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Wu S, Wang Y, Xiao Z, Zhang J, He Z, Ye M. FOXP3 expression in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma : Implications for cetuximab sensitivity and therapeutic strategies. Wien Klin Wochenschr 2024; 136:331-339. [PMID: 37874348 DOI: 10.1007/s00508-023-02291-4] [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: 07/20/2023] [Accepted: 09/22/2023] [Indexed: 10/25/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Investigating the impact of FOXP3 (transcription factor forkhead box P3) expression on the biological behavior of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) and its influence on the sensitivity of ESCC cells towards cetuximab-targeted (an EGFR monoclonal antibody inhibitor) therapy. METHODS A specifically designed recombinant FOXP3 shRNA plasmid was synthesized to target the human FOXP3 gene, and the plasmid was transfected into TE12 cells using a liposome method. Multiple assays were conducted to evaluate the effect of FOXP3 expression on ESCC cells and their response to cetuximab treatment. Proliferation activity and cetuximab sensitivity of ESCC cells were measured using the CCK‑8 assay. The invasion ability of cells was assessed using an in vitro invasion assay. Furthermore, the efficacy of cetuximab in treating ESCC was analyzed using a tumorigenesis assay in nude mice. RESULTS Silencing the FOXP3 gene in the TE12 cell line (shFOXP3 group) resulted in a significant reduction in FOXP3 mRNA and protein expression (p = 0.013). The shFOXP3 group exhibited slowed cell growth (p = 0.035), decreased invasion rate (p = 0.031), and increased sensitivity to cetuximab treatment (p = 0.039) compared to the control group (shNC group). In the in vivo tumorigenesis assay, the shFOXP3 group demonstrated a significant reduction in tumor volume and lung metastasis rate following cetuximab treatment (p = 0.028 and 0.007, respectively). CONCLUSION High FOXP3 expression promotes the proliferation and migration of ESCC cells, while negatively affecting their sensitivity to cetuximab-targeted therapy. Consequently, targeting FOXP3 shows potential therapeutic implications for enhancing the effectiveness of cetuximab treatment in ESCC patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shenghong Wu
- Department of Medical Oncology, Fengxian District Central Hospital, 201499, Shanghai, China
| | - Yu Wang
- Department of Oncology, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, 200040, Shanghai, China
| | - Zhijun Xiao
- Department of Pharmacy, Fengxian District Central Hospital, 201499, Shanghai, China
| | - Jinfeng Zhang
- Department of Medical Oncology, Fengxian District Central Hospital, 201499, Shanghai, China
| | - Zhonghui He
- Department of Medical Oncology, Fengxian District Central Hospital, 201499, Shanghai, China
| | - Ming Ye
- Department of Radiotherapy, Renji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, No.160 Pujian Road, 200127, Shanghai, China.
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2
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Zheng S, Liu B, Guan X. The Role of Tumor Microenvironment in Invasion and Metastasis of Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma. Front Oncol 2022; 12:911285. [PMID: 35814365 PMCID: PMC9257257 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2022.911285] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2022] [Accepted: 05/18/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is one of the most common cancers in the world, with a high rate of morbidity. The invasion and metastasis of ESCC is the main reason for high mortality. More and more evidence suggests that metastasized cancer cells require cellular elements that contribute to ESCC tumor microenvironment (TME) formation. TME contains many immune cells and stromal components, which are critical to epithelial–mesenchymal transition, immune escape, angiogenesis/lymphangiogenesis, metastasis niche formation, and invasion/metastasis. In this review, we will focus on the mechanism of different microenvironment cellular elements in ESCC invasion and metastasis and discuss recent therapeutic attempts to restore the tumor-suppressing function of cells within the TME. It will represent the whole picture of TME in the metastasis and invasion process of ESCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuyue Zheng
- Department of Clinical Oncology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
- Department of Clinical Oncology, The University of Hong Kong-Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen, China
| | - Beilei Liu
- Department of Clinical Oncology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
- Department of Clinical Oncology, The University of Hong Kong-Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen, China
| | - Xinyuan Guan
- Department of Clinical Oncology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
- Department of Clinical Oncology, The University of Hong Kong-Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen, China
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in Southern China, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, China
- *Correspondence: Xinyuan Guan,
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3
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Han P, Cao P, Hu S, Kong K, Deng Y, Zhao B, Li F. Esophageal Microenvironment: From Precursor Microenvironment to Premetastatic Niche. Cancer Manag Res 2020; 12:5857-5879. [PMID: 32765088 PMCID: PMC7371556 DOI: 10.2147/cmar.s258215] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2020] [Accepted: 06/29/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Esophageal cancer (EC) is the sixth most deadly cancer, and its incidence is still increasing year by year. Although the researches on the molecular mechanisms of EC have been widely carried out and incremental progress has been made, its overall survival rate is still low. There is cumulative evidence showing that the esophageal microenvironment plays a vital role in the development of EC. In precancerous lesions of the esophagus, high-risk environmental factors can promote the development of precancerous lesions by inducing the production of inflammatory factors and the recruitment of immune cells. In the tumor microenvironment, tumor-promoting cells can inhibit anti-tumor immunity and promote tumor progression through a variety of pathways, such as bone marrow-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs), tumor-associated fibroblasts (CAFs), and regulatory T cells (Tregs). The formation of extracellular hypoxia and acidic microenvironment and the change of extracellular matrix stiffness are also important factors affecting tumor progression and metastasis. Simultaneously, primary tumor-derived cytokines and bone marrow-derived immune cells can also promote the formation of pre-metastasis niche of EC lymph nodes, which are beneficial to EC lymph node metastasis. Further research on the specific mechanism of these processes in the occurrence, development, and metastasis of each EC subtype will support us to grasp the overall pre-cancerous prevention, targeted treatment, and metastatic assessment of EC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peng Han
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, People's Republic of China
| | - Peng Cao
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, People's Republic of China
| | - Shan Hu
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, People's Republic of China
| | - Kangle Kong
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, People's Republic of China
| | - Yu Deng
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, People's Republic of China
| | - Bo Zhao
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, People's Republic of China
| | - Fan Li
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, People's Republic of China
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Tumor-associated antigens and their antibodies in the screening, diagnosis, and monitoring of esophageal cancers. Eur J Gastroenterol Hepatol 2020; 32:779-788. [PMID: 32243347 DOI: 10.1097/meg.0000000000001718] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Despite the advances in the treatment and management, esophageal cancers continue to carry a dismal prognosis with an overall 5-year survival rate ranging from 15 to 25%. Delayed onset of symptoms and lack of effective screening methods and guidelines for diagnosis of the early disease contribute to the high mortality rate of esophageal cancers. Detection of esophageal cancer at their early stage is really a challenge for physicians including primary care physicians, gastroenterologists and oncologists. Although imaging, endoscopy and biopsy have been proved to be useful diagnostic tools for esophageal cancers, their diagnostic accuracy is unsatisfactory. In addition, expensive costs, invasiveness and special training operator have limited the clinical application of these tools. Recently, tumor-associated antigens (TAAs) and their antibodies have been reported to be potential markers in esophageal cancer screening, diagnosis, monitoring and prognostication. Because TAAs and their antibodies have the advantages of inexpensive cost, noninvasiveness and easy access, they have attracted much attention as an affordable option for early esophageal cancer diagnosis. In this review, we summarized the advances in TAAs and their antibodies in esophageal cancer screening, diagnosis, monitoring and prognostication.
