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Zhou M, Ge X, Xu X, Sheng B, Wang H, Shi H, Liu S, Tan B, Xu K, Wang J. A hot and cold tumor‑related prognostic signature for stage II colorectal cancer. Oncol Lett 2024; 28:419. [PMID: 39006949 PMCID: PMC11240279 DOI: 10.3892/ol.2024.14552] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2024] [Accepted: 06/05/2024] [Indexed: 07/16/2024] Open
Abstract
Globally, colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most lethal and prevalent malignancies. Based on the presence of immune cell infiltration in the tumor microenvironment, CRC can be divided into immunologically 'hot' or 'cold' tumors, which in turn leads to the differential efficacy of immunotherapy. However, the immune characteristics of hot and cold CRC tumors remain largely elusive, prompting further investigation of their properties regarding the tumor microenvironment. In the present study, a predictive model was developed based on the differential expression of proteins between cold and hot CRC tumors. First, the differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) were identified using digital spatial profiling and mass spectrometry-based proteomics analysis, and the pathway features of the DEPs were analyzed using functional enrichment analysis. A novel eight-gene signature prognostic risk model was developed (IDO1, MAT1A, NPEPL1, NT5C, PTGR2, RPL29, TMEM126A and TUBB4B), which was validated using data obtained from The Cancer Genome Atlas. The results revealed that the risk score of the eight-gene signature acted as an independent prognostic indicator in patients with stage II CRC (T3-4N0M0). It was also found that a high-risk score in the eight-gene signature was associated with high immune cell infiltration in patients with CRC. Taken together, these findings revealed some of the differential immune characteristics of hot and cold CRC tumors, and an eight-gene signature prognostic risk model was developed, which may serve as an independent prognostic indicator for patients with stage II CRC (T3-4N0M0).
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Affiliation(s)
- Ming Zhou
- Department of Colorectal Surgery and Oncology, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310000, P.R. China
- Center for Medical Research and Innovation in Digestive System Tumors, Ministry of Education, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310000, P.R. China
- Zhejiang Provincial Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310000, P.R. China
- Cancer Center of Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310000, P.R. China
| | - Xiaoxu Ge
- Department of Colorectal Surgery and Oncology, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310000, P.R. China
- Center for Medical Research and Innovation in Digestive System Tumors, Ministry of Education, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310000, P.R. China
- Zhejiang Provincial Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310000, P.R. China
- Cancer Center of Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310000, P.R. China
| | - Xiaoming Xu
- Department of Pathology, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310000, P.R. China
| | - Biao Sheng
- Department of Colorectal Surgery and Oncology, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310000, P.R. China
- Center for Medical Research and Innovation in Digestive System Tumors, Ministry of Education, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310000, P.R. China
- Zhejiang Provincial Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310000, P.R. China
- Cancer Center of Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310000, P.R. China
| | - Hao Wang
- Department of Colorectal Surgery and Oncology, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310000, P.R. China
- Center for Medical Research and Innovation in Digestive System Tumors, Ministry of Education, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310000, P.R. China
- Zhejiang Provincial Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310000, P.R. China
- Cancer Center of Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310000, P.R. China
| | - Haoyu Shi
- Department of Colorectal Surgery and Oncology, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310000, P.R. China
- Center for Medical Research and Innovation in Digestive System Tumors, Ministry of Education, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310000, P.R. China
- Zhejiang Provincial Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310000, P.R. China
- Cancer Center of Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310000, P.R. China
| | - Sikun Liu
- Department of Colorectal Surgery and Oncology, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310000, P.R. China
- Center for Medical Research and Innovation in Digestive System Tumors, Ministry of Education, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310000, P.R. China
- Zhejiang Provincial Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310000, P.R. China
- Cancer Center of Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310000, P.R. China
| | - Boren Tan
- Department of Colorectal Surgery and Oncology, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310000, P.R. China
- Center for Medical Research and Innovation in Digestive System Tumors, Ministry of Education, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310000, P.R. China
- Zhejiang Provincial Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310000, P.R. China
- Cancer Center of Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310000, P.R. China
| | - Kailun Xu
- Department of Breast Surgery and Oncology, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310000, P.R. China
| | - Jian Wang
- Department of Colorectal Surgery and Oncology, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310000, P.R. China
- Center for Medical Research and Innovation in Digestive System Tumors, Ministry of Education, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310000, P.R. China
- Zhejiang Provincial Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310000, P.R. China
- Cancer Center of Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310000, P.R. China
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Huang Z, Tang Y, Zhang J, Huang J, Cheng R, Guo Y, Kleer CG, Wang Y, Xue L. Hypoxia makes EZH2 inhibitor not easy-advances of crosstalk between HIF and EZH2. LIFE METABOLISM 2024; 3:loae017. [PMID: 38911968 PMCID: PMC11192520 DOI: 10.1093/lifemeta/loae017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/25/2024]
Abstract
Histone methylation plays a crucial role in tumorigenesis. Enhancer of zeste homolog 2 (EZH2) is a histone methyltransferase that regulates chromatin structure and gene expression. EZH2 inhibitors (EZH2is) have been shown to be effective in treating hematologic malignancies, while their effectiveness in solid tumors remains limited. One of the major challenges in the treatment of solid tumors is their hypoxic tumor microenvironment. Hypoxia-inducible factor 1-alpha (HIF-1α) is a key hypoxia responder that interacts with EZH2 to promote tumor progression. Here we discuss the implications of the relationship between EZH2 and hypoxia for expanding the application of EZH2is in solid tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhanya Huang
- Cancer Center of Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing 100191, China
- Center of Basic Medical Research, Institute of Medical Innovation and Research, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Yuanjun Tang
- Center of Basic Medical Research, Institute of Medical Innovation and Research, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Jianlin Zhang
- Center of Basic Medical Research, Institute of Medical Innovation and Research, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Jiaqi Huang
- Cancer Center of Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing 100191, China
- Center of Basic Medical Research, Institute of Medical Innovation and Research, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Rui Cheng
- Cancer Center of Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing 100191, China
- Center of Basic Medical Research, Institute of Medical Innovation and Research, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Yunyun Guo
- Cancer Center of Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing 100191, China
- Center of Basic Medical Research, Institute of Medical Innovation and Research, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Celina G. Kleer
- Department of Pathology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Yuqing Wang
- Center of Basic Medical Research, Institute of Medical Innovation and Research, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Lixiang Xue
- Cancer Center of Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing 100191, China
- Center of Basic Medical Research, Institute of Medical Innovation and Research, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing 100191, China
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3
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Zugazagoitia J, Osma H, Baena J, Ucero AC, Paz-Ares L. Facts and Hopes on Cancer Immunotherapy for Small Cell Lung Cancer. Clin Cancer Res 2024; 30:2872-2883. [PMID: 38630789 DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-23-1159] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2023] [Revised: 12/08/2023] [Accepted: 02/01/2024] [Indexed: 04/19/2024]
Abstract
Platinum-based chemotherapy plus PD1 axis blockade is the standard of care in the first-line treatment of extensive-stage small cell lung cancer (SCLC). Despite the robust and consistent increase in long-term survival with PD1 axis inhibition, the magnitude of the benefit from immunotherapy seems lower than that for other solid tumors. Several immune evasive mechanisms have been shown to be prominently altered in human SCLC, including T-cell exclusion, downregulation of components of the MHC class I antigen processing and presentation machinery, or upregulation of macrophage inhibitory checkpoints, among others. New immunotherapies aiming to target some of these dominant immune suppressive features are being intensively evaluated preclinically and clinically in SCLC. They include strategies to enhance the efficacy and/or reverse features that promote intrinsic resistance to PD1 axis inhibition (e.g., restoring MHC class I deficiency and targeting DNA damage response) and novel immunomodulatory agents beyond T-cell checkpoint blockers (e.g., T cell-redirecting strategies, antibody-drug conjugates, or macrophage checkpoint blockers). Among them, delta-like ligand 3-targeted bispecific T-cell engagers have shown the most compelling preliminary evidence of clinical efficacy and hold promise as therapies that might contribute to further improve patient outcomes in this disease. In this study, we first provide a brief overview of key tumor microenvironment features of human SCLC. Then, we update the current clinical evidence with immune checkpoint blockade and review other emerging immunotherapy strategies that are gaining increasing attention in SCLC. We finally summarize our future perspective on immunotherapy and precision oncology for this disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jon Zugazagoitia
- Department of Medical Oncology, 12 de Octubre Hospital, Madrid, Spain
- Lung Cancer Clinical Research Group, Spanish National Cancer Research Center (CNIO), Madrid, Spain
- CIBERONC, Carlos III Research Institute, Madrid, Spain
| | - Handerson Osma
- Department of Medical Oncology, Clinica Vida and Hospital Alma Mater de Antioquia, Medellín, Colombia
- Asociación Colombiana de Hematología y Oncología (ACHO), Bogotá DC, Colombia
| | - Javier Baena
- Department of Medical Oncology, 12 de Octubre Hospital, Madrid, Spain
- Lung Cancer Clinical Research Group, Spanish National Cancer Research Center (CNIO), Madrid, Spain
| | - Alvaro C Ucero
- Department of Medical Oncology, 12 de Octubre Hospital, Madrid, Spain
- Lung Cancer Clinical Research Group, Spanish National Cancer Research Center (CNIO), Madrid, Spain
- CIBERONC, Carlos III Research Institute, Madrid, Spain
- Department of Medicine, Complutense University, Madrid, Spain
- Department of Physiology, Complutense University, Madrid, Spain
| | - Luis Paz-Ares
- Department of Medical Oncology, 12 de Octubre Hospital, Madrid, Spain
- Lung Cancer Clinical Research Group, Spanish National Cancer Research Center (CNIO), Madrid, Spain
- CIBERONC, Carlos III Research Institute, Madrid, Spain
- Department of Medicine, Complutense University, Madrid, Spain
- Department of Physiology, Complutense University, Madrid, Spain
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Murray JE, Valli E, Milazzo G, Mayoh C, Gifford AJ, Fletcher JI, Xue C, Jayatilleke N, Salehzadeh F, Gamble LD, Rouaen JRC, Carter DR, Forgham H, Sekyere EO, Keating J, Eden G, Allan S, Alfred S, Kusuma FK, Clark A, Webber H, Russell AJ, de Weck A, Kile BT, Santulli M, De Rosa P, Fleuren EDG, Gao W, Wilkinson-White L, Low JKK, Mackay JP, Marshall GM, Hilton DJ, Giorgi FM, Koster J, Perini G, Haber M, Norris MD. The transcriptional co-repressor Runx1t1 is essential for MYCN-driven neuroblastoma tumorigenesis. Nat Commun 2024; 15:5585. [PMID: 38992040 PMCID: PMC11239676 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-49871-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2023] [Accepted: 06/23/2024] [Indexed: 07/13/2024] Open
Abstract
MYCN oncogene amplification is frequently observed in aggressive childhood neuroblastoma. Using an unbiased large-scale mutagenesis screen in neuroblastoma-prone transgenic mice, we identify a single germline point mutation in the transcriptional corepressor Runx1t1, which abolishes MYCN-driven tumorigenesis. This loss-of-function mutation disrupts a highly conserved zinc finger domain within Runx1t1. Deletion of one Runx1t1 allele in an independent Runx1t1 knockout mouse model is also sufficient to prevent MYCN-driven neuroblastoma development, and reverse ganglia hyperplasia, a known pre-requisite for tumorigenesis. Silencing RUNX1T1 in human neuroblastoma cells decreases colony formation in vitro, and inhibits tumor growth in vivo. Moreover, RUNX1T1 knockdown inhibits the viability of PAX3-FOXO1 fusion-driven rhabdomyosarcoma and MYC-driven small cell lung cancer cells. Despite the role of Runx1t1 in MYCN-driven tumorigenesis neither gene directly regulates the other. We show RUNX1T1 forms part of a transcriptional LSD1-CoREST3-HDAC repressive complex recruited by HAND2 to enhancer regions to regulate chromatin accessibility and cell-fate pathway genes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jayne E Murray
- Children's Cancer Institute, Lowy Cancer Centre, UNSW Sydney, Kensington, NSW, 2031, Australia
- School of Clinical Medicine, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Emanuele Valli
- Children's Cancer Institute, Lowy Cancer Centre, UNSW Sydney, Kensington, NSW, 2031, Australia
| | - Giorgio Milazzo
- Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, University of Bologna, 40126, Bologna, Italy
| | - Chelsea Mayoh
- Children's Cancer Institute, Lowy Cancer Centre, UNSW Sydney, Kensington, NSW, 2031, Australia
- School of Clinical Medicine, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Andrew J Gifford
- Children's Cancer Institute, Lowy Cancer Centre, UNSW Sydney, Kensington, NSW, 2031, Australia
- School of Clinical Medicine, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- Anatomical Pathology, NSW Health Pathology, Prince of Wales Hospital, Randwick, NSW, Australia
| | - Jamie I Fletcher
- Children's Cancer Institute, Lowy Cancer Centre, UNSW Sydney, Kensington, NSW, 2031, Australia
- School of Clinical Medicine, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Chengyuan Xue
- Children's Cancer Institute, Lowy Cancer Centre, UNSW Sydney, Kensington, NSW, 2031, Australia
| | - Nisitha Jayatilleke
- Children's Cancer Institute, Lowy Cancer Centre, UNSW Sydney, Kensington, NSW, 2031, Australia
| | - Firoozeh Salehzadeh
- Children's Cancer Institute, Lowy Cancer Centre, UNSW Sydney, Kensington, NSW, 2031, Australia
| | - Laura D Gamble
- Children's Cancer Institute, Lowy Cancer Centre, UNSW Sydney, Kensington, NSW, 2031, Australia
| | - Jourdin R C Rouaen
- Children's Cancer Institute, Lowy Cancer Centre, UNSW Sydney, Kensington, NSW, 2031, Australia
| | - Daniel R Carter
- Children's Cancer Institute, Lowy Cancer Centre, UNSW Sydney, Kensington, NSW, 2031, Australia
- School of Clinical Medicine, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- School of Biomedical Engineering, University of Technology Sydney, Broadway, NSW, Australia
| | - Helen Forgham
- Children's Cancer Institute, Lowy Cancer Centre, UNSW Sydney, Kensington, NSW, 2031, Australia
| | - Eric O Sekyere
- Children's Cancer Institute, Lowy Cancer Centre, UNSW Sydney, Kensington, NSW, 2031, Australia
| | - Joanna Keating
- Children's Cancer Institute, Lowy Cancer Centre, UNSW Sydney, Kensington, NSW, 2031, Australia
| | - Georgina Eden
- Children's Cancer Institute, Lowy Cancer Centre, UNSW Sydney, Kensington, NSW, 2031, Australia
| | - Sophie Allan
- Children's Cancer Institute, Lowy Cancer Centre, UNSW Sydney, Kensington, NSW, 2031, Australia
| | - Stephanie Alfred
- Children's Cancer Institute, Lowy Cancer Centre, UNSW Sydney, Kensington, NSW, 2031, Australia
| | - Frances K Kusuma
- Children's Cancer Institute, Lowy Cancer Centre, UNSW Sydney, Kensington, NSW, 2031, Australia
| | - Ashleigh Clark
- Children's Cancer Institute, Lowy Cancer Centre, UNSW Sydney, Kensington, NSW, 2031, Australia
| | - Hannah Webber
- Children's Cancer Institute, Lowy Cancer Centre, UNSW Sydney, Kensington, NSW, 2031, Australia
| | - Amanda J Russell
- Children's Cancer Institute, Lowy Cancer Centre, UNSW Sydney, Kensington, NSW, 2031, Australia
- Garvan Institute of Medical Research, Darlinghurst, NSW, Australia
| | - Antoine de Weck
- Children's Cancer Institute, Lowy Cancer Centre, UNSW Sydney, Kensington, NSW, 2031, Australia
| | - Benjamin T Kile
- Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Martina Santulli
- Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, University of Bologna, 40126, Bologna, Italy
| | - Piergiuseppe De Rosa
- Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, University of Bologna, 40126, Bologna, Italy
| | - Emmy D G Fleuren
- Children's Cancer Institute, Lowy Cancer Centre, UNSW Sydney, Kensington, NSW, 2031, Australia
- School of Clinical Medicine, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Weiman Gao
- Children's Cancer Institute, Lowy Cancer Centre, UNSW Sydney, Kensington, NSW, 2031, Australia
| | - Lorna Wilkinson-White
- Sydney Analytical Core Research Facility, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Jason K K Low
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Joel P Mackay
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Glenn M Marshall
- Children's Cancer Institute, Lowy Cancer Centre, UNSW Sydney, Kensington, NSW, 2031, Australia
- School of Clinical Medicine, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- Kids Cancer Centre, Sydney Children's Hospital, Randwick, NSW, Australia
| | - Douglas J Hilton
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Federico M Giorgi
- Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, University of Bologna, 40126, Bologna, Italy
| | - Jan Koster
- Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Giovanni Perini
- Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, University of Bologna, 40126, Bologna, Italy
| | - Michelle Haber
- Children's Cancer Institute, Lowy Cancer Centre, UNSW Sydney, Kensington, NSW, 2031, Australia
- School of Clinical Medicine, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Murray D Norris
- Children's Cancer Institute, Lowy Cancer Centre, UNSW Sydney, Kensington, NSW, 2031, Australia.
- UNSW Centre for Childhood Cancer Research, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
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Sen T, Takahashi N, Chakraborty S, Takebe N, Nassar AH, Karim NA, Puri S, Naqash AR. Emerging advances in defining the molecular and therapeutic landscape of small-cell lung cancer. Nat Rev Clin Oncol 2024:10.1038/s41571-024-00914-x. [PMID: 38965396 DOI: 10.1038/s41571-024-00914-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/06/2024] [Indexed: 07/06/2024]
Abstract
Small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) has traditionally been considered a recalcitrant cancer with a dismal prognosis, with only modest advances in therapeutic strategies over the past several decades. Comprehensive genomic assessments of SCLC have revealed that most of these tumours harbour deletions of the tumour-suppressor genes TP53 and RB1 but, in contrast to non-small-cell lung cancer, have failed to identify targetable alterations. The expression status of four transcription factors with key roles in SCLC pathogenesis defines distinct molecular subtypes of the disease, potentially enabling specific therapeutic approaches. Overexpression and amplification of MYC paralogues also affect the biology and therapeutic vulnerabilities of SCLC. Several other attractive targets have emerged in the past few years, including inhibitors of DNA-damage-response pathways, epigenetic modifiers, antibody-drug conjugates and chimeric antigen receptor T cells. However, the rapid development of therapeutic resistance and lack of biomarkers for effective selection of patients with SCLC are ongoing challenges. Emerging single-cell RNA sequencing data are providing insights into the plasticity and intratumoural and intertumoural heterogeneity of SCLC that might be associated with therapeutic resistance. In this Review, we provide a comprehensive overview of the latest advances in genomic and transcriptomic characterization of SCLC with a particular focus on opportunities for translation into new therapeutic approaches to improve patient outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Triparna Sen
- Department of Oncological Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA.
- Tisch Cancer Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA.
| | - Nobuyuki Takahashi
- Department of Medical Oncology, National Cancer Center Hospital East, Kashiwa, Japan
| | - Subhamoy Chakraborty
- Department of Oncological Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Naoko Takebe
- Developmental Therapeutics Branch, Division of Cancer Treatment and Diagnosis, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Amin H Nassar
- Division of Oncology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Nagla A Karim
- Inova Schar Cancer Institute Virginia, Fairfax, VA, USA
| | - Sonam Puri
- Division of Medical Oncology, Huntsman Cancer Institute, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
| | - Abdul Rafeh Naqash
- Medical Oncology/ TSET Phase 1 program, University of Oklahoma, Oklahoma City, OK, USA.
