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Chen C, Li Z, Xiong X, Yao A, Wang S, Liu X, Liu X, Wang J. Intraperitoneal PD-1 monoclonal antibody for the treatment of advanced primary liver cancer with malignant ascites: a single-arm, single-center, phase Ib trial. ESMO Open 2024; 9:102206. [PMID: 38194882 PMCID: PMC10820330 DOI: 10.1016/j.esmoop.2023.102206] [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: 10/18/2023] [Revised: 11/27/2023] [Accepted: 11/27/2023] [Indexed: 01/11/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Advanced primary liver cancer patients with malignant ascites have a poor prognosis and lack effective treatment plans. This phase Ib study aims to explore the safety and clinical efficacy of intraperitoneal anti-programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) antibody in these patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS Patients received sintilimab 100 mg intraperitoneally plus best supportive care on days 1, 8, and 15 in three cycles of 4 weeks. The course was repeated every 28 days until intolerable toxicity had developed or disease progression. The primary endpoint was safety, while the secondary endpoints were objective response rate (ORR), ascites control rate (ACR), and overall survival (OS). RESULTS From February 2021 through November 2022, a total of 21 patients (14 hepatocellular carcinoma and 7 cholangiocarcinoma) were enrolled to receive intraperitoneal sintilimab. Twelve patients had adverse events (AEs). The most common grade 3 AEs were fatigue, rash, and abdominal pain. No grade ≥4 AEs occurred in any patients. ORR was only evaluated in 13 patients, including partial response in 4, stable disease in 7, and progressive disease in 2. A reduction in the median maximum diameter of the tumor after treatment was observed; however, there was no statistical significance among patients. The objective remission rate of ascites was 43.75%, and the median OS for all 21 patients was 17.6 weeks. CONCLUSIONS This exploratory study represents the first trial to demonstrate the safety and clinical efficacy of intraperitoneal anti-PD-1 antibody administration. No unexpected safety concerns were identified. A large, multicenter, prospective study is needed to confirm the promising clinical efficacy.
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Affiliation(s)
- C Chen
- Department of Oncology, Jinling Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing
| | - Z Li
- Department of Oncology, Jinling Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing
| | - X Xiong
- Department of Hepatology, Jinling Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing
| | - A Yao
- Department of Research Institute of General Surgery, Jinling Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing
| | - S Wang
- Department of Research Institute of General Surgery, Jinling Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing
| | - X Liu
- Department of Oncology, Jinling Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing
| | - X Liu
- Department of Oncology, Jinling Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing.
| | - J Wang
- Department of Hematology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing; Yizheng Hospital of Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital Group, Yizheng, PR China.
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Geng Z, Pan X, Xu J, Jia X. Friend and foe: the regulation network of ascites components in ovarian cancer progression. J Cell Commun Signal 2023; 17:391-407. [PMID: 36227507 PMCID: PMC10409702 DOI: 10.1007/s12079-022-00698-8] [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: 05/05/2022] [Accepted: 09/11/2022] [Indexed: 10/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The tumor microenvironment (TME) and its complex role in cancer progression have been hotspots of cancer research in recent years. Ascites, which occurs frequently in patients with ovarian cancer especially in advanced stages, represents a unique TME. Malignant ascites contains abundant cellular and acellular components that play important roles in tumorigenesis, growth, metastasis, and chemoresistance of ovarian cancer through complex molecular mechanisms and signaling pathways. As a valuable liquid biopsy sample, ascites fluid is also of great significance for the prognostic analysis of ovarian cancer. The components of ovarian cancer ascites are generally considered to comprise tumor-promoting factors; however, in recent years studies have found that ascites also contains tumor-suppressing factors, raising new perspectives on interactions between ascites and tumors. Malignant ascites directly constitutes the ovarian cancer microenvironment, therefore, the study of its components will aid in the development of new therapeutic strategies. This article reviews the current research on tumor-promoting and tumor-suppressing factors and molecular mechanisms of their actions in ovarian cancer-derived ascites and therapeutic strategies targeting ascites, which may provide references for the development of novel therapeutic targets for ovarian cancer in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhe Geng
- Department of Gynecology, Women's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing Maternity and Child Health Care Hospital, 123 Mochou Rd, Nanjing, 210004, China
| | - Xinxing Pan
- Department of Gynecology, Women's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing Maternity and Child Health Care Hospital, 123 Mochou Rd, Nanjing, 210004, China
| | - Juan Xu
- Department of Gynecology, Women's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing Maternity and Child Health Care Hospital, 123 Mochou Rd, Nanjing, 210004, China.
| | - Xuemei Jia
- Department of Gynecology, Women's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing Maternity and Child Health Care Hospital, 123 Mochou Rd, Nanjing, 210004, China.
