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Guo Y, Zhou Q, Wei M, Fan J, Huang H. Association of TNFRSF19 with a TNF family-based prognostic model and subtypes in gliomas using machine learning. Heliyon 2024; 10:e28445. [PMID: 38560169 PMCID: PMC10979244 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e28445] [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: 08/13/2023] [Revised: 03/18/2024] [Accepted: 03/19/2024] [Indexed: 04/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Purpose TNF family members (TFMs) play a crucial role in different types of cancers, with TNF Receptor Superfamily Member 19 (TNFRSF19) standing out as a particularly important member in this category. Further research is necessary to investigate the potential impact of TFMs on prognosis prediction and to elucidate the function and potential therapeutic targets linked to TNFRSF19 expression in gliomas. Methods Three databases provided the data on gene expression and clinical information. Fourteen prognostic members were found through univariate Cox analysis and subsequently utilized to construct TFMs-based model in LASSO and multivariate Cox analyses. TFMs-based subtypes based on the expression profile were identified using an unsupervised clustering method. Machine learning algorithm identified key genes linked to prognostic model and subtype. A sequence of immune infiltrations was evaluated using the ssGSEA and ESTIMATE algorithms. Immunohistochemistry was used to examine the patterns of expression and the clinical significance of TNFRSF19. Results Our development of a prognostic model and subtypes based on the TNF family was successful, resulting in accurate predictions of prognosis. The findings indicate that TNFRSF19 exhibited strong performance. Upregulation of TNFRSF19 was correlated with malignant phenotypes and poor prognosis, which was confirmed through immunohistochemistry. TNFRSF19 played a role in reshaping the immunosuppressive microenvironment in gliomas, and multiple drug-targeted TNFRSF19 molecules were identified. Conclusions The TMF-based prognostic model and subtype can facilitate treatment decisions for glioma. TNFRSF19 is an outstanding representative of a predictor of prognosis and immunotherapy effect in gliomas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Youwei Guo
- Department of Neurosurgery, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan Province, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Quanwei Zhou
- The National Key Clinical Specialty, The Engineering Technology Research Center of Education Ministry of China, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory on Brain Function Repair and Regeneration, Department of Neurosurgery, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510282, China
| | - Min Wei
- National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
- Department of Neurology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan Province, China
| | - Jianfeng Fan
- Department of Neurosurgery, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan Province, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - He Huang
- Department of Neurosurgery, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan Province, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
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2
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Chu J, Liu W, Hu X, Zhang H, Jiang J. P2RY13 is a prognostic biomarker and associated with immune infiltrates in renal clear cell carcinoma: A comprehensive bioinformatic study. Health Sci Rep 2023; 6:e1646. [PMID: 38045624 PMCID: PMC10691167 DOI: 10.1002/hsr2.1646] [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: 05/18/2023] [Revised: 09/03/2023] [Accepted: 10/10/2023] [Indexed: 12/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Background and Aims Clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) is a common and aggressive form of cancer with a high incidence globally. This study aimed to investigate the role of P2RY13 in the progression of ccRCC and elucidate its mechanism of action. Methods Gene Expression Omnibus and The Cancer Genome Atlas databases were used to extract gene expression profiles of ccRCC. These profiles were annotated and visualized by Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) functional enrichment analyses, as well as Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA). The STRING database was used to establish a protein-protein interaction network and to analyze the functional similarity. The GEPIA2 database was used to predict survival associated with hub genes. Meanwhile, the TIMER2.0 database was used to assess immune cell infiltration and its link with the hub genes. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) was used to determine the difference between ccRCC and adjacent normal tissue. Results We identified 272 differentially expressed genes (DEGs). GO and KEGG analyses suggested that DEGs were primarily involved in lymphocyte activation, inflammatory response, immunological effector mechanism pathways. By cytohubba, the 20 highest-scoring hub genes were screened to identify critical genes in the protein-protein interaction network linked with ccRCC. Resting dendritic cells, CD8 T cells, and activated mast cells all showed a significant positive correlation with these hub genes. Moreover, a higher immune score was associated with increased prognostic risk scores, which in turn correlated with a poorer prognosis. IHC revealed that P2RY13 was expressed at higher levels in ccRCC compared to para-cancer tissues. Conclusion Identifying the DEGs will aid in the understanding of the causes and molecular mechanisms involved in ccRCC. P2RY13 may play a pivotal role in the progression and prognosis of ccRCC, potentially driving carcinogenesis though immune system mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jie Chu
- Department of OncologyThe First People's Hospital of ZiyangZiyangChina
| | - Wei Liu
- Department of General Family MedicineThe First People's Hospital of NeiJiangNeiJiangChina
| | - Xinyue Hu
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Kunming First People's HospitalKunming Medical UniversityKunmingChina
| | - Huiling Zhang
- Department of OncologyThe First People's Hospital of ZiyangZiyangChina
| | - Jiudong Jiang
- Department of SurgeryThe First People's Hospital of ZiYangZiyangChina
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Imodoye SO, Adedokun KA. EMT-induced immune evasion: connecting the dots from mechanisms to therapy. Clin Exp Med 2023; 23:4265-4287. [PMID: 37966552 DOI: 10.1007/s10238-023-01229-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2023] [Accepted: 10/18/2023] [Indexed: 11/16/2023]
Abstract
Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a dynamic program crucial for organismal development and tissue regeneration. Unfortunately, this program is often hijacked by epithelial tumors to facilitate metastasis. Beyond its role in cancer spread, EMT increases cancer cell survival by activating stem cell programs and bypassing apoptotic programs. Importantly, the capacity of EMT to enforce tumor progression by altering the tumor cell phenotype without triggering immune responses opens the intriguing possibility of a mechanistic link between EMT-driven cancers and immune evasion. Indeed, EMT has been acknowledged as a of driver immune evasion, but the mechanisms are still evolving. Here, we review recent insights into the influence of EMT on tumor immune evasion. Specifically, we focus on the mechanistic roles of EMT in immune escape as the basis that may provide a platform for innovative therapeutic approaches in advanced tumors. We summarize promising therapeutic approaches currently in clinical trials and trending preclinical studies aimed at reinvigorating the tumor microenvironment to create immune-permissive conditions that facilitates immune-mediated tumor clearance. We anticipate that this will assist researchers and pharmaceutical companies in understanding how EMT compromises the immune response, potentially paving the way for effective cancer therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sikiru O Imodoye
- Department of Oncological Sciences, Huntsman Cancer Institute, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, USA.
| | - Kamoru A Adedokun
- Department of Immunology, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Buffalo, NY, 14263, USA
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4
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Bruni S, Mercogliano MF, Mauro FL, Cordo Russo RI, Schillaci R. Cancer immune exclusion: breaking the barricade for a successful immunotherapy. Front Oncol 2023; 13:1135456. [PMID: 37284199 PMCID: PMC10239871 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2023.1135456] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2022] [Accepted: 05/10/2023] [Indexed: 06/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Immunotherapy has changed the course of cancer treatment. The initial steps were made through tumor-specific antibodies that guided the setup of an antitumor immune response. A new and successful generation of antibodies are designed to target immune checkpoint molecules aimed to reinvigorate the antitumor immune response. The cellular counterpart is the adoptive cell therapy, where specific immune cells are expanded or engineered to target cancer cells. In all cases, the key for achieving positive clinical resolutions rests upon the access of immune cells to the tumor. In this review, we focus on how the tumor microenvironment architecture, including stromal cells, immunosuppressive cells and extracellular matrix, protects tumor cells from an immune attack leading to immunotherapy resistance, and on the available strategies to tackle immune evasion.
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Zhai X, Pu D, Wang R, Zhang J, Lin Y, Wang Y, Zhai N, Peng X, Zhou Q, Li L. Gas6/AXL pathway: immunological landscape and therapeutic potential. Front Oncol 2023; 13:1121130. [PMID: 37265798 PMCID: PMC10231434 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2023.1121130] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2022] [Accepted: 04/10/2023] [Indexed: 06/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Cancer is a disease with ecological and evolutionary unity, which seriously affects the survival and quality of human beings. Currently, many reports have suggested Gas6 plays an important role in cancer. Binding of gas6 to TAM receptors is associated with the carcinogenetic mechanisms of multiple malignancies, such as in breast cancer, chronic lymphocytic leukemia, non-small cell lung cancer, melanoma, prostate cancer, etc., and shortened overall survival. It is accepted that the Gas6/TAM pathway can promote the malignant transformation of various types of cancer cells. Gas6 has the highest affinity for Axl, an important member of the TAM receptor family. Knockdown of the TAM receptors Axl significantly affects cell cycle progression in tumor cells. Interestingly, Gas6 also has an essential function in the tumor microenvironment. The Gas6/AXL pathway regulates angiogenesis, immune-related molecular markers and the secretion of certain cytokines in the tumor microenvironment, and also modulates the functions of a variety of immune cells. In addition, evidence suggests that the Gas6/AXL pathway is involved in tumor therapy resistance. Recently, multiple studies have begun to explore in depth the importance of the Gas6/AXL pathway as a potential tumor therapeutic target as well as its broad promise in immunotherapy; therefore, a timely review of the characteristics of the Gas6/AXL pathway and its value in tumor treatment strategies is warranted. This comprehensive review assessed the roles of Gas6 and AXL receptors and their associated pathways in carcinogenesis and cancer progression, summarized the impact of Gas6/AXL on the tumor microenvironment, and highlighted the recent research progress on the relationship between Gas6/AXL and cancer drug resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoqian Zhai
- Department of Medical Oncology, Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
- Lung Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Dan Pu
- Department of Medical Oncology, Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
- Lung Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Rulan Wang
- Department of Medical Oncology, Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
- Lung Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Jiabi Zhang
- Department of Nutrition and Integrative Physiology, College of Health, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, United States
| | - Yiyun Lin
- Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, MD Anderson Cancer Center UT Health, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Yuqing Wang
- Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Ni Zhai
- Neurosurgery Intensive Care Unit, The 987th Hospital of the Joint Logistics Support Force of the Chinese People's Liberation Army, Baoji, Shanxi, China
| | - Xuan Peng
- Department of Pathophysiology, Hubei Minzu University, Enshi, Hubei, China
| | - Qinghua Zhou
- Department of Medical Oncology, Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
- Lung Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Lu Li
- Department of Medical Oncology, Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
- Lung Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
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Unraveling the Impact of Intratumoral Heterogeneity on EGFR Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitor Resistance in EGFR-Mutated NSCLC. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24044126. [PMID: 36835536 PMCID: PMC9964908 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24044126] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2023] [Revised: 02/14/2023] [Accepted: 02/17/2023] [Indexed: 02/22/2023] Open
Abstract
The advent of tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) for treating epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-mutated non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) has been a game changer in lung cancer therapy. However, patients often develop resistance to the drugs within a few years. Despite numerous studies that have explored resistance mechanisms, particularly in regards to collateral signal pathway activation, the underlying biology of resistance remains largely unknown. This review focuses on the resistance mechanisms of EGFR-mutated NSCLC from the standpoint of intratumoral heterogeneity, as the biological mechanisms behind resistance are diverse and largely unclear. There exist various subclonal tumor populations in an individual tumor. For lung cancer patients, drug-tolerant persister (DTP) cell populations may have a pivotal role in accelerating the evolution of tumor resistance to treatment through neutral selection. Cancer cells undergo various changes to adapt to the new tumor microenvironment caused by drug exposure. DTP cells may play a crucial role in this adaptation and may be fundamental in mechanisms of resistance. Intratumoral heterogeneity may also be precipitated by DNA gains and losses through chromosomal instability, and the role of extrachromosomal DNA (ecDNA) may play an important role. Significantly, ecDNA can increase oncogene copy number alterations and enhance intratumoral heterogeneity more effectively than chromosomal instability. Additionally, advances in comprehensive genomic profiling have given us insights into various mutations and concurrent genetic alterations other than EGFR mutations, inducing primary resistance in the context of tumor heterogeneity. Understanding the mechanisms of resistance is clinically crucial since these molecular interlayers in cancer-resistance mechanisms may help to devise novel and individualized anticancer therapeutic approaches.
