Genetic and clinical characterization of B7-H3 (CD276) expression and epigenetic regulation in diffuse brain glioma

Treatment advances in high-grade gliomas

High-grade gliomas (HGG) pose significant challenges in modern tumour therapy due to the distinct biological properties and limitations of the blood-brain barrier. This review discusses recent advancements in HGG treatment, particularly in the context of immunotherapy and cellular therapy. Initially, treatment strategies focus on targeting tumour cells guided by the molecular characteristics of various gliomas, encompassing chemotherapy, radiotherapy and targeted therapy for enhanced precision. Additionally, technological enhancements are augmenting traditional treatment modalities. Furthermore, immunotherapy, emphasising comprehensive tumour management, has gained widespread attention. Immune checkpoint inhibitors, vaccines and CAR-T cells exhibit promising efficacy against recurrent HGG. Moreover, emerging therapies such as tumour treating fields (TTFields) offer additional treatment avenues for patients with HGG. The combination of diverse treatments holds promise for improving the prognosis of HGG, particularly in cases of recurrence.

IRF8-driven reprogramming of the immune microenvironment enhances anti-tumor adaptive immunity and reduces immunosuppression in murine glioblastoma

Background

Glioblastoma (GBM) has a highly immunosuppressive tumor immune microenvironment (TIME), largely mediated by myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs). Here, we utilized a retroviral replicating vector (RRV) to deliver Interferon Regulatory Factor 8 (IRF8), a master regulator of type 1 conventional dendritic cell (cDC1) development, in a syngeneic murine GBM model. We hypothesized that RRV-mediated delivery of IRF8 could "reprogram" intratumoral MDSCs into antigen-presenting cells (APCs) and thereby restore T-cell responses.

Methods

Effects of RRV-IRF8 on survival and tumor growth kinetics were examined in the SB28 murine GBM model. Immunophenotype was analyzed by flow cytometry and gene expression assays. We assayed functional immunosuppression and antigen presentation by ex vivo T-cell-myeloid co-culture.

Results

Mice with RRV-IRF8 pre-transduced intracerebral tumors had significantly longer survival and slower tumor growth compared to controls. RRV-IRF8 treated tumors exhibited significant enrichment of cDC1s and CD8+ T-cells. Additionally, myeloid cells derived from RRV-IRF8 tumors showed decreased expression of the immunosuppressive markers Arg1 and IDO1 and demonstrated reduced suppression of naïve T-cell proliferation in ex vivo co-culture, compared to controls. Furthermore, DCs from RRV-IRF8 tumors showed increased antigen presentation compared to those from control tumors. In vivo treatment with azidothymidine (AZT), a viral replication inhibitor, showed that IRF8 transduction in both tumor and non-tumor cells is necessary for survival benefit, associated with a reprogrammed, cDC1- and CD8 T-cell-enriched TIME.

Conclusions

Our results indicate that reprogramming of glioma-infiltrating myeloid cells by in vivo expression of IRF8 may reduce immunosuppression and enhance antigen presentation, achieving improved tumor control.

N6-methyladenosine modification of B7-H3 mRNA promotes the development and progression of colorectal cancer

B7-H3 is a common oncogene found in various cancer types. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying abnormal B7-H3 expression and colorectal cancer (CRC) progression need to be extensively explored. B7-H3 was upregulated in human CRC tissues and its abnormal expression was correlated with a poor prognosis in CRC patients. Notably, gain- and loss-of-function experiments revealed that B7-H3 knockdown substantially inhibited cell proliferation, migration, and invasion in vitro, whereas exogenous B7-H3 expression yielded contrasting results. In addition, silencing of B7-H3 inhibited tumor growth in a xenograft mouse model. Mechanistically, our study demonstrated that the N6-methyladenosine (m6A) binding protein YTHDF1 augmented B7-H3 expression in an m6A-dependent manner. Furthermore, rescue experiments demonstrated that reintroduction of B7-H3 considerably abolished the inhibitory effects on cell proliferation and invasion induced by silencing YTHDF1. Our results suggest that the YTHDF1-m6A-B7-H3 axis is crucial for CRC development and progression and may represent a potential therapeutic target for CRC treatment.

Leveraging a disulfidptosis‑related lncRNAs signature for predicting the prognosis and immunotherapy of glioma

BACKGROUND

Gliomas, a prevalent form of primary brain tumors, are linked with a high mortality rate and unfavorable prognoses. Disulfidptosis, an innovative form of programmed cell death, has received scant attention concerning disulfidptosis-related lncRNAs (DRLs). The objective of this investigation was to ascertain a prognostic signature utilizing DRLs to forecast the prognosis and treatment targets of glioma patients.

METHODS

RNA-seq data were procured from The Cancer Genome Atlas database. Disulfidptosis-related genes were compiled from prior research. An analysis of multivariate Cox regression and the least absolute selection operator was used to construct a risk model using six DRLs. The risk signature's performance was evaluated via Kaplan-Meier survival curves and receiver operating characteristic curves. Additionally, functional analysis was carried out using GO, KEGG, and single-sample GSEA to investigate the biological functions and immune infiltration. The research also evaluated tumor mutational burden, therapeutic drug sensitivity, and consensus cluster analysis. Reverse transcription quantitative PCR was conducted to validate the expression level of DRLs.

RESULTS

A prognostic signature comprising six DRLs was developed to predict the prognosis of glioma patients. High-risk patients had significantly shorter overall survival than low-risk patients. The robustness of the risk model was validated by receiver operating characteristic curves and subgroup survival analysis. Risk model was used independently as a prognostic indicator for the glioma patients. Notably, the low-risk patients displayed a substantial decrease in the immune checkpoints, the proportion of immune cells, ESTIMATE and immune score. IC50 values from the different risk groups allowed us to discern three drugs for the treatment of glioma patients. Lastly, the potential clinical significance of six DRLs was determined.

CONCLUSIONS

A novel six DRLs signature was developed to predict prognosis and may provide valuable insights for patients with glioma seeking novel immunotherapy and targeted therapy.

Insight into the Progress in CAR-T Cell Therapy and Combination with Other Therapies for Glioblastoma

Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most common malignant primary brain cancer in adults. It is always resistant to existing treatments, including surgical resection, postoperative radiotherapy, and chemotherapy, which leads to a dismal prognosis and a high relapse rate. Therefore, novel curative therapies are urgently needed for GBM. Chimeric antigen receptor T (CAR-T) cell therapy has significantly improved life expectancy for hematological malignancies patients, and thus it increases the interest in applying CAR-T cell therapy for solid tumors. In the recently published research, it is indicated that there are numerous obstacles to achieve clinical benefits for solid tumors, especially for GBM, because of GBM anatomical characteristics (the blood-brain barrier and suppressive tumor microenvironment) and the tumor heterogeneity. CAR-T cells are difficult to penetrate blood-brain barrier, and immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (TME), which induces CAR-T cell exhaustion, impairs CAR-T cell therapy response. Moreover, under the pressure of CAR-T cell therapy, the tumor heterogeneity and tumor plasticity drive tumor evolution and therapy resistance, such as antigen escape. Nonetheless, scientists strive for strategies to overcome these hurdles, including novel CAR-T cell designs and regional delivery. For instance, the structure of multi-antigen-targeted CAR-T cells can enrich CAR-T accumulation in tumor TME and eliminate abundant tumor cells to avoid tumor antigen heterogeneity. Additionally, paired with an immune modifier and one or more stimulating domains, different generation of innovations in the structure and manufacturing of CAR-T cells have improved efficacy and persistence. While single CAR-T cell therapy receives limited clinical survival benefit. Compared with single CAR-T cell therapy, the combination therapies have supplemented the treatment paradigm. Combinatorial treatment methods consolidate the CAR-T cells efficacy by regulating the tumor microenvironment, optimizing the CAR structure, targeting the CAR-T cells to the tumor cells, reversing the tumor-immune escape mechanisms, and represent a promising avenue against GBM, based on multiple impressive research. Moreover, exciting results are also reported to be realized through combining effective therapies with CAR-T cells in preclinical and clinical trials samples, have aroused inspiration to explore the antitumor function of combination therapies. In summary, this study aims to summarize the limitation of CAR-T cell therapies and introduces novel strategies to enhance CAR-T cell function as well as prospect the potential of the therapeutic combination.

