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Huang Z, Tang Y, Zhang J, Huang J, Cheng R, Guo Y, Kleer CG, Wang Y, Xue L. Hypoxia makes EZH2 inhibitor not easy-advances of crosstalk between HIF and EZH2. LIFE METABOLISM 2024; 3:loae017. [PMID: 38911968 PMCID: PMC11192520 DOI: 10.1093/lifemeta/loae017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/25/2024]
Abstract
Histone methylation plays a crucial role in tumorigenesis. Enhancer of zeste homolog 2 (EZH2) is a histone methyltransferase that regulates chromatin structure and gene expression. EZH2 inhibitors (EZH2is) have been shown to be effective in treating hematologic malignancies, while their effectiveness in solid tumors remains limited. One of the major challenges in the treatment of solid tumors is their hypoxic tumor microenvironment. Hypoxia-inducible factor 1-alpha (HIF-1α) is a key hypoxia responder that interacts with EZH2 to promote tumor progression. Here we discuss the implications of the relationship between EZH2 and hypoxia for expanding the application of EZH2is in solid tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhanya Huang
- Cancer Center of Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing 100191, China
- Center of Basic Medical Research, Institute of Medical Innovation and Research, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Yuanjun Tang
- Center of Basic Medical Research, Institute of Medical Innovation and Research, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Jianlin Zhang
- Center of Basic Medical Research, Institute of Medical Innovation and Research, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Jiaqi Huang
- Cancer Center of Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing 100191, China
- Center of Basic Medical Research, Institute of Medical Innovation and Research, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Rui Cheng
- Cancer Center of Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing 100191, China
- Center of Basic Medical Research, Institute of Medical Innovation and Research, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Yunyun Guo
- Cancer Center of Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing 100191, China
- Center of Basic Medical Research, Institute of Medical Innovation and Research, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Celina G. Kleer
- Department of Pathology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Yuqing Wang
- Center of Basic Medical Research, Institute of Medical Innovation and Research, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Lixiang Xue
- Cancer Center of Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing 100191, China
- Center of Basic Medical Research, Institute of Medical Innovation and Research, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing 100191, China
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Li J, Liu Y, Zheng R, Qu C, Li J. Molecular mechanisms of TACE refractoriness: Directions for improvement of the TACE procedure. Life Sci 2024; 342:122540. [PMID: 38428568 DOI: 10.1016/j.lfs.2024.122540] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2023] [Revised: 02/24/2024] [Accepted: 02/25/2024] [Indexed: 03/03/2024]
Abstract
Transcatheter arterial chemoembolisation (TACE) is the standard of care for intermediate-stage hepatocellular carcinoma and selected patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma. However, TACE does not achieve a satisfactory objective response rate, and the concept of TACE refractoriness has been proposed to identify patients who do not fully benefit from TACE. Moreover, repeated TACE is necessary to obtain an optimal and sustained anti-tumour response, which may damage the patient's liver function. Therefore, studies have recently been performed to improve the effectiveness of TACE. In this review, we summarise the detailed molecular mechanisms associated with TACE responsiveness and relapse after this treatment to provide more effective targets for adjuvant therapy while helping to improve TACE regimens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiahao Li
- Department of Interventional Therapy, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin Province, People's Republic of China; The Public Laboratory Platform of the First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin Province, People's Republic of China
| | - Yingnan Liu
- Department of Radiology, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin Province, People's Republic of China
| | - Ruipeng Zheng
- Department of Interventional Therapy, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin Province, People's Republic of China
| | - Chao Qu
- Department of Interventional Therapy, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin Province, People's Republic of China; The Public Laboratory Platform of the First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin Province, People's Republic of China
| | - Jiarui Li
- Department of Interventional Therapy, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin Province, People's Republic of China.
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Tian X, Liu F, Wang Z, Zhang J, Liu Q, Zhang Y, Zhang D, Huang C, Zhao J, Jiang S. Modified Biejia Jianwan decoction restrains PD-L1-mediated immune evasion through the HIF-1α/STAT3/NF-κB signaling pathway. JOURNAL OF ETHNOPHARMACOLOGY 2024; 322:117577. [PMID: 38104877 DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2023.117577] [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: 10/18/2023] [Revised: 11/26/2023] [Accepted: 12/09/2023] [Indexed: 12/19/2023]
Abstract
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE Modified Biejia Jianwan (M-BJJW), a Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) decoction, has exhibited great potential in treating hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, its underlying functional mechanism still remains unknown. AIM OF THE STUDY The study aimed to explore the anti-hepatocarcinogenic effects of M-BJJW, specifically its influence on PD-L1-mediated immune evasion in hypoxic conditions, and elucidate the related molecular mechanisms in HCC. MATERIALS AND METHODS To investigate the therapeutic efficacy and mechanisms underlying M-BJJW's effects on HCC, we employed a diethylnitrosamine (DEN)-induced rat model maintained for 120 days. Following model establishment, flow cytometry was utilized to assess the distribution of immune cell populations in peripheral blood, spleens, and tumor tissues after M-BJJW administration. Simultaneously, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA) were conducted to analyze cytokine profiles in serum samples. Immunohistochemistry was employed to determine the expression levels of crucial proteins within tumor tissues. Furthermore, HCC cells exposed to CoCl2 underwent Western blot analysis to validate the expression levels of HIF-1α, PD-L1, STAT3, and nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) p65. The modulatory effects of STAT3 and NF-κB p65 were investigated using specific inhibitors and activators in wild-type cell lines. High-performance liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (HPLC/MS) was utilized to identify the chemical constituents present in M-BJJW-medicated serum. The immunomodulatory properties and the anti-tumor activities of M-BJJW were evaluated by co-culturing with peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) and the CCK-8 assay. Additionally, we assessed M-BJJW's impact on hypoxia-induced alterations in HCC cell lines using immunofluorescence and Western blot assessments. RESULTS M-BJJW exhibited substantial therapeutic advantages by effectively alleviating pathological deterioration within the HCC microenvironment. In the DEN-induced rat model, M-BJJW administration notably reduced tumor growth. Flow cytometry analyses revealed an increased proportion of Cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) accompanied by a simultaneous decrease in regulatory T cells (Tregs). ELISA data supported a marked decrease in pro-inflammatory cytokines, including interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-10 (IL-10), and tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α). Immunohistochemistry confirmed the suppressive effect of M-BJJW on the expression of HIF-1α and PD-L1. Notably, western blotting unveiled the role of HIF-1α in regulating PD-L1 expression via the STAT3 and NF-κB signaling pathways in HCC cell lines, which was validated using activators and inhibitors of STAT3 and NF-κB. The CCK-8 assay and co-culture techniques demonstrated the anti-tumor activity of M-BJJW. Immunofluorescence and western blotting further confirmed that M-BJJW-containing serum dose-dependently inhibited HIF-1α, PD-L1, p-STAT3, and p-p65 in hypoxic HCC cell lines. CONCLUSIONS M-BJJW demonstrates significant therapeutic potential against HCC by influencing the hypoxic microenvironment, thereby regulating the immunosuppressive milieu. Specifically, M-BJJW modulates the HIF-1α/STAT3/NF-κB signaling pathway, leading to reduced PD-L1 expression and an elevated ratio of cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs), while concurrently decreasing T regulatory cells (Tregs) and immunosuppressive factors. These synergistic effects aid in countering PD-L1-mediated immune evasion, presenting compelling pharmacological evidence supporting the clinical application of M-BJJW as a therapeutic approach for HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinchen Tian
- Clinical Medical Laboratory Center, Jining No.1 People's Hospital, Shandong First Medical University, Jining, China
| | - Fen Liu
- College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, China
| | - Zijian Wang
- College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, China
| | - Jiaqi Zhang
- Clinical Medical Laboratory Center, Jining No.1 People's Hospital, Shandong First Medical University, Jining, China
| | - Qingbin Liu
- Clinical Medical Laboratory Center, Jining No.1 People's Hospital, Shandong First Medical University, Jining, China
| | - Yiming Zhang
- Clinical Medical Laboratory Center, Jining No.1 People's Hospital, Shandong First Medical University, Jining, China
| | - Dengtian Zhang
- Clinical Medical Laboratory Center, Jining No.1 People's Hospital, Shandong First Medical University, Jining, China
| | - Chen Huang
- Clinical Medical Laboratory Center, Jining No.1 People's Hospital, Shandong First Medical University, Jining, China
| | - Jing Zhao
- Clinical Medical Laboratory Center, Jining No.1 People's Hospital, Shandong First Medical University, Jining, China.
