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Du W, Tang Z, Du A, Yang Q, Xu R. Bidirectional crosstalk between the epithelial-mesenchymal transition and immunotherapy: A bibliometric study. Hum Vaccin Immunother 2024; 20:2328403. [PMID: 38502119 PMCID: PMC10956627 DOI: 10.1080/21645515.2024.2328403] [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: 12/19/2023] [Accepted: 03/06/2024] [Indexed: 03/20/2024] Open
Abstract
Immunotherapy has recently attracted considerable attention. However, currently, a thorough analysis of the trends associated with the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and immunotherapy is lacking. In this study, we used bibliometric tools to provide a comprehensive overview of the progress in EMT-immunotherapy research. A total of 1,302 articles related to EMT and immunotherapy were retrieved from the Web of Science Core Collection (WOSCC). The analysis indicated that in terms of the volume of research, China was the most productive country (49.07%, 639), followed by the United States (16.89%, 220) and Italy (3.6%, 47). The United States was the most influential country according to the frequency of citations and citation burstiness. The results also suggested that Frontiers in Immunotherapy can be considered as the most influential journal with respect to the number of articles and impact factors. "Immune infiltration," "bioinformatics analysis," "traditional Chinese medicine," "gene signature," and "ferroptosis" were found to be emerging keywords in EMT-immunotherapy research. These findings point to potential new directions that can deepen our understanding of the mechanisms underlying the combined effects of immunotherapy and EMT and help develop strategies for improving immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Du
- Department of Pathology, Changde Hospital, Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University (The First People’s Hospital of Changde City), Changde, Hunan, China
| | - Zemin Tang
- Department of Pathology, Changde Hospital, Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University (The First People’s Hospital of Changde City), Changde, Hunan, China
| | - Ashuai Du
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Guizhou Provincial People’s Hospital, Guiyang, Guizhou, China
- Department of Cell Biology, School of Life Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Qinglong Yang
- Department of Cell Biology, School of Life Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
- Department of General Surgery, Guizhou Provincial People’s Hospital, Guiyang, Guizhou, China
| | - Rong Xu
- Department of Pathology, Changde Hospital, Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University (The First People’s Hospital of Changde City), Changde, Hunan, China
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2
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Yang X, Cui X, Wang G, Zhou M, Wu Y, Du Y, Li X, Xu T. HDAC inhibitor regulates the tumor immune microenvironment via pyroptosis in triple negative breast cancer. Mol Carcinog 2024; 63:1800-1813. [PMID: 38860600 DOI: 10.1002/mc.23773] [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: 04/11/2024] [Revised: 05/29/2024] [Accepted: 06/01/2024] [Indexed: 06/12/2024]
Abstract
Pyroptosis, an inflammatory form of cell death, promotes the release of immunogenic substances and stimulates immune cell recruitment, a process, which could turn cold tumors into hot ones. Thus, instigating pyroptosis in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) serves as a viable method for restoring antitumor immunity. We analyzed the effects of Histone Deacetylase Inhibitors (HDACi) on TNBC cells using the Cell Counting Kit-8 and colony formation assay. Apoptosis and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release assays were utilized to determine the form of cell death. The pyroptotic executor was validated by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction and western blot. Transcriptome was analyzed to investigate pyroptosis-inducing mechanisms. A subcutaneously transplanted tumor model was generated in BALB/c mice to evaluate infiltration of immune cells. HDACi significantly diminished cell proliferation, and pyroptotic "balloon"-like cells became apparent. HDACi led to an intra and extracellular material exchange, signified by the release of LDH and the uptake of propidium iodide. Among the gasdermin family, TNBC cells expressed maximum quantities of GSDME, and expression of GSDMA, GSDMB, and GSDME were augmented post HDACi treatment. Pyroptosis was instigated via the activation of the caspase 3-GSDME pathway with the potential mechanisms being cell cycle arrest and altered intracellular REDOX balance due to aberrant glutathione metabolism. In vivo experiments demonstrated that HDACi can activate pyroptosis, limit tumor growth, and escalate CD8+ lymphocyte and CD11b+ cell infiltration along with an increased presence of granzyme B in tumors. HDACi can instigate pyroptosis in TNBC, promoting infiltration of immune cells and consequently intensifying the efficacy of anticancer immunity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xue Yang
- Department of Thyroid and Breast Surgery, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology (HUST), Wuhan, Hubei, China
- Laboratory of Thyroid and Breast Surgery, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology (HUST), Wuhan, Hubei, China
- Laboratory of General Surgery, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology (HUST), Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Xiaoqing Cui
- Department of Thyroid and Breast Surgery, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology (HUST), Wuhan, Hubei, China
- Laboratory of Thyroid and Breast Surgery, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology (HUST), Wuhan, Hubei, China
- Laboratory of General Surgery, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology (HUST), Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Ge Wang
- Department of Thyroid and Breast Surgery, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology (HUST), Wuhan, Hubei, China
- Laboratory of Thyroid and Breast Surgery, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology (HUST), Wuhan, Hubei, China
- Laboratory of General Surgery, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology (HUST), Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Mengying Zhou
- Institute of Biology and Medicine, College of Life and Health Sciences, Wuhan University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Yonglin Wu
- Department of Thyroid and Breast Surgery, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology (HUST), Wuhan, Hubei, China
- Laboratory of Thyroid and Breast Surgery, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology (HUST), Wuhan, Hubei, China
- Laboratory of General Surgery, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology (HUST), Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Yaying Du
- Department of Thyroid and Breast Surgery, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology (HUST), Wuhan, Hubei, China
- Laboratory of Thyroid and Breast Surgery, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology (HUST), Wuhan, Hubei, China
- Laboratory of General Surgery, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology (HUST), Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Xingrui Li
- Department of Thyroid and Breast Surgery, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology (HUST), Wuhan, Hubei, China
- Laboratory of Thyroid and Breast Surgery, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology (HUST), Wuhan, Hubei, China
- Laboratory of General Surgery, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology (HUST), Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Tao Xu
- Department of Thyroid and Breast Surgery, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology (HUST), Wuhan, Hubei, China
- Laboratory of Thyroid and Breast Surgery, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology (HUST), Wuhan, Hubei, China
- Laboratory of General Surgery, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology (HUST), Wuhan, Hubei, China
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Cancer Biology Research Center, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology (HUST), Wuhan, Hubei, China
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3
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Zhang H, Sun L, Liu J, Wang J, Meng L, Gao Y, Li J, Zhou Q. Immune-related gene signature improves prognosis prediction in patients with breast cancer and associates it with tumor immunity and inflammatory response. BMC Womens Health 2024; 24:446. [PMID: 39113010 PMCID: PMC11304607 DOI: 10.1186/s12905-024-03289-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2024] [Accepted: 08/01/2024] [Indexed: 08/11/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The prognostic potential of immune-related genes, particularly immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) and long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), is gaining attention for evaluating the prognosis of breast cancer patients. METHODS We analyzed 23 datasets to identify 15 ICI-related mRNAs and 5 immune-related lncRNAs, creating a robust immune score (IS). This score was used to classify patients into high and low IS groups and assess their survival outcomes. RESULTS Patients with high IS showed significantly poorer overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) compared to those with low IS. Multivariate Cox regression analysis confirmed IS as an independent prognostic factor. Additionally, high IS was associated with higher mutation loads and neoantigen profiles, while low IS correlated with enhanced immune cell infiltration. CONCLUSIONS The immune score developed from ICI-related mRNAs and lncRNAs effectively predicts the prognosis of breast cancer patients and highlights the differential immune and inflammatory responses between patients with varying levels of immune score. This underscores the relevance of IS in guiding therapeutic decisions and tailoring patient management strategies in clinical settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haiping Zhang
- Department of Breast Surgery, Tangshan People's Hospital, Tangshan, Hebei, 063001, China
| | - Lu Sun
- Department of Chemoradiotherapy, Tangshan People's Hospital, Tangshan, Hebei, 063001, China
| | - Jingjing Liu
- Department of Chemoradiotherapy, Tangshan People's Hospital, Tangshan, Hebei, 063001, China
| | - Jing Wang
- Department of Breast Surgery, Tangshan People's Hospital, Tangshan, Hebei, 063001, China
| | - Lingchao Meng
- Department of Pathology, Tangshan People's Hospital, Tangshan, Hebei, 063001, China
| | - Yuan Gao
- College of Life Sciences, North China University of Science and Technology, Tangshan, Hebei Province, China
| | - Jingwu Li
- Department of Breast Center, Tangshan People's Hospital, Tangshan, Hebei, 063001, China.
- Hebei Key Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, Tangshan, Hebei, 063001, China.
| | - Qi Zhou
- Department of Breast Surgery, Tangshan People's Hospital, Tangshan, Hebei, 063001, China.
- Hebei Key Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, Tangshan, Hebei, 063001, China.
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Chen S, Huang R, Shen F, Wu Y, Lin Y, Yang X, Shen J, Fang Y. Enhancing antitumor immunity with stimulus-responsive mesoporous silicon in combination with chemotherapy and photothermal therapy. Biomater Sci 2024; 12:3826-3840. [PMID: 38758027 DOI: 10.1039/d4bm00556b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/18/2024]
Abstract
Due to the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (TME) and potential systemic toxicity, chemotherapy often fails to elicit satisfactory anti-tumor responses, so how to activate anti-tumor immunity to improve the therapeutic efficacy remains a challenging problem. Photothermal therapy (PTT) serves as a promising approach to activate anti-tumor immunity by inducing the release of tumor neoantigens in situ. In this study, we designed tetrasulfide bonded mesoporous silicon nanoparticles (MSNs) loaded with the traditional drug doxorubicin (DOX) inside and modified their outer layer with polydopamine (DOX/MSN-4S@PDA) for comprehensive anti-tumor studies in vivo and in vitro. The MSN core contains GSH-sensitive tetrasulfide bonds that enhance DOX release while generating hydrogen sulfide (H2S) to improve the therapeutic efficacy of DOX. The polydopamine (PDA) coating confers acid sensitivity and mild photothermal properties upon exposure to near-infrared (NIR) light, while the addition of hyaluronic acid (HA) to the outermost layer enables targeted delivery to CD44-expressing tumor cells, thereby enhancing drug accumulation at the tumor site and reducing toxic side effects. Our studies demonstrate that DOX/MSN@PDA-HA can reverse the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment in vivo, inducing potent immunogenic cell death (ICD) of tumor cells and improving anti-tumor efficacy. In addition, DOX/MSN@PDA-HA significantly suppresses tumor metastasis to the lung and liver. In summary, DOX/MSN@PDA-HA exhibits controlled drug release, excellent biocompatibility, and remarkable tumor inhibition capabilities through synergistic chemical/photothermal combined therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuai Chen
- Institute of Translational Medicine, National Facility for Translational Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Rui Huang
- Department of Ophthalmology, Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200025, China.
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Orbital Diseases and Ocular Oncology, Shanghai 200025, China
| | - Feiyang Shen
- Department of Ophthalmology, Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200025, China.
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Orbital Diseases and Ocular Oncology, Shanghai 200025, China
| | - Yijia Wu
- Department of Ophthalmology, Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200025, China.
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Orbital Diseases and Ocular Oncology, Shanghai 200025, China
| | - Yao Lin
- Institute of Translational Medicine, National Facility for Translational Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Xiaoyu Yang
- Department of Ophthalmology, Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200025, China.
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Orbital Diseases and Ocular Oncology, Shanghai 200025, China
| | - Jianfeng Shen
- Department of Ophthalmology, Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200025, China.
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Orbital Diseases and Ocular Oncology, Shanghai 200025, China
- Institute of Translational Medicine, National Facility for Translational Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Yan Fang
- Department of Ophthalmology, Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200025, China.
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Orbital Diseases and Ocular Oncology, Shanghai 200025, China
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Sato S, Shoji T, Jo A, Otsuka H, Abe M, Tatsuki S, Chiba Y, Takatori E, Kaido Y, Nagasawa T, Kagabu M, Baba T. Antibody-Drug Conjugates: The New Treatment Approaches for Ovarian Cancer. Cancers (Basel) 2024; 16:2545. [PMID: 39061184 PMCID: PMC11275051 DOI: 10.3390/cancers16142545] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2024] [Revised: 07/08/2024] [Accepted: 07/10/2024] [Indexed: 07/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Ovarian cancer (OC), accounting for approximately 200,000 deaths worldwide annually, is a heterogeneous disease showing major differences in terms of its incidence, tumor behavior, and outcomes across histological subtypes. In OC, primary chemotherapy, paclitaxel carboplatin, bevacizumab, and PARP inhibitors have shown prolonged progression-free survival and a favorable overall response rate compared to conventional treatments. However, treatment options for platinum-resistant recurrence cases are limited, with no effective therapies that significantly prolong the prognosis. Recently, mirvetuximab soravtansine, an alpha-folate receptor (FRα)-targeted antibody-drug conjugate (ADC), was approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for patients with FRα-positive recurrent epithelial OC (EOC). This approval was based on a Phase II study, which demonstrated its efficacy in such patients. ADCs comprise an antibody, a linker, and a payload, representing new concept agents without precedence. Advanced clinical studies are developing ADCs for patients with OC, targeting solid tumors such as gynecologic cancer. Ongoing clinical trials are evaluating ADCs targeting FRα and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2, trophoblast cell surface antigen-2, sodium-dependent phosphate transport protein 2B, and cadherin-6 in Phase II/III studies. In this review, we summarize the existing evidence supporting the use of ADCs in OC, discuss ongoing clinical trials and preclinical studies, and explore the potential of these innovative agents to address the challenges in OC treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Tadahiro Shoji
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Iwate Medical University, Yahaba 028-3694, Iwate, Japan; (S.S.); (A.J.); (H.O.); (M.A.); (S.T.); (Y.C.); (E.T.); (Y.K.); (T.N.); (M.K.); (T.B.)
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6
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Huang P, Wen F, Tuerhong N, Yang Y, Li Q. Neoantigens in cancer immunotherapy: focusing on alternative splicing. Front Immunol 2024; 15:1437774. [PMID: 39055714 PMCID: PMC11269099 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2024.1437774] [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: 05/24/2024] [Accepted: 07/01/2024] [Indexed: 07/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Alternative splicing (AS) functions as a crucial program in transcriptional modulation, leading to proteomic diversity and functional alterations of proteins. These splicing actions induce various neoantigens that hold prognostic significance and contribute to various aspects of cancer progression, including immune responses against cancer. The advent of immunotherapy has remarkably revolutionized tumor therapy. In this regard, AS-derived neoantigens are potent targets for cancer vaccines and chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell therapies. In this review, we outline that AS-derived neoantigens serve as promising immunotherapeutic targets and guide immunotherapy strategies. This evidence contributes to a deeper comprehension of the complexity of proteomic diversity and provides novel perspectives and techniques for precision medicine in immunotherapy. Moreover, we underscore the obstacles that are awaited to be addressed for this novel approach to become clinically applicable.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peng Huang
- Division of Abdominal Tumor Multimodality Treatment, Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
- Department of Medical Oncology, Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Feng Wen
- Division of Abdominal Tumor Multimodality Treatment, Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Nuerye Tuerhong
- Division of Abdominal Tumor Multimodality Treatment, Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
- Department of Medical Oncology, Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Yang Yang
- Division of Abdominal Tumor Multimodality Treatment, Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
- Department of Medical Oncology, Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Qiu Li
- Division of Abdominal Tumor Multimodality Treatment, Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
- Department of Medical Oncology, Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
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7
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Pan S, Wan M, Jin H, Ning R, Zhang J, Han X. LCP1 correlates with immune infiltration: a prognostic marker for triple-negative breast cancer. BMC Immunol 2024; 25:42. [PMID: 38977952 PMCID: PMC11229261 DOI: 10.1186/s12865-024-00635-x] [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: 03/13/2024] [Accepted: 06/25/2024] [Indexed: 07/10/2024] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Triple-Negative Breast Cancer (TNBC) is known for its aggressiveness and treatment challenges due to the absence of ER, PR, and HER2 receptors. Our work emphasizes the prognostic value of LCP1 (Lymphocyte cytosolic protein 1), which plays a crucial role in cell processes and immune cell activity, to predict outcomes and guide treatments in TNBC. METHODS We explored LCP1 as a potential biomarker in TNBC and investigated the mRNA and protein expression levels of LCP1. We investigated different databases, including GTEX, TCGA, GEO, cBioPortal and Kaplan-Meier Plotter. Immunohistochemistry on TNBC and benign tumor samples was performed to examine LCP1's relationship with patient clinical characteristics and macrophage markers. We also assessed survival rates, immune cell infiltration, and drug sensitivity related to LCP1 using various bioinformatics tools. RESULTS The results indicated that LCP1 expression was higher in TNBC tissues compared to adjacent normal tissues. However, high expression of LCP1 was significantly associated with favorable survival outcomes in patients with TNBC. Enrichment analysis revealed that genes co-expressed with LCP1 were significantly enriched in various immune processes. LCP1 showed a positive correlation with the infiltration of resting dendritic cells, M1 macrophages, and memory CD4 T cells, and a negative correlation with M2 macrophages. Further analysis suggested a link between high levels of LCP1 and increased survival outcomes in cancer patients receiving immunotherapy. CONCLUSION LCP1 may serve as a potential diagnostic and prognostic biomarker for TNBC, which was closely associated with immune cell infiltration, particularly M1 and M2 macrophages. Our findings may provide valuable insights into immunotherapeutic strategies for TNBC patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuaikang Pan
- Department of Medical Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Science and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China
- School of Medical Oncology, Wan Nan Medical College, Wuhu, China
| | - Mengting Wan
- Department of Medical Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Science and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China
| | - Hongwei Jin
- Department of Medical Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Science and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China
| | - Ran Ning
- Department of Pathology, The Affiliated Chaohu Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Chaohu, 238000, Anhui, China
| | - Jinguo Zhang
- Department of Medical Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Science and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China.
| | - Xinghua Han
- Department of Medical Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Science and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China.
