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Axemaker H, Plesselova S, Calar K, Jorgensen M, Wollman J, de la Puente P. Reprogramming of normal fibroblasts into ovarian cancer-associated fibroblasts via non-vesicular paracrine signaling induces an activated fibroblast phenotype. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA. MOLECULAR CELL RESEARCH 2024; 1871:119801. [PMID: 39038611 PMCID: PMC11365755 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbamcr.2024.119801] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2023] [Revised: 06/20/2024] [Accepted: 06/27/2024] [Indexed: 07/24/2024]
Abstract
Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) are key contributors to ovarian cancer (OC) progression and therapeutic resistance through dysregulation of the extracellular matrix (ECM). CAFs are a heterogenous population derived from different cell types through activation and reprogramming. Current studies rely on uncharacterized heterogenous primary CAFs or normal fibroblasts that fail to recapitulate CAF-like tumor behavior. Here, we present that conditioned media from ovarian cancer lines leads to an increase in the activated state of fibroblasts demonstrated by functional assays and up-regulation of known CAF-related genes and ECM pathways. Phenotypic and functional characterization demonstrated that the conditioned CAFs expressed a CAF-like phenotype, strengthened proliferation, secretory, contractility, and ECM remodeling properties when compared to resting normal fibroblasts, consistent with an activated fibroblast status. Moreover, conditioned CAFs significantly enhanced drug resistance and tumor progression. Critically, the conditioned CAFs resemble a transcriptional signature with involvement of ECM remodeling. The present study provides mechanistic and functional insights about the activation and reprogramming of CAFs in the ovarian tumor microenvironment mediated by non-vesicular paracrine signaling. Moreover, it provides a translational based approach to reprogram normal fibroblasts from both uterine and ovarian origin into CAFs using tumor-derived conditioned media. Using these resources, further development of therapeutics that possess potentiality and specificity towards CAF/ECM-mediated chemoresistance in OC are further warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hailey Axemaker
- Cancer Biology and Immunotherapies Group, Sanford Research, Sioux Falls, SD 57104, USA
| | - Simona Plesselova
- Cancer Biology and Immunotherapies Group, Sanford Research, Sioux Falls, SD 57104, USA
| | - Kristin Calar
- Cancer Biology and Immunotherapies Group, Sanford Research, Sioux Falls, SD 57104, USA
| | - Megan Jorgensen
- Cancer Biology and Immunotherapies Group, Sanford Research, Sioux Falls, SD 57104, USA
| | - Jared Wollman
- Flow Cytometry Core, Sanford Research, Sioux Falls, SD 57104, USA
| | - Pilar de la Puente
- Cancer Biology and Immunotherapies Group, Sanford Research, Sioux Falls, SD 57104, USA; Flow Cytometry Core, Sanford Research, Sioux Falls, SD 57104, USA; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of South Dakota Sanford School of Medicine, Sioux Falls, SD 57105, USA; Department of Surgery, University of South Dakota Sanford School of Medicine, Sioux Falls, SD 57105, USA.
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2
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Wong GYM, Li J, McKay M, Castaneda M, Bhimani N, Diakos C, Hugh TJ, Molloy MP. Proteogenomic Characterization of Early Intrahepatic Recurrence after Curative-Intent Treatment of Colorectal Liver Metastases. J Proteome Res 2024. [PMID: 39264718 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jproteome.4c00440] [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: 09/14/2024]
Abstract
Clinical and pathological factors are insufficient to accurately identify patients at risk of early recurrence after curative-intent treatment of colorectal liver metastases (CRLM). This study aimed to identify candidate prognostic proteogenomic biomarkers for early intrahepatic recurrence after curative-intent resection of CRLM. Patients diagnosed with intrahepatic recurrence within 6 months of liver resection were categorized as the "early recurrence" group, while those who achieved a recurrence-free status for 10 years were designated as "durable remission". Comprehensive genomic and proteomic profiling of fresh frozen samples from these prognostically distinct groups was performed using the TruSight Oncology 500 assay and label-free data-dependent acquisition liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. Genetic alterations were identified in 117 of the 523 profiled genes in patients with early recurrence. The most common somatic mutations linked to early recurrence were TP53 (88%), APC (71%), KRAS (38%), and SMAD4 (21%). SMAD4 alterations were absent in samples from patients with a durable remission. Calponin-2, versican core protein, glutathione peroxidase 3, fibulin-5, and amyloid-β precursor protein were upregulated more than 2-fold in early recurrence. Exploratory analysis of these proteogenomic biomarkers suggests that SMAD4, calponin-2, and glutathione peroxidase 3 may have the potential to predict early recurrence, enabling improved prognostication and precision oncology in CRLM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Geoffrey Yuet Mun Wong
- Department of Upper Gastrointestinal Surgery, Royal North Shore Hospital, Sydney, New South Wales 2065, Australia
- Northern Clinical School, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales 2065, Australia
- Bowel Cancer and Biomarker Research Laboratory, Kolling Institute, St Leonards, New South Wales 2065, Australia
| | - Jun Li
- Bowel Cancer and Biomarker Research Laboratory, Kolling Institute, St Leonards, New South Wales 2065, Australia
| | - Matthew McKay
- Bowel Cancer and Biomarker Research Laboratory, Kolling Institute, St Leonards, New South Wales 2065, Australia
| | - Miguel Castaneda
- Bowel Cancer and Biomarker Research Laboratory, Kolling Institute, St Leonards, New South Wales 2065, Australia
| | - Nazim Bhimani
- Department of Upper Gastrointestinal Surgery, Royal North Shore Hospital, Sydney, New South Wales 2065, Australia
- Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Camperdown, New South Wales 2050, Australia
| | - Connie Diakos
- Northern Clinical School, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales 2065, Australia
- Department of Medical Oncology, Royal North Shore Hospital, Sydney, New South Wales 2065, Australia
| | - Thomas J Hugh
- Department of Upper Gastrointestinal Surgery, Royal North Shore Hospital, Sydney, New South Wales 2065, Australia
- Northern Clinical School, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales 2065, Australia
| | - Mark P Molloy
- Bowel Cancer and Biomarker Research Laboratory, Kolling Institute, St Leonards, New South Wales 2065, Australia
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Ivancevic A, Simpson DM, Joyner OM, Bagby SM, Nguyen LL, Bitler BG, Pitts TM, Chuong EB. Endogenous retroviruses mediate transcriptional rewiring in response to oncogenic signaling in colorectal cancer. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2024; 10:eado1218. [PMID: 39018396 PMCID: PMC466953 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.ado1218] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2024] [Accepted: 06/13/2024] [Indexed: 07/19/2024]
Abstract
Cancer cells exhibit rewired transcriptional regulatory networks that promote tumor growth and survival. However, the mechanisms underlying the formation of these pathological networks remain poorly understood. Through a pan-cancer epigenomic analysis, we found that primate-specific endogenous retroviruses (ERVs) are a rich source of enhancers displaying cancer-specific activity. In colorectal cancer and other epithelial tumors, oncogenic MAPK/AP1 signaling drives the activation of enhancers derived from the primate-specific ERV family LTR10. Functional studies in colorectal cancer cells revealed that LTR10 elements regulate tumor-specific expression of multiple genes associated with tumorigenesis, such as ATG12 and XRCC4. Within the human population, individual LTR10 elements exhibit germline and somatic structural variation resulting from a highly mutable internal tandem repeat region, which affects AP1 binding activity. Our findings reveal that ERV-derived enhancers contribute to transcriptional dysregulation in response to oncogenic signaling and shape the evolution of cancer-specific regulatory networks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Atma Ivancevic
- BioFrontiers Institute and Department of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, USA
| | - David M. Simpson
- BioFrontiers Institute and Department of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, USA
| | - Olivia M. Joyner
- BioFrontiers Institute and Department of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, USA
| | - Stacey M. Bagby
- Division of Medical Oncology, Department of Medicine, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Lily L. Nguyen
- BioFrontiers Institute and Department of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, USA
- Division of Reproductive Sciences, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Ben G. Bitler
- Division of Reproductive Sciences, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Todd M. Pitts
- Division of Medical Oncology, Department of Medicine, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Edward B. Chuong
- BioFrontiers Institute and Department of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, USA
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Lin X, Yang P, Wang M, Huang X, Wang B, Chen C, Xu A, Cai J, Khan M, Liu S, Lin J. Dissecting gastric cancer heterogeneity and exploring therapeutic strategies using bulk and single-cell transcriptomic analysis and experimental validation of tumor microenvironment and metabolic interplay. Front Pharmacol 2024; 15:1355269. [PMID: 38962317 PMCID: PMC11220201 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2024.1355269] [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: 12/13/2023] [Accepted: 04/15/2024] [Indexed: 07/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Gastric cancer, the fifth most prevalent cancer worldwide, is often diagnosed in advanced stages with limited treatment options. Examining the tumor microenvironment (TME) and its metabolic reprogramming can provide insights for better diagnosis and treatment. This study investigates the link between TME factors and metabolic activity in gastric cancer using bulk and single-cell RNA-sequencing data. We identified two molecular subtypes in gastric cancer by analyzing the distinct expression patterns of 81 prognostic genes related to the TME and metabolism, which exhibited significant protein-level interactions. The high-risk subtype had increased stromal content, fibroblast and M2 macrophage infiltration, elevated glycosaminoglycans/glycosphingolipids biosynthesis, and fat metabolism, along with advanced clinicopathological features. It also exhibited low mutation rates and microsatellite instability, associating it with the mesenchymal phenotype. In contrast, the low-risk group showed higher tumor content and upregulated protein and sugar metabolism. We identified a 15-gene prognostic signature representing these characteristics, including CPVL, KYNU, CD36, and GPX3, strongly correlated with M2 macrophages, validated through single-cell analysis and an internal cohort. Despite resistance to immunotherapy, the high-risk group showed sensitivity to molecular targeted agents directed at IGF-1R (BMS-754807) and the PI3K-mTOR pathways (AZD8186, AZD8055). We experimentally validated these promising drugs for their inhibitory effects on MKN45 and MKN28 gastric cells. This study unveils the intricate interplay between TME and metabolic pathways in gastric cancer, offering potential for enhanced diagnosis, patient stratification, and personalized treatment. Understanding molecular features in each subtype enriches our comprehension of gastric cancer heterogeneity and potential therapeutic targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- XianTao Lin
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Affiliated Cancer Hospital and Institute of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Ping Yang
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Affiliated Cancer Hospital and Institute of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - MingKun Wang
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Affiliated Cancer Hospital and Institute of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xiuting Huang
- Department of Radiotherapy, The First Affiliated Hospital of Hainan Medical University, Haikou, China
| | - Baiyao Wang
- Department of Radiotherapy, The First Affiliated Hospital of Hainan Medical University, Haikou, China
| | - Chengcong Chen
- Department of Radiotherapy, The First Affiliated Hospital of Hainan Medical University, Haikou, China
| | - Anan Xu
- Department of Radiotherapy, The First Affiliated Hospital of Hainan Medical University, Haikou, China
| | - Jiazuo Cai
- Department of Radiotherapy, The First Affiliated Hospital of Hainan Medical University, Haikou, China
| | - Muhammad Khan
- Department of Radiotherapy, The First Affiliated Hospital of Hainan Medical University, Haikou, China
| | - Sha Liu
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Affiliated Cancer Hospital and Institute of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jie Lin
- Department of Radiotherapy, The First Affiliated Hospital of Hainan Medical University, Haikou, China
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Plesselova S, Calar K, Axemaker H, Sahly E, de la Puente P. Multicompartmentalized microvascularized tumor-on-a-chip to study tumor-stroma interactions and drug resistance in ovarian cancer. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.05.29.596456. [PMID: 38853974 PMCID: PMC11160770 DOI: 10.1101/2024.05.29.596456] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2024]
Abstract
Introduction The majority of ovarian cancer (OC) patients receiving standard of care chemotherapy develop chemoresistance within 5 years. The tumor microenvironment (TME) is a dynamic and influential player in disease progression and therapeutic response. However, there is a lack of models that allow us to elucidate the compartmentalized nature of TME in a controllable, yet physiologically relevant manner and its critical role in modulating drug resistance. Methods We developed a 3D microvascularized multiniche tumor-on-a-chip formed by five chambers (central cancer chamber, flanked by two lateral stromal chambers and two external circulation chambers) to recapitulate OC-TME compartmentalization and study its influence on drug resistance. Stromal chambers included endothelial cells alone or cocultured with normal fibroblasts or cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAF). Results The tumor-on-a-chip recapitulated spatial TME compartmentalization including vessel-like structure, stromal-mediated extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling, generation of oxygen gradients, and delayed drug diffusion/penetration from the circulation chamber towards the cancer chamber. The cancer chamber mimicked metastasis-like migration and increased drug resistance to carboplatin/paclitaxel treatment in the presence of CAF when compared to normal fibroblasts. CAF-mediated drug resistance was rescued by ECM targeted therapy. Critically, these results demonstrate that cellular crosstalk recreation and spatial organization through compartmentalization are essential to determining the effect of the compartmentalized OC-TME on drug resistance. Conclusions Our results present a functionally characterized microvascularized multiniche tumor-on-a-chip able to recapitulate TME compartmentalization influencing drug resistance. This technology holds the potential to guide the design of more effective and targeted therapeutic strategies to overcome chemoresistance in OC.
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Kment J, Newsted D, Young S, Vermeulen MC, Laight BJ, Greer PA, Lan Y, Craig AW. Blockade of TGF-β and PD-L1 by bintrafusp alfa promotes survival in preclinical ovarian cancer models by promoting T effector and NK cell responses. Br J Cancer 2024; 130:2003-2015. [PMID: 38622286 PMCID: PMC11183086 DOI: 10.1038/s41416-024-02677-9] [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: 10/03/2023] [Revised: 03/27/2024] [Accepted: 04/02/2024] [Indexed: 04/17/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Failure of immunotherapy in high-grade serous ovarian cancer (HGSC) may be due to high levels of transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) in ascites or tumour immune microenvironment (TIME). Here, we test whether coordinated blockade of TGF-β and PD-L1 with bintrafusp alfa (BA) can provoke anti-tumour immune responses in preclinical HGSC models. METHODS BA is a first-in-class bifunctional inhibitor of TGF-β and PD-L1, and was tested for effects on overall survival and altered TIME in syngeneic HGSC models. RESULTS Using a mouse ID8-derived HGSC syngeneic model with IFNγ-inducible PD-L1 expression, BA treatments significantly reduced ascites development and tumour burden. BA treatments depleted TGF-β and VEGF in ascites, and skewed the TIME towards cytotoxicity compared to control. In the BR5 HGSC syngeneic model, BA treatments increased tumour-infiltrating CD8 T cells with effector memory and cytotoxic markers, as well as cytolytic NK cells. Extended BA treatments in the BR5 model produced ∼50% BA-cured mice that were protected from re-challenge. These BA-cured mice had increased peritoneal T-effector memory and NK cells compared to controls. CONCLUSIONS Our preclinical studies of BA in advanced ovarian cancer models support further testing of BA as an improved immunotherapy option for patients with advanced ovarian cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacob Kment
- Cancer Biology & Genetics division, Queen's Cancer Research Institute, Kingston, ON, Canada
- Department of Biomedical and Molecular Sciences, Queen's University, Kingston, ON, Canada
| | - Daniel Newsted
- Cancer Biology & Genetics division, Queen's Cancer Research Institute, Kingston, ON, Canada
- Department of Biomedical and Molecular Sciences, Queen's University, Kingston, ON, Canada
| | - Stephanie Young
- Cancer Biology & Genetics division, Queen's Cancer Research Institute, Kingston, ON, Canada
| | - Michael C Vermeulen
- Cancer Biology & Genetics division, Queen's Cancer Research Institute, Kingston, ON, Canada
| | - Brian J Laight
- Cancer Biology & Genetics division, Queen's Cancer Research Institute, Kingston, ON, Canada
- Department of Pathology and Molecular Medicine, Queen's University, Kingston, ON, Canada
| | - Peter A Greer
- Cancer Biology & Genetics division, Queen's Cancer Research Institute, Kingston, ON, Canada
- Department of Pathology and Molecular Medicine, Queen's University, Kingston, ON, Canada
| | - Yan Lan
- EMD Serono Research & Development Institute, Inc., Billerica, MA, USA
| | - Andrew W Craig
- Cancer Biology & Genetics division, Queen's Cancer Research Institute, Kingston, ON, Canada.
- Department of Biomedical and Molecular Sciences, Queen's University, Kingston, ON, Canada.
