Cancer-associated fibroblasts promote colorectal cancer progression by secreting CLEC3B

Identification of oxidative stress signatures of lung adenocarcinoma and prediction of patient prognosis or treatment response with single-cell RNA sequencing and bulk RNA sequencing data

Lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD), the most common subtype of lung cancer globally, has seen improved prognosis with advancements in diagnostic, surgical, radiotherapy, and molecular therapy techniques, while its 5-year survival rate remains low. Molecular biomarkers provide prognostic value. Oxidative stress factors, such as reactive nitrogen species and ROS, are crucial in various stages of tumor progression, influencing cell transformation, proliferation, angiogenesis, and metastasis. ROS demonstrate dual roles, affecting tumor cells, hypoxia sensitivity, and the microenvironment. Comprehensive analysis of oxidative stress in LUAD has not been conducted to date. Therefore, we systematically investigated the regulatory patterns of oxidative stress in LUAD based on oxidative stress-related genes and correlated these patterns with cellular infiltration characteristics of the tumor immune microenvironment. The model utilizes single-factor Cox analysis to screen key differential genes with prognostic value and employs least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) penalized Cox regression analysis to construct a prognostic-related prediction model. Ten candidate genes were selected based on this model. The risk score was constructed using the coefficients and expression levels of these ten genes. Furthermore, the impact of this risk score on overall survival (OS) was determined. Two genes with the most significant differential expression, SFTPB and S100P, were selected through qRT-PCR. Cell experiments including CCK-8, Edu, transwell assays confirmed their effects on lung cancer cells growth, consistent with the results of bioinformatics analysis. These findings suggested that this model held potential clinical value for evaluating the prognosis of lung adenocarcinoma.

A comprehensive multi-omics analysis identifies a robust scoring system for cancer-associated fibroblasts and intervention targets in colorectal cancer

BACKGROUND

Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAF) play a critical role in promoting tumor growth, metastasis, and immune evasion. While numerous studies have investigated CAF, there remains a paucity of research on their clinical application in colorectal cancer (CRC).

METHODS

In this study, we collected differentially expressed genes between CAF and normal fibroblasts (NF) from previous CRC studies, and utilized machine learning analysis to differentiate two distinct subtypes of CAF in CRC. To enable practical application, a CAF-related genes (CAFGs) scoring system was developed based on multivariate Cox regression. We then conducted functional enrichment analysis, Kaplan-Meier plot, consensus molecular subtypes (CMS) classification, and Tumor Immune Dysfunction and Exclusion (TIDE) algorithm to investigate the relationship between the CAFGs scoring system and various biological mechanisms, prognostic value, tumor microenvironment, and response to immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) therapy. Moreover, single-cell transcriptomics and proteomics analyses have been employed to validate the significance of scoring system-related molecules in the identity and function of CAF.

RESULTS

We unveiled significant distinctions in tumor immune status and prognosis not only between the CAF clusters, but also across high and low CAFGs groups. Specifically, patients in CAF cluster 2 or with high CAFGs scores exhibited higher CAF markers and were enriched for CAF-related biological pathways such as epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and angiogenesis. In addition, CAFGs score was identified as a risk index and correlated with poor overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS), disease-free survival (DFS), and recurrence-free survival (RFS). High CAFGs scores were observed in patients with advanced stages, CMS4, as well as lymphatic invasion. Furthermore, elevated CAFG scores in patients signified a suppressive tumor microenvironment characterized by the upregulation of programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1), T-cell dysfunction, exclusion, and TIDE score. And high CAFGs scores can differentiate patients with lower response rates and poor prognosis under ICB therapy. Notably, single-cell transcriptomics and proteomics analyses identified several molecules related to CAF identity and function, such as FSTL1, IGFBP7, and FBN1.

CONCLUSION

We constructed a robust CAFGs score system with clinical significance using multiple CRC cohorts. In addition, we identified several molecules related to CAF identity and function that could be potential intervention targets for CRC patients.

Identification of metabolism-related gene signature in lung adenocarcinoma

AIM

Lung cancer is one of the most common cancers in China and has a high mortality rate. Most patients who are diagnosed have lost the opportunity to undergo surgery. Aberrant metabolism is closely associated with tumorigenesis. We aimed to identify an effective metabolism-related prediction model for assessing prognosis based on the cancer genome atlas (TCGA) and GSE116959 databases.

METHODS

TCGA and GSE116959 datasets from Gene Expression Omnibus were used to obtain lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) data. Additionally, we captured metabolism-related genes (MRGs) from the GeneCards database. First, we extracted differentially expressed genes using R to analyze the LUAD data. We then selected the same differentially expressed genes, including 168 downregulated and 77 upregulated genes. Finally, 218 differentially expressed MRGs (DEMRGs) were included to perform functional enrichment analysis and construct a protein-protein interaction network with the help of Cytoscape and Search Tool for the Retrieval of Interacting Genes database. Cytoscape was used to visualize the intensive intervals in the network. Then univariate and Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator Cox regression analyses, which assisted in identifying the overall survival (OS)-related DEMRGs and building a 10-DEMRG prognosis model, were performed. The prognostic values, tumor immunity relevance, and molecular mechanism were further investigated. A nomogram incorporating signature, age, gender, and TNM stage was established.

