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Lehrich BM, Delgado ER. Lipid Nanovesicle Platforms for Hepatocellular Carcinoma Precision Medicine Therapeutics: Progress and Perspectives. Organogenesis 2024; 20:2313696. [PMID: 38357804 PMCID: PMC10878025 DOI: 10.1080/15476278.2024.2313696] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2023] [Accepted: 01/30/2024] [Indexed: 02/16/2024] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the leading causes of cancer-related mortality globally. HCC is highly heterogenous with diverse etiologies leading to different driver mutations potentiating unique tumor immune microenvironments. Current therapeutic options, including immune checkpoint inhibitors and combinations, have achieved limited objective response rates for the majority of patients. Thus, a precision medicine approach is needed to tailor specific treatment options for molecular subsets of HCC patients. Lipid nanovesicle platforms, either liposome- (synthetic) or extracellular vesicle (natural)-derived present are improved drug delivery vehicles which may be modified to contain specific cargos for targeting specific tumor sites, with a natural affinity for liver with limited toxicity. This mini-review provides updates on the applications of novel lipid nanovesicle-based therapeutics for HCC precision medicine and the challenges associated with translating this therapeutic subclass from preclinical models to the clinic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brandon M. Lehrich
- Division of Experimental Pathology, Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
- Medical Scientist Training Program, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Evan R. Delgado
- Division of Experimental Pathology, Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
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Zhang Y, Yang J, Shao T, Chen J, Shu Q, Shou L. Exploration of genetic characterization in hyperprogressive disease after immunotherapy retreatment in a patient with LCNEC: A case report. Hum Vaccin Immunother 2024; 20:2313281. [PMID: 38348622 PMCID: PMC10865920 DOI: 10.1080/21645515.2024.2313281] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2023] [Accepted: 01/30/2024] [Indexed: 02/15/2024] Open
Abstract
Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have emerged as a promising therapeutic option for large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma (LCNEC). However, various studies have suggested a potential risk of hyperprogressive disease (HPD) in patients receiving ICI, which might be associated with gene alterations. Here, this is the first report on an unknown primary LCNEC patient who had achieved a long-term response from ICI treatment (atezolizumab), but developed HPD after tumor progression due to receiving another ICI agent (serplulimab). The mutation region of FAT4, SMARCA4, CYLD, CTNNB1, and KIT was altered prior to serplulimab treatment compared to before atezolizumab treatment. This case suggested a potential association between these mutated genes and HPD. Patients with the aforementioned genes should caution when selecting ICI treatment. These findings required further confirmation in a larger study cohort.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yao Zhang
- The First School of Clinical Medicine, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Jiayao Yang
- The First School of Clinical Medicine, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Tianyu Shao
- Department of Oncology, Guang’ Anmen Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Jialu Chen
- Department of Oncology, Hangzhou Third People’s Hospital, Hangzhou, China
| | - Qijin Shu
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University (Zhejiang Provincial Hospital of Chinese Medicine), Hangzhou, China
| | - Liumei Shou
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University (Zhejiang Provincial Hospital of Chinese Medicine), Hangzhou, China
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3
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Samant C, Kale R, Pai KSR, Nandakumar K, Bhonde M. Role of Wnt/β-catenin pathway in cancer drug resistance: Insights into molecular aspects of major solid tumors. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2024; 729:150348. [PMID: 38986260 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2024.150348] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2024] [Revised: 06/23/2024] [Accepted: 07/03/2024] [Indexed: 07/12/2024]
Abstract
Adaptive resistance to conventional and targeted therapies remains one of the major obstacles in the effective management of cancer. Aberrant activation of key signaling mechanisms plays a pivotal role in modulating resistance to drugs. An evolutionarily conserved Wnt/β-catenin pathway is one of the signaling cascades which regulate resistance to drugs. Elevated Wnt signaling confers resistance to anticancer therapies, either through direct activation of its target genes or via indirect mechanisms and crosstalk over other signaling pathways. Involvement of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway in cancer hallmarks like inhibition of apoptosis, promotion of invasion and metastasis and cancer stem cell maintenance makes this pathway a potential target to exploit for addressing drug resistance. Accumulating evidences suggest a critical role of Wnt/β-catenin pathway in imparting resistance across multiple cancers including PDAC, NSCLC, TNBC, etc. Here we present a comprehensive assessment of how Wnt/β-catenin pathway mediates cancer drug resistance in majority of the solid tumors. We take a deep dive into the Wnt/β-catenin signaling-mediated modulation of cellular and downstream molecular mechanisms and their impact on cancer resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charudatt Samant
- Department of Pharmacology, Novel Drug Discovery and Development (NDDD), Lupin Limited, Survey No. 46A/47A, Village Nande, Taluka Mulshi, Pune, 412115, Maharashtra, India.
| | - Ramesh Kale
- Department of Pharmacology, Novel Drug Discovery and Development (NDDD), Lupin Limited, Survey No. 46A/47A, Village Nande, Taluka Mulshi, Pune, 412115, Maharashtra, India
| | - K Sreedhara Ranganath Pai
- Department of Pharmacology, Manipal College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE), Manipal, Karnataka, 576104, India
| | - Krishnadas Nandakumar
- Department of Pharmacology, Manipal College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE), Manipal, Karnataka, 576104, India
| | - Mandar Bhonde
- Department of Pharmacology, Novel Drug Discovery and Development (NDDD), Lupin Limited, Survey No. 46A/47A, Village Nande, Taluka Mulshi, Pune, 412115, Maharashtra, India
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Goyal A, Murkute SL, Bhowmik S, Prasad CP, Mohapatra P. Belling the "cat": Wnt/β-catenin signaling and its significance in future cancer therapies. Biochim Biophys Acta Rev Cancer 2024; 1879:189195. [PMID: 39413855 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbcan.2024.189195] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2024] [Revised: 09/15/2024] [Accepted: 10/07/2024] [Indexed: 10/18/2024]
Abstract
The WNT/β-catenin is among one of the most extensively studied cellular signaling pathways involved in the initiation and progression of several deadly cancers. It is now understood that the WNT/β-catenin signaling, during tumor progression operates in a very complex fashion beyond the earlier assumed simple WNT 'On' or 'Off' mode as it recruits numerous WNT ligands, receptors, transcriptional factors and also cross-talks with other signaling molecules including the noncanonical WNT regulators. WNT/β-catenin signaling molecules are often mutated in different cancers which makes them very challenging to inhibit and sometimes ranks them among the undruggable targets. Furthermore, due to the evolutionary conservation of this pathway, inhibiting WNT/β-catenin has caused significant toxicity in normal cells. These challenges are reflected in clinical trial data, where the use of WNT/β-catenin inhibitors as standalone treatments remains limited. In this review, we have highlighted the crucial functional associations of diverse WNT/β-catenin signaling regulators with cancer progression and the phenotypic switching of tumor cells. Next, we have shed light on the roles of WNT/β-catenin signaling in drug resistance, clonal evolution, tumor heterogeneity, and immune evasion. The present review also focuses on various classes of routine and novel WNT/β-catenin therapeutic regimes while addressing the challenges associated with targeting the regulators of this complex pathway. In the light of multiple case studies on WNT/β-catenin inhibitors, we also highlighted the challenges and opportunities for future clinical trial strategies involving these treatments. Additionally, we have proposed strategies for future WNT/β-catenin-based drug discovery trials, emphasizing the potential of combination therapies and AI/ML-driven prediction approaches. Overall, here we showcased the opportunities, possibilities, and potentialities of WNT/β-catenin signaling modulatory therapeutic regimes as promising precision cancer medicines for the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Akansha Goyal
- Department of Biotechnology, NIPER Guwahati, Sila Katamur, Changsari, 781101 Kamrup, Assam, India
| | - Satyajit Laxman Murkute
- Department of Biotechnology, NIPER Guwahati, Sila Katamur, Changsari, 781101 Kamrup, Assam, India
| | - Sujoy Bhowmik
- Department of Biotechnology, NIPER Guwahati, Sila Katamur, Changsari, 781101 Kamrup, Assam, India
| | - Chandra Prakash Prasad
- Department of Medical Oncology Lab, DR BRA-IRCH, All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi 110029, India
| | - Purusottam Mohapatra
- Department of Biotechnology, NIPER Guwahati, Sila Katamur, Changsari, 781101 Kamrup, Assam, India.
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Jin X, Zhang Y, Hu W, Liu C, Cai D, Sun J, Wei Q, Cai Q. Developing a prognostic model for hepatocellular carcinoma based on MED19 and clinical stage and determining MED19 as a therapeutic target. J Cancer Res Clin Oncol 2024; 150:446. [PMID: 39369139 PMCID: PMC11455706 DOI: 10.1007/s00432-024-05978-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2024] [Accepted: 09/27/2024] [Indexed: 10/07/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUD Mediator complex subunit 19 (MED19), a member of the mediator complex, has been demonstrated to involve in tumorigenesis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, the regulation mechanisms of MED19, the immune landscape linking MED19 to HCC and its predictive value of immunotherapy treatment in HCC are so far unknown. METHODS Here, we analyzed data from The Cancer Genome Atlas and other databases to assess the expression of MED19 and its prognosis and therapeutical-targets impact in HCC. RESULTS MED19 expression was upregulated in HCC tissues compared to non-tumorous liver tissues and that its upregulation was positively associated with advanced clinicopathology features. The multivariate analysis showed that MED19 was an independent predictor of outcome in HCC. In vitro experiments revealed that MED19 knockdown suppressed hepG2 cells proliferation, colony forming and invasion and induced apoptosis. Furthermore, MED19 inhibition resulted in G0/G1 phase arrest in hepG2 cells. We screened differentially expressed genes between low and high MED19 expression groups. Enrichment analyses showed that these genes were mainly linked to nuclear division and cell cycle. The pattern of tumor-infiltrating immune was demonstrated to be related with MED19 expression in HCC. TIDE analyses showed that patients in the low-expression group presented significantly better immunotherapy. Moreover, we developed a predicted model for HCC patient's prognosis. Receiver operating characteristic analyses revealed that this model processed a favorable performance in predicting the prognosis of HCC patients. Finally, a nomogram was built for predicting survival probability of individual HCC patient. CONCLUSION These findings suggest that MED19 as a novel biomarker that has significant association with immune landscape and immunotherapy response in HCC. The proposed prediction model composed of MED19 and pathological stage has a better role in determining prognosis and stratifying of HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaojun Jin
- The Affiliated Lihuili Hospital of Ningbo University, Health Science Center, Ningbo University, 57 Xingning Rd., Ningbo, Zhejiang, China
| | - Yun Zhang
- Department of Ophthalmology, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Southern Medical University, SouthernMedical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Wei Hu
- Department of Radiation Oncology, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Chang Liu
- Department of Hepatological Surgery, Bethune Third Clinical Medical College, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Danyang Cai
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Taizhou Hospital, Taizhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Jialin Sun
- School of Statistics, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China
| | - Qichun Wei
- Department of Radiation Oncology, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Qun Cai
- The Affiliated Lihuili Hospital of Ningbo University, Health Science Center, Ningbo University, 57 Xingning Rd., Ningbo, Zhejiang, China.
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Cowzer D, Chou JF, Walch H, Keane F, Khalil D, Shia J, Do RKG, Yarmohammadi H, Erinjeri JP, El Dika I, Yaqubie A, Azhari H, Gambarin M, Hajj C, Crane C, Wei AC, Jarnagin W, Solit DB, Berger MF, O'Reilly EM, Schultz N, Chatila W, Capanu M, Abou-Alfa GK, Harding JJ. Clinicogenomic predictors of outcomes in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma treated with immunotherapy. Oncologist 2024; 29:894-903. [PMID: 38937977 PMCID: PMC11448888 DOI: 10.1093/oncolo/oyae110] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2024] [Accepted: 04/26/2024] [Indexed: 06/29/2024] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) combinations extend overall survival (OS) while anti-PD-1/L1 monotherapy is non-inferior to sorafenib in treatment-naïve, patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Clinicogenomic features are posited to influence patient outcomes. METHODS The primary objective of this retrospective study was to define the clinical, pathologic, and genomic factors associated with outcomes to ICI therapy in patients with HCC. Patients with histologically confirmed advanced HCC treated with ICI at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center from 2012 to 2022 were included. Association between clinical, pathological, and genomic characteristics were assessed with univariable and multivariable Cox regression model for progression-free survival (PFS) and OS. RESULTS Two-hundred and forty-two patients were treated with ICI-based therapy. Patients were predominantly male (82%) with virally mediated HCC (53%) and Child Pugh A score (70%). Median follow-up was 28 months (0.5-78.4). Median PFS for those treated in 1st line, 2nd line and ≥ 3rd line was 4.9 (range: 2.9-6.2), 3.1 (2.3-4.0), and 2.5 (2.1-4.0) months, respectively. Median OS for those treated in 1st line, 2nd line, and ≥ 3rd line was 16 (11-22), 7.5 (6.4-11), and 6.4 (4.6-26) months, respectively. Poor liver function and performance status associated with worse PFS and OS, while viral hepatitis C was associated with favorable outcome. Genetic alterations were not associated with outcomes. CONCLUSION Clinicopathologic factors were the major determinates of outcomes for patients with advanced HCC treated with ICI. Molecular profiling did not aid in stratification of ICI outcomes. Future studies should explore alternative biomarkers such as the level of immune activation or the pretreatment composition of the immune tumor microenvironment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Darren Cowzer
- Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, United States
| | - Joanne F Chou
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, United States
| | - Henry Walch
- Kravis Center for Molecular Oncology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, United States
| | - Fergus Keane
- Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, United States
| | - Danny Khalil
- Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, United States
- Weill Medical College of Cornell University, New York, NY, United States
| | - Jinru Shia
- Weill Medical College of Cornell University, New York, NY, United States
- Department of Pathology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, United States
| | - Richard K G Do
- Weill Medical College of Cornell University, New York, NY, United States
- Department of Radiology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, United States
| | - Hooman Yarmohammadi
- Weill Medical College of Cornell University, New York, NY, United States
- Department of Radiology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, United States
| | - Joseph P Erinjeri
- Weill Medical College of Cornell University, New York, NY, United States
| | - Imane El Dika
- Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, United States
- Weill Medical College of Cornell University, New York, NY, United States
| | - Amin Yaqubie
- Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, United States
| | - Hassan Azhari
- Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, United States
- Weill Medical College of Cornell University, New York, NY, United States
| | - Maya Gambarin
- Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, United States
- Weill Medical College of Cornell University, New York, NY, United States
| | - Carla Hajj
- Weill Medical College of Cornell University, New York, NY, United States
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, United States
| | - Christopher Crane
- Weill Medical College of Cornell University, New York, NY, United States
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, United States
| | - Alice C Wei
- Weill Medical College of Cornell University, New York, NY, United States
- Department of Surgery, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York, NY, United States
| | - William Jarnagin
- Weill Medical College of Cornell University, New York, NY, United States
- Department of Surgery, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York, NY, United States
| | - David B Solit
- Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, United States
- Kravis Center for Molecular Oncology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, United States
- Weill Medical College of Cornell University, New York, NY, United States
| | - Michael F Berger
- Kravis Center for Molecular Oncology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, United States
- Weill Medical College of Cornell University, New York, NY, United States
- Department of Pathology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, United States
| | - Eileen M O'Reilly
- Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, United States
- Weill Medical College of Cornell University, New York, NY, United States
| | - Nikolaus Schultz
- Kravis Center for Molecular Oncology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, United States
- Weill Medical College of Cornell University, New York, NY, United States
- Department of Pathology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, United States
| | - Walid Chatila
- Kravis Center for Molecular Oncology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, United States
| | - Marinela Capanu
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, United States
| | - Ghassan K Abou-Alfa
- Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, United States
- Weill Medical College of Cornell University, New York, NY, United States
| | - James J Harding
- Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, United States
- Weill Medical College of Cornell University, New York, NY, United States
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Safizadeh B, Sadeh M, Robati AK, Riahi T, Tavakoli-Yaraki M. Assessment of the circulating levels of immune system checkpoint selected biomarkers in patients with lung cancer. Mol Biol Rep 2024; 51:1036. [PMID: 39361074 DOI: 10.1007/s11033-024-09971-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2024] [Accepted: 09/23/2024] [Indexed: 10/05/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Lung cancer is recognized as one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths globally, with a significant increase in incidence and intricate pathogenic mechanisms. This study examines the expression profiles of Programmed Cell Death Protein 1 (PD-1), PD-1 ligand (PDL-1), β-catenin, CD44, interleukin 6 (IL-6), and interleukin 10 (IL-10), as well as their correlations with the clinic-pathological features and diagnostic significance in lung cancer patients. METHODS AND RESULTS The research involved lung cancer patients exhibiting various pathological characteristics, alongside demographically matched healthy controls. The expression levels of PD-1, PDL-1, β-catenin, and CD44 were analyzed using Real-Time PCR, while circulating levels of IL-6 and IL-10 were assessed through ELISA assays. This investigation focused on peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) to evaluate these factors non-invasively. Findings indicated that levels of PD-1, PDL-1, and CD44 were significantly elevated in patients compared to controls, which coincided with a decrease in β-catenin levels. Additionally, a concurrent rise in IL-6 and IL-10, both pro-inflammatory cytokines, was observed in patients, suggesting a potential regulatory role for these cytokines on the PD-1/PDL-1 axis, which may help tumors evade immune system checkpoints. The predictive value of these factors concerning lung tumors and metastasis was significant (Regression analysis). Furthermore, these markers demonstrated diagnostic potential in differentiating between patients and healthy controls, as well as between individuals with metastatic and non-metastatic tumors (ROC curve analysis). CONCLUSIONS This study provides insights into the expression profiles of PD-1/PDL-1 immune system checkpoints and their regulatory factors in lung cancer, potentially paving the way for new therapeutic and diagnostic approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Banafsheh Safizadeh
- Department of Biochemistry, School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, P.O. Box: 1449614535, Tehran, Iran
| | - Maryam Sadeh
- Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Ali Karami Robati
- Department of Biochemistry, School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, P.O. Box: 1449614535, Tehran, Iran
| | - Taghi Riahi
- Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Masoumeh Tavakoli-Yaraki
- Department of Biochemistry, School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, P.O. Box: 1449614535, Tehran, Iran.
