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Lee HK, Kim SY, Chung SH, Choi B, Kim JE, Yoon D, Jang SI, Yeo A, Kang HG, Lee J, Choi YH, Park JS, Sung Y, Kim JK, Chang EJ, Lee DK. Tumour-associated myeloid cells expressing IL-10R2/IL-22R1 as a potential biomarker for diagnosis and recurrence of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. Br J Cancer 2024; 130:1979-1989. [PMID: 38643339 PMCID: PMC11183123 DOI: 10.1038/s41416-024-02676-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] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2023] [Revised: 03/05/2024] [Accepted: 04/02/2024] [Indexed: 04/22/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is an aggressive malignancy with a poor survival rate, largely due to the lack of early diagnosis. Although myeloid cells are crucial in the tumour microenvironment, whether their specific subset can be a biomarker of PDAC progression is unclear. METHODS We analysed IL-22 receptor expression in PDAC and peripheral blood. Additionally, we analysed gene expression profiles of IL-10R2+/IL-22R1+ myeloid cells and the presence of these cells using single-cell RNA sequencing and murine orthotropic PDAC models, respectively, followed by examining the immunosuppressive function of IL-10R2+/IL-22R1+ myeloid cells. Finally, the correlation between IL-10R2 expression and PDAC progression was evaluated. RESULTS IL-10R2+/IL-22R1+ myeloid cells were present in PDAC and peripheral blood. Blood IL-10R2+ myeloid cells displayed a gene expression signature associated with tumour-educated circulating monocytes. IL-10R2+/IL-22R1+ myeloid cells from human myeloid cell culture inhibited T cell proliferation. By mouse models for PDAC, we found a positive correlation between pancreatic tumour growth and increased blood IL-10R2+/IL-22R1+ myeloid cells. IL-10R2+/IL-22R1+ myeloid cells from an early phase of the PDAC model suppressed T cell proliferation and cytotoxicity. IL-10R2+ myeloid cells indicated tumour recurrence 130 days sooner than CA19-9 in post-pancreatectomy patients. CONCLUSIONS IL-10R2+/IL-22R1+ myeloid cells in the peripheral blood might be an early marker of PDAC prognosis.
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MESH Headings
- Carcinoma, Pancreatic Ductal/genetics
- Carcinoma, Pancreatic Ductal/pathology
- Carcinoma, Pancreatic Ductal/diagnosis
- Carcinoma, Pancreatic Ductal/blood
- Humans
- Animals
- Pancreatic Neoplasms/pathology
- Pancreatic Neoplasms/genetics
- Pancreatic Neoplasms/diagnosis
- Pancreatic Neoplasms/blood
- Mice
- Biomarkers, Tumor/genetics
- Biomarkers, Tumor/blood
- Receptors, Interleukin/genetics
- Myeloid Cells/metabolism
- Myeloid Cells/pathology
- Neoplasm Recurrence, Local/genetics
- Neoplasm Recurrence, Local/pathology
- Interleukin-10 Receptor beta Subunit/genetics
- Female
- Male
- Tumor Microenvironment/genetics
- Cell Line, Tumor
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Affiliation(s)
- Hyung Keun Lee
- Severance Institute for Vascular and Metabolic Research, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
- Institute of Vision Research, Department of Ophthalmology, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
- College of Pharmacy, Yonsei University, Incheon, Korea
| | - So Young Kim
- Severance Institute for Vascular and Metabolic Research, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
- Institute of Biomedical Research, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Soo-Hyun Chung
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Brain Korea 21 Project, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
- Stem Cell Immunomodulation Research Center, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Bongkun Choi
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Brain Korea 21 Project, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
- Stem Cell Immunomodulation Research Center, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Ji-Eun Kim
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Brain Korea 21 Project, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
- Stem Cell Immunomodulation Research Center, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Dohee Yoon
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Brain Korea 21 Project, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
- Stem Cell Immunomodulation Research Center, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Sung Ill Jang
- Department of Internal Medicine, Gangnam Severance Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Areum Yeo
- Severance Institute for Vascular and Metabolic Research, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
- Institute of Biomedical Research, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Hyun Goo Kang
- Institute of Vision Research, Department of Ophthalmology, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Jusung Lee
- Department of Life Sciences, Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH), Pohang, Korea
- Department of New Biology, DGIST, Daegu, Korea
| | - Yoon Ha Choi
- Department of Life Sciences, Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH), Pohang, Korea
| | - Joon Seong Park
- Department of Surgery, Gangnam Severance Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
- Department of Surgery and Cancer Research Institute, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Yoolim Sung
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Brain Korea 21 Project, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
- Stem Cell Immunomodulation Research Center, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Jong Kyoung Kim
- Department of Life Sciences, Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH), Pohang, Korea.
- Institute for Convergence Research and Education in Advanced Technology, Yonsei University, Seoul, Korea.
| | - Eun-Ju Chang
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Brain Korea 21 Project, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
- Stem Cell Immunomodulation Research Center, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
| | - Dong Ki Lee
- Department of Internal Medicine, Gangnam Severance Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
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Jin Y, Christenson ES, Zheng L, Li K. Neutrophils in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma: bridging preclinical insights to clinical prospects for improved therapeutic strategies. Expert Rev Clin Immunol 2024:1-14. [PMID: 38690749 DOI: 10.1080/1744666x.2024.2348605] [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: 01/20/2024] [Accepted: 04/24/2024] [Indexed: 05/03/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a highly aggressive malignancy characterized by a dismal five-year survival rate of less than 10%. Neutrophils are key components of the innate immune system, playing a pivotal role in the PDAC immune microenvironment. AREAS COVERED This review provides a comprehensive survey of the pivotal involvement of neutrophils in the tumorigenesis and progression of PDAC. Furthermore, it synthesizes preclinical and clinical explorations aimed at targeting neutrophils within the milieu of PDAC, subsequently proposing a conceptual framework to propel further inquiry focused on enhancing the therapeutic efficacy of PDAC through neutrophil-targeted strategies. PubMed and Web of Science databases were utilized for researching neutrophils in pancreatic cancer publications prior to 2024. EXPERT OPINION Neutrophils play roles in promoting tumor growth and metastasis in PDAC and are associated with poor prognosis. However, the heterogeneity and plasticity of neutrophils and their complex relationships with other immune cells and extracellular matrix also provide new insights for immunotherapy targeting neutrophils to achieve a better prognosis for PDAC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi Jin
- Division of Pancreatic Surgery, Department of General Surgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Eric S Christenson
- The Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
- The Pancreatic Cancer Precision Medicine Center of Excellence Program, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
- The Bloomberg Kimmel Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Lei Zheng
- The Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
- The Pancreatic Cancer Precision Medicine Center of Excellence Program, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
- The Bloomberg Kimmel Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Department of Oncology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
- The Skip Viragh Pancreatic Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
- The Cancer Convergence Institute at Johns Hopkins, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Department of Surgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Keyu Li
- Division of Pancreatic Surgery, Department of General Surgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
- The Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
- The Pancreatic Cancer Precision Medicine Center of Excellence Program, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
- The Bloomberg Kimmel Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
- The Skip Viragh Pancreatic Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
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Lahusen A, Cai J, Schirmbeck R, Wellstein A, Kleger A, Seufferlein T, Eiseler T, Lin YN. A pancreatic cancer organoid-in-matrix platform shows distinct sensitivities to T cell killing. Sci Rep 2024; 14:9377. [PMID: 38654067 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-60107-5] [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: 09/17/2023] [Accepted: 04/18/2024] [Indexed: 04/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Poor treatment responses of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) are in large part due to tumor heterogeneity and an immunosuppressive desmoplastic tumor stroma that impacts interactions with cells in the tumor microenvironment (TME). Thus, there is a pressing need for models to probe the contributions of cellular and noncellular crosstalk. Organoids are promising model systems with the potential to generate a plethora of data including phenotypic, transcriptomic and genomic characterization but still require improvements in culture conditions mimicking the TME. Here, we describe an INTERaction with Organoid-in-MatriX ("InterOMaX") model system, that presents a 3D co-culture-based platform for investigating matrix-dependent cellular crosstalk. We describe its potential to uncover new molecular mechanisms of T cell responses to murine KPC (LSL-KrasG12D/+27/Trp53tm1Tyj/J/p48Cre/+) PDAC cells as well as PDAC patient-derived organoids (PDOs). For this, a customizable matrix and homogenously sized organoid-in-matrix positioning of cancer cells were designed based on a standardized agarose microwell chip array system and established for co-culture with T cells and inclusion of stromal cells. We describe the detection and orthogonal analysis of murine and human PDAC cell populations with distinct sensitivity to T cell killing that is corroborated in vivo. By enabling both identification and validation of gene candidates for T cell resistance, this platform sets the stage for better mechanistic understanding of cancer cell-intrinsic resistance phenotypes in PDAC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anton Lahusen
- Department of Internal Medicine I, Gastroenterology, Endocrinology, Nephrology, Nutrition and Metabolism, Ulm University Hospital, Albert Einstein Allee 23, 89081, Ulm, Germany
| | - Jierui Cai
- Department of Internal Medicine I, Gastroenterology, Endocrinology, Nephrology, Nutrition and Metabolism, Ulm University Hospital, Albert Einstein Allee 23, 89081, Ulm, Germany
| | - Reinhold Schirmbeck
- Department of Internal Medicine I, Gastroenterology, Endocrinology, Nephrology, Nutrition and Metabolism, Ulm University Hospital, Albert Einstein Allee 23, 89081, Ulm, Germany
| | - Anton Wellstein
- Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, Georgetown University, 3970 Reservoir Road NW, Washington, DC, 20007, USA
| | - Alexander Kleger
- Department of Internal Medicine I, Gastroenterology, Endocrinology, Nephrology, Nutrition and Metabolism, Ulm University Hospital, Albert Einstein Allee 23, 89081, Ulm, Germany
- Institute of Molecular Oncology and Stem Cell Biology (IMOS), Ulm University Hospital, 89081, Ulm, Germany
- Division of Interdisciplinary Pancreatology, Department of Internal Medicine I, Ulm University Hospital, 89081, Ulm, Germany
- Organoid Core Facility, Ulm University Hospital, 89081, Ulm, Germany
| | - Thomas Seufferlein
- Department of Internal Medicine I, Gastroenterology, Endocrinology, Nephrology, Nutrition and Metabolism, Ulm University Hospital, Albert Einstein Allee 23, 89081, Ulm, Germany
| | - Tim Eiseler
- Department of Internal Medicine I, Gastroenterology, Endocrinology, Nephrology, Nutrition and Metabolism, Ulm University Hospital, Albert Einstein Allee 23, 89081, Ulm, Germany
| | - Yuan-Na Lin
- Department of Internal Medicine I, Gastroenterology, Endocrinology, Nephrology, Nutrition and Metabolism, Ulm University Hospital, Albert Einstein Allee 23, 89081, Ulm, Germany.
