1
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Kayhanian H, Cross W, van der Horst SEM, Barmpoutis P, Lakatos E, Caravagna G, Zapata L, Van Hoeck A, Middelkamp S, Litchfield K, Steele C, Waddingham W, Patel D, Milite S, Jin C, Baker AM, Alexander DC, Khan K, Hochhauser D, Novelli M, Werner B, van Boxtel R, Hageman JH, Buissant des Amorie JR, Linares J, Ligtenberg MJL, Nagtegaal ID, Laclé MM, Moons LMG, Brosens LAA, Pillay N, Sottoriva A, Graham TA, Rodriguez-Justo M, Shiu KK, Snippert HJG, Jansen M. Homopolymer switches mediate adaptive mutability in mismatch repair-deficient colorectal cancer. Nat Genet 2024; 56:1420-1433. [PMID: 38956208 PMCID: PMC11250277 DOI: 10.1038/s41588-024-01777-9] [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: 03/04/2022] [Accepted: 04/25/2024] [Indexed: 07/04/2024]
Abstract
Mismatch repair (MMR)-deficient cancer evolves through the stepwise erosion of coding homopolymers in target genes. Curiously, the MMR genes MutS homolog 6 (MSH6) and MutS homolog 3 (MSH3) also contain coding homopolymers, and these are frequent mutational targets in MMR-deficient cancers. The impact of incremental MMR mutations on MMR-deficient cancer evolution is unknown. Here we show that microsatellite instability modulates DNA repair by toggling hypermutable mononucleotide homopolymer runs in MSH6 and MSH3 through stochastic frameshift switching. Spontaneous mutation and reversion modulate subclonal mutation rate, mutation bias and HLA and neoantigen diversity. Patient-derived organoids corroborate these observations and show that MMR homopolymer sequences drift back into reading frame in the absence of immune selection, suggesting a fitness cost of elevated mutation rates. Combined experimental and simulation studies demonstrate that subclonal immune selection favors incremental MMR mutations. Overall, our data demonstrate that MMR-deficient colorectal cancers fuel intratumor heterogeneity by adapting subclonal mutation rate and diversity to immune selection.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - William Cross
- UCL Cancer Institute, University College London, London, UK
- Cancer Mechanisms and Biomarker Discovery Group, School of Life Sciences, University of Westminster, London, UK
| | - Suzanne E M van der Horst
- Oncode Institute, Center for Molecular Medicine, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Panagiotis Barmpoutis
- UCL Cancer Institute, University College London, London, UK
- UCL Centre for Medical Image Computing, Department of Computer Science, University College London, London, UK
| | - Eszter Lakatos
- Department of Mathematical Sciences, Chalmers University of Technology and University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Giulio Caravagna
- Department of Mathematics, Informatics and Geosciences, University of Trieste, Trieste, Italy
| | - Luis Zapata
- Centre for Evolution and Cancer, The Institute of Cancer Research, London, UK
| | - Arne Van Hoeck
- Oncode Institute, Center for Molecular Medicine, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Sjors Middelkamp
- Princess Máxima Center for Pediatric Oncology, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | | | | | | | - Dominic Patel
- UCL Cancer Institute, University College London, London, UK
| | - Salvatore Milite
- Department of Mathematics, Informatics and Geosciences, University of Trieste, Trieste, Italy
| | - Chen Jin
- UCL Centre for Medical Image Computing, Department of Computer Science, University College London, London, UK
| | - Ann-Marie Baker
- Centre for Evolution and Cancer, The Institute of Cancer Research, London, UK
| | - Daniel C Alexander
- UCL Centre for Medical Image Computing, Department of Computer Science, University College London, London, UK
| | - Khurum Khan
- Department of Oncology, UCL Cancer Institute, University College London, London, UK
| | - Daniel Hochhauser
- UCL Cancer Institute, University College London, London, UK
- Department of Oncology, UCL Cancer Institute, University College London, London, UK
| | - Marco Novelli
- UCL Cancer Institute, University College London, London, UK
- Department of Pathology, University College London Hospital, London, UK
| | - Benjamin Werner
- Centre for Cancer Genomics and Computational Biology, Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK
| | - Ruben van Boxtel
- Oncode Institute, Center for Molecular Medicine, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
- Princess Máxima Center for Pediatric Oncology, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Joris H Hageman
- Oncode Institute, Center for Molecular Medicine, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | | | | | - Marjolijn J L Ligtenberg
- Department of Pathology, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
- Department of Human Genetics, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Iris D Nagtegaal
- Department of Pathology, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Miangela M Laclé
- Department of Pathology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Leon M G Moons
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Lodewijk A A Brosens
- Department of Pathology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | | | - Andrea Sottoriva
- Centre for Evolution and Cancer, The Institute of Cancer Research, London, UK
- Computational Biology Research Centre, Human Technopole, Milan, Italy
| | - Trevor A Graham
- Centre for Evolution and Cancer, The Institute of Cancer Research, London, UK
- Centre for Cancer Genomics and Computational Biology, Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK
| | - Manuel Rodriguez-Justo
- UCL Cancer Institute, University College London, London, UK
- Department of Pathology, University College London Hospital, London, UK
| | - Kai-Keen Shiu
- UCL Cancer Institute, University College London, London, UK
- Department of Oncology, UCL Cancer Institute, University College London, London, UK
| | - Hugo J G Snippert
- Oncode Institute, Center for Molecular Medicine, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
| | - Marnix Jansen
- UCL Cancer Institute, University College London, London, UK.
- Department of Pathology, University College London Hospital, London, UK.