RESULTS

A 10-DEMRG model was established to forecast the OS of LUAD through Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator regression analysis. This prognostic signature stratified LUAD patients into low-risk and high-risk groups. The receiver operating characteristic curve and K-M analysis indicated good performance of the DEMRGs signature at predicting OS in the TCGA dataset. Univariate and multivariate Cox regression also revealed that the DEMRGs signature was an independent prognosis factor in LUAD. We noticed that the risk score was substantially related to the clinical parameters of LUAD patients, covering age and stage. Immune analysis results showed that risk score was associated with some immune cells and immune checkpoints. Nomogram also verified the clinical value of the DEMRGs signature.

CONCLUSION

In this study, we constructed a DEMRGs signature and established a prognostic nomogram that is robust and reliable to predict OS in LUAD. Overall, the findings could help with therapeutic customization and personalized therapies.

Immunotherapy with STING and TLR9 agonists promotes synergistic therapeutic efficacy with suppressed cancer-associated fibroblasts in colon carcinoma

The innate immune sensing of nucleic acids using effective immunoadjuvants is critical for increasing protective immune responses against cancer. Stimulators of interferon genes (STING) and toll-like receptor 9 (TLR9) agonists are considered promising candidates in several preclinical tumor models with the potential to be used in clinical settings. However, the effects of such treatment on tumor stroma are currently unknown. In this study, we investigated the immunotherapeutic effects of ADU-S100 as a STING agonist and CpG ODN1826 as a TLR9 agonist in a preclinical model of colon carcinoma. Tumor-bearing mice were treated intratumorally on days 10 and 16 post-tumor inoculation with ADU-S100 and CpG ODN1826. Cytokine profiles in the tumor and spleen, tumor cell apoptosis, the infiltration of immune cells, and cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) in the tumor microenvironment (TME) were evaluated to identify the immunological mechanisms after treatment. The powerful antitumor activity of single and combination treatments, the upregulation of the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines in the tumor and spleen, and the recruitment and infiltration of the TME by immune cells revealed the synergism of immunoadjuvants in the eradication of the colon carcinoma model. Remarkably, the significant downregulation of CAFs in the TME indicated that suppression of tumorigenesis occurred after immunoadjuvant therapy. The results illustrate the potential of targeting the STING and TLR9 pathways as powerful immunoadjuvants in the treatment of preclinical colon carcinoma and the possibility of harnessing these pathways in future therapeutic approaches.

Intermittent Hypoxia Promotes TAM-Induced Glycolysis in Laryngeal Cancer Cells via Regulation of HK1 Expression through Activation of ZBTB10

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), characterized by intermittent hypoxia (IH), may increase the risk of cancer development and a poor cancer prognosis. TAMs of the M2 phenotype, together with the intermittent hypoxic environment within the tumor, drive tumor aggressiveness. However, the mechanism of TAMs in IH remains unclear. In our study, IH induced the recruitment of macrophages, and IH-induced M2-like TAMs promoted glycolysis in laryngeal cancer cells through hexokinase 1. The hexokinase inhibitor 2-deoxy-D-glucose and HK1 shRNA were applied to verify this finding, confirming that M2-like TAMs enhanced glycolysis in laryngeal cancer cells through HK1 under intermittent hypoxic conditions. Comprehensive RNA-seq analysis disclosed a marked elevation in the expression levels of the transcription factor ZBTB10, while evaluation of a laryngeal cancer patient tissue microarray demonstrated a positive correlation between ZBTB10 and HK1 expression in laryngeal carcinoma. Knockdown of ZBTB10 decreased HK1 expression, and overexpression of ZBTB10 increased HK1 expression in both laryngeal cancer cells and 293T cells. The luciferase reporter assay and Chromatin immunoprecipitation assay confirmed that ZBTB10 directly bound to the promoter region of HK1 and regulated the transcriptional activity of HK1. Finally, the CLEC3B level of the M2 supernatant is significantly higher in the IH group and showed a protumor effect on Hep2 cells. As ZBTB10-mediated regulation of HK1 affects glycolysis in laryngeal cancer, our findings may provide new potential therapeutic targets for laryngeal cancer.

Three-dimensional heterotypic colorectal cancer spheroid models for evaluation of drug response

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a leading cause of death worldwide. Improved preclinical tumor models are needed to make treatment screening clinically relevant and address disease mortality. Advancements in 3D cell culture have enabled a greater recapitulation of the architecture and heterogeneity of the tumor microenvironment (TME). This has enhanced their pathophysiological relevance and enabled more accurate predictions of tumor progression and drug response in patients. An increasing number of 3D CRC spheroid models include cell populations such as cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs), endothelial cells (ECs), immune cells, and gut bacteria to better mimic the in vivo regulation of signaling pathways. Furthermore, cell heterogeneity within the 3D spheroid models enables the identification of new therapeutic targets to develop alternative treatments and test TME-target therapies. In this mini review, we present the advances in mimicking tumor heterogeneity in 3D CRC spheroid models by incorporating CAFs, ECs, immune cells, and gut bacteria. We introduce how, in these models, the diverse cells influence chemoresistance and tumor progression of the CRC spheroids. We also highlight important parameters evaluated during drug screening in the CRC heterocellular spheroids.

