Integrative Approaches to Cancer Immunotherapy

Integrating mechanism-based T cell phenotypes into a model of tumor-immune cell interactions

Interactions between cancer cells and immune cells in the tumor microenvironment influence tumor growth and can contribute to the response to cancer immunotherapies. It is difficult to gain mechanistic insights into the effects of cell-cell interactions in tumors using a purely experimental approach. However, computational modeling enables quantitative investigation of the tumor microenvironment, and agent-based modeling, in particular, provides relevant biological insights into the spatial and temporal evolution of tumors. Here, we develop a novel agent-based model (ABM) to predict the consequences of intercellular interactions. Furthermore, we leverage our prior work that predicts the transitions of CD8+ T cells from a naïve state to a terminally differentiated state using Boolean modeling. Given the details incorporated to predict T cell state, we apply the integrated Boolean-ABM framework to study how the properties of CD8+ T cells influence the composition and spatial organization of tumors and the efficacy of an immune checkpoint blockade. Overall, we present a mechanistic understanding of tumor evolution that can be leveraged to study targeted immunotherapeutic strategies.

The role of NCAPH in cancer treatment

Many solid tumors frequently overexpress Non-SMC Condensin I Complex Subunit H (NCAPH), and new studies suggest that NCAPH may be a target gene for clinical cancer therapy. Numerous investigations have shown that a variety of transcription factors, including as MYBL2, FOXP3, GATA3, and OTC1, can stimulate the transcription of NCAPH. Additionally, NCAPH stimulates many oncogenic signaling pathways, such as β-Catenin/PD-L1, PI3K/AKT/SGK3, MEK/ERK, AURKB/AKT/mTOR, PI3K/PDK1/AKT, and Chk1/Chk2. Tumor immune microenvironment modification and tumor growth, apoptosis, metastasis, stemness, and treatment resistance all depend on these signals. NCAPH has the ability to form complexes with other proteins that are involved in glycolysis, DNA damage repair, and chromatin remodeling. This review indicates that NCAPH expression in most malignant tumors is associated with poor prognosis and low recurrence-free survival.

Collagen extracellular matrix promotes gastric cancer immune evasion by activating IL4I1-AHR signaling

BACKGROUND

Gastric cancer (GC) remains a significant global health challenge with poor prognosis, partly due to its ability to evade the immune system. The extracellular matrix (ECM), particularly collagen, plays a crucial role in tumor immune evasion, but the underlying mechanisms are not fully understood. This study investigates the role of collagen ECM in promoting immune evasion in gastric cancer by activating the IL4I1-AHR signaling pathway.

METHODS

We cultured gastric cancer cells in 3D collagen gels and assessed their immune evasion capabilities by co-culturing with HER2-specific CAR-T cells. The expression of IL4I1 and its metabolites was analyzed, and the role of integrin αvβ1 in mediating the effects of collagen was explored. Additionally, the impact of IL4I1-induced AHR activation on CAR-T cell exhaustion was evaluated, both in vitro and in vivo.

RESULTS

We found that gastric cancer cells cultured on collagen exhibited increased resistance to CAR-T cell cytotoxicity, which was associated with upregulated immune checkpoint molecules and downregulated effector cytokines on CAR-T cells. This was linked to increased IL4I1 expression, which was further induced by integrin αvβ1 signaling within the 3D collagen environment. IL4I1 metabolites, particularly KynA, promoted CAR-T cell exhaustion by activating the AHR pathway, leading to decreased cytotoxicity and tumor growth inhibition.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study reveals a novel mechanism by which the collagen ECM facilitates immune evasion in gastric cancer through the activation of IL4I1-AHR signaling, contributing to CAR-T cell exhaustion. Targeting this pathway could potentially enhance the efficacy of CAR-T cell therapy in gastric cancer.

Machine learning developed a macrophage signature for predicting prognosis, immune infiltration and immunotherapy features in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma

Macrophages played an important role in the progression and treatment of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). We employed weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) to identify macrophage-related genes (MRGs) and classify patients with HNSCC into two distinct subtypes. A macrophage-related risk signature (MRS) model, comprising nine genes: IGF2BP2, PPP1R14C, SLC7A5, KRT9, RAC2, NTN4, CTLA4, APOC1, and CYP27A1, was formulated by integrating 101 machine learning algorithm combinations. We observed lower overall survival (OS) in the high-risk group and the high-risk group showed elevated expression levels in most of the immune checkpoint and human leukocyte antigen (HLA) genes, suggesting a strong immune evasion capacity. Correspondingly, TIDE score positively correlated with risk score, implying that high-risk tumors may resist immunotherapy more effectively. At the single-cell level, we noted macrophages in the tumor microenvironment (TME) predominantly stalled in the G2/M phase, potentially hindering epithelial-mesenchymal transition and playing a crucial role in the inhibition of tumor progression. Finally, the proliferation and migration abilities of HNSCC cells significantly decreased after the expression of IGF2BP2 and SLC7A5 reduced. It also decreased migration ability of macrophages and facilitated their polarization towards the M1 direction. Our study constructed a novel MRS for HNSCC, which could serve as an indicator for predicting the prognosis, immune infiltration and immunotherapy for HNSCC patients.

Design, synthesis, and antitumor mechanism investigation of iridium(III) complexes conjugated with ibuprofen

The design and synthesis of a series of metal complexes formed by non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) ibuprofen (IBP) and iridium(III), with the molecular formula [Ir(C^N)2bpy(4-CH2OIBP-4'-CH2OIBP)](PF6) (Ir-IBP-1, Ir-IBP-2) (C^N = 2-phenylpyridine (ppy, Ir-IBP-1), 2-(2-thienyl)pyridine (thpy, Ir-IBP-2)) was introduced in this article. Firstly, it was found that the anti-proliferative activity of these complexes was more effective than that of cisplatin. Further research showed that Ir-IBP-1 and Ir-IBP-2 can accumulate in intracellular mitochondria, thereby disrupting mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), increasing intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS), blocking the G2/M phase of the cell cycle, and inducing cell apoptosis. In terms of protein expression, the expression of COX-2, MMP-9, NLRP3 and Caspase-1 proteins can be downregulated, indicating their ability to anti-inflammatory and overcome immune evasion. Furthermore, Ir-IBP-1 and Ir-IBP-2 can induce immunogenic cell death (ICD) by triggering the release of cell surface calreticulin (CRT), high mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) and adenosine triphosphate (ATP). Overall, iridium(III)-IBP conjugates exhibit various anti-tumor mechanisms, including mitochondrial damage, cell cycle arrest, inflammatory suppression, and induction of ICD.

A future directions of renal cell carcinoma treatment: combination of immune checkpoint inhibition and carbon ion radiotherapy

Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is considered radio- and chemo-resistant. Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have demonstrated significant clinical efficacy in advanced RCC. However, the overall response rate of RCC to monotherapy remains limited. Given its immunomodulatory effects, a combination of radiotherapy (RT) with immunotherapy is increasingly used for cancer treatment. Heavy ion radiotherapy, specifically the carbon ion radiotherapy (CIRT), represents an innovative approach to cancer treatment, offering superior physical and biological effectiveness compared to conventional photon radiotherapy and exhibiting obvious advantages in cancer treatment. The combination of CIRT and immunotherapy showed robust effectiveness in preclinical studies of various tumors, thus holds promise for overcoming radiation resistance of RCC and enhancing therapeutic outcomes. Here, we provide a comprehensive review on the biophysical effects of CIRT, the efficacy of combination treatment and the underlying mechanisms involved in, as well as its therapeutic potential specifically within RCC.

Advances in molecular basis of response to immunotherapy for penile cancer: better screening of responders

Penile cancer is a rare malignant tumor of the male urinary system. The treatment benefit of standard first-line chemotherapy is not ideal for patients with locally advanced or metastatic lymph nodes. Immunotherapy has brought new treatment strategies and opportunities for patients with penile cancer. At present, clinical studies on immunotherapy for penile cancer have been reported, and the results show that it is effective but not conclusive. With the development of immunotherapy and the progress of molecular research technology, we can better screen the immunotherapy response population and explore new combination treatment regimens to evaluate the best combination regimen and obtain the optimal treatment options, which is also an important research direction for the immunotherapy of penile cancer in the future.

The crosstalk between immune cells and tumor pyroptosis: advancing cancer immunotherapy strategies

Pyroptosis is a cell death process characterized by cell swelling until membrane rupture and release of intracellular contents. As an effective tumor treatment strategy, inducing tumor cell pyroptosis has received widespread attention. In this process, the immune components within the tumor microenvironment play a key regulatory role. By regulating and altering the functions of immune cells such as cytotoxic T lymphocytes, natural killer cells, tumor-associated macrophages, and neutrophils, tumor cell pyroptosis can be induced. This article provides a comprehensive review of the molecular mechanisms of cell pyroptosis, the impact of the tumor immune microenvironment on tumor cell pyroptosis, and its mechanisms. It aims to gain an in-depth understanding of the communication between the tumor immune microenvironment and tumor cells, and to provide theoretical support for the development of new tumor immunotherapies.