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Ma S, Meng G, Liu T, You J, He R, Zhao X, Cui Y. The Wnt signaling pathway in hepatocellular carcinoma: Regulatory mechanisms and therapeutic prospects. Biomed Pharmacother 2024; 180:117508. [PMID: 39362068 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2024.117508] [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: 06/15/2024] [Revised: 08/26/2024] [Accepted: 09/25/2024] [Indexed: 10/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a malignant tumor that arises from hepatocytes. Multiple signaling pathways play a regulatory role in the occurrence and development of HCC, with the Wnt signaling pathway being one of the primary regulatory pathways. In normal hepatocytes, the Wnt signaling pathway maintains cell regeneration and organ development. However, when aberrant activated, the Wnt pathway is closely associated with invasion, cancer stem cells(CSCs), drug resistance, and immune evasion in HCC. Among these factors, the development of drug resistance is one of the most important factors affecting the efficacy of HCC treatment. These mechanisms form the basis for tumor cell adaptation and evolution within the body, enabling continuous changes in tumor cells, resistance to drugs and immune system attacks, leading to metastasis and recurrence. In recent years, there have been numerous new discoveries regarding these mechanisms. An increasing number of drugs targeting the Wnt signaling pathway have been developed, with some already entering clinical trials. Therefore, this review encompasses the latest research on the role of the Wnt signaling pathway in the onset and progression of HCC, as well as advancements in its therapeutic strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shihui Ma
- Department of General Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150000, China
| | - Guorui Meng
- Department of General Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150000, China
| | - Tong Liu
- Department of General Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150000, China
| | - Junqi You
- Department of General Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150000, China
| | - Risheng He
- Department of General Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150000, China
| | - Xudong Zhao
- Department of General Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150000, China
| | - Yunfu Cui
- Department of General Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150000, China.
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Childs A, Aidoo-Micah G, Maini MK, Meyer T. Immunotherapy for hepatocellular carcinoma. JHEP Rep 2024; 6:101130. [PMID: 39308986 PMCID: PMC11414669 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhepr.2024.101130] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2024] [Revised: 05/19/2024] [Accepted: 05/28/2024] [Indexed: 09/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a major global healthcare challenge, with >1 million patients predicted to be affected annually by 2025. In contrast to other cancers, both incidence and mortality rates continue to rise, and HCC is now the third leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide. Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have transformed the treatment landscape for advanced HCC, with trials demonstrating a superior overall survival benefit compared to sorafenib in the first-line setting. Combination therapy with either atezolizumab (anti-PD-L1) and bevacizumab (anti-VEGF) or durvalumab (anti-PD-L1) and tremelimumab (anti-CTLA-4) is now recognised as standard of care for advanced HCC. More recently, two phase III studies of ICI-based combination therapy in the early and intermediate disease settings have successfully met their primary end points of improved recurrence- and progression-free survival, respectively. Despite these advances, and in contrast to other tumour types, there remain no validated predictive biomarkers of response to ICIs in HCC. Ongoing research efforts are focused on further characterising the tumour microenvironment in order to select patients most likely to benefit from ICI and identify novel therapeutic targets. Herein, we review the current understanding of the immune landscape in which HCC develops and the evidence for ICI-based therapeutic strategies in HCC. Additionally, we describe the state of biomarker development and novel immunotherapy approaches in HCC which have progressed beyond the pre-clinical stage and into early-phase trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexa Childs
- Department of Medical Oncology, Royal Free Hospital, London, UK
- Division of Infection and Immunity, Institute of Immunity and Transplantation, University College London, London, UK
| | - Gloryanne Aidoo-Micah
- Department of Medical Oncology, Royal Free Hospital, London, UK
- Division of Infection and Immunity, Institute of Immunity and Transplantation, University College London, London, UK
| | - Mala K. Maini
- Division of Infection and Immunity, Institute of Immunity and Transplantation, University College London, London, UK
| | - Tim Meyer
- Department of Medical Oncology, Royal Free Hospital, London, UK
- UCL Cancer Institute, University College London, UK
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Argenziano ME, Kim MN, Montori M, Di Bucchianico A, Balducci D, Ahn SH, Svegliati Baroni G. Epidemiology, pathophysiology and clinical aspects of Hepatocellular Carcinoma in MAFLD patients. Hepatol Int 2024; 18:922-940. [PMID: 39012579 DOI: 10.1007/s12072-024-10692-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2024] [Accepted: 04/24/2024] [Indexed: 07/17/2024]
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is undergoing a transformative shift, with metabolic-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) emerging as a dominant etiology. Diagnostic criteria for MAFLD involve hepatic steatosis and metabolic dysregulation. Globally, MAFLD prevalence stands at 38.77%, significantly linked to the escalating rates of obesity. Epidemiological data indicate a dynamic shift in the major etiologies of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), transitioning from viral to metabolic liver diseases. Besides the degree of liver fibrosis, several modifiable lifestyle risk factors, such as type 2 diabetes, obesity, alcohol use, smoking, and HBV, HCV infection contribute to the pathogenesis of HCC. Moreover gut microbiota and genetic variants may contribute to HCC development.The pathophysiological link between MAFLD and HCC involves metabolic dysregulation, impairing glucose and lipid metabolism, inflammation and oxidative stress. Silent presentation poses challenges in early MAFLD-HCC diagnosis. Imaging, biopsy, and AI-assisted techniques aid diagnosis, while HCC surveillance in non-cirrhotic MAFLD patients remains debated.ITA.LI.CA. group proposes a survival-based algorithm for treatment based on Barcelona clinic liver cancer (BCLC) algorithm. Liver resection, transplantation, ablation, and locoregional therapies are applied based on the disease stage. Systemic treatments is promising, with initial immunotherapy results indicating a less favorable response in MAFLD-related HCC.Adopting lifestyle interventions and chemopreventive measures with medications, including aspirin, metformin, and statins, constitute promising approaches for the primary prevention of HCC.Prognosis is influenced by multiple factors, with MAFLD-HCC associated with prolonged survival. Emerging diagnostic biomarkers and epigenomic markers, show promising results for early HCC detection in the MAFLD population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Eva Argenziano
- Clinic of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Emergency Digestive Endoscopy, Università Politecnica Delle Marche, 60126,, Ancona, Italy
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Ghent, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Mi Na Kim
- Department of Internal Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, 50 Yonsei-Ro, Seodaemun-Gu, Seoul, 03722, Republic of Korea
- Institute of Gastroenterology, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
- Yonsei Liver Center, Severance Hospital, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Michele Montori
- Clinic of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Emergency Digestive Endoscopy, Università Politecnica Delle Marche, 60126,, Ancona, Italy
| | - Alessandro Di Bucchianico
- Clinic of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Emergency Digestive Endoscopy, Università Politecnica Delle Marche, 60126,, Ancona, Italy
| | - Daniele Balducci
- Clinic of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Emergency Digestive Endoscopy, Università Politecnica Delle Marche, 60126,, Ancona, Italy
| | - Sang Hoon Ahn
- Department of Internal Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, 50 Yonsei-Ro, Seodaemun-Gu, Seoul, 03722, Republic of Korea.
- Institute of Gastroenterology, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
- Yonsei Liver Center, Severance Hospital, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
| | - Gianluca Svegliati Baroni
- Liver Disease and Transplant Unit, Obesity Center, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Delle Marche, Polytechnic University of Marche, Ancona, Italy
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11
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Mulè P, Fernandez-Perez D, Amato S, Manganaro D, Oldani P, Brandini S, Diaferia G, Cuomo A, Recordati C, Soriani C, Dondi A, Zanotti M, Rustichelli S, Bisso A, Pece S, Rodighiero S, Natoli G, Amati B, Ferrari KJ, Chiacchiera F, Pasini D. WNT Oncogenic Transcription Requires MYC Suppression of Lysosomal Activity and EPCAM Stabilization in Gastric Tumors. Gastroenterology 2024; 167:903-918. [PMID: 38971196 DOI: 10.1053/j.gastro.2024.06.029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2023] [Revised: 06/13/2024] [Accepted: 06/18/2024] [Indexed: 07/08/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND & AIMS WNT signaling is central to spatial tissue arrangement and regulating stem cell activity, and it represents the hallmark of gastrointestinal cancers. Although its role in driving intestinal tumors is well characterized, WNT's role in gastric tumorigenesis remains elusive. METHODS We have developed mouse models to control the specific expression of an oncogenic form of β-catenin (CTNNB1) in combination with MYC activation in Lgr5+ cells of the gastric antrum. We used multiomics approaches applied in vivo and in organoid models to characterize their cooperation in driving gastric tumorigenesis. RESULTS We report that constitutive β-catenin stabilization in the stomach has negligible oncogenic effects and requires MYC activation to induce gastric tumor formation. Although physiologically low MYC levels in gastric glands limit β-catenin transcriptional activity, increased MYC expression unleashes the WNT oncogenic transcriptional program, promoting β-catenin enhancer invasion without a direct transcriptional cooperation. MYC activation induces a metabolic rewiring that suppresses lysosomal biogenesis through mTOR and ERK activation and MiT/TFE inhibition. This prevents EPCAM degradation by macropinocytosis, promoting β-catenin chromatin accumulation and activation of WNT oncogenic transcription. CONCLUSION Our results uncovered a new signaling framework with important implications for the control of gastric epithelial architecture and WNT-dependent oncogenic transformation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrizia Mulè
- European Institute of Oncology (IEO), Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS), Department of Experimental Oncology, Milan, Italy
| | - Daniel Fernandez-Perez
- European Institute of Oncology (IEO), Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS), Department of Experimental Oncology, Milan, Italy
| | - Simona Amato
- European Institute of Oncology (IEO), Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS), Department of Experimental Oncology, Milan, Italy
| | - Daria Manganaro
- European Institute of Oncology (IEO), Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS), Department of Experimental Oncology, Milan, Italy
| | - Paola Oldani
- European Institute of Oncology (IEO), Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS), Department of Experimental Oncology, Milan, Italy
| | - Stefania Brandini
- European Institute of Oncology (IEO), Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS), Department of Experimental Oncology, Milan, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Diaferia
- European Institute of Oncology (IEO), Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS), Department of Experimental Oncology, Milan, Italy
| | - Alessandro Cuomo
- European Institute of Oncology (IEO), Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS), Department of Experimental Oncology, Milan, Italy
| | | | - Chiara Soriani
- European Institute of Oncology (IEO), Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS), Department of Experimental Oncology, Milan, Italy
| | - Ambra Dondi
- European Institute of Oncology (IEO), Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS), Department of Experimental Oncology, Milan, Italy
| | - Marika Zanotti
- European Institute of Oncology (IEO), Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS), Department of Experimental Oncology, Milan, Italy
| | - Samantha Rustichelli
- European Institute of Oncology (IEO), Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS), Department of Experimental Oncology, Milan, Italy
| | - Andrea Bisso
- European Institute of Oncology (IEO), Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS), Department of Experimental Oncology, Milan, Italy
| | - Salvatore Pece
- European Institute of Oncology (IEO), Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS), Department of Experimental Oncology, Milan, Italy
| | - Simona Rodighiero
- European Institute of Oncology (IEO), Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS), Department of Experimental Oncology, Milan, Italy
| | - Gioacchino Natoli
- European Institute of Oncology (IEO), Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS), Department of Experimental Oncology, Milan, Italy
| | - Bruno Amati
- European Institute of Oncology (IEO), Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS), Department of Experimental Oncology, Milan, Italy
| | - Karin Johanna Ferrari
- European Institute of Oncology (IEO), Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS), Department of Experimental Oncology, Milan, Italy
| | - Fulvio Chiacchiera
- University of Trento, Department of Cellular, Computational and Integrative Biology, Trento, Italy
| | - Diego Pasini
- European Institute of Oncology (IEO), Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS), Department of Experimental Oncology, Milan, Italy; University of Milan, Department of Health Sciences, Milan, Italy.
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12
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Yang X, Deng B, Zhao W, Guo Y, Wan Y, Wu Z, Su S, Gu J, Hu X, Feng W, Hu C, Li J, Xu Y, Huang X, Lin Y. FABP5 + lipid-loaded macrophages process tumor-derived unsaturated fatty acid signal to suppress T-cell antitumor immunity. J Hepatol 2024:S0168-8278(24)02569-8. [PMID: 39357545 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhep.2024.09.029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2024] [Revised: 09/12/2024] [Accepted: 09/20/2024] [Indexed: 10/04/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND & AIMS Tumour-associated macrophages (TAMs) contribute to hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) progression. However, while the pro-tumour and immunosuppressive roles of lipid-loaded macrophages are well established, the mechanisms by which lipid metabolism enhances the tumour-promoting effects in TAMs remain unclear. METHODS Single-cell RNA sequencing was performed on mouse and human HCC tumour samples to elucidate the landscape of HCC TAMs. Macrophages were stimulated with various long-chain unsaturated fatty acids (UFAs) to assess immunosuppressive molecules expression in vitro. Additionally, in vivo and in vitro studies were conducted using mice with macrophage-specific deficiencies in fatty acid-binding protein 5 (FABP5) or peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR). RESULTS Single-cell RNA sequencing identified a subpopulation of FABP5+ lipid-loaded TAMs characterized by enhanced immune checkpoint blocker ligands and immunosuppressive molecules in an oncogene-mutant HCC mouse model and human HCC tumours. Mechanistically, long-chain UFAs released by tumour cells activate PPARvia FABP5, resulting in TAM immunosuppressive properties. FABP5 deficiency in macrophages decreases immunosuppressive molecules expression, enhances T-cell-dependent antitumor immunity, diminishes HCC growth, and improves immunotherapy efficacy. CONCLUSIONS This study demonstrates that UFAs promote tumourigenesis by enhancing the immunosuppressive tumour microenvironment via FABP5-PPAR signaling and provides a proof-of-concept for targeting this pathway to improve tumour immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuguang Yang
- Clinical Research Center, Longhua Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, 200032, China; Department of Immunology of Basic Medical Sciences, Shanghai Pudong Hospital, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China.
| | - Bo Deng
- Division of Nephrology, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Weiwei Zhao
- Department of Integrated Therapy, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Yangyang Guo
- Department of Immunology of Basic Medical Sciences, Shanghai Pudong Hospital, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Yaqi Wan
- Department of Immunology of Basic Medical Sciences, Shanghai Pudong Hospital, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Zhihao Wu
- Clinical Research Center, Longhua Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Sheng Su
- Liver Cancer Institute, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Jingyan Gu
- Department of Neurosurgery, Shanghai General Hospital affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Xiaoqian Hu
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Wenxue Feng
- Department of Immunology of Basic Medical Sciences, Shanghai Pudong Hospital, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Chencheng Hu
- Frontier Innovation Center, Key Laboratory of Metabolism and Molecular Medicine of the Ministry of Education, Department of Pathology of School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Jia Li
- Liver Cancer Institute, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Yanyong Xu
- Frontier Innovation Center, Key Laboratory of Metabolism and Molecular Medicine of the Ministry of Education, Department of Pathology of School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China.
| | - Xiaowu Huang
- Liver Cancer Institute, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China; Clinical Center for Biotherapy, Zhongshan Hospital (Xiamen), Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China.
| | - Yuli Lin
- Department of Immunology of Basic Medical Sciences, Shanghai Pudong Hospital, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China.
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13
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Chae YK, Othus M, Patel S, Powers B, Hsueh CT, Govindarajan R, Bucur S, Kim HS, Chung LILY, McLeod C, Chen HX, Sharon E, Streicher H, Ryan CW, Blanke C, Kurzrock R. Phase II basket trial of dual anti-CTLA-4 and anti-PD-1 blockade in rare tumors (DART) SWOG S1609: the desmoid tumors. J Immunother Cancer 2024; 12:e009128. [PMID: 39343510 PMCID: PMC11440191 DOI: 10.1136/jitc-2024-009128] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/29/2024] [Indexed: 10/01/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Dual inhibition using anti-programmed death-1 (PD-1) and anti-cytotoxic T-lymphocyte antigen-4 (CTLA-4) checkpoint inhibitors has proven effective in many cancers. However, its efficacy in rare solid cancers remains unclear. Desmoid tumors are ultrarare soft-tissue tumors, traditionally treated with surgery. This study reviews the first results of using ipilimumab and nivolumab in the desmoid tumor cohort of the SWOG S1609 Dual Anti-CTLA-4 & Anti-PD-1 blockade in Rare Tumors (DART) trial. METHODS DART is a prospective/open-label/multicenter (1,016 US sites)/multicohort phase II trial of ipilimumab (1 mg/kg intravenously every 6 weeks) plus nivolumab (240 mg intravenously every 2 weeks) that opened at 1,016 US sites. The primary endpoint included overall response rate (ORR) defined as confirmed complete (CR) and partial responses (PR) based on Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST) v.1.1. Secondary endpoints include progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), clinical benefit rate (CBR; stable disease (SD) ≥6 months plus CR and PR) and toxicity. RESULTS Sixteen evaluable patients (median age: 37) with desmoid tumors and a median of 1.5 prior therapies (with no prior exposure to immunotherapy) were analyzed. The tumors varied in location (eight abdomen, three lower limb, two upper limb, two pelvis, and one neck). ORR was 18.8% (3/16; 3 confirmed PR): 40% regression (PFS 30+ months), 83% regression (PFS 16 months) and 71% regression (PFS 8.4 months). Seven additional patients (43.8%) had prolonged SD over 6 months (PFS: 16.5, 22.4+, 22.6, 30.1, 38.2+, 48.3+ and 60.7+ months). Overall CBR was 62.5% (10/16). Median PFS was 19.4 months, with 6-month PFS of 73% and 1-year PFS of 67%. All patients were alive at 1 year; median OS was not assessable, as 13 patients were alive at analysis. Common adverse events included fatigue, nausea and hypothyroidism, with 50% experiencing grade 3-4 events. There were no grade 5 events. CONCLUSION Treatment with ipilimumab and nivolumab in desmoid tumors yielded an ORR of 18.8% and a CBR of 62.5% with durable responses seen. This is the first prospective study exploring the efficacy of this combination in this rare disease. Ongoing studies aim to identify markers for response and resistance. Expanded trials are necessary. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER NCT02834013.
