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Barr J, Walz A, Restaino AC, Amit M, Barclay SM, Vichaya EG, Spanos WC, Dantzer R, Talbot S, Vermeer PD. Tumor-infiltrating nerves functionally alter brain circuits and modulate behavior in a mouse model of head-and-neck cancer. eLife 2024; 13:RP97916. [PMID: 39302290 DOI: 10.7554/elife.97916] [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] [Indexed: 09/22/2024] Open
Abstract
Cancer patients often experience changes in mental health, prompting an exploration into whether nerves infiltrating tumors contribute to these alterations by impacting brain functions. Using a mouse model for head and neck cancer and neuronal tracing, we show that tumor-infiltrating nerves connect to distinct brain areas. The activation of this neuronal circuitry altered behaviors (decreased nest-building, increased latency to eat a cookie, and reduced wheel running). Tumor-infiltrating nociceptor neurons exhibited heightened calcium activity and brain regions receiving these neural projections showed elevated Fos as well as increased calcium responses compared to non-tumor-bearing counterparts. The genetic elimination of nociceptor neurons decreased brain Fos expression and mitigated the behavioral alterations induced by the presence of the tumor. While analgesic treatment restored nesting and cookie test behaviors, it did not fully restore voluntary wheel running indicating that pain is not the exclusive driver of such behavioral shifts. Unraveling the interaction between the tumor, infiltrating nerves, and the brain is pivotal to developing targeted interventions to alleviate the mental health burdens associated with cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeffrey Barr
- Sanford Research, Cancer Biology and Immunotherapies Group, Sioux Falls, Sioux Falls, United States
| | - Austin Walz
- Sanford Research, Cancer Biology and Immunotherapies Group, Sioux Falls, Sioux Falls, United States
| | - Anthony C Restaino
- Sanford Research, Cancer Biology and Immunotherapies Group, Sioux Falls, Sioux Falls, United States
- University of South Dakota, Sanford School of Medicine, Vermillion, United States
| | - Moran Amit
- University of Texas, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, United States
| | - Sarah M Barclay
- Sanford Research, Cancer Biology and Immunotherapies Group, Sioux Falls, Sioux Falls, United States
| | - Elisabeth G Vichaya
- Baylor University, Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Waco, United States
| | - William C Spanos
- Sanford Research, Cancer Biology and Immunotherapies Group, Sioux Falls, Sioux Falls, United States
- University of South Dakota, Sanford School of Medicine, Vermillion, United States
| | - Robert Dantzer
- University of Texas, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, United States
| | - Sebastien Talbot
- Queen's University, Department of Biomedical and Molecular Sciences, Kingston, Canada
| | - Paola D Vermeer
- Sanford Research, Cancer Biology and Immunotherapies Group, Sioux Falls, Sioux Falls, United States
- University of South Dakota, Sanford School of Medicine, Vermillion, United States
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2
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Ma X, Deng K, Sun Y, Wu M. Research trends on cancer neuroscience: a bibliometric and visualized analysis. Front Neurosci 2024; 18:1408306. [PMID: 39268034 PMCID: PMC11390534 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2024.1408306] [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: 03/28/2024] [Accepted: 08/15/2024] [Indexed: 09/15/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Recently, cancer neuroscience has become the focus for scientists. Interactions between the nervous system and cancer (both systemic and local) can regulate tumorigenesis, progression, treatment resistance, compromise of anti-cancer immunity, and provocation of tumor-promoting inflammation. We assessed the related research on cancer neuroscience through bibliometric analysis and explored the research status and hotspots from 2020 to 2024. Methods Publications on cancer neuroscience retrieved from the Web of Science Core Collection. CiteSpace, VOSviewer, and Scimago Graphica were used to analyze and visualize the result. Results A total of 744 publications were retrieved, with an upward trend in the overall number of articles published over the last 5 years. As it has the highest number of publications (n = 242) and citations (average 13.63 citations per article), the United States holds an absolute voice in the field of cancer neuroscience. The most productive organizations and journals were Shanghai Jiaotong University (n = 24) and Cancers (n = 45), respectively. Monje M (H-index = 53), Hondermarck H (H-index = 42), and Amit M (H-index = 39) were the three researchers who have contributed most to the field. From a global perspective, research hotspots in cancer neuroscience comprise nerve/neuron-tumor cell interactions, crosstalk between the nervous system and other components of the tumor microenvironment (such as immune cells), as well as the impact of tumors and tumor therapies on nervous system function. Conclusion The United States and European countries are dominating the field of cancer neuroscience, while developing countries such as China are growing rapidly but with limited impact. The next focal point in this field is likely to be neurotrophic factors. Cancer neuroscience is still in its infancy, which means that many of the interactions and mechanisms between the nervous system and cancer are not yet fully understood. Further investigation is necessary to probe the interactions of the nervous system with cancer cell subpopulations and other components of the tumor microenvironment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinru Ma
- The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University/Hunan Cancer Hospital, Changsha, Hunan, China
- The Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis of the Chinese Ministry of Health, The Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion of the Chinese Ministry of Education, Cancer Research Institute, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Kun Deng
- The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University/Hunan Cancer Hospital, Changsha, Hunan, China
- The Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis of the Chinese Ministry of Health, The Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion of the Chinese Ministry of Education, Cancer Research Institute, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Yingnan Sun
- The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University/Hunan Cancer Hospital, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Minghua Wu
- The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University/Hunan Cancer Hospital, Changsha, Hunan, China
- The Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis of the Chinese Ministry of Health, The Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion of the Chinese Ministry of Education, Cancer Research Institute, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
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3
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Vitorakis N, Gargalionis AN, Papavassiliou KA, Adamopoulos C, Papavassiliou AG. Precision Targeting Strategies in Pancreatic Cancer: The Role of Tumor Microenvironment. Cancers (Basel) 2024; 16:2876. [PMID: 39199647 PMCID: PMC11352254 DOI: 10.3390/cancers16162876] [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: 07/21/2024] [Revised: 08/14/2024] [Accepted: 08/17/2024] [Indexed: 09/01/2024] Open
Abstract
Pancreatic cancer demonstrates an ever-increasing incidence over the last years and represents one of the top causes of cancer-associated mortality. Cells of the tumor microenvironment (TME) interact with cancer cells in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) tumors to preserve cancer cells' metabolism, inhibit drug delivery, enhance immune suppression mechanisms and finally develop resistance to chemotherapy and immunotherapy. New strategies target TME genetic alterations and specific pathways in cell populations of the TME. Complex molecular interactions develop between PDAC cells and TME cell populations including cancer-associated fibroblasts, myeloid-derived suppressor cells, pancreatic stellate cells, tumor-associated macrophages, tumor-associated neutrophils, and regulatory T cells. In the present review, we aim to fully explore the molecular landscape of the pancreatic cancer TME cell populations and discuss current TME targeting strategies to provide thoughts for further research and preclinical testing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nikolaos Vitorakis
- Department of Biological Chemistry, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 11527 Athens, Greece
| | - Antonios N Gargalionis
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry, 'Attikon' University General Hospital, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 12462 Athens, Greece
| | - Kostas A Papavassiliou
- First University Department of Respiratory Medicine, 'Sotiria' Hospital, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 11527 Athens, Greece
| | - Christos Adamopoulos
- Department of Biological Chemistry, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 11527 Athens, Greece
- Department of Oncological Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
| | - Athanasios G Papavassiliou
- Department of Biological Chemistry, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 11527 Athens, Greece
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4
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AbuQeis I, Zou Y, Ba YC, Teeti AA. Neuroscience of cancer: Research progress and emerging of the field. IBRAIN 2024; 10:305-322. [PMID: 39346791 PMCID: PMC11427805 DOI: 10.1002/ibra.12172] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2023] [Revised: 07/27/2024] [Accepted: 07/29/2024] [Indexed: 10/01/2024]
Abstract
Cancer cells immediately expand and penetrate adjoining tissues, as opposed to metastasis, that is the spread of cancer cells through the circulatory or lymphatic systems to more distant places via the invasion process. We found that a lack of studies discussed tumor development with the nervous system, by the aspects of cancer-tissue invasion (biological) and chemical modulation of growth that cascades by releasing neural-related factors from the nerve endings via chemical substances known as neurotransmitters. In this review, we aimed to carefully demonstrate and describe the cancer invasion and interaction with the nervous system, as well as reveal the research progress and the emerging neuroscience of cancer. An initial set of 160 references underwent systematic review and summarization. Through a meticulous screening process, these data were refined, ultimately leading to the inclusion of 98 studies that adhered to predetermined criteria. The outcomes show that one formidable challenge in the realm of cancer lies in its intrinsic heterogeneity and remarkable capacity for rapid adaptation. Despite advancements in genomics and precision medicine, there is still a need to identify new molecular targets. Considering cancer within its molecular and cellular environment, including neural components, is crucial for addressing this challenge. In conclusion, this review provides good referential data for direct, indirect, biological, and chemical interaction for nerve tissue-tumor interaction, suggesting the establishment of new therapy techniques and mechanisms by controlling and modifying neuron networks that supply signals to tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Issam AbuQeis
- Department of Radiology Palestinian Ministry of Health Ramallah Palestine
- Department of Anatomy, Institute of Neuroscience, School of Basic Medicine Kunming Medical University Kunming China
| | - Yu Zou
- Department of Anatomy, Institute of Neuroscience, School of Basic Medicine Kunming Medical University Kunming China
| | - Ying-Chun Ba
- Department of Anatomy, Institute of Neuroscience, School of Basic Medicine Kunming Medical University Kunming China
| | - Abeer A Teeti
- Department of Chemistry, School of Science Hebron University Hebron Palestine
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health Kunming Medical University Kunming China
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5
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Sun Y, Jiang W, Liao X, Wang D. Hallmarks of perineural invasion in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma: new biological dimensions. Front Oncol 2024; 14:1421067. [PMID: 39119085 PMCID: PMC11307098 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2024.1421067] [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: 04/21/2024] [Accepted: 07/01/2024] [Indexed: 08/10/2024] Open
Abstract
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is an aggressive malignant tumor with a high metastatic potential. Perineural invasion (PNI) occurs in the early stages of PDAC with a high incidence rate and is directly associated with a poor prognosis. It involves close interaction among PDAC cells, nerves and the tumor microenvironment. In this review, we detailed discuss PNI-related pain, six specific steps of PNI, and treatment of PDAC with PNI and emphasize the importance of novel technologies for further investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yaquan Sun
- Institute of Medical Imaging and Artificial Intelligence, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, China
| | - Wei Jiang
- Institute of Medical Imaging and Artificial Intelligence, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, China
| | - Xiang Liao
- Institute of Medical Imaging and Artificial Intelligence, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, China
| | - Dongqing Wang
- Institute of Medical Imaging and Artificial Intelligence, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, China
- Department of Medical Imaging, The Affiliated Hospital of Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, China
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6
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van Baarle L, De Simone V, Schneider L, Santhosh S, Abdurahiman S, Biscu F, Schneider R, Zanoletti L, Siqueira de Mello R, Verbandt S, Hu Z, Stakenborg M, Ke BJ, Stakenborg N, Salvador Laureano R, García-Reyes B, Henn J, Toma M, Vanmechelen M, Boeckxstaens G, De Smet F, Garg AD, Ibiza S, Tejpar S, Wehner S, Matteoli G. IL-1R signaling drives enteric glia-macrophage interactions in colorectal cancer. Nat Commun 2024; 15:6079. [PMID: 39030280 PMCID: PMC11271635 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-50438-2] [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: 09/16/2023] [Accepted: 07/11/2024] [Indexed: 07/21/2024] Open
Abstract
Enteric glia have been recently recognized as key components of the colonic tumor microenvironment indicating their potential role in colorectal cancer pathogenesis. Although enteric glia modulate immune responses in other intestinal diseases, their interaction with the colorectal cancer immune cell compartment remains unclear. Through a combination of single-cell and bulk RNA-sequencing, both in murine models and patients, here we find that enteric glia acquire an immunomodulatory phenotype by bi-directional communication with tumor-infiltrating monocytes. The latter direct a reactive enteric glial cell phenotypic and functional switch via glial IL-1R signaling. In turn, tumor glia promote monocyte differentiation towards pro-tumorigenic SPP1+ tumor-associated macrophages by IL-6 release. Enteric glia cell abundancy correlates with worse disease outcomes in preclinical models and colorectal cancer patients. Thereby, our study reveals a neuroimmune interaction between enteric glia and tumor-associated macrophages in the colorectal tumor microenvironment, providing insights into colorectal cancer pathogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lies van Baarle
- Laboratory of Mucosal Immunology, Department of Chronic Diseases and Metabolism (CHROMETA), Translational Research Center for Gastrointestinal Disorders (TARGID), KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Veronica De Simone
- Laboratory of Mucosal Immunology, Department of Chronic Diseases and Metabolism (CHROMETA), Translational Research Center for Gastrointestinal Disorders (TARGID), KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Linda Schneider
- Department of Surgery, University Hospital Bonn, Medical Faculty, Bonn, Germany
| | - Sneha Santhosh
- Laboratory of Mucosal Immunology, Department of Chronic Diseases and Metabolism (CHROMETA), Translational Research Center for Gastrointestinal Disorders (TARGID), KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Department of Anatomy and Physiology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Saeed Abdurahiman
- Laboratory of Mucosal Immunology, Department of Chronic Diseases and Metabolism (CHROMETA), Translational Research Center for Gastrointestinal Disorders (TARGID), KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Francesca Biscu
- Laboratory of Mucosal Immunology, Department of Chronic Diseases and Metabolism (CHROMETA), Translational Research Center for Gastrointestinal Disorders (TARGID), KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Centre for Inflammation Research, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Reiner Schneider
- Department of Surgery, University Hospital Bonn, Medical Faculty, Bonn, Germany
| | - Lisa Zanoletti
- Laboratory of Mucosal Immunology, Department of Chronic Diseases and Metabolism (CHROMETA), Translational Research Center for Gastrointestinal Disorders (TARGID), KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Department of Biology and Biotechnology "L. Spallanzani", University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Renata Siqueira de Mello
- Laboratory of Mucosal Immunology, Department of Chronic Diseases and Metabolism (CHROMETA), Translational Research Center for Gastrointestinal Disorders (TARGID), KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Sara Verbandt
- Digestive Oncology, Department of Oncology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Zedong Hu
- Digestive Oncology, Department of Oncology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Michelle Stakenborg
- Laboratory of Mucosal Immunology, Department of Chronic Diseases and Metabolism (CHROMETA), Translational Research Center for Gastrointestinal Disorders (TARGID), KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Bo-Jun Ke
- Laboratory of Mucosal Immunology, Department of Chronic Diseases and Metabolism (CHROMETA), Translational Research Center for Gastrointestinal Disorders (TARGID), KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Nathalie Stakenborg
- Laboratory for Intestinal Neuro-Immune Interaction, Department of Chronic Diseases and Metabolism (CHROMETA), Translational Research Center for Gastrointestinal Disorders (TARGID), KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Raquel Salvador Laureano
- Cell Stress and Immunity (CSI) Lab, Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Balbina García-Reyes
- Department of Surgery, University Hospital Bonn, Medical Faculty, Bonn, Germany
- Mildred Scheel School of Oncology, Aachen Bonn Cologne Düsseldorf (MSSO ABCD), University Hospital Bonn, Medical Faculty, Bonn, Germany
| | - Jonas Henn
- Department of Surgery, University Hospital Bonn, Medical Faculty, Bonn, Germany
| | - Marieta Toma
- Department of Pathology, University Hospital Bonn, Medical Faculty, Bonn, Germany
| | - Maxime Vanmechelen
- Translational Cell and Tissue Research Unit, Department of Imaging & Pathology, Laboratory for Precision Cancer Medicine, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Leuven Institute for Single-Cell Omics (LISCO), KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Guy Boeckxstaens
- Laboratory for Intestinal Neuro-Immune Interaction, Department of Chronic Diseases and Metabolism (CHROMETA), Translational Research Center for Gastrointestinal Disorders (TARGID), KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Frederik De Smet
- Translational Cell and Tissue Research Unit, Department of Imaging & Pathology, Laboratory for Precision Cancer Medicine, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Leuven Institute for Single-Cell Omics (LISCO), KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Abhishek D Garg
- Cell Stress and Immunity (CSI) Lab, Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Sales Ibiza
- Laboratory of Cell Biology & Histology, Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Sabine Tejpar
- Digestive Oncology, Department of Oncology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Sven Wehner
- Department of Surgery, University Hospital Bonn, Medical Faculty, Bonn, Germany.
| | - Gianluca Matteoli
- Laboratory of Mucosal Immunology, Department of Chronic Diseases and Metabolism (CHROMETA), Translational Research Center for Gastrointestinal Disorders (TARGID), KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
- Leuven Institute for Single-Cell Omics (LISCO), KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
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7
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Zhang Z, Lv ZG, Lu M, Li H, Zhou J. Nerve-tumor crosstalk in tumor microenvironment: From tumor initiation and progression to clinical implications. Biochim Biophys Acta Rev Cancer 2024; 1879:189121. [PMID: 38796026 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbcan.2024.189121] [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: 12/10/2023] [Revised: 04/25/2024] [Accepted: 05/19/2024] [Indexed: 05/28/2024]
Abstract
The autonomic nerve system (ANS) innervates organs and tissues throughout the body and maintains functional balance among various systems. Further investigations have shown that excessive activation of ANS not only causes disruption of homeostasis, but also may promote tumor formation. In addition, the dynamic interaction between nerve and tumor cells in the tumor microenvironment also regulate tumor progression. On the one hand, nerves are passively invaded by tumor cells, that is, perineural invasion (PNI). On the other hand, compared with normal tissues, tumor tissues are subject to more abundant innervation, and nerves can influence tumor progression through regulating tumor proliferation, metastasis and drug resistance. A large number of studies have shown that nerve-tumor crosstalk, including PNI and innervation, is closely related to the prognosis of patients, and contributes to the formation of cancer pain, which significantly deteriorates the quality of life for patients. These findings suggest that nerve-tumor crosstalk represents a potential target for anti-tumor therapies and the management of cancer pain in the future. In this review, we systematically describe the mechanism by which nerve-tumor crosstalk regulates tumorigenesis and progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zheng Zhang
- Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, Southeast University, Nanjing 210009, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Zhen Gang Lv
- Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, Southeast University, Nanjing 210009, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Miao Lu
- Department of Hepato-Pancreatico-Biliary Surgery, Zhongda Hospital Southeast University, Nanjing 210009, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Haifeng Li
- Department of Hepato-Pancreatico-Biliary Surgery, Zhongda Hospital Southeast University, Nanjing 210009, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Jiahua Zhou
- Department of Hepato-Pancreatico-Biliary Surgery, Zhongda Hospital Southeast University, Nanjing 210009, Jiangsu Province, China.
