1
|
Chen B, Deng Y, Ren X, Zhao J, Jiang C. CRISPR/Cas9 screening: unraveling cancer immunotherapy's 'Rosetta Stone'. Trends Mol Med 2024; 30:736-749. [PMID: 38763850 DOI: 10.1016/j.molmed.2024.04.014] [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: 02/19/2024] [Revised: 04/10/2024] [Accepted: 04/19/2024] [Indexed: 05/21/2024]
Abstract
Clustered regularly interspaced palindromic repeats (CRISPR)-based technology, a powerful toolset for the unbiased functional genomic screening of biological processes, has facilitated several scientific breakthroughs in the biomedical field. Cancer immunotherapy has advanced the treatment of numerous malignancies that previously had restricted treatment options or unfavorable outcomes. In the realm of cancer immunotherapy, the application of CRISPR/CRISPR-associated protein 9 (Cas9)-based genetic perturbation screening has enabled the identification of genes, biomarkers, and signaling pathways that govern various cancer immunoreactivities, as well as the development of effective immunotherapeutic targets. In this review, we summarize the advances in CRISPR/Cas9-based screening for cancer immunotherapy and outline the immunotherapeutic targets identified via CRISPR screening based on cancer-type classification.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Baoxiang Chen
- Department of Colorectal and Anal Surgery, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, China; Hubei Key Laboratory of Intestinal and Colorectal Diseases, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, China; Clinical Center of Intestinal and Colorectal Diseases of Hubei Province, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, China; Rosalind and Morris Goodman Cancer Institute, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3G 0B1, Canada
| | - Yanrong Deng
- Department of Colorectal and Anal Surgery, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, China; Hubei Key Laboratory of Intestinal and Colorectal Diseases, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, China; Clinical Center of Intestinal and Colorectal Diseases of Hubei Province, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, China
| | - Xianghai Ren
- Department of Colorectal and Anal Surgery, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, China; Hubei Key Laboratory of Intestinal and Colorectal Diseases, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, China; Clinical Center of Intestinal and Colorectal Diseases of Hubei Province, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, China.
| | - Jianhong Zhao
- Department of Colorectal and Anal Surgery, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, China; Hubei Key Laboratory of Intestinal and Colorectal Diseases, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, China; Clinical Center of Intestinal and Colorectal Diseases of Hubei Province, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, China.
| | - Congqing Jiang
- Department of Colorectal and Anal Surgery, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, China; Hubei Key Laboratory of Intestinal and Colorectal Diseases, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, China; Clinical Center of Intestinal and Colorectal Diseases of Hubei Province, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, China.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Shi M, Zeng D, Luo H, Xiao J, Li Y, Yuan X, Huang N, Wu J, Zheng S, Wu J, Li S, Rong X, Wang C, Jiang L, Mao Q, Qiu W, Guo J, Deng Q, Sun H, Lu X, Yu Y, Lai Y, Fang Y, Zhou R, Wang L, Huang X, Kong Y, Li J, Liang L, Bin J, Liao Y, Liao W. Tumor microenvironment RNA test to predict immunotherapy outcomes in advanced gastric cancer: The TIMES001 trial. MED 2024:S2666-6340(24)00288-5. [PMID: 39089261 DOI: 10.1016/j.medj.2024.07.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2024] [Revised: 06/07/2024] [Accepted: 07/06/2024] [Indexed: 08/03/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Clinical trials support the efficacy of immune checkpoint blockades (ICBs) plus chemotherapy in a subset of patients with metastatic gastric cancer (mGC). To identify the determinants of response, we developed a TMEscore model to assess tumor microenvironment (TME), which was previously proven to be a biomarker for ICBs. METHODS A reference database of TMEscore assays was established using PCR assay kits containing 30 TME genes. This multi-center prospective clinical trial (NCT#04850716) included patients with mGC who were administered ICB combined with chemotherapy as a first-line regimen. Eighty-six tumor samples extracted from five medical centers before treatment were used to estimate the TMEscore, PD-L1 (CPS), and mismatch repair deficiency. FINDINGS The objective response rate (ORR) and median PFS of the cohort were 31.4% and six months. Enhanced ORR was observed in TMEscore-high mGC patients (ORR = 59%). The survival analysis demonstrated that high TMEscore was significantly associated with a more favorable PFS and OS. Moreover, TMEscore was found to be a predictive biomarker that surpassed MSI and CPS (AUC = 0.873, 0.511, and 0.524, respectively). By integrating the TMEscore and clinical variables, the fused model further enhances the predictive efficiency and translational application in a clinical setting. CONCLUSIONS This prospective clinical study indicates that the TMEscore assay is a robust biomarker for screening patients with mGC who may derive survival benefits from ICB plus chemotherapy. FUNDING Guangdong Basic and Applied Basic Research Foundation (2023A1515011214), Science and Technology Program of Guangzhou (202206080011), and Guangzhou Science and Technology Project (2023A03J0722 and 2023A04J2357).