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Zhu Z, Ling X, Zhou H, Xie J. Syndecan-4 is the key proteoglycan involved in mediating sepsis-associated lung injury. Heliyon 2023; 9:e18600. [PMID: 37576224 PMCID: PMC10413080 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e18600] [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: 05/11/2023] [Revised: 07/14/2023] [Accepted: 07/21/2023] [Indexed: 08/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Vascular endothelial cell dysfunction involving syndecan (SDC) proteoglycans contributes to acute sepsis-associated lung injury (ALI), but the exact SDC isoform involved is unclear. We aimed to clarify which SDCs are involved in ALI. A relevant gene expression dataset (GSE5883) was analysed for differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-treated and control lung endothelial cells and for SDC isoform expression. Bioinformatic analyses to predict DEG function were conducted using R language, Gene Ontology, and the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes. SDC2 and SDC4 expression profiles were examined under inflammatory conditions in human lung vascular endothelial cell and mouse sepsis-associated ALI models. Transcription factors regulating SDC2/4 were predicted to indirectly assess SDC involvement in septic inflammation. Of the DEGs, 224 and 102 genes were up- and downregulated, respectively. Functional analysis indicated that DEGs were involved in modulating receptor ligand and signalling receptor activator activities, cytokine receptor binding, responses to LPS and molecules of bacterial origin, regulation of cell adhesion, tumour necrosis factor signalling, and other functions. DEGs were also enriched for cytoplasmic ribonucleoprotein granules, transcription regulator complexes, and membrane raft cellular components. SDC4 gene expression was 4.5-fold higher in the LPS group than in the control group, while SDC2 levels were similar in both groups. SDC4 mRNA and protein expression was markedly upregulated in response to inflammatory injury, and SDC4 downregulation severely exacerbated inflammatory responses in both in vivo and in vitro models. Overall, our data demonstrate that SDC4, rather than SDC2, is involved in LPS-induced sepsis-associated ALI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhipeng Zhu
- Department of Anaesthesiology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Jiaxing University, Zhejiang, 314000, China
| | - Xiaoyan Ling
- Department of Outpatient Nursing, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Jiaxing University, Zhejiang, 314000, China
| | - Hongmei Zhou
- Department of Anaesthesiology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Jiaxing University, Zhejiang, 314000, China
| | - Junran Xie
- Department of Anaesthesiology, Run Xia Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Zhejiang, 314000, China
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Oto J, Le QK, Schäfer SD, Kiesel L, Marí-Alexandre J, Gilabert-Estellés J, Medina P, Götte M. Role of Syndecans in Ovarian Cancer: New Diagnostic and Prognostic Biomarkers and Potential Therapeutic Targets. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:3125. [PMID: 37370735 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15123125] [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: 04/20/2023] [Revised: 05/22/2023] [Accepted: 06/06/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Ovarian cancer (OC) is the eighth cancer both in prevalence and mortality in women and represents the deadliest female reproductive cancer. Due to generally vague symptoms, OC is frequently diagnosed only at a late and advanced stage, resulting in high mortality. The tumor extracellular matrix and cellular matrix receptors play a key role in the pathogenesis of tumor progression. Syndecans are a family of four transmembrane heparan sulfate proteoglycans (PG), including syndecan-1, -2, -3, and -4, which are dysregulated in a myriad of cancers, including OC. Many clinicopathological studies suggest that these proteins are promising diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers for OC. Furthermore, functions of the syndecan family in the regulation of cellular processes make it an interesting pharmacological target for anticancer therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia Oto
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Münster University Hospital, 48149 Münster, Germany
- Haemostasis, Thrombosis, Arteriosclerosis and Vascular Biology Research Group, Medical Research Institute Hospital La Fe, 46026 Valencia, Spain
| | - Quang-Khoi Le
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Münster University Hospital, 48149 Münster, Germany
| | - Sebastian D Schäfer
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Münster University Hospital, 48149 Münster, Germany
| | - Ludwig Kiesel
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Münster University Hospital, 48149 Münster, Germany