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8
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Zhang Y, Wang Y. The dual roles of serotonin in antitumor immunity. Pharmacol Res 2024; 205:107255. [PMID: 38862071 DOI: 10.1016/j.phrs.2024.107255] [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: 01/12/2024] [Revised: 05/14/2024] [Accepted: 06/07/2024] [Indexed: 06/13/2024]
Abstract
Research has shown that a significant portion of cancer patients experience depressive symptoms, often accompanied by neuroendocrine hormone imbalances. Depression is frequently associated with decreased levels of serotonin with the alternate name 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT), leading to the common use of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) as antidepressants. However, the role of serotonin in tumor regulation remains unclear, with its expression levels displaying varied effects across different types of tumors. Tumor initiation and progression are closely intertwined with the immune function of the human body. Neuroimmunity, as an interdisciplinary subject, has played a unique role in the study of the relationship between psychosocial factors and tumors and their mechanisms in recent years. This article offers a comprehensive review of serotonin's regulatory roles in tumor onset and progression, as well as its impacts on immune cells in the tumor microenvironment. The aim is to stimulate further interdisciplinary research and discover novel targets for tumor treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yingru Zhang
- Department of Medical Oncology, Shuguang Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Yan Wang
- Department of Medical Oncology, Shuguang Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 201203, China; School of Integrative Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 201203, China.
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9
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Yang Y, Sun L, Liu X, Liu W, Zhang Z, Zhou X, Zhao X, Zheng R, Zhang Y, Guo W, Wang X, Li X, Pang J, Li F, Tao Y, Shi D, Shen W, Wang L, Zang J, Li S. Neurotransmitters: Impressive regulators of tumor progression. Biomed Pharmacother 2024; 176:116844. [PMID: 38823279 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2024.116844] [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: 03/20/2024] [Revised: 05/22/2024] [Accepted: 05/26/2024] [Indexed: 06/03/2024] Open
Abstract
In contemporary times, tumors have emerged as the primary cause of mortality in the global population. Ongoing research has shed light on the significance of neurotransmitters in the regulation of tumors. It has been established that neurotransmitters play a pivotal role in tumor cell angiogenesis by triggering the transformation of stromal cells into tumor cells, modulating receptors on tumor stem cells, and even inducing immunosuppression. These actions ultimately foster the proliferation and metastasis of tumor cells. Several major neurotransmitters have been found to exert modulatory effects on tumor cells, including the ability to restrict emergency hematopoiesis and bind to receptors on the postsynaptic membrane, thereby inhibiting malignant progression. The abnormal secretion of neurotransmitters is closely associated with tumor progression, suggesting that focusing on neurotransmitters may yield unexpected breakthroughs in tumor therapy. This article presents an analysis and outlook on the potential of targeting neurotransmitters in tumor therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yumei Yang
- School of Pharmacy, Bengbu Medical University, Bengbu, China
| | - Lei Sun
- Department of Critical Care Medicine, The First Hospital of Harbin, No 151, Diduan Street, Daoli District, Harbin, China
| | - Xuerou Liu
- School of Pharmacy, Bengbu Medical University, Bengbu, China
| | - Wei Liu
- School of Pharmacy, Bengbu Medical University, Bengbu, China
| | - Zhen Zhang
- School of Pharmacy, Bengbu Medical University, Bengbu, China
| | - Xingqi Zhou
- School of Pharmacy, Bengbu Medical University, Bengbu, China
| | - Xinli Zhao
- School of Pharmacy, Bengbu Medical University, Bengbu, China
| | - Ruijie Zheng
- School of Pharmacy, Bengbu Medical University, Bengbu, China
| | - Yongjun Zhang
- School of Pharmacy, Bengbu Medical University, Bengbu, China
| | - Wanqing Guo
- School of Pharmacy, Bengbu Medical University, Bengbu, China
| | - Xiaoli Wang
- College of Pharmacy, Anhui University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, China
| | - Xian Li
- School of Pharmacy, Bengbu Medical University, Bengbu, China; Anhui Province Engineering Technology Research Center of Biochemical Pharmaceutical, Bengbu, China
| | - Jinlong Pang
- School of Pharmacy, Bengbu Medical University, Bengbu, China; Anhui Province Engineering Technology Research Center of Biochemical Pharmaceutical, Bengbu, China
| | - Feng Li
- School of Pharmacy, Bengbu Medical University, Bengbu, China; Anhui Province Engineering Technology Research Center of Biochemical Pharmaceutical, Bengbu, China
| | - Yu Tao
- School of Pharmacy, Bengbu Medical University, Bengbu, China; Anhui Province Engineering Technology Research Center of Biochemical Pharmaceutical, Bengbu, China
| | - Dongmin Shi
- Department of Day Surgery Ward, The First Hospital of Harbin, No 151, Diduan Street, Daoli District, Harbin, China
| | - Wenyi Shen
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Lianshui County People's Hospital, Jiangsu, China
| | - Liping Wang
- Department of Day Surgery Ward, The First Hospital of Harbin, No 151, Diduan Street, Daoli District, Harbin, China
| | - Jialan Zang
- Department of Day Surgery Ward, The First Hospital of Harbin, No 151, Diduan Street, Daoli District, Harbin, China.
| | - Shanshan Li
- School of Pharmacy, Bengbu Medical University, Bengbu, China; Anhui Province Engineering Technology Research Center of Biochemical Pharmaceutical, Bengbu, China.
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10
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Jin X, Han H, Liang Q. Effects of surgical trauma and intraoperative blood loss on tumour progression. Front Oncol 2024; 14:1412367. [PMID: 38912060 PMCID: PMC11190163 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2024.1412367] [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: 04/05/2024] [Accepted: 05/22/2024] [Indexed: 06/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Surgery is the primary treatment of choice for tumours, and improves prognosis, prolongs survival and is potentially curative. Previous studies have described the effects of anaesthesia and changes in the neuroendocrine, circulatory and sympathetic nervous systems on postoperative cancer progression. There is growing evidence that intraoperative blood loss is an independent prognostic factor for tumour recurrence, postoperative inflammation is a predictor of cancer prognosis, and immunosuppressive status correlates with the degree of surgical damage. This paper outlines the potential mechanisms by which blood loss, surgical trauma and postoperative immunosuppressive status contribute to tumour growth and recurrence by reducing intraoperative haemorrhage and perioperative immunotherapy, thereby reducing tumour growth and recurrence, and improving long-term prognosis.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Qilian Liang
- Oncology Center, Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Medical University, Zhanjiang, China
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11
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Barr J, Walz A, Restaino AC, Amit M, Barclay SM, Vichaya EG, Spanos WC, Dantzer R, Talbot S, Vermeer PD. Tumor-infiltrating nerves functionally alter brain circuits and modulate behavior in a male mouse model of head-and-neck cancer. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2023.10.18.562990. [PMID: 37905135 PMCID: PMC10614955 DOI: 10.1101/2023.10.18.562990] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/02/2023]
Abstract
Cancer patients often experience changes in mental health, prompting an exploration into whether nerves infiltrating tumors contribute to these alterations by impacting brain functions. Using a male mouse model for head and neck cancer, we utilized neuronal tracing techniques and show that tumor-infiltrating nerves indeed connect to distinct brain areas via the ipsilateral trigeminal ganglion. The activation of this neuronal circuitry led to behavioral alterations represented by decreased nest-building, increased latency to eat a cookie, and reduced wheel running. Tumor-infiltrating nociceptor neurons exhibited heightened activity, as indicated by increased calcium mobilization. Correspondingly, the specific brain regions receiving these neural projections showed elevated cFos and delta FosB expression in tumor-bearing mice, alongside markedly intensified calcium responses compared to non-tumor-bearing counterparts. The genetic elimination of nociceptor neurons in tumor-bearing mice led to decreased brain Fos expression and mitigated the behavioral alterations induced by the presence of the tumor. While analgesic treatment successfully restored behaviors involving oral movements to normalcy in tumor-bearing mice, it did not have a similar therapeutic effect on voluntary wheel running. This discrepancy points towards an intricate relationship, where pain is not the exclusive driver of such behavioral shifts. Unraveling the interaction between the tumor, infiltrating nerves, and the brain is pivotal to developing targeted interventions to alleviate the mental health burdens associated with cancer.
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Mandal SK, Yadav P, Sheth RA. The Neuroimmune Axis and Its Therapeutic Potential for Primary Liver Cancer. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:6237. [PMID: 38892423 PMCID: PMC11172507 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25116237] [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: 02/05/2024] [Revised: 05/17/2024] [Accepted: 05/28/2024] [Indexed: 06/21/2024] Open
Abstract
The autonomic nervous system plays an integral role in motion and sensation as well as the physiologic function of visceral organs. The nervous system additionally plays a key role in primary liver diseases. Until recently, however, the impact of nerves on cancer development, progression, and metastasis has been unappreciated. This review highlights recent advances in understanding neuroanatomical networks within solid organs and their mechanistic influence on organ function, specifically in the liver and liver cancer. We discuss the interaction between the autonomic nervous system, including sympathetic and parasympathetic nerves, and the liver. We also examine how sympathetic innervation affects metabolic functions and diseases like nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). We also delve into the neurobiology of the liver, the interplay between cancer and nerves, and the neural regulation of the immune response. We emphasize the influence of the neuroimmune axis in cancer progression and the potential of targeted interventions like neurolysis to improve cancer treatment outcomes, especially for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Rahul A. Sheth
- Department of Interventional Radiology, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 1515 Holcombe Blvd., Unit 1471, Houston, TX 77030-4009, USA; (S.K.M.); (P.Y.)
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13
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Han B, Guan X, Ma M, Liang B, Ren L, Liu Y, Du Y, Jiang SH, Song D. Stiffened tumor microenvironment enhances perineural invasion in breast cancer via integrin signaling. Cell Oncol (Dordr) 2024; 47:867-882. [PMID: 38015381 DOI: 10.1007/s13402-023-00901-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] [Accepted: 11/15/2023] [Indexed: 11/29/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Accumulating studies have shown that tumors are regulated by nerves, and there is abundant nerve infiltration in the tumor microenvironment. Many solid tumors including breast cancer (BRCA) have different degrees of perineural invasion (PNI), which is closely related to the tumor occurrence and progression. However, the regulatory mechanism of PNI in BRCA remains largely unexplored. METHODS PNI-related molecular events are analyzed by the RNAseq data of BRCA samples deposited in The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database. Extracellular matrix (ECM) components within the tumor microenvironment are analyzed by immunohistochemical staining of α-SMA, Sirius red staining, and Masson trichrome staining. Soft and stiff matrix gels, living cell imaging, and dorsal root ganglion (DRG) coculture assay are used to monitor cancer cell invasiveness towards nerves. Western blotting, qRT-PCR, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay combined with neutralizing antibody and small molecular inhibitors are employed to decode molecular mechanisms. RESULTS Comparative analysis that the ECM was significantly associated with PNI status in the TCGA cohort. BRCA samples with higher α-SMA activity, fibrillar collagen, and collagen content had higher frequency of PNI. Compared with soft matrix, BRCA cells cultured in stiff matrix not only displayed higher cell invasiveness to DRG neurons but also had significant neurotrophic effects. Mechanistically, integrin β1 was identified as a functional receptor to the influence of stiff matrix on BRCA cells. Moreover, stiffened matrix-induced activation of integrin β1 transduces FAK-YAP signal cascade, which enhances cancer invasiveness and the neurotrophic effects. In clinical setting, PNI-positive BRCA samples had higher expression of ITGB1, phosphorylated FAK, YAP, and NGF compared with PNI-negative BRCA samples. CONCLUSIONS Our findings suggest that stiff matrix induces expression of pro-metastatic and neurotrophic genes through integrin β1-FAK-YAP signals, which finally facilitates PNI in BRCA. Thus, our study provides a new mechanism for PNI in BRCA and highlights nerve-based tumor treatment strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bing Han
- Departments of Breast Surgery, General Surgery Center, The First Hospital of Jilin University, No.71, Xinmin Street, Changchun City, Jilin Province, 130021, People's Republic of China
| | - Xin Guan
- Departments of Breast Surgery, General Surgery Center, The First Hospital of Jilin University, No.71, Xinmin Street, Changchun City, Jilin Province, 130021, People's Republic of China
| | - Mingyue Ma
- Departments of Breast Surgery, General Surgery Center, The First Hospital of Jilin University, No.71, Xinmin Street, Changchun City, Jilin Province, 130021, People's Republic of China
| | - Baoling Liang
- Departments of Breast Surgery, General Surgery Center, The First Hospital of Jilin University, No.71, Xinmin Street, Changchun City, Jilin Province, 130021, People's Republic of China
| | - Linglie Ren
- Fenghuangyudu subdistrict Longquan community, Fenggang county, Zunyi, Guizhou, 564200, People's Republic of China
| | - Yutong Liu
- Departments of Breast Surgery, General Surgery Center, The First Hospital of Jilin University, No.71, Xinmin Street, Changchun City, Jilin Province, 130021, People's Republic of China
| | - Ye Du
- Departments of Breast Surgery, General Surgery Center, The First Hospital of Jilin University, No.71, Xinmin Street, Changchun City, Jilin Province, 130021, People's Republic of China
| | - Shu-Heng Jiang
- State Key Laboratory of Systems Medicine for Cancer, Shanghai Cancer Institute, Ren Ji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200240, People's Republic of China
| | - Dong Song
- Departments of Breast Surgery, General Surgery Center, The First Hospital of Jilin University, No.71, Xinmin Street, Changchun City, Jilin Province, 130021, People's Republic of China.
