1
|
Wu NC, Quevedo R, Nurse M, Hezaveh K, Liu H, Sun F, Muffat J, Sun Y, Simmons CA, McGaha TL, Prinos P, Arrowsmith CH, Ailles L, D'Arcangelo E, McGuigan AP. The use of a multi-metric readout screen to identify EHMT2/G9a-inhibition as a modulator of cancer-associated fibroblast activation state. Biomaterials 2024; 314:122879. [PMID: 39395244 DOI: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2024.122879] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2024] [Revised: 09/20/2024] [Accepted: 10/04/2024] [Indexed: 10/14/2024]
Abstract
Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) play a pivotal role in cancer progression, including mediating tumour cell invasion via their pro-invasive secretory profile and ability to remodel the extracellular matrix (ECM). Given that reduced CAF abundance in tumours correlates with improved outcomes in various cancers, we set out to identify epigenetic targets involved in CAF activation in regions of tumour-stromal mixing with the goal of reducing tumour aggressiveness. Using the GLAnCE (Gels for Live Analysis of Compartmentalized Environments) platform, we performed an image-based, phenotypic screen that enabled us to identify modulators of CAF abundance and the capacity of CAFs to induce tumour cell invasion. We identified EHMT2 (also known as G9a), an enzyme that targets the methylation of histone 3 lysine 9 (H3K9), as a potent modulator of CAF abundance and CAF-mediated tumour cell invasion. Transcriptomic and functional analysis of EHMT2-inhibited CAFs revealed EHMT2 participated in driving CAFs towards a pro-invasive phenotype and mediated CAF hyperproliferation, a feature typically associated with activated fibroblasts in tumours. Our study suggests that EHMT2 regulates CAF state within the tumour microenvironment by impacting CAF activation, as well as by magnifying the pro-invasive effects of these activated CAFs on tumour cell invasion through promoting CAF hyperproliferation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nila C Wu
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Rene Quevedo
- Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada; Department of Immunology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Michelle Nurse
- Department of Chemical Engineering & Applied Chemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Kebria Hezaveh
- Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada; Department of Immunology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Haijiao Liu
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada; Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada; Translational Biology & Engineering Program, Ted Rogers Centre for Heart Research, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Fumao Sun
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada; The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Julien Muffat
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada; The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Yu Sun
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada; Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Craig A Simmons
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada; Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada; Translational Biology & Engineering Program, Ted Rogers Centre for Heart Research, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Tracy L McGaha
- Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada; Department of Immunology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Panagiotis Prinos
- Structural Genomics Consortium, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Cheryl H Arrowsmith
- Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada; Structural Genomics Consortium, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada; Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Laurie Ailles
- Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada; Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Elisa D'Arcangelo
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
| | - Alison P McGuigan
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada; Department of Chemical Engineering & Applied Chemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Esteller M, Dawson MA, Kadoch C, Rassool FV, Jones PA, Baylin SB. The Epigenetic Hallmarks of Cancer. Cancer Discov 2024; 14:1783-1809. [PMID: 39363741 DOI: 10.1158/2159-8290.cd-24-0296] [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: 02/29/2024] [Revised: 05/08/2024] [Accepted: 06/24/2024] [Indexed: 10/05/2024]
Abstract
Cancer is a complex disease in which several molecular and cellular pathways converge to foster the tumoral phenotype. Notably, in the latest iteration of the cancer hallmarks, "nonmutational epigenetic reprogramming" was newly added. However, epigenetics, much like genetics, is a broad scientific area that deserves further attention due to its multiple roles in cancer initiation, progression, and adaptive nature. Herein, we present a detailed examination of the epigenetic hallmarks affected in human cancer, elucidating the pathways and genes involved, and dissecting the disrupted landscapes for DNA methylation, histone modifications, and chromatin architecture that define the disease. Significance: Cancer is a disease characterized by constant evolution, spanning from its initial premalignant stages to the advanced invasive and disseminated stages. It is a pathology that is able to adapt and survive amidst hostile cellular microenvironments and diverse treatments implemented by medical professionals. The more fixed setup of the genetic structure cannot fully provide transformed cells with the tools to survive but the rapid and plastic nature of epigenetic changes is ready for the task. This review summarizes the epigenetic hallmarks that define the ecological success of cancer cells in our bodies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Manel Esteller
- Cancer Epigenetics Group, Josep Carreras Leukaemia Research Institute (IJC), Barcelona, Spain
- Centro de Investigacion Biomedica en Red Cancer (CIBERONC), Madrid, Spain
- Institucio Catalana de Recerca i Estudis Avançats (ICREA), Barcelona, Spain
- Physiological Sciences Department, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Barcelona (UB), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Mark A Dawson
- Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, Australia
- Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
- Centre for Cancer Research, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Cigall Kadoch
- Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Chevy Chase, Maryland
| | - Feyruz V Rassool
- Marlene and Stewart Greenebaum Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Peter A Jones
- Department of Epigenetics, Van Andel Institute, Grand Rapids, Michigan
| | - Stephen B Baylin
- Department of Epigenetics, Van Andel Institute, Grand Rapids, Michigan
- Department of Oncology, The Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, The Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Baltimore, Maryland
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Sánchez-Ramírez D, Mendoza-Rodríguez MG, Alemán OR, Candanedo-González FA, Rodríguez-Sosa M, Montesinos-Montesinos JJ, Salcedo M, Brito-Toledo I, Vaca-Paniagua F, Terrazas LI. Impact of STAT-signaling pathway on cancer-associated fibroblasts in colorectal cancer and its role in immunosuppression. World J Gastrointest Oncol 2024; 16:1705-1724. [PMID: 38764833 PMCID: PMC11099434 DOI: 10.4251/wjgo.v16.i5.1705] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2024] [Revised: 02/28/2024] [Accepted: 04/01/2024] [Indexed: 05/09/2024] Open
Abstract
Colorectal cancer (CRC) remains one of the most commonly diagnosed and deadliest types of cancer worldwide. CRC displays a desmoplastic reaction (DR) that has been inversely associated with poor prognosis; less DR is associated with a better prognosis. This reaction generates excessive connective tissue, in which cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) are critical cells that form a part of the tumor microenvironment. CAFs are directly involved in tumorigenesis through different mechanisms. However, their role in immunosuppression in CRC is not well understood, and the precise role of signal transducers and activators of transcription (STATs) in mediating CAF activity in CRC remains unclear. Among the myriad chemical and biological factors that affect CAFs, different cytokines mediate their function by activating STAT signaling pathways. Thus, the harmful effects of CAFs in favoring tumor growth and invasion may be modulated using STAT inhibitors. Here, we analyze the impact of different STATs on CAF activity and their immunoregulatory role.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Damián Sánchez-Ramírez
- Unidad de Investigacion en Biomedicina, Facultad de Estudios Superiores Iztacala, Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico, Tlalnepantla 54090, Estado de Mexico, Mexico
| | - Mónica G Mendoza-Rodríguez
- Unidad de Investigacion en Biomedicina, Facultad de Estudios Superiores Iztacala, Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico, Tlalnepantla 54090, Estado de Mexico, Mexico
| | - Omar R Alemán
- Department of Biology, Facultad de Quimica, Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico, Ciudad Universitaria, Mexico City 04510, Mexico
| | - Fernando A Candanedo-González
- Department of Pathology, National Medical Center Century XXI, Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, Mexico City 06720, Mexico
| | - Miriam Rodríguez-Sosa
- Unidad de Investigacion en Biomedicina, Facultad de Estudios Superiores Iztacala, Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico, Tlalnepantla 54090, Estado de Mexico, Mexico
| | - Juan José Montesinos-Montesinos
- Laboratorio de Células Troncales Mesenquimales, Unidad de Investigación Médica en Enfermedades Oncológicas, Hospital de Oncología Centro Medico Nacional Siglo XXI, Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, Mexico City 06720, Mexico
| | - Mauricio Salcedo
- Unidad de Investigacion en Biomedicina y Oncologia Genomica, Instituto Mexciano del Seguro Social, Mexico City 07300, Mexico
| | - Ismael Brito-Toledo
- Servicio de Colon y Recto, Hospital de Oncología Centro Medico Nacional Siglo XXI, Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, Mexico City 06720, Mexico
| | - Felipe Vaca-Paniagua
- Unidad de Investigacion en Biomedicina, Facultad de Estudios Superiores Iztacala, Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico, Tlalnepantla 54090, Estado de Mexico, Mexico
- Laboratorio Nacional en Salud, Facultad de Estudios Superiores Iztacala, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Tlalnepantla 54090, Estado de Mexico, Mexico
| | - Luis I Terrazas
- Unidad de Investigacion en Biomedicina, Facultad de Estudios Superiores Iztacala, Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico, Tlalnepantla 54090, Estado de Mexico, Mexico
- Laboratorio Nacional en Salud, Facultad de Estudios Superiores Iztacala, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Tlalnepantla 54090, Estado de Mexico, Mexico
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Goyette MA, Stevens LE, DePinho CR, Seehawer M, Nishida J, Li Z, Wilde CM, Li R, Qiu X, Pyke AL, Zhao S, Lim K, Tender GS, Northey JJ, Riley NM, Long HW, Bertozzi CR, Weaver VM, Polyak K. Cancer-stromal cell interactions in breast cancer brain metastases induce glycocalyx-mediated resistance to HER2-targeting therapies. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2024; 121:e2322688121. [PMID: 38709925 PMCID: PMC11098130 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2322688121] [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: 12/22/2023] [Accepted: 03/27/2024] [Indexed: 05/08/2024] Open
Abstract
Brain metastatic breast cancer is particularly lethal largely due to therapeutic resistance. Almost half of the patients with metastatic HER2-positive breast cancer develop brain metastases, representing a major clinical challenge. We previously described that cancer-associated fibroblasts are an important source of resistance in primary tumors. Here, we report that breast cancer brain metastasis stromal cell interactions in 3D cocultures induce therapeutic resistance to HER2-targeting agents, particularly to the small molecule inhibitor of HER2/EGFR neratinib. We investigated the underlying mechanisms using a synthetic Notch reporter system enabling the sorting of cancer cells that directly interact with stromal cells. We identified mucins and bulky glycoprotein synthesis as top-up-regulated genes and pathways by comparing the gene expression and chromatin profiles of stroma-contact and no-contact cancer cells before and after neratinib treatment. Glycoprotein gene signatures were also enriched in human brain metastases compared to primary tumors. We confirmed increased glycocalyx surrounding cocultures by immunofluorescence and showed that mucinase treatment increased sensitivity to neratinib by enabling a more efficient inhibition of EGFR/HER2 signaling in cancer cells. Overexpression of truncated MUC1 lacking the intracellular domain as a model of increased glycocalyx-induced resistance to neratinib both in cell culture and in experimental brain metastases in immunodeficient mice. Our results highlight the importance of glycoproteins as a resistance mechanism to HER2-targeting therapies in breast cancer brain metastases.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Marie-Anne Goyette
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA02215
- Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA02115
- Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA02115
| | - Laura E. Stevens
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA02215
- Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA02115
- Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA02115
| | - Carolyn R. DePinho
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA02215
| | - Marco Seehawer
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA02215
- Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA02115
- Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA02115
| | - Jun Nishida
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA02215
- Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA02115
- Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA02115
| | - Zheqi Li
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA02215
- Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA02115
- Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA02115
| | - Callahan M. Wilde
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA02215
| | - Rong Li
- Center for Functional Cancer Epigenetics, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA02215
| | - Xintao Qiu
- Center for Functional Cancer Epigenetics, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA02215
| | - Alanna L. Pyke
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA02215
| | - Stephanie Zhao
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA02215
| | - Klothilda Lim
- Center for Functional Cancer Epigenetics, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA02215
| | | | - Jason J. Northey
- Center for Bioengineering and Tissue Regeneration, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA94143
| | | | - Henry W. Long
- Center for Functional Cancer Epigenetics, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA02215
| | - Carolyn R. Bertozzi
- Department of Chemistry, Stanford University, Stanford, CA94305
- HHMI, Stanford University, Stanford, CA94305
- Sarafan ChEM-H, Stanford University, Stanford, CA94305
| | - Valerie M. Weaver
- Center for Bioengineering and Tissue Regeneration, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA94143
- Helen Diller Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA94143
- Department of Surgery, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA94143
- Department of Bioengineering and Therapeutic Sciences, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA94143
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA94143
- Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regeneration Medicine and Stem Cell Research, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA94143
| | - Kornelia Polyak
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA02215
- Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA02115
- Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA02115
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Trnkova L, Buocikova V, Mego M, Cumova A, Burikova M, Bohac M, Miklikova S, Cihova M, Smolkova B. Epigenetic deregulation in breast cancer microenvironment: Implications for tumor progression and therapeutic strategies. Biomed Pharmacother 2024; 174:116559. [PMID: 38603889 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2024.116559] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2023] [Revised: 03/27/2024] [Accepted: 04/04/2024] [Indexed: 04/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Breast cancer comprises a substantial proportion of cancer diagnoses in women and is a primary cause of cancer-related mortality. While hormone-responsive cases generally have a favorable prognosis, the aggressive nature of triple-negative breast cancer presents challenges, with intrinsic resistance to established treatments being a persistent issue. The complexity intensifies with the emergence of acquired resistance, further complicating the management of breast cancer. Epigenetic changes, encompassing DNA methylation, histone and RNA modifications, and non-coding RNAs, are acknowledged as crucial contributors to the heterogeneity of breast cancer. The unique epigenetic landscape harbored by each cellular component within the tumor microenvironment (TME) adds great diversity to the intricate regulations which influence therapeutic responses. The TME, a sophisticated ecosystem of cellular and non-cellular elements interacting with tumor cells, establishes an immunosuppressive microenvironment and fuels processes such as tumor growth, angiogenesis, and extracellular matrix remodeling. These factors contribute to challenging conditions in cancer treatment by fostering a hypoxic environment, inducing metabolic stress, and creating physical barriers to drug delivery. This article delves into the complex connections between breast cancer treatment response, underlying epigenetic changes, and vital interactions within the TME. To restore sensitivity to treatment, it emphasizes the need for combination therapies considering epigenetic changes specific to individual members of the TME. Recognizing the pivotal role of epigenetics in drug resistance and comprehending the specificities of breast TME is essential for devising more effective therapeutic strategies. The development of reliable biomarkers for patient stratification will facilitate tailored and precise treatment approaches.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lenka Trnkova
- Cancer Research Institute, Biomedical Research Center of the Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dubravska cesta 9, Bratislava 845 05, Slovakia
| | - Verona Buocikova
- Cancer Research Institute, Biomedical Research Center of the Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dubravska cesta 9, Bratislava 845 05, Slovakia
| | - Michal Mego
- Cancer Research Institute, Biomedical Research Center of the Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dubravska cesta 9, Bratislava 845 05, Slovakia; 2nd Department of Oncology, Comenius University, Faculty of Medicine & National Cancer Institute, Bratislava 83310, Slovakia
| | - Andrea Cumova
- Cancer Research Institute, Biomedical Research Center of the Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dubravska cesta 9, Bratislava 845 05, Slovakia
| | - Monika Burikova
- Cancer Research Institute, Biomedical Research Center of the Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dubravska cesta 9, Bratislava 845 05, Slovakia
| | - Martin Bohac
- 2nd Department of Oncology, Comenius University, Faculty of Medicine & National Cancer Institute, Bratislava 83310, Slovakia; Regenmed Ltd., Medena 29, Bratislava 811 01, Slovakia; Institute of Medical Biology, Genetics and Clinical Genetics, Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University, Sasinkova 4, Bratislava 811 08, Slovakia
| | - Svetlana Miklikova
- Cancer Research Institute, Biomedical Research Center of the Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dubravska cesta 9, Bratislava 845 05, Slovakia
| | - Marina Cihova
- Cancer Research Institute, Biomedical Research Center of the Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dubravska cesta 9, Bratislava 845 05, Slovakia
| | - Bozena Smolkova
- Cancer Research Institute, Biomedical Research Center of the Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dubravska cesta 9, Bratislava 845 05, Slovakia.