Dynamic heterogeneity of colorectal cancer during progression revealed clinical risk-associated cell types and regulations in single-cell resolution and spatial context

Background

Tumor heterogeneity is contributed by tumor cells and the microenvironment. Dynamics of tumor heterogeneity during colorectal cancer (CRC) progression have not been elucidated.

Methods

Eight single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) data sets of CRC were included. Milo was utilized to reveal the differential abundance of cell clusters during progression. The differentiation trajectory was imputed by using the Palantir algorithm and metabolic states were assessed by using scMetabolism. Three spatial transcription sequencing (ST-seq) data sets of CRC were used to validate cell-type abundances and colocalization. Cancer-associated regulatory hubs were defined as communication networks affecting tumor biological behaviors. Finally, quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction and immunohistochemistry staining were performed for validation.

Results

TM4SF1⁺, SOX4⁺, and MKI67⁺ tumor cells; CXCL12⁺ cancer-associated fibroblasts; CD4⁺ resident memory T cells; Treg; IgA⁺ plasma cells; and several myeloid subsets were enriched in stage IV CRC, most of which were associated with overall survival of patients. Trajectory analysis indicated that tumor cells from patients with advanced-stage CRC were less differentiated, when metabolic heterogeneity showed a highest metabolic signature in terminal states of stromal cells, T cells, and myeloid cells. Moreover, ST-seq validated cell-type abundance in a spatial context and also revealed the correlation of immune infiltration between tertiary lymphoid structures and tumors followed by validation in our cohort. Importantly, analysis of cancer-associated regulatory hubs revealed a cascade of activated pathways including leukocyte apoptotic process, MAPK pathway, myeloid leukocyte differentiation, and angiogenesis during CRC progression.

Conclusions

Tumor heterogeneity was dynamic during progression, with the enrichment of immunosuppressive Treg, myeloid cells, and fibrotic cells. The differential state of tumor cells was associated with cancer staging. Assessment of cancer-associated regulatory hubs suggested impaired antitumor immunity and increased metastatic ability during CRC progression.

Role of cancer-associated fibroblasts in colorectal cancer

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a malignancy that has a high incidence in all countries around the world. Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) are a vital component of the tumor microenvironment (TME), playing an important role in the development of CRC. CAFs can release multiple cytokines and exosomes, activating a variety of related signaling pathways and boosting the processes of the invasion, metastasis, metabolism, drug resistance, and immunosuppression in CRC. Thus, CAFs are a prognostic marker and therapeutic target for CRC. Understanding the role and mechanism of CAFs can provide new insights for the treatment of CRC.

Role of cancer-associated fibroblasts in colorectal cancer

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a malignancy that has a high incidence in all countries around the world. Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) are a vital component of the tumor microenvironment (TME), playing an important role in the development of CRC. CAFs can release multiple cytokines and exosomes, activating a variety of related signaling pathways and boosting the processes of the invasion, metastasis, metabolism, drug resistance, and immunosuppression in CRC. Thus, CAFs are a prognostic marker and therapeutic target for CRC. Understanding the role and mechanism of CAFs can provide new insights for the treatment of CRC.

Chemokine switch regulated by TGF-β1 in cancer-associated fibroblast subsets determines the efficacy of chemo-immunotherapy

Combining immunogenic cell death-inducing chemotherapies and PD-1 blockade can generate remarkable tumor responses. It is now well established that TGF-β1 signaling is a major component of treatment resistance and contributes to the cancer-related immunosuppressive microenvironment. However, whether TGF-β1 remains an obstacle to immune checkpoint inhibitor efficacy when immunotherapy is combined with chemotherapy is still to be determined. Several syngeneic murine models were used to investigate the role of TGF-β1 neutralization on the combinations of immunogenic chemotherapy (FOLFOX: 5-fluorouracil and oxaliplatin) and anti-PD-1. Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAF) and immune cells were isolated from CT26 and PancOH7 tumor-bearing mice treated with FOLFOX, anti-PD-1 ± anti-TGF-β1 for bulk and single cell RNA sequencing and characterization. We showed that TGF-β1 neutralization promotes the therapeutic efficacy of FOLFOX and anti-PD-1 combination and induces the recruitment of antigen-specific CD8⁺ T cells into the tumor. TGF-β1 neutralization is required in addition to chemo-immunotherapy to promote inflammatory CAF infiltration, a chemokine production switch in CAF leading to decreased CXCL14 and increased CXCL9/10 production and subsequent antigen-specific T cell recruitment. The immune-suppressive effect of TGF-β1 involves an epigenetic mechanism with chromatin remodeling of CXCL9 and CXCL10 promoters within CAF DNA in a G9a and EZH2-dependent fashion. Our results strengthen the role of TGF-β1 in the organization of a tumor microenvironment enriched in myofibroblasts where chromatin remodeling prevents CXCL9/10 production and limits the efficacy of chemo-immunotherapy.