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Min Shi
- Department of Oncology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, P.R. China
| | - Dongqiang Zeng
- Department of Oncology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, P.R. China
| | - Huiyan Luo
- Department of Medical Oncology, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510060, P.R. China
| | - Jian Xiao
- Department of Medical Oncology, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital (Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences), Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, P.R. China
| | - Yongqiang Li
- Department of Medical Oncology, Guangxi Medical University Cancer Hospital, 71 Hedi Road, Nanning 530021, China
| | - Xia Yuan
- Department of Medical Oncology, Huizhou First Hospital, Huizhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Na Huang
- Department of Oncology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, P.R. China
| | - Jiani Wu
- Department of Oncology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, P.R. China
| | - Siting Zheng
- Department of Oncology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, P.R. China
| | - Jianhua Wu
- Department of Oncology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, P.R. China
| | - Shaowei Li
- Department of Oncology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, P.R. China
| | - Xiaoxiang Rong
- Department of Oncology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, P.R. China
| | - Chunlin Wang
- Department of Oncology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, P.R. China
| | - Luyang Jiang
- Department of Oncology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, P.R. China
| | - Qianqian Mao
- Department of Oncology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, P.R. China
| | - Wenjun Qiu
- Department of Oncology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, P.R. China
| | - Jian Guo
- Department of Oncology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, P.R. China
| | - Qiong Deng
- Department of Oncology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, P.R. China
| | - Huiying Sun
- Department of Oncology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, P.R. China
| | - Xiansheng Lu
- Department of Pathology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, P.R. China
| | - Yunfang Yu
- Department of Medical Oncology, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China; Faculty of Medicine, Macau University of Science and Technology, Taipa, Macao, P.R. China
| | - Yonghong Lai
- Department of Oncology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, P.R. China
| | - Yiran Fang
- Department of Oncology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, P.R. China
| | - Rui Zhou
- Department of Oncology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, P.R. China
| | - Ling Wang
- Department of Oncology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, P.R. China
| | - Xiatong Huang
- Department of Oncology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, P.R. China
| | - Yuyun Kong
- Department of Oncology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, P.R. China
| | - Jun Li
- Department of Medical Oncology, Huizhou First Hospital, Huizhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Li Liang
- Department of Pathology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, P.R. China
| | - Jianping Bin
- Department of Cardiology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, P.R. China
| | - Yulin Liao
- Department of Cardiology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, P.R. China
| | - Wangjun Liao
- Department of Oncology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, P.R. China; Cancer Center, the Sixth Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, South China University of Technology, Foshan, China; Foshan Key Laboratory of Translational Medicine in Oncology, the Sixth Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, South China University of Technology, Foshan, China.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Liu B, Zhou H, Tan L, Siu KTH, Guan XY. Exploring treatment options in cancer: Tumor treatment strategies. Signal Transduct Target Ther 2024; 9:175. [PMID: 39013849 PMCID: PMC11252281 DOI: 10.1038/s41392-024-01856-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2024] [Revised: 04/24/2024] [Accepted: 04/29/2024] [Indexed: 07/18/2024] Open
