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Ye W, Hou K, Tao N, Li W, Tan Z, Huang Q, Yang D, Lin H, Deng Z, Xia Y, Yu G. Association between CD4 + T cells ATP levels and disease progression in patients with non‑small cell lung cancer. Oncol Lett 2024; 28:369. [PMID: 38933807 PMCID: PMC11200158 DOI: 10.3892/ol.2024.14502] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2024] [Accepted: 04/19/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Introducing the exploration of stimulated CD4+ cells adenosine triphosphate (sATPCD4) levels for immune monitoring post non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) chemotherapy, the present study aimed to investigate its efficacy in gauging the potential risk of disease progression (PD) in patients with NSCLC. Therefore, a total of 89 patients with advanced NSCLC, who underwent chemotherapy between August 15 2022 and August 30 2023 at the Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University (Guangzhou, China), were retrospectively studied. Patients were divided into the PD (n=21) and disease stability (non-PD; n=68) groups and their clinical data were compared. The thresholds for predicting PD were identified using receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curves. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was carried out to assess the association between peripheral blood markers and the incidence of PD. Therefore, post-chemotherapy, significant differences in white blood cell count, non-stimulated CD4+ cells ATP and sATPCD4 levels were obtained between patients in the PD and non-PD groups (P<0.05). In addition, sATPCD4 levels were notably decreased in the PD group compared with the non-PD group. Furthermore, ROC analysis revealed that the predictive threshold for PD was 224.5 ng/ml [area under the curve=0.887; 95% confidence interval, 0.811-0.963]. Additionally, patients with low immunity (ATP <224.5 ng/ml) exhibited a higher risk of PD compared with the high-immunity group (ATP >224.5 ng/ml; P<0.0001). Finally, multivariate logistic regression analysis suggested that sATPCD4 could serve as an independent factor for predicting NSCLC progression. Overall, the current study predicted that immune function could be possibly associated with the risk of PD in patients with NSCLC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weipeng Ye
- Department of Oncology, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Huangpu, Guangzhou 510700, P.R. China
| | - Kailian Hou
- Department of Oncology, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Huangpu, Guangzhou 510700, P.R. China
| | - Na Tao
- Department of Oncology, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Huangpu, Guangzhou 510700, P.R. China
| | - Weiyi Li
- Department of Oncology, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Huangpu, Guangzhou 510700, P.R. China
| | - Zhiqiong Tan
- Department of Oncology, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Huangpu, Guangzhou 510700, P.R. China
| | - Qunfeng Huang
- Department of Oncology, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Huangpu, Guangzhou 510700, P.R. China
| | - Dongheng Yang
- Department of Oncology, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Huangpu, Guangzhou 510700, P.R. China
| | - Haoxin Lin
- Department of Oncology, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Huangpu, Guangzhou 510700, P.R. China
| | - Zihao Deng
- Department of Oncology, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Huangpu, Guangzhou 510700, P.R. China
| | - Yuanyuan Xia
- Department of Oncology, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Huangpu, Guangzhou 510700, P.R. China
| | - Guifang Yu
- Department of Oncology, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Huangpu, Guangzhou 510700, P.R. China
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2
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Guruvaiah P, Gupta R. IκBα kinase inhibitor BAY 11-7082 promotes anti-tumor effect in RAS-driven cancers. J Transl Med 2024; 22:642. [PMID: 38982514 PMCID: PMC11233160 DOI: 10.1186/s12967-024-05384-4] [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: 03/20/2024] [Accepted: 06/08/2024] [Indexed: 07/11/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Oncogenic mutations in the RAS gene are associated with uncontrolled cell growth, a hallmark feature contributing to tumorigenesis. While diverse therapeutic strategies have been diligently applied to treat RAS-mutant cancers, successful targeting of the RAS gene remains a persistent challenge in the field of cancer therapy. In our study, we discover a promising avenue for addressing this challenge. METHODS In this study, we tested the viability of several cell lines carrying oncogenic NRAS, KRAS, and HRAS mutations upon treatment with IkappaBalpha (IκBα) inhibitor BAY 11-7082. We performed both cell culture-based viability assay and in vivo subcutaneous xenograft-based assay to confirm the growth inhibitory effect of BAY 11-7082. We also performed large RNA sequencing analysis to identify differentially regulated genes and pathways in the context of oncogenic NRAS, KRAS, and HRAS mutations upon treatment with BAY 11-7082. RESULTS We demonstrate that oncogenic NRAS, KRAS, and HRAS activate the expression of IκBα kinase. BAY 11-7082, an inhibitor of IκBα kinase, attenuates the growth of NRAS, KRAS, and HRAS mutant cancer cells in cell culture and in mouse model. Mechanistically, BAY 11-7082 inhibitor treatment leads to suppression of the PI3K-AKT signaling pathway and activation of apoptosis in all RAS mutant cell lines. Additionally, we find that BAY 11-7082 treatment results in the downregulation of different biological pathways depending upon the type of RAS protein that may also contribute to tumor growth inhibition. CONCLUSION Our study identifies BAY 11-7082 to be an efficacious inhibitor for treating RAS oncogene (HRAS, KRAS, and NRAS) mutant cancer cells. This finding provides new therapeutic opportunity for effective treatment of RAS-mutant cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Praveen Guruvaiah
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, 35233, USA
| | - Romi Gupta
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, 35233, USA.
- O'Neal Comprehensive Cancer Center, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, 35233, USA.
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Fuller RN, Morcos A, Bustillos JG, Molina DC, Wall NR. Small non-coding RNAs and pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma: Linking diagnosis, pathogenesis, drug resistance, and therapeutic potential. Biochim Biophys Acta Rev Cancer 2024; 1879:189153. [PMID: 38986720 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbcan.2024.189153] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2024] [Revised: 07/03/2024] [Accepted: 07/05/2024] [Indexed: 07/12/2024]
Abstract
This review comprehensively investigates the intricate interplay between small non-coding RNAs (sncRNAs) and pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), a devastating malignancy with limited therapeutic options. Our analysis reveals the pivotal roles of sncRNAs in various facets of PDAC biology, spanning diagnosis, pathogenesis, drug resistance, and therapeutic strategies. sncRNAs have emerged as promising biomarkers for PDAC, demonstrating distinct expression profiles in diseased tissues. sncRNA differential expression patterns, often detectable in bodily fluids, hold potential for early and minimally invasive diagnostic approaches. Furthermore, sncRNAs exhibit intricate involvement in PDAC pathogenesis, regulating critical cellular processes such as proliferation, apoptosis, and metastasis. Additionally, mechanistic insights into sncRNA-mediated pathogenic pathways illuminate novel therapeutic targets and interventions. A significant focus of this review is dedicated to unraveling sncRNA mechanisms underlying drug resistance in PDAC. Understanding these mechanisms at the molecular level is imperative for devising strategies to overcome drug resistance. Exploring the therapeutic landscape, we discuss the potential of sncRNAs as therapeutic agents themselves as their ability to modulate gene expression with high specificity renders them attractive candidates for targeted therapy. In summary, this review integrates current knowledge on sncRNAs in PDAC, offering a holistic perspective on their diagnostic, pathogenic, and therapeutic relevance. By elucidating the roles of sncRNAs in PDAC biology, this review provides valuable insights for the development of novel diagnostic tools and targeted therapeutic approaches, crucial for improving the prognosis of PDAC patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryan N Fuller
- Department of Basic Science, Division of Biochemistry, Center for Health Disparity and Mol. Med., Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA 92350, USA; Department of Radiation Medicine, James M. Slater, MD Proton Treatment and Research Center, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA 92350, USA
| | - Ann Morcos
- Department of Basic Science, Division of Biochemistry, Center for Health Disparity and Mol. Med., Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA 92350, USA; Department of Radiation Medicine, James M. Slater, MD Proton Treatment and Research Center, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA 92350, USA
| | - Joab Galvan Bustillos
- Department of Basic Science, Division of Biochemistry, Center for Health Disparity and Mol. Med., Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA 92350, USA; Division of Surgical Oncology, Department of Surgery, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA 92350, USA
| | - David Caba Molina
- Division of Surgical Oncology, Department of Surgery, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA 92350, USA
| | - Nathan R Wall
- Department of Basic Science, Division of Biochemistry, Center for Health Disparity and Mol. Med., Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA 92350, USA; Department of Radiation Medicine, James M. Slater, MD Proton Treatment and Research Center, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA 92350, USA.
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Hong WF, Zhang F, Wang N, Bi JM, Zhang DW, Wei LS, Song ZT, Mills GB, Chen MM, Li XX, Du SS, Yu M. Dynamic immunoediting by macrophages in homologous recombination deficiency-stratified pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. Drug Resist Updat 2024; 76:101115. [PMID: 39002266 DOI: 10.1016/j.drup.2024.101115] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2024] [Revised: 06/19/2024] [Accepted: 06/25/2024] [Indexed: 07/15/2024]
Abstract
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a lethal disease, notably resistant to existing therapies. Current research indicates that PDAC patients deficient in homologous recombination (HR) benefit from platinum-based treatments and poly-ADP-ribose polymerase inhibitors (PARPi). However, the effectiveness of PARPi in HR-deficient (HRD) PDAC is suboptimal, and significant challenges remain in fully understanding the distinct characteristics and implications of HRD-associated PDAC. We analyzed 16 PDAC patient-derived tissues, categorized by their homologous recombination deficiency (HRD) scores, and performed high-plex immunofluorescence analysis to define 20 cell phenotypes, thereby generating an in-situ PDAC tumor-immune landscape. Spatial phenotypic-transcriptomic profiling guided by regions-of-interest (ROIs) identified a crucial regulatory mechanism through localized tumor-adjacent macrophages, potentially in an HRD-dependent manner. Cellular neighborhood (CN) analysis further demonstrated the existence of macrophage-associated high-ordered cellular functional units in spatial contexts. Using our multi-omics spatial profiling strategy, we uncovered a dynamic macrophage-mediated regulatory axis linking HRD status with SIGLEC10 and CD52. These findings demonstrate the potential of targeting CD52 in combination with PARPi as a therapeutic intervention for PDAC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei-Feng Hong
- Department of Pancreas Center, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital (Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences), Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China; Department of Radiation Oncology, Zhejiang Cancer Hospital, Hangzhou 310005, China; Hangzhou Institute of Medicine (HIM), Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou 310005, China; Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Radiation Oncology, Hangzhou 310005, China
| | - Feng Zhang
- Department of Pancreas Center, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital (Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences), Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Nan Wang
- Cosmos Wisdom Biotech, co. ltd, Building 10, No. 617 Jiner Road, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Jun-Ming Bi
- Department of Urology, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital (Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences), Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Ding-Wen Zhang
- Department of Pancreas Center, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital (Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences), Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Lu-Sheng Wei
- Department of Pancreas Center, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital (Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences), Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Zhen-Tao Song
- Mills Institute for Personalized Cancer Care, Fynn Biotechnologies Ltd. Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Gordon B Mills
- Division of Oncological Sciences, Knight Cancer Institute, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, USA
| | - Min-Min Chen
- Shenzhen Bay Laboratory, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
| | - Xue-Xin Li
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Karolinska Institutet, Solna 17165, Sweden.
| | - Shi-Suo Du
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Cancer Center, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
| | - Min Yu
- Department of Pancreas Center, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital (Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences), Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China.
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Tsutsumi E, Macy AM, LoBello J, Hastings KT, Kim S. Tumor immune microenvironment permissive to metastatic progression of ING4-deficient breast cancer. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0304194. [PMID: 38968186 PMCID: PMC11226078 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0304194] [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: 05/06/2024] [Accepted: 06/20/2024] [Indexed: 07/07/2024] Open
Abstract
Deficiencies in the ING4 tumor suppressor are associated with advanced stage tumors and poor patient survival in cancer. ING4 was shown to inhibit NF-kB in several cancers. As NF-kB is a key mediator of immune response, the ING4/NF-kB axis is likely to manifest in tumor-immune modulation but has not been investigated. To characterize the tumor immune microenvironment associated with ING4-deficient tumors, three approaches were employed in this study: First, tissue microarrays composed of 246 primary breast tumors including 97 ING4-deficient tumors were evaluated for the presence of selective immune markers, CD68, CD4, CD8, and PD-1, using immunohistochemical staining. Second, an immune-competent mouse model of ING4-deficient breast cancer was devised utilizing CRISPR-mediated deletion of Ing4 in a Tp53 deletion-derived mammary tumor cell line; mammary tumors were evaluated for immune markers using flow cytometry. Lastly, the METABRIC gene expression dataset was evaluated for patient survival related to the immune markers associated with Ing4-deleted tumors. The results showed that CD68, CD4, CD8, or PD-1, was not significantly associated with ING4-deficient breast tumors, indicating no enrichment of macrophages, T cells, or exhausted T cell types. In mice, Ing4-deleted mammary tumors had a growth rate comparable to Ing4-intact tumors but showed increased tumor penetrance and metastasis. Immune marker analyses of Ing4-deleted tumors revealed a significant increase in tumor-associated macrophages (Gr-1loCD11b+F4/80+) and a decrease in granzyme B-positive (GzmB+) CD4+ T cells, indicating a suppressive and/or less tumoricidal immune microenvironment. The METABRIC data analyses showed that low expression of GZMB was significantly associated with poor patient survival, as was ING4-low expression, in the basal subtype of breast cancer. Patients with GZMB-low/ING4-low tumors had the worst survival outcomes (HR = 2.80, 95% CI 1.36-5.75, p = 0.0004), supportive of the idea that the GZMB-low immune environment contributes to ING4-deficient tumor progression. Collectively, the study results demonstrate that ING4-deficient tumors harbor a microenvironment that contributes to immune evasion and metastasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily Tsutsumi
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Arizona College of Medicine-Phoenix, Phoenix, Arizona, United States of America
- Cancer and Cell Biology Division, Translational Genomic Research Institute, Phoenix, Arizona, United States of America
| | - Anne M. Macy
- Department of Dermatology, University of Arizona College of Medicine-Phoenix, Phoenix, Arizona, United States of America
- Phoenix Veterans Affairs Health Care System, Phoenix, Arizona, United States of America
| | - Janine LoBello
- Cancer Genomics Division, Translational Genomics Research Institute, Phoenix, Arizona, United States of America
| | - Karen T. Hastings
- Department of Dermatology, University of Arizona College of Medicine-Phoenix, Phoenix, Arizona, United States of America
- Phoenix Veterans Affairs Health Care System, Phoenix, Arizona, United States of America
| | - Suwon Kim
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Arizona College of Medicine-Phoenix, Phoenix, Arizona, United States of America
- Cancer and Cell Biology Division, Translational Genomic Research Institute, Phoenix, Arizona, United States of America
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6
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Hill W, Weeden CE, Swanton C. Tumor Promoters and Opportunities for Molecular Cancer Prevention. Cancer Discov 2024; 14:1154-1160. [PMID: 38870403 DOI: 10.1158/2159-8290.cd-24-0128] [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: 01/24/2024] [Revised: 03/18/2024] [Accepted: 05/09/2024] [Indexed: 06/15/2024]
Abstract
Environmental carcinogens increase cancer incidence via both mutagenic and non-mutagenic mechanisms. There are over 500 known or suspected carcinogens classified by the International Agency for Research on Cancer. Sequencing of both cancerous and histologically non-cancerous tissue has been instrumental in improving our understanding of how environmental carcinogens cause cancer. Understanding how and defining which environmental or lifestyle exposures drive cancer will support cancer prevention. Recent research is revisiting the mechanisms of early tumorigenesis, paving the way for an era of molecular cancer prevention. Significance: Recent data have improved our understanding of how carcinogens cause cancer, which may reveal novel opportunities for molecular cancer prevention.