Ubiquitination-Related Gene Signature, Nomogram and Immune Features for Prognostic Prediction in Patients with Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma

The objective of this research was to create a prognostic model focused on genes related to ubiquitination (UbRGs) for evaluating their clinical significance in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) patients. The transcriptome expression data of UbRGs were obtained from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database, and weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) was used to identify specific UbRGs within survival-related hub modules. A multi-gene signature was formulated using LASSO Cox regression analysis. Furthermore, various analyses, including time-related receiver operating characteristics (ROCs), Kaplan-Meier, Cox regression, nomogram prediction, gene set enrichment, co-expression, immune, tumor mutation burden (TMB), and drug sensitivity, were conducted. Ultimately, a prognostic signature consisting of 11 gene pairs for HNSCC was established. The Kaplan-Meier curves indicated significantly improved overall survival (OS) in the low-risk group compared to the high-risk group (p < 0.001), suggesting its potential as an independent and dependable prognostic factor. Additionally, a nomogram with AUC values of 0.744, 0.852, and 0.861 at 1-, 3-, and 5-year intervals was developed. Infiltration of M2 macrophages was higher in the high-risk group, and the TMB was notably elevated compared to the low-risk group. Several chemotherapy drugs targeting UbRGs were recommended for low-risk and high-risk patients, respectively. The prognostic signature derived from UbRGs can effectively predict prognosis and provide new personalized therapeutic targets for HNSCC.

Exploring Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats-CRISPR-Associated Protein 9 (CRISPR-Cas9) as a Therapeutic Modality for Cancer: A Scoping Review

The global burden of cancer and the limitations of conventional therapies highlight the potential of clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats-CRISPR-associated protein 9 (CRISPR-Cas9) in reshaping cancer treatment paradigms. In this review, we have investigated the mechanism of CRISPR, an adaptive immune system in bacteria that enables highly precise gene editing at the molecular level. This versatile tool demonstrates its efficacy in human cancer therapy through gene knockout, metabolic disruption, base editing, screening, and immunotherapy enhancement without affecting normal bodily domains. Despite its superiority over other nucleases like zinc-finger nucleases and transcription activator-like effector nucleases, hurdles such as off-target effects, inefficient delivery of the system to target cells, the emergence of escapers, and the ethical debate surrounding genome editing are discussed. In this article, we have reviewed the promising approaches of CRISPR-Cas9 in cancer treatment while exploring the underlying mechanism, advantages, and associated challenges.

Comprehensive analysis of clinical and biological value of ING family genes in liver cancer

BACKGROUND

Liver cancer (LIHC) is a malignant tumor that occurs in the liver and has a high mortality in cancer. The ING family genes were identified as tumor suppressor genes. Dysregulated expression of these genes can lead to cell cycle arrest, senescence and/or apoptosis. ING family genes are promising targets for anticancer therapy. However, their role in LIHC is still not well understood.

AIM

To have a better understanding of the important roles of ING family members in LIHC.

METHODS

A series of bioinformatics approaches (including gene expression analysis, genetic alteration analysis, survival analysis, immune infiltration analysis, prediction of upstream microRNAs (miRNAs) and long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) of ING1, and ING1-related gene functional enrichment analysis) was applied to study the expression profile, clinical relationship, prognostic significance and immune infiltration of ING in LIHC. The relationship between ING family genes expression and tumor associated immune checkpoints was investigated in LIHC. The molecular mechanism of ING1 mediated hepatocarcinogenesis was preliminarily discussed.

RESULTS

mRNA/protein expression of different ING family genes in LIHC was analyzed in different databases, showing that ING family genes were highly expressed in LIHC. In 47 samples from 366 LIHC patients, the ING family genes were altered at a rate of 13%. By comprehensively analyzing the expression, clinical pathological parameters and prognostic value of ING family genes, ING1/5 was identified. ING1/5 was related to poor prognosis of LIHC, suggesting that they may play key roles in LIHC tumorigenesis and progression. One of the target miRNAs of ING1 was identified as hsa-miR-214-3p. Two upstream lncRNAs of hsa-miR-214-3p, U91328.1, and HCG17, were identified. At the same time, we found that the expression of ING family genes was correlated with immune cell infiltration and immune checkpoint genes.

CONCLUSION

This study lays a foundation for further research on the potential mechanism and clinical value of ING family genes in the treatment and prognosis of LIHC.

Comprehensive analysis of clinical and biological value of ING family genes in liver cancer

BACKGROUND

Liver cancer (LIHC) is a malignant tumor that occurs in the liver and has a high mortality in cancer. The ING family genes were identified as tumor suppressor genes. Dysregulated expression of these genes can lead to cell cycle arrest, senescence and/or apoptosis. ING family genes are promising targets for anticancer therapy. However, their role in LIHC is still not well understood.

AIM

To have a better understanding of the important roles of ING family members in LIHC.

METHODS

A series of bioinformatics approaches (including gene expression analysis, genetic alteration analysis, survival analysis, immune infiltration analysis, prediction of upstream microRNAs (miRNAs) and long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) of ING1, and ING1-related gene functional enrichment analysis) was applied to study the expression profile, clinical relationship, prognostic significance and immune infiltration of ING in LIHC. The relationship between ING family genes expression and tumor associated immune checkpoints was investigated in LIHC. The molecular mechanism of ING1 mediated hepatocarcinogenesis was preliminarily discussed.

RESULTS

mRNA/protein expression of different ING family genes in LIHC was analyzed in different databases, showing that ING family genes were highly expressed in LIHC. In 47 samples from 366 LIHC patients, the ING family genes were altered at a rate of 13%. By comprehensively analyzing the expression, clinical pathological parameters and prognostic value of ING family genes, ING1/5 was identified. ING1/5 was related to poor prognosis of LIHC, suggesting that they may play key roles in LIHC tumorigenesis and progression. One of the target miRNAs of ING1 was identified as hsa-miR-214-3p. Two upstream lncRNAs of hsa-miR-214-3p, U91328.1, and HCG17, were identified. At the same time, we found that the expression of ING family genes was correlated with immune cell infiltration and immune checkpoint genes.

CONCLUSION

This study lays a foundation for further research on the potential mechanism and clinical value of ING family genes in the treatment and prognosis of LIHC.

Unlocking the potential of pyroptosis in tumor immunotherapy: a new horizon in cancer treatment

Background

The interaction between pyroptosis-a form of programmed cell death-and tumor immunity represents a burgeoning field of interest. Pyroptosis exhibits a dual role in cancer: it can both promote tumor development and counteract it by activating immune responses that inhibit tumor evasion and encourage cell death. Current tumor immunotherapy strategies, notably CAR-T cell therapy and immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), alongside the potential of certain traditional Chinese medicinal compounds, highlight the intricate relationship between pyroptosis and cancer immunity. As research delves deeper into pyroptosis mechanisms within tumor therapy, its application in enhancing tumor immune responses emerges as a novel research avenue.

Purpose

This review aims to elucidate the mechanisms underlying pyroptosis, its impact on tumor biology, and the advancements in tumor immunotherapy research.

Methods

A comprehensive literature review was conducted across PubMed, Embase, CNKI, and Wanfang Database from the inception of the study until August 22, 2023. The search employed keywords such as "pyroptosis", "cancer", "tumor", "mechanism", "immunity", "gasdermin", "ICB", "CAR-T", "PD-1", "PD-L1", "herbal medicine", "botanical medicine", "Chinese medicine", "traditional Chinese medicine", "immunotherapy", linked by AND/OR, to capture the latest findings in pyroptosis and tumor immunotherapy.

Results

Pyroptosis is governed by a complex mechanism, with the Gasdermin family playing a pivotal role. While promising for tumor immunotherapy application, research into pyroptosis's effect on tumor immunity is still evolving. Notably, certain traditional Chinese medicine ingredients have been identified as potential pyroptosis inducers, meriting further exploration.

Conclusion

This review consolidates current knowledge on pyroptosis's role in tumor immunotherapy. It reveals pyroptosis as a beneficial factor in the immunotherapeutic landscape, suggesting that leveraging pyroptosis for developing novel cancer treatment strategies, including those involving traditional Chinese medicine, represents a forward-looking approach in oncology.

