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Wu J, Bai X, Yu G, Zhang Q, Tian X, Wang Y. Efficacy and safety of apatinib plus immune checkpoint inhibitors and transarterial chemoembolization for the treatment of advanced hepatocellular carcinoma. J Cancer Res Clin Oncol 2024; 150:340. [PMID: 38976071 PMCID: PMC11230948 DOI: 10.1007/s00432-024-05854-8] [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: 04/02/2024] [Accepted: 06/17/2024] [Indexed: 07/09/2024]
Abstract
PURPOSE The evidence of apatinib plus immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) and transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) for treating advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is limited. This study aimed to compare the treatment efficacy and safety of apatinib plus ICIs and TACE with apatinib plus TACE in these patients. METHODS This study retrospectively enrolled 90 patients with advanced HCC treated with apatinib plus TACE (A-TACE group, n = 52) or apatinib plus ICIs and TACE (IA-TACE group, n = 38). RESULTS The objective response rate was numerically higher in IA-TACE group compared with A-TACE group without statistical significance (57.9% vs. 36.5%, P = 0.055). Disease control rate was not different between groups (86.8% vs. 76.9%, P = 0.248). Progression-free survival (PFS) was improved in IA-TACE group compared with A-TACE group (P = 0.018). The median PFS (95% confidence interval) was 12.5 (8.7-16.3) months in IA-TACE group and 8.5 (5.6-11.4) months in A-TACE group. Overall survival (OS) was also prolonged in IA-TACE group compared with A-TACE group (P = 0.007). The median OS (95% confidence interval) was 21.1 (15.8-26.4) months in IA-TACE group and 14.3 (11.5-17.1) months in A-TACE group. By multivariate Cox regression model, IA-TACE was independently associated with prolonged PFS (hazard ratio = 0.539, P = 0.038) and OS (hazard ratio = 0.447, P = 0.025). Most adverse events were not different between groups. Only the incidence of reactive cutaneous capillary endothelial proliferation was higher in IA-TACE group compared with A-TACE group (10.5% vs. 0.0%, P = 0.029). CONCLUSION Apatinib plus ICIs and TACE may be an effective and safe treatment for patients with advanced HCC, but further large-scale studies are needed for verification.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jianfei Wu
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Affiliated Hospital of Hebei University, Baoding, 07100, China
| | - Xuefeng Bai
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Affiliated Hospital of Hebei University, Baoding, 07100, China
| | - Guodong Yu
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Affiliated Hospital of Hebei University, Baoding, 07100, China
| | - Quan Zhang
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Affiliated Hospital of Hebei University, Baoding, 07100, China
| | - Xixi Tian
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Affiliated Hospital of Hebei University, Baoding, 07100, China.
| | - Yuan Wang
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Affiliated Hospital of Hebei University, Baoding, 07100, China.
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Liu J, Xia S, Zhang B, Mohammed DM, Yang X, Zhu Y, Jiang X. Small molecule tyrosine kinase inhibitors approved for systemic therapy of advanced hepatocellular carcinoma: recent advances and future perspectives. Discov Oncol 2024; 15:259. [PMID: 38960980 PMCID: PMC11222362 DOI: 10.1007/s12672-024-01110-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2024] [Accepted: 06/18/2024] [Indexed: 07/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Liver cancer is the sixth most commonly diagnosed cancer and the third leading cause of cancer death in the world, and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common form of liver cancer. More than half of the HCC patients are diagnosed at an advanced stage and often require systemic therapy. Dysregulation of the activity of receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs) is involved in the development and progress of HCC, RTKs are therefore the potential targets for systemic therapy of advanced HCC (aHCC). Currently, a total of six small molecule tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) have been approved for aHCC, including first-line sorafenib, lenvatinib, and donafenib, and second-line regorafenib, cabozantinib, and apatinib. These TKIs improved patients survival, which are associated with disease stage, etiology, liver function, tumor burden, baseline levels of alpha-fetoprotein, and treatment history. This review focuses on the clinical outcomes of these TKIs in key clinical trials, retrospective and real-world studies and discusses the future perspectives of TKIs for aHCC, with an aim to provide up-to-date evidence for decision-making in the treatment of aHCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jianzhong Liu
- Clinical Laboratory, Wuhan No.7 Hospital, Zhong Nan 2nd Road, Wuhan, 430071, China
| | - Shuai Xia
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Jining Medical University, Jining, 272067, Shandong, China
| | - Baoyi Zhang
- National Engineering Research Center for Nanomedicine, Key Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics of the Ministry of Education, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430074, Hubei, China
| | - Dina Mostafa Mohammed
- Nutrition and Food Sciences Department, National Research Centre, Dokki, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Xiangliang Yang
- National Engineering Research Center for Nanomedicine, Key Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics of the Ministry of Education, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430074, Hubei, China
| | - Yanhong Zhu
- National Engineering Research Center for Nanomedicine, Key Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics of the Ministry of Education, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430074, Hubei, China
| | - Xinnong Jiang
- National Engineering Research Center for Nanomedicine, Key Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics of the Ministry of Education, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430074, Hubei, China.
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Luo T, Tan X, Qing G, Yu J, Liang XJ, Liang P. A natural killer T cell nanoagonist-initiated immune cascade for hepatocellular carcinoma synergistic immunotherapy. NANOSCALE 2024; 16:11126-11137. [PMID: 38787697 DOI: 10.1039/d4nr00847b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/26/2024]
Abstract
Natural killer T (NKT) cell-mediated immunotherapy shows great promise in hepatocellular carcinoma featuring an inherent immunosuppressive microenvironment. However, targeted delivery of NKT cell agonists remains challenging. Here, we developed a hyaluronic acid (HA) modified metal organic framework (zeolitic imidazolate framework-8, ZIF-8) to encapsulate α-galactosylceramide (α-Galcer), a classic NKT cell agonist, and doxorubicin (DOX) for eliminating liver cancer, denoted as α-Galcer/DOX@ZIF-8@HA. In the tumor microenvironment (TME), these pH-responsive nano-frameworks can gradually collapse to release α-Galcer for activating NKT cells and further boosting other immune cells in order to initiate an antitumor immune cascade. Along with DOX, the released α-Galcer enabled efficient NKT cell activation in TME for synergistic immunotherapy and tumor elimination, leading to evident tumor suppression and prolonged animal survival in both subcutaneous and orthotopic liver tumor models. Manipulating NKT cell agonists into functional nano-frameworks in TME may be matched with other advanced managements applied in a wider range of cancer therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ting Luo
- School of Medicine, Nankai University, Tianjin, 300071, China.
- Department of Interventional Ultrasound, Fifth Medical Center of Chinese People's Liberation Army General Hospital, Beijing, 100853, China.
- CAS Key Laboratory for Biomedical Effects of Nanomaterials and Nanosafety, CAS Center for Excellence in Nanoscience, National Center for Nanoscience and Technology of China, Beijing, 100190, China.
| | - Xiaoqiong Tan
- CAS Key Laboratory for Biomedical Effects of Nanomaterials and Nanosafety, CAS Center for Excellence in Nanoscience, National Center for Nanoscience and Technology of China, Beijing, 100190, China.
| | - Guangchao Qing
- CAS Key Laboratory for Biomedical Effects of Nanomaterials and Nanosafety, CAS Center for Excellence in Nanoscience, National Center for Nanoscience and Technology of China, Beijing, 100190, China.
| | - Jie Yu
- Department of Interventional Ultrasound, Fifth Medical Center of Chinese People's Liberation Army General Hospital, Beijing, 100853, China.
| | - Xing-Jie Liang
- CAS Key Laboratory for Biomedical Effects of Nanomaterials and Nanosafety, CAS Center for Excellence in Nanoscience, National Center for Nanoscience and Technology of China, Beijing, 100190, China.
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Ping Liang
- School of Medicine, Nankai University, Tianjin, 300071, China.
- Department of Interventional Ultrasound, Fifth Medical Center of Chinese People's Liberation Army General Hospital, Beijing, 100853, China.
