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Mierke CT. Phenotypic Heterogeneity, Bidirectionality, Universal Cues, Plasticity, Mechanics, and the Tumor Microenvironment Drive Cancer Metastasis. Biomolecules 2024; 14:184. [PMID: 38397421 PMCID: PMC10887446 DOI: 10.3390/biom14020184] [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: 12/25/2023] [Revised: 01/19/2024] [Accepted: 02/01/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Tumor diseases become a huge problem when they embark on a path that advances to malignancy, such as the process of metastasis. Cancer metastasis has been thoroughly investigated from a biological perspective in the past, whereas it has still been less explored from a physical perspective. Until now, the intraluminal pathway of cancer metastasis has received the most attention, while the interaction of cancer cells with macrophages has received little attention. Apart from the biochemical characteristics, tumor treatments also rely on the tumor microenvironment, which is recognized to be immunosuppressive and, as has recently been found, mechanically stimulates cancer cells and thus alters their functions. The review article highlights the interaction of cancer cells with other cells in the vascular metastatic route and discusses the impact of this intercellular interplay on the mechanical characteristics and subsequently on the functionality of cancer cells. For instance, macrophages can guide cancer cells on their intravascular route of cancer metastasis, whereby they can help to circumvent the adverse conditions within blood or lymphatic vessels. Macrophages induce microchannel tunneling that can possibly avoid mechanical forces during extra- and intravasation and reduce the forces within the vascular lumen due to vascular flow. The review article highlights the vascular route of cancer metastasis and discusses the key players in this traditional route. Moreover, the effects of flows during the process of metastasis are presented, and the effects of the microenvironment, such as mechanical influences, are characterized. Finally, the increased knowledge of cancer metastasis opens up new perspectives for cancer treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudia Tanja Mierke
- Faculty of Physics and Earth System Science, Peter Debye Institute of Soft Matter Physics, Biological Physics Division, Leipzig University, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
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2
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Tabasum S, Thapa D, Giobbie-Hurder A, Weirather JL, Campisi M, Schol PJ, Li X, Li J, Yoon CH, Manos MP, Barbie DA, Hodi FS. EDIL3 as an Angiogenic Target of Immune Exclusion Following Checkpoint Blockade. Cancer Immunol Res 2023; 11:1493-1507. [PMID: 37728484 PMCID: PMC10618652 DOI: 10.1158/2326-6066.cir-23-0171] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2023] [Revised: 06/13/2023] [Accepted: 09/18/2023] [Indexed: 09/21/2023]
Abstract
Immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) has become the standard of care for several solid tumors. Multiple combinatorial approaches have been studied to improve therapeutic efficacy. The combination of antiangiogenic agents and ICB has demonstrated efficacy in several cancers. To improve the mechanistic understanding of synergies with these treatment modalities, we performed screens of sera from long-term responding patients treated with ipilimumab and bevacizumab. We discovered a high-titer antibody response against EGF-like repeats and discoidin I-like domains protein 3 (EDIL3) that correlated with favorable clinical outcomes. EDIL3 is an extracellular protein, previously identified as a marker of poor prognosis in various malignancies. Our Tumor Immune Dysfunction and Exclusion analysis predicted that EDIL3 was associated with immune exclusion signatures for cytotoxic immune cell infiltration and nonresponse to ICB. Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAF) were predicted as the source of EDIL3 in immune exclusion-related cells. Furthermore, The Cancer Genome Atlas Skin Cutaneous Melanoma (TCGA-SKCM) and CheckMate 064 data analyses correlated high levels of EDIL3 with increased pan-fibroblast TGFβ response, enrichment of angiogenic signatures, and induction of epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition. Our in vitro studies validated EDIL3 overexpression and TGFβ regulation in patient-derived CAFs. In pretreatment serum samples from patients, circulating levels of EDIL3 were associated with circulating levels of VEGF, and like VEGF, EDIL3 increased the angiogenic abilities of patient-derived tumor endothelial cells (TEC). Mechanistically, three-dimensional microfluidic cultures and two-dimensional transmigration assays with TEC endorsed EDIL3-mediated disruption of the lymphocyte function-associated antigen-1 (LFA-1)-ICAM-1 interaction as a possible means of T-cell exclusion. We propose EDIL3 as a potential target for improving the transendothelial migration of immune cells and efficacy of ICB therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saba Tabasum
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
- Melanoma Disease Center, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
- Center for Immuno-Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Dinesh Thapa
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
- Melanoma Disease Center, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
- Center for Immuno-Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Anita Giobbie-Hurder
- Center for Immuno-Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
- Division of Biostatistics, Department of Data Sciences, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Jason L. Weirather
- Department of Data Science, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts
- Center for Immuno-Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Marco Campisi
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Pieter J. Schol
- Department of Medical Oncology, Oncode Institute, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Xiaoyu Li
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
- Melanoma Disease Center, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
- Center for Immuno-Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Jingjing Li
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
- Melanoma Disease Center, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
- Center for Immuno-Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Charles H. Yoon
- Department of Pathology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Michael P. Manos
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
- Melanoma Disease Center, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
- Center for Immuno-Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - David A. Barbie
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - F. Stephen Hodi
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
- Melanoma Disease Center, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
- Center for Immuno-Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
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Castellani G, Buccarelli M, Arasi MB, Rossi S, Pisanu ME, Bellenghi M, Lintas C, Tabolacci C. BRAF Mutations in Melanoma: Biological Aspects, Therapeutic Implications, and Circulating Biomarkers. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:4026. [PMID: 37627054 PMCID: PMC10452867 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15164026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2023] [Revised: 08/03/2023] [Accepted: 08/07/2023] [Indexed: 08/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Melanoma is an aggressive form of skin cancer resulting from the malignant transformation of melanocytes. Recent therapeutic approaches, including targeted therapy and immunotherapy, have improved the prognosis and outcome of melanoma patients. BRAF is one of the most frequently mutated oncogenes recognised in melanoma. The most frequent oncogenic BRAF mutations consist of a single point mutation at codon 600 (mostly V600E) that leads to constitutive activation of the BRAF/MEK/ERK (MAPK) signalling pathway. Therefore, mutated BRAF has become a useful target for molecular therapy and the use of BRAF kinase inhibitors has shown promising results. However, several resistance mechanisms invariably develop leading to therapeutic failure. The aim of this manuscript is to review the role of BRAF mutational status in the pathogenesis of melanoma and its impact on differentiation and inflammation. Moreover, this review focuses on the mechanisms responsible for resistance to targeted therapies in BRAF-mutated melanoma and provides an overview of circulating biomarkers including circulating tumour cells, circulating tumour DNA, and non-coding RNAs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giorgia Castellani
- Department of Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, 00161 Rome, Italy; (G.C.); (M.B.); (M.B.A.); (S.R.)
| | - Mariachiara Buccarelli
- Department of Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, 00161 Rome, Italy; (G.C.); (M.B.); (M.B.A.); (S.R.)
| | - Maria Beatrice Arasi
- Department of Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, 00161 Rome, Italy; (G.C.); (M.B.); (M.B.A.); (S.R.)
| | - Stefania Rossi
- Department of Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, 00161 Rome, Italy; (G.C.); (M.B.); (M.B.A.); (S.R.)
| | - Maria Elena Pisanu
- High Resolution NMR Unit, Core Facilities, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, 00161 Rome, Italy;
| | - Maria Bellenghi
- Center for Gender-Specific Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, 00161 Rome, Italy;
| | - Carla Lintas
- Research Unit of Medical Genetics, Department of Medicine, Università Campus Bio-Medico di Roma, 00128 Rome, Italy;
- Operative Research Unit of Medical Genetics, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Campus Bio-Medico, 00128 Rome, Italy
| | - Claudio Tabolacci
- Department of Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, 00161 Rome, Italy; (G.C.); (M.B.); (M.B.A.); (S.R.)
