor immunity by inducing the recruitment of regulatory T cell and myeloid-derived suppressor cells, suppressing the function of dendritic cell and CD8+ T cell, and promoting the release of immunosuppressive cytokines. The development of novel strategies to reverse cancer cell-triggered SLN remodeling may re-activate immunity to reduce beachhead buildup and distant metastasis. In addition to being a microanatomic location for metastasis, the SLN is also an important site for immune modulation. Nanotechnology-based approaches to deliver lymph node-tropic antibodies or drug-conjugated nanoparticles to kill cancer cells on site are a new direction for cancer treatment. Conversely, the induction of stronger immunity by promoting antigen presentation in lymph nodes provides an alternate way to enhance the efficacy of immune checkpoint therapy and cancer vaccine. In this review article, we summarize recent findings on the reprogramming of SLN during lymphatic invasion and discuss the possibility of inhibiting tumor metastasis and eliciting anti-tumor immunity by targeting SLN.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yen-Liang Li
- National Institute of Cancer Research, National Health Research Institutes, Tainan, 704, Taiwan
| | - Wen-Chun Hung
- National Institute of Cancer Research, National Health Research Institutes, Tainan, 704, Taiwan. .,School of Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, 807, Taiwan.
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21
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Sun F, Mo L, Lan Y, Lu Q, Wu N, Song H. WDR5 drives the development of cervical squamous cell carcinoma by inducing epithelial-mesenchymal transition and cancer-associated fibroblasts formation. Pathol Res Pract 2022; 238:154076. [PMID: 36055087 DOI: 10.1016/j.prp.2022.154076] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2022] [Revised: 08/07/2022] [Accepted: 08/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND WD repeat domain 5 (WDR5) has been indicated to be involved in tumor progression, however, its role in cervical cancer (CC) has not been investigated yet. METHODS A total of 350 pairs of CC tissues and para-carcinoma tissues (PCT) were collected. Primary human cervical epithelial cells (hCECs) and cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) were isolated from cervical cancer tissues. MM102 was used to block the interaction between WDR5 and mixed lineage leukemia protein-1 (MLL1), and it was used in vivo to investigate its therapeutic value. RESULTS WDR5 was up-regulated in cervical squamous cell carcinoma (CSCC) tissues compared to that in PCT. C-X-C motif chemokine ligand 8 (CXCL8) was indicated to be the target gene of WDR5. Highly expressed CXCL8 promoted epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) to form CAFs, and enhanced the cytokine secretions in CAFs to promote CSCC progression. CXCL8 expression was regulated by the interaction between WDR5 and MLL1, and blocking the interaction between these two proteins using MM102 significantly suppressed tumor growth in mice models. CONCLUSIONS WDR5 plays a key role in CSCC progression by inducing CXCL8 expression and promoting the transformation of CAFs from epithelial cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fangli Sun
- Department of Gynecologic Oncology, Guangxi Medical University Cancer Hospital, Nanning City, Guangxi Province, China
| | - Linmei Mo
- Department of Gynecologic Oncology, Guangxi Medical University Cancer Hospital, Nanning City, Guangxi Province, China
| | - Ying Lan
- Department of Gynecologic Oncology, Guangxi Medical University Cancer Hospital, Nanning City, Guangxi Province, China
| | - Qiuping Lu
- Department of Gynecologic Oncology, Guangxi Medical University Cancer Hospital, Nanning City, Guangxi Province, China
| | - Nengxian Wu
- Department of Gynecologic Oncology, Guangxi Medical University Cancer Hospital, Nanning City, Guangxi Province, China
| | - Honglin Song
- Department of Gynecologic Oncology, Guangxi Medical University Cancer Hospital, Nanning City, Guangxi Province, China.
