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Cheng B, Yu Q, Wang W. Intimate communications within the tumor microenvironment: stromal factors function as an orchestra. J Biomed Sci 2023; 30:1. [PMID: 36600243 DOI: 10.1186/s12929-022-00894-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2022] [Accepted: 12/18/2022] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Extensive studies of the tumor microenvironment (TME) in the last decade have reformed the view of cancer as a tumor cell-centric disease. The tumor microenvironment, especially termed the "seed and soil" theory, has emerged as the key determinant in cancer development and therapeutic resistance. The TME mainly consists of tumor cells, stromal cells such as fibroblasts, immune cells, and other noncellular components. Within the TME, intimate communications among these components largely determine the fate of the tumor. The pivotal roles of the stroma, especially cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs), the most common component within the TME, have been revealed in tumorigenesis, tumor progression, therapeutic response, and tumor immunity. A better understanding of the function of the TME sheds light on tumor therapy. In this review, we summarize the emerging understanding of stromal factors, especially CAFs, in cancer progression, drug resistance, and tumor immunity with an emphasis on their functions in epigenetic regulation. Moreover, the importance of epigenetic regulation in reshaping the TME and the basic biological principles underpinning the synergy between epigenetic therapy and immunotherapy will be further discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bing Cheng
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Colorectal and Pelvic Floor Disease, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China.,Guangdong Research Institute of Gastroenterology, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Qiang Yu
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Colorectal and Pelvic Floor Disease, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China. .,Guangdong Research Institute of Gastroenterology, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China. .,Cancer Precision Medicine, Genome Institute of Singapore, Agency for Science, Technology, and Research, Biopolis, Singapore. .,Department of Physiology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore. .,Cancer and Stem Cell Biology, DUKE-NUS Graduate Medical School of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore.
| | - Wenyu Wang
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Colorectal and Pelvic Floor Disease, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China. .,Guangdong Research Institute of Gastroenterology, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China.
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2
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Kudlova N, De Sanctis JB, Hajduch M. Cellular Senescence: Molecular Targets, Biomarkers, and Senolytic Drugs. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23084168. [PMID: 35456986 PMCID: PMC9028163 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23084168] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2022] [Revised: 03/31/2022] [Accepted: 04/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Cellular senescence is defined as irreversible cell cycle arrest caused by various processes that render viable cells non-functional, hampering normal tissue homeostasis. It has many endogenous and exogenous inducers, and is closely connected with age, age-related pathologies, DNA damage, degenerative disorders, tumor suppression and activation, wound healing, and tissue repair. However, the literature is replete with contradictory findings concerning its triggering mechanisms, specific biomarkers, and detection protocols. This may be partly due to the wide range of cellular and in vivo animal or human models of accelerated aging that have been used to study senescence and test senolytic drugs. This review summarizes recent findings concerning senescence, presents some widely used cellular and animal senescence models, and briefly describes the best-known senolytic agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natalie Kudlova
- Institute of Molecular and Translational Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, Palacky University, 77147 Olomouc, Czech Republic; (N.K.); (J.B.D.S.)
| | - Juan Bautista De Sanctis
- Institute of Molecular and Translational Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, Palacky University, 77147 Olomouc, Czech Republic; (N.K.); (J.B.D.S.)
- Institute of Molecular and Translational Medicine Czech Advanced Technologies and Research Institute, Palacky University, 77147 Olomouc, Czech Republic
| | - Marian Hajduch
- Institute of Molecular and Translational Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, Palacky University, 77147 Olomouc, Czech Republic; (N.K.); (J.B.D.S.)
