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Yang C, Zhao L, Lin Y, Wang S, Ye Y, Shen Z. Improving the efficiency of immune checkpoint inhibitors for metastatic pMMR/MSS colorectal cancer: Options and strategies. Crit Rev Oncol Hematol 2024; 200:104204. [PMID: 37984588 DOI: 10.1016/j.critrevonc.2023.104204] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2023] [Revised: 10/24/2023] [Accepted: 11/13/2023] [Indexed: 11/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have revolutionized cancer treatment and been extensively used for patients with metastastic colorectal cancer (mCRC), especially those harboring deficient mismatch repair/ microsatellite instability (dMMR/MSI). However, the majority of mCRC are classified as proficient mismatch repair/microsatellite stability(pMMR/MSS) type characterized by a cold immune microenvironment, rendering them generally unresponsive to ICIs. How to improve the efficacy of ICIs for these patients is an important issue to be solved. On the one hand, it is urgent to discover the predictive biomarkers and clinical characteristics associated with effectiveness and expand the subset of pMMR/MSS mCRC patients who benefit from ICIs. Additionally, combined strategies are being explored to modulate the immune microenvironment of pMMR/MSS CRC and facilitate the conversion of cold tumors into hot tumors. In this review, we have focused on the recent advancements in the predictive biomarkers and combination therapeutic strategies with ICIs for pMMR/MSS mCRC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Changjiang Yang
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Laboratory of Surgical Oncology, Beijing Key Laboratory of Colorectal Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment Research, Peking University People's Hospital, No.11 Xizhimen South Street, Beijing 100044, PR China
| | - Long Zhao
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Laboratory of Surgical Oncology, Beijing Key Laboratory of Colorectal Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment Research, Peking University People's Hospital, No.11 Xizhimen South Street, Beijing 100044, PR China
| | - Yilin Lin
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Laboratory of Surgical Oncology, Beijing Key Laboratory of Colorectal Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment Research, Peking University People's Hospital, No.11 Xizhimen South Street, Beijing 100044, PR China
| | - Shan Wang
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Laboratory of Surgical Oncology, Beijing Key Laboratory of Colorectal Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment Research, Peking University People's Hospital, No.11 Xizhimen South Street, Beijing 100044, PR China
| | - Yingjiang Ye
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Laboratory of Surgical Oncology, Beijing Key Laboratory of Colorectal Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment Research, Peking University People's Hospital, No.11 Xizhimen South Street, Beijing 100044, PR China
| | - Zhanlong Shen
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Laboratory of Surgical Oncology, Beijing Key Laboratory of Colorectal Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment Research, Peking University People's Hospital, No.11 Xizhimen South Street, Beijing 100044, PR China.
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Chuang L, Qifeng J, Shaolei Y. The tumor immune microenvironment and T-cell-related immunotherapies in colorectal cancer. Discov Oncol 2024; 15:244. [PMID: 38918278 PMCID: PMC11199466 DOI: 10.1007/s12672-024-01117-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2024] [Accepted: 06/21/2024] [Indexed: 06/27/2024] Open
Abstract
The tumor microenvironment includes a complex network of immune T-cell subsets that play important roles in colorectal cancer (CRC) progression and are key elements of CRC immunotherapy. T cells develop and migrate within tumors, recognizing tumor-specific antigens to regulate immune surveillance. Current immunotherapies are divided into the following main categories based on the regulatory role of T-cell subsets in the tumor immune microenvironment (TIME): cytokines, monoclonal antibodies, peptide vaccines, CAR-T cells and more. This review describes the composition of the tumor immune microenvironment in colorectal cancer and the involvement of T cells in the pathogenesis and progression of CRC as well as current T-cell-related immunotherapies. Further studies on CRC-specific tumor antigens, the gene regulation of T cells, and the regulation of immune activity are needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liu Chuang
- Hanan Branch of the Second Affiliated Hospital of Heilongjiang University of Chinese Medicine, Guogoli Street, Nangang District, Harbin, China
| | - Ju Qifeng
- The First Affiliated Hospital Heilongjiang University of Chinese Medicine, Harbin, China
| | - Yu Shaolei
- Hanan Branch of the Second Affiliated Hospital of Heilongjiang University of Chinese Medicine, Guogoli Street, Nangang District, Harbin, China.
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3
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Molina OE, LaRue H, Simonyan D, Hovington H, Vittrant B, Têtu B, Fradet V, Lacombe L, Bergeron A, Fradet Y. Regulatory and memory T lymphocytes infiltrating prostate tumors predict long term clinical outcomes. Front Immunol 2024; 15:1372837. [PMID: 38887294 PMCID: PMC11180786 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2024.1372837] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2024] [Accepted: 05/13/2024] [Indexed: 06/20/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction The localization, density but mostly the phenotype of tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL) provide important information on the initial interaction between the host immune system and the tumor. Our objective was to assess the prognostic significance of T (CD3+), T regulatory (Treg) (FoxP3+) and T memory (Tmem) (CD45RO+) infiltrating lymphocytes and of genes associated with TIL in prostate cancer (PCa). Methods Immunohistochemistry (IHC) was used to assess the infiltration of CD3+, FoxP3+ and CD45RO+ cells in the tumor area, tumor margin and adjacent normal-like epithelium of a series of 98 PCa samples with long clinical follow-up. Expression of a panel of 31 TIL-associated genes was analyzed by Taqman Low-Density Array (TLDA) technology in another series of 50 tumors with long clinical follow-up. Kaplan-Meier and Cox proportional hazards regression analyses were performed to determine association of these markers with biochemical recurrence (BCR), need for definitive androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) or lethal PCa. Results TIL subtypes were present at different densities in the tumor, tumor margin and adjacent normal-like epithelium, but their density and phenotype in the tumor area were the most predictive of clinical outcomes. In multivariate analyses, a high density of Treg (high FoxP3+/CD3+ cell ratio) predicted a higher risk for need of definitive ADT (HR=7.69, p=0.001) and lethal PCa (HR=4.37, p=0.04). Conversely, a high density of Tmem (high CD45RO+/CD3+ cell ratio) predicted a reduced risk of lethal PCa (HR=0.06, p=0.04). TLDA analyses showed that a high expression of FoxP3 was associated with a higher risk of lethal PCa (HR=5.26, p=0.02). Expression of CTLA-4, PD-1, TIM-3 and LAG-3 were correlated with that of FoxP3. Amongst these, only a high expression of TIM-3 was associated with a significant higher risk for definitive ADT in univariate Cox regression analysis (HR=3.11, p=0.01). Conclusion These results show that the proportion of Treg and Tmem found within the tumor area is a strong and independent predictor of late systemic progression of PCa. Our results also suggest that inhibition of TIM-3 might be a potential approach to counter the immunosuppressive functions of Treg in order to improve the anti-tumor immune response against PCa.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oscar Eduardo Molina
- Axe oncologie, Centre de recherche du CHU de Québec-Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada
- Centre de recherche sur le cancer de l’Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada
| | - Hélène LaRue
- Axe oncologie, Centre de recherche du CHU de Québec-Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada
- Centre de recherche sur le cancer de l’Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada
| | - David Simonyan
- Plateforme de recherche clinique et évaluative, Centre de recherche du CHU de Québec-Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada
| | - Hélène Hovington
- Axe oncologie, Centre de recherche du CHU de Québec-Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada
- Centre de recherche sur le cancer de l’Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada
| | - Benjamin Vittrant
- Axe oncologie, Centre de recherche du CHU de Québec-Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada
- Centre de recherche sur le cancer de l’Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada
| | - Bernard Têtu
- Axe oncologie, Centre de recherche du CHU de Québec-Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada
- Centre de recherche sur le cancer de l’Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada
- Département de pathologie, CHU de Québec-Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada
| | - Vincent Fradet
- Axe oncologie, Centre de recherche du CHU de Québec-Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada
- Centre de recherche sur le cancer de l’Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada
- Département de chirurgie, Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada
| | - Louis Lacombe
- Axe oncologie, Centre de recherche du CHU de Québec-Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada
- Centre de recherche sur le cancer de l’Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada
- Département de chirurgie, Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada
| | - Alain Bergeron
- Axe oncologie, Centre de recherche du CHU de Québec-Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada
- Centre de recherche sur le cancer de l’Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada
- Département de chirurgie, Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada
| | - Yves Fradet
- Axe oncologie, Centre de recherche du CHU de Québec-Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada
- Centre de recherche sur le cancer de l’Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada
- Département de chirurgie, Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada
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Lopez-Perez D, Prados-Lopez B, Galvez J, Leon J, Carazo A. Eosinophils in Colorectal Cancer: Emerging Insights into Anti-Tumoral Mechanisms and Clinical Implications. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:6098. [PMID: 38892286 PMCID: PMC11172675 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25116098] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2024] [Revised: 05/23/2024] [Accepted: 05/27/2024] [Indexed: 06/21/2024] Open
Abstract
Eosinophils are myeloid effector cells whose main homing is the gastrointestinal tract. There, they take part in type I and type II immune responses. They also contribute to other non-immunological homeostatic functions like mucus production, tissue regeneration, and angiogenesis. In colorectal cancer (CRC), eosinophils locate in the center of the tumor and in the front of invasion and play an anti-tumoral role. They directly kill tumor cells by releasing cytotoxic compounds and eosinophil extracellular traps or indirectly by activating other immune cells via cytokines. As CRC progresses, the number of infiltrating eosinophils decreases. Although this phenomenon is not fully understood, it is known that some changes in the microenvironmental milieu and microbiome can affect eosinophil infiltration. Importantly, a high number of intratumoral eosinophils is a favorable prognostic factor independent from the tumor stage. Moreover, after immunotherapy, responding patients usually display eosinophilia, so eosinophils could be a good biomarker candidate to monitor treatment outcomes. Finally, even though eosinophils seem to play an interesting anti-tumoral role in CRC, much more research is needed to fully understand their interactions in the CRC microenvironment. This review explores the multifaceted roles of eosinophils in colorectal cancer, highlighting their anti-tumoral effects, prognostic significance, and potential as a biomarker for treatment outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Lopez-Perez
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Granada, 18012 Granada, Spain
- Research Unit, Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria de Granada (ibs.GRANADA), 18016 Granada, Spain
| | - Belen Prados-Lopez
- Research Unit, Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria de Granada (ibs.GRANADA), 18016 Granada, Spain
| | - Julio Galvez
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Granada, 18012 Granada, Spain
- Research Unit, Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria de Granada (ibs.GRANADA), 18016 Granada, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red para Enfermedades Hepáticas y Digestivas (CIBER-EHD), Center for Biomedical Research, University of Granada, 18012 Granada, Spain
| | - Josefa Leon
- Research Unit, Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria de Granada (ibs.GRANADA), 18016 Granada, Spain
- Unidad de Gestión Clínica de Aparato Digestivo, Hospital Universitario San Cecilio de Granada, 18016 Granada, Spain
| | - Angel Carazo
- Research Unit, Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria de Granada (ibs.GRANADA), 18016 Granada, Spain
- Unidad de Gestión de Microbiología, Hospital Universitario San Cecilio de Granada, 18016 Granada, Spain
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Kazemi A, Rasouli-Saravani A, Gharib M, Albuquerque T, Eslami S, Schüffler PJ. A systematic review of machine learning-based tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes analysis in colorectal cancer: Overview of techniques, performance metrics, and clinical outcomes. Comput Biol Med 2024; 173:108306. [PMID: 38554659 DOI: 10.1016/j.compbiomed.2024.108306] [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: 10/14/2023] [Revised: 03/04/2024] [Accepted: 03/12/2024] [Indexed: 04/02/2024]
Abstract
The incidence of colorectal cancer (CRC), one of the deadliest cancers around the world, is increasing. Tissue microenvironment (TME) features such as tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) can have a crucial impact on diagnosis or decision-making for treating patients with CRC. While clinical studies showed that TILs improve the host immune response, leading to a better prognosis, inter-observer agreement for quantifying TILs is not perfect. Incorporating machine learning (ML) based applications in clinical routine may promote diagnosis reliability. Recently, ML has shown potential for making progress in routine clinical procedures. We aim to systematically review the TILs analysis based on ML in CRC histological images. Deep learning (DL) and non-DL techniques can aid pathologists in identifying TILs, and automated TILs are associated with patient outcomes. However, a large multi-institutional CRC dataset with a diverse and multi-ethnic population is necessary to generalize ML methods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Azar Kazemi
- Department of Medical Informatics, School of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran; Institute of General and Surgical Pathology, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany.
| | - Ashkan Rasouli-Saravani
- Student Research Committee, Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
| | - Masoumeh Gharib
- Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
| | | | - Saeid Eslami
- Department of Medical Informatics, School of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran; Pharmaceutical Sciences Research Center, Institute of Pharmaceutical Technology, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran; Department of Medical Informatics, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
| | - Peter J Schüffler
- Institute of General and Surgical Pathology, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany; TUM School of Computation, Information and Technology, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany; Munich Center for Machine Learning, Munich, Germany; Munich Data Science Institute, Munich, Germany.
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Mulholland EJ, Leedham SJ. Redefining clinical practice through spatial profiling: a revolution in tissue analysis. Ann R Coll Surg Engl 2024; 106:305-312. [PMID: 38555868 PMCID: PMC10981989 DOI: 10.1308/rcsann.2023.0091] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/25/2023] [Indexed: 04/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Spatial biology, which combines molecular biology and advanced imaging, enhances our understanding of tissue cellular organisation. Despite its potential, spatial omics encounters challenges related to data complexity, computational requirements and standardisation of analysis. In clinical applications, spatial omics has the potential to revolutionise biomarker discovery, disease stratification and personalised treatments. It can identify disease-specific cell patterns, and could help risk stratify patients for clinical trials and disease-appropriate therapies. Although there are challenges in adopting it in clinical practice, spatial omics has the potential to significantly enhance patient outcomes. In this paper, we discuss the recent evolution of spatial biology, and its potential for improving our tissue level understanding and treatment of disease, to help advance precision and effectiveness in healthcare interventions.
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Lu KQ, Li ZL, Zhang Q, Yin Q, Zhang YL, Ni WJ, Jiang LZ, He W, Wang B. CDK12 is a potential biomarker for diagnosis, prognosis and immunomodulation in pan-cancer. Sci Rep 2024; 14:6574. [PMID: 38503865 PMCID: PMC10951204 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-56831-7] [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: 08/07/2023] [Accepted: 03/12/2024] [Indexed: 03/21/2024] Open
Abstract
Cell cycle-dependent protein kinase 12 (CDK12) plays a key role in a variety of carcinogenesis processes and represents a promising therapeutic target for cancer treatment. However, to date, there have been no systematic studies addressing its diagnostic, prognostic and immunological value across cancers. Here, we found that CDK12 was significantly upregulated in various types of cancers, and it expression increased with progression in ten cancer types, including breast cancer, cholangiocarcinoma and colon adenocarcinoma. Moreover, the ROC curves indicated that CDK12 showed diagnostic value in eight cancer types. High CDK12 expression was associated with poor prognosis in eight types of cancer, including low-grade glioma, mesothelioma, melanoma and pancreatic cancer. Furthermore, we conducted immunoassays to explore the exact mechanisms underlying CDK12-induced carcinogenesis, which revealed that increased expression of CDK12 allowed tumours to evade immune surveillance and upregulate immune checkpoint genes. Additionally, mutational studies have shown that amplification and missense mutations are the predominant mutational events affecting CDK12 across cancers. These findings establish CDK12 as a significant biological indicator of cancer diagnosis, prognosis, and immunotherapeutic targeting. Early surveillance and employment of CDK12 inhibitors, along with concomitant immunotherapy interventions, may enhance the clinical outcomes of cancer patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ke-Qi Lu
- Institute of Nephrology, Zhong Da Hospital, Southeast University School of Medicine, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Zuo-Lin Li
- Institute of Nephrology, Zhong Da Hospital, Southeast University School of Medicine, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Qian Zhang
- Pediatric Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
| | - Qing Yin
- Institute of Nephrology, Zhong Da Hospital, Southeast University School of Medicine, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Yi-Lin Zhang
- Institute of Nephrology, Zhong Da Hospital, Southeast University School of Medicine, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Wei-Jie Ni
- Institute of Nephrology, Zhong Da Hospital, Southeast University School of Medicine, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - LiangYun-Zi Jiang
- Institute of Nephrology, Zhong Da Hospital, Southeast University School of Medicine, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Wei He
- Department of Gastroenterology, Jiangsu Province Geriatric Institute, and Jiangsu Province Official Hospital, Geriatric Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China.
| | - Bin Wang
- Institute of Nephrology, Zhong Da Hospital, Southeast University School of Medicine, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China.