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2
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Setsu G, Goto M, Ito K, Taira T, Miyamoto M, Watanabe T, Higuchi S. Pharmacological inhibition of HPK1 synergizes with PD-L1 blockade to provoke antitumor immunity against tumors with low antigenicity. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2024; 715:149995. [PMID: 38685185 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2024.149995] [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: 04/10/2024] [Accepted: 04/23/2024] [Indexed: 05/02/2024]
Abstract
Immune checkpoint inhibitors have significantly transformed the landscape of cancer therapy. Nevertheless, while these inhibitors are highly effective for certain patient groups, many do not benefit due to primary or acquired resistance. Specifically, these treatments often lack sufficient therapeutic efficacy against cancers with low antigenicity. Thus, the development of an effective strategy to overcome cancers with low antigenicity is imperative for advancing next-generation cancer immunotherapy. Here, we show that small molecule inhibitor of hematopoietic progenitor kinase 1 (HPK1) combined with programmed cell death ligand 1 (PD-L1) blockade can enhance T-cell response to tumor with low antigenicity. We found that treatment of OT-1 splenocytes with HPK1 inhibitor enhanced the activation of signaling molecules downstream of T-cell receptor provoked by low-affinity-antigen stimulation. Using an in vivo OT-1 T-cell transfer model, we demonstrated that combining the HPK1 inhibitor with the anti-PD-L1 antibody significantly suppressed the growth of tumors expressing low-affinity altered peptide ligand of chicken ovalbumin, while anti-PD-L1 antibody monotherapy was ineffective. Our findings offer crucial insights into the potential for overcoming tumors with low antigenicity by combining conventional immune checkpoint inhibitors with HPK1 inhibitor.
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3
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Guo YA, Kulshrestha T, Chang MM, Kassam I, Revkov E, Rizzetto S, Tan AC, Tan DS, Tan IB, Skanderup AJ. Transcriptome Deconvolution Reveals Absence of Cancer Cell Expression Signature in Immune Checkpoint Blockade Response. CANCER RESEARCH COMMUNICATIONS 2024; 4:1581-1596. [PMID: 38722600 PMCID: PMC11203396 DOI: 10.1158/2767-9764.crc-23-0442] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2023] [Revised: 02/16/2024] [Accepted: 05/07/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024]
Abstract
Immune checkpoint therapy (ICB) has conferred significant and durable clinical benefit to some patients with cancer. However, most patients do not respond to ICB, and reliable biomarkers of ICB response are needed to improve patient stratification. Here, we performed a transcriptome-wide meta-analysis across 1,486 tumors from ICB-treated patients and tumors with expected ICB outcomes based on microsatellite status. Using a robust transcriptome deconvolution approach, we inferred cancer- and stroma-specific gene expression differences and identified cell-type specific features of ICB response across cancer types. Consistent with current knowledge, stromal expression of CXCL9, CXCL13, and IFNG were the top determinants of favorable ICB response. In addition, we identified a group of potential immune-suppressive genes, including FCER1A, associated with poor response to ICB. Strikingly, PD-L1 expression in stromal cells, but not cancer cells, is correlated with ICB response across cancer types. Furthermore, the unbiased transcriptome-wide analysis failed to identify cancer-cell intrinsic expression signatures of ICB response conserved across tumor types, suggesting that cancer cells lack tissue-agnostic transcriptomic features of ICB response. SIGNIFICANCE Our results challenge the prevailing dogma that cancer cells present tissue-agnostic molecular markers that modulate immune activity and ICB response, which has implications on the development of improved ICB diagnostics and treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Amanda Guo
- Genome Institute of Singapore (GIS), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), 60 Biopolis Street, #02-01 Genome, Singapore 138672, Republic of Singapore
| | - Tanmay Kulshrestha
- Genome Institute of Singapore (GIS), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), 60 Biopolis Street, #02-01 Genome, Singapore 138672, Republic of Singapore
| | - Mei Mei Chang
- Genome Institute of Singapore (GIS), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), 60 Biopolis Street, #02-01 Genome, Singapore 138672, Republic of Singapore
| | - Irfahan Kassam
- Genome Institute of Singapore (GIS), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), 60 Biopolis Street, #02-01 Genome, Singapore 138672, Republic of Singapore
| | - Egor Revkov
- Genome Institute of Singapore (GIS), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), 60 Biopolis Street, #02-01 Genome, Singapore 138672, Republic of Singapore
- School of Computing, National University of Singapore, Computing 1, 13 Computing Drive, Singapore 117417, Republic of Singapore
| | - Simone Rizzetto
- Genome Institute of Singapore (GIS), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), 60 Biopolis Street, #02-01 Genome, Singapore 138672, Republic of Singapore
| | - Aaron C. Tan
- Department of Medical Oncology, National Cancer Centre Singapore, Singapore 169610, Republic of Singapore
| | - Daniel S.W. Tan
- Genome Institute of Singapore (GIS), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), 60 Biopolis Street, #02-01 Genome, Singapore 138672, Republic of Singapore
- Department of Medical Oncology, National Cancer Centre Singapore, Singapore 169610, Republic of Singapore
| | - Iain Beehuat Tan
- Genome Institute of Singapore (GIS), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), 60 Biopolis Street, #02-01 Genome, Singapore 138672, Republic of Singapore
- Department of Medical Oncology, National Cancer Centre Singapore, Singapore 169610, Republic of Singapore
| | - Anders J. Skanderup
- Genome Institute of Singapore (GIS), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), 60 Biopolis Street, #02-01 Genome, Singapore 138672, Republic of Singapore