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8
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Jama M, Tabana Y, Barakat KH. Targeting cytotoxic lymphocyte antigen 4 (CTLA-4) in breast cancer. Eur J Med Res 2024; 29:353. [PMID: 38956700 PMCID: PMC11218087 DOI: 10.1186/s40001-024-01901-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2023] [Accepted: 05/23/2024] [Indexed: 07/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Breast cancer (BC) has a high mortality rate and is one of the most common malignancies in the world. Initially, BC was considered non-immunogenic, but a paradigm shift occurred with the discovery of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) and regulatory T cells (Tregs) in the BC tumor microenvironment. CTLA-4 (Cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated protein 4) immunotherapy has emerged as a treatment option for BC, but it has limitations, including suboptimal antitumor effects and toxicity. Research has demonstrated that anti-CTLA-4 combination therapies, such as Treg depletion, cancer vaccines, and modulation of the gut microbiome, are significantly more effective than CTLA-4 monoclonal antibody (mAB) monotherapy. Second-generation CTLA-4 antibodies are currently being developed to mitigate immune-related adverse events (irAEs) and augment antitumor efficacy. This review examines anti-CTLA-4 mAB in BC, both as monotherapy and in combination with other treatments, and sheds light on ongoing clinical trials, novel CTLA-4 therapeutic strategies, and potential utility of biomarkers in BC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maryam Jama
- Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada
| | - Yasser Tabana
- Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada
- Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada
| | - Khaled H Barakat
- Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada.
- Li Ka Shing Institute of Virology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada.
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9
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Guo S, Li Z, Zhou R, Feng J, Huang L, Ren B, Zhu J, Huang Y, Wu G, Cai H, Zhang Q, Ke Y, Guan T, Chen P, Xu Y, Yan C, Ou C, Shen Z. MRI-Guided Tumor Therapy Based on Synergy of Ferroptosis, Immunosuppression Reversal and Disulfidptosis. SMALL (WEINHEIM AN DER BERGSTRASSE, GERMANY) 2024; 20:e2309842. [PMID: 38431935 DOI: 10.1002/smll.202309842] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2023] [Revised: 01/19/2024] [Indexed: 03/05/2024]
Abstract
Triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) cells have a high demand for oxygen and glucose to fuel their growth and spread, shaping the tumor microenvironment (TME) that can lead to a weakened immune system by hypoxia and increased risk of metastasis. To disrupt this vicious circle and improve cancer therapeutic efficacy, a strategy is proposed with the synergy of ferroptosis, immunosuppression reversal and disulfidptosis. An intelligent nanomedicine GOx-IA@HMON@IO is successfully developed to realize this strategy. The Fe release behaviors indicate the glutathione (GSH)-responsive degradation of HMON. The results of titanium sulfate assay, electron spin resonance (ESR) spectra, 5,5'-Dithiobis-(2-nitrobenzoic acid (DTNB) assay and T1-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) demonstrate the mechanism of the intelligent iron atom (IA)-based cascade reactions for GOx-IA@HMON@IO, generating robust reactive oxygen species (ROS). The results on cells and mice reinforce the synergistic mechanisms of ferroptosis, immunosuppression reversal and disulfidptosis triggered by the GOx-IA@HMON@IO with the following steps: 1) GSH peroxidase 4 (GPX4) depletion by disulfidptosis; 2) IA-based cascade reactions; 3) tumor hypoxia reversal; 4) immunosuppression reversal; 5) GPX4 depletion by immunotherapy. Based on the synergistic mechanisms of ferroptosis, immunosuppression reversal and disulfidptosis, the intelligent nanomedicine GOx-IA@HMON@IO can be used for MRI-guided tumor therapy with excellent biocompatibility and safety.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuai Guo
- School of Biomedical Engineering, Southern Medical University, 1023 Shatai South Road, Baiyun, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510515, China
- The Tenth Affiliated Hospital of Southern Medical University (Dongguan People's Hospital), Dongguan, Guangdong, 523058, China
| | - Zongheng Li
- School of Biomedical Engineering, Southern Medical University, 1023 Shatai South Road, Baiyun, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510515, China
| | - Ruilong Zhou
- School of Biomedical Engineering, Southern Medical University, 1023 Shatai South Road, Baiyun, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510515, China
| | - Jie Feng
- Medical Imaging Center, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, 1023 Shatai South Road, Baiyun, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510515, China
| | - Lin Huang
- School of Biomedical Engineering, Southern Medical University, 1023 Shatai South Road, Baiyun, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510515, China
| | - Bin Ren
- School of Biomedical Engineering, Southern Medical University, 1023 Shatai South Road, Baiyun, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510515, China
| | - Jiaoyang Zhu
- School of Biomedical Engineering, Southern Medical University, 1023 Shatai South Road, Baiyun, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510515, China
| | - Ya Huang
- School of Biomedical Engineering, Southern Medical University, 1023 Shatai South Road, Baiyun, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510515, China
| | - Guochao Wu
- School of Biomedical Engineering, Southern Medical University, 1023 Shatai South Road, Baiyun, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510515, China
| | - Haobin Cai
- School of Biomedical Engineering, Southern Medical University, 1023 Shatai South Road, Baiyun, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510515, China
| | - Qianqian Zhang
- School of Biomedical Engineering, Southern Medical University, 1023 Shatai South Road, Baiyun, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510515, China
| | - Yushen Ke
- The Tenth Affiliated Hospital of Southern Medical University (Dongguan People's Hospital), Dongguan, Guangdong, 523058, China
| | - Tianwang Guan
- The Tenth Affiliated Hospital of Southern Medical University (Dongguan People's Hospital), Dongguan, Guangdong, 523058, China
| | - Peier Chen
- The Tenth Affiliated Hospital of Southern Medical University (Dongguan People's Hospital), Dongguan, Guangdong, 523058, China
| | - Yikai Xu
- Medical Imaging Center, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, 1023 Shatai South Road, Baiyun, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510515, China
| | - Chenggong Yan
- Medical Imaging Center, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, 1023 Shatai South Road, Baiyun, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510515, China
| | - Caiwen Ou
- The Tenth Affiliated Hospital of Southern Medical University (Dongguan People's Hospital), Dongguan, Guangdong, 523058, China
| | - Zheyu Shen
- School of Biomedical Engineering, Southern Medical University, 1023 Shatai South Road, Baiyun, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510515, China
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10
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Zhou J, Zhang L, Liu S, DeRubeis D, Zhang D. Toll-like receptors in breast cancer immunity and immunotherapy. Front Immunol 2024; 15:1418025. [PMID: 38903515 PMCID: PMC11187004 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2024.1418025] [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: 04/15/2024] [Accepted: 05/23/2024] [Indexed: 06/22/2024] Open
Abstract
Toll-like receptors (TLRs) are a key family of pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) in the innate immune system. The activation of TLRs will not only prevent pathogen infection but also respond to damage-induced danger signaling. Increasing evidence suggests that TLRs play a critical role in breast cancer development and treatment. However, the activation of TLRs is a double-edged sword that can induce either pro-tumor activity or anti-tumor effect. The underlying mechanisms of these opposite effects of TLR signaling in cancer are not fully understood. Targeting TLRs is a promising strategy for improving breast cancer treatment, either as monotherapies or by improving other current therapies. Here we provide an update on the role of TLRs in breast cancer immunity and immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joseph Zhou
- Center for Infectious and Inflammatory Diseases, Institute of Biosciences and Technology, Texas A&M University, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Lin Zhang
- Center for Infectious and Inflammatory Diseases, Institute of Biosciences and Technology, Texas A&M University, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Siyao Liu
- Center for Translational Cancer Research, Institute of Biosciences and Technology, Texas A&M University, Houston, TX, United States
| | - David DeRubeis
- Center for Infectious and Inflammatory Diseases, Institute of Biosciences and Technology, Texas A&M University, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Dekai Zhang
- Center for Infectious and Inflammatory Diseases, Institute of Biosciences and Technology, Texas A&M University, Houston, TX, United States
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11
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Zhou L, Yu CW. Epigenetic modulations in triple-negative breast cancer: Therapeutic implications for tumor microenvironment. Pharmacol Res 2024; 204:107205. [PMID: 38719195 DOI: 10.1016/j.phrs.2024.107205] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2024] [Revised: 04/23/2024] [Accepted: 04/30/2024] [Indexed: 06/01/2024]
Abstract
Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is an aggressive subtype lacking estrogen receptors, progesterone receptors and lacks HER2 overexpression. This absence of critical molecular targets poses significant challenges for conventional therapies. Immunotherapy, remarkably immune checkpoint blockade, offers promise for TNBC treatment, but its efficacy remains limited. Epigenetic dysregulation, including altered DNA methylation, histone modifications, and imbalances in regulators such as BET proteins, plays a crucial role in TNBC development and resistance to treatment. Hypermethylation of tumor suppressor gene promoters and the imbalance of histone methyltransferases such as EZH2 and histone deacetylases (HDACs) profoundly influence tumor cell proliferation, survival, and metastasis. In addition, epigenetic alterations critically shape the tumor microenvironment (TME), including immune cell composition, cytokine signaling, and immune checkpoint expression, ultimately contributing to immune evasion. Targeting these epigenetic mechanisms with specific inhibitors such as EZH2 and HDAC inhibitors in combination with immunotherapy represents a compelling strategy to remodel the TME, potentially overcoming immune evasion and enhancing therapeutic outcomes in TNBC. This review aims to comprehensively elucidate the current understanding of epigenetic modulation in TNBC, its influence on the TME, and the potential of combining epigenetic therapies with immunotherapy to overcome the challenges posed by this aggressive breast cancer subtype.
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Affiliation(s)
- Linlin Zhou
- Institute of Immunotherapy, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China; School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Chen-Wei Yu
- Department of Statistics and Information Science, Fu Jen Catholic University, New Taipei City, Taiwan.
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12
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Wu Y, Cao Y, Chen L, Lai X, Zhang S, Wang S. Role of Exosomes in Cancer and Aptamer-Modified Exosomes as a Promising Platform for Cancer Targeted Therapy. Biol Proced Online 2024; 26:15. [PMID: 38802766 PMCID: PMC11129508 DOI: 10.1186/s12575-024-00245-2] [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: 04/14/2024] [Accepted: 05/16/2024] [Indexed: 05/29/2024] Open
Abstract
Exosomes are increasingly recognized as important mediators of intercellular communication in cancer biology. Exosomes can be derived from cancer cells as well as cellular components in tumor microenvironment. After secretion, the exosomes carrying a wide range of bioactive cargos can be ingested by local or distant recipient cells. The released cargos act through a variety of mechanisms to elicit multiple biological effects and impact most if not all hallmarks of cancer. Moreover, owing to their excellent biocompatibility and capability of being easily engineered or modified, exosomes are currently exploited as a promising platform for cancer targeted therapy. In this review, we first summarize the current knowledge of roles of exosomes in risk and etiology, initiation and progression of cancer, as well as their underlying molecular mechanisms. The aptamer-modified exosome as a promising platform for cancer targeted therapy is then briefly introduced. We also discuss the future directions for emerging roles of exosome in tumor biology and perspective of aptamer-modified exosomes in cancer therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yating Wu
- Fujian Key Laboratory of Aptamers Technology, Affiliated Dongfang Hospital of School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Fuzhou, Fujian Province, P. R. China
- Department of Medical Oncology, Fuzhou General Clinical Medical School (the 900th Hospital), Fujian Medical University, Fujian Province, Fuzhou, P. R. China
| | - Yue Cao
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Medicine, Fuzhou General Clinical Medical School (the 900 th Hospital), Fujian Medical University, Fujian Province, Fuzhou, P. R. China
| | - Li Chen
- Fujian Key Laboratory of Aptamers Technology, Affiliated Dongfang Hospital of School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Fuzhou, Fujian Province, P. R. China
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Medicine, Fuzhou General Clinical Medical School (the 900 th Hospital), Fujian Medical University, Fujian Province, Fuzhou, P. R. China
| | - Xiaofeng Lai
- Fujian Key Laboratory of Aptamers Technology, Affiliated Dongfang Hospital of School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Fuzhou, Fujian Province, P. R. China
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Medicine, Fuzhou General Clinical Medical School (the 900 th Hospital), Fujian Medical University, Fujian Province, Fuzhou, P. R. China
| | - Shenghang Zhang
- Fujian Key Laboratory of Aptamers Technology, Affiliated Dongfang Hospital of School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Fuzhou, Fujian Province, P. R. China.
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Medicine, Fuzhou General Clinical Medical School (the 900 th Hospital), Fujian Medical University, Fujian Province, Fuzhou, P. R. China.
| | - Shuiliang Wang
- Fujian Key Laboratory of Aptamers Technology, Affiliated Dongfang Hospital of School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Fuzhou, Fujian Province, P. R. China.
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Medicine, Fuzhou General Clinical Medical School (the 900 th Hospital), Fujian Medical University, Fujian Province, Fuzhou, P. R. China.
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13
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Liu Y, Li M, Fang Z, Gao S, Cheng W, Duan Y, Wang X, Feng J, Yu T, Zhang J, Wang T, Hu A, Zhang H, Rong Z, Shakila SS, Shang Y, Kong F, Liu J, Li Y, Ma F. Overexpressing S100A9 ameliorates NK cell dysfunction in estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer. Cancer Immunol Immunother 2024; 73:117. [PMID: 38713229 PMCID: PMC11076447 DOI: 10.1007/s00262-024-03699-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2024] [Accepted: 04/01/2024] [Indexed: 05/08/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Estrogen receptor (ER) positive human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) negative breast cancer (ER+/HER2-BC) and triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) are two distinct breast cancer molecular subtypes, especially in tumor immune microenvironment (TIME). The TIME of TNBC is considered to be more inflammatory than that of ER+/HER2-BC. Natural killer (NK) cells are innate lymphocytes that play an important role of tumor eradication in TME. However, studies focusing on the different cell states of NK cells in breast cancer subtypes are still inadequate. METHODS In this study, single-cell mRNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) and bulk mRNA sequencing data from ER+/HER2-BC and TNBC were analyzed. Key regulator of NK cell suppression in ER+/HER2-BC, S100A9, was quantified by qPCR and ELISA in MCF-7, T47D, MDA-MB-468 and MDA-MB-231 cell lines. The prognosis predictability of S100A9 and NK activation markers was evaluated by Kaplan-Meier analyses using TCGA-BRAC data. The phenotype changes of NK cells in ER+/HER2-BC after overexpressing S100A9 in cancer cells were evaluated by the production levels of IFN-gamma, perforin and granzyme B and cytotoxicity assay. RESULTS By analyzing scRNA-seq data, we found that multiple genes involved in cellular stress response were upregulated in ER+/HER2-BC compared with TNBC. Moreover, TLR regulation pathway was significantly enriched using differentially expressed genes (DEGs) from comparing the transcriptome data of ER+/HER2-BC and TNBC cancer cells, and NK cell infiltration high/low groups. Among the DEGs, S100A9 was identified as a key regulator. Patients with higher expression levels of S100A9 and NK cell activation markers had better overall survival. Furthermore, we proved that overexpression of S100A9 in ER+/HER2-cells could improve cocultured NK cell function. CONCLUSION In conclusion, the study we presented demonstrated that NK cells in ER+/HER2-BC were hypofunctional, and S100A9 was an important regulator of NK cell function in ER+BC. Our work contributes to elucidate the regulatory networks between cancer cells and NK cells and may provide theoretical basis for novel drug development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yansong Liu
- Department of General Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, 246 Xuefu Street, Harbin, 150001, China
| | - Mingcui Li
- Department of General Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, 246 Xuefu Street, Harbin, 150001, China
| | - Zhengbo Fang
- Department of General Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, 246 Xuefu Street, Harbin, 150001, China
| | - Shan Gao
- Department of Pathology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, 246 Xuefu Street, Harbin, 150001, China
| | - Weilun Cheng
- Department of General Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, 246 Xuefu Street, Harbin, 150001, China
| | - Yunqiang Duan
- Department of General Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, 246 Xuefu Street, Harbin, 150001, China
| | - Xuelian Wang
- Department of General Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, 246 Xuefu Street, Harbin, 150001, China
| | - Jianyuan Feng
- Department of General Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, 246 Xuefu Street, Harbin, 150001, China
| | - Tianshui Yu
- Department of General Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, 246 Xuefu Street, Harbin, 150001, China
| | - Jiarui Zhang
- Department of General Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, 246 Xuefu Street, Harbin, 150001, China
| | - Ting Wang
- Department of General Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, 246 Xuefu Street, Harbin, 150001, China
| | - Anbang Hu
- Department of General Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, 246 Xuefu Street, Harbin, 150001, China
| | - Hanyu Zhang
- Department of General Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, 246 Xuefu Street, Harbin, 150001, China
| | - Zhiyuan Rong
- Department of General Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, 246 Xuefu Street, Harbin, 150001, China
| | - Suborna S Shakila
- Department of General Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, 246 Xuefu Street, Harbin, 150001, China
| | - Yuhang Shang
- Department of General Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, 246 Xuefu Street, Harbin, 150001, China
| | - Fanjing Kong
- Department of General Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, 246 Xuefu Street, Harbin, 150001, China
| | - Jiangwei Liu
- Department of General Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, 246 Xuefu Street, Harbin, 150001, China
| | - Yanling Li
- Department of General Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, 246 Xuefu Street, Harbin, 150001, China.
| | - Fei Ma
- Department of General Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, 246 Xuefu Street, Harbin, 150001, China.