B7-H3 in Brain Malignancies: Immunology and Immunotherapy

The immune checkpoint B7-H3 (CD276), a member of the B7 family with immunoregulatory properties, has been identified recently as a novel target for immunotherapy for refractory blood cancers and solid malignant tumors. While research on B7-H3 in brain malignancies is limited, there is growing interest in exploring its therapeutic potential in this context. B7-H3 plays a crucial role in regulating the functions of immune cells, cancer-associated fibroblasts, and endothelial cells within the tumor microenvironment, contributing to the creation of a pro-tumorigenic milieu. This microenvironment promotes uncontrolled cancer cell proliferation, enhanced metabolism, increased cancer stemness, and resistance to standard treatments. Blocking B7-H3 and terminating its immunosuppressive function is expected to improve anti-tumor immune responses and, in turn, ameliorate the progression of tumors. Results from preclinical or observative studies and early-phase trials targeting B7-H3 have revealed promising anti-tumor efficacy and acceptable toxicity in glioblastoma (GBM), diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG), medulloblastoma, neuroblastoma, craniopharyngioma, atypical teratoid/rhabdoid tumor, and brain metastases. Ongoing clinical trials are now investigating the use of CAR-T cell therapy and antibody-drug conjugate therapy, either alone or in combination with standard treatments or other therapeutic approaches, targeting B7-H3 in refractory or recurrent GBMs, DIPGs, neuroblastomas, medulloblastomas, ependymomas, and metastatic brain tumors. These trials hold promise for providing effective treatment options for these challenging intracranial malignancies in both adult and pediatric populations.

Spatial Distribution of Immune Cells in Primary and Recurrent Glioblastoma: A Small Case Study

Only a minority of patients with glioblastoma (GBM) respond to immunotherapy, and always only partially. There is a lack of knowledge on immune distribution in GBM and in its tumor microenvironment (TME). To address the question, we used paired primary and recurrent tumors from GBM patients to study the composition and the evolution of the immune landscape upon treatment. We studied the expression of a handful of immune markers (CD3, CD8, CD68, PD-L1 and PD-1) in GBM tissues in 15 paired primary and recurrent GBM. In five selected patients, we used Nanostring Digital Spatial Profiling (DSP) to obtain simultaneous assessments of multiple biomarkers both within the tumor and the microenvironment in paired primary and recurrent GBM. Our results suggest that the evolution of the immune landscape between paired primary and recurrent GBM tumors is highly heterogeneous. However, our study identifies B3-H7 and HLA-DR as potential targets in primary and recurrent GBM. Spatial profiling of immune markers from matched primary and recurrent GBM shows a nonlinear complex evolution during the progression of cancer. Nonetheless, our study demonstrated a global increase in macrophages, and revealed differential localization of some markers, such as B7-H3 and HLA-DR, between GBM and its TME.

TMIGD2 as a potential therapeutic target in glioma patients

Introduction

Among all types of central nervous system cancers, glioma remains the most frequent primary brain tumor in adults. Despite significant advances in immunomodulatory therapies, notably immune checkpoint inhibitors, their effectiveness remains constrained due to glioma resistance. The discovery of TMIGD2 (Transmembrane and Immunoglobulin Domain Containing 2) as an immuno-stimulatory receptor, constitutively expressed on naive T cells and most natural killer (NK) cells, has emerged as an attractive immunotherapy target in a variety of cancers. The expression profile of TMIGD2 and its significance in the overall survival of glioma patients remains unknown.

Methods

In the present study, we first assessed TMIGD2 mRNA expression using the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) glioma transcriptome dataset (667 patients), followed by validation with the Chinese Glioma Genome Atlas (CGGA) cohort (693 patients). Secondly, we examined TMIGD2 protein staining in a series of 25 paraffin-embedded blocks from Moroccan glioma patients. The statistical analysis was performed using GraphPad Prism 8 software.

Results

TMIGD2 expression was found to be significantly higher in astrocytoma, IDH-1 mutations, low-grade, and young glioma patients. TMIGD2 was expressed on immune cells and, surprisingly, on tumor cells of glioma patients. Interestingly, our study demonstrated that TMIGD2 expression was negatively correlated with angiogenesis, hypoxia, G2/M checkpoint, and epithelial to mesenchymal transition signaling pathways. We also demonstrated that dendritic cells, monocytes, NK cells, gd T cells, and naive CD8 T cell infiltration correlates positively with TMIGD2 expression. On the other hand, Mantel-Cox analysis demonstrated that increased expression of TMIGD2 in human gliomas is associated with good overall survival. Cox multivariable analysis revealed that TMIGD2 is an independent predictor of a good prognosis in glioma patients.

Discussion

Taken together, our results highlight the tight implication of TMIGD2 in glioma progression and show its promising therapeutic potential as a stimulatory target for immunotherapy.

Comprehensive characterization of B7 family members in NSCLC and identification of its regulatory network

B7 family members act as co-stimulatory or co-inhibitory molecules in the adaptive immune system. Thisstudy aimed to investigate the dysregulation, prognostic value and regulatory network of B7 family members in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Data for lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) and lung squamous cell carcinoma (LUSC) patients were extracted from public databases. Patient prognosis was determined by Kaplan-Meier analysis. The downstream signaling pathways of B7 family were identified via GO and KEGG analysis. The key B7 related genes were selected by network, correlation and functional annotation analysis. Most B7 family members were dysregulated in LUAD and LUSC. The expression of B7-1/2/H3 and B7-H5 were significantly associated with overall survival in LUAD and LUSC, respectively. The major pathway affected by B7 family was the EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor resistance and ErbB signaling pathway. MAPK1, MAPK3 and MAP2K1 were pivotal B7 related genes in both LUAD and LUSC. This study reveals an overall dysregulation of B7 family members in NSCLC and highlights the potential of combination use of tyrosine kinase inhibitors or MEK/ERK inhibitors with B7 member blockade for NSCLC treatment.

B7-H3 expression is associated with high PD-L1 expression in clear cell renal cell carcinoma and predicts poor prognosis

BACKGROUND

Clear cell Renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) is an immunogenic tumor. B7 family members, such as CTLA-4, PD-1, and PD-L1, are the main components of immune checkpoints that regulate various immune responses. Specifically, B7-H3 regulates T cell-mediated immune responses against cancer. This study aimed to analyze the association between B7-H3 and CTLA-4 expression and the prognostic factors of ccRCC to provide a basis for their potential use as predictive factors and in immunotherapy.

METHODS

Formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded specimens were obtained from 244 ccRCC patients, and B7-H3, CTLA-4, and PD-L1 expressions were evaluated using immunohistochemical staining.

RESULTS

B7-H3 and CTLA-4 were positive in 73 (29.9%) and 57 (23.4%) of the 244 patients, respectively. B7-H3 expression was significantly associated with PD-L1 expression (P <  0.0001); however, CTLA-4 expression was not (P = 0.842). Kaplan-Meier analysis showed that positive B7-H3 expression was associated with poor progression-free survival (PFS) (P <  0.0001), whereas CTLA-4 expression was not (P = 0.457). Multivariate analysis revealed that B7-H3 was correlated with poor PFS (P = 0.031), whereas CTLA-4 was not (P = 0.173).

CONCLUSIONS

To the best of our knowledge, this study is the first to investigate B7-H3 and PD-L1 expression and survival in ccRCC. B7-H3 expression is an independent prognostic factor for ccRCC. Furthermore, multiple immune cell inhibitory targets, such as B7-H3 and PD-L1, can be used for therapeutic tumor regression in a clinical setting.

Integrated Bioinformatic Analysis of the Correlation of HOXA10 Expression with Survival and Immune Cell Infiltration in Lower Grade Glioma

Homeobox A10 (HOXA10) encodes a transcription factor that regulates developmental processes. Whether HOXA10 mRNA levels in lower grade glioma (LGG) correlate with survival and immune cell infiltration has not been evaluated. The differential expression of HOXA10 in different tumors and their corresponding normal tissues was evaluated by exploring public datasets. The correlations between HOXA10 and survival, tumor immune cell infiltration, diverse gene mutation characteristics, and tumor mutation burden in LGG were also investigated using several independent datasets. Pathway enrichment analysis was conducted to identify HOXA10-associated signaling pathways. We found that HOXA10 expression levels did not significantly differ between LGG tumors and normal tissues. Upon assessing the association between HOXA10 expression and immune cell infiltration in LGG, as expected, HOXA10 gene mRNA levels were positively associated with B-cell and dendritic cell infiltration levels in public online datasets. Different HOXA10 expression groups showed diverse gene mutation characteristics and TMB, and low HOXA10 expression was closely related to improved LGG patient survival. Pathway enrichment analysis of HOXA10-associated genes indicated that the cell cycle signaling pathway may participate in affecting the outcomes of LGG patients. Our findings showed that HOXA10 expression was associated with LGG prognosis and tumor immunity.