Identification of noninvasive diagnostic biomarkers for ectopic pregnancy using data-independent acquisition (DIA)proteomics: a pilot study

At present, the diagnosis of ectopic pregnancy mainly depends on transvaginal ultrasound and β-hCG. However, these methods may delay diagnosis and treatment time. Therefore, we aimed to screen for serological molecular markers for the early diagnosis of ectopic pregnancy (EP).Using data-independent acquisition (DIA)proteomics, the differential proteins in serum were selected between the intrauterine pregnancy (IP) and EP groups. Then, the expression levels of these differential proteins were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The diagnostic value of the serum biomarkers was evaluated by receiver operating characteristic curve analysis.GSTO1, ECM-1 and β-hCG showed significant differences between the EP and IP groups (P < 0.05). The combination of GSTO1/ECM-1/β-hCG had an area under the curve of 0.93 (95% CI 0.88-0.99), a sensitivity of 88.89% (95% CI 73.94-96.89) and a specificity of 86.11% (95% CI 70.50-95.33) with a likelihood ratio of 6.40.The combination of GSTO1/ECM-1/β-hCG may be developed into a possible approach for the early diagnosis of EP.

Cancer-Associated Fibroblasts: The Origin, Biological Characteristics and Role in Cancer-A Glance on Colorectal Cancer

Simple Summary

Tumor microenvironment is a major contributor to tumor growth, metastasis and resistance to therapy. It consists of many cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs), which derive from different types of cells. CAFs detected in different tumor types are linked to poor prognosis, as in the case of colorectal cancer. Although their functions differ according to their subtype, their detection is not easy, and there are no established markers for such detection. They are possible targets for therapeutic treatment. Many trials are ongoing for their use as a prognostic factor and as a treatment target. More research remains to be carried out to establish their role in prognosis and treatment.

Abstract

The therapeutic approaches to cancer remain a considerable target for all scientists around the world. Although new cancer treatments are an everyday phenomenon, cancer still remains one of the leading mortality causes. Colorectal cancer (CRC) remains in this category, although patients with CRC may have better survival compared with other malignancies. Not only the tumor but also its environment, what we call the tumor microenvironment (TME), seem to contribute to cancer progression and resistance to therapy. TME consists of different molecules and cells. Cancer-associated fibroblasts are a major component. They arise from normal fibroblasts and other normal cells through various pathways. Their role seems to contribute to cancer promotion, participating in tumorigenesis, proliferation, growth, invasion, metastasis and resistance to treatment. Different markers, such as a-SMA, FAP, PDGFR-β, periostin, have been used for the detection of cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs). Their detection is important for two main reasons; research has shown that their existence is correlated with prognosis, and they are already under evaluation as a possible target for treatment. However, extensive research is warranted.

Clinical M2 Macrophage-Related Genes Can Serve as a Reliable Predictor of Lung Adenocarcinoma

Background

Numerous studies have found that infiltrating M2 macrophages play an important role in the tumor progression of lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD). However, the roles of M2 macrophage infiltration and M2 macrophage-related genes in immunotherapy and clinical outcomes remain obscure.

Methods

Sample information was extracted from TCGA and GEO databases. The TIME landscape was revealed using the CIBERSORT algorithm. Weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) was used to find M2 macrophage-related gene modules. Through univariate Cox regression, lasso regression analysis, and multivariate Cox regression, the genes strongly associated with the prognosis of LUAD were screened out. Risk score (RS) was calculated, and all samples were divided into high-risk group (HRG) and low-risk group (LRG) according to the median RS. External validation of RS was performed using GSE68571 data information. Prognostic nomogram based on risk signatures and other clinical information were constructed and validated with calibration curves. Potential associations of tumor mutational burden (TMB) and risk signatures were analyzed. Finally, the potential association of risk signatures with chemotherapy efficacy was investigated using the pRRophetic algorithm.

Results

Based on 504 samples extracted from TCGA database, 183 core genes were identified using WGCNA. Through a series of screening, two M2 macrophage-related genes (GRIA1 and CLEC3B) strongly correlated with LUAD prognosis were finally selected. RS was calculated, and prognostic risk nomogram including gender, age, T, N, M stage, clinical stage, and RS were constructed. The calibration curve shows that our constructed model has good performance. HRG patients were suitable for new ICI immunotherapy, while LRG was more suitable for CTLA4-immunosuppressive therapy alone. The half-maximal inhibitory concentrations (IC50) of the four chemotherapeutic drugs (metformin, cisplatin, paclitaxel, and gemcitabine) showed significant differences in HRG/LRG.

Conclusions

In conclusion, a comprehensive analysis of the role of M2 macrophages in tumor progression will help predict prognosis and facilitate the advancement of therapeutic techniques.

