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Galassi C, Esteller M, Vitale I, Galluzzi L. Epigenetic control of immunoevasion in cancer stem cells. Trends Cancer 2024:S2405-8033(24)00171-7. [PMID: 39244477 DOI: 10.1016/j.trecan.2024.08.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2024] [Revised: 07/24/2024] [Accepted: 08/12/2024] [Indexed: 09/09/2024]
Abstract
Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are a poorly differentiated population of malignant cells that (at least in some neoplasms) is responsible for tumor progression, resistance to therapy, and disease relapse. According to a widely accepted model, all stages of cancer progression involve the ability of neoplastic cells to evade recognition or elimination by the host immune system. In line with this notion, CSCs are not only able to cope with environmental and therapy-elicited stress better than their more differentiated counterparts but also appear to better evade tumor-targeting immune responses. We summarize epigenetic modifications of DNA and histones through which CSCs evade immune recognition or elimination, and propose that such alterations constitute promising therapeutic targets to increase the sensitivity of some malignancies to immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudia Galassi
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, USA
| | - Manel Esteller
- Cancer Epigenetics Group, Josep Carreras Leukaemia Research Institute (IJC), Barcelona, Spain; Centro de Investigacion Biomedica en Red Cancer (CIBERONC), Madrid, Spain; Institució Catalana de Recerca i Estudis Avançats (ICREA), Barcelona, Spain; Physiological Sciences Department, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Barcelona (UB), Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Ilio Vitale
- Italian Institute for Genomic Medicine, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCSS) Candiolo, Torino, Italy; Candiolo Cancer Institute, FPO - IRCCS, Candiolo, Italy.
| | - Lorenzo Galluzzi
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, USA; Sandra and Edward Meyer Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA; Caryl and Israel Englander Institute for Precision Medicine, New York, NY, USA.
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2
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Zhou Y, Han W, Feng Y, Wang Y, Sun T, Xu J. Microbial metabolites affect tumor progression, immunity and therapy prediction by reshaping the tumor microenvironment (Review). Int J Oncol 2024; 65:73. [PMID: 38847233 PMCID: PMC11173369 DOI: 10.3892/ijo.2024.5661] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2024] [Accepted: 04/30/2024] [Indexed: 06/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Several studies have indicated that the gut microbiome and tumor microbiota may affect tumors. Emerging metabolomics research illustrates the need to examine the variations in microbial metabolite composition between patients with cancer and healthy individuals. Microbial metabolites can impact the progression of tumors and the immune response by influencing a number of mechanisms, including modulation of the immune system, cancer or immune‑related signaling pathways, epigenetic modification of proteins and DNA damage. Microbial metabolites can also alleviate side effects and drug resistance during chemotherapy and immunotherapy, while effectively activating the immune system to exert tumor immunotherapy. Nevertheless, the impact of microbial metabolites on tumor immunity can be both beneficial and harmful, potentially influenced by the concentration of the metabolites or the specific cancer type. The present review summarizes the roles of various microbial metabolites in different solid tumors, alongside their influence on tumor immunity and treatment. Additionally, clinical trials evaluating the therapeutic effects of microbial metabolites or related microbes on patients with cancer have been listed. In summary, studying microbial metabolites, which play a crucial role in the interaction between the microbiota and tumors, could lead to the identification of new supplementary treatments for cancer. This has the potential to improve the effectiveness of cancer treatment and enhance patient prognosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuhang Zhou
- Department of Breast Medicine 1, Cancer Hospital of China Medical University, Liaoning Cancer Hospital, Shenyang, Liaoning 110042, P.R. China
- Department of Pharmacology, Cancer Hospital of China Medical University, Liaoning Cancer Hospital, Shenyang, Liaoning 110042, P.R. China
| | - Wenjie Han
- Department of Breast Medicine 1, Cancer Hospital of China Medical University, Liaoning Cancer Hospital, Shenyang, Liaoning 110042, P.R. China
- Department of Pharmacology, Cancer Hospital of China Medical University, Liaoning Cancer Hospital, Shenyang, Liaoning 110042, P.R. China
| | - Yun Feng
- Department of Breast Medicine 1, Cancer Hospital of China Medical University, Liaoning Cancer Hospital, Shenyang, Liaoning 110042, P.R. China
- Department of Pharmacology, Cancer Hospital of China Medical University, Liaoning Cancer Hospital, Shenyang, Liaoning 110042, P.R. China
| | - Yue Wang
- Department of Breast Medicine 1, Cancer Hospital of China Medical University, Liaoning Cancer Hospital, Shenyang, Liaoning 110042, P.R. China
- Department of Pharmacology, Cancer Hospital of China Medical University, Liaoning Cancer Hospital, Shenyang, Liaoning 110042, P.R. China
| | - Tao Sun
- Department of Breast Medicine 1, Cancer Hospital of China Medical University, Liaoning Cancer Hospital, Shenyang, Liaoning 110042, P.R. China
- Department of Oncology Medicine, Key Laboratory of Liaoning Breast Cancer Research, Shenyang, Liaoning 110042, P.R. China
- Department of Breast Medicine, Cancer Hospital of Dalian University of Technology, Liaoning Cancer Hospital, Shenyang, Liaoning 110042, P.R. China
| | - Junnan Xu
- Department of Breast Medicine 1, Cancer Hospital of China Medical University, Liaoning Cancer Hospital, Shenyang, Liaoning 110042, P.R. China
- Department of Pharmacology, Cancer Hospital of China Medical University, Liaoning Cancer Hospital, Shenyang, Liaoning 110042, P.R. China
- Department of Breast Medicine, Cancer Hospital of Dalian University of Technology, Liaoning Cancer Hospital, Shenyang, Liaoning 110042, P.R. China
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3
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Li X, Zhang C, Yue W, Jiang Y. Modulatory effects of cancer stem cell-derived extracellular vesicles on the tumor immune microenvironment. Front Immunol 2024; 15:1362120. [PMID: 38962016 PMCID: PMC11219812 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2024.1362120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2023] [Accepted: 06/03/2024] [Indexed: 07/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Cancer stem cells (CSCs), accounting for only a minor cell proportion (< 1%) within tumors, have profound implications in tumor initiation, metastasis, recurrence, and treatment resistance due to their inherent ability of self-renewal, multi-lineage differentiation, and tumor-initiating potential. In recent years, accumulating studies indicate that CSCs and tumor immune microenvironment act reciprocally in driving tumor progression and diminishing the efficacy of cancer therapies. Extracellular vesicles (EVs), pivotal mediators of intercellular communications, build indispensable biological connections between CSCs and immune cells. By transferring bioactive molecules, including proteins, nucleic acids, and lipids, EVs can exert mutual influence on both CSCs and immune cells. This interaction plays a significant role in reshaping the tumor immune microenvironment, creating conditions favorable for the sustenance and propagation of CSCs. Deciphering the intricate interplay between CSCs and immune cells would provide valuable insights into the mechanisms of CSCs being more susceptible to immune escape. This review will highlight the EV-mediated communications between CSCs and each immune cell lineage in the tumor microenvironment and explore potential therapeutic opportunities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinyu Li
- Department of Animal Science, College of Animal Science, Hebei North University, Zhangjiakou, Hebei, China
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Key Laboratory for Major Obstetric Diseases of Guangdong Province, Key Laboratory of Reproduction and Genetics of Guangdong Higher Education Institutes, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Cuilian Zhang
- Reproductive Medicine Center, Henan Provincial People’s Hospital, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Wei Yue
- State Key Laboratory of Female Fertility Promotion, Center for Reproductive Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Obstetrics and Gynecology, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China
- Key Laboratory of Assisted Reproduction, Peking University, Ministry of Education, Beijing, China
| | - Yuening Jiang
- State Key Laboratory of Female Fertility Promotion, Center for Reproductive Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Obstetrics and Gynecology, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China
- Key Laboratory of Assisted Reproduction, Peking University, Ministry of Education, Beijing, China
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4
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Wu C, Weis SM, Cheresh DA. Tumor-initiating cells establish a niche to overcome isolation stress. Trends Cell Biol 2024; 34:380-387. [PMID: 37640611 DOI: 10.1016/j.tcb.2023.08.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2023] [Revised: 07/26/2023] [Accepted: 08/02/2023] [Indexed: 08/31/2023]
Abstract
While the tumor microenvironment is a critical contributor to cancer progression, early steps of tumor initiation and metastasis also rely on the ability of individual tumor cells to survive and thrive at locations where tumor stroma or immune infiltration has yet to be established. In this opinion article, we use the term 'isolation stress' to broadly describe the challenges that individual tumor cells must overcome during the initiation and expansion of the primary tumor beyond permissive boundaries and metastatic spread into distant sites, including a lack of cell-cell contact, adhesion to protumor extracellular matrix proteins, and access to nutrients, oxygen, and soluble factors that support growth. In particular, we highlight the ability of solitary tumor cells to autonomously generate a specialized fibronectin-enriched extracellular matrix to create their own pericellular niche that supports tumor initiation. Cancer cells that can creatively evade the effects of isolation stress not only become more broadly stress tolerant, they also tend to show enhanced stemness, drug resistance, tumor initiation, and metastasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chengsheng Wu
- Department of Pathology, Moores Cancer Center, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA; Sanford Consortium for Regenerative Medicine at the University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Sara M Weis
- Department of Pathology, Moores Cancer Center, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA; Sanford Consortium for Regenerative Medicine at the University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - David A Cheresh
- Department of Pathology, Moores Cancer Center, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA; Sanford Consortium for Regenerative Medicine at the University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA.
