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Tao B, Yi C, Ma Y, Li Y, Zhang B, Geng Y, Chen Z, Ma X, Chen J. A Novel TGF-β-Related Signature for Predicting Prognosis, Tumor Microenvironment, and Therapeutic Response in Colorectal Cancer. Biochem Genet 2024; 62:2999-3029. [PMID: 38062276 DOI: 10.1007/s10528-023-10591-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2023] [Accepted: 11/07/2023] [Indexed: 07/31/2024]
Abstract
The transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β) signaling plays a critical role in immune evasion and tumor progression. However, its modulatory influences on prognosis, tumor microenvironment (TME), and therapeutic efficacy remain unknown in colorectal cancer (CRC). We summarized TGF-β-related genes and comprehensively estimated their expression pattern in 2142 CRC samples from 9 datasets. Two distinct cluster patterns were divided and biological characteristics of each pattern were further analyzed. Then, to quantify the TGF-β cluster pattern of individual CRC patient, we generated the TGF-β score (TGFBscore) model based on TGF-β cluster pattern-relevant differentially expressed genes (DEGs). Subsequently, we conducted correlation analysis for TGFBscore and clinical prognosis, consensus molecular subtypes (CMSs), TME characteristics, liver metastasis, drug response, and immunotherapeutic efficacy in CRC. We illustrated transcriptional and genetic alterations of TGF-β-relevant genes, which were closely linked with carcinogenic pathways. We identified two different TGF-β cluster patterns, characterized by a high and a low TGFBscore. The TGFBscore-high group was significantly linked with worse patient survival, epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) activation, liver metastasis tendency, and the infiltration of immunosuppressive cells (regulatory T cells [Tregs], M2 macrophages, cancer-associated fibroblasts [CAFs], and myeloid-derived suppressor cells [MDSCs]), while the TGFBscore-low group was linked with a survival advantage, epithelial phenotype, early CRC staging, and the infiltration of immune-activated cells (B cell, CD4 T cell, natural killer T [NKT] cell, and T helper 1 [Th1] cell). In terms of predicting drug response, TGFBscore negatively correlated (sensitive to TGFBscore-high group) with drugs targeting PI3K/mTOR, JNK and p38, RTK signaling pathways, and positively correlated (sensitive to TGFBscore-low group) with drugs targeting EGFR signaling pathway. Also, TGFBscore could predict the efficacy of different anti-tumor therapies. TGFBscore-low patients might benefit more from anti-PDL1 immunotherapy, adjuvant chemotherapy (ACT), and ERBB targeted therapy, whereas TGFBscore-high patients might benefit more from antiangiogenic targeted therapy. Our study constructed a novel TGF-β scoring model that could predict prognosis, liver metastasis tendency, and TME characteristics for CRC patients. More importantly, this work emphasizes the potential clinical utility of TGFBscore in evaluating the efficacy of chemotherapy, targeted therapy, and immunotherapy, guiding individualized precision treatment in CRC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Baorui Tao
- Department of General Surgery, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, 12 Middle Wulumuqi Road, Shanghai, 200040, People's Republic of China
- Cancer Metastasis Institute, Fudan University, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
| | - Chenhe Yi
- Department of General Surgery, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, 12 Middle Wulumuqi Road, Shanghai, 200040, People's Republic of China
- Cancer Metastasis Institute, Fudan University, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
| | - Yue Ma
- Department of General Surgery, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, 12 Middle Wulumuqi Road, Shanghai, 200040, People's Republic of China
- Cancer Metastasis Institute, Fudan University, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
| | - Yitong Li
- Department of General Surgery, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, 12 Middle Wulumuqi Road, Shanghai, 200040, People's Republic of China
- Cancer Metastasis Institute, Fudan University, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
| | - Bo Zhang
- Department of General Surgery, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, 12 Middle Wulumuqi Road, Shanghai, 200040, People's Republic of China
- Cancer Metastasis Institute, Fudan University, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
| | - Yan Geng
- Department of General Surgery, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, 12 Middle Wulumuqi Road, Shanghai, 200040, People's Republic of China
- Cancer Metastasis Institute, Fudan University, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhenmei Chen
- Department of General Surgery, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, 12 Middle Wulumuqi Road, Shanghai, 200040, People's Republic of China
- Cancer Metastasis Institute, Fudan University, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiaochen Ma
- Department of General Surgery, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, 12 Middle Wulumuqi Road, Shanghai, 200040, People's Republic of China
- Cancer Metastasis Institute, Fudan University, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
| | - Jinhong Chen
- Department of General Surgery, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, 12 Middle Wulumuqi Road, Shanghai, 200040, People's Republic of China.
- Cancer Metastasis Institute, Fudan University, Shanghai, People's Republic of China.
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Zhang J, Yu J, Liu M, Xie Z, Lei X, Yang X, Huang S, Deng X, Wang Z, Tang G. Small-molecule modulators of tumor immune microenvironment. Bioorg Chem 2024; 145:107251. [PMID: 38442612 DOI: 10.1016/j.bioorg.2024.107251] [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: 12/13/2023] [Revised: 02/13/2024] [Accepted: 02/28/2024] [Indexed: 03/07/2024]
Abstract
In recent years, tumor immunotherapy, aimed at increasing the activity of immune cells and reducing immunosuppressive effects, has attracted wide attention. Among them, immune checkpoint blocking (ICB) is the most commonly explored therapeutic approach. All approved immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) are clinically effective monoclonal antibodies (mAbs). Compared with biological agents, small-molecule drugs have many unique advantages in tumor immunotherapy. Therefore, they also play an important role. Immunosuppressive signals such as PD-L1, IDO1, and TGF-β, etc. overexpressed in tumor cells form the tumor immunosuppressive microenvironment. In addition, the efficacy of multi-pathway combined immunotherapy has also been reported and verified. Here, we mainly reviewed the mechanism of tumor immunotherapy, analyzed the research status of small-molecule modulators, and discussed drug candidates' structure-activity relationship (SAR). It provides more opportunities for further research to design more immune small-molecule modulators with novel structures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing Zhang
- Institute of Pharmacy and Pharmacology, Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory of Tumor Microenvironment Responsive Drug Research, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang, Hunan 421001, China
| | - Jia Yu
- Institute of Pharmacy and Pharmacology, Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory of Tumor Microenvironment Responsive Drug Research, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang, Hunan 421001, China
| | - Meijing Liu
- Institute of Pharmacy and Pharmacology, Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory of Tumor Microenvironment Responsive Drug Research, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang, Hunan 421001, China
| | - Zhizhong Xie
- Institute of Pharmacy and Pharmacology, Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory of Tumor Microenvironment Responsive Drug Research, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang, Hunan 421001, China
| | - Xiaoyong Lei
- Institute of Pharmacy and Pharmacology, Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory of Tumor Microenvironment Responsive Drug Research, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang, Hunan 421001, China
| | - Xiaoyan Yang
- Institute of Pharmacy and Pharmacology, Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory of Tumor Microenvironment Responsive Drug Research, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang, Hunan 421001, China
| | - Sheng Huang
- Jiuzhitang Co., Ltd, Changsha, Hunan 410007, China
| | - Xiangping Deng
- The First Affiliated Hospital, Department of Pharmacy, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang 421001, Hunan, China.
| | - Zhe Wang
- The Second Affiliated Hospital, Department of Pharmacy, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang 421001, Hunan, China.
| | - Guotao Tang
- Institute of Pharmacy and Pharmacology, Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory of Tumor Microenvironment Responsive Drug Research, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang, Hunan 421001, China.
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Liang S, Zheng R, Zuo B, Li J, Wang Y, Han Y, Dong H, Zhao X, Zhang Y, Wang P, Meng R, Jia L, Yang A, Yan B. SMAD7 expression in CAR-T cells improves persistence and safety for solid tumors. Cell Mol Immunol 2024; 21:213-226. [PMID: 38177245 PMCID: PMC10901810 DOI: 10.1038/s41423-023-01120-y] [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: 07/14/2023] [Accepted: 12/03/2023] [Indexed: 01/06/2024] Open
Abstract
Despite the tremendous progress of chimeric antigen receptor T (CAR-T) cell therapy in hematological malignancies, their application in solid tumors has been limited largely due to T-cell exhaustion in the tumor microenvironment (TME) and systemic toxicity caused by excessive cytokine release. As a key regulator of the immunosuppressive TME, TGF-β promotes cytokine synthesis via the NF-κB pathway. Here, we coexpressed SMAD7, a suppressor of TGF-β signaling, with a HER2-targeted CAR in engineered T cells. These novel CAR-T cells displayed high cytolytic efficacy and were resistant to TGF-β-triggered exhaustion, which enabled sustained tumoricidal capacity after continuous antigen exposure. Moreover, SMAD7 substantially reduced the production of inflammatory cytokines by antigen-primed CAR-T cells. Mechanistically, SMAD7 downregulated TGF-β receptor I and abrogated the interplay between the TGF-β and NF-κB pathways in CAR-T cells. As a result, these CAR-T cells persistently inhibited tumor growth and promoted the survival of tumor-challenged mice regardless of the hostile tumor microenvironment caused by a high concentration of TGF-β. SMAD7 coexpression also enhanced CAR-T-cell infiltration and persistent activation in patient-derived tumor organoids. Therefore, our study demonstrated the feasibility of SMAD7 coexpression as a novel approach to improve the efficacy and safety of CAR-T-cell therapy for solid tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sixin Liang
- State Key Laboratory of Holistic Integrative Management of Gastrointestinal Cancers, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710032, China
- School of Medicine Technology, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, Henan, 453003, China
| | - Rui Zheng
- State Key Laboratory of Holistic Integrative Management of Gastrointestinal Cancers, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710032, China
| | - Baile Zuo
- State Key Laboratory of Holistic Integrative Management of Gastrointestinal Cancers, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710032, China
- School of Medicine Technology, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, Henan, 453003, China
| | - Jia Li
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Xijing Hospital of Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710032, China
| | - Yiyi Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Holistic Integrative Management of Gastrointestinal Cancers, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710032, China
| | - Yujie Han
- State Key Laboratory of Holistic Integrative Management of Gastrointestinal Cancers, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710032, China
- School of Medicine Technology, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, Henan, 453003, China
| | - Hao Dong
- State Key Laboratory of Holistic Integrative Management of Gastrointestinal Cancers, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710032, China
- School of Medicine Technology, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, Henan, 453003, China
| | - Xiaojuan Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Holistic Integrative Management of Gastrointestinal Cancers, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710032, China
| | - Yiting Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Holistic Integrative Management of Gastrointestinal Cancers, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710032, China
| | - Pengju Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Holistic Integrative Management of Gastrointestinal Cancers, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710032, China
| | - Ruotong Meng
- State Key Laboratory of Holistic Integrative Management of Gastrointestinal Cancers, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710032, China
- College of Life Science, Yan'an University, Yan'an, Shaanxi, 716000, China
| | - Lintao Jia
- State Key Laboratory of Holistic Integrative Management of Gastrointestinal Cancers, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710032, China.
| | - Angang Yang
- Department of Immunology, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710032, China.
| | - Bo Yan
- State Key Laboratory of Holistic Integrative Management of Gastrointestinal Cancers, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710032, China.
