Development of potent antibody drug conjugates against ICAM1+ cancer cells in preclinical models of cholangiocarcinoma

The COL7A1/PI3K/AKT axis regulates the progression of cholangiocarcinoma

Background

The role and molecular mechanisms of collagen type VII (COL7A1) in cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) remain unknown.

Methods

We analyzed the expression of COL7A1 in CCA and its relationship with patient prognosis using bioinformatic techniques. Expression levels of COL7A1 in CCA cells and tissues were detected using reverse transcription-quantitative PCR, western blotting, and immunohistochemistry. The effects of COL7A1 expression on the proliferation, migration, and invasion of CCA cells were assessed using CCK-8, colony formation, and Transwell assays. Bioinformatics and luciferase reporter gene assays were performed to examine the binding of KLF4 to COL7A1, and cytological experiments further verified the role of KLF4 in regulating the CCA phenotype through COL7A1. Xenograft mouse models were established to investigate the effects of COL7A1 on CCA tumor growth in vivo.

Results

CCA tissues exhibited higher COL7A1 expression than normal bile duct tissues. There was no significant correlation between high or low COL7A1 expression and the survival time of patients with CCA. COL7A1 knockdown inhibited CCA cell proliferation, migration, and invasion. Furthermore, COL7A1 knockdown suppressed the activation of the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway. KLF4 can bind to COL7A1 and regulate COL7A1 expression, which in turn regulates the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway and impacts the proliferation and metastasis of CCA cells.

Conclusion

Our findings suggest that KLF4 regulates CCA cell proliferation, migration, and invasion via the COL7A1/PI3K/AKT axis.

Antibody-drug conjugates for hepato-pancreato-biliary malignancies: "Magic bullets" to the rescue?

Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary (HPB) malignancies constitute a highly aggressive group of cancers that have a dismal prognosis. Patients not amenable to curative intent surgical resection are managed with systemic chemotherapy which, however, confers little survival benefit. Antibody-Drug Conjugates (ADCs) are tripartite compounds that merge the intricate selectivity and specificity of monoclonal antibodies with the cytodestructive potency of attached supertoxic payloads. In view of the unmet need for drugs that will enhance the survival rates of HPB cancer patients, the assessment of ADCs for treating HPB malignancies has become the focus of extensive clinical and preclinical investigation, showing encouraging preliminary results. In the current review, we offer a comprehensive overview of the growing body of evidence on ADC approaches tested for HPB malignancies. Starting from a concise discussion of the functional principles of ADCs, we summarize here all available data from preclinical and clinical studies evaluating ADCs in HPB cancers.

Mechanisms underlying neutrophils adhesion to triple-negative breast cancer cells via CD11b-ICAM1 in promoting breast cancer progression

BACKGROUND

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is recognized as the most aggressive and immunologically infiltrated subtype of breast cancer. A high circulating neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) is strongly linked to a poor prognosis among patients with breast cancer, emphasizing the critical role of neutrophils. Although the involvement of neutrophils in tumor metastasis is well documented, their interactions with primary tumors and tumor cells are not yet fully understood.

METHODS

Clinical data were analyzed to investigate the role of neutrophils in breast cancer. In vivo mouse model and in vitro co-culture system were used for mechanism researches. Blocking experiments were further performed to identify therapeutic agents against TNBC.

RESULTS

TNBC cells secreted GM-CSF to sustain the survival of mature neutrophils and upregulated CD11b expression. Through CD11b, neutrophils specifically binded to ICAM1 on TNBC cells, facilitating adhesion. Transcriptomic sequencing combined with human and murine functional experiments revealed that neutrophils, through direct CD11b-ICAM1 interactions, activated the MAPK signaling pathway in TNBC cells, thereby enhancing tumor cell invasion and migration. Atorvastatin effectively inhibited ICAM1 expression in tumor cells, and tumor cells with ICAM1 knockout or treated with atorvastatin were unresponsive to neutrophil activation. The MAPK pathway and MMP9 expression were significantly inhibited in the tumor tissues of TNBC patients treated with atorvastatin.

CONCLUSIONS

Targeting CD11b-ICAM1 with atorvastatin represented a potential clinical approach to reduce the malignant characteristics of TNBC.

Current and Emerging Therapeutic Targets for the Treatment of Cholangiocarcinoma: An Updated Review

Cholangiocarcinoma is a malignancy of the bile ducts that is often associated with late diagnosis, poor overall survival, and limited treatment options. The standard of care therapy for cholangiocarcinoma has been cytotoxic chemotherapy with modest improvements in overall survival with the addition of immune checkpoint inhibitors. The discovery of actionable mutations has led to the advent of targeted therapies against FGFR and IDH-1, which has expanded the treatment landscape for this patient population. Significant efforts have been made in the pre-clinical space to explore novel immunotherapeutic approaches, as well as antibody-drug conjugates. This review provides an overview of the current landscape of treatment options, as well as promising future therapeutic targets.