- Institute of Molecular and Translational Medicine Czech Advanced Technologies and Research Institute, Palacky University, 77147 Olomouc, Czech Republic
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +42-0-585632082
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3
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Zhu L, Li X, Yuan Y, Dong C, Yang M. APC Promoter Methylation in Gastrointestinal Cancer. Front Oncol 2021; 11:653222. [PMID: 33968756 PMCID: PMC8103321 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2021.653222] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2021] [Accepted: 03/30/2021] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
The adenomatous polyposis coli (APC) gene, known as tumor suppressor gene, has the two promoters 1A and 1B. Researches on APC have usually focused on its loss-of-function variants causing familial adenomatous polyposis. Hypermethylation, however, which is one of the key epigenetic alterations of the APC CpG sequence, is also associated with carcinogenesis in various cancers. Accumulating studies have successively explored the role of APC hypermethylation in gastrointestinal (GI) tumors, such as in esophageal, colorectal, gastric, pancreatic, and hepatic cancer. In sporadic colorectal cancer, the hypermethylation of CpG island in APC is even considered as one of the primary causative factors. In this review, we systematically summarized the distribution of APC gene methylation in various GI tumors, and attempted to provide an improved general understanding of DNA methylation in GI tumors. In addition, we included a robust overview of demethylating agents available for both basic and clinical researches. Finally, we elaborated our findings and perspectives on the overall situation of APC gene methylation in GI tumors, aiming to explore the potential research directions and clinical values.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lila Zhu
- Department of Medical Oncology, Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Intervention, Ministry of Education, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Xinyu Li
- Department of Medical Oncology, Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Intervention, Ministry of Education, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Ying Yuan
- Department of Medical Oncology, Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Intervention, Ministry of Education, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China.,Cancer Institute, Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Intervention, Ministry of Education, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Caixia Dong
- Department of Medical Oncology, Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Intervention, Ministry of Education, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Mengyuan Yang
- Department of Medical Oncology, Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Intervention, Ministry of Education, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China.,Cancer Institute, Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Intervention, Ministry of Education, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
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Gagliano T, Brancolini C. Epigenetic Mechanisms beyond Tumour-Stroma Crosstalk. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:cancers13040914. [PMID: 33671588 PMCID: PMC7926949 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13040914] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2021] [Revised: 02/15/2021] [Accepted: 02/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite cancer having been usually considered the result of genetic mutations, it is now well established that epigenetic dysregulations play pivotal roles in cancer onset and progression. Hence, inactivation of tumour suppressor genes can be gained not only by genetic mutations, but also by epigenetic mechanisms such as DNA methylation and histone modifications. To occur, epigenetic events need to be triggered by genetic alterations of the epigenetic regulators, or they can be mediated by intracellular and extracellular stimuli. In this last setting, the tumour microenvironment (TME) plays a fundamental role. Therefore, to decipher how epigenetic changes are associated with TME is a challenge still open. The complex signalling between tumour cells and stroma is currently under intensive investigation, and most of the molecules and pathways involved still need to be identified. Neoplastic initiation and development are likely to involve a back-and-forth crosstalk among cancer and stroma cells. An increasing number of studies have highlighted that the cancer epigenome can be influenced by tumour microenvironment and vice versa. Here, we discuss about the recent literature on tumour-stroma interactions that focus on epigenetic mechanisms and the reciprocal regulation between cancer and TME cells.
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Yang M, Jiang Z, Yao G, Wang Z, Sun J, Qin H, Zhao H. GALC Triggers Tumorigenicity of Colorectal Cancer via Senescent Fibroblasts. Front Oncol 2020; 10:380. [PMID: 32318333 PMCID: PMC7154132 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2020.00380] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2019] [Accepted: 03/04/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Colorectal cancer (CRC)-associated senescent fibroblasts may play a crucial role in tumor progression, but the mechanism remains unclear. In order to solve this complicated problem, we randomly collected 16 patients with CRC, who had been treated with oxaliplatin and capecitabine (XELOX). Hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining revealed that the tumor-stroma ratio (TSR) of CRC was affected by XELOX treatment. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) and senescence-associated β-galactosidase (SAβG) staining were used to verify a stable model of senescent fibroblasts. IHC analysis showed that high expression levels of galactosylceramidase (GALC) and significant senescence-associated β-galactosidase (SAβG) staining were associated with CRC patient survival. We observed that fibroblasts overexpressing GALC underwent cell cycle arrest. Changes in cell morphology and cell cycle characteristics were accompanied by the upregulation of the p16, p21, and p53 gene, and the downregulation of hTERT expression. In a co-culture system, fibroblasts overexpressing GALC significantly increased the proliferation of CRC cells. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) analysis confirmed that GALC overexpression fibroblasts co-cultured with CRC caused changes in CRC cell morphology. The aging fibroblast co-culture group (70%) had a higher migration ability. In vivo experiments and transcriptomics analysis were performed to verify the effect of senescent fibroblasts on tumor formation and to identify the potential mechanisms for the above results. We found that a high expression of ATF3 was related to good survival rates. However, a high expression of KIAA0907 was bad for survival rates (p < 0.05). The knockdown of ATF3 can promote cell proliferation, migration, and clonogenic assays, while downregulation of KIAA0907 inhibits cell proliferation, migration, and clonogenic assays. The results demonstrate that senescent fibroblasts with a high level of GALC regulated several aspects of the tumor growth process, including migration and invasion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mengdi Yang