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Chen Y, Lin X, Zou X, Qian Y, Liu Y, Wang R, Wang X, Yu X, Liu C, Cheng H. A novel immune checkpoint score system for prognostic evaluation in pancreatic adenocarcinoma. BMC Gastroenterol 2023; 23:113. [PMID: 37024802 PMCID: PMC10080823 DOI: 10.1186/s12876-023-02748-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2022] [Accepted: 03/28/2023] [Indexed: 04/08/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PAAD) remains a lethal malignancy making the detection of novel prognostic biomarkers urgent. Limited studies have investigated the predictive capability of immune checkpoints in PAAD. METHOD Gene expression data and correlative clinical information of PAAD cohort were obtained from public databases, including TCGA, ICGC, GTEX and GEO databases. Risk factors were screened and used to establish a risk score model through LASSO and Cox regression analyses. The prognostic ability of the risk score model was demonstrated. The association between risk score with immune cells infiltration, immune checkpoint genes expression, immunogenic cell death, somatic mutations and signaling pathways enrichment were analysed. scRNA-seq data were collected to confirmed the immune checkpoints expression in PAAD samples. The prognosis prediction ability of OX40/TNFRSF4 was identified. The mRNA and protein expression of OX40 in our clinical specimens were examined by RT-PCR and IHC method and its prognosis ability was verified. RESULTS First of all, the difference of immune microenvironment between pancreatic cancer and adjacent tissues was shown. A risk score system based on three immune checkpoints (OX40, TNFSF14 and KIR3DL1) was established. The risk score model was an independent prognostic factor and performed well regarding overall survival (OS) predictions among PAAD patients. A nomogram was established to facilitate the risk model application in clinical prognosis. Immune cells including naive B cells, CD8+ T cells and Tregs were negatively correlated with the risk score. The risk score was associated with expression of immune checkpoint genes, immunogenic cell death related genes and somatic mutations. Glycolysis processes, IL-2-STAT5, IL-6-STAT3, and mTORC1 signaling pathways were enriched in the high-risk score group. Furthermore, scRNA-seq data confirmed that TNFRSF4, TNFSF14 and KIR3DL1 were expressed on immune cells in PAAD samples. We then identified OX40 as an independent prognosis-related gene, and a higher OX40 expression was associated with increased survival rate and immune environment change. In 84 PAAD clinical specimens collected from our center, we confirmed that higher OX40 mRNA expression levels were related to a good prognosis. The protein expression of OX40 on tumor-infiltrating immune cells (TIICs), endothelial cells and tumor cells was verified in PAAD tissues by immunohistochemistry (IHC) method. CONCLUSIONS Overall, our findings strongly suggested that the three-immune checkpoints score system might be useful in the prognosis and design of personalized treatments for PAAD patients. Finally, we identified OX40 as an independent potential biomarker for PAAD prognosis prediction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yusheng Chen
- Department of Pancreatic Surgery, Shanghai Cancer Center, Fudan University, 270 DongAn Road, Xuhui, Shanghai, 200032, People's Republic of China
- Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
- Shanghai Pancreatic Cancer Institute, Shanghai, 200032, China
- Pancreatic Cancer Institute, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Xuan Lin
- Department of Pancreatic Surgery, Shanghai Cancer Center, Fudan University, 270 DongAn Road, Xuhui, Shanghai, 200032, People's Republic of China
- Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
- Shanghai Pancreatic Cancer Institute, Shanghai, 200032, China
- Pancreatic Cancer Institute, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Xuan Zou
- Department of Pancreatic Surgery, Shanghai Cancer Center, Fudan University, 270 DongAn Road, Xuhui, Shanghai, 200032, People's Republic of China
- Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
- Shanghai Pancreatic Cancer Institute, Shanghai, 200032, China
- Pancreatic Cancer Institute, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Yunzhen Qian
- Department of Pancreatic Surgery, Shanghai Cancer Center, Fudan University, 270 DongAn Road, Xuhui, Shanghai, 200032, People's Republic of China
- Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
- Shanghai Pancreatic Cancer Institute, Shanghai, 200032, China
- Pancreatic Cancer Institute, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Yu Liu
- Department of Pancreatic Surgery, Shanghai Cancer Center, Fudan University, 270 DongAn Road, Xuhui, Shanghai, 200032, People's Republic of China
- Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
- Shanghai Pancreatic Cancer Institute, Shanghai, 200032, China
- Pancreatic Cancer Institute, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Ruijie Wang
- Department of Pancreatic Surgery, Shanghai Cancer Center, Fudan University, 270 DongAn Road, Xuhui, Shanghai, 200032, People's Republic of China
- Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
- Shanghai Pancreatic Cancer Institute, Shanghai, 200032, China
- Pancreatic Cancer Institute, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Xu Wang
- Department of Pancreatic Surgery, Shanghai Cancer Center, Fudan University, 270 DongAn Road, Xuhui, Shanghai, 200032, People's Republic of China
- Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
- Shanghai Pancreatic Cancer Institute, Shanghai, 200032, China
- Pancreatic Cancer Institute, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Xianjun Yu
- Department of Pancreatic Surgery, Shanghai Cancer Center, Fudan University, 270 DongAn Road, Xuhui, Shanghai, 200032, People's Republic of China
- Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
- Shanghai Pancreatic Cancer Institute, Shanghai, 200032, China
- Pancreatic Cancer Institute, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Chen Liu
- Department of Pancreatic Surgery, Shanghai Cancer Center, Fudan University, 270 DongAn Road, Xuhui, Shanghai, 200032, People's Republic of China.
- Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China.
- Shanghai Pancreatic Cancer Institute, Shanghai, 200032, China.
- Pancreatic Cancer Institute, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China.
| | - He Cheng
- Department of Pancreatic Surgery, Shanghai Cancer Center, Fudan University, 270 DongAn Road, Xuhui, Shanghai, 200032, People's Republic of China.
- Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China.
- Shanghai Pancreatic Cancer Institute, Shanghai, 200032, China.
- Pancreatic Cancer Institute, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China.
