1
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Feldman L. Hypoxia within the glioblastoma tumor microenvironment: a master saboteur of novel treatments. Front Immunol 2024; 15:1384249. [PMID: 38994360 PMCID: PMC11238147 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2024.1384249] [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: 02/09/2024] [Accepted: 06/10/2024] [Indexed: 07/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Glioblastoma (GBM) tumors are the most aggressive primary brain tumors in adults that, despite maximum treatment, carry a dismal prognosis. GBM tumors exhibit tissue hypoxia, which promotes tumor aggressiveness and maintenance of glioma stem cells and creates an overall immunosuppressive landscape. This article reviews how hypoxic conditions overlap with inflammatory responses, favoring the proliferation of immunosuppressive cells and inhibiting cytotoxic T cell development. Immunotherapies, including vaccines, immune checkpoint inhibitors, and CAR-T cell therapy, represent promising avenues for GBM treatment. However, challenges such as tumor heterogeneity, immunosuppressive TME, and BBB restrictiveness hinder their effectiveness. Strategies to address these challenges, including combination therapies and targeting hypoxia, are actively being explored to improve outcomes for GBM patients. Targeting hypoxia in combination with immunotherapy represents a potential strategy to enhance treatment efficacy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisa Feldman
- Division of Neurosurgery, City of Hope National Medical Center, Duarte, CA, United States
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2
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Ye S, Yang B, Yang L, Wei W, Fu M, Yan Y, Wang B, Li X, Liang C, Zhao W. Stemness subtypes in lower-grade glioma with prognostic biomarkers, tumor microenvironment, and treatment response. Sci Rep 2024; 14:14758. [PMID: 38926605 PMCID: PMC11208487 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-65717-7] [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: 01/26/2024] [Accepted: 06/24/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Our research endeavors are directed towards unraveling the stem cell characteristics of lower-grade glioma patients, with the ultimate goal of formulating personalized treatment strategies. We computed enrichment stemness scores and performed consensus clustering to categorize phenotypes. Subsequently, we constructed a prognostic risk model using weighted gene correlation network analysis (WGCNA), random survival forest regression analysis as well as full subset regression analysis. To validate the expression differences of key genes, we employed experimental methods such as quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction (qPCR) and assessed cell line proliferation, migration, and invasion. Three subtypes were assigned to patients diagnosed with LGG. Notably, Cluster 2 (C2), exhibiting the poorest survival outcomes, manifested characteristics indicative of the subtype characterized by immunosuppression. This was marked by elevated levels of M1 macrophages, activated mast cells, along with higher immune and stromal scores. Four hub genes-CDCA8, ORC1, DLGAP5, and SMC4-were identified and validated through cell experiments and qPCR. Subsequently, these validated genes were utilized to construct a stemness risk signature. Which revealed that Lower-Grade Glioma (LGG) patients with lower scores were more inclined to demonstrate favorable responses to immune therapy. Our study illuminates the stemness characteristics of gliomas, which lays the foundation for developing therapeutic approaches targeting CSCs and enhancing the efficacy of current immunotherapies. By identifying the stemness subtype and its correlation with prognosis and TME patterns in glioma patients, we aim to advance the development of personalized treatments, enhancing the ability to predict and improve overall patient prognosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shengda Ye
- Brain Research Center, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
- Department of Neurosurgery, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Bin Yang
- Brain Research Center, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
- Department of Neurosurgery, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Liu Yang
- Department of Neurosurgery, Central Theater General Hospital of the Chinese People's Liberation Army, Wuhan, China
| | - Wei Wei
- Brain Research Center, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
- Department of Neurosurgery, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Mingyue Fu
- Brain Research Center, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Yu Yan
- Brain Research Center, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
- Department of Neurosurgery, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Bo Wang
- Brain Research Center, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
- Department of Neurosurgery, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Xiang Li
- Brain Research Center, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China.
- Department of Neurosurgery, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China.
- Frontier Science Center for Immunology and Metabolism, Wuhan, China.
- Medical Research Institute, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China.
- Sino-Italian Ascula Brain Science Joint Laboratory, Wuhan, China.
| | - Chen Liang
- Department of Radiation and Medical Oncology, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China.
- Cancer Hospital of Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China.
- Cancer Clinical Study Center of Hubei Province, Wuhan, China.
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Tumor Biological Behavior, Wuhan, China.
| | - Wenyuan Zhao
- Department of Neurosurgery, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China.
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3
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Pelaz SG, Flores-Hernández R, Vujic T, Schvartz D, Álvarez-Vázquez A, Ding Y, García-Vicente L, Belloso A, Talaverón R, Sánchez JC, Tabernero A. A proteomic approach supports the clinical relevance of TAT-Cx43 266-283 in glioblastoma. Transl Res 2024; 272:95-110. [PMID: 38876188 DOI: 10.1016/j.trsl.2024.06.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2024] [Revised: 05/18/2024] [Accepted: 06/01/2024] [Indexed: 06/16/2024]
Abstract
Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most frequent and aggressive primary brain cancer. The Src inhibitor, TAT-Cx43266-283, exerts antitumor effects in in vitro and in vivo models of GBM. Because addressing the mechanism of action is essential to translate these results to a clinical setting, in this study we carried out an unbiased proteomic approach. Data-independent acquisition mass spectrometry proteomics allowed the identification of 190 proteins whose abundance was modified by TAT-Cx43266-283. Our results were consistent with the inhibition of Src as the mechanism of action of TAT-Cx43266-283 and unveiled antitumor effectors, such as p120 catenin. Changes in the abundance of several proteins suggested that TAT-Cx43266-283 may also impact the brain microenvironment. Importantly, the proteins whose abundance was reduced by TAT-Cx43266-283 correlated with an improved GBM patient survival in clinical datasets and none of the proteins whose abundance was increased by TAT-Cx43266-283 correlated with shorter survival, supporting its use in clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara G Pelaz
- Instituto de Neurociencias de Castilla y León (INCYL), Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, Universidad de Salamanca, Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de Salamanca (IBSAL), Calle Pintor Fernando Gallego 1, Salamanca, 37007, Spain.
| | - Raquel Flores-Hernández
- Instituto de Neurociencias de Castilla y León (INCYL), Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, Universidad de Salamanca, Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de Salamanca (IBSAL), Calle Pintor Fernando Gallego 1, Salamanca, 37007, Spain
| | - Tatjana Vujic
- Department of Medicine, University of Geneva, 1211, Geneva, Switzerland; University Center of Legal Medicine, Lausanne-Geneva, Lausanne University Hospital and University of Lausanne, Geneva University Hospital and University of Geneva, Lausanne Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Domitille Schvartz
- Department of Medicine, University of Geneva, 1211, Geneva, Switzerland; University of Geneva, Faculty of Medicine, Proteomics Core Facility, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Andrea Álvarez-Vázquez
- Instituto de Neurociencias de Castilla y León (INCYL), Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, Universidad de Salamanca, Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de Salamanca (IBSAL), Calle Pintor Fernando Gallego 1, Salamanca, 37007, Spain
| | - Yuxin Ding
- Instituto de Neurociencias de Castilla y León (INCYL), Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, Universidad de Salamanca, Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de Salamanca (IBSAL), Calle Pintor Fernando Gallego 1, Salamanca, 37007, Spain
| | - Laura García-Vicente
- Instituto de Neurociencias de Castilla y León (INCYL), Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, Universidad de Salamanca, Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de Salamanca (IBSAL), Calle Pintor Fernando Gallego 1, Salamanca, 37007, Spain
| | - Aitana Belloso
- Instituto de Neurociencias de Castilla y León (INCYL), Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, Universidad de Salamanca, Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de Salamanca (IBSAL), Calle Pintor Fernando Gallego 1, Salamanca, 37007, Spain
| | - Rocío Talaverón
- Instituto de Neurociencias de Castilla y León (INCYL), Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, Universidad de Salamanca, Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de Salamanca (IBSAL), Calle Pintor Fernando Gallego 1, Salamanca, 37007, Spain
| | | | - Arantxa Tabernero
- Instituto de Neurociencias de Castilla y León (INCYL), Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, Universidad de Salamanca, Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de Salamanca (IBSAL), Calle Pintor Fernando Gallego 1, Salamanca, 37007, Spain.
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4
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Vasileiou M, Diamantoudis SC, Tsianava C, Nguyen NP. Immunotherapeutic Strategies Targeting Breast Cancer Stem Cells. Curr Oncol 2024; 31:3040-3063. [PMID: 38920716 PMCID: PMC11203270 DOI: 10.3390/curroncol31060232] [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: 04/29/2024] [Revised: 05/23/2024] [Accepted: 05/28/2024] [Indexed: 06/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in women and is a leading cause of cancer death in women worldwide. Despite the implementation of multiple treatment options, including immunotherapy, breast cancer treatment remains a challenge. In this review, we aim to summarize present challenges in breast cancer immunotherapy and recent advancements in overcoming treatment resistance. We elaborate on the inhibition of signaling cascades, such as the Notch, Hedgehog, Hippo, and WNT signaling pathways, which regulate the self-renewal and differentiation of breast cancer stem cells and, consequently, disease progression and survival. Cancer stem cells represent a rare population of cancer cells, likely originating from non-malignant stem or progenitor cells, with the ability to evade immune surveillance and develop resistance to immunotherapeutic treatments. We also discuss the interactions between breast cancer stem cells and the immune system, including potential agents targeting breast cancer stem cell-associated signaling pathways, and provide an overview of the emerging approaches to breast cancer stem cell-targeted immunotherapy. Finally, we consider the development of breast cancer vaccines and adoptive cellular therapies, which train the immune system to recognize tumor-associated antigens, for eliciting T cell-mediated responses to target breast cancer stem cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Vasileiou
- Department of Pharmacy, School of Health Sciences, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 15771 Athens, Greece;
| | | | - Christina Tsianava
- Department of Pharmacy, School of Health Sciences, University of Patras, 26504 Patras, Greece
| | - Nam P. Nguyen
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Howard University, Washington, DC 20060, USA
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5
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Lin H, Liu C, Hu A, Zhang D, Yang H, Mao Y. Understanding the immunosuppressive microenvironment of glioma: mechanistic insights and clinical perspectives. J Hematol Oncol 2024; 17:31. [PMID: 38720342 PMCID: PMC11077829 DOI: 10.1186/s13045-024-01544-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2023] [Accepted: 04/10/2024] [Indexed: 05/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Glioblastoma (GBM), the predominant and primary malignant intracranial tumor, poses a formidable challenge due to its immunosuppressive microenvironment, thereby confounding conventional therapeutic interventions. Despite the established treatment regimen comprising surgical intervention, radiotherapy, temozolomide administration, and the exploration of emerging modalities such as immunotherapy and integration of medicine and engineering technology therapy, the efficacy of these approaches remains constrained, resulting in suboptimal prognostic outcomes. In recent years, intensive scrutiny of the inhibitory and immunosuppressive milieu within GBM has underscored the significance of cellular constituents of the GBM microenvironment and their interactions with malignant cells and neurons. Novel immune and targeted therapy strategies have emerged, offering promising avenues for advancing GBM treatment. One pivotal mechanism orchestrating immunosuppression in GBM involves the aggregation of myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs), glioma-associated macrophage/microglia (GAM), and regulatory T cells (Tregs). Among these, MDSCs, though constituting a minority (4-8%) of CD45+ cells in GBM, play a central component in fostering immune evasion and propelling tumor progression, angiogenesis, invasion, and metastasis. MDSCs deploy intricate immunosuppressive mechanisms that adapt to the dynamic tumor microenvironment (TME). Understanding the interplay between GBM and MDSCs provides a compelling basis for therapeutic interventions. This review seeks to elucidate the immune regulatory mechanisms inherent in the GBM microenvironment, explore existing therapeutic targets, and consolidate recent insights into MDSC induction and their contribution to GBM immunosuppression. Additionally, the review comprehensively surveys ongoing clinical trials and potential treatment strategies, envisioning a future where targeting MDSCs could reshape the immune landscape of GBM. Through the synergistic integration of immunotherapy with other therapeutic modalities, this approach can establish a multidisciplinary, multi-target paradigm, ultimately improving the prognosis and quality of life in patients with GBM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hao Lin
- Department of Neurosurgery, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
- National Center for Neurological Disorders, Huashan Hospital, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Brain Function Restoration and Neural Regeneration, Shanghai Clinical Medical Center of Neurosurgery, Neurosurgical Institute of Fudan University, Huashan Hospital, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
| | - Chaxian Liu
- Department of Neurosurgery, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
- National Center for Neurological Disorders, Huashan Hospital, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Brain Function Restoration and Neural Regeneration, Shanghai Clinical Medical Center of Neurosurgery, Neurosurgical Institute of Fudan University, Huashan Hospital, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
| | - Ankang Hu
- Department of Neurosurgery, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
- National Center for Neurological Disorders, Huashan Hospital, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Brain Function Restoration and Neural Regeneration, Shanghai Clinical Medical Center of Neurosurgery, Neurosurgical Institute of Fudan University, Huashan Hospital, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
| | - Duanwu Zhang
- Children's Hospital of Fudan University, and Shanghai Key Laboratory of Medical Epigenetics, International Co-Laboratory of Medical Epigenetics and Metabolism, Ministry of Science and Technology, Institutes of Biomedical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, People's Republic of China.
| | - Hui Yang
- Department of Neurosurgery, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, People's Republic of China.
- Institute for Translational Brain Research, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, People's Republic of China.
- National Center for Neurological Disorders, Huashan Hospital, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, People's Republic of China.
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Brain Function Restoration and Neural Regeneration, Shanghai Clinical Medical Center of Neurosurgery, Neurosurgical Institute of Fudan University, Huashan Hospital, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, People's Republic of China.
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology and MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, People's Republic of China.
| | - Ying Mao
- Department of Neurosurgery, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, People's Republic of China.
- National Center for Neurological Disorders, Huashan Hospital, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, People's Republic of China.
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Brain Function Restoration and Neural Regeneration, Shanghai Clinical Medical Center of Neurosurgery, Neurosurgical Institute of Fudan University, Huashan Hospital, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, People's Republic of China.
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology and MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, People's Republic of China.