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Liang C, Zhang Y, Wang S, Jiao W, Guo J, Zhang N, Liu X. Nanomaterials in modulating tumor-associated macrophages and enhancing immunotherapy. J Mater Chem B 2024; 12:4809-4823. [PMID: 38695349 DOI: 10.1039/d4tb00230j] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/23/2024]
Abstract
Tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) are predominantly present in the tumor microenvironment (TME) and play a crucial role in shaping the efficacy of tumor immunotherapy. These TAMs primarily exhibit a tumor-promoting M2-like phenotype, which is associated with the suppression of immune responses and facilitation of tumor progression. Interestingly, recent research has highlighted the potential of repolarizing TAMs from an M2 to a pro-inflammatory M1 status-a shift that has shown promise in impeding tumor growth and enhancing immune responsiveness. This concept is particularly intriguing as it offers a new dimension to cancer therapy by targeting the tumor microenvironment, which is a significant departure from traditional approaches that focus solely on tumor cells. However, the clinical application of TAM-modulating agents is often challenged by issues such as insufficient tumor accumulation and off-target effects, limiting their effectiveness and safety. In this regard, nanomaterials have emerged as a novel solution. They serve a dual role: as delivery vehicles that can enhance the accumulation of therapeutic agents in the tumor site and as TAM-modulators. This dual functionality of nanomaterials is a significant advancement as it addresses the key limitations of current TAM-modulating strategies and opens up new avenues for more efficient and targeted therapies. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the latest mechanisms and strategies involving nanomaterials in modulating macrophage polarization within the TME. It delves into the intricate interactions between nanomaterials and macrophages, elucidating how these interactions can be exploited to drive macrophage polarization towards a phenotype that is more conducive to anti-tumor immunity. Additionally, the review explores the burgeoning field of TAM-associated nanomedicines in combination with tumor immunotherapy. This combination approach is particularly promising as it leverages the strengths of both nanomedicine and immunotherapy, potentially leading to synergistic effects in combating cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chen Liang
- Key Laboratory of Resource Biology and Biotechnology in Western China, Ministry of Education, The College of Life Sciences & School of Medicine, Northwest University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710069, China.
| | - Yihan Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Synthetic and Natural Functional Molecule of the Ministry of Education, College of Chemistry and Materials Science, Northwest University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710127, China
| | - Siyao Wang
- Key Laboratory of Resource Biology and Biotechnology in Western China, Ministry of Education, The College of Life Sciences & School of Medicine, Northwest University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710069, China.
| | - Wangbo Jiao
- Key Laboratory of Synthetic and Natural Functional Molecule of the Ministry of Education, College of Chemistry and Materials Science, Northwest University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710127, China
| | - Jingyi Guo
- Key Laboratory of Resource Biology and Biotechnology in Western China, Ministry of Education, The College of Life Sciences & School of Medicine, Northwest University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710069, China.
| | - Nan Zhang
- Institute of Regenerative and Reconstructive Medicine, Med-X Institute, First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710049, China
| | - Xiaoli Liu
- Key Laboratory of Resource Biology and Biotechnology in Western China, Ministry of Education, The College of Life Sciences & School of Medicine, Northwest University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710069, China.
- Institute of Regenerative and Reconstructive Medicine, Med-X Institute, First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710049, China
- National Local Joint Engineering Research Center for Precision Surgery & Regenerative Medicine, Shaanxi Provincial Center for Regenerative Medicine and Surgical Engineering, First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710061, China
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Kazakova AN, Lukina MM, Anufrieva KS, Bekbaeva IV, Ivanova OM, Shnaider PV, Slonov A, Arapidi GP, Shender VO. Exploring the diversity of cancer-associated fibroblasts: insights into mechanisms of drug resistance. Front Cell Dev Biol 2024; 12:1403122. [PMID: 38818409 PMCID: PMC11137237 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2024.1403122] [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: 03/18/2024] [Accepted: 04/22/2024] [Indexed: 06/01/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction: Among the various stromal cell types within the tumor microenvironment, cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) emerge as the predominant constituent, exhibiting a diverse array of oncogenic functions not intrinsic to normal fibroblasts. Their involvement spans across all stages of tumorigenesis, encompassing initiation, progression, and metastasis. Current understanding posits the coexistence of distinct subpopulations of CAFs within the tumor microenvironment across a spectrum of solid tumors, showcasing both pro- and antitumor activities. Recent advancements in single-cell transcriptomics have revolutionized our ability to meticulously dissect the heterogeneity inherent to CAF populations. Furthermore, accumulating evidence underscores the pivotal role of CAFs in conferring therapeutic resistance to tumors against various drug modalities. Consequently, efforts are underway to develop pharmacological agents specifically targeting CAFs. Methods: This review embarks on a comprehensive analysis, consolidating data from 36 independent single-cell RNA sequencing investigations spanning 17 distinct human malignant tumor types. Results: Our exploration centers on elucidating CAF population markers, discerning their prognostic relevance, delineating their functional contributions, and elucidating the underlying mechanisms orchestrating chemoresistance. Discussion: Finally, we deliberate on the therapeutic potential of harnessing CAFs as promising targets for intervention strategies in clinical oncology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anastasia N. Kazakova
- Lopukhin Federal Research and Clinical Center of Physical-Chemical Medicine of Federal Medical Biological Agency, Moscow, Russia
- Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology (National Research University), Dolgoprudny, Russia
- Center for Precision Genome Editing and Genetic Technologies for Biomedicine, Lopukhin Federal Research and Clinical Center of Physical-Chemical Medicine of Federal Medical Biological Agency, Moscow, Russia
| | - Maria M. Lukina
- Lopukhin Federal Research and Clinical Center of Physical-Chemical Medicine of Federal Medical Biological Agency, Moscow, Russia
- Center for Precision Genome Editing and Genetic Technologies for Biomedicine, Lopukhin Federal Research and Clinical Center of Physical-Chemical Medicine of Federal Medical Biological Agency, Moscow, Russia
- Institute of Experimental Oncology and Biomedical Technologies, Privolzhsky Research Medical University, Nizhny Novgorod, Russia
| | - Ksenia S. Anufrieva
- Lopukhin Federal Research and Clinical Center of Physical-Chemical Medicine of Federal Medical Biological Agency, Moscow, Russia
| | - Irina V. Bekbaeva
- Lopukhin Federal Research and Clinical Center of Physical-Chemical Medicine of Federal Medical Biological Agency, Moscow, Russia
- Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology (National Research University), Dolgoprudny, Russia
| | - Olga M. Ivanova
- Lopukhin Federal Research and Clinical Center of Physical-Chemical Medicine of Federal Medical Biological Agency, Moscow, Russia
- Center for Precision Genome Editing and Genetic Technologies for Biomedicine, Lopukhin Federal Research and Clinical Center of Physical-Chemical Medicine of Federal Medical Biological Agency, Moscow, Russia
- Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Sechenov University, Moscow, Russia
| | - Polina V. Shnaider
- Lopukhin Federal Research and Clinical Center of Physical-Chemical Medicine of Federal Medical Biological Agency, Moscow, Russia
- Center for Precision Genome Editing and Genetic Technologies for Biomedicine, Lopukhin Federal Research and Clinical Center of Physical-Chemical Medicine of Federal Medical Biological Agency, Moscow, Russia
- Faculty of Biology, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, Russia
| | - Andrey Slonov
- Lopukhin Federal Research and Clinical Center of Physical-Chemical Medicine of Federal Medical Biological Agency, Moscow, Russia
| | - Georgij P. Arapidi
- Lopukhin Federal Research and Clinical Center of Physical-Chemical Medicine of Federal Medical Biological Agency, Moscow, Russia
- Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology (National Research University), Dolgoprudny, Russia
- Center for Precision Genome Editing and Genetic Technologies for Biomedicine, Lopukhin Federal Research and Clinical Center of Physical-Chemical Medicine of Federal Medical Biological Agency, Moscow, Russia
- Shemyakin–Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
| | - Victoria O. Shender
- Lopukhin Federal Research and Clinical Center of Physical-Chemical Medicine of Federal Medical Biological Agency, Moscow, Russia
- Center for Precision Genome Editing and Genetic Technologies for Biomedicine, Lopukhin Federal Research and Clinical Center of Physical-Chemical Medicine of Federal Medical Biological Agency, Moscow, Russia
- Shemyakin–Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
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You S, Han X, Xu Y, Sui L, Song K, Yao Q. High expression of SLC7A1 in high-grade serous ovarian cancer promotes tumor progression and is involved in MAPK/ERK pathway and EMT. Cancer Med 2024; 13:e7217. [PMID: 38752472 PMCID: PMC11097251 DOI: 10.1002/cam4.7217] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2023] [Revised: 04/01/2024] [Accepted: 04/15/2024] [Indexed: 05/19/2024] Open
Abstract
Our previous studies have shown that upregulation of SLC7A1 in epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) tumor cells significantly increases cancer cell proliferation, migration, and cisplatin resistance; however, the molecular mechanism by which SLC7A1 functions in EOC remains unknown. In later studies, we found that SLC7A1 is also highly expressed in the interstitial portion of high-grade serous ovarian cancer (HGSOC), but the significance of this high expression in the interstitial remains unclear. Here, we showed the Interstitial high expression of SLC7A1 in HGSOC by immunohistochemistry. SLC7A1 enriched in cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) was upregulated by TGF-β1. Transwell assay, scratch assay, cck8 assay and cell adhesion assay showed that SLC7A1 highly expressed in CAFs promoted tumor cells invasion, migration and metastasis in vitro. The effect of SLC7A1 on MAPK and EMT pathway proteins in ovarian cancer (OC) was verified by RNA sequencing and western blotting. Overexpression of SLC7A1 in OC is involved in MAPK/ ERK pathway and EMT. In general, in HGSOC, CAFs overexpressing SLC7A1 supported the migration and invasion of tumor cells; SLC7A1 is highly expressed in ovarian cancer and is involved in ERK phosphorylation and EMT signaling in MAPK signaling pathway. This suggests that SLC7A1 may be a potential therapeutic target for OC metastasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shijing You
- Department of Obstetrics and GynecologyThe Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao UniversityQingdaoShandongChina
| | - Xiahui Han
- Department of Obstetrics and GynecologyThe Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao UniversityQingdaoShandongChina
| | - Yuance Xu
- Department of Obstetrics and GynecologyThe Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao UniversityQingdaoShandongChina
| | - Lei Sui
- Department of Gynecological OncologyAffiliated Qingdao Central Hospital of Qingdao UniversityQingdaoShandongChina
| | - Kejuan Song
- Department of Obstetrics and GynecologyThe Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao UniversityQingdaoShandongChina
| | - Qin Yao
- Department of Obstetrics and GynecologyThe Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao UniversityQingdaoShandongChina
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Gorji-Bahri G, Krishna BM, Hagerling C, Orimo A, Jirström K, Papadakos KS, Blom AM. Stromal cartilage oligomeric matrix protein as a tumorigenic driver in ovarian cancer via Notch3 signaling and epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition. J Transl Med 2024; 22:351. [PMID: 38615020 PMCID: PMC11016227 DOI: 10.1186/s12967-024-05083-0] [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: 11/08/2023] [Accepted: 03/10/2024] [Indexed: 04/15/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cartilage oligomeric matrix protein (COMP), an extracellular matrix glycoprotein, is vital in preserving cartilage integrity. Further, its overexpression is associated with the aggressiveness of several types of solid cancers. This study investigated COMP's role in ovarian cancer, exploring clinicopathological links and mechanistic insights. METHODS To study the association of COMP expression in cancer cells and stroma with clinicopathological features of ovarian tumor patients, we analyzed an epithelial ovarian tumor cohort by immunohistochemical analysis. Subsequently, to study the functional mechanisms played by COMP, an in vivo xenograft mouse model and several molecular biology techniques such as transwell migration and invasion assay, tumorsphere formation assay, proximity ligation assay, and RT-qPCR array were performed. RESULTS Based on immunohistochemical analysis of epithelial ovarian tumor tissues, COMP expression in the stroma, but not in cancer cells, was linked to worse overall survival (OS) of ovarian cancer patients. A xenograft mouse model showed that carcinoma-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) expressing COMP stimulate the growth and metastasis of ovarian tumors through the secretion of COMP. The expression of COMP was upregulated in CAFs stimulated with TGF-β. Functionally, secreted COMP by CAFs enhanced the migratory capacity of ovarian cancer cells. Mechanistically, COMP activated the Notch3 receptor by enhancing the Notch3-Jagged1 interaction. The dependency of the COMP effect on Notch was confirmed when the migration and tumorsphere formation of COMP-treated ovarian cancer cells were inhibited upon incubation with Notch inhibitors. Moreover, COMP treatment induced epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition and upregulation of active β-catenin in ovarian cancer cells. CONCLUSION This study suggests that COMP secretion by CAFs drives ovarian cancer progression through the induction of the Notch pathway and epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gilar Gorji-Bahri
- Department of Translational Medicine, Lund University, Malmö, Sweden
| | - B Madhu Krishna
- Department of Translational Medicine, Lund University, Malmö, Sweden
| | | | - Akira Orimo
- Department of Pathology and Oncology, Juntendo University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Karin Jirström
- Department of Clinical Sciences Lund, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | | | - Anna M Blom
- Department of Translational Medicine, Lund University, Malmö, Sweden.
- Division of Medical Protein Chemistry, Department of Translational Medicine, Lund University, Malmö, Sweden.
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11
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Zhao P, Meng D, Hu Z, Liang Y, Feng Y, Sun T, Cheng L, Zheng X, Li H. Intra-sample reversed pairs based on differentially ranked genes reveal biosignature for ovarian cancer. Comput Biol Med 2024; 172:108208. [PMID: 38484696 DOI: 10.1016/j.compbiomed.2024.108208] [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: 01/17/2024] [Revised: 02/08/2024] [Accepted: 02/25/2024] [Indexed: 03/26/2024]
Abstract
Ovarian cancer, a major gynecological malignancy, often remains undetected until advanced stages, necessitating more effective early screening methods. Existing biomarker based on differential genes often suffers from variations in clinical practice. To overcome the limitations of absolute gene expression values including batch effects and biological heterogeneity, we introduced a pairwise biosignature leveraging intra-sample differentially ranked genes (DRGs) and machine learning for ovarian cancer detection across diverse cohorts. We analyzed ten cohorts comprising 872 samples with 796 ovarian cancer and 76 normal. Our method, DRGpair, involves three stages: intra-sample ranking differential analysis, reversed gene pair analysis, and iterative LASSO regression. We identified four DRG pairs, demonstrating superior diagnostic performance compared to current state-of-the-art biomarkers and differentially expressed genes in seven independent cohorts. This rank-based approach not only reduced computational complexity but also enhanced the specificity and effectiveness of biomarkers, revealing DRGs as promising candidates for ovarian cancer detection and offering a scalable model adaptable to varying cohort characteristics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pengfei Zhao
- School of Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen People's Hospital, Shenzhen, China
| | - Dian Meng
- School of Computing and Information Technology, Great Bay University, Guangdong, China
| | - Zunkai Hu
- School of Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen People's Hospital, Shenzhen, China
| | - Yining Liang
- School of Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen People's Hospital, Shenzhen, China
| | - Yating Feng
- School of Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen People's Hospital, Shenzhen, China
| | - Tongjie Sun
- School of Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen People's Hospital, Shenzhen, China
| | - Lixin Cheng
- School of Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen People's Hospital, Shenzhen, China
| | - Xubin Zheng
- School of Computing and Information Technology, Great Bay University, Guangdong, China; Great Bay Institute for Advanced Study, Guangdong, China
| | - Haili Li
- School of Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen People's Hospital, Shenzhen, China.