CAFs-secreted exosomal cricN4BP2L2 promoted colorectal cancer stemness and chemoresistance by interacting with EIF4A3

Cancer-associated fibroblasts secreted exosomes (CAFs-exo) are important for tumor carcinogenesis and chemoresistance, but its underlying mechanism in colorectal cancer (CRC) has not yet been clarified. In this study, we investigated the regulatory mechanism of CAFs-exo cricN4BP2L2 on the proliferation, apoptosis, stemness and chemoresistance of LoVo cells. We found that CAFs-exo promoted the oxaliplatin resistance and stemness of LoVo cells, while inhibited the LoVo cell apoptosis. Moreover, knockdown of cricN4BP2L2 in CAFs-exo inhibited the oxaliplatin resistance and stemness characteristics of LoVo cells. Mechanistically, cricN4BP2L2 regulated PI3K/AKT/mTOR axis by binding to EIF4A3. Rescue experiments proved that CAFs-derived exosomal cricN4BP2L2 promoted CRC cells stemness and oxaliplatin resistance by upregulating EIF4A3. Moreover, in vivo experiments showed that depletion of cricN4BP2L2 suppressed CRC tumorigenesis growth. In conclusion, CAFs-exo cricN4BP2L2 promoted the CRC cells stemness and oxaliplatin resistance through EIF4A3/PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway.

Tetranectin targeting by epigallocatechin gallate suppresses colon cancer cell proliferation

Tetranectin is a serum protein that binds to plasminogen and enhances its proteolytic activation, which underlies the involvement of tetranectin in the development of several carcinomas including colon cancer. In the present study, structure-based in silico screening of natural products showed that epigallocatechin gallate with anticancer effects binds to tetranectin. Binding to epigallocatechin gallate to tetranectin was confirmed by intrinsic fluorescence quenching assays and isothermal titration calorimetry. Furthermore, epigallocatechin gallate efficiently inhibited the activity of tetranectin to enhance the activation of plasminogen. We also found that tetranectin enhanced the proliferation of CT-26 colon cancer cells. Epigallocatechin gallate showed its cytotoxic effect on CT-26 cells due to its binding to tetranectin and the consequent suppression of the cell proliferation. These results demonstrate that the anticancer effect of epigallocatechin gallate is mediated, at least in part, by inhibiting tetranectin as a binding target.

Fundamental and Clinical Applications of Materials Based on Cancer-Associated Fibroblasts in Cancers

Cancer stromal cells play a role in promoting tumor relapse and therapeutic resistance. Therefore, the current treatment paradigms for cancers are usually insufficient to eradicate cancer cells, and anti-cancer therapeutic strategies targeting stromal cells have been developed. Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) are perpetually activated fibroblasts in the tumor stroma. CAFs are the most abundant and highly heterogeneous stromal cells, and they are critically involved in cancer occurrence and progression. These effects are due to their various roles in the remodeling of the extracellular matrix, maintenance of cancer stemness, modulation of tumor metabolism, and promotion of therapy resistance. Recently, biomaterials and nanomaterials based on CAFs have been increasingly developed to perform gene or protein expression analysis, three-dimensional (3D) co-cultivation, and targeted drug delivery in cancer treatment. In this review, we systematically summarize the current research to fully understand the relevant materials and their functional diversity in CAFs, and we highlight the potential clinical applications of CAFs-oriented biomaterials and nanomaterials in anti-cancer therapy.

The Versatile Roles of Cancer-Associated Fibroblasts in Colorectal Cancer and Therapeutic Implications

The tumor microenvironment (TME) is populated by abundant cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) that radically influence the disease progression across many cancers, including the colorectal cancer (CRC). In theory, targeting CAFs holds great potential in optimizing CRC treatment. However, attempts to translate the therapeutic benefit of CAFs into clinic practice face many obstacles, largely due to our limited understanding of the heterogeneity in their origins, functions, and mechanisms. In recent years, accumulating evidence has uncovered some cellular precursors and molecular markers of CAFs and also revealed their versatility in impacting various hallmarks of CRC, together helping us to better define the population of CAFs and also paving the way toward their future therapeutic targeting for CRC treatment. In this review, we outline the emerging concept of CAFs in CRC, with an emphasis on their origins, biomarkers, prognostic significance, as well as their functional roles and underlying mechanisms in CRC biology. At last, we discuss the prospect of harnessing CAFs as promising therapeutic targets for the treatment of patients with CRC.

Identification and Validation of a Five-Gene Signature Associated With Overall Survival in Breast Cancer Patients

BACKGROUND

Recent years, the global prevalence of breast cancer (BC) was still high and the underlying molecular mechanisms remained largely unknown. The investigation of prognosis-related biomarkers had become an urgent demand.

RESULTS

In this study, gene expression profiles and clinical information of breast cancer patients were downloaded from the TCGA database. The differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were estimated by Gene Ontology (GO) analysis and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analysis. A risk score formula involving five novel prognostic associated biomarkers (EDN2, CLEC3B, SV2C, WT1, and MUC2) were then constructed by LASSO. The prognostic value of the risk model was further confirmed in the TCGA entire cohort and an independent external validation cohort. To explore the biological functions of the selected genes, in vitro assays were performed, indicating that these novel biomarkers could markedly influence breast cancer progression.

