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Di Y, Wang Z, Xiao J, Zhang X, Ye L, Wen X, Qin J, Lu L, Wang X, He W. ACSL6-activated IL-18R1-NF-κB promotes IL-18-mediated tumor immune evasion and tumor progression. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2024; 10:eadp0719. [PMID: 39292786 PMCID: PMC11409972 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adp0719] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2024] [Accepted: 08/09/2024] [Indexed: 09/20/2024]
Abstract
Aberrant activation of IL-18 signaling regulates tumor immune evasion and progression. However, the underlying mechanism remains unclear. Here, we report that long-chain acyl-CoA synthase 6 (ACSL6) is highly expressed in liver cancer and correlated with poor prognosis. ACSL6 promotes tumor growth, metastasis, and immune evasion mediated by IL-18, independent of its metabolic enzyme activity. Mechanistically, upon IL-18 stimulation, ACSL6 is phosphorylated by ERK2 at S674 and recruits IL-18RAP to interact with IL-18R1, thereby reinforcing the IL-18R1-IL-18RAP heterodimer and triggering NF-κB-dependent gene expression to facilitate tumor development. Furthermore, the up-regulation of CXCL1 and CXCL5 by ACSL6 promotes tumor-associated neutrophil and tumor-associated macrophage recruitment, thereby inhibiting cytotoxic CD8+ T cell infiltration. Ablation or S674A mutation of ACSL6 potentiated anti-PD-1 therapeutic efficacy by increasing the effector activity of intertumoral CD8+ T cells. We revealed that ACSL6 is a potential adaptor that activates IL-18-NF-κB axis-mediated tumor immune evasion and provides valuable insights for developing effective immunotherapy strategies for cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuqin Di
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510080, China
| | - Ziyang Wang
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510080, China
| | - Jing Xiao
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Tumor Interventional Diagnosis and Treatment, Zhuhai People’s Hospital (Zhuhai Clinical Medical College of Jinan University), Zhuhai, Guangdong 519000, China
| | - Xiang Zhang
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510080, China
| | - Lvlan Ye
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510080, China
- Department of Biochemistry, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510080, China
| | - Xiangqiong Wen
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510080, China
| | - Jiale Qin
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510080, China
| | - Ligong Lu
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Tumor Interventional Diagnosis and Treatment, Zhuhai People’s Hospital (Zhuhai Clinical Medical College of Jinan University), Zhuhai, Guangdong 519000, China
| | - Xiongjun Wang
- School of Life Sciences, Guangzhou University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510006, China
| | - Weiling He
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510080, China
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Xiang’an Hospital of Xiamen University, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian 361000, China
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Zhang Y, Han G, Gu J, Chen Z, Wu J. Role of tumor-associated macrophages in hepatocellular carcinoma: impact, mechanism, and therapy. Front Immunol 2024; 15:1429812. [PMID: 39170620 PMCID: PMC11335564 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2024.1429812] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2024] [Accepted: 07/08/2024] [Indexed: 08/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a highly frequent malignancy worldwide. The occurrence and progression of HCC is a complex process closely related to the polarization of tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) in the tumor microenvironment (TME). The polarization of TAMs is affected by a variety of signaling pathways and surrounding cells. Evidence has shown that TAMs play a crucial role in HCC, through its interaction with other immune cells in the TME. This review summarizes the origin and phenotypic polarization of TAMs, their potential impacts on HCC, and their mechanisms and potential targets for HCC immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yinqi Zhang
- Hepatobiliary Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
- Key Laboratory of Liver Transplantation, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
- National Health Commission (NHC) Key Laboratory of Hepatobiliary Cancers, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Guoyong Han
- Hepatobiliary Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
- Key Laboratory of Liver Transplantation, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
- National Health Commission (NHC) Key Laboratory of Hepatobiliary Cancers, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Jian Gu
- Hepatobiliary Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
- Key Laboratory of Liver Transplantation, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
- National Health Commission (NHC) Key Laboratory of Hepatobiliary Cancers, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Zhiqiang Chen
- Hepatobiliary Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
- Key Laboratory of Liver Transplantation, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
- National Health Commission (NHC) Key Laboratory of Hepatobiliary Cancers, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Jindao Wu
- Hepatobiliary Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
- Key Laboratory of Liver Transplantation, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
- National Health Commission (NHC) Key Laboratory of Hepatobiliary Cancers, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
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Liu X, Li S, Wang L, Ma K. Microecological regulation in HCC therapy: Gut microbiome enhances ICI treatment. Biochim Biophys Acta Mol Basis Dis 2024; 1870:167230. [PMID: 38734322 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbadis.2024.167230] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2023] [Revised: 05/07/2024] [Accepted: 05/07/2024] [Indexed: 05/13/2024]
Abstract
The exploration of the complex mechanisms of cancer immunotherapy is rapidly evolving worldwide, and our focus is on the interaction of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), particularly as it relates to the regulatory role of the gut microbiome. An important basis for the induction of immune responses in HCC is the presence of specific anti-tumor cells that can be activated and reinforced by ICIs, which is why the application of ICIs results in sustained tumor response rates in the majority of HCC patients. However, mechanisms of acquired resistance to immunotherapy in unresectable HCC result in no long-term benefit for some patients. The significant heterogeneity of inter-individual differences in the gut microbiome in response to treatment with ICIs makes it possible to target modulation of specific gut microbes to assist in augmenting checkpoint blockade therapies in HCC. This review focuses on the complex relationship between the gut microbiome, host immunity, and HCC, and emphasizes that manipulating the gut microbiome to improve response rates to cancer ICI therapy is a clinical strategy with unlimited potential.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuliang Liu
- Division of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Department of General Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, Liaoning, China
| | - Shiyao Li
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, Liaoning, China
| | - Liming Wang
- Division of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Department of General Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, Liaoning, China; Engineering Research Center for New Materials and Precision Treatment Technology of Malignant Tumors Therapy, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, Liaoning, China; Engineering Technology Research Center for Translational Medicine, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, Liaoning, China.
| | - Kexin Ma
- Division of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Department of General Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, Liaoning, China.
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Zhang DY, Bai FH. Research trends and hotspots in the immune microenvironment related to hepatocellular carcinoma: A bibliometric and visualization study. World J Gastrointest Oncol 2024; 16:3321-3330. [PMID: 39072164 PMCID: PMC11271783 DOI: 10.4251/wjgo.v16.i7.3321] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2024] [Revised: 04/16/2024] [Accepted: 04/28/2024] [Indexed: 07/12/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The immune microenvironment (IME) in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) plays a pivotal role in determining patient outcomes and responses to treatment. This area is witnessing rapid growth in research interest. However, there is a lack of comprehensive bibliometric analyses that dissect trends and potential focal points in this field. AIM To explore the evolution of research on the IME in HCC from January 1, 2004, to December 31, 2023, using bibliometric methodologies. METHODS English articles and reviews concerning the IME of HCC were retrieved from the Web of Science Core Collection with a search date of December 31, 2023. The R package Bibliometrix was employed to compute basic bibliometric characteristics, illustrate collaborations among countries and authors, and create a three-field diagram illustrating the connections between authors, affiliations, and keywords. Analyses of country and institutional co-authorship, as well as keyword co-occurrence, were conducted using VOSviewer. Additionally, CiteSpace was utilized for the cite burst analysis of keywords and cited literature. RESULTS The study encompassed 3125 documents in the research areas related to HCC of IME, revealing a substantial and continuous increase in the annual publication trend over time. China and Fudan University emerged as leading contributors, with 2103 and 165 publications, respectively. Frontiers in immunology was the most prolific journal in this domain. Among the top ten researchers in the field, eight are based in China. Key research terms identified include tumour microenvironment, expression, immunotherapy, and prognosis. CONCLUSION The relationship between HCC and IME is receiving increasing attention, and related research is in a highly developed stage. Key focus areas, including IME and immune checkpoint inhibitors, immunotherapy are poised to be central to future research endeavors, offering promising pathways for further exploration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Da-Ya Zhang
- Department of Graduate School, Hainan Medical University, Haikou 571199, Hainan Province, China
| | - Fei-Hu Bai
- Department of Gastroenterology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Hainan Medical University, Haikou 570216, Hainan Province, China
- Department of Gastroenterology, The Gastroenterology Clinical Medical Center of Hainan Province, Haikou 570216, Hainan Province, China
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Tao X, Mao S, Wang J, Li G, Sun B. Causal Effects and Immune Cell Mediators of Prescription Analgesic Use and Risk of Liver Cancer and Precancerosis in European Population: A Mendelian Randomization Study. Biomedicines 2024; 12:1537. [PMID: 39062110 PMCID: PMC11274554 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines12071537] [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: 05/13/2024] [Revised: 06/26/2024] [Accepted: 07/04/2024] [Indexed: 07/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Diverse clinical observations and basic studies have been conducted to explore the implications of analgesic medications in liver diseases. However, the direct causal relationship between prescription analgesic use (PAU) and the risk of liver cancer and precancerosis remains unclear. Thus, we aimed to reveal the conceivable causal effect of PAU on liver cancer and precancerosis, with immune cells as mediating factors. Two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) analyses were performed to ascertain the causality of PAU on liver cancer and precancerosis. Sensitivity analysis approaches were employed to assess the heterogeneity and pleiotropy of results. Our findings revealed a causal correlation between different PAUs and the risk of liver cancer and alcoholic liver disease (ALD). Specifically, salicylic acid derivatives (SADs) and anilide medications were found to have a protective effect on liver cancer. And non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and anilide medications showed a causal impact on ALD. Finally, mediation analyses found that anilide medications influence liver cancer through different immune cell phenotypes. Our research provides new genetic evidence for the causal impact of PAU on liver cancer and precancerosis, with the mediating role of immune cells demonstrated, offering a valuable foundation for researching analgesic medications in liver cancer and precancerosis treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuewen Tao
- School of Medicine, Southeast University, Nanjing 210009, China;
- Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230022, China; (S.M.); (J.W.)
| | - Shuai Mao
- Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230022, China; (S.M.); (J.W.)
| | - Jincheng Wang
- Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230022, China; (S.M.); (J.W.)
| | - Guoqiang Li
- School of Medicine, Southeast University, Nanjing 210009, China;
- Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230022, China; (S.M.); (J.W.)
| | - Beicheng Sun
- School of Medicine, Southeast University, Nanjing 210009, China;
- Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230022, China; (S.M.); (J.W.)
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Bardakçi M, Ergun Y. Immunotherapy in gastric cancer with liver metastasis: Challenges and opportunities. World J Gastrointest Surg 2024; 16:1513-1516. [PMID: 38983315 PMCID: PMC11230037 DOI: 10.4240/wjgs.v16.i6.1513] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2024] [Revised: 04/29/2024] [Accepted: 05/17/2024] [Indexed: 06/27/2024] Open
Abstract
In this editorial, we review the article by Liu et al published in the World Journal of Gastrointestinal Surgery investigating the efficacy and safety of immunotherapy in patients with gastric cancer (GC) and liver metastasis. GC, the fifth most commonly diagnosed malignancy worldwide, presents a significant challenge due to its multifactorial etiology and a grim prognosis for unresectable or recurrent cases. The advent of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) has revolutionized oncology; yet liver metastasis has been associated with reduced response rates, progression-free survival, and overall survival in various malignancies. The CheckMate-649 and KEYNOTE-859 trials demonstrated promising results with ICIs in advanced GC, particularly in patients with liver metastasis. However, a meta-analysis of liver metastatic solid tumors revealed worse outcomes with ICIs, highlighting the need for further investigation. While combined therapies, including ICIs with local treatments, show promise in improving outcomes, the nuanced landscape of ICIs in liver metastatic GC necessitates continued research for robust conclusions. The current contradictions in the literature underscore the importance of cautious interpretation and the exploration of tailored approaches to enhance clinical efficacy in this challenging patient population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Murat Bardakçi
- Department of Medical Oncology, Diyarbakır Gazi Yasargil Training and Research Hospital, Diyarbakir 021000, Kayapinar, Türkiye
| | - Yakup Ergun
- Department of Medical Oncology, Antalya City Hospital, Antalya 07080, Türkiye
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Li Q, Guo W, Qian Y, Li S, Li L, Zhu Z, Wang F, Tong Y, Xia Q, Liu Y. Protein O-fucosyltransferase 1 promotes PD-L1 stability to drive immune evasion and directs liver cancer to immunotherapy. J Immunother Cancer 2024; 12:e008917. [PMID: 38908854 PMCID: PMC11328658 DOI: 10.1136/jitc-2024-008917] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/30/2024] [Indexed: 06/24/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS The immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (TME) plays an essential role in cancer progression and immunotherapy response. Despite the considerable advancements in cancer immunotherapy, the limited response to immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) therapies in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains a major challenge for its clinical implications. Here, we investigated the molecular basis of the protein O-fucosyltransferase 1 (POFUT1) that drives HCC immune evasion and explored a potential therapeutic strategy for enhancing ICB efficacy. METHODS De novo MYC/Trp53-/- liver tumor and the xenograft tumor models were used to evaluate the function of POFUT1 in immune evasion. Biochemical assays were performed to elucidate the underlying mechanism of POFUT1-mediated immune evasion. RESULTS We identified POFUT1 as a crucial promoter of immune evasion in liver cancer. Notably, POFUT1 promoted HCC progression and inhibited T-cell infiltration in the xenograft tumor and de novo MYC/Trp53-/- mouse liver tumor models. Mechanistically, we demonstrated that POFUT1 stabilized programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1) protein by preventing tripartite motif containing 21-mediated PD-L1 ubiquitination and degradation independently of its protein-O-fucosyltransferase activity. In addition, we further demonstrated that PD-L1 was required for the tumor-promoting and immune evasion effects of POFUT1 in HCC. Importantly, inhibition of POFUT1 could synergize with anti-programmed death receptor 1 therapy by remodeling TME in the xenograft tumor mouse model. Clinically, POFUT1 high expression displayed a lower response rate and worse clinical outcome to ICB therapies. CONCLUSIONS Our findings demonstrate that POFUT1 functions as a novel regulator of tumor immune evasion and inhibition of POFUT1 may be a potential therapeutic strategy to enhance the efficacy of immune therapy in HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qianyu Li
- Department of Liver Surgery, Ren Ji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
- Renji-Med-X Clinical Stem Cell Research Center, Ren Ji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Wenyun Guo
- Department of Liver Surgery, Ren Ji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
- Renji-Med-X Clinical Stem Cell Research Center, Ren Ji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Yifei Qian
- Department of Liver Surgery, Ren Ji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
- Renji-Med-X Clinical Stem Cell Research Center, Ren Ji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Songling Li
- School of Biomedical Engineering & Med-X Research Institute, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Linfeng Li
- Renji-Med-X Clinical Stem Cell Research Center, Ren Ji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Zijun Zhu
- Department of Liver Surgery, Ren Ji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
- Renji-Med-X Clinical Stem Cell Research Center, Ren Ji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Fan Wang
- Renji-Med-X Clinical Stem Cell Research Center, Ren Ji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Yu Tong
- Renji-Med-X Clinical Stem Cell Research Center, Ren Ji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Qiang Xia
- Department of Liver Surgery, Ren Ji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Transplantation and Immunology, Shanghai Institute of Transplantation, Shanghai, China
| | - Yanfeng Liu
- Department of Liver Surgery, Ren Ji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Transplantation and Immunology, Shanghai Institute of Transplantation, Shanghai, China
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Miao Y, Wang S, Zhang J, Liu H, Zhang C, Jin S, Bai D. Strategic advancement of E3 ubiquitin ligase in the management of hepatocellular carcinoma. Med Oncol 2024; 41:178. [PMID: 38888684 DOI: 10.1007/s12032-024-02411-8] [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: 04/11/2024] [Accepted: 05/23/2024] [Indexed: 06/20/2024]
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) presents a significant global health challenge due to its high incidence, poor prognosis, and limited treatment options. As a pivotal regulator of protein stability, E3 ubiquitin ligase plays a crucial role in tumorigenesis and development. This review provides an overview of the latest research on the involvement of E3 ubiquitin ligase in hepatocellular carcinoma and elucidates its significance in hepatocellular carcinoma cell proliferation, invasion, and evasion from immune surveillance. Special attention is given to the functions of RING, HECT, and RBR E3 ubiquitin ligases and their association with hepatocellular carcinoma progression. By dissecting the molecular mechanisms and regulatory networks governed by E3 ubiquitin ligase, several potential therapeutic strategies are proposed: including the development of specific inhibitors targeting E3 ligases; augmentation of their tumor suppressor activity through drug or gene therapy; utilization of E3 ubiquitin ligase to modulate immune checkpoint proteins for improved efficacy of immunotherapy; combination strategies integrating traditional therapies with E3 ubiquitin ligase inhibitors; as well as biomarker development based on E3 ubiquitin ligase activity. Furthermore, this review discusses the prospect of overcoming drug resistance in hepatocellular carcinoma treatment through these novel approaches. Overall, this review establishes a theoretical foundation and offers fresh insights into harnessing the potential of E3 ubiquitin ligase for treating hepatocellular carcinoma while highlighting future research directions that pave the way for clinical translation studies and new drug discoveries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yangyang Miao
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Northern Jiangsu People's Hospital Affiliated to Yangzhou University, 98 West Nantong Rd, Yangzhou, 225000, Jiangsu, China
| | - Shunyi Wang
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Northern Jiangsu People's Hospital Affiliated to Yangzhou University, 98 West Nantong Rd, Yangzhou, 225000, Jiangsu, China
| | - Jiahao Zhang
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Northern Jiangsu People's Hospital Affiliated to Yangzhou University, 98 West Nantong Rd, Yangzhou, 225000, Jiangsu, China
- Dalian Medical University, Dalian, 116000, China
| | - Huanxiang Liu
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Northern Jiangsu People's Hospital Affiliated to Yangzhou University, 98 West Nantong Rd, Yangzhou, 225000, Jiangsu, China
| | - Chi Zhang
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Northern Jiangsu People's Hospital Affiliated to Yangzhou University, 98 West Nantong Rd, Yangzhou, 225000, Jiangsu, China.
| | - Shengjie Jin
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Northern Jiangsu People's Hospital Affiliated to Yangzhou University, 98 West Nantong Rd, Yangzhou, 225000, Jiangsu, China.
| | - Dousheng Bai
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Northern Jiangsu People's Hospital Affiliated to Yangzhou University, 98 West Nantong Rd, Yangzhou, 225000, Jiangsu, China.
