1
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Li P, Su G, Cui Y. Integrative single-cell and bulk transcriptome analyses identify a distinct pro-tumor macrophage signature that has a major prognostic impact on glioblastomas. Clin Exp Med 2024; 24:187. [PMID: 39136841 PMCID: PMC11322272 DOI: 10.1007/s10238-024-01454-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2024] [Accepted: 07/30/2024] [Indexed: 08/16/2024]
Abstract
Glioblastoma (GBM) is a highly heterogeneous disease with poor clinical outcomes. To comprehensively dissect the molecular landscape of GBM and heterogeneous macrophage clusters in the progression of GBM, this study integrates single-cell and bulk transcriptome data to recognize a distinct pro-tumor macrophage cluster significantly associated with the prognosis of GBM and develop a GBM prognostic signature to facilitate prior subtypes. Leveraging glioma single-cell sequencing data, we identified a novel pro-tumor macrophage subgroup, marked by S100A9, which might interact with endothelial cells to facilitate tumor progression via angiogenesis. To further benefit clinical application, a prognostic signature was established with the genes associated with pro-tumor macrophages. Patients classified within the high-risk group characterized with enrichment in functions related to tumor progression, including epithelial-mesenchymal transition and hypoxia, displays elevated mutations in the TERT promoter region, reduced methylation in the MGMT promoter region, poorer prognoses, and diminished responses to temozolomide therapy, thus effectively discriminating between the prognostic outcomes of GBM patients. Our research sheds light on the intricate microenvironment of gliomas and identifies potential molecular targets for the development of novel therapeutic approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peilin Li
- Second Clinical Medical College, Henan University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou, 450002, China
| | - Guolei Su
- The Second Affiliated Hospital of Henan University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou, 450002, China
| | - Yinglin Cui
- The Second Affiliated Hospital of Henan University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou, 450002, China.
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2
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Sang Y, Hu G, Xue J, Chen M, Hong S, Liu R. Risk stratification by combining common genetic mutations and TERT promoter methylation in papillary thyroid cancer. Endocrine 2024; 85:304-312. [PMID: 38356100 DOI: 10.1007/s12020-024-03722-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2023] [Accepted: 01/30/2024] [Indexed: 02/16/2024]
Abstract
PURPOSE Risk stratification based on somatic mutations in TERT promoter and BRAF/RAS has been well established for papillary thyroid cancer (PTC), and there is emerging evidence showed that TERT promoter methylation was frequently observed in thyroid cancer patients with adverse features. This study was aimed to comprehensive explore the prognostic value of BRAF/RAS mutations, TERT promoter mutations, and TERT promoter methylation in PTC. METHODS The relationships of BRAF/RAS mutations, TERT promoter mutations, and TERT promoter methylation with clinical characteristics and outcomes of PTC were analyzed in 382 patients with PTC. RESULTS TERT promoter mutation and hypermethylation were collectively observed in 52 (13.6%) samples and associated with BRAF/RAS mutation, aggressive clinical characteristics, and poor clinical outcomes of PTC. Coexistence of BRAF/RAS and TERT alterations was found in 45 of 382 (11.8%) PTC patients and strongly associated with old patient age, extrathyroidal extension, advanced pathologic T stage and metastasis. Importantly, patients with both BRAF/RAS and TERT alterations had higher rates of tumor recurrence (13.6% vs 1.5%, P = 0.042) and disease progression (24.4% vs 3.3%, P < 0.001) than patients without any alterations, and cox regression analysis revealed that the coexistence of BRAF/RAS and TERT alterations, but not BRAF/RAS or TERT alterations alone, increased the risk of progression-free interval with an adjusted HR of 10.35 (95% CI: 1.79-59.81, P = 0.009). CONCLUSIONS This study suggested that comprehensively analysis of BRAF/RAS mutations, TERT promoter mutation and methylation is an effective strategy to identify high-risk patients with PTC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ye Sang
- Institute of Precision Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, No. 58, Zhongshan Second Road, Guangzhou, China
| | - Guanghui Hu
- Institute of Precision Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, No. 58, Zhongshan Second Road, Guangzhou, China
| | - Junyu Xue
- Department of Endocrinology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, No. 58, Zhongshan Second Road, Guangzhou, China
| | - Mengke Chen
- Institute of Precision Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, No. 58, Zhongshan Second Road, Guangzhou, China
| | - Shubin Hong
- Department of Endocrinology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, No. 58, Zhongshan Second Road, Guangzhou, China
| | - Rengyun Liu
- Institute of Precision Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, No. 58, Zhongshan Second Road, Guangzhou, China.
