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Zhang K, Li G, Wang Q, Liu X, Chen H, Li F, Li S, Song X, Li Y. A disulfidptosis-related glucose metabolism and immune response prognostic model revealing the immune microenvironment in lung adenocarcinoma. Front Immunol 2024; 15:1398802. [PMID: 39091494 PMCID: PMC11291233 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2024.1398802] [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: 03/10/2024] [Accepted: 07/03/2024] [Indexed: 08/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Lung adenocarcinoma accounts for the majority of lung cancer cases and impact survival rate of patients severely. Immunotherapy is an effective treatment for lung adenocarcinoma but is restricted by many factors including immune checkpoint expression and the inhibitory immune microenvironment. This study aimed to explore the immune microenvironment in lung adenocarcinoma via disulfidptosis. Methods Public datasets of lung adenocarcinoma from the TCGA and GEO was adopted as the training and validation cohort. Based on the differences in the expression of disulfidptosis -related genes, a glucose metabolism and immune response prognostic model was constructed. The prognostic value and clinical relationship of the model were further explored. Immune-related analyses were performed according to CIBERSORT, ssGSEA, TIDE, IPS. Results We verified that the model could accurately predict the survival expectancy of lung adenocarcinoma patients. Patients with lung adenocarcinoma and a low-risk score had better survival outcomes according to the model. Moreover, the high-risk group tended to have an immunosuppressive effect, as reflected by the immune cell components, phenotypes and functions. We also found that the clinically relevant immune checkpoint CTLA-4 was significantly higher in low-risk group (P<0.05), indicating that the high-risk group may suffer worse tumor immunotherapy efficacy. Finally, we found that this model has accurate predictive value for the efficacy of immune checkpoint blockade in non-small cell lung cancer (P<0.05). Conclusion The prognostic model demonstrated the feasibility of predicting survival and immunotherapy efficacy via disulfidptosis-related genes and will facilitate the development of personalized anticancer therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kai Zhang
- Department of Oncology, 920th Hospital of Joint Logistics Support Force, Kunming, China
| | - Gang Li
- Graduate School, Kunming Medical University, Kunming, China
| | - Qin Wang
- Graduate School, Kunming Medical University, Kunming, China
| | - Xin Liu
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Second Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming, China
| | - Hong Chen
- Department of Oncology, 920th Hospital of Joint Logistics Support Force, Kunming, China
| | - Fuqiang Li
- Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 920th Hospital of Joint Logistics Support Force, Kunming, China
| | - Shuangyan Li
- Graduate School, Kunming Medical University, Kunming, China
| | - Xinmao Song
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Ear, Nose & Throat Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yi Li
- Department of Oncology, 920th Hospital of Joint Logistics Support Force, Kunming, China
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2
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Mpekris F, Panagi M, Charalambous A, Voutouri C, Stylianopoulos T. Modulating cancer mechanopathology to restore vascular function and enhance immunotherapy. Cell Rep Med 2024; 5:101626. [PMID: 38944037 PMCID: PMC11293360 DOI: 10.1016/j.xcrm.2024.101626] [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: 01/10/2024] [Revised: 04/12/2024] [Accepted: 06/07/2024] [Indexed: 07/01/2024]
Abstract
Solid tumor pathology, characterized by abnormalities in the tumor microenvironment (TME), challenges therapeutic effectiveness. Mechanical factors, including increased tumor stiffness and accumulation of intratumoral forces, can determine the success of cancer treatments, defining the tumor's "mechanopathology" profile. These abnormalities cause extensive vascular compression, leading to hypoperfusion and hypoxia. Hypoperfusion hinders drug delivery, while hypoxia creates an unfavorable TME, promoting tumor progression through immunosuppression, heightened metastatic potential, drug resistance, and chaotic angiogenesis. Strategies targeting TME mechanopathology, such as vascular and stroma normalization, hold promise in enhancing cancer therapies with some already advancing to the clinic. Normalization can be achieved using anti-angiogenic agents, mechanotherapeutics, immune checkpoint inhibitors, engineered bacterial therapeutics, metronomic nanomedicine, and ultrasound sonopermeation. Here, we review the methods developed to rectify tumor mechanopathology, which have even led to cures in preclinical models, and discuss their bench-to-bedside translation, including the derivation of biomarkers from tumor mechanopathology for personalized therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fotios Mpekris
- Cancer Biophysics Laboratory, Department of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, University of Cyprus, Nicosia, Cyprus.
| | - Myrofora Panagi
- Cancer Biophysics Laboratory, Department of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, University of Cyprus, Nicosia, Cyprus
| | - Antonia Charalambous
- Cancer Biophysics Laboratory, Department of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, University of Cyprus, Nicosia, Cyprus
| | - Chrysovalantis Voutouri
- Cancer Biophysics Laboratory, Department of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, University of Cyprus, Nicosia, Cyprus
| | - Triantafyllos Stylianopoulos
- Cancer Biophysics Laboratory, Department of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, University of Cyprus, Nicosia, Cyprus.
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3
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Tovar Perez JE, Zhang S, Hodgeman W, Kapoor S, Rajendran P, Kobayashi KS, Dashwood RH. Epigenetic regulation of major histocompatibility complexes in gastrointestinal malignancies and the potential for clinical interception. Clin Epigenetics 2024; 16:83. [PMID: 38915093 PMCID: PMC11197381 DOI: 10.1186/s13148-024-01698-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2023] [Accepted: 06/18/2024] [Indexed: 06/26/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Gastrointestinal malignancies encompass a diverse group of cancers that pose significant challenges to global health. The major histocompatibility complex (MHC) plays a pivotal role in immune surveillance, orchestrating the recognition and elimination of tumor cells by the immune system. However, the intricate regulation of MHC gene expression is susceptible to dynamic epigenetic modification, which can influence functionality and pathological outcomes. MAIN BODY By understanding the epigenetic alterations that drive MHC downregulation, insights are gained into the molecular mechanisms underlying immune escape, tumor progression, and immunotherapy resistance. This systematic review examines the current literature on epigenetic mechanisms that contribute to MHC deregulation in esophageal, gastric, pancreatic, hepatic and colorectal malignancies. Potential clinical implications are discussed of targeting aberrant epigenetic modifications to restore MHC expression and 0 the effectiveness of immunotherapeutic interventions. CONCLUSION The integration of epigenetic-targeted therapies with immunotherapies holds great potential for improving clinical outcomes in patients with gastrointestinal malignancies and represents a compelling avenue for future research and therapeutic development.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Shilan Zhang
- Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200070, China
| | - William Hodgeman
- Wolfson Medical School, The University of Glasgow, Glasgow, G12 8QQ, UK
| | - Sabeeta Kapoor
- Center for Epigenetics and Disease Prevention, Texas A&M Health, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Praveen Rajendran
- Center for Epigenetics and Disease Prevention, Texas A&M Health, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
- Department of Translational Medical Sciences, and Antibody & Biopharmaceuticals Core, Texas A&M Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Koichi S Kobayashi
- Department of Immunology, Hokkaido University Graduate School of Medicine, Sapporo, 060-8638, Japan
- Hokkaido University Institute for Vaccine Research and Development, Sapporo, 060-8638, Japan
- Department of Microbial Pathogenesis and Immunology, Texas A&M Health, Bryan, TX, 77087, USA
| | - Roderick H Dashwood
- Center for Epigenetics and Disease Prevention, Texas A&M Health, Houston, TX, 77030, USA.
- Department of Translational Medical Sciences, and Antibody & Biopharmaceuticals Core, Texas A&M Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030, USA.
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4
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Liu S, Liu M, Li Y, Song Q. N6-methyladenosine-dependent signaling in colorectal cancer: Functions and clinical potential. Crit Rev Oncol Hematol 2024; 198:104360. [PMID: 38615872 DOI: 10.1016/j.critrevonc.2024.104360] [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: 10/30/2023] [Revised: 03/29/2024] [Accepted: 04/10/2024] [Indexed: 04/16/2024] Open
Abstract
Colorectal cancer (CRC) ranks as the third most prevalent malignancy worldwide. Despite the gradual expansion of therapeutic options for CRC, its clinical management remains a formidable challenge. And, because of the current dearth of technical means for early CRC screening, most patients are diagnosed at an advanced stage. Therefore, it is imperative to develop novel diagnostic and therapeutic tools for this disease. N6-methyladenosine (m6A), the predominant RNA modification in eukaryotes, can be recognized by m6A-specific methylated reading proteins to modulate gene expression. Studies have revealed that CRC disrupts m6A homeostasis through various mechanisms, thereby sustaining aberrant signal transduction and promoting its own progression. Consequently, m6A-based diagnostic and therapeutic strategies have garnered widespread attention. Although utilizing m6A as a biomarker and drug target has demonstrated promising feasibility, existing observations primarily stem from preclinical models; henceforth necessitating further investigation and resolution of numerous outstanding issues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shaojun Liu
- Department of Oncology, Suzhou TCM Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing University of Chinese medicine, Suzhou, Jiangsu, China
| | - Min Liu
- Department of Oncology, Suzhou TCM Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing University of Chinese medicine, Suzhou, Jiangsu, China
| | - Yuxuan Li
- Department of Oncology, Suzhou TCM Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing University of Chinese medicine, Suzhou, Jiangsu, China
| | - Qing Song
- Department of Oncology, Suzhou TCM Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing University of Chinese medicine, Suzhou, Jiangsu, China.
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5
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Song J, Kim D, Jung J, Choi E, Lee Y, Jeong Y, Lee B, Lee S, Shim Y, Won Y, Cho H, Jang DK, Kang HW, Joo JWJ, Jang W. Elucidating immunological characteristics of the adenoma-carcinoma sequence in colorectal cancer patients in South Korea using a bioinformatics approach. Sci Rep 2024; 14:10105. [PMID: 38698020 PMCID: PMC11066069 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-56078-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2023] [Accepted: 03/01/2024] [Indexed: 05/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the top five most common and life-threatening malignancies worldwide. Most CRC develops from advanced colorectal adenoma (ACA), a precancerous stage, through the adenoma-carcinoma sequence. However, its underlying mechanisms, including how the tumor microenvironment changes, remain elusive. Therefore, we conducted an integrative analysis comparing RNA-seq data collected from 40 ACA patients who visited Dongguk University Ilsan Hospital with normal adjacent colons and tumor samples from 18 CRC patients collected from a public database. Differential expression analysis identified 21 and 79 sequentially up- or down-regulated genes across the continuum, respectively. The functional centrality of the continuum genes was assessed through network analysis, identifying 11 up- and 13 down-regulated hub-genes. Subsequently, we validated the prognostic effects of hub-genes using the Kaplan-Meier survival analysis. To estimate the immunological transition of the adenoma-carcinoma sequence, single-cell deconvolution and immune repertoire analyses were conducted. Significant composition changes for innate immunity cells and decreased plasma B-cells with immunoglobulin diversity were observed, along with distinctive immunoglobulin recombination patterns. Taken together, we believe our findings suggest underlying transcriptional and immunological changes during the adenoma-carcinoma sequence, contributing to the further development of pre-diagnostic markers for CRC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jaeseung Song
- Department of Life Sciences, Dongguk University, Seoul, 04620, South Korea
| | - Daeun Kim
- Department of Life Sciences, Dongguk University, Seoul, 04620, South Korea
| | - Junghyun Jung
- Department of Life Sciences, Dongguk University, Seoul, 04620, South Korea
- Division of AI Software Convergence, Dongguk University-Seoul, Seoul, 04620, South Korea
- Department of Computational Biomedicine, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Hollywood, CA, USA
| | - Eunyoung Choi
- Department of Life Sciences, Dongguk University, Seoul, 04620, South Korea
| | - Yubin Lee
- Department of Life Sciences, Dongguk University, Seoul, 04620, South Korea
| | - Yeonbin Jeong
- Department of Life Sciences, Dongguk University, Seoul, 04620, South Korea
| | - Byungjo Lee
- Department of Life Sciences, Dongguk University, Seoul, 04620, South Korea
| | - Sora Lee
- Department of Life Sciences, Dongguk University, Seoul, 04620, South Korea
| | - Yujeong Shim
- Department of Life Sciences, Dongguk University, Seoul, 04620, South Korea
| | - Youngtae Won
- Department of Life Sciences, Dongguk University, Seoul, 04620, South Korea
| | - Hyeki Cho
- Department of Internal Medicine, Dongguk University Ilsan Hospital, Dongguk University College of Medicine, Goyang, 10326, South Korea
| | - Dong Kee Jang
- Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul Metropolitan Government Seoul National University Boramae Medical Center, Seoul, 07061, South Korea
| | - Hyoun Woo Kang
- Department of Internal Medicine, Dongguk University Ilsan Hospital, Dongguk University College of Medicine, Goyang, 10326, South Korea.
- Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul Metropolitan Government Seoul National University Boramae Medical Center, Seoul, 07061, South Korea.
| | - Jong Wha J Joo
- Division of AI Software Convergence, Dongguk University-Seoul, Seoul, 04620, South Korea.
| | - Wonhee Jang
- Department of Life Sciences, Dongguk University, Seoul, 04620, South Korea.
