Modulating inflammation for cancer therapy

Chemopreventive effects of atractylenolide-III on mammary tumorigenesis via activation of the Nrf2/ARE pathway through autophagic degradation of Keap1

The incidence of breast cancer is increasing annually, making it a major health threat for women. Chemoprevention using natural, dietary, or synthetic products has emerged as a promising approach to address this growing burden. Atractylenolide-III (AT-III), a sesquiterpenoid present in various medicinal herbs, has demonstrated potential therapeutic effects against several diseases, including tumors, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, and cerebral ischemic injury. However, its impact on breast cancer chemoprevention remains unexplored. In this study, we used an N-methyl-N-nitrosourea (NMU)-induced rat breast cancer model and 17β-estradiol (E2)-treated MCF-10A cells to evaluate the chemopreventive potential of AT-III on mammary tumorigenesis. AT-III inhibited mammary tumor progression, evidenced by reduced tumor volume and multiplicity, prolonged tumor latency, and the reversal of NMU-induced weight loss. Furthermore, AT-III suppressed NMU-induced inflammation and oxidative stress through the Nrf2/ARE pathway in breast cancer tissues. In vitro, AT-III effectively suppressed E2-induced anchorage-independent growth and cell migration in MCF-10A cells. Nrf2 knockdown attenuated the protective effects of AT-III, highlighting the pivotal role of Nrf2 in AT-III-mediated suppression of tumorigenesis. The mechanism involves the induction of Nrf2 expression by AT-III through the autophagic degradation of Kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1 (Keap1). Overall, the results of this study indicate that AT-III is a promising candidate for breast cancer chemoprevention and provide valuable insights into its molecular interactions and signaling pathways.

Rhodium-Rhenium Alloy Nanozymes for Non-inflammatory Photothermal Therapy

Analogous to thermal ablation techniques in clinical settings, cell necrosis induced during tumor photothermal therapy (PTT) can provoke an inflammatory response that is detrimental to the treatment of tumors. In this study, we employed a straightforward one-step liquid-phase reduction process to synthesize uniform RhRe nanozymes with an average hydrodynamic size of 41.7 nm for non-inflammatory photothermal therapy. The obtained RhRe nanozymes showed efficient near-infrared (NIR) light absorption for effective PTT, coupled with a remarkable capability to scavenge reactive oxygen species (ROS) for anti-inflammatory treatment. After laser irradiation, the 4T1 tumors were effectively ablated without obvious tumor recurrence within 14 days, along with no obvious increase in pro-inflammatory cytokine levels. Notably, these RhRe nanozymes demonstrated high biocompatibility with normal cells and tissues, both in vitro and in vivo, as evidenced by the lack of significant toxicity in female BALB/c mice treated with 10 mg/kg of RhRe nanozymes over a 14 day period. This research highlights RhRe alloy nanoparticles as bioactive nanozymes for non-inflammatory PTT in tumor therapy.

A 15-Inflammation-Related Gene Signature Predicts the Prognosis of Patients With Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma

Chronic inflammation promotes the development of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) and PDAC-related inflammatory tumor microenvironment facilitates tumor growth and metastasis. Thus, we aimed to study the association between inflammatory response and prognosis in patients with PDAC. We conducted the whole transcriptomic sequencing using tissue samples collected from patients diagnosed with PDAC (n = 106) recruited from Shandong Cancer Hospital. We first constructed a prognostic signature using 15 inflammation-related genes in The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) cohort (n = 177) and further validated it in an independent International Cancer Genome Consortium (ICGC) cohort (n = 90) and our in-house cohort. PDAC patients with a higher risk score had poorer overall survival (OS) (P < 0.001; HR, 3.02; 95% CI, 1.94-4.70). The association between the prognostic signature and OS remained significant in the multivariable Cox regression adjusting for age, sex, alcohol exposure, diabetes, and stage (P < 0.001; HR, 2.91; 95% CI, 1.73-4.89). This gene signature also robustly predicted prognosis in the ICGC cohort (P = 0.01; HR, 1.94; 95% CI, 1.14-3.30) and our cohort (P < 0.001; HR, 2.40; 95% CI, 1.45-3.97). Immune subtype C3 (inflammatory) was enriched and CD8+ T cells were higher in patients with a lower risk score (P < 0.05). Furthermore, PDAC patients with higher risk scores were more sensitive to chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and PARP inhibitors (P < 0.05). In sum, we identified a novel gene signature that was associated with inflammatory response for risk stratification, prognosis prediction, and therapy guidance in PDAC patients. Future studies are warranted to validate the clinical utility of the signature.

MNDA, a PYHIN factor involved in transcriptional regulation and apoptosis control in leukocytes

Inflammation control is critical during the innate immune response. Such response is triggered by the detection of molecules originating from pathogens or damaged host cells by pattern-recognition receptors (PRRs). PRRs subsequently initiate intra-cellular signalling through different pathways, resulting in i) the production of inflammatory cytokines, including type I interferon (IFN), and ii) the initiation of a cascade of events that promote both immediate host responses as well as adaptive immune responses. All human PYRIN and HIN-200 domains (PYHIN) protein family members were initially proposed to be PRRs, although this view has been challenged by reports that revealed their impact on other cellular mechanisms. Of relevance here, the human PYHIN factor myeloid nuclear differentiation antigen (MNDA) has recently been shown to directly control the transcription of genes encoding factors that regulate programmed cell death and inflammation. While MNDA is mainly found in the nucleus of leukocytes of both myeloid (neutrophils and monocytes) and lymphoid (B-cell) origin, its subcellular localization has been shown to be modulated in response to genotoxic agents that induce apoptosis and by bacterial constituents, mediators of inflammation. Prior studies have noted the importance of MNDA as a marker for certain forms of lymphoma, and as a clinical prognostic factor for hematopoietic diseases characterized by defective regulation of apoptosis. Abnormal expression of MNDA has also been associated with altered levels of cytokines and other inflammatory mediators. Refining our comprehension of the regulatory mechanisms governing the expression of MNDA and other PYHIN proteins, as well as enhancing our definition of their molecular functions, could significantly influence the management and treatment strategies of numerous human diseases. Here, we review the current state of knowledge regarding PYHIN proteins and their role in innate and adaptive immune responses. Emphasis will be placed on the regulation, function, and relevance of MNDA expression in the control of gene transcription and RNA stability during cell death and inflammation.

Preoperative Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte Ratio in Postmenopausal Breast Cancer Patients

INTRODUCTION

Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) has been recognized as a marker of systemic inflammation with a prognostic impact in patients with various cancers, including breast cancer. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationships between the preoperative NLR and breast cancer prognosis in the patients before and after menopausal age, and its relationship with other prognostic factors.

METHODS

A total of 1868 patients with clinical Stage I-III primary breast cancer were enrolled. The associations between clinicopathological factors and the preoperative NLR were analyzed, and relapse-free survival (RFS) and overall survival (OS) were estimated.

RESULTS

Statistical analyses stratified by the menopausal status revealed that a high NLR was significantly associated with worse RFS (P < 0.001) and OS (P = 0.001) in postmenopausal patients, but not in premenopausal patients. Although the postmenopausal patients with relapsed cancer tended to have higher NLR levels than those without relapse (P = 0.079), NLR levels of premenopausal patients with relapsed cancer were significantly lower than that of relapse-free patients (P = 0.024). In postmenopausal patients, a high NLR was only associated with worse RFS in patients with hormone receptor-positive, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-negative breast cancer (P < 0.001), in those managed without adjuvant chemotherapy (P = 0.003); this association was not observed in patients who received adjuvant chemotherapy.

CONCLUSIONS

The preoperative NLR can be a useful prognostic marker, especially in postmenopausal breast cancer patients. The relationships between the NLR and breast cancer prognosis may be more evident when patients are assessed according to their menopausal status.

Anti-Inflammatory Properties of the Citrus Flavonoid Diosmetin: An Updated Review of Experimental Models

Inflammation is an essential contributor to various human diseases. Diosmetin (3',5,7-trihydroxy-4'-methoxyflavone), a citrus flavonoid, can be used as an anti-inflammatory agent. All the information in this article was collected from various research papers from online scientific databases such as PubMed and Web of Science. These studies have demonstrated that diosmetin can slow down the progression of inflammation by inhibiting the production of inflammatory mediators through modulating related pathways, predominantly the nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) signaling pathway. In this review, we discuss the anti-inflammatory properties of diosmetin in cellular and animal models of various inflammatory diseases for the first time. We have identified some deficiencies in current research and offer suggestions for further advancement. In conclusion, accumulating evidence so far suggests a very important role for diosmetin in the treatment of various inflammatory disorders and suggests it is a candidate worthy of in-depth investigation.

