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Kobayashi T, Noma K, Nishimura S, Kato T, Nishiwaki N, Ohara T, Kunitomo T, Kawasaki K, Akai M, Komoto S, Kashima H, Kikuchi S, Tazawa H, Shirakawa Y, Choyke PL, Kobayashi H, Fujiwara T. Near-infrared Photoimmunotherapy Targeting Cancer-Associated Fibroblasts in Patient-Derived Xenografts Using a Humanized Anti-Fibroblast Activation Protein Antibody. Mol Cancer Ther 2024; 23:1031-1042. [PMID: 38638034 DOI: 10.1158/1535-7163.mct-23-0527] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2023] [Revised: 12/10/2023] [Accepted: 04/05/2024] [Indexed: 04/20/2024]
Abstract
Esophageal cancer remains a highly aggressive malignancy with a poor prognosis, despite ongoing advancements in treatments such as immunotherapy. The tumor microenvironment, particularly cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAF), plays a crucial role in driving the aggressiveness of esophageal cancer. In a previous study utilizing human-derived xenograft models, we successfully developed a novel cancer treatment that targeted CAFs with near-infrared photoimmunotherapy (NIR-PIT), as an adjuvant therapy. In this study, we sought to translate our findings toward clinical practice by employing patient-derived xenograft (PDX) models and utilizing humanized mAbs, specifically sibrotuzumab, which is an antihuman fibroblast activation protein (FAP) Ab and already being investigated in clinical trials as monotherapy. PDX models derived from patients with esophageal cancer were effectively established, preserving the expression of key biomarkers such as EGFR and FAP, as observed in primary tumors. The application of FAP-targeted NIR-PIT using sibrotuzumab, conjugated with the photosensitizer IR700DX, exhibited precise binding and selective elimination of FAP-expressing fibroblasts in vitro. Notably, in our in vivo investigations using both cell line-derived xenograft and PDX models, FAP-targeted NIR-PIT led to significant inhibition of tumor progression compared with control groups, all without inducing adverse events such as weight loss. Immunohistologic assessments revealed a substantial reduction in CAFs exclusively within the tumor microenvironment of both models, further supporting the efficacy of our approach. Thus, our study demonstrates the potential of CAF-targeted NIR-PIT employing sibrotuzumab as a promising therapeutic avenue for the clinical treatment of patients with esophageal cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Teruki Kobayashi
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Density, and Pharmaceutical Science, Okayama, Japan
| | - Kazuhiro Noma
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Density, and Pharmaceutical Science, Okayama, Japan
| | - Seitaro Nishimura
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Density, and Pharmaceutical Science, Okayama, Japan
| | - Takuya Kato
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Density, and Pharmaceutical Science, Okayama, Japan
| | - Noriyuki Nishiwaki
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Density, and Pharmaceutical Science, Okayama, Japan
| | - Toshiaki Ohara
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Density, and Pharmaceutical Science, Okayama, Japan
- Department of Pathology and Experimental Medicine, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Density, and Pharmaceutical Science, Okayama, Japan
| | - Tomoyoshi Kunitomo
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Density, and Pharmaceutical Science, Okayama, Japan
| | - Kento Kawasaki
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Density, and Pharmaceutical Science, Okayama, Japan
| | - Masaaki Akai
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Density, and Pharmaceutical Science, Okayama, Japan
| | - Satoshi Komoto
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Density, and Pharmaceutical Science, Okayama, Japan
| | - Hajime Kashima
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Density, and Pharmaceutical Science, Okayama, Japan
| | - Satoru Kikuchi
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Density, and Pharmaceutical Science, Okayama, Japan
| | - Hiroshi Tazawa
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Density, and Pharmaceutical Science, Okayama, Japan
- Center for Innovative Clinical Medicine, Okayama University Hospital, Okayama, Japan
| | - Yasuhiro Shirakawa
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Density, and Pharmaceutical Science, Okayama, Japan
- Department of Surgery, Hiroshima City Hiroshima Citizens Hospital, Hiroshima, Japan
| | - Peter L Choyke
- Molecular Imaging Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Hisataka Kobayashi
- Molecular Imaging Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Toshiyoshi Fujiwara
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Density, and Pharmaceutical Science, Okayama, Japan
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Zhou X, Tong Y, Yu C, Pu J, Zhu W, Zhou Y, Wang Y, Xiong Y, Sun X. FAP positive cancer-associated fibroblasts promote tumor progression and radioresistance in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma by transferring exosomal lncRNA AFAP1-AS1. Mol Carcinog 2024. [PMID: 38934786 DOI: 10.1002/mc.23782] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2024] [Revised: 05/07/2024] [Accepted: 06/11/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024]
Abstract
Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) are abundant and heterogeneous stromal cells in the tumor microenvironment, which play important roles in regulating tumor progression and therapy resistance by transferring exosomes to cancer cells. However, how CAFs modulate esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) progression and radioresistance remains incompletely understood. The expression of fibroblast activation protein (FAP) in CAFs was evaluated by immunohistochemistry in 174 ESCC patients who underwent surgery and 78 pretreatment biopsy specimens of ESCC patients who underwent definitive chemoradiotherapy. We sorted CAFs according to FAP expression, and the conditioned medium (CM) was collected to culture ESCC cells. The expression levels of several lncRNAs that were considered to regulate ESCC progression and/or radioresistance were measured in exosomes derived from FAP+ CAFs and FAP- CAFs. Subsequently, cell counting kit-8, 5-ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine, transwell, colony formation, and xenograft assays were performed to investigate the functional differences between FAP+ CAFs and FAP- CAFs. Finally, a series of in vitro and in vivo assays were used to evaluate the effect of AFAP1-AS1 on radiosensitivity of ESCC cells. FAP expression in stromal CAFs was positively correlated with nerve invasion, vascular invasion, depth of invasion, lymph node metastasis, lack of clinical complete response and poor survival. Culture of ESCC cells with CM/FAP+ CAFs significantly increased cancer proliferation, migration, invasion and radioresistance, compared with culture with CM/FAP- CAFs. Importantly, FAP+ CAFs exert their roles by directly transferring the functional lncRNA AFAP1-AS1 to ESCC cells via exosomes. Functional studies showed that AFAP1-AS1 promoted radioresistance by enhancing DNA damage repair in ESCC cells. Clinically, high levels of plasma AFAP1-AS1 correlated with poor responses to dCRT in ESCC patients. Our findings demonstrated that FAP+ CAFs promoted radioresistance in ESCC cells through transferring exosomal lncRNA AFAP1-AS1; and may be a potential therapeutic target for ESCC treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xilei Zhou
- Department of Radiation Oncology, The Affiliated Huaian No.1 People's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Huai'an, China
| | - Yusuo Tong
- Department of Radiation Oncology, The Affiliated Huaian No.1 People's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Huai'an, China
| | - Changhua Yu
- Department of Radiation Oncology, The Affiliated Huaian No.1 People's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Huai'an, China
| | - Juan Pu
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Lianshui County People's Hospital, Kangda College of Nanjing Medical University, Huai'an, China
| | - Weiguo Zhu
- Department of Radiation Oncology, The Affiliated Huaian No.1 People's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Huai'an, China
| | - Yun Zhou
- Department of Radiotherapy, Xuzhou Central Hospital, The Xuzhou School of Clinical Medicine of Nanjing Medical University, Xuzhou, China
| | - Yuandong Wang
- Department of Radiotherapy, Affiliated People's Hospital of Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, China
| | - Yaozu Xiong
- Department of Radiation Oncology, The Affiliated Huaian No.1 People's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Huai'an, China
| | - Xinchen Sun
- Department of Radiation Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
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Akai M, Noma K, Kato T, Nishimura S, Matsumoto H, Kawasaki K, Kunitomo T, Kobayashi T, Nishiwaki N, Kashima H, Kikuchi S, Ohara T, Tazawa H, Choyke PL, Kobayashi H, Fujiwara T. Fibroblast activation protein-targeted near-infrared photoimmunotherapy depletes immunosuppressive cancer-associated fibroblasts and remodels local tumor immunity. Br J Cancer 2024; 130:1647-1658. [PMID: 38555315 PMCID: PMC11091110 DOI: 10.1038/s41416-024-02639-1] [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: 05/26/2023] [Revised: 02/21/2024] [Accepted: 02/22/2024] [Indexed: 04/02/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) in the tumor microenvironment (TME) play a critical role in tumor immunosuppression. However, targeted depletion of CAFs is difficult due to their diverse cells of origin and the resulting lack of specific surface markers. Near-infrared photoimmunotherapy (NIR-PIT) is a novel cancer treatment that leads to rapid cell membrane damage. METHODS In this study, we used anti-mouse fibroblast activation protein (FAP) antibody to target FAP+ CAFs (FAP-targeted NIR-PIT) and investigated whether this therapy could suppress tumor progression and improve tumor immunity. RESULTS FAP-targeted NIR-PIT induced specific cell death in CAFs without damaging adjacent normal cells. Furthermore, FAP-targeted NIR-PIT treated mice showed significant tumor regression in the CAF-rich tumor model accompanied by an increase in CD8+ tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs). Moreover, treated tumors showed increased levels of IFN-γ, TNF-α, and IL-2 in CD8+ TILs compared with non-treated tumors, suggesting enhanced antitumor immunity. CONCLUSIONS Cancers with FAP-positive CAFs in their TME grow rapidly and FAP-targeted NIR-PIT not only suppresses their growth but improves tumor immunosuppression. Thus, FAP-targeted NIR-PIT is a potential therapeutic strategy for selectively targeting the TME of CAF+ tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Masaaki Akai
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama, Japan
| | - Kazuhiro Noma
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama, Japan.
| | - Takuya Kato
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama, Japan
| | - Seitaro Nishimura
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama, Japan
| | - Hijiri Matsumoto
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama, Japan
| | - Kento Kawasaki
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama, Japan
| | - Tomoyoshi Kunitomo
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama, Japan
| | - Teruki Kobayashi
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama, Japan
| | - Noriyuki Nishiwaki
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama, Japan
| | - Hajime Kashima
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama, Japan
| | - Satoru Kikuchi
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama, Japan
| | - Toshiaki Ohara
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama, Japan
- Department of Pathology & Experimental Medicine, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama, Japan
| | - Hiroshi Tazawa
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama, Japan
- Center for Gene and Cell Therapy, Okayama University Hospital, Okayama, Japan
| | - Peter L Choyke
- Molecular Imaging Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Hisataka Kobayashi
- Molecular Imaging Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Toshiyoshi Fujiwara
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama, Japan
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Chen Q, Luo J, Liu J, Yu H, Zhou M, Yu L, Chen Y, Zhang S, Mo Z. Integrating single-cell and spatial transcriptomics to elucidate the crosstalk between cancer-associated fibroblasts and cancer cells in hepatocellular carcinoma with spleen-deficiency syndrome. J Tradit Complement Med 2024; 14:321-334. [PMID: 38707923 PMCID: PMC11068993 DOI: 10.1016/j.jtcme.2023.11.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2023] [Revised: 09/24/2023] [Accepted: 11/20/2023] [Indexed: 05/07/2024] Open
Abstract
Background and aim Most patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in China have been diagnosed with spleen deficiency syndrome (SDS), which accelerates the progression of HCC by disrupting the tumor microenvironment homeostasis. This study aimed to investigate the intercellular crosstalk in HCC with SDS. Experimental procedure An HCC-SDS mouse model was established using orthotopic HCC transplantation based on reserpine-induced SDS. Single-cell data analysis and cancer cell prediction were conducted using Seurat and CopyKAT package, respectively. Intercellular interactions were explored using CellPhoneDB and CellChat and subsequently validated using co-culture assays, ELISA and histological staining. We performed pathway activity analysis using gene set variation analysis and the Seurat package. The extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling was assessed using a gel contraction assay, atomic force microscopy, and Sirius red staining. The deconvolution of the spatial transcriptomics data using the "CARD" package based on single-cell data. Results and conclusion We successfully established the HCC-SDS mouse model. Twenty-nine clusters were identified. The interactions between cancer cells and cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) were significantly enhanced via platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) signaling in HCC-SDS. CAFs recruited in HCC-SDS lead to ECM remodeling and the activation of TGF-β signaling pathway. Deconvolution of the spatial transcriptome data revealed that CAFs physically surround cancer cells in HCC-SDS. This study reveals that the crosstalk of CAFs-cancer cells is crucial for the tumor-promoting effect of SDS. CAFs recruited by HCC via PDGFA may lead to ECM remodeling through activation of the TGF-β pathway, thereby forming a physical barrier to block immune cell infiltration under SDS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiuxia Chen
- Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, 510080, China
| | - Jin Luo
- Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, 510080, China
| | - Jiahui Liu
- Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, 510080, China
| | - He Yu
- Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, 510080, China
| | - Meiling Zhou
- Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, 510080, China
| | - Ling Yu
- Department of Critical Care Medicine, The Second Clinical College to Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, 510120, China
| | - Yan Chen
- Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, The Third Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, 510630, China
| | - Shijun Zhang
- Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, 510080, China
| | - Zhuomao Mo
- Liangzhu Laboratory, Zhejiang University Medical Center, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, 311113, China
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Janani M, Poorkhani A, Amiriani T, Donyadideh G, Ahmadi F, Jorjanisorkhankalateh Y, Beheshti-Nia F, Kalaei Z, Roudbaraki M, Soltani M, Khori V, Alizadeh AM. Association of future cancer metastases with fibroblast activation protein-α: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Front Oncol 2024; 14:1339050. [PMID: 38751814 PMCID: PMC11094201 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2024.1339050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2023] [Accepted: 04/04/2024] [Indexed: 05/18/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction Fibroblast activation protein-α (FAP-α) is a vital surface marker of cancer-associated fibroblasts, and its high expression is associated with a higher tumor grade and metastasis. A systematic review and a meta-analysis were performed to associate future metastasis with FAP-α expression in cancer. Methods In our meta-analysis, relevant studies published before 20 February 2024 were systematically searched through online databases that included PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science. The association between FAP-α expression and metastasis, including distant metastasis, lymph node metastasis, blood vessel invasion, vascular invasion, and neural invasion, was evaluated. A pooled odds ratio (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) was reported as the measure of association. Results A total of 28meta-analysis. The random-effects model for five parameters showed that a high FAP-α expression was associated with blood vessel invasion (OR: 3.04, 95% CI: 1.54-5.99, I 2 = 63%, P = 0.001), lymphovascular invasion (OR: 3.56, 95% CI: 2.14-5.93, I 2 = 0.00%, P < 0.001), lymph node metastasis (OR: 2.73, 95% CI: 1.96-3.81, I 2 = 65%, P < 0.001), and distant metastasis (OR: 2.59; 95% CI: 1.16-5.79, I 2 = 81%, P < 0.001). However, our analysis showed no statistically significant association between high FAP-α expression and neural invasion (OR: 1.57, 95% CI: 0.84-2.93, I 2 = 38%, P = 0.161). Conclusions This meta-analysis indicated that cancer cells with a high FAP-α expression have a higher risk of metastasis than those with a low FAP-α expression. These findings support the potential importance of FAP-α as a biomarker for cancer metastasis prediction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Majid Janani
- Breast Disease Research Center, Cancer Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Amirhoushang Poorkhani
- Ischemic Disorders Research Center, Golestan University of Medical Sciences, Gorgan, Iran
| | - Taghi Amiriani
- Ischemic Disorders Research Center, Golestan University of Medical Sciences, Gorgan, Iran
| | - Ghazaleh Donyadideh
- Metabolic Syndrome Research Center, School of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Farahnazsadat Ahmadi
- Ischemic Disorders Research Center, Golestan University of Medical Sciences, Gorgan, Iran
| | | | - Fereshteh Beheshti-Nia
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
| | - Zahra Kalaei
- Cancer Research Center, Cancer Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Morad Roudbaraki
- Laboratory of Cell Physiology, Inserm U1003, University of Lille, Villeneuve d’Ascq, France
| | - Mahsa Soltani
- Breast Disease Research Center, Cancer Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Vahid Khori
- Ischemic Disorders Research Center, Golestan University of Medical Sciences, Gorgan, Iran
| | - Ali Mohammad Alizadeh
- Breast Disease Research Center, Cancer Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
- Cancer Research Center, Cancer Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
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Dunbar KJ, Wong KK, Rustgi AK. Cancer-Associated Fibroblasts in Esophageal Cancer. Cell Mol Gastroenterol Hepatol 2024; 17:687-695. [PMID: 38246591 PMCID: PMC10958110 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcmgh.2024.01.008] [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: 11/03/2023] [Revised: 01/09/2024] [Accepted: 01/09/2024] [Indexed: 01/23/2024]
Abstract
Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs), a heterogenous population, can promote cancer cell proliferation, migration, invasion, immunosuppression, and therapeutic resistance in solid tumors. These effects are mediated through secretion of cytokines and growth factors, remodeling of the extracellular matrix, and providing metabolic support for cancer cells. The presence of CAFs in esophageal carcinoma are associated with reduced overall survival and increased resistance to chemotherapy and radiotherapy; thus, identifying therapeutic vulnerabilities of CAFs is a necessity. In esophageal cancer, the mechanisms for CAF recruitment, CAF-mediated promotion of tumorigenesis, metastatic dissemination, and therapeutic resistance have yet to be fully evaluated. Here, we provide an overview of the current understanding of CAFs in esophageal cancer, namely in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma and esophageal adenocarcinoma, as well as in the preneoplastic conditions that predispose to these cancers. Interestingly, there is a discrepancy in our knowledge of CAF biology between esophageal cancer subtypes, with very few studies in esophageal adenocarcinoma, and its precursor lesion Barrett's esophagus, compared with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. We propose that although great strides have been made, certain questions remain to which answers hopefully will emerge to have an impact on biomarker diagnostics and translational therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karen J Dunbar
- Division of Digestive and Liver Diseases, Department of Medicine, Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center, Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, New York
| | - Kwok K Wong
- Division of Hematology-Oncology, Perlmutter Cancer Center, New York University Langone Health, New York, New York
| | - Anil K Rustgi
- Division of Digestive and Liver Diseases, Department of Medicine, Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center, Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, New York.