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14
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Wang Y, Wang Z, Guo X, Cao Y, Xing H, Wang Y, Xing B, Wang Y, Yao Y, Ma W. Artificial neural network identified a 20-gene panel in predicting immunotherapy response and survival benefits after anti-PD1/PD-L1 treatment in glioblastoma patients. Cancer Med 2024; 13:e7218. [PMID: 38733169 PMCID: PMC11087814 DOI: 10.1002/cam4.7218] [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: 07/16/2023] [Revised: 04/03/2024] [Accepted: 04/15/2024] [Indexed: 05/13/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) are a promising immunotherapy approach, but glioblastoma clinical trials have not yielded satisfactory results. OBJECTIVE To screen glioblastoma patients who may benefit from immunotherapy. METHODS Eighty-one patients receiving anti-PD1/PD-L1 treatment from a large-scale clinical trial and 364 patients without immunotherapy from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) were included. Patients in the ICI-treated cohort were divided into responders and nonresponders according to overall survival (OS), and the most critical responder-relevant features were screened using random forest (RF). We constructed an artificial neural network (ANN) model and verified its predictive value with immunotherapy response and OS. RESULTS We defined two groups of ICI-treated glioblastoma patients with large differences in survival benefits as nonresponders (OS ≤6 months, n = 18) and responders (OS ≥17 months, n = 8). No differentially mutated genes were observed between responders and nonresponders. We performed RF analysis to select the most critical responder-relevant features and developed an ANN with 20 input variables, five hidden neurons and one output neuron. Receiver operating characteristic analysis and the DeLong test demonstrated that the ANN had the best performance in predicting responders, with an AUC of 0.97. Survival analysis indicated that ANN-predicted responders had significantly better OS rates than nonresponders. CONCLUSION The 20-gene panel developed by the ANN could be a promising biomarker for predicting immunotherapy response and prognostic benefits in ICI-treated GBM patients and may guide oncologists to accurately select potential responders for the preferential use of ICIs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yaning Wang
- Department of Neurosurgery, Center for Malignant Brain Tumors, National Glioma MDT Alliance, Peking Union Medical College HospitalChinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking UnionMedical CollegeBeijingChina
| | - Zihao Wang
- Department of Neurosurgery, Center for Malignant Brain Tumors, National Glioma MDT Alliance, Peking Union Medical College HospitalChinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking UnionMedical CollegeBeijingChina
| | - Xiaopeng Guo
- Department of Neurosurgery, Center for Malignant Brain Tumors, National Glioma MDT Alliance, Peking Union Medical College HospitalChinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking UnionMedical CollegeBeijingChina
| | - Yaning Cao
- Department of Neurosurgery, Center for Malignant Brain Tumors, National Glioma MDT Alliance, Peking Union Medical College HospitalChinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking UnionMedical CollegeBeijingChina
| | - Hao Xing
- Department of Neurosurgery, Center for Malignant Brain Tumors, National Glioma MDT Alliance, Peking Union Medical College HospitalChinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking UnionMedical CollegeBeijingChina
| | - Yuekun Wang
- Department of Neurosurgery, Center for Malignant Brain Tumors, National Glioma MDT Alliance, Peking Union Medical College HospitalChinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking UnionMedical CollegeBeijingChina
| | - Bing Xing
- Department of Neurosurgery, Center for Malignant Brain Tumors, National Glioma MDT Alliance, Peking Union Medical College HospitalChinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking UnionMedical CollegeBeijingChina
| | - Yu Wang
- Department of Neurosurgery, Center for Malignant Brain Tumors, National Glioma MDT Alliance, Peking Union Medical College HospitalChinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking UnionMedical CollegeBeijingChina
| | - Yong Yao
- Department of Neurosurgery, Center for Malignant Brain Tumors, National Glioma MDT Alliance, Peking Union Medical College HospitalChinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking UnionMedical CollegeBeijingChina
| | - Wenbin Ma
- Department of Neurosurgery, Center for Malignant Brain Tumors, National Glioma MDT Alliance, Peking Union Medical College HospitalChinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking UnionMedical CollegeBeijingChina
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15
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Wang X, Deng X, Hu J, Zheng W, Ye D, Zhou X, Fang L. K48-linked deubiquitination of VGLL4 by USP15 enhances the efficacy of tumor immunotherapy in triple-negative breast cancer. Cancer Lett 2024; 588:216764. [PMID: 38431034 DOI: 10.1016/j.canlet.2024.216764] [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: 10/15/2023] [Revised: 01/28/2024] [Accepted: 02/22/2024] [Indexed: 03/05/2024]
Abstract
Immunotherapy based on PD-1/PD-L1 antagonists has been demonstrated to be efficacious in inducing tumor remission in patients with triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). However, tumor immune evasion caused by the PD-1/PD-L1 pathway inhibits the immunotherapeutic effect of PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors against TNBC. Therefore, identifying potential targets for blocking the PD-1/PD-L1 pathway is a compelling strategy for TNBC treatment. Here, we discovered that VGLL4 could inhibit PD-L1 transcription by suppressing STAT3 activation, thereby enhancing the efficacy of anti-PD-1 antibody immunotherapy in TNBC. Low expression of USP15, a deubiquitinating enzyme of VGLL4, was associated with reduced CD8+ T cell infiltration and poor prognosis in TNBC patients. USP15 was found to inhibit PD-L1 transcription, leading to increased CD8+ T cell infiltration and thus enhancing the efficacy of TNBC immunotherapy. Furthermore, SART3 regulated VGLL4 stability and PD-L1 transcription by influencing the nuclear translocation of USP15. In conclusion, our study provides new insights into the biological regulation of PD-L1, identifies a previously unrecognized regulator of this critical immune checkpoint, and highlights potential therapeutic targets for overcoming immune evasion in TNBC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuehui Wang
- Department of Thyroid and Breast Surgery, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200072, China; Institute of Breast Disease, School of Medicine, Tongji University, China
| | - Xiaochong Deng
- Department of Thyroid and Breast Surgery, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200072, China
| | - Jiashu Hu
- Department of Thyroid and Breast Surgery, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200072, China; Institute of Breast Disease, School of Medicine, Tongji University, China
| | - Wenfang Zheng
- Department of Thyroid and Breast Surgery, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200072, China
| | - Danrong Ye
- Department of Thyroid and Breast Surgery, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200072, China
| | - Xiqian Zhou
- Department of Thyroid and Breast Surgery, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200072, China
| | - Lin Fang
- Department of Thyroid and Breast Surgery, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200072, China; Institute of Breast Disease, School of Medicine, Tongji University, China.
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16
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Liu Z, Li J, Zhao F, Ren D, Li Z, Chen Y, Huang S, Liu Z, Zhao Y, Wang M, Li H, Xu Z, Shen G, Zhao J. Long-term survival after neoadjuvant therapy for triple-negative breast cancer under different treatment regimens: a systematic review and network meta-analysis. BMC Cancer 2024; 24:440. [PMID: 38594636 PMCID: PMC11005293 DOI: 10.1186/s12885-024-12222-9] [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] [Accepted: 04/02/2024] [Indexed: 04/11/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is a life-threatening subtype of breast cancer with limited treatment options. Therefore, this network meta-analysis (NMA) aimed to evaluate and compare the effect of various neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NCT) options on the long-term survival of patients with TNBC. METHODS PubMed, Embase, Medline, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, and major international conference databases were systematically searched for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on the efficacy of various NCT options in patients with TNBC. Searches were performed from January 2000 to June 2023. Study heterogeneity was assessed using the I2 statistic. Hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were used to evaluate disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS). Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% CIs were used to evaluate the pathologic complete response (pCR). The primary outcome was DFS. RESULTS We conducted an NMA of 21 RCTs involving 8873 patients with TNBC. Our study defined the combination of anthracyclines and taxanes as the preferred treatment option. On this basis, the addition of any of the following new drugs is considered a new treatment option: bevacizumab (B), platinum (P), poly-ADP-ribose polymerase inhibitors (PARPi), and immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI). Based on the surface under the cumulative ranking curve (SUCRA) values, the top three SUCRA area values of DFS were taxanes, anthracycline, and cyclophosphamide (TAC; 89.23%); CT (84.53%); and B (81.06%). The top three SUCRA area values of OS were CT (83.70%), TAC (62.02%), and B-containing regimens (60.06%). The top three SUCRA area values of pCR were B + P-containing regimens (82.7%), ICI + P-containing regimens (80.2%), and ICI-containing regimens (61.8%). CONCLUSIONS This NMA showed that standard chemotherapy is a good choice with respect to long-term survival. Moreover, B associated with P-containing regimens is likely to be the optimal treatment option for neoadjuvant TNBC in terms of pCR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhilin Liu
- Breast Disease Diagnosis and Treatment Center, Affiliated Hospital of Qinghai University, Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Qinghai University, People's Republic of China, Qinghai Provincial Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Qinghai Provincial Institute of Cancer Research, Xining, China
| | - Jinming Li
- Breast Disease Diagnosis and Treatment Center, Affiliated Hospital of Qinghai University, Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Qinghai University, People's Republic of China, Qinghai Provincial Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Qinghai Provincial Institute of Cancer Research, Xining, China
| | - Fuxing Zhao
- Breast Disease Diagnosis and Treatment Center, Affiliated Hospital of Qinghai University, Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Qinghai University, People's Republic of China, Qinghai Provincial Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Qinghai Provincial Institute of Cancer Research, Xining, China
| | - Dengfeng Ren
- Breast Disease Diagnosis and Treatment Center, Affiliated Hospital of Qinghai University, Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Qinghai University, People's Republic of China, Qinghai Provincial Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Qinghai Provincial Institute of Cancer Research, Xining, China
| | - Zitao Li
- Breast Disease Diagnosis and Treatment Center, Affiliated Hospital of Qinghai University, Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Qinghai University, People's Republic of China, Qinghai Provincial Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Qinghai Provincial Institute of Cancer Research, Xining, China
| | - Yongzhi Chen
- Breast Disease Diagnosis and Treatment Center, Affiliated Hospital of Qinghai University, Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Qinghai University, People's Republic of China, Qinghai Provincial Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Qinghai Provincial Institute of Cancer Research, Xining, China
| | - Shifen Huang
- Breast Disease Diagnosis and Treatment Center, Affiliated Hospital of Qinghai University, Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Qinghai University, People's Republic of China, Qinghai Provincial Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Qinghai Provincial Institute of Cancer Research, Xining, China
| | - Zhen Liu
- Breast Disease Diagnosis and Treatment Center, Affiliated Hospital of Qinghai University, Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Qinghai University, People's Republic of China, Qinghai Provincial Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Qinghai Provincial Institute of Cancer Research, Xining, China
| | - Yi Zhao
- Breast Disease Diagnosis and Treatment Center, Affiliated Hospital of Qinghai University, Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Qinghai University, People's Republic of China, Qinghai Provincial Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Qinghai Provincial Institute of Cancer Research, Xining, China
| | - Miaozhou Wang
- Breast Disease Diagnosis and Treatment Center, Affiliated Hospital of Qinghai University, Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Qinghai University, People's Republic of China, Qinghai Provincial Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Qinghai Provincial Institute of Cancer Research, Xining, China
| | - Huihui Li
- Department of Breast Medical Oncology, Shandong Cancer Hospital and Institute, Shandong First Medical University and Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan, China
| | | | - Guoshuang Shen
- Breast Disease Diagnosis and Treatment Center, Affiliated Hospital of Qinghai University, Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Qinghai University, People's Republic of China, Qinghai Provincial Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Qinghai Provincial Institute of Cancer Research, Xining, China.
| | - Jiuda Zhao
- Breast Disease Diagnosis and Treatment Center, Affiliated Hospital of Qinghai University, Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Qinghai University, People's Republic of China, Qinghai Provincial Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Qinghai Provincial Institute of Cancer Research, Xining, China.
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17
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Saleh RO, Ibrahim FM, Pallathadka H, Kaur I, Ahmad I, Ali SHJ, Redhee AH, Ghildiyal P, Jawad MA, Alsaadi SB. Nucleic acid vaccines-based therapy for triple-negative breast cancer: A new paradigm in tumor immunotherapy arena. Cell Biochem Funct 2024; 42:e3992. [PMID: 38551221 DOI: 10.1002/cbf.3992] [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: 01/21/2024] [Revised: 03/04/2024] [Accepted: 03/10/2024] [Indexed: 04/02/2024]
Abstract
Nucleic acid vaccines (NAVs) have the potential to be economical, safe, and efficacious. Furthermore, just the chosen antigen in the pathogen is the target of the immune responses brought on by NAVs. Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) treatment shows great promise for nucleic acid-based vaccines, such as DNA (as plasmids) and RNA (as messenger RNA [mRNA]). Moreover, cancer vaccines offer a compelling approach that can elicit targeted and long-lasting immune responses against tumor antigens. Bacterial plasmids that encode antigens and immunostimulatory molecules serve as the foundation for DNA vaccines. In the 1990s, plasmid DNA encoding the influenza A nucleoprotein triggered a protective and targeted cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) response, marking the first instance of DNA vaccine-mediated immunity. Similarly, in vitro transcribed mRNA was first successfully used in animals in 1990. At that point, mice were given an injection of the gene encoding the mRNA sequence, and the researchers saw the production of a protein. We begin this review by summarizing our existing knowledge of NAVs. Next, we addressed NAV delivery, emphasizing the need to increase efficacy in TNBC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raed Obaid Saleh
- Department of Medical Laboratory Techniques, Al-Maarif University College, Al-Anbar, Iraq
| | - Fatma M Ibrahim
- Community Health Nursing, RAK Medical and Health Sciences University, Ras Al Khaimah, UAE
- Geriatric Nursing, Mansoura University, Mansoura, Egypt
| | | | - Irwanjot Kaur
- Department of Biotechnology and Genetics, Jain (Deemed-to-be) University, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India
- Department of Allied Healthcare and Sciences, Vivekananda Global University, Jaipur, Rajasthan, India
| | - Irfan Ahmad
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences, College of Applied Medical Science, King Khalid University, Abha, Saudi Arabia
| | - Saad Hayif Jasim Ali
- Department of Medical Laboratory, College of Health and Medical Technololgy, Al-Ayen University, Thi-Qar, Iraq
| | - Ahmed Huseen Redhee
- Medical Laboratory Technique College, The Islamic University, Najaf, Iraq
- Medical Laboratory Technique College, The Islamic University of Al Diwaniyah, Al Diwaniyah, Iraq
- Medical Laboratory Technique College, The Islamic University of Babylon, Babylon, Iraq
| | - Pallavi Ghildiyal
- Uttaranchal Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Uttaranchal University, Dehradun, India
| | | | - Salim B Alsaadi
- Department of Pharmaceutics, Al-Hadi University College, Baghdad, Iraq
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Li S, Qian Y, Xie W, Li X, Wei J, Wang L, Ren G, Yin X. Identification and validation of neutrophils-related subtypes and prognosis model in triple negative breast cancer. J Cancer Res Clin Oncol 2024; 150:149. [PMID: 38512527 PMCID: PMC10957690 DOI: 10.1007/s00432-024-05651-3] [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: 01/13/2024] [Accepted: 02/14/2024] [Indexed: 03/23/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Neutrophils are considered to be crucial players in the initiation and progression of cancer. However, the complex relationship between neutrophils and cancer prognosis remains elusive, mainly due to the significant plasticity and diversity exhibited by these immune cells. METHODS As part of our thorough investigation, we examined 38 Neutrophils-Related Genes (NRGs) and the associated copy number variations (CNV), somatic mutations, and gene expression patterns in relation to triple negative breast cancer (TNBC). The interactions between these genes, their biological roles, and their possible prognostic significance were then examined. With the NRGs as our basis, we applied Lasso and Cox regression analyses to create a predictive model for overall survival (OS). Furthermore, TNBC tissue and a public database were used to assess changes in MYO1D expression (MYO1D is characterized as a member of the myosin-I family, a group of motor proteins based on actin), its connection to neutrophil infiltration, and the clinical importance of MYO1D in TNBC. RESULTS Four neutrophil-related genes were included in the development of a prognostic model based on neutrophils. The model was further shown to be an independent predicted factor for overall survival by multivariate Cox regression analysis. According to this study, neutrophil subtype B as well as gene subtype B, were associated with activated cancer immunity and poor prognosis of TNBC patients. Furthermore, considering that poor OS was linked to increased MYO1D expression, MYO1D was increased in TNBC tissues and associated with neutrophil infiltration. In vitro experiments also confirmed that MYO1D facilitates breast cancer invasion and metastasis. CONCLUSION Based on the degree of gene expression linked to neutrophils, a unique prognostic model was created. MYO1D could be a potential prognostic biomarker in TNBC patients and also a prospective target for therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shanqi Li
- Department of Breast and Thyroid Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Yuzhou Qian
- Institute of Life Sciences, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Oncology and Epigenetics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Wanchen Xie
- Department of Breast and Thyroid Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Xinyu Li
- Department of Breast and Thyroid Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Jiaying Wei
- Department of Orthopedics, the First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Long Wang
- Department of Breast Cancer Center, Chongqing University Cancer Hospital, Chongqing, China
| | - Guosheng Ren
- Department of Breast and Thyroid Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China.
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Oncology and Epigenetics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China.
| | - Xuedong Yin
- Department of Breast and Thyroid Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China.