Abstract
Traditional therapeutic approaches such as chemotherapy and radiation therapy have burdened cancer patients with onerous physical and psychological challenges. Encouragingly, the landscape of tumor treatment has undergone a comprehensive and remarkable transformation. Emerging as fervently pursued modalities are small molecule targeted agents, antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs), cell-based therapies, and gene therapy. These cutting-edge treatment modalities not only afford personalized and precise tumor targeting, but also provide patients with enhanced therapeutic comfort and the potential to impede disease progression. Nonetheless, it is acknowledged that these therapeutic strategies still harbour untapped potential for further advancement. Gaining a comprehensive understanding of the merits and limitations of these treatment modalities holds the promise of offering novel perspectives for clinical practice and foundational research endeavours. In this review, we discussed the different treatment modalities, including small molecule targeted drugs, peptide drugs, antibody drugs, cell therapy, and gene therapy. It will provide a detailed explanation of each method, addressing their status of development, clinical challenges, and potential solutions. The aim is to assist clinicians and researchers in gaining a deeper understanding of these diverse treatment options, enabling them to carry out effective treatment and advance their research more efficiently.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Beilei Liu
- Department of Clinical Oncology, The University of Hong Kong-Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen, China
- Department of Clinical Oncology, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
- State Key Laboratory for Liver Research, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Hongyu Zhou
- Department of Clinical Oncology, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Licheng Tan
- Department of Clinical Oncology, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Kin To Hugo Siu
- Department of Clinical Oncology, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Xin-Yuan Guan
- Department of Clinical Oncology, The University of Hong Kong-Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen, China.
- Department of Clinical Oncology, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
- State Key Laboratory for Liver Research, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
- Advanced Energy Science and Technology Guangdong Laboratory, Huizhou, China.
- MOE Key Laboratory of Tumor Molecular Biology, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China.
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Delgado M, Gallegos Z, Stippec S, McGlynn K, Cobb MH, Whitehurst AW. Testis-specific serine kinase 6 (TSSK6) is abnormally expressed in colorectal cancer and promotes oncogenic behaviors. J Biol Chem 2024; 300:107380. [PMID: 38762178 PMCID: PMC11214309 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2024.107380] [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: 01/18/2024] [Revised: 05/02/2024] [Accepted: 05/08/2024] [Indexed: 05/20/2024] Open
Abstract
Cancer testis antigens (CTAs) are a collection of proteins whose expression is normally restricted to the gamete but abnormally activated in a wide variety of tumors. The CTA, Testis-specific serine kinase 6 (TSSK6), is essential for male fertility in mice. The functional relevance of TSSK6 to cancer, if any, has not previously been investigated. Here we find that TSSK6 is frequently anomalously expressed in colorectal cancer and patients with elevated TSSK6 expression have reduced relapse-free survival. Depletion of TSSK6 from colorectal cancer cells attenuates anchorage-independent growth, invasion, and growth in vivo. Conversely, overexpression of TSSK6 enhances anchorage independence and invasion in vitro as well as in vivo tumor growth. Notably, ectopic expression of TSSK6 in semi-transformed human colonic epithelial cells is sufficient to confer anchorage independence and enhance invasion. In somatic cells, TSSK6 co-localizes with and enhances the formation of paxillin and tensin-positive foci at the cell periphery, suggesting a function in focal adhesion formation. Importantly, TSSK6 kinase activity is essential to induce these tumorigenic behaviors. Our findings establish that TSSK6 exhibits oncogenic activity when abnormally expressed in colorectal cancer cells. Thus, TSSK6 is a previously unrecognized intervention target for therapy, which could exhibit an exceptionally broad therapeutic window.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Magdalena Delgado