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Zhu J, Zhao W, Yang J, Liu C, Wang Y, Zhao H. Anoikis-related lncRNA signature predicts prognosis and is associated with immune infiltration in hepatocellular carcinoma. Anticancer Drugs 2024; 35:466-480. [PMID: 38507233 DOI: 10.1097/cad.0000000000001589] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/22/2024]
Abstract
Anoikis is a programmed cell death process triggered when cells are dislodged from the extracellular matrix. Numerous long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been identified as significant factors associated with anoikis resistance in various tumor types, including glioma, breast cancer, and bladder cancer. However, the relationship between lncRNAs and the prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has received limited research attention. Further research is needed to investigate this potential link and understand the role of lncRNAs in the progression of HCC. We developed a prognostic signature based on the differential expression of lncRNAs implicated in anoikis in HCC. A co-expression network of anoikis-related mRNAs and lncRNAs was established using data obtained from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) for HCC. Cox regression analyses were conducted to formulate an anoikis-related lncRNA signature (ARlncSig) in a training cohort, which was subsequently validated in both a testing cohort and a combined dataset comprising the two cohorts. Receiver operating characteristic curves, nomograms, and decision curve analyses based on the ARlncSig score and clinical characteristics demonstrated robust predictive ability. Moreover, gene set enrichment analysis revealed significant enrichment of several immune processes in the high-risk group compared to the low-risk group. Furthermore, significant differences were observed in immune cell subpopulations, expression of immune checkpoint genes, and response to chemotherapy and immunotherapy between the high- and low-risk groups. Lastly, we validated the expression levels of the five lncRNAs included in the signature using quantitative real-time PCR. In conclusion, our ARlncSig model holds substantial predictive value regarding the prognosis of HCC patients and has the potential to provide clinical guidance for individualized immunotherapy. In this study, we obtained 36 genes associated with anoikis from the Gene Ontology and Gene Set Enrichment Analysis databases. We also identified 22 differentially expressed lncRNAs that were correlated with these genes using data from TCGA. Using Cox regression analyses, we developed an ARlncSig in a training cohort, which was then validated in both a testing cohort and a combined cohort comprising data from both cohorts. Additionally, we collected eight pairs of liver cancer tissues and adjacent tissues from the Affiliated Tumor Hospital of Nantong University for further analysis. The aim of this study was to investigate the potential of ARlncSig as a biomarker for liver cancer prognosis. The study developed a risk stratification system called ARlncSig, which uses five lncRNAs to categorize liver cancer patients into low- and high-risk groups. Patients in the high-risk group exhibited significantly lower overall survival rates compared to those in the low-risk group. The model's predictive performance was supported by various analyses including the receiver operating characteristic curve, nomogram calibration, clinical correlation analysis, and clinical decision curve. Additionally, differential analysis of immune function, immune checkpoint, response to chemotherapy, and immune cell subpopulations revealed significant differences between the high- and low-risk groups. Finally, quantitative real-time PCR validated the expression levels of the five lncRNAs. In conclusion, the ARlncSig model demonstrates critical predictive value in the prognosis of HCC patients and may provide clinical guidance for personalized immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiahong Zhu
- Interventional and Vascular Surgery Department, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University
| | - Wenjing Zhao
- Cancer Research Center Nantong, Tumor Hospital Affiliated to Nantong University
| | - Junkai Yang
- Interventional and Vascular Surgery Department, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University
| | - Cheng Liu
- Interventional and Vascular Surgery Department, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University
| | - Yilang Wang
- Internal Medicine Department, Affiliated Maternity and Child Healthcare Hospital of Nantong University, Nantong, China
| | - Hui Zhao
- Interventional and Vascular Surgery Department, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University
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Wang J, Xiao P, Li X, Wu W, Shi D, Lin W, Wu Z. Predictive value of circulating immune cell changes in response to PD-1 blockade and TKI therapy in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma. Clin Res Hepatol Gastroenterol 2024; 48:102390. [PMID: 38823631 DOI: 10.1016/j.clinre.2024.102390] [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: 04/07/2024] [Revised: 05/24/2024] [Accepted: 05/29/2024] [Indexed: 06/03/2024]
Abstract
PURPOSE This study investigated the dynamic changes in circulating immune cells following immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs), and interventional therapy in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). METHODS HCC patients undergoing transarterial chemoembolization (TACE), TKI, and ICI treatment were included in the treatment group. Peripheral blood samples were collected from these patients before each cycle of PD-1 blockade treatment. Flow cytometry analysis was conducted to assess the composition of peripheral immune cells and identify PD-1-expressing T cells. RESULTS The treatment group showed a median time-to-tumor progression (TTP) of 8 months and an overall survival (OS) of 19 months. In comparison, the control group had 6 months and 15 months respectively. These differences were statistically significant (P = 0.029 for TTP and P = 0.020 for OS). In HCC patients receiving Lenvatinib, more circulating natural killer (NK) cells were noted. After 1-2 cycles of PD-1 antibody treatment, a general decline in the proportion of circulating PD-1+T cells was found, indicating individual variations in response. CONCLUSION Circulating immune cells have the potential to serve as indicators of the response to immunotherapy, providing a means to monitor dynamic changes and optimize treatment for HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jianpeng Wang
- Target and Interventional Radiology Department of Oncology, First People's Hospital of Foshan, Foshan, China.
| | - Ping Xiao
- Department of Experimental Research, First People's Hospital of Foshan, Foshan, China
| | - Xishan Li
- Department of Interventional Radiology, Guangzhou First People's Hospital, The Second Affiliated Hospital of South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, China
| | - Wenyu Wu
- Target and Interventional Radiology Department of Oncology, First People's Hospital of Foshan, Foshan, China
| | - Degang Shi
- Target and Interventional Radiology Department of Oncology, First People's Hospital of Foshan, Foshan, China
| | - Wei Lin
- Department of Experimental Research, First People's Hospital of Foshan, Foshan, China
| | - Zuchang Wu
- Department of Experimental Research, First People's Hospital of Foshan, Foshan, China
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Xiao R, Tian Y, Zhang J, Li N, Qi M, Liu L, Wang J, Li Z, Zhang J, Zhao F, Wang T, Tan S, Li C, Wu Z, Yu M, Jiang X, Zhan P, Gao L, Han B, Liu X, Liang X, Ma C. Increased Siglec-9/Siglec-9L interactions on NK cells predict poor HCC prognosis and present a targetable checkpoint for immunotherapy. J Hepatol 2024; 80:792-804. [PMID: 38331327 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhep.2024.01.028] [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: 06/02/2023] [Revised: 01/16/2024] [Accepted: 01/17/2024] [Indexed: 02/10/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND & AIMS Natural killer (NK) cell-based anti-hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) therapy is an increasingly attractive approach that warrants further study. Siglec-9 interacts with its ligand (Siglec-9L) and restrains NK cell functions, suggesting it is a potential therapeutic target. However, in situ Siglec-9/Siglec-9L interactions in HCC have not been reported, and a relevant interventional strategy is lacking. Herein, we aim to illustrate Siglec-9/Siglec-9L-mediated cell sociology and identify small-molecule inhibitors targeting Siglec-9 that could improve the efficacy of NK cell-based immunotherapy for HCC. METHODS Multiplexed immunofluorescence staining was performed to analyze the expression pattern of Siglec-7, -9 and their ligands in HCC tissues. Then we conducted docking-based virtual screening combined with bio-layer interferometry assays to identify a potent small-molecule Siglec-9 inhibitor. The therapeutic potential was further evaluated in vitro and in hepatoma-bearing NCG mice. RESULTS Siglec-9 expression, rather than Siglec-7, was markedly upregulated on tumor-infiltrating NK cells, which correlated significantly with reduced survival of patients with HCC. Moreover, the number of Siglec-9L+ cells neighboring Siglec-9+ NK cells was increased in HCC tissues and was also associated with tumor recurrence and reduced survival, further suggesting that Siglec-9/Siglec-9L interactions are a potential therapeutic target in HCC. In addition, we identified a small-molecule Siglec-9 inhibitor MTX-3937 which inhibited phosphorylation of Siglec-9 and downstream SHP1 and SHP2. Accordingly, MTX-3937 led to considerable improvement in NK cell function. Notably, MTX-3937 enhanced cytotoxicity of both human peripheral and tumor-infiltrating NK cells. Furthermore, transfer of MTX-3937-treated NK92 cells greatly suppressed the growth of hepatoma xenografts in NCG mice. CONCLUSIONS Our study provides the rationale for HCC treatment by targeting Siglec-9 on NK cells and identifies a promising small-molecule inhibitor against Siglec-9 that enhances NK cell-mediated HCC surveillance. IMPACT AND IMPLICATIONS Herein, we found that Siglec-9 expression is markedly upregulated on tumor-infiltrating natural killer (TINK) cells and correlates with reduced survival in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Moreover, the number of Siglec-9L+ cells neighboring Siglec-9+ NK cells was increased in HCC tissues and was also associated with tumor recurrence and reduced survival. More importantly, we identified a small-molecule inhibitor targeting Siglec-9 that augments NK cell functions, revealing a novel immunotherapy strategy for liver cancer that warrants further clinical investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rong Xiao
- Key Laboratory for Experimental Teratology of Ministry of Education & Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Qilu Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan 250012, Shandong, China
| | - Ye Tian
- Key Laboratory for Experimental Teratology of Ministry of Education & Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Qilu Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan 250012, Shandong, China; Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology of Ministry of Education, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan 250012, Shandong, China
| | - Jiwei Zhang
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology of Ministry of Education, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan 250012, Shandong, China
| | - Na Li
- Key Laboratory for Experimental Teratology of Ministry of Education & Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Qilu Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan 250012, Shandong, China
| | - Mei Qi
- Department of Pathology, Shandong University Qilu Hospital, Jinan 250012, Shandong, China
| | - Ling Liu
- Department of Pathology, Dezhou Municipal Hospital, Dezhou 253036, Shandong, China
| | - Jianping Wang
- Department of Liver Transplantation and Hepatobiliary Surgery, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan 250021, Shandong, China
| | - Zhenyu Li
- Department of Pharmacy, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan 250021, Shandong, China
| | - Jie Zhang
- Advanced Medical Research Institute and Key Laboratory for Experimental Teratology of the Ministry of Education, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan 250012, Shandong, China
| | - Fabao Zhao
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology of Ministry of Education, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan 250012, Shandong, China
| | - Tixiao Wang
- Key Laboratory for Experimental Teratology of Ministry of Education & Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Qilu Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan 250012, Shandong, China
| | - Siyu Tan
- Key Laboratory for Experimental Teratology of Ministry of Education & Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Qilu Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan 250012, Shandong, China
| | - Chunyang Li
- Key Laboratory for Experimental Teratology of the Ministry of Education, Department of Histology and Embryology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan 250012, Shandong, China
| | - Zhuanchang Wu
- Key Laboratory for Experimental Teratology of Ministry of Education & Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Qilu Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan 250012, Shandong, China
| | - Mingyan Yu
- Shandong Institute for Food and Drug Control, Jinan 250101, Shandong, China
| | - Xuemei Jiang
- Key Laboratory for Experimental Teratology of Ministry of Education & Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Qilu Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan 250012, Shandong, China
| | - Peng Zhan
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology of Ministry of Education, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan 250012, Shandong, China
| | - Lifen Gao
- Key Laboratory for Experimental Teratology of Ministry of Education & Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Qilu Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan 250012, Shandong, China
| | - Bo Han
- Department of Pathology, Shandong University Qilu Hospital, Jinan 250012, Shandong, China.
| | - Xinyong Liu
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology of Ministry of Education, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan 250012, Shandong, China.
| | - Xiaohong Liang
- Key Laboratory for Experimental Teratology of Ministry of Education & Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Qilu Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan 250012, Shandong, China.
| | - Chunhong Ma
- Key Laboratory for Experimental Teratology of Ministry of Education & Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Qilu Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan 250012, Shandong, China.
