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Yi SY, Wei MZ, Zhao L. Targeted immunotherapy to cancer stem cells: A novel strategy of anticancer immunotherapy. Crit Rev Oncol Hematol 2024; 196:104313. [PMID: 38428702 DOI: 10.1016/j.critrevonc.2024.104313] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2023] [Revised: 02/04/2024] [Accepted: 02/26/2024] [Indexed: 03/03/2024] Open
Abstract
Cancer is a major disease that endangers human health. Cancer drug resistance and relapse are the two main causes contributing to cancer treatment failure. Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are a small fraction of tumor cells that are responsible for tumorigenesis, metastasis, relapse, and resistance to conventional anticancer therapies. Therefore, CSCs are considered to be the root of cancer recurrence, metastasis, and drug resistance. Novel anticancer strategies need to face this new challenge and explore their efficacy against CSCs. Recently, immunotherapy has made rapid advances in cancer treatment, and its potential against CSCs is also an interesting area of research. Meanwhile, immunotherapy strategies are novel therapeutic modalities with promising results in targeting CSCs. In this review, we summarize the targeting of CSCs by various immunotherapy strategies such as monoclonal antibodies(mAb), tumor vaccines, immune checkpoint inhibitors, and chimeric antigen receptor-T cells(CAR-T) in pre-clinical and clinical studies. This review provides new insights into the application of these immunotherapeutic approaches to potential anti-tumor therapies in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shan-Yong Yi
- Department of Oncology of the Zhengzhou Central Hospital Affiliated to Zhengzhou University, Zheng Zhou, Henan Province 450007, China.
| | - Mei-Zhuo Wei
- Department of Oncology of the Zhengzhou Central Hospital Affiliated to Zhengzhou University, Zheng Zhou, Henan Province 450007, China
| | - Ling Zhao
- Department of Oncology of the Zhengzhou Central Hospital Affiliated to Zhengzhou University, Zheng Zhou, Henan Province 450007, China.
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2
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Zhong S, Zhang Y, Lu X, Meftahpour V. The Therapeutic Potential of Cytokine-Induced Killer in Patients with Cancer. J Interferon Cytokine Res 2024; 44:99-110. [PMID: 38488758 DOI: 10.1089/jir.2023.0180] [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] [Indexed: 03/19/2024] Open
Abstract
Despite the promising results of immunotherapy, further experiments need to be considered because of several factors ranging from physical barriers to off-tumor adverse effects. It is surprising that adoptive cellular immunotherapy, particularly dendritic cell and cytokine-induced killer (DC-CIK) therapy, is far less emphasized in the treatment of cancer diseases. DC-CIK therapy in cancer patients presents auspicious results with low or no side effects, which should not be overlooked. More interestingly, almost all DC-CIK clinical trials are ongoing in China that highlight the limitations of therapeutic strategies and require large-scale research. To date, it is advisable to consider combination therapy with chemotherapy since it has shown promising outcomes with higher efficacy. In this article, the efficacy of DC-CIK therapy in patients with cancer is summarized by underscoring the lack of experiments on soft cancers on an unprecedented scale. In brief, DC-CIK therapy is a safe and effective therapeutic agent for malignant and nonmalignant diseases that enhances short-term and long-term effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sixun Zhong
- Hai'an People's Hospital, Department of Oncology, Nantong City, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Yan Zhang
- Hai'an People's Hospital, Department of Oncology, Nantong City, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Xiaomin Lu
- Hai'an People's Hospital, Department of Oncology, Nantong City, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Vafa Meftahpour
- Medical Immunology, Cellular and Molecular Research Center, Medical Sciences Department, Urmia University of Medical Sciences, Urmia, Iran
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3
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Xu H, Jia Z, Liu F, Li J, Huang Y, Jiang Y, Pu P, Shang T, Tang P, Zhou Y, Yang Y, Su J, Liu J. Biomarkers and experimental models for cancer immunology investigation. MedComm (Beijing) 2023; 4:e437. [PMID: 38045830 PMCID: PMC10693314 DOI: 10.1002/mco2.437] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2023] [Revised: 11/01/2023] [Accepted: 11/10/2023] [Indexed: 12/05/2023] Open
Abstract