CONCLUSIONS

We established a predictive five-gene signature, which could be helpful for a personalized management in breast cancer patients.

Adipogenic function of tetranectin mediated by enhancing mitotic clonal expansion via ERK signaling

Tetranectin (TN), an adipogenic serum protein, enhances adipocyte differentiation, however, its functional mechanism has yet to be elucidated. In the present study, we investigated the adipogenic function of TN by using medium containing TN-depleted fetal bovine serum (TN-del-FBS) and recombinant mouse TN (mTN). The adipocyte differentiation of 3T3-L1 cells was significantly enhanced by mTN supplementation essentially at differentiation induction, which indicated a potential role of the protein in the early differentiation phase. The adipogenic effect of mTN was more significant with insulin in the differentiation induction cocktail, implicating their close functional relationship. mTN enhanced not only the proliferation of growing cells, but also mitotic clonal expansion (MCE) that is a prerequisite for adipocyte differentiation in the early phase. Consistently, mTN increased the phosphorylation of ERK in the early phase of adipocyte differentiation. Results of this study demonstrate that the adipogenic function of mTN is mediated by enhancing MCE via ERK signaling.

Signaling pathways in cancer-associated fibroblasts and targeted therapy for cancer

To flourish, cancers greatly depend on their surrounding tumor microenvironment (TME), and cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) in TME are critical for cancer occurrence and progression because of their versatile roles in extracellular matrix remodeling, maintenance of stemness, blood vessel formation, modulation of tumor metabolism, immune response, and promotion of cancer cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and therapeutic resistance. CAFs are highly heterogeneous stromal cells and their crosstalk with cancer cells is mediated by a complex and intricate signaling network consisting of transforming growth factor-beta, phosphoinositide 3-kinase/AKT/mammalian target of rapamycin, mitogen-activated protein kinase, Wnt, Janus kinase/signal transducers and activators of transcription, epidermal growth factor receptor, Hippo, and nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells, etc., signaling pathways. These signals in CAFs exhibit their own special characteristics during the cancer progression and have the potential to be targeted for anticancer therapy. Therefore, a comprehensive understanding of these signaling cascades in interactions between cancer cells and CAFs is necessary to fully realize the pivotal roles of CAFs in cancers. Herein, in this review, we will summarize the enormous amounts of findings on the signals mediating crosstalk of CAFs with cancer cells and its related targets or trials. Further, we hypothesize three potential targeting strategies, including, namely, epithelial-mesenchymal common targets, sequential target perturbation, and crosstalk-directed signaling targets, paving the way for CAF-directed or host cell-directed antitumor therapy.

The Use of Iron Oxide Nanoparticles to Reprogram Macrophage Responses and the Immunological Tumor Microenvironment

The synthesis and functionalization of iron oxide nanoparticles (IONPs) is versatile, which has enhanced the interest in studying them as theranostic agents over recent years. As IONPs begin to be used for different biomedical applications, it is important to know how they affect the immune system and its different cell types, especially their interaction with the macrophages that are involved in their clearance. How immune cells respond to therapeutic interventions can condition the systemic and local tissue response, and hence, the final therapeutic outcome. Thus, it is fundamental to understand the effects that IONPs have on the immune response, especially in cancer immunotherapy. The biological effects of IONPs may be the result of intrinsic features of their iron oxide core, inducing reactive oxygen species (ROS) and modulating intracellular redox and iron metabolism. Alternatively, their effects are driven by the nanoparticle coating, for example, through cell membrane receptor engagement. Indeed, exploiting these properties of IONPs could lead to the development of innovative therapies. In this review, after a presentation of the elements that make up the tumor immunological microenvironment, we will review and discuss what is currently known about the immunomodulatory mechanisms triggered by IONPs, mainly focusing on macrophage polarization and reprogramming. Consequently, we will discuss the implications of these findings in the context of plausible therapeutic scenarios for cancer immunotherapy.

The screening of immune-related biomarkers for prognosis of lung adenocarcinoma

Lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) accounts for a frequently seen non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) histological subtype, and it is associated with dismal prognostic outcome. However, the benefits of traditional treatment are still limited, and the efficacies of immunotherapy are quite different. Therefore, it is of great significance to identify novel immune-related therapeutic targets in lung adenocarcinoma. In this study, we identified a set of immune-related biomarkers for prognosis of lung adenocarcinoma, which could provide new ideas for immunotherapy of lung adenocarcinoma. Datasets related to LUAD were filtered from the GEO database. The appropriate packages were used to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and to carry out enrichment analysis, followed by the construction of prognostic biomarkers. The Kaplan-Meier (K-M) curves were plotted to analyze patient survival based on hub genes. Associations between the expression of selected biomarkers and six types of tumor-infiltrating immune cells were evaluated based on the online tool TIMER. After analyzing five GEO datasets(GSE32867, GSE46539, GSE63459, GSE75037 and GSE116959), we discovered altogether 67 DEGs, among which, 15 showed up-regulation while 52 showed down-regulation. Enrichments of integrated DEGs were identified in the ontology categories. CAV1, CFD, FMO2 and CLEC3B were eventually selected as independent prognostic biomarkers, they were correlated with clinical outcomes of LUAD patients. Moreover, a positive correlation was observed between biomarker expression and all different types of immune infiltration, and the expression level of the four biomarkers was all positively related to macrophage.

