1
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Arpinati L, Carradori G, Scherz-Shouval R. CAF-induced physical constraints controlling T cell state and localization in solid tumours. Nat Rev Cancer 2024; 24:676-693. [PMID: 39251836 DOI: 10.1038/s41568-024-00740-4] [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] [Accepted: 08/05/2024] [Indexed: 09/11/2024]
Abstract
Solid tumours comprise cancer cells that engage in continuous interactions with non-malignant cells and with acellular components, forming the tumour microenvironment (TME). The TME has crucial and diverse roles in tumour progression and metastasis, and substantial efforts have been dedicated into understanding the functions of different cell types within the TME. These efforts highlighted the importance of non-cell-autonomous signalling in cancer, mediating interactions between the cancer cells, the immune microenvironment and the non-immune stroma. Much of this non-cell-autonomous signalling is mediated through acellular components of the TME, known as the extracellular matrix (ECM), and controlled by the cells that secrete and remodel the ECM - the cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs). In this Review, we delve into the complex crosstalk among cancer cells, CAFs and immune cells, highlighting the effects of CAF-induced ECM remodelling on T cell functions and offering insights into the potential of targeting ECM components to improve cancer therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ludovica Arpinati
- Department of Biomolecular Sciences, The Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Giulia Carradori
- Department of Biomolecular Sciences, The Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Ruth Scherz-Shouval
- Department of Biomolecular Sciences, The Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel.
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2
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Li M, Freeman S, Franco-Barraza J, Cai KQ, Kim A, Jin S, Cukierman E, Ye K. A bioprinted sea-and-island multicellular model for dissecting human pancreatic tumor-stroma reciprocity and adaptive metabolism. Biomaterials 2024; 310:122631. [PMID: 38815457 PMCID: PMC11186049 DOI: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2024.122631] [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: 05/18/2024] [Accepted: 05/23/2024] [Indexed: 06/01/2024]
Abstract
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) presents a formidable clinical challenge due to its intricate microenvironment characterized by desmoplasia and complex tumor-stroma interactions. Conventional models hinder studying cellular crosstalk for therapeutic development. To recapitulate key features of PDAC masses, this study creates a novel sea-and-island PDAC tumor construct (s&i PTC). The s&i PTC consists of 3D-printed islands of human PDAC cells positioned within an interstitial extracellular matrix (ECM) populated by human cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs). This design closely mimics the in vivo desmoplastic architecture and nutrient-poor conditions. The model enables studying dynamic tumor-stroma crosstalk and signaling reciprocity, revealing both known and yet-to-be-discovered multicellular metabolic adaptations. Using the model, we discovered the orchestrated dynamic alterations of CAFs under nutrient stress, resembling critical in vivo human tumor niches, such as the secretion of pro-tumoral inflammatory factors. Additionally, nutrient scarcity induces dynamic alterations in the ECM composition and exacerbates poor cancer cell differentiation-features well-established in PDAC progression. Proteomic analysis unveiled the enrichment of proteins associated with aggressive tumor behavior and ECM remodeling in response to poor nutritional conditions, mimicking the metabolic stresses experienced by avascular pancreatic tumor cores. Importantly, the model's relevance to patient outcomes is evident through an inverse correlation between biomarker expression patterns in the s&i PTCs and PDAC patient survival rates. Key findings include upregulated MMPs and key ECM proteins (such as collagen 11 and TGFβ) under nutrient-avid conditions, known to be regulated by CAFs, alongside the concomitant reduction in E-cadherin expression associated with a poorly differentiated PDAC state under nutrient deprivation. Furthermore, elevated levels of hyaluronic acid (HA) and integrins in response to nutrient deprivation underscore the model's fidelity to the PDAC microenvironment. We also observed increased IL-6 and reduced α-SMA expression under poor nutritional conditions, suggesting a transition of CAFs from myofibroblastic to inflammatory phenotypes under a nutrient stress akin to in vivo niches. In conclusion, the s&i PTC represents a significant advancement in engineering clinically relevant 3D models of PDAC masses. It offers a promising platform for elucidating tumor-stroma interactions and guiding future therapeutic strategies to improve patient outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ming Li
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Center of Biomanufacturing for Regenerative Medicine, Binghamton University, SUNY, Binghamton, NY, USA
| | - Sebastian Freeman
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Center of Biomanufacturing for Regenerative Medicine, Binghamton University, SUNY, Binghamton, NY, USA
| | - Janusz Franco-Barraza
- Cancer Signaling and Microenvironment Program, Marvin and Concetta Greenberg Pancreatic Cancer Institute, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Lewis Katz Temple School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Kathy Q Cai
- Cancer Signaling and Microenvironment Program, Marvin and Concetta Greenberg Pancreatic Cancer Institute, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Lewis Katz Temple School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Amy Kim
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Center of Biomanufacturing for Regenerative Medicine, Binghamton University, SUNY, Binghamton, NY, USA
| | - Sha Jin
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Center of Biomanufacturing for Regenerative Medicine, Binghamton University, SUNY, Binghamton, NY, USA
| | - Edna Cukierman
- Cancer Signaling and Microenvironment Program, Marvin and Concetta Greenberg Pancreatic Cancer Institute, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Lewis Katz Temple School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
| | - Kaiming Ye
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Center of Biomanufacturing for Regenerative Medicine, Binghamton University, SUNY, Binghamton, NY, USA.
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3
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Zhao Y, Qin C, Lin C, Li Z, Zhao B, Li T, Zhang X, Wang W. Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma cells reshape the immune microenvironment: Molecular mechanisms and therapeutic targets. Biochim Biophys Acta Rev Cancer 2024; 1879:189183. [PMID: 39303859 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbcan.2024.189183] [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: 06/09/2024] [Revised: 08/23/2024] [Accepted: 09/13/2024] [Indexed: 09/22/2024]
Abstract
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a digestive system malignancy characterized by challenging early detection, limited treatment alternatives, and generally poor prognosis. Although there have been significant advancements in immunotherapy for hematological malignancies and various solid tumors in recent decades, with impressive outcomes in recent preclinical and clinical trials, the effectiveness of these therapies in treating PDAC continues to be modest. The unique immunological microenvironment of PDAC, especially the abnormal distribution, complex composition, and variable activation states of tumor-infiltrating immune cells, greatly restricts the effectiveness of immunotherapy. Undoubtedly, integrating data from both preclinical models and human studies helps accelerate the identification of reliable molecules and pathways responsive to targeted biological therapies and immunotherapies, thereby continuously optimizing therapeutic combinations. In this review, we delve deeply into how PDAC cells regulate the immune microenvironment through complex signaling networks, affecting the quantity and functional status of immune cells to promote immune escape and tumor progression. Furthermore, we explore the multi-modal immunotherapeutic strategies currently under development, emphasizing the transformation of the immunosuppressive environment into an anti-tumor milieu by targeting specific molecular and cellular pathways, providing insights for the development of novel treatment strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yutong Zhao
- Department of General Surgery, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Peking Union Medical College, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing 100023, PR China; Key Laboratory of Research in Pancreatic Tumor, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing 100023, PR China; National Science and Technology Key Infrastructure on Translational Medicine in Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Beijing 100023, PR China
| | - Cheng Qin
- Department of General Surgery, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Peking Union Medical College, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing 100023, PR China; Key Laboratory of Research in Pancreatic Tumor, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing 100023, PR China; National Science and Technology Key Infrastructure on Translational Medicine in Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Beijing 100023, PR China
| | - Chen Lin
- Department of General Surgery, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Peking Union Medical College, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing 100023, PR China; Key Laboratory of Research in Pancreatic Tumor, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing 100023, PR China; National Science and Technology Key Infrastructure on Translational Medicine in Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Beijing 100023, PR China
| | - Zeru Li
- Department of General Surgery, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Peking Union Medical College, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing 100023, PR China; Key Laboratory of Research in Pancreatic Tumor, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing 100023, PR China; National Science and Technology Key Infrastructure on Translational Medicine in Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Beijing 100023, PR China
| | - Bangbo Zhao
- Department of General Surgery, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Peking Union Medical College, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing 100023, PR China; Key Laboratory of Research in Pancreatic Tumor, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing 100023, PR China; National Science and Technology Key Infrastructure on Translational Medicine in Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Beijing 100023, PR China
| | - Tianyu Li
- Department of General Surgery, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Peking Union Medical College, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing 100023, PR China; Key Laboratory of Research in Pancreatic Tumor, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing 100023, PR China; National Science and Technology Key Infrastructure on Translational Medicine in Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Beijing 100023, PR China
| | - Xiangyu Zhang
- Department of General Surgery, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Peking Union Medical College, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing 100023, PR China; Key Laboratory of Research in Pancreatic Tumor, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing 100023, PR China; National Science and Technology Key Infrastructure on Translational Medicine in Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Beijing 100023, PR China
| | - Weibin Wang
- Department of General Surgery, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Peking Union Medical College, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing 100023, PR China; Key Laboratory of Research in Pancreatic Tumor, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing 100023, PR China; National Science and Technology Key Infrastructure on Translational Medicine in Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Beijing 100023, PR China.