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Affiliation(s)
- Young Kwang Chae
- Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Megan Othus
- Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, Washington, USA
- SWOG Statistics and Data Management Center, SWOG, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Sandip Patel
- University of California San Diego Moores Cancer Center, La Jolla, California, USA
| | - Benjamin Powers
- The University of Kansas Cancer Center, Overland Park, Kansas, USA
| | - Chung-Tsen Hsueh
- Loma Linda University Cancer Center, Loma Linda, California, USA
| | | | | | - Hye Sung Kim
- Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois, USA
- Medicine, Temple University Hospital, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | | | | | - Helen X Chen
- Cancer Therapy Evaluation Program, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Elad Sharon
- Cancer Therapy Evaluation Program, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
- Dana–Farber Cancer Center, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Howard Streicher
- Cancer Therapy Evaluation Program, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | | | - Charles Blanke
- SWOG Group Chair’s Office, Knight Cancer Institute, Portland, OR, USA
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14
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Qiu X, Zhou T, Li S, Wu J, Tang J, Ma G, Yang S, Hu J, Wang K, Shen S, Wang H, Chen L. Spatial single-cell protein landscape reveals vimentin high macrophages as immune-suppressive in the microenvironment of hepatocellular carcinoma. NATURE CANCER 2024:10.1038/s43018-024-00824-y. [PMID: 39327501 DOI: 10.1038/s43018-024-00824-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2023] [Accepted: 08/09/2024] [Indexed: 09/28/2024]
Abstract
Tumor microenvironment heterogeneity in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) on a spatial single-cell resolution is unclear. Here, we conducted co-detection by indexing to profile the spatial heterogeneity of 401 HCC samples with 36 biomarkers. By parsing the spatial tumor ecosystem of liver cancer, we identified spatial patterns with distinct prognosis and genomic and molecular features, and unveiled the progressive role of vimentin (VIM)high macrophages. Integration analysis with eight independent cohorts demonstrated that the spatial co-occurrence of VIMhigh macrophages and regulatory T cells promotes tumor progression and favors immunotherapy. Functional studies further demonstrated that VIMhigh macrophages enhance the immune-suppressive activity of regulatory T cells by mechanistically increasing the secretion of interleukin-1β. Our data provide deep insights into the heterogeneity of tumor microenvironment architecture and unveil the critical role of VIMhigh macrophages during HCC progression, which holds potential for personalized cancer prevention and drug discovery and reinforces the need to resolve spatial-informed features for cancer treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinyao Qiu
- Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- National Center for Liver Cancer, Shanghai, China
| | - Tao Zhou
- National Center for Liver Cancer, Shanghai, China
- The International Cooperation Laboratory on Signal Transduction, Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Hospital, Naval Medical University, Shanghai, China
| | - Shuai Li
- Institute of Metabolism and Integrative Biology, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Jianmin Wu
- Institute of Metabolism and Integrative Biology, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Jing Tang
- Cancer Center, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Guosheng Ma
- Institute of Metabolism and Integrative Biology, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Shuai Yang
- Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Ji Hu
- National Center for Liver Cancer, Shanghai, China
- The International Cooperation Laboratory on Signal Transduction, Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Hospital, Naval Medical University, Shanghai, China
| | - Kaiting Wang
- Institute of Metabolism and Integrative Biology, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Siyun Shen
- National Center for Liver Cancer, Shanghai, China
- The International Cooperation Laboratory on Signal Transduction, Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Hospital, Naval Medical University, Shanghai, China
| | - Hongyang Wang
- Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
- The International Cooperation Laboratory on Signal Transduction, Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Hospital, Naval Medical University, Shanghai, China.
- Institute of Metabolism and Integrative Biology, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
- Key Laboratory of Signaling Regulation and Targeting Therapy of Liver Cancer, Ministry of Education, Shanghai, China.
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Hepatobiliary Tumor Biology (EHBH), Shanghai, China.
| | - Lei Chen
- Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
- National Center for Liver Cancer, Shanghai, China.
- The International Cooperation Laboratory on Signal Transduction, Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Hospital, Naval Medical University, Shanghai, China.
- Key Laboratory of Signaling Regulation and Targeting Therapy of Liver Cancer, Ministry of Education, Shanghai, China.
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Hepatobiliary Tumor Biology (EHBH), Shanghai, China.
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15
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Yumoto S, Horiguchi H, Kadomatsu T, Horino T, Sato M, Terada K, Miyata K, Moroishi T, Baba H, Oike Y. Host ANGPTL2 establishes an immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment and resistance to immune checkpoint therapy. Cancer Sci 2024. [PMID: 39321028 DOI: 10.1111/cas.16348] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2024] [Revised: 08/26/2024] [Accepted: 09/06/2024] [Indexed: 09/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Use of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) as cancer immunotherapy has advanced rapidly in the clinic; however, mechanisms underlying resistance to ICI therapy, including impaired T cell infiltration, low immunogenicity, and tumor "immunophenotypes" governed by the host, remain unclear. We previously reported that in some cancer contexts, tumor cell-derived angiopoietin-like protein 2 (ANGPTL2) has tumor-promoting functions. Here, we asked whether ANGPTL2 deficiency could enhance antitumor ICI activity in two inflammatory contexts: a murine syngeneic model of colorectal cancer and a mouse model of high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obesity. Systemic ANGPTL2 deficiency potentiated ICI efficacy in the syngeneic model, supporting an immunosuppressive role for host ANGPTL2. Relevant to the mechanism, we found that ANGPTL2 induces pro-inflammatory cytokine production in adipose tissues, driving generation of myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) in bone marrow and contributing to an immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment and resistance to ICI therapy. Moreover, HFD-induced obese mice showed impaired responsiveness to ICI treatment, suggesting that obesity-induced chronic inflammation facilitated by high ANGPTL2 expression blocks ICI antitumor effects. Our findings overall provide novel insight into protumor ANGPTL2 functions and illustrate the essential role of the host system in ICI responsiveness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shinsei Yumoto
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, Japan
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, Japan
| | - Haruki Horiguchi
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, Japan
- Department of Aging and Geriatric Medicine, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, Japan
| | - Tsuyoshi Kadomatsu
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, Japan
- Center for Metabolic Regulation of Healthy Aging (CMHA), Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, Japan
| | - Taichi Horino
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, Japan
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, Japan
| | - Michio Sato
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, Japan
| | - Kazutoyo Terada
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, Japan
| | - Keishi Miyata
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, Japan
| | - Toshiro Moroishi
- Center for Metabolic Regulation of Healthy Aging (CMHA), Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, Japan
- Department of Molecular and Medical Pharmacology, Faculty of Life Sciences, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, Japan
| | - Hideo Baba
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, Japan
- Center for Metabolic Regulation of Healthy Aging (CMHA), Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, Japan
| | - Yuichi Oike
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, Japan
- Department of Aging and Geriatric Medicine, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, Japan
- Center for Metabolic Regulation of Healthy Aging (CMHA), Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, Japan
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16
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Ren M, Wang Y, Zheng X, Yang W, Liu M, Xie S, Yao Y, Yan J, He W. Hydrogelation of peptides and carnosic acid as regulators of adaptive immunity against postoperative recurrence of cutaneous melanoma. J Control Release 2024; 375:654-666. [PMID: 39306045 DOI: 10.1016/j.jconrel.2024.09.033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2024] [Revised: 09/14/2024] [Accepted: 09/18/2024] [Indexed: 09/27/2024]
Abstract
The in-situ activation of adaptive immunity at the surgical site has demonstrated remarkable efficacy in inhibiting various forms of tumour recurrence and even holds the promise of a potential cure. However, extensive research and bioinformatic analysis conducted in this study have unveiled the formidable challenge posed by melanoma-intrinsic β-catenin signaling, which hinders the infiltration of cytotoxic T-lymphocytes (CTLs) and their subsequent anti-tumour action. To overcome this obstacle, a β-catenin antagonist called carnosic acid (CA) was co-assembled with a RADA-rich peptide to create a nanonet-derived hydrogel known as Supra-gelδCA. This injectable hydrogel is designed to be retained at the surgical site while simultaneously promoting hemostasis. Importantly, Supra-gelδCA directly releases CA to the site of residual tumour lesions, thereby enhancing infiltration of CTLs and subsequently activating adaptive immunity. Consequently, it effectively suppresses postoperative recurrence of skin cutaneous melanoma (SKCM) in vivo. Collectively, the presented Supra-gelδCA not only provides an efficacious immunotherapy strategy for regulating adaptive immunity by overcoming the obstacle posed by melanoma-intrinsic β-catenin signaling-induced absence of CTLs but also offers a clinically translatable hydrogel that revolutionizes post-surgical management of SKCM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mengdi Ren
- Department of Medical Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710061, China
| | - Yang Wang
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Xijing Hospital, The Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an 710032, China; Department of Infectious Diseases, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710004, China; National & Local Joint Engineering Research Center of Biodiagnosis and Biotherapy, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710004, PR China
| | - Xiaoqiang Zheng
- Department of Medical Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710061, China; Institute for Stem Cell & Regenerative Medicine, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710004, China
| | - Wenguang Yang
- Department of Medical Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710061, China
| | - Mutian Liu
- Department of mathematics and statistics, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710004, China
| | - Siyun Xie
- School of Information Science and Technology, Northwest University, Xi'an 710127, China
| | - Yu Yao
- Department of Medical Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710061, China
| | - Jin Yan
- Department of Infectious Diseases, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710004, China; National & Local Joint Engineering Research Center of Biodiagnosis and Biotherapy, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710004, PR China
| | - Wangxiao He
- Department of Medical Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710061, China; Institute for Stem Cell & Regenerative Medicine, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710004, China.; Department of Talent Highland, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiao Tong University, Xi'an 710061, China..
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17
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Humblin E, Korpas I, Prokhnevska N, Vaidya A, Lu J, van der Heide V, Filipescu D, Bobrowski T, Marks A, Park MD, Bernstein E, Brown BD, Lujambio A, Dominguez-Sola D, Rosenberg BR, Kamphorst AO. ICOS limits memory-like properties and function of exhausted PD-1 + CD8 T cells. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.09.16.611518. [PMID: 39345453 PMCID: PMC11429760 DOI: 10.1101/2024.09.16.611518] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/01/2024]
Abstract
During persistent antigen stimulation, PD-1 + CD8 T cells are maintained by progenitor exhausted PD-1 + TCF-1 + CD8 T cells (Tpex). Tpex respond to PD-1 blockade, and regulation of Tpex differentiation into more functional Tex is of major interest for cancer immunotherapies. Tpex express high levels of Inducible Costimulator (ICOS), but the role of ICOS for PD-1 + CD8 T cell responses has not been addressed. In chronic infection, ICOS-deficiency increased both number and quality of virus-specific CD8 T cells, with accumulation of effector-like Tex due to enhanced survival. Mechanistically, loss of ICOS signaling potentiated FoxO1 activity and memory-like features of Tpex. In mice with established chronic infection, ICOS-Ligand blockade resulted in expansion of effector-like Tex and reduction in viral load. In a mouse model of hepatocellular carcinoma, ICOS inhibition improved cytokine production by tumor-specific PD-1 + CD8 T cells and delayed tumor growth. Overall, we show that ICOS limits CD8 T cell responses during chronic antigen exposure.
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18
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Tong W, Wang T, Bai Y, Yang X, Han P, Zhu L, Zhang Y, Shen Z. Spatial transcriptomics reveals tumor-derived SPP1 induces fibroblast chemotaxis and activation in the hepatocellular carcinoma microenvironment. J Transl Med 2024; 22:840. [PMID: 39267037 PMCID: PMC11391636 DOI: 10.1186/s12967-024-05613-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2024] [Accepted: 08/13/2024] [Indexed: 09/14/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The tumor microenvironment (TME) exerts profound effects on tumor progression and therapeutic efficacy. In hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the TME is enriched with cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs), which secrete a plethora of cytokines, chemokines, and growth factors that facilitate tumor cell proliferation and invasion. However, the intricate architecture of the TME in HCC, as well as the mechanisms driving interactions between tumor cells and CAFs, remains largely enigmatic. METHODS We analyzed 10 spatial transcriptomics and 12 single-cell transcriptomics samples sourced from public databases, complemented by 20 tumor tissue samples from liver cancer patients obtained in a clinical setting. RESULTS Our findings reveal that tumor cells exhibiting high levels of SPP1 are preferentially localized adjacent to hepatic stellate cells (HSCs). The SPP1 secreted by these tumor cells interacts with the CD44 receptor on HSCs, thereby activating the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway, which promotes the differentiation of HSCs into CAFs. Notably, blockade of the CD44 receptor effectively abrogates this interaction. Furthermore, in vivo studies demonstrate that silencing SPP1 expression in tumor cells significantly impairs HSC differentiation into CAFs, leading to a reduction in tumor volume and collagen deposition within the tumor stroma. CONCLUSIONS This study delineates the SPP1-CD44 signaling axis as a pivotal mechanism underpinning the interaction between tumor cells and CAFs. Targeting this pathway holds potential to mitigate liver fibrosis and offers novel therapeutic perspectives for liver cancer management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wen Tong
- The First Central Clinical School, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, 300070, China
| | - Tianze Wang
- School of Medicine, Nankai University, Tianjin, 300071, China
| | - Yi Bai
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Tianjin First Central Hospital, Tianjin, 300192, China
| | - Xingpeng Yang
- Department of General Surgery, First Medical Center of the Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, 100853, China
| | - Pinsheng Han
- School of Medicine, Nankai University, Tianjin, 300071, China
| | - Liuyang Zhu
- The First Central Clinical School, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, 300070, China
| | - Yamin Zhang
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Tianjin First Central Hospital, Tianjin, 300192, China.
| | - Zhongyang Shen
- Organ Transplantation Centre, Tianjin First Central Hospital, Tianjin, 300192, China.
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19
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Dantzer C, Dif L, Vaché J, Basbous S, Billottet C, Moreau V. Specific features of ß-catenin-mutated hepatocellular carcinomas. Br J Cancer 2024:10.1038/s41416-024-02849-7. [PMID: 39261716 DOI: 10.1038/s41416-024-02849-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2024] [Revised: 08/26/2024] [Accepted: 09/02/2024] [Indexed: 09/13/2024] Open
Abstract
CTNNB1, encoding the ß-catenin protein, is a key oncogene contributing to liver carcinogenesis. Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common form of primary liver cancer in adult, representing the third leading cause of cancer-related death. Aberrant activation of the Wnt/ß-catenin pathway, mainly due to mutations of the CTNNB1 gene, is observed in a significant subset of HCC. In this review, we first resume the major recent advances in HCC classification with a focus on CTNNB1-mutated HCC subclass. We present the regulatory mechanisms involved in β-catenin stabilisation, transcriptional activity and binding to partner proteins. We then describe specific phenotypic characteristics of CTNNB1-mutated HCC thanks to their unique gene expression patterns. CTNNB1-mutated HCC constitute a full-fledged subclass of HCC with distinct pathological features such as well-differentiated cells with low proliferation rate, association to cholestasis, metabolic alterations, immune exclusion and invasion. Finally, we discuss therapeutic approaches to target ß-catenin-mutated liver tumours and innovative perspectives for future drug developments.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Lydia Dif
- University Bordeaux, INSERM, BRIC, U1312, Bordeaux, France
| | - Justine Vaché
- University Bordeaux, INSERM, BRIC, U1312, Bordeaux, France
| | - Sara Basbous
- University Bordeaux, INSERM, BRIC, U1312, Bordeaux, France
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20
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Giannini EG. Second-line systemic therapy after atezolizumab plus bevacizumab: Is it time to boldly go beyond the known? Dig Liver Dis 2024:S1590-8658(24)00970-8. [PMID: 39266423 DOI: 10.1016/j.dld.2024.08.051] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2024] [Accepted: 08/27/2024] [Indexed: 09/14/2024]
Affiliation(s)
- Edoardo G Giannini
- Gastroenterology Unit, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Genoa, Viale Benedetto XV, no. 6, 16132 Genoa, Italy.
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21
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Huang Y, Peng M, Yu W, Li H. Activation of Wnt/β-catenin signaling promotes immune evasion via the β-catenin/IKZF1/CCL5 axis in hepatocellular carcinoma. Int Immunopharmacol 2024; 138:112534. [PMID: 38941667 DOI: 10.1016/j.intimp.2024.112534] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2024] [Revised: 06/10/2024] [Accepted: 06/18/2024] [Indexed: 06/30/2024]
Abstract
Immune checkpoint therapy (ICT) has been shown to produce durable responses in various cancer patients. However, its efficacy is notably limited in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), with only a small percentage of patients responding positively to treatment. The mechanism underlying resistance to ICT in HCC remains poorly understood. Here, we showed that combination treatment of ICG-001, an inhibitor of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway, with anti-PD-1 antibody effectively suppresses tumor growth and promotes the infiltration of immune cells such as DCs and CD8+ T cells in the tumor microenvironment (TME). By inhibiting the activity of β-catenin and blocking its binding to the transcription factor IKAROS family zinc finger 1 (IKZF1), ICG-001 upregulated the expression of CCL5. Moreover, IKZF1 regulated the activity of the CCL5 promoter and its endogenous expression. Through inhibition of the WNT/β-catenin signaling pathway, upregulation of the expression of CCL5 was achieved, which subsequently recruited more DCs into the TME via C-C motif chemokine receptor 5 (CCR5). This, in turn, resulted in an increase in the infiltration of CD8+ T cells in the TME, thereby enhancing the antitumor immune response. Analysis of a tissue microarray derived from HCC patient samples revealed a positive correlation between survival rate and prognosis and the expression levels of CCL5/CD8. In conclusion, our findings suggest that combined application of ICG-001 and anti-PD-1 antibody exhibits significantly enhanced antitumor efficacy. Hence, combining a WNT/β-catenin signaling pathway inhibitor with anti-PD-1 therapy may be a promising treatment strategy for patients with HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yamei Huang
- Department of Pathology and Pathophysiology, Medical School of Southeast University, China
| | - Min Peng
- Department of Pathogenic Biology and Immunology, Medical School of Southeast University, China
| | - Weiping Yu
- Department of Pathology and Pathophysiology, Medical School of Southeast University, China.
| | - Hui Li
- Department of Liver Surgery and Transplantation, Liver Cancer Institute, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, China.