- School of Computing, National University of Singapore, Computing 1, 13 Computing Drive, Singapore 117417, Republic of Singapore
- Department of Medical Oncology, National Cancer Centre Singapore, Singapore 169610, Republic of Singapore
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4
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Gourmet L, Sottoriva A, Walker-Samuel S, Secrier M, Zapata L. Immune evasion impacts the landscape of driver genes during cancer evolution. Genome Biol 2024; 25:168. [PMID: 38926878 PMCID: PMC11210199 DOI: 10.1186/s13059-024-03302-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2023] [Accepted: 06/06/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Carcinogenesis is driven by interactions between genetic mutations and the local tumor microenvironment. Recent research has identified hundreds of cancer driver genes; however, these studies often include a mixture of different molecular subtypes and ecological niches and ignore the impact of the immune system. RESULTS In this study, we compare the landscape of driver genes in tumors that escaped the immune system (escape +) versus those that did not (escape -). We analyze 9896 primary tumors from The Cancer Genome Atlas using the ratio of non-synonymous to synonymous mutations (dN/dS) and find 85 driver genes, including 27 and 16 novel genes, in escape - and escape + tumors, respectively. The dN/dS of driver genes in immune escaped tumors is significantly lower and closer to neutrality than in non-escaped tumors, suggesting selection buffering in driver genes fueled by immune escape. Additionally, we find that immune evasion leads to more mutated sites, a diverse array of mutational signatures and is linked to tumor prognosis. CONCLUSIONS Our findings highlight the need for improved patient stratification to identify new therapeutic targets for cancer treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucie Gourmet
- Department of Genetics, Evolution and Environment, UCL Genetics Institute, University College London, London, UK
- UCL Centre for Computational Medicine, University College London, London, UK
| | - Andrea Sottoriva
- Centre for Evolution and Cancer, Institute of Cancer Research, London, UK
- Computational Biology Research Centre, Human Technopole, Milan, Italy
| | - Simon Walker-Samuel
- UCL Centre for Computational Medicine, University College London, London, UK
| | - Maria Secrier
- Department of Genetics, Evolution and Environment, UCL Genetics Institute, University College London, London, UK
| | - Luis Zapata
- Centre for Evolution and Cancer, Institute of Cancer Research, London, UK.
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5
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Pu Y, Yang G, Zhou Y, Pan X, Guo T, Chai X. The Macrophage migration inhibitory factor is a vital player in Pan-Cancer by functioning as a M0 Macrophage biomarker. Int Immunopharmacol 2024; 134:112198. [PMID: 38733827 DOI: 10.1016/j.intimp.2024.112198] [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: 04/30/2024] [Indexed: 05/13/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The role of the macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) has recently attracted considerable attention in cancer research; nonetheless, the insights provided by current investigations remain constrained. Our main objective was to investigate its role and the latent mechanisms within the pan-cancer realm. METHODS We used comprehensive pan-cancer bulk sequencing data and online network tools to investigate the association between MIF expression and patient prognosis, genomic instability, cancer cell stemness, DNA damage repair, and immune infiltration. Furthermore, we validated the relationship between MIF expression and M0 macrophages using single-cell datasets, the SpatialDB database, and fluorescence staining. Additionally, we assessed the therapeutic response using the ROC plotter tool. RESULTS We observed the upregulation of MIF expression across numerous cancer types. Notably, elevated MIF levels were associated with a decline in genomic stability. We found a significant correlation between increased MIF expression and increased expression of mismatch repair genes, stemness features, and homologous recombination genes across diverse malignancies. Subsequently, through an analysis using ESTIMATE and cytokine results, we revealed the involvement of MIF in immune suppression. Then, we validated MIF as a hallmark of the M0 macrophages involved in tumor immunity. Our study suggests an association with other immune-inhibitory cellular populations and restraint of CD8 + T cells. In addition, we conducted a comparative analysis of MIF expression before and after treatment in three distinct sets of therapy responders and non-responders. Intriguingly, we identified notable disparities in MIF expression patterns in bladder urothelial carcinoma and ovarian cancer following particular therapeutic interventions. CONCLUSION Comprehensive pan-cancer analysis revealed notable enrichment of MIF within M0 macrophages, exerting a profound influence on tumor-associated immunosuppression and the intricate machinery of DNA repair.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuting Pu
- Department of Emergency Medicine, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China; Emergency Medicine and Difficult Disease Institute, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Guifang Yang
- Department of Emergency Medicine, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China; Emergency Medicine and Difficult Disease Institute, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China.
| | - Yang Zhou
- Department of Intensive Care Medicine, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Xiaogao Pan
- Department of Emergency Medicine, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China; Emergency Medicine and Difficult Disease Institute, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Tuo Guo
- Department of Emergency Medicine, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China; Emergency Medicine and Difficult Disease Institute, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Xiangping Chai
- Department of Emergency Medicine, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China; Emergency Medicine and Difficult Disease Institute, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China.