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6
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Yi SY, Wei MZ, Zhao L. Targeted immunotherapy to cancer stem cells: A novel strategy of anticancer immunotherapy. Crit Rev Oncol Hematol 2024; 196:104313. [PMID: 38428702 DOI: 10.1016/j.critrevonc.2024.104313] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2023] [Revised: 02/04/2024] [Accepted: 02/26/2024] [Indexed: 03/03/2024] Open
Abstract
Cancer is a major disease that endangers human health. Cancer drug resistance and relapse are the two main causes contributing to cancer treatment failure. Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are a small fraction of tumor cells that are responsible for tumorigenesis, metastasis, relapse, and resistance to conventional anticancer therapies. Therefore, CSCs are considered to be the root of cancer recurrence, metastasis, and drug resistance. Novel anticancer strategies need to face this new challenge and explore their efficacy against CSCs. Recently, immunotherapy has made rapid advances in cancer treatment, and its potential against CSCs is also an interesting area of research. Meanwhile, immunotherapy strategies are novel therapeutic modalities with promising results in targeting CSCs. In this review, we summarize the targeting of CSCs by various immunotherapy strategies such as monoclonal antibodies(mAb), tumor vaccines, immune checkpoint inhibitors, and chimeric antigen receptor-T cells(CAR-T) in pre-clinical and clinical studies. This review provides new insights into the application of these immunotherapeutic approaches to potential anti-tumor therapies in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shan-Yong Yi
- Department of Oncology of the Zhengzhou Central Hospital Affiliated to Zhengzhou University, Zheng Zhou, Henan Province 450007, China.
| | - Mei-Zhuo Wei
- Department of Oncology of the Zhengzhou Central Hospital Affiliated to Zhengzhou University, Zheng Zhou, Henan Province 450007, China
| | - Ling Zhao
- Department of Oncology of the Zhengzhou Central Hospital Affiliated to Zhengzhou University, Zheng Zhou, Henan Province 450007, China.
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7
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Zhang M, Ding Y, Gao M, Lu X, Tan J, Yu F, Gu C, Gu L, Ren X, Hao C, Ming L, Xu K, Mao W, Jin Y, Zhang M, You L, Wang Z, Sun Y, Jiang J, Yang Y, Zhang D, Tang X. Discovery of Novel N-(Anthracen-9-ylmethyl) Benzamide Derivatives as ZNF207 Inhibitors Promising in Treating Glioma. J Med Chem 2024; 67:3909-3934. [PMID: 38377560 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.3c02241] [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: 02/22/2024]
Abstract
Targeting tumor stemness is an innovative approach to cancer treatment. Zinc Finger Protein 207 (ZNF207) is a promising target for weakening the stemness of glioma cells. Here, a series of novel N-(anthracen-9-ylmethyl) benzamide derivatives against ZNF207 were rationally designed and synthesized. The inhibitory activity was evaluated, and their structure-activity relationships were summarized. Among them, C16 exhibited the most potent inhibitory activity, as evidenced by its IC50 values ranging from 0.5-2.5 μM for inhibiting sphere formation and 0.5-15 μM for cytotoxicity. Furthermore, we found that C16 could hinder tumorigenesis and migration and promote apoptosis in vitro. These effects were attributed to the downregulation of stem-related genes. The in vivo evaluation demonstrated that C16 exhibited efficient permeability across the blood-brain barrier and potent efficacy in both subcutaneous and orthotopic glioma tumor models. Hence, C16 may serve as a potential lead compound targeting ZNF207 and has promising therapeutic potential for glioma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Menghan Zhang
- School of Basic Medicine and Clinical Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, China 211112
| | - Yushi Ding
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, China 211112
| | - Mengkang Gao
- School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, China 211112
| | - Xiaolin Lu
- School of Science, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, China 211112
| | - Jun Tan
- School of Science, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, China 211112
| | - Fei Yu
- School of Basic Medicine and Clinical Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, China 211112
| | - Congying Gu
- School of Science, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, China 211112
| | - Lujun Gu
- School of Basic Medicine and Clinical Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, China 211112
| | - Xiameng Ren
- School of Basic Medicine and Clinical Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, China 211112
| | - Chenyan Hao
- School of Science, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, China 211112
| | - Liqin Ming
- School of Science, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, China 211112
| | - Kang Xu
- School of Science, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, China 211112
| | - Wenhao Mao
- School of Basic Medicine and Clinical Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, China 211112
| | - Yuqing Jin
- School of Basic Medicine and Clinical Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, China 211112
| | - Min Zhang
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, China 211112
| | - Linjun You
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, China 211112
- Center for New Drug Safety Evaluation and Research, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, China 211112
| | - Zhanbo Wang
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, China 211112
- Center for New Drug Safety Evaluation and Research, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, China 211112
| | - Yuanyuan Sun
- Shuangyun BioMed Sci & Tech (Suzhou) Co., Ltd, Suzhou, China 215000
| | - Jingwei Jiang
- Shuangyun BioMed Sci & Tech (Suzhou) Co., Ltd, Suzhou, China 215000
| | - Yong Yang
- School of Basic Medicine and Clinical Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, China 211112
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, China 211112
- School of Pharmacy, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, China 221004
| | - Dayong Zhang
- School of Science, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, China 211112
| | - Xinying Tang
- School of Basic Medicine and Clinical Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, China 211112
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8
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Borlongan MC, Saha D, Wang H. Tumor Microenvironment: A Niche for Cancer Stem Cell Immunotherapy. Stem Cell Rev Rep 2024; 20:3-24. [PMID: 37861969 DOI: 10.1007/s12015-023-10639-6] [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] [Accepted: 10/02/2023] [Indexed: 10/21/2023]
Abstract
Tumorigenic Cancer Stem Cells (CSCs), often called tumor-initiating cells (TICs), represent a unique subset of cells within the tumor milieu. They stand apart from the bulk of tumor cells due to their exceptional self-renewal, metastatic, and differentiation capabilities. Despite significant progress in classifying CSCs, these cells remain notably resilient to conventional radiotherapy and chemotherapy, contributing to cancer recurrence. In this review, our objective is to explore novel avenues of research that delve into the distinctive characteristics of CSCs within their surrounding tumor microenvironment (TME). We will start with an overview of the defining features of CSCs and then delve into their intricate interactions with cells from the lymphoid lineage, namely T cells, B cells, and natural killer (NK) cells. Furthermore, we will discuss their dynamic interplay with myeloid lineage cells, including macrophages, neutrophils, and myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs). Moreover, we will illuminate the crosstalk between CSCs and cells of mesenchymal origin, specifically fibroblasts, adipocytes, and endothelial cells. Subsequently, we will underscore the pivotal role of CSCs within the context of the tumor-associated extracellular matrix (ECM). Finally, we will highlight pre-clinical and clinical studies that target CSCs within the intricate landscape of the TME, including CAR-T therapy, oncolytic viruses, and CSC-vaccines, with the ultimate goal of uncovering novel avenues for CSC-based cancer immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mia C Borlongan
- College of Medicine, California Northstate University, 9700 West Taron Drive, Elk Grove, CA, 95757, USA
| | - Dipongkor Saha
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Sciences College of Pharmacy, California Northstate University, 9700 West Taron Drive, Elk Grove, CA, 95757, USA.
| | - Hongbin Wang
- College of Medicine, California Northstate University, 9700 West Taron Drive, Elk Grove, CA, 95757, USA.
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Sciences College of Pharmacy, California Northstate University, 9700 West Taron Drive, Elk Grove, CA, 95757, USA.
- Master Program of Pharmaceutical Sciences College of Graduate Studies, Department of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Sciences College of Pharmacy, Department of Basic Science College of Medicine, California Northstate University, 9700 West Taron Drive, Elk Grove, CA, 95757, USA.
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9
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Zhang S, Yang R, Ouyang Y, Shen Y, Hu L, Xu C. Cancer stem cells: a target for overcoming therapeutic resistance and relapse. Cancer Biol Med 2023; 20:j.issn.2095-3941.2023.0333. [PMID: 38164743 PMCID: PMC10845928 DOI: 10.20892/j.issn.2095-3941.2023.0333] [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: 09/04/2023] [Accepted: 11/20/2023] [Indexed: 01/03/2024] Open
Abstract
Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are a small subset of cells in cancers that are thought to initiate tumorous transformation and promote metastasis, recurrence, and resistance to treatment. Growing evidence has revealed the existence of CSCs in various types of cancers and suggested that CSCs differentiate into diverse lineage cells that contribute to tumor progression. We may be able to overcome the limitations of cancer treatment with a comprehensive understanding of the biological features and mechanisms underlying therapeutic resistance in CSCs. This review provides an overview of the properties, biomarkers, and mechanisms of resistance shown by CSCs. Recent findings on metabolic features, especially fatty acid metabolism and ferroptosis in CSCs, are highlighted, along with promising targeting strategies. Targeting CSCs is a potential treatment plan to conquer cancer and prevent resistance and relapse in cancer treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuo Zhang
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Radiation Oncology Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Sichuan Cancer Hospital & Institute, Sichuan Cancer Center, Affiliated Cancer Hospital of University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 610042, China
| | - Rui Yang
- Department of Ultrasound in Medicine, Chengdu Wenjiang District People’s Hospital, Chengdu 611130, China
| | - Yujie Ouyang
- Acupuncture and Massage College, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu 611137, China
| | - Yang Shen
- Department of Oncology & Cancer Institute, Sichuan Academy of Medical Sciences and Sichuan Provincial People’s Hospital, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 610072, China
- Sichuan Provincial Key Laboratory for Human Disease Gene Study, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Sichuan Academy of Medical Sciences and Sichuan Provincial People’s Hospital, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 610072, China
- School of Pharmacy, Macau University of Science and Technology, Macau SAR 999078, China
| | - Lanlin Hu
- Department of Oncology & Cancer Institute, Sichuan Academy of Medical Sciences and Sichuan Provincial People’s Hospital, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 610072, China
- Sichuan Provincial Key Laboratory for Human Disease Gene Study, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Sichuan Academy of Medical Sciences and Sichuan Provincial People’s Hospital, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 610072, China
- Yu-Yue Pathology Scientific Research Center, Chongqing 400039, China
- Jinfeng Laboratory, Chongqing 401329, China
| | - Chuan Xu
- Department of Oncology & Cancer Institute, Sichuan Academy of Medical Sciences and Sichuan Provincial People’s Hospital, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 610072, China
- Sichuan Provincial Key Laboratory for Human Disease Gene Study, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Sichuan Academy of Medical Sciences and Sichuan Provincial People’s Hospital, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 610072, China
- Yu-Yue Pathology Scientific Research Center, Chongqing 400039, China
- Jinfeng Laboratory, Chongqing 401329, China
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10
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Zeng X, Nong WX, Zou XQ, Li F, Ge YY, Zhang QM, Luo B, Huang W, Zou JX, Fan R, Xie XX. Prediction and identification of HLA-A*0201-restricted epitopes from cancer testis antigen CT23. Hum Vaccin Immunother 2023; 19:2293299. [PMID: 38100550 PMCID: PMC10730135 DOI: 10.1080/21645515.2023.2293299] [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: 09/03/2023] [Accepted: 12/06/2023] [Indexed: 12/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Cancer-testis antigen CT23 is a class of tumor-associated antigens (TAA) characterized by restricted expression in male germ cells and a variety of tumor tissues. Numerous studies have shown that CT23 is closely related to tumor cell viability, proliferation, metastasis and invasion. CT23 is immunogenic and can cause specific immune response in tumor patients. Therefore, it is considered to be one of the best target antigens for designing therapeutic tumor vaccines and T-cell-mediated tumor immunotherapy. In this study, we initially obtained seven HLA-A*0201-restricted CT23 epitope candidate peptides through the T cell epitope prediction program. Subsequently, a T2 cell binding assay revealed the potential binding of all candidate peptides with HLA-A2 molecules. Notably, peptide P7 (ALLVLCYSI) exhibited the highest affinity, as evidenced by a fluorescence index (FI) of 2.19. Dendritic cells (DCs) loaded with CT23 candidate peptide can stimulate CD8+T cell activation and proliferation, and compared with other candidate peptides, candidate peptide P7 is superior. The cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) stimulated by the peptide P7 had killing effect on tumor cells (HLA-A*0201+, CT23+), but no killing effect on tumor cells (HLA-A*0201-, CT23+). The CTLs induced by the peptide P7 also had a specific killing effect on T2 cells bearing the peptide P7. In summary, our findings suggest that the CT23 peptide P7 (ALLVLCYSI) can induce immune responses and holds potential for tumor-specific CTL therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xia Zeng
- Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medicine Science, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, P. R. China
| | - Wei-Xia Nong
- Department of Histology and Embryology, School of Basic Medicine Science, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, P. R. China
| | - Xiao-Qiong Zou
- Department of Histology and Embryology, School of Basic Medicine Science, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, P. R. China
| | - Feng Li
- Department of Histology and Embryology, School of Basic Medicine Science, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, P. R. China
| | - Ying-Ying Ge
- Department of Histology and Embryology, School of Basic Medicine Science, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, P. R. China
| | - Qing-Mei Zhang
- Department of Histology and Embryology, School of Basic Medicine Science, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, P. R. China
- Education Department of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Key Laboratory of Basic Research on Regional Diseases (Guangxi Medical University), Nanning, P. R. China
| | - Bin Luo
- Department of Histology and Embryology, School of Basic Medicine Science, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, P. R. China
- Education Department of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Key Laboratory of Basic Research on Regional Diseases (Guangxi Medical University), Nanning, P. R. China
| | - Wei Huang
- Department of Gynecology, First Affiliated Hospital, Guangxi University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Nanning, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, P. R. China
| | - Jian-Xia Zou
- Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, P. R. China
| | - Rong Fan
- Department of Histology and Embryology, School of Pre-Clinical Medicine, Guangxi University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Nanning, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, P. R. China
| | - Xiao-Xun Xie
- Department of Histology and Embryology, School of Basic Medicine Science, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, P. R. China
- Education Department of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Key Laboratory of Basic Research on Regional Diseases (Guangxi Medical University), Nanning, P. R. China
- Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Early Prevention and Treatment of Regional High Frequency Tumor (Guangxi Medical University), Nanning, P. R. China
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11
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Marzban H, Pedram N, Amini P, Gholampour Y, Saranjam N, Moradi S, Rahvarian J. Immunobiology of cancer stem cells and their immunoevasion mechanisms. Mol Biol Rep 2023; 50:9559-9573. [PMID: 37776412 DOI: 10.1007/s11033-023-08768-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2023] [Accepted: 08/16/2023] [Indexed: 10/02/2023]
Abstract
Cancer stem cells (CSCs) defined as a small fraction of cells within malignancies have been isolated from tumors with different histological origins with stem related characteristics such as self-replicating potential, tumorigenesis, and therapy resistance. The dynamic communication between CSCs and tumor microenvironment particularly immune cells orchestrates their fate and plasticity as well as the patient outcome. According to recent evidence, it has been reported that they harness different immunological pathways to escape immunosurveillance and express aberrantly immunomodulatory agents or decreased levels of factors forming antigen presenting machinery (APM), subsequently followed by impaired antigen presentation and suppressed immune detection. As effective therapies are expected to be able to eradicate CSCs, mechanistic understanding of such interactions can provide insights into causes of therapy failure particularly in immunotherapy. Also, it can contribute to enhance the practical interventions against CSCs and their immunomodulatory features resulting in CSCs eradication and improving patient clinical outcome. The aim of this review is to explain the present knowledge regarding the immunobiology of CSCs and the immunoevasion mechanisms they use.