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Kubo T, Asano S, Sasaki K, Murata K, Kanaseki T, Tsukahara T, Hirohashi Y, Torigoe T. Assessment of cancer cell-expressed HLA class I molecules and their immunopathological implications. HLA 2024; 103:e15472. [PMID: 38699870 DOI: 10.1111/tan.15472] [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: 01/11/2024] [Revised: 02/27/2024] [Accepted: 03/27/2024] [Indexed: 05/05/2024]
Abstract
Immunotherapy using immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) has shown superior efficacy compared with conventional chemotherapy in certain cancer types, establishing immunotherapy as the fourth standard treatment alongside surgical intervention, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy. In cancer immunotherapy employing ICIs, CD8-positive cytotoxic T lymphocytes are recognized as the primary effector cells. For effective clinical outcomes, it is essential that the targeted cancer cells express HLA class I molecules to present antigenic peptides derived from the tumor. However, cancer cells utilize various mechanisms to downregulate or lose HLA class I molecules from their surface, resulting in evasion from immune surveillance. Correlations between prognosis and the integrity of HLA class I molecules expressed by cancer cells have been consistently found across different types of cancer. This paper provides an overview of the regulatory mechanisms of HLA class I molecules and their role in cancer immunotherapy, with a particular emphasis on the significance of utilizing pathological tissues to evaluate HLA class I molecules expressed in cancer cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Terufumi Kubo
- Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, Sapporo Medical University, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Shiori Asano
- Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, Sapporo Medical University, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Kenta Sasaki
- Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, Sapporo Medical University, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Kenji Murata
- Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, Sapporo Medical University, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Takayuki Kanaseki
- Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, Sapporo Medical University, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Tomohide Tsukahara
- Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, Sapporo Medical University, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Yoshihiko Hirohashi
- Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, Sapporo Medical University, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Toshihiko Torigoe
- Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, Sapporo Medical University, Sapporo, Japan
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7
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Zhang J, Guo H, Wang L, Zheng M, Kong S, Wu H, Zhao L, Zhao Q, Yang X, He Q, Chen X, Ding L, Yang B. Cediranib enhances the transcription of MHC-I by upregulating IRF-1. Biochem Pharmacol 2024; 221:116036. [PMID: 38301967 DOI: 10.1016/j.bcp.2024.116036] [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: 01/07/2024] [Accepted: 01/25/2024] [Indexed: 02/03/2024]
Abstract
Diminished or lost Major Histocompatibility Complex class I (MHC-I) expression is frequently observed in tumors, which obstructs the immune recognition of tumor cells by cytotoxic T cells. Restoring MHC-I expression by promoting its transcription and improving protein stability have been promising strategies for reestablishing anti-tumor immune responses. Here, through cell-based screening models, we found that cediranib significantly upregulated MHC-I expression in tumor cells. This finding was confirmed in various non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cell lines and primary patient-derived lung cancer cells. Furthermore, we discovered cediranib achieved MHC-I upregulation through transcriptional regulation. interferon regulatory factor 1 (IRF-1) was required for cediranib induced MHC-I transcription and the absence of IRF-1 eliminated this effect. Continuing our research, we found cediranib triggered STAT1 phosphorylation and promoted IRF-1 transcription subsequently, thus enhancing downstream MHC-I transcription. In vivo study, we further confirmed that cediranib increased MHC-I expression, enhanced CD8+ T cell infiltration, and improved the efficacy of anti-PD-L1 therapy. Collectively, our study demonstrated that cediranib could elevate MHC-I expression and enhance responsiveness to immune therapy, thereby providing a theoretical foundation for its potential clinical trials in combination with immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jie Zhang
- Zhejiang Province Key Laboratory of Anti-Cancer Drug Research, Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Hongjie Guo
- Zhejiang Province Key Laboratory of Anti-Cancer Drug Research, Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Longsheng Wang
- Zhejiang Province Key Laboratory of Anti-Cancer Drug Research, Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Mingming Zheng
- Zhejiang Province Key Laboratory of Anti-Cancer Drug Research, Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Shijia Kong
- Zhejiang Province Key Laboratory of Anti-Cancer Drug Research, Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Honghai Wu
- Zhejiang Province Key Laboratory of Anti-Cancer Drug Research, Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Lin Zhao
- Zhejiang Province Key Laboratory of Anti-Cancer Drug Research, Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Qiong Zhao
- Department of Thoracic Oncology, Shulan(Hangzhou)Hospital Affiliated to Zhejiang Shuren University Shulan International Medical College, Hangzhou 310022, China
| | - Xiaochun Yang
- Zhejiang Province Key Laboratory of Anti-Cancer Drug Research, Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China; Nanhu Brain-computer Interface Institute, Hangzhou 311100, China
| | - Qiaojun He
- Zhejiang Province Key Laboratory of Anti-Cancer Drug Research, Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China; The Innovation Institute for Artificial Intelligence in Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310018, China; Cancer Center of Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Xi Chen
- Zhejiang Province Key Laboratory of Anti-Cancer Drug Research, Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Ling Ding
- Zhejiang Province Key Laboratory of Anti-Cancer Drug Research, Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China; Nanhu Brain-computer Interface Institute, Hangzhou 311100, China.
| | - Bo Yang
- Zhejiang Province Key Laboratory of Anti-Cancer Drug Research, Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China; The Innovation Institute for Artificial Intelligence in Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310018, China; Cancer Center of Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China; School of Medicine, Hangzhou City University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310015, China.
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8
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Sverchkova A, Burkholz S, Rubsamen R, Stratford R, Clancy T. Integrative HLA typing of tumor and adjacent normal tissue can reveal insights into the tumor immune response. BMC Med Genomics 2024; 17:37. [PMID: 38281021 PMCID: PMC10821267 DOI: 10.1186/s12920-024-01808-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2023] [Accepted: 01/12/2024] [Indexed: 01/29/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The HLA complex is the most polymorphic region of the human genome, and its improved characterization can help us understand the genetics of human disease as well as the interplay between cancer and the immune system. The main function of HLA genes is to recognize "non-self" antigens and to present them on the cell surface to T cells, which instigate an immune response toward infected or transformed cells. While sequence variation in the antigen-binding groove of HLA may modulate the repertoire of immunogenic antigens presented to T cells, alterations in HLA expression can significantly influence the immune response to pathogens and cancer. METHODS RNA sequencing was used here to accurately genotype the HLA region and quantify and compare the level of allele-specific HLA expression in tumors and patient-matched adjacent normal tissue. The computational approach utilized in the study types classical and non-classical Class I and Class II HLA alleles from RNA-seq while simultaneously quantifying allele-specific or personalized HLA expression. The strategy also uses RNA-seq data to infer immune cell infiltration into tumors and the corresponding immune cell composition of matched normal tissue, to reveal potential insights related to T cell and NK cell interactions with tumor HLA alleles. RESULTS The genotyping method outperforms existing RNA-seq-based HLA typing tools for Class II HLA genotyping. Further, we demonstrate its potential for studying tumor-immune interactions by applying the method to tumor samples from two different subtypes of breast cancer and their matched normal breast tissue controls. CONCLUSIONS The integrative RNA-seq-based HLA typing approach described in the study, coupled with HLA expression analysis, neoantigen prediction and immune cell infiltration, may help increase our understanding of the interplay between a patient's tumor and immune system; and provide further insights into the immune mechanisms that determine a positive or negative outcome following treatment with immunotherapy such as checkpoint blockade.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angelina Sverchkova
- NEC OncoImmunity, Oslo Cancer Cluster, Innovation Park, Oslo, Norway
- Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Scott Burkholz
- Flow Pharma, Inc, Warrensville Heights, Galaxy Parkway, OH, 4829, USA
| | - Reid Rubsamen
- Flow Pharma, Inc, Warrensville Heights, Galaxy Parkway, OH, 4829, USA
- University Hospitals, Cleveland Medical Center, Cleveland, OH, USA
- Case Western Reserve School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Richard Stratford
- NEC OncoImmunity, Oslo Cancer Cluster, Innovation Park, Oslo, Norway
| | - Trevor Clancy
- NEC OncoImmunity, Oslo Cancer Cluster, Innovation Park, Oslo, Norway.
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Kwon MJ, Park HY, Lim H, Son IT, Kim MJ, Kim NY, Kim MJ, Nam ES, Cho SJ, Bang WJ, Kang HS. Potential Molecular Markers Related to Lymph Node Metastasis and Stalk Resection Margins in Pedunculated T1 Colorectal Cancers Using Digital Spatial Profiling: A Pilot Study with a Small Case Series. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:1103. [PMID: 38256174 PMCID: PMC10816845 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25021103] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2023] [Revised: 01/12/2024] [Accepted: 01/15/2024] [Indexed: 01/24/2024] Open
Abstract
There is a debate regarding the prediction of lymph node metastasis (LNM) in pedunculated T1 colorectal cancer (CRC). In this study with four cases of pedunculated T1 CRCs, we aimed to investigate gene expression variations based on the distance from the Haggitt line (HL) and identify potential molecular risk factors for LNM. By leveraging the Cancer Transcriptome Atlas and digital spatial profiling technology, we meticulously analyzed discrete regions, including the head, HL, proximal stalk region (300-1000 μm from HL), and distal stalk region (1500-2000 μm from HL) to identify spatially sequential molecular changes. Our findings showed significant overall gene expression variations among the head, proximal stalk, and distal stalk regions of pedunculated T1 CRCs compared to the control adenoma. Compared to LNM-negative T1 CRCs, LNM-positive T1 CRC showed that the expression of genes involved in immune-related pathways such as B2M, HLA-B, and HLA-E were significantly downregulated in the distal stalk region compared to the proximal stalk region. In summary, our results may tentatively suggest considering endoscopic resection of the stalk with a minimum 2000 μm margin from the HL, taking into account the gene expression alterations related to immune-related pathways. However, we acknowledge the limitations of this pilot study, notably the small case series, which may restrict the depth of interpretation. Further validation is imperative to substantiate these findings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mi Jung Kwon
- Department of Pathology, Hallym University Sacred Heart Hospital, Hallym University College of Medicine, Anyang 14068, Republic of Korea;
| | - Ha Young Park
- Department of Pathology, Busan Paik Hospital, Inje University College of Medicine, Busan 47392, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyun Lim
- Department of Internal Medicine, Hallym University Sacred Heart Hospital, Hallym University College of Medicine, Anyang 14068, Republic of Korea
| | - Il Tae Son
- Department of Surgery, Hallym University Sacred Heart Hospital, Hallym University College of Medicine, Anyang 14068, Republic of Korea
| | - Min-Jeong Kim
- Department of Radiology, Hallym University Sacred Heart Hospital, Hallym University College of Medicine, Anyang 14068, Republic of Korea
| | - Nan Young Kim
- Hallym Institute of Translational Genomics and Bioinformatics, Hallym University Medical Center, Anyang 14068, Republic of Korea
| | - Min Jeong Kim
- Department of Surgery, Kangdong Sacred Heart Hospital, Gangdong-gu, Seoul 05355, Republic of Korea
| | - Eun Sook Nam
- Department of Pathology, Kangdong Sacred Heart Hospital, Gangdong-gu, Seoul 05355, Republic of Korea
| | - Seong Jin Cho
- Department of Pathology, Kangdong Sacred Heart Hospital, Gangdong-gu, Seoul 05355, Republic of Korea
| | - Woo Jin Bang
- Department of Urology, Hallym University Sacred Heart Hospital, Hallym University College of Medicine, Anyang 14068, Republic of Korea
| | - Ho Suk Kang
- Department of Internal Medicine, Hallym University Sacred Heart Hospital, Hallym University College of Medicine, Anyang 14068, Republic of Korea
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10
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Radak M, Ghamari N, Fallahi H. Identification of common factors among fibrosarcoma, rhabdomyosarcoma, and osteosarcoma by network analysis. Biosystems 2024; 235:105093. [PMID: 38052344 DOI: 10.1016/j.biosystems.2023.105093] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2023] [Revised: 11/13/2023] [Accepted: 11/23/2023] [Indexed: 12/07/2023]
Abstract
Sarcoma cancers are uncommon malignant tumors, and there are many subgroups, including fibrosarcoma (FS), which mainly affects middle-aged and older adults in deep soft tissues. Rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS), on the other hand, is the most common soft-tissue sarcoma in children and is located in the head and neck area. Osteosarcomas (OS) is the predominant form of primary bone cancer among young adults, primarily resulting from sporadically random mutations. This frequently results in the dissemination of cancer cells to the lungs, commonly known as metastasis. Mesodermal cells are the origin of sarcoma cancers. In this study, a rather radical approach has been applied. Instead of comparing homogenous cancer types, we focus on three main subtypes of sarcoma: fibrosarcoma, rhabdomyosarcoma, and osteosarcoma, and compare their gene expression with normal cell groups to identify the differentially expressed genes (DEGs). Next, by applying protein-protein interaction (PPI) network analysis, we determine the hub genes and crucial factors, such as transcription factors (TFs), affected by these types of cancer. Our findings indicate a modification in a range of pathways associated with cell cycle, extracellular matrix, and DNA repair in these three malignancies. Results showed that fibrosarcoma (FS), rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS), and osteosarcoma (OS) had 653, 1270, and 2823 differentially expressed genes (DEGs), respectively. Interestingly, there were 24 DEGs common to all three types. Network analysis showed that the fibrosarcoma network had two sub-networks identified in FS that contributed to the catabolic process of collagen via the G-protein coupled receptor signaling pathway. The rhabdomyosarcoma network included nine sub-networks associated with cell division, extracellular matrix organization, mRNA splicing via spliceosome, and others. The osteosarcoma network has 13 sub-networks, including mRNA splicing, sister chromatid cohesion, DNA repair, etc. In conclusion, the common DEGs identified in this study have been shown to play significant and multiple roles in various other cancers based on the literature review, indicating their significance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mehran Radak
- Department of Biology, School of Sciences, Razi University, Baq-e-Abrisham, Kermanshah, 6714967346, Iran.
| | - Nakisa Ghamari
- Department of Biology, School of Sciences, Razi University, Baq-e-Abrisham, Kermanshah, 6714967346, Iran.
| | - Hossein Fallahi
- Department of Biology, School of Sciences, Razi University, Baq-e-Abrisham, Kermanshah, 6714967346, Iran.
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11
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Arroyo-Olarte R, Mejía-Muñoz A, León-Cabrera S. Expanded Alternatives of CRISPR-Cas9 Applications in Immunotherapy of Colorectal Cancer. Mol Diagn Ther 2024; 28:69-86. [PMID: 37907826 PMCID: PMC10786962 DOI: 10.1007/s40291-023-00680-z] [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: 10/04/2023] [Indexed: 11/02/2023]
Abstract
Immunotherapy for colorectal cancer (CRC) is limited to patients with advanced disease who have already undergone first-line chemotherapy and whose tumors exhibit microsatellite instability. Novel technical strategies are required to enhance therapeutic options and achieve a more robust immunological response. Therefore, exploring gene analysis and manipulation at the molecular level can further accelerate the development of advanced technologies to address these challenges. The emergence of advanced genome editing technology, particularly of clustered, regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)-CRISPR-associated protein (Cas) 9, holds promise in expanding the boundaries of cancer immunotherapy. In this manuscript, we provide a comprehensive review of the applications and perspectives of CRISPR technology in improving the design, generation, and efficiency of current immunotherapies, focusing on solid tumors such as colorectal cancer, where these approaches have not been as successful as in hematological conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rubén Arroyo-Olarte
- Unidad de Biomedicina, Facultad de Estudios Superiores-Iztacala, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Av. De los Barrios 1, Los Reyes Iztacala, 54090, Tlalnepantla, Edo. De México, México
- Carrera de Médico Cirujano, Facultad de Estudios Superiores Iztacala, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, 54090, Tlalnepantla, Edo. De México, México
| | - Aranza Mejía-Muñoz
- Unidad de Biomedicina, Facultad de Estudios Superiores-Iztacala, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Av. De los Barrios 1, Los Reyes Iztacala, 54090, Tlalnepantla, Edo. De México, México
- Carrera de Médico Cirujano, Facultad de Estudios Superiores Iztacala, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, 54090, Tlalnepantla, Edo. De México, México
| | - Sonia León-Cabrera
- Unidad de Biomedicina, Facultad de Estudios Superiores-Iztacala, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Av. De los Barrios 1, Los Reyes Iztacala, 54090, Tlalnepantla, Edo. De México, México.
- Carrera de Médico Cirujano, Facultad de Estudios Superiores Iztacala, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, 54090, Tlalnepantla, Edo. De México, México.