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Tiwari A, Oravecz T, Dillon LA, Italiano A, Audoly L, Fridman WH, Clifton GT. Towards a consensus definition of immune exclusion in cancer. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1084887. [PMID: 37033994 PMCID: PMC10073666 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1084887] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2022] [Accepted: 02/14/2023] [Indexed: 04/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Background The immune cell topography of solid tumors has been increasingly recognized as an important predictive factor for progression of disease and response to immunotherapy. The distribution pattern of immune cells in solid tumors is commonly classified into three categories - namely, "Immune inflamed", "Immune desert" and "Immune excluded" - which, to some degree, connect immune cell presence and positioning within the tumor microenvironment to anti-tumor activity. Materials and methods In this review, we look at the ways immune exclusion has been defined in published literature and identify opportunities to develop consistent, quantifiable definitions, which in turn, will allow better determination of the underlying mechanisms that span cancer types and, ultimately, aid in the development of treatments to target these mechanisms. Results The definitions of tumor immune phenotypes, especially immune exclusion, have largely been conceptual. The existing literature lacks in consistency when it comes to practically defining immune exclusion, and there is no consensus on a definition. Majority of the definitions use somewhat arbitrary cut-offs in an attempt to place each tumor into a distinct phenotypic category. Tumor heterogeneity is often not accounted for, which limits the practical application of a definition. Conclusions We have identified two key issues in existing definitions of immune exclusion, establishing clinically relevant cut-offs within the spectrum of immune cell infiltration as well as tumor heterogeneity. We propose an approach to overcome these limitations, by reporting the degree of immune cell infiltration, tying cut-offs to clinically meaningful outcome measures, maximizing the number of regions of a tumor that are analyzed and reporting the degree of heterogeneity. This will allow for a consensus practical definition for operationalizing this categorization into clinical trial and signal-seeking endpoints.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ankur Tiwari
- Department of Surgery, University of Texas Health Science Center San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, United States
| | | | | | | | | | - Wolf Hervé Fridman
- Centre de Recherche des Cordeliers, National Institute for Health and Medical Research (INSERM), Sorbonne Université, Université Sorbonne Paris-Cité (USPC), Université de Paris, Equipe Inflammation, Paris, France
| | - Guy Travis Clifton
- Parthenon Therapeutics, Boston, MA, United States
- *Correspondence: Guy Travis Clifton,
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8
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Phase I Study Evaluating Glesatinib (MGCD265), An Inhibitor of MET and AXL, in Patients with Non-small Cell Lung Cancer and Other Advanced Solid Tumors. Target Oncol 2023; 18:105-118. [PMID: 36459255 DOI: 10.1007/s11523-022-00931-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/31/2022] [Indexed: 12/05/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Heightened signaling by mesenchymal epithelial transition factor (MET) is implicated in tumorigenesis. Glesatinib is an investigational, oral inhibitor of MET and AXL. OBJECTIVE This phase I study determined the maximum tolerated dose (MTD), recommended phase II dose (RP2D), and safety profile of glesatinib in patients with advanced or unresectable solid tumors. Antitumor activity and pharmacokinetics (PK) were secondary objectives. PATIENTS AND METHODS Four formulations of glesatinib glycolate salt (capsule, unmicronized, micronized, and micronized version 2 [V2] tablets) and two free-base formulations (free-base suspension [FBS] capsule and spray-dried dispersion [SDD] tablet), developed to enhance drug exposure and optimize manufacturing processes, were evaluated in patients with genetically unselected advanced/unresectable solid tumors. MTD, based on dose-limiting toxicities (DLTs) observed during the first 21-day treatment cycle, was further evaluated in dose-expansion cohorts comprising patients with overexpression of MET and/or AXL, MET/AXL amplification, MET-activating mutations, or MET/AXL rearrangements for confirmation as the RP2D. RESULTS Glesatinib was evaluated across 27 dose-escalation cohorts (n = 108). Due to suboptimal exposure with glesatinib glycolate salt formulations in the initial cohorts, investigations subsequently focused on the FBS capsule and SDD tablet; for these formulations, MTD was identified as 1050 mg twice daily and 750 mg twice daily, respectively. An additional 71 patients received glesatinib in the FBS and SDD dose-expansion cohorts. At MTDs, the most frequent treatment-related adverse events were diarrhea (FBS, 83.3%; SDD, 75.0%), nausea (57.1%, 30.6%), vomiting (45.2%, 25.0%), increased alanine aminotransferase (45.2%, 30.6%), and increased aspartate aminotransferase (47.6%, 27.8%). Exploratory pharmacodynamic analyses indicated target engagement and inhibition of MET by glesatinib. Antitumor activity was observed with glesatinib FBS 1050 mg twice daily and SDD 750 mg twice daily in tumors harboring MET/AXL alteration or aberrant protein expression, particularly in patients with non--small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). In patients with NSCLC, the objective response rate was 25.9% in those with MET/AXL mutation or amplification and 30.0% in a subset with MET-activating mutations. All six partial responses occurred in patients with tumors carrying MET exon 14 deletion mutations. CONCLUSIONS The safety profile of single-agent glesatinib was acceptable. SDD 750 mg twice daily was selected as the preferred glesatinib formulation and dose based on clinical activity, safety, and PK data. Observations from this study led to initiation of a phase II study of glesatinib in patients with NSCLC stratified by type of MET alteration (NCT02544633). CLINICAL TRIALS REGISTRATION ClinicalTrials.gov NCT00697632; June 2008.
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Hu J, Dong F, He Y, Xia X, Cheng F, Chen S, Hou X, Zhang P, Liu G, Li Y, Gao Q, Dong M, Li T, Li W, Xiao Q, Li X, Yu X, Xi G, Guo D, Wu X, Wang B. LRIG2 promotes glioblastoma progression by modulating innate antitumor immunity through macrophage infiltration and polarization. J Immunother Cancer 2022; 10:jitc-2021-004452. [PMID: 36096529 PMCID: PMC9472135 DOI: 10.1136/jitc-2021-004452] [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] [Accepted: 08/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most common malignant brain tumor with poor clinical outcomes. Immunotherapy has recently been an attractive and promising treatment of extracranial malignancies, however, most of clinical trials for GBM immunotherapy failed due to predominant accumulation of tumor-associated microglia/macrophages (TAMs). Results High level of LRIG2/soluble LRIG2 (sLRIG2) expression activates immune-related signaling pathways, which are associated with poor prognosis in GBM patients. LRIG2/sLRIGs promotes CD47 expression and facilitates TAM recruitment. Blockade of CD47–SIRPα interactions and inhibition of sLRIG2 secretion synergistically suppress GBM progression in an orthotropic murine GBM model. Conclusions GBM cells with high level LRIG2 escape the phagocytosis by TAM via the CD47-SIRPα axis, highlighting a necessity for an early stage of clinical trial targeting LRIG2 and CD47-SIRPα as a novel treatment for patients with GBM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinyang Hu
- Department of Neurosurgery, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Wuhan, Hubei, China.,Department of Neurosurgery, The First People's Hospital of Yichang, China Three Gorges University People's Hospital, Yichang, Hubei, China
| | - Feng Dong
- State Key Laboratory of Experimental Hematology, The Province and Ministry Co-sponsored Collaborative Innovation Center for Medical Epigenetics, Cancer Institute and Hospital, Department of Cell Biology, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China.,Department of Neurosurgery, Laboratory of Neuro-Oncology, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, China
| | - You He
- State Key Laboratory of Experimental Hematology, The Province and Ministry Co-sponsored Collaborative Innovation Center for Medical Epigenetics, Cancer Institute and Hospital, Department of Cell Biology, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China
| | - Xianyou Xia
- State Key Laboratory of Experimental Hematology, The Province and Ministry Co-sponsored Collaborative Innovation Center for Medical Epigenetics, Cancer Institute and Hospital, Department of Cell Biology, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China
| | - Fangling Cheng
- Department of Neurosurgery, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Sui Chen
- Department of Neurosurgery, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Xiaoshuang Hou
- Department of Neurosurgery, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Po Zhang
- Department of Neurosurgery, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Guohao Liu
- Department of Neurosurgery, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Ying Li
- Experimental Medicine Center, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical Colleg, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Qian Gao
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Peking University School of Stomatology, Beijing, China.,Central Laboratory, Peking University School of Stomatology, Beijing, China
| | - Minhai Dong
- Department of Neurosurgery, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Ting Li
- State Key Laboratory of Experimental Hematology, The Province and Ministry Co-sponsored Collaborative Innovation Center for Medical Epigenetics, Cancer Institute and Hospital, Department of Cell Biology, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China
| | - Wei Li
- Tianjin First Central Hospital, Tianjin, China
| | - Qungen Xiao
- Department of Neurosurgery, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Xiaopeng Li
- Department of Neurosurgery, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Xingjiang Yu
- Department of Histology and Embryology, College of Basic Medicine, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Guifa Xi
- Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois, USA.,Abbott Molecular Inc, Des Plaines, Illinois, USA
| | - Dongsheng Guo
- Department of Neurosurgery, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Xudong Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Experimental Hematology, The Province and Ministry Co-sponsored Collaborative Innovation Center for Medical Epigenetics, Cancer Institute and Hospital, Department of Cell Biology, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China .,Department of Neurosurgery, Laboratory of Neuro-Oncology, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, China
| | - Baofeng Wang
- Department of Neurosurgery, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Wuhan, Hubei, China
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10
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Mullins R, Pal A, Barrett TF, Neal MEH, Puram SV. Epithelial-Mesenchymal Plasticity in Tumor Immune Evasion. Cancer Res 2022; 82:2329-2343. [PMID: 35363853 PMCID: PMC9256788 DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-21-4370] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2021] [Revised: 03/05/2022] [Accepted: 03/29/2022] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a fundamental process that occurs during embryogenesis and tissue repair. However, EMT can be hijacked by malignant cells, where it may promote immune evasion and metastasis. Classically considered a dichotomous transition, EMT in cancer has recently been considered a plastic process whereby malignant cells display and interconvert among hybrid epithelial/mesenchymal (E/M) states. Epithelial-mesenchymal plasticity (EMP) and associated hybrid E/M states are divergent from classical EMT, with unique immunomodulatory effects. Here, we review recent insights into the EMP-immune cross-talk, highlighting possible mechanisms of immune evasion conferred by hybrid E/M states and roles of immune cells in EMP.
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Affiliation(s)
- Riley Mullins
- Department of Genetics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, U.S.A.,Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, U.S.A
| | - Ananya Pal
- Department of Genetics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, U.S.A.,Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, U.S.A
| | - Thomas F Barrett
- Department of Genetics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, U.S.A.,Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, U.S.A
| | - Molly E Heft Neal
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, U.S.A
| | - Sidharth V Puram
- Department of Genetics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, U.S.A.,Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, U.S.A.,Corresponding author: Sidharth V. Puram, MD PhD, Washington University School of Medicine, 660 S. Euclid Ave., Campus Box 8115, St. Louis, MO 63110, (314) 362-7509,
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11
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Majumder A, Hosseinian S, Stroud M, Adhikari E, Saller JJ, Smith MA, Zhang G, Agarwal S, Creixell M, Meyer BS, Kinose F, Bowers K, Fang B, Stewart PA, Welsh EA, Boyle TA, Meyer AS, Koomen JM, Haura EB. Integrated Proteomics-Based Physical and Functional Mapping of AXL Kinase Signaling Pathways and Inhibitors Define Its Role in Cell Migration. Mol Cancer Res 2022; 20:542-555. [PMID: 35022314 PMCID: PMC8983558 DOI: 10.1158/1541-7786.mcr-21-0275] [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: 04/15/2021] [Revised: 09/14/2021] [Accepted: 01/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
To better understand the signaling complexity of AXL, a member of the tumor-associated macrophage (TAM) receptor tyrosine kinase family, we created a physical and functional map of AXL signaling interactions, phosphorylation events, and target-engagement of three AXL tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKI). We assessed AXL protein complexes using proximity-dependent biotinylation (BioID), effects of AXL TKI on global phosphoproteins using mass spectrometry, and target engagement of AXL TKI using activity-based protein profiling. BioID identifies AXL-interacting proteins that are mostly involved in cell adhesion/migration. Global phosphoproteomics show that AXL inhibition decreases phosphorylation of peptides involved in phosphatidylinositol-mediated signaling and cell adhesion/migration. Comparison of three AXL inhibitors reveals that TKI RXDX-106 inhibits pAXL, pAKT, and migration/invasion of these cells without reducing their viability, while bemcentinib exerts AXL-independent phenotypic effects on viability. Proteomic characterization of these TKIs demonstrates that they inhibit diverse targets in addition to AXL, with bemcentinib having the most off-targets. AXL and EGFR TKI cotreatment did not reverse resistance in cell line models of erlotinib resistance. However, a unique vulnerability was identified in one resistant clone, wherein combination of bemcentinib and erlotinib inhibited cell viability and signaling. We also show that AXL is overexpressed in approximately 30% to 40% of nonsmall but rarely in small cell lung cancer. Cell lines have a wide range of AXL expression, with basal activation detected rarely. IMPLICATIONS Our study defines mechanisms of action of AXL in lung cancers which can be used to establish assays to measure drug targetable active AXL complexes in patient tissues and inform the strategy for targeting it's signaling as an anticancer therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anurima Majumder
- Department of Thoracic Oncology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, FL 33612
| | - Sina Hosseinian
- Department of Thoracic Oncology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, FL 33612
| | - Mia Stroud
- Department of Thoracic Oncology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, FL 33612
| | - Emma Adhikari
- Department of Thoracic Oncology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, FL 33612
| | - James J. Saller
- Department of Pathology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, FL 33612
| | - Matthew A. Smith
- Department of Thoracic Oncology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, FL 33612
| | - Guolin Zhang
- Department of Thoracic Oncology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, FL 33612
| | - Shruti Agarwal
- Department of Thoracic Oncology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, FL 33612
| | | | - Benjamin S. Meyer
- Department of Thoracic Oncology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, FL 33612
| | - Fumi Kinose
