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Norgard RJ, Budhani P, O'Brien SA, Xia Y, Egan JN, Flynn B, Tagore JR, Seco J, Peet GW, Mikucka A, Wasti R, Chan LC, Hinkel M, Martinez-Morilla S, Pignatelli J, Trapani F, Corse E, Feng D, Kostyrko K, Hofmann MH, Liu K, Kashyap AS. Reshaping the Tumor Microenvironment of KRASG12D Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma with Combined SOS1 and MEK Inhibition for Improved Immunotherapy Response. CANCER RESEARCH COMMUNICATIONS 2024; 4:1548-1560. [PMID: 38727236 PMCID: PMC11191876 DOI: 10.1158/2767-9764.crc-24-0172] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2024] [Revised: 05/02/2024] [Accepted: 05/07/2024] [Indexed: 06/23/2024]
Abstract
KRAS inhibitors have demonstrated exciting preclinical and clinical responses, although resistance occurs rapidly. Here, we investigate the effects of KRAS-targeting therapies on the tumor microenvironment using a library of KrasG12D, p53-mutant, murine pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma-derived cell lines (KPCY) to leverage immune-oncology combination strategies for long-term tumor efficacy. Our findings show that SOS1 and MEK inhibitors (SOS1i+MEKi) suppressed tumor growth in syngeneic models and increased intratumoral CD8+ T cells without durable responses. Single-cell RNA sequencing revealed an increase in inflammatory cancer-associated fibroblasts (iCAF), M2 macrophages, and a decreased dendritic cell (DC) quality that ultimately resulted in a highly immunosuppressive microenvironment driven by IL6+ iCAFs. Agonist CD40 treatment was effective to revert macrophage polarization and overcome the lack of mature antigen-presenting DCs after SOS1i+MEKi therapy. Treatment increased the overall survival of KPCY tumor-bearing mice. The addition of checkpoint blockade to SOS1i+MEKi combination resulted in tumor-free mice with established immune memory. Our data suggest that KRAS inhibition affects myeloid cell maturation and highlights the need for combining KRAS cancer-targeted therapy with myeloid activation to enhance and prolong antitumor effects. SIGNIFICANCE Combination of SOS1 and MEK inhibitors increase T cell infiltration while blunting pro-immune myeloid cell maturation and highlights the need for combining KRAS cancer-targeted therapy with myeloid activation to enhance and prolong anti-tumor effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert J. Norgard
- Cancer Immunology and Immune Modulation, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Ridgefield, Connecticut
| | - Pratha Budhani
- Cancer Immunology and Immune Modulation, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Ridgefield, Connecticut
| | - Sarah A. O'Brien
- Cancer Immunology and Immune Modulation, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Ridgefield, Connecticut
| | - Youli Xia
- Global Computational Biology and Digital Sciences, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Ridgefield, Connecticut
| | - Jessica N. Egan
- Cancer Immunology and Immune Modulation, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Ridgefield, Connecticut
| | - Brianna Flynn
- Cancer Immunology and Immune Modulation, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Ridgefield, Connecticut
| | - Joshua R. Tagore
- Cancer Immunology and Immune Modulation, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Ridgefield, Connecticut
| | - Joseph Seco
- Cancer Immunology and Immune Modulation, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Ridgefield, Connecticut
| | - Gregory W. Peet
- Cancer Immunology and Immune Modulation, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Ridgefield, Connecticut
| | - Ania Mikucka
- Cancer Immunology and Immune Modulation, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Ridgefield, Connecticut
| | - Ruby Wasti
- Cancer Immunology and Immune Modulation, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Ridgefield, Connecticut
| | - Li-Chuan Chan
- Cancer Immunology and Immune Modulation, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Ridgefield, Connecticut
| | - Melanie Hinkel
- Late Stage Cancer Research, Boehringer Ingelheim RCV GmbH & Co KG, Vienna, Austria
| | - Sandra Martinez-Morilla
- Translational Medicine and Clinical Pharmacology, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Ridgefield, Connecticut
| | - Jeanine Pignatelli
- Cancer Immunology and Immune Modulation, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Ridgefield, Connecticut
| | - Francesca Trapani
- Translational Medicine and Clinical Pharmacology, Boehringer Ingelheim RCV GmbH & Co KG, Vienna, Austria
| | - Emily Corse
- Cancer Immunology and Immune Modulation, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Ridgefield, Connecticut
| | - Di Feng
- Global Computational Biology and Digital Sciences, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Ridgefield, Connecticut
| | - Kaja Kostyrko
- Late Stage Cancer Research, Boehringer Ingelheim RCV GmbH & Co KG, Vienna, Austria
| | - Marco H. Hofmann
- Cancer Pharmacology and Disease Positioning Department, Boehringer Ingelheim RCV GmbH & Co KG, Vienna, Austria
| | - Kang Liu
- Cancer Immunology and Immune Modulation, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Ridgefield, Connecticut
| | - Abhishek S. Kashyap
- Cancer Immunology and Immune Modulation, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Ridgefield, Connecticut
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Chen H, Luo W, Lu X, Zhang T. Regulatory role of RNA modifications in the treatment of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). Heliyon 2023; 9:e20969. [PMID: 37928039 PMCID: PMC10623179 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e20969] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2023] [Revised: 09/22/2023] [Accepted: 10/12/2023] [Indexed: 11/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is an extremely life-threatening malignancy with a relatively unfavorable prognosis. The early occurrence of metastasis and local recurrence subsequent to surgery contribute to the poor survival rates of PDAC patients, thereby limiting the effectiveness of surgical intervention. Additionally, the desmoplastic and immune-suppressive tumor microenvironment of PDAC diminishes its responsiveness to conventional treatment modalities such as chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and immunotherapy. Therefore, it is imperative to identify novel therapeutic targets for PDAC treatment. Chemical modifications are prevalent in various types of RNA and exert significant influence on their structure and functions. RNA modifications, exemplified by m6A, m5C, m1A, and Ψ, have been identified as general regulators of cellular functions. The abundance of specific modifications, such as m6A, has been correlated with cell proliferation, invasion, migration, and patient prognosis in PDAC. Pre-clinical data has indicated that manipulating RNA modification regulators could enhance the efficacy of chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and immunotherapy. Therefore, targeting RNA modifications in conjunction with current adjuvant or neoadjuvant therapy holds promise. The objective of this review is to provide a comprehensive overview of RNA modifications in PDAC treatment, encompassing their behaviors, mechanisms, and potential treatment targets. Therefore, it aims to stimulate the development of novel therapeutic approaches and future clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hao Chen
- Department of General Surgery, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Wenhao Luo
- Department of General Surgery, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Xiaoyue Lu
- Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Taiping Zhang
- Department of General Surgery, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