The essential link: How STAT3 connects tumor metabolism to immunity

Immunotherapy is a promising and long-lasting tumor treatment method, but it is challenged by the complex metabolism of tumors. To optimize immunotherapy, it is essential to further investigate the key proteins that regulate tumor metabolism and immune response. STAT3 plays a crucial role in regulating tumor dynamic metabolism and affecting immune cell function by responding to various cytokines and growth factors, which can be used as a potential target for immunotherapy. This review focuses on the crosstalk between STAT3 and tumor metabolism (including glucose, lipid, and amino acid metabolism) and its impact on the differentiation and function of immune cells such as T cells, tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs), and myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs), and reveals potential treatment strategies.

Integration of multiomics analyses reveals unique insights into CD24-mediated immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment of breast cancer

BACKGROUND

Tumor immunotherapy brings new light and vitality to breast cancer patients, but low response rate and limitations of therapeutic targets become major obstacles to its clinical application. Recent studies have shown that CD24 is involved in an important process of tumor immune regulation in breast cancer and is a promising target for immunotherapy.

METHODS

In this study, singleR was used to annotate each cell subpopulation after t-distributed stochastic neighbor embedding (t-SNE) methods. Pseudo-time trace analysis and cell communication were analyzed by Monocle2 package and CellChat, respectively. A prognostic model based on CD24-related genes was constructed using several machine learning methods. Multiple quantitative immunofluorescence (MQIF) was used to evaluate the spatial relationship between CD24+PANCK+cells and exhausted CD8+T cells.

RESULTS

Based on the scRNA-seq analysis, 1488 CD24-related differential genes were identified, and a risk model consisting of 15 prognostic characteristic genes was constructed by combining the bulk RNA-seq data. Patients were divided into high- and low-risk groups based on the median risk score. Immune landscape analysis showed that the low-risk group showed higher infiltration of immune-promoting cells and stronger immune reactivity. The results of cell communication demonstrated a strong interaction between CD24+epithelial cells and CD8+T cells. Subsequent MQIF demonstrated a strong interaction between CD24+PANCK+ and exhausted CD8+T cells with FOXP3+ in breast cancer. Additionally, CD24+PANCK+ and CD8+FOXP3+T cells were positively associated with lower survival rates.

CONCLUSION

This study highlights the importance of CD24+breast cancer cells in clinical prognosis and immunosuppressive microenvironment, which may provide a new direction for improving patient outcomes.

Advances in nano-immunotherapy for hematological malignancies

Hematological malignancies (HMs) encompass a diverse group of blood neoplasms with significant morbidity and mortality. Immunotherapy has emerged as a validated and crucial treatment modality for patients with HMs. Despite notable advancements having been made in understanding and implementing immunotherapy for HMs over the past decade, several challenges persist. These challenges include immune-related adverse effects, the precise biodistribution and elimination of therapeutic antigens in vivo, immune tolerance of tumors, and immune evasion by tumor cells within the tumor microenvironment (TME). Nanotechnology, with its capacity to manipulate material properties at the nanometer scale, has the potential to tackle these obstacles and revolutionize treatment outcomes by improving various aspects such as drug targeting and stability. The convergence of nanotechnology and immunotherapy has given rise to nano-immunotherapy, a specialized branch of anti-tumor therapy. Nanotechnology has found applications in chimeric antigen receptor T cell (CAR-T) therapy, cancer vaccines, immune checkpoint inhibitors, and other immunotherapeutic strategies for HMs. In this review, we delineate recent developments and discuss current challenges in the field of nano-immunotherapy for HMs, offering novel insights into the potential of nanotechnology-based therapeutic approaches for these diseases.

The Importance of HHLA2 in Solid Tumors-A Review of the Literature

Cancer immunotherapy is a rapidly developing field of medicine that aims to use the host's immune mechanisms to inhibit and eliminate cancer cells. Antibodies targeting CTLA-4, PD-1, and its ligand PD-L1 are used in various cancer therapies. However, the most thoroughly researched pathway targeting PD-1/PD-L1 has many limitations, and multiple malignancies resist its effects. Human endogenous retrovirus-H Long repeat-associating 2 (HHLA2, known as B7H5/B7H7/B7y) is the youngest known molecule from the B7 family. HHLA2/TMIGD2/KIRD3DL3 is one of the critical pathways in modulating the immune response. Recent studies have demonstrated that HHLA2 has a double effect in modulating the immune system. The connection of HHLA2 with TMIGD2 induces T cell growth and cytokine production via an AKT-dependent signaling cascade. On the other hand, the binding of HHLA2 and KIR3DL3 leads to the inhibition of T cells and mediates tumor resistance against NK cells. This review aimed to summarize novel information about HHLA2, focusing on immunological mechanisms and clinical features of the HHLA2/KIR3DL3/TMIGD2 pathway in the context of potential strategies for malignancy treatment.

TUBB, a robust biomarker with satisfying abilities in diagnosis, prognosis, and immune regulation via a comprehensive pan-cancer analysis

Purpose

TUBB can encode a beta-tubulin protein. At present, the role of TUBB has not been ascertained in cancers. Hence, the importance of further systematic pan-cancer analyses is stressed to explore its value in the diagnosis, prognosis, and immune function of cancers.

Methods

By collecting and handling integrative data from the TCGA, Firehose, UCSC Xena, cBioPortal, GEO, CPTAC, TIMER2.0, TISCH, CellMiner, GDSC, and CTRP databases, we explored the potential diagnostic and prognostic roles of TUBB in pan-cancers from multiple angles. Moreover, the GSEA analysis was conducted to excavate the biological functions of TUBB in pan-cancers. In addition, survival profiles were described, and the differential expressions of TUBB in different molecular subtypes were discussed. Also, we utilized the cMAP function to search drugs or micro-molecules that have an impact on TUBB expressions.

Results

Based on the TCGA data, we found that TUBB was differentially expressed in a variety of tumors and showed an early-diagnostic value. Mutations, somatic copy number alterations, and DNA methylation would lead to its abnormal expression. TUBB expressions had relations with many clinical features. What's more, TUBB expressions were validated to be related to many metabolism-related, metastasis-related, and immune-related pathways. High TUBB expressions were proved to have a great impact on the prognosis of various types of cancers and would affect the sensitivity of some drugs. We also demonstrated that the expression of TUBB was significantly correlated to immunoregulator molecules and biomarkers of lymphocyte subpopulation infiltration.

Conclusion

TUBB and its regulatory genes were systemically analyzed in this study, showing that TUBB had satisfying performances in disease diagnosing and prognosis predicting of multiple cancers. It could remodel the tumor microenvironment and play an integral role in guiding cancer therapies and forecasting responses to chemotherapy.

Nanomedicine-induced cell pyroptosis to enhance antitumor immunotherapy

Immunotherapy is a therapeutic modality designed to elicit or augment an immune response against malignancies. Despite the immune system's ability to detect and eradicate neoplastic cells, certain neoplastic cells can elude immune surveillance and elimination through diverse mechanisms. Therefore, antitumor immunotherapy has emerged as a propitious strategy. Pyroptosis, a type of programmed cell death (PCD) regulated by Gasdermin (GSDM), is associated with cytomembrane rupture due to continuous cell expansion, which results in the release of cellular contents that can trigger robust inflammatory and immune responses. The field of nanomedicine has made promising progress, enabling the application of nanotechnology to enhance the effectiveness and specificity of cancer therapy by potentiating, enabling, or augmenting pyroptosis. In this review, we comprehensively examine the paradigms underlying antitumor immunity, particularly paradigms related to nanotherapeutics combined with pyroptosis; these treatments include chemotherapy (CT), hyperthermia therapy, photodynamic therapy (PDT), chemodynamic therapy (CDT), ion-interference therapy (IIT), biomimetic therapy, and combination therapy. Furthermore, we thoroughly discuss the coordinated mechanisms that regulate these paradigms. This review is expected to enhance the understanding of the interplay between pyroptosis and antitumor immunotherapy, broaden the utilization of diverse nanomaterials in pyroptosis-based antitumor immunotherapy, and facilitate advancements in clinical tumor therapy.

RNA modification-related EIF4G2 is an immunotherapy determinant in osteosarcoma: A single-cell sequencing analysis

The clinical outcomes of osteosarcoma are relatively dismal. As immunotherapy has revolutionized treatment for solid tumors, exploring novel immunotherapy-related therapeutic targets for osteosarcoma is important. In this study, we aimed to establish the connection between RNA modification and immunotherapy in osteosarcoma to identify novel therapeutic targets. An RNA modification-related signature was first developed using weight gene correlation network analysis and a machine-learning algorithm, random forest. The signature's prognostic value, drug prediction, and immune characteristics were analyzed. EIF4G2 from the signature was next identified as a critical immunotherapy determinant. EIF4G2 could also promote tumor proliferation, migration, and M2 macrophage migration by single-cell sequencing analysis and in vitro validation. Our signature and EIF4G2 are expected to provide valuable insights into the clinical management of osteosarcoma.