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5
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Zheng S, Wang WX. Single-Cell RNA Sequencing Profiling Cellular Heterogeneity and Specific Responses of Fish Gills to Microplastics and Nanoplastics. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2024; 58:5974-5986. [PMID: 38512049 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.3c10338] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/22/2024]
Abstract
Fish gills are highly sensitive organs for microplastic (MP) and nanoplastic (NP) invasions, but the cellular heterogeneity of fish gills to MPs and NPs remains largely unknown. We employed single-cell RNA sequencing to investigate the responses of individual cell populations in tilapia Oreochromis niloticus gills to MP and NP exposure at an environmentally relevant concentration. Based on the detected differentially expressed gene (DEG) numbers, the most affected immune cells by MP exposure were macrophages, while the stimulus of NPs primarily targeted T cells. In response to MPs and NPs, H+-ATPase-rich cells exhibited distinct changes as compared with Na+/K+-ATPase-rich cells and pavement cells. Fibroblasts were identified as a potential sensitive cell-type biomarker for MP interaction with O. niloticus gills, as evidenced by the largely reduced cell counts and the mostly detected DEGs among the 12 identified cell populations. The most MP-sensitive fibroblast subpopulation in O. niloticus gills was lipofibroblasts. Cell-cell communications between fibroblasts and H+-ATPase-rich cells, neurons, macrophages, neuroepithelial cells, and Na+/K+-ATPase-rich cells in O. niloticus gills were significantly inhibited by MP exposure. Collectively, our study demonstrated the cellular heterogeneity of O. niloticus gills to MPs and NPs and provided sensitive markers for their toxicological mechanisms at single-cell resolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Siwen Zheng
- School of Energy and Environment and State Key Laboratory of Marine Pollution, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China
- Research Centre for the Oceans and Human Health, City University of Hong Kong Shenzhen Research Institute, Shenzhen 518057, China
| | - Wen-Xiong Wang
- School of Energy and Environment and State Key Laboratory of Marine Pollution, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China
- Research Centre for the Oceans and Human Health, City University of Hong Kong Shenzhen Research Institute, Shenzhen 518057, China
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Yang S, Wu J, Wang Z, Cheng Y, Zhang R, Yao C, Yang D. A Smart DNA Hydrogel Enables Synergistic Immunotherapy and Photodynamic Therapy of Melanoma. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2024; 63:e202319073. [PMID: 38353346 DOI: 10.1002/anie.202319073] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2023] [Indexed: 03/01/2024]
Abstract
Immunotherapy faces insufficient immune activation and limited immune effectiveness. Herein, we report a smart DNA hydrogel that enables the release of multivalent functional units at the tumor site to enhance the efficacy of immunotherapy. The smart DNA hydrogel was assembled from two types of ultra-long DNA chains synthesized via rolling circle amplification. One DNA chain contained immune adjuvant CpG oligonucleotides and polyaptamers for loading natural killer cell-derived exosomes; the other chain contained multivalent G-quadruplex for loading photodynamic agents. DNA chains formed DNA hydrogel through base-pairing. HhaI restriction endonuclease sites were designed between functional units. Upon stimuli in the tumor sites, the hydrogel was effectively cleaved by the released HhaI and disassembled into functional units. Natural killer cell-derived exosomes played an anti-tumor role, and the CpG oligonucleotide activated antigen-presenting cells to enhance the immunotherapy. Besides the tumor-killing effect of photodynamic therapy, the generated cellular debris acted as an immune antigen to further enhance the immunotherapeutic effect. In a mouse melanoma orthotopic model, the smart DNA hydrogel as a localized therapeutic agent, achieved a remarkable tumor suppression rate of 91.2 %. The smart DNA hydrogel exhibited enhanced efficacy of synergistic immunotherapy and photodynamic therapy, expanding the application of DNA materials in biomedicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sen Yang
- Frontiers Science Center for Synthetic Biology, Key Laboratory of Systems Bioengineering (MOE), School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300350, P.R. China
- Department of Chemistry, State Key Laboratory of Molecular Engineering of Polymers, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Molecular Catalysis and Innovative Materials, College of Chemistry and Materials, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200438, P.R. China
| | - Junlin Wu
- Frontiers Science Center for Synthetic Biology, Key Laboratory of Systems Bioengineering (MOE), School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300350, P.R. China
| | - Zhongyu Wang
- Frontiers Science Center for Synthetic Biology, Key Laboratory of Systems Bioengineering (MOE), School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300350, P.R. China
| | - Yu Cheng
- Frontiers Science Center for Synthetic Biology, Key Laboratory of Systems Bioengineering (MOE), School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300350, P.R. China
| | - Rui Zhang
- Frontiers Science Center for Synthetic Biology, Key Laboratory of Systems Bioengineering (MOE), School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300350, P.R. China
- Department of Chemistry, State Key Laboratory of Molecular Engineering of Polymers, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Molecular Catalysis and Innovative Materials, College of Chemistry and Materials, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200438, P.R. China
| | - Chi Yao
- Frontiers Science Center for Synthetic Biology, Key Laboratory of Systems Bioengineering (MOE), School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300350, P.R. China
| | - Dayong Yang
- Frontiers Science Center for Synthetic Biology, Key Laboratory of Systems Bioengineering (MOE), School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300350, P.R. China
- Department of Chemistry, State Key Laboratory of Molecular Engineering of Polymers, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Molecular Catalysis and Innovative Materials, College of Chemistry and Materials, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200438, P.R. China
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Wang Q, Zhang R, He Y, Mao G, Kong Z. Taraxasterol enhanced bladder cancer cells radiosensitivity via inhibiting the COX-2/PGE2/JAK2/STAT3/MMP pathway. Int J Radiat Biol 2024; 100:791-801. [PMID: 38442139 DOI: 10.1080/09553002.2024.2324475] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2023] [Accepted: 02/23/2024] [Indexed: 03/07/2024]
Abstract
PURPOSE Radiotherapy with bladder preservation is highly acceptable among patients bearing bladder cancer (BCa), but the occurrence of secondary tolerance (ARR) during treatment is one of the important reasons for the failure of clinical radiotherapy. COX-2 has been frequently reported to be highly expressed and associated with radio-resistance in various cancers. In this study, the feasibility of Taraxasterol (Tara) as a radiosensitizer was investigated, and the target effect of Tara on COX-2 and its underlying mechanism were explored. METHODS AND MATERIALS The toxicity of Tara toward BCa cells was detected with the MTT method and cells in response to IR or Tara + IR were compared by clone formation assay. Next, a small RNA interference system (siRNA) was employed to decrease endogenous COX-2 expression in BCa cells, and the stem cell-like features and motion abilities of BCa cells under different treatments were investigated using microsphere formation and transwell chamber assay, respectively. Meanwhile, the expression of a series of inflammation-related molecules and stem cell characteristic molecules was determined by qRT-PCR, western blot and ELISA method. In vivo studies, BCa cells were subcutaneously injected into the right flank of each male mouse. Those mice were then grouped and exposed to different treatment: Tara, IR, IR + Tara and untreated control. The volumes of each tumor were measured every two days and target proteins were detected with immunohistochemical (IHC) staining. RESULTS The results show that COX-2 decline, due to COX-2 knocking-down or Tara treatment, could greatly enhance BCa cells' radiosensitivity and significantly decrease their migration, invasion and microsphere formation abilities, companied with the reduce of JAK2, phos-STAT3, MMP2 and MMP9 expression. However, Tara could not further reduce the expression of an above molecule of cells in COX-2-deficient BCa cells. Correspondingly, Tara treatment could not further enhance those siCOX-2 BCa cells response to IR. CONCLUSIONS Our data support that Tara can improve the radiosensitivity of BCa cells by targeting COX-2/PGE2. The mechanism may involve regulating STAT3 phosphorylation, DNA damage response protein activation, and expression of MMP2/MMP9.
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Affiliation(s)
- Quanxin Wang
- Department of Radiobiology, Institute of Radiation Medicine, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Ruiqi Zhang
- Department of Radiobiology, Institute of Radiation Medicine, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yijun He
- Department of Radiobiology, Institute of Radiation Medicine, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Guangmin Mao
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Longhua Hospital Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Zhaolu Kong
- Department of Radiobiology, Institute of Radiation Medicine, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
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Yang J, Shi X, Kuang Y, Wei R, Feng L, Chen J, Wu X. Cell-nanocarrier drug delivery system: a promising strategy for cancer therapy. Drug Deliv Transl Res 2024; 14:581-596. [PMID: 37721694 DOI: 10.1007/s13346-023-01429-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/05/2023] [Indexed: 09/19/2023]
Abstract
Tumor targeting has been a great challenge for drug delivery systems. A number of nanotechnology-derived drug carriers have been developed for cancer treatment to improve efficacy and biocompatibility. Among them, the emergence of cell-nanocarriers has attracted great attention, which simulates cell function and has good biocompatibility. They can also escape the clearance of reticuloendothelial system, showing a long-cycle effect. The inherent tumor migration and tumor homing ability of cells increase their significance as tumor-targeting vectors. In this review, we focus on the combination of stem cells, immune cells, red blood cells, and cell membranes to nanocarriers, which enable chemotherapy agents to efficiently target lesion sites and improve drug distribution while being low toxic and safe. In addition, we discuss the pros and cons of these nanoparticles as well as the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead. Although research to address these limitations is still ongoing, this promising tumor-targeted drug delivery system will provide a safe and effective platform against cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiefen Yang
- Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, No. 1, Qiuyang Road, Fuzhou, Fujian, People's Republic of China
- Shanghai Wei Er Lab, Shanghai, China
| | - Xiongxi Shi
- Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, No. 1, Qiuyang Road, Fuzhou, Fujian, People's Republic of China
- Shanghai Wei Er Lab, Shanghai, China
| | - Yanting Kuang
- Shanghai Wei Er Lab, Shanghai, China
- Inner Mongolia Medical University, No. 5, Xinhua Road, Hohhot, Inner Mongolia, People's Republic of China
| | - Ruting Wei
- Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, No. 1, Qiuyang Road, Fuzhou, Fujian, People's Republic of China
- Shanghai Wei Er Lab, Shanghai, China
| | - Lanni Feng
- Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, No. 1, Qiuyang Road, Fuzhou, Fujian, People's Republic of China
- Shanghai Wei Er Lab, Shanghai, China
| | - Jianming Chen
- Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, No. 1, Qiuyang Road, Fuzhou, Fujian, People's Republic of China.