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Li Y, Gao W, Yang Z, Hu Z, Li J. Multi-omics pan-cancer analyses identify MCM4 as a promising prognostic and diagnostic biomarker. Sci Rep 2024; 14:6517. [PMID: 38499612 PMCID: PMC10948783 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-57299-1] [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: 10/04/2023] [Accepted: 03/16/2024] [Indexed: 03/20/2024] Open
Abstract
Minichromosome Maintenance Complex Component 4 (MCM4) is a vital component of the mini-chromosome maintenance complex family, crucial for initiating the replication of eukaryotic genomes. Recently, there has been a growing interest in investigating the significance of MCM4 in different types of cancer. Despite the existing research on this topic, a comprehensive analysis of MCM4 across various cancer types has been lacking. This study aims to bridge this knowledge gap by presenting a thorough pan-cancer analysis of MCM4, shedding light on its functional implications and potential clinical applications. The study utilized multi-omics samples from various databases. Bioinformatic tools were employed to explore the expression profiles, genetic alterations, phosphorylation states, immune cell infiltration patterns, immune subtypes, functional enrichment, disease prognosis, as well as the diagnostic potential of MCM4 and its responsiveness to drugs in a range of cancers. Our research demonstrates that MCM4 is closely associated with the oncogenesis, prognosis and diagnosis of various tumors and proposes that MCM4 may function as a potential biomarker in pan-cancer, providing a deeper understanding of its potential role in cancer development and treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanxing Li
- Xi'an Jiaotong University Health Science Center, Xi'an, 710000, Shaanxi, People's Republic of China
| | - Wentao Gao
- Xi'an Jiaotong University Health Science Center, Xi'an, 710000, Shaanxi, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhen Yang
- Xi'an Jiaotong University Health Science Center, Xi'an, 710000, Shaanxi, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhenwei Hu
- Xi'an Jiaotong University Health Science Center, Xi'an, 710000, Shaanxi, People's Republic of China
| | - Jianjun Li
- Department of Cardiology, Jincheng People's Hospital Affiliated to Changzhi Medical College, Jincheng, Shanxi, People's Republic of China.
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Wang P, Wang Y, Li H, Wang M, Wang Y, Wang X, Ran L, Xin H, Ma J, Tian G, Gao W, Zhang G. A homologous-targeting cGAS-STING agonist multimodally activates dendritic cells for enhanced cancer immunotherapy. Acta Biomater 2024; 177:400-413. [PMID: 38336268 DOI: 10.1016/j.actbio.2024.02.003] [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: 10/19/2023] [Revised: 01/27/2024] [Accepted: 02/04/2024] [Indexed: 02/12/2024]
Abstract
Herein, we developed a doxorubicin (Dox)-loaded and 4T1 cancer cell membrane-modified hydrogenated manganese oxide nanoparticles (mHMnO-Dox) to elicit systemic antitumor immune responses. The results revealed that mHMnO-Dox actively recognized tumor cells and then effectively delivered Dox into the cells. Upon entering tumor cells, the mHMnO-Dox underwent rapid degradation and abundant release of Mn2+ and chemotherapeutic drugs. The released Mn2+ not only catalysed a Fenton-type reaction to produce excessive reactive oxygen species (ROS) but also activated the cGAS-STING pathway to boost dendritic cell (DC) maturation. This process increased cytotoxic T lymphocyte infiltration as well as natural killer cell recruitment into the tumor site. In addition, the released Dox could contribute to a chemotherapeutic effect, while activating DC cells and subsequently intensifying immune responses through immunogenic cell death (ICD) of tumor cells. Consequently, the mHMnO-Dox suppressed the primary and distal tumor growth and inhibited tumor relapse and metastasis, as well as prolonged the lifespan of tumor-bearing mice. Thus, the mHMnO-Dox multimodally activated DC cells to demonstrate synergistic antitumor activity, which was mediated via the activation of the cGAS-STING signalling pathway to regulate tumor microenvironment, ICD-mediated immunotherapy and ROS-mediated CDT. These findings suggest the therapeutic potential of mHMnO-Dox in cancer immunotherapy. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: A cancer cell membrane-camouflaged hydrogenated mesoporous manganese oxide (mHMnO) has been developed as a cGAS-STING agonist and ICD inducer. The mHMnO effectively induced abundance of ROS production in cancer cells, which caused cancer cell death and then promoted DC maturation via tumour-associated antigen presentation. Meanwhile, the mHMnO significantly activated cGAS-STING pathway to facilitate DC maturation and cytotoxic T lymphocyte infiltration as well as natural killer cell recruitment, which further enhanced tumour immune response. In addition, the combination of the mHMnO and Dox could synergistically promote tumour ICD and then multimodally induce DC maturation, achieving an enhanced CIT. Overall, this study provides a potential strategy to design novel immunologic adjuvant for enhanced CIT.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peng Wang
- School of Pharmacy, Shandong Technology Innovation Center of Molecular Targeting and Intelligent Diagnosis and Treatment, Binzhou Medical University, Yantai 264003, PR China
| | - Yinfeng Wang
- School of Pharmacy, Shandong Technology Innovation Center of Molecular Targeting and Intelligent Diagnosis and Treatment, Binzhou Medical University, Yantai 264003, PR China
| | - Huimin Li
- School of Pharmacy, Shandong Technology Innovation Center of Molecular Targeting and Intelligent Diagnosis and Treatment, Binzhou Medical University, Yantai 264003, PR China
| | - Miaomiao Wang
- School of Pharmacy, Shandong Technology Innovation Center of Molecular Targeting and Intelligent Diagnosis and Treatment, Binzhou Medical University, Yantai 264003, PR China
| | - Yue Wang
- School of Pharmacy, Shandong Technology Innovation Center of Molecular Targeting and Intelligent Diagnosis and Treatment, Binzhou Medical University, Yantai 264003, PR China
| | - Xiaofei Wang
- School of Pharmacy, Shandong Technology Innovation Center of Molecular Targeting and Intelligent Diagnosis and Treatment, Binzhou Medical University, Yantai 264003, PR China
| | - Lang Ran
- School of Pharmacy, Shandong Technology Innovation Center of Molecular Targeting and Intelligent Diagnosis and Treatment, Binzhou Medical University, Yantai 264003, PR China
| | - Huan Xin
- School of Pharmacy, Shandong Technology Innovation Center of Molecular Targeting and Intelligent Diagnosis and Treatment, Binzhou Medical University, Yantai 264003, PR China
| | - Jingyi Ma
- School of Pharmacy, Shandong Technology Innovation Center of Molecular Targeting and Intelligent Diagnosis and Treatment, Binzhou Medical University, Yantai 264003, PR China
| | - Geng Tian
- School of Pharmacy, Shandong Technology Innovation Center of Molecular Targeting and Intelligent Diagnosis and Treatment, Binzhou Medical University, Yantai 264003, PR China
| | - Wenjuan Gao
- School of Pharmacy, Shandong Technology Innovation Center of Molecular Targeting and Intelligent Diagnosis and Treatment, Binzhou Medical University, Yantai 264003, PR China.
| | - Guilong Zhang
- School of Pharmacy, Shandong Technology Innovation Center of Molecular Targeting and Intelligent Diagnosis and Treatment, Binzhou Medical University, Yantai 264003, PR China.
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Ren X, Cui H, Dai L, Chang L, Liu D, Yan W, Zhao X, Kang H, Ma X. PIK3CA mutation-driven immune signature as a prognostic marker for evaluating the tumor immune microenvironment and therapeutic response in breast cancer. J Cancer Res Clin Oncol 2024; 150:119. [PMID: 38466449 PMCID: PMC10927816 DOI: 10.1007/s00432-024-05626-4] [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: 08/02/2023] [Accepted: 01/16/2024] [Indexed: 03/13/2024]
Abstract
PURPOSE Gene mutations drive tumor immune microenvironment (TIME) heterogeneity, in turn affecting prognosis and immunotherapy efficacy. PIK3CA is the most frequently mutated gene in breast cancer (BC), yet its relevance to BC prognosis remains controversial. Herein, we sought to determine the impact of PIK3CA mutation-driven immune genes (PDIGs) on BC prognosis in relation to TIME heterogeneity. METHODS PIK3CA mutation characteristics were compared and verified between the TCGA-BRCA dataset and a patient cohort from our hospital. PIK3CA mutation-driven differentially expressed genes were identified for consensus clustering and weighted gene co-expression network analysis to select the modules most relevant to the immune subtype. Thereafter, the two were intersected to obtain PDIGs. Univariate Cox, LASSO, and multivariate Cox regression analyses were sequentially performed on PDIGs to obtain a PIK3CA mutation-driven immune signature (PDIS), which was then validated using the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database. Differences in functional enrichment, mutation landscape, immune infiltration, checkpoint gene expression, and drug response were compared between different risk groups. RESULTS PIK3CA mutation frequencies in the TCGA and validation cohorts were 34.49% and 40.83%, respectively. PIK3CA mutants were significantly associated with ER, PR, and molecular BC subtypes in our hospital cohort. The PDIS allowed for effective risk stratification and exhibited prognostic power in TCGA and GEO sets. The low-risk patients exhibited greater immune infiltration, higher expression of common immune checkpoint factors, and lower scores for tumor immune dysfunction and exclusion. CONCLUSION The PDIS can be used as an effective prognostic model for predicting immunotherapy response to guide clinical decision-making.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xueting Ren
- Department of Oncology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China
| | - Hanxiao Cui
- Department of Oncology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China
| | - Luyao Dai
- Department of Oncology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China
| | - Lidan Chang
- Department of Oncology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China
| | - Dandan Liu
- Department of Oncology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China
| | - Wenyu Yan
- Department of Oncology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China
| | - Xuyan Zhao
- Department of Oncology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China
| | - Huafeng Kang
- Department of Oncology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China.
| | - Xiaobin Ma
- Department of Oncology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China.
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Li J, Li Z, Yang W, Pan J, You H, Yang L, Zhang X. Development and verification of a novel immunogenic cell death-related signature for predicting the prognosis and immune infiltration in triple-negative breast cancer. Cancer Rep (Hoboken) 2024; 7:e2007. [PMID: 38425247 PMCID: PMC10905160 DOI: 10.1002/cnr2.2007] [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: 09/26/2023] [Revised: 01/01/2024] [Accepted: 02/05/2024] [Indexed: 03/02/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Insufficient understanding of the pathogenesis and tumor immunology of triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) has limited the development of immunotherapy. The importance of tumor microenvironment (TME) in immunotyping, prognostic assessment and immunotherapy efficacy of cancer has been emphasized, however, potential immunogenic cell death (ICD) related genes function in TME of TNBC has been rarely investigated. AIMS To initially explore the role and related mechanisms of ICD in TNBC, especially the role played in the TME of TNBC, and to identify different relevant subtypes based on ICD, and then develop an ICD-related risk score to predict each TNBC patient TME status, prognosis and immunotherapy response. METHODS AND RESULTS In this study, we identified distinct ICD-related modification patterns based on 158 TNBC cases in the TCGA-TNBC cohort. We then investigated the possible correlation between ICD-related modification patterns and TME cell infiltration characteristics in TNBC. By using univariate Cox and least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression analysis, we created a risk scoring system (ICD score) to quantifiably evaluate the impact of ICD-related modification patterns in individual TNBC patient. Two different ICD-related modification patterns were found with significant differences in immune infiltration. Lower ICD score was correlated with higher immune infiltration, tumor mutational burden and significantly enriched in immune-related pathways, indicating a strong ability to activate immune response, which might account for relatively favorable prognosis of TNBC patients and could serve as a predictor to select suitable candidates for immunotherapy. We used two independent cohorts, GSE58812 cohort and Metabric cohort to validate prognosis and immunohistochemistry for preliminary in vitro validation. CONCLUSION This study evidenced that the ICD-related modification patterns might exert pivotal roles in the immune infiltration landscape of TNBC and ICD score might act as potential predictors of prognostic assessment and immunotherapy response. This research provides unique insights for individualize immune treatment strategies and promising immunotherapy candidates screening.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiachen Li
- Department of Gastrointestinal and Gland SurgeryThe First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical UniversityNanningChina
| | - Zhengtian Li
- Department of Bone and Joint SurgeryThe First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical UniversityNanningChina
| | - Wenkang Yang
- Department of Gastrointestinal and Gland SurgeryThe First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical UniversityNanningChina
| | - Jianmin Pan
- Department of Gastrointestinal and Gland SurgeryThe First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical UniversityNanningChina
| | - Huazong You
- Department of Gastrointestinal and Gland SurgeryThe First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical UniversityNanningChina
| | - Lixiang Yang
- Department of Gastrointestinal and Gland SurgeryThe First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical UniversityNanningChina
| | - Xiaodong Zhang
- Department of Gastrointestinal and Gland SurgeryThe First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical UniversityNanningChina
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Ouyang L, Jing K, Zhu C, Wang R, Zheng P. The presence of autoantibodies as a potential prognostic biomarker for breast cancer. Scand J Immunol 2024:e13365. [PMID: 38436518 DOI: 10.1111/sji.13365] [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: 11/01/2023] [Revised: 01/28/2024] [Accepted: 02/18/2024] [Indexed: 03/05/2024]
Abstract
The presence of autoantibodies is closely associated with the occurrence and development of cancer. Autoantibodies can be used as biomarkers for early breast cancer diagnosis. However, the relationship between autoantibodies and the prognosis of breast cancer patients remains elusive. This retrospective study aimed to investigate the correlation between the presence of autoantibodies and outcomes in breast cancer patients. This study included a total of 155 patients from People's Hospital of Henan University (Zhengzhou, China) who were diagnosed with breast cancer from January 2017 to December 2021. The enrolled patients' clinicopathological features were collected, and 88 patients were ultimately involved in the analysis. Univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses were performed to search for the risk factors related to the poor prognosis of breast cancer patients. The association between the presence of autoantibodies and patients' survival was analysed using Kaplan-Meier curves. After screening, there were 38 autoantibody-positive cases and 50 autoantibody-negative cases. Breast cancer patients with autoantibody-positive had a 57% lower risk of death compared with autoantibody-negative patients. Multivariate Cox regression analysis indicated that the presence of autoantibody could be a potential prognostic predictor for breast cancer, independent of age, histological grade, pathological classification, clinical stage, and the expression levels of hormonal receptors. In addition, autoantibody-positive breast cancer patients had longer progression-free survival and overall survival compared with autoantibody-negative cases. Positive autoantibody was found as an independent biomarker of better prognosis in breast cancer patients, providing a new strategy for the prognostic assessment of breast cancer patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Libo Ouyang
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, People's Hospital of Henan University, Henan Provincial People's Hospital, People's Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Henan University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
| | - Keying Jing
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, People's Hospital of Henan University, Henan Provincial People's Hospital, People's Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Henan University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
| | - Chunkai Zhu
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, People's Hospital of Henan University, Henan Provincial People's Hospital, People's Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Henan University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
| | - Rong Wang
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, People's Hospital of Henan University, Henan Provincial People's Hospital, People's Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Henan University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
| | - Peiming Zheng
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, People's Hospital of Henan University, Henan Provincial People's Hospital, People's Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Henan University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
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Zhang C, Tang S, Wang M, Li L, Li J, Wang D, Mi X, Zhang Y, Tan X, Yue S. "Triple-Punch" Strategy Exosome-Mimetic Nanovesicles for Triple Negative Breast Cancer Therapy. ACS NANO 2024. [PMID: 38335265 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.3c10568] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/12/2024]
Abstract
Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is the most malignant breast cancer, with high rates of relapse and metastasis. Because of the nonspecific targeting of chemotherapy and insurmountable aggressiveness, TNBC therapy lacks an effective strategy. Exosomes have been reported as an efficient drug delivery system (DDS). CD82 is a tumor metastasis inhibitory molecule that is enriched in exosomes. Aptamer AS1411 specifically targets TNBC cells due to its high expression of nucleolin. We generated a "triple-punch" cell membrane-derived exosome-mimetic nanovesicle system that integrated with CD82 overexpression, AS1411 conjugation, and doxorubicin (DOX) delivery. CD82 enrichment effectively inhibits the migration of TNBC cells. AS1411 conjugation specifically targets TNBC cells. DOX loading effectively inhibits proliferation and induces apoptosis of TNBC cells. Our results demonstrate a system of exosome-mimetic nanovesicles with "triple-punch" that may facilitate TNBC therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chenhong Zhang
- School of Medicine, State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology, Nankai University, 94 Weijin Road, Tianjin 300071, China
| | - Shuangshuang Tang
- School of Medicine, State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology, Nankai University, 94 Weijin Road, Tianjin 300071, China
| | - Meilin Wang
- School of Medicine, State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology, Nankai University, 94 Weijin Road, Tianjin 300071, China
| | - Luhan Li
- School of Medicine, State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology, Nankai University, 94 Weijin Road, Tianjin 300071, China
| | - Jun Li
- School of Medicine, State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology, Nankai University, 94 Weijin Road, Tianjin 300071, China
| | - Dekun Wang
- School of Medicine, State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology, Nankai University, 94 Weijin Road, Tianjin 300071, China
| | - Xue Mi
- School of Medicine, State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology, Nankai University, 94 Weijin Road, Tianjin 300071, China
| | - Yuying Zhang
- School of Medicine, State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology, Nankai University, 94 Weijin Road, Tianjin 300071, China
| | - Xiaoyue Tan
- School of Medicine, State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology, Nankai University, 94 Weijin Road, Tianjin 300071, China
| | - Shijing Yue
- School of Medicine, State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology, Nankai University, 94 Weijin Road, Tianjin 300071, China
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Chen W, Kang Y, Sheng W, Huang Q, Cheng J, Pei S, Meng Y. A new 4-gene-based prognostic model accurately predicts breast cancer prognosis and immunotherapy response by integrating WGCNA and bioinformatics analysis. Front Immunol 2024; 15:1331841. [PMID: 38370403 PMCID: PMC10869553 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2024.1331841] [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: 11/01/2023] [Accepted: 01/17/2024] [Indexed: 02/20/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Breast cancer (BRCA) is a common malignancy in women, and its resistance to immunotherapy is a major challenge. Abnormal expression of genes is important in the occurrence and development of BRCA and may also affect the prognosis of patients. Although many BRCA prognosis model scores have been developed, they are only applicable to a limited number of disease subtypes. Our goal is to develop a new prognostic score that is more accurate and applicable to a wider range of BRCA patients. Methods BRCA patient data from The Cancer Genome Atlas database was used to identify breast cancer-related genes (BRGs). Differential expression analysis of BRGs was performed using the 'limma' package in R. Prognostic BRGs were identified using co-expression and univariate Cox analysis. A predictive model of four BRGs was established using Cox regression and the LASSO algorithm. Model performance was evaluated using K-M survival and receiver operating characteristic curve analysis. The predictive ability of the signature in immune microenvironment and immunotherapy was investigated. In vitro experiments validated POLQ function. Results Our study identified a four-BRG prognostic signature that outperformed conventional clinicopathological characteristics in predicting survival outcomes in BRCA patients. The signature effectively stratified BRCA patients into high- and low-risk groups and showed potential in predicting the response to immunotherapy. Notably, significant differences were observed in immune cell abundance between the two groups. In vitro experiments demonstrated that POLQ knockdown significantly reduced the viability, proliferation, and invasion capacity of MDA-MB-231 or HCC1806 cells. Conclusion Our 4-BRG signature has the potential as an independent biomarker for predicting prognosis and treatment response in BRCA patients, complementing existing clinicopathological characteristics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenlong Chen
- Department of Thyroid and Breast Surgery, The Affiliated Suzhou Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Suzhou Municipal Hospital, Gusu School, Nanjing Medical University, Suzhou, China
| | - Yakun Kang
- Department of Breast Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Wenyi Sheng
- Department of Thyroid and Breast Surgery, The Affiliated Suzhou Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Suzhou Municipal Hospital, Gusu School, Nanjing Medical University, Suzhou, China
| | - Qiyan Huang
- Department of Thyroid and Breast Surgery, The Affiliated Suzhou Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Suzhou Municipal Hospital, Gusu School, Nanjing Medical University, Suzhou, China
| | - Jiale Cheng
- Department of Thyroid and Breast Surgery, The Affiliated Suzhou Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Suzhou Municipal Hospital, Gusu School, Nanjing Medical University, Suzhou, China
| | - Shengbin Pei
- Department of Breast Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
- Department of Breast Surgical Oncology, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - You Meng
- Department of Thyroid and Breast Surgery, The Affiliated Suzhou Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Suzhou Municipal Hospital, Gusu School, Nanjing Medical University, Suzhou, China
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Zhang Y, Huang X, Yu X, He W, Czene K, Yang H. Hematological and biochemical markers influencing breast cancer risk and mortality: Prospective cohort study in the UK Biobank by multi-state models. Breast 2024; 73:103603. [PMID: 38000092 PMCID: PMC10709613 DOI: 10.1016/j.breast.2023.103603] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2023] [Revised: 10/29/2023] [Accepted: 11/13/2023] [Indexed: 11/26/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Breast cancer is the most common cancer and the leading cause of cancer-related death among women. However, evidence concerning hematological and biochemical markers influencing the natural history of breast cancer from in situ breast cancer to mortality is limited. METHODS In the UK Biobank cohort, 260,079 women were enrolled during 2006-2010 and were followed up until 2019 to test the 59 hematological and biochemical markers associated with breast cancer risk and mortality. The strengths of these associations were evaluated using the multivariable Cox regression models. To understand the natural history of breast cancer, multi-state survival models were further applied to examine the effects of biomarkers on transitions between different states of breast cancer. RESULTS Eleven biomarkers were found to be significantly associated with the risk of invasive breast cancer, including mainly inflammatory-related biomarkers and endogenous hormones, while serum testosterone was also associated with the risk of in-situ breast cancer. Among them, C-reactive protein (CRP) was more likely to be associated with invasive breast cancer and its transition to death from breast cancer (HR for the highest quartile = 1.46, 95 % CI = 1.07-1.97), while testosterone and insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) were more likely to impact the early state of breast cancer development (Testosterone: HR for the highest quartile = 1.31, 95 % CI = 1.12-1.53; IGF-1: HR for the highest quartile = 1.17, 95 % CI = 1.00-1.38). CONCLUSION Serum CRP, testosterone, and IGF-1 have different impacts on the transitions of different breast cancer states, confirming the role of chronic inflammation and endogenous hormones in breast cancer progression. This study further highlights the need of closer surveillance for these biomarkers during the breast cancer development course.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanyu Zhang
- Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, School of Public Health & Key Laboratory of Ministry of Education for Gastrointestinal Cancer, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, 350122 China.