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Zhang H, Wang S, Sun M, Cui Y, Xing J, Teng L, Xi Z, Yang Z. Exosomes as smart drug delivery vehicles for cancer immunotherapy. Front Immunol 2023; 13:1093607. [PMID: 36733388 PMCID: PMC9888251 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.1093607] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2022] [Accepted: 12/23/2022] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Exosomes (Exos) as drug delivery vehicles have been widely used for cancer immunotherapy owing to their good biocompatibility, low toxicity, and low immunogenicity. Some Exos-based cancer immunotherapy strategies such as tuning of immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment, immune checkpoint blockades, and cancer vaccines have also been investigated in recent years, which all showed excellent therapeutic effects for malignant tumor. Furthermore, some Exos-based drug delivery systems (DDSs) for cancer immunotherapy have also undergone clinic trails, indicating that Exos are a promising drug delivery carrier. In this review, in order to promote the development of Exos-based DDSs in cancer immunotherapy, the biogenesis and composition of Exos, and Exos as drug delivery vehicles for cancer immunotherapy are summarized. Meanwhile, their clinical translation and challenges are also discussed. We hope this review will provide a good guidance for Exos as drug delivery vehicles for cancer immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huan Zhang
- School of Life Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Simiao Wang
- School of Life Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Man Sun
- School of Life Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Yaxin Cui
- School of Life Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Jianming Xing
- School of Life Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Lesheng Teng
- School of Life Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Zhifang Xi
- School of Horticulture and Food, Guangdong Eco-Engineering Polytechnic, Guangzhou, China,*Correspondence: Zhifang Xi, ; Zhaogang Yang,
| | - Zhaogang Yang
- School of Life Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, China,*Correspondence: Zhifang Xi, ; Zhaogang Yang,
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Shah S, Al-Omari A, Cook KW, Paston SJ, Durrant LG, Brentville VA. What do cancer-specific T cells 'see'? DISCOVERY IMMUNOLOGY 2022; 2:kyac011. [PMID: 38567060 PMCID: PMC10917189 DOI: 10.1093/discim/kyac011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2022] [Revised: 11/18/2022] [Accepted: 12/02/2022] [Indexed: 04/04/2024]
Abstract
Complex cellular interactions between the immune system and cancer can impact tumour development, growth, and progression. T cells play a key role in these interactions; however, the challenge for T cells is to recognize tumour antigens whilst minimizing cross-reactivity with antigens associated with healthy tissue. Some tumour cells, including those associated with viral infections, have clear, tumour-specific antigens that can be targeted by T cells. A high mutational burden can lead to increased numbers of mutational neoantigens that allow very specific immune responses to be generated but also allow escape variants to develop. Other cancer indications and those with low mutational burden are less easily distinguished from normal tissue. Recent studies have suggested that cancer-associated alterations in tumour cell biology including changes in post-translational modification (PTM) patterns may also lead to novel antigens that can be directly recognized by T cells. The PTM-derived antigens provide tumour-specific T-cell responses that both escape central tolerance and avoid the necessity for individualized therapies. PTM-specific CD4 T-cell responses have shown tumour therapy in murine models and highlight the importance of CD4 T cells as well as CD8 T cells in reversing the immunosuppressive tumour microenvironment. Understanding which cancer-specific antigens can be recognized by T cells and the way that immune tolerance and the tumour microenvironment shape immune responses to cancer is vital for the future development of cancer therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sabaria Shah
- Scancell Limited, University of Nottingham Biodiscovery Institute, University Park, Nottingham, UK
| | - Abdullah Al-Omari
- Scancell Limited, University of Nottingham Biodiscovery Institute, University Park, Nottingham, UK
| | - Katherine W Cook
- Scancell Limited, University of Nottingham Biodiscovery Institute, University Park, Nottingham, UK
| | - Samantha J Paston
- Scancell Limited, University of Nottingham Biodiscovery Institute, University Park, Nottingham, UK
| | - Lindy G Durrant
- Scancell Limited, University of Nottingham Biodiscovery Institute, University Park, Nottingham, UK
- Division of Cancer and Stem Cells, School of Medicine, University of Nottingham Biodiscovery Institute, University Park, Nottingham, UK
| | - Victoria A Brentville
- Scancell Limited, University of Nottingham Biodiscovery Institute, University Park, Nottingham, UK
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Zeng C, He R, Dai Y, Lu X, Deng L, Zhu Q, Liu Y, Liu Q, Lu W, Wang Y, Jin J. Identification of TGF-β signaling-related molecular patterns, construction of a prognostic model, and prediction of immunotherapy response in gastric cancer. Front Pharmacol 2022; 13:1069204. [PMID: 36467074 PMCID: PMC9715605 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2022.1069204] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2022] [Accepted: 11/07/2022] [Indexed: 06/22/2024] Open
Abstract
Background: TGF-β signaling pathway plays an essential role in tumor progression and immune responses. However, the link between TGF-β signaling pathway-related genes (TSRGs) and clinical prognosis, tumor microenvironment (TME), and immunotherapy in gastric cancer is unclear. Methods: Transcriptome data and related clinical data of gastric cancer were downloaded from the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) databases, and 54 TSRGs were obtained from the Molecular Signatures Database (MSigDB). We systematically analyzed the expression profile characteristics of 54 TSRGs in 804 gastric cancer samples and examined the differences in prognosis, clinicopathological features, and TME among different molecular subtypes. Subsequently, TGF-β-related prognostic models were constructed using univariate and least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) Cox regression analysis to quantify the degree of risk in each patient. Patients were divided into two high- and low-risk groups based on the median risk score. Finally, sensitivity to immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) and anti-tumor agents was assessed in patients in high- and low-risk groups. Results: We identified two distinct TGF-β subgroups. Compared to TGF-β cluster B, TGF-β cluster A exhibits an immunosuppressive microenvironment with a shorter overall survival (OS). Then, a novel TGF-β-associated prognostic model, including SRPX2, SGCE, DES, MMP7, and KRT17, was constructed, and the risk score was demonstrated as an independent prognostic factor for gastric cancer patients. Further studies showed that gastric cancer patients in the low-risk group, characterized by higher tumor mutation burden (TMB), the proportion of high microsatellite instability (MSI-H), immunophenoscore (IPS), and lower tumor immune dysfunction and exclusion (TIDE) score, had a better prognosis, and linked to higher response rate to immunotherapy. In addition, the risk score and anti-tumor drug sensitivity were strongly correlated. Conclusion: These findings highlight the importance of TSRGs, deepen the understanding of tumor immune microenvironment, and guide individualized immunotherapy for gastric cancer patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cheng Zeng
- Department of Oncology, Wujin Hospital Affiliated with Jiangsu University, Changzhou, Jiangsu, China
- Department of Oncology, Wujin Clinical College of Xuzhou Medical University, Changzhou, Jiangsu, China
| | - Rong He
- Department of Medical Oncology, Shanghai Tenths People’s Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yuyang Dai
- School of Medicine, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu, China
| | - Xiaohuan Lu
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Linghui Deng
- Department of Oncology, Wujin Hospital Affiliated with Jiangsu University, Changzhou, Jiangsu, China
- Department of Oncology, Wujin Clinical College of Xuzhou Medical University, Changzhou, Jiangsu, China
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, China
| | - Qi Zhu
- Department of Oncology, Wujin Hospital Affiliated with Jiangsu University, Changzhou, Jiangsu, China
- Department of Oncology, Wujin Clinical College of Xuzhou Medical University, Changzhou, Jiangsu, China
| | - Yu Liu
- Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, Liaoning, China
| | - Qian Liu
- Department of Oncology, Wujin Hospital Affiliated with Jiangsu University, Changzhou, Jiangsu, China
- Department of Oncology, Wujin Clinical College of Xuzhou Medical University, Changzhou, Jiangsu, China
| | - Wenbin Lu
- Department of Oncology, Wujin Hospital Affiliated with Jiangsu University, Changzhou, Jiangsu, China
- Department of Oncology, Wujin Clinical College of Xuzhou Medical University, Changzhou, Jiangsu, China
| | - Yue Wang
- Cancer Institute, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, China
| | - Jianhua Jin
- Department of Oncology, Wujin Hospital Affiliated with Jiangsu University, Changzhou, Jiangsu, China
- Department of Oncology, Wujin Clinical College of Xuzhou Medical University, Changzhou, Jiangsu, China
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Chen J, Ge J, Zhang W, Xie X, Zhong X, Tang S. NCKAP1 is a Prognostic Biomarker for Inhibition of Cell Growth in Clear Cell Renal Cell Carcinoma. Front Genet 2022; 13:764957. [PMID: 35957696 PMCID: PMC9360572 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2022.764957] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2021] [Accepted: 06/07/2022] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Background: Clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) is the most frequent type of kidney cancer. Nck-associated protein 1 (NCKAP1) is associated with poor prognosis and tumor progression in several cancer types, but the function and prognostic value of NCKAP1 in ccRCC remain poorly understood. Methods: Using the Ualcan database, we evaluated the correlation between NCKAP1 expression and clinical features of ccRCC. These data were validated by immunohistochemical staining for NCKAP1 in a cohort of ccRCC patients. We assessed the prognostic value of NCKAP1 using GEPIA2 survival analysis. NCKAP1 function was characterized in vitro and in vivo using NCKAP1-overexpression ACHN cell lines. The LinkedOmics and GSCALite databases were used to investigate identify potential NCKAP1-targeted medicines that may play a role in the treatment of ccRCC. The impact of NCKAP1 expression on immune infiltration was also evaluated. Results: NCKAP1 was significantly downregulated in ccRCC and correlated with advanced clinicopathological features and poor prognosis. Overexpression of NCKAP1 in ACHN cells reduced proliferation, invasion and migration capacity in vitro and inhibited tumor growth in vivo. According to the LinkedOmics, GSCALite and TIMER databases, NCKAP1 and related genes function primarily in ribosomal signaling, oxidative phosphorylation, TGF-β, and EMT-related signaling pathways. NCKAP1 was also shown to positively correlate with immune cell types, biomarkers, and immune checkpoints in ccRCCs. Conclusions: NCKAP1 may play a vital tumor-suppressive role in ccRCC and is potentially a useful prognostic biomarker.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiasheng Chen
- Department of Burns and Plastic Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, China
| | - Jianzhang Ge
- Department of Urology, Changsha Central Hospital, Changsha, China
| | - Wancong Zhang
- Department of Burns and Plastic Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, China
| | - Xuqi Xie
- Department of Burns and Plastic Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, China
| | - Xiaoping Zhong
- Department of Burns and Plastic Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, China
| | - Shijie Tang
- Department of Burns and Plastic Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, China
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Tschernia NP, Gulley JL. Tumor in the Crossfire: Inhibiting TGF-β to Enhance Cancer Immunotherapy. BioDrugs 2022; 36:153-180. [PMID: 35353346 PMCID: PMC8986721 DOI: 10.1007/s40259-022-00521-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/21/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