The rapid advancement of tumor immunotherapies poses challenges for the tools used in cancer immunology research, highlighting the need for highly effective biomarkers and reproducible experimental models. Current immunotherapy biomarkers encompass surface protein markers such as PD-L1, genetic features such as microsatellite instability, tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes, and biomarkers in liquid biopsy such as circulating tumor DNAs. Experimental models, ranging from 3D in vitro cultures (spheroids, submerged models, air-liquid interface models, organ-on-a-chips) to advanced 3D bioprinting techniques, have emerged as valuable platforms for cancer immunology investigations and immunotherapy biomarker research. By preserving native immune components or coculturing with exogenous immune cells, these models replicate the tumor microenvironment in vitro. Animal models like syngeneic models, genetically engineered models, and patient-derived xenografts provide opportunities to study in vivo tumor-immune interactions. Humanized animal models further enable the simulation of the human-specific tumor microenvironment. Here, we provide a comprehensive overview of the advantages, limitations, and prospects of different biomarkers and experimental models, specifically focusing on the role of biomarkers in predicting immunotherapy outcomes and the ability of experimental models to replicate the tumor microenvironment. By integrating cutting-edge biomarkers and experimental models, this review serves as a valuable resource for accessing the forefront of cancer immunology investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hengyi Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular OncologyNational Cancer Center /National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer HospitalChinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical CollegeBeijingChina
- Eight‐year MD ProgramSchool of Clinical Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical CollegeBeijingChina
| | - Ziqi Jia
- Department of Breast Surgical OncologyNational Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer HospitalChinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical CollegeBeijingChina
| | - Fengshuo Liu
- Eight‐year MD ProgramSchool of Clinical Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical CollegeBeijingChina
| | - Jiayi Li
- Eight‐year MD ProgramSchool of Clinical Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical CollegeBeijingChina
- Department of Breast Surgical OncologyNational Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer HospitalChinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical CollegeBeijingChina
| | - Yansong Huang
- Eight‐year MD ProgramSchool of Clinical Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical CollegeBeijingChina
- Department of Breast Surgical OncologyNational Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer HospitalChinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical CollegeBeijingChina
| | - Yiwen Jiang
- Eight‐year MD ProgramSchool of Clinical Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical CollegeBeijingChina
| | - Pengming Pu
- Eight‐year MD ProgramSchool of Clinical Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical CollegeBeijingChina
| | - Tongxuan Shang
- Eight‐year MD ProgramSchool of Clinical Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical CollegeBeijingChina
| | - Pengrui Tang
- Eight‐year MD ProgramSchool of Clinical Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical CollegeBeijingChina
| | - Yongxin Zhou
- Eight‐year MD ProgramSchool of Clinical Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical CollegeBeijingChina
| | - Yufan Yang
- School of MedicineTsinghua UniversityBeijingChina
| | - Jianzhong Su
- Oujiang LaboratoryZhejiang Lab for Regenerative Medicine, Vision, and Brain HealthWenzhouZhejiangChina
| | - Jiaqi Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular OncologyNational Cancer Center /National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer HospitalChinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical CollegeBeijingChina
- Department of Breast Surgical OncologyNational Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer HospitalChinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical CollegeBeijingChina
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4
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Meng L, Yang Y, Mortazavi A, Zhang J. Emerging Immunotherapy Approaches for Treating Prostate Cancer. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:14347. [PMID: 37762648 PMCID: PMC10531627 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241814347] [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: 08/31/2023] [Revised: 09/16/2023] [Accepted: 09/18/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Immunotherapy has emerged as an important approach for cancer treatment, but its clinical efficacy has been limited in prostate cancer compared to other malignancies. This review summarizes key immunotherapy strategies under evaluation for prostate cancer, including immune checkpoint inhibitors, bispecific T cell-engaging antibodies, chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells, therapeutic vaccines, and cytokines. For each modality, the rationale stemming from preclinical studies is discussed along with outcomes from completed clinical trials and strategies to improve clinical efficacy that are being tested in ongoing clinical trials. Imperative endeavors include biomarker discovery for patient selection, deciphering resistance mechanisms, refining cellular therapies such as CAR T cells, and early-stage intervention were reviewed. These ongoing efforts instill optimism that immunotherapy may eventually deliver significant clinical benefits and expand treatment options for patients with advanced prostate cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lingbin Meng
- Division of Medical Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbus, OH 43210, USA; (L.M.); (Y.Y.); (A.M.)
