Ovarian cancer: a solid tumor with evidence of normal cellular immune function but abnormal B cell function

Tumor-infiltrating B cell-related lncRNA crosstalk reveals clinical outcomes and tumor immune microenvironment in ovarian cancer based on single-cell and bulk RNA-sequencing

Background

The tumor immune microenvironment (TIME) plays a pivotal role in determining ovarian cancer (OC) prognosis. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are key regulators of immune response and tumor progression in OC. Among these, tumor-infiltrating B cells represent an emerging target in immune response pathways. However, the specific involvement of B cell-related lncRNAs (BCRLs) in OC remains unclarified.

Methods

Leveraging single-cell and bulk RNA-sequencing data, correlation analysis identified BCRLs in ovarian serous cystadenocarcinoma (OV) from the TCGA database. Subsequently, BCRLIs were filtered through COX survival analysis and the LASSO algorithm, leading to the development of a B cell-related lncRNA scoring system (BCRLss). The predictive accuracy of BCRLss for prognosis in TCGA-OV was assessed and externally validated in an independent cohort. Functional enrichment analyses were conducted to elucidate biological pathways associated with risk subgroups. Additionally, the relationship between BCRLss and TIME was investigated through multiple algorithms and consensus clustering, uncovering potential immune response targets. Drug sensitivity analyses further identified potential therapeutic options tailored to risk subgroups. The highest risk score lncRNA was selected for in vitro validation.

Results

The BCRLss was constructed using six BCRLIs. Survival analysis revealed an improved prognosis in the low-risk group, with results corroborated by external validation in the ICGC-OV cohort. ROC analysis and nomogram construction confirmed the strong prognostic accuracy of BCRLss. Enrichment analysis highlighted associations between risk subgroups and tumor immune pathways, with the low-risk group demonstrating a more robust immune response and elevated expression of immune checkpoint-related genes. Drug sensitivity tests revealed notable differences across risk subgroups. In vitro experiments confirmed elevated LINC01150 expression in OC cells, and LINC01150 knockdown significantly inhibited the proliferation, invasion, and migration of SKOV3 cells.

Conclusions

In conclusion, BCRLss provides a reliable prognostic tool for predicting clinical outcomes and the immune landscape of patients with OC, offering valuable guidance for immunotherapy target selection and personalized treatment strategies.

Loss of B1 and marginal zone B cells during ovarian cancer

Recent advances in immunotherapy have not addressed the challenge presented by ovarian cancer. Although the peritoneum is an "accessible" locus for this disease there has been limited characterization of the immunobiology therein. We investigated the ID8-C57BL/6J ovarian cancer model and found marked depletion of B1 cells from the ascites of the peritoneal cavity. There was also selective loss of the B1 and marginal zone B cell subsets from the spleen. Immunity to antigens that activate these subsets validated their loss rather than relocation. A marked influx of myeloid-derived suppressor cells correlated with B cell subset depletion. These observations are discussed in the context of the housekeeping burden placed on innate B cells during ovarian cancer and to foster consideration of B cell biology in therapeutic strategies to address this challenge.

B-Lymphocytes in the Pathophysiology of Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma

Pancreatic adenocarcinoma is highly infiltrated by B lymphocytes but the relevance of these immune cells in tumor development has been surprisingly overlooked until recently. Based on available evidence from other solid tumors, interaction between B lymphocytes and neoplastic cells is probably not uniformly stimulatory or inhibitory. Although presentation of tumor antigens to T cells and production of antitumor immunoglobulins might intuitively suggest a prominent tumor suppressive activity, specific subsets of B lymphocytes can secrete growth factors for neoplastic cells and immunosuppressive cytokines thus promoting escape from immunosurveillance and cancer progression. Because many of these mechanisms might also be implicated in the development of PDAC, and immune-modulation of B-cell activity is nowadays possible at different levels, determining the role of B-lymphocytes in this lethal cancer becomes of utmost importance to design novel therapeutic strategies. This review aims to discuss the emerging role of B cells in PDAC tumorigenesis, progression, and associated stromal reaction.

