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Arpinati L, Carradori G, Scherz-Shouval R. CAF-induced physical constraints controlling T cell state and localization in solid tumours. Nat Rev Cancer 2024; 24:676-693. [PMID: 39251836 DOI: 10.1038/s41568-024-00740-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/05/2024] [Indexed: 09/11/2024]
Abstract
Solid tumours comprise cancer cells that engage in continuous interactions with non-malignant cells and with acellular components, forming the tumour microenvironment (TME). The TME has crucial and diverse roles in tumour progression and metastasis, and substantial efforts have been dedicated into understanding the functions of different cell types within the TME. These efforts highlighted the importance of non-cell-autonomous signalling in cancer, mediating interactions between the cancer cells, the immune microenvironment and the non-immune stroma. Much of this non-cell-autonomous signalling is mediated through acellular components of the TME, known as the extracellular matrix (ECM), and controlled by the cells that secrete and remodel the ECM - the cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs). In this Review, we delve into the complex crosstalk among cancer cells, CAFs and immune cells, highlighting the effects of CAF-induced ECM remodelling on T cell functions and offering insights into the potential of targeting ECM components to improve cancer therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ludovica Arpinati
- Department of Biomolecular Sciences, The Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Giulia Carradori
- Department of Biomolecular Sciences, The Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Ruth Scherz-Shouval
- Department of Biomolecular Sciences, The Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel.
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2
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Lu H, Xu Z, Shao L, Li P, Xia Y. High infiltration of immune cells with lower immune activity mediated the heterogeneity of gastric adenocarcinoma and promoted metastasis. Heliyon 2024; 10:e37092. [PMID: 39319155 PMCID: PMC11419928 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e37092] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2024] [Revised: 07/21/2024] [Accepted: 08/27/2024] [Indexed: 09/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Gastric adenocarcinoma (GA) is a heterogeneous malignancy with high invasion and metastasis. We aimed to explore the metastatic characteristics of GA using single-cell RNA-sequencing (scRNA-seq) analysis. Methods The scRNA-seq dataset was downloaded from the GEO database and the "Seurat" package was used to perform the scRNA-seq analysis. The CellMarker2.0 database provided gene markers. Subsequently, differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified using the FindMarkers function and subjected to enrichment analysis with the "ClusterProlifer". "GseaVis" package was used for visualizing the gene levels. Finally, the SCENIC analysis was performed for identifying key regulons. The expression level and functionality of the key genes were verified by quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR), wound healing and transwell assays. Results A total of 7697 cells were divided into 8 cell subsets, in which the Cytotoxic NK/T cells, Myeloid cells and Myofibroblasts had higher proportion in the metastatic tissues. Further screening of DEGs and enrichment analysis revealed that in the metastatic tissues, NK cells, monocytes and inflammatory fibroblasts with low immune levels contributed to GA metastasis. In addition, this study identified a series of key immune-related regulons that mediated the lower immune activity of immune cells. Further in vitro experiment verified that CXCL8 was a key factor mediating the proliferation and migration of GA cells. Conclusion The scRNA-seq analysis showed that high infiltration of immune cells with lower immune activity mediated heterogeneity to contribute to GA metastasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongpeng Lu
- Department of Gastroenterology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Ningbo University, Ningbo, 315010, China
| | - Zhihui Xu
- Department of Gastroenterology, Ninghai County Second Hospital, Ningbo, 315600, China
| | - Lihong Shao
- Department of Gastroenterology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Ningbo University, Ningbo, 315010, China
| | - Peifei Li
- Department of Gastroenterology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Ningbo University, Ningbo, 315010, China
| | - Yonghong Xia
- Department of Gastroenterology, Ninghai County Second Hospital, Ningbo, 315600, China
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3
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Bai Y, Chi K, Zhao D, Shen W, Liu R, Hao J, Cai G, Chen X, Hong Q. Identification of functional heterogeneity of immune cells and tubular-immune cellular interplay action in diabetic kidney disease. J Transl Int Med 2024; 12:395-405. [PMID: 39360161 PMCID: PMC11444470 DOI: 10.2478/jtim-2023-0130] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Renal inflammation plays key roles in the pathogenesis of diabetic kidney disease (DKD). Immune cell infiltration is the main pathological feature in the progression of DKD. Sodium glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitor (SGLT2i) were reported to have antiinflammatory effects on DKD. While the heterogeneity and molecular basis of the pathogenesis and treatment with SGLT2i in DKD remains poorly understood. Methods To address this question, we performed a single-cell transcriptomics data analysis and cell cross-talk analysis based on the database (GSE181382). The single-cell transcriptome analysis findings were validated using multiplex immunostaining. Results A total of 58760 cells are categorized into 25 distinct cell types. A subset of macrophages with anti-inflammatory potential was identified. We found that Ccl3+ (S100a8/a9 high) macrophages with anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial in the pathogenesis of DKD decreased and reversed the dapagliflozin treatment. Besides, dapagliflozin treatment enhanced the accumulation of Pck1+ macrophage, characterized by gluconeogenesis signaling pathway. Cell-cross talk analysis showed the GRN/SORT1 pair and CD74 related signaling pathways were enriched in the interactions between tubular epithelial cells and immune cells. Conclusions Our study depicts the heterogeneity of macrophages and clarifies a new possible explanation of dapagliflozin treatment, showing the metabolism shifts toward gluconeogenesis in macrophages, fueling the anti-inflammatory function of M2 macrophages, highlighting the new molecular features and signaling pathways and potential therapeutic targets, which has provided an important reference for the study of immune-related mechanisms in the progression of the disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yunfeng Bai
- Department of Nephrology, First Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital, State Key Laboratory of Kidney Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Kidney Diseases, Beijing Key Laboratory of Kidney Disease Research, Beijing 100853, China
| | - Kun Chi
- Department of Nephrology, First Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital, State Key Laboratory of Kidney Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Kidney Diseases, Beijing Key Laboratory of Kidney Disease Research, Beijing 100853, China
| | - Delong Zhao
- Department of Nephrology, First Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital, State Key Laboratory of Kidney Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Kidney Diseases, Beijing Key Laboratory of Kidney Disease Research, Beijing 100853, China
| | - Wanjun Shen
- Department of Nephrology, First Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital, State Key Laboratory of Kidney Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Kidney Diseases, Beijing Key Laboratory of Kidney Disease Research, Beijing 100853, China
| | - Ran Liu
- Department of Nephrology, First Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital, State Key Laboratory of Kidney Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Kidney Diseases, Beijing Key Laboratory of Kidney Disease Research, Beijing 100853, China
| | - Jing Hao
- Department of Nephrology, First Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital, State Key Laboratory of Kidney Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Kidney Diseases, Beijing Key Laboratory of Kidney Disease Research, Beijing 100853, China
| | - Guangyan Cai
- Department of Nephrology, First Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital, State Key Laboratory of Kidney Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Kidney Diseases, Beijing Key Laboratory of Kidney Disease Research, Beijing 100853, China
| | - Xiangmei Chen
- Department of Nephrology, First Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital, State Key Laboratory of Kidney Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Kidney Diseases, Beijing Key Laboratory of Kidney Disease Research, Beijing 100853, China
| | - Quan Hong
- Department of Nephrology, First Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital, State Key Laboratory of Kidney Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Kidney Diseases, Beijing Key Laboratory of Kidney Disease Research, Beijing 100853, China
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4
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Lorestani P, Dashti M, Nejati N, Habibi MA, Askari M, Robat-Jazi B, Ahmadpour S, Tavakolpour S. The complex role of macrophages in pancreatic cancer tumor microenvironment: a review on cancer progression and potential therapeutic targets. Discov Oncol 2024; 15:369. [PMID: 39186144 PMCID: PMC11347554 DOI: 10.1007/s12672-024-01256-x] [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: 04/25/2024] [Accepted: 08/20/2024] [Indexed: 08/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Pancreatic cancer (PC) is one of the deadliest cancers worldwide with low survival rates and poor outcomes. The treatment landscape for PC is fraught with obstacles, including drug resistance, lack of effective targeted therapies and the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (TME). The resistance of PC to existing immunotherapies highlights the need for innovative approaches, with the TME emerging as a promising therapeutic target. The recent advancements in understanding the role of macrophages, this context highlight their significant impact on tumor development and progression. There are two important types of macrophages: M1 and M2, which play critical roles in the TME. Therapeutics strategies including, depletion of tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs), reprogramming TAMs to promote anti-tumor activity, and targeting macrophage recruitment can lead to promising outcomes. Targeting macrophage-related pathways may offer novel strategies for modulating immune responses, inhibiting angiogenesis, and overcoming resistance to chemotherapy in PC treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Parsa Lorestani
- Students Research Committee, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran
| | - Mohsen Dashti
- Immunology Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Negar Nejati
- Pediatric Cell and Gene Therapy Research Centre, Gene, Cell & Tissue Research Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mohammad Amin Habibi
- Department of Neurosurgery, Shariati Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mandana Askari
- Department of Nanobiotechnology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Behruz Robat-Jazi
- Department of Immunology, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Sajjad Ahmadpour
- Patient Safety Research Center, Clinical Research Institute, Urmia University of Medical Sciences, Urmia, Iran.
| | - Soheil Tavakolpour
- Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02215, USA.
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Vitorakis N, Gargalionis AN, Papavassiliou KA, Adamopoulos C, Papavassiliou AG. Precision Targeting Strategies in Pancreatic Cancer: The Role of Tumor Microenvironment. Cancers (Basel) 2024; 16:2876. [PMID: 39199647 PMCID: PMC11352254 DOI: 10.3390/cancers16162876] [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: 07/21/2024] [Revised: 08/14/2024] [Accepted: 08/17/2024] [Indexed: 09/01/2024] Open
Abstract
Pancreatic cancer demonstrates an ever-increasing incidence over the last years and represents one of the top causes of cancer-associated mortality. Cells of the tumor microenvironment (TME) interact with cancer cells in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) tumors to preserve cancer cells' metabolism, inhibit drug delivery, enhance immune suppression mechanisms and finally develop resistance to chemotherapy and immunotherapy. New strategies target TME genetic alterations and specific pathways in cell populations of the TME. Complex molecular interactions develop between PDAC cells and TME cell populations including cancer-associated fibroblasts, myeloid-derived suppressor cells, pancreatic stellate cells, tumor-associated macrophages, tumor-associated neutrophils, and regulatory T cells. In the present review, we aim to fully explore the molecular landscape of the pancreatic cancer TME cell populations and discuss current TME targeting strategies to provide thoughts for further research and preclinical testing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nikolaos Vitorakis
- Department of Biological Chemistry, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 11527 Athens, Greece
| | - Antonios N Gargalionis
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry, 'Attikon' University General Hospital, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 12462 Athens, Greece
| | - Kostas A Papavassiliou
- First University Department of Respiratory Medicine, 'Sotiria' Hospital, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 11527 Athens, Greece
| | - Christos Adamopoulos
- Department of Biological Chemistry, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 11527 Athens, Greece
- Department of Oncological Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
| | - Athanasios G Papavassiliou
- Department of Biological Chemistry, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 11527 Athens, Greece
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6
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Freeman P, Bellomo G, Ireland L, Abudula M, Luckett T, Oberst M, Stafferton R, Ghaneh P, Halloran C, Schmid MC, Mielgo A. Inhibition of insulin-like growth factors increases production of CXCL9/10 by macrophages and fibroblasts and facilitates CD8 + cytotoxic T cell recruitment to pancreatic tumours. Front Immunol 2024; 15:1382538. [PMID: 39165364 PMCID: PMC11334161 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2024.1382538] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2024] [Accepted: 07/10/2024] [Indexed: 08/22/2024] Open
Abstract
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a highly lethal malignancy with an urgent unmet clinical need for new therapies. Using a combination of in vitro assays and in vivo preclinical models we demonstrate that therapeutic inhibition of the IGF signalling axis promotes the accumulation of CD8+ cytotoxic T cells within the tumour microenvironment of PDAC tumours. Mechanistically, we show that IGF blockade promotes macrophage and fibroblast production of the chemokines CXCL9 and CXCL10 to facilitate CD8+ T cell recruitment and trafficking towards the PDAC tumour. Exploring this pathway further, we show that IGF inhibition leads to increased STAT1 transcriptional activity, correlating with a downregulation of the AKT/STAT3 signalling axis, in turn promoting Cxcl9 and Cxcl10 gene transcription. Using patient derived tumour explants, we also demonstrate that our findings translate into the human setting. PDAC tumours are frequently described as "immunologically cold", therefore bolstering CD8+ T cell recruitment to PDAC tumours through IGF inhibition may serve to improve the efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitors which rely on the presence of CD8+ T cells in tumours.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrick Freeman
- Department of Molecular and Clinical Cancer Medicine, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Gaia Bellomo
- Department of Molecular and Clinical Cancer Medicine, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Lucy Ireland
- Department of Molecular and Clinical Cancer Medicine, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Maidinaimu Abudula
- Department of Molecular and Clinical Cancer Medicine, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Teifion Luckett
- Department of Molecular and Clinical Cancer Medicine, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Michael Oberst
- Department of Oncology Research, AstraZeneca, One Medimmune Way, Gaithersburg, MD, United States
| | - Ruth Stafferton
- Department of Molecular and Clinical Cancer Medicine, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Paula Ghaneh
- Department of Molecular and Clinical Cancer Medicine, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Chris Halloran
- Department of Molecular and Clinical Cancer Medicine, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Michael C. Schmid
- Department of Molecular and Clinical Cancer Medicine, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Ainhoa Mielgo
- Department of Molecular and Clinical Cancer Medicine, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom
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7
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Zhu YH, Jia QY, Yao HF, Duan ZH, Ma XSY, Zheng JH, Yin YF, Liu W, Zhang JF, Hua R, Ma D, Sun YW, Yang JY, Liu DJ, Huo YM. The lncRNA LINC01605 promotes the progression of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma by activating the mTOR signaling pathway. Cancer Cell Int 2024; 24:262. [PMID: 39048994 PMCID: PMC11271012 DOI: 10.1186/s12935-024-03440-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2023] [Accepted: 07/08/2024] [Indexed: 07/27/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND This study investigated the molecular mechanism of long intergenic non-protein coding RNA 1605 (LINC01605) in the process of tumor growth and liver metastasis of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). METHODS LINC01605 was filtered out with specificity through TCGA datasets (related to DFS) and our RNA-sequencing data of PDAC tissue samples from Renji Hospital. The expression level and clinical relevance of LINC01605 were then verified in clinical cohorts and samples by immunohistochemical staining assay and survival analysis. Loss- and gain-of-function experiments were performed to estimate the regulatory effects of LINC01605 in vitro. RNA-seq of LINC01605-knockdown PDAC cells and subsequent inhibitor-based cellular function, western blotting, immunofluorescence and rescue experiments were conducted to explore the mechanisms by which LINC01605 regulates the behaviors of PDAC tumor cells. Subcutaneous xenograft models and intrasplenic liver metastasis models were employed to study its role in PDAC tumor growth and liver metastasis in vivo. RESULTS LINC01605 expression is upregulated in both PDAC primary tumor and liver metastasis tissues and correlates with poor clinical prognosis. Loss and gain of function experiments in cells demonstrated that LINC01605 promotes the proliferation and migration of PDAC cells in vitro. In subsequent verification experiments, we found that LINC01605 contributes to PDAC progression through cholesterol metabolism regulation in a LIN28B-interacting manner by activating the mTOR signaling pathway. Furthermore, the animal models showed that LINC01605 facilitates the proliferation and metastatic invasion of PDAC cells in vivo. CONCLUSIONS Our results indicate that the upregulated lncRNA LINC01605 promotes PDAC tumor cell proliferation and migration by regulating cholesterol metabolism via activation of the mTOR signaling pathway in a LIN28B-interacting manner. These findings provide new insight into the role of LINC01605 in PDAC tumor growth and liver metastasis as well as its value for clinical approaches as a metabolic therapeutic target in PDAC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu-Heng Zhu
- Department of Biliary-Pancreatic Surgery, Renji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200127, China
| | - Qin-Yuan Jia
- Department of Biliary-Pancreatic Surgery, Renji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200127, China
| | - Hong-Fei Yao
- Department of Hepato-Biliary-Pancreatic Surgery, General Surgery, Huadong Hospital Affiliated to Fudan University, Shanghai, 200040, China
| | - Zong-Hao Duan
- Department of Biliary-Pancreatic Surgery, Renji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200127, China
| | - Xue-Shi-Yu Ma
- Department of Biliary-Pancreatic Surgery, Renji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200127, China
| | - Jia-Hao Zheng
- State Key Laboratory of Systems Medicine for Cancer, Shanghai Cancer Institute, Renji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200240, China
| | - Yi-Fan Yin
- Department of Biliary-Pancreatic Surgery, Renji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200127, China
| | - Wei Liu
- Department of Biliary-Pancreatic Surgery, Renji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200127, China
| | - Jun-Feng Zhang
- Department of Biliary-Pancreatic Surgery, Renji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200127, China
| | - Rong Hua
- Department of Biliary-Pancreatic Surgery, Renji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200127, China
| | - Ding Ma
- Department of Biliary-Pancreatic Surgery, Renji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200127, China
| | - Yong-Wei Sun
- Department of Biliary-Pancreatic Surgery, Renji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200127, China.
| | - Jian-Yu Yang
- Department of Biliary-Pancreatic Surgery, Renji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200127, China.
| | - De-Jun Liu
- Department of Biliary-Pancreatic Surgery, Renji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200127, China.
| | - Yan-Miao Huo
- Department of Biliary-Pancreatic Surgery, Renji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200127, China.