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Li T, Xu X, Guo M, Guo J, Nakayama K, Ren Z, Zhang L. Identification of a Macrophage marker gene signature to evaluate immune infiltration and therapeutic response in hepatocellular carcinoma. Heliyon 2024; 10:e31881. [PMID: 38845876 PMCID: PMC11154631 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e31881] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2023] [Revised: 05/16/2024] [Accepted: 05/23/2024] [Indexed: 06/09/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Only a minority of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients can benefit from systemic regimens. Macrophages, which abundantly infiltrate in HCC, could mediate tumour microenvironment remodelling and immune escape, proving to be powerful weapons in combating HCC. Thus, a deeper understanding of macrophages is necessary for improving existing antitumour treatments. Methods With a series of bioinformatic approaches, we comprehensively explored the role of macrophage-related genes in human HCCs from multiple single-cell and bulk RNA sequencing datasets. Unsupervised clustering was performed to cluster the macrophage marker genes (MMGs). GSVA and functional enrichment analysis were used to elucidate the functional differences among the MMG-associated clusters. Subsequently, a component analysis algorithm was used to construct a Macrosig score, and the prognosis, biological characteristics, mutation profile, TME cell infiltration status and drug response of patients with different Macrosig scores were further analysed. Results We identified 13 MMGs in 574 HCC samples, based on which three MMG-associated clusters were defined. Overall survival time, clinicopathological features and immune infiltration scores differed among the different clusters. On this basis, 12 hub genes were identified among these clusters; subsequently, a scoring system was constructed to determine the Macrosig score. Importantly, patients with low-Macrosig scores, characterized by increased immune infiltration, increased mutation frequency and increased immune checkpoint expression, including CTLA-4, LAG3, PDCD1 and TIGIT, exhibited enhanced efficacy of immunotherapy when validated in an external database. Moreover, a low-Macrosig score indicates increased sensitivity to AZD.2281, A.443654, ABT.263, ABT.888, AG.014699 and ATRA, while a high Macrosig score indicates increased sensitivity to AZD6482, AKT inhibitor VIII, AS601245, AZ628, AZD.0530 and AZD6244. Conclusions A novel scoring system was constructed to guide more effective prognostic evaluation and tailoring therapeutic regimens for HCC patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tong Li
- Liver Cancer Institute & Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- Department of Gastroenterology, Zhongshan Hospital Xuhui Branch, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Xin Xu
- Liver Cancer Institute & Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Mengzhou Guo
- Department of Medical Oncology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Jing Guo
- Department of Gastroenterology, Zhongshan Hospital Xuhui Branch, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Kiyoko Nakayama
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Zhenggang Ren
- Liver Cancer Institute & Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Lan Zhang
- Liver Cancer Institute & Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
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10
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Mao Y, Wu C, Wang X, Zhang F, Qi X, Li X, Li P, Tang B. Fluorescence imaging sheds light on the immune evasion mechanisms of hepatic stellate cells mediated by superoxide anion. Commun Biol 2024; 7:558. [PMID: 38730013 PMCID: PMC11087649 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-024-06245-y] [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: 12/31/2022] [Accepted: 04/25/2024] [Indexed: 05/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Whether and how the reactive oxygen species generated by hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) promote immune evasion of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains mysterious. Therefore, investigating the function of superoxide anion (O2•-), the firstly generated reactive oxygen species, during the immune evasion become necessary. In this work, we establish a novel in situ imaging method for visualization of O2•- changes in HSCs based on a new two-photon fluorescence probe TPH. TPH comprises recognition group for O2•- and HSCs targeting peptides. We observe that O2•- in HSCs gradually rose, impairing the infiltration of CD8+ T cells in HCC mice. Further studies reveal that the cyclin-dependent kinase 4 is deactivated by O2•-, and then cause the up-regulation of PD-L1. Our work provides molecular insights into HSC-mediated immune evasion of HCC, which may represent potential targets for HCC immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuantao Mao
- College of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, Collaborative Innovation Center of Functionalized Probes for Chemical Imaging in Universities of Shandong, Key Laboratory of Molecular and Nano Probes, Ministry of Education, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Shandong Normal University, Jinan, 250014, China
| | - Chuanchen Wu
- College of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, Collaborative Innovation Center of Functionalized Probes for Chemical Imaging in Universities of Shandong, Key Laboratory of Molecular and Nano Probes, Ministry of Education, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Shandong Normal University, Jinan, 250014, China
| | - Xin Wang
- College of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, Collaborative Innovation Center of Functionalized Probes for Chemical Imaging in Universities of Shandong, Key Laboratory of Molecular and Nano Probes, Ministry of Education, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Shandong Normal University, Jinan, 250014, China.
| | - Fanghui Zhang
- College of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, Collaborative Innovation Center of Functionalized Probes for Chemical Imaging in Universities of Shandong, Key Laboratory of Molecular and Nano Probes, Ministry of Education, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Shandong Normal University, Jinan, 250014, China
| | - Xinru Qi
- College of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, Collaborative Innovation Center of Functionalized Probes for Chemical Imaging in Universities of Shandong, Key Laboratory of Molecular and Nano Probes, Ministry of Education, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Shandong Normal University, Jinan, 250014, China
| | - Xia Li
- Innovative Institute of Chinese Medicine and Pharmacy, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, China.
| | - Ping Li
- College of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, Collaborative Innovation Center of Functionalized Probes for Chemical Imaging in Universities of Shandong, Key Laboratory of Molecular and Nano Probes, Ministry of Education, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Shandong Normal University, Jinan, 250014, China.
| | - Bo Tang
- College of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, Collaborative Innovation Center of Functionalized Probes for Chemical Imaging in Universities of Shandong, Key Laboratory of Molecular and Nano Probes, Ministry of Education, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Shandong Normal University, Jinan, 250014, China.
- Laoshan Laboratory, 168 Wenhai Middle Rd, Aoshanwei Jimo, Qingdao, 266237, Shandong, China.
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11
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Yu KX, Yuan WJ, Wang HZ, Li YX. Extracellular matrix stiffness and tumor-associated macrophage polarization: new fields affecting immune exclusion. Cancer Immunol Immunother 2024; 73:115. [PMID: 38693304 PMCID: PMC11063025 DOI: 10.1007/s00262-024-03675-9] [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: 11/12/2023] [Accepted: 03/12/2024] [Indexed: 05/03/2024]
Abstract
In the malignant progression of tumors, there is deposition and cross-linking of collagen, as well as an increase in hyaluronic acid content, which can lead to an increase in extracellular matrix stiffness. Recent research evidence have shown that the extracellular matrix plays an important role in angiogenesis, cell proliferation, migration, immunosuppression, apoptosis, metabolism, and resistance to chemotherapeutic by the alterations toward both secretion and degradation. The clinical importance of tumor-associated macrophage is increasingly recognized, and macrophage polarization plays a central role in a series of tumor immune processes through internal signal cascade, thus regulating tumor progression. Immunotherapy has gradually become a reliable potential treatment strategy for conventional chemotherapy resistance and advanced cancer patients, but the presence of immune exclusion has become a major obstacle to treatment effectiveness, and the reasons for their resistance to these approaches remain uncertain. Currently, there is a lack of exact mechanism on the regulation of extracellular matrix stiffness and tumor-associated macrophage polarization on immune exclusion. An in-depth understanding of the relationship between extracellular matrix stiffness, tumor-associated macrophage polarization, and immune exclusion will help reveal new therapeutic targets and guide the development of clinical treatment methods for advanced cancer patients. This review summarized the different pathways and potential molecular mechanisms of extracellular matrix stiffness and tumor-associated macrophage polarization involved in immune exclusion and provided available strategies to address immune exclusion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ke-Xun Yu
- Department of General Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230022, China
| | - Wei-Jie Yuan
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Hui-Zhen Wang
- Department of General Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230022, China
| | - Yong-Xiang Li
- Department of General Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230022, China.
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12
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Liu J, Yang T, Luo Y, Ma Z, Yu Z, Zhang L, Liu G, Wen J, Lu G, Zhang G, Zhao Y, Luo W, Li Y, Yang N, Zhou J, Lu Y, Chen S, Zeng X. DEAD-box helicase 1 inhibited CD8 + T cell antitumor activity by inducing PD-L1 expression in hepatocellular carcinoma. Cancer Sci 2024; 115:763-776. [PMID: 38243657 PMCID: PMC10921000 DOI: 10.1111/cas.16076] [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: 07/24/2023] [Revised: 12/13/2023] [Accepted: 12/16/2023] [Indexed: 01/21/2024] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) does not respond well to current treatments, even immune checkpoint inhibitors. PD-L1 (programmed cell death ligand 1 or CD274 molecule)-mediated immune escape of tumor cells may be a key factor affecting the efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) therapy. However, the regulatory mechanisms of PD-L1 expression and immune escape require further exploration. Here, we observed that DDX1 (DEAD-box helicase 1) was overexpressed in HCC tissues and associated with poor prognosis in patients with HCC. Additionally, DDX1 expression correlated negatively with CD8+ T cell frequency. DDX1 overexpression significantly increased interferon gamma (IFN-γ)-mediated PD-L1 expression in HCC cell lines. DDX1 overexpression decreased IFN-γ and granzyme B production in CD8+ T cells and inhibited CD8+ T cell cytotoxic function in vitro and in vivo. In conclusion, DDX1 plays an essential role in developing the immune escape microenvironment, rendering it a potential predictor of ICI therapy efficacy in HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junhao Liu
- Department of Hepatobiliary‐Pancreatic & Hernia SurgeryGuangdong Second Provincial General HospitalGuangzhouGuangdongChina
| | - Ti Yang
- Department of Hepatobiliary‐Pancreatic & Hernia SurgeryGuangdong Second Provincial General HospitalGuangzhouGuangdongChina
- The Second School of Clinical MedicineSouthern Medical UniversityGuangzhouGuangdongChina
| | - Yurong Luo
- Department of Hepatobiliary‐Pancreatic & Hernia SurgeryGuangdong Second Provincial General HospitalGuangzhouGuangdongChina
- The Second School of Clinical MedicineSouthern Medical UniversityGuangzhouGuangdongChina
| | - Zengxin Ma
- Department of Hepatobiliary‐Pancreatic & Hernia SurgeryGuangdong Second Provincial General HospitalGuangzhouGuangdongChina
- The Second School of Clinical MedicineSouthern Medical UniversityGuangzhouGuangdongChina
| | - Zhitao Yu
- Department of Hepatobiliary‐Pancreatic & Hernia SurgeryGuangdong Second Provincial General HospitalGuangzhouGuangdongChina
| | - Lei Zhang
- Department of Hepatobiliary‐Pancreatic & Hernia SurgeryGuangdong Second Provincial General HospitalGuangzhouGuangdongChina
| | - Gai Liu
- Department of Hepatobiliary‐Pancreatic & Hernia SurgeryGuangdong Second Provincial General HospitalGuangzhouGuangdongChina
| | - Jianfan Wen
- Department of Hepatobiliary‐Pancreatic & Hernia SurgeryGuangdong Second Provincial General HospitalGuangzhouGuangdongChina
| | - Guankun Lu
- Department of Hepatobiliary‐Pancreatic & Hernia SurgeryGuangdong Second Provincial General HospitalGuangzhouGuangdongChina
| | - Guowei Zhang
- Department of Hepatobiliary‐Pancreatic & Hernia SurgeryGuangdong Second Provincial General HospitalGuangzhouGuangdongChina
| | - Yujun Zhao
- Department of Hepatobiliary‐Pancreatic & Hernia SurgeryGuangdong Second Provincial General HospitalGuangzhouGuangdongChina
| | - Wang Luo
- Department of Hepatobiliary‐Pancreatic & Hernia SurgeryGuangdong Second Provincial General HospitalGuangzhouGuangdongChina
| | - Yanan Li
- Department of Hepatobiliary‐Pancreatic & Hernia SurgeryGuangdong Second Provincial General HospitalGuangzhouGuangdongChina
- The Second School of Clinical MedicineSouthern Medical UniversityGuangzhouGuangdongChina
| | - Nengjia Yang
- Department of Hepatobiliary‐Pancreatic & Hernia SurgeryGuangdong Second Provincial General HospitalGuangzhouGuangdongChina
- The Affiliated Guangdong Second Provincial General Hospital of Jinan UniversityGuangzhouGuangdongChina
| | - Jiawei Zhou
- Department of Hepatobiliary‐Pancreatic & Hernia SurgeryGuangdong Second Provincial General HospitalGuangzhouGuangdongChina
- The Affiliated Guangdong Second Provincial General Hospital of Jinan UniversityGuangzhouGuangdongChina
| | - Yuhui Lu
- Department of Hepatobiliary‐Pancreatic & Hernia SurgeryGuangdong Second Provincial General HospitalGuangzhouGuangdongChina
- The Affiliated Guangdong Second Provincial General Hospital of Jinan UniversityGuangzhouGuangdongChina
| | - Siliang Chen
- Department of Interventional RadiologyGuangdong Second Provincial General HospitalGuangzhouGuangdongChina
| | - Xiancheng Zeng
- Department of Hepatobiliary‐Pancreatic & Hernia SurgeryGuangdong Second Provincial General HospitalGuangzhouGuangdongChina
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13
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Gajos-Michniewicz A, Czyz M. WNT/β-catenin signaling in hepatocellular carcinoma: The aberrant activation, pathogenic roles, and therapeutic opportunities. Genes Dis 2024; 11:727-746. [PMID: 37692481 PMCID: PMC10491942 DOI: 10.1016/j.gendis.2023.02.050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2022] [Revised: 12/28/2022] [Accepted: 02/14/2023] [Indexed: 09/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a liver cancer, highly heterogeneous both at the histopathological and molecular levels. It arises from hepatocytes as the result of the accumulation of numerous genomic alterations in various signaling pathways, including canonical WNT/β-catenin, AKT/mTOR, MAPK pathways as well as signaling associated with telomere maintenance, p53/cell cycle regulation, epigenetic modifiers, and oxidative stress. The role of WNT/β-catenin signaling in liver homeostasis and regeneration is well established, whereas in development and progression of HCC is extensively studied. Herein, we review recent advances in our understanding of how WNT/β-catenin signaling facilitates the HCC development, acquisition of stemness features, metastasis, and resistance to treatment. We outline genetic and epigenetic alterations that lead to activated WNT/β-catenin signaling in HCC. We discuss the pivotal roles of CTNNB1 mutations, aberrantly expressed non-coding RNAs and complexity of crosstalk between WNT/β-catenin signaling and other signaling pathways as challenging or advantageous aspects of therapy development and molecular stratification of HCC patients for treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Gajos-Michniewicz
- Department of Molecular Biology of Cancer, Medical University of Lodz, Lodz 92-215, Poland
| | - Malgorzata Czyz
- Department of Molecular Biology of Cancer, Medical University of Lodz, Lodz 92-215, Poland
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14
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Wei J, Ouyang G, Huang G, Wang Y, Li S, Liu J, Zhang Y, Yuan G, He S. Burden of liver cancer due to hepatitis C from 1990 to 2019 at the global, regional, and national levels. Front Oncol 2023; 13:1218901. [PMID: 38170051 PMCID: PMC10760495 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2023.1218901] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2023] [Accepted: 11/30/2023] [Indexed: 01/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Liver cancer due to hepatitis C (LCDHC) is one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths worldwide, and the burden of LCDHC is increasing. We aimed to report the burden of LCDHC at the global, regional, and national levels in 204 countries from 1990 to 2019, stratified by etiology, sex, age, and Sociodemographic Index. Methods Data on LCDHC were available from the Global Burden of Disease, Injuries, and Risk Factors (GBD) study 2019. Numbers and age-standardized mortality, incidence, and disability-adjusted life year (DALY) rates per 100,000 population were estimated through a systematic analysis of modeled data from the GBD 2019 study. The trends in the LCDHC burden were assessed using the annual percentage change. Results Globally, in 2019, there were 152,225 new cases, 141,810 deaths, and 2,878,024 DALYs due to LCDHC. From 1990 to 2019, the number of incidences, mortality, and DALY cases increased by 80.68%, 67.50%, and 37.20%, respectively. However, the age-standardized incidence, mortality, and DALY rate had a decreasing trend during this period. In 2019, the highest age-standardized incidence rates (ASIRs) of LCDHC were found in high-income Asia Pacific, North Africa and the Middle East, and Central Asia. At the regional level, Mongolia, Egypt, and Japan had the three highest ASIRs in 2019. The incidence rates of LCDHC were higher in men and increased with age, with a peak incidence in the 95+ age group for women and the 85-89 age group for men in 2019. A nonlinear association was found between the age-standardized rates of LCDHC and sociodemographic index values at the regional and national levels. Conclusions Although the age-standardized rates of LCDHC have decreased, the absolute numbers of incident cases, deaths, and DALYs have increased, indicating that LCDHC remains a significant global burden. In addition, the burden of LCDHC varies geographically. Male and older adult/s individuals have a higher burden of LCDHC. Our findings provide insight into the global burden trend of LCDHC. Policymakers should establish appropriate methods to achieve the HCV elimination target by 2030 and reducing the burden of LCDHC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jie Wei