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Aziz HM, Saida L, de Koning W, Stubbs AP, Li Y, Sideras K, Palacios E, Feliu J, Mendiola M, van Eijck CHJ, Mustafa DAM. Spatial genomics reveals a high number and specific location of B cells in the pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma microenvironment of long-term survivors. Front Immunol 2023; 13:995715. [PMID: 36685537 PMCID: PMC9846531 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.995715] [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: 07/16/2022] [Accepted: 11/04/2022] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Background and aim Only 10% of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) patients survive longer than five years. Factors underlining long-term survivorship in PDAC are not well understood. Therefore, we aimed to identify the key players in the tumor immune microenvironment (TIME) associated with long-term survivorship in PDAC patients. Methods The immune-related gene expression profiles of resected PDAC tumors of patients who survived and remained recurrence-free of disease for ≥36 months (long-term survivors, n=10) were compared to patients who had survived ≤6 months (short-term survivors, n=10) due to tumor recurrence. Validation was performed by the spatial protein expression profile of immune cells using the GeoMx™ Digital Spatial Profiler. An independent cohort of samples consisting of 12 long-term survivors and 10 short-term survivors, was used for additional validation. The independent validation was performed by combining qualitative immunohistochemistry and quantitative protein expression profiling. Results B cells were found to be significantly increased in the TIME of long-term survivors by gene expression profiling (p=0.018). The high tumor infiltration of B cells was confirmed by spatial protein profiling in the discovery and the validation cohorts (p=0.002 and p=0.01, respectively). The higher number of infiltrated B cells was found mainly in the stromal compartments of PDAC samples and was exclusively found within tumor cells in long-term survivors. Conclusion This is the first comprehensive study that connects the immune landscape of gene expression profiles and protein spatial infiltration with the survivorship of PDAC patients. We found a higher number and a specific location of B cells in TIME of long-term survivors which emphasizes the importance of B cells and B cell-based therapy for future personalized immunotherapy in PDAC patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hosein M. Aziz
- Department of Surgery, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | - Lawlaw Saida
- Department of Pathology & Clinical Bioinformatics, The Tumor Immuno-Pathology Laboratory, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | - Willem de Koning
- Department of Pathology & Clinical Bioinformatics, The Tumor Immuno-Pathology Laboratory, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, Netherlands,Department of Pathology & Clinical Bioinformatics, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | - Andrew P. Stubbs
- Department of Pathology & Clinical Bioinformatics, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | - Yunlei Li
- Department of Pathology & Clinical Bioinformatics, The Tumor Immuno-Pathology Laboratory, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, Netherlands,Department of Pathology & Clinical Bioinformatics, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | - Kostandinos Sideras
- Divisions of Medical Oncology and Hematology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, United States
| | - Elena Palacios
- Department of Pathology, La Paz University Hospital, IdiPAZ, Madrid, Spain
| | - Jaime Feliu
- Department of Medical Oncology, La Paz University Hospital, IdiPAZ, Madrid, Spain,Cátedra UAM-ANGEM, Madrid, Spain,Centro de Investigación Biomédica en red de Cáncer, CIBERONC, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - Marta Mendiola
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en red de Cáncer, CIBERONC, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain,Molecular Pathology and therapeutic Targets Group, La Paz University Hospital, IdiPAZ, Madrid, Spain
| | - Casper H. J. van Eijck
- Department of Surgery, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, Netherlands,Department of Pathology & Clinical Bioinformatics, The Tumor Immuno-Pathology Laboratory, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | - Dana A. M. Mustafa
- Department of Pathology & Clinical Bioinformatics, The Tumor Immuno-Pathology Laboratory, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, Netherlands,*Correspondence: Dana A. M. Mustafa,
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Subtype Classification, Immune Infiltration, and Prognosis Analysis of Lung Adenocarcinoma Based on Pyroptosis-Related Genes. BIOMED RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2022; 2022:1371315. [PMID: 36277882 PMCID: PMC9581708 DOI: 10.1155/2022/1371315] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2022] [Revised: 09/18/2022] [Accepted: 09/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
The effect of pyroptosis-related genes (PRGs) on the tumor microenvironment (TME) in lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) remains unclear. Thus, this study is aimed at evaluating the prognostic value of PRGs in patients with LUAD and to elucidate their role in the TME and their effect on immunotherapy. Transcriptomic and clinical data were obtained from the Cancer Genome Atlas and the Gene Expression Omnibus databases (GSE3141, GSE31210). Patients with LUAD were classified using consistent clustering, and the differences in the TME for each type were determined using the ESTIMATE and CIBERSORT algorithms. PRGs were screened using univariate regression analysis, and a prognostic risk model was constructed using LASSO regression analysis. The tumor mutational burden and the tumor immune dysfunction and exclusion algorithms were used to predict therapeutic sensitivity in LUAD patients. Then, we evaluated the potential therapeutic interventions using the GDSC database. LUAD patients in cluster 2 had significantly shorter overall survival and progression-free survival rates, lower immune scores, and higher infiltration of T follicular helper cells than those in cluster 1. We used five PRGs to classify patients with LUAD into different risks groups and found that the high-risk group is sensitive to immunotherapy; however, its immune-related pathways were inhibited, which may be related to tumor metabolic reprogramming. Lastly, we identified several potential therapeutic drugs for application in low-risk patients who were less sensitive to immunotherapy. Overall, our findings showed that PRGs can be used to predict prognosis and may aid in the development of personalized therapeutic strategies in LUAD patients.
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Tao S, Tian L, Wang X, Shou Y. A pyroptosis-related gene signature for prognosis and immune microenvironment of pancreatic cancer. Front Genet 2022; 13:817919. [PMID: 36118860 PMCID: PMC9476319 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2022.817919] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2021] [Accepted: 07/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Pancreatic cancer is one of the most lethal tumors owing to its unspecific symptoms during the early stage and multiple treatment resistances. Pyroptosis, a newly discovered gasdermin-mediated cell death, facilitates anti- or pro-tumor effects in a variety of cancers, whereas the impact of pyroptosis in pancreatic cancer remains unclear. Therefore, we downloaded RNA expression and clinic data from the TCGA-PAAD cohort and were surprised to find that most pyroptosis-related genes (PRGs) are not only overexpressed in tumor tissue but also strongly associated with overall survival. For their remarkable prognostic value, cox regression analysis and lasso regression were used to establish a five-gene signature. All patients were divided into low- and high-risk groups based on the media value of the risk score, and we discovered that low-risk patients had better outcomes in both the testing and validation cohorts using time receiver operating characteristic (ROC), nomograms, survival, and decision analysis. More importantly, a higher somatic mutation burden and less immune cell infiltration were found in the high-risk group. Following that, we predicted tumor response to chemotherapy and immunotherapy in both low- and high-risk groups, which suggests patients with low risk were more likely to respond to both immunotherapy and chemotherapy. To summarize, our study established an effective model that can help clinicians better predict patients’ drug responses and outcomes, and we also present basic evidence for future pyroptosis related studies in pancreatic cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sifan Tao
- Department of Gastroenterology, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
- Department of Gastroenterology, The Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Li Tian
- Department of Gastroenterology, The Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Xiaoyan Wang
- Department of Gastroenterology, The Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
- *Correspondence: Xiaoyan Wang, ; Yajun Shou,
| | - Yajun Shou
- Department of Gastroenterology, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
- Research Center of Digestive Disease, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
- *Correspondence: Xiaoyan Wang, ; Yajun Shou,
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Lu C, Zhu Y, Kong W, Yang J, Zhu L, Wang L, Tang M, Chen J, Li Q, He J, Li A, Qiu X, Gu Q, Chen D, Meng F, Liu B, Qiu Y, Du J. Study protocol for a prospective, open-label, single-arm, phase II study on the combination of tislelizumab, nab-paclitaxel, gemcitabine, and concurrent radiotherapy as the induction therapy for patients with locally advanced and borderline resectable pancreatic cancer. Front Oncol 2022; 12:879661. [PMID: 36059628 PMCID: PMC9434272 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2022.879661] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2022] [Accepted: 08/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a fatal malignancy with a low resection rate. Chemotherapy and radiotherapy (RT) are the main treatment approaches for patients with advanced pancreatic cancer, and neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy is considered a promising strategy to increase the resection rate. Recently, immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) therapy has shown remarkable efficacy in several cancers. Therefore, the combination of ICI, chemotherapy, and concurrent radiotherapy is promising for patients with potentially resectable pancreatic cancer, mainly referring to locally advanced (LAPC) and borderline resectable pancreatic cancer (BRPC), to increase the chances of conversion to surgical resectability and prolong survival. This study aims to introduce the design of a clinical trial. Methods This is an open-label, single-arm, and single-center phase II trial. Patients with pathologically and radiographically confirmed LAPC or BRPC without prior anti-cancer treatment or severe morbidities will be enrolled. All patients will receive induction therapy and will be further evaluated by the Multiple Disciplinary Team (MDT) for the possibility of surgery. The induction therapy consists of up to four cycles of gemcitabine 1,000 mg/m2 and nab-paclitaxel 125 mg/m2via intravenous (IV) infusion on days 1 and 8, along with tislelizumab (a PD-1 monoclonal antibody) 200 mg administered through IV infusion on day 1 every 3 weeks, concurrently with stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) during the third cycle of treatment. After surgery, patients without progression will receive another two to four cycles of adjuvant therapy with gemcitabine, nab-paclitaxel, and tislelizumab. The primary objectives are objective response rate (ORR) and the R0 resection rate. The secondary objectives are median overall survival (mOS), median progression free survival (mPFS), disease control rate (DCR), pathological grade of tumor tissue after therapy, and adverse reactions. Besides, we expect to explore the value of circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) in predicting tumor response to induction therapy and survival outcome of patients. Discussion This is a protocol for a clinical trial that attempts to evaluate the safety and efficacy of the combination of anti-PD-1 antibody plus chemotherapy and radiotherapy as the induction therapy for LAPC and BRPC. The results of this phase II study will provide evidence for the clinical practice of this modality. Clinical Trial Registration http://www.chictr.org.cn/edit.aspx?pid=53720&htm=4, identifier ChiCTR2000032955.
