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Zhang H, Wu Z, Hu D, Yan M, Sun J, Lai J, Bai L. Immunotherapeutic Targeting of NG2/CSPG4 in Solid Organ Cancers. Vaccines (Basel) 2022; 10:vaccines10071023. [PMID: 35891187 PMCID: PMC9321363 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines10071023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2022] [Revised: 06/22/2022] [Accepted: 06/22/2022] [Indexed: 12/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Neuro-glia antigen 2/chondroitin sulfate proteoglycan 4 (NG2/CSPG4, also called MCSP, HMW-MAA, MSK16, MCSPG, MEL-CSPG, or gp240) is a large cell-surface antigen and an unusual cell membrane integral glycoprotein frequently expressed on undifferentiated precursor cells in multiple solid organ cancers, including cancers of the liver, pancreas, lungs, and kidneys. It is a valuable molecule involved in cancer cell adhesion, invasion, spreading, angiogenesis, complement inhibition, and signaling. Although the biological significance underlying NG2/CSPG4 proteoglycan involvement in cancer progression needs to be better defined, based on the current evidence, NG2/CSPG4+ cells, such as pericytes (PCs, NG2+/CD146+/PDGFR-β+) and cancer stem cells (CSCs), are closely associated with the liver malignancy, hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), pancreatic malignancy, and pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) as well as poor prognoses. Importantly, with a unique method, we successfully purified NG2/CSPG4-expressing cells from human HCC and PDAC vasculature tissue blocks (by core needle biopsy). The cells appeared to be spheres that stably expanded in cultures. As such, these cells have the potential to be used as sources of target antigens. Herein, we provide new information on the possibilities of frequently selecting NG2/CSPG4 as a solid organ cancer biomarker or exploiting expressing cells such as CSCs, or the PG/chondroitin sulfate chain of NG2/CSPG4 on the cell membrane as specific antigens for the development of antibody- and vaccine-based immunotherapeutic approaches to treat these cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongyu Zhang
- Hepatobiliary Institute, Southwest Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing 400038, China; (H.Z.); (Z.W.); (D.H.); (M.Y.); (J.S.); (J.L.)
| | - Zhenyu Wu
- Hepatobiliary Institute, Southwest Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing 400038, China; (H.Z.); (Z.W.); (D.H.); (M.Y.); (J.S.); (J.L.)
| | - Deyu Hu
- Hepatobiliary Institute, Southwest Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing 400038, China; (H.Z.); (Z.W.); (D.H.); (M.Y.); (J.S.); (J.L.)
- Bioengineering College, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400044, China
| | - Min Yan
- Hepatobiliary Institute, Southwest Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing 400038, China; (H.Z.); (Z.W.); (D.H.); (M.Y.); (J.S.); (J.L.)
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan 030000, China
| | - Jing Sun
- Hepatobiliary Institute, Southwest Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing 400038, China; (H.Z.); (Z.W.); (D.H.); (M.Y.); (J.S.); (J.L.)
| | - Jiejuan Lai
- Hepatobiliary Institute, Southwest Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing 400038, China; (H.Z.); (Z.W.); (D.H.); (M.Y.); (J.S.); (J.L.)
| | - Lianhua Bai
- Hepatobiliary Institute, Southwest Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing 400038, China; (H.Z.); (Z.W.); (D.H.); (M.Y.); (J.S.); (J.L.)
- Bioengineering College, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400044, China
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan 030000, China
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +86-23-68765709; Fax: +86-2365462170
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