- Division of Hepatobiliary Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi, China
- Key Laboratory of Early Prevention and Treatment for Regional High Frequency Tumor (Guangxi Medical University), Ministry of Education, Nanning, Guangxi, China
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Immunology and Metabolism for Liver Diseases, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi, China
| | - Guoqing Ouyang
- Division of Hepatobiliary Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi, China
- Key Laboratory of Early Prevention and Treatment for Regional High Frequency Tumor (Guangxi Medical University), Ministry of Education, Nanning, Guangxi, China
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Immunology and Metabolism for Liver Diseases, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi, China
| | - Guozhen Huang
- Division of Hepatobiliary Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi, China
- Key Laboratory of Early Prevention and Treatment for Regional High Frequency Tumor (Guangxi Medical University), Ministry of Education, Nanning, Guangxi, China
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Immunology and Metabolism for Liver Diseases, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi, China
| | - Yong Wang
- Division of Hepatobiliary Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi, China
- Key Laboratory of Early Prevention and Treatment for Regional High Frequency Tumor (Guangxi Medical University), Ministry of Education, Nanning, Guangxi, China
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Immunology and Metabolism for Liver Diseases, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi, China
| | - Shuangjiang Li
- Division of Hepatobiliary Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi, China
- Key Laboratory of Early Prevention and Treatment for Regional High Frequency Tumor (Guangxi Medical University), Ministry of Education, Nanning, Guangxi, China
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Immunology and Metabolism for Liver Diseases, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi, China
| | - Jiaping Liu
- Division of Hepatobiliary Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi, China
- Key Laboratory of Early Prevention and Treatment for Regional High Frequency Tumor (Guangxi Medical University), Ministry of Education, Nanning, Guangxi, China
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Immunology and Metabolism for Liver Diseases, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi, China
| | - Yanhong Zhang
- Comparative Oncology Laboratory, Schools of Veterinary Medicine and Medicine, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, United States
| | - Guandou Yuan
- Division of Hepatobiliary Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi, China
- Key Laboratory of Early Prevention and Treatment for Regional High Frequency Tumor (Guangxi Medical University), Ministry of Education, Nanning, Guangxi, China
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Immunology and Metabolism for Liver Diseases, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi, China
| | - Songqing He
- Division of Hepatobiliary Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi, China
- Key Laboratory of Early Prevention and Treatment for Regional High Frequency Tumor (Guangxi Medical University), Ministry of Education, Nanning, Guangxi, China
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Immunology and Metabolism for Liver Diseases, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi, China
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15
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Thomas SC, Miller G, Li X, Saxena D. Getting off tract: contributions of intraorgan microbiota to cancer in extraintestinal organs. Gut 2023; 73:175-185. [PMID: 37918889 PMCID: PMC10842768 DOI: 10.1136/gutjnl-2022-328834] [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: 12/23/2022] [Accepted: 10/16/2023] [Indexed: 11/04/2023]
Abstract
The gastrointestinal ecosystem has received the most attention when examining the contributions of the human microbiome to health and disease. This concentration of effort is logical due to the overwhelming abundance of microbes in the gut coupled with the relative ease of sampling compared with other organs. However, the intestines are intimately connected to multiple extraintestinal organs, providing an opportunity for homeostatic microbial colonisation and pathogenesis in organs traditionally thought to be sterile or only transiently harbouring microbiota. These habitats are challenging to sample, and their low microbial biomass among large amounts of host tissue can make study challenging. Nevertheless, recent findings have shown that many extraintestinal organs that are intimately linked to the gut harbour stable microbiomes, which are colonised from the gut in selective manners and have highlighted not just the influence of the bacteriome but that of the mycobiome and virome on oncogenesis and health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Scott C Thomas
- Department of Molecular Pathobiology, New York University College of Dentistry, New York, NY, USA
| | - George Miller
- Cancer Center, Holy Name Medical Center, Teaneck, NJ, USA
| | - Xin Li
- Department of Molecular Pathobiology, New York University College of Dentistry, New York, NY, USA
- Perlmutter Cancer Institute, New York University Langone Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Urology, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Deepak Saxena
- Department of Molecular Pathobiology, New York University College of Dentistry, New York, NY, USA
- Perlmutter Cancer Institute, New York University Langone Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Surgery, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
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16
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Jin ZC, Zhong BY, Chen JJ, Zhu HD, Sun JH, Yin GW, Ge NJ, Luo B, Ding WB, Li WH, Chen L, Wang YQ, Zhu XL, Yang WZ, Li HL, Teng GJ. Real-world efficacy and safety of TACE plus camrelizumab and apatinib in patients with HCC (CHANCE2211): a propensity score matching study. Eur Radiol 2023; 33:8669-8681. [PMID: 37368105 PMCID: PMC10667391 DOI: 10.1007/s00330-023-09754-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2022] [Revised: 02/23/2023] [Accepted: 03/19/2023] [Indexed: 06/28/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES This study aimed to investigate the efficacy and safety of transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) plus camrelizumab, a monoclonal antibody targeting programmed death-1, and apatinib for patients with intermediate and advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in a real-world setting. METHODS A total of 586 HCC patients treated with either TACE plus camrelizumab and apatinib (combination group, n = 107) or TACE monotherapy (monotherapy group, n = 479) were included retrospectively. Propensity score matching analysis was used to match patients. The overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS), objective response rate (ORR), and safety in the combination group were described in comparison to monotherapy. RESULTS After propensity score matching (1:2), 84 patients in the combination group were matched to 147 patients in the monotherapy group. The median age was 57 years and 71/84 (84.5%) patients were male in the combination group, while the median age was 57 years with 127/147 (86.4%) male in the monotherapy group. The median OS, PFS, and ORR in the combination group were significantly higher than those in the monotherapy group (median OS, 24.1 vs. 15.7 months, p = 0.008; median PFS, 13.5 vs. 7.7 months, p = 0.003; ORR, 59.5% [50/84] vs. 37.4% [55/147], p = 0.002). On multivariable Cox regression, combination therapy was associated with significantly better OS (adjusted hazard ratio [HR], 0.41; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.26-0.64; p < 0.001) and PFS (adjusted HR, 0.52; 95% CI, 0.37-0.74; p < 0.001). Grade 3 or 4 adverse events occurred in 14/84 (16.7%) and 12/147 (8.2%) in the combination and monotherapy groups, respectively. CONCLUSIONS TACE plus camrelizumab and apatinib showed significantly better OS, PFS, and ORR versus TACE monotherapy for predominantly advanced HCC. CLINICAL RELEVANCE STATEMENT Compared with TACE monotherapy, TACE plus immunotherapy and molecular targeted therapy showed better clinical efficacy for predominantly advanced HCC patients, with a higher incidence of adverse events. KEY POINTS • This propensity score-matched study demonstrates that TACE plus immunotherapy and molecular targeted therapy have a longer OS, PFS, and ORR compared with TACE monotherapy in HCC. • Grade 3 or 4 adverse events occurred in 14/84 (16.7%) patients treated with TACE plus immunotherapy and molecular targeted therapy compared with 12/147 (8.2%) patients in the monotherapy group, while no grade 5 adverse events were observed in all cohorts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhi-Cheng Jin
- Center of Interventional Radiology & Vascular Surgery, Department of Radiology, Zhongda Hospital, Medical School, Southeast University, Nanjing, 210009, China
| | - Bin-Yan Zhong
- Department of Interventional Radiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Soochow University, Suzhou, 215006, China
| | - Jian-Jian Chen
- Center of Interventional Radiology & Vascular Surgery, Department of Radiology, Zhongda Hospital, Medical School, Southeast University, Nanjing, 210009, China
| | - Hai-Dong Zhu
- Center of Interventional Radiology & Vascular Surgery, Department of Radiology, Zhongda Hospital, Medical School, Southeast University, Nanjing, 210009, China
| | - Jun-Hui Sun
- Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Interventional Treatment Center, Division of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310003, China
| | - Guo-Wen Yin
- Department of Interventional Radiology, Jiangsu Cancer Hospital & Jiangsu Institute of Cancer Research & The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 210009, China
| | - Nai-Jian Ge
- Department of Interventional Radiology, Eastern Hospital of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, 200438, China
| | - Biao Luo
- Center of Interventional Radiology & Vascular Surgery, Department of Radiology, Zhongda Hospital, Medical School, Southeast University, Nanjing, 210009, China
| | - Wen-Bin Ding
- Department of Interventional Radiology, Nantong First People's Hospital, Nantong, 226001, China
| | - Wen-Hui Li
- Department of Interventional Radiology, Yancheng Third People's Hospital, Yancheng, 224008, China
| | - Li Chen
- Center of Interventional Radiology & Vascular Surgery, Department of Radiology, Zhongda Hospital, Medical School, Southeast University, Nanjing, 210009, China
| | - Yu-Qing Wang
- Center of Interventional Radiology & Vascular Surgery, Department of Radiology, Zhongda Hospital, Medical School, Southeast University, Nanjing, 210009, China
| | - Xiao-Li Zhu
- Department of Interventional Radiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Soochow University, Suzhou, 215006, China.
| | - Wei-Zhu Yang
- Department of Interventional Radiology, Union Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, 350001, China.
| | - Hai-Liang Li
- Department of Minimally Invasive Intervention, The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450008, China.
| | - Gao-Jun Teng
- Center of Interventional Radiology & Vascular Surgery, Department of Radiology, Zhongda Hospital, Medical School, Southeast University, Nanjing, 210009, China.
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17
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Pang M, Sun X, He T, Liang H, Yang H, Chen J. Development of a prognostic model based on anoikis-related genes for predicting clinical prognosis and immunotherapy of hepatocellular carcinoma. Aging (Albany NY) 2023; 15:10253-10271. [PMID: 37787988 PMCID: PMC10599733 DOI: 10.18632/aging.205073] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2023] [Accepted: 06/19/2023] [Indexed: 10/04/2023]
Abstract
Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC) is the predominant cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide. The majority of HCC patients are diagnosed at advanced stages of the disease, with a high likelihood of metastasis and unfavorable prognosis. Anoikis resistance is a crucial factor contributing to tumor invasion and metastasis, although its specific role in HCC remains unclear. Based on the results of univariate Cox regression and least absolute shrink-age and selection operator (LASSO) analysis, a subset of anoikis-related genes (ARGs) significantly associated with overall survival (OS) was identified. A multivariate Cox regression analysis subsequently identified PDK4, STK11, and TFDP1 as three prognostic ARGs, which were then used to establish a prognostic risk model. Differences in OS caused by risk stratification in HCC patients were demonstrated. The nomogram analysis indicated that the ARGs prognostic signature served as an independent prognostic predictor. In vitro experiments further confirmed the abnormal expression of selected ARGs in HCC. The association between risk scores and OS was further examined through Kaplan-Meier analysis, CIBERSORT analysis, and single-sample gene set enrichment analysis (ssGSEA). This study is a pioneering effort to integrate multiple ARGs and establish a risk-predictive model, providing a unique perspective for the development of personalized and precise therapeutic strategies for HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mu Pang
- The Fourth Clinical Medical College of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Shenzhen Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518000, China
| | - Xizhe Sun
- Research Center for Drug Safety Evaluation of Hainan, Hainan Medical University, Haikou, Hainan 571199, China
| | - Ting He
- The Fourth Clinical Medical College of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Shenzhen Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518000, China
| | - Huichao Liang
- The Fourth Clinical Medical College of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Shenzhen Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518000, China
| | - Hao Yang
- The Fourth Clinical Medical College of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Shenzhen Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518000, China
| | - Jun Chen
- The Fourth Clinical Medical College of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Shenzhen Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518000, China
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18
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Luo Y, Wang K, Zhan L, Zeng F, Zheng J, Chen S, Duan X, Ju D. β3GNT9 as a prognostic biomarker in glioblastoma and its association with glioblastoma immune infiltration, migration and invasion. Front Oncol 2023; 13:1214413. [PMID: 37771444 PMCID: PMC10523150 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2023.1214413] [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: 04/29/2023] [Accepted: 09/01/2023] [Indexed: 09/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Studies have shown that the immune infiltration of tumor microenvironment is related to the prognosis of glioblastoma, which is characterized by high heterogeneity, high recurrence rate and low survival rate. To unravel the role of β1,3-N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase-9 (β3GNT9) in the progression of glioblastoma, this study identifies the value of β3GNT9 as a prognostic biomarker in glioblastoma, and investigates the relationship between β3GNT9 expression and glioblastoma immune infiltration, migration and invasion. Methods β3GNT9 expression in glioblastoma was analyzed using the GEPIA database. The clinical features of glioblastoma were screened out from the TCGA database. The relationship between β3GNT9 expression and clinical features was analyzed. The relationship between β3GNT9 and the prognosis of glioblastoma was evaluated through univariate and multivariate COX regression analyses, and the survival analysis was conducted using the Kaplan-Meier method. GSEA was employed to predict the signaling pathway of β3GNT9 in glioblastoma. The correlation between β3GNT9 and tumor immune infiltration was analyzed using the related modules of CIBERSORT and TIMER. A172, U87MG and U251 cell lines were selected to verify β3GNT9 expression in vitro. The effects of β3GNT9 on the migration and invasion of glioblastoma were investigated through cell scratch and invasion assays. Results β3GNT9 expression in glioblastoma group was significantly higher than that in normal brain tissue group (P<0.05). The overall survival rate in high β3GNT9 expression group was significantly lower than that in low β3GNT9 expression group (P<0.05). Regression analyses suggested that β3GNT9, involved primarily in glucosamine degradation and extracellular matrix receptor interaction, could be an independent prognostic factor for glioblastoma. CIBERSORT and GEPIA database analyses showed that β3GNT9 was correlated with tumor infiltrating immune cells such as T follicular helper cells, activating natural killer cells, monocytes, macrophages, and eosinophils, thus affecting the immune microenvironment of glioblastoma. Cell experiments confirmed that β3GNT9 was highly expressed in A172, U87MG and U251 cell lines (P<0.05), and promoted the migration and invasion of glioblastoma (P<0.05). Conclusion The increased expression of β3GNT9 in glioblastoma can affect the immune microenvironment of glioblastoma and promote its migration and invasion. β3GNT9 can be used as a potential independent prognostic biomarker for patients with glioblastoma.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Donghui Ju
- Department of Neurosurgery, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
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19
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Jiang B, Zhou Y, Liu Y, He S, Liao B, Peng T, Yao L, Qi L. Research Progress on the Role and Mechanism of IL-37 in Liver Diseases. Semin Liver Dis 2023; 43:336-350. [PMID: 37582401 PMCID: PMC10620037 DOI: 10.1055/a-2153-8836] [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] [Indexed: 08/17/2023]