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Affiliation(s)
- Havva Marzban
- Department of Immunology, Mayo Clinic, Scottsdale, US.
| | - Nastaran Pedram
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Clinical Science, Shiraz University, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Parnian Amini
- Department of Veterinary Laboratory Science, Islamic Azad University, Rasht Branch, Rasht, Iran
| | - Yasaman Gholampour
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Clinical Sciences, Razi University, Kermanshah, Iran
| | | | - Samira Moradi
- Faculty of Medical Science, Department of Medicine, Hormozgan University, Bandar Abbas, Iran
| | - Jeiran Rahvarian
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran
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12
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Lin S, Li K, Qi L. Cancer stem cells in brain tumors: From origin to clinical implications. MedComm (Beijing) 2023; 4:e341. [PMID: 37576862 PMCID: PMC10412776 DOI: 10.1002/mco2.341] [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: 02/08/2023] [Revised: 06/24/2023] [Accepted: 07/04/2023] [Indexed: 08/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Malignant brain tumors are highly heterogeneous tumors with a poor prognosis and a high morbidity and mortality rate in both children and adults. The cancer stem cell (CSC, also named tumor-initiating cell) model states that tumor growth is driven by a subset of CSCs. This model explains some of the clinical observations of brain tumors, including the almost unavoidable tumor recurrence after initial successful chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy and treatment resistance. Over the past two decades, strategies for the identification and characterization of brain CSCs have improved significantly, supporting the design of new diagnostic and therapeutic strategies for brain tumors. Relevant studies have unveiled novel characteristics of CSCs in the brain, including their heterogeneity and distinctive immunobiology, which have provided opportunities for new research directions and potential therapeutic approaches. In this review, we summarize the current knowledge of CSCs markers and stemness regulators in brain tumors. We also comprehensively describe the influence of the CSCs niche and tumor microenvironment on brain tumor stemness, including interactions between CSCs and the immune system, and discuss the potential application of CSCs in brain-based therapies for the treatment of brain tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuyun Lin
- Institute of Digestive DiseaseThe Sixth Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical UniversityQingyuan People's HospitalQingyuanGuangdongChina
| | - Kaishu Li
- Institute of Digestive DiseaseThe Sixth Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical UniversityQingyuan People's HospitalQingyuanGuangdongChina
| | - Ling Qi
- Institute of Digestive DiseaseThe Sixth Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical UniversityQingyuan People's HospitalQingyuanGuangdongChina
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13
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Wen M, Li Y, Qin X, Qin B, Wang Q. Insight into Cancer Immunity: MHCs, Immune Cells and Commensal Microbiota. Cells 2023; 12:1882. [PMID: 37508545 PMCID: PMC10378520 DOI: 10.3390/cells12141882] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2023] [Revised: 06/16/2023] [Accepted: 07/05/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Cancer cells circumvent immune surveillance via diverse strategies. In accordance, a large number of complex studies of the immune system focusing on tumor cell recognition have revealed new insights and strategies developed, largely through major histocompatibility complexes (MHCs). As one of them, tumor-specific MHC-II expression (tsMHC-II) can facilitate immune surveillance to detect tumor antigens, and thereby has been used in immunotherapy, including superior cancer prognosis, clinical sensitivity to immune checkpoint inhibition (ICI) therapy and tumor-bearing rejection in mice. NK cells play a unique role in enhancing innate immune responses, accounting for part of the response including immunosurveillance and immunoregulation. NK cells are also capable of initiating the response of the adaptive immune system to cancer immunotherapy independent of cytotoxic T cells, clearly demonstrating a link between NK cell function and the efficacy of cancer immunotherapies. Eosinophils were shown to feature pleiotropic activities against a variety of solid tumor types, including direct interactions with tumor cells, and accessorily affect immunotherapeutic response through intricating cross-talk with lymphocytes. Additionally, microbial sequencing and reconstitution revealed that commensal microbiota might be involved in the modulation of cancer progression, including positive and negative regulatory bacteria. They may play functional roles in not only mucosal modulation, but also systemic immune responses. Here, we present a panorama of the cancer immune network mediated by MHCI/II molecules, immune cells and commensal microbiota and a discussion of prospective relevant intervening mechanisms involved in cancer immunotherapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Minting Wen
- School of Life Science, Guangzhou University, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Yingjing Li
- School of Life Science, Guangzhou University, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Xiaonan Qin
- School of Life Science, Guangzhou University, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Bing Qin
- School of Life Science, Guangzhou University, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Qiong Wang
- School of Life Science, Guangzhou University, Guangzhou 510006, China
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14
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Akhunzianov AA, Nesterova AI, Wanrooij S, Filina YV, Rizvanov AA, Miftakhova RR. Unravelling the Therapeutic Potential of Antibiotics in Hypoxia in a Breast Cancer MCF-7 Cell Line Model. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:11540. [PMID: 37511298 PMCID: PMC10380719 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241411540] [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: 06/10/2023] [Revised: 07/04/2023] [Accepted: 07/11/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Antibiotics inhibit breast cancer stem cells (CSCs) by suppressing mitochondrial biogenesis. However, the effectiveness of antibiotics in clinical settings is inconsistent. This inconsistency raises the question of whether the tumor microenvironment, particularly hypoxia, plays a role in the response to antibiotics. Therefore, the goal of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of five commonly used antibiotics for inhibiting CSCs under hypoxia using an MCF-7 cell line model. We assessed the number of CSCs through the mammosphere formation assay and aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH)-bright cell count. Additionally, we examined the impact of antibiotics on the mitochondrial stress response and membrane potential. Furthermore, we analyzed the levels of proteins associated with therapeutic resistance. There was no significant difference in the number of CSCs between cells cultured under normoxic and hypoxic conditions. However, hypoxia did affect the rate of CSC inhibition by antibiotics. Specifically, azithromycin was unable to inhibit sphere formation in hypoxia. Erythromycin and doxycycline did not reduce the ratio of ALDH-bright cells, despite decreasing the number of mammospheres. Furthermore, treatment with chloramphenicol, doxycycline, and tetracycline led to the overexpression of the breast cancer resistance protein. Our findings suggest that hypoxia may weaken the inhibitory effects of antibiotics on the breast cancer model.
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Affiliation(s)
- Almaz A Akhunzianov
- Institute of Fundamental Medicine and Biology, Kazan Federal University, 420008 Kazan, Russia
| | - Alfiya I Nesterova
- Institute of Fundamental Medicine and Biology, Kazan Federal University, 420008 Kazan, Russia
- Republican Clinical Oncology Dispensary Named after Prof. M.Z. Sigal, 420029 Kazan, Russia
| | - Sjoerd Wanrooij
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, Faculty of Medicine, Umeå University, 907 36 Umeå, Sweden
| | - Yulia V Filina
- Institute of Fundamental Medicine and Biology, Kazan Federal University, 420008 Kazan, Russia
| | - Albert A Rizvanov
- Institute of Fundamental Medicine and Biology, Kazan Federal University, 420008 Kazan, Russia
| | - Regina R Miftakhova
- Institute of Fundamental Medicine and Biology, Kazan Federal University, 420008 Kazan, Russia
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15
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Castillo SP, Galvez-Cancino F, Liu J, Pollard SM, Quezada SA, Yuan Y. The tumour ecology of quiescence: Niches across scales of complexity. Semin Cancer Biol 2023; 92:139-149. [PMID: 37037400 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcancer.2023.04.004] [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: 10/21/2022] [Revised: 03/06/2023] [Accepted: 04/08/2023] [Indexed: 04/12/2023]
Abstract
Quiescence is a state of cell cycle arrest, allowing cancer cells to evade anti-proliferative cancer therapies. Quiescent cancer stem cells are thought to be responsible for treatment resistance in glioblastoma, an aggressive brain cancer with poor patient outcomes. However, the regulation of quiescence in glioblastoma cells involves a myriad of intrinsic and extrinsic mechanisms that are not fully understood. In this review, we synthesise the literature on quiescence regulatory mechanisms in the context of glioblastoma and propose an ecological perspective to stemness-like phenotypes anchored to the contemporary concepts of niche theory. From this perspective, the cell cycle regulation is multiscale and multidimensional, where the niche dimensions extend to extrinsic variables in the tumour microenvironment that shape cell fate. Within this conceptual framework and powered by ecological niche modelling, the discovery of microenvironmental variables related to hypoxia and mechanosignalling that modulate proliferative plasticity and intratumor immune activity may open new avenues for therapeutic targeting of emerging biological vulnerabilities in glioblastoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simon P Castillo
- Centre for Evolution and Cancer & Division of Molecular Pathology, The Institute of Cancer Research, London SM2 5NG, UK
| | - Felipe Galvez-Cancino
- Immune Regulation and Tumor Immunotherapy Group, Cancer Immunology Unit, Research Department of Haematology, UCL Cancer Institute, London WC1E 6DD, UK
| | - Jiali Liu
- Immune Regulation and Tumor Immunotherapy Group, Cancer Immunology Unit, Research Department of Haematology, UCL Cancer Institute, London WC1E 6DD, UK
| | - Steven M Pollard
- Centre for Regenerative Medicine and Cancer Research UK Scotland Centre, Institute for Regeneration and Repair, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH16 4UU, UK
| | - Sergio A Quezada
- Immune Regulation and Tumor Immunotherapy Group, Cancer Immunology Unit, Research Department of Haematology, UCL Cancer Institute, London WC1E 6DD, UK
| | - Yinyin Yuan
- Centre for Evolution and Cancer & Division of Molecular Pathology, The Institute of Cancer Research, London SM2 5NG, UK.
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16
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Razi S, Haghparast A, Chodari Khameneh S, Ebrahimi Sadrabadi A, Aziziyan F, Bakhtiyari M, Nabi-Afjadi M, Tarhriz V, Jalili A, Zalpoor H. The role of tumor microenvironment on cancer stem cell fate in solid tumors. Cell Commun Signal 2023; 21:143. [PMID: 37328876 PMCID: PMC10273768 DOI: 10.1186/s12964-023-01129-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2023] [Accepted: 04/15/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023] Open
Abstract
In the last few decades, the role of cancer stem cells in initiating tumors, metastasis, invasion, and resistance to therapies has been recognized as a potential target for tumor therapy. Understanding the mechanisms by which CSCs contribute to cancer progression can help to provide novel therapeutic approaches against solid tumors. In this line, the effects of mechanical forces on CSCs such as epithelial-mesenchymal transition, cellular plasticity, etc., the metabolism pathways of CSCs, players of the tumor microenvironment, and their influence on the regulating of CSCs can lead to cancer progression. This review focused on some of these mechanisms of CSCs, paving the way for a better understanding of their regulatory mechanisms and developing platforms for targeted therapies. While progress has been made in research, more studies will be required in the future to explore more aspects of how CSCs contribute to cancer progression. Video Abstract.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Razi
- Vira Pioneers of Modern Science (VIPOMS), Tehran, Iran
| | | | | | - Amin Ebrahimi Sadrabadi
- Department of Stem Cells and Developmental Biology, Cell Science Research Center, Royan Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Technology, ACER, Tehran, Iran
- Cytotech and Bioinformatics Research Group, Tehran, Iran
| | - Fatemeh Aziziyan
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran
- Network of Immunity in Infection, Malignancy & Autoimmunity (NIIMA), Universal Scientific Education & Research Network (USERN), Tehran, Iran
| | - Maryam Bakhtiyari
- Network of Immunity in Infection, Malignancy & Autoimmunity (NIIMA), Universal Scientific Education & Research Network (USERN), Tehran, Iran
- Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Faculty of Allied Medicine, Qazvin University of Medical Sciences, Qazvin, Iran
| | - Mohsen Nabi-Afjadi
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Vahideh Tarhriz
- Infectious and Tropical Diseases Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, P.O. Box 5163639888, Tabriz, Iran.
| | - Arsalan Jalili
- Department of Stem Cells and Developmental Biology, Cell Science Research Center, Royan Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Technology, ACER, Tehran, Iran.
- Parvaz Research Ideas Supporter Institute, Tehran, Iran.
| | - Hamidreza Zalpoor
- Network of Immunity in Infection, Malignancy & Autoimmunity (NIIMA), Universal Scientific Education & Research Network (USERN), Tehran, Iran.
- Shiraz Neuroscience Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.