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Affiliation(s)
- William Hill
- Cancer Evolution and Genome Instability Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London, United Kingdom
| | - Clare E Weeden
- Cancer Evolution and Genome Instability Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London, United Kingdom
| | - Charles Swanton
- Cancer Evolution and Genome Instability Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London, United Kingdom
- Cancer Research UK Lung Cancer Centre of Excellence, University College London Cancer Institute, London, United Kingdom
- Department of Oncology, University College London Hospitals, London, United Kingdom
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7
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Dang Q, Zuo L, Hu X, Zhou Z, Chen S, Liu S, Ba Y, Zuo A, Xu H, Weng S, Zhang Y, Luo P, Cheng Q, Liu Z, Han X. Molecular subtypes of colorectal cancer in the era of precision oncotherapy: Current inspirations and future challenges. Cancer Med 2024; 13:e70041. [PMID: 39054866 PMCID: PMC11272957 DOI: 10.1002/cam4.70041] [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: 03/29/2024] [Revised: 07/07/2024] [Accepted: 07/12/2024] [Indexed: 07/27/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Colorectal cancer (CRC) is among the most hackneyed malignancies. Even patients with identical clinical symptoms and the same TNM stage still exhibit radically different clinical outcomes after receiving equivalent treatment regimens, indicating extensive heterogeneity of CRC. Myriad molecular subtypes of CRC have been exploited for decades, including the most compelling consensus molecular subtype (CMS) classification that has been broadly applied for patient stratification and biomarker-drug combination formulation. Encountering barriers to clinical translation, however, CMS classification fails to fully reflect inter- or intra-tumor heterogeneity of CRC. As a consequence, addressing heterogeneity and precisely managing CRC patients with unique characteristics remain arduous tasks for clinicians. REVIEW In this review, we systematically summarize molecular subtypes of CRC and further elaborate on their clinical applications, limitations, and future orientations. CONCLUSION In recent years, exploration of subtypes through cell lines, animal models, patient-derived xenografts (PDXs), organoids, and clinical trials contributes to refining biological insights and unraveling subtype-specific therapies in CRC. Therapeutic interventions including nanotechnology, clustered regulatory interspaced short palindromic repeat/CRISPR-associated nuclease 9 (CRISPR/Cas9), gut microbiome, and liquid biopsy are powerful tools with the possibility to shift the immunologic landscape and outlook for CRC precise medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qin Dang
- Department of Interventional RadiologyThe First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou UniversityZhengzhouHenanChina
- Department of Colorectal SurgeryThe First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou UniversityZhengzhouHenanChina
| | - Lulu Zuo
- Center for Reproductive MedicineThe First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou UniversityZhengzhouHenanChina
| | - Xinru Hu
- Department of Cardiology, West China HospitalSichuan UniversityChengduSichuanChina
| | - Zhaokai Zhou
- Department of UrologyThe First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou UniversityZhengzhouHenanChina
| | - Shuang Chen
- Center for Reproductive MedicineThe First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou UniversityZhengzhouHenanChina
| | - Shutong Liu
- Department of Interventional RadiologyThe First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou UniversityZhengzhouHenanChina
| | - Yuhao Ba
- Department of Interventional RadiologyThe First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou UniversityZhengzhouHenanChina
| | - Anning Zuo
- Department of Interventional RadiologyThe First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou UniversityZhengzhouHenanChina
| | - Hui Xu
- Department of Interventional RadiologyThe First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou UniversityZhengzhouHenanChina
| | - Siyuan Weng
- Department of Interventional RadiologyThe First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou UniversityZhengzhouHenanChina
| | - Yuyuan Zhang
- Department of Interventional RadiologyThe First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou UniversityZhengzhouHenanChina
| | - Peng Luo
- Department of Oncology, Zhujiang HospitalSouthern Medical UniversityGuangzhouGuangdongChina
| | - Quan Cheng
- Department of Neurosurgery, Xiangya HospitalCentral South UniversityChangshaHunanChina
| | - Zaoqu Liu
- Department of Interventional RadiologyThe First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou UniversityZhengzhouHenanChina
- Interventional Treatment and Clinical Research Center of Henan ProvinceZhengzhouHenanChina
- Interventional Institute of Zhengzhou UniversityZhengzhouHenanChina
- Institute of Basic Medical SciencesChinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical CollegeBeijingChina
| | - Xinwei Han
- Department of Interventional RadiologyThe First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou UniversityZhengzhouHenanChina
- Interventional Treatment and Clinical Research Center of Henan ProvinceZhengzhouHenanChina
- Interventional Institute of Zhengzhou UniversityZhengzhouHenanChina
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Yan H, Shen X, Yao Y, Khan SA, Ma S, Johnson CH. A machine learning and drug repurposing approach to target ferroptosis in colorectal cancer stratified by sex and KRAS. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.06.24.600340. [PMID: 38979294 PMCID: PMC11230177 DOI: 10.1101/2024.06.24.600340] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/10/2024]
Abstract
The landscape of sex differences in Colorectal Cancer (CRC) has not been well characterized with respect to the mechanisms of action for oncogenes such as KRAS. However, our recent study showed that tumors from male patients with KRAS mutations have decreased iron-dependent cell death called ferroptosis. Building on these findings, we further examined ferroptosis in CRC, considering both sex of the patient and KRAS mutations, using public databases and our in-house CRC tumor cohort. Through subsampling inference and variable importance analysis (VIMP), we identified significant differences in gene expression between KRAS mutant and wild type tumors from male patients. These genes suppress (e.g., SLC7A11 ) or drive (e.g., SLC1A5 ) ferroptosis, and these findings were further validated with Gaussian mixed models. Furthermore, we explored the prognostic value of ferroptosis regulating genes and discovered sex- and KRAS-specific differences at both the transcriptional and metabolic levels by random survival forest with backward elimination algorithm (RSF-BE). Of note, genes and metabolites involved in arginine synthesis and glutathione metabolism were uniquely associated with prognosis in tumors from males with KRAS mutations. Additionally, drug repurposing is becoming popular due to the high costs, attrition rates, and slow pace of new drug development, offering a way to treat common and rare diseases more efficiently. Furthermore, increasing evidence has shown that ferroptosis inhibition or induction can improve drug sensitivity or overcome chemotherapy drug resistance. Therefore, we investigated the correlation between gene expression, metabolite levels, and drug sensitivity across all CRC primary tumor cell lines using data from the Genomics of Drug Sensitivity in Cancer (GDSC) resource. We observed that ferroptosis suppressor genes such as DHODH , GCH1 , and AIFM2 in KRAS mutant CRC cell lines were resistant to cisplatin and paclitaxel, underscoring why these drugs are not effective for these patients. The comprehensive map generated here provides valuable biological insights for future investigations, and the findings are supported by rigorous analysis of large-scale publicly available data and our in-house cohort. The study also emphasizes the potential application of VIMP, Gaussian mixed models, and RSF-BE models in the multi-omics research community. In conclusion, this comprehensive approach opens doors for leveraging precision molecular feature analysis and drug repurposing possibilities in KRAS mutant CRC.
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Yang J, Wang QL, Wang GN, Ye JC, Li ZQ, Wang JY, Liang ZH, Li SX, Sun C, Liao WT, Gao YJ, Wang J, Mao Y, Yu C, Feng GK, Zeng MS. A pan-KRAS degrader for the treatment of KRAS-mutant cancers. Cell Discov 2024; 10:70. [PMID: 38937452 PMCID: PMC11211324 DOI: 10.1038/s41421-024-00699-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2023] [Accepted: 06/02/2024] [Indexed: 06/29/2024] Open
Abstract
KRAS mutations are highly prevalent in a wide range of lethal cancers, and these mutant forms of KRAS play a crucial role in driving cancer progression and conferring resistance to treatment. While there have been advancements in the development of small molecules to target specific KRAS mutants, the presence of undruggable mutants and the emergence of secondary mutations continue to pose challenges in the clinical treatment of KRAS-mutant cancers. In this study, we developed a novel molecular tool called tumor-targeting KRAS degrader (TKD) that effectively targets a wide range of KRAS mutants. TKD is composed of a KRAS-binding nanobody, a cell-penetrating peptide selectively targeting cancer cells, and a lysosome-binding motif. Our data revealed that TKD selectively binds to KRAS in cancer cells and effectively induces KRAS degradation via a lysosome-dependent process. Functionally, TKD suppresses tumor growth with no obvious side effects and enhances the antitumor effects of PD-1 antibody and cetuximab. This study not only provides a strategy for developing drugs targeting "undruggable" proteins but also reveals that TKD is a promising therapeutic for treating KRAS-mutant cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jie Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Qiao-Li Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Guan-Nan Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Jia-Cong Ye
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Zi-Qian Li
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Jing-Yun Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Zhao-Hui Liang
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Shu-Xin Li
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Cong Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Wen-Ting Liao
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Yi-Jun Gao
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Jing Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Yong Mao
- Department of Oncology, Affiliated Hospital of Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu, China
| | - Chunjing Yu
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu, China
| | - Guo-Kai Feng
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China.
| | - Mu-Sheng Zeng
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China.
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10
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Zhang S, Xiao X, Yi Y, Wang X, Zhu L, Shen Y, Lin D, Wu C. Tumor initiation and early tumorigenesis: molecular mechanisms and interventional targets. Signal Transduct Target Ther 2024; 9:149. [PMID: 38890350 PMCID: PMC11189549 DOI: 10.1038/s41392-024-01848-7] [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: 01/01/2024] [Revised: 04/23/2024] [Accepted: 04/27/2024] [Indexed: 06/20/2024] Open
Abstract
Tumorigenesis is a multistep process, with oncogenic mutations in a normal cell conferring clonal advantage as the initial event. However, despite pervasive somatic mutations and clonal expansion in normal tissues, their transformation into cancer remains a rare event, indicating the presence of additional driver events for progression to an irreversible, highly heterogeneous, and invasive lesion. Recently, researchers are emphasizing the mechanisms of environmental tumor risk factors and epigenetic alterations that are profoundly influencing early clonal expansion and malignant evolution, independently of inducing mutations. Additionally, clonal evolution in tumorigenesis reflects a multifaceted interplay between cell-intrinsic identities and various cell-extrinsic factors that exert selective pressures to either restrain uncontrolled proliferation or allow specific clones to progress into tumors. However, the mechanisms by which driver events induce both intrinsic cellular competency and remodel environmental stress to facilitate malignant transformation are not fully understood. In this review, we summarize the genetic, epigenetic, and external driver events, and their effects on the co-evolution of the transformed cells and their ecosystem during tumor initiation and early malignant evolution. A deeper understanding of the earliest molecular events holds promise for translational applications, predicting individuals at high-risk of tumor and developing strategies to intercept malignant transformation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shaosen Zhang
- Department of Etiology and Carcinogenesis, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, 100021, Beijing, China
- Key Laboratory of Cancer Genomic Biology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, 100021, Beijing, China
| | - Xinyi Xiao
- Department of Etiology and Carcinogenesis, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, 100021, Beijing, China
- Key Laboratory of Cancer Genomic Biology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, 100021, Beijing, China
| | - Yonglin Yi
- Department of Etiology and Carcinogenesis, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, 100021, Beijing, China
- Key Laboratory of Cancer Genomic Biology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, 100021, Beijing, China
| | - Xinyu Wang
- Department of Etiology and Carcinogenesis, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, 100021, Beijing, China
- Key Laboratory of Cancer Genomic Biology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, 100021, Beijing, China
| | - Lingxuan Zhu
- Department of Etiology and Carcinogenesis, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, 100021, Beijing, China
- Key Laboratory of Cancer Genomic Biology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, 100021, Beijing, China
- Changping Laboratory, 100021, Beijing, China
| | - Yanrong Shen
- Department of Etiology and Carcinogenesis, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, 100021, Beijing, China
- Key Laboratory of Cancer Genomic Biology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, 100021, Beijing, China
| | - Dongxin Lin
- Department of Etiology and Carcinogenesis, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, 100021, Beijing, China.
- Key Laboratory of Cancer Genomic Biology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, 100021, Beijing, China.
- Changping Laboratory, 100021, Beijing, China.
- Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Personalized Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, China.
- Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Guangzhou, 510060, China.
| | - Chen Wu
- Department of Etiology and Carcinogenesis, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, 100021, Beijing, China.
- Key Laboratory of Cancer Genomic Biology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, 100021, Beijing, China.
- Changping Laboratory, 100021, Beijing, China.
- Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Personalized Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, China.
- CAMS Oxford Institute, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, 100006, Beijing, China.
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11
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Zhao D, Li H, Mambetsariev I, Mirzapoiazova T, Chen C, Fricke J, Wheeler D, Arvanitis L, Pillai R, Afkhami M, Chen BT, Sattler M, Erhunmwunsee L, Massarelli E, Kulkarni P, Amini A, Armstrong B, Salgia R. Spatial iTME analysis of KRAS mutant NSCLC and immunotherapy outcome. NPJ Precis Oncol 2024; 8:135. [PMID: 38898200 PMCID: PMC11187132 DOI: 10.1038/s41698-024-00626-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2023] [Accepted: 06/04/2024] [Indexed: 06/21/2024] Open
Abstract
We conducted spatial immune tumor microenvironment (iTME) profiling using formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) samples of 25 KRAS-mutated non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), including 12 responders and 13 non-responders. An eleven-marker panel (CD3, CD4, CD8, FOXP3, CD68, arginase-1, CD33, HLA-DR, pan-keratin (PanCK), PD-1, and PD-L1) was used to study the tumor and immune cell compositions. Spatial features at single cell level with cellular neighborhoods and fractal analysis were determined. Spatial features and different subgroups of CD68+ cells and FOXP3+ cells being associated with response or resistance to ICIs were also identified. In particular, CD68+ cells, CD33+ and FOXP3+ cells were found to be associated with resistance. Interestingly, there was also significant association between non-nuclear expression of FOXP3 being resistant to ICIs. We identified CD68dim cells in the lung cancer tissues being associated with improved responses, which should be insightful for future studies of tumor immunity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dan Zhao
- Department of Medical Oncology and Therapeutics Research, City of Hope, Duarte, CA, USA
- Department of Gastrointestinal Medical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Haiqing Li
- Integrative Genomic Core, Beckman Research Institute of City of Hope, Duarte, CA, USA
- Department of Computational & Quantitative Medicine, Beckman Research Institute, City of Hope, Duarte, CA, USA
| | - Isa Mambetsariev
- Department of Medical Oncology and Therapeutics Research, City of Hope, Duarte, CA, USA
| | - Tamara Mirzapoiazova
- Department of Medical Oncology and Therapeutics Research, City of Hope, Duarte, CA, USA
| | - Chen Chen
- Department of Applied AI & Data Science, City of Hope, Duarte, CA, USA
| | - Jeremy Fricke
- Department of Medical Oncology and Therapeutics Research, City of Hope, Duarte, CA, USA
| | - Deric Wheeler
- Department of Human Oncology, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA
| | | | - Raju Pillai
- Department of Pathology, City of Hope, Duarte, CA, USA
| | | | - Bihong T Chen
- Department of Diagnostic Radiology, City of Hope, Duarte, CA, USA
| | - Martin Sattler
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | | | - Erminia Massarelli
- Department of Medical Oncology and Therapeutics Research, City of Hope, Duarte, CA, USA
| | - Prakash Kulkarni
- Department of Medical Oncology and Therapeutics Research, City of Hope, Duarte, CA, USA
| | - Arya Amini
- Department of Radiation Oncology, City of Hope, Duarte, CA, USA
| | - Brian Armstrong
- Light Microscopy/Digital Imaging Core, City of Hope, Duarte, CA, USA
| | - Ravi Salgia
- Department of Medical Oncology and Therapeutics Research, City of Hope, Duarte, CA, USA.
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12
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Montalban-Bravo G, Thongon N, Rodriguez-Sevilla JJ, Ma F, Ganan-Gomez I, Yang H, Kim YJ, Adema V, Wildeman B, Tanaka T, Darbaniyan F, Al-Atrash G, Dwyer K, Loghavi S, Kanagal-Shamanna R, Song X, Zhang J, Takahashi K, Kantarjian H, Garcia-Manero G, Colla S. Targeting MCL1-driven anti-apoptotic pathways overcomes blast progression after hypomethylating agent failure in chronic myelomonocytic leukemia. Cell Rep Med 2024; 5:101585. [PMID: 38781960 PMCID: PMC11228590 DOI: 10.1016/j.xcrm.2024.101585] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2022] [Revised: 11/27/2023] [Accepted: 04/30/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024]
Abstract
RAS pathway mutations, which are present in 30% of patients with chronic myelomonocytic leukemia (CMML) at diagnosis, confer a high risk of resistance to and progression after hypomethylating agent (HMA) therapy, the current standard of care for the disease. Here, using single-cell, multi-omics technologies, we seek to dissect the biological mechanisms underlying the initiation and progression of RAS pathway-mutated CMML. We identify that RAS pathway mutations induce transcriptional reprogramming of hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs) and downstream monocytic populations in response to cell-intrinsic and -extrinsic inflammatory signaling that also impair the functions of immune cells. HSPCs expand at disease progression after therapy with HMA or the BCL2 inhibitor venetoclax and rely on the NF-κB pathway effector MCL1 to maintain survival. Our study has implications for the development of therapies to improve the survival of patients with RAS pathway-mutated CMML.