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14
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Benzaquen D, Lawrence YR, Taussky D, Zwahlen D, Oehler C, Champion A. The Crosstalk between Nerves and Cancer-A Poorly Understood Phenomenon and New Possibilities. Cancers (Basel) 2024; 16:1875. [PMID: 38791953 PMCID: PMC11120349 DOI: 10.3390/cancers16101875] [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: 03/21/2024] [Revised: 05/11/2024] [Accepted: 05/13/2024] [Indexed: 05/26/2024] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Crosstalk occurs between nerve and cancer cells. These interactions are important for cancer homeostasis and metabolism. Nerve cells influence the tumor microenvironment (TME) and participate in metastasis through neurogenesis, neural extension, and axonogenesis. We summarized the past and current literature on the interaction between nerves and cancer, with a special focus on pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), prostate cancer (PCa), and the role of the nerve growth factor (NGF) in cancer. MATERIALS/METHODS We reviewed PubMed and Google Scholar for the relevant literature on the relationship between nerves, neurotrophins, and cancer in general and specifically for both PCa and PDAC. RESULTS The NGF helped sustain cancer cell proliferation and evade immune defense. It is a neuropeptide involved in neurogenic inflammation through the activation of several cells of the immune system by several proinflammatory cytokines. Both PCa and PDAC employ different strategies to evade immune defense. The prostate is richly innervated by both the sympathetic and parasympathetic nerves, which helps in both growth control and homeostasis. Newly formed autonomic nerve fibers grow into cancer cells and contribute to cancer initiation and progression through the activation of β-adrenergic and muscarinic cholinergic signaling. Surgical or chemical sympathectomy prevents the development of prostate cancer. Beta-blockers have a high therapeutic potential for cancer, although current clinical data have been contradictory. With a better understanding of the beta-receptors, one could identify specific receptors that could have an effect on prostate cancer development or act as therapeutic agents. CONCLUSION The bidirectional crosstalk between the nervous system and cancer cells has emerged as a crucial regulator of cancer and its microenvironment. Denervation has been shown to be promising in vitro and in animal models. Additionally, there is a potential relationship between cancer and psychosocial biology through neurotransmitters and neurotrophins.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Benzaquen
- Radiation Oncology, Hôpital de La Tour, 1217 Meyrin, Switzerland; (D.B.); (A.C.)
| | - Yaacov R. Lawrence
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Sheba Medical Center, Tel-Aviv 39040, Israel;
| | - Daniel Taussky
- Radiation Oncology, Hôpital de La Tour, 1217 Meyrin, Switzerland; (D.B.); (A.C.)
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Centre Hospitalier de l’Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC H2X 0C1, Canada
| | - Daniel Zwahlen
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Kantonsspital Winterthur, 8400 Winterthur, Switzerland; (D.Z.); (C.O.)
| | - Christoph Oehler
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Kantonsspital Winterthur, 8400 Winterthur, Switzerland; (D.Z.); (C.O.)
| | - Ambroise Champion
- Radiation Oncology, Hôpital de La Tour, 1217 Meyrin, Switzerland; (D.B.); (A.C.)
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15
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Arora C, Matic M, Bisceglia L, Di Chiaro P, De Oliveira Rosa N, Carli F, Clubb L, Nemati Fard LA, Kargas G, Diaferia GR, Vukotic R, Licata L, Wu G, Natoli G, Gutkind JS, Raimondi F. The landscape of cancer-rewired GPCR signaling axes. CELL GENOMICS 2024; 4:100557. [PMID: 38723607 PMCID: PMC11099383 DOI: 10.1016/j.xgen.2024.100557] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2023] [Revised: 02/17/2024] [Accepted: 04/10/2024] [Indexed: 05/15/2024]
Abstract
We explored the dysregulation of G-protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) ligand systems in cancer transcriptomics datasets to uncover new therapeutics opportunities in oncology. We derived an interaction network of receptors with ligands and their biosynthetic enzymes. Multiple GPCRs are differentially regulated together with their upstream partners across cancer subtypes and are associated to specific transcriptional programs and to patient survival patterns. The expression of both receptor-ligand (or enzymes) partners improved patient stratification, suggesting a synergistic role for the activation of GPCR networks in modulating cancer phenotypes. Remarkably, we identified many such axes across several cancer molecular subtypes, including many involving receptor-biosynthetic enzymes for neurotransmitters. We found that GPCRs from these actionable axes, including, e.g., muscarinic, adenosine, 5-hydroxytryptamine, and chemokine receptors, are the targets of multiple drugs displaying anti-growth effects in large-scale, cancer cell drug screens, which we further validated. We have made the results generated in this study freely available through a webapp (gpcrcanceraxes.bioinfolab.sns.it).
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Affiliation(s)
- Chakit Arora
- Laboratorio di Biologia Bio@SNS, Scuola Normale Superiore, Piazza dei Cavalieri 7, 56126 Pisa, Italy
| | - Marin Matic
- Laboratorio di Biologia Bio@SNS, Scuola Normale Superiore, Piazza dei Cavalieri 7, 56126 Pisa, Italy
| | - Luisa Bisceglia
- Laboratorio di Biologia Bio@SNS, Scuola Normale Superiore, Piazza dei Cavalieri 7, 56126 Pisa, Italy
| | - Pierluigi Di Chiaro
- Department of Experimental Oncology, IEO, European Institute of Oncology IRCCS, Milano, Italy
| | - Natalia De Oliveira Rosa
- Laboratorio di Biologia Bio@SNS, Scuola Normale Superiore, Piazza dei Cavalieri 7, 56126 Pisa, Italy
| | - Francesco Carli
- Laboratorio di Biologia Bio@SNS, Scuola Normale Superiore, Piazza dei Cavalieri 7, 56126 Pisa, Italy
| | - Lauren Clubb
- Department of Pharmacology and Moores Cancer Center, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Lorenzo Amir Nemati Fard
- Laboratorio di Biologia Bio@SNS, Scuola Normale Superiore, Piazza dei Cavalieri 7, 56126 Pisa, Italy
| | - Giorgos Kargas
- Laboratorio di Biologia Bio@SNS, Scuola Normale Superiore, Piazza dei Cavalieri 7, 56126 Pisa, Italy
| | - Giuseppe R Diaferia
- Department of Experimental Oncology, IEO, European Institute of Oncology IRCCS, Milano, Italy
| | - Ranka Vukotic
- Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Pisana, Via Roma, 67, 56126 Pisa, Italy
| | - Luana Licata
- Department of Biology, University of Rome Tor Vergata, 00133 Rome, Italy
| | - Guanming Wu
- Division of Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, Department of Medical Informatics and Clinical Epidemiology, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA
| | - Gioacchino Natoli
- Department of Experimental Oncology, IEO, European Institute of Oncology IRCCS, Milano, Italy
| | - J Silvio Gutkind
- Department of Pharmacology and Moores Cancer Center, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA.
| | - Francesco Raimondi
- Laboratorio di Biologia Bio@SNS, Scuola Normale Superiore, Piazza dei Cavalieri 7, 56126 Pisa, Italy; Laboratorio di Biologia Bio@SNS, Scuola Normale Superiore, Piazza dei Cavalieri 7, 56126 Pisa, Italy.
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16
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Loh JJ, Ma S. Hallmarks of cancer stemness. Cell Stem Cell 2024; 31:617-639. [PMID: 38701757 DOI: 10.1016/j.stem.2024.04.004] [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: 12/31/2023] [Revised: 03/11/2024] [Accepted: 04/03/2024] [Indexed: 05/05/2024]
Abstract
Cancer stemness is recognized as a key component of tumor development. Previously coined "cancer stem cells" (CSCs) and believed to be a rare population with rigid hierarchical organization, there is good evidence to suggest that these cells exhibit a plastic cellular state influenced by dynamic CSC-niche interplay. This revelation underscores the need to reevaluate the hallmarks of cancer stemness. Herein, we summarize the techniques used to identify and characterize the state of these cells and discuss their defining and emerging hallmarks, along with their enabling and associated features. We also highlight potential future directions in this field of research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jia-Jian Loh
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Stephanie Ma
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China; State Key Laboratory of Liver Research, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China; Laboratory of Synthetic Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Hong Kong Science and Technology Park, Hong Kong SAR, China; Centre for Translational and Stem Cell Biology, Hong Kong Science and Technology Park, Hong Kong SAR, China.
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17
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Kimmelman AC, Sherman MH. The Role of Stroma in Cancer Metabolism. Cold Spring Harb Perspect Med 2024; 14:a041540. [PMID: 37696660 PMCID: PMC10925555 DOI: 10.1101/cshperspect.a041540] [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] [Indexed: 09/13/2023]
Abstract
The altered metabolism of tumor cells is a well-known hallmark of cancer and is driven by multiple factors such as mutations in oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes, the origin of the tissue where the tumor arises, and the microenvironment of the tumor. These metabolic changes support the growth of cancer cells by providing energy and the necessary building blocks to sustain proliferation. Targeting these metabolic alterations therapeutically is a potential strategy to treat cancer, but it is challenging due to the metabolic plasticity of tumors. Cancer cells have developed ways to scavenge nutrients through autophagy and macropinocytosis and can also form metabolic networks with stromal cells in the tumor microenvironment. Understanding the role of the tumor microenvironment in tumor metabolism is crucial for effective therapeutic targeting. This review will discuss tumor metabolism and the contribution of the stroma in supporting tumor growth through metabolic interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alec C Kimmelman
- Perlmutter Cancer Center, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, New York 10016, USA
- Department of Radiation Oncology, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, New York 10016, USA
| | - Mara H Sherman
- Cancer Biology & Genetics Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York 10065, USA
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18
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Liu R, Wang C, Sun Z, Shi X, Zhang Z, Luo J. Neuronal CFL1 upregulation in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma enhances tumor-nerve crosstalk and promotes tumor growth. Mol Carcinog 2024; 63:874-884. [PMID: 38353363 DOI: 10.1002/mc.23694] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2023] [Revised: 12/31/2023] [Accepted: 01/17/2024] [Indexed: 04/13/2024]
Abstract
Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is a prevalent cancer type, marked by a pronounced nerve density within the tumor microenvironment and a high rate of perineural invasion (PNI). Growing evidence suggests that the nervous system plays a vital role in HNSCC progression. Yet, the mechanisms governing cancer-nerve interactions remain largely elusive. Our research revealed that cofilin-1 (CFL1) is significantly overexpressed in HNSCC and correlates with both PNI and unfavorable prognosis. Utilizing multiplex fluorescent immunohistochemistry, we have localized CFL1 chiefly to the nerves adjacent to tumor sites. Significantly, it is the elevated expression of CFL1 in neuronal structures, rather than in the tumor cells, that aligns with diminished patient survival rates. We observed that HNSCC cells induced the expression of neuronal CFL1 and that the conditional knockout of neuronal CFL1 impedes tumor-nerve interactions. Both Gene Ontology functional enrichment analyses and Gene Set Enrichment Analysis demonstrate that CFL1 expression in HNSCC is associated with specific biological processes, including "RIBOSOME," "PROTEASOME," and "cadherin binding." In summary, HNSCC promotes the expression of CFL1 in nerves, which is essential for cancer-nerve interactions. The neuronal CFL1 is associated with PNI and may be a potential molecular prognostic marker of poor survival in HNSCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruoyan Liu
- Department of Gynecological Oncology, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, Tianjin, Tianjin's Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin, China
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Basic and Translational Medicine on Head & Neck Cancer, Tianjin, China
| | - Chunli Wang
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Basic and Translational Medicine on Head & Neck Cancer, Tianjin, China
- Department of Maxillofacial and Otorhinolaryngology Oncology and Department of Head and Neck Oncology, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, Tianjin, Tianjin's Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin, China
| | - Zhonghao Sun
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Basic and Translational Medicine on Head & Neck Cancer, Tianjin, China
- Department of Maxillofacial and Otorhinolaryngology Oncology and Department of Head and Neck Oncology, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, Tianjin, Tianjin's Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin, China
| | - Xiaotian Shi
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Basic and Translational Medicine on Head & Neck Cancer, Tianjin, China
- Department of Maxillofacial and Otorhinolaryngology Oncology and Department of Head and Neck Oncology, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, Tianjin, Tianjin's Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin, China
| | - Ze Zhang
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Basic and Translational Medicine on Head & Neck Cancer, Tianjin, China
- Department of Maxillofacial and Otorhinolaryngology Oncology and Department of Head and Neck Oncology, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, Tianjin, Tianjin's Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin, China
| | - Jingtao Luo
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Basic and Translational Medicine on Head & Neck Cancer, Tianjin, China
- Department of Maxillofacial and Otorhinolaryngology Oncology and Department of Head and Neck Oncology, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, Tianjin, Tianjin's Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin, China
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19
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Nguyen AV, Soto JM, Digbeu BD, Nguyen CY, Wu E, Huang JH, Kuo YF. Factors associated with longer survival among older medicare patients after diagnosis of supratentorial primary brain malignancies: a retrospective cohort study. Neurol Res 2024; 46:379-390. [PMID: 38415699 DOI: 10.1080/01616412.2024.2323335] [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: 04/09/2023] [Accepted: 02/21/2024] [Indexed: 02/29/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Despite recent advances, the prognosis for primary malignant brain tumors (PMBTs) remains poor. Some commonly prescribed medications may exhibit anti-tumor properties in various cancers, and neurodegenerative diseases may activate pathways that counteract gliomagenesis. Our study is focused on determining if there is a correlation between the use of metformin, beta-blockers, angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEIs), and angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs), or the presence of Parkinson's disease (PD), and the survival rates following a diagnosis of a PMBT. METHODS This analysis of the 100% Texas Medicare Database identified patients aged 66+ years diagnosed with a supratentorial PMBT from 2014-2017. Cox proportional hazards regression was employed to analyze survival following diagnosis and associations of survival with surgical intervention, radiation, PD diagnosis, and prescription of metformin, beta-blockers, ACEIs, or ARBs. RESULTS There were 1,943 patients who met study criteria, and the median age was 74 years. When medication utilization was stratified by none, pre-diagnosis only, post-diagnosis only, or both pre- and post-diagnosis (continuous), continuous utilization of metformin, beta-blockers, ACEIs, or ARBs was associated with prolonged survival compared to no utilization (hazard ratio [HR]:0.45, 95% CI:0.33-0.62; HR:0.71. 95% CI:0.59-0.86; HR:0.59, 95% CI:0.48-0.72; and HR:0.45, 95% CI:0.35-0.58 respectively). PD was also associated with longer survival (HR:0.59-0.63 across the four models). DISCUSSION Our study suggests that metformin, beta-blockers, ACEIs, ARBs, and comorbid PD are associated with a survival benefit among geriatric Medicare patients with supratentorial PMBTs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anthony V Nguyen
- Department of Neurosurgery, Baylor Scott & White Health, Temple, TX, USA
| | - Jose M Soto
- Department of Neurosurgery, Baylor Scott & White Health, Temple, TX, USA
| | - Biai D Digbeu
- Department of Biostatistics and Data Science, Office of Biostatistics, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA
| | - Christine Y Nguyen
- Department of Internal Medicine, Baylor Scott & White Health, Scott and White Medical Center, Temple, TX, USA
| | - Erxi Wu
- Department of Neurosurgery, Baylor Scott & White Health, Temple, TX, USA
- Department of Surgery, Texas A&M University School of Medicine, Temple, TX, USA
- Department of Neurosurgery, Baylor College of Medicine, Temple, TX, USA
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Texas A&M University School of Pharmacy, College Station, TX, USA
- LIVESTRONG Cancer Institutes and Department of Oncology, Dell Medical School, the University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA
| | - Jason H Huang
- Department of Neurosurgery, Baylor Scott & White Health, Temple, TX, USA
- Department of Surgery, Texas A&M University School of Medicine, Temple, TX, USA
- Department of Neurosurgery, Baylor College of Medicine, Temple, TX, USA
| | - Yong-Fang Kuo
- Department of Biostatistics and Data Science, Office of Biostatistics, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA
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20
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Xu Q, Cao Y, Kong F, Liu J, Chen X, Zhao Y, Lai CH, Zhou X, Hu H, Fu W, Chen J, Yang J. Multiple cancer cell types release LIF and Gal3 to hijack neural signals. Cell Res 2024; 34:345-354. [PMID: 38467743 PMCID: PMC11061112 DOI: 10.1038/s41422-024-00946-z] [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: 08/08/2023] [Accepted: 02/26/2024] [Indexed: 03/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Neural signals can significantly influence cancer prognosis. However, how cancer cells may proactively modulate the nervous system to benefit their own survival is incompletely understood. In this study, we report an overlapping pattern of brain responses, including that in the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus, in multiple mouse models of peripheral cancers. A multi-omic screening then identifies leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) and galectin-3 (Gal3) as the key cytokines released by these cancer cell types to trigger brain activation. Importantly, increased plasma levels of these two cytokines are observed in patients with different cancers. We further demonstrate that pharmacologic or genetic blockage of cancer cell-derived LIF or Gal3 signaling abolishes the brain responses and strongly inhibits tumor growth. In addition, ablation of peripheral sympathetic actions can similarly restore antitumor immunity. These results have elucidated a novel, shared mechanism of multiple cancer cell types hijacking the nervous system to promote tumor progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qun Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, School of Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Ying Cao
- Center for Life Sciences, Academy for Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Fanni Kong
- Center for Life Sciences, Academy for Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Jiaqi Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, School of Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Xin Chen
- Department of General Surgery, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Yifei Zhao
- Department of General Surgery, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Chin-Hui Lai
- Department of Urology, Peking University People's Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Xin Zhou
- Department of General Surgery, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China
- Peking University Third Hospital Cancer Center, Beijing, China
| | - Hao Hu
- Department of Urology, Peking University People's Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Wei Fu
- Department of General Surgery, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China
- Peking University Third Hospital Cancer Center, Beijing, China
| | - Jian Chen
- Chinese Institute for Brain Research, Beijing, China
| | - Jing Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, School of Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China.