Cancer immunotherapy using monoclonal antibodies targeting immune checkpoints has undoubtedly revolutionized the cancer treatment landscape in the last decade. Immune checkpoint inhibitors can elicit long-lasting, previously unheard-of responses in a number of tumor entities. Yet, even in such tumors as metastatic melanoma and non-small cell-lung cancer, in which immune checkpoint inhibition has become the first-line treatment of choice, only a minority of patients will benefit considerably from these treatments. This has been attributed to a number of factors, including an immune-suppressive tumor microenvironment (TME). Using different modalities to break these barriers is of utmost importance to expand the population of patients that benefit from immune checkpoint inhibition. The multifunctional cytokine transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) has long been recognized as an immune-suppressive factor in the TME. A considerable number of drugs have been developed to target TGF-β, yet most of these have since been discontinued. The combination of anti-TGF-β agents with immune checkpoint inhibitors now has the potential to revive this target as a viable immunomodulatory therapeutic approach. Currently, a limited number of small molecular inhibitor and monoclonal antibody candidates that target TGF-β are in clinical development in combination with the following immune checkpoint inhibitors: SRK 181, an antibody inhibiting the activation of latent TGF-β1; NIS 793, a monoclonal antibody targeting TGF-β; and SHR 1701, a fusion protein consisting of an anti-PD-L1 monoclonal antibody fused with the extracellular domain of human TGF-β receptor II. Several small molecular inhibitors are also in development and are briefly reviewed: LY364947, a pyrazole-based small molecular inhibitor of the serine-threonine kinase activity of TGFβRI; SB-431542, an inhibitor targeting several TGF-β superfamily Type I activin receptor-like kinases as well as TGF-β1-induced nuclear Smad3 localization; and galunisertib, an oral small molecular inhibitor of the TGFβRI kinase. One of the most advanced agents in this area is bintrafusp alfa, a bifunctional fusion protein composed of the extracellular domain of TGF-β receptor II fused to a human IgG1 mAb blocking PD-L1. Bintrafusp alfa is currently in advanced clinical development and as an agent in this space with the most clinical experience, is a focused highlight of this review.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas P Tschernia
- Genitourinary Malignancies Branch, Medical Oncology Service, National Cancer Institute, Building 10, Room 13N240, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - James L Gulley
- Genitourinary Malignancies Branch, Medical Oncology Service, National Cancer Institute, Building 10, Room 13N240, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA.
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9
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Zhang M, Zhang YY, Chen Y, Wang J, Wang Q, Lu H. TGF-β Signaling and Resistance to Cancer Therapy. Front Cell Dev Biol 2021; 9:786728. [PMID: 34917620 PMCID: PMC8669610 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2021.786728] [Citation(s) in RCA: 68] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2021] [Accepted: 11/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The transforming growth factor β (TGF-β) pathway, which is well studied for its ability to inhibit cell proliferation in early stages of tumorigenesis while promoting epithelial-mesenchymal transition and invasion in advanced cancer, is considered to act as a double-edged sword in cancer. Multiple inhibitors have been developed to target TGF-β signaling, but results from clinical trials were inconsistent, suggesting that the functions of TGF-β in human cancers are not yet fully explored. Multiple drug resistance is a major challenge in cancer therapy; emerging evidence indicates that TGF-β signaling may be a key factor in cancer resistance to chemotherapy, targeted therapy and immunotherapy. Finally, combining anti-TGF-β therapy with other cancer therapy is an attractive venue to be explored for the treatment of therapy-resistant cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maoduo Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.,Institute for Stem Cell and Regeneration, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Ying Yi Zhang
- Centre for Systems Biology, Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute, Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Yongze Chen
- College of Biological Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Jia Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.,Institute for Stem Cell and Regeneration, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Qiang Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.,Institute for Stem Cell and Regeneration, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Hezhe Lu
- State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.,Institute for Stem Cell and Regeneration, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
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10
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Ye Y, Zheng S. Successful Immunotherapy for Pancreatic Cancer in a Patient With TSC2 and SMAD4 Mutations: A Case Report. Front Immunol 2021; 12:785400. [PMID: 34880877 PMCID: PMC8645965 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.785400] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2021] [Accepted: 11/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Pancreatic cancer has a poor prognosis, and it is traditionally treated with chemotherapy. Fortunately, immunotherapy has rapidly changed the landscape of solid tumor treatment, and improving the survival of cancer patients. However, pancreatic cancer is non-immunogenic, and single agent immunotherapies are unfavorable to its prognosis. Case Presentation Here, we report a case of stage IV pancreatic cancer in a patient with TSC2 and SMAD4 mutations treated with immunotherapy when the disease progressed after multi-line chemotherapy. Next generation sequencing (NGS) confirmed the presence of TSC2 and SMAD4 mutations and microsatellite stability (MSS). When the disease progressed after chemotherapy, a combination strategy was devised consisting of chemotherapy (S-1) and sintilimab. The patient had a partial response to therapy with this regimen, the lesions were significantly reduced and nearly disappeared. In metastatic pancreatic cancer, responses of this magnitude are rarely seen. Conclusions This outcome reveals that this combination can be effective in treating metastatic pancreatic cancer, especially in pancreatic cancer patients with SMAD4 and TSC2 mutations. This may help increase the use of this therapy in large-scale clinical research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanghui Ye
- The Fourth School of Clinical Medicine, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, China.,Department of Oncology, Affiliated Hangzhou First People's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Song Zheng
- Department of Oncology, Affiliated Hangzhou First People's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China.,Department of Oncology, Affiliated Hangzhou Cancer Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China.,Laboratory of Clinical Cancer Pharmacology and Toxicology Research of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou, China
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11
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Kim D, Wu Y, Shim G, Oh YK. Genome-Editing-Mediated Restructuring of Tumor Immune Microenvironment for Prevention of Metastasis. ACS NANO 2021; 15:17635-17656. [PMID: 34723493 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.1c05420] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Modulating the tumor immune microenvironment to activate immune cells has been investigated to convert cold to hot tumors. Here, we report that metal-lipid hybrid nanoparticle (MLN)-mediated gene editing of transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) can restructure the tumor microenvironment to an "immune activated" state for subsequent immunotherapy. MLNs with cationic lipids and elemental metallic Au inside were designed to deliver plasmid DNA encoding TGF-β single guide RNA and Cas9 protein (pC9sTgf) and to convert near-infrared light (NIR) to heat. Upon NIR irradiation, MLNs induced photothermal anticancer effects and calreticulin exposure on B16F10 cancer cells. Lipoplexes of pC9sTgf and MLN (pC9sTgf@MLN) provided gene editing of B16F10 cells and in vivo tumor tissues. In mice treated with pC9sTgf@MLNs and NIR irradiation, the tumor microenvironment showed increases in mature dendritic cells, cytotoxic T cells, and interferon-γ expression. In B16F10 tumor-bearing mice, intratumoral injection of pC9sTgf@MLNs and NIR irradiation resulted in ablation of primary tumors. Application of pC9sTgf@MLNs and NIR irradiation prevented the growth of secondarily challenged B16F10 cells at distant sites and B16F10 lung metastasis. Combined TGF-β gene editing and phototherapy is herein supported as a modality for restructuring the tumor immune microenvironment and preventing tumor recurrence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dongyoon Kim
- College of Pharmacy and Research Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Seoul National University, 1 Gwanak-ro, Gwanak-gu, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea
| | - Yina Wu
- College of Pharmacy and Research Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Seoul National University, 1 Gwanak-ro, Gwanak-gu, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea
| | - Gayong Shim
- School of Systems Biomedical Science, Soongsil University, Seoul 06978, Republic of Korea
| | - Yu-Kyoung Oh
- College of Pharmacy and Research Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Seoul National University, 1 Gwanak-ro, Gwanak-gu, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea
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12
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Berry MR, Fan TM. Target-Based Radiosensitization Strategies: Concepts and Companion Animal Model Outlook. Front Oncol 2021; 11:768692. [PMID: 34746010 PMCID: PMC8564182 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2021.768692] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2021] [Accepted: 10/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
External beam radiotherapy is indicated in approximately 50-60% of human cancer patients. The prescribed dose of ionizing radiation that can be delivered to a tumor is determined by the sensitivity of the normal surrounding tissues. Despite dose intensification provided by highly conformal radiotherapy, durable locoregional tumor control remains a clinical barrier for recalcitrant tumor histologies, and contributes to cancer morbidity and mortality. Development of target-based radiosensitization strategies that selectively sensitizes tumor tissue to ionizing radiation is expected to improve radiotherapy efficacy. While exploration of radiosensitization strategies has vastly expanded with technological advances permitting the precise and conformal delivery of radiation, maximal clinical benefit derived from radiotherapy will require complementary discoveries that exploit molecularly-based vulnerabilities of tumor cells, as well as the assessment of investigational radiotherapy strategies in animal models that faithfully recapitulate radiobiologic responses of human cancers. To address these requirements, the purpose of this review is to underscore current and emerging concepts of molecularly targeted radiosensitizing strategies and highlight the utility of companion animal models for improving the predictive value of radiotherapy investigations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew R Berry
- Department of Veterinary Clinical Medicine, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Champaign, IL, United States
| | - Timothy M Fan
- Department of Veterinary Clinical Medicine, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Champaign, IL, United States.,Cancer Center at Illinois, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, United States
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13
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Trivedi T, Pagnotti GM, Guise TA, Mohammad KS. The Role of TGF-β in Bone Metastases. Biomolecules 2021; 11:1643. [PMID: 34827641 PMCID: PMC8615596 DOI: 10.3390/biom11111643] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2021] [Revised: 10/29/2021] [Accepted: 10/29/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Complications associated with advanced cancer are a major clinical challenge and, if associated with bone metastases, worsen the prognosis and compromise the survival of the patients. Breast and prostate cancer cells exhibit a high propensity to metastasize to bone. The bone microenvironment is unique, providing fertile soil for cancer cell propagation, while mineralized bone matrices store potent growth factors and cytokines. Biologically active transforming growth factor β (TGF-β), one of the most abundant growth factors, is released following tumor-induced osteoclastic bone resorption. TGF-β promotes tumor cell secretion of factors that accelerate bone loss and fuel tumor cells to colonize. Thus, TGF-β is critical for driving the feed-forward vicious cycle of tumor growth in bone. Further, TGF-β promotes epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), increasing cell invasiveness, angiogenesis, and metastatic progression. Emerging evidence shows TGF-β suppresses immune responses, enabling opportunistic cancer cells to escape immune checkpoints and promote bone metastases. Blocking TGF-β signaling pathways could disrupt the vicious cycle, revert EMT, and enhance immune response. However, TGF-β's dual role as both tumor suppressor and enhancer presents a significant challenge in developing therapeutics that target TGF-β signaling. This review presents TGF-β's role in cancer progression and bone metastases, while highlighting current perspectives on the therapeutic potential of targeting TGF-β pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Trupti Trivedi
- Department of Endocrine Neoplasia and Hormonal Disorders, Division of Internal Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA; (T.T.); (G.M.P.); (T.A.G.)