| | - Xiaoxi Huang
- Department of Breast, Fujian Maternity and Child Health Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, 350001, Fuzhou, China.
| | - Xingxing Yu
- Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, School of Public Health & Key Laboratory of Ministry of Education for Gastrointestinal Cancer, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, 350122 China.
| | - Wei He
- Chronic Disease Research Institute, The Children's Hospital, National Clinical Research Center for Child Health, School of Public Health, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China; Department of Nutrition and Food Hygiene, School of Public Health, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China; Department of Medical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, 17177 Sweden.
| | - Kamila Czene
- Department of Medical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, 17177 Sweden.
| | - Haomin Yang
- Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, School of Public Health & Key Laboratory of Ministry of Education for Gastrointestinal Cancer, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, 350122 China; Department of Medical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, 17177 Sweden.
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Liang Y, Zhang P, Li F, Lai H, Qi T, Wang Y. Advances in the study of marketed antibody-drug Conjugates (ADCs) for the treatment of breast cancer. Front Pharmacol 2024; 14:1332539. [PMID: 38352694 PMCID: PMC10862125 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2023.1332539] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2023] [Accepted: 12/21/2023] [Indexed: 02/16/2024] Open
Abstract
Breast cancer continues to have a high incidence rate among female malignancies. Despite significant advancements in treatment modalities, the heterogeneous nature of breast cancer and its resistance to various therapeutic approaches pose considerable challenges. Antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) effectively merge the specificity of antibodies with the cytotoxicity of chemotherapeutic agents, offering a novel strategy for precision treatment of breast cancer. Notably, trastuzumab emtansine (T-DM1) has provided a new therapeutic option for HER2-positive breast cancer patients globally, especially those resistant to conventional treatments. The development of trastuzumab deruxtecan (T-DXd) and sacituzumab govitecan (SG) has further broadened the applicability of ADCs in breast cancer therapy, presenting new hopes for patients with low HER2 expression and triple-negative breast cancer. However, the application of ADCs presents certain challenges. For instance, their treatment may lead to adverse reactions such as interstitial lung disease, thrombocytopenia, and diarrhea. Moreover, prolonged treatment could result in ADCs resistance, complicating the therapeutic process. Economically, the high costs of ADCs might hinder their accessibility in low-income regions. This article reviews the structure, mechanism of action, and clinical trials of commercially available ADCs for breast cancer treatment, with a focus on the clinical trials of the three drugs, aiming to provide insights for clinical applications and future research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan Liang
- Sichuan Cancer Hospital, Cancer Hospital Affiliate University of Electronic Science and Technology, Chengdu, China
- School of Medicine, University of Electronic Science and Technology, Chengdu, China
| | - Purong Zhang
- Sichuan Cancer Hospital, Cancer Hospital Affiliate University of Electronic Science and Technology, Chengdu, China
| | - Feng Li
- Sichuan Cancer Hospital, Cancer Hospital Affiliate University of Electronic Science and Technology, Chengdu, China
- School of Medicine, University of Electronic Science and Technology, Chengdu, China
| | - Houyun Lai
- Sichuan Cancer Hospital, Cancer Hospital Affiliate University of Electronic Science and Technology, Chengdu, China
- School of Medicine, University of Electronic Science and Technology, Chengdu, China
| | - Tingting Qi
- Sichuan Cancer Hospital, Cancer Hospital Affiliate University of Electronic Science and Technology, Chengdu, China
| | - Yixin Wang
- Sichuan Cancer Hospital, Cancer Hospital Affiliate University of Electronic Science and Technology, Chengdu, China
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Zhu L, Wu Y, Zhao H, Guo Z, Bo B, Zheng L. Immunogenic cell death-related classification reveals prognosis and effectiveness of immunotherapy in breast cancer. Sci Rep 2024; 14:2025. [PMID: 38263419 PMCID: PMC10805874 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-52353-4] [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: 10/12/2023] [Accepted: 01/17/2024] [Indexed: 01/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Lack of specific biomarkers and effective drug targets constrains therapeutic research in breast cancer (BC). In this regard, therapeutic modulation of damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs)-induced immunogenic cell death (ICD) may help improve the effect of immunotherapy in individuals with BC. The aim of this investigation was to develop biomarkers for ICD and to construct ICD-related risk estimation models to predict prognosis and immunotherapy outcomes of BC. RNA-seq transcriptome information and medical data from individuals with BC (n = 943) were obtained from TCGA. Expression data from a separate BC cohort (GEO: GSE20685) were used for validation. We identified subtypes of high and low ICD gene expression by consensus clustering and assessed the connection between ICD subtypes and tumor microenvironment (TME). In addition, different algorithms were used to construct ICD-based prognostic models of BC. BC samples were categorized into subtypes of high and low ICD expression depending on the expression of genes correlated with ICD. The subtype of ICD high-expression subtypes are correlated with poor prognosis in breast cancer, while ICD low-expression subtypes may predict better clinical outcomes. We also created and verified a predictive signature model depending on four ICD-related genes (ATG5, CD8A, CD8B, and HSP90AA1), which correlates with TME status and predicts clinical outcomes of BC patients. We highlight the connection of ICD subtypes with the dynamic evolution of TME in BC and present a novel ICD-based prognostic model of BC. In clinical practice, distinction of ICD subtype and assessment of ICD-related biomarkers should help guide treatment planning and improve the effectiveness of tumor immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lei Zhu
- Department of General Surgery, Panjin Liao-Oil Field Gem Flower Hospital, Panjin, 124000, China
| | - Yanmei Wu
- Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, Panjin Liao-Oil Field Gem Flower Hospital, Panjin, 124000, China
| | - Haichun Zhao
- Department of General Surgery, Panjin Liao-Oil Field Gem Flower Hospital, Panjin, 124000, China
| | - Zicheng Guo
- Department of General Surgery, Panjin Liao-Oil Field Gem Flower Hospital, Panjin, 124000, China
| | - Biao Bo
- Department of General Surgery, Panjin Liao-Oil Field Gem Flower Hospital, Panjin, 124000, China
| | - Li Zheng
- Department of General Surgery, Panjin Liao-Oil Field Gem Flower Hospital, Panjin, 124000, China.
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Liu X, Xu F, Zhao K, Liu Y, Ye G, Zhang X, Qu Y. Comprehending the cuproptosis and cancer-immunity cycle network: delving into the immune landscape and its predictive role in breast cancer immunotherapy responses and clinical endpoints. Front Immunol 2024; 15:1344023. [PMID: 38312844 PMCID: PMC10834629 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2024.1344023] [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: 11/24/2023] [Accepted: 01/02/2024] [Indexed: 02/06/2024] Open
Abstract
Background The role of cuproptosis, a phenomenon associated with tumor metabolism and immunological identification, remains underexplored, particularly in relation to the cancer-immunity cycle (CIC) network. This study aims to rigorously examine the impact of the cuproptosis-CIC nexus on immune reactions and prognostic outcomes in patients with breast cancer (BC), striving to establish a comprehensive prognostic model. Methods In the study, we segregated data obtained from TCGA, GEO, and ICGC using CICs retrieved from the TIP database. We constructed a genetic prognostic framework using the LASSO-Cox model, followed by its validation through Cox proportional hazards regression. This framework's validity was further confirmed with data from ICGC and GEO. Explorations of the tumor microenvironment were carried out through the application of ESTIMATE and CIBERSORT algorithms, as well as machine learning techniques, to identify potential treatment strategies. Single-cell sequencing methods were utilized to delineate the spatial distribution of key genes within the various cell types in the tumor milieu. To explore the critical role of the identified CICs, experiments were conducted focusing on cell survival and migration abilities. Results In our research, we identified a set of 4 crucial cuproptosis-CICs that have a profound impact on patient longevity and their response to immunotherapy. By leveraging these identified CICs, we constructed a predictive model that efficiently estimates patient prognoses. Detailed analyses at the single-cell level showed that the significance of CICs. Experimental approaches, including CCK-8, Transwell, and wound healing assays, revealed that the protein HSPA9 restricts the growth and movement of breast cancer cells. Furthermore, our studies using immunofluorescence techniques demonstrated that suppressing HSPA9 leads to a notable increase in ceramide levels. Conclusion This research outlines a network of cuproptosis-CICs and constructs a predictive nomogram. Our model holds great promise for healthcare professionals to personalize treatment approaches for individuals with breast cancer. The work provides insights into the complex relationship between the cuproptosis-CIC network and the cancer immune microenvironment, setting the stage for novel approaches to cancer immunotherapy. By focusing on the essential gene HSPA9 within the cancer-immunity cycle, this strategy has the potential to significantly improve the efficacy of treatments against breast cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiangwei Liu
- Department of Breast Surgery, The First People’s Hospital of Foshan, Foshan, China
| | - Feng Xu
- Department of Anesthesiology, The First People’s Hospital of Foshan, Foshan, China
| | - Kunkun Zhao
- Department of Breast Surgery, Foresea Life Insurance Guangzhou General Hospital, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yunfei Liu
- Department of General, Visceral, and Transplant Surgery, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Guolin Ye
- Department of Breast Surgery, The First People’s Hospital of Foshan, Foshan, China
| | - Xin Zhang
- Department of Pathology, the Second People’s Hospital of Foshan, Foshan, China
| | - Yanyu Qu
- Department of Pathology, the Second People’s Hospital of Foshan, Foshan, China
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30
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Lu X, Wang Y, He M, Gou Z. Prognostic value and tumour microenvironment characteristics of the Glasgow Microenvironment Score in primary triple-negative breast cancer. J Clin Pathol 2024; 77:128-134. [PMID: 36600565 DOI: 10.1136/jcp-2022-208601] [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: 09/24/2022] [Accepted: 11/25/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
AIMS The Glasgow Microenvironment Score (GMS) reflects the tumour microenvironment (TME) status by combining inflammatory cell infiltration and the tumour-stroma percentage. This study aimed to investigate the prognostic value and TME characteristics of the GMS for patients with triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). METHODS A total of 123 patients with stage I-III TNBC were enrolled in this study. The association between GMS and clinicopathological characteristics was examined using the Pearson's χ2 test or Fisher's exact test. Kaplan-Meier plots were used to compare survival among the three GMS groups. Cox regression analyses were conducted to test the HR. Microenvironment Cell Populations-counter algorithm was used to estimate the TME components of each case. RESULTS We found that higher GMS score tended to exhibit the lower nuclear grade (p=0.016), more positive lymph nodes (p=0.014) and later tumour, node, metastases stage (p=0.012). GMS was an independent prognostic factor for disease-free survival in TNBC, and GMS 2 showed the worst prognosis (HR=6.42, p=0.028). GMS 0 was more infiltrated with cytotoxic lymphocytes, including CD8+ T cells (p=0.037) and natural killer cells (p=0.005), while GMS 2 was enriched in more endothelial cells (p=0.014) and fibroblasts (p=0.008). CONCLUSION Our study suggested that the GMS is a prognostic indicator for patients with TNBC. As an accessible and effective index, the GMS may be a promising tool to help clinicians assess prognostic risk and TME for patients with TNBC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xunxi Lu
- Department of Pathology, Sichuan University West China Hospital, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Yue Wang
- Department of Pathology, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, Shanghai, China
| | - Mengting He
- West China School of Medicine, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Zongchao Gou
- Department of Breast Surgery, Sichuan University West China Hospital, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
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Ebrahimnejad P, Mohammadi Z, Babaei A, Ahmadi M, Amirkhanloo S, Asare-Addo K, Nokhodchid A. Novel Strategies Using Sagacious Targeting for Site-Specific Drug Delivery in Breast Cancer Treatment: Clinical Potential and Applications. Crit Rev Ther Drug Carrier Syst 2024; 41:35-84. [PMID: 37824418 DOI: 10.1615/critrevtherdrugcarriersyst.v41.i1.20] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/14/2023]
Abstract
For more than a decade, researchers have been working to achieve new strategies and smart targeting drug delivery techniques and technologies to treat breast cancer (BC). Nanotechnology presents a hopeful strategy for targeted drug delivery into the building of new therapeutics using the properties of nanomaterials. Nanoparticles are of high regard in the field of diagnosis and the treatment of cancer. The use of these nanoparticles as an encouraging approach in the treatment of various cancers has drawn the interest of researchers in recent years. In order to achieve the maximum therapeutic effectiveness in the treatment of BC, combination therapy has also been adopted, leading to minimal side effects and thus an enhancement in the quality of life for patients. This review article compares, discusses and criticizes the approaches to treat BC using novel design strategies and smart targeting of site-specific drug delivery systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pedram Ebrahimnejad
- Department of Pharmaceutics, Faculty of Pharmacy, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran; Pharmaceutical Sciences Research Center, Hemoglobinopathy Institute, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran
| | - Zahra Mohammadi
- Department of Pharmaceutics, Faculty of Pharmacy, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran
| | - Amirhossein Babaei
- Department of Pharmaceutics, Faculty of Pharmacy, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran
| | - Melika Ahmadi
- Department of Pharmaceutics, Faculty of Pharmacy, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran
| | - Shervin Amirkhanloo
- Department of Pharmaceutics, Faculty of Pharmacy, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran
| | - Kofi Asare-Addo
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Huddersfield, Huddersfield, UK
| | - Ali Nokhodchid
- Lupin Pharmaceutical Research Center, Coral Springs, Florida, USA; Pharmaceutics Research Lab, Arundel Building, School of Life Sciences, University of Sussex, Brighton, UK
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32
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Gong H, Zhang P, Hu X, Zhang B. Integrated multiomic data analysis reveals the clinical significance of TXNIP and contributing to immune microenvironment in triple negative breast cancer. Transl Oncol 2024; 39:101808. [PMID: 37897832 PMCID: PMC10630669 DOI: 10.1016/j.tranon.2023.101808] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2023] [Revised: 09/19/2023] [Accepted: 10/16/2023] [Indexed: 10/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) is a type of breast cancer with the worst clinical outcome. TNBC is not sensitive to typical endocrine therapy and targeted therapy. Thioredoxin interacting protein (TXNIP), known as a tumor suppressor, is related to oxidative stress and energy metabolism. However, the clinical significance of TXNIP in TNBC and mechanism in immunity have not been fully reported. In this study, we found that the expression of TXNIP was downregulated obviously in TNBC tissues and negatively correlated with tumor grade by comprehensive bioinformatics analysis and immunohistochemistry staining of 108 TNBC tissues. Through in vivo and in vitro experiments, we identified TXNIP as a tumor suppressor in TNBC. By bulk mRNA and scRNA analysis, we found that TXNIP could enhance immune response in TNBC and was a potential biomarker for cancer immunity and immunotherapy. We also performed the drug susceptibility analysis to reveal the therapeutic value of TXNIP. In conclusion, our findings demonstrated that TXNIP was a tumor suppressor in TNBC and was involved in tumor malignancy progression. TXNIP was a potential biomarker for immunotherapy and promising molecular therapeutic target.