Abstract
Cytokines are important components of the immune system that can predict or influence the development of liver diseases. IL-37, a new member of the IL-1 cytokine family, exerts potent anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive effects inside and outside cells. IL-37 expression differs before and after liver lesions, suggesting that it is associated with liver disease; however, its mechanism of action remains unclear. This article mainly reviews the biological characteristics of IL-37, which inhibits hepatitis, liver injury, and liver fibrosis by inhibiting inflammation, and inhibits the development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) by regulating the immune microenvironment. Based on additional evidence, combining IL-37 with liver disease markers for diagnosis and treatment can achieve more significant effects, suggesting that IL-37 can be developed into a powerful tool for the clinical adjuvant treatment of liver diseases, especially HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Baoyi Jiang
- Institute of Digestive Disease, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Qingyuan People's Hospital, Qingyuan, China
| | - Yulin Zhou
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Shunde New Rongqi Hospital, Foshan, China
| | - Yanting Liu
- Institute of Digestive Disease, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Qingyuan People's Hospital, Qingyuan, China
| | - Siqi He
- Institute of Digestive Disease, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Qingyuan People's Hospital, Qingyuan, China
| | - Baojian Liao
- Institute of Digestive Disease, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Qingyuan People's Hospital, Qingyuan, China
| | - Tieli Peng
- Institute of Digestive Disease, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Qingyuan People's Hospital, Qingyuan, China
| | - Leyi Yao
- Institute of Digestive Disease, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Qingyuan People's Hospital, Qingyuan, China
| | - Ling Qi
- Institute of Digestive Disease, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Qingyuan People's Hospital, Qingyuan, China
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Lin HS, Pang WP, Yuan H, Kong YZ, Long FL, Zhang RZ, Yang L, Fang QL, Pan AP, Fan XH, Li MF. Molecular subtypes based on DNA sensors predict prognosis and tumor immunophenotype in hepatocellular carcinoma. Aging (Albany NY) 2023; 15:6798-6821. [PMID: 37451838 PMCID: PMC10415551 DOI: 10.18632/aging.204870] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2022] [Accepted: 06/19/2023] [Indexed: 07/18/2023]
Abstract
DNA sensors play crucial roles in inflammation and have been indicated to be involved in antitumor or tumorigenesis, while it is still unclear whether DNA sensors have potential roles in the prognosis and immunotherapy of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Herein, The Cancer Genome Atlas and Gene Expression Omnibus databases were used to analyze RNA sequencing data and clinical information. A total of 14 DNA sensors were collected and performed consensus clustering to determine their molecular mechanisms in HCC. Two distinct molecular subtypes (Clusters C1 and C2) were identified and were associated with different overall survival (OS). Immune subtype analysis revealed that C1 was mainly characterized by inflammation, while C2 was characterized by lymphocyte depletion. Immune scoring and immunomodulatory function analysis confirmed the different immune microenvironment of C1 and C2. Notably, significant differences in "Hot Tumor" Immunophenotype were observed between the two subtypes. Moreover, the prognostic model based on DNA sensors is capable of effectively predicting the OS of HCC patients. Besides, the chemotherapeutic drug analysis showed the different sensitivity of two subtypes. Taken together, our study shows that the proposed DNA sensors were a reliable signature to predict the prognosis and immunotherapy response with potential application in the clinical decision and treatment of HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hong-Sheng Lin
- Department of Microbiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning 530021, China
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi University of Chinese Medicine, Nanning 530023, China
| | - Wen-Peng Pang
- Department of Microbiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning 530021, China
| | - Hao Yuan
- Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning 530021, China
| | - Yin-Zhi Kong
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi University of Chinese Medicine, Nanning 530023, China
| | - Fu-Li Long
- Department of Hepatology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi University of Chinese Medicine, Nanning 530023, China
| | - Rong-Zhen Zhang
- Department of Hepatology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi University of Chinese Medicine, Nanning 530023, China
| | - Li Yang
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi University of Chinese Medicine, Nanning 530023, China
| | - Qiao-Ling Fang
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi University of Chinese Medicine, Nanning 530023, China
| | - Ai-Ping Pan
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi University of Chinese Medicine, Nanning 530023, China
| | - Xiao-Hui Fan
- Department of Microbiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning 530021, China
| | - Ming-Fen Li
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi University of Chinese Medicine, Nanning 530023, China
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21
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Vucur M, Ghallab A, Schneider AT, Adili A, Cheng M, Castoldi M, Singer MT, Büttner V, Keysberg LS, Küsgens L, Kohlhepp M, Görg B, Gallage S, Barragan Avila JE, Unger K, Kordes C, Leblond AL, Albrecht W, Loosen SH, Lohr C, Jördens MS, Babler A, Hayat S, Schumacher D, Koenen MT, Govaere O, Boekschoten MV, Jörs S, Villacorta-Martin C, Mazzaferro V, Llovet JM, Weiskirchen R, Kather JN, Starlinger P, Trauner M, Luedde M, Heij LR, Neumann UP, Keitel V, Bode JG, Schneider RK, Tacke F, Levkau B, Lammers T, Fluegen G, Alexandrov T, Collins AL, Nelson G, Oakley F, Mann DA, Roderburg C, Longerich T, Weber A, Villanueva A, Samson AL, Murphy JM, Kramann R, Geisler F, Costa IG, Hengstler JG, Heikenwalder M, Luedde T. Sublethal necroptosis signaling promotes inflammation and liver cancer. Immunity 2023; 56:1578-1595.e8. [PMID: 37329888 DOI: 10.1016/j.immuni.2023.05.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 24.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2022] [Revised: 08/30/2022] [Accepted: 05/22/2023] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
It is currently not well known how necroptosis and necroptosis responses manifest in vivo. Here, we uncovered a molecular switch facilitating reprogramming between two alternative modes of necroptosis signaling in hepatocytes, fundamentally affecting immune responses and hepatocarcinogenesis. Concomitant necrosome and NF-κB activation in hepatocytes, which physiologically express low concentrations of receptor-interacting kinase 3 (RIPK3), did not lead to immediate cell death but forced them into a prolonged "sublethal" state with leaky membranes, functioning as secretory cells that released specific chemokines including CCL20 and MCP-1. This triggered hepatic cell proliferation as well as activation of procarcinogenic monocyte-derived macrophage cell clusters, contributing to hepatocarcinogenesis. In contrast, necrosome activation in hepatocytes with inactive NF-κB-signaling caused an accelerated execution of necroptosis, limiting alarmin release, and thereby preventing inflammation and hepatocarcinogenesis. Consistently, intratumoral NF-κB-necroptosis signatures were associated with poor prognosis in human hepatocarcinogenesis. Therefore, pharmacological reprogramming between these distinct forms of necroptosis may represent a promising strategy against hepatocellular carcinoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mihael Vucur
- Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Infectious Diseases, University Hospital Dusseldorf, Medical Faculty at Heinrich Heine University Dusseldorf, Dusseldorf, Germany.
| | - Ahmed Ghallab
- Leibniz Research Centre for Working Environment and Human Factors (IfADo), Technical University Dortmund, Dortmund, Germany; Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, South Valley University, Qena, Egypt
| | - Anne T Schneider
- Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Infectious Diseases, University Hospital Dusseldorf, Medical Faculty at Heinrich Heine University Dusseldorf, Dusseldorf, Germany
| | - Arlind Adili
- Department of Chronic Inflammation and Cancer, German Cancer Research Institute (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Mingbo Cheng
- Institute for Computational Genomics, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
| | - Mirco Castoldi
- Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Infectious Diseases, University Hospital Dusseldorf, Medical Faculty at Heinrich Heine University Dusseldorf, Dusseldorf, Germany
| | - Michael T Singer
- Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Infectious Diseases, University Hospital Dusseldorf, Medical Faculty at Heinrich Heine University Dusseldorf, Dusseldorf, Germany
| | - Veronika Büttner
- Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Infectious Diseases, University Hospital Dusseldorf, Medical Faculty at Heinrich Heine University Dusseldorf, Dusseldorf, Germany
| | - Leonie S Keysberg
- Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Infectious Diseases, University Hospital Dusseldorf, Medical Faculty at Heinrich Heine University Dusseldorf, Dusseldorf, Germany
| | - Lena Küsgens
- Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Infectious Diseases, University Hospital Dusseldorf, Medical Faculty at Heinrich Heine University Dusseldorf, Dusseldorf, Germany
| | - Marlene Kohlhepp
- Department of Hepatology and Gastroenterology, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Campus Virchow Klinikum and Campus Charité Mitte, Berlin, Germany
| | - Boris Görg
- Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Infectious Diseases, University Hospital Dusseldorf, Medical Faculty at Heinrich Heine University Dusseldorf, Dusseldorf, Germany
| | - Suchira Gallage
- Department of Chronic Inflammation and Cancer, German Cancer Research Institute (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany; The M3 Research Institute, Eberhard Karls University, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Jose Efren Barragan Avila
- Department of Chronic Inflammation and Cancer, German Cancer Research Institute (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Kristian Unger
- Research Unit of Radiation Cytogenetics, Helmholtz Zentrum München, German Research Center for Environmental Health, Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Claus Kordes
- Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Infectious Diseases, University Hospital Dusseldorf, Medical Faculty at Heinrich Heine University Dusseldorf, Dusseldorf, Germany
| | - Anne-Laure Leblond
- Department for pathology and molecular pathology, Zürich University Hospital, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Wiebke Albrecht
- Leibniz Research Centre for Working Environment and Human Factors (IfADo), Technical University Dortmund, Dortmund, Germany
| | - Sven H Loosen
- Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Infectious Diseases, University Hospital Dusseldorf, Medical Faculty at Heinrich Heine University Dusseldorf, Dusseldorf, Germany
| | - Carolin Lohr
- Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Infectious Diseases, University Hospital Dusseldorf, Medical Faculty at Heinrich Heine University Dusseldorf, Dusseldorf, Germany
| | - Markus S Jördens
- Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Infectious Diseases, University Hospital Dusseldorf, Medical Faculty at Heinrich Heine University Dusseldorf, Dusseldorf, Germany
| | - Anne Babler
- Institute of Experimental Medicine and Systems Biology and Department of Nephrology, RWTH Aachen University, Medical Faculty, Aachen, Germany
| | - Sikander Hayat
- Institute of Experimental Medicine and Systems Biology and Department of Nephrology, RWTH Aachen University, Medical Faculty, Aachen, Germany
| | - David Schumacher
- Institute of Experimental Medicine and Systems Biology and Department of Nephrology, RWTH Aachen University, Medical Faculty, Aachen, Germany
| | - Maria T Koenen
- Department of Medicine, Rhein-Maas-Klinikum, Würselen, Germany
| | - Olivier Govaere
- Department of Imaging and Pathology, KU Leuven and University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Mark V Boekschoten
- Nutrition, Metabolism and Genomics Group, Division of Human Nutrition and Health, Wageningen University, Wageningen, the Netherlands
| | - Simone Jörs
- Second Department of Internal Medicine, Klinikum Rechts der Isar, Technische Universität München, Germany
| | - Carlos Villacorta-Martin
- Division of Liver Diseases, Liver Cancer Program, Department of Medicine, Tisch Cancer Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Vincenzo Mazzaferro
- Gastrointestinal Surgery and Liver Transplantation Unit, National Cancer Institute, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Josep M Llovet
- Division of Liver Diseases, Liver Cancer Program, Department of Medicine, Tisch Cancer Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA; Liver Cancer Translational Research Laboratory, Barcelona-Clínic Liver Cancer Group, Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Liver Unit, CIBEREHD, Hospital Clínic, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain; Institució Catalana de Recerca i Estudis Avançats (ICREA), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Ralf Weiskirchen
- Institute of Molecular Pathobiochemistry, Experimental Gene Therapy and Clinical Chemistry (IFMPEGKC), University Hospital RWTH Aachen, Aachen, Germany
| | - Jakob N Kather
- Else Kroener Fresenius Center for Digital Health, Medical Faculty Carl Gustav Carus, Technical University Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Patrick Starlinger
- Department of Surgery, Division of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
| | - Michael Trauner
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine III, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Mark Luedde
- Department of Cardiology and Angiology, University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein, Kiel, Germany
| | - Lara R Heij
- Visceral and Transplant Surgery, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, Aachen, Germany
| | - Ulf P Neumann
- Visceral and Transplant Surgery, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, Aachen, Germany
| | - Verena Keitel
- Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Infectious Diseases, University Hospital Dusseldorf, Medical Faculty at Heinrich Heine University Dusseldorf, Dusseldorf, Germany; Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Infectious Diseases, University Hospital Magdeburg, Medical Faculty of Otto Von Guericke University Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Johannes G Bode
- Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Infectious Diseases, University Hospital Dusseldorf, Medical Faculty at Heinrich Heine University Dusseldorf, Dusseldorf, Germany
| | - Rebekka K Schneider
- Department of Cell Biology, Institute for Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Medicine, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
| | - Frank Tacke
- Department of Hepatology and Gastroenterology, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Campus Virchow Klinikum and Campus Charité Mitte, Berlin, Germany
| | - Bodo Levkau
- Institute of Molecular Medicine III, University Hospital Dusseldorf, Heinrich Heine University, Dusseldorf, Germany
| | - Twan Lammers
- Department of Nanomedicine and Theranostics, Institute for Experimental Molecular Imaging, Faculty of Medicine, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
| | - Georg Fluegen
- Department of Surgery (A), University Hospital Dusseldorf, Medical Faculty at Heinrich Heine University, Dusseldorf, Germany
| | - Theodore Alexandrov
- Structural and Computational Biology Unit, European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Amy L Collins
- Newcastle Fibrosis Research Group, Biosciences Institute, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - Glyn Nelson
- Newcastle Fibrosis Research Group, Biosciences Institute, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - Fiona Oakley
- Newcastle Fibrosis Research Group, Biosciences Institute, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - Derek A Mann
- Newcastle Fibrosis Research Group, Biosciences Institute, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - Christoph Roderburg
- Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Infectious Diseases, University Hospital Dusseldorf, Medical Faculty at Heinrich Heine University Dusseldorf, Dusseldorf, Germany
| | - Thomas Longerich
- Institute of Pathology, University Hospital Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Achim Weber
- Department for pathology and molecular pathology, Zürich University Hospital, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Augusto Villanueva
- Division of Liver Diseases, Liver Cancer Program, Department of Medicine, Tisch Cancer Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA; Division of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Department of Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Andre L Samson
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute, Parkville, VIC, Australia; Department of Medical Biology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - James M Murphy
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute, Parkville, VIC, Australia; Department of Medical Biology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Rafael Kramann
- Institute of Experimental Medicine and Systems Biology and Department of Nephrology, RWTH Aachen University, Medical Faculty, Aachen, Germany
| | - Fabian Geisler
- Second Department of Internal Medicine, Klinikum Rechts der Isar, Technische Universität München, Germany
| | - Ivan G Costa
- Institute for Computational Genomics, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
| | - Jan G Hengstler
- Leibniz Research Centre for Working Environment and Human Factors (IfADo), Technical University Dortmund, Dortmund, Germany
| | - Mathias Heikenwalder
- Department of Chronic Inflammation and Cancer, German Cancer Research Institute (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany; The M3 Research Institute, Eberhard Karls University, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Tom Luedde
- Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Infectious Diseases, University Hospital Dusseldorf, Medical Faculty at Heinrich Heine University Dusseldorf, Dusseldorf, Germany.
