1
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Li P, Zhang H, Chen T, Zhou Y, Yang J, Zhou J. Cancer-associated fibroblasts promote proliferation, angiogenesis, metastasis and immunosuppression in gastric cancer. Matrix Biol 2024; 132:59-71. [PMID: 38936680 DOI: 10.1016/j.matbio.2024.06.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2024] [Revised: 05/21/2024] [Accepted: 06/18/2024] [Indexed: 06/29/2024]
Abstract
Despite advances in surgery, radiotherapy and immunotherapy, the mortality rate for gastric cancer remains one of the highest in the world. A large body of evidence has demonstrated that cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs), as core members of the stroma, can secrete cytokines, proteins and exosomes to create a tumour microenvironment that is conducive to cancer cell survival. CAFs can also interact with cancer cells to form a complex signalling network, enabling cancer cells to more easily metastasise to other organs and tissues in the body and develop metastatic foci. In this review, we provide an overview of the CAFs concept and activators. We focus on elucidating their effects on immune cells, intratumoural vasculature, extracellular matrix, as well as cancer cell activity, metastatic power and metabolism, and on enhancing the metastatic ability of cancer cells through activation of JAK/STAT, NF/κB and CXCL12/CXCR4. Various therapeutic agents targeting CAFs are also under development and are expected to improve the prognosis of gastric cancer in combination with existing treatment options.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peiyuan Li
- Department of general surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, PR China
| | - Huan Zhang
- Department of general surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, PR China
| | - Tao Chen
- Department of general surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, PR China
| | - Yajing Zhou
- Department of general surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, PR China
| | - Jiaoyang Yang
- Department of general surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, PR China
| | - Jin Zhou
- Department of general surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, PR China.
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2
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Zhan L, Edd J, Mishra A, Toner M. Label-Free Microfluidic Apheresis of Circulating Tumor Cell Clusters. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2024:e2405853. [PMID: 39199012 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202405853] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2024] [Revised: 07/17/2024] [Indexed: 09/01/2024]
Abstract
Screening liters of blood (i.e., apheresis) represents a generalized approach to promote the reliable access to circulating tumor cell clusters (CTCCs), which are known to be highly metastasis-competent, yet ultrarare. However, no existing CTCC sorting technology has demonstrated high throughput, high yield, low shear stress, and minimal blood dilution simultaneously as required in apheresis. Here, a label-free method is introduced termed Precision Apheresis for Non-invasive Debulking of cell Aggregates (PANDA) to continuously isolate CTCCs from undiluted blood to clean buffer through size sorting, processing 1.4 billion cells per second. The cell focusing is optimized within whole blood leveraging secondary transverse flow and margination. The PANDA chip recovers >90% of spiked ≈24 rare HeLa cell clusters from 100 mL undiluted blood samples (equivalent to ≈500 billion blood cells) at 1 L h-1 throughput, with ≤20s device residence time, ≤15 Pa shear stress, and >99.9% return of blood components. The technology lays the groundwork for future routine isolation to increase the recovery of these ultrarare yet clinically significant tumor cell populations from large volumes of blood to advance cancer research, early detection, and treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Li Zhan
- Center for Engineering in Medicine and Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, 02129, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Jon Edd
- Center for Engineering in Medicine and Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, 02129, USA
- Cancer Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, 12129, USA
| | - Avanish Mishra
- Center for Engineering in Medicine and Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, 02129, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
- Cancer Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, 12129, USA
| | - Mehmet Toner
- Center for Engineering in Medicine and Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, 02129, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
- Shriners Hospitals for Children, Boston, MA, 02114, USA
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3
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Du J, Huang Z. NLR stability predicts response to immune checkpoint inhibitors in advanced hepatocellular carcinoma. Sci Rep 2024; 14:19583. [PMID: 39179639 PMCID: PMC11344071 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-68048-9] [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: 02/07/2024] [Accepted: 07/18/2024] [Indexed: 08/26/2024] Open
Abstract
A high baseline NLR is associated with a poor prognosis of immunotherapy in patients with advanced HCC. As anti-tumour immune activation takes time, early dynamic changes in NLR may serve as a biomarker for predicting immunotherapy response. We conducted a retrospective study in which we enrolled 209 patients with aHCC who received ICIs (training cohort: N = 121, validation cohort: N = 88). In the training cohort, we categorized the patients based on the early changes in their NLR. Specifically, we defined patients as NLR Stable-Responder, NLR Responder and NLR Non-Responder. We compared the outcomes of these three patient groups using survival analysis. Additionally, we shortened the observation period to 6 weeks and validated the findings in the validation cohort. In the training cohort, early dynamic changes in NLR (HR 0.14, 95%CI 0.03-0.65, p = 0.012, HR 0.19, 95%CI 0.07-0.54, p = 0.002; HR 0.21, 95%CI 0.10-0.42, p < 0.001, HR 0.40, 95%CI 0.23-0.69, p = 0.001), PD-L1 < 1% (HR 5.36, 95%CI 1.12-25.66, p = 0.036; HR 2.98, 95%CI 1.51-5.91, p = 0.002) and MVI (HR 3.52, 95%CI 1.28-9.69, p = 0.015; HR 1.99, 95%CI 1.14-3.47, p = 0.015) were identified as independent predictors of OS and PFS. In the validation cohort, when the observation period was reduced to 6 weeks, early NLR changes still have predictive value. Early dynamic changes in NLR may be an easily defined, cost-effective, non-invasive biomarker to predict aHCC response to ICIs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiajia Du
- Hepatic Surgery Center, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, No. 1095, Jiefang Avenue, Wuhan, 430030, Hubei, China
| | - Zhiyong Huang
- Hepatic Surgery Center, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, No. 1095, Jiefang Avenue, Wuhan, 430030, Hubei, China.
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4
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Liu B, Hu S, Wang X. Applications of single-cell technologies in drug discovery for tumor treatment. iScience 2024; 27:110486. [PMID: 39171294 PMCID: PMC11338156 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2024.110486] [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] [Indexed: 08/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Single-cell technologies have been known as advanced and powerful tools to study tumor biological systems at the single-cell resolution and are playing increasingly critical roles in multiple stages of drug discovery and development. Specifically, single-cell technologies can promote the discovery of drug targets, help high-throughput screening at single-cell level, and contribute to pharmacokinetic studies of anti-tumor drugs. Emerging single-cell analysis technologies have been developed to further integrating multidimensional single-cell molecular features, expanding the scale of single-cell data, profiling phenotypic impact of genes in single cell, and providing full-length coverage single-cell sequencing. In this review, we systematically summarized the applications of single-cell technologies in various sections of drug discovery for tumor treatment, including target identification, high-throughput drug screening, and pharmacokinetic evaluation and highlighted emerging single-cell technologies in providing in-depth understanding of tumor biology. Single-cell-technology-based drug discovery is expected to further optimize therapeutic strategies and improve clinical outcomes of tumor patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bingyu Liu
- Department of Hematology, Shandong Provincial Hospital, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong 250021, China
| | - Shunfeng Hu
- Department of Hematology, Shandong Provincial Hospital, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong 250021, China
- Department of Hematology, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, Shandong 250021, China
| | - Xin Wang
- Department of Hematology, Shandong Provincial Hospital, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong 250021, China
- Department of Hematology, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, Shandong 250021, China
- Taishan Scholars Program of Shandong Province, Jinan, Shandong 250021, China
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5
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Zhao J, Zhang K, Sui D, Wang S, Li Y, Tang X, Liu X, Song Y, Deng Y. Recent advances in sialic acid-based active targeting chemoimmunotherapy promoting tumor shedding: a systematic review. NANOSCALE 2024; 16:14621-14639. [PMID: 39023195 DOI: 10.1039/d4nr01740d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/20/2024]
Abstract
Tumors have always been a major public health concern worldwide, and attempts to look for effective treatments have never ceased. Sialic acid is known to be a crucial element for tumor development and its receptors are highly expressed on tumor-associated immune cells, which perform significant roles in establishing the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment and further boosting tumorigenesis, progression, and metastasis. Obviously, it is essential to consider sophisticated crosstalk between tumors, the immune system, and preparations, and understand the links between pharmaceutics and immunology. Sialic acid-based chemoimmunotherapy enables active targeting drug delivery via mediating the recognition between the sialic acid-modified nano-drug delivery system represented by liposomes and sialic acid-binding receptors on tumor-associated immune cells, which inhibit their activity and utilize their homing ability to deliver drugs. Such a "Trojan horse" strategy has remarkably improved the shortcomings of traditional passive targeting treatments, unexpectedly promoted tumor shedding, and persistently induced robust immunological memory, thus highlighting its prospective application potential for targeting various tumors. Herein, we review recent advances in sialic acid-based active targeting chemoimmunotherapy to promote tumor shedding, summarize the current viewpoints on the tumor shedding mechanism, especially the formation of durable immunological memory, and analyze the challenges and opportunities of this attractive approach.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jingyi Zhao
- College of Pharmacy, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Wenhua Road, No. 103, Shenyang 110016, China.
| | - Kunfeng Zhang
- College of Pharmacy, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Wenhua Road, No. 103, Shenyang 110016, China.
| | - Dezhi Sui
- College of Pharmacy, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Wenhua Road, No. 103, Shenyang 110016, China.
| | - Shuo Wang
- College of Pharmacy, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Wenhua Road, No. 103, Shenyang 110016, China.
| | - Yantong Li
- College of Pharmacy, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Wenhua Road, No. 103, Shenyang 110016, China.
| | - Xueying Tang
- College of Pharmacy, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Wenhua Road, No. 103, Shenyang 110016, China.
| | - Xinrong Liu
- College of Pharmacy, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Wenhua Road, No. 103, Shenyang 110016, China.
| | - Yanzhi Song
- College of Pharmacy, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Wenhua Road, No. 103, Shenyang 110016, China.
| | - Yihui Deng
- College of Pharmacy, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Wenhua Road, No. 103, Shenyang 110016, China.
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6
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Ouyang P, Cheng B, He X, Lou J, Li X, Guo H, Xu F. Navigating the biophysical landscape: how physical cues steer the journey of bone metastatic tumor cells. Trends Cancer 2024:S2405-8033(24)00143-2. [PMID: 39127608 DOI: 10.1016/j.trecan.2024.07.003] [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: 03/29/2024] [Revised: 07/08/2024] [Accepted: 07/12/2024] [Indexed: 08/12/2024]
Abstract
Many tumors prefer to metastasize to bone, but the underlying mechanisms remain elusive. The human skeletal system has unique physical properties, that are distinct from other organs, which play a key role in directing the behavior of tumor cells within bone. Understanding the physical journey of tumor cells within bone is crucial. In this review we discuss bone metastasis in the context of how physical cues in the bone vasculature and bone marrow niche regulate the fate of tumor cells. Our objective is to inspire innovative diagnostic and therapeutic approaches for bone metastasis from a mechanobiological perspective.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pengrong Ouyang
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710004, P.R. China; Bioinspired Engineering and Biomechanics Center (BEBC), Key Laboratory of Biomedical Information Engineering of the Ministry of Education, School of Life Science and Technology, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710049, P.R. China
| | - Bo Cheng
- Bioinspired Engineering and Biomechanics Center (BEBC), Key Laboratory of Biomedical Information Engineering of the Ministry of Education, School of Life Science and Technology, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710049, P.R. China; TFX Group-Xi'an Jiaotong University Institute of Life Health, Xi'an 710049, P.R. China
| | - Xijing He
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710004, P.R. China; Xi'an International Medical Center Hospital, Xi'an 710061, P.R. China.
| | - Jiatao Lou
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200080, P.R. China.
| | - Xiaokang Li
- Department of Orthopedics, Tangdu Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an 710038, P.R. China.
| | - Hui Guo
- Department of Medical Oncology, Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710004, P.R. China.
| | - Feng Xu
- Bioinspired Engineering and Biomechanics Center (BEBC), Key Laboratory of Biomedical Information Engineering of the Ministry of Education, School of Life Science and Technology, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710049, P.R. China.
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7
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Dong D, Yu X, Xu J, Yu N, Liu Z, Sun Y. Cellular and molecular mechanisms of gastrointestinal cancer liver metastases and drug resistance. Drug Resist Updat 2024; 77:101125. [PMID: 39173439 DOI: 10.1016/j.drup.2024.101125] [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: 04/20/2024] [Revised: 07/30/2024] [Accepted: 08/05/2024] [Indexed: 08/24/2024]
Abstract
Distant metastases and drug resistance account for poor survival of patients with gastrointestinal (GI) malignancies such as gastric cancer, pancreatic cancer, and colorectal cancer. GI cancers most commonly metastasize to the liver, which provides a unique immunosuppressive tumour microenvironment to support the development of a premetastatic niche for tumor cell colonization and metastatic outgrowth. Metastatic tumors often exhibit greater resistance to drugs than primary tumors, posing extra challenges in treatment. The liver metastases and drug resistance of GI cancers are regulated by complex, intertwined, and tumor-dependent cellular and molecular mechanisms that influence tumor cell behavior (e.g. epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition, or EMT), tumor microenvironment (TME) (e.g. the extracellular matrix, cancer-associated fibroblasts, and tumor-infiltrating immune cells), tumor cell-TME interactions (e.g. through cytokines and exosomes), liver microenvironment (e.g. hepatic stellate cells and macrophages), and the route and mechanism of tumor cell dissemination (e.g. circulating tumor cells). This review provides an overview of recent advances in the research on cellular and molecular mechanisms that regulate liver metastases and drug resistance of GI cancers. We also discuss recent advances in the development of mechanism-based therapy for these GI cancers. Targeting these cellular and molecular mechanisms, either alone or in combination, may potentially provide novel approaches to treat metastatic GI malignancies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daosong Dong
- Department of Pain, The First Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning 110001, China
| | - Xue Yu
- Department of Surgical Oncology and General Surgery, The First Hospital of China Medical University, Key Laboratory of Molecular Pathology and Epidemiology of Gastric Cancer in the Universities of Liaoning Province, Shenyang, Liaoning 110001, China
| | - Jingjing Xu
- Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning 110001, China
| | - Na Yu
- Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Institute of Respiratory Disease, The First Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning 110001, China
| | - Zhe Liu
- Department of Pancreatic-Biliary Surgery, The First Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning 110001, China.
| | - Yanbin Sun
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, The First Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning 110001, China.
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8
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Ma Y, Wei J, He W, Ren J. Neutrophil extracellular traps in cancer. MedComm (Beijing) 2024; 5:e647. [PMID: 39015554 PMCID: PMC11247337 DOI: 10.1002/mco2.647] [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: 02/19/2024] [Revised: 06/11/2024] [Accepted: 06/12/2024] [Indexed: 07/18/2024] Open
Abstract
Neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs), which consist of chromatin DNA studded with granule proteins, are released by neutrophils in response to both infectious and sterile inflammation. Beyond the canonical role in defense against pathogens, the extrusion of NETs also contributes to the initiation, metastasis, and therapeutic response of malignant diseases. Recently, NETs have been implicated in the development and therapeutic responses of various types of tumors. Although extensive work regarding inflammation in tumors has been reported, a comprehensive summary of how these web-like extracellular structures initiate and propagate tumor progression under the specific microenvironment is lacking. In this review, we demonstrate the initiators and related signaling pathways that trigger NETs formation in cancers. Additionally, this review will outline the current molecular mechanisms and regulatory networks of NETs during dormant cancer cells awakening, circulating tumor cells (CTCs) extravasation, and metastatic recurrence of cancer. This is followed by a perspective on the current and potential clinical potential of NETs as therapeutic targets in the treatment of both local and metastatic disease, including the improvement of the efficacy of existing therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuxi Ma
- Cancer CenterUnion HospitalTongji Medical CollegeHuazhong University of Science and TechnologyWuhanChina
- Institute of Radiation OncologyUnion HospitalTongji Medical CollegeHuazhong University of Science and TechnologyWuhanChina
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Precision Radiation OncologyWuhanChina
| | - Jielin Wei
- Cancer CenterUnion HospitalTongji Medical CollegeHuazhong University of Science and TechnologyWuhanChina
- Institute of Radiation OncologyUnion HospitalTongji Medical CollegeHuazhong University of Science and TechnologyWuhanChina
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Precision Radiation OncologyWuhanChina
| | - Wenshan He
- Department of Breast and Thyroid SurgeryUnion HospitalTongji Medical CollegeHuazhong University of Science and TechnologyWuhanChina
| | - Jinghua Ren
- Cancer CenterUnion HospitalTongji Medical CollegeHuazhong University of Science and TechnologyWuhanChina
- Institute of Radiation OncologyUnion HospitalTongji Medical CollegeHuazhong University of Science and TechnologyWuhanChina
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Precision Radiation OncologyWuhanChina
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9
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Borrelli C, Roberts M, Eletto D, Hussherr MD, Fazilaty H, Valenta T, Lafzi A, Kretz JA, Guido Vinzoni E, Karakatsani A, Adivarahan S, Mannhart A, Kimura S, Meijs A, Baccouche Mhamedi F, Acar IE, Handler K, Ficht X, Platt RJ, Piscuoglio S, Moor AE. In vivo interaction screening reveals liver-derived constraints to metastasis. Nature 2024; 632:411-418. [PMID: 39048831 PMCID: PMC11306111 DOI: 10.1038/s41586-024-07715-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2023] [Accepted: 06/14/2024] [Indexed: 07/27/2024]
Abstract
It is estimated that only 0.02% of disseminated tumour cells are able to seed overt metastases1. While this suggests the presence of environmental constraints to metastatic seeding, the landscape of host factors controlling this process remains largely unclear. Here, combining transposon technology2 and fluorescence niche labelling3, we developed an in vivo CRISPR activation screen to systematically investigate the interactions between hepatocytes and metastatic cells. We identify plexin B2 as a critical host-derived regulator of liver colonization in colorectal and pancreatic cancer and melanoma syngeneic mouse models. We dissect a mechanism through which plexin B2 interacts with class IV semaphorins on tumour cells, leading to KLF4 upregulation and thereby promoting the acquisition of epithelial traits. Our results highlight the essential role of signals from the liver parenchyma for the seeding of disseminated tumour cells before the establishment of a growth-promoting niche. Our findings further suggest that epithelialization is required for the adaptation of CRC metastases to their new tissue environment. Blocking the plexin-B2-semaphorin axis abolishes metastatic colonization of the liver and therefore represents a therapeutic strategy for the prevention of hepatic metastases. Finally, our screening approach, which evaluates host-derived extrinsic signals rather than tumour-intrinsic factors for their ability to promote metastatic seeding, is broadly applicable and lays a framework for the screening of environmental constraints to metastasis in other organs and cancer types.