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22
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Ou Z, Lin S, Qiu J, Ding W, Ren P, Chen D, Wang J, Tong Y, Wu D, Chen A, Deng Y, Cheng M, Peng T, Lu H, Yang H, Wang J, Jin X, Ma D, Xu X, Wang Y, Li J, Wu P. Single-Nucleus RNA Sequencing and Spatial Transcriptomics Reveal the Immunological Microenvironment of Cervical Squamous Cell Carcinoma. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2022; 9:e2203040. [PMID: 35986392 PMCID: PMC9561780 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202203040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2022] [Revised: 07/10/2022] [Indexed: 05/07/2023]
Abstract
The effective treatment of advanced cervical cancer remains challenging. Herein, single-nucleus RNA sequencing (snRNA-seq) and SpaTial enhanced resolution omics-sequencing (Stereo-seq) are used to investigate the immunological microenvironment of cervical squamous cell carcinoma (CSCC). The expression levels of most immune suppressive genes in the tumor and inflammation areas of CSCC are not significantly higher than those in the non-cancer samples, except for LGALS9 and IDO1. Stronger signals of CD56+ NK cells and immature dendritic cells are found in the hypermetabolic tumor areas, whereas more eosinophils, immature B cells, and Treg cells are found in the hypometabolic tumor areas. Moreover, a cluster of pro-tumorigenic cancer-associated myofibroblasts (myCAFs) are identified. The myCAFs may support the growth and metastasis of tumors by inhibiting lymphocyte infiltration and remodeling of the tumor extracellular matrix. Furthermore, these myCAFs are associated with poorer survival probability in patients with CSCC, predict resistance to immunotherapy, and might be present in a small fraction (< 30%) of patients with advanced cancer. Immunohistochemistry and multiplex immunofluorescence staining are conducted to validate the spatial distribution and potential function of myCAFs. Collectively, these findings enhance the understanding of the immunological microenvironment of CSCC and shed light on the treatment of advanced CSCC.
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23
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Papait A, Romoli J, Stefani FR, Chiodelli P, Montresor MC, Agoni L, Silini AR, Parolini O. Fight the Cancer, Hit the CAF! Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14153570. [PMID: 35892828 PMCID: PMC9330284 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14153570] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2022] [Revised: 07/19/2022] [Accepted: 07/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary In the last 20 years, the tumor microenvironment (TME) has raised an increasing interest from the therapeutic point of view. Indeed, different strategies targeting either the endothelial or the immune component have been implemented. Furthermore, cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAF) have attracted even more interest due to their ability to prime the TME in order to favor tumor progression and metastasis. This current review provides a comprehensive overview on the latest discoveries regarding CAF, more specifically on their complex characterization and on preclinical studies and clinical trials that target CAF within the TME. Abstract The tumor microenvironment (TME) is comprised of different cellular components, such as immune and stromal cells, which co-operate in unison to promote tumor progression and metastasis. In the last decade, there has been an increasing focus on one specific component of the TME, the stromal component, often referred to as Cancer-Associated Fibroblasts (CAF). CAF modulate the immune response and alter the composition of the extracellular matrix with a decisive impact on the response to immunotherapies and conventional chemotherapy. The most recent publications based on single-cell analysis have underlined CAF heterogeneity and the unique plasticity that strongly impact the TME. In this review, we focus not only on the characterization of CAF based on the most recent findings, but also on their impact on the immune system. We also discuss clinical trials and preclinical studies where targeting CAF revealed controversial results. Therefore, future efforts should focus on understanding the functional properties of individual subtypes of CAF, taking into consideration the peculiarities of each pathological context.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Papait
- Department of Life Science and Public Health, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, 00168 Rome, Italy; (A.P.); (J.R.)
- Fondazione Policlinico Universitario “Agostino Gemelli” IRCCS, 00168 Rome, Italy
| | - Jacopo Romoli
- Department of Life Science and Public Health, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, 00168 Rome, Italy; (A.P.); (J.R.)
- Centro di Ricerca E. Menni, Fondazione Poliambulanza Istituto Ospedaliero, 25124 Brescia, Italy; (F.R.S.); (P.C.); (A.R.S.)
| | - Francesca Romana Stefani
- Centro di Ricerca E. Menni, Fondazione Poliambulanza Istituto Ospedaliero, 25124 Brescia, Italy; (F.R.S.); (P.C.); (A.R.S.)
| | - Paola Chiodelli
- Centro di Ricerca E. Menni, Fondazione Poliambulanza Istituto Ospedaliero, 25124 Brescia, Italy; (F.R.S.); (P.C.); (A.R.S.)
| | | | - Lorenzo Agoni
- Obstetrics and Gynecology Unit, Fondazione Poliambulanza Istituto Ospedaliero, 25124 Brescia, Italy;
| | - Antonietta Rosa Silini
- Centro di Ricerca E. Menni, Fondazione Poliambulanza Istituto Ospedaliero, 25124 Brescia, Italy; (F.R.S.); (P.C.); (A.R.S.)
| | - Ornella Parolini
- Department of Life Science and Public Health, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, 00168 Rome, Italy; (A.P.); (J.R.)