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Regression in cutaneous melanoma: histological assessment, immune mechanisms and clinical implications. Pathology 2023; 55:227-235. [PMID: 36639333 DOI: 10.1016/j.pathol.2022.11.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2022] [Accepted: 11/09/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Tumour regression is an immunologically driven process that results in complete or partial disappearance of tumour cells. This can be observed in histological sections as replacement of tumour cells with fibrosis, angiogenesis, and a variable inflammatory infiltrate. In primary cutaneous melanoma, the prognostic significance of regression has been debated for decades, in part because inconsistent histological criteria are used in prognostication studies. It is broadly accepted that CD8+ T lymphocytes are the primary effectors of the anti-tumour response, but the interplay between melanoma and the immune system is complex, dynamic, and incompletely understood. Sustained progress in unravelling the pathogenesis of melanoma regression has led to the identification of therapeutic targets, culminating in the development of immune checkpoint inhibitors for the management of advanced disease. Modern techniques allow for high-resolution spatial analyses of the tumour microenvironment. Such studies may lead to better understanding of the immune drivers of melanoma regression, thereby facilitating the search for new prognostic and predictive biomarkers to assist clinical decision-making.
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Extracellular Vesicles from Carcinoma-associated Fibroblasts Promote EMT of Salivary Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma Via IL-6. Arch Med Res 2023; 54:27-36. [PMID: 36543625 DOI: 10.1016/j.arcmed.2022.12.005] [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: 11/02/2022] [Accepted: 12/08/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Carcinoma-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) play a pivotal role in cancer progression. Salivary adenoid cystic carcinoma (SACC) has a high tendency to invade and metastasize. Understanding how CAFs interact with SACC cells is essential for developing new targeted therapies for SACC. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) play important roles in intercellular communication. However, the role of CAFs-derived EVs in SACC invasion remains poorly understood. AIM OF THE STUDY To show that CAFs EVs are involved in the EMT of SACC and promote tumor invasion. METHODS CAFs-derived EVs were characterized by western blot and transmission electron microscopy. Wound healing and transwell assay were performed for assessing biological foundation of CAFs-EVs for tumor cells. RNA interference transfection, western blot, wound healing and transwell assay were applied to study the effect of IL6 from CAFs-EVs on SACC cells and the mechanism. A subcutaneous xenograft model was used to evaluate the EMT of SACC induced by CAFs in vivo. RESULTS In this study, we show that CAFs EVs promote the migration and invasion of SACC cells. The expression of biomarkers of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) was higher in SACC cells treated with CAFs EVs than in the negative controls, and high levels of IL6 were detected in CAFs and their EVs. Knockdown of IL6 in CAFs decreased tissue invasiveness and EMT biomarker expression in SACC cells induced by CAFs EVs. CAFs EV-associated IL6 promoted SACC EMT by activating the JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway. CONCLUSION CAFs-derived EVs carry IL6 to improve EMT of SACC by activating the JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway.
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Mekhileri NV, Major G, Lim K, Mutreja I, Chitcholtan K, Phillips E, Hooper G, Woodfield T. Biofabrication of Modular Spheroids as Tumor-Scale Microenvironments for Drug Screening. Adv Healthc Mater 2022:e2201581. [PMID: 36495232 DOI: 10.1002/adhm.202201581] [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: 06/30/2022] [Revised: 11/13/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
To streamline the drug discovery pipeline, there is a pressing need for preclinical models which replicate the complexity and scale of native tumors. While there have been advancements in the formation of microscale tumor units, these models are cell-line dependent, time-consuming and have not improved clinical trial success rates. In this study, two methods for generating 3D tumor microenvironments are compared, rapidly fabricated hydrogel microspheres and traditional cell-dense spheroids. These modules are then bioassembled into 3D printed thermoplastic scaffolds, using an automated biofabrication process, to form tumor-scale models. Modules are formed with SKOV3 and HFF cells as monocultures and cocultures, and the fabrication efficiency, cell architecture, and drug response profiles are characterized, both as single modules and as multimodular constructs. Cell-encapsulated Gel-MA microspheres are fabricated with high-reproducibility and dimensions necessary for automated tumor-scale bioassembly regardless of cell type, however, only cocultured spheroids form compact modules suitable for bioassembly. Chemosensitivity assays demonstrate the reduced potency of doxorubicin in coculture bioassembled constructs and a ≈five-fold increase in drug resistance of cocultured cells in 3D modules compared with 2D monolayers. This bioassembly system is efficient and tailorable so that a variety of relevant-sized tumor constructs could be developed to study tumorigenesis and modernize drug discovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Naveen Vijayan Mekhileri
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Musculoskeletal Medicine, Centre for Bioengineering & Nanomedicine, University of Otago, Christchurch, Canterbury, 8011, New Zealand
| | - Gretel Major
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Musculoskeletal Medicine, Centre for Bioengineering & Nanomedicine, University of Otago, Christchurch, Canterbury, 8011, New Zealand
| | - Khoon Lim
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Musculoskeletal Medicine, Centre for Bioengineering & Nanomedicine, University of Otago, Christchurch, Canterbury, 8011, New Zealand
| | - Isha Mutreja
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Musculoskeletal Medicine, Centre for Bioengineering & Nanomedicine, University of Otago, Christchurch, Canterbury, 8011, New Zealand
| | - Kenny Chitcholtan
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Gynaecological Cancer Research Group, University of Otago, Christchurch, Canterbury, 8011, New Zealand
| | - Elisabeth Phillips
- Mackenzie Cancer Research Group, Department of Pathology and Biomedical Science, University of Otago, Christchurch, Canterbury, 8011, New Zealand
| | - Gary Hooper
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Musculoskeletal Medicine, Centre for Bioengineering & Nanomedicine, University of Otago, Christchurch, Canterbury, 8011, New Zealand
| | - Tim Woodfield
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Musculoskeletal Medicine, Centre for Bioengineering & Nanomedicine, University of Otago, Christchurch, Canterbury, 8011, New Zealand
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Mazurkiewicz J, Simiczyjew A, Dratkiewicz E, Pietraszek-Gremplewicz K, Majkowski M, Kot M, Ziętek M, Matkowski R, Nowak D. Melanoma cells with diverse invasive potential differentially induce the activation of normal human fibroblasts. Cell Commun Signal 2022; 20:63. [PMID: 35538545 PMCID: PMC9092709 DOI: 10.1186/s12964-022-00871-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2021] [Accepted: 04/01/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The tumor microenvironment consists of stromal cells, extracellular matrix, and physicochemical properties (e.g., oxygenation, acidification). An important element of the tumor niche are cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs). They may constitute up to 80% of the tumor mass and share some features with myofibroblasts involved in the process of wound healing. CAFs can facilitate cancer progression. However, their interaction with melanoma cells is still poorly understood.
Methods We obtained CAFs using conditioned media derived from primary and metastatic melanoma cells, and via co-culture with melanoma cells on Transwell inserts. Using 2D and 3D wound healing assays and Transwell invasion method we evaluated CAFs’ motile activities, while coverslips with FITC-labeled gelatin, gelatin zymography, and fluorescence-based activity assay were employed to determine the proteolytic activity of the examined cells. Western Blotting method was used for the identification of CAFs’ markers as well as estimation of the mediators of MMPs’ (matrix metalloproteinases) expression levels. Lastly, CAFs’ secretome was evaluated with cytokine and angiogenesis proteomic arrays, and lactate chemiluminescence-based assay. Results Acquired FAP-α/IL6-positive CAFs exhibited elevated motility expressed as increased migration and invasion ratio, as well as higher proteolytic activity (area of digestion, MMP2, MMP14). Furthermore, fibroblasts activated by melanoma cells showed upregulation of the MMPs’ expression mediators’ levels (pERK, p-p38, CD44, RUNX), enhanced secretion of lactate, several cytokines (IL8, IL6, CXCL1, CCL2, ICAM1), and proteins related to angiogenesis (GM-CSF, DPPIV, VEGFA, PIGF). Conclusions Observed changes in CAFs’ biology were mainly driven by highly aggressive melanoma cells (A375, WM9, Hs294T) compared to the less aggressive WM1341D cells and could promote melanoma invasion, as well as impact inflammation, angiogenesis, and acidification of the tumor niche. Interestingly, different approaches to CAFs acquisition seem to complement each other showing interactions between studied cells. Video Abstract
Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12964-022-00871-x.