- Center for Life Sciences, Academy for Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies, Peking University, Beijing, China.
- Peking University Third Hospital Cancer Center, Beijing, China.
- IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Peking University, Beijing, China.
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21
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Cai Z, Yao H, Chen J, Ahmed AA, Li C, Hu X, Tang X, Jiang C. Schwann cells in pancreatic cancer: Unraveling their multifaceted roles in tumorigenesis and neural interactions. Cancer Lett 2024; 587:216689. [PMID: 38367898 DOI: 10.1016/j.canlet.2024.216689] [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: 12/14/2023] [Revised: 01/15/2024] [Accepted: 01/26/2024] [Indexed: 02/19/2024]
Abstract
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), characterized by heightened neural density, presents a challenging prognosis primarily due to perineural invasion. Recognized for their crucial roles in neural support and myelination, Schwann cells (SCs) significantly influence the process of tumorigenesis. This review succinctly outlines the interplay between PDAC and neural systems, positioning SCs as a nexus in the tumor-neural interface. Subsequently, it delves into the cellular origin and influencers of SCs within the pancreatic tumor microenvironment, emphasizing their multifaceted roles in tumor initiation, progression, and modulation of the neural and immune microenvironment. The discussion encompasses potential therapeutic interventions targeting SCs. Lastly, the review underscores pressing issues, advocating for sustained exploration into the diverse contributions of SCs within the intricate landscape of PDAC, with the aim of enhancing our understanding of their involvement in this complex malignancy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhiwei Cai
- Department of General Surgery, Pancreatobiliary Surgery Center, Huadong Hospital Affiliated to Fudan University, Shanghai, 200040, PR China
| | - Hongfei Yao
- Department of General Surgery, Pancreatobiliary Surgery Center, Huadong Hospital Affiliated to Fudan University, Shanghai, 200040, PR China
| | - Jiahao Chen
- Department of General Surgery, Pancreatobiliary Surgery Center, Huadong Hospital Affiliated to Fudan University, Shanghai, 200040, PR China
| | - Abousalam Abdoulkader Ahmed
- Department of General Surgery, Pancreatobiliary Surgery Center, Huadong Hospital Affiliated to Fudan University, Shanghai, 200040, PR China
| | - Chunjing Li
- Department of General Surgery, Pancreatobiliary Surgery Center, Huadong Hospital Affiliated to Fudan University, Shanghai, 200040, PR China
| | - Xiao Hu
- Department of General Surgery, Pancreatobiliary Surgery Center, Huadong Hospital Affiliated to Fudan University, Shanghai, 200040, PR China
| | - Xiaoyan Tang
- Department of General Surgery, Pancreatobiliary Surgery Center, Huadong Hospital Affiliated to Fudan University, Shanghai, 200040, PR China
| | - Chongyi Jiang
- Department of General Surgery, Pancreatobiliary Surgery Center, Huadong Hospital Affiliated to Fudan University, Shanghai, 200040, PR China.
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22
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Park H, Lee CH. The contribution of the nervous system in the cancer progression. BMB Rep 2024; 57:167-175. [PMID: 38523371 PMCID: PMC11058356] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2023] [Revised: 02/09/2024] [Accepted: 03/19/2024] [Indexed: 03/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Cancer progression is driven by genetic mutations, environmental factors, and intricate interactions within the tumor microenvironment (TME). The TME comprises of diverse cell types, such as cancer cells, immune cells, stromal cells, and neuronal cells. These cells mutually influence each other through various factors, including cytokines, vascular perfusion, and matrix stiffness. In the initial or developmental stage of cancer, neurotrophic factors such as nerve growth factor, brain-derived neurotrophic factor, and glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor are associated with poor prognosis of various cancers by communicating with cancer cells, immune cells, and peripheral nerves within the TME. Over the past decade, research has been conducted to prevent cancer growth by controlling the activation of neurotrophic factors within tumors, exhibiting a novel attemt in cancer treatment with promising results. More recently, research focusing on controlling cancer growth through regulation of the autonomic nervous system, including the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems, has gained significant attention. Sympathetic signaling predominantly promotes tumor progression, while the role of parasympathetic signaling varies among different cancer types. Neurotransmitters released from these signalings can directly or indirectly affect tumor cells or immune cells within the TME. Additionally, sensory nerve significantly promotes cancer progression. In the advanced stage of cancer, cancer-associated cachexia occurs, characterized by tissue wasting and reduced quality of life. This process involves the pathways via brainstem growth and differentiation factor 15-glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor receptor alpha-like signaling and hypothalamic proopiomelanocortin neurons. Our review highlights the critical role of neurotrophic factors as well as central nervous system on the progression of cancer, offering promising avenues for targeted therapeutic strategies. [BMB Reports 2024; 57(4): 167-175].
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongryeol Park
- Department of Tissue Morphogenesis, Max-Planck Institute for Molecular Biomedicine, Muenster D-48149, Germany, Chuncheon 24252, Korea
| | - Chan Hee Lee
- Department of Biomedical Science, Hallym University, Chuncheon 24252, Korea
- Program of Material Science for Medicine and Pharmaceutics, Hallym University, Chuncheon 24252, Korea
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Abstract
Although there is little direct evidence supporting that stress affects cancer incidence, it does influence the evolution, dissemination and therapeutic outcomes of neoplasia, as shown in human epidemiological analyses and mouse models. The experience of and response to physiological and psychological stressors can trigger neurological and endocrine alterations, which subsequently influence malignant (stem) cells, stromal cells and immune cells in the tumour microenvironment, as well as systemic factors in the tumour macroenvironment. Importantly, stress-induced neuroendocrine changes that can regulate immune responses have been gradually uncovered. Numerous stress-associated immunomodulatory molecules (SAIMs) can reshape natural or therapy-induced antitumour responses by engaging their corresponding receptors on immune cells. Moreover, stress can cause systemic or local metabolic reprogramming and change the composition of the gastrointestinal microbiota which can indirectly modulate antitumour immunity. Here, we explore the complex circuitries that link stress to perturbations in the cancer-immune dialogue and their implications for therapeutic approaches to cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuting Ma
- National Key Laboratory of Immunity and Inflammation, Suzhou Institute of Systems Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Suzhou, China.
| | - Guido Kroemer
- National Key Laboratory of Immunity and Inflammation, Suzhou Institute of Systems Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Suzhou, China
- Equipe labellisée par la Ligue contre le cancer, Université de Paris, Sorbonne Université, INSERM U1138, Centre de Recherche des Cordeliers, Institut Universitaire de France, Paris, France
- Metabolomics and Cell Biology Platforms, Gustave Roussy Cancer Campus, Villejuif, France
- Pôle de Biologie, Hôpital Européen Georges Pompidou, AP-HP, Paris, France
- Karolinska Institute, Department of Women's and Children's Health, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
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24
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Li B, Zhu X, Deng X. The inverted U-shaped relationship between epinephrine and pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma patients' survival with compensation of lymphocyte. Cancer Med 2024; 13:e7164. [PMID: 38572929 PMCID: PMC10993700 DOI: 10.1002/cam4.7164] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2023] [Revised: 02/01/2024] [Accepted: 03/25/2024] [Indexed: 04/05/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The relationship between epinephrine and cancer can be dose-dependent in in vivo study. Whether it is the same in human body still needs verification. METHOD We used frozen human pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) tissues to detect epinephrine content and analyzed its relationship with survival using the K-M method and Cox regression. Disturbance of blood cell count and C-reactive protein and identification of related potent intermediary factors were also analyzed. RESULTS K-M plot and Cox regression all showed the inverted U-shaped relationship between epinephrine and PDAC survival. Lymphocyte adjustment can increase the HRs of epinephrine for PDAC death by >10%. CONCLUSION Epinephrine played an anti-tumor or pro-tumor effect depending on the specific concentration. Circulating lymphocyte count was elevated and might acted as a compensation pathway to reduce the pro-tumor effect of epinephrine to PDAC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bing‐Xue Li
- Department of General Surgery, Pancreatic Disease Center, Ruijin HospitalShanghai Jiaotong University School of MedicineShanghaiChina
- Institute of Pancreatic DiseasesShanghai Jiaotong University School of MedicineShanghaiChina
- State Key Laboratory of Oncogenes and Related GenesShanghaiChina
- Institute of Translational MedicineShanghai Jiaotong UniversityShanghaiChina
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Pancreatic Neoplasms Translational MedicineShanghaiChina
| | - Xiao‐Cen Zhu
- Core Facility of Basic Medical SciencesShanghai Jiaotong University School of MedicineShanghaiChina
| | - Xia‐Xing Deng
- Department of General Surgery, Pancreatic Disease Center, Ruijin HospitalShanghai Jiaotong University School of MedicineShanghaiChina
- Institute of Pancreatic DiseasesShanghai Jiaotong University School of MedicineShanghaiChina
- State Key Laboratory of Oncogenes and Related GenesShanghaiChina
- Institute of Translational MedicineShanghai Jiaotong UniversityShanghaiChina
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Pancreatic Neoplasms Translational MedicineShanghaiChina
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25
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Wang Y, Liu Z, Tian Y, Zhao H, Fu X. Periampullary cancer and neurological interactions: current understanding and future research directions. Front Oncol 2024; 14:1370111. [PMID: 38567163 PMCID: PMC10985190 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2024.1370111] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2024] [Accepted: 03/06/2024] [Indexed: 04/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Periampullary cancer is a malignant tumor occurring around the ampullary region of the liver and pancreas, encompassing a variety of tissue types and sharing numerous biological characteristics, including interactions with the nervous system. The nervous system plays a crucial role in regulating organ development, maintaining physiological equilibrium, and ensuring life process plasticity, a role that is equally pivotal in oncology. Investigations into nerve-tumor interactions have unveiled their key part in controlling cancer progression, inhibiting anti-tumor immune responses, facilitating invasion and metastasis, and triggering neuropathic pain. Despite many mechanisms by which nerve fibers contribute to cancer advancement still being incompletely understood, the growing emphasis on the significance of nerves within the tumor microenvironment in recent years has set the stage for the development of groundbreaking therapies. This includes combining current neuroactive medications with established therapeutic protocols. This review centers on the mechanisms of Periampullary cancer's interactions with nerves, the influence of various types of nerve innervation on cancer evolution, and outlines the horizons for ongoing and forthcoming research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuchen Wang
- Third Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Shanxi Bethune Hospital, Shanxi Academy of Medical Sciences, Tongji Shanxi Hospital, Taiyuan, China
| | - Zi’ang Liu
- Third Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Shanxi Bethune Hospital, Shanxi Academy of Medical Sciences, Tongji Shanxi Hospital, Taiyuan, China
| | - Yanzhang Tian
- Third Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Shanxi Bethune Hospital, Shanxi Academy of Medical Sciences, Tongji Shanxi Hospital, Taiyuan, China
- General Surgery Department , Shanxi Bethune Hospital/General Surgery Department, Third Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, China
- Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Haoliang Zhao
- Third Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Shanxi Bethune Hospital, Shanxi Academy of Medical Sciences, Tongji Shanxi Hospital, Taiyuan, China
- General Surgery Department , Shanxi Bethune Hospital/General Surgery Department, Third Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, China
- Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Xifeng Fu
- Third Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Shanxi Bethune Hospital, Shanxi Academy of Medical Sciences, Tongji Shanxi Hospital, Taiyuan, China
- General Surgery Department , Shanxi Bethune Hospital/General Surgery Department, Third Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, China
- Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
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Fu Y, Shen K, Wang H, Wang S, Wang X, Zhu L, Zheng Y, Zou T, Ci H, Dong Q, Qin LX. Alpha5 nicotine acetylcholine receptor subunit promotes intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma metastasis. Signal Transduct Target Ther 2024; 9:63. [PMID: 38453934 PMCID: PMC10920868 DOI: 10.1038/s41392-024-01761-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2023] [Revised: 01/03/2024] [Accepted: 01/29/2024] [Indexed: 03/09/2024] Open
Abstract
Neurotransmitter-initiated signaling pathway were reported to play an important role in regulating the malignant phenotype of tumor cells. Cancer cells could exhibit a "neural addiction" property and build up local nerve networks to achieve an enhanced neurotransmitter-initiated signaling through nerve growth factor-mediated axonogenesis. Targeting the dysregulated nervous systems might represent a novel strategy for cancer treatment. However, whether intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) could build its own nerve networks and the role of neurotransmitters in the progression ICC remains largely unknown. Immunofluorescence staining and Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay suggested that ICC cells and the infiltrated nerves could generate a tumor microenvironment rich in acetylcholine that promotes ICC metastasis by inducing epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). Acetylcholine promoted ICC metastasis through interacting with its receptor, alpha 5 nicotine acetylcholine receptor subunits (CHRNA5). Furthermore, acetylcholine/CHRNA5 axis activated GSK3β/β-catenin signaling pathway partially through the influx of Ca2+-mediated activation of Ca/calmodulin-dependent protein kinases (CAMKII). In addition, acetylcholine signaling activation also expanded nerve infiltration through increasing the expression of Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF), which formed a feedforward acetylcholine-BDNF axis to promote ICC progression. KN93, a small-molecule inhibitor of CAMKII, significantly inhibited the migration and enhanced the sensitivity to gemcitabine of ICC cells. Above all, Acetylcholine/CHRNA5 axis increased the expression of β-catenin to promote the metastasis and resistance to gemcitabine of ICC via CAMKII/GSK3β signaling, and the CAMKII inhibitor KN93 may be an effective therapeutic strategy for combating ICC metastasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan Fu
- Hepatobiliary Surgery, Department of General Surgery, Huashan Hospital & Cancer Metastasis Institute, Fudan University, 200040, Shanghai, China
- Center of Interventional Radiology and Vascular Surgery, Department of Radiology, Zhongda Hospital, Medical School, Southeast University, 87 Dingjiaqiao Road, 210009, Nanjing, China
| | - Keyu Shen
- Hepatobiliary Surgery, Department of General Surgery, Huashan Hospital & Cancer Metastasis Institute, Fudan University, 200040, Shanghai, China
- Institutes of Biomedical Sciences, Fudan University, 200032, Shanghai, China
| | - Hao Wang
- Hepatobiliary Surgery, Department of General Surgery, Huashan Hospital & Cancer Metastasis Institute, Fudan University, 200040, Shanghai, China
- Institutes of Biomedical Sciences, Fudan University, 200032, Shanghai, China
| | - Shun Wang
- Hepatobiliary Surgery, Department of General Surgery, Huashan Hospital & Cancer Metastasis Institute, Fudan University, 200040, Shanghai, China
- Institutes of Biomedical Sciences, Fudan University, 200032, Shanghai, China
| | - Xufeng Wang
- Hepatobiliary Surgery, Department of General Surgery, Huashan Hospital & Cancer Metastasis Institute, Fudan University, 200040, Shanghai, China
- Institutes of Biomedical Sciences, Fudan University, 200032, Shanghai, China
| | - Le Zhu
- Hepatobiliary Surgery, Department of General Surgery, Huashan Hospital & Cancer Metastasis Institute, Fudan University, 200040, Shanghai, China
- Institutes of Biomedical Sciences, Fudan University, 200032, Shanghai, China
| | - Yan Zheng
- Hepatobiliary Surgery, Department of General Surgery, Huashan Hospital & Cancer Metastasis Institute, Fudan University, 200040, Shanghai, China
- Institutes of Biomedical Sciences, Fudan University, 200032, Shanghai, China
| | - Tiantian Zou
- Hepatobiliary Surgery, Department of General Surgery, Huashan Hospital & Cancer Metastasis Institute, Fudan University, 200040, Shanghai, China
- Institutes of Biomedical Sciences, Fudan University, 200032, Shanghai, China
| | - Hongfei Ci
- Hepatobiliary Surgery, Department of General Surgery, Huashan Hospital & Cancer Metastasis Institute, Fudan University, 200040, Shanghai, China
- Institutes of Biomedical Sciences, Fudan University, 200032, Shanghai, China
| | - Qiongzhu Dong
- Hepatobiliary Surgery, Department of General Surgery, Huashan Hospital & Cancer Metastasis Institute, Fudan University, 200040, Shanghai, China.