- Department of Thoracic Oncology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, FL 33612
| | - Kiah Bowers
- Department of Proteomics and Metabolomics Core, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, FL 33612
| | - Bin Fang
- Department of Proteomics and Metabolomics Core, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, FL 33612
| | - Paul A. Stewart
- Department of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics Shared Resource, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, FL 33612
| | - Eric A. Welsh
- Department of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics Shared Resource, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, FL 33612
| | - Theresa A. Boyle
- Department of Pathology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, FL 33612
| | | | - John M. Koomen
- Department of Molecular Oncology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, FL 33612
| | - Eric B. Haura
- Department of Thoracic Oncology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, FL 33612
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12
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Sang YB, Kim JH, Kim CG, Hong MH, Kim HR, Cho BC, Lim SM. The Development of AXL Inhibitors in Lung Cancer: Recent Progress and Challenges. Front Oncol 2022; 12:811247. [PMID: 35311091 PMCID: PMC8927964 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2022.811247] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2021] [Accepted: 02/08/2022] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
AXL, along with MER and TYRO3, is a receptor tyrosine kinase from the TAM family. Although AXL itself is not thought to be a potent oncogenic driver, overexpression of AXL is known to trigger tumor cell growth, survival, invasion, metastasis, angiogenesis, epithelial to mesenchymal transition, and immune suppression. Overexpression of AXL is associated with therapy resistance and poor prognosis. Therefore, it is being studied as a marker of prognosis in cancer treatment or as a target in various cancer types. Recently, many preclinical and clinical studies on agents with various mechanisms targeting AXL have been actively conducted. They include small molecule inhibitors, monoclonal antibodies, and antibody-drug conjugates. This article reviewed the fundamental role of AXL in solid tumors, and the development in research of AXL inhibitors in recent years. Emphasis was placed on the function of AXL in acquired therapy resistance in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Since clinical needs increase in NSCLC patients with acquired resistance after initial therapy, recent research efforts have focused on a combination treatment with AXL inhibitors and tyrosine kinase inhibitors or immunotherapy to overcome resistance. Lastly, we deal with challenges and limitations encountered in the development of AXL inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yun Beom Sang
- Medical Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, CHA Bundang Medical Center, CHA University School of Medicine, Seongnam, South Korea
| | - Joo-Hang Kim
- Medical Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, CHA Bundang Medical Center, CHA University School of Medicine, Seongnam, South Korea
| | - Chang-Gon Kim
- Division of Medical Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, Yonsei Cancer Center, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Min Hee Hong
- Division of Medical Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, Yonsei Cancer Center, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Hye Ryun Kim
- Division of Medical Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, Yonsei Cancer Center, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Byoung Chul Cho
- Division of Medical Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, Yonsei Cancer Center, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Sun Min Lim
- Division of Medical Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, Yonsei Cancer Center, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
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13
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Shen JZ, Qiu Z, Wu Q, Zhang G, Harris R, Sun D, Rantala J, Barshop WD, Zhao L, Lv D, Won KA, Wohlschlegel J, Sangfelt O, Laman H, Rich JN, Spruck C. A FBXO7/EYA2-SCF FBXW7 axis promotes AXL-mediated maintenance of mesenchymal and immune evasion phenotypes of cancer cells. Mol Cell 2022; 82:1123-1139.e8. [PMID: 35182481 PMCID: PMC8934274 DOI: 10.1016/j.molcel.2022.01.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2021] [Revised: 12/25/2021] [Accepted: 01/25/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
A mesenchymal tumor phenotype associates with immunotherapy resistance, although the mechanism is unclear. Here, we identified FBXO7 as a maintenance regulator of mesenchymal and immune evasion phenotypes of cancer cells. FBXO7 bound and stabilized SIX1 co-transcriptional regulator EYA2, stimulating mesenchymal gene expression and suppressing IFNα/β, chemokines CXCL9/10, and antigen presentation machinery, driven by AXL extracellular ligand GAS6. Ubiquitin ligase SCFFBXW7 antagonized this pathway by promoting EYA2 degradation. Targeting EYA2 Tyr phosphatase activity decreased mesenchymal phenotypes and enhanced cancer cell immunogenicity, resulting in attenuated tumor growth and metastasis, increased infiltration of cytotoxic T and NK cells, and enhanced anti-PD-1 therapy response in mouse tumor models. FBXO7 expression correlated with mesenchymal and immune-suppressive signatures in patients with cancer. An FBXO7-immune gene signature predicted immunotherapy responses. Collectively, the FBXO7/EYA2-SCFFBXW7 axis maintains mesenchymal and immune evasion phenotypes of cancer cells, providing rationale to evaluate FBXO7/EYA2 inhibitors in combination with immune-based therapies to enhance onco-immunotherapy responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jia Z Shen
- Tumor Initiation and Maintenance Program, NCI-Designated Cancer Center, Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - Zhixin Qiu
- University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Hillman Cancer Center, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
| | - Qiulian Wu
- University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Hillman Cancer Center, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
| | - Guoxin Zhang
- Division of Regenerative Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, CA 92037, USA
| | - Rebecca Harris
- Department of Pathology, University of Cambridge, Tennis Court Road, Cambridge CB2 1QP, UK
| | - Dahui Sun
- Tumor Initiation and Maintenance Program, NCI-Designated Cancer Center, Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | | | - William D Barshop
- Department of Biological Chemistry, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Linjie Zhao
- University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Hillman Cancer Center, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
| | - Deguan Lv
- University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Hillman Cancer Center, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
| | | | - James Wohlschlegel
- Department of Biological Chemistry, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Olle Sangfelt
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm 171 77, Sweden
| | - Heike Laman
- Department of Pathology, University of Cambridge, Tennis Court Road, Cambridge CB2 1QP, UK
| | - Jeremy N Rich
- University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Hillman Cancer Center, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA; Division of Regenerative Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, CA 92037, USA; Department of Neurology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA.
| | - Charles Spruck
- Tumor Initiation and Maintenance Program, NCI-Designated Cancer Center, Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA.
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14
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Fuentes D, Cabezas-Cruz A, Mesa C, Carmenate T, Martínez D, Valdés-Zayas A, Montero E, Pérez R. Murine Mammary Carcinoma Induces Chronic Systemic Inflammation and Immunosuppression in BALB/c Mice. J Breast Cancer 2022; 25:218-232. [PMID: 35657001 PMCID: PMC9250876 DOI: 10.4048/jbc.2022.25.e18] [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: 07/21/2021] [Revised: 11/24/2021] [Accepted: 04/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Purpose Methods Results Conclusion
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Affiliation(s)
- Dasha Fuentes
- National Center for Laboratory Animal Breeding (CENPALAB), Havana, Cuba
| | - Alejandro Cabezas-Cruz
- Anses, INRAE, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire D'Alfort, UMR BIPAR, Laboratoire de Santé Animale, Maisons-Alfort, France
| | - Circe Mesa
- Center of Molecular Immunology (CIM), Havana, Cuba
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15
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Immune Regulatory Processes of the Tumor Microenvironment under Malignant Conditions. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms222413311. [PMID: 34948104 PMCID: PMC8706102 DOI: 10.3390/ijms222413311] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2021] [Revised: 12/03/2021] [Accepted: 12/05/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The tumor microenvironment (TME) is a critical regulator of tumor growth, progression, and metastasis. Since immune cells represent a large fraction of the TME, they play a key role in mediating pro- and anti-tumor immune responses. Immune escape, which suppresses anti-tumor immunity, enables tumor cells to maintain their proliferation and growth. Numerous mechanisms, which have been intensively studied in recent years, are involved in this process and based on these findings, novel immunotherapies have been successfully developed. Here, we review the composition of the TME and the mechanisms by which immune evasive processes are regulated. In detail, we describe membrane-bound and soluble factors, their regulation, and their impact on immune cell activation in the TME. Furthermore, we give an overview of the tumor/antigen presentation and how it is influenced under malignant conditions. Finally, we summarize novel TME-targeting agents, which are already in clinical trials for different tumor entities.
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16
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Landscape of prognostic signatures and immunogenomics of the AXL/GAS6 axis in renal cell carcinoma. Br J Cancer 2021; 125:1533-1543. [PMID: 34611307 PMCID: PMC8608819 DOI: 10.1038/s41416-021-01559-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2020] [Revised: 08/13/2021] [Accepted: 09/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cabozantinib is an oral tyrosine kinase inhibitor in renal cell carcinoma (RCC), whose targets include oncogenic AXL and unique ligand GAS6. Critical gaps in basic knowledge need to be addressed to devise an exclusive biomarker and candidate when targeting the AXL/GAS6 axis. METHODS To clarify the effects of the AXL/GAS6 axis on RCC, we herein performed a large-scale immunogenomic analysis and single-cell counts including various metastatic organs and histological subtypes of RCC. We further applied genome-wide mutation analyses and methylation arrays. RESULTS Varying patterns of AXL and GAS6 expression were observed throughout primary RCC tumours and metastases. Scoring individual AXL/GAS6 levels in the tumour centre and invasive margin, namely, the AXL/GAS6 score, showed a good ability to predict the prognosis of clear cell RCC. Metastasis- and histological subtype-specific differences in the AXL/GAS6 score existed since lung metastasis and the papillary subtype were weakly related to the AXL/GAS6 axis. Cell-by-cell immunohistological assessments clarified an immunosuppressive environment in tumours with high AXL/GAS6 scores. Genomic alterations in the PI3K-mTOR pathway and DNA methylation profiling revealed distinct differences with the AXL/GAS6 score in ccRCC. CONCLUSION The AXL/GAS6 scoring system could predict the outcome of prognosis and work as a robust biomarker for the immunogenomic state in RCC.
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Abstract
Extensive interest in cancer immunotherapy is reported according to the clinical importance of CTLA-4 and (PD-1/PD-L1) [programmed death (PD) and programmed death-ligand (PD-L1)] in immune checkpoint therapies. AXL is a receptor tyrosine kinase expressed in different types of cancer and in relation to resistance against various anticancer therapeutics due to poor clinical prognosis. AXL and its ligand, i.e., growth arrest-specific 6 (GAS6) proteins, are expressed on many cancer cells, and the GAS6/AXL pathway is reported to promote cancer cell proliferation, survival, migration, invasion, angiogenesis, and immune evasion. AXL is an attractive and novel therapeutic target for impairing tumor progression from immune cell contracts in the tumor microenvironment. The GAS6/AXL pathway is also of interest immunologically because it targets fewer antitumor immune responses. In effect, several targeted therapies are selective and nonselective for AXL, which are in preclinical and clinical development in multiple cancer types. Therefore, this review focuses on the role of the GAS6/AXL signaling pathway in triggering the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment as immune evasion. This includes regulating its composition and activating T-cell exclusion with the immune-suppressive activity of regulatory T cells, which is related to one of the hallmarks of cancer survival. Finally, this article discusses the GAS6/AXL signaling pathway in the context of several immune responses such as NK cell activation, apoptosis, and tumor-specific immunity, especially PD-1/PDL-1 signaling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hye-Youn Son
- Department of Breast and Endocrine Surgery, Center for Medical Innovation, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Hwan-Kyu Jeong
- School of Biosystems and Biomedical Sciences, Korea University, Seoul, South Korea
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18
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AXL Receptor in Cancer Metastasis and Drug Resistance: When Normal Functions Go Askew. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:cancers13194864. [PMID: 34638349 PMCID: PMC8507788 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13194864] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2021] [Revised: 09/15/2021] [Accepted: 09/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary AXL is a member of the TAM (TYRO3, AXL, MER) family of receptor tyrosine kinases. In normal physiological conditions, AXL is involved in removing dead cells and their remains, and limiting the duration of immune responses. Both functions are utilized by cancers in the course of tumour progression. Cancer cells use the AXL pathway to detect toxic environments and to activate molecular mechanisms, thereby ensuring their survival or escape from the toxic zone. AXL is instrumental in controlling genetic programs of epithelial-mesenchymal and mesenchymal-epithelial transitions, enabling cancer cells to metastasize. Additionally, AXL signaling suppresses immune responses in tumour microenvironment and thereby helps cancer cells to evade immune surveillance. The broad role of AXL in tumour biology is the reason why its inhibition sensitizes tumours to a broad spectrum of anti-cancer drugs. In this review, we outline molecular mechanisms underlying AXL function in normal tissues, and discuss how these mechanisms are adopted by cancers to become metastatic and drug-resistant. Abstract The TAM proteins TYRO3, AXL, and MER are receptor tyrosine kinases implicated in the clearance of apoptotic debris and negative regulation of innate immune responses. AXL contributes to immunosuppression by terminating the Toll-like receptor signaling in dendritic cells, and suppressing natural killer cell activity. In recent years, AXL has been intensively studied in the context of cancer. Both molecules, the receptor, and its ligand GAS6, are commonly expressed in cancer cells, as well as stromal and infiltrating immune cells. In cancer cells, the activation of AXL signaling stimulates cell survival and increases migratory and invasive potential. In cells of the tumour microenvironment, AXL pathway potentiates immune evasion. AXL has been broadly implicated in the epithelial-mesenchymal plasticity of cancer cells, a key factor in drug resistance and metastasis. Several antibody-based and small molecule AXL inhibitors have been developed and used in preclinical studies. AXL inhibition in various mouse cancer models reduced metastatic spread and improved the survival of the animals. AXL inhibitors are currently being tested in several clinical trials as monotherapy or in combination with other drugs. Here, we give a brief overview of AXL structure and regulation and discuss the normal physiological functions of TAM receptors, focusing on AXL. We present a theory of how epithelial cancers exploit AXL signaling to resist cytotoxic insults, in order to disseminate and relapse.