- Shanghai Wei Er Lab, Shanghai, China.
| | - Xin Wu
- Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, No. 1, Qiuyang Road, Fuzhou, Fujian, People's Republic of China.
- Shanghai Wei Er Lab, Shanghai, China.
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Zhao Q, Zong H, Zhu P, Su C, Tang W, Chen Z, Jin S. Crosstalk between colorectal CSCs and immune cells in tumorigenesis, and strategies for targeting colorectal CSCs. Exp Hematol Oncol 2024; 13:6. [PMID: 38254219 PMCID: PMC10802076 DOI: 10.1186/s40164-024-00474-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2023] [Accepted: 01/06/2024] [Indexed: 01/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Cancer immunotherapy has emerged as a promising strategy in the treatment of colorectal cancer, and relapse after tumor immunotherapy has attracted increasing attention. Cancer stem cells (CSCs), a small subset of tumor cells with self-renewal and differentiation capacities, are resistant to traditional therapies such as radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Recently, CSCs have been proven to be the cells driving tumor relapse after immunotherapy. However, the mutual interactions between CSCs and cancer niche immune cells are largely uncharacterized. In this review, we focus on colorectal CSCs, CSC-immune cell interactions and CSC-based immunotherapy. Colorectal CSCs are characterized by robust expression of surface markers such as CD44, CD133 and Lgr5; hyperactivation of stemness-related signaling pathways, such as the Wnt/β-catenin, Hippo/Yap1, Jak/Stat and Notch pathways; and disordered epigenetic modifications, including DNA methylation, histone modification, chromatin remodeling, and noncoding RNA action. Moreover, colorectal CSCs express abnormal levels of immune-related genes such as MHC and immune checkpoint molecules and mutually interact with cancer niche cells in multiple tumorigenesis-related processes, including tumor initiation, maintenance, metastasis and drug resistance. To date, many therapies targeting CSCs have been evaluated, including monoclonal antibodies, antibody‒drug conjugates, bispecific antibodies, tumor vaccines adoptive cell therapy, and small molecule inhibitors. With the development of CSC-/niche-targeting technology, as well as the integration of multidisciplinary studies, novel therapies that eliminate CSCs and reverse their immunosuppressive microenvironment are expected to be developed for the treatment of solid tumors, including colorectal cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qi Zhao
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450052, China
| | - Hong Zong
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450052, China
| | - Pingping Zhu
- School of Life Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450001, China
| | - Chang Su
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450052, China
| | - Wenxue Tang
- The Research and Application Center of Precision Medicine, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, No. 2 Jing‑ba Road, Zhengzhou, 450014, China.
| | - Zhenzhen Chen
- School of Life Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450001, China.
| | - Shuiling Jin
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450052, China.
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Cui H, Huang Q, Li J, Zhou P, Wang Z, Cai J, Feng C, Deng X, Gu H, He X, Tang J, Wang X, Zhao X, Yu J, Chen X. Single-cell RNA sequencing analysis to evaluate antimony exposure effects on cell-lineage communications within the Drosophila testicular niche. ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY 2024; 270:115948. [PMID: 38184976 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2024.115948] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2023] [Revised: 12/28/2023] [Accepted: 01/03/2024] [Indexed: 01/09/2024]
Abstract
The increasing production and prevalence of antimony (Sb)-related products raise concerns regarding its potential hazards to reproductive health. Upon environmental exposure, Sb reportedly induces testicular toxicity during spermatogenesis; moreover, it is known to affect various testicular cell populations, particularly germline stem cell populations. However, the cell-cell communication resulting from Sb exposure within the testicular niche remains poorly understood. To address this gap, herein we analyzed testicular single-cell RNA sequencing data from Sb-exposed Drosophila. Our findings revealed that the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and WNT signaling pathways were associated with the stem cell niche in Drosophila testes, which may disrupt the homeostasis of the testicular niche in Drosophila. Furthermore, we identified several ligand-receptor pairs, facilitating the elucidation of intercellular crosstalk involved in Sb-mediated reproductive toxicology. We employed scRNA-seq analysis and conducted functional verification to investigate the expression patterns of core downstream factors associated with EGFR and WNT signatures in the testes under the influence of Sb exposure. Altogether, our results shed light on the potential mechanisms of Sb exposure-mediated testicular cell-lineage communications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongliang Cui
- Department of Urology, Nantong Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Nantong 226001, China
| | - Qiuru Huang
- Institute of Reproductive Medicine, School of Medicine, Nantong University, Nantong 226001, China
| | - Jiaxin Li
- Institute of Reproductive Medicine, School of Medicine, Nantong University, Nantong 226001, China
| | - Peiyao Zhou
- Department of Occupational Medicine and Environmental Toxicology, Nantong Key Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology, School of Public Health, Nantong University, Nantong 226019, China
| | - Zihan Wang
- Institute of Reproductive Medicine, School of Medicine, Nantong University, Nantong 226001, China
| | - Jiaying Cai
- Institute of Reproductive Medicine, School of Medicine, Nantong University, Nantong 226001, China
| | - Chenrui Feng
- Institute of Reproductive Medicine, School of Medicine, Nantong University, Nantong 226001, China
| | - Xiaonan Deng
- Institute of Reproductive Medicine, School of Medicine, Nantong University, Nantong 226001, China
| | - Han Gu
- Institute of Reproductive Medicine, School of Medicine, Nantong University, Nantong 226001, China
| | - Xuxin He
- Institute of Reproductive Medicine, School of Medicine, Nantong University, Nantong 226001, China
| | - Juan Tang
- Department of Occupational Medicine and Environmental Toxicology, Nantong Key Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology, School of Public Health, Nantong University, Nantong 226019, China
| | - Xiaoke Wang
- Department of Occupational Medicine and Environmental Toxicology, Nantong Key Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology, School of Public Health, Nantong University, Nantong 226019, China
| | - Xinyuan Zhao
- Department of Occupational Medicine and Environmental Toxicology, Nantong Key Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology, School of Public Health, Nantong University, Nantong 226019, China.
| | - Jun Yu
- Institute of Reproductive Medicine, School of Medicine, Nantong University, Nantong 226001, China.
| | - Xia Chen
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Nantong First People's Hospital, Affiliated Hospital 2 of Nantong University, Nantong University, Nantong 226001, China.
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Borlongan MC, Saha D, Wang H. Tumor Microenvironment: A Niche for Cancer Stem Cell Immunotherapy. Stem Cell Rev Rep 2024; 20:3-24. [PMID: 37861969 DOI: 10.1007/s12015-023-10639-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/02/2023] [Indexed: 10/21/2023]
Abstract
Tumorigenic Cancer Stem Cells (CSCs), often called tumor-initiating cells (TICs), represent a unique subset of cells within the tumor milieu. They stand apart from the bulk of tumor cells due to their exceptional self-renewal, metastatic, and differentiation capabilities. Despite significant progress in classifying CSCs, these cells remain notably resilient to conventional radiotherapy and chemotherapy, contributing to cancer recurrence. In this review, our objective is to explore novel avenues of research that delve into the distinctive characteristics of CSCs within their surrounding tumor microenvironment (TME). We will start with an overview of the defining features of CSCs and then delve into their intricate interactions with cells from the lymphoid lineage, namely T cells, B cells, and natural killer (NK) cells. Furthermore, we will discuss their dynamic interplay with myeloid lineage cells, including macrophages, neutrophils, and myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs). Moreover, we will illuminate the crosstalk between CSCs and cells of mesenchymal origin, specifically fibroblasts, adipocytes, and endothelial cells. Subsequently, we will underscore the pivotal role of CSCs within the context of the tumor-associated extracellular matrix (ECM). Finally, we will highlight pre-clinical and clinical studies that target CSCs within the intricate landscape of the TME, including CAR-T therapy, oncolytic viruses, and CSC-vaccines, with the ultimate goal of uncovering novel avenues for CSC-based cancer immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mia C Borlongan
- College of Medicine, California Northstate University, 9700 West Taron Drive, Elk Grove, CA, 95757, USA
| | - Dipongkor Saha
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Sciences College of Pharmacy, California Northstate University, 9700 West Taron Drive, Elk Grove, CA, 95757, USA.
| | - Hongbin Wang
- College of Medicine, California Northstate University, 9700 West Taron Drive, Elk Grove, CA, 95757, USA.