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12
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Andreescu M, Andreescu B. Immune Evasion Through Human Leukocyte Antigen Implications and Its Impact on Targeted Therapy. Cureus 2024; 16:e52737. [PMID: 38384647 PMCID: PMC10880808 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.52737] [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] [Accepted: 01/22/2024] [Indexed: 02/23/2024] Open
Abstract
The malfunctioning of human leukocyte antigen (HLA) class I antigens has a substantial negative impact on the effectiveness of leukemia treatment, particularly in the development of immunotherapies that rely on T-cell activation. HLA-G, a molecule that suppresses the immune response, plays a role in repressing the activation and proliferation of T cells, natural killer cells, and antigen-presenting cells. The expression of HLA-G is associated with various pathological conditions. Tumor cells exploit the immune evasion capabilities of HLA, allowing them to evade detection and elimination by the immune system. Understanding and modifying the HLA molecules is crucial for the advancement of innovative immunotherapies targeting chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Numerous mechanisms have been investigated to elucidate how HLA facilitates tumor evasion in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia and other malignancies. These mechanisms include inhibiting immune cell cytolysis, altering cytokine production levels, promoting immune cell programmed cell death, and impairing chemotaxis. This review provides a comprehensive overview of immune evasion mediated by HLA and its implications for targeted therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mihaela Andreescu
- Faculty of Medicine, Titu Maiorescu University, Bucharest, ROU
- Hematology, Colentina Clinical Hospital, Bucharest, ROU
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13
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Han J, Zhang B, Zhang Y, Yin T, Cui Y, Liu J, Yang Y, Song H, Shang D. Gut microbiome: decision-makers in the microenvironment of colorectal cancer. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2023; 13:1299977. [PMID: 38156313 PMCID: PMC10754537 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2023.1299977] [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: 09/23/2023] [Accepted: 11/20/2023] [Indexed: 12/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a common malignancy of the gastrointestinal tract, accounting for the second most common cause of gastrointestinal tumors. As one of the intestinal barriers, gut bacteria form biofilm, participate in intestinal work, and form the living environment of intestinal cells. Metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS) of the gut bacteria in a large number of CRC patients has been established, enabling specific microbial signatures to be associated with colorectal adenomato-carcinoma. Gut bacteria are involved in both benign precursor lesions (polyps), in situ growth and metastasis of CRC. Therefore, the term tumorigenic bacteria was proposed in 2018, such as Escherichia coli, Fusobacterium nucleatum, enterotoxigenic Bacteroides fragilis, etc. Meanwhile, bacteria toxins (such as cytolethal distending toxin (CDT), Colibactin (Clb), B. fragilis toxin) affect the tumor microenvironment and promote cancer occurrence and tumor immune escape. It is important to note that there are differences in the bacteria of different types of CRC. In this paper, the role of tumorigenic bacteria in the polyp-cancer transformation and the effects of their secreted toxins on the tumor microenvironment will be discussed, thereby further exploring new ideas for the prevention and treatment of CRC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jingrun Han
- Department of General Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China
| | - Biao Zhang
- Department of General Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China
- Laboratory of Integrative Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China
| | - Yongnian Zhang
- Departments of Gastrointestinal Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China
| | - Tianyi Yin
- Department of General Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China
| | - Yuying Cui
- Department of General Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China
- Laboratory of Integrative Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China
- Institute (College) of Integrative Medicine, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China
| | - Jinming Liu
- Department of General Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China
| | - Yanfei Yang
- Department of General Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China
| | - Huiyi Song
- Department of General Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China
- Laboratory of Integrative Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China
- Institute (College) of Integrative Medicine, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China
| | - Dong Shang
- Department of General Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China
- Laboratory of Integrative Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China
- Institute (College) of Integrative Medicine, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China
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14
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Hu S, Qin J, Gao R, Xiao Q, Liu X, Pan Y, Wang S. Integrated analysis of single cell and bulk RNA sequencing identifies CTHRC1 + INHBA + CAF as drivers of colorectal cancer progression. Mol Carcinog 2023; 62:1787-1802. [PMID: 37539967 DOI: 10.1002/mc.23615] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2023] [Revised: 07/17/2023] [Accepted: 07/24/2023] [Indexed: 08/05/2023]
Abstract
Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) are a key component of the tumor microenvironment and a critical factor in the progression of colorectal cancer (CRC). The aim of this study was to screen for CAFs specific genes that could serve as promising therapeutic targets for CRC patients. Our findings showed a significant increase in the proportion of fibroblasts in CRC tissues, and a high proportion of fibroblasts was associated with immune escape and poor prognosis in CRC. Collagen triple helix repeat containing 1 (CTHRC1) and inhibin subunit beta A (INHBA) were identified as key genes in the progression of CRC, primarily expressed in CAFs and significantly upregulated in CRC tissues. We defined CTHRC1 and INHBA as cancer-associated fibroblast-related genes (CAFRGs), which were associated with poor prognosis in CRC and macrophage polarization. CAFRGs promoted immune escape and metastasis in CRC and were good predictors of immune therapy response. Drug sensitivity analysis showed that the high expression group of CAFRGs was sensitive to 15 chemotherapy drugs, while the low expression group was sensitive to only 3. Clustering of fibroblasts in the tumor revealed that CTHRC1+ INHBA+ CAF was a poor prognostic factor in CRC and was associated with extracellular matrix remodeling and immune regulation. In conclusion, our study provides new theoretical basis for effective treatment strategies and therapeutic targets for CRC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shangshang Hu
- School of Medicine, Southeast University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
- General Clinical Research Center, Nanjing First Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Jian Qin
- School of Medicine, Southeast University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
- General Clinical Research Center, Nanjing First Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Rui Gao
- School of Basic Medicine and Clinical Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - QianNi Xiao
- School of Basic Medicine and Clinical Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Xiangxiang Liu
- School of Medicine, Southeast University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
- General Clinical Research Center, Nanjing First Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Yuqin Pan
- General Clinical Research Center, Nanjing First Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
- Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center on Cancer Personalized Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Shukui Wang
- School of Medicine, Southeast University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
- General Clinical Research Center, Nanjing First Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
- School of Basic Medicine and Clinical Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
- Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center on Cancer Personalized Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
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15
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Otálora-Otálora BA, López-Rivera JJ, Aristizábal-Guzmán C, Isaza-Ruget MA, Álvarez-Moreno CA. Host Transcriptional Regulatory Genes and Microbiome Networks Crosstalk through Immune Receptors Establishing Normal and Tumor Multiomics Metafirm of the Oral-Gut-Lung Axis. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:16638. [PMID: 38068961 PMCID: PMC10706695 DOI: 10.3390/ijms242316638] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2023] [Revised: 11/13/2023] [Accepted: 11/18/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023] Open
Abstract
The microbiome has shown a correlation with the diet and lifestyle of each population in health and disease, the ability to communicate at the cellular level with the host through innate and adaptative immune receptors, and therefore an important role in modulating inflammatory process related to the establishment and progression of cancer. The oral cavity is one of the most important interaction windows between the human body and the environment, allowing the entry of an important number of microorganisms and their passage across the gastrointestinal tract and lungs. In this review, the contribution of the microbiome network to the establishment of systemic diseases like cancer is analyzed through their synergistic interactions and bidirectional crosstalk in the oral-gut-lung axis as well as its communication with the host cells. Moreover, the impact of the characteristic microbiota of each population in the formation of the multiomics molecular metafirm of the oral-gut-lung axis is also analyzed through state-of-the-art sequencing techniques, which allow a global study of the molecular processes involved of the flow of the microbiota environmental signals through cancer-related cells and its relationship with the establishment of the transcription factor network responsible for the control of regulatory processes involved with tumorigenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Juan Javier López-Rivera
- Grupo de Investigación INPAC, Specialized Laboratory, Clinica Universitaria Colombia, Clínica Colsanitas S.A., Bogotá 111321, Colombia;
| | - Claudia Aristizábal-Guzmán
- Grupo de Investigación INPAC, Unidad de Investigación, Fundación Universitaria Sanitas, Bogotá 110131, Colombia;
| | - Mario Arturo Isaza-Ruget
- Keralty, Sanitas International Organization, Grupo de Investigación INPAC, Fundación Universitaria Sanitas, Bogotá 110131, Colombia;
| | - Carlos Arturo Álvarez-Moreno
- Infectious Diseases Department, Clinica Universitaria Colombia, Clínica Colsanitas S.A., Bogotá 111321, Colombia;
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16
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Piersma SJ, Bangru S, Yoon J, Liu TW, Yang L, Hsieh CS, Plougastel-Douglas B, Kalsotra A, Yokoyama WM. NK cell expansion requires HuR and mediates control of solid tumors and long-term virus infection. J Exp Med 2023; 220:e20231154. [PMID: 37698554 PMCID: PMC10497399 DOI: 10.1084/jem.20231154] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2023] [Revised: 08/04/2023] [Accepted: 08/08/2023] [Indexed: 09/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Natural killer (NK) cells are lymphocytes capable of controlling tumors and virus infections through direct lysis and cytokine production. While both T and NK cells expand and accumulate in affected tissues, the role of NK cell expansion in tumor and viral control is not well understood. Here, we show that posttranscriptional regulation by the RNA-binding protein HuR is essential for NK cell expansion without negatively affecting effector functions. HuR-deficient NK cells displayed defects in the metaphase of the cell cycle, including decreased expression and alternative splicing of Ska2, a component of the spindle and kinetochore complex. HuR-dependent NK cell expansion contributed to long-term cytomegalovirus control and facilitated control of subcutaneous tumors but not tumor metastases in two independent tumor models. These results show that posttranscriptional regulation by HuR specifically affects NK cell expansion, which is required for the control of long-term virus infection and solid tumors, but not acute infection or tumor metastases, highlighting fundamental differences with antigen-specific T cell control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sytse J. Piersma
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
- Siteman Cancer Center, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Sushant Bangru
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Champaign, IL, USA
- Cancer Center at Illinois, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Champaign, IL, USA
| | - Jeesang Yoon
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Tom W. Liu
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Liping Yang
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Chyi-Song Hsieh
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Beatrice Plougastel-Douglas
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Auinash Kalsotra
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Champaign, IL, USA
- Cancer Center at Illinois, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Champaign, IL, USA
- Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Champaign, IL, USA
| | - Wayne M. Yokoyama
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
- Bursky Center for Human Immunology and Immunotherapy Programs, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
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17
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Malviya M, Aretz Z, Molvi Z, Lee J, Pierre S, Wallisch P, Dao T, Scheinberg DA. Challenges and solutions for therapeutic TCR-based agents. Immunol Rev 2023; 320:58-82. [PMID: 37455333 PMCID: PMC11141734 DOI: 10.1111/imr.13233] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2023] [Accepted: 06/18/2023] [Indexed: 07/18/2023]
Abstract
Recent development of methods to discover and engineer therapeutic T-cell receptors (TCRs) or antibody mimics of TCRs, and to understand their immunology and pharmacology, lag two decades behind therapeutic antibodies. Yet we have every expectation that TCR-based agents will be similarly important contributors to the treatment of a variety of medical conditions, especially cancers. TCR engineered cells, soluble TCRs and their derivatives, TCR-mimic antibodies, and TCR-based CAR T cells promise the possibility of highly specific drugs that can expand the scope of immunologic agents to recognize intracellular targets, including mutated proteins and undruggable transcription factors, not accessible by traditional antibodies. Hurdles exist regarding discovery, specificity, pharmacokinetics, and best modality of use that will need to be overcome before the full potential of TCR-based agents is achieved. HLA restriction may limit each agent to patient subpopulations and off-target reactivities remain important barriers to widespread development and use of these new agents. In this review we discuss the unique opportunities for these new classes of drugs, describe their unique antigenic targets, compare them to traditional antibody therapeutics and CAR T cells, and review the various obstacles that must be overcome before full application of these drugs can be realized.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manish Malviya
- Molecular Pharmacology Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, 1275 York Avenue, New York, NY 10065
| | - Zita Aretz
- Molecular Pharmacology Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, 1275 York Avenue, New York, NY 10065
- Physiology, Biophysics & Systems Biology Program, Weill Cornell Graduate School of Medical Sciences, 1300 York Avenue, New York, NY 10021
| | - Zaki Molvi
- Molecular Pharmacology Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, 1275 York Avenue, New York, NY 10065
- Physiology, Biophysics & Systems Biology Program, Weill Cornell Graduate School of Medical Sciences, 1300 York Avenue, New York, NY 10021
| | - Jayop Lee
- Molecular Pharmacology Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, 1275 York Avenue, New York, NY 10065
| | - Stephanie Pierre
- Molecular Pharmacology Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, 1275 York Avenue, New York, NY 10065
- Tri-Institutional Medical Scientist Program, 1300 York Avenue, New York, NY 10021
| | - Patrick Wallisch
- Molecular Pharmacology Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, 1275 York Avenue, New York, NY 10065
- Pharmacology Program, Weill Cornell Graduate School of Medical Sciences, 1300 York Avenue, New York, NY 10021
| | - Tao Dao
- Molecular Pharmacology Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, 1275 York Avenue, New York, NY 10065
| | - David A. Scheinberg
- Molecular Pharmacology Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, 1275 York Avenue, New York, NY 10065
- Pharmacology Program, Weill Cornell Graduate School of Medical Sciences, 1300 York Avenue, New York, NY 10021
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18
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Koukourakis IM, Xanthopoulou E, Sgouras TI, Kouroupi M, Giatromanolaki A, Kouloulias V, Tiniakos D, Zygogianni A. Preoperative chemoradiotherapy induces multiple pathways related to anti-tumour immunity in rectal cancer. Br J Cancer 2023; 129:1852-1862. [PMID: 37838813 PMCID: PMC10667544 DOI: 10.1038/s41416-023-02459-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2022] [Revised: 09/19/2023] [Accepted: 09/29/2023] [Indexed: 10/16/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Rectal cancer treated with preoperative radiotherapy (RT) provides an interesting model to study changes induced on cancer cell immuno-phenotype that could be exploited by immunotherapy interventions to improve prognosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS We assessed the expression of HLA-class-I, β2-microglobulin, TAP1, PD-L1 and STING/IFNβ in preoperative biopsies and respective post-RT surgical specimens from patients with rectal cancer (n = 27). The effect of radiation was further investigated in colorectal adenocarcinoma cell lines HT-29 and Caco-2. RESULTS Rectal carcinomas exhibited extensive loss of expression of HLA-Class-I related molecules, which was restored in post-irradiation surgical specimens (P < 0.0001). RT induced the expression of IFNβ and STING in cancer cells and tumour-infiltrating lymphocytes (P < 0.0001). In in vitro experiments, irradiation with 4 Gy or 10 Gy induced the expression of HLA-class-I protein (P < 0.001). PD-L1 levels were transiently induced for two days (P < 0.001). cGAS, STING, IFNβ and the downstream genes (MX1, MX2, UBE2L6v2, IFI6v2 and IFI44) mRNA levels significantly increased after 3 × 8 Gy or 1 × 20 Gy irradiation (P < 0.001). TREX1 mRNA levels remained unaltered. CONCLUSIONS RT induces the IFN-type-I pathway and the expression of HLA-class-I molecules on rectal carcinoma. The transient induction of PD-L1 expression suggests that long-course daily RT may sustain increased PD-L1 levels. Anti-PD-L1/PD-1 immunotherapy could block this immunosuppressive pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ioannis M Koukourakis
- Radiation Oncology Unit, 1st Department of Radiology, Aretaieion University Hospital, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece.