| | - Yuanquan Yang
- Division of Medical Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbus, OH 43210, USA; (L.M.); (Y.Y.); (A.M.)
| | - Amir Mortazavi
- Division of Medical Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbus, OH 43210, USA; (L.M.); (Y.Y.); (A.M.)
| | - Jingsong Zhang
- Department of Genitourinary Oncology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute, University of South Florida, 12902 USF Magnolia Drive, Tampa, FL 33612, USA
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Zhou Y, Li T, Jia M, Dai R, Wang R. The Molecular Biology of Prostate Cancer Stem Cells: From the Past to the Future. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24087482. [PMID: 37108647 PMCID: PMC10140972 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24087482] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2023] [Revised: 04/03/2023] [Accepted: 04/11/2023] [Indexed: 04/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Prostate cancer (PCa) continues to rank as the second leading cause of cancer-related mortality in western countries, despite the golden treatment using androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) or anti-androgen therapy. With decades of research, scientists have gradually realized that the existence of prostate cancer stem cells (PCSCs) successfully explains tumor recurrence, metastasis and therapeutic failure of PCa. Theoretically, eradication of this small population may improve the efficacy of current therapeutic approaches and prolong PCa survival. However, several characteristics of PCSCs make their diminishment extremely challenging: inherent resistance to anti-androgen and chemotherapy treatment, over-activation of the survival pathway, adaptation to tumor micro-environments, escape from immune attack and being easier to metastasize. For this end, a better understanding of PCSC biology at the molecular level will definitely inspire us to develop PCSC targeted approaches. In this review, we comprehensively summarize signaling pathways responsible for homeostatic regulation of PCSCs and discuss how to eliminate these fractional cells in clinical practice. Overall, this study deeply pinpoints PCSC biology at the molecular level and provides us some research perspectives.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yong Zhou
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou 646000, China
| | - Tian Li
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou 646000, China
| | - Man Jia
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou 646000, China
| | - Rongyang Dai
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou 646000, China
| | - Ronghao Wang
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou 646000, China
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6
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Ramesh S, Selvakumar P, Ameer MY, Lian S, Abdullah Alzarooni AIM, Ojha S, Mishra A, Tiwari A, Kaushik A, Jung YD, Chouaib S, Lakshmanan VK. State-of-the-art therapeutic strategies for targeting cancer stem cells in prostate cancer. Front Oncol 2023; 13:1059441. [PMID: 36969009 PMCID: PMC10035756 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2023.1059441] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2022] [Accepted: 01/30/2023] [Indexed: 03/11/2023] Open
Abstract
The development of new therapeutic strategies is on the increase for prostate cancer stem cells, owing to current standardized therapies for prostate cancer, including chemotherapy, androgen deprivation therapy (ADT), radiotherapy, and surgery, often failing because of tumor relapse ability. Ultimately, tumor relapse develops into advanced castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC), which becomes an irreversible and systemic disease. Hence, early identification of the intracellular components and molecular networks that promote prostate cancer is crucial for disease management and therapeutic intervention. One of the potential therapeutic methods for aggressive prostate cancer is to target prostate cancer stem cells (PCSCs), which appear to be a primary focal point of cancer metastasis and recurrence and are resistant to standardized therapies. PCSCs have also been documented to play a major role in regulating tumorigenesis, sphere formation, and the metastasis ability of prostate cancer with their stemness features. Therefore, the current review highlights the origin and identification of PCSCs and their role in anti-androgen resistance, as well as stemness-related signaling pathways. In addition, the review focuses on the current advanced therapeutic strategies for targeting PCSCs that are helping to prevent prostate cancer initiation and progression, such as microRNAs (miRNAs), nanotechnology, chemotherapy, immunotherapy, the clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)/CRISPR-associated protein 9 (Cas9) gene-editing system, and photothermal ablation (PTA) therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saravanan Ramesh
- Prostate Cancer Biomarker Laboratory, Faculty of Clinical Research, Sri Ramachandra Institute of Higher Education and Research, Chennai, India
| | - Preethi Selvakumar