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Li W, Xu T, Jin H, Li M, Jia Q. Emerging role of cancer-associated fibroblasts in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. Pathol Res Pract 2024; 253:155002. [PMID: 38056131 DOI: 10.1016/j.prp.2023.155002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2023] [Revised: 11/26/2023] [Accepted: 11/27/2023] [Indexed: 12/08/2023]
Abstract
Esophageal carcinoma is the sixth leading cause of cancer death globally and the majority of global cases are esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). Difficulty in diagnosis exists as more than 70% of ESCC patients are diagnosed at the intermediate or advanced stage. Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) have been considered one of the crucial components in the process of tumor growth, promoting communications between cancer cells and the tumor microenvironment (TME). CAFs grow alongside malignancies dynamically and interact with ESCC cells to promote their progression, proliferation, invasion, tumor escape, chemo- and radio-resistance, etc. It is believed that CAFs qualify as a promising direction for treatment. Analyzing CAFs' subtypes and functions will elucidate the involvement of CAFs in ESCC and aid in therapeutics. This review summarizes current information on CAFs in ESCC and focuses on the latest interaction between CAFs and ESCC cancer cell discoveries. The origin of CAFs and their communication with ESCC cells and TME are also demonstrated. On the foundation of a thorough analysis, we highlight the clinical prospects and CAFs-related therapies in ESCC in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenqing Li
- State Key Laboratory of Cancer Biology, Department of Pathology, Xijing Hospital and School of Basic Medicine, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China
| | - Tianqi Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Cancer Biology, Department of Pathology, Xijing Hospital and School of Basic Medicine, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China
| | - Hai Jin
- Department of Neurosurgery, General Hospital of Northern Theater Command, Shenyang, China.
| | - Mingyang Li
- State Key Laboratory of Cancer Biology, Department of Pathology, Xijing Hospital and School of Basic Medicine, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China.
| | - Qingge Jia
- Department of Reproductive Medicine, Xi'an International Medical Center Hospital, Northwest University, Xi'an, China.
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8
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Zhang J, Pan Y, Jin L, Yang H, Cao P. Exosomal-miR-522-3p derived from cancer-associated fibroblasts accelerates tumor metastasis and angiogenesis via repression bone morphogenetic protein 5 in colorectal cancer. J Gastroenterol Hepatol 2024; 39:107-120. [PMID: 37984826 DOI: 10.1111/jgh.16345] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2022] [Revised: 05/26/2023] [Accepted: 08/21/2023] [Indexed: 11/22/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a gastrointestinal tract malignancy. Exosomes secreted by cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) are reported to participate in tumor progression by delivering noncoding RNA or small proteins. However, the function of exosomal miR-522-3p in CRC remains unclear. METHODS CAFs were derived from tumor tissues, and exosomes were identified by western blot or TEM/NTA and originated from CAFs/NFs. The viability, invasion, and migration of HUVECs and CRC cells was examined using MTT, Transwell, and wound healing assays, respectively. The molecular interactions were validated using dual luciferase reporter assay and RIP. Xenograft and lung metastasis mouse models were generated to assess tumor growth and metastasis. RESULTS Exosomes extracted from CAFs/NFs showed high expression of CD63, CD81, and TSG101. CAF-derived exosomes significantly increased the viability, angiogenesis, invasion, and migration of HUVECs and CRC cells, thereby aggravating tumor growth, invasion, and angiogenesis in vivo. miR-522-3p was upregulated in CAF-derived exosomes and CRC tissues. Depletion of miR-522-3p reversed the effect of exosomes derived from CAFs in migration, angiogenesis, and invasion of HUVECs and CRC cells. Furthermore, bone morphogenetic protein 5 (BMP5) was identified as a target gene of miR-522-3p, and upregulation of BMP5 reversed the promoting effect of miR-522-3p mimics or CAF-derived exosomes on cell invasion, migration, and angiogenesis of HUVECs and CRC cells. CONCLUSION Exosomal miR-522-3p from CAFs promoted the growth and metastasis of CRC through downregulating BMP5, which might provide new strategies for the treatment of CRC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jun Zhang
- Department of Oncology, Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, 410013, Hunan, China
| | - Yuliang Pan
- Department of Oncology, Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, 410013, Hunan, China
| | - Long Jin
- Department of Oncology, Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, 410013, Hunan, China
| | - Huiyun Yang
- Department of Oncology, Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, 410013, Hunan, China
| | - Peiguo Cao
- Department of Oncology, Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, 410013, Hunan, China
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Yao K, Xiaojun Z, Tingxiao Z, Shiyao L, Lichen J, Wei Z, Yanlei L, Jinlong T, Xiaoyan D, Jun Z, Qing B, Jun L. Multidimensional analysis to elucidate the possible mechanism of bone metastasis in breast cancer. BMC Cancer 2023; 23:1213. [PMID: 38066539 PMCID: PMC10704724 DOI: 10.1186/s12885-023-11588-6] [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: 08/31/2023] [Accepted: 10/30/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Breast cancer (BC) patients tend to suffer from distant metastasis, especially bone metastasis. METHODS All the analysis based on open-accessed data was performed in R software, dependent on multiple algorithms and packages. The RNA levels of specific genes were detected using quantitative Real-time PCR as a method of detecting the RNA levels. To assess the ability of BC cells to proliferate, we utilized the CCK8 test, colony formation, and the 5-Ethynyl-20-deoxyuridine assay. BC cells were evaluated for invasion and migration by using Transwell assays and wound healing assays. RESULTS In our study, we identified the molecules involved in BC bone metastasis based on the data from multiple BC cohorts. Then, we comprehensively investigated the effect pattern and underlying biological role of these molecules. We found that in the identified molecules, the EMP1, ACKR3, ITGA10, MMP13, COL11A1, and THY1 were significantly correlated with patient prognosis and mainly expressed in CAFs. Therefore, we explored the CAFs in the BC microenvironment. Results showed that CAFs could activate multiple carcinogenic pathways and most of these pathways play an important role in cancer metastasis. Meanwhile, we noticed the interaction between CAFs and malignant, endothelial, and M2 macrophage cells. Moreover, we found that CAFs could induce the remodeling of the BC microenvironment and promote the malignant behavior of BC cells. Then, we identified MMP13 for further analysis. It was found that MMP13 can enhance the malignant phenotype of BC cells. Meanwhile, biological enrichment and immune infiltration analysis were conducted to present the effect pattern of MMP13 in BC. CONCLUSIONS Our result can improve the understanding of researchers on the underlying mechanisms of BC bone metastasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kang Yao
- Cancer Center, Department of Orthopedics, Affliated People`s Hospital, Zhejiang Provincial People`s Hospital, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Affliated People`s Hospital, Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Zhu Xiaojun
- Department of Musculoskeletal Oncology, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
- Collaborative innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
- State Key laboratory of Oncology in South China, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Zhao Tingxiao
- Cancer Center, Department of Orthopedics, Affliated People`s Hospital, Zhejiang Provincial People`s Hospital, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Affliated People`s Hospital, Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Liao Shiyao
- Cancer Center, Department of Orthopedics, Affliated People`s Hospital, Zhejiang Provincial People`s Hospital, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Affliated People`s Hospital, Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Ji Lichen
- Cancer Center, Department of Orthopedics, Affliated People`s Hospital, Zhejiang Provincial People`s Hospital, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Affliated People`s Hospital, Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Zhang Wei
- Cancer Center, Department of Orthopedics, Affliated People`s Hospital, Zhejiang Provincial People`s Hospital, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Affliated People`s Hospital, Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Li Yanlei
- Cancer Center, Department of Orthopedics, Affliated People`s Hospital, Zhejiang Provincial People`s Hospital, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Affliated People`s Hospital, Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Tian Jinlong
- Cancer Center, Department of Orthopedics, Affliated People`s Hospital, Zhejiang Provincial People`s Hospital, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Affliated People`s Hospital, Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Ding Xiaoyan
- Cancer Center, Department of Orthopedics, Affliated People`s Hospital, Zhejiang Provincial People`s Hospital, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Affliated People`s Hospital, Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Zhang Jun
- Cancer Center, Department of Orthopedics, Affliated People`s Hospital, Zhejiang Provincial People`s Hospital, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Affliated People`s Hospital, Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.
- Zhejiang Provincial People`s Hospital Bijie Hospital, Bijie, China.
| | - Bi Qing
- Cancer Center, Department of Orthopedics, Affliated People`s Hospital, Zhejiang Provincial People`s Hospital, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Affliated People`s Hospital, Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.
| | - Lv Jun
- Cancer Center, Department of Orthopedics, Affliated People`s Hospital, Zhejiang Provincial People`s Hospital, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Affliated People`s Hospital, Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.
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10
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Yang Q, Tian H, Guo Z, Ma Z, Wang G. The role of noncoding RNAs in the tumor microenvironment of hepatocellular carcinoma. Acta Biochim Biophys Sin (Shanghai) 2023; 55:1697-1706. [PMID: 37867435 PMCID: PMC10686793 DOI: 10.3724/abbs.2023231] [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: 04/23/2023] [Accepted: 07/11/2023] [Indexed: 10/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the leading fatal malignancy worldwide. The tumor microenvironment (TME) can affect the survival, proliferation, migration, and even dormancy of cancer cells. Hypoxia is an important component of the TME, and hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) is the most important transcriptional regulator. Noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs), including microRNAs (miRNAs), long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs), and circular RNAs (circRNAs), comprise a large part of the human transcriptome and play an important role in regulating the tumorigenesis of HCC. This review discusses the role of ncRNAs in hepatocarcinogenesis, epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), and angiogenesis in a hypoxic microenvironment, as well as the interactions between ncRNAs and key components of the TME. It further discusses their use as biomarkers and the potential clinical value of drugs, as well as the challenges faced in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qianqian Yang
- Laboratory for Noncoding RNA and CancerSchool of Life SciencesShanghai UniversityShanghai200444China
| | - Hui Tian
- Department of GeriatricsZhongshan HospitalFudan UniversityShanghai200032China
| | - Ziyi Guo
- Laboratory for Noncoding RNA and CancerSchool of Life SciencesShanghai UniversityShanghai200444China
| | - Zhongliang Ma
- Laboratory for Noncoding RNA and CancerSchool of Life SciencesShanghai UniversityShanghai200444China
| | - Guangzhi Wang
- School of Medical ImagingWeifang Medical UniversityWeifang261053China
- Department of Medical Imaging CenterAffiliated Hospital of Weifang Medical UniversityWeifang261053China
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11
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Al-Bzour NN, Al-Bzour AN, Ababneh OE, Al-Jezawi MM, Saeed A, Saeed A. Cancer-Associated Fibroblasts in Gastrointestinal Cancers: Unveiling Their Dynamic Roles in the Tumor Microenvironment. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:16505. [PMID: 38003695 PMCID: PMC10671196 DOI: 10.3390/ijms242216505] [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: 10/03/2023] [Revised: 11/15/2023] [Accepted: 11/17/2023] [Indexed: 11/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Gastrointestinal cancers are highly aggressive malignancies with significant mortality rates. Recent research emphasizes the critical role of the tumor microenvironment (TME) in these cancers, which includes cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs), a key component of the TME that have diverse origins, including fibroblasts, mesenchymal stem cells, and endothelial cells. Several markers, such as α-SMA and FAP, have been identified to label CAFs, and some specific markers may serve as potential therapeutic targets. In this review article, we summarize the literature on the multifaceted role of CAFs in tumor progression, including their effects on angiogenesis, immune suppression, invasion, and metastasis. In addition, we highlight the use of single-cell transcriptomics to understand CAF heterogeneity and their interactions within the TME. Moreover, we discuss the dynamic interplay between CAFs and the immune system, which contributes to immunosuppression in the TME, and the potential for CAF-targeted therapies and combination approaches with immunotherapy to improve cancer treatment outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Noor N. Al-Bzour
- Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology & Oncology, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC), Pittsburgh, PA 15232, USA; (N.N.A.-B.); (A.N.A.-B.)
| | - Ayah N. Al-Bzour
- Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology & Oncology, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC), Pittsburgh, PA 15232, USA; (N.N.A.-B.); (A.N.A.-B.)
| | - Obada E. Ababneh
- Faculty of Medicine, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid 22110, Jordan; (O.E.A.); (M.M.A.-J.)
| | - Moayad M. Al-Jezawi
- Faculty of Medicine, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid 22110, Jordan; (O.E.A.); (M.M.A.-J.)
| | - Azhar Saeed
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Vermont Medical Center, Burlington, VT 05401, USA;
| | - Anwaar Saeed
- Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology & Oncology, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC), Pittsburgh, PA 15232, USA; (N.N.A.-B.); (A.N.A.-B.)
- UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, Pittsburgh, PA 15232, USA
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12
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Ning XY, Ma JH, He W, Ma JT. Role of exosomes in metastasis and therapeutic resistance in esophageal cancer. World J Gastroenterol 2023; 29:5699-5715. [PMID: 38075847 PMCID: PMC10701334 DOI: 10.3748/wjg.v29.i42.5699] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2023] [Revised: 09/13/2023] [Accepted: 11/08/2023] [Indexed: 11/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Esophageal cancer (EC) has a high incidence and mortality rate and is emerging as one of the most common health problems globally. Owing to the lack of sensitive detection methods, uncontrollable rapid metastasis, and pervasive treatment resistance, EC is often diagnosed in advanced stages and is susceptible to local recurrence. Exosomes are important components of intercellular communication and the exosome-mediated crosstalk between the cancer and surrounding cells within the tumor microenvironment plays a crucial role in the metastasis, progression, and therapeutic resistance of EC. Considering the critical role of exosomes in tumor pathogenesis, this review focused on elucidating the impact of exosomes on EC metastasis and therapeutic resistance. Here, we summarized the relevant signaling pathways involved in these processes. In addition, we discussed the potential clinical applications of exosomes for the early diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment of EC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xing-Yu Ning
- The Second School of Clinical Medicine, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230032, Anhui Province, China
| | - Jin-Hu Ma
- The Second School of Clinical Medicine, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230032, Anhui Province, China
| | - Wei He
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230032, Anhui Province, China
| | - Jun-Ting Ma
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230032, Anhui Province, China
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13
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Zhang J, Dong Y, Di S, Xie S, Fan B, Gong T. Tumor associated macrophages in esophageal squamous carcinoma: Promising therapeutic implications. Biomed Pharmacother 2023; 167:115610. [PMID: 37783153 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2023.115610] [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: 08/16/2023] [Revised: 09/18/2023] [Accepted: 09/27/2023] [Indexed: 10/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Esophageal squamous carcinoma (ESCC) is a prevalent and highly lethal malignant tumor, with a five-year survival rate of approximately 20 %. Tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) are the most prominent immune cells in the tumor microenvironment (TME), comprising over 50 % of the tumor volume. TAMs can be polarized into two distinct phenotypes, M1-type and M2-type, through interactions with cancer cells. M2-type TAMs are more abundant than M1-type TAMs in the TME, contributing to tumor progression, such as tumor cell survival and the construction of an immunosuppressive environment. This review focuses on the role of TAMs in ESCC, including their polarization, impact on tumor proliferation, angiogenesis, invasion, migration, therapy resistance, and immunosuppression. In addition, we discuss the potential of targeting TAMs for clinical therapy in ESCC. A thorough comprehension of the molecular biology about TAMs is essential for the development of innovative therapeutic strategies to treat ESCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiale Zhang
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, the Sixth Medical Center of PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China; Department of Thoracic Surgery, School of Medicine, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yanxin Dong
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, the Sixth Medical Center of PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China; Department of Thoracic Surgery, School of Medicine, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, China
| | - Shouyin Di
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, the Sixth Medical Center of PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Shun Xie
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, the Sixth Medical Center of PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Boshi Fan
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, the Sixth Medical Center of PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China.
| | - Taiqian Gong
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, the Sixth Medical Center of PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China.
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14
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Kawasaki K, Noma K, Kato T, Ohara T, Tanabe S, Takeda Y, Matsumoto H, Nishimura S, Kunitomo T, Akai M, Kobayashi T, Nishiwaki N, Kashima H, Maeda N, Kikuchi S, Tazawa H, Shirakawa Y, Fujiwara T. PD-L1-expressing cancer-associated fibroblasts induce tumor immunosuppression and contribute to poor clinical outcome in esophageal cancer. Cancer Immunol Immunother 2023; 72:3787-3802. [PMID: 37668710 PMCID: PMC10576702 DOI: 10.1007/s00262-023-03531-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2023] [Accepted: 08/14/2023] [Indexed: 09/06/2023]
Abstract
The programmed cell death 1 protein (PD-1)/programmed cell death ligand 1 (PD-L1) axis plays a crucial role in tumor immunosuppression, while the cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) have various tumor-promoting functions. To determine the advantage of immunotherapy, the relationship between the cancer cells and the CAFs was evaluated in terms of the PD-1/PD-L1 axis. Overall, 140 cases of esophageal cancer underwent an immunohistochemical analysis of the PD-L1 expression and its association with the expression of the α smooth muscle actin, fibroblast activation protein, CD8, and forkhead box P3 (FoxP3) positive cells. The relationship between the cancer cells and the CAFs was evaluated in vitro, and the effect of the anti-PD-L1 antibody was evaluated using a syngeneic mouse model. A survival analysis showed that the PD-L1+ CAF group had worse survival than the PD-L1- group. In vitro and in vivo, direct interaction between the cancer cells and the CAFs showed a mutually upregulated PD-L1 expression. In vivo, the anti-PD-L1 antibody increased the number of dead CAFs and cancer cells, resulting in increased CD8+ T cells and decreased FoxP3+ regulatory T cells. We demonstrated that the PD-L1-expressing CAFs lead to poor outcomes in patients with esophageal cancer. The cancer cells and the CAFs mutually enhanced the PD-L1 expression and induced tumor immunosuppression. Therefore, the PD-L1-expressing CAFs may be good targets for cancer therapy, inhibiting tumor progression and improving host tumor immunity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kento Kawasaki
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2-5-1 Shikata-cho, Kita-ku, Okayama, 700-8558, Japan
| | - Kazuhiro Noma
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2-5-1 Shikata-cho, Kita-ku, Okayama, 700-8558, Japan.
| | - Takuya Kato
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2-5-1 Shikata-cho, Kita-ku, Okayama, 700-8558, Japan
| | - Toshiaki Ohara
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2-5-1 Shikata-cho, Kita-ku, Okayama, 700-8558, Japan
- Department of Pathology and Experimental Medicine, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama, Japan
| | - Shunsuke Tanabe
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2-5-1 Shikata-cho, Kita-ku, Okayama, 700-8558, Japan
| | - Yasushige Takeda
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2-5-1 Shikata-cho, Kita-ku, Okayama, 700-8558, Japan
| | - Hijiri Matsumoto
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2-5-1 Shikata-cho, Kita-ku, Okayama, 700-8558, Japan
| | - Seitaro Nishimura
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2-5-1 Shikata-cho, Kita-ku, Okayama, 700-8558, Japan
| | - Tomoyoshi Kunitomo
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2-5-1 Shikata-cho, Kita-ku, Okayama, 700-8558, Japan
| | - Masaaki Akai
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2-5-1 Shikata-cho, Kita-ku, Okayama, 700-8558, Japan
| | - Teruki Kobayashi
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2-5-1 Shikata-cho, Kita-ku, Okayama, 700-8558, Japan
| | - Noriyuki Nishiwaki
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2-5-1 Shikata-cho, Kita-ku, Okayama, 700-8558, Japan
| | - Hajime Kashima
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2-5-1 Shikata-cho, Kita-ku, Okayama, 700-8558, Japan
| | - Naoaki Maeda
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2-5-1 Shikata-cho, Kita-ku, Okayama, 700-8558, Japan
| | - Satoru Kikuchi
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2-5-1 Shikata-cho, Kita-ku, Okayama, 700-8558, Japan
| | - Hiroshi Tazawa
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2-5-1 Shikata-cho, Kita-ku, Okayama, 700-8558, Japan
- Center for Innovative Clinical Medicine, Okayama University Hospital, Okayama, Japan
| | - Yasuhiro Shirakawa
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2-5-1 Shikata-cho, Kita-ku, Okayama, 700-8558, Japan
- Department of Surgery, Hiroshima City Hiroshima Citizens Hospital, Hiroshima, Japan
| | - Toshiyoshi Fujiwara
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2-5-1 Shikata-cho, Kita-ku, Okayama, 700-8558, Japan
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15
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Xue M, Tong Y, Xiong Y, Yu C. Role of cancer-associated fibroblasts in the progression, therapeutic resistance and targeted therapy of oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma. Front Oncol 2023; 13:1257266. [PMID: 37927475 PMCID: PMC10623436 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2023.1257266] [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: 07/12/2023] [Accepted: 09/11/2023] [Indexed: 11/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is one of the most aggressive malignant tumours with high morbidity and mortality. Although surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy are common treatment options available for oesophageal cancer, the 5-year survival rate remains low after treatment. On the one hand, many oesophageal cancers are are discovered at an advanced stage and, on the other hand, treatment resistance is a major obstacle to treating locally advanced ESCC. Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs), the main type of stromal cell in the tumour microenvironment, enhance tumour progression and treatment resistance and have emerged as a major focus of study on targeted therapy of oesophageal cancer.With the aim of providing potential, prospective targets for improving therapeutic efficacy, this review summarises the origin and activation of CAFs and their specific role in regulating tumour progression and treatment resistance in ESCC. We also emphasize the clinical potential and emerging trends of ESCC CAFs-targeted treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Changhua Yu
- Department of Radiotherapy, The Affiliated Huaian No.1 People’s Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Huaian, China
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16
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Zhao D, Mo Y, Neganova ME, Aleksandrova Y, Tse E, Chubarev VN, Fan R, Sukocheva OA, Liu J. Dual effects of radiotherapy on tumor microenvironment and its contribution towards the development of resistance to immunotherapy in gastrointestinal and thoracic cancers. Front Cell Dev Biol 2023; 11:1266537. [PMID: 37849740 PMCID: PMC10577389 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2023.1266537] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2023] [Accepted: 09/19/2023] [Indexed: 10/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Successful clinical methods for tumor elimination include a combination of surgical resection, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy. Radiotherapy is one of the crucial components of the cancer treatment regimens which allow to extend patient life expectancy. Current cutting-edge radiotherapy research is focused on the identification of methods that should increase cancer cell sensitivity to radiation and activate anti-cancer immunity mechanisms. Radiation treatment activates various cells of the tumor microenvironment (TME) and impacts tumor growth, angiogenesis, and anti-cancer immunity. Radiotherapy was shown to regulate signaling and anti-cancer functions of various TME immune and vasculature cell components, including tumor-associated macrophages, dendritic cells, endothelial cells, cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs), natural killers, and other T cell subsets. Dual effects of radiation, including metastasis-promoting effects and activation of oxidative stress, have been detected, suggesting that radiotherapy triggers heterogeneous targets. In this review, we critically discuss the activation of TME and angiogenesis during radiotherapy which is used to strengthen the effects of novel immunotherapy. Intracellular, genetic, and epigenetic mechanisms of signaling and clinical manipulations of immune responses and oxidative stress by radiotherapy are accented. Current findings indicate that radiotherapy should be considered as a supporting instrument for immunotherapy to limit the cancer-promoting effects of TME. To increase cancer-free survival rates, it is recommended to combine personalized radiation therapy methods with TME-targeting drugs, including immune checkpoint inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Deyao Zhao
- Department of Radiation Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Yingyi Mo
- Department of Radiation Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Margarita E. Neganova
- Arbuzov Institute of Organic and Physical Chemistry, FRC Kazan Scientific Center, Russian Academy of Sciences, Kazan, Russia
- Institute of Physiologically Active Compounds at Federal Research Center of Problems of Chemical Physics and Medicinal Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Chernogolovka, Russia
| | - Yulia Aleksandrova
- Arbuzov Institute of Organic and Physical Chemistry, FRC Kazan Scientific Center, Russian Academy of Sciences, Kazan, Russia
- Institute of Physiologically Active Compounds at Federal Research Center of Problems of Chemical Physics and Medicinal Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Chernogolovka, Russia
| | - Edmund Tse
- Department of Hepatology, Royal Adelaide Hospital, CALHN, Adelaide, SA, Australia
| | - Vladimir N. Chubarev
- Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, Sechenov University, Moscow, Russia
| | - Ruitai Fan
- Department of Radiation Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Olga A. Sukocheva
- Department of Hepatology, Royal Adelaide Hospital, CALHN, Adelaide, SA, Australia
| | - Junqi Liu
- Department of Radiation Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
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17
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Xi Y, Shen Y, Chen L, Tan L, Shen W, Niu X. Exosome-mediated metabolic reprogramming: Implications in esophageal carcinoma progression and tumor microenvironment remodeling. Cytokine Growth Factor Rev 2023; 73:78-92. [PMID: 37696716 DOI: 10.1016/j.cytogfr.2023.08.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2023] [Accepted: 08/28/2023] [Indexed: 09/13/2023]
Abstract
Esophageal carcinoma is among the most fatal malignancies with increasing incidence globally. Tumor onset and progression can be driven by metabolic reprogramming, especially during esophageal carcinoma development. Exosomes, a subset of extracellular vesicles, display an average size of ∼100 nanometers, containing multifarious components (nucleic acids, proteins, lipids, etc.). An increasing number of studies have shown that exosomes are capable of transferring molecules with biological functions into recipient cells, which play crucial roles in esophageal carcinoma progression and tumor microenvironment that is a highly heterogeneous ecosystem through rewriting the metabolic processes in tumor cells and environmental stromal cells. The review introduces the reprogramming of glucose, lipid, amino acid, mitochondrial metabolism in esophageal carcinoma, and summarize current pharmaceutical agents targeting such aberrant metabolism rewiring. We also comprehensively overview the biogenesis and release of exosomes, and recent advances of exosomal cargoes and functions in esophageal carcinoma and their promising clinical application. Moreover, we discuss how exosomes trigger tumor growth, metastasis, drug resistance, and immunosuppression as well as tumor microenvironment remodeling through focusing on their capacity to transfer materials between cells or between cells and tissues and modulate metabolic reprogramming, thus providing a theoretical reference for the design potential pharmaceutical agents targeting these mechanisms. Altogether, our review attempts to fully understand the significance of exosome-based metabolic rewriting in esophageal carcinoma progression and remodeling of the tumor microenvironment, bringing novel insights into the prevention and treatment of esophageal carcinoma in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yong Xi
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Ningbo Medical Center Lihuili Hospital, Ningbo University, Ningbo 315040, Zhejiang, China; Department of Thoracic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang 330006, Jiangxi, China
| | - Yaxing Shen
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Lijie Chen
- School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, Fujian, China; China Medical University, Shenyang 110122, Liaoning, China
| | - Lijie Tan
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China.
| | - Weiyu Shen
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Ningbo Medical Center Lihuili Hospital, Ningbo University, Ningbo 315040, Zhejiang, China.
| | - Xing Niu
- China Medical University, Shenyang 110122, Liaoning, China.