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Affiliation(s)
- Changchang Lu
- The Comprehensive Cancer Center of Drum Tower Hospital, Medical School of Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
- Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital Clinical College of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, China
| | - Yahui Zhu
- The Comprehensive Cancer Center of Drum Tower Hospital, Medical School of Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Weiwei Kong
- The Comprehensive Cancer Center of Drum Tower Hospital, Medical School of Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Ju Yang
- The Comprehensive Cancer Center of Drum Tower Hospital, Medical School of Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Linxi Zhu
- Department of Hepatopancreatobiliary Surgery, Drum Tower Hospital, Medical School of Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Lei Wang
- Digestive Department of Drum Tower Hospital, Medical School of Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Min Tang
- Imaging Department of Drum Tower Hospital, Medical School of Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Jun Chen
- Pathology Department of Drum Tower Hospital, Medical School of Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Qi Li
- Pathology Department of Drum Tower Hospital, Medical School of Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Jian He
- Nuclear Medicine Department of Drum Tower Hospital, Medical School of Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Aimei Li
- Nuclear Medicine Department of Drum Tower Hospital, Medical School of Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Xin Qiu
- Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital Clinical College of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, China
| | - Qing Gu
- National Institute of Healthcare Data Science at Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Dongsheng Chen
- The State Key Laboratory of Translational Medicine and Innovative Drug Development, Medical Department, Jiangsu Simcere Diagnostics Co., Ltd, Nanjing, China
| | - Fanyan Meng
- The Comprehensive Cancer Center of Drum Tower Hospital, Medical School of Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Baorui Liu
- The Comprehensive Cancer Center of Drum Tower Hospital, Medical School of Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
- *Correspondence: Juan Du, ; Yudong Qiu, ; Baorui Liu,
| | - Yudong Qiu
- Department of Hepatopancreatobiliary Surgery, Drum Tower Hospital, Medical School of Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
- *Correspondence: Juan Du, ; Yudong Qiu, ; Baorui Liu,
| | - Juan Du
- The Comprehensive Cancer Center of Drum Tower Hospital, Medical School of Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
- *Correspondence: Juan Du, ; Yudong Qiu, ; Baorui Liu,
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9
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Agostini A, Orlacchio A, Carbone C, Guerriero I. Understanding Tricky Cellular and Molecular Interactions in Pancreatic Tumor Microenvironment: New Food for Thought. Front Immunol 2022; 13:876291. [PMID: 35711414 PMCID: PMC9193393 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.876291] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2022] [Accepted: 04/29/2022] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) represents 90% of all pancreatic cancer cases and shows a high mortality rate among all solid tumors. PDAC is often associated with poor prognosis, due to the late diagnosis that leads to metastasis development, and limited efficacy of available treatments. The tumor microenvironment (TME) represents a reliable source of novel targets for therapy, and even if many of the biological interactions among stromal, immune, and cancer cells that populate the TME have been studied, much more needs to be clarified. The great limitation in the efficacy of current standard chemoterapy is due to both the dense fibrotic inaccessible TME barrier surrounding cancer cells and the immunological evolution from a tumor-suppressor to an immunosuppressive environment. Nevertheless, combinatorial therapies may prove more effective at overcoming resistance mechanisms and achieving tumor cell killing. To achieve this result, a deeper understanding of the pathological mechanisms driving tumor progression and immune escape is required in order to design rationale-based therapeutic strategies. This review aims to summarize the present knowledge about cellular interactions in the TME, with much attention on immunosuppressive functioning and a specific focus on extracellular matrix (ECM) contribution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonio Agostini
- Medical Oncology, Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS, Rome, Italy
- Medical Oncology, Department of Translational Medicine, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy
| | - Arturo Orlacchio
- NYU Grossman School of Medicine, NYU Langone Health, New York, NY, United States
| | - Carmine Carbone
- Medical Oncology, Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Ilaria Guerriero
- Biogem, Biology and Molecular Genetics Institute, Ariano Irpino, Italy
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10
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Damiani V, Cufaro MC, Fucito M, Dufrusine B, Rossi C, Del Boccio P, Federici L, Turco MC, Sallese M, Pieragostino D, De Laurenzi V. Proteomics Approach Highlights Early Changes in Human Fibroblasts-Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma Cells Crosstalk. Cells 2022; 11:1160. [PMID: 35406724 PMCID: PMC8997741 DOI: 10.3390/cells11071160] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2022] [Revised: 03/23/2022] [Accepted: 03/26/2022] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a leading cause of cancer mortality worldwide. Non-specific symptoms, lack of biomarkers in the early stages, and drug resistance due to the presence of a dense fibrous stroma all contribute to the poor outcome of this disease. The extracellular matrix secreted by activated fibroblasts contributes to the desmoplastic tumor microenvironment formation. Given the importance of fibroblast activation in PDAC pathology, it is critical to recognize the mechanisms involved in the transformation of normal fibroblasts in the early stages of tumorigenesis. To this aim, we first identified the proteins released from the pancreatic cancer cell line MIA-PaCa2 by proteomic analysis of their conditioned medium (CM). Second, normal fibroblasts were treated with MIA-PaCa2 CM for 24 h and 48 h and their proteostatic changes were detected by proteomics. Pathway analysis indicated that treated fibroblasts undergo changes compatible with the activation of migration, vasculogenesis, cellular homeostasis and metabolism of amino acids and reduced apoptosis. These biological activities are possibly regulated by ITGB3 and TGFB1/2 followed by SMAD3, STAT3 and BAG3 activation. In conclusion, this study sheds light on the crosstalk between PDAC cells and associated fibroblasts. Data are available via ProteomeXchange with identifier PXD030974.
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Affiliation(s)
- Verena Damiani
- Department of Innovative Technologies in Medicine and Dentistry, University “G. d’Annunzio” of Chieti-Pescara, 66100 Chieti, Italy; (V.D.); (M.F.); (B.D.); (C.R.); (L.F.); (M.S.); (V.D.L.)
- Center for Advanced Studies and Technology (CAST), University “G. d’Annunzio” of Chieti-Pescara, 66100 Chieti, Italy; (M.C.C.); (P.D.B.)
| | - Maria Concetta Cufaro
- Center for Advanced Studies and Technology (CAST), University “G. d’Annunzio” of Chieti-Pescara, 66100 Chieti, Italy; (M.C.C.); (P.D.B.)
- Department of Pharmacy, University “G. d’Annunzio” of Chieti-Pescara, 66100 Chieti, Italy
| | - Maurine Fucito
- Department of Innovative Technologies in Medicine and Dentistry, University “G. d’Annunzio” of Chieti-Pescara, 66100 Chieti, Italy; (V.D.); (M.F.); (B.D.); (C.R.); (L.F.); (M.S.); (V.D.L.)
- Center for Advanced Studies and Technology (CAST), University “G. d’Annunzio” of Chieti-Pescara, 66100 Chieti, Italy; (M.C.C.); (P.D.B.)
| | - Beatrice Dufrusine
- Department of Innovative Technologies in Medicine and Dentistry, University “G. d’Annunzio” of Chieti-Pescara, 66100 Chieti, Italy; (V.D.); (M.F.); (B.D.); (C.R.); (L.F.); (M.S.); (V.D.L.)
- Center for Advanced Studies and Technology (CAST), University “G. d’Annunzio” of Chieti-Pescara, 66100 Chieti, Italy; (M.C.C.); (P.D.B.)
| | - Claudia Rossi
- Department of Innovative Technologies in Medicine and Dentistry, University “G. d’Annunzio” of Chieti-Pescara, 66100 Chieti, Italy; (V.D.); (M.F.); (B.D.); (C.R.); (L.F.); (M.S.); (V.D.L.)
- Department of Psychological, Health and Territory Sciences, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, University “G. d’Annunzio” of Chieti-Pescara, 66100 Chieti, Italy
| | - Piero Del Boccio
- Center for Advanced Studies and Technology (CAST), University “G. d’Annunzio” of Chieti-Pescara, 66100 Chieti, Italy; (M.C.C.); (P.D.B.)
- Department of Pharmacy, University “G. d’Annunzio” of Chieti-Pescara, 66100 Chieti, Italy
| | - Luca Federici
- Department of Innovative Technologies in Medicine and Dentistry, University “G. d’Annunzio” of Chieti-Pescara, 66100 Chieti, Italy; (V.D.); (M.F.); (B.D.); (C.R.); (L.F.); (M.S.); (V.D.L.)
- Center for Advanced Studies and Technology (CAST), University “G. d’Annunzio” of Chieti-Pescara, 66100 Chieti, Italy; (M.C.C.); (P.D.B.)
| | - Maria Caterina Turco
- Department of Medicine, Surgery and Dentistry Schola Medica Salernitana, University of Salerno, 84081 Baronissi, Italy;
- R&D Division, BIOUNIVERSA s.r.l., 84081 Baronissi, Italy
| | - Michele Sallese
- Department of Innovative Technologies in Medicine and Dentistry, University “G. d’Annunzio” of Chieti-Pescara, 66100 Chieti, Italy; (V.D.); (M.F.); (B.D.); (C.R.); (L.F.); (M.S.); (V.D.L.)
- Center for Advanced Studies and Technology (CAST), University “G. d’Annunzio” of Chieti-Pescara, 66100 Chieti, Italy; (M.C.C.); (P.D.B.)
| | - Damiana Pieragostino
- Department of Innovative Technologies in Medicine and Dentistry, University “G. d’Annunzio” of Chieti-Pescara, 66100 Chieti, Italy; (V.D.); (M.F.); (B.D.); (C.R.); (L.F.); (M.S.); (V.D.L.)
- Center for Advanced Studies and Technology (CAST), University “G. d’Annunzio” of Chieti-Pescara, 66100 Chieti, Italy; (M.C.C.); (P.D.B.)
| | - Vincenzo De Laurenzi
- Department of Innovative Technologies in Medicine and Dentistry, University “G. d’Annunzio” of Chieti-Pescara, 66100 Chieti, Italy; (V.D.); (M.F.); (B.D.); (C.R.); (L.F.); (M.S.); (V.D.L.)