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Affiliation(s)
- Costanza Borrelli
- Department of Biosystems Science and Engineering, ETH Zurich, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Morgan Roberts
- Department of Biosystems Science and Engineering, ETH Zurich, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Davide Eletto
- Department of Biosystems Science and Engineering, ETH Zurich, Basel, Switzerland
| | | | - Hassan Fazilaty
- Department of Molecular Life Sciences, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Tomas Valenta
- Department of Molecular Life Sciences, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- Laboratory of Cell and Developmental Biology, Institute of Molecular Genetics of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Atefeh Lafzi
- Department of Biosystems Science and Engineering, ETH Zurich, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Jonas A Kretz
- Department of Biosystems Science and Engineering, ETH Zurich, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Elena Guido Vinzoni
- Department of Biosystems Science and Engineering, ETH Zurich, Basel, Switzerland
| | | | | | - Ardian Mannhart
- Department of Biosystems Science and Engineering, ETH Zurich, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Shoichiro Kimura
- Department of Biosystems Science and Engineering, ETH Zurich, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Ab Meijs
- Department of Biosystems Science and Engineering, ETH Zurich, Basel, Switzerland
| | | | - Ilhan E Acar
- Department of Biosystems Science and Engineering, ETH Zurich, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Kristina Handler
- Department of Biosystems Science and Engineering, ETH Zurich, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Xenia Ficht
- Department of Biosystems Science and Engineering, ETH Zurich, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Randall J Platt
- Department of Biosystems Science and Engineering, ETH Zurich, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Salvatore Piscuoglio
- IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, Milan, Italy
- Institute of Medical Genetics and Pathology, University Hospital Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Andreas E Moor
- Department of Biosystems Science and Engineering, ETH Zurich, Basel, Switzerland.
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10
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Brooks A, Zhang Y, Chen J, Zhao CX. Cancer Metastasis-on-a-Chip for Modeling Metastatic Cascade and Drug Screening. Adv Healthc Mater 2024; 13:e2302436. [PMID: 38224141 DOI: 10.1002/adhm.202302436] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2023] [Revised: 01/06/2024] [Indexed: 01/16/2024]
Abstract
Microfluidic chips are valuable tools for studying intricate cellular and cell-microenvironment interactions. Traditional in vitro cancer models lack accuracy in mimicking the complexities of in vivo tumor microenvironment. However, cancer-metastasis-on-a-chip (CMoC) models combine the advantages of 3D cultures and microfluidic technology, serving as powerful platforms for exploring cancer mechanisms and facilitating drug screening. These chips are able to compartmentalize the metastatic cascade, deepening the understanding of its underlying mechanisms. This article provides an overview of current CMoC models, focusing on distinctive models that simulate invasion, intravasation, circulation, extravasation, and colonization, and their applications in drug screening. Furthermore, challenges faced by CMoC and microfluidic technologies are discussed, while exploring promising future directions in cancer research. The ongoing development and integration of these models into cancer studies are expected to drive transformative advancements in the field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anastasia Brooks
- School of Chemical Engineering, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, 5005, Australia
| | - Yali Zhang
- School of Chemical Engineering, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, 5005, Australia
| | - Jiezhong Chen
- School of Chemical Engineering, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, 5005, Australia
| | - Chun-Xia Zhao
- School of Chemical Engineering, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, 5005, Australia
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11
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Kouhmareh K, Martin E, Finlay D, Bhadada A, Hernandez-Vargas H, Downey F, Allen JK, Teriete P. Capture of circulating metastatic cancer cell clusters from lung cancer patients can reveal unique genomic profiles and potential anti-metastatic molecular targets: A proof-of-concept study. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0306450. [PMID: 39083508 PMCID: PMC11290651 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0306450] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2024] [Accepted: 06/18/2024] [Indexed: 08/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Metastasis remains the leading cause of cancer deaths worldwide and lung cancer, known for its highly metastatic progression, remains among the most lethal of malignancies. Lung cancer metastasis can selectively spread to multiple different organs, however the genetic and molecular drivers for this process are still poorly understood. Understanding the heterogeneous genomic profile of lung cancer metastases is considered key in identifying therapeutic targets that prevent its spread. Research has identified the key source for metastasis being clusters of cells rather than individual cancer cells. These clusters, known as metastatic cancer cell clusters (MCCCs) have been shown to be 100-fold more tumorigenic than individual cancer cells. Unfortunately, access to these primary drivers of metastases remains difficult and has limited our understanding of their molecular and genomic profiles. Strong evidence in the literature suggests that differentially regulated biological pathways in MCCCs can provide new therapeutic drug targets to help combat cancer metastases. In order to expand research into MCCCs and their role in metastasis, we demonstrate a novel, proof of principle technology, to capture MCCCs directly from patients' whole blood. Our platform can be readily tuned for different solid tumor types by combining a biomimicry-based margination effect coupled with immunoaffinity to isolate MCCCs. Adopting a selective capture approach based on overexpressed CD44 in MCCCs provides a methodology that preferentially isolates them from whole blood. Furthermore, we demonstrate a high capture efficiency of more than 90% when spiking MCCC-like model cell clusters into whole blood. Characterization of the captured MCCCs from lung cancer patients by immunofluorescence staining and genomic analyses, suggests highly differential morphologies and genomic profiles. This study lays the foundation to identify potential drug targets thus unlocking a new area of anti-metastatic therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Erika Martin
- PhenoVista Biosciences, San Diego, CA, United States of America
| | - Darren Finlay
- National Cancer Institute Cancer Center, Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, La Jolla, CA, United States of America
| | | | | | | | | | - Peter Teriete
- TumorGen Inc., San Diego, CA, United States of America
- IDEAYA Biosciences, South San Francisco, CA, United States of America
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12
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Raskov H, Orhan A, Agerbæk MØ, Gögenur I. The impact of platelets on the metastatic potential of tumour cells. Heliyon 2024; 10:e34361. [PMID: 39114075 PMCID: PMC11305202 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e34361] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2024] [Revised: 07/08/2024] [Accepted: 07/08/2024] [Indexed: 08/10/2024] Open
Abstract
In cancer, activation of platelets by tumor cells is critical to disease progression. Development of precise antiplatelet targeting may improve outcomes from anticancer therapy. Alongside a distinct shift in functionality such as pro-metastatic and pro-coagulant properties, platelet production is often accelerated significantly early in carcinogenesis and the cancer-associated thrombocytosis increases the risk of metastasis formation and thromboembolic events. Tumor-activated platelets facilitate the proliferation of migrating tumor cells and shield them from immune surveillance and physical stress during circulation. Additionally, platelet-tumor cell interactions promote tumor cell intravasation, intravascular arrest, and extravasation through a repertoire of adhesion molecules, growth factors and angiogenic factors. Particularly, the presence of circulating tumor cell (CTC) clusters in association with platelets is a negative prognostic indicator. The contribution of platelets to the metastatic process is an area of intense investigation and this review provides an overview of the advances in understanding platelet-tumor cell interactions and their contribution to disease progression. Also, we review the potential of targeting platelets to interfere with the metastatic process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hans Raskov
- Center for Surgical Science, Zealand University Hospital, Køge, Denmark
| | - Adile Orhan
- Center for Surgical Science, Zealand University Hospital, Køge, Denmark
- University of Copenhagen, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Mette Ørskov Agerbæk
- Centre for Translational Medicine and Parasitology, Department of Immunology and Microbiology, University of Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Ismail Gögenur
- Center for Surgical Science, Zealand University Hospital, Køge, Denmark
- Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
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13
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Chen X, Agustinus AS, Li J, DiBona M, Bakhoum SF. Chromosomal instability as a driver of cancer progression. Nat Rev Genet 2024:10.1038/s41576-024-00761-7. [PMID: 39075192 DOI: 10.1038/s41576-024-00761-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/25/2024] [Indexed: 07/31/2024]
Abstract
Chromosomal instability (CIN) refers to an increased propensity of cells to acquire structural and numerical chromosomal abnormalities during cell division, which contributes to tumour genetic heterogeneity. CIN has long been recognized as a hallmark of cancer, and evidence over the past decade has strongly linked CIN to tumour evolution, metastasis, immune evasion and treatment resistance. Until recently, the mechanisms by which CIN propels cancer progression have remained elusive. Beyond the generation of genomic copy number heterogeneity, recent work has unveiled additional tumour-promoting consequences of abnormal chromosome segregation. These mechanisms include complex chromosomal rearrangements, epigenetic reprogramming and the induction of cancer cell-intrinsic inflammation, emphasizing the multifaceted role of CIN in cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuelan Chen
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
- Human Oncology and Pathogenesis Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Albert S Agustinus
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
- Human Oncology and Pathogenesis Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
- Pharmacology Graduate Program, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Jun Li
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
- Human Oncology and Pathogenesis Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Melody DiBona
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
- Human Oncology and Pathogenesis Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Samuel F Bakhoum
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA.
- Human Oncology and Pathogenesis Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA.
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14
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Seyhan AA. Circulating Liquid Biopsy Biomarkers in Glioblastoma: Advances and Challenges. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:7974. [PMID: 39063215 PMCID: PMC11277426 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25147974] [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: 06/12/2024] [Revised: 07/16/2024] [Accepted: 07/18/2024] [Indexed: 07/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Gliomas, particularly glioblastoma (GBM), represent the most prevalent and aggressive tumors of the central nervous system (CNS). Despite recent treatment advancements, patient survival rates remain low. The diagnosis of GBM traditionally relies on neuroimaging methods such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or computed tomography (CT) scans and postoperative confirmation via histopathological and molecular analysis. Imaging techniques struggle to differentiate between tumor progression and treatment-related changes, leading to potential misinterpretation and treatment delays. Similarly, tissue biopsies, while informative, are invasive and not suitable for monitoring ongoing treatments. These challenges have led to the emergence of liquid biopsy, particularly through blood samples, as a promising alternative for GBM diagnosis and monitoring. Presently, blood and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) sampling offers a minimally invasive means of obtaining tumor-related information to guide therapy. The idea that blood or any biofluid tests can be used to screen many cancer types has huge potential. Tumors release various components into the bloodstream or other biofluids, including cell-free nucleic acids such as microRNAs (miRNAs), circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA), circulating tumor cells (CTCs), proteins, extracellular vesicles (EVs) or exosomes, metabolites, and other factors. These factors have been shown to cross the blood-brain barrier (BBB), presenting an opportunity for the minimally invasive monitoring of GBM as well as for the real-time assessment of distinct genetic, epigenetic, transcriptomic, proteomic, and metabolomic changes associated with brain tumors. Despite their potential, the clinical utility of liquid biopsy-based circulating biomarkers is somewhat constrained by limitations such as the absence of standardized methodologies for blood or CSF collection, analyte extraction, analysis methods, and small cohort sizes. Additionally, tissue biopsies offer more precise insights into tumor morphology and the microenvironment. Therefore, the objective of a liquid biopsy should be to complement and enhance the diagnostic accuracy and monitoring of GBM patients by providing additional information alongside traditional tissue biopsies. Moreover, utilizing a combination of diverse biomarker types may enhance clinical effectiveness compared to solely relying on one biomarker category, potentially improving diagnostic sensitivity and specificity and addressing some of the existing limitations associated with liquid biomarkers for GBM. This review presents an overview of the latest research on circulating biomarkers found in GBM blood or CSF samples, discusses their potential as diagnostic, predictive, and prognostic indicators, and discusses associated challenges and future perspectives.
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Affiliation(s)
- Attila A. Seyhan
- Laboratory of Translational Oncology and Experimental Cancer Therapeutics, Warren Alpert Medical School, Brown University, Providence, RI 02912, USA;
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Warren Alpert Medical School, Brown University, Providence, RI 02912, USA
- Joint Program in Cancer Biology, Lifespan Health System and Brown University, Providence, RI 02912, USA
- Legorreta Cancer Center, Brown University, Providence, RI 02912, USA
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15
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Ribatti D. The role of endothelial junctions in the regulation of the extravasation of tumor cells. A historical reappraisal. Front Oncol 2024; 14:1415601. [PMID: 39035739 PMCID: PMC11257839 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2024.1415601] [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: 04/22/2024] [Accepted: 06/21/2024] [Indexed: 07/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Endothelial cells lining the vessel wall are connected by adherent, tight and gap junctions. Adherent junctions are common to all endothelial cells, whereas tight and gap junctions graduate within different vascular segments. Endothelial cell-cell junctions sustain vascular homeostasis and to control the transendothelial migration of inflammatory cells. Tumor cells need to weaken endothelial cell-cell junctions to penetrate the endothelial barrier and transendothelial migration and metastasis of tumor cells are tightly controlled by endothelial cell-cell junctions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Domenico Ribatti
- Department of Translational Biomedicine and Neuroscience, University of Bari Medical School, Bari, Italy
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16
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Peng X, Yang L, Yuan P, Ding X. Hybrid Cell Membrane-Based Nanoplatforms for Enhanced Immunotherapy against Cancer and Infectious Diseases. Adv Healthc Mater 2024; 13:e2304477. [PMID: 38709914 DOI: 10.1002/adhm.202304477] [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: 03/20/2024] [Indexed: 05/08/2024]
Abstract
Immunotherapy based on nanoplatforms is a promising approach to treat cancer and infectious diseases, and it has achieved considerable progress in clinical practices. Cell membrane-based nanoplatforms endow nanoparticles with versatile characteristics, such as half-life extension, targeting ability, and immune-system regulation. However, monotypic cell membrane usually fails to provoke strong immune response for immunotherapy while maintaining good biosafety. The integration of different cell-membrane types provides a promising approach to construct multifunctional nanoplatforms for improved immunotherapeutic efficacy by enhancing immunogenicity or targeting function, evading immune clearance, or combining with other therapeutic modalities. In this review, the design principles, preparation strategies, and applications of hybrid cell membrane-based nanoplatforms for cancer and infection immunotherapy are first discussed. Furthermore, the challenges and prospects for the potential clinical translation of hybrid cell membrane-based nanoplatforms are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinran Peng
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences (Shenzhen), Shenzhen Campus of Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, 518107, China
| | - Li Yang
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences (Shenzhen), Shenzhen Campus of Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, 518107, China
| | - Peiyan Yuan
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences (Shenzhen), Shenzhen Campus of Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, 518107, China
| | - Xin Ding
- School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, 518107, China
- State Key Laboratory of Anti-Infective Drug Discovery and Development, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510006, China
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17
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Gerashchenko T, Frolova A, Patysheva M, Fedorov A, Stakheyeva M, Denisov E, Cherdyntseva N. Breast Cancer Immune Landscape: Interplay Between Systemic and Local Immunity. Adv Biol (Weinh) 2024; 8:e2400140. [PMID: 38727796 DOI: 10.1002/adbi.202400140] [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: 03/12/2024] [Revised: 04/16/2024] [Indexed: 07/13/2024]
Abstract
Breast cancer (BC) is one of the most common malignancies in women worldwide. Numerous studies in immuno-oncology and successful trials of immunotherapy have demonstrated the causal role of the immune system in cancer pathogenesis. The interaction between the tumor and the immune system is known to have a dual nature. Despite cytotoxic lymphocyte activity against transformed cells, a tumor can escape immune surveillance and leverage chronic inflammation to maintain its own development. Research on antitumor immunity primarily focuses on the role of the tumor microenvironment, whereas the systemic immune response beyond the tumor site is described less thoroughly. Here, a comprehensive review of the formation of the immune profile in breast cancer patients is offered. The interplay between systemic and local immune reactions as self-sustaining mechanism of tumor progression is described and the functional activity of the main cell populations related to innate and adaptive immunity is discussed. Additionally, the interaction between different functional levels of the immune system and their contribution to the development of the pro- or anti-tumor immune response in BC is highlighted. The presented data can potentially inform the development of new immunotherapy strategies in the treatment of patients with BC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tatiana Gerashchenko
- Laboratory of Cancer Progression Biology, Cancer Research Institute, Tomsk National Research Medical Center, Russian Academy of Sciences, Kooperativny Str. 5, Tomsk, 634009, Russia
| | - Anastasia Frolova
- Laboratory of Molecular Oncology and Immunology, Cancer Research Institute, Tomsk National Researc, Medical Center, Russian Academy of Sciences, Kooperativny Str. 5, Tomsk, 634009, Russia
- Tomsk State University, 36 Lenin Ave., Tomsk, 634050, Russia
| | - Marina Patysheva
- Laboratory of Cancer Progression Biology, Cancer Research Institute, Tomsk National Research Medical Center, Russian Academy of Sciences, Kooperativny Str. 5, Tomsk, 634009, Russia
| | - Anton Fedorov
- Laboratory of Cancer Progression Biology, Cancer Research Institute, Tomsk National Research Medical Center, Russian Academy of Sciences, Kooperativny Str. 5, Tomsk, 634009, Russia
| | - Marina Stakheyeva
- Laboratory of Molecular Oncology and Immunology, Cancer Research Institute, Tomsk National Researc, Medical Center, Russian Academy of Sciences, Kooperativny Str. 5, Tomsk, 634009, Russia
| | - Evgeny Denisov
- Laboratory of Cancer Progression Biology, Cancer Research Institute, Tomsk National Research Medical Center, Russian Academy of Sciences, Kooperativny Str. 5, Tomsk, 634009, Russia