| | - Gabriel M. Pagnotti
- Department of Endocrine Neoplasia and Hormonal Disorders, Division of Internal Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA; (T.T.); (G.M.P.); (T.A.G.)
| | - Theresa A. Guise
- Department of Endocrine Neoplasia and Hormonal Disorders, Division of Internal Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA; (T.T.); (G.M.P.); (T.A.G.)
| | - Khalid S. Mohammad
- Department of Endocrine Neoplasia and Hormonal Disorders, Division of Internal Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA; (T.T.); (G.M.P.); (T.A.G.)
- College of Medicine, Alfaisal University, Riyadh 11533, Saudi Arabia
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14
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Zhu S, Zhang T, Zheng L, Liu H, Song W, Liu D, Li Z, Pan CX. Combination strategies to maximize the benefits of cancer immunotherapy. J Hematol Oncol 2021; 14:156. [PMID: 34579759 PMCID: PMC8475356 DOI: 10.1186/s13045-021-01164-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 232] [Impact Index Per Article: 77.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2021] [Accepted: 09/07/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Immunotherapies such as immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) and adoptive cell therapy (ACT) have revolutionized cancer treatment, especially in patients whose disease was otherwise considered incurable. However, primary and secondary resistance to single agent immunotherapy often results in treatment failure, and only a minority of patients experience long-term benefits. This review article will discuss the relationship between cancer immune response and mechanisms of resistance to immunotherapy. It will also provide a comprehensive review on the latest clinical status of combination therapies (e.g., immunotherapy with chemotherapy, radiation therapy and targeted therapy), and discuss combination therapies approved by the US Food and Drug Administration. It will provide an overview of therapies targeting cytokines and other soluble immunoregulatory factors, ACT, virotherapy, innate immune modifiers and cancer vaccines, as well as combination therapies that exploit alternative immune targets and other therapeutic modalities. Finally, this review will include the stimulating insights from the 2020 China Immuno-Oncology Workshop co-organized by the Chinese American Hematologist and Oncologist Network (CAHON), the China National Medical Product Administration (NMPA) and Tsinghua University School of Medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shaoming Zhu
- Chinese American Hematologist and Oncologist Network, New York, NY, USA.,Department of Urology, Beijing Chao-Yang Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Tian Zhang
- Chinese American Hematologist and Oncologist Network, New York, NY, USA.,Division of Medical Oncology, Department of Medicine, Duke Cancer Institute, Duke University, DUMC 103861, Durham, NC, 27710, USA
| | - Lei Zheng
- Chinese American Hematologist and Oncologist Network, New York, NY, USA.,The Sydney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21287, USA
| | - Hongtao Liu
- Chinese American Hematologist and Oncologist Network, New York, NY, USA.,University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Wenru Song
- Chinese American Hematologist and Oncologist Network, New York, NY, USA.,Kira Pharmaceuticals, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Delong Liu
- Chinese American Hematologist and Oncologist Network, New York, NY, USA.,New York Medical College, Valhalla, NY, USA
| | - Zihai Li
- Chinese American Hematologist and Oncologist Network, New York, NY, USA. .,Pelotonia Institute for Immuno-Oncology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA.
| | - Chong-Xian Pan
- Chinese American Hematologist and Oncologist Network, New York, NY, USA. .,Harvard Medical School, West Roxbury, MA, 02132, USA.
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15
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Han G, Yang G, Hao D, Lu Y, Thein K, Simpson BS, Chen J, Sun R, Alhalabi O, Wang R, Dang M, Dai E, Zhang S, Nie F, Zhao S, Guo C, Hamza A, Czerniak B, Cheng C, Siefker-Radtke A, Bhat K, Futreal A, Peng G, Wargo J, Peng W, Kadara H, Ajani J, Swanton C, Litchfield K, Ahnert JR, Gao J, Wang L. 9p21 loss confers a cold tumor immune microenvironment and primary resistance to immune checkpoint therapy. Nat Commun 2021; 12:5606. [PMID: 34556668 PMCID: PMC8460828 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-25894-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 87] [Impact Index Per Article: 29.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2020] [Accepted: 09/02/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Immune checkpoint therapy (ICT) provides substantial clinical benefits to cancer patients, but a large proportion of cancers do not respond to ICT. To date, the genomic underpinnings of primary resistance to ICT remain elusive. Here, we performed immunogenomic analysis of data from TCGA and clinical trials of anti-PD-1/PD-L1 therapy, with a particular focus on homozygous deletion of 9p21.3 (9p21 loss), one of the most frequent genomic defects occurring in ~13% of all cancers. We demonstrate that 9p21 loss confers "cold" tumor-immune phenotypes, characterized by reduced abundance of tumor-infiltrating leukocytes (TILs), particularly, T/B/NK cells, altered spatial TILs patterns, diminished immune cell trafficking/activation, decreased rate of PD-L1 positivity, along with activation of immunosuppressive signaling. Notably, patients with 9p21 loss exhibited significantly lower response rates to ICT and worse outcomes, which were corroborated in eight ICT trials of >1,000 patients. Further, 9p21 loss synergizes with PD-L1/TMB for patient stratification. A "response score" was derived by incorporating 9p21 loss, PD-L1 expression and TMB levels in pre-treatment tumors, which outperforms PD-L1, TMB, and their combination in identifying patients with high likelihood of achieving sustained response from otherwise non-responders. Moreover, we describe potential druggable targets in 9p21-loss tumors, which could be exploited to design rational therapeutic interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guangchun Han
- Department of Genomic Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Guoliang Yang
- Department of Genitourinary Medical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Dapeng Hao
- Department of Genomic Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Yang Lu
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Kyaw Thein
- Department of Investigational Cancer Therapeutics, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Benjamin S Simpson
- Tumour Immunogenomics and Immunosurveillance Laboratory, University College London Cancer Institute, London, UK
| | - Jianfeng Chen
- Department of Genitourinary Medical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Ryan Sun
- Department of Biostatistics, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Omar Alhalabi
- Department of Genitourinary Medical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Ruiping Wang
- Department of Genomic Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Minghao Dang
- Department of Genomic Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Enyu Dai
- Department of Genomic Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Shaojun Zhang
- Department of Genomic Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Fengqi Nie
- Department of Genitourinary Medical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Shuangtao Zhao
- Department of Genomic Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Charles Guo
- Department of Pathology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Ameer Hamza
- Department of Pathology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Bogdan Czerniak
- Department of Pathology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Chao Cheng
- Department of Medicine, Epidemiology and Population Science, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Arlene Siefker-Radtke
- Department of Genitourinary Medical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Krishna Bhat
- Department of Translational Molecular Pathology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Andrew Futreal
- Department of Genomic Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Guang Peng
- Department of Clinical Cancer Prevention, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Jennifer Wargo
- Department of Surgical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Weiyi Peng
- Department of Biology and Biochemistry, University of Houston, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Humam Kadara
- Department of Translational Molecular Pathology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Jaffer Ajani
- Department of Gastrointestinal Medical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Charles Swanton
- Cancer Evolution and Genome Instability Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London, UK
- Cancer Research UK Lung Cancer Centre of Excellence, University College London Cancer Institute, London, UK
| | - Kevin Litchfield
- Tumour Immunogenomics and Immunosurveillance Laboratory, University College London Cancer Institute, London, UK
- Cancer Research UK Lung Cancer Centre of Excellence, University College London Cancer Institute, London, UK
| | - Jordi Rodon Ahnert
- Department of Genomic Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
- Department of Investigational Cancer Therapeutics, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Jianjun Gao
- Department of Genitourinary Medical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA.
| | - Linghua Wang
- Department of Genomic Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA.
- The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center UTHealth Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences (GSBS), Houston, TX, USA.