| | - Erasmia Xanthopoulou
- Department of Radiotherapy/Oncology, Medical School, Democritus University of Thrace, Alexandroupolis, Greece
| | - Theologos I Sgouras
- Department of Radiotherapy/Oncology, Medical School, Democritus University of Thrace, Alexandroupolis, Greece
| | - Maria Kouroupi
- Department of Pathology, Medical School, Democritus University of Thrace, Alexandroupolis, Greece
| | - Alexandra Giatromanolaki
- Department of Pathology, Medical School, Democritus University of Thrace, Alexandroupolis, Greece
| | - Vassilios Kouloulias
- Radiation Oncology Unit, 2nd Department of Radiology, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Dina Tiniakos
- Department of Pathology, Aretaieion University Hospital, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
- Translational and Clinical Research Institute, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - Anna Zygogianni
- Radiation Oncology Unit, 1st Department of Radiology, Aretaieion University Hospital, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
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19
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Tsai YY, Qu C, Bonner JD, Sanz-Pamplona R, Lindsey SS, Melas M, McDonnell KJ, Idos GE, Walker CP, Tsang KK, Da Silva DM, Moratalla-Navarro F, Maoz A, Rennert HS, Kast WM, Greenson JK, Moreno V, Rennert G, Gruber SB, Schmit SL. Heterozygote advantage at HLA class I and II loci and reduced risk of colorectal cancer. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1268117. [PMID: 37942321 PMCID: PMC10627840 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1268117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2023] [Accepted: 10/10/2023] [Indexed: 11/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Objective Reduced diversity at Human Leukocyte Antigen (HLA) loci may adversely affect the host's ability to recognize tumor neoantigens and subsequently increase disease burden. We hypothesized that increased heterozygosity at HLA loci is associated with a reduced risk of developing colorectal cancer (CRC). Methods We imputed HLA class I and II four-digit alleles using genotype data from a population-based study of 5,406 cases and 4,635 controls from the Molecular Epidemiology of Colorectal Cancer Study (MECC). Heterozygosity at each HLA locus and the number of heterozygous genotypes at HLA class -I (A, B, and C) and HLA class -II loci (DQB1, DRB1, and DPB1) were quantified. Logistic regression analysis was used to estimate the risk of CRC associated with HLA heterozygosity. Individuals with homozygous genotypes for all loci served as the reference category, and the analyses were adjusted for sex, age, genotyping platform, and ancestry. Further, we investigated associations between HLA diversity and tumor-associated T cell repertoire features, as measured by tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs; N=2,839) and immunosequencing (N=2,357). Results Individuals with all heterozygous genotypes at all three class I genes had a reduced odds of CRC (OR: 0.74; 95% CI: 0.56-0.97, p= 0.031). A similar association was observed for class II loci, with an OR of 0.75 (95% CI: 0.60-0.95, p= 0.016). For class-I and class-II combined, individuals with all heterozygous genotypes had significantly lower odds of developing CRC (OR: 0.66, 95% CI: 0.49-0.87, p= 0.004) than those with 0 or one heterozygous genotype. HLA class I and/or II diversity was associated with higher T cell receptor (TCR) abundance and lower TCR clonality, but results were not statistically significant. Conclusion Our findings support a heterozygote advantage for the HLA class-I and -II loci, indicating an important role for HLA genetic variability in the etiology of CRC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ya-Yu Tsai
- Genomic Medicine Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, United States
| | - Chenxu Qu
- Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Joseph D. Bonner
- Center for Precision Medicine, City of Hope National Medical Center, Duarte, CA, United States
| | - Rebeca Sanz-Pamplona
- Catalan Institute of Oncology (ICO), Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain
- ONCOBELL Program, Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBELL), Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain
- Consortium for Biomedical Research in Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain
- Hospital Universitario Lozano Blesa, Aragon Health Research Institute (IISA), ARAID Foundation, Aragon Government, Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Sidney S. Lindsey
- Center for Precision Medicine, City of Hope National Medical Center, Duarte, CA, United States
| | - Marilena Melas
- Molecular Diagnostics, New York Genome Center, New York, NY, United States
| | - Kevin J. McDonnell
- Center for Precision Medicine, City of Hope National Medical Center, Duarte, CA, United States
| | - Gregory E. Idos
- Center for Precision Medicine, City of Hope National Medical Center, Duarte, CA, United States
| | - Christopher P. Walker
- Center for Precision Medicine, City of Hope National Medical Center, Duarte, CA, United States
| | - Kevin K. Tsang
- Center for Precision Medicine, City of Hope National Medical Center, Duarte, CA, United States
| | - Diane M. Da Silva
- Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Ferran Moratalla-Navarro
- Catalan Institute of Oncology (ICO), Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain
- ONCOBELL Program, Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBELL), Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain
- Consortium for Biomedical Research in Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences and Universitat de Barcelona Institute of Complex Systems (UBICS), University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Asaf Maoz
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Hedy S. Rennert
- B. Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Technion and the Association for Promotion of Research in Precision Medicine (APRPM), Haifa, Israel
| | - W. Martin Kast
- Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Joel K. Greenson
- Department of Pathology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
| | - Victor Moreno
- Catalan Institute of Oncology (ICO), Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain
- ONCOBELL Program, Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBELL), Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain
- Consortium for Biomedical Research in Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences and Universitat de Barcelona Institute of Complex Systems (UBICS), University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Gad Rennert
- B. Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Technion and the Association for Promotion of Research in Precision Medicine (APRPM), Haifa, Israel
| | - Stephen B. Gruber
- Center for Precision Medicine, City of Hope National Medical Center, Duarte, CA, United States
| | - Stephanie L. Schmit
- Genomic Medicine Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, United States
- Population and Cancer Prevention Program, Case Comprehensive Cancer Center, Cleveland, OH, United States
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20
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Ferrari V, Lo Cascio A, Melacarne A, Tanasković N, Mozzarelli AM, Tiraboschi L, Lizier M, Salvi M, Braga D, Algieri F, Penna G, Rescigno M. Sensitizing cancer cells to immune checkpoint inhibitors by microbiota-mediated upregulation of HLA class I. Cancer Cell 2023; 41:1717-1730.e4. [PMID: 37738976 DOI: 10.1016/j.ccell.2023.08.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2022] [Revised: 04/07/2023] [Accepted: 08/31/2023] [Indexed: 09/24/2023]
Abstract
Recent data have shown that gut microbiota has a major impact on the clinical response to immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) in the context of solid tumors. ICI-based therapy acts by unlocking cognate cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) effector responses, and increased sensitivity to ICIs is due to an enhancement of patients' tumor antigen (TA)-specific CTL responses. Cancer clearance by TA-specific CTL requires expression of relevant TAs on cancer cells' HLA class I molecules, and reduced HLA class I expression is a common mechanism used by cancer cells to evade the immune system. Here, we show that metabolites released by bacteria, in particular, phytosphingosine, can upregulate HLA class I expression on cancer cells, sensitizing them to TA-specific CTL lysis in vitro and in vivo, in combination with immunotherapy. This effect is mediated by postbiotic-induced upregulation of NLRC5 in response to upstream MYD88-NF-κB activation, thus significantly controlling tumor growth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valentina Ferrari
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Humanitas University, Via Rita Levi Montalcini 4, 20072 Pieve Emanuele, Milan, Italy
| | - Antonino Lo Cascio
- IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, via Manzoni 56, 20089 Rozzano, Milan, Italy
| | - Alessia Melacarne
- IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, via Manzoni 56, 20089 Rozzano, Milan, Italy
| | | | - Alessandro M Mozzarelli
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Humanitas University, Via Rita Levi Montalcini 4, 20072 Pieve Emanuele, Milan, Italy; IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, via Manzoni 56, 20089 Rozzano, Milan, Italy
| | - Luca Tiraboschi
- IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, via Manzoni 56, 20089 Rozzano, Milan, Italy
| | - Michela Lizier
- IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, via Manzoni 56, 20089 Rozzano, Milan, Italy
| | - Marta Salvi
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Humanitas University, Via Rita Levi Montalcini 4, 20072 Pieve Emanuele, Milan, Italy; IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, via Manzoni 56, 20089 Rozzano, Milan, Italy
| | - Daniele Braga
- IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, via Manzoni 56, 20089 Rozzano, Milan, Italy
| | | | - Giuseppe Penna
- IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, via Manzoni 56, 20089 Rozzano, Milan, Italy; Postbiotica S.r.l, Milan 20123, Italy
| | - Maria Rescigno
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Humanitas University, Via Rita Levi Montalcini 4, 20072 Pieve Emanuele, Milan, Italy; IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, via Manzoni 56, 20089 Rozzano, Milan, Italy.
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21
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Okami H, Ozawa N, Sohda M, Yokobori T, Osone K, Erkhem-Ochir B, Dorjkhorloo G, Shiraishi T, Okada T, Sano A, Sakai M, Miyazaki T, Ogawa H, Yao T, Oike T, Sato H, Shirabe K, Shibata A, Saeki H. HLA Class I Expression Is Associated with DNA Damage and Immune Cell Infiltration into Dysplastic and Neoplastic Lesions in Ulcerative Colitis. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:13648. [PMID: 37686454 PMCID: PMC10487850 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241713648] [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: 07/26/2023] [Revised: 08/24/2023] [Accepted: 09/02/2023] [Indexed: 09/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Human leukocyte antigen class I (HLA-I) is considered a genetic pathogen for ulcerative colitis (UC). This study aimed to investigate the significance of DNA damage and HLA-I expression in infiltrating immune cells and immune checkpoint protein PD-L1 expression in dysplasia/colitic cancer (CC) and sporadic colorectal cancer (SCRC). We performed immunohistochemical staining for HLA-I, PD-L1, γH2AX (DNA damage marker), and immune cell markers such as CD8, FOXP3, CD68, and CD163 (in surgically resected specimens from 17 SCRC patients with 12 adjacent normal mucosa (NM) and 9 UC patients with 18 dysplasia/CC tumors. The ratio of membrane HLA-I-positive epithelial cells in UC and dysplasia/CC tissues was significantly higher than that in NM and SCRC. High HLA-I expression in dysplasia/CC was associated with high positivity of γH2AX and PD-L1 expression compared to SCRC. The infiltration of CD8-positive T cells and CD68-positive macrophages in HLA-I-high dysplasia/CC was significantly higher than in UC and SCRC. Dysplasia/CC specimens with DNA damage exhibited high levels of HLA-I-positive epithelial cells with high CD8- and CD68-positive immune cell infiltration compared to UC and SCRC specimens. Targeting DNA damage in UC may regulate immune cell infiltration, immune checkpoint proteins, and carcinogenesis by modulating DNA damage-induced HLA-I antigen presentation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haruka Okami
- Department of General Surgical Science, Graduate School of Medicine, Gunma University, Maebashi 371-8510, Japan; (H.O.); (N.O.); (K.O.); (G.D.); (T.S.); (T.O.); (A.S.); (M.S.); (H.O.); (K.S.); (H.S.)
| | - Naoya Ozawa
- Department of General Surgical Science, Graduate School of Medicine, Gunma University, Maebashi 371-8510, Japan; (H.O.); (N.O.); (K.O.); (G.D.); (T.S.); (T.O.); (A.S.); (M.S.); (H.O.); (K.S.); (H.S.)
| | - Makoto Sohda
- Department of General Surgical Science, Graduate School of Medicine, Gunma University, Maebashi 371-8510, Japan; (H.O.); (N.O.); (K.O.); (G.D.); (T.S.); (T.O.); (A.S.); (M.S.); (H.O.); (K.S.); (H.S.)
| | - Takehiko Yokobori
- Division of Integrated Oncology Research, Gunma University, Initiative for Advanced Research (GIAR), Maebashi 371-8511, Japan;
| | - Katsuya Osone
- Department of General Surgical Science, Graduate School of Medicine, Gunma University, Maebashi 371-8510, Japan; (H.O.); (N.O.); (K.O.); (G.D.); (T.S.); (T.O.); (A.S.); (M.S.); (H.O.); (K.S.); (H.S.)
| | - Bilguun Erkhem-Ochir
- Division of Integrated Oncology Research, Gunma University, Initiative for Advanced Research (GIAR), Maebashi 371-8511, Japan;
| | - Gendensuren Dorjkhorloo
- Department of General Surgical Science, Graduate School of Medicine, Gunma University, Maebashi 371-8510, Japan; (H.O.); (N.O.); (K.O.); (G.D.); (T.S.); (T.O.); (A.S.); (M.S.); (H.O.); (K.S.); (H.S.)
| | - Takuya Shiraishi
- Department of General Surgical Science, Graduate School of Medicine, Gunma University, Maebashi 371-8510, Japan; (H.O.); (N.O.); (K.O.); (G.D.); (T.S.); (T.O.); (A.S.); (M.S.); (H.O.); (K.S.); (H.S.)
| | - Takuhisa Okada
- Department of General Surgical Science, Graduate School of Medicine, Gunma University, Maebashi 371-8510, Japan; (H.O.); (N.O.); (K.O.); (G.D.); (T.S.); (T.O.); (A.S.); (M.S.); (H.O.); (K.S.); (H.S.)
| | - Akihiko Sano
- Department of General Surgical Science, Graduate School of Medicine, Gunma University, Maebashi 371-8510, Japan; (H.O.); (N.O.); (K.O.); (G.D.); (T.S.); (T.O.); (A.S.); (M.S.); (H.O.); (K.S.); (H.S.)
| | - Makoto Sakai
- Department of General Surgical Science, Graduate School of Medicine, Gunma University, Maebashi 371-8510, Japan; (H.O.); (N.O.); (K.O.); (G.D.); (T.S.); (T.O.); (A.S.); (M.S.); (H.O.); (K.S.); (H.S.)
| | - Tatsuya Miyazaki
- Department of Surgery Japanese Red Cross Maebashi Hospital, Maebashi 371-0811, Japan;
| | - Hiroomi Ogawa
- Department of General Surgical Science, Graduate School of Medicine, Gunma University, Maebashi 371-8510, Japan; (H.O.); (N.O.); (K.O.); (G.D.); (T.S.); (T.O.); (A.S.); (M.S.); (H.O.); (K.S.); (H.S.)
| | - Takashi Yao
- Department of Human Pathology, Graduate School of Medicine, Juntendo University, Bunkyo-ku 113-8431, Japan;
| | - Takahiro Oike
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Graduate School of Medicine, Gunma University, Maebashi 371-8510, Japan; (T.O.); (H.S.)
| | - Hiro Sato
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Graduate School of Medicine, Gunma University, Maebashi 371-8510, Japan; (T.O.); (H.S.)
| | - Ken Shirabe
- Department of General Surgical Science, Graduate School of Medicine, Gunma University, Maebashi 371-8510, Japan; (H.O.); (N.O.); (K.O.); (G.D.); (T.S.); (T.O.); (A.S.); (M.S.); (H.O.); (K.S.); (H.S.)
| | - Atsushi Shibata
- Division of Molecular Oncological Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Keio University, Minato-ku 108-8345, Japan;
| | - Hiroshi Saeki
- Department of General Surgical Science, Graduate School of Medicine, Gunma University, Maebashi 371-8510, Japan; (H.O.); (N.O.); (K.O.); (G.D.); (T.S.); (T.O.); (A.S.); (M.S.); (H.O.); (K.S.); (H.S.)