Role of B7 family members in glioma: Promising new targets for tumor immunotherapy

Glioma, is a representative type of intracranial tumor among adults, usually has a weak prognosis and limited treatment options. Traditional therapies, including surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy, have had little impact on patient survival time. Immunotherapies designed to target the programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1)/programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1) signaling pathway have successfully treated various human cancers, informing the development of similar therapies for glioma. However, anti-PD-L1 response rates remain limited in glioma patients. Thus, exploring novel checkpoints targeting additional immunomodulatory pathways for activating durable antitumor immune responses and improving glioma outcomes is needed. Researchers have identified other B7 family checkpoint molecules, including PD-L2, B7-H2, B7-H3, B7-H4, and B7-H6. The current review article evaluates the expression of all 10 reported members of the B7 family in human glioma using The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and the Genotype-Tissue Expression (GTEx) data, as well as summarizes studies evaluating the clinical meanings and functions of B7 family molecules in gliomas. B7 family checkpoints may contribute to different immunotherapeutic management options for glioma patients.

Myeloidcells in the immunosuppressive microenvironment in glioblastoma: The characteristics and therapeutic strategies

Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most common and lethal malignant tumor of the central nervous system in adults. Conventional therapies, including surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy, have limited success in ameliorating patient survival. The immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment, which is infiltrated by a variety of myeloid cells, has been considered a crucial obstacle to current treatment. Recently, immunotherapy, which has achieved great success in hematological malignancies and some solid cancers, has garnered extensive attention for the treatment of GBM. In this review, we will present evidence on the features and functions of different populations of myeloid cells, and on current clinical advances in immunotherapies for glioblastoma.

Integrative molecular analyses define correlates of high B7-H3 expression in metastatic castrate-resistant prostate cancer

B7-H3 (CD276) is an immune checkpoint overexpressed in prostate cancer with minimal expression in normal tissues and associated with poor prognosis, making it an excellent therapy target. We interrogated B7-H3 expression and its regulation in metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC). We found greater expression of B7-H3 transcript relative to other immunotherapy targets (CTLA-4, PD-L1/2), including in tumors that lacked expression of prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA). Enzalutamide-resistant mCRPC cells demonstrated increased amounts of B7-H3, and this was associated with resistance signaling pathways. Using a machine-learning algorithm, the gene network of B7-H3 was strongly correlated with androgen receptor (AR) and AR co-factor (HOXB13, FOXA1) networks. In mCRPC samples, the B7-H3 promoter and distal enhancer regions exhibited enhanced transcriptional activity and were directly bound by AR and its co-factors. Altogether, our study characterizes molecular profiles and epigenetic regulation of B7-H3-expressing mCRPC tumors, which informs optimal precision-oncology approaches for mCRPC patients.

Immune checkpoint of B7-H3 in cancer: from immunology to clinical immunotherapy

Immunotherapy for cancer is a rapidly developing treatment that modifies the immune system and enhances the antitumor immune response. B7-H3 (CD276), a member of the B7 family that plays an immunoregulatory role in the T cell response, has been highlighted as a novel potential target for cancer immunotherapy. B7-H3 has been shown to play an inhibitory role in T cell activation and proliferation, participate in tumor immune evasion and influence both the immune response and tumor behavior through different signaling pathways. B7-H3 expression has been found to be aberrantly upregulated in many different cancer types, and an association between B7-H3 expression and poor prognosis has been established. Immunotherapy targeting B7-H3 through different approaches has been developing rapidly, and many ongoing clinical trials are exploring the safety and efficacy profiles of these therapies in cancer. In this review, we summarize the emerging research on the function and underlying pathways of B7-H3, the expression and roles of B7-H3 in different cancer types, and the advances in B7-H3-targeted therapy. Considering different tumor microenvironment characteristics and results from preclinical models to clinical practice, the research indicates that B7-H3 is a promising target for future immunotherapy, which might eventually contribute to an improvement in cancer immunotherapy that will benefit patients.

CLSPN is a potential biomarker associated with poor prognosis in low-grade gliomas based on a multi-database analysis

BACKGROUND

The oncogene CLSPN, also known as claspin, has regulatory effects in a variety of tumours; however, it is not clear whether CLSPN is a therapeutic target in low-grade gliomas (LGG). In this study, the prognostic value of CLSPN in LGG and its role as an immunotherapeutic target were evaluated.

METHODS

Transcriptome and methylation data for thousands of patients with glioma were collected from various databases, including The Cancer Genome Atlas, Chinese Glioma Genome Atlas, and Gene Expression Omnibus. Subsequently, a series of bioinformatics methods were used to evaluate the relationships between CLSPN and prognosis, clinical features, methylation status, immune cells, and molecular signaling pathways in LGG.

RESULTS

CLSPN expression levels were positively correlated with major malignant characteristics of LGG, and low expression of CLSPN was associated with a better prognosis. The methylation sites cg04263115 and cg06100291 negatively regulated the expression of CLSPN, and increased methylation levels at these sites were related to a longer survival time in patients with LGG. CLSPN was positively correlated with tumour-infiltrating immune cells and showed high copy number variation in these cells. There was a positive regulatory relationship between CLSPN expression and programmed death-1 (PD-1) and programmed cell death ligand 1 (PD-L1). A gene set enrichment analysis revealed that CLSPN activates a variety of cancer signaling pathways.

CONCLUSION

CLSPN was identified as an independent risk factor for LGG with excellent prognostic value.

PTX3 mediates the infiltration, migration, and inflammation-resolving-polarization of macrophages in glioblastoma

Introduction

Pentraxin 3 (PTX3) is an essential regulator of the immune system. However, the immune‐modulatory role of PTX3 in the tumor microenvironment of glioma has not been elucidated.

Methods

The RNA seq samples were obtained from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and the China Glioma Genome Atlas (CGGA) datasets. The single‐cell sequencing data of glioblastoma (GBM) samples were obtained from the Single Cell Portal platform (http://singlecell.broadinstitute.org). Immunohistochemistry was used to assess PTX3 expression, HAVCR2, PD‐1, PD‐L1, and CD276 in glioma sections from the Xiangya cohort (n = 60). Multiplex immunofluorescence staining of PTX3, CD68, and CD163 was performed in several solid cancer types, including GBM. HMC3 was cocultured with U251 and U87, and transwell assay and flow cytometry assay were performed to explore the migration and polarization activity of HMC3.

Results

PTX3 expression is significantly increased in GBM. PTX3 expression predicts worse survival in the Xiangya cohort. PTX3 is closely related to the expression of PD‐1, PD‐L1, CD276, and HAVCR2 in the tumor microenvironment. Additionally, PTX3 is involved in tumorigenic and immunogenic processes, especially the activity of macrophages based on various signaling pathways in cellular communications and critical transcription factors. Specifically, PTX3 actively mediates macrophages' infiltration, migration, and inflammation‐resolving‐polarization. PTX3 could also predict immunotherapy response.

Conclusion

PTX3 is critically involved in macrophage infiltration, migration, and inflammation‐resolving‐polarization and modulates an immunosuppressive microenvironment.

Tenascin-C can Serve as an Indicator for the Immunosuppressive Microenvironment of Diffuse Low-Grade Gliomas

Purpose

The development and progression of glioma are associated with the tumor immune microenvironment. Diffuse low-grade gliomas (LGGs) with higher immunosuppressive microenvironment tend to have a poorer prognosis. The study aimed to find a biological marker that can reflect the tumor immune microenvironment status and predict prognosis of LGGs.

Methods

The target gene tenascin-C (TNC) was obtained by screening the Chinese Glioma Genome Atlas (CGGA) and the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) databases. Then samples of LGGs were collected for experimental verification with immunohistochemistry, immunofluorescence, immunoblotting, quantitative real-time PCR. ELISA was employed to determine the content of TNC in serum and examine its relationship with the tumor immune microenvironment. Eventually, the sensitivity of immunotherapy was predicted on the basis of the content of TNC in LGGs.

Results

In the high-TNC subgroup, the infiltration of immunosuppressive cells was increased (MDSC: r=0.4721, Treg: r=0.3154, etc.), and immune effector cells were decreased [NKT, γδT, etc. (p<0.05)], immunosuppressive factors were elevated [TGF-β, IL10, etc. (p<0.05)], immunostimulatory factors, such as NKG2D, dropped (p<0.05), hypoxia scores increased (p<0.001), and less benefit from immunotherapy (p<0.05). Serum TNC level could be used to assess the status of tumor immune microenvironment in patients with grade II (AUC=0.8571; 95% CI: 0.6541-1.06) and grade III (AUC=0.8333; 95% CI: 0.6334-1.033) glioma.

Conclusions

Our data suggested that TNC could serve as an indicator for the immunosuppressive microenvironment status and the prognosis of LGGs. Moreover, it could also act as a predictor for the effect of immunotherapy on LGG patients.