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6
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Krenz B, Lee J, Kannan T, Eilers M. Immune evasion: An imperative and consequence of MYC deregulation. Mol Oncol 2024. [PMID: 38957016 DOI: 10.1002/1878-0261.13695] [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: 02/07/2024] [Revised: 05/08/2024] [Accepted: 06/19/2024] [Indexed: 07/04/2024] Open
Abstract
MYC has been implicated in the pathogenesis of a wide range of human tumors and has been described for many years as a transcription factor that regulates genes with pleiotropic functions to promote tumorigenic growth. However, despite extensive efforts to identify specific target genes of MYC that alone could be responsible for promoting tumorigenesis, the field is yet to reach a consensus whether this is the crucial function of MYC. Recent work shifts the view on MYC's function from being a gene-specific transcription factor to an essential stress resilience factor. In highly proliferating cells, MYC preserves cell integrity by promoting DNA repair at core promoters, protecting stalled replication forks, and/or preventing transcription-replication conflicts. Furthermore, an increasing body of evidence demonstrates that MYC not only promotes tumorigenesis by driving cell-autonomous growth, but also enables tumors to evade the host's immune system. In this review, we summarize our current understanding of how MYC impairs antitumor immunity and why this function is evolutionarily hard-wired to the biology of the MYC protein family. We show why the cell-autonomous and immune evasive functions of MYC are mutually dependent and discuss ways to target MYC proteins in cancer therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bastian Krenz
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Theodor Boveri Institute, Biocenter, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
- Mildred Scheel Early Career Center, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Jongkuen Lee
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Theodor Boveri Institute, Biocenter, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Toshitha Kannan
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Theodor Boveri Institute, Biocenter, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Martin Eilers
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Theodor Boveri Institute, Biocenter, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
- Comprehensive Cancer Center Mainfranken, Würzburg, Germany
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7
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Tovar Perez JE, Zhang S, Hodgeman W, Kapoor S, Rajendran P, Kobayashi KS, Dashwood RH. Epigenetic regulation of major histocompatibility complexes in gastrointestinal malignancies and the potential for clinical interception. Clin Epigenetics 2024; 16:83. [PMID: 38915093 PMCID: PMC11197381 DOI: 10.1186/s13148-024-01698-8] [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: 11/10/2023] [Accepted: 06/18/2024] [Indexed: 06/26/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Gastrointestinal malignancies encompass a diverse group of cancers that pose significant challenges to global health. The major histocompatibility complex (MHC) plays a pivotal role in immune surveillance, orchestrating the recognition and elimination of tumor cells by the immune system. However, the intricate regulation of MHC gene expression is susceptible to dynamic epigenetic modification, which can influence functionality and pathological outcomes. MAIN BODY By understanding the epigenetic alterations that drive MHC downregulation, insights are gained into the molecular mechanisms underlying immune escape, tumor progression, and immunotherapy resistance. This systematic review examines the current literature on epigenetic mechanisms that contribute to MHC deregulation in esophageal, gastric, pancreatic, hepatic and colorectal malignancies. Potential clinical implications are discussed of targeting aberrant epigenetic modifications to restore MHC expression and 0 the effectiveness of immunotherapeutic interventions. CONCLUSION The integration of epigenetic-targeted therapies with immunotherapies holds great potential for improving clinical outcomes in patients with gastrointestinal malignancies and represents a compelling avenue for future research and therapeutic development.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Shilan Zhang
- Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200070, China
| | - William Hodgeman
- Wolfson Medical School, The University of Glasgow, Glasgow, G12 8QQ, UK
| | - Sabeeta Kapoor
- Center for Epigenetics and Disease Prevention, Texas A&M Health, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Praveen Rajendran
- Center for Epigenetics and Disease Prevention, Texas A&M Health, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
- Department of Translational Medical Sciences, and Antibody & Biopharmaceuticals Core, Texas A&M Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Koichi S Kobayashi
- Department of Immunology, Hokkaido University Graduate School of Medicine, Sapporo, 060-8638, Japan
- Hokkaido University Institute for Vaccine Research and Development, Sapporo, 060-8638, Japan
- Department of Microbial Pathogenesis and Immunology, Texas A&M Health, Bryan, TX, 77087, USA
| | - Roderick H Dashwood
- Center for Epigenetics and Disease Prevention, Texas A&M Health, Houston, TX, 77030, USA.
- Department of Translational Medical Sciences, and Antibody & Biopharmaceuticals Core, Texas A&M Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030, USA.
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8
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Papachristos AJ, Serrao-Brown H, Gill AJ, Clifton-Bligh R, Sidhu SB. Medullary Thyroid Cancer: Molecular Drivers and Immune Cellular Milieu of the Tumour Microenvironment-Implications for Systemic Treatment. Cancers (Basel) 2024; 16:2296. [PMID: 39001359 PMCID: PMC11240419 DOI: 10.3390/cancers16132296] [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: 05/12/2024] [Revised: 06/16/2024] [Accepted: 06/20/2024] [Indexed: 07/16/2024] Open
Abstract
In this review, we explore the underlying molecular biology of medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) and its interplay with the host immune system. MTC is consistently driven by a small number of specific pathogenic variants, beyond which few additional genetic events are required for tumorigenesis. This explains the exceedingly low tumour mutational burden seen in most MTC, in contrast to other cancers. However, because of the low tumour mutational burden (TMB), there is a correspondingly low level of tumour-associated neoantigens that are presented to the host immune system. This reduces tumour visibility and vigour of the anti-tumour immune response and suggests the efficacy of immunotherapy in MTC is likely to be poor, acknowledging this inference is largely based on the extrapolation of data from other tumour types. The dominance of specific RET (REarranged during Transfection) pathogenic variants in MTC tumorigenesis rationalizes the observed efficacy of the targeted RET-specific tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) in comparison to multi-kinase inhibitors (MKIs). Therapeutic durability of pathway inhibitors is an ongoing research focus. It may be limited by the selection pressure TKI treatment creates, promoting survival of resistant tumour cell clones that can escape pathway inhibition through binding-site mutations, activation of alternate pathways, and modulation of the cellular and cytokine milieu of the tumour microenvironment (TME).
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander J Papachristos
- Northern Clinical School, Sydney Medical School, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
- Endocrine Surgical Unit, Royal North Shore Hospital, Sydney, NSW 2065, Australia
| | - Hazel Serrao-Brown
- Endocrine Surgical Unit, Royal North Shore Hospital, Sydney, NSW 2065, Australia
| | - Anthony J Gill
- Northern Clinical School, Sydney Medical School, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
- NSW Health Pathology, Department of Anatomical Pathology, Royal North Shore Hospital, Sydney, NSW 2065, Australia
- Cancer Diagnosis and Pathology Group, Kolling Institute of Medical Research, Royal North Shore Hospital, Sydney, NSW 2065, Australia
| | - Roderick Clifton-Bligh
- Cancer Diagnosis and Pathology Group, Kolling Institute of Medical Research, Royal North Shore Hospital, Sydney, NSW 2065, Australia
- Department of Endocrinology, Royal North Shore Hospital, Sydney, NSW 2065, Australia
| | - Stanley B Sidhu
- Northern Clinical School, Sydney Medical School, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
- Endocrine Surgical Unit, Royal North Shore Hospital, Sydney, NSW 2065, Australia
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9
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Feng HR, Shen XN, Zhu XM, Zhong WT, Zhu DX, Zhao J, Chen YJ, Shen F, Liu K, Liang L. Unveiling major histocompatibility complex-mediated pan-cancer immune features by integrated single-cell and bulk RNA sequencing. Cancer Lett 2024; 597:217062. [PMID: 38878852 DOI: 10.1016/j.canlet.2024.217062] [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: 03/30/2024] [Revised: 05/22/2024] [Accepted: 06/08/2024] [Indexed: 06/25/2024]
Abstract
Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have transformed cancer therapy, yet persistent challenges such as low response rate and significant heterogeneity necessitate attention. The pivotal role of the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) in ICI efficacy, its intricate impacts and potentials as a prognostic marker, warrants comprehensive exploration. This study integrates single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq), bulk RNA-seq, and spatial transcriptomic analyses to unveil pan-cancer immune characteristics governed by the MHC transcriptional feature (MHC.sig). Developed through scRNA-seq analysis of 663,760 cells across diverse cohorts and validated in 30 solid cancer types, the MHC.sig demonstrates a robust correlation between immune-related genes and infiltrating immune cells, highlighting its potential as a universal pan-cancer marker for anti-tumor immunity. Screening the MHC.sig for therapeutic targets using CRISPR data identifies potential genes for immune therapy synergy and validates its predictive efficacy for ICIs responsiveness across diverse datasets and cancer types. Finally, analysis of cellular communication patterns reveals interactions between C1QC+macrophages and malignant cells, providing insights into potential therapeutic agents and their sensitivity characteristics. This comprehensive analysis positions the MHC.sig as a promising marker for predicting immune therapy outcomes and guiding combinatorial therapeutic strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hao-Ran Feng
- Department of General Surgery, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200025, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiao-Nan Shen
- Department of Gastroenterology, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200025, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiao-Ming Zhu
- Department of Colorectal Surgery, Changhai Hospital, Naval Medical University, Shanghai, 200082, People's Republic of China
| | - Wen-Tao Zhong
- Guangdong Cardiovascular Institute, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital, Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, Guangzhou, 510030, People's Republic of China
| | - De-Xiang Zhu
- Department of Colorectal Surgery, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, People's Republic of China
| | - Ji Zhao
- Department of Breast Surgery, Tongren Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200336, People's Republic of China
| | - Yan-Jie Chen
- Department of Gastroenterology, Zhongshan Hospital (Xiamen), Fudan University, Xiamen, 361015, People's Republic of China; Department of Gastroenterology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, People's Republic of China.
| | - Feng Shen
- Department of Medical Oncology, Zhongshan Hospital (Xiamen), Fudan University, Xiamen, 361015, People's Republic of China.
| | - Kun Liu
- Department of General Surgery, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200025, People's Republic of China.
| | - Li Liang
- Department of Medical Oncology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, People's Republic of China.
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10
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Finlay JB, Ireland AS, Hawgood SB, Reyes T, Ko T, Olsen RR, Abi Hachem R, Jang DW, Bell D, Chan JM, Goldstein BJ, Oliver TG. Olfactory neuroblastoma mimics molecular heterogeneity and lineage trajectories of small-cell lung cancer. Cancer Cell 2024; 42:1086-1105.e13. [PMID: 38788720 PMCID: PMC11186085 DOI: 10.1016/j.ccell.2024.05.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2023] [Revised: 03/13/2024] [Accepted: 05/02/2024] [Indexed: 05/26/2024]
Abstract
The olfactory epithelium undergoes neuronal regeneration from basal stem cells and is susceptible to olfactory neuroblastoma (ONB), a rare tumor of unclear origins. Employing alterations in Rb1/Trp53/Myc (RPM), we establish a genetically engineered mouse model of high-grade metastatic ONB exhibiting a NEUROD1+ immature neuronal phenotype. We demonstrate that globose basal cells (GBCs) are a permissive cell of origin for ONB and that ONBs exhibit cell fate heterogeneity that mimics normal GBC developmental trajectories. ASCL1 loss in RPM ONB leads to emergence of non-neuronal histopathologies, including a POU2F3+ microvillar-like state. Similar to small-cell lung cancer (SCLC), mouse and human ONBs exhibit mutually exclusive NEUROD1 and POU2F3-like states, an immune-cold tumor microenvironment, intratumoral cell fate heterogeneity comprising neuronal and non-neuronal lineages, and cell fate plasticity-evidenced by barcode-based lineage tracing and single-cell transcriptomics. Collectively, our findings highlight conserved similarities between ONB and neuroendocrine tumors with significant implications for ONB classification and treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- John B Finlay
- Department of Head and Neck Surgery & Communication Sciences, Duke University, Durham 27710, NC, USA
| | - Abbie S Ireland
- Department of Pharmacology and Cancer Biology, Duke University, Durham 27710, NC, USA
| | - Sarah B Hawgood
- Department of Pharmacology and Cancer Biology, Duke University, Durham 27710, NC, USA
| | - Tony Reyes
- Department of Pharmacology and Cancer Biology, Duke University, Durham 27710, NC, USA; Department of Oncological Sciences, University of Utah, Salt Lake City 84112, UT, USA
| | - Tiffany Ko
- Department of Head and Neck Surgery & Communication Sciences, Duke University, Durham 27710, NC, USA
| | - Rachelle R Olsen
- Department of Oncological Sciences, University of Utah, Salt Lake City 84112, UT, USA
| | - Ralph Abi Hachem
- Department of Head and Neck Surgery & Communication Sciences, Duke University, Durham 27710, NC, USA
| | - David W Jang
- Department of Head and Neck Surgery & Communication Sciences, Duke University, Durham 27710, NC, USA
| | - Diana Bell
- Division of Anatomic Pathology, City of Hope Comprehensive Cancer Center, Duarte 91010, CA, USA
| | - Joseph M Chan
- Human Oncology and Pathogenesis Program, Memorial-Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York City 10065, NY, USA
| | - Bradley J Goldstein
- Department of Head and Neck Surgery & Communication Sciences, Duke University, Durham 27710, NC, USA; Department of Neurobiology, Duke University, Durham 27710, NC, USA.
| | - Trudy G Oliver
- Department of Pharmacology and Cancer Biology, Duke University, Durham 27710, NC, USA; Department of Oncological Sciences, University of Utah, Salt Lake City 84112, UT, USA.
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11
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Kazansky Y, Cameron D, Mueller HS, Demarest P, Zaffaroni N, Arrighetti N, Zuco V, Kuwahara Y, Somwar R, Ladanyi M, Qu R, de Stanchina E, Dela Cruz FS, Kung AL, Gounder MM, Kentsis A. Overcoming Clinical Resistance to EZH2 Inhibition Using Rational Epigenetic Combination Therapy. Cancer Discov 2024; 14:965-981. [PMID: 38315003 PMCID: PMC11147720 DOI: 10.1158/2159-8290.cd-23-0110] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2023] [Revised: 11/30/2023] [Accepted: 01/25/2024] [Indexed: 02/07/2024]
Abstract
Epigenetic dependencies have become evident in many cancers. On the basis of antagonism between BAF/SWI-SNF and PRC2 in SMARCB1-deficient sarcomas, we recently completed the clinical trial of the EZH2 inhibitor tazemetostat. However, the principles of tumor response to epigenetic therapy in general, and tazemetostat in particular, remain unknown. Using functional genomics and diverse experimental models, we define molecular mechanisms of tazemetostat resistance in SMARCB1-deficient tumors. We found distinct acquired mutations that converge on the RB1/E2F axis and decouple EZH2-dependent differentiation and cell-cycle control. This allows tumor cells to escape tazemetostat-induced G1 arrest, suggests a general mechanism for effective therapy, and provides prospective biomarkers for therapy stratification, including PRICKLE1. On the basis of this, we develop a combination strategy to circumvent tazemetostat resistance using bypass targeting of AURKB. This offers a paradigm for rational epigenetic combination therapy suitable for translation to clinical trials for epithelioid sarcomas, rhabdoid tumors, and other epigenetically dysregulated cancers. SIGNIFICANCE Genomic studies of patient epithelioid sarcomas and rhabdoid tumors identify mutations converging on a common pathway for response to EZH2 inhibition. Resistance mutations decouple drug-induced differentiation from cell-cycle control. We identify an epigenetic combination strategy to overcome resistance and improve durability of response, supporting its investigation in clinical trials. See related commentary by Paolini and Souroullas, p. 903. This article is featured in Selected Articles from This Issue, p. 897.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yaniv Kazansky
- Molecular Pharmacology Program, Sloan Kettering Institute, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
- Tow Center for Developmental Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
| | - Daniel Cameron
- Molecular Pharmacology Program, Sloan Kettering Institute, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
- Tow Center for Developmental Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
| | - Helen S Mueller
- Molecular Pharmacology Program, Sloan Kettering Institute, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
- Tow Center for Developmental Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
| | - Phillip Demarest
- Molecular Pharmacology Program, Sloan Kettering Institute, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
- Tow Center for Developmental Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
| | - Nadia Zaffaroni
- Molecular Pharmacology Unit, Department of Experimental Oncology, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Noemi Arrighetti
- Molecular Pharmacology Unit, Department of Experimental Oncology, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Valentina Zuco
- Molecular Pharmacology Unit, Department of Experimental Oncology, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Yasumichi Kuwahara
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Romel Somwar
- Department of Pathology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
| | - Marc Ladanyi
- Department of Pathology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
| | - Rui Qu
- Antitumor Assessment Core, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
| | - Elisa de Stanchina
- Antitumor Assessment Core, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
| | - Filemon S Dela Cruz
- Department of Pediatrics, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
| | - Andrew L Kung
- Department of Pediatrics, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
| | - Mrinal M Gounder
- Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
| | - Alex Kentsis
- Molecular Pharmacology Program, Sloan Kettering Institute, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
- Tow Center for Developmental Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
- Departments of Pediatrics, Pharmacology, and Physiology & Biophysics, Weill Medical College of Cornell University, New York, New York
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12
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Bell CC, Balic JJ, Talarmain L, Gillespie A, Scolamiero L, Lam EYN, Ang CS, Faulkner GJ, Gilan O, Dawson MA. Comparative cofactor screens show the influence of transactivation domains and core promoters on the mechanisms of transcription. Nat Genet 2024; 56:1181-1192. [PMID: 38769457 DOI: 10.1038/s41588-024-01749-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2023] [Accepted: 04/09/2024] [Indexed: 05/22/2024]
Abstract
Eukaryotic transcription factors (TFs) activate gene expression by recruiting cofactors to promoters. However, the relationships between TFs, promoters and their associated cofactors remain poorly understood. Here we combine GAL4-transactivation assays with comparative CRISPR-Cas9 screens to identify the cofactors used by nine different TFs and core promoters in human cells. Using this dataset, we associate TFs with cofactors, classify cofactors as ubiquitous or specific and discover transcriptional co-dependencies. Through a reductionistic, comparative approach, we demonstrate that TFs do not display discrete mechanisms of activation. Instead, each TF depends on a unique combination of cofactors, which influences distinct steps in transcription. By contrast, the influence of core promoters appears relatively discrete. Different promoter classes are constrained by either initiation or pause-release, which influences their dynamic range and compatibility with cofactors. Overall, our comparative cofactor screens characterize the interplay between TFs, cofactors and core promoters, identifying general principles by which they influence transcription.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charles C Bell
- Cancer Research Division, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
- Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
- Mater Research Institute, University of Queensland, TRI Building, Woolloongabba, Queensland, Australia.
| | - Jesse J Balic
- Cancer Research Division, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Laure Talarmain
- Cancer Research Division, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Andrea Gillespie
- Cancer Research Division, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Laura Scolamiero
- Cancer Research Division, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Enid Y N Lam
- Cancer Research Division, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Ching-Seng Ang
- Bio21 Mass Spectrometry and Proteomics Facility, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Geoffrey J Faulkner
- Mater Research Institute, University of Queensland, TRI Building, Woolloongabba, Queensland, Australia
- Queensland Brain Institute, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Omer Gilan
- Cancer Research Division, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- Australian Centre for Blood Diseases, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Mark A Dawson
- Cancer Research Division, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
- Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
- Department of Haematology, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
- Centre for Cancer Research, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
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13
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Konen JM, Wu H, Gibbons DL. Immune checkpoint blockade resistance in lung cancer: emerging mechanisms and therapeutic opportunities. Trends Pharmacol Sci 2024; 45:520-536. [PMID: 38744552 PMCID: PMC11189143 DOI: 10.1016/j.tips.2024.04.006] [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: 02/13/2024] [Revised: 04/17/2024] [Accepted: 04/17/2024] [Indexed: 05/16/2024]
Abstract
Immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) therapy works by inhibiting suppressive checkpoints that become upregulated after T cell activation, like PD-1/PD-L1 and CTLA-4. While the initial FDA approvals of ICB have revolutionized cancer therapies and fueled a burgeoning immuno-oncology field, more recent clinical development of new agents has been slow. Here, focusing on lung cancer, we review the latest research uncovering tumor cell intrinsic and extrinsic ICB resistance mechanisms as major hurdles to treatment efficacy and clinical progress. These include genomic and non-genomic tumor cell alterations, along with host and microenvironmental factors like the microbiome, metabolite accumulation, and hypoxia. Together, these factors can cooperate to promote immunosuppression and ICB resistance. Opportunities to prevent resistance are constantly evolving in this rapidly expanding field, with the goal of moving toward personalized immunotherapeutic regimens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica M Konen
- Department of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA.
| | - Haoyi Wu
- Department of Thoracic/Head and Neck Medical Oncology, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Don L Gibbons
- Department of Thoracic/Head and Neck Medical Oncology, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA; Department of Molecular and Cellular Oncology, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA.