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12
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Ash SL, Orha R, Mole H, Dinesh-Kumar M, Lee SP, Turrell FK, Isacke CM. Targeting the activated microenvironment with endosialin (CD248)-directed CAR-T cells ablates perivascular cells to impair tumor growth and metastasis. J Immunother Cancer 2024; 12:e008608. [PMID: 38413223 PMCID: PMC10900351 DOI: 10.1136/jitc-2023-008608] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/25/2024] [Indexed: 02/29/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Targeting of solid cancers with chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-T cells is limited by the lack of suitable tumor-specific antigens and the immunosuppressive, desmoplastic tumor microenvironment that impedes CAR-T cell infiltration, activity and persistence. We hypothesized that targeting the endosialin (CD248) receptor, strongly expressed by tumor-associated pericytes and perivascular cancer-associated fibroblasts, would circumvent these challenges and offer an exciting antigen for CAR-T cell therapy due to the close proximity of target cells to the tumor vasculature, the limited endosialin expression in normal tissues and the lack of phenotype observed in endosialin knockout mice. METHODS We generated endosialin-directed E3K CAR-T cells from three immunocompetent mouse strains, BALB/c, FVB/N and C57BL/6. E3K CAR-T cell composition (CD4+/CD8+ ratio), activity in vitro against endosialin+ and endosialin- cells, and expansion and activity in vivo in syngeneic tumor models as well as in tumor-naive healthy and wounded mice and tumor-bearing endosialin knockout mice was assessed. RESULTS E3K CAR-T cells were active in vitro against both mouse and human endosialin+, but not endosialin-, cells. Adoptively transferred E3K CAR-T cells exhibited no activity in endosialin knockout mice, tumor-naive endosialin wildtype mice or in wound healing models, demonstrating an absence of off-target and on-target/off-tumor activity. By contrast, adoptive transfer of E3K CAR-T cells into BALB/c, FVB/N or C57BL/6 mice bearing syngeneic breast or lung cancer lines depleted target cells in the tumor stroma resulting in increased tumor necrosis, reduced tumor growth and a substantial impairment in metastatic outgrowth. CONCLUSIONS Together these data highlight endosialin as a viable antigen for CAR-T cell therapy and that targeting stromal cells closely associated with the tumor vasculature avoids CAR-T cells having to navigate the harsh immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment. Further, the ability of E3K CAR-T cells to recognize and target both mouse and human endosialin+ cells makes a humanized and optimized E3K CAR a promising candidate for clinical development applicable to a broad range of solid tumor types.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah L Ash
- The Institute of Cancer Research, London, UK
- Department of Oncology, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | | | - Holly Mole
- University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
| | | | | | - Frances K Turrell
- The Institute of Cancer Research, London, UK
- Division of Cancer Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
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13
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Jiang B, Xiao S, Zhang S, Xiao F. The miR-1290/OGN axis in ovarian cancer-associated fibroblasts modulates cancer cell proliferation and invasion. J Ovarian Res 2024; 17:52. [PMID: 38402185 PMCID: PMC10893657 DOI: 10.1186/s13048-024-01364-w] [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: 03/02/2023] [Accepted: 02/01/2024] [Indexed: 02/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Despite receiving first-line treatment, ovarian cancer patients continue to experience a high rate of recurrence; nearly all women with ovarian cancer develop chemoresistance and succumb to the disease. In this study, cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) and normal fibroblasts (NFs) were isolated from tumor-containing and normal omenta, respectively, and the downregulation of osteoglycin (OGN) in CAFs was observed. OGN overexpression in CAFs significantly inhibited ovarian cancer cell viability, DNA synthesis, and cell invasion. OGN overexpression also changed epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) markers and promoted mTOR and Akt phosphorylation in ovarian cancer cells. miR-1290 targeted OGN and inhibited OGN expression. miR-1290 overexpression in CAFs significantly promoted ovarian cancer cell viability, DNA synthesis, and cell invasion. Moreover, miR-1290 overexpression in CAFs also changed EMT markers and promoted mTOR and Akt phosphorylation within ovarian carcinoma cells. Finally, when ovarian cancer cells in a conditioned medium derived from CAFs co-transduced with miR-1290 mimics and OGN-OE were cultured, the effects of miR-1290 overexpression were partially reversed by OGN overexpression. In nude mouse xenograft tumor models, OGN overexpression in CAFs suppressed tumor growth, whereas miR-1290 overexpression in CAFs increased tumor growth. In conclusion, a miRNA/mRNA axis in ovarian cancer CAFs modulating the proliferative and invasive abilities of ovarian cancer cells, possibly via the Akt/mTOR pathway, was demonstrated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Biyao Jiang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The Third Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, NO.138 Tongzipo Road, Yuelu District, Changsha, Hunan, 410013, China
| | - Songshu Xiao
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The Third Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, NO.138 Tongzipo Road, Yuelu District, Changsha, Hunan, 410013, China
| | - Shan Zhang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The Third Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, NO.138 Tongzipo Road, Yuelu District, Changsha, Hunan, 410013, China
| | - Fang Xiao
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The Third Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, NO.138 Tongzipo Road, Yuelu District, Changsha, Hunan, 410013, China.
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14
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Hu Y, Recouvreux MS, Haro M, Taylan E, Taylor-Harding B, Walts AE, Karlan BY, Orsulic S. INHBA(+) cancer-associated fibroblasts generate an immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment in ovarian cancer. NPJ Precis Oncol 2024; 8:35. [PMID: 38360876 PMCID: PMC10869703 DOI: 10.1038/s41698-024-00523-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2023] [Accepted: 01/24/2024] [Indexed: 02/17/2024] Open
Abstract
Effective targeting of cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) is hindered by the lack of specific biomarkers and a poor understanding of the mechanisms by which different populations of CAFs contribute to cancer progression. While the role of TGFβ in CAFs is well-studied, less attention has been focused on a structurally and functionally similar protein, Activin A (encoded by INHBA). Here, we identified INHBA(+) CAFs as key players in tumor promotion and immunosuppression. Spatiotemporal analyses of patient-matched primary, metastatic, and recurrent ovarian carcinomas revealed that aggressive metastatic tumors enriched in INHBA(+) CAFs were also enriched in regulatory T cells (Tregs). In ovarian cancer mouse models, intraperitoneal injection of the Activin A neutralizing antibody attenuated tumor progression and infiltration with pro-tumorigenic subsets of myofibroblasts and macrophages. Downregulation of INHBA in human ovarian CAFs inhibited pro-tumorigenic CAF functions. Co-culture of human ovarian CAFs and T cells revealed the dependence of Treg differentiation on direct contact with INHBA(+) CAFs. Mechanistically, INHBA/recombinant Activin A in CAFs induced the autocrine expression of PD-L1 through SMAD2-dependent signaling, which promoted Treg differentiation. Collectively, our study identified an INHBA(+) subset of immunomodulatory pro-tumoral CAFs as a potential therapeutic target in advanced ovarian cancers which typically show a poor response to immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ye Hu
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
- Department of Gastroenterology, Xinhua Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200092, China
| | - Maria Sol Recouvreux
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
| | - Marcela Haro
- Women's Cancer Program, Samuel Oschin Comprehensive Cancer Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, 90048, USA
| | - Enes Taylan
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
| | - Barbie Taylor-Harding
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
| | - Ann E Walts
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, 90048, USA
| | - Beth Y Karlan
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
- Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
| | - Sandra Orsulic
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA.
- Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA.
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA.
- United States Department of Veterans Affairs, Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System, Los Angeles, CA, 90073, USA.
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15
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Zhang X, Zhang M, Sun H, Wang X, Wang X, Sheng W, Xu M. The role of transcription factors in the crosstalk between cancer-associated fibroblasts and tumor cells. J Adv Res 2024:S2090-1232(24)00046-8. [PMID: 38309692 DOI: 10.1016/j.jare.2024.01.033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2023] [Revised: 01/27/2024] [Accepted: 01/29/2024] [Indexed: 02/05/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Transcription factors (TFs) fulfill a critical role in the formation and maintenance of different cell types during the developmental process as well as disease. It is believed that cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) are activation status of tissue-resident fibroblasts or derived from form other cell types via transdifferentiation or dedifferentiation. Despite a subgroup of CAFs exhibit anti-cancer effects, most of them are reported to exert effects on tumor progression, further indicating their heterogeneous origin. AIM OF REVIEW This review aimed to summarize and review the roles of TFs in the reciprocal crosstalk between CAFs and tumor cells, discuss the emerging mechanisms, and their roles in cell-fate decision, cellular reprogramming and advancing our understanding of the gene regulatory networks over the period of cancer initiation and progression. KEY SCIENTIFIC CONCEPTS OF REVIEW This manuscript delves into the key contributory factors of TFs that are involved in activating CAFs and maintaining their unique states. Additionally, it explores how TFs play a pivotal and multifaceted role in the reciprocal crosstalk between CAFs and tumor cells. This includes their involvement in processes such as epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), proliferation, invasion, and metastasis, as well as metabolic reprogramming. TFs also have a role in constructing an immunosuppressive microenvironment, inducing resistance to radiation and chemotherapy, facilitating angiogenesis, and even 'educating' CAFs to support the malignancies of tumor cells. Furthermore, this manuscript delves into the current status of TF-targeted therapy and considers the future directions of TFs in conjunction with anti-CAFs therapies to address the challenges in clinical cancer treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoyan Zhang
- Department of Pathology, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai 200032, China; Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China; Institute of Pathology, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Meng Zhang
- Department of Pathology, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai 200032, China; Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China; Institute of Pathology, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Hui Sun
- Department of Pathology, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai 200032, China; Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China; Institute of Pathology, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Xu Wang
- Department of Pathology, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai 200032, China; Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China; Institute of Pathology, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Xin Wang
- Department of Pathology, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai 200032, China; Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China; Institute of Pathology, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Weiqi Sheng
- Department of Pathology, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai 200032, China; Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China; Institute of Pathology, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China.
| | - Midie Xu
- Department of Pathology, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai 200032, China; Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China; Institute of Pathology, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China.
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16
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Song G, Sun Z, Chu M, Zhang Z, Chen J, Wang Z, Zhu X. FBXO28 promotes cell proliferation, migration and invasion via upregulation of the TGF-beta1/SMAD2/3 signaling pathway in ovarian cancer. BMC Cancer 2024; 24:122. [PMID: 38267923 PMCID: PMC10807113 DOI: 10.1186/s12885-024-11893-8] [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: 08/24/2023] [Accepted: 01/17/2024] [Indexed: 01/26/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Ovarian cancer is one of the most common gynecological malignancies due to the lack of early symptoms, early diagnosis and limited screening. Therefore, it is necessary to understand the molecular mechanism underlying the occurrence and progression of ovarian cancer and to identify a basic biomarker for the early diagnosis and clinical treatment of ovarian cancer. METHODS The association between FBXO28 and ovarian cancer prognosis was analyzed using Kaplan‒Meier survival analysis. The difference in FBXO28 mRNA expression between normal ovarian tissues and ovarian tumor tissues was obtained from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), and Genotype-Tissue Expression (GTEx) cohorts. The expression levels of the FBXO28 protein in ovarian cancer tissues and normal ovarian tissues were measured via immunohistochemical staining. Western blotting was used to determine the level of FBXO28 expression in ovarian cancer cells. The CCK-8, the colony formation, Transwell migration and invasion assays were performed to evaluate cell proliferation and motility. RESULTS We found that a higher expression level of FBXO28 was associated with poor prognosis in ovarian cancer patients. Analysis of the TCGA and GTEx cohorts showed that the FBXO28 mRNA level was lower in normal ovarian tissue samples than in ovarian cancer tissue samples. Compared with that in normal ovarian tissues or cell lines, the expression of FBXO28 was greater in ovarian tumor tissues or tumor cells. The upregulation of FBXO28 promoted the viability, proliferation, migration and invasion of ovarian cancer cells. Finally, we demonstrated that FBXO28 activated the TGF-beta1/Smad2/3 signaling pathway in ovarian cancer. CONCLUSIONS In conclusion, FBXO28 enhanced oncogenic function via upregulation of the TGF-beta1/Smad2/3 signaling pathway in ovarian cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gendi Song
- Zhejiang Provincial Clinical Research Center for Obstetrics and Gynecology, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325027, China
| | - Zhengwei Sun
- Zhejiang Provincial Clinical Research Center for Obstetrics and Gynecology, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325027, China
| | - Man Chu
- Zhejiang Provincial Clinical Research Center for Obstetrics and Gynecology, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325027, China
| | - Zihan Zhang
- Zhejiang Provincial Clinical Research Center for Obstetrics and Gynecology, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325027, China
| | - Jiajia Chen
- Zhejiang Provincial Clinical Research Center for Obstetrics and Gynecology, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325027, China
| | - Zhiwei Wang
- Zhejiang Provincial Clinical Research Center for Obstetrics and Gynecology, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325027, China.
| | - Xueqiong Zhu
- Zhejiang Provincial Clinical Research Center for Obstetrics and Gynecology, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325027, China.
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Fang Y, Xiao X, Wang J, Dasari S, Pepin D, Nephew KP, Zamarin D, Mitra AK. Cancer associated fibroblasts serve as an ovarian cancer stem cell niche through noncanonical Wnt5a signaling. NPJ Precis Oncol 2024; 8:7. [PMID: 38191909 PMCID: PMC10774407 DOI: 10.1038/s41698-023-00495-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2023] [Accepted: 12/05/2023] [Indexed: 01/10/2024] Open
Abstract
Frequent relapse and chemoresistance cause poor outcome in ovarian cancer (OC) and cancer stem cells (CSCs) are important contributors. While most studies focus exclusively on CSCs, the role of the microenvironment in providing optimal conditions to maintain their tumor-initiating potential remains poorly understood. Cancer associated fibroblasts (CAFs) are a major constituent of the OC tumor microenvironment and we show that CAFs and CSCs are enriched following chemotherapy in patient tumors. CAFs significantly increase OC cell resistance to carboplatin. Using heterotypic CAF-OC cocultures and in vivo limiting dilution assay, we confirm that the CAFs act by enriching the CSC population. CAFs increase the symmetric division of CSCs as well as the dedifferentiation of bulk OC cells into CSCs. The effect of CAFs is limited to OC cells in their immediate neighborhood, which can be prevented by inhibiting Wnt. Analysis of single cell RNA-seq data from OC patients reveal Wnt5a as the highest expressed Wnt in CAFs and that certain subpopulations of CAFs express higher levels of Wnt5a. Our findings demonstrate that Wnt5a from CAFs activate a noncanonical Wnt signaling pathway involving the ROR2/PKC/CREB1 axis in the neighboring CSCs. While canonical Wnt signaling is found to be predominant in interactions between cancer cells in patients, non-canonical Wnt pathway is activated by the CAF-OC crosstalk. Treatment with a Wnt5a inhibitor sensitizes tumors to carboplatin in vivo. Together, our results demonstrate a novel mechanism of CSC maintenance by signals from the microenvironmental CAFs, which can be targeted to treat OC chemoresistance and relapse.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yiming Fang
- Indiana University School of Medicine-Bloomington, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, USA
- Indiana University Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - Xue Xiao
- Indiana University School of Medicine-Bloomington, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, USA
- Indiana University Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - Ji Wang
- Indiana University School of Medicine-Bloomington, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, USA
- Indiana University Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - Subramanyam Dasari
- Indiana University School of Medicine-Bloomington, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, USA
- Indiana University Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - David Pepin
- Pediatric Surgical Research Laboratories, Massachusetts General Hospital; Department of Surgery, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Kenneth P Nephew
- Indiana University School of Medicine-Bloomington, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, USA
- Indiana University Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - Dmitriy Zamarin
- Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Anirban K Mitra
- Indiana University School of Medicine-Bloomington, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, USA.
- Indiana University Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA.
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18
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Zhao Z, Wang Q, Zhao F, Ma J, Sui X, Choe HC, Chen P, Gao X, Zhang L. Single-cell and transcriptomic analyses reveal the influence of diabetes on ovarian cancer. BMC Genomics 2024; 25:1. [PMID: 38166541 PMCID: PMC10759538 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-023-09893-2] [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: 07/13/2023] [Accepted: 12/11/2023] [Indexed: 01/04/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND There has been a significant surge in the global prevalence of diabetes mellitus (DM), which increases the susceptibility of individuals to ovarian cancer (OC). However, the relationship between DM and OC remains largely unexplored. The objective of this study is to provide preliminary insights into the shared molecular regulatory mechanisms and potential biomarkers between DM and OC. METHODS Multiple datasets from the GEO database were utilized for bioinformatics analysis. Single cell datasets from the GEO database were analysed. Subsequently, immune cell infiltration analysis was performed on mRNA expression data. The intersection of these datasets yielded a set of common genes associated with both OC and DM. Using these overlapping genes and Cytoscape, a protein‒protein interaction (PPI) network was constructed, and 10 core targets were selected. Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analyses were then conducted on these core targets. Additionally, advanced bioinformatics analyses were conducted to construct a TF-mRNA-miRNA coregulatory network based on identified core targets. Furthermore, immunohistochemistry staining (IHC) and real-time quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) were employed for the validation of the expression and biological functions of core proteins, including HSPAA1, HSPA8, SOD1, and transcription factors SREBF2 and GTAT2, in ovarian tumors. RESULTS The immune cell infiltration analysis based on mRNA expression data for both DM and OC, as well as analysis using single-cell datasets, reveals significant differences in mononuclear cell levels. By intersecting the single-cell datasets, a total of 119 targets related to mononuclear cells in both OC and DM were identified. PPI network analysis further identified 10 hub genesincludingHSP90AA1, HSPA8, SNRPD2, UBA52, SOD1, RPL13A, RPSA, ITGAM, PPP1CC, and PSMA5, as potential targets of OC and DM. Enrichment analysis indicated that these genes are primarily associated with neutrophil degranulation, GDP-dissociation inhibitor activity, and the IL-17 signaling pathway, suggesting their involvement in the regulation of the tumor microenvironment. Furthermore, the TF-gene and miRNA-gene regulatory networks were validated using NetworkAnalyst. The identified TFs included SREBF2, GATA2, and SRF, while the miRNAs included miR-320a, miR-378a-3p, and miR-26a-5p. Simultaneously, IHC and RT-qPCR reveal differential expression of core targets in ovarian tumors after the onset of diabetes. RT-qPCR further revealed that SREBF2 and GATA2 may influence the expression of core proteins, including HSP90AA1, HSPA8, and SOD1. CONCLUSION This study revealed the shared gene interaction network between OC and DM and predicted the TFs and miRNAs associated with core genes in monocytes. Our research findings contribute to identifying potential biological mechanisms underlying the relationship between OC and DM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhihao Zhao
- Institute (College) of Integrative Medicine, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China
| | - Qilin Wang
- Institute (College) of Integrative Medicine, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China
| | - Fang Zhao
- Institute of Innovation and Applied Research in Chinese Medicine, Department of Rheumatology of The First Hospital, Hunan University of Chinese Medicine, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Junnan Ma
- Institute (College) of Integrative Medicine, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China
| | - Xue Sui
- Institute (College) of Integrative Medicine, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China
| | - Hyok Chol Choe
- Institute (College) of Integrative Medicine, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Sinuiju Medical University, Sinuiju, Democratic People's Republic of Korea
| | - Peng Chen
- Institute (College) of Integrative Medicine, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China
| | - Xue Gao
- Department of Pathology, the First Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, Liaoning Province, 116027, China.
| | - Lin Zhang
- Institute (College) of Integrative Medicine, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China.