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Werner W, Kuzminskaya M, Lurje I, Tacke F, Hammerich L. Overcoming Resistance to Immune Checkpoint Blockade in Liver Cancer with Combination Therapy: Stronger Together? Semin Liver Dis 2024; 44:159-179. [PMID: 38806159 PMCID: PMC11245330 DOI: 10.1055/a-2334-8311] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/30/2024]
Abstract
Primary liver cancer, represented mainly by hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (CCA), is one of the most common and deadliest tumors worldwide. While surgical resection or liver transplantation are the best option in early disease stages, these tumors often present in advanced stages and systemic treatment is required to improve survival time. The emergence of immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) therapy has had a positive impact especially on the treatment of advanced cancers, thereby establishing immunotherapy as part of first-line treatment in HCC and CCA. Nevertheless, low response rates reflect on the usually cold or immunosuppressed tumor microenvironment of primary liver cancer. In this review, we aim to summarize mechanisms of resistance leading to tumor immune escape with a special focus on the composition of tumor microenvironment in both HCC and CCA, also reflecting on recent important developments in ICI combination therapy. Furthermore, we discuss how combination of ICIs with established primary liver cancer treatments (e.g. multikinase inhibitors and chemotherapy) as well as more complex combinations with state-of-the-art therapeutic concepts may reshape the tumor microenvironment, leading to higher response rates and long-lasting antitumor immunity for primary liver cancer patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wiebke Werner
- Department of Hepatology and Gastroenterology, Charité Universitaetsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Maria Kuzminskaya
- Department of Hepatology and Gastroenterology, Charité Universitaetsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Isabella Lurje
- Department of Hepatology and Gastroenterology, Charité Universitaetsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Frank Tacke
- Department of Hepatology and Gastroenterology, Charité Universitaetsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Linda Hammerich
- Department of Hepatology and Gastroenterology, Charité Universitaetsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
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Liu Z, Zhao P. Integrative analysis unveils ECM signatures and pathways driving hepatocellular carcinoma progression: A multi-omics approach and prognostic model development. J Cell Mol Med 2024; 28:e18230. [PMID: 38568083 PMCID: PMC10989547 DOI: 10.1111/jcmm.18230] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2023] [Revised: 02/19/2024] [Accepted: 02/23/2024] [Indexed: 04/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Liver hepatocellular carcinoma (LIHC) is a highly lethal form of cancer that is among the deadliest cancer types globally. In terms of cancer-related mortality rates, liver cancer ranks among the top three, underscoring the severity of this disease. Insufficient analysis has been conducted to fully understand the potential value of the extracellular matrix (ECM) in immune infiltration and the prognostic stratification of LIHC, despite its recognised importance in the development of this disease. The scRNA-seq data of GSE149614 was used to conduct single-cell analysis on 10 LIHC samples. CellChat scores were calculated for seven cell populations in the descending cohort to investigate cellular communication, while PROGENy scores were calculated to determine tumour-associated pathway scores in different cell populations. The pathway analysis using GO and KEGG revealed the enrichment of ECM-associated genes in the pathway, highlighting the potential role of the ECM in LIHC development. By utilizing the TCGA-LIHC cohort, an ECM-based prognostic model for LIHC was developed using Lasso regression. Immune infiltration scores were calculated using two methods, and the performance of the ECM-related risk score was evaluated using an independent cohort from the CheckMate study. To determine the precise expression of ECM-associated risk genes in LIHC, we evaluated hepatocellular carcinoma cell lines using a range of assays, including Western blotting, invasion assays and Transwell assays. Using single-cell transcriptome analysis, we annotated the spatially-specific distribution of major immune cell types in single-cell samples of LIHC. The main cell types identified and annotated included hepatocytes, T cells, myeloid cells, epithelial cells, fibroblasts, endothelial cells and B cells. The utilisation of cellchat and PROGENy analyses enabled the investigation and unveiling of signalling interactions, protein functionalities and the prominent influential pathways facilitated by the primary immune cell types within the LIHC. Numerous tumour pathways, including PI2K, EGFR and TGFb, demonstrated a close correlation with the involvement of ECM in LIHC. Moreover, an evaluation was conducted to assess the primary ECM-related functional changes and biological pathway enrichment in LIHC. Differential genes associated with ECM were identified and utilised to create prognostic models. The prognostic stratification value of these models for LIHC patients was confirmed through validation in multiple databases. Furthermore, through immune infiltration analysis, it was discovered that ECM might be linked to the irregular expression and regulation of numerous immune cells. Additionally, histone acetylation was mapped against gene mutation frequencies and differential expression profiles. The prognostic stratification efficacy of the ECM prediction model constructed in the context of PD-1 inhibitor therapy was also examined, and it exhibited strong stratification performance. Cellular experiments, including Western blotting, invasion and Transwell assays, revealed that ECM-associated risk genes have a promoting effect on the development of LIHC. The creation of biomarkers for LIHC using ECM-related genes unveiled substantial correlations with immune microenvironmental infiltration and functional mutations in various tumour pathways. This enlightens us to the possibility that the influence of ECM on tumours may extend beyond simply promoting the fibrotic process and the stromal composition of tumours.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhen Liu
- Department of RadiologyShengjing Hospital of China Medical UniversityShenyangChina
| | - Pengfei Zhao
- Department of RadiologyShengjing Hospital of China Medical UniversityShenyangChina
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Zhuang H, Tang C, Lin H, Zhang Z, Chen X, Wang W, Wang Q, Tan W, Yang L, Xie Z, Wang B, Chen B, Shang C, Chen Y. A novel risk score system based on immune subtypes for identifying optimal mRNA vaccination population in hepatocellular carcinoma. Cell Oncol (Dordr) 2024:10.1007/s13402-024-00921-1. [PMID: 38315287 DOI: 10.1007/s13402-024-00921-1] [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] [Accepted: 01/16/2024] [Indexed: 02/07/2024] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE Although mRNA vaccines have shown certain clinical benefits in multiple malignancies, their therapeutic efficacies against hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains uncertain. This study focused on establishing a novel risk score system based on immune subtypes so as to identify optimal HCC mRNA vaccination population. METHODS GEPIA, cBioPortal and TIMER databases were utilized to identify candidate genes for mRNA vaccination in HCC. Subsequently, immune subtypes were constructed based on the candidate genes. According to the differential expressed genes among various immune subtypes, a risk score system was established using machine learning algorithm. Besides, multi-color immunofluorescence of tumor tissues from 72 HCC patients were applied to validate the feasibility and efficiency of the risk score system. RESULTS Twelve overexpressed and mutated genes associated with poor survival and APCs infiltration were identified as potential candidate targets for mRNA vaccination. Three immune subtypes (e.g. IS1, IS2 and IS3) with distinct clinicopathological and molecular profiles were constructed according to the 12 candidate genes. Based on the immune subtype, a risk score system was developed, and according to the risk score from low to high, HCC patients were classified into four subgroups on average (e.g. RS1, RS2, RS3 and RS4). RS4 mainly overlapped with IS3, RS1 with IS2, and RS2+RS3 with IS1. ROC analysis also suggested the significant capacity of the risk score to distinguish between the three immune subtypes. Higher risk score exhibited robustly predictive ability for worse survival, which was further independently proved by multi-color immunofluorescence of HCC samples. Notably, RS4 tumors exhibited an increased immunosuppressive phenotype, higher expression of the twelve potential candidate targets and increased genome altered fraction, and therefore might benefit more from vaccination. CONCLUSIONS This novel risk score system based on immune subtypes enabled the identification of RS4 tumor that, due to its highly immunosuppressive microenvironment, may benefit from HCC mRNA vaccination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongkai Zhuang
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510080, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Epigenetics and Gene Regulation, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510080, China
| | - Chenwei Tang
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510080, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Epigenetics and Gene Regulation, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510080, China
| | - Han Lin
- Department of Neurosurgery, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100070, China
| | - Zedan Zhang
- Department of Urology, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing, 100034, China
| | - Xinming Chen
- Shenshan Medical Center, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Shanwei, 516400, China
| | - Wentao Wang
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510080, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Epigenetics and Gene Regulation, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510080, China
| | - Qingbin Wang
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510080, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Epigenetics and Gene Regulation, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510080, China
| | - Wenliang Tan
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510080, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Epigenetics and Gene Regulation, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510080, China
| | - Lei Yang
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510080, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Epigenetics and Gene Regulation, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510080, China
| | - Zhiqin Xie
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510080, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Epigenetics and Gene Regulation, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510080, China
| | - Bingkun Wang
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510080, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Epigenetics and Gene Regulation, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510080, China
| | - Bo Chen
- Department of Breast Cancer, Cancer Center, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital, Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, Guangzhou, 510080, China.
| | - Changzhen Shang
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510080, China.