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22
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Al Zein M, Boukhdoud M, Shammaa H, Mouslem H, El Ayoubi LM, Iratni R, Issa K, Khachab M, Assi HI, Sahebkar A, Eid AH. Immunotherapy and immunoevasion of colorectal cancer. Drug Discov Today 2023; 28:103669. [PMID: 37328052 DOI: 10.1016/j.drudis.2023.103669] [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: 11/17/2022] [Revised: 05/20/2023] [Accepted: 06/08/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
The tremendous success of immunotherapy in clinical trials has led to its establishment as a new pillar of cancer therapy. However, little clinical efficacy has been achieved in microsatellite stable colorectal cancer (MSS-CRC), which constitutes most CRC tumors. Here, we discuss the molecular and genetic heterogeneity of CRC. We review the immune escape mechanisms, and focus on the latest advances in immunotherapy as a treatment modality for CRC. By providing a better understanding of the tumor microenvironment (TME) and the molecular mechanisms underlying immunoevasion, this review offers an insight into developing therapeutic strategies that are effective for patients with various subsets of CRC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammad Al Zein
- Faculty of Medical Sciences, Lebanese University, Hadath, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Mona Boukhdoud
- Faculty of Medical Sciences, Lebanese University, Hadath, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Hadi Shammaa
- Faculty of Medical Sciences, Lebanese University, Hadath, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Hadi Mouslem
- Faculty of Medical Sciences, Lebanese University, Hadath, Beirut, Lebanon
| | | | - Rabah Iratni
- Department of Biology, College of Science, United Arab Emirates University, Al-Ain, UAE
| | - Khodr Issa
- University of Lille, Proteomics, Inflammatory Response, Mass Spectrometry, INSERM U-1192, Lille, France
| | - Maha Khachab
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Balamand, Lebanon
| | - Hazem I Assi
- Faculty of Medicine, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Amirhossein Sahebkar
- Biotechnology Research Center, Pharmaceutical Technology Institute, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran; Applied Biomedical Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Ali H Eid
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, Qatar University, QU Health, Doha, Qatar.
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23
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Qiao W, Jia Z, Guo W, Liu Q, Guo X, Deng M. Prognostic and Clinical Significance of Human Leukocyte Antigen Class I Expression in Breast Cancer: A Meta-Analysis. Mol Diagn Ther 2023; 27:573-582. [PMID: 37464212 DOI: 10.1007/s40291-023-00664-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/03/2023] [Indexed: 07/20/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The value of human leukocyte antigen (HLA; also known as major histocompatibility complex) class I expression for the prediction of breast cancer survival outcomes remains unclear. We conducted a meta-analysis to explore the prognostic significance of this expression. MATERIALS AND METHODS We searched electronic databases to identify reports on associations of HLA class I protein or mRNA expression with survival outcomes and clinicopathological factors in the breast cancer context. Pooled hazard ratios (HRs) and odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were used to conduct a quantitative meta-analysis. RESULTS The sample comprised eight studies involving 3590 patients. Only the classical HLA class Ia (HLA-ABC) molecules studies were included in this meta-analysis. Elevated HLA class I protein expression was found to be significantly related to better disease-free survival (DFS) (HR 0.58, 95% CI 0.35-0.95, P = 0.03), particularly among patients with triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) (HR 0.31, 95% CI 0.18-0.52, P < 0.001), but not to overall survival. It was also associated with estrogen receptor (ER) negativity (OR 1.71, 95% CI 1.24-2.35, P = 0.001), progesterone receptor (PR) negativity (OR 1.49, 95% CI 1.22-1.81, P < 0.001), human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) positivity (OR 1.51, 95% CI 1.18-1.94, P = 0.001), TNBC (OR 1.68, 95% CI 1.15-2.45, P < 0.01), high Ki-67 indices (OR 2.06, 95% CI 1.62-2.61, P < 0.001), and high nuclear grades (OR 2.67, 95% CI 2.17-3.29, P < 0.001). CONCLUSION This meta-analysis demonstrated that enhanced HLA class I protein expression is significantly associated with the better DFS of patients with breast cancer, especially TNBC, as well as with ER and PR negativity, HER2 positivity, TNBC, and high Ki-67 indices and nuclear grades. The immune target HLA class I may serve as a prognostic indicator for breast cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weiqiang Qiao
- Department of Breast Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital and College of Clinical Medicine of Henan University of Science and Technology, Jinghua Road No. 24, Luoyang, 471000, China
| | - Zhiqiang Jia
- Henan Provincial Key Medical Laboratory of Tissue Damage and Repair, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Henan University of Science and Technology, Luoyang, 471000, China
| | - Wanying Guo
- Department of Breast Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital and College of Clinical Medicine of Henan University of Science and Technology, Jinghua Road No. 24, Luoyang, 471000, China
| | - Qipeng Liu
- Department of Breast Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital and College of Clinical Medicine of Henan University of Science and Technology, Jinghua Road No. 24, Luoyang, 471000, China
| | - Xiao Guo
- Department of Breast Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital and College of Clinical Medicine of Henan University of Science and Technology, Jinghua Road No. 24, Luoyang, 471000, China
| | - Miao Deng
- Department of Breast Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital and College of Clinical Medicine of Henan University of Science and Technology, Jinghua Road No. 24, Luoyang, 471000, China.
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24
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Bonilla CE, Montenegro P, O’Connor JM, Hernando-Requejo O, Aranda E, Pinto Llerena J, Llontop A, Gallardo Escobar J, Díaz Romero MDC, Bautista Hernández Y, Graña Suárez B, Batagelj EJ, Wali Mushtaq A, García-Foncillas J. Ibero-American Consensus Review and Incorporation of New Biomarkers for Clinical Practice in Colorectal Cancer. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:4373. [PMID: 37686649 PMCID: PMC10487247 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15174373] [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: 05/16/2023] [Revised: 08/21/2023] [Accepted: 08/22/2023] [Indexed: 09/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Advances in genomic technologies have significantly improved the management of colorectal cancer (CRC). Several biomarkers have been identified in CRC that enable personalization in the use of biologic agents that have shown to enhance the clinical outcomes of patients. However, technologies used for their determination generate massive amounts of information that can be difficult for the clinician to interpret and use adequately. Through several discussion meetings, a group of oncology experts from Spain and several Latin American countries reviewed the latest literature to provide practical recommendations on the determination of biomarkers in CRC based on their clinical experience. The article also describes the importance of looking for additional prognostic biomarkers and the use of histopathology to establish an adequate molecular classification. Present and future of immunotherapy biomarkers in CRC patients are also discussed, together with several techniques for marker determination, including liquid biopsy, next-generation sequencing (NGS), polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and fecal immunohistochemical tests. Finally, the role of Molecular Tumor Boards in the diagnosis and treatment of CRC is described. All of this information will allow us to highlight the importance of biomarker determination in CRC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlos Eduardo Bonilla
- Fundación CTIC—Centro de Tratamiento e Investigación sobre Cáncer, Bogotá 1681442, Colombia
| | - Paola Montenegro
- Institución AUNA OncoSalud e Instituto Nacional de Enfermedades Neoplásicas, Lima 15023, Peru
| | | | | | - Enrique Aranda
- Departamento de Oncología Médica, Hospital Reina Sofía, IMIBIC, UCO, CIBERONC, 14004 Cordoba, Spain;
| | | | - Alejandra Llontop
- Instituto de Oncología Ángel H. Roffo, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires C1437FBG, Argentina
| | | | | | | | - Begoña Graña Suárez
- Servicio de Oncología Médica, Hospital Universitario de A Coruña, Servicio Galego de Saúde (SERGAS), 15006 A Coruña, Spain;
| | | | | | - Jesús García-Foncillas
- Hospital Universitario Fundación Jiménez Díaz, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain
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25
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He Y, Xue Y, Wang J, Huang Y, Liu L, Huang Y, Gao YQ. Diffusion-enhanced characterization of 3D chromatin structure reveals its linkage to gene regulatory networks and the interactome. Genome Res 2023; 33:1354-1368. [PMID: 37491077 PMCID: PMC10547250 DOI: 10.1101/gr.277737.123] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2023] [Accepted: 07/21/2023] [Indexed: 07/27/2023]
Abstract
The interactome networks at the DNA, RNA, and protein levels are crucial for cellular functions, and the diverse variations of these networks are heavily involved in the establishment of different cell states. We have developed a diffusion-based method, Hi-C to geometry (CTG), to obtain reliable geometric information on the chromatin from Hi-C data. CTG produces a consistent and reproducible framework for the 3D genomic structure and provides a reliable and quantitative understanding of the alterations of genomic structures under different cellular conditions. The genomic structure yielded by CTG serves as an architectural blueprint of the dynamic gene regulatory network, based on which cell-specific correspondence between gene-gene and corresponding protein-protein physical interactions, as well as transcription correlation, is revealed. We also find that gene fusion events are significantly enriched between genes of short CTG distances and are thus close in 3D space. These findings indicate that 3D chromatin structure is at least partially correlated with downstream processes such as transcription, gene regulation, and even regulatory networking through affecting protein-protein interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yueying He
- Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences, College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
| | - Yue Xue
- Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences, College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
| | - Jingyao Wang
- Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences, College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
| | - Yupeng Huang
- Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences, College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
| | - Lu Liu
- Biomedical Pioneering Innovation Center (BIOPIC), Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
- School of Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
| | - Yanyi Huang
- Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences, College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China;
- Biomedical Pioneering Innovation Center (BIOPIC), Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
| | - Yi Qin Gao
- Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences, College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China;
- Biomedical Pioneering Innovation Center (BIOPIC), Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
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26
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Álvarez Freile J, Qi Y, Jacob L, Lobo MF, Lourens HJ, Huls G, Bremer E. A luminescence-based method to assess antigen presentation and antigen-specific T cell responses for in vitro screening of immunomodulatory checkpoints and therapeutics. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1233113. [PMID: 37559730 PMCID: PMC10407562 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1233113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2023] [Accepted: 07/10/2023] [Indexed: 08/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Investigations into the strength of antigen-specific responses in vitro is becoming increasingly relevant for decision making in early-phase research of novel immunotherapeutic approaches, including adoptive cell but also immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI)-based therapies. In the latter, antigen-specific rapid and high throughput tools to investigate MHC/antigen-specific T cell receptor (TCR) activation haven't been implemented yet. Here, we present a simple and rapid luminescence-based approach using the human papillomavirus 16 (HPV16) E711-20 peptide as model antigen and E7-TCR transgenic Jurkat.NFAT-luciferase reporter cells. Upon E7 peptide pulsing of HLA-A2+ cell lines and macrophages, an effector to target ratio dependent increase in luminescence compared to non-pulsed cells was observed after co-incubation with E7-TCR expressing Jurkat, but not with parental cells. Analogous experiments with cells expressing full-length HPV16 identified that E7-specific activation of Jurkat cells enabled detection of endogenous antigen processing and MHC-I presentation. As proof of concept, overexpression of established checkpoints/inhibitory molecules (e.g., PD-L1 or HLA-G) significantly reduced the E7-specific TCR-induced luminescence, an effect that could be restored after treatment with corresponding targeting antagonistic antibodies. Altogether, the luminescence-based method described here represents an alternative approach for the rapid evaluation of MHC-dependent antigen-specific T cell responses in vitro. It can be used as a rapid tool to evaluate the impact of the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment or novel ICI in triggering effective T cell responses, as well as speeding up the development of novel therapeutics within the immune-oncology field.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Edwin Bremer
- Department of Hematology, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands
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27
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Wong KK. Integrated transcriptomics and proteomics data analysis identifies CDH17 as a key cell surface target in colorectal cancer. Comput Biol Chem 2023; 105:107897. [PMID: 37247573 DOI: 10.1016/j.compbiolchem.2023.107897] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2022] [Revised: 03/28/2023] [Accepted: 05/20/2023] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
Immunotherapy development against colorectal cancer (CRC) is hindered by the lack of cell surface target highly expressed in cancer cells but with restricted presence in normal tissues to minimize off-tumor toxicities. In this in silico analysis, a longlist of genes (n = 13,488) expressed in CRCs according to the Human Protein Atlas (HPA) database were evaluated to shortlist for potential surface targets based on the following prerequisites: (i) Absent from the brain and lung tissues to minimize the likelihood of neurologic and pulmonary toxicities; (ii) Restricted expression profile in other normal human tissues; (iii) Genes that potentially encode cell surface proteins and; (iv) At least moderately expressed in CRC cases. Fifteen potential targets were shortlisted and subsequently ranked according to the combination of their transcript and protein expression levels in CRCs derived from multiple datasets (i.e. DepMap, TCGA, CPTAC-2, and HPA CRCs). The top-ranked target with the highest and homogenous expression in CRCs was cadherin 17 (CDH17). Downstream analysis of CRC transcriptomics and proteomics datasets showed that CDH17 was significantly correlated with carcinoembryonic antigen expression. Moreover, CDH17 expression was significantly lower in CRC cases with high microsatellite instability, as well as negatively associated with immune response gene sets and the expression of MHC class I and II molecules. CDH17 represents an optimal target for therapeutic development against CRCs, and this study provides a novel framework to identify key cell surface targets for therapeutic development against other malignancies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kah Keng Wong
- Department of Immunology, School of Medical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 16150 Kelantan, Malaysia.
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Chen J, Niu C, Yang N, Liu C, Zou SS, Zhu S. Biomarker discovery and application-An opportunity to resolve the challenge of liver cancer diagnosis and treatment. Pharmacol Res 2023; 189:106674. [PMID: 36702425 DOI: 10.1016/j.phrs.2023.106674] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2022] [Revised: 01/10/2023] [Accepted: 01/19/2023] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
Liver cancer is one of the most common malignancies, with severe morbidity and mortality. While considerable progress has been made in liver cancer treatment, the 5-year overall survival (OS) of patients has not improved significantly. Reasons include the inadequate capability of early screening and diagnosis, a high incidence of recurrence and metastasis, a high degree of tumor heterogeneity, and an immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment. Therefore, the identification and validation of specific and robust liver cancer biomarkers are of major importance for early screening, timely diagnosis, accurate prognosis, and the prevention of tumor progression. In this review, we highlight some of the latest research progress and potential applications of liver cancer biomarkers, describing hotspots and prospective directions in biomarker discovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jingtao Chen
- Cancer Center, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun 130021, China; Laboratory for Tumor Immunology, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun 130021, China
| | - Chao Niu
- Cancer Center, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun 130021, China
| | - Ning Yang
- Laboratory for Tumor Immunology, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun 130021, China
| | - Chunyan Liu
- Laboratory for Tumor Immunology, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun 130021, China
| | - Shan-Shan Zou
- Laboratory for Tumor Immunology, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun 130021, China
| | - Shan Zhu
- Cancer Center, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun 130021, China; Laboratory for Tumor Immunology, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun 130021, China.