Advances in the study of tertiary lymphoid structures in the immunotherapy of breast cancer

Breast cancer, as one of the most common malignancies in women, exhibits complex and heterogeneous pathological characteristics across different subtypes. Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) and HER2-positive breast cancer are two common and highly invasive subtypes within breast cancer. The stability of the breast microbiota is closely intertwined with the immune environment, and immunotherapy is a common approach for treating breast cancer.Tertiary lymphoid structures (TLSs), recently discovered immune cell aggregates surrounding breast cancer, resemble secondary lymphoid organs (SLOs) and are associated with the prognosis and survival of some breast cancer patients, offering new avenues for immunotherapy. Machine learning, as a form of artificial intelligence, has increasingly been used for detecting biomarkers and constructing tumor prognosis models. This article systematically reviews the latest research progress on TLSs in breast cancer and the application of machine learning in the detection of TLSs and the study of breast cancer prognosis. The insights provided contribute valuable perspectives for further exploring the biological differences among different subtypes of breast cancer and formulating personalized treatment strategies.

From structural design to delivery: mRNA therapeutics for cancer immunotherapy

mRNA therapeutics have emerged as powerful tools for cancer immunotherapy in accordance with their superiority in expressing all sequence-known proteins in vivo. In particular, with a small dosage of delivered mRNA, antigen-presenting cells (APCs) can synthesize mutant neo-antigens and multi-antigens and present epitopes to T lymphocytes to elicit antitumor effects. In addition, expressing receptors like chimeric antigen receptor (CAR), T-cell receptor (TCR), CD134, and immune-modulating factors including cytokines, interferons, and antibodies in specific cells can enhance immunological response against tumors. With the maturation of in vitro transcription (IVT) technology, large-scale and pure mRNA encoding specific proteins can be synthesized quickly. However, the clinical translation of mRNA-based anticancer strategies is restricted by delivering mRNA into target organs or cells and the inadequate endosomal escape efficiency of mRNA. Recently, there have been some advances in mRNA-based cancer immunotherapy, which can be roughly classified as modifications of the mRNA structure and the development of delivery systems, especially the lipid nanoparticle platforms. In this review, the latest strategies for overcoming the limitations of mRNA-based cancer immunotherapies and the recent advances in delivering mRNA into specific organs and cells are summarized. Challenges and opportunities for clinical applications of mRNA-based cancer immunotherapy are also discussed.

Extracellular vesicle-mediated communication between CD8+ cytotoxic T cells and tumor cells

Tumors pose a significant global public health challenge, resulting in numerous fatalities annually. CD8+ T cells play a crucial role in combating tumors; however, their effectiveness is compromised by the tumor itself and the tumor microenvironment (TME), resulting in reduced efficacy of immunotherapy. In this dynamic interplay, extracellular vesicles (EVs) have emerged as pivotal mediators, facilitating direct and indirect communication between tumors and CD8+ T cells. In this article, we provide an overview of how tumor-derived EVs directly regulate CD8+ T cell function by carrying bioactive molecules they carry internally and on their surface. Simultaneously, these EVs modulate the TME, indirectly influencing the efficiency of CD8+ T cell responses. Furthermore, EVs derived from CD8+ T cells exhibit a dual role: they promote tumor immune evasion while also enhancing antitumor activity. Finally, we briefly discuss current prevailing approaches that utilize functionalized EVs based on tumor-targeted therapy and tumor immunotherapy. These approaches aim to present novel perspectives for EV-based tumor treatment strategies, demonstrating potential for advancements in the field.

A pan-cancer multi-omics analysis of lactylation genes associated with tumor microenvironment and cancer development

Background

Lactylation is a significant post-translational modification bridging the gap between cancer epigenetics and metabolic reprogramming. However, the association between lactylation and prognosis, tumor microenvironment (TME), and response to drug therapy in various cancers remains unclear.

Methods

First, the expression, prognostic value, and genetic and epigenetic alterations of lactylation genes were systematically explored in a pan-cancer manner. Lactylation scores were derived for each tumor using the single-sample gene set enrichment analysis (ssGSEA) algorithm. The correlation of lactylation scores with clinical features, prognosis, and TME was assessed by integrating multiple computational methods. In addition, GSE135222 data was used to assess the efficacy of lactylation scores in predicting immunotherapy outcomes. The expression of lactylation genes in breast cancers and gliomas were verified by RNA-sequencing.

Results

Lactylation genes were significantly upregulated in most cancer types. CREBBP and EP300 exhibited high mutation rates in pan-cancer analysis. The prognostic impact of the lactylation score varied by tumor type, and lactylation score was a protective factor for KIRC, ACC, READ, LGG, and UVM, and a risk factor for CHOL, DLBC, LAML, and OV. In addition, a high lactylation score was associated with cold TME. The infiltration levels of CD8+ T, γδT, natural killer T cell (NKT), and NK cells were lower in tumors with higher lactylation scores. Finally, immunotherapy efficacy was worse in patients with high lactylation scores than other types.

Conclusion

Lactylation genes are involved in malignancy formation. Lactylation score serves as a promising biomarker for predicting patient prognosis and immunotherapy efficacy.

DLGAP5 promotes lung adenocarcinoma growth via upregulating PLK1 and serves as a therapeutic target

BACKGROUND

Human discs large-associated protein 5 (DLGAP5) is reported to play a pivotal role in regulating the cell cycle and implicate in tumorigenesis and progression of various cancers. Our current research endeavored to explore the prognostic value, immune implication, biological function and targeting strategy of DLGAP5 in LUAD through approaches including bioinformatics, network pharmacology analysis and experimental study.

METHODS

Multiple databases, including TCGA, GEO, CPTAC and Human Protein Atlas, were utilized to explore the expression and clinical significance of DLGAP5 in LUAD. The genetic alterations of DLGAP5 were assessed through cBioPortal and COSMIC databases. The relationship between DLGAP5 expression and genetic abnormalities of driver genes in LUAD was analyzed through TIMER2.0 database. CancerSEA database was utilized to explore the function of DLGAP5 in 14 different states in LUAD at single-cell resolution. GDSC database was utilized to analyze the impact of DLGAP5 on IC50 of frequently-used anti-LUAD drugs. CIBERSORT method and TIMER2.0 database was utilized to explore the relationship between DLGAP5 and tumor immune infiltration. Network pharmacology was applied to screen potential DLGAP5 inhibitor. In vitro and in vivo experiments were utilized to evaluate biological function and downstream targets of DLGAP5, and the effect of screened DLGAP5 inhibitor on LUAD growth.

RESULTS

High DLGAP5 expression was commonly observed in LUAD and associated with mutation of major driver genes, poor prognosis, high IC50 values of frequently-used anti-LUAD drugs, increasing immune infiltration and elevated immune checkpoint blockade-related genes in LUAD. PLK1 was revealed as a potential DLGAP5 downstream target in LUAD. DLGAP5 overexpression or knockdown significantly promoted or inhibited LUAD cell proliferation and PLK1 expression. PLK1 overexpression well rescued DLGAP5 knockdown-induced cell proliferation inhibition, or vice versa. Furthermore, by virtual screening of an investigational drug library from the DrugBank database, AT9283 was screened and identified as a novel DLGAP5 inhibitor. AT9283 effectively suppressed growth of LUAD cells both in vitro and in vivo. DLGAP5 overexpression significantly reversed AT9283-induced proliferation inhibition. Moreover, AT9283 significantly suppressed DLGAP5 and PLK1 expression, while DLGAP5 overexpression significantly reversed AT9283-induced PLK1 suppression.

CONCLUSION

Our research has demonstrated that DLGAP5 is upregulated in LUAD and exhibits a strong correlation with unfavorable prognosis. Furthermore, DLGAP5 assumes a significant function in the regulation of tumor immunity and treatment outcome of immune checkpoint inhibitors. Of note, we found that DLGAP5 promotes cell proliferation of LUAD via upregulating PLK1. Targeting DLGAP5 by AT9283, our newly identified DLGAP5 inhibitor, suppresses LUAD growth. DLGAP5 may become a promising prognostic biomarker and therapeutic target for patients with LUAD.