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MESH Headings
- Leukemia, Myelomonocytic, Chronic/drug therapy
- Leukemia, Myelomonocytic, Chronic/pathology
- Leukemia, Myelomonocytic, Chronic/genetics
- Leukemia, Myelomonocytic, Chronic/metabolism
- Myeloid Cell Leukemia Sequence 1 Protein/metabolism
- Myeloid Cell Leukemia Sequence 1 Protein/genetics
- Myeloid Cell Leukemia Sequence 1 Protein/antagonists & inhibitors
- Humans
- Apoptosis/drug effects
- Animals
- Mutation/genetics
- Mice
- Signal Transduction/drug effects
- Hematopoietic Stem Cells/metabolism
- Hematopoietic Stem Cells/drug effects
- Disease Progression
- Sulfonamides/pharmacology
- Sulfonamides/therapeutic use
- NF-kappa B/metabolism
- DNA Methylation/drug effects
- DNA Methylation/genetics
- Bridged Bicyclo Compounds, Heterocyclic/pharmacology
- Bridged Bicyclo Compounds, Heterocyclic/therapeutic use
- Blast Crisis/pathology
- Blast Crisis/drug therapy
- Blast Crisis/genetics
- Blast Crisis/metabolism
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Natthakan Thongon
- Department of Leukemia, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | | | - Feiyang Ma
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Developmental Biology, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Irene Ganan-Gomez
- Department of Leukemia, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Hui Yang
- Department of Leukemia, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Yi June Kim
- Department of Leukemia, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Vera Adema
- Department of Leukemia, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Bethany Wildeman
- Department of Leukemia, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Tomoyuki Tanaka
- Department of Leukemia, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Faezeh Darbaniyan
- Department of Biostatistics, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Gheath Al-Atrash
- Department of Stem Cell Transplantation and Hematopoietic Biology and Malignancy, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Karen Dwyer
- Department of Stem Cell Transplantation and Hematopoietic Biology and Malignancy, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Sanam Loghavi
- Department of Hematopathology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Rashmi Kanagal-Shamanna
- Department of Hematopathology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Xingzhi Song
- Department of Genomic Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Jianhua Zhang
- Department of Genomic Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Koichi Takahashi
- Department of Leukemia, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Hagop Kantarjian
- Department of Leukemia, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | | | - Simona Colla
- Department of Leukemia, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA.
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13
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Xu D, Yin S, Shu Y. NF2: An underestimated player in cancer metabolic reprogramming and tumor immunity. NPJ Precis Oncol 2024; 8:133. [PMID: 38879686 PMCID: PMC11180135 DOI: 10.1038/s41698-024-00627-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2024] [Accepted: 06/02/2024] [Indexed: 06/19/2024] Open
Abstract
Neurofibromatosis type 2 (NF2) is a tumor suppressor gene implicated in various tumors, including mesothelioma, schwannomas, and meningioma. As a member of the ezrin, radixin, and moesin (ERM) family of proteins, merlin, which is encoded by NF2, regulates diverse cellular events and signalling pathways, such as the Hippo, mTOR, RAS, and cGAS-STING pathways. However, the biological role of NF2 in tumorigenesis has not been fully elucidated. Furthermore, cross-cancer mutations may exert distinct biological effects on tumorigenesis and treatment response. In addition to the functional inactivation of NF2, the codeficiency of other genes, such as cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor 2A/B (CDKN2A/B), BRCA1-associated protein-1 (BAP1), and large tumor suppressor 2 (LATS2), results in unique tumor characteristics that should be considered in clinical treatment decisions. Notably, several recent studies have explored the metabolic and immunological features associated with NF2, offering potential insights into tumor biology and the development of innovative therapeutic strategies. In this review, we consolidate the current knowledge on NF2 and examine the potential connection between cancer metabolism and tumor immunity in merlin-deficient malignancies. This review may provide a deeper understanding of the biological roles of NF2 and guide possible therapeutic avenues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Duo Xu
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Shiyuan Yin
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Yongqian Shu
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China.
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14
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Jiang J, Jiang L, Maldonato BJ, Wang Y, Holderfield M, Aronchik I, Winters IP, Salman Z, Blaj C, Menard M, Brodbeck J, Chen Z, Wei X, Rosen MJ, Gindin Y, Lee BJ, Evans JW, Chang S, Wang Z, Seamon KJ, Parsons D, Cregg J, Marquez A, Tomlinson AC, Yano JK, Knox JE, Quintana E, Aguirre AJ, Arbour KC, Reed A, Gustafson WC, Gill AL, Koltun ES, Wildes D, Smith JA, Wang Z, Singh M. Translational and Therapeutic Evaluation of RAS-GTP Inhibition by RMC-6236 in RAS-Driven Cancers. Cancer Discov 2024; 14:994-1017. [PMID: 38593348 PMCID: PMC11149917 DOI: 10.1158/2159-8290.cd-24-0027] [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: 01/19/2024] [Revised: 03/09/2024] [Accepted: 03/19/2024] [Indexed: 04/11/2024]
Abstract
RAS-driven cancers comprise up to 30% of human cancers. RMC-6236 is a RAS(ON) multi-selective noncovalent inhibitor of the active, GTP-bound state of both mutant and wild-type variants of canonical RAS isoforms with broad therapeutic potential for the aforementioned unmet medical need. RMC-6236 exhibited potent anticancer activity across RAS-addicted cell lines, particularly those harboring mutations at codon 12 of KRAS. Notably, oral administration of RMC-6236 was tolerated in vivo and drove profound tumor regressions across multiple tumor types in a mouse clinical trial with KRASG12X xenograft models. Translational PK/efficacy and PK/PD modeling predicted that daily doses of 100 mg and 300 mg would achieve tumor control and objective responses, respectively, in patients with RAS-driven tumors. Consistent with this, we describe here objective responses in two patients (at 300 mg daily) with advanced KRASG12X lung and pancreatic adenocarcinoma, respectively, demonstrating the initial activity of RMC-6236 in an ongoing phase I/Ib clinical trial (NCT05379985). SIGNIFICANCE The discovery of RMC-6236 enables the first-ever therapeutic evaluation of targeted and concurrent inhibition of canonical mutant and wild-type RAS-GTP in RAS-driven cancers. We demonstrate that broad-spectrum RAS-GTP inhibition is tolerable at exposures that induce profound tumor regressions in preclinical models of, and in patients with, such tumors. This article is featured in Selected Articles from This Issue, p. 897.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Lingyan Jiang
- Revolution Medicines, Inc., Redwood City, California
| | | | - Yingyun Wang
- Revolution Medicines, Inc., Redwood City, California
| | | | - Ida Aronchik
- Revolution Medicines, Inc., Redwood City, California
| | - Ian P. Winters
- Revolution Medicines, Inc., Redwood City, California
- D2G Oncology, Inc., Mountain View, California
| | - Zeena Salman
- Revolution Medicines, Inc., Redwood City, California
| | - Cristina Blaj
- Revolution Medicines, Inc., Redwood City, California
| | - Marie Menard
- Revolution Medicines, Inc., Redwood City, California
| | - Jens Brodbeck
- Revolution Medicines, Inc., Redwood City, California
| | - Zhe Chen
- Revolution Medicines, Inc., Redwood City, California
| | - Xing Wei
- Revolution Medicines, Inc., Redwood City, California
| | | | | | - Bianca J. Lee
- Revolution Medicines, Inc., Redwood City, California
| | | | | | - Zhican Wang
- Revolution Medicines, Inc., Redwood City, California
| | | | - Dylan Parsons
- Revolution Medicines, Inc., Redwood City, California
| | - James Cregg
- Revolution Medicines, Inc., Redwood City, California
| | - Abby Marquez
- Revolution Medicines, Inc., Redwood City, California
| | | | - Jason K. Yano
- Revolution Medicines, Inc., Redwood City, California
| | - John E. Knox
- Revolution Medicines, Inc., Redwood City, California
| | - Elsa Quintana
- Revolution Medicines, Inc., Redwood City, California
| | - Andrew J. Aguirre
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts
- Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Kathryn C. Arbour
- Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
| | - Abby Reed
- The Christ Hospital Cancer Center, Cincinnati, Ohio
| | | | | | | | - David Wildes
- Revolution Medicines, Inc., Redwood City, California
| | | | | | - Mallika Singh
- Revolution Medicines, Inc., Redwood City, California
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15
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Konen JM, Wu H, Gibbons DL. Immune checkpoint blockade resistance in lung cancer: emerging mechanisms and therapeutic opportunities. Trends Pharmacol Sci 2024; 45:520-536. [PMID: 38744552 PMCID: PMC11189143 DOI: 10.1016/j.tips.2024.04.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2024] [Revised: 04/17/2024] [Accepted: 04/17/2024] [Indexed: 05/16/2024]
Abstract
Immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) therapy works by inhibiting suppressive checkpoints that become upregulated after T cell activation, like PD-1/PD-L1 and CTLA-4. While the initial FDA approvals of ICB have revolutionized cancer therapies and fueled a burgeoning immuno-oncology field, more recent clinical development of new agents has been slow. Here, focusing on lung cancer, we review the latest research uncovering tumor cell intrinsic and extrinsic ICB resistance mechanisms as major hurdles to treatment efficacy and clinical progress. These include genomic and non-genomic tumor cell alterations, along with host and microenvironmental factors like the microbiome, metabolite accumulation, and hypoxia. Together, these factors can cooperate to promote immunosuppression and ICB resistance. Opportunities to prevent resistance are constantly evolving in this rapidly expanding field, with the goal of moving toward personalized immunotherapeutic regimens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica M Konen
- Department of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA.
| | - Haoyi Wu
- Department of Thoracic/Head and Neck Medical Oncology, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Don L Gibbons
- Department of Thoracic/Head and Neck Medical Oncology, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA; Department of Molecular and Cellular Oncology, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA.
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16
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Xu J, Tian L, Qi W, Lv Q, Wang T. Advancements in NSCLC: From Pathophysiological Insights to Targeted Treatments. Am J Clin Oncol 2024; 47:291-303. [PMID: 38375734 PMCID: PMC11107893 DOI: 10.1097/coc.0000000000001088] [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] [Indexed: 02/21/2024]
Abstract
With the global incidence of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) on the rise, the development of innovative treatment strategies is increasingly vital. This review underscores the pivotal role of precision medicine in transforming NSCLC management, particularly through the integration of genomic and epigenomic insights to enhance treatment outcomes for patients. We focus on the identification of key gene mutations and examine the evolution and impact of targeted therapies. These therapies have shown encouraging results in improving survival rates and quality of life. Despite numerous gene mutations being identified in association with NSCLC, targeted treatments are available for only a select few. This paper offers an exhaustive analysis of the pathogenesis of NSCLC and reviews the latest advancements in targeted therapeutic approaches. It emphasizes the ongoing necessity for research and development in this domain. In addition, we discuss the current challenges faced in the clinical application of these therapies and the potential directions for future research, including the identification of novel targets and the development of new treatment modalities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jianan Xu
- College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Changchun University of Chinese Medicine
| | - Lin Tian
- Pulmonology Department, The Affiliated Hospital to Changchun University of Chinese Medicine, Changchun, P.R. China
| | - Wenlong Qi
- Pulmonology Department, The Affiliated Hospital to Changchun University of Chinese Medicine, Changchun, P.R. China
| | - Qingguo Lv
- Pulmonology Department, The Affiliated Hospital to Changchun University of Chinese Medicine, Changchun, P.R. China
| | - Tan Wang
- Pulmonology Department, The Affiliated Hospital to Changchun University of Chinese Medicine, Changchun, P.R. China
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17
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Zhou Z, Lin T, Chen S, Zhang G, Xu Y, Zou H, Zhou A, Zhang Y, Weng S, Han X, Liu Z. Omics-based molecular classifications empowering in precision oncology. Cell Oncol (Dordr) 2024; 47:759-777. [PMID: 38294647 DOI: 10.1007/s13402-023-00912-8] [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] [Accepted: 12/23/2023] [Indexed: 02/01/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND In the past decades, cancer enigmatical heterogeneity at distinct expression levels could interpret disparities in therapeutic response and prognosis. It built hindrances to precision medicine, a tactic to tailor customized treatment informed by the tumors' molecular profile. Single-omics analysis dissected the biological features associated with carcinogenesis to some extent but still failed to revolutionize cancer treatment as expected. Integrated omics analysis incorporated tumor biological networks from diverse layers and deciphered a holistic overview of cancer behaviors, yielding precise molecular classification to facilitate the evolution and refinement of precision medicine. CONCLUSION This review outlined the biomarkers at multiple expression layers to tutor molecular classification and pinpoint tumor diagnosis, and explored the paradigm shift in precision therapy: from single- to multi-omics-based subtyping to optimize therapeutic regimens. Ultimately, we firmly believe that by parsing molecular characteristics, omics-based typing will be a powerful assistant for precision oncology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhaokai Zhou
- Department of Interventional Radiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, 450052, China
- Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, 450052, China
| | - Ting Lin
- Department of Interventional Radiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, 450052, China
| | - Shuang Chen
- Center of Reproductive Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, 450052, China
| | - Ge Zhang
- Department of Cardiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Yudi Xu
- Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, 450052, China
| | - Haijiao Zou
- Center of Reproductive Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, 450052, China
| | - Aoyang Zhou
- Department of Interventional Radiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, 450052, China
| | - Yuyuan Zhang
- Department of Interventional Radiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, 450052, China
| | - Siyuan Weng
- Department of Interventional Radiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, 450052, China
| | - Xinwei Han
- Department of Interventional Radiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, 450052, China.
- Interventional Institute of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, 450052, China.
- Interventional Treatment and Clinical Research Center of Henan Province, Zhengzhou, Henan, 450052, China.
| | - Zaoqu Liu
- Department of Interventional Radiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, 450052, China.
- Interventional Institute of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, 450052, China.
- Interventional Treatment and Clinical Research Center of Henan Province, Zhengzhou, Henan, 450052, China.
- Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100730, China.