| | - Shulong Jiang
- Clinical Medical Laboratory Center, Jining No.1 People's Hospital, Shandong First Medical University, Jining, China; First Clinical Medical School, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine.
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Yuan G, Li W, Zang M, Li R, Li Q, Hu X, Zhang Q, Huang W, Ruan J, Pang H, Chen J. Transarterial chemoembolization with/without immune checkpoint inhibitors plus tyrosine kinase inhibitors for unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma: a single center, propensity score matching real-world study. Discov Oncol 2024; 15:68. [PMID: 38460053 PMCID: PMC10924872 DOI: 10.1007/s12672-024-00917-1] [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: 08/24/2023] [Accepted: 02/28/2024] [Indexed: 03/11/2024] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To explore the efficacy and safety of Transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) in combination with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) and tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) in patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (uHCC). METHODS 456 patients with HCC receiving either TACE in combination with ICIs and TKIs (combination group, n = 139) or TACE monotherapy (monotherapy group, n = 317) were included from Apr 2016 to Dec 2021 in this retrospective study. We employed propensity score matching (PSM), performed 1:2 optimal pair matching, to balance potential bias. RESULTS The mean follow-up time is 24.7 months (95% CI 22.6-26.8) for matched patients as of March 2022. After matching, the combination group achieved longer OS and PFS (median OS:21.9 vs. 16.3 months, P = 0.022; median PFS: 8.3 vs. 5.1 months, P < 0.0001) than TACE monotherapy group. The combination group had better objective response rate (ORR) and disease control rate (DCR) (ORR: 52.5% vs. 32.8%, P < 0.001; DCR: 82.7% vs. 59.6%, P < 0.001). Subgroup analysis showed that patients who received "TKIs + ICIs" after the first TACE procedure (after TACE group) achieved longer OS than those before the first TACE procedure (before TACE group) (26.8 vs. 19.2 months, P = 0.011). Adverse events were consistent with previous studies of TACE-related trials. CONCLUSIONS TACE plus TKIs and ICIs appeared to deliver longer PFS and OS in HCC patients than TACE monotherapy. "TKIs + ICIs" co-treatment within 3 months after the first TACE procedure might be a better medication strategy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guosheng Yuan
- State Key Laboratory of Organ Failure Research, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Viral Hepatitis Research, Department of Infectious Diseases, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510515, People's Republic of China
| | - Wenli Li
- State Key Laboratory of Organ Failure Research, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Viral Hepatitis Research, Department of Infectious Diseases, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510515, People's Republic of China
| | - Mengya Zang
- State Key Laboratory of Organ Failure Research, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Viral Hepatitis Research, Department of Infectious Diseases, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510515, People's Republic of China
| | - Rong Li
- State Key Laboratory of Organ Failure Research, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Viral Hepatitis Research, Department of Infectious Diseases, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510515, People's Republic of China
| | - Qi Li
- State Key Laboratory of Organ Failure Research, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Viral Hepatitis Research, Department of Infectious Diseases, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510515, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiaoyun Hu
- State Key Laboratory of Organ Failure Research, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Viral Hepatitis Research, Department of Infectious Diseases, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510515, People's Republic of China
| | - Qi Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Organ Failure Research, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Viral Hepatitis Research, Department of Infectious Diseases, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510515, People's Republic of China
| | - Wei Huang
- Department of Oncology, Shunde Hospital, Southern Medical University, Shunde, Guangdong, 528300, People's Republic of China
| | - Jian Ruan
- Department of Medical Oncology, School of Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310003, People's Republic of China
| | - Huajin Pang
- Division of Vascular and Interventional Radiology, Department of General Surgery, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510515, People's Republic of China.
| | - Jinzhang Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Organ Failure Research, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Viral Hepatitis Research, Department of Infectious Diseases, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510515, People's Republic of China.