Nephrological Detrimental Impacts Resulting From Novel Immunotherapy Drugs Used in the Treatment of Cancer: A Systematic Review

The most recent advancements in cancer therapy center on efficiently and conveniently enhancing a patient's natural immune system. Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) are antibodies that target cytotoxic thymus (T) lymphocyte antigen-4 (CTLA-4) and its receptor. They function by stimulating T-cell activity against malignancies. Immune-related adverse events (irAEs) are a distinct class of inflammatory side effects that are specific to a given organ. Antineoplastic medications can impact any part of the kidney, leading to the development of proteinuria, hypertension, electrolyte abnormalities, glomerulonephritis, and both acute and chronic interstitial nephritis. We reviewed the scientific literature regarding kidney problems that can arise from chemotherapy and immunotherapy for neoplasms, such as various cancers, melanoma, non-small cell lung cancer, and colorectal cancer. We discussed the pathophysiology, associated risk factors, management, and safety measures for patients experiencing acute renal injury after a new immunotherapy medication treatment. Antineoplastic drugs have the potential to damage the renal tubules, glomeruli, parenchyma, and blood vessels, among other kidney tissues. This can result in a broad spectrum of complications, spanning from a rise in serum creatinine levels without symptoms to the development of acute kidney injury (AKI). The research examined a range of risk factors associated with acute kidney injury (AKI). These factors encompassed age, gender, preexisting medical conditions (such as diabetes, hypertension, and chronic kidney disease), and the medications that patients were taking at the beginning of the study, which included non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, renin-angiotensin system inhibitors, allopurinol, diuretics, corticosteroids, and proton pump inhibitors. The data suggests that patients who were receiving baseline treatment with proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) or corticosteroids had a higher risk of mortality. This study serves as an illustration of the effective management of acute kidney injury and proteinuria linked to novel immunotherapy drugs like pembrolizumab. The approach involved the use of corticosteroids tailored to the patient's condition. Furthermore, it references the recommendations outlined in the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE). Prompt recognition and effective management of these side effects are essential to optimizing outcomes for patients undergoing immunotherapy. Our results were refined and focused by utilizing Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) keywords in our search strategy. The MeSH keywords used were "renal side effects" OR "immunotherapy" OR "cancer treatment." The studies reviewed encompassed a total of 48,529 participants among the 21 studies examined.

The integration of multi-omics analysis and machine learning for the identification of prognostic assessment and immunotherapy efficacy through aging-associated genes in lung cancer

BACKGROUND

Recent years revealed key molecules in lung cancer research, yet their exact roles in disease onset and progression remain uncertain. Lung cancer's heterogeneity complicates prognosis prediction. This study integrates pivotal molecules to evaluate patient prognosis and immunotherapy efficacy.

METHODS

The WGCNA algorithm identified module genes linked to immunity. The Lasso-Cox method built a prognostic model for outcome prediction. GO and KEGG analyses explored gene pathways. ssGSEA quantified immune cell types and functions. The riskScore predicts the effectiveness of immunotherapy based on its correlation with DNA repair and immune checkpoint genes. Single-cell sequencing examined key gene expression across cell types.

RESULTS

Using WGCNA, we identified the MEbrown module related to immunity. Lasso-Cox selected "BLK," "ITGB4," "PRKCH," and "SNAI1" for the prognostic model. MF analysis revealed enriched functions including antigen binding, GTPase regulator activity. In terms of BP, processes like immune signaling and mitotic division were enriched. CC enrichment included immunoglobulin complexes and chromosomal regions. Enriched pathways encompassed Cell cycle, Focal adhesion, Cellular senescence, and p53 signaling. ssGSEA evaluated immune cell abundance. RiskScore correlated with CTLA4 and PD1 through MMR and immune checkpoint analysis. Single-cell analysis indicated gene expression across cell types for BLK, ITGB4, PRKCH, and SNAI1.

CONCLUSION

In summary, our developed prognostic model utilizing age-related genes effectively predicts lung cancer prognosis and the efficacy of immune therapy.

Knowledge mapping of immunotherapy in cervical carcinoma: a bibliometric analysis (2000-2023)

Background

Cervical carcinoma is a type of malignant tumor that primarily develops in the cervix, the lower part of the uterus. In recent years, Despite the considerable progress made in immunotherapy research for cervical carcinoma, an important aspect has been largely overlooked - the absence of a comprehensive bibliometric analysis in this field. By employing bibliometric techniques, this study aims to fill this gap and provide a comprehensive overview of the knowledge structure and research hotspots within the realm of immunotherapy in cervical carcinoma.

Method

A comprehensive search was conducted on the web of science core collection(WoSCC) database to identify publications related to immunotherapy specifically for the treatment of cervical carcinoma. The search spanned the period from the year 2000 to 2023. Several analytical tools were employed. These included VOSviewers, CiteSpace, and the R package "bibliometrix".

Results

A total of 654 research articles from 66 different countries have been included in the analysis. The United States and China have emerged as the leading countries in publishing research on immunotherapy in cervical carcinoma. Leiden University and Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center from the Netherlands and the United States respectively have a close cooperation. Fudan University from China and the German Cancer Research Center are also among the key institutions leading research in this area. Frontiers in Oncology has emerged as the most popular and widely recognized publication in the field of immunotherapy in cervical carcinoma. Journal of Clinical Oncology is frequently cited by researchers in this area. Van Der Burg, Sjoerd H has published the highest number of papers. Tewari, Krishnansu S has been the most co-cited author. Keywords such as PD-L1, chemotherapy, and immune checkpoint inhibitors have gained significant attention in recent years.

Conclusion

This is the first bibliometric study that comprehensively summarizes the research trends and developments of immunotherapy in cervical carcinoma. This groundbreaking study not only summarizes the current research trends and developments in immunotherapy for cervical carcinoma but also provides a reference for scholars studying the treatment of cervical cancer.

Integrating single-cell and bulk transcriptomic analyses to develop a cancer-associated fibroblast-derived biomarker for predicting prognosis and therapeutic response in breast cancer

Background

Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) contribute to the progression and treatment of breast cancer (BRCA); however, risk signatures and molecular targets based on CAFs are limited. This study aims to identify novel CAF-related biomarkers to develop a risk signature for predicting the prognosis and therapeutic response of patients with BRCA.

Methods

CAF-related genes (CAFRGs) and a risk signature based on these genes were comprehensively analyzed using publicly available bulk and single-cell transcriptomic datasets. Modular genes identified from bulk sequencing data were intersected with CAF marker genes identified from single-cell analysis to obtain reliable CAFRGs. Signature CAFRGs were screened via Cox regression and least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) analyses. Multiple patient cohorts were used to validate the prognosis and therapeutic responsiveness of high-risk patients stratified based on the CAFRG-based signature. In addition, the relationship between the CAFRG-based signature and clinicopathological factors, tumor immune landscape, functional pathways, chemotherapy sensitivity and immunotherapy sensitivity was examined. External datasets were used and sample experiments were performed to examine the expression pattern of MFAP4, a key CAFRG, in BRCA.

Results

Integrated analyses of single-cell and bulk transcriptomic data as well as prognostic screening revealed a total of 43 prognostic CAFRGs; of which, 14 genes (TLN2, SGCE, SDC1, SAV1, RUNX1, PDLIM4, OSMR, NT5E, MFAP4, IGFBP6, CTSO, COL12A1, CCDC8 and C1S) were identified as signature CAFRGs. The CAFRG-based risk signature exhibited favorable efficiency and accuracy in predicting survival outcomes and clinicopathological progression in multiple BRCA cohorts. Functional enrichment analysis suggested the involvement of the immune system, and the immune infiltration landscape significantly differed between the risk groups. Patients with high CAF-related risk scores (CAFRSs) exhibited tumor immunosuppression, enhanced cancer hallmarks and hyposensitivity to chemotherapy and immunotherapy. Five compounds were identified as promising therapeutic agents for high-CAFRS BRCA. External datasets and sample experiments validated the downregulation of MFAP4 and its strong correlation with CAFs in BRCA.

Conclusions

A novel CAF-derived gene signature with favorable predictive performance was developed in this study. This signature may be used to assess prognosis and guide individualized treatment for patients with BRCA.

Tertiary lymphoid structures in gynecological cancers: prognostic role, methods for evaluating, antitumor immunity, and induction for therapy

Tertiary lymphoid structures (TLSs), referred to as tertiary lymphoid organs and lymphoid tissue neogenesis, are aggregates of immune cells that occur in nonlymphoid tissues. In recent years, it has been found that TLSs within the tumor microenvironment have been associated with local adaptive immune immunity against cancer and favorable prognosis in several human solid tumors, including gynecological cancers. The issue of the prognosis of gynecological cancers, including endometrial, cervical, and ovarian cancer, is an enormous challenge that many clinical doctors and researchers are now facing. Concerning the predictive prognostic role of TLSs, effective evaluation, and quantification of TLSs in human tissues may be used to assist gynecologists in assessing the clinical outcome of gynecological cancer patients. This review summarizes the current knowledge of TLSs in gynecological cancers, mainly focusing on the potential mechanism of TLS neogenesis, methods for evaluating TLSs, their prognostic value, and their role in antitumor immune immunity. This review also discusses the new therapeutic methods currently being explored in gynecological cancers to induce the formation of TLSs.