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5
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Oguma J, Ozawa S, Kazuno A, Yamamoto M, Ninomiya Y, Yatabe K, Makuuchi H, Ogura G. Prognostic impact of lymphovascular invasion in lymph node-negative superficial esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. Dis Esophagus 2019; 32:5382620. [PMID: 30883635 DOI: 10.1093/dote/doz001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2018] [Revised: 12/07/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
The relationship between lymphovascular invasion (LVI) and prognosis in patients with superficial esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (SESCC) is unclear. The aim of this study is to evaluate prognostic factors in patients with lymph node-negative SESCC. A total of 195 patients with pathologically confirmed T1a-MM, T1b, and lymph node-negative SESCC were retrospectively reviewed in this study. Overall, the disease-free survival (DFS) rate was poorer in the lymphatic invasion-positive group than in the lymphatic invasion-negative group (p = 0.002) and a multivariate analysis suggested that lymphatic invasion was the only independent prognostic factor of DFS in patients with lymph node-negative SESCC (HR = 4.075, p = 0.005). Distant organ recurrence occurred in one patient (1/52, 1.9%) in the T1b-SM2 group and in six patients (6/61, 9.7%) in the T1b-SM3 group; all of these patients had LVI. LVI-positive patients had a poorer DFS than invasion-negative patients in the T1b-SM2 and SM3 groups (p = 0.026), and a multivariate analysis suggested that LVI was the only independent prognostic factor of DFS in patients with lymph node-negative SM2 and SM3 SESCC (HR = 5.165, p = 0.031). Lymph node-positive patients had a significantly poorer DFS rate than lymph node negative and LVI positive patients among the SM2 and SM3 SESCC patients (p = 0.018). The present results suggested that LVI was an independent prognostic factor in patients with SM2 and SM3 lymph node-negative SESCC; however their prognosis was not worse than that of patients with lymph node-positive SM2 and SM3 SESCC, for whom adjuvant therapy is indicated as a standard treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Oguma
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery
| | - S Ozawa
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery
| | - A Kazuno
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery
| | - M Yamamoto
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery
| | - Y Ninomiya
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery
| | - K Yatabe
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery
| | - H Makuuchi
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery
| | - G Ogura
- Department of Pathology, Tokai University School of Medicine, Kanagawa, Japan
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6
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Feng XY, Lu L, Wang KF, Zhu BY, Wen XZ, Peng RQ, Ding Y, Li DD, Li JJ, Li Y, Zhang XS. Low expression of CD80 predicts for poor prognosis in patients with gastric adenocarcinoma. Future Oncol 2019; 15:473-483. [PMID: 30628844 DOI: 10.2217/fon-2018-0420] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
AIM To study the expression and prognostic significance of CD80 in patients with gastric adenocarcinoma. Materials & methods: Real-time quantitative PCR, western blot and immunohistochemistry were performed to detect the expression of CD80 in gastric cancer tissues and matched adjacent normal tissues. Double immunohistochemical staining was performed to preliminary examine the relationship between CD80+ cells and CD8+ cytotoxic T lymphocytes. RESULTS The expression of CD80 was downregulated in tumor tissues compared with normal tissues (p = 0.002). Immunohistochemistry analysis showed that 49 (39.8%) of 123 patients with gastric cancer demonstrated reduced CD80 expression, which was correlated with the tumor differentiation grade. CONCLUSION Our data suggest that reduced CD80 expression independently predicts a poor prognosis in patients with gastric adenocarcinoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xing-Yu Feng
- Biotherapy Center, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, 651 Dongfeng Road East, Guangzhou 510060, PR China.,Department of General Surgery, Guangdong General Hospital, Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, School of Medicine, South China University of Technology. 106 Zhongshan Road 2, Guangzhou 510080, PR China.,State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, 651 Dongfeng Road East, Guangzhou 510060, PR China
| | - Lin Lu
- Department of Medical Oncology, Guangzhou First People's Hospital, School of Medicine, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510180, PR China.,Department of Medical Oncology, Guangzhou First People's Hospital, Guangzhou Medical University, 602 Renminbei Road, Guangzhou 510180, PR China
| | - Ke-Feng Wang
- Biotherapy Center, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, 651 Dongfeng Road East, Guangzhou 510060, PR China.,State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, 651 Dongfeng Road East, Guangzhou 510060, PR China
| | - Bao-Yan Zhu
- Biotherapy Center, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, 651 Dongfeng Road East, Guangzhou 510060, PR China.,State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, 651 Dongfeng Road East, Guangzhou 510060, PR China
| | - Xi-Zhi Wen
- Biotherapy Center, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, 651 Dongfeng Road East, Guangzhou 510060, PR China.,State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, 651 Dongfeng Road East, Guangzhou 510060, PR China
| | - Rui-Qing Peng
- Biotherapy Center, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, 651 Dongfeng Road East, Guangzhou 510060, PR China.,State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, 651 Dongfeng Road East, Guangzhou 510060, PR China
| | - Ya Ding
- Biotherapy Center, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, 651 Dongfeng Road East, Guangzhou 510060, PR China.,State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, 651 Dongfeng Road East, Guangzhou 510060, PR China
| | - Dan-Dan Li
- Biotherapy Center, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, 651 Dongfeng Road East, Guangzhou 510060, PR China.,State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, 651 Dongfeng Road East, Guangzhou 510060, PR China
| | - Jing-Jing Li
- Biotherapy Center, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, 651 Dongfeng Road East, Guangzhou 510060, PR China.,State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, 651 Dongfeng Road East, Guangzhou 510060, PR China
| | - Yong Li
- Department of General Surgery, Guangdong General Hospital, Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, School of Medicine, South China University of Technology. 106 Zhongshan Road 2, Guangzhou 510080, PR China
| | - Xiao-Shi Zhang
- Biotherapy Center, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, 651 Dongfeng Road East, Guangzhou 510060, PR China.,State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, 651 Dongfeng Road East, Guangzhou 510060, PR China
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7
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Jia H, Qi H, Gong Z, Yang S, Ren J, Liu Y, Li MY, Chen GG. The expression of FOXP3 and its role in human cancers. Biochim Biophys Acta Rev Cancer 2019; 1871:170-178. [PMID: 30630091 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbcan.2018.12.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2018] [Revised: 11/28/2018] [Accepted: 12/10/2018] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
FOXP3 is a transcription factor, which belongs to the family of FOX protein. FOXP3 was initially discovered in regulatory T cells and supposed to play a significant role in the process of regulatory T cell differentiation. Increasing evidence has shown that FOXP3 is also expressed in tumor cells. However, the results of tumor FOXP3 is inconsistent and even the opposite. In some types of human cancers, the expression of FOXP3 is upregulated, and it can promote the development of cancers, leading to a poor prognosis. While in some other types of cancers, it is a different story. The reason for the contradictory data is unknown. The discovery of FOXP3 isoforms, interaction between tumor cells and lymphocytes in the tumor microenvironment, subcellular location, and mutation of FOXP3 may provide some clues. In this review, we first summarize and analyze the recent development. The final section focuses on the regulation of FOXP3 expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hao Jia
- Department of Surgery, the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Prince of Wales Hospital, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong, China.
| | - Haolong Qi
- Department of Surgery, the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Prince of Wales Hospital, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong, China.
| | - Zhongqin Gong
- Department of Surgery, the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Prince of Wales Hospital, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong, China.
| | - Shucai Yang
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Pingshan District People's Hospital of Shenzhen, Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Jianwei Ren
- Department of Surgery, the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Prince of Wales Hospital, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong, China.
| | - Yi Liu
- Department of Surgery, the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Prince of Wales Hospital, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong, China.
| | - Ming-Yue Li
- Department of Surgery, the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Prince of Wales Hospital, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong, China.
| | - George Gong Chen
- Department of Surgery, the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Prince of Wales Hospital, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong, China.