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Li Z, Duan D, Li L, Peng D, Ming Y, Ni R, Liu Y. Tumor-associated macrophages in anti-PD-1/PD-L1 immunotherapy for hepatocellular carcinoma: recent research progress. Front Pharmacol 2024; 15:1382256. [PMID: 38957393 PMCID: PMC11217528 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2024.1382256] [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: 02/05/2024] [Accepted: 05/22/2024] [Indexed: 07/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the cancers that seriously threaten human health. Immunotherapy serves as the mainstay of treatment for HCC patients by targeting the programmed cell death protein 1/programmed cell death 1 ligand 1 (PD-1/PD-L1) axis. However, the effectiveness of anti-PD-1/PD-L1 treatment is limited when HCC becomes drug-resistant. Tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) are an important factor in the negative regulation of PD-1 antibody targeted therapy in the tumor microenvironment (TME). Therefore, as an emerging direction in cancer immunotherapy research for the treatment of HCC, it is crucial to elucidate the correlations and mechanisms between TAMs and PD-1/PD-L1-mediated immune tolerance. This paper summarizes the effects of TAMs on the pathogenesis and progression of HCC and their impact on HCC anti-PD-1/PD-L1 immunotherapy, and further explores current potential therapeutic strategies that target TAMs in HCC, including eliminating TAMs in the TME, inhibiting TAMs recruitment to tumors and functionally repolarizing M2-TAMs (tumor-supportive) to M1-TAMs (antitumor type).
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | - Rui Ni
- Department of Pharmacy, Daping Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Yao Liu
- Department of Pharmacy, Daping Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing, China
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Ahmadpour S, Habibi MA, Ghazi FS, Molazadeh M, Pashaie MR, Mohammadpour Y. The effects of tumor-derived supernatants (TDS) on cancer cell progression: A review and update on carcinogenesis and immunotherapy. Cancer Treat Res Commun 2024; 40:100823. [PMID: 38875884 DOI: 10.1016/j.ctarc.2024.100823] [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: 04/25/2024] [Revised: 05/26/2024] [Accepted: 05/27/2024] [Indexed: 06/16/2024]
Abstract
Tumors can produce bioactive substances called tumor-derived supernatants (TDS) that modify the immune response in the host body. This can result in immunosuppressive effects that promote the growth and spread of cancer. During tumorigenesis, the exudation of these substances can disrupt the function of immune sentinels in the host and reinforce the support for cancer cell growth. Tumor cells produce cytokines, growth factors, and proteins, which contribute to the progression of the tumor and the formation of premetastatic niches. By understanding how cancer cells influence the host immune system through the secretion of these factors, we can gain new insights into cancer diagnosis and therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sajjad Ahmadpour
- Patient Safety Research Center, Clinical Research Institute, Urmia University of Medical Sciences, Urmia, Iran
| | - Mohammad Amin Habibi
- Department of Neurosurgery, Shariati Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | | | - Mikaeil Molazadeh
- Department of Medical Physics, Faculty of Medicine, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Mohammad Reza Pashaie
- Patient Safety Research Center, Clinical Research Institute, Urmia University of Medical Sciences, Urmia, Iran; Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Urmia University of Medical Sciences, Urmia, Iran
| | - Yousef Mohammadpour
- Department of Medical Education, School of Medicine, Urmia University of Medical Sciences, Urmia, Iran.
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10
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Du M, Sun L, Guo J, Lv H. Macrophages and tumor-associated macrophages in the senescent microenvironment: From immunosuppressive TME to targeted tumor therapy. Pharmacol Res 2024; 204:107198. [PMID: 38692466 DOI: 10.1016/j.phrs.2024.107198] [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: 01/31/2024] [Revised: 04/02/2024] [Accepted: 04/24/2024] [Indexed: 05/03/2024]
Abstract
In-depth studies of the tumor microenvironment (TME) have helped to elucidate its cancer-promoting mechanisms and inherent characteristics. Cellular senescence, which acts as a response to injury and can the release of senescence-associated secretory phenotypes (SASPs). These SASPs release various cytokines, chemokines, and growth factors, remodeling the TME. This continual development of a senescent environment could be associated with chronic inflammation and immunosuppressive TME. Additionally, SASPs could influence the phenotype and function of macrophages, leading to the recruitment of tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs). This contributes to tumor proliferation and metastasis in the senescent microenvironment, working in tandem with immune regulation, angiogenesis, and therapeutic resistance. This comprehensive review covers the evolving nature of the senescent microenvironment, macrophages, and TAMs in tumor development. We also explored the links between chronic inflammation, immunosuppressive TME, cellular senescence, and macrophages. Moreover, we compiled various tumor-specific treatment strategies centered on cellular senescence and the current challenges in cellular senescence research. This study aimed to clarify the mechanism of macrophages and the senescent microenvironment in tumor progression and advance the development of targeted tumor therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ming Du
- Department of Radiology, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning 110004, China
| | - Lu Sun
- Department of Ultrasound, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning 110004, China
| | - Jinshuai Guo
- Department of General Surgery, Fourth Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning 110004, China.
| | - Huina Lv
- Department of Ultrasound, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning 110004, China.
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11
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Zhang W, Ling J, Xu B, Wang J, Chen Z, Li G. Gut microbiome-mediated monocytes promote liver metastasis. Int Immunopharmacol 2024; 133:111877. [PMID: 38608440 DOI: 10.1016/j.intimp.2024.111877] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2023] [Revised: 03/03/2024] [Accepted: 03/13/2024] [Indexed: 04/14/2024]
Abstract
The gut microbiome plays an important role in tumor growth by regulating immune cell function. However, the role of the gut microbiome-mediated monocytes in liver metastasis remains unclear. In this study, we found that fecal microbiome transplantation (FMT) from the stool of patients with liver metastasis (LM) significantly promoted liver metastasis compared with healthy donors (HD). Monocytes were upregulated in liver tissues by the CCL2/CCR2 axis in LM patients' stool transplanted mouse model. CCL2/CCR2 inhibition and monocyte depletion significantly suppress liver metastasis. FMT using LM patients' stool enhanced the plasma lipopolysaccharides (LPS) concentration. The LPS/TLR4 signaling pathway is crucial for gut microbiome-mediated liver metastasis. These results indicated that monocytes contribute to liver metastasis via the CCL2/CCR2 axis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenzhong Zhang
- Department of General Surgery, Shanghai Pudong New Area People's Hospital, Shanghai 201200, China
| | - Jie Ling
- Department of General Surgery, Shanghai Pudong New Area People's Hospital, Shanghai 201200, China
| | - Baiying Xu
- Department of General Surgery, Shanghai Pudong New Area People's Hospital, Shanghai 201200, China
| | - Jie Wang
- Department of General Surgery, Shanghai Pudong New Area People's Hospital, Shanghai 201200, China
| | - Zexu Chen
- Department of General Surgery, Shanghai Pudong New Area People's Hospital, Shanghai 201200, China
| | - Gang Li
- Department of General Surgery, Shanghai Pudong New Area People's Hospital, Shanghai 201200, China.
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12
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Wu K, Zhang G, Shen C, Zhu L, Yu C, Sartorius K, Ding W, Jiang Y, Lu Y. Role of T cells in liver metastasis. Cell Death Dis 2024; 15:341. [PMID: 38755133 PMCID: PMC11099083 DOI: 10.1038/s41419-024-06726-2] [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: 12/20/2023] [Revised: 04/24/2024] [Accepted: 05/07/2024] [Indexed: 05/18/2024]
Abstract
The liver is a major metastatic site (organ) for gastrointestinal cancers (such as colorectal, gastric, and pancreatic cancers) as well as non-gastrointestinal cancers (such as lung, breast, and melanoma cancers). Due to the innate anatomical position of the liver, the apoptosis of T cells in the liver, the unique metabolic regulation of hepatocytes and other potential mechanisms, the liver tends to form an immunosuppressive microenvironment and subsequently form a pre-metastatic niche (PMN), which can promote metastasis and colonization by various tumor cells(TCs). As a result, the critical role of immunoresponse in liver based metastasis has become increasingly appreciated. T cells, a centrally important member of adaptive immune response, play a significant role in liver based metastases and clarifying the different roles of the various T cells subsets is important to guide future clinical treatment. In this review, we first introduce the predisposing factors and related mechanisms of liver metastasis (LM) before introducing the PMN and its transition to LM. Finally, we detail the role of different subsets of T cells in LM and advances in the management of LM in order to identify potential therapeutic targets for patients with LM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kejia Wu
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, China
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Changzhou, China
| | - Guozhu Zhang
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Changzhou, China
- Department of Emergency Medicine, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Changzhou, China
| | - Changbing Shen
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Taizhou Second People's Hospital Affiliated with Yangzhou University, Taizhou, China
| | - Li Zhu
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Changzhou, China
- Department of Emergency Medicine, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Changzhou, China
| | - Chongyuan Yu
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Changzhou, China
| | - Kurt Sartorius
- School of Laboratory Medicine and Molecular Sciences, University of Kwazulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa
- Africa Hepatopancreatobiliary Cancer Consortium, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL, USA
| | - Wei Ding
- Department of General Surgery, Wujin Hospital Affiliated with Jiangsu University, Changzhou, China.
- Department of General Surgery, The Wujin Clinical College of Xuzhou Medical University, Changzhou, China.
- Changzhou Medical Center, Nanjing Medical University, Changzhou, China.
| | - Yong Jiang
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Changzhou, China.
| | - Yunjie Lu
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, China.
- Africa Hepatopancreatobiliary Cancer Consortium, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL, USA.
- Department of General Surgery, Wujin Hospital Affiliated with Jiangsu University, Changzhou, China.
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13
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Rauth S, Malafa M, Ponnusamy MP, Batra SK. Emerging Trends in Gastrointestinal Cancer Targeted Therapies: Harnessing Tumor Microenvironment, Immune Factors, and Metabolomics Insights. Gastroenterology 2024:S0016-5085(24)04917-5. [PMID: 38759843 DOI: 10.1053/j.gastro.2024.05.005] [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: 01/29/2024] [Revised: 04/23/2024] [Accepted: 05/01/2024] [Indexed: 05/19/2024]
Abstract
Gastrointestinal (GI) cancers are the leading cause of new cancer cases and cancer-related deaths worldwide. The treatment strategies for patients with GI tumors have focused on oncogenic molecular profiles associated with tumor cells. Recent evidence has demonstrated that the tumor cell functions are modulated by its microenvironment, compromising fibroblasts, extracellular matrices, microbiome, immune cells, and the enteric nervous system. Along with the tumor microenvironment components, alterations in key metabolic pathways have emerged as a hallmark of tumor cells. From these perspectives, this review will highlight the functions of different cellular components of the GI tumor microenvironment and their implications for treatment. Furthermore, we discuss the major metabolic reprogramming in GI tumor cells and how understanding metabolic rewiring could lead to new therapeutic strategies. Finally, we briefly summarize the targeted agents currently being studied in GI cancers. Understanding the complex interplay between tumor cell-intrinsic and -extrinsic factors during tumor progression is critical for developing new therapeutic strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sanchita Rauth
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Nebraska Medical Center at Omaha, Omaha, Nebraska
| | - Mokenge Malafa
- Department of Gastrointestinal Oncology, Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, Florida
| | - Moorthy P Ponnusamy
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Nebraska Medical Center at Omaha, Omaha, Nebraska; Fred and Pamela Buffett Cancer Center, Eppley Institute for Research in Cancer and Allied Diseases, University of Nebraska Medical Center at Omaha, Omaha, Nebraska.
| | - Surinder K Batra
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Nebraska Medical Center at Omaha, Omaha, Nebraska; Fred and Pamela Buffett Cancer Center, Eppley Institute for Research in Cancer and Allied Diseases, University of Nebraska Medical Center at Omaha, Omaha, Nebraska.
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14
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Wehrli M, Guinn S, Birocchi F, Kuo A, Sun Y, Larson RC, Almazan AJ, Scarfò I, Bouffard AA, Bailey SR, Anekal PV, Llopis PM, Nieman LT, Song Y, Xu KH, Berger TR, Kann MC, Leick MB, Silva H, Salas-Benito D, Kienka T, Grauwet K, Armstrong TD, Zhang R, Zhu Q, Fu J, Schmidts A, Korell F, Jan M, Choi BD, Liss AS, Boland GM, Ting DT, Burkhart RA, Jenkins RW, Zheng L, Jaffee EM, Zimmerman JW, Maus MV. Mesothelin CAR T Cells Secreting Anti-FAP/Anti-CD3 Molecules Efficiently Target Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma and its Stroma. Clin Cancer Res 2024; 30:1859-1877. [PMID: 38393682 PMCID: PMC11062832 DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-23-3841] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2023] [Revised: 02/14/2024] [Accepted: 02/20/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024]
Abstract
PURPOSE Targeting solid tumors with chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells remains challenging due to heterogenous target antigen expression, antigen escape, and the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (TME). Pancreatic cancer is characterized by a thick stroma generated by cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAF), which may contribute to the limited efficacy of mesothelin-directed CAR T cells in early-phase clinical trials. To provide a more favorable TME for CAR T cells to target pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), we generated T cells with an antimesothelin CAR and a secreted T-cell-engaging molecule (TEAM) that targets CAF through fibroblast activation protein (FAP) and engages T cells through CD3 (termed mesoFAP CAR-TEAM cells). EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN Using a suite of in vitro, in vivo, and ex vivo patient-derived models containing cancer cells and CAF, we examined the ability of mesoFAP CAR-TEAM cells to target PDAC cells and CAF within the TME. We developed and used patient-derived ex vivo models, including patient-derived organoids with patient-matched CAF and patient-derived organotypic tumor spheroids. RESULTS We demonstrated specific and significant binding of the TEAM to its respective antigens (CD3 and FAP) when released from mesothelin-targeting CAR T cells, leading to T-cell activation and cytotoxicity of the target cell. MesoFAP CAR-TEAM cells were superior in eliminating PDAC and CAF compared with T cells engineered to target either antigen alone in our ex vivo patient-derived models and in mouse models of PDAC with primary or metastatic liver tumors. CONCLUSIONS CAR-TEAM cells enable modification of tumor stroma, leading to increased elimination of PDAC tumors. This approach represents a promising treatment option for pancreatic cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marc Wehrli
- Cellular Immunotherapy Program, Cancer Center, Massachusetts General Hospital; Harvard Medical School; Boston, MA, USA
- Cancer Center, Massachusetts General Hospital; Harvard Medical School; Boston, MA, USA
| | - Samantha Guinn
- Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University; Baltimore, MD, USA
- Cancer Convergence Institute and Bloomberg Kimmel Institute at Johns Hopkins; University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Filippo Birocchi
- Cellular Immunotherapy Program, Cancer Center, Massachusetts General Hospital; Harvard Medical School; Boston, MA, USA
- Cancer Center, Massachusetts General Hospital; Harvard Medical School; Boston, MA, USA
| | - Adam Kuo
- Cellular Immunotherapy Program, Cancer Center, Massachusetts General Hospital; Harvard Medical School; Boston, MA, USA
- Cancer Center, Massachusetts General Hospital; Harvard Medical School; Boston, MA, USA
| | - Yi Sun
- Cancer Center, Massachusetts General Hospital; Harvard Medical School; Boston, MA, USA
| | - Rebecca C. Larson
- Cellular Immunotherapy Program, Cancer Center, Massachusetts General Hospital; Harvard Medical School; Boston, MA, USA
- Cancer Center, Massachusetts General Hospital; Harvard Medical School; Boston, MA, USA
| | - Antonio J. Almazan
- Cellular Immunotherapy Program, Cancer Center, Massachusetts General Hospital; Harvard Medical School; Boston, MA, USA
- Cancer Center, Massachusetts General Hospital; Harvard Medical School; Boston, MA, USA
| | - Irene Scarfò
- Cellular Immunotherapy Program, Cancer Center, Massachusetts General Hospital; Harvard Medical School; Boston, MA, USA
- Cancer Center, Massachusetts General Hospital; Harvard Medical School; Boston, MA, USA
| | - Amanda A. Bouffard
- Cellular Immunotherapy Program, Cancer Center, Massachusetts General Hospital; Harvard Medical School; Boston, MA, USA
| | - Stefanie R. Bailey
- Cellular Immunotherapy Program, Cancer Center, Massachusetts General Hospital; Harvard Medical School; Boston, MA, USA
- Cancer Center, Massachusetts General Hospital; Harvard Medical School; Boston, MA, USA
| | | | | | - Linda T. Nieman
- Cancer Center, Massachusetts General Hospital; Harvard Medical School; Boston, MA, USA
| | - Yuhui Song
- Cancer Center, Massachusetts General Hospital; Harvard Medical School; Boston, MA, USA
| | - Katherine H. Xu
- Cancer Center, Massachusetts General Hospital; Harvard Medical School; Boston, MA, USA
| | - Trisha R. Berger
- Cellular Immunotherapy Program, Cancer Center, Massachusetts General Hospital; Harvard Medical School; Boston, MA, USA
- Cancer Center, Massachusetts General Hospital; Harvard Medical School; Boston, MA, USA
| | - Michael C. Kann
- Cellular Immunotherapy Program, Cancer Center, Massachusetts General Hospital; Harvard Medical School; Boston, MA, USA
- Cancer Center, Massachusetts General Hospital; Harvard Medical School; Boston, MA, USA
| | - Mark B. Leick
- Cellular Immunotherapy Program, Cancer Center, Massachusetts General Hospital; Harvard Medical School; Boston, MA, USA
- Cancer Center, Massachusetts General Hospital; Harvard Medical School; Boston, MA, USA
- Blood and Marrow Transplant Program, Massachusetts General Hospital; Harvard Medical School; Boston, MA, USA
| | - Harrison Silva
- Cellular Immunotherapy Program, Cancer Center, Massachusetts General Hospital; Harvard Medical School; Boston, MA, USA
- Cancer Center, Massachusetts General Hospital; Harvard Medical School; Boston, MA, USA
| | - Diego Salas-Benito
- Cellular Immunotherapy Program, Cancer Center, Massachusetts General Hospital; Harvard Medical School; Boston, MA, USA
- Cancer Center, Massachusetts General Hospital; Harvard Medical School; Boston, MA, USA
| | - Tamina Kienka
- Cellular Immunotherapy Program, Cancer Center, Massachusetts General Hospital; Harvard Medical School; Boston, MA, USA
- Cancer Center, Massachusetts General Hospital; Harvard Medical School; Boston, MA, USA
| | - Korneel Grauwet
- Cellular Immunotherapy Program, Cancer Center, Massachusetts General Hospital; Harvard Medical School; Boston, MA, USA
- Cancer Center, Massachusetts General Hospital; Harvard Medical School; Boston, MA, USA
| | - Todd D. Armstrong
- Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University; Baltimore, MD, USA
- Cancer Convergence Institute and Bloomberg Kimmel Institute at Johns Hopkins; University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Rui Zhang
- Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University; Baltimore, MD, USA
- Cancer Convergence Institute and Bloomberg Kimmel Institute at Johns Hopkins; University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Qingfeng Zhu
- Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University; Baltimore, MD, USA
- Cancer Convergence Institute and Bloomberg Kimmel Institute at Johns Hopkins; University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Juan Fu
- Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University; Baltimore, MD, USA
- Cancer Convergence Institute and Bloomberg Kimmel Institute at Johns Hopkins; University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Andrea Schmidts
- Cellular Immunotherapy Program, Cancer Center, Massachusetts General Hospital; Harvard Medical School; Boston, MA, USA
- Cancer Center, Massachusetts General Hospital; Harvard Medical School; Boston, MA, USA
| | - Felix Korell
- Cellular Immunotherapy Program, Cancer Center, Massachusetts General Hospital; Harvard Medical School; Boston, MA, USA
- Cancer Center, Massachusetts General Hospital; Harvard Medical School; Boston, MA, USA
| | - Max Jan
- Cellular Immunotherapy Program, Cancer Center, Massachusetts General Hospital; Harvard Medical School; Boston, MA, USA
- Cancer Center, Massachusetts General Hospital; Harvard Medical School; Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Pathology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School; Boston, MA, USA
| | - Bryan D. Choi
- Cellular Immunotherapy Program, Cancer Center, Massachusetts General Hospital; Harvard Medical School; Boston, MA, USA
- Cancer Center, Massachusetts General Hospital; Harvard Medical School; Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Neurosurgery, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School; Boston, MA, USA
| | - Andrew S. Liss
- Division of Gastrointestinal and Oncologic Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital; Harvard Medical School; Boston, MA, USA
| | - Genevieve M. Boland
- Cancer Center, Massachusetts General Hospital; Harvard Medical School; Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School; Boston, MA, USA
| | - David T. Ting
- Cancer Center, Massachusetts General Hospital; Harvard Medical School; Boston, MA, USA
| | - Richard A. Burkhart
- Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University; Baltimore, MD, USA
- Cancer Convergence Institute and Bloomberg Kimmel Institute at Johns Hopkins; University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Russell W. Jenkins
- Cancer Center, Massachusetts General Hospital; Harvard Medical School; Boston, MA, USA
| | - Lei Zheng
- Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University; Baltimore, MD, USA
- Cancer Convergence Institute and Bloomberg Kimmel Institute at Johns Hopkins; University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Elizabeth M. Jaffee
- Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University; Baltimore, MD, USA
- Cancer Convergence Institute and Bloomberg Kimmel Institute at Johns Hopkins; University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Jacquelyn W. Zimmerman
- Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University; Baltimore, MD, USA
- Cancer Convergence Institute and Bloomberg Kimmel Institute at Johns Hopkins; University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Marcela V. Maus
- Cellular Immunotherapy Program, Cancer Center, Massachusetts General Hospital; Harvard Medical School; Boston, MA, USA
- Cancer Center, Massachusetts General Hospital; Harvard Medical School; Boston, MA, USA
- Blood and Marrow Transplant Program, Massachusetts General Hospital; Harvard Medical School; Boston, MA, USA
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15
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Liu J, Li Y, Liu Y, Yu R, Yin Y, Lai X, Xu B, Cao J. Elevated serum level of progranulin is associated with increased mortality in critically ill patients with candidemia. Microbes Infect 2024; 26:105302. [PMID: 38246573 DOI: 10.1016/j.micinf.2024.105302] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2023] [Revised: 01/03/2024] [Accepted: 01/17/2024] [Indexed: 01/23/2024]
Abstract
Candidemia is a severe disease with high mortality in both intensive care unit (ICU) and non-ICU settings. Considering that progranulin (PGRN) is a potential therapeutic target for the candidemia caused by Candida albicans, we determined the serum level of PGRN after candidemia and evaluated its association with mortality. A retrospective discovery cohort (62 patients) and a validation cohort (70 patients) were enrolled. Blood was collected on day of first blood culture positivity for C. albicans, and serum PGRN levels were then measured. In the discovery cohort, all serum PGRN studied were expressed at higher levels in candidemia patients than in bacteremia patients and healthy volunteers, non-survivors presented with significantly higher serum PGRN concentrations when compared with survivors. Serum PGRN concentration was associated with 30-day mortality and patients at a higher risk of death showed higher serum PGRN levels. These results were confirmed in the independent validation cohort. Interestingly, in vitro study demonstrated that macrophages, neutrophils and lymphocytes may be the major source of PGRN production after C. albicans infection instead of epithelial cells. Our findings highlight that serum PGRN appears as a biomarker in candidemia patients and as a promising tool for mortality risk stratification in managing candidemia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiayu Liu
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China; Key Laboratory of Laboratory Medical Diagnostics Designated by the Ministry of Education, School of Laboratory Medicine, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Yue Li
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Yuhan Liu
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Renlin Yu
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Yibing Yin
- Key Laboratory of Laboratory Medical Diagnostics Designated by the Ministry of Education, School of Laboratory Medicine, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Xiaofei Lai
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Banglao Xu
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Guangzhou First People's Hospital, School of Medicine, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China.
| | - Ju Cao
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China.
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16
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Astuti Y, Raymant M, Quaranta V, Clarke K, Abudula M, Smith O, Bellomo G, Chandran-Gorner V, Nourse C, Halloran C, Ghaneh P, Palmer D, Jones RP, Campbell F, Pollard JW, Morton JP, Mielgo A, Schmid MC. Efferocytosis reprograms the tumor microenvironment to promote pancreatic cancer liver metastasis. NATURE CANCER 2024; 5:774-790. [PMID: 38355776 PMCID: PMC11136665 DOI: 10.1038/s43018-024-00731-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2023] [Accepted: 01/18/2024] [Indexed: 02/16/2024]
Abstract
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma is a highly metastatic disease and macrophages support liver metastases. Efferocytosis, or engulfment of apoptotic cells by macrophages, is an essential process in tissue homeostasis and wound healing, but its role in metastasis is less well understood. Here, we found that the colonization of the hepatic metastatic site is accompanied by low-grade tissue injury and that efferocytosis-mediated clearance of parenchymal dead cells promotes macrophage reprogramming and liver metastasis. Mechanistically, progranulin expression in macrophages is necessary for efficient efferocytosis by controlling lysosomal acidification via cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator and the degradation of lysosomal cargo, resulting in LXRα/RXRα-mediated macrophage conversion and upregulation of arginase 1. Pharmacological blockade of efferocytosis or macrophage-specific genetic depletion of progranulin impairs macrophage conversion, improves CD8+ T cell functions, and reduces liver metastasis. Our findings reveal how hard-wired functions of macrophages in tissue repair contribute to liver metastasis and identify potential targets for prevention of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma liver metastasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuliana Astuti
- Department of Molecular and Clinical Cancer Medicine, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
| | - Meirion Raymant
- Department of Molecular and Clinical Cancer Medicine, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
| | - Valeria Quaranta
- Department of Molecular and Clinical Cancer Medicine, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
| | - Kim Clarke
- Computational Biology Facility, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
| | - Maidinaimu Abudula
- Department of Molecular and Clinical Cancer Medicine, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
| | - Olivia Smith
- Department of Molecular and Clinical Cancer Medicine, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
| | - Gaia Bellomo
- Department of Molecular and Clinical Cancer Medicine, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
| | | | - Craig Nourse
- Cancer Research UK Scotland Institute, Glasgow, UK
| | - Christopher Halloran
- Department of Molecular and Clinical Cancer Medicine, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
| | - Paula Ghaneh
- Department of Molecular and Clinical Cancer Medicine, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
| | - Daniel Palmer
- Department of Molecular and Clinical Cancer Medicine, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
| | - Robert P Jones
- Department of Molecular and Clinical Cancer Medicine, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
| | - Fiona Campbell
- Department of Molecular and Clinical Cancer Medicine, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
| | | | - Jennifer P Morton
- Cancer Research UK Scotland Institute, Glasgow, UK
- School of Cancer Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
| | - Ainhoa Mielgo
- Department of Molecular and Clinical Cancer Medicine, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
| | - Michael C Schmid
- Department of Molecular and Clinical Cancer Medicine, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK.
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17
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Kou Z, Liu C, Zhang W, Sun C, Liu L, Zhang Q. Heterogeneity of primary and metastatic CAFs: From differential treatment outcomes to treatment opportunities (Review). Int J Oncol 2024; 64:54. [PMID: 38577950 PMCID: PMC11015919 DOI: 10.3892/ijo.2024.5642] [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: 11/09/2023] [Accepted: 03/13/2024] [Indexed: 04/06/2024] Open
Abstract
Compared with primary tumor sites, metastatic sites appear more resistant to treatments and respond differently to the treatment regimen. It may be due to the heterogeneity in the microenvironment between metastatic sites and primary tumors. Cancer‑associated fibroblasts (CAFs) are widely present in the tumor stroma as key components of the tumor microenvironment. Primary tumor CAFs (pCAFs) and metastatic CAFs (mCAFs) are heterogeneous in terms of source, activation mode, markers and functional phenotypes. They can shape the tumor microenvironment according to organ, showing heterogeneity between primary tumors and metastases, which may affect the sensitivity of these sites to treatment. It was hypothesized that understanding the heterogeneity between pCAFs and mCAFs can provide a glimpse into the difference in treatment outcomes, providing new ideas for improving the rate of metastasis control in various cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zixing Kou
- College of First Clinical Medicine, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, Shandong 250355, P.R. China
| | - Cun Liu
- College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shandong Second Medical University, Weifang, Shandong 261053, P.R. China
| | - Wenfeng Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine and Faculty of Chinese Medicine, Macau University of Science and Technology, Taipa Island 999078, Macau SAR, P.R. China
| | - Changgang Sun
- College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shandong Second Medical University, Weifang, Shandong 261053, P.R. China
- Department of Oncology, Weifang Traditional Chinese Hospital, Weifang, Shandong 621000, P.R. China
| | - Lijuan Liu
- Department of Oncology, Weifang Traditional Chinese Hospital, Weifang, Shandong 621000, P.R. China
| | - Qiming Zhang
- College of First Clinical Medicine, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, Shandong 250355, P.R. China
- Department of Experimental Research Center, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing 100007, P.R. China
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18
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Yang Z, Chen H, Yin S, Mo H, Chai F, Luo P, Li Y, Ma L, Yi Z, Sun Y, Chen Y, Wu J, Wang W, Yin T, Zhu J, Shi C, Zhang F. PGR-KITLG signaling drives a tumor-mast cell regulatory feedback to modulate apoptosis of breast cancer cells. Cancer Lett 2024; 589:216795. [PMID: 38556106 DOI: 10.1016/j.canlet.2024.216795] [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: 11/27/2023] [Revised: 02/05/2024] [Accepted: 03/04/2024] [Indexed: 04/02/2024]
Abstract
The immune microenvironment constructed by tumor-infiltrating immune cells and the molecular phenotype defined by hormone receptors (HRs) have been implicated as decisive factors in the regulation of breast cancer (BC) progression. Here, we found that the infiltration of mast cells (MCs) informed impaired prognoses in HR(+) BC but predicted improved prognoses in HR(-) BC. However, molecular features of MCs in different BC remain unclear. We next discovered that HR(-) BC cells were prone to apoptosis under the stimulation of MCs, whereas HR(+) BC cells exerted anti-apoptotic effects. Mechanistically, in HR(+) BC, the KIT ligand (KITLG), a major mast cell growth factor in recruiting and activating MCs, could be transcriptionally upregulated by the progesterone receptor (PGR), and elevate the production of MC-derived granulin (GRN). GRN attenuates TNFα-induced apoptosis in BC cells by competitively binding to TNFR1. Furthermore, disruption of PGR-KITLG signaling by knocking down PGR or using the specific KITLG-cKIT inhibitor iSCK03 potently enhanced the sensitivity of HR(+) BC cells to MC-induced apoptosis and exerted anti-tumor activity. Collectively, these results demonstrate that PGR-KITLG signaling in BC cells preferentially induces GRN expression in MCs to exert anti-apoptotic effects, with potential value in developing precision medicine approaches for diagnosis and treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zeyu Yang
- Department of Breast and Thyroid Surgery, Chongqing General Hospital, Chongqing, 401147, China; Graduate School of Medicine, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400016, China
| | - Hongdan Chen
- Department of Breast and Thyroid Surgery, Chongqing General Hospital, Chongqing, 401147, China
| | - Supeng Yin
- Department of Breast and Thyroid Surgery, Chongqing General Hospital, Chongqing, 401147, China
| | - Hongbiao Mo
- Department of Breast and Thyroid Surgery, Chongqing General Hospital, Chongqing, 401147, China
| | - Fan Chai
- Department of Breast and Thyroid Surgery, Chongqing General Hospital, Chongqing, 401147, China
| | - Peng Luo
- Institute of Rocket Force Medicine, State Key Laboratory of Trauma and Chemical Poisoning, Third Military Medical University (Army Medical University), Chongqing, 400038, China
| | - Yao Li
- Department of Breast and Thyroid Surgery, Chongqing General Hospital, Chongqing, 401147, China
| | - Le Ma
- Institute of Rocket Force Medicine, State Key Laboratory of Trauma and Chemical Poisoning, Third Military Medical University (Army Medical University), Chongqing, 400038, China
| | - Ziying Yi
- Department of Breast and Thyroid Surgery, Chongqing General Hospital, Chongqing, 401147, China
| | - Yizeng Sun
- Department of Breast and Thyroid Surgery, Chongqing General Hospital, Chongqing, 401147, China
| | - Yan Chen
- Institute of Rocket Force Medicine, State Key Laboratory of Trauma and Chemical Poisoning, Third Military Medical University (Army Medical University), Chongqing, 400038, China
| | - Jie Wu
- Institute of Rocket Force Medicine, State Key Laboratory of Trauma and Chemical Poisoning, Third Military Medical University (Army Medical University), Chongqing, 400038, China
| | - Weihua Wang
- Department of Breast and Thyroid Surgery, Chongqing General Hospital, Chongqing, 401147, China
| | - Tingjie Yin
- Department of Breast and Thyroid Surgery, Chongqing General Hospital, Chongqing, 401147, China
| | - Junping Zhu
- Department of Breast and Thyroid Surgery, Chongqing General Hospital, Chongqing, 401147, China
| | - Chunmeng Shi
- Institute of Rocket Force Medicine, State Key Laboratory of Trauma and Chemical Poisoning, Third Military Medical University (Army Medical University), Chongqing, 400038, China.
| | - Fan Zhang
- Department of Breast and Thyroid Surgery, Chongqing General Hospital, Chongqing, 401147, China; Graduate School of Medicine, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400016, China.
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19
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Raymant M, Astuti Y, Alvaro-Espinosa L, Green D, Quaranta V, Bellomo G, Glenn M, Chandran-Gorner V, Palmer DH, Halloran C, Ghaneh P, Henderson NC, Morton JP, Valiente M, Mielgo A, Schmid MC. Macrophage-fibroblast JAK/STAT dependent crosstalk promotes liver metastatic outgrowth in pancreatic cancer. Nat Commun 2024; 15:3593. [PMID: 38678021 PMCID: PMC11055860 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-47949-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2023] [Accepted: 04/16/2024] [Indexed: 04/29/2024] Open
Abstract
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a highly metastatic disease for which better therapies are urgently needed. Fibroblasts and macrophages are heterogeneous cell populations able to enhance metastasis, but the role of a macrophage-fibroblast crosstalk in regulating their pro-metastatic functions remains poorly understood. Here we deconvolve how macrophages regulate metastasis-associated fibroblast (MAF) heterogeneity in the liver. We identify three functionally distinct MAF populations, among which the generation of pro-metastatic and immunoregulatory myofibroblastic-MAFs (myMAFs) critically depends on macrophages. Mechanistically, myMAFs are induced through a STAT3-dependent mechanism driven by macrophage-derived progranulin and cancer cell-secreted leukaemia inhibitory factor (LIF). In a reciprocal manner, myMAF secreted osteopontin promotes an immunosuppressive macrophage phenotype resulting in the inhibition of cytotoxic T cell functions. Pharmacological blockade of STAT3 or myMAF-specific genetic depletion of STAT3 restores an anti-tumour immune response and reduces metastases. Our findings provide molecular insights into the complex macrophage-fibroblast interactions in tumours and reveal potential targets to inhibit PDAC liver metastasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meirion Raymant
- Department of Molecular and Clinical Cancer Medicine, University of Liverpool, Ashton Street, Liverpool, L69 3GE, UK
| | - Yuliana Astuti
- Department of Molecular and Clinical Cancer Medicine, University of Liverpool, Ashton Street, Liverpool, L69 3GE, UK
| | - Laura Alvaro-Espinosa
- Brain Metastasis Group, Spanish National Cancer Research Centre (CNIO), Madrid, Spain
| | - Daniel Green
- Department of Molecular and Clinical Cancer Medicine, University of Liverpool, Ashton Street, Liverpool, L69 3GE, UK
| | - Valeria Quaranta
- Department of Molecular and Clinical Cancer Medicine, University of Liverpool, Ashton Street, Liverpool, L69 3GE, UK
| | - Gaia Bellomo
- Department of Molecular and Clinical Cancer Medicine, University of Liverpool, Ashton Street, Liverpool, L69 3GE, UK
| | - Mark Glenn
- Department of Molecular and Clinical Cancer Medicine, University of Liverpool, Ashton Street, Liverpool, L69 3GE, UK
| | - Vatshala Chandran-Gorner
- Department of Molecular and Clinical Cancer Medicine, University of Liverpool, Ashton Street, Liverpool, L69 3GE, UK
| | - Daniel H Palmer
- Department of Molecular and Clinical Cancer Medicine, University of Liverpool, Ashton Street, Liverpool, L69 3GE, UK
| | - Christopher Halloran
- Department of Molecular and Clinical Cancer Medicine, University of Liverpool, Ashton Street, Liverpool, L69 3GE, UK
| | - Paula Ghaneh
- Department of Molecular and Clinical Cancer Medicine, University of Liverpool, Ashton Street, Liverpool, L69 3GE, UK
| | - Neil C Henderson
- Centre for Inflammation Research, The Queen's Medical Research Institute, Edinburgh BioQuarter, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH16 4TJ, UK
- MRC Human Genetics Unit, Institute of Genetics and Cancer, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Jennifer P Morton
- Cancer Research-UK Scotland Institute and School of Cancer Sciences, University of Glasgow, Switchback Road, Glasgow, G61 1BD, UK
| | - Manuel Valiente
- Brain Metastasis Group, Spanish National Cancer Research Centre (CNIO), Madrid, Spain
| | - Ainhoa Mielgo
- Department of Molecular and Clinical Cancer Medicine, University of Liverpool, Ashton Street, Liverpool, L69 3GE, UK
| | - Michael C Schmid
- Department of Molecular and Clinical Cancer Medicine, University of Liverpool, Ashton Street, Liverpool, L69 3GE, UK.