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19
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George DJ, Lee CH, Heng D. New approaches to first-line treatment of advanced renal cell carcinoma. Ther Adv Med Oncol 2021; 13:17588359211034708. [PMID: 34527080 PMCID: PMC8435931 DOI: 10.1177/17588359211034708] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2021] [Accepted: 07/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The treatment of patients with renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is evolving rapidly, with promising new regimens being developed and approved for patients with advanced disease, particularly the combination of tyrosine kinase inhibitors with immune checkpoint inhibitors. Within the last 6 months, favorable first-line setting results for patients with clear cell RCC have been reported for the combination of cabozantinib plus nivolumab in the phase III CheckMate 9ER study, leading to its regulatory approval, and lenvatinib plus pembrolizumab in the phase III CLEAR study. Additional systemic first-line treatments for clear cell RCC include axitinib plus pembrolizumab, pazopanib, and sunitinib for favorable-risk patients and ipilimumab plus nivolumab, axitinib plus pembrolizumab, axitinib plus avelumab, and cabozantinib for intermediate- or poor-risk patients. In this review of novel approaches for first-line treatment of advanced RCC, we present an overview of current treatment strategies, the basis behind emerging treatment approaches, a summary of key results from the pivotal studies using tyrosine kinase inhibitor and immune checkpoint inhibitor combination therapy, novel treatments and strategies under development, and efforts for identifying biomarkers to guide treatment decisions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel J. George
- Duke Cancer Institute, Duke University Medical Center, Duke Box 103861, Durham, NC 27710, USA
| | - Chung-Han Lee
- Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC), New York, NY, USA
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20
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Hot or cold: Bioengineering immune contextures into in vitro patient-derived tumor models. Adv Drug Deliv Rev 2021; 175:113791. [PMID: 33965462 DOI: 10.1016/j.addr.2021.05.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2021] [Revised: 05/02/2021] [Accepted: 05/04/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
In the past decade, immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) have proven to be tremendously effective for a subset of cancer patients. However, it is difficult to predict the response of individual patients and efforts are now directed at understanding the mechanisms of ICI resistance. Current models of patient tumors poorly recapitulate the immune contexture, which describe immune parameters that are associated with patient survival. In this Review, we discuss parameters that influence the induction of different immune contextures found within tumors and how engineering strategies may be leveraged to recapitulate these contextures to develop the next generation of immune-competent patient-derived in vitro models.
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21
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De Wispelaere W, Annibali D, Tuyaerts S, Lambrechts D, Amant F. Resistance to Immune Checkpoint Blockade in Uterine Leiomyosarcoma: What Can We Learn from Other Cancer Types? Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:cancers13092040. [PMID: 33922556 PMCID: PMC8122870 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13092040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2021] [Revised: 04/19/2021] [Accepted: 04/20/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
The onset of immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) therapy over the last decade has transformed the therapeutic landscape in oncology. ICB has shown unprecedented clinical activity and durable responses in a variety of difficult-to-treat cancers. However, despite these promising long-term responses, a majority of patients fail to respond to single-agent therapy, demonstrating primary or acquired resistance. Uterine leiomyosarcoma (uLMS) is a rare high-risk gynecological cancer with very limited treatment options. Despite research indicating a strong potential for ICB in uLMS, a clinical trial assessing the response to immunotherapy with single-agent nivolumab in advanced-stage uLMS showed no clinical benefit. Many mechanisms of resistance to ICB have been characterized in a variety of tumor types, and many more continue to be uncovered. However, the mechanisms of resistance to ICB in uLMS remain largely unexplored. By elucidating and targeting mechanisms of resistance, treatments can be tailored to improve clinical outcomes. Therefore, in this review we will explore what is known about the immunosuppressive microenvironment of uLMS, link these data to possible resistance mechanisms extrapolated from other cancer types, and discuss potential therapeutic strategies to overcome resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wout De Wispelaere
- Department of Oncology, KU Leuven (University of Leuven) and Leuven Cancer Institute (LKI), 3000 Leuven, Belgium; (W.D.W.); (D.A.); (S.T.)
| | - Daniela Annibali
- Department of Oncology, KU Leuven (University of Leuven) and Leuven Cancer Institute (LKI), 3000 Leuven, Belgium; (W.D.W.); (D.A.); (S.T.)
- Division of Oncogenomics, Antoni Van Leeuwenhoek—Netherlands Cancer Institute (AvL-NKI), 1066 CX Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Sandra Tuyaerts
- Department of Oncology, KU Leuven (University of Leuven) and Leuven Cancer Institute (LKI), 3000 Leuven, Belgium; (W.D.W.); (D.A.); (S.T.)
- Laboratory of Medical and Molecular Oncology (LMMO), Department of Medical Oncology, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Universitair Ziekenhuis Brussel (UZ Brussel), 1090 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Diether Lambrechts
- Laboratory for Translational Genetics, Department of Human Genetics, KU Leuven (University of Leuven), 3000 Leuven, Belgium;
- VIB Center for Cancer Biology, Flemish Institute for Biotechnology (VIB), 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Frédéric Amant
- Department of Oncology, KU Leuven (University of Leuven) and Leuven Cancer Institute (LKI), 3000 Leuven, Belgium; (W.D.W.); (D.A.); (S.T.)
- Centre for Gynecologic Oncology Amsterdam (CGOA), Antoni Van Leeuwenhoek—Netherlands Cancer Institute, University Medical Center (UMC), 1066 CX Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Hospitals Leuven (UZ Leuven), 3000 Leuven, Belgium
- Correspondence:
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22
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Wium M, Ajayi-Smith AF, Paccez JD, Zerbini LF. The Role of the Receptor Tyrosine Kinase Axl in Carcinogenesis and Development of Therapeutic Resistance: An Overview of Molecular Mechanisms and Future Applications. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:1521. [PMID: 33806258 PMCID: PMC8037968 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13071521] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2021] [Revised: 03/15/2021] [Accepted: 03/17/2021] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Resistance to chemotherapeutic agents by cancer cells has remained a major obstacle in the successful treatment of various cancers. Numerous factors such as DNA damage repair, cell death inhibition, epithelial-mesenchymal transition, and evasion of apoptosis have all been implicated in the promotion of chemoresistance. The receptor tyrosine kinase Axl, a member of the TAM family (which includes TYRO3 and MER), plays an important role in the regulation of cellular processes such as proliferation, motility, survival, and immunologic response. The overexpression of Axl is reported in several solid and hematological malignancies, including non-small cell lung, prostate, breast, liver and gastric cancers, and acute myeloid leukaemia. The overexpression of Axl is associated with poor prognosis and the development of resistance to therapy. Reports show that Axl overexpression confers drug resistance in lung cancer and advances the emergence of tolerant cells. Axl is, therefore, an important candidate as a prognostic biomarker and target for anticancer therapies. In this review, we discuss the consequence of Axl upregulation in cancers, provide evidence for its role in cancer progression and the development of drug resistance. We will also discuss the therapeutic potential of Axl in the treatment of cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martha Wium
- Cancer Genomics Group, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Cape Town 7925, South Africa; (M.W.); (A.F.A.-S.)
| | - Aderonke F. Ajayi-Smith
- Cancer Genomics Group, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Cape Town 7925, South Africa; (M.W.); (A.F.A.-S.)
| | - Juliano D. Paccez
- Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Goiás, Goiânia 74690-900, Brazil
| | - Luiz F. Zerbini
- Cancer Genomics Group, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Cape Town 7925, South Africa; (M.W.); (A.F.A.-S.)
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Marin-Acevedo JA, Kimbrough EO, Lou Y. Next generation of immune checkpoint inhibitors and beyond. J Hematol Oncol 2021; 14:45. [PMID: 33741032 PMCID: PMC7977302 DOI: 10.1186/s13045-021-01056-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 274] [Impact Index Per Article: 91.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2020] [Accepted: 03/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The immune system is the core defense against cancer development and progression. Failure of the immune system to recognize and eliminate malignant cells plays an important role in the pathogenesis of cancer. Tumor cells evade immune recognition, in part, due to the immunosuppressive features of the tumor microenvironment. Immunotherapy augments the host immune system to generate an antitumor effect. Immune checkpoints are pathways with inhibitory or stimulatory features that maintain self-tolerance and assist with immune response. The most well-described checkpoints are inhibitory in nature and include the cytotoxic T lymphocyte-associated molecule-4 (CTLA-4), programmed cell death receptor-1 (PD-1), and programmed cell death ligand-1 (PD-L1). Molecules that block these pathways to enhance the host immunologic activity against tumors have been developed and become standard of care in the treatment of many malignancies. Only a small percentage of patients have meaningful responses to these treatments, however. New pathways and molecules are being explored in an attempt to improve responses and application of immune checkpoint inhibition therapy. In this review, we aim to elucidate these novel immune inhibitory pathways, potential therapeutic molecules that are under development, and outline particular advantages and challenges with the use of each one of them.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - ErinMarie O Kimbrough
- Division of Hematology and Oncology, Mayo Clinic, 4500 San Pablo Road, Jacksonville, FL, 32224, USA
| | - Yanyan Lou
- Division of Hematology and Oncology, Mayo Clinic, 4500 San Pablo Road, Jacksonville, FL, 32224, USA.
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Post SM, Andreeff M, DiNardo C, Khoury JD, Ruvolo PP. TAM kinases as regulators of cell death. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-MOLECULAR CELL RESEARCH 2021; 1868:118992. [PMID: 33647320 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbamcr.2021.118992] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2021] [Revised: 02/19/2021] [Accepted: 02/22/2021] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
Abstract
Receptor Tyrosine Kinases are critical regulators of signal transduction that support cell survival, proliferation, and differentiation. Dysregulation of normal Receptor Tyrosine Kinase function by mutation or other activity-altering event can be oncogenic or can impact the transformed malignant cell so it becomes particularly resistant to stress challenge, have increased proliferation, become evasive to immune surveillance, and may be more prone to metastasis of the tumor to other organ sites. The TAM family of Receptor Tyrosine Kinases (TYRO3, AXL, MERTK) is emerging as important components of malignant cell survival in many cancers. The TAM kinases are important regulators of cellular homeostasis and proper cell differentiation in normal cells as receptors for their ligands GAS6 and Protein S. They also are critical to immune and inflammatory processes. In malignant cells, the TAM kinases can act as ligand independent co-receptors to mutant Receptor Tyrosine Kinases and in some cases (e.g. FLT3-ITD mutant) are required for their function. They also have a role in immune checkpoint surveillance. At the time of this review, the Covid-19 pandemic poses a global threat to world health. TAM kinases play an important role in host response to many viruses and it is suggested the TAM kinases may be important in aspects of Covid-19 biology. This review will cover the TAM kinases and their role in these processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sean M Post
- Department of Leukemia, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, United States of America
| | - Michael Andreeff
- Department of Leukemia, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, United States of America; Section of Molecular Hematology and Therapy, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, United States of America
| | - Courtney DiNardo
- Department of Leukemia, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, United States of America
| | - Joseph D Khoury
- Department of Hematopathology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, United States of America
| | - Peter P Ruvolo
- Department of Leukemia, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, United States of America; Section of Molecular Hematology and Therapy, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, United States of America.