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Zou J, Chu S, Zhou H, Zhang Y. Hypoxia-derived molecular subtype and gene signature characterize prognoses and therapeutic responses in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. Medicine (Baltimore) 2024; 103:e37233. [PMID: 38335389 PMCID: PMC10860997 DOI: 10.1097/md.0000000000037233] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2023] [Revised: 01/18/2024] [Accepted: 01/19/2024] [Indexed: 02/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Intratumoral hypoxia is widely associated with the development of malignancy, treatment resistance, and worse prognoses. This study aims to investigate the role of hypoxia-related genes (HRG) in the immune landscape, treatment response, and prognosis of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). The transcriptome and clinical data of HNSCC were downloaded from TCGA and GEO databases, and HNSCC molecular subtypes were identified using non-negative matrix factorization (NMF) clustering. Prognostic models were constructed using univariate, Lasso, and multivariate Cox regression analyses. The relationship between HRGs and immune cell infiltration, immune therapy response, and drug sensitivity was evaluated, and a nomogram was constructed. 47 HRGs were differentially expressed in HNSCC, among which 10 genes were significantly associated with HNSCC prognosis. Based on these 10 genes, 2 HNSCC molecular subtypes were identified, which showed significant heterogeneity in terms of prognosis, immune infiltration, and treatment response. A total of 3280 differentially expressed genes were identified between the subtypes. After univariate, Lasso, and multivariate Cox regression analysis, 18 genes were selected to construct a novel prognostic model, which showed a significant correlation with B cells, T cells, and macrophages. Using this model, HNSCC was classified into high-risk and low-risk groups, which exhibited significant differences in terms of prognosis, immune cell infiltration, immune therapy response, and drug sensitivity. Finally, a nomogram based on this model and radiotherapy was constructed, which showed good performance in predicting HNSCC prognosis and guiding personalized treatment strategies. The decision curve analysis demonstrated its better clinical applicability compared to other strategies. HRGs can identify 2 HNSCC molecular subtypes with significant heterogeneity, and the HRG-derived risk model has the potential for prognostic prediction and guiding personalized treatment strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jianjun Zou
- Department of Otolaryngology, Hangzhou Red Cross Hospital (Zhejiang Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine), Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Shidong Chu
- Department of Otolaryngology, Hangzhou Red Cross Hospital (Zhejiang Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine), Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Huaien Zhou
- Department of Otolaryngology, Hangzhou Red Cross Hospital (Zhejiang Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine), Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Yiyun Zhang
- Department of Otolaryngology, Hangzhou Red Cross Hospital (Zhejiang Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine), Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
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Xu L, Chen S, Li Q, Chen X, Xu Y, Zhou Y, Li J, Guo Z, Xing J, Chen D. Integrating bioinformatics and experimental validation to unveil disulfidptosis-related lncRNAs as prognostic biomarker and therapeutic target in hepatocellular carcinoma. Cancer Cell Int 2024; 24:30. [PMID: 38218909 PMCID: PMC10788009 DOI: 10.1186/s12935-023-03208-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: 08/01/2023] [Accepted: 12/31/2023] [Indexed: 01/15/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) stands as a prevalent malignancy globally, characterized by significant morbidity and mortality. Despite continuous advancements in the treatment of HCC, the prognosis of patients with this cancer remains unsatisfactory. This study aims at constructing a disulfidoptosis‑related long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) signature to probe the prognosis and personalized treatment of patients with HCC. METHODS The data of patients with HCC were extracted from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) databases. Univariate, multivariate, and least absolute selection operator Cox regression analyses were performed to build a disulfidptosis-related lncRNAs (DRLs) signature. Kaplan-Meier plots were used to evaluate the prognosis of the patients with HCC. Functional enrichment analysis was used to identify key DRLs-associated signaling pathways. Spearman's rank correlation was used to elucidate the association between the DRLs signature and immune microenvironment. The function of TMCC1-AS1 in HCC was validated in two HCC cell lines (HEP3B and HEPG2). RESULTS We identified 11 prognostic DRLs from the TCGA dataset, three of which were selected to construct the prognostic signature of DRLs. We found that the survival time of low-risk patients was considerably longer than that of high-risk patients. We further observed that the composition and the function of immune cell subpopulations were significantly different between high- and low-risk groups. Additionally, we identified that sorafenib, 5-Fluorouracil, and doxorubicin displayed better responses in the low-score group than those in the high-score group, based on IC50 values. Finally, we confirmed that inhibition of TMCC1-AS1 impeded the proliferation, migration, and invasion of hepatocellular carcinoma cells. CONCLUSIONS The DRL signatures have been shown to be a reliable prognostic and treatment response indicator in HCC patients. TMCC1-AS1 showed potential as a novel prognostic biomarker and therapeutic target for HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lixia Xu
- Department of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, 450052, China
| | - Shu Chen
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, Henan, 453003, China
| | - Qiaoqiao Li
- The Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, No. 76 Linjiang Road, Chongqing, 400010, China
| | - Xinyi Chen
- Department of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, 450052, China
| | - Yuan Xu
- The First Clinical Medical College, Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou, Jiangxi, 341000, China
| | - Yongjian Zhou
- Department of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, 450052, China
| | - Juan Li
- Department of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, 450052, China
| | - Zhixian Guo
- Department of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, 450052, China.
| | - Jiyuan Xing
- Department of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, 450052, China.
| | - Di Chen
- Department of Neurosurgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, 450052, China.
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Guo C, Tang Y, Li Q, Yang Z, Guo Y, Chen C, Zhang Y. Deciphering the immune heterogeneity dominated by natural killer cells with prognostic and therapeutic implications in hepatocellular carcinoma. Comput Biol Med 2023; 158:106872. [PMID: 37030269 DOI: 10.1016/j.compbiomed.2023.106872] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2023] [Revised: 03/15/2023] [Accepted: 03/30/2023] [Indexed: 04/05/2023]
Abstract
Belonging to type 1 innate lymphoid cells (ILC1), natural killer (NK) cells play an important role not only in fighting microbial infections but also in anti-tumor response. Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) represents an inflammation-related malignancy and NK cells are enriched in the liver, making them an essential component of the HCC immune microenvironment. In this study, we performed single-cell RNA-sequencing (scRNA-seq) analysis to identify the NK cell marker genes (NKGs) and uncovered 80 prognosis-related ones by the TCGA-LIHC dataset. Based on prognostic NKGs, HCC patients were categorized into two subtypes with distinct clinical outcomes. Subsequently, we conducted LASSO-COX and stepwise regression analysis on prognostic NKGs to establish a five-gene (UBB, CIRBP, GZMH, NUDC, and NCL) prognostic signature-NKscore. Different mutation statuses of the two risk groups stratified by NKscore were comprehensively characterized. Besides, the established NKscore-integrated nomogram presented enhanced predictive performance. Single sample gene set enrichment analysis (ssGSEA) analysis was used to uncover the landscape of the tumor immune microenvironment (TIME) and the high-NKscore risk group was characterized with an immune-exhausted phenotype while the low-NKscore risk group held relatively strong anti-cancer immunity. T cell receptor (TCR) repertoire, tumor inflammation signature (TIS), and Immunophenoscore (IPS) analyses revealed differences in immunotherapy sensitivity between the two NKscore risk groups. Taken together, we developed a novel NK cell-related signature to predict the prognosis and immunotherapy efficacy for HCC patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chengbin Guo
- Faculty of Medicine, Macau University of Science and Technology, Tapai, Macau, 999078, China
| | - Yuqin Tang
- Clinical Bioinformatics Experimental Center, Henan Provincial People's Hospital, Zhengzhou University, 450003, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Qizhuo Li
- School of Computer Science and Engineering, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510006, China
| | - Zhao Yang
- West China School of Medicine, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Yuqi Guo
- Clinical Bioinformatics Experimental Center, Henan Provincial People's Hospital, Zhengzhou University, 450003, Zhengzhou, China.
| | - Chuanliang Chen
- Clinical Bioinformatics Experimental Center, Henan Provincial People's Hospital, Zhengzhou University, 450003, Zhengzhou, China.
| | - Yongqiang Zhang
- West China School of Medicine, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China; Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, 510623, China.