Prognostic value analysis of cholesterol and cholesterol homeostasis related genes in breast cancer by Mendelian randomization and multi-omics machine learning

Introduction

The high incidence of breast cancer (BC) prompted us to explore more factors that might affect its occurrence, development, treatment, and also recurrence. Dysregulation of cholesterol metabolism has been widely observed in BC; however, the detailed role of how cholesterol metabolism affects chemo-sensitivity, and immune response, as well as the clinical outcome of BC is unknown.

Methods

With Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis, the potential causal relationship between genetic variants of cholesterol and BC risk was assessed first. Then we analyzed 73 cholesterol homeostasis-related genes (CHGs) in BC samples and their expression patterns in the TCGA cohort with consensus clustering analysis, aiming to figure out the relationship between cholesterol homeostasis and BC prognosis. Based on the CHG analysis, we established a CAG_score used for predicting therapeutic response and overall survival (OS) of BC patients. Furthermore, a machine learning method was adopted to accurately predict the prognosis of BC patients by comparing multi-omics differences of different risk groups.

Results

We observed that the alterations in plasma cholesterol appear to be correlative with the venture of BC (MR Egger, OR: 0.54, 95% CI: 0.35-0.84, p<0.006). The expression patterns of CHGs were classified into two distinct groups(C1 and C2). Notably, the C1 group exhibited a favorable prognosis characterized by a suppressed immune response and enhanced cholesterol metabolism in comparison to the C2 group. In addition, high CHG score were accompanied by high performance of tumor angiogenesis genes. Interestingly, the expression of vascular genes (CDH5, CLDN5, TIE1, JAM2, TEK) is lower in patients with high expression of CHGs, which means that these patients have poorer vascular stability. The CAG_score exhibits robust predictive capability for the immune microenvironment characteristics and prognosis of patients(AUC=0.79). It can also optimize the administration of various first-line drugs, including AKT inhibitors VIII Imatinib, Crizotinib, Saracatinib, Erlotinib, Dasatinib, Rapamycin, Roscovitine and Shikonin in BC patients. Finally, we employed machine learning techniques to construct a multi-omics prediction model(Risklight),with an area under the feature curve (AUC) of up to 0.89.

Conclusion

With the help of CAG_score and Risklight, we reveal the signature of cholesterol homeostasis-related genes for angiogenesis, immune responses, and the therapeutic response in breast cancer, which contributes to precision medicine and improved prognosis of BC.

Phytochemical-Based Nanomedicine for Targeting Tumor Microenvironment and Inhibiting Cancer Chemoresistance: Recent Advances and Pharmacological Insights

Cancer remains the leading cause of death and rapidly evolving disease worldwide. The understanding of disease pathophysiology has improved through advanced research investigation, and several therapeutic strategies are being used for better cancer treatment. However, the increase in cancer relapse and metastatic-related deaths indicate that available therapies and clinically approved chemotherapy drugs are not sufficient to combat cancer. Further, the constant crosstalk between tumor cells and the tumor microenvironment (TME) is crucial for the development, progression, metastasis, and therapeutic response to tumors. In this regard, phytochemicals with multimodal targeting abilities can be used as an alternative to current cancer therapy by inhibiting cancer survival pathways or modulating TME. However, due to their poor pharmacokinetics and low bioavailability, the success of phytochemicals in clinical trials is limited. Therefore, developing phytochemical-based nanomedicine or phytonanomedicine can improve the pharmacokinetic profile of these phytochemicals. Herein, the molecular characteristics and pharmacological insights of the proposed phytonanomedicine in cancer therapy targeting tumor tissue and altering the characteristics of cancer stem cells, chemoresistance, TME, and cancer immunity are well discussed. Further, we have highlighted the clinical perspective and challenges of phytonanomedicine in filling the gap in potential cancer therapeutics using various nanoplatforms. Overall, we have discussed how clinical success and pharmacological insights could make it more beneficial to boost the concept of nanomedicine in the academic and pharmaceutical fields to counter cancer metastases and drug resistance.

Liquid nitrogen frozen cells for chemotherapy drug delivery and vaccination of melanoma

PURPOSE

Cancer vaccine (CV) has thrived as a promising tool for cancer prevention and treatment. However, how to maintain the integrity and diversity of individualized vaccine antigens and activate the adaptive immune system is still challenging.

METHODS

Herein, a preventive and therapeutic vaccine platform for in situ effective multi-model synergistic therapy is developed. In our study, we process B16F10 cells by liquid nitrogen frozen (LNF) to obtain LNF cells, the characterization of LNF cells were conducted. Moreover,  the anti-tumor effect and immune activation ability were studied, and the role as a CV were investigated.

RESULTS

The LNF cells preserve intact cellular structure and tumor-associated self-antigen gp100. Moreover, LNF cells have the ability of loading and releasing doxorubicin (DOX). Except for the anti-tumor effect of chemotherapy brought by DOX, the LNF cells can promote the maturation of dendritic cells (DCs) and induce immune response by activating CD4+ and CD8+ T cells, particularly with the existence of adjuvant, R848. Specifically, the CD8+ T cells of mice in LNF-DOX/R848 group are 6 times of that in PBS group in tumor microenvironment, and twice in spleen. Therefore, LNF cells can also be utilized as a CV. Vaccination with LNF/R848 cells effectively suppress the tumor growth in mice by fivefold as compared to the control group.

CONCLUSION

In this work, we obtain the LNF cells with a simple procedure. The LNF cells not only provides a tumor cells-based multi-modal system for cancer therapy but inspires new insights into future development of individualized CVs strategies. This study processes live B16F10 cells by liquid nitrogen frozen to obtain LNF cells, which preserve cell integrity and homologous targeting ability. The LNF cells can load and deliver drug and can serve as tumor vaccine. Results demonstrated the LNF cells have effective prophylactic ability, and ideal anti-tumor ability with the loaded drug and adjuvant.

Akkermansia muciniphila: a potential booster to improve the effectiveness of cancer immunotherapy

Cancer immunotherapy has emerged as a groundbreaking method of treating malignancies. However, cancer immunotherapy can only benefit a small percentage of patients, and the numerous side effects that might develop during treatment reduce its effectiveness or even put patients' lives in jeopardy. Surprisingly, the gut microbiome Akkermansia muciniphila (A. muciniphila) can significantly inhibit carcinogenesis and improve anti-tumor effects, thus increasing the effectiveness of cancer immunotherapy and decreasing the likelihood of side effects. In this review, we focus on the effects of A. muciniphila on the human immune system and the positive impacts of A. muciniphila on cancer immunotherapy, which can build on strengths and improve weaknesses of cancer immunotherapy. The potential clinical applications of A. muciniphila on cancer immunotherapy are also proposed, which have great prospects for anti-tumor therapy.

Drug resistance mechanism and reversal strategy in lung cancer immunotherapy

Among all malignant tumors, lung cancer has the highest mortality and morbidity rates. The non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and small cell lung cancer (SCLC) are the most common histological subtypes. Although there are a number of internationally recognized lung cancer therapy regimens, their therapeutic effects remain inadequate. The outlook for individuals with lung carcinoma has ameliorated partly thanks to the intensive study of the tumor microenvironment and immune checkpoint inhibitors. Numerous cancers have been effectively treated with immunotherapy, which has had positive therapeutic results. Global clinical trials have validated that PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors are effective and safe for treating lung cancer either independently or in combination, and they are gradually being recommended as systemic treatment medications by numerous guidelines. However, the immunotherapy resistance restricts the immunotherapy efficacy due to the formation of tumor immunosuppressive microenvironment and tumor mutations, and immunotherapy is only effective for a small percentage of lung cancer patients. To summarize, while tumor immunotherapy is benefiting an increasing number of lung cancer patients, most of them still develop natural or acquired resistance during immunotherapy. Consequently, a crucial and urgent topic is understanding and tackling drug resistance triggered by immunotherapy in lung cancer treatment. This review will outline the presently recognized mechanisms of immunotherapy resistance and reversal strategies in lung cancer.

Recent advances in mRNA cancer vaccines: meeting challenges and embracing opportunities

Since the successful application of messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccines in preventing COVID-19, researchers have been striving to develop mRNA vaccines for clinical use, including those exploited for anti-tumor therapy. mRNA cancer vaccines have emerged as a promising novel approach to cancer immunotherapy, offering high specificity, better efficacy, and fewer side effects compared to traditional treatments. Multiple therapeutic mRNA cancer vaccines are being evaluated in preclinical and clinical trials, with promising early-phase results. However, the development of these vaccines faces various challenges, such as tumor heterogeneity, an immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment, and practical obstacles like vaccine administration methods and evaluation systems for clinical application. To address these challenges, we highlight recent advances from preclinical studies and clinical trials that provide insight into identifying obstacles associated with mRNA cancer vaccines and discuss potential strategies to overcome them. In the future, it is crucial to approach the development of mRNA cancer vaccines with caution and diligence while promoting innovation to overcome existing barriers. A delicate balance between opportunities and challenges will help guide the progress of this promising field towards its full potential.