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Epigenetics and Gene Regulation, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510080, China.
| | - Yajin Chen
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510080, China.
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Epigenetics and Gene Regulation, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510080, China.
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Luo T, Wang Z, Yu X, Han Z, Cheng Z, Liu F, Yu J, Liang P. More Ultrasound-Guided Percutaneous Microwave Ablation Leads to Higher Immune-Related Gene Expression and Boosts PD-1 Monoclonal Antibodies for Liver Cancer. ULTRASOUND IN MEDICINE & BIOLOGY 2024; 50:150-157. [PMID: 37867090 DOI: 10.1016/j.ultrasmedbio.2023.09.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2023] [Revised: 09/12/2023] [Accepted: 09/26/2023] [Indexed: 10/24/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The aim of the work described here was to investigate the relative contribution of subtotal ultrasound-guided percutaneous microwave ablation (MWA) to amplifying programmed cell death protein-1 (PD-1) inhibition in advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). METHODS Between April 2019 and December 2021, advanced HCC patient demographics, tumor response, survival data, neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and peripheral lymphocyte profiles were retrospectively collected and analyzed. In hepa1-6 tumor-bearing C57BL/6J mice, RNA sequencing, flow cytometry, immunohistochemistry staining and cytokine tests were also performed. RESULTS Twenty-nine HCC patients were enrolled, with a median follow-up duration of 15.1 mo. Compared with the ablation rate (AR) ≤50% group (n = 10), the AR >50% group (n = 19) had a higher disease control rate, a longer time to progression and a longer overall survival. More patients in the AR >50% group had an early decrease in NLR and better immune activation. RNA sequencing of murine tumors subjected to MWA >50% AR showed that immune-related gene expression upregulated. CD8+ T cells, interferon-γ (IFN-γ) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) were also increased, indicating that MWA >50% AR boosted the immunomodulatory effect of PD-1 inhibitors. CONCLUSION More MWA could induce superior antitumor immunity by enhancing immune-related gene expression, priming CD8+ T cells and thereby boosting PD-1 inhibition. It is advisable that eradication of tumors to the degree possible should be considered within technical access to obtain a better prognosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ting Luo
- School of Medicine, Nankai University, Tianjin, China; Department of Interventional Ultrasound, Fifth Medical Center of Chinese People's Liberation Army General Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Zhen Wang
- Department of Interventional Ultrasound, Fifth Medical Center of Chinese People's Liberation Army General Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Xiaoling Yu
- Department of Interventional Ultrasound, Fifth Medical Center of Chinese People's Liberation Army General Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Zhiyu Han
- Department of Interventional Ultrasound, Fifth Medical Center of Chinese People's Liberation Army General Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Zhigang Cheng
- Department of Interventional Ultrasound, Fifth Medical Center of Chinese People's Liberation Army General Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Fangyi Liu
- Department of Interventional Ultrasound, Fifth Medical Center of Chinese People's Liberation Army General Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Jie Yu
- Department of Interventional Ultrasound, Fifth Medical Center of Chinese People's Liberation Army General Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Ping Liang
- School of Medicine, Nankai University, Tianjin, China; Department of Interventional Ultrasound, Fifth Medical Center of Chinese People's Liberation Army General Hospital, Beijing, China.
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11
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Liu T, Guo Y, Liao Y, Liu J. Mechanism-guided fine-tuned microbiome potentiates anti-tumor immunity in HCC. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1333864. [PMID: 38169837 PMCID: PMC10758498 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1333864] [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: 11/06/2023] [Accepted: 12/05/2023] [Indexed: 01/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Microbiome, including bacteria, fungi, and viruses, plays a crucial role in shaping distal and proximal anti-tumor immunity. Mounting evidence showed that commensal microbiome critically modulates immunophenotyping of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), a leading cause of cancer-related death. However, their role in anti-tumor surveillance of HCC is still poorly understood. Herein, we spotlighted growing interests in how the microbiome influences the progression and immunotherapeutic responses of HCC via changing local tumor microenvironment (TME) upon translocating to the sites of HCC through different "cell-type niches". Moreover, we summarized not only the associations but also the deep insight into the mechanisms of how the extrinsic microbiomes interplay with hosts to shape immune surveillance and regulate TME and immunotherapeutic responses. Collectively, we provided a rationale for a mechanism-guided fine-tuned microbiome to be neoadjuvant immunotherapy in the near future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tao Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, China
| | - Ya Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yanxia Liao
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jinping Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, China
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12
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Jing F, Li X, Jiang H, Sun J, Guo Q. Combating drug resistance in hepatocellular carcinoma: No awareness today, no action tomorrow. Biomed Pharmacother 2023; 167:115561. [PMID: 37757493 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2023.115561] [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: 07/31/2023] [Revised: 09/18/2023] [Accepted: 09/19/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the sixth most common cancer worldwide, is associated with a high degree of malignancy and poor prognosis. Patients with early HCC may benefit from surgical resection to remove tumor tissue and a margin of healthy tissue surrounding it. Unfortunately, most patients with HCC are diagnosed at an advanced or distant stage, at which point resection is not feasible. Systemic therapy is now routinely prescribed to patients with advanced HCC; however, drug resistance has become a major obstacle to the treatment of HCC and exploring purported mechanisms promoting drug resistance remains a challenge. Here, we focus on the determinants of drug resistance from the perspective of non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs), liver cancer stem cells (LCSCs), autophagy, epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), exosomes, ferroptosis, and the tumor microenvironment (TME), with the aim to provide new insights into HCC treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fanbo Jing
- The department of clinical pharmacy. The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
| | - Xiao Li
- The department of clinical pharmacy. The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
| | - Hui Jiang
- Qingdao Haici Hospital, Qingdao 266000, China
| | - Jialin Sun
- The department of clinical pharmacy. The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
| | - Qie Guo
- The department of clinical pharmacy. The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, China.
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13
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Han X, Sun Q, Xu M, Zhu G, Gao R, Ni B, Li J. Unraveling the Complexities of Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors in Hepatocellular Carcinoma. Semin Liver Dis 2023; 43:383-401. [PMID: 37931901 DOI: 10.1055/s-0043-1776127] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2023]
Abstract
Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have emerged as effective therapeutics for multiple cancers. Nevertheless, as immunotherapeutic approaches are being extensively utilized, substantial hurdles have arisen for clinicians. These include countering ICIs resistance and ensuring precise efficacy assessments of these drugs, especially in the context of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). This review attempts to offer a holistic overview of the latest insights into the ICIs resistance mechanisms in HCC, the molecular underpinnings, and immune response. The intent is to inspire the development of efficacious combination strategies. This review also examines the unconventional response patterns, namely pseudoprogression (PsP) and hyperprogression (HPD). The prompt and rigorous evaluation of these treatment efficacies has emerged as a crucial imperative. Multiple clinical, radiological, and biomarker tests have been advanced to meticulously assess tumor response. Despite progress, precise mechanisms of action and predictive biomarkers remain elusive. This necessitates further investigation through prospective cohort studies in the impending future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinpu Han
- Department of Oncology, Guang'anmen Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Qianhui Sun
- Department of Oncology, Guang'anmen Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Manman Xu
- Department of Oncology, Guang'anmen Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Guanghui Zhu
- Department of Oncology, Guang'anmen Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Ruike Gao
- Department of Oncology, Guang'anmen Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Baoyi Ni
- Department of Oncology, First Hospital of Heilongjiang University of Chinese Medicine, Harbin, People's Republic of China
| | - Jie Li
- Department of Oncology, Guang'anmen Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, People's Republic of China
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14
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Wang L, Piao Y, Guo F, Wei J, Chen Y, Dai X, Zhang X. Current progress of pig models for liver cancer research. Biomed Pharmacother 2023; 165:115256. [PMID: 37536038 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2023.115256] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2023] [Revised: 07/26/2023] [Accepted: 07/28/2023] [Indexed: 08/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Preclinical trials play critical roles in assessing the safety and efficiency of novel therapeutic strategies for human diseases including live cancer. However, most therapeutic strategies that were proved to be effective in preclinical cancer models failed in human clinical trials due to the lack of appropriate disease animal models. Therefore, it is of importance and urgent to develop a precise animal model for preclinical cancer research. Liver cancer is one of the most frequently diagnosed cancers with low 5-year survival rate. Recently, porcine attracted increasing attentions as animal model in biomedical research. Porcine liver cancer model may provide a promising platform for biomedical research due to their similarities to human being in body size, anatomical characteristics, physiology and pathophysiology. In this review, we comprehensively summarized and discussed the advantages and disadvantages, rationale, current status and progress of pig models for liver cancer research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luyao Wang
- Key Laboratory of Organ Regeneration and Transplantation of Ministry of Education, First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China; National-Local Joint Engineering Laboratory of Animal Models for Human Disease, First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Yuexian Piao
- Invasive Technology Nursing Platform, First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Fucheng Guo
- Key Laboratory of Organ Regeneration and Transplantation of Ministry of Education, First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China; National-Local Joint Engineering Laboratory of Animal Models for Human Disease, First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Jiarui Wei
- Key Laboratory of Organ Regeneration and Transplantation of Ministry of Education, First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China; National-Local Joint Engineering Laboratory of Animal Models for Human Disease, First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Yurong Chen
- Key Laboratory of Organ Regeneration and Transplantation of Ministry of Education, First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China; National-Local Joint Engineering Laboratory of Animal Models for Human Disease, First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Xiangpeng Dai
- Key Laboratory of Organ Regeneration and Transplantation of Ministry of Education, First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China; National-Local Joint Engineering Laboratory of Animal Models for Human Disease, First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China.
| | - Xiaoling Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Organ Regeneration and Transplantation of Ministry of Education, First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China; National-Local Joint Engineering Laboratory of Animal Models for Human Disease, First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China.