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8
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Chu Y, Liao J, Li J, Wang Y, Yu X, Wang J, Xu X, Xu L, Zheng L, Xu J, Li L. CD103 + tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes predict favorable prognosis in patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. J Cancer 2019; 10:5234-5243. [PMID: 31602274 PMCID: PMC6775603 DOI: 10.7150/jca.30354] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2018] [Accepted: 07/18/2019] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
As an indispensable factor in preventing the recirculation of tissue lymphocytes to the lymphatic and blood systems, the integrin CD103 has enabled the characterization of lymphocyte populations in non-lymphoid tissues and organs. However, the expression, distribution, and clinical significance of CD103+ tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) remain unclear. In the present study, we included tumor and adjacent non-tumor tissue specimens from 198 patients with ESCC who had undergone surgical resection. Immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence were used to detect CD103+ TIL distribution, as well as the co-expression of CD103 and T cell markers and functional molecules. Kaplan-Meier analysis and the Cox proportional hazards model were used to estimate the prognostic value of CD103+ TILs. The results showed that CD103+ TILs were predominantly located in adjacent non-tumor tissues compared with tumor tissues (P < 0.0001). Immunofluorescence double staining revealed that CD8+ T cells, but not CD4+ T cells, comprised the majority of CD103-expressing cells. Most of these CD103-expressing cells co-expressed CTLA-4 and granzyme B rather than the exhaustion marker PD-1. High density of intratumoral CD103+ TIL is associated with longer overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) in both the internal (OS, P = 0.0004 and DFS, P = 0.0002) and external (OS, P = 0.038 and DFS, P = 0.12) cohorts. Multivariate Cox analysis showed the density of CD103+ TILs was an independent positive prognostic factor for OS (hazards ratio [HR] = 0.406; P = 0.0003 in the internal cohort; HR = 0.328, P = 0.01, in the external cohort) and DFS (HR = 0.385; P = 0.0002 in the internal cohort; HR = 0.270, P = 0.003, in the external cohort). Our findings indicate that CD103+ TILs might play an important role in the tumor microenvironment, and intratumoral CD103+ TILs could serve as a promising prognostic marker in ESCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yifan Chu
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou 510060, P. R. China
| | - Jing Liao
- MOE Key Laboratory of Gene Function and Regulation, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510275, P. R. China
| | - Jinqing Li
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou 510060, P. R. China
| | - Yongchun Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou 510060, P. R. China
| | - Xingjuan Yu
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou 510060, P. R. China
| | - Junfeng Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou 510060, P. R. China
| | - Xiue Xu
- The Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology for High Cancer Incidence Coastal Chaoshan Area, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou 515041, China
| | - Liyan Xu
- The Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology for High Cancer Incidence Coastal Chaoshan Area, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou 515041, China
| | - Limin Zheng
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou 510060, P. R. China
- MOE Key Laboratory of Gene Function and Regulation, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510275, P. R. China
| | - Jing Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou 510060, P. R. China
- ✉ Corresponding authors: Lian Li, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, No. 135, Xingang Xi Road, Guangzhou 510275, P. R. China, Tel: 86-20-84115531, E-mail: ; Jing Xu, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, No. 651, Dongfeng East Road, Guangzhou 510060, P. R. China, E-mail:
| | - Lian Li
- MOE Key Laboratory of Gene Function and Regulation, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510275, P. R. China
- ✉ Corresponding authors: Lian Li, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, No. 135, Xingang Xi Road, Guangzhou 510275, P. R. China, Tel: 86-20-84115531, E-mail: ; Jing Xu, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, No. 651, Dongfeng East Road, Guangzhou 510060, P. R. China, E-mail:
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Zhu Y, Li M, Mu D, Kong L, Zhang J, Zhao F, Li Z, Liu X, Bo C, Yu J. CD8+/FOXP3+ ratio and PD-L1 expression associated with survival in pT3N0M0 stage esophageal squamous cell cancer. Oncotarget 2018; 7:71455-71465. [PMID: 27683115 PMCID: PMC5342092 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.12213] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2016] [Accepted: 09/16/2016] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Data describing relationships between the tumor immune microenvironment and patient outcome are limited for esophageal squamous cell cancer (ESCC). The present study investigated the prognostic values of programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) expression and CD8+ or forkhead box protein 3+ (FOXP3+) tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) in 133 pathological T3N0M0 stage ESCC patients who underwent radical resection without neoadjuvant or adjuvant therapy. CD8+ and FOXP3+ TIL densities as well as PD-L1 levels in tumor cells and lymphocytes, were assessed through immunohistochemical staining. Patient survival was not associated with CD8+ or FOXP3+ TILs alone, but PD-L1 expression and the CD8+/FOXP3+ ratio were independent predictors of both disease-free and overall survival. PD-L1 expression correlated with age (p = 0.029), tumor length (p < 0.001), tumor differentiation status (p = 0.002) and reduced intratumoral CD8+ TIL density (p < 0.001). Our results suggest pT3N0M0 ESCC clinical outcomes correlate with CD8+ and FOXP3+ TIL densities and PD-L1 levels. Moreover, an intrinsic mechanism for induction of PD-L1 overexpression may be occurring during early tumor oncogenesis. This information may be useful for stratifying patients and guide the application of checkpoint blockade therapy in ESCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yingming Zhu
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Shandong Cancer Hospital and Institute, Shandong University, Jinan, China
| | - Minghuan Li
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Shandong Cancer Hospital and Institute, Shandong University, Jinan, China
| | - Dianbin Mu
- Department of Pathology, Shandong Cancer Hospital and Institute, Shandong University Jinan, China
| | - Li Kong
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Shandong Cancer Hospital and Institute, Shandong University, Jinan, China
| | - Jianbo Zhang
- Department of Pathology, Shandong Cancer Hospital and Institute, Shandong University Jinan, China
| | - Fen Zhao
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Shandong Cancer Hospital and Institute, Shandong University, Jinan, China
| | - Zhenxiang Li
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Shandong Cancer Hospital and Institute, Shandong University, Jinan, China
| | - Xuemei Liu
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Shandong Cancer Hospital and Institute, Shandong University, Jinan, China
| | - Cong Bo
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Shandong Cancer Hospital and Institute, Shandong University, Jinan, China
| | - Jinming Yu
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Shandong Cancer Hospital and Institute, Shandong University, Jinan, China
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10
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Shi JY, Ma LJ, Zhang JW, Duan M, Ding ZB, Yang LX, Cao Y, Zhou J, Fan J, Zhang X, Zhao YJ, Wang XY, Gao Q. FOXP3 Is a HCC suppressor gene and Acts through regulating the TGF-β/Smad2/3 signaling pathway. BMC Cancer 2017; 17:648. [PMID: 28903735 PMCID: PMC5598072 DOI: 10.1186/s12885-017-3633-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2017] [Accepted: 08/28/2017] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND FOXP3 has been discovered to be expressed in tumor cells and participate in the regulation of tumor behavior. Herein, we investigated the clinical relevance and biological significance of FOXP3 expression in human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). METHODS Expression profile of FOXP3 was analyzed using real-time RT-PCR, western blotting and immunofluorescence on HCC cell lines, and immunostaing of a tissue microarray containing of 240 primary HCC samples. The potential regulatory roles of FOXP3 were dissected by an integrated approach, combining biochemical assays, analysis of patient survival, genetic manipulation of HCC cell lines, mouse xenograft tumor models and chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) sequencing. RESULTS FOXP3 was constitutively expressed in HCC cells with the existence of splice variants (especially exon 3 and 4 deleted, Δ3,4-FOXP3). High expression of FOXP3 significantly correlated with low serum α-fetoprotein (AFP) level, absence of vascular invasion and early TNM stage. Survival analyses revealed that increased FOXP3 expression was significantly associated with better survival and reduced recurrence, and served as an independent prognosticator for HCC patients. Furthermore, FOXP3 could potently suppress the proliferation and invasion of HCC cells in vitro and reduce tumor growth in vivo. However, Δ3,4-FOXP3 showed a significant reduction in the tumor-inhibiting effect. The inhibition of FOXP3 on HCC aggressiveness was acted probably by enhancing the TGF-β/Smad2/3 signaling pathway. CONCLUSION Our findings suggest that FOXP3 suppresses tumor progression in HCC via TGF-β/Smad2/3 signaling pathway, highlighting the role of FOXP3 as a prognostic factor and novel target for an optimal therapy against this fatal malignancy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jie-Yi Shi