| | - Josep Marí-Alexandre
- Research Laboratory in Biomarkers in Reproduction, Gynaecology and Obstetrics, Fundación Hospital General Universitario de Valencia, 46014 Valencia, Spain
- Department of Pathology, Consorcio Hospital General Universitario de Valencia, 46014 Valencia, Spain
| | - Juan Gilabert-Estellés
- Research Laboratory in Biomarkers in Reproduction, Gynaecology and Obstetrics, Fundación Hospital General Universitario de Valencia, 46014 Valencia, Spain
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Consorcio Hospital General Universitario de Valencia, 46014 Valencia, Spain
- Department of Paediatrics, Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Valencia, 46010 Valencia, Spain
| | - Pilar Medina
- Haemostasis, Thrombosis, Arteriosclerosis and Vascular Biology Research Group, Medical Research Institute Hospital La Fe, 46026 Valencia, Spain
| | - Martin Götte
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Münster University Hospital, 48149 Münster, Germany
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Karlinsey K, Qu L, Matz AJ, Zhou B. A novel strategy to dissect multifaceted macrophage function in human diseases. J Leukoc Biol 2022; 112:1535-1542. [PMID: 35726704 DOI: 10.1002/jlb.6mr0522-685r] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2022] [Revised: 05/13/2022] [Accepted: 06/03/2022] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Macrophages are widely distributed immune cells that play central roles in a variety of physiologic and pathologic processes, including obesity and cardiovascular disease (CVD). They are highly plastic cells that execute diverse functions according to a combination of signaling and environmental cues. While macrophages have traditionally been understood to polarize to either proinflammatory M1-like or anti-inflammatory M2-like states, evidence has shown that they exist in a spectrum of states between those 2 phenotypic extremes. In obesity-related disease, M1-like macrophages exacerbate inflammation and promote insulin resistance, while M2-like macrophages reduce inflammation, promoting insulin sensitivity. However, polarization markers are expressed inconsistently in adipose tissue macrophages, and they additionally exhibit phenotypes differing from the M1/M2 paradigm. In atherosclerotic CVD, activated plaque macrophages can also exist in a range of proinflammatory or anti-inflammatory states. Some of these macrophages scavenge lipids, developing into heterogeneous foam cell populations. To better characterize the many actions of macrophages in human disease, we have designed a novel set of computational tools: MacSpectrum and AtheroSpectrum. These tools provide information on the inflammatory polarization status, differentiation, and foaming of macrophages in both human and mouse samples, allowing for better characterization of macrophage subpopulations based on their function. Using these tools, we identified disease-relevant cell states in obesity and CVD, including the novel concept that macrophage-derived foam cell formation can follow homeostatic noninflammatory or pathogenic inflammatory foaming programs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keaton Karlinsey
- Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, University of Connecticut, Farmington, Connecticut, USA
| | - Lili Qu
- Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, University of Connecticut, Farmington, Connecticut, USA
| | - Alyssa J Matz
- Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, University of Connecticut, Farmington, Connecticut, USA
| | - Beiyan Zhou
- Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, University of Connecticut, Farmington, Connecticut, USA
- Institute for Systems Genomics, University of Connecticut, Storrs, Connecticut, USA
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Pang J, Yu Q, Chen Y, Yuan H, Sheng M, Tang W. Integrating Single-cell RNA-seq to construct a Neutrophil prognostic model for predicting immune responses in non-small cell lung cancer. J Transl Med 2022; 20:531. [PMCID: PMC9673203 DOI: 10.1186/s12967-022-03723-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2022] [Accepted: 10/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