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Affiliation(s)
- Han Gong
- The 1st Department of Thoracic Surgery of Hunan Cancer Hospital & the Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Changsha 4100013, China; Molecular Biology Research Center and Center for Medical Genetics, School of Life Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - PeiHe Zhang
- Department of Histology and Embryology, Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Xingming Hu
- The 1st Department of Thoracic Surgery of Hunan Cancer Hospital & the Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Changsha 4100013, China.
| | - Bin Zhang
- The 1st Department of Thoracic Surgery of Hunan Cancer Hospital & the Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Changsha 4100013, China; Department of Histology and Embryology, Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, China.
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33
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Huang J, Xu Z, Chen D, Zhou C, Shen Y. Pancancer analysis reveals the role of disulfidptosis in predicting prognosis, immune infiltration and immunotherapy response in tumors. Medicine (Baltimore) 2023; 102:e36830. [PMID: 38206694 PMCID: PMC10754585 DOI: 10.1097/md.0000000000036830] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2023] [Accepted: 12/08/2023] [Indexed: 01/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Disulfidptosis has been reported as a novel cell death process, suggesting a therapeutic strategy for cancer treatment. Herein, we constructed a multiomics data analysis to reveal the effects of disulfidptosis in tumors. Data for 33 kinds of tumors were downloaded from UCSC Xene, and disulfidptosis-related genes (DRGs) were selected from a previous study. After finishing processing data by the R packages, the expression and coexpression of DRGs in different tumors were assessed as well as copy number variations. The interaction network was drawn by STRING, and the activity of disulfidptosis was compared to the single-sample gene set enrichment analysis algorithm. Subsequently, the differences in DRGs for prognosis and clinicopathological features were evaluated, and the tumor immune microenvironment was assessed by the TIMER and TISCH databases. Tumor mutation burden, stem cell features and microsatellite instability were applied to predict drug resistance, and the expression of checkpoints was identified for the prediction of immunotherapy. Moreover, the TCIA, CellMiner and Enrichr databases were also utilized for selecting potential agents. Ten DRGs were differentially expressed in tumors, and the plots of coexpression and interaction revealed their correlation. Survival analysis suggested SLC7A11 as the most prognosis-related DRG with the most significant results. Additionally, the comparison also reflected the differences in DRGs in the status of pathologic lymph node metastasis for 5 types of tumors. The tumor immune microenvironment showed commonality among tumors based on immune infiltration and single-cell sequencing, and the analysis of tumor mutation burden, stemness and microsatellite instability showed a mostly positive correlation with DRGs. Moreover, referring to the prediction about clinical treatment, most DRGs can enhance sensitivity to chemotherapeutic agents but decrease the response to immune inhibitors with increasing expression. In this study, a primarily synthetic landscape of disulfidptosis in tumors was established and provided guidance for further exploration and investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juntao Huang
- Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Ningbo Medical Center Lihuili Hospital, The Affiliated Lihuili Hospital of Ningbo University, Ningbo, Zhejiang, China
| | - Ziqian Xu
- Department of Dermatology, Ningbo First Hospital, Zhejiang University, Zhejiang, China
| | - Dahua Chen
- Department of Gastroenterology, Ningbo Medical Center Lihuili Hospital, The Affiliated Lihuili Hospital of Ningbo University, Ningbo, Zhejiang, China
| | - Chongchang Zhou
- Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Ningbo Medical Center Lihuili Hospital, The Affiliated Lihuili Hospital of Ningbo University, Ningbo, Zhejiang, China
| | - Yi Shen
- Centre for Medical Research, Ningbo No.2 Hospital, Ningbo, China
- School of Medicine, Ningbo University, Ningbo, China
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Zhang S, Gu J, Shi LL, Qian B, Diao X, Jiang X, Wu J, Wu Z, Shen A. A pan-cancer analysis of anti-proliferative protein family genes for therapeutic targets in cancer. Sci Rep 2023; 13:21607. [PMID: 38062199 PMCID: PMC10703880 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-48961-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2023] [Accepted: 12/01/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023] Open
Abstract
The recently discovered APRO (anti-proliferative protein) family encodes a group of trans-membrane glycoproteins and includes 6 members: TOB1, TOB2, BTG1, BTG2, BTG3 and BTG4. The APRO family is reportedly associated with the initiation and progression of cancers. This study aims to undertake a comprehensive investigation of the APRO family of proteins as a prognostic biomarker in various human tumors. We performed a pan-cancer analysis of the APRO family based on The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA). With the bioinformatics methods, we explored the prognostic value of the APRO family and the correlation between APRO family expression and tumor mutation burden (TMB), microsatellite instability (MSI), drug sensitivity, and immunotherapy in numerous cancers. Our results show that the APRO family was primarily down-regulated in cancer samples. The expression of APRO family members was linked with patient prognosis. In addition, APRO family genes showed significant association with immune infiltrate subtypes, tumor microenvironment, and tumor cell stemness. Finally, our study also demonstrated the relationship between APRO family genes and drug sensitivity. This study provides comprehensive information to understand the APRO family's role as an oncogene and predictor of survival in some tumor types.
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Affiliation(s)
- Siming Zhang
- Cancer Research Center Nantong, Nantong Tumor Hospital and Affiliated Tumor Hospital of Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu, China
| | - Jue Gu
- Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Nantong, China
| | - Ling-Ling Shi
- Affiliated Nantong Hospital Third of Nantong University, Nantong, China
| | - Bo Qian
- Maternal and Child Care Hospital of Qidong, Nantong, China
| | - Xun Diao
- Cancer Research Center Nantong, Nantong Tumor Hospital and Affiliated Tumor Hospital of Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu, China
| | - Xiaohui Jiang
- Department of General Surgery, Nantong Tumor Hospital and Affiliated Tumor Hospital of Nantong University, Nantong, China
| | - Jindong Wu
- Department of General Surgery, Nantong Tumor Hospital and Affiliated Tumor Hospital of Nantong University, Nantong, China
| | - Zhijun Wu
- Department of Oncology, Nantong Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, Nantong, China.
| | - Aiguo Shen
- Cancer Research Center Nantong, Nantong Tumor Hospital and Affiliated Tumor Hospital of Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu, China.
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Yang T, Li W, Huang T, Zhou J. Genetic Testing Enhances the Precision Diagnosis and Treatment of Breast Cancer. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:16607. [PMID: 38068930 PMCID: PMC10706486 DOI: 10.3390/ijms242316607] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2023] [Revised: 11/14/2023] [Accepted: 11/20/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023] Open
Abstract
The contemporary comprehension of breast cancer has progressed to the molecular level. As a heterogeneous malignancy, conventional pathological diagnosis and histological classification could no longer meet the needs of precisely managing breast cancer. Genetic testing based on gene expression profiles and gene mutations has emerged and substantially contributed to the precise diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer. Multigene assays (MGAs) are explored for early-stage breast cancer patients, aiding the selection of adjuvant therapy and predicting prognosis. For metastatic breast cancer patients, testing specific genes indicates potentially effective antitumor agents. In this review, genetic testing in early-stage and metastatic breast cancer is summarized, as well as the advantages and challenges of genetic testing in breast cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Tao Huang
- Department of Breast and Thyroid Surgery, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, China (W.L.)
| | - Jun Zhou
- Department of Breast and Thyroid Surgery, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, China (W.L.)
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Cao J, Wu C, Han Z, Liu Z, Yang Z, Ren M, Wang X. Revealing the potential of necroptosis-related genes in prognosis, immune characteristics, and treatment strategies for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. Sci Rep 2023; 13:20382. [PMID: 37989855 PMCID: PMC10663615 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-47096-7] [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: 07/10/2023] [Accepted: 11/09/2023] [Indexed: 11/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Necroptosis is a recently discovered apoptotic mechanism that has been linked to tumor formation, prognosis, and treatment response. However, the relationship between the TME and NRGs remains unclear. In this study, we analyzed the expression patterns of NRGs in 769 HNSCC cases from two distinct data sets. Our findings revealed distinct genetic groups and a correlation between patient clinical features, prognosis, TME cell infiltration characteristics, and NRG alterations. We then developed an NRG model to predict OS and confirmed its accuracy in predicting OS in HNSCC patients. Moreover, we have devised a precise nomogram that enhances the clinical utility of the NRG model substantially. The low-risk group had a better OS, and they were associated with immune suppression, more mutated genes, and higher TIDE scores. The risk score also had a significant correlation with the CSC index and susceptibility to anti-tumor agents. Our study provides insights into how NRGs affect prognosis, clinically significant features, TME, and immunotherapy response in HNSCC. With a better knowledge of NRGs in HNSCC, we could assess the prognosis and develop immunotherapy regimens that are more successful at opening up new doors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junhua Cao
- Plastic Surgery of the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, 1 East Road, JianShe, Erqi District, Zhengzhou City, 450052, Henan, China
| | - Congxiao Wu
- Department of Plastic and Cosmetic Surgery, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangdong, China
| | - Zhaofeng Han
- Plastic Surgery of the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, 1 East Road, JianShe, Erqi District, Zhengzhou City, 450052, Henan, China
| | - Zheng Liu
- Plastic Surgery of the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, 1 East Road, JianShe, Erqi District, Zhengzhou City, 450052, Henan, China
| | - Zheng Yang
- Plastic Surgery of the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, 1 East Road, JianShe, Erqi District, Zhengzhou City, 450052, Henan, China
| | - Minge Ren
- Plastic Surgery of the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, 1 East Road, JianShe, Erqi District, Zhengzhou City, 450052, Henan, China
| | - Ximei Wang
- Plastic Surgery of the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, 1 East Road, JianShe, Erqi District, Zhengzhou City, 450052, Henan, China.
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He S, Ji Z, Zhang Q, Zhang X, Chen J, Hu J, Wang R, Ding Y. Investigation of LGALS2 expression in the TCGA database reveals its clinical relevance in breast cancer immunotherapy and drug resistance. Sci Rep 2023; 13:17445. [PMID: 37838802 PMCID: PMC10576795 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-44777-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2023] [Accepted: 10/12/2023] [Indexed: 10/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Breast cancer (BRCA) is known as the leading cause of death in women worldwide and has a poor prognosis. Traditional therapeutic strategies such as surgical resection, radiotherapy and chemotherapy can cause adverse reactions such as drug resistance. Immunotherapy, a new treatment approach with fewer side effects and stronger universality, can prolong the survival of BRCA patients and even achieve clinical cure. However, due to population heterogeneity and other reasons, there are still certain factors that limit the efficacy of immunotherapy. Therefore, the importance of finding new tumor immune biomarker cannot be emphasized enough. Studies have reported that LGALS2 was closely related to immunotherapy efficacy, however, it is unclear whether it can act as an immune checkpoint for BRCA immunotherapy. In the current study, changes in LGALS2 expression were analyzed in public datasets such as TCGA-BRCA. We found that LGALS2 expression was associated with immune infiltration, drug resistance and other characteristics of BRCA. Moreover, high LGALS2 expression was closely related to immunotherapy response, and was associated with methylation modifications and clinical resistance for the first time. These findings may help to elucidate the role of LGALS2 in BRCA for the development and clinical application of future immunotherapy strategies against BRCA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Song He
- Department of Laboratory Animals, College of Animal Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, 130062, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhonghao Ji
- Department of Laboratory Animals, College of Animal Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, 130062, People's Republic of China
- Department of Basic Medicine, Changzhi Medical College, Changzhi, 046000, Shanxi, People's Republic of China
| | - Qing Zhang
- Department of Laboratory Animals, College of Animal Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, 130062, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiwen Zhang
- Department of Laboratory Animals, College of Animal Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, 130062, People's Republic of China
| | - Jian Chen
- Department of Laboratory Animals, College of Animal Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, 130062, People's Republic of China
| | - Jinping Hu
- Department of Laboratory Animals, College of Animal Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, 130062, People's Republic of China
| | - Ruiqing Wang
- The Eye Center in the Second Hospital of Jilin University, Ziqiang Street 218#, Nanguan District, Changchun, Jilin, 130041, People's Republic of China.
| | - Yu Ding
- Department of Laboratory Animals, College of Animal Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, 130062, People's Republic of China.
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Zhou L, Wu J, Ruan M, Xiao Y, Lan H, Wu Q, Yu CW, Zhang Q. The loss of B7-H4 expression in breast cancer cells escaping from T cell cytotoxicity contributes to epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition. Breast Cancer Res 2023; 25:115. [PMID: 37794509 PMCID: PMC10548745 DOI: 10.1186/s13058-023-01721-5] [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: 02/21/2023] [Accepted: 09/26/2023] [Indexed: 10/06/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND B7 homology 4 (B7-H4), a potential target for cancer therapy, has been demonstrated to inhibit T cell cytotoxicity in the early stages of breast cancer. However, B7-H4 manipulating breast tumor immune microenvironment (TIME) in the tumor progression remains unknown. METHODS We engineered T cells with B7-H4-specific chimeric antigen receptors (CARs) and performed a T cell co-culture assay to characterize B7-H4 expression level in breast cancer cells escaping from T cell cytotoxicity. We generated B7-H4 knockout (KO) and overexpression (OE) breast cancer cells to determine the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and stemness characteristics in vitro and in vivo, including tumor proliferation, migration, metastasis and chemoresistance. The Cancer Genome Atlas breast cancer database was accessed to investigate the correlation between B7-H4 expression levels and EMT characteristics in patients with breast cancer. RESULTS Our result found that B7-H4 expression level was significantly reduced in a subset of breast cancer cells that escaped from the cytotoxicity of B7-H4 CAR-T cells. Compared with wild type cells, B7-H4 KO cells prompt EMT and stemness characteristics, including migration, invasion and metastasis, and OE cells vice versa. The increase in H3K27me3 in KO cells confirmed the epigenetic reprogramming of cancer stem cells. The IC50 of doxorubicin or oxaliplatin significantly increased in KO cells, which was in agreement with a decrease in OE cells. Moreover, a trend of downregulated B7-H4 from stage I to stage II breast cancer patients indicates that the low-expressing B7-H4 breast cancer cells escaping from TIME have spread to nearby breast lymph nodes in the cancer progression. CONCLUSIONS Our study illuminates the novel role of renouncing B7-H4 in breast cancer cells through immune escape, which contributes to EMT processes and provides new insights for breast cancer treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Linlin Zhou
- Institute of Immunotherapy, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Jichun Wu
- Institute of Immunotherapy, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Mei Ruan
- Institute of Immunotherapy, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Yonglei Xiao
- Institute of Immunotherapy, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Hailin Lan
- Institute of Immunotherapy, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Qiongwen Wu
- Institute of Immunotherapy, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Chen-Wei Yu
- Institute of Immunotherapy, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China.
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China.
- Department of Statistics and Information Science, Fu Jen Catholic University, New Taipei City, Taiwan.
| | - Qiuyu Zhang
- Institute of Immunotherapy, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China.
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China.