Glioma targeted therapy: insight into future of molecular approaches

Gliomas are the common type of brain tumors originating from glial cells. Epidemiologically, gliomas occur among all ages, more often seen in adults, which males are more susceptible than females. According to the fifth edition of the WHO Classification of Tumors of the Central Nervous System (WHO CNS5), standard of care and prognosis of gliomas can be dramatically different. Generally, circumscribed gliomas are usually benign and recommended to early complete resection, with chemotherapy if necessary. Diffuse gliomas and other high-grade gliomas according to their molecule subtype are slightly intractable, with necessity of chemotherapy. However, for glioblastoma, feasible resection followed by radiotherapy plus temozolomide chemotherapy define the current standard of care. Here, we discuss novel feasible or potential targets for treatment of gliomas, especially IDH-wild type glioblastoma. Classic targets such as the p53 and retinoblastoma (RB) pathway and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) gene alteration have met failure due to complex regulatory network. There is ever-increasing interest in immunotherapy (immune checkpoint molecule, tumor associated macrophage, dendritic cell vaccine, CAR-T), tumor microenvironment, and combination of several efficacious methods. With many targeted therapy options emerging, biomarkers guiding the prescription of a particular targeted therapy are also attractive. More pre-clinical and clinical trials are urgently needed to explore and evaluate the feasibility of targeted therapy with the corresponding biomarkers for effective personalized treatment options.

B7-H3 inhibits apoptosis of gastric cancer cell by interacting with Fibronectin

Anti-apoptosis has been widely accepted as a hallmark of malignancy. B7-H3, a type I transmembrane protein, plays a key role in anti-apoptosis and immune escape, but its regulation during cancer development remains unclear. To investigate how the effect of anti-apoptosis is regulated by B7-H3 in gastric cancer, we stably knocked down B7-H3 gene by shRNA in MGC-803 and MKN-45 cells. The correlation between B7-H3 and Fibronectin (FN) expression were investigated by bioinformatics in public data from TCGA (The Cancer Genome Atlas). Here, we reported that B7-H3 expression is positively correlated with FN in clinical gastric cancer samples, and B7-H3 promoted adhesion and inhibited apoptosis of gastric cancer cell through an FN-dependent pathway. Mechanistically, B7-H3 interacted with FN and subsequently activated PI3K/AKT signaling pathway, a critical mediator of oncogenic signaling. In addition, exogenous FN could inhibit the expression of pro-apoptosis-related proteins such as Caspase 3, Caspase 8, Caspase 9, Bax , p53, Apaf-1 and Cleaved PARP, and upregulated the levels of signal molecule p-PI3K, p-AKT and anti-apoptotic proteins Bcl-2 in B7-H3^high group, as compared with those in B7-H3^low group. In conclusion, we here for the first time revealed that B7-H3 inhibits apoptosis of gastric cancer cell through regulation of FN-mediated PI3K/AKT signaling pathways.

Targeted Extracellular Vesicles Delivered Verrucarin A to Treat Glioblastoma

Glioblastomas, accounting for approximately 50% of gliomas, comprise the most aggressive, highly heterogeneous, and malignant brain tumors. The objective of this study was to develop and evaluate a new targeted therapy, i.e., highly potent natural compound verrucarin A (Ver-A), delivered with monoclonal antibody-directed extracellular vesicle (mAb-EV). First, the high surface expression of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) in glioblastoma patient tissue and cell lines was confirmed using immunohistochemistry staining, flow cytometry, and Western blotting. mAb-EV-Ver-A was constructed by packing Ver-A and tagging anti-EGFR mAb to EV generated from HEK293F culture. Confocal microscopy and the In Vivo Imaging System demonstrated that mAb-EV could penetrate the blood-brain barrier, target intracranial glioblastoma xenografts, and deliver drug intracellularly. The in vitro cytotoxicity study showed IC50 values of 2-12 nM of Ver-A. The hematoxylin and eosin staining of major organs in the tolerated dose study indicated minimal systemic toxicity of mAb-EV-Ver-A. Finally, the in vivo anti-tumor efficacy study in intracranial xenograft models demonstrated that EGFR mAb-EV-Ver-A effectively inhibited glioblastoma growth, but the combination with VEGF mAb did not improve the therapeutic efficacy. This study suggested that mAb-EV is an effective drug delivery vehicle and natural Ver-A has great potential to treat glioblastoma.

Advances in immunotherapy for glioblastoma multiforme

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most common and aggressive malignant brain tumor of the central nervous system and has a very poor prognosis. The current standard of care for patients with GBM involves surgical resection, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy. Unfortunately, conventional therapies have not resulted in significant improvements in the survival outcomes of patients with GBM; therefore, the overall mortality rate remains high. Immunotherapy is a type of cancer treatment that helps the immune system to fight cancer and has shown success in different types of aggressive cancers. Recently, healthcare providers have been actively investigating various immunotherapeutic approaches to treat GBM. We reviewed the most promising immunotherapy candidates for glioblastoma that have achieved encouraging results in clinical trials, focusing on immune checkpoint inhibitors, oncolytic viruses, nonreplicating viral vectors, and chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) immunotherapies.

B7-H3 blockade decreases macrophage inflammatory response and alleviates clinical symptoms of arthritis

OBJECTIVE

. The costimulatory molecule B7-H3 is an immunoregulatory protein, which is highly expressed in peripheral blood monocytes of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients and its expression is closely related to the clinical parameters of the disease. In this study we aimed to determine what the implication of high B7-H3 expression for the disease severity, and whether targeting this molecule could constitute a new therapeutic approach.

METHODS

. In this study we analyzed B7-H3 expression on macrophage in human RA and mouse model of arthritis and assessed the function of B7-H3 in relation with the pro-inflammatory role of macrophage through small RNA interference. Then we studied the molecular pathways liking B7-H3 with TNF-α. The therapeutic benefit of anti-B7-H3 blocking was probed in mouse with CIA.

RESULTS

. We found a positive correlation between expression of B7-H3 on macrophages and disease activities, pathological evaluation and pro-inflammatory cytokine TNF-α. Knocking down B7-H3 expression weakened the inflammatory response of the mouse mononuclear phagocytic cell. Further molecular analyses indicated that the regulation of the inflammatory response through B7-H3 involved NF-κB signaling. Treatment of CIA mice with anti-B7-H3 reduced the clinical manifestation of arthritis and downregulated the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines.

CONCLUSION

. We confirmed increased expression of B7-H3 in arthritis and established a positive correlation between disease severity and expression of B7-H3 on macrophages. Through functional approaches in vitro and in vivo, we also demonstrated the therapeutic benefits of targeting B7-H3 for dampening macrophages' inflammatory responses in RA.

The role of B7-H3 in tumors and its potential in clinical application

B7-H3 (CD276 molecule) is an immune checkpoint from the B7 family of molecules that acts more as a co-inhibitory molecule to promote tumor progression. It is abnormally expressed on tumor cells and can be induced to express on antigen-presenting cells (APCs) including dendritic cells (DCs) and macrophages. In the tumor microenvironment (TME), B7-H3 promotes tumor progression by impairing T cell response, promoting the polarization of tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) to M2, inhibiting the function of DCs, and promoting the migration and invasion of cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs). In addition, through non-immunological functions, B7-H3 promotes tumor cell proliferation, invasion, metastasis, resistance, angiogenesis, and metabolism, or in the form of exosomes to promote tumor progression. In this process, microRNAs can regulate the expression of B7-H3. B7-H3 may serve as a potential biomarker for tumor diagnosis and a marker of poor prognosis. Immunotherapy targeting B7-H3 and the combination of B7-H3 and other immune checkpoints have shown certain efficacy. In this review, we summarized the basic characteristics of B7-H3 and its mechanism to promote tumor progression by inducing immunosuppression and non-immunological functions, as well as the potential clinical applications of B7-H3 and immunotherapy based on B7-H3.

Expression characteristic of 4Ig B7-H3 and 2Ig B7-H3 in acute myeloid leukemia

4IgB7-H3 (4Ig) and 2IgB7-H3 (2Ig) expression characteristics in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) remain unknown. This study investigated mRNA and membrane protein expression of two B7-H3 isoforms in AML cell lines and de novo patients by using RT-PCR and flow cytometry, and analyzed the B7-H3 promoter methylation state by utilizing RQ-MSP. 4Ig was the dominant isoform. 2Ig mRNA expression rate and abundance were elevated in AML in comparison with controls (P = 0.000 and 0.000), while no significant difference in 4Ig (P = 0.802, P = 0.398). Membrane protein levels of B7-H3 isoforms in AML was higher than controls, detected by total B7-H3 expression rate (P = 0.002), total B7-H3 mean fluorescence intensity (MFI) ratio of blast cells and lymphocytes (MFI ratio) (P = 0.000), and 4Ig B7-H3 MFI ratio (P = 0.005). Compared with 2Ig^low group, 2Ig^high patients had older age, lower NPM1 mutation, higher FLT3-ITD mutation, and declining complete remission (CR) rates (P = 0.026, 0.012, 0.047, and 0.028). In B7-H3^high group, there was a trend toward older age, M4 and M5, worse karyotype, and lower CR rates, although with no marked difference (P > 0.05). The overall survival (OS) of 2Ig^high and B7-H3^high groups were shorter than that of 2Ig^low and B7-H3^low groups in the whole and non-M3 AML cohorts (P = 0.006 and 0.046; P = 0.003 and 0.032). Besides, an unmethylated B7-H3 promoter was identified. In conclusion, 2Ig mRNA and total B7-H3 membrane protein tended to have potential diagnostic value for AML. Specifically, high 2Ig mRNA and total B7-H3 membrane protein expression indicate worse OS. 4Ig and 2Ig expression are methylation-independent.