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WU JIANFA, LIAO QIANYI, ZHANG LI, WU SUQIN, LIU ZHOU. TGF-β-regulated different iron metabolism processes in the development and cisplatin resistance of ovarian cancer. Oncol Res 2023; 32:373-391. [PMID: 38186569 PMCID: PMC10765122 DOI: 10.32604/or.2023.031404] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2023] [Accepted: 10/18/2023] [Indexed: 01/09/2024] Open
Abstract
The impact of different iron metabolism processes (DIMP) on ovarian cancer remains unclear. In this study, we employed various gene chips and databases to investigate the role of DIMP in the initiation and development of ovarian cancer. cBioPortal was used to determine mutations in DIMP-associated genes in ovarian cancer. Kaplan-Meier plotter was used to examine the influence of DIMP on the prognosis of ovarian cancer. By analyzing 1669 serous ovarian cancer cases, we identified a range of mutations in iron metabolism genes, notably in those coding for the transferrin receptor (19%), melanotransferrin (19%), and ceruloplasmin (10%) in the iron import process, and glucose-6-phosphate isomerase (9%), hepcidin antimicrobial peptide (9%), metal regulatory transcription factor 1 (8%), and bone morphogenetic protein 6 (8%) in the iron regulation process. Compared to the unaltered group, the group with gene alterations exhibited a higher tumor mutation burden count (43 vs. 54) and more advanced histologic grade (78.19% vs. 87.90%). Compared to the normal ovarian counterparts, a reduction in expression was observed in 9 out of the 14 genes involved in iron utilization and 4 out of the 5 genes involved in iron export in ovarian cancer; in contrast, an increase in expression was observed in 2 out of the 3 genes involved in iron storage in ovarian cancer. Furthermore, in cisplatin-resistant cells compared to cisplatin-sensitive ones, the expression of all genes in iron storage and 13 out of 14 genes in iron import was decreased, while that of 8 out of the 10 genes in iron utilization was increased. In addition, survival curve analysis indicated that a higher expression in the majority of genes in the iron import process (12/21), or a reduced expression in most genes in the iron export process (4/5) correlated with poor progression-free survival. Additionally, TGF-β could regulate the expression of most iron metabolism-associated genes; particularly, expression of genes involved in the iron storage process (2/2) was inhibited after TGF-β1 or TGF-β2 treatment. In conclusion, DIMP plays multifaceted roles in the initiation, chemo-resistance, and prognosis of ovarian cancer. Therapeutically targeting DIMP may pave the way for more tailored treatment approaches for ovarian cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- JIANFA WU
- Department of Gynecology, Shanghai University of Medicine & Health Sciences Affiliated Zhoupu Hospital, Shanghai, China
- Department of Gynecology, Shanghai University of Medicine & Health Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - QIANYI LIAO
- Department of Gynecology, Gongshan People’s Hospital, Nujiang Lisu Autonomous Prefecture, China
| | - LI ZHANG
- Department of Gynecology, Shanghai University of Medicine & Health Sciences Affiliated Zhoupu Hospital, Shanghai, China
- Department of Gynecology, Shanghai University of Medicine & Health Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - SUQIN WU
- Department of Gynecology, Shanghai University of Medicine & Health Sciences Affiliated Zhoupu Hospital, Shanghai, China
- Department of Gynecology, Shanghai University of Medicine & Health Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - ZHOU LIU
- Department of Gynecology, Shanghai University of Medicine & Health Sciences Affiliated Zhoupu Hospital, Shanghai, China
- Department of Gynecology, Shanghai University of Medicine & Health Sciences, Shanghai, China
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20
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Fang X, Nie L, Putluri S, Ni N, Bartholin L, Li Q. Sertoli Cell-Specific Activation of Transforming Growth Factor Beta Receptor 1 Leads to Testicular Granulosa Cell Tumor Formation. Cells 2023; 12:2717. [PMID: 38067144 PMCID: PMC10706251 DOI: 10.3390/cells12232717] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2023] [Revised: 11/20/2023] [Accepted: 11/23/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023] Open
Abstract
The transforming growth factor β (TGFβ) superfamily, consisting of protein ligands, receptors, and intracellular SMAD transducers, regulates fundamental biological processes and cancer development. Our previous study has shown that sustained activation of TGFβ receptor 1 (TGFBR1) driven by anti-Mullerian hormone receptor type 2 (Amhr2)-Cre in the mouse testis induces the formation of testicular granulosa cell tumors (TGCTs). As Amhr2-Cre is expressed in both Sertoli cells and Leydig cells, it remains unclear whether the activation of TGFBR1 in Sertoli cells alone is sufficient to induce TGCT formation. Therefore, the objective of this study was to determine whether Sertoli cell-activation of TGFBR1 drives oncogenesis in the testis. Our hypothesis was that overactivation of TGFBR1 in Sertoli cells would promote their transdifferentiation into granulosa-like cells and the formation of TGCTs. To test this hypothesis, we generated mice harboring constitutive activation of TGFBR1 in Sertoli cells using anti-Mullerian hormone (Amh)-Cre. Disorganized seminiferous tubules and tumor nodules were found in TGFBR1CA; Amh-Cre mice. A histological analysis showed that Sertoli cell-specific activation of TGFBR1 led to the development of neoplasms resembling granulosa cell tumors, which derailed spermatogenesis. Moreover, TGCTs expressed granulosa cell markers including FOXL2, FOXO1, and INHA. Using a dual fluorescence reporter line, the membrane-targeted tdTomato (mT)/membrane-targeted EGFP (mG) mouse, we provided evidence that Sertoli cells transdifferentiated toward a granulosa cell fate during tumorigenesis. Thus, our findings indicate that Sertoli cell-specific activation of TGFBR1 leads to the formation of TGCTs, supporting a key contribution of Sertoli cell reprogramming to the development of this testicular malignancy in our model.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xin Fang
- Department of Veterinary Integrative Biosciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA
| | - Linfeng Nie
- Department of Veterinary Integrative Biosciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA
| | - Satwikreddy Putluri
- Department of Veterinary Integrative Biosciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA
| | - Nan Ni
- Department of Veterinary Integrative Biosciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA
| | - Laurent Bartholin
- INSERM U1052, CNRS UMR5286, Centre de Recherche en Cancérologie de Lyon, Université Lyon 1, F-69000 Lyon, France
- Centre Léon Bérard, F-69008 Lyon, France
| | - Qinglei Li
- Department of Veterinary Integrative Biosciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA
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21
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Chiba M, Miyata K, Okawa H, Tanaka Y, Ueda K, Seimiya H, Takahashi A. YBX1 Regulates Satellite II RNA Loading into Small Extracellular Vesicles and Promotes the Senescent Phenotype. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:16399. [PMID: 38003589 PMCID: PMC10671301 DOI: 10.3390/ijms242216399] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2023] [Revised: 11/10/2023] [Accepted: 11/13/2023] [Indexed: 11/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Senescent cells secrete inflammatory proteins and small extracellular vesicles (sEVs), collectively termed senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP), and promote age-related diseases. Epigenetic alteration in senescent cells induces the expression of satellite II (SATII) RNA, non-coding RNA transcribed from pericentromeric repetitive sequences in the genome, leading to the expression of inflammatory SASP genes. SATII RNA is contained in sEVs and functions as an SASP factor in recipient cells. However, the molecular mechanism of SATII RNA loading into sEVs is unclear. In this study, we identified Y-box binding protein 1 (YBX1) as a carrier of SATII RNA via mass spectrometry analysis after RNA pull-down. sEVs containing SATII RNA induced cellular senescence and promoted the expression of inflammatory SASP genes in recipient cells. YBX1 knockdown significantly reduced SATII RNA levels in sEVs and inhibited the propagation of SASP in recipient cells. The analysis of the clinical dataset revealed that YBX1 expression is higher in cancer stroma than in normal stroma of breast and ovarian cancer tissues. Furthermore, high YBX1 expression was correlated with poor prognosis in breast and ovarian cancers. This study demonstrated that SATII RNA loading into sEVs is regulated via YBX1 and that YBX1 is a promising target in novel cancer therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Masatomo Chiba
- Division of Cellular Senescence, The Cancer Institute, Japanese Foundation for Cancer Research, Tokyo 135-8550, Japan; (M.C.); (K.M.); (H.O.); (Y.T.)
- Department of Computational Biology and Medical Sciences, Graduate School of Frontier Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo 113-8654, Japan;
| | - Kenichi Miyata
- Division of Cellular Senescence, The Cancer Institute, Japanese Foundation for Cancer Research, Tokyo 135-8550, Japan; (M.C.); (K.M.); (H.O.); (Y.T.)
- Project for Cancer Epigenomics, The Cancer Institute, Japanese Foundation for Cancer Research, Tokyo 135-8550, Japan
| | - Hikaru Okawa
- Division of Cellular Senescence, The Cancer Institute, Japanese Foundation for Cancer Research, Tokyo 135-8550, Japan; (M.C.); (K.M.); (H.O.); (Y.T.)
| | - Yoko Tanaka
- Division of Cellular Senescence, The Cancer Institute, Japanese Foundation for Cancer Research, Tokyo 135-8550, Japan; (M.C.); (K.M.); (H.O.); (Y.T.)
| | - Koji Ueda
- Cancer Proteomics Group, Cancer Precision Medicine Center, Japanese Foundation for Cancer Research, Tokyo 135-8550, Japan;
| | - Hiroyuki Seimiya
- Department of Computational Biology and Medical Sciences, Graduate School of Frontier Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo 113-8654, Japan;
- Division of Molecular Biotherapy, Cancer Chemotherapy Center, Japanese Foundation for Cancer Rsearch, Tokyo 135-8550, Japan
| | - Akiko Takahashi
- Division of Cellular Senescence, The Cancer Institute, Japanese Foundation for Cancer Research, Tokyo 135-8550, Japan; (M.C.); (K.M.); (H.O.); (Y.T.)
- Cancer Cell Communication Project, NEXT-Ganken Program, Japanese Foundation for Cancer Research, Tokyo 135-8550, Japan
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22
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Kozieł MJ, Piastowska-Ciesielska AW. Estrogens, Estrogen Receptors and Tumor Microenvironment in Ovarian Cancer. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:14673. [PMID: 37834120 PMCID: PMC10572993 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241914673] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2023] [Revised: 09/20/2023] [Accepted: 09/26/2023] [Indexed: 10/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Ovarian cancer is one of the most common cancers in women and the most concerning issues in gynecological oncology in recent years. It is postulated that many factors may contribute to the development of ovarian cancer, including hormonal imbalance. Estrogens are a group of hormones that have an important role both in physiological and pathological processes. In ovarian cancer, they may regulate proliferation, invasiveness and epithelial to mesenchymal transition. Estrogen signaling also takes part in the regulation of the biology of the tumor microenvironment. This review summarizes the information connected with estrogen receptors, estrogens and their association with a tumor microenvironment. Moreover, this review also includes information about the changes in estrogen receptor expression upon exposition to various environmental chemicals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marta Justyna Kozieł
- Department of Cell Cultures and Genomic Analysis, Medical University of Lodz, 90-752 Lodz, Poland
- BRaIn Laboratories, Medical University of Lodz, 92-216 Lodz, Poland
| | - Agnieszka Wanda Piastowska-Ciesielska
- Department of Cell Cultures and Genomic Analysis, Medical University of Lodz, 90-752 Lodz, Poland
- BRaIn Laboratories, Medical University of Lodz, 92-216 Lodz, Poland
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23
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Lobel GP, Jiang Y, Simon MC. Tumor microenvironmental nutrients, cellular responses, and cancer. Cell Chem Biol 2023; 30:1015-1032. [PMID: 37703882 PMCID: PMC10528750 DOI: 10.1016/j.chembiol.2023.08.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2023] [Revised: 08/17/2023] [Accepted: 08/22/2023] [Indexed: 09/15/2023]
Abstract
Over the last two decades, the rapidly expanding field of tumor metabolism has enhanced our knowledge of the impact of nutrient availability on metabolic reprogramming in cancer. Apart from established roles in cancer cells themselves, various nutrients, metabolic enzymes, and stress responses are key to the activities of tumor microenvironmental immune, fibroblastic, endothelial, and other cell types that support malignant transformation. In this article, we review our current understanding of how nutrient availability affects metabolic pathways and responses in both cancer and "stromal" cells, by dissecting major examples and their regulation of cellular activity. Understanding the relationship of nutrient availability to cellular behaviors in the tumor ecosystem will broaden the horizon of exploiting novel therapeutic vulnerabilities in cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Graham P Lobel
- Abramson Family Cancer Research Institute, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Yanqing Jiang
- Abramson Family Cancer Research Institute, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - M Celeste Simon
- Abramson Family Cancer Research Institute, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.