Prognostic Nutritional Index Predicts Efficacy and Immune-Related Adverse Events of First-Line Chemoimmunotherapy in Patients with Extensive-Stage Small-Cell Lung Cancer

Background

Currently, there is a lack of well-established markers to predict the efficacy of chemoimmunotherapy in small-cell lung cancer (SCLC). Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), advanced lung cancer inflammation index (ALI) and prognostic nutritional index (PNI) are associated with prognosis in several tumors, whereas their predictive role in SCLC remains unclear.

Methods

A retrospective study was conducted at Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, involving extensive-stage SCLC (ES-SCLC) patients who received first-line chemoimmunotherapy between January 2020 and December 2021. Peripheral blood biomarkers were extracted from medical records and their correlation with prognosis and immune-related adverse events (IRAEs) was analyzed.

Results

A total of 114 patients were included. Patients with a low PLR, high ALI and high PNI had prolonged progression-free survival (PFS) compared to those with a high PLR, low ALI and low PNI. Patients with a low NLR, low PLR, high ALI and high PNI had prolonged overall survival (OS) compared to those with a high NLR, high PLR, low ALI and low PNI. Cox regression model showed that PNI was an independent risk factor for both PFS and OS. ROC curve showed that PNI outperforms NLR, PLR and ALI in predicting both PFS and OS. The PNI-based nomogram demonstrated strong predictive capability for both PFS and OS. In addition, there was a significant correlation between PNI and IRAEs.

Conclusion

A high baseline PNI might be associated with improved prognosis and the occurrence of IRAEs in ES-SCLC patients treated with first-line chemoimmunotherapy.

High Contrast Bioimaging of Tumor and Inflammation with a Bicyclic Dioxetane Chemiluminescent Probe

The link between inflammation and the evolution of cancer is well established. Visualizing and tracking both tumor proliferation and the associated inflammatory response within a living organism are vital for dissecting the nexus between these two processes and for crafting precise treatment modalities. We report the creation and synthesis of an advanced NIR chemiluminescence probe that stands out for its exceptional selectivity, extraordinary sensitivity at nanomolar concentrations, swift detection capabilities, and broad application prospects. Crucially, this probe has been successfully utilized to image endogenous ONOO- across different inflammation models, including abdominal inflammation triggered by LPS, subcutaneous inflammatory conditions, and tumors grafted onto mice. These findings highlight the significant promise of chemiluminescence imaging in enhancing our grasp of the intricate interplay between cancer and inflammation and in steering the development of potent, targeted therapeutic strategies.

A refined therapeutic plan based on the machine-learning prognostic model of liver hepatocellular carcinoma

To deeply explore new strategy of the individual therapy for the patients with liver hepatocellular carcinoma (LIHC), we observed gene expression profile in patients with LIHC and made a comprehensive analysis of the inflammation-related phenotypes, we detected a set of characteristic genes associated with the biological activities of tumor cells, among which 3 genes and 2 lncRNAs are tagged on the LIHC prognosis. Then we constructed a novel prognostic model by machine learning, called Inf-PR model, and evaluated the drug sensitivity and immune targets by a series of bioinformatics tools. Ten-fold cross-validation testified that the model achieved excellent performance on prediction and classification of prognostic risks, which was not only able to get more reliable prognosis information than the age, gender, grade and stage, but also exceeded those previously reported similar models. Accordingly, drug sensitivity was detected in different prognostic risk groups, the result displayed that 10 FDA-approved small molecular drugs including lovastatin and sorafenib had higher sensitivities and perturbativities in the high-risk group, and other 15 drugs including doxorubicin and lenvatinib had better sensitivities and perturbativities in the low-risk group. Moreover, it suggested the patients with high risk would better combine with immunotherapy than those with low risk. Taken together, this study presents a new individual precision strategy about drug and target selection to treat LIHC based on this evaluation model, which is a powerful supplement for current anti-tumor therapy.

Chronic inflammation and cancer; the two sides of a coin

The correlation between chronic inflammation and cancer was initially identified in the 19th century. Biomolecules like interleukins, chemokines, tumor necrosis factors, growth factors, and adhesion molecules, which regulate inflammation, are recognized contributors to neoplastic transformation through various mechanisms, including oncogenic mutations, resistance to apoptosis, and adaptive responses like angiogenesis. This review aims to establish connections between the intricate and complex mechanisms of chronic inflammation and cancer. We illuminate implicit signaling mechanisms that drive the association between chronic inflammation and the initiation/progression of cancer, exploring potential impacts on other diseases. Additionally, we discuss the modalities of currently available therapeutic options for chronic inflammation and cancer, emphasizing the dual nature of such therapies. A thorough understanding of the molecular basis of chronic inflammation is crucial for developing novel approaches in the prevention and treatment of cancer.

Combined Role of Interleukin-15 Stimulated Natural Killer Cell-Derived Extracellular Vesicles and Carboplatin in Osimertinib-Resistant H1975 Lung Cancer Cells with EGFR Mutations

In this study, we evaluated IL-15 stimulated natural killer cell-derived EVs (NK-EVs) as therapeutic agents in vitro and in vivo in Osimertinib-resistant lung cancer (H1975R) with EGFR mutations (L858R) in combination with carboplatin (CBP). NK-EVs were isolated by ultracentrifugation and characterized by nanoparticle tracking analysis, and atomic force microscopy imaging revealed vesicles with a spherical form and sizes meeting the criteria of exosomal EVs. Further, Western blot studies demonstrated the presence of regular EV markers along with specific NK markers (perforin and granzyme). EVs were also characterized by proteomic analysis, which demonstrated that EVs had proteins for natural killer cell-mediated cytotoxicity (Granzyme B) and T cell activation (perforin and plastin-2). Gene oncology analysis showed that these differentially expressed proteins are involved in programmed cell death and positive regulation of cell death. Further, isolated NK-EVs were cytotoxic to H1975R cells in vitro in 2D and 3D cell cultures. CBP's IC50 was reduced by approximately in 2D and 3D cell cultures when combined with NK-EVs. The EVs were then combined with CBP and administered by i.p. route to H1975R tumor xenografts, and a significant reduction in tumor volume in vivo was observed. Our findings show for the first time that NK-EVs target the PD-L1/PD-1 immunological checkpoint to induce apoptosis and anti-inflammatory response by downregulation of SOD2, PARP, BCL2, SET, NF-κB, and TGF-ß. The ability to isolate functional NK-EVs on a large scale and use them with platinum-based drugs may lead to new clinical applications. The results of the present study suggest the possibility of the combination of NK-cell-derived EVs and CBP as a viable immunochemotherapeutic strategy for resistant cancers.

High serum levels of inflammatory markers are associated with early recurrence in patients with high-grade serous ovarian cancer after platinum therapy

OBJECTIVE

To determine if inflammatory biomarkers can predict the long-term outcome of platinum therapy in patients with high-grade serous ovarian cancer.

METHODS

Women diagnosed with high-grade serous epithelial ovarian cancer (n = 70) at a single institution were enrolled in a prospective serum collection study between 2005 and 2020. Seventeen markers of inflammation and oxidative stress were measured in serum samples on a chemistry analyzer. Association was tested for serum levels with progression-free survival (PFS), time to recurrence (TTR), overall survival (OS), and time to death (TTD) using Cox proportional hazards and Kaplan-Meier curves. Patient survival was censored at 10 years.

RESULTS

Higher serum levels of LDH were associated with worse PFS (HR 2.57, p = 0.028). High serum levels of BAP (HR 0.38, p = 0.025), GSP (HR 0.40, p = 0.040), HDL-c (HR 0.27, p = 0.002), and MG (HR 0.36, p = 0.017) were associated with improved PFS. Higher expression of LDH was associated with worse OS (HR 2.16, p = 0.023). Higher levels of CK.nac (HR 0.39, p = 0.033) and HDL-c (HR 0.35, p = 0.029) were associated with improved OS. Similar outcomes were found with TTR and TTD analyses.

CONCLUSION

General inflammatory biomarkers may serve as a guide for prognosis and treatment benefit. Future studies needed to further define their role in predicting prognosis or how these markers may affect response to therapy.