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22
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Chan YT, Zhang C, Wu J, Lu P, Xu L, Yuan H, Feng Y, Chen ZS, Wang N. Biomarkers for diagnosis and therapeutic options in hepatocellular carcinoma. Mol Cancer 2024; 23:189. [PMID: 39242496 PMCID: PMC11378508 DOI: 10.1186/s12943-024-02101-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2024] [Accepted: 08/23/2024] [Indexed: 09/09/2024] Open
Abstract
Liver cancer is a global health challenge, causing a significant social-economic burden. Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the predominant type of primary liver cancer, which is highly heterogeneous in terms of molecular and cellular signatures. Early-stage or small tumors are typically treated with surgery or ablation. Currently, chemotherapies and immunotherapies are the best treatments for unresectable tumors or advanced HCC. However, drug response and acquired resistance are not predictable with the existing systematic guidelines regarding mutation patterns and molecular biomarkers, resulting in sub-optimal treatment outcomes for many patients with atypical molecular profiles. With advanced technological platforms, valuable information such as tumor genetic alterations, epigenetic data, and tumor microenvironments can be obtained from liquid biopsy. The inter- and intra-tumoral heterogeneity of HCC are illustrated, and these collective data provide solid evidence in the decision-making process of treatment regimens. This article reviews the current understanding of HCC detection methods and aims to update the development of HCC surveillance using liquid biopsy. Recent critical findings on the molecular basis, epigenetic profiles, circulating tumor cells, circulating DNAs, and omics studies are elaborated for HCC diagnosis. Besides, biomarkers related to the choice of therapeutic options are discussed. Some notable recent clinical trials working on targeted therapies are also highlighted. Insights are provided to translate the knowledge into potential biomarkers for detection and diagnosis, prognosis, treatment response, and drug resistance indicators in clinical practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yau-Tuen Chan
- School of Chinese Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pok Fu Lam, Hong Kong
| | - Cheng Zhang
- School of Chinese Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pok Fu Lam, Hong Kong
| | - Junyu Wu
- School of Chinese Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pok Fu Lam, Hong Kong
| | - Pengde Lu
- School of Chinese Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pok Fu Lam, Hong Kong
| | - Lin Xu
- School of Chinese Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pok Fu Lam, Hong Kong
| | - Hongchao Yuan
- School of Chinese Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pok Fu Lam, Hong Kong
| | - Yibin Feng
- School of Chinese Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pok Fu Lam, Hong Kong
| | - Zhe-Sheng Chen
- School of Chinese Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pok Fu Lam, Hong Kong.
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, St. John's University, 8000 Utopia Parkway, Queens, NY, 11439, USA.
| | - Ning Wang
- School of Chinese Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pok Fu Lam, Hong Kong.
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23
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Li J, Bai Y, Chen Z, Ying J, Guo Y, Fang W, Zhang F, Xiong J, Zhang T, Meng Z, Zhang J, Ren Z, Hao C, Chen Y, Lin X, Pan H, Zhou F, Li X, Yu F, Zhang J, Zhang Z, Qin S. SAFFRON-104: a phase Ib/II study of sitravatinib alone or with tislelizumab in advanced hepatocellular carcinoma and gastric cancer/gastroesophageal junction cancer. Cancer Immunol Immunother 2024; 73:219. [PMID: 39235596 PMCID: PMC11377389 DOI: 10.1007/s00262-024-03806-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2024] [Accepted: 08/08/2024] [Indexed: 09/06/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Sitravatinib is a spectrum-selective tyrosine kinase inhibitor targeting TAM (TYRO3, AXL, MER), VEGFR-2, KIT, and MET. SAFFRON-104 (NCT03941873) was a multicohort phase Ib/II study investigating sitravatinib with/without tislelizumab, an anti-programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) antibody, in patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) or gastric cancer/gastroesophageal junction cancer (GC/GEJC). METHODS Eligible patients had histologically/cytologically confirmed advanced HCC or GC/GEJC. Phase I determined the recommended phase II dose (RP2D) of sitravatinib with/without tislelizumab. Phase II evaluated sitravatinib monotherapy in patients with pretreated HCC, and sitravatinib plus tislelizumab in anti-PD-(L)1-naïve or -treated HCC and anti-PD-(L)1-naïve GC/GEJC. Primary endpoints were safety/tolerability (phase I) and objective response rate (ORR) (phase II). RESULTS At data cutoff (March 31, 2023), 111 patients were enrolled; 102 were efficacy-evaluable (median study follow-up 9.1 months [range: 0.7-36.9]). The RP2D of sitravatinib was determined as 120 mg orally once daily. In patients receiving sitravatinib monotherapy and sitravatinib in combination with tislelizumab, grade ≥ 3 treatment-related adverse events occurred in 14 (51.9%) and 42 (50.0%) patients, respectively. The ORR was 25% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 8.7-49.1) in patients with pretreated HCC receiving sitravatinib monotherapy. In patients receiving sitravatinib with tislelizumab, the ORR was 11.5% (95% CI 2.4-30.2) with anti-PD-(L)1-naïve HCC, 9.5% (95% CI 1.2-30.4) with anti-PD-(L)1-treated HCC, and 16.1% (95% CI 5.5-33.7) in patients with anti-PD-(L)1-naïve GC/GEJC. CONCLUSIONS Sitravatinib with/without tislelizumab was generally well tolerated and showed preliminary antitumor activity in patients with advanced HCC and GC/GEJC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jin Li
- Department of Oncology, Shanghai East Hospital, Tongji University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yuxian Bai
- Department of Gastroenterology, Harbin Medical University Cancer Hospital, Harbin, China
| | - Zhendong Chen
- Department of Oncology, The Second Hospital of Anhui Medical Hospital, Hefei, China
| | - Jieer Ying
- Department of Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary and Gastric Medical Oncology, Zhejiang Cancer Hospital, Hangzhou, China
| | - Yabing Guo
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Weijia Fang
- Department of Medical Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital, College of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Feng Zhang
- Department of Hepatic & Biliary & Pancreatic Surgery, Hubei Cancer Hospital, Wuhan, China
| | - Jianping Xiong
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, China
| | - Tao Zhang
- Department of Oncology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Zhiqiang Meng
- Department of Minimally Invasive Therapy Center, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, China
| | - Jingdong Zhang
- Medical Oncology Department of Gastrointestinal Cancer, Liaoning Cancer Hospital & Institute, Cancer Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Zhenggang Ren
- Department of Hepatic Oncology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Chunyi Hao
- Department of Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Surgery, Beijing Cancer Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Yajin Chen
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xiaoyan Lin
- Department of Medical Oncology, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, Fuzhou, China
| | - Hongming Pan
- Department of Medical Oncology, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Fuxiang Zhou
- Department of Radiation and Medical Oncology, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Xin Li
- BeiGene (Beijing) Co., Ltd., Beijing, China
| | - Fan Yu
- BeiGene (Shanghai) Co., Ltd., Shanghai, China
| | - Juan Zhang
- BeiGene (Beijing) Co., Ltd., Beijing, China
| | | | - Shukui Qin
- GI Cancer Center, Nanjing Tianyinshan Hospital of China Pharmaceutical University, Gulou, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China.
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24
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Hong K, Cao J, Jiang W, Deng W, Huang G, Huang T, Fang J, Wang Y. A nanodrug provokes antitumor immune responses via synchronous multicellular regulation for enhanced cancer immunotherapy. J Colloid Interface Sci 2024; 678:750-762. [PMID: 39265345 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcis.2024.09.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2024] [Revised: 09/02/2024] [Accepted: 09/02/2024] [Indexed: 09/14/2024]
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) exhibits a low response to immunotherapy due to the dense extracellular matrix (ECM) filled with immunosuppressive cells including dendritic cells (DCs) of blocked maturation. Herein, we develop a nanoprodrug self-assembled from polyethylene glycol-poly-4-borono-l-phenylalanine (mPEG-PBPA) conjugating with quercetin (QUE) via boronic ester bonds. In addition, an immune adjuvant of imiquimod (R837) is incorporated. The nanodrug (denoted as Q&R@NPs) is prepared from a simple mixing means with a high loading content of QUE reaching more than 30%. Owing to the acid and reactive oxygen species (ROS) sensitivities of boronic ester bonds, Q&R@NPs can respond to the tumor microenvironment (TME) and release QUE and R837 to synchronously exert multicellular regulation functions. Specifically, QUE inhibits the activation state of hepatic stellate cells and reduces highly expressed programmed death receptor ligand 1 (PD-L1) on tumor cells, meanwhile R837 exposes calreticulin on tumor cell surface as an "eat me" signal and leads to a large number of DCs maturing for enhanced antigen presentation. Consequently, the cooperative immune regulation results in a remodeled TME with high infiltration of cytotoxic T lymphocytes for enhanced HCC immunotherapy, which demonstrates an effective immunotherapy paradigm for dense ECM characterized solid tumors with high PD-L1 expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keze Hong
- College of Chemistry and Materials Science, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China
| | - Jianrong Cao
- College of Chemistry and Materials Science, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China
| | - Weiting Jiang
- College of Chemistry and Materials Science, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China
| | - Wei Deng
- College of Chemistry and Materials Science, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China
| | - Guohong Huang
- College of Chemistry and Materials Science, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China
| | - Tao Huang
- Department of Minimally Invasive Interventional Radiology, and Laboratory of Interventional Radiology, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou 510260, China.
| | - Jin Fang
- Department of Radiology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Jinan University, Guangzhou 510630, China.
| | - Yong Wang
- College of Chemistry and Materials Science, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China.
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25
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Wang J, Xiu M, Wang J, Gao Y, Li Y. METTL16-SENP3-LTF axis confers ferroptosis resistance and facilitates tumorigenesis in hepatocellular carcinoma. J Hematol Oncol 2024; 17:78. [PMID: 39218945 PMCID: PMC11367782 DOI: 10.1186/s13045-024-01599-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2024] [Accepted: 08/19/2024] [Indexed: 09/04/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Ferroptosis, characterized by iron-dependent lipid peroxidation, emerges as a promising avenue for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) intervention due to its tumor susceptibility. RNA N6-methyladenosine (m6A) modification has been involved in several types of regulated cell death. However, the roles and molecular mechanisms of m6A-related regulators in HCC cell ferroptosis remain unclear. METHODS By examining a series of m6A modification enzymes upon ferroptosis induction or inhibition, we identified METTL16 as a novel ferroptotic repressor in HCC cells. The roles of METTL16 on ferroptosis and HCC development were investigated in multiple cell lines, human HCC organoids, subcutaneous xenografts and MYC/Trp53-/- HCC model in hepatocyte-specific Mettl16 knockout and overexpression mice. The underlying mechanism was elucidated with MeRIP/RIP-qPCR, luciferase assay, Co-IP assay and Mass Spectrometry. The clinical significance and relevance were evaluated in human samples. RESULTS High METTL16 expression confers ferroptosis resistance in HCC cells and mouse models, and promotes cell viability and tumor progression. Mechanistically, METTL16 collaborates with IGF2BP2 to modulate SENP3 mRNA stability in an m6A-dependent manner, and the latter impedes the proteasome-mediated ubiquitination degradation of Lactotransferrin (LTF) via de-SUMOylation. Elevated LTF expression facilitates the chelation of free iron and reduces liable iron pool level. SENP3 and LTF are implicated in METTL16-mediated HCC progression and anti-ferroptotic effects both in vivo and in vitro. Clinically, METTL16 and SENP3 expression were positively correlated, and high METTL16 and SENP3 expression predicts poor prognosis in human HCC samples. CONCLUSIONS Our study reveals a new METTL16-SENP3-LTF signaling axis regulating ferroptosis and driving HCC development. Targeting this axis is a promising strategy for sensitizing ferroptosis and against HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jialin Wang
- Department of Oncology, Shanghai East Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, 150 Ji-Mo Rd., Pudong New District, Shanghai, 200120, China
| | - Mengxi Xiu
- Department of Oncology, Shanghai East Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, 150 Ji-Mo Rd., Pudong New District, Shanghai, 200120, China
| | - Jin Wang
- Department of Oncology, Shanghai East Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, 150 Ji-Mo Rd., Pudong New District, Shanghai, 200120, China
| | - Yong Gao
- Department of Oncology, Shanghai East Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, 150 Ji-Mo Rd., Pudong New District, Shanghai, 200120, China.
| | - Yandong Li
- Department of Oncology, Shanghai East Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, 150 Ji-Mo Rd., Pudong New District, Shanghai, 200120, China.
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26
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Chen HC, Mueller N, Stott K, Kapeni C, Rivers E, Sauer CM, Beke F, Walsh SJ, Ashman N, O'Brien L, Rafati Fard A, Ghodsinia A, Li C, Joud F, Giger O, Zlobec I, Olan I, Aitken SJ, Hoare M, Mair R, Serrao E, Brenton JD, Garcia-Gimenez A, Richardson SE, Huntly B, Spring DR, Skjoedt MO, Skjødt K, de la Roche M, de la Roche M. Novel immunotherapeutics against LGR5 to target multiple cancer types. EMBO Mol Med 2024; 16:2233-2261. [PMID: 39169164 PMCID: PMC11393416 DOI: 10.1038/s44321-024-00121-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2024] [Revised: 07/30/2024] [Accepted: 08/01/2024] [Indexed: 08/23/2024] Open
Abstract
We have developed and validated a highly specific, versatile antibody to the extracellular domain of human LGR5 (α-LGR5). α-LGR5 detects LGR5 overexpression in >90% of colorectal cancer (CRC), hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and pre-B-ALL tumour cells and was used to generate an Antibody-Drug Conjugate (α-LGR5-ADC), Bispecific T-cell Engager (α-LGR5-BiTE) and Chimeric Antigen Receptor (α-LGR5-CAR). α-LGR5-ADC was the most effective modality for targeting LGR5+ cancer cells in vitro and demonstrated potent anti-tumour efficacy in a murine model of human NALM6 pre-B-ALL driving tumour attrition to less than 1% of control treatment. α-LGR5-BiTE treatment was less effective in the pre-B-ALL cancer model yet promoted a twofold reduction in tumour burden. α-LGR5-CAR-T cells also showed specific and potent LGR5+ cancer cell killing in vitro and effective tumour targeting with a fourfold decrease in pre-B-ALL tumour burden relative to controls. Taken together, we show that α-LGR5 can not only be used as a research tool and a biomarker but also provides a versatile building block for a highly effective immune therapeutic portfolio targeting a range of LGR5-expressing cancer cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hung-Chang Chen
- University of Cambridge, Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute, Robinson Way, Cambridge, CB2 0RE, UK
- Astra Zeneca, Cambridge, UK
| | - Nico Mueller
- University of Cambridge, Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute, Robinson Way, Cambridge, CB2 0RE, UK
| | - Katherine Stott
- University of Cambridge, Department of Biochemistry, Tennis Court Road, Cambridge, CB2 1QW, UK
| | - Chrysa Kapeni
- University of Cambridge, Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute, Robinson Way, Cambridge, CB2 0RE, UK
| | - Eilidh Rivers
- University of Cambridge, Department of Biochemistry, Tennis Court Road, Cambridge, CB2 1QW, UK
- MRC-University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research, Glasgow, UK
| | - Carolin M Sauer
- University of Cambridge, Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute, Robinson Way, Cambridge, CB2 0RE, UK
| | - Flavio Beke
- University of Cambridge, Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute, Robinson Way, Cambridge, CB2 0RE, UK
| | - Stephen J Walsh
- University of Cambridge, Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry, Lensfield Road, Cambridge, CB2 1EW, UK
- Bicycle Therapeutics, Cambridge, UK
| | - Nicola Ashman
- University of Cambridge, Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry, Lensfield Road, Cambridge, CB2 1EW, UK
- Charles River Laboratories, Saffron Walden, UK
| | - Louise O'Brien
- University of Cambridge, Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute, Robinson Way, Cambridge, CB2 0RE, UK
| | - Amir Rafati Fard
- University of Cambridge, Department of Biochemistry, Tennis Court Road, Cambridge, CB2 1QW, UK
| | - Arman Ghodsinia
- University of Cambridge, Department of Biochemistry, Tennis Court Road, Cambridge, CB2 1QW, UK
| | - Changtai Li
- University of Cambridge, Department of Biochemistry, Tennis Court Road, Cambridge, CB2 1QW, UK
| | - Fadwa Joud
- University of Cambridge, Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute, Robinson Way, Cambridge, CB2 0RE, UK
| | - Olivier Giger
- University of Cambridge, Department of Pathology, Tennis Court Road, Cambridge, CB2 1QP, UK
| | - Inti Zlobec
- Institute of Pathology, University of Bern, Murtenstrasse 31, CH-3008, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Ioana Olan
- University of Cambridge, Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute, Robinson Way, Cambridge, CB2 0RE, UK
| | - Sarah J Aitken
- University of Cambridge, MRC Toxicology Unit, Tennis Court Road, Cambridge, CB2 1QR, UK
- Department of Histopathology, Cambridge University Hospitals, NHS Foundation Trust, Main Drive, Cambridge, CB2 0QQ, UK
| | - Matthew Hoare
- University of Cambridge, Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute, Robinson Way, Cambridge, CB2 0RE, UK
| | - Richard Mair
- University of Cambridge, Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute, Robinson Way, Cambridge, CB2 0RE, UK
| | - Eva Serrao
- University of Cambridge, Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute, Robinson Way, Cambridge, CB2 0RE, UK
| | - James D Brenton
- University of Cambridge, Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute, Robinson Way, Cambridge, CB2 0RE, UK
| | - Alicia Garcia-Gimenez
- University of Cambridge, Department of Haematology, Puddicombe Way, Cambridge, CB2 0AW, UK
| | - Simon E Richardson
- University of Cambridge, Department of Haematology, Puddicombe Way, Cambridge, CB2 0AW, UK
| | - Brian Huntly
- University of Cambridge, Department of Haematology, Puddicombe Way, Cambridge, CB2 0AW, UK
| | - David R Spring
- University of Cambridge, Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry, Lensfield Road, Cambridge, CB2 1EW, UK
| | - Mikkel-Ole Skjoedt
- Rigshospitalet-University Hospital Copenhagen, Blegdamsvej 9, 2100, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Institute of Immunology and Microbiology, University of Copenhagen, Blegdamsvej 3B, 2200, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Novo Nordisk, Måløv, Denmark
| | - Karsten Skjødt
- University of Southern Denmark Campusvej 55, Odense M, DK-5230, Denmark
| | - Marc de la Roche
- University of Cambridge, Department of Biochemistry, Tennis Court Road, Cambridge, CB2 1QW, UK.
| | - Maike de la Roche
- University of Cambridge, Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute, Robinson Way, Cambridge, CB2 0RE, UK.