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4
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Kwantwi LB, Tandoh T. Focal adhesion kinase-mediated interaction between tumor and immune cells in the tumor microenvironment: implications for cancer-associated therapies and tumor progression. Clin Transl Oncol 2024:10.1007/s12094-024-03723-x. [PMID: 39269597 DOI: 10.1007/s12094-024-03723-x] [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: 08/22/2024] [Accepted: 09/05/2024] [Indexed: 09/15/2024]
Abstract
Focal adhesion kinase (FAK) expression has been linked to tumor growth, immunosuppression, metastasis, angiogenesis, and therapeutic resistance through kinase-dependent and kinase scaffolding functions in the nucleus and cytoplasm. Hence, targeting FAK alone or with other agents has gained attention as a potential therapeutic strategy. Moreover, mounting evidence shows that FAK activity can influence the tumor immune microenvironment crosstalk to support tumor progression. Recently, tumor immune microenvironment interaction orchestrators have shown to be promising therapeutic agents for cancer immunotherapies. Therefore, this review highlights how FAK regulates the tumor immune microenvironment interplay to promote tumor immune evasive mechanisms and their potential for combination therapies with standard cancer treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Louis Boafo Kwantwi
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, College of Medicine, Northeast Ohio Medical University, Rootstown, OH, 44272, USA.
| | - Theophilus Tandoh
- Judy and Bernard Briskin Center for Multiple Myeloma Research, Department of Hematology and Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation, City of Hope, Duarte, CA, USA
- Department of Hematologic Malignancies Translational Science, Beckman Research Institute, City of Hope, Duarte, CA, USA
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5
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Chibaya L, DeMarco KD, Lusi CF, Kane GI, Brassil ML, Parikh CN, Murphy KC, Chowdhury SR, Li J, Ma B, Naylor TE, Cerrutti J, Mori H, Diaz-Infante M, Peura J, Pitarresi JR, Zhu LJ, Fitzgerald KA, Atukorale PU, Ruscetti M. Nanoparticle delivery of innate immune agonists combined with senescence-inducing agents promotes T cell control of pancreatic cancer. Sci Transl Med 2024; 16:eadj9366. [PMID: 39196958 DOI: 10.1126/scitranslmed.adj9366] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2023] [Revised: 03/18/2024] [Accepted: 06/11/2024] [Indexed: 08/30/2024]
Abstract
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) has quickly risen to become the third leading cause of cancer-related death in the United States. This is in part because of its fibrotic tumor microenvironment (TME) that contributes to poor vascularization and immune infiltration and subsequent chemo- and immunotherapy failure. Here, we investigated an immunotherapy approach combining delivery of stimulator of interferon genes (STING) and Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) innate immune agonists by lipid-based nanoparticle (NP) coencapsulation with senescence-inducing RAS-targeted therapies, which can remodel the immune suppressive PDAC TME through the senescence-associated secretory phenotype. Treatment of transplanted and autochthonous PDAC mouse models with these regimens led to enhanced uptake of NPs by multiple cell types in the PDAC TME, induction of type I interferon and other proinflammatory signaling pathways, increased antigen presentation by tumor cells and antigen-presenting cells, and subsequent activation of both innate and adaptive immune responses. This two-pronged approach produced potent T cell-driven and type I interferon-mediated tumor regression and long-term survival in preclinical PDAC models dependent on both tumor and host STING activation. STING and TLR4-mediated type I interferon signaling was also associated with enhanced natural killer and CD8+ T cell immunity in human PDAC samples. Thus, combining localized immune agonist delivery with systemic tumor-targeted therapy can orchestrate a coordinated type I interferon-driven innate and adaptive immune response with durable antitumor efficacy against PDAC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Loretah Chibaya
- Department of Molecular, Cell, and Cancer Biology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Kelly D DeMarco
- Department of Molecular, Cell, and Cancer Biology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Christina F Lusi
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, MA 01003, USA
| | - Griffin I Kane
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, MA 01003, USA
| | - Meghan L Brassil
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, MA 01003, USA
| | - Chaitanya N Parikh
- Department of Molecular, Cell, and Cancer Biology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Katherine C Murphy
- Department of Molecular, Cell, and Cancer Biology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Shreya R Chowdhury
- Department of Molecular, Cell, and Cancer Biology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Junhui Li
- Department of Molecular, Cell, and Cancer Biology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Boyang Ma
- Department of Molecular, Cell, and Cancer Biology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Tiana E Naylor
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, MA 01003, USA
| | - Julia Cerrutti
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, MA 01003, USA
| | - Haruka Mori
- Department of Molecular, Cell, and Cancer Biology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
- Division of Innate Immunity, Department of Medicine, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Miranda Diaz-Infante
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, MA 01003, USA
| | - Jessica Peura
- Department of Molecular, Cell, and Cancer Biology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
- Division of Hematology-Oncology, Department of Medicine, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Jason R Pitarresi
- Department of Molecular, Cell, and Cancer Biology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
- Division of Hematology-Oncology, Department of Medicine, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Lihua Julie Zhu
- Department of Molecular, Cell, and Cancer Biology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
- Program in Molecular Medicine, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
- Department of Genomics and Computational Biology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Katherine A Fitzgerald
- Division of Innate Immunity, Department of Medicine, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Prabhani U Atukorale
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, MA 01003, USA
- Division of Innate Immunity, Department of Medicine, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
- Cancer Center, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Marcus Ruscetti
- Department of Molecular, Cell, and Cancer Biology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
- Cancer Center, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
- Immunology and Microbiology Program, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
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6
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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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7
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Schlaepfer DD, Ojalill M, Stupack DG. Focal adhesion kinase signaling - tumor vulnerabilities and clinical opportunities. J Cell Sci 2024; 137:jcs261723. [PMID: 39034922 PMCID: PMC11298715 DOI: 10.1242/jcs.261723] [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] [Indexed: 07/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Focal adhesion kinase (FAK; encoded by PTK2) was discovered over 30 years ago as a cytoplasmic protein tyrosine kinase that is localized to cell adhesion sites, where it is activated by integrin receptor binding to extracellular matrix proteins. FAK is ubiquitously expressed and functions as a signaling scaffold for a variety of proteins at adhesions and in the cell cytoplasm, and with transcription factors in the nucleus. FAK expression and intrinsic activity are essential for mouse development, with molecular connections to cell motility, cell survival and gene expression. Notably, elevated FAK tyrosine phosphorylation is common in tumors, including pancreatic and ovarian cancers, where it is associated with decreased survival. Small molecule and orally available FAK inhibitors show on-target inhibition in tumor and stromal cells with effects on chemotherapy resistance, stromal fibrosis and tumor microenvironment immune function. Herein, we discuss recent insights regarding mechanisms of FAK activation and signaling, its roles as a cytoplasmic and nuclear scaffold, and the tumor-intrinsic and -extrinsic effects of FAK inhibitors. We also discuss results from ongoing and advanced clinical trials targeting FAK in low- and high-grade serous ovarian cancers, where FAK acts as a master regulator of drug resistance. Although FAK is not known to be mutationally activated, preventing FAK activity has revealed multiple tumor vulnerabilities that support expanding clinical combinatorial targeting possibilities.
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Affiliation(s)
- David D. Schlaepfer
- University of California, San Diego, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences, Moores Cancer Center, Division of Gynecologic Oncology, 3855 Health Sciences Dr., La Jolla, CA 92098, USA
| | - Marjaana Ojalill
- University of California, San Diego, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences, Moores Cancer Center, Division of Gynecologic Oncology, 3855 Health Sciences Dr., La Jolla, CA 92098, USA
| | - Dwayne G. Stupack
- University of California, San Diego, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences, Moores Cancer Center, Division of Gynecologic Oncology, 3855 Health Sciences Dr., La Jolla, CA 92098, USA
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8
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Liu Y, Okesola BO, Osuna de la Peña D, Li W, Lin ML, Trabulo S, Tatari M, Lawlor RT, Scarpa A, Wang W, Knight M, Loessner D, Heeschen C, Mata A, Pearce OMT. A Self-Assembled 3D Model Demonstrates How Stiffness Educates Tumor Cell Phenotypes and Therapy Resistance in Pancreatic Cancer. Adv Healthc Mater 2024; 13:e2301941. [PMID: 38471128 DOI: 10.1002/adhm.202301941] [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: 08/17/2023] [Revised: 01/16/2024] [Indexed: 03/14/2024]
Abstract
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is characterized by a dense and stiff extracellular matrix (ECM) associated with tumor progression and therapy resistance. To further the understanding of how stiffening of the tumor microenvironment (TME) contributes to aggressiveness, a three-dimensional (3D) self-assembling hydrogel disease model is developed based on peptide amphiphiles (PAs, PA-E3Y) designed to tailor stiffness. The model displays nanofibrous architectures reminiscent of native TME and enables the study of the invasive behavior of PDAC cells. Enhanced tuneability of stiffness is demonstrated by interacting thermally annealed aqueous solutions of PA-E3Y (PA-E3Yh) with divalent cations to create hydrogels with mechanical properties and ultrastructure similar to native tumor ECM. It is shown that stiffening of PA-E3Yh hydrogels to levels found in PDAC induces ECM deposition, promotes epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT), enriches CD133+/CXCR4+ cancer stem cells (CSCs), and subsequently enhances drug resistance. The findings reveal how a stiff 3D environment renders PDAC cells more aggressive and therefore more faithfully recapitulates in vivo tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying Liu
- Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary University of London, London, EC1M 6BQ, UK
- School of Engineering and Materials Science, Queen Mary University of London, London, E1 4NS, UK
| | - Babatunde O Okesola
- School of Life Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, NG7 2RD, UK
| | - David Osuna de la Peña
- Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary University of London, London, EC1M 6BQ, UK
- School of Engineering and Materials Science, Queen Mary University of London, London, E1 4NS, UK
| | - Weiqi Li
- School of Engineering and Materials Science, Queen Mary University of London, London, E1 4NS, UK
| | - Meng-Lay Lin
- Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary University of London, London, EC1M 6BQ, UK
| | - Sara Trabulo
- Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary University of London, London, EC1M 6BQ, UK
| | - Marianthi Tatari
- Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary University of London, London, EC1M 6BQ, UK
| | - Rita T Lawlor
- Department of Diagnostics and Public Health, Section of Pathology, University of Verona, Verona, 37134, Italy
- ARC-Net, Applied Research on Cancer Centre, University of Verona, Verona, 37134, Italy
| | - Aldo Scarpa
- Department of Diagnostics and Public Health, Section of Pathology, University of Verona, Verona, 37134, Italy
- ARC-Net, Applied Research on Cancer Centre, University of Verona, Verona, 37134, Italy
