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Xiang Y, Wu J, Qin H. Advances in hepatocellular carcinoma drug resistance models. Front Med (Lausanne) 2024; 11:1437226. [PMID: 39144662 PMCID: PMC11322137 DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2024.1437226] [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: 05/23/2024] [Accepted: 07/09/2024] [Indexed: 08/16/2024] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common primary liver cancer. Surgery has been the major treatment method for HCC owing to HCC's poor sensitivity to radiotherapy and chemotherapy. However, its effectiveness is limited by postoperative tumour recurrence and metastasis. Systemic therapy is applied to eliminate postoperative residual tumour cells and improve the survival of patients with advanced HCC. Recently, the emergence of various novel targeted and immunotherapeutic drugs has significantly improved the prognosis of advanced HCC. However, targeted and immunological therapies may not always produce complete and long-lasting anti-tumour responses because of tumour heterogeneity and drug resistance. Traditional and patient-derived cell lines or animal models are used to investigate the drug resistance mechanisms of HCC and identify drugs that could reverse the resistance. This study comprehensively reviewed the established methods and applications of in-vivo and in-vitro HCC drug resistance models to further understand the resistance mechanisms in HCC treatment and provide a model basis for possible individualised therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yien Xiang
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, the Second Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Jun Wu
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, the Second Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Hanjiao Qin
- Department of Radiotherapy, the Second Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China
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2
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Zhou Y, Na C, Li Z. Novel insights into immune cells modulation of tumor resistance. Crit Rev Oncol Hematol 2024; 202:104457. [PMID: 39038527 DOI: 10.1016/j.critrevonc.2024.104457] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2024] [Revised: 07/16/2024] [Accepted: 07/17/2024] [Indexed: 07/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Tumor resistance poses a significant challenge to effective cancer treatment, making it imperative to explore new therapeutic strategies. Recent studies have highlighted the profound involvement of immune cells in the development of tumor resistance. Within the tumor microenvironment, macrophages undergo polarization into the M2 phenotype, thus promoting the emergence of drug-resistant tumors. Neutrophils contribute to tumor resistance by forming extracellular traps. While T cells and natural killer (NK) cells exert their impact through direct cytotoxicity against tumor cells. Additionally, dendritic cells (DCs) have been implicated in preventing tumor drug resistance by stimulating T cell activation. In this review, we provide a comprehensive summary of the current knowledge regarding immune cell-mediated modulation of tumor resistance at the molecular level, with a particular focus on macrophages, neutrophils, DCs, T cells, and NK cells. The targeting of immune cell modulation exhibits considerable potential for addressing drug resistance, and an in-depth understanding of the molecular interactions between immune cells and tumor cells holds promise for the development of innovative therapies. Furthermore, we explore the clinical implications of these immune cells in the treatment of drug-resistant tumors. This review emphasizes the exploration of novel approaches that harness the functional capabilities of immune cells to effectively overcome drug-resistant tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi Zhou
- Scientific Research Center, The Seventh Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen 518107, China; School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen 518107, China
| | - Chuhan Na
- Scientific Research Center, The Seventh Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen 518107, China; School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen 518107, China
| | - Zhigang Li
- Scientific Research Center, The Seventh Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen 518107, China; Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Chinese Medicine Active Substance Screening and Translational Research, Shenzhen 518107, China.
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Li D, Zhang T, Guo Y, Bi C, Liu M, Wang G. Biological impact and therapeutic implication of tumor-associated macrophages in hepatocellular carcinoma. Cell Death Dis 2024; 15:498. [PMID: 38997297 PMCID: PMC11245522 DOI: 10.1038/s41419-024-06888-z] [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: 03/11/2024] [Revised: 06/26/2024] [Accepted: 07/02/2024] [Indexed: 07/14/2024]
Abstract
The tumor microenvironment is a complex space comprised of normal, cancer and immune cells. The macrophages are considered as the most abundant immune cells in tumor microenvironment and their function in tumorigenesis is interesting. Macrophages can be present as M1 and M2 polarization that show anti-cancer and oncogenic activities, respectively. Tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) mainly have M2 polarization and they increase tumorigenesis due to secretion of factors, cytokines and affecting molecular pathways. Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is among predominant tumors of liver that in spite of understanding its pathogenesis, the role of tumor microenvironment in its progression still requires more attention. The presence of TAMs in HCC causes an increase in growth and invasion of HCC cells and one of the reasons is induction of glycolysis that such metabolic reprogramming makes HCC distinct from normal cells and promotes its malignancy. Since M2 polarization of TAMs stimulates tumorigenesis in HCC, molecular networks regulating M2 to M1 conversion have been highlighted and moreover, drugs and compounds with the ability of targeting TAMs and suppressing their M2 phenotypes or at least their tumorigenesis activity have been utilized. TAMs increase aggressive behavior and biological functions of HCC cells that can result in development of therapy resistance. Macrophages can provide cell-cell communication in HCC by secreting exosomes having various types of biomolecules that transfer among cells and change their activity. Finally, non-coding RNA transcripts can mainly affect polarization of TAMs in HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Deming Li
- Department of Anesthesiology, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, 110032, PR China
| | - Ting Zhang
- Department of Surgical Oncology and General Surgery, The First Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, 110001, PR China
| | - Ye Guo
- Department of Intervention, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, 110032, PR China
| | - Cong Bi
- Department of Radiology, The First Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, 110001, PR China.
| | - Ming Liu
- Department of Oral Radiology, School of Stomatology, China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, 110002, PR China.
| | - Gang Wang
- Department of Intervention, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, 110032, PR China.
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Lv X, Lan G, Zhu L, Guo Q. Breaking the Barriers of Therapy Resistance: Harnessing Ferroptosis for Effective Hepatocellular Carcinoma Therapy. J Hepatocell Carcinoma 2024; 11:1265-1278. [PMID: 38974015 PMCID: PMC11227329 DOI: 10.2147/jhc.s469449] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2024] [Accepted: 06/11/2024] [Indexed: 07/09/2024] Open
Abstract
Ferroptosis is a type of cell death that relies on iron and is distinguished by the occurrence of lipid peroxidation and the buildup of reactive oxygen species. Ferroptosis has been demonstrated to have a significant impact on the advancement and resistance to treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), thereby highlighting its potential as a viable therapeutic target. Ferroptosis was observed in HCC tissues in contrast to normal liver tissue. The inhibition of ferroptosis has been found to increase the viability of HCC cells and decrease their susceptibility to various anticancer therapies, including chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and immune checkpoint blockade. The administration of drugs that directly modulate ferroptosis regulators or induce excessive production of lipid-reactive oxygen species has demonstrated the potential to enhance the responsiveness of drug-resistant HCC cells to treatment. However, the precise mechanism underlying this phenomenon remains ambiguous. This review presents a comprehensive overview of the crucial role played by ferroptosis in enhancing the efficacy of treatment for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The main aim of this study is to examine the feasibility of utilizing ferroptosis as a therapeutic approach to improve the efficacy of HCC treatment and overcome drug resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xianmei Lv
- Department of Radiotherapy, Jinhua People’s Hospital, Jinhua, Zhejiang, 321000, People’s Republic of China
- Department of Oncology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Quanzhou, 362000, People’s Republic of China
| | - Gaochen Lan
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Affiliated Jinhua Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Jinhua, Zhejiang, 321000, People’s Republic of China
| | - Lujian Zhu
- Department of Medical Oncology, Affiliated Jinhua Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Jinhua, Zhejiang, 321000, People’s Republic of China
| | - Qiusheng Guo
- Department of Radiotherapy, Jinhua People’s Hospital, Jinhua, Zhejiang, 321000, People’s Republic of China
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Papachristos AJ, Serrao-Brown H, Gill AJ, Clifton-Bligh R, Sidhu SB. Medullary Thyroid Cancer: Molecular Drivers and Immune Cellular Milieu of the Tumour Microenvironment-Implications for Systemic Treatment. Cancers (Basel) 2024; 16:2296. [PMID: 39001359 PMCID: PMC11240419 DOI: 10.3390/cancers16132296] [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: 05/12/2024] [Revised: 06/16/2024] [Accepted: 06/20/2024] [Indexed: 07/16/2024] Open
Abstract
In this review, we explore the underlying molecular biology of medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) and its interplay with the host immune system. MTC is consistently driven by a small number of specific pathogenic variants, beyond which few additional genetic events are required for tumorigenesis. This explains the exceedingly low tumour mutational burden seen in most MTC, in contrast to other cancers. However, because of the low tumour mutational burden (TMB), there is a correspondingly low level of tumour-associated neoantigens that are presented to the host immune system. This reduces tumour visibility and vigour of the anti-tumour immune response and suggests the efficacy of immunotherapy in MTC is likely to be poor, acknowledging this inference is largely based on the extrapolation of data from other tumour types. The dominance of specific RET (REarranged during Transfection) pathogenic variants in MTC tumorigenesis rationalizes the observed efficacy of the targeted RET-specific tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) in comparison to multi-kinase inhibitors (MKIs). Therapeutic durability of pathway inhibitors is an ongoing research focus. It may be limited by the selection pressure TKI treatment creates, promoting survival of resistant tumour cell clones that can escape pathway inhibition through binding-site mutations, activation of alternate pathways, and modulation of the cellular and cytokine milieu of the tumour microenvironment (TME).
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander J Papachristos
- Northern Clinical School, Sydney Medical School, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
- Endocrine Surgical Unit, Royal North Shore Hospital, Sydney, NSW 2065, Australia
| | - Hazel Serrao-Brown
- Endocrine Surgical Unit, Royal North Shore Hospital, Sydney, NSW 2065, Australia
| | - Anthony J Gill
- Northern Clinical School, Sydney Medical School, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
- NSW Health Pathology, Department of Anatomical Pathology, Royal North Shore Hospital, Sydney, NSW 2065, Australia
- Cancer Diagnosis and Pathology Group, Kolling Institute of Medical Research, Royal North Shore Hospital, Sydney, NSW 2065, Australia
| | - Roderick Clifton-Bligh
- Cancer Diagnosis and Pathology Group, Kolling Institute of Medical Research, Royal North Shore Hospital, Sydney, NSW 2065, Australia
- Department of Endocrinology, Royal North Shore Hospital, Sydney, NSW 2065, Australia
| | - Stanley B Sidhu
- Northern Clinical School, Sydney Medical School, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
- Endocrine Surgical Unit, Royal North Shore Hospital, Sydney, NSW 2065, Australia
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Li S, Sheng J, Zhang D, Qin H. Targeting tumor-associated macrophages to reverse antitumor drug resistance. Aging (Albany NY) 2024; 16:10165-10196. [PMID: 38787372 PMCID: PMC11210230 DOI: 10.18632/aging.205858] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2023] [Accepted: 04/22/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024]
Abstract
Currently, antitumor drugs show limited clinical outcomes, mainly due to adaptive resistance. Clinical evidence has highlighted the importance of the tumor microenvironment (TME) and tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) in tumor response to conventional antitumor drugs. Preclinical studies show that TAMs following antitumor agent can be reprogrammed to an immunosuppressive phenotype and proangiogenic activities through different mechanisms, mediating drug resistance and poor prognosis. Potential extrinsic inhibitors targeting TAMs repolarize to an M1-like phenotype or downregulate proangiogenic function, enhancing therapeutic efficacy of anti-tumor therapy. Moreover, pharmacological modulation of macrophages that restore the immune stimulatory characteristics is useful to reshaping the tumor microenvironment, thus further limiting tumor growth. This review aims to introduce macrophage response in tumor therapy and provide a potential therapeutic combination strategy of TAM-targeting immunomodulation with conventional antitumor drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sheng Li
- The Second Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Jiyao Sheng
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Second Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Dan Zhang
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Second Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Hanjiao Qin
- Department of Radiotherapy, The Second Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China
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Yuan X, Yang L, Gao J, Mao X, Zhang Y, Yuan W. Identification of a novel matrix metalloproteinases-related prognostic signature in hepatocellular carcinoma. Aging (Albany NY) 2024; 16:8667-8686. [PMID: 38761174 PMCID: PMC11164509 DOI: 10.18632/aging.205832] [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: 09/28/2023] [Accepted: 04/03/2024] [Indexed: 05/20/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common primary liver cancer worldwide. Cancer cells' local infiltration, proliferation, and spread are mainly influenced by the protein hydrolyzing function of different matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs). However, no study has determined the relationship between MMPs and prognostic prediction in HCC. METHODS Expression profiles of mRNA and MMPs-related genes were obtained from publicly available databases. Cox regression and LASSO Cox regression analysis were used to identify and predict MMPs-related prognostic signature and construct predictive models for overall survival (OS). A nomogram was used to validate the accuracy of the prediction model. Drug prediction was performed using the Genomics of Drug Sensitivity in Cancer (GDSC) dataset, and single-cell clustering analysis was performed to further understand the significance of the MMPs-related signature. RESULTS A MMPs-related prognostic signature (including RNPEPL1, ADAM15, ADAM18, ADAMTS5, CAD, YME1L1, AMZ2, PSMD14, and COPS6) was identified. Using the median value, HCC patients in the high-risk group showed worse OS than those in the low-risk group. Immune microenvironment analysis showed that patients in the high-risk group had higher levels of M0 and M2 macrophages. Drug sensitivity analysis revealed that the IC50 values of sorafenib, cisplatin, and cytarabine were higher in the high-risk group. Finally, the single-cell cluster analysis results showed that YME1L1 and COPS6 were the major genes expressed in the monocyte cluster. CONCLUSIONS A novel MMPs-related signature can be used to predict the prognosis of HCC. The findings of this research could potentially impact the predictability of the prognosis and treatment of HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xingxing Yuan
- Department of Gastroenterology, Heilongjiang Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Harbin, China
- Heilongjiang University of Chinese Medicine, Harbin, China
| | - Liuxin Yang
- Heilongjiang University of Chinese Medicine, Harbin, China
| | - Jiawei Gao
- Heilongjiang University of Chinese Medicine, Harbin, China
| | - Xu Mao
- Heilongjiang University of Chinese Medicine, Harbin, China
| | - Yali Zhang
- Zhang Yali Famous Traditional Chinese Medicine Expert Studio, Harbin, China
| | - Wei Yuan
- Department of Hepatology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Hunan University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Changsha, China
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8
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Kim DH, Kang YN, Jin J, Park M, Kim D, Yoon G, Yun JW, Lee J, Park SY, Lee YR, Byun JK, Choi YK, Park KG. Glutamine-derived aspartate is required for eIF5A hypusination-mediated translation of HIF-1α to induce the polarization of tumor-associated macrophages. Exp Mol Med 2024; 56:1123-1136. [PMID: 38689086 PMCID: PMC11148203 DOI: 10.1038/s12276-024-01214-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2023] [Revised: 12/30/2023] [Accepted: 02/12/2024] [Indexed: 05/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) are vital contributors to the growth, metastasis, and therapeutic resistance of various cancers, including hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, the exact phenotype of TAMs and the mechanisms underlying their modulation for therapeutic purposes have not been determined. Here, we present compelling evidence that glutamine-derived aspartate in TAMs stimulates spermidine production through the polyamine synthesis pathway, thereby increasing the translation efficiency of HIF-1α via eIF5A hypusination. Consequently, augmented translation of HIF-1α drives TAMs to undergo an increase glycolysis and acquire a metabolic phenotype distinct from that of M2 macrophages. Finally, eIF5A levels in tumor stromal lesions were greater than those in nontumor stromal lesions. Additionally, a higher degree of tumor stromal eIF5A hypusination was significantly associated with a more advanced tumor stage. Taken together, these data highlight the potential of inhibiting hypusinated eIF5A by targeting glutamine metabolism in TAMs, thereby opening a promising avenue for the development of novel therapeutic approaches for HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dong-Ho Kim
- Department of Biomedical Science, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, 41566, South Korea
| | - Yoo Na Kang
- Department of Forensic Medicine, School of Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Kyungpook National University Hospital, Daegu, 41944, South Korea
| | - Jonghwa Jin
- Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Kyungpook National University Hospital, Daegu, 41944, South Korea
| | - Mihyang Park
- Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Kyungpook National University Hospital, Daegu, 41944, South Korea
| | - Daehoon Kim
- Department of Biomedical Science, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, 41566, South Korea
| | - Ghilsuk Yoon
- Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Kyungpook National University Chilgok Hospital, Daegu, Daegu, 41404, South Korea
| | - Jae Won Yun
- Veterans Medical Research Institute, Veterans Health Service Medical Center, Seoul, 05368, South Korea
| | - Jaebon Lee
- Veterans Medical Research Institute, Veterans Health Service Medical Center, Seoul, 05368, South Korea
| | - Soo Young Park
- Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Kyungpook National University Hospital, Daegu, 41944, South Korea
| | - Yu Rim Lee
- Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Kyungpook National University Chilgok Hospital, Daegu, 41404, South Korea
| | - Jun-Kyu Byun
- BK21 FOUR Community‑Based Intelligent Novel Drug Discovery Education Unit, Research Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, 41566, South Korea.