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Lukianova N, Mushii O, Zadvornyi T, Chekhun V. Development of an algorithm for biomedical image analysis of the spatial organization of collagen in breast cancer tissue of patients with different clinical status. FEBS Open Bio 2024; 14:675-686. [PMID: 38382946 PMCID: PMC10988699 DOI: 10.1002/2211-5463.13773] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2023] [Revised: 01/14/2024] [Accepted: 01/22/2024] [Indexed: 02/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Collagen, the main component of the tumor microenvironment, plays a key role in the development of breast cancer (BCa); however, the specific changes in its spatial organization during tumor progression have not been definitively elucidated. The existing and available methods for assessing the morphometric parameters of the stroma's fibrous component are insufficient for a detailed description of the state of collagen fibers and for assessing its changes to evaluate the aggressiveness of the BCa course. The aim of the work was to develop an algorithm for microphoto analysis to assess the spatial organization of collagen in BCa tissue of patients with different clinical statuses. The study was conducted on 60 tissue samples of stage I-II BCa. The processed images were analyzed using the software packages CurveAlign v4.0 and imagej. We established that the increase in BCa stage and the decrease in tumor differentiation grade are associated with decreased length, width, and straightness of collagen fibers, as well as their increased density. The formation of an aggressive basal molecular BCa subtype was accompanied by an increase in tumor-stroma ratio. The obtained results indicate the possibility of practical application of the developed algorithm for evaluating the spatial organization of collagen in BCa tissue to predict the aggressiveness of the disease course.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nataliia Lukianova
- R.E. Kavetsky Institute of Experimental Pathology, Oncology and RadiobiologyNAS of UkraineKyivUkraine
| | - Oleksandr Mushii
- R.E. Kavetsky Institute of Experimental Pathology, Oncology and RadiobiologyNAS of UkraineKyivUkraine
| | - Taras Zadvornyi
- R.E. Kavetsky Institute of Experimental Pathology, Oncology and RadiobiologyNAS of UkraineKyivUkraine
| | - Vasyl Chekhun
- R.E. Kavetsky Institute of Experimental Pathology, Oncology and RadiobiologyNAS of UkraineKyivUkraine
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Joseph AM, Al Aiyan A, Al-Ramadi B, Singh SK, Kishore U. Innate and adaptive immune-directed tumour microenvironment in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. Front Immunol 2024; 15:1323198. [PMID: 38384463 PMCID: PMC10879611 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2024.1323198] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2023] [Accepted: 01/11/2024] [Indexed: 02/23/2024] Open
Abstract
One of the most deadly and aggressive cancers in the world, pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), typically manifests at an advanced stage. PDAC is becoming more common, and by the year 2030, it is expected to overtake lung cancer as the second greatest cause of cancer-related death. The poor prognosis can be attributed to a number of factors, including difficulties in early identification, a poor probability of curative radical resection, limited response to chemotherapy and radiotherapy, and its immunotherapy resistance. Furthermore, an extensive desmoplastic stroma that surrounds PDAC forms a mechanical barrier that prevents vascularization and promotes poor immune cell penetration. Phenotypic heterogeneity, drug resistance, and immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment are the main causes of PDAC aggressiveness. There is a complex and dynamic interaction between tumor cells in PDAC with stromal cells within the tumour immune microenvironment. The immune suppressive microenvironment that promotes PDAC aggressiveness is contributed by a range of cellular and humoral factors, which itself are modulated by the cancer. In this review, we describe the role of innate and adaptive immune cells, complex tumor microenvironment in PDAC, humoral factors, innate immune-mediated therapeutic advances, and recent clinical trials in PDAC.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ann Mary Joseph
- Department of Veterinary Medicine (CAVM), United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates
| | - Ahmad Al Aiyan
- Department of Veterinary Medicine (CAVM), United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates
| | - Basel Al-Ramadi
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates
- Zayed Center for Health Sciences, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates
- ASPIRE Precision Medicine Research Institute Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates
| | - Shiv K. Singh
- Department of Gastroenterology and Gastrointestinal Oncology, University Medical Center, Goettingen, Germany
| | - Uday Kishore
- Department of Veterinary Medicine (CAVM), United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates
- Zayed Center for Health Sciences, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Glabman RA, Olkowski CP, Minor HA, Bassel LL, Kedei N, Choyke PL, Sato N. Tumor Suppression by Anti-Fibroblast Activation Protein Near-Infrared Photoimmunotherapy Targeting Cancer-Associated Fibroblasts. Cancers (Basel) 2024; 16:449. [PMID: 38275890 PMCID: PMC10813865 DOI: 10.3390/cancers16020449] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2023] [Revised: 01/12/2024] [Accepted: 01/15/2024] [Indexed: 01/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) constitute a prominent cellular component of the tumor stroma, with various pro-tumorigenic roles. Numerous attempts to target fibroblast activation protein (FAP), a highly expressed marker in immunosuppressive CAFs, have failed to demonstrate anti-tumor efficacy in human clinical trials. Near-infrared photoimmunotherapy (NIR-PIT) is a highly selective tumor therapy that utilizes an antibody-photo-absorbing conjugate activated by near-infrared light. In this study, we examined the therapeutic efficacy of CAF depletion by NIR-PIT in two mouse tumor models. Using CAF-rich syngeneic lung and spontaneous mammary tumors, NIR-PIT against FAP or podoplanin was performed. Anti-FAP NIR-PIT effectively depleted FAP+ CAFs, as well as FAP+ myeloid cells, and suppressed tumor growth, whereas anti-podoplanin NIR-PIT was ineffective. Interferon-gamma production by CD8 T and natural killer cells was induced within hours after anti-FAP NIR-PIT. Additionally, lung metastases were reduced in the treated spontaneous mammary cancer model. Depletion of FAP+ stromal as well as FAP+ myeloid cells effectively suppressed tumor growth in bone marrow chimeras, suggesting that the depletion of both cell types in one treatment is an effective therapeutic approach. These findings highlight a promising therapy for selectively eliminating immunosuppressive FAP+ cells within the tumor microenvironment.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Raisa A. Glabman
- Molecular Imaging Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA; (R.A.G.); (C.P.O.); (H.A.M.); (P.L.C.)
- Department of Pathobiology and Diagnostic Investigation, College of Veterinary Medicine, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA
| | - Colleen P. Olkowski
- Molecular Imaging Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA; (R.A.G.); (C.P.O.); (H.A.M.); (P.L.C.)
| | - Hannah A. Minor
- Molecular Imaging Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA; (R.A.G.); (C.P.O.); (H.A.M.); (P.L.C.)
| | - Laura L. Bassel
- Center for Advanced Preclinical Research, Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Frederick, MD 21701, USA;
| | - Noemi Kedei
- Collaborative Protein Technology Resources, Office of Science and Technology Resources, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA;
| | - Peter L. Choyke
- Molecular Imaging Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA; (R.A.G.); (C.P.O.); (H.A.M.); (P.L.C.)
| | - Noriko Sato
- Molecular Imaging Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA; (R.A.G.); (C.P.O.); (H.A.M.); (P.L.C.)
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Wolf CL, Pruett C, Lighter D, Jorcyk CL. The clinical relevance of OSM in inflammatory diseases: a comprehensive review. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1239732. [PMID: 37841259 PMCID: PMC10570509 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1239732] [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: 06/13/2023] [Accepted: 08/30/2023] [Indexed: 10/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Oncostatin M (OSM) is a pleiotropic cytokine involved in a variety of inflammatory responses such as wound healing, liver regeneration, and bone remodeling. As a member of the interleukin-6 (IL-6) family of cytokines, OSM binds the shared receptor gp130, recruits either OSMRβ or LIFRβ, and activates a variety of signaling pathways including the JAK/STAT, MAPK, JNK, and PI3K/AKT pathways. Since its discovery in 1986, OSM has been identified as a significant contributor to a multitude of inflammatory diseases, including arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease, lung and skin disease, cardiovascular disease, and most recently, COVID-19. Additionally, OSM has also been extensively studied in the context of several cancer types including breast, cervical, ovarian, testicular, colon and gastrointestinal, brain,lung, skin, as well as other cancers. While OSM has been recognized as a significant contributor for each of these diseases, and studies have shown OSM inhibition is effective at treating or reducing symptoms, very few therapeutics have succeeded into clinical trials, and none have yet been approved by the FDA for treatment. In this review, we outline the role OSM plays in a variety of inflammatory diseases, including cancer, and outline the previous and current strategies for developing an inhibitor for OSM signaling.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Cody L. Wolf
- Department of Biomolecular Sciences, Boise State University, Boise, ID, United States
| | - Clyde Pruett
- Department of Biological Sciences, Boise State University, Boise, ID, United States
| | - Darren Lighter
- Department of Biological Sciences, Boise State University, Boise, ID, United States
| | - Cheryl L. Jorcyk
- Department of Biomolecular Sciences, Boise State University, Boise, ID, United States
- Department of Biological Sciences, Boise State University, Boise, ID, United States
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Liu R, Zhao E, Yu H, Yuan C, Abbas MN, Cui H. Methylation across the central dogma in health and diseases: new therapeutic strategies. Signal Transduct Target Ther 2023; 8:310. [PMID: 37620312 PMCID: PMC10449936 DOI: 10.1038/s41392-023-01528-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2023] [Revised: 05/23/2023] [Accepted: 05/25/2023] [Indexed: 08/26/2023] Open
Abstract
The proper transfer of genetic information from DNA to RNA to protein is essential for cell-fate control, development, and health. Methylation of DNA, RNAs, histones, and non-histone proteins is a reversible post-synthesis modification that finetunes gene expression and function in diverse physiological processes. Aberrant methylation caused by genetic mutations or environmental stimuli promotes various diseases and accelerates aging, necessitating the development of therapies to correct the disease-driver methylation imbalance. In this Review, we summarize the operating system of methylation across the central dogma, which includes writers, erasers, readers, and reader-independent outputs. We then discuss how dysregulation of the system contributes to neurological disorders, cancer, and aging. Current small-molecule compounds that target the modifiers show modest success in certain cancers. The methylome-wide action and lack of specificity lead to undesirable biological effects and cytotoxicity, limiting their therapeutic application, especially for diseases with a monogenic cause or different directions of methylation changes. Emerging tools capable of site-specific methylation manipulation hold great promise to solve this dilemma. With the refinement of delivery vehicles, these new tools are well positioned to advance the basic research and clinical translation of the methylation field.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ruochen Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Resource Insects, Medical Research Institute, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400715, China
- Jinfeng Laboratory, Chongqing, 401329, China
- Chongqing Engineering and Technology Research Center for Silk Biomaterials and Regenerative Medicine, Chongqing, 400716, China
- Engineering Research Center for Cancer Biomedical and Translational Medicine, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400715, China
| | - Erhu Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Resource Insects, Medical Research Institute, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400715, China
- Jinfeng Laboratory, Chongqing, 401329, China
- Chongqing Engineering and Technology Research Center for Silk Biomaterials and Regenerative Medicine, Chongqing, 400716, China
- Engineering Research Center for Cancer Biomedical and Translational Medicine, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400715, China
| | - Huijuan Yu
- State Key Laboratory of Resource Insects, Medical Research Institute, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400715, China
| | - Chaoyu Yuan
- State Key Laboratory of Resource Insects, Medical Research Institute, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400715, China
| | - Muhammad Nadeem Abbas
- State Key Laboratory of Resource Insects, Medical Research Institute, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400715, China
- Jinfeng Laboratory, Chongqing, 401329, China
- Chongqing Engineering and Technology Research Center for Silk Biomaterials and Regenerative Medicine, Chongqing, 400716, China
- Engineering Research Center for Cancer Biomedical and Translational Medicine, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400715, China
| | - Hongjuan Cui
- State Key Laboratory of Resource Insects, Medical Research Institute, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400715, China.
