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Tourigny DS, Altieri B, Secener KA, Sbiera S, Schauer MP, Arampatzi P, Herterich S, Sauer S, Fassnacht M, Ronchi CL. Cellular landscape of adrenocortical carcinoma at single-nuclei resolution. Mol Cell Endocrinol 2024; 590:112272. [PMID: 38759836 DOI: 10.1016/j.mce.2024.112272] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2024] [Revised: 05/08/2024] [Accepted: 05/14/2024] [Indexed: 05/19/2024]
Abstract
Adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC) is a rare yet devastating tumour of the adrenal gland with a molecular pathology that remains incompletely understood. To gain novel insights into the cellular landscape of ACC, we generated single-nuclei RNA sequencing (snRNA-seq) data sets from twelve ACC tumour samples and analysed these alongside snRNA-seq data sets from normal adrenal glands (NAGs). We find the ACC tumour microenvironment to be relatively devoid of immune cells compared to NAG tissues, consistent with known high tumour purity values for ACC as an immunologically "cold" tumour. Our analysis identifies three separate groups of ACC samples that are characterised by different relative compositions of adrenocortical cell types. These include cell populations that are specifically enriched in the most clinically aggressive and hormonally active tumours, displaying hallmarks of reorganised cell mechanobiology and dysregulated steroidogenesis, respectively. We also identified and validated a population of mitotically active adrenocortical cells that strongly overexpress genes POLQ, DIAPH3 and EZH2 to support tumour expansion alongside an LGR4+ progenitor-like or cell-of-origin candidate for adrenocortical carcinogenesis. Trajectory inference suggests the fate adopted by malignant adrenocortical cells upon differentiation is associated with the copy number or allelic balance state of the imprinted DLK1/MEG3 genomic locus, which we verified by assessing bulk tumour DNA methylation status. In conclusion, our results therefore provide new insights into the clinical and cellular heterogeneity of ACC, revealing how genetic perturbations to healthy adrenocortical renewal and zonation provide a molecular basis for disease pathogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- David S Tourigny
- School of Mathematics, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, B15 2TT, UK.
| | - Barbara Altieri
- Division of Endocrinology and Diabetes, University Hospital of Würzburg, Würzburg, 97080, Germany
| | - Kerim A Secener
- Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine, Berlin, 13125, Germany; Institute of Biochemistry, Department of Biology, Chemistry and Pharmacy, Free University Berlin, Berlin, 14195, Germany
| | - Silviu Sbiera
- Division of Endocrinology and Diabetes, University Hospital of Würzburg, Würzburg, 97080, Germany
| | - Marc P Schauer
- Division of Endocrinology and Diabetes, University Hospital of Würzburg, Würzburg, 97080, Germany; Center for Cellular Immunotherapy, Department of Internal Medicine II, University Hospital of Würzburg, Würzburg, 97080, Germany
| | | | - Sabine Herterich
- Central Laboratory, University Hospital of Würzburg, Würzburg, 97080, Germany
| | - Sascha Sauer
- Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine, Berlin, 13125, Germany
| | - Martin Fassnacht
- Division of Endocrinology and Diabetes, University Hospital of Würzburg, Würzburg, 97080, Germany
| | - Cristina L Ronchi
- Institute of Metabolism and System Research, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, B15 2TT, UK; Centre for Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism (CEDAM), Birmingham Health Partners, Birmingham, B15 2GW, UK.
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Landwehr LS, Altieri B, Sbiera I, Remde H, Kircher S, Olabe J, Sbiera S, Kroiss M, Fassnacht M. Expression and Prognostic Relevance of PD-1, PD-L1, and CTLA-4 Immune Checkpoints in Adrenocortical Carcinoma. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2024; 109:2325-2334. [PMID: 38415841 PMCID: PMC11319003 DOI: 10.1210/clinem/dgae109] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2023] [Revised: 02/07/2024] [Accepted: 02/25/2024] [Indexed: 02/29/2024]
Abstract
CONTEXT Adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC) is a rare endocrine malignancy with poor prognosis in advanced stages. While therapies targeting the checkpoint molecules programmed cell death 1 (PD-1), its ligand PD-L1, and the cytotoxic T lymphocyte-associated protein 4 (CTLA-4) have revolutionized treatment in many cancers, the results in ACCs were heterogeneous. OBJECTIVE Their expression in ACC has not been systematically studied and might explain the variable response to immune checkpoint inhibitors. METHODS The expression of PD-1, PD-L1 and CTLA-4 was examined in 162 tumor samples from 122 patients with ACC by immunohistochemistry (threshold of >1%) and correlated with tumoral T lymphocyte infiltration and clinical endpoints. Finally, univariate and multivariate analyses of progression-free and overall survival were performed. RESULTS PD-1 and PD-L1 were expressed in 26.5% and 24.7% of samples, respectively, with low expression in most tumor samples (median positive cells: 2.1% and 21.7%). In contrast, CTLA-4 expression was observed in 52.5% of ACC with a median of 38.4% positive cells. Positive PD-1 expression was associated with longer progression-free survival (HR 0.50, 95% CI 0.25-0.98, P = .04) even after considering prognostic factors. In contrast, PD-L1 and CTLA-4 did not correlate with clinical outcome. Additionally, PD-1 and PD-L1 expression correlated significantly with the amount of CD3+, CD4+, FoxP3+, and CD8+ T cells. CONCLUSION The heterogeneous expression of PD1, PD-L1, and CTLA-4 in this large series of well-annotated ACC samples might explain the heterogeneous results of the immunotherapies in advanced ACC. In addition, PD-1 expression is a strong prognostic biomarker that can easily be applied in routine clinical care and histopathological assessment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura-Sophie Landwehr
- Department of Internal Medicine I, Division of Endocrinology and Diabetes, University Hospital Würzburg, 97080 Würzburg, Germany
| | - Barbara Altieri
- Department of Internal Medicine I, Division of Endocrinology and Diabetes, University Hospital Würzburg, 97080 Würzburg, Germany
| | - Iuliu Sbiera
- Department of Internal Medicine I, Division of Endocrinology and Diabetes, University Hospital Würzburg, 97080 Würzburg, Germany
| | - Hanna Remde
- Department of Internal Medicine I, Division of Endocrinology and Diabetes, University Hospital Würzburg, 97080 Würzburg, Germany
| | - Stefan Kircher
- Institute of Pathology, University of Würzburg, 97080 Würzburg, Germany
| | - Julie Olabe
- Institute GReD (Genetics, Reproduction and Development), University Clermont Auvergne, 63001 Clermont-Ferrand, France
| | - Silviu Sbiera
- Department of Internal Medicine I, Division of Endocrinology and Diabetes, University Hospital Würzburg, 97080 Würzburg, Germany
- Comprehensive Cancer Center Mainfranken, University of Würzburg, 97080 Würzburg, Germany
| | - Matthias Kroiss
- Department of Internal Medicine I, Division of Endocrinology and Diabetes, University Hospital Würzburg, 97080 Würzburg, Germany
- Comprehensive Cancer Center Mainfranken, University of Würzburg, 97080 Würzburg, Germany
- Department of Medicine IV, LMU University Hospital, LMU Munich, 80336 München, Germany
| | - Martin Fassnacht
- Department of Internal Medicine I, Division of Endocrinology and Diabetes, University Hospital Würzburg, 97080 Würzburg, Germany
- Comprehensive Cancer Center Mainfranken, University of Würzburg, 97080 Würzburg, Germany
- Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine, University Hospital Würzburg, 97080 Würzburg, Germany
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3
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Albarrán V, Guerrero P, de Quevedo CG, González C, Chamorro J, Rosero DI, Moreno J, Calvo JC, de Aguado PP, Alía V, Sotoca P, Barrill AM, Román MS, Álvarez-Ballesteros P, Serrano JJ, Soria A, Olmedo ME, Saavedra C, Cortés A, Gómez A, Lage Y, Ruiz Á, Ferreiro MR, Longo F, Garrido P, Gajate P. Negative association of steroids with immunotherapy efficacy in a multi-tumor cohort: time and dose-dependent. Cancer Immunol Immunother 2024; 73:186. [PMID: 39093378 PMCID: PMC11297225 DOI: 10.1007/s00262-024-03772-9] [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: 03/24/2024] [Accepted: 07/01/2024] [Indexed: 08/04/2024]
Abstract
Previous studies have suggested a negative impact of steroids on the efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI), but how this effect is modulated by the dosage and time of administration is yet to be clarified. We have performed a retrospective analysis of 475 patients with advanced solid tumors treated with ICI as monotherapy from 2015 to 2022. Data regarding immune-related adverse events (irAEs) and clinical outcomes were collected. For each patient, the daily steroid dose (in mg/kg of prednisone) was registered until disease progression or death. The impact of cumulative doses on response rates and survival outcomes was analyzed within different periods. The objective response rate (ORR) was significantly lower among patients exposed to steroids within 30 days before the first cycle of ICI (C1) (20.3% vs. 36.7%, p < 0.01) and within the first 90 days of treatment (25.7% vs. 37.7%, p = 0.01). This negative association was confirmed by multivariable analysis. Higher mean steroid doses were observed among non-responders, and cumulative doses were inversely correlated with the disease control rate (DCR) around ICI initiation. Remarkably, poorer outcomes were observed even in patients belonging to the lowest dose quartile compared to the steroid-naïve population. The exposure to steroids after 6 months of ICI was not associated with worse survival outcomes. Our results suggest that the potential impact of steroids on ICI efficacy may be time-dependent, prevailing around ICI initiation, and dose-dependent, with modulation of neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio as a possible underlying mechanism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Víctor Albarrán
- Department of Medical Oncology, Ramon y Cajal University Hospital (Madrid), Instituto Ramón y Cajal de Investigación Sanitaria (IRYCIS), Madrid, Spain.
| | - Patricia Guerrero
- Department of Medical Oncology, Ramon y Cajal University Hospital (Madrid), Instituto Ramón y Cajal de Investigación Sanitaria (IRYCIS), Madrid, Spain
| | - Coral García de Quevedo
- Department of Medical Oncology, Ramon y Cajal University Hospital (Madrid), Instituto Ramón y Cajal de Investigación Sanitaria (IRYCIS), Madrid, Spain
| | - Carlos González
- Department of Medical Oncology, Ramon y Cajal University Hospital (Madrid), Instituto Ramón y Cajal de Investigación Sanitaria (IRYCIS), Madrid, Spain
| | - Jesús Chamorro
- Department of Medical Oncology, Ramon y Cajal University Hospital (Madrid), Instituto Ramón y Cajal de Investigación Sanitaria (IRYCIS), Madrid, Spain
| | - Diana Isabel Rosero
- Department of Medical Oncology, Ramon y Cajal University Hospital (Madrid), Instituto Ramón y Cajal de Investigación Sanitaria (IRYCIS), Madrid, Spain
| | - Jaime Moreno
- Department of Medical Oncology, Ramon y Cajal University Hospital (Madrid), Instituto Ramón y Cajal de Investigación Sanitaria (IRYCIS), Madrid, Spain
| | - Juan Carlos Calvo
- Department of Medical Oncology, Ramon y Cajal University Hospital (Madrid), Instituto Ramón y Cajal de Investigación Sanitaria (IRYCIS), Madrid, Spain
| | - Patricia Pérez de Aguado
- Department of Medical Oncology, Ramon y Cajal University Hospital (Madrid), Instituto Ramón y Cajal de Investigación Sanitaria (IRYCIS), Madrid, Spain
| | - Víctor Alía
- Department of Medical Oncology, Ramon y Cajal University Hospital (Madrid), Instituto Ramón y Cajal de Investigación Sanitaria (IRYCIS), Madrid, Spain
| | - Pilar Sotoca
- Department of Medical Oncology, Ramon y Cajal University Hospital (Madrid), Instituto Ramón y Cajal de Investigación Sanitaria (IRYCIS), Madrid, Spain
| | - Ana María Barrill
- Department of Medical Oncology, Ramon y Cajal University Hospital (Madrid), Instituto Ramón y Cajal de Investigación Sanitaria (IRYCIS), Madrid, Spain
| | - María San Román
- Department of Medical Oncology, Ramon y Cajal University Hospital (Madrid), Instituto Ramón y Cajal de Investigación Sanitaria (IRYCIS), Madrid, Spain
| | - Pablo Álvarez-Ballesteros
- Department of Medical Oncology, Ramon y Cajal University Hospital (Madrid), Instituto Ramón y Cajal de Investigación Sanitaria (IRYCIS), Madrid, Spain
| | - Juan José Serrano
- Department of Medical Oncology, Ramon y Cajal University Hospital (Madrid), Instituto Ramón y Cajal de Investigación Sanitaria (IRYCIS), Madrid, Spain
| | - Ainara Soria
- Department of Medical Oncology, Ramon y Cajal University Hospital (Madrid), Instituto Ramón y Cajal de Investigación Sanitaria (IRYCIS), Madrid, Spain
| | - María Eugenia Olmedo
- Department of Medical Oncology, Ramon y Cajal University Hospital (Madrid), Instituto Ramón y Cajal de Investigación Sanitaria (IRYCIS), Madrid, Spain
| | - Cristina Saavedra
- Department of Medical Oncology, Ramon y Cajal University Hospital (Madrid), Instituto Ramón y Cajal de Investigación Sanitaria (IRYCIS), Madrid, Spain
| | - Alfonso Cortés
- Department of Medical Oncology, Ramon y Cajal University Hospital (Madrid), Instituto Ramón y Cajal de Investigación Sanitaria (IRYCIS), Madrid, Spain
| | - Ana Gómez
- Department of Medical Oncology, Ramon y Cajal University Hospital (Madrid), Instituto Ramón y Cajal de Investigación Sanitaria (IRYCIS), Madrid, Spain
| | - Yolanda Lage
- Department of Medical Oncology, Ramon y Cajal University Hospital (Madrid), Instituto Ramón y Cajal de Investigación Sanitaria (IRYCIS), Madrid, Spain
| | - Álvaro Ruiz
- Department of Medical Oncology, Ramon y Cajal University Hospital (Madrid), Instituto Ramón y Cajal de Investigación Sanitaria (IRYCIS), Madrid, Spain
| | - María Reyes Ferreiro
- Department of Medical Oncology, Ramon y Cajal University Hospital (Madrid), Instituto Ramón y Cajal de Investigación Sanitaria (IRYCIS), Madrid, Spain
| | - Federico Longo
- Department of Medical Oncology, Ramon y Cajal University Hospital (Madrid), Instituto Ramón y Cajal de Investigación Sanitaria (IRYCIS), Madrid, Spain
| | - Pilar Garrido
- Department of Medical Oncology, Ramon y Cajal University Hospital (Madrid), Instituto Ramón y Cajal de Investigación Sanitaria (IRYCIS), Madrid, Spain
| | - Pablo Gajate
- Department of Medical Oncology, Ramon y Cajal University Hospital (Madrid), Instituto Ramón y Cajal de Investigación Sanitaria (IRYCIS), Madrid, Spain
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Altieri B, Secener AK, Sai S, Fischer C, Sbiera S, Arampatzi P, Kircher S, Herterich S, Landwehr L, Vitcetz SN, Braeuning C, Fassnacht M, Ronchi CL, Sauer S. Single-nucleus and spatial transcriptome reveal adrenal homeostasis in normal and tumoural adrenal glands. Clin Transl Med 2024; 14:e1798. [PMID: 39167619 PMCID: PMC11338279 DOI: 10.1002/ctm2.1798] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2023] [Revised: 07/11/2024] [Accepted: 07/26/2024] [Indexed: 08/23/2024] Open
Abstract
The human adrenal gland is a complex endocrine tissue. Studies on adrenal renewal have been limited to animal models or human foetuses. Enhancing our understanding of adult human adrenal homeostasis is crucial for gaining insights into the pathogenesis of adrenal diseases, such as adrenocortical tumours. Here, we present a comprehensive cellular genomics analysis of the adult human normal adrenal gland, combining single-nuclei RNA sequencing and spatial transcriptome data to reconstruct adrenal gland homeostasis. As expected, we identified primary cells of the various zones of the adrenal cortex and medulla, but we also uncovered additional cell types. They constitute the adrenal microenvironment, including immune cells, mostly composed of a large population of M2 macrophages, and new cell populations, including different subpopulations of vascular-endothelial cells and cortical-neuroendocrine cells. Utilizing spatial transcriptome and pseudotime trajectory analysis, we support evidence of the centripetal dynamics of adrenocortical cell maintenance and the essential role played by Wnt/β-catenin, sonic hedgehog, and fibroblast growth factor pathways in the adult adrenocortical homeostasis. Furthermore, we compared single-nuclei transcriptional profiles obtained from six healthy adrenal glands and twelve adrenocortical adenomas. This analysis unveiled a notable heterogeneity in cell populations within the adenoma samples. In addition, we identified six distinct adenoma-specific clusters, each with varying distributions based on steroid profiles and tumour mutational status. Overall, our results provide novel insights into adrenal homeostasis and molecular mechanisms potentially underlying early adrenocortical tumorigenesis and/or autonomous steroid secretion. Our cell atlas represents a powerful resource to investigate other adrenal-related pathologies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Barbara Altieri
- Division of Endocrinology and DiabetesDepartment of Internal Medicine IUniversity HospitalUniversity of WürzburgWürzburgGermany
| | - A. Kerim Secener
- Max Delbrück Center for Molecular MedicineBerlinGermany
- Berlin Institute of HealthBerlinGermany
- Department of BiologyChemistry and PharmacyInstitute of BiochemistryFree University BerlinBerlinGermany
| | - Somesh Sai
- Max Delbrück Center for Molecular MedicineBerlinGermany
- Berlin Institute of HealthBerlinGermany
- Department of BiologyChemistry and PharmacyInstitute of BiochemistryFree University BerlinBerlinGermany
| | - Cornelius Fischer
- Max Delbrück Center for Molecular MedicineBerlinGermany
- Berlin Institute of HealthBerlinGermany
| | - Silviu Sbiera
- Division of Endocrinology and DiabetesDepartment of Internal Medicine IUniversity HospitalUniversity of WürzburgWürzburgGermany
| | | | - Stefan Kircher
- Institute of PathologyUniversity of WürzburgWürzburgGermany
| | | | - Laura‐Sophie Landwehr
- Division of Endocrinology and DiabetesDepartment of Internal Medicine IUniversity HospitalUniversity of WürzburgWürzburgGermany
| | - Sarah N. Vitcetz
- Max Delbrück Center for Molecular MedicineBerlinGermany
- Berlin Institute of HealthBerlinGermany
| | | | - Martin Fassnacht
- Division of Endocrinology and DiabetesDepartment of Internal Medicine IUniversity HospitalUniversity of WürzburgWürzburgGermany
- Central Laboratory University Hospital WürzburgWürzburgGermany
| | - Cristina L. Ronchi
- Division of Endocrinology and DiabetesDepartment of Internal Medicine IUniversity HospitalUniversity of WürzburgWürzburgGermany
- Institute of Metabolism and System ResearchUniversity of BirminghamEdgabston, BirminghamUK
| | - Sascha Sauer
- Max Delbrück Center for Molecular MedicineBerlinGermany
- Berlin Institute of HealthBerlinGermany
- Core Unit SysMedUniversity of WürzburgWürzburgGermany