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18
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Lokhandwala J, Smalley TB, Tran TH. Structural perspectives on recent breakthrough efforts toward direct drugging of RAS and acquired resistance. Front Oncol 2024; 14:1394702. [PMID: 38841166 PMCID: PMC11150659 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2024.1394702] [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: 03/02/2024] [Accepted: 04/24/2024] [Indexed: 06/07/2024] Open
Abstract
The Kirsten rat sarcoma viral oncoprotein homolog (KRAS) is currently a primary focus of oncologists and translational scientists, driven by exciting results with KRAS-targeted therapies for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients. While KRAS mutations continue to drive high cancer diagnosis and death, researchers have developed unique strategies to target KRAS variations. Having been investigated over the past 40 years and considered "undruggable" due to the lack of pharmacological binding pockets, recent breakthroughs and accelerated FDA approval of the first covalent inhibitors targeting KRASG12C, have largely sparked further drug development. Small molecule development has targeted the previously identified primary location alterations such as G12, G13, Q61, and expanded to address the emerging secondary mutations and acquired resistance. Of interest, the non-covalent KRASG12D targeting inhibitor MRTX-1133 has shown promising results in humanized pancreatic cancer mouse models and is seemingly making its way from bench to bedside. While this manuscript was under review a novel class of first covalent inhibitors specific for G12D was published, These so-called malolactones can crosslink both GDP and GTP bound forms of G12D. Inhibition of the latter state suppressed downstream signaling and cancer cell proliferation in vitro and in mouse xenografts. Moreover, a non-covalent pan-KRAS inhibitor, BI-2865, reduced tumor proliferation in cell lines and mouse models. Finally, the next generation of KRAS mutant-specific and pan-RAS tri-complex inhibitors have revolutionized RAS drug discovery. This review will give a structural biology perspective on the current generation of KRAS inhibitors through the lens of emerging secondary mutations and acquired resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jameela Lokhandwala
- Department of Molecular Oncology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, FL, United States
| | - Tracess B. Smalley
- Department of Molecular Oncology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, FL, United States
| | - Timothy H. Tran
- Chemical Biology Core, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, FL, United States
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19
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Moerland JA, Liby KT. The Triterpenoid CDDO-Methyl Ester Reduces Tumor Burden, Reprograms the Immune Microenvironment, and Protects from Chemotherapy-Induced Toxicity in a Preclinical Mouse Model of Established Lung Cancer. Antioxidants (Basel) 2024; 13:621. [PMID: 38929060 PMCID: PMC11201246 DOI: 10.3390/antiox13060621] [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: 04/04/2024] [Revised: 05/17/2024] [Accepted: 05/18/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024] Open
Abstract
NRF2 activation protects epithelial cells from malignancy, but cancer cells can upregulate the pathway to promote survival. NRF2 activators including CDDO-Methyl ester (CDDO-Me) inhibit cancer in preclinical models, suggesting NRF2 activation in other cell types may promote anti-tumor activity. However, the immunomodulatory effects of NRF2 activation remain poorly understood in the context of cancer. To test CDDO-Me in a murine model of established lung cancer, tumor-bearing wildtype (WT) and Nrf2 knockout (KO) mice were treated with 50-100 mg CDDO-Me/kg diet, alone or combined with carboplatin/paclitaxel (C/P) for 8-12 weeks. CDDO-Me decreased tumor burden in an Nrf2-dependent manner. The combination of CDDO-Me plus C/P was significantly (p < 0.05) more effective than either drug alone, reducing tumor burden by 84% in WT mice. CDDO-Me reduced the histopathological grade of WT tumors, with a significantly (p < 0.05) higher proportion of low-grade tumors and a lower proportion of high-grade tumors. These changes were augmented by combination with C/P. CDDO-Me also protected WT mice from C/P-induced toxicity and improved macrophage and T cell phenotypes in WT mice, reducing the expression of CD206 and PD-L1 on macrophages, decreasing immunosuppressive FoxP3+ CD4+ T cells, and increasing activation of CD8+ T cells in a Nrf2-dependent manner.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica A. Moerland
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Michigan State University, 1355 Bogue Street, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA;
| | - Karen T. Liby
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, 980 W. Walnut Street, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA
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20
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Musiu C, Lupo F, Agostini A, Lionetto G, Bevere M, Paiella S, Carbone C, Corbo V, Ugel S, De Sanctis F. Cellular collusion: cracking the code of immunosuppression and chemo resistance in PDAC. Front Immunol 2024; 15:1341079. [PMID: 38817612 PMCID: PMC11137177 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2024.1341079] [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: 11/19/2023] [Accepted: 05/02/2024] [Indexed: 06/01/2024] Open
Abstract
Despite the efforts, pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is still highly lethal. Therapeutic challenges reside in late diagnosis and establishment of peculiar tumor microenvironment (TME) supporting tumor outgrowth. This stromal landscape is highly heterogeneous between patients and even in the same patient. The organization of functional sub-TME with different cellular compositions provides evolutive advantages and sustains therapeutic resistance. Tumor progressively establishes a TME that can suit its own needs, including proliferation, stemness and invasion. Cancer-associated fibroblasts and immune cells, the main non-neoplastic cellular TME components, follow soluble factors-mediated neoplastic instructions and synergize to promote chemoresistance and immune surveillance destruction. Unveiling heterotypic stromal-neoplastic interactions is thus pivotal to breaking this synergism and promoting the reprogramming of the TME toward an anti-tumor milieu, improving thus the efficacy of conventional and immune-based therapies. We underscore recent advances in the characterization of immune and fibroblast stromal components supporting or dampening pancreatic cancer progression, as well as novel multi-omic technologies improving the current knowledge of PDAC biology. Finally, we put into context how the clinic will translate the acquired knowledge to design new-generation clinical trials with the final aim of improving the outcome of PDAC patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chiara Musiu
- Department of Medicine, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Francesca Lupo
- Department of Engineering for Innovation Medicine, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Antonio Agostini
- Medical Oncology, Department of Translational Medicine, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy
- Medical Oncology, Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli Istituti di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS), Rome, Italy
| | - Gabriella Lionetto
- General and Pancreatic Surgery Unit, Pancreas Institute, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Michele Bevere
- ARC-Net Research Centre, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Salvatore Paiella
- General and Pancreatic Surgery Unit, Pancreas Institute, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Carmine Carbone
- Medical Oncology, Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli Istituti di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS), Rome, Italy
| | - Vincenzo Corbo
- Department of Engineering for Innovation Medicine, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Stefano Ugel
- Department of Medicine, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
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21
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Wang JP, Hung CH, Liou YH, Liu CC, Yeh KH, Wang KY, Lai ZS, Chatterjee B, Hsu TC, Lee TL, Shyu YC, Hsiao PW, Chen LY, Chuang TJ, Yu CHA, Liao NS, Shen CKJ. Long-term hematopoietic transfer of the anti-cancer and lifespan-extending capabilities of a genetically engineered blood system by transplantation of bone marrow mononuclear cells. eLife 2024; 12:RP88275. [PMID: 38752723 PMCID: PMC11098557 DOI: 10.7554/elife.88275] [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] [Indexed: 05/18/2024] Open
Abstract
A causal relationship exists among the aging process, organ decay and disfunction, and the occurrence of various diseases including cancer. A genetically engineered mouse model, termed Klf1K74R/K74R or Klf1(K74R), carrying mutation on the well-conserved sumoylation site of the hematopoietic transcription factor KLF1/EKLF has been generated that possesses extended lifespan and healthy characteristics, including cancer resistance. We show that the healthy longevity characteristics of the Klf1(K74R) mice, as exemplified by their higher anti-cancer capability, are likely gender-, age-, and genetic background-independent. Significantly, the anti-cancer capability, in particular that against melanoma as well as hepatocellular carcinoma, and lifespan-extending property of Klf1(K74R) mice, could be transferred to wild-type mice via transplantation of their bone marrow mononuclear cells at a young age of the latter. Furthermore, NK(K74R) cells carry higher in vitro cancer cell-killing ability than wild-type NK cells. Targeted/global gene expression profiling analysis has identified changes in the expression of specific proteins, including the immune checkpoint factors PDCD and CD274, and cellular pathways in the leukocytes of the Klf1(K74R) that are in the directions of anti-cancer and/or anti-aging. This study demonstrates the feasibility of developing a transferable hematopoietic/blood system for long-term anti-cancer and, potentially, for anti-aging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing-Ping Wang
- The Ph.D. Program in Medicine Neuroscience, Taipei Medical UniversityTaipeiTaiwan
- Institute of Molecular Biology, Academia SinicaTaipeiTaiwan
| | - Chun-Hao Hung
- The Ph.D. Program in Medicine Neuroscience, Taipei Medical UniversityTaipeiTaiwan
- Institute of Molecular Biology, Academia SinicaTaipeiTaiwan
| | - Yae-Huei Liou
- Institute of Molecular Biology, Academia SinicaTaipeiTaiwan
| | - Ching-Chen Liu
- Institute of Molecular Biology, Academia SinicaTaipeiTaiwan
| | - Kun-Hai Yeh
- Institute of Molecular Biology, Academia SinicaTaipeiTaiwan
| | - Keh-Yang Wang
- The Ph.D. Program in Medicine Neuroscience, Taipei Medical UniversityTaipeiTaiwan
- Institute of Molecular Biology, Academia SinicaTaipeiTaiwan
| | | | - Biswanath Chatterjee
- The Ph.D. Program in Medicine Neuroscience, Taipei Medical UniversityTaipeiTaiwan
- Institute of Molecular Biology, Academia SinicaTaipeiTaiwan
| | - Tzu-Chi Hsu
- The Ph.D. Program in Medicine Neuroscience, Taipei Medical UniversityTaipeiTaiwan
- Institute of Molecular Biology, Academia SinicaTaipeiTaiwan
| | - Tung-Liang Lee
- Institute of Molecular Biology, Academia SinicaTaipeiTaiwan
- Chang Gung Memorial HospitalKeelungTaiwan
- Pro-Clintech Co. LtdKeelungTaiwan
| | - Yu-Chiau Shyu
- Institute of Molecular Biology, Academia SinicaTaipeiTaiwan
- Department of Nursing, Chang Gung University of Science and TechnologyTaoyuanTaiwan
- Community Medicine Research Center, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Keelung BranchKeelungTaiwan
| | - Pei-Wen Hsiao
- Agricultural Biotechnology Research Center, Academia SinicaTaipeiTaiwan
- Graduate Institute of Life Sciences, National Defense Medical CenterTaipeiTaiwan
| | - Liuh-Yow Chen
- Institute of Molecular Biology, Academia SinicaTaipeiTaiwan
| | | | | | - Nan-Shih Liao
- Institute of Molecular Biology, Academia SinicaTaipeiTaiwan
| | - C-K James Shen
- The Ph.D. Program in Medicine Neuroscience, Taipei Medical UniversityTaipeiTaiwan
- Institute of Molecular Biology, Academia SinicaTaipeiTaiwan
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22
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Fancelli S, Petroni G, Pillozzi S, Antonuzzo L. Unconventional strategy could be the future: From target to KRAS broad range treatment. Heliyon 2024; 10:e29739. [PMID: 38694108 PMCID: PMC11061671 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e29739] [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: 09/28/2023] [Revised: 04/11/2024] [Accepted: 04/15/2024] [Indexed: 05/03/2024] Open
Abstract
The RAS gene family comprises genes that regulate cell growth and differentiation. KRAS, a member of this family, is often mutated in different cancers, resulting in uncontrolled cell growth and tumor development. Recent clinical trial results on KRAS inhibition in NSCLC have defined the presence of a significant proportion of patients resistant to direct G12C inhibition. The presence of co-mutations and the occurrence of secondary resistance phenomena observed in preclinical and clinical settings partly justify these poor results. In addition, all other non-G12C mutations currently remain without specific strategies. Evidence of interactions between KRAS signaling and the TME suggests potential in vitro efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitors. In this short paper, we have reviewed the most relevant data from recent conferences, with a focus on KRAS inhibitors resistance mechanisms and interactions with the peri-tumor immune system. Commentary.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Fancelli
- Clinical Oncology Unit, Careggi University Hospital, Florence, Italy
| | - Giulia Petroni
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Italy
| | - Serena Pillozzi
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences ‘Mario Serio', University of Florence, Italy
| | - Lorenzo Antonuzzo
- Clinical Oncology Unit, Careggi University Hospital, Florence, Italy
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Italy
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23
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Wang R, Khatpe AS, Kumar B, Mang HE, Batic K, Adebayo AK, Nakshatri H. Mutant RAS-driven Secretome Causes Skeletal Muscle Defects in Breast Cancer. CANCER RESEARCH COMMUNICATIONS 2024; 4:1282-1295. [PMID: 38651826 PMCID: PMC11094532 DOI: 10.1158/2767-9764.crc-24-0045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2024] [Revised: 03/28/2024] [Accepted: 04/19/2024] [Indexed: 04/25/2024]
Abstract
Cancer-induced skeletal muscle defects differ in severity between individuals with the same cancer type. Cancer subtype-specific genomic aberrations are suggested to mediate these differences, but experimental validation studies are very limited. We utilized three different breast cancer patient-derived xenograft (PDX) models to correlate cancer subtype with skeletal muscle defects. PDXs were derived from brain metastasis of triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), estrogen receptor-positive/progesterone receptor-positive (ER+/PR+) primary breast cancer from a BRCA2-mutation carrier, and pleural effusion from an ER+/PR- breast cancer. While impaired skeletal muscle function as measured through rotarod performance and reduced levels of circulating and/or skeletal muscle miR-486 were common across all three PDXs, only TNBC-derived PDX activated phospho-p38 in skeletal muscle. To further extend these results, we generated transformed variants of human primary breast epithelial cells from healthy donors using HRASG12V or PIK3CAH1047R mutant oncogenes. Mutations in RAS oncogene or its modulators are found in approximately 37% of metastatic breast cancers, which is often associated with skeletal muscle defects. Although cells transformed with both oncogenes generated adenocarcinomas in NSG mice, only HRASG12V-derived tumors caused skeletal muscle defects affecting rotarod performance, skeletal muscle contraction force, and miR-486, Pax7, pAKT, and p53 levels in skeletal muscle. Circulating levels of the chemokine CXCL1 were elevated only in animals with tumors containing HRASG12V mutation. Because RAS pathway aberrations are found in 19% of cancers, evaluating skeletal muscle defects in the context of genomic aberrations in cancers, particularly RAS pathway mutations, may accelerate development of therapeutic modalities to overcome cancer-induced systemic effects. SIGNIFICANCE Mutant RAS- and PIK3CA-driven breast cancers distinctly affect the function of skeletal muscle. Therefore, research and therapeutic targeting of cancer-induced systemic effects need to take aberrant cancer genome into consideration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruizhong Wang
- Department of Surgery, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana
| | - Aditi S. Khatpe
- Department of Surgery, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana
| | - Brijesh Kumar
- Department of Surgery, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana
| | - Henry Elmer Mang
- Department of Surgery, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana
| | - Katie Batic
- Department of Surgery, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana
| | - Adedeji K. Adebayo
- Department of Surgery, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana
| | - Harikrishna Nakshatri
- Department of Surgery, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana
- Richard L Roudebush VA Medical Center, Indianapolis, Indiana
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24
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Zhou Y, Zeng Z, Li Z, Ruan L, Xie H, Ye F, Huang L, Liu H, Kang L. The relationship of KRAS expression with KRAS status, prognosis, and tumor-infiltrated T lymphocytes in colorectal cancer. Therap Adv Gastroenterol 2024; 17:17562848241249387. [PMID: 38757097 PMCID: PMC11097731 DOI: 10.1177/17562848241249387] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2023] [Accepted: 04/06/2024] [Indexed: 05/18/2024] Open
Abstract
Background The significance of Kirsten rat sarcoma viral oncogene (KRAS) mutation in colorectal cancer (CRC) is well established; yet, its association with KRAS expression and prognosis warrants further investigation. While high KRAS expression is commonly linked with poorer prognosis in other cancers, its role in CRC remains relatively understudied. Objective To explore the correlation between KRAS expression, KRAS status, prognosis, and tumor-infiltrating T lymphocyte density in CRC. Design Single-center retrospective study. Methods Conducted between 2010 and 2020, this study utilized tumor samples to assess KRAS expression and quantify CD3+/CD8+ T lymphocytes. The Cox proportional hazards model and linear regression analysis were employed to examine the relationship between KRAS expression, prognosis, and tumor-infiltrating T lymphocytes. Results This study included 265 CRC patients who underwent radical surgery. No significant association was observed between KRAS expression and KRAS status (p > 0.05). High KRAS expression was associated with poorer overall survival and disease-free survival (p < 0.05). Subgroup analysis revealed that high KRAS expression remained indicative of a worse prognosis in the group with mismatch repair-deficient (dMMR) and KRAS mutant type (p < 0.05). Multivariate analysis confirmed KRAS expression as an unfavorable prognostic factor (p < 0.05). However, the significance of KRAS expression was lost in the dMMR and KRAS mutant-type group regarding overall survival (p > 0.05). Notably, KRAS expression showed a negative correlation with the density of CD8+ T lymphocytes in tumor tissue (p < 0.05), a finding also observed in the dMMR group (p < 0.05). Conclusion No association was found between KRAS expression and KRAS mutation status in CRC. Higher KRAS expression was indicative of poorer prognosis for CRC patients, except for those with proficient mismatch repair and KRAS wild type. In addition, in patients with dMMR, KRAS expression was associated with a lower density of CD8+ T lymphocytes in tumor tissue.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yebohao Zhou
- Department of General Surgery (Colorectal Surgery), The Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangzhou, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Colorectal and Pelvic Floor Diseases, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
- Biomedical Innovation Center, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Ziwei Zeng
- Department of General Surgery (Colorectal Surgery), The Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangzhou, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Colorectal and Pelvic Floor Diseases, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
- Biomedical Innovation Center, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Ze Li
- Department of General Surgery (Colorectal Surgery), The Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangzhou, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Colorectal and Pelvic Floor Diseases, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
- Biomedical Innovation Center, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Lei Ruan
- Department of General Surgery (Colorectal Surgery), The Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangzhou, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Colorectal and Pelvic Floor Diseases, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
- Biomedical Innovation Center, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Hao Xie
- Department of General Surgery (Colorectal Surgery), The Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangzhou, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Colorectal and Pelvic Floor Diseases, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
- Biomedical Innovation Center, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Fujin Ye
- Department of General Surgery (Colorectal Surgery), The Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangzhou, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Colorectal and Pelvic Floor Diseases, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
- Biomedical Innovation Center, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Liang Huang
- Department of General Surgery (Colorectal Surgery), The Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangzhou 510655, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Colorectal and Pelvic Floor Diseases, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
- Biomedical Innovation Center, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Huashan Liu
- Department of General Surgery (Colorectal Surgery), The Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangzhou 510655, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Colorectal and Pelvic Floor Diseases, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
- Biomedical Innovation Center, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Liang Kang