| | - Yeon-Kyung Choi
- Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Kyungpook National University Chilgok Hospital, Daegu, 41404, South Korea.
- Research Institute of Aging and Metabolism, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, 41566, South Korea.
| | - Keun-Gyu Park
- Department of Biomedical Science, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, 41566, South Korea.
- Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Kyungpook National University Hospital, Daegu, 41944, South Korea.
- Research Institute of Aging and Metabolism, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, 41566, South Korea.
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Wu Q, Li X, Yang Y, Huang J, Yao M, Li J, Huang Y, Cai X, Geller DA, Yan Y. MICA+ Tumor Cell Upregulated Macrophage-Secreted MMP9 via PROS1-AXL Axis to Induce Tumor Immune Escape in Advanced Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC). Cancers (Basel) 2024; 16:269. [PMID: 38254761 PMCID: PMC10813556 DOI: 10.3390/cancers16020269] [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: 11/29/2023] [Revised: 12/21/2023] [Accepted: 01/06/2024] [Indexed: 01/24/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) constitute a significant proportion of non-cancerous cells within the intricate tumor microenvironment (TME) of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Understanding the communication between macrophages and tumor cells, as well as investigating potential signaling pathways, holds promise for enhancing therapeutic responses in HCC. METHODS single-cell RNA-sequencing data and bulk RNA-sequencing data were derived from open source databases Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) and The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA). Through this analysis, we elucidated the interactions between MICA+ tumor cells and MMP9+ macrophages, primarily mediated via the PROS1-AXL axis in advanced HCC. Subsequently, we employed a range of experimental techniques including lentivirus infection, recombinant protein stimulation, and AXL inhibition experiments to validate these interactions and unravel the underlying mechanisms. RESULTS we presented a single-cell atlas of advanced HCC, highlighting the expression patterns of MICA and MMP9 in tumor cells and macrophages, respectively. Activation of the interferon gamma (IFN-γ) signaling pathway was observed in MICA+ tumor cells and MMP9+ macrophages. We identified the existence of an interaction between MICA+ tumor cells and MMP9+ macrophages mediated via the PROS1-AXL axis. Additionally, we found MMP9+ macrophages had a positive correlation with M2-like macrophages. Subsequently, experiments validated that DNA damage not only induced MICA expression in tumor cells via IRF1, but also upregulated PROS1 levels in HCC cells, stimulating macrophages to secrete MMP9. Consequently, MMP9 led to the proteolysis of MICA. CONCLUSION MICA+ HCC cells secreted PROS1, which upregulated MMP9 expression in macrophages through AXL receptors. The increased MMP9 activity resulted in the proteolytic shedding of MICA, leading to the release of soluble MICA (sMICA) and the subsequent facilitation of tumor immune escape.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiulin Wu
- Department of General Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning 530007, China; (Q.W.); (X.L.); (Y.Y.); (J.H.); (M.Y.); (J.L.); (Y.H.); (X.C.)
| | - Xicai Li
- Department of General Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning 530007, China; (Q.W.); (X.L.); (Y.Y.); (J.H.); (M.Y.); (J.L.); (Y.H.); (X.C.)
| | - Yan Yang
- Department of General Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning 530007, China; (Q.W.); (X.L.); (Y.Y.); (J.H.); (M.Y.); (J.L.); (Y.H.); (X.C.)
| | - Jingquan Huang
- Department of General Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning 530007, China; (Q.W.); (X.L.); (Y.Y.); (J.H.); (M.Y.); (J.L.); (Y.H.); (X.C.)
| | - Ming Yao
- Department of General Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning 530007, China; (Q.W.); (X.L.); (Y.Y.); (J.H.); (M.Y.); (J.L.); (Y.H.); (X.C.)
| | - Jianjun Li
- Department of General Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning 530007, China; (Q.W.); (X.L.); (Y.Y.); (J.H.); (M.Y.); (J.L.); (Y.H.); (X.C.)
| | - Yubin Huang
- Department of General Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning 530007, China; (Q.W.); (X.L.); (Y.Y.); (J.H.); (M.Y.); (J.L.); (Y.H.); (X.C.)
| | - Xiaoyong Cai
- Department of General Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning 530007, China; (Q.W.); (X.L.); (Y.Y.); (J.H.); (M.Y.); (J.L.); (Y.H.); (X.C.)
| | - David A. Geller
- Thomas E. Starzl Transplantation Institute, Department of Surgery, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA
| | - Yihe Yan
- Department of General Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning 530007, China; (Q.W.); (X.L.); (Y.Y.); (J.H.); (M.Y.); (J.L.); (Y.H.); (X.C.)
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Zaafar D, Khalil HMA, Elnaggar R, Saad DZ, Rasheed RA. Protective role of hesperetin in sorafenib-induced hepato- and neurotoxicity in mice via modulating apoptotic pathways and mitochondrial reprogramming. Life Sci 2024; 336:122295. [PMID: 38007145 DOI: 10.1016/j.lfs.2023.122295] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2023] [Revised: 11/20/2023] [Accepted: 11/22/2023] [Indexed: 11/27/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Sorafenib, an FDA-approved standard chemotherapy for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma, is associated with numerous adverse effects that significantly impact patients' physiological well-being. Consequently, identifying agents that mitigate these side effects while enhancing efficacy is crucial. Hesperetin, a flavone present in fruits and vegetables, possesses antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-cancer properties. This study aimed to investigate the hepatotoxic and neurotoxic effects of sorafenib and the potential protective role of hesperetin. MATERIALS AND METHODS Swiss albino mice were orally administered sorafenib (100 mg/kg) alone or in combination with hesperetin (50 mg/kg) over 21 days. Behavioral assessments for anxiety and depressive-like behaviors were conducted. Additionally, evaluations encompassed apoptotic activity, mitochondrial integrity, liver enzyme levels, proliferation rates, and histopathological changes. RESULTS Combining hesperetin with sorafenib showed improvements in behavioral alterations, liver damage, brain mitochondrial dysfunction, and liver apoptosis compared to the sorafenib-only group in mice. CONCLUSION Hesperetin exhibits potential as an adjunct to sorafenib, mitigating its side effects by attenuating its toxicity, enhancing efficacy, and potentially reducing the occurrence of sorafenib-induced resistance through the downregulation of hepatocyte growth factor levels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dalia Zaafar
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Modern University, Cairo, Egypt.
| | - Heba M A Khalil
- Department of Veterinary Hygiene and Management, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Cairo University, Giza 12211, Egypt.
| | - Reham Elnaggar
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmacy and Drug Manufacturing, Misr University of Science and Technology (MUST), 6th October, Giza 12566, Egypt.
| | - Diana Z Saad
- Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt; Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, King Salman International University, South Sinai, Egypt.
| | - Rabab Ahmed Rasheed
- Department of Medical Histology and Cell Biology, Faculty of Medicine, King Salman International University, South Sinai, Egypt.
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11
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Verma S, Ishteyaque S, Washimkar KR, Verma S, Nilakanth Mugale M. Mitochondrial-mediated nuclear remodeling and macrophage polarizations: A key switch from liver fibrosis to HCC progression. Exp Cell Res 2024; 434:113878. [PMID: 38086504 DOI: 10.1016/j.yexcr.2023.113878] [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: 07/28/2023] [Revised: 10/24/2023] [Accepted: 12/03/2023] [Indexed: 12/17/2023]
Abstract
Liver fibrosis is a significant health burden worldwide and has emerged as the leading cause of Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) incidence. Mitochondria are the dynamic organelles that regulate the differentiation, survival, and polarization of macrophages. Nuclear-DNA-associated proteins, micro-RNAs, as well as macrophage polarization are essential for maintaining intracellular and extra-cellular homeostasis in the liver parenchyma. Dysregulated mitochondrial coding genes (ETS complexes I, II, III, IV, and V), non-coding RNAs (mitomiRs), and nuclear alteration lead to the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and inflammation which are implicated in the transition of liver fibrosis into HCC. Recent findings indicated the protecting effect of E74-like factor 3/peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ (Elf-3/PPAR-γ). HDAR-y inhibits the deacetylation of PPAR-y and maintains the PPAR-y pathway. Elf-3 plays a tumor suppressive role through epithelial-mesenchymal transition-related gene and zinc finger E-box binding homeobox 2 (ZEB-2) domain. Additionally, the development of HCC includes the PI3K/Akt/mTOR and transforming Growth Factor β (TGF-β) pathway that promotes the Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) through Smad/Snail/Slug signaling cascade. In contrast, the TLR2/NOX2/autophagy axis promotes M2 polarization in HCC. Thus, a thorough understanding of the mitochondrial and nuclear reciprocal relationship related to macrophage polarization could provide new research opportunities concerning diseases with a significant impact on liver parenchyma towards developing liver fibrosis or liver cancer. Moreover, this knowledge can be used to develop new therapeutic strategies to treat liver diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shobhit Verma
- Division of Toxicology and Experimental Medicine, CSIR-Central Drug Research Institute (CSIR-CDRI), Lucknow, 226031, India; Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad, 201002, India
| | - Sharmeen Ishteyaque
- Division of Toxicology and Experimental Medicine, CSIR-Central Drug Research Institute (CSIR-CDRI), Lucknow, 226031, India; Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad, 201002, India
| | - Kaveri R Washimkar
- Division of Toxicology and Experimental Medicine, CSIR-Central Drug Research Institute (CSIR-CDRI), Lucknow, 226031, India; Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad, 201002, India
| | - Smriti Verma
- Division of Toxicology and Experimental Medicine, CSIR-Central Drug Research Institute (CSIR-CDRI), Lucknow, 226031, India; Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad, 201002, India
| | - Madhav Nilakanth Mugale
- Division of Toxicology and Experimental Medicine, CSIR-Central Drug Research Institute (CSIR-CDRI), Lucknow, 226031, India; Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad, 201002, India.