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27
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Testa U. Recent developments in molecular targeted therapies for hepatocellular carcinoma in the genomic era. Expert Rev Mol Diagn 2024; 24:803-827. [PMID: 39194003 DOI: 10.1080/14737159.2024.2392278] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2024] [Accepted: 08/11/2024] [Indexed: 08/29/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Primary liver cancer is a major health problem being the sixth most frequent cancer in the world and the third cause of cancer-related death in the world. The most common histological type of liver cancer is hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC, 75-80%). AREAS COVERED Based on primary literature, this review provides an updated analysis of studies of genetic characterization of HCC at the level of gene mutation profiling, copy number alterations, and gene expression, with the definition of molecular subgroups and the identification of some molecular biomarkers and therapeutic targets. Recent therapeutic developments are also highlighted. EXPERT OPINION Deepening the understanding of the molecular complexity of HCC is progressively paving the way for the development of more personalized treatment approaches. Two important strategies involve the definition and validation of molecularly defined therapeutic targets in a subset of HCC patients and the identification of suitable biomarkers for approved systematic therapies (multikinase inhibitors and immunotherapies). The extensive molecular characterization of patients at the genomic and transcriptomic levels and the inclusion of detailed and relevant translational studies in clinical trials will represent a fundamental tool for improving the benefit of systemic therapies in HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ugo Testa
- Department of Oncology, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
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28
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Graham MK, Wang R, Chikarmane R, Abel B, Vaghasia A, Gupta A, Zheng Q, Hicks J, Sysa-Shah P, Pan X, Castagna N, Liu J, Meyers J, Skaist A, Zhang Y, Rubenstein M, Schuebel K, Simons BW, Bieberich CJ, Nelson WG, Lupold SE, DeWeese TL, De Marzo AM, Yegnasubramanian S. Convergent alterations in the tumor microenvironment of MYC-driven human and murine prostate cancer. Nat Commun 2024; 15:7414. [PMID: 39198404 PMCID: PMC11358296 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-51450-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2023] [Accepted: 08/07/2024] [Indexed: 09/01/2024] Open
Abstract
How prostate cancer cells and their precursors mediate changes in the tumor microenvironment (TME) to drive prostate cancer progression is unclear, in part due to the inability to longitudinally study the disease evolution in human tissues. To overcome this limitation, we perform extensive single-cell RNA-sequencing (scRNA-seq) and molecular pathology of the comparative biology between human prostate cancer and key stages in the disease evolution of a genetically engineered mouse model (GEMM) of prostate cancer. Our studies of human tissues reveal that cancer cell-intrinsic activation of MYC signaling is a common denominator across the well-known molecular and pathological heterogeneity of human prostate cancer. Cell communication network and pathway analyses in GEMMs show that MYC oncogene-expressing neoplastic cells, directly and indirectly, reprogram the TME during carcinogenesis, leading to a convergence of cell state alterations in neighboring epithelial, immune, and fibroblast cell types that parallel key findings in human prostate cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mindy K Graham
- Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University, School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Department of Radiation Oncology and Molecular Radiation Sciences, Johns Hopkins University, School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Department of Urology, Northwestern University, Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Rulin Wang
- Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University, School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Roshan Chikarmane
- Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University, School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Bulouere Abel
- Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University, School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Ajay Vaghasia
- Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University, School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Anuj Gupta
- Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University, School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Qizhi Zheng
- Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University, School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Department of Pathology, Johns Hopkins University, School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Jessica Hicks
- Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University, School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Department of Pathology, Johns Hopkins University, School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Polina Sysa-Shah
- The Brady Urological Institute and Department of Urology, Johns Hopkins University, School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Xin Pan
- Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University, School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Nicole Castagna
- Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University, School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Jianyong Liu
- Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University, School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Jennifer Meyers
- Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University, School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Alyza Skaist
- Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University, School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Yan Zhang
- Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University, School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Michael Rubenstein
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Maryland at Baltimore County, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Kornel Schuebel
- Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University, School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Brian W Simons
- Center for Comparative Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Charles J Bieberich
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Maryland at Baltimore County, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - William G Nelson
- Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University, School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
- The Brady Urological Institute and Department of Urology, Johns Hopkins University, School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Shawn E Lupold
- Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University, School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Department of Radiation Oncology and Molecular Radiation Sciences, Johns Hopkins University, School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
- The Brady Urological Institute and Department of Urology, Johns Hopkins University, School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Theodore L DeWeese
- Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University, School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Department of Radiation Oncology and Molecular Radiation Sciences, Johns Hopkins University, School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
- The Brady Urological Institute and Department of Urology, Johns Hopkins University, School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Angelo M De Marzo
- Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University, School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Department of Pathology, Johns Hopkins University, School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
- The Brady Urological Institute and Department of Urology, Johns Hopkins University, School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Srinivasan Yegnasubramanian
- Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University, School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.
- Department of Radiation Oncology and Molecular Radiation Sciences, Johns Hopkins University, School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.
- Department of Pathology, Johns Hopkins University, School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.
- inHealth Precision Medicine Program, Johns Hopkins Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.
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29
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Yu Y, Zhang C, Dong B, Zhang Z, Li X, Huang S, Tang D, Jing X, Yu S, Zheng T, Wu D, Tai S. Neutrophil extracellular traps promote immune escape in hepatocellular carcinoma by up-regulating CD73 through Notch2. Cancer Lett 2024; 598:217098. [PMID: 38969159 DOI: 10.1016/j.canlet.2024.217098] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2024] [Revised: 06/11/2024] [Accepted: 06/28/2024] [Indexed: 07/07/2024]
Abstract
Immune escape is the main reason that immunotherapy is ineffective in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Here, this study illustrates a pathway mediated by neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) that can promote immune escape of HCC. Mechanistically, we demonstrated that NETs up-regulated CD73 expression through activating Notch2 mediated nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) pathway, promoting regulatory T cells (Tregs) infiltration to mediate immune escape of HCC. In addition, we found the similar results in mouse HCC models by hydrodynamic plasmid transfection. The treatment of deoxyribonuclease I (DNase I) could inhibit the action of NETs and improve the therapeutic effect of anti-programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1). In summary, our results revealed that targeting of NETs was a promising treatment to improve the therapeutic effect of anti-PD-1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yang Yu
- Department of Hepatic Surgery, Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang, PR China; Heilongjiang Province Key Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, Tumor Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang, PR China
| | - Congyi Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Precision Nutrition and Health of Ministry of Education, Department of Nutrition and Food Hygiene, School of Public Health, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang, PR China
| | - Bowen Dong
- Key Laboratory of Organ Regeneration and Transplantation of the Ministry of Education, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, PR China
| | - Zhihua Zhang
- Department of Hepatic Surgery, Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang, PR China
| | - Xiaoqing Li
- Department of Pathology, Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang, PR China
| | - Shizhuan Huang
- Department of Hepatic Surgery, Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang, PR China
| | - Daowei Tang
- Department of Hepatic Surgery, Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang, PR China
| | - Xiaowei Jing
- Department of Hepatic Surgery, Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang, PR China
| | - Shan Yu
- Department of Pathology, Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang, PR China.
| | - Tongsen Zheng
- Heilongjiang Province Key Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, Tumor Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang, PR China.
| | - Dehai Wu
- Department of Hepatic Surgery, Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang, PR China.
| | - Sheng Tai
- Department of Hepatic Surgery, Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang, PR China.
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30
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Du J, Huang Z. NLR stability predicts response to immune checkpoint inhibitors in advanced hepatocellular carcinoma. Sci Rep 2024; 14:19583. [PMID: 39179639 PMCID: PMC11344071 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-68048-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2024] [Accepted: 07/18/2024] [Indexed: 08/26/2024] Open
Abstract
A high baseline NLR is associated with a poor prognosis of immunotherapy in patients with advanced HCC. As anti-tumour immune activation takes time, early dynamic changes in NLR may serve as a biomarker for predicting immunotherapy response. We conducted a retrospective study in which we enrolled 209 patients with aHCC who received ICIs (training cohort: N = 121, validation cohort: N = 88). In the training cohort, we categorized the patients based on the early changes in their NLR. Specifically, we defined patients as NLR Stable-Responder, NLR Responder and NLR Non-Responder. We compared the outcomes of these three patient groups using survival analysis. Additionally, we shortened the observation period to 6 weeks and validated the findings in the validation cohort. In the training cohort, early dynamic changes in NLR (HR 0.14, 95%CI 0.03-0.65, p = 0.012, HR 0.19, 95%CI 0.07-0.54, p = 0.002; HR 0.21, 95%CI 0.10-0.42, p < 0.001, HR 0.40, 95%CI 0.23-0.69, p = 0.001), PD-L1 < 1% (HR 5.36, 95%CI 1.12-25.66, p = 0.036; HR 2.98, 95%CI 1.51-5.91, p = 0.002) and MVI (HR 3.52, 95%CI 1.28-9.69, p = 0.015; HR 1.99, 95%CI 1.14-3.47, p = 0.015) were identified as independent predictors of OS and PFS. In the validation cohort, when the observation period was reduced to 6 weeks, early NLR changes still have predictive value. Early dynamic changes in NLR may be an easily defined, cost-effective, non-invasive biomarker to predict aHCC response to ICIs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiajia Du
- Hepatic Surgery Center, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, No. 1095, Jiefang Avenue, Wuhan, 430030, Hubei, China
| | - Zhiyong Huang
- Hepatic Surgery Center, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, No. 1095, Jiefang Avenue, Wuhan, 430030, Hubei, China.
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31
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Wang FY, Yang LM, Xiong XL, Yang J, Yang Y, Tang JQ, Gao L, Lu Y, Wang Y, Zou T, Liang H, Huang KB. Rhodium(III) Complex Noncanonically Potentiates Antitumor Immune Responses by Inhibiting Wnt/β-Catenin Signaling. J Med Chem 2024; 67:13778-13787. [PMID: 39134504 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.4c00583] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/23/2024]
Abstract
Metal-based chemoimmunotherapy has recently garnered significant attention for its capacity to stimulate tumor-specific immunity beyond direct cytotoxic effects. Such effects are usually caused by ICD via the activation of DAMP signals. However, metal complexes that can elicit antitumor immune responses other than ICD have not yet been described. Herein, we report that a rhodium complex (Rh-1) triggers potent antitumor immune responses by downregulating Wnt/β-catenin signaling with subsequent activation of T lymphocyte infiltration to the tumor site. The results of mechanistic experiments suggest that ROS accumulation following Rh-1 treatment is a critical trigger of a decrease in β-catenin and enhanced secretion of CCL4, a key mediator of T cell infiltration. Through these properties, Rh-1 exerts a synergistic effect in combination with PD-1 inhibitors against tumor growth in vivo. Taken together, our work describes a promising metal-based antitumor agent with a noncanonical mode of action to sensitize tumor tissues to ICB therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Feng-Yang Wang
- State Key Laboratory for Chemistry and Molecular Engineering of Medicinal Resources, Key Laboratory for Chemistry and Molecular Engineering of Medicinal Resources (Ministry of Education of China), Collaborative Innovation Center for Guangxi Ethnic Medicine, School of Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Guangxi Normal University, Guilin 541004, China
| | - Liang-Mei Yang
- State Key Laboratory for Chemistry and Molecular Engineering of Medicinal Resources, Key Laboratory for Chemistry and Molecular Engineering of Medicinal Resources (Ministry of Education of China), Collaborative Innovation Center for Guangxi Ethnic Medicine, School of Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Guangxi Normal University, Guilin 541004, China
| | - Xiao-Lin Xiong
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Chiral Molecule and Drug Discovery, School of Pharmaceutical Science, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Jing Yang
- State Key Laboratory for Chemistry and Molecular Engineering of Medicinal Resources, Key Laboratory for Chemistry and Molecular Engineering of Medicinal Resources (Ministry of Education of China), Collaborative Innovation Center for Guangxi Ethnic Medicine, School of Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Guangxi Normal University, Guilin 541004, China
| | - Yan Yang
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Chiral Molecule and Drug Discovery, School of Pharmaceutical Science, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Jiu-Qin Tang
- State Key Laboratory for Chemistry and Molecular Engineering of Medicinal Resources, Key Laboratory for Chemistry and Molecular Engineering of Medicinal Resources (Ministry of Education of China), Collaborative Innovation Center for Guangxi Ethnic Medicine, School of Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Guangxi Normal University, Guilin 541004, China
| | - Lei Gao
- State Key Laboratory for Chemistry and Molecular Engineering of Medicinal Resources, Key Laboratory for Chemistry and Molecular Engineering of Medicinal Resources (Ministry of Education of China), Collaborative Innovation Center for Guangxi Ethnic Medicine, School of Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Guangxi Normal University, Guilin 541004, China
| | - Yuan Lu
- State Key Laboratory for Chemistry and Molecular Engineering of Medicinal Resources, Key Laboratory for Chemistry and Molecular Engineering of Medicinal Resources (Ministry of Education of China), Collaborative Innovation Center for Guangxi Ethnic Medicine, School of Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Guangxi Normal University, Guilin 541004, China
| | - Yuan Wang
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Chiral Molecule and Drug Discovery, School of Pharmaceutical Science, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Taotao Zou
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Chiral Molecule and Drug Discovery, School of Pharmaceutical Science, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Hong Liang
- State Key Laboratory for Chemistry and Molecular Engineering of Medicinal Resources, Key Laboratory for Chemistry and Molecular Engineering of Medicinal Resources (Ministry of Education of China), Collaborative Innovation Center for Guangxi Ethnic Medicine, School of Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Guangxi Normal University, Guilin 541004, China
| | - Ke-Bin Huang
- State Key Laboratory for Chemistry and Molecular Engineering of Medicinal Resources, Key Laboratory for Chemistry and Molecular Engineering of Medicinal Resources (Ministry of Education of China), Collaborative Innovation Center for Guangxi Ethnic Medicine, School of Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Guangxi Normal University, Guilin 541004, China
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32
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Wang G, Shen X, Jin W, Song C, Dong M, Zhou Z, Wang X. Elucidating the role of S100A10 in CD8 + T cell exhaustion and HCC immune escape via the cPLA2 and 5-LOX axis. Cell Death Dis 2024; 15:573. [PMID: 39117605 PMCID: PMC11310305 DOI: 10.1038/s41419-024-06895-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2024] [Revised: 07/01/2024] [Accepted: 07/05/2024] [Indexed: 08/10/2024]
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a common malignant tumor with a complex immune evasion mechanism posing a challenge to treatment. The role of the S100A10 gene in various cancers has garnered significant attention. This study aims to elucidate the impact of S100A10 on CD8+ T cell exhaustion via the cPLA2 and 5-LOX axis, thereby elucidating its role in immune evasion in HCC. By analyzing the HCC-related data from the GEO and TCGA databases, we identified differentially expressed genes associated with lipid metabolism and developed a prognostic risk model. Subsequently, through RNA-seq and PPI analyses, we determined vital lipid metabolism genes and downstream factors S100A10, ACOT7, and SMS, which were significantly correlated with CD8+ T cell infiltration. Given the most significant expression differences, we selected S100A10 for further investigation. Both in vitro and in vivo experiments were conducted, including co-culture experiments of CD8+ T cells with MHCC97-L cells, Co-IP experiments, and validation in an HCC mouse model. S100A10 was significantly overexpressed in HCC tissues and potentially regulates CD8+ T cell exhaustion and lipid metabolism reprogramming through the cPLA2 and 5-LOX axis. Silencing S100A10 could inhibit CD8+ T cell exhaustion, further suppressing immune evasion in HCC. S100A10 may activate the cPLA2 and 5-LOX axis, initiating lipid metabolism reprogramming and upregulating LTB4 levels, thus promoting CD8+ T cell exhaustion in HCC tissues, facilitating immune evasion by HCC cells, ultimately impacting the growth and migration of HCC cells. This research highlights the critical role of S100A10 via the cPLA2 and 5-LOX axis in immune evasion in HCC, providing new theoretical foundations and potential targets for diagnosing and treating HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ganggang Wang
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Shanghai Pudong Hospital, Fudan University Pudong Medical Center, 2800 Gongwei Road, Pudong, Shanghai, 201399, China
| | - Xiaowei Shen
- Department of General Surgery, QingPu Branch of Zhongshan Hospital Affiliated to Fudan University, QingPu District Central Hospital Shanghai, No. 1158, Gong Yuan Dong Road, Shanghai, 201700, China
| | - Wenzhi Jin
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Shanghai Pudong Hospital, Fudan University Pudong Medical Center, 2800 Gongwei Road, Pudong, Shanghai, 201399, China
| | - Chao Song
- Department of General Surgery, QingPu Branch of Zhongshan Hospital Affiliated to Fudan University, QingPu District Central Hospital Shanghai, No. 1158, Gong Yuan Dong Road, Shanghai, 201700, China
- Department of Pancreatic Surgery, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, P. R. China
| | - Meiyuan Dong
- Department of Endocrinology, Shanghai Pudong Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhijie Zhou
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Shanghai Pudong Hospital, Fudan University Pudong Medical Center, 2800 Gongwei Road, Pudong, Shanghai, 201399, China
| | - Xiaoliang Wang
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Shanghai Pudong Hospital, Fudan University Pudong Medical Center, 2800 Gongwei Road, Pudong, Shanghai, 201399, China.