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Affiliation(s)
- Justyna Mazurkiewicz
- Department of Cell Pathology, Faculty of Biotechnology, University of Wroclaw, Joliot-Curie 14a, 50-383, Wrocław, Poland.
| | - Aleksandra Simiczyjew
- Department of Cell Pathology, Faculty of Biotechnology, University of Wroclaw, Joliot-Curie 14a, 50-383, Wrocław, Poland
| | - Ewelina Dratkiewicz
- Department of Cell Pathology, Faculty of Biotechnology, University of Wroclaw, Joliot-Curie 14a, 50-383, Wrocław, Poland
| | | | - Michał Majkowski
- Faculty of Biotechnology, University of Wroclaw, Joliot-Curie 14a, 50-383, Wrocław, Poland
| | - Magdalena Kot
- Department of Cell Pathology, Faculty of Biotechnology, University of Wroclaw, Joliot-Curie 14a, 50-383, Wrocław, Poland
| | - Marcin Ziętek
- Department of Oncology and Division of Surgical Oncology, Wroclaw Medical University, Plac Hirszfelda 12, 53-413, Wrocław, Poland.,Wroclaw Comprehensive Cancer Center, Plac Hirszfelda 12, 53-413, Wrocław, Poland
| | - Rafał Matkowski
- Department of Oncology and Division of Surgical Oncology, Wroclaw Medical University, Plac Hirszfelda 12, 53-413, Wrocław, Poland.,Wroclaw Comprehensive Cancer Center, Plac Hirszfelda 12, 53-413, Wrocław, Poland
| | - Dorota Nowak
- Department of Cell Pathology, Faculty of Biotechnology, University of Wroclaw, Joliot-Curie 14a, 50-383, Wrocław, Poland
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Tian L, Long F, Hao Y, Li B, Li Y, Tang Y, Li J, Zhao Q, Chen J, Liu M. A Cancer Associated Fibroblasts-Related Six-Gene Panel for Anti-PD-1 Therapy in Melanoma Driven by Weighted Correlation Network Analysis and Supervised Machine Learning. Front Med (Lausanne) 2022; 9:880326. [PMID: 35479936 PMCID: PMC9035939 DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2022.880326] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2022] [Accepted: 03/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Melanoma is a highly aggressive skin cancer with a poor prognosis and mortality. Immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) therapy (e.g., anti-PD-1 therapy) has opened a new horizon in melanoma treatment, but some patients present a non-responsive state. Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) make up the majority of stromal cells in the tumor microenvironment (TME) and have an important impact on the response to immunotherapy. There is still a lack of identification of CAFs-related predictors for anti-PD-1 therapy, although the establishment of immunotherapy biomarkers is well underway. This study aims to explore the potential CAFs-related gene panel for predicting the response to anti-PD-1 therapy in melanoma patients and elucidating their potential effect on TME. Methods Three gene expression datasets from melanoma patients without anti-PD-1 treatment, in a total of 87 samples, were downloaded from Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) as the discovery sets (GSE91061) and validation sets (GSE78220 and GSE122220). The CAFs-related module genes were identified from the discovery sets by weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA). Concurrently, we utilized differential gene analysis on the discovery set to obtain differentially expressed genes (DEGs). Then, CAFs-related key genes were screened with the intersection of CAFs-related module genes and DEGs, succeeded by supervised machine learning-based identification. As a consequence of expression analysis, gene set enrichment analysis, survival analysis, staging analysis, TME analysis, and correlation analysis, the multidimensional systematic characterizations of the key genes were uncovered. The diagnostic performance of the CAFs-related gene panel was assessed by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves in the validation sets. Eventually, the CAFs-related gene panel was verified by the expression from the single-cell analysis. Results The six-gene panel associated with CAFs were finally identified for predicting the response to anti-PD-1 therapy, including CDK14, SYNPO2, TCF4, GJA1, CPXM1, and TFPI. The multigene panel demonstrated excellent combined diagnostic performance with the area under the curve of ROC reaching 90.5 and 75.4% ~100% in the discovery and validation sets, respectively. Conclusion Confirmed by clinical treatment outcomes, the identified CAFs-related genes can be used as a promising biomarker panel for prediction to anti-PD-1 therapy response, which may serve as new immunotherapeutic targets to improve survival outcomes of melanoma patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luyao Tian
- Key Laboratory of Clinical Laboratory Diagnostics, College of Laboratory Medicine, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Fei Long
- Key Laboratory of Clinical Laboratory Diagnostics, College of Laboratory Medicine, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Youjin Hao
- Cell Biology and Bioinformatics, College of Life Sciences, Chongqing Normal University, Chongqing, China
| | - Bo Li
- Cell Biology and Bioinformatics, College of Life Sciences, Chongqing Normal University, Chongqing, China
| | - Yinghong Li
- Key Laboratory on Big Data for Bio Intelligence, Chongqing University of Posts and Telecommunications, Chongqing, China
| | - Ying Tang
- Key Laboratory of Clinical Laboratory Diagnostics, College of Laboratory Medicine, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Jing Li
- Key Laboratory of Clinical Laboratory Diagnostics, College of Laboratory Medicine, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Qi Zhao
- Key Laboratory of Clinical Laboratory Diagnostics, College of Laboratory Medicine, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Juan Chen
- Key Laboratory of Clinical Laboratory Diagnostics, College of Laboratory Medicine, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
- *Correspondence: Juan Chen
| | - Mingwei Liu
- Key Laboratory of Clinical Laboratory Diagnostics, College of Laboratory Medicine, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
- Mingwei Liu
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Boussadia Z, Gambardella AR, Mattei F, Parolini I. Acidic and Hypoxic Microenvironment in Melanoma: Impact of Tumour Exosomes on Disease Progression. Cells 2021; 10:3311. [PMID: 34943819 PMCID: PMC8699343 DOI: 10.3390/cells10123311] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2021] [Revised: 11/12/2021] [Accepted: 11/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The mechanisms of melanoma progression have been extensively studied in the last decade, and despite the diagnostic and therapeutic advancements pursued, malignant melanoma still accounts for 60% of skin cancer deaths. Therefore, research efforts are required to better define the intercellular molecular steps underlying the melanoma development. In an attempt to represent the complexity of the tumour microenvironment (TME), here we analysed the studies on melanoma in acidic and hypoxic microenvironments and the interactions with stromal and immune cells. Within TME, acidity and hypoxia force melanoma cells to adapt and to evolve into a malignant phenotype, through the cooperation of the tumour-surrounding stromal cells and the escape from the immune surveillance. The role of tumour exosomes in the intercellular crosstalk has been generally addressed, but less studied in acidic and hypoxic conditions. Thus, this review aims to summarize the role of acidic and hypoxic microenvironment in melanoma biology, as well as the role played by melanoma-derived exosomes (Mexo) under these conditions. We also present a perspective on the characteristics of acidic and hypoxic exosomes to disclose molecules, to be further considered as promising biomarkers for an early detection of the disease. An update on the use of exosomes in melanoma diagnosis, prognosis and response to treatment will be also provided and discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zaira Boussadia
- National Center for Drug Research and Evaluation, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Viale Regina Elena 299, 00161 Rome, Italy;
| | - Adriana Rosa Gambardella
- Department of Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Viale Regina Elena 299, 00161 Rome, Italy;
- Department of Translational Medical Sciences, Center for Basic and Clinical Immunology Research (CISI), University of Naples Federico II, 80131 Naples, Italy
| | - Fabrizio Mattei
- Department of Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Viale Regina Elena 299, 00161 Rome, Italy;
| | - Isabella Parolini
- Department of Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Viale Regina Elena 299, 00161 Rome, Italy;
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Wu F, Yang J, Liu J, Wang Y, Mu J, Zeng Q, Deng S, Zhou H. Signaling pathways in cancer-associated fibroblasts and targeted therapy for cancer. Signal Transduct Target Ther 2021; 6:218. [PMID: 34108441 PMCID: PMC8190181 DOI: 10.1038/s41392-021-00641-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 251] [Impact Index Per Article: 83.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2021] [Revised: 04/20/2021] [Accepted: 05/06/2021] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
To flourish, cancers greatly depend on their surrounding tumor microenvironment (TME), and cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) in TME are critical for cancer occurrence and progression because of their versatile roles in extracellular matrix remodeling, maintenance of stemness, blood vessel formation, modulation of tumor metabolism, immune response, and promotion of cancer cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and therapeutic resistance. CAFs are highly heterogeneous stromal cells and their crosstalk with cancer cells is mediated by a complex and intricate signaling network consisting of transforming growth factor-beta, phosphoinositide 3-kinase/AKT/mammalian target of rapamycin, mitogen-activated protein kinase, Wnt, Janus kinase/signal transducers and activators of transcription, epidermal growth factor receptor, Hippo, and nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells, etc., signaling pathways. These signals in CAFs exhibit their own special characteristics during the cancer progression and have the potential to be targeted for anticancer therapy. Therefore, a comprehensive understanding of these signaling cascades in interactions between cancer cells and CAFs is necessary to fully realize the pivotal roles of CAFs in cancers. Herein, in this review, we will summarize the enormous amounts of findings on the signals mediating crosstalk of CAFs with cancer cells and its related targets or trials. Further, we hypothesize three potential targeting strategies, including, namely, epithelial-mesenchymal common targets, sequential target perturbation, and crosstalk-directed signaling targets, paving the way for CAF-directed or host cell-directed antitumor therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fanglong Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, National Center of Stomatology, National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, People's Republic of China
| | - Jin Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, National Center of Stomatology, National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, People's Republic of China
| | - Junjiang Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, National Center of Stomatology, National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, People's Republic of China
| | - Ye Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, National Center of Stomatology, National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, People's Republic of China
| | - Jingtian Mu
- State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, National Center of Stomatology, National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, People's Republic of China
| | - Qingxiang Zeng
- State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, National Center of Stomatology, National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, People's Republic of China
| | - Shuzhi Deng
- State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, National Center of Stomatology, National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, People's Republic of China
| | - Hongmei Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, National Center of Stomatology, National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, People's Republic of China.