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Sciences College of Pharmacy, California Northstate University, 9700 West Taron Drive, Elk Grove, CA, 95757, USA.
- Master Program of Pharmaceutical Sciences College of Graduate Studies, Department of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Sciences College of Pharmacy, Department of Basic Science College of Medicine, California Northstate University, 9700 West Taron Drive, Elk Grove, CA, 95757, USA.
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12
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Zhao H, Yang K, Yue Z, Chen Z, Cheng Z, Sun H, Song C. The role of ARL4C in predicting prognosis and immunotherapy drug susceptibility in pan-cancer analysis. Front Pharmacol 2023; 14:1288492. [PMID: 38178862 PMCID: PMC10765536 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2023.1288492] [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: 09/04/2023] [Accepted: 11/28/2023] [Indexed: 01/06/2024] Open
Abstract
Background: ARLs, which are a class of small GTP-binding proteins, play a crucial role in facilitating tumor tumorigenesis and development. ARL4C, a vital member of the ARLs family, has been implicated in the progression of tumors, metastatic dissemination, and development of resistance to therapeutic drugs. Nevertheless, the precise functional mechanisms of ARL4C concerning tumor prognosis and immunotherapy drug susceptibility remain elusive. Methods: By combining the GTEx and TCGA databases, the presence of ARL4C was examined in 33 various types of cancer. Immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence staining techniques were utilized to confirm the expression of ARL4C in particular tumor tissues. Furthermore, the ESTIMATE algorithm and TIMER2.0 database were utilized to analyze the tumor microenvironment and immune infiltration associated with ARL4C. The TISCH platform facilitated the utilization of single-cell RNA-seq datasets for further analysis. ARL4C-related immune escape was investigated using the TISMO tool. Lastly, drug sensitivity analysis was conducted to assess the sensitivity of different types of tumors to compounds based on the varying levels of ARL4C expression. Results: The study found that ARL4C was highly expressed in 23 different types of cancer. Moreover, the presence of high ARL4C expression was found to be associated with a poor prognosis in BLCA, COAD, KIRP, LGG, and UCEC. Notably, ARL4C was also expressed in immune cells, and its high expression was found to be correlated with cancer immune activation. Most importantly, the drug sensitivity analysis revealed a positive correlation between ARL4C expression and the heightened sensitivity of tumors to Staurosporine, Midostaurin, and Nelarabine. Conclusion: The findings from our study indicate that the expression level of ARL4C may exert an influence on cancer development, prognosis, and susceptibility to immunotherapy drugs. In addition, the involvement of ARL4C in the tumor immune microenvironment has expanded the concept of ARL4C-targeted immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hanshu Zhao
- Scientific Research Center, The Seventh Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, China
- Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
| | - Kaiqi Yang
- Clinical Medicine, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
| | - Ziqi Yue
- Department of Forensic Medicine, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
| | - Ziyin Chen
- Department of Urology, China-Japan Friendship Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Zhe Cheng
- Department of Forensic Medicine, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
| | - Hongcheng Sun
- Department of Gastroenterology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
| | - Changze Song
- Scientific Research Center, The Seventh Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, China
- Department of Urology, The Fourth Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
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13
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Mukherjee S, Chakraborty S, Basak U, Pati S, Dutta A, Dutta S, Roy D, Banerjee S, Ray A, Sa G, Das T. Breast cancer stem cells generate immune-suppressive T regulatory cells by secreting TGFβ to evade immune-elimination. Discov Oncol 2023; 14:220. [PMID: 38038865 PMCID: PMC10692020 DOI: 10.1007/s12672-023-00787-z] [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: 05/28/2023] [Accepted: 09/06/2023] [Indexed: 12/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Cancer stem cells (CSCs), being the primary contributors in tumor initiation, metastasis, and relapse, ought to have seminal roles in evasion of immune surveillance. Tumor-promoting CD4+CD25+FOXP3+ T-regulatory cells (Tregs) have been described to abolish host defense mechanisms by impeding the activities of other immune cells including effector T cells. However, whether CSCs can convert effector T cells to immune-suppressive Treg subset, and if yes, the mechanism underlying CSC-induced Treg generation, are limitedly studied. In this regard, we observed a positive correlation between breast CSC and Treg signature markers in both in-silico and immunohistochemical analyses. Mirroring the conditions during tumor initiation, low number of CSCs could successfully generate CD4+CD25+FOXP3+ Treg cells from infiltrating CD4+ T lymphocytes in a contact-independent manner. Suppressing the proliferation potential as well as IFNγ production capacity of effector T cells, these Treg cells might be inhibiting antitumor immunity, thereby hindering immune-elimination of CSCs during tumor initiation. Furthermore, unlike non-stem cancer cells (NSCCs), CSCs escaped doxorubicin-induced apoptosis, thus constituting major surviving population after three rounds of chemotherapy. These drug-survived CSCs were also able to generate CD4+CD25+FOXP3+ Treg cells. Our search for the underlying mechanism further unveiled the role of CSC-shed immune-suppressive cytokine TGFβ, which was further increased by chemotherapy, in generating tumor Treg cells. In conclusion, during initiation as well as after chemotherapy, when NSCCs are not present in the tumor microenvironment, CSCs, albeit present in low numbers, generate immunosuppressive CD4+CD25+FOXP3+ Treg cells in a contact-independent manner by shedding high levels of immune-suppressive Treg-polarizing cytokine TGFβ, thus escaping immune-elimination and initiating the tumor or causing tumor relapse.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sumon Mukherjee
- Division of Molecular Medicine, Bose Institute, P-1/12, Calcutta Improvement Trust Scheme VII M, Kolkata, 700054, India
| | - Sourio Chakraborty
- Division of Molecular Medicine, Bose Institute, P-1/12, Calcutta Improvement Trust Scheme VII M, Kolkata, 700054, India
| | - Udit Basak
- Division of Molecular Medicine, Bose Institute, P-1/12, Calcutta Improvement Trust Scheme VII M, Kolkata, 700054, India
| | - Subhadip Pati
- Division of Molecular Medicine, Bose Institute, P-1/12, Calcutta Improvement Trust Scheme VII M, Kolkata, 700054, India
| | - Apratim Dutta
- Division of Molecular Medicine, Bose Institute, P-1/12, Calcutta Improvement Trust Scheme VII M, Kolkata, 700054, India
| | - Saikat Dutta
- Division of Molecular Medicine, Bose Institute, P-1/12, Calcutta Improvement Trust Scheme VII M, Kolkata, 700054, India
| | - Dia Roy
- Division of Molecular Medicine, Bose Institute, P-1/12, Calcutta Improvement Trust Scheme VII M, Kolkata, 700054, India
| | - Shruti Banerjee
- Division of Molecular Medicine, Bose Institute, P-1/12, Calcutta Improvement Trust Scheme VII M, Kolkata, 700054, India
| | - Arpan Ray
- Department of Pathology, ESI-PGIMSR, Medical College Hospital and ODC (EZ), Kolkata, India
| | - Gaurisankar Sa
- Division of Molecular Medicine, Bose Institute, P-1/12, Calcutta Improvement Trust Scheme VII M, Kolkata, 700054, India
| | - Tanya Das
- Division of Molecular Medicine, Bose Institute, P-1/12, Calcutta Improvement Trust Scheme VII M, Kolkata, 700054, India.