Tumor-host interaction: analysis of cytokines, growth factors, and tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes in ovarian carcinomas

The host-tumor interaction may play an important role in determining tumor progress. Recent studies have shown that this interaction can be influenced by the release of soluble factors by tumor cells and tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL). The aim of our study is to characterize the nature of cytokines and growth factors and their relationship to the cellular infiltrates in 16 patients with ovarian cancer using reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and immunohistochemistry. Total RNA from 20 malignant and 10 benign specimens were used to assay for expression of 12 cytokines. Additionally, monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) were used to detect T cells, CD4+ helper and CD8+ cytotoxic/suppressor T-cell subtypes, B cells, and macrophages. Our results showed the expression of transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta1), interleukin-10 (IL-10), and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) in 19, 17, and 10 malignant specimens, P < .001, .001, and .05, respectively. Other cytokines such as interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), TNF-beta/LT, IL-2, and IL-6 were expressed in a few cases, and IL-1alpha and IL-4 expression were not detected. The benign samples did not express IL-10, but GM-CSF, TGF-beta1, and IL-8 were expressed in one, one, and four specimens, respectively. Interestingly, in four cases in which samples from the primary and relapse tumors were available for analysis, the tumors in relapse showed a significant increase for TGF-beta1 (P < .05) and a decreased trend in IL-10 mRNA levels. The source of these factors was tumor cells as detected immunohistochemically. This combined alteration of TGF-beta1 and IL-10 was associated with a significant reduction in number of TIL in general, and CD8+ and macrophages in particular (P = .036 and .049, respectively). Our findings suggest the important role of certain soluble factors in the complex process of tumor progression. Furthermore, understanding the tumor-host relationship and the factors influencing the interaction may be helpful in developing effective and innovative treatment methods.

A biobehavioral model of cancer stress and disease course

Approximately 1 million Americans are diagnosed with cancer each year and must cope with the disease and treatments. Many studies have documented the deteriorations in quality of life that occur. These data suggest that the adjustment process is burdensome and lengthy. There is ample evidence showing that adults experiencing other long-term stressors experience not only high rates of adjustment difficulties (e.g., syndromal depression) but important biologic effects, such as persistent downregulation of elements of the immune system, and adverse health outcomes, such as higher rates of respiratory tract infections. Thus, deteriorations in quality of life with cancer are underscored if they have implications for biological processes, such as the immune system, relating to disease progression and spread. Considering these and other data, a biobehavioral model of adjustment to the stresses of cancer is offered, and mechanisms by which psychological and behavioral responses may influence biological processes and, perhaps, health outcomes are proposed. Finally, strategies for testing the model via experiments testing psychological interventions are offered.

A biobehavioral model of cancer stress and disease course

Approximately 1 million Americans are diagnosed with cancer each year and must cope with the disease and treatments. Many studies have documented the deteriorations in quality of life that occur. These data suggest that the adjustment process is burdensome and lengthy. There is ample evidence showing that adults experiencing other long-term stressors experience not only high rates of adjustment difficulties (e.g., syndromal depression) but important biologic effects, such as persistent downregulation of elements of the immune system, and adverse health outcomes, such as higher rates of respiratory tract infections. Thus, deteriorations in quality of life with cancer are underscored if they have implications for biological processes, such as the immune system, relating to disease progression and spread. Considering these and other data, a biobehavioral model of adjustment to the stresses of cancer is offered, and mechanisms by which psychological and behavioral responses may influence biological processes and, perhaps, health outcomes are proposed. Finally, strategies for testing the model via experiments testing psychological interventions are offered.