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25
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Mukherjee TK, Malik P, Hoidal JR. The emerging role of estrogen related receptorα in complications of non-small cell lung cancers. Oncol Lett 2021; 21:258. [PMID: 33664821 PMCID: PMC7882887 DOI: 10.3892/ol.2021.12519] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2020] [Accepted: 11/18/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Approximately 85% of lung cancer cases are recognized as non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with a perilous (13–17%) 5-year survival in Europe and the USA. Although tobacco smoking has consistently emerged as the leading cause of NSCLC complications, its consequences are distinctly manifest with respect to sex bias, due to differential gene and sex hormone expression. Estrogen related receptor α (ERRα), a member of the nuclear orphan receptor superfamily is normally expressed in the lungs, and activates various nuclear genes without binding to the ligands, such as estrogens. In NSCLC ERRα expression is significantly higher compared with healthy individuals. It is well established ERα and ERβ‚ have 93% and 60% identity in the DNA and ligand binding domains, respectively. ERα and ERRα have 69% (70% with ERRα-1) and 34% (35% with ERRα-1) identity, respectively; ERRα and ERRβ‚ have 92 and 61% identity, respectively. However, whether there is distinctive ERRα interaction with mammalian estrogens or concurrent involvement in non-ER signalling pathway activation is not known. Relevant to NSCLC, ERRα promotes proliferation, invasion and migration by silencing the tumor suppressor proteins p53 and pRB, and accelerates G2-M transition during cell division. Epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) and activation of Slug (an EMT associated transcription factor) are the prominent mechanisms by which ERRα activates NSCLC metastasis. Based on these observations, the present article focuses on the feasibility of antiERRα therapy alone and in combination with antiER as a therapeutic strategy for NSCLC complications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tapan K Mukherjee
- Division of Respiratory, Critical Care and Occupational Pulmonary Medicine, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84132, USA.,Department of Internal Medicine, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84132, USA.,George E. Wahlen Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Centre, Salt Lake City, UT 84132, USA
| | - Parth Malik
- School of Chemical Sciences, Central University of Gujarat, Gandhinagar, Gujarat 382030, India
| | - John R Hoidal
- Division of Respiratory, Critical Care and Occupational Pulmonary Medicine, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84132, USA.,Department of Internal Medicine, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84132, USA.,George E. Wahlen Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Centre, Salt Lake City, UT 84132, USA
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26
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Pietrobon V, Cesano A, Marincola F, Kather JN. Next Generation Imaging Techniques to Define Immune Topographies in Solid Tumors. Front Immunol 2021; 11:604967. [PMID: 33584676 PMCID: PMC7873485 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2020.604967] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2020] [Accepted: 12/03/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
In recent years, cancer immunotherapy experienced remarkable developments and it is nowadays considered a promising therapeutic frontier against many types of cancer, especially hematological malignancies. However, in most types of solid tumors, immunotherapy efficacy is modest, partly because of the limited accessibility of lymphocytes to the tumor core. This immune exclusion is mediated by a variety of physical, functional and dynamic barriers, which play a role in shaping the immune infiltrate in the tumor microenvironment. At present there is no unified and integrated understanding about the role played by different postulated models of immune exclusion in human solid tumors. Systematically mapping immune landscapes or "topographies" in cancers of different histology is of pivotal importance to characterize spatial and temporal distribution of lymphocytes in the tumor microenvironment, providing insights into mechanisms of immune exclusion. Spatially mapping immune cells also provides quantitative information, which could be informative in clinical settings, for example for the discovery of new biomarkers that could guide the design of patient-specific immunotherapies. In this review, we aim to summarize current standard and next generation approaches to define Cancer Immune Topographies based on published studies and propose future perspectives.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Jakob Nikolas Kather
- Medical Oncology, National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT), University Hospital Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
- Department of Medicine III, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, Aachen, Germany
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27
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Lotsberg ML, Rayford A, Thiery JP, Belleggia G, D'Mello Peters S, Lorens JB, Chouaib S, Terry S, Engelsen AST. Decoding cancer's camouflage: epithelial-mesenchymal plasticity in resistance to immune checkpoint blockade. CANCER DRUG RESISTANCE (ALHAMBRA, CALIF.) 2020; 3:832-853. [PMID: 35582229 PMCID: PMC8992561 DOI: 10.20517/cdr.2020.41] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2020] [Revised: 09/11/2020] [Accepted: 09/17/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Epithelial-mesenchymal plasticity (EMP) of cancer cells contributes to cancer cell heterogeneity, and it is well established that EMP is a critical determinant of acquired resistance to cancer treatment modalities including radiation therapy, chemotherapy, and targeted therapies. Here, we aimed to explore how EMP contributes to cancer cell camouflage, allowing an ever-changing population of cancer cells to pass under the radar of our immune system and consequently compromise the effect of immune checkpoint blockade therapies. The ultimate clinical benefit of any combination regimen is evidenced by the sum of the drug-induced alterations observed in the variety of cellular populations composing the tumor immune microenvironment. The finely-tuned molecular crosstalk between cancer and immune cells remains to be fully elucidated, particularly for the spectrum of malignant cells along the epithelial to mesenchymal axis. High-dimensional single cell analyses of specimens collected in ongoing clinical studies is becoming a key contributor to our understanding of these interactions. This review will explore to what extent targeting EMP in combination with immune checkpoint inhibition represents a promising therapeutic avenue within the overarching strategy to reactivate a halting cancer-immunity cycle and establish a robust host immune response against cancer cells. Therapeutic strategies currently in clinical development will be discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria L Lotsberg
- Centre for Cancer Biomarkers and Department of Biomedicine, University of Bergen, Bergen 5009, Norway.,Equal contribution
| | - Austin Rayford
- Centre for Cancer Biomarkers and Department of Biomedicine, University of Bergen, Bergen 5009, Norway.,BerGenBio ASA, Jonas Lies vei 91, Bergen 5009, Norway.,Equal contribution
| | - Jean Paul Thiery
- Centre for Cancer Biomarkers and Department of Biomedicine, University of Bergen, Bergen 5009, Norway.,INSERM UMR 1186, Integrative Tumour Immunology and Immunotherapy, Gustave Roussy, Fac. de Médecine - Univ. Paris-Sud, Université Paris-Saclay, Villejuif 94805, France.,Cancer Science Institute of Singapore, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore 117599, Singapore.,Department of Biochemistry, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore 119228, Singapore.,Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, Agency for Science, Technology and Research, A-STAR, Singapore, Singapore 138673, Singapore.,Guangzhou Regenerative Medicine and Health, Guangdong Laboratory, Guangzhou 510005, China
| | - Giuliana Belleggia
- School of Medicine, Clinical Skills Assessment Program, University of Connecticut, Farmington, CT 06030, USA
| | - Stacey D'Mello Peters
- Centre for Cancer Biomarkers and Department of Biomedicine, University of Bergen, Bergen 5009, Norway
| | - James B Lorens
- Centre for Cancer Biomarkers and Department of Biomedicine, University of Bergen, Bergen 5009, Norway.,BerGenBio ASA, Jonas Lies vei 91, Bergen 5009, Norway
| | - Salem Chouaib
- INSERM UMR 1186, Integrative Tumour Immunology and Immunotherapy, Gustave Roussy, Fac. de Médecine - Univ. Paris-Sud, Université Paris-Saclay, Villejuif 94805, France.,Thumbay Research Institute of Precision Medicine, Gulf Medical University, Ajman 4184, United Arab Emirates
| | - Stephane Terry
- INSERM UMR 1186, Integrative Tumour Immunology and Immunotherapy, Gustave Roussy, Fac. de Médecine - Univ. Paris-Sud, Université Paris-Saclay, Villejuif 94805, France.,Université Paris-Saclay, INRAE, AgroParisTech, GABI, Jouy-en-Josas 78350, France
| | - Agnete S T Engelsen
- Centre for Cancer Biomarkers and Department of Biomedicine, University of Bergen, Bergen 5009, Norway.,INSERM UMR 1186, Integrative Tumour Immunology and Immunotherapy, Gustave Roussy, Fac. de Médecine - Univ. Paris-Sud, Université Paris-Saclay, Villejuif 94805, France
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28
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Bergerot P, Lamb P, Wang E, Pal SK. Cabozantinib in Combination with Immunotherapy for Advanced Renal Cell Carcinoma and Urothelial Carcinoma: Rationale and Clinical Evidence. Mol Cancer Ther 2020; 18:2185-2193. [PMID: 31792125 DOI: 10.1158/1535-7163.mct-18-1399] [Citation(s) in RCA: 80] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2019] [Revised: 05/29/2019] [Accepted: 08/29/2019] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
The treatment landscape for metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC) and urothelial carcinoma (mUC) has evolved rapidly in recent years with the approval of several checkpoint inhibitors. Despite these advances, survival rates for metastatic disease remain poor, and additional strategies will be needed to improve the efficacy of checkpoint inhibitors. Combining anti-VEGF/VEGFR agents with checkpoint inhibitors has emerged as a potential strategy to advance the immunotherapy paradigm, because VEGF inhibitors have immunomodulatory potential. Cabozantinib is a tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) whose targets include MET, AXL, and VEGFR2. Cabozantinib has a unique immunomodulatory profile and has demonstrated clinical efficacy as a monotherapy in mRCC and mUC, making it a potentially suitable partner for checkpoint inhibitor therapy. In this review, we summarize the current status of immunotherapy for mRCC and mUC and discuss the development of immunotherapy-TKI combinations, with a focus on cabozantinib. We discuss the rationale for such combinations based on our growing understanding of the tumor microenvironment, and we review in detail the preclinical and clinical studies supporting their use.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paulo Bergerot
- City of Hope National Medical Center, Duarte, California
| | | | | | - Sumanta K Pal
- City of Hope National Medical Center, Duarte, California.
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29
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Aguilera TA, Elghonaimy EA, Shehade H, Rafat M, Castellini L, Jiang D, Kariolis M, Koong AC, Le QT, Ellies LG, Rankin EB, Graves EE, Giaccia AJ. Induced Tumor Heterogeneity Reveals Factors Informing Radiation and Immunotherapy Combinations. Clin Cancer Res 2020; 26:2972-2985. [PMID: 32098769 PMCID: PMC7311370 DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-19-4220] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/26/2019] [Revised: 02/17/2020] [Accepted: 02/20/2020] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE To investigate how induced tumor heterogeneity influences immune responses to radiotherapy with different proportions of mixed immune-responsive and unresponsive tumor cells in a triple-negative breast cancer model. It is hypothesized that studying the immune environment of mixed tumors and responses to radiotherapy could nominate immune active therapies to enhance immune responses after radiotherapy. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN Evaluate efficacy and immune responses generated by radiotherapy in tumors with different proportions of immunologically responsive and unresponsive tumor cells. Then study the cellular responses and transcriptomic differences between the tumors to nominate immunotherapy combinations with radiotherapy and evaluate the combination. RESULTS The addition of the responsive cells to unresponsive tumors led to a greater than expected therapeutic response to radiotherapy with both innate and adaptive immune components. There was a distinct change in myeloid cells, greater inflammatory macrophage activity, and enhanced antigen presentation with responsive cells after radiotherapy. Because differences in matrix components, cell adhesion biology, and innate immune signaling correlated with myeloid cell response and phenotype, we hypothesized that radiotherapy combined with CD40 agonist antibody would sensitize unresponsive tumors. The combination therapy resulted in improved innate and adaptive immune response. Importantly, CD40 treatment increased tumor response to radiotherapy and protected against metastatic spread in a metastatic model. CONCLUSIONS These data combined with transcriptomics from human patients support radiotherapy and myeloid cell targeting for immunologically cold tumors. The established study model presents opportunities to investigate the complex overlapping biologic mechanisms that limit immunotherapy and to implement radiotherapy with different immunotherapy combinations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Todd A Aguilera
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Stanford University, Stanford, California. .,Department of Radiation Oncology, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas
| | - Eslam A Elghonaimy
- Department of Radiation Oncology, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas
| | - Hussein Shehade
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Stanford University, Stanford, California
| | - Marjan Rafat
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Stanford University, Stanford, California.,Department of Biomolecular Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee.,Department of Radiation Oncology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee
| | - Laura Castellini
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Stanford University, Stanford, California
| | - Dadi Jiang
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Stanford University, Stanford, California.,Department of Radiation Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
| | - Mihalis Kariolis
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Stanford University, Stanford, California
| | - Albert C Koong
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Stanford University, Stanford, California.,Department of Radiation Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
| | - Quynh-Thu Le
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Stanford University, Stanford, California
| | - Lesley G Ellies
- Department of Pathology, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California
| | - Erinn B Rankin
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Stanford University, Stanford, California
| | - Edward E Graves
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Stanford University, Stanford, California
| | - Amato J Giaccia
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Stanford University, Stanford, California.
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30
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Lotsberg ML, Wnuk-Lipinska K, Terry S, Tan TZ, Lu N, Trachsel-Moncho L, Røsland GV, Siraji MI, Hellesøy M, Rayford A, Jacobsen K, Ditzel HJ, Vintermyr OK, Bivona TG, Minna J, Brekken RA, Baguley B, Micklem D, Akslen LA, Gausdal G, Simonsen A, Thiery JP, Chouaib S, Lorens JB, Engelsen AST. AXL Targeting Abrogates Autophagic Flux and Induces Immunogenic Cell Death in Drug-Resistant Cancer Cells. J Thorac Oncol 2020; 15:973-999. [PMID: 32018052 PMCID: PMC7397559 DOI: 10.1016/j.jtho.2020.01.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2019] [Revised: 12/29/2019] [Accepted: 01/19/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Acquired cancer therapy resistance evolves under selection pressure of immune surveillance and favors mechanisms that promote drug resistance through cell survival and immune evasion. AXL receptor tyrosine kinase is a mediator of cancer cell phenotypic plasticity and suppression of tumor immunity, and AXL expression is associated with drug resistance and diminished long-term survival in a wide range of malignancies, including NSCLC. METHODS We aimed to investigate the mechanisms underlying AXL-mediated acquired resistance to first- and third-generation small molecule EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors (EGFRi) in NSCLC. RESULTS We found that EGFRi resistance was mediated by up-regulation of AXL, and targeting AXL reduced reactivation of the MAPK pathway and blocked onset of acquired resistance to long-term EGFRi treatment in vivo. AXL-expressing EGFRi-resistant cells revealed phenotypic and cell signaling heterogeneity incompatible with a simple bypass signaling mechanism, and were characterized by an increased autophagic flux. AXL kinase inhibition by the small molecule inhibitor bemcentinib or siRNA mediated AXL gene silencing was reported to inhibit the autophagic flux in vitro, bemcentinib treatment blocked clonogenicity and induced immunogenic cell death in drug-resistant NSCLC in vitro, and abrogated the transcription of autophagy-associated genes in vivo. Furthermore, we found a positive correlation between AXL expression and autophagy-associated gene signatures in a large cohort of human NSCLC (n = 1018). CONCLUSION Our results indicate that AXL signaling supports a drug-resistant persister cell phenotype through a novel autophagy-dependent mechanism and reveals a unique immunogenic effect of AXL inhibition on drug-resistant NSCLC cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria L Lotsberg
- Centre for Cancer Biomarkers CCBIO, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway; Department of Biomedicine, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway; Department of Pathology, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway
| | - Katarzyna Wnuk-Lipinska
- Department of Biomedicine, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway; BerGenBio ASA, Bergen, Norway
| | - Stéphane Terry
- INSERM UMR 1186, Gustave Roussy, Université Paris-Saclay, Villejuif, France
| | - Tuan Zea Tan
- Cancer Science Institute of Singapore, National University of Singapore, Singapore
| | - Ning Lu
- Centre for Cancer Biomarkers CCBIO, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway; Department of Biomedicine, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
| | - Laura Trachsel-Moncho
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences and Centre for Cancer Cell Reprogramming, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Gro V Røsland
- Department of Biomedicine, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway; Department of Oncology and Medical Physics, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway
| | | | | | - Austin Rayford
- Department of Biomedicine, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
| | - Kirstine Jacobsen
- Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
| | - Henrik J Ditzel
- Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark; Department of Oncology, Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark
| | - Olav K Vintermyr
- Department of Pathology, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway; Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
| | - Trever G Bivona
- Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California, San Francisco, California
| | - John Minna
- Hamon Center for Therapeutic Oncology Research, Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center, Departments of Surgery, Pharmacology and Internal Medicine, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas
| | - Rolf A Brekken
- Centre for Cancer Biomarkers CCBIO, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway; Hamon Center for Therapeutic Oncology Research, Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center, Departments of Surgery, Pharmacology and Internal Medicine, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas
| | - Bruce Baguley
- Auckland Cancer Society Research Centre, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, The University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | | | - Lars A Akslen
- Centre for Cancer Biomarkers CCBIO, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway; Department of Pathology, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway; Cancer Science Institute of Singapore, National University of Singapore, Singapore
| | | | - Anne Simonsen
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences and Centre for Cancer Cell Reprogramming, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Jean Paul Thiery
- Centre for Cancer Biomarkers CCBIO, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway; INSERM UMR 1186, Gustave Roussy, Université Paris-Saclay, Villejuif, France; Cancer Science Institute of Singapore, National University of Singapore, Singapore; Biomedical Department of Biochemistry, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore; Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, Agency for Science, Technology and Research, A-STAR, Singapore; Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China; Department of Clinical Oncology, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, Hong Kong University, Hong Kong
| | - Salem Chouaib
- Department of Pathology, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway; Thumbay Research Institute for Precision Medicine, GMU Ajman, United Arab Emirates
| | - James B Lorens
- Centre for Cancer Biomarkers CCBIO, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway; Department of Biomedicine, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
| | - Agnete Svendsen Tenfjord Engelsen
- Centre for Cancer Biomarkers CCBIO, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway; Department of Biomedicine, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway; INSERM UMR 1186, Gustave Roussy, Université Paris-Saclay, Villejuif, France.