| | - Wen Wang
- School of Engineering and Materials Science, Queen Mary University of London, London, E1 4NS, UK
| | - Martin Knight
- Centre for Bioengineering, School of Engineering and Materials Science, Queen Mary University of London, London, E1 4NS, UK
- Centre for Predictive in vitro Models, Queen Mary University of London, London, E1 4NS, UK
| | - Daniela Loessner
- Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary University of London, London, EC1M 6BQ, UK
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, 3800, Australia
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, 3800, Australia
- Department of Anatomy and Developmental Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, 3800, Australia
| | - Christopher Heeschen
- Pancreatic Cancer Heterogeneity, Candiolo Cancer Institute - FPO - IRCCS, Candiolo (TO), 10060, Italy
| | - Alvaro Mata
- School of Pharmacy, University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham, NG7 2RD, UK
- Biodiscovery Institute, University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham, NG7 2RD, UK
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham, NG7 2RD, UK
| | - Oliver M T Pearce
- Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary University of London, London, EC1M 6BQ, UK
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9
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Ding LY, Chang CJ, Chen SY, Chen KL, Li YS, Wu YC, Hsu TY, Ying HY, Wu HY, Hughes MW, Wang CY, Chang CH, Tang MJ, Chuang WJ, Shan YS, Chang CJ, Huang PH. Stromal Rigidity Stress Accelerates Pancreatic Intraepithelial Neoplasia Progression and Chromosomal Instability via Nuclear Protein Tyrosine Kinase 2 Localization. THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PATHOLOGY 2024; 194:1346-1373. [PMID: 38631549 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajpath.2024.02.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2023] [Revised: 01/11/2024] [Accepted: 02/21/2024] [Indexed: 04/19/2024]
Abstract
Because the mechanotransduction by stromal stiffness stimulates the rupture and repair of the nuclear envelope in pancreatic progenitor cells, accumulated genomic aberrations are under selection in the tumor microenvironment. Analysis of cell growth, micronuclei, and phosphorylated Ser-139 residue of the histone variant H2AX (γH2AX) foci linked to mechanotransduction pressure in vivo during serial orthotopic passages of mouse KrasLSL-G12D/+;Trp53flox/flox;Pdx1-Cre (KPC) cancer cells in the tumor and in migrating through the size-restricted 3-μm micropores. To search for pancreatic cancer cell-of-origin, analysis of single-cell data sets revealed that the extracellular matrix shaped an alternate route of acinar-ductal transdifferentiation of acinar cells into topoisomerase II α (TOP2A)-overexpressing cancer cells and derived subclusters with copy number amplifications in MYC-PTK2 (protein tyrosine kinase 2) locus and PIK3CA. High-PTK2 expression is associated with 171 differentially methylated CpG loci, 319 differentially expressed genes, and poor overall survival in The Cancer Genome Atlas-Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma cohort. Abolished RGD-integrin signaling by disintegrin KG blocked the PTK2 phosphorylation, increased cancer apoptosis, decreased vav guanine nucleotide exchange factor 1 (VAV1) expression, and prolonged overall survival in the KPC mice. Reduction of α-smooth muscle actin deposition in the CD248 knockout KPC mice remodeled the tissue stroma and down-regulated TOP2A expression in the epithelium. In summary, stromal stiffness induced the onset of cancer cells-of-origin by ectopic TOP2A expression, and the genomic amplification of MYC-PTK2 locus via alternative transdifferentiation of pancreatic progenitor cells is the vulnerability useful for disintegrin KG treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Li-Yun Ding
- Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan
| | - Chia-Jung Chang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan
| | - Szu-Ying Chen
- Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan
| | - Kuan-Lin Chen
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan
| | - Yueh-Shan Li
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan
| | - Yun-Chieh Wu
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan
| | - Ting-Yi Hsu
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan
| | - Hsin-Yu Ying
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan
| | - Hsin-Yi Wu
- Instrumentation Center, College of Science, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Michael W Hughes
- Institute of Clinical Medicine, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan; Department of Life Sciences, College of Bioscience and Biotechnology, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan; International Center for Wound Repair and Regeneration, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan
| | - Chia-Yih Wang
- Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan; Department of Cell Biology and Anatomy, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan
| | - Chih-Han Chang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan; Medical Device Innovation Center, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan
| | - Ming-Jer Tang
- Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan; International Center for Wound Repair and Regeneration, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan; Department of Physiology, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan
| | - Woei-Jer Chuang
- Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan; Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan; Center of Cell Therapy, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan
| | - Yan-Shen Shan
- Institute of Clinical Medicine, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan; Center of Cell Therapy, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan; Division of General Surgery, Department of Surgery, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan
| | - Chia-Jung Chang
- Department of Internal Medicine, Ditmanson Medical Foundation, Chia-Yi Christian Hospital, Chia-Yi, Taiwan.
| | - Po-Hsien Huang
- Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan; Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan.
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10
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Tesson M, Morton JP. The preclinical gap in pancreatic cancer and radiotherapy. Dis Model Mech 2024; 17:dmm050703. [PMID: 38979684 PMCID: PMC11261628 DOI: 10.1242/dmm.050703] [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] [Indexed: 07/10/2024] Open
Abstract
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma is an aggressive malignancy with limited treatment options. Chemotherapy offers little benefit and, although there is some evidence that radiotherapy may improve response, its use in the clinical management of pancreatic cancer remains controversial due to conflicting reports on its survival benefit. There has also been a lack of clinical trials that directly investigate the efficacy of radiotherapy in pancreatic cancer. The limited progress in the development of radiotherapeutic strategies in pancreatic cancer can be attributed, at least in part, to a dearth of preclinical research and our limited understanding of the effects of radiation on the pancreatic tumour microenvironment. In this Perspective, we discuss how insight into the immunosuppressive tumour microenvironment and the complex signalling between tumour and stromal cells following radiation is needed to develop effective radiosensitising strategies for pancreatic cancer. We also highlight that to have the best chance for successful clinical translation, more preclinical research is required in appropriately complex models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mathias Tesson
- Cancer Research UK Scotland Institute, Switchback Rd, Glasgow G61 1BD, UK
| | - Jennifer P. Morton
- Cancer Research UK Scotland Institute, Switchback Rd, Glasgow G61 1BD, UK
- School of Cancer Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G61 1QH, UK
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11
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Gao J, Cheng J, Xie W, Zhang P, Liu X, Wang Z, Zhang B. Prospects of focal adhesion kinase inhibitors as a cancer therapy in preclinical and early phase study. Expert Opin Investig Drugs 2024; 33:639-651. [PMID: 38676368 DOI: 10.1080/13543784.2024.2348068] [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: 12/01/2023] [Accepted: 04/23/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION FAK, a nonreceptor cytoplasmic tyrosine kinase, plays a crucial role in tumor metastasis, drug resistance, tumor stem cell maintenance, and regulation of the tumor microenvironment. FAK has emerged as a promising target for tumor therapy based on both preclinical and clinical data. AREAS COVERED This paper aims to summarize the molecular mechanisms underlying FAK's involvement in tumorigenesis and progression. Encouraging results have emerged from ongoing clinical trials of FAK inhibitors. Additionally, we present an overview of clinical trials for FAK inhibitors, examining their potential as promising treatments. The pertinent studies gathered from databases including PubMed, ClinicalTrials.gov. EXPERT OPINION Since the first finding in 1990s, targeting FAK has became the focus of interests in many pharmaceutical companies. Through 30 years' discovery, the industry and academy gradually realized the features of FAK target which may not be a driver gene but a solid defense system for the cancer initiation and development. Currently, the ongoing clinical regimens involving FAK inhibition are all the combination strategies in which FAK inhibitors can further strengthen the cancer cell killing effects of other testing agents. The emerging positive signal in clinical trials foresee targeting FAK as class will be an effective mean to fight against cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Wanyu Xie
- InxMed (Shanghai) Co. Ltd, Shanghai, China
| | - Ping Zhang
- InxMed (Shanghai) Co. Ltd, Shanghai, China
| | - Xuebin Liu
- InxMed (Shanghai) Co. Ltd, Shanghai, China
| | - Zaiqi Wang
- InxMed (Shanghai) Co. Ltd, Shanghai, China
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12
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Vendramini-Costa DB, Francescone R, Franco-Barraza J, Luong T, Graves M, de Aquino AM, Steele N, Gardiner JC, Dos Santos SAA, Ogier C, Malloy E, Borghaei L, Martinez E, Zhigarev DI, Tan Y, Lee H, Zhou Y, Cai KQ, Klein-Szanto AJ, Wang H, Andrake M, Dunbrack RL, Campbell K, Cukierman E. Netrin G1 Ligand is a new stromal immunomodulator that promotes pancreatic cancer. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.05.15.594354. [PMID: 38798370 PMCID: PMC11118300 DOI: 10.1101/2024.05.15.594354] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/29/2024]
Abstract
Understanding pancreatic cancer biology is fundamental for identifying new targets and for developing more effective therapies. In particular, the contribution of the stromal microenvironment to pancreatic cancer tumorigenesis requires further exploration. Here, we report the stromal roles of the synaptic protein Netrin G1 Ligand (NGL-1) in pancreatic cancer, uncovering its pro-tumor functions in cancer-associated fibroblasts and in immune cells. We observed that the stromal expression of NGL-1 inversely correlated with patients' overall survival. Moreover, germline knockout (KO) mice for NGL-1 presented decreased tumor burden, with a microenvironment that is less supportive of tumor growth. Of note, tumors from NGL-1 KO mice produced less immunosuppressive cytokines and displayed an increased percentage of CD8 + T cells than those from control mice, while preserving the physical structure of the tumor microenvironment. These effects were shown to be mediated by NGL-1 in both immune cells and in the local stroma, in a TGF-β-dependent manner. While myeloid cells lacking NGL-1 decreased the production of immunosuppressive cytokines, NGL-1 KO T cells showed increased proliferation rates and overall polyfunctionality compared to control T cells. CAFs lacking NGL-1 were less immunosuppressive than controls, with overall decreased production of pro-tumor cytokines and compromised ability to inhibit CD8 + T cells activation. Mechanistically, these CAFs downregulated components of the TGF-β pathway, AP-1 and NFAT transcription factor families, resulting in a less tumor-supportive phenotype. Finally, targeting NGL-1 genetically or using a functionally antagonistic small peptide phenocopied the effects of chemotherapy, while modulating the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (TME), rather than eliminating it. We propose NGL-1 as a new local stroma and immunomodulatory molecule, with pro-tumor roles in pancreatic cancer. Statement of Significance Here we uncovered the pro-tumor roles of the synaptic protein NGL-1 in the tumor microenvironment of pancreatic cancer, defining a new target that simultaneously modulates tumor cell, fibroblast, and immune cell functions. This study reports a new pathway where NGL-1 controls TGF-β, AP-1 transcription factor members and NFAT1, modulating the immunosuppressive microenvironment in pancreatic cancer. Our findings highlight NGL-1 as a new stromal immunomodulator in pancreatic cancer.