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16
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Karabicici M, Azbazdar Y, Ozhan G, Senturk S, Firtina Karagonlar Z, Erdal E. Changes in Wnt and TGF-β Signaling Mediate the Development of Regorafenib Resistance in Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cell Line HuH7. Front Cell Dev Biol 2021; 9:639779. [PMID: 34458250 PMCID: PMC8386122 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2021.639779] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2020] [Accepted: 07/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is an aggressive, chemo resistant neoplasm with poor prognosis and limited treatment options. Exploring activated pathways upon drug treatment can be used to discover more effective anticancer agents to overcome therapy resistance and enhance therapeutic outcomes for patients with advanced HCC. Human tumor-derived cell lines recapitulate HCC diversity and are widely used for studying mechanisms that drive drug resistance in HCC. In this study, we show that regorafenib treatment activates Wnt/β-catenin signaling only in hepatoblast-like HCC cell lines and induces enrichment of markers associated with hepatic stem/progenitor cells. Moreover, activation of Wnt/β-catenin signaling via Wnt3a/R-Spo1 treatment protects these cells from regorafenib induced apoptosis. On the other hand, regorafenib resistant cells established by long-term regorafenib treatment demonstrate diminished Wnt/β-catenin signaling activity while TGF-β signaling activity of these cells is significantly enhanced. Regorafenib resistant cells (RRCs) also show increased expression of several mesenchymal genes along with an induction of CD24 and CD133 cancer stem cell markers. Moreover, regorafenib resistant cells also exhibit significantly augmented in vitro and in vivo migration capacity which could be reversed by TGF-β type 1 receptor (TGFb -R1) inhibition. When combined with regorafenib treatment, TGFβ-R1 inhibition also significantly decreased colony formation ability and augmented cell death in resistant spheroids. Importantly, when we knocked down TGFβ-R1 using a lentiviral plasmid, regorafenib resistant cells entered senescence indicating that this pathway is important for their survival. Treatment of RRCs with TGFβ-R1 inhibitor and regorafenib significantly abolished pSTAT3, pSMAD2 and pERK (44/42) expression suggesting the involvement of both canonical and non-canonical pathways. In conclusion, our data suggest that HCC tumors with aberrant activation in the Wnt/β-catenin pathway, might have higher intrinsic regorafenib resistance and the inhibition of this pathway along with regorafenib administration might increase regorafenib-induced cell death in combinational therapies. However, to resolve acquired regorafenib resistance developed in HCC patients, the combined use of TGF-β pathway inhibitors and Regorafenib constitute a promising approach that can increase regorafenib sensitization and prevent tumor recurrence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mustafa Karabicici
- Izmir Biomedicine and Genome Center (IBG), Dokuz Eylul University Health Campus, Izmir, Turkey.,Izmir International Biomedicine and Genome Institute (IBG-Izmir), Dokuz Eylul University, Izmir, Turkey
| | - Yagmur Azbazdar
- Izmir Biomedicine and Genome Center (IBG), Dokuz Eylul University Health Campus, Izmir, Turkey.,Izmir International Biomedicine and Genome Institute (IBG-Izmir), Dokuz Eylul University, Izmir, Turkey
| | - Gunes Ozhan
- Izmir Biomedicine and Genome Center (IBG), Dokuz Eylul University Health Campus, Izmir, Turkey.,Izmir International Biomedicine and Genome Institute (IBG-Izmir), Dokuz Eylul University, Izmir, Turkey
| | - Serif Senturk
- Izmir Biomedicine and Genome Center (IBG), Dokuz Eylul University Health Campus, Izmir, Turkey.,Izmir International Biomedicine and Genome Institute (IBG-Izmir), Dokuz Eylul University, Izmir, Turkey
| | | | - Esra Erdal
- Izmir Biomedicine and Genome Center (IBG), Dokuz Eylul University Health Campus, Izmir, Turkey.,Department of Medical Biology and Genetics, Faculty of Medicine, Dokuz Eylul University, Izmir, Turkey
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17
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Dual mitigation of immunosuppression combined with photothermal inhibition for highly effective primary tumor and metastases therapy. Biomaterials 2021; 274:120856. [PMID: 33984634 DOI: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2021.120856] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2020] [Revised: 04/20/2021] [Accepted: 04/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
T-cell based immune response can attack cancer cells formidably when certain immune checkpoint (e.g., PD-1/PD-L1) is blocked. Unfortunately, PD-1/PD-L1 blockade only provoke limited immune response because the differentiation of tumor-reactive T lymphocytes is often suppressed by TGF-β pathway. Namely, the combating cancer weapon is weakened. In this study, other than employing photothermal therapy (PTT) to eliminate the primary tumor, we also aimed to expose in situ tumor-associated antigens and exert immune response for metastases inhibition. This enhanced immunotherapeutic strategy is achieved by IR780/SB-505124 based nanoliposomes (Nano-IR-SB@Lip). Upon administration, TGF-β pathway is inhibited by SB to drive effector T cells into a responsive state and reduce the infiltration of Treg cells, eventually greatly enhancing the weapon against cancer. In the meantime, the immunosuppressive "protection" of tumor cells is also neutralized by blocking PD-1/PD-L1 immune checkpoint. By virtue of inherent characteristics of IR780, Nano-IR-SB@Lip can selectively accumulate, penetrate deeply in tumor tissues, and preferentially retain in mitochondria. The above features are of critical importance to tumor therapy. Thus, highly effective cancer immunotherapy is implemented via selective accumulation/deep penetration of Nano-IR-SB@Lip in tumor, achieving PTT induced immunogenic cell death and dual mitigation of immunosuppression strategy (TGF-β inhibition/PD-1/PD-L1 blockade), which is a promising therapeutic modality for cancer.
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18
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Xu H, Zou R, Li F, Liu J, Luan N, Wang S, Zhu L. MRPL15 is a novel prognostic biomarker and therapeutic target for epithelial ovarian cancer. Cancer Med 2021; 10:3655-3673. [PMID: 33934540 PMCID: PMC8178508 DOI: 10.1002/cam4.3907] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2020] [Revised: 03/17/2021] [Accepted: 03/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE To analyze the role of six human epididymis protein 4 (HE4)-related mitochondrial ribosomal proteins (MRPs) in ovarian cancer and selected MRPL15, which is most closely related to the tumorigenesis and prognosis of ovarian cancer, for further analyses. METHODS Using STRING database and MCODE plugin in Cytoscape, six MRPs were identified among genes that are upregulated in response to HE4 overexpression in epithelial ovarian cancer cells. The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) ovarian cancer, GTEX, Oncomine, and TISIDB were used to analyze the expression of the six MRPs. The prognostic impact and genetic variation of these six MRPs in ovarian cancer were evaluated using Kaplan-Meier Plotter and cBioPortal, respectively. MRPL15 was selected for immunohistochemistry and GEO verification. TCGA ovarian cancer data, gene set enrichment analysis, and Enrichr were used to explore the mechanism of MRPL15 in ovarian cancer. Finally, the relationship between MRPL15 expression and immune subtype, tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes, and immune regulatory factors was analyzed using TCGA ovarian cancer data and TISIDB. RESULTS Six MRPs (MRPL10, MRPL15, MRPL36, MRPL39, MRPS16, and MRPS31) related to HE4 in ovarian cancer were selected. MRPL15 was highly expressed and amplified in ovarian cancer and was related to the poor prognosis of patients. Mechanism analysis indicated that MRPL15 plays a role in ovarian cancer through pathways such as the cell cycle, DNA repair, and mTOR 1 signaling. High expression of MRPL15 in ovarian cancer may be associated with its amplification and hypomethylation. Additionally, MRPL15 showed the lowest expression in C3 ovarian cancer and was correlated with proliferation of CD8+ T cells and dendritic cells as well as TGFβR1 and IDO1 expression. CONCLUSION MRPL15 may be a prognostic indicator and therapeutic target for ovarian cancer. Because of its close correlation with HE4, this study provides insights into the mechanism of HE4 in ovarian cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haoya Xu
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China.,Key Laboratory of Maternal-Fetal Medicine of Liaoning Province and Key Laboratory of Obstetrics and Gynecology of Higher Education of Liaoning Province, Shenyang, China
| | - Ruoyao Zou
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China.,Key Laboratory of Maternal-Fetal Medicine of Liaoning Province and Key Laboratory of Obstetrics and Gynecology of Higher Education of Liaoning Province, Shenyang, China
| | - Feifei Li
- Department of Gynecology, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, China
| | - Jiyu Liu
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China.,Key Laboratory of Maternal-Fetal Medicine of Liaoning Province and Key Laboratory of Obstetrics and Gynecology of Higher Education of Liaoning Province, Shenyang, China
| | - Nannan Luan
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China.,Key Laboratory of Maternal-Fetal Medicine of Liaoning Province and Key Laboratory of Obstetrics and Gynecology of Higher Education of Liaoning Province, Shenyang, China
| | - Shengke Wang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China.,Key Laboratory of Maternal-Fetal Medicine of Liaoning Province and Key Laboratory of Obstetrics and Gynecology of Higher Education of Liaoning Province, Shenyang, China
| | - Liancheng Zhu
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China.,Key Laboratory of Maternal-Fetal Medicine of Liaoning Province and Key Laboratory of Obstetrics and Gynecology of Higher Education of Liaoning Province, Shenyang, China
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19
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Mishra S, Charan M, Verma AK, Ramaswamy B, Ahirwar DK, Ganju RK. Racially Disparate Expression of mTOR/ERK-1/2 Allied Proteins in Cancer. Front Cell Dev Biol 2021; 9:601929. [PMID: 33996789 PMCID: PMC8120233 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2021.601929] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2020] [Accepted: 04/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Recent studies revealed that ethnic differences in mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) and extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK-1/2) signaling pathways might be associated with the development and progression of different human malignancies. The African American (AA) population has an increased rate of cancer incidence and mortality compared to the Caucasian American (CA) population. Although the socioeconomic differences across different ethnic groups contribute to the disparity in developing different cancers, recent scientific evidence indicates the association of molecular and genetic variations in racial disparities of different human malignancies. The mTOR and ERK-1/2 signaling pathways are one of the well-known oncogenic signaling mechanisms that regulate diverse molecular and phenotypic aspects of normal as well as cancer cells in response to different external or internal stimuli. To date, very few studies have been carried out to explore the significance of racial disparity with abnormal mTOR and ERK-1/2 kinase signaling pathways, which may contribute to the development of aggressive human cancers. In this review, we discuss the differential regulation of mTOR and ERK-1/2 kinase signaling pathways across different ethnic groups, especially between AA and CA populations. Notably, we observed that key signaling proteins associated with mTOR and ERK-1/2 pathway including transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β), Akt, and VEGFR showed racially disparate expression in cancer patients. Overall, this review article encompasses the significance of racially disparate signaling molecules related to mTOR/ERK1/2 and their potential in developing tailor-made anti-cancer therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sanjay Mishra
- Department of Pathology, Wexner Medical Center, College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States
| | - Manish Charan