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Receptor Tyrosine Kinases in Osteosarcoma: 2019 Update. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2020; 1258:141-155. [PMID: 32767239 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-43085-6_9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
The primary conclusions of our 2014 contribution to this series were as follows: Multiple receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs) likely contribute to aggressive phenotypes in osteosarcoma and, therefore, inhibition of multiple RTKs is likely necessary for successful clinical outcomes. Inhibition of multiple RTKs may also be useful to overcome resistance to inhibitors of individual RTKs as well as resistance to conventional chemotherapies. Different combinations of RTKs are likely important in individual patients. AXL, EPHB2, FGFR2, IGF1R, and RET were identified as promising therapeutic targets by our in vitro phosphoproteomic/siRNA screen of 42 RTKs in the highly metastatic LM7 and 143B human osteosarcoma cell lines. This chapter is intended to provide an update on these topics as well as the large number of osteosarcoma clinical studies of inhibitors of multiple tyrosine kinases (multi-TKIs) that were recently published.
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Bonifacio L, Dodds M, Prohaska D, Moss A, Giaccia A, Tabibiazar R, McIntyre G. Target-Mediated Drug Disposition Pharmacokinetic/Pharmacodynamic Model-Informed Dose Selection for the First-in-Human Study of AVB-S6-500. Clin Transl Sci 2020; 13:204-211. [PMID: 31599479 PMCID: PMC6951457 DOI: 10.1111/cts.12706] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2019] [Accepted: 09/02/2019] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
AVB-S6-500 neutralized growth arrest-specific 6 (GAS6) protein and effectively inhibited AXL signaling in preclinical cancer models. A target-mediated drug disposition (TMDD) pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic (PK/PD) model was used to select first-in-human (FIH) doses for AVB-S6-500 based on predicted target (GAS6) suppression in the clinic. The effect of TMDD on AVB-S6-500 clearance was incorporated into a standard two-compartment model, providing parallel linear and nonlinear clearance. Observed AVB-S6-500 and GAS6 concentration data in cynomolgus monkeys and relevant interspecies differences were used to predict the PK (serum concentration)/PD (GAS6 suppression) relationship in humans. Human exposure and GAS6 suppression were simulated for the proposed FIH doses of 1, 2.5, 5, and 10 mg/kg. A dose of 1 mg/kg was selected to target GAS6 suppression for 2 weeks in the initial healthy volunteer study. The cynomolgus monkey:human ratios for the highest proposed FIH dose were anticipated to yield more than a 10-fold margin to the nonclinical no observed adverse event level while maintaining > 90% GAS6 suppression. In human subjects, the first dose (1 mg/kg) model-projected and clinically observed maximal concentration (Cmax ) was within 10% of predicted; repeat dosing at 5 mg/kg was within 1% (Cmax ) and 45% (area under the serum concentration-time curve from time 0 to end of dosing interval) of predicted. Predicted GAS6 suppression duration of 14 days was accurate for the 1 mg/kg dose. A PK/PD model expedited clinical development of AVB-S6-500, minimized exposure of patients with cancer to subtherapeutic doses, and rationally guided the optimal dosing in patients.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Aaron Moss
- Certara Strategic ConsultingPrincetonNew JerseyUSA
| | - Amato Giaccia
- Aravive, Inc.HoustonTexasUSA
- Stanford Medicine Division of Radiation and Cancer BiologyStanfordCaliforniaUSA
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Abstract
Checkpoint inhibitor therapy (CIT) has revolutionized cancer treatment but it has also reached a standstill when an absent dialog between cancer and immune cells makes it irrelevant. This occurs with high prevalence in the context of "immune silent" and, even perhaps, "immune-excluded" tumors. The latter are characterized by T cells restricted to the periphery of cancer nests. Since in either case T cells do not come in direct contact with most cancer cells, CIT rests immaterial. Adoptive cell therapy (ACT), may also be affected by limited access to antigen-bearing cancer cells. While lack of immunogenicity intuitively explains the immune silent phenotype, immune exclusion is perplexing. The presence of T cells at the periphery suggests that chemo-attraction recruits them and an immunogenic stimulus promotes their persistence. However, what stops the T cells from infiltrating the tumors' nests and reaching the germinal center (GC)? Possibly, a concentric gradient of increased chemo-repulsion or decreased chemo-attraction demarcates an abrupt "do not trespass" warning. Various hypotheses suggest physical or functional barriers but no definitive consensus exists over the weight that each plays in human cancers. On one hand, it could be hypothesized that the intrinsic biology of cancer cells may degenerate from a "cancer stem cell" (CSC)-like phenotype in the GC toward a progressively more immunogenic phenotype prone to immunogenic cell death (ICD) at the periphery. On the other hand, the intrinsic biology of the cancer cells may not change but it is the disorderly architecture of the tumor microenvironment (TME) that alters in a centripetal direction cancer cell metabolism, both directly and indirectly, the function of surrounding stromal cells. In this chapter, we examine whether the paradoxical exclusion of T cells from tumors may serve as a model to understand the requirements for tumor immune infiltration and, correspondingly, we put forth strategies to restore the dialog between immune cells and cancer to enhance the effectiveness of immune oncology (IO) approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara I Pai
- Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard University, Boston, MA, USA.
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AXL receptor tyrosine kinase as a promising anti-cancer approach: functions, molecular mechanisms and clinical applications. Mol Cancer 2019; 18:153. [PMID: 31684958 PMCID: PMC6827209 DOI: 10.1186/s12943-019-1090-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 272] [Impact Index Per Article: 54.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2019] [Accepted: 10/18/2019] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Molecular targeted therapy for cancer has been a research hotspot for decades. AXL is a member of the TAM family with the high-affinity ligand growth arrest-specific protein 6 (GAS6). The Gas6/AXL signalling pathway is associated with tumour cell growth, metastasis, invasion, epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), angiogenesis, drug resistance, immune regulation and stem cell maintenance. Different therapeutic agents targeting AXL have been developed, typically including small molecule inhibitors, monoclonal antibodies (mAbs), nucleotide aptamers, soluble receptors, and several natural compounds. In this review, we first provide a comprehensive discussion of the structure, function, regulation, and signalling pathways of AXL. Then, we highlight recent strategies for targeting AXL in the treatment of cancer.AXL-targeted drugs, either as single agents or in combination with conventional chemotherapy or other small molecule inhibitors, are likely to improve the survival of many patients. However, future investigations into AXL molecular signalling networks and robust predictive biomarkers are warranted to select patients who could receive clinical benefit and to avoid potential toxicities.
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Jimbo T, Hatanaka M, Komatsu T, Taira T, Kumazawa K, Maeda N, Suzuki T, Ota M, Haginoya N, Isoyama T, Fujiwara K. DS-1205b, a novel selective inhibitor of AXL kinase, blocks resistance to EGFR-tyrosine kinase inhibitors in a non-small cell lung cancer xenograft model. Oncotarget 2019; 10:5152-5167. [PMID: 31497246 PMCID: PMC6718264 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.27114] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2019] [Accepted: 06/29/2019] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
The AXL receptor tyrosine kinase is involved in signal transduction in malignant cells. Recent studies have shown that the AXL upregulation underlies epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) resistance in EGFR-mutant non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). In this study, we investigated the effect of DS-1205b, a novel and selective inhibitor of AXL, on tumor growth and resistance to EGFR TKIs. In AXL-overexpressing NIH3T3 cells, DS-1205b potently inhibited hGAS6 ligand-induced migration in vitro and exerted significant antitumor activity in vivo. AXL was upregulated by long-term erlotinib or osimertinib treatment in HCC827 EGFR-mutant NSCLC cells, and DS-1205b treatment in combination with osimertinib or erlotinib effectively inhibited signaling downstream of EGFR in a cell-based assay. In an HCC827 EGFR-mutant NSCLC xenograft mouse model, combination treatment with DS-1205b and erlotinib significantly delayed the onset of tumor resistance compared to erlotinib monotherapy, and DS-1205b restored the antitumor activity of erlotinib in erlotinib-resistant tumors. DS-1205b also delayed the onset of resistance when used in combination with osimertinib in the model. These findings strongly suggest that DS-1205b can prolong the therapeutic benefit of EGFR TKIs in nonclinical as well as clinical settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takeshi Jimbo
- Oncology Function, Daiichi Sankyo Co., Ltd., Tokyo, Japan
| | - Mana Hatanaka
- Oncology Function, Daiichi Sankyo Co., Ltd., Tokyo, Japan
| | | | - Tomoe Taira
- Oncology Function, Daiichi Sankyo Co., Ltd., Tokyo, Japan
| | - Kentaro Kumazawa
- Quality & Safety Management Division, Daiichi Sankyo Co., Ltd., Tokyo, Japan
| | - Naoyuki Maeda
- Oncology Function, Daiichi Sankyo Co., Ltd., Tokyo, Japan
| | - Takashi Suzuki
- Biologics Division, Daiichi Sankyo Co., Ltd., Tokyo, Japan
| | - Masahiro Ota
- Research Management Department, Daiichi Sankyo RD Novare Co., Ltd., Tokyo, Japan
| | | | | | - Kosaku Fujiwara
- Medical Affairs Division, Daiichi Sankyo Co., Ltd., Tokyo, Japan
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Advances in Molecular Mechanisms and Immunotherapy Involving the Immune Cell-Promoted Epithelial-to-Mesenchymal Transition in Lung Cancer. JOURNAL OF ONCOLOGY 2019; 2019:7475364. [PMID: 31531020 PMCID: PMC6721259 DOI: 10.1155/2019/7475364] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2019] [Revised: 07/24/2019] [Accepted: 08/04/2019] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Immunotherapy has offered a new opportunity for the treatment of many malignancies. In patients with lung cancer, immune checkpoint inhibitors have significantly improved survival. However, little is known about predictive factors or primary and acquired resistance mechanisms. Epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a complex of phenotypic changes involved in carcinogenesis and resistance to cancer treatments. Specifically, immune cells in the tumor microenvironment can promote EMT, and mesenchymal phenotype acquisition negatively regulates the anticancer immune response. EMT is associated with higher expression of PD-L1 and other immune checkpoints. In this review, we focused on the role of EMT in the interplay between tumor cells and the immune system, with particular emphasis on lung cancer. On the basis of our findings, we hypothesize that the effects of EMT on immune cells could be overcome in this disease by a new combination of immune checkpoint inhibitors.
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Jagadeeshan S, Prasad M, Ortiz-Cuaran S, Gregoire V, Saintigny P, Elkabets M. Adaptive Responses to Monotherapy in Head and Neck Cancer: Interventions for Rationale-Based Therapeutic Combinations. Trends Cancer 2019; 5:365-390. [PMID: 31208698 DOI: 10.1016/j.trecan.2019.04.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2019] [Revised: 04/22/2019] [Accepted: 04/23/2019] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Most Phase II and III clinical trials in head and neck cancer (HNC) combine two or more treatment modalities, which are based, in part, on knowledge of the molecular mechanisms of innate and acquired resistance to monotherapy. In this review, we describe the range of tumor-cell autonomously derived (intrinsic) and tumor-microenvironment-derived (extrinsic) acquired-resistance mechanisms to various FDA-approved monotherapies for HNC. Specifically, we describe how tumor cells and the tumor microenvironment (TME) respond to radiation, chemotherapy, targeted therapy (cetuximab), and immunotherapies [programmed cell death 1 (PD-1) inhibitors] and adapt to the selective pressure of these monotherapies. Due to the diversity of adaptive responses to monotherapy, monitoring the response to treatment in patients is critical to understand the path that leads to resistance and to guide the optimal therapeutic drug combinations in the clinical setting. We envisage that applying such a rationale-based therapeutic strategy will improve treatment efficacy in HNC patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sankar Jagadeeshan
- The Shraga Segal Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Genetics, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva 84105, Israel
| | - Manu Prasad
- The Shraga Segal Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Genetics, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva 84105, Israel
| | - Sandra Ortiz-Cuaran
- Univ Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, INSERM 1052, CNRS 5286, Centre Léon Bérard, Centre de Recherche en Cancérologie de Lyon, Lyon 69008, France
| | - Vincent Gregoire
- Univ Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, INSERM 1052, CNRS 5286, Centre Léon Bérard, Centre de Recherche en Cancérologie de Lyon, Lyon 69008, France; Department of Radiation Therapy, Centre Léon Bérard, Lyon 69008, France
| | - Pierre Saintigny
- Univ Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, INSERM 1052, CNRS 5286, Centre Léon Bérard, Centre de Recherche en Cancérologie de Lyon, Lyon 69008, France; Department of Medical Oncology, Centre Léon Bérard, Lyon 69008, France
| | - Moshe Elkabets
- The Shraga Segal Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Genetics, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva 84105, Israel.