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24
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Nikolatou K, Sandilands E, Román‐Fernández A, Cumming EM, Freckmann E, Lilla S, Buetow L, McGarry L, Neilson M, Shaw R, Strachan D, Miller C, Huang DT, McNeish IA, Norman JC, Zanivan S, Bryant DM. PTEN deficiency exposes a requirement for an ARF GTPase module for integrin-dependent invasion in ovarian cancer. EMBO J 2023; 42:e113987. [PMID: 37577760 PMCID: PMC10505920 DOI: 10.15252/embj.2023113987] [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: 03/09/2023] [Revised: 07/13/2023] [Accepted: 07/19/2023] [Indexed: 08/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Dysregulation of the PI3K/AKT pathway is a common occurrence in high-grade serous ovarian carcinoma (HGSOC), with the loss of the tumour suppressor PTEN in HGSOC being associated with poor prognosis. The cellular mechanisms of how PTEN loss contributes to HGSOC are largely unknown. We here utilise time-lapse imaging of HGSOC spheroids coupled to a machine learning approach to classify the phenotype of PTEN loss. PTEN deficiency induces PI(3,4,5)P3 -rich and -dependent membrane protrusions into the extracellular matrix (ECM), resulting in a collective invasion phenotype. We identify the small GTPase ARF6 as a crucial vulnerability of HGSOC cells upon PTEN loss. Through a functional proteomic CRISPR screen of ARF6 interactors, we identify the ARF GTPase-activating protein (GAP) AGAP1 and the ECM receptor β1-integrin (ITGB1) as key ARF6 interactors in HGSOC regulating PTEN loss-associated invasion. ARF6 functions to promote invasion by controlling the recycling of internalised, active β1-integrin to maintain invasive activity into the ECM. The expression of the CYTH2-ARF6-AGAP1 complex in HGSOC patients is inversely associated with outcome, allowing the identification of patient groups with improved versus poor outcome. ARF6 may represent a therapeutic vulnerability in PTEN-depleted HGSOC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Konstantina Nikolatou
- School of Cancer SciencesUniversity of GlasgowGlasgowUK
- The CRUK Beatson InstituteGlasgowUK
| | - Emma Sandilands
- School of Cancer SciencesUniversity of GlasgowGlasgowUK
- The CRUK Beatson InstituteGlasgowUK
| | - Alvaro Román‐Fernández
- School of Cancer SciencesUniversity of GlasgowGlasgowUK
- The CRUK Beatson InstituteGlasgowUK
| | - Erin M Cumming
- School of Cancer SciencesUniversity of GlasgowGlasgowUK
- The CRUK Beatson InstituteGlasgowUK
| | - Eva Freckmann
- School of Cancer SciencesUniversity of GlasgowGlasgowUK
- The CRUK Beatson InstituteGlasgowUK
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Danny T Huang
- School of Cancer SciencesUniversity of GlasgowGlasgowUK
- The CRUK Beatson InstituteGlasgowUK
| | - Iain A McNeish
- Department of Surgery and Cancer, Ovarian Cancer Action Research CentreImperial College LondonLondonUK
| | - James C Norman
- School of Cancer SciencesUniversity of GlasgowGlasgowUK
- The CRUK Beatson InstituteGlasgowUK
| | - Sara Zanivan
- School of Cancer SciencesUniversity of GlasgowGlasgowUK
- The CRUK Beatson InstituteGlasgowUK
| | - David M Bryant
- School of Cancer SciencesUniversity of GlasgowGlasgowUK
- The CRUK Beatson InstituteGlasgowUK
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25
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Zhou H, Lu D, Yu D, Luo C, Xie K, Ma H, Li S, Liang J, Wei F, Chen L, Luo D, Wang W, Wei J. Pan-cancer analysis of the oncogenic role of the core osteosarcoma gene VCAN in human tumors. Am J Transl Res 2023; 15:5556-5573. [PMID: 37854213 PMCID: PMC10579017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2023] [Accepted: 08/30/2023] [Indexed: 10/20/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Versican (VCAN), a member of the multifunctional glycoprotein family, is involved in various aspects of cancer progression. However, the role of VCAN in diverse cancers remains poorly defined. This research aimed to investigate the correlation between VCAN expression and the oncogenic role, as well as visualize its prognostic landscape in pan-cancer. METHODS Raw data in regard to VCAN expression in cancer patients were acquired from GEO GeneChip public database in NCBI. Besides, we selected microarray data GSE16088 for analysis. We retrieved the genes associated with osteosarcoma (OS) from the OMIM database and identified their intersection with the core module. VCAN was suggested to be a potential marker gene for OS. Subsequently, we conducted Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA) to explore gene functional enrichment. Moreover, we performed pan-cancer analysis on VCAN to gain a comprehensive understanding of its implications across various cancer types. RESULTS The VCAN expression in the tumor tissue was higher than that in normal tissue. Elevated expression of VCAN was associated with high the tumor stage and poor long-term survival. There was a significant positive correlation between VCAN and cancer fibroblasts in all pan cancers. Moreover, FBN1 was the intersection gene of VCAN-related genes and linker genes. ANTXR1, COL5A2, CSGALNACT2, and SPARC were the target genes of VCAN genes. GSEA analysis showed that VCAN was mainly enriched in the extracellular matrix (ECM) signaling pathway. CONCLUSION VCAN can be used as a marker molecule for the early diagnosis of OS and holds significance as a molecule in cases of OS with distant metastasis. The ECM signaling pathway may be a core pathway in OS development and distant metastasis. These findings shed new light on therapeutics of cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haidong Zhou
- Graduate School of Youjiang Medical University for NationalitiesBaise 533000, Guangxi, China
- Department of Sports Medicine, Baidong Hospital Affiliated to Youjiang Medical College for NationalitiesBaise 533000, Guangxi, China
| | - Dinggui Lu
- Department of Trauma Orthopedics, Baidong Hospital, Youjiang Medical College for NationalitiesBaise 533000, Guangxi, China
| | - Dianbo Yu
- Department of Sports Medicine, Baidong Hospital Affiliated to Youjiang Medical College for NationalitiesBaise 533000, Guangxi, China
| | - Changtai Luo
- Graduate School of Youjiang Medical University for NationalitiesBaise 533000, Guangxi, China
| | - Kangqi Xie
- Department of Sports Medicine, Baidong Hospital Affiliated to Youjiang Medical College for NationalitiesBaise 533000, Guangxi, China
| | - Huade Ma
- Department of Sports Medicine, Baidong Hospital Affiliated to Youjiang Medical College for NationalitiesBaise 533000, Guangxi, China
| | - Shanlang Li
- Department of Sports Medicine, Baidong Hospital Affiliated to Youjiang Medical College for NationalitiesBaise 533000, Guangxi, China
| | - Jiyun Liang
- Graduate School of Youjiang Medical University for NationalitiesBaise 533000, Guangxi, China
| | - Fengxu Wei
- Graduate School of Youjiang Medical University for NationalitiesBaise 533000, Guangxi, China
| | - Luchang Chen
- Graduate School of Youjiang Medical University for NationalitiesBaise 533000, Guangxi, China
| | - Dong Luo
- Graduate School of Youjiang Medical University for NationalitiesBaise 533000, Guangxi, China
| | - Wei Wang
- Graduate School of Youjiang Medical University for NationalitiesBaise 533000, Guangxi, China
| | - Jihua Wei
- Department of Sports Medicine, Baidong Hospital Affiliated to Youjiang Medical College for NationalitiesBaise 533000, Guangxi, China
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26
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Gao S, Tan H, Li D. Oridonin suppresses gastric cancer SGC-7901 cell proliferation by targeting the TNF-alpha/androgen receptor/TGF-beta signalling pathway axis. J Cell Mol Med 2023; 27:2661-2674. [PMID: 37431884 PMCID: PMC10494293 DOI: 10.1111/jcmm.17841] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2023] [Revised: 06/20/2023] [Accepted: 06/28/2023] [Indexed: 07/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Statistics provided by GLOBOCAN list gastric cancer as the sixth most common, with a mortality ranking of third highest for the year 2020. In China, a herb called Rabdosia rubescens (Hemsl.) H.Hara, has been used by local residents for the treatment of digestive tract cancer for hundreds of years. Oridonin, the main ingredient of the herb, has a curative effect for gastric cancer, but the mechanism has not been previously clarified. This study mainly aimed to investigate the role of TNF-alpha/Androgen receptor/TGF-beta signalling pathway axis in mediating the proliferation inhibition of oridonin on gastric cancer SGC-7901 cells. MTT assay, cell morphology observation assay and fluorescence assay were adopted to study the efficacy of oridonin on cell proliferation. The network pharmacology was used to predict the pathway axis regulated by oridonin. Western blot assay was adopted to verify the TNF-α/Androgen receptor/TGF-β signalling pathway axis regulation on gastric cancer by oridonin. The results showed Oridonin could inhibit the proliferation of gastric cancer cells, change cell morphology and cause cell nuclear fragmentation. A total of 11signaling pathways were annotated by the network pharmacology, among them, Tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) signalling pathway, androgen receptor (AR) signalling pathway and transforming growth factor (TGF-β) signalling pathway account for the largest proportion. Oridonin can regulate the protein expression of the three signalling pathways, which is consistent with the results predicted by network pharmacology. These findings indicated that oridonin can inhibit the proliferation of gastric cancer SGC-7901 cells by regulating the TNF-α /AR /TGF-β signalling pathway axis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shiyong Gao
- Drug Engineering and Technology Research CenterHarbin University of CommerceHarbinChina
- Heilongjiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Tumor Prevention and Antitumor DrugsHarbinChina
| | - Huixin Tan
- Department of PharmacyFourth Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medicine UniversityHarbinChina
| | - Dan Li
- Drug Engineering and Technology Research CenterHarbin University of CommerceHarbinChina
- Heilongjiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Tumor Prevention and Antitumor DrugsHarbinChina
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27
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Salamini-Montemurri M, Lamas-Maceiras M, Lorenzo-Catoira L, Vizoso-Vázquez Á, Barreiro-Alonso A, Rodríguez-Belmonte E, Quindós-Varela M, Cerdán ME. Identification of lncRNAs Deregulated in Epithelial Ovarian Cancer Based on a Gene Expression Profiling Meta-Analysis. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:10798. [PMID: 37445988 PMCID: PMC10341812 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241310798] [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: 05/15/2023] [Revised: 06/19/2023] [Accepted: 06/25/2023] [Indexed: 07/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) is one of the deadliest gynecological cancers worldwide, mainly because of its initially asymptomatic nature and consequently late diagnosis. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNA) are non-coding transcripts of more than 200 nucleotides, whose deregulation is involved in pathologies such as EOC, and are therefore envisaged as future biomarkers. We present a meta-analysis of available gene expression profiling (microarray and RNA sequencing) studies from EOC patients to identify lncRNA genes with diagnostic and prognostic value. In this meta-analysis, we include 46 independent cohorts, along with available expression profiling data from EOC cell lines. Differential expression analyses were conducted to identify those lncRNAs that are deregulated in (i) EOC versus healthy ovary tissue, (ii) unfavorable versus more favorable prognosis, (iii) metastatic versus primary tumors, (iv) chemoresistant versus chemosensitive EOC, and (v) correlation to specific histological subtypes of EOC. From the results of this meta-analysis, we established a panel of lncRNAs that are highly correlated with EOC. The panel includes several lncRNAs that are already known and even functionally characterized in EOC, but also lncRNAs that have not been previously correlated with this cancer, and which are discussed in relation to their putative role in EOC and their potential use as clinically relevant tools.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martín Salamini-Montemurri
- Centro Interdisciplinar de Química e Bioloxía (CICA), As Carballeiras, s/n, Campus de Elviña, Universidade da Coruña, 15071 A Coruña, Spain
- Facultade de Ciencias, A Fraga, s/n, Campus de A Zapateira, Universidade da Coruña, 15071 A Coruña, Spain
- Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de A Coruña (INIBIC), As Xubias de Arriba 84, 15006 A Coruña, Spain
| | - Mónica Lamas-Maceiras
- Centro Interdisciplinar de Química e Bioloxía (CICA), As Carballeiras, s/n, Campus de Elviña, Universidade da Coruña, 15071 A Coruña, Spain
- Facultade de Ciencias, A Fraga, s/n, Campus de A Zapateira, Universidade da Coruña, 15071 A Coruña, Spain
- Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de A Coruña (INIBIC), As Xubias de Arriba 84, 15006 A Coruña, Spain
| | - Lidia Lorenzo-Catoira
- Centro Interdisciplinar de Química e Bioloxía (CICA), As Carballeiras, s/n, Campus de Elviña, Universidade da Coruña, 15071 A Coruña, Spain
- Facultade de Ciencias, A Fraga, s/n, Campus de A Zapateira, Universidade da Coruña, 15071 A Coruña, Spain
- Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de A Coruña (INIBIC), As Xubias de Arriba 84, 15006 A Coruña, Spain
| | - Ángel Vizoso-Vázquez
- Centro Interdisciplinar de Química e Bioloxía (CICA), As Carballeiras, s/n, Campus de Elviña, Universidade da Coruña, 15071 A Coruña, Spain
- Facultade de Ciencias, A Fraga, s/n, Campus de A Zapateira, Universidade da Coruña, 15071 A Coruña, Spain
- Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de A Coruña (INIBIC), As Xubias de Arriba 84, 15006 A Coruña, Spain
| | - Aida Barreiro-Alonso
- Centro Interdisciplinar de Química e Bioloxía (CICA), As Carballeiras, s/n, Campus de Elviña, Universidade da Coruña, 15071 A Coruña, Spain
- Facultade de Ciencias, A Fraga, s/n, Campus de A Zapateira, Universidade da Coruña, 15071 A Coruña, Spain
- Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de A Coruña (INIBIC), As Xubias de Arriba 84, 15006 A Coruña, Spain
| | - Esther Rodríguez-Belmonte
- Centro Interdisciplinar de Química e Bioloxía (CICA), As Carballeiras, s/n, Campus de Elviña, Universidade da Coruña, 15071 A Coruña, Spain
- Facultade de Ciencias, A Fraga, s/n, Campus de A Zapateira, Universidade da Coruña, 15071 A Coruña, Spain
- Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de A Coruña (INIBIC), As Xubias de Arriba 84, 15006 A Coruña, Spain
| | - María Quindós-Varela
- Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de A Coruña (INIBIC), As Xubias de Arriba 84, 15006 A Coruña, Spain
- Complexo Hospitalario Universitario de A Coruña (CHUAC), Servizo Galego de Saúde (SERGAS), 15006 A Coruña, Spain
| | - M Esperanza Cerdán
- Centro Interdisciplinar de Química e Bioloxía (CICA), As Carballeiras, s/n, Campus de Elviña, Universidade da Coruña, 15071 A Coruña, Spain
- Facultade de Ciencias, A Fraga, s/n, Campus de A Zapateira, Universidade da Coruña, 15071 A Coruña, Spain
- Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de A Coruña (INIBIC), As Xubias de Arriba 84, 15006 A Coruña, Spain
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Lučić I, Kurtović M, Mlinarić M, Piteša N, Čipak Gašparović A, Sabol M, Milković L. Deciphering Common Traits of Breast and Ovarian Cancer Stem Cells and Possible Therapeutic Approaches. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:10683. [PMID: 37445860 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241310683] [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: 05/06/2023] [Revised: 06/21/2023] [Accepted: 06/23/2023] [Indexed: 07/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Breast cancer (BC) and ovarian cancer (OC) are among the most common and deadly cancers affecting women worldwide. Both are complex diseases with marked heterogeneity. Despite the induction of screening programs that increase the frequency of earlier diagnosis of BC, at a stage when the cancer is more likely to respond to therapy, which does not exist for OC, more than 50% of both cancers are diagnosed at an advanced stage. Initial therapy can put the cancer into remission. However, recurrences occur frequently in both BC and OC, which are highly cancer-subtype dependent. Therapy resistance is mainly attributed to a rare subpopulation of cells, named cancer stem cells (CSC) or tumor-initiating cells, as they are capable of self-renewal, tumor initiation, and regrowth of tumor bulk. In this review, we will discuss the distinctive markers and signaling pathways that characterize CSC, their interactions with the tumor microenvironment, and the strategies they employ to evade immune surveillance. Our focus will be on identifying the common features of breast cancer stem cells (BCSC) and ovarian cancer stem cells (OCSC) and suggesting potential therapeutic approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ivan Lučić
- Laboratory for Oxidative Stress, Division of Molecular Medicine, Ruđer Bošković Institute, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Matea Kurtović
- Laboratory for Hereditary Cancer, Division of Molecular Medicine, Ruđer Bošković Institute, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Monika Mlinarić
- Laboratory for Oxidative Stress, Division of Molecular Medicine, Ruđer Bošković Institute, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Nikolina Piteša
- Laboratory for Hereditary Cancer, Division of Molecular Medicine, Ruđer Bošković Institute, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Ana Čipak Gašparović
- Laboratory for Oxidative Stress, Division of Molecular Medicine, Ruđer Bošković Institute, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Maja Sabol
- Laboratory for Hereditary Cancer, Division of Molecular Medicine, Ruđer Bošković Institute, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Lidija Milković
- Laboratory for Oxidative Stress, Division of Molecular Medicine, Ruđer Bošković Institute, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
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Gu L, Ding D, Wei C, Zhou D. Cancer-associated fibroblasts refine the classifications of gastric cancer with distinct prognosis and tumor microenvironment characteristics. Front Oncol 2023; 13:1158863. [PMID: 37404754 PMCID: PMC10316023 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2023.1158863] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2023] [Accepted: 04/21/2023] [Indexed: 07/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) are essential tumoral components of gastric cancer (GC), contributing to the development, therapeutic resistance and immune-suppressive tumor microenvironment (TME) of GC. This study aimed to explore the factors related to matrix CAFs and establish a CAF model to evaluate the prognosis and therapeutic effect of GC. Methods Sample information from the multiply public databases were retrieved. Weighted gene co-expression network analysis was used to identify CAF-related genes. EPIC algorithm was used to construct and verify the model. Machine-learning methods characterized CAF risk. Gene set enrichment analysis was employed to elucidate the underlying mechanism of CAF in the development of GC. Results A three-gene (GLT8D2, SPARC and VCAN) prognostic CAF model was established, and patients were markedly divided according to the riskscore of CAF model. The high-risk CAF clusters had significantly worse prognoses and less significant responses to immunotherapy than the low-risk group. Additionally, the CAF risk score was positively associated with CAF infiltration in GC. Moreover, the expression of the three model biomarkers were significantly associated with the CAF infiltration. GSEA revealed significant enrichment of cell adhesion molecules, extracellular matrix receptors and focal adhesions in patients at a high risk of CAF. Conclusion The CAF signature refines the classifications of GC with distinct prognosis and clinicopathological indicators. The three-gene model could effectively aid in determining the prognosis, drug resistance and immunotherapy efficacy of GC. Thus, this model has promising clinical significance for guiding precise GC anti-CAF therapy combined with immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lei Gu
- Department of General Surgery, Shanghai Tenth People’s Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, China
| | - Dan Ding
- Department of Gastroenterology, Changhai Hospital, Navy/Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China
| | - Cuicui Wei
- Affiliated Hospital of Youjiang Medical University for Nationalities, Baise, China
| | - Donglei Zhou
- Department of Gastric Surgery, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, China
- Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
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30
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Chang W, Zhu J, Yang D, Shang A, Sun Z, Quan W, Li D. Plasma versican and plasma exosomal versican as potential diagnostic markers for non-small cell lung cancer. Respir Res 2023; 24:140. [PMID: 37259101 DOI: 10.1186/s12931-023-02423-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2022] [Accepted: 04/16/2023] [Indexed: 06/02/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS This study aimed to investigate the expression of plasma versican and plasma exosomal versican in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and its correlation with clinicopathological features, and to evaluate its diagnostic performance in NSCLC and its predictive function for NSCLC incidence and metastasis risk. MATERIALS AND METHODS There were 110 instances of NSCLC, 42 cases of benign lung disease, and 55 healthy controls from September 2018 to October 2020 at Tongji Hospital Affiliated to Tongji University. Blood was collected and plasma was separated before surgery, and plasma exosomes were extracted by ExoQuick kit. Morphological and molecular phenotype identification of exosomes was performed by transmission electron microscopy, Nanosight particle tracking analysis, and western blotting. Plasma versican and plasma exosomal versican were detected in all subjects to assess their expression levels and diagnostic value in NSCLC. Clinicopathological data were collected to explore correlations between abnormal plasma versican and plasma exosomal versican expression and clinicopathological parameters. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to judge its diagnostic performance in NSCLC, and binary logistic regression analysis was used to predict the risk of NSCLC incidence and metastasis. RESULTS Plasma versican and plasma exosomal versican expression in NSCLC patients was significantly upregulated and was significantly higher in T3 + T4 patients compared with T1 + T2 patients (P < 0.05); the levels of plasma versican and plasma exosomal versican were positively correlated with lymph node metastasis, distant metastases (e.g., brain, bone), and mutation(e.g., EGFR,ALK)in NSCLC patients (all P < 0.05). Furthermore, ROC curve analysis showed that plasma versican and plasma exosomal versican had higher AUC values than NSE, CYFRA21-1, and SCC, and better diagnostic performance in NSCLC patients. However, the AUC and diagnostic performances of plasma versican and plasma exosomal versican in advanced-stage NSCLC patients were not shown to be significantly better than CEA. The results of binary logistic regression analysis showed that high levels of plasma exosomal versican had higher predictive value for lung cancer incidence, while high levels of plasma versican had higher predictive value for lung cancer metastasis. CONCLUSION Our findings showed that plasma versican and plasma exosomal versican might be potential diagnostic markers for NSCLC. High plasma exosomal versican expression can be used as a predictor of NSCLC risk and high plasma versican expression can be used as a predictor of NSCLC metastasis risk.