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14
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Jin T, Yin T, Xu R, Liu H, Yuan S, Xue Y, Zhang J, Wang H. Exploring the role of disulfidptosis-related signatures in immune microenvironment, prognosis and therapeutic strategies of cervical cancer. Transl Oncol 2024; 44:101938. [PMID: 38492499 PMCID: PMC10955422 DOI: 10.1016/j.tranon.2024.101938] [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: 01/29/2024] [Revised: 02/29/2024] [Accepted: 03/07/2024] [Indexed: 03/18/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cervical cancer is characterized by a complex immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (TME). Disulfidptosis is a recently identified form of programmed cell death that has emerged as a crucial factor in tumorigenesis. However, the research on the specific involvement of disulfidptosis within the TME is still in its early stages. METHODS Under glucose starvation, SiHa and HeLa cells underwent experiments employing diverse cell death inhibitors and SLC7A11 knockdown to observe their impact on cell survival. TCGA-CESC cohort was subjected to consensus clustering for disulfidptosis-related clusters. Prognosis, function, immune infiltration, and differentially expressed genes (DEGs) evaluations among clusters were compared. A prognostic model based on DEGs and disulfidptosis regulator genes (DRGs) was constructed and internally and externally validated. The correlation between YWHAG and clinicopathological characteristics in cervical cancer patients was investigated at both the mRNA and protein levels. Proliferation and migration assays were performed to uncover the roles of YWHAG in cervical cancer. RESULTS Experimental validation confirmed disulfidptosis in cervical cancer cell lines. Cervical cancer patients were classified into three clusters based on DRGs, showing notably improved prognosis and increased immune infiltration in cluster B. The developed disulfidptosis-related prognostic model effectively stratified patients into high- and low-risk groups. Low-risk patients exhibited more favorable responses to immunotherapy and improved overall prognosis. Additionally, YWHAG, recognized as a tumor-promoting gene, demonstrated active roles in enhancing the growth, migration, and invasion of cervical cancer cells. CONCLUSION Our research proposed a prognostic model for cervical cancer, probably contributing to tumor microenvironment traits and more potent immunotherapy strategy exploration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tianzhe Jin
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Precision Diagnosis and Therapy for Major Gynecological Diseases, Women's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310006, China
| | - Taotao Yin
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Precision Diagnosis and Therapy for Major Gynecological Diseases, Women's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310006, China
| | - Ruiyi Xu
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Precision Diagnosis and Therapy for Major Gynecological Diseases, Women's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310006, China
| | - Hong Liu
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Precision Diagnosis and Therapy for Major Gynecological Diseases, Women's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310006, China
| | - Shuo Yuan
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Precision Diagnosis and Therapy for Major Gynecological Diseases, Women's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310006, China
| | - Yite Xue
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Precision Diagnosis and Therapy for Major Gynecological Diseases, Women's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310006, China
| | - Jianwei Zhang
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Precision Diagnosis and Therapy for Major Gynecological Diseases, Women's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310006, China.
| | - Hui Wang
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Precision Diagnosis and Therapy for Major Gynecological Diseases, Women's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310006, China; Department of Gynecologic Oncology, Women's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310006, China.
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15
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Liu Q, Zhang X, Song Y, Si J, Li Z, Dong Q. Construction and analysis of a reliable five-gene prognostic signature for colon adenocarcinoma associated with the wild-type allelic state of the COL6A6 gene. Transl Cancer Res 2024; 13:2475-2496. [PMID: 38881933 PMCID: PMC11170513 DOI: 10.21037/tcr-23-463] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2023] [Accepted: 11/29/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2024]
Abstract
Background Tumors emerge by acquiring a number of mutations over time. The first mutation provides a selective growth advantage compared to adjacent epithelial cells, allowing the cell to create a clone that can outgrow the cells that surround it. Subsequent mutations determine the risk of the tumor progressing to metastatic cancer. Some secondary mutations may inhibit the aggressiveness of the tumor while still increasing the survival of the clone. Meaningful mutations in genes may provide a strong molecular foundation for developing novel therapeutic strategies for cancer. Methods The somatic mutation and prognosis in colon adenocarcinoma (COAD) were analyzed. The copy number variation (CNV) and differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between the collagen type VI alpha 6 chain (COL6A6) mutation (COL6A6-MUT) and the COL6A6 wild-type (COL6A6-WT) subgroups were evaluated. The independent prognostic signatures based on COL6A6-allelic state were determined to construct a Cox model. The biological characteristics and the immune microenvironment between the two risk groups were compared. Results COL6A6 was found to be highly mutated in COAD at a frequency of 9%. Patients with COL6A6-MUT had a good overall survival (OS) compared to those with COL6A6-WT, who had a different CNV pattern. Significant differences in gene expression were established for 593 genes between the COL6A6-MUT and COL6A6-WT samples. Among them, MUC16, ASNSP1, PRR18, PEG10, and RPL26P8 were determined to be independent prognostic factors. The internally validated prognostic risk model, constructed using these five genes, demonstrated its value by revealing a significant difference in patient prognosis between the high-risk and low-risk groups. Specifically, patients in the high-risk group exhibited a considerably worse prognosis than did those in the low-risk group. The high-risk group had a significantly higher proportion of patients over 60 years of age and patients in stage III. Moreover, the tumor immune dysfunction and exclusion (TIDE) score and the expression of human leukocyte antigen (HLA) family genes were all higher in the high-risk group than that in the low-risk group. Conclusions The allelic state of COL6A6 and the five associated DEGs were identified as novel biomarkers for the diagnosis and prognosis of COAD and may be therapeutic targets in COAD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qun Liu
- Second Department of Gastroenterology, Qingdao Municipal Hospital, Dalian Medical University, Qingdao, China
| | - Xiaohua Zhang
- Gastroenterology Center, Qingdao Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital (Qingdao Hiser Hospital), Qingdao Hiser Hospital Affiliated of Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
| | - Yan Song
- Outpatient Department, Qingdao Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital (Qingdao Hiser Hospital), Qingdao Hiser Hospital Affiliated of Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
| | - Junli Si
- Second Department of Gastroenterology, Qingdao Municipal Hospital, Dalian Medical University, Qingdao, China
| | - Zhaoshui Li
- Qingdao University, Qingdao Medical College, Qingdao, China
| | - Quanjiang Dong
- Central Laboratories, Department of Gastroenterology, Qingdao Municipal Hospital, Dalian Medical University, Qingdao, China
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16
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Xiao S, Ma S, Sun B, Pu W, Duan S, Han J, Hong Y, Zhang J, Peng Y, He C, Yi P, Caligiuri MA, Yu J. The tumor-intrinsic role of the m 6A reader YTHDF2 in regulating immune evasion. Sci Immunol 2024; 9:eadl2171. [PMID: 38820140 DOI: 10.1126/sciimmunol.adl2171] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2023] [Accepted: 05/09/2024] [Indexed: 06/02/2024]
Abstract
Tumors evade attacks from the immune system through various mechanisms. Here, we identify a component of tumor immune evasion mediated by YTH domain-containing family protein 2 (YTHDF2), a reader protein that usually destabilizes m6A-modified mRNA. Loss of tumoral YTHDF2 inhibits tumor growth and prolongs survival in immunocompetent tumor models. Mechanistically, tumoral YTHDF2 deficiency promotes the recruitment of macrophages via CX3CL1 and enhances mitochondrial respiration of CD8+ T cells by impairing tumor glycolysis metabolism. Tumoral YTHDF2 deficiency promotes inflammatory macrophage polarization and antigen presentation in the presence of IFN-γ. In addition, IFN-γ induces autophagic degradation of tumoral YTHDF2, thereby sensitizing tumor cells to CD8+ T cell-mediated cytotoxicity. Last, we identified a small molecule compound that preferentially induces YTHDF2 degradation, which shows a potent antitumor effect alone but a better effect when combined with anti-PD-L1 or anti-PD-1 antibodies. Collectively, YTHDF2 appears to be a tumor-intrinsic regulator that orchestrates immune evasion, representing a promising target for enhancing cancer immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sai Xiao
- Department of Hematology and Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation, City of Hope National Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA 91010, USA
- Hematologic Malignancies Research Institute, City of Hope National Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA 91010, USA
| | - Shoubao Ma
- Department of Hematology and Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation, City of Hope National Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA 91010, USA
- Hematologic Malignancies Research Institute, City of Hope National Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA 91010, USA
- Comprehensive Cancer Center, City of Hope, Los Angeles, CA 91010, USA
| | - Baofa Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology, Frontiers Science Center for Cell Responses, College of Life Sciences, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China
| | - Wenchen Pu
- Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, Frontiers Science Center for Disease-related Molecular Network, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Chengdu, China
| | - Songqi Duan
- College of Food Science, Sichuan Agricultural University, Ya'an, Sichuan 625014, China
| | - Jingjing Han
- Department of Hematology and Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation, City of Hope National Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA 91010, USA
- Hematologic Malignancies Research Institute, City of Hope National Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA 91010, USA
| | - Yaqun Hong
- Department of Hematology and Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation, City of Hope National Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA 91010, USA
- Hematologic Malignancies Research Institute, City of Hope National Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA 91010, USA
| | - Jianying Zhang
- Department of Computational and Quantitative Medicine, City of Hope National Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA 91010, USA
| | - Yong Peng
- Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, Frontiers Science Center for Disease-related Molecular Network, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Chengdu, China
| | - Chuan He
- Department of Chemistry, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, and Institute for Biophysical Dynamics, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
| | - Ping Yi
- Third Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 401120, China
| | - Michael A Caligiuri
- Department of Hematology and Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation, City of Hope National Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA 91010, USA
- Hematologic Malignancies Research Institute, City of Hope National Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA 91010, USA
- Comprehensive Cancer Center, City of Hope, Los Angeles, CA 91010, USA
| | - Jianhua Yu
- Department of Hematology and Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation, City of Hope National Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA 91010, USA
- Hematologic Malignancies Research Institute, City of Hope National Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA 91010, USA
- Comprehensive Cancer Center, City of Hope, Los Angeles, CA 91010, USA
- Department of Immuno-Oncology, Beckman Research Institute, City of Hope, Los Angeles, CA 91010, USA
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17
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Xie M, Vuko M, Rodriguez-Canales J, Zimmermann J, Schick M, O'Brien C, Paz-Ares L, Goldman JW, Garassino MC, Gay CM, Heymach JV, Jiang H, Barrett JC, Stewart RA, Lai Z, Byers LA, Rudin CM, Shrestha Y. Molecular classification and biomarkers of outcome with immunotherapy in extensive-stage small-cell lung cancer: analyses of the CASPIAN phase 3 study. Mol Cancer 2024; 23:115. [PMID: 38811992 PMCID: PMC11137956 DOI: 10.1186/s12943-024-02014-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: 12/15/2023] [Accepted: 05/03/2024] [Indexed: 05/31/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND We explored potential predictive biomarkers of immunotherapy response in patients with extensive-stage small-cell lung cancer (ES-SCLC) treated with durvalumab (D) + tremelimumab (T) + etoposide-platinum (EP), D + EP, or EP in the randomized phase 3 CASPIAN trial. METHODS 805 treatment-naïve patients with ES-SCLC were randomized (1:1:1) to receive D + T + EP, D + EP, or EP. The primary endpoint was overall survival (OS). Patients were required to provide an archived tumor tissue block (or ≥ 15 newly cut unstained slides) at screening, if these samples existed. After assessment for programmed cell death ligand-1 expression and tissue tumor mutational burden, residual tissue was used for additional molecular profiling including by RNA sequencing and immunohistochemistry. RESULTS In 182 patients with transcriptional molecular subtyping, OS with D ± T + EP was numerically highest in the SCLC-inflamed subtype (n = 10, median 24.0 months). Patients derived benefit from immunotherapy across subtypes; thus, additional biomarkers were investigated. OS benefit with D ± T + EP versus EP was greater with high versus low CD8A expression/CD8 cell density by immunohistochemistry, but with no additional benefit with D + T + EP versus D + EP. OS benefit with D + T + EP versus D + EP was associated with high expression of CD4 (median 25.9 vs. 11.4 months) and antigen-presenting and processing machinery (25.9 vs. 14.6 months) and MHC I and II (23.6 vs. 17.3 months) gene signatures, and with higher MHC I expression by immunohistochemistry. CONCLUSIONS These findings demonstrate the tumor microenvironment is important in mediating better outcomes with D ± T + EP in ES-SCLC, with canonical immune markers associated with hypothesized immunotherapy mechanisms of action defining patient subsets that respond to D ± T. TRIAL REGISTRATION ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT03043872.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mingchao Xie
- Oncology Data Science, AstraZeneca, Waltham, MA, USA
| | - Miljenka Vuko
- Computational Pathology, AstraZeneca, Munich, Germany
| | | | | | - Markus Schick
- Computational Pathology, AstraZeneca, Munich, Germany
| | - Cathy O'Brien
- Biostatistics, Oncology R&D, AstraZeneca, Cambridge, UK
| | - Luis Paz-Ares
- Department of Medical Oncology, Hospital Universitario 12 de Octubre, Madrid, Spain
| | | | - Marina Chiara Garassino
- Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Milan, Italy
- The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Carl M Gay
- The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - John V Heymach
- The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Haiyi Jiang
- Oncology R&D, AstraZeneca, Gaithersburg, MD, USA
| | - J Carl Barrett
- Translational Medicine, AstraZeneca, Waltham, MA, United States
| | - Ross A Stewart
- Translational Medicine, Oncology R&D, AstraZeneca, Cambridge, UK
| | - Zhongwu Lai
- Oncology Data Science, AstraZeneca, Waltham, MA, USA
| | - Lauren A Byers
- The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | | | - Yashaswi Shrestha
- Translational Medicine, Oncology R&D, AstraZeneca, Gaithersburg, MD, USA.
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18
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Li Y, Wu X, Sheng C, Liu H, Liu H, Tang Y, Liu C, Ding Q, Xie B, Xiao X, Zheng R, Yu Q, Guo Z, Ma J, Wang J, Gao J, Tian M, Wang W, Zhou J, Jiang L, Gu M, Shi S, Paull M, Yang G, Yang W, Landau S, Bao X, Hu X, Liu XS, Xiao T. IGSF8 is an innate immune checkpoint and cancer immunotherapy target. Cell 2024; 187:2703-2716.e23. [PMID: 38657602 DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2024.03.039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2023] [Revised: 12/18/2023] [Accepted: 03/26/2024] [Indexed: 04/26/2024]
Abstract
Antigen presentation defects in tumors are prevalent mechanisms of adaptive immune evasion and resistance to cancer immunotherapy, whereas how tumors evade innate immunity is less clear. Using CRISPR screens, we discovered that IGSF8 expressed on tumors suppresses NK cell function by interacting with human KIR3DL2 and mouse Klra9 receptors on NK cells. IGSF8 is normally expressed in neuronal tissues and is not required for cell survival in vitro or in vivo. It is overexpressed and associated with low antigen presentation, low immune infiltration, and worse clinical outcomes in many tumors. An antibody that blocks IGSF8-NK receptor interaction enhances NK cell killing of malignant cells in vitro and upregulates antigen presentation, NK cell-mediated cytotoxicity, and T cell signaling in vivo. In syngeneic tumor models, anti-IGSF8 alone, or in combination with anti-PD1, inhibits tumor growth. Our results indicate that IGSF8 is an innate immune checkpoint that could be exploited as a therapeutic target.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yulong Li
- Shanghai Xunbaihui Biotechnology Co., Ltd., 3rd floor of Building 4, No. 3728, Jinke Road, Pudong New Area, Shanghai, 201203, China
| | - Xiangyang Wu
- Shanghai Xunbaihui Biotechnology Co., Ltd., 3rd floor of Building 4, No. 3728, Jinke Road, Pudong New Area, Shanghai, 201203, China
| | - Caibin Sheng
- GV20 Therapeutics LLC, 237 Putnam Avenue, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Hailing Liu
- Shanghai Xunbaihui Biotechnology Co., Ltd., 3rd floor of Building 4, No. 3728, Jinke Road, Pudong New Area, Shanghai, 201203, China
| | - Huizhu Liu
- Shanghai Xunbaihui Biotechnology Co., Ltd., 3rd floor of Building 4, No. 3728, Jinke Road, Pudong New Area, Shanghai, 201203, China
| | - Yixuan Tang
- Shanghai Xunbaihui Biotechnology Co., Ltd., 3rd floor of Building 4, No. 3728, Jinke Road, Pudong New Area, Shanghai, 201203, China
| | - Chao Liu
- Shanghai Xunbaihui Biotechnology Co., Ltd., 3rd floor of Building 4, No. 3728, Jinke Road, Pudong New Area, Shanghai, 201203, China
| | - Qingyang Ding
- Shanghai Xunbaihui Biotechnology Co., Ltd., 3rd floor of Building 4, No. 3728, Jinke Road, Pudong New Area, Shanghai, 201203, China
| | - Bin Xie
- Shanghai Xunbaihui Biotechnology Co., Ltd., 3rd floor of Building 4, No. 3728, Jinke Road, Pudong New Area, Shanghai, 201203, China
| | - Xi Xiao
- Shanghai Xunbaihui Biotechnology Co., Ltd., 3rd floor of Building 4, No. 3728, Jinke Road, Pudong New Area, Shanghai, 201203, China
| | - Rongbin Zheng
- Shanghai Xunbaihui Biotechnology Co., Ltd., 3rd floor of Building 4, No. 3728, Jinke Road, Pudong New Area, Shanghai, 201203, China
| | - Quan Yu
- Shanghai Xunbaihui Biotechnology Co., Ltd., 3rd floor of Building 4, No. 3728, Jinke Road, Pudong New Area, Shanghai, 201203, China
| | - Zengdan Guo
- Shanghai Xunbaihui Biotechnology Co., Ltd., 3rd floor of Building 4, No. 3728, Jinke Road, Pudong New Area, Shanghai, 201203, China
| | - Jian Ma
- Shanghai Xunbaihui Biotechnology Co., Ltd., 3rd floor of Building 4, No. 3728, Jinke Road, Pudong New Area, Shanghai, 201203, China
| | - Jin Wang
- Shanghai Xunbaihui Biotechnology Co., Ltd., 3rd floor of Building 4, No. 3728, Jinke Road, Pudong New Area, Shanghai, 201203, China
| | - Jinghong Gao
- Shanghai Xunbaihui Biotechnology Co., Ltd., 3rd floor of Building 4, No. 3728, Jinke Road, Pudong New Area, Shanghai, 201203, China
| | - Mei Tian
- Shanghai Xunbaihui Biotechnology Co., Ltd., 3rd floor of Building 4, No. 3728, Jinke Road, Pudong New Area, Shanghai, 201203, China
| | - Wei Wang
- Shanghai Xunbaihui Biotechnology Co., Ltd., 3rd floor of Building 4, No. 3728, Jinke Road, Pudong New Area, Shanghai, 201203, China
| | - Jia Zhou
- Shanghai Xunbaihui Biotechnology Co., Ltd., 3rd floor of Building 4, No. 3728, Jinke Road, Pudong New Area, Shanghai, 201203, China
| | - Li Jiang
- Shanghai Xunbaihui Biotechnology Co., Ltd., 3rd floor of Building 4, No. 3728, Jinke Road, Pudong New Area, Shanghai, 201203, China
| | - Mengmeng Gu
- Shanghai Xunbaihui Biotechnology Co., Ltd., 3rd floor of Building 4, No. 3728, Jinke Road, Pudong New Area, Shanghai, 201203, China
| | - Sailing Shi
- Shanghai Xunbaihui Biotechnology Co., Ltd., 3rd floor of Building 4, No. 3728, Jinke Road, Pudong New Area, Shanghai, 201203, China
| | - Michael Paull
- GV20 Therapeutics LLC, 237 Putnam Avenue, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Guanhua Yang
- Shanghai Xunbaihui Biotechnology Co., Ltd., 3rd floor of Building 4, No. 3728, Jinke Road, Pudong New Area, Shanghai, 201203, China
| | - Wei Yang
- GV20 Therapeutics LLC, 237 Putnam Avenue, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Steve Landau
- GV20 Therapeutics LLC, 237 Putnam Avenue, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Xingfeng Bao
- GV20 Therapeutics LLC, 237 Putnam Avenue, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Xihao Hu
- GV20 Therapeutics LLC, 237 Putnam Avenue, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA.
| | - X Shirley Liu
- GV20 Therapeutics LLC, 237 Putnam Avenue, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA.
| | - Tengfei Xiao
- Shanghai Xunbaihui Biotechnology Co., Ltd., 3rd floor of Building 4, No. 3728, Jinke Road, Pudong New Area, Shanghai, 201203, China.