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22
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Jiang Q, Kuai J, Jiang Z, Que W, Wang P, Huang W, Ding W, Zhong L. CD93 overexpresses in liver hepatocellular carcinoma and represents a potential immunotherapy target. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1158360. [PMID: 37483608 PMCID: PMC10359974 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1158360] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2023] [Accepted: 06/20/2023] [Indexed: 07/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Liver hepatocellular carcinoma (LIHC) is one of the malignant tumors with high incidence as well as high death, which is ranked as the sixth most common tumor and the third highest mortality worldwide. CD93, a transmembrane protein, has been widely reported to play an important role in different types of diseases, including many types of cancer by mainly functioning in extracellular matrix formation and vascular maturation. However, there are few researches focusing on the role and potential function of CD93 in LIHC. Methods In this study, we comprehensively analyzed the relationship between CD93 and LIHC. We not only discovered transcriptional expression of CD93 in LIHC by using the TIMER, GEPIA and UALCAN database, but also performed WB and IHC to verify the protein expression of CD93 in LIHC. Meantime, Kaplan-Meier Plotter Database Analysis were used to assess the prognosis of CD93 in LIHC. After knowing close correlation between CD93 expression and LIHC, there were STRING, GeneMania and GO and KEGG enrichment analyses to find how CD93 functions in LIHC. We further applied CIBERSORT Algorithm to explore the correlation between CD93 and immune cells and evaluate prognostic value of CD93 based on them in LIHC patients. Results The transcriptional and protein expression of CD93 were both obviously increased in LIHC by above methods. There was also a significant and close correlation between the expression of CD93 and the prognosis of LIHC patients by using Kaplan-Meier Analysis, which showed that LIHC patients with elevated expression of CD93 were associated with a predicted poor prognosis. We found that the functions of CD93 in different cancers are mainly related to Insulin like growth factor binding protein 7 Gene (IGFBP7)/CD93 pathway via STRING, GeneMania and functional enrichment analyses. Further, our data obtained from CIBERSORT Algorithm suggested CD93 was also associated with the immune response. There is a close positive correlation between CD93 expression and the infiltration levels of all six types of immune cells (B cells, CD8+ T cells, CD4+ T cells, macrophages, neutrophils, and dendritic cells). Importantly, CD93 can affect the prognosis of patients with LIHC partially due to immune infiltration. Conclusion Our results demonstrated CD93 may be a candidate predictor of clinical prognosis and immunotherapy response in LIHC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qianwei Jiang
- Department of General Surgery, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Jing Kuai
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Weifang People’s Hospital, Shandong, Weifang, Shandong, China
| | - Zhongyi Jiang
- Department of General Surgery, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Weitao Que
- Department of General Surgery, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Pusen Wang
- Department of General Surgery, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Wenxin Huang
- Department of General Surgery, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Wei Ding
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Weifang People’s Hospital, Shandong, Weifang, Shandong, China
| | - Lin Zhong
- Department of General Surgery, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
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23
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Liu FY, Ding DN, Wang YR, Liu SX, Peng C, Shen F, Zhu XY, Li C, Tang LP, Han FJ. Icariin as a potential anticancer agent: a review of its biological effects on various cancers. Front Pharmacol 2023; 14:1216363. [PMID: 37456751 PMCID: PMC10347417 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2023.1216363] [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: 05/03/2023] [Accepted: 06/20/2023] [Indexed: 07/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Numerous chemical compounds used in cancer treatment have been isolated from natural herbs to address the ever-increasing cancer incidence worldwide. Therein is icariin, which has been extensively studied for its therapeutic potential due to its anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antidepressant, and aphrodisiac properties. However, there is a lack of comprehensive and detailed review of studies on icariin in cancer treatment. Given this, this study reviews and examines the relevant literature on the chemopreventive and therapeutic potentials of icariin in cancer treatment and describes its mechanism of action. The review shows that icariin has the property of inhibiting cancer progression and reversing drug resistance. Therefore, icariin may be a valuable potential agent for the prevention and treatment of various cancers due to its natural origin, safety, and low cost compared to conventional anticancer drugs, while further research on this natural agent is needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fang-Yuan Liu
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Heilongjiang University of Chinese Medicine, Harbin, China
| | - Dan-Ni Ding
- First Clinical Medical College, Heilongjiang University of Chinese Medicine, Harbin, China
| | - Yun-Rui Wang
- First Clinical Medical College, Heilongjiang University of Chinese Medicine, Harbin, China
| | - Shao-Xuan Liu
- First Clinical Medical College, Heilongjiang University of Chinese Medicine, Harbin, China
| | - Cheng Peng
- First Clinical Medical College, Heilongjiang University of Chinese Medicine, Harbin, China
| | - Fang Shen
- First Clinical Medical College, Heilongjiang University of Chinese Medicine, Harbin, China
| | - Xiao-Ya Zhu
- First Clinical Medical College, Heilongjiang University of Chinese Medicine, Harbin, China
| | - Chan Li
- First Clinical Medical College, Heilongjiang University of Chinese Medicine, Harbin, China
| | - Li-Ping Tang
- Harbin Medical University Cancer Hospital, Harbin, China
| | - Feng-Juan Han
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Heilongjiang University of Chinese Medicine, Harbin, China
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24
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Wu SJ, Ruan DD, Wu QY, Tang Y, Zhang JH, Cai SL, Zhou YF, Luo JW, Fang ZT. Safety and Efficacy of Drug-Eluting Bead Transarterial Chemoembolization Combined with Lenvatinib and Anti-PD-1 Antibodies for Unresectable Hepatocellular Carcinoma: A Retrospective Analysis. J Hepatocell Carcinoma 2023; 10:807-820. [PMID: 37292114 PMCID: PMC10244613 DOI: 10.2147/jhc.s408819] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2023] [Accepted: 05/20/2023] [Indexed: 06/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Drug-eluting bead transarterial chemoembolization (DEB-TACE) has good efficacy in the treatment of unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (uHCC), with a relatively high objective response rate (ORR) compared to conventional transarterial chemoembolization (cTACE). This study aimed to evaluate the safety and medium-term clinical efficacy of DEB-TACE combined with lenvatinib (LEN) plus PD-1 inhibitors as a triple therapy for the treatment of uHCC. Methods Data of patients with uHCC who received triple therapy of DEB-TACE combined with LEN plus PD-1 inhibitors from January 2019 to June 2021 were analyzed retrospectively. The study endpoints were ORR, progression-free survival (PFS), and treatment-related adverse events based on the modified Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (mRECIST). Results Thirty-five patients were included in this study, with a median follow-up period of 15 months. The median cycle of DEB-TACE was 1, while that of all forms of TACE procedures per patient was 2. The median administration time of LEN was 7 months, and the median number of PD-1 inhibitor treatment was 4 cycles. The ORR based on mRECIST was 82.9%, disease control rate was 91.4%, and the median time to response was 7 weeks. Among these, the ORR of Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer (BCLC) stage A reached 100%, while that of BCLC stages B and C reached 84.6% and 78.9%, respectively. The median PFS was 9 months; the mOS was not reached. Fourteen patients (40%) successfully underwent downstaging conversion and surgical resection, 32 patients (91.4%) experienced treatment-related adverse events, and no grade 5-related adverse reactions occurred. Conclusion DEB-TACE combined with LEN and PD-1 inhibitors has a high ORR and surgical conversion rate in the treatment of uHCC tumors, and the toxicity and side effects were tolerable.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shao-Jie Wu
- Fujian Provincial Hospital, Shengli Clinical Medical College of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, People’s Republic of China
- Department of Interventional Radiology, Fujian Provincial Hospital, Fuzhou, People’s Republic of China
| | - Dan-Dan Ruan
- Fujian Provincial Hospital, Shengli Clinical Medical College of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, People’s Republic of China
| | - Qiu-Yan Wu
- Fujian Provincial Hospital, Shengli Clinical Medical College of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, People’s Republic of China
| | - Yi Tang
- Fujian Provincial Hospital, Shengli Clinical Medical College of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, People’s Republic of China
- Department of Interventional Radiology, Fujian Provincial Hospital, Fuzhou, People’s Republic of China
| | - Jian-Hui Zhang
- Fujian Provincial Hospital, Shengli Clinical Medical College of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, People’s Republic of China
| | - Sen-Lin Cai
- Fujian Provincial Hospital, Shengli Clinical Medical College of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, People’s Republic of China
- Department of Interventional Radiology, Fujian Provincial Hospital, Fuzhou, People’s Republic of China
| | - Yan-Feng Zhou
- Fujian Provincial Hospital, Shengli Clinical Medical College of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, People’s Republic of China
- Department of Interventional Radiology, Fujian Provincial Hospital, Fuzhou, People’s Republic of China
| | - Jie-Wei Luo
- Fujian Provincial Hospital, Shengli Clinical Medical College of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, People’s Republic of China
- Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fujian provincial hospital, Fuzhou, People’s Republic of China
| | - Zhu-Ting Fang
- Fujian Provincial Hospital, Shengli Clinical Medical College of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, People’s Republic of China
- Department of Interventional Radiology, Fujian Provincial Hospital, Fuzhou, People’s Republic of China
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Xu S, Wang C, Yang L, Wu J, Li M, Xiao P, Xu Z, Xu Y, Wang K. Targeting immune checkpoints on tumor-associated macrophages in tumor immunotherapy. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1199631. [PMID: 37313405 PMCID: PMC10258331 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1199631] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2023] [Accepted: 05/16/2023] [Indexed: 06/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Unprecedented breakthroughs have been made in cancer immunotherapy in recent years. Particularly immune checkpoint inhibitors have fostered hope for patients with cancer. However, immunotherapy still exhibits certain limitations, such as a low response rate, limited efficacy in certain populations, and adverse events in certain tumors. Therefore, exploring strategies that can improve clinical response rates in patients is crucial. Tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) are the predominant immune cells that infiltrate the tumor microenvironment and express a variety of immune checkpoints that impact immune functions. Mounting evidence indicates that immune checkpoints in TAMs are closely associated with the prognosis of patients with tumors receiving immunotherapy. This review centers on the regulatory mechanisms governing immune checkpoint expression in macrophages and strategies aimed at improving immune checkpoint therapies. Our review provides insights into potential therapeutic targets to improve the efficacy of immune checkpoint blockade and key clues to developing novel tumor immunotherapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shumin Xu
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Yiwu, China
| | - Chenyang Wang
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Yiwu, China
| | - Lingge Yang
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Yiwu, China
| | - Jiaji Wu
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Yiwu, China
| | - Mengshu Li
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Yiwu, China
| | - Peng Xiao
- School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Zhiyong Xu
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Yiwu, China
| | - Yun Xu
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Yiwu, China
| | - Kai Wang
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Yiwu, China
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Zhao M, Huang H, He F, Fu X. Current insights into the hepatic microenvironment and advances in immunotherapy for hepatocellular carcinoma. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1188277. [PMID: 37275909 PMCID: PMC10233045 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1188277] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2023] [Accepted: 05/04/2023] [Indexed: 06/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common type of primary liver cancer and shows high global incidence and mortality rates. The liver is an immune-tolerated organ with a specific immune microenvironment that causes traditional therapeutic approaches to HCC, such as chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and molecular targeted therapy, to have limited efficacy. The dramatic advances in immuno-oncology in the past few decades have modified the paradigm of cancer therapy, ushering in the era of immunotherapy. Currently, despite the rapid integration of cancer immunotherapy into clinical practice, some patients still show no response to treatment. Therefore, a rational approach is to target the tumor microenvironment when developing the next generation of immunotherapy. This review aims to provide insights into the hepatic immune microenvironment in HCC and summarize the mechanisms of action and clinical usage of immunotherapeutic options for HCC, including immune checkpoint blockade, adoptive therapy, cytokine therapy, vaccine therapy, and oncolytic virus-based therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Feng He
- *Correspondence: Feng He, ; Xiangsheng Fu,
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Wu T, Li N, Luo F, Chen Z, Ma L, Hu T, Hong G, Li H. Screening prognostic markers for hepatocellular carcinoma based on pyroptosis-related lncRNA pairs. BMC Bioinformatics 2023; 24:176. [PMID: 37120506 PMCID: PMC10148420 DOI: 10.1186/s12859-023-05299-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2022] [Accepted: 04/20/2023] [Indexed: 05/01/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Pyroptosis is closely related to cancer prognosis. In this study, we tried to construct an individualized prognostic risk model for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) based on within-sample relative expression orderings (REOs) of pyroptosis-related lncRNAs (PRlncRNAs). METHODS RNA-seq data of 343 HCC samples derived from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database were analyzed. PRlncRNAs were detected based on differentially expressed lncRNAs between sample groups clustered by 40 reported pyroptosis-related genes (PRGs). Univariate Cox regression was used to screen out prognosis-related PRlncRNA pairs. Then, based on REOs of prognosis-related PRlncRNA pairs, a risk model for HCC was constructed by combining LASSO and stepwise multivariate Cox regression analysis. Finally, a prognosis-related competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) network was built based on information about lncRNA-miRNA-mRNA interactions derived from the miRNet and TargetScan databases. RESULTS Hierarchical clustering of HCC patients according to the 40 PRGs identified two groups with a significant survival difference (Kaplan-Meier log-rank, p = 0.026). Between the two groups, 104 differentially expressed lncRNAs were identified (|log2(FC)|> 1 and FDR < 5%). Among them, 83 PRlncRNA pairs showed significant associations between their REOs within HCC samples and overall survival (Univariate Cox regression, p < 0.005). An optimal 11-PRlncRNA-pair prognostic risk model was constructed for HCC. The areas under the curves (AUCs) of time-dependent receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves of the risk model for 1-, 3-, and 5-year survival were 0.737, 0.705, and 0.797 in the validation set, respectively. Gene Set Enrichment Analysis showed that inflammation-related interleukin signaling pathways were upregulated in the predicted high-risk group (p < 0.05). Tumor immune infiltration analysis revealed a higher abundance of regulatory T cells (Tregs) and M2 macrophages and a lower abundance of CD8 + T cells in the high-risk group, indicating that excessive pyroptosis might occur in high-risk patients. Finally, eleven lncRNA-miRNA-mRNA regulatory axes associated with pyroptosis were established. CONCLUSION Our risk model allowed us to determine the robustness of the REO-based PRlncRNA prognostic biomarkers in the stratification of HCC patients at high and low risk. The model is also helpful for understanding the molecular mechanisms between pyroptosis and HCC prognosis. High-risk patients may have excessive pyroptosis and thus be less sensitive to immune therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tong Wu
- School of Medical Information Engineering, Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou, 341000, China
| | - Na Li
- School of Medical Information Engineering, Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou, 341000, China
| | - Fengyuan Luo
- School of Medical Information Engineering, Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou, 341000, China
| | - Zhihong Chen
- School of Medical Information Engineering, Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou, 341000, China
| | - Liyuan Ma
- School of Public Health and Health Management, Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou, 341000, China
| | - Tao Hu
- School of Medical Information Engineering, Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou, 341000, China
| | - Guini Hong
- School of Medical Information Engineering, Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou, 341000, China.
| | - Hongdong Li
- School of Medical Information Engineering, Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou, 341000, China.