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5
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Bharti V, Kumar A, Wang Y, Roychowdhury N, de Lima Bellan D, Kassaye BB, Watkins R, Capece M, Chung CG, Hilinski G, Vilgelm AE. TTK inhibitor OSU13 promotes immunotherapy responses by activating tumor STING. JCI Insight 2024; 9:e177523. [PMID: 38900577 PMCID: PMC11383830 DOI: 10.1172/jci.insight.177523] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2023] [Accepted: 06/18/2024] [Indexed: 06/22/2024] Open
Abstract
TTK spindle assembly checkpoint kinase is an emerging cancer target. This preclinical study explored the antitumor mechanism of TTK inhibitor OSU13 to define a strategy for clinical development. We observed prominent antitumor activity of OSU13 in melanoma, colon and breast cancer cells, organoids derived from patients with melanoma, and mice bearing colon tumors associated with G2 cell cycle arrest, senescence, and apoptosis. OSU13-treated cells displayed DNA damage and micronuclei that triggered the cytosolic DNA-sensing cGAS/STING pathway. STING was required for the induction of several proteins involved in T cell recruitment and activity. Tumors from OSU13-treated mice showed an increased proportion of T and NK cells and evidence of PD-1/PD-L1 immune checkpoint activation. Combining a low-toxicity dose of OSU13 with anti-PD-1 checkpoint blockade resulted in prominent STING- and CD8+ T cell-dependent tumor inhibition and improved survival. These findings provide a rationale for utilizing TTK inhibitors in combination with immunotherapy in STING-proficient tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vijaya Bharti
- Department of Pathology
- Pelotonia Institute for Immunooncology, and
- Comprehensive Cancer Center, Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital and Richard J. Solove Research Institute, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | - Amrendra Kumar
- Department of Pathology
- Pelotonia Institute for Immunooncology, and
- Comprehensive Cancer Center, Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital and Richard J. Solove Research Institute, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | - Yinchong Wang
- Department of Pathology
- Pelotonia Institute for Immunooncology, and
- Comprehensive Cancer Center, Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital and Richard J. Solove Research Institute, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA
- Molecular Cellular and Developmental Biology Graduate Program, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | - Nikhil Roychowdhury
- Department of Pathology
- Pelotonia Institute for Immunooncology, and
- Comprehensive Cancer Center, Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital and Richard J. Solove Research Institute, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | - Daniel de Lima Bellan
- Department of Pathology
- Pelotonia Institute for Immunooncology, and
- Comprehensive Cancer Center, Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital and Richard J. Solove Research Institute, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | | | - Reese Watkins
- Department of Pathology
- Pelotonia Institute for Immunooncology, and
- Comprehensive Cancer Center, Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital and Richard J. Solove Research Institute, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | - Marina Capece
- Department of Pathology
- Pelotonia Institute for Immunooncology, and
- Comprehensive Cancer Center, Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital and Richard J. Solove Research Institute, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | | | - Gerard Hilinski
- Drug Development Institute, Comprehensive Cancer Center and The James Cancer Hospital and Solove Research Institute, Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | - Anna E Vilgelm
- Department of Pathology
- Pelotonia Institute for Immunooncology, and
- Comprehensive Cancer Center, Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital and Richard J. Solove Research Institute, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA
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6
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Lalli E. Immune checkpoint molecules in adrenocortical carcinoma: hope for immunotherapy. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2024:dgae311. [PMID: 38739542 DOI: 10.1210/clinem/dgae311] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/29/2024] [Accepted: 05/05/2024] [Indexed: 05/16/2024]
Affiliation(s)
- Enzo Lalli
- Institut de Pharmacologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire CNRS UMR7275; Inserm U1323; Université Côte d'Azur, 05650 Valbonne, France
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7
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Ishikawa Y, Yamazaki Y, Tezuka Y, Omata K, Ono Y, Tokodai K, Fujishima F, Kawanabe S, Katabami T, Ikeya A, Yamashita M, Oki Y, Nanjo H, Satoh F, Ito A, Unno M, Kamei T, Sasano H, Suzuki T. Histopathological analysis of tumor microenvironment in adrenocortical carcinoma: Possible effects of in situ disorganized glucocorticoid production on tumor immunity. J Steroid Biochem Mol Biol 2024; 238:106462. [PMID: 38232786 DOI: 10.1016/j.jsbmb.2024.106462] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2023] [Revised: 01/07/2024] [Accepted: 01/11/2024] [Indexed: 01/19/2024]
Abstract
Adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC) patients with glucocorticoid excess have been reported to be associated with decreased tumor-infiltrating immune cells, but the effects of in situ glucocorticoid production on tumor immunity have remained unknown. In addition, ACC was also known to harbor marked intra-tumoral heterogeneity of steroidogenesis or disorganized steroidogenesis. Therefore, in this study, we immune-profiled tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) and tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) and pivotal steroidogenic enzymes of glucocorticoid biosynthesis (CYP17A and CYP11B1) to explore the potential effects of in situ glucocorticoid production and intra-tumoral heterogeneity/disorganized steroidogenesis on tumor immunity of ACC. We also studied the correlations of the status of tumor immunity with that of angiogenesis and tumor grade to further explore the tumor tissue microenvironment of ACC. TILs (CD3, CD4, CD8, and FOXP3), TAMs (CD68 and CD163), key steroidogenic enzymes of glucocorticoid (CYP17A and CYP11B1), angiogenesis (CD31 and vasohibin-1 (VASH-1)), tumor grade (Ki-67 and Weiss score) were immunohistochemically evaluated in 34 ACCs. Increased CYP17A immunoreactivity in the whole tumor area was significantly positively correlated with FOXP3-positive TILs (p = 0.021) and negatively with CD4/CD3 ratio (p = 0.001). Increased CYP11B1 immunoreactivity in the whole tumor area was significantly positively correlated with CD8/CD3 (p = 0.039) and CD163/CD68 ratios (p = 0.006) and negatively with CD4-positive TILs (p = 0.036) and CD4/CD3 ratio (p = 0.001). There were also significant positive correlations between CYP17A and CD8 (r = 0.334, p < 0.001) and FOXP3-positive TILs (r = 0.414, p < 0.001), CD8/CD3 ratio (r = 0.421, p < 0.001), and CD68-positive TAMs (r = 0.298, p < 0.001) in randomly selected areas. Significant positive correlations were also detected between CYP11B1 and CD8/CD3 ratio (r = 0.276, p = 0.001) and negative ones detected between CYP11B1 and CD3- (r = -0.259, p = 0.002) and CD4-positive TILs (r = -0.312, p < 0.001) in those areas above. Increased micro-vessel density (MVD) -VASH-1 was significantly positively correlated with CD68- (p = 0.015) and CD163-positive TAMs (p = 0.009) and CD163/CD68 ratio and the high VASH-1 with CD163-positive TAMs (p = 0.042). Ki-67 labeling index was significantly positively correlated with MAD-VASH-1 (p = 0.006) and VASH-1 (p = 0.006) status. Results of our present study indicated that in situ glucocorticoid production did influence the status of tumor immunity in ACC. In particular, increased levels of CYP17A and CYP11B1, both involved in glucocorticoid producing immunoreactivity played different effects on tumor immunity, i.e., reflecting the involvement of intra-tumoral heterogeneity and disorganized steroidogenesis of ACC, which also did indicate the importance of in situ approaches when analyzing tumor immunity of ACC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuki Ishikawa
- Department of Surgery, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai, Japan
| | - Yuto Yamazaki
- Department of Pathology, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai, Japan.
| | - Yuta Tezuka
- Department of Diabetes, Metabolism and Endocrinology, Tohoku University Hospital, 1-1 Seiryo-machi, Aoba-ku, Sendai, Miyagi 980-8574, Japan; Division of Nephrology, Rheumatology and Endocrinology, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, 2-1 Seiryo-machi, Aoba-ku, Sendai, Miyagi 980-8575, Japan
| | - Kei Omata
- Department of Diabetes, Metabolism and Endocrinology, Tohoku University Hospital, 1-1 Seiryo-machi, Aoba-ku, Sendai, Miyagi 980-8574, Japan; Division of Nephrology, Rheumatology and Endocrinology, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, 2-1 Seiryo-machi, Aoba-ku, Sendai, Miyagi 980-8575, Japan
| | - Yoshikiyo Ono
- Department of Diabetes, Metabolism and Endocrinology, Tohoku University Hospital, 1-1 Seiryo-machi, Aoba-ku, Sendai, Miyagi 980-8574, Japan; Division of Nephrology, Rheumatology and Endocrinology, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, 2-1 Seiryo-machi, Aoba-ku, Sendai, Miyagi 980-8575, Japan
| | - Kazuaki Tokodai
- Department of Surgery, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai, Japan
| | - Fumiyoshi Fujishima
- Department of Pathology, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai, Japan
| | - Shin Kawanabe
- Department of Metabolism and Endocrinology, St. Marianna University Yokohama Seibu Hospital, Yokohama, Japan; Department of Metabolism and Endocrinology, St. Marianna University School of Medicine, Kawasaki, Japan
| | - Takuyuki Katabami
- Department of Metabolism and Endocrinology, St. Marianna University School of Medicine, Kawasaki, Japan
| | - Akira Ikeya
- Division of Endocrinology & Metabolism, Second Department of Internal Medicine, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, Hamamatsu, Shizuoka, Japan
| | - Miho Yamashita
- Division of Endocrinology & Metabolism, Second Department of Internal Medicine, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, Hamamatsu, Shizuoka, Japan
| | - Yutaka Oki
- Diabetes & Endocrinology Center, Hamamatsu-Kita Hospital, Hamamatsu, Shizuoka, Japan
| | - Hiroshi Nanjo
- Department of Pathology, Akita University Hospital, Akita, Japan
| | - Fumitoshi Satoh
- Division of Clinical Hypertension, Endocrinology and Metabolism, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai, Japan
| | - Akihiro Ito
- Department of Urology, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai, Japan
| | - Michiaki Unno
- Department of Surgery, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai, Japan
| | - Takashi Kamei
- Department of Surgery, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai, Japan
| | - Hironobu Sasano
- Department of Pathology, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai, Japan
| | - Takashi Suzuki
- Department of Pathology, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai, Japan
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8
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Ababneh O, Ghazou A, Alawajneh M, Alhaj Mohammad S, Bani-Hani A, Alrabadi N, Shreenivas A. The Efficacy and Safety of Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors in Adrenocortical Carcinoma: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Cancers (Basel) 2024; 16:900. [PMID: 38473262 DOI: 10.3390/cancers16050900] [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: 01/08/2024] [Revised: 02/16/2024] [Accepted: 02/20/2024] [Indexed: 03/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have revolutionized the treatment of different malignancies. However, their efficacy in advanced adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC) remains uncertain. Thus, we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to summarize the efficacy and tolerability of ICIs in patients with advanced ACC. We searched PubMed, Scopus, and CENTRAL for studies that used ICIs in ACC. Studies with more than five patients were included in the meta-analysis of the objective response rate (ORR), disease control rate (DCR), overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS), and grade 3/4 adverse events. Twenty studies with 23 treatment arms and 250 patients were included. Single-agent anti-PD1 or anti-PD-L1 treatment was utilized in 13 treatment arms, whereas an anti-PD1 or anti-PD-L1 and anti-CTLA4 combination was used in 4 treatment arms. Other anti-PD1- or anti-PD-L1-based combinations were used in five treatment arms. The ORR was 14% (95% CI = 10-19%, I2 = 0%), and the DCR was 43% (95% CI = 37-50%, I2 = 13%). The combination anti-PD1- or anti-PD-L1-based treatment strategies did not correlate with higher responses compared with monotherapy. The median OS was 13.9 months (95% CI = 7.85-23.05), and the median PFS was 2.8 months (95% CI = 1.8-5.4). ICIs have a modest efficacy in advanced ACC but a good OS. Further studies are needed to investigate predictive biomarkers for ICI response and to compare ICI-based strategies with the current standard of care.
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Affiliation(s)
- Obada Ababneh
- Faculty of Medicine, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid 22110, Jordan
| | - Alina Ghazou
- Faculty of Medicine, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid 22110, Jordan
| | - Mohmmad Alawajneh
- Faculty of Medicine, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid 22110, Jordan
| | - Saleh Alhaj Mohammad
- Faculty of Medicine, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid 22110, Jordan
| | - Abdullah Bani-Hani
- Faculty of Medicine, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid 22110, Jordan
| | - Nasr Alrabadi
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid 22110, Jordan
| | - Aditya Shreenivas
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, Medical College of Wisconsin, 8701 Watertown Plank Road, Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA
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9
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Wei JB, Zeng XC, Ji KR, Zhang LY, Chen XM. Identification of Key Genes and Related Drugs of Adrenocortical Carcinoma by Integrated Bioinformatics Analysis. Horm Metab Res 2023. [PMID: 38109896 DOI: 10.1055/a-2209-0771] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2023]
Abstract
Adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC) is a malignant carcinoma with an extremely poor prognosis, and its pathogenesis remains to be understood to date, necessitating further investigation. This study aims to discover biomarkers and potential therapeutic agents for ACC through bioinformatics, enhancing clinical diagnosis and treatment strategies. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between ACC and normal adrenal cortex were screened out from the GSE19750 and GSE90713 datasets available in the GEO database. An online Venn diagram tool was utilized to identify the common DEGs between the two datasets. The identified DEGs were subjected to functional assessment, pathway enrichment, and identification of hub genes by performing the protein-protein interaction (PPI), Gene Ontology (GO), and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analyses. The differences in the expressions of hub genes between ACC and normal adrenal cortex were validated at the GEPIA2 website, and the association of these genes with the overall patient survival was also assessed. Finally, on the QuartataWeb website, drugs related to the identified hub genes were determined. A total of 114 DEGs, 10 hub genes, and 69 known drugs that could interact with these genes were identified. The GO and KEGG analyses revealed a close association of the identified DEGs with cellular signal transduction. The 10 hub genes identified were overexpressed in ACC, in addition to being significantly associated with adverse prognosis in ACC. Three genes and the associated known drugs were identified as potential targets for ACC treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jian-Bin Wei
- The Third Clinical Medical College, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Xiao-Chun Zeng
- The Third Clinical Medical College, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Kui-Rong Ji
- Department of Endocrinology, Zhongshan Hospital Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
| | - Ling-Yi Zhang
- Department of Endocrinology, Zhongshan Hospital Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
| | - Xiao-Min Chen
- Department of Endocrinology, Zhongshan Hospital Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
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10
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Ghosh C, Hu J, Kebebew E. Advances in translational research of the rare cancer type adrenocortical carcinoma. Nat Rev Cancer 2023; 23:805-824. [PMID: 37857840 DOI: 10.1038/s41568-023-00623-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/30/2023] [Indexed: 10/21/2023]
Abstract
Adrenocortical carcinoma is a rare malignancy with an annual worldwide incidence of 1-2 cases per 1 million and a 5-year survival rate of <60%. Although adrenocortical carcinoma is rare, such rare cancers account for approximately one third of patients diagnosed with cancer annually. In the past decade, there have been considerable advances in understanding the molecular basis of adrenocortical carcinoma. The genetic events associated with adrenocortical carcinoma in adults are distinct from those of paediatric cases, which are often associated with germline or somatic TP53 mutations and have a better prognosis. In adult primary adrenocortical carcinoma, the main somatic genetic alterations occur in genes that encode proteins involved in the WNT-β-catenin pathway, cell cycle and p53 apoptosis pathway, chromatin remodelling and telomere maintenance pathway, cAMP-protein kinase A (PKA) pathway or DNA transcription and RNA translation pathways. Recently, integrated molecular studies of adrenocortical carcinomas, which have characterized somatic mutations and the methylome as well as gene and microRNA expression profiles, have led to a molecular classification of these tumours that can predict prognosis and have helped to identify new therapeutic targets. In this Review, we summarize these recent translational research advances in adrenocortical carcinoma, which it is hoped could lead to improved patient diagnosis, treatment and outcome.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Jiangnan Hu
- Department of Surgery, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Electron Kebebew
- Department of Surgery, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA.