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3
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Appin CL, Hong C, Suwala AK, Hilz S, Mathur R, Solomon DA, Smirnov IV, Stevers NO, Shai A, Wang A, Berger MS, Chang SM, Phillips JJ, Costello JF. Whole tumor analysis reveals early origin of the TERT promoter mutation and intercellular heterogeneity in TERT expression. Neuro Oncol 2024; 26:640-652. [PMID: 38141254 PMCID: PMC10995505 DOI: 10.1093/neuonc/noad231] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2023] [Indexed: 12/25/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The TERT promoter mutation (TPM) is acquired in most IDH-wildtype glioblastomas (GBM) and IDH-mutant oligodendrogliomas (OD) enabling tumor cell immortality. Previous studies on TPM clonality show conflicting results. This study was performed to determine whether TPM is clonal on a tumor-wide scale. METHODS We investigated TPM clonality in relation to presumed early events in 19 IDH-wildtype GBM and 10 IDH-mutant OD using 3-dimensional comprehensive tumor sampling. We performed Sanger sequencing on 264 tumor samples and deep amplicon sequencing on 187 tumor samples. We obtained tumor purity and copy number estimates from whole exome sequencing. TERT expression was assessed by RNA-seq and RNAscope. RESULTS We detected TPM in 100% of tumor samples with quantifiable tumor purity (219 samples). Variant allele frequencies (VAF) of TPM correlate positively with chromosome 10 loss in GBM (R = 0.85), IDH1 mutation in OD (R = 0.87), and with tumor purity (R = 0.91 for GBM; R = 0.90 for OD). In comparison, oncogene amplification was tumor-wide for MDM4- and most EGFR-amplified cases but heterogeneous for MYCN and PDGFRA, and strikingly high in low-purity samples. TPM VAF was moderately correlated with TERT expression (R = 0.52 for GBM; R = 0.65 for OD). TERT expression was detected in a subset of cells, solely in TPM-positive samples, including samples equivocal for tumor. CONCLUSIONS On a tumor-wide scale, TPM is among the earliest events in glioma evolution. Intercellular heterogeneity of TERT expression, however, suggests dynamic regulation during tumor growth. TERT expression may be a tumor cell-specific biomarker.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christina L Appin
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of California, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Chibo Hong
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of California, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Abigail K Suwala
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of California, San Francisco, California, USA
- Department of Neuropathology, University of Heidelberg, Institute of Pathology, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Stephanie Hilz
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of California, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Radhika Mathur
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of California, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - David A Solomon
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of California, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Ivan V Smirnov
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of California, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Nicholas O Stevers
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of California, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Anny Shai
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of California, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Albert Wang
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of California, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Mitchel S Berger
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of California, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Susan M Chang
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of California, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Joanna J Phillips
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of California, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Joseph F Costello
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of California, San Francisco, California, USA
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4
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Nejo T, Wang L, Leung KK, Wang A, Lakshmanachetty S, Gallus M, Kwok DW, Hong C, Chen LH, Carrera DA, Zhang MY, Stevers NO, Maldonado GC, Yamamichi A, Watchmaker PB, Naik A, Shai A, Phillips JJ, Chang SM, Wiita AP, Wells JA, Costello JF, Diaz AA, Okada H. Challenges in the discovery of tumor-specific alternative splicing-derived cell-surface antigens in glioma. Sci Rep 2024; 14:6362. [PMID: 38493204 PMCID: PMC10944514 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-56684-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2023] [Accepted: 03/09/2024] [Indexed: 03/18/2024] Open
Abstract