Mutational profiling of low-grade gliomas identifies prognosis and immunotherapy-related biomarkers and tumour immune microenvironment characteristics

Low-grade glioma (LGG) is a heterogeneous tumour with the median survival rate less than 10 years. Therefore, it is urgent to develop efficient immunotherapy strategies of LGG. In this study, we analysed mutation profiles based on the data of 510 LGG patients from the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database and investigated the prognostic value of mutated genes and evaluate their immune infiltration. Tumor Immune Dysfunction and Exclusion (TIDE) algorithm was used to indicate the characteristics of gliomas that respond to immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) therapy. Univariate and multivariate cox regression analysis was performed to identify indicators to construct the nomogram model. 485 (95.47%) of 508 LGG samples showed gene mutation, and 9 mutated genes were significantly related to overall survival (OS), among which 6 mutated genes were significantly correlated with OS between mutation and wildtypes. Immune infiltration and immune score analyses revealed that these six mutated genes were significantly associated with tumour immune microenvironment in LGG. The response of LGG with different characteristics to ICB was evaluated by TIDE algorithm. Finally, CIC gene was screened through both univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses, and the nomogram model was established to determine the potential prognostic value of CIC in LGG. Our study provides comprehensive analysis of mutated genes in LGG, supporting modulation of mutated genes in the management of LGG.

CKAP2L, as an Independent Risk Factor, Closely Related to the Prognosis of Glioma

Recent studies have found that cytoskeleton-associated protein 2 like (CKAP2L), an important oncogene, is involved in the biological behavior of many malignant tumors, but its function in the malignant course of glioma has not been confirmed. The main purpose of this study was to clarify the relationship between prognostic clinical characteristics of glioma patients and CKAP2L expression using data collected from the GEPIA, HPA, CGGA, TCGA, and GEO databases. CKAP2L expression was significantly increased in glioma. Further, Kaplan-Meier plots revealed that increased expression of CKAP2L was associated with shorter survival time of glioma patients in datasets retrieved from multiple databases. Cox regression analysis indicated that CKAP2L can serve as an independent risk factor but also has relatively reliable diagnostic value for the prognosis of glioma patients. The results of gene set enrichment analysis suggested that CKAP2L may play a regulatory role through the cell cycle, homologous recombination, and N-glycan biosynthesis cell signaling pathways. Several drugs with potential inhibitory effects on CKAP2L were identified in the CMap database that may have therapeutic effects on glioma. Finally, knockdown of CKAP2L inhibited the proliferation and invasion of cells by reducing the expression level of cell cycle-related proteins. This is the first study to demonstrate that high CKAP2L expression leads to poor prognosis in glioma patients, providing a novel target for diagnosis and treatment of glioma.

ESPL1 Is a Novel Prognostic Biomarker Associated With the Malignant Features of Glioma

Research has confirmed that extra spindle pole bodies-like 1 (ESPL1), an etiological factor, promotes the malignant progression of cancers. However, the relationship between ESPL1 and glioma has not yet been demonstrated. The purpose of this study was to reveal the potential mechanisms of ESPL1-mediated malignant glioma progression. Gene expression data and detailed clinical information of glioma cases were obtained from multiple public databases. Subsequently, a series of bioinformatics analyses were used to elucidate the effects of ESPL1 on glioma. The results demonstrated that the mRNA and protein levels of ESPL1 in glioma were higher than those in normal brain tissues. In addition, ESPL1 expression was considerably associated with the clinical and pathological features of gliomas, such as World Health Organization grade, histology, and 1p19q co-deletion status. Importantly, ESPL1 reduced the overall survival (OS) of glioma patients and had prognostic value for gliomas. Gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) indirectly revealed that ESPL1 regulates the activation of cancer-related pathways, such as the cell cycle and base excision repair pathways. In addition, we used the Connectivity Map (CMap) database to screen three molecular drugs that inhibit ESPL1: thioguanosine, antimycin A, and zidovudine. Finally, reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) was used to detect the expression levels of ESPL1 in glioma cell lines. This study plays an important role in revealing the etiology of glioma by revealing the function of ESPL1, providing a potential molecular marker for the diagnosis and treatment of glioma, especially low-grade glioma.

CD276 expression enables squamous cell carcinoma stem cells to evade immune surveillance

Immunosurveillance is a critical mechanism guarding against tumor development and progression. Checkpoint inhibitors have shown significant success in cancer treatment, but expression of key factors such as PD-L1 in putative cancer stem cell (CSC) populations in squamous cell carcinoma has been inconclusive, suggesting that CSCs may have developed other mechanisms to escape immune surveillance. Here we show that CSCs upregulate the immune checkpoint molecule CD276 (B7-H3) to evade host immune responses. CD276 is highly expressed by CSCs in mouse and human head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) and can be used to prospectively isolate tumorigenic CSCs. Anti-CD276 antibodies eliminate CSCs in a CD8⁺ T cell-dependent manner, inhibiting tumor growth and lymph node metastases in a mouse HNSCC model. Single-cell RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) showed that CD276 blockade remodels SCC heterogeneity and reduces epithelial-mesenchymal transition. These results show that CSCs utilize CD276 for immune escape and suggest that targeting CD276 may reduce CSCs in HNSCC.

T lymphocyte-targeted immune checkpoint modulation in glioma

Immunomodulatory therapies targeting inhibitory checkpoint molecules have revolutionized the treatment of solid tumor malignancies. Concerns about whether systemic administration of an immune checkpoint inhibitor could impact primary brain tumors were answered with the observation of definitive responses in pediatric patients harboring hypermutated gliomas. Although initial clinical results in patients with glioblastoma (GBM) were disappointing, recently published results have demonstrated a potential survival benefit in patients with recurrent GBM treated with neoadjuvant programmed cell death protein 1 blockade. While these findings necessitate verification in subsequent studies, they support the possibility of achieving clinical meaningful immune responses in malignant primary brain tumors including GBM, a disease in dire need of additional therapeutic options. There are several challenges involved in treating glioma with immune checkpoint modulators including the immunosuppressive nature of GBM itself with high inhibitory checkpoint expression, the immunoselective blood brain barrier impairing the ability for peripheral lymphocytes to traffic to the tumor microenvironment and the high prevalence of corticosteroid use which suppress lymphocyte activation. However, by simultaneously targeting multiple costimulatory and inhibitory pathways, it may be possible to achieve an effective antitumoral immune response. To this end, there are now several novel agents targeting more recently uncovered “second generation” checkpoint molecules. Given the multiplicity of drugs being considered for combination regimens, an increased understanding of the mechanisms of action and resistance combined with more robust preclinical and early clinical testing will be needed to be able to adequately test these agents. This review summarizes our current understanding of T lymphocyte-modulating checkpoint molecules as it pertains to glioma with the hope for a renewed focus on the most promising therapeutic strategies.

Epigenetic Regulation of Immunotherapy Response in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is defined by the absence of estrogen receptor and progesterone receptor and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) overexpression. This malignancy, representing 15-20% of breast cancers, is a clinical challenge due to the lack of targeted treatments, higher intrinsic aggressiveness, and worse outcomes than other breast cancer subtypes. Immune checkpoint inhibitors have shown promising efficacy for early-stage and advanced TNBC, but this seems limited to a subgroup of patients. Understanding the underlying mechanisms that determine immunotherapy efficiency is essential to identifying which TNBC patients will respond to immunotherapy-based treatments and help to develop new therapeutic strategies. Emerging evidence supports that epigenetic alterations, including aberrant chromatin architecture conformation and the modulation of gene regulatory elements, are critical mechanisms for immune escape. These alterations are particularly interesting since they can be reverted through the inhibition of epigenetic regulators. For that reason, several recent studies suggest that the combination of epigenetic drugs and immunotherapeutic agents can boost anticancer immune responses. In this review, we focused on the contribution of epigenetics to the crosstalk between immune and cancer cells, its relevance on immunotherapy response in TNBC, and the potential benefits of combined treatments.

High expression of cluster of differentiation 276 indicates poor prognosis in glioma

Background

Glioma is the central nervous system tumor with the highest incidence rate and the molecular detection of gliomas has been the focus of research. This study aimed to investigate the guiding effect of cluster of differentiation 276 (CD276) expression on the clinical prognosis of glioma.