Saikosaponin-b2 Inhibits Primary Liver Cancer by Regulating the STK4/IRAK1/NF-κB Pathway

The development of primary liver cancer (PLC) is associated with chronic liver inflammation and the loss of associated tumor suppressor genes, which characterizes inflammation-related tumors. In this study, we aimed to explore the effect of saikosaponin-b2 (SS-b2) on the development of PLC and its effect of the STK4 expression and IRAK1/NF-κB signaling axis. In vitro and in vivo experiments showed that SS-b2 exerted potent anti-inflammatory and antitumor effects. A PLC model was induced in vivo by treating male BALB/c mice with diethylnitrosamine, while an inflammatory model was induced in vitro by exposing RAW 264.7 macrophages to lipopolysaccharides (LPS). After treating cancer mice with SS-b2, the serum levels of alpha-fetoprotein, aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, and lactate dehydrogenase significantly reduced. Ki67 expression also decreased. The carcinomatous lesions of the liver were attenuated. Similar results were observed in liver tissue and RAW 264.7 macrophages, where SS-b2 significantly elevated serine/threonine protein kinase 4 (STK4) expression and decreased the expression of interleukin-1 receptor-associated kinase 1 (IRAK1), nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-κB), and downstream inflammatory cytokines, thus exerting anti-cancer and anti-inflammatory effects. Moreover, we employed siRNA to silence the STK4 expression in HepG2 to investigate the anti-tumor effect of SS-b2 in vitro. The STK4 knockdown would upregulate IRAK1 and thus the activation of NF-κB activity revealed by the increase in the levels of proinflammatory cytokines, consequently impairing SS-b2-induced inhibition of liver cancer development. Consequently, SS-b2 effectively inhibited PLC by upregulating STK4 to suppress the IRAK1/NF-κB signaling axis and is a promising agent for treating this disease.

Long-term exercise training and inflammatory biomarkers in healthy subjects: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

Objective

This meta-analysis investigated the effect of long-term exercise training (ET) including aerobic, resistance, and multicomponent ET on the levels of inflammatory biomarkers in randomized controlled trials (RCTs) involving healthy subjects.

Methods

We searched seven databases for articles until May 1st, 2023. A random-effect meta-analysis, subgroup analysis, meta-regressions as well as trim and fill method were conducted using STATA 16.0.

Result

Thirty-eight studies were included in the meta-analysis, involving 2,557 healthy subjects (mean age varies from 21 to 86 years). Long-term ET induced significantly decreased in the levels of interleukin-6 (IL-6) (SMD -0.16, 95% CI -0.30 to -0.03, p = 0.017), C-reactive protein (CRP) (SMD -0.18, 95% CI -0.31 to -0.06, p = 0.005), as well as tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFα) (SMD -0.43, 95% CI -0.62 to -0.24, p < 0.001). Subgroup analysis revealed that Long-term ET conducted for more than 12 weeks and exercise of moderate intensity had greater anti-inflammatory effects. Meta-regression analysis showed that the reduction in CRP level induced by long-term ET was weakened by increasing exercise intensity.

Conclusion

Long-term ET induced significant anti-inflammatory effects in healthy subjects. Long-term ET-induced anti-inflammatory effects were associated with exercise of moderate intensity and training conducted for more than 12 weeks.Systematic Review Registration: https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/# myprospero, PROSPERO, identifier CRD42022346693.

Obesity and head and neck cancer risk: a mendelian randomization study

BACKGROUND

Observational studies have reported controversial results on the association between obesity and head and neck cancer risk. This study aimed to perform a two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis to assess the causal association between obesity and head and neck cancer risk using publicly available genome-wide association studies (GWAS) summary statistics.

METHODS

Single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) for obesity [body mass index (BMI), waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), whole body fat mass, lean body mass, and trunk fat mass] and head and neck cancer (total head and neck cancer, oral cavity cancer, oropharyngeal cancer, and oral cavity and oropharyngeal cancer) were retrieved from published GWASs and used as genetic instrumental variables. Five methods including inverse-variance-weighted (IVW), weighted-median, MR-Egger, weighted mode, and MR-PRESSO were used to obtain reliable results, and odds ratio with 95% confidence interval (CI) were calculated. Tests for horizontal pleiotropy, heterogeneity, and sensitivity were performed separately.

RESULTS

Genetically predicted BMI was negatively associated with the risk of total head and neck cancer, which was significant in the IVW [OR (95%CI), 0.990 (0.984-0.996), P = 0.0005], weighted-median [OR (95%CI), 0.984 (0.975-0.993), P = 0.0009], and MR-PRESSO [OR (95%CI), 0.990 (0.984-0.995), P = 0.0004] analyses, but suggestive significant in the MR-Egger [OR (95%CI), 0.9980 (0.9968-0.9991), P < 0.001] and weighted mode [OR (95%CI), 0.9980 (0.9968-0.9991), P < 0.001] analyses. Similar, genetically predicted BMI adjust for smoking may also be negatively associated with the risk of total head and neck cancer (P < 0.05). Genetically predicted BMI may be negatively related to the risk of oral cavity cancer, oropharyngeal cancer, and oral cavity and oropharyngeal cancer (P < 0.05), but no causal association was observed for BMI adjust for smoking (P > 0.05). In addition, no causal associations were observed for other exposures and outcomes (all P > 0.05).

CONCLUSION

This MR analysis supported the causal association of BMI-related obesity with decreased risk of total head and neck cancer. However, the effect estimates from the MR analysis were close to 1, suggesting a slight protective effect of BMI-related obesity on head and neck cancer risk.

The Role of Specialized Pro-Resolving Lipid Mediators in Inflammation-Induced Carcinogenesis

Cancer is a process involving cell mutation, increased proliferation, invasion, and metastasis. Over the years, this condition has represented one of the most concerning health problems worldwide due to its significant morbidity and mortality. At present, the incidence of cancer continues to grow exponentially. Thus, it is imperative to open new avenues in cancer research to understand the molecular changes driving DNA transformation, cell-to-cell interaction derangements, and immune system surveillance decay. In this regard, evidence supports the relationship between chronic inflammation and cancer. In light of this, a group of bioactive lipids derived from polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) may have a position as novel anti-inflammatory molecules known as the specialized pro-resolving mediators (SPMs), a group of pro-resolutive inflammation agents that could improve the anti-tumor immunity. These molecules have the potential role of chemopreventive and therapeutic agents for various cancer types, and their effects have been documented in the scientific literature. Thus, this review objective centers around understanding the effect of SPMs on carcinogenesis and their potential therapeutic effect.

Dynamic regulation of drug biodistribution by turning tumors into decoys for biomimetic nanoplatform to enhance the chemotherapeutic efficacy of breast cancer with bone metastasis

Breast cancer with bone metastasis accounts for serious cancer-associated pain which significantly reduces the quality of life of affected patients and promotes cancer progression. However, effective treatment using nanomedicine remains a formidable challenge owing to poor drug delivery efficiency to multiple cancer lesions and inappropriate management of cancer-associated pain. In this study, using engineered macrophage membrane (EMM) and drugs loaded nanoparticle, we constructed a biomimetic nanoplatform (EMM@DJHAD) for the concurrent therapy of bone metastatic breast cancer and associated pain. Tumor tropism inherited from EMM provided the targeting ability for both primary and metastatic lesions. Subsequently, the synergistic combination of decitabine and JTC801 boosted the lytic and inflammatory responses accompanied by a tumoricidal effect, which transformed the tumor into an ideal decoy for EMM, resulting in prolonged troop migration toward tumors. EMM@DJHAD exerted significant effects on tumor suppression and a pronounced analgesic effect by inhibiting µ-opioid receptors in bone metastasis mouse models. Moreover, the nanoplatform significantly reduced the severe toxicity induced by chemotherapy agents. Overall, this biomimetic nanoplatform with good biocompatibility may be used for the effective treatment of breast cancer with bone metastasis.

Association between albumin-to-globulin ratio and the risk of overall survival in advanced non-small cell lung cancer patients with anlotinib treatment: a retrospective cohort study

OBJECTIVE

Researches about the association between serum albumin-to-globulin ratio (AGR) and the prognosis of lung cancer are limited. We aimed to investigate the relationship between AGR and overall survival (OS) in patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) treated with anlotinib.

METHODS

A retrospective cohort study was conducted on 196 advanced NSCLC patients with anlotinib treatment between June 1, 2018 and June 1, 2021. The exposure was AGR, calculated by baseline serum albumin / (serum total protein - serum albumin). The outcome was OS, defined as the period from the date of initial treatment with anlotinib to death or the last follow-up. The univariate and multivariate linear regression models and generalized additive models (GAM) were used to analyze the relationship between AGR and OS. The Kaplan-Meier method was used to analyze the OS.