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12
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Zhang X, Yu C, Zhao S, Wang M, Shang L, Zhou J, Ma Y. The role of tumor-associated macrophages in hepatocellular carcinoma progression: A narrative review. Cancer Med 2023; 12:22109-22129. [PMID: 38098217 PMCID: PMC10757104 DOI: 10.1002/cam4.6717] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2023] [Revised: 11/04/2023] [Accepted: 11/07/2023] [Indexed: 12/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common malignant tumors in the world, with complex etiology and mechanism, and a high mortality rate. Tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) are an important part of the HCC tumor microenvironment. Studies in recent years have shown that TAMs are involved in multiple stages of HCC and are related to treatment and prognosis in HCC. The specific mechanisms between TAMs and HCC are gradually being revealed. This paper reviews recent advances in the mechanisms associated with TAMs in HCC, concentrating on an overview of effects of TAMs on drug resistance in HCC and the signaling pathways linked with HCC, providing clues for the treatment and prognosis determination of HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinyi Zhang
- Department of General Surgery, Nanjing First HospitalNanjing Medical UniversityNanjingChina
| | - Chao Yu
- Department of General Surgery, Nanjing First HospitalNanjing Medical UniversityNanjingChina
| | - Siqi Zhao
- Department of General Surgery, Nanjing First HospitalNanjing Medical UniversityNanjingChina
| | - Min Wang
- Department of General Surgery, Nanjing First HospitalNanjing Medical UniversityNanjingChina
| | - Longcheng Shang
- Department of General Surgery, Nanjing First HospitalNanjing Medical UniversityNanjingChina
| | - Jin Zhou
- Department of General Surgery, Nanjing First HospitalNanjing Medical UniversityNanjingChina
| | - Yong Ma
- Department of General Surgery, Nanjing First HospitalNanjing Medical UniversityNanjingChina
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13
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Ji ZZ, Chan MKK, Chan ASW, Leung KT, Jiang X, To KF, Wu Y, Tang PMK. Tumour-associated macrophages: versatile players in the tumour microenvironment. Front Cell Dev Biol 2023; 11:1261749. [PMID: 37965573 PMCID: PMC10641386 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2023.1261749] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2023] [Accepted: 10/12/2023] [Indexed: 11/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Tumour-Associated Macrophages (TAMs) are one of the pivotal components of the tumour microenvironment. Their roles in the cancer immunity are complicated, both pro-tumour and anti-cancer activities are reported, including not only angiogenesis, extracellular matrix remodeling, immunosuppression, drug resistance but also phagocytosis and tumour regression. Interestingly, TAMs are highly dynamic and versatile in solid tumours. They show anti-cancer or pro-tumour activities, and interplay between the tumour microenvironment and cancer stem cells and under specific conditions. In addition to the classic M1/M2 phenotypes, a number of novel dedifferentiation phenomena of TAMs are discovered due to the advanced single-cell technology, e.g., macrophage-myofibroblast transition (MMT) and macrophage-neuron transition (MNT). More importantly, emerging information demonstrated the potential of TAMs on cancer immunotherapy, suggesting by the therapeutic efficiency of the checkpoint inhibitors and chimeric antigen receptor engineered cells based on macrophages. Here, we summarized the latest discoveries of TAMs from basic and translational research and discussed their clinical relevance and therapeutic potential for solid cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zoey Zeyuan Ji
- Department of Anatomical and Cellular Pathology, State Key Laboratory of Translational Oncology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Max Kam-Kwan Chan
- Department of Anatomical and Cellular Pathology, State Key Laboratory of Translational Oncology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Alex Siu-Wing Chan
- Department of Applied Social Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Kam-Tong Leung
- Department of Paediatrics, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Xiaohua Jiang
- Key Laboratory for Regenerative Medicine of the Ministry of Education of China, School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Ka-Fai To
- Department of Anatomical and Cellular Pathology, State Key Laboratory of Translational Oncology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Yi Wu
- MOE Key Laboratory of Environment and Genes Related to Diseases, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, China
| | - Patrick Ming-Kuen Tang
- Department of Anatomical and Cellular Pathology, State Key Laboratory of Translational Oncology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong SAR, China
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14
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Agirre-Lizaso A, Huici-Izagirre M, Urretabizkaia-Garmendia J, Rodrigues PM, Banales JM, Perugorria MJ. Targeting the Heterogeneous Tumour-Associated Macrophages in Hepatocellular Carcinoma. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:4977. [PMID: 37894344 PMCID: PMC10605535 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15204977] [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: 09/01/2023] [Revised: 09/30/2023] [Accepted: 10/09/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a prevalent and aggressive cancer that comprises a complex tumour microenvironment (TME). Tumour-associated macrophages (TAMs) are one of the most abundant immune cells present in the TME, and play a key role both in the development and in the progression of HCC. Thus, TAM-based immunotherapy has been presented as a promising strategy to complement the currently available therapies for HCC treatment. Among the novel approaches focusing on TAMs, reprogramming their functional state has emerged as a promising option for targeting TAMs as an immunotherapy in combination with the currently available treatment options. Nevertheless, a further understanding of the immunobiology of TAMs is still required. This review synthesizes current insights into the heterogeneous nature of TAMs in HCC and describes the mechanisms behind their pro-tumoural polarization focusing the attention on their interaction with HCC cells. Furthermore, this review underscores the potential involvement of TAMs' reprogramming in HCC therapy and highlights the urgency of advancing our understanding of these cells within the dynamic landscape of HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aloña Agirre-Lizaso
- Department of Liver and Gastrointestinal Diseases, Biodonostia Research Institute, Donostia University Hospital, University of the Basque Country (UPV-EHU), 20014 Donostia-San Sebastian, Spain; (A.A.-L.); (M.H.-I.); (J.U.-G.); (P.M.R.); (J.M.B.)
| | - Maider Huici-Izagirre
- Department of Liver and Gastrointestinal Diseases, Biodonostia Research Institute, Donostia University Hospital, University of the Basque Country (UPV-EHU), 20014 Donostia-San Sebastian, Spain; (A.A.-L.); (M.H.-I.); (J.U.-G.); (P.M.R.); (J.M.B.)
| | - Josu Urretabizkaia-Garmendia
- Department of Liver and Gastrointestinal Diseases, Biodonostia Research Institute, Donostia University Hospital, University of the Basque Country (UPV-EHU), 20014 Donostia-San Sebastian, Spain; (A.A.-L.); (M.H.-I.); (J.U.-G.); (P.M.R.); (J.M.B.)
| | - Pedro M. Rodrigues
- Department of Liver and Gastrointestinal Diseases, Biodonostia Research Institute, Donostia University Hospital, University of the Basque Country (UPV-EHU), 20014 Donostia-San Sebastian, Spain; (A.A.-L.); (M.H.-I.); (J.U.-G.); (P.M.R.); (J.M.B.)
- Centre for the Study of Liver and Gastrointestinal Diseases (CIBERehd), Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII), 28029 Madrid, Spain
- IKERBASQUE, Basque Foundation for Science, 48009 Bilbao, Spain
| | - Jesus M. Banales
- Department of Liver and Gastrointestinal Diseases, Biodonostia Research Institute, Donostia University Hospital, University of the Basque Country (UPV-EHU), 20014 Donostia-San Sebastian, Spain; (A.A.-L.); (M.H.-I.); (J.U.-G.); (P.M.R.); (J.M.B.)
- Centre for the Study of Liver and Gastrointestinal Diseases (CIBERehd), Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII), 28029 Madrid, Spain
- IKERBASQUE, Basque Foundation for Science, 48009 Bilbao, Spain
- Department of Biochemistry and Genetics, School of Sciences, University of Navarra, 31008 Pamplona, Spain
| | - Maria J. Perugorria
- Department of Liver and Gastrointestinal Diseases, Biodonostia Research Institute, Donostia University Hospital, University of the Basque Country (UPV-EHU), 20014 Donostia-San Sebastian, Spain; (A.A.-L.); (M.H.-I.); (J.U.-G.); (P.M.R.); (J.M.B.)
- Centre for the Study of Liver and Gastrointestinal Diseases (CIBERehd), Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII), 28029 Madrid, Spain
- Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Nursing, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), 20014 Donostia-San Sebastian, Spain
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15
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Dzhalilova D, Kosyreva A, Lokhonina A, Tsvetkov I, Vishnyakova P, Makarova O, Fatkhudinov T. Molecular and phenotypic distinctions of macrophages in tolerant and susceptible to hypoxia rats. PeerJ 2023; 11:e16052. [PMID: 37842051 PMCID: PMC10573310 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.16052] [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: 05/15/2023] [Accepted: 08/16/2023] [Indexed: 10/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Individual hypoxia tolerance is a major influence on the course and outcome of infectious and inflammatory diseases. Macrophages, which play central roles in systemic inflammatory response and other immunity reactions, are subject to functional activation orchestrated by several transcription factors including hypoxia inducible factors (HIFs). HIF-1 expression levels and the lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced systemic inflammatory response severity have been shown to correlate with hypoxia tolerance. Molecular and functional features of macrophages, depending on the organisms resistance to hypoxia, can determine the severity of the course of infectious and inflammatory diseases, including the systemic inflammatory response. The purpose is the comparative molecular and functional characterization of non-activated and LPS-activated bone marrow-derived macrophages under normoxia in rats with different tolerance to oxygen deprivation. Hypoxia resistance was assessed by gasping time measurement in an 11,500 m altitude-equivalent hypobaric decompression chamber. Based on the outcome, the animals were assigned to three groups termed 'tolerant to hypoxia' (n = 12), 'normal', and 'susceptible to hypoxia' (n = 13). The 'normal' group was excluded from subsequent experiments. One month after hypoxia resistance test, the blood was collected from the tail vein to isolate monocytes. Non-activated and LPS-activated macrophage cultures were investigated by PCR, flow cytometry and Western blot methods. Gene expression patterns of non-activated cultured macrophages from tolerant and susceptible to hypoxia animals differed. We observed higher expression of VEGF and CD11b and lower expression of Tnfa, Il1b and Epas1 in non-activated cultures obtained from tolerant to hypoxia animals, whereas HIF-1α mRNA and protein expression levels were similar. LPS-activated macrophage cultures derived from susceptible to hypoxia animals expressed higher levels of Hif1a and CCR7 than the tolerant group; in addition, the activation was associated with increased content of HIF-1α in cell culture medium. The observed differences indicate a specific propensity toward pro-inflammatory macrophage polarization in susceptible to hypoxia rats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dzhuliia Dzhalilova
- Avtsyn Research Institute of Human Morphology, Petrovsky National Research Centre of Surgery, Moscow, Russian Federation
- Research Institute of Molecular and Cellular Medicine, Peoples’ Friendship University of Russia named after Patrice Lumumba (RUDN University), Moscow, Russian Federation
| | - Anna Kosyreva
- Avtsyn Research Institute of Human Morphology, Petrovsky National Research Centre of Surgery, Moscow, Russian Federation
- Research Institute of Molecular and Cellular Medicine, Peoples’ Friendship University of Russia named after Patrice Lumumba (RUDN University), Moscow, Russian Federation
| | - Anastasiya Lokhonina
- Research Institute of Molecular and Cellular Medicine, Peoples’ Friendship University of Russia named after Patrice Lumumba (RUDN University), Moscow, Russian Federation
| | - Ivan Tsvetkov
- Avtsyn Research Institute of Human Morphology, Petrovsky National Research Centre of Surgery, Moscow, Russian Federation
| | - Polina Vishnyakova
- Research Institute of Molecular and Cellular Medicine, Peoples’ Friendship University of Russia named after Patrice Lumumba (RUDN University), Moscow, Russian Federation
- National Medical Research Center for Obstetrics, Gynecology and Perinatology Named after Academician V.I. Kulakov of Ministry of Healthcare of Russian Federation, Moscow, Russian Federation
| | - Olga Makarova
- Avtsyn Research Institute of Human Morphology, Petrovsky National Research Centre of Surgery, Moscow, Russian Federation
| | - Timur Fatkhudinov
- Avtsyn Research Institute of Human Morphology, Petrovsky National Research Centre of Surgery, Moscow, Russian Federation
- Research Institute of Molecular and Cellular Medicine, Peoples’ Friendship University of Russia named after Patrice Lumumba (RUDN University), Moscow, Russian Federation
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16
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Kang X, Wang J, Kang X, Bai L. Predictive value of prognostic nutritional index (PNI) in recurrent or unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma received anti-PD1 therapy. BMC Cancer 2023; 23:787. [PMID: 37612634 PMCID: PMC10463676 DOI: 10.1186/s12885-023-11166-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2022] [Accepted: 07/09/2023] [Indexed: 08/25/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Clinical trials have shown that anti-PD1 therapy, either as a monotherapy or in combination, is effective and well-tolerated in patients with recurrent or unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). In this study, we aimed to investigate the prognostic value of immune-nutritional biomarkers in measuring the effects of anti-PD1 therapy in these patients. METHODS We enrolled and followed up with 85 patients diagnosed with advanced HCC who underwent anti-PD1 therapy at the First Medical Centre of Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) General Hospital between January 2016 and January 2021. The retrospective analysis aimed to determine whether immune-nutritional biomarkers could serve as promising prognostic indices in these patients. RESULTS In this retrospective study, patients in the PNI-high group showed a better progression-free survival (PFS) compared to those in the PNI-low group (9.5 months vs. 4.2 months, P = 0.039). Similarly, the median overall survival (OS) was longer in the PNI-high group (23.9 months, 95%CI 17.45-30.35) than in the PNI-low group (11.7 months, 95%CI 9.27-14.13) (P = 0.002). These results were consistent with sub-analyses of the anti-PD1 therapy. Furthermore, both univariate and multivariate analyses indicated that a higher pre-treatment PNI ( > = 44.91) was a significant predictive factor for favorable outcomes in this patient cohort (HR = 0.411, P = 0.023). CONCLUSION Our study suggests that pre-treatment PNI is a critical predictive factor in patients with recurrent or unresectable HCC undergoing anti-PD1 therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xindan Kang
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, The Second Medical Center & National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Diseases, Chinese People's Liberation Army General Hospital, Beijing, 100089, China
- Department of Oncology, The First Medical Center, Chinese People's Liberation Army General Hospital, Beijing, 100036, China
| | - Jing Wang
- Department of General Medicine, The First Medical Center, Chinese People's Liberation Army General Hospital, Beijing, 100036, China
| | - Xue Kang
- Department of Oncology, The First Medical Center, Chinese People's Liberation Army General Hospital, Beijing, 100036, China
| | - Li Bai
- Department of Oncology, The First Medical Center, Chinese People's Liberation Army General Hospital, Beijing, 100036, China.