- Department of Pathology, Wexner Medical Center, College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States
| | - Ajeet Kumar Verma
- Department of Pathology, Wexner Medical Center, College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States
| | | | - Dinesh Kumar Ahirwar
- Department of Pathology, Wexner Medical Center, College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States
| | - Ramesh K Ganju
- Department of Pathology, Wexner Medical Center, College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States.,Comprehensive Cancer Center, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States
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20
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Huai G, Markmann JF, Deng S, Rickert CG. TGF-β-secreting regulatory B cells: unsung players in immune regulation. Clin Transl Immunology 2021; 10:e1270. [PMID: 33815797 PMCID: PMC8017464 DOI: 10.1002/cti2.1270] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2020] [Revised: 12/25/2020] [Accepted: 03/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Regulatory B cells contribute to the regulation of immune responses in cancer, autoimmune disorders, allergic conditions and inflammatory diseases. Although most studies focus on regulatory B lymphocytes expressing interleukin-10, there is growing evidence that B cells producing transforming growth factor β (TGF-β) can also regulate T-cell immunity in inflammatory diseases and promote the emergence of regulatory T cells that contribute to the induction and maintenance of natural and induced immune tolerance. Most research on TGF-β+ regulatory B cells has been conducted in models of allergy, cancer and autoimmune diseases, but there has, as yet, been limited scrutiny of their role in the transplant setting. Herein, we review recent investigations seeking to understand how TGF-β-producing B cells direct the immune response in various inflammatory diseases and whether these regulatory cells may have a role in fostering tolerance in transplantation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guoli Huai
- Organ Transplantation Center Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital School of Medicine University of Electronic Science and Technology of China Chengdu China.,Center for Transplantation Sciences Massachusetts General Hospital Harvard Medical School Boston MA USA
| | - James F Markmann
- Center for Transplantation Sciences Massachusetts General Hospital Harvard Medical School Boston MA USA
| | - Shaoping Deng
- Organ Transplantation Center Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital School of Medicine University of Electronic Science and Technology of China Chengdu China
| | - Charles Gerard Rickert
- Center for Transplantation Sciences Massachusetts General Hospital Harvard Medical School Boston MA USA
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21
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Ungefroren H. Autocrine TGF-β in Cancer: Review of the Literature and Caveats in Experimental Analysis. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:977. [PMID: 33478130 PMCID: PMC7835898 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22020977] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2020] [Revised: 01/18/2021] [Accepted: 01/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Autocrine signaling is defined as the production and secretion of an extracellular mediator by a cell followed by the binding of that mediator to receptors on the same cell to initiate signaling. Autocrine stimulation often operates in autocrine loops, a type of interaction, in which a cell produces a mediator, for which it has receptors, that upon activation promotes expression of the same mediator, allowing the cell to repeatedly autostimulate itself (positive feedback) or balance its expression via regulation of a second factor that provides negative feedback. Autocrine signaling loops with positive or negative feedback are an important feature in cancer, where they enable context-dependent cell signaling in the regulation of growth, survival, and cell motility. A growth factor that is intimately involved in tumor development and progression and often produced by the cancer cells in an autocrine manner is transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β). This review surveys the many observations of autocrine TGF-β signaling in tumor biology, including data from cell culture and animal models as well as from patients. We also provide the reader with a critical discussion on the various experimental approaches employed to identify and prove the involvement of autocrine TGF-β in a given cellular response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hendrik Ungefroren
- First Department of Medicine, University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein, Campus Lübeck, D-23538 Lübeck, Germany;
- Clinic for General Surgery, Visceral, Thoracic, Transplantation and Pediatric Surgery, University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein, Campus Kiel, D-24105 Kiel, Germany
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22
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Fibroblast Subsets in Intestinal Homeostasis, Carcinogenesis, Tumor Progression, and Metastasis. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:cancers13020183. [PMID: 33430285 PMCID: PMC7825703 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13020183] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2020] [Revised: 01/03/2021] [Accepted: 01/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Colorectal cancer often develops via the adenoma–carcinoma sequence, a process which is accompanied by (epi) genetic alterations in epithelial cells and gradual phenotypic changes in fibroblast populations. Recent studies have made it clear that these fibroblast populations which, in the context of invasive cancers are termed cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs), play an important role in intestinal tumor progression. This review provides an overview on the emerging role of fibroblasts in various stages of colorectal cancer development, ranging from adenoma initiation to metastatic spread of tumor cells. As fibroblasts show considerable heterogeneity in subsets and phenotypes during cancer development, a better functional understanding of stage-specific (alterations in) fibroblast/CAF populations is key to increase the effectiveness of fibroblast-based prognosticators and therapies. Abstract In intestinal homeostasis, continuous renewal of the epithelium is crucial to withstand the plethora of stimuli which can damage the structural integrity of the intestines. Fibroblasts contribute to this renewal by facilitating epithelial cell differentiation as well as providing the structural framework in which epithelial cells can regenerate. Upon dysregulation of intestinal homeostasis, (pre-) malignant neoplasms develop, a process which is accompanied by (epi) genetic alterations in epithelial cells as well as phenotypic changes in fibroblast populations. In the context of invasive carcinomas, these fibroblast populations are termed cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs). CAFs are the most abundant cell type in the tumor microenvironment of colorectal cancer (CRC) and consist of various functionally heterogeneous subsets which can promote or restrain cancer progression. Although most previous research has focused on the biology of epithelial cells, accumulating evidence shows that certain fibroblast subsets can also importantly contribute to tumor initiation and progression, thereby possibly providing avenues for improvement of clinical care for CRC patients. In this review, we summarized the current literature on the emerging role of fibroblasts in various stages of CRC development, ranging from adenoma initiation to the metastatic spread of cancer cells. In addition, we highlighted translational and therapeutic perspectives of fibroblasts in the different stages of intestinal tumor progression.
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Ghahremanifard P, Chanda A, Bonni S, Bose P. TGF-β Mediated Immune Evasion in Cancer-Spotlight on Cancer-Associated Fibroblasts. Cancers (Basel) 2020; 12:cancers12123650. [PMID: 33291370 PMCID: PMC7762018 DOI: 10.3390/cancers12123650] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2020] [Revised: 12/02/2020] [Accepted: 12/02/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Various components of the tumor microenvironment (TME) play a critical role in promoting tumorigenesis, progression, and metastasis. One of the primary functions of the TME is to stimulate an immunosuppressive environment around the tumor through multiple mechanisms including the activation of the transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β) signaling pathway. Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) are key cells in the TME that regulate the secretion of extracellular matrix (ECM) components under the influence of TGF-β. Recent reports from our group and others have described an ECM-related and CAF-associated novel gene signature that can predict resistance to immune checkpoint blockade (ICB). Importantly, studies have begun to test whether targeting some of these CAF-associated components can be used as a combinatorial approach with ICB. This perspective summarizes recent advances in our understanding of CAF and TGF-β-regulated immunosuppressive mechanisms and ways to target such signaling in cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Parisa Ghahremanifard
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 4N1, Canada; (P.G.); (A.C.); (S.B.)
- Arnie Charbonneau Cancer Institute, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 4N1, Canada
| | - Ayan Chanda
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 4N1, Canada; (P.G.); (A.C.); (S.B.)
- Arnie Charbonneau Cancer Institute, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 4N1, Canada
| | - Shirin Bonni
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 4N1, Canada; (P.G.); (A.C.); (S.B.)
- Arnie Charbonneau Cancer Institute, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 4N1, Canada
| | - Pinaki Bose
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 4N1, Canada; (P.G.); (A.C.); (S.B.)
- Arnie Charbonneau Cancer Institute, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 4N1, Canada
- Department of Oncology, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 4N1, Canada
- Ohlson Research Initiative, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 4Z6, Canada
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +1-403-220-8507; Fax: +1-403-270-3145
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24
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RAC1B Regulation of TGFB1 Reveals an Unexpected Role of Autocrine TGFβ1 in the Suppression of Cell Motility. Cancers (Basel) 2020; 12:cancers12123570. [PMID: 33260366 PMCID: PMC7760153 DOI: 10.3390/cancers12123570] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2020] [Revised: 11/25/2020] [Accepted: 11/27/2020] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Autocrine transforming growth factor (TGF)β has been implicated in epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and invasion of several cancers including pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) as well as triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). However, the precise mechanism and the upstream inducers or downstream effectors of endogenous TGFB1 remain poorly characterized. In both cancer types, the small GTPase RAC1B inhibits cell motility induced by recombinant human TGFβ1 via downregulation of the TGFβ type I receptor, ALK5, but whether RAC1B also impacts autocrine TGFβ signaling has not yet been studied. Intriguingly, RNA interference-mediated knockdown (RNAi-KD) or CRISPR/Cas-mediated knockout of RAC1B in TGFβ1-secreting PDAC-derived Panc1 cells resulted in a dramatic decrease in secreted bioactive TGFβ1 in the culture supernatants and TGFB1 mRNA expression, while the reverse was true for TNBC-derived MDA-MB-231 cells ectopically expressing RAC1B. Surprisingly, the antibody-mediated neutralization of secreted bioactive TGFβ or RNAi-KD of the endogenous TGFB1 gene, was associated with increased rather than decreased migratory activities of Panc1 and MDA-MB-231 cells, upregulation of the promigratory genes SNAI1, SNAI2 and RAC1, and downregulation of the invasion suppressor genes CDH1 (encoding E-cadherin) and SMAD3. Intriguingly, ectopic re-expression of SMAD3 was able to rescue Panc1 and MDA-MB-231 cells from the TGFB1 KD-induced rise in migratory activity. Together, these data suggest that RAC1B favors synthesis and secretion of autocrine TGFβ1 which in a SMAD3-dependent manner blocks EMT-associated gene expression and cell motility.