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Yao Y, Xuan H, Wang J, Gong L, Gao W. Integrative analysis of tertiary lymphoid structures and immune microenvironment in patients with esophageal carcinoma. TUMORI JOURNAL 2023; 109:466-480. [PMID: 37249074 DOI: 10.1177/03008916231176857] [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] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is one of the most common upper gastrointestinal malignancies worldwide. Tertiary lymphoid structures (TLS) are tumor-infiltrating immune cells aggregates coupled with stromal cells which are similar to secondary lymphoid organs. The objective of this study is to explore the predictive effects of two common genes associated with TLS models on prognosis and immunotherapy effects in ESCC patients. METHODS Clinical information for ESCC patients in the TCGA(The Cancer Genome Altas) cohort and GSE 53625 were collected. All of the samples were classified as either high score group or low score group based on two TLS signatures, and the association between TLS signatures and survival, clinical indicators, genomic burden, stemness indices analysis, tumor microenvironment and immunotherapy response were performed. Furthermore, the mature TLS was also assessed in ESCC tissue microarray. RESULTS In our study, we quantified the score of TLS_9 and TLS_12, respectively, reflecting the different statuses of TLS (TLS_9 = B and T cells in TLSs; TLS_12 = neogenesis of TLSs). Subsequently, we explored the effect of TLS score on ESCC tumor microenvironment quantified by multiple algorithms. We found that a correlation analysis indicated that TLS_9 and TLS_12 were all positively correlated with CD8+ T cell, NK cells, CD4+ T cells, M1 macrophages and so on. Meanwhile, some cells present a different correlation pattern of TLS_9 and TLS_12, including activated CD4+ memory T cells and Tgd cells. Immune-related analysis revealed that the TLS_12 and TLS_9 scores were all positively correlated with immune dysfunction, yet negatively correlated with immune exclusion. Following this, the biological roles of TLS_9 and TLS_12 scores were investigated. Also, we noticed that the TLS score could significantly affect the CAFs infiltration and be associated with the genomic burden and tumor stemness. In addition, we explored the prognostic value of mature TLS through tissue microarray (TMA). Our result displayed ESCC patients with the presence of mature TLS had a better prognosis than ESCC patients without it. CONCLUSIONS Our study indicated that ESCC patients with the presence of TLS had better outcomes and an inflamed immune microenvironment. In addition, both TLS-9 and TLS-12 gene signatures could be used as potential biomarkers for the immunotherapy of ESCC patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuanshan Yao
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Clinical Geriatric Medicine, Huadong Hospital Affiliated to Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Haojie Xuan
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Clinical Geriatric Medicine, Huadong Hospital Affiliated to Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Jing Wang
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Clinical Geriatric Medicine, Huadong Hospital Affiliated to Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Libao Gong
- Department of abdominal oncology, The cancer center of the fifth affiliated hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Zhuhai, Guangdong Province 519000, China
| | - Wen Gao
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Clinical Geriatric Medicine, Huadong Hospital Affiliated to Fudan University, Shanghai, China
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Kalaei Z, Manafi-Farid R, Rashidi B, Kiani FK, Zarei A, Fathi M, Jadidi-Niaragh F. The Prognostic and therapeutic value and clinical implications of fibroblast activation protein-α as a novel biomarker in colorectal cancer. Cell Commun Signal 2023; 21:139. [PMID: 37316886 DOI: 10.1186/s12964-023-01151-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2022] [Accepted: 04/28/2023] [Indexed: 06/16/2023] Open
Abstract
The identification of contributing factors leading to the development of Colorectal Cancer (CRC), as the third fatal malignancy, is crucial. Today, the tumor microenvironment has been shown to play a key role in CRC progression. Fibroblast-Activation Protein-α (FAP) is a type II transmembrane cell surface proteinase expressed on the surface of cancer-associated fibroblasts in tumor stroma. As an enzyme, FAP has di- and endoprolylpeptidase, endoprotease, and gelatinase/collagenase activities in the Tumor Microenvironment (TME). According to recent reports, FAP overexpression in CRC contributes to adverse clinical outcomes such as increased lymph node metastasis, tumor recurrence, and angiogenesis, as well as decreased overall survival. In this review, studies about the expression level of FAP and its associations with CRC patients' prognosis are reviewed. High expression levels of FAP and its association with clinicopathological factors have made as a potential target. In many studies, FAP has been evaluated as a therapeutic target and diagnostic factor into which the current review tries to provide a comprehensive insight. Video Abstract.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zahra Kalaei
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Tabriz University, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Reyhaneh Manafi-Farid
- Research Center for Nuclear Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Bentolhoda Rashidi
- Immunology Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Fariba Karoon Kiani
- Immunology Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Asieh Zarei
- Immunology Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Mehrdad Fathi
- Research Center for Integrative Medicine in Aging, Aging Research Institute, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Farhad Jadidi-Niaragh
- Immunology Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
- Research Center for Integrative Medicine in Aging, Aging Research Institute, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
- Department of Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
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20
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Komoto S, Noma K, Kato T, Kobayashi T, Nishiwaki N, Narusaka T, Sato H, Katsura Y, Kashima H, Kikuchi S, Ohara T, Tazawa H, Fujiwara T. Conventional Cancer Therapies Can Accelerate Malignant Potential of Cancer Cells by Activating Cancer-Associated Fibroblasts in Esophageal Cancer Models. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:cancers15112971. [PMID: 37296933 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15112971] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2023] [Revised: 05/01/2023] [Accepted: 05/27/2023] [Indexed: 06/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Esophageal cancer is one of the most aggressive tumors, and the outcome remains poor. One contributing factor is the presence of tumors that are less responsive or have increased malignancy when treated with conventional chemotherapy, radiotherapy, or a combination of these. Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) play an important role in the tumor microenvironment. Focusing on conventional cancer therapies, we investigated how CAFs acquire therapeutic resistance and how they affect tumor malignancy. In this study, low-dose chemotherapy or radiotherapy-induced normal fibroblasts showed enhanced activation of CAFs markers, fibroblast activation protein, and α-smooth muscle actin, indicating the acquisition of malignancy in fibroblasts. Furthermore, CAFs activated by radiotherapy induce phenotypic changes in cancer cells, increasing their proliferation, migration, and invasion abilities. In in vivo peritoneal dissemination models, the total number of tumor nodules in the abdominal cavity was significantly increased in the co-inoculation group of cancer cells and resistant fibroblasts compared to that in the co-inoculation group of cancer cells and normal fibroblasts. In conclusion, we demonstrated that conventional cancer therapy causes anti-therapeutic effects via the activation of fibroblasts, resulting in CAFs. It is important to select or combine modalities of esophageal cancer treatment, recognizing that inappropriate radiotherapy and chemotherapy can lead to resistance in CAF-rich tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Satoshi Komoto
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama 700-8558, Japan
| | - Kazuhiro Noma
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama 700-8558, Japan
| | - Takuya Kato
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama 700-8558, Japan
| | - Teruki Kobayashi
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama 700-8558, Japan
| | - Noriyuki Nishiwaki
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama 700-8558, Japan
| | - Toru Narusaka
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama 700-8558, Japan
| | - Hiroaki Sato
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama 700-8558, Japan
| | - Yuki Katsura
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama 700-8558, Japan
| | - Hajime Kashima
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama 700-8558, Japan
| | - Satoru Kikuchi
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama 700-8558, Japan
| | - Toshiaki Ohara
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama 700-8558, Japan
- Department of Pathology & Experimental Medicine, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama 700-8558, Japan
| | - Hiroshi Tazawa
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama 700-8558, Japan
- Center for Innovative Clinical Medicine, Okayama University Hospital, Okayama 700-8558, Japan
| | - Toshiyoshi Fujiwara
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama 700-8558, Japan
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21
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Chen C, Yang C, Tian X, Liang Y, Wang S, Wang X, Shou Y, Li H, Xiao Q, Shu J, Sun M, Chen K. Downregulation of miR-100-5p in cancer-associated fibroblast-derived exosomes facilitates lymphangiogenesis in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. Cancer Med 2023. [PMID: 37184125 DOI: 10.1002/cam4.6078] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2022] [Revised: 04/27/2023] [Accepted: 05/03/2023] [Indexed: 05/16/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC), an aggressive gastrointestinal tumor, often has high early lymphatic metastatic potential. Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) are primary components in tumor microenvironment (TME), and the impact of CAFs and its derived exosomes on lymphangiogenesis remains elusive. MATERIALS AND METHODS CAFs and the microlymphatic vessel density (MLVD) in ESCC was examined. Exosomes were extracted from primary normal fibroblast (NFs) and CAFs. Subsequently, tumor-associated lymphatic endothelial cells (TLECs) were treated with these exosomes, and the effect on their biological behavior was examined. miR-100-5p was selected as the target miRNA, and its effect on TLECs was examined. The target of miR-100-5p was predicted and confirmed. Subsequently, IGF1R, PI3K, AKT, and p-AKT expression in TLECs and tumors treated with exosomes and miR-100-5p were examined. RESULTS A large number of CAFs and microlymphatic vessels were present in ESCC, leading to a poor prognosis. CAF-derived exosomes promoted proliferation, migration, invasion, and tube formation in TLECs. Further, they also enhanced lymphangiogenesis in ESCC xenografts. miR-100-5p levels were significantly lower in CAF-derived exosomes than in NF-derived exosomes. miR-100-5p inhibited proliferation, migration, invasion, and tube formation in TLECs. Further, miR-100-5p inhibited lymphangiogenesis in ESCC xenografts. Mechanistic studies revealed that this inhibition was mediated by the miR-100-5p-induced inhibition of IGF1R/PI3K/AKT axis. CONCLUSION Taken together, our study demonstrates that CAF-derived exosomes with decreased miR-100-5p levels exhibit pro-lymphangiogenesis capacity, suggesting a possibility of targeting IGF1R/PI3K/AKT axis as a strategy to inhibit lymphatic metastasis in ESCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chao Chen
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
- Henan Key Laboratory of Tumor Pathology, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
- Department of Neurosurgery, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Chenbo Yang
- Henan Key Laboratory of Tumor Pathology, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
- Department of Pathology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Xiangyu Tian
- Henan Key Laboratory of Tumor Pathology, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
- Department of Osteology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Yinghao Liang
- Henan Key Laboratory of Tumor Pathology, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
- BGI College & Henan Institute of Medical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Shuaiyuan Wang
- Henan Key Laboratory of Tumor Pathology, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
- Department of Pathology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Xiaoqian Wang
- Henan Key Laboratory of Tumor Pathology, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
- BGI College & Henan Institute of Medical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Yuwei Shou
- Henan Key Laboratory of Tumor Pathology, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
- Department of Pathology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Hui Li
- Henan Key Laboratory of Tumor Pathology, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Qiankun Xiao
- Henan Key Laboratory of Tumor Pathology, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Jiao Shu
- Henan Key Laboratory of Tumor Pathology, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
- Department of Pathology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Miaomiao Sun
- Henan Key Laboratory of Tumor Pathology, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
- Department of Pathology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
- BGI College & Henan Institute of Medical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Kuisheng Chen
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
- Henan Key Laboratory of Tumor Pathology, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
- Department of Pathology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
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22
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Colorectal Cancer Bioengineered Microtissues as a Model to Replicate Tumor-ECM Crosstalk and Assess Drug Delivery Systems In Vitro. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24065678. [PMID: 36982752 PMCID: PMC10059762 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24065678] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2023] [Revised: 03/09/2023] [Accepted: 03/13/2023] [Indexed: 03/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Current 3D cancer models (in vitro) fail to reproduce complex cancer cell extracellular matrices (ECMs) and the interrelationships occurring (in vivo) in the tumor microenvironment (TME). Herein, we propose 3D in vitro colorectal cancer microtissues (3D CRC μTs), which reproduce the TME more faithfully in vitro. Normal human fibroblasts were seeded onto porous biodegradable gelatin microbeads (GPMs) and were continuously induced to synthesize and assemble their own ECMs (3D Stroma μTs) in a spinner flask bioreactor. Then, human colon cancer cells were dynamically seeded onto the 3D Stroma μTs to achieve the 3D CRC μTs. Morphological characterization of the 3D CRC μTs was performed to assess the presence of different complex macromolecular components that feature in vivo in the ECM. The results showed the 3D CRC μTs recapitulated the TME in terms of ECM remodeling, cell growth, and the activation of normal fibroblasts toward an activated phenotype. Then, the microtissues were assessed as a drug screening platform by evaluating the effect of 5-Fluorouracil (5-FU), curcumin-loaded nanoemulsions (CT-NE-Curc), and the combination of the two. When taken together, the results showed that our microtissues are promising in that they can help clarify complex cancer–ECM interactions and evaluate the efficacy of therapies. Moreover, they may be combined with tissue-on-chip technologies aimed at addressing further studies in cancer progression and drug discovery.
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23
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Takagi K, Noma K, Nagai Y, Kikuchi S, Umeda Y, Yoshida R, Fuji T, Yasui K, Tanaka T, Kashima H, Yagi T, Fujiwara T. Impact of cancer-associated fibroblasts on survival of patients with ampullary carcinoma. Front Oncol 2023; 13:1072106. [PMID: 37007101 PMCID: PMC10060636 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2023.1072106] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2022] [Accepted: 03/06/2023] [Indexed: 03/18/2023] Open
Abstract
BackgroundCancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) reportedly enhance the progression of gastrointestinal surgery; however, the role of CAFs in ampullary carcinomas remains poorly examined. This study aimed to investigate the effect of CAFs on the survival of patients with ampullary carcinoma.Materials and methodsA retrospective analysis of 67 patients who underwent pancreatoduodenectomy between January 2000 and December 2021 was performed. CAFs were defined as spindle-shaped cells that expressed α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) and fibroblast activation protein (FAP). The impact of CAFs on survival, including recurrence-free (RFS) and disease-specific survival (DSS), as well as prognostic factors associated with survival, was analyzed.ResultsThe high-α-SMA group had significantly worse 5-year RFS (47.6% vs. 82.2%, p = 0.003) and 5-year DSS (67.5% vs. 93.3%, p = 0.01) than the low-α-SMA group. RFS (p = 0.04) and DSS (p = 0.02) in the high-FAP group were significantly worse than those in the low-FAP group. Multivariable analyses found that high α-SMA expression was an independent predictor of RFS [hazard ratio (HR): 3.68; 95% confidence intervals (CI): 1.21–12.4; p = 0.02] and DSS (HR: 8.54; 95% CI: 1.21–170; p = 0.03).ConclusionsCAFs, particularly α-SMA, can be useful predictors of survival in patients undergoing radical resection for ampullary carcinomas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kosei Takagi
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama, Japan
- *Correspondence: Kosei Takagi,
| | - Kazuhiro Noma
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama, Japan
| | - Yasuo Nagai
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama, Japan
| | - Satoru Kikuchi
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama, Japan
| | - Yuzo Umeda
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama, Japan
| | - Ryuichi Yoshida
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama, Japan
| | - Tomokazu Fuji
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama, Japan
| | - Kazuya Yasui
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama, Japan
| | - Takehiro Tanaka
- Department of Pathology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama, Japan
| | - Hajime Kashima
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama, Japan
| | - Takahito Yagi
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama, Japan
| | - Toshiyoshi Fujiwara
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama, Japan
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24
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Nishiwaki N, Noma K, Ohara T, Kunitomo T, Kawasaki K, Akai M, Kobayashi T, Narusaka T, Kashima H, Sato H, Komoto S, Kato T, Maeda N, Kikuchi S, Tanabe S, Tazawa H, Shirakawa Y, Fujiwara T. Overcoming cancer-associated fibroblast-induced immunosuppression by anti-interleukin-6 receptor antibody. Cancer Immunol Immunother 2023:10.1007/s00262-023-03378-7. [PMID: 36764954 PMCID: PMC9916502 DOI: 10.1007/s00262-023-03378-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2022] [Accepted: 01/15/2023] [Indexed: 02/12/2023]
Abstract
Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) are a critical component of the tumor microenvironment and play a central role in tumor progression. Previously, we reported that CAFs might induce tumor immunosuppression via interleukin-6 (IL-6) and promote tumor progression by blocking local IL-6 in the tumor microenvironment with neutralizing antibody. Here, we explore whether an anti-IL-6 receptor antibody could be used as systemic therapy to treat cancer, and further investigate the mechanisms by which IL-6 induces tumor immunosuppression. In clinical samples, IL-6 expression was significantly correlated with α-smooth muscle actin expression, and high IL-6 cases showed tumor immunosuppression. Multivariate analysis showed that IL-6 expression was an independent prognostic factor. In vitro, IL-6 contributed to cell proliferation and differentiation into CAFs. Moreover, IL-6 increased hypoxia-inducible factor 1α (HIF1α) expression and induced tumor immunosuppression by enhancing glucose uptake by cancer cells and competing for glucose with immune cells. MR16-1, a rodent analog of anti-IL-6 receptor antibody, overcame CAF-induced immunosuppression and suppressed tumor progression in immunocompetent murine cancer models by regulating HIF1α activation in vivo. The anti-IL-6 receptor antibody could be systemically employed to overcome tumor immunosuppression and improve patient survival with various cancers. Furthermore, the tumor immunosuppression was suggested to be induced by IL-6 via HIF1α activation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Noriyuki Nishiwaki
- grid.261356.50000 0001 1302 4472Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University, 2-5-1 Shikata-Cho, Kita-ku, Okayama, 700-8558 Japan
| | - Kazuhiro Noma
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University, 2-5-1 Shikata-Cho, Kita-ku, Okayama, 700-8558, Japan.