- Department of Pharmacology, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA
| | - Zachary Gallegos
- Department of Pharmacology, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA
| | - Steve Stippec
- Department of Pharmacology, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA
| | - Kathleen McGlynn
- Department of Pharmacology, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA
| | - Melanie H Cobb
- Department of Pharmacology, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA
| | | |
Collapse
|
5
|
Delgado M, Gallegos Z, McGlynn K, Stippec S, Cobb MH, Whitehurst A. The Cancer Testis Antigen Testis Specific Serine Kinase 6 (TSSK6) is abnormally expressed in colorectal cancer and promotes oncogenic behaviors. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.01.08.574658. [PMID: 38260312 PMCID: PMC10802504 DOI: 10.1101/2024.01.08.574658] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/24/2024]
Abstract
Cancer testis antigens (CTAs) are a collection of proteins whose expression is normally restricted to the gamete, but abnormally activated in a wide variety of tumors. The CTA, Testis specific serine kinase 6 (TSSK6), is essential for male fertility in mice. Functional relevance of TSSK6 to cancer, if any, has not previously been investigated. Here we find that TSSK6 is frequently anomalously expressed in colorectal cancer and patients with elevated TSSK6 expression have reduced relapse free survival. Depletion of TSSK6 from colorectal cancer cells attenuates anchorage independent growth, invasion and growth in vivo. Conversely, overexpression of TSSK6 enhances anchorage independence and invasion in vitro as well as in vivo tumor growth. Notably, ectopic expression of TSSK6 in semi-transformed human colonic epithelial cells is sufficient to confer anchorage independence and enhance invasion. In somatic cells, TSSK6 co-localizes with and enhances the formation of paxillin and tensin positive foci at the cell periphery, suggesting a function in focal adhesion formation. Importantly, TSSK6 kinase activity is essential to induce these tumorigenic behaviors. Our findings establish that TSSK6 exhibits oncogenic activity when abnormally expressed in colorectal cancer cells. Thus, TSSK6 is a previously unrecognized intervention target for therapy, which could exhibit an exceptionally broad therapeutic window.
Collapse
|
6
|
Zhuang X, Woods J, Ji Y, Scheich S, Mo F, Rajagopalan S, Coulibaly ZA, Voss M, Urlaub H, Staudt LM, Pan KT, Long EO. Functional genomics identifies N-acetyllactosamine extension of complex N-glycans as a mechanism to evade lysis by natural killer cells. Cell Rep 2024; 43:114105. [PMID: 38619967 PMCID: PMC11170631 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2024.114105] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2023] [Revised: 12/31/2023] [Accepted: 03/28/2024] [Indexed: 04/17/2024] Open
Abstract
Natural killer (NK) cells are primary defenders against cancer precursors, but cancer cells can persist by evading immune surveillance. To investigate the genetic mechanisms underlying this evasion, we perform a genome-wide CRISPR screen using B lymphoblastoid cells. SPPL3, a peptidase that cleaves glycosyltransferases in the Golgi, emerges as a top hit facilitating evasion from NK cytotoxicity. SPPL3-deleted cells accumulate glycosyltransferases and complex N-glycans, disrupting not only binding of ligands to NK receptors but also binding of rituximab, a CD20 antibody approved for treating B cell cancers. Notably, inhibiting N-glycan maturation restores receptor binding and sensitivity to NK cells. A secondary CRISPR screen in SPPL3-deficient cells identifies B3GNT2, a transferase-mediating poly-LacNAc extension, as crucial for resistance. Mass spectrometry confirms enrichment of N-glycans bearing poly-LacNAc upon SPPL3 loss. Collectively, our study shows the essential role of SPPL3 and poly-LacNAc in cancer immune evasion, suggesting a promising target for cancer treatment.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoxuan Zhuang
- Laboratory of Immunogenetics, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD 20852, USA; Lymphoid Malignancies Branch, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA.