| | - Nadezda Cherdyntseva
- Laboratory of Molecular Oncology and Immunology, Cancer Research Institute, Tomsk National Researc, Medical Center, Russian Academy of Sciences, Kooperativny Str. 5, Tomsk, 634009, Russia
- Tomsk State University, 36 Lenin Ave., Tomsk, 634050, Russia
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18
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Wang X, Bai L, Kong L, Guo Z. Advances in circulating tumor cells for early detection, prognosis and metastasis reduction in lung cancer. Front Oncol 2024; 14:1411731. [PMID: 38974237 PMCID: PMC11224453 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2024.1411731] [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: 04/03/2024] [Accepted: 06/07/2024] [Indexed: 07/09/2024] Open
Abstract
Globally, lung cancer stands as the leading type of cancer in terms of incidence and is the major source of mortality attributed to cancer. We have outlined the molecular biomarkers for lung cancer that are available clinically. Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) spread from the original location, circulate in the bloodstream, extravasate, and metastasize, forming secondary tumors by invading and establishing a favorable environment. CTC analysis is considered a common liquid biopsy method for lung cancer. We have enumerated both in vivo and ex vivo techniques for CTC separation and enrichment, examined the advantages and limitations of these methods, and also discussed the detection of CTCs in other bodily fluids. We have evaluated the value of CTCs, as well as CTCs in conjunction with other biomarkers, for their utility in the early detection and prognostic assessment of patients with lung cancer. CTCs engage with diverse cells of the metastatic process, interfering with the interaction between CTCs and various cells in metastasis, potentially halting metastasis and enhancing patient prognosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaochen Wang
- Department of Pathology and Pathophysiology, Inner Mongolia Medical University, Hohhot, Inner Mongolia, China
- Department of Pathology, Cancer Hospital Affiliated to Inner Mongolia Medical University / Peking University Cancer Hospital Inner Mongolia Hospital, Hohhot, Inner Mongolia, China
| | - Lu Bai
- Department of Pathology and Pathophysiology, Inner Mongolia Medical University, Hohhot, Inner Mongolia, China
- Department of Pathology, Cancer Hospital Affiliated to Inner Mongolia Medical University / Peking University Cancer Hospital Inner Mongolia Hospital, Hohhot, Inner Mongolia, China
| | - Linghui Kong
- Department of Pathology, Cancer Hospital Affiliated to Inner Mongolia Medical University / Peking University Cancer Hospital Inner Mongolia Hospital, Hohhot, Inner Mongolia, China
| | - Zhijuan Guo
- Department of Pathology, Cancer Hospital Affiliated to Inner Mongolia Medical University / Peking University Cancer Hospital Inner Mongolia Hospital, Hohhot, Inner Mongolia, China
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19
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Liu Z, Liu B, Feng Y, Zhao L, Wang Q, He H, Yin T, Zhang Y, Yang L, Gou J, Tang X. Dual-Targeted Self-Adjuvant Heterocyclic Lipidoid@Polyester Hybrid Nanovaccines for Boosting Cancer Immunotherapy. ACS NANO 2024; 18:15557-15575. [PMID: 38837909 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.4c00392] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/07/2024]
Abstract
Tumor vaccines have demonstrated a modest response rate, primarily attributed to their inefficient delivery to dendritic cells (DCs), low cross-presentation, DC-intrinsic immunosuppressive signals, and an immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (TME). Here, draining lymph node (DLN)-targeted and tumor-targeted nanovaccines were proposed to address these limitations, and heterocyclic lipidoid (A18) and polyester (BR647) were synthesized to achieve dual-targeted cancer immunotherapy. Meanwhile, oligo hyaluronic acid (HA) and DMG-PEG2000-Mannose were incorporated to prepare dual-targeted nanovaccines encapsulated with STAT3 siRNA and model antigens. The nanovaccines were designed to target the DLN and the tumor, facilitating the delivery of cargo into the cytoplasm. These dual-targeted nanovaccines improved antigen presentation and DC maturation, activated the stimulator of interferon genes (STING) pathway, enhanced the pro-apoptotic effect, and stimulated antitumor immune responses. Additionally, these dual-targeted nanovaccines overcame immunosuppressive TME, reduced immunosuppressive cells, and promoted the polarization of tumor-associated neutrophils from N2 to N1. Among the four dual-targeted nanovaccines that induced robust antitumor responses, the heterocyclic lipidoid@polyester hybrid nanovaccines (MALO@HBNS) demonstrated the most promising results. Furthermore, a combination strategy involving MALO@HBNS and an anti-PD-L1 antibody exhibited an immensely powerful anticancer role. This work introduced a dual-targeted nanovaccine platform for antitumor treatment, suggesting its potential combination with an immune checkpoint blockade as a comprehensive anticancer strategy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zixu Liu
- Department of Pharmaceutics Science, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang 110116, China
| | - Boyuan Liu
- Department of Pharmaceutics Science, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang 110116, China
| | - Yupeng Feng
- Department of Pharmaceutics Science, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang 110116, China
| | - Linxuan Zhao
- Department of Pharmaceutics, College of Pharmacy Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun 130021, China
| | - Qingqing Wang
- Department of Pharmaceutics Science, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang 110116, China
| | - Haibing He
- Department of Pharmaceutics Science, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang 110116, China
| | - Tian Yin
- School of Chinese Materia Medica, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang 110016, China
| | - Yu Zhang
- Department of Pharmaceutics Science, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang 110116, China
| | - Li Yang
- Department of Pharmaceutics Science, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang 110116, China
| | - Jingxin Gou
- Department of Pharmaceutics Science, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang 110116, China
| | - Xing Tang
- Department of Pharmaceutics Science, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang 110116, China
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20
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Stehbens SJ, Scarpa E, White MD. Perspectives in collective cell migration - moving forward. J Cell Sci 2024; 137:jcs261549. [PMID: 38904172 DOI: 10.1242/jcs.261549] [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: 06/22/2024] Open
Abstract
Collective cell migration, where cells move as a cohesive unit, is a vital process underlying morphogenesis and cancer metastasis. Thanks to recent advances in imaging and modelling, we are beginning to understand the intricate relationship between a cell and its microenvironment and how this shapes cell polarity, metabolism and modes of migration. The use of biophysical and mathematical models offers a fresh perspective on how cells migrate collectively, either flowing in a fluid-like state or transitioning to more static states. Continuing to unite researchers in biology, physics and mathematics will enable us to decode more complex biological behaviours that underly collective cell migration; only then can we understand how this coordinated movement of cells influences the formation and organisation of tissues and directs the spread of metastatic cancer. In this Perspective, we highlight exciting discoveries, emerging themes and common challenges that have arisen in recent years, and possible ways forward to bridge the gaps in our current understanding of collective cell migration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samantha J Stehbens
- The University of Queensland, Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, St Lucia, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
- The University of Queensland, Institute for Molecular Bioscience, St Lucia, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Elena Scarpa
- Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience, University of Cambridge, Downing Site, Cambridge CB2 3DY, UK
| | - Melanie D White
- The University of Queensland, Institute for Molecular Bioscience, St Lucia, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
- The University of Queensland, School of Biomedical Sciences, St Lucia, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
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21
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Senchukova MA. Colorectal cancer and dormant metastases: Put to sleep or destroy? World J Gastrointest Oncol 2024; 16:2304-2317. [PMID: 38994146 PMCID: PMC11236221 DOI: 10.4251/wjgo.v16.i6.2304] [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: 02/24/2024] [Revised: 04/19/2024] [Accepted: 04/30/2024] [Indexed: 06/13/2024] Open
Abstract
After reading the review by An et al "Biological factors driving colorectal cancer metastasis", which covers the problem of the metastasis of colorectal cancer (CRC), I had a desire to discuss with readers one of the exciting problems associated with dormant metastases. Most deaths from CRCs are caused by metastases, which can be detected both at diagnosis of the primary tumor and several years or even decades after treatment. This is because tumor cells that enter the bloodstream can be destroyed by the immune system, cause metastatic growth, or remain dormant for a long time. Dormant tumor cells may not manifest themselves throughout a person's life or, after some time and under appropriate conditions, may give rise to the growth of metastases. In this editorial, we will discuss the most important features of dormant metastases and the mechanisms of premetastatic niche formation, as well as factors that contribute to the activation of dormant metastases in CRCs. We will pay special attention to the possible mechanisms involved in the formation of circulating tumor cell complexes and the choice of therapeutic strategies that promote the dormancy or destruction of tumor cells in CRCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marina A Senchukova
- Department of Oncology, Orenburg State Medical University, Orenburg 460000, Russia
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22
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Yang X, Liu J, Wang S, Al-Ameer WHA, Ji J, Cao J, Dhaen HMS, Lin Y, Zhou Y, Zheng C. Genome wide-scale CRISPR-Cas9 knockout screens identify a fitness score for optimized risk stratification in colorectal cancer. J Transl Med 2024; 22:554. [PMID: 38858785 PMCID: PMC11163718 DOI: 10.1186/s12967-024-05323-3] [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: 02/03/2024] [Accepted: 05/20/2024] [Indexed: 06/12/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The molecular complexity of colorectal cancer poses a significant challenge to the clinical implementation of accurate risk stratification. There is still an urgent need to find better biomarkers to enhance established risk stratification and guide risk-adapted treatment decisions. METHODS we systematically analyzed cancer dependencies of 17 colorectal cancer cells and 513 other cancer cells based on genome-scale CRISPR-Cas9 knockout screens to identify colorectal cancer-specific fitness genes. A regression model was built using colorectal cancer-specific fitness genes, which was validated in other three independent cohorts. 30 published gene expression signatures were also retrieved. FINDINGS We defined a total of 1828 genes that were colorectal cancer-specific fitness genes and identified a 22 colorectal cancer-specific fitness gene (CFG22) score. A high CFG22 score represented unfavorable recurrence and mortality rates, which was validated in three independent cohorts. Combined with age, and TNM stage, the CFG22 model can provide guidance for the prognosis of colorectal cancer patients. Analysis of genomic abnormalities and infiltrating immune cells in the CFG22 risk stratification revealed molecular pathological difference between the subgroups. Besides, drug analysis found that CFG22 high patients were more sensitive to clofibrate. INTERPRETATION The CFG22 model provided a powerful auxiliary prediction tool for identifying colorectal cancer patients with high recurrence risk and poor prognosis, optimizing precise treatment and improving clinical efficacy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiangchou Yang
- Department of Hematology and Medical Oncology, The Second Affiliated Hospital & Yuying Children's Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
| | - Jieyu Liu
- Department of coloproctology, The Second Affiliated Hospital & Yuying Children's Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
| | - Shuaibin Wang
- Department of Urology, The Second Affiliated Hospital & Yuying Children's Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
| | - Wail Hussein Ahmed Al-Ameer
- Department of Hematology and Medical Oncology, The Second Affiliated Hospital & Yuying Children's Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
| | - Jingting Ji
- Department of Infectious Disease, The Second Affiliated Hospital & Yuying Children's Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
| | - Jiaqi Cao
- Department of Hematology and Medical Oncology, The Second Affiliated Hospital & Yuying Children's Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
| | - Hassan Mansour S Dhaen
- Department of Hematology and Medical Oncology, The Second Affiliated Hospital & Yuying Children's Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
| | - Ying Lin
- Department of Hematology and Medical Oncology, The Second Affiliated Hospital & Yuying Children's Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
| | - Yangyang Zhou
- Department of oncology, Shanghai Sixth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200233, China.
| | - Chenguo Zheng
- Department of coloproctology, The Second Affiliated Hospital & Yuying Children's Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China.
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23
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Zhang YW, Gvozdenovic A, Aceto N. A Molecular Voyage: Multiomics Insights into Circulating Tumor Cells. Cancer Discov 2024; 14:920-933. [PMID: 38581442 DOI: 10.1158/2159-8290.cd-24-0218] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2024] [Revised: 03/08/2024] [Accepted: 03/13/2024] [Indexed: 04/08/2024]
Abstract
Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) play a pivotal role in metastasis, the leading cause of cancer-associated death. Recent improvements of CTC isolation tools, coupled with a steady development of multiomics technologies at single-cell resolution, have enabled an extensive exploration of CTC biology, unlocking insights into their molecular profiles. A detailed molecular portrait requires CTC interrogation across various levels encompassing genomic, epigenetic, transcriptomic, proteomic and metabolic features. Here, we review how state-of-the-art multiomics applied to CTCs are shedding light on how cancer spreads. Further, we highlight the potential implications of CTC profiling for clinical applications aimed at enhancing cancer diagnosis and treatment. SIGNIFICANCE Exploring the complexity of cancer progression through cutting-edge multiomics studies holds the promise of uncovering novel aspects of cancer biology and identifying therapeutic vulnerabilities to suppress metastasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Wei Zhang
- Department of Biology, Institute of Molecular Health Sciences, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich (ETH Zurich), Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Ana Gvozdenovic
- Department of Biology, Institute of Molecular Health Sciences, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich (ETH Zurich), Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Nicola Aceto
- Department of Biology, Institute of Molecular Health Sciences, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich (ETH Zurich), Zurich, Switzerland
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24
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Yaghoubi Naei V, Ivanova E, Mullally W, O'Leary CG, Ladwa R, O'Byrne K, Warkiani ME, Kulasinghe A. Characterisation of circulating tumor-associated and immune cells in patients with advanced-stage non-small cell lung cancer. Clin Transl Immunology 2024; 13:e1516. [PMID: 38835954 PMCID: PMC11147668 DOI: 10.1002/cti2.1516] [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] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/29/2024] [Revised: 04/26/2024] [Accepted: 05/16/2024] [Indexed: 06/06/2024] Open
Abstract
Objectives Globally, non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is the most prevalent form of lung cancer and the leading cause of cancer-related deaths. Tumor-associated circulating cells in NSCLC can have a wide variety of morphological and phenotypic characteristics, including epithelial, immunological or hybrid subtypes. The distinctive characteristics and potential clinical significance of these cells in patients with NSCLC are explored in this study. Methods We utilised a spiral microfluidic device to enrich large cells and cell aggregates from the peripheral blood samples of NSCLC patients. These cells were characterised through high-resolution immunofluorescent imaging and statistical analysis, correlating findings with clinical information from our patient cohort. Results We have identified varied populations of heterotypic circulating tumor cell clusters with differing immune cell composition that included a distinct class of atypical tumor-associated macrophages that exhibits unique morphology and cell size. This subtype's prevalence is positively correlated with the tumor stage, progression and metastasis. Conclusions Our study reveals a heterogeneous landscape of circulating tumor cells and their clusters, underscoring the complexity of NSCLC pathobiology. The identification of a unique subtype of atypical tumor-associatedmacrophages that simultaneously express both tumor and immune markers and whose presence correlates with late disease stages, poor clinical outcomes and metastatic risk infers the potential of these cells as biomarkers for NSCLC staging and prognosis. Future studies should focus on the role of these cells in the tumor microenvironment and their potential as therapeutic targets. Additionally, longitudinal studies tracking these cell types through disease progression could provide further insights into their roles in NSCLC evolution and response to treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vahid Yaghoubi Naei
- School of Biomedical EngineeringUniversity of Technology SydneySydneyNSWAustralia
- Frazer Institute, Faculty of MedicineThe University of QueenslandBrisbaneQLDAustralia
| | - Ekaterina Ivanova
- Cancer and Ageing Research Program, Centre for Genomics and Personalised HealthQueensland University of TechnologyWoolloongabbaQLDAustralia
| | | | | | - Rahul Ladwa
- Frazer Institute, Faculty of MedicineThe University of QueenslandBrisbaneQLDAustralia
- The Princess Alexandra HospitalBrisbaneQLDAustralia
| | - Ken O'Byrne
- The Princess Alexandra HospitalBrisbaneQLDAustralia
| | - Majid E Warkiani
- School of Biomedical EngineeringUniversity of Technology SydneySydneyNSWAustralia
| | - Arutha Kulasinghe
- Frazer Institute, Faculty of MedicineThe University of QueenslandBrisbaneQLDAustralia
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25
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Enfield KS, Colliver E, Lee C, Magness A, Moore DA, Sivakumar M, Grigoriadis K, Pich O, Karasaki T, Hobson PS, Levi D, Veeriah S, Puttick C, Nye EL, Green M, Dijkstra KK, Shimato M, Akarca AU, Marafioti T, Salgado R, Hackshaw A, Jamal-Hanjani M, van Maldegem F, McGranahan N, Glass B, Pulaski H, Walk E, Reading JL, Quezada SA, Hiley CT, Downward J, Sahai E, Swanton C, Angelova M. Spatial Architecture of Myeloid and T Cells Orchestrates Immune Evasion and Clinical Outcome in Lung Cancer. Cancer Discov 2024; 14:1018-1047. [PMID: 38581685 PMCID: PMC11145179 DOI: 10.1158/2159-8290.cd-23-1380] [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: 11/17/2023] [Revised: 02/27/2024] [Accepted: 03/22/2024] [Indexed: 04/08/2024]
Abstract
Understanding the role of the tumor microenvironment (TME) in lung cancer is critical to improving patient outcomes. We identified four histology-independent archetype TMEs in treatment-naïve early-stage lung cancer using imaging mass cytometry in the TRACERx study (n = 81 patients/198 samples/2.3 million cells). In immune-hot adenocarcinomas, spatial niches of T cells and macrophages increased with clonal neoantigen burden, whereas such an increase was observed for niches of plasma and B cells in immune-excluded squamous cell carcinomas (LUSC). Immune-low TMEs were associated with fibroblast barriers to immune infiltration. The fourth archetype, characterized by sparse lymphocytes and high tumor-associated neutrophil (TAN) infiltration, had tumor cells spatially separated from vasculature and exhibited low spatial intratumor heterogeneity. TAN-high LUSC had frequent PIK3CA mutations. TAN-high tumors harbored recently expanded and metastasis-seeding subclones and had a shorter disease-free survival independent of stage. These findings delineate genomic, immune, and physical barriers to immune surveillance and implicate neutrophil-rich TMEs in metastasis. SIGNIFICANCE This study provides novel insights into the spatial organization of the lung cancer TME in the context of tumor immunogenicity, tumor heterogeneity, and cancer evolution. Pairing the tumor evolutionary history with the spatially resolved TME suggests mechanistic hypotheses for tumor progression and metastasis with implications for patient outcome and treatment. This article is featured in Selected Articles from This Issue, p. 897.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katey S.S. Enfield
- Cancer Evolution and Genome Instability Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London, United Kingdom
| | - Emma Colliver
- Cancer Evolution and Genome Instability Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London, United Kingdom
| | - Claudia Lee