AbstractNon-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is the most widely distributed tumor in the world, and its immunotherapy is not practical. Neutrophil is one of a tumor’s most abundant immune cell groups. This research aimed to investigate the complex communication network in the immune microenvironment (TIME) of NSCLC tumors to clarify the interaction between immune cells and tumors and establish a prognostic risk model that can predict immune response and prognosis of patients by analyzing the characteristics of Neutrophil differentiation. Integrated Single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) data from NSCLC samples and Bulk RNA-seq were used for analysis. Twenty-eight main cell clusters were identified, and their interactions were clarified. Next, four subsets of Neutrophils with different differentiation states were found, closely related to immune regulation and metabolic pathways. Based on the ratio of four housekeeping genes (ACTB, GAPDH, TFRC, TUBB), six Neutrophil differentiation-related genes (NDRGs) prognostic risk models, including MS4A7, CXCR2, CSRNP1, RETN, CD177, and LUCAT1, were constructed by Elastic Net and Multivariate Cox regression, and patients’ total survival time and immunotherapy response were successfully predicted and validated in three large cohorts. Finally, the causes of the unfavorable prognosis of NSCLC caused by six prognostic genes were explored, and the small molecular compounds targeted at the anti-tumor effect of prognostic genes were screened. This study clarifies the TIME regulation network in NSCLC and emphasizes the critical role of NDRGs in predicting the prognosis of patients with NSCLC and their potential response to immunotherapy, thus providing a promising therapeutic target for NSCLC.
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Ren Y, Li R, Feng H, Xie J, Gao L, Chu S, Li Y, Meng F, Ning Y. Single-cell sequencing reveals effects of chemotherapy on the immune landscape and TCR/BCR clonal expansion in a relapsed ovarian cancer patient. Front Immunol 2022; 13:985187. [PMID: 36248860 PMCID: PMC9555851 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.985187] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2022] [Accepted: 09/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Cancer recurrence and chemoresistance are the leading causes of death in high-grade serous ovarian cancer (HGSOC) patients. However, the unique role of the immune environment in tumor progression for relapsed chemo-resistant patients remains elusive. In single-cell resolution, we characterized a comprehensive multi-dimensional cellular and immunological atlas from tumor, ascites, and peripheral blood of a chemo-resistant patient at different stages of treatment. Our results highlight a role in recurrence and chemoresistance of the immunosuppressive microenvironment in ascites, including MDSC-like myeloid and hypo-metabolic γδT cells, and of peripheral CD8+ effector T cells with chemotherapy-induced senescent/exhaustive. Importantly, paired TCR/BCR sequencing demonstrated relative conservation of TCR clonal expansion in hyper-expanded CD8+ T cells and extensive BCR clonal expansion without usage bias of V(D)J genes after chemotherapy. Thus, our study suggests strategies for ameliorating chemotherapy-induced immune impairment to improve the clinical outcome of HGSOC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanyu Ren
- School of Laboratory Medicine and Biotechnology, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Runrong Li
- School of Laboratory Medicine and Biotechnology, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Hanxiao Feng
- The First Clinical Medical School, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jieying Xie
- School of Laboratory Medicine and Biotechnology, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Lin Gao
- School of Laboratory Medicine and Biotechnology, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Shuai Chu
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yan Li
- School of Laboratory Medicine and Biotechnology, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
- *Correspondence: Yan Li, ; Fanliang Meng, ; Yunshan Ning,
| | - Fanliang Meng
- The First Clinical Medical School, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
- *Correspondence: Yan Li, ; Fanliang Meng, ; Yunshan Ning,
| | - Yunshan Ning
- School of Laboratory Medicine and Biotechnology, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
- *Correspondence: Yan Li, ; Fanliang Meng, ; Yunshan Ning,
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Single cell RNA-seq reveals the CCL5/SDC1 receptor-ligand interaction between T cells and tumor cells in pancreatic cancer. Cancer Lett 2022; 545:215834. [DOI: 10.1016/j.canlet.2022.215834] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2022] [Revised: 07/04/2022] [Accepted: 07/17/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