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Leidner R, Conlon K, McNeel DG, Wang-Gillam A, Gupta S, Wesolowski R, Chaudhari M, Hassounah N, Lee JB, Ho Lee L, O'Keeffe JA, Lewis N, Pavlakis GN, Thompson JA. First-in-human phase I/Ib study of NIZ985, a recombinant heterodimer of IL-15 and IL-15Rα, as a single agent and in combination with spartalizumab in patients with advanced and metastatic solid tumors. J Immunother Cancer 2023; 11:e007725. [PMID: 37907221 PMCID: PMC10619015 DOI: 10.1136/jitc-2023-007725] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/04/2023] [Indexed: 11/02/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Preclinically, interleukin-15 (IL-15) monotherapy promotes antitumor immune responses, which are enhanced when IL-15 is used in combination with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs). This first-in-human study investigated NIZ985, a recombinant heterodimer comprising physiologically active IL-15 and IL-15 receptor α, as monotherapy and in combination with spartalizumab, an anti-programmed cell death protein-1 (anti-PD-1) monoclonal antibody, in patients with advanced solid tumors. METHODS This phase I/Ib study had two dose-escalation arms: single-agent NIZ985 administered subcutaneously thrice weekly (TIW, 2 weeks on/2 weeks off) or once weekly (QW, 3 weeks on/1 week off), and NIZ985 TIW or QW administered subcutaneously plus spartalizumab (400 mg intravenously every 4 weeks (Q4W)). The dose-expansion phase investigated NIZ985 1 µg/kg TIW/spartalizumab 400 mg Q4W in patients with anti-PD-1-sensitive or anti-PD-1-resistant tumor types stratified according to approved indications. The primary objectives were the safety, tolerability, and the maximum tolerated doses (MTDs) and/or recommended dose for expansion (RDE) of NIZ985 for the dose-expansion phase. RESULTS As of February 17, 2020, 83 patients (median age: 63 years; range: 28-85) were treated in dose escalation (N=47; single-agent NIZ985: n=27; NIZ985/spartalizumab n=20) and dose expansion (N=36). No dose-limiting toxicities occurred nor was the MTD identified. The most common treatment-related adverse event (TRAE) was injection site reaction (primarily grades 1-2; single-agent NIZ985: 85% (23/27)); NIZ985/spartalizumab: 89% [50/56]). The most common grade 3-4 TRAE was decreased lymphocyte count (single-agent NIZ985: 7% [2/27]; NIZ985/spartalizumab: 5% [3/56]). The best overall response was stable disease in the single-agent arm (30% (8/27)) and partial response in the NIZ985/spartalizumab arm (5% [3/56]; melanoma, pancreatic cancer, gastric cancer). In dose expansion, the disease control rate was 45% (5/11) in the anti-PD-1-sensitive and 20% (5/25) in the anti-PD-1-resistant tumor type cohorts. Pharmacokinetic parameters were similar across arms. The transient increase in CD8+ T cell and natural killer cell proliferation and induction of several cytokines occurred in response to the single-agent and combination treatments. CONCLUSIONS NIZ985 was well tolerated in the single-agent and NIZ985/spartalizumab regimens. The RDE was established at 1 µg/kg TIW. Antitumor activity of the combination was observed against tumor types known to have a poor response to ICIs. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER NCT02452268.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rom Leidner
- EACRI, Providence Cancer Institute, Portland, Oregon, USA
| | - Kevin Conlon
- National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Douglas G McNeel
- Department of Medicine, Carbone Cancer Center, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Andrea Wang-Gillam
- Division of Oncology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Sumati Gupta
- Huntsman Cancer Institute, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
| | - Robert Wesolowski
- Division of Medical Oncology, James Cancer Hospital and the Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | | | - Nadia Hassounah
- Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Jong Bong Lee
- Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation, East Hanover, New Jersey, USA
| | - Lang Ho Lee
- Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Jessica A O'Keeffe
- Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Nancy Lewis
- Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation, East Hanover, New Jersey, USA
| | - George N Pavlakis
- Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Frederick, Maryland, USA
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Chouari T, La Costa FS, Merali N, Jessel MD, Sivakumar S, Annels N, Frampton AE. Advances in Immunotherapeutics in Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:4265. [PMID: 37686543 PMCID: PMC10486452 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15174265] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2023] [Revised: 08/17/2023] [Accepted: 08/22/2023] [Indexed: 09/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) accounts for up to 95% of all pancreatic cancer cases and is the seventh-leading cause of cancer death. Poor prognosis is a result of late presentation, a lack of screening tests and the fact some patients develop resistance to chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Novel therapies like immunotherapeutics have been of recent interest in pancreatic cancer. However, this field remains in its infancy with much to unravel. Immunotherapy and other targeted therapies have yet to yield significant progress in treating PDAC, primarily due to our limited understanding of the disease immune mechanisms and its intricate interactions with the tumour microenvironment (TME). In this review we provide an overview of current novel immunotherapies which have been studied in the field of pancreatic cancer. We discuss their mechanisms, evidence available in pancreatic cancer as well as the limitations of such therapies. We showcase the potential role of combining novel therapies in PDAC, postulate their potential clinical implications and the hurdles associated with their use in PDAC. Therapies discussed with include programmed death checkpoint inhibitors, Cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated protein 4, Chimeric Antigen Receptor-T cell therapy, oncolytic viral therapy and vaccine therapies including KRAS vaccines, Telomerase vaccines, Gastrin Vaccines, Survivin-targeting vaccines, Heat-shock protein (HSP) peptide complex-based vaccines, MUC-1 targeting vaccines, Listeria based vaccines and Dendritic cell-based vaccines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tarak Chouari
- Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Department, Royal Surrey NHS Foundation Trust, Guildford GU2 7XX, UK; (T.C.); (F.S.L.C.); (N.M.)
- Section of Oncology, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Surrey, Guildford GU2 7WG, UK; (M.-D.J.); (N.A.)
| | - Francesca Soraya La Costa
- Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Department, Royal Surrey NHS Foundation Trust, Guildford GU2 7XX, UK; (T.C.); (F.S.L.C.); (N.M.)
| | - Nabeel Merali
- Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Department, Royal Surrey NHS Foundation Trust, Guildford GU2 7XX, UK; (T.C.); (F.S.L.C.); (N.M.)
- Section of Oncology, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Surrey, Guildford GU2 7WG, UK; (M.-D.J.); (N.A.)
- The Minimal Access Therapy Training Unit, University of Surrey, Guildford GU2 7WG, UK
| | - Maria-Danae Jessel
- Section of Oncology, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Surrey, Guildford GU2 7WG, UK; (M.-D.J.); (N.A.)
| | - Shivan Sivakumar
- Oncology Department and Institute of Immunology and Immunotherapy, Birmingham Medical School, University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK;
| | - Nicola Annels
- Section of Oncology, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Surrey, Guildford GU2 7WG, UK; (M.-D.J.); (N.A.)
| | - Adam E. Frampton
- Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Department, Royal Surrey NHS Foundation Trust, Guildford GU2 7XX, UK; (T.C.); (F.S.L.C.); (N.M.)
- Section of Oncology, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Surrey, Guildford GU2 7WG, UK; (M.-D.J.); (N.A.)