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19
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Yin N, Li X, Zhang X, Xue S, Cao Y, Niedermann G, Lu Y, Xue J. Development of pharmacological immunoregulatory anti-cancer therapeutics: current mechanistic studies and clinical opportunities. Signal Transduct Target Ther 2024; 9:126. [PMID: 38773064 PMCID: PMC11109181 DOI: 10.1038/s41392-024-01826-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: 10/11/2023] [Revised: 03/25/2024] [Accepted: 03/28/2024] [Indexed: 05/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Immunotherapy represented by anti-PD-(L)1 and anti-CTLA-4 inhibitors has revolutionized cancer treatment, but challenges related to resistance and toxicity still remain. Due to the advancement of immuno-oncology, an increasing number of novel immunoregulatory targets and mechanisms are being revealed, with relevant therapies promising to improve clinical immunotherapy in the foreseeable future. Therefore, comprehending the larger picture is important. In this review, we analyze and summarize the current landscape of preclinical and translational mechanistic research, drug development, and clinical trials that brought about next-generation pharmacological immunoregulatory anti-cancer agents and drug candidates beyond classical immune checkpoint inhibitors. Along with further clarification of cancer immunobiology and advances in antibody engineering, agents targeting additional inhibitory immune checkpoints, including LAG-3, TIM-3, TIGIT, CD47, and B7 family members are becoming an important part of cancer immunotherapy research and discovery, as are structurally and functionally optimized novel anti-PD-(L)1 and anti-CTLA-4 agents and agonists of co-stimulatory molecules of T cells. Exemplified by bispecific T cell engagers, newly emerging bi-specific and multi-specific antibodies targeting immunoregulatory molecules can provide considerable clinical benefits. Next-generation agents also include immune epigenetic drugs and cytokine-based therapeutics. Cell therapies, cancer vaccines, and oncolytic viruses are not covered in this review. This comprehensive review might aid in further development and the fastest possible clinical adoption of effective immuno-oncology modalities for the benefit of patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nanhao Yin
- Division of Thoracic Tumor Multimodality Treatment, Cancer Center & State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, and The National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, No. 37, Guoxue Lane, Chengdu, 610041, Sichuan, PR China
| | - Xintong Li
- Division of Thoracic Tumor Multimodality Treatment, Cancer Center & State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, and The National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, No. 37, Guoxue Lane, Chengdu, 610041, Sichuan, PR China
| | - Xuanwei Zhang
- Division of Thoracic Tumor Multimodality Treatment, Cancer Center & State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, and The National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, No. 37, Guoxue Lane, Chengdu, 610041, Sichuan, PR China
| | - Shaolong Xue
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, No. 20, Section 3, South Renmin Road, Chengdu, 610041, Sichuan, PR China
| | - Yu Cao
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Laboratory of Emergency Medicine, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, No. 37, Guoxue Lane, Chengdu, 610041, Sichuan, PR China
- Institute of Disaster Medicine & Institute of Emergency Medicine, Sichuan University, No. 17, Gaopeng Avenue, Chengdu, 610041, Sichuan, PR China
| | - Gabriele Niedermann
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Medical Center-University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, German Cancer Consortium (DKTK) Partner Site DKTK-Freiburg, Robert-Koch-Strasse 3, 79106, Freiburg, Germany.
| | - You Lu
- Division of Thoracic Tumor Multimodality Treatment, Cancer Center & State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, and The National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, No. 37, Guoxue Lane, Chengdu, 610041, Sichuan, PR China.
- Laboratory of Clinical Cell Therapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, No. 2222, Xinchuan Road, Chengdu, 610041, Sichuan, PR China.
| | - Jianxin Xue
- Division of Thoracic Tumor Multimodality Treatment, Cancer Center & State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, and The National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, No. 37, Guoxue Lane, Chengdu, 610041, Sichuan, PR China.
- Laboratory of Clinical Cell Therapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, No. 2222, Xinchuan Road, Chengdu, 610041, Sichuan, PR China.
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20
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Chen B, Deng Y, Ren X, Zhao J, Jiang C. CRISPR/Cas9 screening: unraveling cancer immunotherapy's 'Rosetta Stone'. Trends Mol Med 2024:S1471-4914(24)00102-3. [PMID: 38763850 DOI: 10.1016/j.molmed.2024.04.014] [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: 02/19/2024] [Revised: 04/10/2024] [Accepted: 04/19/2024] [Indexed: 05/21/2024]
Abstract
Clustered regularly interspaced palindromic repeats (CRISPR)-based technology, a powerful toolset for the unbiased functional genomic screening of biological processes, has facilitated several scientific breakthroughs in the biomedical field. Cancer immunotherapy has advanced the treatment of numerous malignancies that previously had restricted treatment options or unfavorable outcomes. In the realm of cancer immunotherapy, the application of CRISPR/CRISPR-associated protein 9 (Cas9)-based genetic perturbation screening has enabled the identification of genes, biomarkers, and signaling pathways that govern various cancer immunoreactivities, as well as the development of effective immunotherapeutic targets. In this review, we summarize the advances in CRISPR/Cas9-based screening for cancer immunotherapy and outline the immunotherapeutic targets identified via CRISPR screening based on cancer-type classification.
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Affiliation(s)
- Baoxiang Chen
- Department of Colorectal and Anal Surgery, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, China; Hubei Key Laboratory of Intestinal and Colorectal Diseases, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, China; Clinical Center of Intestinal and Colorectal Diseases of Hubei Province, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, China; Rosalind and Morris Goodman Cancer Institute, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3G 0B1, Canada
| | - Yanrong Deng
- Department of Colorectal and Anal Surgery, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, China; Hubei Key Laboratory of Intestinal and Colorectal Diseases, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, China; Clinical Center of Intestinal and Colorectal Diseases of Hubei Province, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, China
| | - Xianghai Ren
- Department of Colorectal and Anal Surgery, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, China; Hubei Key Laboratory of Intestinal and Colorectal Diseases, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, China; Clinical Center of Intestinal and Colorectal Diseases of Hubei Province, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, China.
| | - Jianhong Zhao
- Department of Colorectal and Anal Surgery, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, China; Hubei Key Laboratory of Intestinal and Colorectal Diseases, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, China; Clinical Center of Intestinal and Colorectal Diseases of Hubei Province, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, China.
| | - Congqing Jiang
- Department of Colorectal and Anal Surgery, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, China; Hubei Key Laboratory of Intestinal and Colorectal Diseases, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, China; Clinical Center of Intestinal and Colorectal Diseases of Hubei Province, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, China.
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21
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Kazansky Y, Mueller HS, Cameron D, Demarest P, Zaffaroni N, Arrighetti N, Zuco V, Mundi PS, Kuwahara Y, Somwar R, Qu R, Califano A, de Stanchina E, Dela Cruz FS, Kung AL, Gounder MM, Kentsis A. Epigenetic targeting of PGBD5-dependent DNA damage in SMARCB1-deficient sarcomas. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.05.03.592420. [PMID: 38766189 PMCID: PMC11100591 DOI: 10.1101/2024.05.03.592420] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/22/2024]
Abstract
Despite the potential of targeted epigenetic therapies, most cancers do not respond to current epigenetic drugs. The Polycomb repressive complex EZH2 inhibitor tazemetostat was recently approved for the treatment of SMARCB1-deficient epithelioid sarcomas, based on the functional antagonism between PRC2 and loss of SMARCB1. Through the analysis of tazemetostat-treated patient tumors, we recently defined key principles of their response and resistance to EZH2 epigenetic therapy. Here, using transcriptomic inference from SMARCB1-deficient tumor cells, we nominate the DNA damage repair kinase ATR as a target for rational combination EZH2 epigenetic therapy. We show that EZH2 inhibition promotes DNA damage in epithelioid and rhabdoid tumor cells, at least in part via its induction of the transposase-derived PGBD5. We leverage this collateral synthetic lethal dependency to target PGBD5-dependent DNA damage by inhibition of ATR but not CHK1 using elimusertib. Consequently, combined EZH2 and ATR inhibition improves therapeutic responses in diverse patient-derived epithelioid and rhabdoid tumors in vivo. This advances a combination epigenetic therapy based on EZH2-PGBD5 synthetic lethal dependency suitable for immediate translation to clinical trials for patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yaniv Kazansky
- Molecular Pharmacology Program, Sloan Kettering Institute, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
- Tow Center for Developmental Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Helen S. Mueller
- Molecular Pharmacology Program, Sloan Kettering Institute, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
- Tow Center for Developmental Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Daniel Cameron
- Molecular Pharmacology Program, Sloan Kettering Institute, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
- Tow Center for Developmental Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Phillip Demarest
- Molecular Pharmacology Program, Sloan Kettering Institute, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
- Tow Center for Developmental Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Nadia Zaffaroni
- Molecular Pharmacology Unit, Department of Experimental Oncology, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Noemi Arrighetti
- Molecular Pharmacology Unit, Department of Experimental Oncology, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Valentina Zuco
- Molecular Pharmacology Unit, Department of Experimental Oncology, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Prabhjot S. Mundi
- Department of Systems Biology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Yasumichi Kuwahara
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine
| | - Romel Somwar
- Department of Pathology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Rui Qu
- Antitumor Assessment Core, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Andrea Califano
- Department of Pediatrics, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Elisa de Stanchina
- Antitumor Assessment Core, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Filemon S. Dela Cruz
- Department of Pediatrics, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Andrew L. Kung
- Department of Pediatrics, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Mrinal M. Gounder
- Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Alex Kentsis
- Molecular Pharmacology Program, Sloan Kettering Institute, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
- Tow Center for Developmental Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
- Departments of Pediatrics, Pharmacology, and Physiology & Biophysics, Weill Medical College of Cornell University, New York, NY, USA
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22
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Karras P, Black JRM, McGranahan N, Marine JC. Decoding the interplay between genetic and non-genetic drivers of metastasis. Nature 2024; 629:543-554. [PMID: 38750233 DOI: 10.1038/s41586-024-07302-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2022] [Accepted: 03/12/2024] [Indexed: 05/18/2024]
Abstract
Metastasis is a multistep process by which cancer cells break away from their original location and spread to distant organs, and is responsible for the vast majority of cancer-related deaths. Preventing early metastatic dissemination would revolutionize the ability to fight cancer. Unfortunately, the relatively poor understanding of the molecular underpinnings of metastasis has hampered the development of effective anti-metastatic drugs. Although it is now accepted that disseminating tumour cells need to acquire multiple competencies to face the many obstacles they encounter before reaching their metastatic site(s), whether these competencies are acquired through an accumulation of metastasis-specific genetic alterations and/or non-genetic events is often debated. Here we review a growing body of literature highlighting the importance of both genetic and non-genetic reprogramming events during the metastatic cascade, and discuss how genetic and non-genetic processes act in concert to confer metastatic competencies. We also describe how recent technological advances, and in particular the advent of single-cell multi-omics and barcoding approaches, will help to better elucidate the cross-talk between genetic and non-genetic mechanisms of metastasis and ultimately inform innovative paths for the early detection and interception of this lethal process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Panagiotis Karras
- Laboratory for Molecular Cancer Biology, VIB Center for Cancer Biology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Department of Oncology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - James R M Black
- Cancer Genome Evolution Research Group, UCL Cancer Institute, London, UK
| | | | - Jean-Christophe Marine
- Laboratory for Molecular Cancer Biology, VIB Center for Cancer Biology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
- Department of Oncology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
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23
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Li X, Tian S, Shi H, Ta N, Ni X, Bai C, Zhu Z, Chen Y, Shi D, Huang H, Chen L, Hu Z, Qu L, Fang Y, Bai C. The golden key to open mystery boxes of SMARCA4-deficient undifferentiated thoracic tumor: focusing immunotherapy, tumor microenvironment and epigenetic regulation. Cancer Gene Ther 2024; 31:687-697. [PMID: 38347129 PMCID: PMC11101339 DOI: 10.1038/s41417-024-00732-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2023] [Revised: 01/08/2024] [Accepted: 01/10/2024] [Indexed: 02/19/2024]
Abstract
SMARCA4-deficient undifferentiated thoracic tumor is extremely invasive. This tumor with poor prognosis is easily confused with SMARCA4-deficent non-small cell lung cancer or sarcoma. Standard and efficient treatment has not been established. In this review, we summarized the etiology, pathogenesis and diagnosis, reviewed current and proposed innovative strategies for treatment and improving prognosis. Immunotherapy, targeting tumor microenvironment and epigenetic regulator have improved the prognosis of cancer patients. We summarized clinicopathological features and immunotherapy strategies and analyzed the progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) of patients with SMARCA4-UT who received immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs). In addition, we proposed the feasibility of epigenetic regulation in the treatment of SMARCA4-UT. To our knowledge, this is the first review that aims to explore innovative strategies for targeting tumor microenvironment and epigenetic regulation and identify potential benefit population for immunotherapy to improve the prognosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiang Li
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, the First Affiliated Hospital of Naval Medical University (Shanghai Changhai Hospital), Shanghai, China
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, General Hospital of Central Theater Command of the Chinese People's Liberation Army, Wuhan, China
| | - Sen Tian
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, the First Affiliated Hospital of Naval Medical University (Shanghai Changhai Hospital), Shanghai, China
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, No. 906 Hospital of the Chinese People's Liberation Army Joint Logistic Support Force, Ningbo, China
| | - Hui Shi
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, the First Affiliated Hospital of Naval Medical University (Shanghai Changhai Hospital), Shanghai, China.
| | - Na Ta
- Department of Pathology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Naval Medical University (Shanghai Changhai Hospital), Shanghai, China
| | - Xiang Ni
- Department of Pathology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Naval Medical University (Shanghai Changhai Hospital), Shanghai, China
| | - Chenguang Bai
- Department of Pathology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Naval Medical University (Shanghai Changhai Hospital), Shanghai, China
| | - Zhanli Zhu
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, the First Affiliated Hospital of Naval Medical University (Shanghai Changhai Hospital), Shanghai, China
| | - Yilin Chen
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, the First Affiliated Hospital of Naval Medical University (Shanghai Changhai Hospital), Shanghai, China
| | - Dongchen Shi
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, the First Affiliated Hospital of Naval Medical University (Shanghai Changhai Hospital), Shanghai, China
| | - Haidong Huang
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, the First Affiliated Hospital of Naval Medical University (Shanghai Changhai Hospital), Shanghai, China
| | - Longpei Chen
- Department of Oncology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Naval Medical University (Shanghai Changhai Hospital), Shanghai, China
| | - Zhenhong Hu
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, General Hospital of Central Theater Command of the Chinese People's Liberation Army, Wuhan, China
| | - Lei Qu
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, General Hospital of Central Theater Command of the Chinese People's Liberation Army, Wuhan, China
| | - Yao Fang
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, General Hospital of Central Theater Command of the Chinese People's Liberation Army, Wuhan, China
| | - Chong Bai
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, the First Affiliated Hospital of Naval Medical University (Shanghai Changhai Hospital), Shanghai, China.
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24
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Zhang XJ, Yu Y, Zhao HP, Guo L, Dai K, Lv J. Mechanisms of tumor immunosuppressive microenvironment formation in esophageal cancer. World J Gastroenterol 2024; 30:2195-2208. [PMID: 38690024 PMCID: PMC11056912 DOI: 10.3748/wjg.v30.i16.2195] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2024] [Revised: 03/05/2024] [Accepted: 04/10/2024] [Indexed: 04/26/2024] Open
Abstract
As a highly invasive malignancy, esophageal cancer (EC) is a global health issue, and was the eighth most prevalent cancer and the sixth leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide in 2020. Due to its highly immunogenic nature, emer-ging immunotherapy approaches, such as immune checkpoint blockade, have demonstrated promising efficacy in treating EC; however, certain limitations and challenges still exist. In addition, tumors may exhibit primary or acquired resistance to immunotherapy in the tumor immune microenvironment (TIME); thus, understanding the TIME is urgent and crucial, especially given the im-portance of an immunosuppressive microenvironment in tumor progression. The aim of this review was to better elucidate the mechanisms of the suppressive TIME, including cell infiltration, immune cell subsets, cytokines and signaling pathways in the tumor microenvironment of EC patients, as well as the downregulated expression of major histocompatibility complex molecules in tumor cells, to obtain a better understanding of the differences in EC patient responses to immunotherapeutic strategies and accurately predict the efficacy of immunotherapies. Therefore, personalized treatments could be developed to maximize the advantages of immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiao-Jun Zhang
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Honghui Hospital, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an 710054, Shaanxi Province, China
| | - Yan Yu
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Honghui Hospital, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an 710054, Shaanxi Province, China
| | - He-Ping Zhao
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Honghui Hospital, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an 710054, Shaanxi Province, China
| | - Lei Guo
- Department of Spinal Surgery, Honghui Hospital, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an 710054, Shaanxi Province, China
| | - Kun Dai
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Yanliang Railway Hospital of Xi’an, Xi’an 710089, Shaanxi Province, China
| | - Jing Lv
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Honghui Hospital, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an 710054, Shaanxi Province, China
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25
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Cui Y, Chen Y, Zhao P, Li S, Cheng Y, Ren X. Peripheral NK cells identified as the predictor of response in extensive-stage small cell lung cancer patients treated with first-line immunotherapy plus chemotherapy. Clin Transl Oncol 2024:10.1007/s12094-024-03479-4. [PMID: 38662170 DOI: 10.1007/s12094-024-03479-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2024] [Accepted: 03/23/2024] [Indexed: 04/26/2024]
Abstract
PURPOSE Although immunotherapy improves outcomes in extensive-stage small-cell lung cancer (ES-SCLC), the search for biomarkers predicting treatment success is crucial. Natural killer (NK) cells are potential indicators in various cancers, however, their precise role in ES-SCLC prognosis remains unclear. METHODS In this retrospective study, 33 patients with ES-SCLC treated with first-line immuno-chemotherapy were enrolled. The peripheral NK cell percentage and its longitudinal dynamics were analyzed using flow cytometry. Progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were calculated as hazard ratio (HR) and compared statistically. RESULTS The median PFS was better in the group with normal baseline NK cell levels than the low group (7.0 vs. 4.6 months; HR = 0.17; 95% CI 0.07-0.41; P < 0.0001), but there was no association with OS (14.9 vs. 10.3 months; HR = 0.55; 95% CI 0.23-1.31; P = 0.171). Furthermore, the NK cell% for 95.0% of patients increased after immunochemotherapy in the clinical response group (P = 0.0047), which led to a better median PFS (6.3 vs. 2.1 months; HR = 0.23; 95% CI 0.05-0.98; P < 0.0001) and OS (14.9 vs. 5.9 months; HR = 0.20; 95% CI 0.04-1.02; P < 0.0001). Similar trends were observed with NK cell% changes up to disease progression, improving PFS (6.5 vs. 4.3; HR = 0.41; 95% CI 0.12-0.92; P = 0.0049) and OS (17.4 vs. 9.7; HR = 0.42; 95% CI 0.17-1.02; P < 0.0001). CONCLUSION In patients with ES-SCLC, the percentage and changes in peripheral NK cells can predict the response to combined immunotherapy and chemotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanan Cui
- Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin, 300060, China
- Tianjin's Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin, China
- Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, Tianjin, China
- Key Laboratory of Cancer Immunology and Biotherapy, Tianjin, China
- Division of Thoracic Oncology, Jilin Cancer Hospital, Changchun, China
| | - Yanping Chen
- Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin, 300060, China
- Tianjin's Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin, China
- Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, Tianjin, China
- Key Laboratory of Cancer Immunology and Biotherapy, Tianjin, China
| | - Peiyan Zhao
- Translational Oncology Research Lab, Jilin Cancer Hospital, Changchun, China
| | - Shuang Li
- Big Data Center of Clinical, Jilin Cancer Hospital, Changchun, China
| | - Ying Cheng
- Division of Thoracic Oncology, Jilin Cancer Hospital, Changchun, China.
| | - Xiubao Ren
- Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin, 300060, China.