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6
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Houlahan KE, Khan A, Greenwald NF, Vivas CS, West RB, Angelo M, Curtis C. Germline-mediated immunoediting sculpts breast cancer subtypes and metastatic proclivity. Science 2024; 384:eadh8697. [PMID: 38815010 DOI: 10.1126/science.adh8697] [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: 03/19/2023] [Accepted: 04/05/2024] [Indexed: 06/01/2024]
Abstract
Tumors with the same diagnosis can have different molecular profiles and response to treatment. It remains unclear when and why these differences arise. Somatic genomic aberrations occur within the context of a highly variable germline genome. Interrogating 5870 breast cancer lesions, we demonstrated that germline-derived epitopes in recurrently amplified genes influence somatic evolution by mediating immunoediting. Individuals with a high germline-epitope burden in human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2/ERBB2) are less likely to develop HER2-positive breast cancer compared with other subtypes. The same holds true for recurrent amplicons defining three aggressive estrogen receptor (ER)-positive subgroups. Tumors that overcome such immune-mediated negative selection are more aggressive and demonstrate an "immune cold" phenotype. These data show that the germline genome plays a role in dictating somatic evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kathleen E Houlahan
- Stanford Cancer Institute, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
| | - Aziz Khan
- Stanford Cancer Institute, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
| | - Noah F Greenwald
- Cancer Biology Program, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
- Department of Pathology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
| | | | - Robert B West
- Department of Pathology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
| | - Michael Angelo
- Department of Pathology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
| | - Christina Curtis
- Stanford Cancer Institute, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
- Department of Medicine, Division of Oncology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
- Department of Genetics, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
- Department of Biomedical Data Science, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
- Chan Zuckerberg Biohub, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
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7
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Aguadé-Gorgorió G, Anderson AR, Solé R. Modeling tumors as species-rich ecological communities. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.04.22.590504. [PMID: 38712062 PMCID: PMC11071393 DOI: 10.1101/2024.04.22.590504] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/08/2024]
Abstract
Many advanced cancers resist therapeutic intervention. This process is fundamentally related to intra-tumor heterogeneity: multiple cell populations, each with different mutational and phenotypic signatures, coexist within a tumor and its metastatic nodes. Like species in an ecosystem, many cancer cell populations are intertwined in a complex network of ecological interactions. Most mathematical models of tumor ecology, however, cannot account for such phenotypic diversity nor are able to predict its consequences. Here we propose that the Generalized Lotka-Volterra model (GLV), a standard tool to describe complex, species-rich ecological communities, provides a suitable framework to describe the ecology of heterogeneous tumors. We develop a GLV model of tumor growth and discuss how its emerging properties, such as outgrowth and multistability, provide a new understanding of the disease. Additionally, we discuss potential extensions of the model and their application to three active areas of cancer research, namely phenotypic plasticity, the cancer-immune interplay and the resistance of metastatic tumors to treatment. Our work outlines a set of questions and a tentative road map for further research in cancer ecology.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Alexander R.A. Anderson
- Integrated Mathematical Oncology Department, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute, Tampa, USA
| | - Ricard Solé
- ICREA-Complex Systems Lab, UPF-PRBB, Dr. Aiguader 80, 08003 Barcelona, Spain
- Santa Fe Institute, 1399 Hyde Park Road, Santa Fe, NM 87501, USA
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8
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Manoutcharian K, Gevorkian G. Are we getting closer to a successful neoantigen cancer vaccine? Mol Aspects Med 2024; 96:101254. [PMID: 38354548 DOI: 10.1016/j.mam.2024.101254] [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: 10/24/2023] [Revised: 02/02/2024] [Accepted: 02/06/2024] [Indexed: 02/16/2024]
Abstract
Although significant advances in immunotherapy have revolutionized the treatment of many cancer types over the past decade, the field of vaccine therapy, an important component of cancer immunotherapy, despite decades-long intense efforts, is still transmitting signals of promises and awaiting strong data on efficacy to proceed with regulatory approval. The field of cancer vaccines faces standard challenges, such as tumor-induced immunosuppression, immune response in inhibitory tumor microenvironment (TME), intratumor heterogeneity (ITH), permanently evolving cancer mutational landscape leading to neoantigens, and less known obstacles: neoantigen gain/loss upon immunotherapy, the timing and speed of appearance of neoantigens and responding T cell clonotypes and possible involvement of immune interference/heterologous immunity, in the complex interplay between evolving tumor epitopes and the immune system. In this review, we discuss some key issues related to challenges hampering the development of cancer vaccines, along with the current approaches focusing on neoantigens. We summarize currently well-known ideas/rationales, thus revealing the need for alternative vaccine approaches. Such a discussion should stimulate vaccine researchers to apply out-of-box, unconventional thinking in search of new avenues to deal with critical, often yet unaddressed challenges on the road to a new generation of therapeutics and vaccines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karen Manoutcharian
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biomedicas, Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico (UNAM), CDMX, Apartado Postal 70228, Cuidad Universitaria, Mexico DF, CP, 04510, Mexico.
| | - Goar Gevorkian
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biomedicas, Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico (UNAM), CDMX, Apartado Postal 70228, Cuidad Universitaria, Mexico DF, CP, 04510, Mexico.