- Cancer Evolution and Genome Instability Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London, United Kingdom
| | - Alastair Magness
- Cancer Evolution and Genome Instability Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London, United Kingdom
| | - David A. Moore
- 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 Cellular Pathology, University College London Hospitals, London, United Kingdom
| | - Monica Sivakumar
- Cancer Research UK Lung Cancer Centre of Excellence, University College London Cancer Institute, London, United Kingdom
| | - Kristiana Grigoriadis
- 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
- Cancer Genome Evolution Research Group, Cancer Research UK Lung Cancer Centre of Excellence, University College London Cancer Institute, London, United Kingdom
| | - Oriol Pich
- Cancer Evolution and Genome Instability Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London, United Kingdom
| | - Takahiro Karasaki
- 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
- Cancer Metastasis Laboratory, University College London Cancer Institute, London, United Kingdom
| | - Philip S. Hobson
- Flow Cytometry, The Francis Crick Institute, London, United Kingdom
| | - Dina Levi
- Flow Cytometry, The Francis Crick Institute, London, United Kingdom
| | - Selvaraju Veeriah
- Cancer Research UK Lung Cancer Centre of Excellence, University College London Cancer Institute, London, United Kingdom
| | - Clare Puttick
- 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
- Cancer Genome Evolution Research Group, Cancer Research UK Lung Cancer Centre of Excellence, University College London Cancer Institute, London, United Kingdom
| | - Emma L. Nye
- Experimental Histopathology, The Francis Crick Institute, London, United Kingdom
| | - Mary Green
- Experimental Histopathology, The Francis Crick Institute, London, United Kingdom
| | - Krijn K. Dijkstra
- Cancer Evolution and Genome Instability Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London, United Kingdom
| | - Masako Shimato
- Cancer Evolution and Genome Instability Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London, United Kingdom
| | - Ayse U. Akarca
- Department of Cellular Pathology, University College London Hospitals, London, United Kingdom
| | - Teresa Marafioti
- Department of Cellular Pathology, University College London Hospitals, London, United Kingdom
| | - Roberto Salgado
- Department of Pathology, ZAS Hospitals, Antwerp, Belgium
- Division of Research, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Allan Hackshaw
- Cancer Research UK and University College London Cancer Trials Centre, London, United Kingdom
| | | | - Mariam Jamal-Hanjani
- Cancer Research UK Lung Cancer Centre of Excellence, University College London Cancer Institute, London, United Kingdom
- Cancer Metastasis Laboratory, University College London Cancer Institute, London, United Kingdom
- Department of Oncology, University College London Hospitals, London, United Kingdom
| | - Febe van Maldegem
- Oncogene Biology Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London, United Kingdom
| | - Nicholas McGranahan
- Cancer Research UK Lung Cancer Centre of Excellence, University College London Cancer Institute, London, United Kingdom
- Cancer Genome Evolution Research Group, Cancer Research UK Lung Cancer Centre of Excellence, University College London Cancer Institute, London, United Kingdom
| | | | | | | | - James L. Reading
- Cancer Research UK Lung Cancer Centre of Excellence, University College London Cancer Institute, London, United Kingdom
- Pre-cancer Immunology Laboratory, University College London Cancer Institute, London, United Kingdom
- Immune Regulation and Tumour Immunotherapy Group, Cancer Immunology Unit, Research Department of Haematology, University College London Cancer Institute, London, United Kingdom
| | - Sergio A. Quezada
- Cancer Research UK Lung Cancer Centre of Excellence, University College London Cancer Institute, London, United Kingdom
- Immune Regulation and Tumour Immunotherapy Group, Cancer Immunology Unit, Research Department of Haematology, University College London Cancer Institute, London, United Kingdom
| | - Crispin T. Hiley
- 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
| | - Julian Downward
- Oncogene Biology Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London, United Kingdom
| | - Erik Sahai
- Tumour Cell Biology 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
| | - Mihaela Angelova
- Cancer Evolution and Genome Instability Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London, United Kingdom
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26
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Wiegmans AP, Ivanova E, Naei VY, Monkman J, Fletcher J, Mullally W, Warkiani ME, O'Byrne K, Kulasinghe A. Poor patient outcome correlates with active engulfment of cytokeratin positive CTCs within cancer-associated monocyte population in lung cancer. Clin Exp Metastasis 2024; 41:219-228. [PMID: 38416302 PMCID: PMC11213738 DOI: 10.1007/s10585-024-10270-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2023] [Accepted: 01/18/2024] [Indexed: 02/29/2024]
Abstract
High rates of mortality in non-small cell lung cancer lung cancer is due to inherent and acquired resistance to systemic therapies and subsequent metastatic burden. Metastasis is supported by suppression of the immune system at secondary organs and within the circulation. Modulation of the immune system is now being exploited as a therapeutic target with immune checkpoint inhibitors. The tracking of therapeutic efficacy in a real-time can be achieved with liquid biopsy, and evaluation of circulating tumour cells and the associated immune cells. A stable liquid biopsy biomarker for non-small cell lung cancer lung cancer has yet to be approved for clinical use. We performed a cross-sectional single-site study, and collected liquid biopsies from patients diagnosed with early, locally advanced, or metastatic lung cancer, undergoing surgery, or systemic therapy (chemotherapy/checkpoint inhibitors). Evaluation of overall circulating tumour cell counts, or cluster counts did not correlate with patient outcome. Interestingly, the numbers of Pan cytokeratin positive circulating tumour cells engulfed by tumour associated monocytes correlated strongly with patient outcome independent of circulating tumour cell counts and the use of checkpoint inhibitors. We suggest that Pan cytokeratin staining within monocytes is an important indicator of tumour-associated inflammation post-therapy and an effective biomarker with strong prognostic capability for patient outcome.
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Affiliation(s)
- A P Wiegmans
- Cancer and Ageing Research Program, Centre for Genomics and Personalised Health, Queensland University of Technology, Woolloongabba, QLD, 4102, Australia
- Princess Alexandra Hospital, Oncology, Woolloongabba, QLD, 4102, Australia
| | - E Ivanova
- Cancer and Ageing Research Program, Centre for Genomics and Personalised Health, Queensland University of Technology, Woolloongabba, QLD, 4102, Australia
| | - V Y Naei
- School of Biomedical Engineering, University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, Australia
- Faculty of Medicine, Frazer Institute, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - J Monkman
- Faculty of Medicine, Frazer Institute, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - J Fletcher
- Princess Alexandra Hospital, Oncology, Woolloongabba, QLD, 4102, Australia
| | - W Mullally
- Princess Alexandra Hospital, Oncology, Woolloongabba, QLD, 4102, Australia
| | - M E Warkiani
- School of Biomedical Engineering, University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - K O'Byrne
- Cancer and Ageing Research Program, Centre for Genomics and Personalised Health, Queensland University of Technology, Woolloongabba, QLD, 4102, Australia
- Princess Alexandra Hospital, Oncology, Woolloongabba, QLD, 4102, Australia
| | - A Kulasinghe
- Faculty of Medicine, Frazer Institute, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.
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27
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Sun H, Li S, Wang Q, Luo C, Zhong L, Wan G, Li Z, Zhao G, Bu X, Zeng M, Feng G. Formyl peptide enhances cancer immunotherapy by activating antitumoral neutrophils, and T cells. Biomed Pharmacother 2024; 175:116670. [PMID: 38692065 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2024.116670] [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: 02/22/2024] [Revised: 04/17/2024] [Accepted: 04/24/2024] [Indexed: 05/03/2024] Open
Abstract
Neutrophils are heterogeneous and plastic, with the ability to polarize from antitumour to protumour phenotype and modulate tumour microenvironment components. While some advances have been made, the neutrophil-targeting therapy remains underexplored. Activation of formyl peptide receptors (FPRs) by formylated peptides is needed for local control of infection through the recruitment of activated neutrophils while the potential contribution of antitumour activity remains underexplored. Here, we demonstrate that neutrophils can be harnessed to suppress tumour growth through the action of the formyl peptide (FP) on the formyl peptide receptor (FPR). Mechanistically, FP efficiently recruits neutrophils to produce reactive oxygen species production (ROS), resulting in the direct killing of tumours. Antitumour functions disappeared when neutrophils were depleted by anti-Ly6G antibodies. Interestingly, extensive T-cell activation was observed in mouse tumours treated with FP, showing the potential to alter the immune suppressed tumour microenvironment (TME) and further sensitize mice to anti-PD1 therapy. Transcriptomic and flow cytometry analyses revealed the mechanisms of FP-sensitized anti-PD1 therapy, mainly including stimulated neutrophils and an altered immune-suppressed tumour microenvironment. Collectively, these data establish FP as an effective combination partner for sensitizing anti-PD1 therapy by stimulating tumour-infiltrated neutrophils.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haixia Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Diagnosis and Therapy, Department of Experimental Research, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou,Guangdong 510060, China; Department of Pharmacy, Shenzhen Third People's Hospital, Shenzhen, Guangdong Province 518112, China
| | - Shuxin Li
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Diagnosis and Therapy, Department of Experimental Research, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou,Guangdong 510060, China
| | - Qiaoli Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Diagnosis and Therapy, Department of Experimental Research, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou,Guangdong 510060, China
| | - Chunxiang Luo
- Guangxi Hospital Division of The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Nanning 530022, China
| | - Lanyi Zhong
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Diagnosis and Therapy, Department of Experimental Research, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou,Guangdong 510060, China
| | - Guohui Wan
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Ziqian Li
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Diagnosis and Therapy, Department of Experimental Research, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou,Guangdong 510060, China
| | - Gexin Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Diagnosis and Therapy, Department of Experimental Research, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou,Guangdong 510060, China
| | - Xianzhang Bu
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Musheng Zeng
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Diagnosis and Therapy, Department of Experimental Research, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou,Guangdong 510060, China
| | - Guokai Feng
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Diagnosis and Therapy, Department of Experimental Research, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou,Guangdong 510060, China.
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28
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Merteroglu M, Santoro MM. Exploiting the metabolic vulnerability of circulating tumour cells. Trends Cancer 2024; 10:541-556. [PMID: 38580535 DOI: 10.1016/j.trecan.2024.03.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2023] [Revised: 03/11/2024] [Accepted: 03/12/2024] [Indexed: 04/07/2024]
Abstract
Metastasis has a major part in the severity of disease and lethality of cancer. Circulating tumour cells (CTCs) represent a reservoir of metastatic precursors in circulation, most of which cannot survive due to hostile conditions in the bloodstream. Surviving cells colonise a secondary site based on a combination of physical, metabolic, and oxidative stress protection states required for that environment. Recent advances in CTC isolation methods and high-resolution 'omics technologies are revealing specific metabolic pathways that support this selection of CTCs. In this review, we discuss recent advances in our understanding of CTC biology and discoveries of adaptations in metabolic pathways during their selection. Understanding these traits and delineating mechanisms by which they confer acquired resistance or vulnerability in CTCs is crucial for developing successful prognostic and therapeutic strategies in cancer.
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29
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Wang H, Zhang Y, Zhang H, Cao H, Mao J, Chen X, Wang L, Zhang N, Luo P, Xue J, Qi X, Dong X, Liu G, Cheng Q. Liquid biopsy for human cancer: cancer screening, monitoring, and treatment. MedComm (Beijing) 2024; 5:e564. [PMID: 38807975 PMCID: PMC11130638 DOI: 10.1002/mco2.564] [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: 04/23/2023] [Revised: 04/16/2024] [Accepted: 04/23/2024] [Indexed: 05/30/2024] Open
Abstract
Currently, tumor treatment modalities such as immunotherapy and targeted therapy have more stringent requirements for obtaining tumor growth information and require more accurate and easy-to-operate tumor information detection methods. Compared with traditional tissue biopsy, liquid biopsy is a novel, minimally invasive, real-time detection tool for detecting information directly or indirectly released by tumors in human body fluids, which is more suitable for the requirements of new tumor treatment modalities. Liquid biopsy has not been widely used in clinical practice, and there are fewer reviews of related clinical applications. This review summarizes the clinical applications of liquid biopsy components (e.g., circulating tumor cells, circulating tumor DNA, extracellular vesicles, etc.) in tumorigenesis and progression. This includes the development process and detection techniques of liquid biopsies, early screening of tumors, tumor growth detection, and guiding therapeutic strategies (liquid biopsy-based personalized medicine and prediction of treatment response). Finally, the current challenges and future directions for clinical applications of liquid biopsy are proposed. In sum, this review will inspire more researchers to use liquid biopsy technology to promote the realization of individualized therapy, improve the efficacy of tumor therapy, and provide better therapeutic options for tumor patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hao Wang
- Department of NeurosurgeryThe Second Affiliated Hospital, Chongqing Medical UniversityChongqingChina
| | - Yi Zhang
- Department of NeurosurgeryThe Second Affiliated Hospital, Chongqing Medical UniversityChongqingChina
| | - Hao Zhang
- Department of NeurosurgeryThe Second Affiliated Hospital, Chongqing Medical UniversityChongqingChina
| | - Hui Cao
- Department of PsychiatryThe School of Clinical Medicine, Hunan University of Chinese MedicineChangshaChina
- Department of PsychiatryBrain Hospital of Hunan Province (The Second People’s Hospital of Hunan Province)ChangshaChina
| | - Jinning Mao
- Health Management CenterThe Second Affiliated Hospital, Chongqing Medical UniversityChongqingChina
| | - Xinxin Chen
- Department of NeurosurgeryThe Second Affiliated Hospital, Chongqing Medical UniversityChongqingChina
| | - Liangchi Wang
- Department of NeurosurgeryFengdu People's Hospital, ChongqingChongqingChina
| | - Nan Zhang
- College of Life Science and TechnologyHuazhong University of Science and TechnologyWuhanChina
| | - Peng Luo
- Department of OncologyZhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical UniversityGuangzhouChina
| | - Ji Xue
- Department of NeurosurgeryTraditional Chinese Medicine Hospital Dianjiang ChongqingChongqingChina
| | - Xiaoya Qi
- Health Management CenterThe Second Affiliated Hospital, Chongqing Medical UniversityChongqingChina
| | - Xiancheng Dong
- Department of Cerebrovascular DiseasesDazhou Central HospitalSichuanChina
| | - Guodong Liu
- Department of NeurosurgeryThe Second Affiliated Hospital, Chongqing Medical UniversityChongqingChina
| | - Quan Cheng
- Department of NeurosurgeryXiangya Hospital, Central South UniversityChangshaChina
- National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric DisordersXiangya Hospital, Central South UniversityChangshaChina
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30
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Huang BT, Lin PX, Luo LM, Wang Y. Incorporating the inflammation-related parameters enhances the performance of the nomogram for predicting local control in lung cancer patients treated with stereotactic body radiation therapy. J Cancer Res Clin Oncol 2024; 150:284. [PMID: 38811379 PMCID: PMC11136767 DOI: 10.1007/s00432-024-05811-5] [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: 12/02/2023] [Accepted: 05/20/2024] [Indexed: 05/31/2024]
Abstract
PURPOSE The study aims to investigate whether including the inflammation-related parameters would enhance the accuracy of a nomogram for local control (LC) prediction in lung cancer patients undergoing stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT). METHODS 158 primary or metastatic lung cancer patients treated with SBRT were retrospectively analyzed. The clinical, dosimetric and inflammation-related parameters were collected for the Cox regression analysis. The ACPB model was constructed by employing the clinical and dosimetric factors. And the ACPBLN model was established by adding the inflammation-related factors to the ACPB model. The two models were compared in terms of ROC, Akaike Information Criterion (AIC), C-index, time-dependent AUC, continuous net reclassification index (NRI), integrated discrimination improvement (IDI), calibration plots and decision curve analysis (DCA). RESULTS Multivariate Cox regression analysis revealed that six prognostic factors were independently associated with LC, including age, clinical stage, planning target volume (PTV) volume, BED of the prescribed dose (BEDPD), the lymphocyte count and neutrocyte count. The ACPBLN model performed better in AIC, bootstrap-corrected C-index, time-dependent AUC, NRI and IDI than the ACPB model. The calibration plots showed good consistency between the probabilities and observed values in the two models. The DCA curves showed that the ACPBLN nomogram had higher overall net benefit than the ACPB model across a majority of threshold probabilities. CONCLUSION The inflammation-related parameters were associated with LC for lung cancer patients treated with SBRT. The inclusion of the inflammation-related parameters improved the predictive performance of the nomogram for LC prediction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bao-Tian Huang
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Cancer Hospital of Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, 515031, Guangdong, China.
| | - Pei-Xian Lin
- Department of Nosocomial Infection Management, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, 515041, Guangdong, China
| | - Li-Mei Luo
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Affiliated Cancer Hospital & Institute of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, 510095, Guangdong, China
| | - Ying Wang
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Cancer Hospital of Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, 515031, Guangdong, China
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31
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Xia X, Xu F, Dai D, Xiong A, Sun R, Ling Y, Qiu L, Wang R, Ding Y, Lin M, Li H, Xie Z. VDR is a potential prognostic biomarker and positively correlated with immune infiltration: a comprehensive pan-cancer analysis with experimental verification. Biosci Rep 2024; 44:BSR20231845. [PMID: 38639057 PMCID: PMC11065647 DOI: 10.1042/bsr20231845] [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: 10/30/2023] [Revised: 03/08/2024] [Accepted: 04/17/2024] [Indexed: 04/20/2024] Open
Abstract
The vitamin D receptor (VDR) is a transcription factor that mediates a variety of biological functions of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3. Although there is growing evidence of cytological and animal studies supporting the suppressive role of VDR in cancers, the conclusion is still controversial in human cancers and no systematic pan-cancer analysis of VDR is available. We explored the relationships between VDR expression and prognosis, immune infiltration, tumor microenvironment, or gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) in 33 types of human cancers based on multiple public databases and R software. Meanwhile, the expression and role of VDR were experimentally validated in papillary thyroid cancer (PTC). VDR expression decreased in 8 types and increased in 12 types of cancer compared with normal tissues. Increased expression of VDR was associated with either good or poor prognosis in 13 cancer types. VDR expression was positively correlated with the infiltration of cancer-associated fibroblasts, macrophages, or neutrophils in 20, 12, and 10 cancer types respectively and this correlation was experimentally validated in PTC. Increased VDR expression was associated with increased percentage of stromal or immune components in tumor microenvironment (TME) in 24 cancer types. VDR positively and negatively correlated genes were enriched in immune cell function and energy metabolism pathways, respectively, in the top 9 highly lethal tumors. Additionally, VDR expression was increased in PTC and inhibited cell proliferation and migration. In conclusion, VDR is a potential prognostic biomarker and positively correlated with immune infiltration as well as stromal or immune components in TME in multiple human cancers.