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25
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Peng C, Cohen DJ. Advances in the pharmacotherapeutic management of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. Expert Opin Pharmacother 2020; 22:93-107. [PMID: 33034212 DOI: 10.1080/14656566.2020.1813278] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Esophageal squamous cancer remains an important cause of mortality worldwide with two new immunotherapy drugs recently approved for metastatic disease. AREAS COVERED The authors review the epidemiology and genomics of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. They also examine prior trials involving targeted agents under investigation as well immunotherapies that have been approved and novel combinations. EXPERT OPINION Great advances have been made in characterizing the molecular changes in esophageal carcinoma. However, relatively few drugs have shown benefit in this disease. Targeted therapies have not shown to improve survival although many of these trials did not explore potential biomarkers. Pembrolizumab and nivolumab are now approved for esophageal squamous carcinoma but much more data are needed to understand how these agents may be used in non-metastatic settings. Novel treatments are still required as overall prognosis remains poor.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Deirdre J Cohen
- Department of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Tisch Cancer Institute, Mount Sinai Health , New York, NY, USA
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26
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Systematic analysis of immune-related genes based on a combination of multiple databases to build a diagnostic and a prognostic risk model for hepatocellular carcinoma. Cancer Immunol Immunother 2020; 70:773-786. [PMID: 32989553 DOI: 10.1007/s00262-020-02733-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2019] [Accepted: 09/20/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
The immune microenvironment plays a vital role in the progression of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Thousands of immune-related genes (IRGs) have been identified, but their effects on HCC are not fully understood. In this study, we identified the differentially expressed IRGs and analyzed their functions in HCC in a systematic way. Furthermore, we constructed a diagnostic and a prognostic model using multiple statistical methods, and both models had good distinguishing performance, which we verified in several independent datasets. This diagnostic model was also adaptable to proteomic data. The combination of a prognostic risk model and classic clinical staging can effectively distinguish patients in high- and low-risk groups. Furthermore, we systematically explore the differences in the immune microenvironment between the high-risk group and the low-risk group to help clinical decision-making. In summary, we systematically analyzed immune-related genes in HCC, explored their functions, constructed a diagnostic and a prognostic model and investigated potential therapeutic schedules in high-risk patients. The model performance was verified in multiple databases. Our findings can provide directions for future research.
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27
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Tai KY, El Abiad JM, Morris CD, Markowski MC, Levin AS. Comparing the Responses of Osseous Versus Soft-Tissue Metastases of Renal Cell Carcinoma to Receptor Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors and Immunotherapy. KIDNEY CANCER 2020. [DOI: 10.3233/kca-200094] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Checkpoint inhibitors and receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitors (RTKIs) have changed the standard of care for metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC). Anecdotal evidence suggests these therapies may be less effective for treating bone than soft-tissue metastases. PURPOSE: We performed a retrospective review evaluating the relative clinical responses in soft-tissue and bone metastases in patients undergoing therapy using RTKIs and anti-programmed death-1 (PD-1) agents for mRCC. METHODS: Of the 2,212 patients in our institutional cancer registry with renal cell carcinoma (1997–2017), 68 (82 disease courses) were identified with measurable bone and soft-tissue metastases treated with RTKIs and/or PD-1s. Extent of metastasis was quantified at the time of therapy initiation (baseline) and at 3 months, 6 months, and 1 year. Changes in disease status were categorized as complete response, partial response, stable, mixed, or progression of disease according to RECIST v1.1 and MD Anderson criteria. These categories were further organized into “response to treatment” or “evidence of progression” to generate a generalized linear effects model with soft-tissue response as the independent variable and bone response as the dependent variable. Alpha = 0.05. RESULTS: Soft-tissue response correlated with bone response at 3 months (76 disease courses, p = 0.005) and 6 months (48 disease courses, p = 0.017). Of the patients with controlled soft-tissue disease, only 14 (19%) and 15 (32%) had progression in bone at 3 and 6 months, respectively. CONCLUSION: Contrary to anecdotal reports, osseous metastases do not appear to respond worse than soft-tissue metastases to treatment with these agents.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Jad M. El Abiad
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
| | - Carol D. Morris
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
| | | | - Adam S. Levin
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
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28
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Derynck R, Turley SJ, Akhurst RJ. TGFβ biology in cancer progression and immunotherapy. Nat Rev Clin Oncol 2020; 18:9-34. [DOI: 10.1038/s41571-020-0403-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 199] [Impact Index Per Article: 49.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/07/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
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29
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Pérez-Ruiz E, Melero I, Kopecka J, Sarmento-Ribeiro AB, García-Aranda M, De Las Rivas J. Cancer immunotherapy resistance based on immune checkpoints inhibitors: Targets, biomarkers, and remedies. Drug Resist Updat 2020; 53:100718. [PMID: 32736034 DOI: 10.1016/j.drup.2020.100718] [Citation(s) in RCA: 105] [Impact Index Per Article: 26.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2020] [Revised: 06/09/2020] [Accepted: 07/13/2020] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
Cancer is one of the main public health problems in the world. Systemic therapies such as chemotherapy and more recently target therapies as well as immunotherapy have improved the prognosis of this large group of complex malignant diseases. However, the frequent emergence of multidrug resistance (MDR) mechanisms is one of the major impediments towards curative treatment of cancer. While several mechanisms of drug chemoresistance are well defined, resistance to immunotherapy is still insufficiently unclear due to the complexity of the immune response and its dependence on the host. Expression and regulation of immune checkpoint molecules (such as PD-1, CD279; PD-L1, CD274; and CTLA-4, CD152) play a key role in the response to immunotherapy. In this regard, immunotherapy based on immune checkpoints inhibitors (ICIs) is a common clinical approach for treatment of patients with poor prognosis when other first-line therapies have failed. Unfortunately, about 70 % of patients are classified as non-responders, or they progress after initial response to these ICIs. Multiple factors can be related to immunotherapy resistance: characteristics of the tumor microenvironment (TME); presence of tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs), such as CD8 + T cells associated with treatment-response; presence of tumor associated macrophages (TAMs); activation of certain regulators (like PIK3γ or PAX4) found present in non-responders; a low percentage of PD-L1 expressing cells; tumor mutational burden (TMB); gain or loss of antigen-presenting molecules; genetic and epigenetic alterations correlated with resistance. This review provides an update on the current state of immunotherapy resistance presenting targets, biomarkers and remedies to overcome such resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisabeth Pérez-Ruiz
- Medical Oncology Department, Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de Málaga (IBIMA), Hospital Costa del Sol, 29603 Marbella, Malaga, Spain.
| | - Ignacio Melero
- Immunology and Immunotherapy Department, Clinica Universidad de Navarra (CUN), Center for Applied Medical Research (CIMA), Universidad de Navarra (UNAV), 31008 Pamplona, Spain.
| | - Joanna Kopecka
- Department of Oncology, Turin School of Medicine, University of Turin, 10126 Turin, Italy.
| | - Ana Bela Sarmento-Ribeiro
- Laboratory of Oncobiology and Hematology and University Clinic of Hematology and Coimbra Institute for Clinical and Biomedical Research - Group of Environment Genetics and Oncobiology (iCBR/CIMAGO), Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra (FMUC), and Center for Innovative Biomedicine and Biotechnology (CIBB), Coimbra, Portugal.
| | - Marilina García-Aranda
- Research Unit, Hospital Costa del Sol, Red de Investigación en Servicios de Salud en Enfermedades Crónicas (REDISSEC) and Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de Málaga (IBIMA), 29603 Marbella, Malaga, Spain.
| | - Javier De Las Rivas
- Cancer Research Center (CiC-IBMCC, CSIC/USAL), Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC) and University of Salamanca (USAL), and Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de Salamanca (IBSAL), 37007 Salamanca, Spain.
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30
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Feng Y, Su H, Li Y, Luo C, Xu H, Wang Y, Sun H, Wan G, Zhou B, Bu X. Degradation of intracellular TGF-β1 by PROTACs efficiently reverses M2 macrophage induced malignant pathological events. Chem Commun (Camb) 2020; 56:2881-2884. [PMID: 32037404 DOI: 10.1039/c9cc08391j] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
The first proteolysis targeting chimeras for the intracellular elimination of transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1), which contributes to various diseases, are described. The appropriately designed DT-6 could efficiently degrade intracellular TGF-β1, and inhibit M2 macrophage induced epithelial to mesenchymal transition and invasive migration of cancer cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanqiao Feng
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, GuangZhou 510006, China.
| | - Hui Su
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, GuangZhou 510006, China.
| | - Yunzhi Li
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, GuangZhou 510006, China.
| | - Chunxiang Luo
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, GuangZhou 510006, China.
| | - Huiying Xu
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, GuangZhou 510006, China.
| | - Youqiao Wang
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, GuangZhou 510006, China.
| | - Haixia Sun
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, GuangZhou 510006, China.
| | - Guohui Wan
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, GuangZhou 510006, China.
| | - Binhua Zhou
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, GuangZhou 510006, China. and School of Chinese Pharmacy, Guizhou Minzu University, Guiyang 550025, China
| | - Xianzhang Bu
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, GuangZhou 510006, China.