Methods

The TCGA and CGGA databases were used to study whether CD 276 can be used as an independent prognostic factor for gliomas. Immunohistochemistry was used to detect the expression of CD276, isocitrate dehydrogenase-1 (IDH1), matrix metallopeptidase 9 (MMP9), p53, and Ki-67, and 1p/19q co-deletion was detected by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH). The effects of CD276 RNA interference (RNAi) on cell invasion, cell cycle and the expression of β-catenin, tumor necrosis factor receptor 1 (TNFR1), and MMP9 were observed. Furthermore, the biological effects of CD276 gene knockout on intracranial transplanted tumors in nude mice were studied.

Results

CD276 expression was positively correlated with the extracellular matrix, collagen decomposition, and cell adhesion molecules. Immunohistochemistry and FISH showed that CD276 expression positively correlated with the glioma grade, p53 mutation, Ki-67 proliferation, and MMP9 expression; however, it negatively correlated with IDH1 mutation, 1p/19q co-deletion, and the survival rate. CD276 RNAi in U87 cells inhibited cell proliferation, migration, and invasion, but had no effect on the cell cycle. CD276 inhibited the expression of β-catenin, TNFR1, and MMP9 in U87 cells at the mRNA and protein levels. In vivo experiments showed that the tumor formation and invasion of the CD276 small interfering RNA glioma cell line in nude mice were reduced and the survival time was prolonged.

Conclusions

The present study demonstrated that high expression of CD276 in gliomas indicates a poor prognosis.

Expression, methylation and prognostic feature of EMILIN2 in Low-Grade-Glioma

Low-grade gliomas (LGGs) are slow-growing brain cancer in central nervous system neoplasms. EMILIN2 is an extracellular matrix (ECM) protein which could influence the progress of some tumour which is unclear in LGG. In our study, the methylation, expression, prognosis and immune value of EMILIN2 in LGG were analysed through bioinformatics analysis. We analysed the LGG data from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and discovered that the EMILIN2 expression, negatively correlated to the EMILIN2 methylation, could predict a poor prognosis and was associated with different clinical parameters. Moreover, univariate and multivariate Cox regression were performed in CGGA, which showed that the EMILIN2 could be an independent prognostic biomarker in LGG. Moreover, EMILIN2 expression showed a correlation with gene makers in some immune cells, which identified the significance of EMILIN2 in immune infiltration. Finally, we used RT-PCR to verify the EMILIN2 expression level in different grades which showed there were significantly different (P < 0.05). Similarly, high expression of EMILIN2 could predict a poor prognosis (P = 0.0078). In conclusion, EMILIN2 could act as an independent prognostic biomarker which might be associated with the malignancy and development of gliomas and play a crucial role in glioma in immune infiltration.

Targeting Tumor-Associated Antigen: A Promising CAR-T Therapeutic Strategy for Glioblastoma Treatment

Chimeric antigen receptor T cells (CAR-T) therapy is a prospective therapeutic strategy for blood cancers tumor, especially leukemia, but it is not effective for solid tumors. Glioblastoma (GBM) is a highly immunosuppressive and deadly malignant tumor with poor responses to immunotherapies. Although CAR-T therapeutic strategies were used for glioma in preclinical trials, the current proliferation activity of CAR-T is not sufficient, and malignant glioma usually recruit immunosuppressive cells to form a tumor microenvironment that hinders CAR-T infiltration, depletes CAR-T, and impairs their efficacy. Moreover, specific environments such as hypoxia and nutritional deficiency can hinder the killing effect of CAR-T, limiting their therapeutic effect. The normal brain lack lymphocytes, but CAR-T usually can recognize specific antigens and regulate the tumor immune microenvironment to increase and decrease pro- and anti-inflammatory factors, respectively. This increases the number of T cells and ultimately enhances anti-tumor effects. CAR-T therapy has become an indispensable modality for glioma due to the specific tumor-associated antigens (TAAs). This review describes the characteristics of CAR-T specific antigen recognition and changing tumor immune microenvironment, as well as ongoing research into CAR-T therapy targeting TAAs in GBM and their potential clinical application.

Identification and Validation of an 11-Ferroptosis Related Gene Signature and Its Correlation With Immune Checkpoint Molecules in Glioma

Background

Glioma is the most common primary malignant brain tumor with significant mortality and morbidity. Ferroptosis, a novel form of programmed cell death (PCD), is critically involved in tumorigenesis, progression and metastatic processes.

Methods

We revealed the relationship between ferroptosis-related genes and glioma by analyzing the mRNA expression profiles from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), Chinese Glioma Genome Atlas (CGGA), GSE16011, and the Repository of Molecular Brain Neoplasia Data (REMBRANDT) datasets. The least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) Cox regression analysis was performed to construct a ferroptosis-associated gene signature in the TCGA cohort. Glioma patients from the CGGA, GSE16011, and REMBRANDT cohorts were used to validate the efficacy of the signature. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was applied to measure the predictive performance of the risk score for overall survival (OS). Univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses of the 11-gene signature were performed to determine whether the ability of the prognostic signature in predicting OS was independent. Gene Ontology (GO) analysis and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analysis were conducted to identify the potential biological functions and pathways of the signature. Subsequently, we performed single sample gene set enrichment analysis (ssGSEA) to explore the correlation between risk scores and immune status. Finally, seven putative small molecule drugs were predicted by Connectivity Map.

Results

The 11-gene signature was identified to divide patients into two risk groups. ROC curve analysis indicated the 11-gene signature as a potential diagnostic factor in glioma patients. Multivariate Cox regression analyses showed that the risk score was an independent predictive factor for overall survival. Functional analysis revealed that genes were enriched in iron-related molecular functions and immune-related biological processes. The results of ssGSEA indicated that the 11-gene signature was correlated with the initiation and progression of glioma. The small molecule drugs we selected showed significant potential to be used as putative drugs.

Conclusion

we identified a novel ferroptosis-related gene signature for prognostic prediction in glioma patients and revealed the relationship between ferroptosis-related genes and immune checkpoint molecules.

Innovative and Promising Strategies to Enhance Effectiveness of Immunotherapy for CNS Tumors: Where Are We?

Although there are several immunotherapy approaches for the treatment of Central Nervous System (CNS) tumors under evaluation, currently none of these approaches have received approval from the regulatory agencies. CNS tumors, especially glioblastomas, are tumors characterized by highly immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment, limiting the possibility of effectively eliciting an immune response. Moreover, the peculiar anatomic location of these tumors poses relevant challenges in terms of safety, since uncontrolled hyper inflammation could lead to cerebral edema and cranial hypertension. The most promising strategies of immunotherapy in neuro-oncology consist of the use of autologous T cells redirected against tumor cells through chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) constructs or genetically modified T-cell receptors. Trials based on native or genetically engineered oncolytic viruses and on vaccination with tumor-associated antigen peptides are also under evaluation. Despite some sporadic complete remissions achieved in clinical trials, the outcome of patients with CNS tumors treated with different immunotherapeutic approaches remains poor. Based on the lessons learned from these unsatisfactory experiences, novel immune-therapy approaches aimed at overcoming the profound immunosuppressive microenvironment of these diseases are bringing new hope to reach the cure for CNS tumors.

The Inhibition of B7H3 by 2-HG Accumulation Is Associated With Downregulation of VEGFA in IDH Mutated Gliomas

B7H3 (also known as CD276) is a co-stimulator checkpoint protein of the cell surface B7 superfamily. Recently, the function beyond immune regulation of B7H3 has been widely studied. However, the expression preference and the regulation mechanism underlying B7H3 in different subtypes of gliomas is rarely understood. We show here that B7H3 expression is significantly decreased in IDH-mutated gliomas and in cultured IDH1-R132H glioma cells. Accumulation of 2-HG leads to a remarkable downregulation of B7H3 protein and the activity of IDH1-R132H mutant is responsible for B7H3 reduction in glioma cells. Inhibition of autophagy by inhibitors like leupeptin, chloroquine (CQ), and Bafilomycin A1 (Baf-A1) blocks the degradation of B7H3 in glioma cells. In the meantime, the autophagy flux is more active with higher LC3B-II and lower p62 in IDH1-R132H glioma cells than in IDH1-WT cells. Furthermore, sequence alignment analysis reveals potential LC3-interacting region (LIR) motifs “F-V-S/N-I/V” in B7H3. Moreover, B7H3 interacts with p62 and CQ treatment significantly enhances this interaction. Additionally, we find that B7H3 is positively correlated with VEGFA and MMP2 by bioinformatics analysis in gliomas. B7H3 and VEGFA are decreased in IDH-mutated gliomas and further reduced in 2-HG^high gliomas compared to 2-HG^low glioma sections by IHC staining. Our study demonstrates that B7H3 is preferentially overexpressed in IDH wild-type gliomas and could serve as a potential theranostic target for the precise treatment of glioma patients with wild-type IDH.