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MESH Headings
- Receptors, Calcitriol/genetics
- Receptors, Calcitriol/metabolism
- Humans
- Tumor Microenvironment/immunology
- Biomarkers, Tumor/genetics
- Biomarkers, Tumor/metabolism
- Prognosis
- Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic
- Thyroid Cancer, Papillary/immunology
- Thyroid Cancer, Papillary/genetics
- Thyroid Cancer, Papillary/pathology
- Thyroid Cancer, Papillary/metabolism
- Tumor-Associated Macrophages/immunology
- Tumor-Associated Macrophages/metabolism
- Thyroid Neoplasms/immunology
- Thyroid Neoplasms/genetics
- Thyroid Neoplasms/pathology
- Thyroid Neoplasms/metabolism
- Neoplasms/immunology
- Neoplasms/genetics
- Neoplasms/metabolism
- Neoplasms/pathology
- Cell Line, Tumor
- Cancer-Associated Fibroblasts/metabolism
- Cancer-Associated Fibroblasts/immunology
- Cancer-Associated Fibroblasts/pathology
- Databases, Genetic
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuedi Xia
- National Clinical Research Center for Metabolic Diseases, Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory of Metabolic Bone Diseases, and Department of Metabolism and Endocrinology, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, 139 Middle Renmin Road, Changsha 410011, Hunan, China
| | - Feng Xu
- National Clinical Research Center for Metabolic Diseases, Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory of Metabolic Bone Diseases, and Department of Metabolism and Endocrinology, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, 139 Middle Renmin Road, Changsha 410011, Hunan, China
| | - Dexing Dai
- National Clinical Research Center for Metabolic Diseases, Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory of Metabolic Bone Diseases, and Department of Metabolism and Endocrinology, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, 139 Middle Renmin Road, Changsha 410011, Hunan, China
| | - An Xiong
- National Clinical Research Center for Metabolic Diseases, Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory of Metabolic Bone Diseases, and Department of Metabolism and Endocrinology, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, 139 Middle Renmin Road, Changsha 410011, Hunan, China
| | - Ruoman Sun
- National Clinical Research Center for Metabolic Diseases, Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory of Metabolic Bone Diseases, and Department of Metabolism and Endocrinology, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, 139 Middle Renmin Road, Changsha 410011, Hunan, China
| | - Yali Ling
- National Clinical Research Center for Metabolic Diseases, Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory of Metabolic Bone Diseases, and Department of Metabolism and Endocrinology, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, 139 Middle Renmin Road, Changsha 410011, Hunan, China
| | - Lei Qiu
- National Clinical Research Center for Metabolic Diseases, Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory of Metabolic Bone Diseases, and Department of Metabolism and Endocrinology, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, 139 Middle Renmin Road, Changsha 410011, Hunan, China
| | - Rui Wang
- National Clinical Research Center for Metabolic Diseases, Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory of Metabolic Bone Diseases, and Department of Metabolism and Endocrinology, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, 139 Middle Renmin Road, Changsha 410011, Hunan, China
| | - Ya Ding
- National Clinical Research Center for Metabolic Diseases, Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory of Metabolic Bone Diseases, and Department of Metabolism and Endocrinology, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, 139 Middle Renmin Road, Changsha 410011, Hunan, China
| | - Miaoying Lin
- National Clinical Research Center for Metabolic Diseases, Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory of Metabolic Bone Diseases, and Department of Metabolism and Endocrinology, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, 139 Middle Renmin Road, Changsha 410011, Hunan, China
| | - Haibo Li
- National Clinical Research Center for Metabolic Diseases, Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory of Metabolic Bone Diseases, and Department of Metabolism and Endocrinology, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, 139 Middle Renmin Road, Changsha 410011, Hunan, China
| | - Zhongjian Xie
- National Clinical Research Center for Metabolic Diseases, Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory of Metabolic Bone Diseases, and Department of Metabolism and Endocrinology, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, 139 Middle Renmin Road, Changsha 410011, Hunan, China
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Hagan CE, Snyder AG, Headley M, Oberst A. Apoptotic cells promote circulating tumor cell survival and metastasis. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.05.21.595217. [PMID: 38826267 PMCID: PMC11142129 DOI: 10.1101/2024.05.21.595217] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/04/2024]
Abstract
During tumor progression and especially following cytotoxic therapy, cell death of both tumor and stromal cells is widespread. Despite clinical observations that high levels of apoptotic cells correlate with poorer patient outcomes, the physiological effects of dying cells on tumor progression remain incompletely understood. Here, we report that circulating apoptotic cells robustly enhance tumor cell metastasis to the lungs. Using intravenous metastasis models, we observed that the presence of apoptotic cells, but not cells dying by other mechanisms, supports circulating tumor cell (CTC) survival following arrest in the lung vasculature. Apoptotic cells promote CTC survival by recruiting platelets to the forming metastatic niche. Apoptotic cells externalize the phospholipid phosphatidylserine to the outer leaflet of the plasma membrane, which we found increased the activity of the coagulation initiator Tissue Factor, thereby triggering the formation of platelet clots that protect proximal CTCs. Inhibiting the ability of apoptotic cells to induce coagulation by knocking out Tissue Factor, blocking phosphatidylserine, or administering the anticoagulant heparin abrogated the pro-metastatic effect of apoptotic cells. This work demonstrates a previously unappreciated role for apoptotic cells in facilitating metastasis by establishing CTC-supportive emboli, and suggests points of intervention that may reduce the pro-metastatic effect of apoptotic cells. GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT
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Huang X, Nepovimova E, Adam V, Sivak L, Heger Z, Valko M, Wu Q, Kuca K. Neutrophils in Cancer immunotherapy: friends or foes? Mol Cancer 2024; 23:107. [PMID: 38760815 PMCID: PMC11102125 DOI: 10.1186/s12943-024-02004-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2024] [Accepted: 04/16/2024] [Indexed: 05/19/2024] Open
Abstract
Neutrophils play a Janus-faced role in the complex landscape of cancer pathogenesis and immunotherapy. As immune defense cells, neutrophils release toxic substances, including reactive oxygen species and matrix metalloproteinase 9, within the tumor microenvironment. They also modulate the expression of tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand and Fas ligand, augmenting their capacity to induce tumor cell apoptosis. Their involvement in antitumor immune regulation synergistically activates a network of immune cells, bolstering anticancer effects. Paradoxically, neutrophils can succumb to the influence of tumors, triggering signaling cascades such as JAK/STAT, which deactivate the immune system network, thereby promoting immune evasion by malignant cells. Additionally, neutrophil granular constituents, such as neutrophil elastase and vascular endothelial growth factor, intricately fuel tumor cell proliferation, metastasis, and angiogenesis. Understanding the mechanisms that guide neutrophils to collaborate with other immune cells for comprehensive tumor eradication is crucial to enhancing the efficacy of cancer therapeutics. In this review, we illuminate the underlying mechanisms governing neutrophil-mediated support or inhibition of tumor progression, with a particular focus on elucidating the internal and external factors that influence neutrophil polarization. We provide an overview of recent advances in clinical research regarding the involvement of neutrophils in cancer therapy. Moreover, the future prospects and limitations of neutrophil research are discussed, aiming to provide fresh insights for the development of innovative cancer treatment strategies targeting neutrophils.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xueqin Huang
- College of Life Science, Yangtze University, Jingzhou, 434025, China
| | - Eugenie Nepovimova
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Hradec Králové, 500 03, Hradec Králové, Czech Republic
| | - Vojtech Adam
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Mendel University in Brno, 613 00, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Ladislav Sivak
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Mendel University in Brno, 613 00, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Zbynek Heger
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Mendel University in Brno, 613 00, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Marian Valko
- Faculty of Chemical and Food Technology, Slovak University of Technology, 812 37, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Qinghua Wu
- College of Life Science, Yangtze University, Jingzhou, 434025, China.
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Hradec Králové, 500 03, Hradec Králové, Czech Republic.
| | - Kamil Kuca
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Hradec Králové, 500 03, Hradec Králové, Czech Republic.
- Biomedical Research Center, University Hospital Hradec Kralove, 500 05, Hradec Kralove, Czech Republic.
- Andalusian Research Institute in Data Science and Computational Intelligence (DaSCI), University of Granada, Granada, Spain.
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Zhou W, Zhu C, Shen P, Wang JF, Zhu G, Jia Y, Wu Y, Wang S, Sun J, Yang F, Song Y, Han X, Guan X. Hypoxia stimulates CTC-platelet cluster formation to promote breast cancer metastasis. iScience 2024; 27:109547. [PMID: 38660400 PMCID: PMC11039329 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2024.109547] [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: 10/16/2023] [Revised: 01/02/2024] [Accepted: 03/18/2024] [Indexed: 04/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Circulating tumor cell clusters/micro-emboli (CTM) possess greater metastatic capacity and survival advantage compared to individual circulating tumor cell (CTC). However, the formation of CTM subtypes and their role in tumor metastasis remain unclear. In this study, we used a microfluidic Cluster-Chip with easy operation and high efficiency to isolate CTM from peripheral blood, which confirmed their correlation with clinicopathological features and identified the critical role of CTC-platelet clusters in breast cancer metastasis. The correlation between platelets and CTM function was further confirmed in a mouse model and RNA sequencing of CTM identified high-expressed genes related to hypoxia stimulation and platelet activation which possibly suggested the correlation of hypoxia and CTC-platelet cluster formation. In conclusion, we successfully developed the Cluster-Chip platform to realize the clinical capture of CTMs and analyze the biological properties of CTC-platelet clusters, which could benefit the design of potential treatment regimens to prevent CTM-mediated metastasis and tumor malignant progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weijia Zhou
- Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center of Chinese Medicinal Resources Industrialization, School of Medicine & Holistic Integrative Medicine, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Chengjun Zhu
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210029, China
| | - Peiliang Shen
- Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center of Chinese Medicinal Resources Industrialization, School of Medicine & Holistic Integrative Medicine, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Jacqueline F. Wang
- Department of Medicine, NYU Langone Health, 550 First Avenue, New York, NY 10016, USA
| | - Gaoshuang Zhu
- Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center of Chinese Medicinal Resources Industrialization, School of Medicine & Holistic Integrative Medicine, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Yuanyuan Jia
- Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center of Chinese Medicinal Resources Industrialization, School of Medicine & Holistic Integrative Medicine, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Yueyao Wu
- Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center of Chinese Medicinal Resources Industrialization, School of Medicine & Holistic Integrative Medicine, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Siliang Wang
- Department of Pharmacy, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, The Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, Nanjing 210008, China
| | - Jia Sun
- Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center of Chinese Medicinal Resources Industrialization, School of Medicine & Holistic Integrative Medicine, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Fang Yang
- The Comprehensive cancer Center of Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210008, China
| | - Yanni Song
- Department of Breast Surgery, Harbin Medical University Cancer Hospital, 150 Haping Road, Harbin 150081, China
| | - Xin Han
- Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center of Chinese Medicinal Resources Industrialization, School of Medicine & Holistic Integrative Medicine, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Xiaoxiang Guan
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210029, China
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Ryan AT, Kim M, Lim K. Immune Cell Migration to Cancer. Cells 2024; 13:844. [PMID: 38786066 PMCID: PMC11120175 DOI: 10.3390/cells13100844] [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: 03/23/2024] [Revised: 04/27/2024] [Accepted: 05/03/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Immune cell migration is required for the development of an effective and robust immune response. This elegant process is regulated by both cellular and environmental factors, with variables such as immune cell state, anatomical location, and disease state that govern differences in migration patterns. In all cases, a major factor is the expression of cell surface receptors and their cognate ligands. Rapid adaptation to environmental conditions partly depends on intrinsic cellular immune factors that affect a cell's ability to adjust to new environment. In this review, we discuss both myeloid and lymphoid cells and outline key determinants that govern immune cell migration, including molecules required for immune cell adhesion, modes of migration, chemotaxis, and specific chemokine signaling. Furthermore, we summarize tumor-specific elements that contribute to immune cell trafficking to cancer, while also exploring microenvironment factors that can alter these cellular dynamics within the tumor in both a pro and antitumor fashion. Specifically, we highlight the importance of the secretome in these later aspects. This review considers a myriad of factors that impact immune cell trajectory in cancer. We aim to highlight the immunotherapeutic targets that can be harnessed to achieve controlled immune trafficking to and within tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Allison T. Ryan
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY 14642, USA; (A.T.R.); (M.K.)
- David H. Smith Center for Vaccine Biology and Immunology, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY 14642, USA
| | - Minsoo Kim
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY 14642, USA; (A.T.R.); (M.K.)
- David H. Smith Center for Vaccine Biology and Immunology, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY 14642, USA
| | - Kihong Lim
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY 14642, USA; (A.T.R.); (M.K.)
- David H. Smith Center for Vaccine Biology and Immunology, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY 14642, USA
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Pastuszak K, Sieczczyński M, Dzięgielewska M, Wolniak R, Drewnowska A, Korpal M, Zembrzuska L, Supernat A, Żaczek AJ. Detection of circulating tumor cells by means of machine learning using Smart-Seq2 sequencing. Sci Rep 2024; 14:11057. [PMID: 38744942 PMCID: PMC11094170 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-61378-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2023] [Accepted: 05/06/2024] [Indexed: 05/16/2024] Open
Abstract
Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) are tumor cells that separate from the solid tumor and enter the bloodstream, which can cause metastasis. Detection and enumeration of CTCs show promising potential as a predictor for prognosis in cancer patients. Furthermore, single-cells sequencing is a technique that provides genetic information from individual cells and allows to classify them precisely and reliably. Sequencing data typically comprises thousands of gene expression reads per cell, which artificial intelligence algorithms can accurately analyze. This work presents machine-learning-based classifiers that differentiate CTCs from peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) based on single cell RNA sequencing data. We developed four tree-based models and we trained and tested them on a dataset consisting of Smart-Seq2 sequenced data from primary tumor sections of breast cancer patients and PBMCs and on a public dataset with manually annotated CTC expression profiles from 34 metastatic breast patients, including triple-negative breast cancer. Our best models achieved about 95% balanced accuracy on the CTC test set on per cell basis, correctly detecting 133 out of 138 CTCs and CTC-PBMC clusters. Considering the non-invasive character of the liquid biopsy examination and our accurate results, we can conclude that our work has potential application value.
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Affiliation(s)
- Krzysztof Pastuszak
- Faculty of Electronics, Telecommunication and Informatics, Gdańsk University of Technology, Gabriela Narutowicza 11/12, 80-233, Gdańsk, Poland.
- Laboratory of Translational Oncology, Intercollegiate Faculty of Biotechnology, Medical University of Gdańsk, Marii Skłodowskiej-Curie 3a, 80-210, Gdańsk, Poland.
- Centre of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, Medical University of Gdańsk, Marii Skłodowskiej-Curie 3a, 80-210, Gdańsk, Poland.
| | - Michał Sieczczyński
- Centre of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, Medical University of Gdańsk, Marii Skłodowskiej-Curie 3a, 80-210, Gdańsk, Poland
| | - Marta Dzięgielewska
- Faculty of Electronics, Telecommunication and Informatics, Gdańsk University of Technology, Gabriela Narutowicza 11/12, 80-233, Gdańsk, Poland
| | - Rafał Wolniak
- Faculty of Electronics, Telecommunication and Informatics, Gdańsk University of Technology, Gabriela Narutowicza 11/12, 80-233, Gdańsk, Poland
| | - Agata Drewnowska
- Faculty of Electronics, Telecommunication and Informatics, Gdańsk University of Technology, Gabriela Narutowicza 11/12, 80-233, Gdańsk, Poland
| | - Marcel Korpal
- Faculty of Electronics, Telecommunication and Informatics, Gdańsk University of Technology, Gabriela Narutowicza 11/12, 80-233, Gdańsk, Poland
| | - Laura Zembrzuska
- Faculty of Electronics, Telecommunication and Informatics, Gdańsk University of Technology, Gabriela Narutowicza 11/12, 80-233, Gdańsk, Poland
| | - Anna Supernat
- Laboratory of Translational Oncology, Intercollegiate Faculty of Biotechnology, Medical University of Gdańsk, Marii Skłodowskiej-Curie 3a, 80-210, Gdańsk, Poland
- Centre of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, Medical University of Gdańsk, Marii Skłodowskiej-Curie 3a, 80-210, Gdańsk, Poland
| | - Anna J Żaczek
- Laboratory of Translational Oncology, Intercollegiate Faculty of Biotechnology, Medical University of Gdańsk, Marii Skłodowskiej-Curie 3a, 80-210, Gdańsk, Poland.