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13
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Raymant M, Astuti Y, Alvaro-Espinosa L, Green D, Quaranta V, Bellomo G, Glenn M, Chandran-Gorner V, Palmer DH, Halloran C, Ghaneh P, Henderson NC, Morton JP, Valiente M, Mielgo A, Schmid MC. Macrophage-fibroblast JAK/STAT dependent crosstalk promotes liver metastatic outgrowth in pancreatic cancer. Nat Commun 2024; 15:3593. [PMID: 38678021 PMCID: PMC11055860 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-47949-3] [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: 07/10/2023] [Accepted: 04/16/2024] [Indexed: 04/29/2024] Open
Abstract
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a highly metastatic disease for which better therapies are urgently needed. Fibroblasts and macrophages are heterogeneous cell populations able to enhance metastasis, but the role of a macrophage-fibroblast crosstalk in regulating their pro-metastatic functions remains poorly understood. Here we deconvolve how macrophages regulate metastasis-associated fibroblast (MAF) heterogeneity in the liver. We identify three functionally distinct MAF populations, among which the generation of pro-metastatic and immunoregulatory myofibroblastic-MAFs (myMAFs) critically depends on macrophages. Mechanistically, myMAFs are induced through a STAT3-dependent mechanism driven by macrophage-derived progranulin and cancer cell-secreted leukaemia inhibitory factor (LIF). In a reciprocal manner, myMAF secreted osteopontin promotes an immunosuppressive macrophage phenotype resulting in the inhibition of cytotoxic T cell functions. Pharmacological blockade of STAT3 or myMAF-specific genetic depletion of STAT3 restores an anti-tumour immune response and reduces metastases. Our findings provide molecular insights into the complex macrophage-fibroblast interactions in tumours and reveal potential targets to inhibit PDAC liver metastasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meirion Raymant
- Department of Molecular and Clinical Cancer Medicine, University of Liverpool, Ashton Street, Liverpool, L69 3GE, UK
| | - Yuliana Astuti
- Department of Molecular and Clinical Cancer Medicine, University of Liverpool, Ashton Street, Liverpool, L69 3GE, UK
| | - Laura Alvaro-Espinosa
- Brain Metastasis Group, Spanish National Cancer Research Centre (CNIO), Madrid, Spain
| | - Daniel Green
- Department of Molecular and Clinical Cancer Medicine, University of Liverpool, Ashton Street, Liverpool, L69 3GE, UK
| | - Valeria Quaranta
- Department of Molecular and Clinical Cancer Medicine, University of Liverpool, Ashton Street, Liverpool, L69 3GE, UK
| | - Gaia Bellomo
- Department of Molecular and Clinical Cancer Medicine, University of Liverpool, Ashton Street, Liverpool, L69 3GE, UK
| | - Mark Glenn
- Department of Molecular and Clinical Cancer Medicine, University of Liverpool, Ashton Street, Liverpool, L69 3GE, UK
| | - Vatshala Chandran-Gorner
- Department of Molecular and Clinical Cancer Medicine, University of Liverpool, Ashton Street, Liverpool, L69 3GE, UK
| | - Daniel H Palmer
- Department of Molecular and Clinical Cancer Medicine, University of Liverpool, Ashton Street, Liverpool, L69 3GE, UK
| | - Christopher Halloran
- Department of Molecular and Clinical Cancer Medicine, University of Liverpool, Ashton Street, Liverpool, L69 3GE, UK
| | - Paula Ghaneh
- Department of Molecular and Clinical Cancer Medicine, University of Liverpool, Ashton Street, Liverpool, L69 3GE, UK
| | - Neil C Henderson
- Centre for Inflammation Research, The Queen's Medical Research Institute, Edinburgh BioQuarter, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH16 4TJ, UK
- MRC Human Genetics Unit, Institute of Genetics and Cancer, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Jennifer P Morton
- Cancer Research-UK Scotland Institute and School of Cancer Sciences, University of Glasgow, Switchback Road, Glasgow, G61 1BD, UK
| | - Manuel Valiente
- Brain Metastasis Group, Spanish National Cancer Research Centre (CNIO), Madrid, Spain
| | - Ainhoa Mielgo
- Department of Molecular and Clinical Cancer Medicine, University of Liverpool, Ashton Street, Liverpool, L69 3GE, UK
| | - Michael C Schmid
- Department of Molecular and Clinical Cancer Medicine, University of Liverpool, Ashton Street, Liverpool, L69 3GE, UK.
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14
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Zhang B, Li N, Gao J, Zhao Y, Jiang J, Xie S, Zhang C, Zhang Q, Liu L, Wang Z, Ji D, Wu L, Ren R. Targeting of focal adhesion kinase enhances the immunogenic cell death of PEGylated liposome doxorubicin to optimize therapeutic responses of immune checkpoint blockade. J Exp Clin Cancer Res 2024; 43:51. [PMID: 38373953 PMCID: PMC10875809 DOI: 10.1186/s13046-024-02974-4] [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: 07/31/2023] [Accepted: 02/03/2024] [Indexed: 02/21/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUNDS Immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) is widely considered to exert long-term treatment benefits by activating antitumor immunity. However, many cancer patients show poor clinical responses to ICB due in part to the lack of an immunogenic niche. Focal adhesion kinase (FAK) is frequently amplified and acts as an immune modulator across cancer types. However, evidence illustrates that targeting FAK is most effective in combination therapy rather than in monotherapy. METHODS Here, we used drug screening, in vitro and in vivo assays to filter out that doxorubicin and its liposomal form pegylated liposome doxorubicin (PLD) showed synergistic anti-tumor effects in combination with FAK inhibitor IN10018. We hypothesized that anti-tumor immunity and immunogenic cell death (ICD) may be involved in the treatment outcomes through the data analysis of our clinical trial testing the combination of IN10018 and PLD. We then performed cell-based assays and animal studies to detect whether FAK inhibition by IN10018 can boost the ICD of PLD/doxorubicin and further established syngeneic models to test the antitumor effect of triplet combination of PLD, IN10018, and ICB. RESULTS We demonstrated that the combination of FAK inhibitor IN10018, and PLD/doxorubicin exerted effective antitumor activity. Notably, the doublet combination regimen exhibited response latency and long-lasting treatment effects clinically, outcomes frequently observed in immunotherapy. Our preclinical study confirmed that the 2-drug combination can maximize the ICD of cancer cells. This approach primed the tumor microenvironment, supplementing it with sufficient tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) to activate antitumor immunity. Finally, different animal studies confirmed that the antitumor effects of ICB can be significantly enhanced by this doublet regimen. CONCLUSIONS We confirmed that targeting FAK by IN10018 can enhance the ICD of PLD/doxorubicin, further benefiting the anti-tumor effect of ICB. The animal tests of the triplet regimen warrant further discovery in the real world.
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Affiliation(s)
- Baoyuan Zhang
- State Key Laboratory for Medical Genomics, Collaborative Innovation Center of Hematology, Shanghai Institute of HematologyNational Research Center for Translational MedicineRuijin Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Ning Li
- Department of Gynecologic Oncology, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinses Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Jiaming Gao
- State Key Laboratory for Medical Genomics, Collaborative Innovation Center of Hematology, Shanghai Institute of HematologyNational Research Center for Translational MedicineRuijin Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Yuxi Zhao
- Department of Gynecologic Oncology, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinses Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Jun Jiang
- InxMed (Shanghai) Co., Ltd, Beijing, China
| | - Shuang Xie
- InxMed (Shanghai) Co., Ltd, Beijing, China
| | - Cuiping Zhang
- Department of Pathology, Yantai Affiliated Hospital of Binzhou Medical University, Yantai, Shandong, China
| | - Qingyu Zhang
- Laboratory of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Medical University, Zhanjiang, Guangdong, China
| | - Leo Liu
- InxMed (Shanghai) Co., Ltd, Beijing, China
| | - Zaiqi Wang
- InxMed (Shanghai) Co., Ltd, Beijing, China
| | - Dongmei Ji
- Department of Medical Oncology, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, China.
| | - Lingying Wu
- Department of Gynecologic Oncology, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinses Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China.
| | - Ruibao Ren
- State Key Laboratory for Medical Genomics, Collaborative Innovation Center of Hematology, Shanghai Institute of HematologyNational Research Center for Translational MedicineRuijin Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.
- International Center for Aging and Cancer, Hainan Medical University, Hainan Province, Haikou, China.
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15
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Szczepanski JM, Rudolf MA, Shi J. Clinical Evaluation of the Pancreatic Cancer Microenvironment: Opportunities and Challenges. Cancers (Basel) 2024; 16:794. [PMID: 38398185 PMCID: PMC10887250 DOI: 10.3390/cancers16040794] [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: 01/16/2024] [Revised: 02/10/2024] [Accepted: 02/12/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Advances in our understanding of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) and its tumor microenvironment (TME) have the potential to transform treatment for the hundreds of thousands of patients who are diagnosed each year. Whereas the clinical assessment of cancer cell genetics has grown increasingly sophisticated and personalized, current protocols to evaluate the TME have lagged, despite evidence that the TME can be heterogeneous within and between patients. Here, we outline current protocols for PDAC diagnosis and management, review novel biomarkers, and highlight potential opportunities and challenges when evaluating the PDAC TME as we prepare to translate emerging TME-directed therapies to the clinic.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Jiaqi Shi
- Department of Pathology and Clinical Labs, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA; (J.M.S.); (M.A.R.)