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8
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Chen M, Liu H, Liang W, Huang P, Ye F, Cai Y, Liang Z, Xiong L, Kang L, Huang L. Mitochondrial DNA copy number plays opposing roles in T-lymphocyte infiltration of colorectal cancer based on mismatch repair status: new directions for immunotherapy? Br J Cancer 2024; 130:798-807. [PMID: 38218920 PMCID: PMC10912653 DOI: 10.1038/s41416-023-02568-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2023] [Revised: 12/13/2023] [Accepted: 12/21/2023] [Indexed: 01/15/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Researchers have previously reported that mitochondrial DNA copy number (mtDNA-CN) can play different roles in microsatellite instable/mismatch repair-deficient (MSI/dMMR) and microsatellite stable/mismatch repair-proficient (MSS/pMMR) colorectal cancer (CRC). To support malignancy, dMMR CRC relies on glycolysis, while pMMR CRC favors oxidative phosphorylation. However, it is unclear whether mtDNA-CN changes are related to T cell infiltration in CRC. METHODS The mtDNA-CN was detected by qRT-PCR in 532 patients, and the expression of CD3 and CD8 in 485 patients was detected by immunohistochemistry. The correlation between mtDNA-CN and the prognosis of CRC patients was further analyzed, and the correlation between mtDNA-CN and T lymphocyte infiltration was also analyzed. Biopsy specimens from the immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) treatment cohort were obtained to verify the correlation between mtDNA-CN and the efficacy of ICIs. The effects of mtDNA-CN and MMR status on gene expression were analyzed by RNA-seq. RESULTS Our results show that mtDNA-CN has inverse relationships to CRC prognosis in cases with different MMR statuses, potentially inducing the U-shaped association in CRC. The opposing correlations between mtDNA-CN and T lymphocyte infiltration in cases of dMMR CRC and pMMR CRC further suggest that mtDNA-CN might play an important role in CRC development. More importantly, cases of pMMR CRC with lower mtDNA-CN and of dMMR CRC with higher mtDNA-CN can benefit more dramatically from ICIs. Furthermore, RNA-seq revealed a link between the level of mtDNA-CN and T lymphocyte infiltration in CRC cases with different MMR statuses. CONCLUSION Our study found a potential relationship between mtDNA-CN and CRC development that differs by MMR status, potentially providing a rationale for the use of mtDNA-CN as both a predictive biomarker and a therapeutic target for ICIs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mian Chen
- Department of General Surgery (Colorectal Surgery), The Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 430022, Wuhan, Hubei, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Colorectal and Pelvic Floor Diseases, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
- Biomedical Innovation Center, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Huashan Liu
- Department of General Surgery (Colorectal Surgery), The Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Colorectal and Pelvic Floor Diseases, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
- Biomedical Innovation Center, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Wenfeng Liang
- Department of General Surgery (Colorectal Surgery), The Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Colorectal and Pelvic Floor Diseases, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
- Biomedical Innovation Center, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Pinzhu Huang
- Department of General Surgery (Colorectal Surgery), The Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Colorectal and Pelvic Floor Diseases, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
- Biomedical Innovation Center, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Fujin Ye
- Department of General Surgery (Colorectal Surgery), The Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Colorectal and Pelvic Floor Diseases, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
- Biomedical Innovation Center, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yebing Cai
- Department of General Surgery (Colorectal Surgery), The Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Colorectal and Pelvic Floor Diseases, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
- Biomedical Innovation Center, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Zhenxing Liang
- Department of General Surgery (Colorectal Surgery), The Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Colorectal and Pelvic Floor Diseases, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
- Biomedical Innovation Center, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Li Xiong
- Department of General Surgery (Colorectal Surgery), The Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Colorectal and Pelvic Floor Diseases, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
- Biomedical Innovation Center, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Liang Kang
- Department of General Surgery (Colorectal Surgery), The Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China.
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Colorectal and Pelvic Floor Diseases, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China.
- Biomedical Innovation Center, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China.
| | - Liang Huang
- Department of General Surgery (Colorectal Surgery), The Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China.
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Colorectal and Pelvic Floor Diseases, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China.
- Biomedical Innovation Center, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China.
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9
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Dorjkhorloo G, Erkhem-Ochir B, Shiraishi T, Sohda M, Okami H, Yamaguchi A, Shioi I, Komine C, Nakazawa N, Ozawa N, Shibasaki Y, Okada T, Osone K, Sano A, Sakai M, Ogawa H, Yokobori T, Shirabe K, Saeki H. Prognostic value of a modified‑immune scoring system in patients with pathological T4 colorectal cancer. Oncol Lett 2024; 27:104. [PMID: 38298428 PMCID: PMC10829066 DOI: 10.3892/ol.2024.14237] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2023] [Accepted: 12/13/2023] [Indexed: 02/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Tumor-infiltrating immune cells, such as lymphocytes and macrophages, have been associated with tumor aggressiveness, prognosis and treatment response in colorectal cancer (CRC). An immune scoring system, Immunoscore (IS), based on tumor-infiltrating T cells in stage I-III CRC, was used to predict prognosis. An alternative immune scoring signature of immune activation (SIA) reflects the balance between anti- and pro-tumoral immune components. The present study aimed to evaluate the prognostic value of modified IS (mIS) and modified SIA (mSIA) in locally advanced pathological T4 (pT4) CRC, including stage IV CRC. Immunohistochemical staining for immune cell markers, such as CD3 (pan-T cell marker), CD8 (anti-tumoral cytotoxic T cell marker) and CD163 (tumor-supportive macrophage marker), in specimens from patients with radically resected pT4 CRC at stages II-IV was performed. mIS levels in the T4 CRC cohort were not associated with prognosis. However, low mSIA levels were associated with low survival. Furthermore, low mSIA was an independent predictor of recurrence in patients with radically resected pT4 CRC. In patients with CRC who did not receive postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy, low mSIA was a major poor prognostic factor; however, this was not observed in patients receiving adjuvant chemotherapy. Evaluation of the tumor-infiltrating immune cell population could serve as a valuable marker of recurrence and poor prognosis in patients with locally advanced CRC. mSIA assessment after radical CRC resection may be promising for identifying high-risk patients with pT4 CRC who require aggressive adjuvant chemotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gendensuren Dorjkhorloo
- Department of General Surgical Science, Graduate School of Medicine, Gunma University, Maebashi, Gunma 371-8511, Japan
| | - Bilguun Erkhem-Ochir
- Division of Integrated Oncology Research, Gunma University Initiative for Advanced Research, Maebashi, Gunma 371-8511, Japan
| | - Takuya Shiraishi
- Department of General Surgical Science, Graduate School of Medicine, Gunma University, Maebashi, Gunma 371-8511, Japan
| | - Makoto Sohda
- Department of General Surgical Science, Graduate School of Medicine, Gunma University, Maebashi, Gunma 371-8511, Japan
| | - Haruka Okami
- Department of General Surgical Science, Graduate School of Medicine, Gunma University, Maebashi, Gunma 371-8511, Japan
| | - Arisa Yamaguchi
- Department of General Surgical Science, Graduate School of Medicine, Gunma University, Maebashi, Gunma 371-8511, Japan
| | - Ikuma Shioi
- Department of General Surgical Science, Graduate School of Medicine, Gunma University, Maebashi, Gunma 371-8511, Japan
| | - Chika Komine
- Department of General Surgical Science, Graduate School of Medicine, Gunma University, Maebashi, Gunma 371-8511, Japan
| | - Nobuhiro Nakazawa
- Department of General Surgical Science, Graduate School of Medicine, Gunma University, Maebashi, Gunma 371-8511, Japan
| | - Naoya Ozawa
- Department of General Surgical Science, Graduate School of Medicine, Gunma University, Maebashi, Gunma 371-8511, Japan
| | - Yuta Shibasaki
- Department of General Surgical Science, Graduate School of Medicine, Gunma University, Maebashi, Gunma 371-8511, Japan
| | - Takuhisa Okada
- Department of General Surgical Science, Graduate School of Medicine, Gunma University, Maebashi, Gunma 371-8511, Japan
| | - Katsuya Osone
- Department of General Surgical Science, Graduate School of Medicine, Gunma University, Maebashi, Gunma 371-8511, Japan
| | - Akihiko Sano
- Department of General Surgical Science, Graduate School of Medicine, Gunma University, Maebashi, Gunma 371-8511, Japan
| | - Makoto Sakai
- Department of General Surgical Science, Graduate School of Medicine, Gunma University, Maebashi, Gunma 371-8511, Japan
| | - Hiroomi Ogawa
- Department of General Surgical Science, Graduate School of Medicine, Gunma University, Maebashi, Gunma 371-8511, Japan
| | - Takehiko Yokobori
- Division of Integrated Oncology Research, Gunma University Initiative for Advanced Research, Maebashi, Gunma 371-8511, Japan
| | - Ken Shirabe
- Department of General Surgical Science, Graduate School of Medicine, Gunma University, Maebashi, Gunma 371-8511, Japan
| | - Hiroshi Saeki
- Department of General Surgical Science, Graduate School of Medicine, Gunma University, Maebashi, Gunma 371-8511, Japan
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10
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Jepsen DNM, Høeg H, Bzorek M, Orhan A, Eriksen JO, Gögenur I, Reiss B, Fiehn AMK. Digitally assessed lymphocyte infiltration in rectal cancer biopsies is associated with pathological response to neoadjuvant therapy. Hum Pathol 2024; 144:61-70. [PMID: 38157991 DOI: 10.1016/j.humpath.2023.12.010] [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: 10/20/2023] [Revised: 12/19/2023] [Accepted: 12/26/2023] [Indexed: 01/03/2024]
Abstract
A frequently used treatment strategy in locally advanced rectal cancer (RC) is neoadjuvant therapy followed by surgery. Patients treated with neoadjuvant therapy achieve varying pathological response, and currently, predicting the degree of response is challenging. This study examined the association between digitally assessed histopathological features in the diagnostic biopsies and pathological response to neoadjuvant therapy, aiming to find potential predictive biomarkers. 50 patients with RC treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy followed by surgery were included. Deep learning-based digital algorithms were used to assess the epithelium tumor area percentage (ETP) based on H&E-stained slides, and to quantify the density of CD3+ and CD8+ lymphocytes, as well as the CD8+/CD3+ lymphocyte percentage, based on immunohistochemically stained slides, from the diagnostic tumor biopsies. Pathological response was assessed according to the Mandard method. A good pathological response was defined as tumor regression grade (TRG) 1-2, and a complete pathological response was defined as Mandard TRG 1. Associations between the ETP and lymphocyte densities in the diagnostic biopsies and the pathological response were examined. The density of CD8+ lymphocytes, and the CD8+/CD3+ lymphocyte percentage, were associated with both good and complete response to neoadjuvant therapy, while the density of CD3+ lymphocytes was associated with complete response. The ETP did not correlate with response to neoadjuvant therapy. It is well-known that infiltration of lymphocytes in colorectal cancer is a prognostic biomarker. However, assessment of CD8+ and CD3+ lymphocytes in the diagnostic tumor biopsies of patients with RC may also be useful in predicting response to neoadjuvant therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dea Natalie Munch Jepsen
- Department of Pathology, Zealand University Hospital, Denmark; Center for Surgical Science, Department of Surgery, Zealand University Hospital, Denmark; Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Copenhagen, Denmark.
| | | | - Michael Bzorek
- Department of Pathology, Zealand University Hospital, Denmark.
| | - Adile Orhan
- Center for Surgical Science, Department of Surgery, Zealand University Hospital, Denmark; Department of Clinical Oncology, Zealand University Hospital, Denmark.
| | | | - Ismail Gögenur
- Center for Surgical Science, Department of Surgery, Zealand University Hospital, Denmark; Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Copenhagen, Denmark.
| | | | - Anne-Marie Kanstrup Fiehn
- Department of Pathology, Zealand University Hospital, Denmark; Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Copenhagen, Denmark.
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11
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Li X, Li J, Li J, Liu N, Zhuang L. Development and validation of epigenetic modification-related signals for the diagnosis and prognosis of colorectal cancer. BMC Genomics 2024; 25:51. [PMID: 38212708 PMCID: PMC10782594 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-023-09815-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2023] [Accepted: 11/18/2023] [Indexed: 01/13/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the world's most common malignancies. Epigenetics is the study of heritable changes in characteristics beyond the DNA sequence. Epigenetic information is essential for maintaining specific expression patterns of genes and the normal development of individuals, and disorders of epigenetic modifications may alter the expression of oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes and affect the development of cancer. This study elucidates the relationship between epigenetics and the prognosis of CRC patients by developing a predictive model to explore the potential value of epigenetics in the treatment of CRC. METHODS Gene expression data of CRC patients' tumor tissue and controls were downloaded from GEO database. Combined with the 720 epigenetic-related genes (ERGs) downloaded from EpiFactors database, prognosis-related epigenetic genes were selected by univariate cox and LASSO analyses. The Kaplan-Meier and ROC curve were used to analyze the accuracy of the model. Data of 238 CRC samples with survival data downloaded from the GSE17538 were used for validation. Finally, the risk model is combined with the clinical characteristics of CRC patients to perform univariate and multivariate cox regression analysis to obtain independent risk factors and draw nomogram. Then we evaluated the accuracy of its prediction by calibration curves. RESULTS A total of 2906 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified between CRC and control samples. After overlapping DEGs with 720 ERGs, 56 epigenetic-related DEGs (DEERGs) were identified. Combining univariate and LASSO regression analysis, the 8 epigenetic-related genes-based risk score model of CRC was established. The ROC curves and survival difference of high and low risk groups revealed the good performance of the risk score model based on prognostic biomarkers in both training and validation sets. A nomogram with good performance to predict the survival of CRC patients were established based on age, NM stage and risk score. The calibration curves showed that the prognostic model had good predictive performance. CONCLUSION In this study, an epigenetically relevant 8-gene signature was constructed that can effectively predict the prognosis of CRC patients and provide potential directions for targeted therapies for CRC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xia Li
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, 150001, Heilongjiang Province, China
| | - Jingjing Li
- Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, 150086, Heilongjiang Province, China
| | - Jie Li
- Department of Neurology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, 150086, Heilongjiang Province, China
| | - Nannan Liu
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, 150001, Heilongjiang Province, China
| | - Liwei Zhuang
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, 150001, Heilongjiang Province, China.