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Chen C, Ye L, Yi J, Liu T, Li Z. FN1 mediated activation of aspartate metabolism promotes the progression of triple-negative and luminal a breast cancer. Breast Cancer Res Treat 2023; 201:515-533. [PMID: 37458908 DOI: 10.1007/s10549-023-07032-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2023] [Accepted: 06/28/2023] [Indexed: 08/29/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Breast cancer (BC) is regarded as one of the most common cancers diagnosed among the female population and has an extremely high mortality rate. It is known that Fibronectin 1 (FN1) drives the occurrence and development of a variety of cancers through metabolic reprogramming. Aspartic acid is considered to be an important substrate for nucleotide synthesis. However, the regulatory mechanism between FN1 and aspartate metabolism is currently unclear. METHODS We used RNA sequencing (RNA seq) and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry to analyze the tumor tissues and paracancerous tissues of patients. MCF7 and MDA-MB-231 cells were used to explore the effects of FN1-regulated aspartic acid metabolism on cell survival, invasion, migration and tumor growth. We used PCR, Western blot, immunocytochemistry and immunofluorescence techniques to study it. RESULTS We found that FN1 was highly expressed in tumor tissues, especially in Lumina A and TNBC subtypes, and was associated with poor prognosis. In vivo and in vitro experiments showed that silencing FN1 inhibits the activation of the YAP1/Hippo pathway by enhancing YAP1 phosphorylation, down-regulates SLC1A3-mediated aspartate uptake and utilization by tumor cells, inhibits BC cell proliferation, invasion and migration, and promotes apoptosis. In addition, inhibition of FN1 combined with the YAP1 inhibitor or SLC1A3 inhibitor can effectively inhibit tumor growth, of which inhibition of FN1 combined with the YAP1 inhibitor is more effective. CONCLUSION Targeting the "FN1/YAP1/SLC1A3/Aspartate metabolism" regulatory axis provides a new target for BC diagnosis and treatment. This study also revealed that intratumoral metabolic heterogeneity plays an important role in the progression of different subtypes of breast cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chen Chen
- Department of Breast Surgery, Harbin Medical University Cancer Hospital, Harbin, 150081, China
| | - Leiguang Ye
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Harbin Medical University Cancer Hospital, Harbin, 150081, China
| | - Jinfeng Yi
- Department of Pathology, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, 150081, China
| | - Tang Liu
- Department of Breast Surgery, Harbin Medical University Cancer Hospital, Harbin, 150081, China.
| | - Zhigao Li
- Department of Breast Surgery, Harbin Medical University Cancer Hospital, Harbin, 150081, China.
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Kern R, da Silva JC, Negretti F, Ferreira MO, Coletto MIO, de Oliveira ST, Alves FM, Scandolara TB, Rech D, Panis C. The Expression of CTLA-4 in Breast Tumors and Tumor-Infiltrating Leukocytes Affects Patients' Systemic Inflammatory Status and Varies According to Their Molecular Subtypes. Inflammation 2023; 46:1639-1652. [PMID: 37237069 DOI: 10.1007/s10753-023-01830-5] [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: 03/22/2023] [Revised: 04/28/2023] [Accepted: 05/01/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
Recent evidence has pointed out that the cytotoxic T lymphocyte-associated antigen 4 (CTLA-4) expression is a poor prognosis factor. However, the implications of CTLA-4 expression on circulating inflammatory mediators are unclear for breast cancer. Tumor biopsies and blood samples were collected from 117 breast cancer patients. Oxidative stress parameters were evaluated in plasma samples by measuring the lipoperoxidation profile and nitric oxide metabolites (NOx). Interleukins 12 (IL-12) and 4 (IL-4) were assessed by ELISA. CTLA-4 expression was determined by immunofluorescence assessed by its labeling in tumor-infiltrating leukocytes (TILs) or breast tumors. Correlations between CTLA-4 expression in breast tumors with TCD4/TCD8 infiltrating lymphocyte and inflammation-related genes were performed using data from TIMER 2.0/TCGA databases (n = 2160). CTLA-4 expression in TILs significantly correlated to triple-negative breast tumors. Patients carrying CTLA-4-positive tumors exhibited lower plasmatic NOx levels, and those expressing CTLA-4 in TILs had reduced levels of IL-12 in plasma. No changes in either IL-4 or lipid peroxidation profiles were detected concerning any CTLA4 status. Compared to the Luminal A ones, oxidative stress parameters and cytokines were observed in patients bearing triple-negative tumors. CTLA-4 expression in all breast cancer subtypes positively correlated to TCD4/TCD8 lymphocyte infiltrates, as well as to the pro-inflammatory genes IL12A, IL4, NFKB1, NFKB2, NOS1, NOS2, and NOS3. CTLA-4 expression in both tumor and TILs can affect the systemic inflammatory status of breast cancer patients, especially antitumor molecules such as IL-12 and NOx that correlate to more aggressive disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rodrigo Kern
- Laboratório Biologia de Tumores, Universidade Estadual Do Oeste Do Paraná, Francisco Beltrão, PR, Brazil
- Programa de Pós-Graduação Em Ciências Aplicadas À Saúde, Universidade Estadual Do Oeste Do Paraná, Francisco Beltrão, PR, Brazil
| | - Janaina Carla da Silva
- Laboratório Biologia de Tumores, Universidade Estadual Do Oeste Do Paraná, Francisco Beltrão, PR, Brazil
- Programa de Pós-Graduação Em Ciências Aplicadas À Saúde, Universidade Estadual Do Oeste Do Paraná, Francisco Beltrão, PR, Brazil
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, Université de Montréal, Montreal, Canada
| | - Fábio Negretti
- Universidade Estadual Do Oeste Do Paraná, Campus Cascavel, PR, Brazil
| | - Mariane Okamoto Ferreira
- Laboratório Biologia de Tumores, Universidade Estadual Do Oeste Do Paraná, Francisco Beltrão, PR, Brazil
- Programa de Pós-Graduação Em Ciências Aplicadas À Saúde, Universidade Estadual Do Oeste Do Paraná, Francisco Beltrão, PR, Brazil
| | | | - Stefania Tagliari de Oliveira
- Laboratório Biologia de Tumores, Universidade Estadual Do Oeste Do Paraná, Francisco Beltrão, PR, Brazil
- Programa de Residência Em Clínica Médica, Rede de Assistência À Saúde Metropolitana, Sarandi, PR, Brazil
| | - Fernanda Mara Alves
- Laboratório Biologia de Tumores, Universidade Estadual Do Oeste Do Paraná, Francisco Beltrão, PR, Brazil
| | - Thalita Basso Scandolara
- Laboratório Biologia de Tumores, Universidade Estadual Do Oeste Do Paraná, Francisco Beltrão, PR, Brazil
- Programa de Pós-Graduação Em Ciências Aplicadas À Saúde, Universidade Estadual Do Oeste Do Paraná, Francisco Beltrão, PR, Brazil
- Molecular Carcinogenesis Program, Brazilian National Cancer Institute (INCA), Research Coordination (CPQ), Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Daniel Rech
- Laboratório Biologia de Tumores, Universidade Estadual Do Oeste Do Paraná, Francisco Beltrão, PR, Brazil
- Programa de Pós-Graduação Em Ciências Aplicadas À Saúde, Universidade Estadual Do Oeste Do Paraná, Francisco Beltrão, PR, Brazil
- Hospital de Câncer de Francisco Beltrão, Francisco Beltrão, PR, Brazil
| | - Carolina Panis
- Laboratório Biologia de Tumores, Universidade Estadual Do Oeste Do Paraná, Francisco Beltrão, PR, Brazil.
- Programa de Pós-Graduação Em Ciências Aplicadas À Saúde, Universidade Estadual Do Oeste Do Paraná, Francisco Beltrão, PR, Brazil.
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Fabi A, Carbognin L, Botticelli A, Paris I, Fuso P, Savastano MC, La Verde N, Strina C, Pedersini R, Guarino S, Curigliano G, Criscitiello C, Raffaele M, Beano A, Franco A, Valerio MR, Verderame F, Fontana A, Haspinger ER, Caldara A, Di Leone A, Tortora G, Giannarelli D, Scambia G. Real-world ANASTASE study of atezolizumab+nab-paclitaxel as first-line treatment of PD-L1-positive metastatic triple-negative breast cancer. NPJ Breast Cancer 2023; 9:73. [PMID: 37684252 PMCID: PMC10491680 DOI: 10.1038/s41523-023-00579-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2022] [Accepted: 08/23/2023] [Indexed: 09/10/2023] Open
Abstract
The combination of atezolizumab and nab-paclitaxel is recommended in the EU as first-line treatment for PD-L1-positive metastatic triple-negative breast cancer (mTNBC), based on the results of phase III IMpassion130 trial. However, 'real-world' data on this combination are limited. The ANASTASE study (NCT05609903) collected data on atezolizumab plus nab-paclitaxel in PD-L1-positive mTNBC patients enrolled in the Italian Compassionate Use Program. A retrospective analysis was conducted in 29 Italian oncology centers among patients who completed at least one cycle of treatment. Data from 52 patients were gathered. Among them, 21.1% presented de novo stage IV; 78.8% previously received (neo)adjuvant treatment; 55.8% patients had only one site of metastasis; median number of treatment cycles was five (IQR: 3-8); objective response rate was 42.3% (95% CI: 28.9-55.7%). The median time-to-treatment discontinuation was 5 months (95% CI: 2.8-7.1); clinical benefit at 12 months was 45.8%. The median duration of response was 12.7 months (95% CI: 4.1-21.4). At a median follow-up of 20 months, the median progression-free survival was 6.3 months (95% CI: 3.9-8.7) and the median time to next treatment or death was 8.1 months (95% CI: 5.5-10.7). At 12 months and 24 months, the overall survival rates were 66.3% and 49.1%, respectively. The most common immune-related adverse events included rash (23.1%), hepatitis (11.5%), thyroiditis (11.5%) and pneumonia (9.6%). Within the ANASTASE study, patients with PD-L1-positive mTNBC treated with first-line atezolizumab plus nab-paclitaxel achieved PFS and ORR similar to those reported in the IMpassion130 study, with no unexpected adverse events.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessandra Fabi
- Precision Medicine Unit in Senology, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, Rome, Italy.
| | - Luisa Carbognin
- Division of Gynecology Oncology, Department of Woman and Child Health and Public Health, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Andrea Botticelli
- Medical Oncology Unit, La Sapienza, University of Rome, Policlinico Umberto I, Rome, Italy
| | - Ida Paris
- Division of Gynecology Oncology, Department of Woman and Child Health and Public Health, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Paola Fuso
- Division of Gynecology Oncology, Department of Woman and Child Health and Public Health, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Nicla La Verde
- Medical Oncology Unit, ASST Fatebenefratelli Sacco PO Luigi Sacco - Polo Universitario, Milan, Italy
| | - Carla Strina
- Medical Oncology Unit Azienda Socio-Sanitaria Territoriale Cremona, Cremona, Italy
| | | | - Stefania Guarino
- Medical Oncology Unit Santa Maria della Misericordia Hospital, Urbino, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Curigliano
- Department of Oncology and Hemato-Oncology, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
- Division of Early Drug Development, European Institute of Oncology, IRCCS, Milan, Italy
| | - Carmen Criscitiello
- Department of Oncology and Hemato-Oncology, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
- Division of Early Drug Development, European Institute of Oncology, IRCCS, Milan, Italy
| | - Mimma Raffaele
- Presidio Cassia Sant'andrea, Dipartimento Oncologico, Asl Roma1, Rome, Italy
| | - Alessandra Beano
- Department of Medical Oncology1, Città della Salute e della Scienza Hospital, Turin, Italy
| | - Antonio Franco
- Breast Unit, Department of Women, Children and Public Health Sciences, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | | | | | - Andrea Fontana
- Medical Oncology Unit 2, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Pisana, Pisa, Italy
| | | | | | - Alba Di Leone
- Breast Unit, Department of Women, Children and Public Health Sciences, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Giampaolo Tortora
- Medical Oncology, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, Rome, Italy
- Medical Oncology, Department of Translational Medicine and Surgery, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy
| | - Diana Giannarelli
- Epidemiology and Biostatistics Facility, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, Roma, Italy
| | - Giovanni Scambia
- Division of Gynecology Oncology, Department of Woman and Child Health and Public Health, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, Rome, Italy
- Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy
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Liu Y, Hu Y, Xue J, Li J, Yi J, Bu J, Zhang Z, Qiu P, Gu X. Advances in immunotherapy for triple-negative breast cancer. Mol Cancer 2023; 22:145. [PMID: 37660039 PMCID: PMC10474743 DOI: 10.1186/s12943-023-01850-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 28.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2023] [Accepted: 08/26/2023] [Indexed: 09/04/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Immunotherapy has recently emerged as a treatment strategy which stimulates the human immune system to kill tumor cells. Tumor immunotherapy is based on immune editing, which enhances the antigenicity of tumor cells and increases the tumoricidal effect of immune cells. It also suppresses immunosuppressive molecules, activates or restores immune system function, enhances anti-tumor immune responses, and inhibits the growth f tumor cell. This offers the possibility of reducing mortality in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). MAIN BODY Immunotherapy approaches for TNBC have been diversified in recent years, with breakthroughs in the treatment of this entity. Research on immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) has made it possible to identify different molecular subtypes and formulate individualized immunotherapy schedules. This review highlights the unique tumor microenvironment of TNBC and integrates and analyzes the advances in ICI therapy. It also discusses strategies for the combination of ICIs with chemotherapy, radiation therapy, targeted therapy, and emerging treatment methods such as nanotechnology, ribonucleic acid vaccines, and gene therapy. Currently, numerous ongoing or completed clinical trials are exploring the utilization of immunotherapy in conjunction with existing treatment modalities for TNBC. The objective of these investigations is to assess the effectiveness of various combined immunotherapy approaches and determine the most effective treatment regimens for patients with TNBC. CONCLUSION This review provides insights into the approaches used to overcome drug resistance in immunotherapy, and explores the directions of immunotherapy development in the treatment of TNBC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yang Liu
- Department of Oncology, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, 110004, Liaoning Province, China
| | - Yueting Hu
- Department of Oncology, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, 110004, Liaoning Province, China
| | - Jinqi Xue
- Department of Oncology, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, 110004, Liaoning Province, China
| | - Jingying Li
- Department of Health Management, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, 110004, Liaoning Province, China
| | - Jiang Yi
- Department of Oncology, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, 110004, Liaoning Province, China
| | - Jiawen Bu
- Department of Oncology, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, 110004, Liaoning Province, China
| | - Zhenyong Zhang
- Department of Oncology, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, 110004, Liaoning Province, China.
| | - Peng Qiu
- Department of Anesthesiology, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, 110004, Liaoning Province, China.
| | - Xi Gu
- Department of Oncology, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, 110004, Liaoning Province, China.
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Khalid F, Takagi K, Sato A, Yamaguchi M, Guestini F, Miki Y, Miyashita M, Hirakawa H, Ohi Y, Rai Y, Sagara Y, Sasano H, Suzuki T. Interleukin (IL)-17A in triple-negative breast cancer: a potent prognostic factor associated with intratumoral neutrophil infiltration. Breast Cancer 2023; 30:748-757. [PMID: 37178415 DOI: 10.1007/s12282-023-01467-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2022] [Accepted: 05/02/2023] [Indexed: 05/15/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is characterized as highly immunogenic and lacks specific targeted therapies. Interleukin 17A (IL-17A) is a controversial cytokine and is known to have anti-tumor and pro-tumor roles depending on the tumor microenvironment. In addition, IL-17A has been recently implicated in the recruitments of neutrophil into tumor tissues. Although IL-17A is considered tumor-promoting in breast cancer, its significance in the possible regulation of neutrophil infiltration in TNBC is not clearly defined. MATERIALS AND METHODS We immunolocalized IL-17A, CD66b (neutrophil marker), and chemokine (C-X-C motif) ligand 1 (CXCL1, neutrophil chemoattractant) in 108 TNBC specimens and assessed their correlation among each other. The correlation between these markers and clinicopathological parameters was also assessed. We subsequently performed in vitro study to address the possible regulation of CXCL1 by IL-17A using TNBC cell lines, MDA-MB-231 and HCC-38. RESULTS It was revealed that IL-17A correlated significantly with CXCL1 and CD66b, also CD66b with CXCL1. Furthermore, IL-17A was significantly associated with shorter disease-free and overall survival, especially in a high density CD66b group of patients. In vitro results revealed that IL-17A upregulated CXCL1 mRNA expression in a dose and time dependent manner, and this induction was significantly suppressed by an Akt inhibitor. CONCLUSION IL-17A was considered to contribute to neutrophil infiltration by inducing CXCL1 in TNBC tissues and educating neutrophils to promote tumor progression. IL-17A might therefore serve as a potent prognostic factor in TNBC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Freeha Khalid
- Department of Anatomic Pathology, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, 2-1 Seiryo-machi, Aoba-ku, Sendai, Miyagi, 980-8575, Japan
| | - Kiyoshi Takagi
- Department of Pathology and Histotechnology, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, 2-1 Seiryo-machi, Aoba-ku, Sendai, Miyagi, 980-8575, Japan.