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16
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Zhang H, Xu W, Zhu H, Chen X, Tsai HI. Overcoming the limitations of immunotherapy in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma: Combining radiotherapy and metabolic targeting therapy. J Cancer 2024; 15:2003-2023. [PMID: 38434964 PMCID: PMC10905401 DOI: 10.7150/jca.92502] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2023] [Accepted: 01/20/2024] [Indexed: 03/05/2024] Open
Abstract
As a novel anticancer therapy, immunotherapy has demonstrated robust efficacy against a few solid tumors but poor efficacy against pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). This poor outcome is primarily attributable to the intrinsic cancer cell resistance and T-cell exhaustion, which is also the reason for the failure of conventional therapy. The present review summarizes the current PDAC immunotherapy avenues and the underlying resistance mechanisms. Then, the review discusses synergistic combination therapies, such as radiotherapy (RT) and metabolic targeting. Research suggests that RT boosts the antigen of PDAC, which facilitates the anti-tumor immune cell infiltration and exerts function. Metabolic reprogramming contributes to restoring the exhausted T cell function. The current review will help in tailoring combination regimens to enhance the efficacy of immunotherapy. In addition, it will help provide new approaches to address the limitations of the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (TME) by examining the relationship among immunotherapy, RT, and metabolism targeting therapy in PDAC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Han Zhang
- Institute of Medical Imaging and Artificial Intelligence, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, China
| | - Wenjin Xu
- Institute of Medical Imaging and Artificial Intelligence, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, China
| | - Haitao Zhu
- Institute of Medical Imaging and Artificial Intelligence, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, China
- Department of Medical Imaging, The Affiliated Hospital of Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, China
| | - Xuelian Chen
- Department of Radiology, Affiliated Kunshan Hospital of Jiangsu University, Kunshan, Jiangsu, China
| | - Hsiang-I Tsai
- Institute of Medical Imaging and Artificial Intelligence, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, China
- Department of Medical Imaging, The Affiliated Hospital of Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, China
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17
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Hu HH, Wang SQ, Shang HL, Lv HF, Chen BB, Gao SG, Chen XB. Roles and inhibitors of FAK in cancer: current advances and future directions. Front Pharmacol 2024; 15:1274209. [PMID: 38410129 PMCID: PMC10895298 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2024.1274209] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2023] [Accepted: 01/30/2024] [Indexed: 02/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Focal adhesion kinase (FAK) is a non-receptor tyrosine kinase that exhibits high expression in various tumors and is associated with a poor prognosis. FAK activation promotes tumor growth, invasion, metastasis, and angiogenesis via both kinase-dependent and kinase-independent pathways. Moreover, FAK is crucial for sustaining the tumor microenvironment. The inhibition of FAK impedes tumorigenesis, metastasis, and drug resistance in cancer. Therefore, developing targeted inhibitors against FAK presents a promising therapeutic strategy. To date, numerous FAK inhibitors, including IN10018, defactinib, GSK2256098, conteltinib, and APG-2449, have been developed, which have demonstrated positive anti-tumor effects in preclinical studies and are undergoing clinical trials for several types of tumors. Moreover, many novel FAK inhibitors are currently in preclinical studies to advance targeted therapy for tumors with aberrantly activated FAK. The benefits of FAK degraders, especially in terms of their scaffold function, are increasingly evident, holding promising potential for future clinical exploration and breakthroughs. This review aims to clarify FAK's role in cancer, offering a comprehensive overview of the current status and future prospects of FAK-targeted therapy and combination approaches. The goal is to provide valuable insights for advancing anti-cancer treatment strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hui-Hui Hu
- Department of Oncology, The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Zhengzhou University and Henan Cancer Hospital, Henan Engineering Research Center of Precision Therapy of Gastrointestinal Cancer and Zhengzhou Key Laboratory for Precision Therapy of Gastrointestinal Cancer, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Sai-Qi Wang
- Department of Oncology, The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Zhengzhou University and Henan Cancer Hospital, Henan Engineering Research Center of Precision Therapy of Gastrointestinal Cancer and Zhengzhou Key Laboratory for Precision Therapy of Gastrointestinal Cancer, Zhengzhou, China
- State Key Laboratory of Esophageal Cancer Prevention & Treatment, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Hai-Li Shang
- Department of Oncology, The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Zhengzhou University and Henan Cancer Hospital, Henan Engineering Research Center of Precision Therapy of Gastrointestinal Cancer and Zhengzhou Key Laboratory for Precision Therapy of Gastrointestinal Cancer, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Hui-Fang Lv
- Department of Oncology, The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Zhengzhou University and Henan Cancer Hospital, Henan Engineering Research Center of Precision Therapy of Gastrointestinal Cancer and Zhengzhou Key Laboratory for Precision Therapy of Gastrointestinal Cancer, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Bei-Bei Chen
- Department of Oncology, The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Zhengzhou University and Henan Cancer Hospital, Henan Engineering Research Center of Precision Therapy of Gastrointestinal Cancer and Zhengzhou Key Laboratory for Precision Therapy of Gastrointestinal Cancer, Zhengzhou, China
- State Key Laboratory of Esophageal Cancer Prevention & Treatment, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - She-Gan Gao
- Henan Key Laboratory of Microbiome and Esophageal Cancer Prevention and Treatment, Henan Key Laboratory of Cancer Epigenetics, Cancer Hospital, The First Affiliated Hospital of Henan University of Science and Technology, Luoyang, China
| | - Xiao-Bing Chen
- Department of Oncology, The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Zhengzhou University and Henan Cancer Hospital, Henan Engineering Research Center of Precision Therapy of Gastrointestinal Cancer and Zhengzhou Key Laboratory for Precision Therapy of Gastrointestinal Cancer, Zhengzhou, China
- State Key Laboratory of Esophageal Cancer Prevention & Treatment, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
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18
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Francescone R, Crawford HC, Vendramini-Costa DB. Rethinking the Roles of Cancer-Associated Fibroblasts in Pancreatic Cancer. Cell Mol Gastroenterol Hepatol 2024; 17:737-743. [PMID: 38316215 PMCID: PMC10966284 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcmgh.2024.01.022] [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: 11/19/2023] [Revised: 01/26/2024] [Accepted: 01/29/2024] [Indexed: 02/07/2024]
Abstract
Bearing a dismal 5-year survival rate, pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a challenging disease that features a unique fibroinflammatory tumor microenvironment. As major components of the PDAC tumor microenvironment, cancer-associated fibroblasts are still poorly understood and their contribution to the several hallmarks of PDAC, such as resistance to therapies, immunosuppression, and high incidence of metastasis, is likely underestimated. There have been encouraging advances in the understanding of these fascinating cells, but many controversies remain, leaving the field still actively exploring the full scope of their contributions in PDAC progression. Here we pose several important considerations regarding PDAC cancer-associated fibroblast functions. We posit that transcriptomic analyses be interpreted with caution, when aiming to uncover the functional contributions of these cells. Moreover, we propose that normalizing these functions, rather than eliminating them, will provide the opportunity to enhance therapeutic response. Finally, we propose that cancer-associated fibroblasts should not be studied in isolation, but in conjunction with its extracellular matrix, because their respective functions are coordinated and concordant.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ralph Francescone
- Department of Surgery, Henry Ford Health, Detroit, Michigan; Henry Ford Pancreatic Cancer Center, Henry Ford Health, Detroit, Michigan
| | - Howard C Crawford
- Department of Surgery, Henry Ford Health, Detroit, Michigan; Henry Ford Pancreatic Cancer Center, Henry Ford Health, Detroit, Michigan
| | - Debora Barbosa Vendramini-Costa
- Department of Surgery, Henry Ford Health, Detroit, Michigan; Henry Ford Pancreatic Cancer Center, Henry Ford Health, Detroit, Michigan.
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19
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Scianò F, Terrana F, Pecoraro C, Parrino B, Cascioferro S, Diana P, Giovannetti E, Carbone D. Exploring the therapeutic potential of focal adhesion kinase inhibition in overcoming chemoresistance in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. Future Med Chem 2024; 16:271-289. [PMID: 38269431 DOI: 10.4155/fmc-2023-0234] [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: 08/11/2023] [Accepted: 11/27/2023] [Indexed: 01/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is among the leading causes of cancer-related deaths worldwide. Focal adhesion kinase (FAK) is a nonreceptor tyrosine kinase often overexpressed in PDAC. FAK has been linked to cell migration, survival, proliferation, angiogenesis and adhesion. This review first highlights the chemoresistant nature of PDAC. Second, the role of FAK in PDAC cancer progression and resistance is carefully described. Additionally, it discusses recent developments of FAK inhibitors as valuable drugs in the treatment of PDAC, with a focus on diamine-substituted-2,4-pyrimidine-based compounds, which represent the most potent class of FAK inhibitors in clinical trials for the treatment of PDAC disease. To conclude, relevant computational studies performed on FAK inhibitors are reported to highlight the key structural features required for interaction with the protein, with the aim of optimizing this novel targeted therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabio Scianò
- Department of Biological, Chemical & Pharmaceutical Sciences & Technologies (STEBICEF), University of Palermo, Via Archirafi 32, Palermo, 90123, Italy
| | - Francesca Terrana
- Department of Biological, Chemical & Pharmaceutical Sciences & Technologies (STEBICEF), University of Palermo, Via Archirafi 32, Palermo, 90123, Italy
| | - Camilla Pecoraro
- Department of Biological, Chemical & Pharmaceutical Sciences & Technologies (STEBICEF), University of Palermo, Via Archirafi 32, Palermo, 90123, Italy
| | - Barbara Parrino
- Department of Biological, Chemical & Pharmaceutical Sciences & Technologies (STEBICEF), University of Palermo, Via Archirafi 32, Palermo, 90123, Italy
| | - Stella Cascioferro
- Department of Biological, Chemical & Pharmaceutical Sciences & Technologies (STEBICEF), University of Palermo, Via Archirafi 32, Palermo, 90123, Italy
| | - Patrizia Diana
- Department of Biological, Chemical & Pharmaceutical Sciences & Technologies (STEBICEF), University of Palermo, Via Archirafi 32, Palermo, 90123, Italy
| | - Elisa Giovannetti
- Department of Medical Oncology, Cancer Center Amsterdam, Amsterdam UMC, VU University Medical Center (VUmc) De Boelelaan 1117, Amsterdam, 1081HV, The Netherlands
- Cancer Pharmacology Lab, Fondazione Pisana per la Scienza, Via Ferruccio Giovannini 13, San Giuliano Terme, Pisa, 56017, Italy
| | - Daniela Carbone
- Department of Biological, Chemical & Pharmaceutical Sciences & Technologies (STEBICEF), University of Palermo, Via Archirafi 32, Palermo, 90123, Italy
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20
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Pifer PM, Yang L, Kumar M, Xie T, Frederick M, Hefner A, Beadle B, Molkentine D, Molkentine J, Dhawan A, Abdelhakiem M, Osman AA, Leibowitz BJ, Myers JN, Pickering CR, Sandulache VC, Heymach J, Skinner HD. FAK Drives Resistance to Therapy in HPV-Negative Head and Neck Cancer in a p53-Dependent Manner. Clin Cancer Res 2024; 30:187-197. [PMID: 37819945 PMCID: PMC10767302 DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-23-0964] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2023] [Revised: 07/21/2023] [Accepted: 10/09/2023] [Indexed: 10/13/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE Radiation and platinum-based chemotherapy form the backbone of therapy in human papillomavirus (HPV)-negative head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). We have correlated focal adhesion kinase (FAK/PTK2) expression with radioresistance and worse outcomes in these patients. However, the importance of FAK in driving radioresistance and its effects on chemoresistance in these patients remains unclear. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN We performed an in vivo shRNA screen using targetable libraries to identify novel therapeutic sensitizers for radiation and chemotherapy. RESULTS We identified FAK as an excellent target for both radio- and chemosensitization. Because TP53 is mutated in over 80% of HPV-negative HNSCC, we hypothesized that mutant TP53 may facilitate FAK-mediated therapy resistance. FAK inhibitor increased sensitivity to radiation, increased DNA damage, and repressed homologous recombination and nonhomologous end joining repair in mutant, but not wild-type, TP53 HPV-negative HNSCC cell lines. The mutant TP53 cisplatin-resistant cell line had increased FAK phosphorylation compared with wild-type, and FAK inhibition partially reversed cisplatin resistance. To validate these findings, we utilized an HNSCC cohort to show that FAK copy number and gene expression were associated with worse disease-free survival in mutant TP53, but not wild-type TP53, HPV-negative HNSCC tumors. CONCLUSIONS FAK may represent a targetable therapeutic sensitizer linked to a known genomic marker of resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Phillip M. Pifer