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17
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Yuan Y, Wu D, Li J, Huang D, Zhao Y, Gao T, Zhuang Z, Cui Y, Zheng DY, Tang Y. Mechanisms of tumor-associated macrophages affecting the progression of hepatocellular carcinoma. Front Pharmacol 2023; 14:1217400. [PMID: 37663266 PMCID: PMC10470150 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2023.1217400] [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: 05/05/2023] [Accepted: 06/23/2023] [Indexed: 09/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) are essential components of the immune cell stroma of hepatocellular carcinoma. TAMs originate from monocytic myeloid-derived suppressor cells, peripheral blood monocytes, and kupffer cells. The recruitment of monocytes to the HCC tumor microenvironment is facilitated by various factors, leading to their differentiation into TAMs with unique phenotypes. TAMs can directly activate or inhibit the nuclear factor-κB, interleukin-6/signal transducer and signal transducer and activator of transcription 3, Wnt/β-catenin, transforming growth factor-β1/bone morphogenetic protein, and extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 signaling pathways in tumor cells and interact with other immune cells via producing cytokines and extracellular vesicles, thus affecting carcinoma cell proliferation, invasive and migratory, angiogenesis, liver fibrosis progression, and other processes to participate in different stages of tumor progression. In recent years, TAMs have received much attention as a prospective treatment target for HCC. This review describes the origin and characteristics of TAMs and their mechanism of action in the occurrence and development of HCC to offer a theoretical foundation for further clinical research of TAMs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi Yuan
- Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Dailin Wu
- Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Jing Li
- Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Dan Huang
- Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Yan Zhao
- Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Tianqi Gao
- Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Zhenjie Zhuang
- Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Ying Cui
- Department of Psychiatry, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Da-Yong Zheng
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
- Department of Hepatology, TCM-Integrated Hospital of Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
- Department of Hepatopancreatobiliary, Cancer Center, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Ying Tang
- Science and Technology Innovation Center, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
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18
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Gordan JD, Keenan BP, Lim HC, Yarchoan M, Kelley RK. New Opportunities to Individualize Frontline Therapy in Advanced Stages of Hepatocellular Carcinoma. Drugs 2023; 83:1091-1109. [PMID: 37402062 DOI: 10.1007/s40265-023-01907-3] [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] [Accepted: 06/05/2023] [Indexed: 07/05/2023]
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a leading cause of cancer death globally and is rising in incidence. Until recently, treatment options for patients with advanced stages of HCC have been limited to antiangiogenic therapies with modest improvements in overall survival. The emerging role of immunotherapy with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) in oncology has led to a rapid expansion in treatment options and improvements in outcomes for patients with advanced stages of HCC. Recent clinical trials have shown meaningful survival improvement in patients treated with the combination of bevacizumab and atezolizumab, as well as with the combination of tremelimumab with durvalumab, resulting in regulatory approvals of these regimens as frontline therapy. Beyond improvements in overall survival, ICI-based combination regimens achieve higher rates of durable treatment response than multikinase inhibitors and have favorable side effect profiles. With the emergence of doublet anti-angiogenic and immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) and dual ICI combinations, individualized therapy is now possible for patients based on co-morbidity profiles and other factors. These more potent systemic therapies are also being tested in earlier stages of disease and in combination with loco-regional therapies such as trans-arterial chemoembolization and stereotactic body radiotherapy. We summarize these advances and emerging therapeutic combinations currently in clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- John D Gordan
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, UC San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA.
- Quantitative Biosciences Institute, UC San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA.
| | - Bridget P Keenan
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, UC San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Cancer Immunotherapy Program, Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, UC San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Huat Chye Lim
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, UC San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Quantitative Biosciences Institute, UC San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Mark Yarchoan
- Department of Oncology, Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - R Katie Kelley
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, UC San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Cancer Immunotherapy Program, Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, UC San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
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19
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Chen S, Du Y, Guan XY, Yan Q. The current status of tumor microenvironment and cancer stem cells in sorafenib resistance of hepatocellular carcinoma. Front Oncol 2023; 13:1204513. [PMID: 37576900 PMCID: PMC10412930 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2023.1204513] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2023] [Accepted: 07/03/2023] [Indexed: 08/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a heterogeneous and aggressive liver cancer that presents limited treatment options. Despite being the standard therapy for advanced HCC, sorafenib frequently encounters resistance, emphasizing the need to uncover the underlying mechanisms and develop effective treatments. This comprehensive review highlights the crucial interplay between the tumor microenvironment, cancer stem cells (CSCs), and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in the context of sorafenib resistance. The tumor microenvironment, encompassing hypoxia, immune cells, stromal cells, and exosomes, exerts a significant impact on HCC progression and therapy response. Hypoxic conditions and immune cell infiltration create an immunosuppressive milieu, shielding tumor cells from immune surveillance and hindering therapeutic efficacy. Additionally, the presence of CSCs emerges as a prominent contributor to sorafenib resistance, with CD133+ CSCs implicated in drug resistance and tumor initiation. Moreover, CSCs undergo EMT, a process intimately linked to tumor progression, CSC activation, and further promotion of sorafenib resistance, metastasis, and tumor-initiating capacity. Elucidating the correlation between the tumor microenvironment, CSCs, and sorafenib resistance holds paramount importance in the quest to develop reliable biomarkers capable of predicting therapeutic response. Novel therapeutic strategies must consider the influence of the tumor microenvironment and CSC activation to effectively overcome sorafenib resistance in HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Siqi Chen
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Colorectal and Pelvic Floor Diseases, Guangdong Institute of Gastroenterology, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
- Department of General Surgery (Colorectal Surgery), The Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
- Biomedical Innovation Center, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yaqing Du
- Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, School of Life Sciences and Biopharmaceuticals, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xin-Yuan Guan
- State Key Laboratory for Liver Research, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Qian Yan
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Colorectal and Pelvic Floor Diseases, Guangdong Institute of Gastroenterology, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
- Department of General Surgery (Colorectal Surgery), The Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
- Biomedical Innovation Center, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
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20
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Zheng SC, Huang ZY, Zhai K, Shi HZ, Shao MM. Hepatocyte growth factor combined with adenosine deaminase as biomarker for diagnosis of tuberculous pleural effusion. Front Microbiol 2023; 14:1181912. [PMID: 37485530 PMCID: PMC10359098 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1181912] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2023] [Accepted: 06/19/2023] [Indexed: 07/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Background The simple, rapid, and accurate diagnosis of tuberculous pleural effusion (TPE) remains difficult. This study aimed to determine the accuracy of hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) in the diagnosis of TPE. Methods We quantified the expression of HGF, adenosine deaminase (ADA), and interferon gamma (IFN-γ) in pleural effusion (PE) in 97 TPE subjects and 116 non-TPE subjects using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) or a fully automatic biochemical analyzer. The diagnostic performance of these three biomarkers was evaluated using a receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve of subjects by age and gender. Results We discovered that the TPE group had much higher levels of HGF than the non-TPE group, regardless of age or gender, and that there was no statistically significant difference between the two groups' levels of HGF expression in peripheral plasma. In female TPE patients aged ≤65 years, the AUCs of TPE and non-TPE diagnosed by HGF, ADA or IFN-γ were 0.988, 0.964, and 0.827, respectively. HGF plus ADA had the highest diagnostic efficacy in female TPE patients aged ≤65 years. With HGF plus ADA having a cut-off value of 0.219 for distinguishing TPE from non-TPE, the area under the curve (AUC), sensitivity (SEN), specificity (SPE), positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive value (NPV) were, respectively, 0.998 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.993-1.000), 100 (95% CI, 89.997-100.000), 96.667 (95% CI, 82.783-99.916), 97.222 (95% CI, 83.594-99.586), and 100. Conclusion This study confirmed that HGF plus ADA has high diagnostic efficacy in younger female TPE patients and has the potential to be an excellent biomarker.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sheng-Cai Zheng
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Beijing Institute of Respiratory Medicine and Beijing Chao-Yang Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
- Clinical Center for Pleural Diseases, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Zhong-Yin Huang
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Beijing Institute of Respiratory Medicine and Beijing Chao-Yang Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
- Clinical Center for Pleural Diseases, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Kan Zhai
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Beijing Institute of Respiratory Medicine and Beijing Chao-Yang Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
- Clinical Center for Pleural Diseases, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Huan-Zhong Shi
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Beijing Institute of Respiratory Medicine and Beijing Chao-Yang Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
- Clinical Center for Pleural Diseases, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Ming-Ming Shao
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Beijing Institute of Respiratory Medicine and Beijing Chao-Yang Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
- Clinical Center for Pleural Diseases, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
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21
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Daif A, Al-Azzawi MA, Sakr MA, Ismail HA, Gadallah M. Noninvasive identification of molecular biomarkers of hepatocellular carcinoma in HCV-Egyptian patients. J Egypt Natl Canc Inst 2023; 35:11. [PMID: 37121922 DOI: 10.1186/s43046-023-00170-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2021] [Accepted: 04/06/2023] [Indexed: 05/02/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND This study was performed to investigate the expression of different biomarkers in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma and its connection with detective biomarkers. To achieve this objective, seventy subjects were examined in this study, sub-grouped to forty HCC patients and thirty HCV-affected patients with matched thirty healthy individuals. The study involved several groups of participants who were matched based on their age and gender. METHODS The expression pattern of biomarkers was monitored by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Finally, we utilized a ROC curve to investigate the predictive accurateness of those distinct biomarkers as well as a traditional tumor marker, AFP, in detecting HCC cases. RESULTS The baseline biomarker expression levels were markedly greater in HCC patients than in those affected by HCV or healthy subjects. We stated that the sensitivity and the specificity of the different biomarkers alone did not improve than that of AFP alone. When comparing AFP with different biomarkers, the diagnostic validity improves only when combining with CK-1. CONCLUSIONS Overall, our results indicate that CK-1 mRNA expression could help as a noninvasive tumor biomarker for HCC prognosis and diagnosis when combining with AFP.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ahmed Daif
- Molecular Diagnostics and Therapeutics Department, Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology Research Institute (GEBRI), University of Sadat City, Sadat City, Egypt
| | - Mahmood A Al-Azzawi
- Department of Forensic Science, College of Science, AlKarkh University of Science, Baghdad, Iraq
| | - Moustafa A Sakr
- Molecular Diagnostics and Therapeutics Department, Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology Research Institute (GEBRI), University of Sadat City, Sadat City, Egypt.
| | - Hisham A Ismail
- Molecular Diagnostics and Therapeutics Department, Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology Research Institute (GEBRI), University of Sadat City, Sadat City, Egypt
| | - Mahmoud Gadallah
- Molecular Diagnostics and Therapeutics Department, Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology Research Institute (GEBRI), University of Sadat City, Sadat City, Egypt
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22
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Wei S, Wei F, Li M, Yang Y, Zhang J, Li C, Wang J. Target immune components to circumvent sorafenib resistance in hepatocellular carcinoma. Biomed Pharmacother 2023; 163:114798. [PMID: 37121146 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2023.114798] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2023] [Revised: 04/23/2023] [Accepted: 04/25/2023] [Indexed: 05/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Sorafenib, a multi-kinase inhibitor, has been approved for cancer treatment for decades, especially hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Although sorafenib produced substantial clinical benefits in the initial stage, a large proportion of cancer patients acquired drug resistance in subsequent treatment, which always disturbs clinical physicians. Cumulative evidence unraveled the underlying mechanism of sorafenib, but few reports focused on the role of immune subpopulations, since the immunological rationale of sorafenib resistance has not yet been defined. Here, we reviewed the immunoregulatory effects of sorafenib on the tumor microenvironment and emphasized the potential immunological mechanisms of therapeutic resistance to sorafenib. Moreover, we also summarized the clinical outcomes and ongoing trials in combination of sorafenib with immunotherapy, highlighted the immunotherapeutic strategies to improve sorafenib efficacy, and put forward several prospective questions aimed at guiding future research in overcoming sorafenib resistance in HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuhua Wei
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, PR China
| | - Fenghua Wei
- GMU-GIBH Joint School of Life Sciences, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou City, Guangdong Province, PR China
| | - Mengyuan Li
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, PR China
| | - Yuhan Yang
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, PR China
| | - Jingwen Zhang
- R & D Management Department, China National Biotec Group, Beijing, PR China.
| | - Chunxiao Li
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, PR China.
| | - Junjie Wang
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, PR China.