- Prostate Cancer Biomarker Laboratory, Faculty of Clinical Research, Sri Ramachandra Institute of Higher Education and Research, Chennai, India
| | - Mohamed Yazeer Ameer
- Prostate Cancer Biomarker Laboratory, Faculty of Clinical Research, Sri Ramachandra Institute of Higher Education and Research, Chennai, India
| | - Sen Lian
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | | | - Shreesh Ojha
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates
| | - Anshuman Mishra
- Translational Research & Sustainable Healthcare Management, Institute of Advanced Materials, IAAM, Ulrika, Sweden
| | - Ashutosh Tiwari
- Translational Research & Sustainable Healthcare Management, Institute of Advanced Materials, IAAM, Ulrika, Sweden
| | - Ajeet Kaushik
- NanoBioTech Laboratory, Department of Environmental Engineering, Florida Polytechnic University, Lakeland, FL, United States
- School of Engineering, University of Petroleum and Energy Studies (UPES), Dehradun, India
| | - Young Do Jung
- Department of Biochemistry, Chonnam National University Medical School, Gwangju, Republic of Korea
| | - Salem Chouaib
- Thumbay Research Institute for Precision Medicine, Gulf Medical University, Ajman, United Arab Emirates
- INSERM UMR1186, Integrative Tumor Immunology and Genetic Oncology, Gustave Roussy, Equipe Labellisée par la Ligue Contre le Cancer, EPHE, Faculté de Médecine, Université Paris-Sud, Université Paris-Saclay, Villejuif, France
| | - Vinoth-Kumar Lakshmanan
- Prostate Cancer Biomarker Laboratory, Faculty of Clinical Research, Sri Ramachandra Institute of Higher Education and Research, Chennai, India
- Translational Research & Sustainable Healthcare Management, Institute of Advanced Materials, IAAM, Ulrika, Sweden
- *Correspondence: Vinoth-Kumar Lakshmanan,
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Huang J, Zhao X, Zhang Z, Yang S, Chen X, Shen C, Wang L, Qi Y, Zhang Y. Adjuvant cytokine-induced killer cell immunotherapy improves long-term survival in patients with stage I-II non-small cell lung cancer after curative surgery. Cytotherapy 2023; 25:202-209. [PMID: 36379882 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcyt.2022.10.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2022] [Revised: 10/16/2022] [Accepted: 10/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AIMS Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) remains the most common cancer worldwide, with an annual incidence of around 1.3 million. Surgery represents the standard treatment in early-stage NSCLC when feasible. However, because of cancer recurrence, only approximately 53% of patients with stage I and II NSCLC survive 5 years after radical surgery. The authors performed a retrospective study to investigate the impact of cytokine-induced killer (CIK) cell immunotherapy on the long-term survival of patients with stage I-II NSCLC after curative resection. METHODS Fifty-seven patients with NSCLC were included in the study, with 41 and 16 in the control and CIK groups, respectively. Clinical characteristics were compared using a t-test and χ2 test. Survival analysis of patients with NSCLC was performed using the Kaplan-Meier method. The phenotypes and anti-tumor functions of CIK cells were evaluated by flow cytometry. RESULTS Patients in the CIK group exhibited significantly longer overall survival (OS) and better disease-free survival (DFS) than those in the control group. Subgroup analysis indicated that patients with a higher risk of recurrence benefited more from CIK treatment and attained longer OS and DFS compared with those in the control group. No severe adverse events related to CIK treatment occurred. CIK cells contained a higher proportion of CD3+CD56+ natural killer (NK) T cells and CD3+ and CD8+ T cells and a lower proportion of CD3-CD56+ NK cells compared with peripheral blood mononuclear cells. CIK cells exhibited potent tumor-killing ability, with longer contact times with tumor cells and a greater number of cells exposed to tumor cells. CONCLUSIONS The authors' data suggest that adjuvant CIK cell therapy is a safe and effective therapeutic strategy for improving OS and DFS in patients with stage I-II NSCLC after curative resection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jianmin Huang
- Biotherapy Center, First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Xuan Zhao
- Biotherapy Center, First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Zhen Zhang
- Biotherapy Center, First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Shuangning Yang
- Biotherapy Center, First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Xinfeng Chen
- Biotherapy Center, First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Chunyi Shen
- Biotherapy Center, First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Liping Wang
- Cancer Center, First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Yu Qi
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Yi Zhang
- Biotherapy Center, First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China; Cancer Center, First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China; School of Life Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China; State Key Laboratory of Esophageal Cancer Prevention and Treatment, Zhengzhou, China.
