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Yi SY, Wei MZ, Zhao L. Targeted immunotherapy to cancer stem cells: A novel strategy of anticancer immunotherapy. Crit Rev Oncol Hematol 2024; 196:104313. [PMID: 38428702 DOI: 10.1016/j.critrevonc.2024.104313] [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: 10/14/2023] [Revised: 02/04/2024] [Accepted: 02/26/2024] [Indexed: 03/03/2024] Open
Abstract
Cancer is a major disease that endangers human health. Cancer drug resistance and relapse are the two main causes contributing to cancer treatment failure. Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are a small fraction of tumor cells that are responsible for tumorigenesis, metastasis, relapse, and resistance to conventional anticancer therapies. Therefore, CSCs are considered to be the root of cancer recurrence, metastasis, and drug resistance. Novel anticancer strategies need to face this new challenge and explore their efficacy against CSCs. Recently, immunotherapy has made rapid advances in cancer treatment, and its potential against CSCs is also an interesting area of research. Meanwhile, immunotherapy strategies are novel therapeutic modalities with promising results in targeting CSCs. In this review, we summarize the targeting of CSCs by various immunotherapy strategies such as monoclonal antibodies(mAb), tumor vaccines, immune checkpoint inhibitors, and chimeric antigen receptor-T cells(CAR-T) in pre-clinical and clinical studies. This review provides new insights into the application of these immunotherapeutic approaches to potential anti-tumor therapies in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shan-Yong Yi
- Department of Oncology of the Zhengzhou Central Hospital Affiliated to Zhengzhou University, Zheng Zhou, Henan Province 450007, China.
| | - Mei-Zhuo Wei
- Department of Oncology of the Zhengzhou Central Hospital Affiliated to Zhengzhou University, Zheng Zhou, Henan Province 450007, China
| | - Ling Zhao
- Department of Oncology of the Zhengzhou Central Hospital Affiliated to Zhengzhou University, Zheng Zhou, Henan Province 450007, China.
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2
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Hashemi F, Razmi M, Tajik F, Zöller M, Dehghan Manshadi M, Mahdavinezhad F, Tiyuri A, Ghods R, Madjd Z. Efficacy of Whole Cancer Stem Cell-Based Vaccines: A Systematic Review of Preclinical and Clinical Studies. Stem Cells 2023; 41:207-232. [PMID: 36573273 DOI: 10.1093/stmcls/sxac089] [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: 06/27/2022] [Accepted: 12/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Despite the conventional cancer therapeutic, cancer treatment remains a medical challenge due to neoplasm metastasis and cancer recurrence; therefore, new approaches promoting therapeutic strategies are highly desirable. As a new therapy, the use of whole neoplastic stem cells or cancer stem cell (CSC)-based vaccines is one strategy to overcome these obstacles. We investigated the effects of whole CSC-based vaccines on the solid tumor development, metastasis, and survival rate. METHODS Primary electronic databases (PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, Embase, and Web of Science) and a major clinical registry were searched. Interventional studies of whole CSC-based vaccines in rodent cancer models (38 studies) and human cancer patients (11 studies) were included; the vaccine preparation methodologies, effects, and overall outcomes were evaluated. RESULTS Preclinical studies were divided into 4 groups: CSC-lysates/ inactivated-CSC-based vaccines, CSC-lysate-loaded dendritic cell (CSC-DC) vaccines, cytotoxic T-cell (CTL) vaccines generated with CSC-DC (CSC-DC-CTL), and combinatorial treatments carried out in the prophylactic and therapeutic experimental models. The majority of preclinical studies reported a promising effect on tumor growth, survival rate, and metastasis. Moreover, whole CSC-based vaccines induced several antitumor immune responses. A small number of clinical investigations suggested that the whole CSC-based vaccine treatment is beneficial; however, further research is required. CONCLUSIONS This comprehensive review provides an overview of the available methods for assessing the efficacy of whole CSC-based vaccines on tumor development, metastasis, and survival rate. In addition, it presents a set of recommendations for designing high-quality clinical studies that may allow to determine the efficacy of whole CSC-based-vaccines in cancer therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Farideh Hashemi
- Oncopathology Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mahdieh Razmi
- Oncopathology Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Fatemeh Tajik
- Oncopathology Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Margot Zöller
- Section Pancreas Research, University Hospital of Surgery, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Masoumeh Dehghan Manshadi
- Oncopathology Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Forough Mahdavinezhad
- Department of Anatomy, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Amir Tiyuri
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Roya Ghods