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11
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Romano V, Belviso I, Venuta A, Ruocco MR, Masone S, Aliotta F, Fiume G, Montagnani S, Avagliano A, Arcucci A. Influence of Tumor Microenvironment and Fibroblast Population Plasticity on Melanoma Growth, Therapy Resistance and Immunoescape. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:5283. [PMID: 34067929 PMCID: PMC8157224 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22105283] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2021] [Revised: 05/13/2021] [Accepted: 05/14/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Cutaneous melanoma (CM) tissue represents a network constituted by cancer cells and tumor microenvironment (TME). A key feature of CM is the high structural and cellular plasticity of TME, allowing its evolution with disease and adaptation to cancer cell and environmental alterations. In particular, during melanoma development and progression each component of TME by interacting with each other and with cancer cells is subjected to dramatic structural and cellular modifications. These alterations affect extracellular matrix (ECM) remodelling, phenotypic profile of stromal cells, cancer growth and therapeutic response. The stromal fibroblast populations of the TME include normal fibroblasts and melanoma-associated fibroblasts (MAFs) that are highly abundant and flexible cell types interacting with melanoma and stromal cells and differently influencing CM outcomes. The shift from the normal microenvironment to TME and from normal fibroblasts to MAFs deeply sustains CM growth. Hence, in this article we review the features of the normal microenvironment and TME and describe the phenotypic plasticity of normal dermal fibroblasts and MAFs, highlighting their roles in normal skin homeostasis and TME regulation. Moreover, we discuss the influence of MAFs and their secretory profiles on TME remodelling, melanoma progression, targeted therapy resistance and immunosurveillance, highlighting the cellular interactions, the signalling pathways and molecules involved in these processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Veronica Romano
- Department of Public Health, University of Napoli “Federico II”, 80131 Naples, Italy; (V.R.); (I.B.); (A.V.); (S.M.)
| | - Immacolata Belviso
- Department of Public Health, University of Napoli “Federico II”, 80131 Naples, Italy; (V.R.); (I.B.); (A.V.); (S.M.)
| | - Alessandro Venuta
- Department of Public Health, University of Napoli “Federico II”, 80131 Naples, Italy; (V.R.); (I.B.); (A.V.); (S.M.)
| | - Maria Rosaria Ruocco
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Medical Biotechnology, University of Naples Federico II, 80131 Naples, Italy; (M.R.R.); (F.A.)
| | - Stefania Masone
- Department of Clinical Medicine and Surgery, University of Naples Federico II, 80131 Naples, Italy;
| | - Federica Aliotta
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Medical Biotechnology, University of Naples Federico II, 80131 Naples, Italy; (M.R.R.); (F.A.)
| | - Giuseppe Fiume
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University “Magna Graecia” of Catanzaro, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy;
| | - Stefania Montagnani
- Department of Public Health, University of Napoli “Federico II”, 80131 Naples, Italy; (V.R.); (I.B.); (A.V.); (S.M.)
| | - Angelica Avagliano
- Department of Public Health, University of Napoli “Federico II”, 80131 Naples, Italy; (V.R.); (I.B.); (A.V.); (S.M.)
- Department of Structures for Engineering and Architecture, University of Napoli Federico II, 80125 Naples, Italy
| | - Alessandro Arcucci
- Department of Public Health, University of Napoli “Federico II”, 80131 Naples, Italy; (V.R.); (I.B.); (A.V.); (S.M.)
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12
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Gavin C, Geerts N, Cavanagh B, Haynes M, Reynolds CP, Loessner D, Ewald AJ, Piskareva O. Neuroblastoma Invasion Strategies Are Regulated by the Extracellular Matrix. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:736. [PMID: 33578855 PMCID: PMC7916632 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13040736] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2021] [Revised: 01/30/2021] [Accepted: 02/04/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Neuroblastoma is a paediatric malignancy of the developing sympathetic nervous system. About half of the patients have metastatic disease at the time of diagnosis and a survival rate of less than 50%. Our understanding of the cellular processes promoting neuroblastoma metastases will be facilitated by the development of appropriate experimental models. In this study, we aimed to explore the invasion of neuroblastoma cells and organoids from patient-derived xenografts (PDXs) grown embedded in 3D extracellular matrix (ECM) hydrogels by time-lapse microscopy and quantitative image analysis. We found that the ECM composition influenced the growth, viability and local invasion of organoids. The ECM compositions induced distinct cell behaviours, with Matrigel being the preferred substratum for local organoid invasion. Organoid invasion was cell line- and PDX-dependent. We identified six distinct phenotypes in PDX-derived organoids. In contrast, NB cell lines were more phenotypically restricted in their invasion strategies, as organoids isolated from cell line-derived xenografts displayed a broader range of phenotypes compared to clonal cell line clusters. The addition of FBS and bFGF induced more aggressive cell behaviour and a broader range of phenotypes. In contrast, the repression of the prognostic neuroblastoma marker, MYCN, resulted in less aggressive cell behaviour. The combination of PDX organoids, real-time imaging and the novel 3D culture assays developed herein will enable rapid progress in elucidating the molecular mechanisms that control neuroblastoma invasion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cian Gavin
- Cancer Bio-Engineering Group, Department of Anatomy and Regenerative Medicine, RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences, Dublin D02 YN77, Ireland; (C.G.); (N.G.)
| | - Nele Geerts
- Cancer Bio-Engineering Group, Department of Anatomy and Regenerative Medicine, RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences, Dublin D02 YN77, Ireland; (C.G.); (N.G.)
| | - Brenton Cavanagh
- Cellular and Molecular Imaging Core, RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences, Dublin D02 YN77, Ireland;
| | - Meagan Haynes
- Center for Cell Dynamics, Department of Cell Biology, School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA; (M.H.); (A.J.E.)
| | - C. Patrick Reynolds
- Cancer Center, School of Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX 79416, USA;
- Departments of Pediatrics and Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX 79416, USA
| | - Daniela Loessner
- Departments of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science and Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC 3800, Australia;
- Department of Anatomy and Developmental Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC 3800, Australia
| | - Andrew J. Ewald
- Center for Cell Dynamics, Department of Cell Biology, School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA; (M.H.); (A.J.E.)
- Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Cancer Invasion and Metastasis Program, Department of Oncology, School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Olga Piskareva
- Cancer Bio-Engineering Group, Department of Anatomy and Regenerative Medicine, RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences, Dublin D02 YN77, Ireland; (C.G.); (N.G.)