- Center for Advanced Studies and Technology (CAST), University “G. d’Annunzio” of Chieti-Pescara, 66100 Chieti, Italy; (M.C.C.); (P.D.B.)
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11
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Yeo D, Giardina C, Saxena P, Rasko JEJ. The next wave of cellular immunotherapies in pancreatic cancer. Mol Ther Oncolytics 2022; 24:561-576. [PMID: 35229033 PMCID: PMC8857655 DOI: 10.1016/j.omto.2022.01.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Pancreatic cancer is an aggressive disease that is predicted to become the second leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide by 2030. The overall 5-year survival rate is around 10%. Pancreatic cancer typically presents late with locally advanced or metastatic disease, and there are limited effective treatments available. Cellular immunotherapy, such as chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell therapy, has had significant success in treating hematological malignancies. However, CAR T cell therapy efficacy in pancreatic cancer has been limited. This review provides an overview of current and ongoing CAR T cell clinical studies of pancreatic cancer and the major challenges and strategies to improve CAR T cell efficacy. These strategies include arming CAR T cells; developing off-the-shelf allogeneic CAR T cells; using other immune CAR cells, like natural killer cells and tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes; and combination therapy. Careful incorporation of preclinical models will enhance management of affected individuals, assisting incorporation of cellular immunotherapies. A multifaceted, personalized approach involving cellular immunotherapy treatment is required to improve pancreatic cancer outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dannel Yeo
- Li Ka Shing Cell & Gene Therapy Program, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW 2050, Australia.,Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW 2050, Australia.,Cell and Molecular Therapies, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney Local Health District, Camperdown, NSW 2050, Australia
| | - Caroline Giardina
- Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW 2050, Australia.,Gene and Stem Cell Therapy Program, Centenary Institute, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW 2050, Australia
| | - Payal Saxena
- Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW 2050, Australia.,Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney Local Health District, Camperdown, NSW 2050, Australia
| | - John E J Rasko
- Li Ka Shing Cell & Gene Therapy Program, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW 2050, Australia.,Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW 2050, Australia.,Cell and Molecular Therapies, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney Local Health District, Camperdown, NSW 2050, Australia.,Gene and Stem Cell Therapy Program, Centenary Institute, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW 2050, Australia
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12
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A Comprehensive Review of the Current and Future Role of the Microbiome in Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14041020. [PMID: 35205769 PMCID: PMC8870349 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14041020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2021] [Revised: 02/11/2022] [Accepted: 02/15/2022] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary This review summarizes the current literature related to the microbiome and pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). The aim of this review is to explore the current role of the microbiome in the disease process, screening/diagnostics and to postulate the future role with regards to therapeutic strategies including chemotherapy, immunotherapy and surgery. We further explore the future of microbiome modulation (faecal microbiome transplants, bacterial consortiums, anti-microbials and probiotics), their applications and how we can improve the future of microbiome modulation in a bid to improve PDAC outcomes. Abstract Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is expected to become the second most common cause of cancer death in the USA by 2030, yet progress continues to lag behind that of other cancers, with only 9% of patients surviving beyond 5 years. Long-term survivorship of PDAC and improving survival has, until recently, escaped our understanding. One recent frontier in the cancer field is the microbiome. The microbiome collectively refers to the extensive community of bacteria and fungi that colonise us. It is estimated that there is one to ten prokaryotic cells for each human somatic cell, yet, the significance of this community in health and disease has, until recently, been overlooked. This review examines the role of the microbiome in PDAC and how it may alter survival outcomes. We evaluate the possibility of employing microbiomic signatures as biomarkers of PDAC. Ultimately this review analyses whether the microbiome may be amenable to targeting and consequently altering the natural history of PDAC.
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13
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Geyer M, Queiroz K. Microfluidic Platforms for High-Throughput Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma Organoid Culture and Drug Screening. Front Cell Dev Biol 2022; 9:761807. [PMID: 35004672 PMCID: PMC8733732 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2021.761807] [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: 08/20/2021] [Accepted: 11/17/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma (PDAC), the most common pancreatic cancer type, is believed to become the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths by 2030 with mortality rates of up to 93%. It is often detected at a late stage due to lacking symptoms, and therefore surgical removal of the tumor is the only treatment option for patients. Only 20% of the tumors are resectable, mainly due to early metastasis. Therefore, for 80% of cases chemotherapeutic treatment is the leading therapy for patients. PDAC is characterized by high-density stroma which induces hypoxic conditions and high interstitial pressure. These factors impact carcinogenesis and progression of PDAC and support the formation of an immunosuppressive microenvironment that renders this tumor type refractory to immunotherapies. Most in vitro PDAC models have limited translational relevance, as these fail to recapitulate relevant aspects of PDAC complexity. Altogether, there is an urgent need for novel and innovative PDAC modeling platforms. Here, we discuss the relevance of microfluidic and organoid technologies as platforms for modeling bio- and physicochemical features of PDAC and as translational models that enable high-throughput phenotypic drug screenings, while also allowing for the development of novel personalized models used to identify treatment responsive patient subsets.
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14
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Liu L, Kshirsagar PG, Gautam SK, Gulati M, Wafa EI, Christiansen JC, White BM, Mallapragada SK, Wannemuehler MJ, Kumar S, Solheim JC, Batra SK, Salem AK, Narasimhan B, Jain M. Nanocarriers for pancreatic cancer imaging, treatments, and immunotherapies. Theranostics 2022; 12:1030-1060. [PMID: 35154473 PMCID: PMC8771545 DOI: 10.7150/thno.64805] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2021] [Accepted: 12/03/2021] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Pancreatic tumors are highly desmoplastic and immunosuppressive. Delivery and distribution of drugs within pancreatic tumors are compromised due to intrinsic physical and biochemical stresses that lead to increased interstitial fluid pressure, vascular compression, and hypoxia. Immunotherapy-based approaches, including therapeutic vaccines, immune checkpoint inhibition, CAR-T cell therapy, and adoptive T cell therapies, are challenged by an immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment. Together, extensive fibrosis and immunosuppression present major challenges to developing treatments for pancreatic cancer. In this context, nanoparticles have been extensively studied as delivery platforms and adjuvants for cancer and other disease therapies. Recent advances in nanotechnology have led to the development of multiple nanocarrier-based formulations that not only improve drug delivery but also enhance immunotherapy-based approaches for pancreatic cancer. This review discusses and critically analyzes the novel nanoscale strategies that have been used for drug delivery and immunomodulation to improve treatment efficacy, including newly emerging immunotherapy-based approaches. This review also presents important perspectives on future research directions that will guide the rational design of novel and robust nanoscale platforms to treat pancreatic tumors, particularly with respect to targeted therapies and immunotherapies. These insights will inform the next generation of clinical treatments to help patients manage this debilitating disease and enhance survival rates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luman Liu
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Iowa State University, Ames, IA
| | - Prakash G. Kshirsagar
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha NE
| | - Shailendra K. Gautam
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha NE
| | - Mansi Gulati
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha NE
| | - Emad I. Wafa
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Experimental Therapeutics, College of Pharmacy, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA
| | - John C. Christiansen
- Department of Veterinary Microbiology & Preventive Medicine, Iowa State University, Ames, IA
| | - Brianna M. White
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Iowa State University, Ames, IA
| | - Surya K. Mallapragada
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Iowa State University, Ames, IA
- Nanovaccine Institute, Iowa State University, Ames, IA
| | - Michael J. Wannemuehler
- Department of Veterinary Microbiology & Preventive Medicine, Iowa State University, Ames, IA
- Nanovaccine Institute, Iowa State University, Ames, IA
| | - Sushil Kumar
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha NE
| | - Joyce C. Solheim
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha NE
- Nanovaccine Institute, Iowa State University, Ames, IA
- Eppley Institute, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE
- Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha NE
| | - Surinder K. Batra
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha NE
- Nanovaccine Institute, Iowa State University, Ames, IA
- Eppley Institute, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE
- Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha NE
| | - Aliasger K. Salem
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Experimental Therapeutics, College of Pharmacy, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA
- Nanovaccine Institute, Iowa State University, Ames, IA
| | - Balaji Narasimhan
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Iowa State University, Ames, IA
- Nanovaccine Institute, Iowa State University, Ames, IA
| | - Maneesh Jain
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha NE
- Nanovaccine Institute, Iowa State University, Ames, IA
- Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha NE
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15
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Li HW, Tang SL. Colony Stimulating Factor-1 and its Receptor in Gastrointestinal Malignant Tumors. J Cancer 2021; 12:7111-7119. [PMID: 34729112 PMCID: PMC8558652 DOI: 10.7150/jca.60379] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2021] [Accepted: 10/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Gastrointestinal malignant tumor is the fourth most common cancer in the world and the second cause of cancer death. Due to the susceptibility to lymphatic metastasis and liver metastasis, the prognosis of advanced tumor patients is still poor till now. With the development of tumor molecular biology, the tumor microenvironment and the cytokines, which are closely related to the proliferation, infiltration and metastasis, have become a research hotspot in life sciences. Colony stimulating factor-1 (CSF-1), a polypeptide chain cytokine, and its receptor CSF-1R are reported to play important roles in regulating tumor-associated macrophages in tumor microenvironment and participating in the occurrence and development in diversities of cancers. Targeted inhibition of the CSF-1/CSF-1R signal axis has broad application prospects in cancer immunotherapy. Here, we reviewed the biological characters of CSF-1/CSF-1R and their relationship with gastrointestinal malignancies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hong-Wu Li
- General Surgery Department, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning Province, China, 110032
| | - Shi-Lei Tang
- General Surgery Department, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning Province, China, 110032
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16