- Department of General Surgery (Colorectal Surgery), The Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangzhou 510655, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Colorectal and Pelvic Floor Diseases, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
- Biomedical Innovation Center, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
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25
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Sahin IH, Saridogan T, Ayasun R, Syed MP, Gorantla V, Malhotra M, Thomas R, Rhee J, Zhang J, Hsu D, Singhi AD, Saeed A. Targeting KRAS Oncogene for Patients With Colorectal Cancer: A New Step Toward Precision Medicine. JCO Oncol Pract 2024:OP2300787. [PMID: 38739872 DOI: 10.1200/op.23.00787] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2023] [Revised: 02/28/2024] [Accepted: 03/27/2024] [Indexed: 05/16/2024] Open
Abstract
KRAS mutations are common driver oncogenes associated with the development of several solid tumors. KRAS oncogene has been considered a highly challenging target for drug development because of structural features, including the lack of deep groove on its catalytic unit. However, by leveraging cysteine residues, covalent KRAS inhibitors irreversibly trap KRAS G12C mutants in their inactive GDP-bound state. These agents have resulted in significant clinical responses among patients with KRAS G12C-mutant solid tumors, including patients with colorectal cancer (CRC). Other allele-specific inhibitors of KRAS oncogene and panKRAS and panRAS inhibitors are also currently being investigated in clinical trials. This review article overviews recent clinical progress on KRAS G12C targeting for the management of patients with KRAS G12C-mutant CRC and provides an update on other RAS targeting approaches. We also discuss the unique biological features of RAS-mutant CRC, which require the combination of KRAS inhibitors and anti-epidermal growth factor receptor therapy, and elaborate on resistance mechanisms and novel therapeutic avenues that may define future treatment paradigms of patients with RAS-mutant CRC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ibrahim Halil Sahin
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA
- University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA
| | | | - Ruveyda Ayasun
- Laura and Isaac Perlmutter Cancer Center, New York University Langone Medical Center, New York, NY
| | - Masood Pasha Syed
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA
- University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA
| | | | | | - Roby Thomas
- University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA
| | - John Rhee
- University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA
| | - Janie Zhang
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA
- University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA
| | - Dennis Hsu
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA
- University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA
| | - Aatur D Singhi
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA
- University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA
| | - Anwaar Saeed
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA
- University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA
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26
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Mitra A, Kumar A, Amdare NP, Pathak R. Current Landscape of Cancer Immunotherapy: Harnessing the Immune Arsenal to Overcome Immune Evasion. BIOLOGY 2024; 13:307. [PMID: 38785789 PMCID: PMC11118874 DOI: 10.3390/biology13050307] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2024] [Revised: 04/24/2024] [Accepted: 04/24/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024]
Abstract
Cancer immune evasion represents a leading hallmark of cancer, posing a significant obstacle to the development of successful anticancer therapies. However, the landscape of cancer treatment has significantly evolved, transitioning into the era of immunotherapy from conventional methods such as surgical resection, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, and targeted drug therapy. Immunotherapy has emerged as a pivotal component in cancer treatment, harnessing the body's immune system to combat cancer and offering improved prognostic outcomes for numerous patients. The remarkable success of immunotherapy has spurred significant efforts to enhance the clinical efficacy of existing agents and strategies. Several immunotherapeutic approaches have received approval for targeted cancer treatments, while others are currently in preclinical and clinical trials. This review explores recent progress in unraveling the mechanisms of cancer immune evasion and evaluates the clinical effectiveness of diverse immunotherapy strategies, including cancer vaccines, adoptive cell therapy, and antibody-based treatments. It encompasses both established treatments and those currently under investigation, providing a comprehensive overview of efforts to combat cancer through immunological approaches. Additionally, the article emphasizes the current developments, limitations, and challenges in cancer immunotherapy. Furthermore, by integrating analyses of cancer immunotherapy resistance mechanisms and exploring combination strategies and personalized approaches, it offers valuable insights crucial for the development of novel anticancer immunotherapeutic strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ankita Mitra
- Laura and Isaac Perlmutter Cancer Center, New York University Langone Medical Center, New York, NY 10016, USA
| | - Anoop Kumar
- Molecular Diagnostic Laboratory, National Institute of Biologicals, Noida 201309, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Nitin P. Amdare
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York, NY 10461, USA
| | - Rajiv Pathak
- Department of Genetics, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York, NY 10461, USA
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27
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STICKLER SANDRA, RATH BARBARA, HAMILTON GERHARD. Targeting KRAS in pancreatic cancer. Oncol Res 2024; 32:799-805. [PMID: 38686056 PMCID: PMC11055996 DOI: 10.32604/or.2024.045356] [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: 08/24/2023] [Accepted: 12/11/2023] [Indexed: 05/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Pancreatic cancer has a dismal prognosis due to late detection and lack of efficient therapies. The Kirsten rat sarcoma virus (KRAS) oncogene is mutated in up to 90% of all pancreatic ductal adenocarcinomas (PDACs) and constitutes an attractive target for therapy. However, the most common KRAS mutations in PDAC are G12D (44%), G12V (34%) and G12R (20%) that are not amenable to treatment by KRAS G12C-directed cysteine-reactive KRAS inhibitors such as Sotorasib and Adagrasib that exhibit clinical efficacy in lung cancer. KRAS G12C mutant pancreatic cancer has been treated with Sotorasib but this mutation is detected only in 2%-3% of PDAC. Recently, the KRAS G12D-directed MRTX1133 inhibitor has entered clinical trials and more of such inhibitors are in development. The other KRAS mutations may be targeted indirectly via inhibition of the cognate guanosine exchange factor (GEF) Son of Sevenless 1 that drives KRAS. These agents seem to provide the means to target the most frequent KRAS mutations in PDAC and to improve patient outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- SANDRA STICKLER
- Institute of Pharmacology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, A-1090, Austria
| | - BARBARA RATH
- Institute of Pharmacology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, A-1090, Austria
| | - GERHARD HAMILTON
- Institute of Pharmacology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, A-1090, Austria
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Martins F, Machado AL, Ribeiro A, Oliveira SM, Carvalho J, Matthiesen R, Backman V, Velho S. KRAS silencing alters chromatin physical organization and transcriptional activity in colorectal cancer cells. RESEARCH SQUARE 2024:rs.3.rs-3752760. [PMID: 38410476 PMCID: PMC10896403 DOI: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-3752760/v2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/28/2024]
Abstract
Clinical data revealed that KRAS mutant tumors, while initially sensitive to treatment, rapidly bypass KRAS dependence to acquire a drug-tolerant phenotype. However, the mechanisms underlying the transition from a drug-sensitive to a drug-tolerant state still elude us. Here, we show that global chromatin reorganization is a recurrent and specific feature of KRAS-dependent cells that tolerated KRAS silencing. We show that KRAS-dependent cells undergo G0/G1 cell cycle arrest after KRAS silencing, presenting a transcriptomic signature of quiescence. Proteomic analysis showed upregulated chromatin-associated proteins and transcription-associated biological processes. Accordingly, these cells shifted euchromatin/heterochromatin states, gained topologically associating domains, and altered the nanoscale physical organization of chromatin, more precisely by downregulating chromatin packing domains, a feature associated with the induction of quiescence. In addition, they also accumulated transcriptional alterations over time leading to a diversification of biological processes, linking chromatin alterations to transcriptional performance. Overall, our observations pinpoint a novel molecular mechanism of tolerance to KRAS oncogenic loss driven not by specific gene alterations but by global reorganization of genomic information, in which cells transition chromatin domain structure towards a more quiescent state and gain transcriptional reprogramming capacity.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Sérgia Velho
- i3S - Institute for Research and Innovation in Health
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Nair R, Lannagan TRM, Jackstadt R, Andrusaite A, Cole J, Boyne C, Nibbs RJB, Sansom OJ, Milling S. Co-inhibition of TGF-β and PD-L1 pathways in a metastatic colorectal cancer mouse model triggers interferon responses, innate cells and T cells, alongside metabolic changes and tumor resistance. Oncoimmunology 2024; 13:2330194. [PMID: 38516270 PMCID: PMC10956632 DOI: 10.1080/2162402x.2024.2330194] [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: 08/27/2023] [Accepted: 03/11/2024] [Indexed: 03/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most prevalent cancer worldwide with a high mortality rate (20-30%), especially due to metastasis to adjacent organs. Clinical responses to chemotherapy, radiation, targeted and immunotherapies are limited to a subset of patients making metastatic CRC (mCRC) difficult to treat. To understand the therapeutic modulation of immune response in mCRC, we have used a genetically engineered mouse model (GEMM), "KPN", which resembles the human 'CMS4'-like subtype. We show here that transforming growth factor (TGF-β1), secreted by KPN organoids, increases cancer cell proliferation, and inhibits splenocyte activation in vitro. TGF-β1 also inhibits activation of naive but not pre-activated T cells, suggesting differential effects on specific immune cells. In vivo, the inhibition of TGF-β inflames the KPN tumors, causing infiltration of T cells, monocytes and monocytic intermediates, while reducing neutrophils and epithelial cells. Co-inhibition of TGF-β and PD-L1 signaling further enhances cytotoxic CD8+T cells and upregulates innate immune response and interferon gene signatures. However, simultaneous upregulation of cancer-related metabolic genes correlated with limited control of tumor burden and/or progression despite combination treatment. Our study illustrates the importance of using GEMMs to predict better immunotherapies for mCRC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Reshmi Nair
- School of infection and immunity, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
| | | | | | - Anna Andrusaite
- School of infection and immunity, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
| | - John Cole
- School of infection and immunity, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
| | - Caitlin Boyne
- School of infection and immunity, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
| | | | - Owen J. Sansom
- Cancer Research UK Scotland Institute, Glasgow, UK
- School of Cancer Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
| | - Simon Milling
- School of infection and immunity, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
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Shi H, Yuan M, Cai J, Shi J, Li Y, Qian Q, Dong Z, Pan G, Zhu S, Wang W, Zhou J, Zhou X, Liu J. Exploring personalized treatment for cardiac graft rejection based on a four-archetype analysis model and bioinformatics analysis. Sci Rep 2024; 14:6529. [PMID: 38499711 PMCID: PMC10948767 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-57097-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2023] [Accepted: 03/14/2024] [Indexed: 03/20/2024] Open
Abstract
Heart transplantation is the gold standard for treating patients with advanced heart failure. Although improvements in immunosuppressive therapies have significantly reduced the frequency of cardiac graft rejection, the incidences of T cell-mediated rejection (TCMR) and antibody-mediated rejection remain almost unchanged. A four-archetype analysis (4AA) model, developed by Philip F. Halloran, illustrated this problem well. It provided a new dimension to improve the accuracy of diagnoses and an independent system for recalibrating the histology guidelines. However, this model was based on the invasive method of endocardial biopsy, which undoubtedly increased the postoperative risk of heart transplant patients. Currently, little is known regarding the associated genes and specific functions of the different phenotypes. We performed bioinformatics analysis (using machine-learning methods and the WGCNA algorithm) to screen for hub-specific genes related to different phenotypes, based Gene Expression Omnibus accession number GSE124897. More immune cell infiltration was observed with the ABMR, TCMR, and injury phenotypes than with the stable phenotype. Hub-specific genes for each of the four archetypes were verified successfully using an external test set (accession number GSE2596). Logistic-regression models based on TCMR-specific hub genes and common hub genes were constructed with accurate diagnostic utility (area under the curve > 0.95). RELA, NFKB1, and SOX14 were identified as transcription factors important for TCMR/injury phenotypes and common genes, respectively. Additionally, 11 Food and Drug Administration-approved drugs were chosen from the DrugBank Database for each four-archetype model. Tyrosine kinase inhibitors may be a promising new option for transplant rejection treatment. KRAS signaling in cardiac transplant rejection is worth further investigation. Our results showed that heart transplant rejection subtypes can be accurately diagnosed by detecting expression of the corresponding specific genes, thereby enabling precise treatment or medication.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongjie Shi
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, 169 Donghu Road, Wuhan, 430071, China
- Hubei Provincial Engineering Research Center of Minimally Invasive Cardiovascular Surgery, Wuhan, 430071, China
- Wuhan Clinical Research Center for Minimally Invasive Treatment of Structural Heart Disease, Wuhan, 430071, China
| | - Ming Yuan
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, 169 Donghu Road, Wuhan, 430071, China
- Hubei Provincial Engineering Research Center of Minimally Invasive Cardiovascular Surgery, Wuhan, 430071, China
- Wuhan Clinical Research Center for Minimally Invasive Treatment of Structural Heart Disease, Wuhan, 430071, China
| | - Jie Cai
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, 169 Donghu Road, Wuhan, 430071, China
- Hubei Provincial Engineering Research Center of Minimally Invasive Cardiovascular Surgery, Wuhan, 430071, China
- Wuhan Clinical Research Center for Minimally Invasive Treatment of Structural Heart Disease, Wuhan, 430071, China
| | - Jiajun Shi
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, 169 Donghu Road, Wuhan, 430071, China
- Hubei Provincial Engineering Research Center of Minimally Invasive Cardiovascular Surgery, Wuhan, 430071, China
- Wuhan Clinical Research Center for Minimally Invasive Treatment of Structural Heart Disease, Wuhan, 430071, China
| | - Yang Li
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, 169 Donghu Road, Wuhan, 430071, China
- Hubei Provincial Engineering Research Center of Minimally Invasive Cardiovascular Surgery, Wuhan, 430071, China
- Wuhan Clinical Research Center for Minimally Invasive Treatment of Structural Heart Disease, Wuhan, 430071, China
| | - Qiaofeng Qian
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, 169 Donghu Road, Wuhan, 430071, China
- Hubei Provincial Engineering Research Center of Minimally Invasive Cardiovascular Surgery, Wuhan, 430071, China
- Wuhan Clinical Research Center for Minimally Invasive Treatment of Structural Heart Disease, Wuhan, 430071, China
| | - Zhe Dong
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, 169 Donghu Road, Wuhan, 430071, China
- Hubei Provincial Engineering Research Center of Minimally Invasive Cardiovascular Surgery, Wuhan, 430071, China
- Wuhan Clinical Research Center for Minimally Invasive Treatment of Structural Heart Disease, Wuhan, 430071, China
| | - Gaofeng Pan
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, 169 Donghu Road, Wuhan, 430071, China
- Hubei Provincial Engineering Research Center of Minimally Invasive Cardiovascular Surgery, Wuhan, 430071, China
- Wuhan Clinical Research Center for Minimally Invasive Treatment of Structural Heart Disease, Wuhan, 430071, China
| | - Shaoping Zhu
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, 169 Donghu Road, Wuhan, 430071, China
- Hubei Provincial Engineering Research Center of Minimally Invasive Cardiovascular Surgery, Wuhan, 430071, China
- Wuhan Clinical Research Center for Minimally Invasive Treatment of Structural Heart Disease, Wuhan, 430071, China
| | - Wei Wang
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, 169 Donghu Road, Wuhan, 430071, China
- Hubei Provincial Engineering Research Center of Minimally Invasive Cardiovascular Surgery, Wuhan, 430071, China
- Wuhan Clinical Research Center for Minimally Invasive Treatment of Structural Heart Disease, Wuhan, 430071, China
| | - Jianliang Zhou
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, 169 Donghu Road, Wuhan, 430071, China
- Hubei Provincial Engineering Research Center of Minimally Invasive Cardiovascular Surgery, Wuhan, 430071, China
- Wuhan Clinical Research Center for Minimally Invasive Treatment of Structural Heart Disease, Wuhan, 430071, China
| | - Xianwu Zhou
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, 169 Donghu Road, Wuhan, 430071, China.
- Hubei Provincial Engineering Research Center of Minimally Invasive Cardiovascular Surgery, Wuhan, 430071, China.
- Wuhan Clinical Research Center for Minimally Invasive Treatment of Structural Heart Disease, Wuhan, 430071, China.
| | - Jinping Liu
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, 169 Donghu Road, Wuhan, 430071, China.
- Hubei Provincial Engineering Research Center of Minimally Invasive Cardiovascular Surgery, Wuhan, 430071, China.
- Wuhan Clinical Research Center for Minimally Invasive Treatment of Structural Heart Disease, Wuhan, 430071, China.
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Zhang Z, Song B, Wei H, Liu Y, Zhang W, Yang Y, Sun B. NDRG1 overcomes resistance to immunotherapy of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma through inhibiting ATG9A-dependent degradation of MHC-1. Drug Resist Updat 2024; 73:101040. [PMID: 38228036 DOI: 10.1016/j.drup.2023.101040] [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: 10/20/2023] [Revised: 12/21/2023] [Accepted: 12/26/2023] [Indexed: 01/18/2024]
Abstract
AIMS Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a deadly disease that is resistant to immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) therapies. Emerging evidence suggests that NDRG1 may be an important target for the development of new therapies for PDAC. Herein, we investigated the novel roles of NDRG1 and Combretastatin A-4 (CA-4) in the treatment of PDAC ICB resistance. METHODS Enrichment of MHC class I was detected by RNA sequence and verified by RT-qPCR and immunoblotting in NDRG1-knockdown human pancreatic cancer cell lines. The protein degradation mode was found by stimulation with various inhibitors, and the autophagy degradation pathway was found by immunoprecipitation and immunolocalization. The roles of NDRG1 and MHC-I in immunotherapy were investigated by orthotopic solid tumors, histology, immunohistochemistry, multiplex immunofluorescence staining and flow cytometry. RESULTS Here, we identified a previously undescribed role of NDRG1 in activating major histocompatibility complex class 1 (MHC-1) expression in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) cells through lysosomal-autophagy-dependent degradation. In mouse models of PDAC, either tumor cell overexpression or pharmacologic activation of NDRG1 leads to MHC-1 upregulation in tumor cells, which in turn promotes the infiltration and activity of CD8 + T cells, enhances anti-tumor immunity, and overcomes resistance to ICB therapy. Moreover, combination therapy of CA-4 and ICB overcomes the drug resistance of pancreatic cancer to ICB therapy. In PDAC patients, NDRG1 expression correlates with high MHC-1 expression and better survival. CONCLUSION Our results reveal NDRG1 in PDAC cancer cells as a tumor suppressor and suggest that pharmaceutically targeting NDRG1 is a promising way to overcome pancreatic cancer resistance to immunotherapy and provides a potential therapeutic strategy for the treatment of pancreatic cancer patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhiheng Zhang
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University & Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital Clinical College of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, China; Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, Nanjing University Medical School, Nanjing 210008, Jiangsu, China
| | - Bojiao Song
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University & Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital Clinical College of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, China
| | - Haowei Wei
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, Nanjing University Medical School, Nanjing 210008, Jiangsu, China
| | - Yang Liu
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University & Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital Clinical College of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, China
| | - Wenjie Zhang
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University & Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital Clinical College of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, China.
| | - Yuhong Yang
- Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China.
| | - Beicheng Sun
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University & Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital Clinical College of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, China.
