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Pan Y, Xie F, Zeng W, Chen H, Chen Z, Xu D, Chen Y. T cell-mediated tumor killing sensitivity gene signature-based prognostic score for acute myeloid leukemia. Discov Oncol 2024; 15:121. [PMID: 38619693 PMCID: PMC11018597 DOI: 10.1007/s12672-024-00962-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2024] [Accepted: 03/29/2024] [Indexed: 04/16/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is an aggressive, heterogenous hematopoetic malignancies with poor long-term prognosis. T-cell mediated tumor killing plays a key role in tumor immunity. Here, we explored the prognostic performance and functional significance of a T-cell mediated tumor killing sensitivity gene (GSTTK)-based prognostic score (TTKPI). METHODS Publicly available transcriptomic data for AML were obtained from TCGA and NCBI-GEO. GSTTK were identified from the TISIDB database. Signature GSTTK for AML were identified by differential expression analysis, COX proportional hazards and LASSO regression analysis and a comprehensive TTKPI score was constructed. Prognostic performance of the TTKPI was examined using Kaplan-Meier survival analysis, Receiver operating curves, and nomogram analysis. Association of TTKPI with clinical phenotypes, tumor immune cell infiltration patterns, checkpoint expression patterns were analysed. Drug docking was used to identify important candidate drugs based on the TTKPI-component genes. RESULTS From 401 differentially expressed GSTTK in AML, 24 genes were identified as signature genes and used to construct the TTKPI score. High-TTKPI risk score predicted worse survival and good prognostic accuracy with AUC values ranging from 75 to 96%. Higher TTKPI scores were associated with older age and cancer stage, which showed improved prognostic performance when combined with TTKPI. High TTKPI was associated with lower naïve CD4 T cell and follicular helper T cell infiltrates and higher M2 macrophages/monocyte infiltration. Distinct patterns of immune checkpoint expression corresponded with TTKPI score groups. Three agents; DB11791 (Capmatinib), DB12886 (GSK-1521498) and DB14773 (Lifirafenib) were identified as candidates for AML. CONCLUSION A T-cell mediated killing sensitivity gene-based prognostic score TTKPI showed good accuracy in predicting survival in AML. TTKPI corresponded to functional and immunological features of the tumor microenvironment including checkpoint expression patterns and should be investigated for precision medicine approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yiyun Pan
- Suzhou Medical College of Soochow University, Suzhou, 215123, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China
- Ganzhou Cancer Hospital, Gannan Medical University, No.19, Huayuan Road, Zhanggong Avenue, Ganzhou, Jiangxi, People's Republic of China
| | - FangFang Xie
- Ganzhou People's Hospital, Ganzhou, 341000, Jiangxi, People's Republic of China
| | - Wen Zeng
- Ganzhou Cancer Hospital, Gannan Medical University, No.19, Huayuan Road, Zhanggong Avenue, Ganzhou, Jiangxi, People's Republic of China
| | - Hailong Chen
- Ganzhou Cancer Hospital, Gannan Medical University, No.19, Huayuan Road, Zhanggong Avenue, Ganzhou, Jiangxi, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhengcong Chen
- Ganzhou Cancer Hospital, Gannan Medical University, No.19, Huayuan Road, Zhanggong Avenue, Ganzhou, Jiangxi, People's Republic of China
| | - Dechang Xu
- Ganzhou Cancer Hospital, Gannan Medical University, No.19, Huayuan Road, Zhanggong Avenue, Ganzhou, Jiangxi, People's Republic of China.
| | - Yijian Chen
- Suzhou Medical College of Soochow University, Suzhou, 215123, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China.
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Gannan Medical University, No.23, Qingnian Road, Zhanggong Avenue, Ganzhou, 8105640, Jiangxi, People's Republic of China.
