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Devarasou S, Kang M, Shin JH. Biophysical perspectives to understanding cancer-associated fibroblasts. APL Bioeng 2024; 8:021507. [PMID: 38855445 PMCID: PMC11161195 DOI: 10.1063/5.0199024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2024] [Accepted: 05/24/2024] [Indexed: 06/11/2024] Open
Abstract
The understanding of cancer has evolved significantly, with the tumor microenvironment (TME) now recognized as a critical factor influencing the onset and progression of the disease. This broader perspective challenges the traditional view that cancer is primarily caused by mutations, instead emphasizing the dynamic interaction between different cell types and physicochemical factors within the TME. Among these factors, cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) command attention for their profound influence on tumor behavior and patient prognoses. Despite their recognized importance, the biophysical and mechanical interactions of CAFs within the TME remain elusive. This review examines the distinctive physical characteristics of CAFs, their morphological attributes, and mechanical interactions within the TME. We discuss the impact of mechanotransduction on CAF function and highlight how these cells communicate mechanically with neighboring cancer cells, thereby shaping the path of tumor development and progression. By concentrating on the biomechanical regulation of CAFs, this review aims to deepen our understanding of their role in the TME and to illuminate new biomechanical-based therapeutic strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Somayadineshraj Devarasou
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Korea Advanced Institute of Science & Technology (KAIST), Daejeon, Korea
| | - Minwoo Kang
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Korea Advanced Institute of Science & Technology (KAIST), Daejeon, Korea
| | - Jennifer H. Shin
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Korea Advanced Institute of Science & Technology (KAIST), Daejeon, Korea
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Tang H, You T, Ge H, Gao J, Wang Y, Bai C, Sun Z, Han Q, Zhao RC. Anlotinib may enhance the efficacy of anti-PD1 therapy by inhibiting the AKT pathway and promoting the apoptosis of CAFs in lung adenocarcinoma. Int Immunopharmacol 2024; 133:112053. [PMID: 38615380 DOI: 10.1016/j.intimp.2024.112053] [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: 01/21/2024] [Revised: 03/30/2024] [Accepted: 04/06/2024] [Indexed: 04/16/2024]
Abstract
Although PD-1 inhibitors have revolutionized the treatment paradigm of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), their efficacy in treating NSCLC has remained unsatisfactory. Targeting cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) is a potential approach for improving the immunotherapy response. Multitarget antiangiogenic tyrosine kinase receptor inhibitors (TKIs) can enhance the efficacy of PD-1 inhibitors in NSCLC patients. However, the effects and mechanisms of antiangiogenic TKIs on CAFs have not been elucidated. In this study, we first compared anlotinib with other antiangiogenic TKIs and confirmed the superior efficacy of anlotinib. Furthermore, we established NSCLC-associated CAF models and found that anlotinib impaired CAF viability and migration capacity and contributed to CAF apoptosis and cell cycle arrest in the G2/M phase. Moreover, anlotinib treatment attenuated the capacity of CAFs to recruit lung cancer cells and macrophages. Experiments in animal models suggested that anlotinib could enhance the efficacy of anti-PD1 therapy in NSCLC and affect CAF proliferation and apoptosis. Anlotinib increased the abundance of tumor-infiltrating CD8 + T cells, and PD-1 inhibitor-induced cytotoxicity to tumor cells was achieved through the transformation of the tumor microenvironment (TME) caused by anlotinib, which may partly explain the synergistic antitumor effect of anlotinib and PD-1 inhibitors. Mechanistically, anlotinib affects CAF apoptosis and cell viability at least in part by inhibiting the AKT pathway. In conclusion, our study suggested that anlotinib could regulate the TME, inhibit the AKT pathway and promote CAF apoptosis, providing new insights into the antitumor effect of anlotinib and improving the efficacy of immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hui Tang
- Department of Medical Oncology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Tingting You
- Department of Medical Oncology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Hui Ge
- Department of Medical Oncology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Jingxi Gao
- Institute of Basic Medical Sciences Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, School of Basic Medicine Peking Union Medical College, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Center of Excellence in Tissue Engineering Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing Key Laboratory, Beijing, China
| | - Yingyi Wang
- Department of Medical Oncology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China.
| | - Chunmei Bai
- Department of Medical Oncology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China.
| | - Zhao Sun
- Department of Medical Oncology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China.
| | - Qin Han
- Institute of Basic Medical Sciences Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, School of Basic Medicine Peking Union Medical College, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Center of Excellence in Tissue Engineering Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing Key Laboratory, Beijing, China.
| | - Robert Chunhua Zhao
- Institute of Basic Medical Sciences Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, School of Basic Medicine Peking Union Medical College, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Center of Excellence in Tissue Engineering Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing Key Laboratory, Beijing, China; School of Life Sciences, Shanghai University, Shanghai, China.