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Wang SH, Cao Z, Farazuddin M, Chen J, Janczak KW, Tang S, Cannon J, Baker JR. A novel intranasal peptide vaccine inhibits non-small cell lung cancer with KRAS mutation. Cancer Gene Ther 2024; 31:464-471. [PMID: 38177307 DOI: 10.1038/s41417-023-00717-9] [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: 11/09/2023] [Revised: 11/30/2023] [Accepted: 12/07/2023] [Indexed: 01/06/2024]
Abstract
KRAS mutations occur commonly in the lung and can lead to the development of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). While the mutated KRAS protein is a neoantigen, it usually does not generate an effective anti-tumor immune response on mucosal/epithelial surfaces. Despite this, mutated KRAS remains a potential target for immunotherapy since immune targeting of this protein in animal models has been effective at eliminating tumor cells. We attempted to develop a KRAS vaccine using mutated and wild-type KRAS peptides in combination with a nanoemulsion (NE) adjuvant. The efficacy of this approach was tested in an inducible mutant KRAS-mouse lung tumor model. Animals were immunized intranasally using NE with KRAS peptides. These animals had decreased CD4+FoxP3+ T cells in both lymph nodes and spleen. Immunized animals also showed higher IFN-γ and IL-17a levels to mutated KRAS that were produced by CD8+ T cells and enhancement in KRAS-specific Th1 and Th17 responses that persisted for 3 months after the last vaccination. Importantly, the immunized animals had significantly decreased tumor incidence compared to control animals. In conclusion, a mucosal approach to KRAS vaccination demonstrated the ability to induce local KRAS-specific immune responses in the lung and resulted in reduced tumor incidence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Su He Wang
- Michigan Nanotechnology Institute for Medicine and Biological Sciences, Medical School, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA.
- Division of Allergy, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA.
| | - Zhengyi Cao
- Michigan Nanotechnology Institute for Medicine and Biological Sciences, Medical School, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
| | - Mohammad Farazuddin
- Michigan Nanotechnology Institute for Medicine and Biological Sciences, Medical School, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
- Division of Allergy, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
| | - Jesse Chen
- Michigan Nanotechnology Institute for Medicine and Biological Sciences, Medical School, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
| | - Katarzyna W Janczak
- Michigan Nanotechnology Institute for Medicine and Biological Sciences, Medical School, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
| | - Shengzhuang Tang
- Michigan Nanotechnology Institute for Medicine and Biological Sciences, Medical School, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
| | - Jayme Cannon
- Michigan Nanotechnology Institute for Medicine and Biological Sciences, Medical School, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
| | - James R Baker
- Michigan Nanotechnology Institute for Medicine and Biological Sciences, Medical School, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
- Division of Allergy, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
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Wang Y, Yang X, Zhang Y, Hong L, Xie Z, Jiang W, Chen L, Xiong K, Yang S, Lin M, Guo X, Li Q, Deng X, Lin Y, Cao M, Yi G, Fu M. Single-cell RNA sequencing reveals roles of unique retinal microglia types in early diabetic retinopathy. Diabetol Metab Syndr 2024; 16:49. [PMID: 38409074 PMCID: PMC10895757 DOI: 10.1186/s13098-024-01282-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2023] [Accepted: 02/02/2024] [Indexed: 02/28/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The pathophysiological mechanisms of diabetic retinopathy (DR), a blinding disease, are intricate. DR was thought to be a microvascular disease previously. However, growing studies have indicated that the retinal microglia-induced inflammation precedes microangiopathy. The binary concept of microglial M1/M2 polarization paradigms during inflammatory activation has been debated. In this study, we confirmed microglia had the most significant changes in early DR using single-cell RNA sequencing. METHODS A total of five retinal specimens were collected from donor SD rats. Changes in various cells of the retina at the early stage of DR were analyzed using single-cell sequencing technology. RESULTS We defined three new microglial subtypes at cellular level, including two M1 types (Egr2+ M1 and Egr2- M1) and one M2 type. We also revealed the anatomical location between these subtypes, the dynamic changes of polarization phenotypes, and the possible activation sequence and mutual activation regulatory mechanism of different cells. Furthermore, we constructed an inflammatory network involving microglia, blood-derived macrophages and other retinal nonneuronal cells. The targeted study of new disease-specific microglial subtypes can shorten the time for drug screening and clinical application, which provided insight for the early control and reversal of DR. CONCLUSIONS We found that microglia show the most obvious differential expression changes in early DR and reveal the changes in microglia in a high-glucose microenvironment at the single-cell level. Our comprehensive analysis will help achieve early reversal and control the occurrence and progression of DR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan Wang
- Department of Ophthalmology, South China Hospital, Medical School, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, 518116, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiongyi Yang
- The Second Clinical School, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, People's Republic of China
| | - Yuxi Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Organ Failure Research, National Clinical Research Center of Kidney Disease, Guangdong Provincial Institute of Nephrology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Libing Hong
- The Second Clinical School, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhuohang Xie
- The Second Clinical School, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, People's Republic of China
| | - Wenmin Jiang
- Department of Ophthalmology, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, 410011, Hunan, People's Republic of China
- Hunan Clinical Research Center of Ophthalmic Disease, Changsha, 410011, Hunan, People's Republic of China
| | - Lin Chen
- Department of Anesthesiology, Shenzhen Hospital, Southern Medical University, 1333 Xinhu Road, Shenzhen, 518100, Guangdong, People's Republic of China
| | - Ke Xiong
- Department of Ophthalmology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, Guangdong, People's Republic of China
| | - Siyu Yang
- Department of Ophthalmology, The Seventh Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Shenzhen, People's Republic of China
| | - Meiping Lin
- The Second Clinical School, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, People's Republic of China
| | - Xi Guo
- School of Rehabilitation Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, People's Republic of China
| | - Qiumo Li
- The Second Clinical School, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiaoqing Deng
- The Second Clinical School, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, People's Republic of China
| | - Yanhui Lin
- Health Management Center, The Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, 410013, Hunan, People's Republic of China
| | - Mingzhe Cao
- Department of Ophthalmology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, Guangdong, People's Republic of China.
| | - Guoguo Yi
- Department of Ophthalmology, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, No. 26, Erheng Road, Yuancun, Tianhe, Guangzhou, Guangdong, People's Republic of China.
- Biomedical Innovation Center, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China.
| | - Min Fu
- Department of Ophthalmology, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, People's Republic of China.
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Banerjee S, Ansari AA, Upadhyay SP, Mettman DJ, Hibdon JR, Quadir M, Ghosh P, Kambhampati A, Banerjee SK. Benefits and Pitfalls of a Glycosylation Inhibitor Tunicamycin in the Therapeutic Implication of Cancers. Cells 2024; 13:395. [PMID: 38474359 PMCID: PMC10930662 DOI: 10.3390/cells13050395] [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: 01/25/2024] [Revised: 02/12/2024] [Accepted: 02/23/2024] [Indexed: 03/14/2024] Open
Abstract
The aberrant glycosylation is a hallmark of cancer progression and chemoresistance. It is also an immune therapeutic target for various cancers. Tunicamycin (TM) is one of the potent nucleoside antibiotics and an inhibitor of aberrant glycosylation in various cancer cells, including breast cancer, gastric cancer, and pancreatic cancer, parallel with the inhibition of cancer cell growth and progression of tumors. Like chemotherapies such as doxorubicin (DOX), 5'fluorouracil, etoposide, and cisplatin, TM induces the unfolded protein response (UPR) by blocking aberrant glycosylation. Consequently, stress is induced in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) that promotes apoptosis. TM can thus be considered a potent antitumor drug in various cancers and may promote chemosensitivity. However, its lack of cell-type-specific cytotoxicity impedes its anticancer efficacy. In this review, we focus on recent advances in our understanding of the benefits and pitfalls of TM therapies in various cancers, including breast, colon, and pancreatic cancers, and discuss the mechanisms identified by which TM functions. Finally, we discuss the potential use of nano-based drug delivery systems to overcome non-specific toxicity and enhance the therapeutic efficacy of TM as a targeted therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Snigdha Banerjee
- Cancer Research Unit, VA Medical Center, Kansas City, MO 64128, USA; (A.A.A.); (S.P.U.); (D.J.M.); (J.R.H.); (A.K.)
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS 66160, USA
| | - Affan A. Ansari
- Cancer Research Unit, VA Medical Center, Kansas City, MO 64128, USA; (A.A.A.); (S.P.U.); (D.J.M.); (J.R.H.); (A.K.)
| | - Sunil P. Upadhyay
- Cancer Research Unit, VA Medical Center, Kansas City, MO 64128, USA; (A.A.A.); (S.P.U.); (D.J.M.); (J.R.H.); (A.K.)
| | - Daniel J. Mettman
- Cancer Research Unit, VA Medical Center, Kansas City, MO 64128, USA; (A.A.A.); (S.P.U.); (D.J.M.); (J.R.H.); (A.K.)
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS 66160, USA
- Pathology Department, City VA Medical Center, Kansas City, MO 64128, USA
| | - Jamie R. Hibdon
- Cancer Research Unit, VA Medical Center, Kansas City, MO 64128, USA; (A.A.A.); (S.P.U.); (D.J.M.); (J.R.H.); (A.K.)
| | - Mohiuddin Quadir
- Department of Coatings and Polymeric Materials, North Dakota State University, Fargo, ND 58108, USA; (M.Q.); (P.G.)
| | - Pratyusha Ghosh
- Department of Coatings and Polymeric Materials, North Dakota State University, Fargo, ND 58108, USA; (M.Q.); (P.G.)
| | - Anjali Kambhampati
- Cancer Research Unit, VA Medical Center, Kansas City, MO 64128, USA; (A.A.A.); (S.P.U.); (D.J.M.); (J.R.H.); (A.K.)
| | - Sushanta K. Banerjee
- Cancer Research Unit, VA Medical Center, Kansas City, MO 64128, USA; (A.A.A.); (S.P.U.); (D.J.M.); (J.R.H.); (A.K.)
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS 66160, USA
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Fernandes Q, Inchakalody VP, Bedhiafi T, Mestiri S, Taib N, Uddin S, Merhi M, Dermime S. Chronic inflammation and cancer; the two sides of a coin. Life Sci 2024; 338:122390. [PMID: 38160787 DOI: 10.1016/j.lfs.2023.122390] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2023] [Revised: 12/21/2023] [Accepted: 12/24/2023] [Indexed: 01/03/2024]
Abstract
The correlation between chronic inflammation and cancer was initially identified in the 19th century. Biomolecules like interleukins, chemokines, tumor necrosis factors, growth factors, and adhesion molecules, which regulate inflammation, are recognized contributors to neoplastic transformation through various mechanisms, including oncogenic mutations, resistance to apoptosis, and adaptive responses like angiogenesis. This review aims to establish connections between the intricate and complex mechanisms of chronic inflammation and cancer. We illuminate implicit signaling mechanisms that drive the association between chronic inflammation and the initiation/progression of cancer, exploring potential impacts on other diseases. Additionally, we discuss the modalities of currently available therapeutic options for chronic inflammation and cancer, emphasizing the dual nature of such therapies. A thorough understanding of the molecular basis of chronic inflammation is crucial for developing novel approaches in the prevention and treatment of cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Queenie Fernandes
- Translational Cancer Research Facility, National Center for Cancer Care and Research, Translational Research Institute, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar; College of Medicine, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar
| | - Varghese Philipose Inchakalody
- Translational Cancer Research Facility, National Center for Cancer Care and Research, Translational Research Institute, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar
| | - Takwa Bedhiafi
- Translational Cancer Research Facility, National Center for Cancer Care and Research, Translational Research Institute, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar
| | - Sarra Mestiri
- Translational Cancer Research Facility, National Center for Cancer Care and Research, Translational Research Institute, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar
| | - Nassiba Taib
- Translational Cancer Research Facility, National Center for Cancer Care and Research, Translational Research Institute, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar
| | - Shahab Uddin
- Translational Research Institute and Dermatology Institute, Academic Health System, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar; Laboratory Animal Research Center, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar
| | - Maysaloun Merhi
- Translational Cancer Research Facility, National Center for Cancer Care and Research, Translational Research Institute, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar.
| | - Said Dermime
- Translational Cancer Research Facility, National Center for Cancer Care and Research, Translational Research Institute, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar; College of Health and Life Sciences, Hamad Bin Khalifa University, Doha, Qatar.
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36
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Xu M, Zhao X, Wen T, Qu X. Unveiling the role of KRAS in tumor immune microenvironment. Biomed Pharmacother 2024; 171:116058. [PMID: 38171240 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2023.116058] [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: 10/09/2023] [Revised: 12/03/2023] [Accepted: 12/14/2023] [Indexed: 01/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Kirsten rats sarcoma viral oncogene (KRAS), the first discovered human oncogene, has long been recognized as "undruggable". KRAS mutations frequently occur in multiple human cancers including non-small cell lung cancer(NSCLC), colorectal cancer(CRC) and pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma(PDAC), functioning as a "molecule switch" determining the activation of various oncogenic signaling pathways. Except for its intrinsic pro-tumorigenic role, KRAS alteration also exhibits an unique immune signature characterized by elevated PD-L1 level and high tumor mutational burden(TMB). KRAS mutation shape an immune suppressive microenvironment by impeding effective T cells infiltration and recruiting suppressive immune cells including myeloid-derived suppressor cells(MDSCs), regulatory T cells(Tregs), cancer associated fibroblasts(CAFs). In immune checkpoint inhibitor(ICI) era, NSCLC patients with mutated KRAS tend to be more responsive to ICI than patients with intact KRAS. The hallmark for KRAS mutation is the existence of multiple kinds of co-mutations. Different types of co-alterations have distinct tumor microenvironment(TME) signatures and responses to ICI. TP53 co-mutation possess a "hot" TME and achieve higher response to immunotherapy while other loss of function mutation correlated with a "colder" TME and a poor outcome to ICI-based therapy. The groundbreaking discovery of KRAS G12C inhibitors significantly improved outcomes for this KRAS subtype even though efficacy was limited to NSCLC patients. KRAS G12C inhibitors also restore the suppressive TME, creating an opportunity for combinations with ICI. However, an inevitable challenge to KRAS inhibitors is drug resistance. Promising combination strategies such as combination with SHP2 is an approach deserve further exploration because of their immune modulatory effect.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miao Xu
- Department of Medical Oncology, the First Hospital of China Medical University, 155 North Nanjing Street, Shenyang, Liaoning, China; Key Laboratory of Anticancer Drugs and Biotherapy of Liaoning Provinces, The First Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, China; Clinical Cancer Research Center of Shenyang, the First Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China; Key Laboratory of Precision Diagnosis and Treatment of Gastrointestinal Tumors, Ministry of Education, Shenyang, Liaoning, China
| | - Xing Zhao
- Department of Pediatrics, the First Hospital of China Medical University, 155 North Nanjing Street, Shenyang, Liaoning, China
| | - Ti Wen
- Department of Medical Oncology, the First Hospital of China Medical University, 155 North Nanjing Street, Shenyang, Liaoning, China; Key Laboratory of Anticancer Drugs and Biotherapy of Liaoning Provinces, The First Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, China; Clinical Cancer Research Center of Shenyang, the First Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China; Key Laboratory of Precision Diagnosis and Treatment of Gastrointestinal Tumors, Ministry of Education, Shenyang, Liaoning, China
| | - Xiujuan Qu
- Department of Medical Oncology, the First Hospital of China Medical University, 155 North Nanjing Street, Shenyang, Liaoning, China; Key Laboratory of Anticancer Drugs and Biotherapy of Liaoning Provinces, The First Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, China; Clinical Cancer Research Center of Shenyang, the First Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China; Key Laboratory of Precision Diagnosis and Treatment of Gastrointestinal Tumors, Ministry of Education, Shenyang, Liaoning, China.