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He Q, Pan X, Yin Y, Xu A, Yi X, Wu Y, Li X. Clonorchis sinensis granulin promotes malignant transformation of human intrahepatic biliary epithelial cells through interaction with M2 macrophages via regulation of STAT3 phosphorylation and the MEK/ERK pathway. Parasit Vectors 2023; 16:139. [PMID: 37095578 PMCID: PMC10124682 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-023-05765-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2023] [Accepted: 04/03/2023] [Indexed: 04/26/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Clonorchis sinensis granulin (CsGRN), a component of the excretory/secretory products of this species, is a multifunctional growth factor that can promote the metastasis of cholangiocarcinoma cells. However, the effect of CsGRN on human intrahepatic biliary epithelial cells (HIBECs) is unclear. Here, we investigated the effect of CsGRN on the malignant transformation of HIBECs and its possible underlying mechanism. METHODS The malignant transformation phenotypes of HIBECs after CsGRN treatment were estimated by EdU-488 incorporation assay, colony formation assay, wound-healing assay, Transwell assay and western blot. The biliary damage of CsGRN-treated mice was detected by western blot, immunohistochemical staining and hematoxylin and eosin staining. The phenotypes of the macrophages [human monocytic leukemia cell line (THP-1)] were analyzed by flow cytometry, immunofluorescence and immunohistochemistry, both in vitro and in vivo. A co-culture system was developed to explore the interaction between THP-1 and HIBECs in CsGRN-containing medium. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and western blot were used to detected the activation of interleukin 6 (IL-6), phosphorylated signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (p-STAT3) and the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MEK)/extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) pathway. An inhibitor of the MEK/ERK pathway, PD98059, was used to determine whether this pathway is involved in CsGRN-mediated cell interactions as well as in STAT3 phosphorylation and malignant transformation of HIBECs. RESULTS Excessive hyperplasia and abnormal proliferation of HIBECs, enhanced secretion of hepatic pro-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines, as well as biliary damage, were observed in vitro and in vivo after treatment with CsGRN. The expression of the markers of M2 macrophages significantly increased in CsGRN-treated THP-1 cells and biliary duct tissues compared with the controls. Moreover, following treatment with CsGRN, the HIBECs underwent malignant transformation in the THP-1-HIBECs co-culture group. In addition, high expression of IL-6 was observed in the CsGRN-treated co-culture media, which activated the phosphorylation of STAT3, JAK2, MEK and ERK. However, treatment with an inhibitor of the MEK/ERK pathway, PD98059, decreased expression of p-STAT3 in CsGRN-treated HIBECs and further repressed the malignant transformation of HIBECs. CONCLUSIONS Our results demonstrated that, by inducing the M2-type polarization of macrophages and activating the IL-6/JAK2/STAT3 and MEK/ERK pathways in HIBECs, CsGRN promoted the malignant transformation of the latter.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qing He
- Department of Parasitology, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510080, People's Republic of China
- Key Laboratory for Tropical Diseases Control of the Ministry of Education, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510080, People's Republic of China
- Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center for Biological Vector Control, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510080, People's Republic of China
- China Atomic Energy Authority Center of Excellence on Nuclear Technology Applications for Insect Control, Beijing, 100048, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiaowen Pan
- Department of Parasitology, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510080, People's Republic of China
- Key Laboratory for Tropical Diseases Control of the Ministry of Education, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510080, People's Republic of China
- Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center for Biological Vector Control, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510080, People's Republic of China
- China Atomic Energy Authority Center of Excellence on Nuclear Technology Applications for Insect Control, Beijing, 100048, People's Republic of China
| | - Yingxuan Yin
- Department of Parasitology, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510080, People's Republic of China
- Key Laboratory for Tropical Diseases Control of the Ministry of Education, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510080, People's Republic of China
- Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center for Biological Vector Control, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510080, People's Republic of China
- China Atomic Energy Authority Center of Excellence on Nuclear Technology Applications for Insect Control, Beijing, 100048, People's Republic of China
| | - Anyuan Xu
- Department of Parasitology, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510080, People's Republic of China
- Key Laboratory for Tropical Diseases Control of the Ministry of Education, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510080, People's Republic of China
- Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center for Biological Vector Control, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510080, People's Republic of China
- China Atomic Energy Authority Center of Excellence on Nuclear Technology Applications for Insect Control, Beijing, 100048, People's Republic of China
| | - Xueqing Yi
- Department of Basic Medicine, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510080, People's Republic of China
| | - Yinjuan Wu
- Department of Parasitology, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510080, People's Republic of China.
- Key Laboratory for Tropical Diseases Control of the Ministry of Education, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510080, People's Republic of China.
- Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center for Biological Vector Control, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510080, People's Republic of China.
- China Atomic Energy Authority Center of Excellence on Nuclear Technology Applications for Insect Control, Beijing, 100048, People's Republic of China.
| | - Xuerong Li
- Department of Parasitology, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510080, People's Republic of China.
- Key Laboratory for Tropical Diseases Control of the Ministry of Education, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510080, People's Republic of China.
- Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center for Biological Vector Control, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510080, People's Republic of China.
- China Atomic Energy Authority Center of Excellence on Nuclear Technology Applications for Insect Control, Beijing, 100048, People's Republic of China.
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Midkine inhibition enhances anti-PD-1 immunotherapy in sorafenib-treated hepatocellular carcinoma via preventing immunosuppressive MDSCs infiltration. Cell Death Discov 2023; 9:92. [PMID: 36906597 PMCID: PMC10008628 DOI: 10.1038/s41420-023-01392-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2022] [Revised: 02/28/2023] [Accepted: 03/01/2023] [Indexed: 03/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Sorafenib, a multiple-target tyrosine kinase inhibitor, is the standard of care for patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), but provides limited benefits. Emerging evidences suggest that prolonged sorafenib treatment induces an immunosuppressive HCC microenvironment, but the underling mechanism is undetermined. In the present study, the potential function of midkine, a heparin-binding growth factor/cytokine, was evaluated in sorafenib-treated HCC tumors. Infiltrating immune cells of orthotopic HCC tumors were measured by flow cytometry. Differentially expressed genes in sorafenib-treated HCC tumors were evaluated by transcriptome RNA sequencing. The potential function of midkine were evaluated by western blot, T cell suppression assay, immunohistochemistry (IHC) staining and tumor xenograft model. We found that sorafenib treatment increased intratumoral hypoxia and altered HCC microenvironment towards an immune-resistant state in orthotopic HCC tumors. Sorafenib treatment promoted midkine expression and secretion by HCC cells. Moreover, forced midkine expression stimulated immunosuppressive myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) accumulation in HCC microenvironment, while knockdown of midkine exhibited opposite effects. Furthermore, midkine overexpression promoted CD11b+CD33+HLA-DR- MDSCs expansion from human PBMCs, while midkine depletion suppressed this effect. PD-1 blockade showed no obvious inhibition on tumor growth of sorafenib-treated HCC tumors, but the inhibitory effect was greatly enhanced by midkine knockdown. Besides, midkine overexpression promoted multiple pathways activation and IL-10 production by MDSCs. Our data elucidated a novel role of midkine in the immunosuppressive microenvironment of sorafenib-treated HCC tumors. Mikdine might be a potential target for the combination of anti-PD-1 immunotherapy in HCC patients.
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25
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Abou-Fadel J, Reid V, Le A, Croft J, Zhang J. Key Members of the CmPn as Biomarkers Distinguish Histological and Immune Subtypes of Hepatic Cancers. Diagnostics (Basel) 2023; 13:diagnostics13061012. [PMID: 36980321 PMCID: PMC10047786 DOI: 10.3390/diagnostics13061012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2023] [Revised: 02/23/2023] [Accepted: 03/05/2023] [Indexed: 03/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Liver cancer, comprising hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and cholangiocarcinoma (CCA), is a leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. The liver is a primary metabolic organ for progesterone (PRG) and PRG exerts its effects through classic nuclear PRG receptors (nPRs) and non-classic membrane PRG receptors (mPRs) or a combination of both. Previous studies have shown that the CCM signaling complex (CSC) couples both nPRs and mPRs to form the CmPn (CSC-mPR-PRG-nPR) signaling network, which is involved in multiple cellular signaling pathways, including tumorigenesis of various cancers. Despite advances in treatment, 5-year survival rates for liver cancer patients remain low, largely due to the chemoresistant nature of HCCs. The lack of sensitive and specific biomarkers for liver cancer diagnosis and prognosis emphasizes the need for identifying new potential biomarkers. We propose the potential use of CmPn members’ expression data as prognostic biomarkers or biomarker signatures for the major types of hepatic cancer, including HCCs and CCAs, as well as rare subtypes such as undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma (UPS) and hepatic angiosarcoma (HAS). In this study, we investigated the CmPn network through RNAseq data and immunofluorescence techniques to measure alterations to key cancer pathways during liver tumorigenesis. Our findings reveal significant differential expression of multiple CmPn members, including CCM1, PAQR7, PGRMC1, and nPRs, in both HCCs and CCAs, highlighting the crucial roles of mPRs, nPRs, and CSC signaling during liver tumorigenesis. These key members of the CmPn network may serve as potential biomarkers for the diagnosis and prognosis of liver cancer subtypes, including rare subtypes.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Jun Zhang
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +1-(915)-215-4197
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26
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Luo Y, Chen Y, Jin H, Hou B, Li H, Li X, Liu L, Zhou Y, Li Y, Song YS, Liu Q, Zou Z. The suppression of cervical cancer ferroptosis by macrophages: The attenuation of ALOX15 in cancer cells by macrophages-derived exosomes. Acta Pharm Sin B 2023. [DOI: 10.1016/j.apsb.2023.03.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/03/2023] Open
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27
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Atkins MB, Ascierto PA, Feltquate D, Gulley JL, Johnson DB, Khushalani NI, Sosman J, Yap TA, Kluger H, Sullivan RJ, Tawbi H. Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer (SITC) consensus definitions for resistance to combinations of immune checkpoint inhibitors with targeted therapies. J Immunother Cancer 2023; 11:jitc-2022-005923. [PMID: 36918225 PMCID: PMC10016252 DOI: 10.1136/jitc-2022-005923] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/31/2022] [Indexed: 03/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Immunotherapy offers deep and durable disease control to some patients, but many tumors do not respond to treatment with single-agent immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs). One strategy to enhance responses to immunotherapy is via combinations with signal transduction inhibitors, such as antiangiogenic therapies, which not only directly target cancer cells but also could potentially favorably modulate the tumor immune microenvironment. Combination strategies with ICIs have demonstrated enhanced antitumor activity compared with tumor-targeted or antiangiogenic therapy alone in randomized trials in a variety of solid tumor settings, leading to regulatory approval from the US Food and Drug Administration and agencies in other countries for the treatment of endometrial cancer, kidney cancer, melanoma, and hepatocellular carcinoma. Despite improved survival and response rates for some patients when antiangiogenic or targeted therapies are administered with ICIs, many patients continue to progress after combination treatment and urgently need new strategies to address this manifestation of resistance to immunotherapy. Previously, the Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer (SITC) published consensus definitions for resistance to single-agent anti-PD-(L)1. To provide guidance for clinical trial design and to support analyses of emerging molecular and immune profiling data surrounding mechanisms of resistance to ICI-based combinations, SITC convened a follow-up workshop in 2021 to develop consensus definitions for resistance to multiagent ICI combinations. This manuscript reports the consensus clinical definitions for combinations of anti-PD-(L)1 ICIs and targeted therapies. Definitions for resistance to ICIs in combination with chemotherapy and with other ICIs will be published in companion volumes to this paper.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Paolo A Ascierto
- Istituto Nazionale Tumori IRCCS Fondazione Pascale, Napoli, Italy
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Timonthy A Yap
- University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, USA
| | | | | | - Hussein Tawbi
- University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, USA
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Targeting tumor-associated macrophages in hepatocellular carcinoma: biology, strategy, and immunotherapy. Cell Death Discov 2023; 9:65. [PMID: 36792608 PMCID: PMC9931715 DOI: 10.1038/s41420-023-01356-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 26.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2022] [Revised: 01/27/2023] [Accepted: 02/01/2023] [Indexed: 02/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), one of the most malignant tumors, is characterized by its stubborn immunosuppressive microenvironment. As one of the main members of the tumor microenvironment (TME) of HCC, tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) play a critical role in its occurrence and development, including stimulating angiogenesis, enhancing immunosuppression, and promoting the drug resistance and cancer metastasis. This review describes the origin as well as phenotypic heterogeneity of TAMs and their potential effects on the occurrence and development of HCC and also discusses about various adjuvant therapy based strategies that can be used for targeting TAMs. In addition, we have highlighted different treatment modalities for TAMs based on immunotherapy, including small molecular inhibitors, immune checkpoint inhibitors, antibodies, tumor vaccines, adoptive cellular immunotherapy, and nanocarriers for drug delivery, to explore novel combination therapies and provide feasible therapeutic options for clinically improving the prognosis and quality of life of HCC patients.