- Department of Internal Oncology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University Affiliated Sixth People's Hospital, Shanghai, China
| | - Zhiyuan Jiang
- Department of Internal Oncology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University Affiliated Sixth People's Hospital, Shanghai, China
| | - Guangyu Yao
- Department of Internal Oncology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University Affiliated Sixth People's Hospital, Shanghai, China
| | - Zhiyu Wang
- Department of Internal Oncology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University Affiliated Sixth People's Hospital, Shanghai, China
| | - Jing Sun
- Department of Internal Oncology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University Affiliated Sixth People's Hospital, Shanghai, China
| | - Huanlong Qin
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital Affiliated With Tongji University, Shanghai, China
| | - Hui Zhao
- Department of Internal Oncology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University Affiliated Sixth People's Hospital, Shanghai, China
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Liu Y, Pan J, Pan X, Wu L, Bian J, Lin Z, Xue M, Su T, Lai S, Chen F, Ge Q, Chen L, Ye S, Zhu Y, Chen S, Wang L. Klotho-mediated targeting of CCL2 suppresses the induction of colorectal cancer progression by stromal cell senescent microenvironments. Mol Oncol 2019; 13:2460-2475. [PMID: 31545552 PMCID: PMC6822285 DOI: 10.1002/1878-0261.12577] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2019] [Revised: 08/13/2019] [Accepted: 09/20/2019] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Senescent microenvironments play an important role in tumor progression. Here, we report that doxorubicin (DOX)‐pretreated or replicative senescent stromal cells (WI‐38 and HUVEC) promote colorectal cancer (CRC) cell growth and invasion in vitro and in vivo. These pro‐tumorigenic effects were attenuated by exogenous administration of Klotho, an anti‐aging factor. We subsequently identified several senescence‐associated secretory phenotype (SASP)‐associated genes, including CCL2, which were significantly upregulated in both types of senescent stromal cells during replication and DNA damage‐induced senescence. Importantly, we found that the secretion of CCL2 by senescent stromal cells was significantly higher than that seen in nonsenescent cells or in senescent cells pretreated with Klotho. Notably, CCL2 was found to accelerate CRC cell proliferation and invasion, while this effect could be blocked by administration of a specific CCR2 antagonist. We further show that Klotho can suppress NF‐κB activation during DOX‐induced senescence and thus block CCL2 transcription. Low expression of Klotho, or high expression of CCL2 in patient tumor tissues, correlated with poor overall survival of CRC patients. Collectively, our findings suggest that senescent stromal cells are linked to progression of CRC. Klotho can suppress the senescent stromal cell‐associated triggering of CRC progression by inhibiting the expression of SASP factors including CCL2. The identification of key SASP factors such as CCL2 may provide potential therapeutic targets for improving CRC therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yangyang Liu
- Department of Gastroenterology, Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China.,Institution of Gastroenterology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.,Department of Gastroenterology, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Lishui People's Hospital, China
| | - Jie Pan
- Institution of Gastroenterology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.,Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Xia Pan
- Department of Gastroenterology, Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China.,Institution of Gastroenterology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Lunpo Wu
- Department of Gastroenterology, Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China.,Institution of Gastroenterology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Jun Bian
- Department of Gastroenterology, Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China.,Institution of Gastroenterology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Zhenghua Lin
- Department of Gastroenterology, Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China.,Institution of Gastroenterology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Meng Xue
- Department of Gastroenterology, Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China.,Institution of Gastroenterology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Tingting Su
- Institution of Gastroenterology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.,Department of Gastroenterology, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Sanchuan Lai
- Department of Gastroenterology, Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China.,Institution of Gastroenterology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Fei Chen
- Department of Gastroenterology, Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China.,Institution of Gastroenterology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Qiwei Ge
- Department of Gastroenterology, Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China.,Institution of Gastroenterology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Luyi Chen
- Institution of Gastroenterology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.,Department of Gastroenterology, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Shufang Ye
- Department of Gastroenterology, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Lishui People's Hospital, China
| | - Yabi Zhu
- Department of Gastroenterology, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Lishui People's Hospital, China
| | - Shujie Chen
- Institution of Gastroenterology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.,Department of Gastroenterology, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Liangjing Wang
- Department of Gastroenterology, Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China.,Institution of Gastroenterology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
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