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Cheng Z, Huang H, Li M, Liang X, Tan Y, Chen Y. Lactylation-Related Gene Signature Effectively Predicts Prognosis and Treatment Responsiveness in Hepatocellular Carcinoma. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2023; 16:ph16050644. [PMID: 37242427 DOI: 10.3390/ph16050644] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 23.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2023] [Revised: 04/20/2023] [Accepted: 04/23/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a malignant tumor associated with high morbidity and mortality. Therefore, it is of great importance to develop effective prognostic models and guide clinical treatment in HCC. Protein lactylation is found in HCC tumors and is associated with HCC progression. METHODS The expression levels of lactylation-related genes were identified from the TCGA database. A lactylation-related gene signature was constructed using LASSO regression. The prognostic value of the model was assessed and further validated in the ICGC cohort, with the patients split into two groups based on risk score. Glycolysis and immune pathways, treatment responsiveness, and the mutation of signature genes were analyzed. The correlation between PKM2 expression and the clinical characteristics was investigated. RESULTS Sixteen prognostic differentially expressed lactylation-related genes were identified. An 8-gene signature was constructed and validated. Patients with higher risk scores had poorer clinical outcomes. The two groups were different in immune cell abundance. The high-risk group patients were more sensitive to most chemical drugs and sorafenib, while the low-risk group patients were more sensitive to some targeted drugs such as lapatinib and FH535. Moreover, the low-risk group had a higher TIDE score and was more sensitive to immunotherapy. PKM2 expression correlated with clinical characteristics and immune cell abundance in the HCC samples. CONCLUSIONS The lactylation-related model exhibited robust predictive efficiency in HCC. The glycolysis pathway was enriched in the HCC tumor samples. A low-risk score indicated better treatment response to most targeted drugs and immunotherapy. The lactylation-related gene signature could be used as a biomarker for the effective clinical treatment of HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhe Cheng
- Department of Oncology, NHC Key Laboratory of Cancer Proteomics, Laboratory of Structural Biology, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410008, China
| | - Huichao Huang
- Department of Infectious Disease, NHC Key Laboratory of Cancer Proteomics, Laboratory of Structural Biology, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410008, China
| | - Maoyu Li
- Department of Oncology, NHC Key Laboratory of Cancer Proteomics, Laboratory of Structural Biology, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410008, China
| | - Xujun Liang
- Department of Oncology, NHC Key Laboratory of Cancer Proteomics, Laboratory of Structural Biology, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410008, China
| | - Yuying Tan
- Department of Oncology, NHC Key Laboratory of Cancer Proteomics, Laboratory of Structural Biology, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410008, China
| | - Yongheng Chen
- Department of Oncology, NHC Key Laboratory of Cancer Proteomics, Laboratory of Structural Biology, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410008, China
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Akkız H. Emerging Role of Cancer-Associated Fibroblasts in Progression and Treatment of Hepatocellular Carcinoma. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:3941. [PMID: 36835352 PMCID: PMC9964606 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24043941] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2022] [Revised: 01/07/2023] [Accepted: 01/10/2023] [Indexed: 02/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most prevalent cancers worldwide and the fourth leading cause of cancer-related death globally. Tumor cells recruit and remodel various types of stromal and inflammatory cells to form a tumor microenvironment (TME), which encompasses cellular and molecular entities, including cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs), tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs), tumor-associated neutrophils (TANs), immune cells, myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs), immune checkpoint molecules and cytokines that promote cancer cell growth, as well as their drug resistance. HCC usually arises in the context of cirrhosis, which is always associated with an enrichment of activated fibroblasts that are owed to chronic inflammation. CAFs are a major component of the TME, providing physical support in it and secreting various proteins, such as extracellular matrices (ECMs), hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), insulin-like growth factor 1/2 (ILGF1/2) and cytokines that can modulate tumor growth and survival. As such, CAF-derived signaling may increase the pool of resistant cells, thus reducing the duration of clinical responses and increasing the degree of heterogeneity within tumors. Although CAFs are often implicated to be associated with tumor growth, metastasis and drug resistance, several studies have reported that CAFs have significant phenotypic and functional heterogeneity, and some CAFs display antitumor and drug-sensitizing properties. Multiple studies have highlighted the relevance of crosstalk between HCC cells, CAFs and other stromal cells in influence of HCC progression. Although basic and clinical studies partially revealed the emerging roles of CAFs in immunotherapy resistance and immune evasion, a better understanding of the unique functions of CAFs in HCC progression will contribute to development of more effective molecular-targeted drugs. In this review article, molecular mechanisms involved in crosstalk between CAFs, HCC cells and other stromal cells, as well as the effects of CAFs on HCC-cell growth, metastasis, drug resistance and clinical outcomes, are comprehensively discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hikmet Akkız
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, The University of Bahçeşehir, Istanbul 34425, Turkey
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30
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Zhang W, Yang C, Hu Y, Yi K, Xiao W, Xu X, Chen Z. Comprehensive analysis of the correlation of the pan-cancer gene HAUS5 with prognosis and immune infiltration in liver cancer. Sci Rep 2023; 13:2409. [PMID: 36765148 PMCID: PMC9918732 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-28653-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2022] [Accepted: 01/23/2023] [Indexed: 02/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Liver hepatocellular carcinoma (LIHC) is one of the most common malignancies and places a heavy burden on patients worldwide. HAUS augmin-like complex subunit 5 (HAUS5) is involved in the occurrence and development of various cancers. However, the functional role and significance of HAUS5 in LIHC remain unclear. The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), Genotype-Tissue Expression (GTEx), Cancer Cell Line Encyclopedia (CCLE) and Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) databases were used to analyze the mRNA expression of HAUS5. The value of HAUS5 in predicting LIHC prognosis and the relationship between HAUS5 and clinicopathological features were assessed by the Kaplan-Meier plotter and UALCAN databases. Functional enrichment analyses and nomogram prediction model construction were performed with the R packages. The LinkedOmics database was searched to reveal co-expressed genes associated with HAUS5. The relationship between HAUS5 expression and immune infiltration was explored by searching the TISIDB database and single-sample gene set enrichment analysis (ssGSEA). The Clinical Proteomic Tumor Analysis Consortium (CPTAC) and the Human Protein Atlas (HPA) databases were used to evaluate HAUS5 protein expression. Finally, the effect of HAUS5 on the proliferation of hepatoma cells was verified by CCK-8, colony formation and EdU assays. HAUS5 is aberrantly expressed and associated with a poor prognosis in most tumors, including LIHC. The expression of HAUS5 is significantly correlated with clinicopathological indicators in patients with LIHC. Functional enrichment analysis showed that HAUS5 was closely related to DNA replication, cell cycle and p53 signaling pathway. HAUS5 may serve as an independent risk factor for LIHC prognosis. The nomogram based on HAUS5 had area under the curve (AUC) values of 0.74 and 0.77 for predicting the 3-year and 5-year overall survival (OS) of LIHC patients. Immune correlation analysis showed that HAUS5 was significantly associated with immune infiltration. Finally, the results of in vitro experiments showed that when HAUS5 was knocked down, the proliferation of hepatoma cells was significantly decreased. The pan-oncogene HAUS5 is a positive regulator of LIHC progression and is closely associated with a poor prognosis in LIHC. Moreover, HAUS5 is involved in immune infiltration in LIHC. HAUS5 may be a new prognostic marker and therapeutic target for LIHC patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenbing Zhang
- Suzhou Medical College of Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, China
- Department of General Surgery, The First People's Hospital of Taicang, Taicang Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, No. 58 Changsheng South Road, Taicang, Suzhou, 215400, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China
| | - Chi Yang
- Suzhou Medical College of Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, China
- Department of General Surgery, The First People's Hospital of Taicang, Taicang Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, No. 58 Changsheng South Road, Taicang, Suzhou, 215400, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China
| | - Yan Hu
- Central Laboratory, The First People's Hospital of Taicang, Taicang Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, No. 58 Changsheng South Road, Taicang, Suzhou, 215400, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China
| | - Ke Yi
- Central Laboratory, The First People's Hospital of Taicang, Taicang Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, No. 58 Changsheng South Road, Taicang, Suzhou, 215400, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China
| | - Wangwen Xiao
- Central Laboratory, The First People's Hospital of Taicang, Taicang Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, No. 58 Changsheng South Road, Taicang, Suzhou, 215400, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiaohui Xu
- Suzhou Medical College of Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, China.
- Department of General Surgery, The First People's Hospital of Taicang, Taicang Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, No. 58 Changsheng South Road, Taicang, Suzhou, 215400, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China.
- Central Laboratory, The First People's Hospital of Taicang, Taicang Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, No. 58 Changsheng South Road, Taicang, Suzhou, 215400, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China.
| | - Zhihua Chen
- Suzhou Medical College of Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, China.
- Department of General Surgery, The First People's Hospital of Taicang, Taicang Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, No. 58 Changsheng South Road, Taicang, Suzhou, 215400, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China.
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31
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Gabbia D, De Martin S. Tumor Mutational Burden for Predicting Prognosis and Therapy Outcome of Hepatocellular Carcinoma. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24043441. [PMID: 36834851 PMCID: PMC9960420 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24043441] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2023] [Revised: 02/03/2023] [Accepted: 02/05/2023] [Indexed: 02/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the primary hepatic malignancy, represents the second-highest cause of cancer-related death worldwide. Many efforts have been devoted to finding novel biomarkers for predicting both patients' survival and the outcome of pharmacological treatments, with a particular focus on immunotherapy. In this regard, recent studies have focused on unravelling the role of tumor mutational burden (TMB), i.e., the total number of mutations per coding area of a tumor genome, to ascertain whether it can be considered a reliable biomarker to be used either for the stratification of HCC patients in subgroups with different responsiveness to immunotherapy, or for the prediction of disease progression, particularly in relation to the different HCC etiologies. In this review, we summarize the recent advances on the study of TMB and TMB-related biomarkers in the HCC landscape, focusing on their feasibility as guides for therapy decisions and/or predictors of clinical outcome.
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Liu JC, Yu HJ. A Review of the Pharmacokinetic Characteristics of Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors and Their Clinical Impact Factors. Pharmgenomics Pers Med 2023; 16:29-36. [PMID: 36714524 PMCID: PMC9880024 DOI: 10.2147/pgpm.s391756] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2022] [Accepted: 01/06/2023] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have been shown to be significant in improving the overall survival rate in certain malignancies with poor prognoses. However, only 20-40% of patients achieve long-term benefits, highlighting the relevance of the factors that influence the treatment, which can help clinicians improve their results and guide the development of new immune checkpoint therapies. In this study, the current pharmacokinetic aspects associated with the ICIs and the factors influencing clinical efficacy were characterised, including in terms of drug metabolism, drug clearance, hormonal effects and immunosuppressive effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jun-Chen Liu
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, The First People’s Hospital of Jiande, Jiande, People’s Republic of China
| | - Hong-Jing Yu
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, The First People’s Hospital of Jiande, Jiande, People’s Republic of China,Correspondence: Hong-Jing Yu, Department of Medical Oncology, The First People’s Hospital of jiande, No. 599 Yanzhou Avenue, Xin’anjiang street, Jiande, Zhejiang, 311600, People’s Republic of China, Tel +86 15869196365, Fax +86-571-64721520, Email
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The basement membrane-related gene signature is associated with immunity and predicts survival accurately in hepatocellular carcinoma. J Cancer Res Clin Oncol 2022:10.1007/s00432-022-04549-2. [PMID: 36575345 DOI: 10.1007/s00432-022-04549-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2022] [Accepted: 12/17/2022] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
AIMS Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common type of primary liver cancer. Expression defects and turnover of basement membrane (BM) proteins are key pathogenic factors in cancer. It is still uncertain how the expression of BM-related genes (BMGs) in HCC relates to prognosis. METHODS All of the HCC cohort's RNA-seq and clinical information came from TCGA datasets. The least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression algorithm was utilized to filter down the candidate genes and construct the prognostic model. Univariate and multivariate Cox analyses were run to examine if the risk score may serve as a standalone prognostic indicator. The single-sample gene set enrichment analysis (ssGSEA) was utilized to analyze examine immune cell infiltration and pathway activity. RESULTS Five genes and their risk coefficients were eventually identified and patients with HCC were classified as either high or low risk based on the median of risk scores. Multivariate Cox regression analysis found a significant correlation between risk score and OS (p < 0.001). Subgroup analysis showed that BMGs signature had good prediction ability for HCC patients in age, gender, T stage, and AJCC stage (all p < 0.05). According to the ssGSEA, the high-risk subgroup showed higher levels of immune cell infiltration and immune-related pathways were more engaged in the high-risk group. CONCLUSIONS Our research systematically built a prognostic model using risk score based on BMGs signature in HCC patients. The immune feature analysis of the BMGs signature indicated a potential regulation between tumor immunity and BM in HCC.
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Shi X, Li Z, Yao R, Cheng Q, Li W, Wu R, Xie Z, Zhu Y, Qiu X, Yang S, Zhou T, Hu J, Zhang Y, Wu T, Zhao Y, Zhang Y, Wu J, Wang H, Jiang X, Chen L. Single-cell atlas of diverse immune populations in the advanced biliary tract cancer microenvironment. NPJ Precis Oncol 2022; 6:58. [PMID: 35982235 PMCID: PMC9388673 DOI: 10.1038/s41698-022-00300-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/01/2022] [Accepted: 07/18/2022] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Immunotherapies have been explored in treating solid tumors, albeit with disparate clinical effects in distinct cancer types. Systematic interrogation of immune cells in the tumor microenvironment (TME) is vital to the prediction of immunotherapy response and the development of innovative immunotherapeutics. To comprehensively characterize the immune microenvironment in advanced biliary tract cancer (BTC), we utilized single-cell RNA sequencing in unselected viable cells from 16 matched samples, and identified nineteen cell subsets from a total of 45,851 cells, in which exhausted CD8+ T cells, macrophages, and dendritic cells (DCs) in BTC were shown to augment and communicate within the TME. Transcriptional profiles coupled with T cell receptor (TCR) sequences revealed that exhausted CD8+ T cells retained clonal expansion and high proliferation in the TME, and some of them highly expressed the endoplasmic reticulum stress (ER) response gene, XBP1, indicating the role of ER stress in remodeling TME. Functional assays demonstrated that XBP1 and common immune checkpoints (PD1, TIGIT) were significantly upregulated in CD8+ T cells cocultured within the TME of BTC cells (GBC-SD, HCCC-9810). When treating the coculture groups with the specific inhibitor of IRE1α-XBP1 (4μ8C), the downregulation of TIGIT was observed in the treatment group. Collectively, comprehensive transcriptome profiling provides deep insights into the immune atlas in advanced BTC, which might be instrumental in exploring innovative immunotherapy strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuebing Shi
- Department I of Biliary Tract, Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Hospital, Naval Medical University, Shanghai, China
- The International Cooperation Laboratory on Signal Transduction, Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Hospital, Shanghai, China
| | - Zhixuan Li
- The International Cooperation Laboratory on Signal Transduction, Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Hospital, Shanghai, China
| | - Renqi Yao
- Translational Medicine Research Center, Medical Innovation Research Division and Fourth Medical Center of the Chinese PLA General Hospital, 100853, Beijing, China
- Department of Burn Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital of Naval Medical University, 200433, Shanghai, China
| | - Qingbao Cheng
- Department I of Biliary Tract, Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Hospital, Naval Medical University, Shanghai, China
| | - Wei Li
- Department I of Biliary Tract, Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Hospital, Naval Medical University, Shanghai, China
| | - Rui Wu
- Department I of Biliary Tract, Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Hospital, Naval Medical University, Shanghai, China
- The International Cooperation Laboratory on Signal Transduction, Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Hospital, Shanghai, China
| | - Zhihua Xie
- Department I of Biliary Tract, Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Hospital, Naval Medical University, Shanghai, China
- The International Cooperation Laboratory on Signal Transduction, Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Hospital, Shanghai, China
| | - Yanjing Zhu
- The International Cooperation Laboratory on Signal Transduction, Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Hospital, Shanghai, China
| | - Xinyao Qiu
- Department of Oncology, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Shuai Yang
- Department of Oncology, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Tao Zhou
- The International Cooperation Laboratory on Signal Transduction, Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Hospital, Shanghai, China
| | - Ji Hu
- The International Cooperation Laboratory on Signal Transduction, Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Hospital, Shanghai, China
| | - Yangqianwen Zhang
- The International Cooperation Laboratory on Signal Transduction, Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Hospital, Shanghai, China
| | - Tong Wu
- The International Cooperation Laboratory on Signal Transduction, Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Hospital, Shanghai, China
| | - Yan Zhao
- Institute of Metabolism and Integrative Biology and School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yani Zhang
- Institute of Metabolism and Integrative Biology and School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Jianmin Wu
- Institute of Metabolism and Integrative Biology and School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Hongyang Wang
- The International Cooperation Laboratory on Signal Transduction, Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Hospital, Shanghai, China.
- National Center for Liver Cancer, Shanghai, China.
- Key Laboratory on Signaling Regulation and Targeting Therapy of Liver Cancer, Ministry of Education, Shanghai, China.
| | - Xiaoqing Jiang
- Department I of Biliary Tract, Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Hospital, Naval Medical University, Shanghai, China.
| | - Lei Chen
- The International Cooperation Laboratory on Signal Transduction, Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Hospital, Shanghai, China.
- National Center for Liver Cancer, Shanghai, China.
- Shanghai Key Laboratory on Hepatobiliary Tumor Biology, Shanghai, China.
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Guan MC, Wang MD, Wang WY, Li C, Yao LQ, Zhu H, Yang T. Exosomes as mediators of tumor immune escape and immunotherapy in hepatocellular carcinoma. LIVER RESEARCH 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.livres.2022.08.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
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Zhang Z, Shang J, Hu B, Shi H, Cao Y, Li J, Jiao T, Zhang W, Lu S. Prognosis and Tumour Immune Microenvironment of Patients With Hepatocellular Carcinoma by a Novel Pyroptosis-Related lncRNA Signature. Front Immunol 2022; 13:836576. [PMID: 35812396 PMCID: PMC9263208 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.836576] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2021] [Accepted: 05/23/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Worldwide, hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common subtype of liver cancer. However, the survival rate of patients with HCC continues to be poor. The recent literature has revealed that long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) and the occurrence of pyroptosis can perform a substantial task in predicting the prognosis of the respective condition along with the response to immunotherapy among HCC patients. Thus, screening and identifying lncRNAs corelated with pyroptosis in HCC patients are critical. In the current study, pyroptosis-related lncRNAs (PR-lncRNAs) have been obtained by co-expression analysis. The Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator (LASSO) and univariate and multivariate Cox regression assessments have been performed to develop a PR-lncRNA prognostic model. The risk model was analysed using Kaplan–Meier analysis, principal component analysis (PCA), functional enrichment annotation, and a nomogram. The risk model composed of five PR-lncRNAs was identified as an independent prognostic factor. The tumour immune microenvironment (TIME) was assessed using model groupings. Finally, we validated the five PR-lncRNAs in vitro using a quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR).