- School of Pharmacy and Biomolecular Sciences, RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences, Dublin D02 YN77, Ireland
- National Children’s Research Centre, Our Lady’s Children’s Hospital Crumlin, Dublin D12 8MGH, Ireland
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13
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Winge-Main AK, Wälchli S, Inderberg EM. T cell receptor therapy against melanoma-Immunotherapy for the future? Scand J Immunol 2020; 92:e12927. [PMID: 32640053 DOI: 10.1111/sji.12927] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2020] [Revised: 06/28/2020] [Accepted: 07/02/2020] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Malignant melanoma has seen monumental changes in treatment options the last decade from the very poor results of dacarbazine treatment to the modern-day use of targeted therapies and immune checkpoint inhibitors. Melanoma has a high mutational burden making it more capable of evoking immune responses than many other tumours. Even when considering double immune checkpoint blockade with anti-CTLA-4 and anti-PD-1, we still have far to go in melanoma treatment as 50% of patients with metastatic disease do not respond to current treatment. Alternative immunotherapy should therefore be considered. Since melanoma has a high mutational burden, it is considered more immunogenic than many other tumours. T cell receptor (TCR) therapy could be a possible way forward, either alone or in combination, to improve the response rates of this deadly disease. Melanoma is one of the cancers where TCR therapy has been frequently applied. However, the number of antigens targeted remains fairly limited, although advanced personalized therapies aim at also targeting private mutations. In this review, we look at possible aspects of targeting TCR therapy towards melanoma and provide an implication of its use in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna K Winge-Main
- Department of Cellular Therapy, The Norwegian Radium Hospital, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
- Department of Oncology, The Norwegian Radium Hospital, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - Sébastien Wälchli
- Department of Cellular Therapy, The Norwegian Radium Hospital, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - Else Marit Inderberg
- Department of Cellular Therapy, The Norwegian Radium Hospital, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
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14
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Pessotti DS, Andrade-Silva D, Serrano SMT, Zelanis A. Heterotypic signaling between dermal fibroblasts and melanoma cells induces phenotypic plasticity and proteome rearrangement in malignant cells. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-PROTEINS AND PROTEOMICS 2020; 1868:140525. [PMID: 32866629 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbapap.2020.140525] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2020] [Revised: 08/14/2020] [Accepted: 08/17/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
The signaling events triggered by soluble mediators released from both transformed and stromal cells shape the phenotype of tumoral cells and have significant implications in cancer development and progression. In this study we performed an in vitro heterotypic signaling assays by evaluating the proteome diversity of human dermal fibroblasts after stimulation with the conditioned media obtained from malignant melanoma cells. In addition, we also evaluated the changes in the proteome of melanoma cells after stimulation with their own conditioned media as well as with the conditioned medium from melanoma-stimulated fibroblasts. Our results revealed a clear rearrangement in the proteome of stromal and malignant cells upon crosstalk of soluble mediators. The main proteome signature of fibroblasts stimulated with melanoma conditioned medium was related to protein synthesis, which indicates that this process might be an early response of stromal cells. In addition, the conditioned medium derived from 'primed' stromal cells (melanoma-stimulated fibroblasts) was more effective in altering the functional phenotype (cell migration) of malignant cells than the conditioned medium from non-stimulated fibroblasts. Collectively, self- and cross-stimulation may play a key role in shaping the tumor microenvironment and enable tumoral cells to succeed in the process of melanoma progression and metastasis. Although the proteome landscape of cells participating in such a heterotypic signaling represents a snapshot of a highly dynamic state, understanding the diversity of proteins and enriched biological pathways resulting from stimulated cell states may allow for targeting specific cell regulatory motifs involved in melanoma progression and metastasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dayelle S Pessotti
- Functional Proteomics Laboratory, Department of Science and Technology, Federal University of São Paulo, (ICT-UNIFESP), São José dos Campos, SP, Brazil
| | - Débora Andrade-Silva
- Laboratório de Toxinologia Aplicada, Center of Toxins, Immune-Response and Cell Signaling (CeTICS), Instituto Butantan, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Solange M T Serrano
- Laboratório de Toxinologia Aplicada, Center of Toxins, Immune-Response and Cell Signaling (CeTICS), Instituto Butantan, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - André Zelanis
- Functional Proteomics Laboratory, Department of Science and Technology, Federal University of São Paulo, (ICT-UNIFESP), São José dos Campos, SP, Brazil..
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15
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Albrecht M, Lucarelli P, Kulms D, Sauter T. Computational models of melanoma. Theor Biol Med Model 2020; 17:8. [PMID: 32410672 PMCID: PMC7222475 DOI: 10.1186/s12976-020-00126-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2019] [Accepted: 04/29/2020] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Genes, proteins, or cells influence each other and consequently create patterns, which can be increasingly better observed by experimental biology and medicine. Thereby, descriptive methods of statistics and bioinformatics sharpen and structure our perception. However, additionally considering the interconnectivity between biological elements promises a deeper and more coherent understanding of melanoma. For instance, integrative network-based tools and well-grounded inductive in silico research reveal disease mechanisms, stratify patients, and support treatment individualization. This review gives an overview of different modeling techniques beyond statistics, shows how different strategies align with the respective medical biology, and identifies possible areas of new computational melanoma research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marco Albrecht
- Systems Biology Group, Life Science Research Unit, University of Luxembourg, 6, avenue du Swing, Belval, 4367 Luxembourg
| | - Philippe Lucarelli
- Systems Biology Group, Life Science Research Unit, University of Luxembourg, 6, avenue du Swing, Belval, 4367 Luxembourg
| | - Dagmar Kulms
- Experimental Dermatology, Department of Dermatology, Dresden University of Technology, Fetscherstraße 105, Dresden, 01307 Germany
| | - Thomas Sauter
- Systems Biology Group, Life Science Research Unit, University of Luxembourg, 6, avenue du Swing, Belval, 4367 Luxembourg
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16
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Ferrari de Andrade L, Kumar S, Luoma AM, Ito Y, Alves da Silva PH, Pan D, Pyrdol JW, Yoon CH, Wucherpfennig KW. Inhibition of MICA and MICB Shedding Elicits NK-Cell-Mediated Immunity against Tumors Resistant to Cytotoxic T Cells. Cancer Immunol Res 2020; 8:769-780. [PMID: 32209637 DOI: 10.1158/2326-6066.cir-19-0483] [Citation(s) in RCA: 67] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2019] [Revised: 01/14/2020] [Accepted: 03/20/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Resistance to cytotoxic T cells is frequently mediated by loss of MHC class I expression or IFNγ signaling in tumor cells, such as mutations of B2M or JAK1 genes. Natural killer (NK) cells could potentially target such resistant tumors, but suitable NK-cell-based strategies remain to be developed. We hypothesized that such tumors could be targeted by NK cells if sufficient activating signals were provided. Human tumors frequently express the MICA and MICB ligands of the activating NKG2D receptor, but proteolytic shedding of MICA/B represents an important immune evasion mechanism in many human cancers. We showed that B2M- and JAK1-deficient metastases were targeted by NK cells following treatment with a mAb that blocks MICA/B shedding. We also demonstrated that the FDA-approved HDAC inhibitor panobinostat and a MICA/B antibody acted synergistically to enhance MICA/B surface expression on tumor cells. The HDAC inhibitor enhanced MICA/B gene expression, whereas the MICA/B antibody stabilized the synthesized protein on the cell surface. The combination of panobinostat and the MICA/B antibody reduced the number of pulmonary metastases formed by a human melanoma cell line in NOD/SCID gamma mice reconstituted with human NK cells. NK-cell-mediated immunity induced by a mAb specific for MICA/B, therefore, provides an opportunity to target tumors with mutations that render them resistant to cytotoxic T cells.