- Stanford Cancer Institute, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA.
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11
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Chen D, Xia Z, Guo Z, Gou W, Zhao J, Zhou X, Tan X, Li W, Zhao S, Tian Z, Qu Y. Bioinspired porous three-coordinated single-atom Fe nanozyme with oxidase-like activity for tumor visual identification via glutathione. Nat Commun 2023; 14:7127. [PMID: 37949885 PMCID: PMC10638392 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-42889-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2023] [Accepted: 10/25/2023] [Indexed: 11/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Inspired by structures of natural metalloenzymes, a biomimetic synthetic strategy is developed for scalable synthesis of porous Fe-N3 single atom nanozymes (pFeSAN) using hemoglobin as Fe-source and template. pFeSAN delivers 3.3- and 8791-fold higher oxidase-like activity than Fe-N4 and Fe3O4 nanozymes. The high catalytic performance is attributed to (1) the suppressed aggregation of atomically dispersed Fe; (2) facilitated mass transfer and maximized exposure of active sites for the created mesopores by thermal removal of hemoglobin (2 ~ 3 nm); and (3) unique electronic configuration of Fe-N3 for the oxygen-to-water oxidation pathway (analogy with natural cytochrome c oxidase). The pFeSAN is successfully demonstrated for the rapid colorimetric detection of glutathione with a low limit of detection (2.4 nM) and wide range (50 nM-1 mM), and further developed as a real-time, facile, rapid (~6 min) and precise visualization analysis methodology of tumors via glutathione level, showing its potentials for diagnostic and clinic applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Da Chen
- Key Laboratory of Special Functional and Smart Polymer Materials of Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Northwestern Polytechnical University, 710072, Xi'an, China
| | - Zhaoming Xia
- Department of Chemistry, Southern University of Science and Technology, 518055, Shenzhen, China
| | - Zhixiong Guo
- Key Laboratory of Special Functional and Smart Polymer Materials of Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Northwestern Polytechnical University, 710072, Xi'an, China
| | - Wangyan Gou
- Key Laboratory of Special Functional and Smart Polymer Materials of Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Northwestern Polytechnical University, 710072, Xi'an, China
| | - Junlong Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Cancer Biology, Department of Medical Genetics and Developmental Biology, Fourth Military Medical University, 710032, Xi'an, China
| | - Xuemei Zhou
- Key Laboratory of Carbon Materials of Zhejiang Province, Wenzhou University, 325035, Wenzhou, China
| | - Xiaohe Tan
- Key Laboratory of Special Functional and Smart Polymer Materials of Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Northwestern Polytechnical University, 710072, Xi'an, China
| | - Wenbin Li
- Key Laboratory of Special Functional and Smart Polymer Materials of Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Northwestern Polytechnical University, 710072, Xi'an, China
| | - Shoujie Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Cancer Biology, Department of Medical Genetics and Developmental Biology, Fourth Military Medical University, 710032, Xi'an, China
| | - Zhimin Tian
- Key Laboratory of Special Functional and Smart Polymer Materials of Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Northwestern Polytechnical University, 710072, Xi'an, China.
| | - Yongquan Qu
- Key Laboratory of Special Functional and Smart Polymer Materials of Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Northwestern Polytechnical University, 710072, Xi'an, China.
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12
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Zhang Y, Zhang C, Li K, Deng J, Liu H, Lai G, Xie B, Zhong X. Identification of Molecular Subtypes and Prognostic Characteristics of Adrenocortical Carcinoma Based on Unsupervised Clustering. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:15465. [PMID: 37895143 PMCID: PMC10607826 DOI: 10.3390/ijms242015465] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2023] [Revised: 10/11/2023] [Accepted: 10/18/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC) is a rare endocrine malignancy with a poor prognosis. Increasing evidence highlights the significant role of immune-related genes (IRGs) in ACC progression and immunotherapy, but the research is still limited. Based on the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database, immune-related molecular subtypes were identified by unsupervised consensus clustering. Univariate Cox analysis and Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator (LASSO) regression were employed to further establish immune-related gene signatures (IRGS). An evaluation of immune cell infiltration, biological function, tumor mutation burden (TMB), predicted immunotherapy response, and drug sensitivity in ACC patients was conducted to elucidate the applicative efficacy of IRGS in precision therapy. ACC patients were divided into two molecular subtypes through consistent clustering. Furthermore, the 3-gene signature (including PRKCA, LTBP1, and BIRC5) based on two molecular subtypes demonstrated consistent prognostic efficacy across the TCGA and GEO datasets and emerged as an independent prognostic factor. The low-risk group exhibited heightened immune cell infiltration, TMB, and immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), associated with a favorable prognosis. Pathways associated with drug metabolism, hormone regulation, and metabolism were activated in the low-risk group. In conclusion, our findings suggest IRGS can be used as an independent prognostic biomarker, providing a foundation for shaping future ACC immunotherapy strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Biao Xie
- Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, School of Public Health, Chongqing Medical University, Yixue Road, Chongqing 400016, China; (Y.Z.); (C.Z.); (K.L.); (J.D.); (H.L.); (G.L.)
| | - Xiaoni Zhong
- Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, School of Public Health, Chongqing Medical University, Yixue Road, Chongqing 400016, China; (Y.Z.); (C.Z.); (K.L.); (J.D.); (H.L.); (G.L.)
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13
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Wu K, Liu Z, Liang J, Zhu Y, Wang X, Li X. Discovery of a glucocorticoid receptor (GR) activity signature correlates with immune cell infiltration in adrenocortical carcinoma. J Immunother Cancer 2023; 11:e007528. [PMID: 37793855 PMCID: PMC10551943 DOI: 10.1136/jitc-2023-007528] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/07/2023] [Indexed: 10/06/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC) is a rare and highly aggressive endocrine malignancy, of which >40% present with glucocorticoid excess. Glucocorticoids and glucocorticoid receptor (GR) signaling have long been thought to suppress immunity and promote tumor progression by acting on immune cells. Here, we provide new insights into the interaction between GR signaling activity and the immune signature of ACC as a potential explanation for immune escape and resistance to immunotherapy. METHODS First, GR immunohistochemical staining and immunofluorescence analysis of tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte (CD4 T, CD8 T cells, natural killer (NK) cells, dendritic cells and macrophages) were performed in 78 primary ACC tissue specimens. Quantitative data of immune cell infiltration in ACC were correlated with clinical characteristics. Second, we discovered a GR activity signature (GRsig) using GR-targeted gene networks derived from global gene expression data of primary ACC. Finally, we identified two GRsig-related subtypes based on the GRsig and assessed the differences in immune characteristics and prognostic stratification between the two subtypes. RESULTS GR was expressed in 90% of the ACC tumors, and CD8+ cytotoxic T lymphocytes were the most common infiltrating cell type in ACC specimens (88%, 8.6 cells/high power field). GR expression positively correlated with CD8+ T cell (Phi=0.342, p<0.001), CD4+ T cell (Phi=0.280, p<0.001), NK cell (Phi=0.280, p<0.001), macrophage (Phi=0.285, p<0.001), and dendritic cell (Phi=0.397, p<0.001) infiltration. Clustering heatmap analysis also displayed high immune cell infiltration in GR high-expressing tumors and low immune cell infiltration in GR-low tumors. High GR expression and high immune cell infiltration were significantly associated with better survival. Glucocorticoid excess is associated with low immune cell abundance and unfavorable prognosis. A GRsig comprizing n=34 GR-associated genes was derived from Gene Expression Omnibus/The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) data sets and used to define two GRsig-related subtypes in the TCGA cohort. We demonstrated distinct differences in the immune landscape and clinical outcomes between the two subtypes. CONCLUSION GR expression positively correlates with tumor-infiltrating immune cells in ACC. The GRsig could serve as a prognostic biomarker and may be helpful for prognosis prediction and response to immunotherapy. Consequently, targeting the GR signaling pathway might be pivotal and should be investigated in clinical studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kan Wu
- Department of Urology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Zhihong Liu
- Department of Urology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Jiayu Liang
- Department of Urology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Yuchun Zhu
- Department of Urology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Xianding Wang
- Department of Urology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Xiang Li
- Department of Urology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
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14
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Ma Y, Xu X, Wang H, Liu Y, Piao H. Non-coding RNA in tumor-infiltrating regulatory T cells formation and associated immunotherapy. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1228331. [PMID: 37671150 PMCID: PMC10475737 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1228331] [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: 05/24/2023] [Accepted: 07/28/2023] [Indexed: 09/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Cancer immunotherapy has exhibited promising antitumor effects in various tumors. Infiltrated regulatory T cells (Tregs) in the tumor microenvironment (TME) restrict protective immune surveillance, impede effective antitumor immune responses, and contribute to the formation of an immunosuppressive microenvironment. Selective depletion or functional attenuation of tumor-infiltrating Tregs, while eliciting effective T-cell responses, represents a potential approach for anti-tumor immunity. Furthermore, it does not disrupt the Treg-dependent immune homeostasis in healthy organs and does not induce autoimmunity. Yet, the shared cell surface molecules and signaling pathways between Tregs and multiple immune cell types pose challenges in this process. Noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs), including microRNAs (miRNAs) and long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs), regulate both cancer and immune cells and thus can potentially improve antitumor responses. Here, we review recent advances in research of tumor-infiltrating Tregs, with a focus on the functional roles of immune checkpoint and inhibitory Tregs receptors and the regulatory mechanisms of ncRNAs in Treg plasticity and functionality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yue Ma
- Department of Gynecology, Cancer Hospital of Dalian University of Technology (Liaoning Cancer Hospital & Institute), Shenyang, Liaoning, China
| | - Xin Xu
- Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, China
| | - Huaitao Wang
- Department of General Surgery, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, China
| | - Yang Liu
- Department of Oncology, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, China
| | - Haiyan Piao
- Medical Oncology Department of Gastrointestinal Cancer, Cancer Hospital of Dalian University of Technology (Liaoning Cancer Hospital & Institute), Shenyang, Liaoning, China
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15
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Warde KM, Smith LJ, Liu L, Stubben CJ, Lohman BK, Willett PW, Ammer JL, Castaneda-Hernandez G, Imodoye SO, Zhang C, Jones KD, Converso-Baran K, Ekiz HA, Barry M, Clay MR, Kiseljak-Vassiliades K, Giordano TJ, Hammer GD, Basham KJ. Senescence-induced immune remodeling facilitates metastatic adrenal cancer in a sex-dimorphic manner. NATURE AGING 2023; 3:846-865. [PMID: 37231196 DOI: 10.1038/s43587-023-00420-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2022] [Accepted: 04/12/2023] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
Aging markedly increases cancer risk, yet our mechanistic understanding of how aging influences cancer initiation is limited. Here we demonstrate that the loss of ZNRF3, an inhibitor of Wnt signaling that is frequently mutated in adrenocortical carcinoma, leads to the induction of cellular senescence that remodels the tissue microenvironment and ultimately permits metastatic adrenal cancer in old animals. The effects are sexually dimorphic, with males exhibiting earlier senescence activation and a greater innate immune response, driven in part by androgens, resulting in high myeloid cell accumulation and lower incidence of malignancy. Conversely, females present a dampened immune response and increased susceptibility to metastatic cancer. Senescence-recruited myeloid cells become depleted as tumors progress, which is recapitulated in patients in whom a low myeloid signature is associated with worse outcomes. Our study uncovers a role for myeloid cells in restraining adrenal cancer with substantial prognostic value and provides a model for interrogating pleiotropic effects of cellular senescence in cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kate M Warde
- Department of Oncological Sciences, Huntsman Cancer Institute, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
| | - Lorenzo J Smith
- Department of Oncological Sciences, Huntsman Cancer Institute, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
| | - Lihua Liu
- Department of Oncological Sciences, Huntsman Cancer Institute, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
| | - Chris J Stubben
- Bioinformatics Shared Resource, Huntsman Cancer Institute, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
| | - Brian K Lohman
- Bioinformatics Shared Resource, Huntsman Cancer Institute, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
| | - Parker W Willett
- Department of Oncological Sciences, Huntsman Cancer Institute, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
| | - Julia L Ammer
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Metabolism, Endocrinology and Diabetes, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | | | - Sikiru O Imodoye
- Department of Oncological Sciences, Huntsman Cancer Institute, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
| | - Chenge Zhang
- Department of Oncological Sciences, Huntsman Cancer Institute, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
| | - Kara D Jones
- Department of Oncological Sciences, Huntsman Cancer Institute, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
| | - Kimber Converso-Baran
- Frankel Cardiovascular Center Physiology and Phenotyping Core, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - H Atakan Ekiz
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Izmir Institute of Technology, Urla Izmir, Turkey
| | - Marc Barry
- Department of Pathology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
| | - Michael R Clay
- Department of Pathology, University of Colorado School of Medicine at Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Katja Kiseljak-Vassiliades
- Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism and Diabetes, Department of Medicine, University of Colorado School of Medicine at Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Thomas J Giordano
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Metabolism, Endocrinology and Diabetes, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
- Department of Pathology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
- Endocrine Oncology Program, Rogel Cancer Center, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Gary D Hammer
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Metabolism, Endocrinology and Diabetes, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
- Endocrine Oncology Program, Rogel Cancer Center, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Kaitlin J Basham
- Department of Oncological Sciences, Huntsman Cancer Institute, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA.