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Luo Y, Liu H, Fu H, Ding GS, Teng F. A cellular senescence-related classifier based on a tumorigenesis- and immune infiltration-guided strategy can predict prognosis, immunotherapy response, and candidate drugs in hepatocellular carcinoma. Front Immunol 2022; 13:974377. [PMID: 36458010 PMCID: PMC9705748 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.974377] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2022] [Accepted: 10/25/2022] [Indexed: 09/05/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cellular senescence plays an irreplaceable role in tumorigenesis, progression, and tumor microenvironment (TME) remodeling. However, to date, there is limited research delineating the landscape of cellular senescence in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), and an improved understanding on the interaction of tumor-associated cellular senescence with HCC prognosis, TME, and response to immunotherapy is warrant. METHODS Tumorigenic and immune infiltration-associated senescence genes were determined by weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) and the Estimation of STromal and Immune cells in MAlignant Tumor tissues using Expression data (ESTIMATE) algorithm, and subsequently, a prognostic scoring model (named TIS) was constructed using multiple survival analysis algorithms to classify the senescence-related subtypes of HCC. Gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) and gene set variation analysis (GSVA) were conducted to identify the distinct hallmark pathways between high- and low-risk subtypes. Additionally, we carried out correlation analyses for TIS and clinical traits, senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP), immune infiltration and evasion, immune checkpoint factors, drug response, and immunotherapeutic efficacy. External experimental validation was conducted to delineate the association of CPEP3 (a TIS gene) with HCC phenotypes through assays of proliferation, colony formation, and invasion. RESULTS A five-gene TIS, composed of NET1, ATP6V0B, MMP1, GTDC1, and CPEB3, was constructed and validated using TCGA and ICGC datasets, respectively, and showed a highly robust and plausible signature for overall survival (OS) prediction of HCC in both training and validation cohorts. Patients in the TIS-high group were accompanied by worse OS, activation of carcinogenetic pathways, infiltration of immunosuppressive cells, exclusion of effector killing cells, overexpression of immunomodulatory genes and SASP, and unsatisfied response to immunotherapy. In response to anticancer drugs, patients in the TIS-high group exhibited enhanced susceptibility to several conventional chemotherapeutic agents (5-fluorouracil, docetaxel, doxorubicin, gemcitabine, and etoposide), as well as several inhibitors of pathways involved in cellular senescence (cell-cycle inhibitors, bromodomain and extraterminal domain family (BET) inhibitors, PI3K-AKT pathway inhibitors, and multikinase inhibitors). Additionally, four putative drugs (palbociclib, JAK3 inhibitor VI, floxuridine, and lestaurtinib) were identified as potential compounds for patients in the TIS-high group. Notably, in vitro functional validation showed that CPEB3 knockdown boosted the phenotypes of proliferation, clonogenicity, and invasion in HCC cells, whereas CPEB3 overexpression attenuated these phenotypes. CONCLUSIONS Our study provides comprehensive clues demonstrating the role of novel TIS in predicting HCC prognosis, immunotherapeutic response, and candidate drugs. This work highlights the significance of tumorigenesis- and immune infiltration-related cellular senescence in cancer therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi Luo
- Department of Liver Surgery and Organ Transplantation, Changzheng Hospital, Naval Medical University, Shanghai, China
| | - Hao Liu
- Department of General Surgery, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Hong Fu
- Department of Liver Surgery and Organ Transplantation, Changzheng Hospital, Naval Medical University, Shanghai, China
| | - Guo-Shan Ding
- Department of Liver Surgery and Organ Transplantation, Changzheng Hospital, Naval Medical University, Shanghai, China
| | - Fei Teng
- Department of Liver Surgery and Organ Transplantation, Changzheng Hospital, Naval Medical University, Shanghai, China
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Li SR, Man QW, Liu B. Development and validation of a novel hypoxia-related signature for prognostic and immunogenic evaluation in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. Front Oncol 2022; 12:943945. [PMID: 36452497 PMCID: PMC9702068 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2022.943945] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2022] [Accepted: 10/26/2022] [Indexed: 10/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Hypoxia plays a critical role in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) prognosis. However, till now, robust and reliable hypoxia-related prognostic signatures have not been established for an accurate prognostic evaluation in HNSCC patients. This article focused on establishing a risk score model to evaluate the prognosis and guide treatment for HNSCC patients. RNA-seq data and clinical information of 502 HNSCC patients and 44 normal samples were downloaded from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database. 433 samples from three Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) datasets were incorporated as an external validation cohort. In the training cohort, prognostic-related genes were screened and LASSO regression analyses were performed for signature establishment. A scoring system based on SRPX, PGK1, STG1, HS3ST1, CDKN1B, and HK1 showed an excellent prediction capacity for an overall prognosis for HNSCC patients. Patients were divided into high- and low-risk groups, and the survival status of the two groups exhibited a statistically significant difference. Subsequently, gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) was carried out to explore the underlying mechanisms for the prognosis differences between the high- and low-risk groups. The tumor immune microenvironment was evaluated by CIBERSORT, ESTIMATE, TIDE, and xCell algorithm, etc. Then, we explored the relationships between this prognostic model and the levels of immune checkpoint-related genes. Cox regression analysis and nomogram plot indicated the scoring system was an independent predictor for HNSCC. Moreover, a comparison of predictive capability has been made between the present signature and existing prognostic signatures for HNSCC patients. Finally, we detected the expression levels of proteins encoded by six-HRGs via immunohistochemical analysis in tissue microarray. Collectively, a novel integrated signature considering both HRGs and clinicopathological parameters will serve as a prospective candidate for the prognostic evaluation of HNSCC patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Su-Ran Li
- The State Key Laboratory Breeding Base of Basic Science of Stomatology (Hubei-MOST) and Key Laboratory of Oral Biomedicine Ministry of Education, School and Hospital of Stomatology, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Qi-Wen Man
- The State Key Laboratory Breeding Base of Basic Science of Stomatology (Hubei-MOST) and Key Laboratory of Oral Biomedicine Ministry of Education, School and Hospital of Stomatology, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
- Department of Oral Maxillofacial Head Neck Oncology, School and Hospital of Stomatology, Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Bing Liu
- The State Key Laboratory Breeding Base of Basic Science of Stomatology (Hubei-MOST) and Key Laboratory of Oral Biomedicine Ministry of Education, School and Hospital of Stomatology, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
- Department of Oral Maxillofacial Head Neck Oncology, School and Hospital of Stomatology, Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei, China
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10
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Aggarwal V, Sahoo S, Donnenberg VS, Chakraborty P, Jolly MK, Sant S. P4HA2: A link between tumor-intrinsic hypoxia, partial EMT and collective migration. ADVANCES IN CANCER BIOLOGY - METASTASIS 2022; 5:100057. [PMID: 36187341 PMCID: PMC9517480 DOI: 10.1016/j.adcanc.2022.100057] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/29/2023]
Abstract
Epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT), a well-established phenomenon studied across pan-cancer types, has long been known to be a major player in driving tumor invasion and metastasis. Recent studies have highlighted the importance of partial EMT phenotypes in metastasis. Initially thought as a transitional state between epithelial and mesenchymal phenotypic states, partial EMT state is now widely recognized as a key driver of intra-tumoral heterogeneity and phenotypic plasticity, further accelerating tumor metastasis and therapeutic resistance. However, how tumor microenvironment regulates partial EMT phenotypes remains unclear. We have developed unique size-controlled three-dimensional microtumor models that recapitulate tumor-intrinsic hypoxia and the emergence of collectively migrating cells. In this study, we further interrogate these microtumor models to understand how tumor-intrinsic hypoxia regulates partial EMT and collective migration in hypoxic large microtumors fabricated from T47D breast cancer cells. We compared global gene expression profiles of hypoxic, migratory microtumors to that of non-hypoxic, non-migratory microtumors at early and late time-points. Using our microtumor models, we identified unique gene signatures for tumor-intrinsic hypoxia (early versus late), partial EMT and migration (pre-migratory versus migratory phenotype). Through differential gene expression analysis between the microtumor models with an overlap of hypoxia, partial EMT and migration signatures, we identified prolyl 4-hydroxylase subunit 2 (P4HA2), a hypoxia responsive gene, as a central regulator common to hypoxia, partial EMT and collective migration. Further, the inhibition of P4HA2 significantly blocked collective migration in hypoxic microtumors. Thus, using the integrated computational-experimental analysis, we identify the key role of P4HA2 in tumor-intrinsic hypoxia-driven partial EMT and collective migration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vaishali Aggarwal
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Sarthak Sahoo
- Centre for BioSystems Science and Engineering, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, India
| | - Vera S. Donnenberg
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- McGowan Institute for Regenerative Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- UPMC-Hillman Cancer Center, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Priyanka Chakraborty
- Centre for BioSystems Science and Engineering, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, India
| | - Mohit Kumar Jolly
- Centre for BioSystems Science and Engineering, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, India
| | - Shilpa Sant
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- McGowan Institute for Regenerative Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- UPMC-Hillman Cancer Center, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- Department of Bioengineering, Swanson School of Engineering, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- Corresponding author. University of Pittsburgh School of Pharmacy Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences Department of Bioengineering UPMC-Hillman Cancer Center McGowan Institute for Regenerative Medicine, 7408 Salk Hall, 3501 Terrace Street, Pittsburgh, PA, 15261, USA. (S. Sant)
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11
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Hu L, Wu X, Chen D, Cao Z, Li Z, Liu Y, Zhao Q. The hypoxia-related signature predicts prognosis, pyroptosis and drug sensitivity of osteosarcoma. Front Cell Dev Biol 2022; 10:814722. [PMID: 36204682 PMCID: PMC9532009 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2022.814722] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2021] [Accepted: 08/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Osteosarcoma (OS) is one of the most common types of solid sarcoma with a poor prognosis. Solid tumors are often exposed to hypoxic conditions, while hypoxia is regarded as a driving force in tumor recurrence, metastasis, progression, low chemosensitivity and poor prognosis. Pytoptosis is a gasdermin-mediated inflammatory cell death that plays an essential role in host defense against tumorigenesis. However, few studies have reported relationships among hypoxia, pyroptosis, tumor immune microenvironment, chemosensitivity, and prognosis in OS. In this study, gene and clinical data from Therapeutically Applicable Research to Generate Effective Treatments (TARGET) and Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) databases were merged to develop a hypoxia risk model comprising four genes (PDK1, LOX, DCN, and HMOX1). The high hypoxia risk group had a poor prognosis and immunosuppressive status. Meanwhile, the infiltration of CD8+ T cells, activated memory CD4+ T cells, and related chemokines and genes were associated with clinical survival outcomes or chemosensitivity, the possible crucial driving forces of the OS hypoxia immune microenvironment that affect the development of pyroptosis. We established a pyroptosis risk model based on 14 pyroptosis-related genes to independently predict not only the prognosis but also the chemotherapy sensitivities. By exploring the various connections between the hypoxic immune microenvironment and pyroptosis, this study indicates that hypoxia could influence tumor immune microenvironment (TIM) remodeling and promote pyroptosis leading to poor prognosis and low chemosensitivity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lin Hu
- Department of Pediatrics, The Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Xin Wu
- Department of Spine Surgery, Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Dongjie Chen
- Department of Hepatopancreatobiliary Surgery, The Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Zhenyu Cao
- Department of Orthopedics, The Qinghai Provincial People's Hospital, Xining, China
| | - Zian Li
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Qinghai Provincial People's Hospital, Xining, China
| | - Yanmin Liu
- Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, The Qinghai Provincial People's Hospital, Xining, China
- *Correspondence: Yanmin Liu, ; Qiangqiang Zhao,
| | - Qiangqiang Zhao
- Department of Hematology, The Qinghai Provincial People’s Hospital, Xining, China
- *Correspondence: Yanmin Liu, ; Qiangqiang Zhao,
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12
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Wang H, Shi F, Zheng S, Zhao M, Pan Z, Xiong L, Zheng L. Feasibility of hepatocellular carcinoma treatment based on the tumor microenvironment. Front Oncol 2022; 12:896662. [PMID: 36176401 PMCID: PMC9513472 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2022.896662] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2022] [Accepted: 08/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The incidence of liver cancer is extremely high worldwide and poses a serious threat to human life and health. But at present, apart from radiotherapy, chemotherapy, liver transplantation, and early resection, sorafenib was the main systemic therapy proven to have clinical efficacy for unresectable liver cancer (HCC) until 2017. Despite the emerging immunotherapy in the past decade with immune inhibitors such as PD - 1 being approved and applied to clinical treatment, there are still some patients with no response. This review aims to elucidate the mechanisms underlying the tumor microenvironment of hepatocellular carcinoma and thus analyze the effectiveness of targeting the tumor microenvironment to improve the therapeutic efficacy of hepatocellular carcinoma, including the effectiveness and feasibility of immunotherapy, tumor oncolytic viruses and anti-vascular proliferation therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haiqiang Wang
- Department of Internal Medicine, First Affiliated Hospital, Heilongjiang University of Chinese Medicine, Harbin, China
| | - Fan Shi
- Graduate School of Heilongjiang University of Chinese Medicine, Harbin, China
| | - Shudan Zheng
- Graduate School of Heilongjiang University of Chinese Medicine, Harbin, China
| | - Mei Zhao
- Graduate School of Heilongjiang University of Chinese Medicine, Harbin, China
| | - Zimeng Pan
- Graduate School of Heilongjiang University of Chinese Medicine, Harbin, China
| | - Li Xiong
- Graduate School of Heilongjiang University of Chinese Medicine, Harbin, China
| | - Lihong Zheng
- Department of Internal Medicine, Fourth Affiliated Hospital, Heilongjiang University of Chinese Medicine, Harbin, China