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12
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Yan S, Zhang J, Li L, Chen G, Chen Z, Zhan W. Bioinformatics analysis of markers based on m6A related to prognosis combined with immune invasion of rectal adenocarcinoma. Cancer Biomark 2024; 40:95-109. [PMID: 38306025 PMCID: PMC11191489 DOI: 10.3233/cbm-230123] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2023] [Accepted: 01/05/2024] [Indexed: 02/03/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a common form of cancer, with rectal cancer accounting for approximately one-third of all cases. Among rectal cancers, 95% are classified as rectal adenocarcinoma (READ). Emerging evidence suggests that long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) play a significant role in the development and progression of various cancers. In our study, we aimed to identify differentially expressed lncRNAs potentially associated with m6A and establish a risk assessment model to predict clinical outcomes for READ patients. METHODS The READ dataset from the TCGA database was utilized in this study to synergistically and logically integrate m6A and lncRNA, while employing bioinformatics technology for the identification of suitable biomarkers. A risk prediction model comprising m6A-associated lncRNAs was constructed to investigate the prognostic, diagnostic, and biological functional relevance of these m6A-related lncRNAs. RESULTS Our research builds a composed of three related to m6A lncRNA rectal gland cancer prognosis model, and the model has been proved in the multi-dimensional can serve as the potential of the prognosis of rectal gland cancer biomarkers. Our study constructed a prognostic model of rectal adenocarcinoma consisting of three related m6A lncRNAs: linc00702, ac106900.1 and al583785.1. CONCLUSION The model has been validated as a potential prognostic biomarker for rectal cancer in multiple dimensions, aiming to provide clinicians with an indicator to assess the duration of straight adenocarcinoma. This enables early detection of rectal cancer and offers a promising target for immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shunkang Yan
- Department of Anorectal Surgery, Affiliated Hospital of Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, Guizhou, China
| | - Jiandong Zhang
- Department of Anorectal Surgery, Affiliated Hospital of Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, Guizhou, China
| | - Lianghe Li
- Department of Anorectal Surgery, Affiliated Hospital of Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, Guizhou, China
| | - Gang Chen
- Department of Anorectal Surgery, Affiliated Hospital of Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, Guizhou, China
| | - Zhongsheng Chen
- Department of Anorectal Surgery, Affiliated Hospital of Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, Guizhou, China
| | - Wei Zhan
- Department of Anorectal Surgery, Affiliated Hospital of Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, Guizhou, China
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13
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Ye Y, Wu X, Wang H, Ye H, Zhao K, Yao S, Liu Z, Zhu Y, Zhang Q, Liang C. Artificial intelligence-assisted analysis for tumor-immune interaction within the invasive margin of colorectal cancer. Ann Med 2023; 55:2215541. [PMID: 37224471 DOI: 10.1080/07853890.2023.2215541] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2022] [Revised: 04/29/2023] [Accepted: 05/14/2023] [Indexed: 05/26/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND In colorectal cancer (CRC), both tumor invasion and immunological analysis at the tumor invasive margin (IM) are significantly associated with patient prognosis, but have traditionally been reported independently. We propose a new scoring system, the TGP-I score, to assess the association and interactions between tumor growth pattern (TGP) and tumor infiltrating lymphocytes at the IM and to predict its prognostic validity for CRC patient stratification. MATERIALS AND METHODS The types of TGP were assessed in hematoxylin and eosin-stained whole-slide images. The CD3+ T-cells density at the IM was automatically quantified on immunohistochemical-stained slides using a deep learning method. A discovery (N = 347) and a validation (N = 132) cohorts were used to evaluate the prognostic value of the TGP-I score for overall survival. RESULTS The TGP-I score3 (trichotomy) was an independent prognostic factor, with higher TGP-I score3 associated with worse prognosis in the discovery (unadjusted hazard ratio [HR] for high vs. low 3.62, 95% confidence interval [CI] 2.22-5.90; p < 0.001) and validation cohort (unadjusted HR for high vs. low 5.79, 95% CI 1.84-18.20; p = 0.003). The relative contribution of each parameter to predicting survival was analyzed. The TGP-I score3 had similar importance compared to tumor-node-metastasis staging (31.2% vs. 32.9%) and was stronger than other clinical parameters. CONCLUSIONS This automated workflow and the proposed TGP-I score could further provide accurate prognostic stratification and have potential value for supporting the clinical decision-making of stage I-III CRC patients.Key messagesA new scoring system, the TGP-I score, was proposed to assess the association and interactions of TGP and TILs at the tumor invasive margin.TGP-I score could be an independent predictor of prognosis for CRC patients, with higher scores being associated with worse survival.TGP-I score had similar importance compared to tumor-node-metastasis staging and was stronger than other clinical parameters.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yunrui Ye
- The Second School of Clinical Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, P.R. China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Artificial Intelligence in Medical Image Analysis and Application, Guangzhou, P.R. China
- Department of Radiology, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital (Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences), Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, P.R. China
| | - Xiaomei Wu
- Department of Radiology, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, P.R. China
| | - Huihui Wang
- Department of Radiology, Guangzhou Panyu Central Hospital, Guangzhou, P.R. China
| | - Huifen Ye
- The Second School of Clinical Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, P.R. China
| | - Ke Zhao
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Artificial Intelligence in Medical Image Analysis and Application, Guangzhou, P.R. China
- Department of Radiology, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital (Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences), Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, P.R. China
| | - Su Yao
- Department of Pathology, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital (Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences), Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, P.R. China
| | - Zaiyi Liu
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Artificial Intelligence in Medical Image Analysis and Application, Guangzhou, P.R. China
| | - Yaxi Zhu
- Department of Pathology, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, P.R. China
| | - Qingling Zhang
- Department of Pathology, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital (Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences), Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, P.R. China
| | - Changhong Liang
- The Second School of Clinical Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, P.R. China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Artificial Intelligence in Medical Image Analysis and Application, Guangzhou, P.R. China
- Department of Radiology, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital (Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences), Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, P.R. China
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14
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Piroozkhah M, Gholinezhad Y, Piroozkhah M, Shams E, Nazemalhosseini-Mojarad E. The molecular mechanism of actions and clinical utilities of tumor infiltrating lymphocytes in gastrointestinal cancers: a comprehensive review and future prospects toward personalized medicine. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1298891. [PMID: 38077386 PMCID: PMC10704251 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1298891] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2023] [Accepted: 11/13/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Gastrointestinal (GI) cancers remain a significant global health burden, accounting for a substantial number of cases and deaths. Regrettably, the inadequacy of dependable biomarkers hinders the precise forecasting of patient prognosis and the selection of appropriate therapeutic sequencing for individuals with GI cancers, leading to suboptimal outcomes for numerous patients. The intricate interplay between tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) and the tumor immune microenvironment (TIME) has been shown to be a pivotal determinant of response to anti-cancer therapy and consequential clinical outcomes across a multitude of cancer types. Therefore, the assessment of TILs has garnered global interest as a promising prognostic biomarker in oncology, with the potential to improve clinical decision-making substantially. Moreover, recent discoveries in immunotherapy have progressively changed the landscape of cancer treatment and significantly prolonged the survival of patients with advanced cancers. Nonetheless, the response rate remains constrained within solid tumor sufferers, even when TIL landscapes appear comparable, which calls for the development of our understanding of cellular and molecular cross-talk between TIME and tumor. Hence, this comprehensive review encapsulates the extant literature elucidating the TILs' underlying molecular pathogenesis, prognostic significance, and their relevance in the realm of immunotherapy for patients afflicted by GI tract cancers. Within this review, we demonstrate that the type, density, and spatial distribution of distinct TIL subpopulations carries pivotal implications for the prediction of anti-cancer treatment responses and patient survival. Furthermore, this review underscores the indispensable role of TILs in modulating therapeutic responses within distinct molecular subtypes, such as those characterized by microsatellite stability or programmed cell death ligand-1 expression in GI tract cancers. The review concludes by outlining future directions in TIL-based personalized medicine, including integrating TIL-based approaches into existing treatment regimens and developing novel therapeutic strategies that exploit the unique properties of TILs and their potential as a promising avenue for personalized cancer treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Moein Piroozkhah
- Basic and Molecular Epidemiology of Gastrointestinal Disorders Research Center, Research Institute for Gastroenterology and Liver Diseases, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Yasaman Gholinezhad
- School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mobin Piroozkhah
- Basic and Molecular Epidemiology of Gastrointestinal Disorders Research Center, Research Institute for Gastroenterology and Liver Diseases, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
- School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Elahe Shams
- Basic and Molecular Epidemiology of Gastrointestinal Disorders Research Center, Research Institute for Gastroenterology and Liver Diseases, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Ehsan Nazemalhosseini-Mojarad
- Gastroenterology and Liver Diseases Research Center, Research Institute for Gastroenterology and Liver Diseases, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
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15
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Alzamami A. Implications of single-cell immune landscape of tumor microenvironment for the colorectal cancer diagnostics and therapy. Med Oncol 2023; 40:352. [PMID: 37950801 DOI: 10.1007/s12032-023-02226-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2023] [Accepted: 10/18/2023] [Indexed: 11/13/2023]
Abstract
Colorectal cancer (CRC) originates from the polyps lining the colon and is among the most common types of cancer. With the increasing popularity of single-cell sequencing technologies, researchers have been able to better understand the immune landscape of colorectal cancer, by analyzing their expression and interactions in detail with the tumor microenvironment (TME) at single-cell level. Since the tumor-immune cell interactions play a critical part in the advancement as well as treatment response in colorectal cancer, the release of inhibitory factors such as T cells are important for recognizing and destroying cancer cells. Such information is vital to identify immunotherapeutic targets for cure and monitoring response to treatments. Therefore, a comprehensive single-cell studies-based overview of key immunogenic agents regulating the TME of CRC is provided in this review. Tumor-associated macrophages can promote tumor growth and resistance to treatment by releasing factors that inhibit the function of other immune cells. Additionally, colorectal cancer cells can express programmed cell death protein 1 and its ligand, which can also inhibit T-cell function. Researchers have found that certain types of immune cells, prominently T cells, natural killer, and dendritic cells, can have a positive impact on the prognosis of colorectal cancer patients. Treatments like immune checkpoint inhibitors and CAR-T therapies that help to release the inhibitory signals from the cancer cells allow the immune cells to function more effectively.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ahmad Alzamami
- Clinical Laboratory Science Department, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Shaqra University, 11961, Al-Quwayiyah, Saudi Arabia.
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16
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Wang M, Li Y, Yang X, Liu Z, Wang K, Gong D, Li J. Effects of metronidazole on colorectal cancer occurrence and colorectal cancer liver metastases by regulating Fusobacterium nucleatum in mice. Immun Inflamm Dis 2023; 11:e1067. [PMID: 38018574 PMCID: PMC10683560 DOI: 10.1002/iid3.1067] [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: 06/14/2023] [Revised: 10/13/2023] [Accepted: 10/16/2023] [Indexed: 11/30/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Colorectal cancer (CRC) represents a leading cause of cancer-related deaths. Metronidazole (MNZ) is exceedingly implicated in CRC. This study explored the roles of MNZ in mouse CRC occurrence and liver metastasis (CRLM). METHODS Male BALB/c nude mice were subjected to CRC and CRLM modeling, orally administration with MNZ (1 g/L) 1 week before modeling, and disease activity index (DAI) evaluation. Fresh stool and anal swab samples were collected on the morning of the 28th day after modeling. The relative expression of Fusobacterium nucleatum (F. nucleatum) DNA was assessed by quantitative polymerase chain reaction. After euthanasia, tumor tissues and liver tissues were separated and the tumor volume and weight change were measured. The liver tissues were stained with hematoxylin-eosin to quantitatively analyze the metastatic liver nodules. Malignant tumor biomarker Ki67 protein levels in liver tissues/DNA from stool samples were detected by immunohistochemistry/high-throughput 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Bioinformatics analysis was performed on the raw sequence data to analyze microbial community richness (Chao1 index, ACE index) and microbial community diversity (Shannon index). RESULTS The DAI and F. nucleatum DNA relative expression in feces and anal swabs of the CRC and CRLM groups were raised and repressed after MNZ intervention. MNZ repressed tumor occurrence and growth in mice to a certain extent, alleviated CRLM malignant degree (reduced liver metastases and Ki67-positive cell density/number), and suppressed CRC liver metastasis by regulating intestinal flora structure, which affected the intestinal characteristic flora of CRC and CRLM mice. CONCLUSION MNZ suppressed CRC occurrence and CRLM in mice by regulating intestinal F. nucleatum.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maijian Wang
- Department of General Surgery, Digestive Disease HospitalAffiliated Hospital of Zunyi Medical UniversityZunyiChina
| | - Yong Li
- Department of OncologyGuizhou Provincial People's HospitalGuiyangChina
| | - Xuefeng Yang
- Department of General Surgery, Digestive Disease HospitalAffiliated Hospital of Zunyi Medical UniversityZunyiChina
| | - Zhenxing Liu
- Department of General Surgery, Digestive Disease HospitalAffiliated Hospital of Zunyi Medical UniversityZunyiChina
| | - Kai Wang
- Department of PathologyAffiliated Hospital of Zunyi Medical UniversityZunyiChina
| | - Dengmei Gong
- Institute of Zoonoses, College of Public HealthZunyi Medical UniversityZunyiChina
| | - Jida Li
- Institute of Zoonoses, College of Public HealthZunyi Medical UniversityZunyiChina
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17
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Gu J, Deng S, Jiang Z, Mao F, Xue Y, Qin L, Shi J, Yang J, Li H, Yu J, Liu K, Wu K, Cao Y, Cai K. Modified Naples prognostic score for evaluating the prognosis of patients with obstructive colorectal cancer. BMC Cancer 2023; 23:941. [PMID: 37798689 PMCID: PMC10557152 DOI: 10.1186/s12885-023-11435-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2023] [Accepted: 09/22/2023] [Indexed: 10/07/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Inflammatory, immune, and nutritional status are key factors in obstructive colorectal cancer (OCRC). This study aims to investigate the value of modified Naples prognostic score (M-NPS) in evaluating OCRC prognosis. METHODS A total of 196 OCRC patients were retrospectively analyzed to construct M-NPS based on serum albumin (ALB), total cholesterol (CHOL), neutrophil:lymphocyte ratio (NLR), and lymphocyte:monocyte ratio (LMR), and then they were divided into three groups. The Kaplan-Meier (KM) method and Cox proportional hazard regression analysis were performed for overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) of OCRC patients. RESULTS Patients with high M-NPS had worse OS and DFS (P = 0.0001, P = 0.0011). Multivariate COX analysis showed that M-NPS was an independent prognostic factor for OCRC patients. Patients in the M-NPS 2 group had significantly worse OS (hazard ratio [HR] = 4.930 (95% confidence interval [95% CI], 2.217-10.964), P < 0.001) and DFS (HR = 3.508 (95% CI, 1.691-7.277), P < 0.001) than those in the 0 group. CONCLUSION M-NPS was an independent prognostic factor for OCRC patients; it might provide a potential reference for immunonutritional intervention in patients with obstruction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junnan Gu
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430022, Hubei, China
| | - Shenghe Deng
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430022, Hubei, China
| | - Zhenxing Jiang
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430022, Hubei, China
| | - Fuwei Mao
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430022, Hubei, China
| | - Yifan Xue
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430022, Hubei, China
| | - Le Qin
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430022, Hubei, China
| | - Jianguo Shi
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, The Central Hospital of Wuhan, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430022, Hubei, China
| | - Jia Yang
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, The Central Hospital of Wuhan, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430022, Hubei, China
| | - Huili Li
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430022, Hubei, China
| | - Jie Yu
- Department of Colorectal Anal Surgery, Jingzhou Central Hospital, The Second Clinical Medical College, Yangtze University, No. 60 Jingzhong Road, Jingzhou, 434020, Hubei Province, China
| | - Ke Liu
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430022, Hubei, China
| | - Ke Wu
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430022, Hubei, China
| | - Yinghao Cao
- Cancer Center, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430022, Hubei, China.
| | - Kailin Cai
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430022, Hubei, China.