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Grants
- 81902984, 81974314, 82072362, 82002223 National Natural Science Foundation of China
- 81902984, 81974314, 82072362, 82002223 National Natural Science Foundation of China
- 81902984, 81974314, 82072362, 82002223 National Natural Science Foundation of China
- 81902984, 81974314, 82072362, 82002223 National Natural Science Foundation of China
- GWV-10.1-XK04 Shanghai Public Health System Construction Three-Year Action Plan
- 20204Y0070 Shanghai Municipal Health and Family Planning Commission
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenjing Chang
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Shanghai Tongji Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200065, China
| | - Jichao Zhu
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Huzhou Central Hospital, Affiliated Central Hospital of Huzhou Normal University, Huzhou, 313003, China
| | - Dianyu Yang
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Shanghai Tongji Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200065, China
| | - Anquan Shang
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Shanghai Tongji Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200065, China
| | - Zujun Sun
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Shanghai Tongji Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200065, China
| | - Wenqiang Quan
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Shanghai Tongji Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200065, China.
| | - Dong Li
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Shanghai Tongji Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200065, China.
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Peng Z, Tong Z, Ren Z, Ye M, Hu K. Cancer-associated fibroblasts and its derived exosomes: a new perspective for reshaping the tumor microenvironment. Mol Med 2023; 29:66. [PMID: 37217855 DOI: 10.1186/s10020-023-00665-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2023] [Accepted: 05/14/2023] [Indexed: 05/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) are the most abundant stromal cells within the tumor microenvironment (TME). They extensively communicate with the other cells. Exosome-packed bioactive molecules derived from CAFs can reshape the TME by interacting with other cells and the extracellular matrix, which adds a new perspective for their clinical application in tumor targeted therapy. An in-depth understanding of the biological characteristics of CAF-derived exosomes (CDEs) is critical for depicting the detailed landscape of the TME and developing tailored therapeutic strategies for cancer treatment. In this review, we have summarized the functional roles of CAFs in the TME, particularly focusing on the extensive communication mediated by CDEs that contain biological molecules such as miRNAs, proteins, metabolites, and other components. In addition, we have also highlighted the prospects for diagnostic and therapeutic applications based on CDEs, which could guide the future development of exosome-targeted anti-tumor drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhiwei Peng
- Department of General Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Anhui, Hefei, 230022, China
| | - Zhiwei Tong
- Department of General Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Anhui, Hefei, 230022, China
| | - Zihao Ren
- Department of General Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Anhui, Hefei, 230022, China
| | - Manping Ye
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Major Autoimmune Diseases, Anhui Institute of Innovative Drugs, School of Pharmacy, Anhui Medical University, Anhui, Hefei, 230032, China
| | - Kongwang Hu
- Department of General Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Anhui, Hefei, 230022, China.
- Department of General Surgery, Fuyang Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Anhui, Fuyang, 236000, China.
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Han Q, Tan S, Gong L, Li G, Wu Q, Chen L, Du S, Li W, Liu X, Cai J, Wang Z. Omental cancer-associated fibroblast-derived exosomes with low microRNA-29c-3p promote ovarian cancer peritoneal metastasis. Cancer Sci 2023; 114:1929-1942. [PMID: 36644823 PMCID: PMC10154903 DOI: 10.1111/cas.15726] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2022] [Revised: 01/05/2023] [Accepted: 01/09/2023] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Ovarian cancer (OC) is characterized by frequent widespread peritoneal metastasis. Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) represent a critical stromal component of metastatic niche and promote omentum metastasis in OC patients. However, the role of exosomes derived from omental CAFs in metastasis remains unclear. We isolated exosomes from primary omental normal fibroblasts (NFs) and CAFs from OC patients (NF-Exo and CAF-Exo, respectively) and assessed their effect on metastasis. In mice bearing orthotopic OC xenografts, CAF-Exo treatment led to more rapid intraperitoneal tumor dissemination and shorter animal survival. Similar results were observed in mice undergoing intraperitoneal injection of tumor cells. Among the miRNAs downregulated in CAF-Exo, miR-29c-3p in OC tissues was associated with metastasis and survival in patients. Moreover, increasing miR-29c-3p in CAF-Exo significantly weakened the metastasis-promoting effect of CAF-Exo. Based on RNA sequencing, expression assays, and luciferase assays, matrix metalloproteinase 2 (MMP2) was identified as a direct target of miR-29c-3p. These results verify the significant contribution of exosomes from omental CAFs to OC peritoneal metastasis, which could be partially due to the relief of MMP2 expression inhibition mediated by low exosomal miR-29c-3p.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qing Han
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical CollegeHuazhong University of Science and TechnologyWuhanChina
- China Three Gorges University People's HospitalChina Three Gorges UniversityYichangChina
| | - Shuran Tan
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical CollegeHuazhong University of Science and TechnologyWuhanChina
| | - Lanqing Gong
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical CollegeHuazhong University of Science and TechnologyWuhanChina
| | - Guoqing Li
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical CollegeHuazhong University of Science and TechnologyWuhanChina
| | - Qiulei Wu
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical CollegeHuazhong University of Science and TechnologyWuhanChina
| | - Le Chen
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical CollegeHuazhong University of Science and TechnologyWuhanChina
| | - Shi Du
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical CollegeHuazhong University of Science and TechnologyWuhanChina
| | - Wenhan Li
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical CollegeHuazhong University of Science and TechnologyWuhanChina
| | - Xiaoli Liu
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical CollegeHuazhong University of Science and TechnologyWuhanChina
| | - Jing Cai
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical CollegeHuazhong University of Science and TechnologyWuhanChina
| | - Zehua Wang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical CollegeHuazhong University of Science and TechnologyWuhanChina
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Yang L, Yang M, Cui C, Long X, Li Y, Dai W, Lang T, Zhou Q. The myo-inositol biosynthesis rate-limiting enzyme ISYNA1 suppresses the stemness of ovarian cancer via Notch1 pathway. Cell Signal 2023; 107:110688. [PMID: 37105506 DOI: 10.1016/j.cellsig.2023.110688] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2023] [Revised: 04/13/2023] [Accepted: 04/23/2023] [Indexed: 04/29/2023]
Abstract
Cancer stem cells (CSCs) play a central role in ovarian cancer (OC), understanding regulatory mechanisms governing their stemness is critical. Here, we report ISYNA1, the rate-limiting enzyme in myo-inositol biosynthesis, as a suppressor of OC regulating cancer stemness. We identified ISYNA1 as a differentially expressed gene in normal ovary and ovarian cancer tissues, as well as OC cells and OCSCs. Low ISYNA1 expression correlated with poor prognosis in OC patients. In addition, ISYNA1 was negatively correlated with CSC markers, and ISYNA1-related pathways were enriched in Wnt, Notch, and other critical cancer pathways. ISYNA1 deficiency promoted OC cell growth, migration, and invasion ability in vitro and in vivo. Knockdown of ISYNA1 increased stemness of OC cells, including self-renewal, CSC markers expression, ALDH activity, and proportion of CD44+/CD117+ CSCs. Conversely, ectopic overexpression of ISYNA1 suppresses cell proliferation, migration, invasion and stemness of OC cells. Mechanistically, ISYNA1 inhibits OC stemness by regulating myo-inositol to suppress Notch1 signaling. In summary, these data provide evidence that ISYNA1 act as a tumor suppressor in OC and a regulator of stemness, providing insight into potentially targetable pathways for ovarian cancer therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lingling Yang
- School of Medicine, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400044, People's Republic of China
| | - Muyao Yang
- College of Bioengineering, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400044, People's Republic of China
| | - Chenxi Cui
- School of Medicine, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400044, People's Republic of China
| | - Xingtao Long
- Department of Gynecologic Oncology, Chongqing University Cancer Hospital, Chongqing 400030, People's Republic of China
| | - Yunzhe Li
- College of Bioengineering, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400044, People's Republic of China
| | - Weili Dai
- School of Medicine, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400044, People's Republic of China
| | - Tingyuan Lang
- Department of Gynecologic Oncology, Chongqing University Cancer Hospital, Chongqing 400030, People's Republic of China.
| | - Qi Zhou
- School of Medicine, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400044, People's Republic of China; Department of Gynecologic Oncology, Chongqing University Cancer Hospital, Chongqing 400030, People's Republic of China.
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Luo HL, Chang YL, Liu HY, Wu YT, Sung MT, Su YL, Huang CC, Wang PC, Peng JM. VCAN Hypomethylation and Expression as Predictive Biomarkers of Drug Sensitivity in Upper Urinary Tract Urothelial Carcinoma. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24087486. [PMID: 37108649 PMCID: PMC10139123 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24087486] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2023] [Revised: 04/10/2023] [Accepted: 04/13/2023] [Indexed: 04/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Versican (VCAN), also known as extracellular matrix proteoglycan 2, has been suggested as a potential biomarker in cancers. Previous research has found that VCAN is highly expressed in bladder cancer. However, its role in predicting outcomes for patients with upper urinary tract urothelial cancer (UTUC) is not well understood. In this study, we collected tissues from 10 patients with UTUC, including 6 with and 4 without lymphovascular invasion (LVI), a pathological feature that plays a significant role in determining metastasis. Results from RNA sequencing revealed that the most differentially expressed genes were involved in extracellular matrix organization. Using the TCGA database for clinical correlation, VCAN was identified as a target for study. A chromosome methylation assay showed that VCAN was hypomethylated in tumors with LVI. In our patient samples, VCAN expression was also found to be high in UTUC tumors with LVI. In vitro analysis showed that knocking down VCAN inhibited cell migration but not proliferation. A heatmap analysis also confirmed a significant correlation between VCAN and migration genes. Additionally, silencing VCAN increased the effectiveness of cisplatin, gemcitabine and epirubicin, thus providing potential opportunities for clinical application.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hao-Lun Luo
- Department of Urology, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Kaohsiung 83301, Taiwan
| | - Yin-Lun Chang
- Department of Urology, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Kaohsiung 83301, Taiwan
| | - Hui-Ying Liu
- Department of Urology, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Kaohsiung 83301, Taiwan
| | - Yen-Ting Wu
- Department of Urology, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Kaohsiung 83301, Taiwan
| | - Ming-Tse Sung
- Department of Pathology, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Kaohsiung 83301, Taiwan
| | - Yu-Li Su
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Kaohsiung 83301, Taiwan
| | - Chun-Chieh Huang
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Kaohsiung 83301, Taiwan
| | - Pei-Chia Wang
- Institute for Translational Research in Biomedicine, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Kaohsiung 83301, Taiwan
| | - Jei-Ming Peng
- Institute for Translational Research in Biomedicine, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Kaohsiung 83301, Taiwan
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Yuan Z, Li Y, Zhang S, Wang X, Dou H, Yu X, Zhang Z, Yang S, Xiao M. Extracellular matrix remodeling in tumor progression and immune escape: from mechanisms to treatments. Mol Cancer 2023; 22:48. [PMID: 36906534 PMCID: PMC10007858 DOI: 10.1186/s12943-023-01744-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 117] [Impact Index Per Article: 117.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2023] [Accepted: 02/11/2023] [Indexed: 03/13/2023] Open
Abstract
The malignant tumor is a multi-etiological, systemic and complex disease characterized by uncontrolled cell proliferation and distant metastasis. Anticancer treatments including adjuvant therapies and targeted therapies are effective in eliminating cancer cells but in a limited number of patients. Increasing evidence suggests that the extracellular matrix (ECM) plays an important role in tumor development through changes in macromolecule components, degradation enzymes and stiffness. These variations are under the control of cellular components in tumor tissue via the aberrant activation of signaling pathways, the interaction of the ECM components to multiple surface receptors, and mechanical impact. Additionally, the ECM shaped by cancer regulates immune cells which results in an immune suppressive microenvironment and hinders the efficacy of immunotherapies. Thus, the ECM acts as a barrier to protect cancer from treatments and supports tumor progression. Nevertheless, the profound regulatory network of the ECM remodeling hampers the design of individualized antitumor treatment. Here, we elaborate on the composition of the malignant ECM, and discuss the specific mechanisms of the ECM remodeling. Precisely, we highlight the impact of the ECM remodeling on tumor development, including proliferation, anoikis, metastasis, angiogenesis, lymphangiogenesis, and immune escape. Finally, we emphasize ECM "normalization" as a potential strategy for anti-malignant treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhennan Yuan
- Department of Oncological Surgery, Harbin Medical University Cancer Hospital, Harbin, 150081, China
| | - Yingpu Li
- Department of Oncological Surgery, Harbin Medical University Cancer Hospital, Harbin, 150081, China
| | - Sifan Zhang
- Department of Neurobiology, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, 150081, China
| | - Xueying Wang
- Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, 410008, China
| | - He Dou
- Department of Oncological Surgery, Harbin Medical University Cancer Hospital, Harbin, 150081, China
| | - Xi Yu
- Department of Gynecological Oncology, Harbin Medical University Cancer Hospital, Harbin, 150081, China
| | - Zhiren Zhang
- NHC Key Laboratory of Cell Transplantation, The First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, 150001, China.,Institute of Metabolic Disease, Heilongjiang Academy of Medical Science, Heilongjiang Key Laboratory for Metabolic Disorder and Cancer Related Cardiovascular Diseases, Harbin, 150001, China
| | - Shanshan Yang
- Department of Gynecological Radiotherapy, Harbin Medical University Cancer Hospital, Harbin, 150000, China.
| | - Min Xiao
- Department of Oncological Surgery, Harbin Medical University Cancer Hospital, Harbin, 150081, China.
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Interactions between Platelets and Tumor Microenvironment Components in Ovarian Cancer and Their Implications for Treatment and Clinical Outcomes. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:cancers15041282. [PMID: 36831623 PMCID: PMC9953912 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15041282] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2023] [Revised: 02/07/2023] [Accepted: 02/13/2023] [Indexed: 02/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Platelets, the primary operatives of hemostasis that contribute to blood coagulation and wound healing after blood vessel injury, are also involved in pathological conditions, including cancer. Malignancy-associated thrombosis is common in ovarian cancer patients and is associated with poor clinical outcomes. Platelets extravasate into the tumor microenvironment in ovarian cancer and interact with cancer cells and non-cancerous elements. Ovarian cancer cells also activate platelets. The communication between activated platelets, cancer cells, and the tumor microenvironment is via various platelet membrane proteins or mediators released through degranulation or the secretion of microvesicles from platelets. These interactions trigger signaling cascades in tumors that promote ovarian cancer progression, metastasis, and neoangiogenesis. This review discusses how interactions between platelets, cancer cells, cancer stem cells, stromal cells, and the extracellular matrix in the tumor microenvironment influence ovarian cancer progression. It also presents novel potential therapeutic approaches toward this gynecological cancer.
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Brown Y, Hua S, Tanwar PS. Extracellular Matrix in High-Grade Serous Ovarian Cancer: Advances in Understanding of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Biology. Matrix Biol 2023; 118:16-46. [PMID: 36781087 DOI: 10.1016/j.matbio.2023.02.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2022] [Revised: 01/20/2023] [Accepted: 02/08/2023] [Indexed: 02/13/2023]
Abstract
High-grade serous ovarian cancer (HGSOC) is notoriously known as the "silent killer" of post-menopausal women as it has an insidious progression and is the deadliest gynaecological cancer. Although a dual origin of HGSOC is now widely accepted, there is growing evidence that most cases of HGSOC originate from the fallopian tube epithelium. In this review, we will address the fallopian tube origin and involvement of the extracellular matrix (ECM) in HGSOC development. There is limited research on the role of ECM at the earliest stages of HGSOC carcinogenesis. Here we aim to synthesise current understanding on the contribution of ECM to each stage of HGSOC development and progression, beginning at serous tubal intraepithelial carcinoma (STIC) precursor lesions and proceeding across key events including dissemination of tumourigenic fallopian tube epithelial cells to the ovary, survival of these cells in peritoneal fluid as multicellular aggregates, and colonisation of the ovary. Likewise, as part of the metastatic series of events, serous ovarian cancer cells survive travel in peritoneal fluid, attach to, migrate across the mesothelium and invade into the sub-mesothelial matrix of secondary sites in the peritoneal cavity. Halting cancer at the pre-metastatic stage and finding ways to stop the dissemination of ovarian cancer cells from the primary site is critical for improving patient survival. The development of drug resistance also contributes to poor survival statistics in HGSOC. In this review, we provide an update on the involvement of the ECM in metastasis and drug resistance in HGSOC. Interplay between different cell-types, growth factor gradients as well as evolving ECM composition and organisation, creates microenvironment conditions that promote metastatic progression and drug resistance of ovarian cancer cells. By understanding ECM involvement in the carcinogenesis and chemoresistance of HGSOC, this may prompt ideas for further research for developing new early diagnostic tests and therapeutic strategies for HGSOC with the end goal of improving patient health outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yazmin Brown
- Global Centre for Gynaecological Diseases, School of Biomedical Sciences and Pharmacy, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, New South Wales, Australia.; Cancer Detection and Therapy Research Program, Hunter Medical Research Institute, New Lambton Heights, NSW, Australia..
| | - Susan Hua
- Therapeutic Targeting Research Group, School of Biomedical Sciences and Pharmacy, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, Australia.; Precision Medicine Research Program, Hunter Medical Research Institute, New Lambton Heights, NSW, Australia
| | - Pradeep S Tanwar
- Global Centre for Gynaecological Diseases, School of Biomedical Sciences and Pharmacy, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, New South Wales, Australia.; Cancer Detection and Therapy Research Program, Hunter Medical Research Institute, New Lambton Heights, NSW, Australia..
