Ovarian cancer-derived glycodelin impairs in vitro dendritic cell maturation

IL-10 Signaling in the Tumor Microenvironment of Ovarian Cancer

Unlike other malignancies, ovarian cancer (OC) creates a complex tumor microenvironment with distinctive peritoneal ascites consisting of a mixture of several immunosuppressive cells which impair the ability of the patient's immune system to fight the disease. The poor survival rates observed in advanced stage OC patients and the lack of effective conventional therapeutic options have been attributed in large part to the immature dendritic cells (DCs), IL-10 secreting regulatory T cells, tumor-associated macrophages, myeloid-derived suppressor cells, and cancer stem cells that secrete inhibitory cytokines. This review highlights the critical role played by the intraperitoneal presence of IL-10 in the generation of an immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment. Further, the effect of antibody neutralization of IL-10 on the efficacy of DC and chimeric antigen receptor T-cell vaccines will be discussed. Moreover, we will review the influence of IL-10 in the promotion of cancer stemness in concert with the NF-κB signaling pathway with regard to OC progression. Finally, understanding the role of IL-10 and its crosstalk with various cells in the ascitic fluid may contribute to the development of novel immunotherapeutic approaches with the potential to kill drug-resistant OC cells while minimizing toxic side effects.

The Roles of Glycodelin in Cancer Development and Progression

Glycodelin is a kind of glycoprotein expressed in secretory endometrium, pregnancy deciduas, and amniotic fluid originally, which is vital for the maintenance of normal human reproductive activities. Recent researches have reported that glycodelin is specifically expressed in various malignancies, including female-specific cancers such as endometrial cancer, ovarian cancer and breast cancer, and non-gender specific cancers including lung cancer, and colon cancer, and glycodelin expression correlates with the diagnosis and prognosis of cancer patients. This review focuses on the expression of glycodelin in different cancers and its role in cancer development and progression. Glycodelin possesses the abilities to regulate cancer cell proliferation, differentiation, and invasion, promote cancer angiogenesis, and modulate the differentiation and function of immune cells including T cells, dendritic cells, monocyte-macrophages, natural killer cells and B cells participating in cancer development. The expression of glycodelin can be regulated by stromal cells, lysophosphatidic acid, histone deacetylase inhibitors, and relaxin. In summary, glycodelin is a promising biomarker for the diagnosis and prognosis of cancer patients, and depending on its distinct immunoregulatory effects, glycodelin can be a prospective target for cancer immunotherapy.

Immune Regulation in Pregnancy: A Matter of Perspective?

The maternal immune system is complex and governed by multiple hormonal and metabolic factors, including those provided to the mother via the fetus. Understanding of the balance between maternal tolerance and protection of the fetus may require thinking from multiple theoretical approaches to the general problem of immune activation and tolerance. This article provides a brief review of the immune system, with aspects relevant to pregnancy. The references include reviews that expand on the elements discussed. The article also uses different models of immune system activation and tolerance to provide a theoretical understanding of the problem of maternal tolerance.

Immune Regulation in Pregnancy: A Matter of Perspective?

The maternal immune system is complex and governed by multiple hormonal and metabolic factors, including those provided to the mother via the fetus. Understanding of the balance between maternal tolerance and protection of the fetus may require thinking from multiple theoretical approaches to the general problem of immune activation and tolerance. This article provides a brief review of the immune system, with aspects relevant to pregnancy. The references include reviews that expand on the elements discussed. The article also uses different models of immune system activation and tolerance to provide a theoretical understanding of the problem of maternal tolerance.

Glycodelin A is a prognostic marker to predict poor outcome in advanced stage ovarian cancer patients

BACKGROUND

Glycodelin is a cell surface glycoprotein offering a unique gender specific carbohydrate configuration. Sialylated carbohydrate structures, which are unusual for mammals, characterize Glycodelin isolated from amniotic fluid (Glycodelin A, GdA). Glycodelin in general exerts multiple, partly opposing functions ranging from immunosuppression to cell differentiation. As these markedly influence tumorigenesis, this study aimed to clarify whether expression of different Glycodelin isoforms is related to clinicopathological characteristics and prognosis of ovarian cancer patients. Further the use of Glycodelin as a serum marker in benign and malignant ovarian diseases was evaluated.

METHODS

Ovarian cancer specimens (n = 152) were stained for Glycodelin with carbohydrate and peptide specific antibodies. Associations between Glycodelin expression and histological grading, FIGO stage as well as patient's prognosis were examined. Glycodelin was correlated to expression of gonadotropin receptors and mucin-1, which are discussed as ovarian cancer tissue markers. In addition, Glycodelin serum concentrations were analyzed in patients suffering from benign (n = 73) or malignant (n = 38) ovarian neoplasias.

RESULTS

Glycodelin A was found to be an independent prognostic marker for poor prognosis in advanced ovarian cancer patients. GdA staining correlated with gonadotropin receptor (FSHR and LHCGR) and with hCG expression. Gd expression showed a positive correlation with a tumour-associated epitope of mucin 1 (TA-MUC1). Further, compared to ovarian cancer, serum Gd was increased in patients with benign ovarian tumors.

CONCLUSION

Glycodelin A might be related to tumor aggressiveness and poor clinical outcome in advanced epithelial ovarian cancer. Glycodelin serum levels found in patients suffering from benign ovarian tumors, might contribute to a more global attenuation during progression of these precursor lesions.

The immunomodulating roles of glycoproteins in epithelial ovarian cancer

The complexity of the immune system demands an intricate defense mechanism by tumors. Ovarian and other tumors employ specific glycoproteins and the associated glycan sequences to modulate immune responses. Glycoproteins enable tumor cells that express or secrete these molecules to evade immune cell attack and induce the immune system to promote tumor growth. This review focuses first on the immune environment in ovarian cancer, and the mechanisms of activation and inhibition that immune cells undergo in order to either attack or ignore a target cell. Next we illustrate the immunomodulatory roles of ovarian cancer-associated glycans and glycoproteins in 1. preventing immune synapse formation, 2. serving as ligands of immune cell receptors, 3. scavenging cytokines and chemokines, and 4. participating in the formation of autoantibodies against the tumor. The importance of these immunomodulating strategies from the view points of understanding the tumor immunology of ovarian tumors, potential origin of such mechanisms, and specific strategies to circumvent the glycoconjugate-mediated suppression of immune responses is discussed in this review.

Selective removal of ovarian cancer cells from human ascites fluid using magnetic nanoparticles

A majority of ovarian cancer metastases result from the shedding of malignant cells from the primary tumor into the abdominal cavity. Free-floating cancer cells in serous effusions of late-stage ovarian cancer patients may spread to internal organs, making effective treatment extremely difficult. Selective removal of ovarian cancer cells from serous fluids may abate metastasis and improve long-term prognoses. We have already shown that superparamagnetic nanoparticles conjugated to an ephrin-A1 mimetic peptide with a high affinity for the EphA2 receptor can be used to capture and remove cultured human ovarian cancer cells from the peritoneal of experimental mice. Here we demonstrate the potential clinical utility of the methodology by in vitro capture and isolation of cancer cells from the ascites fluid of ovarian cancer patients.

FROM THE CLINICAL EDITOR

Ovarian cancer metastases usually are the result of shedding of malignant cells from the primary tumor into the abdominal cavity. In this paper, a novel nanotechnology-based method is demonstrated for the in vitro capture and isolation of cancer cells from the ascites fluid of ovarian cancer patients.