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Wang Q, Shen X, Chen G, Du J. How to overcome resistance to immune checkpoint inhibitors in colorectal cancer: From mechanisms to translation. Int J Cancer 2023. [PMID: 36752642 DOI: 10.1002/ijc.34464] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2022] [Revised: 01/14/2023] [Accepted: 02/01/2023] [Indexed: 02/09/2023]
Abstract
Immunotherapy, especially with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), has shown advantages in cancer treatment and is a new hope for patients who have failed multiline therapy. However, in colorectal cancer (CRC), the benefit is limited to a small subset of patients with microsatellite instability-high (MSI-H) or mismatch repair-deficient (dMMR) metastatic CRC (mCRC). In addition, 45% to 60% of dMMR/MSI-H mCRC patients showed primary or acquired resistance to ICIs. This means that these patients may have potential unknown pathways mediating immune escape. Almost all mismatch repair-proficient (pMMR) or microsatellite-stable (MSS) mCRC patients do not benefit from ICIs. In this review, we discuss the mechanisms of action of ICIs and their current status in CRC. We then discuss the mechanisms of primary and acquired resistance to ICIs in CRC. Finally, we discuss promising therapeutic strategies to overcome resistance to ICIs in the clinic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qianyu Wang
- Medical Department of General Surgery, The 1st Medical Center, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China.,The Second School of Clinical Medicine, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, China
| | - Xiaofei Shen
- Department of General Surgery, Affiliated Drum Tower Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, Nanjing, China
| | - Gang Chen
- Medical Department of General Surgery, The 1st Medical Center, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China.,Department of General Surgery, The 7th Medical Center, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Junfeng Du
- Medical Department of General Surgery, The 1st Medical Center, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China.,Department of General Surgery, The 7th Medical Center, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China.,The Second School of Clinical Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
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Significant Tumor Regression after Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy in Gastric Cancer, but Poor Survival of the Patient? Role of MHC Class I Alterations. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:cancers15030771. [PMID: 36765729 PMCID: PMC9913563 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15030771] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2022] [Revised: 01/17/2023] [Accepted: 01/20/2023] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
Abstract
We aimed to determine the clinical and prognostic relevance of allelic imbalance (AI) of the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I genes, encompassing the human leukocyte antigen (HLA) class I and beta-2 microglobulin (B2M) genes, in the context of neoadjuvant platinum/fluoropyrimidine chemotherapy (CTx). Biopsies before CTx were studied in 158 patients with adenocarcinoma of the stomach or gastroesophageal junction. The response was histopathologically evaluated. AI was detected by multiplex PCRs analysis of four or five microsatellite markers in HLA and B2M regions, respectively. AI with no marker was significantly associated with response or survival. However, subgroup analysis revealed differences. AI at marker D6S265, close to the HLA-A gene, was associated with an obvious increased risk in responding (HR, 3.62; 95% CI, 0.96-13.68, p = 0.058) but not in non-responding patients (HR, 0.92; 95% CI, 0.51-1.65, p = 0.773). Markers D6S273 and D6S2872 showed similar results. The interaction between AI at D6S265 and response to CTx was significant in a multivariable analysis (p = 0.010). No associations were observed for B2M markers. Our results underline the importance of intact neoantigen presentation specifically for responding patients and may help explain an unexpectedly poor survival of a patient despite significant tumor regression after neoadjuvant platinum/fluoropyrimidine CTx.
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Mutated genes on ctDNA detecting postoperative recurrence presented reduced neoantigens in primary tumors in colorectal cancer cases. Sci Rep 2023; 13:1366. [PMID: 36693917 PMCID: PMC9873919 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-28575-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2022] [Accepted: 01/20/2023] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
The detection and sequencing of the mutated ctDNA is one of the irreplaceable clinical measures in the postoperative management of colorectal cancer (CRC) cases. However, we are curious to comprehend the essential traits of mutated genes comprising metastatic sites out of whole mutated genes in primary sites. In the current retrospective study, we conducted target resequencing of ctDNA using 47 plasma samples and established a cancer panel carrying the commonly mutated genes between primary and recurrent tumors. We found that mutated genes in ctDNA indicated immune-resistance traits with respect to the impaired ability to present neoantigens by loss of expression or binding affinity to HLA in the primary tumor. Compared with the estimated neoantigens from all mutated genes in primary tumors, the neoantigen peptides from commonly mutated genes on the panel showed abundant expression but no binding affinity to HLA. Therefore, ctDNA mutations can be frequently and postoperatively detected to identify recurrence; however, these mutated genes were derived from immune-tolerated clones owing to the loss of neoantigen presentation in primary CRC tumors.
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Immunological and Clinico-Molecular Features of Tumor Border Configuration in Colorectal Cancer. J Am Coll Surg 2023; 236:126-134. [PMID: 36519916 DOI: 10.1097/xcs.0000000000000440] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Infiltrating tumor border configuration (ITBC) portends a poor prognosis compared with pushing tumor border configuration (PTBC) in colorectal cancer. The tumor and its surrounding immune microenvironment of tumor border configuration is not well-characterized. We aim to elucidate the differences in expression of molecular markers between the 2 groups using tissue microarray (TMA). STUDY DESIGN Immunohistochemistry was performed on TMAs of surgical pathology specimens obtained from colorectal cancer patients consecutively operated at our institution from 2004 to 2015. TMAs were stained for immune cells (CD8, FOXP3, LAG3, PU1, CD163, and PDL1); HLA II, beta 2 microglobulin, and HC10 on tumor cells; BRAFV600E mutation; and DNA mismatch repair proteins (MMR) status. Patients who received neoadjuvant therapy were excluded. RESULTS There were 646 tumors with ITBC and 310 tumors with PTBC. There was a significantly lower expression (p < 0.05) of immune components, namely CD8, FOXP3, LAG3, PU1, PDL1 immune cells, and Beta-2 Microglobulin on tumor cells in the tumors with ITBC compared with PTBC, except CD163 immune cells, and HC10 and HLAII on tumor cells. Tumors with ITBC were less likely to be associated with BRAFV600E mutations and deficient MMR proteins (p < 0.001). On analyzing MMR-proficient tumors separately, we could not find any difference in the expression of any molecular marker (including BRAF), except a lower expression of PDL1 immune cells in tumors with ITBC (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS Colorectal tumors with ITBC are associated with a generalized low immune microenvironment and low rates of BRAFV600E mutation compared with tumors with PTBC. However, the molecular expression of tumor border configuration seems confounded by the MMR molecular signature. MMR-proficient colorectal tumors with ITBC are associated with a lower expression of only PDL1 immune cells among all immune markers examined.
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Aptsiauri N, Garrido F. The Challenges of HLA Class I Loss in Cancer Immunotherapy: Facts and Hopes. Clin Cancer Res 2022; 28:5021-5029. [PMID: 35861868 DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-21-3501] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2022] [Revised: 05/09/2022] [Accepted: 07/20/2022] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
HLA class I molecules are key in tumor recognition and T cell-mediated elimination. Loss of tumor HLA class I expression with different underlying molecular defects results in reduced antigen presentation and facilitates cancer immune evasion. It is also linked to significant changes in tumor microenvironment and tissue architecture. In this review, we summarize the current advances and future perspectives in the understanding of the mechanisms of MHC/HLA class I alterations during the natural history of tumor progression from a primary lesion to distant metastases. We also focus on recent clinical and experimental data demonstrating that lack of response to cancer immunotherapy frequently depends on the molecular nature of tumor HLA class I aberrations. Finally, we highlight the relevance of detecting and correcting the absence of tumor HLA expression to improve immunotherapy protocols.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natalia Aptsiauri
- Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology III and Immunology, University of Granada Medical School, Granada, Spain.,Institute of Biosanitary Research of Granada (IBS), Granada, Spain
| | - Federico Garrido
- Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology III and Immunology, University of Granada Medical School, Granada, Spain.,Institute of Biosanitary Research of Granada (IBS), Granada, Spain
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Lu W, Yin C, Zhang T, Wu Y, Huang S. An oxidative stress-related prognostic signature for indicating the immune status of oral squamous cell carcinoma and guiding clinical treatment. Front Genet 2022; 13:977902. [PMID: 36212161 PMCID: PMC9538189 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2022.977902] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2022] [Accepted: 09/02/2022] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is the eighth most common cancer worldwide and presents high mortality. Oxidative stress, caused by reactive oxygen species accumulation, plays a crucial role in tumorigenesis, cancer progression, and drug resistance. Nevertheless, the specific prognostic and clinical values of oxidative stress-related genes (OSGs) in OSCC remain unclear. Here, we developed an oxidative stress-related prognostic signature according to mRNA expression data from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database and evaluated its connections with the prognosis, clinical features, immune status, immunotherapy, and drug sensitivity of OSCC through a series of bioinformatics analyses. Finally, we filtered out six prognostic OSGs to construct a prognostic signature. On the basis of both TCGA-OSCC and GSE41613 cohorts, the signature was proven to be an independent prognostic factor with high accuracy and was confirmed to be an impactful indicator for predicting the prognosis and immune status of patients with OSCC. Additionally, we found that patients with high-risk scores may obtain greater benefit from immune checkpoint therapy compared to those with low-risk scores, and the risk score presented a close interaction with the tumor microenvironment and chemotherapy sensitivity. The prognostic signature may provide a valid and robust predictive tool that could predict the prognosis and immune status and guide clinicians to develop personalized therapeutic strategies for patients with OSCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Lu
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, Shandong, China
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Shandong Provincial Hospital, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Changwei Yin
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, Shandong, China
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Shandong Provincial Hospital, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Tianqi Zhang
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Yihua Wu
- Department of Oral Medicine, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Shengyun Huang
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, Shandong, China
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Shandong Provincial Hospital, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, China
- *Correspondence: Shengyun Huang,
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Tumor Antigenicity and a Pre-Existing Adaptive Immune Response in Advanced BRAF Mutant Colorectal Cancers. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14163951. [PMID: 36010943 PMCID: PMC9405961 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14163951] [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: 07/19/2022] [Revised: 08/09/2022] [Accepted: 08/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary BRAF mutant metastatic CRCs (BRAF-mCRCs) are considered a unique clinical entity characterized by a dismal prognosis and that do not respond efficiently to both standard chemotherapy and to orally selective inhibitors of BRAFV600E. In this study, the gene expression profiles of 89 immunotherapy-naïve BRAF-CRCs were generated using the PanCancer IO 360 gene expression panel to improve the knowledge of the mechanisms involved in tumor-suppressive immune functions in BRAF-mCRCs. A significant fraction of BRAF-mCRCs shows a hot/inflamed profile and may be potential candidates for responding to immunotherapy. Only a partial overlap between these hot signatures and the presence of microsatellite instability (MSI) was observed, demonstrating that MSI tumors showed a not differential expression of MHC Class I antigen presentation pathway compared with microsatellite-stable tumors. The analysis of gene expression profiles is a promising strategy both for immune profiling of primary tumors before any treatment and for following the evolution of metastatic disease during therapy. Abstract The main hypothesis of this study is that gene expression profiles (GEPs) integrating both tumor antigenicity and a pre-existing adaptive immune response can be used to generate distinct immune-related signatures of BRAF mutant colorectal cancers (BRAF-CRCs) to identify actionable biomarkers predicting response to immunotherapy. GEPs of 89 immunotherapy-naïve BRAF-CRCs were generated using the Pan-Cancer IO 360 gene expression panel and the NanoString nCounter platform and were correlated with microsatellite instability (MSI) status and with CD8+ tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte (TIL) content. Hot/inflamed profiles were found in 52% of all cases, and high scores of Tumor Inflammation Signature were observed in 42% of the metastatic BRAF-CRCs. A subset of MSI tumors showed a cold profile. Antigen Processing Machinery (APM) signature was not differentially expressed in MSI tumors compared with MSS cases. By contrast, the APM signature was significantly upregulated in CD8+ BRAF-CRCs versus CD8− tumors. Our study demonstrates that a significant fraction of BRAF-CRCs may be a candidate for immunotherapy and that the simultaneous analysis of MSI status and CD8+ TIL content increases accuracy in identifying patients who can potentially benefit from immune checkpoint inhibitors. GEPs may be very useful in expanding the spectrum of patients with BRAF-CRCs who can benefit from immune checkpoint blockade.
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Sonal S, Deshpande V, Ting DT, Cusack JC, Parikh AR, Neyaz A, Pankaj A, Taylor MS, Dinaux AM, Leijssen LGJ, Boudreau C, Locascio JJ, Kunitake H, Goldstone RN, Bordeianou LG, Cauley CE, Ricciardi R, Berger DL. Molecular Basis of Extramural Vascular Invasion (EMVI) in Colorectal Carcinoma. Ann Surg Oncol 2022; 29:7372-7382. [PMID: 35917013 DOI: 10.1245/s10434-022-12212-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2022] [Accepted: 06/27/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Extramural vascular invasion (EMVI) is a known poor prognostic factor in colorectal carcinoma; however, its molecular basis has not been defined. This study aimed to assess the expression of molecular markers in EMVI positive colorectal carcinoma to understand their tumor microenvironment. METHODS Immunohistochemistry was performed on tissue microarrays of surgically resected colorectal cancer specimens for immunological markers, and BRAFV600E mutation (and on the tissue blocks for mismatch repair proteins). Automated quantification was used for CD8, LAG3, FOXP3, PU1, and CD163, and manual quantification was used for PDL1, HLA I markers (beta-2 microglobulin, HC10), and HLA II. The Wilcoxon rank-sum test was used to compare EMVI positive and negative tumors. A logistic regression model was fitted to assess the predictive effect of biomarkers on EMVI. RESULTS There were 340 EMVI positive and 678 EMVI negative chemo naïve tumors. PDL1 was barely expressed on tumor cells (median 0) in the entire cohort. We found a significantly lower expression of CD8, LAG3, FOXP3, PU1 cells, PDL1 positive macrophages, and beta-2 microglobulin on tumor cells in the EMVI positive subset (p ≤ 0.001). There was no association of BRAFV600E or deficient mismatch repair proteins (dMMR) with EMVI. PU1 (OR 0.8, 0.7-0.9) and low PDL1 (OR 1.6, 1.1-2.3) independently predicted EMVI on multivariate logistic regression among all biomarkers examined. CONCLUSION There is a generalized blunting of immune response in EMVI positive colorectal carcinoma, which may contribute to a worse prognosis. Tumor-associated macrophages seem to play the most significant role in determining EMVI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Swati Sonal
- Department of General and Gastrointestinal Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital & Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Vikram Deshpande
- Department of Pathology, Massachusetts General Hospital & Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - David T Ting
- Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center & Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - James C Cusack
- Department of General and Gastrointestinal Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital & Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Aparna R Parikh
- Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center & Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Azfar Neyaz
- Department of Pathology, Massachusetts General Hospital & Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.,Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Amaya Pankaj
- Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center & Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Martin S Taylor
- Department of Pathology, Massachusetts General Hospital & Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Anne M Dinaux
- Department of General and Gastrointestinal Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital & Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.,Chirurgie, Albert Schweitzer Ziekenhuis, Dordrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Lieve G J Leijssen
- Department of General and Gastrointestinal Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital & Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.,Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Amsterdams University Medical Centers, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Chloe Boudreau
- Department of General and Gastrointestinal Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital & Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Joseph J Locascio
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital & Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Hiroko Kunitake
- Department of General and Gastrointestinal Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital & Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Robert N Goldstone
- Department of General and Gastrointestinal Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital & Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Liliana G Bordeianou
- Department of General and Gastrointestinal Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital & Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Christy E Cauley
- Department of General and Gastrointestinal Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital & Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Rocco Ricciardi
- Department of General and Gastrointestinal Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital & Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - David L Berger
- Department of General and Gastrointestinal Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital & Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
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Selvin T, Fasterius E, Jarvius M, Fryknäs M, Larsson R, Andersson CR. Single-cell transcriptional pharmacodynamics of trifluridine in a tumor-immune model. Sci Rep 2022; 12:11960. [PMID: 35831404 PMCID: PMC9279337 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-16077-7] [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: 02/25/2022] [Accepted: 07/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Understanding the immunological effects of chemotherapy is of great importance, especially now that we have entered an era where ever-increasing pre-clinical and clinical efforts are put into combining chemotherapy and immunotherapy to combat cancer. Single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) has proved to be a powerful technique with a broad range of applications, studies evaluating drug effects in co-cultures of tumor and immune cells are however scarce. We treated a co-culture comprised of human colorectal cancer (CRC) cells and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) with the nucleoside analogue trifluridine (FTD) and used scRNA-seq to analyze posttreatment gene expression profiles in thousands of individual cancer and immune cells concurrently. ScRNA-seq recapitulated major mechanisms of action previously described for FTD and provided new insight into possible treatment-induced effects on T-cell mediated antitumor responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tove Selvin
- Department of Medical Sciences, Uppsala University, 75185, Uppsala, Sweden.
| | - Erik Fasterius
- National Bioinformatics Infrastructure Sweden (NBIS), Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Malin Jarvius
- Department of Medical Sciences, Uppsala University, 75185, Uppsala, Sweden.,Department of Pharmaceutical Biosciences and Science for Life Laboratory, Uppsala University, Box 591, 751 24, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Mårten Fryknäs
- Department of Medical Sciences, Uppsala University, 75185, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Rolf Larsson
- Department of Medical Sciences, Uppsala University, 75185, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Claes R Andersson
- Department of Medical Sciences, Uppsala University, 75185, Uppsala, Sweden.