- *Correspondence: Lihong Zheng,
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13
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Zhang G, Xiao Y, Zhang X, Fan W, Zhao Y, Wu Y, Wang H, Li J. Dissecting a hypoxia-related angiogenic gene signature for predicting prognosis and immune status in hepatocellular carcinoma. Front Oncol 2022; 12:978050. [PMID: 36110938 PMCID: PMC9468769 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2022.978050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2022] [Accepted: 08/09/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
BackgroundHypoxia and angiogenesis, as prominent characteristics of malignant tumors, are implicated in the progression of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, the role of hypoxia in the angiogenesis of liver cancer is unclear. Therefore, we explored the regulatory mechanisms of hypoxia-related angiogenic genes (HRAGs) and the relationship between these genes and the prognosis of HCC.MethodsThe transcriptomic and clinical data of HCC samples were downloaded from public datasets, followed by identification of hypoxia- and angiogenesis-related genes in the database. A gene signature model was constructed based on univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses, and validated in independent cohorts. Kaplan-Meier survival and time-dependent receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were generated to evaluate the model’s predictive capability. Gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) was performed to explore signaling pathways regulated by the gene signature. Furthermore, the relationships among gene signature, immune status, and response to anti-angiogenesis agents and immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) were analyzed.ResultsThe prognostic model was based on three HRAGs (ANGPT2, SERPINE1 and SPP1). The model accurately predicted that low-risk patients would have longer overall survival than high-risk patients, consistent with findings in other cohorts. GSEA indicated that high-risk group membership was significantly associated with hypoxia, angiogenesis, the epithelial-mesenchymal transition, and activity in immune-related pathways. The high-risk group also had more immunosuppressive cells and higher expression of immune checkpoints such as PD-1 and PD-L1. Conversely, the low-risk group had a better response to anti-angiogenesis and ICB therapy.ConclusionsThe gene signature based on HRAGs was predictive of prognosis and provided an immunological perspective that will facilitate the development of personalized therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guixiong Zhang
- Department of Interventional Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yitai Xiao
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Biomedical Imaging and Guangdong Provincial Engineering Research Center of Molecular Imaging, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Zhuhai, China
| | - Xiaokai Zhang
- Department of Interventional Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Wenzhe Fan
- Department of Interventional Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yue Zhao
- Department of Interventional Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yanqin Wu
- Department of Interventional Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Hongyu Wang
- Department of Interventional Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jiaping Li
- Department of Interventional Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China
- *Correspondence: Jiaping Li,
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14
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Tang Y, Guo C, Yang Z, Wang Y, Zhang Y, Wang D. Identification of a Tumor Immunological Phenotype-Related Gene Signature for Predicting Prognosis, Immunotherapy Efficacy, and Drug Candidates in Hepatocellular Carcinoma. Front Immunol 2022; 13:862527. [PMID: 35493471 PMCID: PMC9039265 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.862527] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2022] [Accepted: 03/22/2022] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the predominant subtype of primary liver cancer and represents a highly heterogeneous disease, making it hard to predict the prognosis and therapy efficacy. Here, we established a novel tumor immunological phenotype-related gene index (TIPRGPI) consisting of 11 genes by Univariate Cox regression and the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) algorithm to predict HCC prognosis and immunotherapy response. TIPRGPI was validated in multiple datasets and exhibited outstanding performance in predicting the overall survival of HCC. Multivariate analysis verified it as an independent predictor and a TIPRGPI-integrated nomogram was constructed to provide a quantitative tool for clinical practice. Distinct mutation profiles, hallmark pathways, and infiltration of immune cells in tumor microenvironment were shown between the TIPRGPI high and low-risk groups. Notably, significant differences in tumor immunogenicity and tumor immune dysfunction and exclusion (TIDE) were observed between the two risk groups, suggesting a better response to immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) therapy of the low-risk group. Besides, six potential drugs binding to the core target of the TIPRGPI signature were predicted via molecular docking. Taken together, our study shows that the proposed TIPRGPI was a reliable signature to predict the risk classification, immunotherapy response, and drugs candidate with potential application in the clinical decision and treatment of HCC. The novel “TIP genes”-guided strategy for predicting the survival and immunotherapy efficacy, we reported here, might be also applied to more cancers other than HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuqin Tang
- State Key Laboratory of Southwestern Chinese Medicine Resources, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
| | - Chengbin Guo
- Faculty of Medicine, Macau University of Science and Technology, Macau, China
| | - Zhao Yang
- West China School of Medicine, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Yumei Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Southwestern Chinese Medicine Resources, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
| | - Yongqiang Zhang
- Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Dong Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Southwestern Chinese Medicine Resources, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
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15
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Abou Khouzam R, Zaarour RF, Brodaczewska K, Azakir B, Venkatesh GH, Thiery J, Terry S, Chouaib S. The Effect of Hypoxia and Hypoxia-Associated Pathways in the Regulation of Antitumor Response: Friends or Foes? Front Immunol 2022; 13:828875. [PMID: 35211123 PMCID: PMC8861358 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.828875] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2021] [Accepted: 01/19/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Hypoxia is an environmental stressor that is instigated by low oxygen availability. It fuels the progression of solid tumors by driving tumor plasticity, heterogeneity, stemness and genomic instability. Hypoxia metabolically reprograms the tumor microenvironment (TME), adding insult to injury to the acidic, nutrient deprived and poorly vascularized conditions that act to dampen immune cell function. Through its impact on key cancer hallmarks and by creating a physical barrier conducive to tumor survival, hypoxia modulates tumor cell escape from the mounted immune response. The tumor cell-immune cell crosstalk in the context of a hypoxic TME tips the balance towards a cold and immunosuppressed microenvironment that is resistant to immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI). Nonetheless, evidence is emerging that could make hypoxia an asset for improving response to ICI. Tackling the tumor immune contexture has taken on an in silico, digitalized approach with an increasing number of studies applying bioinformatics to deconvolute the cellular and non-cellular elements of the TME. Such approaches have additionally been combined with signature-based proxies of hypoxia to further dissect the turbulent hypoxia-immune relationship. In this review we will be highlighting the mechanisms by which hypoxia impacts immune cell functions and how that could translate to predicting response to immunotherapy in an era of machine learning and computational biology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raefa Abou Khouzam