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Immunoepigenetics Combination Therapies: An Overview of the Role of HDACs in Cancer Immunotherapy. Int J Mol Sci 2019; 20:ijms20092241. [PMID: 31067680 PMCID: PMC6539010 DOI: 10.3390/ijms20092241] [Citation(s) in RCA: 77] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2019] [Revised: 04/23/2019] [Accepted: 04/28/2019] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Long-standing efforts to identify the multifaceted roles of histone deacetylase inhibitors (HDACis) have positioned these agents as promising drug candidates in combatting cancer, autoimmune, neurodegenerative, and infectious diseases. The same has also encouraged the evaluation of multiple HDACi candidates in preclinical studies in cancer and other diseases as well as the FDA-approval towards clinical use for specific agents. In this review, we have discussed how the efficacy of immunotherapy can be leveraged by combining it with HDACis. We have also included a brief overview of the classification of HDACis as well as their various roles in physiological and pathophysiological scenarios to target key cellular processes promoting the initiation, establishment, and progression of cancer. Given the critical role of the tumor microenvironment (TME) towards the outcome of anticancer therapies, we have also discussed the effect of HDACis on different components of the TME. We then have gradually progressed into examples of specific pan-HDACis, class I HDACi, and selective HDACis that either have been incorporated into clinical trials or show promising preclinical effects for future consideration. Finally, we have included examples of ongoing trials for each of the above categories of HDACis as standalone agents or in combination with immunotherapeutic approaches.
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Pallocca M, Angeli D, Palombo F, Sperati F, Milella M, Goeman F, De Nicola F, Fanciulli M, Nisticò P, Quintarelli C, Ciliberto G. Combinations of immuno-checkpoint inhibitors predictive biomarkers only marginally improve their individual accuracy. J Transl Med 2019; 17:131. [PMID: 31014354 PMCID: PMC6480695 DOI: 10.1186/s12967-019-1865-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2019] [Accepted: 03/28/2019] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND There are no accepted universal biomarkers capable to accurately predict response to immuno-checkpoint inhibitors (ICI). Although recent literature has been flooded with studies on ICI predictive biomarkers, available data show that currently approved companion diagnostics either leave out many possible responders, as in the case of PD-L1 testing for first-line metastatic lung cancer, or apply to a small subset of patients, such as the recently approved treatment for microsatellite instability-high or mismatch repair deficiency tumors. In this study, we conducted a survey of the available data on ICI trials with matched genomic or transcriptomic datasets in order to cross-validate the proposed biomarkers, to assess whether their prediction power was confirmed and, mainly, to investigate if their combination was able to generate a better predictive tool. METHODS We extracted clinical information and sequencing data details from publicly available datasets, along with a list of possible biomarkers obtained from the recent literature. After an operation of data harmonization, we validated the performance of all the biomarkers taken individually. Furthermore, we tested two strategies to combine the best performing biomarkers in order to improve their predictive value. RESULTS When considered individually, some of the biomarkers, such as the ImmunoPhenoScore, and the IFN-γ signature, did not confirm their originally proposed predictive power. The best absolute scoring biomarkers are TIDE, one of the ICB resistance signatures and CTLA4 with a mean AUC > 0.66. Among the combinations tested, generalized linear models showed the best performance with an AUC of 0.78. CONCLUSIONS We confirmed that the available biomarkers, taken individually, fail to provide a satisfactory predictive value. Unfortunately, also combination of some of them only provides marginal improvements. Hence, in order to generate a more robust way to predict ICI efficacy it is necessary to analyze and combine additional biomarkers and interrogate a wider set of clinical data.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matteo Pallocca
- SAFU Unit, IRCCS Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy
| | - Davide Angeli
- Unit of Biostatistics and Clinical Trials, Istituto Scientifico Romagnolo per lo Studio e la Cura dei Tumori (IRST) IRCCS, Meldola, Italy
| | | | - Francesca Sperati
- UOS Biostatistics, IRCCS Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy
| | - Michele Milella
- Medical Oncology 1, IRCCS Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy
| | - Frauke Goeman
- UOSD Oncogenomics and Epigenetics, IRCCS Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy
| | | | | | - Paola Nisticò
- UOSD Immunology and Immunotherapy Unit, IRCCS Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy
| | - Concetta Quintarelli
- Department of Paediatric Haematology, IRCCS Ospedale Pediatrico Bambino Gesù, Rome, Italy
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Di Modugno F, Colosi C, Trono P, Antonacci G, Ruocco G, Nisticò P. 3D models in the new era of immune oncology: focus on T cells, CAF and ECM. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL & CLINICAL CANCER RESEARCH : CR 2019; 38:117. [PMID: 30898166 PMCID: PMC6429763 DOI: 10.1186/s13046-019-1086-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2019] [Accepted: 02/06/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy has changed clinical practice for patients with different cancers, since these agents have demonstrated a significant improvement of overall survival and are effective in many patients. However, an intrinsic or acquired resistance frequently occur and biomarkers predictive of responsiveness should help in patient selection and in defining the adequate treatment options. A deep analysis of the complexity of the tumor microenvironment is likely to further advance the field and hopefully identify more effective combined immunotherapeutic strategies. Here we review the current knowledge on tumor microenvironment, focusing on T cells, cancer associated fibroblasts and extracellular matrix. The use of 3D cell culture models to resemble tumor microenvironment landscape and to screen immunomodulatory drugs is also reviewed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesca Di Modugno
- Unit of Tumor Immunology and Immunotherapy, Department of Research, Advanced Diagnostics, and Technological Innovation, Translational Research Area, IRCCS-Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, via Elio Chianesi 53, 00144, Rome, Italy.
| | - Cristina Colosi
- Center for Life Nano Science@Sapienza, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Viale Regina Elena 291, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - Paola Trono
- Unit of Tumor Immunology and Immunotherapy, Department of Research, Advanced Diagnostics, and Technological Innovation, Translational Research Area, IRCCS-Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, via Elio Chianesi 53, 00144, Rome, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Antonacci
- Center for Life Nano Science@Sapienza, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Viale Regina Elena 291, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - Giancarlo Ruocco
- Center for Life Nano Science@Sapienza, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Viale Regina Elena 291, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - Paola Nisticò
- Unit of Tumor Immunology and Immunotherapy, Department of Research, Advanced Diagnostics, and Technological Innovation, Translational Research Area, IRCCS-Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, via Elio Chianesi 53, 00144, Rome, Italy
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Flem Karlsen K, McFadden E, Flørenes VA, Davidson B. Soluble AXL is ubiquitously present in malignant serous effusions. Gynecol Oncol 2019; 152:408-415. [PMID: 30448261 DOI: 10.1016/j.ygyno.2018.11.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2018] [Revised: 11/02/2018] [Accepted: 11/09/2018] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The objective of this study was to analyze the expression level and clinical role of soluble AXL (sAXL) in cancers affecting the serosal surfaces, with focus on ovarian carcinoma. METHODS sAXL protein expression by ELISA was analyzed in 572 effusion supernatants, including 424 peritoneal, 147 pleural and 1 pericardial specimens. RESULTS sAXL was overexpressed in peritoneal effusions compared to pleural and pericardial specimens (p < 0.001). sAXL levels were additionally significantly higher in effusions from patients with ovarian carcinoma, malignant mesothelioma and breast carcinoma compared to specimens from patients with other cancers (predominantly carcinomas of lung, gastrointestinal or uterine corpus/cervix origin) or benign reactive effusions (p < 0.001). sAXL was further overexpressed in high-grade serous carcinoma (HGSC; n = 373) compared to low-grade serous carcinoma (LGSC; n = 32; p = 0.036). In HGSC, sAXL levels were significantly lower in post-chemotherapy effusions compared to primary diagnosis pre-chemotherapy specimens (p = 0.002). sAXL levels in HGSC were unrelated to chemoresponse at diagnosis, progression-free survival or overall survival. Levels were similarly unrelated to survival in LGSC and breast carcinoma. CONCLUSIONS sAXL is widely expressed in malignant effusions, particularly in ovarian and breast carcinoma and in malignant mesothelioma. sAXL is overexpressed in HGSC compared to LGSC and its levels are lower following exposure to chemotherapy. However, sAXL levels are not informative of chemoresponse or survival.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karine Flem Karlsen
- Department of Pathology, Norwegian Radium Hospital, Oslo University Hospital, N-0310 Oslo, Norway; University of Oslo, Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Clinical Medicine, N-0316 Oslo, Norway
| | - Erin McFadden
- Department of Pathology, Norwegian Radium Hospital, Oslo University Hospital, N-0310 Oslo, Norway
| | - Vivi Ann Flørenes
- Department of Pathology, Norwegian Radium Hospital, Oslo University Hospital, N-0310 Oslo, Norway
| | - Ben Davidson
- Department of Pathology, Norwegian Radium Hospital, Oslo University Hospital, N-0310 Oslo, Norway; University of Oslo, Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Clinical Medicine, N-0316 Oslo, Norway.
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Pan YL, Liu YL, Chen JZ. Molecular simulation studies on the binding activity and selectivity of 3-amino-phenyl-5-chloro-pyrimidine-2, 4-diamine derivatives in complexes with kinases c-Met and ALK. MOLECULAR SIMULATION 2018. [DOI: 10.1080/08927022.2018.1515486] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- You-Lu Pan
- College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, People’s Republic of China
| | - Yan-Ling Liu
- College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, People’s Republic of China
| | - Jian-Zhong Chen
- College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, People’s Republic of China
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Boohaker RJ, Sambandam V, Segura I, Miller J, Suto M, Xu B. Rational design and development of a peptide inhibitor for the PD-1/PD-L1 interaction. Cancer Lett 2018; 434:11-21. [PMID: 29920293 DOI: 10.1016/j.canlet.2018.04.031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2018] [Revised: 04/13/2018] [Accepted: 04/22/2018] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
We report here the rational design and validation of a peptide inhibitor to the PD-1/PD-L1 interaction as an attempt to develop a viable alternative to current inhibitory antibodies. We demonstrated, by biolayer interferometry and in silico docking simulations, that a PD-L1 peptide mimetic (PL120131) can interfere with the PD-1/PD-L1 interaction by binding to PD-1. We show that PL120131 is capable of inhibiting PD-1 mediated apoptotic signaling pathway and rescuing Jurkat cells and primary lymphocytes from apoptosis. Additionally, we show that PL120131 treatment allows for CTL anti-tumor activity. Furthermore, PL120131 can maintain co-culture survivability and activity of T Cells in a 3D co-culture model better than the anti-PD-1 blocking antibody. Together, the characterization of this PD-1/PD-L1 inhibiting peptide provides insight regarding the ability to inhibit PD-L1 binding while maintaining CTL viability and activity that can further the development of alternatives to antibody based immunotherapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca J Boohaker
- Southern Research Institute, Drug Discovery Division, Birmingham, AL, 35205, USA; University of Alabama at Birmingham Comprehensive Cancer Center, Department of Cell, Developmental and Integrative Biology, Birmingham, AL, 35294, USA.
| | - Vijaya Sambandam
- Southern Research Institute, Drug Discovery Division, Birmingham, AL, 35205, USA
| | - Isaac Segura
- Spring Hill College, Department of Chemistry, Mobile, AL, 36608, USA
| | - James Miller
- Wake Forest University, Department of Chemistry, Winston-Salem, NC, 27109, USA
| | - Mark Suto
- Southern Research Institute, Drug Discovery Division, Birmingham, AL, 35205, USA
| | - Bo Xu
- Southern Research Institute, Drug Discovery Division, Birmingham, AL, 35205, USA; University of Alabama at Birmingham Comprehensive Cancer Center, Department of Cell, Developmental and Integrative Biology, Birmingham, AL, 35294, USA; Key Laboratory of Breast Cancer Prevention and Therapy, Ministry of Education, Tianjin's Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin, China.
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44
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TGFβ shuts the door on T cells. Br J Cancer 2018; 119:1-3. [PMID: 29899392 DOI: 10.1038/s41416-018-0122-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2018] [Revised: 03/29/2018] [Accepted: 04/23/2018] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
T cell exclusion from cancers is a major problem for a proportion of patients suffering poor outcomes. Two papers recently published in Nature highlight the negative role of cancer associated fibroblast TGFβ. These studies indicate that TGFβ enables T cell exclusion in a proportion of colorectal and urothelial cancers, and in the latter disease may reduce their response to anti-PD-L1 immunotherapy.