- Key Laboratory of Whole-period Monitoring and Precise Intervention of Digestive Cancer, Shanghai Municipal Health Commission, Minhang Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
| | - Lun-Xiu Qin
- Hepatobiliary Surgery, Department of General Surgery, Huashan Hospital & Cancer Metastasis Institute, Fudan University, 200040, Shanghai, China.
- Institutes of Biomedical Sciences, Fudan University, 200032, Shanghai, China.
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27
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Szczepanski JM, Rudolf MA, Shi J. Clinical Evaluation of the Pancreatic Cancer Microenvironment: Opportunities and Challenges. Cancers (Basel) 2024; 16:794. [PMID: 38398185 PMCID: PMC10887250 DOI: 10.3390/cancers16040794] [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: 01/16/2024] [Revised: 02/10/2024] [Accepted: 02/12/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Advances in our understanding of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) and its tumor microenvironment (TME) have the potential to transform treatment for the hundreds of thousands of patients who are diagnosed each year. Whereas the clinical assessment of cancer cell genetics has grown increasingly sophisticated and personalized, current protocols to evaluate the TME have lagged, despite evidence that the TME can be heterogeneous within and between patients. Here, we outline current protocols for PDAC diagnosis and management, review novel biomarkers, and highlight potential opportunities and challenges when evaluating the PDAC TME as we prepare to translate emerging TME-directed therapies to the clinic.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Jiaqi Shi
- Department of Pathology and Clinical Labs, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA; (J.M.S.); (M.A.R.)
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28
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Shalabi S, Belayachi A, Larrivée B. Involvement of neuronal factors in tumor angiogenesis and the shaping of the cancer microenvironment. Front Immunol 2024; 15:1284629. [PMID: 38375479 PMCID: PMC10875004 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2024.1284629] [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: 08/28/2023] [Accepted: 01/09/2024] [Indexed: 02/21/2024] Open
Abstract
Emerging evidence suggests that nerves within the tumor microenvironment play a crucial role in regulating angiogenesis. Neurotransmitters and neuropeptides released by nerves can interact with nearby blood vessels and tumor cells, influencing their behavior and modulating the angiogenic response. Moreover, nerve-derived signals may activate signaling pathways that enhance the production of pro-angiogenic factors within the tumor microenvironment, further supporting blood vessel growth around tumors. The intricate network of communication between neural constituents and the vascular system accentuates the potential of therapeutically targeting neural-mediated pathways as an innovative strategy to modulate tumor angiogenesis and, consequently, neoplastic proliferation. Hereby, we review studies that evaluate the precise molecular interplay and the potential clinical ramifications of manipulating neural elements for the purpose of anti-angiogenic therapeutics within the scope of cancer treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sharif Shalabi
- Maisonneuve-Rosemont Hospital Research Center, Boulevard de l’Assomption, Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - Ali Belayachi
- Maisonneuve-Rosemont Hospital Research Center, Boulevard de l’Assomption, Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - Bruno Larrivée
- Maisonneuve-Rosemont Hospital Research Center, Boulevard de l’Assomption, Montréal, QC, Canada
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, Montréal, QC, Canada
- Ophthalmology, Université de Montréal, boul. Édouard-Montpetit, Montréal, QC, Canada
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29
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Diba P, Sattler AL, Korzun T, Habecker BA, Marks DL. Unraveling the lost balance: Adrenergic dysfunction in cancer cachexia. Auton Neurosci 2024; 251:103136. [PMID: 38071925 PMCID: PMC10883135 DOI: 10.1016/j.autneu.2023.103136] [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: 08/21/2023] [Revised: 11/05/2023] [Accepted: 11/30/2023] [Indexed: 01/23/2024]
Abstract
Cancer cachexia, characterized by muscle wasting and widespread inflammation, poses a significant challenge for patients with cancer, profoundly impacting both their quality of life and treatment management. However, existing treatment modalities remain very limited, accentuating the necessity for innovative therapeutic interventions. Many recent studies demonstrated that changes in autonomic balance is a key driver of cancer cachexia. This review consolidates research findings from investigations into autonomic dysfunction across cancer cachexia, spanning animal models and patient cohorts. Moreover, we explore therapeutic strategies involving adrenergic receptor modulation through receptor blockers and agonists. Mechanisms underlying adrenergic hyperactivity in cardiac and adipose tissues, influencing tissue remodeling, are also examined. Looking ahead, we present a perspective for future research that delves into autonomic dysregulation in cancer cachexia. This comprehensive review highlights the urgency of advancing research to unveil innovative avenues for combatting cancer cachexia and improving patient well-being.
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Affiliation(s)
- Parham Diba
- Medical Scientist Training Program, Oregon Health & Science University, 3181 SW Sam Jackson Park Road, Portland, OR 97239, USA; Papé Family Pediatric Research Institute, Oregon Health & Science University, SW Sam Jackson Park Rd, Mail Code L481 Portland, OR 97239, USA
| | - Ariana L Sattler
- Papé Family Pediatric Research Institute, Oregon Health & Science University, SW Sam Jackson Park Rd, Mail Code L481 Portland, OR 97239, USA; Knight Cancer Institute, Oregon Health & Science University, 2720 S Moody Avenue, Portland, OR 97201, USA; Brenden-Colson Center for Pancreatic Care, Oregon Health & Science University, 2730 S Moody Avenue, Portland, OR 97201, USA
| | - Tetiana Korzun
- Medical Scientist Training Program, Oregon Health & Science University, 3181 SW Sam Jackson Park Road, Portland, OR 97239, USA; Papé Family Pediatric Research Institute, Oregon Health & Science University, SW Sam Jackson Park Rd, Mail Code L481 Portland, OR 97239, USA
| | - Beth A Habecker
- Department of Chemical Physiology and Biochemistry, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR 97239, USA; Department of Medicine, Knight Cardiovascular Institute, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR 97239, USA
| | - Daniel L Marks
- Papé Family Pediatric Research Institute, Oregon Health & Science University, SW Sam Jackson Park Rd, Mail Code L481 Portland, OR 97239, USA; Knight Cancer Institute, Oregon Health & Science University, 2720 S Moody Avenue, Portland, OR 97201, USA; Brenden-Colson Center for Pancreatic Care, Oregon Health & Science University, 2730 S Moody Avenue, Portland, OR 97201, USA.
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30
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Lu Y, Cheng D, Pang J, Peng Y, Jin S, Zhang X, Li Y, Zuo Y. Chronic stress promotes gastric cancer progression via the adrenoceptor beta 2/PlexinA1 pathway. Cell Stress Chaperones 2024; 29:201-215. [PMID: 38331165 PMCID: PMC10939071 DOI: 10.1016/j.cstres.2024.02.001] [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: 09/24/2023] [Revised: 01/16/2024] [Accepted: 02/02/2024] [Indexed: 02/10/2024] Open
Abstract
Chronic stress is a common emotional disorder in cancer patients. Chronic stress promotes progression of gastric cancer (GC) and leads to poor outcomes. However, the underlying mechanisms remain not clear. Herein, we explored the possible mechanisms of chronic stress in GC progression. The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) datasets were analyzed for differentially expressed genes. Clinical data of GC were evaluated for their association with PlexinA1 using TCGA and Kaplan-Meier-plotter databases. Chronic stress of GC patients was evaluated using the Self-Rating Anxiety Scale and Self-Rating Depression Scale. Chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) was used to induce chronic stress in mice. Gastric xenograft tumor was constructed using the sewing method. Chronic stress-like behaviors were assessed using light/dark box and tail suspension tests. Protein expression was detected using immunohistochemistry and Western blot analysis. Analyses of TCGA and the Kaplan-Meier-plotter databases showed that patients with high levels of PlexinA1 in GC had worse overall survival than those with low levels of PlexinA1. A total of 36 GC patients were enrolled in the study, and about 33% of the patients had chronic stress. Compared with patients without chronic stress, higher expression levels of adrenoceptor beta 2 and PlexinA1 were observed in patients with chronic stress. The tumor size in mice under CUMS was significantly increased compared with the control mice. Adrenoceptor beta 2, PlexinA1, N-cadherin, and alpha-smooth muscle actin, as well as Ki67 were highly expressed in the tumors of CUMS group. However, E-cadherin was lowly expressed in the tumors of CUMS group. Importantly, chemical sympathectomy with 6-hydroxydopamine or treatment with a selective β2 adrenergic receptor antagonist (ICI118,551) could reverse these effects. Our findings suggest that chronic stress plays an important role in GC progression and there is a potential for blocking the epinephrine-β2AR/PlexinA1 pathway in the treatment of GC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanjie Lu
- Department of Pathology, Chengde Medical College, Chengde, Hebei Province, China; Cancer Research Laboratory, Chengde Medical College, Chengde, Hebei Province, China
| | - Die Cheng
- Department of Pathology, Chengde Medical College, Chengde, Hebei Province, China
| | - Jiayu Pang
- Department of Pathology, Chengde Medical College, Chengde, Hebei Province, China
| | - Yuqiao Peng
- Department of Pathology, Chengde Medical College, Chengde, Hebei Province, China
| | - Shunkang Jin
- Department of Pathology, Chengde Medical College, Chengde, Hebei Province, China
| | - Xinyu Zhang
- Department of Pathology, Chengde Medical College, Chengde, Hebei Province, China
| | - Yuhong Li
- Department of Pathology, Chengde Medical College, Chengde, Hebei Province, China; Cancer Research Laboratory, Chengde Medical College, Chengde, Hebei Province, China.
| | - Yanzhen Zuo
- Cancer Research Laboratory, Chengde Medical College, Chengde, Hebei Province, China.
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31
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Silva D, Quintas C, Gonçalves J, Fresco P. β 2-Adrenoceptor Activation Favor Acquisition of Tumorigenic Properties in Non-Tumorigenic MCF-10A Breast Epithelial Cells. Cells 2024; 13:262. [PMID: 38334654 PMCID: PMC10854540 DOI: 10.3390/cells13030262] [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: 11/28/2023] [Revised: 01/22/2024] [Accepted: 01/26/2024] [Indexed: 02/10/2024] Open
Abstract
Noradrenaline and adrenaline, and their cognate receptors, are currently accepted to participate in cancer progression. They may also participate in cancer initiation, although their role in this phase is much less explored. The aim of this work was to study the influence of adrenergic stimulation in several processes related to breast cancer carcinogenesis, using several adrenergic agonists in the MCF-10A non-tumorigenic breast cells. Activation of the β-adrenoceptors promoted an epithelial phenotype in MCF-10A cells, revealed by an increased expression of the epithelial marker E-cadherin and a decrease in the mesenchymal markers, N-cadherin and vimentin. MCF-10A cell motility and migration were also impaired after the β-adrenoceptors activation. Concomitant with this effect, β-adrenoceptors decrease cell protrusions (lamellipodia and filopodia) while increasing cell adhesion. Activation of the β-adrenoceptors also decreases MCF-10A cell proliferation. When the MCF-10A cells were cultured under low attachment conditions, activation the of β- (likely β2) or of α2-adrenoceptors had protective effects against cell death, suggesting a pro-survival role of these adrenoceptors. Overall, our results showed that, in breast cells, adrenoceptor activation (mainly through β-adrenoceptors) may be a risk factor in breast cancer by inducing some cancer hallmarks, providing a mechanistic explanation for the increase in breast cancer incidences that may be associated with conditions that cause massive adrenergic stimulation, such as stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dany Silva
- Laboratory of Pharmacology, Department of Drug Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Porto, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal; (D.S.); (C.Q.); (P.F.)
- UCIBIO—Applied Molecular Biosciences Unit, Associate Laboratory i4HB, Institute for Health and Bioeconomy, University of Porto, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal
| | - Clara Quintas
- Laboratory of Pharmacology, Department of Drug Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Porto, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal; (D.S.); (C.Q.); (P.F.)
- UCIBIO—Applied Molecular Biosciences Unit, Associate Laboratory i4HB, Institute for Health and Bioeconomy, University of Porto, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal
| | - Jorge Gonçalves
- Laboratory of Pharmacology, Department of Drug Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Porto, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal; (D.S.); (C.Q.); (P.F.)
- UCIBIO—Applied Molecular Biosciences Unit, Associate Laboratory i4HB, Institute for Health and Bioeconomy, University of Porto, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal
| | - Paula Fresco
- Laboratory of Pharmacology, Department of Drug Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Porto, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal; (D.S.); (C.Q.); (P.F.)
- UCIBIO—Applied Molecular Biosciences Unit, Associate Laboratory i4HB, Institute for Health and Bioeconomy, University of Porto, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal
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Liang S, Hess J. Tumor Neurobiology in the Pathogenesis and Therapy of Head and Neck Cancer. Cells 2024; 13:256. [PMID: 38334648 PMCID: PMC10854684 DOI: 10.3390/cells13030256] [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: 12/25/2023] [Revised: 01/20/2024] [Accepted: 01/26/2024] [Indexed: 02/10/2024] Open
Abstract
The neurobiology of tumors has attracted considerable interest from clinicians and scientists and has become a multidisciplinary area of research. Neural components not only interact with tumor cells but also influence other elements within the TME, such as immune cells and vascular components, forming a polygonal relationship to synergistically facilitate tumor growth and progression. This review comprehensively summarizes the current state of the knowledge on nerve-tumor crosstalk in head and neck cancer and discusses the potential underlying mechanisms. Several mechanisms facilitating nerve-tumor crosstalk are covered, such as perineural invasion, axonogenesis, neurogenesis, neural reprogramming, and transdifferentiation, and the reciprocal interactions between the nervous and immune systems in the TME are also discussed in this review. Further understanding of the nerve-tumor crosstalk in the TME of head and neck cancer may provide new nerve-targeted treatment options and help improve clinical outcomes for patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Siyuan Liang
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Tumors, Heidelberg University Hospital, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany;
| | - Jochen Hess
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Tumors, Heidelberg University Hospital, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany;
- Research Group Molecular Mechanisms of Head and Neck Tumors, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
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Lyu Y, Xie F, Chen B, Shin WS, Chen W, He Y, Leung KT, Tse GMK, Yu J, To KF, Kang W. The nerve cells in gastrointestinal cancers: from molecular mechanisms to clinical intervention. Oncogene 2024; 43:77-91. [PMID: 38081962 PMCID: PMC10774121 DOI: 10.1038/s41388-023-02909-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: 10/11/2023] [Revised: 11/22/2023] [Accepted: 11/24/2023] [Indexed: 01/10/2024]
Abstract
Gastrointestinal (GI) cancer is a formidable malignancy with significant morbidity and mortality rates. Recent studies have shed light on the complex interplay between the nervous system and the GI system, influencing various aspects of GI tumorigenesis, such as the malignance of cancer cells, the conformation of tumor microenvironment (TME), and the resistance to chemotherapies. The discussion in this review first focused on exploring the intricate details of the biological function of the nervous system in the development of the GI tract and the progression of tumors within it. Meanwhile, the cancer cell-originated feedback regulation on the nervous system is revealed to play a crucial role in the growth and development of nerve cells within tumor tissues. This interaction is vital for understanding the complex relationship between the nervous system and GI oncogenesis. Additionally, the study identified various components within the TME that possess a significant influence on the occurrence and progression of GI cancer, including microbiota, immune cells, and fibroblasts. Moreover, we highlighted the transformation relationship between non-neuronal cells and neuronal cells during GI cancer progression, inspiring the development of strategies for nervous system-guided anti-tumor drugs. By further elucidating the deep mechanism of various neuroregulatory signals and neuronal intervention, we underlined the potential of these targeted drugs translating into effective therapies for GI cancer treatment. In summary, this review provides an overview of the mechanisms of neuromodulation and explores potential therapeutic opportunities, providing insights into the understanding and management of GI cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yang Lyu
- Department of Anatomical and Cellular Pathology, State Key Laboratory of Translational Oncology, Sir Y.K. Pao Cancer Center, Prince of Wales Hospital, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
- Institute of Digestive Disease, State Key Laboratory of Digestive Disease, Li Ka Shing Institute of Health Science, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
- CUHK-Shenzhen Research Institute, Shenzhen, China
| | - Fuda Xie
- Department of Anatomical and Cellular Pathology, State Key Laboratory of Translational Oncology, Sir Y.K. Pao Cancer Center, Prince of Wales Hospital, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
- Institute of Digestive Disease, State Key Laboratory of Digestive Disease, Li Ka Shing Institute of Health Science, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
- CUHK-Shenzhen Research Institute, Shenzhen, China
| | - Bonan Chen
- Department of Anatomical and Cellular Pathology, State Key Laboratory of Translational Oncology, Sir Y.K. Pao Cancer Center, Prince of Wales Hospital, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
- Institute of Digestive Disease, State Key Laboratory of Digestive Disease, Li Ka Shing Institute of Health Science, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
- CUHK-Shenzhen Research Institute, Shenzhen, China
| | - Wing Sum Shin
- Department of Anatomical and Cellular Pathology, State Key Laboratory of Translational Oncology, Sir Y.K. Pao Cancer Center, Prince of Wales Hospital, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Wei Chen
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Digestive Cancer Research, Digestive Diseases Center, Scientific Research Center, The Seventh Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Yulong He
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Digestive Cancer Research, Digestive Diseases Center, Scientific Research Center, The Seventh Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Kam Tong Leung
- Department of Pediatrics, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Gary M K Tse
- Department of Anatomical and Cellular Pathology, State Key Laboratory of Translational Oncology, Sir Y.K. Pao Cancer Center, Prince of Wales Hospital, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Jun Yu
- Institute of Digestive Disease, State Key Laboratory of Digestive Disease, Li Ka Shing Institute of Health Science, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
- Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Ka Fai To
- Department of Anatomical and Cellular Pathology, State Key Laboratory of Translational Oncology, Sir Y.K. Pao Cancer Center, Prince of Wales Hospital, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Wei Kang
- Department of Anatomical and Cellular Pathology, State Key Laboratory of Translational Oncology, Sir Y.K. Pao Cancer Center, Prince of Wales Hospital, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
- Institute of Digestive Disease, State Key Laboratory of Digestive Disease, Li Ka Shing Institute of Health Science, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
- CUHK-Shenzhen Research Institute, Shenzhen, China.