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18
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Jiang W, Yu X, Dong X, Long C, Chen D, Cheng J, Yan B, Xu S, Lin Z, Chen G, Zhuo S, Yan J. A nomogram based on collagen signature for predicting the immunoscore in colorectal cancer. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1269700. [PMID: 37781377 PMCID: PMC10538535 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1269700] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2023] [Accepted: 08/28/2023] [Indexed: 10/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Objectives The Immunoscore can categorize patients into high- and low-risk groups for prognostication in colorectal cancer (CRC). Collagen plays an important role in immunomodulatory functions in the tumor microenvironment (TME). However, the correlation between collagen and the Immunoscore in the TME is unclear. This study aimed to construct a collagen signature to illuminate the relationship between collagen structure and Immunoscore. Methods A total of 327 consecutive patients with stage I-III stage CRC were included in a training cohort. The fully quantitative collagen features were extracted at the tumor center and invasive margin of the specimens using multiphoton imaging. LASSO regression was applied to construct the collagen signature. The association of the collagen signature with Immunoscore was assessed. A collagen nomogram was developed by incorporating the collagen signature and clinicopathological predictors after multivariable logistic regression. The performance of the collagen nomogram was evaluated via calibration, discrimination, and clinical usefulness and then tested in an independent validation cohort. The prognostic values of the collagen nomogram were assessed using Cox regression and the Kaplan-Meier method. Results The collagen signature was constructed based on 16 collagen features, which included 6 collagen features from the tumor center and 10 collagen features from the invasive margin. Patients with a high collagen signature were more likely to show a low Immunoscore (Lo IS) in both cohorts (P<0.001). A collagen nomogram integrating the collagen signature and clinicopathological predictors was developed. The collagen nomogram yielded satisfactory discrimination and calibration, with an AUC of 0.925 (95% CI: 0.895-0.956) in the training cohort and 0.911 (95% CI: 0.872-0.949) in the validation cohort. Decision curve analysis confirmed that the collagen nomogram was clinically useful. Furthermore, the collagen nomogram-predicted subgroup was significantly associated with prognosis. Moreover, patients with a low-probability Lo IS, rather than a high-probability Lo IS, could benefit from chemotherapy in high-risk stage II and stage III CRC patients. Conclusions The collagen signature is significantly associated with the Immunoscore in the TME, and the collagen nomogram has the potential to individualize the prediction of the Immunoscore and identify CRC patients who could benefit from adjuvant chemotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Jiang
- Department of General Surgery, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Precision Medicine for Gastrointestinal Tumor, Nanfang Hospital, The First School of Clinical Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
- School of Science, Jimei University, Xiamen, Fujian, China
| | - Xian Yu
- Department of General Surgery, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Precision Medicine for Gastrointestinal Tumor, Nanfang Hospital, The First School of Clinical Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
- Key Laboratory for Biorheological Science and Technology of Ministry of Education (Chongqing University), Chongqing University Cancer Hospital & Chongqing Cancer Institute & Chongqing Cancer Hospital, Chongqing, China
| | - Xiaoyu Dong
- Department of General Surgery, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Precision Medicine for Gastrointestinal Tumor, Nanfang Hospital, The First School of Clinical Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Chenyan Long
- Department of General Surgery, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Precision Medicine for Gastrointestinal Tumor, Nanfang Hospital, The First School of Clinical Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
- Division of Colorectal & Anal Surgery, Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Guangxi Medical University Cancer Hospital, Nanning, China
| | - Dexin Chen
- Department of General Surgery, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Precision Medicine for Gastrointestinal Tumor, Nanfang Hospital, The First School of Clinical Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jiaxin Cheng
- Department of General Surgery, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Precision Medicine for Gastrointestinal Tumor, Nanfang Hospital, The First School of Clinical Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Botao Yan
- Department of General Surgery, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Precision Medicine for Gastrointestinal Tumor, Nanfang Hospital, The First School of Clinical Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Shuoyu Xu
- Department of General Surgery, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Precision Medicine for Gastrointestinal Tumor, Nanfang Hospital, The First School of Clinical Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
- Department of Radiology, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, China
| | - Zexi Lin
- School of Science, Jimei University, Xiamen, Fujian, China
| | - Gang Chen
- Department of Pathology, The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Fujian Provincial Cancer Hospital, Fuzhou, China
- Precision Medicine Center, Fujian Provincial Cancer Hospital, Fuzhou, China
| | - Shuangmu Zhuo
- School of Science, Jimei University, Xiamen, Fujian, China
| | - Jun Yan
- Department of General Surgery, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Precision Medicine for Gastrointestinal Tumor, Nanfang Hospital, The First School of Clinical Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
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Zhang X, Zhang B, Zhang Y, Zhang F. Association analysis of hepatocellular carcinoma-related hub proteins and hub genes. Proteomics Clin Appl 2023; 17:e2200090. [PMID: 37050894 DOI: 10.1002/prca.202200090] [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: 10/26/2022] [Revised: 03/29/2023] [Accepted: 04/03/2023] [Indexed: 04/14/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common cancers worldwide. The occurrence and development of HCC are closely related to epigenetic modifications. Epigenetic modifications can regulate gene expression and related functions through DNA methylation. This paper presents an association analysis method of HCC-related hub proteins and hub genes. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN Bioinformatics analysis of HCC-related DNA methylation data is carried out to clarify the molecular mechanism of HCC-related genes and to find hub genes (genes with more connections in the network) by constructing in the gene interaction network. This paper proposes an accurate prediction method of protein-protein interaction (PPI) based on deep learning model DeepSG2PPI. The trained DeepSG2PPI model predicts the interaction relationship between the synthetic proteins regulated by HCC-related genes. RESULTS This paper finds that four genes are the intersection of hub genes and hub proteins. The four genes are: FBL, CCNB2, ALDH18A1, and RPLP0. The association of RPLP0 gene with HCC is a new finding of this study. RPLP0 is expected to become a new biomarker for the treatment, diagnosis, and prognosis of HCC. The four proteins corresponding to the four genes are: ENSP00000221801, ENSP00000288207, ENSP00000360268, and ENSP00000449328. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE The association between the hub genes with the hub proteins is analyzed. The mutual verification of the hub genes and the hub proteins can obtain more credible HCC-related genes and proteins, which is helpful for the diagnosis, treatment, and drug development of HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinhong Zhang
- School of Software, Henan University, Kaifeng, China
| | - Boyan Zhang
- School of Software, Henan University, Kaifeng, China
| | - Yawei Zhang
- Henan Key Laboratory of Big Data Analysis and Processing, Henan University, Kaifeng, China
| | - Fan Zhang
- Henan Key Laboratory of Big Data Analysis and Processing, Henan University, Kaifeng, China
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20
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Li J, Yang C, Zheng Y. A novel disulfidptosis and glycolysis related risk score signature for prediction of prognosis and ICI therapeutic responsiveness in colorectal cancer. Sci Rep 2023; 13:13344. [PMID: 37587262 PMCID: PMC10432503 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-40381-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2023] [Accepted: 08/09/2023] [Indexed: 08/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Disulfidptosis is a newly-identified non-programmed cell death mode with tight associations with glucose metabolism. Elevated glycolysis is an important metabolic feature of tumor cells, which fulfills the energy requirement for their rapid growth and progression. Our present study determined to develop a disulfidptosis and glycolysis related gene (DGRG) risk score signature to predict the prognosis and ICI therapeutic responsiveness for CRC patients. First, the gene expression and clinical profiles for CRC patients were obtained from TCGA and GEO database. Using weighted gene co-expression network analysis, we identified hub genes showing the strongest correlations with both disulfidptosis and glycolysis activities. Next, a DGRG risk score signature was successfully developed through univariate and least absolute shrinkage and selection operator method Cox regression method. A DGRG risk score-based nomogram could further enhance the predictive performance. In addition, an array of systemic analysis was performed to unravel the correlation of DGRG risk score with tumor microenvironment. The results showed that CRC patients with low DGRG risk level had up-regulated immune cell infiltrations, enhanced metabolic activities and heightened gene mutation frequencies, while high risk patients was the opposite. Moreover, our present study identified low risk CRC patients as potential beneficiaries from immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) therapies. Our present work highlighted the potential utility of DGRG risk score signature in prognosis prediction and ICI responsiveness determination for CRC patients, which demonstrated promising clinical application value.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiazheng Li
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Chao Yang
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Yongbin Zheng
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China.
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21
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Liu S, Sun Q, Ren X. Novel strategies for cancer immunotherapy: counter-immunoediting therapy. J Hematol Oncol 2023; 16:38. [PMID: 37055849 PMCID: PMC10099030 DOI: 10.1186/s13045-023-01430-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2023] [Accepted: 03/21/2023] [Indexed: 04/15/2023] Open
Abstract
The advent of immunotherapy has made an indelible mark on the field of cancer therapy, especially the application of immune checkpoint inhibitors in clinical practice. Although immunotherapy has proven its efficacy and safety in some tumors, many patients still have innate or acquired resistance to immunotherapy. The emergence of this phenomenon is closely related to the highly heterogeneous immune microenvironment formed by tumor cells after undergoing cancer immunoediting. The process of cancer immunoediting refers to the cooperative interaction between tumor cells and the immune system that involves three phases: elimination, equilibrium, and escape. During these phases, conflicting interactions between the immune system and tumor cells result in the formation of a complex immune microenvironment, which contributes to the acquisition of different levels of immunotherapy resistance in tumor cells. In this review, we summarize the characteristics of different phases of cancer immunoediting and the corresponding therapeutic tools, and we propose normalized therapeutic strategies based on immunophenotyping. The process of cancer immunoediting is retrograded through targeted interventions in different phases of cancer immunoediting, making immunotherapy in the context of precision therapy the most promising therapy to cure cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shaochuan Liu
- Department of Immunology, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, 300060, Tianjin, China
- Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute & Hospital, National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, 300060, Tianjin, China
- Key Laboratory of Cancer Immunology and Biotherapy, 300060, Tianjin, China
- Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, 300060, Tianjin, China
- Tianjin's Clinical Research Center for Cancer, 300060, Tianjin, China
- Department of Biotherapy, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, 300060, Tianjin, China
| | - Qian Sun
- Department of Immunology, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, 300060, Tianjin, China.
- Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute & Hospital, National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, 300060, Tianjin, China.
- Key Laboratory of Cancer Immunology and Biotherapy, 300060, Tianjin, China.
- Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, 300060, Tianjin, China.
- Tianjin's Clinical Research Center for Cancer, 300060, Tianjin, China.
- Department of Biotherapy, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, 300060, Tianjin, China.
| | - Xiubao Ren
- Department of Immunology, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, 300060, Tianjin, China.
- Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute & Hospital, National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, 300060, Tianjin, China.
- Key Laboratory of Cancer Immunology and Biotherapy, 300060, Tianjin, China.
- Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, 300060, Tianjin, China.
- Tianjin's Clinical Research Center for Cancer, 300060, Tianjin, China.
- Department of Biotherapy, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, 300060, Tianjin, China.
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22
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Hu Z, Pan Z, Dai Z, Zhao W, Li C, Yu H, Qin X. ω-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids derived lipid mediators promote colorectal cancer growth by providing an immunosuppressive microenvironment. Int Immunopharmacol 2023. [DOI: 10.1016/j.intimp.2023.109818] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/19/2023]
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23
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Karjalainen H, Sirniö P, Tuomisto A, Mäkinen MJ, Väyrynen JP. A prognostic score based on B cell and plasma cell densities compared to T cell densities in colorectal cancer. Int J Colorectal Dis 2023; 38:47. [PMID: 36800011 PMCID: PMC9938036 DOI: 10.1007/s00384-023-04322-y] [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] [Accepted: 01/19/2023] [Indexed: 02/18/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE The purpose of this study was to compare a B cell/plasma cell-based scoring system to T cell score and evaluate their prognostic value in colorectal cancer. METHODS We used immunohistochemistry to analyze the expression of CD20, CD138, CD3, and CD8 in 221 colorectal cancer patients. CD20+ B cell and CD138+ plasma cell densities in the tumor center and invasive margin were calculated and converted into a B cell/plasma cell score. T cell score was defined similarly, using CD3+ and CD8+ T cell densities. Their associations with tumor and patient characteristics and survival were analyzed. RESULTS Kaplan-Meier analysis showed a high B cell/plasma cell score was associated with a tendency towards longer survival (p = 0.089), but no statistically significant association was found. High T cell score associated with longer cancer-specific survival in Kaplan-Meier analysis and multivariable Cox regression analysis (p < 0.001). Additionally, high T cell score associated with lower disease stage (p < 0.001) and lesser lymphovascular invasion (p = 0.020). CONCLUSIONS High T cell score is associated with longer survival and clinicopathological factors typical to less aggressive tumors. This study did not support the additional prognostic value of B cell/plasma cell quantification.
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Affiliation(s)
- Henna Karjalainen
- Cancer and Translational Medicine Research Unit, University of Oulu, POB 5000, 90014, Oulu, Finland
| | - Päivi Sirniö
- Cancer and Translational Medicine Research Unit, University of Oulu, POB 5000, 90014, Oulu, Finland
- Department of Pathology, Medical Research Center Oulu, Oulu University Hospital, Oulu, Finland
| | - Anne Tuomisto
- Cancer and Translational Medicine Research Unit, University of Oulu, POB 5000, 90014, Oulu, Finland
| | - Markus J Mäkinen
- Cancer and Translational Medicine Research Unit, University of Oulu, POB 5000, 90014, Oulu, Finland
- Department of Pathology, Medical Research Center Oulu, Oulu University Hospital, Oulu, Finland
| | - Juha P Väyrynen
- Cancer and Translational Medicine Research Unit, University of Oulu, POB 5000, 90014, Oulu, Finland.
- Department of Pathology, Medical Research Center Oulu, Oulu University Hospital, Oulu, Finland.
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24
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Jeong KY. Challenges to addressing the unmet medical needs for immunotherapy targeting cold colorectal cancer. World J Gastrointest Oncol 2023; 15:215-224. [PMID: 36908316 PMCID: PMC9994045 DOI: 10.4251/wjgo.v15.i2.215] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2022] [Revised: 12/18/2022] [Accepted: 01/09/2023] [Indexed: 02/14/2023] Open
Abstract
With the establishment of the immune surveillance mechanism since the 1950s, attempts have been made to activate the immune system for cancer treatment through the discovery of various cytokines or the development of antibodies up to now. The fruits of these efforts have contributed to the recognition of the 3rd generation of anticancer immunotherapy as the mainstream of cancer treatment. However, the limitations of cancer immunotherapy are also being recognized through the conceptual establishment of cold tumors recently, and colorectal cancer (CRC) has become a major issue from this therapeutic point of view. Here, it is emphasized that non-clinical strategies to overcome the immunosuppressive environment and clinical trials based on these basic investigations are being made on the journey to achieve better treatment outcomes for the treatment of cold CRC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keun-Yeong Jeong
- Research and Development Center, PearlsinMires, Seoul 03690, South Korea
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25
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Fang Y, Tang W, Zhao D, Zhang X, Li N, Yang Y, Jin L, Li Z, Wei B, Miao Y, Zeng Z, Huang H. Immunological function and prognostic value of lymphoid-specific helicase in liver hepatocellular carcinoma. Cancer Biomark 2023; 38:225-239. [PMID: 37545225 DOI: 10.3233/cbm-230073] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/08/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Lymphoid-specific helicase (HELLS), a SNF2-like chromatin-remodeling enzyme, plays a key role in tumor progression via its DNA methylation function. However, the effects of HELLS on immune infiltration and prognosis in liver hepatocellular carcinoma (LIHC) remain uncertain. METHODS The Tumor Immune Estimation Resource (TIMER) database was employed to explore the pan-cancer mRNA expression of HELLS and its correlation with immunity. GEPIA2 was used to verify the correlation between HELLS expression and survival. The role of HELLS in cancer was explored via gene set enrichment analysis (Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes) and the construction of gene-gene and protein-protein interaction networks (PPI). Additionally, correlations between DNA methylation, HELLS expression, and immune-related genes were explored in LIHC. HELLS expression in LIHC clinical samples was determined using qRT-PCR and western blotting. The effects of downregulated HELLS expression in hepatocellular carcinoma cells was explored via transfection experiments in vitro. RESULTS High HELLS mRNA expression was identified in several cancers and was significantly associated with poorer prognosis in LIHC. Furthermore, HELLS expression was positively correlated with tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes and immune checkpoint genes in LIHC. Bioinformatics analysis suggested that DNA methylation of HELLS may be associated with the immune response. Results from the TCGA-LIHC dataset, clinical samples, and functional analysis indicated that HELLS contributed to tumor progression in LIHC. CONCLUSION The study findings demonstrate that HELLS is an important factor in promoting LIHC malignancy and might serve as a potential biomarker for LIHC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuan Fang
- Organ Transplantation Center, the First Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming, Yunnan, China
- Organ Transplantation Center, the First Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming, Yunnan, China
| | - Weiqiang Tang
- Institute of Clinical Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang, Hunan, China
- Organ Transplantation Center, the First Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming, Yunnan, China
| | - Dan Zhao
- Laboratory of Oncogenes and Related Genes, Shanghai Cancer Institute, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
- Organ Transplantation Center, the First Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming, Yunnan, China