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Liu Q, Yao F, Wu L, Xu T, Na J, Shen Z, Liu X, Shi W, Zhao Y, Liao Y. Heterogeneity and interplay: the multifaceted role of cancer-associated fibroblasts in the tumor and therapeutic strategies. Clin Transl Oncol 2024:10.1007/s12094-024-03492-7. [PMID: 38602644 DOI: 10.1007/s12094-024-03492-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2024] [Accepted: 03/31/2024] [Indexed: 04/12/2024]
Abstract
The journey of cancer development is a multifaceted and staged process. The array of treatments available for cancer varies significantly, dictated by the disease's type and stage. Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs), prevalent across various cancer types and stages, play a pivotal role in tumor genesis, progression, metastasis, and drug resistance. The strategy of concurrently targeting cancer cells and CAFs holds great promise in cancer therapy. In this review, we focus intently on CAFs, delving into their critical role in cancer's progression. We begin by exploring the origins, classification, and surface markers of CAFs. Following this, we emphasize the key cytokines and signaling pathways involved in the interplay between cancer cells and CAFs and their influence on the tumor immune microenvironment. Additionally, we examine current therapeutic approaches targeting CAFs. This article underscores the multifarious roles of CAFs within the tumor microenvironment and their potential applications in cancer treatment, highlighting their importance as key targets in overcoming drug resistance and enhancing the efficacy of tumor therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiaoqiao Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Targeting Oncology, National Center for International Research of Bio-Targeting Theranostics, Guangxi Key Laboratory of Bio-Targeting Theranostics, Collaborative Innovation Center for Targeting Tumor Diagnosis and Therapy, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, 530021, China
| | - Fei Yao
- State Key Laboratory of Targeting Oncology, National Center for International Research of Bio-Targeting Theranostics, Guangxi Key Laboratory of Bio-Targeting Theranostics, Collaborative Innovation Center for Targeting Tumor Diagnosis and Therapy, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, 530021, China
| | - Liangliang Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Targeting Oncology, National Center for International Research of Bio-Targeting Theranostics, Guangxi Key Laboratory of Bio-Targeting Theranostics, Collaborative Innovation Center for Targeting Tumor Diagnosis and Therapy, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, 530021, China
| | - Tianyuan Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Targeting Oncology, National Center for International Research of Bio-Targeting Theranostics, Guangxi Key Laboratory of Bio-Targeting Theranostics, Collaborative Innovation Center for Targeting Tumor Diagnosis and Therapy, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, 530021, China
| | - Jintong Na
- State Key Laboratory of Targeting Oncology, National Center for International Research of Bio-Targeting Theranostics, Guangxi Key Laboratory of Bio-Targeting Theranostics, Collaborative Innovation Center for Targeting Tumor Diagnosis and Therapy, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, 530021, China
| | - Zhen Shen
- State Key Laboratory of Targeting Oncology, National Center for International Research of Bio-Targeting Theranostics, Guangxi Key Laboratory of Bio-Targeting Theranostics, Collaborative Innovation Center for Targeting Tumor Diagnosis and Therapy, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, 530021, China
| | - Xiyu Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Targeting Oncology, National Center for International Research of Bio-Targeting Theranostics, Guangxi Key Laboratory of Bio-Targeting Theranostics, Collaborative Innovation Center for Targeting Tumor Diagnosis and Therapy, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, 530021, China
| | - Wei Shi
- State Key Laboratory of Targeting Oncology, National Center for International Research of Bio-Targeting Theranostics, Guangxi Key Laboratory of Bio-Targeting Theranostics, Collaborative Innovation Center for Targeting Tumor Diagnosis and Therapy, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, 530021, China.
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Tumor Hospital, Guangxi University of Chinese Medicine, Nanning, 530021, Guangxi, China.
| | - Yongxiang Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Targeting Oncology, National Center for International Research of Bio-Targeting Theranostics, Guangxi Key Laboratory of Bio-Targeting Theranostics, Collaborative Innovation Center for Targeting Tumor Diagnosis and Therapy, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, 530021, China.
| | - Yuan Liao
- State Key Laboratory of Targeting Oncology, National Center for International Research of Bio-Targeting Theranostics, Guangxi Key Laboratory of Bio-Targeting Theranostics, Collaborative Innovation Center for Targeting Tumor Diagnosis and Therapy, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, 530021, China.