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15
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Guo E, Yang J, Li L, Chen J, Liu H. TACC3 is an independent prognostic marker, and knockdown of TACC3 enhances the efficacy of CDK1 inhibitor RO3306 in liver cancer cells. J Biochem Mol Toxicol 2023; 37:e23402. [PMID: 37341435 DOI: 10.1002/jbt.23402] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2022] [Revised: 03/22/2023] [Accepted: 06/08/2023] [Indexed: 06/22/2023]
Abstract
The drug resistance of single-target therapy has gradually become an intractable clinical problem. Combination therapy may be an effective treatment to overcome or postpone drug resistance in cancer. Herein, we discussed the synergistic effect of transforming acidic coiled-coil containing protein 3 (TACC3) suppression and cyclin-dependent kinase 1 (CDK1) in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The Cancer Genome Atlas database and bioinformatics methods were implemented to analyze the expression of CDK1 and TACC3, and predict the biological function of TACC3-related genes in HCC. In addition, in vitro experiments, including cell counting kit 8, transwell and flow cytometry were utilized to evaluate cell proliferation, migration, invasion, cell cycle arrest and apoptosis of HCC cells. Our results demonstrated that TACC3 is an unfavorable and independent prognostic factor to predict poor overall survival (OS) in HCC patients. Genetic inhibition of TACC3 exhibited a remarkable antineoplastic activity of HCC cell lines. Bioinformatic prediction proposed that CDK1 may be the main regulator of TACC3-related genes in HCC. In vitro experimental measurements suggested that a combination of si-TACC3 and CDK1 inhibitor synergistically inhibited cell proliferation and migration, and induced G2 cell cycle arrest and apoptosis of HepG2 or MHCC97H cells. In conclusion, our results revealed a prospective dual-target, TACC3 and CDK1, therapeutic strategy to improve the treatment of HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Enshuang Guo
- Department of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Jiankun Yang
- Experimental Medicine Center, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Lei Li
- Department of osteology, Yellow River Central Hospital of the Yellow River Conservancy Commission, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Jia Chen
- Department of Rheumatology, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Henan University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Hongqiang Liu
- Department of Emergency, Henan Province Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou, Henan Province, China
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Hu X, Li D, Zhu H, Yu T, Xiong X, Xu X. ATP6V1F is a novel prognostic biomarker and potential immunotherapy target for hepatocellular carcinoma. BMC Med Genomics 2023; 16:188. [PMID: 37587505 PMCID: PMC10428557 DOI: 10.1186/s12920-023-01624-6] [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: 02/02/2023] [Accepted: 08/02/2023] [Indexed: 08/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the deadliest malignancies worldwide, with late detection, ineffective treatment and poor overall survival. Immunotherapy, including immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) therapy, holds great potential for treatment of HCC. Although some patients respond well to ICIs, many fail to obtain a significant benefit. It is therefore of great interest to find appropriate markers to stratify patient responses to immunotherapy and to explore suitable targets for modulating the TME and immune cell infiltration. ATP6V1F encodes a constituent of vacuolar ATPase (V-ATPase). V-ATPase-mediated acidification of organelles is required for intracellular processes such as zymogen activation, receptor-mediated endocytosis, protein sorting and synaptic vesicle proton gradient generation. In this study, we confirmed for the first time that ATP6V1F is overexpressed in HCC and related to poor prognosis in these patients. We identified that overexpression of ATP6V1F is associated with infiltration of some immune cells and expression of several immune checkpoints. Furthermore, we explored the possible mechanisms of action of ATP6V1F. Finally, we conducted in vitro experiments, including wound healing, Transwell invasion, and apoptosis assays, to verify that ATP6V1F promotes development of HCC by promoting migration and invasion and inhibiting apoptosis of HCC cells. Our findings will contribute to providing precise immunotherapy to patients with HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinyao Hu
- Cancer Center, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Dan Li
- Department of Pharmacy, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Hua Zhu
- Department of Neurosurgery, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Tao Yu
- Department of Oncology, Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, The Central Hospital of Wuhan, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Xiaoxing Xiong
- Department of Neurosurgery, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China.
| | - Ximing Xu
- Cancer Center, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China.
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17
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Ma C, Xi S, Sun H, Zhang M, Pei Y. Identifying the oncogenic roles of FAP in human cancers based on systematic analysis. Aging (Albany NY) 2023; 15:7056-7083. [PMID: 37490719 PMCID: PMC10415543 DOI: 10.18632/aging.204892] [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: 01/16/2023] [Accepted: 06/22/2023] [Indexed: 07/27/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Fibroblast activation protein-α (FAP) is a specific marker of cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) and plays a crucial role in tumor development. However, the biological processes underlying FAP expression in tumor progression and tumor immunity have not been fully elucidated. METHODS We utilized RNA-seq data from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and Genotype-Tissue Expression (GTEx) to perform differential analysis of FAP expression in tumor tissues and matched-normal tissues. The relationship between FAP expression and clinical prognosis, DNA methylation, and tumor-infiltrating immune cells in pan-cancer was assessed using R Studio (version 4.2.1). Additionally, we employed gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) and gene set variation analysis (GSVA) to investigate the biological functions and pathways associated with FAP expression. RESULTS FAP exhibits high expression in most malignancies, albeit to a lesser extent in CESC, KICH, UCEC, SKCM, THCA, and UCS. Furthermore, FAP is either positively or negatively associated with the prognosis of several malignancies. In seven types of cancer, FAP expression is positively correlated with DNA methylation. CIBERSORT analysis revealed an inverse correlation between FAP expression and T cells, B cells, monocytes, and NK cells, while it exhibited a positive correlation with M0, M1, and M2 macrophages. Enrichment analysis further demonstrated that FAP modulates the cell cycle, epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) process, angiogenesis, and immune-related functions and pathways. CONCLUSION Our findings indicate a close relationship between FAP expression and tumorigenesis as well as tumor immunity. FAP has the potential to serve as a diagnostic, prognostic, and immunotherapy marker.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chao Ma
- School of Clinical Medicine, Weifang Medical University, Weifang 261053, Shandong, China
| | - Shuaishuai Xi
- School of Clinical Medicine, Weifang Medical University, Weifang 261053, Shandong, China
- Department of Vascular Surgery, Weifang Yidu Central Hospital, Weifang 262500, Shandong, China
| | - He Sun
- School of Clinical Medicine, Weifang Medical University, Weifang 261053, Shandong, China
| | - Meng Zhang
- Department of Vascular Surgery, Weifang Yidu Central Hospital, Weifang 262500, Shandong, China
| | - Yuanmin Pei
- School of Clinical Medicine, Weifang Medical University, Weifang 261053, Shandong, China
- Department of Vascular Surgery, Weifang Yidu Central Hospital, Weifang 262500, Shandong, China
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18
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Chen Y, Wang W, Morgan MP, Robson T, Annett S. Obesity, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and hepatocellular carcinoma: current status and therapeutic targets. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2023; 14:1148934. [PMID: 37361533 PMCID: PMC10286797 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2023.1148934] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2023] [Accepted: 05/16/2023] [Indexed: 06/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Obesity is a global epidemic and overwhelming evidence indicates that it is a risk factor for numerous cancers, including hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the third leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. Obesity-associated hepatic tumorigenesis develops from nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), progressing to nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), cirrhosis and ultimately to HCC. The rising incidence of obesity is resulting in an increased prevalence of NAFLD and NASH, and subsequently HCC. Obesity represents an increasingly important underlying etiology of HCC, in particular as the other leading causes of HCC such as hepatitis infection, are declining due to effective treatments and vaccines. In this review, we provide a comprehensive overview of the molecular mechanisms and cellular signaling pathways involved in the pathogenesis of obesity-associated HCC. We summarize the preclinical experimental animal models available to study the features of NAFLD/NASH/HCC, and the non-invasive methods to diagnose NAFLD, NASH and early-stage HCC. Finally, since HCC is an aggressive tumor with a 5-year survival of less than 20%, we will also discuss novel therapeutic targets for obesity-associated HCC and ongoing clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yinshuang Chen
- School of Pharmacy and Biomolecular Sciences, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, University of Medicine and Health Sciences, Dublin, Ireland
- College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Weipeng Wang
- College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Maria P. Morgan
- School of Pharmacy and Biomolecular Sciences, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, University of Medicine and Health Sciences, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Tracy Robson
- School of Pharmacy and Biomolecular Sciences, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, University of Medicine and Health Sciences, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Stephanie Annett
- School of Pharmacy and Biomolecular Sciences, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, University of Medicine and Health Sciences, Dublin, Ireland
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Wu Q, Tan Z, Xiong Y, Gu C, Zhou J, Yang H, Zhou J. Comprehensive analysis of ferroptosis-related genes for clinical and biological significance in hepatocellular carcinoma. Discov Oncol 2023; 14:69. [PMID: 37198416 DOI: 10.1007/s12672-023-00677-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2023] [Accepted: 04/28/2023] [Indexed: 05/19/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE This study aims to build a prognostic model of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) with ferroptosis-associated genes and explore their molecular function. METHODS Gene expression data and clinical information were obtained from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) and The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) databases and the International Cancer Genome Consortium (ICGC). A ferroptosis-associated gene set was obtained from the FerrDb database to identify differentially expressed genes. Then, we performed pathway enrichment analysis and immune infiltration analysis. A combined model based on ferroptosis-associated genes for predicting the overall survival of HCC was built by univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction, Western blotting, colony formation, CCK-8, and EdU incorporation assays were performed to clarify the function of CAPG in the regulation of cell proliferation in human HCC. Ferroptosis was evaluated by glutathione (GSH), malondialdehyde (MDA), and total iron detection. RESULTS Forty-nine ferroptosis-related genes were significantly correlated with HCC, 19 of which had prognostic significance. CAPG, SLC7A11 and SQSTM1 were used to construct a novel risk model. The areas under the curves (AUCs) were 0.746 and 0.720 (1 year) in the training and validation groups, respectively. The survival analysis indicated that patients with high risk scores exhibited worse survival in the training and validation groups. The risk score was also identified as an independent prognostic factor of overall survival (OS), which established and validated the predictive abilities of the nomogram. The risk score was also significantly correlated with the expression of immune checkpoint genes. In vitro data showed that CAPG knockdown dramatically suppressed HCC cell proliferation, and the underlying molecular mechanisms might be that the silencing of CAPG reduced the expression of SLC7A11 and promoted ferroptosis. CONCLUSION The established risk model can be used to predict the prognosis of HCC. At the mechanistic level, CAPG may drive HCC progression by regulating SLC7A11, and ferroptosis activation in HCC patients with high CAPG expression may serve as a potential therapeutic strategy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qixian Wu