- The Minimal Access Therapy Training Unit, University of Surrey, Guildford GU2 7WG, UK
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5
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Araujo-Abad S, Fuentes-Baile M, Rizzuti B, Bazán JF, Villamarin-Ortiz A, Saceda M, Fernández E, Vidal M, Abian O, Velazquez-Campoy A, de Juan Romero C, Neira JL. The intrinsically disordered, epigenetic factor RYBP binds to the citrullinating enzyme PADI4 in cancer cells. Int J Biol Macromol 2023; 246:125632. [PMID: 37399862 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2023.125632] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2023] [Revised: 06/16/2023] [Accepted: 06/28/2023] [Indexed: 07/05/2023]
Abstract
RYBP (Ring1 and YY 1 binding protein) is a multifunctional, intrinsically disordered protein (IDP), best described as a transcriptional regulator. It exhibits a ubiquitin-binding functionality, binds to other transcription factors, and has a key role during embryonic development. RYBP, which folds upon binding to DNA, has a Zn-finger domain at its N-terminal region. By contrast, PADI4 is a well-folded protein and it is one the human isoforms of a family of enzymes implicated in the conversion of arginine to citrulline. As both proteins intervene in signaling pathways related to cancer development and are found in the same localizations within the cell, we hypothesized they may interact. We observed their association in the nucleus and cytosol in several cancer cell lines, by using immunofluorescence (IF) and proximity ligation assays (PLAs). Binding also occurred in vitro, as measured by isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC) and fluorescence, with a low micromolar affinity (~1 μM). AlphaFold2-multimer (AF2) results indicate that PADI4's catalytic domain interacts with the Arg53 of RYBP docking into its active site. As RYBP sensitizes cells to PARP (Poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase) inhibitors, we applied them in combination with an enzymatic inhibitor of PADI4 observing a change in cell proliferation, and the hampering of the interaction of both proteins. This study unveils for the first time the possible citrullination of an IDP, and suggests that this new interaction, whether it involves or not citrullination of RYBP, might have implications in cancer development and progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Salomé Araujo-Abad
- IDIBE, Universidad Miguel Hernández, 03202 Elche, Alicante, Spain; Centro de Biotecnología, Universidad Nacional de Loja, Avda. Pío Jaramillo Alvarado s/n, 110111 Loja, Ecuador
| | - María Fuentes-Baile
- IDIBE, Universidad Miguel Hernández, 03202 Elche, Alicante, Spain; Unidad de Investigación, Fundación para el Fomento de la Investigación Sanitaria y Biomédica de la Comunidad Valenciana (FISABIO), Hospital General Universitario de Elche, Camí de l'Almazara 11, 03203 Elche, Alicante, Spain
| | - Bruno Rizzuti
- CNR-NANOTEC, SS Rende (CS), Department of Physics, University of Calabria, 87036 Rende, Italy; Instituto de Biocomputación y Física de Sistemas Complejos (BIFI) - Unidad mixta GBsC-CSIC-BIFI, Universidad de Zaragoza, 50018 Zaragoza, Spain
| | - J Fernando Bazán
- ħ Bioconsulting, LLC, Stillwater, MN, USA; Unit for Structural Biology, Vlaams Instituut voor Biotechnologie-UGent Center for Inflammation Research, Technologiepark 71, 9052 Ghent, Belgium
| | | | - Miguel Saceda
- IDIBE, Universidad Miguel Hernández, 03202 Elche, Alicante, Spain; Unidad de Investigación, Fundación para el Fomento de la Investigación Sanitaria y Biomédica de la Comunidad Valenciana (FISABIO), Hospital General Universitario de Elche, Camí de l'Almazara 11, 03203 Elche, Alicante, Spain
| | - Eduardo Fernández
- Instituto de Bioingeniería, Universidad Miguel Hernández, 03202 Elche, Alicante, Spain; Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red CIBER-BBN, Av. Monforte de Lemos 3-5, 28029 Madrid, Spain
| | - Miguel Vidal
- Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas Margarita Salas (CSIC), Calle Ramiro de Maeztu, 9, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - Olga Abian
- Instituto de Biocomputación y Física de Sistemas Complejos (BIFI) - Unidad mixta GBsC-CSIC-BIFI, Universidad de Zaragoza, 50018 Zaragoza, Spain; Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Aragón (IIS Aragón), Zaragoza, Spain; Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red en el Área Temática de Enfermedades Hepáticas y Digestivas (CIBERehd), 28029 Madrid, Spain; Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular y Celular, Universidad de Zaragoza, 50009 Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Adrián Velazquez-Campoy
- Instituto de Biocomputación y Física de Sistemas Complejos (BIFI) - Unidad mixta GBsC-CSIC-BIFI, Universidad de Zaragoza, 50018 Zaragoza, Spain; Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Aragón (IIS Aragón), Zaragoza, Spain; Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red en el Área Temática de Enfermedades Hepáticas y Digestivas (CIBERehd), 28029 Madrid, Spain; Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular y Celular, Universidad de Zaragoza, 50009 Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Camino de Juan Romero
- IDIBE, Universidad Miguel Hernández, 03202 Elche, Alicante, Spain; Unidad de Investigación, Fundación para el Fomento de la Investigación Sanitaria y Biomédica de la Comunidad Valenciana (FISABIO), Hospital General Universitario de Elche, Camí de l'Almazara 11, 03203 Elche, Alicante, Spain.
| | - José L Neira
- IDIBE, Universidad Miguel Hernández, 03202 Elche, Alicante, Spain; Instituto de Biocomputación y Física de Sistemas Complejos (BIFI) - Unidad mixta GBsC-CSIC-BIFI, Universidad de Zaragoza, 50018 Zaragoza, Spain.
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6
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Zeng Q, Saghafinia S, Chryplewicz A, Fournier N, Christe L, Xie YQ, Guillot J, Yucel S, Li P, Galván JA, Karamitopoulou E, Zlobec I, Ataca D, Gallean F, Zhang P, Rodriguez-Calero JA, Rubin M, Tichet M, Homicsko K, Hanahan D. Aberrant hyperexpression of the RNA binding protein FMRP in tumors mediates immune evasion. Science 2022; 378:eabl7207. [DOI: 10.1126/science.abl7207] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Many human cancers manifest the capability to circumvent attack by the adaptive immune system. In this work, we identified a component of immune evasion that involves frequent up-regulation of fragile X mental retardation protein (FMRP) in solid tumors. FMRP represses immune attack, as revealed by cancer cells engineered to lack its expression. FMRP-deficient tumors were infiltrated by activated T cells that impaired tumor growth and enhanced survival in mice. Mechanistically, FMRP’s immunosuppression was multifactorial, involving repression of the chemoattractant C-C motif chemokine ligand 7 (CCL7) concomitant with up-regulation of three immunomodulators—interleukin-33 (IL-33), tumor-secreted protein S (PROS1), and extracellular vesicles. Gene signatures associate FMRP’s cancer network with poor prognosis and response to therapy in cancer patients. Collectively, FMRP is implicated as a regulator that orchestrates a multifaceted barrier to antitumor immune responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiqun Zeng
- Swiss Institute for Experimental Cancer Research (ISREC), School of Life Sciences, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne (EPFL), 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
- Opna Bio SA, Biopole, 1066 Epalinges, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Sadegh Saghafinia
- Swiss Institute for Experimental Cancer Research (ISREC), School of Life Sciences, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne (EPFL), 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
- Opna Bio SA, Biopole, 1066 Epalinges, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Agnieszka Chryplewicz
- Swiss Institute for Experimental Cancer Research (ISREC), School of Life Sciences, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne (EPFL), 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
- Agora Cancer Research Center, 1011 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Nadine Fournier
- Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics (SIB), 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Lucine Christe
- Institute of Pathology, University of Bern, 3008 Bern, Switzerland
| | - Yu-Qing Xie
- Institute of Bioengineering, School of Engineering, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne (EPFL), 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Jeremy Guillot
- Swiss Institute for Experimental Cancer Research (ISREC), School of Life Sciences, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne (EPFL), 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
- Agora Cancer Research Center, 1011 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Simge Yucel
- Swiss Institute for Experimental Cancer Research (ISREC), School of Life Sciences, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne (EPFL), 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
- Agora Cancer Research Center, 1011 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Pumin Li
- Swiss Institute for Experimental Cancer Research (ISREC), School of Life Sciences, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne (EPFL), 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
- Agora Cancer Research Center, 1011 Lausanne, Switzerland
- Department of Computational Biology, University of Lausanne, 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - José A. Galván