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Gao Z, Zhang N, An B, Li D, Fang Z, Xu D. Comprehensive analyses of the cancer-associated fibroblast subtypes and their score system for prediction of outcomes and immunosuppressive microenvironment in prostate cancer. Cancer Cell Int 2024; 24:127. [PMID: 38580966 PMCID: PMC10996219 DOI: 10.1186/s12935-024-03305-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2023] [Accepted: 03/19/2024] [Indexed: 04/07/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) drive cancer progression and treatment failure on one hand, while their tumor-restraining functions are also observed on the other. Recent single cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) analyses demonstrates heterogeneity of CAFs and defines molecular subtypes of CAFs, which help explain their different functions. However, it remains unclear whether these CAF subtypes have the same or different biological/clinical implications in prostate cancer (PCa) or other malignancies. METHODS PCa cells were incubated with supernatant from normal fibroblasts and CAFs to assess their effects on cell behaviors. Sequencing, genomic, and clinical data were collected from TCGA, MSKCC, CPGEA and GEO databases. CAF molecular subtypes and total CAF scores were constructed and grouped into low and high groups based on CAF-specific gene expression. Progression free interval (PFI), clinicopathological features, telomere length, immune cell infiltration, drug treatment and somatic mutations were compared among CAF molecular subtypes and low/high score groups. RESULTS The PCa CAF-derived supernatant promoted PCa cell proliferation and invasion. Based on differentially expressed genes identified by scRNA-seq analyses, we classified CAFs into 6 molecular subtypes in PCa tumors, and each subtype was then categorized into score-high and low groups according to the subtype-specific gene expression level. Such score models in 6 CAF subtypes all predicted PFI. Telomeres were significantly shorter in high-score tumors. The total CAF score from 6 CAF subtypes was also associated with PFI in PCa patients inversely, which was consistent with results from cellular experiments. Immunosuppressive microenvironment occurred more frequently in tumors with a high CAF score, which was characterized by increased CTLA4 expression and indicated better responses to CTLA4 inhibitors. Moreover, this model can also serve as a useful PFI predictor in pan-cancers. CONCLUSION By combining scRNA-seq and bulk RNA-seq data analyses, we develop a CAF subtype score system as a prognostic factor for PCa and other cancer types. This model system also helps distinguish different immune-suppressive mechanisms in PCa, suggesting its implications in predicting response to immunotherapy. Thus, the present findings should contribute to personalized PCa intervention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ze Gao
- Department of Urology, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, 250012, China
- Institute of Andrology, Shandong University, Jinan, 250012, China
| | - Ning Zhang
- Department of Breast Surgery, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, 250012, China
| | - Bingzheng An
- Department of Urology, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, 250012, China
| | - Dawei Li
- Department of Urology, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, 250012, China
- Institute of Andrology, Shandong University, Jinan, 250012, China
| | - Zhiqing Fang
- Department of Urology, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, 250012, China.
- Institute of Andrology, Shandong University, Jinan, 250012, China.
| | - Dawei Xu
- Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology, Bioclinicum, Karolinska Institute and, Karolinska University Hospital, Solna, Stockholm, SE-17176, Sweden.
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Honda CK, Kurozumi S, Fujii T, Pourquier D, Khellaf L, Boissiere F, Horiguchi J, Oyama T, Shirabe K, Colinge J, Yokobori T, Turtoi A. Cancer-associated fibroblast spatial heterogeneity and EMILIN1 expression in the tumor microenvironment modulate TGF-β activity and CD8 + T-cell infiltration in breast cancer. Theranostics 2024; 14:1873-1885. [PMID: 38505604 PMCID: PMC10945331 DOI: 10.7150/thno.90627] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2023] [Accepted: 02/13/2024] [Indexed: 03/21/2024] Open
Abstract