| | - James Woods
- Laboratory of Immunogenetics, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD 20852, USA
| | - Yanlong Ji
- Bioanalytical Mass Spectrometry Group, Max Planck Institute for Multidisciplinary Sciences, 37077 Göttingen, Germany; Bioanalytics, Institute of Clinical Chemistry, University Medical Center Göttingen, 37075 Göttingen, Germany; Frankfurt Cancer Institute, Goethe University, 60596 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Sebastian Scheich
- Lymphoid Malignancies Branch, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Fei Mo
- National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Sumati Rajagopalan
- Laboratory of Immunogenetics, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD 20852, USA
| | - Zana A Coulibaly
- Lymphoid Malignancies Branch, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Matthias Voss
- Institute of Biochemistry, Kiel University, 24118 Kiel, Germany
| | - Henning Urlaub
- Bioanalytical Mass Spectrometry Group, Max Planck Institute for Multidisciplinary Sciences, 37077 Göttingen, Germany; Bioanalytics, Institute of Clinical Chemistry, University Medical Center Göttingen, 37075 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Louis M Staudt
- Lymphoid Malignancies Branch, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Kuan-Ting Pan
- Frankfurt Cancer Institute, Goethe University, 60596 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Eric O Long
- Laboratory of Immunogenetics, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD 20852, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Chen X, Zhong S, Zhan Y, Zhang X. CRISPR-Cas9 applications in T cells and adoptive T cell therapies. Cell Mol Biol Lett 2024; 29:52. [PMID: 38609863 PMCID: PMC11010303 DOI: 10.1186/s11658-024-00561-1] [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: 12/04/2023] [Accepted: 03/15/2024] [Indexed: 04/14/2024] Open
Abstract
T cell immunity is central to contemporary cancer and autoimmune therapies, encompassing immune checkpoint blockade and adoptive T cell therapies. Their diverse characteristics can be reprogrammed by different immune challenges dependent on antigen stimulation levels, metabolic conditions, and the degree of inflammation. T cell-based therapeutic strategies are gaining widespread adoption in oncology and treating inflammatory conditions. Emerging researches reveal that clustered regularly interspaced palindromic repeats-associated protein 9 (CRISPR-Cas9) genome editing has enabled T cells to be more adaptable to specific microenvironments, opening the door to advanced T cell therapies in preclinical and clinical trials. CRISPR-Cas9 can edit both primary T cells and engineered T cells, including CAR-T and TCR-T, in vivo and in vitro to regulate T cell differentiation and activation states. This review first provides a comprehensive summary of the role of CRISPR-Cas9 in T cells and its applications in preclinical and clinical studies for T cell-based therapies. We also explore the application of CRISPR screen high-throughput technology in editing T cells and anticipate the current limitations of CRISPR-Cas9, including off-target effects and delivery challenges, and envisioned improvements in related technologies for disease screening, diagnosis, and treatment.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoying Chen
- Department of Cardiology, Cardiovascular Institute of Zhengzhou University, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450003, China
| | - Shuhan Zhong
- Department of Hematology, Zhejiang University School of Medicine Second Affiliated Hospital, Hangzhou, 310003, China
| | - Yonghao Zhan
- Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450003, China.
| | - Xuepei Zhang
- Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450003, China.