Postoperative pathological complete response in a patient with PD‑L1‑negative stage IIIB lung squamous cell carcinoma following neoadjuvant tislelizumab treatment combined with chemotherapy: A case report and literature review

The utilization of immune checkpoint inhibitors in oncological treatment has increased in recent years. The therapeutic strategy of targeting the programmed death-1 (PD-1)/programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) pathway has altered the management of advanced non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC). Tislelizumab, a novel anti-PD-1 monoclonal antibody developed in China, has demonstrated efficacy in treating advanced NSCLC. However, its potential role as a neoadjuvant therapy for locally advanced NSCLC has not been definitively established. Current guidelines do not specify which patient populations may gain the most benefit from neoadjuvant immunotherapy coupled with chemotherapy, nor do they indicate the optimal timing, dose or duration of adjuvant maintenance therapy post-NSCLC surgery. Similarly, data concerning the safety and practicability of surgical resection following neoadjuvant tislelizumab treatment for NSCLC remain limited. The present study describes the case of a patient diagnosed with stage IIIB NSCLC, which was initially deemed unresectable. A preoperative biopsy of the tumor mass revealed squamous cell carcinoma and a negative PD-L1 gene test. Notably, after two cycles of neoadjuvant tislelizumab treatment coupled with chemotherapy, the tumor exhibited marked shrinkage. This permitted the patient to undergo thoracoscopic radical lung cancer resection, which resulted in a pathological complete response. Postoperative pathology identified a large infiltration of lymphoplasmacytic cells and foamy histiocytes. The patient experienced grade 2 myelosuppression, a condition that was successfully addressed with the administration of recombinant human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor. The present case indicates the safety and feasibility of neoadjuvant immunotherapy integrated with chemotherapy for patients with locally advanced, PD-L1-negative NSCLC prior to surgical intervention. Moreover, the case suggests the potential of this therapeutic combination to alter the tumor microenvironment. However, the generalization of these findings necessitates further validation through randomized multicenter trials.

Pan-cancer analysis and experimental validation revealed the m6A methyltransferase KIAA1429 as a potential biomarker for diagnosis, prognosis, and immunotherapy

BACKGROUND

KIAA1429, also known as VIRMA (vir-like m6A methyltransferase associated), plays a crucial role in tumorigenesis by modulating the level of m6A methylation. Previous studies have reported the prevalent overexpression of KIAA1429 in multiple cancers, related to a poor prognosis. Nevertheless, the precise role of KIAA1429 in tumor progression and its impact on the immune response remains unclear.

METHODS

A differential analysis of KIAA1429 expression was performed across cancers using data from the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and Genotype-Tissue Expression (GTEx) databases. We evaluated the role of KIAA1429 in the diagnosis, prognosis, and immunotherapy of tumor patients using bioinformatics methods. In addition, we also analyzed the associations between KIAA1429 and DNA methylation, immunotherapy. RT-qPCR was used to study the expression levels of KIAA1429 mRNA in 11 cell lines.

RESULTS

KIAA1429 is found to be overexpressed in 28 cancer types, but its expression is relatively low in patients with acute myeloid leukemia (LAML) and ovarian serous cystadenocarcinoma (OV). Moreover, KIAA1429 demonstrates a positive correlation with advanced stages of multiple cancers. Kaplan-Meier (KM) analysis suggested that patients with elevated KIAA1429 expression had shorter survival. Furthermore, KIAA1429 shows strong associations with DNA methylation, tumor-infiltrating immune cells (TIICs), and the tumor microenvironment (TME). RT-qPCR results indicated significantly higher expression of KIAA1429 in tumor cells compared to matched-normal cells.

CONCLUSIONS

In summary, our work illustrates that KIAA1429 expression is positively connected with poor prognosis in multiple cancers. Moreover, KIAA1429 could serve as a diagnostic factor and a predictor of immune response for specific tumor types.

ATRX loss suppresses the type I interferon response in sarcoma cells through chromatin remodeling

Sarcomas constitute a heterogeneous group of mesenchymal cancers and are particularly common in children and adolescents, leading to significant lethality. Therefore, it is necessary to understand the underlying mechanisms by which genetic alterations promote sarcoma progression. Here, we demonstrate that loss-of-function of ATRX, a member of the SWI/SNF DNA-remodeling family, represses the interferon (IFN)-β response by inducing chromatin remodeling in sarcoma cells. We show that ATRX mutations are associated with worse prognosis and attenuate IFN-α/β response in patients with specific types of sarcomas. Using poly(I:C) as a stimulation model, we show that natural ATRX mutation or ATRX depletion via CRISPR/Cas9 or siRNA significantly suppresses the expression of IFNB1 and other cytokines in sarcoma cells. Moreover, RNA-seq data reveal that ATRX ablation globally influences the expression pattern of poly(I:C)-stimulated genes (PSGs). Through ATAC-seq, we show that ATRX loss enhance chromatin accessibility generally, which consistent with the heterochromatin modulating function of ATRX. However, a set of PSGs display a decrease of chromatin accessibility after ATRX depletion, indicating that ATRX promote the transcription of these genes through chromatin remodeling. Thus, we highlight that ATRX mutation plays critical roles in blocking Type I IFN signaling in sarcoma cells and point out the clinical importance of this effect on sarcoma treatment.

The role of organoids in cancer research

Organoids are established through in vitro 3D culture, and they can mimic the structure and physiological functions of organs or tissues in vivo. Organoids have attracted much attention in recent years. They can provide a reliable technology platform for cancer research and treatment and are a valuable preclinical model for academic research and personalized medicine. A number of studies have confirmed that organoids have great application prospects in new drug development, drug screening, tumour mechanism research, and precision medicine. In this review, we mainly focus on recent advances in the application of organoids in cancer research. We also discussed the opportunities and challenges facing organoids, hoping to indicate directions for the development of organoids in the future.

Biomaterial-enabled therapeutic modulation of cGAS-STING signaling for enhancing antitumor immunity

cGAS-STING signaling is a central component in the therapeutic action of most existing cancer therapies. The accumulated knowledge of tumor immunoregulatory network in recent years has spurred the development of cGAS-STING agonists for tumor treatment as an effective immunotherapeutic strategy. However, the clinical translation of these agonists is thus far unsatisfactory because of the low immunostimulatory efficacy and unrestricted side effects under clinically relevant conditions. Interestingly, the rational integration of biomaterial technology offers a promising approach to overcome these limitations for more effective and safer cGAS-STING-mediated tumor therapy. Herein, we first outline the cGAS-STING signaling axis and generally discuss its association with tumors. We then symmetrically summarize the recent progress in those biomaterial-based cGAS-STING agonism strategies to generate robust antitumor immunity, categorized by the chemical nature of those cGAS-STING stimulants and carrier substrates. Finally, a perspective is provided to discuss the existing challenges and potential opportunities in cGAS-STING modulation for tumor therapy.

Polysaccharide-Based Stimulus-Responsive Nanomedicines for Combination Cancer Immunotherapy

Cancer immunotherapy is a promising antitumor approach, whereas nontherapeutic side effects, tumor microenvironment (TME) intricacy, and low tumor immunogenicity limit its therapeutic efficacy. In recent years, combination immunotherapy with other therapies has been proven to considerably increase antitumor efficacy. However, achieving codelivery of the drugs to the tumor site remains a major challenge. Stimulus-responsive nanodelivery systems show controlled drug delivery and precise drug release. Polysaccharides, a family of potential biomaterials, are widely used in the development of stimulus-responsive nanomedicines due to their unique physicochemical properties, biocompatibility, and modifiability. Here, the antitumor activity of polysaccharides and several combined immunotherapy strategies (e.g., immunotherapy combined with chemotherapy, photodynamic therapy, or photothermal therapy) are summarized. More importantly, the recent progress of polysaccharide-based stimulus-responsive nanomedicines for combination cancer immunotherapy is discussed, with the focus on construction of nanomedicine, targeted delivery, drug release, and enhanced antitumor effects. Finally, the limitations and application prospects of this new field are discussed.

Converging on a Cure: The Roads to Predictive Immunotherapy

SUMMARY

Convergence science teams integrating clinical, biological, engineering, and computational expertise are inventing new forecast systems to monitor and predict evolutionary changes in tumor and immune interactions during early cancer progression and therapeutic response. The resulting methods should inform a new predictive medicine paradigm to select adaptive immunotherapeutic regimens personalized to patients' tumors at a given time during their cancer progression for durable patient response.