Rationale: The tumor microenvironment (TME) and its multifaceted interactions with cancer cells are major targets for cancer treatment. Single-cell technologies have brought major insights into the TME, but the resulting complexity often precludes conclusions on function. Methods: We combined single-cell RNA sequencing and spatial transcriptomic data to explore the relationship between different cancer-associated fibroblast (CAF) populations and immune cell exclusion in breast tumors. The significance of the findings was then evaluated in a cohort of tumors (N=75) from breast cancer patients using immunohistochemistry analysis. Results: Our data show for the first time the degree of spatial organization of different CAF populations in breast cancer. We found that IL-iCAFs, Detox-iCAFs, and IFNγ-iCAFs tended to cluster together, while Wound-myCAFs, TGFβ-myCAFs, and ECM-myCAFs formed another group that overlapped with elevated TGF-β signaling. Differential gene expression analysis of areas with CD8+ T-cell infiltration/exclusion within the TGF-β signaling-rich zones identified elastin microfibrillar interface protein 1 (EMILIN1) as a top modulated gene. EMILIN1, a TGF-β inhibitor, was upregulated in IFNγ-iCAFs directly modulating TGFβ immunosuppressive function. Histological analysis of 75 breast cancer samples confirmed that high EMILIN1 expression in the tumor margins was related to high CD8+ T-cell infiltration, consistent with our spatial gene expression analysis. High EMILIN1 expression was also associated with better prognosis of patients with breast cancer, underscoring its functional significance for the recruitment of cytotoxic T cells into the tumor area. Conclusion: Our data show that correlating TGF-β signaling to a CAF subpopulation is not enough because proteins with TGF-β-modulating activity originating from other CAF subpopulations can alter its activity. Therefore, therapeutic targeting should remain focused on biological processes rather than on specific CAF subtypes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chikako Kanno Honda
- Department of General Surgical Science, Gunma University Graduate School of Medicine, Maebashi, Gunma, Japan
| | - Sasagu Kurozumi
- Department of General Surgical Science, Gunma University Graduate School of Medicine, Maebashi, Gunma, Japan
- Department of Breast Surgery, International University of Health and Welfare, Chiba, Japan
| | - Takaaki Fujii
- Department of General Surgical Science, Gunma University Graduate School of Medicine, Maebashi, Gunma, Japan
| | - Didier Pourquier
- Institut régional du Cancer de Montpellier (ICM)-Val d'Aurelle, Montpellier, France
- Tumor Microenvironment and Resistance to Treatment Lab, INSERM U1194, Montpellier, France
- Université de Montpellier, Montpellier, France
| | - Lakhdar Khellaf
- Institut régional du Cancer de Montpellier (ICM)-Val d'Aurelle, Montpellier, France
- Tumor Microenvironment and Resistance to Treatment Lab, INSERM U1194, Montpellier, France
- Université de Montpellier, Montpellier, France
| | - Florence Boissiere
- Institut régional du Cancer de Montpellier (ICM)-Val d'Aurelle, Montpellier, France
| | - Jun Horiguchi
- Department of Breast Surgery, International University of Health and Welfare, Chiba, Japan
| | - Tetsunari Oyama
- Department of Pathology and Diagnostics, Gunma University Graduate School of Medicine, Maebashi, Gunma, Japan
| | - Ken Shirabe
- Department of General Surgical Science, Gunma University Graduate School of Medicine, Maebashi, Gunma, Japan
| | - Jacques Colinge
- Institut régional du Cancer de Montpellier (ICM)-Val d'Aurelle, Montpellier, France
- Université de Montpellier, Montpellier, France
- Cancer Bioinformatics and Systems Biology Team, INSERM U1194, Montpellier, France
| | - Takehiko Yokobori
- Division of Integrated Oncology Research, Gunma University, Initiative for Advanced Research (GIAR), Maebashi, Gunma, Japan
| | - Andrei Turtoi
- Institut régional du Cancer de Montpellier (ICM)-Val d'Aurelle, Montpellier, France
- Tumor Microenvironment and Resistance to Treatment Lab, INSERM U1194, Montpellier, France
- Université de Montpellier, Montpellier, France
- Division of Integrated Oncology Research, Gunma University, Initiative for Advanced Research (GIAR), Maebashi, Gunma, Japan
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Liu Z, Sun B, Xu A, Tang J, Zhang H, Gao J, Wang L. MICAL2 implies immunosuppressive features and acts as an independent and adverse prognostic biomarker in pancreatic cancer. Sci Rep 2024; 14:3177. [PMID: 38326344 PMCID: PMC10850094 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-52729-6] [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: 10/05/2023] [Accepted: 01/23/2024] [Indexed: 02/09/2024] Open
Abstract
At present, clinical outcomes of pancreatic cancer patients are still poor. New therapeutic targets for pancreatic cancer are urgently needed. Previous studies have indicated that Microtubule Associated Monooxygenase, Calponin and LIM Domain Containing 2 (MICAL2) is highly expressed in many tumors and promotes tumor progression. However, the role played by MICAL2 in pancreatic cancer remains unclear. Based on gene expression and clinical information from multiple datasets, we used comprehensive bioinformatics analysis in combination with tissue microarray to explore the function and clinical value of MICAL2. The results showed that MICAL2 was highly expressed in pancreatic cancer tissue and exhibited potential diagnostic capability. High expression of MICAL2 was also associated with poor prognosis and acted as an independent prognostic factor. MICAL2, mainly expressed in fibroblasts of pancreatic cancer, was closely related to metastasis and immune-related features, such as epithelial-mesenchymal transformation, extracellular cell matrix degradation, and inflammatory response. Furthermore, higher MICAL2 expression in pancreatic cancer was also associated with an increase in cancer-associated fibroblasts as well as M2 macrophage infiltration, and a reduction in CD8 + T cell infiltration, thereby facilitating the formation of an immunosuppressive microenvironment. Our results helped elucidate the clinical value and function in metastasis and immunity of MICAL2 in pancreatic cancer. These findings provided potential clinical strategies for diagnosis, targeted therapy combination immunotherapy, and prognosis in patients with pancreatic cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhicheng Liu