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MESH Headings
- Animals
- Antibodies, Monoclonal/pharmacology
- Apoptosis
- Cell Proliferation
- Female
- Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic
- Histocompatibility Antigens Class I/chemistry
- Histocompatibility Antigens Class I/immunology
- Histocompatibility Antigens Class I/metabolism
- Humans
- Immunity, Cellular/immunology
- Killer Cells, Natural/immunology
- Lung Neoplasms/immunology
- Lung Neoplasms/metabolism
- Lung Neoplasms/secondary
- Lung Neoplasms/therapy
- Melanoma/immunology
- Melanoma/metabolism
- Melanoma/pathology
- Melanoma/therapy
- Mice
- Mice, Inbred C57BL
- Mice, Inbred NOD
- Mice, Knockout
- Mice, SCID
- NK Cell Lectin-Like Receptor Subfamily K/metabolism
- T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic/immunology
- Tumor Cells, Cultured
- Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucas Ferrari de Andrade
- Department of Cancer Immunology and Virology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts.
- Department of Immunology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
- Department of Oncological Sciences and Precision Immunology Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York
| | - Sushil Kumar
- Department of Cancer Immunology and Virology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts
- Department of Immunology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Adrienne M Luoma
- Department of Cancer Immunology and Virology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts
- Department of Immunology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Yoshinaga Ito
- Department of Cancer Immunology and Virology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts
- Department of Immunology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Pedro Henrique Alves da Silva
- Department of Oncological Sciences and Precision Immunology Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York
| | - Deng Pan
- Department of Cancer Immunology and Virology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts
- Department of Immunology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Jason W Pyrdol
- Department of Cancer Immunology and Virology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts
- Department of Immunology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Charles H Yoon
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts
- Department of Surgery, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Kai W Wucherpfennig
- Department of Cancer Immunology and Virology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts.
- Department of Immunology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
- Department of Neurology, Brigham & Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
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17
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Development of a Stromal Microenvironment Experimental Model Containing Proto-Myofibroblast Like Cells and Analysis of Its Crosstalk with Melanoma Cells: A New Tool to Potentiate and Stabilize Tumor Suppressor Phenotype of Dermal Myofibroblasts. Cells 2019; 8:cells8111435. [PMID: 31739477 PMCID: PMC6912587 DOI: 10.3390/cells8111435] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2019] [Revised: 11/08/2019] [Accepted: 11/12/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Melanoma is one of the most aggressive solid tumors and includes a stromal microenvironment that regulates cancer growth and progression. The components of stromal microenvironment such as fibroblasts, fibroblast aggregates and cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) can differently influence the melanoma growth during its distinct stages. In this work, we have developed and studied a stromal microenvironment model, represented by fibroblasts, proto-myofibroblasts, myofibroblasts and aggregates of inactivated myofibroblasts, such as spheroids. In particular, we have generated proto-myofibroblasts from primary cutaneous myofibroblasts. The phenotype of proto-myofibroblasts is characterized by a dramatic reduction of α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) protein levels, as well as an enhancement of cell viability and migratory capability compared with myofibroblasts. Furthermore, proto-myofibroblasts display the mesenchymal marker vimentin and less developed stress fibers, with respect to myofibroblasts. The analysis of crosstalk between the stromal microenvironment and A375 or A2058 melanoma cells has shown that the conditioned medium of proto-myofibroblasts is cytotoxic, mainly for A2058 cells, and dramatically reduces the migratory capability of both cell lines compared with the melanoma-control conditioned medium. An array analysis of proto-myofibroblast and melanoma cell-conditioned media suggests that lower levels of some cytokines and growth factors in the conditioned medium of proto-myofibroblasts could be associated with their anti-tumor activity. Conversely, the conditioned media of melanoma cells do not influence the cell viability, outgrowth, and migration of proto-myofibroblasts from spheroids. Interestingly, the conditioned medium of proto-myofibroblasts does not alter the cell viability of both BJ-5ta fibroblast cells and myofibroblasts. Hence, proto-myofibroblasts could be useful in the study of new therapeutic strategies targeting melanoma.
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18
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Unraveling the crosstalk between melanoma and immune cells in the tumor microenvironment. Semin Cancer Biol 2019; 59:236-250. [PMID: 31404607 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcancer.2019.08.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 187] [Impact Index Per Article: 37.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2019] [Revised: 07/10/2019] [Accepted: 08/04/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Cutaneous melanoma is the most common skin cancer with an incidence that has been rapidly increasing in the past decades. Melanomas are among the most immunogenic tumors and, as such, have the greatest potential to respond favorably to immunotherapy. However, like many cancers, melanomas acquire various suppressive mechanisms, which generally act in concert, to escape innate and adaptive immune detection and destruction. Intense research into the cellular and molecular events associated with melanomagenesis, which ultimately lead to immune suppression, has resulted in the discovery of new therapeutic targets and synergistic combinations of immunotherapy, targeted therapy and chemotherapy. Tremendous effort to determine efficacy of single and combination therapies in pre-clinical and clinical phase I-III trials has led to FDA-approval of several immunotherapeutic agents that could potentially be beneficial for aggressive, highly refractory, advanced and metastatic melanomas. The increasing availability of approved combination therapies for melanoma and more rapid assessment of patient tumors has increased the feasibility of personalized treatment to overcome patient and tumor heterogeneity and to achieve greater clinical benefit. Here, we review the evolution of the immune system during melanomagenesis, mechanisms exploited by melanoma to suppress anti-tumor immunity and methods that have been developed to restore immunity. We emphasize that an effective therapeutic strategy will require coordinate activation of tumor-specific immunity as well as increased recognition and accessibility of melanoma cells in primary tumors and distal metastases. This review integrates available knowledge on melanoma-specific immunity, molecular signaling pathways and molecular targeting strategies that could be utilized to envision therapeutics with broader application and greater efficacy for early stage and advanced metastatic melanoma.
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19
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Metabolic flexibility in melanoma: A potential therapeutic target. Semin Cancer Biol 2019; 59:187-207. [PMID: 31362075 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcancer.2019.07.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2019] [Revised: 07/11/2019] [Accepted: 07/23/2019] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Cutaneous melanoma (CM) represents one of the most metastasizing and drug resistant solid tumors. CM is characterized by a remarkable metabolic plasticity and an important connection between oncogenic activation and energetic metabolism. In fact, melanoma cells can use both cytosolic and mitochondrial compartments to produce adenosine triphosphate (ATP) during cancer progression. However, the CM energetic demand mainly depends on glycolysis, whose upregulation is strictly linked to constitutive activation of BRAF/MAPK pathway affected by BRAFV600E kinase mutant. Furthermore, the impressive metabolic plasticity of melanoma allows the development of resistance mechanisms to BRAF/MEK inhibitors (BRAFi/MEKi) and the adaptation to microenvironmental changes. The metabolic interaction between melanoma cells and tumor microenvironment affects the immune response and CM growth. In this review article, we describe the regulation of melanoma metabolic alterations and the metabolic interactions between cancer cells and microenvironment that influence melanoma progression and immune response. Finally, we summarize the hallmarks of melanoma therapies and we report BRAF/MEK pathway targeted therapy and mechanisms of metabolic resistance.
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20
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Frew JW, Navrazhina K, Marohn M, Lu PJC, Krueger JG. Contribution of fibroblasts to tunnel formation and inflammation in hidradenitis suppurativa/ acne inversa. Exp Dermatol 2019; 28:886-891. [PMID: 31140657 DOI: 10.1111/exd.13978] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2019] [Revised: 05/15/2019] [Accepted: 05/21/2019] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
The precise pathogenic mechanisms in the development, persistence and worsening of hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) remain ill-defined. This chronic inflammatory dermatosis displays a strong Th1 and Th17 inflammatory signature with elevated levels of TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-17 and IFNγ in lesional and perilesional tissue. HS significantly differs to other chronic inflammatory dermatoses due to the development of hypertrophic scarring and dermal tunnels. The development of scarring and tunnels suggests that fibroblastic stromal cells (including myofibroblasts, fibroblasts, pericytes etc) may be involved in the development and progression of disease. Heterogeneous populations of fibroblasts have been identified in other inflammatory disorders and malignancy which contribute to inflammation and present novel therapeutic targets for fibrotic disorders. Findings in HS are consistent with these fibroblast subpopulations and may contribute to tunnel formation, aggressive squamous cell carcinoma and the phenotypic presentation of familial HS variants. We describe the existing knowledge regarding these mechanistic pathways and methods to confirm their involvement in the pathogenesis of HS.