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Gu H, Deng W, Zheng Z, Wu K, Sun F. CCL2 produced by pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma is essential for the accumulation and activation of monocytic myeloid-derived suppressor cells. IMMUNITY INFLAMMATION AND DISEASE 2021; 9:1686-1695. [PMID: 34525267 PMCID: PMC8589368 DOI: 10.1002/iid3.523] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2021] [Revised: 08/20/2021] [Accepted: 08/24/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Introduction The development of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is closely tied with the immune system. C‐C motif chemokine ligands (CCL) were proved to lead to immune recruitment and training. Thus, we reckoned CCL2 to be the kernel of immune suppression in PDAC tissues. Methods We compared normal pancreatic tissues with PDAC tissues according to The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and clinical samples. Flow cytometry was used to identify M‐MDSCs. We further demonstrated immune suppression of M‐MDSCs according to proliferation rates of CD8+ T cells/CD4+ T cells. Levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and Arginase were also tested by flow cytometry, enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay, and western blot analysis. We also analyzed the specific mechanisms by cluster analysis after CCL2 stimulating M‐MDSCs. Results We found that CCL2 highly increased in PDAC tissues. CCL2 is positively related to CD33 and CD14, markers of monocytic myeloid‐derived suppressor cells (M‐MDSCs). We have demonstrated that CCL2 recruited M‐MDSCs into PDAC tissues both in vitro and in vivo. M‐MDSCs recruitment is accompanied by sustained immune suppression. Furthermore, we have found that M‐MDSCs impeded T cell proliferation and produced high levels of ROS and Arginase, which can be enhanced by CCL2. Mechanistically, CCL2 stimulated M‐MDSCs led to a significant upregulation of genes, a large part of which accumulated in the mitogen‐activated protein kinase signaling pathway. Treatment of aloesin, MAPK signaling inhibitor, relieved the associated immunosuppressive phenotype induced by CCL2. Conclusions Our study indicates that PDAC cells produced CCL2, which promoted localized M‐MDSC recruitment and immune suppression, thereby promoting tumor progression. CCL2 is significantly upregulated in colon adenocarcinoma CCL2 influences M‐MDSC recruitment and functionality in colon adenocarcinoma CCL2 stimulates immune‐suppressive functions of M‐MDSC by activating MAPK signaling
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Affiliation(s)
- Haitao Gu
- Department of General Surgery, School of Medicine, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Wensheng Deng
- Department of General Surgery, School of Medicine, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Zhong Zheng
- Department of Urology, School of Medicine, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Ke Wu
- Department of Urology, School of Medicine, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Feng Sun
- Department of Urology, School of Medicine, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
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17
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Tang S, Huang X, Jiang H, Qin S. Identification of a Five-Gene Prognostic Signature Related to B Cells Infiltration in Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma. Int J Gen Med 2021; 14:5051-5068. [PMID: 34511988 PMCID: PMC8416334 DOI: 10.2147/ijgm.s324432] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2021] [Accepted: 08/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PAAD) is an extremely malignant cancer. Immunotherapy is a promising avenue to increase the survival time of patients with PAAD. Methods RNA sequencing and clinical data for PAAD were downloaded from the TCGA database. The ssGSEA method and weighted gene co-expression network analysis were used to calculate the relative abundance of tumor-infiltrating immune cells and identify the related modules. Least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) and Cox regression analyses were used to construct a prognostic model. MCPcounter and EPIC were also used to assess immune cell components using gene expression profiles. Results The B cells closely related module was identified, and five genes, including ARID5A, CLEC2B, MICAL1, MZB1, and RAPGEF1, were ultimately selected to establish a prognostic signature to calculate the risk scores of PAAD patients. Kaplan–Meier curves showed worse survival in the high-risk patients (p < 0.05), and the area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves of risk score for 1-year and 3-year survival were 0.78 and 0.80, respectively, based on the training set. Similar results were verified using the validated and combined sets. Interestingly, the low-risk group presented significantly elevated immune and stromal scores, proportion of B cells, and associations between these five genes and B cells were identified using multiple methods including ssGSEA, MCPcounter, and EPIC. Conclusion This is the first attempt to study a B cells-related prognostic signature, which is instrumental in the exploration of novel prognostic biomarkers in PAAD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shaomei Tang
- Department of Gastroenterology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiaoliang Huang
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Guangxi Medical University Cancer Hospital, Nanning, People's Republic of China
| | - Haixing Jiang
- Department of Gastroenterology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, People's Republic of China
| | - Shanyu Qin
- Department of Gastroenterology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, People's Republic of China
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18
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Carbone C, Piro G, Agostini A, Delfino P, De Sanctis F, Nasca V, Spallotta F, Sette C, Martini M, Ugel S, Corbo V, Cappello P, Bria E, Scarpa A, Tortora G. Intratumoral injection of TLR9 agonist promotes an immunopermissive microenvironment transition and causes cooperative antitumor activity in combination with anti-PD1 in pancreatic cancer. J Immunother Cancer 2021; 9:jitc-2021-002876. [PMID: 34479922 PMCID: PMC8420705 DOI: 10.1136/jitc-2021-002876] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/15/2021] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Complex tumor and immune microenvironment render pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) resistant to immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs). Therefore, a strategy to convert the immune hostile into an immunopermissive tumor is required. Recent studies showed that intratumoral injection of Toll-like receptor 9 agonist IMO-2125 primes the adaptive immune response. Phase I and II trials with intratumoral IMO-2125 demonstrated its safety and antitumoral activity. Methods We generated an array of preclinical models by orthotopically engrafting PDAC-derived cell lines in syngeneic mice and categorized them as high, low and no immunogenic potential, based on the ability of tumor to evoke T lymphocyte or NK cell response. To test the antitumor efficacy of IMO-2125 on locally treated and distant sites, we engrafted cancer cells on both flanks of syngeneic mice and treated them with intratumoral IMO-2125 or vehicle, alone or in combination with anti-PD1 ICI. Tumor tissues and systemic immunity were analyzed by transcriptomic, cytofluorimetric and immunohistochemistry analysis. Results We demonstrated that intratumoral IMO-2125 as single agent triggers immune system response to kill local and distant tumors in a selected high immunogenic subtype affecting tumor growth and mice survival. Remarkably, intratumoral IMO-2125 in combination with systemic anti-PD1 causes a potent antitumor effect on primary injected and distant sites also in pancreatic cancer models with low immunogenic potential, preceded by a transition toward an immunopermissive microenvironment, with increase in tumor-infiltrating dendritic and T cells in tumor and lymph nodes. Conclusion We demonstrated a potent antitumor activity of IMO-2125 and anti-PD1 combination in immunotherapy-resistant PDAC models through the modulation of immune microenvironment, providing the rationale to translate this strategy into a clinical setting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carmine Carbone
- Medical Oncology, Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS, Roma, Italy
| | - Geny Piro
- Medical Oncology, Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS, Roma, Italy
| | - Antonio Agostini
- Medical Oncology, Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS, Roma, Italy
| | - Pietro Delfino
- Department of Diagnostics and Public Health, University and Hospital Trust of Verona, Verona, Italy.,ARC-Net Research Centre, University and Hospital Trust of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Francesco De Sanctis
- Department of Medicine, Section of Immunology, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Vincenzo Nasca
- Medical Oncology, Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS, Roma, Italy
| | - Francesco Spallotta
- Institute for Systems Analysis and Computer Science "A. Ruberti", National Research Council (IASI - CNR), Rome, Italy
| | - Claudio Sette
- Department of Neuroscience, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Milano, Italy
| | - Maurizio Martini
- Division of Anatomic Pathology and Histology, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario "Agostino Gemelli" IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Stefano Ugel
- Department of Medicine, Section of Immunology, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Vincenzo Corbo
- Department of Diagnostics and Public Health, University and Hospital Trust of Verona, Verona, Italy.,ARC-Net Research Centre, University and Hospital Trust of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Paola Cappello
- Department of Molecular Biotechnology and Health Sciences, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | - Emilio Bria
- Medical Oncology, Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS, Roma, Italy.,Medical Oncology, Department of Translational Medicine, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy
| | - Aldo Scarpa
- Department of Diagnostics and Public Health, University and Hospital Trust of Verona, Verona, Italy.,ARC-Net Research Centre, University and Hospital Trust of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Giampaolo Tortora
- Medical Oncology, Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS, Roma, Italy .,Medical Oncology, Department of Translational Medicine, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy
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19
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Edwards P, Kang BW, Chau I. Targeting the Stroma in the Management of Pancreatic Cancer. Front Oncol 2021; 11:691185. [PMID: 34336679 PMCID: PMC8316993 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2021.691185] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2021] [Accepted: 06/30/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Pancreatic cancer (PC) presents extremely aggressive tumours and is associated with poor survival. This is attributed to the unique features of the tumour microenvironment (TME), which is known to create a dense stromal formation and poorly immunogenic condition. In particular, the TME of PC, including the stromal cells and extracellular matrix, plays an essential role in the progression and chemoresistance of PC. Consequently, several promising agents that target key components of the stroma have already been developed and are currently in multiple stages of clinical trials. Therefore, the authors review the latest available evidence on novel stroma-targeting approaches, highlighting the potential impact of the stroma as a key component of the TME in PC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Penelope Edwards
- Department of Medicine, Royal Marsden Hospital, London, United Kingdom
| | - Byung Woog Kang
- Department of Oncology/Hematology, Kyungpook National University Hospital, School of Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, South Korea
| | - Ian Chau
- Department of Medicine, Royal Marsden Hospital, London, United Kingdom
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20
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de Koning W, Latifi D, Li Y, van Eijck CHJ, Stubbs AP, Mustafa DAM. Identification, Validation, and Utilization of Immune Cells in Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma Based on Marker Genes. Front Immunol 2021; 12:649061. [PMID: 33986743 PMCID: PMC8110918 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.649061] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2021] [Accepted: 04/09/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
The immune response affects tumor biological behavior and progression. The specific immune characteristics of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) can determine the metastatic abilities of cancerous cells and the survival of patients. Therefore, it is important to characterize the specific immune landscape in PDAC tissue samples, and the effect of various types of therapy on that immune composition. Previously, a set of marker genes was identified to assess the immune cell composition in different types of cancer tissue samples. However, gene expression and subtypes of immune cells may vary across different types of cancers. The aim of this study was to provide a method to identify immune cells specifically in PDAC tissue samples. The method is based on defining a specific set of marker genes expressed by various immune cells in PDAC samples. A total of 90 marker genes were selected and tested for immune cell type-specific definition in PDAC; including 43 previously used, and 47 newly selected marker genes. The immune cell-type specificity was checked mathematically by calculating the “pairwise similarity” for all candidate genes using the PDAC RNA-sequenced dataset available at The Cancer Genome Atlas. A set of 55 marker genes that identify 22 different immune cell types for PDAC was created. To validate the method and the set of marker genes, an independent mRNA expression dataset of 24 samples of PDAC patients who received various types of (neo)adjuvant treatments was used. The results showed that by applying our method we were able to identify PDAC specific marker genes to characterize immune cell infiltration in tissue samples. The method we described enabled identifying different subtypes of immune cells that were affected by various types of therapy in PDAC patients. In addition, our method can be easily adapted and applied to identify the specific immune landscape in various types of tissue samples.