- Department of Oncology, The Affiliated Lianyungang Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University (The First People's Hospital of Lianyungang), Lianyungang, Jiangsu, China
| | - Bing Sun
- Jinzhou Medical University Postgraduate Training Base (The First People's Hospital of Lianyungang), Lianyungang, Jiangsu, China
| | - Aiguo Xu
- Department of Oncology, The Second People's Hospital of Lianyungang, Lianyungang, Jiangsu, China
| | - Jingjiao Tang
- Department of Oncology, The Affiliated Lianyungang Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University (The First People's Hospital of Lianyungang), Lianyungang, Jiangsu, China
| | - Huiqin Zhang
- Department of Oncology, The Affiliated Lianyungang Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University (The First People's Hospital of Lianyungang), Lianyungang, Jiangsu, China
| | - Jie Gao
- Department of Oncology, The Affiliated Lianyungang Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University (The First People's Hospital of Lianyungang), Lianyungang, Jiangsu, China
| | - Lei Wang
- Department of Oncology, The Affiliated Lianyungang Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University (The First People's Hospital of Lianyungang), Lianyungang, Jiangsu, China.
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Tian G, Zhang J, Bao Y, Li Q, Hou J. A prognostic model based on Scissor + cancer associated fibroblasts identified from bulk and single cell RNA sequencing data in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. Cell Signal 2024; 114:110984. [PMID: 38029947 DOI: 10.1016/j.cellsig.2023.110984] [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: 08/31/2023] [Revised: 10/23/2023] [Accepted: 11/15/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023]
Abstract
Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is one of the most lethal diseases in the world, which often recur after multimodality treatment approaches, leading to a poor prognosis. Fibroblasts, a heterogeneous component of the tumor microenvironment, can modulate numerous aspects of tumor biology and have been increasingly acknowledged in dictating the clinical outcome of patients with HNSCC. However, the subpopulation of fibroblasts that are related to the prognosis of HNSCC has not yet been fully explored. To do so, we combined a single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) dataset and bulk RNA-sequencing dataset with clinical information, identifying the fibroblast population that are related to poor prognosis of HNSCC. We found these specific population of fibroblasts are less differentiated. In addition, to identify the prognostic signatures of HNSCC, bioinformatics analysis included least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) analyses and univariate cox and were performed. We selected 12 prognosis-related genes for constructing a risk model using The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA). The AUC values and calibration plots of this model indicated good prognostic prediction efficacy. This model also was validated in two Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) datasets. In conclusion, we constructed an optimal model that was derived from single cell RNA-seq and bulk RNA-seq to predict the survival probability of HNSCC patients. Among this model, AKR1C3 higher expression in cancer associated fibroblasts (CAFs) of HNSCC has been confirmed by preliminary experiments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guoli Tian
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Guanghua School of Stomatology, Hospital of Stomatology, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Stomatology, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jiaqiang Zhang
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Guanghua School of Stomatology, Hospital of Stomatology, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Stomatology, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yong Bao
- Department of Medical Oncology; Institute of Precision Medicine; Center for Translational Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China.
| | - Qiuli Li
- Department of Head and Neck Surgery, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Guangzhou 510060, China.
| | - Jinsong Hou
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Guanghua School of Stomatology, Hospital of Stomatology, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Stomatology, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China.