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Kohlhepp MS, Liu H, Tacke F, Guillot A. The contradictory roles of macrophages in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and primary liver cancer-Challenges and opportunities. Front Mol Biosci 2023; 10:1129831. [PMID: 36845555 PMCID: PMC9950415 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2023.1129831] [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: 12/22/2022] [Accepted: 01/31/2023] [Indexed: 02/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Chronic liver diseases from varying etiologies generally lead to liver fibrosis and cirrhosis. Among them, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) affects roughly one-quarter of the world population, thus representing a major and increasing public health burden. Chronic hepatocyte injury, inflammation (non-alcoholic steatohepatitis, NASH) and liver fibrosis are recognized soils for primary liver cancer, particularly hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), being the third most common cause for cancer-related deaths worldwide. Despite recent advances in liver disease understanding, therapeutic options on pre-malignant and malignant stages remain limited. Thus, there is an urgent need to identify targetable liver disease-driving mechanisms for the development of novel therapeutics. Monocytes and macrophages comprise a central, yet versatile component of the inflammatory response, fueling chronic liver disease initiation and progression. Recent proteomic and transcriptomic studies performed at singular cell levels revealed a previously overlooked diversity of macrophage subpopulations and functions. Indeed, liver macrophages that encompass liver resident macrophages (also named Kupffer cells) and monocyte-derived macrophages, can acquire a variety of phenotypes depending on microenvironmental cues, and thus exert manifold and sometimes contradictory functions. Those functions range from modulating and exacerbating tissue inflammation to promoting and exaggerating tissue repair mechanisms (i.e., parenchymal regeneration, cancer cell proliferation, angiogenesis, fibrosis). Due to these central functions, liver macrophages represent an attractive target for the treatment of liver diseases. In this review, we discuss the multifaceted and contrary roles of macrophages in chronic liver diseases, with a particular focus on NAFLD/NASH and HCC. Moreover, we discuss potential therapeutic approaches targeting liver macrophages.
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Oura K, Morishita A, Hamaya S, Fujita K, Masaki T. The Roles of Epigenetic Regulation and the Tumor Microenvironment in the Mechanism of Resistance to Systemic Therapy in Hepatocellular Carcinoma. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24032805. [PMID: 36769116 PMCID: PMC9917861 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24032805] [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: 12/24/2022] [Revised: 01/29/2023] [Accepted: 01/30/2023] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Primary liver cancer is the sixth most common cancer and the third most common cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a major histologic type with a poor prognosis owing to the difficulty in early detection, the chemotherapy resistance, and the high recurrence rate of the disease. Despite recent advancements in HCC prevention and diagnosis, over 50% of patients are diagnosed at Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer Stage B or C. Systemic therapies are recommended for unresectable HCC (uHCC) with major vascular invasion, extrahepatic metastases, or intrahepatic lesions that have a limited response to transcatheter arterial chemoembolization, but the treatment outcome tends to be unsatisfactory due to acquired drug resistance. Elucidation of the mechanisms underlying the resistance to systemic therapies and the appropriate response strategies to solve this issue will contribute to improved outcomes in the multidisciplinary treatment of uHCC. In this review, we summarize recent findings on the mechanisms of resistance to drugs such as sorafenib, regorafenib, and lenvatinib in molecularly targeted therapy, with a focus on epigenetic regulation and the tumor microenvironment and outline the approaches to improve the therapeutic outcome for patients with advanced HCC.
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Peng X, Gong C, Zhang W, Zhou A. Advanced development of biomarkers for immunotherapy in hepatocellular carcinoma. Front Oncol 2023; 12:1091088. [PMID: 36727075 PMCID: PMC9885011 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2022.1091088] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2022] [Accepted: 12/20/2022] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common liver cancer and one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths in the world. Mono-immunotherapy and combination therapy with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) and multitargeted tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) or anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) inhibitors have become new standard therapies in advanced HCC (aHCC). However, the clinical benefit of these treatments is still limited. Thus, proper biomarkers which can predict treatment response to immunotherapy to maximize clinical benefit while sparing unnecessary toxicity are urgently needed. Contrary to other malignancies, up until now, no acknowledged biomarkers are available to predict resistance or response to immunotherapy for HCC patients. Furthermore, biomarkers, which are established in other cancer types, such as programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1) expression and tumor mutational burden (TMB), have no stable predictive effect in HCC. Thus, plenty of research focusing on biomarkers for HCC is under exploration. In this review, we summarize the predictive and prognostic biomarkers as well as the potential predictive mechanism in order to guide future research direction for biomarker exploration and clinical treatment options in HCC.
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M2 tumor-associated macrophage mediates the maintenance of stemness to promote cisplatin resistance by secreting TGF-β1 in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. J Transl Med 2023; 21:26. [PMID: 36641471 PMCID: PMC9840838 DOI: 10.1186/s12967-022-03863-0] [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: 08/27/2022] [Accepted: 12/29/2022] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is a deadly gastrointestinal malignancy, and chemotherapy resistance is a key factor leading to its poor prognosis. M2 tumor-associated macrophages (M2-TAMs) may be an important cause of chemoresistance in ESCC, but its exact mechanism is still unclear. METHODS In order to study the role of M2-TAMs in ESCC chemoresistance, CCK-8, clone formation assay, flow cytometric apoptosis assay, qRT-PCR, western blotting, and serum-free sphere formation assays were used. In vivo animal experiments and human ESCC tissues were used to confirm the findings. RESULTS In vitro and in vivo animal experiments, M2-TAMs reduced the sensitivity of ESCC cells to cisplatin. Mechanistically, M2-TAMs highly secreted TGF-β1 which activated the TGFβR1-smad2/3 pathway to promote and maintain the stemness characteristic of ESCC cells, which could inhibit the sensitivity to cisplatin. Using TGFβ signaling inhibitor SB431542 or knockdown of TGFβR1 could reverse the cisplatin resistance of ESCC cells. In 92 cases of human ESCC tissues, individuals with a high density of M2-TAMs had considerably higher levels of TGF-β1. These patients also had worse prognoses and richer stemness markers. CONCLUSION TGF-β1 secreted from M2-TAMs promoted and maintained the stemness characteristic to induce cisplatin resistance in ESCC by activating the TGFβ1-Smad2/3 pathway.
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Xu Y, Hao X, Ren Y, Xu Q, Liu X, Song S, Wang Y. Research progress of abnormal lactate metabolism and lactate modification in immunotherapy of hepatocellular carcinoma. Front Oncol 2023; 12:1063423. [PMID: 36686771 PMCID: PMC9853001 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2022.1063423] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2022] [Accepted: 12/19/2022] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Tumors meet their energy, biosynthesis, and redox demands through metabolic reprogramming. This metabolic abnormality results in elevated levels of metabolites, particularly lactate, in the tumor microenvironment. Immune cell reprogramming and cellular plasticity mediated by lactate and lactylation increase immunosuppression in the tumor microenvironment and are emerging as key factors in regulating tumor development, metastasis, and the effectiveness of immunotherapies such as immune checkpoint inhibitors. Reprogramming of glucose metabolism and the "Warburg effect" in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) lead to the massive production and accumulation of lactate, so lactate modification in tumor tissue is likely to be abnormal as well. This article reviews the immune regulation of abnormal lactate metabolism and lactate modification in hepatocellular carcinoma and the therapeutic strategy of targeting lactate-immunotherapy, which will help to better guide the medication and treatment of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yiwei Xu
- Marine College, Shandong University, Weihai, China
| | - Xiaodong Hao
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, The Second Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Yidan Ren
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, The Second Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Qinchen Xu
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, The Second Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Xiaoyan Liu
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, The Second Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Shuliang Song
- Marine College, Shandong University, Weihai, China,*Correspondence: Shuliang Song, ; Yunshan Wang,
| | - Yunshan Wang
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, Shandong, China,*Correspondence: Shuliang Song, ; Yunshan Wang,
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Hashemi M, Mirzaei S, Zandieh MA, Rezaei S, Amirabbas Kakavand, Dehghanpour A, Esmaeili N, Ghahremanzade A, Saebfar H, Heidari H, Salimimoghadam S, Taheriazam A, Entezari M, Ahn KS. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) in hepatocellular carcinoma progression: Biological functions and new therapeutic targets. PROGRESS IN BIOPHYSICS AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2023; 177:207-228. [PMID: 36584761 DOI: 10.1016/j.pbiomolbio.2022.12.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2022] [Revised: 11/29/2022] [Accepted: 12/22/2022] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Liver is an important organ in body that performs vital functions such as detoxification. Liver is susceptible to development of cancers, and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is among them. 75-85% of liver cancer cases are related to HCC. Therefore, much attention has been directed towards understanding factors mediating HCC progression. LncRNAs are epigenetic factors with more than 200 nucleotides in length located in both nucleus and cytoplasm and they are promising candidates in cancer therapy. Directing studies towards understanding function of lncRNAs in HCC is of importance. LncRNAs regulate cell cycle progression and growth of HCC cells, and they can also induce/inhibit apoptosis in tumor cells. LncRNAs affect invasion and metastasis in HCC mainly by epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) mechanism. Revealing the association between lncRNAs and downstream signaling pathways in HCC is discussed in the current manuscript. Infectious diseases can affect lncRNA expression in mediating HCC development and then, altered expression level of lncRNA is associated with drug resistance and radio-resistance. Biomarker application of lncRNAs and their role in prognosis and diagnosis of HCC are also discussed to pave the way for treatment of HCC patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mehrdad Hashemi
- Farhikhtegan Medical Convergence Sciences Research Center, Farhikhtegan Hospital Tehran Medical Sciences, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran; Department of Genetics, Faculty of Advanced Science and Technology, Tehran Medical Sciences, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Sepideh Mirzaei
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Islamic Azad University, Science and Research Branch, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mohammad Arad Zandieh
- Department of Food Hygiene and Quality Control, Division of Epidemiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran
| | - Sahar Rezaei
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Islamic Azad University, Science and Research Branch, Tehran, Iran
| | - Amirabbas Kakavand
- Farhikhtegan Medical Convergence Sciences Research Center, Farhikhtegan Hospital Tehran Medical Sciences, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Amir Dehghanpour
- Farhikhtegan Medical Convergence Sciences Research Center, Farhikhtegan Hospital Tehran Medical Sciences, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Negin Esmaeili
- Farhikhtegan Medical Convergence Sciences Research Center, Farhikhtegan Hospital Tehran Medical Sciences, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Azin Ghahremanzade
- Farhikhtegan Medical Convergence Sciences Research Center, Farhikhtegan Hospital Tehran Medical Sciences, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Hamidreza Saebfar
- European University Association, League of European Research Universities, University of Milan, Italy
| | - Hajar Heidari
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Public Health University at Albany State University of New York, Albany, NY, 12208, USA
| | - Shokooh Salimimoghadam
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz, Ahvaz, Iran
| | - Afshin Taheriazam
- Farhikhtegan Medical Convergence Sciences Research Center, Farhikhtegan Hospital Tehran Medical Sciences, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran; Department of Orthopedics, Faculty of Medicine, Tehran Medical Sciences, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran.
| | - Maliheh Entezari
- Farhikhtegan Medical Convergence Sciences Research Center, Farhikhtegan Hospital Tehran Medical Sciences, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran; Department of Genetics, Faculty of Advanced Science and Technology, Tehran Medical Sciences, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran.