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16
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Zheng Y, Wang N, Wang S, Zhang J, Yang B, Wang Z. Chronic psychological stress promotes breast cancer pre-metastatic niche formation by mobilizing splenic MDSCs via TAM/CXCL1 signaling. J Exp Clin Cancer Res 2023; 42:129. [PMID: 37210553 DOI: 10.1186/s13046-023-02696-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2023] [Accepted: 05/01/2023] [Indexed: 05/22/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Emerging studies have identified chronic psychological stress as an independent risk factor influencing breast cancer growth and metastasis. However, the effects of chronic psychological stress on pre-metastatic niche (PMN) formation and the underlying immunological mechanisms remain largely unknown. METHODS The effects and molecular mechanisms of chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) on modulating tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) and PMN formation were clarified by multiplex immunofluorescence technique, cytokine array, chromatin immunoprecipitation, the dual-luciferase reporter assay, and breast cancer xenografts. Transwell and CD8+ T cytotoxicity detection were used to analyze the mobilization and function of myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs). mCherry-labeled tracing strategy and bone marrow transplantation were applied to explore the crucial role of splenic CXCR2+/+ MDSCs facilitating PMN formation under CUMS. RESULTS CUMS significantly promoted breast cancer growth and metastasis, accompanied by TAMs accumulation in the microenvironment. CXCL1 was identified as a crucial chemokine in TAMs facilitating PMN formation in a glucocorticoid receptor (GR)-dependent manner. Interestingly, the spleen index was significantly reduced under CUMS, and splenic MDSCs were validated as a key factor mediating CXCL1-induced PMN formation. The molecular mechanism study revealed that TAM-derived CXCL1 enhanced the proliferation, migration, and anti-CD8+ T cell functions of MDSCs via CXCR2. Moreover, CXCR2 knockout and CXCR2-/-MDSCs transplantation significantly impaired CUMS-mediated MDSC elevation, PMN formation, and breast cancer metastasis. CONCLUSION Our findings shed new light on the association between chronic psychological stress and splenic MDSC mobilization, and suggest that stress-related glucocorticoid elevation can enhance TAM/CXCL1 signaling and subsequently recruit splenic MDSCs to promote PMN formation via CXCR2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yifeng Zheng
- State Key Laboratory of Dampness Syndrome of Chinese Medicine, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, 510006, China
- Integrative Research Laboratory of Breast Cancer, Discipline of Integrated Chinese and Western Medicine, The Second Clinical College of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510006, China
- Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Joint Lab on Chinese Medicine and Immune Disease Research, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510006, China
| | - Neng Wang
- Integrative Research Laboratory of Breast Cancer, Discipline of Integrated Chinese and Western Medicine, The Second Clinical College of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510006, China
- Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Joint Lab on Chinese Medicine and Immune Disease Research, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510006, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Clinical Research on Traditional Chinese Medicine Syndrome, Guangdong Provincial Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Guangdong Provincial Hospital of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510006, China
- The Research Center for Integrative Medicine, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510006, China
| | - Shengqi Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Dampness Syndrome of Chinese Medicine, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, 510006, China
- Integrative Research Laboratory of Breast Cancer, Discipline of Integrated Chinese and Western Medicine, The Second Clinical College of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510006, China
- Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Joint Lab on Chinese Medicine and Immune Disease Research, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510006, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Clinical Research on Traditional Chinese Medicine Syndrome, Guangdong Provincial Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Guangdong Provincial Hospital of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510006, China
| | - Juping Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Dampness Syndrome of Chinese Medicine, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, 510006, China
- Integrative Research Laboratory of Breast Cancer, Discipline of Integrated Chinese and Western Medicine, The Second Clinical College of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510006, China
- Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Joint Lab on Chinese Medicine and Immune Disease Research, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510006, China
| | - Bowen Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Dampness Syndrome of Chinese Medicine, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, 510006, China
- Integrative Research Laboratory of Breast Cancer, Discipline of Integrated Chinese and Western Medicine, The Second Clinical College of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510006, China
| | - Zhiyu Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Dampness Syndrome of Chinese Medicine, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, 510006, China.
- Integrative Research Laboratory of Breast Cancer, Discipline of Integrated Chinese and Western Medicine, The Second Clinical College of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510006, China.
- Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Joint Lab on Chinese Medicine and Immune Disease Research, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510006, China.
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Clinical Research on Traditional Chinese Medicine Syndrome, Guangdong Provincial Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Guangdong Provincial Hospital of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510006, China.
- The Research Center for Integrative Medicine, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510006, China.
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Steroidogenic Factor 1, a Goldilocks Transcription Factor from Adrenocortical Organogenesis to Malignancy. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24043585. [PMID: 36835002 PMCID: PMC9959402 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24043585] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2023] [Revised: 02/02/2023] [Accepted: 02/09/2023] [Indexed: 02/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Steroidogenic factor-1 (SF-1, also termed Ad4BP; NR5A1 in the official nomenclature) is a nuclear receptor transcription factor that plays a crucial role in the regulation of adrenal and gonadal development, function and maintenance. In addition to its classical role in regulating the expression of P450 steroid hydroxylases and other steroidogenic genes, involvement in other key processes such as cell survival/proliferation and cytoskeleton dynamics have also been highlighted for SF-1. SF-1 has a restricted pattern of expression, being expressed along the hypothalamic-pituitary axis and in steroidogenic organs since the time of their establishment. Reduced SF-1 expression affects proper gonadal and adrenal organogenesis and function. On the other hand, SF-1 overexpression is found in adrenocortical carcinoma and represents a prognostic marker for patients' survival. This review is focused on the current knowledge about SF-1 and the crucial importance of its dosage for adrenal gland development and function, from its involvement in adrenal cortex formation to tumorigenesis. Overall, data converge towards SF-1 being a key player in the complex network of transcriptional regulation within the adrenal gland in a dosage-dependent manner.
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Identifying Immune-Specific Subtypes of Adrenocortical Carcinoma Based on Immunogenomic Profiling. Biomolecules 2023; 13:biom13010104. [PMID: 36671489 PMCID: PMC9855412 DOI: 10.3390/biom13010104] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2022] [Revised: 12/14/2022] [Accepted: 12/23/2022] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The tumor immune microenvironment (TIME) of adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC) is heterogeneous. However, a classification of ACC based on the TIME remains unexplored. METHODS We hierarchically clustered ACC based on the enrichment levels of twenty-three immune signatures to identify its immune-specific subtypes. Furthermore, we comprehensively compared the clinical and molecular profiles between the subtypes. RESULTS We identified two immune-specific subtypes of ACC: Immunity-H and Immunity-L, which had high and low immune signature scores, respectively. We demonstrated that this subtyping method was stable and reproducible by analyzing five different ACC cohorts. Compared with Immunity-H, Immunity-L had lower levels of immune cell infiltration, worse overall and disease-free survival prognosis, and higher tumor stemness, genomic instability, proliferation potential, and intratumor heterogeneity. Furthermore, the ACC driver gene CTNNB1 was more frequently mutated in Immunity-L than in Immunity-H. Several proteins, such as mTOR, ERCC1, Akt, ACC1, Cyclin_E1, β-catenin, FASN, and GAPDH, were more highly expressed in Immunity-L than in Immunity-H. In contrast, p53, Syk, Lck, PREX1, and MAPK were more highly expressed in Immunity-H. Pathway and gene ontology analysis showed that the immune, stromal, and apoptosis pathways were highly enriched in Immunity-H, while the cell cycle, steroid biosynthesis, and DNA damage repair pathways were highly enriched in Immunity-L. CONCLUSIONS ACC can be classified into two stable immune-related subtypes, which have significantly different antitumor responses, molecular characteristics, and clinical outcomes. This subtyping may provide clinical implications for prognostic and immunotherapeutic stratification of ACC.
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Cui Y, Han X, Liu H, Xie Q, Guan Y, Yin B, Xiao J, Feng D, Wang X, Li J, Chen J, Liu X, Li X, Nie W, Ma L, Liu H, Liang J, Li Y, Wang B, Wang J. Impact of endogenous glucocorticoid on response to immune checkpoint blockade in patients with advanced cancer. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1081790. [PMID: 37114049 PMCID: PMC10126286 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1081790] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2022] [Accepted: 03/28/2023] [Indexed: 04/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Previous studies indicate that exogenous use of glucocorticoid (GC) affects immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) efficacy. However, there is a paucity of clinical data evaluating the direct impact of endogenous GC on the efficacy for cancer patients with immune checkpoint blockade. Methods We first compared the endogenous circulating GC levels in healthy individuals and patients with cancer. We next retrospectively reviewed patients with advanced cancer with PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitor alone or combination therapy in a single center. The effects of baseline circulating GC levels on objective response rate (ORR), durable clinical benefit (DCB), progression-free survival (PFS), and overall survival (OS) were analyzed. The association of the endogenous GC levels with circulating lymphocytes, cytokines levels, and neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio, and tumor infiltrating immune cells, were systematically analyzed. Results The endogenous GC levels in advanced cancer patients were higher than those in early-stage cancer patients as well as healthy people. In the advanced cancer cohort with immune checkpoint blockade (n=130), patients with high baseline endogenous GC levels (n=80) had a significantly reduced ORR (10.0% vs 40.0%; p<0.0001) and DCB (35.0% vs 73.5%, p=0.001) compared to those with low endogenous GC levels (n=50). The increased GC levels was significantly associated with reduced PFS (HR 2.023; p=0.0008) and OS (HR 2.809; p=0.0005). Moreover, statistically significant differences regarding PFS, and OS were also detected after propensity score matching. In a multivariable model, the endogenous GC was identified as an independent indicator for predicting PFS (HR 1.779; p=0.012) and OS (HR 2.468; p=0.013). High endogenous GC levels were significantly associated with reduced lymphocytes (p=0.019), increased neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (p=0.0009), and increased interleukin-6 levels (p=0.025). Patients with high levels of endogenous GC had low numbers of tumor infiltrating CD3+ (p=0.001), CD8+ T (p=0.059), and CD4+ T (p=0.002) cells, and the numbers of circulating PD-1+ NK cells (p=0.012), and the ratio of CD8+PD-1+ to CD4+PD-1+ (p=0.031) were higher in patients with high levels of endogenous GC compared to low levels of endogenous GC. Conclusion Baseline endogenous GC increase executes a comprehensive negative effect on immunosurveillance and response to immunotherapy in real-world cancer patients accompanied with cancer progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Cui
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shandong First Medical University and Shandong Provincial Qianfoshan Hospital, Jinan, China
- Shandong Lung Cancer Institute, Jinan, China
- Shandong Key Laboratory of Rheumatic Disease and Translational Medicine, Jinan, China
| | - Xinyue Han
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shandong First Medical University and Shandong Provincial Qianfoshan Hospital, Jinan, China
- Shandong Lung Cancer Institute, Jinan, China
- Shandong Key Laboratory of Rheumatic Disease and Translational Medicine, Jinan, China
| | - Hongtao Liu
- Department of Pathology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shandong First Medical University and Shandong Provincial Qianfoshan Hospital, Jinan, China
| | - Qi Xie
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shandong First Medical University and Shandong Provincial Qianfoshan Hospital, Jinan, China
- Shandong Lung Cancer Institute, Jinan, China
- Shandong Key Laboratory of Rheumatic Disease and Translational Medicine, Jinan, China
| | - Yaping Guan
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shandong First Medical University and Shandong Provincial Qianfoshan Hospital, Jinan, China
- Shandong Lung Cancer Institute, Jinan, China
- Shandong Key Laboratory of Rheumatic Disease and Translational Medicine, Jinan, China
| | - Beibei Yin
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shandong First Medical University and Shandong Provincial Qianfoshan Hospital, Jinan, China
- Shandong Lung Cancer Institute, Jinan, China
- Shandong Key Laboratory of Rheumatic Disease and Translational Medicine, Jinan, China
| | - Junjuan Xiao
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shandong First Medical University and Shandong Provincial Qianfoshan Hospital, Jinan, China
- Shandong Lung Cancer Institute, Jinan, China
- Shandong Key Laboratory of Rheumatic Disease and Translational Medicine, Jinan, China
| | - Dongfeng Feng
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shandong First Medical University and Shandong Provincial Qianfoshan Hospital, Jinan, China
- Shandong Lung Cancer Institute, Jinan, China
- Shandong Key Laboratory of Rheumatic Disease and Translational Medicine, Jinan, China
| | - Xuan Wang
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shandong First Medical University and Shandong Provincial Qianfoshan Hospital, Jinan, China
- Shandong Lung Cancer Institute, Jinan, China
- Shandong Key Laboratory of Rheumatic Disease and Translational Medicine, Jinan, China
| | - Junwei Li
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shandong First Medical University and Shandong Provincial Qianfoshan Hospital, Jinan, China
- Shandong Lung Cancer Institute, Jinan, China
- Shandong Key Laboratory of Rheumatic Disease and Translational Medicine, Jinan, China
| | - Jinghua Chen
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shandong First Medical University and Shandong Provincial Qianfoshan Hospital, Jinan, China
- Shandong Lung Cancer Institute, Jinan, China
- Shandong Key Laboratory of Rheumatic Disease and Translational Medicine, Jinan, China
| | - Xiaolin Liu
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shandong First Medical University and Shandong Provincial Qianfoshan Hospital, Jinan, China
- Shandong Lung Cancer Institute, Jinan, China
- Shandong Key Laboratory of Rheumatic Disease and Translational Medicine, Jinan, China
| | - Xingyu Li
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shandong First Medical University and Shandong Provincial Qianfoshan Hospital, Jinan, China
- Shandong Lung Cancer Institute, Jinan, China
- Shandong Key Laboratory of Rheumatic Disease and Translational Medicine, Jinan, China
| | - Weiwei Nie
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shandong First Medical University and Shandong Provincial Qianfoshan Hospital, Jinan, China
- Shandong Lung Cancer Institute, Jinan, China
- Shandong Key Laboratory of Rheumatic Disease and Translational Medicine, Jinan, China
| | - Lin Ma
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shandong First Medical University and Shandong Provincial Qianfoshan Hospital, Jinan, China
- Shandong Lung Cancer Institute, Jinan, China
- Shandong Key Laboratory of Rheumatic Disease and Translational Medicine, Jinan, China
| | - Hairong Liu
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shandong First Medical University and Shandong Provincial Qianfoshan Hospital, Jinan, China
- Shandong Lung Cancer Institute, Jinan, China
- Shandong Key Laboratory of Rheumatic Disease and Translational Medicine, Jinan, China
| | - Jing Liang
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shandong First Medical University and Shandong Provincial Qianfoshan Hospital, Jinan, China
- Shandong Lung Cancer Institute, Jinan, China
- Shandong Key Laboratory of Rheumatic Disease and Translational Medicine, Jinan, China
| | - Yan Li
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shandong First Medical University and Shandong Provincial Qianfoshan Hospital, Jinan, China
- Shandong Lung Cancer Institute, Jinan, China
- Shandong Key Laboratory of Rheumatic Disease and Translational Medicine, Jinan, China
| | - Baocheng Wang
- Department of Oncology, The 960th Hospital, The PEOPLE’s Liberation Army, Jinan, China
| | - Jun Wang
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shandong First Medical University and Shandong Provincial Qianfoshan Hospital, Jinan, China
- Shandong Lung Cancer Institute, Jinan, China
- Shandong Key Laboratory of Rheumatic Disease and Translational Medicine, Jinan, China
- *Correspondence: Jun Wang,
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20
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Niu ZS, Wang WH, Niu XJ. Recent progress in molecular mechanisms of postoperative recurrence and metastasis of hepatocellular carcinoma. World J Gastroenterol 2022; 28:6433-6477. [PMID: 36569275 PMCID: PMC9782839 DOI: 10.3748/wjg.v28.i46.6433] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2022] [Revised: 10/31/2022] [Accepted: 11/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Hepatectomy is currently considered the most effective option for treating patients with early and intermediate hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Unfortunately, the postoperative prognosis of patients with HCC remains unsatisfactory, predominantly because of high postoperative metastasis and recurrence rates. Therefore, research on the molecular mechanisms of postoperative HCC metastasis and recurrence will help develop effective intervention measures to prevent or delay HCC metastasis and recurrence and to improve the long-term survival of HCC patients. Herein, we review the latest research progress on the molecular mechanisms underlying postoperative HCC metastasis and recurrence to lay a foundation for improving the understanding of HCC metastasis and recurrence and for developing more precise prevention and intervention strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhao-Shan Niu
- Laboratory of Micromorphology, School of Basic Medicine, Qingdao University, Qingdao 266071, Shandong Province, China
| | - Wen-Hong Wang
- Department of Pathology, School of Basic Medicine, Qingdao University, Qingdao 266071, Shandong Province, China
| | - Xiao-Jun Niu
- Department of Internal Medicine, Qingdao Shibei District People's Hospital, Qingdao 266033, Shandong Province, China
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21
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Lerario AM, Mohan DR, Hammer GD. Update on Biology and Genomics of Adrenocortical Carcinomas: Rationale for Emerging Therapies. Endocr Rev 2022; 43:1051-1073. [PMID: 35551369 PMCID: PMC9695111 DOI: 10.1210/endrev/bnac012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
The adrenal glands are paired endocrine organs that produce steroid hormones and catecholamines required for life. Adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC) is a rare and often fatal cancer of the peripheral domain of the gland, the adrenal cortex. Recent research in adrenal development, homeostasis, and disease have refined our understanding of the cellular and molecular programs controlling cortical growth and renewal, uncovering crucial clues into how physiologic programs are hijacked in early and late stages of malignant neoplasia. Alongside these studies, genome-wide approaches to examine adrenocortical tumors have transformed our understanding of ACC biology, and revealed that ACC is composed of distinct molecular subtypes associated with favorable, intermediate, and dismal clinical outcomes. The homogeneous transcriptional and epigenetic programs prevailing in each ACC subtype suggest likely susceptibility to any of a plethora of existing and novel targeted agents, with the caveat that therapeutic response may ultimately be limited by cancer cell plasticity. Despite enormous biomedical research advances in the last decade, the only potentially curative therapy for ACC to date is primary surgical resection, and up to 75% of patients will develop metastatic disease refractory to standard-of-care adjuvant mitotane and cytotoxic chemotherapy. A comprehensive, integrated, and current bench-to-bedside understanding of our field's investigations into adrenocortical physiology and neoplasia is crucial to developing novel clinical tools and approaches to equip the one-in-a-million patient fighting this devastating disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonio Marcondes Lerario
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Metabolism, Endocrinology, and Diabetes, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109-2200, USA
| | - Dipika R Mohan
- Medical Scientist Training Program, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109-2200, USA
| | - Gary D Hammer
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Metabolism, Endocrinology, and Diabetes, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109-2200, USA
- Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109-2200, USA
- Rogel Cancer Center, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109-2200, USA
- Department of Cell & Developmental Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109-2200, USA
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22
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Yu QX, Feng DC, Li DX, Zheng HH. Prognostic value of spindle and kinetochore-related complex family and its correlation with immune infiltration in adrenocortical carcinoma. Asian J Surg 2022; 46:1990-1992. [PMID: 36418213 DOI: 10.1016/j.asjsur.2022.10.098] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2022] [Accepted: 10/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Qing-Xin Yu
- Department of Pathology, Taizhou Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Linhai, Zhejiang Province, 317000, China
| | - De-Chao Feng
- Department of Urology, Institute of Urology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan Province, 610041, China
| | - Deng-Xiong Li
- Department of Urology, Institute of Urology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan Province, 610041, China.
| | - Hai-Hong Zheng
- Department of Pathology, Taizhou Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Linhai, Zhejiang Province, 317000, China.