Fibroblast Subsets in Intestinal Homeostasis, Carcinogenesis, Tumor Progression, and Metastasis

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.

Atractyloside targets cancer-associated fibroblasts and inhibits the metastasis of colon cancer

Background

Several evidences have proved that cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) play a crucial role in tumor progression. In fact, CAFs form a major component of tumor microenvironment (TME). Therefore, the development and metastasis of tumors can be effectively inhibited by small molecular compounds that target CAFs.

Methods

In this study, we mainly analyzed the expression profile of colon cancer (CC). We determined the intensity of CAFs in CC tissues by using the immune cell infiltration score. Gene enrichment analysis and the screening of differentially expressed genes were performed on the basis of the intensity of CAFs in CC tissues. We screened the small molecular compounds that were converted from differentially expressed genes. The results indicated that atractyloside was a small molecular compound related to CAFs in CC tissues. We identified the relationship between atractylosides and CAFs through target protein analysis and network analysis, and verified the inhibition effect of atractylosides on CC cells (CCC) by migration assay and scratch wound-healing assays.

Results

We found that many target proteins of atractyloside, such as the matrix metalloproteinase family and integrin proteins, were related to the biological function of CAFs. By performing network analysis, we found that the target proteins FGF1, ITGB1, and EDNRA were closely related to tumor angiogenesis, while the target proteins MMP9 and ITGAV were correlated to an extracellular matrix (ECM) and cell motility. These findings which further confirmed the relationship between atractylosides and CAFs. In addition, transwell cell migration and scratch wound-healing assays proved that atractylosides could significantly inhibit the migration of CCCs.

Conclusions

The atractyloside might be a small molecular compound that potentially targets CAFs and inhibits the development as well as metastasis of CC by changing the TME.

Identification of blood protein biomarkers for breast cancer staging by integrative transcriptome and proteome analyses

Breast cancer is the most common malignancy for women. Accurate prediction of breast cancer and its pathological stages is important for treatment decision-making. Although many studies have focused on discovering circulating biomarkers of breast cancer, no such biomarkers have been reported for different stages of this disease. In this study, we identified blood protein biomarkers for each stage of breast cancer by analyzing transcriptome and proteome data from patients. Analysis of the TCGA transcriptome datasets revealed that a large number of genes were differentially expressed in tumor samples of each stage of breast cancer compared with adjacent normal tissues. Blood-secretory proteins encoded by these genes were then predicted by bioinformatics programs. Furthermore, iTRAQ-based proteomic analysis was conducted for plasma samples of breast cancer patients with different stages. A portion of predicted blood-secretory proteins could be detected and verified differentially expressed. Finally, several proteins were chosen as potential blood protein biomarkers for different stages of breast cancer due to their consistent expression patterns at both mRNA and protein levels. Overall, our data provide new insights into diagnosis and classification of breast cancer as well as selection of optimal treatments. SIGNIFICANCE: We identified blood protein biomarkers for each stage of breast cancer by analyzing tissue-based transcriptome and blood-based proteome data from patients. To our knowledge, this is the first time to try to identify blood protein biomarkers for different stages of breast cancer via these integrative analyses. Our data may provide new insights into diagnosis and classification of breast cancer as well as selection of optimal treatment.

CLEC3B as a potential diagnostic and prognostic biomarker in lung cancer and association with the immune microenvironment

Background

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related mortality globally. Discovering effective biomarkers for early diagnosis and prognosis is important to reduce the mortality rate and ensure efficient therapy for lung cancer patients. C-type lectin domain family 3 member B (CLEC3B) has been reported in various cancers, but its correlation with lung cancer remains elusive.

Methods

The GEO, TCGA and Oncomine databases were analyzed to examine the expression of CLEC3B in lung cancer. The CLEC3B mRNA levels in 15 patient tissue samples were detected by real-time PCR and the CLEC3B protein levels in 34 patient tissue samples were detected by immunohistochemistry. A Chi-square test was performed to analyze the correlation of CLEC3B expression and clinicopathological factors. The diagnostic value of CLEC3B was revealed by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves. Univariate and multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression models and Kaplan–Meier plots were used to evaluate the prognostic value of CLEC3B in lung cancer. The TIMER database was used to evaluate the correlation of CLEC3B and immune infiltration. Gene set enrichment analysis revealed tumor‐associated biological processes related to CLEC3B.

Results

CLEC3B is significantly downregulated in lung cancer patients compared with nontumor controls according to database analysis and patient tissue sample detection (p < 0.001). Specifically, CLEC3B is significantly downregulated in stage IA lung cancer patients (p < 0.001) and has a high diagnostic accuracy (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve > 0.9). Moreover, low expression of CLEC3B is related to poor progression-free survival (HR = 0.60, 95% CI 0.49–0.74, p = 8.3e−07) and overall survival (HR = 0.66, 95% CI 0.58–0.75, p = 2.1e−10), indicating it as a risk factor for lung cancer. Multivariate analysis value showed that low expression of CLEC3B may be an independent risk factor for disease‐free survival in lung cancer patients (HR = 0.655, 95% CI 0.430–0.996, Cox p = 0.048). In addition, we also investigated the potential role of CLEC3B in tumor-immune interactions and found that CLEC3B might be associated with the immune infiltration and immune activation of lung cancer, especially in squamous cell carcinoma.