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VanSant-Webb C, Low HK, Kuramoto J, Stanley CE, Qiang H, Su AY, Ross AN, Cooper CG, Cox JE, Summers SA, Evason KJ, Ducker GS. Phospholipid isotope tracing suggests β-catenin-driven suppression of phosphatidylcholine metabolism in hepatocellular carcinoma. Biochim Biophys Acta Mol Cell Biol Lipids 2024; 1869:159514. [PMID: 38795827 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbalip.2024.159514] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2023] [Revised: 05/08/2024] [Accepted: 05/20/2024] [Indexed: 05/28/2024]
Abstract
Activating mutations in the CTNNB1 gene encoding β-catenin are among the most frequently observed oncogenic alterations in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Profound alterations in lipid metabolism, including increases in fatty acid oxidation and transformation of the phospholipidome, occur in HCC with CTNNB1 mutations, but it is unclear what mechanisms give rise to these changes. We employed untargeted lipidomics and targeted isotope tracing to measure phospholipid synthesis activity in an inducible human liver cell line expressing mutant β-catenin, as well as in transgenic zebrafish with activated β-catenin-driven HCC. In both models, activated β-catenin expression was associated with large changes in the lipidome including conserved increases in acylcarnitines and ceramides and decreases in triglycerides. Lipid isotope tracing analysis in human cells revealed a reduction in phosphatidylcholine (PC) production rates as assayed by choline incorporation. We developed lipid isotope tracing analysis for zebrafish tumors and observed reductions in phosphatidylcholine synthesis by both the CDP-choline and PEMT pathways. The observed changes in the β-catenin-driven HCC phospholipidome suggest that zebrafish can recapitulate conserved features of HCC lipid metabolism and may serve as a model for identifying future HCC-specific lipid metabolic targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chad VanSant-Webb
- Department of Pathology, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA; Huntsman Cancer Institute, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA
| | - Hayden K Low
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA
| | - Junko Kuramoto
- Department of Pathology, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA; Huntsman Cancer Institute, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA; Department of Pathology, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo 160-8582, Japan
| | - Claire E Stanley
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA
| | - Hantao Qiang
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA
| | - Audrey Y Su
- Department of Pathology, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA; Huntsman Cancer Institute, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA
| | - Alexis N Ross
- Department of Pathology, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA; Huntsman Cancer Institute, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA
| | - Chad G Cooper
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA
| | - James E Cox
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA
| | - Scott A Summers
- Department of Nutrition and Integrative Physiology, University of Utah College of Health, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA
| | - Kimberley J Evason
- Department of Pathology, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA; Huntsman Cancer Institute, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA.
| | - Gregory S Ducker
- Huntsman Cancer Institute, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA; Department of Biochemistry, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA.
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Passelli K, Repáraz D, Kinj R, Herrera FG. Strategies for overcoming tumour resistance to immunotherapy: harnessing the power of radiation therapy. Br J Radiol 2024; 97:1378-1390. [PMID: 38833685 PMCID: PMC11256940 DOI: 10.1093/bjr/tqae100] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2024] [Revised: 05/03/2024] [Accepted: 05/08/2024] [Indexed: 06/06/2024] Open
Abstract
Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) have revolutionized cancer treatment; yet their efficacy remains variable across patients. This review delves into the intricate interplay of tumour characteristics contributing to resistance against ICI therapy and suggests that combining with radiotherapy holds promise. Radiation, known for its ability to trigger immunogenic cell death and foster an in situ vaccination effect, may counteract these resistance mechanisms, enhancing ICI response and patient outcomes. However, particularly when delivered at high-dose, it may trigger immunosuppressive mechanism and consequent side-effects. Notably, low-dose radiotherapy (LDRT), with its capacity for tumour reprogramming and reduced side effects, offers the potential for widespread application. Preclinical and clinical studies have shown encouraging results in this regard.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katiuska Passelli
- Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudoise, Service of Radiation Oncology, Department of Oncology, University of Lausanne, AGORA Center for Cancer Research, Swiss Cancer Center Leman, 1012-Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - David Repáraz
- Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudoise, Service of Radiation Oncology, Department of Oncology, University of Lausanne, AGORA Center for Cancer Research, Swiss Cancer Center Leman, 1012-Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Remy Kinj
- Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudoise, Service of Radiation Oncology, Department of Oncology, University of Lausanne, 1012-Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Fernanda G Herrera
- Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois, Service of Radiation Oncology and Service of Immuno-oncology, Department of Oncology, University of Lausanne, Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Agora Center for Cancer Research, Swiss Cancer Center Leman, 1012-Lausanne, Switzerland
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35
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Chen K, Shuen TWH, Chow PKH. The association between tumour heterogeneity and immune evasion mechanisms in hepatocellular carcinoma and its clinical implications. Br J Cancer 2024; 131:420-429. [PMID: 38760445 PMCID: PMC11300599 DOI: 10.1038/s41416-024-02684-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2023] [Revised: 04/04/2024] [Accepted: 04/05/2024] [Indexed: 05/19/2024] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the third leading cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide. The emergence of combination therapy, atezolizumab (anti-PDL1, immune checkpoint inhibitor) and bevacizumab (anti-VEGF) has revolutionised the management of HCC. Despite this breakthrough, the best overall response rate with first-line systemic therapy is only about 30%, owing to intra-tumoural heterogeneity, complex tumour microenvironment and the lack of predictive biomarkers. Many groups have attempted to classify HCC based on the immune microenvironment and have consistently observed better outcomes in immunologically "hot" HCC. We summarised possible mechanisms of tumour immune evasion based on the latest literature and the rationale for combination/sequential therapy to improve treatment response. Lastly, we proposed future strategies and therapies to overcome HCC immune evasion to further improve treatment outcomes of HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kaina Chen
- Department of Gastroenterology & Hepatology, Singapore General Hospital, Singapore, Singapore
- Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Timothy W H Shuen
- Division of Medical Oncology, National Cancer Centre Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Pierce K H Chow
- Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore, Singapore.
- Department of Hepato-pancreato-biliary and Transplant Surgery, National Cancer Centre Singapore and Singapore General Hospital, Singapore, Singapore.
- Program in Translational and Clinical Liver Cancer Research, National Cancer Centre Singapore, Singapore, Singapore.
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36
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He T, Xu B, Ma H. TLK2 promotes progression of hepatocellular carcinoma through Wnt/β-catenin signaling. Transl Cancer Res 2024; 13:3729-3741. [PMID: 39145094 PMCID: PMC11319953 DOI: 10.21037/tcr-23-2264] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2023] [Accepted: 05/21/2024] [Indexed: 08/16/2024]
Abstract
Background Hepatocellular carcinoma is a widespread cancer worldwide, ranking as the fifth most frequent cancer and the fourth leading cause of cancer-related deaths. According to comprehensive research, TLK2, a phosphorylated kinase, has been discovered to play a crucial role in promoting tumor development. However, the prognostic significance and influence of TLK2 on hepatocellular carcinoma tumor cells and the immune microenvironment remain unexplored, warranting further investigation. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of TLK2 in promoting the development of hepatocellular carcinoma. Methods The present study utilized The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database and other databases as training sets to examine the expression of TLK2 and its prognostic significance. The findings were subsequently validated through cell proliferation assays and cell colony assays. Gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) was employed to investigate the tumor-related biological processes associated with TLK2 in hepatocellular carcinoma, while the relationship between TLK2 expression and Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway was analyzed via TCGA dataset analysis. Western blotting and immunofluorescence assays were used to confirm the experimental results. Results TLK2 showed higher expression levels in tumor tissues than in normal tissues. Alpha fetoprotein (AFP), T stage, pathological stage, and histological grade were significantly associated with TLK2 expression. High TLK2 expression correlated with worse overall survival (OS) [hazard ratio (HR) =1.62, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.14-2.29, P=0.007], progression-free survival (PFS) (HR =1.88, 95% CI: 1.40-2.52, P<0.001) and disease specific survival (DSS) (HR =1.86, 95% CI: 1.18-2.93, P=0.007) in the training and validation sets. Both univariate and multivariate analyses showed that TLK2 was an independent prognostic factor. GSEA showed that TLK2 was significantly enriched in tumor-related biological processes. TLK2 induced the activation of β-catenin signaling, resulting in sustained tumor growth. Methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT) and colony formation assays demonstrated that TLK2 could promote hepatocellular carcinoma progression. Furthermore, TLK2 showed a significant association with β-catenin in the Wnt pathway. Conclusions TLK2 represents an independent prognostic factor in hepatocellular carcinoma and can promote cancer progression via the β-catenin signaling pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ting He
- Medical Research Institute, Guangdong Provincial People’s Hospital (Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences), Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Borui Xu
- Medical Research Institute, Guangdong Provincial People’s Hospital (Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences), Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Haiqing Ma
- Medical Research Institute, Guangdong Provincial People’s Hospital (Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences), Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
- Department of Oncology, Heyuan Hospital of Guangdong Provincial People’s Hospital, Heyuan People’s Hospital, Heyuan, China
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Xiang Y, Wu J, Qin H. Advances in hepatocellular carcinoma drug resistance models. Front Med (Lausanne) 2024; 11:1437226. [PMID: 39144662 PMCID: PMC11322137 DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2024.1437226] [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: 05/23/2024] [Accepted: 07/09/2024] [Indexed: 08/16/2024] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common primary liver cancer. Surgery has been the major treatment method for HCC owing to HCC's poor sensitivity to radiotherapy and chemotherapy. However, its effectiveness is limited by postoperative tumour recurrence and metastasis. Systemic therapy is applied to eliminate postoperative residual tumour cells and improve the survival of patients with advanced HCC. Recently, the emergence of various novel targeted and immunotherapeutic drugs has significantly improved the prognosis of advanced HCC. However, targeted and immunological therapies may not always produce complete and long-lasting anti-tumour responses because of tumour heterogeneity and drug resistance. Traditional and patient-derived cell lines or animal models are used to investigate the drug resistance mechanisms of HCC and identify drugs that could reverse the resistance. This study comprehensively reviewed the established methods and applications of in-vivo and in-vitro HCC drug resistance models to further understand the resistance mechanisms in HCC treatment and provide a model basis for possible individualised therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yien Xiang
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, the Second Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Jun Wu
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, the Second Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Hanjiao Qin
- Department of Radiotherapy, the Second Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China
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38
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Liu Y, Wang F, Yan G, Tong Y, Guo W, Li S, Qian Y, Li Q, Shu Y, Zhang L, Zhang Y, Xia Q. CPT1A loss disrupts BCAA metabolism to confer therapeutic vulnerability in TP53-mutated liver cancer. Cancer Lett 2024; 595:217006. [PMID: 38823763 DOI: 10.1016/j.canlet.2024.217006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2024] [Revised: 05/12/2024] [Accepted: 05/28/2024] [Indexed: 06/03/2024]
Abstract
Driver genomic mutations in tumors define specific molecular subtypes that display distinct malignancy competence, therapeutic resistance and clinical outcome. Although TP53 mutation has been identified as the most common mutation in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), current understanding on the biological traits and therapeutic strategies of this subtype has been largely unknown. Here, we reveal that fatty acid β oxidation (FAO) is remarkable repressed in TP53 mutant HCC and which links to poor prognosis in HCC patients. We further demonstrate that carnitine palmitoyltransferase 1 (CPT1A), the rate-limiting enzyme of FAO, is universally downregulated in liver tumor tissues, and which correlates with poor prognosis in HCC and promotes HCC progression in the de novo liver tumor and xenograft tumor models. Mechanically, hepatic Cpt1a loss disrupts lipid metabolism and acetyl-CoA production. Such reduction in acetyl-CoA reduced histone acetylation and epigenetically reprograms branched-chain amino acids (BCAA) catabolism, and leads to the accumulation of cellular BCAAs and hyperactivation of mTOR signaling. Importantly, we reveal that genetic ablation of CPT1A renders TP53 mutant liver cancer mTOR-addicted and sensitivity to mTOR inhibitor AZD-8055 treatment. Consistently, Cpt1a loss in HCC directs tumor cell therapeutic response to AZD-8055. CONCLUSION: Our results show genetic evidence for CPT1A as a metabolic tumor suppressor in HCC and provide a therapeutic approach for TP53 mutant HCC patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanfeng Liu
- Department of Liver Surgery, Ren Ji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China; Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Transplantation and Immunology, Shanghai, China; Shanghai Institute of Transplantation, Shanghai, China.
| | - Fan Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Systems Medicine for Cancer, Renji-Med-X Clinical Stem Cell Research Center, Ren Ji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Guoquan Yan
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yu Tong
- State Key Laboratory of Systems Medicine for Cancer, Renji-Med-X Clinical Stem Cell Research Center, Ren Ji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Wenyun Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Systems Medicine for Cancer, Renji-Med-X Clinical Stem Cell Research Center, Ren Ji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Songling Li
- School of Biomedical Engineering & Med-X Research Institute, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yifei Qian
- State Key Laboratory of Systems Medicine for Cancer, Renji-Med-X Clinical Stem Cell Research Center, Ren Ji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Qianyu Li
- Department of Liver Surgery, Ren Ji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Yu Shu
- State Key Laboratory of Systems Medicine for Cancer, Renji-Med-X Clinical Stem Cell Research Center, Ren Ji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Lei Zhang
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
| | - Yonglong Zhang
- Central Laboratory, Shanghai Jiaotong University Affiliated Sixth People's Hospital, Shanghai, China.
| | - Qiang Xia
- Department of Liver Surgery, Ren Ji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China; Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Transplantation and Immunology, Shanghai, China; Shanghai Institute of Transplantation, Shanghai, China.