- Fondazione Policlinico Universitario “Agostino Gemelli” IRCCS, 00168 Rome, Italy
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +39-0630154464
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Periostin in lymph node pre-metastatic niches governs lymphatic endothelial cell functions and metastatic colonization. Cell Mol Life Sci 2022; 79:295. [PMID: 35567669 PMCID: PMC9107454 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-022-04262-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2021] [Revised: 03/03/2022] [Accepted: 03/18/2022] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Although lymph node (LN) metastasis is an important prognostic parameter in cervical cancer, the tissue remodeling at a pre-metastatic state is poorly documented in LNs. We here identified periostin (POSTN) as a component of non-metastatic LNs by applying proteomic analyses and computerized image quantifications on LNs of patients with cervical cancer. We provide evidence for remarkable modifications of POSTN and lymphatic vessel distributions and densities in non-metastatic sentinel and metastatic human LNs, when compared to distant non-metastatic LNs. POSTN deposition at a pre-metastatic stage was demonstrated in a pre-clinical murine model (the ear sponge assay). Its expression by fibroblastic LN cells was assessed by in situ hybridization and in vitro cultures. In vitro, POSTN promoted lymphatic endothelial cell functions and tumor cell proliferation. Accordingly, the in vivo injection of recombinant POSTN together with VEGF-C boosted the lymphangiogenic response, while the metastatic potential of tumor cells was drastically reduced using a POSTN blocking antibody. This translational study also supports the existence of an unprecedented dialog “in cascade”, between the primary tumor and the first pelvic nodal relay in early cervical cancer, and subsequently from pelvic LN to para-aortic LNs in locally advanced cervical cancers. Collectively, this work highlights the association of POSTN deposition with lymphangiogenesis in LNs, and provides evidence for a key contribution of POSTN in promoting VEGF-C driven lymphangiogenesis and the seeding of metastatic cells.
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Molecular Markers to Predict Prognosis and Treatment Response in Uterine Cervical Cancer. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:cancers13225748. [PMID: 34830902 PMCID: PMC8616420 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13225748] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2021] [Revised: 11/12/2021] [Accepted: 11/14/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Uterine cervical cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer-related mortality in women worldwide. Each year, over half a million new cases are estimated, resulting in more than 300,000 deaths. While less-invasive, fertility-preserving surgical procedures can be offered to women in early stages, treatment for locally advanced disease may include radical hysterectomy, primary chemoradiotherapy (CRT) or a combination of these modalities. Concurrent platinum-based chemoradiotherapy regimens remain the first-line treatments for locally advanced cervical cancer. Despite achievements such as the introduction of angiogenesis inhibitors, and more recently immunotherapies, the overall survival of women with persistent, recurrent or metastatic disease has not been extended significantly in the last decades. Furthermore, a broad spectrum of molecular markers to predict therapy response and survival and to identify patients with high- and low-risk constellations is missing. Implementation of these markers, however, may help to further improve treatment and to develop new targeted therapies. This review aims to provide comprehensive insights into the complex mechanisms of cervical cancer pathogenesis within the context of molecular markers for predicting treatment response and prognosis.
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Fujikawa T, Sanada F, Taniyama Y, Shibata K, Katsuragi N, Koibuchi N, Akazawa K, Kanemoto Y, Kuroyanagi H, Shimazu K, Rakugi H, Morishita R. Periostin Exon-21 Antibody Neutralization of Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Cell-Derived Periostin Regulates Tumor-Associated Macrophage Polarization and Angiogenesis. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:cancers13205072. [PMID: 34680221 PMCID: PMC8533925 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13205072] [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: 08/16/2021] [Revised: 09/22/2021] [Accepted: 10/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Despite remarkable advances in breast cancer treatment, few strategies other than standard cytotoxic chemotherapy are available for patients with triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) due to the lack of therapeutic target molecules. TNBC is still the most aggressive subtype, with a high risk of recurrence and metastasis within 2 years after initial treatment. Thus, there is an unmet medical need to develop new treatments for metastatic and recurrent TNBC patients. In this study we tested a new antibody, targeting extracellular periostin protein alternative splicing variants, which are induced by conventional chemotherapy or during the process of endothelial mesenchymal transition. This antibody reduced periostin-secreting TNBC in a mouse xenograft model, accompanied by a decrease in the number of M2 tumor-associated macrophages and tumor vessels. Periostin alternative splicing variants might be a specific and safe therapeutic target in patients with TNBC. Abstract Periostin (Pn) is involved in multiple processes of cancer progression. Previously, we reported that Pn expression is correlated with mesenchymal tumor markers and poor prognosis in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). In the TNBC xenograft model, chemotherapy increased expression of a Pn alternative splicing variant (ASV) with exon 21, and administration of the neutralizing antibody against Pn with exon 21 (Pn-21 Ab) overcame chemoresistance with a reduction in the mesenchymal cancer cell fraction. In the present study, the role of Pn ASV with exon 21 in TNBC progression has been addressed. We first established a stable cell line carrying a fluorescence-based splicing reporter. Pn-positive TNBC has higher expression of genes related to tumor-associated macrophage (TAM) recruitment and ECM-receptor interaction than Pn-negative cells. In a xenograft model, only Pn-positive cells initiated tumor formation, and the Pn-21 Ab suppressed tumor cell growth, accompanied by decreased M2 TAM polarization and the number of tumor vessels. These data suggest that cancer cell-derived Pn ASV educates TAMs and regulates angiogenesis, which in turn establishes a microenvironmental niche that is supportive of TNBC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tatsuya Fujikawa
- Department of Clinical Gene Therapy, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka 565-0871, Japan; (T.F.); (F.S.); (Y.T.); (K.S.); (N.K.); (N.K.)