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17
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Han YP, Lin HW, Li H. Cancer Stem Cells in Tumours of the Central Nervous System in Children: A Comprehensive Review. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:3154. [PMID: 37370764 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15123154] [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: 04/14/2023] [Revised: 05/30/2023] [Accepted: 06/09/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are a subgroup of cells found in various kinds of tumours with stem cell characteristics, such as self-renewal, induced differentiation, and tumourigenicity. The existence of CSCs is regarded as a major source of tumour recurrence, metastasis, and resistance to conventional chemotherapy and radiation treatment. Tumours of the central nervous system (CNS) are the most common solid tumours in children, which have many different types including highly malignant embryonal tumours and midline gliomas, and low-grade gliomas with favourable prognoses. Stem cells from the CNS tumours have been largely found and reported by researchers in the last decade and their roles in tumour biology have been deeply studied. However, the cross-talk of CSCs among different CNS tumour types and their clinical impacts have been rarely discussed. This article comprehensively reviews the achievements in research on CSCs in paediatric CNS tumours. Biological functions, diagnostic values, and therapeutic perspectives are reviewed in detail. Further investigations into CSCs are warranted to improve the clinical practice in treating children with CNS tumours.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi-Peng Han
- Department of Neurosurgery, Children's Hospital of Fudan University, National Children's Medical Center, Shanghai 201102, China
| | - Hou-Wei Lin
- Department of Paediatric Urology, Xinhua Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200092, China
- Department of Paediatric Surgery, Jiaxing Women and Children Hospital Affiliated to Jiaxing University, Jiaxing 314001, China
| | - Hao Li
- Department of Neurosurgery, Children's Hospital of Fudan University, National Children's Medical Center, Shanghai 201102, China
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18
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Beziaud L, Young CM, Alonso AM, Norkin M, Minafra AR, Huelsken J. IFNγ-induced stem-like state of cancer cells as a driver of metastatic progression following immunotherapy. Cell Stem Cell 2023; 30:818-831.e6. [PMID: 37267916 DOI: 10.1016/j.stem.2023.05.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2022] [Revised: 03/29/2023] [Accepted: 05/08/2023] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
Despite the remarkable success of immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) therapy, most cancer patients still do not respond. We now find that immunotherapy can induce stem-like properties in tumors. Using mouse models of breast cancer, we observe that cancer stem cells (CSCs) show not only enhanced resistance to T cell cytotoxicity, but that interferon gamma (IFNγ) produced by activated T cells directly converts non-CSCs to CSCs. IFNγ enhances several CSC phenotypes, such as resistance to chemo- and radiotherapy and metastasis formation. We identified the branched-chain amino acid aminotransaminase 1 (BCAT1) as a downstream mediator of IFNγ-induced CSC plasticity. Targeting BCAT1 in vivo improved cancer vaccination and ICB therapy by preventing IFNγ-induced metastasis formation. Breast cancer patients treated with ICB exhibited a similar increase in CSC markers expression indicating comparable responses to immune activation in humans. Collectively, we discover an unexpected, pro-tumoral role for IFNγ that may contribute to cancer immunotherapy failure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laurent Beziaud
- Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), ISREC (Swiss Institute for Experimental Cancer Research), 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland; Agora Translational Cancer Research Center, 1005 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - C Megan Young
- Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), ISREC (Swiss Institute for Experimental Cancer Research), 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland; Agora Translational Cancer Research Center, 1005 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Angela Madurga Alonso
- Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), ISREC (Swiss Institute for Experimental Cancer Research), 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland; Agora Translational Cancer Research Center, 1005 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Maxim Norkin
- Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), ISREC (Swiss Institute for Experimental Cancer Research), 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland; Agora Translational Cancer Research Center, 1005 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Anna Rita Minafra
- Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), ISREC (Swiss Institute for Experimental Cancer Research), 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Joerg Huelsken
- Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), ISREC (Swiss Institute for Experimental Cancer Research), 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland; Agora Translational Cancer Research Center, 1005 Lausanne, Switzerland.
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19
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Ciechomska IA, Wojnicki K, Wojtas B, Szadkowska P, Poleszak K, Kaza B, Jaskula K, Dawidczyk W, Czepko R, Banach M, Czapski B, Nauman P, Kotulska K, Grajkowska W, Roszkowski M, Czernicki T, Marchel A, Kaminska B. Exploring Novel Therapeutic Opportunities for Glioblastoma Using Patient-Derived Cell Cultures. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:cancers15051562. [PMID: 36900355 PMCID: PMC10000883 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15051562] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2023] [Revised: 02/17/2023] [Accepted: 02/28/2023] [Indexed: 03/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Glioblastomas (GBM) are the most common, primary brain tumors in adults. Despite advances in neurosurgery and radio- and chemotherapy, the median survival of GBM patients is 15 months. Recent large-scale genomic, transcriptomic and epigenetic analyses have shown the cellular and molecular heterogeneity of GBMs, which hampers the outcomes of standard therapies. We have established 13 GBM-derived cell cultures from fresh tumor specimens and characterized them molecularly using RNA-seq, immunoblotting and immunocytochemistry. Evaluation of proneural (OLIG2, IDH1R132H, TP53 and PDGFRα), classical (EGFR) and mesenchymal markers (CHI3L1/YKL40, CD44 and phospho-STAT3), and the expression of pluripotency (SOX2, OLIG2, NESTIN) and differentiation (GFAP, MAP2, β-Tubulin III) markers revealed the striking intertumor heterogeneity of primary GBM cell cultures. Upregulated expression of VIMENTIN, N-CADHERIN and CD44 at the mRNA/protein levels suggested increased epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in most studied cell cultures. The effects of temozolomide (TMZ) or doxorubicin (DOX) were tested in three GBM-derived cell cultures with different methylation status of the MGMT promoter. Amongst TMZ- or DOX-treated cultures, the strongest accumulation of the apoptotic markers caspase 7 and PARP were found in WG4 cells with methylated MGMT, suggesting that its methylation status predicts vulnerability to both drugs. As many GBM-derived cells showed high EGFR levels, we tested the effects of AG1478, an EGFR inhibitor, on downstream signaling pathways. AG1478 caused decreased levels of phospho-STAT3, and thus inhibition of active STAT3 augmented antitumor effects of DOX and TMZ in cells with methylated and intermediate status of MGMT. Altogether, our findings show that GBM-derived cell cultures mimic the considerable tumor heterogeneity, and that identifying patient-specific signaling vulnerabilities can assist in overcoming therapy resistance, by providing personalized combinatorial treatment recommendations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Iwona A. Ciechomska
- Laboratory of Molecular Neurobiology, Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology, Polish Academy of Sciences, 02-093 Warsaw, Poland
- Correspondence: (I.A.C.); (B.K.)
| | - Kamil Wojnicki
- Laboratory of Molecular Neurobiology, Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology, Polish Academy of Sciences, 02-093 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Bartosz Wojtas
- Laboratory of Molecular Neurobiology, Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology, Polish Academy of Sciences, 02-093 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Paulina Szadkowska
- Laboratory of Molecular Neurobiology, Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology, Polish Academy of Sciences, 02-093 Warsaw, Poland
- Postgraduate School of Molecular Medicine, Medical University of Warsaw, 02-091 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Katarzyna Poleszak
- Laboratory of Molecular Neurobiology, Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology, Polish Academy of Sciences, 02-093 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Beata Kaza
- Laboratory of Molecular Neurobiology, Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology, Polish Academy of Sciences, 02-093 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Kinga Jaskula
- Laboratory of Molecular Neurobiology, Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology, Polish Academy of Sciences, 02-093 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Wiktoria Dawidczyk
- Laboratory of Molecular Neurobiology, Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology, Polish Academy of Sciences, 02-093 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Ryszard Czepko
- Department of Neurosurgery, Scanmed S.A. St. Raphael Hospital, 30-693 Cracow, Poland
| | - Mariusz Banach
- Department of Neurosurgery, Scanmed S.A. St. Raphael Hospital, 30-693 Cracow, Poland
| | - Bartosz Czapski
- Laboratory of Molecular Neurobiology, Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology, Polish Academy of Sciences, 02-093 Warsaw, Poland
- Postgraduate School of Molecular Medicine, Medical University of Warsaw, 02-091 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Pawel Nauman
- Institute of Psychiatry and Neurology, 02-957 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Katarzyna Kotulska
- Department of Pathology, The Children’s Memorial Health Institute, 04-736 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Wieslawa Grajkowska
- Department of Pathology, The Children’s Memorial Health Institute, 04-736 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Marcin Roszkowski
- Department of Pathology, The Children’s Memorial Health Institute, 04-736 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Tomasz Czernicki
- Neurosurgery Department and Clinic, Medical University of Warsaw, 02-091 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Andrzej Marchel
- Neurosurgery Department and Clinic, Medical University of Warsaw, 02-091 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Bozena Kaminska
- Laboratory of Molecular Neurobiology, Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology, Polish Academy of Sciences, 02-093 Warsaw, Poland
- Correspondence: (I.A.C.); (B.K.)
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20
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TRUONG NC, HUYNH NT, PHAM KD, PHAM PV. Roles of cancer stem cells in cancer immune surveillance. MINERVA BIOTECHNOLOGY AND BIOMOLECULAR RESEARCH 2023. [DOI: 10.23736/s2724-542x.23.02944-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/31/2023]
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21
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Roura AJ, Szadkowska P, Poleszak K, Dabrowski MJ, Ellert-Miklaszewska A, Wojnicki K, Ciechomska IA, Stepniak K, Kaminska B, Wojtas B. Regulatory networks driving expression of genes critical for glioblastoma are controlled by the transcription factor c-Jun and the pre-existing epigenetic modifications. Clin Epigenetics 2023; 15:29. [PMID: 36850002 PMCID: PMC9972689 DOI: 10.1186/s13148-023-01446-4] [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: 11/10/2022] [Accepted: 02/13/2023] [Indexed: 03/01/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Glioblastoma (GBM, WHO grade IV) is an aggressive, primary brain tumor. Despite extensive tumor resection followed by radio- and chemotherapy, life expectancy of GBM patients did not improve over decades. Several studies reported transcription deregulation in GBMs, but regulatory mechanisms driving overexpression of GBM-specific genes remain largely unknown. Transcription in open chromatin regions is directed by transcription factors (TFs) that bind to specific motifs, recruit co-activators/repressors and the transcriptional machinery. Identification of GBM-related TFs-gene regulatory networks may reveal new and targetable mechanisms of gliomagenesis. RESULTS We predicted TFs-regulated networks in GBMs in silico and intersected them with putative TF binding sites identified in the accessible chromatin in human glioma cells and GBM patient samples. The Cancer Genome Atlas and Glioma Atlas datasets (DNA methylation, H3K27 acetylation, transcriptomic profiles) were explored to elucidate TFs-gene regulatory networks and effects of the epigenetic background. In contrast to the majority of tumors, c-Jun expression was higher in GBMs than in normal brain and c-Jun binding sites were found in multiple genes overexpressed in GBMs, including VIM, FOSL2 or UPP1. Binding of c-Jun to the VIM gene promoter was stronger in GBM-derived cells than in cells derived from benign glioma as evidenced by gel shift and supershift assays. Regulatory regions of the majority of c-Jun targets have distinct DNA methylation patterns in GBMs as compared to benign gliomas, suggesting the contribution of DNA methylation to the c-Jun-dependent gene expression. CONCLUSIONS GBM-specific TFs-gene networks identified in GBMs differ from regulatory pathways attributed to benign brain tumors and imply a decisive role of c-Jun in controlling genes that drive glioma growth and invasion as well as a modulatory role of DNA methylation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adria-Jaume Roura
- grid.419305.a0000 0001 1943 2944Laboratory of Molecular Neurobiology, Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Paulina Szadkowska
- grid.419305.a0000 0001 1943 2944Laboratory of Molecular Neurobiology, Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology, Warsaw, Poland
- grid.13339.3b0000000113287408Postgraduate School of Molecular Medicine, Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Katarzyna Poleszak
- grid.419305.a0000 0001 1943 2944Laboratory of Molecular Neurobiology, Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Michal J. Dabrowski
- grid.425308.80000 0001 2158 4832Institute of Computer Science of the Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Aleksandra Ellert-Miklaszewska
- grid.419305.a0000 0001 1943 2944Laboratory of Molecular Neurobiology, Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Kamil Wojnicki
- grid.419305.a0000 0001 1943 2944Laboratory of Molecular Neurobiology, Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Iwona A. Ciechomska
- grid.419305.a0000 0001 1943 2944Laboratory of Molecular Neurobiology, Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Karolina Stepniak
- grid.419305.a0000 0001 1943 2944Laboratory of Molecular Neurobiology, Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Bozena Kaminska
- grid.419305.a0000 0001 1943 2944Laboratory of Molecular Neurobiology, Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Bartosz Wojtas
- grid.419305.a0000 0001 1943 2944Laboratory of Molecular Neurobiology, Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology, Warsaw, Poland
- grid.419305.a0000 0001 1943 2944Laboratory of Sequencing, Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology, ul. Ludwika Pasteura 3, 02-093 Warsaw, Poland
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22
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Merhi M, Ahmad F, Taib N, Inchakalody V, Uddin S, Shablak A, Dermime S. The complex network of transcription factors, immune checkpoint inhibitors and stemness features in colorectal cancer: A recent update. Semin Cancer Biol 2023; 89:1-17. [PMID: 36621515 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcancer.2023.01.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2022] [Revised: 12/19/2022] [Accepted: 01/04/2023] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
Cancer immunity is regulated by several mechanisms that include co-stimulatory and/or co-inhibitory molecules known as immune checkpoints expressed by the immune cells. In colorectal cancer (CRC), CTLA-4, LAG3, TIM-3 and PD-1 are the major co-inhibitory checkpoints involved in tumor development and progression. On the other hand, the deregulation of transcription factors and cancer stem cells activity plays a major role in the development of drug resistance and in the spread of metastatic disease in CRC. In this review, we describe how the modulation of such transcription factors affects the response of CRC to therapies. We also focus on the role of cancer stem cells in tumor metastasis and chemoresistance and discuss both preclinical and clinical approaches for targeting stem cells to prevent their tumorigenic effect. Finally, we provide an update on the clinical applications of immune checkpoint inhibitors in CRC and discuss the regulatory effects of transcription factors on the expression of the immune inhibitory checkpoints with specific focus on the PD-1 and PD-L1 molecules.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maysaloun Merhi
- Translational Cancer Research Facility, Translational Research Institute, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar; National Center for Cancer Care and Research, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar
| | - Fareed Ahmad
- Translational Research Institute and Dermatology Institute, Academic Health System, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar
| | - Nassiba Taib
- Translational Cancer Research Facility, Translational Research Institute, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar
| | - Varghese Inchakalody
- Translational Cancer Research Facility, Translational Research Institute, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar; National Center for Cancer Care and Research, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar
| | - Shahab Uddin
- Translational Research Institute and Dermatology Institute, Academic Health System, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar; Laboratory Animal Research Center, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar
| | - Alaaeldin Shablak
- National Center for Cancer Care and Research, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar
| | - Said Dermime
- Translational Cancer Research Facility, Translational Research Institute, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar; National Center for Cancer Care and Research, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar; College of Health and Life Sciences, Hamad Bin Khalifa University, Doha, Qatar.