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23
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Tufton N, Hearnden RJ, Berney DM, Drake WM, Parvanta L, Chapple JP, Akker SA. The immune cell infiltrate in the tumour microenvironment of phaeochromocytomas and paragangliomas. Endocr Relat Cancer 2022; 29:589-598. [PMID: 35975974 PMCID: PMC9513653 DOI: 10.1530/erc-22-0020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2022] [Accepted: 08/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Emerging evidence suggests the composition of the tumour microenvironment (TME) correlates with clinical outcome and that each tumour type has a unique TME including a variable population of inflammatory cells. We performed immunohistochemistry on 65 phaeochromocytoma and paraganglioma (PPGL) tumour samples with 20 normal adrenal medulla samples for comparison. The immune cells assessed were macrophages, lymphocytes and neutrophils, and we compared the proportion of infiltration of these immune cells with clinical and histopathological factors. There was a higher proportion of immune cells in tumour tissue compared to non-neoplastic adrenal medulla tissue, with a predominance of macrophages. There was a higher proportion of M2:M1 macrophages and T-helper lymphocytes in aggressive tumours compared to indolent ones. For SDHB-associated tumours, there was a higher proportion of M2 macrophage infiltration, with higher M2:M1 in aggressive SDHB PPGLs compared to indolent tumours. These data demonstrate that immune cells do infiltrate the TME of PPGLs, confirming that PPGLs are immunologically active tumours. Differences in the TME of PPGLs were observed between aggressive and indolent tumours. These differences could potentially be exploited as an aid in predicting tumour behaviour.
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Affiliation(s)
- N Tufton
- Centre for Endocrinology, Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, Charterhouse Square, London, UK
- Department of Endocrinology, St Bartholomew’s Hospital, Barts Health NHS Trust. West Smithfield, London, UK
| | - R J Hearnden
- Centre for Endocrinology, Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, Charterhouse Square, London, UK
| | - D M Berney
- Department of Pathology, Royal London Hospital, Whitechapel, London, UK
| | - W M Drake
- Centre for Endocrinology, Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, Charterhouse Square, London, UK
- Department of Endocrinology, St Bartholomew’s Hospital, Barts Health NHS Trust. West Smithfield, London, UK
| | - L Parvanta
- Department of Endocrine Surgery, St Bartholomew’s Hospital, Barts Health NHS Trust, West Smithfield, London, UK
| | - J P Chapple
- Centre for Endocrinology, Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, Charterhouse Square, London, UK
| | - S A Akker
- Centre for Endocrinology, Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, Charterhouse Square, London, UK
- Department of Endocrinology, St Bartholomew’s Hospital, Barts Health NHS Trust. West Smithfield, London, UK
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Muzzi JCD, Magno JM, Souza JS, Alvarenga LM, de Moura JF, Figueiredo BC, Castro MAA. Comprehensive Characterization of the Regulatory Landscape of Adrenocortical Carcinoma: Novel Transcription Factors and Targets Associated with Prognosis. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:5279. [PMID: 36358698 PMCID: PMC9657296 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14215279] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2022] [Revised: 10/24/2022] [Accepted: 10/25/2022] [Indexed: 08/31/2023] Open
Abstract
We reconstructed a transcriptional regulatory network for adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC) using transcriptomic and clinical data from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA)-ACC cohort. We investigated the association of transcriptional regulatory units (regulons) with overall survival, molecular phenotypes, and immune signatures. We annotated the ACC regulons with cancer hallmarks and assessed single sample regulon activities in the European Network for the Study of Adrenal Tumors (ENSAT) cohort. We found 369 regulons associated with overall survival and subdivided them into four clusters: RC1 and RC2, associated with good prognosis, and RC3 and RC4, associated with worse outcomes. The RC1 and RC3 regulons were highly correlated with the 'Steroid Phenotype,' while the RC2 and RC4 regulons were highly correlated with a molecular proliferation signature. We selected two regulons, NR5A1 (steroidogenic factor 1, SF-1) and CENPA (Centromeric Protein A), that were consistently associated with overall survival for further downstream analyses. The CENPA regulon was the primary regulator of MKI-67 (a marker of proliferation KI-67), while the NR5A1 regulon is a well-described transcription factor (TF) in ACC tumorigenesis. We also found that the ZBTB4 (Zinc finger and BTB domain-containing protein 4) regulon, which is negatively associated with CENPA in our transcriptional regulatory network, is also a druggable anti-tumorigenic TF. We anticipate that the ACC regulons may be used as a reference for further investigations concerning the complex molecular interactions in ACC tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- João C. D. Muzzi
- Laboratório de Imunoquímica (LIMQ), Pós-Graduação em Microbiologia, Parasitologia e Patologia, Departamento de Patologia Básica, Universidade Federal do Paraná (UFPR), Curitiba 81530-990, Brazil
- Laboratório de Bioinformática e Biologia de Sistemas, Pós-Graduação em Bioinformática, Universidade Federal do Paraná (UFPR), Curitiba 81520-260, Brazil
- Oncology Division, Instituto de Pesquisa Pelé Pequeno Príncipe, Curitiba 80250-060, Brazil
| | - Jéssica M. Magno
- Laboratório de Bioinformática e Biologia de Sistemas, Pós-Graduação em Bioinformática, Universidade Federal do Paraná (UFPR), Curitiba 81520-260, Brazil
- Oncology Division, Instituto de Pesquisa Pelé Pequeno Príncipe, Curitiba 80250-060, Brazil
| | - Jean S. Souza
- Oncology Division, Instituto de Pesquisa Pelé Pequeno Príncipe, Curitiba 80250-060, Brazil
| | - Larissa M. Alvarenga
- Laboratório de Imunoquímica (LIMQ), Pós-Graduação em Microbiologia, Parasitologia e Patologia, Departamento de Patologia Básica, Universidade Federal do Paraná (UFPR), Curitiba 81530-990, Brazil
| | - Juliana F. de Moura
- Laboratório de Imunoquímica (LIMQ), Pós-Graduação em Microbiologia, Parasitologia e Patologia, Departamento de Patologia Básica, Universidade Federal do Paraná (UFPR), Curitiba 81530-990, Brazil
| | - Bonald C. Figueiredo
- Oncology Division, Instituto de Pesquisa Pelé Pequeno Príncipe, Curitiba 80250-060, Brazil
- Molecular Oncology Laboratory, Centro de Genética Molecular e Pesquisa do Câncer em Crianças (CEGEMPAC), Curitiba 80030-110, Brazil
| | - Mauro A. A. Castro
- Laboratório de Bioinformática e Biologia de Sistemas, Pós-Graduação em Bioinformática, Universidade Federal do Paraná (UFPR), Curitiba 81520-260, Brazil
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25
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Bridging the Scientific Gaps to Identify Effective Treatments in Adrenocortical Cancer. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14215245. [DOI: 10.3390/cancers14215245] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2022] [Revised: 10/20/2022] [Accepted: 10/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Adrenocortical cancer (ACC) typically presents in advanced stages of disease and has a dismal prognosis. One of the foremost reasons for this is the lack of available systemic therapies, with mitotane remaining the backbone of treatment since its discovery in the 1960s, despite underwhelming efficacy. Surgery remains the only potentially curative option, but about half of patients will recur post-operatively, often with metastatic disease. Other local treatment options have been attempted but are only used practically on a case-by-case basis. Over the past few decades there have been significant advances in understanding the molecular background of ACC, but this has not yet translated to better treatment options. Attempts at novel treatment strategies have not provided significant clinical benefit. This paper reviews our current treatment options and molecular understanding of ACC and the reasons why a successful treatment has remained elusive. Additionally, we discuss the knowledge gaps that need to be overcome to bring us closer to successful treatment and ways to bridge them.
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26
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Wilmouth JJ, Olabe J, Garcia-Garcia D, Lucas C, Guiton R, Roucher-Boulez F, Dufour D, Damon-Soubeyrand C, Sahut-Barnola I, Pointud JC, Renaud Y, Levasseur A, Tauveron I, Lefrançois-Martinez AM, Martinez A, Val P. Sexually dimorphic activation of innate antitumor immunity prevents adrenocortical carcinoma development. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2022; 8:eadd0422. [PMID: 36240276 PMCID: PMC9565812 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.add0422] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2022] [Accepted: 08/25/2022] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
Unlike most cancers, adrenocortical carcinomas (ACCs) are more frequent in women than in men, but the underlying mechanisms of this sexual dimorphism remain elusive. Here, we show that inactivation of Znrf3 in the mouse adrenal cortex, recapitulating the most frequent alteration in ACC patients, is associated with sexually dimorphic tumor progression. Although female knockouts develop metastatic carcinomas at 18 months, adrenal hyperplasia regresses in male knockouts. This male-specific phenotype is associated with androgen-dependent induction of senescence, recruitment, and differentiation of highly phagocytic macrophages that clear out senescent cells. In contrast, in females, macrophage recruitment is delayed and dampened, which allows for aggressive tumor progression. Consistently, analysis of TCGA-ACC data shows that phagocytic macrophages are more prominent in men and are associated with better prognosis. Together, these data show that phagocytic macrophages are key players in the sexual dimorphism of ACC that could be previously unidentified allies in the fight against this devastating cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- James J. Wilmouth
- Institut GReD (Genetics, Reproduction and Development), CNRS UMR 6293, Inserm U1103, Université Clermont Auvergne, 28 Place Henri Dunant, 63000 Clermont-Ferrand, France
| | - Julie Olabe
- Institut GReD (Genetics, Reproduction and Development), CNRS UMR 6293, Inserm U1103, Université Clermont Auvergne, 28 Place Henri Dunant, 63000 Clermont-Ferrand, France
| | - Diana Garcia-Garcia
- Institut GReD (Genetics, Reproduction and Development), CNRS UMR 6293, Inserm U1103, Université Clermont Auvergne, 28 Place Henri Dunant, 63000 Clermont-Ferrand, France
| | - Cécily Lucas
- Institut GReD (Genetics, Reproduction and Development), CNRS UMR 6293, Inserm U1103, Université Clermont Auvergne, 28 Place Henri Dunant, 63000 Clermont-Ferrand, France
| | - Rachel Guiton
- Institut GReD (Genetics, Reproduction and Development), CNRS UMR 6293, Inserm U1103, Université Clermont Auvergne, 28 Place Henri Dunant, 63000 Clermont-Ferrand, France
| | - Florence Roucher-Boulez
- Institut GReD (Genetics, Reproduction and Development), CNRS UMR 6293, Inserm U1103, Université Clermont Auvergne, 28 Place Henri Dunant, 63000 Clermont-Ferrand, France
- Laboratoire de Biochimie et Biologie Moléculaire, UM Pathologies Endocriniennes, Groupement Hospitalier Est, Hospices Civils de Lyon, Bron, France
- Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, Lyon, France
| | - Damien Dufour
- Institut GReD (Genetics, Reproduction and Development), CNRS UMR 6293, Inserm U1103, Université Clermont Auvergne, 28 Place Henri Dunant, 63000 Clermont-Ferrand, France
| | - Christelle Damon-Soubeyrand
- Institut GReD (Genetics, Reproduction and Development), CNRS UMR 6293, Inserm U1103, Université Clermont Auvergne, 28 Place Henri Dunant, 63000 Clermont-Ferrand, France
| | - Isabelle Sahut-Barnola
- Institut GReD (Genetics, Reproduction and Development), CNRS UMR 6293, Inserm U1103, Université Clermont Auvergne, 28 Place Henri Dunant, 63000 Clermont-Ferrand, France
| | - Jean-Christophe Pointud
- Institut GReD (Genetics, Reproduction and Development), CNRS UMR 6293, Inserm U1103, Université Clermont Auvergne, 28 Place Henri Dunant, 63000 Clermont-Ferrand, France
| | - Yoan Renaud
- Institut GReD (Genetics, Reproduction and Development), CNRS UMR 6293, Inserm U1103, Université Clermont Auvergne, 28 Place Henri Dunant, 63000 Clermont-Ferrand, France
| | - Adrien Levasseur
- Institut GReD (Genetics, Reproduction and Development), CNRS UMR 6293, Inserm U1103, Université Clermont Auvergne, 28 Place Henri Dunant, 63000 Clermont-Ferrand, France
| | - Igor Tauveron
- Institut GReD (Genetics, Reproduction and Development), CNRS UMR 6293, Inserm U1103, Université Clermont Auvergne, 28 Place Henri Dunant, 63000 Clermont-Ferrand, France
- Endocrinologie Diabétologie CHU Clermont Ferrand, 58 rue Montalembert, F63000 Clermont-Ferrand, France
| | - Anne-Marie Lefrançois-Martinez
- Institut GReD (Genetics, Reproduction and Development), CNRS UMR 6293, Inserm U1103, Université Clermont Auvergne, 28 Place Henri Dunant, 63000 Clermont-Ferrand, France
| | - Antoine Martinez
- Institut GReD (Genetics, Reproduction and Development), CNRS UMR 6293, Inserm U1103, Université Clermont Auvergne, 28 Place Henri Dunant, 63000 Clermont-Ferrand, France
| | - Pierre Val
- Institut GReD (Genetics, Reproduction and Development), CNRS UMR 6293, Inserm U1103, Université Clermont Auvergne, 28 Place Henri Dunant, 63000 Clermont-Ferrand, France
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Terzolo M, Fassnacht M. ENDOCRINE TUMOURS: Our experience with the management of patients with non-metastatic adrenocortical carcinoma. Eur J Endocrinol 2022; 187:R27-R40. [PMID: 35695575 DOI: 10.1530/eje-22-0260] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2022] [Accepted: 06/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC) accounts for a minority of all malignant tumors in adults. Surgery remains the most important therapeutic option for non-metastatic ACC. Whether a subset of patients with small ACC may benefit from minimally invasive surgery remains a debated issue, but we believe that surgeon's expertise is more important than surgical technique to determine outcome. However, even a state-of-the-art surgery cannot prevent disease recurrence that is determined mainly by specific tumor characteristics. We consider that the concomitant presence of the following features characterizes a cohort of patients at low risk of recurrence, (i) R0 resection (microscopically free margin), (ii) localized disease (stage I-II ACC), and (iii) low-grade tumor (ki-67 <10%). After the ADIUVO study, we do not recommend adjuvant mitotane as a routine measure for such patients, who can be managed with active surveillance thus sparing a toxic treatment. Patients at average risk of recurrence should be treated with adjuvant mitotane. For patients at very high risk of recurrence, defined as the presence of at least one of the following: Ki67 >30%, large venous tumor thrombus, R1 resection or stage IV ACC, we increasingly recommend to combine mitotane with four cycles of platinum-based chemotherapy. However, patients at moderate-to-high risk of recurrence should be ideally enrolled in the ongoing ADIUVO2 trial. We do not use adjuvant radiotherapy of the tumor bed frequently at our institutions, and we select patients with incomplete resection, either microscopically or macroscopically, for this treatment. In the long-term, prospective multicenter trials are required to improve patient care.