| | - Ai Sato
- Department of Pathology and Histotechnology, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, 2-1 Seiryo-machi, Aoba-ku, Sendai, Miyagi, 980-8575, Japan
| | - Mio Yamaguchi
- Department of Pathology and Histotechnology, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, 2-1 Seiryo-machi, Aoba-ku, Sendai, Miyagi, 980-8575, Japan
| | - Fouzia Guestini
- Department of Anatomic Pathology, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, 2-1 Seiryo-machi, Aoba-ku, Sendai, Miyagi, 980-8575, Japan
| | - Yasuhiro Miki
- Department of Nursing, Faculty of Medical Science and Welfare, Tohoku Bunka Gakuen University, 6-45-1 Kunimi, Aoba-ku, Sendai, Miyagi, 981-8551, Japan
| | - Minoru Miyashita
- Department of Breast and Endocrine Surgical Oncology, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, 2-1 Seiryo-machi, Aoba-ku, Sendai, Miyagi, 980-8575, Japan
| | - Hisashi Hirakawa
- Department of Surgery, Japan Community Health Care Organization Sendai Hospital, 2-1-1 Murasakiyama, Izumi-ku, Sendai, 981-3281, Japan
- Department of Surgery, Tohoku Kosai Hospital, 2-3-11 Kokubun-cho, Aoba-ku, Sendai, Miyagi, 980-0803, Japan
| | - Yasuyo Ohi
- Department of Pathology, Hakuaikai Sagara Hospital, 3-31 Matsubara-machi, Kagoshima, 892-0833, Japan
| | - Yoshiaki Rai
- Department of Breast Surgical Oncology, Hakuaikai Sagara Hospital, 3-31 Matsubara-machi, Kagoshima, 892-0833, Japan
| | - Yasuaki Sagara
- Department of Breast Surgical Oncology, Hakuaikai Sagara Hospital, 3-31 Matsubara-machi, Kagoshima, 892-0833, Japan
| | - Hironobu Sasano
- Department of Anatomic Pathology, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, 2-1 Seiryo-machi, Aoba-ku, Sendai, Miyagi, 980-8575, Japan
| | - Takashi Suzuki
- Department of Anatomic Pathology, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, 2-1 Seiryo-machi, Aoba-ku, Sendai, Miyagi, 980-8575, Japan
- Department of Pathology and Histotechnology, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, 2-1 Seiryo-machi, Aoba-ku, Sendai, Miyagi, 980-8575, Japan
- Department of Pathology, Tohoku University Hospital, 1-1 Seiryo-machi, Aoba-ku, Sendai, Miyagi, 980-8574, Japan
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Dai YW, Wang WM, Zhou X. Development of a CD8 + T cell-based molecular classification for predicting prognosis and heterogeneity in triple-negative breast cancer by integrated analysis of single-cell and bulk RNA-sequencing. Heliyon 2023; 9:e19798. [PMID: 37810147 PMCID: PMC10559128 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e19798] [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: 03/08/2023] [Revised: 08/25/2023] [Accepted: 09/01/2023] [Indexed: 10/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), although the most intractable subtype, is characterized by abundant immunogenicity, which enhances responsiveness to immunotherapeutic measures. Methods First, we identified CD8+ T cell core genes (TRCG) based on single-cell sequence and traditional transcriptome sequencing and then used this data to develop a first-of-its-kind classification system based on CD8+ T cells in patients with TNBC. Next, TRCG-related patterns were systematically analyzed, and their correlation with genomic features, immune activity (microenvironment associated with immune infiltration), and clinicopathological characteristics were assessed in the Molecular Taxonomy of Breast Cancer International Consortium (METABRIC), the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), GSE103091, GSE96058 databases. Additionally, a CD8+ T cell-related prognostic signature (TRPS) was developed to quantify a patient-specific TRCG pattern. What's more, the genes-related TRPS was validated by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) experiment. Results This study, for the first time, distinguished two subsets in patients with TNBC based on the TRCG. The immune microenvironment and prognostic stratification between these have distinct heterogeneity. Furthermore, this study constructed a novel scoring system named TRPS, which we show to be a robust prognostic marker for TNBC that is related to the intensity of immune infiltration and immunotherapy. Moreover, the levels of genes related the TRPS were validated by quantitative Real-Time PCR. Conclusions Consequently, this study unraveled an association between the TRCG and the tumor microenvironment in TNBC. TRPS model represents an effective tool for survival prediction and treatment guidance in TNBC that can also help identify individual variations in TME and stratify patients who are sensitive to anticancer immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yin-wei Dai
- Department of Breast Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, China
| | - Wei-ming Wang
- Department of Hepatopancreatobiliary Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
| | - Xiang Zhou
- Department of Breast Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, China
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Qiao W, Jia Z, Guo W, Liu Q, Guo X, Deng M. Prognostic and Clinical Significance of Human Leukocyte Antigen Class I Expression in Breast Cancer: A Meta-Analysis. Mol Diagn Ther 2023; 27:573-582. [PMID: 37464212 DOI: 10.1007/s40291-023-00664-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/03/2023] [Indexed: 07/20/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The value of human leukocyte antigen (HLA; also known as major histocompatibility complex) class I expression for the prediction of breast cancer survival outcomes remains unclear. We conducted a meta-analysis to explore the prognostic significance of this expression. MATERIALS AND METHODS We searched electronic databases to identify reports on associations of HLA class I protein or mRNA expression with survival outcomes and clinicopathological factors in the breast cancer context. Pooled hazard ratios (HRs) and odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were used to conduct a quantitative meta-analysis. RESULTS The sample comprised eight studies involving 3590 patients. Only the classical HLA class Ia (HLA-ABC) molecules studies were included in this meta-analysis. Elevated HLA class I protein expression was found to be significantly related to better disease-free survival (DFS) (HR 0.58, 95% CI 0.35-0.95, P = 0.03), particularly among patients with triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) (HR 0.31, 95% CI 0.18-0.52, P < 0.001), but not to overall survival. It was also associated with estrogen receptor (ER) negativity (OR 1.71, 95% CI 1.24-2.35, P = 0.001), progesterone receptor (PR) negativity (OR 1.49, 95% CI 1.22-1.81, P < 0.001), human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) positivity (OR 1.51, 95% CI 1.18-1.94, P = 0.001), TNBC (OR 1.68, 95% CI 1.15-2.45, P < 0.01), high Ki-67 indices (OR 2.06, 95% CI 1.62-2.61, P < 0.001), and high nuclear grades (OR 2.67, 95% CI 2.17-3.29, P < 0.001). CONCLUSION This meta-analysis demonstrated that enhanced HLA class I protein expression is significantly associated with the better DFS of patients with breast cancer, especially TNBC, as well as with ER and PR negativity, HER2 positivity, TNBC, and high Ki-67 indices and nuclear grades. The immune target HLA class I may serve as a prognostic indicator for breast cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weiqiang Qiao
- Department of Breast Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital and College of Clinical Medicine of Henan University of Science and Technology, Jinghua Road No. 24, Luoyang, 471000, China
| | - Zhiqiang Jia
- Henan Provincial Key Medical Laboratory of Tissue Damage and Repair, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Henan University of Science and Technology, Luoyang, 471000, China
| | - Wanying Guo
- Department of Breast Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital and College of Clinical Medicine of Henan University of Science and Technology, Jinghua Road No. 24, Luoyang, 471000, China
| | - Qipeng Liu
- Department of Breast Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital and College of Clinical Medicine of Henan University of Science and Technology, Jinghua Road No. 24, Luoyang, 471000, China
| | - Xiao Guo
- Department of Breast Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital and College of Clinical Medicine of Henan University of Science and Technology, Jinghua Road No. 24, Luoyang, 471000, China
| | - Miao Deng
- Department of Breast Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital and College of Clinical Medicine of Henan University of Science and Technology, Jinghua Road No. 24, Luoyang, 471000, China.
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Zhu S, Wu Y, Song B, Yi M, Yan Y, Mei Q, Wu K. Recent advances in targeted strategies for triple-negative breast cancer. J Hematol Oncol 2023; 16:100. [PMID: 37641116 PMCID: PMC10464091 DOI: 10.1186/s13045-023-01497-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2023] [Accepted: 08/21/2023] [Indexed: 08/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), a highly aggressive subtype of breast cancer, negatively expresses estrogen receptor, progesterone receptor, and the human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2). Although chemotherapy is the main form of treatment for patients with TNBC, the effectiveness of chemotherapy for TNBC is still limited. The search for more effective therapies is urgent. Multiple targeted therapeutic strategies have emerged according to the specific molecules and signaling pathways expressed in TNBC. These include PI3K/AKT/mTOR inhibitors, epidermal growth factor receptor inhibitors, Notch inhibitors, poly ADP-ribose polymerase inhibitors, and antibody-drug conjugates. Moreover, immune checkpoint inhibitors, for example, pembrolizumab, atezolizumab, and durvalumab, are widely explored in the clinic. We summarize recent advances in targeted therapy and immunotherapy in TNBC, with the aim of serving as a reference for the development of individualized treatment of patients with TNBC in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuangli Zhu
- Department of Oncology, Tongji Hospital of Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China
| | - Yuze Wu
- Department of Oncology, Tongji Hospital of Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China
| | - Bin Song
- Cancer Center, Shanxi Bethune Hospital, Shanxi Academy of Medical Science, Tongji Shanxi Hospital, Third Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, 030032, China
| | - Ming Yi
- Department of Breast Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, College of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310000, China
| | - Yuheng Yan
- Department of Oncology, Tongji Hospital of Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China
| | - Qi Mei
- Cancer Center, Shanxi Bethune Hospital, Shanxi Academy of Medical Science, Tongji Shanxi Hospital, Third Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, 030032, China.
- Cancer Center, Tongji Hospital of Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China.
| | - Kongming Wu
- Cancer Center, Shanxi Bethune Hospital, Shanxi Academy of Medical Science, Tongji Shanxi Hospital, Third Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, 030032, China.
- Cancer Center, Tongji Hospital of Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China.
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Qi Y, Wu H, Zhu T, Liu Z, Liu C, Yan C, Wu Z, Xu Y, Bai Y, Yang L, Cheng D, Zhang X, Zhao H, Zhao C, Dai X. Acetyl-cinobufagin suppresses triple-negative breast cancer progression by inhibiting the STAT3 pathway. Aging (Albany NY) 2023; 15:8258-8274. [PMID: 37651362 PMCID: PMC10497018 DOI: 10.18632/aging.204967] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2022] [Accepted: 07/14/2023] [Indexed: 09/02/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The incidence of breast cancer (BC) worldwide has increased substantially in recent years. Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) refers to a crucial event impacting tumor heterogeneity. Although cinobufagin acts as an effective anticancer agent, the clinical use of cinobufagin is limited due to its strong toxicity. Acetyl-cinobufagin, a pre-drug of cinobufagin, was developed and prepared with greater efficacy and lower toxicity. METHODS A heterograft mouse model using triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) cell lines, was used to evaluate the potency of acetyl-cinobufagin. Signal transducer and stimulator of transcription 3 (STAT3)/EMT involvement was investigated by gene knockout experiments using siRNA and Western blot analysis. RESULTS Acetyl-cinobufagin inhibited proliferation, migration, and cell cycle S/G2 transition and promoted apoptosis in TNBC cells in vitro. In general, IL6 triggered the phosphorylation of the transcription factor STAT3 thereby activating the STAT3 pathway and inducing EMT. Mechanistically, acetyl-cinobufagin suppressed the phosphorylation of the transcription factor STAT3 and blocked the interleukin (IL6)-triggered translocation of STAT3 to the cell nucleus. In addition, acetyl-cinobufagin suppressed EMT in TNBC by inhibiting the STAT3 pathway. Experiments in an animal model of breast cancer clearly showed that acetyl-cinobufagin was able to reduce tumor growth. CONCLUSIONS The findings of this study support the potential clinical use of acetyl-cinobufagin as a STAT3 inhibitor in TNBC adjuvant therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yufeng Qi
- The First People’s Hospital of Xiaoshan District, Xiaoshan Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Hangzhou 311200, Zhejiang, China
| | - Haodong Wu
- The First Affiliated Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325000, Zhejiang, China
| | - Tianru Zhu
- The First Affiliated Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325000, Zhejiang, China
| | - Zitian Liu
- The First Affiliated Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325000, Zhejiang, China
| | - Conghui Liu
- The First Affiliated Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325000, Zhejiang, China
| | - Congzhi Yan
- The First Affiliated Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325000, Zhejiang, China
| | - Zhixuan Wu
- The First Affiliated Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325000, Zhejiang, China
| | - Yiying Xu
- The First Affiliated Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325000, Zhejiang, China
| | - Ying Bai
- Institute of Life Sciences, Biomedical Collaborative Innovation Center of Zhejiang Province, Wenzhou University, Wenzhou 325035, Zhejiang, China
| | - Lehe Yang
- The First Affiliated Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325000, Zhejiang, China
| | - Dezhi Cheng
- The First Affiliated Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325000, Zhejiang, China
| | - Xiaohua Zhang
- The First Affiliated Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325000, Zhejiang, China
| | - Haiyang Zhao
- Institute of Life Sciences, Biomedical Collaborative Innovation Center of Zhejiang Province, Wenzhou University, Wenzhou 325035, Zhejiang, China
| | - Chengguang Zhao
- The First Affiliated Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325000, Zhejiang, China
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325035, Zhejiang, China
| | - Xuanxuan Dai
- The First Affiliated Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325000, Zhejiang, China
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Gui Z, Liu P, Zhang D, Wang W. Clinical implications and immune implications features of TARS1 in breast cancer. Front Oncol 2023; 13:1207867. [PMID: 37637061 PMCID: PMC10455957 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2023.1207867] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2023] [Accepted: 07/21/2023] [Indexed: 08/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Background There has been an increase in the number of women suffering from breast cancer in recent years, and discovering new therapeutic targets and efficacy predictive markers is critical for comprehensive breast cancer treatment. Methods First, we used bioinformatics methods to analyze TARS1(encoding cytoplasmicthreonyl-tRNA synthetase) expression, prognosis, and clinicopathological characteristics in TCGA database breast cancers, and then we collected breast cancer specimens from our center for validation. TARS1 was then subjected to GSEA (Gene Set Enrichment Analysis) enrichment analysis, GO/KEGG pathway enrichment analysis, and breast cancer immune infiltration characterization. As a last step, we examined TARS1's effects on breast cancer cell behavior with cellular assays. Results The overexpression of TARS1 has been found in several malignant tumors, including breast cancer, and has been linked to poor prognoses. Breast cancers with large primary tumors and negative hormone receptors are more likely to overexpress TARS1. Overexpression of TARS1 promotes the infiltration of T cells, such as Tregs and Th2s, while inhibiting the infiltration of NK cells and CD8+ T cells, which are anticancer cells in breast cancer. TARS1 was also found to be co-expressed with the majority of immune checkpoint-related genes, and breast cancer with TARS1 overexpression responded better to immunotherapy. By knocking down TARS1, breast cancer cells were prevented from proliferating and invading, as well as exhibiting other malignant biological properties. Conclusion According to our study, TARS1 may be an oncogene in breast cancer and may be a biomarker of efficacy or a target of immunotherapy in breast cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhengwei Gui
- Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
- Department of Breast and Thyroid Surgery, Tongji Hospital, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Piao Liu
- Department of General Surgery, Hubei Provincial Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Dong Zhang
- Department of General Surgery, Hubei Provincial Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Wanju Wang
- Department of General Surgery, Hubei Provincial Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Wuhan, Hubei, China
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Lin F, Huang J, Zhu W, Jiang T, Guo J, Xia W, Chen M, Guo L, Deng W, Lin H. Prognostic value and immune landscapes of TERT promoter methylation in triple negative breast cancer. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1218987. [PMID: 37575241 PMCID: PMC10416624 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1218987] [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: 05/08/2023] [Accepted: 07/14/2023] [Indexed: 08/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Treatment options for patients with triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) remain limited to mainstay therapies owing to a lack of efficacious therapeutic targets. Accordingly, there is an urgent need to discover and identify novel molecular targets for the treatment and diagnosis of this disease. In this study, we analyzed the correlation of telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) methylation status with TERT expression, prognosis, and immune infiltration in TNBC and identified the role of TERT methylation in the regulation TNBC prognosis and immunotherapy. Methods Data relating to the transcriptome, clinicopathological characteristics and methylation of TNBC patients were obtained from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database. TERT expression levels and differential methylation sites (DMSs) were detected. The correlations between TERT expression and DMSs were calculated. Kaplan-Meier curves was plotted to analyze the relationship between the survival of TNBC patients and the DMSs. The correlations of DMSs and TERT expression with several immunological characteristics of immune microenvironment (immune cell infiltration, immunomodulators, immune-related biological pathways, and immune checkpoints) were assessed. The results were validated using 40 TNBC patients from Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center (SYSUCC). Results Six DMSs were identified. Among them, four sites (cg11625005, cg07380026, cg17166338, and cg26006951) were within the TERT promoter, in which two sites (cg07380026 and cg26006951) were significantly related to the prognosis of patients with TNBC. Further validation using 40 TNBC samples from SYSUCC showed that the high methylation of the cg26006951 CpG site was associated with poor survival prognosis (P=0.0022). TERT expression was significantly correlated with pathological N stage and clinical stage, and cg07380026 were significantly associated with pathological T and N stages in the TCGA cohort. Moreover, the methylation site cg26006951, cg07380026 and TERT expression were significantly correlated with immune cell infiltration, common immunomodulators, and the level of the immune checkpoint receptor lymphocyte activation gene 3 (LAG-3) in TNBC patients. Conclusion TERT promotertypermethylation plays an important role in TERT expression regulation and tumor microenvironment in TNBC. It is associated with overall survival and LAG-3 expression. TERT promoter hypermethylation may be a potential molecular biomarker for predicting response to the TERT inhibitors and immune checkpoint inhibitors in TNBC.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Ling Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, China
| | - Wuguo Deng
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, China
| | - Huanxin Lin
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, China
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Khan MA, Khan P, Ahmad A, Fatima M, Nasser MW. FOXM1: A small fox that makes more tracks for cancer progression and metastasis. Semin Cancer Biol 2023; 92:1-15. [PMID: 36958703 PMCID: PMC10199453 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcancer.2023.03.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 26.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2022] [Revised: 02/21/2023] [Accepted: 03/20/2023] [Indexed: 03/25/2023]
Abstract
Transcription factors (TFs) are indispensable for the modulation of various signaling pathways associated with normal cell homeostasis and disease conditions. Among cancer-related TFs, FOXM1 is a critical molecule that regulates multiple aspects of cancer cells, including growth, metastasis, recurrence, and stem cell features. FOXM1 also impact the outcomes of targeted therapies, chemotherapies, and immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) in various cancer types. Recent advances in cancer research strengthen the cancer-specific role of FOXM1, providing a rationale to target FOXM1 for developing targeted therapies. This review compiles the recent studies describing the pivotal role of FOXM1 in promoting metastasis of various cancer types. It also implicates the contribution of FOXM1 in the modulation of chemotherapeutic resistance, antitumor immune response/immunotherapies, and the potential of small molecule inhibitors of FOXM1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Md Arafat Khan
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198, USA
| | - Parvez Khan
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198, USA
| | - Aatiya Ahmad
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198, USA
| | - Mahek Fatima
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198, USA
| | - Mohd Wasim Nasser
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198, USA; Fred and Pamela Buffett Cancer Center, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198, USA.
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