| | - Toshiaki Ohara
- grid.261356.50000 0001 1302 4472Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University, 2-5-1 Shikata-Cho, Kita-ku, Okayama, 700-8558 Japan ,grid.261356.50000 0001 1302 4472Department of Pathology & Experimental Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University, Okayama, Japan
| | - Tomoyoshi Kunitomo
- grid.261356.50000 0001 1302 4472Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University, 2-5-1 Shikata-Cho, Kita-ku, Okayama, 700-8558 Japan
| | - Kento Kawasaki
- grid.261356.50000 0001 1302 4472Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University, 2-5-1 Shikata-Cho, Kita-ku, Okayama, 700-8558 Japan
| | - Masaaki Akai
- grid.261356.50000 0001 1302 4472Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University, 2-5-1 Shikata-Cho, Kita-ku, Okayama, 700-8558 Japan
| | - Teruki Kobayashi
- grid.261356.50000 0001 1302 4472Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University, 2-5-1 Shikata-Cho, Kita-ku, Okayama, 700-8558 Japan
| | - Toru Narusaka
- grid.261356.50000 0001 1302 4472Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University, 2-5-1 Shikata-Cho, Kita-ku, Okayama, 700-8558 Japan
| | - Hajime Kashima
- grid.261356.50000 0001 1302 4472Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University, 2-5-1 Shikata-Cho, Kita-ku, Okayama, 700-8558 Japan
| | - Hiroaki Sato
- grid.261356.50000 0001 1302 4472Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University, 2-5-1 Shikata-Cho, Kita-ku, Okayama, 700-8558 Japan
| | - Satoshi Komoto
- grid.261356.50000 0001 1302 4472Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University, 2-5-1 Shikata-Cho, Kita-ku, Okayama, 700-8558 Japan
| | - Takuya Kato
- grid.261356.50000 0001 1302 4472Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University, 2-5-1 Shikata-Cho, Kita-ku, Okayama, 700-8558 Japan
| | - Naoaki Maeda
- grid.261356.50000 0001 1302 4472Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University, 2-5-1 Shikata-Cho, Kita-ku, Okayama, 700-8558 Japan
| | - Satoru Kikuchi
- grid.261356.50000 0001 1302 4472Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University, 2-5-1 Shikata-Cho, Kita-ku, Okayama, 700-8558 Japan
| | - Shunsuke Tanabe
- grid.261356.50000 0001 1302 4472Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University, 2-5-1 Shikata-Cho, Kita-ku, Okayama, 700-8558 Japan
| | - Hiroshi Tazawa
- grid.261356.50000 0001 1302 4472Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University, 2-5-1 Shikata-Cho, Kita-ku, Okayama, 700-8558 Japan ,grid.412342.20000 0004 0631 9477Center for Innovative Clinical Medicine, Okayama University Hospital, Okayama, Japan
| | - Yasuhiro Shirakawa
- grid.261356.50000 0001 1302 4472Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University, 2-5-1 Shikata-Cho, Kita-ku, Okayama, 700-8558 Japan ,grid.517838.0Department of Surgery, Hiroshima City Hiroshima Citizens Hospital, Hiroshima, Japan
| | - Toshiyoshi Fujiwara
- grid.261356.50000 0001 1302 4472Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University, 2-5-1 Shikata-Cho, Kita-ku, Okayama, 700-8558 Japan
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25
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Zhao D, Zhang J, Zhang L, Wu Q, Wang Y, Zhang W, Xiao Y, Chen J, Zhan Q. PAFR/Stat3 axis maintains the symbiotic ecosystem between tumor and stroma to facilitate tumor malignancy. Acta Pharm Sin B 2023; 13:694-708. [PMID: 36873192 PMCID: PMC9978919 DOI: 10.1016/j.apsb.2022.08.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2022] [Revised: 06/17/2022] [Accepted: 08/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Stroma surrounding the tumor cells plays crucial roles for tumor progression. However, little is known about the factors that maintain the symbiosis between stroma and tumor cells. In this study, we found that the transcriptional regulator-signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (Stat3) was frequently activated in cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs), which was a potent facilitator of tumor malignancy, and formed forward feedback loop with platelet-activating factor receptor (PAFR) both in CAFs and tumor cells. Importantly, PAFR/Stat3 axis connected intercellular signaling crosstalk between CAFs and cancer cells and drove mutual transcriptional programming of these two types of cells. Two central Stat3-related cytokine signaling molecules-interleukin 6 (IL-6) and IL-11 played the critical role in the process of PAFR/Stat3 axis-mediated communication between tumor and CAFs. Pharmacological inhibition of PAFR and Stat3 activities effectively reduced tumor progression using CAFs/tumor co-culture xenograft model. Our study reveals that PAFR/Stat3 axis enhances the interaction between tumor and its associated stroma and suggests that targeting this axis can be an effective therapeutic strategy against tumor malignancy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Di Zhao
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education/Beijing), Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, Peking University Cancer Hospital & Institute, Beijing 100142, China
- Research Unit of Molecular Cancer Research, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing 100021, China
| | - Jing Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education/Beijing), Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, Peking University Cancer Hospital & Institute, Beijing 100142, China
| | - Lingyuan Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education/Beijing), Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, Peking University Cancer Hospital & Institute, Beijing 100142, China
| | - Qingnan Wu
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education/Beijing), Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, Peking University Cancer Hospital & Institute, Beijing 100142, China
- Research Unit of Molecular Cancer Research, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing 100021, China
- Peking University International Cancer Institute, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Yan Wang
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education/Beijing), Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, Peking University Cancer Hospital & Institute, Beijing 100142, China
- Research Unit of Molecular Cancer Research, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing 100021, China
- Peking University International Cancer Institute, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Weimin Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education/Beijing), Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, Peking University Cancer Hospital & Institute, Beijing 100142, China
- Research Unit of Molecular Cancer Research, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing 100021, China
- Shenzhen Bay Laboratory, Shenzhen 518132, China
| | - Yuanfan Xiao
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education/Beijing), Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, Peking University Cancer Hospital & Institute, Beijing 100142, China
| | - Jie Chen
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education/Beijing), Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, Peking University Cancer Hospital & Institute, Beijing 100142, China
- Research Unit of Molecular Cancer Research, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing 100021, China
- Peking University International Cancer Institute, Beijing 100191, China
- Corresponding authors.
| | - Qimin Zhan
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education/Beijing), Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, Peking University Cancer Hospital & Institute, Beijing 100142, China
- Research Unit of Molecular Cancer Research, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing 100021, China
- Peking University International Cancer Institute, Beijing 100191, China
- Shenzhen Bay Laboratory, Shenzhen 518132, China
- Corresponding authors.
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Kato T, Furusawa A, Okada R, Inagaki F, Wakiyama H, Furumoto H, Fukushima H, Okuyama S, Choyke PL, Kobayashi H. Near-Infrared Photoimmunotherapy Targeting Podoplanin-Expressing Cancer Cells and Cancer-Associated Fibroblasts. Mol Cancer Ther 2023; 22:75-88. [PMID: 36223542 PMCID: PMC9812859 DOI: 10.1158/1535-7163.mct-22-0313] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2022] [Revised: 07/07/2022] [Accepted: 10/05/2022] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
Near-infrared photoimmunotherapy (NIR-PIT) is a new cancer treatment that uses an antibody-IRDye700DX (IR700) conjugate that binds to a target followed by the application of NIR light that results in dramatic changes in solubility of the conjugate leading to rapid cell membrane damage and highly immunogenic cell death. NIR-PIT has been used clinically in treating advanced head and neck cancers using an anti-EGFR antibody-IR700 conjugate and has been conditionally approved for clinical use in Japan. NIR-PIT can be employed using a wide range of targeting antibodies. Podoplanin (PDPN), also known as gp38, is a 38 kDa type-1 transmembrane protein associated with lymphatic vessels. In cancer cells and cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs), PDPN expression has been widely reported and correlates with poor outcomes in several cancer types. In this study, we evaluated the efficacy of PDPN-targeted NIR-PIT in syngenetic mouse models of cancer. PDPN-targeted NIR-PIT destroyed PDPN-expressing cancer cells and CAFs selectively, suppressing tumor progression and prolonging survival with minimal damage to lymphatic vessels compared with the control group. Interestingly, PDPN-targeted NIR-PIT also exerted a therapeutic effect by targeting CAFs in tumor models which do not express in cancer cells. Furthermore, increased cytotoxic T cells in the tumor bed after PDPN-targeted NIR-PIT were observed, suggesting enhanced host antitumor immunity. Thus, PDPN-targeted NIR-PIT is a promising new cancer therapy strategy for PDPN-expressing cancer cells and CAFs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takuya Kato
- Molecular Imaging Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland 20892-1088, United States
| | - Aki Furusawa
- Molecular Imaging Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland 20892-1088, United States
| | - Ryuhei Okada
- Molecular Imaging Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland 20892-1088, United States
| | - Fuyuki Inagaki
- Molecular Imaging Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland 20892-1088, United States
| | - Hiroaki Wakiyama
- Molecular Imaging Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland 20892-1088, United States
| | - Hideyuki Furumoto
- Molecular Imaging Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland 20892-1088, United States
| | - Hiroshi Fukushima
- Molecular Imaging Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland 20892-1088, United States
| | - Shuhei Okuyama
- Molecular Imaging Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland 20892-1088, United States
| | - Peter L. Choyke
- Molecular Imaging Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland 20892-1088, United States
| | - Hisataka Kobayashi
- Molecular Imaging Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland 20892-1088, United States
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Roshani M, Baniebrahimi G, Mousavi M, Zare N, Sadeghi R, Salarinia R, Sheida A, Molavizadeh D, Sadeghi S, Moammer F, Zolfaghari MR, Mirzaei H. Exosomal long non-coding RNAs: novel molecules in gastrointestinal cancers' progression and diagnosis. Front Oncol 2022; 12:1014949. [PMID: 36591473 PMCID: PMC9795196 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2022.1014949] [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: 08/09/2022] [Accepted: 11/10/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Gastrointestinal (GI) cancers arise in the GI tract and accessory organs, including the mouth, esophagus, stomach, liver, biliary tract, pancreas, small intestine, large intestine, and rectum. GI cancers are a major cause of cancer-related morbidity and mortality worldwide. Exosomes act as mediators of cell-to-cell communication, with pleiotropic activity in the regulation of homeostasis, and can be markers for diseases. Non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs), such as long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), can be transported by exosomes derived from tumor cells or non-tumor cells. They can be taken by recipient cells to alter their function or remodel the tumor microenvironment. Moreover, due to their uniquely low immunogenicity and excellent stability, exosomes can be used as natural carriers for therapeutic ncRNAs in vivo. Exosomal lncRNAs have a crucial role in regulating several cancer processes, including angiogenesis, proliferation, drug resistance, metastasis, and immunomodulation. Exosomal lncRNA levels frequently alter according to the onset and progression of cancer. Exosomal lncRNAs can therefore be employed as biomarkers for the diagnosis and prognosis of cancer. Exosomal lncRNAs can also monitor the patient's response to chemotherapy while also serving as potential targets for cancer treatment. Here, we discuss the role of exosomal lncRNAs in the biology and possible future treatment of GI cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammad Roshani
- Internal Medicine and Gastroenterology, Colorectal Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Ghazaleh Baniebrahimi
- Department of Pediatric Dentistry, School of Dentistry, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mahboubeh Mousavi
- Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, Semnan University of Medical Sciences, Semnan, Iran
| | - Noushid Zare
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Tehran University of Medical Science, Tehran, Iran
| | - Reza Sadeghi
- School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Reza Salarinia
- Department of Advanced Technologies, School of Medicine, North Khorasan University of Sciences, Bojnurd, Iran
| | - Amirhossein Sheida
- School of Medicine, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Kashan, Iran,Research Committee, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Kashan, Iran
| | - Danial Molavizadeh
- School of Medicine, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Kashan, Iran,Research Committee, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Kashan, Iran
| | - Sara Sadeghi
- School of Medicine, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Kashan, Iran,Research Committee, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Kashan, Iran
| | - Farzaneh Moammer
- Research Committee, School of Medicine, Guilan University of Medical Sciences, Rasht, Iran,*Correspondence: Farzaneh Moammer, ; Mohammad Reza Zolfaghari, ; Hamed Mirzaei, ;
| | - Mohammad Reza Zolfaghari
- Department of Microbiology, Qom Branch, Islamic Azad University, Qom, Iran,*Correspondence: Farzaneh Moammer, ; Mohammad Reza Zolfaghari, ; Hamed Mirzaei, ;
| | - Hamed Mirzaei
- Center for Biochemistry and Nutrition in Metabolic Diseases, Institute for Basic Sciences, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Kashan, Iran,*Correspondence: Farzaneh Moammer, ; Mohammad Reza Zolfaghari, ; Hamed Mirzaei, ;
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Dual-targeted near-infrared photoimmunotherapy for esophageal cancer and cancer-associated fibroblasts in the tumor microenvironment. Sci Rep 2022; 12:20152. [PMID: 36418422 PMCID: PMC9684531 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-24313-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2022] [Accepted: 11/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) play a significant role in tumor progression within the tumor microenvironment. Previously, we used near-infrared photoimmunotherapy (NIR-PIT), a next-generation cancer cell-targeted phototherapy, to establish CAF-targeted NIR-PIT. In this study, we investigated whether dual-targeted NIR-PIT, targeting cancer cells and CAFs, could be a therapeutic strategy. A total of 132 cases of esophageal cancer were analyzed for epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), human epidermal growth factor 2 (HER2), and fibroblast activation protein (FAP) expression using immunohistochemistry. Human esophageal cancer cells and CAFs were co-cultured and treated with single- or dual-targeted NIR-PIT in vitro. These cells were co-inoculated into BALB/c-nu/nu mice and the tumors were treated with single-targeted NIR-PIT or dual-targeted NIR-PIT in vivo. Survival analysis showed FAP- or EGFR-high patients had worse survival than patients with low expression of FAP or EGFR (log-rank, P < 0.001 and P = 0.074, respectively), while no difference was observed in HER2 status. In vitro, dual (EGFR/FAP)-targeted NIR-PIT induced specific therapeutic effects in cancer cells and CAFs along with suppressing tumor growth in vivo, whereas single-targeted NIR-PIT did not show any significance. Moreover, these experiments demonstrated that dual-targeted NIR-PIT could treat cancer cells and CAFs simultaneously with a single NIR light irradiation. We demonstrated the relationship between EGFR/FAP expression and prognosis of patients with esophageal cancer and the stronger therapeutic effect of dual-targeted NIR-PIT than single-targeted NIR-PIT in experimental models. Thus, dual-targeted NIR-PIT might be a promising therapeutic strategy for cancer treatment.
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29
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Peltier A, Seban RD, Buvat I, Bidard FC, Mechta-Grigoriou F. Fibroblast heterogeneity in solid tumors: From single cell analysis to whole-body imaging. Semin Cancer Biol 2022; 86:262-272. [PMID: 35489628 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcancer.2022.04.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2022] [Revised: 03/09/2022] [Accepted: 04/24/2022] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Cancer-Associated Fibroblasts (CAFs) represent the most prominent component of the tumor microenvironment (TME). Recent studies demonstrated that CAF are heterogeneous and composed of different subpopulations exerting distinct functions in cancer. CAF populations differentially modulate various aspects of tumor growth, including cancer cell proliferation, extra-cellular matrix remodeling, metastatic dissemination, immunosuppression and resistance to treatment. Among other markers, the Fibroblast Activation Protein (FAP) led to the identification of a specific CAF subpopulation involved in metastatic spread and immunosuppression. Expression of FAP at the surface of CAF is detected in many different cancer types of poor prognosis. Thus, FAP recently appears as an appealing target for therapeutic and molecular imaging applications. In that context, 68Ga-labeled radiopharmaceutical-FAP-inhibitors (FAPI) have been recently developed and validated for quantitatively mapping FAP expression over the whole-body using Positron Emission Tomography (PET/CT). In this review, we describe the main current knowledge on CAF subpopulations and their distinct functions in solid tumors, as well as the promising diagnostic and therapeutic implications of radionuclides targeting FAP.
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Affiliation(s)
- Agathe Peltier
- Institut Curie, Stress and Cancer Laboratory, Equipe labélisée par la Ligue Nationale contre le Cancer, PSL Research University, 26, rue d'Ulm, F-75248 Paris, France; Inserm, U830, 26, rue d'Ulm, Paris, F-75005 France
| | - Romain-David Seban
- Nuclear Medicine Department, Institut Curie Hospital Group, 35 rue Dailly, 92210 Saint-Cloud, France; Laboratoire d'Imagerie Translationnelle en Oncologie (LITO), U1288 Inserm, Institut Curie, Orsay, France
| | - Irène Buvat
- Laboratoire d'Imagerie Translationnelle en Oncologie (LITO), U1288 Inserm, Institut Curie, Orsay, France.
| | - François-Clément Bidard
- Department of Medical Oncology, Inserm CIC-BT 1428, Institut Curie, UVSQ/Paris Saclay University, Saint-Cloud, France.
| | - Fatima Mechta-Grigoriou
- Institut Curie, Stress and Cancer Laboratory, Equipe labélisée par la Ligue Nationale contre le Cancer, PSL Research University, 26, rue d'Ulm, F-75248 Paris, France; Inserm, U830, 26, rue d'Ulm, Paris, F-75005 France.