- Institute of Pathology, University of Bern, 3008 Bern, Switzerland
| | | | - Inti Zlobec
- Institute of Pathology, University of Bern, 3008 Bern, Switzerland
| | - Dalya Ataca
- Opna Bio SA, Biopole, 1066 Epalinges, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | | | - Peng Zhang
- Beijing Pediatric Research Institute, Beijing Children’s Hospital, Capital Medical University, National Center for Children’s Health, Beijing 100045, China
| | | | - Mark Rubin
- Department for BioMedical Research, University of Bern, 3008 Bern, Switzerland
| | - Mélanie Tichet
- Swiss Institute for Experimental Cancer Research (ISREC), School of Life Sciences, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne (EPFL), 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
- Agora Cancer Research Center, 1011 Lausanne, Switzerland
- Lausanne Branch, Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, 1011 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Krisztian Homicsko
- Swiss Institute for Experimental Cancer Research (ISREC), School of Life Sciences, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne (EPFL), 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
- Agora Cancer Research Center, 1011 Lausanne, Switzerland
- Lausanne Branch, Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, 1011 Lausanne, Switzerland
- Department of Oncology, University Hospital of Lausanne (CHUV), 1011 Lausanne, Switzerland
- Swiss Cancer Center Leman (SCCL), 1011 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Douglas Hanahan
- Swiss Institute for Experimental Cancer Research (ISREC), School of Life Sciences, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne (EPFL), 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
- Agora Cancer Research Center, 1011 Lausanne, Switzerland
- Lausanne Branch, Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, 1011 Lausanne, Switzerland
- Swiss Cancer Center Leman (SCCL), 1011 Lausanne, Switzerland
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7
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Combination of photosensitizer and immune checkpoint inhibitors for improving the efficacy of tumor immunotherapy. Int J Pharm 2022; 629:122384. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpharm.2022.122384] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2022] [Revised: 11/01/2022] [Accepted: 11/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
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8
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Chen X, Gong R, Wang J, Ma B, Lei K, Ren H, Wang J, Zhao C, Wang L, Yu Q. Identification of HnRNP Family as Prognostic Biomarkers in Five Major Types of Gastrointestinal Cancer. Curr Gene Ther 2022; 22:449-461. [PMID: 35794744 PMCID: PMC9906633 DOI: 10.2174/1566523222666220613113647] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2022] [Revised: 04/14/2022] [Accepted: 04/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoproteins (hnRNPs), a large family of RNAbinding proteins, have been implicated in tumor progression in multiple cancer types. However, the expression pattern and prognostic value of hnRNPs in five gastrointestinal (GI) cancers, including gastric, colorectal, esophageal, liver, and pancreatic cancer, remain to be investigated. OBJECTIVE The current research aimed to identify prognostic biomarkers of the hnRNP family in five major types of gastrointestinal cancer. METHODS Oncomine, Gene Expression Profiling Interactive Analysis (GEPIA), and Kaplan-Meier Plotter were used to explore the hnRNPs expression levels concerning clinicopathological parameters and prognostic values. The protein level of hnRNPU was validated by immunohistochemistry (IHC) in human tissue specimens. Genetic alterations of hnRNPs were analyzed using cBioportal, and Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analyses were performed to illustrate the biological functions of co-expressed genes of hnRNPs. RESULTS The vast majority of hnRNPs were highly expressed in five types of GI cancer tissues compared to their adjacent normal tissues, and mRNA levels of hnRNPA2B1, D, Q, R, and U were significantly different in various GI cancer types at different stages. In addition, Kaplan-Meier analysis revealed that the increased hnRNPs expression levels were correlated with better prognosis in gastric and rectal cancer patients (log-rank p < 0.05). In contrast, patients with high levels of hnRNPs exhibited a worse prognosis in esophageal and liver cancer (log-rank p < 0.05). Using immunohistochemistry, we further confirmed that hnRNPU was overexpressed in gastric, rectal, and liver cancers. In addition, hnRNPs genes were altered in patients with GI cancers, and RNA-related processing was correlated with hnRNPs alterations. CONCLUSION We identified differentially expressed genes of hnRNPs in tumor tissues versus adjacent normal tissues, which might contribute to predicting tumor types, early diagnosis, and targeted therapies in five major types of GI cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xianghan Chen
- Department of Pathology, School of Basic Medicine, Qingdao University, Qingdao 266071, China;,Center of Tumor Immunology and Cytotherapy, Medical Research Center of the Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao 266000, China;,These authors contribute to this work equally.
| | - Ruining Gong
- Center of Tumor Immunology and Cytotherapy, Medical Research Center of the Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao 266000, China;,Department of Gastroenterology, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao 266000, China;,These authors contribute to this work equally.
| | - Jia Wang
- Center of Tumor Immunology and Cytotherapy, Medical Research Center of the Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao 266000, China
| | - Boyi Ma
- Center of Tumor Immunology and Cytotherapy, Medical Research Center of the Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao 266000, China;,Department of Gastroenterology, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao 266000, China
| | - Ke Lei
- Center of Tumor Immunology and Cytotherapy, Medical Research Center of the Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao 266000, China
| | - He Ren
- Center of Tumor Immunology and Cytotherapy, Medical Research Center of the Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao 266000, China;,Department of Gastroenterology, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao 266000, China
| | - Jigang Wang
- Department of Pathology, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao 266000, China
| | - Chenyang Zhao
- Center of Tumor Immunology and Cytotherapy, Medical Research Center of the Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao 266000, China
| | - Lili Wang
- Department of Pathology, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao 266000, China,Address correspondence to these authors at the Center of Tumor Immunology and Cytotherapy, Medical Research Center of the Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, No. 1677 Wutaishan Road, Qingdao, 266000, China; Tel/Fax: 86-532-82917308; E-mail: and Department of Pathology, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, No. 1677 Wutaishan Road, Qingdao, 266003, China; Tel/Fax: 86-532- 82919350; E-mail:
| | - Qian Yu
- Center of Tumor Immunology and Cytotherapy, Medical Research Center of the Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao 266000, China;,Address correspondence to these authors at the Center of Tumor Immunology and Cytotherapy, Medical Research Center of the Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, No. 1677 Wutaishan Road, Qingdao, 266000, China; Tel/Fax: 86-532-82917308; E-mail: and Department of Pathology, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, No. 1677 Wutaishan Road, Qingdao, 266003, China; Tel/Fax: 86-532- 82919350; E-mail:
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9
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Exploration of the System-Level Mechanisms of the Herbal Drug FDY003 for Pancreatic Cancer Treatment: A Network Pharmacological Investigation. EVIDENCE-BASED COMPLEMENTARY AND ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE 2022; 2022:7160209. [PMID: 35591866 PMCID: PMC9113891 DOI: 10.1155/2022/7160209] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2022] [Accepted: 04/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Pancreatic cancer (PC) is the most lethal cancer with the lowest survival rate globally. Although the prescription of herbal drugs against PC is gaining increasing attention, their polypharmacological therapeutic mechanisms are yet to be fully understood. Based on network pharmacology, we explored the anti-PC properties and system-level mechanisms of the herbal drug FDY003. FDY003 decreased the viability of human PC cells and strengthened their chemosensitivity. Network pharmacological analysis of FDY003 indicated the presence of 16 active phytochemical components and 123 PC-related pharmacological targets. Functional enrichment analysis revealed that the PC-related targets of FDY003 participate in the regulation of cell growth and proliferation, cell cycle process, cell survival, and cell death. In addition, FDY003 was shown to target diverse key pathways associated with PC pathophysiology, namely, the PIK3-Akt, MAPK, FoxO, focal adhesion, TNF, p53, HIF-1, and Ras pathways. Our network pharmacological findings advance the mechanistic understanding of the anti-PC properties of FDY003 from a system perspective.