Comprehensive Analysis of Myeloid Signature Genes in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma to Predict the Prognosis and Immune Infiltration

Myeloid cells are a major heterogeneous cell population in the tumor immune microenvironment (TIME). Imbalance of myeloid response remains a major obstacle to a favorable prognosis and successful immune therapy. Therefore, we aimed to construct a risk model to evaluate the myeloid contexture, which may facilitate the prediction of prognosis and immune infiltration in patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). In our study, six myeloid signature genes (including CCL13, CCR7, CD276, IL1B, LYVE1 and VEGFC) analyzed from 52 differentially expressed myeloid signature genes were finally pooled to establish a prognostic risk model, termed as myeloid gene score (MGS) in a training cohort and validated in a test cohort and an independent external cohort. Furthermore, based on the MGS subgroups, we were able to effectively identify patients with a poor prognosis, aggressive clinical parameters, immune cell infiltration status and immunotherapy response. Thus, MGS may serve as an effective prognostic signature and predictive indicator for immunotherapy response in patients with HNSCC.

The expression and prognostic value of the epidermal growth factor receptor family in glioma

BACKGROUND

The epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) family belongs to the transmembrane protein receptor of the tyrosine kinase I subfamily and has 4 members: EGFR/ERBB1, ERBB2, ERBB3, and ERBB4. The EGFR family is closely related to the occurrence and development of a variety of cancers.

MATERIALS/METHODS

In this study, we used multiple online bioinformatics websites, including ONCOMINE, TCGA, CGGA, TIMER, cBioPortal, GeneMANIA and DAVID, to study the expression profiles, prognostic values and immune infiltration correlations of the EGFR family in glioma.

RESULTS

We found that EGFR and ERBB2 mRNA expression levels were higher in glioblastoma (GBM, WHO IV) than in other grades (WHO grade II & III), while the ERBB3 and ERBB4 mRNA expression levels were the opposite. EGFR and ERBB2 were notably downregulated in IDH mutant gliomas, while ERBB3 and ERBB4 were upregulated, which was associated with a poor prognosis. In addition, correlation analysis between EGFR family expression levels and immune infiltrating levels in glioma showed that EGFR family expression and immune infiltrating levels were significantly correlated. The PPI network of the EGFR family in glioma and enrichment analysis showed that the EGFR family and its interactors mainly participated in the regulation of cell motility, involving integrin receptors and Rho family GTPases.

CONCLUSIONS

In summary, the results of this study indicate that the EGFR family members may become potential therapeutic targets and new prognostic markers for glioma.

Advanced genetic engineering to achieve in vivo targeting of adenovirus utilizing camelid single domain antibody

For the developing field of gene therapy the successful address of the basic requirement effective gene delivery has remained a critical barrier. In this regard, the "Holy Grail" vector envisioned by the field's pioneers embodied the ability to achieve efficient and specific in vivo gene delivery. Functional linkage of antibody selectivity with viral vector efficiency represented a logical strategy but has been elusive. Here we have addressed this key issue by developing the technical means to pair antibody-based targeting with adenoviral-mediated gene transfer. Our novel method allows efficient and specific gene delivery. Importantly, our studies validated the achievement of this key vectorology mandate in the context of in vivo gene delivery. Vectors capable of effective in vivo delivery embody the potential to dramatically expand the range of successful gene therapy cures.

The complexity of tumour angiogenesis based on recently described molecules

Tumour angiogenesis is a crucial factor associated with tumour growth, progression, and metastasis. The whole process is the result of an interaction between a wide range of different molecules, influencing each other. Herein we summarize novel discoveries related to the less known angiogenic molecules such as galectins, pentraxin-3, Ral-interacting protein of 76 kDa (RLIP76), long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), B7-H3, and delta-like ligand-4 (DLL-4) and their role in the process of tumour angiogenesis. These molecules influence the most important molecular pathways involved in the formation of blood vessels in cancer, including the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-vascular endothelial growth factor receptor interaction (VEGFR), HIF1-a activation, or PI3K/Akt/mTOR and JAK-STAT signalling pathways. Increased expression of galectins, RLIP76, and B7H3 has been proven in several malignancies. Pentraxin-3, which appears to inhibit tumour angiogenesis, shows reduced expression in tumour tissues. Anti-angiogenic treatment based mainly on VEGF inhibition has proved to be of limited effectiveness, leading to the development of drug resistance. The newly discovered molecules are of great interest as a potential source of new anti-cancer therapies. Their role as targets for new drugs and as prognostic markers in neoplasms is discussed in this review.

Cancer Stem Cells Are Possible Key Players in Regulating Anti-Tumor Immune Responses: The Role of Immunomodulating Molecules and MicroRNAs

Simple Summary

This review provides a critical overview of the state of the art of the characterization of the immunological profile of a rare component of the tumors, denominated cancer stem cells (CSCs) or cancer initiating cells (CICs). These cells are endowed with the ability to form and propagate tumors and resistance to therapies, including the most innovative approaches. These investigations contribute to understanding the mechanisms regulating the interaction of CSCs/CICs with the immune system and identifying novel therapeutic approaches to render these cells visible and susceptible to immune responses.

Abstract

Cancer cells endowed with stemness properties and representing a rare population of cells within malignant lesions have been isolated from tumors with different histological origins. These cells, denominated as cancer stem cells (CSCs) or cancer initiating cells (CICs), are responsible for tumor initiation, progression and resistance to therapies, including immunotherapy. The dynamic crosstalk of CSCs/CICs with the tumor microenvironment orchestrates their fate and plasticity as well as their immunogenicity. CSCs/CICs, as observed in multiple studies, display either the aberrant expression of immunomodulatory molecules or suboptimal levels of molecules involved in antigen processing and presentation, leading to immune evasion. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) that can regulate either stemness properties or their immunological profile, with in some cases dual functions, can provide insights into these mechanisms and possible interventions to develop novel therapeutic strategies targeting CSCs/CICs and reverting their immunogenicity. In this review, we provide an overview of the immunoregulatory features of CSCs/CICs including miRNA profiles involved in the regulation of the interplay between stemness and immunological properties.

The expression of B7-H3 isoforms in newly diagnosed glioblastoma and recurrence and their functional role

Short survival of glioblastoma (GBM) patients is due to systematic tumor recurrence. Our laboratory identified a GBM cell subpopulation able to leave the tumor mass (TM) and invade the subventricular zone (SVZ-GBM cells). SVZ-GBM cells escape treatment and appear to contribute to GBM recurrence. This study aims to identify proteins specifically expressed by SVZ-GBM cells and to define their role(s) in GBM aggressiveness and recurrence. The proteome was compared between GBM cells located in the initial TM and SVZ-GBM cells using mass spectrometry. Among differentially expressed proteins, we confirmed B7-H3 by western blot (WB) and quantitative RT-PCR. B7-H3 expression was compared by immunohistochemistry and WB (including expression of its isoforms) between human GBM (N = 14) and non-cancerous brain tissue (N = 8), as well as newly diagnosed GBM and patient-matched recurrences (N = 11). Finally, the expression of B7-H3 was modulated with short hairpin RNA and/or over-expression vectors to determine its functional role in GBM using in vitro assays and a xenograft mouse model of GBM. B7-H3 was a marker for SVZ-GBM cells. It was also increased in human GBM pericytes, myeloid cells and neoplastic cells. B7-H3 inhibition in GBM cells reduced their tumorigenicity. Out of the two B7-H3 isoforms, only 2IgB7-H3 was detected in non-cancerous brain tissue, whereas 4IgB7-H3 was specific for GBM. 2IgB7-H3 expression was higher in GBM recurrences and increased resistance to temozolomide-mediated apoptosis. To conclude, 4IgB7-H3 is an interesting candidate for GBM targeted therapies, while 2IgB7-H3 could be involved in recurrence through resistance to chemotherapy.

The Regulatory Cross-Talk between microRNAs and Novel Members of the B7 Family in Human Diseases: A Scoping Review

The members of the B7 family, as immune checkpoint molecules, can substantially regulate immune responses. Since microRNAs (miRs) can regulate gene expression post-transcriptionally, we conducted a scoping review to summarize and discuss the regulatory cross-talk between miRs and new B7 family immune checkpoint molecules, i.e., B7-H3, B7-H4, B7-H5, butyrophilin like 2 (BTNL2), B7-H6, B7-H7, and immunoglobulin like domain containing receptor 2 (ILDR2). The current study was performed using a six-stage methodology structure and Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guideline. PubMed, Embase, Scopus, Cochrane, ProQuest, and Google Scholar were systematically searched to obtain the relevant records to 5 November 2020. Two authors independently reviewed the obtained records and extracted the desired data. After quantitative and qualitative analyses, we used bioinformatics approaches to extend our knowledge about the regulatory cross-talk between miRs and the abovementioned B7 family members. Twenty-seven articles were identified that fulfilled the inclusion criteria. Studies with different designs reported gene–miR regulatory axes in various cancer and non-cancer diseases. The regulatory cross-talk between the aforementioned B7 family molecules and miRs might provide valuable insights into the pathogenesis of various human diseases.