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Fan Y, Zhang B, Du X, Wang B, Yan Q, Guo L, Yao W. Regulating Tumorigenicity and Cancer Metastasis through TRKA Signaling. Curr Cancer Drug Targets 2024; 24:271-287. [PMID: 37670705 DOI: 10.2174/1568009623666230904150957] [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: 02/14/2023] [Revised: 07/15/2023] [Accepted: 07/25/2023] [Indexed: 09/07/2023]
Abstract
Tropomyosin receptor kinase (TRK) A, TRKA, is a specific binding receptor of nerve growth factor (NGF), which plays an essential role in the occurrence and progression of human cancers. TRKA overexpression has been proven to be a powerful carcinogenic driver and has been verified in many tumors. The TRKA receptor kinase domain is over-activated in an NGF-dependent manner, accompanied by activation of downstream signal pathways, such as RAS-MAPK, PI3K-AKT, JAK2-STAT3 pathway, PLC γ pathway, and Hippo pathway, which participate in tumor cell proliferation, invasion, epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), perineural invasion (PNI), drug resistance, and cancer pain. In addition, chimeric oncogenes produced by the fusion of NTRK1 and other genes are also the direct cause of tumorigenesis and cancer development. The newly developed TRK inhibitors can improve symptoms and tumor regression in cancer patients with overexpression of TRKA or NTRK1 fusion gene. With the emergence of drug resistance, next generation of TRK inhibitors can still maintain strong clinical efficacy in the case of TRK kinase domain mutations, and these inhibitors are in clinical trials. This review summarizes the characteristics and research progress of TRKA, focusing on the regulatory role of the TRKA signal pathway in different tumors. In addition, we have summarized the clinical significance of TRKA and the TRK inhibitors. This review may provide a new reference for the study of the mechanism of TRKA in different tumors, and also provide a new perspective for the in-depth understanding of the role of TRKA as a biomarker and therapeutic target in human cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yichao Fan
- Henan Cancer Hospital, Department of Bone and Soft Tissue Cancer, The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Zhengzhou University & Henan Cancer Hospital, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Boya Zhang
- Henan Cancer Hospital, Department of Bone and Soft Tissue Cancer, The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Zhengzhou University & Henan Cancer Hospital, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Xinhui Du
- Henan Cancer Hospital, Department of Bone and Soft Tissue Cancer, The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Zhengzhou University & Henan Cancer Hospital, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Bangmin Wang
- Henan Cancer Hospital, Department of Bone and Soft Tissue Cancer, The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Zhengzhou University & Henan Cancer Hospital, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Qiang Yan
- Henan Cancer Hospital, Department of Bone and Soft Tissue Cancer, The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Zhengzhou University & Henan Cancer Hospital, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Liangyu Guo
- Henan Cancer Hospital, Department of Bone and Soft Tissue Cancer, The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Zhengzhou University & Henan Cancer Hospital, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Weitao Yao
- Henan Cancer Hospital, Department of Bone and Soft Tissue Cancer, The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Zhengzhou University & Henan Cancer Hospital, Zhengzhou, China
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Blasko F, Horvathova L. The relationship between the tumor and its innervation: historical, methodical, morphological, and functional assessments - A minireview. Endocr Regul 2024; 58:68-82. [PMID: 38563296 DOI: 10.2478/enr-2024-0008] [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] [Indexed: 04/04/2024] Open
Abstract
The acceptance of the tumor as a non-isolated structure within the organism has opened a space for the study of a wide spectrum of potential direct and indirect interactions, not only between the tumor tissue and its vicinity, but also between the tumor and its macroenvironment, including the nervous system. Although several lines of evidence have implicated the nervous system in tumor growth and progression, for many years, researchers believed that tumors lacked innervation and the notion of indirect neuro-neoplastic interactions via other systems (e.g., immune, or endocrine) predominated. The original idea that tumors are supplied not only by blood and lymphatic vessels, but also autonomic and sensory nerves that may influence cancer progression, is not a recent phenomenon. Although in the past, mainly due to the insufficiently sensitive methodological approaches, opinions regarding the presence of nerves in tumors were inconsistent. However, data from the last decade have shown that tumors are able to stimulate the formation of their own innervation by processes called neo-neurogenesis and neo-axonogenesis. It has also been shown that tumor infiltrating nerves are not a passive, but active components of the tumor microenvironment and their presence in the tumor tissue is associated with an aggressive tumor phenotype and correlates with poor prognosis. The aim of the present review was to 1) summarize the available knowledge regarding the course of tumor innervation, 2) present the potential mechanisms and pathways for the possible induction of new nerve fibers into the tumor microenvironment, and 3) highlight the functional significance/consequences of the nerves infiltrating the tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Filip Blasko
- Institute of Experimental Endocrinology, Biomedical Research Center, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Bratislava, Slovakia
- Institute of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University Bratislava, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Lubica Horvathova
- Institute of Experimental Endocrinology, Biomedical Research Center, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Bratislava, Slovakia
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Xu W, Liu J, Zhang J, Lu J, Guo J. Tumor microenvironment crosstalk between tumors and the nervous system in pancreatic cancer: Molecular mechanisms and clinical perspectives. Biochim Biophys Acta Rev Cancer 2024; 1879:189032. [PMID: 38036106 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbcan.2023.189032] [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: 07/06/2023] [Revised: 11/22/2023] [Accepted: 11/23/2023] [Indexed: 12/02/2023]
Abstract
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) exhibits the highest incidence of perineural invasion among all solid tumors. The intricate interplay between tumors and the nervous system plays an important role in PDAC tumorigenesis, progression, recurrence, and metastasis. Various clinical symptoms of PDAC, including anorexia and cancer pain, have been linked to aberrant neural activity, while the presence of perineural invasion is a significant prognostic indicator. The use of conventional neuroactive drugs and neurosurgical interventions for PDAC patients is on the rise. An in-depth exploration of tumor-nervous system crosstalk has revealed novel therapeutic strategies for mitigating PDAC progression and effectively relieving symptoms. In this comprehensive review, we elucidate the regulatory functions of tumor-nervous system crosstalk, provide a succinct overview of the relationship between tumor-nervous system dialogue and clinical symptomatology, and deliberate the current research progress and forthcoming avenues of neural therapy for PDAC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenchao Xu
- Department of General Surgery, State Key Laboratory of Complex Severe and Rare Diseases, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100730, China
| | - Jianzhou Liu
- Department of General Surgery, State Key Laboratory of Complex Severe and Rare Diseases, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100730, China
| | - Jianlu Zhang
- Department of General Surgery, State Key Laboratory of Complex Severe and Rare Diseases, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100730, China.
| | - Jun Lu
- Department of General Surgery, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing 100730, China
| | - Junchao Guo
- Department of General Surgery, State Key Laboratory of Complex Severe and Rare Diseases, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100730, China.
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Xiong SY, Wen HZ, Dai LM, Lou YX, Wang ZQ, Yi YL, Yan XJ, Wu YR, Sun W, Chen PH, Yang SZ, Qi XW, Zhang Y, Wu GY. A brain-tumor neural circuit controls breast cancer progression in mice. J Clin Invest 2023; 133:e167725. [PMID: 37847562 PMCID: PMC10721160 DOI: 10.1172/jci167725] [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: 12/05/2022] [Accepted: 10/12/2023] [Indexed: 10/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Tumor burden, considered a common chronic stressor, can cause widespread anxiety. Evidence suggests that cancer-induced anxiety can promote tumor progression, but the underlying neural mechanism remains unclear. Here, we used neuroscience and cancer tools to investigate how the brain contributes to tumor progression via nerve-tumor crosstalk in a mouse model of breast cancer. We show that tumor-bearing mice exhibited significant anxiety-like behaviors and that corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) neurons in the central medial amygdala (CeM) were activated. Moreover, we detected newly formed sympathetic nerves in tumors, which established a polysynaptic connection to the brain. Pharmacogenetic or optogenetic inhibition of CeMCRH neurons and the CeMCRH→lateral paragigantocellular nucleus (LPGi) circuit significantly alleviated anxiety-like behaviors and slowed tumor growth. Conversely, artificial activation of CeMCRH neurons and the CeMCRH→LPGi circuit increased anxiety and tumor growth. Importantly, we found alprazolam, an antianxiety drug, to be a promising agent for slowing tumor progression. Furthermore, we show that manipulation of the CeMCRH→LPGi circuit directly regulated the activity of the intratumoral sympathetic nerves and peripheral nerve-derived norepinephrine, which affected tumor progression by modulating antitumor immunity. Together, these findings reveal a brain-tumor neural circuit that contributes to breast cancer progression and provide therapeutic insights for breast cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Si-Yi Xiong
- Breast and Thyroid Surgery, Southwest Hospital
| | - Hui-Zhong Wen
- Department of Neurobiology, Chongqing Key Laboratory of Neurobiology, College of Basic Medical Sciences
| | - Li-Meng Dai
- Department of Medical Genetics, College of Basic Medical Sciences
| | - Yun-Xiao Lou
- Department of Neurobiology, Chongqing Key Laboratory of Neurobiology, College of Basic Medical Sciences
| | - Zhao-Qun Wang
- Department of Neurobiology, Chongqing Key Laboratory of Neurobiology, College of Basic Medical Sciences
| | - Yi-Lun Yi
- Experimental Center of Basic Medicine, Chongqing Key Laboratory of Neurobiology, College of Basic Medical Sciences
| | - Xiao-Jing Yan
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Basic Medical Sciences
| | - Ya-Ran Wu
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy and Laboratory Medicine, and
| | - Wei Sun
- Biomedical Analysis Center, Army Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Peng-Hui Chen
- Department of Neurobiology, Chongqing Key Laboratory of Neurobiology, College of Basic Medical Sciences
| | - Si-Zhe Yang
- Breast and Thyroid Surgery, Southwest Hospital
| | - Xiao-Wei Qi
- Breast and Thyroid Surgery, Southwest Hospital
| | - Yi Zhang
- Breast and Thyroid Surgery, Southwest Hospital
| | - Guang-Yan Wu
- Experimental Center of Basic Medicine, Chongqing Key Laboratory of Neurobiology, College of Basic Medical Sciences
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Lan Y, Zou S, Wang W, Chen Q, Zhu Y. Progress in cancer neuroscience. MedComm (Beijing) 2023; 4:e431. [PMID: 38020711 PMCID: PMC10665600 DOI: 10.1002/mco2.431] [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: 07/10/2023] [Revised: 11/02/2023] [Accepted: 11/08/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Cancer of the central nervous system (CNS) can crosstalk systemically and locally in the tumor microenvironment and has become a topic of attention for tumor initiation and advancement. Recently studied neuronal and cancer interaction fundamentally altered the knowledge about glioma and metastases, indicating how cancers invade complex neuronal networks. This review systematically discussed the interactions between neurons and cancers and elucidates new therapeutic avenues. We have overviewed the current understanding of direct or indirect communications of neuronal cells with cancer and the mechanisms associated with cancer invasion. Besides, tumor-associated neuronal dysfunction and the influence of cancer therapies on the CNS are highlighted. Furthermore, interactions between peripheral nervous system and various cancers have also been discussed separately. Intriguingly and importantly, it cannot be ignored that exosomes could mediate the "wireless communications" between nervous system and cancer. Finally, promising future strategies targeting neuronal-brain tumor interactions were reviewed. A great deal of work remains to be done to elucidate the neuroscience of cancer, and future more research should be directed toward clarifying the precise mechanisms of cancer neuroscience, which hold enormous promise to improve outcomes for a wide range of malignancies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu‐Long Lan
- Department of NeurosurgerySecond Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang UniversityHangzhouZhejiangChina
- Key Laboratory of Precise Treatment and Clinical Translational Research of Neurological DiseasesHangzhouZhejiangChina
- Clinical Research Center for Neurological Diseases of Zhejiang ProvinceHangzhouChina
| | - Shuang Zou
- Key Laboratory of Neuropharmacology and Translational Medicine of Zhejiang Province, School of Pharmaceutical ScienceZhejiang Chinese Medical UniversityHangzhouChina
| | - Wen Wang
- Department of NeurosurgeryBeijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical UniversityBeijingChina
| | - Qi Chen
- Key Laboratory of Neuropharmacology and Translational Medicine of Zhejiang Province, School of Pharmaceutical ScienceZhejiang Chinese Medical UniversityHangzhouChina
| | - Yongjian Zhu
- Department of NeurosurgerySecond Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang UniversityHangzhouZhejiangChina
- Key Laboratory of Precise Treatment and Clinical Translational Research of Neurological DiseasesHangzhouZhejiangChina
- Clinical Research Center for Neurological Diseases of Zhejiang ProvinceHangzhouChina
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Huang FF, Cui WH, Ma LY, Chen Q, Liu Y. Crosstalk of nervous and immune systems in pancreatic cancer. Front Cell Dev Biol 2023; 11:1309738. [PMID: 38099290 PMCID: PMC10720593 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2023.1309738] [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: 10/08/2023] [Accepted: 11/20/2023] [Indexed: 12/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Pancreatic cancer is a highly malignant tumor known for its extremely low survival rate. The combination of genetic disorders within pancreatic cells and the tumor microenvironment contributes to the emergence and progression of this devastating disease. Extensive research has shed light on the nature of the microenvironmental cells surrounding the pancreatic cancer, including peripheral nerves and immune cells. Peripheral nerves release neuropeptides that directly target pancreatic cancer cells in a paracrine manner, while immune cells play a crucial role in eliminating cancer cells that have not evaded the immune response. Recent studies have revealed the intricate interplay between the nervous and immune systems in homeostatic condition as well as in cancer development. In this review, we aim to summarize the function of nerves in pancreatic cancer, emphasizing the significance to investigate the neural-immune crosstalk during the advancement of this malignant cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fei-Fei Huang
- The Innovation Centre of Ministry of Education for Development and Diseases, School of Medicine, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, China
| | - Wen-Hui Cui
- The Innovation Centre of Ministry of Education for Development and Diseases, School of Medicine, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, China
| | - Lan-Yue Ma
- Center for Cell Lineage and Development, CAS Key Laboratory of Regenerative Biology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, GIBH-HKU Guangdong-Hong Kong Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine Research Centre, GIBH-CUHK Joint Research Laboratory on Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China
- China-New Zealand Joint Laboratory on Biomedicine and Health, Guangzhou, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Qi Chen
- Center for Cell Lineage and Development, CAS Key Laboratory of Regenerative Biology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, GIBH-HKU Guangdong-Hong Kong Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine Research Centre, GIBH-CUHK Joint Research Laboratory on Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China
- China-New Zealand Joint Laboratory on Biomedicine and Health, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yang Liu
- The Innovation Centre of Ministry of Education for Development and Diseases, School of Medicine, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, China
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Liu L, Chen G, Gong S, Huang R, Fan C. Targeting tumor-associated macrophage: an adjuvant strategy for lung cancer therapy. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1274547. [PMID: 38022518 PMCID: PMC10679371 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1274547] [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: 08/08/2023] [Accepted: 10/26/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023] Open
Abstract
The emergence of immunotherapy has revolutionized the treatment landscape for various types of cancer. Nevertheless, lung cancer remains one of the leading causes of cancer-related mortality worldwide due to the development of resistance in most patients. As one of the most abundant groups of immune cells in the tumor microenvironment (TME), tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) play crucial and complex roles in the development of lung cancer, including the regulation of immunosuppressive TME remodeling, metabolic reprogramming, neoangiogenesis, metastasis, and promotion of tumoral neurogenesis. Hence, relevant strategies for lung cancer therapy, such as inhibition of macrophage recruitment, TAM reprograming, depletion of TAMs, and engineering of TAMs for drug delivery, have been developed. Based on the satisfactory treatment effect of TAM-targeted therapy, recent studies also investigated its synergistic effect with current therapies for lung cancer, including immunotherapy, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, anti-epidermal growth factor receptor (anti-EGFR) treatment, or photodynamic therapy. Thus, in this article, we summarized the key mechanisms of TAMs contributing to lung cancer progression and elaborated on the novel therapeutic strategies against TAMs. We also discussed the therapeutic potential of TAM targeting as adjuvant therapy in the current treatment of lung cancer, particularly highlighting the TAM-centered strategies for improving the efficacy of anti-programmed cell death-1/programmed cell death-ligand 1 (anti-PD-1/PD-L1) treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Chunmei Fan