- Jinfeng Laboratory, Chongqing, 401329, China.
- Chongqing Engineering and Technology Research Center for Silk Biomaterials and Regenerative Medicine, Chongqing, 400716, China.
- Engineering Research Center for Cancer Biomedical and Translational Medicine, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400715, China.
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Brožová K, Hantusch B, Kenner L, Kratochwill K. Spatial Proteomics for the Molecular Characterization of Breast Cancer. Proteomes 2023; 11:17. [PMID: 37218922 PMCID: PMC10204503 DOI: 10.3390/proteomes11020017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2023] [Revised: 03/30/2023] [Accepted: 04/23/2023] [Indexed: 05/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Breast cancer (BC) is a major global health issue, affecting a significant proportion of the female population and contributing to high rates of mortality. One of the primary challenges in the treatment of BC is the disease's heterogeneity, which can lead to ineffective therapies and poor patient outcomes. Spatial proteomics, which involves the study of protein localization within cells, offers a promising approach for understanding the biological processes that contribute to cellular heterogeneity within BC tissue. To fully leverage the potential of spatial proteomics, it is critical to identify early diagnostic biomarkers and therapeutic targets, and to understand protein expression levels and modifications. The subcellular localization of proteins is a key factor in their physiological function, making the study of subcellular localization a major challenge in cell biology. Achieving high resolution at the cellular and subcellular level is essential for obtaining an accurate spatial distribution of proteins, which in turn can enable the application of proteomics in clinical research. In this review, we present a comparison of current methods of spatial proteomics in BC, including untargeted and targeted strategies. Untargeted strategies enable the detection and analysis of proteins and peptides without a predetermined molecular focus, whereas targeted strategies allow the investigation of a predefined set of proteins or peptides of interest, overcoming the limitations associated with the stochastic nature of untargeted proteomics. By directly comparing these methods, we aim to provide insights into their strengths and limitations and their potential applications in BC research.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Klára Brožová
- Core Facility Proteomics, Medical University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria
- Department of Pathology, Medical University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria
- Division of Molecular and Structural Preclinical Imaging, Department of Biomedical Imaging and Image-Guided Therapy, Medical University of Vienna, 1210 Vienna, Austria
- Unit of Laboratory Animal Pathology, University of Veterinary Medicine, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Brigitte Hantusch
- Department of Pathology, Medical University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Lukas Kenner
- Department of Pathology, Medical University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria
- Unit of Laboratory Animal Pathology, University of Veterinary Medicine, 1090 Vienna, Austria
- CBmed GmbH—Center for Biomarker Research in Medicine, 8010 Graz, Austria
- Christian Doppler Laboratory for Applied Metabolomics, Medical University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Klaus Kratochwill
- Core Facility Proteomics, Medical University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria
- Christian Doppler Laboratory for Molecular Stress Research in Peritoneal Dialysis, Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Medical University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria
- Division of Pediatric Nephrology and Gastroenterology, Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Comprehensive Center for Pediatrics, Medical University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Kehrberg RJ, Bhyravbhatla N, Batra SK, Kumar S. Epigenetic regulation of cancer-associated fibroblast heterogeneity. Biochim Biophys Acta Rev Cancer 2023; 1878:188901. [PMID: 37120098 PMCID: PMC10375465 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbcan.2023.188901] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2023] [Revised: 04/13/2023] [Accepted: 04/22/2023] [Indexed: 05/01/2023]
Abstract
Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs), a significant component of the tumor microenvironment (TME), contribute to cancer progression through the secretion of extracellular matrix (ECM), growth factors, and metabolites. It is now well recognized that CAFs are a heterogenous population with ablation experiments leading to reduced tumor growth and single-cell RNA sequencing demonstrating CAF subgroups. CAFs lack genetic mutations yet substantially differ from their normal stromal precursors. Here, we review epigenetic changes in CAF maturation, focusing on DNA methylation and histone modifications. DNA methylation changes in CAFs have been demonstrated globally, while roles of methylation at specific genes affect tumor growth. Further, loss of CAF histone methylation and gain of histone acetylation has been shown to promote CAF activation and tumor promotion. Many CAF activating factors, such as transforming growth factor β (TGFβ), lead to these epigenetic changes. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) serve as targets and orchestrators of epigenetic modifications that influence gene expression. Bromodomain and extra-terminal domain (BET), an epigenetic reader, recognizes histone acetylation and activates the transcription of genes leading to the pro-tumor phenotype of CAFs.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Rachel J Kehrberg
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA
| | - Namita Bhyravbhatla
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA
| | - Surinder K Batra
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA; Fred and Pamela Buffett Cancer Center, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA.
| | - Sushil Kumar
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA; Fred and Pamela Buffett Cancer Center, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Arpinati L, Scherz-Shouval R. From gatekeepers to providers: regulation of immune functions by cancer-associated fibroblasts. Trends Cancer 2023; 9:421-443. [PMID: 36870916 DOI: 10.1016/j.trecan.2023.01.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2022] [Revised: 01/25/2023] [Accepted: 01/31/2023] [Indexed: 03/06/2023]
Abstract
Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) are major protumorigenic components of the tumor microenvironment in solid cancers. CAFs are heterogeneous, consisting of multiple subsets that display diverse functions. Recently, CAFs have emerged as major promoters of immune evasion. CAFs favor T cell exclusion and exhaustion, promote recruitment of myeloid-derived suppressor cells, and induce protumoral phenotypic shifts in macrophages and neutrophils. With the growing appreciation of CAF heterogeneity came the understanding that different CAF subpopulations may be driving distinct immune-regulatory effects, interacting with different cell types, and perhaps even driving opposing effects on malignancy. In this review we discuss the current understanding of CAF-immune interactions, their effect on tumor progression and therapeutic response, and the possibility of exploiting CAF-immune interactions as potential targets for cancer therapy.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ludovica Arpinati
- 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.
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Sarkar M, Nguyen T, Gundre E, Ogunlusi O, El-Sobky M, Giri B, Sarkar TR. Cancer-associated fibroblasts: The chief architect in the tumor microenvironment. Front Cell Dev Biol 2023; 11:1089068. [PMID: 36793444 PMCID: PMC9923123 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2023.1089068] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 38.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2022] [Accepted: 01/12/2023] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Stromal heterogeneity of tumor microenvironment (TME) plays a crucial role in malignancy and therapeutic resistance. Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) are one of the major players in tumor stroma. The heterogeneous sources of origin and subsequent impacts of crosstalk with breast cancer cells flaunt serious challenges before current therapies to cure triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) and other cancers. The positive and reciprocal feedback of CAFs to induce cancer cells dictates their mutual synergy in establishing malignancy. Their substantial role in creating a tumor-promoting niche has reduced the efficacy of several anti-cancer treatments, including radiation, chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and endocrine therapy. Over the years, there has been an emphasis on understanding CAF-induced therapeutic resistance in order to enhance cancer therapy results. CAFs, in the majority of cases, employ crosstalk, stromal management, and other strategies to generate resilience in surrounding tumor cells. This emphasizes the significance of developing novel strategies that target particular tumor-promoting CAF subpopulations, which will improve treatment sensitivity and impede tumor growth. In this review, we discuss the current understanding of the origin and heterogeneity of CAFs, their role in tumor progression, and altering the tumor response to therapeutic agents in breast cancer. In addition, we also discuss the potential and possible approaches for CAF-mediated therapies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mrinmoy Sarkar
- Department of Biology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, United States
- Cancer Biology and Inflammatory Disorder Division, CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Biology, Kolkata, India
| | - Tristan Nguyen
- Department of Biology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, United States
| | - Esheksha Gundre
- Department of Biology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, United States
| | - Olajumoke Ogunlusi
- Department of Biology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, United States
| | - Mohanad El-Sobky
- Department of Biology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, United States
| | - Biplab Giri
- Department of Physiology, University of Gour Banga, English Bazar, India
| | - Tapasree Roy Sarkar
- Department of Biology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, United States
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Wang Y, Wang N, Chen Y, Yang Y. Regulation of micropatterned curvature-dependent FA heterogeneity on cytoskeleton tension and nuclear DNA synthesis of malignant breast cancer cells. J Mater Chem B 2022; 11:99-108. [PMID: 36477803 DOI: 10.1039/d2tb01774a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Breast cancer is considered as a worldwide disease due to its high incidence and malignant metastasis. Although numerous techniques have been developed well to conduct breast cancer therapy, the influence of micropattern-induced interfacial heterogeneity on the molecular mechanism and nuclear signalling transduction of carcinogenesis is rarely announced. In this study, PDMS stencil-assisted micropatterns were fabricated on tissue culture plates to manage cell clustering colony by adjusting initial cell seeding density and the size of microholes. The curvature of each microholes was controlled to construct the interfacial heterogeneity of MDA-MB231 cancer cells at the periphery of micropatterned colony. The distinguished focal adhesion (FA) and cytoskeleton distribution at the central and peripheral regions of the cell colony were regulated by heterogeneous properties. The interfacial heterogeneity of FA and cytoskeleton would induce the biased tension force to encourage more ezrin expression at the periphery and further promote DNA synthesis, therefore disclosing a stem-like phenotype in heterogeneous cells. This study will provide a value source of information for the development of micropattern-induced heterogeneity and the interpretation of metastatic mechanism in malignant breast cancer cells.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yongtao Wang
- School of Medicine, Shanghai University, Shanghai, 200444, China.
| | - Nana Wang
- Department of Pediatrics, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200080, China
| | - Yazhou Chen
- Medical 3D Printing center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450052, China
| | - Yingjun Yang
- Materials Institute of Atomic and Molecular Science, Shaanxi University of Science and Technology, Xi'an, 710021, China.
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Jenkins BH, Buckingham JF, Hanley CJ, Thomas GJ. Targeting cancer-associated fibroblasts: Challenges, opportunities and future directions. Pharmacol Ther 2022; 240:108231. [PMID: 35718294 DOI: 10.1016/j.pharmthera.2022.108231] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2022] [Revised: 06/08/2022] [Accepted: 06/13/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) are a common cell in the tumour microenvironment with diverse tumour-promoting functions. Their presence in tumours is commonly associated with poor prognosis making them attractive therapeutic targets, particularly in the context of immunotherapy where CAFs have been shown to promote resistance to checkpoint blockade. Previous attempts to inhibit CAFs clinically have not been successful, however, in part due to a lack of understanding of CAF heterogeneity and function, with some fibroblast populations potentially being tumour suppressive. Recent single-cell transcriptomic studies have advanced our understanding of fibroblast phenotypes in normal tissues and cancers, allowing for a more precise characterisation of CAF subsets and providing opportunities to develop new therapies. Here we review recent advances in the field, focusing on the evolving area of therapeutic CAF targeting.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin H Jenkins
- School of Cancer Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, UK
| | | | | | - Gareth J Thomas
- School of Cancer Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, UK.
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Inference of epigenetic subnetworks by Bayesian regression with the incorporation of prior information. Sci Rep 2022; 12:20224. [PMID: 36418365 PMCID: PMC9684215 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-19879-x] [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: 11/17/2020] [Accepted: 09/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Changes in gene expression have been thought to play a crucial role in various types of cancer. With the advance of high-throughput experimental techniques, many genome-wide studies are underway to analyze underlying mechanisms that may drive the changes in gene expression. It has been observed that the change could arise from altered DNA methylation. However, the knowledge about the degree to which epigenetic changes might cause differences in gene expression in cancer is currently lacking. By considering the change of gene expression as the response of altered DNA methylation, we introduce a novel analytical framework to identify epigenetic subnetworks in which the methylation status of a set of highly correlated genes is predictive of a set of gene expression. By detecting highly correlated modules as representatives of the regulatory scenario underling the gene expression and DNA methylation, the dependency between DNA methylation and gene expression is explored by a Bayesian regression model with the incorporation of g-prior followed by a strategy of an optimal predictor subset selection. The subsequent network analysis indicates that the detected epigenetic subnetworks are highly biologically relevant and contain many verified epigenetic causal mechanisms. Moreover, a survival analysis indicates that they might be effective prognostic factors associated with patient survival time.