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10
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Abdel-Salam LO, El Hanbuli H, Abdelhafez DN. Tumoral and Stromal Pdl1 and Pdl2 Checkpoints Immunohistochemical Expression in Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma, a Promising Field Of Study. Open Access Maced J Med Sci 2022. [DOI: 10.3889/oamjms.2022.9070] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is world-widely considered as one of the most malignant tumors. Programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1), via its ligands PDL1 and PDL2 plays a critical role in cancer immunoediting. The ligands are expressed in many solid tumors and there is an emerging hope of using anti-PDL in cancer immunotherapy.
Material and methods:
This study included 40 patients with PDAC who underwent pancreaticoduodenectomy. PDL1 and PDL2 pancreatic expression were evaluated in these patients using immunohistochemical staining and correlated their expression levels with each patient’s reported clinicopathological features.
Results:
There were significant relations between high tumoral PDL1 expression and the PDAC tumor histologic grade (p= 0.021) and the tumor status (T) (p= 0.022), while the stromal expression of PDL1 showed non-significant relation with any of the studied features. There were significant relations between high tumoral PDL2 expression and tumor stage (p=0.012), while the stromal expression of PDL2 showed significant relation with tumor status, lymph node status, tumor stage and the presence lympho-vascular invasion with P value equal 0.001, 0.009, 0.009, 0.045 respectively.
Conclusion:
This study showed that in PDAC patients high tumoral PDL1 and PDL2 expression was associated with some important prognostic factors, while only stromal PDL2 expression was significantly associated with most of the studied prognostic features emphasizing a role of both markers in the prognosis of this neoplasm.
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11
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Liu R, Dollinger E, Nie Q. Machine Learning of Single Cell Transcriptomic Data From anti-PD-1 Responders and Non-responders Reveals Distinct Resistance Mechanisms in Skin Cancers and PDAC. Front Genet 2022; 12:806457. [PMID: 35178072 PMCID: PMC8844526 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2021.806457] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2021] [Accepted: 12/16/2021] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Immune checkpoint therapies such as PD-1 blockade have vastly improved the treatment of numerous cancers, including basal cell carcinoma (BCC). However, patients afflicted with pancreatic ductal carcinoma (PDAC), one of the deadliest malignancies, overwhelmingly exhibit negative responses to checkpoint therapy. We sought to combine data analysis and machine learning to differentiate the putative mechanisms of BCC and PDAC non-response. We discover that increased MHC-I expression in malignant cells and suppression of MHC and PD-1/PD-L expression in CD8+ T cells is associated with nonresponse to treatment. Furthermore, we leverage machine learning to predict response to PD-1 blockade on a cellular level. We confirm divergent resistance mechanisms between BCC, PDAC, and melanoma and highlight the potential for rapid and affordable testing of gene expression in BCC patients to accurately predict response to checkpoint therapies. Our findings present an optimistic outlook for the use of quantitative cross-cancer analyses in characterizing immune responses and predicting immunotherapy outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryan Liu
- Department of Mathematics, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, United States
| | - Emmanuel Dollinger
- Department of Mathematics, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, United States,Department of Developmental and Cell Biology, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, United States,Center for Complex Biological Systems, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, United States,NSF-Simons Center for Multiscale Cell Fate Research, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, United States,*Correspondence: Emmanuel Dollinger, ; Qing Nie,
| | - Qing Nie
- Department of Mathematics, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, United States,Department of Developmental and Cell Biology, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, United States,Center for Complex Biological Systems, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, United States,NSF-Simons Center for Multiscale Cell Fate Research, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, United States,*Correspondence: Emmanuel Dollinger, ; Qing Nie,
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12
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Shoucair S, Baker AR, Yu J. Germline Variants in DNA Damage Repair Genes: An Emerging Role in the Era of Precision Medicine in Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma. Ann Gastroenterol Surg 2022; 6:7-16. [PMID: 35106410 PMCID: PMC8786682 DOI: 10.1002/ags3.12514] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2021] [Revised: 09/18/2021] [Accepted: 09/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Pancreatic adenocarcinoma is a lethal disease that is projected to become the second most common cause of cancer deaths by 2030. The role of adjuvant therapy after surgical resection has been established by several clinical trials to prolong survival and improve outcomes. Multiagent chemotherapy seems to be the most promising approach to counteract early recurrence and improve survival; however, in the era of precision medicine, patient selection and individualized therapy seems to hold the key to desirable superior outcomes. Several cancer susceptibility genes have been proven to be associated with an increased risk of pancreatic cancer, both familial and sporadic cases. The role of genomic profiling for germline variants has been extensive and of limited clinical value, considering their low prevalence in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). However, an accumulating body of evidence from several studies in the past decade have successfully shown a recognizable value of germline variants in risk assessment and patient stratification. Recently, anti-PD-1 therapy (pembrolizumab) has been FDA-approved for use in solid malignancies with a Mismatch repair deficiency or high Microsatellite instability. Several trials have evaluated the role of poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) inhibitors in patients harboring germline BRCA1/2 mutations. Finally, germline variants in DNA damage response genes and particularly deleterious ones have the potential to guide therapy after surgical resection and serve as biomarkers to predict survival. The dire need to address challenges for applying precision medicine in real-life clinical settings for PDAC patients lies in further characterizing the genetic and molecular processes through translational research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sami Shoucair
- Department of SurgeryJohns Hopkins University School of MedicineBaltimoreMDUSA
| | - Andrew R. Baker
- Cellular and Molecular Medicine Graduate ProgramJohns Hopkins University School of MedicineBaltimoreMDUSA
| | - Jun Yu
- Department of SurgeryJohns Hopkins University School of MedicineBaltimoreMDUSA
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13
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Pretta A, Lai E, Persano M, Donisi C, Pinna G, Cimbro E, Parrino A, Spanu D, Mariani S, Liscia N, Dubois M, Migliari M, Impera V, Saba G, Pusceddu V, Puzzoni M, Ziranu P, Scartozzi M. Uncovering key targets of success for immunotherapy in pancreatic cancer. Expert Opin Ther Targets 2021; 25:987-1005. [PMID: 34806517 DOI: 10.1080/14728222.2021.2010044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Despite available treatment options, pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is frequently lethal. Recent immunotherapy strategies have failed to yield any notable impact. Therefore, research is focussed on unearthing new drug targets and therapeutic strategies to tackle this malignancy and attain more positive outcomes for patients. AREAS COVERED In this perspective article, we evaluate the main resistance mechanisms to immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) and the approaches to circumvent them. We also offer an assessment of concluded and ongoing trials of PDAC immunotherapy. Literature research was performed on Pubmed accessible through keywords such as: 'pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma,' 'immunotherapy,' 'immunotherapy resistance,' 'immune escape,' 'biomarkers.' Papers published between 2000 and 2021 were selected. EXPERT OPINION The tumor microenvironment is a critical variable of treatment resistance because of its role as a physical barrier and inhibitory immune signaling. Promising therapeutic strategies appear to be a combination of immunotherapeutics with other targeted treatments. Going forward, predictive biomarkers are required to improve patient selection. Biomarker-driven trials could enhance approaches for assessing the role of immunotherapy in PDAC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Pretta