- Oncopathology Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Zahra Madjd
- Oncopathology Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
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3
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Liu X, Xin Z, Wang K. Patient-derived xenograft model in colorectal cancer basic and translational research. Animal Model Exp Med 2023; 6:26-40. [PMID: 36543756 PMCID: PMC9986239 DOI: 10.1002/ame2.12299] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2022] [Accepted: 11/22/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most popular malignancies globally, with 930 000 deaths in 2020. The evaluation of CRC-related pathogenesis and the discovery of potential therapeutic targets will be meaningful and helpful for improving CRC treatment. With huge efforts made in past decades, the systematic treatment regimens have been applied to improve the prognosis of CRC patients. However, the sensitivity of CRC to chemotherapy and targeted therapy is different from person to person, which is an important cause of treatment failure. The emergence of patient-derived xenograft (PDX) models shows great potential to alleviate the straits. PDX models possess similar genetic and pathological characteristics as the features of primary tumors. Moreover, PDX has the ability to mimic the tumor microenvironment of the original tumor. Thus, the PDX model is an important tool to screen precise drugs for individualized treatment, seek predictive biomarkers for prognosis supervision, and evaluate the unknown mechanism in basic research. This paper reviews the recent advances in constructed methods and applications of the CRC PDX model, aiming to provide new knowledge for CRC basic research and therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaofeng Liu
- Hepatopancreatobiliary Surgery Department I, Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education/Beijing), Peking University Cancer Hospital and Institute, Beijing, China
| | - Zechang Xin
- Hepatopancreatobiliary Surgery Department I, Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education/Beijing), Peking University Cancer Hospital and Institute, Beijing, China
| | - Kun Wang
- Hepatopancreatobiliary Surgery Department I, Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education/Beijing), Peking University Cancer Hospital and Institute, Beijing, China
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4
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Shrestha S, Banstola A, Jeong JH, Seo JH, Yook S. Targeting Cancer Stem Cells: Therapeutic and diagnostic strategies by the virtue of nanoparticles. J Control Release 2022; 348:518-536. [PMID: 35709876 DOI: 10.1016/j.jconrel.2022.06.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2022] [Revised: 06/08/2022] [Accepted: 06/09/2022] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are the subpopulation of cells present within a tumor with the properties of self-renewing, differentiating, and proliferating. Owing to the presence of ATP-binding cassette drug pumps and increased expression of anti-apoptotic proteins, the conventional chemotherapeutic agents have failed to eliminate CSCs resulting in relapse and resistance of cancer. Therefore, to obtain long-lasting clinical responses and avoid the recurrence of cancer, it is crucial to develop an efficient strategy targeting CSCs by either employing a differentiation therapy or specifically delivering drugs to CSCs. Several intracellular and extracellular cancer specific biomarkers are overexpressed by CSCs and are utilized as targets for the development of new approaches in the diagnosis and treatment of CSCs. Moreover, several nanostructured particles, alone or in combination with current treatment approaches, have been used to improve the detection, imaging, and targeting of CSCs, thus addressing the limitations of cancer therapies. Targeting CSC surface markers, stemness-related signaling pathways, and tumor microenvironmental signals has improved the detection and eradication of CSCs and, therefore, tumor diagnosis and treatment. This review summarizes a variety of promising nanoparticles targeting the surface biomarkers of CSCs for the detection and eradication of tumor-initiating stem cells, used in combination with other treatment regimens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samjhana Shrestha
- College of Pharmacy, Keimyung University, 1095 Dalgubeol-daero, Dalseo-Gu, Daegu 42601, Republic of Korea
| | - Asmita Banstola
- College of Pharmacy, Keimyung University, 1095 Dalgubeol-daero, Dalseo-Gu, Daegu 42601, Republic of Korea; Wellman Center for Photomedicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Department of Dermatology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - Jee-Heon Jeong
- Department of Precision Medicine, School of Medicine, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon 16419, Republic of Korea
| | - Ji Hae Seo
- Department of Biochemistry, School of Medicine, Keimyung University, Daegu 42601, Republic of Korea
| | - Simmyung Yook
- College of Pharmacy, Keimyung University, 1095 Dalgubeol-daero, Dalseo-Gu, Daegu 42601, Republic of Korea.