RESULTS

After adjusting for potential confounders, a non-linear relationship was observed between AGR and OS, which had an inflection point of 1.24. The hazard ratio and the confidence intervals on the left and the right sides of the inflection point were 13.05 (0.52 to 327.64) and 0.20 (0.07 to 0.57), respectively. It suggested that AGR was positively associated with OS when AGR was larger than 1.24, for every 1 unit increase in AGR, the risk of death lowered approximately by 80%.

CONCLUSIONS

The relationship between AGR and the OS for advanced NSCLC patients with anlotinib is non-linear. AGR level is an independent protective factor for OS in advanced NSCLC patients who received anlotinib therapy.

Association of markers of inflammation on attention and neurobehavioral outcomes in survivors of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia

Background

Survivors of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) are at-risk of developing cognitive impairment and neurobehavioral symptoms. Inflammation induced by a compromised health status during cancer survivorship is proposed as a pathophysiological mechanism underlying cognitive impairment in cancer survivors.

Objectives

To evaluate the associations of biomarkers of inflammation with attention and neurobehavioral outcomes in survivors of childhood ALL, and to identify clinical factors associated with biomarkers of inflammation in this cohort.

Methods

We recruited patients who were diagnosed with ALL at ≤ 18 years old and were currently ≥5 years post-cancer diagnosis. The study outcomes were attention (Conners Continuous Performance Test) and self-reported behavioral symptoms (Adult Self-Report [ASR] checklist). Using a commercial screening kit, survivors' plasma (5ml) was assayed for 17 cytokines/chemokine cell-signaling molecules that are associated with neurodegenerative diseases. The final panel of the targeted markers included interleukin (IL)-8, IL-13, interferon-gamma (IFN-γ), monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), macrophage inflammatory protein-1β, and tumor necrosis factor-α. Biomarker levels were rank-ordered into tertiles based on the sample distribution. Multivariable general linear modeling was used to test for associations between biomarkers and study outcomes in the overall cohort and stratified by gender.

Results

This study included 102 survivors (55.9% males, mean[SD] age 26.2[5.9] years; 19.3[7.1] years post-diagnosis). Survivors within top tertiles of IFN-γ (Estimate =6.74, SE=2.26; P=0.0037) and IL-13 (Estimate =5.10, SE=2.27; P=0.027) demonstrated more inattentiveness. Adjusting for age, gender and treatment, more self-reported thought (Estimate=3.53, SE=1.78; P=0.050) and internalizing problems (Estimate =6.52, SE=2.91; P=0.027) correlated with higher IL-8. Higher levels of IL-13 (RR = 4.58, 95% CI: 1.01-11.10) and TNF-α (RR = 1.44, 95% CI: 1.03-4.07) were observed in survivors had developed chronic health conditions (n=26, 25.5%). The stratified analysis showed that association of IFN-γ with attention was stronger in male survivors than in female survivors.

Conclusion

Inflammation due to cancer-related late effects may potentially be mechanistic mediators of neurobehavioral problems in pediatric ALL survivors. Markers of inflammation can potentially be applied to assess or monitor the effectiveness of interventions, particularly behavioral interventions, in improving cognitive outcomes in survivors. Future work includes understanding the underlying gender-specific pathophysiology behind functional outcomes in the population.

Role of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma risk factors in intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm progression

Introduction

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is lethal due to its late diagnosis and lack of successful treatments. A possible strategy to reduce its death burden is prevention. Intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms (IPMNs) are precursors of PDAC. It is difficult to estimate the incidence of IPMNs because they are asymptomatic. Two recent studies reported pancreatic cysts in 3% and 13% of scanned subjects. The possibility of identifying a subgroup of IPMN patients with a higher probability of progression into cancer could be instrumental in increasing the survival rate. In this study, genetic and non-genetic PDAC risk factors were tested in a group of IPMN patients under surveillance.

Methods

A retrospective study was conducted on 354 IPMN patients enrolled in two Italian centres with an average follow-up of 64 months. With the use of DNA extracted from blood, collected at IPMN diagnosis, all patients were genotyped for 30 known PDAC risk loci. The polymorphisms were analysed individually and grouped in an unweighted polygenic score (PGS) in relation to IPMN progression. The ABO blood group and non-genetic PDAC risk factors were also analysed. IPMN progression was defined based on the development of worrisome features and/or high-risk stigmata during follow-up.

Results

Two genetic variants (rs1517037 and rs10094872) showed suggestive associations with an increment of IPMN progression. After correction for multiple testing, using the Bonferroni correction, none of the variants showed a statistically significant association. However, associations were observed for the non-genetic variables, such as smoking status, comparing heavy smokers with light smokers (HR = 3.81, 95% 1.43-10.09, p = 0.007), and obesity (HR = 2.46, 95% CI 1.22-4.95, p = 0.012).

Conclusion

In conclusion, this study is the first attempt to investigate the presence of shared genetic background between PDAC risk and IPMN progression; however, the results suggest that the 30 established PDAC susceptibility polymorphisms are not associated with clinical IPMN progression in a sample of 354 patients. However, we observed indications of cigarette smoking and body mass index (BMI) involvement in IPMN progression. The biological mechanism that could link these two risk factors to progression could be chronic inflammation, of which both smoking and obesity are strong promoters.

The role of metabolic reprogramming of tumor-associated macrophages in shaping the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment

Macrophages are potent immune effector cells in innate immunity and exert dual-effects in the tumor microenvironment (TME). Tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) make up a significant portion of TME immune cells. Similar to M1/M2 macrophages, TAMs are also highly plastic, and their functions are regulated by cytokines, chemokines and other factors in the TME. The metabolic changes in TAMs are significantly associated with polarization towards a protumour or antitumour phenotype. The metabolites generated via TAM metabolic reprogramming in turn promote tumor progression and immune tolerance. In this review, we explore the metabolic reprogramming of TAMs in terms of energy, amino acid and fatty acid metabolism and the potential roles of these changes in immune suppression.

A Review of Gut Microbiota-Derived Metabolites in Tumor Progression and Cancer Therapy

Gut microbiota-derived metabolites are key hubs connecting the gut microbiome and cancer progression, primarily by remodeling the tumor microenvironment and regulating key signaling pathways in cancer cells and multiple immune cells. The use of microbial metabolites in radiotherapy and chemotherapy mitigates the severe side effects from treatment and improves the efficacy of treatment. Immunotherapy combined with microbial metabolites effectively activates the immune system to kill tumors and overcomes drug resistance. Consequently, various novel strategies have been developed to modulate microbial metabolites. Manipulation of genes involved in microbial metabolism using synthetic biology approaches directly affects levels of microbial metabolites, while fecal microbial transplantation and phage strategies affect levels of microbial metabolites by altering the composition of the microbiome. However, some microbial metabolites harbor paradoxical functions depending on the context (e.g., type of cancer). Furthermore, the metabolic effects of microorganisms on certain anticancer drugs such as irinotecan and gemcitabine, render the drugs ineffective or exacerbate their adverse effects. Therefore, a personalized and comprehensive consideration of the patient's condition is required when employing microbial metabolites to treat cancer. The purpose of this review is to summarize the correlation between gut microbiota-derived metabolites and cancer, and to provide fresh ideas for future scientific research.

Recent advances in Prussian blue-based photothermal therapy in cancer treatment

Malignant tumours are a serious threat to human health. Traditional chemotherapy has achieved breakthrough improvements but also has significant detrimental effects, such as the development of drug resistance, immunosuppression, and even systemic toxicity. Photothermal therapy (PTT) is an emerging cancer therapy. Under light irradiation, the phototherapeutic agent converts optical energy into thermal energy and induces the hyperthermic death of target cells. To date, numerous photothermal agents have been developed. Prussian blue (PB) nanoparticles are among the most promising photothermal agents due to their excellent physicochemical properties, including photoacoustic and magnetic resonance imaging properties, photothermal conversion performance, and enzyme-like activity. By the construction of suitably designed PB-based nanotherapeutics, enhanced photothermal performance, targeting ability, multimodal therapy, and imaging-guided cancer therapy can be effectively and feasibly achieved. In this review, the recent advances in PB-based photothermal combinatorial therapy and imaging-guided cancer therapy are comprehensively summarized. Finally, the potential obstacles of future research and clinical translation are discussed.