- Tianjin's Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin, China.
- Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, Tianjin, China.
- Key Laboratory of Cancer Immunology and Biotherapy, Tianjin, China.
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26
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Martin KE, Hammer Q, Perica K, Sadelain M, Malmberg KJ. Engineering immune-evasive allogeneic cellular immunotherapies. Nat Rev Immunol 2024:10.1038/s41577-024-01022-8. [PMID: 38658708 DOI: 10.1038/s41577-024-01022-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/05/2024] [Indexed: 04/26/2024]
Abstract
Allogeneic cellular immunotherapies hold a great promise for cancer treatment owing to their potential cost-effectiveness, scalability and on-demand availability. However, immune rejection of adoptively transferred allogeneic T and natural killer (NK) cells is a substantial obstacle to achieving clinical responses that are comparable to responses obtained with current autologous chimeric antigen receptor T cell therapies. In this Perspective, we discuss strategies to confer cell-intrinsic, immune-evasive properties to allogeneic T cells and NK cells in order to prevent or delay their immune rejection, thereby widening the therapeutic window. We discuss how common viral and cancer immune escape mechanisms can serve as a blueprint for improving the persistence of off-the-shelf allogeneic cell therapies. The prospects of harnessing genome editing and synthetic biology to design cell-based precision immunotherapies extend beyond programming target specificities and require careful consideration of innate and adaptive responses in the recipient that may curtail the biodistribution, in vivo expansion and persistence of cellular therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karen E Martin
- Precision Immunotherapy Alliance, The University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
- Department of Cancer Immunology, Institute for Cancer Research Oslo, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - Quirin Hammer
- Center for Infectious Medicine, Department of Medicine Huddinge, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Karlo Perica
- Center for Cell Engineering, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
- Cell Therapy Service, Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Michel Sadelain
- Center for Cell Engineering, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Karl-Johan Malmberg
- Precision Immunotherapy Alliance, The University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway.
- Department of Cancer Immunology, Institute for Cancer Research Oslo, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway.
- Center for Infectious Medicine, Department of Medicine Huddinge, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
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27
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Romero P, Richart L, Aflaki S, Petitalot A, Burton M, Michaud A, Masliah-Planchon J, Kuhnowski F, Le Cam S, Baliñas-Gavira C, Méaudre C, Luscan A, Hamza A, Legoix P, Vincent-Salomon A, Wassef M, Holoch D, Margueron R. EZH2 mutations in follicular lymphoma distort H3K27me3 profiles and alter transcriptional responses to PRC2 inhibition. Nat Commun 2024; 15:3452. [PMID: 38658543 PMCID: PMC11043461 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-47701-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: 01/19/2023] [Accepted: 04/08/2024] [Indexed: 04/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Mutations in chromatin regulators are widespread in cancer. Among them, the histone H3 lysine 27 methyltransferase Polycomb Repressive Complex 2 (PRC2) shows distinct alterations according to tumor type. This specificity is poorly understood. Here, we model several PRC2 alterations in one isogenic system to reveal their comparative effects. Focusing then on lymphoma-associated EZH2 mutations, we show that Ezh2Y641F induces aberrant H3K27 methylation patterns even without wild-type Ezh2, which are alleviated by partial PRC2 inhibition. Remarkably, Ezh2Y641F rewires the response to PRC2 inhibition, leading to induction of antigen presentation genes. Using a unique longitudinal follicular lymphoma cohort, we further link EZH2 status to abnormal H3K27 methylation. We also uncover unexpected variability in the mutational landscape of successive biopsies, pointing to frequent co-existence of different clones and cautioning against stratifying patients based on single sampling. Our results clarify how oncogenic PRC2 mutations disrupt chromatin and transcription, and the therapeutic vulnerabilities this creates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pierre Romero
- Institut Curie, INSERM U934/CNRS UMR 3215, Paris Sciences et Lettres Research University, Sorbonne University, Paris, France
- Institut Curie, Department of Pathology, Paris Sciences et Lettres Research University, Paris, France
| | - Laia Richart
- Institut Curie, INSERM U934/CNRS UMR 3215, Paris Sciences et Lettres Research University, Sorbonne University, Paris, France
| | - Setareh Aflaki
- Institut Curie, INSERM U934/CNRS UMR 3215, Paris Sciences et Lettres Research University, Sorbonne University, Paris, France
| | - Ambre Petitalot
- Institut Curie, INSERM U934/CNRS UMR 3215, Paris Sciences et Lettres Research University, Sorbonne University, Paris, France
| | - Megan Burton
- Institut Curie, INSERM U934/CNRS UMR 3215, Paris Sciences et Lettres Research University, Sorbonne University, Paris, France
| | - Audrey Michaud
- Institut Curie, INSERM U934/CNRS UMR 3215, Paris Sciences et Lettres Research University, Sorbonne University, Paris, France
| | - Julien Masliah-Planchon
- Institut Curie, Pharmacogenetics Unit, Department of Genetics, Paris Sciences et Lettres Research University, Paris, France
| | - Frédérique Kuhnowski
- Institut Curie, Department of Clinical Hematology, Paris Sciences et Lettres Research University, Paris, France
| | - Samuel Le Cam
- Institut Curie, INSERM U934/CNRS UMR 3215, Paris Sciences et Lettres Research University, Sorbonne University, Paris, France
| | - Carlos Baliñas-Gavira
- Institut Curie, INSERM U934/CNRS UMR 3215, Paris Sciences et Lettres Research University, Sorbonne University, Paris, France
| | - Céline Méaudre
- Institut Curie, Department of Pathology, Paris Sciences et Lettres Research University, Paris, France
| | - Armelle Luscan
- Institut Curie, INSERM U934/CNRS UMR 3215, Paris Sciences et Lettres Research University, Sorbonne University, Paris, France
| | - Abderaouf Hamza
- Institut Curie, Pharmacogenetics Unit, Department of Genetics, Paris Sciences et Lettres Research University, Paris, France
| | - Patricia Legoix
- Institut Curie, Genomics of Excellence (ICGex) Platform, Paris Sciences et Lettres Research University, Paris, France
| | - Anne Vincent-Salomon
- Institut Curie, Department of Pathology, Paris Sciences et Lettres Research University, Paris, France
| | - Michel Wassef
- Institut Curie, INSERM U934/CNRS UMR 3215, Paris Sciences et Lettres Research University, Sorbonne University, Paris, France
| | - Daniel Holoch
- Institut Curie, INSERM U934/CNRS UMR 3215, Paris Sciences et Lettres Research University, Sorbonne University, Paris, France.
| | - Raphaël Margueron
- Institut Curie, INSERM U934/CNRS UMR 3215, Paris Sciences et Lettres Research University, Sorbonne University, Paris, France.
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28
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Peng L, Zhou L, Li H, Zhang X, Li S, Wang K, Yang M, Ma X, Zhang D, Xiang S, Duan Y, Wang T, Sun C, Wang C, Lu D, Qian M, Wang Z. Hippo-signaling-controlled MHC class I antigen processing and presentation pathway potentiates antitumor immunity. Cell Rep 2024; 43:114003. [PMID: 38527062 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2024.114003] [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: 09/23/2023] [Revised: 02/05/2024] [Accepted: 03/11/2024] [Indexed: 03/27/2024] Open
Abstract
The major histocompatibility complex class I (MHC class I)-mediated tumor antigen processing and presentation (APP) pathway is essential for the recruitment and activation of cytotoxic CD8+ T lymphocytes (CD8+ CTLs). However, this pathway is frequently dysregulated in many cancers, thus leading to a failure of immunotherapy. Here, we report that activation of the tumor-intrinsic Hippo pathway positively correlates with the expression of MHC class I APP genes and the abundance of CD8+ CTLs in mouse tumors and patients. Blocking the Hippo pathway effector Yes-associated protein/transcriptional enhanced associate domain (YAP/TEAD) potently improves antitumor immunity. Mechanistically, the YAP/TEAD complex cooperates with the nucleosome remodeling and deacetylase complex to repress NLRC5 transcription. The upregulation of NLRC5 by YAP/TEAD depletion or pharmacological inhibition increases the expression of MHC class I APP genes and enhances CD8+ CTL-mediated killing of cancer cells. Collectively, our results suggest a crucial tumor-promoting function of YAP depending on NLRC5 to impair the MHC class I APP pathway and provide a rationale for inhibiting YAP activity in immunotherapy for cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Linyuan Peng
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, School of Life Science and Technology, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 211198, China
| | - Liang Zhou
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Regional Immunity and Diseases, Cancer Research Center, Department of Pharmacology, Shenzhen University Medical School, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Huan Li
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Regional Immunity and Diseases, Cancer Research Center, Department of Pharmacology, Shenzhen University Medical School, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Xin Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, School of Life Science and Technology, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 211198, China
| | - Su Li
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, School of Life Science and Technology, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 211198, China
| | - Kai Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, School of Life Science and Technology, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 211198, China
| | - Mei Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, School of Life Science and Technology, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 211198, China
| | - Xiaoyu Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, School of Life Science and Technology, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 211198, China
| | - Danlan Zhang
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Regional Immunity and Diseases, Cancer Research Center, Department of Pharmacology, Shenzhen University Medical School, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Siliang Xiang
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, School of Life Science and Technology, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 211198, China
| | - Yajun Duan
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, School of Life Science and Technology, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 211198, China
| | - Tianzhi Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, School of Life Science and Technology, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 211198, China
| | - Chunmeng Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Pharmaceutical Preparations and Excipients, School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 211198, China
| | - Chen Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, School of Life Science and Technology, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 211198, China
| | - Desheng Lu
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Regional Immunity and Diseases, Cancer Research Center, Department of Pharmacology, Shenzhen University Medical School, Shenzhen 518055, China.
| | - Minxian Qian
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, School of Life Science and Technology, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 211198, China.
| | - Zhongyuan Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, School of Life Science and Technology, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 211198, China.
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29
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Lai Y, Gao Y, Lin J, Liu F, Yang L, Zhou J, Xue Y, Li Y, Chang Z, Li J, Chao T, Chen J, Cheng X, Gao X, Li X, Lu F, Chu Q, Wang W. Dietary elaidic acid boosts tumoral antigen presentation and cancer immunity via ACSL5. Cell Metab 2024; 36:822-838.e8. [PMID: 38350448 DOI: 10.1016/j.cmet.2024.01.012] [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: 06/16/2023] [Revised: 12/12/2023] [Accepted: 01/20/2024] [Indexed: 02/15/2024]
Abstract
Immunomodulatory effects of long-chain fatty acids (LCFAs) and their activating enzyme, acyl-coenzyme A (CoA) synthetase long-chain family (ACSL), in the tumor microenvironment remain largely unknown. Here, we find that ACSL5 functions as an immune-dependent tumor suppressor. ACSL5 expression sensitizes tumors to PD-1 blockade therapy in vivo and the cytotoxicity mediated by CD8+ T cells in vitro via regulation of major histocompatibility complex class I (MHC-I)-mediated antigen presentation. Through screening potential substrates for ACSL5, we further identify that elaidic acid (EA), a trans LCFA that has long been considered harmful to human health, phenocopies to enhance MHC-I expression. EA supplementation can suppress tumor growth and sensitize PD-1 blockade therapy. Clinically, ACSL5 expression is positively associated with improved survival in patients with lung cancer, and plasma EA level is also predictive for immunotherapy efficiency. Our findings provide a foundation for enhancing immunotherapy through either targeting ACSL5 or metabolic reprogramming of antigen presentation via dietary EA supplementation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yongfeng Lai
- Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medicine, Tongji Medical College and State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Severe Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Yuan Gao
- Department of Oncology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Junhong Lin
- Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medicine, Tongji Medical College and State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Severe Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Fangfang Liu
- Department of Oncology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Liguo Yang
- Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medicine, Tongji Medical College and State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Severe Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Jie Zhou
- Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medicine, Tongji Medical College and State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Severe Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Ying Xue
- Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medicine, Tongji Medical College and State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Severe Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Yan Li
- Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medicine, Tongji Medical College and State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Severe Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Zhenzhen Chang
- Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medicine, Tongji Medical College and State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Severe Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Jing Li
- Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medicine, Tongji Medical College and State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Severe Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Tengfei Chao
- Department of Oncology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Jing Chen
- Cancer Center, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Xiang Cheng
- Department of Cardiology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Xianfu Gao
- Shanghai ProfLeader Biotech Co., Ltd, Shanghai, China
| | - Xiong Li
- Department of Gynecology & Obstetrics, the Central Hospital of Wuhan, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Fujia Lu
- Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medicine, Tongji Medical College and State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Severe Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China.
| | - Qian Chu
- Department of Oncology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China.
| | - Weimin Wang
- Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medicine, Tongji Medical College and State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Severe Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China; Key Laboratory of Organ Transplantation, Ministry of Education, NHC Key Laboratory of Organ Transplantation, Key Laboratory of Organ Transplantation, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Wuhan, China; Cell Architecture Research Institute, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China.
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30
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Chaudhri A, Lizee G, Hwu P, Rai K. Chromatin Remodelers Are Regulators of the Tumor Immune Microenvironment. Cancer Res 2024; 84:965-976. [PMID: 38266066 DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-23-2244] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2023] [Revised: 11/24/2023] [Accepted: 01/17/2024] [Indexed: 01/26/2024]
Abstract
Immune checkpoint inhibitors show remarkable responses in a wide range of cancers, yet patients develop adaptive resistance. This necessitates the identification of alternate therapies that synergize with immunotherapies. Epigenetic modifiers are potent mediators of tumor-intrinsic mechanisms and have been shown to regulate immune response genes, making them prime targets for therapeutic combinations with immune checkpoint inhibitors. Some success has been observed in early clinical studies that combined immunotherapy with agents targeting DNA methylation and histone modification; however, less is known about chromatin remodeler-targeted therapies. Here, we provide a discussion on the regulation of tumor immunogenicity by the chromatin remodeling SWI/SNF complex through multiple mechanisms associated with immunotherapy response that broadly include IFN signaling, DNA damage, mismatch repair, regulation of oncogenic programs, and polycomb-repressive complex antagonism. Context-dependent targeting of SWI/SNF subunits can elicit opportunities for synthetic lethality and reduce T-cell exhaustion. In summary, alongside the significance of SWI/SNF subunits in predicting immunotherapy outcomes, their ability to modulate the tumor immune landscape offers opportunities for therapeutic intervention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Apoorvi Chaudhri
- Department of Melanoma Medical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
- Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Gregory Lizee
- Department of Melanoma Medical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
- Department of Immunology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
| | | | - Kunal Rai
- Department of Genomic Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
- MDACC Epigenomics Therapy Initiative, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
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31
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Jiang Y, Zheng Y, Zhang YW, Kong S, Dong J, Wang F, Ziman B, Gery S, Hao JJ, Zhou D, Zhou J, Ho AS, Sinha UK, Chen J, Zhang S, Yin C, Wei DD, Hazawa M, Pan H, Lu Z, Wei WQ, Wang MR, Koeffler HP, Lin DC, Jiang YY. Reciprocal inhibition between TP63 and STAT1 regulates anti-tumor immune response through interferon-γ signaling in squamous cancer. Nat Commun 2024; 15:2484. [PMID: 38509096 PMCID: PMC10954759 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-46785-9] [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: 06/25/2023] [Accepted: 03/11/2024] [Indexed: 03/22/2024] Open
Abstract
Squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs) are common and aggressive malignancies. Immune check point blockade (ICB) therapy using PD-1/PD-L1 antibodies has been approved in several types of advanced SCCs. However, low response rate and treatment resistance are common. Improving the efficacy of ICB therapy requires better understanding of the mechanism of immune evasion. Here, we identify that the SCC-master transcription factor TP63 suppresses interferon-γ (IFNγ) signaling. TP63 inhibition leads to increased CD8+ T cell infiltration and heighten tumor killing in in vivo syngeneic mouse model and ex vivo co-culture system, respectively. Moreover, expression of TP63 is negatively correlated with CD8+ T cell infiltration and activation in patients with SCC. Silencing of TP63 enhances the anti-tumor efficacy of PD-1 blockade by promoting CD8+ T cell infiltration and functionality. Mechanistically, TP63 and STAT1 mutually suppress each other to regulate the IFNγ signaling by co-occupying and co-regulating their own promoters and enhancers. Together, our findings elucidate a tumor-extrinsic function of TP63 in promoting immune evasion of SCC cells. Over-expression of TP63 may serve as a biomarker predicting the outcome of SCC patients treated with ICB therapy, and targeting TP63/STAT/IFNγ axis may enhance the efficacy of ICB therapy for this deadly cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuan Jiang
- Institute of Health and Medical Technology, Hefei Institutes of Physical Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hefei, 230031, China
- University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230026, China
| | - Yueyuan Zheng
- Clinical Big Data Research Center, Scientific Research Center, The Seventh Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, 518107, China
| | - Yuan-Wei Zhang
- Institute of Health and Medical Technology, Hefei Institutes of Physical Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hefei, 230031, China
| | - Shuai Kong
- Institute of Health and Medical Technology, Hefei Institutes of Physical Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hefei, 230031, China
- University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230026, China
| | - Jinxiu Dong
- Institute of Health and Medical Technology, Hefei Institutes of Physical Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hefei, 230031, China
| | - Fei Wang
- Institute of Health and Medical Technology, Hefei Institutes of Physical Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hefei, 230031, China
- University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230026, China
| | - Benjamin Ziman
- Center for Craniofacial Molecular Biology, Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry, and Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, 90033, USA
| | - Sigal Gery
- Department of Medicine, Samuel Oschin Cancer Center, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, 90048, USA
| | - Jia-Jie Hao
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, Center for Cancer Precision Medicine, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100021, China
| | - Dan Zhou
- Institute of Health and Medical Technology, Hefei Institutes of Physical Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hefei, 230031, China
- Institutes of Physical Science and Technology, Anhui University, Hefei, 230601, China
| | - Jianian Zhou
- Institute of Health and Medical Technology, Hefei Institutes of Physical Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hefei, 230031, China
- University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230026, China
| | - Allen S Ho
- Division of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Department of Surgery, Samuel Oschin Cancer Center, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, 90048, USA
| | - Uttam K Sinha
- Department of otolaryngology, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, 90033, USA
| | - Jian Chen
- Institute of Health and Medical Technology, Hefei Institutes of Physical Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hefei, 230031, China
| | - Shuo Zhang
- Institute of Health and Medical Technology, Hefei Institutes of Physical Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hefei, 230031, China
- University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230026, China
| | - Chuntong Yin
- Institute of Health and Medical Technology, Hefei Institutes of Physical Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hefei, 230031, China
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230022, China
| | - Dan-Dan Wei
- Institute of Health and Medical Technology, Hefei Institutes of Physical Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hefei, 230031, China
- University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230026, China
- Hefei Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hefei, 230031, China
| | - Masaharu Hazawa
- Cell-Bionomics Research Unit, Innovative Integrated Bio-Research Core, Institute for Frontier Science Initiative, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa, Ishikawa, Japan
| | - Huaguang Pan
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230022, China
| | - Zhihao Lu
- Department of Gastrointestinal Oncology, Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education), Peking University Cancer Hospital and Institute, Beijing, 100142, China
| | - Wen-Qiang Wei
- Department of Cancer Epidemiology, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100021, China
| | - Ming-Rong Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, Center for Cancer Precision Medicine, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100021, China
| | - H Phillip Koeffler
- Department of Medicine, Samuel Oschin Cancer Center, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, 90048, USA
| | - De-Chen Lin
- Center for Craniofacial Molecular Biology, Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry, and Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, 90033, USA.
| | - Yan-Yi Jiang
- Institute of Health and Medical Technology, Hefei Institutes of Physical Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hefei, 230031, China.