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Privitera GF, Alaimo S, Caruso A, Ferro A, Forte S, Pulvirenti A. TMBcalc: a computational pipeline for identifying pan-cancer Tumor Mutational Burden gene signatures. Front Genet 2024; 15:1285305. [PMID: 38645485 PMCID: PMC11026579 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2024.1285305] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2023] [Accepted: 03/11/2024] [Indexed: 04/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Background In the precision medicine era, identifying predictive factors to select patients most likely to benefit from treatment with immunological agents is a crucial and open challenge in oncology. Methods This paper presents a pan-cancer analysis of Tumor Mutational Burden (TMB). We developed a novel computational pipeline, TMBcalc, to calculate the TMB. Our methodology can identify small and reliable gene signatures to estimate TMB from custom targeted-sequencing panels. For this purpose, our pipeline has been trained on top of 17 cancer types data obtained from TCGA. Results Our results show that TMB, computed through the identified signature, strongly correlates with TMB obtained from whole-exome sequencing (WES). Conclusion We have rigorously analyzed the effectiveness of our methodology on top of several independent datasets. In particular we conducted a comprehensive testing on: (i) 126 samples sourced from the TCGA database; few independent whole-exome sequencing (WES) datasets linked to colon, breast, and liver cancers, all acquired from the EGA and the ICGC Data Portal. This rigorous evaluation clearly highlights the robustness and practicality of our approach, positioning it as a promising avenue for driving substantial progress within the realm of clinical practice.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Grete Francesca Privitera
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Bioinformatics Unit, University of Catania, Catania, Italy
| | - Salvatore Alaimo
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Bioinformatics Unit, University of Catania, Catania, Italy
| | - Anna Caruso
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Catania, Catania, Italy
| | - Alfredo Ferro
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Bioinformatics Unit, University of Catania, Catania, Italy
| | - Stefano Forte
- Istituto Oncologico del Mediterraneo (IOM) Ricerca, Viagrande, Italy
| | - Alfredo Pulvirenti
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Bioinformatics Unit, University of Catania, Catania, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Djajawi TM, Wichmann J, Vervoort SJ, Kearney CJ. Tumor immune evasion: insights from CRISPR screens and future directions. FEBS J 2024; 291:1386-1399. [PMID: 37971319 DOI: 10.1111/febs.17003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2023] [Revised: 11/02/2023] [Accepted: 11/13/2023] [Indexed: 11/19/2023]
Abstract
Despite the clinical success of cancer immunotherapies including immune checkpoint blockade and adoptive cellular therapies across a variety of cancer types, many patients do not respond or ultimately relapse; however, the molecular underpinnings of this are not fully understood. Thus, a system-level understating of the routes to tumor immune evasion is required to inform the design of the next generation of immunotherapy approaches. CRISPR screening approaches have proved extremely powerful in identifying genes that promote tumor immune evasion or sensitize tumor cells to destruction by the immune system. These large-scale efforts have brought to light decades worth of fundamental immunology and have uncovered the key immune-evasion pathways subverted in cancers in an acquired manner in patients receiving immune-modulatory therapies. The comprehensive discovery of the main pathways involved in immune evasion has spurred the development and application of novel immune therapies to target this process. Although successful, conventional CRISPR screening approaches are hampered by a number of limitations, which obfuscate a complete understanding of the precise molecular regulation of immune evasion in cancer. Here, we provide a perspective on screening approaches to interrogate tumor-lymphocyte interactions and their limitations, and discuss further development of technologies to improve such approaches and discovery capability.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tirta Mario Djajawi
- Olivia Newton-John Cancer Research Institute, Heidelberg, Vic., Australia
- School of Cancer Medicine, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Vic., Australia
| | - Johannes Wichmann
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, Vic., Australia
| | - Stephin J Vervoort
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, Vic., Australia
| | - Conor J Kearney
- Olivia Newton-John Cancer Research Institute, Heidelberg, Vic., Australia
- School of Cancer Medicine, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Vic., Australia
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Gong X, Du J, Peng RW, Chen C, Yang Z. CRISPRing KRAS: A Winding Road with a Bright Future in Basic and Translational Cancer Research. Cancers (Basel) 2024; 16:460. [PMID: 38275900 PMCID: PMC10814442 DOI: 10.3390/cancers16020460] [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: 01/02/2024] [Revised: 01/17/2024] [Accepted: 01/18/2024] [Indexed: 01/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Once considered "undruggable" due to the strong affinity of RAS proteins for GTP and the structural lack of a hydrophobic "pocket" for drug binding, the development of proprietary therapies for KRAS-mutant tumors has long been a challenging area of research. CRISPR technology, the most successful gene-editing tool to date, is increasingly being utilized in cancer research. Here, we provide a comprehensive review of the application of the CRISPR system in basic and translational research in KRAS-mutant cancer, summarizing recent advances in the mechanistic understanding of KRAS biology and the underlying principles of drug resistance, anti-tumor immunity, epigenetic regulatory networks, and synthetic lethality co-opted by mutant KRAS.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xian Gong
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, 29 Xinquan Road, Fuzhou 350001, China; (X.G.); (J.D.)