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Wei J, Ge X, Qian Y, Jiang K, Chen X, Lu W, Yang H, Fu D, Fang Y, Zhou X, Xiao Q, Tang Y, Ding K. Development and verification of a combined immune- and cancer-associated fibroblast related prognostic signature for colon adenocarcinoma. Front Immunol 2024; 15:1291938. [PMID: 38312843 PMCID: PMC10834644 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2024.1291938] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2023] [Accepted: 01/04/2024] [Indexed: 02/06/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction To better understand the role of immune escape and cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) in colon adenocarcinoma (COAD), an integrative analysis of the tumor microenvironment was performed using a set of 12 immune- and CAF-related genes (ICRGs). Methods Univariate and least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) Cox regression analyses were used to establish a prognostic signature based on the expression of these 12 genes (S1PR5, AEN, IL20RB, FGF9, OSBPL1A, HSF4, PCAT6, FABP4, KIF15, ZNF792, CD1B and GLP2R). This signature was validated in both internal and external cohorts and was found to have a higher C-index than previous COAD signatures, confirming its robustness and reliability. To make use of this signature in clinical settings, a nomogram incorporating ICRG signatures and key clinical parameters, such as age and T stage, was developed. Finally, the role of S1PR5 in the immune response of COAD was validated through in vitro cytotoxicity experiments. Results The developed nomogram exhibited slightly improved predictive accuracy compared to the ICRG signature alone, as indicated by the areas under the receiver operating characteristic curves (AUC, nomogram:0.838; ICRGs:0.807). The study also evaluated the relationships between risk scores (RS) based on the expression of the ICRGs and other key immunotherapy variables, including immune checkpoint expression, immunophenoscore (IPS), and microsatellite instability (MSI). Integration of these variables led to more precise prediction of treatment efficacy, enabling personalized immunotherapy for COAD patients. Knocking down S1PR5 can enhance the efficacy of PD-1 monoclonal antibody, promoting the cytotoxicity of T cells against HCT116 cells ((p<0.05). Discussion These findings indicate that the ICRG signature may be a valuable tool for predicting prognostic risk, evaluating the efficacy of immunotherapy, and tailoring personalized treatment options for patients with COAD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jingsun Wei
- Department of Colorectal Surgery and Oncology (Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Intervention, China National Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology in Medical Sciences), The Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
- Department of Colorectal Surgery and Oncology, Zhejiang Provincial Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
- Department of Colorectal Surgery and Oncology, Cancer Center of Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Xiaoxu Ge
- Department of Colorectal Surgery and Oncology (Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Intervention, China National Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology in Medical Sciences), The Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
- Department of Colorectal Surgery and Oncology, Zhejiang Provincial Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
- Department of Colorectal Surgery and Oncology, Cancer Center of Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Yucheng Qian
- Department of Colorectal Surgery and Oncology (Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Intervention, China National Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology in Medical Sciences), The Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
- Department of Colorectal Surgery and Oncology, Zhejiang Provincial Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
- Department of Colorectal Surgery and Oncology, Cancer Center of Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Kai Jiang
- Department of Colorectal Surgery and Oncology (Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Intervention, China National Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology in Medical Sciences), The Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
- Department of Colorectal Surgery and Oncology, Zhejiang Provincial Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
- Department of Colorectal Surgery and Oncology, Cancer Center of Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Xin Chen
- Department of Colorectal Surgery and Oncology (Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Intervention, China National Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology in Medical Sciences), The Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
- Department of Colorectal Surgery and Oncology, Zhejiang Provincial Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
- Department of Colorectal Surgery and Oncology, Cancer Center of Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Wei Lu
- Department of Colorectal Surgery and Oncology (Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Intervention, China National Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology in Medical Sciences), The Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
- Department of Colorectal Surgery and Oncology, Zhejiang Provincial Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
- Department of Colorectal Surgery and Oncology, Cancer Center of Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Hang Yang
- Department of Colorectal Surgery and Oncology (Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Intervention, China National Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology in Medical Sciences), The Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
- Department of Colorectal Surgery and Oncology, Zhejiang Provincial Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
- Department of Colorectal Surgery and Oncology, Cancer Center of Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Dongliang Fu
- Department of Colorectal Surgery and Oncology (Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Intervention, China National Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology in Medical Sciences), The Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
- Department of Colorectal Surgery and Oncology, Zhejiang Provincial Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
- Department of Colorectal Surgery and Oncology, Cancer Center of Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Yimin Fang
- Department of Colorectal Surgery and Oncology (Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Intervention, China National Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology in Medical Sciences), The Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