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Zhao XC, Ju B, Xiu NN, Sun XY, Meng FJ. When inflammatory stressors dramatically change, disease phenotypes may transform between autoimmune hematopoietic failure and myeloid neoplasms. Front Immunol 2024; 15:1339971. [PMID: 38426096 PMCID: PMC10902444 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2024.1339971] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2023] [Accepted: 01/24/2024] [Indexed: 03/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Aplastic anemia (AA) and hypoplastic myelodysplastic syndrome are paradigms of autoimmune hematopoietic failure (AHF). Myelodysplastic syndrome and acute myeloid leukemia are unequivocal myeloid neoplasms (MNs). Currently, AA is also known to be a clonal hematological disease. Genetic aberrations typically observed in MNs are detected in approximately one-third of AA patients. In AA patients harboring MN-related genetic aberrations, a poor response to immunosuppressive therapy (IST) and an increased risk of transformation to MNs occurring either naturally or after IST are predicted. Approximately 10%-15% of patients with severe AA transform the disease phenotype to MNs following IST, and in some patients, leukemic transformation emerges during or shortly after IST. Phenotypic transformations between AHF and MNs can occur reciprocally. A fraction of advanced MN patients experience an aplastic crisis during which leukemic blasts are repressed. The switch that shapes the disease phenotype is a change in the strength of extramedullary inflammation. Both AHF and MNs have an immune-active bone marrow (BM) environment (BME). In AHF patients, an inflamed BME can be evoked by infiltrated immune cells targeting neoplastic molecules, which contributes to the BM-specific autoimmune impairment. Autoimmune responses in AHF may represent an antileukemic mechanism, and inflammatory stressors strengthen antileukemic immunity, at least in a significant proportion of patients who have MN-related genetic aberrations. During active inflammatory episodes, normal and leukemic hematopoieses are suppressed, which leads to the occurrence of aplastic cytopenia and leukemic cell regression. The successful treatment of underlying infections mitigates inflammatory stress-related antileukemic activities and promotes the penetration of leukemic hematopoiesis. The effect of IST is similar to that of treating underlying infections. Investigating inflammatory stress-powered antileukemic immunity is highly important in theoretical studies and clinical practice, especially given the wide application of immune-activating agents and immune checkpoint inhibitors in the treatment of hematological neoplasms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xi-Chen Zhao
- Department of Hematology, The Central Hospital of Qingdao West Coast New Area, Qingdao, Shandong, China
| | - Bo Ju
- Department of Hematology, The Central Hospital of Qingdao West Coast New Area, Qingdao, Shandong, China
| | - Nuan-Nuan Xiu
- Department of Hematology, The Central Hospital of Qingdao West Coast New Area, Qingdao, Shandong, China
| | - Xiao-Yun Sun
- Department of Hematology, The Central Hospital of Qingdao West Coast New Area, Qingdao, Shandong, China
| | - Fan-Jun Meng
- Department of Hematology, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, Shandong, China
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Bołkun Ł, Starosz A, Krętowska-Grunwald A, Wasiluk T, Walewska A, Wierzbowska A, Moniuszko M, Grubczak K. Effects of Combinatory In Vitro Treatment with Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors and Cytarabine on the Anti-Cancer Immune Microenvironment in De Novo AML Patients. Cancers (Basel) 2024; 16:462. [PMID: 38275902 PMCID: PMC10814928 DOI: 10.3390/cancers16020462] [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: 12/03/2023] [Revised: 01/16/2024] [Accepted: 01/20/2024] [Indexed: 01/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Despite substantial progress in the diagnostic and therapeutic procedures, acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) still constitutes a significant problem for patients suffering from its relapses. A comprehensive knowledge of the disease's molecular background has led to the development of targeted therapies, including immune checkpoint inhibitors, and demonstrated beneficial effects on several types of cancer. Here, we aimed to assess in vitro the potential of the immune checkpoint blockage for supporting anti-cancer responses to the AML backbone therapy with cytarabine. PBMCs of AML patients were collected at admission and, following the therapy, eight complete remission (CR) and eight non-responders (NR) subjects were selected. We assessed the effects of the in vitro treatment of the cells with cytarabine and the immune checkpoint inhibitors: anti-CTLA-4, anti-PD-1, anti-PD-L1. The study protocol allowed us to evaluate the viability of the cancer and the immune cells, proliferation status, phenotype, and cytokine release. Anti-PD-L1 antibodies were found to exert the most beneficial effect on the activation of T cells, with a concomitant regulation of the immune balance through Treg induction. There was no direct influence on the blast cells; however, the modulation of the PD-1/PD-L1 axis supported the expansion of lymphocytes. Changes in the response between CR and NR patients might result from the differential expression of PD-1 and PD-L1, with lower levels in the latter group. The tested blockers appear to support the anti-cancer immune responses rather than directly improve the effects of cytarabine. In conclusion, checkpoint proteins' modulators might improve the anti-cancer responses in the tumour environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Łukasz Bołkun
- Department of Haematology, Medical University of Bialystok, M. Sklodowskiej-Curie 24A, 15-276 Bialystok, Poland
| | - Aleksandra Starosz
- Department of Regenerative Medicine and Immune Regulation, Medical University of Bialystok, J. Waszyngtona 13, 15-269 Bialystok, Poland; (A.S.); (A.K.-G.); (A.W.); (M.M.)
| | - Anna Krętowska-Grunwald
- Department of Regenerative Medicine and Immune Regulation, Medical University of Bialystok, J. Waszyngtona 13, 15-269 Bialystok, Poland; (A.S.); (A.K.-G.); (A.W.); (M.M.)