- Medical Oncology Unit, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome Italy.,Medical Oncology Unit, University Hospital and University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Eleonora Lai
- Medical Oncology Unit, University Hospital and University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Mara Persano
- Medical Oncology Unit, University Hospital and University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Clelia Donisi
- Medical Oncology Unit, University Hospital and University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Giovanna Pinna
- Medical Oncology Unit, University Hospital and University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Erika Cimbro
- Medical Oncology Unit, University Hospital and University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Alissa Parrino
- Medical Oncology Unit, University Hospital and University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Dario Spanu
- Medical Oncology Unit, University Hospital and University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Stefano Mariani
- Medical Oncology Unit, University Hospital and University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Nicole Liscia
- Medical Oncology Unit, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome Italy.,Medical Oncology Unit, University Hospital and University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Marco Dubois
- Medical Oncology Unit, University Hospital and University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Marco Migliari
- Medical Oncology Unit, University Hospital and University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Valentino Impera
- Medical Oncology Unit, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome Italy.,Medical Oncology Unit, University Hospital and University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Giorgio Saba
- Medical Oncology Unit, University Hospital and University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Valeria Pusceddu
- Medical Oncology Unit, University Hospital and University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Marco Puzzoni
- Medical Oncology Unit, University Hospital and University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Pina Ziranu
- Medical Oncology Unit, University Hospital and University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Mario Scartozzi
- Medical Oncology Unit, University Hospital and University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
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14
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Hu X, Xia F, Lee J, Li F, Lu X, Zhuo X, Nie G, Ling D. Tailor-Made Nanomaterials for Diagnosis and Therapy of Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2021; 8:2002545. [PMID: 33854877 PMCID: PMC8025024 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202002545] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2020] [Revised: 10/25/2020] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is one of the deadliest cancers worldwide due to its aggressiveness and the challenge to early diagnosis and treatment. In recent decades, nanomaterials have received increasing attention for diagnosis and therapy of PDAC. However, these designs are mainly focused on the macroscopic tumor therapeutic effect, while the crucial nano-bio interactions in the heterogeneous microenvironment of PDAC remain poorly understood. As a result, the majority of potent nanomedicines show limited performance in ameliorating PDAC in clinical translation. Therefore, exploiting the unique nature of the PDAC by detecting potential biomarkers together with a deep understanding of nano-bio interactions that occur in the tumor microenvironment is pivotal to the design of PDAC-tailored effective nanomedicine. This review will introduce tailor-made nanomaterials-enabled laboratory tests and advanced noninvasive imaging technologies for early and accurate diagnosis of PDAC. Moreover, the fabrication of a myriad of tailor-made nanomaterials for various PDAC therapeutic modalities will be reviewed. Furthermore, much preferred theranostic multifunctional nanomaterials for imaging-guided therapies of PDAC will be elaborated. Lastly, the prospects of these nanomaterials in terms of clinical translation and potential breakthroughs will be briefly discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xi Hu
- Department of Clinical PharmacyZhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory for Drug Evaluation and Clinical Researchthe First Affiliated HospitalZhejiang University School of MedicineHangzhou310003China
| | - Fan Xia
- Institute of PharmaceuticsZhejiang Province Key Laboratory of Anti‐Cancer Drug ResearchHangzhou Institute of Innovative MedicineCollege of Pharmaceutical SciencesZhejiang UniversityHangzhou310058China
| | - Jiyoung Lee
- Institute of PharmaceuticsZhejiang Province Key Laboratory of Anti‐Cancer Drug ResearchHangzhou Institute of Innovative MedicineCollege of Pharmaceutical SciencesZhejiang UniversityHangzhou310058China
| | - Fangyuan Li
- Institute of PharmaceuticsZhejiang Province Key Laboratory of Anti‐Cancer Drug ResearchHangzhou Institute of Innovative MedicineCollege of Pharmaceutical SciencesZhejiang UniversityHangzhou310058China
- Key Laboratory of Biomedical Engineering of the Ministry of EducationCollege of Biomedical Engineering & Instrument ScienceZhejiang UniversityHangzhou310058China
| | - Xiaoyang Lu
- Department of Clinical PharmacyZhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory for Drug Evaluation and Clinical Researchthe First Affiliated HospitalZhejiang University School of MedicineHangzhou310003China
| | - Xiaozhen Zhuo
- Department of Cardiologythe First Affiliated HospitalXi'an Jiaotong UniversityXi'an710061China
| | - Guangjun Nie
- CAS Key Laboratory for Biomedical Effects of Nanomaterials and NanosafetyCAS Center for Excellence in NanoscienceNational Center for Nanoscience and TechnologyNo.11 Zhongguancun BeiyitiaoBeijing100190China
- GBA Research Innovation Institute for NanotechnologyGuangzhou510700China
| | - Daishun Ling
- Institute of PharmaceuticsZhejiang Province Key Laboratory of Anti‐Cancer Drug ResearchHangzhou Institute of Innovative MedicineCollege of Pharmaceutical SciencesZhejiang UniversityHangzhou310058China
- Key Laboratory of Biomedical Engineering of the Ministry of EducationCollege of Biomedical Engineering & Instrument ScienceZhejiang UniversityHangzhou310058China
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15
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Melisi D, Oh DY, Hollebecque A, Calvo E, Varghese A, Borazanci E, Macarulla T, Merz V, Zecchetto C, Zhao Y, Gueorguieva I, Man M, Gandhi L, Estrem ST, Benhadji KA, Lanasa MC, Avsar E, Guba SC, Garcia-Carbonero R. Safety and activity of the TGFβ receptor I kinase inhibitor galunisertib plus the anti-PD-L1 antibody durvalumab in metastatic pancreatic cancer. J Immunother Cancer 2021; 9:jitc-2020-002068. [PMID: 33688022 PMCID: PMC7944986 DOI: 10.1136/jitc-2020-002068] [Citation(s) in RCA: 102] [Impact Index Per Article: 34.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Background We assessed the safety, efficacy, and pharmacokinetics of the transforming growth factor beta (TGFβ) receptor inhibitor galunisertib co-administered with the anti-programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) antibody durvalumab in recurrent/refractory metastatic pancreatic cancer previously treated with ≤2 systemic regimens. Methods This was a two-part, single-arm, multinational, phase Ib study. In a dose-finding phase, escalating oral doses of galunisertib were co-administered on days 1–14 with fixed-dose intravenous durvalumab 1500 mg on day 1 every 4 weeks (Q4W), followed by an expansion cohort phase. Results The galunisertib recommended phase II dose (RP2D) when co-administered with durvalumab 1500 mg Q4W was 150 mg two times per day. No dose-limiting toxicities were recorded. Among 32 patients treated with galunisertib RP2D, 1 patient had partial response, 7 had stable disease, 15 had objective progressive disease, and 9 were not evaluable. Disease control rate was 25.0%. Median overall survival and progression-free survival were 5.72 months (95% CI: 4.01 to 8.38) and 1.87 months (95% CI: 1.58 to 3.09), respectively. Pharmacokinetic profiles for combination therapy were comparable to those published for each drug. There was no association between potential biomarkers and treatment outcomes. Conclusion Galunisertib 150 mg two times per day co-administered with durvalumab 1500 mg Q4W was tolerable. Clinical activity was limited. Studying this combination in patients in an earlier line of treatment or selected for predictive biomarkers of TGFβ inhibition might be a more suitable approach. Trial registration number ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT02734160.
