Local blockade of tacrolimus promotes T-cell-mediated tumor regression in systemically immunosuppressed hosts

Predicting Tacrolimus Concentrations in the Skin of Adult Kidney Transplant Recipients: A Feasibility Study

Solid organ transplant recipients are at an increased risk of developing skin cancers due to chronic immunosuppression, particularly with calcineurin inhibitors. Tacrolimus is the most prescribed calcineurin inhibitor in this patient cohort, and understanding tacrolimus concentrations in the skin will facilitate the development of anti-cancer preventive and therapeutic strategies. Here, we show that in mice, tacrolimus blood levels peaked rapidly ∼1 h post last oral dose while skin levels rose more slowly and remained high for at least 6 h. Subsequently, tacrolimus skin and blood concentrations were assessed in 15 kidney transplant recipients. The mean age was 61 years, the average time post-transplant was 7 years (range 0-21 years) and 87% were male. The average skin sampling time post tacrolimus dosing was 6 h 32 min. Skin tacrolimus concentrations ranged from 7.1 ng/g to 71.2 ng/g and correlated with blood concentrations (r = 0.6). Mouse and human mean skin concentrations were in a similar range. Our data suggests that tacrolimus measurements in the blood may be used to approximate tacrolimus concentrations in the skin of kidney transplant recipients, and further exploited for the delivery of anti-cancer therapies designed to antagonize the immunosuppressive effects of tacrolimus in the skin.

Mechanisms and Potential Clinical Implications of Oral Microbiome in Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Microorganisms in the oral cavity are abundant in the human body. At present, more than 700 species of oral microorganisms have been identified. Recently, a lot of literature has indicated that the oral microbiota plays an important role in the occurrence, development, and prognosis of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) through various mechanisms. And researchers are now trying to utilize oral microbiota in cancer diagnosis and treatment. However, few articles systematically summarize the effects of oral microbes in the diagnosis, treatment, and disease outcomes of oral cancer. Herein, we made a summary of the microbial changes at cancerous sites and placed more emphasis on the mechanisms by which the oral microbiome promotes cancerization. Moreover, we aimed to find out the clinical value of the oral microbiome in OSCC.