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9
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Lakatos E, Gunasri V, Zapata L, Househam J, Heide T, Trahearn N, Swinyard O, Cisneros L, Lynn C, Mossner M, Kimberley C, Spiteri I, Cresswell GD, Llibre-Palomar G, Mitchison M, Maley CC, Jansen M, Rodriguez-Justo M, Bridgewater J, Baker AM, Sottoriva A, Graham TA. Epigenome and early selection determine the tumour-immune evolutionary trajectory of colorectal cancer. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.02.12.579956. [PMID: 38405882 PMCID: PMC10888923 DOI: 10.1101/2024.02.12.579956] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/27/2024]
Abstract
Immune system control is a major hurdle that cancer evolution must circumvent. The relative timing and evolutionary dynamics of subclones that have escaped immune control remain incompletely characterized, and how immune-mediated selection shapes the epigenome has received little attention. Here, we infer the genome- and epigenome-driven evolutionary dynamics of tumour-immune coevolution within primary colorectal cancers (CRCs). We utilise our existing CRC multi-region multi-omic dataset that we supplement with high-resolution spatially-resolved neoantigen sequencing data and highly multiplexed imaging of the tumour microenvironment (TME). Analysis of somatic chromatin accessibility alterations (SCAAs) reveals frequent somatic loss of accessibility at antigen presenting genes, and that SCAAs contribute to silencing of neoantigens. We observe that strong immune escape and exclusion occur at the outset of CRC formation, and that within tumours, including at the microscopic level of individual tumour glands, additional immune escape alterations have negligible consequences for the immunophenotype of cancer cells. Further minor immuno-editing occurs during local invasion and is associated with TME reorganisation, but that evolutionary bottleneck is relatively weak. Collectively, we show that immune evasion in CRC follows a "Big Bang" evolutionary pattern, whereby genetic, epigenetic and TME-driven immune evasion acquired by the time of transformation defines subsequent cancer-immune evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eszter Lakatos
- Department of Mathematical Sciences, Chalmers University of Technology and University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
- Centre for Evolution and Cancer, The Institute of Cancer Research, London, UK
| | - Vinaya Gunasri
- UCL Cancer Institute, University College London, London, UK
- Centre for Genomics and Computational Biology, Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK
| | - Luis Zapata
- Centre for Evolution and Cancer, The Institute of Cancer Research, London, UK
| | - Jacob Househam
- Centre for Evolution and Cancer, The Institute of Cancer Research, London, UK
| | - Timon Heide
- Centre for Evolution and Cancer, The Institute of Cancer Research, London, UK
- Computational Biology Research Centre, Human Technopole, Milan, Italy
| | - Nicholas Trahearn
- Centre for Evolution and Cancer, The Institute of Cancer Research, London, UK
| | - Ottilie Swinyard
- Centre for Genomics and Computational Biology, Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK
| | - Luis Cisneros
- Arizona Cancer Evolution Center, Biodesign Institute and School of Life Sciences Arizona State University, Tempe, USA
| | - Claire Lynn
- Centre for Evolution and Cancer, The Institute of Cancer Research, London, UK
| | - Maximilian Mossner
- Centre for Evolution and Cancer, The Institute of Cancer Research, London, UK
- Centre for Genomics and Computational Biology, Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK
| | - Chris Kimberley
- Centre for Genomics and Computational Biology, Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK
| | - Inmaculada Spiteri
- Centre for Evolution and Cancer, The Institute of Cancer Research, London, UK
| | - George D. Cresswell
- Centre for Evolution and Cancer, The Institute of Cancer Research, London, UK
| | - Gerard Llibre-Palomar
- Centre for Genomics and Computational Biology, Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK
| | - Miriam Mitchison
- Histopathology Department, University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
| | - Carlo C. Maley
- Arizona Cancer Evolution Center, Biodesign Institute and School of Life Sciences Arizona State University, Tempe, USA
| | - Marnix Jansen
- UCL Cancer Institute, University College London, London, UK
| | | | | | - Ann-Marie Baker
- Centre for Evolution and Cancer, The Institute of Cancer Research, London, UK
- Centre for Genomics and Computational Biology, Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK
| | - Andrea Sottoriva
- Centre for Evolution and Cancer, The Institute of Cancer Research, London, UK
- Computational Biology Research Centre, Human Technopole, Milan, Italy
| | - Trevor A. Graham
- Centre for Evolution and Cancer, The Institute of Cancer Research, London, UK
- Centre for Genomics and Computational Biology, Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK
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10
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Anand S, Hasan T, Maytin EV. Treatment of nonmelanoma skin cancer with pro-differentiation agents and photodynamic therapy: Preclinical and clinical studies (Review). Photochem Photobiol 2024:10.1111/php.13914. [PMID: 38310633 PMCID: PMC11297983 DOI: 10.1111/php.13914] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2023] [Revised: 12/30/2023] [Accepted: 01/16/2024] [Indexed: 02/06/2024]
Abstract
Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a nonscarring cancer treatment in which a pro-drug (5-aminolevulinic acid, ALA) is applied, converted into a photosensitizer (protoporphyrin IX, PpIX) which is then activated by visible light. ALA-PDT is now popular for treating nonmelanoma skin cancer (NMSC), but can be ineffective for larger skin tumors, mainly due to inadequate production of PpIX. Work over the past two decades has shown that differentiation-promoting agents, including methotrexate (MTX), 5-fluorouracil (5FU) and vitamin D (Vit D) can be combined with ALA-PDT as neoadjuvants to promote tumor-specific accumulation of PpIX, enhance tumor-selective cell death, and improve therapeutic outcome. In this review, we provide a historical perspective of how the combinations of differentiation-promoting agents with PDT (cPDT) evolved, including Initial discoveries, biochemical and molecular mechanisms, and clinical translation for the treatment of NMSCs. For added context, we also compare the differentiation-promoting neoadjuvants with some other clinical PDT combinations such as surgery, laser ablation, iron-chelating agents (CP94), and immunomodulators that do not induce differentiation. Although this review focuses mainly on the application of cPDT for NMSCs, the concepts and findings described here may be more broadly applicable towards improving the therapeutic outcomes of PDT treatment for other types of cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sanjay Anand
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, 9500 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA
- Dermatology and Plastic Surgery Institute, Cleveland Clinic, 9500 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA
- Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine, Cleveland Clinic, 9500 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA
| | - Tayyaba Hasan
- Wellman Center for Photomedicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114
| | - Edward V Maytin
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, 9500 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA
- Dermatology and Plastic Surgery Institute, Cleveland Clinic, 9500 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA
- Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine, Cleveland Clinic, 9500 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA
- Wellman Center for Photomedicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114