| | - Xiaoli Zhang
- Gastrointestinal and Hernia Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming, Yunnan, China
| | - Na Li
- Organ Transplantation Center, the First Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming, Yunnan, China
| | - Yang Yang
- Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Baoshan People's Hospital, Baoshang, Yunnan, China
| | - Li Jin
- Organ Transplantation Center, the First Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming, Yunnan, China
| | - Zhitao Li
- Organ Transplantation Center, the First Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming, Yunnan, China
| | - Benkai Wei
- Organ Transplantation Center, the First Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming, Yunnan, China
| | - Yinglei Miao
- Department of Gastroenterology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Yunnan, China
- Yunnan Province Clinical Research Center for Digestive Diseases, Yunnan, China
| | - Zhong Zeng
- Organ Transplantation Center, the First Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming, Yunnan, China
| | - Hanfei Huang
- Organ Transplantation Center, the First Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming, Yunnan, China
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26
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Sun M, Ji X, Xie M, Chen X, Zhang B, Luo X, Feng Y, Liu D, Wang Y, Li Y, Liu B, Xia L, Huang W. Identification of necroptosis-related subtypes, development of a novel signature, and characterization of immune infiltration in colorectal cancer. Front Immunol 2022; 13:999084. [PMID: 36544770 PMCID: PMC9762424 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.999084] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2022] [Accepted: 11/14/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction Necroptosis, a type of programmed cell death, has recently been extensively studied as an important pathway regulating tumor development, metastasis, and immunity. However, the expression patterns of necroptosis-related genes (NRGs) in colorectal cancer (CRC) and their potential roles in the tumor microenvironment (TME) have not been elucidated. Methods We explored the expression patterns of NRGs in 1247 colorectal cancer samples from genetics and transcriptional perspective. Based on a consensus clustering algorithm, we identified NRG molecular subtypes and gene subtypes, respectively. Furthermore, we constructed a necroptosis-related signature for predicting overall survival time and verified the predictive ability of the model. Using the ESTIMATE, CIBERSORT, and ssGSEA algorithms, we assessed the association between the above subtypes, scores and immune infiltration. Results Most NRGs were differentially expressed between CRC tissues and normal tissues. We found that distinct subtypes exhibited different NRGs expression, patients' prognosis, immune checkpoint gene expression, and immune infiltration characteristics. The scores calculated from the necroptosis-related signature can be used to classify patients into high-risk and low-risk groups, with the high-risk group corresponding to reduced immune cell infiltration and immune function, and a greater risk of immune dysfunction and immune escape. Discussion Our comprehensive analysis of NRGs in CRC demonstrated their potential role in clinicopathological features, prognosis, and immune infiltration in the TME. These findings help us deepen our understanding of NRGs and the tumor microenvironment landscape, and lay a foundation for effectively assessing patient outcomes and promoting more effective immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mengyu Sun
- Department of Gastroenterology, Hubei Key Laboratory of Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Diseases, Institute of Liver and Gastrointestinal Diseases, Tongji Hospital of Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Xiaoyu Ji
- Department of Gastroenterology, Hubei Key Laboratory of Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Diseases, Institute of Liver and Gastrointestinal Diseases, Tongji Hospital of Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Meng Xie
- Department of Gastroenterology, Hubei Key Laboratory of Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Diseases, Institute of Liver and Gastrointestinal Diseases, Tongji Hospital of Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Xiaoping Chen
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Diseases, Hepatic Surgery Center, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Clinical Medicine Research Center for Hepatic Surgery of Hubei Province, Wuhan, Hubei, China
- Key Laboratory of Organ Transplantation, Ministry of Education and Ministry of Public Health, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Bixiang Zhang
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Diseases, Hepatic Surgery Center, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Clinical Medicine Research Center for Hepatic Surgery of Hubei Province, Wuhan, Hubei, China
- Key Laboratory of Organ Transplantation, Ministry of Education and Ministry of Public Health, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Xiangyuan Luo
- Department of Gastroenterology, Hubei Key Laboratory of Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Diseases, Institute of Liver and Gastrointestinal Diseases, Tongji Hospital of Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Yangyang Feng
- Department of Gastroenterology, Hubei Key Laboratory of Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Diseases, Institute of Liver and Gastrointestinal Diseases, Tongji Hospital of Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Danfei Liu
- Department of Gastroenterology, Hubei Key Laboratory of Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Diseases, Institute of Liver and Gastrointestinal Diseases, Tongji Hospital of Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Yijun Wang
- Department of Gastroenterology, Hubei Key Laboratory of Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Diseases, Institute of Liver and Gastrointestinal Diseases, Tongji Hospital of Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Yiwei Li
- The Key Laboratory for Biomedical Photonics of MOE at Wuhan National Laboratory for Optoelectronics-Hubei Bioinformatics and Molecular Imaging Key Laboratory, Systems Biology Theme, Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Bifeng Liu
- The Key Laboratory for Biomedical Photonics of MOE at Wuhan National Laboratory for Optoelectronics-Hubei Bioinformatics and Molecular Imaging Key Laboratory, Systems Biology Theme, Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Limin Xia
- Department of Gastroenterology, Hubei Key Laboratory of Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Diseases, Institute of Liver and Gastrointestinal Diseases, Tongji Hospital of Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Wenjie Huang
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Diseases, Hepatic Surgery Center, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Clinical Medicine Research Center for Hepatic Surgery of Hubei Province, Wuhan, Hubei, China
- Key Laboratory of Organ Transplantation, Ministry of Education and Ministry of Public Health, Wuhan, Hubei, China
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A Reduction of Calcineurin Inhibitors May Improve Survival in Patients with De Novo Colorectal Cancer after Liver Transplantation. MEDICINA (KAUNAS, LITHUANIA) 2022; 58:medicina58121755. [PMID: 36556957 PMCID: PMC9785597 DOI: 10.3390/medicina58121755] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2022] [Revised: 11/25/2022] [Accepted: 11/28/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022]
Abstract
Background and Objectives: After liver transplantation (LT), long-term immunosuppression (IS) is essential. IS is associated with de novo malignancies, and the incidence of colorectal cancer (CRC) is increased in LT patients. We assessed course of disease in patients with de novo CRC after LT with focus of IS and impact on survival in a retrospective, single-center study. Materials and Methods: All patients diagnosed with CRC after LT between 1988 and 2019 were included. The management of IS regimen following diagnosis and the oncological treatment approach were analyzed: Kaplan−Meier analysis as well as univariate and multivariate analysis were performed. Results: A total of 33 out of 2744 patients were diagnosed with CRC after LT. Two groups were identified: patients with restrictive IS management undergoing dose reduction (RIM group, n = 20) and those with unaltered regimen (maintenance group, n = 13). The groups did not differ in clinical and oncological characteristics. Statistically significant improved survival was found in Kaplan−Meier analysis for patients in the RIM group with 83.46 (8.4−193.1) months in RIM and 24.8 (0.5−298.9) months in the maintenance group (log rank = 0.02) and showed a trend in multivariate cox regression (p = 0.054, HR = 14.3, CI = 0.96−213.67). Conclusions: Immunosuppressive therapy should be reduced further in patients suffering from CRC after LT in an individualized manner to enable optimal oncological therapy and enable improved survival.
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28
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Characteristics of circulating adaptive immune cells in patients with colorectal cancer. Sci Rep 2022; 12:18166. [PMID: 36307548 PMCID: PMC9616942 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-23190-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2022] [Accepted: 10/26/2022] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Adaptive immune cells prevent solid tumor progression by targeting and killing tumor cells. However, there are no comprehensive studies on peripheral circulating adaptive immune cell characterization in colorectal cancer (CRC) patients or the effect of tumor-node-metastasis (TNM) stages on these cells. In this study, the number, phenotype, and function of different subsets of circulating adaptive immune cells in peripheral blood of CRC patients were analyzed. We found remarkable differences in CRC patients compared with those in healthy controls, including reduced absolute counts of total T cells, helper T lymphocytes (Th), cytotoxic T lymphocytes (Tc), and double-negative T lymphocytes, a decreased proportion of INF-γ+ cells in total T cells and Th, and increased percentages of B cells, plasmablasts, and activated T cells. Compared with early-stage CRC patients, advanced-stage CRC patients showed more severe immunosenescence, which manifested as decreased proportions of CD8+ naive T cells with strong proliferative ability and CD8+ central memory T cells with immune surveillance function. Proportions and absolute counts of CD8+ and CD4+ terminally differentiated effector memory T cells were increased, indicating immunosenescence. The immune cell characteristics analyzed in this study serve as a starting point for further research to determine potential clinical implications.
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29
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Chen B, Jin L. Low serum level of 25-OH vitamin D relates to Th17 and treg changes in colorectal cancer patients. Immun Inflamm Dis 2022; 10:e723. [PMID: 36301026 PMCID: PMC9597490 DOI: 10.1002/iid3.723] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2022] [Revised: 09/05/2022] [Accepted: 09/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] level alters in colorectal cancer (CRC) development. Regulatory T (Treg) cells and T- helper type 17 (Th17) cells are involved in immune response. Th17-mediated proinflammatory responses contribute to tumorigenesis, and Treg plays different roles in different periods of CRC. Vitamin D deficiency is associated with significant variations in peripheral immune cells. This study investigated the relationship between Th17 and Treg cells and 25(OH)D level in CRC. METHODS Ninety-five CRC patients were included, as well as 80 healthy controls during the same period at the Affiliated Hospital of Jiangnan University. 25(OH)D level was analyzed through electrochemiluminescence (ECLIA). Th17 and Treg levels were evaluated through flow cytometry. Serum levels of interleukin (IL)-10, IL-17, IL-23, and transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β), were analyzed through commercial enzyme-linked immunoassay (ELISA) kits. RESULTS 25(OH)D levels were downregulated in the serum of CRC patients. Decreased 25(OH)D level contributed to CRC pathogenesis. Decreased 25(OH)D level in CRC correlated with increased Treg and Th17 cell ratios and TGF-β1, IL-10, IL-17, and IL-23 levels in peripheral blood. CONCLUSION Decreased 25(OH)D level in the serum of CRC patients had negative correlation with Treg and Th17 ratios and relative cytokines levels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bai Chen
- Department of Gastroenterologythe Affiliated Hospital of Jiangnan UniversityJiangsuWuxiChina
| | - Liugen Jin
- Department of Gastroenterologythe Affiliated Hospital of Jiangnan UniversityJiangsuWuxiChina
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Zhang X, Qin X, Yu T, Wang K, Chen Y, Xing Q. Chromatin regulators-related lncRNA signature predicting the prognosis of kidney renal clear cell carcinoma and its relationship with immune microenvironment: A study based on bioinformatics and experimental validation. Front Genet 2022; 13:974726. [PMID: 36338996 PMCID: PMC9630733 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2022.974726] [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: 06/21/2022] [Accepted: 10/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Kidney Renal Clear cell carcinoma (KIRC) is a major concern in the urinary system. A lot of researches were focused on Chromatin Regulators (CRs) in tumors. In this study, CRs-related lncRNAs (CRlncRNAs) were investigated for their potential impact on the prognosis of KIRC and the immune microenvironment. Methods: The TCGA database was used to obtain transcriptome and related clinical information. CRs were obtained from previous studies, whereas CRlncRNAs were obtained by differential and correlation analysis. We screened the lncRNAs for the signature construction using regression analysis and LASSO regression analysis. The effectiveness of the signature was evaluated using the Kaplan-Meier (K-M) curve and Receiver Operating Characteristic curve (ROC). Additionally, we examined the associations between the signature and Tumor Microenvironment (TME), and the efficacy of drug therapy. Finally, we further verified whether these lncRNAs could affect the biological function of KIRC cells by functional experiments such as CCK8 and transwell assay. Results: A signature consisting of 8 CRlncRNAs was constructed to predict the prognosis of KIRC. Quantitative Real-Time PCR verified the expression of 8 lncRNAs at the cell line and tissue level. The signature was found to be an independent prognostic indicator for KIRC in regression analysis. This signature was found to predict Overall Survival (OS) better for patients in the subgroups of age, gender, grade, stage, M, N0, and T. Furthermore, a significant correlation was found between riskScore and immune cell infiltration and immune checkpoint. Finally, we discovered several drugs with different IC50 values in different risk groups using drug sensitivity analysis. And functional experiments showed that Z97200.1 could affect the proliferation, migration and invasion of KIRC cells. Conclusion: Overall, the signature comprised of these 8 lncRNAs were reliable prognostic biomarkers for KIRC. Moreover, the signature had significant potential for assessing the immunological landscape of tumors and providing individualized treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinyu Zhang
- Department of Urology, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Medical School of Nantong University, Nantong, China
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu, China
| | - Xinyue Qin
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu, China
- Medical School of Nantong University, Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu, China
| | - Tiannan Yu
- Department of Urology, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Medical School of Nantong University, Nantong, China
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu, China
| | - Kexin Wang
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu, China
| | - Yinhao Chen
- Department of Urology, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Medical School of Nantong University, Nantong, China
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu, China
- *Correspondence: Qianwei Xing, ; Yinhao Chen,
| | - Qianwei Xing
- Department of Urology, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Medical School of Nantong University, Nantong, China
- *Correspondence: Qianwei Xing, ; Yinhao Chen,
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Noti L, Galván JA, Dawson H, Lugli A, Kirsch R, Assarzadegan N, Messenger D, Krebs P, Berger MD, Zlobec I. A combined spatial score of granzyme B and CD68 surpasses CD8 as an independent prognostic factor in TNM stage II colorectal cancer. BMC Cancer 2022; 22:987. [PMID: 36114487 PMCID: PMC9482175 DOI: 10.1186/s12885-022-10048-x] [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: 03/14/2022] [Accepted: 08/31/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Previous assessments of peritumoral inflammatory infiltrate in colorectal cancer (CRC) have focused on the role of CD8+ T lymphocytes. We sought to compare the prognostic value of CD8 with downstream indicators of active immune cell function, specifically granzyme B (GZMB) and CD68 in the tumour microenvironment. Methods Immunohistochemical (IHC) staining was performed for CD8, GZMB, CD68 and CD163 on next-generation tissue microarrays (ngTMAs) in a primary cohort (n = 107) and a TNM stage II validation cohort (n = 151). Using digital image analysis, frequency of distinct immune cell types was calculated for tumour proximity (TP) zones with varying radii (10 μm-100 μm) around tumour cells. Results Associations notably of advanced TNM stage were observed for low density of CD8 (p = 0.002), GZMB (p < 0.001), CD68 (p = 0.034) and CD163 (p = 0.011) in the primary cohort. In the validation cohort only low GZMB (p = 0.036) was associated with pT4 stage. Survival analysis showed strongest prognostic effects in the TP25μm zone at the tumour centre for CD8, GZMB and CD68 (all p < 0.001) in the primary cohort and for CD8 (p = 0.072), GZMB (p = 0.035) and CD68 (p = 0.004) in the validation cohort with inferior prognostic effects observed at the tumour invasive margin. In a multivariate survival analysis, joint analysis of GZMB and CD68 was similarly prognostic to CD8 in the primary cohort (p = 0.007 vs. p = 0.002) and superior to CD8 in the validation cohort (p = 0.005 vs. p = 0.142). Conclusion Combined high expression of GZMB and CD68 within 25 μm to tumour cells is an independent prognostic factor in CRC and of superior prognostic value to the well-established CD8 in TNM stage II cancers. Thus, assessment of antitumoral effect should consider the quality of immune activation in peritumoral inflammatory cells and their actual proximity to tumour cells. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12885-022-10048-x.
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Luan L, Dai Y, Shen T, Yang C, Chen Z, Liu S, Jia J, Li Z, Fang S, Qiu H, Cheng X, Yang Z. Development of a novel hypoxia-immune–related LncRNA risk signature for predicting the prognosis and immunotherapy response of colorectal cancer. Front Immunol 2022; 13:951455. [PMID: 36189298 PMCID: PMC9516397 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.951455] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2022] [Accepted: 08/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most common digestive system tumors worldwide. Hypoxia and immunity are closely related in CRC; however, the role of hypoxia-immune–related lncRNAs in CRC prognosis is unknown. Methods Data used in the current study were sourced from the Gene Expression Omnibus and The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) databases. CRC patients were divided into low- and high-hypoxia groups using the single-sample gene set enrichment analysis (ssGSEA) algorithm and into low- and high-immune groups using the Estimation of STromal and Immune cells in MAlignant Tumours using Expression data (ESTIMATE) algorithm. Differentially expressed lncRNAs (DElncRNAs) between low- and high-hypoxia groups, low- and high-immune groups, and tumor and control samples were identified using the limma package. Hypoxia-immune–related lncRNAs were obtained by intersecting these DElncRNAs. A hypoxia-immune–related lncRNA risk signature was developed using univariate Cox regression and least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) analyses. The tumor microenvironments in the low- and high-risk groups were evaluated using ssGSEA, ESTIMATE, and the expression of immune checkpoints. The therapeutic response in the two groups was assessed using TIDE, IPS, and IC50. A ceRNA network based on signature lncRNAs was constructed. Finally, we used RT-qPCR to verify the expression of hypoxia-immune–related lncRNA signatures in normal and cancer tissues. Results Using differential expression analysis, and univariate Cox and LASSO regression analyses, ZNF667-AS1, LINC01354, LINC00996, DANCR, CECR7, and LINC01116 were selected to construct a hypoxia-immune–related lncRNA signature. The performance of the risk signature in predicting CRC prognosis was validated in internal and external datasets, as evidenced by receiver operating characteristic curves. In addition, we observed significant differences in the tumor microenvironment and immunotherapy response between low- and high-risk groups and constructed a CECR7–miRNA–mRNA regulatory network in CRC. Furthermore, RT-qPCR results confirmed that the expression patterns of the six lncRNA signatures were consistent with those in TCGA-CRC cohort. Conclusion Our study identified six hypoxia-immune–related lncRNAs for predicting CRC survival and sensitivity to immunotherapy. These findings may enrich our understanding of CRC and help improve CRC treatment. However, large-scale long-term follow-up studies are required for verification.