Despite advancements in cancer immunotherapy, solid tumors remain formidable challenges. In glioma, profound inter- and intra-tumoral heterogeneity of antigen landscape hampers therapeutic development. Therefore, it is critical to consider alternative sources to expand the repertoire of targetable (neo-)antigens and improve therapeutic outcomes. Accumulating evidence suggests that tumor-specific alternative splicing (AS) could be an untapped reservoir of antigens. In this study, we investigated tumor-specific AS events in glioma, focusing on those predicted to generate major histocompatibility complex (MHC)-presentation-independent, cell-surface antigens that could be targeted by antibodies and chimeric antigen receptor-T cells. We systematically analyzed bulk RNA-sequencing datasets comparing 429 tumor samples (from The Cancer Genome Atlas) and 9166 normal tissue samples (from the Genotype-Tissue Expression project), and identified 13 AS events in 7 genes predicted to be expressed in more than 10% of the patients, including PTPRZ1 and BCAN, which were corroborated by an external RNA-sequencing dataset. Subsequently, we validated our predictions and elucidated the complexity of the isoforms using full-length transcript amplicon sequencing on patient-derived glioblastoma cells. However, analyses of the RNA-sequencing datasets of spatially mapped and longitudinally collected clinical tumor samples unveiled remarkable spatiotemporal heterogeneity of the candidate AS events. Furthermore, proteomics analysis did not reveal any peptide spectra matching the putative antigens. Our investigation illustrated the diverse characteristics of the tumor-specific AS events and the challenges of antigen exploration due to their notable spatiotemporal heterogeneity and elusive nature at the protein levels. Redirecting future efforts toward intracellular, MHC-presented antigens could offer a more viable avenue.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takahide Nejo
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), 1450 3Rd Street, Box 0520, San Francisco, CA, 94158, USA
| | - Lin Wang
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), 1450 3Rd Street, Box 0520, San Francisco, CA, 94158, USA
| | - Kevin K Leung
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Albert Wang
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), 1450 3Rd Street, Box 0520, San Francisco, CA, 94158, USA
| | - Senthilnath Lakshmanachetty
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), 1450 3Rd Street, Box 0520, San Francisco, CA, 94158, USA
| | - Marco Gallus
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), 1450 3Rd Street, Box 0520, San Francisco, CA, 94158, USA
| | - Darwin W Kwok
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), 1450 3Rd Street, Box 0520, San Francisco, CA, 94158, USA
| | - Chibo Hong
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), 1450 3Rd Street, Box 0520, San Francisco, CA, 94158, USA
| | - Lee H Chen
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), 1450 3Rd Street, Box 0520, San Francisco, CA, 94158, USA
| | - Diego A Carrera
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), 1450 3Rd Street, Box 0520, San Francisco, CA, 94158, USA
| | - Michael Y Zhang
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), 1450 3Rd Street, Box 0520, San Francisco, CA, 94158, USA
| | - Nicholas O Stevers
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), 1450 3Rd Street, Box 0520, San Francisco, CA, 94158, USA
| | - Gabriella C Maldonado
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), 1450 3Rd Street, Box 0520, San Francisco, CA, 94158, USA
| | - Akane Yamamichi
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), 1450 3Rd Street, Box 0520, San Francisco, CA, 94158, USA
| | - Payal B Watchmaker
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), 1450 3Rd Street, Box 0520, San Francisco, CA, 94158, USA
| | - Akul Naik
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Anny Shai
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), 1450 3Rd Street, Box 0520, San Francisco, CA, 94158, USA
| | - Joanna J Phillips
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), 1450 3Rd Street, Box 0520, San Francisco, CA, 94158, USA
- Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Department of Pathology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Susan M Chang
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), 1450 3Rd Street, Box 0520, San Francisco, CA, 94158, USA
- Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Arun P Wiita
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Department of Bioengineering and Therapeutic Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Chan Zuckerberg Biohub, San Francisco, CA, USA
- The Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - James A Wells
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Joseph F Costello
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), 1450 3Rd Street, Box 0520, San Francisco, CA, 94158, USA
- Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Aaron A Diaz
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), 1450 3Rd Street, Box 0520, San Francisco, CA, 94158, USA
- Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Hideho Okada
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), 1450 3Rd Street, Box 0520, San Francisco, CA, 94158, USA.
- Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA.
- The Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, San Francisco, CA, USA.
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5
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Di Nunno V, Aprile M, Bartolini S, Gatto L, Tosoni A, Ranieri L, De Biase D, Asioli S, Franceschi E. The Biological and Clinical Role of the Telomerase Reverse Transcriptase Gene in Glioblastoma: A Potential Therapeutic Target? Cells 2023; 13:44. [PMID: 38201248 PMCID: PMC10778438 DOI: 10.3390/cells13010044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2023] [Revised: 12/15/2023] [Accepted: 12/18/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Glioblastoma IDH-wildtype represents the most lethal and frequent primary tumor of the central nervous system. Thanks to important scientific efforts, we can now investigate its deep genomic assessment, elucidating mutated genes and altered biological mechanisms in addition to its clinical aggressiveness. The telomerase reverse transcriptase gene (TERT) is the most frequently altered gene in solid tumors, including brain tumors and GBM IDH-wildtype. In particular, it can be observed in approximately 80-90% of GBM IDH-wildtype cases. Its clonal distribution on almost all cancer cells makes this gene an optimal target. However, the research of effective TERT inhibitors is complicated by several biological and clinical obstacles which can be only partially surmounted. Very recently, novel immunological approaches leading to TERT inhibition have been investigated, offering the potential to develop an effective target for this altered protein. Here, we perform a narrative review investigating the biological role of TERT alterations on glioblastoma and the principal obstacles associated with TERT inhibitions in this population. Moreover, we discuss possible combination treatment strategies to overcome these limitations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vincenzo Di Nunno
- Nervous System Medical Oncology Department, IRCCS Istituto delle Scienze Neurologiche di Bologna, 40139 Bologna, Italy (E.F.)
| | - Marta Aprile
- Department of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine, University of Bologna, 40138 Bologna, Italy
| | - Stefania Bartolini
- Nervous System Medical Oncology Department, IRCCS Istituto delle Scienze Neurologiche di Bologna, 40139 Bologna, Italy (E.F.)
| | - Lidia Gatto
- Department of Oncology, Azienda Unità Sanitaria Locale (AUSL) Bologna, 40139 Bologna, Italy
| | - Alicia Tosoni
- Nervous System Medical Oncology Department, IRCCS Istituto delle Scienze Neurologiche di Bologna, 40139 Bologna, Italy (E.F.)
| | - Lucia Ranieri
- Nervous System Medical Oncology Department, IRCCS Istituto delle Scienze Neurologiche di Bologna, 40139 Bologna, Italy (E.F.)
| | - Dario De Biase
- Solid Tumor Molecular Pathology Laboratory, IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna, 40138 Bologna, Italy
- Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology (FaBit), University of Bologna, 40126 Bologna, Italy
| | - Sofia Asioli
- IRCCS Istituto delle Scienze Neurologiche di Bologna, 40139 Bologna, Italy
- Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences (DIBINEM), Surgical Pathology Section, Alma Mater Studiorum, University of Bologna, 40126 Bologna, Italy
| | - Enrico Franceschi
- Nervous System Medical Oncology Department, IRCCS Istituto delle Scienze Neurologiche di Bologna, 40139 Bologna, Italy (E.F.)