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Yu W, Liu F, Lei Q, Wu P, Yang L, Zhang Y. Identification of Key Pathways and Genes Related to Immunotherapy Resistance of LUAD Based on WGCNA Analysis. Front Oncol 2022; 11:814014. [PMID: 35071018 PMCID: PMC8770266 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2021.814014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2021] [Accepted: 12/06/2021] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Immunotherapy resistance is a major barrier in the application of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) in lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) patients. Although recent studies have found several mechanisms and potential genes responsible for immunotherapy resistance, ways to solve this problem are still lacking. Tumor immune dysfunction and exclusion (TIDE) algorithm is a newly developed method to calculate potential regulators and indicators of ICI resistance. In this article, we combined TIDE and weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) to screen potential modules and hub genes that are highly associated with immunotherapy resistance using the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) dataset of LUAD patients. We identified 45 gene co-expression modules, and the pink module was most correlated with TIDE score and other immunosuppressive features. After considering the potential factors in immunotherapy resistance, we found that the pink module was also highly related to cancer stemness. Further analysis showed enriched immunosuppressive cells in the extracellular matrix (ECM), immunotherapy resistance indicators, and common cancer-related signaling pathways in the pink module. Seven hub genes in the pink module were shown to be significantly upregulated in tumor tissues compared with normal lung tissue, and were related to poor survival of LUAD patients. Among them, THY1 was the gene most associated with TIDE score, a gene highly related to suppressive immune states, and was shown to be strongly expressed in late-stage patients. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) results demonstrated that THY1 level was higher in the progressive disease (PD) group of LUAD patients receiving a PD-1 monoclonal antibody (mAb) and positively correlated with SOX9. Collectively, we identified that THY1 could be a critical biomarker in predicting ICI efficiency and a potential target for avoiding tumor immunotherapy resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weina Yu
- Biotherapy Center and Cancer Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China.,Henan Key Laboratory for Tumor Immunology and Biotherapy, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China.,State Key Laboratory of Esophageal Cancer Prevention and Treatment, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Fengsen Liu
- Biotherapy Center and Cancer Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China.,Henan Key Laboratory for Tumor Immunology and Biotherapy, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China.,State Key Laboratory of Esophageal Cancer Prevention and Treatment, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Qingyang Lei
- Biotherapy Center and Cancer Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China.,Henan Key Laboratory for Tumor Immunology and Biotherapy, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China.,State Key Laboratory of Esophageal Cancer Prevention and Treatment, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Peng Wu
- Biotherapy Center and Cancer Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China.,Henan Key Laboratory for Tumor Immunology and Biotherapy, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China.,State Key Laboratory of Esophageal Cancer Prevention and Treatment, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Li Yang
- Biotherapy Center and Cancer Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China.,Henan Key Laboratory for Tumor Immunology and Biotherapy, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China.,State Key Laboratory of Esophageal Cancer Prevention and Treatment, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Yi Zhang
- Biotherapy Center and Cancer Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China.,Henan Key Laboratory for Tumor Immunology and Biotherapy, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China.,State Key Laboratory of Esophageal Cancer Prevention and Treatment, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China.,School of Life Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
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6
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Mokhtari RB, Sambi M, Qorri B, Baluch N, Ashayeri N, Kumar S, Cheng HLM, Yeger H, Das B, Szewczuk MR. The Next-Generation of Combination Cancer Immunotherapy: Epigenetic Immunomodulators Transmogrify Immune Training to Enhance Immunotherapy. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:3596. [PMID: 34298809 PMCID: PMC8305317 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13143596] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2021] [Revised: 07/13/2021] [Accepted: 07/14/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Cancer immunotherapy harnesses the immune system by targeting tumor cells that express antigens recognized by immune system cells, thus leading to tumor rejection. These tumor-associated antigens include tumor-specific shared antigens, differentiation antigens, protein products of mutated genes and rearrangements unique to tumor cells, overexpressed tissue-specific antigens, and exogenous viral proteins. However, the development of effective therapeutic approaches has proven difficult, mainly because these tumor antigens are shielded, and cells primarily express self-derived antigens. Despite innovative and notable advances in immunotherapy, challenges associated with variable patient response rates and efficacy on select tumors minimize the overall effectiveness of immunotherapy. Variations observed in response rates to immunotherapy are due to multiple factors, including adaptative resistance, competency, and a diversity of individual immune systems, including cancer stem cells in the tumor microenvironment, composition of the gut microbiota, and broad limitations of current immunotherapeutic approaches. New approaches are positioned to improve the immune response and increase the efficacy of immunotherapies, highlighting the challenges that the current global COVID-19 pandemic places on the present state of immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Reza Bayat Mokhtari
- Department of Biomedical and Molecular Sciences, Queen’s University, Kingston, ON K7L 3N6, Canada; (M.S.); (B.Q.)