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Affiliation(s)
- Likun Luan
- Department of Gastric and Intestinal Surgery, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University/Yunnan Tumor Hospital, Kunming, China
| | - Youguo Dai
- Department of Gastric and Intestinal Surgery, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University/Yunnan Tumor Hospital, Kunming, China
| | - Tao Shen
- Department of Colorectal Surgery, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University/Yunnan Tumor Hospital, Kunming, China
| | - Changlong Yang
- Department of Gastric and Intestinal Surgery, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University/Yunnan Tumor Hospital, Kunming, China
| | - Zhenpu Chen
- Tumor Institute, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University/Yunnan Tumor Hospital, Kunming, China
| | - Shan Liu
- Departments of Combination of Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University/Yunnan Tumor Hospital, Kunming, China
| | - Junyi Jia
- Department of Gastric and Intestinal Surgery, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University/Yunnan Tumor Hospital, Kunming, China
| | - Zhenhui Li
- Department of Radiology, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University/Yunnan Tumor Hospital, Kunming, China
| | - Shaojun Fang
- Department of Colorectal Surgery, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University/Yunnan Tumor Hospital, Kunming, China
| | - Hengqiong Qiu
- Department of Surgery Teaching Management, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University/Yunnan Tumor Hospital, Kunming, China
| | - Xianshuo Cheng
- Department of Colorectal Surgery, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University/Yunnan Tumor Hospital, Kunming, China
- *Correspondence: Xianshuo Cheng, ; Zhibin Yang,
| | - Zhibin Yang
- Department of Colorectal Surgery, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University/Yunnan Tumor Hospital, Kunming, China
- *Correspondence: Xianshuo Cheng, ; Zhibin Yang,
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Hypoxia Confers Tumor with a Higher Immune Infiltration but Lower Mutation Burden in Gastrointestinal Cancer. JOURNAL OF ONCOLOGY 2022; 2022:4965167. [PMID: 36131795 PMCID: PMC9484921 DOI: 10.1155/2022/4965167] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2022] [Accepted: 08/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Background Hypoxia is one of the driving forces of cancer progression, recurrence, and metastasis. However, the association between the tumor hypoxic tumor microenvironment and the tumor mutation burden (TMB) is poorly understood in gastrointestinal cancer. Methods Approximately 2,000 samples from colorectal cancer (CRC) and stomach adenocarcinoma (STAD) patients were obtained from the gene expression omnibus database and the cancer genome Atlas databases and were clustered and subtyped by nonnegative matrix factorization. Significant differentially expressed genes that were possibly related to survival differences between the hypoxic and normoxic groups were subjected to multivariate Cox regression. Results Gastrointestinal cancer patients with CRC and STAD were further divided into two subgroups, namely, the hypoxia group and the normoxia group, and hypoxia was correlated with unfavorable outcomes. Notably, hypoxic tumors had lower TMB but significantly higher levels of immune and stromal infiltration. A signature of HEYL and NRP1 selected by LASSO classified gastrointestinal cancer patients into either a low or high-risk group, allowing for the combination of TMB status with markers of hypoxia in future clinical applications. Conclusions Hypoxia is an independent prognostic factor and a strong immune infiltration indicator in gastrointestinal tumors of different organs, especially for cancers with low TMB.
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Tian XM, Xiang B, Jin LM, Mi T, Wang JK, Zhanghuang C, Zhang ZX, Chen ML, Shi QL, Liu F, Lin T, Wei GH. Immune-related gene signature associates with immune landscape and predicts prognosis accurately in patients with Wilms tumour. Front Immunol 2022; 13:920666. [PMID: 36172369 PMCID: PMC9510599 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.920666] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2022] [Accepted: 08/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Wilms tumour (WT) is the most common kidney malignancy in children. Chemoresistance is the leading cause of tumour recurrence and poses a substantial therapeutic challenge. Increasing evidence has underscored the role of the tumour immune microenvironment (TIM) in cancers and the potential for immunotherapy to improve prognosis. There remain no reliable molecular markers for reflecting the immune landscape and predicting patient survival in WT. Here, we examine differences in gene expression by high-throughput RNA sequencing, focused on differentially expressed immune-related genes (IRGs) based on the ImmPort database. Via univariate Cox regression analysis and Lasso-penalized Cox regression analysis, IRGs were screened out to establish an immune signature. Kaplan-Meier curves, time-related ROC analysis, univariate and multivariate Cox regression studies, and nomograms were used to evaluate the accuracy and prognostic significance of this signature. Furthermore, we found that the immune signature could reflect the immune status and the immune cell infiltration character played in the tumour microenvironment (TME) and showed significant association with immune checkpoint molecules, suggesting that the poor outcome may be partially explained by its immunosuppressive TME. Remarkably, TIDE, a computational method to model tumour immune evasion mechanisms, showed that this signature holds great potential for predicting immunotherapy responses in the TARGET-wt cohort. To decipher the underlying mechanism, GSEA was applied to explore enriched pathways and biological processes associated with immunophenotyping and Connectivity map (CMap) along with DeSigN analysis for drug exploration. Finally, four candidate immune genes were selected, and their expression levels in WT cell lines were monitored via qRT-PCR. Meanwhile, we validated the function of a critical gene, NRP2. Taken together, we established a novel immune signature that may serve as an effective prognostic signature and predictive biomarker for immunotherapy response in WT patients. This study may give light on therapeutic strategies for WT patients from an immunological viewpoint.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiao-Mao Tian
- Department of Urology, Children’s Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, Chongqing Key Laboratory of Pediatrics, National Clinical Research Center for Child Health and Disorders, China International Science and Technology Cooperation Base of Child Development and Critical Disorders, Children’s Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Children Urogenital Development and Tissue Engineering, Chongqing, China
| | - Bin Xiang
- Department of Urology, Children’s Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, Chongqing Key Laboratory of Pediatrics, National Clinical Research Center for Child Health and Disorders, China International Science and Technology Cooperation Base of Child Development and Critical Disorders, Children’s Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Children Urogenital Development and Tissue Engineering, Chongqing, China
| | - Li-Ming Jin
- Department of Urology, Children’s Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, Chongqing Key Laboratory of Pediatrics, National Clinical Research Center for Child Health and Disorders, China International Science and Technology Cooperation Base of Child Development and Critical Disorders, Children’s Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Children Urogenital Development and Tissue Engineering, Chongqing, China
| | - Tao Mi
- Department of Urology, Children’s Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, Chongqing Key Laboratory of Pediatrics, National Clinical Research Center for Child Health and Disorders, China International Science and Technology Cooperation Base of Child Development and Critical Disorders, Children’s Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Children Urogenital Development and Tissue Engineering, Chongqing, China
| | - Jin-Kui Wang
- Department of Urology, Children’s Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, Chongqing Key Laboratory of Pediatrics, National Clinical Research Center for Child Health and Disorders, China International Science and Technology Cooperation Base of Child Development and Critical Disorders, Children’s Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Children Urogenital Development and Tissue Engineering, Chongqing, China
| | - Chenghao Zhanghuang
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, Chongqing Key Laboratory of Pediatrics, National Clinical Research Center for Child Health and Disorders, China International Science and Technology Cooperation Base of Child Development and Critical Disorders, Children’s Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Children Urogenital Development and Tissue Engineering, Chongqing, China
| | - Zhao-Xia Zhang
- Department of Urology, Children’s Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, Chongqing Key Laboratory of Pediatrics, National Clinical Research Center for Child Health and Disorders, China International Science and Technology Cooperation Base of Child Development and Critical Disorders, Children’s Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Children Urogenital Development and Tissue Engineering, Chongqing, China
| | - Mei-Ling Chen
- Department of Urology, Children’s Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, Chongqing Key Laboratory of Pediatrics, National Clinical Research Center for Child Health and Disorders, China International Science and Technology Cooperation Base of Child Development and Critical Disorders, Children’s Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Children Urogenital Development and Tissue Engineering, Chongqing, China
| | - Qin-Lin Shi
- Department of Urology, Children’s Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, Chongqing Key Laboratory of Pediatrics, National Clinical Research Center for Child Health and Disorders, China International Science and Technology Cooperation Base of Child Development and Critical Disorders, Children’s Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Children Urogenital Development and Tissue Engineering, Chongqing, China
| | - Feng Liu
- Department of Urology, Children’s Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, Chongqing Key Laboratory of Pediatrics, National Clinical Research Center for Child Health and Disorders, China International Science and Technology Cooperation Base of Child Development and Critical Disorders, Children’s Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Children Urogenital Development and Tissue Engineering, Chongqing, China
- *Correspondence: Feng Liu,
| | - Tao Lin
- Department of Urology, Children’s Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, Chongqing Key Laboratory of Pediatrics, National Clinical Research Center for Child Health and Disorders, China International Science and Technology Cooperation Base of Child Development and Critical Disorders, Children’s Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Guang-Hui Wei
- Department of Urology, Children’s Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, Chongqing Key Laboratory of Pediatrics, National Clinical Research Center for Child Health and Disorders, China International Science and Technology Cooperation Base of Child Development and Critical Disorders, Children’s Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Children Urogenital Development and Tissue Engineering, Chongqing, China
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Impact of Preoperative Chemotherapy Features on Patient Outcomes after Hepatectomy for Initially Unresectable Colorectal Cancer Liver Metastases: A LiverMetSurvey Analysis. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14174340. [PMID: 36077874 PMCID: PMC9454829 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14174340] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2022] [Revised: 08/30/2022] [Accepted: 08/31/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Prognostic factors have been extensively reported after resection of colorectal liver metastases (CLM); however, specific analyses of the impact of preoperative systemic anticancer therapy (PO-SACT) features on outcomes is lacking. Methods: For this real-world evidence study, we used prospectively collected data within the international surgical LiverMetSurvey database from all patients with initially-irresectable CLM. The main outcome was Overall Survival (OS) after surgery. Disease-free (DFS) and hepatic-specific relapse-free survival (HS-RFS) were secondary outcomes. PO-SACT features included duration (cumulative number of cycles), choice of the cytotoxic backbone (oxaliplatin- or irinotecan-based), fluoropyrimidine (infusional or oral) and addition or not of targeted monoclonal antibodies (anti-EGFR or anti-VEGF). Results: A total of 2793 patients in the database had received PO-SACT for initially irresectable diseases. Short (<7 or <13 cycles in 1st or 2nd line) PO-SACT duration was independently associated with longer OS (HR: 0.85 p = 0.046), DFS (HR: 0.81; p = 0.016) and HS-RFS (HR: 0.80; p = 0.05). All other PO-SACT features yielded basically comparable results. Conclusions: In this international cohort, provided that PO-SACT allowed conversion to resectability in initially irresectable CLM, surgery performed as soon as technically feasible resulted in the best outcomes. When resection was achieved, our findings indicate that the choice of PO-SACT regimen had a marginal if any, impact on outcomes.
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Makutani Y, Kawakami H, Tsujikawa T, Yoshimura K, Chiba Y, Ito A, Kawamura J, Haratani K, Nakagawa K. Contribution of MMP14-expressing cancer-associated fibroblasts in the tumor immune microenvironment to progression of colorectal cancer. Front Oncol 2022; 12:956270. [PMID: 36052235 PMCID: PMC9424903 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2022.956270] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2022] [Accepted: 07/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Matrix metalloproteinase 14 (MMP14) expression is implicated in progression of colorectal cancer, but its role in the tumor microenvironment (TME) has been unclear. The relevance of MMP14 to colorectal cancer progression was explored by analysis of transcriptomic data for colorectal adenocarcinoma patients (n = 592) in The Cancer Genome Atlas. The role of MMP14 in the TME was investigated in a retrospective analysis of tumor samples from 86 individuals with stage III colorectal cancer by single cell–based spatial profiling of MMP14 expression as performed by 12-color multiplex immunohistochemistry (mIHC). Analysis of gene expression data revealed that high MMP14 expression was associated with tumor progression and implicated both cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) and tumor-associated macrophages in such progression. Spatial profiling by mIHC revealed that a higher percentage of MMP14+ cells among intratumoral CAFs (MMP14+ CAF/CAF ratio) was associated with poorer relapse-free survival. Multivariable analysis including key clinical factors identified the MMP14+ CAF/CAF ratio as an independent poor prognostic factor. Moreover, the patient subset with both a high MMP14+ CAF/CAF ratio and a low tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte density showed the worst prognosis. Our results suggest that MMP14+ CAFs play an important role in progression of stage III colorectal cancer and may therefore be a promising therapeutic target.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yusuke Makutani
- Department of Surgery, Kindai University Faculty of Medicine, Osaka-Sayama, Japan
| | - Hisato Kawakami
- Department of Medical Oncology, Kindai University Faculty of Medicine, Osaka-Sayama, Japan
- *Correspondence: Hisato Kawakami, ; Koji Haratani,
| | - Takahiro Tsujikawa
- Department of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Kanako Yoshimura
- Department of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Yasutaka Chiba
- Clinical Research Center, Kindai University Hospital, Osaka-Sayama, Japan
| | - Akihiko Ito
- Department of Pathology, Kindai University Faculty of Medicine, Osaka-Sayama, Japan
| | - Junichiro Kawamura
- Department of Surgery, Kindai University Faculty of Medicine, Osaka-Sayama, Japan
| | - Koji Haratani
- Department of Medical Oncology, Kindai University Faculty of Medicine, Osaka-Sayama, Japan
- *Correspondence: Hisato Kawakami, ; Koji Haratani,
| | - Kazuhiko Nakagawa
- Department of Medical Oncology, Kindai University Faculty of Medicine, Osaka-Sayama, Japan
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Zhao H, Chen X, Zhang W, Cheng D, Lu Y, Wang C, Li J, You L, Yu J, Guo W, Li Y, Huang Y. Pan-immune-inflammation value is associated with the clinical stage of colorectal cancer. Front Surg 2022; 9:996844. [PMID: 36034356 PMCID: PMC9411960 DOI: 10.3389/fsurg.2022.996844] [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: 07/18/2022] [Accepted: 08/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
ObjectiveWe investigated the clinical significance of preoperative pan-immune-inflammation value (PIV) in patients with colorectal cancer (CRC).MethodsIn this retrospective study, 366 cases who underwent surgery for CRC were enrolled. Their clinical data were collected. PIV was calculated with the formula PIV = [neutrophil count (109/L)× platelet count (109/L) × monocyte count (109/L) /lymphocyte count (109/L). Patients were divided into high PIV (> median PIV) and low PIV (< median PIV) groups. The relationship between PIV and clinicopathological features of CRC was investigated. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was plotted to indicate the value of immune-inflammatory biomarkers (IIBs) in predicting the TNM stage of CRC, and the area under the curve (AUC) was calculated to evaluate the actual clinical value of IIBs. AUC > 0.5 and closer to 1 indicated the better predictive efficacy. The influencing factors of PIV in CRC were analyzed.ResultsWe found that PIV was positively correlated with tumor size (r = 0.300, p < 0.05), carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) (r = 0.214, p < 0.05) and carbohydrate antigen 125 (CA-125) (r = 0.249, p < 0.05), but negatively correlated with albumin (Alb) (r = −0.242, p < 0.05). PIV was significantly different in patients with different tumor locations (left or right), surgical methods (laparotomy versus laparoscopic surgery) (p < 0.05), and patients with different pathological T stages, N-stage and TNM stages (p < 0.05). ROC curve analysis of IIBs showed the AUC of PIV was greater than other markers when combined with CEA or carbohydrate antigen 19–9 (CA19–9). Multivariate regression analysis identified T stage, CEA, Alb, and tumor size as the independent influential factors of PIV in CRC.ConclusionPIV is associated with the tumor stage in patients with CRC, which may be useful in preoperative assessment of CRC.