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14
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Jiang Z, Waterbury QT, Malagola E, Fu N, Kim W, Ochiai Y, Wu F, Guha C, Shawber CJ, Yan KS, Wang TC. Microbial-Dependent Recruitment of Immature Myeloid Cells Promotes Intestinal Regeneration. Cell Mol Gastroenterol Hepatol 2023; 17:321-346. [PMID: 37898454 PMCID: PMC10821484 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcmgh.2023.10.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2023] [Revised: 10/18/2023] [Accepted: 10/18/2023] [Indexed: 10/30/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND & AIMS The intestinal epithelium functions both in nutrient absorption and as a barrier, separating the luminal contents from a network of vascular, fibroblastic, and immune cells underneath. After injury to the intestine, multiple cell populations cooperate to drive regeneration of the mucosal barrier, including lymphatic endothelial cells (LECs). A population of granulocytic immature myeloid cells (IMCs), marked by Hdc, participate in regeneration of multiple organs such as the colon and central nervous system, and their contribution to intestinal regeneration was investigated. METHODS By using male and female histidine decarboxylase (Hdc) green fluorescent reporter (GFP) mice, we investigated the role of Hdc+ IMCs in intestinal regeneration after exposure to 12 Gy whole-body irradiation. The movement of IMCs was analyzed using flow cytometry and immunostaining. Ablation of Hdc+ cells using the HdcCreERT2 tamoxifen-inducible recombinase Cre system, conditional knockout of Prostaglandin-endoperoxidase synthase 2 (Ptgs2) in Hdc+ cells using HdcCre; Ptgs2 floxed mice, and visualization of LECs using Prox1tdTomato mice also was performed. The role of microbial signals was investigated by knocking down mice gut microbiomes using antibiotic cocktail gavages. RESULTS We found that Hdc+ IMCs infiltrate the injured intestine after irradiation injury and promote epithelial regeneration in part by modulating LEC activity. Hdc+ IMCs express Ptgs2 (encoding cyclooxygenase-2/COX-2), and enables them to produce prostaglandin E2. Prostaglandin E2 acts on the prostaglandin E2 receptor 4 receptor (EP4) on LECs to promote lymphangiogenesis and induce the expression of proregenerative factors including R-spondin 3. Depletion of gut microbes leads to reduced intestinal regeneration by impaired recruitment of IMCs. CONCLUSIONS Altogether, our results unveil a critical role for IMCs in intestinal repair by modulating LEC activity and implicate gut microbes as mediators of intestinal regeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhengyu Jiang
- Division of Digestive and Liver Diseases Medicine, Irving Cancer Research Center, Department of Medicine, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, New York; Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, New York
| | - Quin T Waterbury
- Division of Digestive and Liver Diseases Medicine, Irving Cancer Research Center, Department of Medicine, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, New York; Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, New York; Institute of Human Nutrition, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, New York
| | - Ermanno Malagola
- Division of Digestive and Liver Diseases Medicine, Irving Cancer Research Center, Department of Medicine, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, New York; Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, New York
| | - Na Fu
- Division of Digestive and Liver Diseases Medicine, Irving Cancer Research Center, Department of Medicine, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, New York; Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, New York; Department of Traditional and Western Medical Hepatology, Third Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, China
| | - Woosook Kim
- Division of Digestive and Liver Diseases Medicine, Irving Cancer Research Center, Department of Medicine, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, New York; Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, New York
| | - Yosuke Ochiai
- Division of Digestive and Liver Diseases Medicine, Irving Cancer Research Center, Department of Medicine, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, New York; Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, New York
| | - Feijing Wu
- Division of Digestive and Liver Diseases Medicine, Irving Cancer Research Center, Department of Medicine, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, New York; Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, New York; Department of Thyroid and Breast Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Quanzhou, Fujian, China
| | - Chandan Guha
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Montefiore Medical Center, Bronx, New York; Department of Pathology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York
| | - Carrie J Shawber
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, New York
| | - Kelley S Yan
- Division of Digestive and Liver Diseases Medicine, Irving Cancer Research Center, Department of Medicine, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, New York; Columbia Center for Human Development, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA; Department of Genetics and Development, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, New York
| | - Timothy C Wang
- Division of Digestive and Liver Diseases Medicine, Irving Cancer Research Center, Department of Medicine, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, New York; Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, New York.
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15
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Pang Y, Shi R, Chan L, Lu Y, Zhu D, Liu T, Yan M, Wang Y, Wang W. The combination of the HDAC1 inhibitor SAHA and doxorubicin has synergic efficacy in triple negative breast cancer in vivo. Pharmacol Res 2023; 196:106926. [PMID: 37716547 DOI: 10.1016/j.phrs.2023.106926] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2023] [Revised: 09/13/2023] [Accepted: 09/13/2023] [Indexed: 09/18/2023]
Abstract
Vorinostat (SAHA) is a histone deacetylase inhibitor that exerts its effects through epigenetic regulation. Specifically, SAHA can inhibit the proliferation of triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) cells alone or in combination with other chemotherapeutic agents. Doxorubicin (DOX), a traditional chemotherapeutic drug, exhibits a potent cytotoxic effect on cancer cells while also inducing strong toxic effects. In this study, we investigated the synergistic potential of these two drugs in combination against TNBC. Our results suggested that the combination of these two drugs could enhance the inhibitory effect on cancer cell proliferation, resulting in alterations in cell mitotic phase, and suppression of cancer cell stemness. Moreover, our in vivo study unveiled that when SAHA was combined with DOX, it not only exhibited an inhibitory effect on tumor metastasis but also played a role in regulating the immune microenvironment within tumors. Overall, the combination of DOX and SAHA presents a promising avenue for innovative combination chemotherapy in the context of TNBC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuheng Pang
- Department of Breast Surgery, Tumor Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang, PR China; NHC Key Laboratory of Cell Transplantation, The First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang, PR China
| | - Runze Shi
- Department of Breast Surgery, Tumor Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang, PR China
| | - Liujia Chan
- College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Capital Medical University, Beijing, PR China
| | - Yu Lu
- College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Capital Medical University, Beijing, PR China
| | - Di Zhu
- College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Capital Medical University, Beijing, PR China
| | - Tong Liu
- Department of Breast Surgery, Tumor Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang, PR China; NHC Key Laboratory of Cell Transplantation, The First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang, PR China
| | - Meisi Yan
- Pathology Teaching and Research Section, Basic Medical College of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang, PR China; NHC Key Laboratory of Cell Transplantation, The First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang, PR China.
| | - Yuji Wang
- College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Capital Medical University, Beijing, PR China.
| | - Wenjing Wang
- Beijing Institute of Hepatology, Beijing YouAn Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, PR China.
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16
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Wu F, Wu F, Zhou Q, Liu X, Fei J, Zhang D, Wang W, Tao Y, Lin Y, Lin Q, Pan X, Sun K, Xie F, Bai L. A CCL2 +DPP4 + subset of mesenchymal stem cells expedites aberrant formation of creeping fat in humans. Nat Commun 2023; 14:5830. [PMID: 37730641 PMCID: PMC10511504 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-41418-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/01/2023] [Accepted: 09/04/2023] [Indexed: 09/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Creeping fat is a typical feature of Crohn's disease. It refers to the expansion of mesenteric adipose tissue around inflamed and fibrotic intestines and is associated with stricture formation and intestinal obstruction. In this study, we characterize creeping fat as pro-adipogenic and pro-fibrotic. Lipidomics analysis of Crohn's disease patients (sixteen males, six females) and healthy controls (five males, ten females) reveals abnormal lipid metabolism in creeping fat. Through scRNA-seq analysis on mesenteric adipose tissue from patients (five males, one female) and healthy controls (two females), we identify a CCL2+DPP4+ subset of mesenchymal stem cells that expands in creeping fat and expedites adipogenic differentiation into dystrophic adipocytes in response to CCL20+CD14+ monocytes and IL-6, leading to the formation of creeping fat. Ex vivo experiments (tissues from five males, one female) confirm that both CCL20+CD14+ monocytes and IL-6 activate DPP4+ mesenchymal stem cells towards a pro-adipogenic phenotype. This study provides a comprehensive investigation of creeping fat formation and offers a conceptual framework for discovering therapeutic targets for treatment of Crohn's disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fengfei Wu
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Gastroenterology, Institute of Gastroenterology of Guangdong Province, Department of Gastroenterology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Fangting Wu
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Gastroenterology, Institute of Gastroenterology of Guangdong Province, Department of Gastroenterology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Qian Zhou
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Gastroenterology, Institute of Gastroenterology of Guangdong Province, Department of Gastroenterology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xi Liu
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Gastroenterology, Institute of Gastroenterology of Guangdong Province, Department of Gastroenterology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jieying Fei
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Gastroenterology, Institute of Gastroenterology of Guangdong Province, Department of Gastroenterology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Da Zhang
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Gastroenterology, Institute of Gastroenterology of Guangdong Province, Department of Gastroenterology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Weidong Wang
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Gastroenterology, Institute of Gastroenterology of Guangdong Province, Department of Gastroenterology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yi Tao
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Gastroenterology, Institute of Gastroenterology of Guangdong Province, Department of Gastroenterology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yubing Lin
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Gastroenterology, Institute of Gastroenterology of Guangdong Province, Department of Gastroenterology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Qiaoqiao Lin
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Gastroenterology, Institute of Gastroenterology of Guangdong Province, Department of Gastroenterology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xinghua Pan
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, and Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Single Cell Technology and Application, Guangzhou, China
| | - Kai Sun
- Department of General Surgery, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Fang Xie
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Gastroenterology, Institute of Gastroenterology of Guangdong Province, Department of Gastroenterology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China.
| | - Lan Bai
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Gastroenterology, Institute of Gastroenterology of Guangdong Province, Department of Gastroenterology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China.
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17
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Wang Z, Chen C, Ai J, Shu J, Ding Y, Wang W, Gao Y, Jia Y, Qin Y. Identifying mitophagy-related genes as prognostic biomarkers and therapeutic targets of gastric carcinoma by integrated analysis of single-cell and bulk-RNA sequencing data. Comput Biol Med 2023; 163:107227. [PMID: 37413850 DOI: 10.1016/j.compbiomed.2023.107227] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2023] [Revised: 06/01/2023] [Accepted: 06/30/2023] [Indexed: 07/08/2023]
Abstract
Gastric carcinoma (GC) is the fourth leading cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide. Patients with advanced GC tend to have poor prognoses and shortened survival. Finding novel predictive biomarkers for GC prognosis is an urgent need. Mitophagy is the selection degradation of damaged mitochondria to maintain cellular homeostasis, which has been shown to play both pro- and anti-tumor effects. This study combined single-cell sequencing data and transcriptomics to screen mitophagy-related genes (MRGs) associated with GC progression and analyze their clinical values. Reverse transcription-quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) and immunochemistry (IHC) further verified gene expression profiles. A total of 18 DE-MRGs were identified after taking an intersection of single-cell sequencing data and MRGs. Cells with a higher MRG score were mainly distributed in the epithelial cell cluster. Cell-to-cell communications among epithelial cells with other cell types were significantly upregulated. We established and validated a reliable nomogram model based on DE-MRGs (GABARAPL2 and CDC37) and traditional clinicopathological parameters. GABARAPL2 and CDC37 displayed different immune infiltration states. Given the significant correlation between hub genes and immune checkpoints, targeting MRGs in GC may supplement more benefits to patients who received immunotherapy. In conclusion, GABARAPL2 and CDC37 may be prognostic biomarkers and candidate therapeutic targets of GC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zehua Wang
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Chen Chen
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Jiaoyu Ai
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, China
| | - Jiao Shu
- Department of Pathology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Yi Ding
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Wenjia Wang
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Yaping Gao
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Yongxu Jia
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China.
| | - Yanru Qin
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China.