- University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230026, China.
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Zhang J, Guo H, Wang L, Zheng M, Kong S, Wu H, Zhao L, Zhao Q, Yang X, He Q, Chen X, Ding L, Yang B. Cediranib enhances the transcription of MHC-I by upregulating IRF-1. Biochem Pharmacol 2024; 221:116036. [PMID: 38301967 DOI: 10.1016/j.bcp.2024.116036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2024] [Accepted: 01/25/2024] [Indexed: 02/03/2024]
Abstract
Diminished or lost Major Histocompatibility Complex class I (MHC-I) expression is frequently observed in tumors, which obstructs the immune recognition of tumor cells by cytotoxic T cells. Restoring MHC-I expression by promoting its transcription and improving protein stability have been promising strategies for reestablishing anti-tumor immune responses. Here, through cell-based screening models, we found that cediranib significantly upregulated MHC-I expression in tumor cells. This finding was confirmed in various non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cell lines and primary patient-derived lung cancer cells. Furthermore, we discovered cediranib achieved MHC-I upregulation through transcriptional regulation. interferon regulatory factor 1 (IRF-1) was required for cediranib induced MHC-I transcription and the absence of IRF-1 eliminated this effect. Continuing our research, we found cediranib triggered STAT1 phosphorylation and promoted IRF-1 transcription subsequently, thus enhancing downstream MHC-I transcription. In vivo study, we further confirmed that cediranib increased MHC-I expression, enhanced CD8+ T cell infiltration, and improved the efficacy of anti-PD-L1 therapy. Collectively, our study demonstrated that cediranib could elevate MHC-I expression and enhance responsiveness to immune therapy, thereby providing a theoretical foundation for its potential clinical trials in combination with immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jie Zhang
- Zhejiang Province Key Laboratory of Anti-Cancer Drug Research, Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Hongjie Guo
- Zhejiang Province Key Laboratory of Anti-Cancer Drug Research, Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Longsheng Wang
- Zhejiang Province Key Laboratory of Anti-Cancer Drug Research, Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Mingming Zheng
- Zhejiang Province Key Laboratory of Anti-Cancer Drug Research, Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Shijia Kong
- Zhejiang Province Key Laboratory of Anti-Cancer Drug Research, Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Honghai Wu
- Zhejiang Province Key Laboratory of Anti-Cancer Drug Research, Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Lin Zhao
- Zhejiang Province Key Laboratory of Anti-Cancer Drug Research, Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Qiong Zhao
- Department of Thoracic Oncology, Shulan(Hangzhou)Hospital Affiliated to Zhejiang Shuren University Shulan International Medical College, Hangzhou 310022, China
| | - Xiaochun Yang
- Zhejiang Province Key Laboratory of Anti-Cancer Drug Research, Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China; Nanhu Brain-computer Interface Institute, Hangzhou 311100, China
| | - Qiaojun He
- Zhejiang Province Key Laboratory of Anti-Cancer Drug Research, Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China; The Innovation Institute for Artificial Intelligence in Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310018, China; Cancer Center of Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Xi Chen
- Zhejiang Province Key Laboratory of Anti-Cancer Drug Research, Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Ling Ding
- Zhejiang Province Key Laboratory of Anti-Cancer Drug Research, Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China; Nanhu Brain-computer Interface Institute, Hangzhou 311100, China.
| | - Bo Yang
- Zhejiang Province Key Laboratory of Anti-Cancer Drug Research, Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China; The Innovation Institute for Artificial Intelligence in Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310018, China; Cancer Center of Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China; School of Medicine, Hangzhou City University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310015, China.
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Liu D, Li Z, Tan D, An Y, Chu L, Chen T, Li W, Zhou A, Xiang R, Zhang L, Qu Y, Qi W. BMP-ACVR1 Axis is Critical for Efficacy of PRC2 Inhibitors in B-Cell Lymphoma. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2024; 11:e2306499. [PMID: 38229201 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202306499] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2023] [Revised: 11/28/2023] [Indexed: 01/18/2024]
Abstract
EZH2 is the catalytic subunit of the histone methyltransferase Polycomb Repressive Complex 2 (PRC2), and its somatic activating mutations drive lymphoma, particularly the germinal center B-cell type. Although PRC2 inhibitors, such as tazemetostat, have demonstrated anti-lymphoma activity in patients, the clinical efficacy is not limited to EZH2-mutant lymphoma. In this study, Activin A Receptor Type 1 (ACVR1), a type I Bone Morphogenetic Protein (BMP) receptor, is identified as critical for the anti-lymphoma efficacy of PRC2 inhibitors through a whole-genome CRISPR screen. BMP6, BMP7, and ACVR1 are repressed by PRC2-mediated H3K27me3, and PRC2 inhibition upregulates their expression and signaling in cell and patient-derived xenograft models. Through BMP-ACVR1 signaling, PRC2 inhibitors robustly induced cell cycle arrest and B cell lineage differentiation in vivo. Remarkably, blocking ACVR1 signaling using an inhibitor or genetic depletion significantly compromised the in vitro and in vivo efficacy of PRC2 inhibitors. Furthermore, high levels of BMP6 and BMP7, along with ACVR1, are associated with longer survival in lymphoma patients, underscoring the clinical relevance of this study. Altogether, BMP-ACVR1 exhibits anti-lymphoma function and represents a critical PRC2-repressed pathway contributing to the efficacy of PRC2 inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dongdong Liu
- Gene Editing Center, School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, 393 Middle Huaxia Road, Shanghai, 201210, China
| | - Zhen Li
- Gene Editing Center, School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, 393 Middle Huaxia Road, Shanghai, 201210, China
| | - Dongxia Tan
- Gene Editing Center, School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, 393 Middle Huaxia Road, Shanghai, 201210, China
| | - Yang An
- Gene Editing Center, School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, 393 Middle Huaxia Road, Shanghai, 201210, China
| | - Liping Chu
- Gene Editing Center, School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, 393 Middle Huaxia Road, Shanghai, 201210, China
| | - Tiancheng Chen
- Gene Editing Center, School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, 393 Middle Huaxia Road, Shanghai, 201210, China
| | - Weijia Li
- Gene Editing Center, School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, 393 Middle Huaxia Road, Shanghai, 201210, China
| | - Ailin Zhou
- Gene Editing Center, School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, 393 Middle Huaxia Road, Shanghai, 201210, China
| | - Ruijie Xiang
- Gene Editing Center, School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, 393 Middle Huaxia Road, Shanghai, 201210, China
| | - Liye Zhang
- Gene Editing Center, School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, 393 Middle Huaxia Road, Shanghai, 201210, China
| | - Yuxiu Qu
- Gene Editing Center, School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, 393 Middle Huaxia Road, Shanghai, 201210, China
| | - Wei Qi
- Gene Editing Center, School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, 393 Middle Huaxia Road, Shanghai, 201210, China
- Shanghai Clinical Research and Trial Center, Shanghai, 201210, China
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Singh V, Nandi S, Ghosh A, Adhikary S, Mukherjee S, Roy S, Das C. Epigenetic reprogramming of T cells: unlocking new avenues for cancer immunotherapy. Cancer Metastasis Rev 2024; 43:175-195. [PMID: 38233727 DOI: 10.1007/s10555-024-10167-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2023] [Accepted: 01/02/2024] [Indexed: 01/19/2024]
Abstract
T cells, a key component of cancer immunotherapy, undergo a variety of histone modifications and DNA methylation changes since their bone marrow progenitor stages before developing into CD8+ and CD4+ T cells. These T cell types can be categorized into distinct subtypes based on their functionality and properties, such as cytotoxic T cells (Tc), helper T cells (Th), and regulatory T cells (Treg) as subtypes for CD8+ and CD4+ T cells. Among these, the CD4+ CD25+ Tregs potentially contribute to cancer development and progression by lowering T effector (Teff) cell activity under the influence of the tumor microenvironment (TME). This contributes to the development of therapeutic resistance in patients with cancer. Subsequently, these individuals become resistant to monoclonal antibody therapy as well as clinically established immunotherapies. In this review, we delineate the different epigenetic mechanisms in cancer immune response and its involvement in therapeutic resistance. Furthermore, the possibility of epi-immunotherapeutic methods based on histone deacetylase inhibitors and histone methyltransferase inhibitors are under investigation. In this review we highlight EZH2 as the principal driver of cancer cell immunoediting and an immune escape regulator. We have addressed in detail how understanding T cell epigenetic regulation might bring unique inventive strategies to overcome drug resistance and increase the efficacy of cancer immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vipin Singh
- Biophysics and Structural Genomics Division, Saha Institute of Nuclear Physics, 1/AF Bidhannagar, Kolkata, 700064, India
- Homi Bhabha National Institute, Mumbai, 400094, India
| | - Sandhik Nandi
- Biophysics and Structural Genomics Division, Saha Institute of Nuclear Physics, 1/AF Bidhannagar, Kolkata, 700064, India
- Homi Bhabha National Institute, Mumbai, 400094, India
| | - Aritra Ghosh
- Biophysics and Structural Genomics Division, Saha Institute of Nuclear Physics, 1/AF Bidhannagar, Kolkata, 700064, India
- Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Kolkata, India
| | - Santanu Adhikary
- Biophysics and Structural Genomics Division, Saha Institute of Nuclear Physics, 1/AF Bidhannagar, Kolkata, 700064, India
- Structural Biology & Bio-Informatics Division, CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Biology, 4 Raja S. C. Mullick Road, Jadavpur, Kolkata, 700032, India
| | - Shravanti Mukherjee
- Biophysics and Structural Genomics Division, Saha Institute of Nuclear Physics, 1/AF Bidhannagar, Kolkata, 700064, India
| | - Siddhartha Roy
- Structural Biology & Bio-Informatics Division, CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Biology, 4 Raja S. C. Mullick Road, Jadavpur, Kolkata, 700032, India
| | - Chandrima Das
- Biophysics and Structural Genomics Division, Saha Institute of Nuclear Physics, 1/AF Bidhannagar, Kolkata, 700064, India.
- Homi Bhabha National Institute, Mumbai, 400094, India.
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Saigí M, Mate JL, Carcereny E, Martínez-Cardús A, Esteve A, Andreo F, Centeno C, Cucurull M, Mesia R, Pros E, Sanchez-Cespedes M. HLA-I levels correlate with survival outcomes in response to immune checkpoint inhibitors in non-small cell lung cancer. Lung Cancer 2024; 189:107502. [PMID: 38359742 DOI: 10.1016/j.lungcan.2024.107502] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2023] [Revised: 01/16/2024] [Accepted: 02/04/2024] [Indexed: 02/17/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have provided a breakthrough in the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients, but only some patients benefit substantively. Identifying definitive predictive biomarkers could overcome this limitation. MATERIALS AND METHODS We selected 146 metastatic NSCLC patients treated with anti-PD-(L)1. Immunohistochemistry of HLA-I, PD-L1 and CD73 was performed in 122 tumor biopsies at diagnosis. The association with patients, tumor parameters, and the predictive value to ICI treatment were determined. RESULTS In our cohort, 42 %, 25 %, and 21 % of the tumors exhibited high levels of HLA-I, PD-L1, and CD73, respectively. Lung adenocarcinomas displayed elevated CD73 levels, compared with lung squamous cell carcinomas (P = 0.026). High PD-L1 was significantly correlated with high levels of HLA-I (P = 0.005) and of CD73 (P = 0.025). Patients with high-level HLA-I tumors exhibited more favorable clinical outcomes following ICI, with a median overall survival of 30.7 months (95 % confidence interval [CI]: 18.3 months-not reached), compared with 18.2 months (95 % CI: 12.4-25.2 months) in patients with low-level HLA-I tumors (P = 0.016). The median progression-free survival (PFS) for patients with high-level HLA-I tumors was 18.5 months (95 % CI: 11.1-57.1 months), longer than patients with low-level HLA-I tumors, whose median PFS was 9.2 months (95 % CI: 7.2-11.9 months) (P = 0.006). In a multivariable analysis, high-level HLA-I was independently associated with lower risk of progression to ICI (HR = 0.46, 95 % CI 0.24-0.87; P = 0.018). CONCLUSIONS High-level HLA-I were associated with better clinical outcomes to ICI in our cohort of NSCLC patients. Therefore, further investigations are warranted to refine this biomarker and validate its efficacy in prospective and larger set of patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Saigí
- Department of Medical Oncology, Catalan Institute of Oncology (ICO), Badalona, Barcelona, Spain; Badalona·Applied Research Group in Oncology (B·ARGO), Institut d'Investigació en Ciències de la Salut Germans Trias i Pujol (IGTP), Badalona, Barcelona, Spain.
| | - Jose L Mate
- Department of Pathology, Germans Trias i Pujol University Hospital, Badalona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Enric Carcereny
- Department of Medical Oncology, Catalan Institute of Oncology (ICO), Badalona, Barcelona, Spain; Badalona·Applied Research Group in Oncology (B·ARGO), Institut d'Investigació en Ciències de la Salut Germans Trias i Pujol (IGTP), Badalona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Anna Martínez-Cardús
- Badalona·Applied Research Group in Oncology (B·ARGO), Institut d'Investigació en Ciències de la Salut Germans Trias i Pujol (IGTP), Badalona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Anna Esteve
- Department of Medical Oncology, Catalan Institute of Oncology (ICO), Badalona, Barcelona, Spain; Statistics Department, Catalan Institute of Oncology (ICO)-Badalona, Badalona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Felipe Andreo
- Pulmonology Department, Hospital Universitari Germans Trias i Pujol, Badalona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Carmen Centeno
- Pulmonology Department, Hospital Universitari Germans Trias i Pujol, Badalona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Marc Cucurull
- Department of Medical Oncology, Catalan Institute of Oncology (ICO), Badalona, Barcelona, Spain; Badalona·Applied Research Group in Oncology (B·ARGO), Institut d'Investigació en Ciències de la Salut Germans Trias i Pujol (IGTP), Badalona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Ricard Mesia
- Department of Medical Oncology, Catalan Institute of Oncology (ICO), Badalona, Barcelona, Spain; Badalona·Applied Research Group in Oncology (B·ARGO), Institut d'Investigació en Ciències de la Salut Germans Trias i Pujol (IGTP), Badalona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Eva Pros
- Cancer Genetics Group, Josep Carreras Leukaemia Research Institute (IJC), Badalona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Montse Sanchez-Cespedes
- Cancer Genetics Group, Josep Carreras Leukaemia Research Institute (IJC), Badalona, Barcelona, Spain.