- Department of Colorectal Surgery and Oncology, Zhejiang Provincial Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
- Department of Colorectal Surgery and Oncology, Cancer Center of Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Xinyi Zhou
- Department of Colorectal Surgery and Oncology (Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Intervention, China National Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology in Medical Sciences), The Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
- Department of Colorectal Surgery and Oncology, Zhejiang Provincial Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
- Department of Colorectal Surgery and Oncology, Cancer Center of Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Qian Xiao
- Department of Colorectal Surgery and Oncology (Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Intervention, China National Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology in Medical Sciences), The Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
- Department of Colorectal Surgery and Oncology, Zhejiang Provincial Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
- Department of Colorectal Surgery and Oncology, Cancer Center of Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Yang Tang
- Department of Colorectal Surgery and Oncology (Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Intervention, China National Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology in Medical Sciences), The Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
- Department of Colorectal Surgery and Oncology, Zhejiang Provincial Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
- Department of Colorectal Surgery and Oncology, Cancer Center of Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Kefeng Ding
- Department of Colorectal Surgery and Oncology (Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Intervention, China National Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology in Medical Sciences), The Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
- Department of Colorectal Surgery and Oncology, Zhejiang Provincial Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
- Department of Colorectal Surgery and Oncology, Cancer Center of Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
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9
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Ma Z, Han H, Zhou Z, Wang S, Liang F, Wang L, Ji H, Yang Y, Chen J. Machine learning-based establishment and validation of age-related patterns for predicting prognosis in non-small cell lung cancer within the context of the tumor microenvironment. IUBMB Life 2023; 75:941-956. [PMID: 37548145 DOI: 10.1002/iub.2768] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2023] [Accepted: 06/20/2023] [Indexed: 08/08/2023]
Abstract
Lung cancer (LC) is a leading cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide, with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) accounting for over 80% of cases. The impact of aging on clinical outcomes in NSCLC remains poorly understood, particularly with respect to the immune response. In this study, we explored the effects of aging on NSCLC using 307 genes associated with human aging from the Human Ageing Genomic Resources. We identified 53 aging-associated genes that significantly correlate with overall survival of NSCLC patients, including the clinically validated gene BUB1B. Furthermore, we developed an aging-associated enrichment score to categorize patients based on their aging subtypes and evaluated their prognostic and therapeutic response values in LC. Our analyses yielded two aging-associated subtypes with unique profiles in the tumor microenvironment, demonstrating varying responses to immunotherapy. Consensus clustering based on transcriptome profiles provided insights into the effects of aging on NSCLC and highlighted the potential of personalized therapeutic approaches tailored to aging subtypes. Our findings provide a new target and theoretical support for personalized therapeutic approaches in patients with NSCLC, offering insights into the potential impact of aging on cancer outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zeming Ma
- Department of Thoracic Surgery II, Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education/Beijing), Peking University Cancer Hospital and Institute, Beijing, China
| | - Haibo Han
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education/Beijing), Peking University Cancer Hospital and Institute, Beijing, China
| | - Zhiwei Zhou
- Department of Thoracic Surgery II, Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education/Beijing), Peking University Cancer Hospital and Institute, Beijing, China
| | - Shijie Wang
- Department of Thoracic Surgery II, Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education/Beijing), Peking University Cancer Hospital and Institute, Beijing, China
| | - Fan Liang
- Department of Thoracic Surgery II, Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education/Beijing), Peking University Cancer Hospital and Institute, Beijing, China
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education/Beijing), Peking University Cancer Hospital and Institute, Beijing, China
| | - Liang Wang
- Department of Thoracic Surgery II, Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education/Beijing), Peking University Cancer Hospital and Institute, Beijing, China
| | - Hong Ji
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education/Beijing), Peking University Cancer Hospital and Institute, Beijing, China
| | - Yue Yang
- Department of Thoracic Surgery II, Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education/Beijing), Peking University Cancer Hospital and Institute, Beijing, China
| | - Jinfeng Chen
- Department of Thoracic Surgery II, Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education/Beijing), Peking University Cancer Hospital and Institute, Beijing, China
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10