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Pittsburgh, UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - Liangpeng Yang
- Department of Experimental Radiation Oncology, University of Texas, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
| | - Manish Kumar
- Department of Biochemistry, All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Bilaspur, Himachal Pradesh, India
| | - Tongxin Xie
- Department of Head and Neck Surgery, University of Texas, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
| | - Mitchell Frederick
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas
| | - Andrew Hefner
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Pittsburgh, UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - Beth Beadle
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Stanford University, Stanford, California
| | - David Molkentine
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Pittsburgh, UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - Jessica Molkentine
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Pittsburgh, UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - Annika Dhawan
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Pittsburgh, UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - Mohamed Abdelhakiem
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Pittsburgh, UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - Abdullah A. Osman
- Department of Head and Neck Surgery, University of Texas, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
| | - Brian J. Leibowitz
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Pittsburgh, UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - Jeffrey N. Myers
- Department of Head and Neck Surgery, University of Texas, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
| | - Curtis R. Pickering
- Department of Head and Neck Surgery, University of Texas, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
| | - Vlad C. Sandulache
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas
| | - John Heymach
- Department of Thoracic and Head and Neck Medical Oncology, University of Texas, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
| | - Heath D. Skinner
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Pittsburgh, UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
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21
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Luo W, Wen T, Qu X. Tumor immune microenvironment-based therapies in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma: time to update the concept. J Exp Clin Cancer Res 2024; 43:8. [PMID: 38167055 PMCID: PMC10759657 DOI: 10.1186/s13046-023-02935-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2023] [Accepted: 12/18/2023] [Indexed: 01/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is one of the most lethal solid tumors. The tumor immune microenvironment (TIME) formed by interactions among cancer cells, immune cells, cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAF), and extracellular matrix (ECM) components drives PDAC in a more immunosuppressive direction: this is a major cause of therapy resistance and poor prognosis. In recent years, research has advanced our understanding of the signaling mechanism by which TIME components interact with the tumor and the evolution of immunophenotyping. Through revolutionary technologies such as single-cell sequencing, we have gone from simply classifying PDACs as "cold" and "hot" to a more comprehensive approach of immunophenotyping that considers all the cells and matrix components. This is key to improving the clinical efficacy of PDAC treatments. In this review, we elaborate on various TIME components in PDAC, the signaling mechanisms underlying their interactions, and the latest research into PDAC immunophenotyping. A deep understanding of these network interactions will contribute to the effective combination of TIME-based therapeutic approaches, such as immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI), adoptive cell therapy, therapies targeting myeloid cells, CAF reprogramming, and stromal normalization. By selecting the appropriate integrated therapies based on precise immunophenotyping, significant advances in the future treatment of PDAC are possible.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenyu Luo
- Department of Medical Oncology, The First Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, 110001, Liaoning, China
- Key Laboratory of Anticancer Drugs and Biotherapy of Liaoning Province, The First Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, 110001, Liaoning, China
- Clinical Cancer Research Center of Shenyang, the First Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, 110001, China
- Key Laboratory of Precision Diagnosis and Treatment of Gastrointestinal Tumors, Ministry of Education, Shenyang, 110001, Liaoning, China
| | - Ti Wen
- Department of Medical Oncology, The First Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, 110001, Liaoning, China.
- Key Laboratory of Anticancer Drugs and Biotherapy of Liaoning Province, The First Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, 110001, Liaoning, China.
- Clinical Cancer Research Center of Shenyang, the First Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, 110001, China.
- Key Laboratory of Precision Diagnosis and Treatment of Gastrointestinal Tumors, Ministry of Education, Shenyang, 110001, Liaoning, China.
| | - Xiujuan Qu
- Department of Medical Oncology, The First Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, 110001, Liaoning, China.
- Key Laboratory of Anticancer Drugs and Biotherapy of Liaoning Province, The First Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, 110001, Liaoning, China.
- Clinical Cancer Research Center of Shenyang, the First Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, 110001, China.
- Key Laboratory of Precision Diagnosis and Treatment of Gastrointestinal Tumors, Ministry of Education, Shenyang, 110001, Liaoning, China.
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22
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Chakkera M, Foote JB, Farran B, Nagaraju GP. Breaking the stromal barrier in pancreatic cancer: Advances and challenges. Biochim Biophys Acta Rev Cancer 2024; 1879:189065. [PMID: 38160899 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbcan.2023.189065] [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: 08/04/2023] [Revised: 12/15/2023] [Accepted: 12/23/2023] [Indexed: 01/03/2024]
Abstract
Pancreatic cancer (PC) remains a leading cause of mortality worldwide due to the absence of early detection methods and the low success rates of traditional therapeutic strategies. Drug resistance in PC is driven by its desmoplastic stroma, which creates a barrier that shields cancer niches and prevents the penetration of drugs. The PC stroma comprises heterogeneous cellular populations and non-cellular components involved in aberrant ECM deposition, immunosuppression, and drug resistance. These components can influence PC development through intricate and complex crosstalk with the PC cells. Understanding how stromal components and cells interact with and influence the invasiveness and refractoriness of PC cells is thus a prerequisite for developing successful stroma-modulating strategies capable of remodeling the PC stroma to alleviate drug resistance and enhance therapeutic outcomes. In this review, we explore how non-cellular and cellular stromal components, including cancer-associated fibroblasts and tumor-associated macrophages, contribute to the immunosuppressive and tumor-promoting effects of the stroma. We also examine the signaling pathways underlying their activation, tumorigenic effects, and interactions with PC cells. Finally, we discuss recent pre-clinical and clinical work aimed at developing and testing novel stroma-modulating agents to alleviate drug resistance and improve therapeutic outcomes in PC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohana Chakkera
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, Heersink School of Medicine, University of Alabama, Birmingham, AL 35233, USA
| | - Jeremy B Foote
- Department of Microbiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35233, USA
| | - Batoul Farran
- Department of Oncology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY 10461, USA
| | - Ganji Purnachandra Nagaraju
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, Heersink School of Medicine, University of Alabama, Birmingham, AL 35233, USA.
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23
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Xie D, Wang Z, Sun B, Qu L, Zeng M, Feng L, Guo M, Wang G, Hao J, Zhou G. High frequency of alternative splicing variants of the oncogene Focal Adhesion Kinase in neuroendocrine tumors of the pancreas and breast. Front Med 2023; 17:907-923. [PMID: 37682378 DOI: 10.1007/s11684-023-1009-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2023] [Accepted: 05/17/2023] [Indexed: 09/09/2023]
Abstract
The characteristic genetic abnormality of neuroendocrine neoplasms (NENs), a heterogeneous group of tumors found in various organs, remains to be identified. Here, based on the analysis of the splicing variants of an oncogene Focal Adhesion Kinase (FAK) in The Cancer Genome Atlas datasets that contain 9193 patients of 33 cancer subtypes, we found that Box 6/Box 7-containing FAK variants (FAK6/7) were observed in 7 (87.5%) of 8 pancreatic neuroendocrine carcinomas and 20 (11.76%) of 170 pancreatic ductal adenocarcinomas (PDACs). We tested FAK variants in 157 tumor samples collected from Chinese patients with pancreatic tumors, and found that FAK6/7 was positive in 34 (75.6%) of 45 pancreatic NENs, 19 (47.5%) of 40 pancreatic solid pseudopapillary neoplasms, and 2 (2.9%) of 69 PDACs. We further tested FAK splicing variants in breast neuroendocrine carcinoma (BrNECs), and found that FAK6/7 was positive in 14 (93.3%) of 15 BrNECs but 0 in 23 non-NEC breast cancers. We explored the underlying mechanisms and found that a splicing factor serine/arginine repetitive matrix protein 4 (SRRM4) was overexpressed in FAK6/7-positive pancreatic tumors and breast tumors, which promoted the formation of FAK6/7 in cells. These results suggested that FAK6/7 could be a biomarker of NENs and represent a potential therapeutic target for these orphan diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dawei Xie
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100021, China
| | - Zheng Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100021, China
| | - Beibei Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100021, China
| | - Liwei Qu
- State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences & University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China
| | - Musheng Zeng
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, 510060, China
| | - Lin Feng
- Department of Gastroenterology & Hepatology and Department of Pathology, Chinese People's Liberation Army General Hospital, Beijing, 100853, China
| | - Mingzhou Guo
- Department of Gastroenterology & Hepatology and Department of Pathology, Chinese People's Liberation Army General Hospital, Beijing, 100853, China.
| | - Guizhen Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100021, China.
| | - Jihui Hao
- Department of Pancreatic Cancer, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, Tianjin's Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin, 300060, China.
| | - Guangbiao Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100021, China.
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24
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Zhang Q, An ZY, Jiang W, Jin WL, He XY. Collagen code in tumor microenvironment: Functions, molecular mechanisms, and therapeutic implications. Biomed Pharmacother 2023; 166:115390. [PMID: 37660648 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2023.115390] [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: 07/05/2023] [Revised: 08/25/2023] [Accepted: 08/26/2023] [Indexed: 09/05/2023] Open
Abstract
The tumor microenvironment (TME) is crucial in cancer progression, and the extracellular matrix (ECM) is an important TME component. Collagen is a major ECM component that contributes to tumor cell infiltration, expansion, and distant metastasis during cancer progression. Recent studies reported that collagen is deposited in the TME to form a collagen wall along which tumor cells can infiltrate and prevent drugs from working on the tumor cells. Collagen-tumor cell interaction is complex and requires the activation of multiple signaling pathways for biochemical and mechanical signaling interventions. In this review, we examine the effect of collagen deposition in the TME on tumor progression and discuss the interaction between collagen and tumor cells. This review aims to illustrate the functions and mechanisms of collagen in tumor progression in the TME and its role in tumor therapy. The findings indicated collagen in the TME appears to be a better target for cancer therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qian Zhang
- Department of General Surgery, The Affiliated Provincial Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230001, PR China
| | - Zi-Yi An
- The First Clinical Medical College of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, PR China; Institute of Cancer Neuroscience, Medical Frontier Innovation Research Center, The First Hospital of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, PR China
| | - Wen Jiang
- Department of General Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230001, PR China; Anhui Public Health Clinical Center, Hefei 230001, PR China
| | - Wei-Lin Jin
- The First Clinical Medical College of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, PR China; Institute of Cancer Neuroscience, Medical Frontier Innovation Research Center, The First Hospital of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, PR China.
| | - Xin-Yang He
- Department of General Surgery, The Affiliated Provincial Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230001, PR China; Department of General Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of University of Science and Technology of China (Anhui Provincial Hospital), Hefei 230001, PR China.