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20
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Huang G, Jian J, Liu CJ. Progranulinopathy: A diverse realm of disorders linked to progranulin imbalances. Cytokine Growth Factor Rev 2024; 76:142-159. [PMID: 37981505 PMCID: PMC10978308 DOI: 10.1016/j.cytogfr.2023.11.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2023] [Revised: 11/05/2023] [Accepted: 11/07/2023] [Indexed: 11/21/2023]
Abstract
Progranulin (PGRN), encoded by the GRN gene in humans, was originally isolated as a secreted growth factor that implicates in a multitude of processes ranging from regulation of tumorigenesis, inflammation to neural proliferation. Compelling evidence indicating that GRN mutation can lead to various common neuronal degenerative diseases and rare lysosomal storage diseases. These findings have unveiled a critical role for PGRN as a lysosomal protein in maintaining lysosomal function. The phenotypic spectrum of PGRN imbalance has expanded to encompass a broad spectrum of diseases, including autoimmune diseases, metabolic, musculoskeletal and cardiovascular diseases. These diseases collectively referred to as Progranulinopathy- a term encompasses the wide spectrum of disorders influenced by PGRN imbalance. Unlike its known extracellular function as a growth factor-like molecule associated with multiple membrane receptors, PGRN also serves as an intracellular co-chaperone engaged in the folding and traffic of its associated proteins, particularly the lysosomal hydrolases. This chaperone activity is required for PGRN to exert its diverse functions across a broad range of diseases, encompassing both the central nervous system and peripheral systems. In this comprehensive review, we present an update of the emerging role of PGRN in Progranulinopathy, with special focus on elucidating the intricate interplay between PGRN and a diverse array of proteins at various levels, ranging from extracellular fluids and intracellular components, as well as various pathophysiological processes involved. This review seeks to offer a comprehensive grasp of PGRN's diverse functions, aiming to unveil intricate mechanisms behind Progranulinopathy and open doors for future research endeavors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guiwu Huang
- Department of Orthopaedics and Rehabilitation, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA; Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA; Department of Joint Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jinlong Jian
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Chuan-Ju Liu
- Department of Orthopaedics and Rehabilitation, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA; Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA; Department of Cell Biology, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA.
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21
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Liu ZL, Meng XY, Bao RJ, Shen MY, Sun JJ, Chen WD, Liu F, He Y. Single cell deciphering of progression trajectories of the tumor ecosystem in head and neck cancer. Nat Commun 2024; 15:2595. [PMID: 38519500 PMCID: PMC10959966 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-46912-6] [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: 05/04/2023] [Accepted: 03/14/2024] [Indexed: 03/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma is the sixth most common cancer worldwide and has high heterogeneity and unsatisfactory outcomes. To better characterize the tumor progression trajectory, we perform single-cell RNA sequencing of normal tissue, precancerous tissue, early-stage, advanced-stage cancer tissue, lymph node, and recurrent tumors tissue samples. We identify the transcriptional development trajectory of malignant epithelial cells and a tumorigenic epithelial subcluster regulated by TFDP1. Furthermore, we find that the infiltration of POSTN+ fibroblasts and SPP1+ macrophages gradually increases with tumor progression; their interaction or interaction with malignant cells also gradually increase to shape the desmoplastic microenvironment and reprogram malignant cells to promote tumor progression. Additionally, we demonstrate that during lymph node metastasis, exhausted CD8+ T cells with high CXCL13 expression strongly interact with tumor cells to acquire more aggressive phenotypes of extranodal expansion. Finally, we delineate the distinct features of malignant epithelial cells in primary and recurrent tumors, providing a theoretical foundation for the precise selection of targeted therapy for tumors at different stages. In summary, the current study offers a comprehensive landscape and deep insight into epithelial and microenvironmental reprogramming throughout initiation, progression, lymph node metastasis and recurrence of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Z L Liu
- Department of Oral Maxillofacial & Head and Neck Oncology, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine; College of Stomatology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University; National Center for Stomatology; National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases; Shanghai Key Laboratory of Stomatology Shanghai, Shanghai, 200011, China
| | - X Y Meng
- Department of Oral Maxillofacial & Head and Neck Oncology, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine; College of Stomatology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University; National Center for Stomatology; National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases; Shanghai Key Laboratory of Stomatology Shanghai, Shanghai, 200011, China
| | - R J Bao
- Shanghai Institute of Immunology, State Key Laboratory of Oncogenes and Related Genes, Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200025, China
| | - M Y Shen
- Shanghai Institute of Immunology, State Key Laboratory of Oncogenes and Related Genes, Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200025, China
| | - J J Sun
- Department of Oral Pathology, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine; College of Stomatology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University; National Center for Stomatology; National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases; Shanghai Key Laboratory of Stomatology Shanghai, Shanghai, 200011, China
| | - W D Chen
- Novel Bioinformatics Co., Ltd, Shanghai, China
| | - F Liu
- Department of Oncology, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200011, China
| | - Y He
- Department of Oral Maxillofacial & Head and Neck Oncology, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine; College of Stomatology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University; National Center for Stomatology; National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases; Shanghai Key Laboratory of Stomatology Shanghai, Shanghai, 200011, China.
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22
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Liu K, Wehling L, Wan S, Weiler SME, Tóth M, Ibberson D, Marhenke S, Ali A, Lam M, Guo T, Pinna F, Pedrini F, Damle-Vartak A, Dropmann A, Rose F, Colucci S, Cheng W, Bissinger M, Schmitt J, Birner P, Poth T, Angel P, Dooley S, Muckenthaler MU, Longerich T, Vogel A, Heikenwälder M, Schirmacher P, Breuhahn K. Dynamic YAP expression in the non-parenchymal liver cell compartment controls heterologous cell communication. Cell Mol Life Sci 2024; 81:115. [PMID: 38436764 PMCID: PMC10912141 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-024-05126-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2023] [Revised: 12/11/2023] [Accepted: 12/30/2023] [Indexed: 03/05/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The Hippo pathway and its transcriptional effectors yes-associated protein (YAP) and transcriptional coactivator with PDZ-binding motif (TAZ) are targets for cancer therapy. It is important to determine if the activation of one factor compensates for the inhibition of the other. Moreover, it is unknown if YAP/TAZ-directed perturbation affects cell-cell communication of non-malignant liver cells. MATERIALS AND METHODS To investigate liver-specific phenotypes caused by YAP and TAZ inactivation, we generated mice with hepatocyte (HC) and biliary epithelial cell (BEC)-specific deletions for both factors (YAPKO, TAZKO and double knock-out (DKO)). Immunohistochemistry, single-cell sequencing, and proteomics were used to analyze liver tissues and serum. RESULTS The loss of BECs, liver fibrosis, and necrosis characterized livers from YAPKO and DKO mice. This phenotype was weakened in DKO tissues compared to specimens from YAPKO animals. After depletion of YAP in HCs and BECs, YAP expression was induced in non-parenchymal cells (NPCs) in a cholestasis-independent manner. YAP positivity was detected in subgroups of Kupffer cells (KCs) and endothelial cells (ECs). The secretion of pro-inflammatory chemokines and cytokines such as C-X-C motif chemokine ligand 11 (CXCL11), fms-related receptor tyrosine kinase 3 ligand (FLT3L), and soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM1) was increased in the serum of YAPKO animals. YAP activation in NPCs could contribute to inflammation via TEA domain transcription factor (TEAD)-dependent transcriptional regulation of secreted factors. CONCLUSION YAP inactivation in HCs and BECs causes liver damage, and concomitant TAZ deletion does not enhance but reduces this phenotype. Additionally, we present a new mechanism by which YAP contributes to cell-cell communication originating from NPCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kaijing Liu
- Department of Medical Oncology, Sun Yat-Sen University Cancer Center, Guangdong, China
- Institute of Pathology, University Hospital Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 224, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Sun Yat-Sen University Cancer Center, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Lilija Wehling
- Institute of Pathology, University Hospital Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 224, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
- Department of Modeling of Biological Processes, COS Heidelberg/BioQuant, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Shan Wan
- Department of Pathology, School of Biology & Basic Medical Sciences, Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Sofia M E Weiler
- Institute of Pathology, University Hospital Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 224, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Marcell Tóth
- Institute of Pathology, University Hospital Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 224, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - David Ibberson
- Deep Sequencing Core Facility, CellNetworks Excellence Cluster, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Silke Marhenke
- Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Endocrinology, Hannover Medical School (MHH), Hannover, Germany
| | - Adnan Ali
- Division of Chronic Inflammation and Cancer, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Macrina Lam
- Division of Signal Transduction and Growth Control, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Te Guo
- Division of Signal Transduction and Growth Control, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Federico Pinna
- Institute of Pathology, University Hospital Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 224, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Fabiola Pedrini
- Institute of Pathology, University Hospital Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 224, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Amruta Damle-Vartak
- Institute of Pathology, University Hospital Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 224, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Anne Dropmann
- Department of Medicine II, Molecular Hepatology Section, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Fabian Rose
- Institute of Pathology, University Hospital Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 224, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Silvia Colucci
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Hematology & Immunology, University Hospital Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Wenxiang Cheng
- Translational Medicine R&D Center, Institute of Biomedical & Health Engineering, Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, China
| | - Michaela Bissinger
- Institute of Pathology, University Hospital Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 224, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Jennifer Schmitt
- Institute of Pathology, University Hospital Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 224, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Patrizia Birner
- Institute of Pathology, University Hospital Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 224, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Tanja Poth
- Institute of Pathology, University Hospital Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 224, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Peter Angel
- Division of Signal Transduction and Growth Control, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Steven Dooley
- Department of Medicine II, Molecular Hepatology Section, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Martina U Muckenthaler
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Hematology & Immunology, University Hospital Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Thomas Longerich
- Institute of Pathology, University Hospital Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 224, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Arndt Vogel
- Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Endocrinology, Hannover Medical School (MHH), Hannover, Germany
| | - Mathias Heikenwälder
- Division of Chronic Inflammation and Cancer, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Peter Schirmacher
- Institute of Pathology, University Hospital Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 224, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Kai Breuhahn
- Institute of Pathology, University Hospital Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 224, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany.
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23
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Wang P, Jie Y, Yao L, Sun YM, Jiang DP, Zhang SQ, Wang XY, Fan Y. Cells in the liver microenvironment regulate the process of liver metastasis. Cell Biochem Funct 2024; 42:e3969. [PMID: 38459746 DOI: 10.1002/cbf.3969] [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: 10/05/2023] [Revised: 01/31/2024] [Accepted: 02/26/2024] [Indexed: 03/10/2024]
Abstract
The research of liver metastasis is a developing field. The ability of tumor cells to invade the liver depends on the complicated interactions between metastatic cells and local subpopulations in the liver (including Kupffer cells, hepatic stellate cells, liver sinusoidal endothelial cells, and immune-related cells). These interactions are mainly mediated by intercellular adhesion and the release of cytokines. Cell populations in the liver microenvironment can play a dual role in the progression of liver metastasis through different mechanisms. At the same time, we can see the participation of liver parenchymal cells and nonparenchymal cells in the process of liver metastasis of different tumors. Therefore, the purpose of this article is to summarize the relationship between cellular components of liver microenvironment and metastasis and emphasize the importance of different cells in the occurrence or potential regression of liver metastasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pei Wang
- Cancer Institute, The Affiliated People's Hospital of Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu, China
| | - Yu Jie
- Cancer Institute, The Affiliated People's Hospital of Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu, China
| | - Lin Yao
- Cancer Institute, The Affiliated People's Hospital of Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu, China
| | - Yi-Meng Sun
- Cancer Institute, The Affiliated People's Hospital of Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu, China
| | - Da-Peng Jiang
- Cancer Institute, The Affiliated People's Hospital of Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu, China
| | - Shi-Qi Zhang
- Department of Gastroenterology, The Affiliated Suqian First People's Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University, Suqian, Jiangsu, China
| | - Xiao-Yan Wang
- Department of Gastroenterology, The Affiliated Suqian First People's Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University, Suqian, Jiangsu, China
| | - Yu Fan
- Cancer Institute, The Affiliated People's Hospital of Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu, China
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24
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Monteran L, Zait Y, Erez N. It's all about the base: stromal cells are central orchestrators of metastasis. Trends Cancer 2024; 10:208-229. [PMID: 38072691 DOI: 10.1016/j.trecan.2023.11.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2023] [Revised: 11/14/2023] [Accepted: 11/15/2023] [Indexed: 03/16/2024]
Abstract
The tumor microenvironment (TME) is an integral part of tumors and plays a central role in all stages of carcinogenesis and progression. Each organ has a unique and heterogeneous microenvironment, which affects the ability of disseminated cells to grow in the new and sometimes hostile metastatic niche. Resident stromal cells, such as fibroblasts, osteoblasts, and astrocytes, are essential culprits in the modulation of metastatic progression: they transition from being sentinels of tissue integrity to being dysfunctional perpetrators that support metastatic outgrowth. Therefore, better understanding of the complexity of their reciprocal interactions with cancer cells and with other components of the TME is essential to enable the design of novel therapeutic approaches to prevent metastatic relapse.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lea Monteran
- Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Yael Zait
- Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Neta Erez
- Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.
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25
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Guo Z, Ashrafizadeh M, Zhang W, Zou R, Sethi G, Zhang X. Molecular profile of metastasis, cell plasticity and EMT in pancreatic cancer: a pre-clinical connection to aggressiveness and drug resistance. Cancer Metastasis Rev 2024; 43:29-53. [PMID: 37453022 DOI: 10.1007/s10555-023-10125-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2023] [Accepted: 07/07/2023] [Indexed: 07/18/2023]
Abstract
The metastasis is a multistep process in which a small proportion of cancer cells are detached from the colony to enter into blood cells for obtaining a new place for metastasis and proliferation. The metastasis and cell plasticity are considered major causes of cancer-related deaths since they improve the malignancy of cancer cells and provide poor prognosis for patients. Furthermore, enhancement in the aggressiveness of cancer cells has been related to the development of drug resistance. Metastasis of pancreatic cancer (PC) cells has been considered one of the major causes of death in patients and their undesirable prognosis. PC is among the most malignant tumors of the gastrointestinal tract and in addition to lifestyle, smoking, and other factors, genomic changes play a key role in its progression. The stimulation of EMT in PC cells occurs as a result of changes in molecular interaction, and in addition to increasing metastasis, EMT participates in the development of chemoresistance. The epithelial, mesenchymal, and acinar cell plasticity can occur and determines the progression of PC. The major molecular pathways including STAT3, PTEN, PI3K/Akt, and Wnt participate in regulating the metastasis of PC cells. The communication in tumor microenvironment can provide by exosomes in determining PC metastasis. The components of tumor microenvironment including macrophages, neutrophils, and cancer-associated fibroblasts can modulate PC progression and the response of cancer cells to chemotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhenli Guo
- Department of Oncology, First Affiliated Hospital, Gannan Medical University, 128 Jinling Road, Ganzhou City, Jiangxi Province, 341000, China
| | - Milad Ashrafizadeh
- Department of General Surgery and Institute of Precision Diagnosis and Treatment of Digestive System Tumors, Carson International Cancer Center, Shenzhen University General Hospital, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, 518055, Guangdong, China.
- Shanghai Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China.
| | - Wei Zhang
- Department of General Surgery and Institute of Precision Diagnosis and Treatment of Digestive System Tumors, Carson International Cancer Center, Shenzhen University General Hospital, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, 518055, Guangdong, China
| | - Rongjun Zou
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Guangdong Provincial Hospital of Chinese Medicine, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, 510120, Guangdong, China
- The Second Clinical College of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, 510405, Guangdong, China
| | - Gautam Sethi
- Department of Pharmacology, National University of Singapore, 16 Medical Drive, Singapore, 117600, Singapore.
| | - Xianbin Zhang
- Department of General Surgery and Institute of Precision Diagnosis and Treatment of Digestive System Tumors, Carson International Cancer Center, Shenzhen University General Hospital, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, 518055, Guangdong, China.