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11
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Sears T, Pagadala M, Castro A, Lee KH, Kong J, Tanaka K, Lippman S, Zanetti M, Carter H. Integrated germline and somatic features reveal divergent immune pathways driving ICB response. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.01.12.575430. [PMID: 38293085 PMCID: PMC10827124 DOI: 10.1101/2024.01.12.575430] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/01/2024]
Abstract
Immune Checkpoint Blockade (ICB) has revolutionized cancer treatment, however mechanisms determining patient response remain poorly understood. Here we used machine learning to predict ICB response from germline and somatic biomarkers and interpreted the learned model to uncover putative mechanisms driving superior outcomes. Patients with higher T follicular helper infiltrates were robust to defects in the class-I Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC-I). Further investigation uncovered different ICB responses in MHC-I versus MHC-II neoantigen reliant tumors across patients. Despite similar response rates, MHC-II reliant responses were associated with significantly longer durable clinical benefit (Discovery: Median OS=63.6 vs. 34.5 months P=0.0074; Validation: Median OS=37.5 vs. 33.1 months, P=0.040). Characteristics of the tumor immune microenvironment reflected MHC neoantigen reliance, and analysis of immune checkpoints revealed LAG3 as a potential target in MHC-II but not MHC-I reliant responses. This study highlights the value of interpretable machine learning models in elucidating the biological basis of therapy responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Timothy Sears
- Bioinformatics and Systems Biology Program, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA USA
| | - Meghana Pagadala
- Biomedical Sciences Program, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA,, USA
| | - Andrea Castro
- Tumour Immunogenomics and Immunosurveillance Laboratory, University College London Cancer Institute, London, UK
| | - Ko-Han Lee
- Bioinformatics and Systems Biology Program, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA USA
| | - JungHo Kong
- Division of Genomics and Precision Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA USA
| | - Kairi Tanaka
- School of Biological Sciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA USA
| | - Scott Lippman
- Moores Cancer Center, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA USA
| | - Maurizio Zanetti
- Moores Cancer Center, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA USA
- The Laboratory of Immunology, Moores Cancer Center and Department of Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA USA
| | - Hannah Carter
- Bioinformatics and Systems Biology Program, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA USA
- Moores Cancer Center, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA USA
- The Laboratory of Immunology, Moores Cancer Center and Department of Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA USA
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12
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Wang Y, Bergman DR, Trujillo E, Pearson AT, Sweis RF, Jackson TL. Mathematical model predicts tumor control patterns induced by fast and slow cytotoxic T lymphocyte killing mechanisms. Sci Rep 2023; 13:22541. [PMID: 38110479 PMCID: PMC10728095 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-49467-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2023] [Accepted: 12/08/2023] [Indexed: 12/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Immunotherapy has dramatically transformed the cancer treatment landscape largely due to the efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs). Although ICIs have shown promising results for many patients, the low response rates in many cancers highlight the ongoing challenges in cancer treatment. Cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) execute their cell-killing function via two distinct mechanisms: a fast-acting, perforin-mediated process and a slower, Fas ligand (FasL)-driven pathway. Evidence also suggests that the preferred killing mechanism of CTLs depends on the antigenicity of tumor cells. To determine the critical factors affecting responses to ICIs, we construct an ordinary differential equation model describing in vivo tumor-immune dynamics in the presence of active or blocked PD-1/PD-L1 immune checkpoint. Specifically, we identify important aspects of the tumor-immune landscape that affect tumor size and composition in the short and long term. We also generate a virtual cohort of mice with diverse tumor and immune attributes to simulate the outcomes of immune checkpoint blockade in a heterogeneous population. By identifying key tumor and immune characteristics associated with tumor elimination, dormancy, and escape, we predict which fraction of a population potentially responds well to ICIs and ways to enhance therapeutic outcomes with combination therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yixuan Wang
- Department of Mathematics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
| | - Daniel R Bergman
- Department of Mathematics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
| | - Erica Trujillo
- Department of Medicine, Section of Hematology/Oncology, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, 60637, USA
| | - Alexander T Pearson
- Department of Medicine, Section of Hematology/Oncology, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, 60637, USA
| | - Randy F Sweis
- Department of Medicine, Section of Hematology/Oncology, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, 60637, USA.
| | - Trachette L Jackson
- Department of Mathematics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA.
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13
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Lässig M, Mustonen V, Nourmohammad A. Steering and controlling evolution - from bioengineering to fighting pathogens. Nat Rev Genet 2023; 24:851-867. [PMID: 37400577 PMCID: PMC11137064 DOI: 10.1038/s41576-023-00623-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/30/2023] [Indexed: 07/05/2023]
Abstract
Control interventions steer the evolution of molecules, viruses, microorganisms or other cells towards a desired outcome. Applications range from engineering biomolecules and synthetic organisms to drug, therapy and vaccine design against pathogens and cancer. In all these instances, a control system alters the eco-evolutionary trajectory of a target system, inducing new functions or suppressing escape evolution. Here, we synthesize the objectives, mechanisms and dynamics of eco-evolutionary control in different biological systems. We discuss how the control system learns and processes information about the target system by sensing or measuring, through adaptive evolution or computational prediction of future trajectories. This information flow distinguishes pre-emptive control strategies by humans from feedback control in biotic systems. We establish a cost-benefit calculus to gauge and optimize control protocols, highlighting the fundamental link between predictability of evolution and efficacy of pre-emptive control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Lässig
- Institute for Biological Physics, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany.
| | - Ville Mustonen
- Organismal and Evolutionary Biology Research Programme, Department of Computer Science, Institute of Biotechnology, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.
| | - Armita Nourmohammad
- Department of Physics, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.
- Department of Applied Mathematics, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.
- Paul G. Allen School of Computer Science and Engineering, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.
- Herbold Computational Biology Program, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Seattle, WA, USA.