- Liver Cancer Institute, Zhongshan Hospital, and Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion (Ministry of Education), Fudan University, 180 Fenglin Road, Shanghai, 200032 People’s Republic of China
| | - Li-Jie Ma
- Liver Cancer Institute, Zhongshan Hospital, and Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion (Ministry of Education), Fudan University, 180 Fenglin Road, Shanghai, 200032 People’s Republic of China
| | - Ji-Wei Zhang
- Cancer Research Institute, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, People’s Republic of China
| | - Meng Duan
- Liver Cancer Institute, Zhongshan Hospital, and Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion (Ministry of Education), Fudan University, 180 Fenglin Road, Shanghai, 200032 People’s Republic of China
| | - Zhen-Bin Ding
- Liver Cancer Institute, Zhongshan Hospital, and Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion (Ministry of Education), Fudan University, 180 Fenglin Road, Shanghai, 200032 People’s Republic of China
| | - Liu-Xiao Yang
- Liver Cancer Institute, Zhongshan Hospital, and Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion (Ministry of Education), Fudan University, 180 Fenglin Road, Shanghai, 200032 People’s Republic of China
| | - Ya Cao
- Cancer Research Institute, Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan People’s Republic of China
| | - Jian Zhou
- Liver Cancer Institute, Zhongshan Hospital, and Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion (Ministry of Education), Fudan University, 180 Fenglin Road, Shanghai, 200032 People’s Republic of China
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, People’s Republic of China
| | - Jia Fan
- Liver Cancer Institute, Zhongshan Hospital, and Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion (Ministry of Education), Fudan University, 180 Fenglin Road, Shanghai, 200032 People’s Republic of China
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, People’s Republic of China
| | - Xiaoming Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Virology & Immunology, Institut Pasteur of Shanghai, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, People’s Republic of China
| | - Ying-Jun Zhao
- Cancer Research Institute, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, People’s Republic of China
| | - Xiao-Ying Wang
- Liver Cancer Institute, Zhongshan Hospital, and Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion (Ministry of Education), Fudan University, 180 Fenglin Road, Shanghai, 200032 People’s Republic of China
| | - Qiang Gao
- Liver Cancer Institute, Zhongshan Hospital, and Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion (Ministry of Education), Fudan University, 180 Fenglin Road, Shanghai, 200032 People’s Republic of China
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11
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Won KY, Kim GY, Kim HK, Choi SI, Kim SH, Bae GE, Lim JU, Lim SJ. Tumoral FOXP3 expression is associated with favorable clinicopathological variables and good prognosis in gastric adenocarcinoma: the tumor suppressor function of tumoral FOXP3 is related with the P21 expression in gastric adenocarcinoma. Hum Pathol 2017; 68:112-118. [PMID: 28882702 DOI: 10.1016/j.humpath.2017.08.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2017] [Revised: 08/17/2017] [Accepted: 08/25/2017] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
The function and contribution of tumoral FOXP3 in gastric cancer development remain poorly understood. Thus, we studied the expression of tumoral FOXP3 and its relationship with the well-known tumor suppressor proteins P21 and P53 in gastric adenocarcinoma. The tissue microarray was constructed from 182 cases of gastric adenocarcinoma. The immunohistochemistry was performed on 4-μm tissue sections from each tissue microarray block. We found that positive tumoral FOXP3 expression was significantly correlated with a lower T category, a lower N category, a lower recurrence rate, and less lymphatic invasion. Furthermore, the survival analysis revealed that the tumoral FOXP3-positive group had significantly increased overall survival and disease-free survival rates compared with the tumoral FOXP3-negative group. Additionally, P21 expression showed a significant positive correlation with tumoral FOXP3 expression in gastric adenocarcinoma cells. Taken together, these findings demonstrate that tumoral FOXP3 expression is associated with favorable clinicopathological variables and good prognosis in gastric adenocarcinoma through increased expression of the tumor suppression protein P21.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kyu Yeoun Won
- Department of Pathology, Kyung Hee University Hospital at Gangdong, Kyung Hee University School of Medicine, Seoul, 05278, Republic of Korea
| | - Gou Young Kim
- Department of Pathology, Kyung Hee University Hospital at Gangdong, Kyung Hee University School of Medicine, Seoul, 05278, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyung Kyung Kim
- Department of Pathology, Graduate School, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, 02453, Republic of Korea
| | - Sung Il Choi
- Department of Surgery, Kyung Hee University Hospital at Gangdong, Kyung Hee University School of Medicine, Seoul, 05278, Republic of Korea
| | - Sang Hyun Kim
- Department of Surgery, Kyung Hee University Hospital at Gangdong, Kyung Hee University School of Medicine, Seoul, 05278, Republic of Korea
| | - Go Eun Bae
- Department of Pathology, Incheon St. Mary's Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, 21431, Republic of Korea
| | - Jun Uk Lim
- Department of Gastroenterology, Sejong General Hospital, Bucheon, 14754, Republic of Korea
| | - Sung-Jig Lim
- Department of Pathology, Kyung Hee University Hospital at Gangdong, Kyung Hee University School of Medicine, Seoul, 05278, Republic of Korea.
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Tumor-Associated Macrophages and Regulatory T Cells Infiltration and the Clinical Outcome in Colorectal Cancer. Arch Immunol Ther Exp (Warsz) 2017; 65:445-454. [PMID: 28343267 PMCID: PMC5602054 DOI: 10.1007/s00005-017-0463-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 136] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2016] [Accepted: 01/05/2017] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
The aim of the study is the assessment of the intensity of the infiltration of tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) CD68+/iNOS− and Tregs CD8+/FoxP3+ in colorectal cancer (CRC) patients as prognostic factors with respect to disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS). In this retrospective study, tissue samples were obtained from 89 patients undergoing resection for CRC (stage IIA, pT3N0M0 and stages IIIB and IIIC, pT3N1-2M0). Recurrence was observed in 45 patients at the time of the follow-up (10 local recurrences, 35 distant metastases). In patients with recurrence the following were present: a tendency to an older average age at the time of diagnosis (p = 0.07), higher nodal involvement (p = 0.002) and more advanced clinical disease (p = 0.01). The analysis of the clinical data and immunohistochemical studies were performed with the methodology of identification of TAM and Treg subsets in histological sections, with the aim to use it in routine clinical management. Both DSF and OS were the clinical parameters assessed in the study. The presence of intense infiltration of TAMs in the tumor stroma was related to shorter DFS (p = 0.005) and OS (p = 0.006). The opposite tendency was observed in the tumor front (p = 0.061). The relative risks of recurrence and cancer-related death were more than twice higher in the group of patients with intense infiltration of TAMs in the tumor stroma (RR 2.05, 95% CI 1.33–3.14; p = 0.001 and RR 2.08, 95% CI 1.28–3.39; p = 0.003, respectively). Intense infiltration of Tregs in the tumor stroma was related to shorter DFS and OS (p < 0.0001). The relative risks of recurrence and death in a group of patients with intense infiltration of Tregs in the tumor stroma were more than 12 times higher than in patients with less intense infiltration (RR 12.3, 95% CI 5.44–27.9; p < 0.0001 and RR 12.5, 95% CI 4.9–32.4; p < 0.0001, respectively). Infiltration of TAMs CD68+/iNOS− and Tregs CD8+/FoxP3+ in the tumor stroma are negative prognostic factors with a positive correlation between them. Tregs may constitute an independent prognostic factor in patients with CRC.