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26
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Luckett T, Abudula M, Ireland L, Glenn M, Bellomo G, Stafferton R, Halloran C, Ghaneh P, Jones R, Schmid MC, Mielgo A. Mesothelin Secretion by Pancreatic Cancer Cells Co-opts Macrophages and Promotes Metastasis. Cancer Res 2024; 84:527-544. [PMID: 38356443 DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-23-1542] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2023] [Revised: 10/27/2023] [Accepted: 12/20/2023] [Indexed: 02/16/2024]
Abstract
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a highly metastatic disease, yet effective treatments to inhibit PDAC metastasis are lacking. The rich PDAC tumor microenvironment plays a major role in disease progression. Macrophages are the most abundant immune cell population in PDAC tumors and can acquire a range of functions that either hinder or promote tumor growth and metastasis. Here, we identified that mesothelin secretion by pancreatic cancer cells co-opts macrophages to support tumor growth and metastasis of cancer cells to the lungs, liver, and lymph nodes. Mechanistically, secretion of high levels of mesothelin by metastatic cancer cells induced the expression of VEGF alpha (VEGFA) and S100A9 in macrophages. Macrophage-derived VEGFA fed back to cancer cells to support tumor growth, and S100A9 increased neutrophil lung infiltration and formation of neutrophil extracellular traps. These results reveal a role for mesothelin in regulating macrophage functions and interaction with neutrophils to support PDAC metastasis. SIGNIFICANCE Mesothelin secretion by cancer cells supports pancreatic cancer metastasis by inducing macrophage secretion of VEGFA and S100A9 to support cancer cell proliferation and survival, recruit neutrophils, and stimulate neutrophil extracellular trap formation. See related commentary by Alewine, p. 513.
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Affiliation(s)
- Teifion Luckett
- Department of Molecular and Clinical Cancer Medicine, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Maidinaimu Abudula
- Department of Molecular and Clinical Cancer Medicine, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Lucy Ireland
- Department of Molecular and Clinical Cancer Medicine, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Mark Glenn
- Department of Molecular and Clinical Cancer Medicine, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Gaia Bellomo
- Department of Molecular and Clinical Cancer Medicine, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Ruth Stafferton
- Department of Molecular and Clinical Cancer Medicine, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Chris Halloran
- Department of Molecular and Clinical Cancer Medicine, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Paula Ghaneh
- Department of Molecular and Clinical Cancer Medicine, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Rob Jones
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Liverpool University Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Michael C Schmid
- Department of Molecular and Clinical Cancer Medicine, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Ainhoa Mielgo
- Department of Molecular and Clinical Cancer Medicine, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom
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27
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Yin SY, Liu YJ, Li JP, Liu J. Overexpression of FERM Domain Containing Kindlin 2 (FERMT2) in Fibroblasts Correlates with EMT and Immunosuppression in Gastric Cancer. Int J Genomics 2024; 2024:4123737. [PMID: 38352691 PMCID: PMC10864055 DOI: 10.1155/2024/4123737] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2023] [Revised: 12/26/2023] [Accepted: 01/16/2024] [Indexed: 02/16/2024] Open
Abstract
The mesenchymal feature, dominated by epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT) and stromal cell activation, is one of the main reasons for the aggressive nature of tumors, yet it remains poorly understood. In gastric cancer (GC), the fermitin family homolog-2 (FERMT2) is involved in macrophage signaling, promoting migration and invasion. However, the function of FERMT2 in fibroblasts remains unclear. Here, we demonstrated that downregulation of FERMT2 expression can block EMT in GC cells by inhibiting fibroblast activation in vitro. Furthermore, we found that, in addition to the known pathways, fibroblast-derived FERMT2 promotes M2-like macrophage growth and that in human GC samples, there is a strong positive correlation between FERMT2 and CD163 and CD206 levels. Notably, high FERMT2 expression was significantly associated with poor clinical outcomes and was upregulated in patients with advanced disease. Taken together, our results provide evidence that the fibroblast-FERMT2-EMT-M2 macrophage axis plays a critical role in the GC mesenchymal phenotype and may be a promising target for the treatment of advanced GC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sheng-yan Yin
- The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Jiangsu Second Chinese Medicine Hospital, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210029, China
- Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Jiangsu Province Hospital of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210029, China
| | - Yuan-jie Liu
- The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Jiangsu Second Chinese Medicine Hospital, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210029, China
- Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Jiangsu Province Hospital of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210029, China
| | - Jie-pin Li
- Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Jiangsu Province Hospital of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210029, China
- No. 1 Clinical Medical College, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210023, China
| | - Jian Liu
- The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Jiangsu Second Chinese Medicine Hospital, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210029, China
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Hartupee C, Nagalo BM, Chabu CY, Tesfay MZ, Coleman-Barnett J, West JT, Moaven O. Pancreatic cancer tumor microenvironment is a major therapeutic barrier and target. Front Immunol 2024; 15:1287459. [PMID: 38361931 PMCID: PMC10867137 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2024.1287459] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2023] [Accepted: 01/04/2024] [Indexed: 02/17/2024] Open
Abstract
Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is projected to become the 2nd leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the United States. Limitations in early detection and treatment barriers contribute to the lack of substantial success in the treatment of this challenging-to-treat malignancy. Desmoplasia is the hallmark of PDAC microenvironment that creates a physical and immunologic barrier. Stromal support cells and immunomodulatory cells face aberrant signaling by pancreatic cancer cells that shifts the complex balance of proper repair mechanisms into a state of dysregulation. The product of this dysregulation is the desmoplastic environment that encases the malignant cells leading to a dense, hypoxic environment that promotes further tumorigenesis, provides innate systemic resistance, and suppresses anti-tumor immune invasion. This desmoplastic environment combined with the immunoregulatory events that allow it to persist serve as the primary focus of this review. The physical barrier and immune counterbalance in the tumor microenvironment (TME) make PDAC an immunologically cold tumor. To convert PDAC into an immunologically hot tumor, tumor microenvironment could be considered alongside the tumor cells. We discuss the complex network of microenvironment molecular and cellular composition and explore how they can be targeted to overcome immuno-therapeutic challenges.
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Affiliation(s)
- Conner Hartupee
- Division of Surgical Oncology, Department of Surgery, Louisiana State University (LSU) Health, New Orleans, LA, United States
| | - Bolni Marius Nagalo
- Department of Pathology, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS), Little Rock, AR, United States
- The Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS), Little Rock, AR, United States
| | - Chiswili Y. Chabu
- Division of Biological Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, United States
- Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, United States
- Siteman Cancer Center, Washington University, St. Louis, MO, United States
| | - Mulu Z. Tesfay
- Department of Pathology, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS), Little Rock, AR, United States
| | - Joycelynn Coleman-Barnett
- Division of Surgical Oncology, Department of Surgery, Louisiana State University (LSU) Health, New Orleans, LA, United States
- Department of Interdisciplinary Oncology, Louisiana Cancer Research Center, Louisiana State University (LSU) Health, New Orleans, LA, United States
| | - John T. West
- Department of Interdisciplinary Oncology, Louisiana Cancer Research Center, Louisiana State University (LSU) Health, New Orleans, LA, United States
| | - Omeed Moaven
- Division of Surgical Oncology, Department of Surgery, Louisiana State University (LSU) Health, New Orleans, LA, United States
- Department of Interdisciplinary Oncology, Louisiana Cancer Research Center, Louisiana State University (LSU) Health, New Orleans, LA, United States
- Louisiana State University - Louisiana Children's Medical Center (LSU - LCMC) Cancer Center, New Orleans, LA, United States
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Cao L, Meng X, Zhang Z, Liu Z, He Y. Macrophage heterogeneity and its interactions with stromal cells in tumour microenvironment. Cell Biosci 2024; 14:16. [PMID: 38303024 PMCID: PMC10832170 DOI: 10.1186/s13578-024-01201-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2023] [Accepted: 01/22/2024] [Indexed: 02/03/2024] Open
Abstract
Macrophages and tumour stroma cells account for the main cellular components in the tumour microenvironment (TME). Current advancements in single-cell analysis have revolutionized our understanding of macrophage diversity and macrophage-stroma interactions. Accordingly, this review describes new insight into tumour-associated macrophage (TAM) heterogeneity in terms of tumour type, phenotype, metabolism, and spatial distribution and presents the association between these factors and TAM functional states. Meanwhile, we focus on the immunomodulatory feature of TAMs and highlight the tumour-promoting effect of macrophage-tumour stroma interactions in the immunosuppressive TME. Finally, we summarize recent studies investigating macrophage-targeted therapy and discuss their therapeutic potential in improving immunotherapy by alleviating immunosuppression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liren Cao
- Department of Oral Maxillofacial & Head and Neck Oncology, National Clinical Research Center for Oral Disease, National Center of Stomatology, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200011, China
| | - Xiaoyan Meng
- Department of Oral Maxillofacial & Head and Neck Oncology, National Clinical Research Center for Oral Disease, National Center of Stomatology, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200011, China
| | - Zhiyuan Zhang
- Department of Oral Maxillofacial & Head and Neck Oncology, National Clinical Research Center for Oral Disease, National Center of Stomatology, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200011, China.
| | - Zhonglong Liu
- Department of Oral Maxillofacial & Head and Neck Oncology, National Clinical Research Center for Oral Disease, National Center of Stomatology, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200011, China.
| | - Yue He
- Department of Oral Maxillofacial & Head and Neck Oncology, National Clinical Research Center for Oral Disease, National Center of Stomatology, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200011, China.
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Liu B, Wu T, Lin B, Liu X, Liu Y, Song G, Fan C, Ouyang G. Periostin-TGF-β feedforward loop contributes to tumour-stroma crosstalk in liver metastatic outgrowth of colorectal cancer. Br J Cancer 2024; 130:358-368. [PMID: 38097742 PMCID: PMC10844286 DOI: 10.1038/s41416-023-02516-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2023] [Revised: 11/16/2023] [Accepted: 11/22/2023] [Indexed: 02/07/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND This study aimed to investigate the underlying mechanisms of matricellular protein periostin (POSTN) on tumour-stroma crosstalk in the liver metastatic microenvironment of colorectal cancer (CRC). METHODS Postn-knockout mice and hepatic Postn-overexpressing mice were used to investigate the functions of POSTN on the formation of fibrotic microenvironment and the tumour-stroma crosstalk in the liver metastatic microenvironment of CRC. Clinical samples and database were analyzed to show the correlation between POSTN expression and fibrotic features and TGF-β signalling in metastatic livers of CRC. RESULTS POSTN deficiency reduced hepatic stellate cell (HSC) activation and liver metastasis, whereas POSTN overexpression in the liver significantly augmented the formation of a fibrotic microenvironment to support the liver metastatic growth of CRC cells in mice. Moreover, HSC-derived POSTN promoted TGF-β1 expression in CRC cells through the integrin/FAK/ERK/STAT3 pathway; conversely, tumour cell-derived TGF-β1 induced POSTN expression in HSCs via the Smad pathway. POSTN levels correlated with fibrotic features and TGF-β signalling in metastatic liver tissues of CRC patients. CONCLUSIONS POSTN and TGF-β1 cooperatively contribute to the tumour-stroma crosstalk by forming a supporting fibrotic microenvironment to promote liver metastasis of CRC cells via the POSTN/integrin/FAK/ERK/STAT3/TGF-β axis in tumour cells and TGF-β/Smad/POSTN signalling in activated HSCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bin Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, School of Life Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Life Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
- Department of Hematology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University and Institute of Hematology, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
| | - Tiantian Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, School of Life Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Life Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
- Department of Hematology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University and Institute of Hematology, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
| | - Biyu Lin
- State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, School of Life Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Life Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
| | - Xingxing Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, School of Life Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Life Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
- Department of Hematology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University and Institute of Hematology, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
| | - Yingfu Liu
- Department of Hematology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University and Institute of Hematology, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
| | - Gang Song
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China.
| | - Chuannan Fan
- State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, School of Life Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Life Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China.
- Department of Cell and Chemical Biology and Oncode Institute, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands.
| | - Gaoliang Ouyang
- State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, School of Life Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Life Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China.
- Department of Hematology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University and Institute of Hematology, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China.
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Liang W, Huang X, Shi J. Macrophages Serve as Bidirectional Regulators and Potential Therapeutic Targets for Liver Fibrosis. Cell Biochem Biophys 2023; 81:659-671. [PMID: 37695501 DOI: 10.1007/s12013-023-01173-w] [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: 12/23/2022] [Accepted: 09/02/2023] [Indexed: 09/12/2023]
Abstract
Liver fibrosis is a dynamic pathological process in which the structure and function of the liver abnormally change due to long-term complex inflammatory reactions and chronic liver injury caused by multiple internal and external factors. Previous studies believed that the activation of hepatic stellate cells is a critical part of the occurrence and development of liver fibrosis. However, an increasing number of studies have indicated that the macrophage plays an important role as a central regulator in liver fibrosis, and it directly affects the development and recovery of liver fibrosis. Studies of macrophages and liver fibrosis in the recent 10 years will be reviewed in this paper. This review will not only clarify the molecular mechanism of liver fibrosis regulated by macrophages but also provide new strategies and methods for ameliorating and treating liver fibrosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Liang
- Clinical Medical Research Center, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, 530007, Guangxi, China.