- Department of Gastroenterology, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
- Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Zhenlin Tan
- Department of Gastroenterology, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yu Xiong
- Intervention and Cell Therapy Center, Peking University Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen, China
| | - Chengxin Gu
- Department of Gastroenterology, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | | | - Hui Yang
- Department of Gastroenterology, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China.
| | - Jiyuan Zhou
- Department of Gastroenterology, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China.
- Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China.
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20
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Brandi N, Renzulli M. The Synergistic Effect of Interventional Locoregional Treatments and Immunotherapy for the Treatment of Hepatocellular Carcinoma. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24108598. [PMID: 37239941 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24108598] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2023] [Revised: 05/05/2023] [Accepted: 05/08/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Immunotherapy has remarkably revolutionized the management of advanced HCC and prompted clinical trials, with therapeutic agents being used to selectively target immune cells rather than cancer cells. Currently, there is great interest in the possibility of combining locoregional treatments with immunotherapy for HCC, as this combination is emerging as an effective and synergistic tool for enhancing immunity. On the one hand, immunotherapy could amplify and prolong the antitumoral immune response of locoregional treatments, improving patients' outcomes and reducing recurrence rates. On the other hand, locoregional therapies have been shown to positively alter the tumor immune microenvironment and could therefore enhance the efficacy of immunotherapy. Despite the encouraging results, many unanswered questions still remain, including which immunotherapy and locoregional treatment can guarantee the best survival and clinical outcomes; the most effective timing and sequence to obtain the most effective therapeutic response; and which biological and/or genetic biomarkers can be used to identify patients likely to benefit from this combined approach. Based on the current reported evidence and ongoing trials, the present review summarizes the current application of immunotherapy in combination with locoregional therapies for the treatment of HCC, and provides a critical evaluation of the current status and future directions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicolò Brandi
- Department of Radiology, IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna, Via Albertoni 15, 40138 Bologna, Italy
| | - Matteo Renzulli
- Department of Radiology, IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna, Via Albertoni 15, 40138 Bologna, Italy
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21
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Charles J, Vrionis A, Mansur A, Mathias T, Shaikh J, Ciner A, Jiang Y, Nezami N. Potential Immunotherapy Targets for Liver-Directed Therapies, and the Current Scope of Immunotherapeutics for Liver-Related Malignancies. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:cancers15092624. [PMID: 37174089 PMCID: PMC10177356 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15092624] [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: 04/12/2023] [Revised: 05/01/2023] [Accepted: 05/03/2023] [Indexed: 05/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Liver cancer, including hepatocellular carcinoma and intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma, is increasing in incidence and mortality across the globe. An improved understanding of the complex tumor microenvironment has opened many therapeutic doors and led to the development of novel pharmaceuticals targeting cellular signaling pathways or immune checkpoints. These interventions have significantly improved tumor control rates and patient outcomes, both in clinical trials and in real-world practice. Interventional radiologists play an important role in the multidisciplinary team given their expertise in minimally invasive locoregional therapy, as the bulk of these tumors are usually in the liver. The aim of this review is to highlight the immunological therapeutic targets for primary liver cancers, the available immune-based approaches, and the contributions that interventional radiology can provide in the care of these patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan Charles
- Morsani College of Medicine, University of South Florida, 560 Channelside Drive, Tampa, FL 33602, USA
| | - Andrea Vrionis
- Morsani College of Medicine, University of South Florida, 560 Channelside Drive, Tampa, FL 33602, USA
| | - Arian Mansur
- Harvard Medical School, Harvard University, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Trevor Mathias
- School of Medicine, University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA
| | - Jamil Shaikh
- Morsani College of Medicine, University of South Florida, 560 Channelside Drive, Tampa, FL 33602, USA
- Department of Radiology, Tampa General Hospital, University of South Florida Health, Tampa General Cir, Tampa, FL 33606, USA
| | - Aaron Ciner
- Department of Medicine, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA
| | - Yixing Jiang
- Department of Medicine, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA
| | - Nariman Nezami
- Division of Vascular and Interventional Radiology, Department of Diagnostic Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA
- Experimental Therapeutics Program, University of Maryland Marlene and Stewart Greenebaum Comprehensive Cancer Center, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA
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22
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Qu L, Liu Y, Deng J, Ma X, Fan D. Ginsenoside Rk3 is a novel PI3K/AKT-targeting therapeutics agent that regulates autophagy and apoptosis in hepatocellular carcinoma. J Pharm Anal 2023; 13:463-482. [PMID: 37305788 PMCID: PMC10257150 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpha.2023.03.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2022] [Revised: 03/17/2023] [Accepted: 03/21/2023] [Indexed: 06/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the third leading cause of cancer death worldwide. Ginsenoside Rk3, an important and rare saponin in heat-treated ginseng, is generated from Rg1 and has a smaller molecular weight. However, the anti-HCC efficacy and mechanisms of ginsenoside Rk3 have not yet been characterized. Here, we investigated the mechanism by which ginsenoside Rk3, a tetracyclic triterpenoid rare ginsenoside, inhibits the growth of HCC. We first explored the possible potential targets of Rk3 through network pharmacology. Both in vitro (HepG2 and HCC-LM3 cells) and in vivo (primary liver cancer mice and HCC-LM3 subcutaneous tumor-bearing mice) studies revealed that Rk3 significantly inhibits the proliferation of HCC. Meanwhile, Rk3 blocked the cell cycle in HCC at the G1 phase and induced autophagy and apoptosis in HCC. Further proteomics and siRNA experiments showed that Rk3 regulates the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (AKT) pathway to inhibit HCC growth, which was validated by molecular docking and surface plasmon resonance. In conclusion, we report the discovery that ginsenoside Rk3 binds to PI3K/AKT and promotes autophagy and apoptosis in HCC. Our data strongly support the translation of ginsenoside Rk3 into novel PI3K/AKT-targeting therapeutics for HCC treatment with low toxic side effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Linlin Qu
- Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Degradable Biomedical Materials, School of Chemical Engineering, Northwest University, Xi'an, 710069, China
- Shaanxi R&D Center of Biomaterials and Fermentation Engineering, School of Chemical Engineering, Northwest University, Xi'an, 710069, China
- Biotech. & Biomed. Research Institute, Northwest University, Xi'an, 710069, China
- Xi'an Giant Biotechnology Co., Ltd., Xi'an, 710076, China
| | - Yannan Liu
- Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Degradable Biomedical Materials, School of Chemical Engineering, Northwest University, Xi'an, 710069, China
- Shaanxi R&D Center of Biomaterials and Fermentation Engineering, School of Chemical Engineering, Northwest University, Xi'an, 710069, China
- Biotech. & Biomed. Research Institute, Northwest University, Xi'an, 710069, China
| | - Jianjun Deng
- Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Degradable Biomedical Materials, School of Chemical Engineering, Northwest University, Xi'an, 710069, China
- Shaanxi R&D Center of Biomaterials and Fermentation Engineering, School of Chemical Engineering, Northwest University, Xi'an, 710069, China
- Biotech. & Biomed. Research Institute, Northwest University, Xi'an, 710069, China
| | - Xiaoxuan Ma
- Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Degradable Biomedical Materials, School of Chemical Engineering, Northwest University, Xi'an, 710069, China
- Shaanxi R&D Center of Biomaterials and Fermentation Engineering, School of Chemical Engineering, Northwest University, Xi'an, 710069, China
- Biotech. & Biomed. Research Institute, Northwest University, Xi'an, 710069, China
| | - Daidi Fan
- Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Degradable Biomedical Materials, School of Chemical Engineering, Northwest University, Xi'an, 710069, China
- Shaanxi R&D Center of Biomaterials and Fermentation Engineering, School of Chemical Engineering, Northwest University, Xi'an, 710069, China
- Biotech. & Biomed. Research Institute, Northwest University, Xi'an, 710069, China
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23
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Chen J, Niu C, Yang N, Liu C, Zou SS, Zhu S. Biomarker discovery and application-An opportunity to resolve the challenge of liver cancer diagnosis and treatment. Pharmacol Res 2023; 189:106674. [PMID: 36702425 DOI: 10.1016/j.phrs.2023.106674] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2022] [Revised: 01/10/2023] [Accepted: 01/19/2023] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
Liver cancer is one of the most common malignancies, with severe morbidity and mortality. While considerable progress has been made in liver cancer treatment, the 5-year overall survival (OS) of patients has not improved significantly. Reasons include the inadequate capability of early screening and diagnosis, a high incidence of recurrence and metastasis, a high degree of tumor heterogeneity, and an immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment. Therefore, the identification and validation of specific and robust liver cancer biomarkers are of major importance for early screening, timely diagnosis, accurate prognosis, and the prevention of tumor progression. In this review, we highlight some of the latest research progress and potential applications of liver cancer biomarkers, describing hotspots and prospective directions in biomarker discovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jingtao Chen
- Cancer Center, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun 130021, China; Laboratory for Tumor Immunology, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun 130021, China
| | - Chao Niu
- Cancer Center, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun 130021, China
| | - Ning Yang
- Laboratory for Tumor Immunology, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun 130021, China
| | - Chunyan Liu
- Laboratory for Tumor Immunology, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun 130021, China
| | - Shan-Shan Zou
- Laboratory for Tumor Immunology, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun 130021, China
| | - Shan Zhu
- Cancer Center, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun 130021, China; Laboratory for Tumor Immunology, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun 130021, China.