Advanced Molecular Characterization Using Digital Spatial Profiling Technology on Immunooncology Targets in Methylated Compared with Unmethylated IDH-Wildtype Glioblastoma

Introduction

Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most common primary adult brain tumour with a median overall survival (OS) of 12-15 months. Molecular characterization of multiple immunooncology targets in GBM may help target novel immunotherapeutic strategies. We used NanoString GeoMx® Digital Spatial Profiling (DSP) to assess multiple immunooncology protein targets in methylated versus unmethylated IDH-wild-type glioblastoma.

Methods

NanoString GeoMx® DSP technology uses multiple primary antibodies conjugated to indexing DNA oligos with a UV photocleavable linker. Tissue regions of interest (ROIs) are selected with bound fluorescent antibodies; oligos are released via a UV-mediated linker and quantitated. We used DSP multiplex analysis of 31 immunooncology proteins and controls (CD4, CD14, CD68, CD8A, B7-H3, PD-L1, CD19, FOXP3, CD44, STAT3 (phospho Y705), CD45, Pan Cytokeratin, MS4A1/CD20, CD45RO, PD1, CD3, beta-2 microglobulin, VISTA, Bcl2, GZMB, PTEN, beta-catenin, CD56, Ki-67, STAT3, AKT, p-Akt, S6, Histone H3, IgG Rabbit control, and Mouse IgG control) from ROIs in a cohort of 10 IDH-wild-type glioblastomas (5 methylated and 5 unmethylated). An nCounter platform allowed quantitative comparisons of antibodies between ROIs in MGMT methylated and unmethylated tumours. Mean protein expression counts between methylated and unmethylated GBM were compared using technical and biological replicates.

Results

The analysis showed 10/27 immunooncology target proteins were significantly increased in methylated versus unmethylated IDH-wild-type glioblastoma tumour core (false discovery rate (FDR) <0.1 by Benjamini-Hochberg procedure).

Conclusions

NanoString GeoMx® DSP was used to analyse multiple immunooncology protein target expression in methylated versus unmethylated IDH-wild-type glioblastoma. In this small study, there was a statistical increase in CD4, CD14, CD68, CD8A, B7-H3, PDL-1, CD19, FOXP3, CD44, and STAT3 protein expression in methylated versus unmethylated GBM tumour core; however, this requires larger cohort validation. Advanced multiplex immunooncological biomarker analysis may be useful in identifying biomarkers for novel immunotherapeutic agents in GBMs.

The presence of TIM-3 positive cells in WHO grade III and IV astrocytic gliomas correlates with isocitrate dehydrogenase mutation status

Diffuse gliomas are aggressive brain tumors that respond poorly to immunotherapy including immune checkpoint inhibition. This resistance may arise from an immunocompromised microenvironment and deficient immune recognition of tumor cells because of low mutational burden. The most prominent genetic alterations in diffuse glioma are mutations in the isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH) genes that generate the immunosuppressive oncometabolite d-2-hydroxyglutarate. Our objective was to explore the association between IDH mutation and presence of cells expressing the immune checkpoint proteins galectin-9 and/or T cell immunoglobulin and mucin-domain containing-3 (TIM-3). Astrocytic gliomas of World Health Organization (WHO) grades III or IV (36 IDH-mutant and 36 IDH-wild-type) from 72 patients were included in this study. A novel multiplex chromogenic immunohistochemistry panel was applied using antibodies against galectin-9, TIM-3, and the oligodendrocyte transcription factor 2 (OLIG2). Validation studies were performed using data from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) project. IDH mutation was associated with decreased levels of TIM-3⁺ cells (p < 0.05). No significant association was found between galectin-9 and IDH status (p = 0.10). Most TIM-3⁺ and galectin-9⁺ cells resembled microglia/macrophages, and very few TIM-3⁺ and/or galectin-9⁺ cells co-expressed OLIG2. The percentage of TIM-3⁺ T cells was generally low, however, IDH-mutant tumors contained significantly fewer TIM-3⁺ T cells (p < 0.01) and had a lower interaction rate between TIM-3⁺ T cells and galectin-9⁺ microglia/macrophages (p < 0.05). TCGA data confirmed lower TIM-3 mRNA expression in IDH-mutant compared to IDH-wild-type astrocytic gliomas (p = 0.013). Our results show that IDH mutation is associated with diminished levels of TIM-3⁺ cells and fewer interactions between TIM-3⁺ T cells and galectin-9⁺ microglia/macrophages, suggesting reduced activity of the galectin-9/TIM-3 immune checkpoint pathway in IDH-mutant astrocytic gliomas.

Interleukin-1 receptor-associated kinase 4 as a potential biomarker: Overexpression predicts poor prognosis in patients with glioma

The undetectable onset of glioma and the difficulty of surgery lead to a poor prognosis. Appropriate biomarkers for diagnosis and treatment need to be identified. Interleukin-1 receptor-associated kinase 4 (IRAK4) is involved in the initiation and progression of cancer. However, up until now, no report has revealed the relationship between IRAK4 and glioma. The present study aimed to examine the expression of IRAK4 in glioma, and to determine if there was a relationship between IRAK4 expression and clinical outcomes or survival prognosis. Thousands of glioma tissue samples and corresponding clinical information were obtained from various databases. Then a series of bioinformatics methods were used to reveal the role of IRAK4 in glioma. Finally, reverse transcription-quantitative PCR technology was used to verify the bioinformatics results. The study found that the expression of IRAK4 was significantly increased in glioma compared with the control brain tissue samples, and IRAK4, as an independent prognostic factor, shortened the overall survival time of patients with glioma. Gene Set Enrichment Analysis showed that IRAK4 promoted the activation of cell signalling pathways, such as NOD-like and Toll-like receptor signalling pathways. Co-expression analysis showed that the expression of IRAK4 was correlated with CMTM6, MOB1A and other genes. The present study demonstrated the role of IRAK4 as an oncogene in the pathological process of glioma for the first time, and highlights the potential of IRAK4 as a biomarker for prognostic evaluation and treatment of glioma.

Immune Checkpoint Targeted Therapy in Glioma: Status and Hopes

Glioma is the most malignant primary tumor of the central nervous system and is characterized by an extremely low overall survival. Recent breakthroughs in cancer therapy using immune checkpoint blockade have attracted significant attention. However, despite representing the most promising (immunotherapy) treatment for cancer, the clinical application of immune checkpoint blockade in glioma patients remains challenging due to the "cold phenotype" of glioma and multiple factors inducing resistance, both intrinsic and acquired. Therefore, comprehensive understanding of the tumor microenvironment and the unique immunological status of the brain will be critical for the application of glioma immunotherapy. More sensitive biomarkers to monitor the immune response, as well as combining multiple immunotherapy strategies, may accelerate clinical progress and enable development of effective and safe treatments for glioma patients.

An Autophagy-Related Gene Signature Associated With Clinical Prognosis and Immune Microenvironment in Gliomas

Glioma is one of the leading causes of death from cancer, and autophagy-related genes (ARGs) play an important role in glioma occurrence, progression, and treatment. In this study, the gene expression profiles and clinical data of glioma patients were obtained from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and the Chinese Glioma Genome Atlas (CGGA), respectively. ARGs were obtained from the Human Autophagy Database. We analyzed the expression of the ARGs in glioma and found that 73 ARGs were differentially expressed in tumor and normal tissues. Univariate Cox regression analysis was used to identify prognostic differentially expressed ARGs (PDEARGs). Least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) and multivariate Cox regression analyses were performed on the PDEARGs to determine the risk genes; and BRIC5, NFE2L2, GABARAP, IKBKE, BID, MAPK3, FKBP1B, MAPK8IP1, PRKCQ, CX3CL1, NPC1, HSP90AB1, DAPK2, SUPT20H, and PTEN were selected to establish a prognostic risk score model for TCGA and CGGA cohorts. This model accurately stratified patients with different survival outcomes, and the autophagy-related signature was also appraised as being an independent prognostic factor. We also constructed a prognostic nomogram using risk score, age, gender, WHO grade, isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH) mutation status, and 1p/19q co-deletion status; and the calibration plots showed excellent prognostic performance. Finally, Pearson correlation analysis suggested that the ARG signature also played an essential role in the tumor immune microenvironment. In summary, we constructed and verified a novel autophagy-related signature that was tightly associated with the tumor immune microenvironment and could serve as an independent prognostic biomarker in gliomas.