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18
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Lei Z, Tian Q, Teng Q, Wurpel JND, Zeng L, Pan Y, Chen Z. Understanding and targeting resistance mechanisms in cancer. MedComm (Beijing) 2023; 4:e265. [PMID: 37229486 PMCID: PMC10203373 DOI: 10.1002/mco2.265] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 25.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2022] [Revised: 03/05/2023] [Accepted: 03/23/2023] [Indexed: 05/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Resistance to cancer therapies has been a commonly observed phenomenon in clinical practice, which is one of the major causes of treatment failure and poor patient survival. The reduced responsiveness of cancer cells is a multifaceted phenomenon that can arise from genetic, epigenetic, and microenvironmental factors. Various mechanisms have been discovered and extensively studied, including drug inactivation, reduced intracellular drug accumulation by reduced uptake or increased efflux, drug target alteration, activation of compensatory pathways for cell survival, regulation of DNA repair and cell death, tumor plasticity, and the regulation from tumor microenvironments (TMEs). To overcome cancer resistance, a variety of strategies have been proposed, which are designed to enhance the effectiveness of cancer treatment or reduce drug resistance. These include identifying biomarkers that can predict drug response and resistance, identifying new targets, developing new targeted drugs, combination therapies targeting multiple signaling pathways, and modulating the TME. The present article focuses on the different mechanisms of drug resistance in cancer and the corresponding tackling approaches with recent updates. Perspectives on polytherapy targeting multiple resistance mechanisms, novel nanoparticle delivery systems, and advanced drug design tools for overcoming resistance are also reviewed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zi‐Ning Lei
- PrecisionMedicine CenterScientific Research CenterThe Seventh Affiliated HospitalSun Yat‐Sen UniversityShenzhenP. R. China
- Department of Pharmaceutical SciencesCollege of Pharmacy and Health SciencesSt. John's UniversityQueensNew YorkUSA
| | - Qin Tian
- PrecisionMedicine CenterScientific Research CenterThe Seventh Affiliated HospitalSun Yat‐Sen UniversityShenzhenP. R. China
| | - Qiu‐Xu Teng
- Department of Pharmaceutical SciencesCollege of Pharmacy and Health SciencesSt. John's UniversityQueensNew YorkUSA
| | - John N. D. Wurpel
- Department of Pharmaceutical SciencesCollege of Pharmacy and Health SciencesSt. John's UniversityQueensNew YorkUSA
| | - Leli Zeng
- PrecisionMedicine CenterScientific Research CenterThe Seventh Affiliated HospitalSun Yat‐Sen UniversityShenzhenP. R. China
| | - Yihang Pan
- PrecisionMedicine CenterScientific Research CenterThe Seventh Affiliated HospitalSun Yat‐Sen UniversityShenzhenP. R. China
| | - Zhe‐Sheng Chen
- Department of Pharmaceutical SciencesCollege of Pharmacy and Health SciencesSt. John's UniversityQueensNew YorkUSA
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19
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Zhao J, Fong A, Seow SV, Toh HC. Organoids as an Enabler of Precision Immuno-Oncology. Cells 2023; 12:cells12081165. [PMID: 37190074 DOI: 10.3390/cells12081165] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2023] [Revised: 03/27/2023] [Accepted: 04/13/2023] [Indexed: 05/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Since the dawn of the past century, landmark discoveries in cell-mediated immunity have led to a greater understanding of the innate and adaptive immune systems and revolutionised the treatment of countless diseases, including cancer. Today, precision immuno-oncology (I/O) involves not only targeting immune checkpoints that inhibit T-cell immunity but also harnessing immune cell therapies. The limited efficacy in some cancers results mainly from a complex tumour microenvironment (TME) that, in addition to adaptive immune cells, comprises innate myeloid and lymphoid cells, cancer-associated fibroblasts, and the tumour vasculature that contribute towards immune evasion. As the complexity of TME has called for more sophisticated human-based tumour models, organoids have allowed the dynamic study of spatiotemporal interactions between tumour cells and individual TME cell types. Here, we discuss how organoids can study the TME across cancers and how these features may improve precision I/O. We outline the approaches to preserve or recapitulate the TME in tumour organoids and discuss their potential, advantages, and limitations. We will discuss future directions of organoid research in understanding cancer immunology in-depth and identifying novel I/O targets and treatment strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junzhe Zhao
- Cancer and Stem Cell Biology Programme, Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore 169857, Singapore
- Division of Medical Oncology, National Cancer Centre Singapore, Singapore 168583, Singapore
- Doctor of Medicine Programme, Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore 169857, Singapore
| | - Antoinette Fong
- Doctor of Medicine Programme, Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore 169857, Singapore
| | - See Voon Seow
- Division of Medical Oncology, National Cancer Centre Singapore, Singapore 168583, Singapore
| | - Han Chong Toh
- Division of Medical Oncology, National Cancer Centre Singapore, Singapore 168583, Singapore
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Mu P, Zhou S, Lv T, Xia F, Shen L, Wan J, Wang Y, Zhang H, Cai S, Peng J, Hua G, Zhang Z. Newly developed 3D in vitro models to study tumor-immune interaction. J Exp Clin Cancer Res 2023; 42:81. [PMID: 37016422 PMCID: PMC10074642 DOI: 10.1186/s13046-023-02653-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2022] [Accepted: 03/24/2023] [Indexed: 04/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Immunotherapy as a rapidly developing therapeutic approach has revolutionized cancer treatment and revitalized the field of tumor immunology research. 3D in vitro models are emerging as powerful tools considering their feature to maintain tumor cells in a near-native state and have been widely applied in oncology research. The novel 3D culture methods including the co-culture of organoids and immune cells, ALI culture, 3D-microfluidic culture and 3D-bioprinting offer new approaches for tumor immunology study and can be applied in many fields such as personalized treatment, immunotherapy optimizing and adoptive cell therapy. In this review, we introduce commonly used 3D in vitro models and summarize their applications in different aspects of tumor immunology research. We also provide a preliminary analysis of the current shortcomings of these models and the outlook of future development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peiyuan Mu
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, 200032, China
- Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
- Shanghai Clinical Research Center for Radiation Oncology, Shanghai, 200032, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Radiation Oncology, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Shujuan Zhou
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, 200032, China
- Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
- Shanghai Clinical Research Center for Radiation Oncology, Shanghai, 200032, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Radiation Oncology, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Tao Lv
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, 200032, China
- Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
- Shanghai Clinical Research Center for Radiation Oncology, Shanghai, 200032, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Radiation Oncology, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Fan Xia
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, 200032, China
- Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
- Shanghai Clinical Research Center for Radiation Oncology, Shanghai, 200032, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Radiation Oncology, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Lijun Shen
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, 200032, China
- Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
- Shanghai Clinical Research Center for Radiation Oncology, Shanghai, 200032, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Radiation Oncology, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Juefeng Wan
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, 200032, China
- Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
- Shanghai Clinical Research Center for Radiation Oncology, Shanghai, 200032, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Radiation Oncology, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Yaqi Wang
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, 200032, China
- Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
- Shanghai Clinical Research Center for Radiation Oncology, Shanghai, 200032, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Radiation Oncology, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Hui Zhang
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, 200032, China
- Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
- Shanghai Clinical Research Center for Radiation Oncology, Shanghai, 200032, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Radiation Oncology, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Sanjun Cai
- Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
- Cancer institute, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, 200032, Shanghai, China
- Department of Colorectal Surgery, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Fudan University, 200032, Shanghai, China
| | - Junjie Peng
- Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
- Department of Colorectal Surgery, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Fudan University, 200032, Shanghai, China
| | - Guoqiang Hua
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, 200032, China.
- Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China.
- Shanghai Clinical Research Center for Radiation Oncology, Shanghai, 200032, China.
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Radiation Oncology, Shanghai, 200032, China.
- Cancer institute, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, 200032, Shanghai, China.
| | - Zhen Zhang
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, 200032, China.
- Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China.
- Shanghai Clinical Research Center for Radiation Oncology, Shanghai, 200032, China.
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Radiation Oncology, Shanghai, 200032, China.