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Affiliation(s)
- Ze Zhang
- Medical School of Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA), Beijing, China
- Faculty of Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Surgery, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China
- Institute of Hepatobiliary Surgery of Chinese PLA, Beijing, China
- Key Laboratory of Digital Hepatobiliary Surgery, PLA, Beijing, China
| | - Jin Shang
- Medical School of Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA), Beijing, China
| | - Bingyang Hu
- Faculty of Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Surgery, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China
- Institute of Hepatobiliary Surgery of Chinese PLA, Beijing, China
- Key Laboratory of Digital Hepatobiliary Surgery, PLA, Beijing, China
| | - Huizhong Shi
- Medical School of Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA), Beijing, China
- Faculty of Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Surgery, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China
- Institute of Hepatobiliary Surgery of Chinese PLA, Beijing, China
- Key Laboratory of Digital Hepatobiliary Surgery, PLA, Beijing, China
| | - Yinbiao Cao
- Medical School of Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA), Beijing, China
- Faculty of Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Surgery, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China
- Institute of Hepatobiliary Surgery of Chinese PLA, Beijing, China
- Key Laboratory of Digital Hepatobiliary Surgery, PLA, Beijing, China
| | - Junfeng Li
- Medical School of Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA), Beijing, China
- Faculty of Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Surgery, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China
- Institute of Hepatobiliary Surgery of Chinese PLA, Beijing, China
- Key Laboratory of Digital Hepatobiliary Surgery, PLA, Beijing, China
| | - Tianyu Jiao
- Medical School of Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA), Beijing, China
- Faculty of Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Surgery, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China
- Institute of Hepatobiliary Surgery of Chinese PLA, Beijing, China
- Key Laboratory of Digital Hepatobiliary Surgery, PLA, Beijing, China
| | - Wenwen Zhang
- Faculty of Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Surgery, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China
- Institute of Hepatobiliary Surgery of Chinese PLA, Beijing, China
- Key Laboratory of Digital Hepatobiliary Surgery, PLA, Beijing, China
| | - Shichun Lu
- Faculty of Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Surgery, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China
- Institute of Hepatobiliary Surgery of Chinese PLA, Beijing, China
- Key Laboratory of Digital Hepatobiliary Surgery, PLA, Beijing, China
- *Correspondence: Shichun Lu,
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Hu W, Shi Y, Han T, Liu C, Cao X, Shi G, Zhu W. A Panel of E2F Target Gene Signature Predicting the Prognosis of Hepatocellular Carcinoma. Front Genet 2022; 13:879299. [PMID: 35591857 PMCID: PMC9110819 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2022.879299] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2022] [Accepted: 04/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma is one of the most malignant tumors, and the therapeutic effects of traditional treatments are poor. It is urgent to explore and identify new biomarkers and therapeutic targets to develop novel treatments which are individualized and effective. Three hallmarks, including E2F targets, G2M checkpoint and DNA repair, were collected by GSEA analysis. The panel of E2F-related gene signature consisted of five genes: HN1, KIF4A, CDCA3, CDCA8 and SSRP1. They had various mutation rates ranging from 0.8 to 5% in hepatocellular carcinoma, and patients with gene mutation had poorer prognosis. Among these genes, HN1 has the greatest mutation rate, and SSRP1 has the greatest impact on the model with a B (COX) value of 0.8842. Patients with higher expression of these genes had poorer prognosis. Kaplan-Meier curves in stratified survival analysis confirmed that patients with high risk scores had poor prognosis (p < 0.05). The results of univariate and multivariate COX survival analysis showed that risk score was closely related to the overall survival of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma. For clinical validation, we found that all the genes in the model were upregulated in hepatocellular carcinoma tissues compared to normal liver tissues, which was consistent with the previous results we obtained. Our study demonstrated that a panel of E2F target genes signature including five genes could predict the prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma. This panel gene signature can facilitate the development of individualized and effective treatment for hepatocellular carcinoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenmin Hu
- School of Medicine and Pharmacy, Ocean University of China, Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Qingdao Municipal Hospital, Qingdao, China
| | - Yongmei Shi
- Department of Gynecology, Qingdao Municipal Hospital, School of Medicine, Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
| | - Tongqin Han
- Department of General Practice, Qingdao Municipal Hospital, School of Medicine, Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
| | - Caiyun Liu
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Qingdao Municipal Hospital, Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
| | - Xipeng Cao
- Clinical Research Center, Qingdao Municipal Hospital, Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
| | - Guangjun Shi
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Qingdao Municipal Hospital, Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
- *Correspondence: Guangjun Shi, ; Wenjing Zhu,
| | - Wenjing Zhu
- Clinical Research Center, Qingdao Municipal Hospital, Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
- Respiratory Disease Key Laboratory of Qingdao, Qingdao Municipal Hospital, Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
- *Correspondence: Guangjun Shi, ; Wenjing Zhu,
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Li X, Zhang Z, Liu M, Fu X, A J, Chen G, Wu S, Dong JT. Establishment of a lncRNA-Based Prognostic Gene Signature Associated With Altered Immune Responses in HCC. Front Immunol 2022; 13:880288. [PMID: 35572559 PMCID: PMC9097819 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.880288] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2022] [Accepted: 04/05/2022] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a common malignancy with higher mortality, and means are urgently needed to improve the prognosis. T cell exclusion (TCE) plays a pivotal role in immune evasion, and lncRNAs represent a large group of tumor development and progression modulators. Using the TCGA HCC dataset (n=374), we identified 2752 differentially expressed and 702 TCE-associated lncRNAs, of which 336 were in both groups. As identified using the univariate Cox regression analysis, those associated with overall survival (OS) were subjected to the LASSO-COX regression analysis to develop a prognosis signature. The model, which consisted of 11 lncRNAs and was named 11LNCPS for 11-lncRNA prognosis signature, was validated and performed better than two previous models. In addition to OS and TCE, higher 11LNCPS scores had a significant correlation with reduced infiltrations of CD8+ T cells and dendritic cells (DCs) and decreased infiltrations of Th1, Th2, and pro B cells. As expected, these infiltration alterations were significantly associated with worse OS in HCC. Analysis of published data indicates that HCCs with higher 11LNCPS scores were transcriptomically similar to those that responded better to PDL1 inhibitor. Of the 11LNCPS lncRNAs, LINC01134 and AC116025.2 seem more crucial, as their upregulations affected more immune cell types' infiltrations and were significantly associated with TCE, worse OS, and compromised immune responses in HCC. LncRNAs in the 11LNCPS impacted many cancer-associated biological processes and signaling pathways, particularly those involved in immune function and metabolism. The 11LNCPS should be useful for predicting prognosis and immune responses in HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiawei Li
- Department of Genetics and Cell Biology, College of Life Sciences, Nankai University, Tianjin, China
- Laboratory Department of Human Cell Biology and Genetics, School of Medicine, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, China
| | - Zhiqian Zhang
- Laboratory Department of Human Cell Biology and Genetics, School of Medicine, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, China
| | - Mingcheng Liu
- Laboratory Department of Human Cell Biology and Genetics, School of Medicine, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, China
| | - Xing Fu
- Laboratory Department of Human Cell Biology and Genetics, School of Medicine, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, China
| | - Jun A
- Laboratory Department of Human Cell Biology and Genetics, School of Medicine, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, China
| | - Guoan Chen
- Laboratory Department of Human Cell Biology and Genetics, School of Medicine, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, China
| | - Shian Wu
- Department of Genetics and Cell Biology, College of Life Sciences, Nankai University, Tianjin, China
| | - Jin-Tang Dong
- Laboratory Department of Human Cell Biology and Genetics, School of Medicine, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, China
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Target Therapy for Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Beyond Receptor Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors and Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors. BIOLOGY 2022; 11:biology11040585. [PMID: 35453784 PMCID: PMC9027240 DOI: 10.3390/biology11040585] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2022] [Revised: 03/19/2022] [Accepted: 04/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Simple Summary Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common type of primary liver cancer and its incidence is steadily increasing. The development of HCC is a complex, multi-step process that is accompanied by alterations in multiple signaling cascades. Recent years have seen advancement in understanding molecular signaling pathways that play central roles in hepatocarcinogenesis. Aberrant activation of YAP/TAZ, Hedgehog, or Wnt/β-catenin signaling is frequently found in a subset of HCC patients. Targeting the signaling pathway via small molecule inhibitors could be a promising therapeutic option for the subset of patients. In this review, we will introduce the signaling pathways, discuss their roles in the development of HCC, and propose a therapeutic approach targeting the signaling pathways in the context of HCC. Abstract Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a major health concern worldwide, and its incidence is increasing steadily. To date, receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs) are the most favored molecular targets for the treatment of HCC, followed by immune checkpoint regulators such as PD-1, PD-L1, and CTLA-4. With less than desirable clinical outcomes from RTK inhibitors as well as immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) so far, novel molecular target therapies have been proposed for HCC. In this review, we will introduce diverse molecular signaling pathways that are aberrantly activated in HCC, focusing on YAP/TAZ, Hedgehog, and Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathways, and discuss potential therapeutic strategies targeting the signaling pathways in HCC.
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Liu D, Heij LR, Czigany Z, Dahl E, Lang SA, Ulmer TF, Luedde T, Neumann UP, Bednarsch J. The role of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes in cholangiocarcinoma. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL & CLINICAL CANCER RESEARCH : CR 2022; 41:127. [PMID: 35392957 PMCID: PMC8988317 DOI: 10.1186/s13046-022-02340-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2022] [Accepted: 03/23/2022] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) is the second most common primary liver cancer and associated with a dismal prognosis due to the lack of an efficient systemic therapy. In contrast to other cancers, new immunotherapies have demonstrated unsatisfactory results in clinical trials, underlining the importance of a deeper understanding of the special tumor microenvironment of CCA and the role of immune cells interacting with the tumor. Tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) are an important component of the adaptive immune system and the foundation of current immunotherapy. Therefore, the aim of this systemic review is to summarize the current literature focusing on the proportions and distribution, molecular pathogenesis, prognostic significance of TILs and their role in immunotherapy for CCA patients. In CCA, CD8+ and CD4+ T lymphocytes represent the majority of TILs and are mostly sequestered around the cancer cells. CD20+ B lymphocytes and Natural Killer (NK) cells are less frequent. In contrast, Foxp3+ cells (regulatory T cells, Tregs) are observed to infiltrate into the tumor. In the immune microenvironment of CCA, cancer cells and stromal cells such as TAMs, TANs, MSDCs and CAFs inhibit the immune protection function of TILs by secreting factors like IL-10 and TGF-β. With respect to molecular pathogenesis, the Wnt/-catenin, TGF-signaling routes, aPKC-i/P-Sp1/Snail Signaling, B7-H1/PD-1Pathway and Fas/FasL signaling pathways are connected to the malignant potential and contributed to tumor immune evasion by increasing TIL apoptosis. Distinct subtypes of TILs show different prognostic implications for the long-term outcome in CCA. Although there are occasionally conflicting results, CD8+ and CD4+ T cells, and CD20+ B cells are positively correlated with the oncological prognosis of CCA, while a high number of Tregs is very likely associated with worse overall survival. TILs also play a major role in immunotherapy for CCA. In summary, the presence of TILs may represent an important marker for the prognosis and a potential target for novel therapy, but more clinical and translational data is needed to fully unravel the importance of TILs in the treatment of CCA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dong Liu
- Department of Surgery and Transplantation, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, Pauwelsstrasse 30, 52074, Aachen, Germany
| | - Lara Rosaline Heij
- Department of Surgery and Transplantation, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, Pauwelsstrasse 30, 52074, Aachen, Germany.,Institute of Pathology, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, Aachen, Germany.,NUTRIM School of Nutrition and Translational Research in Metabolism, Maastricht University, Maastricht, the Netherlands
| | - Zoltan Czigany
- Department of Surgery and Transplantation, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, Pauwelsstrasse 30, 52074, Aachen, Germany
| | - Edgar Dahl
- Institute of Pathology, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, Aachen, Germany
| | - Sven Arke Lang
- Department of Surgery and Transplantation, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, Pauwelsstrasse 30, 52074, Aachen, Germany
| | - Tom Florian Ulmer
- Department of Surgery and Transplantation, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, Pauwelsstrasse 30, 52074, Aachen, Germany
| | - Tom Luedde
- Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Infectious Diseases, University Hospital Heinrich Heine University Duesseldorf, Duesseldorf, Germany
| | - Ulf Peter Neumann
- Department of Surgery and Transplantation, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, Pauwelsstrasse 30, 52074, Aachen, Germany. .,Department of Surgery, Maastricht University Medical Center (MUMC), Maastricht, The Netherlands.
| | - Jan Bednarsch
- Department of Surgery and Transplantation, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, Pauwelsstrasse 30, 52074, Aachen, Germany
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Wang C, Lv Y, Sha Z, Zhang J, Wu J, Qi Y, Guo Z. Dicer Enhances Bevacizumab-Related Inhibition of Hepatocellular Carcinoma via Blocking the Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Pathway. J Hepatocell Carcinoma 2022; 8:1643-1653. [PMID: 35004391 PMCID: PMC8721026 DOI: 10.2147/jhc.s327258] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2021] [Accepted: 12/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Purpose Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) family members contribute greatly to the development and angiogenesis of hypervascular hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). We have previously shown that Dicer inhibited HCC growth. In this study, we aimed to determine the relationship between Dicer and VEGF in HCC. Methods Gain-of-function studies were performed to determine the effect of different treatments on the proliferation, migration, and invasion of HCC cells. Expression of VEGF-A in xenograft tumor tissues was analysed using Western blotting, and that of CD31 using immunohistochemical analysis. Results We found that Dicer inhibited proliferation, migration and invasion of HCC cells by suppressing VEGF-A expression. Interestingly, VEGF-A165, which is the most prominent VEGF-A isoform, counteracted Dicer-induced inhibition of HCC cells. In addition, a monoclonal anti-VEGF antibody (bevacizumab) enhanced Dicer-induced inhibition of HCC in vitro and in vivo. Further, immunohistochemical analysis of CD31 indicated bevacizumab and Dicer synergized to reduce tumor microvessel density. Conclusion Our data demonstrated that Dicer enhanced bevacizumab-related inhibition of HCC cell via the VEGF pathway; therefore, Dicer in coordination with bevacizumab may provide another potential approach for HCC therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cuiju Wang
- Department of Gynaecology Ultrasound, The Fourth Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, People's Republic of China
| | - Yalei Lv
- Department of Medical Oncology, The Fourth Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, People's Republic of China
| | - Ziyue Sha
- Department of Immunology and Rheumatology, The Fourth Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, People's Republic of China
| | - Jingjing Zhang
- Department of Immunology and Rheumatology, The Fourth Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, People's Republic of China
| | - Jianhua Wu
- Animal Center, The Fourth Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, People's Republic of China
| | - Yixin Qi
- Breast Center, The Fourth Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhanjun Guo
- Department of Immunology and Rheumatology, The Fourth Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, People's Republic of China
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Tumor-Associated Macrophages in Hepatocellular Carcinoma Pathogenesis, Prognosis and Therapy. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14010226. [PMID: 35008390 PMCID: PMC8749970 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14010226] [Citation(s) in RCA: 64] [Impact Index Per Article: 32.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2021] [Revised: 12/31/2021] [Accepted: 01/02/2022] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) constitutes a major health burden, accounting for >80% of primary liver cancers globally. Inflammation has come into the spotlight as a hallmark of cancer, and it is evident that tumor-associated inflammation drives the involvement of monocytes in tumor growth and metastasis. Tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) actively participate in tumor-related inflammation, representing the main type of inflammatory cells in the tumor microenvironment, setting the crosstalk between tumor and stromal cells. Infiltrating TAMs exert either anti-tumorigenic (M1) or pro-tumorigenic (M2) functions. In most solid human tumors, increased TAM infiltration has been associated with enhanced tumor growth and metastasis, while other studies showcase that under certain conditions, TAMs exhibit cytotoxic and tumoricidal activity, inhibiting the progression of cancer. In this review, we summarize the current evidence on the role of macrophages in the pathogenesis and progression of HCC and we highlight their potential utilization in HCC prognosis and therapy. Abstract Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) constitutes a major health burden globally, and it is caused by intrinsic genetic mutations acting in concert with a multitude of epigenetic and extrinsic risk factors. Cancer induces myelopoiesis in the bone marrow, as well as the mobilization of hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells, which reside in the spleen. Monocytes produced in the bone marrow and the spleen further infiltrate tumors, where they differentiate into tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs). The relationship between chronic inflammation and hepatocarcinogenesis has been thoroughly investigated over the past decade; however, several aspects of the role of TAMs in HCC development are yet to be determined. In response to certain stimuli and signaling, monocytes differentiate into macrophages with antitumor properties, which are classified as M1-like. On the other hand, under different stimuli and signaling, the polarization of macrophages shifts towards an M2-like phenotype with a tumor promoting capacity. M2-like macrophages drive tumor growth both directly and indirectly, via the suppression of cytotoxic cell populations, including CD8+ T cells and NK cells. The tumor microenvironment affects the response to immunotherapies. Therefore, an enhanced understanding of its immunobiology is essential for the development of next-generation immunotherapies. The utilization of various monocyte-centered anticancer treatment modalities has been under clinical investigation, selectively targeting and modulating the processes of monocyte recruitment, activation and migration. This review summarizes the current evidence on the role of TAMs in HCC pathogenesis and progression, as well as in their potential involvement in tumor therapy, shedding light on emerging anticancer treatment methods targeting monocytes.