| | - Kwang Seok Ahn
- College of Korean Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
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Ma Y, Liu X, Tang X. ETS-1/c-Met drives resistance to sorafenib in hepatocellular carcinoma. Am J Transl Res 2023; 15:896-913. [PMID: 36915773 PMCID: PMC10006745] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2022] [Accepted: 12/27/2022] [Indexed: 03/16/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The purpose of this study was to clarify the molecular regulatory mechanism of c-Met up-regulated expression and elucidate the molecular mechanisms by which c-Met overexpression and activation drive progression and sorafenib resistance in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). METHODS The resistance index was calculated. Bioinformatic techniques were applied to predict the transcription factors that bind and their binding sites on the c-Met promoter. Chromatin immunoprecipitation assays were implemented to verify the prediction results. To determine the regulatory mechanisms and effects of c-Met on sorafenib resistance in HCC, c-Met expression and activation were down-regulated by siRNA and inhibitor in in vivo and vitro experiments, while a parental cell line (Huh-7) was transfected with the adenovirus that upregulated c-Met expression. RESULTS c-Met expression was increased in HCC sorafenib-resistant cells. Functional findings suggested that c-Met overexpression and activation drive HCC tumor progression and sorafenib resistance by promoting cell proliferation, migration, and stopping apoptosis. Molecular mechanism findings demonstrated that the MEK/ERK signaling pathway activated the expression and activity of ETS-1 mediated by p-ERK, which led to its binding to the c-Met gene promoter and upregulation of c-Met transcriptional expression. The activation of the HGF/c-Met pathway drives sorafenib resistance in HCC cells by activating the Ras/Raf/ERK and PI3K/Akt signaling pathways, which regulate biologic processes, including cell proliferation, migration and anti-apoptosis. CONCLUSION c-Met overexpression and activation is an essential mechanism of sorafenib resistance in HCC. Combination therapy of sorafenib plus c-Met inhibitor overcame the resistance of sorafenib-targeted therapy for HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yongfang Ma
- Medical School, Anhui University of Science and Technology Huainan 232001, Anhui, China.,Department of Clinical Laboratory Medicine, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine Yiwu 322000, Zhejiang, China
| | - Xueke Liu
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Medicine, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine Yiwu 322000, Zhejiang, China
| | - Xiaolong Tang
- Medical School, Anhui University of Science and Technology Huainan 232001, Anhui, China
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Huang M, Jiao J, Cai H, Zhang Y, Xia Y, Lin J, Shang Z, Qian Y, Wang F, Wu H, Kong X, Gu J. C-C motif chemokine ligand 5 confines liver regeneration by down-regulating reparative macrophage-derived hepatocyte growth factor in a forkhead box O 3a-dependent manner. Hepatology 2022; 76:1706-1722. [PMID: 35288960 PMCID: PMC9790589 DOI: 10.1002/hep.32458] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2022] [Revised: 03/04/2022] [Accepted: 03/09/2022] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS Liver regeneration (LR) is vital for the recovery of liver function after hepatectomy. Limited regeneration capacity, together with insufficient remnant liver volume, is a risk factor for posthepatectomy liver failure (PHLF) resulting from small-for-size syndrome. Although inflammation plays an important role in controlling LR, the underlying mechanisms still remain obscure. APPROACH AND RESULTS We identified C-C motif chemokine ligand (CCL) 5 as an important negative regulator for LR. CCL5 levels were elevated after partial hepatectomy (PHx), both in healthy donors of living donor liver transplantation (LT) and PHx mouse models. Ccl5 knockout mice displayed improved survival after 90% PHx and enhanced LR 36 h after 70% PHx. However, primary hepatocytes from Ccl5-/- mice exposed to growth factors in vitro showed no proliferation advantage compared to those from wild-type (WT) mice. Flow cytometry analysis showed that proportions of Ly6Clo macrophages were significantly increased in Ccl5-/- mice after 70% PHx. RNA-sequencing analysis revealed that sorted macrophages (CD11b+ Ly6Clo&hi ) manifested enhanced expression of reparative genes in Ccl5-/- mice compared to WT mice. Mechanistically, CCL5 induced macrophages toward proinflammatory Ly6Chi phenotype, thereby inhibiting the production of hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) through the C-C motif chemokine receptor (CCR) 1- and CCR5-mediated forkhead box O (FoxO) 3a pathways. Finally, blockade of CCL5 greatly optimized survival and boosted LR in the mouse PHx model. CONCLUSIONS Our findings suggest that inhibition of CCL5 is a promising strategy to improve regeneration restoration by enhancing HGF secretion from reparative macrophages through the FoxO3a pathway, which may potentially reduce the mortality of PHLF.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miao Huang
- Department of TransplantationXinhua Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of MedicineShanghaiChina.,Central LaboratoryDepartment of Liver DiseasesShuguang Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese MedicineShanghaiChina
| | - Junzhe Jiao
- Central LaboratoryDepartment of Liver DiseasesShuguang Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese MedicineShanghaiChina
| | - Hao Cai
- Department of TransplantationXinhua Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of MedicineShanghaiChina
| | - Yichi Zhang
- Department of TransplantationXinhua Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of MedicineShanghaiChina
| | - Yuhan Xia
- Department of TransplantationXinhua Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of MedicineShanghaiChina
| | - Jiacheng Lin
- Central LaboratoryDepartment of Liver DiseasesShuguang Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese MedicineShanghaiChina
| | - Zhi Shang
- Central LaboratoryDepartment of Liver DiseasesShuguang Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese MedicineShanghaiChina
| | - Yihan Qian
- Central LaboratoryDepartment of Liver DiseasesShuguang Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese MedicineShanghaiChina
| | - Fang Wang
- Central LaboratoryDepartment of Liver DiseasesShuguang Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese MedicineShanghaiChina
| | - Hailong Wu
- 191610Shanghai Key Laboratory of Molecular ImagingShanghai University of Medicine and Health SciencesShanghaiChina
| | - Xiaoni Kong
- Central LaboratoryDepartment of Liver DiseasesShuguang Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese MedicineShanghaiChina
| | - Jinyang Gu
- Department of TransplantationXinhua Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of MedicineShanghaiChina
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Zhang J, Han H, Wang L, Wang W, Yang M, Qin Y. Overcoming the therapeutic resistance of hepatomas by targeting the tumor microenvironment. Front Oncol 2022; 12:988956. [DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2022.988956] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2022] [Accepted: 11/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) accounts for the majority of primary liver cancers and is the third leading cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide. Multifactorial drug resistance is regarded as the major cause of treatment failure in HCC. Accumulating evidence shows that the constituents of the tumor microenvironment (TME), including cancer-associated fibroblasts, tumor vasculature, immune cells, physical factors, cytokines, and exosomes may explain the therapeutic resistance mechanisms in HCC. In recent years, anti-angiogenic drugs and immune checkpoint inhibitors have shown satisfactory results in HCC patients. However, due to enhanced communication between the tumor and TME, the effect of heterogeneity of the microenvironment on therapeutic resistance is particularly complicated, which suggests a more challenging research direction. In addition, it has been reported that the three-dimensional (3D) organoid model derived from patient biopsies is more intuitive to fully understand the role of the TME in acquired resistance. Therefore, in this review, we have focused not only on the mechanisms and targets of therapeutic resistance related to the contents of the TME in HCC but also provide a comprehensive description of 3D models and how they contribute to the exploration of HCC therapies.
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Chung A, Nasralla D, Quaglia A. Understanding the Immunoenvironment of Primary Liver Cancer: A Histopathology Perspective. J Hepatocell Carcinoma 2022; 9:1149-1169. [PMID: 36349146 PMCID: PMC9637345 DOI: 10.2147/jhc.s382310] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2022] [Accepted: 09/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
One of the most common cancers worldwide, primary liver cancer remains a major cause of cancer-related mortality. Hepatocellular carcinoma and cholangiocarcinoma represent the majority of primary liver cancer cases. Despite advances in the development of novel anti-cancer therapies that exploit targets within the immune system, survival rates from liver cancer remain poor. Furthermore, responses to immunotherapies, such as immune checkpoint inhibitors, have revealed limited and variable responses amongst patients with hepatocellular carcinoma, although combination immunotherapies have shown recent breakthroughs in clinical trials. This has shifted the focus towards improving our understanding of the underlying immune and molecular characteristics of liver tumours that may influence their response to immune-modulating treatments. In this review, we outline the complex interactions that occur in the tumour microenvironment of hepatocellular carcinoma and cholangiocarcinoma, respectively, from a histopathological perspective. We explore the potential role of a classification system based on immune-specific characteristics within each cancer type, the importance of understanding inter- and intra-tumoural heterogeneity and consider the future role of histopathology and novel technologies within this field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annabelle Chung
- Department of Cellular Pathology, Royal Free Hospital, London, UK,Correspondence: Annabelle Chung, Department of Cellular Pathology, Royal Free Hospital, Pond Street, London, NW3 2QG, UK, Tel +44 20 7794 0500 ext. 35641, Email
| | - David Nasralla
- Department of Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Surgery, Royal Free Hospital, London, UK
| | - Alberto Quaglia
- Department of Cellular Pathology, Royal Free Hospital, London, UK
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39
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Wang J, Long R, Han Y. The role of exosomes in the tumour microenvironment on macrophage polarisation. Biochim Biophys Acta Rev Cancer 2022; 1877:188811. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bbcan.2022.188811] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2022] [Revised: 09/15/2022] [Accepted: 09/28/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
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40
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Protein tyrosine kinase inhibitor resistance in malignant tumors: molecular mechanisms and future perspective. Signal Transduct Target Ther 2022; 7:329. [PMID: 36115852 PMCID: PMC9482625 DOI: 10.1038/s41392-022-01168-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 28.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2022] [Revised: 07/08/2022] [Accepted: 08/26/2022] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
AbstractProtein tyrosine kinases (PTKs) are a class of proteins with tyrosine kinase activity that phosphorylate tyrosine residues of critical molecules in signaling pathways. Their basal function is essential for maintaining normal cell growth and differentiation. However, aberrant activation of PTKs caused by various factors can deviate cell function from the expected trajectory to an abnormal growth state, leading to carcinogenesis. Inhibiting the aberrant PTK function could inhibit tumor growth. Therefore, tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs), target-specific inhibitors of PTKs, have been used in treating malignant tumors and play a significant role in targeted therapy of cancer. Currently, drug resistance is the main reason for limiting TKIs efficacy of cancer. The increasing studies indicated that tumor microenvironment, cell death resistance, tumor metabolism, epigenetic modification and abnormal metabolism of TKIs were deeply involved in tumor development and TKI resistance, besides the abnormal activation of PTK-related signaling pathways involved in gene mutations. Accordingly, it is of great significance to study the underlying mechanisms of TKIs resistance and find solutions to reverse TKIs resistance for improving TKIs efficacy of cancer. Herein, we reviewed the drug resistance mechanisms of TKIs and the potential approaches to overcome TKI resistance, aiming to provide a theoretical basis for improving the efficacy of TKIs.
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41
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Guizhen Z, Guanchang J, Liwen L, Huifen W, Zhigang R, Ranran S, Zujiang Y. The tumor microenvironment of hepatocellular carcinoma and its targeting strategy by CAR-T cell immunotherapy. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2022; 13:918869. [PMID: 36093115 PMCID: PMC9452721 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2022.918869] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2022] [Accepted: 08/05/2022] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the major subtype of liver cancer, which ranks sixth in cancer incidence and third in mortality. Although great strides have been made in novel therapy for HCC, such as immunotherapy, the prognosis remains less than satisfactory. Increasing evidence demonstrates that the tumor immune microenvironment (TME) exerts a significant role in the evolution of HCC and has a non-negligible impact on the efficacy of HCC treatment. In the past two decades, the success in hematological malignancies made by chimeric antigen receptor-modified T (CAR-T) cell therapy leveraging it holds great promise for cancer treatment. However, in the face of a hostile TME in solid tumors like HCC, the efficacy of CAR-T cells will be greatly compromised. Here, we provide an overview of TME features in HCC, discuss recent advances and challenges of CAR-T immunotherapy in HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhang Guizhen
- Department of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
- Presion Medicine Cencter Gene Hospital of Henan Province, Zhengzhou, China
- Academy of Medical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Ji Guanchang
- Department of Urology People’s Hospital of Puyang, Puyang, China
| | - Liu Liwen
- Department of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
- Presion Medicine Cencter Gene Hospital of Henan Province, Zhengzhou, China
- Academy of Medical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Wang Huifen
- Department of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
- Presion Medicine Cencter Gene Hospital of Henan Province, Zhengzhou, China
- Academy of Medical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Ren Zhigang
- Department of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Sun Ranran
- Department of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Yu Zujiang
- Department of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
- Presion Medicine Cencter Gene Hospital of Henan Province, Zhengzhou, China
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Tian X, Yan T, Liu F, Liu Q, Zhao J, Xiong H, Jiang S. Link of sorafenib resistance with the tumor microenvironment in hepatocellular carcinoma: Mechanistic insights. Front Pharmacol 2022; 13:991052. [PMID: 36071839 PMCID: PMC9441942 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2022.991052] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2022] [Accepted: 07/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Sorafenib, a multi-kinase inhibitor with antiangiogenic, antiproliferative, and proapoptotic properties, is the first-line treatment for patients with late-stage hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, the therapeutic effect remains limited due to sorafenib resistance. Only about 30% of HCC patients respond well to the treatment, and the resistance almost inevitably happens within 6 months. Thus, it is critical to elucidate the underlying mechanisms and identify effective approaches to improve the therapeutic outcome. According to recent studies, tumor microenvironment (TME) and immune escape play critical roles in tumor occurrence, metastasis and anti-cancer drug resistance. The relevant mechanisms were focusing on hypoxia, tumor-associated immune-suppressive cells, and immunosuppressive molecules. In this review, we focus on sorafenib resistance and its relationship with liver cancer immune microenvironment, highlighting the importance of breaking sorafenib resistance in HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinchen Tian
- Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, China
| | - Tinghao Yan
- Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, China
| | - Fen Liu
- Clinical Medical Laboratory Center, Jining First People’s Hospital, Jining Medical University, Jining, China
| | - Qingbin Liu
- Clinical Medical Laboratory Center, Jining First People’s Hospital, Jining Medical University, Jining, China
| | - Jing Zhao
- Clinical Medical Laboratory Center, Jining First People’s Hospital, Jining Medical University, Jining, China
| | - Huabao Xiong
- Institute of Immunology and Molecular Medicine, Basic Medical School, Jining Medical University, Jining, China
- *Correspondence: Huabao Xiong, ; Shulong Jiang,
| | - Shulong Jiang
- Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, China
- Clinical Medical Laboratory Center, Jining First People’s Hospital, Jining Medical University, Jining, China
- *Correspondence: Huabao Xiong, ; Shulong Jiang,
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Xu J, Cao W, Wang P, Liu H. Tumor-Derived Membrane Vesicles: A Promising Tool for Personalized Immunotherapy. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2022; 15:ph15070876. [PMID: 35890175 PMCID: PMC9318328 DOI: 10.3390/ph15070876] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2022] [Revised: 07/11/2022] [Accepted: 07/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Tumor-derived membrane vesicles (TDMVs) are non-invasive, chemotactic, easily obtained characteristics and contain various tumor-borne substances, such as nucleic acid and proteins. The unique properties of tumor cells and membranes make them widely used in drug loading, membrane fusion and vaccines. In particular, personalized vectors prepared using the editable properties of cells can help in the design of personalized vaccines. This review focuses on recent research on TDMV technology and its application in personalized immunotherapy. We elucidate the strengths and challenges of TDMVs to promote their application from theory to clinical practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiabin Xu
- School of Stomatology, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou 221004, China; (J.X.); (P.W.)