- Thumbay Research Institute for Precision Medicine, Gulf Medical University, Ajman, United Arab Emirates
| | - Rania Faouzi Zaarour
- Thumbay Research Institute for Precision Medicine, Gulf Medical University, Ajman, United Arab Emirates
| | - Klaudia Brodaczewska
- Laboratory of Molecular Oncology and Innovative Therapies, Military Institute of Medicine, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Bilal Azakir
- Faculty of Medicine, Beirut Arab University, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Goutham Hassan Venkatesh
- Thumbay Research Institute for Precision Medicine, Gulf Medical University, Ajman, United Arab Emirates
| | - Jerome Thiery
- INSERM U1186, Gustave Roussy Cancer Campus, Université Paris-Saclay, Villejuif, France.,Faculty of Medicine, University Paris Sud, Le Kremlin Bicêtre, France
| | - Stéphane Terry
- INSERM U1186, Gustave Roussy Cancer Campus, Université Paris-Saclay, Villejuif, France.,Faculty of Medicine, University Paris Sud, Le Kremlin Bicêtre, France.,Research Department, Inovarion, Paris, France
| | - Salem Chouaib
- Thumbay Research Institute for Precision Medicine, Gulf Medical University, Ajman, United Arab Emirates.,INSERM U1186, Gustave Roussy Cancer Campus, Université Paris-Saclay, Villejuif, France
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16
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Ouyang W, Jiang Y, Bu S, Tang T, Huang L, Chen M, Tan Y, Ou Q, Mao L, Mai Y, Yao H, Yu Y, Lin X. A Prognostic Risk Score Based on Hypoxia-, Immunity-, and Epithelialto-Mesenchymal Transition-Related Genes for the Prognosis and Immunotherapy Response of Lung Adenocarcinoma. Front Cell Dev Biol 2022; 9:758777. [PMID: 35141229 PMCID: PMC8819669 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2021.758777] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2021] [Accepted: 12/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD), the most common subtype of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), is associated with poor prognosis. However, current stage-based clinical methods are insufficient for survival prediction and decision-making. This study aimed to establish a novel model for evaluating the risk of LUAD based on hypoxia, immunity, and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) gene signatures.Methods: In this study, we used data from TCGA-LUAD for the training cohort and GSE68465 and GSE72094 for the validation cohorts. Immunotherapy datasets GSE135222, GSE126044, and IMvigor210 were obtained from a previous study. Using bioinformatic and machine algorithms, we established a risk model based on hypoxia, immune, and EMT gene signatures, which was then used to divide patients into the high and low risk groups. We analyzed differences in enriched pathways between the two groups, following which we investigated whether the risk score was correlated with stemness scores, genes related to m6A, m5C, m1A and m7G modification, the immune microenvironment, immunotherapy response, and multiple anti-cancer drug sensitivity.Results: Overall survival differed significantly between the high-risk and low-risk groups (HR = 4.26). The AUCs for predicting 1-, 3-, and 5-year survival were 0.763, 0.766, and 0.728, respectively. In the GSE68465 dataset, the HR was 2.03, while the AUCs for predicting 1-, 3-, and 5-year survival were 0.69, 0.651, and 0.618, respectively. The corresponding values in the GSE72094 dataset were an HR of 2.36 and AUCs of 0.653, 0.662, and 0.749, respectively. The risk score model could independently predict OS in patients with LUAD, and highly correlated with stemness scores and numerous m6A, m5C, m1A and m7G modification-related genes. Furthermore, the risk model was significantly correlated with multiple immune microenvironment characteristics. In the GSE135222 dataset, the HR was 4.26 and the AUC was 0.702. Evaluation of the GSE126044 and IMvigor210 cohorts indicated that PD-1/PD-LI inhibitor treatment may be indicated in patients with low risk scores, while anti-cancer therapy with various drugs may be indicated in patients with high risk scores.Conclusion: Our novel risk model developed based on hypoxia, immune, and EMT gene signatures can aid in predicting clinical prognosis and guiding treatment in patients with LUAD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenhao Ouyang
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Epigenetics and Gene Regulation, Department of Medical Oncology, Breast Tumor Centre, Phase I Clinical Trial Centre, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China
- Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yupeng Jiang
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Epigenetics and Gene Regulation, Department of Medical Oncology, Breast Tumor Centre, Phase I Clinical Trial Centre, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Shiyi Bu
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Epigenetics and Gene Regulation, Department of Medical Oncology, Breast Tumor Centre, Phase I Clinical Trial Centre, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China
- Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Tiantian Tang
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Epigenetics and Gene Regulation, Department of Medical Oncology, Breast Tumor Centre, Phase I Clinical Trial Centre, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China
- Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Linjie Huang
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Epigenetics and Gene Regulation, Department of Medical Oncology, Breast Tumor Centre, Phase I Clinical Trial Centre, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China
- Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Ming Chen
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Epigenetics and Gene Regulation, Department of Medical Oncology, Breast Tumor Centre, Phase I Clinical Trial Centre, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China
- Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yujie Tan
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Epigenetics and Gene Regulation, Department of Medical Oncology, Breast Tumor Centre, Phase I Clinical Trial Centre, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Qiyun Ou
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Epigenetics and Gene Regulation, Department of Medical Oncology, Breast Tumor Centre, Phase I Clinical Trial Centre, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China
- Department of Ultrasound in Medicine, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Luhui Mao
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Epigenetics and Gene Regulation, Department of Medical Oncology, Breast Tumor Centre, Phase I Clinical Trial Centre, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yingjie Mai
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Epigenetics and Gene Regulation, Department of Medical Oncology, Breast Tumor Centre, Phase I Clinical Trial Centre, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Herui Yao
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Epigenetics and Gene Regulation, Department of Medical Oncology, Breast Tumor Centre, Phase I Clinical Trial Centre, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China
- *Correspondence: Herui Yao, ; Yunfang Yu, ; Xiaoling Lin,
| | - Yunfang Yu
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Epigenetics and Gene Regulation, Department of Medical Oncology, Breast Tumor Centre, Phase I Clinical Trial Centre, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China
- Artificial Intelligence and Digital Media Programme, Division of Science and Technology, Beijing Normal University-Hong Kong Baptist University United International College, Hong Kong Baptist University, Zhuhai, China
- *Correspondence: Herui Yao, ; Yunfang Yu, ; Xiaoling Lin,
| | - Xiaoling Lin
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Epigenetics and Gene Regulation, Department of Medical Oncology, Breast Tumor Centre, Phase I Clinical Trial Centre, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China
- Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China
- *Correspondence: Herui Yao, ; Yunfang Yu, ; Xiaoling Lin,
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17