Concentration of Selected Adipokines and Factors Regulating Carbohydrate Metabolism in Patients with Head and Neck Cancer in Respect to Their Body Mass Index

Head and neck cancers (HNCs) are a group of tumors not common in European populations. So far, not much is known about the role of obesity, adipokines, glucose metabolism, and inflammation in the pathogenesis of HNC. The aim of the study was to determine the concentrations of ghrelin, omentin-1, adipsin, adiponectin, leptin, resistin, visfatin, glucagon, insulin, C-peptide, glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1), plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1), and gastric inhibitory peptide (GIP) in the blood serum of HNC patients depending on their body mass index (BMI). The study included 46 patients divided into two groups according to their BMI values: the normal BMI group (nBMI) included 23 patients with BMI < 25 kg/m² and the increased BMI group (iBMI) included patients with BMI ≥ 25 kg/m². A control group (CG) included 23 healthy people (BMI < 25 kg/m²). Statistically significant differences in the levels of adipsin, ghrelin, glucagon, PAI-1, and visfatin were shown between nBMI and CG. In the case of nBMI and iBMI, statistically significant differences were observed in the concentrations of adiponectin, C-peptide, ghrelin, GLP-1, insulin, leptin, omentin-1, PAI-1, resistin, and visfatin. The obtained results indicate a disruption of endocrine function of adipose tissue and impaired glucose metabolism in HNC. Obesity, which is not a typical risk factor for HNC, may aggravate the negative metabolic changes associated with this type of neoplasm. Ghrelin, visfatin, PAI-1, adipsin, and glucagon might be related to head and neck carcinogenesis. They seem to be promising directions for further research.

Whole β-glucan particle attenuates AOM/DSS-induced colorectal tumorigenesis in mice via inhibition of intestinal inflammation

Yeast β-glucan is a polysaccharide purified from the Saccharomyces cerevisiae cell wall, and its multiple biological activities are essential for immune regulation. However, the effect of β-glucan on the intestinal immune response during colitis-associated colorectal cancer (CAC) is unclear. Here, we explore the possible role of β-glucan in the development of CAC. Wild type (WT) mice with CAC induced by azoxmethane (AOM) and dextran sodium sulfate (DSS) had fewer tumors than untreated mice after oral β-glucan because of increased antitumor dendritic cells (DCs) in the tumor microenvironment, resulting in more CD8⁺ T cells and the production of related cytokines. β-glucan also increased resistance to DSS-induced chronic colitis by reshaping the inflammatory microenvironment. These data suggest that β-glucan improves experimental intestinal inflammation and delays the development of CAC. Therefore, β-glucan is feasible for treating chronic colitis and CAC in clinical practice.

New Insights Into the Anticancer Effects of p-Coumaric Acid: Focus on Colorectal Cancer

Colorectal cancer is considered the second most deadly cancer in the world. Studies have indicated that diet can prevent the risk of developing colorectal cancer. Recently, there has been an increasing interest in polyphenols due to their plausible effect on cancer prevention and treatment. p-Coumaric acid (p-CouA), a phenolic compound, is a cinnamic acid derivative found in several fruits, vegetables, and herbs. A growing body of evidence suggests that p-CouA may be an effective agent for preventing and managing colorectal cancer. In this current review, we briefly highlight the bioavailability of p-CouA. We also provide an up-to-date overview of molecular mechanisms underlying its anticancer effects, focusing on anti-inflammatory and antioxidant potentials, apoptosis induction, and cell cycle blockade. Finally, we discuss the impact of p-CouA on clonogenicity and multidrug resistance of colorectal cancer cells.

Prognostic value of inflammatory markers and clinical features for survival in advanced or metastatic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma patients receiving anti-programmed death 1 treatment

Purpose

This study aims to assess the prognostic value of inflammatory markers and clinical features in advanced or metastatic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) patients receiving anti-programmed death 1 (PD-1) treatment.

Methods

Based on receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) analysis, Youden's indexes were applied to determine the cut-off values for inflammatory markers, including neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), derived neutrophil-to-lymphocye ratio (dNLR), monocyte-to-lymphocyte ratio (MLR), platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), and systemic immune-inflammation index (SII). Wilcoxon test was conducted to evaluate the changes in above inflammatory markers. Kaplan-Meier method was utilized to estimate progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS), and the Log-rank test was used to compare the different survival between groups. Univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses were performed to assess the prognostic value of inflammatory markers and clinical features.

Results

162 advanced or metastatic ESCC patients receiving anti-PD-1 treatment were enrolled in this retrospective study. The cut-off values of NLR, dNLR, MLR, PLR, and SII were 4.748, 2.214, 0.309, 250.505, and 887.895, respectively. NLR, dNLR, PLR, and SII declined significantly among the partial response (PR) (P<0.001, P<0.001, P=0.036, P<0.001), objective response rate (ORR) (P<0.001, P<0.001, P=0.036, P<0.001), and disease control rate (DCR) (P<0.001, P<0.001, P=0.038, P<0.001) groups, respectively. Significant increases were found in NLR (P<0.001), dNLR (P<0.001), MLR (P=0.001), and SII (P=0.024) when anti-PD-1 treatment failed. Multivariate Cox regression analysis indicated that NLR (P<0.001, P=0.002), lymph node metastasis (P=0.013, P=0.001), Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group Performance Status (ECOG PS) (P=0.008, P=0.002), and treatment lines (P=0.037, P=0.048) were significant prognostic indicators of PFS and OS. Additionally, SII (P=0.016) was also significantly related to OS in ESCC patients. The risk score model showed that low risk patients prolonged PFS and OS than those with middle or high risk (P<0.001, P<0.001).

Conclusion

Inflammatory markers can reflect short-term outcomes of anti-PD-1 treatment for ESCC patients. NLR, lymph node metastases, ECOG PS, and treatment lines are significant prognostic indicators for PFS and OS. And the risk score model constructed based on the above factors has favourable prognostic predictive value.

Recent progress in cancer immunotherapy: Overview of current status and challenges

Cancer treatment is presently one of the most important challenges in medical science. Surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, or combining these methods is used to eliminate the tumor. Hormone therapy, bone marrow transplantation, stem cell therapy as well as immunotherapy are other well-known therapeutic modalities. Immunotherapy, as the most important complementary method, uses the immune system for treating cancer followed by surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy. This method is systematically used to prevent malignancies development mainly via potentiating antitumor immune cells activation and conversely compromising their exhaustion with the lowest negative effects on healthy cells. Active immunotherapy can be employed for cancer immunotherapy by directly using the ingredients of the immune system and activating immune responses. On the other hand, inactive immunotherapy is utilized by indirect induction and using immune cell-based products consisting of monoclonal antibodies. It has strongly been proved that combination therapy with immunotherapies and other therapeutic means, such as anti-angiogenic agents, could be a rational plan to treat cancer. Herein, we have focused on recent findings concerning the therapeutic merits of cancer therapy using immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), adoptive cell transfer (ACT) and cancer vaccine alone or in combination with other approaches. Also, we offer a glimpse into the current challenges in this context.

The Cytokine Network in Colorectal Cancer: Implications for New Treatment Strategies

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most frequent tumor entities worldwide with only limited therapeutic options. CRC is not only a genetic disease with several mutations in specific oncogenes and/or tumor suppressor genes such as APC, KRAS, PIC3CA, BRAF, SMAD4 or TP53 but also a multifactorial disease including environmental factors. Cancer cells communicate with their environment mostly via soluble factors such as cytokines, chemokines or growth factors to generate a favorable tumor microenvironment (TME). The TME, a heterogeneous population of differentiated and progenitor cells, plays a critical role in regulating tumor development, growth, invasion, metastasis and therapy resistance. In this context, cytokines from cancer cells and cells of the TME influence each other, eliciting an inflammatory milieu that can either enhance or suppress tumor growth and metastasis. Additionally, several lines of evidence exist that the composition of the microbiota regulates inflammatory processes, controlled by cytokine secretion, that play a role in carcinogenesis and tumor progression. In this review, we discuss the cytokine networks between cancer cells and the TME and microbiome in colorectal cancer and the related treatment strategies, with the goal to discuss cytokine-mediated strategies that could overcome the common therapeutic resistance of CRC tumors.

Behavioral factors to modulate immunotherapy efficacy in cancer

Immune checkpoint inhibitors, including anti-PD-1 and anti-CTLA-4 therapies, are used to (re)activate the immune system to treat cancer. Despite promising results, a large group of patients does not respond to checkpoint inhibition. In the vulnerability-stress model of behavioral medicine, behavioral factors, such as stress, exercise and classical pharmacological conditioning, predict cancer incidence, recurrence and the efficacy of conventional cancer treatments. Given the important role of the immune system in these processes, certain behavior may be promising to complement immune checkpoint inhibition therapy. Here, we discuss the preliminary evidence and suitability of three behavioral mechanisms, i.e. stress modulation, exercise and classical pharmacological conditioning for the benefit of immunotherapy. It is crucial to study the potential beneficial effects of behavioral strategies that support immunotherapeutic anti-tumor effects with rigorous experimental evidence, to exploit behavioral mechanisms in improving checkpoint inhibition efficacy.