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Affiliation(s)
- HanZheng Zhao
- Department of General Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
| | - Xingyu Chen
- College of Bioinformatics Science and Technology, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
| | - WenHui Zhang
- Department of Pain Medicine, Harbin Medical University Cancer Hospital, Harbin, China
| | - Die Cheng
- Cancer Research Laboratory, Chengde Medical College, Chengde, China
| | - Yanjie Lu
- Cancer Research Laboratory, Chengde Medical College, Chengde, China
| | - Cheng Wang
- Department of General Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
| | - JunHu Li
- Department of General Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
| | - LiuPing You
- Department of General Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
| | - JiaYong Yu
- Department of General Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
| | - WenLong Guo
- Department of General Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
| | - YuHong Li
- Cancer Research Laboratory, Chengde Medical College, Chengde, China
- Correspondence: YueNan Huang YuHong Li
| | - YueNan Huang
- Department of General Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
- Correspondence: YueNan Huang YuHong Li
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Liu C, Liu D, Wang F, Xie J, Liu Y, Wang H, Rong J, Xie J, Wang J, Zeng R, Zhou F, Xie Y. An Intratumor Heterogeneity-Related Signature for Predicting Prognosis, Immune Landscape, and Chemotherapy Response in Colon Adenocarcinoma. Front Med (Lausanne) 2022; 9:925661. [PMID: 35872794 PMCID: PMC9302538 DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2022.925661] [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: 04/21/2022] [Accepted: 06/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Colon adenocarcinoma (COAD) is a frequent malignancy of the digestive system with a poor prognosis and high mortality rate worldwide. Intratumor heterogeneity (ITH) is associated with tumor progression, poor prognosis, immunosuppression, and therapy resistance. However, the relationship between ITH and prognosis, the immune microenvironment, and the chemotherapy response in COAD patients remains unknown, and this knowledge is urgently needed. Methods We obtained clinical information and gene expression data for COAD patients from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database. The DEPTH2 algorithm was utilized to evaluate the ITH score. X-tile software was used to determine the optimal cutoff value of the ITH score. The COAD patients were divided into high- and low-ITH groups based on the cutoff value. We analyzed prognosis, tumor mutation burden (TMB), gene mutations, and immune checkpoint expression between the high- and low-ITH groups. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in the high- and low-ITH groups were subjected to Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analyses. We performed univariate Cox regression and least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression analyses to screen the prognosis-related genes for the construction of an ITH-related prognostic signature. The nomogram was used to predict the overall survival (OS) of COAD patients. The protein–protein interaction (PPI) network was constructed by using the GeneMANIA database. Principal component analysis (PCA) and single-sample gene set enrichment analysis (ssGSEA) were employed to explore the differences in biological pathway activation status between the high- and low-risk groups. The proportion and type of tumor-infiltrating immune cells were evaluated by the CIBERSORT and ESTIMATE algorithms. Additionally, we assessed the chemotherapy response and predicted small-molecule drugs for treatment. Finally, the expression of the prognosis-related genes was validated by using the UALCAN database and Human Protein Atlas (HPA) database. Results The OS of the high-ITH group was worse than that of the low-ITH group. A positive correlation between ITH and TMB was identified. In subgroups stratified by age, gender, and tumor stage, the OS of the low-ITH group remained better than that of the high-ITH group. There were dramatic differences in the mutated genes, single nucleotide variant classes, variant types, immune checkpoints and cooccurring and mutually exclusive mutations of the DEGs between the high- and low-ITH groups. Based on the DEGs between the high- and low-ITH groups, we constructed a five-gene signature consisting of CEACAM5, ENO2, GABBR1, MC1R, and SLC44A4. The COAD patients were divided into high- and low-risk groups according to the median risk score. The OS of the high-risk group was worse than that of the low-risk group. The nomogram was used to accurately predict the 1-, 3- and 5-year OS of COAD patients and showed good calibration and moderate discrimination ability. The stromal score, immune score, and ESTIMATE score of the high-risk group were significantly higher than those of the low-risk group, whereas tumor purity showed the opposite trend. The patients classified by the risk score had distinguishable sensitivity to chemotherapeutic drugs. Finally, two public databases confirmed that CEACAM5 and SLC44A4 were upregulated in normal tissues compared with COAD tissues, and ENO2, GABBR1, and MC1R were upregulated in COAD tissues compared with normal tissues. Conclusion Overall, we identified an ITH-related prognostic signature for COAD that was closely related to the tumor microenvironment and chemotherapy response. This signature may help clinicians make more personalized and precise treatment decisions for COAD patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cong Liu
- Department of Gastroenterology, Digestive Disease Hospital, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, China
- Gastroenterology Institute of Jiangxi Province, Nanchang, China
- Key Laboratory of Digestive Diseases of Jiangxi Province, Nanchang, China
- Jiangxi Clinical Research Center for Gastroenterology, Nanchang, China
| | - Dingwei Liu
- Department of Gastroenterology, Digestive Disease Hospital, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, China
- Gastroenterology Institute of Jiangxi Province, Nanchang, China
- Key Laboratory of Digestive Diseases of Jiangxi Province, Nanchang, China
- Jiangxi Clinical Research Center for Gastroenterology, Nanchang, China
| | - Fangfei Wang
- Department of Gastroenterology, Digestive Disease Hospital, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, China
- Gastroenterology Institute of Jiangxi Province, Nanchang, China
- Key Laboratory of Digestive Diseases of Jiangxi Province, Nanchang, China
- Jiangxi Clinical Research Center for Gastroenterology, Nanchang, China
| | - Jun Xie
- Department of Gastroenterology, Digestive Disease Hospital, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, China
- Gastroenterology Institute of Jiangxi Province, Nanchang, China
- Key Laboratory of Digestive Diseases of Jiangxi Province, Nanchang, China
- Jiangxi Clinical Research Center for Gastroenterology, Nanchang, China
| | - Yang Liu
- Department of Gastroenterology, Digestive Disease Hospital, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, China
- Gastroenterology Institute of Jiangxi Province, Nanchang, China
- Key Laboratory of Digestive Diseases of Jiangxi Province, Nanchang, China
- Jiangxi Clinical Research Center for Gastroenterology, Nanchang, China
| | - Huan Wang
- Department of Gastroenterology, Digestive Disease Hospital, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, China
- Gastroenterology Institute of Jiangxi Province, Nanchang, China
- Key Laboratory of Digestive Diseases of Jiangxi Province, Nanchang, China
- Jiangxi Clinical Research Center for Gastroenterology, Nanchang, China
| | - Jianfang Rong
- Department of Gastroenterology, Digestive Disease Hospital, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, China
- Gastroenterology Institute of Jiangxi Province, Nanchang, China
- Key Laboratory of Digestive Diseases of Jiangxi Province, Nanchang, China
- Jiangxi Clinical Research Center for Gastroenterology, Nanchang, China
| | - Jinliang Xie
- Department of Gastroenterology, Digestive Disease Hospital, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, China
- Gastroenterology Institute of Jiangxi Province, Nanchang, China
- Key Laboratory of Digestive Diseases of Jiangxi Province, Nanchang, China
- Jiangxi Clinical Research Center for Gastroenterology, Nanchang, China
| | - Jinyun Wang
- Department of Gastroenterology, Digestive Disease Hospital, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, China
- Gastroenterology Institute of Jiangxi Province, Nanchang, China
- Key Laboratory of Digestive Diseases of Jiangxi Province, Nanchang, China
- Jiangxi Clinical Research Center for Gastroenterology, Nanchang, China
| | - Rong Zeng
- Department of Gastroenterology, Digestive Disease Hospital, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, China
- Gastroenterology Institute of Jiangxi Province, Nanchang, China
- Key Laboratory of Digestive Diseases of Jiangxi Province, Nanchang, China
- Jiangxi Clinical Research Center for Gastroenterology, Nanchang, China
| | - Feng Zhou
- Department of Gastroenterology, Digestive Disease Hospital, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, China
- Gastroenterology Institute of Jiangxi Province, Nanchang, China
- Key Laboratory of Digestive Diseases of Jiangxi Province, Nanchang, China
- Jiangxi Clinical Research Center for Gastroenterology, Nanchang, China
| | - Yong Xie
- Department of Gastroenterology, Digestive Disease Hospital, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, China
- Gastroenterology Institute of Jiangxi Province, Nanchang, China
- Key Laboratory of Digestive Diseases of Jiangxi Province, Nanchang, China
- Jiangxi Clinical Research Center for Gastroenterology, Nanchang, China
- *Correspondence: Yong Xie
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Shi W, Zhang F, Chen X, Wang S, Zhang H, Yang Z, Wang G, Zheng Y, Han Y, Sun Y, Gao A. Tumor-derived immunoglobulin like transcript 5 induces suppressive immunocyte infiltration in colorectal cancer. Cancer Sci 2022; 113:1939-1954. [PMID: 35377522 PMCID: PMC9207357 DOI: 10.1111/cas.15360] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2021] [Revised: 03/23/2022] [Accepted: 03/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Infiltration of immunosuppressive cells in the tumor microenvironment (TME) induced colorectal cancer (CRC) progression and its resistance to immunotherapy. Identification of tumor-specific factors to modulate inhibitory immunocyte infiltration would provide alternative and novel targets for CRC immunotherapy. Immunoglobulin-like transcript (ILT) 5 is a negative regulator of myeloid cell activation. However, its expression and functional role in solid tumors is still unknown. Using human CRC tissues and cell lines, we found that ILT5 was highly expressed in CRC cells compared with normal colorectal epithelial cells. Enriched ILT5 in tumor cells was correlated with advanced tumor stages and poor patient survival. Our subsequent in vitro and in vivo studies revealed that tumor-derived ILT5 inhibited the infiltration of T cells, especially that of CD8+ T cells in the TME, creating suppressive T-cell contexture. Furthermore, ILT5 directed M2-like polarization of tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs). Inhibition of tumor-derived ILT5 restored the immunosuppressive T-cell and TAM contexture, and restricted CRC progression. Our findings identified ILT5 expression in solid tumor cells for the first time and raised ILT5 as a potential immunotarget and prognostic predictor in CRC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenjing Shi
- Jinan Central HospitalShandong UniversityJinanShandongChina
| | - Fang Zhang
- Department of OncologyJinan Central Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical UniversityJinanShandongChina
| | - Xiaozheng Chen
- Shandong Cancer Hospital and InstituteShandong Academy of Medical SciencesShandong First Medical UniversityJinanShandongChina
| | - Shuyun Wang
- Phase I Clinical Research CenterShandong Cancer Hospital and InstituteShandong Academy of Medical SciencesShandong First Medical UniversityJinanShandongChina
| | - Haiqin Zhang
- Department of OncologyJinan Central Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical UniversityJinanShandongChina
| | - Zijiang Yang
- Jinan Central HospitalShandong UniversityJinanShandongChina
| | | | - Yan Zheng
- Research Center of Translational MedicineJinan Central Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical UniversityJinanShandongChina
| | - Yali Han
- Department of Radiation OncologyQilu HospitalCheeloo College of MedicineShandong UniversityJinanChina
| | - Yuping Sun
- Phase I Clinical Research CenterShandong Cancer Hospital and InstituteShandong Academy of Medical SciencesShandong First Medical UniversityJinanShandongChina
| | - Aiqin Gao
- Department of Thoracic Radiation OncologyShandong Cancer Hospital and InstituteShandong Academy of Medical SciencesShandong First Medical UniversityJinanShandongChina
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Chang CL, Huang K, Chen TW, Chen W, Huang HH, Liu YL, Kuo CH, Chao K, Ke TW, Chiang SF. Prognostic and clinical significance of subcellular CDC27 for patients with rectal adenocarcinoma treated with adjuvant chemotherapy. Oncol Lett 2022; 24:238. [PMID: 35720473 PMCID: PMC9185143 DOI: 10.3892/ol.2022.13358] [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: 02/11/2022] [Accepted: 05/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Rectal adenocarcinoma (READ) constitutes one-third of newly diagnosed colorectal cancer cases. Surgery, chemotherapy and concurrent chemoradiotherapy are the main treatments to improve patient outcomes for READ. However, patients with READ receiving these treatments eventually relapse, leading to a poor survival outcome. The present study collected surgical specimens from patients with READ and determined that cytoplasmic cell division cycle 27 (CDC27) expression was associated with the risk of lymph node metastasis and distant metastasis. Nuclear CDC27 expression was negatively associated with 5-year disease-free survival (DFS) and 5-year overall survival (OS) rates. Multivariate Cox proportional regression analysis showed that nuclear CDC27 was an independent prognostic factor in the patients with READ, especially in those treated with adjuvant chemotherapy. High nuclear CDC27 expression was significantly associated with poorer 5-year DFS (HR, 2.106; 95% CI, 1.275-3.570; P=0.003) and 5-year OS (HR, 2.369; 95% CI, 1.270-4.6810; P=0.005) rates. The data indicated that cytoplasmic CDC27 expression could affect tumor progression and that it plays an important role in metastasis. Nuclear CDC27 expression was markedly associated with poorer survival outcomes and was an independent prognostic factor in patients with postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy-treated READ. Thus, CDC27 expression serves as a potential prognostic marker for rectal tumor progression and chemotherapy treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chia-Lin Chang
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, Ministry of Health and Welfare Feng Yuan Hospital, Taichung 42055, Taiwan, R.O.C
| | - Kevin Huang
- Department of Biomedical Imaging and Radiological Science, China Medical University, Taichung 40402, Taiwan, R.O.C
| | - Tsung-Wei Chen
- Graduate Institute of Biomedical Science, China Medical University, Taichung 40402, Taiwan, R.O.C
| | - William Chen
- Department of Colorectal Surgery, Hsinchu China Medical University Hospital, Hsinchu 30272, Taiwan, R.O.C
| | - Hsuan-Hua Huang
- Department of Pathology, Ministry of Health and Welfare Feng Yuan Hospital, Taichung 42055, Taiwan, R.O.C
| | - Ya-Ling Liu
- Laboratory of Precision Medicine, Ministry of Health and Welfare Feng Yuan Hospital, Taichung 42055, Taiwan, R.O.C
| | - Chia-Hui Kuo
- Laboratory of Precision Medicine, Ministry of Health and Welfare Feng Yuan Hospital, Taichung 42055, Taiwan, R.O.C
| | - K.S. Chao
- Graduate Institute of Biomedical Science, China Medical University, Taichung 40402, Taiwan, R.O.C
| | - Tao-Wei Ke
- Department of Colorectal Surgery, China Medical University Hospital, China Medical University, Taichung 40402, Taiwan, R.O.C
| | - Shu-Fen Chiang
- Laboratory of Precision Medicine, Ministry of Health and Welfare Feng Yuan Hospital, Taichung 42055, Taiwan, R.O.C
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Wang L, Chard Dunmall LS, Cheng Z, Wang Y. Remodeling the tumor microenvironment by oncolytic viruses: beyond oncolysis of tumor cells for cancer treatment. J Immunother Cancer 2022; 10:e004167. [PMID: 35640930 PMCID: PMC9157365 DOI: 10.1136/jitc-2021-004167] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/09/2022] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Tumor cells manipulate the local environment in which they grow, creating a tumor microenvironment (TME) that promotes tumor survival and metastasis. The TME is an extremely complex environment rich in immunosuppressive cells and cytokines. Various methods to therapeutically target the complicated TME are emerging as a potential approach for cancer treatment. Oncolytic viruses (OVs) are one of the most promising methods for remodeling the TME into an antitumor environment and can be used alone or in combination with other immunotherapy options. OVs replicate specifically in tumor cells and can be genetically engineered to target multiple elements of the TME simultaneously, thus representing a therapeutic with the potential to modify the TME to promote activation of antitumor immune cells and overcome tumor therapeutic resistance and recurrence. In this review, we analyze the tropism of OVs towards tumor cells and explore the interaction between OVs and immune cells, tumor stroma, vasculature and the metabolic environment in detail to help understand how OVs may be one of our most promising prospects for long-term curative therapies. We also discuss some of the challenges associated with TME therapies, and future perspectives in this evolving field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lihong Wang
- National Centre for International Research in Cell and Gene Therapy, Sino-British Research Centre for Molecular Oncology, State Key Laboratory of Esophageal Cancer Prevention and Treatment, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Academy of Medical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Louisa S Chard Dunmall
- Centre for Cancer Biomarkers and Biotherapeutics, Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK
| | - Zhenguo Cheng
- National Centre for International Research in Cell and Gene Therapy, Sino-British Research Centre for Molecular Oncology, State Key Laboratory of Esophageal Cancer Prevention and Treatment, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Academy of Medical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Yaohe Wang
- National Centre for International Research in Cell and Gene Therapy, Sino-British Research Centre for Molecular Oncology, State Key Laboratory of Esophageal Cancer Prevention and Treatment, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Academy of Medical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
- Centre for Cancer Biomarkers and Biotherapeutics, Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK
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Huyghe N, Benidovskaya E, Stevens P, Van den Eynde M. Biomarkers of Response and Resistance to Immunotherapy in Microsatellite Stable Colorectal Cancer: Toward a New Personalized Medicine. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:2241. [PMID: 35565369 PMCID: PMC9105843 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14092241] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2022] [Revised: 04/25/2022] [Accepted: 04/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors (ICIs) are well recognized as a major immune treatment modality for multiple types of solid cancers. However, for colorectal cancer (CRC), ICIs are only approved for the treatment of Mismatch-Repair-Deficient and Microsatellite Instability-High (dMMR/MSI-H) tumors. For the vast majority of CRC, that are not dMMR/MSI-H, ICIs alone provide limited to no clinical benefit. This discrepancy of response between CRC and other solid cancers suggests that CRC may be inherently resistant to ICIs alone. In translational research, efforts are underway to thoroughly characterize the immune microenvironment of CRC to better understand the mechanisms behind this resistance and to find new biomarkers of response. In the clinic, trials are being set up to study biomarkers along with treatments targeting newly discovered immune checkpoint molecules or treatments combining ICIs with other existing therapies to improve response in MSS CRC. In this review, we will focus on the characteristics of response and resistance to ICIs in CRC, and discuss promising biomarkers studied in recent clinical trials combining ICIs with other therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicolas Huyghe
- Institut de Recherche Clinique et Expérimentale (Pole MIRO), UCLouvain, 1200 Brussels, Belgium; (N.H.); (E.B.); (P.S.)
| | - Elena Benidovskaya
- Institut de Recherche Clinique et Expérimentale (Pole MIRO), UCLouvain, 1200 Brussels, Belgium; (N.H.); (E.B.); (P.S.)
| | - Philippe Stevens
- Institut de Recherche Clinique et Expérimentale (Pole MIRO), UCLouvain, 1200 Brussels, Belgium; (N.H.); (E.B.); (P.S.)
| | - Marc Van den Eynde
- Institut de Recherche Clinique et Expérimentale (Pole MIRO), UCLouvain, 1200 Brussels, Belgium; (N.H.); (E.B.); (P.S.)