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Chi ZC. Progress in understanding of relationship between inflammation and tumors. Shijie Huaren Xiaohua Zazhi 2024; 32:23-40. [DOI: 10.11569/wcjd.v32.i1.23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2023] [Revised: 12/05/2023] [Accepted: 01/11/2024] [Indexed: 01/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Over the past decade, there has been clear evidence that inflammation plays a key role in tumorigenesis. Tumor extrinsic inflammation is caused by many factors, including bacterial and viral infections, autoimmune diseases, obesity, smoking, excessive alcohol consumption, etc., all of which can increase cancer risk and stimulate malignant progression. Conversely, inflammation inherent in cancer or caused by cancer can be triggered by cancer-initiating mutations and can promote malignant progression through recruitment and activation of inflammatory cells. Both exogenous and endogenous inflammation can lead to immunosuppression, thus providing a preferred opportunity for tumor development. Studies have confirmed that chronic inflammation is involved in various steps of tumorigenesis, including cell transformation, promotion, survival, prolifer-ation, invasion, angiogenesis, and metastasis. Recent research has shed new light on the molecular and cellular circuits between inflammation and cancer. Two pathways have been preliminarily identified: Intrinsic and extrinsic. In the intrinsic pathway, genetic events leading to tumors initiate the expression of inflammatory related programs and guide the construction of the inflammatory microenvironment. In the extrinsic pathway, inflammatory conditions promote the development of cancer. This article reviews the recent progress in the understanding of the relationship between inflammation and tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhao-Chun Chi
- Department of Gastroenterology, Qingdao Municipal Hospital, Qingdao 266011, Shandong Province, China
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McMahon DJ, McLaughlin R, Naidoo J. Is Immunotherapy Beneficial in Patients with Oncogene-Addicted Non-Small Cell Lung Cancers? A Narrative Review. Cancers (Basel) 2024; 16:527. [PMID: 38339280 PMCID: PMC10854575 DOI: 10.3390/cancers16030527] [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: 09/23/2023] [Revised: 01/10/2024] [Accepted: 01/17/2024] [Indexed: 02/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Over the past 20 years, there has been a paradigm shift in the care of patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), who now have a range of systemic treatment options including targeted therapy, chemotherapy, immunotherapy (ICI), and antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs). A proportion of these cancers have single identifiable alterations in oncogenes that drive their proliferation and cancer progression, known as "oncogene-addiction". These "driver alterations" are identified in approximately two thirds of patients with lung adenocarcinomas, via next generation sequencing or other orthogonal tests. It was noted in the early clinical development of ICIs that patients with oncogene-addicted NSCLC may have differential responses to ICI. The toxicity signal for patients with oncogene-addicted NSCLC when treated with ICIs also seemed to differ depending on the alteration present and the specific targeted agent used. Developing a greater understanding of the underlying reasons for these clinical observations has become an important area of research in NSCLC. In this review, we analyze the efficacy and safety of ICI according to specific mutations, and consider possible future directions to mitigate safety concerns and improve the outcomes for patients with oncogene-addicted NSCLC.
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Affiliation(s)
- David John McMahon
- Trinity St James’s Cancer Institute, St. James’s Hospital, James’s Street, D08 NHY1 Dublin, Ireland
| | | | - Jarushka Naidoo
- Department of Oncology, Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
- Beaumont RCSI Cancer Centre, D09 V2NO Dublin, Ireland
- RCSI University of Health Sciences, D02 YN77 Dublin, Ireland
- Beaumont Hospital, D09 Y177 Dublin, Ireland
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Rahman M, Nguyen TM, Lee GJ, Kim B, Park MK, Lee CH. Unraveling the Role of Ras Homolog Enriched in Brain (Rheb1 and Rheb2): Bridging Neuronal Dynamics and Cancer Pathogenesis through Mechanistic Target of Rapamycin Signaling. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:1489. [PMID: 38338768 PMCID: PMC10855792 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25031489] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2023] [Revised: 01/14/2024] [Accepted: 01/17/2024] [Indexed: 02/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Ras homolog enriched in brain (Rheb1 and Rheb2), small GTPases, play a crucial role in regulating neuronal activity and have gained attention for their implications in cancer development, particularly in breast cancer. This study delves into the intricate connection between the multifaceted functions of Rheb1 in neurons and cancer, with a specific focus on the mTOR pathway. It aims to elucidate Rheb1's involvement in pivotal cellular processes such as proliferation, apoptosis resistance, migration, invasion, metastasis, and inflammatory responses while acknowledging that Rheb2 has not been extensively studied. Despite the recognized associations, a comprehensive understanding of the intricate interplay between Rheb1 and Rheb2 and their roles in both nerve and cancer remains elusive. This review consolidates current knowledge regarding the impact of Rheb1 on cancer hallmarks and explores the potential of Rheb1 as a therapeutic target in cancer treatment. It emphasizes the necessity for a deeper comprehension of the molecular mechanisms underlying Rheb1-mediated oncogenic processes, underscoring the existing gaps in our understanding. Additionally, the review highlights the exploration of Rheb1 inhibitors as a promising avenue for cancer therapy. By shedding light on the complicated roles between Rheb1/Rheb2 and cancer, this study provides valuable insights to the scientific community. These insights are instrumental in guiding the identification of novel targets and advancing the development of effective therapeutic strategies for treating cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mostafizur Rahman
- College of Pharmacy, Dongguk University, Seoul 04620, Republic of Korea; (M.R.); (G.J.L.)
| | - Tuan Minh Nguyen
- College of Pharmacy, Dongguk University, Seoul 04620, Republic of Korea; (M.R.); (G.J.L.)
| | - Gi Jeong Lee
- College of Pharmacy, Dongguk University, Seoul 04620, Republic of Korea; (M.R.); (G.J.L.)
| | - Boram Kim
- College of Pharmacy, Dongguk University, Seoul 04620, Republic of Korea; (M.R.); (G.J.L.)
| | - Mi Kyung Park
- Department of BioHealthcare, Hwasung Medi-Science University, Hwaseong-si 18274, Republic of Korea
| | - Chang Hoon Lee
- College of Pharmacy, Dongguk University, Seoul 04620, Republic of Korea; (M.R.); (G.J.L.)
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40
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Hamel Z, Sanchez S, Standing D, Anant S. Role of STAT3 in pancreatic cancer. EXPLORATION OF TARGETED ANTI-TUMOR THERAPY 2024; 5:20-34. [PMID: 38464736 PMCID: PMC10918236 DOI: 10.37349/etat.2024.00202] [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: 07/27/2023] [Accepted: 11/22/2023] [Indexed: 03/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Pancreatic cancer remains a serious and deadly disease, impacting people globally. There remain prominent gaps in the current understanding of the disease, specifically regarding the role of the signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT) family of proteins in pancreatic tumors. STAT proteins, particularly STAT3, play important roles in pancreatic cancer, especially pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), which is the most prevalent histotype. The role of STAT3 across a continuum of molecular processes, such as PDAC tumorigenesis and progression, immune escape, drug resistance and stemness, and modulation of the tumor microenvironment (TME), are only a tip of the iceberg. In some ways, the role of STAT3 in PDAC may hold greater importance than that of oncogenic Kirsten rat sarcoma virus (KRAS). This makes STAT3 a highly attractive target for developing targeted therapies for the treatment of pancreatic cancer. In this review, the current knowledge of STAT3 in pancreatic cancer has been summarized, particularly relating to STAT3 activation in cancer cells, cells of the TME, and the state of targeting STAT3 in pre-clinical and clinical trials of PDAC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zachary Hamel
- Department of Cancer Biology, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS 66160, USA
| | - Sierra Sanchez
- Department of Cancer Biology, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS 66160, USA
| | - David Standing
- Department of Cancer Biology, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS 66160, USA
| | - Shrikant Anant
- Department of Cancer Biology, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS 66160, USA
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41
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Zhou C, Li W, Liang Z, Wu X, Cheng S, Peng J, Zeng K, Li W, Lan P, Yang X, Xiong L, Zeng Z, Zheng X, Huang L, Fan W, Liu Z, Xing Y, Kang L, Liu H. Mutant KRAS-activated circATXN7 fosters tumor immunoescape by sensitizing tumor-specific T cells to activation-induced cell death. Nat Commun 2024; 15:499. [PMID: 38216551 PMCID: PMC10786880 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-44779-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2023] [Accepted: 01/05/2024] [Indexed: 01/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Mutant KRAS (KRASMUT) is often exploited by cancers to shape tumor immunity, but the underlying mechanisms are not fully understood. Here we report that tumor-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) from KRASMUT cancers are sensitive to activation-induced cell death (AICD). circATXN7, an NF-κB-interacting circular RNA, governs T cell sensitivity to AICD by inactivating NF-κB. Mechanistically, histone lactylation derived from KRASMUT tumor cell-produced lactic acid directly activates transcription of circATXN7, which binds to NF-κB p65 subunit and masks the p65 nuclear localization signal motif, thereby sequestering it in the cytoplasm. Clinically, circATXN7 upregulation in tumor-specific CTLs correlates with adverse clinical outcomes and immunotherapeutic resistance. Genetic ablation of circAtxn7 in CD8+ T cells leads to mutant-selective tumor inhibition, while also increases anti-PD1 efficacy in multiple tumor models in female mice. Furthermore, targeting circATXN7 in adoptively transferred tumor-reactive CTLs improves their antitumor activities. These findings provide insight into how lymphocyte-expressed circRNAs contribute to T-cell fate decisions and anticancer immunotherapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chi Zhou
- Department of Colorectal Surgery, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, China
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, China
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, China
| | - Wenxin Li
- Department of General Surgery (Colorectal Surgery), The Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Colorectal and Pelvic Floor Diseases, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
- Biomedical Innovation Center, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Zhenxing Liang
- Department of General Surgery (Colorectal Surgery), The Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Colorectal and Pelvic Floor Diseases, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
- Biomedical Innovation Center, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Xianrui Wu
- Department of General Surgery (Colorectal Surgery), The Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Colorectal and Pelvic Floor Diseases, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
- Biomedical Innovation Center, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Sijing Cheng
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Colorectal and Pelvic Floor Diseases, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Jianhong Peng
- Department of Colorectal Surgery, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, China
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, China
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, China
| | - Kaixuan Zeng
- Precision Medical Research Institute, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi' an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China
| | - Weihao Li
- Department of Colorectal Surgery, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, China
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, China
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, China
| | - Ping Lan
- Department of General Surgery (Colorectal Surgery), The Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Colorectal and Pelvic Floor Diseases, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
- Biomedical Innovation Center, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Xin Yang
- Department of General Surgery (Colorectal Surgery), The Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Colorectal and Pelvic Floor Diseases, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
- Biomedical Innovation Center, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Li Xiong
- Department of General Surgery (Colorectal Surgery), The Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Colorectal and Pelvic Floor Diseases, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
- Biomedical Innovation Center, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Ziwei Zeng
- Department of General Surgery (Colorectal Surgery), The Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Colorectal and Pelvic Floor Diseases, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
- Biomedical Innovation Center, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Xiaobin Zheng
- Department of General Surgery (Colorectal Surgery), The Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Colorectal and Pelvic Floor Diseases, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
- Biomedical Innovation Center, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Liang Huang
- Department of General Surgery (Colorectal Surgery), The Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Colorectal and Pelvic Floor Diseases, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
- Biomedical Innovation Center, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Wenhua Fan
- Department of Colorectal Surgery, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, China
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, China
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, China
| | - Zhanzhen Liu
- Department of General Surgery (Colorectal Surgery), The Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Colorectal and Pelvic Floor Diseases, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
- Biomedical Innovation Center, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Yue Xing
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Epigenetics and Gene Regulation, Medical Research Center, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China.
- Breast Tumor Center, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China.
| | - Liang Kang
- Department of General Surgery (Colorectal Surgery), The Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China.
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Colorectal and Pelvic Floor Diseases, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China.
- Biomedical Innovation Center, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China.
| | - Huashan Liu
- Department of General Surgery (Colorectal Surgery), The Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China.
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Colorectal and Pelvic Floor Diseases, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China.
- Biomedical Innovation Center, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China.
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Digestive Cancer Research, the Seventh Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China.
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42
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Tripathi P, Kumari R, Pathak R. Drugging the undruggable: Advances in targeting KRAS signaling in solid tumors. INTERNATIONAL REVIEW OF CELL AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2024; 385:1-39. [PMID: 38663957 DOI: 10.1016/bs.ircmb.2023.11.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/15/2024]
Abstract
Cancer remains the leading cause of global mortality, prompting a paradigm shift in its treatment and outcomes with the advent of targeted therapies. Among the most prevalent mutations in RAS-driven cancers, Kirsten rat sarcoma viral oncogene homolog (KRAS) mutations account for approximately 86% of cases worldwide, particularly in lung, pancreatic, and colon cancers, contributing to poor prognosis and reduced overall survival. Despite numerous efforts to understand the biology of KRAS mutants and their pivotal role in cancer development, the lack of well-defined drug-binding pockets has deemed KRAS an "undruggable" therapeutic target, presenting significant challenges for researchers and clinicians alike. Through significant biochemical and technological advances, the last decade has witnessed promising breakthroughs in targeted therapies for KRAS-mutated lung, colon, and pancreatic cancers, marking a critical turning point in the field. In this chapter, we provide an overview of the characteristics of KRAS mutations across various solid tumors, highlighting ongoing cutting-edge research on the immune microenvironment, the development of KRAS-driven mice models, and the recent progress in the exploration of specific KRAS mutant-targeted therapeutic approaches. By comprehensive understanding of the intricacies of KRAS signaling in solid tumors and the latest therapeutic developments, this chapter will shed light on the potential for novel therapeutic strategies to combat KRAS-driven tumors and improve patient outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Prajna Tripathi
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, United States
| | - Rajni Kumari
- Department of Cell Biology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York, NY, United States.
| | - Rajiv Pathak
- Department of Genetics, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York, NY, United States.
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Caughey BA, Strickler JH. Targeting KRAS-Mutated Gastrointestinal Malignancies with Small-Molecule Inhibitors: A New Generation of Breakthrough Therapies. Drugs 2024; 84:27-44. [PMID: 38109010 DOI: 10.1007/s40265-023-01980-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/21/2023] [Indexed: 12/19/2023]
Abstract
Kirsten rat sarcoma virus (KRAS) is one of the most important and frequently mutated oncogenes in cancer and the mutational prevalence is especially high in many gastrointestinal malignancies, including colorectal cancer and pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. The KRAS protein is a small GTPase that functions as an "on/off" switch to activate downstream signaling, mainly through the mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway. KRAS was previously considered undruggable because of biochemical constraints; however, recent breakthroughs have enabled the development of small-molecule inhibitors of KRAS G12C. These drugs were initially approved in lung cancer and have now shown substantial clinical activity in KRAS G12C-mutated pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma as well as colorectal cancer when combined with anti-EGFR monoclonal antibodies. Early data are encouraging for other gastrointestinal cancers as well and many other combination strategies are being investigated. Several new KRAS G12C inhibitors and novel inhibitors of other KRAS alterations have recently entered the clinic. These molecules employ a variety of innovative mechanisms and have generated intense interest. These novel drugs are especially important as KRAS G12C is rare in gastrointestinal malignancies compared with other KRAS alterations, representing potentially groundbreaking advances. Soon, the rapidly evolving landscape of novel KRAS inhibitors may substantially shift the therapeutic landscape for gastrointestinal cancers and offer meaningful survival improvements.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bennett A Caughey
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, 55 Fruit Street, Boston, MA, 02114, USA.