- Key Laboratory of Cardio-Thoracic Surgery, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou 350001, China
| | - Jianting Du
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, 29 Xinquan Road, Fuzhou 350001, China; (X.G.); (J.D.)
- Key Laboratory of Cardio-Thoracic Surgery, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou 350001, China
| | - Ren-Wang Peng
- Division of General Thoracic Surgery, Department of BioMedical Research (DBMR), Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, Murtenstrasse 28, 3008 Bern, Switzerland;
| | - Chun Chen
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, 29 Xinquan Road, Fuzhou 350001, China; (X.G.); (J.D.)
- Key Laboratory of Cardio-Thoracic Surgery, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou 350001, China
| | - Zhang Yang
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, 29 Xinquan Road, Fuzhou 350001, China; (X.G.); (J.D.)
- Key Laboratory of Cardio-Thoracic Surgery, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou 350001, China
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Shen W, Hu F, Lei P, Tang Y. Applications of CRISPR screening to lung cancer treatment. Front Cell Dev Biol 2023; 11:1295555. [PMID: 38169973 PMCID: PMC10760454 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2023.1295555] [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: 09/16/2023] [Accepted: 11/14/2023] [Indexed: 01/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Lung cancer is an extremely aggressive and highly prevalent disease worldwide, and it is one of the leading causes of cancer death. Deciphering intrinsic genetic mechanism, finding new targets, and overcoming drug resistance are the key to lung cancer treatment. High-throughput CRISPR screening has been extensively used to obtain the genes related to cancers including lung cancer. This review describes CRISPR/Cas9 or CRISPR/dCas9-based technologies for high-throughput screening. We summarize the applications of CRISPR screening technology in exploring the mechanism of lung cancer development in vivo or in vitro, overcoming drug resistance, improving the effect of immunotherapy, and discovering new therapeutic targets. This review highlights the potential of CRISPR screening in combination with tumor barcoding and high-throughput sequencing (Tuba-seq) to precisely quantify the impact of alterations in many tumor suppressor genes on lung cancer.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Wanying Shen
- Department of Neurosurgery, Taihe Hospital, Hubei University of Medicine, Shiyan, Hubei, China
- Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, College of Biomedicine and Health, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Fangli Hu
- Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, College of Biomedicine and Health, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Pan Lei
- Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, College of Biomedicine and Health, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
- Hubei Clinical Research Center for Precise Diagnosis and Treatment of Liver Cancer, Taihe Hospital, Hubei University of Medicine, Shiyan, Hubei, China
| | - Yijun Tang
- Department of Neurosurgery, Taihe Hospital, Hubei University of Medicine, Shiyan, Hubei, China
- Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, College of Biomedicine and Health, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Wang Y, Khalil A, Kamar A, Du M, Dinh T, McFarland C, Wang Z. Unveiling immune checkpoint regulation: exploring the power of in vivo CRISPR screenings in cancer immunotherapy. Front Genet 2023; 14:1304425. [PMID: 38162677 PMCID: PMC10755878 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2023.1304425] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2023] [Accepted: 11/27/2023] [Indexed: 01/03/2024] Open
Abstract
Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have revolutionized cancer immunotherapy by reinvigorating antitumor immune responses, but their efficacy remains limited in most patients. To address this challenge and optimize Immune check inhibitor treatment, understanding the underlying molecular intricacies involved is crucial. The emergence of CRISPR-Cas9 technology has empowered researchers to precisely investigate gene function and has introduced transformative shifts in identifying key genes for various physiological and pathological processes. CRISPR screenings, particularly in vivo CRISPR screenings, have become invaluable tools in deciphering molecular networks and signaling pathways governing suppressive immune checkpoint molecules. In this review, we provide a comprehensive overview of in vivo CRISPR screenings in cancer immunotherapy, exploring how this cutting-edge technology has unraveled potential novel therapeutic targets and combination strategies. We delve into the latest findings and advancements, shedding light on immune checkpoint regulation and offering exciting prospects for the development of innovative and effective treatments for cancer patients.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yuxiang Wang