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Jing W, Wang G, Cui Z, Li X, Zeng S, Jiang X, Li W, Han B, Xing N, Zhao Y, Chen S, Shi B. Tumor-neutrophil cross talk orchestrates the tumor microenvironment to determine the bladder cancer progression. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2024; 121:e2312855121. [PMID: 38713626 PMCID: PMC11098120 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2312855121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2023] [Accepted: 03/13/2024] [Indexed: 05/09/2024] Open
Abstract
The immune landscape of bladder cancer progression is not fully understood, and effective therapies are lacking in advanced bladder cancer. Here, we visualized that bladder cancer cells recruited neutrophils by secreting interleukin-8 (IL-8); in turn, neutrophils played dual functions in bladder cancer, including hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) release and CCL3highPD-L1high super-immunosuppressive subset formation. Mechanistically, c-Fos was identified as the mediator of HGF up-regulating IL-8 transcription in bladder cancer cells, which was central to the positive feedback of neutrophil recruitment. Clinically, compared with serum IL-8, urine IL-8 was a better biomarker for bladder cancer prognosis and clinical benefit of immune checkpoint blockade (ICB). Additionally, targeting neutrophils or hepatocyte growth factor receptor (MET) signaling combined with ICB inhibited bladder cancer progression and boosted the antitumor effect of CD8+ T cells in mice. These findings reveal the mechanism by which tumor-neutrophil cross talk orchestrates the bladder cancer microenvironment and provide combination strategies, which may have broad impacts on patients suffering from malignancies enriched with neutrophils.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weiqiang Jing
- Department of Urology, Qilu Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong Province250012, China
| | - Ganyu Wang
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Qilu Hospital Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong Province250012, China
| | - Zhiwei Cui
- Department of Immunology, Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Infection & Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong Province250012, China
| | - Xinyuan Li
- Department of Immunology, Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Infection & Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong Province250012, China
| | - Shuyan Zeng
- Department of Immunology, Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Infection & Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong Province250012, China
| | - Xin Jiang
- Department of Urology, Qilu Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong Province250012, China
| | - Wushan Li
- Department of Obstetrics, Jinan Maternity and Child Care Hospital Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, Shandong Province250000, China
| | - Bo Han
- The Key Laboratory of Experimental Teratology, Ministry of Education and Department of Pathology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong Province250012, China
| | - Nianzeng Xing
- Department of Urology and State Key Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing10021, China
| | - Yunxue Zhao
- Department of Immunology, Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Infection & Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong Province250012, China
| | - Shouzhen Chen
- Department of Urology, Qilu Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong Province250012, China
| | - Benkang Shi
- Department of Urology, Qilu Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong Province250012, China
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38
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Garcia-Leon MJ, Liboni C, Mittelheisser V, Bochler L, Follain G, Mouriaux C, Busnelli I, Larnicol A, Colin F, Peralta M, Osmani N, Gensbittel V, Bourdon C, Samaniego R, Pichot A, Paul N, Molitor A, Carapito R, Jandrot-Perrus M, Lefebvre O, Mangin PH, Goetz JG. Platelets favor the outgrowth of established metastases. Nat Commun 2024; 15:3297. [PMID: 38740748 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-47516-w] [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: 09/22/2023] [Accepted: 03/26/2024] [Indexed: 05/16/2024] Open
Abstract
Despite abundant evidence demonstrating that platelets foster metastasis, anti-platelet agents have low therapeutic potential due to the risk of hemorrhages. In addition, whether platelets can regulate metastasis at the late stages of the disease remains unknown. In this study, we subject syngeneic models of metastasis to various thrombocytopenic regimes to show that platelets provide a biphasic contribution to metastasis. While potent intravascular binding of platelets to tumor cells efficiently promotes metastasis, platelets further support the outgrowth of established metastases via immune suppression. Genetic depletion and pharmacological targeting of the glycoprotein VI (GPVI) platelet-specific receptor in humanized mouse models efficiently reduce the growth of established metastases, independently of active platelet binding to tumor cells in the bloodstream. Our study demonstrates therapeutic efficacy when targeting animals bearing growing metastases. It further identifies GPVI as a molecular target whose inhibition can impair metastasis without inducing collateral hemostatic perturbations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria J Garcia-Leon
- Tumor Biomechanics, INSERM UMR_S1109, Strasbourg, France.
- Université de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France.
- Fédération de Médecine Translationnelle de Strasbourg (FMTS), Strasbourg, France.
- Equipe Labellisée Ligue Contre le Cancer, Paris, France.
- Domain therapeutics, Parc d'Innovation - 220 Boulevard Gonthier D'Andernach, 67400, Strasbourg - Illkirch, France.
| | - Cristina Liboni
- Tumor Biomechanics, INSERM UMR_S1109, Strasbourg, France
- Université de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France
- Fédération de Médecine Translationnelle de Strasbourg (FMTS), Strasbourg, France
- Equipe Labellisée Ligue Contre le Cancer, Paris, France
| | - Vincent Mittelheisser
- Tumor Biomechanics, INSERM UMR_S1109, Strasbourg, France
- Université de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France
- Fédération de Médecine Translationnelle de Strasbourg (FMTS), Strasbourg, France
- Equipe Labellisée Ligue Contre le Cancer, Paris, France
| | - Louis Bochler
- Tumor Biomechanics, INSERM UMR_S1109, Strasbourg, France
- Université de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France
- Fédération de Médecine Translationnelle de Strasbourg (FMTS), Strasbourg, France
- Equipe Labellisée Ligue Contre le Cancer, Paris, France
| | - Gautier Follain
- Tumor Biomechanics, INSERM UMR_S1109, Strasbourg, France
- Université de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France
- Fédération de Médecine Translationnelle de Strasbourg (FMTS), Strasbourg, France
- Equipe Labellisée Ligue Contre le Cancer, Paris, France
- Turku Bioscience Centre, University of Turku and Åbo Akademi University, Turku, Finland
| | - Clarisse Mouriaux
- UMR_S 1255, INSERM, Etablissement Français du Sang-Alsace, Université de Strasbourg, F-67000, Strasbourg, France
| | - Ignacio Busnelli
- Tumor Biomechanics, INSERM UMR_S1109, Strasbourg, France
- Université de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France
- Fédération de Médecine Translationnelle de Strasbourg (FMTS), Strasbourg, France
- Equipe Labellisée Ligue Contre le Cancer, Paris, France
| | - Annabel Larnicol
- Tumor Biomechanics, INSERM UMR_S1109, Strasbourg, France
- Université de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France
- Fédération de Médecine Translationnelle de Strasbourg (FMTS), Strasbourg, France
- Equipe Labellisée Ligue Contre le Cancer, Paris, France
| | - Florent Colin
- Tumor Biomechanics, INSERM UMR_S1109, Strasbourg, France
- Université de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France
- Fédération de Médecine Translationnelle de Strasbourg (FMTS), Strasbourg, France
- Equipe Labellisée Ligue Contre le Cancer, Paris, France
| | - Marina Peralta
- Tumor Biomechanics, INSERM UMR_S1109, Strasbourg, France
- Université de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France
- Fédération de Médecine Translationnelle de Strasbourg (FMTS), Strasbourg, France
- Equipe Labellisée Ligue Contre le Cancer, Paris, France
| | - Naël Osmani
- Tumor Biomechanics, INSERM UMR_S1109, Strasbourg, France
- Université de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France
- Fédération de Médecine Translationnelle de Strasbourg (FMTS), Strasbourg, France
- Equipe Labellisée Ligue Contre le Cancer, Paris, France
| | - Valentin Gensbittel
- Tumor Biomechanics, INSERM UMR_S1109, Strasbourg, France
- Université de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France
- Fédération de Médecine Translationnelle de Strasbourg (FMTS), Strasbourg, France
- Equipe Labellisée Ligue Contre le Cancer, Paris, France
| | - Catherine Bourdon
- UMR_S 1255, INSERM, Etablissement Français du Sang-Alsace, Université de Strasbourg, F-67000, Strasbourg, France
| | - Rafael Samaniego
- Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Gregorio Marañón (IISGM), Unidad de Microscopía Confocal, Madrid, Spain
| | - Angélique Pichot
- Université de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France
- Fédération de Médecine Translationnelle de Strasbourg (FMTS), Strasbourg, France
- Laboratoire d'ImmunoRhumatologie Moléculaire, Plateforme GENOMAX, Institut national de la santé et de la recherche médicale (INSERM) UMR_S 1109, Institut thématique interdisciplinaire (ITI) de Médecine de Précision de Strasbourg Transplantex NG, Faculté de Médecine, France
| | - Nicodème Paul
- Université de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France
- Fédération de Médecine Translationnelle de Strasbourg (FMTS), Strasbourg, France
- Laboratoire d'ImmunoRhumatologie Moléculaire, Plateforme GENOMAX, Institut national de la santé et de la recherche médicale (INSERM) UMR_S 1109, Institut thématique interdisciplinaire (ITI) de Médecine de Précision de Strasbourg Transplantex NG, Faculté de Médecine, France
| | - Anne Molitor
- Université de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France
- Fédération de Médecine Translationnelle de Strasbourg (FMTS), Strasbourg, France
- Laboratoire d'ImmunoRhumatologie Moléculaire, Plateforme GENOMAX, Institut national de la santé et de la recherche médicale (INSERM) UMR_S 1109, Institut thématique interdisciplinaire (ITI) de Médecine de Précision de Strasbourg Transplantex NG, Faculté de Médecine, France
| | - Raphaël Carapito
- Université de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France
- Fédération de Médecine Translationnelle de Strasbourg (FMTS), Strasbourg, France
- Laboratoire d'ImmunoRhumatologie Moléculaire, Plateforme GENOMAX, Institut national de la santé et de la recherche médicale (INSERM) UMR_S 1109, Institut thématique interdisciplinaire (ITI) de Médecine de Précision de Strasbourg Transplantex NG, Faculté de Médecine, France
- Service d'Immunologie Biologique, Plateau Technique de Biologie, Pôle de Biologie, Nouvel Hôpital Civil, Hôpitaux Universitaires de Strasbourg, 1 Place de l'Hôpital, 67091, Strasbourg, France
| | | | - Olivier Lefebvre
- Tumor Biomechanics, INSERM UMR_S1109, Strasbourg, France
- Université de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France
- Fédération de Médecine Translationnelle de Strasbourg (FMTS), Strasbourg, France
- Equipe Labellisée Ligue Contre le Cancer, Paris, France
| | - Pierre H Mangin
- UMR_S 1255, INSERM, Etablissement Français du Sang-Alsace, Université de Strasbourg, F-67000, Strasbourg, France.
| | - Jacky G Goetz
- Tumor Biomechanics, INSERM UMR_S1109, Strasbourg, France.
- Université de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France.
- Fédération de Médecine Translationnelle de Strasbourg (FMTS), Strasbourg, France.
- Equipe Labellisée Ligue Contre le Cancer, Paris, France.
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Rieckmann LM, Spohn M, Ruff L, Agorku D, Becker L, Borchers A, Krause J, O'Reilly R, Hille J, Velthaus-Rusik JL, Beumer N, Günther A, Willnow L, Imbusch CD, Iglauer P, Simon R, Franzenburg S, Winter H, Thomas M, Bokemeyer C, Gagliani N, Krebs CF, Sprick M, Hardt O, Riethdorf S, Trumpp A, Stoecklein NH, Peine S, Rosenstiel P, Pantel K, Loges S, Janning M. Diagnostic leukapheresis reveals distinct phenotypes of NSCLC circulating tumor cells. Mol Cancer 2024; 23:93. [PMID: 38720314 PMCID: PMC11077784 DOI: 10.1186/s12943-024-01984-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2024] [Accepted: 03/18/2024] [Indexed: 05/12/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) hold immense promise for unraveling tumor heterogeneity and understanding treatment resistance. However, conventional methods, especially in cancers like non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), often yield low CTC numbers, hindering comprehensive analyses. This study addresses this limitation by employing diagnostic leukapheresis (DLA) to cancer patients, enabling the screening of larger blood volumes. To leverage DLA's full potential, this study introduces a novel approach for CTC enrichment from DLAs. METHODS DLA was applied to six advanced stage NSCLC patients. For an unbiased CTC enrichment, a two-step approach based on negative depletion of hematopoietic cells was used. Single-cell (sc) whole-transcriptome sequencing was performed, and CTCs were identified based on gene signatures and inferred copy number variations. RESULTS Remarkably, this innovative approach led to the identification of unprecedented 3,363 CTC transcriptomes. The extensive heterogeneity among CTCs was unveiled, highlighting distinct phenotypes related to the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) axis, stemness, immune responsiveness, and metabolism. Comparison with sc transcriptomes from primary NSCLC cells revealed that CTCs encapsulate the heterogeneity of their primary counterparts while maintaining unique CTC-specific phenotypes. CONCLUSIONS In conclusion, this study pioneers a transformative method for enriching CTCs from DLA, resulting in a substantial increase in CTC numbers. This allowed the creation of the first-ever single-cell whole transcriptome in-depth characterization of the heterogeneity of over 3,300 NSCLC-CTCs. The findings not only confirm the diagnostic value of CTCs in monitoring tumor heterogeneity but also propose a CTC-specific signature that can be exploited for targeted CTC-directed therapies in the future. This comprehensive approach signifies a major leap forward, positioning CTCs as a key player in advancing our understanding of cancer dynamics and paving the way for tailored therapeutic interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisa-Marie Rieckmann
- Department of Personalized Oncology, DKFZ-Hector Cancer Institute, University Medical Center Mannheim, Medical Faculty Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, Mannheim, Germany
- Division of Personalized Medical Oncology (A420), German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
- German Center for Lung Research (DZL), Heidelberg, Germany
- Department of Personalized Oncology, University Hospital Mannheim, Medical Faculty Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Michael Spohn
- Bioinformatics Core, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
- Clinic of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
- Research Institute Children's Cancer Center Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany
- Department of Oncology, Hematology and Bone Marrow Transplantation With Section Pneumology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Lisa Ruff
- Department of Personalized Oncology, DKFZ-Hector Cancer Institute, University Medical Center Mannheim, Medical Faculty Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, Mannheim, Germany
- Division of Personalized Medical Oncology (A420), German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
- German Center for Lung Research (DZL), Heidelberg, Germany
- Department of Personalized Oncology, University Hospital Mannheim, Medical Faculty Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, Mannheim, Germany
| | - David Agorku
- Miltenyi Biotec B.V. & Co. KG, R&D, Bergisch Gladbach, Germany
| | - Lisa Becker
- Heidelberg Institute for Stem Cell Technology and Experimental Medicine (HI-STEM GmbH), Heidelberg, Germany
- Division of Stem Cells and Cancer, German Cancer Research Center, (DKFZ-ZMBH Alliance), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Alina Borchers
- III. Department of Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
- Hamburg Center for Translational Immunology (HCTI), University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Jenny Krause
- I. Department of Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Roisin O'Reilly
- Department of Personalized Oncology, DKFZ-Hector Cancer Institute, University Medical Center Mannheim, Medical Faculty Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, Mannheim, Germany
- Division of Personalized Medical Oncology (A420), German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
- German Center for Lung Research (DZL), Heidelberg, Germany
- Department of Personalized Oncology, University Hospital Mannheim, Medical Faculty Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Jurek Hille
- Department of Oncology, Hematology and Bone Marrow Transplantation With Section Pneumology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
- Department of Tumor Biology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Janna-Lisa Velthaus-Rusik
- Department of Oncology, Hematology and Bone Marrow Transplantation With Section Pneumology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Niklas Beumer
- Department of Personalized Oncology, DKFZ-Hector Cancer Institute, University Medical Center Mannheim, Medical Faculty Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, Mannheim, Germany
- Division of Personalized Medical Oncology (A420), German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
- German Center for Lung Research (DZL), Heidelberg, Germany
- Division of Applied Bioinformatics, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
- Faculty of Biosciences, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Armin Günther
- Department of Personalized Oncology, DKFZ-Hector Cancer Institute, University Medical Center Mannheim, Medical Faculty Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, Mannheim, Germany
- Division of Personalized Medical Oncology (A420), German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
- German Center for Lung Research (DZL), Heidelberg, Germany
- Department of Personalized Oncology, University Hospital Mannheim, Medical Faculty Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, Mannheim, Germany
- Faculty of Biosciences, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Lena Willnow
- Department of Personalized Oncology, DKFZ-Hector Cancer Institute, University Medical Center Mannheim, Medical Faculty Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, Mannheim, Germany
- Division of Personalized Medical Oncology (A420), German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
- German Center for Lung Research (DZL), Heidelberg, Germany
- Department of Personalized Oncology, University Hospital Mannheim, Medical Faculty Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Charles D Imbusch
- Division of Applied Bioinformatics, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Peter Iglauer
- Institute of Pathology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Ronald Simon
- Institute of Pathology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Sören Franzenburg
- Institute of Clinical Molecular Biology, Christian-Albrechts-University and University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein, Kiel, Germany
| | - Hauke Winter
- Translational Lung Research Center Heidelberg, Member of the German Center for Lung Research (DZL), Department of Thoracic Oncology, Thoraxklinik at University Hospital Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Michael Thomas
- Translational Lung Research Center Heidelberg, Member of the German Center for Lung Research (DZL), Department of Thoracic Oncology, Thoraxklinik at University Hospital Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Carsten Bokemeyer
- Department of Oncology, Hematology and Bone Marrow Transplantation With Section Pneumology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Nicola Gagliani
- Hamburg Center for Translational Immunology (HCTI), University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
- I. Department of Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
- Department of General, Visceral and Thoracic Surgery, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Christian F Krebs
- III. Department of Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
- Hamburg Center for Translational Immunology (HCTI), University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Martin Sprick
- Heidelberg Institute for Stem Cell Technology and Experimental Medicine (HI-STEM GmbH), Heidelberg, Germany
- Division of Stem Cells and Cancer, German Cancer Research Center, (DKFZ-ZMBH Alliance), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Olaf Hardt
- Miltenyi Biotec B.V. & Co. KG, R&D, Bergisch Gladbach, Germany
| | - Sabine Riethdorf
- Department of Tumor Biology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Andreas Trumpp
- Heidelberg Institute for Stem Cell Technology and Experimental Medicine (HI-STEM GmbH), Heidelberg, Germany
- Division of Stem Cells and Cancer, German Cancer Research Center, (DKFZ-ZMBH Alliance), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Nikolas H Stoecklein
- General, Visceral and Pediatric Surgery, University Hospital and Medical Faculty, Heinrich-Heine-University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Sven Peine
- Institute of Transfusion Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Philipp Rosenstiel
- Institute of Clinical Molecular Biology, Christian-Albrechts-University and University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein, Kiel, Germany
| | - Klaus Pantel
- Department of Tumor Biology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Sonja Loges
- Department of Personalized Oncology, DKFZ-Hector Cancer Institute, University Medical Center Mannheim, Medical Faculty Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, Mannheim, Germany
- Division of Personalized Medical Oncology (A420), German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
- German Center for Lung Research (DZL), Heidelberg, Germany
- Department of Personalized Oncology, University Hospital Mannheim, Medical Faculty Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, Mannheim, Germany
- Department of Oncology, Hematology and Bone Marrow Transplantation With Section Pneumology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
- Department of Tumor Biology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Melanie Janning
- Department of Personalized Oncology, DKFZ-Hector Cancer Institute, University Medical Center Mannheim, Medical Faculty Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, Mannheim, Germany.