| | - Fumihiro Sanada
- Department of Clinical Gene Therapy, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka 565-0871, Japan; (T.F.); (F.S.); (Y.T.); (K.S.); (N.K.); (N.K.)
| | - Yoshiaki Taniyama
- Department of Clinical Gene Therapy, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka 565-0871, Japan; (T.F.); (F.S.); (Y.T.); (K.S.); (N.K.); (N.K.)
- Department of Geriatric Medicine and Nephrology, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka 565-0871, Japan;
| | - Kana Shibata
- Department of Clinical Gene Therapy, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka 565-0871, Japan; (T.F.); (F.S.); (Y.T.); (K.S.); (N.K.); (N.K.)
| | - Naruto Katsuragi
- Department of Clinical Gene Therapy, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka 565-0871, Japan; (T.F.); (F.S.); (Y.T.); (K.S.); (N.K.); (N.K.)
| | - Nobutaka Koibuchi
- Department of Clinical Gene Therapy, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka 565-0871, Japan; (T.F.); (F.S.); (Y.T.); (K.S.); (N.K.); (N.K.)
| | - Kaori Akazawa
- Department of Breast and Endocrine Surgery, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka 565-0871, Japan; (K.A.); (Y.K.); (K.S.)
| | - Yuko Kanemoto
- Department of Breast and Endocrine Surgery, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka 565-0871, Japan; (K.A.); (Y.K.); (K.S.)
| | - Hidehito Kuroyanagi
- Department of Biochemistry, Graduate School of Medicine, University of the Ryukyu, Okinawa 903-0213, Japan;
| | - Kenzo Shimazu
- Department of Breast and Endocrine Surgery, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka 565-0871, Japan; (K.A.); (Y.K.); (K.S.)
| | - Hiromi Rakugi
- Department of Geriatric Medicine and Nephrology, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka 565-0871, Japan;
| | - Ryuichi Morishita
- Department of Clinical Gene Therapy, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka 565-0871, Japan; (T.F.); (F.S.); (Y.T.); (K.S.); (N.K.); (N.K.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +81-6-6210-8352; Fax: +81-6-6210-8354
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Gunaydin G. CAFs Interacting With TAMs in Tumor Microenvironment to Enhance Tumorigenesis and Immune Evasion. Front Oncol 2021; 11:668349. [PMID: 34336660 PMCID: PMC8317617 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2021.668349] [Citation(s) in RCA: 78] [Impact Index Per Article: 26.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2021] [Accepted: 06/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Cancer associated fibroblasts (CAFs) and tumor associated macrophages (TAMs) are among the most important and abundant players of the tumor microenvironment. CAFs as well as TAMs are known to play pivotal supportive roles in tumor growth and progression. The number of CAF or TAM cells is mostly correlated with poor prognosis. Both CAFs and TAMs are in a reciprocal communication with the tumor cells in the tumor milieu. In addition to such interactions, CAFs and TAMs are also involved in a dynamic and reciprocal interrelationship with each other. Both CAFs and TAMs are capable of altering each other's functions. Here, the current understanding of the distinct mechanisms about the complex interplay between CAFs and TAMs are summarized. In addition, the consequences of such a mutual relationship especially for tumor progression and tumor immune evasion are highlighted, focusing on the synergistic pleiotropic effects. CAFs and TAMs are crucial components of the tumor microenvironment; thus, they may prove to be potential therapeutic targets. A better understanding of the tri-directional interactions of CAFs, TAMs and cancer cells in terms of tumor progression will pave the way for the identification of novel theranostic cues in order to better target the crucial mechanisms of carcinogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gurcan Gunaydin
- Department of Basic Oncology, Hacettepe University Cancer Institute, Ankara, Turkey
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Gillot L, Baudin L, Rouaud L, Kridelka F, Noël A. The pre-metastatic niche in lymph nodes: formation and characteristics. Cell Mol Life Sci 2021; 78:5987-6002. [PMID: 34241649 PMCID: PMC8316194 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-021-03873-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2020] [Revised: 05/10/2021] [Accepted: 06/05/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Lymph node metastasis is a crucial prognostic parameter in many different types of cancers and a gateway for further dissemination to distant organs. Prior to metastatic dissemination, the primary tumor prepares for the remodeling of the draining (sentinel) lymph node by secreting soluble factors or releasing extracellular vesicles that are transported by lymphatic vessels. These important changes occur before the appearance of the first metastatic cell and create what is known as a pre-metastatic niche giving rise to the subsequent survival and growth of metastatic cells. In this review, the lymph node structure, matrix composition and the emerging heterogeneity of cells forming it are described. Current knowledge of the major cellular and molecular processes associated with nodal pre-metastatic niche formation, including lymphangiogenesis, extracellular matrix remodeling, and immunosuppressive cell enlisting in lymph nodes are additionally summarized. Finally, future directions that research could possibly take and the clinical impact are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lionel Gillot