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23
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Cancer Stem Cell Relationship with Pro-Tumoral Inflammatory Microenvironment. Biomedicines 2023; 11:biomedicines11010189. [PMID: 36672697 PMCID: PMC9855358 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines11010189] [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: 12/21/2022] [Revised: 01/05/2023] [Accepted: 01/10/2023] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Inflammatory processes and cancer stem cells (CSCs) are increasingly recognized as factors in the development of tumors. Emerging evidence indicates that CSCs are associated with cancer properties such as metastasis, treatment resistance, and disease recurrence. However, the precise interaction between CSCs and the immune microenvironment remains unexplored. Although evasion of the immune system by CSCs has been extensively studied, new research demonstrates that CSCs can also control and even profit from the immune response. This review provides an overview of the reciprocal interplay between CSCs and tumor-infiltrating immune cells, collecting pertinent data about how CSCs stimulate leukocyte reprogramming, resulting in pro-tumor immune cells that promote metastasis, chemoresistance, tumorigenicity, and even a rise in the number of CSCs. Tumor-associated macrophages, neutrophils, Th17 and regulatory T cells, mesenchymal stem cells, and cancer-associated fibroblasts, as well as the signaling pathways involved in these pro-tumor activities, are among the immune cells studied. Although cytotoxic leukocytes have the potential to eliminate CSCs, immune evasion mechanisms in CSCs and their clinical implications are also known. We intended to compile experimental findings that provide direct evidence of interactions between CSCs and the immune system and CSCs and the inflammatory milieu. In addition, we aimed to summarize key concepts in order to comprehend the cross-talk between CSCs and the tumor microenvironment as a crucial process for the effective design of anti-CSC therapies.
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24
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An J, Hu X, Liu F. Current understanding of cancer stem cells: Immune evasion and targeted immunotherapy in gastrointestinal malignancies. Front Oncol 2023; 13:1114621. [PMID: 36910604 PMCID: PMC9996315 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2023.1114621] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2022] [Accepted: 02/09/2023] [Indexed: 02/25/2023] Open
Abstract
As a relatively rare population of cancer cells existing in the tumor microenvironment, cancer stem cells (CSCs) possess properties of immune privilege to evade the attack of immune system, regulated by the microenvironment of CSCs, the so-called CSCs niche. The bidirectional interaction of CSCs with tumor microenvironment (TME) components favors an immunosuppressive shelter for CSCs' survival and maintenance. Gastrointestinal cancer stem cells (GCSCs) are broadly regarded to be intimately involved in tumor initiation, progression, metastasis and recurrence, with elevated tumor resistance to conventional therapies, which pose a major hindrance to the clinical efficacy for treated patients with gastrointestinal malignancies. Thus, a multitude of efforts have been made to combat and eradicate GCSCs within the tumor mass. Among diverse methods of targeting CSCs in gastrointestinal malignancies, immunotherapy represents a promising strategy. And the better understanding of GCSCs immunomodulation and immunoresistance mechanisms is beneficial to guide and design novel GCSCs-specific immunotherapies with enhanced immune response and clinical efficacy. In this review, we have gathered available and updated information to present an overview of the immunoevasion features harbored by cancer stem cells, and we focus on the description of immune escape strategies utilized by CSCs and microenvironmental regulations underlying CSCs immuno-suppression in the context of gastrointestinal malignancies. Importantly, this review offers deep insights into recent advances of CSC-targeting immunotherapeutic approaches in gastrointestinal cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junyi An
- Department of Oncology, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Xiaohua Hu
- Department of Oncology, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Feng Liu
- Department of Oncology, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
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25
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Zhang Q, Wang C, Yang Y, Xu R, Li Z. LncRNA and its role in gastric cancer immunotherapy. Front Cell Dev Biol 2023; 11:1052942. [PMID: 36875764 PMCID: PMC9978521 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2023.1052942] [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: 09/24/2022] [Accepted: 01/30/2023] [Indexed: 02/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Gastric cancer (GC) is a potential dominant disease in tumor immunotherapy checkpoint inhibitors, and adoptive cell therapy have brought great hope to GC patients. However, only some patients with GC can benefit from immunotherapy, and some patients develop drug resistance. More and more studies have shown that long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) may be important in GC immunotherapy's prognosis and drug resistance. Here, we summarize the differential expression of lncRNAs in GC and their impact on the curative effect of GC immunotherapy, discuss potential mechanisms of activity in GC immunotherapy resistance regulated by lncRNAs. This paper reviews the differential expression of lncRNA in GC and its effect on immunotherapy efficacy in GC. In terms of genomic stability, inhibitory immune checkpoint molecular expression, the cross-talk between lncRNA and immune-related characteristics of GC was summarized, including tumor mutation burden (TMB), microsatellite instability (MSI), and Programmed death 1 (PD-1). At the same time, this paper reviewed the mechanism of tumor-induced antigen presentation and upregulation of immunosuppressive factors, as well as the association between Fas system and lncRNA, immune microenvironment (TIME) and lncRNA, and summarized the functional role of lncRNA in tumor immune evasion and immunotherapy resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiang Zhang
- Department of Digestive endoscopy, Jiangsu Province Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Chuanchi Wang
- Xin-Huangpu Joint Innovation Institute of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China.,China Science and Technology Development Center of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Yan Yang
- China Science and Technology Development Center of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Ruihan Xu
- The Comprehensive Cancer Centre of Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, The Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Ziyun Li
- Acupuncture and Tuina college, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
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26
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The Role of Cellular Immunity and Adaptive Immunity in Pathophysiology of Brain and Spinal Cord Tumors. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2023; 1394:51-72. [PMID: 36587381 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-031-14732-6_4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
Major advances have been made in our understanding of CNS tumors, especially glioma, however, the survival of patients with malignant glioma remains poor. While radiation and chemotherapy have increased overall survival, glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) still has one of the worst 5-year survival rates of all human cancers. Here, in this chapter, the authors review the abrogation of the immune system in the tumor setting, revealing many plausible targets for therapy and the current immunotherapy treatment strategies employed. Notably, glioma has also been characterized as a subset of primary spinal cord tumor and current treatment recommendations are outlined here.
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27
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Weth FR, Peng L, Paterson E, Tan ST, Gray C. Utility of the Cerebral Organoid Glioma 'GLICO' Model for Screening Applications. Cells 2022; 12:cells12010153. [PMID: 36611949 PMCID: PMC9818141 DOI: 10.3390/cells12010153] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2022] [Revised: 12/23/2022] [Accepted: 12/27/2022] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Glioblastoma, a grade IV astrocytoma, is regarded as the most aggressive primary brain tumour with an overall median survival of 16.0 months following the standard treatment regimen of surgical resection, followed by radiotherapy and chemotherapy with temozolomide. Despite such intensive treatment, the tumour almost invariably recurs. This poor prognosis has most commonly been attributed to the initiation, propagation, and differentiation of cancer stem cells. Despite the unprecedented advances in biomedical research over the last decade, the current in vitro models are limited at preserving the inter- and intra-tumoural heterogeneity of primary tumours. The ability to understand and manipulate complex cancers such as glioblastoma requires disease models to be clinically and translationally relevant and encompass the cellular heterogeneity of such cancers. Therefore, brain cancer research models need to aim to recapitulate glioblastoma stem cell function, whilst remaining amenable for analysis. Fortunately, the recent development of 3D cultures has overcome some of these challenges, and cerebral organoids are emerging as cutting-edge tools in glioblastoma research. The opportunity to generate cerebral organoids via induced pluripotent stem cells, and to perform co-cultures with patient-derived cancer stem cells (GLICO model), has enabled the analysis of cancer development in a context that better mimics brain tissue architecture. In this article, we review the recent literature on the use of patient-derived glioblastoma organoid models and their applicability for drug screening, as well as provide a potential workflow for screening using the GLICO model. The proposed workflow is practical for use in most laboratories with accessible materials and equipment, a good first pass, and no animal work required. This workflow is also amenable for analysis, with separate measures of invasion, growth, and viability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Freya R. Weth
- Gillies McIndoe Research Institute, 7 Hospital Road, Wellington 6021, New Zealand
- Centre for Biodiscovery and School of Biological Sciences, Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington 6021, New Zealand
| | - Lifeng Peng
- Centre for Biodiscovery and School of Biological Sciences, Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington 6021, New Zealand
| | - Erin Paterson
- Gillies McIndoe Research Institute, 7 Hospital Road, Wellington 6021, New Zealand
| | - Swee T. Tan
- Gillies McIndoe Research Institute, 7 Hospital Road, Wellington 6021, New Zealand
- Wellington Regional Plastic, Maxillofacial & Burns Unit, Hutt Hospital, Lower Hutt 5040, New Zealand
- Department of Surgery, The Royal Melbourne Hospital, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC 3010, Australia
| | - Clint Gray
- Gillies McIndoe Research Institute, 7 Hospital Road, Wellington 6021, New Zealand
- Correspondence:
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28
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The Role of Cancer Stem Cells and Their Extracellular Vesicles in the Modulation of the Antitumor Immunity. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 24:ijms24010395. [PMID: 36613838 PMCID: PMC9820747 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24010395] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2022] [Revised: 12/21/2022] [Accepted: 12/23/2022] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are a population of tumor cells that share similar properties to normal stem cells. CSCs are able to promote tumor progression and recurrence due to their resistance to chemotherapy and ability to stimulate angiogenesis and differentiate into non-CSCs. Cancer stem cells can also create a significant immunosuppressive environment around themselves by suppressing the activity of effector immune cells and recruiting cells that support tumor escape from immune response. The immunosuppressive effect of CSCs can be mediated by receptors located on their surface, as well as by secreted molecules, which transfer immunosuppressive signals to the cells of tumor microenvironment. In this article, the ability of CSCs to regulate the antitumor immune response and a contribution of CSC-derived EVs into the avoidance of the immune response are discussed.
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29
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Solár P, Mackerle Z, Hendrych M, Pospisil P, Lakomy R, Valekova H, Hermanova M, Jancalek R. Prolonged survival in patients with local chronic infection after high-grade glioma treatment: Two case reports. Front Oncol 2022; 12:1073036. [PMID: 36591464 PMCID: PMC9800515 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2022.1073036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2022] [Accepted: 12/01/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
High-grade gliomas are primary brain tumors with poor prognosis, despite surgical treatment followed by radiotherapy and concomitant chemotherapy. We present two cases of long-term survival in patients treated for high-grade glioma and concomitant prolonged bacterial wound infection. The first patient treated for glioblastoma IDH-wildtype had been without disease progression for 61 months from the first resected recurrence. Despite incomplete chemotherapy-induced myelosuppression in the second patient with anaplastic astrocytoma IDH-mutant, she died without disease relapse after 14 years from the diagnosis due to other comorbidities. We assume that the documented prolonged survival could be related to the bacterial infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter Solár
- Department of Neurosurgery, St. Anne’s University Hospital Brno, Brno, Czechia,Department of Neurosurgery, St. Anne’s University Hospital Brno, Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Brno, Czechia
| | - Zdenek Mackerle
- Department of Neurosurgery, St. Anne’s University Hospital Brno, Brno, Czechia,Department of Neurosurgery, St. Anne’s University Hospital Brno, Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Brno, Czechia
| | - Michal Hendrych
- First Department of Pathology, St. Anne’s University Hospital Brno, Brno, Czechia,First Department of Pathology, St. Anne’s University Hospital Brno, Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Brno, Czechia
| | - Petr Pospisil
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Masaryk Memorial Cancer Institute, Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Brno, Czechia
| | - Radek Lakomy
- Department of Comprehensive Cancer Care, Masaryk Memorial Cancer Institute, Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Brno, Czechia
| | - Hana Valekova
- Department of Neurosurgery, St. Anne’s University Hospital Brno, Brno, Czechia,Department of Neurosurgery, St. Anne’s University Hospital Brno, Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Brno, Czechia
| | - Marketa Hermanova
- First Department of Pathology, St. Anne’s University Hospital Brno, Brno, Czechia,First Department of Pathology, St. Anne’s University Hospital Brno, Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Brno, Czechia
| | - Radim Jancalek
- Department of Neurosurgery, St. Anne’s University Hospital Brno, Brno, Czechia,Department of Neurosurgery, St. Anne’s University Hospital Brno, Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Brno, Czechia,*Correspondence: Radim Jancalek,
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30
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Rajabi A, Kayedi M, Rahimi S, Dashti F, Mirazimi SMA, Homayoonfal M, Mahdian SMA, Hamblin MR, Tamtaji OR, Afrasiabi A, Jafari A, Mirzaei H. Non-coding RNAs and glioma: Focus on cancer stem cells. Mol Ther Oncolytics 2022; 27:100-123. [PMID: 36321132 PMCID: PMC9593299 DOI: 10.1016/j.omto.2022.09.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Glioblastoma and gliomas can have a wide range of histopathologic subtypes. These heterogeneous histologic phenotypes originate from tumor cells with the distinct functions of tumorigenesis and self-renewal, called glioma stem cells (GSCs). GSCs are characterized based on multi-layered epigenetic mechanisms, which control the expression of many genes. This epigenetic regulatory mechanism is often based on functional non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs). ncRNAs have become increasingly important in the pathogenesis of human cancer and work as oncogenes or tumor suppressors to regulate carcinogenesis and progression. These RNAs by being involved in chromatin remodeling and modification, transcriptional regulation, and alternative splicing of pre-mRNA, as well as mRNA stability and protein translation, play a key role in tumor development and progression. Numerous studies have been performed to try to understand the dysregulation pattern of these ncRNAs in tumors and cancer stem cells (CSCs), which show robust differentiation and self-regeneration capacity. This review provides recent findings on the role of ncRNAs in glioma development and progression, particularly their effects on CSCs, thus accelerating the clinical implementation of ncRNAs as promising tumor biomarkers and therapeutic targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ali Rajabi
- School of Medicine, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Kashan, Iran
- Student Research Committee, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Kashan, Iran
| | - Mehrdad Kayedi
- Department of Radiology, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Shiva Rahimi
- School of Medicine,Fasa University of Medical Sciences, Fasa, Iran
| | - Fatemeh Dashti
- School of Medicine, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Kashan, Iran
- Student Research Committee, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Kashan, Iran
| | - Seyed Mohammad Ali Mirazimi
- School of Medicine, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Kashan, Iran
- Student Research Committee, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Kashan, Iran
| | - Mina Homayoonfal
- Research Center for Biochemistry and Nutrition in Metabolic Diseases, Institute for Basic Sciences, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Kashan, Iran
| | - Seyed Mohammad Amin Mahdian
- Department of Pharmaceutical Nanotechnology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Michael R. Hamblin
- Laser Research Centre, Faculty of Health Science, University of Johannesburg, Doornfontein 2028, South Africa
| | - Omid Reza Tamtaji
- Electrophysiology Research Center, Neuroscience Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Ali Afrasiabi
- Department of Internal Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Ameneh Jafari
- Advanced Therapy Medicinal Product (ATMP) Department, Breast Cancer Research Center, Motamed Cancer Institute, ACECR, Tehran, Iran
- Proteomics Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Hamed Mirzaei
- Research Center for Biochemistry and Nutrition in Metabolic Diseases, Institute for Basic Sciences, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Kashan, Iran
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31
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Picca A, Finocchiaro G. Deciphering diffuse glioma immune microenvironment as a key to improving immunotherapy results. Curr Opin Oncol 2022; 34:653-660. [PMID: 36000367 DOI: 10.1097/cco.0000000000000895] [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: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW Immunotherapeutic approaches have yet to demonstrate their clinical efficacy in diffuse gliomas. Evidence is mounting that the central nervous system is subject to immune surveillance, but brain tumours manage to escape due to factors intrinsic to their tumoral immune microenvironment (TME). This review aims to discuss the recently characterized molecular bases of the glioma TME and the potentially actionable targets to improve immunotherapeutic results in these hard-to-treat cancers. RECENT FINDINGS Single-cell studies defined the composition of the glioma immune TME and its peculiarities compared with other solid cancers. In isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH) wildtype gliomas, the TME is enriched in myeloid cells (monocyte-derived macrophages and resident microglia) with mainly immunosuppressive functions. Lymphocytes can infiltrate the glioma TME, but are exposed to multiple immunomodulating signals that render them in a state of deep exhaustion. IDH mutant gliomas produce the oncometabolite D-2-hydroxyglutarate with negative effects on leukocyte recruitment and function, resulting in the induction of an 'immune-desert' TME. SUMMARY Several molecular pathways have been recently identified in the induction of an 'immune-hostile' microenvironment in diffuse gliomas, unravelling potential vulnerabilities to targeted immunotherapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alberto Picca
- Sorbonne Université, Inserm, CNRS, UMR S 1127, Institut du Cerveau, ICM, AP-HP, Hôpitaux Universitaires La Pitié Salpêtrière - Charles Foix, Service de Neurologie 2-Mazarin, F-75013 Paris, France. Equipe labellisée LNCC
| | - Gaetano Finocchiaro
- Department of Neurology, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
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32
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MicroRNA and mRNA Expression Changes in Glioblastoma Cells Cultivated under Conditions of Neurosphere Formation. Curr Issues Mol Biol 2022; 44:5294-5311. [PMID: 36354672 PMCID: PMC9688839 DOI: 10.3390/cimb44110360] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2022] [Revised: 10/21/2022] [Accepted: 10/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is one of the most highly metastatic cancers. The study of the pathogenesis of GBM, as well as the development of targeted oncolytic drugs, require the use of actual cell models, in particular, the use of 3D cultures or neurospheres (NS). During the formation of NS, the adaptive molecular landscape of the transcriptome, which includes various regulatory RNAs, changes. The aim of this study was to reveal changes in the expression of microRNAs (miRNAs) and their target mRNAs in GBM cells under conditions of NS formation. Neurospheres were obtained from both immortalized U87 MG and patient-derived BR3 GBM cell cultures. Next generation sequencing analysis of small and long RNAs of adherent and NS cultures of GBM cells was carried out. It was found that the formation of NS proceeds with an increase in the level of seven and a decrease in the level of 11 miRNAs common to U87 MG and BR3, as well as an increase in the level of 38 and a decrease in the level of 12 mRNA/lncRNA. Upregulation of miRNAs hsa-miR: -139-5p; -148a-3p; -192-5p; -218-5p; -34a-5p; and -381-3p are accompanied by decreased levels of their target mRNAs: RTN4, FLNA, SH3BP4, DNPEP, ETS2, MICALL1, and GREM1. Downregulation of hsa-miR: -130b-5p, -25-5p, -335-3p and -339-5p occurs with increased levels of mRNA-targets BDKRB2, SPRY4, ERRFI1 and TGM2. The involvement of SPRY4, ERRFI1, and MICALL1 mRNAs in the regulation of EGFR/FGFR signaling highlights the role of hsa-miR: -130b-5p, -25-5p, -335-3p, and -34a-5p not only in the formation of NS, but also in the regulation of malignant growth and invasion of GBM. Our data provide the basis for the development of new approaches to the diagnosis and treatment of GBM.