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31
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Larson C, Oronsky B, Carter CA, Oronsky A, Knox SJ, Sher D, Reid TR. TGF-beta: a master immune regulator. Expert Opin Ther Targets 2020; 24:427-438. [PMID: 32228232 DOI: 10.1080/14728222.2020.1744568] [Citation(s) in RCA: 105] [Impact Index Per Article: 26.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Introduction: Transforming Growth Factor-Beta (TGF-β) is a master regulator of numerous cellular functions including cellular immunity. In cancer, TGF-β can function as a tumor promoter via several mechanisms including immunosuppression. Since the immune checkpoint pathways are co-opted in cancer to induce T cell tolerance, this review posits that TGF-β is a master checkpoint in cancer, whose negative regulatory influence overrides and controls that of other immune checkpoints.Areas Covered: This review examines therapeutic agents that target TGF-β and its signaling pathways for the treatment of cancer which may be classifiable as checkpoint inhibitors in the broadest sense. This concept is supported by the observations that 1) only a subset of patients benefit from current checkpoint inhibitor therapies, 2) the presence of TGF-β in the tumor microenvironment is associated with excluded or cold tumors, and resistance to checkpoint inhibitors, and 3) existing biomarkers such as PD-1, PD-L1, microsatellite instability and tumor mutational burden are inadequate to reliably and adequately identify immuno-responsive patients. By contrast, TGF-β overexpression is a widespread and profoundly negative molecular hallmark in multiple tumor types.Expert Opinion: TGF-β status may serve as a biomarker to predict responsiveness and as a therapeutic target to increase the activity of immunotherapies.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Arnold Oronsky
- EpicentRx, San Diego, CA, USA.,InterWest Partners, Menlo Park, CA, USA
| | - Susan J Knox
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - David Sher
- Department of Radiation Oncology, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Tony R Reid
- Department of Medical Oncology, UC San Diego School of Medicine, La Jolla, CA, USA
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32
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Velaparthi U, Darne CP, Warrier J, Liu P, Rahaman H, Augustine-Rauch K, Parrish K, Yang Z, Swanson J, Brown J, Dhar G, Anandam A, Holenarsipur VK, Palanisamy K, Wautlet BS, Fereshteh MP, Lippy J, Tebben AJ, Sheriff S, Ruzanov M, Yan C, Gupta A, Gupta AK, Vetrichelvan M, Mathur A, Gelman M, Singh R, Kinsella T, Murtaza A, Fargnoli J, Vite G, Borzilleri RM. Discovery of BMS-986260, a Potent, Selective, and Orally Bioavailable TGFβR1 Inhibitor as an Immuno-oncology Agent. ACS Med Chem Lett 2020; 11:172-178. [PMID: 32071685 DOI: 10.1021/acsmedchemlett.9b00552] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2019] [Accepted: 01/28/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Novel imidazole-based TGFβR1 inhibitors were identified and optimized for potency, selectivity, and pharmacokinetic and physicochemical characteristics. Herein, we report the discovery, optimization, and evaluation of a potent, selective, and orally bioavailable TGFβR1 inhibitor, 10 (BMS-986260). This compound demonstrated functional activity in multiple TGFβ-dependent cellular assays, excellent kinome selectivity, favorable pharmacokinetic properties, and curative in vivo efficacy in combination with anti-PD-1 antibody in murine colorectal cancer (CRC) models. Since daily dosing of TGFβR1 inhibitors is known to cause class-based cardiovascular (CV) toxicities in preclinical species, a dosing holiday schedule in the anti-PD-1 combination efficacy studies was explored. An intermittent dosing regimen of 3 days on and 4 days off allowed mitigation of CV toxicities in one month dog and rat toxicology studies and also provided similar efficacy as once daily dosing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Upender Velaparthi
- Bristol-Myers Squibb Research & Development, P.O. Box 4000, Princeton, New Jersey 08543, United States
| | - Chetan Padmakar Darne
- Bristol-Myers Squibb Research & Development, P.O. Box 4000, Princeton, New Jersey 08543, United States
| | - Jayakumar Warrier
- Biocon Bristol-Myers Squibb R & D Center, Biocon Park, Jigani Link Road, Bangalore, KA 560099, India
| | - Peiying Liu
- Bristol-Myers Squibb Research & Development, P.O. Box 4000, Princeton, New Jersey 08543, United States
| | - Hasibur Rahaman
- Biocon Bristol-Myers Squibb R & D Center, Biocon Park, Jigani Link Road, Bangalore, KA 560099, India
| | - Karen Augustine-Rauch
- Bristol-Myers Squibb Research & Development, P.O. Box 4000, Princeton, New Jersey 08543, United States
| | - Karen Parrish
- Bristol-Myers Squibb Research & Development, P.O. Box 4000, Princeton, New Jersey 08543, United States
| | - Zheng Yang
- Bristol-Myers Squibb Research & Development, P.O. Box 4000, Princeton, New Jersey 08543, United States
| | - Jesse Swanson
- Bristol-Myers Squibb Research & Development, P.O. Box 4000, Princeton, New Jersey 08543, United States
| | - Jennifer Brown
- Bristol-Myers Squibb Research & Development, P.O. Box 4000, Princeton, New Jersey 08543, United States
| | - Gopal Dhar
- Biocon Bristol-Myers Squibb R & D Center, Biocon Park, Jigani Link Road, Bangalore, KA 560099, India
| | - Aravind Anandam
- Biocon Bristol-Myers Squibb R & D Center, Biocon Park, Jigani Link Road, Bangalore, KA 560099, India
| | - Vinay K. Holenarsipur
- Biocon Bristol-Myers Squibb R & D Center, Biocon Park, Jigani Link Road, Bangalore, KA 560099, India
| | | | - Barri S. Wautlet
- Bristol-Myers Squibb Research & Development, P.O. Box 4000, Princeton, New Jersey 08543, United States
| | - Mark P. Fereshteh
- Bristol-Myers Squibb Research & Development, P.O. Box 4000, Princeton, New Jersey 08543, United States
| | - Jonathan Lippy
- Bristol-Myers Squibb Research & Development, P.O. Box 4000, Princeton, New Jersey 08543, United States
| | - Andrew J. Tebben
- Bristol-Myers Squibb Research & Development, P.O. Box 4000, Princeton, New Jersey 08543, United States
| | - Steven Sheriff
- Bristol-Myers Squibb Research & Development, P.O. Box 4000, Princeton, New Jersey 08543, United States
| | - Max Ruzanov
- Bristol-Myers Squibb Research & Development, P.O. Box 4000, Princeton, New Jersey 08543, United States
| | - Chunhong Yan
- Bristol-Myers Squibb Research & Development, P.O. Box 4000, Princeton, New Jersey 08543, United States
| | - Anuradha Gupta
- Biocon Bristol-Myers Squibb R & D Center, Biocon Park, Jigani Link Road, Bangalore, KA 560099, India
| | - Arun Kumar Gupta
- Biocon Bristol-Myers Squibb R & D Center, Biocon Park, Jigani Link Road, Bangalore, KA 560099, India
| | - Muthalagu Vetrichelvan
- Biocon Bristol-Myers Squibb R & D Center, Biocon Park, Jigani Link Road, Bangalore, KA 560099, India
| | - Arvind Mathur
- Bristol-Myers Squibb Research & Development, P.O. Box 4000, Princeton, New Jersey 08543, United States
| | - Marina Gelman
- Rigel Pharmaceuticals, Inc., 1180 Veterans Boulevard, South San Francisco, California 94080, United States
| | - Rajinder Singh
- Rigel Pharmaceuticals, Inc., 1180 Veterans Boulevard, South San Francisco, California 94080, United States
| | - Todd Kinsella
- Rigel Pharmaceuticals, Inc., 1180 Veterans Boulevard, South San Francisco, California 94080, United States
| | - Anwar Murtaza
- Bristol-Myers Squibb Research & Development, P.O. Box 4000, Princeton, New Jersey 08543, United States
| | - Joseph Fargnoli
- Bristol-Myers Squibb Research & Development, P.O. Box 4000, Princeton, New Jersey 08543, United States
| | - Gregory Vite
- Bristol-Myers Squibb Research & Development, P.O. Box 4000, Princeton, New Jersey 08543, United States
| | - Robert M. Borzilleri
- Bristol-Myers Squibb Research & Development, P.O. Box 4000, Princeton, New Jersey 08543, United States
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Bai X, Yi M, Jiao Y, Chu Q, Wu K. Blocking TGF-β Signaling To Enhance The Efficacy Of Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor. Onco Targets Ther 2019; 12:9527-9538. [PMID: 31807028 PMCID: PMC6857659 DOI: 10.2147/ott.s224013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 90] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2019] [Accepted: 10/25/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
During malignant transformation, a growing body of mutations accumulate in cancer cells which not only drive cancer progression but also endow cancer cells with high immunogenicity. However, because one or multiple steps in cancer-immunity cycle are impaired, anti-cancer immune response is too weak to effectively clear cancer cells. Therefore, how to restore robust immune response to malignant cells is a hot research topic in cancer therapeutics field. In the last decade, based on the deeper understanding of cancer immunity, great signs of progress have been made in cancer immunotherapies especially immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs). ICIs could block negative immune co-stimulatory pathways and reactivate tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) from exhausted status. ICIs exhibit potent anti-cancer effect and have been approved for the treatment of numerous cancer types. Parallel with durable and effective tumor control, the actual response rate of ICIs is unsatisfactory. Although a subset of patients benefit from ICIs treatment, a large proportion of patients show primary or acquired resistance. Previously intensive studies indicated that the efficacy of ICIs was determined by a series of factors including tumor mutation burden, programmed death ligand-1 (PD-L1) expression, and TILs status. Recently, it was reported that transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β) signaling pathway participated in cancer immune escape and ICI resistance. Concurrent TGF-β blockade might be a feasible strategy to enhance the efficacy of immunotherapy and relieve ICI resistance. In this mini-review, we summarized the latest understanding of TGF-β signaling pathway and cancer immunity. Besides, we highlighted the synergistic effect of TGF-β blockade and ICIs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xianguang Bai
- Medical School, Pingdingshan University, Pingdingshan, Henan, People's Republic of China.,Department of Oncology, Tongji Hospital of Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, People's Republic of China
| | - Ming Yi
- Department of Oncology, Tongji Hospital of Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, People's Republic of China
| | - Ying Jiao
- Department of Oncology, Tongji Hospital of Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, People's Republic of China
| | - Qian Chu
- Department of Oncology, Tongji Hospital of Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, People's Republic of China
| | - Kongming Wu
- Department of Oncology, Tongji Hospital of Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, People's Republic of China.,Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, People's Republic of China
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Hass R, von der Ohe J, Ungefroren H. Potential Role of MSC/Cancer Cell Fusion and EMT for Breast Cancer Stem Cell Formation. Cancers (Basel) 2019; 11:cancers11101432. [PMID: 31557960 PMCID: PMC6826868 DOI: 10.3390/cancers11101432] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2019] [Revised: 09/20/2019] [Accepted: 09/24/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Solid tumors comprise of maturated cancer cells and self-renewing cancer stem-like cells (CSCs), which are associated with various other nontumorigenic cell populations in the tumor microenvironment. In addition to immune cells, endothelial cells, fibroblasts, and further cell types, mesenchymal stroma/stem-like cells (MSC) represent an important cell population recruited to tumor sites and predominantly interacting with the different cancer cells. Breast cancer models were among the first to reveal distinct properties of CSCs, however, the cellular process(es) through which these cells are generated, maintained, and expanded within neoplastic tissues remains incompletely understood. Here, we discuss several possible scenarios that are not mutually exclusive but may even act synergistically: fusion of cancer cells with MSC to yield hybrid cells and/or the induction of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in breast cancer cells by MSC, which can relay signals for retrodifferentiation and eventually, the generation of breast CSCs (BCSCs). In either case, the consequences may be promotion of self-renewal capacity, tumor cell plasticity and heterogeneity, an increase in the cancer cells’ invasive and metastatic potential, and the acquisition of resistance mechanisms towards chemo- or radiotherapy. While specific signaling mechanisms involved in each of these properties remain to be elucidated, the present review article focusses on a potential involvement of cancer cell fusion and EMT in the development of breast cancer stem cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ralf Hass
- Biochemistry and Tumor Biology Lab, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Hannover Medical School, 30625 Hannover, Germany.
| | - Juliane von der Ohe
- Biochemistry and Tumor Biology Lab, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Hannover Medical School, 30625 Hannover, Germany.
| | - Hendrik Ungefroren
- First Department of Medicine, University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein, Campus Lübeck, 23538 Lübeck, Germany.
- Department of General Surgery, Visceral, Thoracic, Transplantation and Pediatric Surgery, University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein, Campus Kiel, 24105 Kiel, Germany.
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