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A 10-Gene Signature Identified by Machine Learning for Predicting the Response to Transarterial Chemoembolization in Patients with Hepatocellular Carcinoma. JOURNAL OF ONCOLOGY 2022; 2022:3822773. [PMID: 35111225 PMCID: PMC8803430 DOI: 10.1155/2022/3822773] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2021] [Revised: 12/28/2021] [Accepted: 12/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Background Transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) is recommended for intermediate-stage HCC patients. Owing to substantial variation in its efficacy, indicators of patient responses to TACE need to be determined. Methods A Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) dataset consisting of patients of different TACE-response status was retrieved. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were calculated and variable gene ontology analyses were conducted. Potential drugs and response to immunotherapy were predicted using multiple bioinformatic algorithms. We built and compared 5 machine-learning models with finite genes to predict patients' response to TACE. The model was also externally validated to discern different survival outcomes after TACE. Tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) and tumor stemness index were evaluated to explore potential mechanism of our model. Results The gene set variation analysis revealed enhanced pathways related to G2/M checkpoint, E2F, mTORC1, and myc in TACE nonresponders. TACE responders had better immunotherapy response too. 373 DEGs were detected and the upregulated DEGs in nonresponders were enriched in IL-17 signal pathway. 5 machine-learning models were constructed and evaluated, and a linear support vector machine (SVM)-based model with 10 genes was selected (AQP1, FABP4, HERC6, LOX, PEG10, S100A8, SPARCL1, TIAM1, TSPAN8, and TYRO3). The model achieved an AUC and accuracy of 0.944 and 0.844, respectively, in the development cohort. In the external validation cohort comprised of patients receiving adjuvant TACE and postrecurrence TACE treatment, the predicted response group significantly outlived the predicted nonresponse counterparts. TACE nonresponders tend to have more macrophage M0 cells and lower resting mast cells in the tumor tissue and the stemness index is also higher than responders. Those characteristics were successfully captured by our model. Conclusion The model based on expression data of 10 genes could potentially predict HCC patients' response and prognosis after TACE treatment. The discriminating power was TACE-specific.
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Chen J, Wang G, Zhang D, Luo X, Zhang D, Zhang Y. Construction of novel hypoxia-related gene model for prognosis and tumor microenvironment in endometrial carcinoma. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2022; 13:1075431. [PMID: 36589842 PMCID: PMC9797861 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2022.1075431] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2022] [Accepted: 12/02/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Endometrial cancer is currently one of the three most common female reproductive cancers, which seriously threatens women's lives and health. Hypoxia disrupts the tumor microenvironment, thereby affecting tumor progression and drug resistance. METHODS We established hypoxia-related gene model to predict patient prognosis and 1-, 3-, and 5-year overall survival rates. Then, the expression level of hypoxia-related genes and survival data were extracted for comprehensive analysis by Cox regression analysis, and the model was established. RESULTS We analyzed the survival and prognosis of patients in the high and low-risk groups. The Kaplan-Meier curve showed that the low-risk group is associated with a better survival rate. The 1-, 3-, and 5-year AUC values of the model were 0.680, 0.698, and 0.687, respectively. Finally, we found that LAG3 may be a potential immune checkpoint for endometrial cancer. CONCLUSION We found four hypoxia-related genes (ANXA2, AKAP12, NR3C1, and GPI) associated with prognosis. The hypoxia-related gene model can also predict prognosis and tumor microenvironment in endometrial cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junfeng Chen
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Maternal Fetal Medicine, Shanghai Institute of Maternal-Fetal Medicine and Gynecologic Oncology, Shanghai First Maternity and Infant Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, China
| | - Guocheng Wang
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Maternal Fetal Medicine, Shanghai Institute of Maternal-Fetal Medicine and Gynecologic Oncology, Shanghai First Maternity and Infant Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, China
| | - Donghai Zhang
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Maternal Fetal Medicine, Shanghai Institute of Maternal-Fetal Medicine and Gynecologic Oncology, Shanghai First Maternity and Infant Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, China
| | - Xiaomei Luo
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Maternal Fetal Medicine, Shanghai Institute of Maternal-Fetal Medicine and Gynecologic Oncology, Shanghai First Maternity and Infant Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, China
| | - Da Zhang
- Department of Gynecological Oncology, Changchun Center Hospital, Changchun, Jilin, China
- *Correspondence: Yongli Zhang, ; Da Zhang,
| | - Yongli Zhang
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Maternal Fetal Medicine, Shanghai Institute of Maternal-Fetal Medicine and Gynecologic Oncology, Shanghai First Maternity and Infant Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, China
- *Correspondence: Yongli Zhang, ; Da Zhang,
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Huang J, Zhang J, Guo Z, Li C, Tan Z, Wang J, Yang J, Xue L. Easy or Not-The Advances of EZH2 in Regulating T Cell Development, Differentiation, and Activation in Antitumor Immunity. Front Immunol 2021; 12:741302. [PMID: 34737746 PMCID: PMC8560704 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.741302] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2021] [Accepted: 09/28/2021] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Enhancer of zeste homolog 2 (EZH2) is the catalytic subunit of polycomb repressive complex 2 (PRC2), which regulates downstream gene expression by trimethylation of lysine 27 in histone H3 (H3K27me3). EZH2 mutations or overexpressions are associated with many types of cancer. As inhibition of EZH2 activity could upregulate the expression of tumor suppressor genes, EZH2 has recently become an interesting therapeutic target for cancer therapy. Moreover, accumulating evidence has shown that EZH2 may contribute to the regulation of immune cells, especially T cells. EZH2 regulates T cell development, differentiation, and function, suggesting that EZH2 also regulates immune homeostasis in addition to tumor suppressor genes. Moreover, EZH2 can regulate T cell fate by targeting non-T cell factors such as metabolism, cytokines, and myeloid-derived suppressor cells. The role of EZH2 in this process has not been fully addressed. This review discusses up-to-date research on EZH2-mediated regulation of immunological function and the progress of immunological therapeutic strategies based on this regulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiaqi Huang
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China.,Center of Basic Medical Research, Institute of Medical Innovation and Research, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Jie Zhang
- Center of Basic Medical Research, Institute of Medical Innovation and Research, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Zhengyang Guo
- Center of Basic Medical Research, Institute of Medical Innovation and Research, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Chen Li
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China.,Center of Basic Medical Research, Institute of Medical Innovation and Research, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Zhen Tan
- Department of Bone and Joint Surgery, Peking University Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen, China
| | - Junjie Wang
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Jianling Yang
- Center of Basic Medical Research, Institute of Medical Innovation and Research, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Lixiang Xue
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China.,Center of Basic Medical Research, Institute of Medical Innovation and Research, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China
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