- Department of Genetics and Genome Sciences and Case Comprehesive Cancer Center, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, United States
| | - Athar Khalil
- Department of Genetics and Genome Sciences and Case Comprehesive Cancer Center, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, United States
| | - Amina Kamar
- Centre for Digital Transformation, Imperial College, London, United Kingdom
| | - Mengyan Du
- Department of Genetics and Genome Sciences and Case Comprehesive Cancer Center, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, United States
| | - Trang Dinh
- Department of Genetics and Genome Sciences and Case Comprehesive Cancer Center, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, United States
| | - Christopher McFarland
- Department of Genetics and Genome Sciences and Case Comprehesive Cancer Center, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, United States
| | - Zhenghe Wang
- Department of Genetics and Genome Sciences and Case Comprehesive Cancer Center, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, United States
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Chen X, Hu G, Yu Q. Impact of disulfidptosis-associated clusters on breast cancer survival rates and guiding personalized treatment. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2023; 14:1256132. [PMID: 38116315 PMCID: PMC10728640 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2023.1256132] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2023] [Accepted: 11/20/2023] [Indexed: 12/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Breast cancer (BC) poses a serious threat to human health. Disulfidptosis is a recently discovered form of cell death associated with cancer prognosis and progression. However, the relationship between BC and disulfidptosis remains unclear. Methods We integrated single-cell sequencing and transcriptome sequencing in BC to assess the abundance and mutation status of disulfidptosis-associated genes (DAGs). Subsequently, we clustered the samples based on DAGs and constructed a prognostic model associated with disulfidptosis. Additionally, we performed pathway enrichment, immune response, and drug sensitivity analyses on the model. Finally, we validated the prognostic genes through Immunohistochemistry (IHC). Results The single-cell analysis identified 21 cell clusters and 8 cell types. By evaluating the abundance of DAGs in different cell types, we found specific expression of the disulfidoptosis core gene SLC7A11 in mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). Through unsupervised clustering of DAGs, we identified two clusters. Utilizing differentially expressed genes from these clusters, we selected 7 genes (AFF4, SLC7A11, IGKC, IL6ST, LIMD2, MAT2B, and SCAND1) through Cox and Lasso regression to construct a prognostic model. External validation demonstrated good prognostic prediction of our model. BC patients were stratified into two groups based on riskscore, with the high-risk group corresponding to a worse prognosis. Immune response analysis revealed higher TMB and lower TIDE scores in the high-risk group, while the low-risk group exhibited higher CTLA4/PD-1 expression. This suggests that both groups may respond to immunotherapy, necessitating further research to elucidate potential mechanisms. Drug sensitivity analysis indicated that dasatinib, docetaxel, lapatinib, methotrexate, paclitaxel, and sunitinib may have better efficacy in the low-risk group. Finally, Immunohistochemistry (IHC) validated the expression of prognostic genes, demonstrating higher levels in tumor tissue compared to normal tissue. Conclusion Our study has developed an effective disulfidptosis-related prognostic prediction tool for BC and provides personalized guidance for the clinical management and immunotherapy selection of BC patients.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Guohuang Hu
- Department of General Surgery, Affiliated Changsha Hospital of Hunan Normal University, Changsha, China
| | - Qianle Yu
- Department of General Surgery, Affiliated Changsha Hospital of Hunan Normal University, Changsha, China
| |
Collapse
|