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Gao ZJ, Fang H, Sun S, Liu SQ, Fang Z, Liu Z, Li B, Wang P, Sun SR, Meng XY, Wu Q, Chen CS. Single-cell analyses reveal evolution mimicry during the specification of breast cancer subtype. Theranostics 2024; 14:3104-3126. [PMID: 38855191 PMCID: PMC11155410 DOI: 10.7150/thno.96163] [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: 03/11/2024] [Accepted: 05/12/2024] [Indexed: 06/11/2024] Open
Abstract
Background: The stem or progenitor antecedents confer developmental plasticity and unique cell identities to cancer cells via genetic and epigenetic programs. A comprehensive characterization and mapping of the cell-of-origin of breast cancer using novel technologies to unveil novel subtype-specific therapeutic targets is still absent. Methods: We integrated 195,144 high-quality cells from normal breast tissues and 406,501 high-quality cells from primary breast cancer samples to create a large-scale single-cell atlas of human normal and cancerous breasts. Potential heterogeneous origin of malignant cells was explored by contrasting cancer cells against reference normal epithelial cells. Multi-omics analyses and both in vitro and in vivo experiments were performed to screen and validate potential subtype-specific treatment targets. Novel biomarkers of identified immune and stromal cell subpopulations were validated by immunohistochemistry in our cohort. Results: Tumor stratification based on cancer cell-of-origin patterns correlated with clinical outcomes, genomic aberrations and diverse microenvironment constitutions. We found that the luminal progenitor (LP) subtype was robustly associated with poor prognosis, genomic instability and dysfunctional immune microenvironment. However, the LP subtype patients were sensitive to neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC), PARP inhibitors (PARPi) and immunotherapy. The LP subtype-specific target PLK1 was investigated by both in vitro and in vivo experiments. Besides, large-scale single-cell profiling of breast cancer inspired us to identify a range of clinically relevant immune and stromal cell subpopulations, including subsets of innate lymphoid cells (ILCs), macrophages and endothelial cells. Conclusion: The present single-cell study revealed the cellular repertoire and cell-of-origin patterns of breast cancer. Combining single-cell and bulk transcriptome data, we elucidated the evolution mimicry from normal to malignant subtypes and expounded the LP subtype with vital clinical implications. Novel immune and stromal cell subpopulations of breast cancer identified in our study could be potential therapeutic targets. Taken together, Our findings lay the foundation for the precise prognostic and therapeutic stratification of breast cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhi-Jie Gao
- Department of Breast and Thyroid Surgery, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Huan Fang
- Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences. Kunming, Yunnan, China
- Kunming College of Life Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan, China
| | - Si Sun
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Si-Qing Liu
- Department of Breast and Thyroid Surgery, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Zhou Fang
- Department of Breast and Thyroid Surgery, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Zhou Liu
- Breast Tumor Center, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Bei Li
- Department of Pathology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei. China
| | - Ping Wang
- Medical College, Anhui University of Science and Technology, Huainan, AnHui. China
- Tongji University Cancer Center, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, China
| | - Sheng-Rong Sun
- Department of Breast and Thyroid Surgery, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Xiang-Yu Meng
- Health Science Center, Hubei Minzu University, Enshi, Hubei, China
| | - Qi Wu
- Tongji University Cancer Center, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, China
| | - Ce-Shi Chen
- Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences. Kunming, Yunnan, China
- Academy of Biomedical Engineering, Kunming Medical University, Kunming, Yunnan, China
- The Third Affiliated Hospital, Kunming Medical University, Kunming, Yunnan, China
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Yang F, Lee G, Fan Y. Navigating tumor angiogenesis: therapeutic perspectives and myeloid cell regulation mechanism. Angiogenesis 2024:10.1007/s10456-024-09913-z. [PMID: 38580870 DOI: 10.1007/s10456-024-09913-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2023] [Accepted: 03/04/2024] [Indexed: 04/07/2024]
Abstract
Sustained angiogenesis stands as a hallmark of cancer. The intricate vascular tumor microenvironment fuels cancer progression and metastasis, fosters therapy resistance, and facilitates immune evasion. Therapeutic strategies targeting tumor vasculature have emerged as transformative for cancer treatment, encompassing anti-angiogenesis, vessel normalization, and endothelial reprogramming. Growing evidence suggests the dynamic regulation of tumor angiogenesis by infiltrating myeloid cells, such as macrophages, myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs), and neutrophils. Understanding these regulatory mechanisms is pivotal in paving the way for successful vasculature-targeted cancer treatments. Therapeutic interventions aimed to disrupt myeloid cell-mediated tumor angiogenesis may reshape tumor microenvironment and overcome tumor resistance to radio/chemotherapy and immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fan Yang
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA.
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Ren Ji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200127, China.
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Gynecologic Oncology, Ren Ji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200127, China.
| | - Gloria Lee
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Yi Fan
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA.
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Meo C, de Nigris F. Clinical Potential of YY1-Hypoxia Axis for Vascular Normalization and to Improve Immunotherapy. Cancers (Basel) 2024; 16:491. [PMID: 38339244 PMCID: PMC10854702 DOI: 10.3390/cancers16030491] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2023] [Revised: 01/12/2024] [Accepted: 01/19/2024] [Indexed: 02/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Abnormal vasculature in solid tumors causes poor blood perfusion, hypoxia, low pH, and immune evasion. It also shapes the tumor microenvironment and affects response to immunotherapy. The combination of antiangiogenic therapy and immunotherapy has emerged as a promising approach to normalize vasculature and unlock the full potential of immunotherapy. However, the unpredictable and redundant mechanisms of vascularization and immune suppression triggered by tumor-specific hypoxic microenvironments indicate that such combination therapies need to be further evaluated to improve patient outcomes. Here, we provide an overview of the interplay between tumor angiogenesis and immune modulation and review the function and mechanism of the YY1-HIF axis that regulates the vascular and immune tumor microenvironment. Furthermore, we discuss the potential of targeting YY1 and other strategies, such as nanocarrier delivery systems and engineered immune cells (CAR-T), to normalize tumor vascularization and re-establish an immune-permissive microenvironment to enhance the efficacy of cancer therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Filomena de Nigris
- Department of Precision Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, 80138 Naples, Italy;
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