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Affiliation(s)
- Willem de Koning
- Unit of Clinical Bioinformatics, Department of Pathology, Erasmus University Medical Centre, Rotterdam, Netherlands.,Tumor Immuno-Pathology Laboratory, Department of Pathology, Erasmus University Medical Centre, Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | - Diba Latifi
- Department of Surgery, Erasmus University Medical Centre, Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | - Yunlei Li
- Unit of Clinical Bioinformatics, Department of Pathology, Erasmus University Medical Centre, Rotterdam, Netherlands.,Tumor Immuno-Pathology Laboratory, Department of Pathology, Erasmus University Medical Centre, Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | - Casper H J van Eijck
- Department of Surgery, Erasmus University Medical Centre, Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | - Andrew P Stubbs
- Unit of Clinical Bioinformatics, Department of Pathology, Erasmus University Medical Centre, Rotterdam, Netherlands
| | - Dana A M Mustafa
- Tumor Immuno-Pathology Laboratory, Department of Pathology, Erasmus University Medical Centre, Rotterdam, Netherlands
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21
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Liot S, Balas J, Aubert A, Prigent L, Mercier-Gouy P, Verrier B, Bertolino P, Hennino A, Valcourt U, Lambert E. Stroma Involvement in Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma: An Overview Focusing on Extracellular Matrix Proteins. Front Immunol 2021; 12:612271. [PMID: 33889150 PMCID: PMC8056076 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.612271] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2020] [Accepted: 02/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Pancreatic cancer is the seventh leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide and is predicted to become second in 2030 in industrialized countries if no therapeutic progress is made. Among the different types of pancreatic cancers, Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is by far the most represented one with an occurrence of more than 90%. This specific cancer is a devastating malignancy with an extremely poor prognosis, as shown by the 5-years survival rate of 2–9%, ranking firmly last amongst all cancer sites in terms of prognostic outcomes for patients. Pancreatic tumors progress with few specific symptoms and are thus at an advanced stage at diagnosis in most patients. This malignancy is characterized by an extremely dense stroma deposition around lesions, accompanied by tissue hypovascularization and a profound immune suppression. Altogether, these combined features make access to cancer cells almost impossible for conventional chemotherapeutics and new immunotherapeutic agents, thus contributing to the fatal outcomes of the disease. Initially ignored, the Tumor MicroEnvironment (TME) is now the subject of intensive research related to PDAC treatment and could contain new therapeutic targets. In this review, we will summarize the current state of knowledge in the field by focusing on TME composition to understand how this specific compartment could influence tumor progression and resistance to therapies. Attention will be paid to Tenascin-C, a matrix glycoprotein commonly upregulated during cancer that participates to PDAC progression and thus contributes to poor prognosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sophie Liot
- Laboratoire de Biologie Tissulaire et Ingénierie Thérapeutique (LBTI), UMR CNRS 5305, Université Lyon 1, Institut de Biologie et Chimie des Protéines, Lyon, France
| | - Jonathan Balas
- Laboratoire de Biologie Tissulaire et Ingénierie Thérapeutique (LBTI), UMR CNRS 5305, Université Lyon 1, Institut de Biologie et Chimie des Protéines, Lyon, France
| | - Alexandre Aubert
- Laboratoire de Biologie Tissulaire et Ingénierie Thérapeutique (LBTI), UMR CNRS 5305, Université Lyon 1, Institut de Biologie et Chimie des Protéines, Lyon, France
| | - Laura Prigent
- Laboratoire de Biologie Tissulaire et Ingénierie Thérapeutique (LBTI), UMR CNRS 5305, Université Lyon 1, Institut de Biologie et Chimie des Protéines, Lyon, France
| | - Perrine Mercier-Gouy
- Laboratoire de Biologie Tissulaire et Ingénierie Thérapeutique (LBTI), UMR CNRS 5305, Université Lyon 1, Institut de Biologie et Chimie des Protéines, Lyon, France
| | - Bernard Verrier
- Laboratoire de Biologie Tissulaire et Ingénierie Thérapeutique (LBTI), UMR CNRS 5305, Université Lyon 1, Institut de Biologie et Chimie des Protéines, Lyon, France
| | - Philippe Bertolino
- Cancer Research Center of Lyon, UMR INSERM 1052, CNRS 5286, Lyon, France
| | - Ana Hennino
- Cancer Research Center of Lyon, UMR INSERM 1052, CNRS 5286, Lyon, France
| | - Ulrich Valcourt
- Laboratoire de Biologie Tissulaire et Ingénierie Thérapeutique (LBTI), UMR CNRS 5305, Université Lyon 1, Institut de Biologie et Chimie des Protéines, Lyon, France
| | - Elise Lambert
- Laboratoire de Biologie Tissulaire et Ingénierie Thérapeutique (LBTI), UMR CNRS 5305, Université Lyon 1, Institut de Biologie et Chimie des Protéines, Lyon, France
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22
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Bengtsson A, Andersson R, Rahm J, Ganganna K, Andersson B, Ansari D. Organoid technology for personalized pancreatic cancer therapy. Cell Oncol (Dordr) 2021; 44:251-260. [PMID: 33492660 PMCID: PMC7985124 DOI: 10.1007/s13402-021-00585-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2020] [Revised: 12/29/2020] [Accepted: 01/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma has the lowest survival rate among all major cancers and is the third leading cause of cancer-related mortality. The stagnant survival statistics and dismal response rates to current therapeutics highlight the need for more efficient preclinical models. Patient-derived organoids (PDOs) offer new possibilities as powerful preclinical models able to account for interpatient variability. Organoid development can be divided into four different key phases: establishment, propagation, drug screening and response prediction. Establishment entails tailored tissue extraction and growth protocols, propagation requires consistent multiplication and passaging, while drug screening and response prediction will benefit from shorter and more precise assays, and clear decision-making tools. CONCLUSIONS This review attempts to outline the most important challenges that remain in exploiting organoid platforms for drug discovery and clinical applications. Some of these challenges may be overcome by novel methods that are under investigation, such as 3D bioprinting systems, microfluidic systems, optical metabolic imaging and liquid handling robotics. We also propose an optimized organoid workflow inspired by all technical solutions we have presented.
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Affiliation(s)
- Axel Bengtsson
- Department of Surgery, Clinical Sciences Lund, Skåne University Hospital, Lund University, Skåne University Hospital, Lund, SE-221 85, Lund, Sweden
| | - Roland Andersson
- Department of Surgery, Clinical Sciences Lund, Skåne University Hospital, Lund University, Skåne University Hospital, Lund, SE-221 85, Lund, Sweden
| | - Jonas Rahm
- Department of Surgery, Clinical Sciences Lund, Skåne University Hospital, Lund University, Skåne University Hospital, Lund, SE-221 85, Lund, Sweden
| | - Karthik Ganganna
- Department of Surgery, Clinical Sciences Lund, Skåne University Hospital, Lund University, Skåne University Hospital, Lund, SE-221 85, Lund, Sweden
| | - Bodil Andersson
- Department of Surgery, Clinical Sciences Lund, Skåne University Hospital, Lund University, Skåne University Hospital, Lund, SE-221 85, Lund, Sweden
| | - Daniel Ansari
- Department of Surgery, Clinical Sciences Lund, Skåne University Hospital, Lund University, Skåne University Hospital, Lund, SE-221 85, Lund, Sweden.