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30
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Systematic Pan-Cancer Analysis Identifies CDK1 as an Immunological and Prognostic Biomarker. JOURNAL OF ONCOLOGY 2022; 2022:8115474. [PMID: 36090896 PMCID: PMC9452984 DOI: 10.1155/2022/8115474] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2022] [Revised: 06/07/2022] [Accepted: 06/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Cyclin-dependent kinase 1 (CDK1) plays an important role in cancer development, progression, and the overall process of tumorigenesis. However, no pan-cancer analysis has been reported for CDK1, and the predictive role of CDK1 in immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) therapy response remains unexplored. Thus, in this study, we first investigated the potential oncogenic role of CDK1 in 33 tumors by multidimensional bioinformatics analysis based on The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) datasets. Bioinformatic analysis and immunohistochemical experiments confirmed that CDK1 is significantly upregulated in most common cancers and is strongly associated with prognosis. Further analysis indicated that CDK1 may influence tumor immunity mainly by mediating the degree of tumor infiltration of immune-associated cells, and the effect of CDK1 on immunity is diverse across tumor types in tumor microenvironment. CDK1 was also positively correlated with tumor mutational burden (TMB) and microsatellite instability (MSI) in certain cancer types, linking its expression to the assessment of possible treatment response. The results of the pan-cancer analysis study showed that the CDK1 gene was positively associated with the expression of three classes of RNA methylation regulatory proteins, and affects RNA function through multiple mechanisms of action and plays an important role in the posttranscriptional regulation of the tumor microenvironment. These findings shed light on the role of the CDK1 gene in cancer progression and provide information to further study the CDK1 gene as a potential target for pan-cancer.
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31
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He X, Li WS, Qiu ZG, Zhang L, Long HM, Zhang GS, Huang YW, Zhan YM, Meng F. A computational method for large-scale identification of esophageal cancer-related genes. Front Oncol 2022; 12:982641. [PMID: 36052230 PMCID: PMC9425068 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2022.982641] [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: 06/30/2022] [Accepted: 07/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The incidence of esophageal cancer has obvious genetic susceptibility. Identifying esophageal cancer-related genes plays a huge role in the prevention and treatment of esophageal cancer. Through various sequencing methods, researchers have found only a small number of genes associated with esophageal cancer. In order to improve the efficiency of esophageal cancer genetic susceptibility research, this paper proposes a method for large-scale identification of esophageal cancer-related genes by computational methods. In order to improve the efficiency of esophageal cancer genetic susceptibility research, this paper proposes a method for large-scale identification of esophageal cancer-related genes by computational methods. This method fuses graph convolutional network and logical matrix factorization to effectively identify esophageal cancer-related genes through the association between genes. We call this method GCNLMF which achieved AUC as 0.927 and AUPR as 0.86. Compared with other five methods, GCNLMF performed best. We conducted a case study of the top three predicted genes. Although the association of these three genes with esophageal cancer has not been reported in the database, studies by other reseachers have shown that these three genes are significantly associated with esophageal cancer, which illustrates the accuracy of the prediction results of GCNLMF.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xin He
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care, The First Affiliated Hospital of Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou, China
| | - Wei-Song Li
- Department of pathology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou, China
| | - Zhen-Gang Qiu
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou, China
| | - Lei Zhang
- Department of Gastroenterology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou, China
| | - He-Ming Long
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou, China
| | - Gui-Sheng Zhang
- School of Basic Medicine, Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou, China
| | - Yang-Wen Huang
- School of Basic Medicine, Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou, China
| | - Yun-mei Zhan
- School of Basic Medicine, Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou, China
| | - Fan Meng
- Department of Gastroenterology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou, China
- *Correspondence: Fan Meng,
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32
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Qiu L, Yue J, Ding L, Yin Z, Zhang K, Zhang H. Cancer-associated fibroblasts: An emerging target against esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. Cancer Lett 2022; 546:215860. [DOI: 10.1016/j.canlet.2022.215860] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2022] [Revised: 07/18/2022] [Accepted: 08/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
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33
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Furumoto H, Kato T, Wakiyama H, Furusawa A, Choyke PL, Kobayashi H. Endoscopic Applications of Near-Infrared Photoimmunotherapy (NIR-PIT) in Cancers of the Digestive and Respiratory Tracts. Biomedicines 2022; 10:biomedicines10040846. [PMID: 35453596 PMCID: PMC9027987 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines10040846] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2022] [Revised: 03/24/2022] [Accepted: 03/25/2022] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Near-infrared photoimmunotherapy (NIR-PIT) is a newly developed and promising therapy that specifically destroys target cells by irradiating antibody-photo-absorber conjugates (APCs) with NIR light. APCs bind to target molecules on the cell surface, and when exposed to NIR light, cause disruption of the cell membrane due to the ligand release reaction and dye aggregation. This leads to rapid cell swelling, blebbing, and rupture, which leads to immunogenic cell death (ICD). ICD activates host antitumor immunity, which assists in killing still viable cancer cells in the treated lesion but is also capable of producing responses in untreated lesions. In September 2020, an APC and laser system were conditionally approved for clinical use in unresectable advanced head and neck cancer in Japan, and are now routine in appropriate patients. However, most tumors have been relatively accessible in the oral cavity or neck. Endoscopes offer the opportunity to deliver light deeper within hollow organs of the body. In recent years, the application of endoscopic therapy as an alternative to surgery for the treatment of cancer has expanded, providing significant benefits to inoperable patients. In this review, we will discuss the potential applications of endoscopic NIR-PIT, especially in thoracic and gastrointestinal cancers.
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34
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Hassan MS, Cwidak N, Awasthi N, von Holzen U. Cytokine Interaction With Cancer-Associated Fibroblasts in Esophageal Cancer. Cancer Control 2022; 29:10732748221078470. [PMID: 35442094 PMCID: PMC9024076 DOI: 10.1177/10732748221078470] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Esophageal cancer (EC) is a highly aggressive cancer with poor outcomes under current treatment regimens. More recent findings suggest stroma elements, specifically cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs), play a role in disease occurrence and progression. Cancer-associated fibroblasts are largely the product of converted fibroblasts, but a variety of other local cell types including epithelial cells, endothelial cells, and mesenchymal cells have also been shown to transform to CAFs under the correct conditions. Cancer-associated fibroblasts primarily function in the communication between the tumor microenvironment and cancer cells via cytokine and chemokine secretions that accentuate immunosuppression and cancer growth. Cancer-associated fibroblasts also pose issues for EC treatment by contributing to resistance of current chemotherapeutics like cisplatin. Targeting this cell type directly proves difficult given the heterogeneity between CAFs subpopulations, but emerging research provides hope that treatment is on the horizon. This review aims to unravel some of the complexities surrounding CAFs’ impact on EC growth and therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Md Sazzad Hassan
- Department of Surgery, 158720Indiana University School of Medicine, South Bend, IN 46617, USA.,Harper Cancer Research Institute, South Bend, IN 46617, USA
| | - Nicholas Cwidak
- Department of Surgery, 158720Indiana University School of Medicine, South Bend, IN 46617, USA
| | - Niranjan Awasthi
- Department of Surgery, 158720Indiana University School of Medicine, South Bend, IN 46617, USA.,Harper Cancer Research Institute, South Bend, IN 46617, USA
| | - Urs von Holzen
- Department of Surgery, 158720Indiana University School of Medicine, South Bend, IN 46617, USA.,Harper Cancer Research Institute, South Bend, IN 46617, USA.,Goshen Center for Cancer Care, Goshen, Goshen, IN 46526, USA.,University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
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35
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Chen M, Yan C, Zhao X. Research Progress on Circular RNA in Glioma. Front Oncol 2021; 11:705059. [PMID: 34745938 PMCID: PMC8568300 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2021.705059] [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: 05/04/2021] [Accepted: 10/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The discovery of circular RNA (circRNA) greatly complements the traditional gene expression theory. CircRNA is a class of non-coding RNA with a stable cyclic structure. They are highly expressed, spatiotemporal-specific and conservative across species. Importantly, circRNA participates in the occurrence of many kinds of tumors and regulates the tumor development. Glioma is featured by limited therapy and grim prognosis. Cancer-associated circRNA compromises original function or creates new effects in glioma, thus contributing to oncogenesis. Therefore, this article reviews the biogenesis, metabolism, functions and properties of circRNA as a novel potential biomarker for gliomas. We elaborate the expression characteristics, interaction between circRNA and other molecules, aiming to identify new targets for early diagnosis and treatment of gliomas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mengyu Chen
- Department of Clinical Oncology, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Chunyan Yan
- Department of Clinical Oncology, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Xihe Zhao
- Department of Clinical Oncology, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China
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36
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Matsuoka K, Sato M, Sato K. Hurdles for the wide implementation of photoimmunotherapy. Immunotherapy 2021; 13:1427-1438. [PMID: 34693721 DOI: 10.2217/imt-2021-0241] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Near infrared photoimmunotherapy (NIR-PIT) is a molecularly targeted treatment for cancers achieved by injecting a conjugate of IRDye700DX® (IR700), a water-soluble silicon phthalocyanine derivative in the near infrared, and a monoclonal antibody that targets cancer cell antigens. NIR-PIT is a highly specific treatment with few side effects that results in rapid immunogenic cell death. Despite it being a very effective and innovative therapy, there are a few challenges preventing full implementation in clinical practice. These include the limits of near infrared light penetration, selection of targets, concerns about tumor lysis syndrome and drug costs. However, NIR-PIT has been approved by the regulatory authorities in Japan, allowing for exploration of how to mitigate challenges while maximizing the benefits of this treatment modality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kohei Matsuoka
- Department of Integrated Health Sciences, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, 461-8673, Japan
| | - Mitsuo Sato
- Department of Integrated Health Sciences, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, 461-8673, Japan
| | - Kazuhide Sato
- Respiratory Medicine, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, 464-0814, Japan.,Nagoya University Institute for Advanced Research, Advanced Analytical & Diagnostic Imaging Center (AADIC)/Medical Engineering Unit (MEU), B3 Unit, Nagoya, Japan.,FOREST-Souhatsu, CREST, JST, Tokyo, 102-8666, Japan.,Nagoya University Institute for Advanced Research, S-YLC, Nagoya, 464-8601, Japan
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Lugo-Cintrón KM, Ayuso JM, Humayun M, Gong MM, Kerr SC, Ponik SM, Harari PM, Virumbrales-Muñoz M, Beebe DJ. Primary head and neck tumour-derived fibroblasts promote lymphangiogenesis in a lymphatic organotypic co-culture model. EBioMedicine 2021; 73:103634. [PMID: 34673450 PMCID: PMC8528684 DOI: 10.1016/j.ebiom.2021.103634] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2020] [Revised: 10/05/2021] [Accepted: 10/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND In head and neck cancer, intratumour lymphatic density and tumour lymphangiogenesis have been correlated with lymphatic metastasis, making lymphangiogenesis a promising therapeutic target. However, inter-patient tumour heterogeneity makes it challenging to predict tumour progression and lymph node metastasis. Understanding the lymphangiogenic-promoting factors leading to metastasis (e.g., tumour-derived fibroblasts or TDF), would help develop strategies to improve patient outcomes. METHODS A microfluidic in vitro model of a tubular lymphatic vessel was co-cultured with primary TDF from head and neck cancer patients to evaluate the effect of TDF on lymphangiogenesis. We assessed the length and number of lymphangiogenic sprouts and vessel permeability via microscopy and image analysis. Finally, we characterised lymphatic vessel conditioning by TDF via RT-qPCR. FINDINGS Lymphatic vessels were conditioned by the TDF in a patient-specific manner. Specifically, the presence of TDF induced sprouting, altered vessel permeability, and increased the expression of pro-lymphangiogenic genes. Gene expression and functional responses in the fibroblast-conditioned lymphatic vessels were consistent with the patient tumour stage and lymph node status. IGF-1, upregulated among patients, was targeted to validate our personalised medicine approach. Interestingly, IGF-1 blockade was not effective across different patients. INTERPRETATION The use of lymphatic organotypic models incorporating head and neck TDF provides insight into the pathways leading to lymphangiogenesis in each patient. This model provided a platform to test anti-angiogenic therapeutics and inform of their effectiveness for individual patients. FUNDING NIH R33CA225281. Wisconsin Head and Neck SPORE NIH P50DE026787. NIH R01AI34749.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karina M Lugo-Cintrón
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA; Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI, USA; Carbone Cancer Center, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI, USA
| | - José M Ayuso
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI, USA; Carbone Cancer Center, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI, USA; Morgridge Institute for Research, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Mouhita Humayun
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA; Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI, USA; Carbone Cancer Center, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Max M Gong
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI, USA; Carbone Cancer Center, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI, USA; Department of Biomedical Engineering, Trine University, Angola, IN, USA
| | - Sheena C Kerr
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI, USA; Carbone Cancer Center, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Suzanne M Ponik
- Department of Cell and Regenerative Biology, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Paul M Harari
- Department of Human Oncology, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI, USA
| | - María Virumbrales-Muñoz
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI, USA; Carbone Cancer Center, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI, USA.
| | - David J Beebe
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA; Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI, USA; Carbone Cancer Center, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI, USA.