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Gupta G, Merhej G, Saravanan S, Chen H. Cancer resistance to immunotherapy: What is the role of cancer stem cells? CANCER DRUG RESISTANCE (ALHAMBRA, CALIF.) 2022; 5:981-994. [PMID: 36627890 PMCID: PMC9771758 DOI: 10.20517/cdr.2022.19] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2022] [Revised: 08/08/2022] [Accepted: 09/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Immunotherapy is an emerging form of cancer therapy that is associated with promising outcomes. However, most cancer patients either do not respond to immunotherapy or develop resistance to treatment. The resistance to immunotherapy is poorly understood compared to chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Since immunotherapy targets cells within the tumor microenvironment, understanding the behavior and interactions of different cells within that environment is essential to adequately understand both therapy options and therapy resistance. This review focuses on reviewing and analyzing the special features of cancer stem cells (CSCs), which we believe may contribute to cancer resistance to immunotherapy. The mechanisms are classified into three main categories: mechanisms related to surface markers which are differentially expressed on CSCs and help CSCs escape from immune surveillance and immune cells killing; mechanisms related to CSC-released cytokines which can recruit immune cells and tame hostile immune responses; and mechanisms related to CSC metabolites which modulate the activities of infiltrated immune cells in the tumor microenvironment. This review also discusses progress made in targeting CSCs with immunotherapy and the prospect of developing novel cancer therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Hexin Chen
- Correspondence to: Dr. Hexin Chen, Department of Biological Science, University of South Carolina, 715 Sumter Street, PSC621, Columbia, SC 29205, USA. E-mail:
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Gimple RC, Yang K, Halbert ME, Agnihotri S, Rich JN. Brain cancer stem cells: resilience through adaptive plasticity and hierarchical heterogeneity. Nat Rev Cancer 2022; 22:497-514. [PMID: 35710946 DOI: 10.1038/s41568-022-00486-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/03/2022] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Malignant brain tumours are complex ecosystems containing neoplastic and stromal components that generate adaptive and evolutionarily driven aberrant tissues in the central nervous system. Brain cancers are cultivated by a dynamic population of stem-like cells that enforce intratumoural heterogeneity and respond to intrinsic microenvironment or therapeutically guided insults through proliferation, plasticity and restructuring of neoplastic and stromal components. Far from a rigid hierarchy, heterogeneous neoplastic populations transition between cellular states with differential self-renewal capacities, endowing them with powerful resilience. Here we review the biological machinery used by brain tumour stem cells to commandeer tissues in the intracranial space, evade immune responses and resist chemoradiotherapy. Through recent advances in single-cell sequencing, improved models to investigate the role of the tumour microenvironment and a deeper understanding of the fundamental role of the immune system in cancer biology, we are now better equipped to explore mechanisms by which these processes can be exploited for therapeutic benefit.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryan C Gimple
- Department of Pathology, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Kailin Yang
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Taussig Cancer Center, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Matthew E Halbert
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Sameer Agnihotri
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Jeremy N Rich
- University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Hillman Cancer Center, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
- Department of Neurology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
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35
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Zhang Y, Cui Q, Xu M, Liu D, Yao S, Chen M. Current Advances in PD-1/PD-L1 Blockade in Recurrent Epithelial Ovarian Cancer. Front Immunol 2022; 13:901772. [PMID: 35833132 PMCID: PMC9271774 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.901772] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2022] [Accepted: 05/30/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Immunotherapies have revolutionized the treatment of a variety of cancers. Epithelial ovarian cancer is the most lethal gynecologic malignancy, and the rate of advanced tumor progression or recurrence is as high as 80%. Current salvage strategies for patients with recurrent ovarian cancer are rarely curative. Recurrent ovarian cancer is a “cold tumor”, predominantly due to a lack of tumor antigens and an immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment. In trials testing programmed death-1 (PD-1)/programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1) blockade as a monotherapy, the response rate was only 8.0-22.2%. In this review, we illustrate the status of cold tumors in ovarian cancer and summarize the existing clinical trials investigating PD-1/PD-L1 blockade in recurrent ovarian cancer. Increasing numbers of immunotherapy combination trials have been set up to improve the response rate of EOC. The current preclinical and clinical development of immunotherapy combination therapy to convert an immune cold tumor into a hot tumor and their underlying mechanisms are also reviewed. The combination of anti-PD-1/PD-L1 with other immunomodulatory drugs or therapies, such as chemotherapy, antiangiogenic therapies, poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase inhibitors, adoptive cell therapy, and oncolytic therapy, could be beneficial. Further efforts are merited to transfer these results to a broader clinical application.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuedi Zhang
- Department of Gynecology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
- School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Qiulin Cui
- Department of Gynecology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Manman Xu
- Department of Gynecology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Duo Liu
- Department of Gynecology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Shuzhong Yao
- Department of Gynecology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
- *Correspondence: Ming Chen, ; Shuzhong Yao,
| | - Ming Chen
- Department of Gynecology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
- *Correspondence: Ming Chen, ; Shuzhong Yao,
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Shrestha S, Banstola A, Jeong JH, Seo JH, Yook S. Targeting Cancer Stem Cells: Therapeutic and diagnostic strategies by the virtue of nanoparticles. J Control Release 2022; 348:518-536. [PMID: 35709876 DOI: 10.1016/j.jconrel.2022.06.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2022] [Revised: 06/08/2022] [Accepted: 06/09/2022] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are the subpopulation of cells present within a tumor with the properties of self-renewing, differentiating, and proliferating. Owing to the presence of ATP-binding cassette drug pumps and increased expression of anti-apoptotic proteins, the conventional chemotherapeutic agents have failed to eliminate CSCs resulting in relapse and resistance of cancer. Therefore, to obtain long-lasting clinical responses and avoid the recurrence of cancer, it is crucial to develop an efficient strategy targeting CSCs by either employing a differentiation therapy or specifically delivering drugs to CSCs. Several intracellular and extracellular cancer specific biomarkers are overexpressed by CSCs and are utilized as targets for the development of new approaches in the diagnosis and treatment of CSCs. Moreover, several nanostructured particles, alone or in combination with current treatment approaches, have been used to improve the detection, imaging, and targeting of CSCs, thus addressing the limitations of cancer therapies. Targeting CSC surface markers, stemness-related signaling pathways, and tumor microenvironmental signals has improved the detection and eradication of CSCs and, therefore, tumor diagnosis and treatment. This review summarizes a variety of promising nanoparticles targeting the surface biomarkers of CSCs for the detection and eradication of tumor-initiating stem cells, used in combination with other treatment regimens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samjhana Shrestha
- College of Pharmacy, Keimyung University, 1095 Dalgubeol-daero, Dalseo-Gu, Daegu 42601, Republic of Korea
| | - Asmita Banstola
- College of Pharmacy, Keimyung University, 1095 Dalgubeol-daero, Dalseo-Gu, Daegu 42601, Republic of Korea; Wellman Center for Photomedicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Department of Dermatology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - Jee-Heon Jeong
- Department of Precision Medicine, School of Medicine, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon 16419, Republic of Korea
| | - Ji Hae Seo
- Department of Biochemistry, School of Medicine, Keimyung University, Daegu 42601, Republic of Korea
| | - Simmyung Yook
- College of Pharmacy, Keimyung University, 1095 Dalgubeol-daero, Dalseo-Gu, Daegu 42601, Republic of Korea.
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Gamma Irradiation Triggers Immune Escape in Glioma-Propagating Cells. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14112728. [PMID: 35681710 PMCID: PMC9179833 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14112728] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2022] [Revised: 05/13/2022] [Accepted: 05/18/2022] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Stem cell-like glioma-propagating cells (GPCs) are crucial for initiation, growth, and treatment resistance of glioblastoma multiforme. Due to their strong immunosuppressive activities, they essentially limit immunotherapeutic approaches. This study offers a new model of radio-selected patient-derived GPCs mimicking a clinical treatment regime of tumor irradiation which is especially useful for immunotherapeutic studies. We provide evidence that clinically relevant, sub-lethal fractions of γ radiation select for a more radio-resistant GPC phenotype with lower immunogenic potential, potentially hampering the success of adjuvant T-cell-based immunotherapies. The immune evasion in GPCs was characterized by quantitative proteomics. It revealed a marked downregulation of the antigen processing machinery in lipid rafts of these cells, leading to reduced MHC surface expression and weaker cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) recognition. Abstract Glioblastoma multiforme is the most common and devastating form of brain tumor for which only palliative radio- and chemotherapy exists. Although some clinical studies on vaccination approaches have shown promising efficacy due to their potential to generate long-term immune surveillance against cancer cells, the evasion mechanisms preventing therapy response are largely uncharacterized. Here, we studied the response of glioblastoma-propagating cells (GPCs) to clinically relevant doses of γ radiation. GPCs were treated with 2.5 Gy of γ radiation in seven consecutive cellular passages to select for GPCs with increased colony-forming properties and intrinsic or radiation-induced resistance (rsGPCs). Quantitative proteomic analysis of the cellular signaling platforms of the detergent-resistant membranes (lipid rafts) in GPCs vs. rsGPCs revealed a downregulation of the MHC class I antigen-processing and -presentation machinery. Importantly, the radio-selected GPCs showed reduced susceptibility towards cytotoxic CD8+ T-cell-mediated killing. While previous studies suggested that high-dose irradiation results in enhanced antigen presentation, we demonstrated that clinically relevant sub-lethal fractionated irradiation results in reduced expression of components of the MHC class I antigen-processing and -presentation pathway leading to immune escape.
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High DKK3 expression related to immunosuppression was associated with poor prognosis in glioblastoma: machine learning approach. Cancer Immunol Immunother 2022; 71:3013-3027. [PMID: 35599254 PMCID: PMC9588473 DOI: 10.1007/s00262-022-03222-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2021] [Accepted: 05/01/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Background Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is an aggressive malignant primary brain tumor. Wnt/β-catenin is known to be related to GBM stemness. Cancer stem cells induce immunosuppressive and treatment resistance in GBM. We hypothesized that Wnt/β-catenin-related genes with immunosuppression could be related to the prognosis in patients with GBM. Methods We obtained the clinicopathological data of 525 patients with GBM from the brain cancer gene database. The fraction of tumor-infiltrating immune cells was evaluated using in silico flow cytometry. Among gene sets of Wnt/β-catenin pathway, Dickkopf-3 (DKK3) gene related to the immunosuppressive response was found using machine learning. We performed gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA), network-based analysis, survival analysis and in vitro drug screening assays based on Dickkopf-3 (DKK3) expression. Results In analyses of 31 genes related to Wnt/β-catenin signaling, high DKK3 expression was negatively correlated with increased antitumoral immunity, especially CD8 + and CD4 + T cells, in patients with GBM. High DKK3 expression was correlated with poor survival and disease progression in patients with GBM. In pathway-based network analysis, DKK3 was directly linked to the THY1 gene, a tumor suppressor gene. Through in vitro drug screening, we identified navitoclax as an agent with potent activity against GBM cell lines with high DKK3 expression. Conclusions These results suggest that high DKK3 expression could be a therapeutic target in GBM. The results of the present study could contribute to the design of future experimental research and drug development programs for GBM. Graphical abstract ![]()
Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s00262-022-03222-4.