- *Correspondence: Chunmei Fan, ; Rongfu Huang,
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Mi K, Zeng L, Chen Y, Yang S. Integrative Analysis of Single-Cell and Bulk RNA Sequencing Reveals Prognostic Characteristics of Macrophage Polarization-Related Genes in Lung Adenocarcinoma. Int J Gen Med 2023; 16:5031-5050. [PMID: 37942473 PMCID: PMC10629586 DOI: 10.2147/ijgm.s430408] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2023] [Accepted: 10/30/2023] [Indexed: 11/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) is a group of cancers with poor prognosis. The combination of single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) and bulk RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) can identify important genes involved in cancer development and progression from a broader perspective. Methods The scRNA-seq data and bulk RNA-seq data of LUAD were downloaded from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database and the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database. Analyzing scRNA-seq for core cells in the GSE131907 dataset, and the uniform manifold approximation and projection (UMAP) was used for dimensionality reduction and cluster identification. Macrophage polarization-associated subtypes were acquired from the TCGA-LUAD dataset after analysis, followed by further identification of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in the TCGA-LUAD dataset (normal/LUAD tissue samples, two subtypes). Venn diagrams were utilized to visualize differentially expressed and highly variable macrophage polarization-related genes. Subsequently, a prognostic risk model for LUAD patients was constructed by univariate Cox and Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator (LASSO), and the model was investigated for stability in the external data GSE72094. After analyzing the correlation between the trait genes and significantly mutated genes, the immune infiltration between the high/low-risk groups was then examined. The Monocle package was applied to analyze the pseudo-temporal trajectory analysis of different cell clusters in macrophage clusters. Subsequently, cell clusters of data macrophages were selected as key cell clusters to explore the role of characteristic genes in different cell populations and to identify transcription factors (TFs) that affect signature genes. Finally, qPCR were employed to validate the expression levels of prognosis signature genes in LUAD. Results 424 macrophage highly variable genes, 3920 DEGs, and 9561 DEGs were obtained from macrophage clusters, the macrophage polarization-related subtypes, and normal/LUAD tissue samples, respectively. Twenty-eight differentially expressed and highly mutated MPRGs were obtained. A prognostic risk model with 7 DE-MPRGs (RGS13, ADRB2, DDIT4, MS4A2, ALDH2, CTSH, and PKM) was constructed. This prognostic model still has a good prediction effect in the GSE72094 dataset. ZNF536 and DNAH9 were mutated in the low-risk group, while COL11A1 was mutated in the high-risk group, and they were highly correlated with the characteristic genes. A total of 11 immune cells were significantly different in the high/low-risk groups. Five cell types were again identified in the macrophage cluster, and then NK cells: CD56hiCD62L+ differentiated earlier and were present mainly on 2 branches. While macrophages were present on 2 branches and differentiated later. It was found that the expression levels of BCLAF1 and MAX were higher in cluster 1, which might be the TFs affecting the expression of the characteristic genes. Moreover, qPCR confirmed that the expression of the prognosis genes was generally consistent with the results of the bioinformatic analysis. Conclusion Seven MPRGs (RGS13, ADRB2, DDIT4, MS4A2, ALDH2, CTSH, and PKM) were identified as prognostic genes for LUAD and revealed the mechanisms of MPRGs at the single-cell level.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ke Mi
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, Shaanxi, People’s Republic of China
| | - Lizhong Zeng
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, Shaanxi, People’s Republic of China
| | - Yang Chen
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, Shaanxi, People’s Republic of China
| | - Shuanying Yang
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, Shaanxi, People’s Republic of China
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Knoblauch M, Ma T, Beirith I, Koch D, Hofmann F, Heinrich K, Aghamaliev U, Sirtl S, Westphalen CB, Nieß H, Reichert M, Angele MK, Regel I, Bazhin AV, Werner J, Ilmer M, Renz BW. In-vitro model to mimic T cell subset change in human PDAC organoid co-culture. J Cancer Res Clin Oncol 2023; 149:13051-13064. [PMID: 37470855 PMCID: PMC10587248 DOI: 10.1007/s00432-023-05100-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2023] [Accepted: 06/30/2023] [Indexed: 07/21/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE Immunotherapies have largely failed as treatment options for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). In this field, clinical translational studies into personalized treatment are of fundamental importance. In our study, we model tumor-cell immune-cell interactions in a co-culture of primary human PDAC organoids and matched peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). METHODS Using flow cytometry, we evaluated changes in T cell subtypes upon co-culture of patient-derived PDAC organoids and matched PBMCs. RESULTS After co-culturing PDAC organoids with PBMCs, we observed changes in CD4+, CD8+ and Treg cell populations. We observed favorable clinical outcome in patients whose PBMCs reacted to the co-culture with organoids. CONCLUSION This experimental model allows to investigate interactions between patient derived PDAC organoids and their PBMCs. This co-culture system could serve as a preclinical platform to guide personalized therapeutic strategies in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Knoblauch
- Department of General, Visceral, and Transplantation Surgery, LMU Klinikum, Marchioninistr. 15, 81377, Munich, Germany
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), German Cancer Research Centre (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - T Ma
- Department of General, Visceral, and Transplantation Surgery, LMU Klinikum, Marchioninistr. 15, 81377, Munich, Germany
| | - I Beirith
- Department of General, Visceral, and Transplantation Surgery, LMU Klinikum, Marchioninistr. 15, 81377, Munich, Germany
| | - D Koch
- Department of General, Visceral, and Transplantation Surgery, LMU Klinikum, Marchioninistr. 15, 81377, Munich, Germany
| | - F Hofmann
- Department of General, Visceral, and Transplantation Surgery, LMU Klinikum, Marchioninistr. 15, 81377, Munich, Germany
| | - K Heinrich
- Department of Hematology/Oncology and Comprehensive Cancer Center Munich, LMU University Hospital Munich, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - U Aghamaliev
- Department of General, Visceral, and Transplantation Surgery, LMU Klinikum, Marchioninistr. 15, 81377, Munich, Germany
| | - S Sirtl
- Department of Medicine II, University Hospital, Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, Bavarian Centre for Cancer Research (Bayerisches Zentrum Für Krebsforschung), Munich, Germany
| | - C B Westphalen
- Department of Hematology/Oncology and Comprehensive Cancer Center Munich, LMU University Hospital Munich, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - H Nieß
- Department of General, Visceral, and Transplantation Surgery, LMU Klinikum, Marchioninistr. 15, 81377, Munich, Germany
| | - M Reichert
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), German Cancer Research Centre (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
- Department of Internal Medicine II, Klinikum Rechts der Isar, Technische Universität München, Munich, Germany
- Translational Pancreatic Cancer Research Center, Klinik und Poliklinik für Innere Medizin II, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
- Center for Functional Protein Assemblies (CPA), Technical University of Munich, Garching, Germany
- Center for Organoid Systems (COS), Technical University of Munich, Garching, Germany
- Munich Institute of Biomedical Engineering (MIBE), Technical University of Munich, Garching, Germany
| | - M K Angele
- Department of General, Visceral, and Transplantation Surgery, LMU Klinikum, Marchioninistr. 15, 81377, Munich, Germany
| | - I Regel
- Department of Medicine II, University Hospital, Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, Bavarian Centre for Cancer Research (Bayerisches Zentrum Für Krebsforschung), Munich, Germany
| | - A V Bazhin
- Department of General, Visceral, and Transplantation Surgery, LMU Klinikum, Marchioninistr. 15, 81377, Munich, Germany
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), German Cancer Research Centre (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - J Werner
- Department of General, Visceral, and Transplantation Surgery, LMU Klinikum, Marchioninistr. 15, 81377, Munich, Germany
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), German Cancer Research Centre (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - M Ilmer
- Department of General, Visceral, and Transplantation Surgery, LMU Klinikum, Marchioninistr. 15, 81377, Munich, Germany.
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), German Cancer Research Centre (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany.
| | - Bernhard W Renz
- Department of General, Visceral, and Transplantation Surgery, LMU Klinikum, Marchioninistr. 15, 81377, Munich, Germany.
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), German Cancer Research Centre (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany.
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Li J, Che M, Zhang B, Zhao K, Wan C, Yang K. The association between the neuroendocrine system and the tumor immune microenvironment: Emerging directions for cancer immunotherapy. Biochim Biophys Acta Rev Cancer 2023; 1878:189007. [PMID: 37907132 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbcan.2023.189007] [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: 06/08/2023] [Revised: 09/13/2023] [Accepted: 10/16/2023] [Indexed: 11/02/2023]
Abstract
This review summarizes emerging evidence that the neuroendocrine system is involved in the regulation of the tumor immune microenvironment (TIME) to influence cancer progression. The basis of the interaction between the neuroendocrine system and cancer is usually achieved by the infiltration of nerve fibers into the tumor tissue, which is called neurogenesis; the migration of cancer cells toward nerve fibers, which is called perineural invasion (PNI), and the neurotransmitters. In addition to the traditional role of neurotransmitters in neural communications, neurotransmitters are increasingly recognized as mediators of crosstalk between the nervous system, cancer cells, and the immune system. Recent studies have revealed that not only nerve fibers but also cancer cells and immune cells within the TIME can secrete neurotransmitters, exerting influence on both neurons and themselves. Furthermore, immune cells infiltrating the tumor environment have been found to express a wide array of neurotransmitter receptors. Hence, targeting these neurotransmitter receptors may promote the activity of immune cells in the tumor microenvironment and exert anti-tumor immunity. Herein, we discuss the crosstalk between the neuroendocrine system and tumor-infiltrating immune cells, which may provide feasible cancer immunotherapy options.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jie Li
- Cancer Center, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, China; Institute of Radiation Oncology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, China; Hubei Key Laboratory of Precision Radiation Oncology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, China
| | - Mengjie Che
- Cancer Center, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, China; Institute of Radiation Oncology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, China; Hubei Key Laboratory of Precision Radiation Oncology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, China
| | - Bin Zhang
- Cancer Center, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, China; Institute of Radiation Oncology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, China; Hubei Key Laboratory of Precision Radiation Oncology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, China
| | - Kewei Zhao
- Cancer Center, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, China; Institute of Radiation Oncology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, China; Hubei Key Laboratory of Precision Radiation Oncology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, China
| | - Chao Wan
- Cancer Center, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, China; Institute of Radiation Oncology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, China; Hubei Key Laboratory of Precision Radiation Oncology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, China.
| | - Kunyu Yang
- Cancer Center, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, China; Institute of Radiation Oncology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, China; Hubei Key Laboratory of Precision Radiation Oncology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, China.
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Lempesis IG, Georgakopoulou VE, Papalexis P, Chrousos GP, Spandidos DA. Role of stress in the pathogenesis of cancer (Review). Int J Oncol 2023; 63:124. [PMID: 37711028 PMCID: PMC10552722 DOI: 10.3892/ijo.2023.5572] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2023] [Accepted: 09/01/2023] [Indexed: 09/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Stress is a state of disrupted homeostasis, triggered by intrinsic or extrinsic factors, the stressors, which are counteracted by various physiological and behavioural adaptive responses. Stress has been linked to cancer development and incidence for decades; however, epidemiological studies and clinical trials have yielded contradictory results. The present review discusses the effects of stress on cancer development and the various underlying mechanisms. Animal studies have revealed a clear link between stress and cancer progression, revealing molecular, cellular and endocrine processes that are implicated in these effects. Thus, stress hormones, their receptor systems and their intracellular molecular pathways mediate the effects of stress on cancer initiation, progression and the development of metastases. The mechanisms linking stress and cancer progression can either be indirect, mediated by changes in the cancer microenvironment or immune system dysregulation, or direct, through the binding of neuroendocrine stress‑related signalling molecules to cancer cell receptors. Stress affects numerous anti‑ and pro‑cancer immune system components, including host resistance to metastasis, tumour retention and/or immune suppression. Chronic psychological stress through the elevation of catecholamine levels may increase cancer cell death resistance. On the whole, stress is linked to cancer development and incidence, with psychological stressors playing a crucial role. Animal studies have revealed a better link than human ones, with stress‑related hormones influencing tumour development, migration, invasion and cell proliferation. Randomized controlled trials are required to further evaluate the long‑term cancer outcomes of stress and its management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ioannis G. Lempesis
- Department of Infectious Diseases-COVID-19 Unit, Laiko General Hospital, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 11527 Athens, Greece
- Department of Pathophysiology, Laiko General Hospital, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 11527 Athens, Greece
| | - Vasiliki Epameinondas Georgakopoulou
- Department of Infectious Diseases-COVID-19 Unit, Laiko General Hospital, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 11527 Athens, Greece
- Department of Pathophysiology, Laiko General Hospital, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 11527 Athens, Greece
| | - Petros Papalexis
- Unit of Endocrinology, First Department of Internal Medicine, Laiko General Hospital, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 11527 Athens, Greece
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of West Attica, 12243 Athens, Greece
| | - Georgios P. Chrousos
- Clinical, Translational and Experimental Surgery Research Centre, Biomedical Research Foundation Academy of Athens, 11527 Athens, Greece
- University Research Institute of Maternal and Child Health and Precision Medicine and UNESCO Chair on Adolescent Health Care, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Aghia Sophia Children's Hospital, 11527 Athens, Greece
| | - Demetrios A. Spandidos
- Laboratory of Clinical Virology, School of Medicine, University of Crete, 71003 Heraklion, Greece
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Arora C, Matic M, DiChiaro P, Rosa NDO, Carli F, Clubb L, Fard LAN, Kargas G, Diaferia G, Vukotic R, Licata L, Wu G, Natoli G, Gutkind JS, Raimondi F. The landscape of cancer rewired GPCR signaling axes. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.03.13.532291. [PMID: 37398064 PMCID: PMC10312480 DOI: 10.1101/2023.03.13.532291] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/04/2023]
Abstract
We explored the dysregulation of GPCR ligand signaling systems in cancer transcriptomics datasets to uncover new therapeutics opportunities in oncology. We derived an interaction network of receptors with ligands and their biosynthetic enzymes, which revealed that multiple GPCRs are differentially regulated together with their upstream partners across cancer subtypes. We showed that biosynthetic pathway enrichment from enzyme expression recapitulated pathway activity signatures from metabolomics datasets, providing valuable surrogate information for GPCRs responding to organic ligands. We found that several GPCRs signaling components were significantly associated with patient survival in a cancer type-specific fashion. The expression of both receptor-ligand (or enzymes) partners improved patient stratification, suggesting a synergistic role for the activation of GPCR networks in modulating cancer phenotypes. Remarkably, we identified many such axes across several cancer molecular subtypes, including many pairs involving receptor-biosynthetic enzymes for neurotransmitters. We found that GPCRs from these actionable axes, including e.g., muscarinic, adenosine, 5-hydroxytryptamine and chemokine receptors, are the targets of multiple drugs displaying anti-growth effects in large-scale, cancer cell drug screens. We have made the results generated in this study freely available through a webapp (gpcrcanceraxes.bioinfolab.sns.it).