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Yao J, Zhang Y, Li M, Sun Z, Liu T, Zhao M, Li Z. Single-Cell RNA-Seq Reveals the Promoting Role of Ferroptosis Tendency During Lung Adenocarcinoma EMT Progression. Front Cell Dev Biol 2022; 9:822315. [PMID: 35127731 PMCID: PMC8810644 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2021.822315] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2021] [Accepted: 12/30/2021] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and ferroptosis are two important processes in biology. In tumor cells, they are intimately linked. We used single-cell RNA sequencing to investigate the regulatory connection between EMT and ferroptosis tendency in LUAD epithelial cells. We used Seurat to construct the expression matrix using the GEO dataset GSE131907 and extract epithelial cells. We found a positive correlation between the trends of EMT and ferroptosis tendency. Then we used SCENIC to analyze differentially activated transcription factors and constructed a molecular regulatory directed network by causal inference. Some ferroptosis markers (GPX4, SCP2, CAV1) were found to have strong regulatory effects on EMT. Cell communication networks were constructed by iTALK and implied that Ferro_High_EMT_High cells have a higher expression of SDC1, SDC4, and activation of LGALS9-HARVCR2 pathways. By deconvolution of bulk sequencing, the results of CIBERSORTx showed that the co-occurrence of ferroptosis tendency and EMT may lead to tumor metastasis and non-response to immunotherapy. Our findings showed there is a strong correlation between ferroptosis tendency and EMT. Ferroptosis may have a promotive effect on EMT. High propensities of ferroptosis and EMT may lead to poor prognosis and non-response to immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiaxi Yao
- Department of Medical Oncology, The First Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China
- Department of Urology, The First Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Yuchong Zhang
- Department of Medical Oncology, The First Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Mengling Li
- Department of Clinical Epidemiology and Center of Evidence-Based Medicine, The First Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Zuyu Sun
- Department of Urology, The First Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Tao Liu
- Department of Urology, The First Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China
- *Correspondence: Tao Liu, ; Mingfang Zhao, ; Zhi Li,
| | - Mingfang Zhao
- Department of Medical Oncology, The First Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China
- *Correspondence: Tao Liu, ; Mingfang Zhao, ; Zhi Li,
| | - Zhi Li
- Department of Medical Oncology, The First Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China
- *Correspondence: Tao Liu, ; Mingfang Zhao, ; Zhi Li,
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Roma S, Carpen L, Raveane A, Bertolini F. The Dual Role of Innate Lymphoid and Natural Killer Cells in Cancer. from Phenotype to Single-Cell Transcriptomics, Functions and Clinical Uses. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:cancers13205042. [PMID: 34680190 PMCID: PMC8533946 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13205042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2021] [Revised: 10/05/2021] [Accepted: 10/06/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Innate lymphoid cells (ILCs), a family of innate immune cells including natural killers (NKs), play a multitude of roles in first-line cancer control, in escape from immunity and in cancer progression. In this review, we summarize preclinical and clinical data on ILCs and NK cells concerning their phenotype, function and clinical applications in cellular therapy trials. We also describe how single-cell transcriptome sequencing has been used and forecast how it will be used to better understand ILC and NK involvement in cancer control and progression as well as their therapeutic potential. Abstract The role of innate lymphoid cells (ILCs), including natural killer (NK) cells, is pivotal in inflammatory modulation and cancer. Natural killer cell activity and count have been demonstrated to be regulated by the expression of activating and inhibitory receptors together with and as a consequence of different stimuli. The great majority of NK cell populations have an anti-tumor activity due to their cytotoxicity, and for this reason have been used for cellular therapies in cancer patients. On the other hand, the recently classified helper ILCs are fundamentally involved in inflammation and they can be either helpful or harmful in cancer development and progression. Tissue niche seems to play an important role in modulating ILC function and conversion, as observed at the transcriptional level. In the past, these cell populations have been classified by the presence of specific cellular receptor markers; more recently, due to the advent of single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq), it has been possible to also explore them at the transcriptomic level. In this article we review studies on ILC (and NK cell) classification, function and their involvement in cancer. We also summarize the potential application of NK cells in cancer therapy and give an overview of the most recent studies involving ILCs and NKs at scRNA-seq, focusing on cancer. Finally, we provide a resource for those who wish to start single-cell transcriptomic analysis on the context of these innate lymphoid cell populations.
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