- Division of Personalized Medical Oncology (A420), German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany.
- German Center for Lung Research (DZL), Heidelberg, Germany.
- Department of Personalized Oncology, University Hospital Mannheim, Medical Faculty Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, Mannheim, Germany.
- Department of Oncology, Hematology and Bone Marrow Transplantation With Section Pneumology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany.
- Department of Tumor Biology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany.
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40
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Magnusson C, Augustsson P, Undvall Anand E, Lenshof A, Josefsson A, Welén K, Bjartell A, Ceder Y, Lilja H, Laurell T. Acoustic Enrichment of Heterogeneous Circulating Tumor Cells and Clusters from Metastatic Prostate Cancer Patients. Anal Chem 2024; 96:6914-6921. [PMID: 38655666 PMCID: PMC11079855 DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.3c05371] [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: 11/27/2023] [Revised: 04/16/2024] [Accepted: 04/17/2024] [Indexed: 04/26/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND There are important unmet clinical needs to develop cell enrichment technologies to enable unbiased label-free isolation of both single cell and clusters of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) manifesting heterogeneous lineage specificity. Here, we report a pilot study based on the microfluidic acoustophoresis enrichment of CTCs using the CellSearch CTC assay as a reference modality. METHODS Acoustophoresis uses an ultrasonic standing wave field to separate cells based on biomechanical properties (size, density, and compressibility), resulting in inherently label-free and epitope-independent cell enrichment. Following red blood cell lysis and paraformaldehyde fixation, 6 mL of whole blood from 12 patients with metastatic prostate cancer and 20 healthy controls were processed with acoustophoresis and subsequent image cytometry. RESULTS Acoustophoresis enabled enrichment and characterization of phenotypic CTCs (EpCAM+, Cytokeratin+, DAPI+, CD45-/CD66b-) in all patients with metastatic prostate cancer and detected CTC-clusters composed of only CTCs or heterogeneous aggregates of CTCs clustered with various types of white blood cells in 9 out of 12 patients. By contrast, CellSearch did not detect any CTC clusters, but detected comparable numbers of phenotypic CTCs as acoustophoresis, with trends of finding a higher number of CTCs using acoustophoresis. CONCLUSION Our preliminary data indicate that acoustophoresis provides excellent possibilities to detect and characterize CTC clusters as a putative marker of metastatic disease and outcomes. Moreover, acoustophoresis enables the sensitive label-free enrichment of cells with epithelial phenotypes in blood and offers opportunities to detect and characterize CTCs undergoing epithelial-to-mesenchymal transitioning and lineage plasticity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cecilia Magnusson
- Department of Translational Medicine, Lund University, Lund SE-22100, Sweden
| | - Per Augustsson
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Lund University, Lund SE-22100, Sweden
| | - Eva Undvall Anand
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Lund University, Lund SE-22100, Sweden
| | - Andreas Lenshof
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Lund University, Lund SE-22100, Sweden
| | - Andreas Josefsson
- Institute of Clinical Sciences, Department of Urology, Gothenburg University, Gothenburg SE-41345, Sweden
- Wallenberg Center for Molecular Medicine, Umeå University, Umeå SE-90187, Sweden
- Department of Urology and Andrology, Institute of Surgery and Perioperative Sciences, Umeå University, Umeå SE-90185, Sweden
| | - Karin Welén
- Institute of Clinical Sciences, Department of Urology, Gothenburg University, Gothenburg SE-41345, Sweden
| | - Anders Bjartell
- Department of Translational Cancer Research, Lund University, Lund SE-22100, Sweden
| | - Yvonne Ceder
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Lund University, Lund SE-22100, Sweden
| | - Hans Lilja
- Department of Translational Medicine, Lund University, Lund SE-22100, Sweden
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Surgery (Urology), and Medicine (GU Oncology), Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York 10065, United States
| | - Thomas Laurell
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Lund University, Lund SE-22100, Sweden
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41
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Mao KY, Cao YC, Si MY, Rao DY, Gu L, Tang ZX, Zhu SY. Advances in systemic immune inflammatory indices in non-small cell lung cancer: A review. Medicine (Baltimore) 2024; 103:e37967. [PMID: 38701309 PMCID: PMC11062741 DOI: 10.1097/md.0000000000037967] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2023] [Accepted: 03/29/2024] [Indexed: 05/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Lung cancer is one of the most prevalent cancers globally, with non-small cell lung cancers constituting the majority. These cancers have a high incidence and mortality rate. In recent years, a growing body of research has demonstrated the intricate link between inflammation and cancer, highlighting that inflammation and cancer are inextricably linked and that inflammation plays a pivotal role in cancer development, progression, and prognosis of cancer. The Systemic Immunoinflammatory Index (SII), comprising neutrophil, lymphocyte, and platelet counts, is a more comprehensive indicator of the host's systemic inflammation and immune status than a single inflammatory index. It is widely used in clinical practice due to its cost-effectiveness, simplicity, noninvasiveness, and ease of acquisition. This paper reviews the impact of SII on the development, progression, and prognosis of non-small cell lung cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kai-Yun Mao
- First Clinical Medical College, Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou, China
| | - Yuan-Chao Cao
- First Clinical Medical College, Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou, China
| | - Mao-Yan Si
- Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou, China
| | - Ding-yu Rao
- Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou, China
| | - Liang Gu
- Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou, China
| | - Zhi-Xian Tang
- Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou, China
| | - Shen-yu Zhu
- Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou, China
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42
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Wendlinger S, Wohlfarth J, Siedel C, Kreft S, Kilian T, Junker S, Schmid L, Sinnberg T, Dischinger U, Heppt MV, Wistuba-Hamprecht K, Meier F, Erpenbeck L, Neubert E, Goebeler M, Gesierich A, Schrama D, Kosnopfel C, Schilling B. Susceptibility of Melanoma Cells to Targeted Therapy Correlates with Protection by Blood Neutrophils. Cancers (Basel) 2024; 16:1767. [PMID: 38730718 PMCID: PMC11083732 DOI: 10.3390/cancers16091767] [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: 04/08/2024] [Revised: 04/25/2024] [Accepted: 04/28/2024] [Indexed: 05/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Elevated levels of peripheral blood and tumor tissue neutrophils are associated with poorer clinical response and therapy resistance in melanoma. The underlying mechanism and the role of neutrophils in targeted therapy is still not fully understood. Serum samples of patients with advanced melanoma were collected and neutrophil-associated serum markers were measured and correlated with response to targeted therapy. Blood neutrophils from healthy donors and patients with advanced melanoma were isolated, and their phenotypes, as well as their in vitro functions, were compared. In vitro functional tests were conducted through nonadherent cocultures with melanoma cells. Protection of melanoma cell lines by neutrophils was assessed under MAPK inhibition. Blood neutrophils from advanced melanoma patients exhibited lower CD16 expression compared to healthy donors. In vitro, both healthy-donor- and patient-derived neutrophils prevented melanoma cell apoptosis upon dual MAPK inhibition. The effect depended on cell-cell contact and melanoma cell susceptibility to treatment. Interference with protease activity of neutrophils prevented melanoma cell protection during treatment in cocultures. The negative correlation between neutrophils and melanoma outcomes seems to be linked to a protumoral function of neutrophils. In vitro, neutrophils exert a direct protective effect on melanoma cells during dual MAPK inhibition. This study further hints at a crucial role of neutrophil-related protease activity in protection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simone Wendlinger
- Department of Dermatology, University Hospital Würzburg, 97080 Würzburg, Germany
- Mildred Scheel Early Career Center Wuerzburg, University Hospital Wuerzburg, 97080 Würzburg, Germany
| | - Jonas Wohlfarth
- Department of Dermatology, University Hospital Würzburg, 97080 Würzburg, Germany
| | - Claudia Siedel
- Department of Dermatology, University Hospital Würzburg, 97080 Würzburg, Germany
| | - Sophia Kreft
- Department of Dermatology, University Hospital Würzburg, 97080 Würzburg, Germany
- Department of Medical Oncology, The Christie NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester M20 4BX, UK
| | - Teresa Kilian
- Department of Dermatology, University Hospital Würzburg, 97080 Würzburg, Germany
| | - Sarah Junker
- Department of Dermatology, University Hospital Würzburg, 97080 Würzburg, Germany
| | - Luisa Schmid
- Department of Dermatology, University Hospital Würzburg, 97080 Würzburg, Germany
| | - Tobias Sinnberg
- Division of Dermatooncology, Department of Dermatology, University of Tübingen, 72076 Tübingen, Germany
- Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Allergology, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, 10117 Berlin, Germany
| | - Ulrich Dischinger
- Department of Endocrinology and Diabetology, University Hospital Würzburg, 97080 Würzburg, Germany
| | - Markus V. Heppt
- Department of Dermatology, Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, 91054 Erlangen, Germany
| | - Kilian Wistuba-Hamprecht
- Skin Cancer Unit, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
- Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Allergology, University Medical Center Mannheim, Ruprecht-Karl University of Heidelberg, 68167 Mannheim, Germany
| | - Friedegund Meier
- Department of Dermatology, Faculty of Medicine, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, 01307 Dresden, Germany
- Skin Cancer Center at the University Cancer Centre Dresden and National Center for Tumor Diseases, 01307 Dresden, Germany
| | - Luise Erpenbeck
- Department of Dermatology, University of Münster, 48149 Münster, Germany
| | - Elsa Neubert
- Leiden Academic Centre for Drug Research, Leiden University, 2333 Leiden, The Netherlands
- Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Allergology, University Medical Center, Göttingen University, 37075 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Matthias Goebeler
- Department of Dermatology, University Hospital Würzburg, 97080 Würzburg, Germany
| | - Anja Gesierich
- Department of Dermatology, University Hospital Würzburg, 97080 Würzburg, Germany
| | - David Schrama
- Department of Dermatology, University Hospital Würzburg, 97080 Würzburg, Germany
| | - Corinna Kosnopfel
- Department of Dermatology, University Hospital Würzburg, 97080 Würzburg, Germany
- Mildred Scheel Early Career Center Wuerzburg, University Hospital Wuerzburg, 97080 Würzburg, Germany
- Department of Hematology, Oncology and Pneumology, University Hospital Münster, 48149 Münster, Germany
| | - Bastian Schilling
- Department of Dermatology, University Hospital Würzburg, 97080 Würzburg, Germany
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Jakab M, Lee KH, Uvarovskii A, Ovchinnikova S, Kulkarni SR, Jakab S, Rostalski T, Spegg C, Anders S, Augustin HG. Lung endothelium exploits susceptible tumor cell states to instruct metastatic latency. NATURE CANCER 2024; 5:716-730. [PMID: 38308117 PMCID: PMC11136671 DOI: 10.1038/s43018-023-00716-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2022] [Accepted: 12/15/2023] [Indexed: 02/04/2024]
Abstract
In metastasis, cancer cells travel around the circulation to colonize distant sites. Due to the rarity of these events, the immediate fates of metastasizing tumor cells (mTCs) are poorly understood while the role of the endothelium as a dissemination interface remains elusive. Using a newly developed combinatorial mTC enrichment approach, we provide a transcriptional blueprint of the early colonization process. Following their arrest at the metastatic site, mTCs were found to either proliferate intravascularly or extravasate, thereby establishing metastatic latency. Endothelial-derived angiocrine Wnt factors drive this bifurcation, instructing mTCs to follow the extravasation-latency route. Surprisingly, mTC responsiveness towards niche-derived Wnt was established at the epigenetic level, which predetermined tumor cell behavior. Whereas hypomethylation enabled high Wnt activity leading to metastatic latency, methylated mTCs exhibited low activity and proliferated intravascularly. Collectively the data identify the predetermined methylation status of disseminated tumor cells as a key regulator of mTC behavior in the metastatic niche.
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Affiliation(s)
- Moritz Jakab
- European Center for Angioscience, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany.
- Division of Vascular Oncology and Metastasis, German Cancer Research Center Heidelberg (DKFZ-ZMBH Alliance), Heidelberg, Germany.
- Faculty of Biosciences, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany.
| | - Ki Hong Lee
- European Center for Angioscience, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
- Division of Vascular Oncology and Metastasis, German Cancer Research Center Heidelberg (DKFZ-ZMBH Alliance), Heidelberg, Germany
- Faculty of Biosciences, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Alexey Uvarovskii
- Center for Molecular Biology, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
- Evotec SE, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Svetlana Ovchinnikova
- Center for Molecular Biology, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
- Bioquant Center, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Shubhada R Kulkarni
- European Center for Angioscience, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
- Division of Vascular Oncology and Metastasis, German Cancer Research Center Heidelberg (DKFZ-ZMBH Alliance), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Sevinç Jakab
- Faculty of Biosciences, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Till Rostalski
- European Center for Angioscience, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
- Division of Vascular Oncology and Metastasis, German Cancer Research Center Heidelberg (DKFZ-ZMBH Alliance), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Carleen Spegg
- Division of Vascular Oncology and Metastasis, German Cancer Research Center Heidelberg (DKFZ-ZMBH Alliance), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Simon Anders
- Center for Molecular Biology, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
- Bioquant Center, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Hellmut G Augustin
- European Center for Angioscience, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany.
- Division of Vascular Oncology and Metastasis, German Cancer Research Center Heidelberg (DKFZ-ZMBH Alliance), Heidelberg, Germany.