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13
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Song JJ, Zhao SJ, Fang J, Ma D, Liu XQ, Chen XB, Wang Y, Cheng B, Wang Z. Foxp3 overexpression in tumor cells predicts poor survival in oral squamous cell carcinoma. BMC Cancer 2016; 16:530. [PMID: 27457382 PMCID: PMC4960787 DOI: 10.1186/s12885-016-2419-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2015] [Accepted: 06/27/2016] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Forkhead Box P3 (Foxp3) is a regulatory T cells marker, and its expression correlates with prognosis in a number of malignancies. The aim of this study is to determine the relationship of Foxp3 expression with clinicopathological parameters and prognosis in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). Methods Foxp3 expression was examined using immunohistochemistry (IHC) in paraffin-embedded tissue samples from 273 OSCC patients. Statistical analysis was performed to evaluate the associations between Foxp3 expression, the clinicopathologic characteristics and prognostic factors in OSCC. Results Foxp3 protein expression was significantly associated with lymph node metastasis (P <0.01). Both univariate and multivariate analyses revealed that Foxp3 was an independent factor for both 5 years overall survival (OS) and relapse-free survival (RFS) (both P <0.01). Patients with Foxp3 overexpression had shorter OS and RFS. Conclusions Our results determined that elevated Foxp3 protein expression was a predictive factor of outcome in OSCC and could act as a promising therapeutic target.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing-Jing Song
- Guanghua School of Stomatology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, Sun Yat-sen University, No. 56, Lingyuan West Road, Guangzhou, 510055, China
| | - Si-Jia Zhao
- Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Juan Fang
- Guanghua School of Stomatology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, Sun Yat-sen University, No. 56, Lingyuan West Road, Guangzhou, 510055, China
| | - Da Ma
- Guanghua School of Stomatology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, Sun Yat-sen University, No. 56, Lingyuan West Road, Guangzhou, 510055, China
| | - Xiang-Qi Liu
- Guanghua School of Stomatology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, Sun Yat-sen University, No. 56, Lingyuan West Road, Guangzhou, 510055, China
| | - Xiao-Bing Chen
- Guanghua School of Stomatology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, Sun Yat-sen University, No. 56, Lingyuan West Road, Guangzhou, 510055, China
| | - Yun Wang
- Guanghua School of Stomatology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, Sun Yat-sen University, No. 56, Lingyuan West Road, Guangzhou, 510055, China
| | - Bin Cheng
- Guanghua School of Stomatology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, Sun Yat-sen University, No. 56, Lingyuan West Road, Guangzhou, 510055, China.
| | - Zhi Wang
- Guanghua School of Stomatology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, Sun Yat-sen University, No. 56, Lingyuan West Road, Guangzhou, 510055, China.
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14
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Halvorsen EC, Mahmoud SM, Bennewith KL. Emerging roles of regulatory T cells in tumour progression and metastasis. Cancer Metastasis Rev 2015; 33:1025-41. [PMID: 25359584 DOI: 10.1007/s10555-014-9529-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
The metastasis of cancer is a complex and life-threatening process that is only partially understood. Immune suppressive cells are recognized as important contributors to tumour progression and may also promote the development and growth of tumour metastases. Specifically, regulatory T cells (Tregs) have been found to promote primary tumour progression, and emerging pre-clinical data suggests that Tregs may promote metastasis and metastatic tumour growth. While the precise role that Tregs play in metastatic progression is understudied, recent findings have indicated that by suppressing innate and adaptive anti-tumour immunity, Tregs may shield tumour cells from immune detection, and thereby allow tumour cells to survive, proliferate and acquire characteristics that facilitate dissemination. This review will highlight our current understanding of Tregs in metastasis, including an overview of pre-clinical findings and discussion of clinical data regarding Tregs and therapeutic outcome. Evolving strategies to directly ablate Tregs or to inhibit their function will also be discussed. Improving our understanding of how Tregs may influence tumour metastasis may lead to novel treatments for metastatic cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth C Halvorsen
- Department of Integrative Oncology, British Columbia Cancer Agency, 9-202, 675 West 10th Avenue, Vancouver, British Columbia, V5Z 1L3, Canada
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15
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Wang WL, Chang WL, Yang HB, Chang IW, Lee CT, Chang CY, Lin JT, Sheu BS. Quantification of tumor infiltrating Foxp3+ regulatory T cells enables the identification of high-risk patients for developing synchronous cancers over upper aerodigestive tract. Oral Oncol 2015; 51:698-703. [PMID: 25958829 DOI: 10.1016/j.oraloncology.2015.04.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2015] [Revised: 04/14/2015] [Accepted: 04/23/2015] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Patients with squamous cell carcinomas (SCC) of upper aerodigestive tract, either over head and neck (HNSCC) or esophagus (ESCC), frequently developed synchronous multiple cancers, leading to worse prognosis. This study validated whether suppression of host cancer immunosurveillance mediated by regulatory T cells (Treg) may predispose to the development of synchronous cancers. METHODS Tumor tissues of 200 patients (100 ESCC only, 50 HNSCC only, and 50 synchronous SCCs) were quantitatively accessed for the tumor infiltrating Treg by immunohistochemistry. The density of Treg was also correlated to the level of Treg-associated inhibitory cytokines (IL-10, IL-35 and TGF-β1), and chemokine (CCL22). RESULTS The density of tumor infiltrating Treg in the index tumor (i.e. the first malignancy diagnosed) of synchronous SCC group was higher than those of HNSCC or ESCC only (p<0.05). Selecting the optimal cut-off value of Treg density as 34.6 cells/mm(2) by ROC curve, an increased Treg density of the index tumor can be an independent factor for developing synchronous SCCs (OR: 6.13; 95% CI: 2.84-13.26). The Treg density was positively correlated with serum IL-10 level and the degree of CCL22-positive cells infiltration in tumor. Furthermore, the serum inhibitory cytokine IL-10 level was higher in synchronous SCC than in non-synchronous ones (p<0.001), that indicated the cellular immunosuppression in patients with synchronous cancers. CONCLUSIONS A more severe defect in cellular immunity may predispose to multifocal tumor. The Treg cell number in SCC may serve as a novel predictive biomarker for the risk of synchronous cancer development to initiate a proper surveillance program.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wen-Lun Wang
- Institute of Clinical Medicine, National Cheng Kung University Medical Center, Tainan, Taiwan; Department of Internal Medicine, E-Da Hospital/I-Shou University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
| | - Wei-Lun Chang
- Institute of Clinical Medicine, National Cheng Kung University Medical Center, Tainan, Taiwan; Department of Internal Medicine, National Cheng Kung University Medical Center, Tainan, Taiwan.
| | - Hsiao-Bai Yang
- Department of Pathology, National Cheng Kung University Medical Center, Tainan, Taiwan; Department of Pathology, Ton-Yen General Hospital, Hsin-Chu, Taiwan.
| | - I-Wei Chang
- Department of Pathology, E-Da Hospital/I-Shou University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
| | - Ching-Tai Lee
- Department of Internal Medicine, E-Da Hospital/I-Shou University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
| | - Chi-Yang Chang
- Department of Internal Medicine, E-Da Hospital/I-Shou University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
| | - Jaw-Town Lin
- Department of Internal Medicine, E-Da Hospital/I-Shou University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
| | - Bor-Shyang Sheu
- Institute of Clinical Medicine, National Cheng Kung University Medical Center, Tainan, Taiwan; Department of Internal Medicine, National Cheng Kung University Medical Center, Tainan, Taiwan.