| | - Xianing Huang
- Guangxi International Travel Healthcare Centre (Port Clinic of Nanning Customs District), Nanning, 530021, Guangxi, China
| | - Jingjing Shi
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Affiliated Tumor Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Guangxi Clinical Research Center for Colorectal Cancer, Nanning, 530021, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China
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Tang W, Sun G, Ji GW, Feng T, Zhang Q, Cao H, Wu W, Zhang X, Liu C, Liu H, Huang T, Liu L, Xia Y, Wang X. Single-cell RNA-sequencing atlas reveals an FABP1-dependent immunosuppressive environment in hepatocellular carcinoma. J Immunother Cancer 2023; 11:e007030. [PMID: 38007237 PMCID: PMC10679975 DOI: 10.1136/jitc-2023-007030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/31/2023] [Indexed: 11/27/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Single-cell RNA sequencing, also known as scRNA-seq, is a method profiling cell populations on an individual cell basis. It is particularly useful for more deeply understanding cell behavior in a complicated tumor microenvironment. Although several previous studies have examined scRNA-seq for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) tissues, no one has tested and analyzed HCC with different stages. METHODS In this investigation, immune cells isolated from surrounding normal tissues and cancer tissues from 3 II-stage and 4 III-stage HCC cases were subjected to deep scRNA-seq. The analysis included 15 samples. We distinguished developmentally relevant trajectories, unique immune cell subtypes, and enriched pathways regarding differential genes. Western blot and co-immunoprecipitation were performed to demonstrate the interaction between fatty acid binding protein 1 (FABP1) and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma(PPARG). In vivo experiments were performed in a C57BL/6 mouse model of HCC established via subcutaneous injection. RESULTS FABP1 was discovered to be overexpressed in tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) with III-stage HCC tissues compared with II-stage HCC tissues. This finding was fully supported by immunofluorescence detection in significant amounts of HCC human samples. FABP1 deficiency in TAMs inhibited HCC progression in vitro. Mechanistically, FABP1 interacted with PPARG/CD36 in TAMs to increase fatty acid oxidation in HCC. When compared with C57BL/6 mice of the wild type, tumors in FABP1-/- mice consistently showed attenuation. The FABP1-/- group's relative proportion of regulatory T cells and natural killer cells showed a downward trend, while dendritic cells, M1 macrophages, and B cells showed an upward trend, according to the results of mass cytometry. In further clinical translation, we found that orlistat significantly inhibited FABP1 activity, while the combination of anti-programmed cell death 1(PD-1) could synergistically treat HCC progression. Liposomes loaded with orlistat and connected with IR780 probe could further enhance the therapeutic effect of orlistat and visualize drug metabolism in vivo. CONCLUSIONS ScRNA-seq atlas revealed an FABP1-dependent immunosuppressive environment in HCC. Orlistat significantly inhibited FABP1 activity, while the combination of anti-PD-1 could synergistically treat HCC progression. This study identified new treatment targets and strategies for HCC progression, contributing to patients with advanced HCC from new perspectives.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weiwei Tang
- Hepatobiliary/Liver Transplantation Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Key Laboratory of Living Donor Transplantation, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | | | - Gu-Wei Ji
- Hepatobiliary/Liver Transplantation Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Key Laboratory of Living Donor Transplantation, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Tingting Feng
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Infection and Immunity, Institute of Biology and Medical Sciences, Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, China
| | - Qian Zhang
- Hepatobiliary/Liver Transplantation Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Key Laboratory of Living Donor Transplantation, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Hengsong Cao
- Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Wenhao Wu
- Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Xiaoyi Zhang
- Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Chuan Liu
- Hepatobiliary/Liver Transplantation Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Key Laboratory of Living Donor Transplantation, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Hanyuan Liu
- Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Tian Huang
- Hepatobiliary/Liver Transplantation Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Key Laboratory of Living Donor Transplantation, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Li Liu
- First Teaching Hospital of Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, China
| | - Yongxiang Xia
- Hepatobiliary/Liver Transplantation Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Key Laboratory of Living Donor Transplantation, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Xuehao Wang
- Hepatobiliary/Liver Transplantation Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Key Laboratory of Living Donor Transplantation, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
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Samain R, Maiques O, Monger J, Lam H, Candido J, George S, Ferrari N, KohIhammer L, Lunetto S, Varela A, Orgaz JL, Vilardell F, Olsina JJ, Matias-Guiu X, Sarker D, Biddle A, Balkwill FR, Eyles J, Wilkinson RW, Kocher HM, Calvo F, Wells CM, Sanz-Moreno V. CD73 controls Myosin II-driven invasion, metastasis, and immunosuppression in amoeboid pancreatic cancer cells. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2023; 9:eadi0244. [PMID: 37851808 PMCID: PMC10584351 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adi0244] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2023] [Accepted: 09/06/2023] [Indexed: 10/20/2023]
Abstract
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) has a very poor prognosis because of its high propensity to metastasize and its immunosuppressive microenvironment. Using a panel of pancreatic cancer cell lines, three-dimensional (3D) invasion systems, microarray gene signatures, microfluidic devices, mouse models, and intravital imaging, we demonstrate that ROCK-Myosin II activity in PDAC cells supports a transcriptional program conferring amoeboid invasive and immunosuppressive traits and in vivo metastatic abilities. Moreover, we find that immune checkpoint CD73 is highly expressed in amoeboid PDAC cells and drives their invasive, metastatic, and immunomodulatory traits. Mechanistically, CD73 activates RhoA-ROCK-Myosin II downstream of PI3K. Tissue microarrays of human PDAC biopsies combined with bioinformatic analysis reveal that rounded-amoeboid invasive cells with high CD73-ROCK-Myosin II activity and their immunosuppressive microenvironment confer poor prognosis to patients. We propose targeting amoeboid PDAC cells as a therapeutic strategy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Remi Samain
- Centre for Tumour Microenvironment, Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary University of London, Charterhouse Square, London EC1M 6BQ, UK
| | - Oscar Maiques
- Centre for Tumour Microenvironment, Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary University of London, Charterhouse Square, London EC1M 6BQ, UK
| | - Joanne Monger
- Centre for Tumour Microenvironment, Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary University of London, Charterhouse Square, London EC1M 6BQ, UK
| | - Hoyin Lam
- School of Cancer and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kings College London, London SE1 1UL, UK
- GSK, R&D Portfolio, Strategy and Business Insights, GSK House, 980 Great West Road, Brentford, TW8 9GS, UK
| | - Juliana Candido
- Centre for Tumour Microenvironment, Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary University of London, Charterhouse Square, London EC1M 6BQ, UK
- Oncology R&D, AstraZeneca, Cambridge CB21 6GH, UK
| | - Samantha George
- Centre for Tumour Microenvironment, Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary University of London, Charterhouse Square, London EC1M 6BQ, UK
| | - Nicola Ferrari
- Tumour Microenvironment Team, The Institute of Cancer Research, 237 Fulham Road, London SW3 6JB, UK
- Translational Science and Experimental Medicine, Early Respiratory and Immunology, BioPharmaceuticals R&D, AstraZeneca, Cambridge, UK
| | - Leonie KohIhammer
- Centre for Tumour Microenvironment, Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary University of London, Charterhouse Square, London EC1M 6BQ, UK
| | - Sophia Lunetto
- Centre for Cell Biology and Cutaneous Research, Blizard Institute, Queen Mary University of London, London E1 2AT, UK
| | - Adrian Varela
- Centre for Tumour Microenvironment, Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary University of London, Charterhouse Square, London EC1M 6BQ, UK
| | - Jose L. Orgaz
- Centre for Tumour Microenvironment, Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary University of London, Charterhouse Square, London EC1M 6BQ, UK
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas Sols-Morreale CSIC-UAM, 28029 Madrid, Spain
| | - Felip Vilardell
- Department of Pathology, University Hospital Arnau de Vilanova, University of Lleida, Lleida, Spain
| | - Jorge Juan Olsina
- Department of Surgery, University Hospital Arnau de Vilanova, University of Lleida, Lleida, Spain
| | - Xavier Matias-Guiu
- Department of Pathology, University Hospital Arnau de Vilanova, University of Lleida, Lleida, Spain
- IRBLLEIDA, IDIBELL, University Hospita of Bellvitge, CIBERONC, Lleida, Spain
| | - Debashis Sarker
- School of Cancer and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kings College London, London SE1 1UL, UK
| | - Adrian Biddle
- Centre for Cell Biology and Cutaneous Research, Blizard Institute, Queen Mary University of London, London E1 2AT, UK
| | - Frances R. Balkwill
- Centre for Tumour Microenvironment, Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary University of London, Charterhouse Square, London EC1M 6BQ, UK
| | - Jim Eyles
- Oncology R&D, AstraZeneca, Cambridge CB21 6GH, UK
| | | | - Hemant M. Kocher
- Centre for Tumour Biology, Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary University of London, Charterhouse Square, London EC1M 6BQ, UK
- Barts and the London HPB Centre, The Royal London Hospital, Barts Health NHS Trust, London, UK
| | - Fernando Calvo
- Tumour Microenvironment Team, The Institute of Cancer Research, 237 Fulham Road, London SW3 6JB, UK
- Instituto de Biomedicina y Biotecnologia de Cantabria, c/ Albert Einstein 22, E39011 Santander, Spain
| | - Claire M. Wells
- School of Cancer and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kings College London, London SE1 1UL, UK
| | - Victoria Sanz-Moreno
- Centre for Tumour Microenvironment, Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary University of London, Charterhouse Square, London EC1M 6BQ, UK
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Tajaldini M, Poorkhani A, Amiriani T, Amiriani A, Javid H, Aref P, Ahmadi F, Sadani S, Khori V. Strategy of targeting the tumor microenvironment via inhibition of fibroblast/fibrosis remodeling new era to cancer chemo-immunotherapy resistance. Eur J Pharmacol 2023; 957:175991. [PMID: 37619785 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejphar.2023.175991] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2023] [Revised: 08/02/2023] [Accepted: 08/10/2023] [Indexed: 08/26/2023]
Abstract
The use of repurposing drugs that may have neoplastic and anticancer effects increases the efficiency and decrease resistance to chemotherapy drugs through a biochemical and mechanical transduction mechanisms through modulation of fibroblast/fibrosis remodeling in tumor microenvironment (TME). Interestingly, fibroblast/fibrosis remodeling plays a vital role in mediating cancer metastasis and drug resistance after immune chemotherapy. The most essential hypothesis for induction of chemo-immunotherapy resistance is via activation of fibroblast/fibrosis remodeling and preventing the infiltration of T cells after is mainly due to the interference between cytoskeleton, mechanical, biochemical, metabolic, vascular, and remodeling signaling pathways in TME. The structural components of the tumor that can be targeted in the fibroblast/fibrosis remodeling include the depletion of the TME components, targeting the cancer-associated fibroblasts and tumor associated macrophages, alleviating the mechanical stress within the ECM, and normalizing the blood vessels. It has also been found that during immune-chemotherapy, TME injury and fibroblast/fibrosis remodeling causes the up-regulation of inhibitory signals and down-regulation of activated signals, which results in immune escape or chemo-resistance of the tumor. In this regard, repurposing or neo-adjuvant drugs with various transduction signaling mechanisms, including anti-fibrotic effects, are used to target the TME and fibroblast/fibrosis signaling pathway such as angiotensin 2, transforming growth factor-beta, physical barriers of the TME, cytokines and metabolic factors which finally led to the reverse of the chemo-resistance. Consistent to many repurposing drugs such as pirfenidone, metformin, losartan, tranilast, dexamethasone and pentoxifylline are used to decrease immune-suppression by abrogation of TME inhibitory signal that stimulates the immune system and increases efficiency and reduces resistance to chemotherapy drugs. To overcome immunosuppression based on fibroblast/fibrosis remodeling, in this review, we focus on inhibitory signal transduction, which is the physical barrier, alleviates mechanical stress and prevents mechano-metabolic activation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mahboubeh Tajaldini
- Ischemic Disorder Research Center, Golestan University of Medical Sciences, Gorgan, Iran
| | - Amirhoushang Poorkhani
- Ischemic Disorder Research Center, Golestan University of Medical Sciences, Gorgan, Iran
| | - Taghi Amiriani
- Ischemic Disorder Research Center, Golestan University of Medical Sciences, Gorgan, Iran
| | - Amirhossein Amiriani
- Ischemic Disorder Research Center, Golestan University of Medical Sciences, Gorgan, Iran
| | - Hossein Javid
- Department of Medical Laboratory Sciencess, Catastega Institue of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Parham Aref
- Ischemic Disorder Research Center, Golestan University of Medical Sciences, Gorgan, Iran
| | - Farahnazsadat Ahmadi
- Ischemic Disorder Research Center, Golestan University of Medical Sciences, Gorgan, Iran
| | - Somayeh Sadani
- Ischemic Disorder Research Center, Golestan University of Medical Sciences, Gorgan, Iran.
| | - Vahid Khori
- Ischemic Disorder Research Center, Golestan University of Medical Sciences, Gorgan, Iran.
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Cohen N, Mundhe D, Deasy SK, Adler O, Ershaid N, Shami T, Levi-Galibov O, Wassermann R, Scherz-Shouval R, Erez N. Breast Cancer-Secreted Factors Promote Lung Metastasis by Signaling Systemically to Induce a Fibrotic Premetastatic Niche. Cancer Res 2023; 83:3354-3367. [PMID: 37548552 DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-22-3707] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2022] [Revised: 06/12/2023] [Accepted: 08/03/2023] [Indexed: 08/08/2023]
Abstract
Metastatic cancer is largely incurable and is the main cause of cancer-related deaths. The metastatic microenvironment facilitates formation of metastases. Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAF) are crucial players in generating a hospitable metastatic niche by mediating an inflammatory microenvironment. Fibroblasts also play a central role in modifying the architecture and stiffness of the extracellular matrix (ECM). Resolving the early changes in the metastatic niche could help identify approaches to inhibit metastatic progression. Here, we demonstrate in mouse models of spontaneous breast cancer pulmonary metastasis that fibrotic changes and rewiring of lung fibroblasts occurred at premetastatic stages, suggesting systemic influence by the primary tumor. Activin A (ActA), a TGFβ superfamily member, was secreted from breast tumors and its levels in the blood were highly elevated in tumor-bearing mice. ActA upregulated the expression of profibrotic factors in lung fibroblasts, leading to enhanced collagen deposition in the lung premetastatic niche. ActA signaling was functionally important for lung metastasis, as genetic targeting of ActA in breast cancer cells significantly attenuated lung metastasis and improved survival. Moreover, high levels of ActA in human patients with breast cancer were associated with lung metastatic relapse and poor survival. This study uncovers a novel mechanism by which breast cancer cells systemically rewire the stromal microenvironment in the metastatic niche to facilitate pulmonary metastasis. SIGNIFICANCE ActA mediates cross-talk between breast cancer cells and cancer-associated fibroblasts in the lung metastatic niche that enhances fibrosis and metastasis, implicating ActA as a potential therapeutic target to inhibit metastatic relapse.
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Affiliation(s)
- Noam Cohen
- Department of Pathology, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Dhanashree Mundhe
- Department of Pathology, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Sarah K Deasy
- Department of Pathology, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Omer Adler
- Department of Pathology, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Nour Ershaid
- Department of Pathology, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Tamar Shami
- Department of Pathology, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Oshrat Levi-Galibov
- Department of Biomolecular Sciences, Weizmann Institute of Science, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Rina Wassermann
- Department of Biomolecular Sciences, Weizmann Institute of Science, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Ruth Scherz-Shouval
- Department of Biomolecular Sciences, Weizmann Institute of Science, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Neta Erez
- Department of Pathology, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
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Thomas SK, Wattenberg MM, Choi-Bose S, Uhlik M, Harrison B, Coho H, Cassella CR, Stone ML, Patel D, Markowitz K, Delman D, Chisamore M, Drees J, Bose N, Beatty GL. Kupffer cells prevent pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma metastasis to the liver in mice. Nat Commun 2023; 14:6330. [PMID: 37816712 PMCID: PMC10564762 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-41771-z] [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: 11/16/2022] [Accepted: 09/12/2023] [Indexed: 10/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Although macrophages contribute to cancer cell dissemination, immune evasion, and metastatic outgrowth, they have also been reported to coordinate tumor-specific immune responses. We therefore hypothesized that macrophage polarization could be modulated therapeutically to prevent metastasis. Here, we show that macrophages respond to β-glucan (odetiglucan) treatment by inhibiting liver metastasis. β-glucan activated liver-resident macrophages (Kupffer cells), suppressed cancer cell proliferation, and invoked productive T cell-mediated responses against liver metastasis in pancreatic cancer mouse models. Although excluded from metastatic lesions, Kupffer cells were critical for the anti-metastatic activity of β-glucan, which also required T cells. Furthermore, β-glucan drove T cell activation and macrophage re-polarization in liver metastases in mice and humans and sensitized metastatic lesions to anti-PD1 therapy. These findings demonstrate the significance of macrophage function in metastasis and identify Kupffer cells as a potential therapeutic target against pancreatic cancer metastasis to the liver.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stacy K Thomas
- Division of Hematology-Oncology, Department of Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Abramson Cancer Center, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Max M Wattenberg
- Division of Hematology-Oncology, Department of Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Abramson Cancer Center, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Shaanti Choi-Bose
- Division of Hematology-Oncology, Department of Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Abramson Cancer Center, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Mark Uhlik
- HiberCell Inc, Roseville, MN, USA
- OncXerna, Waltham, MA, USA
| | | | - Heather Coho
- Division of Hematology-Oncology, Department of Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Abramson Cancer Center, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Christopher R Cassella
- Division of Hematology-Oncology, Department of Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Abramson Cancer Center, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Meredith L Stone
- Division of Hematology-Oncology, Department of Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Abramson Cancer Center, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Dhruv Patel
- Division of Hematology-Oncology, Department of Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Abramson Cancer Center, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Kelly Markowitz
- Division of Hematology-Oncology, Department of Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Abramson Cancer Center, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Devora Delman
- Division of Hematology-Oncology, Department of Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Abramson Cancer Center, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | | | | | | | - Gregory L Beatty
- Division of Hematology-Oncology, Department of Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
- Abramson Cancer Center, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
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Xie L, Qiu S, Lu C, Gu C, Wang J, Lv J, Fang L, Chen Z, Li Y, Jiang T, Xia Y, Wang W, Li B, Xu Z. Gastric cancer-derived LBP promotes liver metastasis by driving intrahepatic fibrotic pre-metastatic niche formation. J Exp Clin Cancer Res 2023; 42:258. [PMID: 37789385 PMCID: PMC10546721 DOI: 10.1186/s13046-023-02833-8] [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: 05/15/2023] [Accepted: 09/15/2023] [Indexed: 10/05/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Liver metastasis (LM) is one of the most common distant metastases of gastric cancer (GC). However, the mechanisms underlying the LM of GC (GC-LM) remain poorly understood. This study aimed to identify the tumour-secreted protein associated with GC-LM and to investigate the mechanisms by which this secreted protein remodels the liver microenvironment to promote GC-LM. METHODS Data-independent acquisition mass spectrometry (DIA-MS), mRNA expression microarray, quantitative real-time PCR, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and immunohistochemistry (IHC) were performed to identify and validate the GC-secreted proteins associated with GC-LM. A modified intrasplenic injection mouse model of LM was used to evaluate the progression and tumour burden of LM in vivo. Flow cytometry, immunofluorescence (IF), western blots (WB) and IHC were performed to validate the pre-metastatic niche (PMN) formation in the pre-modelling mouse models. mRNA sequencing of PMA-treated THP-1 cells with or without lipopolysaccharide binding protein (LBP) treatment was used to identify the functional target genes of LBP in macrophages. Co-immunoprecipitation (Co-IP), WB, ELISA, IF and Transwell assays were performed to explore the underlying mechanism of LBP in inducing intrahepatic PMN formation. RESULTS LBP was identified as a critical secreted protein associated with GC-LM and correlated with a worse prognosis in patients with GC. LBP activated the TLR4/NF-κB pathway to promote TGF-β1 secretion in intrahepatic macrophages, which, in turn, activated hepatic satellite cells (HSCs) to direct intrahepatic fibrotic PMN formation. Additionally, TGF-β1 enhanced the migration and invasion of incoming metastatic GC cells in the liver. Consequently, selective targeting of the TGF-β/Smad signaling pathway with galunisertib demonstrated its efficacy in effectively preventing GC-LM in vivo. CONCLUSIONS The results of this study provide compelling evidence that serological LBP can serve as a valuable diagnostic biomarker for the early detection of GC-LM. Mechanistically, GC-derived LBP mediates the crosstalk between primary GC cells and the intrahepatic microenvironment by promoting TGF-β1 secretion in intrahepatic macrophages, which induces intrahepatic fibrotic PMN formation to promote GC-LM. Importantly, selectively targeting the TGF-β/Smad signaling pathway with galunisertib represents a promising preventive and therapeutic strategy for GC-LM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Li Xie
- Department of General Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, 300 Guangzhou Road, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, 210029, China
| | - Shengkui Qiu
- Department of General Surgery, Nantong First People's Hospital, Affiliated Hospital 2 of Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu Province, 226001, China
| | - Chen Lu
- Department of General Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, 300 Guangzhou Road, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, 210029, China
| | - Chao Gu
- Department of General Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, 300 Guangzhou Road, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, 210029, China
| | - Jihuan Wang
- Department of General Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, 300 Guangzhou Road, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, 210029, China
| | - Jialun Lv
- Department of General Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, 300 Guangzhou Road, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, 210029, China
| | - Lang Fang
- Department of General Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, 300 Guangzhou Road, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, 210029, China
| | - Zetian Chen
- Department of General Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, 300 Guangzhou Road, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, 210029, China
| | - Ying Li
- Department of General Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, 300 Guangzhou Road, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, 210029, China
| | - Tianlu Jiang
- Department of General Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, 300 Guangzhou Road, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, 210029, China
| | - Yiwen Xia
- Department of General Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, 300 Guangzhou Road, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, 210029, China
| | - Weizhi Wang
- Department of General Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, 300 Guangzhou Road, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, 210029, China
| | - Bowen Li
- Department of General Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, 300 Guangzhou Road, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, 210029, China.
| | - Zekuan Xu
- Department of General Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, 300 Guangzhou Road, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, 210029, China.
- Jiangsu Key Lab of Cancer Biomarkers, Prevention and Treatment, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Personalized Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, 211166, China.