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Jiang H, Ge H, Shi Y, Yuan F, Yue H. CAFs secrete CXCL12 to accelerate the progression and cisplatin resistance of colorectal cancer through promoting M2 polarization of macrophages. Med Oncol 2023; 40:90. [PMID: 36737590 DOI: 10.1007/s12032-023-01953-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2022] [Accepted: 01/15/2023] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of the interaction between tumor-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) and macrophage polarization on colorectal cancer (CRC) progression. Clinical tissue samples of CRC and health volunteers were collected to isolate normal fibroblasts (NFs) and CAFs. LoVo, HCT116, or THP-1 cells were co-cultured with NFs or CAFs. Immunofluorescence and western blot detected the expression of related markers. MTT assay measured cell viability and IC50. Cell proliferation and metastasis were detected through colony formation and transwell assays. CRC mice models were constructed by injection of HCT116 cells, with IHC assessing C-X-C Motif Chemokine Ligand 12 (CXCL12) expression. The proliferation, migration, invasion, and cisplatin (DDP) resistance of CRC cells were apparently increased after co-culture with CAFs. Compared to NFs, CAFs have a markedly higher ability to recruit macrophages and promote macrophages M2 polarization by secreting CXCL12. Further experiments affirmed that CXCL12 secreted by CAFs boosted proliferation, migration, invasion, and DDP resistance of CRC cells via induction of the M2 polarization of macrophages. In vivo experiments confirmed that CAFs promoted the progression of CRC and DDP resistance by affecting M2 polarization through CXCL12. CAFs recruit macrophages and secrete CXCL12 to induce M2 polarization of macrophages, thus mediating cell function and DDP resistance of CRC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hang Jiang
- Department of Gastroenterology, The Yancheng School of Clinical Medicine of Nanjing Medical University (Yancheng Third People's Hospital), Yancheng, 224008, Jiangsu, China
| | - Haijue Ge
- Department of Gastroenterology, The Yancheng School of Clinical Medicine of Nanjing Medical University (Yancheng Third People's Hospital), Yancheng, 224008, Jiangsu, China
| | - Yuanyuan Shi
- Department of Central Laboratory, The Yancheng School of Clinical Medicine of Nanjing Medical University (Yancheng Third People's Hospital), Yancheng, 224008, Jiangsu, China
| | - Fang Yuan
- Department of Central Laboratory, The Yancheng School of Clinical Medicine of Nanjing Medical University (Yancheng Third People's Hospital), Yancheng, 224008, Jiangsu, China
| | - Hongqin Yue
- Department of Gastroenterology, The Yancheng School of Clinical Medicine of Nanjing Medical University (Yancheng Third People's Hospital), Yancheng, 224008, Jiangsu, China.
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39
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Sarkar M, Nguyen T, Gundre E, Ogunlusi O, El-Sobky M, Giri B, Sarkar TR. Cancer-associated fibroblasts: The chief architect in the tumor microenvironment. Front Cell Dev Biol 2023; 11:1089068. [PMID: 36793444 PMCID: PMC9923123 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2023.1089068] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 38.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2022] [Accepted: 01/12/2023] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Stromal heterogeneity of tumor microenvironment (TME) plays a crucial role in malignancy and therapeutic resistance. Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) are one of the major players in tumor stroma. The heterogeneous sources of origin and subsequent impacts of crosstalk with breast cancer cells flaunt serious challenges before current therapies to cure triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) and other cancers. The positive and reciprocal feedback of CAFs to induce cancer cells dictates their mutual synergy in establishing malignancy. Their substantial role in creating a tumor-promoting niche has reduced the efficacy of several anti-cancer treatments, including radiation, chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and endocrine therapy. Over the years, there has been an emphasis on understanding CAF-induced therapeutic resistance in order to enhance cancer therapy results. CAFs, in the majority of cases, employ crosstalk, stromal management, and other strategies to generate resilience in surrounding tumor cells. This emphasizes the significance of developing novel strategies that target particular tumor-promoting CAF subpopulations, which will improve treatment sensitivity and impede tumor growth. In this review, we discuss the current understanding of the origin and heterogeneity of CAFs, their role in tumor progression, and altering the tumor response to therapeutic agents in breast cancer. In addition, we also discuss the potential and possible approaches for CAF-mediated therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mrinmoy Sarkar
- Department of Biology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, United States
- Cancer Biology and Inflammatory Disorder Division, CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Biology, Kolkata, India
| | - Tristan Nguyen
- Department of Biology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, United States
| | - Esheksha Gundre
- Department of Biology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, United States
| | - Olajumoke Ogunlusi
- Department of Biology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, United States
| | - Mohanad El-Sobky
- Department of Biology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, United States
| | - Biplab Giri
- Department of Physiology, University of Gour Banga, English Bazar, India
| | - Tapasree Roy Sarkar
- Department of Biology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, United States
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Mei S, Chen X, Wang K, Chen Y. Tumor microenvironment in ovarian cancer peritoneal metastasis. Cancer Cell Int 2023; 23:11. [PMID: 36698173 PMCID: PMC9875479 DOI: 10.1186/s12935-023-02854-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2022] [Accepted: 01/17/2023] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Ovarian cancer (OC) is one of the most common gynecological malignancies with high morbidity and mortality. The peritoneum is one of the most common metastatic sites in ovarian cancer, involving large amounts of ascites. However, its mechanism is unclear. The peritoneal microenvironment composed of peritoneal effusion and peritoneum creates favorable conditions for ovarian cancer progression and metastasis. Here, we reviewed the peritoneal metastasis patterns and molecular mechanisms of ovarian cancer, as well as major components of the peritoneal microenvironment, peritoneal effusion, and immune microenvironment, and investigated the relationship between the peritoneal microenvironment and ovarian cancer metastasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuangshuang Mei
- grid.469636.8Taizhou Hospital of Zhejiang Province Affiliated to Wenzhou Medical University, Xi Men Road, Taizhou, 317000 Zhejiang China
| | - Xing Chen
- grid.469636.8Taizhou Hospital of Zhejiang Province Affiliated to Wenzhou Medical University, Xi Men Road, Taizhou, 317000 Zhejiang China
| | - Kai Wang
- grid.469636.8Taizhou Hospital of Zhejiang Province Affiliated to Wenzhou Medical University, Xi Men Road, Taizhou, 317000 Zhejiang China
| | - Yuxin Chen
- grid.469636.8Taizhou Hospital of Zhejiang Province Affiliated to Wenzhou Medical University (Enze Hospital, Taizhou Enze Medical Center Group), Tong Yang Road, Taizhou, 318053 Zhejiang China
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LRRC superfamily expression in stromal cells predicts the clinical prognosis and platinum resistance of ovarian cancer. BMC Med Genomics 2023; 16:10. [PMID: 36653841 PMCID: PMC9850808 DOI: 10.1186/s12920-023-01435-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2022] [Accepted: 01/09/2023] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Leucine-rich repeat sequence domains are known to mediate protein‒protein interactions. Recently, some studies showed that members of the leucine rich repeat containing (LRRC) protein superfamily may become new targets for the diagnosis and treatment of tumours. However, it is not known whether any of the LRRC superfamily genes is expressed in the stroma of ovarian cancer (OC) and is associated with prognosis. METHODS The clinical data and transcriptional profiles of OC patients from the public databases TCGA (n = 427), GTEx (n = 88) and GEO (GSE40266 and GSE40595) were analysed by R software. A nomogram model was also generated through R. An online public database was used for auxiliary analysis of prognosis, immune infiltration and protein‒protein interaction (PPI) networks. Immunohistochemistry and qPCR were performed to determine the protein and mRNA levels of genes in high-grade serous ovarian cancer (HGSC) tissues of participants and the MRC-5 cell line induced by TGF-β. RESULTS LRRC15 and LRRC32 were identified as differentially expressed genes from the LRRC superfamily by GEO transcriptome analysis. PPI network analysis suggested that they were most enriched in TGF-β signalling. The TCGA-GTEx analysis results showed that only LRRC15 was highly expressed in both cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) and the tumour stroma of OC and was related to clinical prognosis. Based on this, we developed a nomogram model to predict the incidence of adverse outcomes in OC. Moreover, LRRC15 was positively correlated with CAF infiltration and negatively correlated with CD8 + T-cell infiltration. As a single indicator, LRRC15 had the highest accuracy (AUC = 0.920) in predicting the outcome of primary platinum resistance. CONCLUSIONS The LRRC superfamily is related to the TGF-β pathway in the microenvironment of OC. LRRC15, as a stromal biomarker, can predict the clinical prognosis of HGSC and promote the immunosuppressive microenvironment. LRRC15 may be a potential therapeutic target for reversing primary resistance in OC.
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Noei-Khesht Masjedi M, Asgari Y, Sadroddiny E. Differential expression analysis in epithelial ovarian cancer using functional genomics and integrated bioinformatics approaches. INFORMATICS IN MEDICINE UNLOCKED 2023. [DOI: 10.1016/j.imu.2023.101172] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
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Hua SH, Viera M, Yip GW, Bay BH. Theranostic Applications of Glycosaminoglycans in Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 15:cancers15010266. [PMID: 36612261 PMCID: PMC9818616 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15010266] [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: 11/10/2022] [Revised: 12/27/2022] [Accepted: 12/29/2022] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) makes up the majority of kidney cancers, with a poor prognosis for metastatic RCC (mRCC). Challenges faced in the management of mRCC, include a lack of reliable prognostic markers and biomarkers for precise monitoring of disease treatment, together with the potential risk of toxicity associated with more recent therapeutic options. Glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) are a class of carbohydrates that can be categorized into four main subclasses, viz., chondroitin sulfate, hyaluronic acid, heparan sulfate and keratan sulfate. GAGs are known to be closely associated with cancer progression and modulation of metastasis by modification of the tumor microenvironment. Alterations of expression, composition and spatiotemporal distribution of GAGs in the extracellular matrix (ECM), dysregulate ECM functions and drive cancer invasion. In this review, we focus on the clinical utility of GAGs as biomarkers for mRCC (which is important for risk stratification and strategizing effective treatment protocols), as well as potential therapeutic targets that could benefit patients afflicted with advanced RCC. Besides GAG-targeted therapies that holds promise in mRCC, other potential strategies include utilizing GAGs as drug carriers and their mimetics to counter cancer progression, and enhance immunotherapy through binding and transducing signals for immune mediators.
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Xu T, Liu Z, Huang L, Jing J, Liu X. Modulating the tumor immune microenvironment with nanoparticles: A sword for improving the efficiency of ovarian cancer immunotherapy. Front Immunol 2022; 13:1057850. [PMID: 36532066 PMCID: PMC9751906 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.1057850] [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: 09/30/2022] [Accepted: 11/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
With encouraging antitumor effects, immunotherapy represented by immune checkpoint blockade has developed into a mainstream cancer therapeutic modality. However, only a minority of ovarian cancer (OC) patients could benefit from immunotherapy. The main reason is that most OC harbor a suppressive tumor immune microenvironment (TIME). Emerging studies suggest that M2 tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs), T regulatory cells (Tregs), myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs), and cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) are enriched in OC. Thus, reversing the suppressive TIME is considered an ideal candidate for improving the efficiency of immunotherapy. Nanoparticles encapsulating immunoregulatory agents can regulate immunocytes and improve the TIME to boost the antitumor immune response. In addition, some nanoparticle-mediated photodynamic and photothermal therapy can directly kill tumor cells and induce tumor immunogenic cell death to activate antigen-presenting cells and promote T cell infiltration. These advantages make nanoparticles promising candidates for modulating the TIME and improving OC immunotherapy. In this review, we analyzed the composition and function of the TIME in OC and summarized the current clinical progress of OC immunotherapy. Then, we expounded on the promising advances in nanomaterial-mediated immunotherapy for modulating the TIME in OC. Finally, we discussed the obstacles and challenges in the clinical translation of this novel combination treatment regimen. We believe this resourceful strategy will open the door to effective immunotherapy of OC and benefit numerous patients.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Jing Jing
- *Correspondence: Xiaowei Liu, ; Jing Jing,
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45
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Fang Z, Meng Q, Xu J, Wang W, Zhang B, Liu J, Liang C, Hua J, Zhao Y, Yu X, Shi S. Signaling pathways in cancer-associated fibroblasts: recent advances and future perspectives. CANCER COMMUNICATIONS (LONDON, ENGLAND) 2022; 43:3-41. [PMID: 36424360 PMCID: PMC9859735 DOI: 10.1002/cac2.12392] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 28.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2022] [Revised: 09/20/2022] [Accepted: 11/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
As a critical component of the tumor microenvironment (TME), cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) play important roles in cancer initiation and progression. Well-known signaling pathways, including the transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β), Hedgehog (Hh), Notch, Wnt, Hippo, nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-κB), Janus kinase (JAK)/signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT), mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), and phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)/AKT pathways, as well as transcription factors, including hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF), heat shock transcription factor 1 (HSF1), P53, Snail, and Twist, constitute complex regulatory networks in the TME to modulate the formation, activation, heterogeneity, metabolic characteristics and malignant phenotype of CAFs. Activated CAFs remodel the TME and influence the malignant biological processes of cancer cells by altering the transcriptional and secretory characteristics, and this modulation partially depends on the regulation of signaling cascades. The results of preclinical and clinical trials indicated that therapies targeting signaling pathways in CAFs demonstrated promising efficacy but were also accompanied by some failures (e.g., NCT01130142 and NCT01064622). Hence, a comprehensive understanding of the signaling cascades in CAFs might help us better understand the roles of CAFs and the TME in cancer progression and may facilitate the development of more efficient and safer stroma-targeted cancer therapies. Here, we review recent advances in studies of signaling pathways in CAFs and briefly discuss some future perspectives on CAF research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zengli Fang
- Department of Pancreatic SurgeryFudan University Shanghai Cancer CenterShanghai200032P. R. China,Department of OncologyShanghai Medical CollegeFudan UniversityShanghai200032P. R. China,Shanghai Pancreatic Cancer InstituteShanghai200032P. R. China,Pancreatic Cancer InstituteFudan UniversityShanghai200032P. R. China
| | - Qingcai Meng
- Department of Pancreatic SurgeryFudan University Shanghai Cancer CenterShanghai200032P. R. China,Department of OncologyShanghai Medical CollegeFudan UniversityShanghai200032P. R. China,Shanghai Pancreatic Cancer InstituteShanghai200032P. R. China,Pancreatic Cancer InstituteFudan UniversityShanghai200032P. R. China
| | - Jin Xu
- Department of Pancreatic SurgeryFudan University Shanghai Cancer CenterShanghai200032P. R. China,Department of OncologyShanghai Medical CollegeFudan UniversityShanghai200032P. R. China,Shanghai Pancreatic Cancer InstituteShanghai200032P. R. China,Pancreatic Cancer InstituteFudan UniversityShanghai200032P. R. China
| | - Wei Wang
- Department of Pancreatic SurgeryFudan University Shanghai Cancer CenterShanghai200032P. R. China,Department of OncologyShanghai Medical CollegeFudan UniversityShanghai200032P. R. China,Shanghai Pancreatic Cancer InstituteShanghai200032P. R. China,Pancreatic Cancer InstituteFudan UniversityShanghai200032P. R. China
| | - Bo Zhang
- Department of Pancreatic SurgeryFudan University Shanghai Cancer CenterShanghai200032P. R. China,Department of OncologyShanghai Medical CollegeFudan UniversityShanghai200032P. R. China,Shanghai Pancreatic Cancer InstituteShanghai200032P. R. China,Pancreatic Cancer InstituteFudan UniversityShanghai200032P. R. China
| | - Jiang Liu
- Department of Pancreatic SurgeryFudan University Shanghai Cancer CenterShanghai200032P. R. China,Department of OncologyShanghai Medical CollegeFudan UniversityShanghai200032P. R. China,Shanghai Pancreatic Cancer InstituteShanghai200032P. R. China,Pancreatic Cancer InstituteFudan UniversityShanghai200032P. R. China
| | - Chen Liang
- Department of Pancreatic SurgeryFudan University Shanghai Cancer CenterShanghai200032P. R. China,Department of OncologyShanghai Medical CollegeFudan UniversityShanghai200032P. R. China,Shanghai Pancreatic Cancer InstituteShanghai200032P. R. China,Pancreatic Cancer InstituteFudan UniversityShanghai200032P. R. China
| | - Jie Hua
- Department of Pancreatic SurgeryFudan University Shanghai Cancer CenterShanghai200032P. R. China,Department of OncologyShanghai Medical CollegeFudan UniversityShanghai200032P. R. China,Shanghai Pancreatic Cancer InstituteShanghai200032P. R. China,Pancreatic Cancer InstituteFudan UniversityShanghai200032P. R. China
| | - Yingjun Zhao
- Department of OncologyShanghai Medical CollegeFudan UniversityShanghai200032P. R. China,Institutes of Biomedical SciencesShanghai Medical CollegeFudan UniversityShanghai200032P. R. China
| | - Xianjun Yu
- Department of Pancreatic SurgeryFudan University Shanghai Cancer CenterShanghai200032P. R. China,Department of OncologyShanghai Medical CollegeFudan UniversityShanghai200032P. R. China,Shanghai Pancreatic Cancer InstituteShanghai200032P. R. China,Pancreatic Cancer InstituteFudan UniversityShanghai200032P. R. China
| | - Si Shi
- Department of Pancreatic SurgeryFudan University Shanghai Cancer CenterShanghai200032P. R. China,Department of OncologyShanghai Medical CollegeFudan UniversityShanghai200032P. R. China,Shanghai Pancreatic Cancer InstituteShanghai200032P. R. China,Pancreatic Cancer InstituteFudan UniversityShanghai200032P. R. China
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Werchau N, Kotter B, Criado-Moronati E, Gosselink A, Cordes N, Lock D, Lennartz S, Kolbe C, Winter N, Teppert K, Engert F, Webster B, Mittelstaet J, Schaefer D, Mallmann P, Mallmann MR, Ratiu D, Assenmacher M, Schaser T, von Bergwelt-Baildon M, Abramowski P, Kaiser AD. Combined targeting of soluble latent TGF-ß and a solid tumor-associated antigen with adapter CAR T cells. Oncoimmunology 2022; 11:2140534. [PMID: 36387056 PMCID: PMC9662194 DOI: 10.1080/2162402x.2022.2140534] [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] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2022] [Revised: 10/24/2022] [Accepted: 10/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Solid tumors consist of malignant and nonmalignant cells that together create the local tumor microenvironment (TME). Additionally, the TME is characterized by the expression of numerous soluble factors such as TGF-β. TGF-β plays an important role in the TME by suppressing T cell effector function and promoting tumor invasiveness. Up to now CAR T cells exclusively target tumor-associated antigens (TAA) located on the cell membrane. Thus, strategies to exploit soluble antigens as CAR targets within the TME are needed. This study demonstrates a novel approach using Adapter CAR (AdCAR) T cells for the detection of soluble latent TGF-β within the TME of a pancreatic tumor model. We show that AdCARs in combination with the respective adapter can be used to sense soluble tumor-derived latent TGF-β, both in vitro and in vivo. Sensing of the soluble antigen induced cellular activation and effector cytokine production in AdCAR T cells. Moreover, we evaluated AdCAR T cells for the combined targeting of soluble latent TGF-β and tumor cell killing by targeting CD66c as TAA in vivo. In sum, our study broadens the spectrum of targetable moieties for AdCAR T cells by soluble latent TGF-β.