- Department of Experimental Therapeutics, Thoreau Laboratory for Global Health, M2D2, University of Massachusetts, Lowell, MA 01852, USA;
| | - Manpreet Sambi
- Department of Biomedical and Molecular Sciences, Queen’s University, Kingston, ON K7L 3N6, Canada; (M.S.); (B.Q.)
| | - Bessi Qorri
- Department of Biomedical and Molecular Sciences, Queen’s University, Kingston, ON K7L 3N6, Canada; (M.S.); (B.Q.)
| | - Narges Baluch
- Department of Immunology and Allergy, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON M5G 0A4, Canada;
| | - Neda Ashayeri
- Division of Hematology & Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, Ali-Asghar Children Hospital, Iran University of Medical Science, Tehran 1449614535, Iran;
| | - Sushil Kumar
- QPS, Holdings LLC, Pencader Corporate Center, 110 Executive Drive, Newark, DE 19702, USA;
| | - Hai-Ling Margaret Cheng
- The Edward S. Rogers Sr. Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering, Institute of Biomedical Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5G 1M1, Canada;
- Translational Biology & Engineering Program, Ted Rogers Centre for Heart Research, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5G 1M1, Canada
| | - Herman Yeger
- Program in Developmental and Stem Cell Biology, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON M5G 0A4, Canada;
| | - Bikul Das
- Department of Experimental Therapeutics, Thoreau Laboratory for Global Health, M2D2, University of Massachusetts, Lowell, MA 01852, USA;
- KaviKrishna Laboratory, Department of Cancer and Stem Cell Biology, GBP, Indian Institute of Technology, Guwahati 781039, India
| | - Myron R. Szewczuk
- Department of Biomedical and Molecular Sciences, Queen’s University, Kingston, ON K7L 3N6, Canada; (M.S.); (B.Q.)
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Mota CA, Oyama J, Souza Terron Monich MD, Brustolin AÁ, Perez de Souza JV, Murase LS, Ghiraldi Lopes LD, Silva Santos TD, Vieira Teixeira JJ, Verzignassi Silveira TG. Three decades of clinical trials on immunotherapy for human leishmaniases: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Immunotherapy 2021; 13:693-721. [PMID: 33853344 DOI: 10.2217/imt-2020-0184] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Aim: Current treatments for leishmaniases are not satisfactory, thus alternatives are needed. We searched for clinical trials with immunotherapeutic approaches for patients with leishmaniasis. Materials & methods: Out of 205 articles, 24 clinical trials were selected, and eight submitted to meta-analysis. Results: A reduction in healing time was observed in patients with tegumentary leishmaniasis treated with pentavalent antimony plus granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor, and therapeutic vaccines. Overall meta-analysis indicated that immunotherapy associated with the standard chemotherapy generated a significantly reduced risk of treatment failure than the pentavalent antimony alone (p = 0.03). Conclusion: Our review confirmed the efficacy of immunotherapies for the treatment of cutaneous and visceral leishmaniasis and highlighted the importance of clinical trials using immunotherapies for leishmaniases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Camila Alves Mota
- Graduate Program in Health Sciences, State University of Maringá, Maringá, Paraná, Brazil
| | - Jully Oyama
- Graduate Program in Bioscience & Physiopathology, State University of Maringá, Maringá, Paraná, Brazil
| | | | - Aline Ávila Brustolin
- Graduate Program in Health Sciences, State University of Maringá, Maringá, Paraná, Brazil
| | - João Vítor Perez de Souza
- Graduate Program in Bioscience & Physiopathology, State University of Maringá, Maringá, Paraná, Brazil
| | - Letícia Sayuri Murase
- Graduate Program in Health Sciences, State University of Maringá, Maringá, Paraná, Brazil
| | - Luciana Dias Ghiraldi Lopes
- Laboratory of Clinical Virology, Department of Clinical Analysis & Biomedicine, State University of Maringá, Maringá, Paraná, Brazil
| | - Thais da Silva Santos
- Graduate Program in Bioscience & Physiopathology, State University of Maringá, Maringá, Paraná, Brazil