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Affiliation(s)
- John W Frew
- Laboratory of Investigative Dermatology, Rockefeller University, New York, New York
| | - Kristina Navrazhina
- Laboratory of Investigative Dermatology, Rockefeller University, New York, New York
| | - Meaghan Marohn
- The Hansjörg Wyss Department of Plastic Surgery, Department of Cell Biology, New York University, New York, New York
| | - Pei-Ju C Lu
- The Hansjörg Wyss Department of Plastic Surgery, Department of Cell Biology, New York University, New York, New York
| | - James G Krueger
- Laboratory of Investigative Dermatology, Rockefeller University, New York, New York
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21
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Abstract
<b/> The evolution of cancer cells limits the efficacy of nearly all treatments for patients with solid tumors. Characterizing how cancers adapt to treatment could therefore lead to approaches that overcome resistance to therapy. In this issue of Cancer Discovery, Song and colleagues describe the evolution of melanomas upon exposure to BRAF inhibitors, demonstrating that adaptive changes in the tumor create a vulnerability that can be targeted with immune checkpoint inhibitors. Cancer Discov; 7(11); 1216-7. ©2017 AACR.See related article by Song et al., p. 1248.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rizwan Haq
- Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Department of Molecular and Cellular Oncology, Boston, Massachusetts.
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22
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Ferrari de Andrade L, Tay RE, Pan D, Luoma AM, Ito Y, Badrinath S, Tsoucas D, Franz B, May KF, Harvey CJ, Kobold S, Pyrdol JW, Yoon C, Yuan GC, Hodi FS, Dranoff G, Wucherpfennig KW. Antibody-mediated inhibition of MICA and MICB shedding promotes NK cell-driven tumor immunity. Science 2018; 359:1537-1542. [PMID: 29599246 PMCID: PMC6626532 DOI: 10.1126/science.aao0505] [Citation(s) in RCA: 293] [Impact Index Per Article: 48.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2017] [Revised: 12/18/2017] [Accepted: 02/01/2018] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
MICA and MICB are expressed by many human cancers as a result of cellular stress, and can tag cells for elimination by cytotoxic lymphocytes through natural killer group 2D (NKG2D) receptor activation. However, tumors evade this immune recognition pathway through proteolytic shedding of MICA and MICB proteins. We rationally designed antibodies targeting the MICA α3 domain, the site of proteolytic shedding, and found that these antibodies prevented loss of cell surface MICA and MICB by human cancer cells. These antibodies inhibited tumor growth in multiple fully immunocompetent mouse models and reduced human melanoma metastases in a humanized mouse model. Antitumor immunity was mediated mainly by natural killer (NK) cells through activation of NKG2D and CD16 Fc receptors. This approach prevents the loss of important immunostimulatory ligands by human cancers and reactivates antitumor immunity.
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MESH Headings
- Animals
- Antibodies, Blocking/immunology
- Antibodies, Blocking/therapeutic use
- Antibodies, Monoclonal/immunology
- Antibodies, Monoclonal/therapeutic use
- Histocompatibility Antigens Class I/chemistry
- Histocompatibility Antigens Class I/immunology
- Humans
- Immunocompetence
- Killer Cells, Natural/immunology
- Ligands
- Melanoma/immunology
- Melanoma/pathology
- Melanoma/therapy
- Melanoma, Experimental/immunology
- Melanoma, Experimental/pathology
- Melanoma, Experimental/therapy
- Mice
- Mice, Inbred C57BL
- NK Cell Lectin-Like Receptor Subfamily K/immunology
- Neoplasm Metastasis
- Protein Domains/immunology
- Receptors, IgG/immunology
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucas Ferrari de Andrade
- Department of Cancer Immunology and Virology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, 450 Brookline Avenue, Boston, MA 02215, USA
- Harvard Medical School, 25 Shattuck Street, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Rong En Tay
- Department of Cancer Immunology and Virology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, 450 Brookline Avenue, Boston, MA 02215, USA
- Harvard Medical School, 25 Shattuck Street, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Deng Pan
- Department of Cancer Immunology and Virology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, 450 Brookline Avenue, Boston, MA 02215, USA
- Harvard Medical School, 25 Shattuck Street, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Adrienne M Luoma
- Department of Cancer Immunology and Virology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, 450 Brookline Avenue, Boston, MA 02215, USA
- Harvard Medical School, 25 Shattuck Street, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Yoshinaga Ito
- Department of Cancer Immunology and Virology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, 450 Brookline Avenue, Boston, MA 02215, USA
- Harvard Medical School, 25 Shattuck Street, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Soumya Badrinath
- Department of Cancer Immunology and Virology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, 450 Brookline Avenue, Boston, MA 02215, USA
- Harvard Medical School, 25 Shattuck Street, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Daphne Tsoucas
- Department of Biostatistics and Computational Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, 450 Brookline Avenue, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - Bettina Franz
- Department of Cancer Immunology and Virology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, 450 Brookline Avenue, Boston, MA 02215, USA
- Harvard Medical School, 25 Shattuck Street, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Kenneth F May
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, 450 Brookline Avenue, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - Christopher J Harvey
- Department of Cancer Immunology and Virology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, 450 Brookline Avenue, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - Sebastian Kobold
- Department of Cancer Immunology and Virology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, 450 Brookline Avenue, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - Jason W Pyrdol
- Department of Cancer Immunology and Virology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, 450 Brookline Avenue, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - Charles Yoon
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, 450 Brookline Avenue, Boston, MA 02215, USA
- Department of Surgery, Brigham and Women's Hospital, 75 Francis Street, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Guo-Cheng Yuan
- Department of Biostatistics and Computational Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, 450 Brookline Avenue, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - F Stephen Hodi
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, 450 Brookline Avenue, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - Glenn Dranoff
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, 450 Brookline Avenue, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - Kai W Wucherpfennig
- Department of Cancer Immunology and Virology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, 450 Brookline Avenue, Boston, MA 02215, USA.