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Affiliation(s)
- Niels Werchau
- Miltenyi Biotec B.V. & Co. KG, Bergisch Gladbach, Germany
- Department of Internal Medicine III and Comprehensive Cancer Center, Klinikum Grosshadern, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Munich, Germany
| | - Bettina Kotter
- Miltenyi Biotec B.V. & Co. KG, Bergisch Gladbach, Germany
| | | | | | - Nicole Cordes
- Miltenyi Biotec B.V. & Co. KG, Bergisch Gladbach, Germany
| | - Dominik Lock
- Miltenyi Biotec B.V. & Co. KG, Bergisch Gladbach, Germany
| | - Simon Lennartz
- Miltenyi Biotec B.V. & Co. KG, Bergisch Gladbach, Germany
| | - Carolin Kolbe
- Miltenyi Biotec B.V. & Co. KG, Bergisch Gladbach, Germany
| | - Nora Winter
- Miltenyi Biotec B.V. & Co. KG, Bergisch Gladbach, Germany
| | - Karin Teppert
- Miltenyi Biotec B.V. & Co. KG, Bergisch Gladbach, Germany
| | - Fabian Engert
- Miltenyi Biotec B.V. & Co. KG, Bergisch Gladbach, Germany
| | - Brian Webster
- Miltenyi Biotec B.V. & Co. KG, Bergisch Gladbach, Germany
| | | | | | - Peter Mallmann
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Hospital Cologne and Medical Faculty, Cologne, Germany
| | - Michael R. Mallmann
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Hospital Cologne and Medical Faculty, Cologne, Germany
| | - Dominik Ratiu
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Hospital Cologne and Medical Faculty, Cologne, Germany
| | | | - Thomas Schaser
- Miltenyi Biotec B.V. & Co. KG, Bergisch Gladbach, Germany
| | - Michael von Bergwelt-Baildon
- Department of Internal Medicine III and Comprehensive Cancer Center, Klinikum Grosshadern, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Munich, Germany
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Carvalho RF, do Canto LM, Abildgaard C, Aagaard MM, Tronhjem MS, Waldstrøm M, Jensen LH, Steffensen KD, Rogatto SR. Single-cell and bulk RNA sequencing reveal ligands and receptors associated with worse overall survival in serous ovarian cancer. Cell Commun Signal 2022; 20:176. [DOI: 10.1186/s12964-022-00991-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2022] [Accepted: 10/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Background
Serous ovarian carcinoma is the most frequent histological subgroup of ovarian cancer and the leading cause of death among gynecologic tumors. The tumor microenvironment and cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) have a critical role in the origin and progression of cancer. We comprehensively characterized the crosstalk between CAFs and ovarian cancer cells from malignant fluids to identify specific ligands and receptors mediating intercellular communications and disrupted pathways related to prognosis and therapy response.
Methods
Malignant fluids of serous ovarian cancer, including tumor-derived organoids, CAFs-enriched (eCAFs), and malignant effusion cells (no cultured) paired with normal ovarian tissues, were explored by RNA-sequencing. These data were integrated with single-cell RNA-sequencing data of ascites from ovarian cancer patients. The most relevant ligand and receptor interactions were used to identify differentially expressed genes with prognostic values in ovarian cancer.
Results
CAF ligands and epithelial cancer cell receptors were enriched for PI3K-AKT, focal adhesion, and epithelial-mesenchymal transition signaling pathways. Collagens, MIF, MDK, APP, and laminin were detected as the most significant signaling, and the top ligand-receptor interactions THBS2/THBS3 (CAFs)—CD47 (cancer cells), MDK (CAFs)—NCL/SDC2/SDC4 (cancer cells) as potential therapeutic targets. Interestingly, 34 genes encoding receptors and ligands of the PI3K pathway were associated with the outcome, response to treatment, and overall survival in ovarian cancer. Up-regulated genes from this list consistently predicted a worse overall survival (hazard ratio > 1.0 and log-rank P < 0.05) in two independent validation cohorts.
Conclusions
This study describes critical signaling pathways, ligands, and receptors involved in the communication between CAFs and cancer cells that have prognostic and therapeutic significance in ovarian cancer.
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Schirrmacher V, van Gool S, Stuecker W. Counteracting Immunosuppression in the Tumor Microenvironment by Oncolytic Newcastle Disease Virus and Cellular Immunotherapy. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:13050. [PMID: 36361831 PMCID: PMC9655431 DOI: 10.3390/ijms232113050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2022] [Revised: 09/26/2022] [Accepted: 10/23/2022] [Indexed: 10/24/2023] Open
Abstract
An apparent paradox exists between the evidence for spontaneous systemic T cell- mediated anti-tumor immune responses in cancer patients, observed particularly in their bone marrow, and local tumor growth in the periphery. This phenomenon, known as "concomitant immunity" suggests that the local tumor and its tumor microenvironment (TME) prevent systemic antitumor immunity to become effective. Oncolytic Newcastle disease virus (NDV), an agent with inherent anti-neoplastic and immune stimulatory properties, is capable of breaking therapy resistance and immunosuppression. This review updates latest information about immunosuppression by the TME and discusses mechanisms of how oncolytic viruses, in particular NDV, and cellular immunotherapy can counteract the immunosuppressive effect of the TME. With regard to cellular immunotherapy, the review presents pre-clinical studies of post-operative active-specific immunotherapy and of adoptive T cell-mediated therapy in immunocompetent mice. Memory T cell (MTC) transfer in tumor challenged T cell-deficient nu/nu mice demonstrates longevity and functionality of these cells. Graft-versus-leukemia (GvL) studies in mice demonstrate complete remission of late-stage disease including metastases and cachexia. T cell based immunotherapy studies with human cells in human tumor xenotransplanted NOD/SCID mice demonstrate superiority of bone marrow-derived as compared to blood-derived MTCs. Results from clinical studies presented include vaccination studies using two different types of NDV-modified cancer vaccine and a pilot adoptive T-cell mediated therapy study using re-activated bone marrow-derived cancer-reactive MTCs. As an example for what can be expected from clinical immunotherapy against tumors with an immunosuppressive TME, results from vaccination studies are presented from the aggressive brain tumor glioblastoma multiforme. The last decades of basic research in virology, oncology and immunology can be considered as a success story. Based on discoveries of these research areas, translational research and clinical studies have changed the way of treatment of cancer by introducing and including immunotherapy.
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Cerro PA, Mascaraque M, Gallego-Rentero M, Almenara-Blasco M, Nicolás-Morala J, Santiago JL, González S, Gracia-Cazaña T, Juarranz Á, Gilaberte Y. Tumor microenvironment in non-melanoma skin cancer resistance to photodynamic therapy. Front Oncol 2022; 12:970279. [PMID: 36338755 PMCID: PMC9634550 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2022.970279] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2022] [Accepted: 10/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Abstract
Non-melanoma skin cancer has recently seen an increase in prevalence, and it is estimated that this grow will continue in the coming years. In this sense, the importance of therapy effectiveness has increased, especially photodynamic therapy. Photodynamic therapy has attracted much attention as a minimally invasive, selective and repeatable approach for skin cancer treatment and prevention. Although its high efficiency, this strategy has also faced problems related to tumor resistance, where the tumor microenvironment has gained a well-deserved role in recent years. Tumor microenvironment denotes a wide variety of elements, such as cancer-associated fibroblasts, immune cells, endothelial cells or the extracellular matrix, where their interaction and the secretion of a wide diversity of cytokines. Therefore, the need of designing new strategies targeting elements of the tumor microenvironment to overcome the observed resistance has become evident. To this end, in this review we focus on the role of cancer-associated fibroblasts and tumor-associated macrophages in the resistance to photodynamic therapy. We are also exploring new approaches consisting in the combination of new and old drugs targeting these cells with photodynamic therapy to enhance treatment outcomes of non-melanoma skin cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paulina A. Cerro
- Department of Dermatology, Miguel Servet University Hospital, Instituto Investigación Sanitaria (IIS), Zaragoza, Aragón, Spain
| | - Marta Mascaraque
- Department of Biology, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
- Department of Experminetal Dermatology and Skin Biology, Instituto Ramón y Cajal de Investigaciones Sanitarias, IRYCIS, Madrid, Spain
| | - María Gallego-Rentero
- Department of Biology, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
- Department of Experminetal Dermatology and Skin Biology, Instituto Ramón y Cajal de Investigaciones Sanitarias, IRYCIS, Madrid, Spain
| | - Manuel Almenara-Blasco
- Department of Dermatology, Miguel Servet University Hospital, Instituto Investigación Sanitaria (IIS), Zaragoza, Aragón, Spain
| | - Jimena Nicolás-Morala
- Department of Biology, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
- Department of Experminetal Dermatology and Skin Biology, Instituto Ramón y Cajal de Investigaciones Sanitarias, IRYCIS, Madrid, Spain
| | - Juan Luis Santiago
- Servicio de Dermatología, Hospital General de Ciudad Real, Ciudad Real, Spain
| | - Salvador González
- Department of Medicine and Medical Specialties, Universidad de Alcalá, Madrid, Spain
| | - Tamara Gracia-Cazaña
- Department of Dermatology, Miguel Servet University Hospital, Instituto Investigación Sanitaria (IIS), Zaragoza, Aragón, Spain
| | - Ángeles Juarranz
- Department of Biology, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
- Department of Experminetal Dermatology and Skin Biology, Instituto Ramón y Cajal de Investigaciones Sanitarias, IRYCIS, Madrid, Spain
- *Correspondence: Ángeles Juarranz, ; Yolanda Gilaberte,
| | - Yolanda Gilaberte
- Department of Dermatology, Miguel Servet University Hospital, Instituto Investigación Sanitaria (IIS), Zaragoza, Aragón, Spain
- *Correspondence: Ángeles Juarranz, ; Yolanda Gilaberte,
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Pan-Cancer Analysis on the Oncogenic Role of Programmed Cell Death 10. JOURNAL OF ONCOLOGY 2022; 2022:1242658. [PMID: 36276268 PMCID: PMC9584704 DOI: 10.1155/2022/1242658] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2022] [Accepted: 09/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Purpose Programmed cell death factor 10 (PDCD10) is associated with intercellular junction, cytoskeleton organization, cell proliferation, apoptosis, exocytosis, and angiogenesis. However, the role of PDCD10 in human cancer is unclear. This study aims to explore the role of PDCD10 in various tumors and its possible mechanism through bioinformatics analysis. Methods We verified the expression of the PDCD10 gene based on data from the ONCOMINE, TIMER2.0, and TISDB databases. The correlation of PDCD10 with prognosis of patients with different tumors was analyzed using data from the GEPIA2 database. Proteins bound to PDCD10 were analyzed from the STRING database. PDCD10, PDCD10-binding proteins, and associated candidate genes were analyzed in DAVID for functional and pathway analyses. We also evaluated the immunological, clinical, and genetic aspects of distinct cancers by using TIMER2.0 and the connection between PDCD10 expression and tumor immune subtypes by using TISDB. Single-cell sequencing data from the CancerSEA database were used to characterize cancer cell functional states and generate heat maps. Results PDCD10 overexpression is linked to certain molecular subtypes of human cancer. Low PDCD10 expression in patients with bladder urothelial carcinoma (BLCA), lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD), liver hepatocellular carcinoma (LIHC), adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC), head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSC), kidney chromophobe carcinoma (KICH), brain lower grade glioma (LGG), pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PAAD), uterine corpus endometrial carcinoma (UCEC), oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC), and esophageal adenocarcinoma (ESAD) was correlated with favorable OS, whereas high PDCD10 expression in patients with LUSC, KIRC, READ, SKCM, and THYM was correlated with good prognosis. STRING network prediction results showed that 20 proteins, namely, paxillin (PXN), CCM2 scaffold protein (CCM2), TRAF3 interacting protein 3 (TRAF3IP3), FGFR1 oncogene partner 2 (FGFR1OP2), chromosome 4 open reading frame 19 (C4orf19), suppressor of IKBKE 1 (SIKE1), serine/threonine kinase 25 (STK25), striatin (STRN), protein phosphatase 2 catalytic subunit alpha (PPP2CA), mammalian sterile-20-like kinase 4 (MST4), MOB family member 4 (MOB4), protein phosphatase 2 scaffold subunit Abeta (PPP2R1B), sarcolemma-associated protein (SLMAP), serine/threonine kinase 24 (STK24), striatin 4 (STRN4), STRN3, protein phosphatase 2 scaffold subunit A alpha (PPP2R1A), striatin interacting protein 1 (STRIP1), CTTNBP2 N-terminal like (CTTNBP2NL), and cortactin binding protein 2 (CTTNBP2), can bind to PDCD10. Gene enrichment analysis suggested that PDCD10 is involved in the occurrence of different tumors through the Hippo signalling pathway, RNA transport, mRNA monitoring pathway, endocytosis, and T cell receptor signalling pathway. An inverse relationship was found between PDCD10 expression and cancer-associated fibroblasts in LUSC and TGCT, and PDCD10 expression was strongly connected with immunological subtypes, such as C1 (wound healing), C2 (interferon-gamma dominant), C3 (inflammation), C4 (lymphocyte depletion), C5 (immune silenced), and C6 (TGF-beta dominant). Finally, analysis of single-cell sequencing data revealed that PDCD10 expression is linked to epigenetic reprogramming, DNA repair, cell cycle progression, cell differentiation, inflammation, cell proliferation, cell differentiation, cell invasion, and angiogenesis. Conclusion The results of our investigation demonstrate that PDCD10 has an oncogenic function in many cancer types. This study provides a reference for future research on antitumor therapeutic targets.
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