| | - Jorge Juarez Vieira Teixeira
- Laboratory of Leishmaniases, Department of Clinical Analysis & Biomedicine, State University of Maringá, Maringá, Paraná, Brazil
| | - Thaís Gomes Verzignassi Silveira
- Laboratory of Leishmaniases, Department of Clinical Analysis & Biomedicine, State University of Maringá, Maringá, Paraná, Brazil
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8
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Yi L, Huang P, Zou X, Guo L, Gu Y, Wen C, Wu G. Integrative stemness characteristics associated with prognosis and the immune microenvironment in esophageal cancer. Pharmacol Res 2020; 161:105144. [PMID: 32810627 DOI: 10.1016/j.phrs.2020.105144] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2020] [Revised: 07/21/2020] [Accepted: 08/10/2020] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cancer stem cells (CSCs) induces tumor metastasis and recurrence. However, the role of CSCs in molding the tumor immune microenvironment (TIME) is largely inexplicit. This study aimed to comprehensively characterize the stemness of esophageal cancer (EC) and correlate the stemness patterns with TIME. METHODS A trained stemness index model was used to score EC patients based on the one-class logistic regression (OCLR) machine-learning algorithm. Gene expression-based stemness index (mRNAsi) and DNA methylation-based stemness index (mDNAsi) were calculated for integrative analyses of EC stemness in the training cohort (n = 182) and validation cohort (n = 179). Intrinsic stemness patterns were estimated to determine its association with clinical features, biological pathways, prognosis, and potential inhibitors. Additionally, the dynamic interplay between EC stemness and TIME was integrally characterized. RESULTS Analyses of EC stemness and clinical characteristics indicated that higher-stage and metastatic tumors featured more dedifferentiated phenotypically. Univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses revealed that mRNAsi was significantly associated with overall survival (OS) of EC patients, whereas no relationship was observed between mDNAsi and OS. Notably, prolonged OS was observed with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) in low versus high mRNAsi groups, whereas the OS was equivalent between the two groups for esophageal adenocarcinoma (ESAD). The mRNAsi may thus recapitulate prognostic molecular subgroups of EC. The prognostic model comprising 14 stemness signatures was constructed using combined Cox and Lasso regression analyses which effectively distinguished individual survival of ESCC in two cohorts. Nevertheless, no significant differences in OS was observed when the same prognostic model of ESCC was applied to ESAD. Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA) of selected stemness signatures indicated that ESCC stemness is involved in immune-related pathways. Furthermore, ESCC stemness and stemness-related signatures were associated with tumor-infiltrating immune cells, immunoscore, and PD-L1 expression. Compounds specific to the selected stemness signatures were detected using the CMap database. CONCLUSION This study determined integrated characteristics of EC stemness. The identified mRNAsi-based signatures conferred with the predictive ability of personalized ESCC prognosis and highlighted the potential targets for CSC-mediated immunotherapy. Analyses of the interface between ESCC stemness and TIME may help in predicting the efficacy of CSC-specific immunotherapy and provide insight into combinatorial therapy by targeting ESCC stem cells and TIME.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lilan Yi
- Department of Oncology, Cancer Center, Meizhou People's Hospital (Huangtang Hospital), Meizhou Academy of Medical Sciences, Meizhou Hospital Affiliated to Sun Yat-sen University, 63 Huangtang Road, Meizhou, 514031, Guangdong, PR China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Precision Medicine and Clinical Translational Research of Hakka Population, 63 Huangtang Road, Meizhou, 514031, Guangdong, PR China.