- Harvard Medical School, 25 Shattuck Street, Boston, MA 02115, USA
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23
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Ranieri D, Rosato B, Nanni M, Belleudi F, Torrisi MR. Expression of the FGFR2c mesenchymal splicing variant in human keratinocytes inhibits differentiation and promotes invasion. Mol Carcinog 2017; 57:272-283. [PMID: 29068468 PMCID: PMC5813158 DOI: 10.1002/mc.22754] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2017] [Revised: 10/02/2017] [Accepted: 10/23/2017] [Indexed: 12/02/2022]
Abstract
The altered isoform switching of the fibroblast growth factor receptor 2 (FGFR2) and aberrant expression of the mesenchymal FGFR2c isoform in epithelial cells is involved in cancer progression. We have recently described that the ectopic expression of FGFR2c in normal human keratinocytes induces epithelial‐mesenchymal transition and leads to invasiveness and anchorage‐independent growth. Here, we extended our analysis to the effects of this FGFR2c forced expression on human keratinocyte differentiation and stratification. Our findings demonstrated that, differently from cells overexpressing the epithelial splicing variant FGFR2b, keratinocytes ectopically expressing FGFR2c are not able to form a monolayer and display decreased expression of early differentiation markers. This impaired ability to enter the differentiation program is related to the up‐modulation of the transcription factor ΔNp63. In addition, FGFR2c‐expressing keratinocytes undergo defective stratification and invasion of the collagen matrix in 3D organotypic cultures, further suggesting their tumorigenic potential. Taken together, our results support the hypothesis that the receptor switching and the consequent appearance of the mesenchymal FGFR2c variant in the epithelial context would drive early steps of carcinogenesis, unbalancing the p63/FGFR interplay, and altering the paracrine response to the microenvironment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Danilo Ranieri
- Laboratory affiliated to Istituto Pasteur Italia-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Roma, Lazio, Italy
| | - Benedetta Rosato
- Laboratory affiliated to Istituto Pasteur Italia-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Roma, Lazio, Italy
| | - Monica Nanni
- Laboratory affiliated to Istituto Pasteur Italia-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Roma, Lazio, Italy
| | - Francesca Belleudi
- Laboratory affiliated to Istituto Pasteur Italia-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Roma, Lazio, Italy
| | - Maria Rosaria Torrisi
- Laboratory affiliated to Istituto Pasteur Italia-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Roma, Lazio, Italy.,S. Andrea University Hospital, Rome, Italy
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24
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Sakamoto M, Morimoto N, Jinno C, Mahara A, Ogino S, Suzuki S, Kusumoto K, Yamaoka T. Melanin pigments in the melanocytic nevus regress spontaneously after inactivation by high hydrostatic pressure. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0186958. [PMID: 29091921 PMCID: PMC5665530 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0186958] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2017] [Accepted: 10/10/2017] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
We report a novel treatment for giant congenital melanocytic nevi (GCMN) that involves the reuse of resected nevus tissue after high hydrostatic pressurization (HHP). However, the remaining melanin pigments in the inactivated nevus tissue pose a problem; therefore, we performed a long-term observation of the color change of inactivated nevus tissue after HHP. Pressurized nevus specimens (200 MPa group, n = 9) and non-pressurized nevus tissues (control group, n = 9) were subcutaneously implanted into nude mice (BALB/c-nu) and then harvested 3, 6, and 12 months later. Color changes of the nevus specimens were evaluated. In the 200 MPa group, the specimen color gradually regressed and turned white, and brightness values were significantly higher in the 200 MPa group than in the control group after 6 months. This indicated that melanin pigments in the pressurized nevus tissue had spontaneously degraded and regressed. Therefore, it is not necessary to remove melanin pigments in HHP-treated nevus tissue.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michiharu Sakamoto
- Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Naoki Morimoto
- Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Kansai Medical University, Hirakata, Osaka, Japan
- * E-mail:
| | - Chizuru Jinno
- Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Kansai Medical University, Hirakata, Osaka, Japan
| | - Atsushi Mahara
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, National Cerebral and Cardiovascular Center Research Institute, Suita, Osaka, Japan
| | - Shuichi Ogino
- Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Shigehiko Suzuki
- Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Kenji Kusumoto
- Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Kansai Medical University, Hirakata, Osaka, Japan
| | - Tetsuji Yamaoka
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, National Cerebral and Cardiovascular Center Research Institute, Suita, Osaka, Japan
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25
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Brachelente C, Cappelli K, Capomaccio S, Porcellato I, Silvestri S, Bongiovanni L, De Maria R, Verini Supplizi A, Mechelli L, Sforna M. Transcriptome Analysis of Canine Cutaneous Melanoma and Melanocytoma Reveals a Modulation of Genes Regulating Extracellular Matrix Metabolism and Cell Cycle. Sci Rep 2017; 7:6386. [PMID: 28743863 PMCID: PMC5526991 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-06281-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2017] [Accepted: 06/12/2017] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Interactions between tumor cells and tumor microenvironment are considered critical in carcinogenesis, tumor invasion and metastasis. To examine transcriptome changes and to explore the relationship with tumor microenvironment in canine cutaneous melanocytoma and melanoma, we extracted RNA from formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) specimens and analyzed them by means of RNA-seq for transcriptional analysis. Melanocytoma and melanoma samples were compared to detect differential gene expressions and significant enriched pathways were explored to reveal functional relations between differentially expressed genes. The study demonstrated a differential expression of 60 genes in melanomas compared to melanocytomas. The differentially expressed genes cluster in the extracellular matrix-receptor interaction, protein digestion and absorption, focal adhesion and PI3K-Akt (phosphoinositide 3-kinase/protein kinase B) signaling pathways. Genes encoding for several collagen proteins were more commonly differentially expressed. Results of the RNA-seq were validated by qRT-PCR and protein expression of some target molecules was investigated by means of immunohistochemistry. We hypothesize that the developing melanoma actively promotes collagen metabolism and extracellular matrix remodeling as well as enhancing cell proliferation and survival contributing to disease progression and metastasis. In this study, we also detected unidentified genes in human melanoma expression studies and uncover new candidate drug targets for further testing in canine melanoma.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Katia Cappelli
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, 06126, Perugia, Italy
| | | | | | | | - Laura Bongiovanni
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, 64100, Teramo, Italy
- Department of Pathobiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | | | | | - Luca Mechelli
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, 06126, Perugia, Italy
| | - Monica Sforna
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, 06126, Perugia, Italy
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26
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Gupta S, Roy A, Dwarakanath BS. Metabolic Cooperation and Competition in the Tumor Microenvironment: Implications for Therapy. Front Oncol 2017; 7:68. [PMID: 28447025 PMCID: PMC5388702 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2017.00068] [Citation(s) in RCA: 124] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2017] [Accepted: 03/24/2017] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
The tumor microenvironment (TME) is an ensemble of non-tumor cells comprising fibroblasts, cells of the immune system, and endothelial cells, besides various soluble secretory factors from all cellular components (including tumor cells). The TME forms a pro-tumorigenic cocoon around the tumor cells where reprogramming of the metabolism occurs in tumor and non-tumor cells that underlies the nature of interactions as well as competitions ensuring steady supply of nutrients and anapleoretic molecules for the tumor cells that fuels its growth even under hypoxic conditions. This metabolic reprogramming also plays a significant role in suppressing the immune attack on the tumor cells and in resistance to therapies. Thus, the metabolic cooperation and competition among the different TME components besides the inherent alterations in the tumor cells arising out of genetic as well as epigenetic changes supports growth, metastasis, and therapeutic resistance. This review focuses on the metabolic remodeling achieved through an active cooperation and competition among the three principal components of the TME—the tumor cells, the T cells, and the cancer-associated fibroblasts while discussing about the current strategies that target metabolism of TME components. Further, we will also consider the probable therapeutic opportunities targeting the various metabolic pathways as well as the signaling molecules/transcription factors regulating them for the development of novel treatment strategies for cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seema Gupta
- Georgia Cancer Center, Augusta University, Augusta, GA, USA
| | - Amrita Roy
- School of Life Sciences, B. S. Abdur Rahman Crescent University, Chennai, India
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27
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De Souza LM, Robertson BM, Robertson GP. Future of circulating tumor cells in the melanoma clinical and research laboratory settings. Cancer Lett 2017; 392:60-70. [PMID: 28163189 DOI: 10.1016/j.canlet.2017.01.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2016] [Revised: 01/12/2017] [Accepted: 01/13/2017] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Circulating tumor cells (CTC) have become a field of interest for oncologists based on the premise that they constitute the underpinning for metastatic dissemination. The lethal nature of cancer is no longer attributed to solid tumor formation, but rather to the process of metastasis; shifting the focus of current studies towards the isolation and identification of metastatic progenitors, such as CTCs. CTCs originate from primary tumor masses that undergo morphologic and genetic alterations, which involve the release of mesenchymal-like cancer cells into the bloodstream, capable of invading nearby tissues for secondary tumor development. Cancerous cells contained in the primary tumor mass acquire the motile mesenchymal phenotype as a result of the Epithelial-to-Mesenchymal Transition, where substantial variations in protein expression and signaling pathways take place. CTCs that migrate from the primary tumor, intravasate into the systemic vasculature, are transported through the bloodstream, and invade tissues and organs suitable for secondary tumor development. While only a limited number of CTCs are viable in the bloodstream, their ability to elude the immune system, evade apoptosis and successfully metastasize at secondary tumor sites, makes CTCs promising candidates for unraveling the triggers that initiates the metastatic process. In this article, these subjects are explored in greater depth to elucidate the potential use of CTCs in the detection, disease staging and management of metastatic melanoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luisa M De Souza
- The Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, Departments of Pharmacology, 500 University Drive, Hershey, PA 17033, USA.
| | - Bailey M Robertson
- The Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, Departments of Pharmacology, 500 University Drive, Hershey, PA 17033, USA
| | - Gavin P Robertson
- The Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, Departments of Pharmacology, 500 University Drive, Hershey, PA 17033, USA; Pathology, 500 University Drive, Hershey, PA 17033, USA; Dermatology, 500 University Drive, Hershey, PA 17033, USA; Surgery, 500 University Drive, Hershey, PA 17033, USA; The Melanoma and Skin Cancer Center, 500 University Drive, Hershey, PA 17033, USA; The Melanoma Therapeutics Program, 500 University Drive, Hershey, PA 17033, USA.
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