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16
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Domagala-Kulawik J. The role of the immune system in non-small cell lung carcinoma and potential for therapeutic intervention. Transl Lung Cancer Res 2015; 4:177-90. [PMID: 25870800 DOI: 10.3978/j.issn.2218-6751.2015.01.11] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2014] [Accepted: 01/21/2015] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Over a hundred years after the first description of this disease, lung cancer represents one of the major challenges in oncology. Radical treatment cannot be introduced in more than 70% of cases and overall survival rate does not exceed 15%. The immunosurveillance of lung cancer may be effective in early oncogenesis but is inhibited in the course of developing a clinically detectable tumor. Very low and heterogonous antigenicity of lung cancer cells leads to passive escape from anti-cancer immune defense. The cytotoxic lymphocytes (CTLs) that play a main role in the anticancer response are actively suppressed in the tumor environment and following regulatory mechanisms inhibit the recognition of tumor antigens by antigen presenting cells. The population of regulatory T cells (Tregs) is augmented and the expression of transcription factor-Foxp3 is markedly increased on tumor cells and tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL). It is accomplished by M2 macrophage polarization, the activity of myeloid derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) and a significantly elevated concentration of cytokines: transforming growth factor beta (TGFβ) and IL-10 in the tumor microenvironment. Very active suppression of immune protection is the predominant role of the programmed death 1 (PD-1)-PD-L1 pathway. The blockage of this pathway was found to be an effective treatment approach; therefore the monoclonal antibodies are being intensively investigated in lung cancer patients. Cytotoxic T lymphocyte antigen-4 (CTLA-4) is the molecule capable of inhibiting the activation signal. The antibody anti-CTLA-4 improves CTLs function in solid tumors and lung cancer patients may benefit from use of this agent. The second way in lung cancer immunotherapy is production of anti-cancer vaccines using recognized cancer antigens: MAGE-A3, membrane associated glycoprotein (MUC-1), and EGF. It was recently shown in ongoing clinical trials that combined therapies: immune- and chemotherapy, radiotherapy or targeted therapy seem to be effective. Immunotherapy in lung cancer has an individual character-there is a need to assess the patient's immune status prior to implementation of immunomodulating therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joanna Domagala-Kulawik
- Department of Internal Diseases, Pneumonology and Allergology, Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland
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17
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Domagala-Kulawik J, Osinska I, Hoser G. Mechanisms of immune response regulation in lung cancer. Transl Lung Cancer Res 2015; 3:15-22. [PMID: 25806277 DOI: 10.3978/j.issn.2218-6751.2013.11.03] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2013] [Accepted: 11/25/2013] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Lung cancer is a leading cause of cancer deaths. As a solid tumor with low antigenicity and heterogenic phenotype lung cancer evades host immune defense. The cytotoxic anticancer effect is suppressed by a complex mechanism in tumor microenvironment. The population of regulatory T cells (Tregs) plays a crucial role in this inhibition of immune response. Tregs are defined by presence of forkhead box P3 (Foxp3) molecule. The high expression of Foxp3 was found in lung cancer cells and in tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL). Cytotoxic T-lymphocyte antigen 4 (CTLA4) is constitutively expressed on Tregs and suppresses T cell activation. The elevated CTLA4 expression in lymphocytes in patients with lung cancer was found. Recently the antibodies blocking CTLA4 showed some clinical efficacy in patients with lung cancer. Cancer cells and immune cells release many cytokines capable to show suppressive immune effect in cancer microenvironment. The most active are transforming growth factorβ (TGFβ) and IL-10. The pleiotropic function of Th17 population is TGFβ related. The myeloid lineage of suppressor cells in lung cancer is represented by tumor associated macrophages (TAM) with phenotype of M2 macrophages and some regulatory properties with releasing amounts of IL-10 and TGFβ. The myeloid derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) control cytotoxic T cell activity in mechanisms which are highly dependent on the context of tumor environment. The mechanisms of anticancer immune response regulation need further investigation as an important target to new way of treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joanna Domagala-Kulawik
- 1 Department of Internal Diseases, Pneumonology and Allergology, Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland ; 2 Department of Pathology, Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland ; 3 Laboratory of Flow Cytometry, Medical Center of Postgraduate Education, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Iwona Osinska
- 1 Department of Internal Diseases, Pneumonology and Allergology, Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland ; 2 Department of Pathology, Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland ; 3 Laboratory of Flow Cytometry, Medical Center of Postgraduate Education, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Grazyna Hoser
- 1 Department of Internal Diseases, Pneumonology and Allergology, Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland ; 2 Department of Pathology, Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland ; 3 Laboratory of Flow Cytometry, Medical Center of Postgraduate Education, Warsaw, Poland
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18
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Ganapathi SK, Beggs AD, Hodgson SV, Kumar D. Expression and DNA methylation of TNF, IFNG and FOXP3 in colorectal cancer and their prognostic significance. Br J Cancer 2014; 111:1581-9. [PMID: 25225903 PMCID: PMC4200101 DOI: 10.1038/bjc.2014.477] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2014] [Revised: 08/03/2014] [Accepted: 08/05/2014] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Colorectal cancer (CRC) progression is associated with suppression of host cell-mediated immunity and local immune escape mechanisms. Our aim was to assess the immune function in terms of expression of TNF, IFNG and FOXP3 in CRC. METHODS Sixty patients with CRC and 15 matched controls were recruited. TaqMan quantitative PCR and methylation-specific PCR was performed for expression and DNA methylation analysis of TNF, IFNG and FOXP3. Survival analysis was performed over a median follow-up of 48 months. RESULTS TNF was suppressed in tumour and IFNG was suppressed in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of patients with CRC. Tumours showed enhanced expression of FOXP3 and was significantly higher when tumour size was >38 mm (median tumour size; P=0.006, Mann-Whitney U-test). Peripheral blood mononuclear cell IFNG was suppressed in recurrent CRC (P=0.01). Methylated TNFpromoter (P=0.003) and TNFexon1 (P=0.001) were associated with significant suppression of TNF in tumours. Methylated FOXP3cpg was associated with significant suppression of FOXP3 in both PBMC (P=0.018) and tumours (P=0.010). Reduced PBMC FOXP3 expression was associated with significantly worse overall survival (HR=8.319, P=0.019). CONCLUSIONS We have detected changes in the expression of immunomodulatory genes that could act as biomarkers for prognosis and future immunotherapeutic strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- S K Ganapathi
- Department of Colorectal Surgery, St. George's Hospital, London, UK
| | - A D Beggs
- Department of Cancer Genetics, St. George's University of London, London, UK
| | - S V Hodgson
- Department of Cancer Genetics, St. George's University of London, London, UK
| | - D Kumar
- Department of Colorectal Surgery, St. George's Hospital, London, UK
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Weller P, Bankfalvi A, Gu X, Dominas N, Lehnerdt GF, Zeidler R, Lang S, Brandau S, Dumitru CA. The role of tumour FoxP3 as prognostic marker in different subtypes of head and neck cancer. Eur J Cancer 2014; 50:1291-300. [PMID: 24630394 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejca.2014.02.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2013] [Revised: 02/11/2014] [Accepted: 02/17/2014] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Expression of the forkhead transcription factor (FoxP3)--an established marker of regulatory T cells--has been found in other cell types as well, including tumour cells. Recent studies indicated that high tumour FoxP3 expression might be associated with a poor outcome of patients with several types of solid cancers. Here, we investigated the role of FoxP3 expressed by the tumour cells in the prognosis of larynx and oro-hypopharynx squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC and OHSCC)--two major subtypes of head and neck cancer. To this end, we analysed by immunohistochemistry the expression of tumour FoxP3 in tissues from 83 LSCC and 89 OHSCC patients in relation to overall survival. In multivariate analysis we found that high tumour FoxP3 expression significantly associated with poor survival in OHSCC but not in LSCC patients. In further studies, we combined the prognostic value of FoxP3 with selected markers of inflammation (cyclooxygenase-2; COX2) or with markers of enhanced tumour migration/invasion (AHNAK and CORTACTIN). Interestingly, we found that the combination of FoxP3 and AHNAK (in LSCC) or FoxP3 and CORTACTIN (in OHSCC) had significantly stronger prognostic values than either marker analysed individually. Combination of FoxP3 and COX2 enhanced the prognostic accuracy only in OHSCC. Thus, our study identifies novel individual and combination markers that might have enhanced and distinct prognostic relevance in different subtypes of head and neck cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrick Weller
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Hufelandstrasse 55, 45122 Essen, Germany
| | - Agnes Bankfalvi
- Department of Pathology/Neuropathology, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Hufelandstrasse 55, 45122 Essen, Germany
| | - Xiang Gu
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Hufelandstrasse 55, 45122 Essen, Germany
| | - Nina Dominas
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Hufelandstrasse 55, 45122 Essen, Germany
| | - Götz F Lehnerdt
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Hufelandstrasse 55, 45122 Essen, Germany
| | - Reinhard Zeidler
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Ludwig Maximilians University, Marchioninistrasse 15-25, 81377 Munich, Germany; Research Unit Gene Vectors, German Research Center for Environmental Health, Marchioninistrasse 15-25, 81377 Munich, Germany
| | - Stephan Lang
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Hufelandstrasse 55, 45122 Essen, Germany
| | - Sven Brandau
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Hufelandstrasse 55, 45122 Essen, Germany
| | - Claudia A Dumitru
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Hufelandstrasse 55, 45122 Essen, Germany.