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Checkpoints and Immunity in Cancers: Role of GNG12. Pharmacol Res 2022; 180:106242. [DOI: 10.1016/j.phrs.2022.106242] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2022] [Revised: 04/25/2022] [Accepted: 04/28/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
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40
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Characterization of Immunogenicity of Malignant Cells with Stemness in Intrahepatic Cholangiocarcinoma by Single-Cell RNA Sequencing. Stem Cells Int 2022; 2022:3558200. [PMID: 35530414 PMCID: PMC9076354 DOI: 10.1155/2022/3558200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2021] [Revised: 03/12/2022] [Accepted: 04/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are responsible for long-term maintenance of tumors and thought to play a role in treatment resistance. The interaction between stemness and immunogenicity of CSCs in the intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (iCCA) is largely unknown. Here, we used single-cell transcriptomic data to study immunogenicity of malignant cells in human iCCA. Using an established computerized method CytoTRACE, we found significant heterogeneity in stemness/differentiation states among malignant cells. We demonstrated that the high stemness malignant cells express much lower levels of major histocompatibility complex II molecules when compared to low stemness malignant cells, suggesting a role of immune evasion in high stemness malignant cells. In addition, high stemness malignant iCCA cells exhibited significant expression of certain cytokine members, including CCL2, CCL20, CXCL1, CXCL2, CXCL6, CXCL8, TNFRSF12A, and IL6ST, indicating communication with surrounding immune cells. These results indicate that high stemness malignant cells retain their intrinsic immunological feature that facilitate the escape of immune surveillance.
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Han MH, Kim JM, Cheong JH, Ryu JI, Won YD, Nam GH, Kim CH. Efficacy of Cytokine-Induced Killer Cell Immunotherapy for Patients With Pathologically Pure Glioblastoma. Front Oncol 2022; 12:851628. [PMID: 35463313 PMCID: PMC9033287 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2022.851628] [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: 01/20/2022] [Accepted: 03/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
The most common malignant central nervous system tumor is glioblastoma multiforme (GBM). Cytokine-induced killer (CIK) cell therapy is a promising type of adoptive cell immunotherapy for various cancers. We previously conducted a randomized clinical trial on CIK cell therapy in patients with GBM. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of CIK immunotherapy for patients with pathologically pure GBM, using data from our previous randomized clinical trial. The difference between overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) according to CIK immunotherapy was analyzed using the Kaplan–Meier method. Hazard ratios were calculated using univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses to determine whether CIK cell immunotherapy was independently associated with higher OS and PFS in patients with pure GBM. A total of 156 eligible patients were included in the modified intention-to-treat (mITT) population. We confirmed that 125 (80.1%) GBM samples were pure GBM tumors without the presence of other types of tumors. For patients with pure GBM, Kaplan-Meier analysis showed no significant difference in OS between the CIK cell treatment and control groups. However, multivariate Cox regression demonstrated CIK cell immunotherapy as an independent predictor of greater OS (hazard ratio, 0.59; 95% CI, 0.36–0.97; p = 0.038) and PFS (hazard ratio, 0.55; 95% CI, 0.36–0.84; p = 0.001) in patients with pathologically pure GBM in the mITT population. This study showed that CIK cell immunotherapy combined with conventional temozolomide chemoradiotherapy could prolong OS and PFS in patients with newly diagnosed pathologically pure GBM, with no significant adverse events related to treatment. However, unlike the results of multivariate Cox analysis, no statistical significance of CIK cell immunotherapy in OS in Kaplan-Meier analysis raises a question. Further studies are required to validate these results.
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Affiliation(s)
- Myung-Hoon Han
- Department of Neurosurgery, Hanyang University Guri Hospital, Guri, South Korea
| | - Jae Min Kim
- Department of Neurosurgery, Hanyang University Guri Hospital, Guri, South Korea
| | - Jin Hwan Cheong
- Department of Neurosurgery, Hanyang University Guri Hospital, Guri, South Korea
| | - Je Il Ryu
- Department of Neurosurgery, Hanyang University Guri Hospital, Guri, South Korea
- *Correspondence: Choong Hyun Kim, ; Je Il Ryu,
| | - Yu Deok Won
- Department of Neurosurgery, Hanyang University Guri Hospital, Guri, South Korea
| | - Gun He Nam
- Development Division, GC Cell Corp., Yongin-si, South Korea
| | - Choong Hyun Kim
- Department of Neurosurgery, Hanyang University Guri Hospital, Guri, South Korea
- *Correspondence: Choong Hyun Kim, ; Je Il Ryu,
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Uyar R. Glioblastoma microenvironment: The stromal interactions. Pathol Res Pract 2022; 232:153813. [PMID: 35228161 DOI: 10.1016/j.prp.2022.153813] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2021] [Accepted: 02/22/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Glioblastomas (GBMs) are the most common primary brain tumors with poor prognosis due to their aggressive growth accompanied by invasive behavior and therapy-resistance. These features promote a high rate of recurrence; therefore, they are largely incurable. One major cause of the incurability is brought about by the intimate relationship of GBM cells with the microenvironment, which supports the tumor growth in various ways by providing a permissive neighborhood. In the tumor microenvironment are glioma stem cells (GSC); endothelial cells (EC) and hypoxic regions; immune cells and immune modulatory cues; astrocytes; neural stem/precursor cells (NPC) and mesenchymal stem cells (MSC). Each cell type contributes to GBM pathology in unique ways; therefore, it is necessary to understand such interactions between GBM cells and the stromal cells in order to establish a through understanding of the GBM pathology. By explaining the contribution of each stromal entity to GBM pathology we aim to draw an interaction map for GBMs and promote awareness of the complexity of the GBM microenvironment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ramazan Uyar
- Walter Brendel Center of Experimental Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany.
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43
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Olechnowicz A, Oleksiewicz U, Machnik M. KRAB-ZFPs and cancer stem cells identity. Genes Dis 2022. [PMID: 37492743 PMCID: PMC10363567 DOI: 10.1016/j.gendis.2022.03.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Studies on carcinogenesis continue to provide new information about different disease-related processes. Among others, much research has focused on the involvement of cancer stem cells (CSCs) in tumor initiation and progression. Studying the similarities and differences between CSCs and physiological stem cells (SCs) allows for a better understanding of cancer biology. Recently, it was shown that stem cell identity is partially governed by the Krϋppel-associated box domain zinc finger proteins (KRAB-ZFPs), the biggest family of transcription regulators. Several KRAB-ZFP factors exert a known effect in tumor cells, acting as tumor suppressor genes (TSGs) or oncogenes, yet their role in CSCs is still poorly characterized. Here, we review recent studies regarding the influence of KRAB-ZFPs and their cofactor protein TRIM28 on CSCs phenotype, stemness features, migration and invasion potential, metastasis, and expression of parental markers.
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Pérez-Núñez I, Rozalén C, Palomeque JÁ, Sangrador I, Dalmau M, Comerma L, Hernández-Prat A, Casadevall D, Menendez S, Liu DD, Shen M, Berenguer J, Ruiz IR, Peña R, Montañés JC, Albà MM, Bonnin S, Ponomarenko J, Gomis RR, Cejalvo JM, Servitja S, Marzese DM, Morey L, Voorwerk L, Arribas J, Bermejo B, Kok M, Pusztai L, Kang Y, Albanell J, Celià-Terrassa T. LCOR mediates interferon-independent tumor immunogenicity and responsiveness to immune-checkpoint blockade in triple-negative breast cancer. NATURE CANCER 2022; 3:355-370. [PMID: 35301507 DOI: 10.1038/s43018-022-00339-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2021] [Accepted: 01/21/2022] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
Ligand-dependent corepressor (LCOR) mediates normal and malignant breast stem cell differentiation. Cancer stem cells (CSCs) generate phenotypic heterogeneity and drive therapy resistance, yet their role in immunotherapy is poorly understood. Here we show that immune-checkpoint blockade (ICB) therapy selects for LCORlow CSCs with reduced antigen processing/presentation machinery (APM) driving immune escape and ICB resistance in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). We unveil an unexpected function of LCOR as a master transcriptional activator of APM genes binding to IFN-stimulated response elements (ISREs) in an IFN signaling-independent manner. Through genetic modification of LCOR expression, we demonstrate its central role in modulation of tumor immunogenicity and ICB responsiveness. In TNBC, LCOR associates with ICB clinical response. Importantly, extracellular vesicle (EV) Lcor-messenger RNA therapy in combination with anti-PD-L1 overcame resistance and eradicated breast cancer metastasis in preclinical models. Collectively, these data support LCOR as a promising target for enhancement of ICB efficacy in TNBC, by boosting of tumor APM independently of IFN.
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Affiliation(s)
- Iván Pérez-Núñez
- Cancer Research Program, Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Catalina Rozalén
- Cancer Research Program, Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute, Barcelona, Spain
| | - José Ángel Palomeque
- Cancer Research Program, Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Irene Sangrador
- Cancer Research Program, Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Mariona Dalmau
- Cancer Research Program, Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Laura Comerma
- Pathology Department, Hospital del Mar, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Anna Hernández-Prat
- Cancer Research Program, Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute, Barcelona, Spain
| | - David Casadevall
- Cancer Research Program, Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Silvia Menendez
- Cancer Research Program, Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Daniel Dan Liu
- Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, USA
- Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Minhong Shen
- Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, USA
| | - Jordi Berenguer
- Cancer Research Program, Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Irene Rius Ruiz
- Preclinical Research Program, Vall d'Hebron Institute of Oncology, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Raul Peña
- Cancer Research Program, Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute, Barcelona, Spain
| | - José Carlos Montañés
- Research Program on Biomedical Informatics, Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute and Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Spain
| | - M Mar Albà
- Research Program on Biomedical Informatics, Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute and Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Spain
- Institució Catalana de Recerca i Estudis Avançats, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Sarah Bonnin
- Centre for Genomic Regulation, The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Julia Ponomarenko
- Centre for Genomic Regulation, The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Barcelona, Spain
- Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Roger R Gomis
- Institució Catalana de Recerca i Estudis Avançats, Barcelona, Spain
- Cancer Science Program, Institute for Research in Biomedicine, The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Barcelona, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Oncología, Madrid, Spain
| | - Juan Miguel Cejalvo
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Oncología, Madrid, Spain
- Medical Oncology Department, Hospital Clínico Universitario; Medicine Department, Universidad de Valencia, Spain, INCLIVA, Valencia, Spain
| | - Sonia Servitja
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Oncología, Madrid, Spain
- Medical Oncology Department, Hospital del Mar, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Diego M Marzese
- Fundació Institut d'Investigació Sanitària Illes Balears, Mallorca, Spain
| | - Lluis Morey
- Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, Miami, FL, USA
- Department of Human Genetics, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, USA
| | - Leonie Voorwerk
- Division of Tumor Biology & Immunology, The Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Joaquín Arribas
- Cancer Research Program, Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute, Barcelona, Spain
- Preclinical Research Program, Vall d'Hebron Institute of Oncology, Barcelona, Spain
- Institució Catalana de Recerca i Estudis Avançats, Barcelona, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Oncología, Madrid, Spain
| | - Begoña Bermejo
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Oncología, Madrid, Spain
- Medical Oncology Department, Hospital Clínico Universitario; Medicine Department, Universidad de Valencia, Spain, INCLIVA, Valencia, Spain
| | - Marleen Kok
- Division of Tumor Biology & Immunology, The Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
- Department of Medical Oncology, The Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Lajos Pusztai
- Breast Medical Oncology, Yale Cancer Center, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Yibin Kang
- Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, USA
- Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research Princeton Branch, Princeton, NJ, USA
| | - Joan Albanell
- Cancer Research Program, Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute, Barcelona, Spain.
- Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Spain.
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Oncología, Madrid, Spain.
- Medical Oncology Department, Hospital del Mar, Barcelona, Spain.
| | - Toni Celià-Terrassa
- Cancer Research Program, Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute, Barcelona, Spain.
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Oncología, Madrid, Spain.