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25
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Tan X, Yan Y, Song B, Zhu S, Mei Q, Wu K. Focal adhesion kinase: from biological functions to therapeutic strategies. Exp Hematol Oncol 2023; 12:83. [PMID: 37749625 PMCID: PMC10519103 DOI: 10.1186/s40164-023-00446-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2023] [Accepted: 09/11/2023] [Indexed: 09/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Focal adhesion kinase (FAK), a nonreceptor cytoplasmic tyrosine kinase, is a vital participant in primary cellular functions, such as proliferation, survival, migration, and invasion. In addition, FAK regulates cancer stem cell activities and contributes to the formation of the tumor microenvironment (TME). Importantly, increased FAK expression and activity are strongly associated with unfavorable clinical outcomes and metastatic characteristics in numerous tumors. In vitro and in vivo studies have demonstrated that modulating FAK activity by application of FAK inhibitors alone or in combination treatment regimens could be effective for cancer therapy. Based on these findings, several agents targeting FAK have been exploited in diverse preclinical tumor models. This article briefly describes the structure and function of FAK, as well as research progress on FAK inhibitors in combination therapies. We also discuss the challenges and future directions regarding anti-FAK combination therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ximin Tan
- Department of Oncology, Tongji Hospital of Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China
| | - Yuheng Yan
- Department of Oncology, Tongji Hospital of Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China
| | - Bin Song
- Cancer Center, Shanxi Bethune Hospital, Shanxi Academy of Medical Science, Tongji Shanxi Hospital, Third Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, 030032, China
| | - Shuangli Zhu
- Department of Oncology, Tongji Hospital of Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China
| | - Qi Mei
- Cancer Center, Shanxi Bethune Hospital, Shanxi Academy of Medical Science, Tongji Shanxi Hospital, Third Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, 030032, China.
| | - Kongming Wu
- Cancer Center, Shanxi Bethune Hospital, Shanxi Academy of Medical Science, Tongji Shanxi Hospital, Third Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, 030032, China.
- Cancer Center, Tongji Hospital of Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China.
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26
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Chibaya L, Lusi CF, DeMarco KD, Kane GI, Brassil ML, Parikh CN, Murphy KC, Li J, Naylor TE, Cerrutti J, Peura J, Pitarresi JR, Zhu LJ, Fitzgerald KA, Atukorale PU, Ruscetti M. Nanoparticle delivery of innate immune agonists combines with senescence-inducing agents to mediate T cell control of pancreatic cancer. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.09.18.558307. [PMID: 37790484 PMCID: PMC10542133 DOI: 10.1101/2023.09.18.558307] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/05/2023]
Abstract
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma has quickly risen to become the 3rd leading cause of cancer-related death. This is in part due to its fibrotic tumor microenvironment (TME) that contributes to poor vascularization and immune infiltration and subsequent chemo- and immunotherapy failure. Here we investigated an innovative immunotherapy approach combining local delivery of STING and TLR4 innate immune agonists via lipid-based nanoparticles (NPs) co-encapsulation with senescence-inducing RAS-targeted therapies that can remodel the immune suppressive PDAC TME through the senescence-associated secretory phenotype. Treatment of transplanted and autochthonous PDAC mouse models with these regimens led to enhanced uptake of NPs by multiple cell types in the PDAC TME, induction of type I interferon and other pro-inflammatory signaling, increased antigen presentation by tumor cells and antigen presenting cells, and subsequent activation of both innate and adaptive immune responses. This two-pronged approach produced potent T cell-driven and Type I interferon-dependent tumor regressions and long-term survival in preclinical PDAC models. STING and TLR4-mediated Type I interferon signaling were also associated with enhanced NK and CD8+ T cell immunity in human PDAC. Thus, combining localized immune agonist delivery with systemic tumor-targeted therapy can synergize to orchestrate a coordinated innate and adaptive immune assault to overcome immune suppression and activate durable anti-tumor T cell responses against PDAC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Loretah Chibaya
- Department of Molecular, Cell, and Cancer Biology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
| | - Christina F. Lusi
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, MA USA
| | - Kelly D. DeMarco
- Department of Molecular, Cell, and Cancer Biology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
| | - Griffin I. Kane
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, MA USA
| | - Meghan L. Brassil
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, MA USA
| | - Chaitanya N. Parikh
- Department of Molecular, Cell, and Cancer Biology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
| | - Katherine C. Murphy
- Department of Molecular, Cell, and Cancer Biology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
| | - Junhui Li
- Department of Molecular, Cell, and Cancer Biology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
| | - Tiana E. Naylor
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, MA USA
| | - Julia Cerrutti
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, MA USA
| | - Jessica Peura
- Department of Molecular, Cell, and Cancer Biology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
- Division of Hematology-Oncology, Department of Medicine, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
| | - Jason R. Pitarresi
- Department of Molecular, Cell, and Cancer Biology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
- Division of Hematology-Oncology, Department of Medicine, 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
- Program in Bioinformatics and Integrative Biology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
| | - Katherine A. Fitzgerald
- Division of Innate Immunity, Department of Medicine, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
| | - Prabhani U. Atukorale
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, MA USA
- Division of Innate Immunity, Department of Medicine, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
- Cancer Center, 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
- Cancer Center, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA. USA
- Immunology and Microbiology Program, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
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27
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An YF, Pu N, Jia JB, Wang WQ, Liu L. Therapeutic advances targeting tumor angiogenesis in pancreatic cancer: Current dilemmas and future directions. Biochim Biophys Acta Rev Cancer 2023; 1878:188958. [PMID: 37495194 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbcan.2023.188958] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2023] [Revised: 07/20/2023] [Accepted: 07/20/2023] [Indexed: 07/28/2023]
Abstract
Pancreatic cancer (PC) is one of the most lethal malignancies, which is generally resistant to various treatments. Tumor angiogenesis is deemed to be a pivotal rate-determining step for tumor growth and metastasis. Therefore, anti-angiogenetic therapy is a rational strategy to treat various cancers. However, numerous clinical trials on anti-angiogenetic therapies for PC are overwhelmingly disappointing. The unique characteristics of tumor blood vessels in PC, which are desperately lacking and highly compressed by the dense desmoplastic stroma, are reconsidered to explore some optimized strategies. In this review, we mainly focus on its specific characteristics of tumor blood vessels, discuss the current dilemmas of anti-angiogenic therapy in PC and their underlying mechanisms. Furthermore, we point out the future directions, including remodeling the abnormal vasculature or even reshaping the whole tumor microenvironment in which they are embedded to improve tumor microcirculation, and then create therapeutic vulnerabilities to the current available therapeutic strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan-Fei An
- Department of Pancreatic Surgery, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China; Department of Basic Medicine, Chang Zhi Medical College, Changzhi 046000,China; Department of Basic Medicine and Institute of Liver Diseases, Shan Xi Medical University, Taiyuan 030000, China
| | - Ning Pu
- Department of Pancreatic Surgery, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China; Cancer Center, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China; Department of General Surgery, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Jin-Bin Jia
- Department of Basic Medicine and Institute of Liver Diseases, Shan Xi Medical University, Taiyuan 030000, China.
| | - Wen-Quan Wang
- Department of Pancreatic Surgery, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China; Cancer Center, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China; Department of General Surgery, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China.
| | - Liang Liu
- Department of Pancreatic Surgery, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China; Cancer Center, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China; Department of General Surgery, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China.
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28
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Flies DB, Langermann S, Jensen C, Karsdal MA, Willumsen N. Regulation of tumor immunity and immunotherapy by the tumor collagen extracellular matrix. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1199513. [PMID: 37662958 PMCID: PMC10470046 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1199513] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2023] [Accepted: 07/28/2023] [Indexed: 09/05/2023] Open
Abstract
It has been known for decades that the tumor extracellular matrix (ECM) is dysfunctional leading to loss of tissue architecture and promotion of tumor growth. The altered ECM and tumor fibrogenesis leads to tissue stiffness that act as a physical barrier to immune cell infiltration into the tumor microenvironment (TME). It is becoming increasingly clear that the ECM plays important roles in tumor immune responses. A growing body of data now indicates that ECM components also play a more active role in immune regulation when dysregulated ECM components act as ligands to interact with receptors on immune cells to inhibit immune cell subpopulations in the TME. In addition, immunotherapies such as checkpoint inhibitors that are approved to treat cancer are often hindered by ECM changes. In this review we highlight the ways by which ECM alterations affect and regulate immunity in cancer. More specifically, how collagens and major ECM components, suppress immunity in the complex TME. Finally, we will review how our increased understanding of immune and immunotherapy regulation by the ECM is leading towards novel disruptive strategies to overcome immune suppression.
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29
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Liu X, Hogg GD, Zuo C, Borcherding NC, Baer JM, Lander VE, Kang LI, Knolhoff BL, Ahmad F, Osterhout RE, Galkin AV, Bruey JM, Carter LL, Mpoy C, Vij KR, Fields RC, Schwarz JK, Park H, Gupta V, DeNardo DG. Context-dependent activation of STING-interferon signaling by CD11b agonists enhances anti-tumor immunity. Cancer Cell 2023; 41:1073-1090.e12. [PMID: 37236195 PMCID: PMC10281762 DOI: 10.1016/j.ccell.2023.04.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2022] [Revised: 04/14/2023] [Accepted: 04/27/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
Chronic activation of inflammatory pathways and suppressed interferon are hallmarks of immunosuppressive tumors. Previous studies have shown that CD11b integrin agonists could enhance anti-tumor immunity through myeloid reprograming, but the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. Herein we find that CD11b agonists alter tumor-associated macrophage (TAM) phenotypes by repressing NF-κB signaling and activating interferon gene expression simultaneously. Repression of NF-κB signaling involves degradation of p65 protein and is context independent. In contrast, CD11b agonism induces STING/STAT1 pathway-mediated interferon gene expression through FAK-mediated mitochondrial dysfunction, with the magnitude of induction dependent on the tumor microenvironment and amplified by cytotoxic therapies. Using tissues from phase I clinical studies, we demonstrate that GB1275 treatment activates STING and STAT1 signaling in TAMs in human tumors. These findings suggest potential mechanism-based therapeutic strategies for CD11b agonists and identify patient populations more likely to benefit.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiuting Liu
- Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Graham D Hogg
- Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Chong Zuo
- Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Nicholas C Borcherding
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - John M Baer
- Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Varintra E Lander
- Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Liang-I Kang
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA; Siteman Cancer Center, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Brett L Knolhoff
- Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Faiz Ahmad
- Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | | | | | | | | | - Cedric Mpoy
- Department of Surgery, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Kiran R Vij
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Ryan C Fields
- Siteman Cancer Center, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA; Department of Surgery, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Julie K Schwarz
- Siteman Cancer Center, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA; Department of Radiation Oncology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA; Department of Cell Biology & Physiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Haeseong Park
- Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA; Siteman Cancer Center, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Vineet Gupta
- Drug Discovery Center, Department of Internal Medicine, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - David G DeNardo
- Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA; Department of Pathology and Immunology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA; Siteman Cancer Center, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA.