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Raghubar AM, Matigian NA, Crawford J, Francis L, Ellis R, Healy HG, Kassianos AJ, Ng MSY, Roberts MJ, Wood S, Mallett AJ. High risk clear cell renal cell carcinoma microenvironments contain protumour immunophenotypes lacking specific immune checkpoints. NPJ Precis Oncol 2023; 7:88. [PMID: 37696903 PMCID: PMC10495390 DOI: 10.1038/s41698-023-00441-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2023] [Accepted: 08/30/2023] [Indexed: 09/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Perioperative immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) trials for intermediate high-risk clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) have failed to consistently demonstrate improved patient outcomes. These unsuccessful ICI trials suggest that the tumour infiltrating immunophenotypes, termed here as the immune cell types, states and their spatial location within the tumour microenvironment (TME), were unfavourable for ICI treatment. Defining the tumour infiltrating immune cells may assist with the identification of predictive immunophenotypes within the TME that are favourable for ICI treatment. To define the immunophenotypes within the ccRCC TME, fresh para-tumour (pTME, n = 2), low-grade (LG, n = 4, G1-G2) and high-grade (HG, n = 4, G3-G4) tissue samples from six patients with ccRCC presenting at a tertiary referral hospital underwent spatial transcriptomics sequencing (ST-seq). Within the generated ST-seq datasets, immune cell types and states, termed here as exhausted/pro-tumour state or non-exhausted/anti-tumour state, were identified using multiple publicly available single-cell RNA and T-cell receptor sequencing datasets as references. HG TMEs revealed abundant exhausted/pro-tumour immune cells with no consistent increase in expression of PD-1, PD-L1 and CTLA4 checkpoints and angiogenic genes. Additional HG TME immunophenotype characteristics included: pro-tumour tissue-resident monocytes with consistently increased expression of HAVCR2 and LAG3 checkpoints; an exhausted CD8+ T cells sub-population with stem-like progenitor gene expression; and pro-tumour tumour-associated macrophages and monocytes within the recurrent TME with the expression of TREM2. Whilst limited by a modest sample size, this study represents the largest ST-seq dataset on human ccRCC. Our study reveals that high-risk ccRCC TMEs are infiltrated by exhausted/pro-tumour immunophenotypes lacking specific checkpoint gene expression confirming that HG ccRCC TME are immunogenic but not ICI favourable.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arti M Raghubar
- Kidney Health Service, Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital, Herston, QLD, Australia
- Conjoint Internal Medicine Laboratory, Chemical Pathology, Pathology Queensland, Health Support Queensland, Herston, QLD, Australia
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
- Anatomical Pathology, Pathology Queensland, Health Support Queensland, Herston, QLD, Australia
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
- Faculty of Health, Charles Darwin University, Darwin, NT, Australia
| | - Nicholas A Matigian
- QCIF Facility for Advanced Bioinformatics, Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Joanna Crawford
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Leo Francis
- Anatomical Pathology, Pathology Queensland, Health Support Queensland, Herston, QLD, Australia
| | - Robert Ellis
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
- Department of Urology, Princess Alexandra Hospital, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Helen G Healy
- Kidney Health Service, Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital, Herston, QLD, Australia
- Conjoint Internal Medicine Laboratory, Chemical Pathology, Pathology Queensland, Health Support Queensland, Herston, QLD, Australia
| | - Andrew J Kassianos
- Kidney Health Service, Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital, Herston, QLD, Australia
- Conjoint Internal Medicine Laboratory, Chemical Pathology, Pathology Queensland, Health Support Queensland, Herston, QLD, Australia
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Monica S Y Ng
- Kidney Health Service, Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital, Herston, QLD, Australia
- Conjoint Internal Medicine Laboratory, Chemical Pathology, Pathology Queensland, Health Support Queensland, Herston, QLD, Australia
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
- Nephrology Department, Princess Alexandra Hospital, Woolloongabba, QLD, Australia
| | - Matthew J Roberts
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
- Department of Urology, Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
- Centre for Clinical Research, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Simon Wood
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
- Department of Urology, Princess Alexandra Hospital, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Andrew J Mallett
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.
- College of Medicine & Dentistry, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD, Australia.
- Department of Renal Medicine, Townsville University Hospital, Townsville, QLD, Australia.
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Bied M, Ho WW, Ginhoux F, Blériot C. Roles of macrophages in tumor development: a spatiotemporal perspective. Cell Mol Immunol 2023; 20:983-992. [PMID: 37429944 PMCID: PMC10468537 DOI: 10.1038/s41423-023-01061-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 42.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2023] [Accepted: 06/16/2023] [Indexed: 07/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Macrophages are critical regulators of tissue homeostasis but are also abundant in the tumor microenvironment (TME). In both primary tumors and metastases, such tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) seem to support tumor development. While we know that TAMs are the dominant immune cells in the TME, their vast heterogeneity and associated functions are only just being unraveled. In this review, we outline the various known TAM populations found thus far and delineate their specialized roles associated with the main stages of cancer progression. We discuss how macrophages may prime the premetastatic niche to enable the growth of a metastasis and then how subsequent metastasis-associated macrophages can support secondary tumor growth. Finally, we speculate on the challenges that remain to be overcome in TAM research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mathilde Bied
- Institut Gustave Roussy, INSERM U1015, Villejuif, France
| | - William W Ho
- Singapore Immunology Network (SIgN), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A∗STAR), Singapore, Singapore
| | - Florent Ginhoux
- Institut Gustave Roussy, INSERM U1015, Villejuif, France.
- Singapore Immunology Network (SIgN), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A∗STAR), Singapore, Singapore.
- Shanghai Institute of Immunology, Shanghai JiaoTong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.
- Translational Immunology Institute, SingHealth Duke-NUS, Singapore, Singapore.
| | - Camille Blériot
- Institut Gustave Roussy, INSERM U1015, Villejuif, France.
- Institut Necker des Enfants Malades, INSERM, CNRS, Université Paris Cité, Paris, France.
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40
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Chen S, Fan L, Lin Y, Qi Y, Xu C, Ge Q, Zhang Y, Wang Q, Jia D, Wang L, Si J, Wang L. Bifidobacterium adolescentis orchestrates CD143 + cancer-associated fibroblasts to suppress colorectal tumorigenesis by Wnt signaling-regulated GAS1. Cancer Commun (Lond) 2023; 43:1027-1047. [PMID: 37533188 PMCID: PMC10508156 DOI: 10.1002/cac2.12469] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2023] [Revised: 05/16/2023] [Accepted: 07/13/2023] [Indexed: 08/04/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The interplay between gut microbiota and tumor microenvironment (TME) in the pathogenesis of colorectal cancer (CRC) is not well explored. Here, we elucidated the functional role of Bifidobacterium adolescentis (B.a) on CRC and investigated its possible mechanism on the manipulation of cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) in CRC. METHODS Different CRC animal models and various cell line models were established to explore the function of B.a on CRC. The single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) or flow cytometry was used to detect the cell subsets in the TME of CRC. Western blot, quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR), or immunofluorescence staining were performed to examine the activation of Wnt signaling and growth arrest specific 1 (GAS1) on CD143+ CAFs. Chromatin immunoprecipitation quantitative real-time PCR (CHIP-qPCR) was performed to investigate the regulation of transcription factor 4 (TCF4) on GAS1. Multi-immunofluorescence assay examined the expression level of CD143 and GAS1 on tissue microarray. RESULTS We found that B.a abundance was significantly reduced in CRC patients from two independent cohorts and the bacteria database of GMrepo. Supplementation with B.a suppressed ApcMin/+ spontaneous or AOM/DSS-induced tumorigenesis in mice. scRNA-seq revealed that B.a facilitated a subset of CD143+ CAFs by inhibiting the infiltration of Th2 cells, while promoting the TNF-alpha+ B cells in TME. CD143+ CAFs highly expressed GAS1 and exhibited tumor suppressive effect. Mechanistically, GAS1 was activated by the Wnt/β-catenin signaling in CD143+ CAFs. B.a abundance was correlated with the expression level of CD143 and GAS1. The level of CD143+ CAFs predicted the better survival outcome in CRC patients. CONCLUSIONS These results highlighted that B.a induced a new subset of CD143+ CAFs by Wnt signaling-regulated GAS1 to suppress tumorigenesis and provided a novel therapeutic target for probiotic-based modulation of TME in CRC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shujie Chen
- Department of GastroenterologySir Run Run Shaw HospitalSchool of MedicineZhejiang UniversityHangzhouZhejiangP. R. China
- Institute of GastroenterologyZhejiang UniversityHangzhouZhejiangP. R. China
- Cancer CenterZhejiang UniversityHangzhouZhejiangP. R. China
- Research Center of Prevention and Treatment of Senescent DiseaseSchool of Medicine Zhejiang UniversityHangzhouZhejiangP. R. China
| | - Lina Fan
- Institute of GastroenterologyZhejiang UniversityHangzhouZhejiangP. R. China
- Department of GastroenterologySecond Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of MedicineHangzhouZhejiangP. R. China
| | - Yifeng Lin
- Institute of GastroenterologyZhejiang UniversityHangzhouZhejiangP. R. China
- Department of GastroenterologySecond Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of MedicineHangzhouZhejiangP. R. China
| | - Yadong Qi
- Department of GastroenterologySir Run Run Shaw HospitalSchool of MedicineZhejiang UniversityHangzhouZhejiangP. R. China
- Institute of GastroenterologyZhejiang UniversityHangzhouZhejiangP. R. China
| | - Chaochao Xu
- Institute of GastroenterologyZhejiang UniversityHangzhouZhejiangP. R. China
- Department of GastroenterologySecond Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of MedicineHangzhouZhejiangP. R. China
| | - Qiwei Ge
- Institute of GastroenterologyZhejiang UniversityHangzhouZhejiangP. R. China
- Department of GastroenterologySecond Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of MedicineHangzhouZhejiangP. R. China
| | - Ying Zhang
- Institute of GastroenterologyZhejiang UniversityHangzhouZhejiangP. R. China
- Department of GastroenterologySecond Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of MedicineHangzhouZhejiangP. R. China
| | - Qiwen Wang
- Department of GastroenterologySir Run Run Shaw HospitalSchool of MedicineZhejiang UniversityHangzhouZhejiangP. R. China
- Institute of GastroenterologyZhejiang UniversityHangzhouZhejiangP. R. China
| | - Dingjiacheng Jia
- Institute of GastroenterologyZhejiang UniversityHangzhouZhejiangP. R. China
- Department of GastroenterologySecond Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of MedicineHangzhouZhejiangP. R. China
| | - Lan Wang
- Department of GastroenterologySir Run Run Shaw HospitalSchool of MedicineZhejiang UniversityHangzhouZhejiangP. R. China
- Institute of GastroenterologyZhejiang UniversityHangzhouZhejiangP. R. China
| | - Jianmin Si
- Department of GastroenterologySir Run Run Shaw HospitalSchool of MedicineZhejiang UniversityHangzhouZhejiangP. R. China
- Institute of GastroenterologyZhejiang UniversityHangzhouZhejiangP. R. China
- Cancer CenterZhejiang UniversityHangzhouZhejiangP. R. China
- Research Center of Prevention and Treatment of Senescent DiseaseSchool of Medicine Zhejiang UniversityHangzhouZhejiangP. R. China
| | - Liangjing Wang
- Institute of GastroenterologyZhejiang UniversityHangzhouZhejiangP. R. China
- Cancer CenterZhejiang UniversityHangzhouZhejiangP. R. China
- Research Center of Prevention and Treatment of Senescent DiseaseSchool of Medicine Zhejiang UniversityHangzhouZhejiangP. R. China
- Department of GastroenterologySecond Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of MedicineHangzhouZhejiangP. R. China
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Wang J, Wu W, Xia J, Chen L, Liu D, Wang G, Wang L, Zheng Q. Dynamic changes in macrophage subtypes during lung cancer progression and metastasis at single-cell resolution. J Thorac Dis 2023; 15:4456-4471. [PMID: 37691661 PMCID: PMC10482613 DOI: 10.21037/jtd-23-1012] [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: 06/27/2023] [Accepted: 08/18/2023] [Indexed: 09/12/2023]
Abstract
Background Lung cancer remains a major global health challenge. Macrophages (Macs) are one important component of tumor microenvironments (TMEs); however, their prognostic relevance to lung cancer is currently unknown due to the complexity of their phenotypes. Methods In the present study, reanalysis and atlas reconstruction of downloaded single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNAseq) data were used to systematically compare the component and transcriptional changes in Mac subtypes across different stages of lung cancer. Results We found that with the progression of lung cancer, the proportion of alveolar macrophages (aMacs) gradually decreased, while the proportions of Macs and monocytes (Monos) gradually increased, suggesting a chemotaxis process followed by a Mono-Mac differentiation process. Meanwhile, through ligand-receptor (LR) screening, we identified 9 Mac-specific interactions that were enriched during the progression and metastasis of lung cancer, which could potential promote M2 polarization or the infiltration of M2 Macs. Moreover, we found that the expression of SPP1 in Macs increased with lung cancer progression, and identified 9 genes that were correlated with the expression of SPP1 in Macs, which might also contribute to the immunosuppression process in lung cancer. Conclusions Our results revealed detailed changes in Macs at different stages of lung cancer progression and metastasis and provided potential therapeutic targets that could be used in future lung cancer treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jian Wang
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, The Second Clinical Medical College of Jinan University, Shenzhen People’s Hospital, Shenzhen, China
| | - Weiqing Wu
- Department of Health Management, Shenzhen People’s Hospital, Shenzhen, China
| | - Jinquan Xia
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Shenzhen People’s Hospital, Shenzhen, China
| | - Lipeng Chen
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Shenzhen People’s Hospital, Shenzhen, China
| | - Dongcheng Liu
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Shenzhen People’s Hospital, Shenzhen, China
| | - Guangsuo Wang
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, The Second Clinical Medical College of Jinan University, Shenzhen People’s Hospital, Shenzhen, China
| | - Lingwei Wang
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Shenzhen People’s Hospital, Shenzhen, China
| | - Qijun Zheng
- Department of Cardiac Surgery, The Second Clinical Medical College of Jinan University, Shenzhen People’s Hospital, Shenzhen, China
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Rohila D, Park IH, Pham TV, Weitz J, Hurtado de Mendoza T, Madheswaran S, Ishfaq M, Beaman C, Tapia E, Sun S, Patel J, Tamayo P, Lowy AM, Joshi S. Syk Inhibition Reprograms Tumor-Associated Macrophages and Overcomes Gemcitabine-Induced Immunosuppression in Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma. Cancer Res 2023; 83:2675-2689. [PMID: 37306759 PMCID: PMC10416758 DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-22-3645] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2022] [Revised: 04/25/2023] [Accepted: 06/07/2023] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is an insidious disease with a low 5-year survival rate. PDAC is characterized by infiltration of abundant tumor-associated macrophages (TAM), which promote immune tolerance and immunotherapeutic resistance. Here we report that macrophage spleen tyrosine kinase (Syk) promotes PDAC growth and metastasis. In orthotopic PDAC mouse models, genetic deletion of myeloid Syk reprogrammed macrophages into immunostimulatory phenotype, increased the infiltration, proliferation, and cytotoxicity of CD8+ T cells, and repressed PDAC growth and metastasis. Furthermore, gemcitabine (Gem) treatment induced an immunosuppressive microenvironment in PDAC by promoting protumorigenic polarization of macrophages. In contrast, treatment with the FDA-approved Syk inhibitor R788 (fostamatinib) remodeled the tumor immune microenvironment, "re-educated" protumorigenic macrophages towards an immunostimulatory phenotype and boosted CD8+ T-cell responses in Gem-treated PDAC in orthotopic mouse models and an ex vivo human pancreatic slice culture model. These findings illustrate the potential of Syk inhibition for enhancing the antitumor immune responses in PDAC and support the clinical evaluation of R788 either alone or together with Gem as a potential treatment strategy for PDAC. SIGNIFICANCE Syk blockade induces macrophage polarization to an immunostimulatory phenotype, which enhances CD8+ T-cell responses and improves gemcitabine efficacy in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma, a clinically challenging malignancy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Deepak Rohila
- Division of Pediatric Hematology-Oncology, Moores Cancer Center, University of California, San Diego, California
| | - In Hwan Park
- Division of Pediatric Hematology-Oncology, Moores Cancer Center, University of California, San Diego, California
| | - Timothy V. Pham
- Office of Cancer Genomics, Moores Cancer Center, University of California, San Diego, California
| | - Jonathan Weitz
- Department of Surgery, University of California, San Diego, California
| | | | - Suresh Madheswaran
- Division of Pediatric Hematology-Oncology, Moores Cancer Center, University of California, San Diego, California
| | - Mehreen Ishfaq
- Division of Pediatric Hematology-Oncology, Moores Cancer Center, University of California, San Diego, California
| | - Cooper Beaman
- Division of Pediatric Hematology-Oncology, Moores Cancer Center, University of California, San Diego, California
| | - Elisabette Tapia
- Division of Pediatric Hematology-Oncology, Moores Cancer Center, University of California, San Diego, California
| | - Siming Sun
- Department of Surgery, University of California, San Diego, California
| | - Jay Patel
- Department of Surgery, University of California, San Diego, California
| | - Pablo Tamayo
- Office of Cancer Genomics, Moores Cancer Center, University of California, San Diego, California
| | - Andrew M. Lowy
- Department of Surgery, University of California, San Diego, California
| | - Shweta Joshi
- Division of Pediatric Hematology-Oncology, Moores Cancer Center, University of California, San Diego, California
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Abstract
Tumour cells migrate very early from primary sites to distant sites, and yet metastases often take years to manifest themselves clinically or never even surface within a patient's lifetime. This pause in cancer progression emphasizes the existence of barriers that constrain the growth of disseminated tumour cells (DTCs) at distant sites. Although the nature of these barriers to metastasis might include DTC-intrinsic traits, recent studies have established that the local microenvironment also controls the formation of metastases. In this Perspective, I discuss how site-specific differences of the immune system might be a major selective growth restraint on DTCs, and argue that harnessing tissue immunity will be essential for the next stage in immunotherapy development that reliably prevents the establishment of metastases.