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Wilczyński JR, Wilczyński M, Paradowska E. Cancer Stem Cells in Ovarian Cancer-A Source of Tumor Success and a Challenging Target for Novel Therapies. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23052496. [PMID: 35269636 PMCID: PMC8910575 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23052496] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2022] [Revised: 02/20/2022] [Accepted: 02/22/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Ovarian cancer is the most lethal neoplasm of the female genital organs. Despite indisputable progress in the treatment of ovarian cancer, the problems of chemo-resistance and recurrent disease are the main obstacles for successful therapy. One of the main reasons for this is the presence of a specific cell population of cancer stem cells. The aim of this review is to show the most contemporary knowledge concerning the biology of ovarian cancer stem cells (OCSCs) and their impact on chemo-resistance and prognosis in ovarian cancer patients, as well as to present the treatment options targeted exclusively on the OCSCs. The review presents data concerning the role of cancer stem cells in general and then concentrates on OCSCs. The surface and intracellular OCSCs markers and their meaning both for cancer biology and clinical prognosis, signaling pathways specifically activated in OCSCs, the genetic and epigenetic regulation of OCSCs function including the recent studies on the non-coding RNA regulation, cooperation between OCSCs and the tumor microenvironment (ovarian cancer niche) including very specific environment such as ascites fluid, the role of shear stress, autophagy and metabolic changes for the function of OCSCs, and finally mechanisms of OCSCs escape from immune surveillance, are described and discussed extensively. The possibilities of anti-OCSCs therapy both in experimental settings and in clinical trials are presented, including the recent II phase clinical trials and immunotherapy. OCSCs are a unique population of cancer cells showing a great plasticity, self-renewal potential and resistance against anti-cancer treatment. They are responsible for the progression and recurrence of the tumor. Several completed and ongoing clinical trials have tested different anti-OCSCs drugs which, however, have shown unsatisfactory efficacy in most cases. We propose a novel approach to ovarian cancer diagnosis and therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacek R Wilczyński
- Department of Gynecological Surgery and Gynecological Oncology, Medical University of Lodz, 4 Kosciuszki Str., 90-419 Lodz, Poland
- Correspondence:
| | - Miłosz Wilczyński
- Department of Gynecological, Endoscopic and Oncological Surgery, Polish Mother’s Health Center—Research Institute, 281/289 Rzgowska Str., 93-338 Lodz, Poland;
- Department of Surgical and Endoscopic Gynecology, Medical University of Lodz, 4 Kosciuszki Str., 90-419 Lodz, Poland
| | - Edyta Paradowska
- Laboratory of Virology, Institute of Medical Biology of the Polish Academy of Sciences, 106 Lodowa Str., 93-232 Lodz, Poland;
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Singh D, Khan MA, Siddique HR. Specific targeting of cancer stem cells by immunotherapy: A possible stratagem to restrain cancer recurrence and metastasis. Biochem Pharmacol 2022; 198:114955. [PMID: 35181312 DOI: 10.1016/j.bcp.2022.114955] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2021] [Revised: 02/09/2022] [Accepted: 02/09/2022] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Cancer stem cells (CSCs), the tumor-initiating cells playing a crucial role in cancer progression, recurrence, and metastasis, have the intrinsic property of self-renewal and therapy resistance. The tumorigenic properties of these cells include generation of cellular heterogeneity and immuno-suppressive tumor microenvironment (TME), conferring them the capability to resist a variety of anti-cancer therapeutics. Further, CSCs possess several unique immunological properties that help them escape recognition by the innate and adaptive immune system and shape a TME into a pro-tumorigenic and immunosuppressive landscape. In this context, immunotherapy is considered one of the best therapeutic options for eliminating CSCs to halt cancer recurrence and metastasis. In this review, we discuss the various immunomodulatory properties of CSCs and the interaction of CSCs with the immune system enabling immune evasion. In addition, we also highlight the present research update on immunotherapeutic targeting of CSCs and the possible further scope of research on this topic. We believe that a deeper understanding of CSCs' immunological properties and the crosstalk between CSCs and the immune system can develop better innovative immune-therapeutics and enhance the efficacy of current therapy-resistant cancer treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Deepti Singh
- Molecular Cancer Genetics & Translational Research Lab, Section of Genetics, Department of Zoology, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh 202002, India
| | - Mohammad Afsar Khan
- Molecular Cancer Genetics & Translational Research Lab, Section of Genetics, Department of Zoology, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh 202002, India
| | - Hifzur R Siddique
- Molecular Cancer Genetics & Translational Research Lab, Section of Genetics, Department of Zoology, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh 202002, India.
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Aramini B, Masciale V, Grisendi G, Bertolini F, Maur M, Guaitoli G, Chrystel I, Morandi U, Stella F, Dominici M, Haider KH. Dissecting Tumor Growth: The Role of Cancer Stem Cells in Drug Resistance and Recurrence. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14040976. [PMID: 35205721 PMCID: PMC8869911 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14040976] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2022] [Accepted: 02/12/2022] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Cancer is one of the most debated problems all over the world. Cancer stem cells are considered responsible of tumor initiation, metastasis, drug resistance, and recurrence. This subpopulation of cells has been found into the tumor bulk and showed the capacity to self-renew, differentiate, up to generate a new tumor. In the last decades, several studies have been set on the molecular mechanisms behind their specific characteristics as the Wnt/β-catenin signaling, Notch signaling, Hedgehog signaling, transcription factors, etc. The most powerful part of CSCs is represented by the niches as “promoter” of their self-renewal and “protector” from the common oncological treatment as chemotherapy and radiotherapy. In our review article we highlighted the primary mechanisms involved in CSC tumorigenesis for the setting of further targets to control the metastatic process. Abstract Emerging evidence suggests that a small subpopulation of cancer stem cells (CSCs) is responsible for initiation, progression, and metastasis cascade in tumors. CSCs share characteristics with normal stem cells, i.e., self-renewal and differentiation potential, suggesting that they can drive cancer progression. Consequently, targeting CSCs to prevent tumor growth or regrowth might offer a chance to lead the fight against cancer. CSCs create their niche, a specific area within tissue with a unique microenvironment that sustains their vital functions. Interactions between CSCs and their niches play a critical role in regulating CSCs’ self-renewal and tumorigenesis. Differences observed in the frequency of CSCs, due to the phenotypic plasticity of many cancer cells, remain a challenge in cancer therapeutics, since CSCs can modulate their transcriptional activities into a more stem-like state to protect themselves from destruction. This plasticity represents an essential step for future therapeutic approaches. Regarding self-renewal, CSCs are modulated by the same molecular pathways found in normal stem cells, such as Wnt/β-catenin signaling, Notch signaling, and Hedgehog signaling. Another key characteristic of CSCs is their resistance to standard chemotherapy and radiotherapy treatments, due to their capacity to rest in a quiescent state. This review will analyze the primary mechanisms involved in CSC tumorigenesis, with particular attention to the roles of CSCs in tumor progression in benign and malignant diseases; and will examine future perspectives on the identification of new markers to better control tumorigenesis, as well as dissecting the metastasis process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Beatrice Aramini
- Division of Thoracic Surgery, Department of Experimental Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine–DIMES of the Alma Mater Studiorum, University of Bologna, G.B. Morgagni-L. Pierantoni Hospital, 47121 Forlì, Italy;
- Thoracic Surgery Unit, Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 41124 Modena, Italy; (V.M.); (U.M.)
- Correspondence:
| | - Valentina Masciale
- Thoracic Surgery Unit, Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 41124 Modena, Italy; (V.M.); (U.M.)
| | - Giulia Grisendi
- Division of Oncology, Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences for Children & Adults, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 41124 Modena, Italy; (G.G.); (F.B.); (M.M.); (G.G.); (I.C.); (M.D.)
| | - Federica Bertolini
- Division of Oncology, Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences for Children & Adults, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 41124 Modena, Italy; (G.G.); (F.B.); (M.M.); (G.G.); (I.C.); (M.D.)
| | - Michela Maur
- Division of Oncology, Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences for Children & Adults, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 41124 Modena, Italy; (G.G.); (F.B.); (M.M.); (G.G.); (I.C.); (M.D.)
| | - Giorgia Guaitoli
- Division of Oncology, Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences for Children & Adults, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 41124 Modena, Italy; (G.G.); (F.B.); (M.M.); (G.G.); (I.C.); (M.D.)
| | - Isca Chrystel
- Division of Oncology, Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences for Children & Adults, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 41124 Modena, Italy; (G.G.); (F.B.); (M.M.); (G.G.); (I.C.); (M.D.)
| | - Uliano Morandi
- Thoracic Surgery Unit, Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 41124 Modena, Italy; (V.M.); (U.M.)
| | - Franco Stella
- Division of Thoracic Surgery, Department of Experimental Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine–DIMES of the Alma Mater Studiorum, University of Bologna, G.B. Morgagni-L. Pierantoni Hospital, 47121 Forlì, Italy;
| | - Massimo Dominici
- Division of Oncology, Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences for Children & Adults, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 41124 Modena, Italy; (G.G.); (F.B.); (M.M.); (G.G.); (I.C.); (M.D.)
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Han MH, Kim CH. Current Immunotherapeutic Approaches for Malignant Gliomas. Brain Tumor Res Treat 2022; 10:1-11. [PMID: 35118842 PMCID: PMC8819466 DOI: 10.14791/btrt.2022.10.e25] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2021] [Revised: 12/24/2021] [Accepted: 01/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Glioblastoma is the most common malignant central nervous system (CNS) tumor (48.3%), with a median survival of only about 14.6 months. Although the CNS is an immune-privileged site, activated T cells can cross the blood-brain barrier. The recent successes of several immunotherapies for various cancers have drawn interest in immunotherapy for treatment of malignant glioma. There have been extensive attempts to evaluate the efficiency of immunotherapy against malignant glioma. Passive immunotherapy for malignant glioma includes monoclonal antibody-mediated immunotherapy, cytokine-mediated therapy, and adoptive cell transfer, also known as chimeric antigen receptor T cell treatment. On the other hand, active immunotherapy, which stimulates the patient’s adaptive immune system against specific tumor-associated antigens, includes cancer vaccines that are divided into peptide vaccines and cell-based vaccines. In addition, there is immune checkpoint blockade therapy, which increases the efficiency of immunotherapy by reducing the resistance of malignant glioma to immunotherapy. Despite centuries of efforts, immunotherapeutic successes for malignant glioma remain limited. However, many clinical trials of adoptive cell transfer immunotherapy on malignant glioma are ongoing, and the outcomes are eagerly awaited. In addition, although there are still several obstacles, current clinical trials using personalized neoantigen-based dendritic cell vaccines offer new hope to glioblastoma patients. Furthermore, immune checkpoint targeted therapy is expected to decipher the mechanism of immunotherapy resistance in malignant glioma in the near future. More studies are needed to increase the efficacy of immunotherapy in malignant glioma. We hope that immunotherapy will become a new treatment of malignant glioma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Myung-Hoon Han
- Department of Neurosurgery, Hanyang University Guri Hospital, Guri, Korea
| | - Choong Hyun Kim
- Department of Neurosurgery, Hanyang University Guri Hospital, Guri, Korea.
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49
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Yu W, Liu F, Lei Q, Wu P, Yang L, Zhang Y. Identification of Key Pathways and Genes Related to Immunotherapy Resistance of LUAD Based on WGCNA Analysis. Front Oncol 2022; 11:814014. [PMID: 35071018 PMCID: PMC8770266 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2021.814014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2021] [Accepted: 12/06/2021] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Immunotherapy resistance is a major barrier in the application of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) in lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) patients. Although recent studies have found several mechanisms and potential genes responsible for immunotherapy resistance, ways to solve this problem are still lacking. Tumor immune dysfunction and exclusion (TIDE) algorithm is a newly developed method to calculate potential regulators and indicators of ICI resistance. In this article, we combined TIDE and weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) to screen potential modules and hub genes that are highly associated with immunotherapy resistance using the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) dataset of LUAD patients. We identified 45 gene co-expression modules, and the pink module was most correlated with TIDE score and other immunosuppressive features. After considering the potential factors in immunotherapy resistance, we found that the pink module was also highly related to cancer stemness. Further analysis showed enriched immunosuppressive cells in the extracellular matrix (ECM), immunotherapy resistance indicators, and common cancer-related signaling pathways in the pink module. Seven hub genes in the pink module were shown to be significantly upregulated in tumor tissues compared with normal lung tissue, and were related to poor survival of LUAD patients. Among them, THY1 was the gene most associated with TIDE score, a gene highly related to suppressive immune states, and was shown to be strongly expressed in late-stage patients. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) results demonstrated that THY1 level was higher in the progressive disease (PD) group of LUAD patients receiving a PD-1 monoclonal antibody (mAb) and positively correlated with SOX9. Collectively, we identified that THY1 could be a critical biomarker in predicting ICI efficiency and a potential target for avoiding tumor immunotherapy resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weina Yu
- Biotherapy Center and Cancer Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China.,Henan Key Laboratory for Tumor Immunology and Biotherapy, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China.,State Key Laboratory of Esophageal Cancer Prevention and Treatment, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Fengsen Liu
- Biotherapy Center and Cancer Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China.,Henan Key Laboratory for Tumor Immunology and Biotherapy, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China.,State Key Laboratory of Esophageal Cancer Prevention and Treatment, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Qingyang Lei
- Biotherapy Center and Cancer Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China.,Henan Key Laboratory for Tumor Immunology and Biotherapy, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China.,State Key Laboratory of Esophageal Cancer Prevention and Treatment, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Peng Wu
- Biotherapy Center and Cancer Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China.,Henan Key Laboratory for Tumor Immunology and Biotherapy, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China.,State Key Laboratory of Esophageal Cancer Prevention and Treatment, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Li Yang
- Biotherapy Center and Cancer Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China.,Henan Key Laboratory for Tumor Immunology and Biotherapy, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China.,State Key Laboratory of Esophageal Cancer Prevention and Treatment, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Yi Zhang
- Biotherapy Center and Cancer Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China.,Henan Key Laboratory for Tumor Immunology and Biotherapy, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China.,State Key Laboratory of Esophageal Cancer Prevention and Treatment, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China.,School of Life Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
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50
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Taeb S, Ashrafizadeh M, Zarrabi A, Rezapoor S, Musa AE, Farhood B, Najafi M. Role of Tumor Microenvironment in Cancer Stem Cells Resistance to Radiotherapy. Curr Cancer Drug Targets 2021; 22:18-30. [PMID: 34951575 DOI: 10.2174/1568009622666211224154952] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2021] [Revised: 07/29/2021] [Accepted: 08/24/2021] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Cancer is a chronic disorder that involves several elements of both the tumor and the host stromal cells. At present, the complex relationship between the various factors presents in the tumor microenvironment (TME) and tumor cells, as well as immune cells located within the TME, is still poorly known. Within the TME, the crosstalk of these factors and immune cells essentially determines how a tumor reacts to the treatment and how the tumor can ultimately be destroyed, remain dormant, or develop and metastasize. Also, in TME, reciprocal crosstalk between cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs), extracellular matrix (ECM), hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF) intensifies the proliferation capacity of cancer stem cells (CSCs). CSCs are subpopulation of cells that reside within the tumor bulk and have the capacity to self-renew, differentiate, and repair DNA damage. These characteristics make CSCs develop resistance to a variety of treatments, such as radiotherapy (RT). RT is a frequent and often curative treatment for local cancer which mediates tumor elimination by cytotoxic actions. Also, cytokines and growth factors that are released into TME, have been involved in the activation of tumor radioresistance and the induction of different immune cells, altering local immune responses. In this review, we discuss the pivotal role of TME in resistance of CSCs to RT.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shahram Taeb
- Department of Radiology, School of Paramedical Sciences, Guilan University of Medical Sciences, Rasht, Iran
| | - Milad Ashrafizadeh
- Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences, Sabanci University, Orta Mahalle, Üniversite Caddesi No. 27, Orhanlı, Tuzla, 34956 , Turkey
| | - Ali Zarrabi
- Sabanci University Nanotechnology Research and Application Center (SUNUM), Tuzla 34956, Turkey
| | - Saeed Rezapoor
- Department of Radiology, Faculty of Paramedical, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Iran
| | - Ahmed Eleojo Musa
- Department of Medical Physics, Tehran University of Medical Sciences (International Campus), Iran
| | - Bagher Farhood
- Department of Medical Physics and Radiology, Faculty of Paramedical Sciences, Kashan University of Medical Sciences., Iraq
| | - Masoud Najafi
- Medical Technology Research Center, Institute of Health Technology, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Iran
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