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14
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Cao T, Zhou X, Wu X, Zou Y. Cutaneous immune-related adverse events to immune checkpoint inhibitors: from underlying immunological mechanisms to multi-omics prediction. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1207544. [PMID: 37497220 PMCID: PMC10368482 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1207544] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2023] [Accepted: 06/05/2023] [Indexed: 07/28/2023] Open
Abstract
The development of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) has dramatically altered the landscape of therapy for multiple malignancies, including urothelial carcinoma, non-small cell lung cancer, melanoma and gastric cancer. As part of their anti-tumor properties, ICIs can enhance susceptibility to inflammatory side effects known as immune-related adverse events (irAEs), in which the skin is one of the most commonly and rapidly affected organs. Although numerous questions still remain unanswered, multi-omics technologies have shed light into immunological mechanisms, as well as the correlation between ICI-induced activation of immune systems and the incidence of cirAE (cutaneous irAEs). Therefore, we reviewed integrated biological layers of omics studies combined with clinical data for the prediction biomarkers of cirAEs based on skin pathogenesis. Here, we provide an overview of a spectrum of dermatological irAEs, discuss the pathogenesis of this "off-tumor toxicity" during ICI treatment, and summarize recently investigated biomarkers that may have predictive value for cirAEs via multi-omics approach. Finally, we demonstrate the prognostic significance of cirAEs for immune checkpoint blockades.
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15
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Roelands J, Kuppen PJK, Ahmed EI, Mall R, Masoodi T, Singh P, Monaco G, Raynaud C, de Miranda NFCC, Ferraro L, Carneiro-Lobo TC, Syed N, Rawat A, Awad A, Decock J, Mifsud W, Miller LD, Sherif S, Mohamed MG, Rinchai D, Van den Eynde M, Sayaman RW, Ziv E, Bertucci F, Petkar MA, Lorenz S, Mathew LS, Wang K, Murugesan S, Chaussabel D, Vahrmeijer AL, Wang E, Ceccarelli A, Fakhro KA, Zoppoli G, Ballestrero A, Tollenaar RAEM, Marincola FM, Galon J, Khodor SA, Ceccarelli M, Hendrickx W, Bedognetti D. An integrated tumor, immune and microbiome atlas of colon cancer. Nat Med 2023; 29:1273-1286. [PMID: 37202560 PMCID: PMC10202816 DOI: 10.1038/s41591-023-02324-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2021] [Accepted: 03/28/2023] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
The lack of multi-omics cancer datasets with extensive follow-up information hinders the identification of accurate biomarkers of clinical outcome. In this cohort study, we performed comprehensive genomic analyses on fresh-frozen samples from 348 patients affected by primary colon cancer, encompassing RNA, whole-exome, deep T cell receptor and 16S bacterial rRNA gene sequencing on tumor and matched healthy colon tissue, complemented with tumor whole-genome sequencing for further microbiome characterization. A type 1 helper T cell, cytotoxic, gene expression signature, called Immunologic Constant of Rejection, captured the presence of clonally expanded, tumor-enriched T cell clones and outperformed conventional prognostic molecular biomarkers, such as the consensus molecular subtype and the microsatellite instability classifications. Quantification of genetic immunoediting, defined as a lower number of neoantigens than expected, further refined its prognostic value. We identified a microbiome signature, driven by Ruminococcus bromii, associated with a favorable outcome. By combining microbiome signature and Immunologic Constant of Rejection, we developed and validated a composite score (mICRoScore), which identifies a group of patients with excellent survival probability. The publicly available multi-omics dataset provides a resource for better understanding colon cancer biology that could facilitate the discovery of personalized therapeutic approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica Roelands
- Translational Medicine Division, Research Branch, Sidra Medicine, Doha, Qatar
- Department of Surgery, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
- Department of Pathology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Peter J K Kuppen
- Department of Surgery, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Eiman I Ahmed
- Translational Medicine Division, Research Branch, Sidra Medicine, Doha, Qatar
| | - Raghvendra Mall
- Department of Immunology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
- Biotechnology Research Center, Technology Innovation Institute, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
| | - Tariq Masoodi
- Translational Medicine Division, Research Branch, Sidra Medicine, Doha, Qatar
| | - Parul Singh
- Translational Medicine Division, Research Branch, Sidra Medicine, Doha, Qatar
| | - Gianni Monaco
- Institute for Transfusion Medicine and Gene Therapy, Medical Center-University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
- Neuropathology, Medical Center-University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
- BIOGEM Institute of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Ariano Irpino, Italy
| | - Christophe Raynaud
- Translational Medicine Division, Research Branch, Sidra Medicine, Doha, Qatar
| | | | - Luigi Ferraro
- BIOGEM Institute of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Ariano Irpino, Italy
- Department of Electrical Engineering and Information Technology (DIETI), University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy
| | | | - Najeeb Syed
- Integrated Genomics Services, Research Branch, Sidra Medicine, Doha, Qatar
| | - Arun Rawat
- Translational Medicine Division, Research Branch, Sidra Medicine, Doha, Qatar
| | - Amany Awad
- Translational Medicine Division, Research Branch, Sidra Medicine, Doha, Qatar
| | - Julie Decock
- Translational Cancer and Immunity Center, Qatar Biomedical Research Institute (QBRI), Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU), Qatar Foundation, Doha, Qatar
- College of Health and Life Sciences, Hamad Bin Khalifa University, Qatar Foundation, Doha, Qatar
| | - William Mifsud
- Department of Pathology, Sidra Medicine, Doha, Qatar
- Weill-Cornell Medicine Qatar, Doha, Qatar
| | - Lance D Miller
- Department of Cancer Biology, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, USA
| | - Shimaa Sherif
- Translational Medicine Division, Research Branch, Sidra Medicine, Doha, Qatar
- College of Health and Life Sciences, Hamad Bin Khalifa University, Qatar Foundation, Doha, Qatar
| | - Mahmoud G Mohamed
- Translational Medicine Division, Research Branch, Sidra Medicine, Doha, Qatar
- Women's Wellness and Research Center, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar
- Department of Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties (DiMI), University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
| | - Darawan Rinchai
- Translational Medicine Division, Research Branch, Sidra Medicine, Doha, Qatar