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20
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Zhang CH, Huang Y, Han G. The regulatory impact of immune inhibitors on T cells of SD rats. ASIAN PAC J TROP MED 2014; 7:305-8. [PMID: 24507682 DOI: 10.1016/s1995-7645(14)60044-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2013] [Revised: 10/15/2013] [Accepted: 12/15/2013] [Indexed: 10/25/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To observe the regulatory impact of immune inhibitors on T cells in rats. METHOD Forty SD rats were selected and randomly divided into experimental group and control group, Rapamycin (SRL) 0.4 mg/d to fill the stomach of the former one, saline lavage was used with the latter one for two weeks. Using flow cytometry to detect the two groups of rats with spleen and thymus level of CD4+ CD25+ T cells; and the spleen cells FoxP3 mRNA expression; Using ELISA method to detect TGF-β, IL-10 levels. RESULTS The peripheral blood, spleen and thymus of CD4+ CD25+ T cells accounted for the proportion of mononuclear cells were significantly higher than that of control group (P<0.05); FoxP3 mRNA expression quantity also significantly higher than the control group (P<0.05); Experimental TGF-β in rats, IL-10 levels are significantly higher than control group (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS Immune inhibitors can regulatory CD4+ CD25+ foxp3+ T cells in rats, a single nuclear cell proportion increase, shows that it can induce rat CD4+ CD25+ foxp3+ regulatory T cells proliferation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chao-Hua Zhang
- Uropoiesis Surgical Department, First Hospital of Baoding, Hebei, China; Medicine Clinical, Hebei University College, Hebei, China.
| | - Yan Huang
- Uropoiesis Surgical Department, First Hospital of Baoding, Hebei, China
| | - Gang Han
- The People's Liberation Army 252 Hospital, Baoding, Hebei, China
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21
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Molecular alterations and clinical relevance in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. Front Med 2013; 7:401-10. [PMID: 24002746 DOI: 10.1007/s11684-013-0286-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2013] [Accepted: 07/10/2013] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is one of the most common types of gastrointestinal cancers, and the fourth leading cause of cancer-related deaths in China. Early detection and intervention in time may dramatically increase the survival of the patients by initiating treatment regimens during earlier stages of ESCC or even during precancerous stages. Molecular classification will be useful for subtyping esophageal tumors or precancerous lesions to improve current therapeutics or early intervention of the disease. In this review, we summarize the findings in investigating the molecular alterations and clinical relevance of ESCC.
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Abstract
In this review, we introduce the IPEX syndrome and its relationship with germline mutations of the FOXP3 gene. We then describe the multiple functional roles of FOXP3 in regulatory T cells and epithelial cells as well as in IPEX syndrome and tumor progression. Potential mechanisms of FOXP3 inactivation and transcriptional regulation are discussed with recent advances. Finally, we point out current issues and a potential FOXP3-mediated therapeutic strategy as well as the reactivation of FOXP3 in patients with IPEX syndrome and cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Runhua Liu
- Department of Genetics, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama 35294, USA
| | - Silin Li
- Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama 35294, USA
| | - Wei-Hsiung Yang
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Mercer University School of Medicine, Savannah, Georgia 31404, USA
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Dvir E, Mellanby R, Kjelgaard-Hansen M, Schoeman J. Plasma IL-8 concentrations are increased in dogs with spirocercosis. Vet Parasitol 2012; 190:185-90. [DOI: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2012.06.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2012] [Revised: 06/08/2012] [Accepted: 06/10/2012] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
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Triulzi T, Tagliabue E, Balsari A, Casalini P. FOXP3 expression in tumor cells and implications for cancer progression. J Cell Physiol 2012; 228:30-5. [DOI: 10.1002/jcp.24125] [Citation(s) in RCA: 67] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
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Dvir E, Schoeman JP, Clift SJ, McNeilly TN, Mellanby RJ. Immunohistochemical characterization of lymphocyte and myeloid cell infiltrates in spirocercosis-induced oesophageal nodules. Parasite Immunol 2012; 33:545-53. [PMID: 21770972 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-3024.2011.01316.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
Spirocerca lupi is a nematode that infects the dog's oesophagus and promotes the formation of an inflammatory fibroblastic nodule that progresses to sarcoma in approximately 25% of cases. Spirocercosis-associated oesophageal sarcoma is an excellent and under-utilized spontaneous model of parasite-associated malignancy. The inflammatory infiltrate of paraffin-embedded, non-neoplastic oesophageal nodules (n = 46), neoplastic nodules (n = 25) and normal oesophagus (n = 14) was examined by immunohistochemistry using MAC387 (myeloid cells), CD3 (T cells), Pax5 (B cells) and FoxP3 (T regulatory cells) antibodies. Myeloid cells predominated in 70% of nodules, in pockets around the worms' migratory tracts and in necro-ulcerative areas in neoplastic cases. T cells predominated in 23% of cases with a focal or diffuse distribution, in the nodule periphery. No significant differences were observed between neoplastic and non-neoplastic stages. FoxP3+ cells were observed in low numbers, not significantly different from the controls. The inflammation in spirocercosis is characterized by pockets of pus surrounded by organized lymphoid foci. There was no evidence of a local accumulation of FoxP3+ cells, unlike many previous studies that have reported an increase in FoxP3+ T cells in both malignancies and parasite infections. The triggering factor(s) driving the malignant transformation of the spirocercosis-associated chronic inflammatory nodule warrants further investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- E Dvir
- Department of Companion Animal Clinical Studies, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa.