- Department of Pediatric Oncology and Hematology, Medical University of Bialystok, J. Waszyngtona 17, 15-274 Bialystok, Poland
| | - Tomasz Wasiluk
- Regional Centre for Transfusion Medicine, M. Sklodowskiej-Curie 23, 15-950 Bialystok, Poland;
| | - Alicja Walewska
- Department of Regenerative Medicine and Immune Regulation, Medical University of Bialystok, J. Waszyngtona 13, 15-269 Bialystok, Poland; (A.S.); (A.K.-G.); (A.W.); (M.M.)
| | - Agnieszka Wierzbowska
- Department of Hematology, Medical University of Lodz, Pabianicka 62, 93-513 Lodz, Poland;
| | - Marcin Moniuszko
- Department of Regenerative Medicine and Immune Regulation, Medical University of Bialystok, J. Waszyngtona 13, 15-269 Bialystok, Poland; (A.S.); (A.K.-G.); (A.W.); (M.M.)
- Department of Allergology and Internal Medicine, Medical University of Bialystok, M. Sklodowskiej-Curie 24A, 15-276 Bialystok, Poland
| | - Kamil Grubczak
- Department of Regenerative Medicine and Immune Regulation, Medical University of Bialystok, J. Waszyngtona 13, 15-269 Bialystok, Poland; (A.S.); (A.K.-G.); (A.W.); (M.M.)
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Lomovskaya YV, Krasnov KS, Kobyakova MI, Kolotova AA, Ermakov AM, Senotov AS, Fadeeva IS, Fetisova EI, Lomovsky AI, Zvyagina AI, Akatov VS, Fadeev RS. Studying Signaling Pathway Activation in TRAIL-Resistant Macrophage-Like Acute Myeloid Leukemia Cells. Acta Naturae 2024; 16:48-58. [PMID: 38698963 PMCID: PMC11062100 DOI: 10.32607/actanaturae.27317] [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: 11/01/2023] [Accepted: 01/31/2024] [Indexed: 05/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a malignant neoplasm characterized by extremely low curability and survival. The inflammatory microenvironment and maturation (differentiation) of AML cells induced by it contribute to the evasion of these cells from effectors of antitumor immunity. One of the key molecular effectors of immune surveillance, the cytokine TRAIL, is considered a promising platform for developing selective anticancer drugs. Previously, under in vitro conditions of the inflammatory microenvironment (a three-dimensional high-density culture of THP-1 AML cells), we demonstrated the emergence of differentiated macrophage-like THP-1ad clones resistant to TRAIL-induced death. In the present study, constitutive activation of proinflammatory signaling pathways, associated transcription factors, and increased expression of the anti-apoptotic BIRC3 gene were observed in TRAIL-resistant macrophage-like THP-1ad AML cells. For the first time, a bioinformatic analysis of the transcriptome revealed the main regulator, the IL1B gene, which triggers proinflammatory activation and induces resistance to TRAIL in THP-1ad macrophage-like cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Y. V. Lomovskaya
- Institute of Theoretical and Experimental Biophysics of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Pushchino, Moscow region, 142290 Russian Federation
| | - K. S. Krasnov
- Institute of Theoretical and Experimental Biophysics of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Pushchino, Moscow region, 142290 Russian Federation
| | - M. I. Kobyakova
- Institute of Theoretical and Experimental Biophysics of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Pushchino, Moscow region, 142290 Russian Federation
- Institute of Clinical and Experimental Lymphology, Branch of the Institute of Cytology and Genetics SB RAS, Novosibirsk, 630060 Russian Federation
| | - A. A. Kolotova
- Institute of Theoretical and Experimental Biophysics of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Pushchino, Moscow region, 142290 Russian Federation
| | - A. M. Ermakov
- Institute of Theoretical and Experimental Biophysics of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Pushchino, Moscow region, 142290 Russian Federation
| | - A. S. Senotov
- Institute of Theoretical and Experimental Biophysics of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Pushchino, Moscow region, 142290 Russian Federation
| | - I. S. Fadeeva
- Institute of Theoretical and Experimental Biophysics of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Pushchino, Moscow region, 142290 Russian Federation
| | - E. I. Fetisova
- Institute of Theoretical and Experimental Biophysics of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Pushchino, Moscow region, 142290 Russian Federation
| | - A. I. Lomovsky
- Institute of Theoretical and Experimental Biophysics of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Pushchino, Moscow region, 142290 Russian Federation
| | - A. I. Zvyagina
- Institute of Theoretical and Experimental Biophysics of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Pushchino, Moscow region, 142290 Russian Federation