Metal Nanoparticles as Novel Agents for Lung Cancer Diagnosis and Therapy

Lung cancer is one of the most common malignancies worldwide and contributes to most cancer-related morbidity and mortality cases. During the past decades, the rapid development of nanotechnology has provided opportunities and challenges for lung cancer diagnosis and therapeutics. As one of the most extensively studied nanostructures, metal nanoparticles obtain higher satisfaction in biomedical applications associated with lung cancer. Metal nanoparticles have enhanced almost all major imaging strategies and proved great potential as sensor for detecting cancer-specific biomarkers. Moreover, metal nanoparticles could also improve therapeutic efficiency via better drug delivery, improved radiotherapy, enhanced gene silencing, and facilitated photo-driven treatment. Herein, the recently advanced metal nanoparticles applied in lung cancer therapy and diagnosis are summarized. Future perspective on the direction of metal-based nanomedicine is also discussed. Stimulating more research interests to promote the development of metal nanoparticles in lung cancer is devoted.

Towards systems immunology of critical illness at scale: from single cell 'omics to digital twins

Single-cell 'omics methodology has yielded unprecedented insights based largely on data-centric informatics for reducing, and thus interpreting, massive datasets. In parallel, parsimonious mathematical modeling based on abstractions of pathobiology has also yielded major insights into inflammation and immunity, with these models being extended to describe multi-organ disease pathophysiology as the basis of 'digital twins' and in silico clinical trials. The integration of these distinct methods at scale can drive both basic and translational advances, especially in the context of critical illness, including diseases such as COVID-19. Here, I explore achievements and argue the challenges that are inherent to the integration of data-driven and mechanistic modeling approaches, highlighting the potential of modeling-based strategies for rational immune system reprogramming.

Biomimetic nanoparticles for DC vaccination: a versatile approach to boost cancer immunotherapy

Cancer immunotherapy, which harnesses the immune system to fight cancer, has begun to make a breakthrough in clinical applications. Dendritic cells (DCs) are the bridge linking innate and adaptive immunity and the trigger of tumor immune response. Considering the cumbersome process and poor efficacy of classic DC vaccines, there has been interest in transferring the field of in vitro-generated DC vaccines to nanovaccines. Conventional nanoparticles have insufficient targeting ability and are easily cleared by the reticuloendothelial system. Biological components have evolved very specific functions, which are difficult to fully reproduce with synthetic materials, making people interested in using the further understanding of biological systems to prepare nanoparticles with new and enhanced functions. Biomimetic nanoparticles are semi-biological or nature-derived delivery systems comprising one or more natural materials, which have a long circulation time in vivo and excellent performance of targeting DCs, and can mimic the antigen-presenting behavior of DCs. In this review, we introduce the classification, design, preparation, and challenges of different biomimetic nanoparticles, and discuss their application in activating DCs in vivo and stimulating T cell antitumor immunity. Incorporating biomimetic nanoparticles into cancer immunotherapy has shown outstanding advantages in precisely coaxing the immune system against cancer.

By using machine learning and in vitro testing, SERPINH1 functions as a novel tumorigenic and immunogenic gene and predicts immunotherapy response in osteosarcoma

Introduction

The most prevalent bone tumor with a relatively high level of aggressiveness and malignancy is osteosarcoma. The characteristics of the serpin family in osteosarcoma have not been defined.

Methods

In this study, the predictive significance of the serpin superfamily was investigated in the osteosarcoma and Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) databases from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA).

Results

It was discovered that SERPINH1 is a significant biological marker in osteosarcoma. According to the CCK-8, EdU, and Transwell assays as well as the IHC assay, SERPINH1 may promote osteosarcoma proliferation and migration. It is also more expressed in tumor samples than in healthy samples. SERPINH1 might forecast the effects of immunotherapy. Additionally, immune cells are interacted with through checkpoint, cytokine, and growth factor pathways in osteosarcomas with high SERPINH1 levels. The biological function, immunological characteristics, and treatment response (immunotherapy and chemotherapy responses) of patients with osteosarcoma were successfully predicted using a model related to SERPINH1. SERPINH1 and the SERPINH1-related score predict ferroptosis/pyroptosis/apoptosis/necroptosis in osteosarcoma.

Discussion

The SERPINH1-related score was an effective method for identifying osteosarcoma patients who would respond to immunotherapy and chemotherapy, as well as for predicting the survival outcomes of such patients.

Immunotherapy in Cancer Management: A Literature Review of Clinical Efficacy of Pembrolizumab in the Non-small Cell Lung Cancer Treatment

Purpose: Cancer is a global public health problem that affects millions of people every year and the immunotherapy has been a promising alternative for its treatment. The aim of this study was to gather data concerning the efficacy and safety of immunotherapy in the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), emphasizing pembrolizumb, a humanized antibody. This study also reports the role of immunotherapy in cancer treatments, contemplating the anti-CTLA4, anti-PD-L1 and anti PD-1 action in lymphocyte T cells. Methods: A bibliographic review was performed using Pubmed, SCIELO and SCOPUS databases, screening the scientific studies published within the last 5 years. Results: Seven clinical trials were selected to discuss the benefits of pembrolizumab as NSCLC therapy in untreated and previously treated patients, considering or not the tumor proportion score (TPS). It was found that NSCLC occurs with great frequency in Brazil and worldwide, presenting a poor prognosis due to its late diagnosis in most cases. Immunotherapy is a promising treatment strategy for NSCLC because its benefits overcome its risks compared to other therapies. Besides, the studies evidenced the efficiency of pembrolizumab as monotherapy or in association whit chemotherapy, in the first or second line of treatment and, additionally, patient's whit TPS ≥ 50% seem to have a greater benefit from the treatment. Conclusion: The data collected herein showed that pembrolizumab is a very promising, effective, and safe treatment option against NSCLC. Lastly, it is important to highlight the relevance of review's studies, since they are easy-to-read materials, collecting relevant information on a subject.

Identification of therapeutic targets and prognostic biomarkers in cholangiocarcinoma via WGCNA

Background

Cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) is a highly aggressive malignant tumor for which limited treatment methods and prognostic signatures are available. This study aims to identify potential therapeutic targets and prognostic biomarkers for CCA.

Methods

Based on differentially expressed genes (DEGs) identified from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) data, our study identified key gene modules correlated with CCA patient survival by weighted gene coexpression network analysis (WGCNA). Cox regression analysis identified survival-related genes in the key gene modules. The biological properties of the survival-related genes were evaluated by CCK-8 and transwell assays. Then, these genes were used to construct a prognostic signature that was internally and externally validated. Additionally, by combining clinical characteristics with the gene-based prognostic signature, a nomogram for survival prediction was built.

Results

WGCNA divided the 1531 DEGs into four gene modules, and the yellow gene module was significantly associated with overall survival (OS) and histologic neoplasm grade. Our study identified the lncRNA AGAP2-AS1 and a novel gene, GOLGA7B, that are closely related to survival. GOLGA7B downregulation promoted the invasion, migration and proliferation of CCA cells, but AGAP2-AS1 had the opposite effect. AGAP2-AS1 and GOLGA7B were integrated into a gene-based prognostic signature, and both internal and external validation studies confirmed that this two-gene prognostic signature and nomogram could accurately predict CCA patient prognosis.

Conclusion

AGAP2-AS1 and GOLGA7B are potential therapeutic targets and prognostic biomarkers for CCA.

Quantification of the growth suppression of HER2+ breast cancer colonies under the effect of trastuzumab and PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitor

Introduction

Immune checkpoint blockade (ICB)-based therapy is revolutionizing cancer treatment by fostering successful immune surveillance and effector cell responses against various types of cancers. However, patients with HER2+ cancers are yet to benefit from this therapeutic strategy. Precisely, several questions regarding the right combination of drugs, drug modality, and effective dose recommendations pertaining to the use of ICB-based therapy for HER2+ patients remain unanswered.

Methods

In this study, we use a mathematical modeling-based approach to quantify the growth inhibition of HER2+ breast cancer (BC) cell colonies (ZR75) when treated with anti-HER2; trastuzumab (TZ) and anti-PD-1/PD-L1 (BMS-202) agents.

Results and discussion

Our data show that a combination therapy of TZ and BMS-202 can significantly reduce the viability of ZR75 cells and trigger several morphological changes. The combination decreased the cell's invasiveness along with altering several key pathways, such as Akt/mTor and ErbB2 compared to monotherapy. In addition, BMS-202 causes dose-dependent growth inhibition of HER2+ BC cell colonies alone, while this effect is significantly improved when used in combination with TZ. Based on the in-vitro monoculture experiments conducted, we argue that BMS-202 can cause tumor growth suppression not only by mediating immune response but also by interfering with the growth signaling pathways of HER2+BC. Nevertheless, further studies are imperative to substantiate this argument and to uncover the potential crosstalk between PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors and HER2 growth signaling pathways in breast cancer.