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Gautam SK, Batra SK, Jain M. Molecular and metabolic regulation of immunosuppression in metastatic pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. Mol Cancer 2023; 22:118. [PMID: 37488598 PMCID: PMC10367391 DOI: 10.1186/s12943-023-01813-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2023] [Accepted: 06/23/2023] [Indexed: 07/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Immunosuppression is a hallmark of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), contributing to early metastasis and poor patient survival. Compared to the localized tumors, current standard-of-care therapies have failed to improve the survival of patients with metastatic PDAC, that necessecitates exploration of novel therapeutic approaches. While immunotherapies such as immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) and therapeutic vaccines have emerged as promising treatment modalities in certain cancers, limited responses have been achieved in PDAC. Therefore, specific mechanisms regulating the poor response to immunotherapy must be explored. The immunosuppressive microenvironment driven by oncogenic mutations, tumor secretome, non-coding RNAs, and tumor microbiome persists throughout PDAC progression, allowing neoplastic cells to grow locally and metastasize distantly. The metastatic cells escaping the host immune surveillance are unique in molecular, immunological, and metabolic characteristics. Following chemokine and exosomal guidance, these cells metastasize to the organ-specific pre-metastatic niches (PMNs) constituted by local resident cells, stromal fibroblasts, and suppressive immune cells, such as the metastasis-associated macrophages, neutrophils, and myeloid-derived suppressor cells. The metastatic immune microenvironment differs from primary tumors in stromal and immune cell composition, functionality, and metabolism. Thus far, multiple molecular and metabolic pathways, distinct from primary tumors, have been identified that dampen immune effector functions, confounding the immunotherapy response in metastatic PDAC. This review describes major immunoregulatory pathways that contribute to the metastatic progression and limit immunotherapy outcomes in PDAC. Overall, we highlight the therapeutic vulnerabilities attributable to immunosuppressive factors and discuss whether targeting these molecular and immunological "hot spots" could improve the outcomes of PDAC immunotherapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shailendra K Gautam
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Medicine, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, 68198, USA.
| | - Surinder K Batra
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Medicine, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, 68198, USA
- Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, 68198, USA
| | - Maneesh Jain
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Medicine, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, 68198, USA.
- Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, 68198, USA.
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Wang Y, Zhong X, He X, Hu Z, Huang H, Chen J, Chen K, Zhao S, Wei P, Li D. Liver metastasis from colorectal cancer: pathogenetic development, immune landscape of the tumour microenvironment and therapeutic approaches. J Exp Clin Cancer Res 2023; 42:177. [PMID: 37480104 PMCID: PMC10362774 DOI: 10.1186/s13046-023-02729-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2023] [Accepted: 06/05/2023] [Indexed: 07/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Colorectal cancer liver metastasis (CRLM) is one of the leading causes of death among patients with colorectal cancer (CRC). Although immunotherapy has demonstrated encouraging outcomes in CRC, its benefits are minimal in CRLM. The complex immune landscape of the hepatic tumour microenvironment is essential for the development of a premetastatic niche and for the colonisation and metastasis of CRC cells; thus, an in-depth understanding of these mechanisms can provide effective immunotherapeutic targets for CRLM. This review summarises recent studies on the immune landscape of the tumour microenvironment of CRLM and highlights therapeutic prospects for targeting the suppressive immune microenvironment of CRLM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yaxian Wang
- Department of Colorectal Surgery, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, China
- Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College of Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Xinyang Zhong
- Department of Colorectal Surgery, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, China
- Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College of Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Xuefeng He
- ZJU-UCLA Joint Center for Medical Education and Research, Cancer Institute, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Zijuan Hu
- Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College of Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- Department of Pathology, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, China
- Cancer Institute, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, China
- Institute of Pathology, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Huixia Huang
- Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College of Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- Department of Pathology, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, China
- Cancer Institute, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, China
- Institute of Pathology, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Jiayu Chen
- Department of Colorectal Surgery, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, China
- Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College of Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Keji Chen
- Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College of Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- Department of Pathology, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, China
- Cancer Institute, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, China
- Institute of Pathology, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Senlin Zhao
- Department of Colorectal Surgery, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, China
- Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College of Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Ping Wei
- Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College of Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
- Department of Pathology, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, China.
- Cancer Institute, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, China.
- Institute of Pathology, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
| | - Dawei Li
- Department of Colorectal Surgery, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, China.
- Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College of Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
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Rafaeva M, Jensen ARD, Horton ER, Zornhagen KW, Strøbech JE, Fleischhauer L, Mayorca-Guiliani AE, Nielsen SR, Grønseth DS, Kuś F, Schoof EM, Arnes L, Koch M, Clausen-Schaumann H, Izzi V, Reuten R, Erler JT. Fibroblast-derived matrix models desmoplastic properties and forms a prognostic signature in cancer progression. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1154528. [PMID: 37539058 PMCID: PMC10395327 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1154528] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2023] [Accepted: 05/30/2023] [Indexed: 08/05/2023] Open
Abstract
The desmoplastic reaction observed in many cancers is a hallmark of disease progression and prognosis, particularly in breast and pancreatic cancer. Stromal-derived extracellular matrix (ECM) is significantly altered in desmoplasia, and as such plays a critical role in driving cancer progression. Using fibroblast-derived matrices (FDMs), we show that cancer cells have increased growth on cancer associated FDMs, when compared to FDMs derived from non-malignant tissue (normal) fibroblasts. We assess the changes in ECM characteristics from normal to cancer-associated stroma at the primary tumor site. Compositional, structural, and mechanical analyses reveal significant differences, with an increase in abundance of core ECM proteins, coupled with an increase in stiffness and density in cancer-associated FDMs. From compositional changes of FDM, we derived a 36-ECM protein signature, which we show matches in large part with the changes in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) tumor and metastases progression. Additionally, this signature also matches at the transcriptomic level in multiple cancer types in patients, prognostic of their survival. Together, our results show relevance of FDMs for cancer modelling and identification of desmoplastic ECM components for further mechanistic studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Rafaeva
- Biotech Research and Innovation Centre, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Adina R. D. Jensen
- Biotech Research and Innovation Centre, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Edward R. Horton
- Biotech Research and Innovation Centre, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Kamilla W. Zornhagen
- Biotech Research and Innovation Centre, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Jan E. Strøbech
- Biotech Research and Innovation Centre, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Lutz Fleischhauer
- Center for Applied Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine-CANTER, Munich University of Applied Sciences, Munich, Germany
- Center for NanoScience – CsNS, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, Munich, Germany
| | | | - Sebastian R. Nielsen
- Biotech Research and Innovation Centre, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Dina S. Grønseth
- Biotech Research and Innovation Centre, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Filip Kuś
- Biotech Research and Innovation Centre, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Erwin M. Schoof
- Biotech Research and Innovation Centre, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Department of Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Technical University of Denmark, Lyngby, Denmark
- The Finsen Laboratory, Rigshospitalet, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Novo Nordisk Foundation Centre for Stem Cell Biology, DanStem, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Luis Arnes
- Biotech Research and Innovation Centre, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Manuel Koch
- Center for Biochemistry, Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne (CMMC), Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
- Institute for Dental Research and Oral Musculoskeletal Biology, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Hauke Clausen-Schaumann
- Center for Applied Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine-CANTER, Munich University of Applied Sciences, Munich, Germany
- Center for NanoScience – CsNS, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Valerio Izzi
- Faculty of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
- Foundation for the Finnish Cancer Institute, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Raphael Reuten
- Biotech Research and Innovation Centre, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Institute of Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology, Medical Faculty, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Medical Center, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Janine T. Erler
- Biotech Research and Innovation Centre, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
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Huang J, Tsang WY, Li ZH, Guan XY. The Origin, Differentiation, and Functions of Cancer-Associated Fibroblasts in Gastrointestinal Cancer. Cell Mol Gastroenterol Hepatol 2023; 16:503-511. [PMID: 37451403 PMCID: PMC10462789 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcmgh.2023.07.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2023] [Revised: 07/06/2023] [Accepted: 07/06/2023] [Indexed: 07/18/2023]
Abstract
Emerging evidence has shown the importance of the tumor microenvironment in tumorigenesis and progression. Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) are one of the most infiltrated stroma cells of the tumor microenvironment in gastrointestinal tumors. CAFs play crucial roles in tumor development and therapeutic response by biologically secreting soluble factors or structurally remodeling the extracellular matrix. Conceivably, CAFs may become excellent targets for tumor prevention and treatment. However, the limited knowledge of the heterogeneity of CAFs represents a huge challenge for clinically targeting CAFs. In this review, we summarize the newest understanding of gastrointestinal CAFs, with a special focus on their origin, differentiation, and function. We also discuss the current understanding of CAF subpopulations as shown by single-cell technologies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiao Huang
- Department of Clinical Oncology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China; State Key Laboratory for Liver Research, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Wai-Ying Tsang
- Department of Clinical Oncology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Zhi-Hong Li
- Department of Clinical Oncology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Xin-Yuan Guan
- Department of Clinical Oncology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China; State Key Laboratory for Liver Research, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China; Department of Clinical Oncology, The University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen, China; Advanced Energy Science and Technology Guangdong Laboratory, Huizhou, China.
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Lin HJ, Liu Y, Caroland K, Lin J. Polarization of Cancer-Associated Macrophages Maneuver Neoplastic Attributes of Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:3507. [PMID: 37444617 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15133507] [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: 05/31/2023] [Revised: 07/01/2023] [Accepted: 07/03/2023] [Indexed: 07/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Mounting evidence links the phenomenon of enhanced recruitment of tumor-associated macrophages towards cancer bulks to neoplastic growth, invasion, metastasis, immune escape, matrix remodeling, and therapeutic resistance. In the context of cancer progression, naïve macrophages are polarized into M1 or M2 subtypes according to their differentiation status, gene signatures, and functional roles. While the former render proinflammatory and anticancer effects, the latter subpopulation elicits an opposite impact on pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. M2 macrophages have gained increasing attention as they are largely responsible for molding an immune-suppressive landscape. Through positive feedback circuits involving a paracrine manner, M2 macrophages can be amplified by and synergized with neighboring neoplastic cells, fibroblasts, endothelial cells, and non-cell autonomous constituents in the microenvironmental niche to promote an advanced disease state. This review delineates the molecular cues expanding M2 populations that subsequently convey notorious clinical outcomes. Future therapeutic regimens shall comprise protocols attempting to abolish environmental niches favoring M2 polarization; weaken cancer growth typically assisted by M2; promote the recruitment of tumoricidal CD8+ T lymphocytes and dendritic cells; and boost susceptibility towards gemcitabine as well as other chemotherapeutic agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huey-Jen Lin
- Department of Medical & Molecular Sciences, University of Delaware, Willard Hall Education Building, 16 West Main Street, Newark, DE 19716, USA
| | - Yingguang Liu
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Sciences, College of Osteopathic Medicine, Liberty University, 306 Liberty View Lane, Lynchburg, VA 24502, USA
| | - Kailey Caroland
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Molecular Medicine Graduate Program, Greenebaum Comprehensive Cancer Center, School of Medicine, University of Maryland, 108 N. Greene Street, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA
| | - Jiayuh Lin
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Molecular Medicine Graduate Program, Greenebaum Comprehensive Cancer Center, School of Medicine, University of Maryland, 108 N. Greene Street, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA
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Daunke T, Beckinger S, Rahn S, Krüger S, Heckl S, Schäfer H, Wesch D, Pilarsky C, Eckstein M, Hartmann A, Röcken C, Wandmacher AM, Sebens S. Expression and role of the immune checkpoint regulator PD-L1 in the tumor-stroma interplay of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1157397. [PMID: 37449210 PMCID: PMC10337136 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1157397] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2023] [Accepted: 06/09/2023] [Indexed: 07/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI), e.g., targeting programmed cell death protein 1-ligand 1 (PD-L1) or its receptor PD-1, have markedly improved the therapy of many cancers but so far failed in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). Macrophages represent one of the most abundant immune cell populations within the tumor microenvironment (TME) of PDAC being able to either support or restrain tumor progression depending on their phenotype. To better understand treatment failure of PD-L1/PD-1 inhibitors in PDAC, this study examined PD-L1 expression in the context of a dynamic TME in PDAC with a particular focus on the impact of macrophages. Methods Formalin-fixed and paraffin embedded tissue samples of primary PDAC tissues and corresponding liver metastases were used for immunohistochemical analyses. Serial sections were stained with antibodies detecting Pan-Cytokeratin, CD68, CD163, CD8, and PD-L1.To investigate whether the PD-1/PD-L1 axis and macrophages contribute to immune escape of PDAC cells, a stroma enriched 3D spheroid coculture model was established in vitro, using different PDAC cell lines and macrophages subtypes as well as CD8+ T cells. Functional and flow cytometry analyses were conducted to characterize cell populations. Results Immunohistochemical analyses revealed that PD-L1 is mainly expressed by stroma cells, including macrophages and not PDAC cells in primary PDAC tissues and corresponding liver metastases. Notably, high local abundance of macrophages and strong PD-L1 staining were commonly found at invasion fronts of tumoral lesions between CD8+ T cells and tumor cells. In order to investigate whether PD-L1 expressing macrophages impact the response of PDAC cells to treatment with PD-L1/PD-1 inhibitors, we developed a spheroid model comprising two different PDAC cell lines and different ratios of in vitro differentiated primary M1- or M2-like polarized macrophages. In line with our in situ findings, high PD-L1 expression was observed in macrophages rather than PDAC cells, which was further increased by the presence of PDAC cells. The effector phenotype of co-cultured CD8+ T cells exemplified by expression of activation markers and release of effector molecules was rather enhanced by PDAC macrophage spheroids, particularly with M1-like macrophages compared to mono-culture spheroids. However, this was not associated with enhanced PDAC cell death. ICI treatment with either Durvalumab or Pembrolizumab alone or in combination with Gemcitabine hardly affected the effector phenotype of CD8+ T cells along with PDAC cell death. Thus, despite strong PD-L1 expression in macrophages, ICI treatment did not result in an enhanced activation and cytotoxic phenotype of CD8+ T cells. Conclusion Overall, our study revealed novel insights into the interplay of PDAC cells and macrophages in the presence of ICI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tina Daunke
- Institute for Experimental Cancer Research, Kiel University and University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein, Kiel, Germany
| | - Silje Beckinger
- Institute for Experimental Cancer Research, Kiel University and University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein, Kiel, Germany
| | - Sascha Rahn
- Biochemical Institute, Kiel University, Kiel, Germany
| | - Sandra Krüger
- Institute of Pathology, University Medical Center Schleswig-Holstein, Kiel, Germany
| | - Steffen Heckl
- Institute of Pathology, University Medical Center Schleswig-Holstein, Kiel, Germany
- Department of Internal Medicine II, University Medical Center Schleswig-Holstein, Kiel, Germany
| | - Heiner Schäfer
- Institute for Experimental Cancer Research, Kiel University and University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein, Kiel, Germany
| | - Daniela Wesch
- Institute of Immunology, Kiel University and University Medical Center Schleswig-Holstein (UKSH), Kiel, Germany
| | - Christian Pilarsky
- Translational Research Center, University Hospital Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Markus Eckstein
- Institute of Pathology, University Hospital Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Erlangen, Germany
| | - Arndt Hartmann
- Institute of Pathology, University Hospital Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Erlangen, Germany
| | - Christoph Röcken
- Institute of Pathology, University Medical Center Schleswig-Holstein, Kiel, Germany
| | - Anna Maxi Wandmacher
- Institute for Experimental Cancer Research, Kiel University and University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein, Kiel, Germany
- Department of Internal Medicine II, University Medical Center Schleswig-Holstein, Kiel, Germany
| | - Susanne Sebens
- Institute for Experimental Cancer Research, Kiel University and University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein, Kiel, Germany
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Tsilimigras DI, Ntanasis-Stathopoulos I, Pawlik TM. Molecular Mechanisms of Colorectal Liver Metastases. Cells 2023; 12:1657. [PMID: 37371127 DOI: 10.3390/cells12121657] [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: 05/25/2023] [Revised: 06/13/2023] [Accepted: 06/15/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Abstract
The liver is the most frequently target for metastasis among patients with colorectal cancer mainly because of the portal vein circulation that directly connects the colon and rectum with the liver. The liver tumor microenvironment consists of different cell types each with unique characteristics and functions that modulate the antigen recognition and immune system activation. Primary tumors from other sites "prime" the liver prior to the seeding of cancer cells, creating a pre-metastatic niche. Following invasion into the liver, four different phases are key to the development of liver metastases: a microvascular phase in which cancer cells infiltrate and become trapped in sinusoidal vessels; an extravascular, pre-angiogenic phase; an angiogenic phase that supplies oxygen and nutrients to cancer cells; and a growth phase in which metastatic cells multiply and enlarge to form detectable tumors. Exosomes carry proteins, lipids, as well as genetic information that can create a pre-metastatic niche in distant sites, including the liver. The complexity of angiogenic mechanisms and the exploitation of the vasculature in situ by cancer cells have limited the efficacy of currently available anti-angiogenic therapies. Delineating the molecular mechanisms implicated in colorectal liver metastases is crucial to understand and predict tumor progression; the development of distant metastases; and resistance to chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and targeted treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diamantis I Tsilimigras
- Department of Surgery, Division of Surgical Oncology, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center and James Comprehensive Cancer Center, 395 W. 12th Ave., Columbus, OH 43210, USA
| | - Ioannis Ntanasis-Stathopoulos
- Department of Clinical Therapeutics, School of Medicine, Alexandra General Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 11527 Athens, Greece
| | - Timothy M Pawlik
- Department of Surgery, Division of Surgical Oncology, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center and James Comprehensive Cancer Center, 395 W. 12th Ave., Columbus, OH 43210, USA
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