- Laboratory of Tumor and Development Biology, GIGA-Cancer, Liege University, Avenue Hippocrate 13, 4000 Liege, Belgium
| | - Louis Baudin
- Laboratory of Tumor and Development Biology, GIGA-Cancer, Liege University, Avenue Hippocrate 13, 4000 Liege, Belgium
| | - Loïc Rouaud
- Laboratory of Tumor and Development Biology, GIGA-Cancer, Liege University, Avenue Hippocrate 13, 4000 Liege, Belgium
| | - Frédéric Kridelka
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, CHU of Liege, 4000 Liege, Belgium
| | - Agnès Noël
- Laboratory of Tumor and Development Biology, GIGA-Cancer, Liege University, Avenue Hippocrate 13, 4000 Liege, Belgium
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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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Wu F, Yang J, Liu J, Wang Y, Mu J, Zeng Q, Deng S, Zhou H. Signaling pathways in cancer-associated fibroblasts and targeted therapy for cancer. Signal Transduct Target Ther 2021; 6:218. [PMID: 34108441 PMCID: PMC8190181 DOI: 10.1038/s41392-021-00641-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 251] [Impact Index Per Article: 83.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2021] [Revised: 04/20/2021] [Accepted: 05/06/2021] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
To flourish, cancers greatly depend on their surrounding tumor microenvironment (TME), and cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) in TME are critical for cancer occurrence and progression because of their versatile roles in extracellular matrix remodeling, maintenance of stemness, blood vessel formation, modulation of tumor metabolism, immune response, and promotion of cancer cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and therapeutic resistance. CAFs are highly heterogeneous stromal cells and their crosstalk with cancer cells is mediated by a complex and intricate signaling network consisting of transforming growth factor-beta, phosphoinositide 3-kinase/AKT/mammalian target of rapamycin, mitogen-activated protein kinase, Wnt, Janus kinase/signal transducers and activators of transcription, epidermal growth factor receptor, Hippo, and nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells, etc., signaling pathways. These signals in CAFs exhibit their own special characteristics during the cancer progression and have the potential to be targeted for anticancer therapy. Therefore, a comprehensive understanding of these signaling cascades in interactions between cancer cells and CAFs is necessary to fully realize the pivotal roles of CAFs in cancers. Herein, in this review, we will summarize the enormous amounts of findings on the signals mediating crosstalk of CAFs with cancer cells and its related targets or trials. Further, we hypothesize three potential targeting strategies, including, namely, epithelial-mesenchymal common targets, sequential target perturbation, and crosstalk-directed signaling targets, paving the way for CAF-directed or host cell-directed antitumor therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fanglong Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, National Center of Stomatology, National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, People's Republic of China
| | - Jin Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, National Center of Stomatology, National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, People's Republic of China
| | - Junjiang Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, National Center of Stomatology, National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, People's Republic of China
| | - Ye Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, National Center of Stomatology, National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, People's Republic of China
| | - Jingtian Mu
- State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, National Center of Stomatology, National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, People's Republic of China
| | - Qingxiang Zeng
- State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, National Center of Stomatology, National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, People's Republic of China
| | - Shuzhi Deng
- State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, National Center of Stomatology, National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, People's Republic of China
| | - Hongmei Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, National Center of Stomatology, National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, People's Republic of China.
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