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21
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Wu B, Shi X, Jiang M, Liu H. Cross-talk between cancer stem cells and immune cells: potential therapeutic targets in the tumor immune microenvironment. Mol Cancer 2023; 22:38. [PMID: 36810098 PMCID: PMC9942413 DOI: 10.1186/s12943-023-01748-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 38.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2022] [Accepted: 02/15/2023] [Indexed: 02/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Ongoing research has revealed that the existence of cancer stem cells (CSCs) is one of the biggest obstacles in the current cancer therapy. CSCs make an influential function in tumor progression, recurrence and chemoresistance due to their typical stemness characteristics. CSCs are preferentially distributed in niches, and those niche sites exhibit characteristics typical of the tumor microenvironment (TME). The complex interactions between CSCs and TME illustrate these synergistic effects. The phenotypic heterogeneity within CSCs and the spatial interactions with the surrounding tumor microenvironment led to increased therapeutic challenges. CSCs interact with immune cells to protect themselves against immune clearance by exploiting the immunosuppressive function of multiple immune checkpoint molecules. CSCs also can protect themselves against immune surveillance by excreting extracellular vesicles (EVs), growth factors, metabolites and cytokines into the TME, thereby modulating the composition of the TME. Therefore, these interactions are also being considered for the therapeutic development of anti-tumor agents. We discuss here the immune molecular mechanisms of CSCs and comprehensively review the interplay between CSCs and the immune system. Thus, studies on this topic seem to provide novel ideas for reinvigorating therapeutic approaches to cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bo Wu
- grid.459742.90000 0004 1798 5889Department of General Surgery, Cancer Hospital of China Medical University, Liaoning Cancer Hospital & Institute, Shenyang, 110042 China
| | - Xiang Shi
- grid.459742.90000 0004 1798 5889Department of Thoracic Surgery, Cancer Hospital of China Medical University, Liaoning Cancer Hospital & Institute, Shenyang, 110042 China
| | - Meixi Jiang
- grid.412644.10000 0004 5909 0696Department of Neurology, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital, China Medical University, Shenyang, 110032 China
| | - Hongxu Liu
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Cancer Hospital of China Medical University, Liaoning Cancer Hospital & Institute, Shenyang, 110042, China.
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22
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Wu Q, Liu Z, Gao Z, Luo Y, Li F, Yang C, Wang T, Meng X, Chen H, Li J, Kong Y, Dong C, Sun S, Chen C. KLF5 inhibition potentiates anti-PD1 efficacy by enhancing CD8 + T-cell-dependent antitumor immunity. Theranostics 2023; 13:1381-1400. [PMID: 36923542 PMCID: PMC10008740 DOI: 10.7150/thno.82182] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2022] [Accepted: 02/07/2023] [Indexed: 03/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Background: Immune checkpoint blockers (ICBs) are revolutionized therapeutic strategies for cancer, but most patients with solid neoplasms remain resistant to ICBs, partly because of the difficulty in reversing the highly immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (TME). Exploring the strategies for tumor immunotherapy is highly dependent on the discovery of molecular mechanisms of tumor immune escape and potential therapeutic target. Krüppel-like Factor 5 (KLF5) is a cell-intrinsic oncogene to promote tumorigenesis. However, the cell-extrinsic effects of KLF5 on suppressing the immune response to cancer remain unclear. Methods: We analyzed the immunosuppressive role of KLF5 in mice models transplanted with KLF5-deleted/overexpressing tumor cells. We performed RNA sequencing, immunohistochemistry, western blotting, real time-PCR, ELISA, luciferase assay, chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP), and flow cytometry to demonstrate the effects of KLF5 on CD8+ T cell infiltration and related molecular mechanism. Single-cell RNA sequencing and spatial transcriptomics analysis were applied to further decipher the association between KLF5 expression and infiltrating immune cells. The efficacy of KLF5/COX2 inhibitors combined with anti-programmed cell death protein 1 (anti-PD1) therapy were explored in pre-clinical models. Finally, a gene-expression signature depending on KLF5/COX2 axis and associated immune markers was created to predict patient survival. Results: KLF5 inactivation decelerated basal-like breast tumor growth in a CD8+ T-cell-dependent manner. Transcriptomic profiling revealed that KLF5 loss in tumors increases the number and activated function of T lymphocytes. Mechanistically, KLF5 binds to the promoter of the COX2 gene and promotes COX2 transcription; subsequently, KLF5 deficiency decreases prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) release from tumor cells by reducing COX2 expression. Inhibition of the KLF5/COX2 axis increases the number and functionality of intratumoral antitumor T cells to synergize the antitumorigenic effects of anti-PD1 therapy. Analysis of patient datasets at single-cell and spatial resolution shows that low expression of KLF5 is associated with an immune-supportive TME. Finally, we generate a KLF5/COX2-associated immune score (KC-IS) to predict patient survival. Conclusions: Our results identified a novel mechanism responsible for KLF5-mediated immunosuppression in TME, and targeting the KLF5/COX2/PGE2 axis is a critical immunotherapy sensitizer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qi Wu
- Key Laboratory of Animal Models and Human Disease Mechanisms of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Yunnan Province, KIZ-CUHK Joint Laboratory of Bioresources and Molecular Research in Common Diseases, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, China.,Tongji University Cancer Center, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Zhou Liu
- Department of Breast and Thyroid Surgery, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Zhijie Gao
- Department of Breast and Thyroid Surgery, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Yao Luo
- Medical Faculty of Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, China
| | - Fubing Li
- Academy of Biomedical Engineering, Kunming Medical University, Kunming 650500, China
| | - ChuanYu Yang
- Key Laboratory of Animal Models and Human Disease Mechanisms of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Yunnan Province, KIZ-CUHK Joint Laboratory of Bioresources and Molecular Research in Common Diseases, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, China
| | - Tiantian Wang
- School of Life Science, University of Science & Technology of China, Hefei, 230027, Anhui, China
| | - Xiangyu Meng
- Center for Single-Cell Omics and Tumor Liquid Biopsy, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Haijun Chen
- College of Chemistry, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou, Fujian 350108, China
| | - Juanjuan Li
- Department of Breast and Thyroid Surgery, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Yanjie Kong
- Pathology department, Shenzhen Second People's Hospital, the First Affiliated Hospital of Shenzhen University, Health Science Center, Shenzhen 518035, China
| | - Chao Dong
- Department of Medical Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming, China
| | - Si Sun
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Ceshi Chen
- Key Laboratory of Animal Models and Human Disease Mechanisms of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Yunnan Province, KIZ-CUHK Joint Laboratory of Bioresources and Molecular Research in Common Diseases, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, China.,Academy of Biomedical Engineering, Kunming Medical University, Kunming 650500, China.,The Third Affiliated Hospital, Kunming Medical University, Kunming 650118, China
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23
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Shi H, Tsang Y, Yang Y. Identification of CEACAM5 as a stemness-related inhibitory immune checkpoint in pancreatic cancer. BMC Cancer 2022; 22:1291. [PMID: 36494785 PMCID: PMC9733357 DOI: 10.1186/s12885-022-10397-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2022] [Accepted: 12/02/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Immunotherapy has emerged as a new cancer treatment modality. However, tumour heterogeneity can diminish checkpoint blockade response and shorten patient survival. As a source of tumour heterogeneity, cancer stem cells act as an indispensable reservoir for local recurrence and distant metastasis. Thus, precision immunotherapy targeting tumour heterogeneity requires a comprehensive understanding of cancer stem cell immunology. Our study aimed to identify stemness-related inhibitory immune checkpoints and relevant regulatory pathways in pancreatic cancer. METHODS Pancreatic cancer-specific datasets in The Cancer Genome Atlas and the Cancer Therapeutics Response Portal were collected for in-depth bioinformatic analysis. Differentially expressed genes between pancreatic cancers with high and low stemness index (mRNAsi) scores were compared to screen out inhibitory immune checkpoints. Survival analysis was used to predict the prognostic value of immune checkpoint plus immune infiltrate in patients with pancreatic cancer. The expression of stemness-related immune checkpoint across immune subtypes of pancreatic cancer was detected and gene set enrichment analysis was performed to figure out the relevant regulatory signallings. RESULTS The abundance of cancer stemness predicted a low immunotherapy response to pancreatic cancer. The inhibitory immune checkpoint CEACAM5 that was enriched in pancreatic cancers with high mRNAsi scores also exhibited a strong correlation with invasive cell-enriched signature and Msi+ tumour-initiating cell-enriched signature. Levels of CEACAM5 expression were higher in the interferon-γ dominant immune subtype of pancreatic cancers that are characterized by high M1 macrophage infiltration. The patient group with high levels of CEACAM5 expression had a high risk of poor overall survival, even if accompanied by high infiltration of M1 macrophages. Furthermore, prostanoid and long-chain unsaturated fatty acid metabolic processes showed a significant association with cancer stemness and CEACAM5 expression. CONCLUSIONS Our findings suggest that CEACAM5 is a candidate stemness-related innate immune checkpoint in pancreatic cancer, and is potentially regulated by prostanoid and long-chain unsaturated fatty acid metabolic processes. Immune checkpoint blockade of CEACAM5, which synergizes with inhibition of those regulatory pathways, may improve the efficacy of precision immunotherapy targeting tumour heterogeneity caused by cancer stem cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haojun Shi
- grid.412277.50000 0004 1760 6738Department of General Surgery, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China ,grid.412277.50000 0004 1760 6738Shanghai Institute for Endocrine and Metabolic Diseases, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Yiusing Tsang
- grid.412277.50000 0004 1760 6738Department of General Surgery, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Yisi Yang
- grid.5290.e0000 0004 1936 9975Graduate School of Asia-Pacific Studies, Waseda University, Tokyo, Japan
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24