| | - Ping Huang
- Department of Oncology, Cancer Center, Meizhou People's Hospital (Huangtang Hospital), Meizhou Academy of Medical Sciences, Meizhou Hospital Affiliated to Sun Yat-sen University, 63 Huangtang Road, Meizhou, 514031, Guangdong, PR China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Precision Medicine and Clinical Translational Research of Hakka Population, 63 Huangtang Road, Meizhou, 514031, Guangdong, PR China
| | - Xiaofang Zou
- Department of Oncology, Cancer Center, Meizhou People's Hospital (Huangtang Hospital), Meizhou Academy of Medical Sciences, Meizhou Hospital Affiliated to Sun Yat-sen University, 63 Huangtang Road, Meizhou, 514031, Guangdong, PR China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Precision Medicine and Clinical Translational Research of Hakka Population, 63 Huangtang Road, Meizhou, 514031, Guangdong, PR China
| | - Longhua Guo
- Department of Oncology, Cancer Center, Meizhou People's Hospital (Huangtang Hospital), Meizhou Academy of Medical Sciences, Meizhou Hospital Affiliated to Sun Yat-sen University, 63 Huangtang Road, Meizhou, 514031, Guangdong, PR China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Precision Medicine and Clinical Translational Research of Hakka Population, 63 Huangtang Road, Meizhou, 514031, Guangdong, PR China
| | - Yinfang Gu
- Department of Oncology, Cancer Center, Meizhou People's Hospital (Huangtang Hospital), Meizhou Academy of Medical Sciences, Meizhou Hospital Affiliated to Sun Yat-sen University, 63 Huangtang Road, Meizhou, 514031, Guangdong, PR China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Precision Medicine and Clinical Translational Research of Hakka Population, 63 Huangtang Road, Meizhou, 514031, Guangdong, PR China
| | - Chunling Wen
- Department of Oncology, Cancer Center, Meizhou People's Hospital (Huangtang Hospital), Meizhou Academy of Medical Sciences, Meizhou Hospital Affiliated to Sun Yat-sen University, 63 Huangtang Road, Meizhou, 514031, Guangdong, PR China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Precision Medicine and Clinical Translational Research of Hakka Population, 63 Huangtang Road, Meizhou, 514031, Guangdong, PR China
| | - Guowu Wu
- Department of Oncology, Cancer Center, Meizhou People's Hospital (Huangtang Hospital), Meizhou Academy of Medical Sciences, Meizhou Hospital Affiliated to Sun Yat-sen University, 63 Huangtang Road, Meizhou, 514031, Guangdong, PR China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Precision Medicine and Clinical Translational Research of Hakka Population, 63 Huangtang Road, Meizhou, 514031, Guangdong, PR China.
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9
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Mechanisms of cancer stem cell therapy. Clin Chim Acta 2020; 510:581-592. [PMID: 32791136 DOI: 10.1016/j.cca.2020.08.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2020] [Revised: 08/01/2020] [Accepted: 08/07/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are responsible for carcinogenesis and tumorigenesis and are involved in drug and radiation resistance, metastasis, tumor relapse and initiation. Remarkably, they have other abilities such as inheritance of self-renewal and de-differentiation. Hence, targeting CSCs is considered a potential anti-cancer therapeutic strategy. Recent advances in the identification of biomarkers to recognize CSCs and the development of new techniques to evaluate tumorigenic and carcinogenic roles of CSCs are instrumental to this approach. Elucidation of signaling pathways that regulate CSCs colony progression and drug resistance are critical in establishing effective targeted therapies. CSCs play a central key role in immunomodulation, immune evasion and effector immunity, which alters immune system balancing. These include mTOR, SHH, NOTCH and Wnt/β-catering in cancer progression. In this review article, we discuss the importance of these CSCs pathways in cancer therapy.
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10
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Hamid AB, Petreaca RC. Secondary Resistant Mutations to Small Molecule Inhibitors in Cancer Cells. Cancers (Basel) 2020; 12:cancers12040927. [PMID: 32283832 PMCID: PMC7226513 DOI: 10.3390/cancers12040927] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2020] [Revised: 04/05/2020] [Accepted: 04/07/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Secondary resistant mutations in cancer cells arise in response to certain small molecule inhibitors. These mutations inevitably cause recurrence and often progression to a more aggressive form. Resistant mutations may manifest in various forms. For example, some mutations decrease or abrogate the affinity of the drug for the protein. Others restore the function of the enzyme even in the presence of the inhibitor. In some cases, resistance is acquired through activation of a parallel pathway which bypasses the function of the drug targeted pathway. The Catalogue of Somatic Mutations in Cancer (COSMIC) produced a compendium of resistant mutations to small molecule inhibitors reported in the literature. Here, we build on these data and provide a comprehensive review of resistant mutations in cancers. We also discuss mechanistic parallels of resistance.
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