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30
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Halbrook CJ, Lyssiotis CA, Pasca di Magliano M, Maitra A. Pancreatic cancer: Advances and challenges. Cell 2023; 186:1729-1754. [PMID: 37059070 PMCID: PMC10182830 DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2023.02.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 254] [Impact Index Per Article: 254.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2022] [Revised: 01/17/2023] [Accepted: 02/08/2023] [Indexed: 04/16/2023]
Abstract
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) remains one of the deadliest cancers. Significant efforts have largely defined major genetic factors driving PDAC pathogenesis and progression. Pancreatic tumors are characterized by a complex microenvironment that orchestrates metabolic alterations and supports a milieu of interactions among various cell types within this niche. In this review, we highlight the foundational studies that have driven our understanding of these processes. We further discuss the recent technological advances that continue to expand our understanding of PDAC complexity. We posit that the clinical translation of these research endeavors will enhance the currently dismal survival rate of this recalcitrant disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher J Halbrook
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697, USA; Institute for Immunology, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697, USA; Chao Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California, Irvine, Orange, CA 92868, USA.
| | - Costas A Lyssiotis
- Department of Molecular & Integrative Physiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA; Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA; Rogel Cancer Center, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA.
| | - Marina Pasca di Magliano
- Rogel Cancer Center, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA; Department of Surgery, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA; Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA.
| | - Anirban Maitra
- Department of Translational Molecular Pathology, Sheikh Ahmed Center for Pancreatic Cancer Research, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA.
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de Visser KE, Joyce JA. The evolving tumor microenvironment: From cancer initiation to metastatic outgrowth. Cancer Cell 2023; 41:374-403. [PMID: 36917948 DOI: 10.1016/j.ccell.2023.02.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 612] [Impact Index Per Article: 612.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2022] [Revised: 01/28/2023] [Accepted: 02/14/2023] [Indexed: 03/14/2023]
Abstract
Cancers represent complex ecosystems comprising tumor cells and a multitude of non-cancerous cells, embedded in an altered extracellular matrix. The tumor microenvironment (TME) includes diverse immune cell types, cancer-associated fibroblasts, endothelial cells, pericytes, and various additional tissue-resident cell types. These host cells were once considered bystanders of tumorigenesis but are now known to play critical roles in the pathogenesis of cancer. The cellular composition and functional state of the TME can differ extensively depending on the organ in which the tumor arises, the intrinsic features of cancer cells, the tumor stage, and patient characteristics. Here, we review the importance of the TME in each stage of cancer progression, from tumor initiation, progression, invasion, and intravasation to metastatic dissemination and outgrowth. Understanding the complex interplay between tumor cell-intrinsic, cell-extrinsic, and systemic mediators of disease progression is critical for the rational development of effective anti-cancer treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karin E de Visser
- Division of Tumor Biology and Immunology, Oncode Institute, The Netherlands Cancer Institute, 1066 CX Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Department of Immunology, Leiden University Medical Center, 2333 ZA Leiden, the Netherlands.
| | - Johanna A Joyce
- Department of Oncology, University of Lausanne, 1011 Lausanne, Switzerland; Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, 1011 Lausanne, Switzerland; Agora Cancer Center Lausanne, and Swiss Cancer Center Léman, 1011 Lausanne, Switzerland.
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Nissen NI, Johansen AZ, Chen IM, Jensen C, Madsen EA, Hansen CP, Thorlacius-Ussing J, Karsdal M, Johansen JS, Diab HMH, Jørgensen LN, Willumsen N. High serum levels of the C-propetide of type V collagen (PRO-C5) are prognostic for short overall survival in patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. Front Mol Biosci 2023; 10:1158058. [PMID: 36968276 PMCID: PMC10036831 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2023.1158058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2023] [Accepted: 02/23/2023] [Indexed: 03/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction: Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is characterized by a pronounced fibrotic tumor microenvironment, which impairs treatment response. Type I and V collagens are responsible for the densely packed fibrils in the tumor fibrosis environment. While the role of the major type I collagen in cancer is well described, less is known about the minor type V collagen. Quantifying collagen propeptides in serum has been shown to have prognostic and predictive value. In this study, we evaluated the clinical utility of measuring the propeptide of type V collagen (PRO-C5) in serum from a discovery cohort and a validation cohort of patients with PDAC as well as in non-pancreatic solid tumor types to explore the relevance of the PRO-C5 biomarker in cancer.Methods: Serum PRO-C5 was measured in three cohorts: a discovery cohort (19 healthy controls, 12 patients with chronic pancreatitis and 33 patients with PDAC (stage I-IV)), a validation cohort (800 patients with PDAC (stage I-IV)), and a non-pancreatic solid tumor type cohort of 33 healthy controls and 200 patients with 10 different non-pancreatic solid tumor types. The levels of serum PRO-C5 in patients with cancer were compared to levels in healthy controls. The association between PRO-C5 levels and overall survival (OS) was evaluated in patients with PDAC after adjusting for established prognostic factors.Results: PRO-C5 was significantly increased in serum from patients with PDAC compared to healthy controls (p < 0.001). High PRO-C5 levels were significantly associated with short OS in both the discovery- and the validation cohort, especially in early stages of PDAC (validation cohort stage II, HR = 2.0, 95%CI1.2-3.4). The association was independent of other prognostic parameters including stage, performance status and CA19-9. Furthermore, serum levels of PRO-C5 were significantly increased in serum from patients with other non-pancreatic solid tumor types compared to healthy controls.Conclusion: High levels of serum PRO-C5 is prognostic for short OS in patients with PDAC and may provide clinical value in many other tumor types beyond PDAC. This underlines the importance of type V collagen in tumor fibrosis. PRO-C5 could have the potential to be used in several aspects within drug discovery, patient stratification and drug efficacy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Neel I. Nissen
- Nordic Bioscience A/S, Herlev, Denmark
- *Correspondence: Neel I. Nissen,
| | - Astrid Z. Johansen
- Department of Oncology, Copenhagen University Hospital, Gentofte, Denmark
| | - Inna M. Chen
- Department of Oncology, Copenhagen University Hospital, Gentofte, Denmark
| | | | | | - Carsten P. Hansen
- Department of Surgery, Copenhagen University Hospital – Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | | | | | - Julia S. Johansen
- Department of Oncology, Copenhagen University Hospital, Gentofte, Denmark
- Institute of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Department of Medicine, Copenhagen University Hospital, Gentofte, Denmark
| | - Hadi M. H. Diab
- Digestive Disease Center, Bispebjerg and Frederiksberg Hospital, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Lars N. Jørgensen
- Institute of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Digestive Disease Center, Bispebjerg and Frederiksberg Hospital, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
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Benkhaled S, Peters C, Jullian N, Arsenijevic T, Navez J, Van Gestel D, Moretti L, Van Laethem JL, Bouchart C. Combination, Modulation and Interplay of Modern Radiotherapy with the Tumor Microenvironment and Targeted Therapies in Pancreatic Cancer: Which Candidates to Boost Radiotherapy? Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:cancers15030768. [PMID: 36765726 PMCID: PMC9913158 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15030768] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2022] [Revised: 01/20/2023] [Accepted: 01/22/2023] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma cancer (PDAC) is a highly diverse disease with low tumor immunogenicity. PDAC is also one of the deadliest solid tumor and will remain a common cause of cancer death in the future. Treatment options are limited, and tumors frequently develop resistance to current treatment modalities. Since PDAC patients do not respond well to immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), novel methods for overcoming resistance are being explored. Compared to other solid tumors, the PDAC's tumor microenvironment (TME) is unique and complex and prevents systemic agents from effectively penetrating and killing tumor cells. Radiotherapy (RT) has the potential to modulate the TME (e.g., by exposing tumor-specific antigens, recruiting, and infiltrating immune cells) and, therefore, enhance the effectiveness of targeted systemic therapies. Interestingly, combining ICI with RT and/or chemotherapy has yielded promising preclinical results which were not successful when translated into clinical trials. In this context, current standards of care need to be challenged and transformed with modern treatment techniques and novel therapeutic combinations. One way to reconcile these findings is to abandon the concept that the TME is a well-compartmented population with spatial, temporal, physical, and chemical elements acting independently. This review will focus on the most interesting advancements of RT and describe the main components of the TME and their known modulation after RT in PDAC. Furthermore, we will provide a summary of current clinical data for combinations of RT/targeted therapy (tRT) and give an overview of the most promising future directions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sofian Benkhaled
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Hopital Universitaire de Bruxelles (H.U.B.), Institut Jules Bordet, Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB), Rue Meylenmeersch 90, 1070 Brussels, Belgium
- Department of Radiation Oncology, UNIL-CHUV, Rue du Bugnon 46, 1011 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Cedric Peters
- Department of Radiation Oncology, AZ Turnhout, Rubensstraat 166, 2300 Turnhout, Belgium
| | - Nicolas Jullian
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Hopital Universitaire de Bruxelles (H.U.B.), Institut Jules Bordet, Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB), Rue Meylenmeersch 90, 1070 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Tatjana Arsenijevic
- Laboratory of Experimental Gastroenterology, Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB), 1070 Brussels, Belgium
- Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Digestive Oncology, Hopital Universitaire de Bruxelles H.U.B. CUB Hopital Erasme, Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB), Route de Lennik 808, 1070 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Julie Navez
- Department of Hepato-Biliary-Pancreatic Surgery, Hopital Universitaire de Bruxelles H.U.B. CUB Hopital Erasme, Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB), 1070 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Dirk Van Gestel
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Hopital Universitaire de Bruxelles (H.U.B.), Institut Jules Bordet, Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB), Rue Meylenmeersch 90, 1070 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Luigi Moretti
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Hopital Universitaire de Bruxelles (H.U.B.), Institut Jules Bordet, Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB), Rue Meylenmeersch 90, 1070 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Jean-Luc Van Laethem
- Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Digestive Oncology, Hopital Universitaire de Bruxelles H.U.B. CUB Hopital Erasme, Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB), Route de Lennik 808, 1070 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Christelle Bouchart
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Hopital Universitaire de Bruxelles (H.U.B.), Institut Jules Bordet, Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB), Rue Meylenmeersch 90, 1070 Brussels, Belgium
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +32-25-413-800
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