Collapse
|
18
|
Rizzolio S, Giordano S, Corso S. The importance of being CAFs (in cancer resistance to targeted therapies). J Exp Clin Cancer Res 2022; 41:319. [PMID: 36324182 PMCID: PMC9632140 DOI: 10.1186/s13046-022-02524-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2022] [Accepted: 10/23/2022] [Indexed: 05/09/2023] Open
Abstract
In the last two decades, clinical oncology has been revolutionized by the advent of targeted drugs. However, the efficacy of these therapies is significantly limited by primary and acquired resistance, that relies not only on cell-autonomous mechanisms but also on tumor microenvironment cues. Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) are extremely plastic cells of the tumor microenvironment. They not only produce extracellular matrix components that build up the structure of tumor stroma, but they also release growth factors, chemokines, exosomes, and metabolites that affect all tumor properties, including response to drug treatment. The contribution of CAFs to tumor progression has been deeply investigated and reviewed in several works. However, their role in resistance to anticancer therapies, and in particular to molecular therapies, has been largely overlooked. This review specifically dissects the role of CAFs in driving resistance to targeted therapies and discusses novel CAF targeted therapeutic strategies to improve patient survival.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Silvia Giordano
- Candiolo Cancer Institute, FPO-IRCCS, Candiolo, Italy
- Department of Oncology, University of Torino, Torino, Italy
| | - Simona Corso
- Candiolo Cancer Institute, FPO-IRCCS, Candiolo, Italy.
- Department of Oncology, University of Torino, Torino, Italy.
| |
Collapse
|
19
|
Liu H, Wang D, Yang Z, Li S, Wu H, Xiang J, Kan S, Hao M, Liu W. Regulation of epigenetic modifications in the head and neck tumour microenvironment. Front Immunol 2022; 13:1050982. [DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.1050982] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2022] [Accepted: 10/14/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Head and neck tumours are common malignancies that are associated with high mortality. The low rate of early diagnosis and the high rates of local recurrence and distant metastasis are the main reasons for treatment failure. Recent studies have established that the tumour microenvironment (TME) can affect the proliferation and metastasis of head and neck tumours via several mechanisms, including altered expressions of certain genes and cytokines. Increasing evidence has shown that epigenetic modifications, such as DNA methylation, histone modification, RNA modification, and non-coding RNAs, can regulate the head and neck TME and thereby influence tumour development. Epigenetic modifications can regulate the expression of different genes and subsequently alter the TME to affect the progression of head and neck tumours. In addition, the cell components in the TME are regulated by epigenetic modifications, which, in turn, affect the behaviour of head and neck tumour cells. In this review, we have discussed the functions of epigenetic modifications in the head and neck TME. We have further examined the roles of such modifications in the malignancy and metastasis of head and neck tumours.
Collapse
|
20
|
Cytokine chemokine network in tumor microenvironment: Impact on CSC properties and therapeutic applications. Cytokine 2022; 156:155916. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cyto.2022.155916] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2021] [Revised: 04/27/2022] [Accepted: 05/16/2022] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
|
21
|
Anastasaki C, Mo J, Chen JK, Chatterjee J, Pan Y, Scheaffer SM, Cobb O, Monje M, Le LQ, Gutmann DH. Neuronal hyperexcitability drives central and peripheral nervous system tumor progression in models of neurofibromatosis-1. Nat Commun 2022; 13:2785. [PMID: 35589737 PMCID: PMC9120229 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-30466-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2021] [Accepted: 05/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Neuronal activity is emerging as a driver of central and peripheral nervous system cancers. Here, we examined neuronal physiology in mouse models of the tumor predisposition syndrome Neurofibromatosis-1 (NF1), with different propensities to develop nervous system cancers. We show that central and peripheral nervous system neurons from mice with tumor-causing Nf1 gene mutations exhibit hyperexcitability and increased secretion of activity-dependent tumor-promoting paracrine factors. We discovered a neurofibroma mitogen (COL1A2) produced by peripheral neurons in an activity-regulated manner, which increases NF1-deficient Schwann cell proliferation, establishing that neurofibromas are regulated by neuronal activity. In contrast, mice with the Arg1809Cys Nf1 mutation, found in NF1 patients lacking neurofibromas or optic gliomas, do not exhibit neuronal hyperexcitability or develop these NF1-associated tumors. The hyperexcitability of tumor-prone Nf1-mutant neurons results from reduced NF1-regulated hyperpolarization-activated cyclic nucleotide-gated (HCN) channel function, such that neuronal excitability, activity-regulated paracrine factor production, and tumor progression are attenuated by HCN channel activation. Collectively, these findings reveal that NF1 mutations act at the level of neurons to modify tumor predisposition by increasing neuronal excitability and activity-regulated paracrine factor production. Neuronal activity is emerging as a driver of nervous system tumors. Here, the authors show in mouse models of Neurofibromatosis-1 (NF1) that Nf1 mutations differentially drive both central and peripheral nervous system tumor growth in mice through reduced hyperpolarization-activated cyclic nucleotide-gated (HCN) channel function.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Corina Anastasaki
- Department of Neurology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA
| | - Juan Mo
- Department of Dermatology, University of Texas, Southwestern, Dallas, TX, 75390, USA
| | - Ji-Kang Chen
- Department of Neurology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA
| | - Jit Chatterjee
- Department of Neurology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA
| | - Yuan Pan
- Department of Neurology and Neurological Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
| | - Suzanne M Scheaffer
- Department of Neurology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA
| | - Olivia Cobb
- Department of Neurology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA
| | - Michelle Monje
- Department of Neurology and Neurological Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA.,Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
| | - Lu Q Le
- Department of Dermatology, University of Texas, Southwestern, Dallas, TX, 75390, USA
| | - David H Gutmann
- Department of Neurology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
22
|
Christian JI, Pastula A, Herbst A, Neumann J, Marschall MK, Ofner A, Zierahn H, Schneider MR, Wolf E, Quante M, Kolligs FT. Loss of DRO1/CCDC80 in the tumor microenvironment promotes carcinogenesis. Oncotarget 2022; 13:615-627. [PMID: 35422964 PMCID: PMC9004603 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.28084] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2021] [Accepted: 09/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Tumors are composed of the tumor cells and the surrounding microenvironment. Both are closely interwoven and interact by a complex and multifaceted cross-talk which plays an integral part in tumor initiation, growth, and progression. Dro1/Ccdc80 has been shown to be a potent suppressor of colorectal cancer and ubiquitous inactivation of Dro1/Ccdc80 strongly promoted colorectal carcinogenesis in ApcMin/+ mice and in a chemically-induced colorectal cancer model. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether Dro1/Ccdc80’s tumor suppressive function is tumor-cell-autonomous. Expression of Dro1/Ccdc80 in cancer cells had no effect on both colon tumor development in ApcMin/+ mice and formation of xenograft tumors. In contrast, DRO1/CCDC80 loss in the microenvironment strongly increased tumor growth in xenograft models, inhibited cancer cell apoptosis, and promoted intestinal epithelial cell migration. Moreover, stromal Dro1/Ccdc80 inactivation facilitated formation of intestinal epithelial organoids. Expression analyses showed Dro1/Ccdc80 to be significantly down-regulated in murine gastric cancer associated fibroblasts, in ApcMin/+ colon tumor primary stromal cells and in microdissected stroma from human colorectal cancer compared to normal, non-tumor stroma. Our results demonstrate epithelial derived DRO1/CCDC80 to be dispensable for intestinal tissue homeostasis and identify Dro1/Ccdc80 as tumor suppressor in the tumor microenvironment.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jessica I. Christian
- Institute of Molecular Animal Breeding and Biotechnology, Gene Center, Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, 81377 Munich, Germany
- These authors contributed equally to this work
| | - Agnieszka Pastula
- Gastroenterologie II, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technical University of Munich, 81675 Munich, Germany
- These authors contributed equally to this work
| | - Andreas Herbst
- Department of Medicine II, Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, 81377 Munich, Germany
- Institute of Laboratory Medicine, University Hospital, Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, 81377 Munich, Germany
| | - Jens Neumann
- Institute of Pathology, Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, 80337 Munich, Germany
| | - Maximilian K. Marschall
- Institute of Molecular Animal Breeding and Biotechnology, Gene Center, Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, 81377 Munich, Germany
| | - Andrea Ofner
- Department of Medicine II, Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, 81377 Munich, Germany
| | - Heike Zierahn
- Institute of Molecular Animal Breeding and Biotechnology, Gene Center, Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, 81377 Munich, Germany
| | - Marlon R. Schneider
- Institute of Molecular Animal Breeding and Biotechnology, Gene Center, Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, 81377 Munich, Germany
| | - Eckhard Wolf
- Institute of Molecular Animal Breeding and Biotechnology, Gene Center, Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, 81377 Munich, Germany
| | - Michael Quante
- Gastroenterologie II, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technical University of Munich, 81675 Munich, Germany
| | - Frank T. Kolligs
- Department of Medicine II, Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, 81377 Munich, Germany
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
- German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
- Department of Internal Medicine and Gastroenterology, HELIOS Klinikum Berlin-Buch, 13125 Berlin, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
23
|
Sharma V, Letson J, Furuta S. Fibrous stroma: Driver and passenger in cancer development. Sci Signal 2022; 15:eabg3449. [PMID: 35258999 DOI: 10.1126/scisignal.abg3449] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Cumulative evidence shows that fibrogenic stroma and stiff extracellular matrix (ECM) not only result from tumor growth but also play pivotal roles in cellular transformation and tumor initiation. This emerging concept may largely account for the increased cancer risk associated with environmental fibrogenic agents, such as asbestos and silica, and with chronic conditions that are fibrogenic, such as obesity and diabetes. It may also contribute to poor outcomes in patients treated with certain chemotherapeutics that can promote fibrosis, such as bleomycin and methotrexate. Although the mechanistic details of this phenomenon are still being unraveled, we provide an overview of the experimental evidence linking fibrogenic stroma and tumor initiation. In this Review, we will summarize the causes and consequences of fibrous stroma and how this stromal cue is transmitted to the nuclei of parenchymal cells through a physical continuum from the ECM to chromatin, as well as ECM-dependent biochemical signaling that contributes to cellular transformation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Vandana Sharma
- Department of Cancer Biology, College of Medicine and Life Sciences, University of Toledo Health Science Campus, 3000 Arlington Ave., Toledo, OH 43614, USA
| | - Joshua Letson
- Department of Cancer Biology, College of Medicine and Life Sciences, University of Toledo Health Science Campus, 3000 Arlington Ave., Toledo, OH 43614, USA
| | - Saori Furuta
- Department of Cancer Biology, College of Medicine and Life Sciences, University of Toledo Health Science Campus, 3000 Arlington Ave., Toledo, OH 43614, USA
| |
Collapse
|
24
|
Wang Y, Huang Z, Li B, Liu L, Huang C. The Emerging Roles and Therapeutic Implications of Epigenetic Modifications in Ovarian Cancer. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2022; 13:863541. [PMID: 35620395 PMCID: PMC9127157 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2022.863541] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2022] [Accepted: 03/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Ovarian cancer (OC) is one of the most lethal gynecologic malignancies globally. In spite of positive responses to initial therapy, the overall survival rates of OC patients remain poor due to the development of drug resistance and consequent cancer recurrence. Indeed, intensive studies have been conducted to unravel the molecular mechanisms underlying OC therapeutic resistance. Besides, emerging evidence suggests a crucial role for epigenetic modifications, namely, DNA methylation, histone modifications, and non-coding RNA regulation, in the drug resistance of OC. These epigenetic modifications contribute to chemoresistance through various mechanisms, namely, upregulating the expression of multidrug resistance proteins (MRPs), remodeling of the tumor microenvironment, and deregulated immune response. Therefore, an in-depth understanding of the role of epigenetic mechanisms in clinical therapeutic resistance may improve the outcome of OC patients. In this review, we will discuss the epigenetic regulation of OC drug resistance and propose the potential clinical implications of epigenetic therapies to prevent or reverse OC drug resistance, which may inspire novel treatment options by targeting resistance mechanisms for drug-resistant OC patients.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yu Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, and West China School of Basic Medical Sciences & Forensic Medicine, Sichuan University, and Collaborative Innovation Center for Biotherapy, Chengdu, China
| | - Zhao Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, and West China School of Basic Medical Sciences & Forensic Medicine, Sichuan University, and Collaborative Innovation Center for Biotherapy, Chengdu, China
| | - Bowen Li
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, and West China School of Basic Medical Sciences & Forensic Medicine, Sichuan University, and Collaborative Innovation Center for Biotherapy, Chengdu, China
| | - Lin Liu
- Department of Anesthesiology, The Affiliated Hospital of Medical School, Ningbo University, Ningbo, China
- *Correspondence: Lin Liu, ; Canhua Huang,
| | - Canhua Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, and West China School of Basic Medical Sciences & Forensic Medicine, Sichuan University, and Collaborative Innovation Center for Biotherapy, Chengdu, China
- *Correspondence: Lin Liu, ; Canhua Huang,
| |
Collapse
|
25
|
DİLMAÇ S, ERTOSUN MG, AÇIKGÖZ E, TANRIÖVER G. Kök hücreler kanser hücrelerinin mikroçevresindeki sitokin yanıtlarını etkiler: Meme kanseri ve dental pulpa kök hücreleri arasındaki etkileşim. EGE TIP DERGISI 2021. [DOI: 10.19161/etd.1036959] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
|
26
|
Mavrommati I, Johnson F, Echeverria GV, Natrajan R. Subclonal heterogeneity and evolution in breast cancer. NPJ Breast Cancer 2021; 7:155. [PMID: 34934048 PMCID: PMC8692469 DOI: 10.1038/s41523-021-00363-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2021] [Accepted: 11/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Subclonal heterogeneity and evolution are characteristics of breast cancer that play a fundamental role in tumour development, progression and resistance to current therapies. In this review, we focus on the recent advances in understanding the epigenetic and transcriptomic changes that occur within breast cancer and their importance in terms of cancer development, progression and therapy resistance with a particular focus on alterations at the single-cell level. Furthermore, we highlight the utility of using single-cell tracing and molecular barcoding methodologies in preclinical models to assess disease evolution and response to therapy. We discuss how the integration of single-cell profiling from patient samples can be used in conjunction with results from preclinical models to untangle the complexities of this disease and identify biomarkers of disease progression, including measures of intra-tumour heterogeneity themselves, and how enhancing this understanding has the potential to uncover new targetable vulnerabilities in breast cancer.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ioanna Mavrommati
- grid.18886.3fThe Breast Cancer Now Toby Robins Research Centre, The Institute of Cancer Research, London, UK
| | - Flora Johnson
- grid.18886.3fThe Breast Cancer Now Toby Robins Research Centre, The Institute of Cancer Research, London, UK
| | - Gloria V. Echeverria
- grid.39382.330000 0001 2160 926XLester and Sue Smith Breast Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX USA ,grid.39382.330000 0001 2160 926XDepartment of Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX USA ,grid.39382.330000 0001 2160 926XDan L. Duncan Cancer Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX USA ,grid.39382.330000 0001 2160 926XDepartment of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX USA
| | - Rachael Natrajan
- The Breast Cancer Now Toby Robins Research Centre, The Institute of Cancer Research, London, UK.