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Li C, Liu D, Yang S, Hua K. Integrated single-cell transcriptome analysis of the tumor ecosystems underlying cervical cancer metastasis. Front Immunol 2022; 13:966291. [PMID: 36569924 PMCID: PMC9780385 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.966291] [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: 07/07/2022] [Accepted: 11/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Cervical cancer (CC) is one of the most frequent female malignancies worldwide. However, the molecular mechanism of lymph node metastasis in CC remains unclear. In this study, we investigated the transcriptome profile of 51,507 single cells from primary tumors, positive lymph nodes (P-LN), and negative lymph nodes (N-LN) using single-cell sequencing. Validation experiments were performed using bulk transcriptomic datasets and immunohistochemical assays. Our results indicated that epithelial cells in metastatic LN were associated with cell- cycle-related signaling pathways, such as E2F targets, and mitotic spindle, and immune response-related signaling pathways, such as allograft rejection, IL2_STAT5_signaling, and inflammatory response. However, epithelial cells in primary tumors exhibited high enrichment of epithelial-mesenchymal translation (EMT), oxidative phosphorylation, and interferon alpha response. Our analysis then indicated that metastasis LN exhibited an early activated tumor microenvironment (TME) characterized by the decrease of naive T cells and an increase of cytotoxicity CD8 T cells, NK cells, FOXP3+ Treg cells compared with normal LN. By comparing the differently expressed gene of macrophages between tumor and metastatic LN, we discovered that C1QA+ MRC1low macrophages were enriched in a tumor, whereas C1QA+ MRC1high macrophages were enriched in metastatic LN. Finally, we demonstrated that cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) in P-LN were associated with immune regulation, while CAFs in tumor underwent EMT. Our findings offered novel insights into the mechanisms of research, diagnosis, and therapy of CC metastasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chunbo Li
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Danyang Liu
- Department of Pathology, Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Shimin Yang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Keqin Hua
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai, China,*Correspondence: Keqin Hua,
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Hou R, Yu Y, Jiang J. Prostaglandin E2 in neuroblastoma: Targeting synthesis or signaling? Biomed Pharmacother 2022; 156:113966. [DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2022.113966] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2022] [Revised: 10/28/2022] [Accepted: 11/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
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Guo W, Qiao T, Li T. The role of stem cells in small-cell lung cancer: evidence from chemoresistance to immunotherapy. Semin Cancer Biol 2022; 87:160-169. [PMID: 36371027 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcancer.2022.11.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2022] [Revised: 11/03/2022] [Accepted: 11/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) is the most aggressive subtype of lung cancer, accounting for approximately 15% among all lung cancers. Despite the ability of chemotherapy, the first-line treatment for SCLC, to rapidly shrink tumors, nearly all patients experience recurrence and metastasis within a few months. Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are a small population of tumor cells responsible for tumorigenesis, metastasis, and recurrence after treatment, which play a crucial role in chemoresistance by promoting DNA repair and expression of drug resistance-associated proteins. Thus, targeting CSCs has been successful in certain malignancies. Tumor therapy has entered the era of immunotherapy and numerous preclinical trials have demonstrated the effectiveness of immunotherapeutic approaches targeting CSCs, such as tumor vaccines and chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell, and the feasibility of combining them with chemotherapy. Therefore, a deeper understanding of the interaction between CSCs and immune system is essential to facilitate the advances of new immunotherapies approaches targeting CSCs as well as combination with standard drugs such as chemotherapy. This narrative review summarizes the mechanisms of chemoresistance of CSCs in SCLC and the latest advances in targeted therapies. Thereafter, we discuss the effects of CSCs on tumor immune microenvironment in SCLC and corresponding immunotherapeutic approaches. Eventually, we propose that the combination of immunotherapy targeting CSCs with standard drugs is a promising direction for SCLC therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenwen Guo
- Department of Pathology, Xianyang Central Hospital, Xianyang 712000, China
| | - Tianyun Qiao
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Tangdu Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an 710032, China
| | - Tian Li
- School of Basic Medicine, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an 710032, China.
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Wang Y, Song W, Yu S, Liu Y, Chen YG. Intestinal cellular heterogeneity and disease development revealed by single-cell technology. CELL REGENERATION 2022; 11:26. [PMID: 36045190 PMCID: PMC9433512 DOI: 10.1186/s13619-022-00127-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2022] [Accepted: 07/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
The intestinal epithelium is responsible for food digestion and nutrient absorption and plays a critical role in hormone secretion, microorganism defense, and immune response. These functions depend on the integral single-layered intestinal epithelium, which shows diversified cell constitution and rapid self-renewal and presents powerful regeneration plasticity after injury. Derailment of homeostasis of the intestine epithelium leads to the development of diseases, most commonly including enteritis and colorectal cancer. Therefore, it is important to understand the cellular characterization of the intestinal epithelium at the molecular level and the mechanisms underlying its homeostatic maintenance. Single-cell technologies allow us to gain molecular insights at the single-cell level. In this review, we summarize the single-cell RNA sequencing applications to understand intestinal cell characteristics, spatiotemporal evolution, and intestinal disease development.
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Corbett V, Hallenbeck P, Rychahou P, Chauhan A. Evolving role of seneca valley virus and its biomarker TEM8/ANTXR1 in cancer therapeutics. Front Mol Biosci 2022; 9:930207. [PMID: 36090051 PMCID: PMC9458967 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2022.930207] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2022] [Accepted: 07/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Oncolytic viruses have made a significant inroad in cancer drug development. Numerous clinical trials are currently investigating oncolytic viruses both as single agents or in combination with various immunomodulators. Oncolytic viruses (OV) are an integral pillar of immuno-oncology and hold potential for not only delivering durable anti-tumor responses but also converting “cold” tumors to “hot” tumors. In this review we will discuss one such promising oncolytic virus called Seneca Valley Virus (SVV-001) and its therapeutic implications. SVV development has seen seismic evolution over the past decade and now boasts of being the only OV with a practically applicable biomarker for viral tropism. We discuss relevant preclinical and clinical data involving SVV and how bio-selecting for TEM8/ANTXR1, a negative tumor prognosticator can lead to first of its kind biomarker driven oncolytic viral cancer therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Virginia Corbett
- Department of Internal Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States
| | | | - Piotr Rychahou
- Department of Surgery, Markey Cancer Center, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, United States
| | - Aman Chauhan
- Division of Medical Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, Markey Cancer Center, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, United States
- *Correspondence: Aman Chauhan,
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Cancer Stem Cells and Their Vesicles, Together with Other Stem and Non-Stem Cells, Govern Critical Cancer Processes: Perspectives for Medical Development. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23020625. [PMID: 35054811 PMCID: PMC8775347 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23020625] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2021] [Revised: 12/17/2021] [Accepted: 12/30/2021] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Stem cells, identified several decades ago, started to attract interest at the end of the nineties when families of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), concentrated in the stroma of most organs, were found to participate in the therapy of many diseases. In cancer, however, stem cells of high importance are specific to another family, the cancer stem cells (CSCs). This comprehensive review is focused on the role and the mechanisms of CSCs and of their specific extracellular vesicles (EVs), which are composed of both exosomes and ectosomes. Compared to non-stem (normal) cancer cells, CSCs exist in small populations that are preferentially distributed to the niches, such as minor specific tissue sites corresponding to the stroma of non-cancer tissues. At niches and marginal sites of other cancer masses, the tissue exhibits peculiar properties that are typical of the tumor microenvironment (TME) of cancers. The extracellular matrix (ECM) includes components different from non-cancer tissues. CSCs and their EVs, in addition to effects analogous to those of MSCs/EVs, participate in processes of key importance, specific to cancer: generation of distinct cell subtypes, proliferation, differentiation, progression, formation of metastases, immune and therapy resistance, cancer relapse. Many of these, and other, effects require CSC cooperation with surrounding cells, especially MSCs. Filtered non-cancer cells, especially macrophages and fibroblasts, contribute to collaborative cancer transition/integration processes. Therapy developments are mentioned as ongoing preclinical initiatives. The preliminary state of clinical medicine is presented in terms of both industrial development and future treatments. The latter will be administered to specific patients together with known drugs, with the aim of eradicating their tumor growth and metastases.
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Newnes HV, Armitage JD, Audsley KM, Bosco A, Waithman J. Directing the Future Breakthroughs in Immunotherapy: The Importance of a Holistic Approach to the Tumour Microenvironment. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:cancers13235911. [PMID: 34885021 PMCID: PMC8656826 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13235911] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2021] [Revised: 11/22/2021] [Accepted: 11/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Immunotherapies have changed the way we treat cancer and, while some patients have benefitted greatly, there are still those that do not respond to therapy. Understanding why some patients respond to therapy and others do not is critical in developing new immunotherapeutic strategies. The increasing awareness of the importance of investigating the tumour in its entirety, including the surrounding tissue and role of various immune cells is helping to differentiate responders and non-responders. In addition, the resolution gained by the development of sophisticated bioinformatic technologies allows for a deeper understanding of the complex roles of individual cells in the tumour. This advancement will be critical for the development of novel therapies to treat cancer. Abstract Immunotherapy has revolutionised the treatment of cancers by exploiting the immune system to eliminate tumour cells. Despite the impressive response in a proportion of patients, clinical benefit has been limited thus far. A significant focus to date has been the identification of specific markers associated with response to immunotherapy. Unfortunately, the heterogeneity between patients and cancer types means identifying markers of response to therapy is inherently complex. There is a growing appreciation for the role of the tumour microenvironment (TME) in directing response to immunotherapy. The TME is highly heterogeneous and contains immune, stromal, vascular and tumour cells that all communicate and interact with one another to form solid tumours. This review analyses major cell populations present within the TME with a focus on their diverse and often contradictory roles in cancer and how this informs our understanding of immunotherapy. Furthermore, we discuss the role of integrated omics in providing a comprehensive view of the TME and demonstrate the potential of leveraging multi-omics to decipher the underlying mechanisms of anti-tumour immunity for the development of novel immunotherapeutic strategies.
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