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45
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Sadahiro H, Kang KD, Gibson JT, Minata M, Yu H, Shi J, Chhipa R, Chen Z, Lu S, Simoni Y, Furuta T, Sabit H, Zhang S, Bastola S, Yamaguchi S, Alsheikh H, Komarova S, Wang J, Kim SH, Hambardzumyan D, Lu X, Newell EW, DasGupta B, Nakada M, Lee LJ, Nabors B, Norian LA, Nakano I. Activation of the Receptor Tyrosine Kinase AXL Regulates the Immune Microenvironment in Glioblastoma. Cancer Res 2018. [PMID: 29531161 DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-17-2433] [Citation(s) in RCA: 103] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Glioblastoma (GBM) is a lethal disease with no effective therapies available. We previously observed upregulation of the TAM (Tyro-3, Axl, and Mer) receptor tyrosine kinase family member AXL in mesenchymal GBM and showed that knockdown of AXL induced apoptosis of mesenchymal, but not proneural, glioma sphere cultures (GSC). In this study, we report that BGB324, a novel small molecule inhibitor of AXL, prolongs the survival of immunocompromised mice bearing GSC-derived mesenchymal GBM-like tumors. We show that protein S (PROS1), a known ligand of other TAM receptors, was secreted by tumor-associated macrophages/microglia and subsequently physically associated with and activated AXL in mesenchymal GSC. PROS1-driven phosphorylation of AXL (pAXL) induced NFκB activation in mesenchymal GSC, which was inhibited by BGB324 treatment. We also found that treatment of GSC-derived mouse GBM tumors with nivolumab, a blocking antibody against the immune checkpoint protein PD-1, increased intratumoral macrophages/microglia and activation of AXL. Combinatorial therapy with nivolumab plus BGB324 effectively prolonged the survival of mice bearing GBM tumors. Clinically, expression of AXL or PROS1 was associated with poor prognosis for patients with GBM. Our results suggest that the PROS1-AXL pathway regulates intrinsic mesenchymal signaling and the extrinsic immune microenvironment, contributing to the growth of aggressive GBM tumors.Significance: These findings suggest that development of combination treatments of AXL and immune checkpoint inhibitors may provide benefit to patients with GBM. Cancer Res; 78(11); 3002-13. ©2018 AACR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hirokazu Sadahiro
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama.,Department of Neurosurgery, Yamaguchi University, Yamaguchi, Japan
| | - Kyung-Don Kang
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama
| | - Justin T Gibson
- Department of Nutrition Sciences, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama
| | - Mutsuko Minata
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama
| | - Hai Yu
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama.,Department of Neurosurgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China
| | - Junfeng Shi
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio
| | - Rishi Chhipa
- Division of Oncology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio
| | - Zhihong Chen
- Department of Pediatrics, Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Songjian Lu
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - Yannick Simoni
- Singapore Immunology Network, Agency for Science Technology and Research, Singapore, and the Nanyang Technological University School of Biological Sciences, Singapore
| | - Takuya Furuta
- Department of Pathology, Kurume University School of Medicine, Kurume, Japan
| | - Hemragul Sabit
- Department of Neurosurgery, Division of Neuroscience, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa, Japan
| | - Suojun Zhang
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama.,Department of Neurosurgery, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Soniya Bastola
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama
| | - Shinobu Yamaguchi
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama
| | - Hebaallah Alsheikh
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama
| | - Svetlana Komarova
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama
| | - Jun Wang
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama
| | - Sung-Hak Kim
- Department of Animal Science, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Chonnam National University, Gwangju, Republic of Korea
| | - Dolores Hambardzumyan
- Department of Pediatrics, Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Xinghua Lu
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - Evan W Newell
- Singapore Immunology Network, Agency for Science Technology and Research, Singapore, and the Nanyang Technological University School of Biological Sciences, Singapore
| | - Biplab DasGupta
- Division of Oncology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio
| | - Mitsutoshi Nakada
- Department of Neurosurgery, Division of Neuroscience, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa, Japan
| | - L James Lee
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio
| | - Burt Nabors
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama
| | - Lyse A Norian
- Department of Nutrition Sciences, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama.,UAB Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama
| | - Ichiro Nakano
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama. .,UAB Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama
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46
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Chae YK, Chang S, Ko T, Anker J, Agte S, Iams W, Choi WM, Lee K, Cruz M. Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) signature is inversely associated with T-cell infiltration in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Sci Rep 2018; 8:2918. [PMID: 29440769 PMCID: PMC5811447 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-21061-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 161] [Impact Index Per Article: 26.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2017] [Accepted: 01/22/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is able to drive metastasis during progression of multiple cancer types, including non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). As resistance to immunotherapy has been associated with EMT and immune exclusion in melanoma, it is important to understand alterations to T-cell infiltration and the tumor microenvironment during EMT in lung adenocarcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma. We conducted an integrated analysis of the immune landscape in NSCLCs through EMT scores derived from a previously established 16 gene signature of canonical EMT markers. EMT was associated with exclusion of immune cells critical in the immune response to cancer, with significantly lower infiltration of CD4 T-cells in lung adenocarcinoma and CD4/CD8 T-cells in squamous cell carcinoma. EMT was also associated with increased expression of multiple immunosuppressive cytokines, including IL-10 and TGF-β. Furthermore, overexpression of targetable immune checkpoints, such as CTLA-4 and TIM-3 were associated with EMT in both NSCLCs. An association may exist between immune exclusion and EMT in NSCLC. Further investigation is merited as its mechanism is not completely understood and a better understanding of this association could lead to the development of biomarkers that could accurately predict response to immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Young Kwang Chae
- Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Department of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA.
| | - Sangmin Chang
- 0000 0001 2299 3507grid.16753.36Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Department of Medicine, Chicago, IL USA
| | - Taeyeong Ko
- 0000 0001 2299 3507grid.16753.36Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Department of Medicine, Chicago, IL USA
| | - Jonathan Anker
- 0000 0001 2299 3507grid.16753.36Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Department of Medicine, Chicago, IL USA
| | - Sarita Agte
- 0000 0001 2299 3507grid.16753.36Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Department of Medicine, Chicago, IL USA
| | - Wade Iams
- 0000 0001 2299 3507grid.16753.36Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Department of Medicine, Chicago, IL USA
| | - Wooyoung M. Choi
- 0000 0001 2299 3507grid.16753.36Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Department of Medicine, Chicago, IL USA
| | - Kyoungmin Lee
- 0000 0004 0533 4667grid.267370.7Department of Internal Medicine, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Marcelo Cruz
- 0000 0001 2299 3507grid.16753.36Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Department of Medicine, Chicago, IL USA
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47
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Song M, Chen X, Wang L, Zhang Y. Future of anti-PD-1/PD-L1 applications: Combinations with other therapeutic regimens. Chin J Cancer Res 2018; 30:157-172. [PMID: 29861603 DOI: 10.21147/j.issn.1000-9604.2018.02.01] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Programmed cell death 1 (PD-1)/programmed cell death 1 ligand (PD-L1) blockade has shown promising effects in cancer immunotherapy. Removing the so-called " brakes" on T cell immune responses by blocking the PD-1/PD-L1 check point should boost anti-tumor immunity and provide durable tumor regression for cancer patients. However, 30%-60% of patients show no response to PD-1/PD-L1 blockade. Thus, it is urgent to explore the underlying resistance mechanisms to improve sensitivity to anti-PD-1/PD-L1 therapy. We propose that the mechanisms promoting resistance mainly include T cell exclusion or exhaustion at the tumor site, immunosuppressive factors in the tumor microenvironment (TME), and a range of tumor-intrinsic factors. This review highlights the power of studying the cellular and molecular mechanisms of resistance to improve the rational design of combination therapeutic strategies that can be translated to the clinic. Here, we briefly discuss the development of PD-1/PD-L1 blockade agents and focus on the current issues and future prospects for potential combinatorial therapeutic strategies that include anti-PD-1/PD-L1 therapy, based upon the available preclinical and clinical data.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mengjia Song
- Biotherapy Center, the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450052, China.,Cancer Center, the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450052, China
| | - Xinfeng Chen
- Biotherapy Center, the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450052, China.,Cancer Center, the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450052, China
| | - Liping Wang
- Cancer Center, the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450052, China
| | - Yi Zhang
- Biotherapy Center, the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450052, China.,Cancer Center, the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450052, China.,School of Life Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450052, China.,Key Laboratory for Tumor Immunology and Biotherapy of Henan Province, Zhengzhou 450052, China
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48
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Mesenchymal traits at the convergence of tumor-intrinsic and -extrinsic mechanisms of resistance to immune checkpoint blockers. Emerg Top Life Sci 2017; 1:471-486. [PMID: 33525801 PMCID: PMC7289012 DOI: 10.1042/etls20170068] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2017] [Revised: 11/08/2017] [Accepted: 11/09/2017] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Targeting of immune checkpoint blockers (ICBs), such as cytotoxic T-lymphocyte antigen-4 and programmed-death 1/programmed-death ligand 1, has dramatically changed the landscape of cancer treatment. Seeing patients who were refractory to conventional therapy recover after immunotherapy, with high rates of objective durable responses and increased overall survival, has raised great enthusiasm in cancer care and research. However, to date, only a restricted portion of patients benefit from these therapies, due to natural and acquired resistance relying on the ever-evolving cross-talk between tumor and stromal cells. Here, we review the convergence of tumor-intrinsic and -extrinsic cues, both affecting tumor plasticity and tumor stroma leading to an immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment, which may account for the heterogeneous responses and resistance to ICB therapies. A deeper knowledge of the mechanisms and fingerprints involved in natural and acquired resistance is likely to bring clinical benefit to the majority of patients, offering important clues for overcoming drug resistance and boosting the effectiveness of treatment. We discuss the need to define tumor subtypes based on the tumor, immune and stromal gene signature and propose that the better we understand tumor mesenchymal traits, the more we will be able to identify predictive biomarkers of response to ICB treatments.
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49
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Ludwig KF, Du W, Sorrelle NB, Wnuk-Lipinska K, Topalovski M, Toombs JE, Cruz VH, Yabuuchi S, Rajeshkumar NV, Maitra A, Lorens JB, Brekken RA. Small-Molecule Inhibition of Axl Targets Tumor Immune Suppression and Enhances Chemotherapy in Pancreatic Cancer. Cancer Res 2017; 78:246-255. [PMID: 29180468 DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-17-1973] [Citation(s) in RCA: 102] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2017] [Revised: 10/02/2017] [Accepted: 11/06/2017] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Activation of the receptor tyrosine kinase Axl is associated with poor outcomes in pancreatic cancer (PDAC), where it coordinately mediates immune evasion and drug resistance. Here, we demonstrate that the selective Axl kinase inhibitor BGB324 targets the tumor-immune interface to blunt the aggressive traits of PDAC cells in vitro and enhance gemcitibine efficacy in vivo Axl signaling stimulates the TBK1-NFκB pathway and innate immune suppression in the tumor microenvironment. In tumor cells, BGB324 treatment drove epithelial differentiation, expression of nucleoside transporters affecting gemcitabine response, and an immune stimulatory microenvironment. Our results establish a preclinical mechanistic rationale for the clinical development of Axl inhibitors to improve the treatment of PDAC patients.Significance: These results establish a preclinical mechanistic rationale for the clinical development of AXL inhibitors to improve the treatment of PDAC patients. Cancer Res; 78(1); 246-55. ©2017 AACR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kathleen F Ludwig
- Division of Pediatric Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas.,Hamon Center for Therapeutic Oncology Research, Division of Surgical Oncology, Department of Surgery, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas
| | - Wenting Du
- Hamon Center for Therapeutic Oncology Research, Division of Surgical Oncology, Department of Surgery, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas
| | - Noah B Sorrelle
- Hamon Center for Therapeutic Oncology Research, Division of Surgical Oncology, Department of Surgery, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas
| | | | - Mary Topalovski
- Hamon Center for Therapeutic Oncology Research, Division of Surgical Oncology, Department of Surgery, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas
| | - Jason E Toombs
- Hamon Center for Therapeutic Oncology Research, Division of Surgical Oncology, Department of Surgery, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas
| | - Victoria H Cruz
- Hamon Center for Therapeutic Oncology Research, Division of Surgical Oncology, Department of Surgery, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas
| | - Shinichi Yabuuchi
- Department of Pathology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - N V Rajeshkumar
- Department of Pathology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Anirban Maitra
- Departments of Pathology and Translational Molecular Pathology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
| | - James B Lorens
- Department of Biomedicine, Centre for Cancer Biomarkers, Norwegian Centre of Excellence, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
| | - Rolf A Brekken
- Hamon Center for Therapeutic Oncology Research, Division of Surgical Oncology, Department of Surgery, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas. .,Department of Pharmacology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas
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50
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Antony J, Huang RYJ. AXL-Driven EMT State as a Targetable Conduit in Cancer. Cancer Res 2017; 77:3725-3732. [PMID: 28667075 DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-17-0392] [Citation(s) in RCA: 118] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2017] [Revised: 04/19/2017] [Accepted: 05/22/2017] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
The receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) AXL has been intrinsically linked to epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and promoting cell survival, anoikis resistance, invasion, and metastasis in several cancers. AXL signaling has been shown to directly affect the mesenchymal state and confer it with aggressive phenotype and drug resistance. Recently, the EMT gradient has also been shown to rewire the kinase signaling nodes that facilitate AXL-RTK cross-talk, protracted signaling, converging on ERK, and PI3K axes. The molecular mechanisms underplaying the regulation between the kinome and EMT require further elucidation to define targetable conduits. Therapeutically, as AXL inhibition has shown EMT reversal and resensitization to other tyrosine kinase inhibitors, mitotic inhibitors, and platinum-based therapy, there is a need to stratify patients based on AXL dependence. This review elucidates the role of AXL in EMT-mediated oncogenesis and highlights the reciprocal control between AXL signaling and the EMT state. In addition, we review the potential in inhibiting AXL for the development of different therapeutic strategies and inhibitors. Cancer Res; 77(14); 3725-32. ©2017 AACR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jane Antony
- Cancer Science Institute of Singapore, National University of Singapore, Singapore.,NUS Graduate School for Integrative Sciences and Engineering, National University of Singapore, Singapore.,Department of Surgery and Cancer, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Ruby Yun-Ju Huang
- Cancer Science Institute of Singapore, National University of Singapore, Singapore. .,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, National University Health System, Singapore.,Department of Anatomy, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore
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