| |
Collapse
|
27
|
Ji P, Yang Z, Li H, Wei M, Yang G, Xing H, Li Q. Smart exosomes with lymph node homing and immune-amplifying capacities for enhanced immunotherapy of metastatic breast cancer. MOLECULAR THERAPY. NUCLEIC ACIDS 2021; 26:987-996. [PMID: 34760340 PMCID: PMC8560825 DOI: 10.1016/j.omtn.2021.10.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2021] [Revised: 08/09/2021] [Accepted: 10/05/2021] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
Tumor-draining lymph nodes (TDLNs) are the primary sites to initiate immune responses against cancer, as well as the origin of metastasis for most breast cancer cases. Reverting the immunosuppression microenvironment in TDLNs is critical to improving the outcome of the malignancy, though still a big technical challenge. In this study, a type of smart exosomes was developed in which the exosome surface was functionally engineered with CD62L (L-selectin, a gene for lymphocyte homing to lymph nodes) and OX40L (CD134L, a gene for effector T cell expansion and regulatory T cell [Treg] inhibition) by forced expression of the genes in the donor cells. Compared with control exosomes, the smart exosomes displayed strong TDLN homing capacity in the 4T1 syngeneic mouse model. Moreover, injection of the smart exosomes activated effector T cells and inhibited Treg induction, thereby amplifying the antitumor immune response and inhibiting tumor development. Together, the engineered smart exosomes provide a novel nanoplatform for TDLN-targeted delivery and cancer immunotherapy.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Panpan Ji
- Department of Breast Surgery, Guangxi Medical University Cancer Hospital, Nanning, Guangxi 530021, China
| | - Zheng Yang
- Department of Plastic Surgery, The First Medical Center, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing 100853, China
| | - Hua Li
- Shaanxi Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Xi’an, Shaanxi 710054, China
| | - Mengying Wei
- The State Laboratory of Cancer Biology, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Fourth Military Medical University, No. 169 Changlexi Road, Xi’an, Shaanxi 710032, China
| | - Guodong Yang
- The State Laboratory of Cancer Biology, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Fourth Military Medical University, No. 169 Changlexi Road, Xi’an, Shaanxi 710032, China
| | - Helin Xing
- Department of Prosthodontics, Beijing Stomatological Hospital and School of Stomatology, Capital Medical University, NO. 4 Tiantanxi Road, Beijing 100050, China
| | - Qiuyun Li
- Department of Breast Surgery, Guangxi Medical University Cancer Hospital, Nanning, Guangxi 530021, China
| |
Collapse
|
28
|
Elwakeel E, Weigert A. Breast Cancer CAFs: Spectrum of Phenotypes and Promising Targeting Avenues. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:11636. [PMID: 34769066 PMCID: PMC8583860 DOI: 10.3390/ijms222111636] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2021] [Revised: 10/22/2021] [Accepted: 10/22/2021] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Activationof the tumor-associated stroma to support tumor growth is a common feature observed in different cancer entities. This principle is exemplified by cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs), which are educated by the tumor to shape its development across all stages. CAFs can alter the extracellular matrix (ECM) and secrete a variety of different molecules. In that manner they have the capability to affect activation, survival, proliferation, and migration of other stromal cells and cancer cell themselves. Alteration of the ECM, desmoplasia, is a common feature of breast cancer, indicating a prominent role for CAFs in shaping tumor development in the mammary gland. In this review, we summarize the multiple roles CAFs play in mammary carcinoma. We discuss experimental and clinical strategies to interfere with CAFs function in breast cancer. Moreover, we highlight the issues arising from CAFs heterogeneity and the need for further research to identify CAFs subpopulation(s) that can be targeted to improve breast cancer therapy.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Eiman Elwakeel
- Institute of Biochemistry I, Faculty of Medicine, Goethe-University Frankfurt, 60590 Frankfurt, Germany;
| | - Andreas Weigert
- Institute of Biochemistry I, Faculty of Medicine, Goethe-University Frankfurt, 60590 Frankfurt, Germany;
- Frankfurt Cancer Institute, Goethe-University Frankfurt, 60596 Frankfurt, Germany
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Partner Site Frankfurt, 60590 Frankfurt, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
29
|
Patra S, Elahi N, Armorer A, Arunachalam S, Omala J, Hamid I, Ashton AW, Joyce D, Jiao X, Pestell RG. Mechanisms Governing Metabolic Heterogeneity in Breast Cancer and Other Tumors. Front Oncol 2021; 11:700629. [PMID: 34631530 PMCID: PMC8495201 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2021.700629] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2021] [Accepted: 08/30/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Reprogramming of metabolic priorities promotes tumor progression. Our understanding of the Warburg effect, based on studies of cultured cancer cells, has evolved to a more complex understanding of tumor metabolism within an ecosystem that provides and catabolizes diverse nutrients provided by the local tumor microenvironment. Recent studies have illustrated that heterogeneous metabolic changes occur at the level of tumor type, tumor subtype, within the tumor itself, and within the tumor microenvironment. Thus, altered metabolism occurs in cancer cells and in the tumor microenvironment (fibroblasts, immune cells and fat cells). Herein we describe how these growth advantages are obtained through either “convergent” genetic changes, in which common metabolic properties are induced as a final common pathway induced by diverse oncogene factors, or “divergent” genetic changes, in which distinct factors lead to subtype-selective phenotypes and thereby tumor heterogeneity. Metabolic heterogeneity allows subtyping of cancers and further metabolic heterogeneity occurs within the same tumor mass thought of as “microenvironmental metabolic nesting”. Furthermore, recent findings show that mutations of metabolic genes arise in the majority of tumors providing an opportunity for the development of more robust metabolic models of an individual patient’s tumor. The focus of this review is on the mechanisms governing this metabolic heterogeneity in breast cancer.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sayani Patra
- Pensylvania Cancer and Regenerative Medicine Research Center, Baruch S. Blumberg Institute, Wynnewood, PA, United States.,Xavier University School of Medicine at Aruba, Oranjestad, Aruba
| | - Naveed Elahi
- Pensylvania Cancer and Regenerative Medicine Research Center, Baruch S. Blumberg Institute, Wynnewood, PA, United States.,Xavier University School of Medicine at Aruba, Oranjestad, Aruba
| | - Aaron Armorer
- Pensylvania Cancer and Regenerative Medicine Research Center, Baruch S. Blumberg Institute, Wynnewood, PA, United States.,Xavier University School of Medicine at Aruba, Oranjestad, Aruba
| | - Swathi Arunachalam
- Pensylvania Cancer and Regenerative Medicine Research Center, Baruch S. Blumberg Institute, Wynnewood, PA, United States.,Xavier University School of Medicine at Aruba, Oranjestad, Aruba
| | - Joshua Omala
- Pensylvania Cancer and Regenerative Medicine Research Center, Baruch S. Blumberg Institute, Wynnewood, PA, United States.,Xavier University School of Medicine at Aruba, Oranjestad, Aruba
| | - Iman Hamid
- Pensylvania Cancer and Regenerative Medicine Research Center, Baruch S. Blumberg Institute, Wynnewood, PA, United States.,Xavier University School of Medicine at Aruba, Oranjestad, Aruba
| | - Anthony W Ashton
- Xavier University School of Medicine at Aruba, Oranjestad, Aruba.,Program in Cardiovascular Medicine, Lankenau Institute for Medical Research, Wynnewood, PA, United States
| | - David Joyce
- Medical School, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA, Australia
| | - Xuanmao Jiao
- Pensylvania Cancer and Regenerative Medicine Research Center, Baruch S. Blumberg Institute, Wynnewood, PA, United States.,Xavier University School of Medicine at Aruba, Oranjestad, Aruba
| | - Richard G Pestell
- Pensylvania Cancer and Regenerative Medicine Research Center, Baruch S. Blumberg Institute, Wynnewood, PA, United States.,Xavier University School of Medicine at Aruba, Oranjestad, Aruba.,Cancer Center, Wistar Institute, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| |
Collapse
|
30
|
Su SF, Ho H, Li JH, Wu MF, Wang HC, Yeh HY, Kuo SW, Chen HW, Ho CC, Li KC. DNA methylome and transcriptome landscapes of cancer-associated fibroblasts reveal a smoking-associated malignancy index. J Clin Invest 2021; 131:e139552. [PMID: 34228648 DOI: 10.1172/jci139552] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2020] [Accepted: 07/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Unlike the better-studied aberrant epigenome in the tumor, the clinicopathologic impact of DNA methylation in the tumor microenvironment (TME), especially the contribution from cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs), remains elusive. CAFs exhibit profound patient-to-patient tumorigenic heterogeneity. We asked whether such heterogeneity may be exploited to quantify the level of TME malignancy. We developed a robust and efficient methylome/transcriptome co-analytical system for CAFs and paired normal fibroblasts (NFs) from non-small-cell lung cancer patients. We found 14,781 CpG sites of CAF/NF differential methylation, of which 3,707 sites showed higher methylation changes in ever-smokers than in nonsmokers. Concomitant CAF/NF differential gene expression analysis pointed to a subset of 54 smoking-associated CpG sites with strong methylation-regulated gene expression. A methylation index that summarizes the β values of these CpGs was built for NF/CAF discrimination (MIND) with high sensitivity and specificity. The potential of MIND in detecting premalignancy across individual patients was shown. MIND succeeded in predicting tumor recurrence in multiple lung cancer cohorts without reliance on patient survival data, suggesting that the malignancy level of TME may be effectively graded by this index. Precision TME grading may provide additional pathological information to guide cancer prognosis and open up more options in personalized medicine.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sheng-Fang Su
- Institute of Statistical Science, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan.,Graduate Institute of Oncology, National Taiwan University, College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan.,YongLin Institute of Health, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Hao Ho
- Institute of Statistical Science, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Jia-Hua Li
- Institute of Statistical Science, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Ming-Fang Wu
- Institute of Statistical Science, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan.,Graduate Institute of Toxicology, National Taiwan University, College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Hsu-Chieh Wang
- Department of Internal Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital and National Taiwan University, College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Hsiang-Yuan Yeh
- School of Big Data Management, Soochow University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Shuenn-Wen Kuo
- Department of Surgery, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Huei-Wen Chen
- Graduate Institute of Toxicology, National Taiwan University, College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Chao-Chi Ho
- Department of Internal Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital and National Taiwan University, College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Ker-Chau Li
- Institute of Statistical Science, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan.,Department of Statistics, UCLA, Los Angeles, California, USA
| |
Collapse
|
31
|
Alcaraz J, Ikemori R, Llorente A, Díaz-Valdivia N, Reguart N, Vizoso M. Epigenetic Reprogramming of Tumor-Associated Fibroblasts in Lung Cancer: Therapeutic Opportunities. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:cancers13153782. [PMID: 34359678 PMCID: PMC8345093 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13153782] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2021] [Revised: 07/23/2021] [Accepted: 07/24/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death among both men and women, partly due to limited therapy responses. New avenues of knowledge are indicating that lung cancer cells do not form a tumor in isolation but rather obtain essential support from their surrounding host tissue rich in altered fibroblasts. Notably, there is growing evidence that tumor progression and even the current limited responses to therapies could be prevented by rescuing the normal behavior of fibroblasts, which are critical housekeepers of normal tissue function. For this purpose, it is key to improve our understanding of the molecular mechanisms driving the pathologic alterations of fibroblasts in cancer. This work provides a comprehensive review of the main molecular mechanisms involved in fibroblast transformation based on epigenetic reprogramming, and summarizes emerging therapeutic approaches to prevent or overcome the pathologic effects of tumor-associated fibroblasts. Abstract Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide. The desmoplastic stroma of lung cancer and other solid tumors is rich in tumor-associated fibroblasts (TAFs) exhibiting an activated/myofibroblast-like phenotype. There is growing awareness that TAFs support key steps of tumor progression and are epigenetically reprogrammed compared to healthy fibroblasts. Although the mechanisms underlying such epigenetic reprogramming are incompletely understood, there is increasing evidence that they involve interactions with either cancer cells, pro-fibrotic cytokines such as TGF-β, the stiffening of the surrounding extracellular matrix, smoking cigarette particles and other environmental cues. These aberrant interactions elicit a global DNA hypomethylation and a selective transcriptional repression through hypermethylation of the TGF-β transcription factor SMAD3 in lung TAFs. Likewise, similar DNA methylation changes have been reported in TAFs from other cancer types, as well as histone core modifications and altered microRNA expression. In this review we summarize the evidence of the epigenetic reprogramming of TAFs, how this reprogramming contributes to the acquisition and maintenance of a tumor-promoting phenotype, and how it provides novel venues for therapeutic intervention, with a special focus on lung TAFs.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jordi Alcaraz
- Unit of Biophysics and Bioengineering, Department of Biomedicine, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universitat de Barcelona, 08036 Barcelona, Spain; (R.I.); (A.L.); (N.D.-V.)