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Affiliation(s)
- Massimo Terzolo
- Internal Medicine, Department of Clinical and Biological Sciences, S. Luigi Hospital, Orbassano, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | - Martin Fassnacht
- Division of Endocrinology and Diabetes, Department of Internal Medicine, University Hospital, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
- Comprehensive Cancer Center Mainfranken, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
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28
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Nazha B, Zhuang TZ, Dada HI, Drusbosky LM, Brown JT, Ravindranathan D, Carthon BC, Kucuk O, Goldman J, Master VA, Bilen MA. Blood-Based Next-Generation Sequencing in Adrenocortical Carcinoma. Oncologist 2022; 27:462-468. [PMID: 35462410 PMCID: PMC9177103 DOI: 10.1093/oncolo/oyac061] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2021] [Accepted: 02/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC) is a rare and heterogeneous malignancy with poor prognosis. We aimed to evaluate the feasibility of next-generation sequencing (NGS) testing of circulating cell-free tumor DNA (ctDNA) in patients with ACC, to characterize the genomic landscape of alterations, and to identify potential clinically actionable mutations. METHODS Retrospective analysis of genomic data from 120 patients with ACC who had ctDNA testing between 12/2016 and 10/2021 using Guardant360 (Guardant Health, CA) was performed. ctDNA NGS analysis interrogated single nucleotide variants, fusions, indels, and copy number amplifications of up to 83 genes. The frequency of genomic alterations, landscape of co-occurring mutations, and pathogenic/likely pathogenic alterations with potential targeted therapies was identified. The prevalence of alterations identified in ctDNA was compared to those detected in tissue using a publicly available database (cBioPortal). RESULTS The median age of this cohort was 53 years (range 21-81), and 56% of patients were female. Ninety-six patients (80%) had ≥1 somatic alteration detected. TP53 (52%), EGFR (23%), CTNNB1 (18%), MET (18%), and ATM (14%) were found to be the most frequently altered genes in ACC samples. Pathogenic and/or likely pathogenic mutations in therapeutically relevant genes were observed in 56 patients (47%) and included EGFR, BRAF, MET, CDKN2A, CDK4/6, and ATM. The most frequent co-occurring mutations were EGFR + MET (9%), MET + CDK4 (7%), EGFR + CDK4 (7%), and BRAF + MET (7%). The frequencies of mutations detected in ctDNA were similar to those detected in tissue. CONCLUSIONS Utilizing blood-based NGS to characterize genomic alterations in advanced ACC is feasible in over 80% of patients. Almost half of the patients had actionable mutations with approved therapies in other cancers. This approach might inform the development of personalized treatment options or identify clinical trials available for this aggressive malignancy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bassel Nazha
- Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
- Department of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Tony Z Zhuang
- Department of Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | | | | | - Jacqueline T Brown
- Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
- Department of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Deepak Ravindranathan
- Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
- Department of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Bradley C Carthon
- Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
- Department of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Omer Kucuk
- Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
- Department of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Jamie Goldman
- Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
- Department of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Viraj A Master
- Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
- Department of Urology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Mehmet Asim Bilen
- Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
- Department of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
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Xu F, Guan Y, Zhang P, Xue L, Ma Y, Gao M, Chong T, Ren BC. Tumor mutational burden presents limiting effects on predicting the efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitors and prognostic assessment in adrenocortical carcinoma. BMC Endocr Disord 2022; 22:130. [PMID: 35568842 PMCID: PMC9107278 DOI: 10.1186/s12902-022-01017-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2021] [Accepted: 04/08/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC) is a highly malignant urologic cancer and tends to metastasize. Although immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) bring a glimmer of light to conquer ACC, only a fraction of patients have benefit from ICIs treatment. It is well known that tumor mutational burden (TMB) is closely associated with the efficacy and response rate of immunotherapy. However, its roles in ACC were not investigated. METHODS Using somatic mutations data of 92 ACC samples in TCGA database, we calculated their TMB values by the 'maftools' package in R software (Ver 3.6.3). To explore the roles of TMB in ICIs therapy, we have addressed this issue from three perspectives. First, the effects of TMB levels on tumor immune microenvironment (TIM) were analyzed through CIBERSORT algorithm, ssGSEA method and TIMER web server. Second, we investigated the expressive correlations between TMB level and five pivotal immune checkpoints based on Pearson coefficient. Third, the difference in TIDE score between high- and low-TMB groups was compared. The prognostic value of TMB was also evaluated. Besides, GSEA was performed to determine the changes in the activities of signaling pathways caused by TMB. RESULTS TMB values in ACC samples were not high. The average of total mutation counts in each sample was only 21.5. High TMB could lead metabolic reprogramming and poor survival outcomes. However, it was unable to affect the infiltration levels of lymphocytes, and failed to facilitate the activities of immune-related pathways. Regarding immune checkpoints (ICs), only PD-L1 upregulation could result in a good prognosis, and TMB level did not correlate with the expressions of other ICs except for LAG3. There was no significant difference in TIDE score between high- and low-TMB groups. Combining the present results and previous study, we speculated that inadequate stimulation for neoantigens formation, intrinsic immune-resistance and special genomic alterations were three possible reasons for TMB limiting functions in TIM and ICIs. Besides, TMB was toughly applied in clinical practice due to its high cost of determination and non-universal definition of high TMB. CONCLUSIONS TMB presents limiting effects on prediction for ICIs efficacy and prognostic assessment for ACC patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fangshi Xu
- Department of Medicine, Xi'an Jiaotong University, No. 76, Yanta West Road, Xi'an, 710061, Shaanxi, China
- Department of Urology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, No. 157, West Five Road, Xi'an, 710000, Shaanxi Province, China
| | - Yibing Guan
- Department of Medicine, Xi'an Jiaotong University, No. 76, Yanta West Road, Xi'an, 710061, Shaanxi, China
- Department of Urology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, No. 157, West Five Road, Xi'an, 710000, Shaanxi Province, China
| | - Peng Zhang
- Department of Urology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, No. 157, West Five Road, Xi'an, 710000, Shaanxi Province, China
| | - Li Xue
- Department of Urology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, No. 157, West Five Road, Xi'an, 710000, Shaanxi Province, China
| | - Yubo Ma
- Department of Medicine, Xi'an Jiaotong University, No. 76, Yanta West Road, Xi'an, 710061, Shaanxi, China
- Department of Urology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, No. 157, West Five Road, Xi'an, 710000, Shaanxi Province, China
| | - Mei Gao
- Department of Urology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, No. 157, West Five Road, Xi'an, 710000, Shaanxi Province, China
| | - Tie Chong
- Department of Urology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, No. 157, West Five Road, Xi'an, 710000, Shaanxi Province, China
| | - Bin-Cheng Ren
- Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, No. 157, West Five Road, Xi'an, 710000, Shaanxi Province, China.
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Ozono K, Fukuyama C, Nakanishi Y, Sakanashi K, Himeji D, Marutsuka K, Beppu K. Primary lung cancer presenting a temporary reduction by corticosteroid treatment for IgG4-related disease. CURRENT PROBLEMS IN CANCER: CASE REPORTS 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cpccr.2022.100139] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
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Wu K, Liu Z, Liang J, Zhang F, Zhang F, Wang Y, Lia T, Liu S, Zhu Y, Li X. Expression of glucocorticoid receptor (GR) and clinical significance in adrenocortical carcinoma. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2022; 13:903824. [PMID: 35992138 PMCID: PMC9389328 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2022.903824] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2022] [Accepted: 06/27/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC) is a rare endocrine tumor, and most cases present with hormone excess with poor prognosis. Our research aims to determine the clinical and biological significance of glucocorticoid receptor (GR) expression using large cohorts of ACC patients. Immunohistochemistry was used to assess the expression of GR in 78 ACC cases from the West China Hospital (WCH) cohort. RNA-seq data were retrieved from The Cancer Genome Atlas database (TCGA, n=79). Clinicopathological and follow-up data were obtained from two cohorts. The correlation between the GR gene and tumor immune status was estimated using TIMER and GEPIA2. Kaplan-Meier analysis was performed to identify the prognostic value of GR in ACC. In the WCH cohort, positive nuclear GR staining was identified in 90% of the primary ACC cases. Cortisol-secreting ACCs demonstrated significantly lower GR protein expression than did nonfunctioning tumors (P<0.001). This finding was validated by the mRNA data analysis of the TCGA cohort (P = 0.030). GR expression was found to be positively correlated with the immune cell infiltration level and immune-checkpoint-related gene expression in ACC. Survival comparison and multivariate analysis showed that GR expression is an independent prognostic predictor of disease-free survival and overall survival in ACC patients in both cohorts. Our findings suggest that low GR expression is significantly correlated with excess cortisol, immune signatures and poor survival in ACC patients. We propose that GR signaling may play an important role in ACC behavior and thus may be a therapeutic target, which deserves further research.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Yuchun Zhu
- *Correspondence: Xiang Li, ; Yuchun Zhu,
| | - Xiang Li
- *Correspondence: Xiang Li, ; Yuchun Zhu,
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32
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Al-Ward R, Zsembery C, Habra MA. Adjuvant therapy in adrenocortical carcinoma: prognostic factors and treatment options. ENDOCRINE ONCOLOGY (BRISTOL, ENGLAND) 2022; 2:R90-R101. [PMID: 37435451 PMCID: PMC10259337 DOI: 10.1530/eo-22-0050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2022] [Accepted: 07/26/2022] [Indexed: 07/13/2023]
Abstract
Adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC) is a rare cancer with high recurrence rates and heterogeneous clinical behavior. The role of adjuvant therapy remains unclear because of the challenges in collecting high-quality data for a rare cancer. The current treatment recommendations and guidelines for adjuvant therapy are mostly derived retrospectively from national databases and the treatment outcomes of patients seen in referral centers. To better select patients for adjuvant therapy, multiple factors need to be considered including staging, markers of cellular proliferation (such as Ki67%), resection margins, hormonal function, and possibly genetic alterations of the tumor as well as patient-related factors such as age and performance status. Adjuvant mitotane remains the most commonly used adjuvant therapy in ACC based on clinical practice guidelines, though emerging data from ADIUVO trial (mitotane vs observation in low-risk ACC) suggest that mitotane use in low-risk patients may not be needed. An ongoing clinical trial (ADIUVO-2) is evaluating the role of mitotane vs mitotane combined with chemotherapy in high-risk ACC. The use of adjuvant therapy has been controversial but can be justified in select patients with positive resection margins or after the resection of localized recurrence. A prospective study is needed to study the role of adjuvant radiation in ACC as radiation is expected to help only with local control without impact on distant microscopic metastases. There are no recommendations or published data about using adjuvant immunotherapy in ACC, but this may be a future study after establishing the efficacy and safety profile of immunotherapy in metastatic ACC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruaa Al-Ward
- Department of Endocrine Neoplasia and Hormonal Disorders, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, USA
- Department of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Celeste Zsembery
- Departments of Medicine and Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Mouhammed Amir Habra
- Department of Endocrine Neoplasia and Hormonal Disorders, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, USA
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Cellular Senescence in Adrenocortical Biology and Its Disorders. Cells 2021; 10:cells10123474. [PMID: 34943980 PMCID: PMC8699888 DOI: 10.3390/cells10123474] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2021] [Revised: 11/26/2021] [Accepted: 12/06/2021] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Cellular senescence is considered a physiological process along with aging and has recently been reported to be involved in the pathogenesis of many age-related disorders. Cellular senescence was first found in human fibroblasts and gradually explored in many other organs, including endocrine organs. The adrenal cortex is essential for the maintenance of blood volume, carbohydrate metabolism, reaction to stress and the development of sexual characteristics. Recently, the adrenal cortex was reported to harbor some obvious age-dependent features. For instance, the circulating levels of aldosterone and adrenal androgen gradually descend, whereas those of cortisol increase with aging. The detailed mechanisms have remained unknown, but cellular senescence was considered to play an essential role in age-related changes of the adrenal cortex. Recent studies have demonstrated that the senescent phenotype of zona glomerulosa (ZG) acts in association with reduced aldosterone production in both physiological and pathological aldosterone-producing cells, whereas senescent cortical-producing cells seemed not to have a suppressed cortisol-producing ability. In addition, accumulated lipofuscin formation, telomere shortening and cellular atrophy in zona reticularis cells during aging may account for the age-dependent decline in adrenal androgen levels. In adrenocortical disorders, including both aldosterone-producing adenoma (APA) and cortisol-producing adenoma (CPA), different cellular subtypes of tumor cells presented divergent senescent phenotypes, whereby compact cells in both APA and CPA harbored more senescent phenotypes than clear cells. Autonomous cortisol production from CPA reinforced a local cellular senescence that was more severe than that in APA. Adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC) was also reported to harbor oncogene-induced senescence, which compensatorily follows carcinogenesis and tumor progress. Adrenocortical steroids can induce not only a local senescence but also a periphery senescence in many other tissues. Therefore, herein, we systemically review the recent advances related to cellular senescence in adrenocortical biology and its associated disorders.
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Altieri B, Lalli E, Faggiano A. Mitotane treatment in adrenocortical carcinoma: mechanisms of action and predictive markers of response to therapy. Minerva Endocrinol (Torino) 2021; 47:203-214. [PMID: 34881855 DOI: 10.23736/s2724-6507.21.03601-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC) is a rare malignancy with a high risk of recurrence even in cases with complete surgical tumor resection. Mitotane represents the cornerstone of the adjuvant therapy as well as the first line of medical treatment in advanced cases. However, evidence on mitotane efficacy is mostly based on retrospective studies and the use of mitotane continues to represent a clinical challenge. EVIDENCE ACQUISITION Mitotane causes selective damage to adrenocortical cells, causing an increase of cell apoptosis through a disruption of mitochondria and the induction of the endoplasmic reticulum stress. Different clinical and molecular markers predicting response to mitotane have been proposed with uncertain results. Attainment of mitotane plasma levels within the target range of 14 to 20 mg/L represent the strongest predictor of mitotane effectiveness both in adjuvant and advanced tumor setting. The occurrence of late recurrence after primary ACC diagnosis and changes in metabolic activity on FDG-PET are only weakly associated with mitotane response. Among the proposed molecular markers associated with mitotane efficacy, the investigation of the CYP2W1*6 and CYP2B6*6 single nucleotide polymorphisms appears to be currently the most promising predictive molecular markers of mitotane therapy. However, none of the evaluated markers has been validated for clinical use. CONCLUSIONS In the era of precision medicine, a better insight into mitotane molecular mechanisms as well as the potential use in the daily clinical practice of clinical parameters and molecular markers predicting the individual response to mitotane are urgently needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Barbara Altieri
- Division of Endocrinology and Diabetes, Department of Internal Medicine I, University Hospital, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany -
| | - Enzo Lalli
- Institut de Pharmacologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire CNRS UMR 7275, Valbonne, France.,Université Côte d'Azur, Valbonne, France.,INSERM, Valbonne, France
| | - Antongiulio Faggiano
- Endocrinology Unit, Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine, Sant'Andrea Hospital, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
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Stimulated Expression of CXCL12 in Adrenocortical Carcinoma by the PPARgamma Ligand Rosiglitazone Impairs Cancer Progression. J Pers Med 2021; 11:jpm11111097. [PMID: 34834449 PMCID: PMC8622353 DOI: 10.3390/jpm11111097] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2021] [Revised: 10/21/2021] [Accepted: 10/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC) is a rare malignancy with poor prognosis when metastatic and scarce treatment options in the advanced stages. In solid tumors, the chemokine CXCL12/CXCR4 axis is involved in the metastatic process. We demonstrated that the human adrenocortex expressed CXCL12 and its cognate receptors CXCR4 and CXCR7, not only in physiological conditions, but also in ACC, where the receptors’ expression was higher and the CXCL12 expression was lower than in the physiological conditions. In a small pilot cohort of 22 ACC patients, CXCL12 negatively correlated with tumor size, stage, Weiss score, necrosis, and mitotic activity. In a Kaplan–Meier analysis, the CXCL12 tumor expression significantly predicted disease-free, progression-free, and overall survival. In vitro treatment of the primary ACC H295R and of the metastatic MUC-1 cell line with the PPARγ-ligand rosiglitazone (RGZ) dose-dependently reduced proliferation, resulting in a significant increase in CXCL12 and a decrease in its receptors in the H295R cells only, with no effect on the MUC-1 levels. In ACC mouse xenografts, tumor growth was inhibited by the RGZ treatment before tumor development (prevention-setting) and once the tumor had grown (therapeutic-setting), similarly to mitotane (MTT). This inhibition was associated with a significant suppression of the tumor CXCR4/CXCR7 and the stimulation of human CXCL12 expression. Tumor growth correlated inversely with CXCL12 and positively with CXCR4 expression, suggesting that local CXCL12 may impair the primary tumor cell response to the ligand gradient that may contribute to driving the tumor progression. These findings indicate that CXCL12/CXCR4 may constitute a potential target for anti-cancer agents such as rosiglitazone in the treatment of ACC.