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23
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Tang R, Liu X, Liang C, Hua J, Xu J, Wang W, Meng Q, Liu J, Zhang B, Yu X, Shi S. Deciphering the Prognostic Implications of the Components and Signatures in the Immune Microenvironment of Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma. Front Immunol 2021; 12:648917. [PMID: 33777046 PMCID: PMC7987951 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.648917] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2021] [Accepted: 02/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: The treatment modalities for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) are limited and unsatisfactory. Although many novel drugs targeting the tumor microenvironment, such as immune checkpoint inhibitors, have shown promising efficacy for some tumors, few of them significantly prolong the survival of patients with PDAC due to insufficient knowledge on the tumor microenvironment. Methods: A single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) dataset and seven PDAC cohorts with complete clinical and bulk sequencing data were collected for bioinformatics analysis. The relative proportions of each cell type were estimated using the gene set variation analysis (GSVA) algorithm based on the signatures identified by scRNA-seq or previous literature. Results: A meta-analysis of 883 PDAC patients showed that neutrophils are associated with worse overall survival (OS) for PDAC, while CD8+ T cells, CD4+ T cells, and B cells are related to prolonged OS for PDAC, with marginal statistical significance. Seventeen cell categories were identified by clustering analysis based on single-cell sequencing. Among them, CD8+ T cells and NKT cells were universally exhausted by expressing exhaustion-associated molecular markers. Interestingly, signatures of CD8+ T cells and NKT cells predicted prolonged OS for PDAC only in the presence of “targets” for pyroptosis and ferroptosis induction. Moreover, a specific state of T cells with overexpression of ribosome-related proteins was associated with a good prognosis. In addition, the hematopoietic stem cell (HSC)-like signature predicted prolonged OS in PDAC. Weighted gene co-expression network analysis identified 5 hub genes whose downregulation may mediate the observed survival benefits of the HSC-like signature. Moreover, trajectory analysis revealed that myeloid cells evolutionarily consisted of 7 states, and antigen-presenting molecules and complement-associated genes were lost along the pseudotime flow. Consensus clustering based on the differentially expressed genes between two states harboring the longest pseudotime span identified two PDAC groups with prognostic differences, and more infiltrated immune cells and activated immune signatures may account for the survival benefits. Conclusion: This study systematically investigated the prognostic implications of the components of the PDAC tumor microenvironment by integrating single-cell sequencing and bulk sequencing, and future studies are expected to develop novel targeted agents for PDAC treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rong Tang
- Department of Pancreatic Surgery, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, China.,Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.,Shanghai Pancreatic Cancer Institute, Shanghai, China.,Pancreatic Cancer Institute, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Xiaomeng Liu
- Department of Pancreatic Surgery, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, China.,Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.,Shanghai Pancreatic Cancer Institute, Shanghai, China.,Pancreatic Cancer Institute, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Chen Liang
- Department of Pancreatic Surgery, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, China.,Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.,Shanghai Pancreatic Cancer Institute, Shanghai, China.,Pancreatic Cancer Institute, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Jie Hua
- Department of Pancreatic Surgery, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, China.,Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.,Shanghai Pancreatic Cancer Institute, Shanghai, China.,Pancreatic Cancer Institute, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Jin Xu
- Department of Pancreatic Surgery, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, China.,Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.,Shanghai Pancreatic Cancer Institute, Shanghai, China.,Pancreatic Cancer Institute, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Wei Wang
- Department of Pancreatic Surgery, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, China.,Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.,Shanghai Pancreatic Cancer Institute, Shanghai, China.,Pancreatic Cancer Institute, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Qingcai Meng
- Department of Pancreatic Surgery, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, China.,Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.,Shanghai Pancreatic Cancer Institute, Shanghai, China.,Pancreatic Cancer Institute, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Jiang Liu
- Department of Pancreatic Surgery, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, China.,Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.,Shanghai Pancreatic Cancer Institute, Shanghai, China.,Pancreatic Cancer Institute, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Bo Zhang
- Department of Pancreatic Surgery, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, China.,Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.,Shanghai Pancreatic Cancer Institute, Shanghai, China.,Pancreatic Cancer Institute, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Xianjun Yu
- Department of Pancreatic Surgery, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, China.,Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.,Shanghai Pancreatic Cancer Institute, Shanghai, China.,Pancreatic Cancer Institute, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Si Shi
- Department of Pancreatic Surgery, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, China.,Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.,Shanghai Pancreatic Cancer Institute, Shanghai, China.,Pancreatic Cancer Institute, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
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24
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Elebo N, Fru P, Omoshoro-Jones J, Candy GP, Nweke EE. Role of different immune cells and metabolic pathways in modulating the immune response in pancreatic cancer (Review). Mol Med Rep 2020; 22:4981-4991. [PMID: 33174057 PMCID: PMC7646946 DOI: 10.3892/mmr.2020.11622] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2020] [Accepted: 09/16/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Pancreatic cancer is an aggressive cancer, making it a leading cause of cancer‑related deaths. It is characteristically resistant to treatment, which results in low survival rates. In pancreatic cancer, immune cells undergo transitions that can inhibit or promote their functions, enabling treatment resistance and tumor progression. These transitions can be fostered by metabolic pathways that are dysregulated during tumorigenesis. The present review aimed to summarize the different immune cells and their roles in pancreatic cancer. The review also highlighted the individual metabolic pathways in pancreatic cancer and how they enable transitions in immune cells. Finally, the potential of targeting metabolic pathways for effective therapeutic strategies was considered.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nnenna Elebo
- Department of Surgery, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of The Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, Gauteng 2193, South Africa
| | - Pascaline Fru
- Department of Surgery, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of The Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, Gauteng 2193, South Africa
| | - Jones Omoshoro-Jones
- Department of Surgery, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of The Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, Gauteng 2193, South Africa
| | - Geoffrey Patrick Candy
- Department of Surgery, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of The Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, Gauteng 2193, South Africa
| | - Ekene Emmanuel Nweke
- Department of Surgery, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of The Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, Gauteng 2193, South Africa
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25
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Do novel treatment strategies enhance T cell-mediated Immunity: Opportunities and challenges in pancreatic cancer immunotherapy. Int Immunopharmacol 2020; 90:107199. [PMID: 33246828 DOI: 10.1016/j.intimp.2020.107199] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2020] [Revised: 11/06/2020] [Accepted: 11/09/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Although immunotherapy is successful when included as component of treatment strategies for advanced cancers, data are insufficient for evaluating its efficacy for treating patients with pancreatic cancer (PC). PC is remarkably resistant to current immunotherapies because of its strongly immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment comprising immunosuppressive cells such as myeloid-derived suppressor cells and regulatory T cells, which limit the efficacy of T cell infiltration. Thus, the ability to achieve robust and durable intrinsic T cell efficacy may represent the key for improving patients' outcomes. Recent studies show that the efficacy of immunotherapy for treating PC will be significantly improved when combined with novel treatment strategies. This review summarizes the latest research in this rapidly progressing area and provides an overview of how current therapies enhance T cell-mediated immunotherapies that employ immune checkpoint inhibitors, cytokines, cell receptor modulators, tumor microenvironment regulators, vaccines, and gene-targeted immunotherapies. We highlight novel discoveries, which promise to guide future management of PC, and clinical trials aimed to increase the overall survival rate of patients with PC.
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26
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Beyond the Genomic Mutation: Rethinking the Molecular Biomarkers of K-RAS Dependency in Pancreatic Cancers. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21145023. [PMID: 32708716 PMCID: PMC7404119 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21145023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2020] [Revised: 07/13/2020] [Accepted: 07/14/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Oncogenic v-Ki-ras2 Kirsten rat sarcoma viral oncogene homolog (K-RAS) plays a key role in the development and maintenance of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). The targeting of K-RAS would be beneficial to treat tumors whose growth depends on active K-RAS. The analysis of K-RAS genomic mutations is a clinical routine; however, an emerging question is whether the mutational status is able to identify tumors effectively dependent on K-RAS for tailoring targeted therapies. With the emergence of novel K-RAS inhibitors in clinical settings, this question is relevant. Several studies support the notion that the K-RAS mutation is not a sufficient biomarker deciphering the effective dependency of the tumor. Transcriptomic and metabolomic profiles of tumors, while revealing K-RAS signaling complexity and K-RAS-driven molecular pathways crucial for PDAC growth, are opening the opportunity to specifically identify K-RAS-dependent- or K-RAS-independent tumor subtypes by using novel molecular biomarkers. This would help tumor selection aimed at tailoring therapies against K-RAS. In this review, we will present studies about how the K-RAS mutation can also be interpreted in a state of K-RAS dependency, for which it is possible to identify specific K-RAS-driven molecular biomarkers in certain PDAC subtypes, beyond the genomic K-RAS mutational status.
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