- Thoracic Oncology Unit, Hospital Clinic Barcelona, 08036 Barcelona, Spain;
- Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC), The Barcelona Institute for Science and Technology (BIST), 08028 Barcelona, Spain
- Correspondence: (J.A.); (M.V.)
| | - Rafael Ikemori
- Unit of Biophysics and Bioengineering, Department of Biomedicine, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universitat de Barcelona, 08036 Barcelona, Spain; (R.I.); (A.L.); (N.D.-V.)
| | - Alejandro Llorente
- Unit of Biophysics and Bioengineering, Department of Biomedicine, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universitat de Barcelona, 08036 Barcelona, Spain; (R.I.); (A.L.); (N.D.-V.)
| | - Natalia Díaz-Valdivia
- Unit of Biophysics and Bioengineering, Department of Biomedicine, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universitat de Barcelona, 08036 Barcelona, Spain; (R.I.); (A.L.); (N.D.-V.)
| | - Noemí Reguart
- Thoracic Oncology Unit, Hospital Clinic Barcelona, 08036 Barcelona, Spain;
- Institut d’Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), 08036 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Miguel Vizoso
- Division of Molecular Pathology, Oncode Institute, The Netherlands Cancer Institute, Plesmanlaan 121, 1066 CX Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Correspondence: (J.A.); (M.V.)
| |
Collapse
|
32
|
Magesh P, Thankachan S, Venkatesh T, Suresh PS. Breast cancer fibroblasts and cross-talk. Clin Chim Acta 2021; 521:158-169. [PMID: 34270953 DOI: 10.1016/j.cca.2021.07.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2021] [Revised: 07/07/2021] [Accepted: 07/07/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
The breast tumor microenvironment is one of the crucial elements supporting breast cancer tumor progression and metastasis. The fibroblasts are the chief cellular component of the stromal microenvironment and are pathologically activated and differentiated into breast cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs). The catabolic phenotype of breast CAFs arises due to metabolic reprogramming of these fibroblasts under pseudo-hypoxic conditions. The metabolic intermediates and ATP produced by the breast CAFs are exploited by the neighboring cancer cells for energy generation. The growth factors, cytokines, and chemokines secreted by the CAFs help fuel tumor growth, invasion, and dissemination. Moreover, the interplay between breast CAFs and cancer cells, mediated by the growth factors, ROS, metabolic intermediates, exosomes, and catabolite transporters, aids in building a favorable microenvironment that promotes cancer cell proliferation, tumor progression, and metastasis. Therefore, identifying effective means to target the reprogrammed metabolism of the breast CAFs and the cross-communication between CAFs and cancer cells serve as promising strategies to develop anti-cancer therapeutics. Henceforth, the scope of the present review ranges from discussing the underlying characteristics of breast CAFs, mechanisms of metabolic reprogramming in breast CAFs, and the nature of interactions between breast CAFs and cancer cells to studying the intricacies of reprogrammed metabolism targeted cancer therapy.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Priyanila Magesh
- School of Biotechnology, National Institute of Technology, Calicut 673601, Kerala, India
| | - Sanu Thankachan
- School of Biotechnology, National Institute of Technology, Calicut 673601, Kerala, India
| | - Thejaswini Venkatesh
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Central University of Kerala, Kasaragod 671316, India
| | - Padmanaban S Suresh
- School of Biotechnology, National Institute of Technology, Calicut 673601, Kerala, India.
| |
Collapse
|
33
|
Dey M, Ayan B, Yurieva M, Unutmaz D, Ozbolat IT. Studying Tumor Angiogenesis and Cancer Invasion in a Three-Dimensional Vascularized Breast Cancer Micro-Environment. Adv Biol (Weinh) 2021; 5:e2100090. [PMID: 33857356 PMCID: PMC8574137 DOI: 10.1002/adbi.202100090] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2021] [Revised: 02/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Metastatic breast cancer is one of the deadliest forms of malignancy, primarily driven by its characteristic micro-environment comprising cancer cells interacting with stromal components. These interactions induce genetic and metabolic alterations creating a conducive environment for tumor growth. In this study, a physiologically relevant 3D vascularized breast cancer micro-environment is developed comprising of metastatic MDA-MB-231 cells and human umbilical vein endothelial cells loaded in human dermal fibroblasts laden fibrin, representing the tumor stroma. The matrix, as well as stromal cell density, impacts the transcriptional profile of genes involved in tumor angiogenesis and cancer invasion, which are hallmarks of cancer. Cancer-specific canonical pathways and activated upstream regulators are also identified by the differential gene expression signatures of these composite cultures. Additionally, a tumor-associated vascular bed of capillaries is established exhibiting dilated vessel diameters, representative of in vivo tumor physiology. Further, employing aspiration-assisted bioprinting, cancer-endothelial crosstalk, in the form of collective angiogenesis of tumor spheroids bioprinted at close proximity, is identified. Overall, this bottom-up approach of tumor micro-environment fabrication provides an insight into the potential of in vitro tumor models and enables the identification of novel therapeutic targets as a preclinical drug screening platform.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Madhuri Dey
- Department of Chemistry, Penn State University, University Park, PA, 16802, USA
- The Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences, Penn State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
| | - Bugra Ayan
- Engineering Science and Mechanics Department, Penn State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
- The Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences, Penn State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
| | - Marina Yurieva
- The Jackson Laboratory for Genomic Medicine and University of Connecticut Health Center, Farmington, CT 06032, USA
| | - Derya Unutmaz
- The Jackson Laboratory for Genomic Medicine and University of Connecticut Health Center, Farmington, CT 06032, USA
| | - Ibrahim T Ozbolat
- Engineering Science and Mechanics Department, Penn State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
- The Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences, Penn State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
- Biomedical Engineering Department, Penn State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
- Materials Research Institute, Penn State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
| |
Collapse
|
34
|
Wu F, Yang J, Liu J, Wang Y, Mu J, Zeng Q, Deng S, Zhou H. Signaling pathways in cancer-associated fibroblasts and targeted therapy for cancer. Signal Transduct Target Ther 2021; 6:218. [PMID: 34108441 PMCID: PMC8190181 DOI: 10.1038/s41392-021-00641-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 280] [Impact Index Per Article: 93.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2021] [Revised: 04/20/2021] [Accepted: 05/06/2021] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
To flourish, cancers greatly depend on their surrounding tumor microenvironment (TME), and cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) in TME are critical for cancer occurrence and progression because of their versatile roles in extracellular matrix remodeling, maintenance of stemness, blood vessel formation, modulation of tumor metabolism, immune response, and promotion of cancer cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and therapeutic resistance. CAFs are highly heterogeneous stromal cells and their crosstalk with cancer cells is mediated by a complex and intricate signaling network consisting of transforming growth factor-beta, phosphoinositide 3-kinase/AKT/mammalian target of rapamycin, mitogen-activated protein kinase, Wnt, Janus kinase/signal transducers and activators of transcription, epidermal growth factor receptor, Hippo, and nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells, etc., signaling pathways. These signals in CAFs exhibit their own special characteristics during the cancer progression and have the potential to be targeted for anticancer therapy. Therefore, a comprehensive understanding of these signaling cascades in interactions between cancer cells and CAFs is necessary to fully realize the pivotal roles of CAFs in cancers. Herein, in this review, we will summarize the enormous amounts of findings on the signals mediating crosstalk of CAFs with cancer cells and its related targets or trials. Further, we hypothesize three potential targeting strategies, including, namely, epithelial-mesenchymal common targets, sequential target perturbation, and crosstalk-directed signaling targets, paving the way for CAF-directed or host cell-directed antitumor therapy.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Fanglong Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, National Center of Stomatology, National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, People's Republic of China
| | - Jin Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, National Center of Stomatology, National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, People's Republic of China
| | - Junjiang Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, National Center of Stomatology, National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, People's Republic of China
| | - Ye Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, National Center of Stomatology, National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, People's Republic of China
| | - Jingtian Mu
- State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, National Center of Stomatology, National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, People's Republic of China
| | - Qingxiang Zeng
- State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, National Center of Stomatology, National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, People's Republic of China
| | - Shuzhi Deng
- State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, National Center of Stomatology, National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, People's Republic of China
| | - Hongmei Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, National Center of Stomatology, National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, People's Republic of China.
| |
Collapse
|
35
|
Hannafon BN. Involvement of the Tumor Microenvironment in the Pathogenesis of Breast Cancer. THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PATHOLOGY 2021; 191:1328-1329. [PMID: 34097898 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajpath.2021.05.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2021] [Revised: 05/27/2021] [Accepted: 05/28/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Bethany N Hannafon
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Stephenson Cancer Center, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.
| |
Collapse
|
36
|
Dieters-Castator D, Dantonio PM, Piaseczny M, Zhang G, Liu J, Kuljanin M, Sherman S, Jewer M, Quesnel K, Kang EY, Köbel M, Siegers GM, Leask A, Hess D, Lajoie G, Postovit LM. Embryonic protein NODAL regulates the breast tumor microenvironment by reprogramming cancer-derived secretomes. Neoplasia 2021; 23:375-390. [PMID: 33784590 PMCID: PMC8041663 DOI: 10.1016/j.neo.2021.02.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2020] [Revised: 02/23/2021] [Accepted: 02/26/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
The tumor microenvironment (TME) is an important mediator of breast cancer progression. Cancer-associated fibroblasts constitute a major component of the TME and may originate from tissue-associated fibroblasts or infiltrating mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs). The mechanisms by which cancer cells activate fibroblasts and recruit MSCs to the TME are largely unknown, but likely include deposition of a pro-tumorigenic secretome. The secreted embryonic protein NODAL is clinically associated with breast cancer stage and promotes tumor growth, metastasis, and vascularization. Herein, we show that NODAL expression correlates with the presence of activated fibroblasts in human triple-negative breast cancers and that it directly induces Cancer-associated fibroblasts phenotypes. We further show that NODAL reprograms cancer cell secretomes by simultaneously altering levels of chemokines (e.g., CXCL1), cytokines (e.g., IL-6) and growth factors (e.g., PDGFRA), leading to alterations in MSC chemotaxis. We therefore demonstrate a hitherto unappreciated mechanism underlying the dynamic regulation of the TME.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Paola M Dantonio
- Department of Biomedical and Molecular Sciences, Queen's University, Kingston, ON, Canada
| | - Matt Piaseczny
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Western University, London, ON, Canada
| | - Guihua Zhang
- Department of Oncology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | - Jiahui Liu
- Department of Oncology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | - Miljan Kuljanin
- Robarts Research Institute, London, ON, Canada; Department of Biochemistry, Western University, London, ON, Canada
| | - Stephen Sherman
- Robarts Research Institute, London, ON, Canada; Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Western University, London, ON, Canada
| | - Michael Jewer
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Western University, London, ON, Canada; Department of Oncology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | - Katherine Quesnel
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Western University, London, ON, Canada
| | - Eun Young Kang
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - Martin Köbel
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | | | - Andrew Leask
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Western University, London, ON, Canada
| | - David Hess
- Robarts Research Institute, London, ON, Canada; Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Western University, London, ON, Canada
| | - Gilles Lajoie
- Department of Biochemistry, Western University, London, ON, Canada
| | - Lynne-Marie Postovit
- Department of Biomedical and Molecular Sciences, Queen's University, Kingston, ON, Canada; Department of Oncology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada.