Phenotypic and functional characteristics of mononuclear cells in ovarian carcinoma tumors

By using monoclonal antibodies and flow cytometry, the phenotype and activation state [based on presence of interleukin 2 (IL-2) receptors] were determined on the mononuclear cell (MNC) fraction of ovarian carcinoma tissue from 12 patients. Thymidine incorporation response to IL-2 and phytohemagglutinin stimulation was measured in five cases. By FACS analysis, tumor MNCs contained 79% T cells, 11% monocytes/macrophages, 5% B cells, and 5% natural killer cells. Similar findings were noted in the patients' peripheral blood MNC population. The respective T-helper:cytotoxic/suppressor ratios in tumor and blood MNC populations were less than 1 and approximately 2. The percentage of IL-2 receptor-positive cells was low in both populations. The proliferative response of tumor MNCs was lower than that of blood MNCs from patients and from normal volunteers. These results suggest an intratumor immune suppression, perhaps secondary to the absence of a specific responder population or to the presence of suppressor cells or a soluble factor secreted by the tumor that directly suppresses or affects MNC transport into and out of the tumor.

Prognostic factors in borderline and invasive ovarian tumors of the common epithelial type

Present reports show that surgical factors, response to therapy and histological criteria are important for predicting the prognosis of patients with common epithelial types of ovarian tumors. Newer techniques such as morphometry, DNA cytometry, immunological and immunopathological techniques may help to define prognostic factors even more accurately. As a result, these recently developed methods may enhance the value of well-established classical predictors of the outcome in case of borderline or invasive ovarian tumour.

Cellular events associated with autoimmune oophoritis and ovarian tumorigenesis in neonatally thymectomized mice

Thymectomy at 3 days of age (Tx-3) in (C3H/HeMs x 129/J)F1 (C31) female mice results in post-pubertal ovarian dysgenesis associated with high levels of circulating auto-oocyte antibodies (AOA) prior to ovarian tumor formation. Evidence suggests that the etiology for the ovarian dysgenesis resulting from Tx-3 is autoimmune and involves helper T cell abnormalities. The present study characterized circulating leukocytes and mitogenic activity using concanavalin A (ConA) with serologically selected spleen T cells. We observed no sustained abnormalities in either number of circulating leukocytes or percentages of granulocytes or lymphocytes. Circulating mononuclear cells with positive immunofluorescence for Thy 1.2 and Lyt 1.1+Lyt 1.2 cell markers were similar in all mice. However, the spleen cells from Tx-3 mice with ovarian dysgenesis remaining after adsorption with antisera to the Lyt 2.1+Lyt 2.2 antigens (helper T cells remaining) showed increased incorporation of [3H]thymidine compared to the intact mice. This stimulated activity occurred during the periods of early ovarian dysgenesis and active tumor growth. Apparently, the autoimmune oophoritis results from an imbalance within the Lyt 1 cells which may represent a primary insult to the ovary that results in later ovarian tumor development.

Elevation of serum CA 125 prior to diagnosis of an epithelial ovarian carcinoma

In a single fortuitous case it has been possible to measure serum levels of CA 125 during 3 years preceding the diagnosis of an epithelial ovarian carcinoma. CA 125 levels were elevated 10-12 months prior to clinical detection of the malignancy. CA 125 deserves further evaluation as a marker for early detection of ovarian cancer.

Deficient helper cell function as a cause of diminished pokeweed mitogen blastogenic responses in patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphomas