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Affiliation(s)
- Davide Melisi
- Digestive Molecular Clinical Oncology Research Unit, Section of Medical Oncology, Università degli Studi di Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Do-Youn Oh
- Seoul National University Hospital, Cancer Research Institute, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
| | | | - Emiliano Calvo
- START Madrid-CIOCC, Centro Integral Oncológico Clara Campal, Madrid, Spain
| | - Anna Varghese
- Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York, USA
| | - Erkut Borazanci
- HonorHealth Research Institute, Scottsdale, Arizona, USA.,TGen, Phoenix, Arizona, USA
| | - Teresa Macarulla
- Vall d'Hebron University Hospital and Vall d'Hebron Institute of Oncology (VHIO), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Valeria Merz
- Digestive Molecular Clinical Oncology Research Unit, Section of Medical Oncology, Università degli Studi di Verona, Verona, Italy.,Department of Medical Oncology, Santa Chiara Hospital, Trento, Italy
| | - Camilla Zecchetto
- Digestive Molecular Clinical Oncology Research Unit, Section of Medical Oncology, Università degli Studi di Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Yumin Zhao
- Eli Lilly and Company, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
| | | | - Michael Man
- Eli Lilly and Company, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
| | | | | | | | | | - Emin Avsar
- Eli Lilly and Company, New York, New York, USA
| | - Susan C Guba
- Eli Lilly and Company, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
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16
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Yang G, Guan W, Cao Z, Guo W, Xiong G, Zhao F, Feng M, Qiu J, Liu Y, Zhang MQ, You L, Zhang T, Zhao Y, Gu J. Integrative Genomic Analysis of Gemcitabine Resistance in Pancreatic Cancer by Patient-derived Xenograft Models. Clin Cancer Res 2021; 27:3383-3396. [PMID: 33674273 DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-19-3975] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2019] [Revised: 12/21/2020] [Accepted: 03/02/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE Gemcitabine is most commonly used for pancreatic cancer. However, the molecular features and mechanisms of the frequently occurring resistance remain unclear. This work aims at exploring the molecular features of gemcitabine resistance and identifying candidate biomarkers and combinatorial targets for the treatment. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN In this study, we established 66 patient-derived xenografts (PDXs) on the basis of clinical pancreatic cancer specimens and treated them with gemcitabine. We generated multiomics data (including whole-exome sequencing, RNA sequencing, miRNA sequencing, and DNA methylation array) of 15 drug-sensitive and 13 -resistant PDXs before and after the gemcitabine treatment. We performed integrative computational analysis to identify the molecular networks related to gemcitabine intrinsic and acquired resistance. Then, short hairpin RNA-based high-content screening was implemented to validate the function of the deregulated genes. RESULTS The comprehensive multiomics analysis and functional experiment revealed that MRPS5 and GSPT1 had strong effects on cell proliferation, and CD55 and DHTKD1 contributed to gemcitabine resistance in pancreatic cancer cells. Moreover, we found miR-135a-5p was significantly associated with the prognosis of patients with pancreatic cancer and could be a candidate biomarker to predict gemcitabine response. Comparing the molecular features before and after the treatment, we found that PI3K-Akt, p53, and hypoxia-inducible factor-1 pathways were significantly altered in multiple patients, providing candidate target pathways for reducing the acquired resistance. CONCLUSIONS This integrative genomic study systematically investigated the predictive markers and molecular mechanisms of chemoresistance in pancreatic cancer and provides potential therapy targets for overcoming gemcitabine resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gang Yang
- Department of General Surgery, State Key Laboratory of Complex Severe and, Rare Diseases, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, P.R. China
| | - Wenfang Guan
- MOE Key Laboratory of Bioinformatics, Division of BNRist Bioinformatics, Department of Automation, Tsinghua University, Beijing, P.R. China
| | - Zhe Cao
- Department of General Surgery, State Key Laboratory of Complex Severe and, Rare Diseases, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, P.R. China
| | - Wenbo Guo
- MOE Key Laboratory of Bioinformatics, Division of BNRist Bioinformatics, Department of Automation, Tsinghua University, Beijing, P.R. China
| | - Guangbing Xiong
- Department of General Surgery, State Key Laboratory of Complex Severe and, Rare Diseases, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, P.R. China
| | - Fangyu Zhao
- Department of General Surgery, State Key Laboratory of Complex Severe and, Rare Diseases, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, P.R. China
| | - Mengyu Feng
- Department of General Surgery, State Key Laboratory of Complex Severe and, Rare Diseases, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, P.R. China
| | - Jiangdong Qiu
- Department of General Surgery, State Key Laboratory of Complex Severe and, Rare Diseases, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, P.R. China
| | - Yueze Liu
- Department of General Surgery, State Key Laboratory of Complex Severe and, Rare Diseases, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, P.R. China
| | - Michael Q Zhang
- MOE Key Laboratory of Bioinformatics, Division of BNRist Bioinformatics, Department of Automation, Tsinghua University, Beijing, P.R. China
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences, School of Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing, P.R. China
- Department of Biological Sciences, Center for Systems Biology, the University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, Texas
| | - Lei You
- Department of General Surgery, State Key Laboratory of Complex Severe and, Rare Diseases, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, P.R. China.
| | - Taiping Zhang
- Department of General Surgery, State Key Laboratory of Complex Severe and, Rare Diseases, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, P.R. China.
| | - Yupei Zhao
- Department of General Surgery, State Key Laboratory of Complex Severe and, Rare Diseases, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, P.R. China.
| | - Jin Gu
- MOE Key Laboratory of Bioinformatics, Division of BNRist Bioinformatics, Department of Automation, Tsinghua University, Beijing, P.R. China.
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Chen H, Yang G, Xiao J, Zheng L, You L, Zhang T. Neoantigen-based immunotherapy in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). Cancer Lett 2020; 490:12-19. [PMID: 32590021 DOI: 10.1016/j.canlet.2020.06.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2020] [Revised: 06/05/2020] [Accepted: 06/12/2020] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Neoantigens generated in neoplasms are a type of protein completely absent in healthy tissues. Therefore, anti-tumor immunity targeting neoantigens is highly specific, which provides an optional approach to boost tumor immunotherapy. Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is one of the most lethal malignancies in humans, with few efficient treatments to improve its prognosis. Therefore, immunotherapies reinforced by neoantigen-based strategies should be considered. In PDAC, the mutational burden is intermediate compared with other common malignancies, while the naturally formed tumor immunity is significantly inferior. Moreover, the high mutation load in PDAC correlates with a poor clinical prognosis, although the combination of a large mutation repertoire and competent T cell population is indispensable for long-term survival. In clinical practice, three strategies have been mainly used: peptide or tumor cell vaccines, neo-epitope-coding nucleotide vaccines, and dendritic cell vaccines. However, three major problems remain to be addressed, including (1) highly personalized protocols after sampling, (2) insufficient neoantigen quantity, and (3) ineffective immunotherapy of PDAC. In summary, neoantigen-based therapy of PDAC is increasing and the treatment methods are accompanied by great challenges. Currently, extensive development is needed for effective neoantigen-based therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hao Chen
- Department of General Surgery, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China; School of Medicine, Tsinghua University, 1 Tsinghua Yuan Haidian District, Beijing, 100084, China.
| | - Gang Yang
- Department of General Surgery, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China.
| | - Jianchun Xiao
- Department of General Surgery, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China.
| | - Lianfang Zheng
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100730, China.
| | - Lei You
- Department of General Surgery, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China.
| | - Taiping Zhang
- Department of General Surgery, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China; Clinical Immunology Center, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100730, China.