| |
Collapse
|
37
|
Mezawa Y, Orimo A. Phenotypic heterogeneity, stability and plasticity in tumor-promoting carcinoma-associated fibroblasts. FEBS J 2021; 289:2429-2447. [PMID: 33786982 DOI: 10.1111/febs.15851] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2020] [Revised: 03/15/2021] [Accepted: 03/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Reciprocal interactions between cancer cells and stromal cells in the tumor microenvironment (TME) are essential for full-blown tumor development. Carcinoma-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) are a key component of the TME together with a wide variety of stromal cell types including vascular, inflammatory, and immune cells in the extracellular matrix. CAFs not only promote tumor growth, invasion, and metastasis, but also dampen the efficacy of various therapies including immune checkpoint inhibitors. CAFs are composed of distinct fibroblast populations presumably with diverse activated fibroblastic states and tumor-promoting phenotypes in a tumor, indicating intratumor heterogeneity in these fibroblasts. Given that CAFs have been implicated in both disease progression and therapeutic responses, elucidating the functional roles of each fibroblast population in CAFs and the molecular mechanisms mediating their phenotypic stability and plasticity in the TME would be crucial for understanding tumor biology. We herein discuss how distinct fibroblast populations comprising CAFs establish their cell identities, in terms of cells-of-origin, stimuli from the TME, and the phenotypes characteristic of activated states.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yoshihiro Mezawa
- Department of Pathology and Oncology, Juntendo University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Akira Orimo
- Department of Pathology and Oncology, Juntendo University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| |
Collapse
|
38
|
Li Y, Li Z. Potential Mechanism Underlying the Role of Mitochondria in Breast Cancer Drug Resistance and Its Related Treatment Prospects. Front Oncol 2021; 11:629614. [PMID: 33816265 PMCID: PMC8013997 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2021.629614] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2020] [Accepted: 03/03/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Breast cancer incidence and mortality rates have been consistently high among women. The use of diverse therapeutic strategies, including chemotherapy, endocrine therapy, targeted therapy, and immunotherapy, has improved breast cancer prognosis. However, drug resistance has become a tremendous obstacle in overcoming breast cancer recurrence and metastasis. It is known that mitochondria play an important role in carcinoma cell growth, invasion and apoptosis. Recent studies have explored the involvement of mitochondrial metabolism in breast cancer prognosis. Here, we will provide an overview of studies that investigated mitochondrial metabolism pathways in breast cancer treatment resistance, and discuss the application prospects of agents targeting mitochondrial pathways against drug-resistant breast cancer.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yuefeng Li
- Department of Oncological Surgery, Shaoxing Second Hospital, Shaoxing, China
| | - Zhian Li
- Department of Oncological Surgery, Shaoxing Second Hospital, Shaoxing, China
| |
Collapse
|
39
|
Salemme V, Centonze G, Cavallo F, Defilippi P, Conti L. The Crosstalk Between Tumor Cells and the Immune Microenvironment in Breast Cancer: Implications for Immunotherapy. Front Oncol 2021; 11:610303. [PMID: 33777750 PMCID: PMC7991834 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2021.610303] [Citation(s) in RCA: 122] [Impact Index Per Article: 40.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2020] [Accepted: 01/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Breast cancer progression is a complex process controlled by genetic and epigenetic factors that coordinate the crosstalk between tumor cells and the components of tumor microenvironment (TME). Among those, the immune cells play a dual role during cancer onset and progression, as they can protect from tumor progression by killing immunogenic neoplastic cells, but in the meanwhile can also shape tumor immunogenicity, contributing to tumor escape. The complex interplay between cancer and the immune TME influences the outcome of immunotherapy and of many other anti-cancer therapies. Herein, we present an updated view of the pro- and anti-tumor activities of the main immune cell populations present in breast TME, such as T and NK cells, myeloid cells, innate lymphoid cells, mast cells and eosinophils, and of the underlying cytokine-, cell–cell contact- and microvesicle-based mechanisms. Moreover, current and novel therapeutic options that can revert the immunosuppressive activity of breast TME will be discussed. To this end, clinical trials assessing the efficacy of CAR-T and CAR-NK cells, cancer vaccination, immunogenic cell death-inducing chemotherapy, DNA methyl transferase and histone deacetylase inhibitors, cytokines or their inhibitors and other immunotherapies in breast cancer patients will be reviewed. The knowledge of the complex interplay that elapses between tumor and immune cells, and of the experimental therapies targeting it, would help to develop new combination treatments able to overcome tumor immune evasion mechanisms and optimize clinical benefit of current immunotherapies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Vincenzo Salemme
- Department of Molecular Biotechnology and Health Sciences, University of Torino, Torino, Italy
| | - Giorgia Centonze
- Department of Molecular Biotechnology and Health Sciences, University of Torino, Torino, Italy
| | - Federica Cavallo
- Department of Molecular Biotechnology and Health Sciences, University of Torino, Torino, Italy
| | - Paola Defilippi
- Department of Molecular Biotechnology and Health Sciences, University of Torino, Torino, Italy
| | - Laura Conti
- Department of Molecular Biotechnology and Health Sciences, University of Torino, Torino, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
40
|
Lolo FN, Jiménez-Jiménez V, Sánchez-Álvarez M, Del Pozo MÁ. Tumor-stroma biomechanical crosstalk: a perspective on the role of caveolin-1 in tumor progression. Cancer Metastasis Rev 2021; 39:485-503. [PMID: 32514892 DOI: 10.1007/s10555-020-09900-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Tumor stiffening is a hallmark of malignancy that actively drives tumor progression and aggressiveness. Recent research has shed light onto several molecular underpinnings of this biomechanical process, which has a reciprocal crosstalk between tumor cells, stromal fibroblasts, and extracellular matrix remodeling at its core. This dynamic communication shapes the tumor microenvironment; significantly determines disease features including therapeutic resistance, relapse, or metastasis; and potentially holds the key for novel antitumor strategies. Caveolae and their components emerge as integrators of different aspects of cell function, mechanotransduction, and ECM-cell interaction. Here, we review our current knowledge on the several pivotal roles of the essential caveolar component caveolin-1 in this multidirectional biomechanical crosstalk and highlight standing questions in the field.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Fidel Nicolás Lolo
- Mechanoadaptation and Caveolae Biology Lab, Cell and Developmental Biology Area, Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Cardiovasculares (CNIC), Madrid, Spain
| | - Víctor Jiménez-Jiménez
- Mechanoadaptation and Caveolae Biology Lab, Cell and Developmental Biology Area, Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Cardiovasculares (CNIC), Madrid, Spain
| | - Miguel Sánchez-Álvarez
- Mechanoadaptation and Caveolae Biology Lab, Cell and Developmental Biology Area, Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Cardiovasculares (CNIC), Madrid, Spain
| | - Miguel Ángel Del Pozo
- Mechanoadaptation and Caveolae Biology Lab, Cell and Developmental Biology Area, Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Cardiovasculares (CNIC), Madrid, Spain.
| |
Collapse
|
41
|
Biffi G, Tuveson DA. Diversity and Biology of Cancer-Associated Fibroblasts. Physiol Rev 2021; 101:147-176. [PMID: 32466724 PMCID: PMC7864232 DOI: 10.1152/physrev.00048.2019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 587] [Impact Index Per Article: 195.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/26/2019] [Revised: 05/19/2020] [Accepted: 05/20/2020] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Efforts to develop anti-cancer therapies have largely focused on targeting the epithelial compartment, despite the presence of non-neoplastic stromal components that substantially contribute to the progression of the tumor. Indeed, cancer cell survival, growth, migration, and even dormancy are influenced by the surrounding tumor microenvironment (TME). Within the TME, cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) have been shown to play several roles in the development of a tumor. They secrete growth factors, inflammatory ligands, and extracellular matrix proteins that promote cancer cell proliferation, therapy resistance, and immune exclusion. However, recent work indicates that CAFs may also restrain tumor progression in some circumstances. In this review, we summarize the body of work on CAFs, with a particular focus on the most recent discoveries about fibroblast heterogeneity, plasticity, and functions. We also highlight the commonalities of fibroblasts present across different cancer types, and in normal and inflammatory states. Finally, we present the latest advances regarding therapeutic strategies targeting CAFs that are undergoing preclinical and clinical evaluation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Giulia Biffi
- Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor, New York; Lustgarten Foundation Pancreatic Cancer Research Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor, New York; and Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - David A Tuveson
- Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor, New York; Lustgarten Foundation Pancreatic Cancer Research Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor, New York; and Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| |
Collapse
|
42
|
Huang Y, Chen L, Tang Z, Min Y, Yu W, Yang G, Zhang L. A Novel Immune and Stroma Related Prognostic Marker for Invasive Breast Cancer in Tumor Microenvironment: A TCGA Based Study. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2021; 12:774244. [PMID: 34867821 PMCID: PMC8636929 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2021.774244] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2021] [Accepted: 11/01/2021] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Breast cancer (BC) is the most frequent cancer in women. The tumor microenvironment (TME), consisting of blood vessels, immune cells, fibroblasts, and extracellular matrix, plays a pivotal role in tumorigenesis and progression. Increasing evidence has emphasized the importance of TME, especially the immune components, in patients with BC. Nevertheless, we still lack a deep understanding of the correlation between tumor invasion and TME status. METHODS Transcriptome and clinical data were retrieved from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database. ESTIMATE algorithm was applied for quantifying stromal and immune scores. Then we screened out the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) through the intersection analysis. Furthermore, the establishment of protein-protein interaction (PPI) network and univariate COX regression analysis were utilized to determine the core genes in DEGs. In addition, we also performed Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA) and CIBERSORT analysis to distinguish the function of crucial gene expression and the proportion of tumor-infiltrating immune cells (TICs), respectively. RESULTS A total of 1178 samples (112 normal samples and 1066 tumor samples) were extracted from TCGA for calculation, and 226 DEGs were obtained from this assessment. Further intersection analysis revealed eight key genes, including ITK, CD3E, CCL19, CD2, SH2D1A, CD5, SLAMF6, SPN, which were proven to correlate with BC status. Moreover, ITK was picked out for further study. The results illustrated that high expression of BC patients had a more prolonged overall survival (OS) time than ITK low expression BC patients (p = 0.009), and ITK expression also presented the statistical significance in age, TNM staging, tumor size classification, and metastasis classification. Additionally, GSEA and CIBERSORT analysis indicated that ITK expression had an association with immune activity in TME. CONCLUSION ITK may be a potential indicator for prognosis prediction in patients with BC, and its biological behavior may promote our understanding of the molecular mechanism of tumor progression and targeted therapy.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yizhou Huang
- Department of Endocrinology, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Lizhi Chen
- College of Pharmacy, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China
| | - Ziyi Tang
- Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Yu Min
- Department of Breast and Thyroid Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Wanli Yu
- Department of Neurosurgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Gangyi Yang
- Department of Endocrinology, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
- *Correspondence: Lili Zhang, ; Gangyi Yang,
| | - Lili Zhang
- Department of Endocrinology, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
- *Correspondence: Lili Zhang, ; Gangyi Yang,
| |
Collapse
|
43
|
Abstract
Diagnosis and treatment of disease demand a sound understanding of the underlying mechanisms, determining any Achilles' heel that can be targeted in effective therapies. Throughout history, this endeavour to decipher the origin and mechanism of transformation of a normal cell into cancer has led to various theories-from cancer as a curse to an understanding at the level of single-cell heterogeneity, meaning even among a single sub-type of cancer there are myriad molecular challenges to overcome. With increasing insight into cancer genetics and biology, the disease has become ever more complex to understand. The complexity of cancer as a disease was distilled into key traits by Hanahan and Weinberg in their seminal 'Hallmarks of Cancer' reviews. This lucid conceptualization of complex cancer biology is widely accepted and has helped advance cancer therapeutics by targeting the various hallmarks but, with the advancement in technologies, there is greater granularity in how we view cancer as a disease, and the additional understanding over the past decade requires us to revisit the hallmarks of cancer. Based on extensive study of the cancer research literature, we propose four novel hallmarks of cancer, namely, the ability of cells to regress from a specific specialized functional state, epigenetic changes that can affect gene expression, the role of microorganisms and neuronal signalling, to be included in the hallmark conceptualization along with evidence of various means to exploit them therapeutically.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sasi S. Senga
- Centre for Tumour Biology, Barts Cancer Institute, Queen
Mary University of London, London EC1M
6BQ, UK
| | - Richard P. Grose
- Centre for Tumour Biology, Barts Cancer Institute, Queen
Mary University of London, London EC1M
6BQ, UK
| |
Collapse
|
44
|
Trinh A, Gil Del Alcazar CR, Shukla SA, Chin K, Chang YH, Thibault G, Eng J, Jovanović B, Aldaz CM, Park SY, Jeong J, Wu C, Gray J, Polyak K. Genomic Alterations during the In Situ to Invasive Ductal Breast Carcinoma Transition Shaped by the Immune System. Mol Cancer Res 2020; 19:623-635. [PMID: 33443130 DOI: 10.1158/1541-7786.mcr-20-0949] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2020] [Revised: 11/19/2020] [Accepted: 12/14/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
The drivers of ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) to invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC) transition are poorly understood. Here, we conducted an integrated genomic, transcriptomic, and whole-slide image analysis to evaluate changes in copy-number profiles, mutational profiles, expression, neoantigen load, and topology in 6 cases of matched pure DCIS and recurrent IDC. We demonstrate through combined copy-number and mutational analysis that recurrent IDC can be genetically related to its pure DCIS despite long latency periods and therapeutic interventions. Immune "hot" and "cold" tumors can arise as early as DCIS and are subtype-specific. Topologic analysis showed a similar degree of pan-leukocyte-tumor mixing in both DCIS and IDC but differ when assessing specific immune subpopulations such as CD4 T cells and CD68 macrophages. Tumor-specific copy-number aberrations in MHC-I presentation machinery and losses in 3p, 4q, and 5p are associated with differences in immune signaling in estrogen receptor (ER)-negative IDC. Common oncogenic hotspot mutations in genes including TP53 and PIK3CA are predicted to be neoantigens yet are paradoxically conserved during the DCIS-to-IDC transition, and are associated with differences in immune signaling. We highlight both tumor and immune-specific changes in the transition of pure DCIS to IDC, including genetic changes in tumor cells that may have a role in modulating immune function and assist in immune escape, driving the transition to IDC. IMPLICATIONS: We demonstrate that the in situ to IDC evolutionary bottleneck is shaped by both tumor and immune cells.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Anne Trinh