An investigation has been made of immunoregulatory T-cell function in the non-Hodgkin's lymphomas by comparing immunoregulation of healthy control and patient peripheral blood lymphocyte blastogenic responses to pokeweed mitogen. Normal mononuclear leukocytes (MNL) had significantly higher responses than patient MNL. MNL were subsequently separated into T- and non-T-cell fractions by differential E-rosette sedimentation for co-culture experiments. When normal non-T-cells and autologous irradiated T-cells were recombined, the mitogenic response again exceeded the response of patient non-T-cells recombined with their own irradiated T-cells. However, when normal non-T-cells were co-cultured with patient irradiated T-cells, the mitogenic response was diminished. Moreover, when patient non-T-cells were co-cultured with normal irradiated T-cells, a normal proliferative response occurred. These differences in non-T-cell response are not simply a result of allogeneic effects, since normal non-T-cell responses were the same regardless of whether autologous or normal allogeneic irradiated T-cells were used as helpers. Furthermore, co-culture of normal non-T-cells simultaneously with autologous irradiated T-cells and patient irradiated T-cells revealed no diminution of blastogenic response compared with co-cultures of normal non-T-plus autologous irradiated T only, suggesting no net suppression by patient irradiated T-cells. Studies with monoclonal antibodies revealed that patient T-cells had normal to increased ratios of OK-T4+:OK-T8+ cells. These results suggest that peripheral blood T-cells from patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphomas, despite the presence of a normal to increased ratio of OK-T4+:OK-T8+ cells, are functionally deficient in their helper capacity for non-T-cell blastogenic response to pokeweed mitogen. Abnormal helper T-cell function may explain some of the immune deficits in patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and may be important in the pathogenesis of these diseases.

Expression of major histocompatibility antigens and nature of inflammatory cellular infiltrate in ovarian neoplasms

Expression of histocompatibility antigens and the intensity of inflammatory cellular infiltrate were evaluated in frozen tissue sections from 70 human ovarian tumors and six normal ovaries using monoclonal antibodies and an avidin-biotin immunoperoxidase technique. In the normal human ovary, surface epithelial cells, mature granulosa cells and lutein cells reacted with anti-HLA-A,B,C (HLA) and beta2-microglobulin antibodies but not with anti-Ia (Ia-like, HLA-DR). Stromal cells and granulosa cells of the primordial follicles did not react with any of the antibodies. Among the neoplasms examined, all benign epithelial tumors, 86% of borderline an 81% of malignant epithelial tumors reacted with anti-HLA and/or beta2-microglobulin antibodies. HLA-negative epithelial tumors were of serous or endometrioid types. Although Ia was not found in normal ovarian surface epithelium, the antigen could be detected in 44% of benign, and 43% of borderline and malignant epithelial ovarian tumors. Mononuclear cellular infiltrate was generally scarce in ovarian tumors and consisted mainly of T cells. Malignant epithelial tumors contained significantly more T cells than did benign tumors. More T cells were observed in HLA-positive ovarian tumors than in HLA-negative neoplasms, but the difference did not achieve statistical significance. No correlation could be found between Ia expression and the intensity of T-cell infiltrate. Significantly more T8 and Leu-3a-positive cells were found in the tumor stroma than amongst neoplastic cells. HNK-I-positive natural killer cells, OK-MI-positive macrophages and BI-positive B lymphocytes were rarely encountered either in the tumor stroma or between adjacent tumor cells.

Immunoglobulins reactive to carcinoembryonic antigen and their relationship to the antigen in malignant ascitic fluid of ovarian carcinoma

Samples of malignant ascitic fluid from 30 patients with advanced ovarian carcinoma were examined for the presence of IgM antibodies to CEA and PEG-precipitable proteins binding to 125I-CEA. The IgM antibodies to CEA were measured by a solid-phase radioimmunoassay using ovarian CEA. There was no correlation between the level of IgM antibodies to CEA and that of total IgM in the fluid. In 11 of 30 (37%) samples tested, significant amounts of IgM antibodies to CEA were found. The CEA-binding proteins were measured by the ability of ascitic fluid to incorporate 125I-colonic-CEA into PEG-precipitable complexes. In 9 of 39 (30%) samples, the precipitation was significant. There was no association between antibodies to the ABO and Lewis blood group factors and these antibodies to CEA. An inverse relationship was observed between the level of CEA and that of CEA-binding proteins shown by the two assays. When 125I-CEA was incubated with these "positive" samples, a high molecular weight fraction was demonstrated by chromatography. By contrast, in the "negative" samples, there was no incorporation of 125I-CEA. These findings would indicate the presence of CEA-reactive proteins possibly existing as immune-complex-like material in ascitic fluid of some patients.