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36
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Baechle JJ, Hanna DN, Sekhar KR, Rathmell JC, Rathmell WK, Baregamian N. Integrative computational immunogenomic profiling of cortisol-secreting adrenocortical carcinoma. J Cell Mol Med 2021; 25:10061-10072. [PMID: 34664400 PMCID: PMC8572764 DOI: 10.1111/jcmm.16936] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2021] [Revised: 07/19/2021] [Accepted: 08/13/2021] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC) is a rare but highly aggressive malignancy. Nearly half of ACC tumours overproduce and secrete adrenal steroids. Excess cortisol secretion, in particular, has been associated with poor prognosis among ACC patients. Furthermore, recent immunotherapy clinical trials have demonstrated significant immunoresistance among cortisol‐secreting ACC (CS‐ACC) patients when compared to their non‐cortisol‐secreting (nonCS‐ACC) counterparts. The immunosuppressive role of excess glucocorticoid therapies and hypersecretion is known; however, the impact of the cortisol hypersecretion on ACC tumour microenvironment (TME), immune expression profiles and immune cell responses remain largely undefined. In this study, we characterized the TME of ACC patients and compared the immunogenomic profiles of nonCS‐ACC and CS‐ACC tumours to assess the impact of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) by utilizing The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database. Immunogenomic comparison (CS‐ vs. nonCS‐ACC tumour TMEs) demonstrated an immunosuppressive expression profile with a direct impact on patient survival. We identified several primary prognostic indicators and potential targets within ACC tumour immune landscape. Differentially expressed immune genes with prognostic significance provide additional insight into the understanding of potential contributory mechanisms underlying failure of initial immunotherapeutic trials and poor prognosis of patients with CS‐ACC.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - David N Hanna
- Division of Surgical Oncology & Endocrine Surgery, Department of Surgery, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Konjeti R Sekhar
- Division of Surgical Oncology & Endocrine Surgery, Department of Surgery, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Jeffrey C Rathmell
- Department of Pathology, Microbiology, and Immunology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - W Kimryn Rathmell
- Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Naira Baregamian
- Division of Surgical Oncology & Endocrine Surgery, Department of Surgery, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
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Veronez LC, das Chagas PF, Corrêa CAP, Baroni M, da Silva KR, Nagano LF, Borges KS, Queiroz RGP, Tone LG, Scrideli CA. MSI2 expression in adrenocortical carcinoma: Association with unfavorable prognosis and correlation with steroid and immune-related pathways. J Cell Biochem 2021; 122:1925-1935. [PMID: 34581457 DOI: 10.1002/jcb.30153] [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: 07/01/2021] [Revised: 08/23/2021] [Accepted: 09/09/2021] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC) is a rare, but highly aggressive cancer of the adrenal cortex with a generally poor prognosis. Despite being rare, completely resected ACCs present a high risk of recurrence. Musashi-2 (MSI2) has recently been recognized as a potential prognostic biomarker and therapeutic target in many cancers. However, no studies have evaluated the clinical significance of MSI2 expression in ACC. Here, we addressed MSI2 expression and its association with ACC prognosis and clinicopathological parameters. MSI2 expression was analyzed in TCGA, GSE12368, GSE33371, and GSE49278 ACC datasets; and its correlation with other genes and immune cell infiltration were investigated by using the R2: Genomics Analysis and Visualization Platform and TIMER databases, respectively. Enrichment analysis was performed with the DAVID Functional Annotation Tool. Kaplan-Meier curves, log-rank tests, and Cox regression analyses were used to explore the prognostic role of MSI2 in ACC. Our findings demonstrated the potential value of MSI2 overexpression as an independent predictor of poor prognosis in patients with completely resected ACC (hazard ratio 6.715, 95% confidence interval 1.266 - 35.620, p =.025). In addition, MSI2 overexpression was associated with characteristics of unfavorable prognosis, such as cortisol excess (p = .002), recurrence (p =.003), and death (p =.015); positively correlated with genes related to steroid biosynthesis (p < .05); and negatively correlated with immune-related pathways (p < .05). Our findings demonstrate that MSI2 has value as a prognostic marker for completely resected ACC and reinforce the investigation of its role as a possible therapeutic target for patients with ACC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luciana C Veronez
- Department of Pediatrics, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Pablo F das Chagas
- Department of Genetics, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Carolina A P Corrêa
- Department of Genetics, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Mirella Baroni
- Department of Genetics, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Keteryne R da Silva
- Department of Genetics, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Luis F Nagano
- Department of Genetics, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Kleiton S Borges
- Division of Endocrinology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Rosane G P Queiroz
- Department of Pediatrics, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Luiz G Tone
- Department of Pediatrics, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Carlos A Scrideli
- Department of Pediatrics, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil
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Lopez AG, Duparc C, Wils J, Naccache A, Castanet M, Lefebvre H, Louiset E. Steroidogenic cell microenvironment and adrenal function in physiological and pathophysiological conditions. Mol Cell Endocrinol 2021; 535:111377. [PMID: 34216641 DOI: 10.1016/j.mce.2021.111377] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2021] [Revised: 06/25/2021] [Accepted: 06/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
The human adrenal cortex is a complex organ which is composed of various cell types including not only steroidogenic cells but also mesenchymal cells, immunocompetent cells and neurons. Intermingling of these diverse cell populations favors cell-to-cell communication processes involving local release of numerous bioactive signals such as biogenic amines, cytokines and neuropeptides. The resulting paracrine interactions play an important role in the regulation of adrenocortical cell functions both in physiological and pathophysiological conditions. Especially, recent evidence indicates that adrenocortical cell microenvironment is involved in the pathogenesis of adrenal disorders associated with corticosteroid excess. The paracrine factors involved in these intraadrenal regulatory mechanisms may thus represent valuable targets for future pharmacological treatments of adrenal diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antoine-Guy Lopez
- Normandie Univ, UNIROUEN, INSERM, U1239, Laboratory of Neuronal and Neuroendocrine Differentiation and Communication, Rouen, France; Rouen University Hospital, Department of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolic Diseases, Rouen, France
| | - Céline Duparc
- Normandie Univ, UNIROUEN, INSERM, U1239, Laboratory of Neuronal and Neuroendocrine Differentiation and Communication, Rouen, France
| | - Julien Wils
- Normandie Univ, UNIROUEN, INSERM, U1239, Laboratory of Neuronal and Neuroendocrine Differentiation and Communication, Rouen, France; Rouen University Hospital, Department of Pharmacology, Rouen, France
| | - Alexandre Naccache
- Normandie Univ, UNIROUEN, INSERM, U1239, Laboratory of Neuronal and Neuroendocrine Differentiation and Communication, Rouen, France; Rouen University Hospital, Department of Pediatrics, Rouen, France
| | - Mireille Castanet
- Normandie Univ, UNIROUEN, INSERM, U1239, Laboratory of Neuronal and Neuroendocrine Differentiation and Communication, Rouen, France; Rouen University Hospital, Department of Pediatrics, Rouen, France
| | - Hervé Lefebvre
- Normandie Univ, UNIROUEN, INSERM, U1239, Laboratory of Neuronal and Neuroendocrine Differentiation and Communication, Rouen, France; Rouen University Hospital, Department of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolic Diseases, Rouen, France.
| | - Estelle Louiset
- Normandie Univ, UNIROUEN, INSERM, U1239, Laboratory of Neuronal and Neuroendocrine Differentiation and Communication, Rouen, France
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Chifu I, Detomas M, Dischinger U, Kimpel O, Megerle F, Hahner S, Fassnacht M, Altieri B. Management of Patients With Glucocorticoid-Related Diseases and COVID-19. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2021; 12:705214. [PMID: 34594302 PMCID: PMC8476969 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2021.705214] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2021] [Accepted: 08/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
The ongoing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection is a global health crisis affecting millions of people worldwide. SARS-CoV-2 enters the host cells by binding to angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) after being cleaved by the transmembrane protease serine 2 (TMPRSS2). In addition to the lung, gastrointestinal tract and kidney, ACE2 is also extensively expressed in endocrine tissues, including the pituitary and adrenal glands. Although glucocorticoids could play a central role as immunosuppressants during the cytokine storm, they can have both stimulating and inhibitory effects on immune response, depending on the timing of their administration and their circulating levels. Patients with adrenal insufficiency (AI) or Cushing's syndrome (CS) are therefore vulnerable groups in relation to COVID-19. Additionally, patients with adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC) could also be more vulnerable to COVID-19 due to the immunosuppressive state caused by the cancer itself, by secreted glucocorticoids, and by anticancer treatments. This review comprehensively summarizes the current literature on susceptibility to and outcome of COVID-19 in AI, CS and ACC patients and emphasizes potential pathophysiological mechanisms of susceptibility to COVID-19 as well as the management of these patients in case of SARS-CoV-2. Finally, by performing an in silico analysis, we describe the mRNA expression of ACE2, TMPRSS2 and the genes encoding their co-receptors CTSB, CTSL and FURIN in normal adrenal and adrenocortical tumors (both adenomas and carcinomas).
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Affiliation(s)
- Irina Chifu
- Division of Endocrinology and Diabetes, Department of Internal Medicine I, University Hospital, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Mario Detomas
- Division of Endocrinology and Diabetes, Department of Internal Medicine I, University Hospital, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Ulrich Dischinger
- Division of Endocrinology and Diabetes, Department of Internal Medicine I, University Hospital, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Otilia Kimpel
- Division of Endocrinology and Diabetes, Department of Internal Medicine I, University Hospital, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Felix Megerle
- Division of Endocrinology and Diabetes, Department of Internal Medicine I, University Hospital, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Stefanie Hahner
- Division of Endocrinology and Diabetes, Department of Internal Medicine I, University Hospital, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Martin Fassnacht
- Division of Endocrinology and Diabetes, Department of Internal Medicine I, University Hospital, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
- Comprehensive Cancer Center Mainfranken, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
- Central Laboratory, University Hospital Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Barbara Altieri
- Division of Endocrinology and Diabetes, Department of Internal Medicine I, University Hospital, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
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Glucocorticoid and PD-1 Cross-Talk: Does the Immune System Become Confused? Cells 2021; 10:cells10092333. [PMID: 34571982 PMCID: PMC8468592 DOI: 10.3390/cells10092333] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2021] [Revised: 08/31/2021] [Accepted: 09/03/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) and its ligands, PD-L1/2, control T cell activation and tolerance. While PD-1 expression is induced upon T cell receptor (TCR) activation or cytokine signaling, PD-L1 is expressed on B cells, antigen presenting cells, and on non-immune tissues, including cancer cells. Importantly, PD-L1 binding inhibits T cell activation. Therefore, the modulation of PD-1/PD-L1 expression on immune cells, both circulating or in a tumor microenvironment and/or on the tumor cell surface, is one mechanism of cancer immune evasion. Therapies that target PD-1/PD-L1, blocking the T cell-cancer cell interaction, have been successful in patients with various types of cancer. Glucocorticoids (GCs) are often administered to manage the side effects of chemo- or immuno-therapy, exerting a wide range of immunosuppressive and anti-inflammatory effects. However, GCs may also have tumor-promoting effects, interfering with therapy. In this review, we examine GC signaling and how it intersects with PD-1/PD-L1 pathways, including a discussion on the potential for GC- and PD-1/PD-L1-targeted therapies to "confuse" the immune system, leading to a cancer cell advantage that counteracts anti-cancer immunotherapy. Therefore, combination therapies should be utilized with an awareness of the potential for opposing effects on the immune system.
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Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW In this article, we focus on the current and future treatment options for adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC). RECENT FINDINGS Radical surgery remains the only curative treatment for ACC. Recent reports showed a longer overall survival (OS) in patients with high risk of recurrence treated with adjuvant mitotane; the time in target range (14-20 mg/l) is related to low risk of relapse both in adjuvant and in palliative setting. In patients who experience disease progression after etoposide, doxorubicin, cisplatin with mitotane (EDP-M), gemcitabine and metronomic capecitabine, or the less used streptozotocin, represent a second-line chemotherapy option. Temozolomide can be employed as a third-line chemotherapy. To date, unsatisfactory results have been obtained on the efficacy of targeted therapies. Clinical trials are ongoing to evaluate the efficacy of tyrosine kinase and immune checkpoint inhibitors. SUMMARY ACC is a rare disease with a poor prognosis. The main therapy is represented by radical surgery conducted by an expert surgeon. Adjuvant mitotane has to be started in patients with high risk of recurrence. In patients with inoperable disease, the scheme EDP-M is the most employed. Few data are available on second-line and third-line chemotherapy in patients with disease progression after EDP-M. Currently, the role of targeted therapies is under evaluation.
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Mampay M, Flint MS, Sheridan GK. Tumour brain: Pretreatment cognitive and affective disorders caused by peripheral cancers. Br J Pharmacol 2021; 178:3977-3996. [PMID: 34029379 DOI: 10.1111/bph.15571] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2021] [Revised: 04/12/2021] [Accepted: 05/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
People that develop extracranial cancers often display co-morbid neurological disorders, such as anxiety, depression and cognitive impairment, even before commencement of chemotherapy. This suggests bidirectional crosstalk between non-CNS tumours and the brain, which can regulate peripheral tumour growth. However, the reciprocal neurological effects of tumour progression on brain homeostasis are not well understood. Here, we review brain regions involved in regulating peripheral tumour development and how they, in turn, are adversely affected by advancing tumour burden. Tumour-induced activation of the immune system, blood-brain barrier breakdown and chronic neuroinflammation can lead to circadian rhythm dysfunction, sleep disturbances, aberrant glucocorticoid production, decreased hippocampal neurogenesis and dysregulation of neural network activity, resulting in depression and memory impairments. Given that cancer-related cognitive impairment diminishes patient quality of life, reduces adherence to chemotherapy and worsens cancer prognosis, it is essential that more research is focused at understanding how peripheral tumours affect brain homeostasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Myrthe Mampay
- School of Pharmacy and Biomolecular Sciences, University of Brighton, Brighton, UK
| | - Melanie S Flint
- School of Pharmacy and Biomolecular Sciences, University of Brighton, Brighton, UK
| | - Graham K Sheridan
- School of Life Sciences, Queen's Medical Centre, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK
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Donlon P, Dennedy MC. Thermal ablation in adrenal disorders: a discussion of the technology, the clinical evidence and the future. Curr Opin Endocrinol Diabetes Obes 2021; 28:291-302. [PMID: 33741778 PMCID: PMC8183491 DOI: 10.1097/med.0000000000000627] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW To summarise the emerging role of thermal ablation as a therapeutic modality in the management of functioning adrenal tumours and metastases to the adrenal gland. RECENT FINDINGS Observational evidence has demonstrated the benefit of thermal ablation in (i) resolving adrenal endocrinopathy arising from benign adenomas, (ii) treating solitary metastases to the adrenal and (iii) controlling metastatic adrenocortical carcinoma and phaeochromocytoma/paraganglioma. SUMMARY Microwave thermal ablation offers a promising, minimally invasive therapeutic modality for the management of functioning adrenocortical adenomas and adrenal metastases. Appropriate technological design, treatment planning and choice of imaging modality are necessary to overcome technical challenges associated with this emerging therapeutic approach.