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You W, Ouyang J, Cai Z, Chen Y, Wu X. Comprehensive Analyses of Immune Subtypes of Stomach Adenocarcinoma for mRNA Vaccination. Front Immunol 2022; 13:827506. [PMID: 35874675 PMCID: PMC9300892 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.827506] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2021] [Accepted: 06/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Although messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccines have unique advantages against multiple tumors, mRNA vaccine targets in stomach adenocarcinoma (STAD) remain unknown. The potential effectiveness of mRNA vaccines is closely associated with the tumor immune infiltration microenvironment. The present study aimed to identify tumor antigens of STAD as mRNA vaccine targets and systematically determine immune subtypes (ISs) of STAD that might be suitable for immunotherapy. Methods Gene expression profiles and clinical data of patients with gastric cancer were downloaded from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA; n = 409) and the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO; n = 433), and genomic data were extracted from cBioPortal. Differential gene expression was analyzed using the limma package, genetic alterations were visualized using maftools, and prognosis was analyzed using ToPP. Correlations between gene expression and immune infiltration were calculated using TIMER software, and potential ISs were identified using ConsensusClusterPlus. Functional enrichment was analyzed in clusterProfiler, and r co-expression networks were analyzed using the weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) package in R. Results Overexpression of the prognostic and highly mutated antigens ADAMTS18, COL10A1, PPEF1, and STRA6 was associated with infiltration by antigen-presenting cells in STAD. Five ISs (IS1–IS5) in STAD with distinct prognoses were developed and validated in TCGA and GEO databases. The tumor mutational burden and molecular and clinical characteristics significantly differed among IS1–IS5. Both IS1 and IS2 were associated with a high mutational burden, massive infiltration by immune cells, especially antigen-presenting cells, and better survival compared with the other subtypes. Both IS4 and IS5 were associated with cold immune infiltration and correlated with advanced pathological stages. We analyzed the immune microenvironments of five subtypes of immune modulators and biomarkers to select suitable populations for mRNA vaccination and established four co-expressed key modules to validate the characteristics of the ISs. Finally, the correlation of these four mRNA vaccine targets with the transcription factors of DC cells, including BATF3, IRF4, IRF8, ZEB2, ID2, KLF4, E2-2, and IKZF1, were explored to reveal the underlying mechanisms. Conclusions ADAMTS18, COL10A1, PPEF1, and STRA6 are potential mRNA vaccine candidates for STAD. Patients with IS1 and IS2 are suitable populations for mRNA vaccination immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weiqiang You
- Department of Colorectal Surgery, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Colorectal and Pelvic Floor Diseases, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jian Ouyang
- The Center for Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Regulatory Biology, The Institute of Biomedical Sciences and School of Life Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai-MOST Key Laboratory of Health and Disease Genomics, Institute for Genome and Bioinformatics, Shanghai Institute for Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Technologies, Shanghai, China
| | - Zerong Cai
- Department of Colorectal Surgery, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Colorectal and Pelvic Floor Diseases, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yufeng Chen
- Department of Colorectal Surgery, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Colorectal and Pelvic Floor Diseases, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xiaojian Wu
- Department of Colorectal Surgery, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Colorectal and Pelvic Floor Diseases, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
- *Correspondence: Xiaojian Wu,
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Prognostic implications of adaptive immune features in MMR-proficient colorectal liver metastases classified by histopathological growth patterns. Br J Cancer 2022; 126:1329-1338. [PMID: 34980880 PMCID: PMC9043179 DOI: 10.1038/s41416-021-01667-5] [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: 01/28/2021] [Revised: 10/24/2021] [Accepted: 12/02/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND After resection, colorectal cancer liver metastases (CRLM) surrounded by a desmoplastic rim carry a better prognosis than the metastases replacing the adjacent liver. However, these histopathological growth patterns (HGPs) are insufficient to guide clinical decision-making. We explored whether the adaptive immune features of HGPs could refine prognostication. METHODS From 276 metastases resected in 176 patients classified by HGPs, tissue microarrays were used to assess intratumoral T cells (CD3), antigen presentation capacity (MHC class I) and CD73 expression producing immunosuppressive adenosine. We tested correlations between these variables and patient outcomes. RESULTS The 101 (57.4%) patients with dominant desmoplastic HGP had a median recurrence-free survival (RFS) of 17.1 months compared to 13.3 months in the 75 patients (42.6%) with dominant replacement HGP (p = 0.037). In desmoplastic CRLM, high vs. low CD73 was the only prognostically informative immune parameter and was associated with a median RFS of 12.3 months compared to 26.3, respectively (p = 0.010). Only in dominant replacement CRLM, we found a subgroup (n = 23) with high intratumoral MHC-I expression but poor CD3+ T cell infiltration, a phenotype associated with a short median RFS of 7.9 months. CONCLUSIONS Combining the assessments of HGP and adaptive immune features in resected CRLM could help identify patients at risk of early recurrence.
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Cancer evolution: special focus on the immune aspect of cancer. Semin Cancer Biol 2022; 86:420-435. [PMID: 35589072 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcancer.2022.05.006] [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: 12/15/2021] [Revised: 04/18/2022] [Accepted: 05/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Cancer is an evolutionary disease. Intra-tumor heterogeneity (ITH), which describes the diversity within individual tumors, sets the foundation for evolution. The fitness of tumor cells is determined by their microenvironment, which exerts intense selection pressure that generally favors cells with survival and proliferation advantages. It has been revealed that host immunity dramatically influences the evolutionary trajectory of cancer. As technologies advance, a refined map of the immune system's involvement in cancer evolution has gradually come to our knowledge. Here we specifically view cancer through the lens of evolutionary immunological biology. We will cover the neoplastic evolution under immunosurveillance, including how the host immunity shapes the tumor evolutionary trajectory and how progressive tumors modulate the host immunity to survive. A comprehensive understanding of the interplay between cancer evolution and cancer immunity provides clues to combating cancer strategically.
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Subbarayan K, Massa C, Leisz S, Steven A, Bethmann D, Biehl K, Wickenhauser C, Seliger B. Biglycan as a potential regulator of tumorgenicity and immunogenicity in K-RAS-transformed cells. Oncoimmunology 2022; 11:2069214. [PMID: 35529675 PMCID: PMC9067524 DOI: 10.1080/2162402x.2022.2069214] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2021] [Revised: 04/16/2022] [Accepted: 04/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
The extracellular matrix component biglycan (BGN) plays an essential role in various physiological and pathophysiological processes. A deficient BGN expression associated with reduced immunogenicity was found in HER-2/neu-overexpressing cells. To determine whether BGN is suppressed by oncogene-driven regulatory networks, the expression and function of BGN was analyzed in murine and human BGNlow/BGNhigh K-RASG12V-transformed model systems as well as in different patients' datasets of colorectal carcinoma (CRC) lesions. K-RAS-mutated CRC tissues expressed low BGN mRNA and protein levels when compared to normal colon epithelial cells, which was associated with a reduced patients' survival. Transfection of BGN in murine and human BGNlow K-RAS-expressing cells resulted in a reduced growth and migration of BGNhigh vs BGNlow K-RAS cells. In addition, increased MHC class I surface antigens as a consequence of an enhanced antigen processing machinery component expression was found upon restoration of BGN, which was confirmed by RNA-sequencing of BGNlow vs. BGNhigh K-RAS models. Furthermore, a reduced tumor formation of BGNhigh versus BGNlow K-RAS-transformed fibroblasts associated with an enhanced MHC class I expression and an increased frequency of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes in tumor lesions was found. Our data provide for the first time an inverse link between BGN and K-RAS expression in murine and human K-RAS-overexpressing models and CRC lesions associated with altered growth properties, reduced immunogenicity and worse patients' outcome. Therefore, reversion of BGN might be a novel therapeutic option for K-RAS-associated malignancies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karthikeyan Subbarayan
- Institute of Medical Immunology, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle, Germany
| | - Chiara Massa
- Institute of Medical Immunology, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle, Germany
| | - Sandra Leisz
- Institute of Medical Immunology, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle, Germany
| | - André Steven
- Institute of Medical Immunology, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle, Germany
| | - Daniel Bethmann
- Institute of Pathology, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle, Germany
| | - Katharina Biehl
- Institute of Medical Immunology, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle, Germany
| | - Claudia Wickenhauser
- Institute of Pathology, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle, Germany
| | - Barbara Seliger
- Institute of Medical Immunology, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle, Germany
- Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology, Leipzig, Germany
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Regulation of the antigen presentation machinery in cancer and its implication for immune surveillance. Biochem Soc Trans 2022; 50:825-837. [PMID: 35343573 PMCID: PMC9162455 DOI: 10.1042/bst20210961] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2021] [Revised: 02/10/2022] [Accepted: 03/14/2022] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Evading immune destruction is one of the hallmarks of cancer. A key mechanism of immune evasion deployed by tumour cells is to reduce neoantigen presentation through down-regulation of the antigen presentation machinery. MHC-I and MHC-II proteins are key components of the antigen presentation machinery responsible for neoantigen presentation to CD8+ and CD4+ T lymphocytes, respectively. Their expression in tumour cells is modulated by a complex interplay of genomic, transcriptomic and post translational factors involving multiple intracellular antigen processing pathways. Ongoing research investigates mechanisms invoked by cancer cells to abrogate MHC-I expression and attenuate anti-tumour CD8+ cytotoxic T cell response. The discovery of MHC-II on tumour cells has been less characterized. However, this finding has triggered further interest in utilising tumour-specific MHC-II to harness sustained anti-tumour immunity through the activation of CD4+ T helper cells. Tumour-specific expression of MHC-I and MHC-II has been associated with improved patient survival in most clinical studies. Thus, their reactivation represents an attractive way to unleash anti-tumour immunity. This review provides a comprehensive overview of physiologically conserved or novel mechanisms utilised by tumour cells to reduce MHC-I or MHC-II expression. It outlines current approaches employed at the preclinical and clinical trial interface towards reversing these processes in order to improve response to immunotherapy and survival outcomes for patients with cancer.
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43
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Kawazu M, Ueno T, Saeki K, Sax N, Togashi Y, Kanaseki T, Chida K, Kishigami F, Sato K, Kojima S, Otsuka M, Kawazoe A, Nishinakamura H, Yuka M, Yamamoto Y, Yamashita K, Inoue S, Tanegashima T, Matsubara D, Tane K, Tanaka Y, Iinuma H, Hashiguchi Y, Hazama S, Khor SS, Tokunaga K, Tsuboi M, Niki T, Eto M, Shitara K, Torigoe T, Ishihara S, Aburatani H, Haeno H, Nishikawa H, Mano H. HLA Class I Analysis Provides Insight Into the Genetic and Epigenetic Background of Immune Evasion in Colorectal Cancer With High Microsatellite Instability. Gastroenterology 2022; 162:799-812. [PMID: 34687740 DOI: 10.1053/j.gastro.2021.10.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2020] [Revised: 09/27/2021] [Accepted: 10/07/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND & AIMS A detailed understanding of antitumor immunity is essential for optimal cancer immune therapy. Although defective mutations in the B2M and HLA-ABC genes, which encode molecules essential for antigen presentation, have been reported in several studies, the effects of these defects on tumor immunity have not been quantitatively evaluated. METHODS Mutations in HLA-ABC genes were analyzed in 114 microsatellite instability-high colorectal cancers using a long-read sequencer. The data were further analyzed in combination with whole-exome sequencing, transcriptome sequencing, DNA methylation array, and immunohistochemistry data. RESULTS We detected 101 truncating mutations in 57 tumors (50%) and loss of 61 alleles in 21 tumors (18%). Based on the integrated analysis that enabled the immunologic subclassification of microsatellite instability-high colorectal cancers, we identified a subtype of tumors in which lymphocyte infiltration was reduced, partly due to reduced expression of HLA-ABC genes in the absence of apparent genetic alterations. Survival time of patients with such tumors was shorter than in patients with other tumor types. Paradoxically, tumor mutation burden was highest in the subtype, suggesting that the immunogenic effect of accumulating mutations was counterbalanced by mutations that weakened immunoreactivity. Various genetic and epigenetic alterations, including frameshift mutations in RFX5 and promoter methylation of PSMB8 and HLA-A, converged on reduced expression of HLA-ABC genes. CONCLUSIONS Our detailed immunogenomic analysis provides information that will facilitate the improvement and development of cancer immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Masahito Kawazu
- Division of Cellular Signaling, National Cancer Center Research Institute, Tokyo, Japan.