- Laboratory of Human Genetics of Infectious Diseases, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Marc Van den Eynde
- Institut Roi Albert II, Cliniques Universitaires Saint-Luc, UCLouvain, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Rosalyn W Sayaman
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Elad Ziv
- Department of Medicine, Institute for Human Genetics, Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Francois Bertucci
- Laboratory of Predictive Oncology, Centre de Recherche en Cancérologie de Marseille, Institut Paoli-Calmettes, Aix-Marseille Université, Inserm UMR1068, CNRS UMR725, Marseille, France
- Department of Medical Oncology, Institut Paoli-Calmettes, Marseille, France
| | - Mahir Abdulla Petkar
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar
| | - Stephan Lorenz
- Integrated Genomics Services, Research Branch, Sidra Medicine, Doha, Qatar
| | - Lisa Sara Mathew
- Integrated Genomics Services, Research Branch, Sidra Medicine, Doha, Qatar
| | - Kun Wang
- Integrated Genomics Services, Research Branch, Sidra Medicine, Doha, Qatar
| | | | - Damien Chaussabel
- Translational Medicine Division, Research Branch, Sidra Medicine, Doha, Qatar
- Computational Sciences Department, The Jackson Laboratory, Farmington, CT, USA
| | | | - Ena Wang
- Translational Medicine Division, Research Branch, Sidra Medicine, Doha, Qatar
- Nurix Therapeutics, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Anna Ceccarelli
- Medical Oncology, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS- Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy
| | - Khalid A Fakhro
- Translational Medicine Division, Research Branch, Sidra Medicine, Doha, Qatar
- College of Health and Life Sciences, Hamad Bin Khalifa University, Qatar Foundation, Doha, Qatar
- Weill-Cornell Medicine Qatar, Doha, Qatar
| | - Gabriele Zoppoli
- Department of Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties (DiMI), University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
- IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genoa, Italy
| | - Alberto Ballestrero
- Department of Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties (DiMI), University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
- IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genoa, Italy
| | - Rob A E M Tollenaar
- Department of Surgery, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Francesco M Marincola
- Translational Medicine Division, Research Branch, Sidra Medicine, Doha, Qatar
- Sonata Therapeutics, Watertown, MA, USA
| | - Jérôme Galon
- Inserm, Laboratory of Integrative Cancer Immunology, Equipe Labellisée Ligue Contre Le Cancer, Centre de Recherche de Cordeliers, Université de Paris, Sorbonne Université, Paris, France
| | - Souhaila Al Khodor
- Translational Medicine Division, Research Branch, Sidra Medicine, Doha, Qatar
| | - Michele Ceccarelli
- BIOGEM Institute of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Ariano Irpino, Italy
- Department of Electrical Engineering and Information Technology (DIETI), University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy
- Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA
| | - Wouter Hendrickx
- Translational Medicine Division, Research Branch, Sidra Medicine, Doha, Qatar.
- College of Health and Life Sciences, Hamad Bin Khalifa University, Qatar Foundation, Doha, Qatar.
| | - Davide Bedognetti
- Translational Medicine Division, Research Branch, Sidra Medicine, Doha, Qatar.
- College of Health and Life Sciences, Hamad Bin Khalifa University, Qatar Foundation, Doha, Qatar.
- Department of Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties (DiMI), University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy.
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16
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Houlahan KE, Khan A, Greenwald NF, West RB, Angelo M, Curtis C. Germline-mediated immunoediting sculpts breast cancer subtypes and metastatic proclivity. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.03.15.532870. [PMID: 36993286 PMCID: PMC10055121 DOI: 10.1101/2023.03.15.532870] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
Cancer represents a broad spectrum of molecularly and morphologically diverse diseases. Individuals with the same clinical diagnosis can have tumors with drastically different molecular profiles and clinical response to treatment. It remains unclear when these differences arise during disease course and why some tumors are addicted to one oncogenic pathway over another. Somatic genomic aberrations occur within the context of an individual's germline genome, which can vary across millions of polymorphic sites. An open question is whether germline differences influence somatic tumor evolution. Interrogating 3,855 breast cancer lesions, spanning pre-invasive to metastatic disease, we demonstrate that germline variants in highly expressed and amplified genes influence somatic evolution by modulating immunoediting at early stages of tumor development. Specifically, we show that the burden of germline-derived epitopes in recurrently amplified genes selects against somatic gene amplification in breast cancer. For example, individuals with a high burden of germline-derived epitopes in ERBB2, encoding human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2), are significantly less likely to develop HER2-positive breast cancer compared to other subtypes. The same holds true for recurrent amplicons that define four subgroups of ER-positive breast cancers at high risk of distant relapse. High epitope burden in these recurrently amplified regions is associated with decreased likelihood of developing high risk ER-positive cancer. Tumors that overcome such immune-mediated negative selection are more aggressive and demonstrate an "immune cold" phenotype. These data show the germline genome plays a previously unappreciated role in dictating somatic evolution. Exploiting germline-mediated immunoediting may inform the development of biomarkers that refine risk stratification within breast cancer subtypes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kathleen E. Houlahan
- Stanford Cancer Institute, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Aziz Khan
- Stanford Cancer Institute, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Noah F Greenwald
- Cancer Biology Program, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
- Department of Pathology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Robert B. West
- Cancer Biology Program, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Michael Angelo
- Department of Pathology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Christina Curtis
- Stanford Cancer Institute, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
- Department of Medicine (Oncology), Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
- Department of Genetics, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
- Department of Biomedical Data Science, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
- Chan Zuckerberg Biohub, San Francisco, CA, USA
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