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts.,Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts.,Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Carlos R Gil Del Alcazar
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts.,Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts.,Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Sachet A Shukla
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts.,Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts.,Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts.,Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, Massachusetts
| | - Koei Chin
- Department of Biomedical Engineering and OHSU Center for Spatial Systems Biomedicine (OCSSB), Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, Oregon.,Knight Cancer Institute, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, Oregon
| | - Young Hwan Chang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering and OHSU Center for Spatial Systems Biomedicine (OCSSB), Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, Oregon.,Knight Cancer Institute, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, Oregon
| | - Guillaume Thibault
- Department of Biomedical Engineering and OHSU Center for Spatial Systems Biomedicine (OCSSB), Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, Oregon
| | - Jennifer Eng
- Department of Biomedical Engineering and OHSU Center for Spatial Systems Biomedicine (OCSSB), Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, Oregon
| | - Bojana Jovanović
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts.,Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts.,Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts.,Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, Massachusetts
| | - C Marcelo Aldaz
- Department of Epigenetics and Molecular Carcinogenesis, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
| | - So Yeon Park
- Department of Pathology, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seongnam, Korea
| | - Joon Jeong
- Department of Surgery, Gangnam Severance Hospital, Yonsei University Medical College, Seoul, Korea
| | - Catherine Wu
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts.,Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts.,Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts.,Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, Massachusetts
| | - Joe Gray
- Department of Biomedical Engineering and OHSU Center for Spatial Systems Biomedicine (OCSSB), Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, Oregon.,Knight Cancer Institute, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, Oregon
| | - Kornelia Polyak
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts. .,Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts.,Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts.,Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, Massachusetts
| |
Collapse
|
45
|
Gil Del Alcazar CR, Alečković M, Polyak K. Immune Escape during Breast Tumor Progression. Cancer Immunol Res 2020; 8:422-427. [PMID: 32238387 DOI: 10.1158/2326-6066.cir-19-0786] [Citation(s) in RCA: 72] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Immunotherapy using checkpoint inhibitors is one of the most promising current cancer treatment strategies. However, in breast cancer, its success has been limited to a subset of patients with triple-negative disease, whose durability of observed responses remain unclear. The lack of detailed understanding of breast tumor immune evasion mechanisms and the treatment of patients with highly heterogeneous metastatic disease contribute to these disappointing results. Here we discuss the current knowledge about immune-related changes during breast tumor progression, with special emphasis on the in situ-to-invasive breast carcinoma transition that may represent a key step of immunoediting in breast cancer. Comprehensive characterization of early-stage disease and better understanding of immunologic drivers of disease progression will likely expand the tools available for immunotherapy and improve patient stratification.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Carlos R Gil Del Alcazar
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts.,Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts.,Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Maša Alečković
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts.,Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts.,Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Kornelia Polyak
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts. .,Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts.,Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| |
Collapse
|
46
|
Lee YT, Tan YJ, Falasca M, Oon CE. Cancer-Associated Fibroblasts: Epigenetic Regulation and Therapeutic Intervention in Breast Cancer. Cancers (Basel) 2020; 12:E2949. [PMID: 33066013 PMCID: PMC7600259 DOI: 10.3390/cancers12102949] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2020] [Revised: 09/24/2020] [Accepted: 09/30/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related mortality in women worldwide. Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) are a heterogeneous population of cells in the solid tumour microenvironment. These cells are positively linked to breast cancer progression. Breast CAFs can be categorised into distinct subtypes according to their roles in breast carcinogenesis. Epigenetic modifications change gene expression patterns as a consequence of altered chromatin configuration and DNA accessibility to transcriptional machinery, without affecting the primary structure of DNA. Epigenetic dysregulation in breast CAFs may enhance breast cancer cell survival and ultimately lead to therapeutic resistance. A growing body of evidence has described epigenetic modulators that target histones, DNA, and miRNA as a promising approach to treat cancer. This review aims to summarise the current findings on the mechanisms involved in the epigenetic regulation in breast CAFs and discusses the potential therapeutic strategies via targeting these factors.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yeuan Ting Lee
- Institute for Research in Molecular Medicine (INFORMM), Universiti Sains Malaysia, Penang 11800, Malaysia; (Y.T.L.); (Y.J.T.)
| | - Yi Jer Tan
- Institute for Research in Molecular Medicine (INFORMM), Universiti Sains Malaysia, Penang 11800, Malaysia; (Y.T.L.); (Y.J.T.)
| | - Marco Falasca
- Metabolic Signalling Group, School of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, Curtin Health Innovation Research Institute, Curtin University, Perth, WA 6102, Australia
| | - Chern Ein Oon
- Institute for Research in Molecular Medicine (INFORMM), Universiti Sains Malaysia, Penang 11800, Malaysia; (Y.T.L.); (Y.J.T.)
| |
Collapse
|
47
|
Gordon B, Gadi VK. The Role of the Tumor Microenvironment in Developing Successful Therapeutic and Secondary Prophylactic Breast Cancer Vaccines. Vaccines (Basel) 2020; 8:vaccines8030529. [PMID: 32937885 PMCID: PMC7565925 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines8030529] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2020] [Revised: 09/09/2020] [Accepted: 09/13/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Breast cancer affects roughly one in eight women over their lifetime and is a leading cause of cancer-related death in women. While outcomes have improved in recent years, prognosis remains poor for patients who present with either disseminated disease or aggressive molecular subtypes. Cancer immunotherapy has revolutionized the treatment of several cancers, with therapeutic vaccines aiming to direct the cytotoxic immune program against tumor cells showing particular promise. However, these results have yet to translate to breast cancer, which remains largely refractory from such approaches. Recent evidence suggests that the breast tumor microenvironment (TME) is an important and long understudied barrier to the efficacy of therapeutic vaccines. Through an improved understanding of the complex and biologically diverse breast TME, it may be possible to advance new combination strategies to render breast carcinomas sensitive to the effects of therapeutic vaccines. Here, we discuss past and present efforts to advance therapeutic vaccines in the treatment of breast cancer, the molecular mechanisms through which the TME contributes to the failure of such approaches, as well as the potential means through which these can be overcome.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin Gordon
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, University of Illinois College of Medicine, Chicago, IL 60612, USA
- Medical Scientist Training Program, University of Illinois College of Medicine, Chicago, IL 60612, USA
- Correspondence:
| | - Vijayakrishna K. Gadi
- Division of Hematology and Oncology, University of Illinois Cancer Center, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL 60612, USA;
| |
Collapse
|
48
|
Pan X, Zheng L. Epigenetics in modulating immune functions of stromal and immune cells in the tumor microenvironment. Cell Mol Immunol 2020; 17:940-953. [PMID: 32699350 PMCID: PMC7609272 DOI: 10.1038/s41423-020-0505-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2020] [Accepted: 06/30/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Epigenetic regulation of gene expression in cancer cells has been extensively studied in recent decades, resulting in the FDA approval of multiple epigenetic agents for treating different cancer types. Recent studies have revealed novel roles of epigenetic dysregulation in altering the phenotypes of immune cells and tumor-associated stromal cells, including fibroblasts and endothelial cells. As a result, epigenetic dysregulation of these cells reshapes the tumor microenvironment (TME), changing it from an antitumor environment to an immunosuppressive environment. Here, we review recent studies demonstrating how specific epigenetic mechanisms drive aspects of stromal and immune cell differentiation with implications for the development of solid tumor therapeutics, focusing on the pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDA) TME as a representative of solid tumors. Due to their unique ability to reprogram the TME into a more immunopermissive environment, epigenetic agents have great potential for sensitizing cancer immunotherapy to augment the antitumor response, as an immunopermissive TME is a prerequisite for the success of cancer immunotherapy but is often not developed with solid tumors. The idea of combining epigenetic agents with cancer immunotherapy has been tested both in preclinical settings and in multiple clinical trials. In this review, we highlight the basic biological mechanisms underlying the synergy between epigenetic therapy and immunotherapy and discuss current efforts to translate this knowledge into clinical benefits for patients.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xingyi Pan
- The Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Department of Oncology, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Department of Surgery, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
- The Pancreatic Cancer Precision Medicine Center of Excellence Program, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Cellular & Molecular Medicine Graduate Training Program, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Lei Zheng
- The Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.
- Department of Oncology, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.
- Department of Surgery, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.
- The Pancreatic Cancer Precision Medicine Center of Excellence Program, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.
- Cellular & Molecular Medicine Graduate Training Program, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
49
|
Yamauchi M, Gibbons DL, Zong C, Fradette JJ, Bota-Rabassedas N, Kurie JM. Fibroblast heterogeneity and its impact on extracellular matrix and immune landscape remodeling in cancer. Matrix Biol 2020; 91-92:8-18. [PMID: 32442601 DOI: 10.1016/j.matbio.2020.05.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2020] [Revised: 05/06/2020] [Accepted: 05/06/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Tumor progression is marked by dense collagenous matrix accumulations that dynamically reorganize to accommodate a growing and invasive tumor mass. Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) play an essential role in matrix remodeling and influence other processes in the tumor microenvironment, including angiogenesis, immunosuppression, and invasion. These findings have spawned efforts to elucidate CAF functionality at the single-cell level. Here, we will discuss how those efforts have impacted our understanding of the ways in which CAFs govern matrix remodeling and the influence of matrix remodeling on the development of an immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mitsuo Yamauchi
- Division of Oral and Craniofacial Health Sciences, Adams School of Dentistry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NS, United States
| | - Don L Gibbons
- Department of Thoracic/Head and Neck Medical Oncology, The University of Texas - MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Chenghang Zong
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Jared J Fradette
- Department of Thoracic/Head and Neck Medical Oncology, The University of Texas - MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Neus Bota-Rabassedas
- Department of Thoracic/Head and Neck Medical Oncology, The University of Texas - MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Jonathan M Kurie
- Department of Thoracic/Head and Neck Medical Oncology, The University of Texas - MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, United States.
| |
Collapse
|
50
|
Sher G, Salman NA, Khan AQ, Prabhu KS, Raza A, Kulinski M, Dermime S, Haris M, Junejo K, Uddin S. Epigenetic and breast cancer therapy: Promising diagnostic and therapeutic applications. Semin Cancer Biol 2020; 83:152-165. [PMID: 32858230 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcancer.2020.08.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2020] [Revised: 08/17/2020] [Accepted: 08/17/2020] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
The global burden of breast cancer (BC) is increasing significantly. This trend is caused by several factors such as late diagnosis, limited treatment options for certain BC subtypes, drug resistance which all lead to poor clinical outcomes. Recent research has reported the role of epigenetic alterations in the mechanism of BC pathogenesis and its hallmarks include drug resistance and stemness features. The understanding of these modifications and their significance in the management of BC carcinogenesis is challenging and requires further attention. Nevertheless, it promises to provide novel insight needed for utilizing these alterations as potential diagnostic, prognostic markers, predict treatment efficacy, as well as therapeutic agents. This highlights the importance of continuing research development to further advance the existing knowledge on epigenetics and BC carcinogenesis to overcome the current challenges. Hence, this review aims to shed light and discuss the current state of epigenetics research in the diagnosis and management of BC.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Gulab Sher
- Translational Research Institute, Academic Health System, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, P.O. Box 3050, Qatar
| | - Nadia Aziz Salman
- Kingston University London, School of Life Science, Pharmacy and Chemistry, SEC Faculty, Kingston, upon Thames, London, KT1 2EE, UK
| | - Abdul Q Khan
- Translational Research Institute, Academic Health System, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, P.O. Box 3050, Qatar
| | - Kirti S Prabhu
- Translational Research Institute, Academic Health System, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, P.O. Box 3050, Qatar
| | - Afsheen Raza
- National Center for Cancer Care and Research, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, P.O. Box 3050, Qatar
| | - Michal Kulinski
- Translational Research Institute, Academic Health System, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, P.O. Box 3050, Qatar
| | - Said Dermime
- National Center for Cancer Care and Research, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, P.O. Box 3050, Qatar
| | - Mohammad Haris
- Functional and Molecular Imaging Laboratory, Sidra Medicine, P.O. Box 26999, Qatar; Laboratory Animal Research Center, Qatar University, Doha, P.O. Box 2713, Qatar
| | - Kulsoom Junejo
- General Surgery Department, Hamad General Hospital, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, P.O. Box 3050, Qatar
| | - Shahab Uddin
- Translational Research Institute, Academic Health System, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, P.O. Box 3050, Qatar; Dermatology Institute, Academic Health System, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, P.O. Box 3050, Qatar.
| |
Collapse
|