- Affiliated Stomatological Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou 221004, China
| | - Wenqiang Cao
- Zhuhai Jinan Selenium Source Nanotechnology Co., Ltd., Jinan University, Zhuhai 519000, China;
| | - Penglai Wang
- School of Stomatology, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou 221004, China; (J.X.); (P.W.)
- Affiliated Stomatological Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou 221004, China
| | - Hong Liu
- Zhuhai Jinan Selenium Source Nanotechnology Co., Ltd., Jinan University, Zhuhai 519000, China;
- Correspondence:
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44
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Huang M, Lin Y, Wang C, Deng L, Chen M, Assaraf YG, Chen ZS, Ye W, Zhang D. New insights into antiangiogenic therapy resistance in cancer: Mechanisms and therapeutic aspects. Drug Resist Updat 2022; 64:100849. [PMID: 35842983 DOI: 10.1016/j.drup.2022.100849] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 25.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Angiogenesis is a hallmark of cancer and is required for tumor growth and progression. Antiangiogenic therapy has been revolutionarily developing and was approved for the treatment of various types of cancer for nearly two decades, among which bevacizumab and sorafenib continue to be the two most frequently used antiangiogenic drugs. Although antiangiogenic therapy has brought substantial survival benefits to many cancer patients, resistance to antiangiogenic drugs frequently occurs during clinical treatment, leading to poor outcomes and treatment failure. Cumulative evidence has demonstrated that the intricate interplay among tumor cells, bone marrow-derived cells, and local stromal cells critically allows for tumor escape from antiangiogenic therapy. Currently, drug resistance has become the main challenge that hinders the therapeutic efficacies of antiangiogenic therapy. In this review, we describe and summarize the cellular and molecular mechanisms conferring tumor drug resistance to antiangiogenic therapy, which was predominantly associated with redundancy in angiogenic signaling molecules (e.g., VEGFs, GM-CSF, G-CSF, and IL17), alterations in biological processes of tumor cells (e.g., tumor invasiveness and metastasis, stemness, autophagy, metabolic reprogramming, vessel co-option, and vasculogenic mimicry), increased recruitment of bone marrow-derived cells (e.g., myeloid-derived suppressive cells, tumor-associated macrophages, and tumor-associated neutrophils), and changes in the biological functions and features of local stromal cells (e.g., pericytes, cancer-associated fibroblasts, and endothelial cells). We also review potential biomarkers to predict the response to antiangiogenic therapy in cancer patients, which mainly consist of imaging biomarkers, cellular and extracellular proteins, a certain type of bone marrow-derived cells, local stromal cell content (e.g., pericyte coverage) as well as serum or plasma biomarkers (e.g., non-coding RNAs). Finally, we highlight the recent advances in combination strategies with the aim of enhancing the response to antiangiogenic therapy in cancer patients and mouse models. This review introduces a comprehensive understanding of the mechanisms and biomarkers associated with the evasion of antiangiogenic therapy in cancer, providing an outlook for developing more effective approaches to promote the therapeutic efficacy of antiangiogenic therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maohua Huang
- Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Pharmacodynamic Constituents of Traditional Chinese Medicine and New Drugs Research, College of Pharmacy, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632, China; Integrated Chinese and Western Medicine Postdoctoral Research Station, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632, China
| | - Yuning Lin
- Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Pharmacodynamic Constituents of Traditional Chinese Medicine and New Drugs Research, College of Pharmacy, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632, China
| | - Chenran Wang
- Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Pharmacodynamic Constituents of Traditional Chinese Medicine and New Drugs Research, College of Pharmacy, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632, China
| | - Lijuan Deng
- Formula-Pattern Research Center, School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632, China
| | - Minfeng Chen
- Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Pharmacodynamic Constituents of Traditional Chinese Medicine and New Drugs Research, College of Pharmacy, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632, China
| | - Yehuda G Assaraf
- The Fred Wyszkowski Cancer Research Laboratory, Department of Biology, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, 3200003, Israel
| | - Zhe-Sheng Chen
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, Institute for Biotechnology, St. John's University, NY 11439, USA.
| | - Wencai Ye
- Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Pharmacodynamic Constituents of Traditional Chinese Medicine and New Drugs Research, College of Pharmacy, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632, China.
| | - Dongmei Zhang
- Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Pharmacodynamic Constituents of Traditional Chinese Medicine and New Drugs Research, College of Pharmacy, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632, China.
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Abstract
The tumor microenvironment (TME) is a well-recognized system that plays an essential role in tumor initiation, development, and progression. Intense intercellular communication between tumor cells and other cells (especially macrophages) occurs in the TME and is mediated by cell-to-cell contact and/or soluble messengers. Emerging evidence indicates that noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs) are critical regulators of the relationship between cells within the TME. In this review, we provide an update on the regulation of ncRNAs (primarily micro RNAs [miRNAs], long ncRNAs [lncRNAs], and circular RNAs [circRNAs]) in the crosstalk between macrophages and tumor cells in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). These ncRNAs are derived from macrophages or tumor cells and act as oncogenes or tumor suppressors, contributing to tumor progression not only by regulating the physiological and pathological processes of tumor cells but also by controlling macrophage infiltration, activation, polarization, and function. Herein, we also explore the options available for clinical therapeutic strategies targeting crosstalk-related ncRNAs to treat HCC. A better understanding of the relationship between macrophages and tumor cells mediated by ncRNAs will uncover new diagnostic biomarkers and pharmacological targets in cancer.
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Zakaria S, Allam S, El-Sisi AE. Perindopril sensitizes hepatocellular carcinoma to chemotherapy: A possible role of leptin / Wnt/ β-catenin axis with subsequent inhibition of liver cancer stem cells. Saudi Pharm J 2022; 30:1170-1180. [PMID: 36164573 PMCID: PMC9508642 DOI: 10.1016/j.jsps.2022.06.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2022] [Accepted: 06/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the leading causes of cancer-related death. The major challenge in managing HCC is the resistance to chemotherapy. Leptin hormone is associated with different oncogenic pathways implicated in drug resistance. Angiotensin II was found to decrease the production and secretion of leptin. Objective This study investigated the potential role of an ACEI perindopril as a chemosensitizer agent to sorafenib. Method HCC was induced in mice using a single dose of diethylnitrosamine DENA (200 mg/kg) followed by phenobarbital 0.05% in drinking water for 16 weeks. Mice were then treated with perindopril (1 mg/kg/day), Sorafenib (30 mg/kg/day), or both of them for another four weeks. Leptin, VEGF, MMP-9, Cyclin D1, EpCAM, and β-catenin were measured using immunoassay while Wnt and ALDH1 were assayed using western blotting assay. Results Perindopril whether alone or in combination with sorafenib decrease liver enzymes and preserve the liver architecture. Our study revealed that perindopril significantly increased the antineoplastic, antiangiogenic as well as anti-metastatic effects of sorafenib. This effect was correlated with the downregulation of the leptin / Wnt / β-catenin pathway and overexpression of ALDH1 while downregulation of EpCAM Conclusion This study presents perindopril as a potential chemosensitizer agent that works through decreased expression of the leptin / Wnt / β-catenin pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sherin Zakaria
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Kaferelsheikh University, 33516, Kaferelsheikh, Egypt
- Corresponding author.at: Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Kaferelsheikh University, Kafer elsheikh, Egypt
| | - Shady Allam
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Menoufia University, 32511, Menoufia, Egypt
| | - Alaa E. El-Sisi
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Tanta University, 31512, Tanta, Egypt
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EGFR/MET promotes hepatocellular carcinoma metastasis by stabilizing tumor cells and resisting to RTKs inhibitors in circulating tumor microemboli. Cell Death Dis 2022; 13:351. [PMID: 35428350 PMCID: PMC9012802 DOI: 10.1038/s41419-022-04796-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2021] [Revised: 03/25/2022] [Accepted: 03/29/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
The receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs) family is well-recognized as vital targets for the treatment of hepatocarcinoma cancer (HCC) clinically, whereas the survival benefit of target therapy sorafenib is not satisfactory for liver cancer patients due to metastasis. EGFR and MET are two molecules of the RTK family that were related to the survival time of liver cancer patients and resistance to targeted therapy in clinical reports. However, the mechanism and clinical therapeutic value of EGFR/MET in HCC metastasis are still not completely clarified. The study confirmed that EGFR/MET was highly expressed in HCC cells and tissues and the phosphorylation was stable after metastasis. The expression of EGFR/MET was up-regulated in circulating tumor microemboli (CTM) to accelerate IL-8 production and resistance to the lethal effect of leukocytes. Meanwhile, highly expressed EGFR/MET effectively regulated the Ras/MAPK pathway and stabilized suspended HCC cells by facilitating proliferation and inhibiting apoptosis. Moreover, EGFR/MET promoted phosphorylation of hetero-RTKs, which was dependent on high-energy phosphoric acid compounds rather than their direct interactions. In conclusion, highly expressed EGFR/MET could be used in CTM identification and suitable for preventing metastasis of HCC in clinical practice.
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Tumor Microenvironment of Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Challenges and Opportunities for New Treatment Options. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23073778. [PMID: 35409139 PMCID: PMC8998420 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23073778] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 28.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2022] [Revised: 03/25/2022] [Accepted: 03/26/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The prevalence of liver cancer is constantly rising, with increasing incidence and mortality in Europe and the USA in recent decades. Among the different subtypes of liver cancers, hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most commonly diagnosed liver cancer. Besides advances in diagnosis and promising results of pre-clinical studies, HCC remains a highly lethal disease. In many cases, HCC is an effect of chronic liver inflammation, which leads to the formation of a complex tumor microenvironment (TME) composed of immune and stromal cells. The TME of HCC patients is a challenge for therapies, as it is involved in metastasis and the development of resistance. However, given that the TME is an intricate system of immune and stromal cells interacting with cancer cells, new immune-based therapies are being developed to target the TME of HCC. Therefore, understanding the complexity of the TME in HCC will provide new possibilities to design novel and more effective immunotherapeutics and combinatorial therapies to overcome resistance to treatment. In this review, we describe the role of inflammation during the development and progression of HCC by focusing on TME. We also describe the most recent therapeutic advances for HCC and possible combinatorial treatment options.
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To KKW, Cho WCS. Mesenchymal Epithelial Transition Factor (MET): A Key Player in Chemotherapy Resistance and an Emerging Target for Potentiating Cancer Immunotherapy. Curr Cancer Drug Targets 2022; 22:269-285. [PMID: 35255791 DOI: 10.2174/1568009622666220307105107] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2021] [Revised: 12/10/2021] [Accepted: 01/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
The MET protein is a cell surface receptor tyrosine kinase predominately expressed in epithelial cells. Upon binding of its only known ligand, hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), MET homodimerizes, phosphorylates, and stimulates intracellular signalling to drive cell proliferation. Amplification or hyperactivation of MET is frequently observed in various cancer types and it is associated with poor response to conventional and targeted chemotherapy. More recently, emerging evidence also suggests that MET/HGF signalling may play an immunosuppressive role and it could confer resistance to cancer immunotherapy. In this review, we summarized the preclinical and clinical evidence of MET's role in drug resistance to conventional chemotherapy, targeted therapy, and immunotherapy. Previous clinical trials investigating MET-targeted therapy in unselected or MET-overexpressing cancers yielded mostly unfavourable results. More recent clinical studies focusing on MET exon 14 alterations and MET amplification have produced encouraging treatment responses to MET inhibitor therapy. The translational relevance of MET inhibitor therapy to overcome drug resistance in cancer patients is discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kenneth K W To
- School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - William C S Cho
- Department of Clinical Oncology, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Hong Kong SAR, China
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Xu W, Cheng Y, Guo Y, Yao W, Qian H. Targeting tumor associated macrophages in hepatocellular carcinoma. Biochem Pharmacol 2022; 199:114990. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bcp.2022.114990] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2021] [Revised: 03/02/2022] [Accepted: 03/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
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