Xanthorrhizol, a potential anticancer agent, from Curcuma xanthorrhiza Roxb

BACKGROUND

Xanthorrhizol (XTZ), a bisabolene sesquiterpenoid, is abundantly found in the plant Curcuma xanthorrhiza Roxb. Traditionally, C. xanthorrhiza is widely used for the treatment of different health conditions, including common fever, infection, lack of appetite, fatigue, liver complaints, and gastrointestinal disorders. XTZ exhibits wide-ranging pharmacological activities, including anticancer, antioxidative, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and antidiabetic activities, in addition to a protective effect on multiple organs. The present review provides detailed findings on the anticancer activities of XTZ and the underlying cellular and molecular mechanisms.

METHODS

Literature was searched systematically in main databases following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines, with keywords "tumor AND xanthorrhizol" or "cancer AND xanthorrhizol".

RESULTS

Studies show that XTZ has preventive and therapeutic activities against different types of cancer, including breast, cervical, colon, liver, lung, oral and esophageal, and skin cancers. XTZ regulates multiple signaling pathways that block carcinogenesis and proliferation. In vitro and in vivo studies showed that XTZ targets different kinases, inflammatory cytokines, apoptosis proteins, and transcription factors, leading to the suppression of angiogenesis, metastasis, and the activation of apoptosis and cell cycle arrest.

CONCLUSION

The potential anticancer benefits of XTZ recommend further in vivo studies against different types of cancer. Further, XTZ needs to be confirmed for its toxicity, bioavailability, protective, antifatigue, and energy booster activities. Future studies for the therapeutic development of XTZ may be directed to cancer-related fatigue.

Pou3f1 mediates the effect of Nfatc3 on ulcerative colitis-associated colorectal cancer by regulating inflammation

Background

Ulcerative colitis-associated colorectal cancer (UC-CRC) is an important complication of ulcerative colitis. Pou3f1 (POU class 3 homeobox 1) is a critical regulator for developmental events and cellular biological processes. However, the role of Pou3f1 in the development of UC-CRC is unclear.

Methods

In vivo, a UC-CRC mouse model was induced by azoxymethane (AOM) and dextran sulfate sodium (DSS). Body weight, colon length, mucosal damage, tumor formation, and survival rate were assessed to determine the progression of UC-CRC. Western blot, quantitative real-time PCR, ELISA, immunohistochemistry, immunofluorescence and TUNEL were performed to examine the severity of inflammation and tumorigenesis. In vitro, LPS-treated mouse bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMDMs) and RAW264.7 cells were used to study the role of Pou3f1 in inflammation. ChIP and luciferase reporter assays were used to confirm the interaction between Nfatc3 and Pou3f1.

Results

Pou3f1 expression was increased in the colons of UC-CRC mice, and its inhibition attenuated mucosal injury, reduced colon tumorigenesis and increased survival ratio. Knockdown of Pou3f1 suppressed cell proliferation and increased cell death in colon tumors. Both the in vivo and in vitro results showed that Pou3f1 depletion reduced the production of proinflammation mediators. In addition, ChIP and luciferase reporter assays demonstrated that Nfatc3 directly bound with the Pou3f1 promoter to induce its expression. The effect of Nfatc3 on the inflammatory response in macrophages was suppressed by Pou3f1 knockdown.

Conclusion

Overall, it outlines that Pou3f1 mediates the role of Nfatc3 in regulating macrophage inflammation and carcinogenesis in UC-CRC development.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s11658-022-00374-0.

A Comprehensive Review on the Anti-Cancer Effects of Oleuropein

In Mediterranean cuisine and culture, olive oil and olive fruits play a significant role. Many people believe that those who consume olive oil and its fruit live longer and have a decreased risk of illness. Olive leaves were used to treat a range of diseases in ancient times, including malaria fever and lower earaches. Although it was not understood at the time what key components were responsible for these effects because they had not yet been discovered, Oleuropein is now recognized as one of the primary elements in immature olive fruits and leaves. Later research was carried out to determine the effects of this molecule, and it was determined that it functions as an antioxidant. Oleuropein consumption has aided in cancer treatment over the years, and this was assumed to be owing to its antioxidant properties. Oleuropein’s effects on cancer, however, go beyond that; it is now known that Oleuropein functions as both an anti-proliferative and an apoptotic promoter in many cancer cells. The kinetics and dosages of Oleuropein and the mechanisms behind its involvement and effects in cancer are explored in this review. Finally, the effects of Oleuropein in combination with anticancer medicines are investigated.

Tumor microenvironmental 15-PGDH depletion promotes fibrotic tumor formation and angiogenesis in pancreatic cancer

The arachidonic acid cascade is a major inflammatory pathway that produces prostaglandin E₂ (PGE2). Although inhibition of 15‐hydroxyprostaglandin dehydrogenase (15‐PGDH) is reported to lead to PGE2 accumulation, the role of 15‐PGDH expression in the tumor microenvironment remains unclear. We utilized Panc02 murine pancreatic cancer cells for orthotopic transplantation into wild‐type and 15‐pgdh^+/− mice and found that 15‐pgdh depletion in the tumor microenvironment leads to enhanced tumorigenesis accompanied by an increase in cancer‐associated fibroblasts (CAFs) and the promotion of fibrosis. The fibrotic tumor microenvironment is widely considered to be hypovascular; however, we found that the angiogenesis level is maintained in 15‐pgdh^+/− mice, and these changes were also observed in a genetically engineered PDAC mouse model. Further confirmation revealed that fibroblast growth factor 1 (FGF1) is secreted by pancreatic cancer cells after PGE2 stimulation, consequently promoting CAF proliferation and vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGFA) expression in the tumor microenvironment. Finally, in 15‐pgdh^+/−Acta2‐TK mice, depletion of fibroblasts inhibited angiogenesis and cancer cell viability in orthotopically transplanted tumors. These findings highlighted the role of 15‐pgdh downregulation in enhancing PGE2 accumulation in the pancreatic tumor microenvironment and in subsequently maintaining the angiogenesis level in fibrotic tumors along with CAF expansion.

A Predictive Model Based on Pyroptosis-Related Gene Features Can Effectively Predict Clear Cell Renal Cell Carcinoma Prognosis and May Be an Underlying Target for Immunotherapy

Methods

The clinical information and RNA-seq data of ccRCC patients were collected from the TCGA dataset to first explore differential pyroptosis-related genes (PRGs). Univariate Cox regression and consensus clustering were applied to identify ccRCC subtypes. The prognostic PRGs were subjected to LASSO regression analysis to establish a prognostic model and to investigate its value and function. Finally, the relationship of the model immunity checkpoints and immunity infiltration was assessed.

Results

The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) showed that the 1-year, 3-year, and 5-year prediction rates of the prognostic model were 0.715, 0.693, and 0.732, respectively. The high-risk group had lower overall survival and higher stage than the low-risk group. Functional enrichment analysis showed that PRGs were significantly enriched mainly in the PPAR pathway, inflammatory pathway, and immune activity. ccRCC patient prognosis correlates with immune components in the microenvironment, and immune checkpoint molecules are significantly expressed in the high-risk group. Immunotherapy may be effective in the high-risk group.

Conclusion

Pyroptosis-related gene has an important impact on the progression of ccRCC and can be used as an independent predictor of patient prognosis. In addition, immune checkpoint molecules are significantly upregulated in high-risk populations, which may be a potential target for immunotherapy.

Suppressive Effects of Siegesbeckia orientalis Ethanolic Extract on Proliferation and Migration of Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cells through Promoting Oxidative Stress, Apoptosis and Inflammatory Responses

Previous studies have demonstrated that Siegesbeckia orientalis (SO) has a suppressive effect on the growth and migration of endometrial and cervical cancer cells. The present study examined the effect of SO ethanolic extract (SOE) on the proliferation and migration of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and examined the effects of SOE on non-cancerous cells using HaCaT keratinocytes as a model. The SOE effectively inhibited the proliferation of Hepa1-6 (IC₅₀ = 282.4 μg/mL) and HepG2 (IC₅₀ = 344.3 μg/mL) hepatoma cells, whereas it has less cytotoxic effect on HaCaT cells (IC₅₀ = 892.4 μg/mL). The SOE treatment increased the generation of ROS in HCC, but decreased the expression of antioxidant enzymes such as superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase and catalase. In contrast, it reduced intracellular ROS formation and upregulated the expression of the related antioxidant enzymes in the H₂O₂-stimulated HaCaT cells. The SOE intervention also down-regulated the anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 and the migration-related proteins including matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and β-catenin in the HCC, suggesting that SOE could promote HCC apoptosis and inhibit HCC migration. On the contrary, it reduced apoptosis and promoted the migration of the keratinocytes. Additionally, the SOE treatment significantly up-regulated the pro-inflammatory cytokines, including TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-1β, in Hepa1-6 and HepG2 cells. Conversely, it significantly decreased the expression of these cytokines in the H₂O₂-induced HaCaT cells. These findings indicated that SOE treatment can delay the progression of HCC by increasing oxidative stress, promoting inflammatory response, inducing cancer cell apoptosis and inhibiting their migration. It also has protective effects from pro-oxidant H₂O₂ in non-cancerous cells. Therefore, SOE may provide a potential treatment for liver cancer.