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6
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Nejo T, Wang L, Leung KK, Wang A, Lakshmanachetty S, Gallus M, Kwok DW, Hong C, Chen LH, Carrera DA, Zhang MY, Stevers NO, Maldonado GC, Yamamichi A, Watchmaker P, Naik A, Shai A, Phillips JJ, Chang SM, Wiita AP, Wells JA, Costello JF, Diaz AA, Okada H. Challenges in the discovery of tumor-specific alternative splicing-derived cell-surface antigens in glioma. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.10.26.564156. [PMID: 37961484 PMCID: PMC10634890 DOI: 10.1101/2023.10.26.564156] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2023]
Abstract
Background Despite advancements in cancer immunotherapy, solid tumors remain formidable challenges. In glioma, profound inter-and intra-tumoral heterogeneity of antigen landscape hampers therapeutic development. Therefore, it is critical to consider alternative sources to expand the repertoire of targetable (neo-)antigens and improve therapeutic outcomes. Accumulating evidence suggests that tumor-specific alternative splicing (AS) could be an untapped reservoir of neoantigens. Results In this study, we investigated tumor-specific AS events in glioma, focusing on those predicted to generate major histocompatibility complex (MHC)-presentation-independent, cell-surface neoantigens that could be targeted by antibodies and chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-T cells. We systematically analyzed bulk RNA-sequencing datasets comparing 429 tumor samples (from The Cancer Genome Atlas [TCGA]) and 9,166 normal tissue samples (from the Genotype-Tissue Expression project [GTEx]), and identified 13 AS events in 7 genes predicted to be expressed in more than 10% of the patients, including PTPRZ1 and BCAN , which were corroborated by an external RNA-sequencing dataset. Subsequently, we validated our predictions and elucidated the complexity of the isoforms using full-length transcript amplicon sequencing on patient-derived glioblastoma cells. However, analyses of the RNA-sequencing datasets of spatially mapped and longitudinally collected clinical tumor samples unveiled remarkable spatiotemporal heterogeneity of the candidate AS events. Furthermore, proteomics analysis did not reveal any peptide spectra matching the putative neoantigens. Conclusions Our investigation illustrated the diverse characteristics of the tumor-specific AS events and the challenges of antigen exploration due to their notable spatiotemporal heterogeneity and elusive nature at the protein levels. Redirecting future efforts toward intracellular, MHC-presented antigens could offer a more viable avenue.
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7
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Kwok DW, Stevers NO, Nejo T, Chen LH, Etxeberria I, Jung J, Okada K, Cove MC, Lakshmanachetty S, Gallus M, Barpanda A, Hong C, Chan GKL, Wu SH, Ramos E, Yamamichi A, Liu J, Watchmaker P, Ogino H, Saijo A, Du A, Grishanina N, Woo J, Diaz A, Chang SM, Phillips JJ, Wiita AP, Klebanoff CA, Costello JF, Okada H. Tumor-wide RNA splicing aberrations generate immunogenic public neoantigens. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.10.19.563178. [PMID: 37904942 PMCID: PMC10614978 DOI: 10.1101/2023.10.19.563178] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/01/2023]
Abstract
T-cell-mediated immunotherapies are limited by the extent to which cancer-specific antigens are homogenously expressed throughout a tumor. We reasoned that recurrent splicing aberrations in cancer represent a potential source of tumor-wide and public neoantigens, and to test this possibility, we developed a novel pipeline for identifying neojunctions expressed uniformly within a tumor across diverse cancer types. Our analyses revealed multiple neojunctions that recur across patients and either exhibited intratumor heterogeneity or, in some cases, were tumor-wide. We identified CD8+ T-cell clones specific for neoantigens derived from tumor-wide and conserved neojunctions in GNAS and RPL22 , respectively. TCR-engineered CD8 + T-cells targeting these mutations conferred neoantigen-specific tumor cell eradication. Furthermore, we revealed that cancer-specific dysregulation in splicing factor expression leads to recurrent neojunction expression. Together, these data reveal that a subset of neojunctions are both intratumorally conserved and public, providing the molecular basis for novel T-cell-based immunotherapies that address intratumoral heterogeneity.