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Xu B, Sun HC. Camrelizumab: an investigational agent for hepatocellular carcinoma. Expert Opin Investig Drugs 2021; 31:337-346. [PMID: 34937475 DOI: 10.1080/13543784.2022.2022121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Although many approaches have been used to treat hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the clinical benefits were limited, particularly for advanced HCC. However, recent treatments with PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitor monotherapy and its combination with other therapies, have demonstrated remarkable results. Camrelizumab, a selective, humanized, high-affinity IgG4 PD-1 monoclonal antibody, has been approved as a second-line treatment in patients with advanced HCC by NMPA in China. AREAS COVERED This paper introduces anti-PD-1/PD-L1 immunotherapies for advanced HCC and progresses to discuss the pharmacology, safety, and efficacy of camrelizumab in the treatment of advanced HCC. It also considers future research directions for camrelizumab in this setting. EXPERT OPINION The PD-1 binding epitope of camrelizumab is different from other PD-1 inhibitors. The IC50 and EC50 of camrelizumab for inhibiting the binding of PD-1 and PD-L1 is similar to pembrolizumab, is significantly lower than other PD-1 inhibitors, and has a higher affinity for PD-1 site. Camrelizumab exhibits a promising antitumor activity and an acceptable safety profile similar to other PD-1 inhibitors in advanced HCC. Apatinib (a VEGFR-2 tyrosine kinase inhibitor) can reduce the incidence of camrelizumab-specific reactive cutaneous capillary endothelial proliferation (RCCEP).
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Affiliation(s)
- Bin Xu
- Department of Liver Surgery and Transplantation, Liver Cancer Institute, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Hui-Chuan Sun
- Department of Liver Surgery and Transplantation, Liver Cancer Institute, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
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Lyu N, Yi JZ, Zhao M. Immunotherapy in older patients with hepatocellular carcinoma. Eur J Cancer 2021; 162:76-98. [PMID: 34954439 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejca.2021.11.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2021] [Revised: 10/31/2021] [Accepted: 11/21/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common types of cancer globally and is currently the third leading cause of cancer-related deaths. Recently, immunotherapy using immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) has been shown with encouraging anticancer activity and safety in clinical trials. To reverse the phenomenon of tumours evading immune response, ICIs can be used to stimulate the natural antitumour potential of cancer cells by blocking the relevant checkpoints to activate T cells. However, the components and functions of the immune system may undergo a series of changes with ageing, known as 'immunosenescence,' potentially affecting the antitumour effect and safety of immunotherapy. In the current phase III clinical trials of ICIs including nivolumab, pembrolizumab and atezolizumab, the proportion of patients with HCC older than 65 years in CheckMate 459, KEYNOTE-240 and IMbrave150 is 51%, 58% and 50%, respectively, which is less than 70%-73% of epidemiological investigation. Therefore, the elderly population recruited in clinical trials may not accurately represent the real-world elderly patients with HCC, which affects the extrapolation of the efficacy and safety profile obtained in clinical trials to the elderly population in the real world. This review provides the latest advances in ICIs immuno-treatment available for HCC and relevant information about their therapeutic effects and safety on elderly patients. We discuss the benefits of ICIs for older HCC patients, and relevant recommendations about conducting further clinical trials are proposed for more complete answers to this clinical issue.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ning Lyu
- Department of Minimally Invasive Interventional Therapy, Liver Cancer Study and Service Group, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, China; State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, China; Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jun-Zhe Yi
- Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Ming Zhao
- Department of Minimally Invasive Interventional Therapy, Liver Cancer Study and Service Group, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, China; State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, China; Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Guangzhou, China.
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Huang H, Hu Y, Guo L, Wen Z. Integrated bioinformatics analyses of key genes involved in hepatocellular carcinoma immunosuppression. Oncol Lett 2021; 22:830. [PMID: 34691257 PMCID: PMC8527569 DOI: 10.3892/ol.2021.13091] [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: 05/19/2021] [Accepted: 09/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a typical inflammation-driven cancer. Chronically unresolved inflammation may remodel the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment, which is rich in innate immune cells. The mechanisms via which HCC progresses through the evasion of the innate immune surveillance remain unclear. The present study thus aimed to identify key genes involved in HCC immunosuppression and to establish an innate immune risk signature, with the ultimate goal of obtaining new insight into effective immunotherapies. HCC and normal liver tissue mRNA expression and clinicopathological data were obtained from the Cancer Genome Atlas database. The immunosuppressive innate immune-related genes (IIRGs) in HCC were screened using integrated bioinformatics analyses. Gene expression was then validated using the Gene Expression Omnibus database and the Human Protein Atlas database, and tissues were obtained from patients with HCC who underwent surgery. In total, 3,676 genes were identified as differentially expressed mRNAs after comparing the HCC tissues with the normal liver tissues in TCGA. Gene Set Enrichment Analyses revealed 21 highly expressed IIRGs in HCC tissues. A survival analysis and Cox regression model were used to construct an innate immune risk signature, including three IIRGs: Collectin-12 (COLEC12), matrix metalloproteinase-12 (MMP12) and mucin-12 (MUC12) genes. Univariate and multivariate Cox analyses revealed that the signature of the three IIRGs was a robust independent risk factor in relation to the overall survival (OS) of patients with HCC. The expression of the three aforementioned IIRGs was confirmed through external validation. Moreover, COLEC12 and MMP12 expression significantly correlated with that of immune checkpoint molecules or immunosuppressive cytokines. The tumor immune dysfunction and exclusion tool predicted that the increased expression of the three IIRGs in patients with HCC was significantly associated with the efficacy of relatively poor immune checkpoint blockade therapy. Conclusively, a novel innate immune-related risk signature for patients with HCC was constructed and validated. This signature may be involved in immunosuppression, and may be used to predict a poor prognosis, functioning as a potential immunotherapeutic target for patients with HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongyan Huang
- Department of Gastroenterology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi 330006, P.R. China
| | - Youwen Hu
- Department of Gastroenterology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi 330006, P.R. China
| | - Li Guo
- Department of Gastroenterology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi 330006, P.R. China
| | - Zhili Wen
- Department of Gastroenterology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi 330006, P.R. China
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Liu Z, Liu X, Liang J, Liu Y, Hou X, Zhang M, Li Y, Jiang X. Immunotherapy for Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Current Status and Future Prospects. Front Immunol 2021; 12:765101. [PMID: 34675942 PMCID: PMC8524467 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.765101] [Citation(s) in RCA: 67] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2021] [Accepted: 09/20/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most prevalent primary liver cancer with poor prognosis. Surgery, chemotherapy, and radiofrequency ablation are three conventional therapeutic options that will help only a limited percentage of HCC patients. Cancer immunotherapy has achieved dramatic advances in recent years and provides new opportunities to treat HCC. However, HCC has various etiologies and can evade the immune system through multiple mechanisms. With the rapid development of genetic engineering and synthetic biology, a variety of novel immunotherapies have been employed to treat advanced HCC, including immune checkpoint inhibitors, adoptive cell therapy, engineered cytokines, and therapeutic cancer vaccines. In this review, we summarize the current landscape and research progress of different immunotherapy strategies in the treatment of HCC. The challenges and opportunities of this research field are also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhuoyan Liu
- Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xuan Liu
- Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China.,Department of Pediatrics, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jiaxin Liang
- Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yixin Liu
- Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xiaorui Hou
- Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Meichuan Zhang
- R&D Department, Caleb BioMedical Technology Co. Ltd, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yongyin Li
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xiaotao Jiang
- Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China.,Department of Infectious Diseases, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
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Wei J, Fang DL, Zhou W, He YF. N6-methyladenosine (m6A) regulatory gene divides hepatocellular carcinoma into three subtypes. J Gastrointest Oncol 2021; 12:1860-1872. [PMID: 34532134 DOI: 10.21037/jgo-21-378] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2021] [Accepted: 07/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The N6-methyladenosine (m6A) plays an important role in epigenetic modification and tumor progression, but the modulations of m6A in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) have not been determined while the relationship between m6A regulation and immune cell infiltration remains unclear. Methods This study investigated the modification patterns of m6A by analyzing HCC samples from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database and the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) dataset, and performed molecular typing based on the characteristics of immune cell infiltration. The m6Ascore was also constructed to quantify m6A modifications and predict the immunotherapy response and prognosis of HCC patients. Results Of the 364 samples, 31 (8.52%) were genetically altered in the m6A regulatory gene, with the highest frequency of mutations in HNRNPC, ZC3H13, and LRPPRC. Three distinct molecular subtypes of m6A were identified in 590 HCC samples, which were associated with different immune cell infiltrates: immunodepletion type, immune activation type, and immune immunity type. According to the construction of the m6Ascore system in the m6A genotype, HCC patients could be divided into high and low groups. The m6A modified pattern, characterized by immune immunity and immune failure, showed a lower score and a better prognosis. However, the immune-activated type of m6A had a higher score and a poorer prognosis. Further analysis showed that the m6Ascore was correlated with tumor mutation burden (TMB), and the higher the TMB, the worse the prognosis. m6Ascore was also correlated with the expression of cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated protein 4 (CTAL-4), and the higher the score, the higher the expression of HCC in patients. Conclusions HCC has a unique m6A modification pattern, and 3 different m6A subtypes help to classify HCC, provide knowledge of drug regimens for immunotherapy, and can be used to predict treatment response and prognosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jie Wei
- Department of Hematology, Baise People's Hospital, Baise, China
| | - Da Lang Fang
- Department of Breast and Thyroid Surgery, The Affiliated Hospital of Youjiang Medical University for Nationalities, Baise, China
| | - Weijie Zhou
- Clinical Laboratory, Baise People's Hospital, Baise, China
| | - Yong Fei He
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nannning, China
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Miao L, Zhang Z, Ren Z, Li Y. Application of Immunotherapy in Hepatocellular Carcinoma. Front Oncol 2021; 11:699060. [PMID: 34513678 PMCID: PMC8426571 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2021.699060] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2021] [Accepted: 08/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma is one of the most common malignancies globally. It not only has a hidden onset but also progresses rapidly. Most HCC patients are already in the advanced stage of cancer when they are diagnosed, and have even lost the opportunity for surgical treatment. As an inflammation-related tumor, the immunosuppressive microenvironment of HCC can promote immune tolerance through a variety of mechanisms. Immunotherapy can activate tumor-specific immune responses, which brings a new hope for the treatment of HCC. At the present time, main immunotherapy strategies of HCC include immune checkpoint inhibitors, tumor vaccines, adoptive cell therapy, and so on. This article reviews the application and research progress of immune checkpoint inhibitors, tumor vaccines, and adoptive cell therapy in the treatment of HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lele Miao
- Department of General Surgery, Second Hospital of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China.,Key Laboratory of the Digestive System Tumors of Gansu Province, Second Hospital of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Zhengchao Zhang
- Department of General Surgery, Second Hospital of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China.,Key Laboratory of the Digestive System Tumors of Gansu Province, Second Hospital of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Zhijian Ren
- Department of General Surgery, Second Hospital of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China.,Key Laboratory of the Digestive System Tumors of Gansu Province, Second Hospital of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Yumin Li
- Department of General Surgery, Second Hospital of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China.,Key Laboratory of the Digestive System Tumors of Gansu Province, Second Hospital of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
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Xue C, Gu X, Li L. Immune classifier-based signatures provide good prognostic stratification and predict the clinical benefits of immune-based therapies for hepatocellular carcinoma. Cancer Cell Int 2021; 21:471. [PMID: 34488768 PMCID: PMC8422634 DOI: 10.1186/s12935-021-02183-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2021] [Accepted: 08/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is an aggressive cancer with a high rate of death globally. The use of bioinformatics may help to identify immune cell-related genes both as targets for potential immunotherapies and for their value associated with predicting therapy responses. METHODS In this study, mRNA expression profiles of HCC samples from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database were subjected to gene enrichment, cell type abundance, immune cell infiltration, and pathway enrichment analyses to determine immune cell gene features, cell type abundance, and functional annotation characteristics. We also evaluated their prognostic values using Cox regression and Kaplan-Meier analyses and assessed potential responses to chemotherapy. Four subgroups (Groups 1-4) were identified. Group 4 was associated with advanced clinical characteristics, high immune cell enrichment scores, and the poorest outcomes. RESULTS Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in the HCC samples were enriched in the following pathways: antigen binding, cell surface receptor signal transduction of the immune response, and cell surface activated receptor signal transduction of the immune response. Highly expressed genes in Group 4 were enriched in elements of the WNT signalling pathway. We identified five immune-related genes (SEMA3A, TNFRSF11B, GUCA2A, SAA1, and CALCR) that were significantly related to HCC prognosis. A prognostic model based on these five genes exhibited good predictive value, with 1-year and 5-year area under the curve (AUC) values of > 0.66. Group 4 was also potentially more sensitive to EHT 1864, FH535, and lapatinib chemotherapies than the other groups. CONCLUSIONS We identified and validated four HCC subgroups based on immune system-related genes and identified five genes that may be used for an immune-based prognostic model for HCC treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chen Xue
- State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Infectious Diseases, Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital, College of Medicine, Zhejiang University, No. 79 Qingchun Road, Shangcheng District, Hangzhou, 310003, Zhejiang, China
| | - Xinyu Gu
- State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Infectious Diseases, Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital, College of Medicine, Zhejiang University, No. 79 Qingchun Road, Shangcheng District, Hangzhou, 310003, Zhejiang, China
| | - Lanjuan Li
- State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Infectious Diseases, Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital, College of Medicine, Zhejiang University, No. 79 Qingchun Road, Shangcheng District, Hangzhou, 310003, Zhejiang, China.
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Xiao N, Zhu X, Li K, Chen Y, Liu X, Xu B, Lei M, Xu J, Sun HC. Blocking siglec-10 hi tumor-associated macrophages improves anti-tumor immunity and enhances immunotherapy for hepatocellular carcinoma. Exp Hematol Oncol 2021; 10:36. [PMID: 34112250 PMCID: PMC8191104 DOI: 10.1186/s40164-021-00230-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2021] [Accepted: 06/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) promote key processes in the modulation of tumor microenvironment (TME). However, the clinical significance of heterogeneous subpopulations of TAMs in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains unknown. METHODS HCC tissues from Zhongshan Hospital and data from The Cancer Genome Atlas were obtained and analyzed. Immunohistochemistry and flow cytometry were performed to detect the characteristics of sialic acid-binding immunoglobulin-like lectin 10high (Siglec-10hi) TAMs and explore their impact on the TME of HCC. The effect of Siglec-10 blockade was evaluated in vitro based on fresh human tumor tissues. RESULTS Our data revealed that Siglec-10 was abundant in a large proportion of HCC specimens and prominently distributed on macrophages. Kaplan-Meier curves and Cox regression analysis showed that intratumoral Siglec-10+ cell enrichment was associated with unfavorable prognosis in patients with HCC. Notably, multiple anti-inflammatory cytokines and inhibitory receptors were enriched in Siglec-10hi TAMs. RNA sequencing data also revealed that numerous M2-like signaling pathways were significantly upregulated in Siglec-10hi TAMs. High infiltration of Siglec-10hi TAMs was associated with impaired CD8+ T cell function in HCC. Of note, blocking Siglec-10 with the competitive binding antibody Siglec-10 Fc led to decreased expression of immunosuppressive molecules and increased the cytotoxic effects of CD8+ T cells against HCC cells. Moreover, blocking Siglec-10 promoted the anti-tumor efficacy of the programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) inhibitor pembrolizumab. CONCLUSIONS Siglec-10hi TAMs are associated with immune suppression in the TME, and indicate poor prognosis in patients with HCC. Targeting Siglec-10hi TAMs may serve as a promising immunotherapy approach for HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nan Xiao
- Department of Liver Surgery and Transplantation, Liver Cancer Institute and Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion (Fudan University), Ministry of Education, Shanghai, China
| | - Xiaodong Zhu
- Department of Liver Surgery and Transplantation, Liver Cancer Institute and Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion (Fudan University), Ministry of Education, Shanghai, China
| | - Kangshuai Li
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, 250012, China
| | - Yifan Chen
- Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Xuefeng Liu
- Department of Liver Surgery and Transplantation, Liver Cancer Institute and Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion (Fudan University), Ministry of Education, Shanghai, China
| | - Bin Xu
- Department of Liver Surgery and Transplantation, Liver Cancer Institute and Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion (Fudan University), Ministry of Education, Shanghai, China
| | - Ming Lei
- Department of Liver Surgery and Transplantation, Liver Cancer Institute and Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion (Fudan University), Ministry of Education, Shanghai, China
| | - Jiejie Xu
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China.
| | - Hui-Chuan Sun
- Department of Liver Surgery and Transplantation, Liver Cancer Institute and Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China.
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion (Fudan University), Ministry of Education, Shanghai, China.
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