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18
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Wang Y, Wang H, Zhou L, Lu J, Jiang B, Liu C, Guo J. Photodynamic therapy of pancreatic cancer: Where have we come from and where are we going? Photodiagnosis Photodyn Ther 2020; 31:101876. [PMID: 32534246 DOI: 10.1016/j.pdpdt.2020.101876] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2020] [Revised: 06/05/2020] [Accepted: 06/08/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a potential adjuvant therapy in pancreatic cancer with several advantages. Mechanistically, pancreatic cancer PDT can induce apoptosis and necrosis of pancreatic cancer cells and lead to vascular damage and enhance anti-tumor immune response in tumor tissues. However, limitations of current photosensitizers such as limited penetration depth, poor targeted therapy and inadequate reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation still exist. Recently, several novel photosensitizers have been reported to break through limits in pancreatic cancer PDT. Methods combined with biomedical engineering, materialogy and chemical engineering have been employed to overcome the difficulties and to realize targeted therapy. Preclinical and clinical trials also preliminarily confirmed the technical feasibility and safety of pancreatic cancer PDT. Therefore, PDT may be potential to be used as an effective adjuvant therapy in pancreatic cancer multimodality therapy. This review will give an overview about pancreatic cancer PDT from basic experimental studies, preclinical and clinical application to future direction of pancreatic cancer PDT.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yizhi Wang
- Department of General Surgery, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100730, China
| | - Hongwei Wang
- Department of Dermatology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100730, China
| | - Li Zhou
- Department of General Surgery, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100730, China
| | - Jun Lu
- Department of General Surgery, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100730, China
| | - Bolun Jiang
- Department of General Surgery, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100730, China
| | - Chengxi Liu
- Department of General Surgery, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100730, China
| | - Junchao Guo
- Department of General Surgery, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100730, China.
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19
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Song H, Liu Q, Liao Q. Circular RNA and tumor microenvironment. Cancer Cell Int 2020; 20:211. [PMID: 32518520 PMCID: PMC7268656 DOI: 10.1186/s12935-020-01301-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2020] [Accepted: 05/27/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are small non-coding RNAs with a unique ring structure and play important roles as gene regulators. Disturbed expressions of circRNAs is closely related to varieties of pathological processes. The roles of circRNAs in cancers have gained increasing concerns. The communications between the cancer cells and tumor microenvironment (TME) play complicated roles to affect the malignant behaviors of cancers, which potentially present new therapeutic targets. Herein, we reviewed the roles of circRNAs in the TME.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huixin Song
- Department of General Surgery, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Science & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100730 China
| | - Qiaofei Liu
- Department of General Surgery, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Science & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100730 China
| | - Quan Liao
- Department of General Surgery, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Science & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100730 China
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20
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Combined blockade of TGf-β1 and GM-CSF improves chemotherapeutic effects for pancreatic cancer by modulating tumor microenvironment. Cancer Immunol Immunother 2020; 69:1477-1492. [PMID: 32285172 DOI: 10.1007/s00262-020-02542-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2019] [Accepted: 03/03/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
The interactions between tumor immune microenvironment (TIME) and pancreatic cancer cells can affect chemotherapeutic efficacy; however, the mechanisms still remain largely unknown. Thirty items in TIME were comprehensively screened by using tissue microarray from pancreatic cancer patients. Their expressions, interconnections and predictive roles for survival were analyzed. Twenty-one of 30 items could stratify the survival of the patients; however, multivariate analysis found that only 5 independent risk factors could predict worse survival (M2-polarized tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs), IgG4 positive cells, TGF-β1, GM-CSF and lymphangiogenesis). They had a much higher expression levels in tumoral tissue, compared to peritumoral tissue. The Spearman analysis showed that M2-polarized TAM, TGF-β1 and GM-CSF were positively correlated with pancreatic cancer stem cells (PCSC), angiogenesis and lymphangiogenesis. Both human and murine pancreatic cancer cells could induce M2-polarized TAM, which showed substantial roles to decease chemotherapeutic effects. After treated by gemcitabine, both human and murine pancreatic cancer cell lines expressed higher level of immune check points, PCSC markers and varieties of immunosuppressive factors; however, TGF-β1 and GM-CSF had the highest increase. Based on the above results, TGF-β1 and GM-CSF were proposed to be the optimal potential targets to improve chemotherapeutic effects. In immunocompetent murine models, we demonstrated that combined blockade of TGF-β1 and GM-CSF improved the chemotherapeutic effects by inhibition of M2-polarized TAM and induction of CD8 positive T cells. This study presents a novel promising combined strategy to improve the chemotherapeutic effects for pancreatic cancer.
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21
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Ebelt ND, Zuniga E, Johnson BL, Diamond DJ, Manuel ER. 5-Azacytidine Potentiates Anti-tumor Immunity in a Model of Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma. Front Immunol 2020; 11:538. [PMID: 32296439 PMCID: PMC7136411 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2020.00538] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2019] [Accepted: 03/09/2020] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Tumors evolve a variety of mechanisms to escape immune detection while expressing tumor-promoting molecules that can be immunogenic. Here, we show that transposable elements (TE) and gene encoded, tumor-associated antigens (TAA), which can be both highly immunogenic and tumor-promoting, are significantly upregulated during the transition from pre-malignancy to malignancy in an inducible model of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). Coincident with the increased presence of TEs and TAAs was the downregulation of gene transcripts associated with antigen presentation, T cell recruitment and intrinsic anti-viral responses, suggesting a unique strategy employed by PDAC to possibly augment tumorigenesis while escaping detection by the immune system. In vitro treatment of mouse and human PDAC cell lines with the DNA methyltransferase inhibitor 5-azacytidine (Aza) resulted in augmented expression of transcripts for antigen presentation machinery and T cell chemokines. When immunocompetent mice implanted with PDAC were therapeutically treated with Aza, we observed significant tumor regression that was not observed in immunocompromised mice, implicating anti-tumor immunity as the principal mechanism of tumor growth control. Analysis of PDAC tumors, immediately following Aza treatment in immunocompetent mice, revealed a significantly greater infiltration of T cells and various innate immune subsets compared to control treatment, suggesting that Aza treatment enhances tumor immunogenicity. Thus, augmenting antigen presentation and T cell chemokine expression using DNA methyltransferase inhibitors could be leveraged to potentiate adaptive anti-tumor immune responses against PDAC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nancy D. Ebelt
- Department of Immuno-Oncology, Beckman Research Institute, City of Hope, Duarte, CA, United States
| | - Edith Zuniga
- Department of Immuno-Oncology, Beckman Research Institute, City of Hope, Duarte, CA, United States
| | - Benjamin L. Johnson
- Department of Hematology and Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation, City of Hope, Duarte, CA, United States
| | - Don J. Diamond
- Department of Hematology and Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation, City of Hope, Duarte, CA, United States
| | - Edwin R. Manuel
- Department of Immuno-Oncology, Beckman Research Institute, City of Hope, Duarte, CA, United States
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22
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Miller AL, Garcia PL, Yoon KJ. Developing effective combination therapy for pancreatic cancer: An overview. Pharmacol Res 2020; 155:104740. [PMID: 32135247 DOI: 10.1016/j.phrs.2020.104740] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2020] [Revised: 02/28/2020] [Accepted: 02/29/2020] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Pancreatic cancer is a fatal disease. The five-year survival for patients with all stages of this tumor type is less than 10%, with a majority of patients dying from drug resistant, metastatic disease. Gemcitabine has been a standard of care for the treatment of pancreatic cancer for over 20 years, but as a single agent gemcitabine is not curative. Since the only therapeutic option for the over 80 percent of pancreatic cancer patients ineligible for surgical resection is chemotherapy with or without radiation, the last few decades have seen a significant effort to develop effective therapy for this disease. This review addresses preclinical and clinical efforts to identify agents that target molecular characteristics common to pancreatic tumors and to develop mechanism-based combination approaches to therapy. Some of the most promising combinations include agents that inhibit transcription dependent on BET proteins (BET bromodomain inhibitors) or that inhibit DNA repair mediated by PARP (PARP inhibitors).
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Affiliation(s)
- Aubrey L Miller
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham AL, 35294 USA
| | - Patrick L Garcia
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham AL, 35294 USA
| | - Karina J Yoon
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham AL, 35294 USA.
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