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Zhang M, Zhu J, Zhang P, Li L, Min M, Li T, He W. Development and validation of cancer-associated fibroblasts-related gene landscape in prognosis and immune microenvironment of bladder cancer. Front Oncol 2023; 13:1174252. [PMID: 37397364 PMCID: PMC10309557 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2023.1174252] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2023] [Accepted: 05/30/2023] [Indexed: 07/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Backgrounds Bladder cancer (BLCA) is one of the most prevalent cancers of the genitourinary system, the clinical outcomes of patients with BLCA are bad, and the morbidity rate is high. One of the key components of the tumor microenvironment (TME) is cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) which are critically involved in BLCA tumorigenesis. Previous studies have shown the involvement of CAFs in tumor growth, cancer progression, immune evasion, angiogenesis, and chemoresistance in several cancers such as breast, colon, pancreatic, ovarian, and prostate cancers. However, only a few studies have shown the role of CAFs in the occurrence and development of BLCA. Methods We have retrieved and merged the data on RNA-sequencing of patients with BLCA from databases including "the Cancer Genome Atlas" and "Gene Expression Omnibus." Next, we compared the differences in CAFs-related genes (CRGs) expression between normal and BLCA tissues. Based on CRGs expression, we randomly divided patients into two groups. Next, we determined the correlation between CAFs subtypes and differentially expressed CRGs (DECRGs) between the two subtypes. Furthermore, the "Gene Ontology" and "Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway" enrichment analyses were conducted to determine the functional characteristics between the DECRGs and clinicopathology. Results We identified five genes (POF1B, ARMCX1, ALDOC, C19orf33, and KRT13) using multivariate COX regression and "Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator (LASSO) COX regression analysis" for developing a prognostic model and calculating the CRGs-risk score. The TME, mutation, CSC index, and drug sensitivity were also analyzed. Conclusion We constructed a novel five- CRGs prognostic model, which sheds light on the roles of CAFs in BLCA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meng Zhang
- Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
- Department of Urology, The Third Hospital of Mianyang, Sichuan Mental Health Center, Mianyang, China
| | - Junlong Zhu
- Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Pan Zhang
- Department of Urology, The Third Hospital of Mianyang, Sichuan Mental Health Center, Mianyang, China
| | - Lingxun Li
- Department of Urology, The Third Hospital of Mianyang, Sichuan Mental Health Center, Mianyang, China
| | - Min Min
- Department of Urology, The Third Hospital of Mianyang, Sichuan Mental Health Center, Mianyang, China
| | - Tinghao Li
- Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Weiyang He
- Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
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11
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Stouten I, van Montfoort N, Hawinkels LJAC. The Tango between Cancer-Associated Fibroblasts (CAFs) and Immune Cells in Affecting Immunotherapy Efficacy in Pancreatic Cancer. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24108707. [PMID: 37240052 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24108707] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2023] [Revised: 05/09/2023] [Accepted: 05/11/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023] Open
Abstract
The lack of response to therapy in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) patients has contributed to PDAC having one of the lowest survival rates of all cancer types. The poor survival of PDAC patients urges the exploration of novel treatment strategies. Immunotherapy has shown promising results in several other cancer types, but it is still ineffective in PDAC. What sets PDAC apart from other cancer types is its tumour microenvironment (TME) with desmoplasia and low immune infiltration and activity. The most abundant cell type in the TME, cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs), could be instrumental in why low immunotherapy responses are observed. CAF heterogeneity and interactions with components of the TME is an emerging field of research, where many paths are to be explored. Understanding CAF-immune cell interactions in the TME might pave the way to optimize immunotherapy efficacy for PDAC and related cancers with stromal abundance. In this review, we discuss recent discoveries on the functions and interactions of CAFs and how targeting CAFs might improve immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Imke Stouten
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Leiden University Medical Center, 2333 ZA Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Nadine van Montfoort
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Leiden University Medical Center, 2333 ZA Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Lukas J A C Hawinkels
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Leiden University Medical Center, 2333 ZA Leiden, The Netherlands
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12
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Andersen MH. Novel immunotherapeutic combinations moving forward: the modulation of the immunosuppressive microenvironment. Semin Immunopathol 2023; 45:159-161. [PMID: 37083948 DOI: 10.1007/s00281-023-00991-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/22/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Mads Hald Andersen
- National Center for Cancer Immune Therapy (CCIT-DK), Department of Oncology, Copenhagen University Hospital Herlev, Borgmester Ib Juuls Vej 25C, 5Th Floor, 2730, Herlev, Denmark.
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.
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13
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Rao DY, Huang DF, Si MY, Lu H, Tang ZX, Zhang ZX. Role of exosomes in non-small cell lung cancer and EGFR-mutated lung cancer. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1142539. [PMID: 37122754 PMCID: PMC10130367 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1142539] [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: 01/11/2023] [Accepted: 03/22/2023] [Indexed: 05/02/2023] Open
Abstract
As an important mediator of information transfer between cells, exosomes play a unique role in regulating tumor growth, supporting vascular proliferation, tumor invasion, and metastasis. Exosomes are widely present in various body fluids, and therefore they can be used as a potential tool for non-invasive liquid biopsy. The present study reviews the role of exosomes in liquid biopsy, tumor microenvironment formation, and epithelial-mesenchymal transition in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). By targeting epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) therapy as a first-line treatment for patients with NSCLC, this study also briefly describes the occurrence of EGRF+ exosomes and the role of exosomes and their contents in non-invasive detection and potential therapeutic targets in EGFR-mutated lung cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ding-Yu Rao
- Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou, China
| | - De-Fa Huang
- Laboratory Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou, China
| | - Mao-Yan Si
- The First Clinical College, Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou, China
| | - Hua Lu
- The First Clinical College, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Zhi-Xian Tang
- Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou, China
- *Correspondence: Zhi-Xian Tang, ; Zu-Xiong Zhang,
| | - Zu-Xiong Zhang
- Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou, China
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