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Glancy E, Choy N, Eckersley-Maslin MA. Bivalent chromatin: a developmental balancing act tipped in cancer. Biochem Soc Trans 2024; 52:217-229. [PMID: 38385532 PMCID: PMC10903468 DOI: 10.1042/bst20230426] [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: 11/21/2023] [Revised: 02/05/2024] [Accepted: 02/07/2024] [Indexed: 02/23/2024]
Abstract
Bivalent chromatin is defined by the co-occurrence of otherwise opposing H3K4me3 and H3K27me3 modifications and is typically located at unmethylated promoters of lowly transcribed genes. In embryonic stem cells, bivalent chromatin has been proposed to poise developmental genes for future activation, silencing or stable repression upon lineage commitment. Normally, bivalent chromatin is kept in tight balance in cells, in part through the activity of the MLL/COMPASS-like and Polycomb repressive complexes that deposit the H3K4me3 and H3K27me3 modifications, respectively, but also emerging novel regulators including DPPA2/4, QSER1, BEND3, TET1 and METTL14. In cancers, both the deregulation of existing domains and the creation of de novo bivalent states is associated with either the activation or silencing of transcriptional programmes. This may facilitate diverse aspects of cancer pathology including epithelial-to-mesenchymal plasticity, chemoresistance and immune evasion. Here, we review current methods for detecting bivalent chromatin and discuss the factors involved in the formation and fine-tuning of bivalent domains. Finally, we examine how the deregulation of chromatin bivalency in the context of cancer could facilitate and/or reflect cancer cell adaptation. We propose a model in which bivalent chromatin represents a dynamic balance between otherwise opposing states, where the underlying DNA sequence is primed for the future activation or repression. Shifting this balance in any direction disrupts the tight equilibrium and tips cells into an altered epigenetic and phenotypic space, facilitating both developmental and cancer processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eleanor Glancy
- Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, Victoria 3000, Australia
- Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria 3010, Australia
| | - Natalie Choy
- Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, Victoria 3000, Australia
- Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria 3010, Australia
| | - Melanie A. Eckersley-Maslin
- Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, Victoria 3000, Australia
- Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria 3010, Australia
- Department of Anatomy and Physiology, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria 3010, Australia
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Wang X, Xu W, Wang Z, Yu Q, Yuan L, Liu Y, Sang J, Li W, Zhu S, Jiang W, Li Z, Zhang W, Dang Y. Sokotrasterol Sulfate Suppresses IFN-γ-Induced PD-L1 Expression by Inhibiting JAK Activity. JOURNAL OF NATURAL PRODUCTS 2024. [PMID: 38417168 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jnatprod.3c00811] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/01/2024]
Abstract
PD-1/PD-L1 monoclonal antibodies exhibit promising therapeutic effectiveness in multiple cancers. However, developing a simple and efficient non-antibody treatment strategy using the PD-1/PD-L1 signaling pathway still remains challenging. In this study, we developed a flow cytometry assay to screen bioactive compounds with PD-L1 inhibitory activity. A total of 409 marine natural products were screened, and sokotrasterol sulfate (SKS) was found to efficiently suppress the IFN-γ-induced PD-L1 expression. SKS sensitizes the tumor cells to antigen-specific T-cell killing in the T cell-tumor cell coculture system. Mechanistically, SKS directly targeted Janus kinase (JAK) to inhibit the downstream activation of signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT) and the subsequent transcription of PDL1. Our findings highlight the immunological role of SKS that may act as a basis for a potential immunotherapeutic agent.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaobo Wang
- Key Laboratory of Metabolism and Molecular Medicine, Ministry of Education, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University, 131 Dong-An Road, Shanghai 200032, People's Republic of China
| | - Wenlong Xu
- Key Laboratory of Metabolism and Molecular Medicine, Ministry of Education, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University, 131 Dong-An Road, Shanghai 200032, People's Republic of China
| | - Zengyiyi Wang
- School of Medicine, Tongji University, 1238 Si-Ping Road, Shanghai 200092, People's Republic of China
| | - Qian Yu
- Key Laboratory of Metabolism and Molecular Medicine, Ministry of Education, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University, 131 Dong-An Road, Shanghai 200032, People's Republic of China
| | - Li Yuan
- School of Pharmacy, Naval Medical University, 325 Guo-He Road, Shanghai 200433, People's Republic of China
| | - Yihang Liu
- Basic Medicine Research and Innovation Center for Novel Target and Therapeutic Intervention, Ministry of Education, Institute of Life Sciences, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, College of Pharmacy, Chongqing Medical University, 1 Yi-Xue-Yuan Road, Chongqing 400010, People's Republic of China
| | - Jinpeng Sang
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, 639 Longmian Avenue, Nanjing 211198, People's Republic of China
| | - Wei Li
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, 639 Longmian Avenue, Nanjing 211198, People's Republic of China
| | - Sanyong Zhu
- Basic Medicine Research and Innovation Center for Novel Target and Therapeutic Intervention, Ministry of Education, Institute of Life Sciences, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, College of Pharmacy, Chongqing Medical University, 1 Yi-Xue-Yuan Road, Chongqing 400010, People's Republic of China
- Key Laboratory of Marine Drugs, Ministry of Education & Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Glycoscience and Glycotechnology, School of Medicine and Pharmacy, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266003, People's Republic of China
| | - Wei Jiang
- Key Laboratory of Metabolism and Molecular Medicine, Ministry of Education, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University, 131 Dong-An Road, Shanghai 200032, People's Republic of China
| | - Zengxia Li
- Key Laboratory of Metabolism and Molecular Medicine, Ministry of Education, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University, 131 Dong-An Road, Shanghai 200032, People's Republic of China
| | - Wen Zhang
- School of Medicine, Tongji University, 1238 Si-Ping Road, Shanghai 200092, People's Republic of China
- School of Pharmacy, Naval Medical University, 325 Guo-He Road, Shanghai 200433, People's Republic of China
| | - Yongjun Dang
- Basic Medicine Research and Innovation Center for Novel Target and Therapeutic Intervention, Ministry of Education, Institute of Life Sciences, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, College of Pharmacy, Chongqing Medical University, 1 Yi-Xue-Yuan Road, Chongqing 400010, People's Republic of China
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Yang Q, Lv Z, Wang M, Kong M, Zhong C, Gao K, Wan X. LATS1/2 loss promote tumor immune evasion in endometrial cancer through downregulating MHC-I expression. J Exp Clin Cancer Res 2024; 43:54. [PMID: 38383447 PMCID: PMC10880206 DOI: 10.1186/s13046-024-02979-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: 10/31/2023] [Accepted: 02/11/2024] [Indexed: 02/23/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND LATS1/2 are frequently mutated and down-regulated in endometrial cancer (EC), but the contributions of LATS1/2 in EC progression remains unclear. Impaired antigen presentation due to mutations or downregulation of the major histocompatibility complex class I (MHC-I) has been implicated in tumor immune evasion. Herein, we elucidate the oncogenic role that dysregulation of LATS1/2 in EC leads to immune evasion through the down-regulation of MHC-I. METHODS The mutation and expression as well as the clinical significance of LATS1/2 in EC was assessed in the TCGA cohort and our sample cohort. CRISPR-Cas9 was used to construct knockout cell lines of LATS1/2 in EC. Differentially expressed genes were analyzed by RNA-seq. The interaction between LATS1/2 and STAT1 was verified using co-immunoprecipitation and GST pull-down assays. Mass spectrometry, in vitro kinase assays, ChIP-qPCR, flow cytometry, immunohistochemistry, immunofluorescence and confocal microscopy were performed to investigate the regulation of LATS1/2 on MHC-I through interaction with and phosphorylate STAT1. The killing effect of activated PBMCs on EC cells were used to monitor anti-tumor activity. RESULTS Here, we demonstrate that LATS1/2 are frequently mutated and down-regulated in EC. Moreover, LATS1/2 loss was found to be associated with a significant down-regulation of MHC-I, independently of the Hippo-YAP pathway. Instead, LATS1/2 were found to directly interact with and phosphorylate STAT1 at Ser727, a crucial transcription factor for MHC-I upregulation in response to interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) signaling, to promote STAT1 accumulating and moving into the nucleus to enhance the transcriptional activation of IRF1/NLRC5 on MHC-I. Additionally, the loss of LATS1/2 was observed to confer increased resistance of EC cells to immune cell-mediated killing and this resistance could be reversed by over-expression of MHC-I. CONCLUSION Our findings indicate that dysregulation of LATS1/2 in EC leads to immune evasion through the down-regulation of MHC-I, leading to the suppression of infiltrating activated CD8 + T cells and highlight the importance of LATS1/2 in IFN-γ signaling-mediated tumor immune response, suggesting that LATS1/2 is a promising target for immune checkpoint blockade therapy in EC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qianlan Yang
- Department of Gynecology, Shanghai First Maternity and Infant Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200092, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Maternal and Fetal Medicine, Shanghai First Maternity and Infant Hospital, Shanghai, 200092, China
| | - Zehen Lv
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Shanghai First Maternity and Infant Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200092, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Maternal and Fetal Medicine, Shanghai First Maternity and Infant Hospital, Shanghai, 200092, China
| | - Mengfei Wang
- Department of Gynecology, Shanghai First Maternity and Infant Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200092, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Maternal and Fetal Medicine, Shanghai First Maternity and Infant Hospital, Shanghai, 200092, China
| | - Mengwen Kong
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Shanghai First Maternity and Infant Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200092, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Maternal and Fetal Medicine, Shanghai First Maternity and Infant Hospital, Shanghai, 200092, China
| | - Cheng Zhong
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Shanghai First Maternity and Infant Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200092, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Maternal and Fetal Medicine, Shanghai First Maternity and Infant Hospital, Shanghai, 200092, China
| | - Kun Gao
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Shanghai First Maternity and Infant Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200092, China.
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Maternal and Fetal Medicine, Shanghai First Maternity and Infant Hospital, Shanghai, 200092, China.
| | - Xiaoping Wan
- Department of Gynecology, Shanghai First Maternity and Infant Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200092, China.
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Maternal and Fetal Medicine, Shanghai First Maternity and Infant Hospital, Shanghai, 200092, China.
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Bourne CM, Taabazuing CY. Harnessing Pyroptosis for Cancer Immunotherapy. Cells 2024; 13:346. [PMID: 38391959 PMCID: PMC10886719 DOI: 10.3390/cells13040346] [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: 12/31/2023] [Revised: 02/09/2024] [Accepted: 02/13/2024] [Indexed: 02/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Cancer immunotherapy is a novel pillar of cancer treatment that harnesses the immune system to fight tumors and generally results in robust antitumor immunity. Although immunotherapy has achieved remarkable clinical success for some patients, many patients do not respond, underscoring the need to develop new strategies to promote antitumor immunity. Pyroptosis is an immunostimulatory type of regulated cell death that activates the innate immune system. A hallmark of pyroptosis is the release of intracellular contents such as cytokines, alarmins, and chemokines that can stimulate adaptive immune activation. Recent studies suggest that pyroptosis promotes antitumor immunity. Here, we review the mechanisms by which pyroptosis can be induced and highlight new strategies to induce pyroptosis in cancer cells for antitumor defense. We discuss how pyroptosis modulates the tumor microenvironment to stimulate adaptive immunity and promote antitumor immunity. We also suggest research areas to focus on for continued development of pyroptosis as an anticancer treatment. Pyroptosis-based anticancer therapies offer a promising new avenue for treating immunologically 'cold' tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Cornelius Y. Taabazuing
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA;
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40
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DuCote TJ, Song X, Naughton KJ, Chen F, Plaugher DR, Childress AR, Gellert AR, Skaggs EM, Qu X, Liu J, Liu J, Li F, Wong KK, Brainson CF. EZH2 Inhibition Promotes Tumor Immunogenicity in Lung Squamous Cell Carcinomas. CANCER RESEARCH COMMUNICATIONS 2024; 4:388-403. [PMID: 38265267 PMCID: PMC10863487 DOI: 10.1158/2767-9764.crc-23-0399] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2023] [Revised: 11/06/2023] [Accepted: 01/09/2024] [Indexed: 01/25/2024]
Abstract
Two important factors that contribute to resistance to immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) are an immune-suppressive microenvironment and limited antigen presentation by tumor cells. In this study, we examine whether inhibition of the methyltransferase enhancer of zeste 2 (EZH2) can increase ICI response in lung squamous cell carcinomas (LSCC). Our in vitro experiments using two-dimensional human cancer cell lines as well as three-dimensional murine and patient-derived organoids treated with two inhibitors of the EZH2 plus IFNγ showed that EZH2 inhibition leads to expression of both MHC class I and II (MHCI/II) expression at both the mRNA and protein levels. Chromatin immunoprecipitation sequencing confirmed loss of EZH2-mediated histone marks and gain of activating histone marks at key loci. Furthermore, we demonstrate strong tumor control in models of both autochthonous and syngeneic LSCC treated with anti-PD1 immunotherapy with EZH2 inhibition. Single-cell RNA sequencing and immune cell profiling demonstrated phenotypic changes toward more tumor suppressive phenotypes in EZH2 inhibitor-treated tumors. These results indicate that EZH2 inhibitors could increase ICI responses in patients undergoing treatment for LSCC. SIGNIFICANCE The data described here show that inhibition of the epigenetic enzyme EZH2 allows derepression of multiple immunogenicity factors in LSCC, and that EZH2 inhibition alters myeloid cells in vivo. These data support clinical translation of this combination therapy for treatment of this deadly tumor type.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tanner J. DuCote
- Department of Toxicology and Cancer Biology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky
| | - Xiulong Song
- Department of Toxicology and Cancer Biology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky
| | - Kassandra J. Naughton
- Department of Toxicology and Cancer Biology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky
| | - Fan Chen
- Department of Toxicology and Cancer Biology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky
| | - Daniel R. Plaugher
- Department of Toxicology and Cancer Biology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky
| | - Avery R. Childress
- Department of Toxicology and Cancer Biology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky
| | - Abigail R. Gellert
- Department of Toxicology and Cancer Biology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky
| | - Erika M. Skaggs
- Department of Toxicology and Cancer Biology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky
| | - Xufeng Qu
- Department of Biostatistics, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia
| | - Jinze Liu
- Department of Biostatistics, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia
- Massey Cancer Center, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia
| | - Jinpeng Liu
- Department of Cancer Biostatistics, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky
| | - Fei Li
- Laura and Isaac Perlmutter Cancer Center, NYU Langone Health, New York University, New York, New York
| | - Kwok-Kin Wong
- Laura and Isaac Perlmutter Cancer Center, NYU Langone Health, New York University, New York, New York
| | - Christine F. Brainson
- Department of Toxicology and Cancer Biology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky
- Markey Cancer Center, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky
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Dupéré-Richer D, Riva A, Maji S, Barwick BG, Román HC, Sobh A, Quickstad G, Li J, De U, Piper C, Kulis M, Ezponda T, Martin-Subero JI, Tonon G, Zhang W, Mitsiades CS, Boise LH, Bennett RL, Licht JD. KDM6A Regulates Immune Response Genes in Multiple Myeloma. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.02.12.579179. [PMID: 38405853 PMCID: PMC10888870 DOI: 10.1101/2024.02.12.579179] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/27/2024]
Abstract
The histone H3K27 demethylase KDM6A is a tumor suppressor in multiple cancers, including multiple myeloma (MM). We created isogenic MM cells disrupted for KDM6A and tagged the endogenous protein to facilitate genome wide studies. KDM6A binds genes associated with immune recognition and cytokine signaling. Most importantly, KDM6A binds and activates NLRC5 and CIITA encoding regulators of Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC) genes. Patient data indicate that NLRC5 and CIITA, are downregulated in MM with low KDM6A expression. Chromatin analysis shows that KDM6A binds poised and active enhancers and KDM6A loss led to decreased H3K27ac at enhancers, increased H3K27me3 levels in body of genes bound by KDM6A and decreased gene expression. Reestablishing histone acetylation with an HDAC3 inhibitor leads to upregulation of MHC expression, offering a strategy to restore immunogenicity of KDM6A deficient tumors. Loss of Kdm6a in murine RAS-transformed fibroblasts led to increased growth in vivo associated with decreased T cell infiltration. Statement of significance We show that KDM6A participates in immune recognition of myeloma tumor cells by directly regulating the expression of the master regulators of MHC-I and II, NLRC5 and CIITA. The expression of these regulators can by rescued by the HDAC3 inhibitors in KDM6A-null cell lines.
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42
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Asleh K, Ouellette RJ. Tumor Copy Number Alteration Burden as a Predictor for Resistance to Immune Checkpoint Blockade across Different Cancer Types. Cancers (Basel) 2024; 16:732. [PMID: 38398121 PMCID: PMC10886982 DOI: 10.3390/cancers16040732] [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: 01/15/2024] [Revised: 02/03/2024] [Accepted: 02/07/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) benefits only a subset of advanced cancer patients, and predictive biomarkers for immunotherapy response are needed. Recently, copy number alteration (CNA) burden has been proposed to predict ICB resistance. We assessed this finding using the publicly accessible data for 1661 ICB-treated patients whose tumors were profiled by MSK-IMPACT, an approved targeted assay in clinical care. We tested the hypothesis that the continuous increase in CNA burden is associated with poor overall survival following ICB. In addition, we hypothesized that the combinatorial biomarkers of tumor mutational burden (TMB) and CNA burden would better stratify patients for immune status and ICB response. Of the 1661 cases, 79% (n = 1307) were treated with anti PD-1/PD-L1 and the remaining 21% (n = 354) with anti CTLA-4 or the combination of both. In a multivariate analysis, increase in CNA burden was associated with poor overall survival [HR = 1.52, 95% CI (1.01-2.30), p = 0.04]. The combination of biomarkers TMB and CNA burden stratified patients into four clinically distinct subsets among which "LowTMB/HighCNA" showed the worst survival (p < 0.0001). The four patient subsets had unique CNA profiles and enriched pathways, which could predict transcriptional and phenotypic effects related to immune signaling and CD8+ T-cell abundance in the tumor microenvironment. CNA burden was associated with poor overall survival in patients receiving ICB and could improve patient stratification when incorporated with TMB. These findings may guide patient selection for immunotherapy or alternative strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karama Asleh
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Halifax, NS B3H 1V8, Canada
- Beatrice Hunter Cancer Research Institute, Halifax, NS B3H 0A2, Canada;
- Atlantic Cancer Research Institute, Moncton, NB E1C 8X3, Canada
| | - Rodney J. Ouellette
- Beatrice Hunter Cancer Research Institute, Halifax, NS B3H 0A2, Canada;
- Atlantic Cancer Research Institute, Moncton, NB E1C 8X3, Canada
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Université de Moncton, Moncton, NB E1A 3E9, Canada
- Dr. Georges L. Dumont University Hospital, Vitalité Health Network, Moncton, NB E1C 2Z3, Canada
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Sang W, Zhou Y, Chen H, Yu C, Dai L, Liu Z, Chen L, Fang Y, Ma P, Wu X, Kong H, Liao W, Jiang H, Qian J, Wang D, Liu YH. Receptor-interacting Protein Kinase 2 Is an Immunotherapy Target in Pancreatic Cancer. Cancer Discov 2024; 14:326-347. [PMID: 37824278 DOI: 10.1158/2159-8290.cd-23-0584] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2023] [Revised: 08/31/2023] [Accepted: 10/10/2023] [Indexed: 10/14/2023]
Abstract
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) remains a highly lethal malignancy because of its aggressive nature and the paucity of effective treatment options. Almost all registered drugs have proven ineffective in addressing the needs of patients with PDAC. This is the result of a poor understanding of the unique tumor-immune microenvironment (TME) in PDAC. To identify druggable regulators of immunosuppressive TME, we performed a kinome- and membranome-focused CRISPR screening using orthotopic PDAC models. Our data showed that receptor-interacting protein kinase 2 (RIPK2) is a crucial driver of immune evasion of cytotoxic T-cell killing and that genetic or pharmacologic targeting of RIPK2 sensitizes PDAC to anti-programmed cell death protein 1 (anti-PD-1) immunotherapy, leading to prolonged survival or complete regression. Mechanistic studies revealed that tumor-intrinsic RIPK2 ablation disrupts desmoplastic TME and restores MHC class I (MHC-I) surface levels through eliminating NBR1-mediated autophagy-lysosomal degradation. Our results provide a rationale for a novel combination therapy consisting of RIPK2 inhibition and anti-PD-1 immunotherapy for PDAC. SIGNIFICANCE PDAC is resistant to almost all available therapies, including immune checkpoint blockade. Through in vivo CRISPR screen, we identified that RIPK2 plays a crucial role in facilitating immune evasion by impeding antigen presentation and cytotoxic T-cell killing. Targeting tumor-intrinsic RIPK2 either genetically or pharmacologically improves PDAC to anti-PD-1 immunotherapy. See related commentary by Liu et al., p. 208 . This article is featured in Selected Articles from This Issue, p. 201.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenhua Sang
- Department of Colorectal Surgery & Oncology of the Second Affiliated Hospital, and Department of Pathology & Pathophysiology, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Yiduo Zhou
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Precision Diagnosis and Therapy for Major Gynecological Diseases, Women's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Haiyan Chen
- Department of Radiation Oncology, the Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Chengxuan Yu
- Department of Colorectal Surgery and Oncology, Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Intervention, Ministry of Education, Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Lisi Dai
- Department of Colorectal Surgery & Oncology of the Second Affiliated Hospital, and Department of Pathology & Pathophysiology, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Zhongkun Liu
- Department of Colorectal Surgery & Oncology of the Second Affiliated Hospital, and Department of Pathology & Pathophysiology, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Lang Chen
- Department of Colorectal Surgery & Oncology of the Second Affiliated Hospital, and Department of Pathology & Pathophysiology, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Yimin Fang
- Department of Colorectal Surgery and Oncology, Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Intervention, Ministry of Education, Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Panpan Ma
- Department of Colorectal Surgery & Oncology of the Second Affiliated Hospital, and Department of Pathology & Pathophysiology, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Xiangji Wu
- Department of Pancreatic Surgery and State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Hao Kong
- Department of Pancreatic Surgery and State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Wenting Liao
- Department of Experimental Research, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Guangzhou, China
| | - Hong Jiang
- Department of Pancreatic Surgery and State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Junbin Qian
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Precision Diagnosis and Therapy for Major Gynecological Diseases, Women's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
- Institute of Genetics, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
- Zhejiang University Cancer Center, Hangzhou, China
| | - Da Wang
- Department of Colorectal Surgery and Oncology, Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Intervention, Ministry of Education, Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
- Zhejiang University Cancer Center, Hangzhou, China
| | - Yun-Hua Liu
- Department of Colorectal Surgery & Oncology of the Second Affiliated Hospital, and Department of Pathology & Pathophysiology, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
- Zhejiang University Cancer Center, Hangzhou, China
- Key Laboratory of Disease Proteomics of Zhejiang Province, Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Intervention of China National Ministry of Education, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
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Tao H, Jin C, Zhou L, Deng Z, Li X, Dang W, Fan S, Li B, Ye F, Lu J, Kong X, Liu C, Luo C, Zhang Y. PRMT1 Inhibition Activates the Interferon Pathway to Potentiate Antitumor Immunity and Enhance Checkpoint Blockade Efficacy in Melanoma. Cancer Res 2024; 84:419-433. [PMID: 37991725 DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-23-1082] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2023] [Revised: 09/07/2023] [Accepted: 11/17/2023] [Indexed: 11/23/2023]
Abstract
Despite the immense success of immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) in cancer treatment, many tumors, including melanoma, exhibit innate or adaptive resistance. Tumor-intrinsic T-cell deficiency and T-cell dysfunction have been identified as essential factors in the emergence of ICB resistance. Here, we found that protein arginine methyltransferase 1 (PRMT1) expression was inversely correlated with the number and activity of CD8+ T cells within melanoma specimen. PRMT1 deficiency or inhibition with DCPT1061 significantly restrained refractory melanoma growth and increased intratumoral CD8+ T cells in vivo. Moreover, PRMT1 deletion in melanoma cells facilitated formation of double-stranded RNA derived from endogenous retroviral elements (ERV) and stimulated an intracellular interferon response. Mechanistically, PRMT1 deficiency repressed the expression of DNA methyltransferase 1 (DNMT1) by attenuating modification of H4R3me2a and H3K27ac at enhancer regions of Dnmt1, and DNMT1 downregulation consequently activated ERV transcription and the interferon signaling. Importantly, PRMT1 inhibition with DCPT1061 synergized with PD-1 blockade to suppress tumor progression and increase the proportion of CD8+ T cells as well as IFNγ+CD8+ T cells in vivo. Together, these results reveal an unrecognized role and mechanism of PRMT1 in regulating antitumor T-cell immunity, suggesting PRMT1 inhibition as a potent strategy to increase the efficacy of ICB. SIGNIFICANCE Targeting PRMT1 stimulates interferon signaling by increasing expression of endogenous retroviral elements and double-stranded RNA through repression of DNMT1, which induces antitumor immunity and synergizes with immunotherapy to suppress tumor progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongru Tao
- School of Life Science and Technology, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, China
| | - Chen Jin
- School of Chinese Materia Medica, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, China
| | - Liyuan Zhou
- School of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, Hangzhou Institute for Advanced Study, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou, China
- Drug Discovery and Design Center, The Center for Chemical Biology, State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Zhenzhong Deng
- Department of Oncology, Xinhua Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai JiaoTong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Xiao Li
- School of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, Hangzhou Institute for Advanced Study, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Wenzhen Dang
- School of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, Hangzhou Institute for Advanced Study, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Shijie Fan
- Zhongshan Institute for Drug Discovery, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Zhongshan, China
| | - Bing Li
- Drug Discovery and Design Center, The Center for Chemical Biology, State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Fei Ye
- College of Life Sciences and Medicine, Zhejiang Sci-Tech University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Junyan Lu
- Medical Faculty Heidelberg, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Xiangqian Kong
- State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China
| | - Chuanpeng Liu
- School of Life Science and Technology, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, China
| | - Cheng Luo
- School of Chinese Materia Medica, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, China
- School of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, Hangzhou Institute for Advanced Study, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou, China
- Drug Discovery and Design Center, The Center for Chemical Biology, State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- Zhongshan Institute for Drug Discovery, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Zhongshan, China
| | - Yuanyuan Zhang
- Drug Discovery and Design Center, The Center for Chemical Biology, State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
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45
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Oser MG, MacPherson D, Oliver TG, Sage J, Park KS. Genetically-engineered mouse models of small cell lung cancer: the next generation. Oncogene 2024; 43:457-469. [PMID: 38191672 PMCID: PMC11180418 DOI: 10.1038/s41388-023-02929-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2023] [Revised: 12/18/2023] [Accepted: 12/20/2023] [Indexed: 01/10/2024]
Abstract
Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) remains the most fatal form of lung cancer, with patients in dire need of new and effective therapeutic approaches. Modeling SCLC in an immunocompetent host is essential for understanding SCLC pathogenesis and ultimately discovering and testing new experimental therapeutic strategies. Human SCLC is characterized by near universal genetic loss of the RB1 and TP53 tumor suppressor genes. Twenty years ago, the first genetically-engineered mouse model (GEMM) of SCLC was generated using conditional deletion of both Rb1 and Trp53 in the lungs of adult mice. Since then, several other GEMMs of SCLC have been developed coupling genomic alterations found in human SCLC with Rb1 and Trp53 deletion. Here we summarize how GEMMs of SCLC have contributed significantly to our understanding of the disease in the past two decades. We also review recent advances in modeling SCLC in mice that allow investigators to bypass limitations of the previous generation of GEMMs while studying new genes of interest in SCLC. In particular, CRISPR/Cas9-mediated somatic gene editing can accelerate how new genes of interest are functionally interrogated in SCLC tumorigenesis. Notably, the development of allograft models and precancerous precursor models from SCLC GEMMs provides complementary approaches to GEMMs to study tumor cell-immune microenvironment interactions and test new therapeutic strategies to enhance response to immunotherapy. Ultimately, the new generation of SCLC models can accelerate research and help develop new therapeutic strategies for SCLC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew G Oser
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02215, USA.
- Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA.
| | - David MacPherson
- Division of Human Biology, Fred Hutch Cancer Center, Seattle, WA, 98109, USA
| | - Trudy G Oliver
- Department of Pharmacology & Cancer Biology, Duke University, Durham, NC, 27708, USA
| | - Julien Sage
- Department of Pediatrics, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
- Department of Genetics, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
| | - Kwon-Sik Park
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Cancer Biology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, 22903, USA.
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Wijdeven RH, Luk SJ, Schoufour TAW, van der Zanden SY, Cabezuelo M, Heemskerk MHM, Neefjes J. Balanced Epigenetic Regulation of MHC Class I Expression in Tumor Cells by the Histone Ubiquitin Modifiers BAP1 and PCGF1. JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY (BALTIMORE, MD. : 1950) 2024; 212:446-454. [PMID: 38088808 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.2300263] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2023] [Accepted: 11/13/2023] [Indexed: 01/18/2024]
Abstract
MHC class I (MHC-I) molecules are critical for CD8+ T cell responses to viral infections and malignant cells, and tumors can downregulate MHC-I expression to promote immune evasion. In this study, using a genome-wide CRISPR screen on a human melanoma cell line, we identified the polycomb repressive complex 1 (PRC1) subunit PCGF1 and the deubiquitinating enzyme BAP1 as opposite regulators of MHC-I transcription. PCGF1 facilitates deposition of ubiquitin at H2AK119 at the MHC-I promoters to silence MHC-I, whereas BAP1 removes this modification to restore MHC-I expression. PCGF1 is widely expressed in tumors and its depletion increased MHC-I expression in multiple tumor lines, including MHC-Ilow tumors. In cells characterized by poor MHC-I expression, PRC1 and PRC2 act in parallel to impinge low transcription. However, PCGF1 depletion was sufficient to increase MHC-I expression and restore T cell-mediated killing of the tumor cells. Taken together, our data provide an additional layer of regulation of MHC-I expression in tumors: epigenetic silencing by PRC1 subunit PCGF1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruud H Wijdeven
- Department of Cell and Chemical Biology, Oncode Institute, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands
- Department of Functional Genomics, Center for Neurogenomics and Cognitive Research, VU University Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
- Alzheimer Center Amsterdam, Department of Neurology, Amsterdam UMC, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Sietse J Luk
- Department of Hematology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Tom A W Schoufour
- Department of Cell and Chemical Biology, Oncode Institute, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Sabina Y van der Zanden
- Department of Cell and Chemical Biology, Oncode Institute, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Marta Cabezuelo
- Department of Cell and Chemical Biology, Oncode Institute, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Mirjam H M Heemskerk
- Department of Hematology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Jacques Neefjes
- Department of Cell and Chemical Biology, Oncode Institute, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands
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Lim WC, Marques Da Costa ME, Godefroy K, Jacquet E, Gragert L, Rondof W, Marchais A, Nhiri N, Dalfovo D, Viard M, Labaied N, Khan AM, Dessen P, Romanel A, Pasqualini C, Schleiermacher G, Carrington M, Zitvogel L, Scoazec JY, Geoerger B, Salmon J. Divergent HLA variations and heterogeneous expression but recurrent HLA loss-of- heterozygosity and common HLA-B and TAP transcriptional silencing across advanced pediatric solid cancers. Front Immunol 2024; 14:1265469. [PMID: 38318504 PMCID: PMC10839790 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1265469] [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: 07/22/2023] [Accepted: 11/06/2023] [Indexed: 02/07/2024] Open
Abstract
The human leukocyte antigen (HLA) system is a major factor controlling cancer immunosurveillance and response to immunotherapy, yet its status in pediatric cancers remains fragmentary. We determined high-confidence HLA genotypes in 576 children, adolescents and young adults with recurrent/refractory solid tumors from the MOSCATO-01 and MAPPYACTS trials, using normal and tumor whole exome and RNA sequencing data and benchmarked algorithms. There was no evidence for narrowed HLA allelic diversity but discordant homozygosity and allele frequencies across tumor types and subtypes, such as in embryonal and alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma, neuroblastoma MYCN and 11q subtypes, and high-grade glioma, and several alleles may represent protective or susceptibility factors to specific pediatric solid cancers. There was a paucity of somatic mutations in HLA and antigen processing and presentation (APP) genes in most tumors, except in cases with mismatch repair deficiency or genetic instability. The prevalence of loss-of-heterozygosity (LOH) ranged from 5.9 to 7.7% in HLA class I and 8.0 to 16.7% in HLA class II genes, but was widely increased in osteosarcoma and glioblastoma (~15-25%), and for DRB1-DQA1-DQB1 in Ewing sarcoma (~23-28%) and low-grade glioma (~33-50%). HLA class I and HLA-DR antigen expression was assessed in 194 tumors and 44 patient-derived xenografts (PDXs) by immunochemistry, and class I and APP transcript levels quantified in PDXs by RT-qPCR. We confirmed that HLA class I antigen expression is heterogeneous in advanced pediatric solid tumors, with class I loss commonly associated with the transcriptional downregulation of HLA-B and transporter associated with antigen processing (TAP) genes, whereas class II antigen expression is scarce on tumor cells and occurs on immune infiltrating cells. Patients with tumors expressing sufficient HLA class I and TAP levels such as some glioma, osteosarcoma, Ewing sarcoma and non-rhabdomyosarcoma soft-tissue sarcoma cases may more likely benefit from T cell-based approaches, whereas strategies to upregulate HLA expression, to expand the immunopeptidome, and to target TAP-independent epitopes or possibly LOH might provide novel therapeutic opportunities in others. The consequences of HLA class II expression by immune cells remain to be established. Immunogenetic profiling should be implemented in routine to inform immunotherapy trials for precision medicine of pediatric cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wan Ching Lim
- INSERM U1015, Gustave Roussy Cancer Campus, Université Paris-Saclay, Villejuif, France
- Bioinformatics Platform, AMMICA, INSERM US23/CNRS UMS3655, Gustave Roussy Cancer Campus, Université Paris-Saclay, Villejuif, France
- School of Data Sciences, Perdana University, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | | | - Karine Godefroy
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Translational Research Laboratory and Biobank, AMMICA, INSERM US23/CNRS UMS3655, Gustave Roussy Cancer Campus, Université Paris-Saclay, Villejuif, France
| | - Eric Jacquet
- Institut de Chimie des Substances Naturelles, CNRS UPR2301, Université Paris-Saclay, Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - Loren Gragert
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA, United States
| | - Windy Rondof
- INSERM U1015, Gustave Roussy Cancer Campus, Université Paris-Saclay, Villejuif, France
- Bioinformatics Platform, AMMICA, INSERM US23/CNRS UMS3655, Gustave Roussy Cancer Campus, Université Paris-Saclay, Villejuif, France
| | - Antonin Marchais
- INSERM U1015, Gustave Roussy Cancer Campus, Université Paris-Saclay, Villejuif, France
- Bioinformatics Platform, AMMICA, INSERM US23/CNRS UMS3655, Gustave Roussy Cancer Campus, Université Paris-Saclay, Villejuif, France
| | - Naima Nhiri
- Institut de Chimie des Substances Naturelles, CNRS UPR2301, Université Paris-Saclay, Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - Davide Dalfovo
- Department of Cellular, Computational and Integrative Biology (CIBIO), University of Trento, Trento, Italy
| | - Mathias Viard
- Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Frederick, MD, United States
- Laboratory of Integrative Cancer Immunology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Nizar Labaied
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Translational Research Laboratory and Biobank, AMMICA, INSERM US23/CNRS UMS3655, Gustave Roussy Cancer Campus, Université Paris-Saclay, Villejuif, France
| | - Asif M. Khan
- School of Data Sciences, Perdana University, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Philippe Dessen
- Bioinformatics Platform, AMMICA, INSERM US23/CNRS UMS3655, Gustave Roussy Cancer Campus, Université Paris-Saclay, Villejuif, France
| | - Alessandro Romanel
- Department of Cellular, Computational and Integrative Biology (CIBIO), University of Trento, Trento, Italy
| | - Claudia Pasqualini
- INSERM U1015, Gustave Roussy Cancer Campus, Université Paris-Saclay, Villejuif, France
- Department of Pediatric and Adolescent Oncology, Gustave Roussy Cancer Campus, Université Paris-Saclay, Villejuif, France
| | - Gudrun Schleiermacher
- INSERM U830, Recherche Translationnelle en Oncologie Pédiatrique (RTOP), and SIREDO Oncology Center (Care, Innovation and Research for Children and AYA with Cancer), PSL Research University, Institut Curie, Paris, France
| | - Mary Carrington
- Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Frederick, MD, United States
- Laboratory of Integrative Cancer Immunology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD, United States
- Ragon Institute of Massachusetts General Hospital, MIT and Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, United States
| | - Laurence Zitvogel
- INSERM U1015, Gustave Roussy Cancer Campus, Université Paris-Saclay, Villejuif, France
| | - Jean-Yves Scoazec
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Translational Research Laboratory and Biobank, AMMICA, INSERM US23/CNRS UMS3655, Gustave Roussy Cancer Campus, Université Paris-Saclay, Villejuif, France
| | - Birgit Geoerger
- INSERM U1015, Gustave Roussy Cancer Campus, Université Paris-Saclay, Villejuif, France
- Department of Pediatric and Adolescent Oncology, Gustave Roussy Cancer Campus, Université Paris-Saclay, Villejuif, France
| | - Jerome Salmon
- INSERM U1015, Gustave Roussy Cancer Campus, Université Paris-Saclay, Villejuif, France
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Zaalberg A, Pottendorfer E, Zwart W, Bergman AM. It Takes Two to Tango: The Interplay between Prostate Cancer and Its Microenvironment from an Epigenetic Perspective. Cancers (Basel) 2024; 16:294. [PMID: 38254784 PMCID: PMC10813511 DOI: 10.3390/cancers16020294] [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: 09/22/2023] [Revised: 12/28/2023] [Accepted: 12/28/2023] [Indexed: 01/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Prostate cancer is the second most common cancer in men worldwide and is associated with high morbidity and mortality. Consequently, there is an urgent unmet need for novel treatment avenues. In addition to somatic genetic alterations, deviations in the epigenetic landscape of cancer cells and their tumor microenvironment (TME) are critical drivers of prostate cancer initiation and progression. Unlike genomic mutations, epigenetic modifications are potentially reversible. Therefore, the inhibition of aberrant epigenetic modifications represents an attractive and exciting novel treatment strategy for castration-resistant prostate cancer patients. Moreover, drugs targeting the epigenome also exhibit synergistic interactions with conventional therapeutics by directly enhancing their anti-tumorigenic properties by "priming" the tumor and tumor microenvironment to increase drug sensitivity. This review summarizes the major epigenetic alterations in prostate cancer and its TME, and their involvement in prostate tumorigenesis, and discusses the impact of epigenome-targeted therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anniek Zaalberg
- Division of Oncogenomics, The Netherlands Cancer Institute, Plesmanlaan 121, 1066 CX Amsterdam, The Netherlands; (A.Z.); (E.P.)
| | - Elisabeth Pottendorfer
- Division of Oncogenomics, The Netherlands Cancer Institute, Plesmanlaan 121, 1066 CX Amsterdam, The Netherlands; (A.Z.); (E.P.)
| | - Wilbert Zwart
- Division of Oncogenomics, The Netherlands Cancer Institute, Plesmanlaan 121, 1066 CX Amsterdam, The Netherlands; (A.Z.); (E.P.)
- Laboratory of Chemical Biology and Institute for Complex Molecular Systems, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Eindhoven University of Technology, 5600 MB Eindhoven, The Netherlands
- Oncode Institute
| | - Andries M. Bergman
- Division of Oncogenomics, The Netherlands Cancer Institute, Plesmanlaan 121, 1066 CX Amsterdam, The Netherlands; (A.Z.); (E.P.)
- Division of Medical Oncology, The Netherlands Cancer Institute, Plesmanlaan 121, 1066 CX Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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Calderon A, Han C, Karma S, Wang E. Non-genetic mechanisms of drug resistance in acute leukemias. Trends Cancer 2024; 10:38-51. [PMID: 37839973 DOI: 10.1016/j.trecan.2023.09.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2023] [Revised: 09/13/2023] [Accepted: 09/14/2023] [Indexed: 10/17/2023]
Abstract
Acute leukemia is characterized by clonal heterogeneity that contributes to poor drug responses in patients. Despite treatment advances, the occurrence of relapse remains a major barrier to achieving cures as current therapeutic approaches are inadequate to effectively prevent or overcome resistance. Given that only a few genetic mutations are associated with relapse in acute leukemia patients, there is a growing focus on 'non-genetic' mechanisms that affect the hallmarks of cancer to allow leukemic cells to survive post therapy. In this review, we provide an overview of the therapeutic landscape in acute leukemias. Importantly, we discuss non-genetic mechanisms exploited by leukemic cells to promote their survival after treatment. Last, we present current strategies to prevent or overcome drug resistance in this disease.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Cuijuan Han
- The Jackson Laboratory for Genomic Medicine, Farmington, CT, USA
| | - Sadik Karma
- The Jackson Laboratory for Genomic Medicine, Farmington, CT, USA; Graduate Program in Genetics and Development, UConn Health, Farmington, CT, USA
| | - Eric Wang
- The Jackson Laboratory for Genomic Medicine, Farmington, CT, USA; Department of Genetics and Genome Sciences, UConn Health, Farmington, CT, USA; Institute for Systems Genomics, University of Connecticut Health Center, Farmington, CT, USA.
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Andreescu M. Epigenetic Alterations That Are the Backbone of Immune Evasion in T-cell Malignancies. Cureus 2024; 16:e51662. [PMID: 38179322 PMCID: PMC10766007 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.51662] [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] [Accepted: 01/04/2024] [Indexed: 01/06/2024] Open
Abstract
Epigenetic alterations are heritable and enduring modifications in gene expression that play a pivotal role in immune evasion. These include alterations to noncoding RNA, DNA methylation, and histone modifications. DNA methylation plays a crucial role in normal cell growth and development but alterations in methylation patterns such as hypermethylation or hypomethylation can enable tumor and viral cells to evade host immune responses. Histone modifications can also inhibit immune responses by promoting the expression of genes involved in suppressing normal immune function. In the case of T-cell lymphoma, adult T-cell lymphomas (ATL) also undergo immune evasion through the exceptional function of its accessory and regulatory genes. Epigenetic therapies are emerging as a promising adjunct to traditional immunotherapy and chemotherapy regimens. Clinical trials are currently investigating the use of epigenetic therapies in combination with immunotherapies and chemotherapies for more effective treatment of ATL and other cancers. This review highlights epigenetic alterations that are widely found in T-cell malignancies.
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