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Chen J, Duan Y, Che J, Zhu J. Dysfunction of dendritic cells in tumor microenvironment and immunotherapy. Cancer Commun (Lond) 2024. [PMID: 39051512 DOI: 10.1002/cac2.12596] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2024] [Revised: 06/10/2024] [Accepted: 07/13/2024] [Indexed: 07/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Dendritic cells (DCs) comprise diverse cell populations that play critical roles in antigen presentation and triggering immune responses in the body. However, several factors impair the immune function of DCs and may promote immune evasion in cancer. Understanding the mechanism of DC dysfunction and the diverse functions of heterogeneous DCs in the tumor microenvironment (TME) is critical for designing effective strategies for cancer immunotherapy. Clinical applications targeting DCs summarized in this report aim to improve immune infiltration and enhance the biological function of DCs to modulate the TME to prevent cancer cells from evading the immune system. Herein, factors in the TME that induce DC dysfunction, such as cytokines, hypoxic environment, tumor exosomes and metabolites, and co-inhibitory molecules, have been described. Furthermore, several key signaling pathways involved in DC dysfunction and signal-relevant drugs evaluated in clinical trials were identified. Finally, this review provides an overview of current clinical immunotherapies targeting DCs, especially therapies with proven clinical outcomes, and explores future developments in DC immunotherapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jie Chen
- Jecho Institute Co., Ltd, Shanghai, P. R. China
| | - Yuhang Duan
- Engineering Research Center of Cell & Therapeutic Antibody, Ministry of Education, Beijing, P. R. China
- Shanghai Jiao Tong University, School of Pharmacy, Shanghai, P. R. China
| | - Junye Che
- Jecho Institute Co., Ltd, Shanghai, P. R. China
| | - Jianwei Zhu
- Jecho Institute Co., Ltd, Shanghai, P. R. China
- Engineering Research Center of Cell & Therapeutic Antibody, Ministry of Education, Beijing, P. R. China
- Shanghai Jiao Tong University, School of Pharmacy, Shanghai, P. R. China
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40
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Tsuruoka M, Ninomiya M, Inoue J, Iwata T, Sano A, Sato K, Onuki M, Sawahashi S, Masamune A. Changes in Mutations of Cell-Free DNA and Liver Tumor Tissue in Patients with Advanced Hepatocellular Carcinoma before and after Introduction of Lenvatinib. Oncology 2024:1-12. [PMID: 39047713 DOI: 10.1159/000540438] [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: 03/10/2024] [Accepted: 07/07/2024] [Indexed: 07/27/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Cell-free DNA (cfDNA) is expected to contribute to the decision for treatment and prediction of effects with minimally invasion. We investigated the correlation between gene mutations before and after lenvatinib (LEN) treatment and its effectiveness, in order to find advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients who would benefit greatly from the therapy. METHODS We analyzed cfDNA before and 6-8 weeks after the start of treatment in 20 advanced HCC patients who started LEN. A next-generation sequencer was used for CTNNB1 and TP53. Concerning TERT promoter, -124C>T and -146C>T mutations are researched using digital PCR. In addition, we examined liver tumor biopsy tissues by the same method. Computerized tomography evaluation was performed at 6-8 weeks and 3-4 months to assess the efficacy. RESULTS Frequencies of TERT promoter, CTNNB1, and TP53 mutations in pretreatment cfDNA were 45%, 65%, and 65%, but 53%, 41%, and 47% in HCC tissues, respectively. There were no clear correlations between these gene mutations and the disease-suppressing effect or progression-free survival. Overall, there were many cases showing a decrease in mutations after LEN treatment. Integrating the reduction of CTNNB1 and TP53 genetic mutations increased the potential for disease suppression. CONCLUSION This study suggests that analysis of cfDNA in advanced HCC patients may be useful for identifying LEN responders and determining therapeutic efficacy. Furthermore, it has potential for selecting responders for other molecular-targeted drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mio Tsuruoka
- Division of Gastroenterology, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai, Japan,
| | - Masashi Ninomiya
- Division of Gastroenterology, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai, Japan
| | - Jun Inoue
- Division of Gastroenterology, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai, Japan
| | - Tomoaki Iwata
- Division of Gastroenterology, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai, Japan
| | - Akitoshi Sano
- Division of Gastroenterology, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai, Japan
| | - Kosuke Sato
- Division of Gastroenterology, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai, Japan
| | - Masazumi Onuki
- Division of Gastroenterology, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai, Japan
| | - Satoko Sawahashi
- Division of Gastroenterology, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai, Japan
| | - Atsushi Masamune
- Division of Gastroenterology, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai, Japan
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41
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Murphy KC, DeMarco KD, Zhou L, Lopez-Diaz Y, Ho YJ, Li J, Bai S, Simin K, Zhu LJ, Mercurio AM, Ruscetti M. MYC and p53 alterations cooperate through VEGF signaling to repress cytotoxic T cell and immunotherapy responses in prostate cancer. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.07.24.604943. [PMID: 39091883 PMCID: PMC11291169 DOI: 10.1101/2024.07.24.604943] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/04/2024]
Abstract
Patients with castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) are generally unresponsive to tumor targeted and immunotherapies. Whether genetic alterations acquired during the evolution of CRPC impact immune and immunotherapy responses is largely unknown. Using our innovative electroporation-based mouse models, we generated distinct genetic subtypes of CRPC found in patients and uncovered unique immune microenvironments. Specifically, mouse and human prostate tumors with MYC amplification and p53 disruption had weak cytotoxic lymphocyte infiltration and an overall dismal prognosis. MYC and p53 cooperated to induce tumor intrinsic secretion of VEGF, which by signaling through VEGFR2 expressed on CD8+ T cells, could directly inhibit T cell activity. Targeting VEGF-VEGFR2 signaling in vivo led to CD8+ T cell-mediated tumor and metastasis growth suppression and significantly increased overall survival in MYC and p53 altered CPRC. VEGFR2 blockade also led to induction of PD-L1, and in combination with PD-L1 immune checkpoint blockade produced anti-tumor efficacy in multiple preclinical CRPC mouse models. Thus, our results identify a genetic mechanism of immune suppression through VEGF signaling in prostate cancer that can be targeted to reactivate immune and immunotherapy responses in an aggressive subtype of CRPC. Significance Though immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) therapies can achieve curative responses in many treatment-refractory cancers, they have limited efficacy in CRPC. Here we identify a genetic mechanism by which VEGF contributes to T cell suppression, and demonstrate that VEGFR2 blockade can potentiate the effects of PD-L1 ICB to immunologically treat CRPC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katherine C. Murphy
- Department of Molecular, Cell, and Cancer Biology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
| | - Kelly D. DeMarco
- Department of Molecular, Cell, and Cancer Biology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
| | - Lin Zhou
- Department of Molecular, Cell, and Cancer Biology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
| | - Yvette Lopez-Diaz
- Horae Gene Therapy Center, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
| | - Yu-jui Ho
- Department of Cancer Biology and Genetics, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Junhui Li
- Department of Molecular, Cell, and Cancer Biology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
| | - Shi Bai
- Department of Pathology, University of Massachusetts Medical Center, Worcester, MA, USA
| | - Karl Simin
- Department of Molecular, Cell, and Cancer Biology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
| | - Lihua Julie Zhu
- Department of Molecular, Cell, and Cancer Biology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
- Program in Molecular Medicine, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
- Department of Genomics and Computational Biology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
| | - Arthur M. Mercurio
- Department of Molecular, Cell, and Cancer Biology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
| | - Marcus Ruscetti
- Department of Molecular, Cell, and Cancer Biology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
- Immunology and Microbiology Program, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
- Cancer Center, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
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Cigliano A, Liao W, Deiana GA, Rizzo D, Chen X, Calvisi DF. Preclinical Models of Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Current Utility, Limitations, and Challenges. Biomedicines 2024; 12:1624. [PMID: 39062197 PMCID: PMC11274649 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines12071624] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2024] [Revised: 07/16/2024] [Accepted: 07/19/2024] [Indexed: 07/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the predominant primary liver tumor, remains one of the most lethal cancers worldwide, despite the advances in therapy in recent years. In addition to the traditional chemically and dietary-induced HCC models, a broad spectrum of novel preclinical tools have been generated following the advent of transgenic, transposon, organoid, and in silico technologies to overcome this gloomy scenario. These models have become rapidly robust preclinical instruments to unravel the molecular pathogenesis of liver cancer and establish new therapeutic approaches against this deadly disease. The present review article aims to summarize and discuss the commonly used preclinical models for HCC, evaluating their strengths and weaknesses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonio Cigliano
- Department of Medicine, Surgery and Pharmacy, University of Sassari, 07100 Sassari, Italy; (A.C.); (G.A.D.); (D.R.)
| | - Weiting Liao
- Department of Bioengineering and Therapeutic Sciences and Liver Center, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA; (W.L.); (X.C.)
- Cancer Biology Program, University of Hawaii Cancer Center, Honolulu, HI 96813, USA
| | - Giovanni A. Deiana
- Department of Medicine, Surgery and Pharmacy, University of Sassari, 07100 Sassari, Italy; (A.C.); (G.A.D.); (D.R.)
| | - Davide Rizzo
- Department of Medicine, Surgery and Pharmacy, University of Sassari, 07100 Sassari, Italy; (A.C.); (G.A.D.); (D.R.)
| | - Xin Chen
- Department of Bioengineering and Therapeutic Sciences and Liver Center, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA; (W.L.); (X.C.)
- Cancer Biology Program, University of Hawaii Cancer Center, Honolulu, HI 96813, USA
| | - Diego F. Calvisi
- Department of Medicine, Surgery and Pharmacy, University of Sassari, 07100 Sassari, Italy; (A.C.); (G.A.D.); (D.R.)
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Dantzer C, Vaché J, Brunel A, Mahouche I, Raymond AA, Dupuy JW, Petrel M, Bioulac-Sage P, Perrais D, Dugot-Senant N, Verdier M, Bessette B, Billottet C, Moreau V. Emerging role of oncogenic ß-catenin in exosome biogenesis as a driver of immune escape in hepatocellular carcinoma. eLife 2024; 13:RP95191. [PMID: 39008536 PMCID: PMC11249736 DOI: 10.7554/elife.95191] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/17/2024] Open
Abstract
Immune checkpoint inhibitors have produced encouraging results in cancer patients. However, the majority of ß-catenin-mutated tumors have been described as lacking immune infiltrates and resistant to immunotherapy. The mechanisms by which oncogenic ß-catenin affects immune surveillance remain unclear. Herein, we highlighted the involvement of ß-catenin in the regulation of the exosomal pathway and, by extension, in immune/cancer cell communication in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). We showed that mutated ß-catenin represses expression of SDC4 and RAB27A, two main actors in exosome biogenesis, in both liver cancer cell lines and HCC patient samples. Using nanoparticle tracking analysis and live-cell imaging, we further demonstrated that activated ß-catenin represses exosome release. Then, we demonstrated in 3D spheroid models that activation of β-catenin promotes a decrease in immune cell infiltration through a defect in exosome secretion. Taken together, our results provide the first evidence that oncogenic ß-catenin plays a key role in exosome biogenesis. Our study gives new insight into the impact of ß-catenin mutations on tumor microenvironment remodeling, which could lead to the development of new strategies to enhance immunotherapeutic response.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Justine Vaché
- Université de Bordeaux, INSERM, U1312, BRICBordeauxFrance
| | - Aude Brunel
- Université de Limoges, INSERM, U1308, CAPTuRLimogesFrance
| | | | - Anne-Aurélie Raymond
- Université de Bordeaux, INSERM, U1312, BRICBordeauxFrance
- Plateforme OncoProt, Université de Bordeaux, CNRS, INSERM, TBM-Core, US5, UAR3457BordeauxFrance
| | - Jean-William Dupuy
- Plateforme OncoProt, Université de Bordeaux, CNRS, INSERM, TBM-Core, US5, UAR3457BordeauxFrance
- Plateforme Protéome, Université de Bordeaux, Bordeaux ProteomeBordeauxFrance
| | - Melina Petrel
- Bordeaux Imaging Center, Université de Bordeaux, CNRS, INSERM, BICBordeauxFrance
| | | | - David Perrais
- Université de Bordeaux, CNRS, Interdisciplinary Institute for Neuroscience, IINS, BordeauxBordeauxFrance
| | - Nathalie Dugot-Senant
- Plateforme d'histologie, Université de Bordeaux, CNRS, INSERM, TBM-Core, US5, UAR3457BordeauxFrance
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Tran DH, Kim D, Kesavan R, Brown H, Dey T, Soflaee MH, Vu HS, Tasdogan A, Guo J, Bezwada D, Al Saad H, Cai F, Solmonson A, Rion H, Chabatya R, Merchant S, Manales NJ, Tcheuyap VT, Mulkey M, Mathews TP, Brugarolas J, Morrison SJ, Zhu H, DeBerardinis RJ, Hoxhaj G. De novo and salvage purine synthesis pathways across tissues and tumors. Cell 2024; 187:3602-3618.e20. [PMID: 38823389 PMCID: PMC11246224 DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2024.05.011] [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: 04/05/2023] [Revised: 03/16/2024] [Accepted: 05/03/2024] [Indexed: 06/03/2024]
Abstract
Purine nucleotides are vital for RNA and DNA synthesis, signaling, metabolism, and energy homeostasis. To synthesize purines, cells use two principal routes: the de novo and salvage pathways. Traditionally, it is believed that proliferating cells predominantly rely on de novo synthesis, whereas differentiated tissues favor the salvage pathway. Unexpectedly, we find that adenine and inosine are the most effective circulating precursors for supplying purine nucleotides to tissues and tumors, while hypoxanthine is rapidly catabolized and poorly salvaged in vivo. Quantitative metabolic analysis demonstrates comparative contribution from de novo synthesis and salvage pathways in maintaining purine nucleotide pools in tumors. Notably, feeding mice nucleotides accelerates tumor growth, while inhibiting purine salvage slows down tumor progression, revealing a crucial role of the salvage pathway in tumor metabolism. These findings provide fundamental insights into how normal tissues and tumors maintain purine nucleotides and highlight the significance of purine salvage in cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diem H Tran
- Children's Medical Center Research Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, 5323 Harry Hines Boulevard, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - Dohun Kim
- Children's Medical Center Research Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, 5323 Harry Hines Boulevard, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - Rushendhiran Kesavan
- Children's Medical Center Research Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, 5323 Harry Hines Boulevard, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - Harrison Brown
- Children's Medical Center Research Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, 5323 Harry Hines Boulevard, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - Trishna Dey
- Children's Medical Center Research Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, 5323 Harry Hines Boulevard, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - Mona Hoseini Soflaee
- Children's Medical Center Research Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, 5323 Harry Hines Boulevard, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - Hieu S Vu
- Children's Medical Center Research Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, 5323 Harry Hines Boulevard, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - Alpaslan Tasdogan
- Department of Dermatology, University Hospital Essen & German Cancer Consortium, Partner Site, Essen, Germany
| | - Jason Guo
- Children's Medical Center Research Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, 5323 Harry Hines Boulevard, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - Divya Bezwada
- Children's Medical Center Research Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, 5323 Harry Hines Boulevard, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - Houssam Al Saad
- Children's Medical Center Research Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, 5323 Harry Hines Boulevard, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - Feng Cai
- Children's Medical Center Research Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, 5323 Harry Hines Boulevard, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - Ashley Solmonson
- Children's Medical Center Research Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, 5323 Harry Hines Boulevard, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - Halie Rion
- Children's Medical Center Research Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, 5323 Harry Hines Boulevard, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - Rawand Chabatya
- Children's Medical Center Research Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, 5323 Harry Hines Boulevard, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - Salma Merchant
- Children's Medical Center Research Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, 5323 Harry Hines Boulevard, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - Nathan J Manales
- Children's Medical Center Research Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, 5323 Harry Hines Boulevard, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - Vanina T Tcheuyap
- Kidney Cancer Program, Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Megan Mulkey
- Children's Medical Center Research Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, 5323 Harry Hines Boulevard, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - Thomas P Mathews
- Children's Medical Center Research Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, 5323 Harry Hines Boulevard, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - James Brugarolas
- Kidney Cancer Program, Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Sean J Morrison
- Children's Medical Center Research Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, 5323 Harry Hines Boulevard, Dallas, TX 75390, USA; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, 5323 Harry Hines Boulevard, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - Hao Zhu
- Children's Medical Center Research Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, 5323 Harry Hines Boulevard, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - Ralph J DeBerardinis
- Children's Medical Center Research Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, 5323 Harry Hines Boulevard, Dallas, TX 75390, USA; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, 5323 Harry Hines Boulevard, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - Gerta Hoxhaj
- Children's Medical Center Research Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, 5323 Harry Hines Boulevard, Dallas, TX 75390, USA.