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44
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Karras P, Black JRM, McGranahan N, Marine JC. Decoding the interplay between genetic and non-genetic drivers of metastasis. Nature 2024; 629:543-554. [PMID: 38750233 DOI: 10.1038/s41586-024-07302-6] [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: 06/24/2022] [Accepted: 03/12/2024] [Indexed: 05/18/2024]
Abstract
Metastasis is a multistep process by which cancer cells break away from their original location and spread to distant organs, and is responsible for the vast majority of cancer-related deaths. Preventing early metastatic dissemination would revolutionize the ability to fight cancer. Unfortunately, the relatively poor understanding of the molecular underpinnings of metastasis has hampered the development of effective anti-metastatic drugs. Although it is now accepted that disseminating tumour cells need to acquire multiple competencies to face the many obstacles they encounter before reaching their metastatic site(s), whether these competencies are acquired through an accumulation of metastasis-specific genetic alterations and/or non-genetic events is often debated. Here we review a growing body of literature highlighting the importance of both genetic and non-genetic reprogramming events during the metastatic cascade, and discuss how genetic and non-genetic processes act in concert to confer metastatic competencies. We also describe how recent technological advances, and in particular the advent of single-cell multi-omics and barcoding approaches, will help to better elucidate the cross-talk between genetic and non-genetic mechanisms of metastasis and ultimately inform innovative paths for the early detection and interception of this lethal process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Panagiotis Karras
- Laboratory for Molecular Cancer Biology, VIB Center for Cancer Biology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Department of Oncology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - James R M Black
- Cancer Genome Evolution Research Group, UCL Cancer Institute, London, UK
| | | | - Jean-Christophe Marine
- Laboratory for Molecular Cancer Biology, VIB Center for Cancer Biology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
- Department of Oncology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
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Zhang J, Gu J, Wang X, Ji C, Yu D, Wang M, Pan J, Santos HA, Zhang H, Zhang X. Engineering and Targeting Neutrophils for Cancer Therapy. ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2024; 36:e2310318. [PMID: 38320755 DOI: 10.1002/adma.202310318] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2023] [Revised: 01/29/2024] [Indexed: 02/22/2024]
Abstract
Neutrophils are the most abundant white blood cells in the circulation and act as the first line of defense against infections. Increasing evidence suggests that neutrophils possess heterogeneous phenotypes and functional plasticity in human health and diseases, including cancer. Neutrophils play multifaceted roles in cancer development and progression, and an N1/N2 paradigm of neutrophils in cancer is proposed, where N1 neutrophils exert anti-tumor properties while N2 neutrophils display tumor-supportive and immune-suppressive functions. Selective activation of beneficial neutrophil population and targeted inhibition or re-polarization of tumor-promoting neutrophils has shown an important potential in tumor therapy. In addition, due to the natural inflammation-responsive and physical barrier-crossing abilities, neutrophils and their derivatives (membranes and extracellular vesicles (EVs)) are regarded as advanced drug delivery carriers for enhanced tumor targeting and improved therapeutic efficacy. In this review, the recent advances in engineering neutrophils for drug delivery and targeting neutrophils for remodeling tumor microenvironment (TME) are comprehensively presented. This review will provide a broad understanding of the potential of neutrophils in cancer therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiahui Zhang
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Medical Science and Laboratory Medicine, School of Medicine, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu, 212013, China
| | - Jianmei Gu
- Departmemt of Clinical Laboratory Medicine, Affiliated Tumor Hospital of Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu, 226361, China
| | - Xu Wang
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Jiangsu University Cancer Institute, Affiliated Hospital of Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu, 212001, China
| | - Cheng Ji
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Medical Science and Laboratory Medicine, School of Medicine, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu, 212013, China
| | - Dan Yu
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Medical Science and Laboratory Medicine, School of Medicine, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu, 212013, China
| | - Maoye Wang
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Medical Science and Laboratory Medicine, School of Medicine, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu, 212013, China
| | - Jianming Pan
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu, 212013, China
| | - Hélder A Santos
- Department of Biomaterials and Biomedical Technology, University Medical Center Groningen/University of Groningen, Ant. Deusinglaan 1, Groningen, 9713 AV, Netherlands
- W.J. Kolff Institute for Biomedical Engineering and Materials Science, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Ant. Deusinglaan 1, Groningen, 9713 AV, Netherlands
- Drug Research Program, Division of Pharmaceutical Chemistry and Technology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, FI-00014, Finland
| | - Hongbo Zhang
- Pharmaceutical Sciences Laboratory, Abo Akademi University, Turku, 20520, Finland
- Turku Bioscience Centre, University of Turku and Abo Akademi University, Turku, 20520, Finland
| | - Xu Zhang
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Medical Science and Laboratory Medicine, School of Medicine, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu, 212013, China
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Horvath L, Puschmann C, Scheiber A, Martowicz A, Sturm G, Trajanoski Z, Wolf D, Pircher A, Salcher S. Beyond binary: bridging neutrophil diversity to new therapeutic approaches in NSCLC. Trends Cancer 2024; 10:457-474. [PMID: 38360439 DOI: 10.1016/j.trecan.2024.01.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2023] [Revised: 01/19/2024] [Accepted: 01/23/2024] [Indexed: 02/17/2024]
Abstract
Neutrophils represent the most abundant myeloid cell subtype in the non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) tumor microenvironment (TME). By anti- or protumor polarization, they impact multiple aspects of tumor biology and affect sensitivity to conventional therapies and immunotherapies. Single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) analyses have unraveled an extensive neutrophil heterogeneity, helping our understanding of their pleiotropic role. In this review we summarize recent data and models on tumor-associated neutrophil (TAN) biology, focusing on the diversity that evolves in response to tumor-intrinsic cues. We categorize available transcriptomic profiles from different cancer entities into a defined set of neutrophil subclusters with distinct phenotypic properties, to step beyond the traditional binary N1/2 classification. Finally, we discuss potential ways to exploit these neutrophil states in the setting of anticancer therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lena Horvath
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, Internal Medicine V, Comprehensive Cancer Center Innsbruck (CCCI), Medical University of Innsbruck (MUI), Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Constanze Puschmann
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, Internal Medicine V, Comprehensive Cancer Center Innsbruck (CCCI), Medical University of Innsbruck (MUI), Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Alexandra Scheiber
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, Internal Medicine V, Comprehensive Cancer Center Innsbruck (CCCI), Medical University of Innsbruck (MUI), Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Agnieszka Martowicz
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, Internal Medicine V, Comprehensive Cancer Center Innsbruck (CCCI), Medical University of Innsbruck (MUI), Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Gregor Sturm
- Biocenter, Institute of Bioinformatics, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria; Boehringer Ingelheim International Pharma GmbH & Co KG, Biberach, Germany
| | - Zlatko Trajanoski
- Biocenter, Institute of Bioinformatics, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Dominik Wolf
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, Internal Medicine V, Comprehensive Cancer Center Innsbruck (CCCI), Medical University of Innsbruck (MUI), Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Andreas Pircher
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, Internal Medicine V, Comprehensive Cancer Center Innsbruck (CCCI), Medical University of Innsbruck (MUI), Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Stefan Salcher
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, Internal Medicine V, Comprehensive Cancer Center Innsbruck (CCCI), Medical University of Innsbruck (MUI), Innsbruck, Austria.
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Wu Q, Gu Z, Shang B, Wan D, Zhang Q, Zhang X, Xie P, Cheng S, Zhang W, Zhang K. Circulating tumor cell clustering modulates RNA splicing and polyadenylation to facilitate metastasis. Cancer Lett 2024; 588:216757. [PMID: 38417668 DOI: 10.1016/j.canlet.2024.216757] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2023] [Revised: 02/07/2024] [Accepted: 02/20/2024] [Indexed: 03/01/2024]
Abstract
Circulating tumor cell (CTC) clusters exhibit significantly higher metastatic potential compared to single CTCs. However, the underlying mechanism behind this phenomenon remains unclear, and the role of posttranscriptional RNA regulation in CTC clusters has not been explored. Here, we conducted a comparative analysis of alternative splicing (AS) and alternative polyadenylation (APA) profiles between single CTCs and CTC clusters. We identified 994 and 836 AS events in single CTCs and CTC clusters, respectively, with ∼20% of AS events showing differential regulation between the two cell types. A key event in this differential splicing was observed in SRSF6, which disrupted AS profiles and contributed to the increased malignancy of CTC clusters. Regarding APA, we found a global lengthening of 3' UTRs in CTC clusters compared to single CTCs. This alteration was primarily governed by 14 core APA factors, particularly PPP1CA. The modified APA profiles facilitated the cell cycle progression of CTC clusters and indicated their reduced susceptibility to oxidative stress. Further investigation revealed that the proportion of H2AFY mRNA with long 3' UTR instead of short 3' UTR was higher in CTC clusters than single CTCs. The AU-rich elements (AREs) within the long 3' UTR of H2AFY mRNA enhance mRNA stability and translation activity, resulting in promoting cell proliferation and invasion, which potentially facilitate the establishment and rapid formation of metastatic tumors mediated by CTC clusters. These findings provide new insights into the mechanisms driving CTC cluster metastasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Quanyou Wu
- Division of Abdominal Cancer, Department of Medical Oncology, Cancer Center and Laboratory of Molecular Targeted Therapy in Oncology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan Province, 610041, China; State Key Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, Department of Etiology and Carcinogenesis, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100021, China
| | - Zhaoru Gu
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, Department of Etiology and Carcinogenesis, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100021, China
| | - Bingqing Shang
- Department of Urology, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100021, China
| | - Duo Wan
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, Department of Etiology and Carcinogenesis, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100021, China
| | - Qi Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, Department of Etiology and Carcinogenesis, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100021, China
| | - Xiaoli Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, Department of Etiology and Carcinogenesis, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100021, China
| | - Peipei Xie
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, Department of Etiology and Carcinogenesis, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100021, China
| | - Shujun Cheng
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, Department of Etiology and Carcinogenesis, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100021, China.
| | - Wen Zhang
- Department of Immunology, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100021, China.
| | - Kaitai Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, Department of Etiology and Carcinogenesis, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100021, China.
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48
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Ji Z, Zhang C, Yuan J, He Q, Zhang X, Yang D, Xu N, Chu J. Predicting the immunity landscape and prognosis with an NCLs signature in liver hepatocellular carcinoma. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0298775. [PMID: 38662757 PMCID: PMC11045082 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0298775] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2023] [Accepted: 01/30/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Activated neutrophils release depolymerized chromatin and protein particles into the extracellular space, forming reticular Neutrophil Extracellular Traps (NETs). This process is accompanied by programmed inflammatory cell death of neutrophils, known as NETosis. Previous reports have demonstrated that NETosis plays a significant role in immune resistance and microenvironmental regulation in cancer. This study sought to characterize the function and molecular mechanism of NETosis-correlated long non-coding RNAs (NCLs) in the prognostic treatment of liver hepatocellular carcinoma (LIHC). METHODS We obtained the transcriptomic and clinical data from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and evaluated the expression of NCLs in LIHC. A prognostic signature of NCLs was constructed using Cox and Last Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator (Lasso) regression, while the accuracy of model was validated by the ROC curves and nomogram, etc. In addition, we analyzed the associations between NCLs and oncogenic mutation, immune infiltration and evasion. Finally, LIHC patients were classified into four subgroups based on consensus cluster analysis, and drug sensitivity was predicted. RESULTS After screening, we established a risk model combining 5 hub-NCLs and demonstrated its reliability. Independence checks suggest that the model may serve as an independent predictor of LIHC prognosis. Enrichment analysis revealed a concentration of immune-related pathways in the high-risk group. Immune infiltration indicates that immunotherapy could be more effective in the low-risk group. Upon consistent cluster analysis, cluster subgroup 4 presented a better prognosis. Sensitivity tests showed the distinctions in therapeutic effectiveness among various drugs in different subgroups. CONCLUSION Overall, we have developed a prognostic signature that can discriminate different LIHC subgroups through the 5 selected NCLs, with the objective of providing LIHC patients a more precise, personalized treatment regimen.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhangxin Ji
- Key Laboratory of Xin’an Medicine, Ministry of Education, Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Hefei, Anhui, PR China
- School of Graduate, Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Hefei, Anhui, PR China
| | - Chenxu Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Xin’an Medicine, Ministry of Education, Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Hefei, Anhui, PR China
- School of Graduate, Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Hefei, Anhui, PR China
| | - Jingjing Yuan
- Key Laboratory of Xin’an Medicine, Ministry of Education, Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Hefei, Anhui, PR China
- Research and Technology Center, Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Hefei, Anhui, PR China
| | - Qing He
- Key Laboratory of Xin’an Medicine, Ministry of Education, Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Hefei, Anhui, PR China
- School of Graduate, Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Hefei, Anhui, PR China
| | - Xinyu Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Xin’an Medicine, Ministry of Education, Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Hefei, Anhui, PR China
- School of Graduate, Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Hefei, Anhui, PR China
| | - Dongmei Yang
- Key Laboratory of Xin’an Medicine, Ministry of Education, Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Hefei, Anhui, PR China
- School of Graduate, Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Hefei, Anhui, PR China
| | - Na Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Tea Plant Biology and Utilization, School of Tea & Food Science and International Joint Laboratory on Tea Chemistry and Health Effects of Ministry of Education, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei, Anhui, PR China
| | - Jun Chu
- Key Laboratory of Xin’an Medicine, Ministry of Education, Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Hefei, Anhui, PR China
- Research and Technology Center, Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Hefei, Anhui, PR China
- Institute of Surgery, Anhui Academy of Chinese Medicine, Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Hefei, Anhui, PR China
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Zou J, Chen Q, He Y, Pan Y, Zhao H, Shi J, Wei Z, Yu S, Zhao Y, Han X, Lu Y, Chen W. Systematic optimization and evaluation of culture conditions for the construction of circulating tumor cell clusters using breast cancer cell lines. BMC Cancer 2024; 24:507. [PMID: 38654231 PMCID: PMC11036701 DOI: 10.1186/s12885-024-12214-9] [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: 01/08/2024] [Accepted: 04/02/2024] [Indexed: 04/25/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Circulating tumor cell (CTC) clusters play a critical role in carcinoma metastasis. However, the rarity of CTC clusters and the limitations of capture techniques have retarded the research progress. In vitro CTC clusters model can help to further understand the biological properties of CTC clusters and their clinical significance. Therefore, it is necessary to establish reliable in vitro methodological models to form CTC clusters whose biological characteristics are very similar to clinical CTC clusters. METHODS The assays of immunofluorescence, transmission electron microscopy, EdU incorporation, cell adhension and microfluidic chips were used. The experimental metastasis model in mice was used. RESULTS We systematically optimized the culture methods to form in vitro CTC clusters model, and more importantly, evaluated it with reference to the biological capabilities of reported clinical CTC clusters. In vitro CTC clusters exhibited a high degree of similarity to the reported pathological characteristics of CTC clusters isolated from patients at different stages of tumor metastasis, including the appearance morphology, size, adhesive and tight junctions-associated proteins, and other indicators of CTC clusters. Furthermore, in vivo experiments also demonstrated that the CTC clusters had an enhanced ability to grow and metastasize compared to single CTC. CONCLUSIONS The study provides a reliable model to help to obtain comparatively stable and qualified CTC clusters in vitro, propelling the studies on tumor metastasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jueyao Zou
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Pharmacology and Safety Evaluation of Chinese Materia Medica, School of Pharmacy, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, 210023, China
| | - Qiong Chen
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Pharmacology and Safety Evaluation of Chinese Materia Medica, School of Pharmacy, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, 210023, China
| | - Yong He
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Pharmacology and Safety Evaluation of Chinese Materia Medica, School of Pharmacy, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, 210023, China
| | - Yanhong Pan
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Pharmacology and Safety Evaluation of Chinese Materia Medica, School of Pharmacy, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, 210023, China
- Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) Prevention and Treatment of Tumor, Nanjing, China
- Jiangsu Joint International Research Laboratory of Chinese Medicine and Regenerative Medicine, Nanjing, China
| | - Han Zhao
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Pharmacology and Safety Evaluation of Chinese Materia Medica, School of Pharmacy, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, 210023, China
| | - Junfeng Shi
- Department of Oncology, Nanjing First Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Zhonghong Wei
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Pharmacology and Safety Evaluation of Chinese Materia Medica, School of Pharmacy, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, 210023, China
- Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) Prevention and Treatment of Tumor, Nanjing, China
- Jiangsu Joint International Research Laboratory of Chinese Medicine and Regenerative Medicine, Nanjing, China
| | - Suyun Yu
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Pharmacology and Safety Evaluation of Chinese Materia Medica, School of Pharmacy, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, 210023, China
- Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) Prevention and Treatment of Tumor, Nanjing, China
- Jiangsu Joint International Research Laboratory of Chinese Medicine and Regenerative Medicine, Nanjing, China
| | - Yang Zhao
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Pharmacology and Safety Evaluation of Chinese Materia Medica, School of Pharmacy, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, 210023, China
- Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) Prevention and Treatment of Tumor, Nanjing, China
- Jiangsu Joint International Research Laboratory of Chinese Medicine and Regenerative Medicine, Nanjing, China
| | - Xin Han
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Medicine & Holistic Integrative Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, China
- Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center of Chinese Medicinal Resources Industrialization, Nanjing, China
| | - Yin Lu
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Pharmacology and Safety Evaluation of Chinese Materia Medica, School of Pharmacy, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, 210023, China.
- Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) Prevention and Treatment of Tumor, Nanjing, China.
- Jiangsu Joint International Research Laboratory of Chinese Medicine and Regenerative Medicine, Nanjing, China.
| | - Wenxing Chen
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Pharmacology and Safety Evaluation of Chinese Materia Medica, School of Pharmacy, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, 210023, China.
- Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) Prevention and Treatment of Tumor, Nanjing, China.
- Jiangsu Joint International Research Laboratory of Chinese Medicine and Regenerative Medicine, Nanjing, China.
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50
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Jackson CE, Green NH, English WR, Claeyssens F. The use of microphysiological systems to model metastatic cancer. Biofabrication 2024; 16:032002. [PMID: 38579739 DOI: 10.1088/1758-5090/ad3b70] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2023] [Accepted: 04/05/2024] [Indexed: 04/07/2024]
Abstract
Cancer is one of the leading causes of death in the 21st century, with metastasis of cancer attributing to 90% of cancer-related deaths. Therefore, to improve patient outcomes there is a need for better preclinical models to increase the success of translating oncological therapies into the clinic. Current traditional staticin vitromodels lack a perfusable network which is critical to overcome the diffusional mass transfer limit to provide a mechanism for the exchange of essential nutrients and waste removal, and increase their physiological relevance. Furthermore, these models typically lack cellular heterogeneity and key components of the immune system and tumour microenvironment. This review explores rapidly developing strategies utilising perfusable microphysiological systems (MPS) for investigating cancer cell metastasis. In this review we initially outline the mechanisms of cancer metastasis, highlighting key steps and identifying the current gaps in our understanding of the metastatic cascade, exploring MPS focused on investigating the individual steps of the metastatic cascade before detailing the latest MPS which can investigate multiple components of the cascade. This review then focuses on the factors which can affect the performance of an MPS designed for cancer applications with a final discussion summarising the challenges and future directions for the use of MPS for cancer models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caitlin E Jackson
- Materials Science and Engineering, The Kroto Research Institute, University of Sheffield, Sheffield S3 7HQ, United Kingdom
- Insigneo Institute for In Silico Medicine, The Pam Liversidge Building, University of Sheffield, Sheffield S1 3JD, United Kingdom
| | - Nicola H Green
- Materials Science and Engineering, The Kroto Research Institute, University of Sheffield, Sheffield S3 7HQ, United Kingdom
- Insigneo Institute for In Silico Medicine, The Pam Liversidge Building, University of Sheffield, Sheffield S1 3JD, United Kingdom
| | - William R English
- Norwich Medical School, University of East Anglia, Norwich NR3 7TJ, United Kingdom
| | - Frederik Claeyssens
- Materials Science and Engineering, The Kroto Research Institute, University of Sheffield, Sheffield S3 7HQ, United Kingdom
- Insigneo Institute for In Silico Medicine, The Pam Liversidge Building, University of Sheffield, Sheffield S1 3JD, United Kingdom
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