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Pang J, Pan H, Yang C, Meng P, Xie W, Li J, Li Y, Xiao SY. Prognostic Value of Immune-Related Multi-IncRNA Signatures Associated With Tumor Microenvironment in Esophageal Cancer. Front Genet 2021; 12:722601. [PMID: 34659345 PMCID: PMC8516150 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2021.722601] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2021] [Accepted: 09/03/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Esophageal cancer is the eighth most common cancer and the sixth leading cause of cancer death worldwide. Hence, for a better understanding of tumor microenvironment and to seek for novel molecular targets for esophageal cancer, we performed related studies on two histopathological subtypes of esophageal cancer: esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) and esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC). Bioinformatic analyses were conducted based on the RNA-seq, genomic mutation, and clinical data from TCGA and GEO cohorts. We clustered patients into high-immunity and low-immunity groups through the ssGSEA results. The ESTIMATE algorithm was used to evaluate the tumor microenvironment. Patients with high immunity in both ESCC and EAC had lower tumor purity and poor survival. Subsequently, CIBERSORT was performed to learn about the detailed difference of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) between high- and low-immunity patients. Specific increase of M2 macrophages and decrease of activated dendric cells can be observed in ESCC and EAC, respectively. The most enriched functions and pathways of high-immunity patients were immunoglobulin complex, MHC class II protein complex, and allograft rejection according to the GO terms and KEGG. Two prognostic immune-related multi-lncRNA risk models were constructed and validated by ROC curve and PCA in ESCC and EAC. High-risk patients in both subtypes had poor survival, advanced clinical characteristics, and higher drug susceptibility except cisplatin and sorafenib. In addition, the tumor mutation burden (TMB) was positively correlated with the risk level in the ESCC and EAC and showed distinct differences between the two subtypes. In summary, we comprehensively analyzed the tumor microenvironment for two subtypes of esophageal cancer, identified two multi-lncRNA signatures predictive for the prognosis, and explored the possibility of the signatures to forecast drug susceptibility as well as TMB for the first time. The findings may serve as a conceptual basis for innovative strategy of individualized immunotherapy for esophageal cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jingjing Pang
- Department of Pathology, Wuhan University Center for Pathology and Molecular Diagnostics, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - He Pan
- Department of Pathology, Wuhan University Center for Pathology and Molecular Diagnostics, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Chunxiu Yang
- Department of Pathology, Wuhan University Center for Pathology and Molecular Diagnostics, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Pei Meng
- Department of Pathology, Wuhan University Center for Pathology and Molecular Diagnostics, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Wen Xie
- Department of Pathology, Wuhan University Center for Pathology and Molecular Diagnostics, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Jiahao Li
- Department of Pathology, Wuhan University Center for Pathology and Molecular Diagnostics, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Yueying Li
- Department of Pathology, Wuhan University Center for Pathology and Molecular Diagnostics, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Shu-Yuan Xiao
- Department of Pathology, Wuhan University Center for Pathology and Molecular Diagnostics, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China.,Department of Pathology, University of Chicago Medicine, Chicago, IL, United States
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Wang L, Han H, Wang Z, Shi L, Yang M, Qin Y. Targeting the Microenvironment in Esophageal Cancer. Front Cell Dev Biol 2021; 9:684966. [PMID: 34513829 PMCID: PMC8427432 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2021.684966] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2021] [Accepted: 07/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Esophageal cancer (EC) is the eighth most common type of cancer and the sixth leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. At present, the clinical treatment for EC is based mainly on radical surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy. However, due to the limited efficacy of conventional treatments and the serious adverse reactions, the outcome is still unsatisfactory (the 5-year survival rate for patients is less than 25%). Thus, it is extremely important and urgent to identify new therapeutic targets. The concept of tumor microenvironment (TME) has attracted increased attention since it was proposed. Recent studies have shown that TME is an important therapeutic target for EC. Microenvironment-targeting therapies such as immunotherapy and antiangiogenic therapy have played an indispensable role in prolonging survival and improving the prognosis of patients with EC. In addition, many new drugs and therapies that have been developed to target microenvironment may become treatment options in the future. We summarize the microenvironment of EC and the latest advances in microenvironment-targeting therapies in this review.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lei Wang
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China.,State Key Laboratory of Esophageal Cancer Prevention and Treatment, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Huiqiong Han
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China.,State Key Laboratory of Esophageal Cancer Prevention and Treatment, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Zehua Wang
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China.,State Key Laboratory of Esophageal Cancer Prevention and Treatment, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Litong Shi
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China.,State Key Laboratory of Esophageal Cancer Prevention and Treatment, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Mei Yang
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China.,State Key Laboratory of Esophageal Cancer Prevention and Treatment, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Yanru Qin
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China.,State Key Laboratory of Esophageal Cancer Prevention and Treatment, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
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Wakiyama H, Kato T, Furusawa A, Choyke PL, Kobayashi H. Near infrared photoimmunotherapy of cancer; possible clinical applications. NANOPHOTONICS 2021; 10:3135-3151. [PMID: 36405499 PMCID: PMC9646249 DOI: 10.1515/nanoph-2021-0119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2021] [Accepted: 04/15/2021] [Indexed: 05/07/2023]
Abstract
Near-infrared photoimmunotherapy (NIR-PIT) is a new cancer treatment that uses an antibody-photo-absorber conjugate (APC) composed of a targeting monoclonal antibody conjugated with a photoactivatable phthalocyanine-derivative dye, IRDye700DX (IR700). APCs injected into the body can bind to cancer cells where they are activated by local exposure to NIR light typically delivered by a NIR laser. NIR light alters the APC chemical conformation inducing damage to cancer cell membranes, resulting in necrotic cell death within minutes of light exposure. NIR-PIT selectivity kills cancer cells by immunogenic cell death (ICD) with minimal damage to adjacent normal cells thus, leading to rapid recovery by the patient. Moreover, since NIR-PIT induces ICD only on cancer cells, NIR-PIT initiates and activates antitumor host immunity that could be further enhanced when combined with immune checkpoint inhibition. NIR-PIT induces dramatic changes in the tumor vascularity causing the super-enhanced permeability and retention (SUPR) effect that dramatically enhances nanodrug delivery to the tumor bed. Currently, a worldwide Phase 3 study of NIR-PIT for recurrent or inoperable head and neck cancer patients is underway. In September 2020, the first APC and accompanying laser system were conditionally approved for clinical use in Japan. In this review, we introduce NIR-PIT and the SUPR effect and summarize possible applications of NIR-PIT in a variety of cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hiroaki Wakiyama
- Molecular Imaging Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, NIH, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - Takuya Kato
- Molecular Imaging Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, NIH, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - Aki Furusawa
- Molecular Imaging Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, NIH, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - Peter L. Choyke
- Molecular Imaging Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, NIH, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - Hisataka Kobayashi
- Molecular Imaging Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, NIH, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
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Ren X, Li L, Wu J, Lin K, He Y, Bian L. PDGF-BB regulates the transformation of fibroblasts into cancer-associated fibroblasts via the lncRNA LURAP1L-AS1/LURAP1L/IKK/IκB/NF-κB signaling pathway. Oncol Lett 2021; 22:537. [PMID: 34079593 PMCID: PMC8157341 DOI: 10.3892/ol.2021.12798] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2020] [Accepted: 03/18/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The most abundant cells in the tumor microenvironment are cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs). They play an important role in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) angiogenesis, invasion and metastasis. Platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF)-BB has an obvious regulating effect on the formation of CAFs through binding to PDGF receptor (PDGFR)-β, but the role of long non-coding (lnc)RNA in PDGF-BB-induced transformation of fibroblasts into CAFs remains poorly understood. Using an lncRNA ChIP, 370 lncRNA transcripts were identified to be significantly and differentially expressed between fibroblasts and PDGF-BB-induced fibroblasts, including 240 upregulated lncRNAs and 130 downregulated lncRNAs, indicating that lncRNAs are involved in the regulation of the transformation of CAFs. Previous studies have shown that the nuclear factor (NF)-κB signaling pathway plays an important role in the activation of CAFs. Dual-luciferase reporter assay and co-immunoprecipitation were conducted to confirm that the leucine-rich adaptor protein 1-like (LURAP1L), which is the target of lncRNA LURAP1L antisense RNA 1 (LURAP1L-AS1) had a positive regulatory effect on I-κB kinase (IKK)/NF-κB signaling. Therefore, LURAP1L-AS1 was selected and PDGF-BB was demonstrated to upregulate the expression of LURAP1L-AS1 and LURAP1L, which was reversed by a PDGFR-β inhibitor. Subsequently, knocking down LURAP1L-AS1 suppressed the expression of PDGF-BB-induced fibroblast activation marker protein α-smooth muscle actin, fibroblast activation protein-α, PDGFR-β and phosphorylated (p)-PDGFR-β. IKKα, p-IĸB and p-NF-κB were downregulated by the knockdown of LURAP1L-AS1 and upregulated by overexpression of LURAP1L-AS1. The present study indicates that LURAP1L-AS1/LURAP1L/IKK/IĸB/NF-κB plays an important regulatory role in PDGF-BB-induced fibroblast activation and may become a potential target for the treatment of OSCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaobin Ren
- Department of Periodontology, The Affiliated Stomatological Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming, Yunnan 530102, P.R. China
| | - Lei Li
- Department of Head and Neck Surgery, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming, Yunnan 650118, P.R. China
| | - Jianhua Wu
- Department of Periodontology, The Affiliated Stomatological Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming, Yunnan 530102, P.R. China
| | - Ken Lin
- Department of Otolaryngology, Kunming Children's Hospital, Kunming, Yunnan 650034, P.R. China
| | - Yongwen He
- Department of Dental Research, The Affiliated Stomatological Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming, Yunnan 530102, P.R. China
| | - Li Bian
- Department of Pathology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming, Yunnan 650032, P.R. China
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Ambrosetti D, Coutts M, Paoli C, Durand M, Borchiellini D, Montemagno C, Rastoin O, Borderie A, Grepin R, Rioux-Leclercq N, Bernhard JC, Pagès G, Dufies M. Cancer-associated fibroblasts in renal cell carcinoma: implication in prognosis and resistance to anti-angiogenic therapy. BJU Int 2021; 129:80-92. [PMID: 34107167 DOI: 10.1111/bju.15506] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To investigate the role of cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) in clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) with respect to tumour aggressiveness, metastasis development, and resistance to anti-angiogenic therapy (vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-tyrosine kinase inhibitors [VEGFR-TKI]). PATIENTS AND METHODS Our study involved tissue samples from three distinct and independent cohorts of patients with ccRCC. The presence of CAFs and tumour lymphangiogenesis was investigated, respectively, by transcriptional signatures and then correlated with tumour development and prognosis. The effect of these CAFs on tumour cell migration and VEGFR-TKI resistance was analysed on co-cultures of ccRCC cells with CAFs. RESULTS Results from our cohorts and from in silico investigations showed that VEGFR-TKI significantly increase the number of CAFs in tumours. In the same populations of patients with ccRCC, the proportion of intra-tumoral CAFs correlated to shorter disease-free and overall survival. The presence of CAFs was also correlated with lymphangiogenesis and lymph node metastasis. CAFs increased the migration and decreased the VEGFR-TKI-dependent cytotoxic effect of tumour cells. CONCLUSIONS Our results show that VEGFR-TKI promote the development of CAFs, and CAFs favour tumour aggressiveness, metastatic dissemination, and resistance to treatment in ccRCC. CAFs could represent a new therapeutic target to fight resistance to treatment of ccRCC. Targeting CAF and immunotherapies combination are emerging as efficient treatments in many types of solid tumours. Our results highlight their relevance in ccRCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Damien Ambrosetti
- Department of Pathology, CHU Nice, Université Côte d'Azur, Nice, France.,Institute for Research on Cancer and Aging of Nice (IRCAN), CNRS UMR 7284, INSERM U1081, University Côte d'Azur, Nice, France
| | - Michael Coutts
- Department of Pathology, Maidstone General Hospital, Maidstone, UK
| | - Charlotte Paoli
- Department of Pathology, CHU Nice, Université Côte d'Azur, Nice, France
| | - Matthieu Durand
- Department of Urology, CHU Nice, Université Côte d'Azur, Nice, France
| | | | - Christopher Montemagno
- Institute for Research on Cancer and Aging of Nice (IRCAN), CNRS UMR 7284, INSERM U1081, University Côte d'Azur, Nice, France.,Department of Biomedical, Centre Scientifique de Monaco, Monaco, Principality of Monaco.,LIA ROPSE, Laboratoire International Associé, Université Côte d'Azur - Centre Scientifique de Monaco, Monaco, Principality of Monaco
| | - Olivia Rastoin
- Institute for Research on Cancer and Aging of Nice (IRCAN), CNRS UMR 7284, INSERM U1081, University Côte d'Azur, Nice, France.,LIA ROPSE, Laboratoire International Associé, Université Côte d'Azur - Centre Scientifique de Monaco, Monaco, Principality of Monaco
| | - Arnaud Borderie
- Department of Pathology, CHU Nice, Université Côte d'Azur, Nice, France
| | - Renaud Grepin
- Department of Biomedical, Centre Scientifique de Monaco, Monaco, Principality of Monaco.,LIA ROPSE, Laboratoire International Associé, Université Côte d'Azur - Centre Scientifique de Monaco, Monaco, Principality of Monaco
| | | | - Jean-Christophe Bernhard
- Department of Urology, University Hospital, Bordeaux, France.,French Research Network on Kidney Cancer UroCCR, Bordeaux, France
| | - Gilles Pagès
- Institute for Research on Cancer and Aging of Nice (IRCAN), CNRS UMR 7284, INSERM U1081, University Côte d'Azur, Nice, France.,Department of Biomedical, Centre Scientifique de Monaco, Monaco, Principality of Monaco.,LIA ROPSE, Laboratoire International Associé, Université Côte d'Azur - Centre Scientifique de Monaco, Monaco, Principality of Monaco
| | - Maeva Dufies
- Department of Biomedical, Centre Scientifique de Monaco, Monaco, Principality of Monaco.,LIA ROPSE, Laboratoire International Associé, Université Côte d'Azur - Centre Scientifique de Monaco, Monaco, Principality of Monaco
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Qu J, Zhao Q, Yang L, Ping Y, Zhang K, Lei Q, Liu F, Zhang Y. Identification and characterization of prognosis-related genes in the tumor microenvironment of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. Int Immunopharmacol 2021; 96:107616. [PMID: 34162127 DOI: 10.1016/j.intimp.2021.107616] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2020] [Revised: 03/18/2021] [Accepted: 03/24/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is the main pathological subtype of esophageal cancer with high incidence and mortality. Immune and stromal cells in the tumor microenvironment (TME) profoundly affect the development of ESCC. METHODS In this study, we used the ESTIMATE algorithm to calculate the immune and stromal scores of ESCC samples in The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database. Next, we used the R package limma to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs) from high- versus low-immune/stromal score groups and these DEGs were further utilized to analyze the functional annotations, protein-protein interaction (PPI) networks and overall survival of patients with ESCC. Finally, we identified the biological roles of core gene C3AR1 in the TME of ESCC using the TCGA database and in vitro experiments. RESULTS We obtained the immune and stromal scores of ESCC samples and further evaluated the impact of these scores on the prognosis and clinical parameters of patients with ESCC. Next, we identified 410 DEGs from high- versus low-immune/stromal score groups and to gain better understanding of the biological functions and characteristics of DEGs. Among these DEGs, 69 were correlated with the overall survival of patients with ESCC and C3AR1 was identified as a core gene for the regulation of most genes in the network. We found that C3AR1 was positively correlated with M2 macrophages and immune inhibitory molecules (T-cell immunoglobulin and mucin domain 3 (TIM-3), programmed cell death-1 (PD-1)), but not with M1 macrophages. We also observed a higher expression of CD163 and CD206, which were the markers for M2 macrophages in the TLQP-21 TFA (the agonist of C3AR1)groups than in the control groups. CONCLUSION Based on the ESTIMATE algorithm, we obtained and characterized prognosis-related genes in the TME of ESCC samples from the TCGA database. We have further revealed that C3AR1 may cause an immunosuppressive microenvironment by affecting the polarization of macrophages to M2 phenotype and lead to the progression of ESCC, which indicates that C3AR1 may be a potential target for immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiao Qu
- Biotherapy Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan 450052, China; Cancer Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan 450052, China; State Key Laboratory of Esophageal Cancer Prevention & Treatment, Zhengzhou, Henan 450052, China
| | - Qitai Zhao
- Biotherapy Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan 450052, China; Cancer Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan 450052, China; State Key Laboratory of Esophageal Cancer Prevention & Treatment, Zhengzhou, Henan 450052, China
| | - Li Yang
- Biotherapy Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan 450052, China; Cancer Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan 450052, China; State Key Laboratory of Esophageal Cancer Prevention & Treatment, Zhengzhou, Henan 450052, China
| | - Yu Ping
- Biotherapy Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan 450052, China; Cancer Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan 450052, China; State Key Laboratory of Esophageal Cancer Prevention & Treatment, Zhengzhou, Henan 450052, China
| | - Kai Zhang
- Biotherapy Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan 450052, China; Cancer Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan 450052, China; State Key Laboratory of Esophageal Cancer Prevention & Treatment, Zhengzhou, Henan 450052, China
| | - Qingyang Lei
- Biotherapy Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan 450052, China; Cancer Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan 450052, China; State Key Laboratory of Esophageal Cancer Prevention & Treatment, Zhengzhou, Henan 450052, China
| | - Fengsen Liu
- Biotherapy Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan 450052, China; Cancer Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan 450052, China; State Key Laboratory of Esophageal Cancer Prevention & Treatment, Zhengzhou, Henan 450052, China
| | - Yi Zhang
- Biotherapy Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan 450052, China; Cancer Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan 450052, China; State Key Laboratory of Esophageal Cancer Prevention & Treatment, Zhengzhou, Henan 450052, China; Henan Key Laboratory for Tumor Immunology and Biotherapy, Zhengzhou, Henan 450052, China; School of Life Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan 450052, China.