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8
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Zhao N, Weng S, Liu Z, Xu H, Ren Y, Guo C, Liu L, Zhang Z, Ji Y, Han X. CRISPR-Cas9 identifies growth-related subtypes of glioblastoma with therapeutical significance through cell line knockdown. BMC Cancer 2023; 23:749. [PMID: 37580710 PMCID: PMC10424363 DOI: 10.1186/s12885-023-11131-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2023] [Accepted: 06/29/2023] [Indexed: 08/16/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Glioblastoma (GBM) is a type of highly malignant brain tumor that is known for its significant intratumoral heterogeneity, meaning that there can be a high degree of variability within the tumor tissue. Despite the identification of several subtypes of GBM in recent years, there remains to explore a classification based on genes related to proliferation and growth. METHODS The growth-related genes of GBM were identified by CRISPR-Cas9 and univariate Cox regression analysis. The expression of these genes in the Cancer Genome Atlas cohort (TCGA) was used to construct growth-related genes subtypes (GGSs) via consensus clustering. Validation of this subtyping was performed using the nearest template prediction (NTP) algorithm in two independent Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) cohorts and the ZZ cohort. Additionally, copy number variations, biological functions, and potential drugs were analyzed for each of the different subtypes separately. RESULTS Our research established multicenter-validated GGSs. GGS1 exhibits the poorest prognosis, with the highest frequency of chr 7 gain & chr 10 loss, and the lowest frequency of chr 19 & 20 co-gain. Additionally, GGS1 displays the highest expression of EGFR. Furthermore, it is significantly enriched in metabolic, stemness, proliferation, and signaling pathways. Besides we showed that Foretinib may be a potential therapeutic agent for GGS1, the worst prognostic subtype, through data screening and in vitro experiments. GGS2 has a moderate prognosis, with a slightly higher proportion of chr 7 gain & chr 10 loss, and the highest proportion of chr 19 & 20 co-gain. The prognosis of GGS3 is the best, with the least chr 7 gain & 10 loss and EGFR expression. CONCLUSIONS These results enhance our understanding of the heterogeneity of GBM and offer insights for stratified management and precise treatment of GBM patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nannan Zhao
- Department of Interventional Radiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, 450052, China
- Department of Neurosurgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, 450052, China
| | - Siyuan Weng
- Department of Interventional Radiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, 450052, China
| | - Zaoqu Liu
- Department of Interventional Radiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, 450052, China
| | - Hui Xu
- Department of Interventional Radiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, 450052, China
| | - Yuqin Ren
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Chunguang Guo
- Department of Endovascular Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Long Liu
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Zhenyu Zhang
- Department of Neurosurgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, 450052, China.
| | - Yuchen Ji
- Department of Neurosurgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, 450052, China.
| | - Xinwei Han
- Department of Interventional Radiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, 450052, China.
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9
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Panova VV, Dolinnaya NG, Novoselov KA, Savitskaya VY, Chernykh IS, Kubareva EA, Alexeevski AV, Zvereva MI. Conserved G-Quadruplex-Forming Sequences in Mammalian TERT Promoters and Their Effect on Mutation Frequency. Life (Basel) 2023; 13:1478. [PMID: 37511853 PMCID: PMC10381784 DOI: 10.3390/life13071478] [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: 05/26/2023] [Revised: 06/24/2023] [Accepted: 06/26/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Somatic mutations in the promoter region of the human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) gene have been identified in many types of cancer. The hTERT promoter is known to be enriched with sequences that enable the formation of G-quadruplex (G4) structures, whose presence is associated with elevated mutagenicity and genome instability. Here, we used a bioinformatics tool (QGRS mapper) to search for G4-forming sequences (G4 motifs) in the 1000 bp TERT promoter regions of 141 mammalian species belonging to 20 orders, 5 of which, including primates and predators, contain more than 10 species. Groups of conserved G4 motifs and single-nucleotide variants within these groups were discovered using a block alignment approach (based on the Nucleotide PanGenome explorer). It has been shown that: (i) G4 motifs are predominantly located in the region proximal to the transcription start site (up to 400 bp) and are over-represented on the non-coding strand of the TERT promoters, (ii) 11 to 22% of the G4 motifs found are evolutionarily conserved across the related organisms, and (iii) a statistically significant higher frequency of nucleotide substitutions in the conserved G4 motifs compared to the surrounding regions was confirmed only for the order Primates. These data support the assumption that G4s can interfere with the DNA repair process and affect the evolutionary adaptation of organisms and species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vera V Panova