| | - V. S. Akatov
- Institute of Theoretical and Experimental Biophysics of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Pushchino, Moscow region, 142290 Russian Federation
| | - R. S. Fadeev
- Institute of Theoretical and Experimental Biophysics of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Pushchino, Moscow region, 142290 Russian Federation
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Xiu NN, Yang XD, Xu J, Ju B, Sun XY, Zhao XC. Leukemic transformation during anti-tuberculosis treatment in aplastic anemia-paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria syndrome: A case report and review of literature. World J Clin Cases 2023; 11:6908-6919. [PMID: 37901004 PMCID: PMC10600849 DOI: 10.12998/wjcc.v11.i28.6908] [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: 06/29/2023] [Revised: 08/18/2023] [Accepted: 09/06/2023] [Indexed: 09/25/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Accumulating evidence demonstrates that autoimmune hematopoietic failure and myeloid neoplasms have an intrinsic relationship with regard to clonal hematopoiesis and disease evolution. In approximately 10%-15% of patients with severe aplastic anemia (SAA), the disease phenotype is transformed into myeloid neoplasms following antithymocyte globulin plus cyclosporine-based immunosuppressive therapy. In some of these patients, myeloid neoplasms appear during or shortly after immunosuppressive therapy. Leukemic transformation in SAA patients during anti-tuberculosis treatment has not been reported. CASE SUMMARY A middle-aged Chinese female had a 6-year history of non-SAA and a 2-year history of paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH). With aggravation of systemic inflammatory symptoms, severe pancytopenia developed, and her hemoglobinuria disappeared. Laboratory findings in cytological, immunological and cytogenetic analyses of bone marrow samples met the diagnostic criteria for "SAA." Definitive diagnosis of disseminated tuberculosis was made in the search for infectious niches. Remarkable improvement in hematological parameters was achieved within 1 mo of anti-tuberculosis treatment, and complete hematological remission was achieved within 4 mo of treatment. Frustratingly, the hematological response lasted for only 3 mo, and pancytopenia reemerged. At this time, cytological findings (increased bone marrow cellularity and an increased percentage of myeloblasts that accounted for 16.0% of all nucleated hematopoietic cells), immunological findings (increased percentage of cluster of differentiation 34+ cells that accounted for 12.28% of all nucleated hematopoietic cells) and molecular biological findings (identification of somatic mutations in nucleophosmin-1 and casitas B-lineage lymphoma genes) revealed that "SAA" had transformed into acute myeloid leukemia with mutated nucleophosmin-1. The transformation process suggested that the leukemic clones were preexistent but were suppressed in the PNH and SAA stages, as development of symptomatic myeloid neoplasm through acquisition and accumulation of novel oncogenic mutations is unlikely in an interval of only 7 mo. Aggravation of inflammatory stressors due to disseminated tuberculosis likely contributed to the repression of normal and leukemic hematopoiesis, and the relief of inflammatory stressors due to anti-tuberculosis treatment contributed to penetration of neoplastic hematopoiesis. The concealed leukemic clones in the SAA and PNH stages raise the possibility of an inflammatory stress-fueled antileukemic mechanism. CONCLUSION Aggravated inflammatory stressors can repress normal and leukemic hematopoiesis, and relieved inflammatory stressors can facilitate penetration of neoplastic hematopoiesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nuan-Nuan Xiu
- Department of Hematology, The Central Hospital of Qingdao West Coast New Area, Qingdao 266555, Shandong Province, China
| | - Xiao-Dong Yang
- Department of Hematology, The Central Hospital of Qingdao West Coast New Area, Qingdao 266555, Shandong Province, China
| | - Jia Xu
- Department of Hematology, The Central Hospital of Qingdao West Coast New Area, Qingdao 266555, Shandong Province, China
| | - Bo Ju
- Department of Hematology, The Central Hospital of Qingdao West Coast New Area, Qingdao 266555, Shandong Province, China
| | - Xiao-Yun Sun
- Department of Hematology, The Central Hospital of Qingdao West Coast New Area, Qingdao 266555, Shandong Province, China
| | - Xi-Chen Zhao
- Department of Hematology, The Central Hospital of Qingdao West Coast New Area, Qingdao 266555, Shandong Province, China
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