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45
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Liu WF, Jiang QY, Qi ZR, Zhang F, Tang WQ, Wang HQ, Dong L. CD276 Promotes an Inhibitory Tumor Microenvironment in Hepatocellular Carcinoma and is Associated with Poor Prognosis. J Hepatocell Carcinoma 2024; 11:1357-1373. [PMID: 39011124 PMCID: PMC11247130 DOI: 10.2147/jhc.s469529] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2024] [Accepted: 06/19/2024] [Indexed: 07/17/2024] Open
Abstract
Background CD276 is an emerging immune checkpoint molecule that has been implicated in various cancers. However, its specific role in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains unclear. This study examined the impact of CD276 on patient prognosis and the tumor microenvironment (TME). Methods The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database was utilized to evaluate CD276 expression in HCC and the association between CD276 and immune indicators was also analyzed. The signaling pathways correlated with CD276 expression were identified by gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA). Different algorithms were used to assess immune cell infiltration. The effect of CD276 knockdown on HCC cell phenotypes and its relationship with macrophage polarization was examined using the cell counting kit 8 (CCK-8) assay and co-culture system. Results CD276 was upregulated in HCC and associated with unfavorable clinical outcomes. Hgh CD276 expression was associated with enrichment of the G2/M checkpoint, E2F targets, and mitotic spindles. CD276 expression was correlated with the infiltration of immune cells, including high level of tumor-associated macrophages and low levels of CD8+ T cells. Knockdown of CD276 decreased HCC cell proliferation and increased apoptosis. CD276 silencing in HCC cells and co-culture with THP-1-derived macrophages had a regulatory effect on macrophage polarization and macrophage-mediated cell proliferation and migration. Conclusion CD276 expression in HCC is associated with unfavorable clinical outcomes and may contribute to the development of an immunosuppressive microenvironment. Specifically, CD276 was associated with alterations in immune cell infiltration, immune marker expression, and macrophage polarization during HCC progression, suggesting its potential as a prognostic indicator and promising target for immunotherapeutic intervention in HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wen-Feng Liu
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
- Shanghai Institute of Liver Disease, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
| | - Qiu-Yu Jiang
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
- Shanghai Institute of Liver Disease, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhuo-Ran Qi
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
- Shanghai Institute of Liver Disease, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
| | - Feng Zhang
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
- Shanghai Institute of Liver Disease, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
| | - Wen-Qing Tang
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
- Shanghai Institute of Liver Disease, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
| | - Hao-Qi Wang
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
- Shanghai Institute of Liver Disease, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
| | - Ling Dong
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
- Shanghai Institute of Liver Disease, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
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46
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Pourbagheri-Sigaroodi A, Momeny M, Rezaei N, Fallah F, Bashash D. Immune landscape of hepatocellular carcinoma: From dysregulation of the immune responses to the potential immunotherapies. Cell Biochem Funct 2024; 42:e4098. [PMID: 39034646 DOI: 10.1002/cbf.4098] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2024] [Revised: 07/03/2024] [Accepted: 07/10/2024] [Indexed: 07/23/2024]
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) presents a considerable global health burden due to its late diagnosis and high morbidity. The liver's specific anatomical and physiological features expose it to various antigens, requiring precise immune regulation. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first time that a comprehensive overview of the interactions between the immune system and gut microbiota in the development of HCC, as well as the relevant therapeutic approaches are discussed. Dysregulation of immune compartments within the liver microenvironment drives HCC pathogenesis, characterized by elevated regulatory cells such as regulatory T cells (Tregs), myeloid-derived suppressor cells, and M2 macrophages as well as suppressive molecules, alongside reduced number of effector cells like T cells, natural killer cells, and M1 macrophages. Dysbiosis of gut microbiota also contributes to HCC by disrupting intestinal barrier integrity and triggering overactivated immune responses. Immunotherapy approaches, particularly immune checkpoint inhibitors, have exhibited promise in HCC management, yet adoptive cell therapy and cancer vaccination research are in the early steps with relatively less favorable outcomes. Further understanding of immune dysregulation, gut microbiota involvement, and therapeutic combination strategies are essential for advancing precision immunotherapy in HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Atieh Pourbagheri-Sigaroodi
- Pediatric Infections Research Center, Research Institute for Children's Health, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Majid Momeny
- Hematology, Oncology and Stem Cell Transplantation Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Nima Rezaei
- Research Center for Immunodeficiencies, Children's Medical Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
- Network of Immunity in Infection, Malignancy and Autoimmunity (NIIMA), Universal Scientific Education and Research Network (USERN), Tehran, Iran
- Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Fatemeh Fallah
- Pediatric Infections Research Center, Research Institute for Children's Health, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Davood Bashash
- Department of Hematology and Blood Banking, School of Allied Medical Sciences, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
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47
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Tong Y, Wang F, Li S, Guo W, Li Q, Qian Y, Li L, Zhao H, Zhang Y, Gao WQ, Liu Y. Histone methyltransferase KMT5C drives liver cancer progression and directs therapeutic response to PARP inhibitors. Hepatology 2024; 80:38-54. [PMID: 37556368 DOI: 10.1097/hep.0000000000000559] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2023] [Accepted: 07/30/2023] [Indexed: 08/11/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS Epigenetic plasticity is a major challenge in cancer-targeted therapy. However, the molecular basis governing this process has not yet been clearly defined. Despite the considerable success of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase inhibitors (PARPi) in cancer therapy, the limited response to PARPi, especially in HCC, has been a bottleneck in its clinical implications. Herein, we investigated the molecular basis of the histone methyltransferase KMT5C (lysine methyltransferase 5C) that governs PARPi sensitivity and explored a potential therapeutic strategy for enhancing PARPi efficacy. APPROACH AND RESULTS We identified KMT5C, a trimethyltransferase of H4K20, as a targetable epigenetic factor that promoted liver tumor growth in mouse de novo MYC/Trp53-/- and xenograft liver tumor models. Notably, induction of KMT5C by environmental stress was crucial for DNA repair and HCC cell survival. Mechanistically, KMT5C interacted with the pivotal component of homologous recombination repair, RAD51, and promoted RAD51/RAD54 complex formation, which was essential for the activation of dsDNA breaks repair. This effect depended on the methyltransferase activity of KMT5C. We further demonstrated that the function of KMT5C in promoting HCC progression was dependent on RAD51. Importantly, either a pharmacological inhibitor (A196) or genetic inhibition of KMT5C sensitized liver cancer cells to PARPi. CONCLUSIONS KMT5C played a vital role in promoting liver cancer progression by activating the DNA repair response. Our results revealed a novel therapeutic approach using the KMT5C inhibitor A196, concurrent with olaparib, as a potential HCC therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Tong
- State Key Laboratory of Systems Medicine for Cancer, Department of Liver Surgery, Renji-Med-X Clinical Stem Cell Research Center, Ren Ji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Fan Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Systems Medicine for Cancer, Department of Liver Surgery, Renji-Med-X Clinical Stem Cell Research Center, Ren Ji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Songling Li
- School of Biomedical Engineering & Med-X Research Institute, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Wenyun Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Systems Medicine for Cancer, Department of Liver Surgery, Renji-Med-X Clinical Stem Cell Research Center, Ren Ji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Qianyu Li
- State Key Laboratory of Systems Medicine for Cancer, Department of Liver Surgery, Renji-Med-X Clinical Stem Cell Research Center, Ren Ji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yifei Qian
- State Key Laboratory of Systems Medicine for Cancer, Department of Liver Surgery, Renji-Med-X Clinical Stem Cell Research Center, Ren Ji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Linfeng Li
- State Key Laboratory of Systems Medicine for Cancer, Department of Liver Surgery, Renji-Med-X Clinical Stem Cell Research Center, Ren Ji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Huifang Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Systems Medicine for Cancer, Department of Liver Surgery, Renji-Med-X Clinical Stem Cell Research Center, Ren Ji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yonglong Zhang
- Central Laboratory, Shanghai Jiaotong University Affiliated Sixth People's Hospital, Shanghai, China
| | - Wei-Qiang Gao
- State Key Laboratory of Systems Medicine for Cancer, Department of Liver Surgery, Renji-Med-X Clinical Stem Cell Research Center, Ren Ji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
- School of Biomedical Engineering & Med-X Research Institute, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yanfeng Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Systems Medicine for Cancer, Department of Liver Surgery, Renji-Med-X Clinical Stem Cell Research Center, Ren Ji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Transplantation and Immunology, Shanghai Institute of Transplantation, Shanghai, China
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48
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Xie P, Yu M, Zhang B, Yu Q, Zhao Y, Wu M, Jin L, Yan J, Zhou B, Liu S, Li X, Zhou C, Zhu X, Huang C, Xu Y, Xiao Y, Zhou J, Fan J, Hung MC, Ye Q, Guo L, Li H. CRKL dictates anti-PD-1 resistance by mediating tumor-associated neutrophil infiltration in hepatocellular carcinoma. J Hepatol 2024; 81:93-107. [PMID: 38403027 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhep.2024.02.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2023] [Revised: 01/25/2024] [Accepted: 02/09/2024] [Indexed: 02/27/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND & AIMS The effectiveness of immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) therapy for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is limited by treatment resistance. However, the mechanisms underlying immunotherapy resistance remain elusive. We aimed to identify the role of CT10 regulator of kinase-like (CRKL) in resistance to anti-PD-1 therapy in HCC. METHODS Gene expression in HCC specimens from 10 patients receiving anti-PD-1 therapy was identified by RNA-sequencing. A total of 404 HCC samples from tissue microarrays were analyzed by immunohistochemistry. Transgenic mice (Alb-Cre/Trp53fl/fl) received hydrodynamic tail vein injections of a CRKL-overexpressing vector. Mass cytometry by time of flight was used to profile the proportion and status of different immune cell lineages in the mouse tumor tissues. RESULTS CRKL was identified as a candidate anti-PD-1-resistance gene using a pooled genetic screen. CRKL overexpression nullifies anti-PD-1 treatment efficacy by mobilizing tumor-associated neutrophils (TANs), which block the infiltration and function of CD8+ T cells. PD-L1+ TANs were found to be an essential subset of TANs that were regulated by CRKL expression and display an immunosuppressive phenotype. Mechanistically, CRKL inhibits APC (adenomatous polyposis coli)-mediated proteasomal degradation of β-catenin by competitively decreasing Axin1 binding, and thus promotes VEGFα and CXCL1 expression. Using human HCC samples, we verified the positive correlations of CRKL/β-catenin/VEGFα and CXCL1. Targeting CRKL using CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing (CRKL knockout) or its downstream regulators effectively restored the efficacy of anti-PD-1 therapy in an orthotopic mouse model and a patient-derived organotypic tumor spheroid model. CONCLUSIONS Activation of the CRKL/β-catenin/VEGFα and CXCL1 axis is a critical obstacle to successful anti-PD-1 therapy. Therefore, CRKL inhibitors combined with anti-PD-1 could be useful for the treatment of HCC. IMPACT AND IMPLICATIONS Here, we found that CRKL was overexpressed in anti-PD-1-resistant hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and that CRKL upregulation promotes anti-PD-1 resistance in HCC. We identified that upregulation of the CRKL/β-catenin/VEGFα and CXCL1 axis contributes to anti-PD-1 tolerance by promoting infiltration of tumor-associated neutrophils. These findings support the strategy of bevacizumab-based immune checkpoint inhibitor combination therapy, and CRKL inhibitors combined with anti-PD-1 therapy may be developed for the treatment of HCC.
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MESH Headings
- Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/immunology
- Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/genetics
- Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/drug therapy
- Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/pathology
- Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/metabolism
- Liver Neoplasms/immunology
- Liver Neoplasms/genetics
- Liver Neoplasms/drug therapy
- Liver Neoplasms/pathology
- Liver Neoplasms/metabolism
- Animals
- Humans
- Mice
- Drug Resistance, Neoplasm
- Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors/pharmacology
- Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors/therapeutic use
- Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing/genetics
- Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing/metabolism
- Neutrophil Infiltration
- Programmed Cell Death 1 Receptor/metabolism
- Programmed Cell Death 1 Receptor/genetics
- Programmed Cell Death 1 Receptor/antagonists & inhibitors
- Mice, Transgenic
- CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes/immunology
- CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes/metabolism
- Cell Line, Tumor
- Male
- Chemokine CXCL1/metabolism
- Chemokine CXCL1/genetics
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Affiliation(s)
- Peiyi Xie
- Department of Liver Surgery and Transplantation, Liver Cancer Institute, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion, Ministry of Education, Shanghai, 200032, P.R. China
| | - Mincheng Yu
- Department of Liver Surgery and Transplantation, Liver Cancer Institute, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion, Ministry of Education, Shanghai, 200032, P.R. China
| | - Bo Zhang
- Department of Liver Surgery and Transplantation, Liver Cancer Institute, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion, Ministry of Education, Shanghai, 200032, P.R. China
| | - Qiang Yu
- Department of Liver Surgery and Transplantation, Liver Cancer Institute, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion, Ministry of Education, Shanghai, 200032, P.R. China.
| | - Yufei Zhao
- Department of Liver Surgery and Transplantation, Liver Cancer Institute, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion, Ministry of Education, Shanghai, 200032, P.R. China
| | - Mengyuan Wu
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, P.R. China
| | - Lei Jin
- Department of Liver Surgery and Transplantation, Liver Cancer Institute, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion, Ministry of Education, Shanghai, 200032, P.R. China
| | - Jiuliang Yan
- Department of Pancreatic Surgery, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200080, P.R. China
| | - Binghai Zhou
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330006, P.R. China
| | - Shuang Liu
- Neurosurgery Department of Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, P.R. China
| | - Xiaoqiang Li
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Peking University Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen, 51800, P.R. China
| | - Chenhao Zhou
- Department of Liver Surgery and Transplantation, Liver Cancer Institute, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion, Ministry of Education, Shanghai, 200032, P.R. China
| | - Xiaodong Zhu
- Department of Liver Surgery and Transplantation, Liver Cancer Institute, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion, Ministry of Education, Shanghai, 200032, P.R. China
| | - Cheng Huang
- Department of Liver Surgery and Transplantation, Liver Cancer Institute, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion, Ministry of Education, Shanghai, 200032, P.R. China
| | - Yongfeng Xu
- Department of Liver Surgery and Transplantation, Liver Cancer Institute, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion, Ministry of Education, Shanghai, 200032, P.R. China
| | - Yongsheng Xiao
- Department of Liver Surgery and Transplantation, Liver Cancer Institute, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion, Ministry of Education, Shanghai, 200032, P.R. China
| | - Jian Zhou
- Department of Liver Surgery and Transplantation, Liver Cancer Institute, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion, Ministry of Education, Shanghai, 200032, P.R. China
| | - Jia Fan
- Department of Liver Surgery and Transplantation, Liver Cancer Institute, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion, Ministry of Education, Shanghai, 200032, P.R. China
| | - Mien-Chie Hung
- Graduate Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Research Center for Cancer Biology, and Center for Molecular Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung 404, Taiwan.
| | - Qinghai Ye
- Department of Liver Surgery and Transplantation, Liver Cancer Institute, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion, Ministry of Education, Shanghai, 200032, P.R. China.
| | - Lei Guo
- Department of Liver Surgery and Transplantation, Liver Cancer Institute, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion, Ministry of Education, Shanghai, 200032, P.R. China.
| | - Hui Li
- Department of Liver Surgery and Transplantation, Liver Cancer Institute, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion, Ministry of Education, Shanghai, 200032, P.R. China; Shanghai Medical College and Zhongshan Hospital Immunotherapy Technology Translational Research Center, Shanghai, 200031, P.R. China.
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49
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Arefan D, D'Ardenne NM, Iranpour N, Catania R, Yousef J, Chupetlovska K, Moghe A, Sholosh B, Thangasamy S, Borhani AA, Singhi AD, Monga SP, Furlan A, Wu S. Quantitative radiomics and qualitative LI-RADS imaging descriptors for non-invasive assessment of β-catenin mutation status in hepatocellular carcinoma. Abdom Radiol (NY) 2024; 49:2220-2230. [PMID: 38782785 DOI: 10.1007/s00261-024-04344-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2024] [Revised: 04/09/2024] [Accepted: 04/16/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024]
Abstract
PURPOSE Gain-of-function mutations in CTNNB1, gene encoding for β-catenin, are observed in 25-30% of hepatocellular carcinomas (HCCs). Recent studies have shown β-catenin activation to have distinct roles in HCC susceptibility to mTOR inhibitors and resistance to immunotherapy. Our goal was to develop and test a computational imaging-based model to non-invasively assess β-catenin activation in HCC, since liver biopsies are often not done due to risk of complications. METHODS This IRB-approved retrospective study included 134 subjects with pathologically proven HCC and available β-catenin activation status, who also had either CT or MR imaging of the liver performed within 1 year of histological assessment. For qualitative descriptors, experienced radiologists assessed the presence of imaging features listed in LI-RADS v2018. For quantitative analysis, a single biopsy proven tumor underwent a 3D segmentation and radiomics features were extracted. We developed prediction models to assess the β-catenin activation in HCC using both qualitative and quantitative descriptors. RESULTS There were 41 cases (31%) with β-catenin mutation and 93 cases (69%) without. The model's AUC was 0.70 (95% CI 0.60, 0.79) using radiomics features and 0.64 (0.52, 0.74; p = 0.468) using qualitative descriptors. However, when combined, the AUC increased to 0.88 (0.80, 0.92; p = 0.009). Among the LI-RADS descriptors, the presence of a nodule-in-nodule showed a significant association with β-catenin mutations (p = 0.015). Additionally, 88 radiomics features exhibited a significant association (p < 0.05) with β-catenin mutations. CONCLUSION Combination of LI-RADS descriptors and CT/MRI-derived radiomics determine β-catenin activation status in HCC with high confidence, making precision medicine a possibility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dooman Arefan
- Department of Radiology, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, 200 Lothrop Street, Suite 200, Pittsburgh, PA, 15213, USA
- Pittsburgh Liver Research Center, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center and University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Nicholas M D'Ardenne
- Department of Radiology, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, 200 Lothrop Street, Suite 200, Pittsburgh, PA, 15213, USA
| | - Negaur Iranpour
- Department of Radiology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Roberta Catania
- Department of Radiology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, 676 N. Saint Clair Street, Suite 800, Chicago, IL, 60611, USA
| | - Jacob Yousef
- Department of Radiology, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, 200 Lothrop Street, Suite 200, Pittsburgh, PA, 15213, USA
| | - Kalina Chupetlovska
- Diagnostic Imaging Department, University Hospital "Saint Ivan Rilski", Sofia, Bulgaria
| | - Akshata Moghe
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA
| | - Biatta Sholosh
- Department of Radiology, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, 200 Lothrop Street, Suite 200, Pittsburgh, PA, 15213, USA
| | - Senthur Thangasamy
- Department of Radiology, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, 200 Lothrop Street, Suite 200, Pittsburgh, PA, 15213, USA
| | - Amir A Borhani
- Department of Radiology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, 676 N. Saint Clair Street, Suite 800, Chicago, IL, 60611, USA
| | - Aatur D Singhi
- Pittsburgh Liver Research Center, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center and University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, S405A-BST, 200 Lothrop Street, Pittsburgh, PA, 15261, USA
| | - Satdarshan P Monga
- Pittsburgh Liver Research Center, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center and University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, S405A-BST, 200 Lothrop Street, Pittsburgh, PA, 15261, USA
- Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition, Department of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Alessandro Furlan
- Department of Radiology, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, 200 Lothrop Street, Suite 200, Pittsburgh, PA, 15213, USA
- Pittsburgh Liver Research Center, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center and University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Shandong Wu
- Department of Radiology, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, 200 Lothrop Street, Suite 200, Pittsburgh, PA, 15213, USA.
- Pittsburgh Liver Research Center, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center and University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
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50
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Li Y, Tian M, Pires Sanches JG, Zhang Q, Hou L, Zhang J. Sorcin Inhibits Mitochondrial Apoptosis by Interacting with STAT3 via NF-κB Pathway. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:7206. [PMID: 39000312 PMCID: PMC11241191 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25137206] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2024] [Revised: 06/13/2024] [Accepted: 06/23/2024] [Indexed: 07/16/2024] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a common tumor. Our group has previously reported that sorcin (SRI) plays an important role in the progression and prognosis of HCC. This study aims to explore the mechanism of SRI inhibiting the mitochondrial apoptosis. Bioinformatics analysis, co-IP and immunofluorescence were used to analyze the relationship between SRI and STAT3. MMP and Hoechst staining were performed to detect the effect of SRI on cell apoptosis. The expression of apoptosis-related proteins and NF-κB signaling pathway were examined by Western blot and immunohistochemistry when SRI overexpression or underexpression in vivo and in vitro were found. Moreover, inhibitors were used to further explore the molecular mechanism. Overexpression of SRI inhibited cell apoptosis, which was attenuated by SRI knockdown in vitro and in vivo. Moreover, we identified that STAT3 is an SRI-interacting protein. Mechanistically, SRI interacts with STAT3 and then activates the NF-κB signaling pathway in vitro and in vivo. SRI interacting with STAT3 inhibits apoptosis by the NF-κB pathway and further contributes to the proliferation in HCC, which offers a novel clue and a new potential therapeutic target for HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yizi Li
- Department of Pathology and Forensic Medicine, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Dalian Medical University, Dalian 116044, China
| | - Manlin Tian
- Department of Pathology and Forensic Medicine, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Dalian Medical University, Dalian 116044, China
| | - Jaceline Gislaine Pires Sanches
- Department of Pathology and Forensic Medicine, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Dalian Medical University, Dalian 116044, China
| | - Qingqing Zhang
- Department of Pathology and Forensic Medicine, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Dalian Medical University, Dalian 116044, China
| | - Li Hou
- Department of Pathology and Forensic Medicine, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Dalian Medical University, Dalian 116044, China
| | - Jun Zhang
- Department of Pathology and Forensic Medicine, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Dalian Medical University, Dalian 116044, China
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510275, China
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