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[Expression of Foxp3 and RORgamma t in peripheral blood mononuclear cells in patients with laryngeal carcinoma as indicators of tumor stage--preliminary study]. Otolaryngol Pol 2011; 65:109-16. [PMID: 22000260 DOI: 10.1016/s0030-6657(11)70718-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2011] [Accepted: 08/16/2011] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The degree of activation of cells involved in cellular immune response against tumor antigens (cytotoxic lymphocytes Tc) as well as efficiency of the mechanisms which promote immunosuppression (Treg - regulatory cells CD4(+)CD25(+)Foxp3(+)) may determine the course of the neoplastic disease. The aim of this study was to assess the function of autologous peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) involved in the immunological processes on the basis of expression of Foxp3 and RORgamma t molecules as well as analysis of the relationships with clinical and morphological features of the tumor (pT and pN stage, G feature, degree of invasiveness according to the TFG classification) in laryngeal carcinoma. MATERIAL AND METHODS The analysis included a group of 59 patients with verified squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx. In the pathologic evaluation pTNM classification criteria, depth of invasion and degree of histological differentiation were used. Expression levels of mRNA for Foxp3 and RORgamma t in peripheral blood mononuclear cells by quantitative analysis of the amplified product in real time (real-time RT(2)-PCR) were evaluated. The level of Foxp3 and RORgamma t protein expression by Western blot analysis was determined. RESULTS In squamous cell carcinomas of the larynx, with the highest tumor aggressiveness the significantly highest level of mRNA and protein expression for Foxp3 molecule were observed. The severity of Foxp3 expression at both gene and protein level were positively linearly correlated with the degree of local extent of the tumor (pT3-4), depth of invasion (invasion of cartilage) and the degree of histological differentiation (low-differentiated tumors G3). In the study group of laryngeal cancers significantly lower level of RORgamma t expression in carcinomas with less invasive changes (pT1-2, high-differentiated tumors G1, carcinomas with microinvasion without evidence of invasion beyond the lamina propria) was also noted. CONCLUSIONS The study results indicate the important role of immune cell activity as indicators of advancement of clinical and morphological changes in squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx.
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Imamura Y, Watanabe M, Nagai Y, Baba Y, Hirashima K, Karashima R, Iwatsuki M, Yoshida N, Kinoshita K, Kurashige J, Iyama KI, Baba H. Lymphatic vessel invasion detected by the D2-40 monoclonal antibody is an independent prognostic factor in node-negative esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. J Surg Oncol 2011; 105:277-83. [PMID: 22271500 DOI: 10.1002/jso.22079] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2011] [Accepted: 08/01/2011] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES D2-40 staining has been reported to be useful for both identifying lymphatic vessel invasion (LVI) and counting lymphatic vessel density (LVD) in various cancers. The aim of this study was to clarify the prognostic significance of D2-40 staining in patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). METHODS A total of 159 consecutive patients with ESCC who underwent an esophagectomy with lymph node dissection were eligible. LVI was diagnosed by both hematoxylin-eosin (LVI-HE) and D2-40 staining (LVI-D2-40) in the largest central sections of the entire tumors, while both the intratumoral and peritumoral LVD were counted by D2-40 staining. The correlation between the prognosis and clinicopathological factors was investigated. RESULTS An univariate analysis revealed that tumor invasion beyond the muscularis propria, lymph node metastasis (LNM), LVI-HE, LVI-D2-40, high intratumoral LVD, and blood vessel invasion correlated with worse patients' prognosis (P < 0.05). A multivariate analysis revealed LNM to be the only independent prognostic factor in all cases (P = 0.0083). On the other hand, when the prognostic factors of 83 patients without LNM were investigated, LVI-D2-40 was revealed to be the only independent prognostic factor (P = 0.048). CONCLUSIONS LVI detected by D2-40 staining was an independent prognostic factor in patients with node-negative ESCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Imamura
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kumamoto University, Honjo Kumamoto-City, Kumamoto, Japan
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Raghavan S, Quiding-Järbrink M. Regulatory T cells in gastrointestinal tumors. Expert Rev Gastroenterol Hepatol 2011; 5:489-501. [PMID: 21780896 DOI: 10.1586/egh.11.44] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Regulatory T cells (Tregs) have the ability to suppress the activity of most other lymphoid cells, as well as dendritic cells through cell-cell contact-dependent mechanisms, which have not yet been fully defined. Tregs are a key component of a functional immune system and Treg deficiency is associated with severe autoimmunity and allergies. However, Tregs specific for tumor-associated antigens are present in cancer patients and Tregs accumulate in many types of solid tumors, where they probably act to promote tumor escape from cytotoxic immune responses. Indeed, some studies even show a negative correlation between Treg infiltration and survival of the patient. Several studies indicate an active recruitment of Tregs to the tumor site and the mechanisms of Treg accumulation are starting to be better understood as a result of more detailed analysis of their adhesion molecule and chemokine receptor expression. In addition, in gastrointestinal tumors there is an increase in tumor-associated Tregs, but intriguingly, Treg infiltration into colorectal adenocarcinomas is associated with improved prognosis. In this article, we will review the proposed mechanisms of immune suppression by tumor-associated Tregs, how the tumor microenvironment favors immune evasion and Treg induction, the tumor-homing mechanisms of Tregs and how Tregs affect progression of gastric and colorectal tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sukanya Raghavan
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The Sahlgrenska Academy at The University of Gothenburg, Göteborg, Sweden
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Lv L, Pan K, Li XD, She KL, Zhao JJ, Wang W, Chen JG, Chen YB, Yun JP, Xia JC. The accumulation and prognosis value of tumor infiltrating IL-17 producing cells in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. PLoS One 2011; 6:e18219. [PMID: 21483813 PMCID: PMC3069054 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0018219] [Citation(s) in RCA: 97] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2010] [Accepted: 02/28/2011] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The role of IL-17 producing cells in tumors is controversial. In the present study, we investigated the prognostic value of measuring tumor-infiltrating IL-17 producing cell levels in human esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS Immunohistochemical staining was performed to investigate the levels of IL-17+ tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs), as well as CD8+ cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) and CD57+ natural killer (NK) cells from 181 ESCC patients. The prognostic value of measuring the densities of IL-17+TILs and the correlation with CTLs and NK was evaluated. IL-17 producing cells were detected in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma tissues. The IL-17 producing cells were major CD4 positive, but Foxp3 negative. The median level of IL-17+TILs was 3.90 cells/high power microscopic field (HPF). The density of IL-17 producing cells correlated negatively with T stage (P=0.042). The higher densities of tumor infiltrating IL-17+ lymphocytes were associated with better overall survival (P=0.031). Furthermore, we found that there were positive correlations between levels of IL-17 producing cells and the densities of CD8+cells, as well as CD57+cells (r=0.198, P=0.008 for CD8+ cells and r=0.261, P<0.001 for CD57+ cells, respectively). The prognosis analysis also showed that the higher levels of CD8+ CTLs and CD57+ NK cells correlated with better overall survival of ESCC patients. CONCLUSIONS Our study suggests that tumor infiltrating IL-17 producing cells in ESCC patients may have protective roles in the tumor microenvironment and may be treated as a prognostic marker for ESCC patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lin Lv
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in Southern China and Department of Experimental Research, Cancer Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Ke Pan
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in Southern China and Department of Experimental Research, Cancer Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiao-dong Li
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in Southern China and Department of Experimental Research, Cancer Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China
- Department of Thoracic Oncology, Cancer Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Ke-lin She
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in Southern China and Department of Experimental Research, Cancer Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China
- Department of Thoracic Oncology, Cancer Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Jing-jing Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in Southern China and Department of Experimental Research, Cancer Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Wei Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in Southern China and Department of Experimental Research, Cancer Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China
- Department of Gastric and Pancreatic Surgery, Cancer Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Ju-gao Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in Southern China and Department of Experimental Research, Cancer Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Yi-bin Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in Southern China and Department of Experimental Research, Cancer Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Jing-ping Yun
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in Southern China and Department of Experimental Research, Cancer Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China
- Department of Pathology, Cancer Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China
- * E-mail: (J-pY); (J-cX)
| | - Jian-chuan Xia
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in Southern China and Department of Experimental Research, Cancer Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China
- * E-mail: (J-pY); (J-cX)
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