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24
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Motofei IG. Biology of Cancer; Understanding the Supracellular Control of Mitosis in Physiological Processes and Malignancy. Semin Cancer Biol 2023; 92:42-44. [PMID: 37004926 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcancer.2023.03.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/03/2023]
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25
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Immune checkpoint inhibitor resistance in hepatocellular carcinoma. Cancer Lett 2023; 555:216038. [PMID: 36529238 DOI: 10.1016/j.canlet.2022.216038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 28.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2022] [Revised: 12/12/2022] [Accepted: 12/12/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
The application of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) has markedly enhanced the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), and HCC patients who respond to ICIs have shown prolonged survival. However, only a subset of HCC patients benefit from ICIs, and those who initially respond to ICIs may develop resistance. ICI resistance is likely related to various factors, including the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (TME), the absence of antigen expression and impaired antigen presentation, tumor heterogeneity, and gut microbiota. Therefore, exploring the possible mechanisms of ICI resistance is crucial to improve the clinical benefit of ICIs further. Various combination therapies for HCC immunotherapy have prevented and reversed ICI resistance to a certain extent. In addition, many new combination therapies that can overcome resistance are being explored. This review seeks to characterize the complex TME in HCC, explore the possible mechanisms of immune resistance to ICIs in different resistance categories, and review the combination therapies currently being applied and those under investigation for immunotherapy.
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26
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Wang S, Gao S, Shan L, Qian X, Luan J, Lv X. Comprehensive genomic signature of pyroptosis-related genes and relevant characterization in hepatocellular carcinoma. PeerJ 2023; 11:e14691. [PMID: 36650832 PMCID: PMC9840857 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.14691] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2022] [Accepted: 12/14/2022] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Currently, the most predominant type of liver cancer is hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), which is also the fourth leading cause of cancer-related death in the global population. Pyroptosis is an emerging form of cell death that affects the prognosis of cancer patients by modulating tumor cell migration, proliferation and invasion. However, the evaluation of pyroptosis in the prognosis of HCC is still insufficient. Methods A total of 365 HCC patients from the TCGA-LIHC cohort were classified into two distinct subtypes using consensus clustering of pyroptosis-related genes (PRGs). Following univariate Cox analysis of differentially expressed genes between subtypes, we established a prognostic model (PRGs-score, PRGS) by LASSO Cox analysis. We further tested the predictive power of the prognostic model in the ICGC (LIRI-JP) and GEO (GSE14520) cohorts. The tumor microenvironment (TME) was studied using the CIBERSORT. The enrichment scores for immune cells and immune functions in low- and high-PRGS groups were assessed using ssGSEA. The IMvigor210 cohort was used to investigate the immunotherapy efficacy. Furthermore, we validated the expression of prognostic genes in PRGS by RT-qPCR in vitro. Results The subtyping of HCC based on PRGs exhibited distinct clinical characteristics. We developed a prognostic model PRGS by differentially expressed genes between different subtypes. The results showed that PRGS could well forecast the survival of HCC patients in different cohorts and was associated with the immune microenvironment. Moreover, PRGS was considered to be an independent prognostic risk factor and superior to other pyroptosis-related signatures. Low-PRGS implied greater immune cell infiltration and better overall survival with immunotherapy. The results of RT-qPCR also showed that prognostic genes were significantly dysregulated in HCC. Conclusions PRGS has promising application in forecasting the prognosis of HCC patients, and its relationship with the immune microenvironment provides a basis for the subsequent treatment and research of HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sheng Wang
- Department of Pharmacy, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wannan Medical College (Yijishan Hospital of Wannan Medical College), Wuhu, Anhui, China,The Key Laboratory of Anti-Inflammatory and Immune Medicines, Ministry of Education, Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Major Autoimmune Diseases, School of Pharmacy, Institute for Liver Disease, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Songsen Gao
- Department of Orthopedics (Spinal Surgery), The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Liang Shan
- The Key Laboratory of Anti-Inflammatory and Immune Medicines, Ministry of Education, Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Major Autoimmune Diseases, School of Pharmacy, Institute for Liver Disease, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Xueyi Qian
- Department of Pharmacy, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wannan Medical College (Yijishan Hospital of Wannan Medical College), Wuhu, Anhui, China
| | - Jiajie Luan
- Department of Pharmacy, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wannan Medical College (Yijishan Hospital of Wannan Medical College), Wuhu, Anhui, China
| | - Xiongwen Lv
- The Key Laboratory of Anti-Inflammatory and Immune Medicines, Ministry of Education, Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Major Autoimmune Diseases, School of Pharmacy, Institute for Liver Disease, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, China
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27
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Zhu L, Zhang XP, Xu S, Hu MG, Zhao ZM, Zhao GD, Xiao ZH, Liu R. Identification of a CD4+ conventional T cells-related lncRNAs signature associated with hepatocellular carcinoma prognosis, therapy, and tumor microenvironment. Front Immunol 2023; 13:1111246. [PMID: 36700197 PMCID: PMC9868629 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.1111246] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2022] [Accepted: 12/19/2022] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the second leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide, and CD4+ T lymphocytes can inhibit hepatocarcinogenesis and mediate tumor regression. However, few studies have focused on the prognostic power of CD4+ Tconv-related lncRNAs in HCC patients. Method We obtained data from TCGA and GEO databases and identified CD4+Tconv-related lncRNAs in HCC. The risk score was constructed using lasso regression and the model was validated using two validation cohorts. The RS was also assessed in different clinical subgroups, and a nomogram was established to further predict the patients' outcomes. Furthermore, we estimated the immune cell infiltration and cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) through TIMER databases and assessed the role of RS in immune checkpoint inhibitors response. Results We constructed a CD4+ Tconv-related lncRNAs risk score, including six lncRNAs (AC012073.1, AL031985.3, LINC01060, MKLN1-AS, MSC-AS1, and TMCC1-AS1), and the RS had good predictive ability in validation cohorts and most clinical subgroups. The RS and the T stage were included in the nomogram with optimum prediction and the model had comparable OS prediction power compared to the AJCC. Patients in the high-risk group had a poor immune response phenotype, with high infiltrations of macrophages, CAFs, and low infiltrations of NK cells. Immunotherapy and chemotherapy response analysis indicated that low-risk group patients had good reactions to immune checkpoint inhibitors. Conclusion We constructed and validated a novel CD4+ Tconv-related lncRNAs RS, with the potential predictive value of HCC patients' survival and immunotherapy response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lin Zhu
- Medical School of Chinese PLA, Beijing, China,Faculty of Hepato-Biliary-Pancreatic Surgery, the First Medical Centre, Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) General Hospital, Beijing, China,Institute of Hepatobiliary Surgery of Chinese PLA, Beijing, China,Key Laboratory of Digital Hepatobiliary Surgery, PLA, Beijing, China,The First Clinical Medical School, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Xiu-Ping Zhang
- Medical School of Chinese PLA, Beijing, China,Faculty of Hepato-Biliary-Pancreatic Surgery, the First Medical Centre, Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) General Hospital, Beijing, China,Institute of Hepatobiliary Surgery of Chinese PLA, Beijing, China,Key Laboratory of Digital Hepatobiliary Surgery, PLA, Beijing, China
| | - Shuai Xu
- Department of Liver Transplantation and Hepatobiliary Surgery, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, China
| | - Ming-Gen Hu
- Faculty of Hepato-Biliary-Pancreatic Surgery, the First Medical Centre, Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) General Hospital, Beijing, China,Institute of Hepatobiliary Surgery of Chinese PLA, Beijing, China,Key Laboratory of Digital Hepatobiliary Surgery, PLA, Beijing, China
| | - Zhi-Ming Zhao