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Affiliation(s)
- Chakit Arora
- Laboratorio di Biologia Bio@SNS, Scuola Normale Superiore, Piazza dei Cavalieri 7, 56126, Pisa, Italy
| | - Marin Matic
- Laboratorio di Biologia Bio@SNS, Scuola Normale Superiore, Piazza dei Cavalieri 7, 56126, Pisa, Italy
| | - Pierluigi DiChiaro
- Department of Experimental Oncology, IEO, European Institute of Oncology IRCCS, Milano, Italy
| | - Natalia De Oliveira Rosa
- Laboratorio di Biologia Bio@SNS, Scuola Normale Superiore, Piazza dei Cavalieri 7, 56126, Pisa, Italy
| | - Francesco Carli
- Laboratorio di Biologia Bio@SNS, Scuola Normale Superiore, Piazza dei Cavalieri 7, 56126, Pisa, Italy
| | - Lauren Clubb
- Department of Pharmacology and Moores Cancer Center, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Lorenzo Amir Nemati Fard
- Laboratorio di Biologia Bio@SNS, Scuola Normale Superiore, Piazza dei Cavalieri 7, 56126, Pisa, Italy
| | - Giorgos Kargas
- Laboratorio di Biologia Bio@SNS, Scuola Normale Superiore, Piazza dei Cavalieri 7, 56126, Pisa, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Diaferia
- Department of Experimental Oncology, IEO, European Institute of Oncology IRCCS, Milano, Italy
| | - Ranka Vukotic
- Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Pisana, Via Roma, 67, 56126 Pisa
| | - Luana Licata
- Department of Biology, University of Rome ‘Tor Vergata’, Rome 00133, Italy
| | - Guanming Wu
- Division of Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, Department of Medical Informatics and Clinical Epidemiology, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon, USA
| | - Gioacchino Natoli
- Department of Experimental Oncology, IEO, European Institute of Oncology IRCCS, Milano, Italy
| | - J. Silvio Gutkind
- Department of Pharmacology and Moores Cancer Center, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Francesco Raimondi
- Laboratorio di Biologia Bio@SNS, Scuola Normale Superiore, Piazza dei Cavalieri 7, 56126, Pisa, Italy
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Li O, Li L, Sheng Y, Ke K, Wu J, Mou Y, Liu M, Jin W. Biological characteristics of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma: Initiation to malignancy, intracellular to extracellular. Cancer Lett 2023; 574:216391. [PMID: 37714257 DOI: 10.1016/j.canlet.2023.216391] [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: 05/28/2023] [Revised: 09/04/2023] [Accepted: 09/10/2023] [Indexed: 09/17/2023]
Abstract
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a highly life-threatening tumour with a low early-detection rate, rapid progression and a tendency to develop resistance to chemotherapy. Therefore, understanding the regulatory mechanisms underlying the initiation, development and metastasis of pancreatic cancer is necessary for enhancing therapeutic effectiveness. In this review, we summarised single-gene mutations (including KRAS, CDKN2A, TP53, SMAD4 and some other less prevalent mutations), epigenetic changes (including DNA methylation, histone modifications and RNA interference) and large chromosome alterations (such as copy number variations, chromosome rearrangements and chromothripsis) associated with PDAC. In addition, we discussed variations in signalling pathways that act as intermediate oncogenic factors in PDAC, including PI3K/AKT, MAPK/ERK, Hippo and TGF-β signalling pathways. The focus of this review was to investigate alterations in the microenvironment of PDAC, particularly the role of immunosuppressive cells, cancer-associated fibroblasts, lymphocytes, other para-cancerous cells and tumour extracellular matrix in tumour progression. Peripheral axons innervating the pancreas have been reported to play a crucial role in the development of cancer. In addition, tumour cells can influence the behaviour of neighbouring non-tumour cells by secreting certain factors, both locally and at a distance. In this review, we elucidated the alterations in intracellular molecules and the extracellular environment that occur during the progression of PDAC. Altogether, this review may enhance the understanding of the biological characteristics of PDAC and guide the development of more precise treatment strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ou Li
- General Surgery, Cancer Center, Department of Gastrointestinal and Pancreatic Surgery, Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital (Affiliated People's Hospital), Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China; Key Laboratory of Gastroenterology of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital, Affiliated People's Hospital, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Li Li
- General Surgery, Cancer Center, Department of Gastrointestinal and Pancreatic Surgery, Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital (Affiliated People's Hospital), Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China; Key Laboratory of Gastroenterology of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital, Affiliated People's Hospital, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Yunru Sheng
- Center for Rehabilitation Medicine, Department of Anesthesiology, Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital (Affiliated People's Hospital), Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Kun Ke
- General Surgery, Cancer Center, Department of Gastrointestinal and Pancreatic Surgery, Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital (Affiliated People's Hospital), Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China; Key Laboratory of Gastroenterology of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital, Affiliated People's Hospital, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Jianzhang Wu
- General Surgery, Cancer Center, Department of Gastrointestinal and Pancreatic Surgery, Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital (Affiliated People's Hospital), Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China; Key Laboratory of Gastroenterology of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital, Affiliated People's Hospital, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Yiping Mou
- General Surgery, Cancer Center, Department of Gastrointestinal and Pancreatic Surgery, Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital (Affiliated People's Hospital), Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China; Key Laboratory of Gastroenterology of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital, Affiliated People's Hospital, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Mingyang Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, National Cancer Center, China; National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, China; Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100021, China.
| | - Weiwei Jin
- General Surgery, Cancer Center, Department of Gastrointestinal and Pancreatic Surgery, Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital (Affiliated People's Hospital), Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China; Key Laboratory of Gastroenterology of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital, Affiliated People's Hospital, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.
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Capodanno Y, Hirth M. Targeting the Cancer-Neuronal Crosstalk in the Pancreatic Cancer Microenvironment. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:14989. [PMID: 37834436 PMCID: PMC10573820 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241914989] [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: 09/26/2023] [Accepted: 10/04/2023] [Indexed: 10/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) represents one of the most aggressive solid tumors with a dismal prognosis and an increasing incidence. At the time of diagnosis, more than 85% of patients are in an unresectable stage. For these patients, chemotherapy can prolong survival by only a few months. Unfortunately, in recent decades, no groundbreaking therapies have emerged for PDAC, thus raising the question of how to identify novel therapeutic druggable targets to improve prognosis. Recently, the tumor microenvironment and especially its neural component has gained increasing interest in the pancreatic cancer field. A histological hallmark of PDAC is perineural invasion (PNI), whereby cancer cells invade surrounding nerves, providing an alternative route for metastatic spread. The extent of PNI has been positively correlated with early tumor recurrence and reduced overall survival. Multiple studies have shown that mechanisms involved in PNI are also involved in tumor spread and pain generation. Targeting these pathways has shown promising results in alleviating pain and reducing PNI in preclinical models. In this review, we will describe the mechanisms and future treatment strategies to target this mutually trophic interaction between cancer cells to open novel avenues for the treatment of patients diagnosed with PDAC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ylenia Capodanno
- Institute of Pharmacology, Medical Faculty Heidelberg, Heidelberg University, Im Neuenheimer Feld 366, 69117 Heidelberg, Germany
- Department of Medicine II, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Theodor-Kutzer-Ufer 1–3, 68167 Mannheim, Germany
| | - Michael Hirth
- Department of Medicine II, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Theodor-Kutzer-Ufer 1–3, 68167 Mannheim, Germany
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Wang YY, Zhou YQ, Xie JX, Zhang X, Wang SC, Li Q, Hu LP, Jiang SH, Yi SQ, Xu J, Cao H, Zhao EH, Li J. MAOA suppresses the growth of gastric cancer by interacting with NDRG1 and regulating the Warburg effect through the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway. Cell Oncol (Dordr) 2023; 46:1429-1444. [PMID: 37249744 DOI: 10.1007/s13402-023-00821-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 04/21/2023] [Indexed: 05/31/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Previous studies have indicated that neurotransmitters play important roles in the occurrence and development of gastric cancer. MAOA is an important catecholamine neurotransmitter-degrading enzyme involved in the degradation of norepinephrine, epinephrine and serotonin. To find a potential therapeutic target for the treatment of gastric cancer, the biological functions of MAOA and the underlying mechanism in gastric cancer need to be explored. METHODS The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) datasets, Kaplan‒Meier (KM) plotter were used to identify the differentially expressed genes, which mainly involved the degradation and synthesis enzymes of neurotransmitters in gastric cancer. We also investigated the expression pattern of MAOA in human and mouse tissues and cell lines by immunohistochemistry and Western blotting analysis. Western blotting, quantitative real-time PCR, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and a Seahorse experiment were used to identify the molecular mechanism of cancer cell glycolysis. MAOA expression and patient survival were analysed in the Ren Ji cohort, and univariate and multivariate analyses were performed based on the clinicopathological characteristics of the above samples. RESULTS MAOA expression was significantly downregulated in gastric cancer tissue and associated with poor patient prognosis. Moreover, the expression level of MAOA in gastric cancer tissue had a close negative correlation with the SUXmax value of PET-CT in patients. MAOA suppressed tumour growth and glycolysis and promoted cancer cell apoptosis. We also reported that MAOA can interact with NDRG1 and regulate glycolysis through suppression of the PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway. MAOA expression may serve as an independent prognostic factor in gastric cancer patients. CONCLUSIONS MAOA attenuated glycolysis and inhibited the progression of gastric cancer through the PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway. Loss of function or downregulation of MAOA can facilitate gastric cancer progression. Overexpression of MAOA and inhibition of the PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway may provide a potential method for gastric cancer treatment in clinical therapeutic regimens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yang-Yang Wang
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Renji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 160 Pujian Road, Shanghai, 200127, China
- State Key Laboratory of Oncogenes and Related Genes, Shanghai Cancer Institute, Ren Ji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 800 Dongchuan Road, Shanghai, 200240, China
| | - Yao-Qi Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Oncogenes and Related Genes, Shanghai Cancer Institute, Ren Ji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 800 Dongchuan Road, Shanghai, 200240, China
| | - Jia-Xuan Xie
- State Key Laboratory of Oncogenes and Related Genes, Shanghai Cancer Institute, Ren Ji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 800 Dongchuan Road, Shanghai, 200240, China
| | - Xiang Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Oncogenes and Related Genes, Shanghai Cancer Institute, Ren Ji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 800 Dongchuan Road, Shanghai, 200240, China
| | - Shu-Chang Wang
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Renji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 160 Pujian Road, Shanghai, 200127, China
| | - Qing Li
- State Key Laboratory of Oncogenes and Related Genes, Shanghai Cancer Institute, Ren Ji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 800 Dongchuan Road, Shanghai, 200240, China
| | - Li-Peng Hu
- State Key Laboratory of Oncogenes and Related Genes, Shanghai Cancer Institute, Ren Ji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 800 Dongchuan Road, Shanghai, 200240, China
| | - Shu-Heng Jiang
- State Key Laboratory of Oncogenes and Related Genes, Shanghai Cancer Institute, Ren Ji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 800 Dongchuan Road, Shanghai, 200240, China
| | - Shuang-Qin Yi
- Department of Frontier Health Sciences, Graduate School of Human Health Sciences, Tokyo Metropolitan University, Hachioji, Japan
| | - Jia Xu
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Renji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 160 Pujian Road, Shanghai, 200127, China.
| | - Hui Cao
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Renji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 160 Pujian Road, Shanghai, 200127, China.
| | - En-Hao Zhao
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Renji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 160 Pujian Road, Shanghai, 200127, China.
| | - Jun Li
- State Key Laboratory of Oncogenes and Related Genes, Shanghai Cancer Institute, Ren Ji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 800 Dongchuan Road, Shanghai, 200240, China.
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Ikhmais BA, Hammad AM, Abusara OH, Hamadneh L, Abumansour H, Abdallah QM, Ibrahim AIM, Elsalem L, Awad M, Alshehada R. Investigating Carvedilol's Repurposing for the Treatment of Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer via Aldehyde Dehydrogenase Activity Modulation in the Presence of β-Adrenergic Agonists. Curr Issues Mol Biol 2023; 45:7996-8012. [PMID: 37886948 PMCID: PMC10605277 DOI: 10.3390/cimb45100505] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2023] [Revised: 09/21/2023] [Accepted: 09/28/2023] [Indexed: 10/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Repurposing existing drugs appears to be a potential solution for addressing the challenges in the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). β-adrenoceptor antagonist drugs (β-blockers) have tumor-inhibiting effects, making them promising candidates for potential NSCLC treatment. This study investigates the anticancer potential of a subset of β-blockers in NSCLC cell lines; A549 and H1299. Additionally, it investigates the underlying mechanism behind β-blockers' anticancer effect by influencing a potential novel target named aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH). The MTT assay assessed β-blockers' cytotoxicity on both cell lines, while Western blot and NADH fluorescence assays evaluated their influence on ALDH protein expression and activity. Carvedilol (CAR) was the most effective blocker in reducing cell survival of A549 and H1299 with IC50 of 18 µM and 13.7 µM, respectively. Significantly, CAR led to a 50% reduction in ALDH expression and 80% decrease in ALDH activity in A549 cells, especially when combined with β-agonists, in comparison to the control. This effect might be attributed to β-agonist blockade or an alternative pathway. This novel finding adds to our understanding of CAR's multifaceted anticancer properties, implying that combining CAR with β-agonists could be a useful strategy for lung cancer treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Balqis A. Ikhmais
- Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Al-Zaytoonah University of Jordan, P.O. Box 130, Amman 11733, Jordan; (A.M.H.); (O.H.A.); (H.A.); (A.I.M.I.); (M.A.); (R.A.)
| | - Alaa M. Hammad
- Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Al-Zaytoonah University of Jordan, P.O. Box 130, Amman 11733, Jordan; (A.M.H.); (O.H.A.); (H.A.); (A.I.M.I.); (M.A.); (R.A.)
| | - Osama H. Abusara
- Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Al-Zaytoonah University of Jordan, P.O. Box 130, Amman 11733, Jordan; (A.M.H.); (O.H.A.); (H.A.); (A.I.M.I.); (M.A.); (R.A.)
| | - Lama Hamadneh
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Al-Balqa Applied University, P.O. Box 206, Al-Salt 19117, Jordan;
| | - Hamza Abumansour
- Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Al-Zaytoonah University of Jordan, P.O. Box 130, Amman 11733, Jordan; (A.M.H.); (O.H.A.); (H.A.); (A.I.M.I.); (M.A.); (R.A.)
| | - Qasem M. Abdallah
- Department of Pharmacology and Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy and Medical Sciences, University of Petra, P.O. Box 961343, Amman 11196, Jordan;
| | - Ali I. M. Ibrahim
- Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Al-Zaytoonah University of Jordan, P.O. Box 130, Amman 11733, Jordan; (A.M.H.); (O.H.A.); (H.A.); (A.I.M.I.); (M.A.); (R.A.)
| | - Lina Elsalem
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Jordan University of Science and Technology, P.O. Box 3030, Irbid 22110, Jordan;
| | - Mariam Awad
- Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Al-Zaytoonah University of Jordan, P.O. Box 130, Amman 11733, Jordan; (A.M.H.); (O.H.A.); (H.A.); (A.I.M.I.); (M.A.); (R.A.)
| | - Rahaf Alshehada
- Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Al-Zaytoonah University of Jordan, P.O. Box 130, Amman 11733, Jordan; (A.M.H.); (O.H.A.); (H.A.); (A.I.M.I.); (M.A.); (R.A.)
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Elebo N, Abdel-Shafy EA, Cacciatore S, Nweke EE. Exploiting the molecular subtypes and genetic landscape in pancreatic cancer: the quest to find effective drugs. Front Genet 2023; 14:1170571. [PMID: 37790705 PMCID: PMC10544984 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2023.1170571] [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: 02/21/2023] [Accepted: 08/29/2023] [Indexed: 10/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a very lethal disease that typically presents at an advanced stage and is non-compliant with most treatments. Recent technologies have helped delineate associated molecular subtypes and genetic variations yielding important insights into the pathophysiology of this disease and having implications for the identification of new therapeutic targets. Drug repurposing has been evaluated as a new paradigm in oncology to accelerate the application of approved or failed target-specific molecules for the treatment of cancer patients. This review focuses on the impact of molecular subtypes on key genomic alterations in PDAC, and the progress made thus far. Importantly, these alterations are discussed in light of the potential role of drug repurposing in PDAC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nnenna Elebo
- Department of Surgery, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa
- Bioinformatics Unit, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Ebtesam A. Abdel-Shafy
- Bioinformatics Unit, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Cape Town, South Africa
- National Research Centre, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Stefano Cacciatore
- Bioinformatics Unit, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Ekene Emmanuel Nweke
- Department of Surgery, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa
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