| | - Toshihide Ueno
- Division of Cellular Signaling, National Cancer Center Research Institute, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Koichi Saeki
- Department of Computational Biology and Medical Sciences, Graduate School of Frontier Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Chiba, Japan
| | | | - Yosuke Togashi
- Division of Cancer Immunology, Research Institute, Exploratory Oncology Research and Clinical Trial Center, National Cancer Center, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Takayuki Kanaseki
- Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, Sapporo Medical University, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Keigo Chida
- Department of Gastrointestinal Oncology, National Cancer Center Hospital East, Chiba, Japan
| | - Fumishi Kishigami
- Division of Cellular Signaling, National Cancer Center Research Institute, Tokyo, Japan; Department of Surgical Oncology, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Kazuhito Sato
- Department of Surgical Oncology, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Shinya Kojima
- Division of Cellular Signaling, National Cancer Center Research Institute, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Masafumi Otsuka
- Division of Cellular Signaling, National Cancer Center Research Institute, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Akihito Kawazoe
- Division of Cancer Immunology, Research Institute, Exploratory Oncology Research and Clinical Trial Center, National Cancer Center, Tokyo, Japan; Department of Gastrointestinal Oncology, National Cancer Center Hospital East, Chiba, Japan
| | - Hitomi Nishinakamura
- Division of Cancer Immunology, Research Institute, Exploratory Oncology Research and Clinical Trial Center, National Cancer Center, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Maeda Yuka
- Division of Cancer Immunology, Research Institute, Exploratory Oncology Research and Clinical Trial Center, National Cancer Center, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Yoko Yamamoto
- Department of Surgical Oncology, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | | | - Satoshi Inoue
- Division of Cellular Signaling, National Cancer Center Research Institute, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Tokiyoshi Tanegashima
- Division of Cancer Immunology, Research Institute, Exploratory Oncology Research and Clinical Trial Center, National Cancer Center, Tokyo, Japan; Department of Urology, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan
| | - Daisuke Matsubara
- Division of Integrative Pathology, Jichi Medical University, Shimotsukeshi, Japan
| | - Kenta Tane
- Division of Cancer Immunology, Research Institute, Exploratory Oncology Research and Clinical Trial Center, National Cancer Center, Tokyo, Japan; Department of Thoracic Surgery, National Cancer Center Hospital East, Chiba, Japan
| | - Yosuke Tanaka
- Division of Cellular Signaling, National Cancer Center Research Institute, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Hisae Iinuma
- Department of Surgery, Teikyo University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Yojiro Hashiguchi
- Department of Surgery, Teikyo University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Shoichi Hazama
- Department of Digestive Surgery and Surgical Oncology, Yamaguchi University Graduate School of Medicine, Yamaguchi, Japan
| | - Seik-Soon Khor
- Department of Human Genetics, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Katsushi Tokunaga
- Department of Human Genetics, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Masahiro Tsuboi
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, National Cancer Center Hospital East, Chiba, Japan
| | - Toshiro Niki
- Division of Integrative Pathology, Jichi Medical University, Shimotsukeshi, Japan
| | - Masatoshi Eto
- Department of Urology, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan
| | - Kohei Shitara
- Department of Gastrointestinal Oncology, National Cancer Center Hospital East, Chiba, Japan
| | - Toshihiko Torigoe
- Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, Sapporo Medical University, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Soichiro Ishihara
- Department of Surgical Oncology, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Hiroyuki Aburatani
- Genome Science Division, Research Center for Advanced Science and Technologies, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Hiroshi Haeno
- Department of Computational Biology and Medical Sciences, Graduate School of Frontier Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Chiba, Japan
| | - Hiroyoshi Nishikawa
- Division of Cancer Immunology, Research Institute, Exploratory Oncology Research and Clinical Trial Center, National Cancer Center, Tokyo, Japan; Department of Immunology, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Hiroyuki Mano
- Division of Cellular Signaling, National Cancer Center Research Institute, Tokyo, Japan; Research Institute, National Cancer Center Research Institute, Tokyo, Japan
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Taylor BC, Balko JM. Mechanisms of MHC-I Downregulation and Role in Immunotherapy Response. Front Immunol 2022; 13:844866. [PMID: 35296095 PMCID: PMC8920040 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.844866] [Citation(s) in RCA: 73] [Impact Index Per Article: 36.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2021] [Accepted: 02/09/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Immunotherapy has become a key therapeutic strategy in the treatment of many cancers. As a result, research efforts have been aimed at understanding mechanisms of resistance to immunotherapy and how anti-tumor immune response can be therapeutically enhanced. It has been shown that tumor cell recognition by the immune system plays a key role in effective response to T cell targeting therapies in patients. One mechanism by which tumor cells can avoid immunosurveillance is through the downregulation of Major Histocompatibility Complex I (MHC-I). Downregulation of MHC-I has been described as a mechanism of intrinsic and acquired resistance to immunotherapy in patients with cancer. Depending on the mechanism, the downregulation of MHC-I can sometimes be therapeutically restored to aid in anti-tumor immunity. In this article, we will review current research in MHC-I downregulation and its impact on immunotherapy response in patients, as well as possible strategies for therapeutic upregulation of MHC-I.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brandie C. Taylor
- Department of Medicine, Cancer Biology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, United States
| | - Justin M. Balko
- Department of Medicine, Cancer Biology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, United States
- Department of Medicine, Hematology and Oncology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, United States
- *Correspondence: Justin M. Balko,
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Abdelatty A, Sun Q, Hu J, Wu F, Wei G, Xu H, Zhou G, Wang X, Xia H, Lan L. Pan-Cancer Study on Protein Kinase C Family as a Potential Biomarker for the Tumors Immune Landscape and the Response to Immunotherapy. Front Cell Dev Biol 2022; 9:798319. [PMID: 35174160 PMCID: PMC8841516 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2021.798319] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2021] [Accepted: 11/24/2021] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
The protein kinase C (PKC) family has been described with its role in some cancers, either as a promoter or suppressor. PKC signaling also regulates a molecular switch between transactivation and transrepression activity of the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha (PPARalpha). However, the role of different PKC enzymes in tumor immunity remains poorly defined. This study aims to investigate the correlation between PKC genes and tumor immunity, in addition to studying the probability of their use as predictive biomarkers for tumor immunity and immunotherapeutic response. The ssGSEA and the ESTIMATE methods were used to assess 28 tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) and the immune component of each cancer, then correlated with PKC levels. Prediction of PKC levels-dependent immunotherapeutic response was based on human leukocytic antigen (HLA) gene enrichment scores and programmed cell death 1 ligand (PD-L1) expression. Univariate and multivariate Cox analysis was performed to evaluate the prognostic role of PKC genes in cancers. Methylation level and CNAs could drive the expression levels of some PKC members, especially PRKCI, whose CNGs are predicted to elevate their level in many cancer types. The most crucial finding in this study was that PKC isoenzymes are robust biomarkers for the tumor immune status, PRKCB, PRKCH, and PRKCQ as stimulators, while PRKCI and PRKCZ as inhibitors in most cancers. Also, PKC family gene levels can be used as predictors for the response to immunotherapies, especially HLAs dependent and PD-L1 blockade-dependent ones. In addition to its prognostic function, all PKC family enzymes are promising tumor immunity biomarkers and can help select suitable immune therapy in different cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alaa Abdelatty
- Department of Pathology in the School of Basic Medical Sciences and Key Laboratory of Antibody Technique of National Health Commission, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
- Department of Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kafrelsheikh University, Kafrelsheikh, Egypt
| | - Qi Sun
- Department of Pathology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, The Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, Nanjing, China
| | - Junhong Hu
- Department of Colorectal and Anal Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Fubing Wu
- Sir Run Run Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Guanqun Wei
- Department of Pathology in the School of Basic Medical Sciences and Key Laboratory of Antibody Technique of National Health Commission, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Haojun Xu
- Department of Pathology in the School of Basic Medical Sciences and Key Laboratory of Antibody Technique of National Health Commission, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Guoren Zhou
- Department of Oncology, Jiangsu Cancer Hospital and The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Nanjing Medical University and Jiangsu Institute of Cancer Research, Nanjing, China
- *Correspondence: Guoren Zhou, ; Xiaoming Wang, ; Hongping Xia, ; Linhua Lan,
| | - Xiaoming Wang
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wannan Medical College (Yijishan Hospital of Wannan Medical College), Wuhu, China
- *Correspondence: Guoren Zhou, ; Xiaoming Wang, ; Hongping Xia, ; Linhua Lan,
| | - Hongping Xia
- Department of Pathology in the School of Basic Medical Sciences and Key Laboratory of Antibody Technique of National Health Commission, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
- Sir Run Run Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wannan Medical College (Yijishan Hospital of Wannan Medical College), Wuhu, China
- *Correspondence: Guoren Zhou, ; Xiaoming Wang, ; Hongping Xia, ; Linhua Lan,
| | - Linhua Lan
- Key Laboratory of Diagnosis and Treatment of Severe Hepato-Pancreatic Diseases of Zhejiang Province, The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
- *Correspondence: Guoren Zhou, ; Xiaoming Wang, ; Hongping Xia, ; Linhua Lan,
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46
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Du XZ, Wen B, Liu L, Wei YT, Zhao K. Role of immune escape in different digestive tumours. World J Clin Cases 2021; 9:10438-10450. [PMID: 35004976 PMCID: PMC8686128 DOI: 10.12998/wjcc.v9.i34.10438] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2021] [Revised: 08/15/2021] [Accepted: 10/18/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
A counterbalance between immune cells and tumour cells is key to fighting tumours, and immune escape is an important mechanism for the survival of tumour cells in the body. Tumor cells and their cytokines impair the activity of T cells, NK cells, macrophages and other immune cells through various ways, and change the expression of their own surface antigens so as to avoid the clearance of the immune system. Changes in major histocompatibility complex molecules, high expression of programmed death-ligand 1, and the presence of immunosuppressive cells in the tumor microenvironment (TME) are main means by which tumors impair the function of immune cells. During the development of tumours of the digestive system, different mechanisms acting on tumour cells, the TME, and immune cells lead to immune escape and promote tumour progression. In this paper, the mechanisms of immune escape in tumour cells of the digestive system are reviewed to provide a theoretical basis for the immunotherapy of gastrointestinal tumours.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xin-Zhu Du
- Department of Gastroenterology, The Affiliated Hospital of Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi 563000, Guizhou Province, China
| | - Bin Wen
- Department of Gastroenterology, The Affiliated Hospital of Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi 563000, Guizhou Province, China
| | - Lin Liu
- Department of Gastroenterology, The Affiliated Hospital of Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi 563000, Guizhou Province, China
| | - Ying-Ting Wei
- Department of Gastroenterology, The Affiliated Hospital of Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi 563000, Guizhou Province, China
| | - Kui Zhao
- Department of Gastroenterology, The Affiliated Hospital of Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi 563000, Guizhou Province, China
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Xu F, Liu T, Zhou Z, Zou C, Xu S. Comprehensive Analyses Identify APOBEC3A as a Genomic Instability-Associated Immune Prognostic Biomarker in Ovarian Cancer. Front Immunol 2021; 12:749369. [PMID: 34745121 PMCID: PMC8568129 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.749369] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2021] [Accepted: 09/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Ovarian cancer (OC) is one of the most malignant tumors whose mortality rate ranks first in gynecological tumors. Although immunotherapy sheds new light on clinical treatments, the low response still restricts its clinical use because of the unique characteristics of OC such as immunosuppressive microenvironment and unstable genomes. Further exploration on determining an efficient biomarker to predict the immunotherapy response of OC patients is of vital importance. In this study, integrative analyses were performed systematically using transcriptome profiles and somatic mutation data from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) based on the immune microenvironment and genomic instability of OC patients. Firstly, intersection analysis was conducted to identify immune-related differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and genomic instability-related DEGs. Secondly, Apolipoprotein B MRNA Editing Enzyme Catalytic Subunit 3A (APOBEC3A) was recognized as a protective factor for OC, which was also verified through basic experiments such as quantitative reverse transcription PCR (RT-qPCR), immunohistochemistry (IHC), Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8), and transwell assays. Thirdly, the correlation analyses of APOBEC3A expression with tumor-infiltrating immune cells (TICs), inhibitory checkpoint molecules (ICPs), Immunophenoscores (IPS), and response to anti-PD-L1 immunotherapy were further applied along with single-sample GSEA (ssGSEA), demonstrating APOBEC3A as a promising biomarker to forecast the immunotherapy response of OC patients. Last, the relationship between APOBEC3A expression with tumor mutation burden (TMB), DNA damage response (DDR) genes, and m6A-related regulators was also analyzed along with the experimental verification of immunofluorescence (IF) and RT-qPCR, comprehensively confirming the intimate association of APOBEC3A with genomic instability in OC. In conclusion, APOBEC3A was identified as a protective signature and a promising prognostic biomarker for forecasting the survival and immunotherapy effect of OC patients, which might accelerate the clinical application and improve immunotherapy effect.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fangfang Xu
- Department of Gynecology, Shanghai First Maternity and Infant Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, China
| | - Tingwei Liu
- Department of Gynecology, Shanghai First Maternity and Infant Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, China
| | - Zhuonan Zhou
- Jianping Educational Center of International Curriculum, Shanghai Jianping High School, Shanghai, China
| | - Chang Zou
- Department of Gynecology, Shanghai First Maternity and Infant Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, China
| | - Shaohua Xu
- Department of Gynecology, Shanghai First Maternity and Infant Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, China
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48
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Hazini A, Fisher K, Seymour L. Deregulation of HLA-I in cancer and its central importance for immunotherapy. J Immunother Cancer 2021; 9:e002899. [PMID: 34353849 PMCID: PMC8344275 DOI: 10.1136/jitc-2021-002899] [Citation(s) in RCA: 72] [Impact Index Per Article: 24.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
It is now well accepted that many tumors undergo a process of clonal selection which means that tumor antigens arising at various stages of tumor progression are likely to be represented in just a subset of tumor cells. This process is thought to be driven by constant immunosurveillance which applies selective pressure by eliminating tumor cells expressing antigens that are recognized by T cells. It is becoming increasingly clear that the same selective pressure may also select for tumor cells that evade immune detection by acquiring deficiencies in their human leucocyte antigen (HLA) presentation pathways, allowing important tumor antigens to persist within cells undetected by the immune system. Deficiencies in antigen presentation pathway can arise by a variety of mechanisms, including genetic and epigenetic changes, and functional antigen presentation is a hard phenomenon to assess using our standard analytical techniques. Nevertheless, it is likely to have profound clinical significance and could well define whether an individual patient will respond to a particular type of therapy or not. In this review we consider the mechanisms by which HLA function may be lost in clinical disease, we assess the implications for current immunotherapy approaches using checkpoint inhibitors and examine the prognostic impact of HLA loss demonstrated in clinical trials so far. Finally, we propose strategies that might be explored for possible patient stratification.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ahmet Hazini
- Department of Oncology, University of Oxford, Oxford, Oxfordshire, UK
| | - Kerry Fisher
- Department of Oncology, University of Oxford, Oxford, Oxfordshire, UK
| | - Len Seymour
- Department of Oncology, University of Oxford, Oxford, Oxfordshire, UK
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49
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Murtadha AH, Azahar IIM, Sharudin NA, Has ATC, Mokhtar NF. Influence of nNav1.5 on MHC class I expression in breast cancer. J Biosci 2021. [DOI: 10.1007/s12038-021-00196-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
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50
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Kubo T, Shinkawa T, Kikuchi Y, Murata K, Kanaseki T, Tsukahara T, Hirohashi Y, Torigoe T. Fundamental and Essential Knowledge for Pathologists Engaged in the Research and Practice of Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor-Based Cancer Immunotherapy. Front Oncol 2021; 11:679095. [PMID: 34290982 PMCID: PMC8289279 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2021.679095] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2021] [Accepted: 06/18/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Extensive research over 100 years has demonstrated that tumors can be eliminated by the autologous immune system. Without doubt, immunotherapy is now a standard treatment along with surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy; however, the field of cancer immunotherapy is continuing to develop. The current challenges for the use of immunotherapy are to enhance its clinical efficacy, reduce side effects, and develop predictive biomarkers. Given that histopathological analysis provides molecular and morphological information on humans in vivo, its importance will continue to grow. This review article outlines the basic knowledge that is essential for the research and daily practice of immune checkpoint inhibitor-based cancer immunotherapy from the perspective of histopathology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Terufumi Kubo
- Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, Sapporo Medical University, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Tomoyo Shinkawa
- Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, Sapporo Medical University, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Yasuhiro Kikuchi
- Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, Sapporo Medical University, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Kenji Murata
- Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, Sapporo Medical University, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Takayuki Kanaseki
- Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, Sapporo Medical University, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Tomohide Tsukahara
- Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, Sapporo Medical University, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Yoshihiko Hirohashi
- Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, Sapporo Medical University, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Toshihiko Torigoe
- Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, Sapporo Medical University, Sapporo, Japan
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