- Institut Roi Albert II, Department of Medical Oncology and Gastroenterology, Cliniques Universitaires St-Luc, 1200 Brussels, Belgium
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Prediction of Survival Rate and Chemotherapy Effect by an Immune Score Model in Colorectal Cancer. BIOMED RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2022; 2022:8219701. [PMID: 35434132 PMCID: PMC9006078 DOI: 10.1155/2022/8219701] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2021] [Revised: 01/27/2022] [Accepted: 02/01/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer and the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths. Immune cells in the tumor microenvironment play an important role in the development of tumors. In this study, CIBERSORT was used to estimate the subset of the immune cells using bulk gene expression data (i.e., TCGA, GEO, and cBioPortal databases). 1,087 samples were included in the analysis. The results revealed that among the 22 immune cell subsets that were evaluated, resting and activated NK cells, macrophage M1 and M2, and resting mast cells are associated with significant improvements in patient survival of colorectal cancer. The 15-year survival rates for the training cohort showed 49.1% and 32.5%, respectively, for the low- and high-risk groups. Likewise, the validation and entire cohorts showed 77.3% versus 47.2% and 65.3% versus 46.5%, respectively, for the low- and high-risk groups. Also, the prognostic immune score in predicting the chemotherapy effects showed that the low-risk group had a better survival superiority over the high-risk group, whether patients received chemotherapy or not. The gene set enrichment analysis showed that the low-risk group was highly enriched in pathways or processes related to immune response. The immune checkpoint assessment revealed significantly higher mRNA expressions of CTLA4 in the lower risk group than in the higher risk group. Altogether, this study offers information that could improve the prognosis of colorectal cancer.
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Stachtea X, Loughrey MB, Salvucci M, Lindner AU, Cho S, McDonough E, Sood A, Graf J, Santamaria-Pang A, Corwin A, Laurent-Puig P, Dasgupta S, Shia J, Owens JR, Abate S, Van Schaeybroeck S, Lawler M, Prehn JHM, Ginty F, Longley DB. Stratification of chemotherapy-treated stage III colorectal cancer patients using multiplexed imaging and single-cell analysis of T-cell populations. Mod Pathol 2022; 35:564-576. [PMID: 34732839 PMCID: PMC8964416 DOI: 10.1038/s41379-021-00953-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2021] [Revised: 10/06/2021] [Accepted: 10/11/2021] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Colorectal cancer (CRC) has one of the highest cancer incidences and mortality rates. In stage III, postoperative chemotherapy benefits <20% of patients, while more than 50% will develop distant metastases. Biomarkers for identification of patients at increased risk of disease recurrence following adjuvant chemotherapy are currently lacking. In this study, we assessed immune signatures in the tumor and tumor microenvironment (TME) using an in situ multiplexed immunofluorescence imaging and single-cell analysis technology (Cell DIVETM) and evaluated their correlations with patient outcomes. Tissue microarrays (TMAs) with up to three 1 mm diameter cores per patient were prepared from 117 stage III CRC patients treated with adjuvant fluoropyrimidine/oxaliplatin (FOLFOX) chemotherapy. Single sections underwent multiplexed immunofluorescence staining for immune cell markers (CD45, CD3, CD4, CD8, FOXP3, PD1) and tumor/cell segmentation markers (DAPI, pan-cytokeratin, AE1, NaKATPase, and S6). We used annotations and a probabilistic classification algorithm to build statistical models of immune cell types. Images were also qualitatively assessed independently by a Pathologist as 'high', 'moderate' or 'low', for stromal and total immune cell content. Excellent agreement was found between manual assessment and total automated scores (p < 0.0001). Moreover, compared to single markers, a multi-marker classification of regulatory T cells (Tregs: CD3+/CD4+FOXP3+/PD1-) was significantly associated with disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) (p = 0.049 and 0.032) of FOLFOX-treated patients. Our results also showed that PD1- Tregs rather than PD1+ Tregs were associated with improved survival. These findings were supported by results from an independent FOLFOX-treated cohort of 191 stage III CRC patients, where higher PD1- Tregs were associated with an increase overall survival (p = 0.015) for CD3+/CD4+/FOXP3+/PD1-. Overall, compared to single markers, multi-marker classification provided more accurate quantitation of immune cell types with stronger correlations with outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xanthi Stachtea
- Patrick G. Johnston Centre for Cancer Research, School of Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Science, Queen's University Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK
| | - Maurice B Loughrey
- Patrick G. Johnston Centre for Cancer Research, School of Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Science, Queen's University Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK
- Department of Cellular Pathology, Royal Victoria Hospital, Belfast Health and Social Care trust, Belfast, UK
| | - Manuela Salvucci
- Department of Physiology and Medical Physics and Centre for Systems Medicine, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI) University of Medicine and Health Sciences, 123 St. Stephen's Green, Dublin 2, Ireland
- GE Research Center, 1 Research Circle, Niskayuna, NY, 12309, USA
| | - Andreas U Lindner
- Department of Physiology and Medical Physics and Centre for Systems Medicine, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI) University of Medicine and Health Sciences, 123 St. Stephen's Green, Dublin 2, Ireland
- GE Research Center, 1 Research Circle, Niskayuna, NY, 12309, USA
| | - Sanghee Cho
- GE Research Center, 1 Research Circle, Niskayuna, NY, 12309, USA
| | | | - Anup Sood
- GE Research Center, 1 Research Circle, Niskayuna, NY, 12309, USA
| | - John Graf
- GE Research Center, 1 Research Circle, Niskayuna, NY, 12309, USA
| | | | - Alex Corwin
- GE Research Center, 1 Research Circle, Niskayuna, NY, 12309, USA
| | | | | | - Jinru Shia
- Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Jonathan R Owens
- GE Research Center, 1 Research Circle, Niskayuna, NY, 12309, USA
| | - Samantha Abate
- GE Research Center, 1 Research Circle, Niskayuna, NY, 12309, USA
| | - Sandra Van Schaeybroeck
- Patrick G. Johnston Centre for Cancer Research, School of Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Science, Queen's University Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK
| | - Mark Lawler
- Patrick G. Johnston Centre for Cancer Research, School of Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Science, Queen's University Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK
| | - Jochen H M Prehn
- Department of Physiology and Medical Physics and Centre for Systems Medicine, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI) University of Medicine and Health Sciences, 123 St. Stephen's Green, Dublin 2, Ireland
- GE Research Center, 1 Research Circle, Niskayuna, NY, 12309, USA
| | - Fiona Ginty
- GE Research Center, 1 Research Circle, Niskayuna, NY, 12309, USA
| | - Daniel B Longley
- Patrick G. Johnston Centre for Cancer Research, School of Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Science, Queen's University Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK.
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Current Perspectives on the Importance of Pathological Features in Prognostication and Guidance of Adjuvant Chemotherapy in Colon Cancer. Curr Oncol 2022; 29:1370-1389. [PMID: 35323316 PMCID: PMC8947287 DOI: 10.3390/curroncol29030116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2022] [Revised: 02/17/2022] [Accepted: 02/22/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
There is not a clear consensus on which pathological features and biomarkers are important in guiding prognosis and adjuvant therapy in colon cancer. The Pathology in Colon Cancer, Prognosis and Uptake of Adjuvant Therapy (PiCC UP) Australia and New Zealand questionnaire was distributed to colorectal surgeons, medical oncologists and pathologists after institutional board approval. The aim of this study was to understand current specialist attitudes towards pathological features in the prognostication of colon cancer and adjuvant therapy in stage II disease. A 5-scale Likert score was used to assess attitudes towards 23 pathological features for prognosis and 18 features for adjuvant therapy. Data were analysed using a rating scale and graded response model in item response theory (IRT) on STATA (Stata MP, version 15; StataCorp LP). One hundred and sixty-four specialists (45 oncologists, 86 surgeons and 33 pathologists) participated. Based on IRT modelling, the most important pathological features for prognosis in colon cancer were distant metastases, lymph node metastases and liver metastases. Other features seen as important were tumour rupture, involved margin, radial margin, CRM, lymphovascular invasion and grade of differentiation. Size of tumour, location, lymph node ratio and EGFR status were considered less important. The most important features in decision making for adjuvant therapy in stage II colon cancer were tumour rupture, lymphovascular invasion and microsatellite instability. BRAF status, size of tumour, location, tumour budding and tumour infiltrating lymphocytes were factored as lesser importance. Biomarkers such as CDX2, EGFR, KRAS and BRAF status present areas for further research to improve precision oncology. This study provides the most current status on the importance of pathological features in prognostication and recommendations for adjuvant therapy in Australia and New Zealand. Results of this nationwide study may be useful to help in guiding prognosis and adjuvant treatment in colon cancer.
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Yalcin S, Philip PA, Athanasiadis I, Bazarbashi S, Shamseddine A. Classification of early-stage colon cancer with Immunoscore ®: clinical evidence and case studies. Future Oncol 2022; 18:613-623. [PMID: 34904905 DOI: 10.2217/fon-2021-0712] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Immunoscore® is a digital pathology diagnostic immunoassay used to complement tumor node metastasis staging for the prediction of recurrence risk in patients with early-stage colon cancer. In combination with standard clinicopathological features, Immunoscore informs adjuvant chemotherapy decision-making for patients with early-stage colon cancer. Immunoscore has been validated in patients with stage II/III colon cancer and demonstrated to be a stronger prognostic factor for survival than tumor node metastasis staging alone. Immunoscore improves the prognostic definition of patients with colon cancer, the identification of those patients at high risk of tumor recurrence, and the ability to predict which patients will derive most benefit from the use of adjuvant chemotherapy. Immunoscore has robust analytical performance characteristics which include good interlaboratory reproducibility and overall assay precision.
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Affiliation(s)
- Suayib Yalcin
- Department of Medical Oncology, Hacettepe University Institute of Cancer, Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Philip A Philip
- Department of Oncology, Karmanos Cancer Institute, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, USA
| | - Ilias Athanasiadis
- Department of Medical Oncology, Mitera Hospital, part of Hygeia-Polis, Athens, Greece
| | - Shouki Bazarbashi
- Oncology Centre, KFSHRC King Faisal Specialist Hospital & Research Centre, Saudi Arabia
| | - Ali Shamseddine
- American University of Beirut Medical Center (AUBMC) & Lebanese Society of Medical Oncology, Beirut, Lebanon
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Chen K, Collins G, Wang H, Toh JWT. Pathological Features and Prognostication in Colorectal Cancer. Curr Oncol 2021; 28:5356-5383. [PMID: 34940086 PMCID: PMC8700531 DOI: 10.3390/curroncol28060447] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2021] [Revised: 12/01/2021] [Accepted: 12/07/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The prognostication of colorectal cancer (CRC) has traditionally relied on staging as defined by the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC) and American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) TNM staging classifications. However, clinically, there appears to be differences in survival patterns independent of stage, suggesting a complex interaction of stage, pathological features, and biomarkers playing a role in guiding prognosis, risk stratification, and guiding neoadjuvant and adjuvant therapies. Histological features such as tumour budding, perineural invasion, apical lymph node involvement, lymph node yield, lymph node ratio, and molecular features such as MSI, KRAS, BRAF, and CDX2 may assist in prognostication and optimising adjuvant treatment. This study provides a comprehensive review of the pathological features and biomarkers that are important in the prognostication and treatment of CRC. We review the importance of pathological features and biomarkers that may be important in colorectal cancer based on the current evidence in the literature.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kabytto Chen
- Discipline of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Westmead 2145, Australia; (G.C.); (H.W.)
- Division of Colorectal Surgery, Department of Surgery, Westmead Hospital, Westmead 2145, Australia
| | - Geoffrey Collins
- Discipline of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Westmead 2145, Australia; (G.C.); (H.W.)
- Division of Colorectal Surgery, Department of Surgery, Westmead Hospital, Westmead 2145, Australia
| | - Henry Wang
- Discipline of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Westmead 2145, Australia; (G.C.); (H.W.)
- Division of Colorectal Surgery, Department of Surgery, Westmead Hospital, Westmead 2145, Australia
| | - James Wei Tatt Toh
- Discipline of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Westmead 2145, Australia; (G.C.); (H.W.)
- Division of Colorectal Surgery, Department of Surgery, Westmead Hospital, Westmead 2145, Australia
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Abstract
The mutational landscape of colorectal cancer (CRC) does not enable predictions to be made about the survival of patients or their response to therapy. Instead, studying the polarization and activation profiles of immune cells and stromal cells in the tumour microenvironment has been shown to be more informative, thus making CRC a prototypical example of the importance of an inflammatory microenvironment for tumorigenesis. Here, we review our current understanding of how colon cancer cells interact with their microenvironment, comprised of immune cells, stromal cells and the intestinal microbiome, to suppress or escape immune responses and how inflammatory processes shape the immune pathogenesis of CRC.
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Van Herck Y, Feyaerts A, Alibhai S, Papamichael D, Decoster L, Lambrechts Y, Pinchuk M, Bechter O, Herrera-Caceres J, Bibeau F, Desmedt C, Hatse S, Wildiers H. Is cancer biology different in older patients? THE LANCET HEALTHY LONGEVITY 2021; 2:e663-e677. [DOI: 10.1016/s2666-7568(21)00179-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2021] [Revised: 07/14/2021] [Accepted: 07/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
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50
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Zhang Y, Rajput A, Jin N, Wang J. Mechanisms of Immunosuppression in Colorectal Cancer. Cancers (Basel) 2020; 12:cancers12123850. [PMID: 33419310 PMCID: PMC7766388 DOI: 10.3390/cancers12123850] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2020] [Revised: 12/15/2020] [Accepted: 12/16/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary More emerging studies are exploring immunotherapy for solid cancers, including colorectal cancer. Besides, checkpoint blockade immunotherapy and chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) -based immune cell therapy have being examined in clinical trials for colorectal cancer patients. However, immunosuppression that leads to the blockage of normal immunosurveillance often leads to cancer development and relapse. In this study, we systematically reviewed the mechanism of immunosuppression, specifically in colorectal cancer, from different perspectives, including the natural or induced immunosuppressive cells, cell surface protein, cytokines/chemokines, transcriptional factors, metabolic alteration, phosphatase, and tissue hypoxia in the tumor microenvironment. We also discussed the progress of immunotherapies in clinical trials/studies for colorectal cancer and highlighted how different strategies for cancer therapy targeted the immunosuppression reviewed above. Our review provides some timely implications for restoring immunosurveillance to improve treatment efficacy in colorectal cancer (CRC). Abstract CRC is the third most diagnosed cancer in the US with the second-highest mortality rate. A multi-modality approach with surgery/chemotherapy is used in patients with early stages of colon cancer. Radiation therapy is added to the armamentarium in patients with locally advanced rectal cancer. While some patients with metastatic CRC are cured, the majority remain incurable and receive palliative chemotherapy as the standard of care. Recently, immune checkpoint blockade has emerged as a promising treatment for many solid tumors, including CRC with microsatellite instability. However, it has not been effective for microsatellite stable CRC. Here, main mechanisms of immunosuppression in CRC will be discussed, aiming to provide some insights for restoring immunosurveillance to improve treatment efficacy in CRC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yang Zhang
- Department of Cancer Biology and Abramson Family Cancer Research Institute, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA;
| | - Ashwani Rajput
- Johns Hopkins Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center, National Capital Region, Sibley Memorial Hospital, 5255 Loughboro Road NW, Washington, DC 20016, USA;
| | - Ning Jin
- Division of Medical Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, James Comprehensive Cancer Center, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
- Correspondence: (N.J.); (J.W.); Tel.: +1-614-293-6529 (N.J.); +1-614-293-7733 (J.W.)
| | - Jing Wang
- Department of Cancer Biology and Genetics, James Comprehensive Cancer Center, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
- Correspondence: (N.J.); (J.W.); Tel.: +1-614-293-6529 (N.J.); +1-614-293-7733 (J.W.)
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