| | - John H Strickler
- Division of Medical Oncology, Department of Medicine, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA
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Hurtado-Navarro L, Cuenca-Zamora EJ, Zamora L, Bellosillo B, Such E, Soler-Espejo E, Martínez-Banaclocha H, Hernández-Rivas JM, Marco-Ayala J, Martínez-Alarcón L, Linares-Latorre L, García-Ávila S, Amat-Martínez P, González T, Arnan M, Pomares-Marín H, Carreño-Tarragona G, Chen-Liang TH, Herranz MT, García-Palenciano C, Morales ML, Jerez A, Lozano ML, Teruel-Montoya R, Pelegrín P, Ferrer-Marín F. NLRP3 inflammasome activation and symptom burden in KRAS-mutated CMML patients is reverted by IL-1 blocking therapy. Cell Rep Med 2023; 4:101329. [PMID: 38118408 PMCID: PMC10772462 DOI: 10.1016/j.xcrm.2023.101329] [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: 06/22/2023] [Revised: 09/21/2023] [Accepted: 11/17/2023] [Indexed: 12/22/2023]
Abstract
Chronic myelomonocytic leukemia (CMML) is frequently associated with mutations in the rat sarcoma gene (RAS), leading to worse prognosis. RAS mutations result in active RAS-GTP proteins, favoring myeloid cell proliferation and survival and inducing the NLRP3 inflammasome together with the apoptosis-associated speck-like protein containing a caspase recruitment domain (ASC), which promote caspase-1 activation and interleukin (IL)-1β release. Here, we report, in a cohort of CMML patients with mutations in KRAS, a constitutive activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome in monocytes, evidenced by ASC oligomerization and IL-1β release, as well as a specific inflammatory cytokine signature. Treatment of a CMML patient with a KRASG12D mutation using the IL-1 receptor blocker anakinra inhibits NLRP3 inflammasome activation, reduces monocyte count, and improves the patient's clinical status, enabling a stem cell transplant. This reveals a basal inflammasome activation in RAS-mutated CMML patients and suggests potential therapeutic applications of NLRP3 and IL-1 blockers.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Ernesto José Cuenca-Zamora
- Biomedical Research Institute of Murcia (IMIB-Pascual Parrilla), Murcia, Spain; Hematology Department, Hospital Universitario Morales-Meseguer, Centro Regional de Hemodonación, Murcia, Spain; CIBERER CB15/00055 (U765), Murcia, Spain
| | - Lurdes Zamora
- Myeloid Neoplasms Group, Josep Carreras Leukaemia Research Institute, ICO-Hospital Germans Trias I Pujol, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Badalona, Spain
| | - Beatriz Bellosillo
- Molecular Biology Laboratory, Pathology Department, Hospital Del Mar, Hospital Del Mar Medical Research Institute, IMIM, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Esperanza Such
- Hematology Department, La Fe University Hospital, Valencia, Spain
| | - Eva Soler-Espejo
- Hematology Department, Hospital Universitario Morales-Meseguer, Centro Regional de Hemodonación, Murcia, Spain
| | - Helios Martínez-Banaclocha
- Biomedical Research Institute of Murcia (IMIB-Pascual Parrilla), Murcia, Spain; Immunology Service, Hospital Universitario Virgen de La Arrixaca, Murcia, Spain
| | - Jesús M Hernández-Rivas
- Department of Medicine, Universidad de Salamanca, Servicio de Hematología, Hospital Universitario de Salamanca, IBSAL, Salamanca, Spain
| | - Javier Marco-Ayala
- Hematology Department, Hospital Universitario Morales-Meseguer, Centro Regional de Hemodonación, Murcia, Spain
| | | | - Lola Linares-Latorre
- Service of Clinical Analysis and Microbiology, Fundación Instituto Valenciano de Oncología, Valencia, Spain
| | - Sara García-Ávila
- Department of Hematology, Hospital Del Mar, Barcelona, Spain; IMIM (Hospital Del Mar Medical Research Institute), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Paula Amat-Martínez
- Hematology Service, Clinic University Hospital, INCLIVA Health Research Institute, Valencia, Spain
| | - Teresa González
- Department of Medicine, Universidad de Salamanca, Servicio de Hematología, Hospital Universitario de Salamanca, IBSAL, Salamanca, Spain
| | - Montserrat Arnan
- Hematology Department, Institut Català D'Oncologia (ICO)-Hospital Duran I Reynals, IDIBELL, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Helena Pomares-Marín
- Hematology Department, Institut Català D'Oncologia (ICO)-Hospital Duran I Reynals, IDIBELL, Barcelona, Spain
| | | | - Tzu Hua Chen-Liang
- Hematology Department, Hospital Universitario Morales-Meseguer, Centro Regional de Hemodonación, Murcia, Spain
| | - María T Herranz
- Internal Medicine Service, Hospital Universitario Morales Meseguer, Murcia, Spain
| | - Carlos García-Palenciano
- Biomedical Research Institute of Murcia (IMIB-Pascual Parrilla), Murcia, Spain; Servicio de Anestesiología y Reanimación, Hospital Clínico Universitario Virgen de La Arrixaca, Murcia, Spain
| | - María Luz Morales
- Biomedical Research Institute of Murcia (IMIB-Pascual Parrilla), Murcia, Spain; Hematology Department, Hospital Universitario Morales-Meseguer, Centro Regional de Hemodonación, Murcia, Spain
| | - Andrés Jerez
- Biomedical Research Institute of Murcia (IMIB-Pascual Parrilla), Murcia, Spain; Hematology Department, Hospital Universitario Morales-Meseguer, Centro Regional de Hemodonación, Murcia, Spain; CIBERER CB15/00055 (U765), Murcia, Spain
| | - María L Lozano
- Biomedical Research Institute of Murcia (IMIB-Pascual Parrilla), Murcia, Spain; Hematology Department, Hospital Universitario Morales-Meseguer, Centro Regional de Hemodonación, Murcia, Spain; CIBERER CB15/00055 (U765), Murcia, Spain
| | - Raúl Teruel-Montoya
- Biomedical Research Institute of Murcia (IMIB-Pascual Parrilla), Murcia, Spain; Hematology Department, Hospital Universitario Morales-Meseguer, Centro Regional de Hemodonación, Murcia, Spain; CIBERER CB15/00055 (U765), Murcia, Spain; Universidad Católica San Antonio (UCAM), Murcia, Spain
| | - Pablo Pelegrín
- Biomedical Research Institute of Murcia (IMIB-Pascual Parrilla), Murcia, Spain; Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology B and Immunology, University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain.
| | - Francisca Ferrer-Marín
- Biomedical Research Institute of Murcia (IMIB-Pascual Parrilla), Murcia, Spain; Hematology Department, Hospital Universitario Morales-Meseguer, Centro Regional de Hemodonación, Murcia, Spain; CIBERER CB15/00055 (U765), Murcia, Spain; Universidad Católica San Antonio (UCAM), Murcia, Spain.
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45
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Kwantwi LB. Genetic alterations shape innate immune cells to foster immunosuppression and cancer immunotherapy resistance. Clin Exp Med 2023; 23:4289-4296. [PMID: 37910258 DOI: 10.1007/s10238-023-01240-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2023] [Accepted: 10/26/2023] [Indexed: 11/03/2023]
Abstract
Cancer immunotherapy, particularly immune checkpoint inhibitors, has opened a new avenue for cancer treatment following the durable clinical benefits. Despite the clinical successes across several cancer types, primary or acquired resistance might eventually lead to cancer progression in patients with clinical responses. Hence, to broaden the clinical applicability of these treatments, a detailed understanding of the mechanisms limiting the efficacy of cancer immunotherapy is needed. Evidence provided thus far has implicated immunosuppressive innate immune cells infiltrating the tumor microenvironment as key players in immunotherapy resistance. According to the available data, genetic alterations can shape the innate immune response to promote immunotherapy resistance and tumor progression. Herein, this review has discussed the current understanding of the underlying mechanisms where genetic alterations modulate the innate immune milieu to drive immunosuppression and immunotherapy resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Louis Boafo Kwantwi
- Department of Pathology, Beckman Research Institute, City of Hope National Medical Center, Duarte, California, USA.
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46
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Gehl V, O'Rourke CJ, Andersen JB. Immunogenomics of cholangiocarcinoma. Hepatology 2023:01515467-990000000-00649. [PMID: 37972940 DOI: 10.1097/hep.0000000000000688] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2023] [Accepted: 10/16/2023] [Indexed: 11/19/2023]
Abstract
The development of cholangiocarcinoma spans years, if not decades, during which the immune system becomes corrupted and permissive to primary tumor development and metastasis. This involves subversion of local immunity at tumor sites, as well as systemic immunity and the wider host response. While immune dysfunction is a hallmark of all cholangiocarcinoma, the specific steps of the cancer-immunity cycle that are perturbed differ between patients. Heterogeneous immune functionality impacts the evolutionary development, pathobiological behavior, and therapeutic response of these tumors. Integrative genomic analyses of thousands of primary tumors have supported a biological rationale for immune-based stratification of patients, encompassing immune cell composition and functionality. However, discerning immune alterations responsible for promoting tumor initiation, maintenance, and progression from those present as bystander events remains challenging. Functionally uncoupling the tumor-promoting or tumor-suppressing roles of immune profiles will be critical for identifying new immunomodulatory treatment strategies and associated biomarkers for patient stratification. This review will discuss the immunogenomics of cholangiocarcinoma, including the impact of genomic alterations on immune functionality, subversion of the cancer-immunity cycle, as well as clinical implications for existing and novel treatment strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Virag Gehl
- Department of Health and Medical Sciences, Biotech Research and Innovation Centre (BRIC), University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
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47
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Luo W, Wang J, Chen H, Qiu J, Wang R, Liu Y, Su D, Tao J, Weng G, Ma H, Zhang T. Novel strategies optimize immunotherapy by improving the cytotoxic function of T cells for pancreatic cancer treatment. Cancer Lett 2023; 576:216423. [PMID: 37778682 DOI: 10.1016/j.canlet.2023.216423] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2023] [Revised: 09/19/2023] [Accepted: 09/29/2023] [Indexed: 10/03/2023]
Abstract
Pancreatic cancer (PC) is considered highly malignant due to its unsatisfying prognosis and limited response to therapies. Immunotherapy has therefore been developed to harness the antigen-specific properties and cytotoxicity of the immune system, aiming to induce a robust anti-tumor immune response that specifically demolishes PC cells while minimizing lethality in healthy tissue. The activation and augmentation of cytotoxic T cells play a critical role in the initiation and final success of immunotherapy. PC, however, is often immunotherapy resistant due to its intrinsic immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment that consequently hampers effective T cell priming. Emerging therapeutic approaches are orientated to modulate the tumor microenvironment in PC to enhance immune system involvement and heighten T cell efficacy. These novel strategies have shown promising therapeutic effects in the treatment of PC either as standalone approaches or combinatorial with other therapeutic schemes. The objective of this article is to explore innovative approaches to optimize immunotherapy for PC patients through T cell cytotoxic function augmentation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenhao Luo
- Department of General Surgery, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100730, China.
| | - Jun Wang
- Department of General Surgery, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100730, China
| | - Hao Chen
- Department of General Surgery, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100730, China
| | - Jiangdong Qiu
- Department of General Surgery, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100730, China
| | - Ruobing Wang
- Department of General Surgery, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100730, China
| | - Yueze Liu
- Department of General Surgery, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100730, China
| | - Dan Su
- Department of General Surgery, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100730, China
| | - Jinxin Tao
- Department of General Surgery, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100730, China
| | - Guihu Weng
- Department of General Surgery, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100730, China
| | - Haowei Ma
- Clinical Medicine, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Taiping Zhang
- Department of General Surgery, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100730, China; Clinical Immunology Center, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100730, China.
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48
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Dey DK, Krause D, Rai R, Choudhary S, Dockery LE, Chandra V. The role and participation of immune cells in the endometrial tumor microenvironment. Pharmacol Ther 2023; 251:108526. [PMID: 37690483 DOI: 10.1016/j.pharmthera.2023.108526] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2023] [Revised: 08/28/2023] [Accepted: 08/30/2023] [Indexed: 09/12/2023]
Abstract
The tumor microenvironment is surrounded by blood vessels and consists of malignant, non-malignant, and immune cells, as well as signalling molecules, which primarily affect the therapeutic response and curative effects of drugs in clinical studies. Tumor-infiltrating immune cells participate in tumor progression, impact anticancer therapy, and eventually lead to the development of immune tolerance. Immunotherapy is evolving as a promising therapeutic intervention to stimulate and activate the immune system to suppress cancer cell growth. Endometrial cancer (EC) is an immunogenic disease, and in recent years, immunotherapy has shown benefit in the treatment of recurrent and advanced EC. This review discusses the key molecular pathways associated with the intra-tumoral immune response and the involvement of circulatory signalling molecules. Specific immunologic signatures in EC which offer targets for immunomodulating agents, are also discussed. We have summarized the available literature in support of using immunotherapy in EC. Lastly, we have also discussed ongoing clinical trials that may offer additional promising immunotherapy options in the future. The manuscript also explored innovative approaches for screening and identifying effective drugs, and to reduce the financial burdens for the development of personalized treatment strategies. Collectively, we aim to provide a comprehensive review of the role of immune cells and the tumor microenvironment in the development, progression, and treatment of EC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Debasish Kumar Dey
- Gynecologic Oncology Section, Obstetrics and Gynecology Department, Stephenson Cancer Center, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK 73104, USA
| | - Danielle Krause
- Gynecologic Oncology Section, Obstetrics and Gynecology Department, Stephenson Cancer Center, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK 73104, USA
| | - Rajani Rai
- Gynecologic Oncology Section, Obstetrics and Gynecology Department, Stephenson Cancer Center, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK 73104, USA
| | - Swati Choudhary
- Gynecologic Oncology Section, Obstetrics and Gynecology Department, Stephenson Cancer Center, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK 73104, USA
| | - Lauren E Dockery
- Gynecologic Oncology Section, Obstetrics and Gynecology Department, Stephenson Cancer Center, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK 73104, USA
| | - Vishal Chandra
- Gynecologic Oncology Section, Obstetrics and Gynecology Department, Stephenson Cancer Center, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK 73104, USA.
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49
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Jagadeeshan S, Novoplansky OZ, Cohen O, Kurth I, Hess J, Rosenberg AJ, Grandis JR, Elkabets M. New insights into RAS in head and neck cancer. Biochim Biophys Acta Rev Cancer 2023; 1878:188963. [PMID: 37619805 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbcan.2023.188963] [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: 06/29/2023] [Revised: 08/15/2023] [Accepted: 08/15/2023] [Indexed: 08/26/2023]
Abstract
RAS genes are known to be dysregulated in cancer for several decades, and substantial effort has been dedicated to develop agents that reduce RAS expression or block RAS activation. The recent introduction of RAS inhibitors for cancer patients highlights the importance of comprehending RAS alterations in head and neck cancer (HNC). In this regard, we examine the published findings on RAS alterations and pathway activations in HNC, and summarize their role in HNC initiation, progression, and metastasis. Specifically, we focus on the intrinsic role of mutated-RAS on tumor cell signaling and its extrinsic role in determining tumor-microenvironment (TME) heterogeneity, including promoting angiogenesis and enhancing immune escape. Lastly, we summarize the intrinsic and extrinsic role of RAS alterations on therapy resistance to outline the potential of targeting RAS using a single agent or in combination with other therapeutic agents for HNC patients with RAS-activated tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sankar Jagadeeshan
- The Shraga Segal Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Genetics, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, P.O.B. 653, Beer-Sheva 8410501, Israel; Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, P.O.B. 653, Beer-Sheva 8410501, Israel.
| | - Ofra Z Novoplansky
- The Shraga Segal Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Genetics, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, P.O.B. 653, Beer-Sheva 8410501, Israel; Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, P.O.B. 653, Beer-Sheva 8410501, Israel.
| | - Oded Cohen
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, P.O.B. 653, Beer-Sheva 8410501, Israel; Department of Otolaryngology- Head and Neck Surgery and Oncology, Soroka Medical Center, Beersheva, Israel.
| | - Ina Kurth
- Division of Radiooncology-Radiobiology, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany.
| | - Jochen Hess
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Heidelberg University Hospital, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany; Molecular Mechanisms of Head and Neck Tumors, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), 69120 Heidelberg, Germany.
| | - Ari J Rosenberg
- Department of Medicine, Section of Hematology and Oncology, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA.
| | - Jennifer R Grandis
- Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA.
| | - Moshe Elkabets
- The Shraga Segal Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Genetics, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, P.O.B. 653, Beer-Sheva 8410501, Israel; Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, P.O.B. 653, Beer-Sheva 8410501, Israel.
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50
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Matteucci L, Bittoni A, Gallo G, Ridolfi L, Passardi A. Immunocheckpoint Inhibitors in Microsatellite-Stable or Proficient Mismatch Repair Metastatic Colorectal Cancer: Are We Entering a New Era? Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:5189. [PMID: 37958363 PMCID: PMC10648369 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15215189] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2023] [Revised: 10/21/2023] [Accepted: 10/26/2023] [Indexed: 11/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most frequent cancer and the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths in Europe. About 5% of metastatic CRC (mCRC) are characterized by high microsatellite instability (MSI) due to a deficient DNA mismatch repair (dMMR), and this condition has been related to a high sensitivity to immunotherapy, in particular to the Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors (ICIs). In fact, in MSI-H or dMMR mCRC, treatment with ICIs induced remarkable response rates and prolonged survival. However, the majority of mCRC cases are mismatch-repair-proficient (pMMR) and microsatellite-stable (MSS), and unfortunately these conditions involve resistance to ICIs. This review aims to provide an overview of the strategies implemented to overcome ICI resistance and/or define subgroups of patients with MSS or dMMR mCRC who may benefit from immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Matteucci
- Department of Medical Oncology, IRCCS Istituto Romagnolo per lo Studio dei Tumori (IRST) “Dino Amadori”, 47014 Meldola, Italy
| | - Alessandro Bittoni
- Department of Medical Oncology, IRCCS Istituto Romagnolo per lo Studio dei Tumori (IRST) “Dino Amadori”, 47014 Meldola, Italy
| | - Graziana Gallo
- Operative Unit of Pathologic Anatomy, Azienda USL della Romagna, “Maurizio Bufalini” Hospital, 47521 Cesena, Italy
| | - Laura Ridolfi
- Department of Medical Oncology, IRCCS Istituto Romagnolo per lo Studio dei Tumori (IRST) “Dino Amadori”, 47014 Meldola, Italy
| | - Alessandro Passardi
- Department of Medical Oncology, IRCCS Istituto Romagnolo per lo Studio dei Tumori (IRST) “Dino Amadori”, 47014 Meldola, Italy
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