Conclusions

Our findings indicate that CLEC3B expression is downregulated in lung cancer and reveal the diagnostic and prognostic potential of CLEC3B in lung cancer and its potential as an immune-related therapeutic target in lung cancer.

Gene Expression Profiling of B Cell Lymphoma in Dogs Reveals Dichotomous Metabolic Signatures Distinguished by Oxidative Phosphorylation

Gene expression profiling has revealed molecular heterogeneity of diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL) in both humans and dogs. Two DLBCL subtypes based on cell of origin are generally recognized, germinal center B (GCB)-like and activated B cell (ABC)-like. A pilot study to characterize the transcriptomic phenotype of 11 dogs with multicentric BCL yielded two molecular subtypes distinguished on the basis of genes important in oxidative phosphorylation. We propose a metabolic classification of canine BCL that transcends cell of origin and shows parallels to a similar molecular phenotype in human DLBCL. We thus confirm the validity of this classification scheme across widely divergent mammalian taxa and add to the growing body of literature suggesting cellular and molecular similarities between human and canine non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Our data support a One Health approach to the study of DLBCL, including the advancement of novel therapies of relevance to both canine and human health.

Downregulation of exosomal CLEC3B in hepatocellular carcinoma promotes metastasis and angiogenesis via AMPK and VEGF signals

Background

C-Type Lectin Domain Family 3 Member B (CLEC3B), is down-regulated in serum and tumor tissues in different cancers including hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, the functions of CLEC3B in HCC remains elucidated. The aim of this study is to analyze the roles of CLEC3B in HCC.

Methods

The expression of genes was evaluated by immunohistochemistry, western blot, real-time PCR, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays, and analysis on TCGA-LIHC database and gene expression omnibus. Transmission electron microscopy and immunofluorescence were applied to detect CLEC3B in exosomes. The function of exosomal CLEC3B in tumor progression were performed in vivo and in vitro.

Results

We determined that down-regulated CLEC3B in HCC indicated a poor prognosis. Exosomes derived from HCC with down-regulated CLEC3B promoted migration, invasion, epithelial–mesenchymal transition of both tumor cells and endothelial cells (ECs). Moreover, the downregulation CLEC3B in exosomes suppressed VEGF secretion in both HCC cells and ECs, and eventually inhibited angiogenesis. Mechanistically, CLEC3B-mediated VEGF expression in tumor cells and ECs depends on the activation of AMPK signal pathway.

Conclusion

This study demonstrates that CLEC3B acts as a novel independent prognostic factor, and CLEC3B in exosomes might be a potential therapeutic target for hepatocellular carcinoma.

Graphical abstract

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (10.1186/s12964-019-0423-6) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

A 3-mRNA-based prognostic signature of survival in oral squamous cell carcinoma

Background

Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is the most common type of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma with an unsatisfactory prognosis. The aim of this study was to identify potential prognostic mRNA biomarkers of OSCC based on analysis of The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA).

Methods

Expression profiles and clinical data of OSCC patients were collected from TCGA database. Univariate Cox analysis and the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator Cox (LASSO Cox) regression were used to primarily screen prognostic biomarkers. Then multivariate Cox analysis was performed to build a prognostic model based on the selected prognostic mRNAs. Nomograms were generated to predict the individual’s overall survival at 3 and 5 years. The model performance was assessed by the time-dependent receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve and calibration plot in both training cohort and validation cohort (GSE41613 from NCBI GEO databases). In addition, machine learning was used to assess the importance of risk factors of OSCC. Finally, in order to explore the potential mechanisms of OSCC, Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analysis was completed.

Results

Three mRNAs (CLEC3B, C6 and CLCN1) were finally identified as a prognostic biomarker pattern. The risk score was imputed as: (−0.38602 × expression level of CLEC3B) + (−0.20632 × expression level of CLCN1) + (0.31541 × expression level of C6). In the TCGA training cohort, the area under the curve (AUC) was 0.705 and 0.711 for 3- and 5-year survival, respectively. In the validation cohort, AUC was 0.718 and 0.717 for 3- and 5-year survival. A satisfactory agreement between predictive values and observation values was demonstrated by the calibration curve in the probabilities of 3- and 5- year survival in both cohorts. Furthermore, machine learning identified the 3-mRNA signature as the most important risk factor to survival of OSCC. Neuroactive ligand-receptor interaction was most enriched mostly in KEGG pathway analysis.

Conclusion

A 3-mRNA signature (CLEC3B, C6 and CLCN1) successfully predicted the survival of OSCC patients in both training and test cohort. In addition, this signature was an independent and the most important risk factor of OSCC.