- Faculty of Hepato-Biliary-Pancreatic Surgery, the First Medical Centre, Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) General Hospital, Beijing, China,Institute of Hepatobiliary Surgery of Chinese PLA, Beijing, China,Key Laboratory of Digital Hepatobiliary Surgery, PLA, Beijing, China
| | - Guo-Dong Zhao
- Faculty of Hepato-Biliary-Pancreatic Surgery, the First Medical Centre, Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) General Hospital, Beijing, China,Institute of Hepatobiliary Surgery of Chinese PLA, Beijing, China,Key Laboratory of Digital Hepatobiliary Surgery, PLA, Beijing, China
| | - Zhao-Hui Xiao
- Faculty of Hepato-Biliary-Pancreatic Surgery, the First Medical Centre, Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) General Hospital, Beijing, China,Institute of Hepatobiliary Surgery of Chinese PLA, Beijing, China,Key Laboratory of Digital Hepatobiliary Surgery, PLA, Beijing, China
| | - Rong Liu
- Medical School of Chinese PLA, Beijing, China,Faculty of Hepato-Biliary-Pancreatic Surgery, the First Medical Centre, Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) General Hospital, Beijing, China,Institute of Hepatobiliary Surgery of Chinese PLA, Beijing, China,Key Laboratory of Digital Hepatobiliary Surgery, PLA, Beijing, China,The First Clinical Medical School, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China,*Correspondence: Rong Liu,
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28
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Cuproptosis-Related Signature Predicts the Prognosis, Tumor Microenvironment, and Drug Sensitivity of Hepatocellular Carcinoma. J Immunol Res 2022; 2022:3393027. [PMID: 36438201 PMCID: PMC9691390 DOI: 10.1155/2022/3393027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2022] [Revised: 08/07/2022] [Accepted: 10/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Copper (Cu) metabolism is strongly associated with liver disease. Cuproptosis is a novel format of cell death, and cuproptosis-related genes (CRGs) were identified. However, the role of CRGs in Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC) remains unknown. Method The mRNA transcriptome profiling data, somatic mutation data, and copy number gene level data of The Cancer Genome Atlas-Liver Hepatocellular Carcinoma project (TCGA-LIHC) were downloaded for subsequent analysis. Molecular characterization analysis of CRGs, including differential gene expression analysis, mutation analysis, copy number variation (CNV) analysis, Kaplan-Meier analysis, and immune regulator prioritization analysis, was implemented. The nonnegative matrix factorization (NMF) approach was used to identify the CRG-related molecular subtypes. Principal component analysis was adopted to verify the robustness and reliability of the molecular subtype. The least absolute shrinkage and selection operator regression analysis was performed to construct the prognostic signature based on differentially expressed genes between molecular subtypes. The survival characteristics of the molecular subtype and the signature were analyzed. The Gene Set Variation Analysis was performed for functional annotation. The immune landscape analysis, including immune checkpoint gene analysis, single sample gene set enrichment analysis, tumor immune dysfunction and exclusion (TIDE) analysis, immune infiltration cell, and tumor mutation burden analysis (TMB), was conducted. The ability of the signature to predict conventional anti-HCC agent responses was evaluated. The signature was validated in the LIRI-JP cohort and the IMvigor210 cohort. Result A total of 13 CRGs are differentially expressed between the tumor and normal samples, while the mutation of CRGs in HCC is infrequent. The expression of CRGs is associated with the CNV level. Fourteen CRGs are associated with the prognosis of HCC. Two clusters were identified and HCC patients were divided into 2 groups with a cutoff risk score value of 1.570. HCC patients in the C1 cluster and high-risk have a worse prognosis. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve for predicting 1-, 2-, and 3-year overall survival is 0.775, 0.768, and 0.757 in the TCGA-LIHC cohort, and 0.811, 0.741, and 0.775 in the LIRI-JP cohort. Multivariate Cox regression analysis indicates that the signature is an independent prognostic factor. Pathways involved in metabolism and gene stability and immune infiltration cells are significantly enriched. Immune checkpoint genes are highly expressed in the C1 cluster. TMB is positively correlated with the risk score. HCC patients in the high-risk group are more likely to benefit from conventional anti-HCC agents and immune checkpoint inhibitor therapies. Conclusion The molecular characterization of CRGs in HCC is presented in this study, and a successful prognostic signature for HCC based on the cuproptosis-related molecular subtype was constructed.
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Zhang G, Lv X, Yang Q, Liu H. Identification of HM13 as a prognostic indicator and a predictive biomarker for immunotherapy in hepatocellular carcinoma. BMC Cancer 2022; 22:888. [PMID: 35964022 PMCID: PMC9375928 DOI: 10.1186/s12885-022-09987-2] [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: 03/30/2022] [Accepted: 08/02/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Histocompatibility minor 13 (HM13) is a signal sequence stubbed intramembrane cleavage catalytic protein that is essential for cell signaling, intracellular communication, and cancer. However, the expression of HM13 and its prognostic value, association with tumor-infiltrating immune cells (TIICs) in the microenvironment, and potential to predict immunotherapeutic response in HCC are unknown. Methods The HM13 expression, clinicopathology analysis, and its influence on survival were analyzed in multiple public databases and further verified in collected HCC and normal tissues by qRT-PCR and immunohistochemistry staining assay (IHC). Furthermore, the lentivirus vector encoding HM13-shRNA to manipulate HM13 expression was selected to investigate whether HM13 could influence the malignant growth and metastasis potential of HCC cells. Finally, significant impacts of HM13 on the HCC tumor microenvironment (TME) and reaction to immune checkpoint inhibitors were analyzed. Results Upregulated HM13 was substantially correlated with poor prognosis in patients with HCC, and could facilitate the proliferation and migratory potential of HCC cells. Additionally, patients with high HM13 expression might be more sensitive to immunotherapy. Conclusions HM13 might be a prognostic biomarker and potential molecular therapeutic target for HCC. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12885-022-09987-2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Genhao Zhang
- Department of Blood transfusion, Zhengzhou University First Affiliated Hospital, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Xianping Lv
- Department of Blood transfusion, Zhengzhou University First Affiliated Hospital, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Qiankun Yang
- Department of Blood transfusion, Zhengzhou University First Affiliated Hospital, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Hongchun Liu
- Department of Medical Laboratory, Zhengzhou University First Affiliated Hospital, Zhengzhou, China.
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30
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Gupta M, Chandan K, Sarwat M. Natural Products and their Derivatives as Immune Check Point Inhibitors: Targeting Cytokine/Chemokine Signalling in Cancer. Semin Cancer Biol 2022; 86:214-232. [PMID: 35772610 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcancer.2022.06.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2022] [Revised: 06/15/2022] [Accepted: 06/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Cancer immunotherapy is the new generation and widely accepted form of tumour treatment. It is, however, associated with exclusive challenges which include organ-specific inflammation, and single-target strategies. Therefore, approaches that can enhance the efficiency of existing immunotherapies and expand their indications are required for the further development of immunotherapy. Natural products and medicines are stated to have this desired effect on cancer immunotherapy (adoptive immune-cells therapy, cancer vaccines, and immune-check point inhibitors). They refurbish the immunosuppressed tumour microenvironment, which is the primary location of interaction of tumour cells with the host immune system. Various immune cell subsets, via interaction with cytokine/chemokine receptors, are recruited into this microenvironment, and these subsets have roles in tumour progression and treatment responsiveness. This review summarises cytokine/chemokine signalling, types of cancer immunotherapy and the herbal medicine-derived natural products targeting cytokine/chemokines and immune checkpoints. These natural compounds possess immunomodulatory activities and exert their anti-tumour effect by either blocking the interaction or modulating the expression of the proteins linked with immune checkpoint signaling pathways. Some compounds also show a synergistic effect in combination with existing monoclonal antibody drugs to reverse the tumour microenvironment. Additionally, we have also reported some studies about the derivatives and formulations used to overcome the limitations of natural forms. This review can provide important insights for directing future research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meenakshi Gupta
- Amity Institute of Pharmacy, Amity University, Noida-201313, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Kumari Chandan
- Amity Institute of Pharmacy, Amity University, Noida-201313, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Maryam Sarwat
- Amity Institute of Pharmacy, Amity University, Noida-201313, Uttar Pradesh, India.
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