- Department of Bioengineering and Bioinformatics, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Leninskie Gory 1, Moscow 119234, Russia
| | - Nina G Dolinnaya
- Department of Chemistry, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Leninskie Gory 1, Moscow 119991, Russia
| | - Kirill A Novoselov
- Department of Chemistry, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Leninskie Gory 1, Moscow 119991, Russia
| | - Viktoriia Yu Savitskaya
- Department of Chemistry, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Leninskie Gory 1, Moscow 119991, Russia
| | - Ivan S Chernykh
- Department of Bioengineering and Bioinformatics, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Leninskie Gory 1, Moscow 119234, Russia
| | - Elena A Kubareva
- Belozersky Institute of Physico-Chemical Biology, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Leninskie Gory 1, Moscow 119992, Russia
| | - Andrei V Alexeevski
- Belozersky Institute of Physico-Chemical Biology, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Leninskie Gory 1, Moscow 119992, Russia
- Department of Mathematics, Scientific Research Institute for System Studies, Russian Academy of Sciences, Nakhimovskii Prospekt 36-1, Moscow 117218, Russia
| | - Maria I Zvereva
- Department of Chemistry, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Leninskie Gory 1, Moscow 119991, Russia
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10
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Minami N, Hong D, Taglang C, Batsios G, Gillespie AM, Viswanath P, Stevers N, Barger CJ, Costello JF, Ronen SM. Hyperpolarized δ-[1- 13C]gluconolactone imaging visualizes response to TERT or GABPB1 targeting therapy for glioblastoma. Sci Rep 2023; 13:5190. [PMID: 36997627 PMCID: PMC10063634 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-32463-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2023] [Accepted: 03/28/2023] [Indexed: 04/01/2023] Open
Abstract
TERT promoter mutations are a hallmark of glioblastoma (GBM). Accordingly, TERT and GABPB1, a subunit of the upstream mutant TERT promoter transcription factor GABP, are being considered as promising therapeutic targets in GBM. We recently reported that the expression of TERT or GABP1 modulates flux via the pentose phosphate pathway (PPP). Here, we investigated whether 13C magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) of hyperpolarized (HP) δ- [1-13C]gluconolactone can serve to image the reduction in PPP flux following TERT or GABPB1 silencing. We investigated two different human GBM cell lines stably expressing shRNAs targeting TERT or GABPB1, as well as doxycycline-inducible shTERT or shGABPB1cells. MRS studies were performed on live cells and in vivo tumors, and dynamic sets of 13C MR spectra were acquired following injection of HP δ-[1-13C]gluconolactone. HP 6-phosphogluconolactone (6PG), the product of δ-[1-13C]gluconolactone via the PPP, was significantly reduced in TERT or GABPB1-silenced cells or tumors compared to controls in all our models. Furthermore, a positive correlation between TERT expression and 6PG levels was observed. Our data indicate that HP δ-[1-13C]gluconolactone, an imaging tool with translational potential, could serve to monitor TERT expression and its silencing with therapies that target either TERT or GABPB1 in mutant TERT promoter GBM patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Noriaki Minami
- Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, University of California San Francisco, 1700 4th Street, San Francisco, CA, 94158, USA
| | - Donghyun Hong
- Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, University of California San Francisco, 1700 4th Street, San Francisco, CA, 94158, USA
| | - Celine Taglang
- Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, University of California San Francisco, 1700 4th Street, San Francisco, CA, 94158, USA
| | - Georgios Batsios
- Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, University of California San Francisco, 1700 4th Street, San Francisco, CA, 94158, USA
| | - Anne Marie Gillespie
- Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, University of California San Francisco, 1700 4th Street, San Francisco, CA, 94158, USA
| | - Pavithra Viswanath
- Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, University of California San Francisco, 1700 4th Street, San Francisco, CA, 94158, USA
| | - Nicholas Stevers
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of California, San Francisco, USA
| | - Carter J Barger
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of California, San Francisco, USA
| | - Joseph F Costello
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of California, San Francisco, USA
| | - Sabrina M Ronen
- Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, University of California San Francisco, 1700 4th Street, San Francisco, CA, 94158, USA.
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