Active Compounds in Fruits and Inflammation in the Body

Inflammation plays an important role in the pathogenesis of many diseases, including cardiovascular diseases, atherosclerosis, diabetes, asthma, and cancer. An appropriate diet and the active compounds contained in it can affect various stages of the inflammatory process and significantly affect the course of inflammatory diseases. Recent reports indicate that polyphenolic acids, vitamins, minerals, and other components of fruits may exhibit activity stimulating an anti-inflammatory response, which may be of importance in maintaining health and reducing the risk of disease. The article presents the latest data on the chemical composition of fruits and the health benefits arising from their anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects. The chemical composition of fruits determines their anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, but the mechanisms of action are not fully understood.

Role of the Pro-Inflammatory Tumor Microenvironment in Extracellular Vesicle-Mediated Transfer of Therapy Resistance

Advances in our understanding of cancer biology have contributed to generating different treatments to improve the survival of cancer patients. However, although initially most of the therapies are effective, relapse and recurrence occur in a large percentage of these cases after the treatment, and patients then die subsequently due to the development of therapy resistance in residual cancer cells. A large spectrum of molecular and cellular mechanisms have been identified as important contributors to therapy resistance, and more recently the inflammatory tumor microenvironment (TME) has been ascribed an important function as a source of signals generated by the TME that modulate cellular processes in the tumor cells, such as to favor the acquisition of therapy resistance. Currently, extracellular vesicles (EVs) are considered one of the main means of communication between cells of the TME and have emerged as crucial modulators of cancer drug resistance. Important in this context is, also, the inflammatory TME that can be caused by several conditions, including hypoxia and following chemotherapy, among others. These inflammatory conditions modulate the release and composition of EVs within the TME, which in turn alters the responses of the tumor cells to cancer therapies. The TME has been ascribed an important function as a source of signals that modulate cellular processes in the tumor cells, such as to favor the acquisition of therapy resistance. Although generally the main cellular components considered to participate in generating a pro-inflammatory TME are from the immune system (for instance, macrophages), more recently other types of cells of the TME have also been shown to participate in this process, including adipocytes, cancer-associated fibroblasts, endothelial cells, cancer stem cells, as well as the tumor cells. In this review, we focus on summarizing available information relating to the impact of a pro-inflammatory tumor microenvironment on the release of EVs derived from both cancer cells and cells of the TME, and how these EVs contribute to resistance to cancer therapies.

Long non-coding RNAs and cancer mechanisms: Immune cells and inflammatory cytokines in the tumor microenvironment

Chronic inflammation and immune response are two central hallmarks of the tumor microenvironment (TME), teeming with immune cells and inflammatory cytokines that promote tumor progression. Intriguingly, there is mutual regulation between immune cells and cytokines. Indeed, the differentiation and function of immune cells depend on cytokines secreted from tumor cells, whereas immune activation affects the dynamics of cytokines, reshaping the TME together. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) as a blooming molecule are virtually involved in physiology and pathology events, especially TME. Notably, the regulatory loop between lncRNAs and cytokines or immune activation plays a vital role in tumor growth. Thus, this review concentrates on the interaction between lncRNAs and immune cells. It puts special attention to the intertwist between lncRNAs and cytokines or immune cells, providing a theoretical basis for lncRNAs as a potential biomarker and therapeutic tumor target.

The Effect of Chronic Rhinosinusitis on the Staging and Prognosis of Extranodal Natural Killer/T-Cell Lymphoma: A Single-Center Retrospective Analysis

Clinically, extranodal natural killer/T-cell lymphoma (ENKTL) patients frequently had a history of chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) before onset, and the correlation between the two diseases has not been systematically reported at present. In this study, we applied the method-retrospective analysis-to explore the relationship between CRS and ENKTL. We collected clinical data and the length of CRS history before onset in 214 patients diagnosed with ENKTL and found that the length of CRS history was correlated with the stage of 182 ENKTL patients whose primary sites were upper aerodigestive tract (UAT) (χ ² = 21.317, p = 0.046, n = 182); the Spearman correlation coefficient was 0.162 (p = 0.029). There was no significant difference in stage of the non-UAT-ENKTL patients (χ ² = 18.910, p = 0.091, n = 32). The COX multivariate regression analysis showed that CRS history was an independent prognostic predictor for PFS of the UAT-ENKTL patients (p = 0.004), and patients without CRS had significantly better PFS than the more than 15 years CRS history group (p = 0.001). Our findings suggested that we should not ignore the existence of chronic inflammation of the nasal cavity in ENKTL patients. It is better to treat CRS as soon as possible in clinical practice to reduce the possibility of the occurrence or progression of UAT-ENKTL.

Monoclonal Antibodies Generation: Updates and Protocols on Hybridoma Technology

Since its inception in 1975, the hybridoma technology revolutionized science and medicine, facilitating discoveries in almost any field from the laboratory to the clinic. Many technological advancements have been developed since then, to create these "magical bullets." Phage and yeast display libraries expressing the variable heavy and light domains of antibodies, single B-cell cloning from immunized animals of different species including humans or in silico approaches, all have rendered a myriad of newly developed antibodies or improved design of existing ones. However, still the majority of these antibodies or their recombinant versions are from hybridoma origin, a preferred methodology that trespass species barriers, due to the preservation of the natural functions of immune cells in producing the humoral response: antigen specific immunoglobulins. Remarkably, this methodology can be reproduced in small laboratories without the need of sophisticate equipment. In this chapter, we will describe the most recent methods utilized by our Monoclonal Antibodies Core Facility at the University of Texas-M.D. Anderson Cancer Center. During the last 10 years, the methods, techniques, and expertise implemented in our core had generated more than 350 antibodies for various applications.

Lactobacillus Suppresses Tumorigenesis of Oropharyngeal Cancer via Enhancing Anti-Tumor Immune Response

Deficiency in T cell-mediated adaptive immunity, such as low CD8⁺ T cell infiltration, inhibits the immune surveillance, promotes malignant transformation, and facilitates tumor growth. Microbiota dysbiosis diminishes the immune system and contributes to the occurrence of cancer. However, the impact of oral dysbiosis on the occurrence and molecular mechanisms of oropharyngeal cancer (OPC) remains largely unknown. In the current study, we used 4-nitroquinoline-1-oxide (4NQO) to mimic tobacco-related carcinogenesis to generate a murine OPC model and determine the role of microbiota changes in OPC tumorigenesis. Our results showed that the oral flora composition of mice was deregulated during the tumorigenesis of OPC. The abundance of Streptococcus, Veillonella, Muribacter, Rodentibacter, and Gemella was increased, whereas the dominant genus Lactobacillus was gradually decreased with disease progression. We further demonstrated that infiltration of CD8⁺ T lymphocytes was markedly reduced due to the reduction of Lactobacillus. Supplementation of Lactobacillus increased the infiltration of CD8⁺ T cells, promoted the expression of IFN-γ and granzyme B, and lessened the OPC progression. Analyzing the metabolites of the Lactobacillus, we demonstrated that Lactobacillus enhanced the anti-tumor immune response by producing acetate in OPC development. Administration of acetate to mice could increase the expression of IFN-γ and IFN-γ-inducible chemokines in tumor tissues by activating GPR43 to promote the infiltration of CD8⁺ T lymphocytes and substantially delay the development of OPC. Together, our data suggest that dysbiosis of oral microbiota promotes the tumorigenesis of OPC through downregulation of cytotoxic T lymphocytes. Lactobacillus and its metabolite acetate improve the tumor microenvironment, which could be applied in the treatment of OPC.