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Affiliation(s)
- Padraig Donlon
- Adrenal Research Laboratory, The Discipline of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Lambe Institute for Translational Research, School of Medicine, National University of Ireland Galway, Ireland
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Sukrithan V, Husain M, Kirschner L, Shah MH, Konda B. Emerging drugs for the treatment of adrenocortical carcinoma. Expert Opin Emerg Drugs 2021; 26:165-178. [PMID: 33896321 DOI: 10.1080/14728214.2021.1920922] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
Introduction: Adrenocortical cancer (ACC) is a rare and aggressive disease with a median survival of 14-17 months and 5-year survival of around 20% for advanced disease. Emerging evidence of sub-groups of ACC with specific molecular drivers indicate ACC may be amenable to inhibition of receptor tyrosine kinases involved in growth and angiogenic signaling. A significant subset of patients may also be responsive to immune strategies.Areas covered: This review outlines approaches of targeting upregulated growth pathways including Insulin-like Growth Factor, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor, Fibroblast Growth Factor and Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor in ACC. Data of immune checkpoint blockade with nivolumab, ipilimumab, pembrolizumab and avelumab is explored in detail. Genomic studies indicate that up to 40% of ACC are driven by dysregulated WNT and glucocorticoid signaling, special focus is placed on emerging drugs in these pathways.Expert opinion: Progress in the treatment of ACC has faced challenges stemming from the rarity of the disease. Given recent advances in the understanding of the molecular pathogenesis of ACC, a window of opportunity has now opened to make significant progress in developing therapeutic options that target key pathways such as excessive glucocorticoid signaling, WNT signaling, cell cycle and immune checkpoints.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vineeth Sukrithan
- Division of Medical Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, The Ohio State University and Arthur G. James Cancer Center, Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | - Marium Husain
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, The Ohio State University and Arthur G. James Cancer Center, Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | - Lawrence Kirschner
- Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolism, Department of Internal Medicine, The Ohio State University and Arthur G. James Cancer Center, Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | - Manisha H Shah
- Division of Medical Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, The Ohio State University and Arthur G. James Cancer Center, Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | - Bhavana Konda
- Division of Medical Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, The Ohio State University and Arthur G. James Cancer Center, Columbus, Ohio, USA
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Abstract
Adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC) is a rare and aggressive malignancy. For stage I and II tumors, surgery is a curative option, but even in these cases recurrence is frequent. Practical guidelines advocate a combination of mitotane with etoposide, doxorubicin, and cisplatin as first-line therapy for metastatic adrenocortical carcinoma. However, this scheme presents limited efficacy and high toxicity. The use of Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors (ICI) and multi-Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors (mTKI) has modified the approach of multiple malignancies. The expectation of their applicability on advanced adrenocortical carcinoma is high but the role of these new therapies persists unclear. This article provides a short summary of last years' findings targeting outcomes, limitations, and adverse effects of these new therapeutic approaches. The results of recent trials and case series pointed pembrolizumab as the most promising drug among these new therapies. It is the most often used ICI and the one presenting the best results with less related adverse effects when in comparison to the standard treatment with mitotane. Hereafter, the identification of specific molecular biomarkers or immune profiles associated with ICI or mTKI good response will facilitate the selection of candidates for these therapies. So far, microsatellite instability and Lynch Syndrome related germline mutations are suggested as predictive biomarkers of good response. Contrarywise, cortisol secretion has been associated with more aggressive ACC tumors and potentially poor responses to immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra Novais Araújo
- Department of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, Centro Hospitalar Universitário Lisboa Norte, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Maria João Bugalho
- Department of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, Centro Hospitalar Universitário Lisboa Norte, Lisbon, Portugal
- Faculty of Medicine, Lisbon University, Lisbon, Portugal
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Georgantzoglou N, Kokkali S, Tsourouflis G, Theocharis S. Tumor Microenvironment in Adrenocortical Carcinoma: Barrier to Immunotherapy Success? Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:1798. [PMID: 33918733 PMCID: PMC8069982 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13081798] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2021] [Revised: 03/26/2021] [Accepted: 04/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Adrenocortical carcinoma is a rare malignancy with aggressive behavior, with up to 40% of patients presenting with metastases at the time of diagnosis. Both conventional chemotherapeutic regimens and novel immunotherapeutic agents, many of which are currently being tested in ongoing clinical trials, have yielded modest results so far, bringing the need for a deeper understanding of adrenal cancer behavior to the forefront. In the recent years, the tumor microenvironment has emerged as a major determinant of cancer response to immunotherapy and an increasing number of studies on other solid tumors have focused on manipulating the microenvironment in the favor of the host and discovering new potential target molecules. In the present review we aim to explore the characteristics of adrenocortical cancer's microenvironment, highlighting the mechanisms of immune evasion responsible for the modest immunotherapeutic results, and identify novel potential strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natalia Georgantzoglou
- First Department of Pathology, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 115 27 Athens, Greece; (N.G.); (S.K.)
| | - Stefania Kokkali
- First Department of Pathology, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 115 27 Athens, Greece; (N.G.); (S.K.)
- First Medical Oncology Clinic, Saint-Savvas Anti Cancer Hospital, 115 27 Athens, Greece
| | - Gerasimos Tsourouflis
- Second Department of Propedeutic Surgery, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 115 27 Athens, Greece;
| | - Stamatios Theocharis
- First Department of Pathology, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 115 27 Athens, Greece; (N.G.); (S.K.)
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Rodriguez-Galindo C, Krailo MD, Pinto EM, Pashankar F, Weldon CB, Huang L, Caran EM, Hicks J, McCarville MB, Malkin D, Wasserman JD, de Oliveira Filho AG, LaQuaglia MP, Ward DA, Zambetti G, Mastellaro MJ, Pappo AS, Ribeiro RC. Treatment of Pediatric Adrenocortical Carcinoma With Surgery, Retroperitoneal Lymph Node Dissection, and Chemotherapy: The Children's Oncology Group ARAR0332 Protocol. J Clin Oncol 2021; 39:2463-2473. [PMID: 33822640 DOI: 10.1200/jco.20.02871] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE Adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC) is a rare aggressive pediatric malignancy with distinct biology. Its treatment follows the principles developed for adults; pediatric-specific studies are scarce. PATIENTS AND METHODS Prospective single-arm risk-stratified interventional study. Study objectives were (1) to describe the outcome of patients with stage I ACC treated with adrenalectomy alone; (2) to describe the outcome of stage II patients (completely resected > 200 cc or > 100 g) treated with adrenalectomy and retroperitoneal lymph node dissection; and (3) to describe the outcome of patients with stage III or IV treated with mitotane and chemotherapy. RESULTS Between September 2006 and May 2013, 78 patients (77 eligible, 51 females) were enrolled. The 5-year event-free survival estimates for stages I (24 patients), II (15 patients), III (24 patients), and IV (14 patients) were 86.2%, 53.3%, 81%, and 7.1%, respectively. The corresponding 5-year overall survival estimates were 95.2%, 78.8%, 94.7%, and 15.6%, respectively. On univariate analysis, age, stage, presence of virilization, Cushing syndrome, or hypertension, germline TP53 status, and presence of a somatic ATRX mutation were associated with outcome. On multivariable analysis, only stage and age were significantly associated with outcome. The probabilities of mitotane and chemotherapy feasibility events were 10.5% and 31.6%, respectively. CONCLUSION Outcome for children with stage I ACC is excellent with surgery. Outcome for patients with stage II disease is inferior despite retroperitoneal lymph node dissection. Patients with stage III ACC have an excellent outcome combining surgery and chemotherapy. Patients with stage IV ACC are older and have a poor outcome; new treatments should be explored for this high-risk group. The combination of mitotane and chemotherapy as prescribed in ARAR0332 resulted in significant toxicity; one third of patients with advanced disease could not complete the scheduled treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlos Rodriguez-Galindo
- Department of Oncology, St Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN.,Department of Global Pediatric Medicine, St Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN
| | - Mark D Krailo
- Statistics and Data Center, Children's Oncology Group, Monrovia, CA.,Department of Preventive Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA
| | - Emilia M Pinto
- Department of Pathology, St Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN
| | - Farzana Pashankar
- Department of Pediatrics, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT
| | | | - Li Huang
- Statistics and Data Center, Children's Oncology Group, Monrovia, CA
| | - Eliana M Caran
- Department of Oncology, Instituto de Oncologia Pediatrica, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - John Hicks
- Department of Pathology, Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, TX
| | - M Beth McCarville
- Department of Diagnostic Imaging, St Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN
| | - David Malkin
- Division of Hematology-Oncology, Hospital for Sick Children and Department of Pediatrics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | | | | | - Michael P LaQuaglia
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY
| | - Deborah A Ward
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, St Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN
| | - Gerard Zambetti
- Department of Pathology, St Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN
| | | | - Alberto S Pappo
- Department of Oncology, St Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN
| | - Raul C Ribeiro
- Department of Oncology, St Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN
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Araujo-Castro M, Pascual-Corrales E, Molina-Cerrillo J, Alonso-Gordoa T. Immunotherapy in Adrenocortical Carcinoma: Predictors of Response, Efficacy, Safety, and Mechanisms of Resistance. Biomedicines 2021; 9:biomedicines9030304. [PMID: 33809752 PMCID: PMC8002272 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines9030304] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2021] [Revised: 03/02/2021] [Accepted: 03/10/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC) is a rare endocrine malignancy with limited treatment options in the advanced stages. Immunotherapy offers hope for altering the orthodox management of cancer, and its role in advanced ACC has been investigated in different studies. With the aim clarifying the role of immunotherapy in ACC we performed a comprehensive review about this topic focusing on the predictors of response, efficacy, safety, and the mechanisms of resistance. Five clinical trials with four immune checkpoint inhibitors (pembrolizumab, avelumab, nivolumab, and ipilimumab) have investigated the role of immunotherapy in advanced ACC. Despite, the different primary endpoints used in these studies, the reported rates of overall response rate and progression free survival were generally poor. Three main potential markers of response to immunotherapy in ACC have been described: Expression of PD-1 and PD-L1, microsatellite instability and tumor mutational burden. However, none of them has been validated in prospective studies. Several mechanisms of ACC immunoevasion may be responsible of immunotherapy failure, and a greater knowledge of these mechanisms might lead to the development of new strategies to overcome the immunotherapy resistance. In conclusion, although currently the role of immunotherapy is limited, the identification of immunological markers of response and the implementation of strategies to avoid immunotherapy resistance could improve the efficacy of this therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marta Araujo-Castro
- Neuroendocrinology Unit, Endocrinology and Nutrition Department, Ramón y Cajal Health Research Institute (IRYCIS), Hospital Universitario Ramón y Cajal, 28034 Madrid, Spain;
- Correspondence:
| | - Eider Pascual-Corrales
- Neuroendocrinology Unit, Endocrinology and Nutrition Department, Ramón y Cajal Health Research Institute (IRYCIS), Hospital Universitario Ramón y Cajal, 28034 Madrid, Spain;
| | - Javier Molina-Cerrillo
- Medical Oncology Department, Ramón y Cajal Health Research Institute (IRYCIS), Hospital Universitario Ramón y Cajal, 28034 Madrid, Spain; (J.M.-C.); (T.A.-G.)
| | - Teresa Alonso-Gordoa
- Medical Oncology Department, Ramón y Cajal Health Research Institute (IRYCIS), Hospital Universitario Ramón y Cajal, 28034 Madrid, Spain; (J.M.-C.); (T.A.-G.)
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Jin Y, Wang Z, He D, Zhu Y, Hu X, Gong L, Xiao M, Chen X, Cheng Y, Cao K. Analysis of m6A-Related Signatures in the Tumor Immune Microenvironment and Identification of Clinical Prognostic Regulators in Adrenocortical Carcinoma. Front Immunol 2021; 12:637933. [PMID: 33746977 PMCID: PMC7966528 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.637933] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2020] [Accepted: 01/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC) is a rare endocrine malignancy with a high rate of mortality and recurrence. N6-methyladenosine methylation (m6A) is the most common modification to affect cancer development, but to date, the potential role of m6A regulators in ACC prognosis is not well understood. In this study, we systematically analyzed 21 m6A regulators in ACC samples from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database. We identified three m6A modification patterns with different clinical outcomes and discovered a significant relationship between diverse m6A clusters and the tumor immune microenvironment (immune cell types and ESTIMATE algorithm). Additionally, Gene Ontology (GO), Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG), and Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA) revealed that the m6A clusters were strongly associated with immune infiltration in the ACC. Next, to further explore the m6A prognostic signatures in ACC, we implemented Lasso (Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator) Cox regression to establish an eight-m6A-regulator prognostic model in the TCGA dataset, and the results showed that the model-based high-risk group was closely correlated with poor overall survival (OS) compared with the low-risk group. Subsequently, we validated the key modifications in the GEO datasets and found that high HNRNPA2B1 expression resulted in poor OS and event-free survival (EFS) in ACC. Moreover, to further decipher the molecular mechanisms, we constructed a competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) network based on HNRNPA2B1, which consists of 12 long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) and 1 microRNA (miRNA). In conclusion, our findings indicate the potential role of m6A modification in ACC, providing novel insights into ACC prognosis and guiding effective immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi Jin
- Department of Oncology, Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China.,Department of Radiation Oncology, Hunan Cancer Hospital, The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, China.,Key Laboratory of Translational Radiation Oncology, Department of Radiation Oncology, Hunan Cancer Hospital and The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Zhanwang Wang
- Department of Oncology, Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Dong He
- Department of Respiratory, The Second People's Hospital of Hunan Province, Changsha, China
| | - Yuxing Zhu
- Department of Oncology, Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Xueying Hu
- Department of Oncology, Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Lian Gong
- Department of Oncology, Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Mengqing Xiao
- Department of Oncology, Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Xingyu Chen
- Department of Oncology, Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Yaxin Cheng
- Department of Oncology, Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Ke Cao
- Department of Oncology, Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
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Muzzi JCD, Magno JM, Cardoso MA, de Moura J, Castro MAA, Figueiredo BC. Adrenocortical Carcinoma Steroid Profiles: In Silico Pan-Cancer Analysis of TCGA Data Uncovers Immunotherapy Targets for Potential Improved Outcomes. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2021; 12:672319. [PMID: 34194394 PMCID: PMC8237859 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2021.672319] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2021] [Accepted: 05/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite progress in understanding the biology of adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC), treatment options have not dramatically changed in the last three decades, nor have we learned how to avoid some of its long-term side effects. Our goal was to improve the understanding of immune pathways that may include druggable targets to enhance immune responses of patients with ACC, focusing on immune evasion and the activation of immune cells against ACC. Our strategy was aimed at improving insight regarding gene expression without steroid interference. Using approaches based on high and low steroid phenotypes (HSP and LSP, respectively), we characterized immune pathways using The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) ACC cohort data. Although previous studies have suggested that patients with ACC receive minimal benefit from immunotherapy, high expression of immune modulators was noted in patients with LSP, suggesting the activation of these biomarkers may be an important adjuvant therapy target after clearance of excess glucocorticoids. In addition, patients with LSP ACC had higher immune cell infiltration than patients with HSP ACC and other cancer subtypes. Our findings can be summarized as follows (1): we confirmed and improved the definition of two immune response pathways to ACC (HSP and LSP) based on in silico transcriptome analysis (2), we demonstrated the steroid profile should be considered, otherwise analyses of ACC immune characteristics can generate confounding results (3), among the overexpressed immunotherapy targets, we demonstrated that LSP was rich in PDCD1LG2 (PD-L2) and both HSP and LSP overexpressed CD276 (B7-H3), which was associated with resistance to anti-PD1 therapy and may have accounted for the modest results of previous clinical trials, and (4) identification of patients with LSP or HSP ACC can be used to help determine whether immunotherapy should be used. In conclusion, we highlighted the differences between LSP and HSP, drawing attention to potential therapeutic targets (CD276, PDCD1, and PDCD1LG2). Treatments to reduce immune evasion, as well as the use of other natural and pharmacological immune activators, should include prior pharmacological inhibition of steroidogenesis. Attempts to combine these with tumor cell proliferation inhibitors, if they do not affect cells of the immune system, may produce interesting results.
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Affiliation(s)
- João C. D. Muzzi
- Laboratório de Imunoquímica (LIMQ), Pós-Graduação em Microbiologia, Parasitologia e Patologia, Departamento de Patologia Básica, Universidade Federal do Paraná (UFPR), Curitiba, Brazil
- Laboratório de Bioinformática e Biologia de Sistemas, Pós-Graduação em Bioinformática, Universidade Federal do Paraná (UFPR), Curitiba, Brazil
- Instituto de Pesquisa Pelé Pequeno Príncipe, Oncology Division, Curitiba, Brazil
| | - Jessica M. Magno
- Laboratório de Bioinformática e Biologia de Sistemas, Pós-Graduação em Bioinformática, Universidade Federal do Paraná (UFPR), Curitiba, Brazil
- Instituto de Pesquisa Pelé Pequeno Príncipe, Oncology Division, Curitiba, Brazil
| | - Milena A. Cardoso
- Laboratório de Bioinformática e Biologia de Sistemas, Pós-Graduação em Bioinformática, Universidade Federal do Paraná (UFPR), Curitiba, Brazil
- Instituto de Pesquisa Pelé Pequeno Príncipe, Oncology Division, Curitiba, Brazil
| | - Juliana de Moura
- Laboratório de Imunoquímica (LIMQ), Pós-Graduação em Microbiologia, Parasitologia e Patologia, Departamento de Patologia Básica, Universidade Federal do Paraná (UFPR), Curitiba, Brazil
| | - Mauro A. A. Castro
- Laboratório de Bioinformática e Biologia de Sistemas, Pós-Graduação em Bioinformática, Universidade Federal do Paraná (UFPR), Curitiba, Brazil
| | - Bonald C. Figueiredo
- Instituto de Pesquisa Pelé Pequeno Príncipe, Oncology Division, Curitiba, Brazil
- Centro de Genética Molecular e Pesquisa do Câncer em Crianças (CEGEMPAC), Molecular Oncology Laboratory, Curitiba, Brazil
- *Correspondence: Bonald C. Figueiredo,
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