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Kato T, Wakiyama H, Furusawa A, Choyke PL, Kobayashi H. Near Infrared Photoimmunotherapy; A Review of Targets for Cancer Therapy. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:cancers13112535. [PMID: 34064074 PMCID: PMC8196790 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13112535] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2021] [Revised: 05/12/2021] [Accepted: 05/18/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Near-infrared photoimmunotherapy (NIR-PIT) is a newly developed cancer treatment that uses an antibody-photoabsorber (IRDye700DX) conjugate (APC) that is activated by NIR light irradiation. A major benefit of NIR-PIT is that only APC-bound cancer cells that are exposed to NIR light are killed by NIR-PIT; thus, minimal damage occurs in adjacent normal cells. NIR-PIT has now been applied to many cancers expressing various cell-surface target proteins using monoclonal antibodies designed to bind to them. Moreover, NIR-PIT is not limited to tumor antigens but can also be used to kill specific host cells that create immune-permissive environments in which tumors grow. Moreover, multiple targets can be treated simultaneously with NIR-PIT using a cocktail of APCs. NIR-PIT has great potential to treat a wide variety of cancers by targeting appropriate tumor cells, immune cells, or both, and can be augmented by other immunotherapies. Abstract Near-infrared photoimmunotherapy (NIR-PIT) is a newly developed cancer treatment that uses an antibody-photoabsorber (IRDye700DX) conjugate (APC) that is activated by NIR light irradiation. In September 2020, the first APC and laser system were conditionally approved for clinical use in Japan. A major benefit of NIR-PIT is that only APC-bound cancer cells that are exposed to NIR light are killed by NIR-PIT; thus, minimal damage occurs in adjacent normal cells. These early trials have demonstrated that in addition to direct cell killing, there is a significant therapeutic host immune response that greatly contributes to the success of the therapy. Although the first clinical use of NIR-PIT targeted epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), many other targets are suitable for NIR-PIT. NIR-PIT has now been applied to many cancers expressing various cell-surface target proteins using monoclonal antibodies designed to bind to them. Moreover, NIR-PIT is not limited to tumor antigens but can also be used to kill specific host cells that create immune-permissive environments in which tumors grow. Moreover, multiple targets can be treated simultaneously with NIR-PIT using a cocktail of APCs. NIR-PIT can be used in combination with other therapies, such as immune checkpoint inhibitors, to enhance the therapeutic effect. Thus, NIR-PIT has great potential to treat a wide variety of cancers by targeting appropriate tumor cells, immune cells, or both, and can be augmented by other immunotherapies.
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Guo J, Fang Q, Liu Y, Xie W, Li C, Zhang Y. Screening and Identification of Key Microenvironment-Related Genes in Non-functioning Pituitary Adenoma. Front Genet 2021; 12:627117. [PMID: 33986766 PMCID: PMC8110910 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2021.627117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2020] [Accepted: 03/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Purpose Non-functioning pituitary adenoma (NFPA) is a very common type of intracranial tumor, which can be locally invasive and can have a high recurrence rate. The tumor microenvironment (TME) shows a high correlation with tumor pathogenesis and prognosis. The current study aimed to identify microenvironment-related genes in NFPAs and assess their prognostic value. Methods 73 NFPA tumor samples were collected from Beijing Tiantan Hospital and transcriptional expression profiles were obtained through microarray analysis. The immune and stromal scores of each sample were calculated through the ESTIMATE algorithm, and the patients were divided into high and low immune/stromal score groups. Intersection differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were then obtained to construct a protein–protein interaction (PPI) network. Potential functions and pathways of intersection DEGs were then analyzed through Gene Ontology and the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes. The prognostic value of these genes was evaluated. The quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction in another set of NFPA samples was used to confirm the credibility of the bioinformatics analysis. Results The immune/stromal scores were significantly correlated with cavernous sinus (CS) invasion. The Kaplan–Meier curve indicated that the high immune score group was significantly related to poor recurrence-free survival. We identified 497 intersection DEGs based on the high vs. low immune/stromal score groups. Function enrichment analyses of 497 DEGs and hub genes from the PPI network showed that these genes are mainly involved in the immune/inflammatory response, T cell activation, and the phosphatidylinositol 3 kinase-protein kinase B signaling pathway. Among the intersection DEGs, 88 genes were further verified as significantly expressed between the CS invasive group and the non-invasive group, and five genes were highly associated with NFPA prognosis. Conclusion We screened out a series of critical genes associated with the TME in NFPAs. These genes may play a fundamental role in the development and prognosis of NFPA and may yield new therapeutic targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing Guo
- Beijing Neurosurgical Institute, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Qiuyue Fang
- Beijing Neurosurgical Institute, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Yulou Liu
- Beijing Neurosurgical Institute, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Weiyan Xie
- Beijing Neurosurgical Institute, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Chuzhong Li
- Beijing Neurosurgical Institute, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.,Department of Neurosurgery, Beijing Tiantan Hospital Affiliated to Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.,Beijing Institute for Brain Disorders Brain Tumor Center, Beijing, China.,China National Clinical Research Center for Neurological Diseases, Beijing, China
| | - Yazhuo Zhang
- Beijing Neurosurgical Institute, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.,Department of Neurosurgery, Beijing Tiantan Hospital Affiliated to Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.,Beijing Institute for Brain Disorders Brain Tumor Center, Beijing, China.,China National Clinical Research Center for Neurological Diseases, Beijing, China
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46
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Sachdeva UM, Shimonosono M, Flashner S, Cruz-Acuña R, Gabre JT, Nakagawa H. Understanding the cellular origin and progression of esophageal cancer using esophageal organoids. Cancer Lett 2021; 509:39-52. [PMID: 33838281 DOI: 10.1016/j.canlet.2021.03.031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2021] [Revised: 03/25/2021] [Accepted: 03/29/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Three-dimensional (3D) organoids are a novel tool to model epithelial cell biology and human diseases of the esophagus. 3D organoid culture systems have been utilized to investigate the pathobiology of esophageal cancer, including both squamous cell carcinoma and adenocarcinoma. Additional organoid-based approaches for study of esophageal development and benign esophageal diseases have provided key insights into esophageal keratinocyte differentiation and mucosal regeneration. These investigations have implications for the identification of esophageal cancer stem cells, as well as the potential to halt malignant progression through induction of differentiation pathways. Patient-derived organoids (PDOs) from human tissue samples allow for unique and faithful in vitro modeling of esophageal cancers, and provide an exciting platform for investigation into personalized medicine and targeted treatment approaches, as well as new models for understanding therapy resistance and recurrent disease. Future directions include high-throughput genomic screening using PDOs, and study of tumor-microenvironmental interactions through co-culture with immune and stromal cells and novel extracellular matrix complexes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Uma M Sachdeva
- Divison of Thoracic Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Masataka Shimonosono
- Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Samuel Flashner
- Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Ricardo Cruz-Acuña
- Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Joel T Gabre
- Division of Digestive and Liver Diseases, Department of Medicine, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA; Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Hiroshi Nakagawa
- Division of Digestive and Liver Diseases, Department of Medicine, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA; Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA.
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Yuan W, Yan J, Liu H, Li L, Wu B, Guo C, Zhang M. Identification of Prognostic Related Genes of Tumor Microenvironment Derived From Esophageal Cancer Patients. Pathol Oncol Res 2021; 27:589662. [PMID: 34257539 PMCID: PMC8262216 DOI: 10.3389/pore.2021.589662] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2020] [Accepted: 03/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Background and Objective: Esophageal cancer (ESCA) is a commonly occurring cancer worldwide with poor survival and limited therapeutic options. Due to the lack of biomarkers that facilitate early detection, its treatment remains a great challenge. This study aims at identifying the tumor microenvironment (TME)-related genes, which might affect prognosis and accelerate clinical treatment for ESCA patients. Methods: We integrated the expression profiles from ESCA patients in The Cancer Genome Atlas. Then, we determined the stromal and immune scores of each sample using the R package. The Gene Expression Omnibus database was used to validate the expression profile of the key genes. Results: Tumor mutational burden showed a significant difference between the groups of ESCA patients with high and low ESTIMATE scores. We identified 859 intersection genes among patients with different immune and stromal scores. Moreover, gene ontology analysis demonstrated that these 859 intersection genes were closely related to adaptive immune response and regulation of lymphocyte activation. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes showed the enrichment of cytokine-cytokine receptor interaction and chemokine signaling pathway in the TME. Furthermore, the protein–protein interaction network consisted of 175 nodes. We selected 35 hub genes, including ITGAM, CXCL10, CCR2, CCR5, and CCR1. Of these, 23 intersection genes predicted the overall survival rate. C1QA and FCER1G correlated with overall survival of the ESCA patients in the two databases. Conclusion: We identified a set of stromal and immune score-related prognostic differentially expressed genes that could influence the complexity of the TME. C1QA and FCER1G were identified and validated with respect to their role in the progression of ESCA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Yuan
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China.,The Academy of Medical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Jiaqin Yan
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Hongtao Liu
- College of Life Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Ling Li
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - BoWen Wu
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China.,The Academy of Medical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Can Guo
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China.,The Academy of Medical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Mingzhi Zhang
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
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Zhang D, Song Y, Li D, Liu X, Pan Y, Ding L, Shi G, Wang Y, Ni Y, Hou Y. Cancer-associated fibroblasts promote tumor progression by lncRNA-mediated RUNX2/GDF10 signaling in oral squamous cell carcinoma. Mol Oncol 2021; 16:780-794. [PMID: 33657265 PMCID: PMC8807363 DOI: 10.1002/1878-0261.12935] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2020] [Revised: 01/27/2021] [Accepted: 03/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAF) are the most abundant stromal cells in tumor and exert a pro-tumoral effect in cancer progression. Numerous evidence shows long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) abnormally regulates gene expression in various cancers. However, little is known about the role of lncRNA in the interaction between CAF and cancer cells. Here, we first identify an uncharacterized lncRNA, LOC100506114, which is significantly upregulated in CAF and is involved in the functional transformation of normal fibroblasts (NF) and CAF. Expression of LOC100506114 enhances the expression of fibroblast activation protein alpha and α-smooth muscle actin in NF and promotes malignant characteristics of NF and CAF in vivo and in vitro. The profile of gene co-expression analysis shows that growth differentiation factor 10 (GDF10) is positively correlated with the expression of LOC100506114. CAF promote stromal fibroblast activation and the proliferation and migration of tumor cells by secreting GDF10. Our data demonstrate that lncRNA plays a critical role in the interplay of stromal fibroblasts and tumor cells in oral squamous cell carcinoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dongya Zhang
- The State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology and Central Laboratory of Stomatology Nanjing of Stomatological Hospital, Division of Immunology, Medical School, Nanjing University, China
| | - Yuxian Song
- The State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology and Central Laboratory of Stomatology Nanjing of Stomatological Hospital, Division of Immunology, Medical School, Nanjing University, China
| | - Dan Li
- The State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology and Central Laboratory of Stomatology Nanjing of Stomatological Hospital, Division of Immunology, Medical School, Nanjing University, China
| | - Xinghan Liu
- The State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology and Central Laboratory of Stomatology Nanjing of Stomatological Hospital, Division of Immunology, Medical School, Nanjing University, China
| | - Yuchen Pan
- The State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology and Central Laboratory of Stomatology Nanjing of Stomatological Hospital, Division of Immunology, Medical School, Nanjing University, China
| | - Liang Ding
- The State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology and Central Laboratory of Stomatology Nanjing of Stomatological Hospital, Division of Immunology, Medical School, Nanjing University, China
| | - Guoping Shi
- The State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology and Central Laboratory of Stomatology Nanjing of Stomatological Hospital, Division of Immunology, Medical School, Nanjing University, China
| | - Yong Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry for Life Science, Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China.,Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Molecular Medicine, Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Yanhong Ni
- The State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology and Central Laboratory of Stomatology Nanjing of Stomatological Hospital, Division of Immunology, Medical School, Nanjing University, China
| | - Yayi Hou
- The State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology and Central Laboratory of Stomatology Nanjing of Stomatological Hospital, Division of Immunology, Medical School, Nanjing University, China.,Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Molecular Medicine, Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
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Huang W, Zhang L, Yang M, Wu X, Wang X, Huang W, Yuan L, Pan H, Wang Y, Wang Z, Wu Y, Huang J, Liang H, Li S, Liao L, Liu L, Guan J. Cancer-associated fibroblasts promote the survival of irradiated nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells via the NF-κB pathway. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL & CLINICAL CANCER RESEARCH : CR 2021; 40:87. [PMID: 33648530 PMCID: PMC7923322 DOI: 10.1186/s13046-021-01878-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2020] [Accepted: 02/14/2021] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
Background Irradiation has emerged as a valid tool for nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) in situ treatment; however, NPC derived from tissues treated with irradiation is a main cause cancer-related death. The purpose of this study is to uncover the underlying mechanism regarding tumor growth after irradiation and provided potential therapeutic strategy. Methods Fibroblasts were extracted from fresh NPC tissue and normal nasopharyngeal mucosa. Immunohistochemistry was conducted to measure the expression of α-SMA and FAP. Cytokines were detected by protein array chip and identified by real-time PCR. CCK-8 assay was used to detect cell proliferation. Radiation-resistant (IRR) 5-8F cell line was established and colony assay was performed to evaluate tumor cell growth after irradiation. Signaling pathways were acquired via gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA). Comet assay and γ-H2AX foci assay were used to measure DNA damage level. Protein expression was detected by western blot assay. In vivo experiment was performed subcutaneously. Results We found that radiation-resistant NPC tissues were constantly infiltrated with a greater number of cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) compared to radiosensitive NPC tissues. Further research revealed that CAFs induced the formation of radioresistance and promoted NPC cell survival following irradiation via the IL-8/NF-κB pathway to reduce irradiation-induced DNA damage. Treatment with Tranilast, a CAF inhibitor, restricted the survival of CAF-induced NPC cells and attenuated the of radioresistance properties. Conclusions Together, these data demonstrate that CAFs can promote the survival of irradiated NPC cells via the NF-κB pathway and induce radioresistance that can be interrupted by Tranilast, suggesting the potential value of Tranilast in sensitizing NPC cells to irradiation. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13046-021-01878-x.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weiqiang Huang
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Longshan Zhang
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Mi Yang
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Xixi Wu
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Xiaoqing Wang
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Wenqi Huang
- Chronic Airways Diseases Laboratory, Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Lu Yuan
- Chronic Airways Diseases Laboratory, Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Hua Pan
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Yin Wang
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Zici Wang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Yuting Wu
- Chronic Airways Diseases Laboratory, Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Jihong Huang
- Chronic Airways Diseases Laboratory, Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Huazhen Liang
- Department of Oncology, Maoming People's Hospital, Maoming, Guangdong, China
| | - Shaoqun Li
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Guangdong 999 Brain Hospital, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Liwei Liao
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Laiyu Liu
- Chronic Airways Diseases Laboratory, Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China.
| | - Jian Guan
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China.
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68Ga-fibroblast activation protein inhibitor PET/CT on gross tumour volume delineation for radiotherapy planning of oesophageal cancer. Radiother Oncol 2021; 158:55-61. [PMID: 33621587 DOI: 10.1016/j.radonc.2021.02.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2020] [Revised: 02/08/2021] [Accepted: 02/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE To compare 68Ga-fibroblast activation protein inhibitor (FAPI) and 18F-FDG PET/CT in imaging locally advanced oesophageal cancer, and evaluate the potential usefulness of 68Ga-FAPI PET/CT on gross target volume (GTV) delineation aimed at radiotherapy planning for oesophageal cancer as compared with contrast-enhanced CT (CE-CT) and 18F-FDG PET/CT. MATERIALS AND METHODS Twenty-one patients with newly diagnosed oesophageal cancer who underwent both 18F-FDG and 68Ga-FAPI PET/CT scans were selected. GTVs of the primary tumours based on CE-CT (GTVCT), PET/CT, and CE-CT plus PET/CT were delineated. Gross tumour lengths were measured by GTVs and endoscopy and recorded. RESULTS The 68Ga-FAPI PET showed significantly higher radiotracer uptake than 18F-FDG PET (median SUVmax 16.71 vs. 11.23; P = 0.002) in the primary tumours. SUV thresholds of FAPI ×20%, 30%, 40%, and FDG ×40% showed similar lesion lengths compared with that in endoscopic examination (P > 0.05). GTVCT demonstrated the largest volume (median: 48.80 mm3, range: 14.83-162.23 mm3) than PET-based GTVs. For PET/CT-guided complementary contouring of GTVCT, four patients (19%) were increased by FAPI ×20% and 30%, two patients (9.5%) were increased by FAPI ×40%, and only one patient was increased by FDG ×40%. Furthermore, the volume of GTV based on CE-CT plus FAPI ×20%, 30%, and 40% showed no significant difference with GTVCT and planning target volume based CE-CT plus FAPI-PET and meets the organ at risk standard. CONCLUSION The 68Ga-FAPI PET/CT methodology showed favourable tumour-to-background contrast in oesophageal cancer and might provide additional information for target volume delineation and help avoid tumour geographic misses.
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