Control of Dendritic Cell Function Within the Tumour Microenvironment

The tumour microenvironment (TME) presents a major block to anti-tumour immune responses and to effective cancer immunotherapy. The inflammatory mediators such as cytokines, chemokines, growth factors and prostaglandins generated in the TME alter the phenotype and function of dendritic cells (DCs) that are critical for a successful adaptive immune response against the growing tumour. In this mini review we discuss how tumour cells and the surrounding stroma modulate DC maturation and trafficking to impact T cell function. Fibroblastic stroma and the associated extracellular matrix around tumours can also provide physical restrictions to infiltrating DCs and other leukocytes. We discuss interactions between the inflammatory TME and infiltrating immune cell function, exploring how the inflammatory TME affects generation of T cell-driven anti-tumour immunity. We discuss the open question of the relative importance of antigen-presentation site; locally within the TME versus tumour-draining lymph nodes. Addressing these questions will potentially increase immune surveillance and enhance anti-tumour immunity.

Activation of the GPR35 pathway drives angiogenesis in the tumour microenvironment

OBJECTIVE

Primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) is in 70% of cases associated with inflammatory bowel disease. The hypermorphic T108M variant of the orphan G protein-coupled receptor GPR35 increases risk for PSC and ulcerative colitis (UC), conditions strongly predisposing for inflammation-associated liver and colon cancer. Lack of GPR35 reduces tumour numbers in mouse models of spontaneous and colitis associated cancer. The tumour microenvironment substantially determines tumour growth, and tumour-associated macrophages are crucial for neovascularisation. We aim to understand the role of the GPR35 pathway in the tumour microenvironment of spontaneous and colitis-associated colon cancers.

DESIGN

Mice lacking GPR35 on their macrophages underwent models of spontaneous colon cancer or colitis-associated cancer. The role of tumour-associated macrophages was then assessed in biochemical and functional assays.

RESULTS

Here, we show that GPR35 on macrophages is a potent amplifier of tumour growth by stimulating neoangiogenesis and tumour tissue remodelling. Deletion of Gpr35 in macrophages profoundly reduces tumour growth in inflammation-associated and spontaneous tumour models caused by mutant tumour suppressor adenomatous polyposis coli. Neoangiogenesis and matrix metalloproteinase activity is promoted by GPR35 via Na/K-ATPase-dependent ion pumping and Src activation, and is selectively inhibited by a GPR35-specific pepducin. Supernatants from human inducible-pluripotent-stem-cell derived macrophages carrying the UC and PSC risk variant stimulate tube formation by enhancing the release of angiogenic factors.

CONCLUSIONS

Activation of the GPR35 pathway promotes tumour growth via two separate routes, by directly augmenting proliferation in epithelial cells that express the receptor, and by coordinating macrophages' ability to create a tumour-permissive environment.

Abundance and Metabolism Disruptions of Intratumoral Microbiota by Chemical and Physical Actions Unfreeze Tumor Treatment Resistance

Intratumoral or intestinal microbiota correlates with tumorigenesis and progression, and microbiota regulation for reinforcing various anti-tumor approaches is of significant importance, which, however, suffers from no precise regulation method and unclear underlying mechanism. Herein, a microbiome metabolism-engineered phototherapy strategy is established, wherein Nb₂ C/Au nanocomposite and the corresponding phototherapy are harnessed to realize "chemical" and "physical" bacterial regulations. Flora analysis and mass spectrometry (MS) and metabonomics combined tests demonstrate that the synergistic microbiota regulations can alter the abundance, diversity of intratumoral microbiome, and disrupt metabolic pathways of microbiome and tumor microenvironment, wherein the differential singling pathways and biosynthetic necessities or metabolites that can affect tumor progression are identified. As well, anti-TNFα is introduced to unite with bacterial regulation to synergistically mitigate bacterial-induced inflammation, which, along with the metabolism disruptions of intratumoral microbiota and tumor microenvironment, unfreezes tumor resistance and harvests significantly-intensified phototherapy-based anti-tumor outcomes against 4T1 and CT26 tumors. The clear underlying principles of microbiome-regulated tumorigenesis and the established microbiome metabolism regulation method provide distinctive insights into tumor therapy, and can be also extended to other gut microbiome-associated lesions interference.

Combination of selol nanocapsules and magnetic hyperthermia hinders breast tumor growth in aged mice after a short-time treatment

Short time treatment with reduced dosages of selol-loaded PLGA nanocapsules (NcSel) combined with magnetic hyperthermia (MHT) is evaluated in aged Erhlich tumor-bearing mice. Clinical, hematological, biochemical, genotoxic and histopathological parameters are assessed during 7 d treatment with NcSel and MHT, separately or combined. The time evolution of the tumor volume is successfully modeled using the logistic mathematical model. The combined therapy comprising NcSel and MHT is able to hinder primary tumor growth and a case of complete tumor remission is recorded. Moreover, no metastasis was diagnosed and the adverse effects are negligible. NcSel plus MHT may represent an effective and safe alternative to cancer control in aged patients. Future clinical trials are encouraged.

The Effect of Inflammatory Markers on the Survival of Advanced Gastric Cancer Patients Who Underwent Anti-Programmed Death 1 Therapy

Purpose

This clinical study sought to determine whether the levels of inflammatory markers predicted the survival of advanced gastric cancer (AGC) patients who underwent anti-programmed death 1 (PD-1) therapy.

Methods

Using AGC patient plasma samples and baseline characteristics, we investigated the specific value of inflammatory markers in AGC from a clinical perspective in immunotherapy.

Results

One hundred and six patients with AGC who underwent anti-PD-1 therapy were enrolled in this study between 20 July 2019 and 16 March 2021. A significant decrease in NLR, dNLR, and SII was noticed among the PR (P=0.023; P=0.036; P=0.001), SD (P=0.048; P=0.022; P=0.023), ORR (P=0.021; P=0.032; P=0.001), and DCR (P=0.003; P=0.001; P<0.001) groups after anti-PD-1 therapy. Additionally, a significant decline of PLR was also observed in PR (P=0.010), ORR (P=0.007), and DCR (P=0.005) after anti-PD-1 therapy. Only MLR levels increased significantly at the time of anti-PD-1 immunotherapy the failure compared to baseline (P=0.039). And statistically significant elevations in NLR (P=0.001), MLR (P=0.020), dNLR (P=0.002), and SII (P=0.019) were found in failure of anti-PD-1 treatment compared to optimal efficacy in AGC patients. In first-line treatment, the number of metastatic sites (P=0.001) was an independent prognostic factor for PFS, and peritoneal metastases (P=0.004) and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) level (P=0.014) were independent prognostic predictors of OS according to Cox regression analysis. In second-line or posterior treatment, the number of metastatic sites (P=0.007), ECOG (P=0.011), and PLR level (P=0.033) were independent prognostic factors for PFS in AGC patients, and the number of metastatic sites (P=0.003), differentiation (P=0.030), and NLR level (P<0.001) were independent prognostic factors for OS according to Cox regression analysis.

Conclusions

NLR, PLR, MLR, dNLR, and SII can reflect the short-term efficacy of immunotherapy in patients who underwent anti-PD-1 therapy with AGC. PLR is an independent prognostic factor for OS in AGC patients receiving first-line immunotherapy and PFS in those receiving second-line or posterior immunotherapy. And NLR was an independent prognostic factor for OS in AGC patients receiving second-line or posterior immunotherapy. The number of metastatic sites was significantly associated with the prognosis of AGC patients who received immunotherapy.

The Role of Immunoproteasomes in Tumor-Immune Cell Interactions in Melanoma and Colon Cancer

The participation of proteasomes in vital cellular and metabolic processes that are involved in tumor growth has made this protease complex an attractive target for cancer treatment. In contrast to ubiquitously available constitutive proteasome, the increased enzymatic activity of immunoproteasome is associated with tumor-infiltrating immune cells, such as antigen-presenting cells and T lymphocytes. In various tumors, an effective anti-tumor immunity is provided through generation of tumor-associated antigens by proteasomes, contributing crucially to cancer eradication by T lymphocytes. The knowledge regarding the role of immunoproteasomes in the communication between tumor cells and infiltrating immune cells is limited. Novel data suggest that the involvement of immunoproteasomes in tumorigenesis is more complex than previously thought. In the intestine, in which diverse signals from commensal bacteria and food can contribute to the onset of chronic inflammation and inflammation-driven cancer, immunoproteasomes exert tumorigenic properties by modulating the expression of pro-inflammatory factors. In contrast, in melanoma and non-small cell lung cancer, the immunoproteasome acts against cancer development by promoting an effective anti-tumor immunity. In this review, we highlight the potential of immunoproteasomes to either contribute to inflammatory signaling and tumor development, or to support anti-cancer immunity. Further, we discuss novel therapeutic options for cancer treatments that are associated with modulating the activity of immunoproteasomes in the tumor microenvironment.