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Kushwaha PP, Verma S, Kumar S, Gupta S. Role of prostate cancer stem-like cells in the development of antiandrogen resistance. CANCER DRUG RESISTANCE (ALHAMBRA, CALIF.) 2022; 5:459-471. [PMID: 35800367 PMCID: PMC9255247 DOI: 10.20517/cdr.2022.07] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2022] [Revised: 02/16/2022] [Accepted: 03/24/2022] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) is the standard of care treatment for advance stage prostate cancer. Treatment with ADT develops resistance in multiple ways leading to the development of castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC). Present research establishes that prostate cancer stem-like cells (CSCs) play a central role in the development of treatment resistance followed by disease progression. Prostate CSCs are capable of self-renewal, differentiation, and regenerating tumor heterogeneity. The stemness properties in prostate CSCs arise due to various factors such as androgen receptor mutation and variants, epigenetic and genetic modifications leading to alteration in the tumor microenvironment, changes in ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters, and adaptations in molecular signaling pathways. ADT reprograms prostate tumor cellular machinery leading to the expression of various stem cell markers such as Aldehyde Dehydrogenase 1 Family Member A1 (ALDH1A1), Prominin 1 (PROM1/CD133), Indian blood group (CD44), SRY-Box Transcription Factor 2 (Sox2), POU Class 5 Homeobox 1(POU5F1/Oct4), Nanog and ABC transporters. These markers indicate enhanced self-renewal and stemness stimulating CRPC evolution, metastatic colonization, and resistance to antiandrogens. In this review, we discuss the role of ADT in prostate CSCs differentiation and acquisition of CRPC, their isolation, identification and characterization, as well as the factors and pathways contributing to CSCs expansion and therapeutic opportunities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Prem Prakash Kushwaha
- Department of Urology, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA.,The Urology Institute, University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA
| | - Shiv Verma
- Department of Urology, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA.,The Urology Institute, University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA
| | - Shashank Kumar
- Molecular Signaling and Drug Discovery Laboratory, Department of Biochemistry, Central University of Punjab, Bathinda 151401, India
| | - Sanjay Gupta
- Department of Urology, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA.,The Urology Institute, University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA.,Department of Pathology, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA.,Department of Pharmacology, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA.,Department of Nutrition, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA.,Divison of General Medical Sciences, Case Comprehensive Cancer Center, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA
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Wolf I, Gratzke C, Wolf P. Prostate Cancer Stem Cells: Clinical Aspects and Targeted Therapies. Front Oncol 2022; 12:935715. [PMID: 35875084 PMCID: PMC9304860 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2022.935715] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2022] [Accepted: 06/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite decades of research and successful improvements in diagnosis and therapy, prostate cancer (PC) remains a major challenge. In recent years, it has become clear that PC stem cells (PCSCs) are the driving force in tumorigenesis, relapse, metastasis, and therapeutic resistance of PC. In this minireview, we discuss the impact of PCSCs in the clinical practice. Moreover, new therapeutic approaches to combat PCSCs are presented with the aim to achieve an improved outcome for patients with PC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isis Wolf
- Department of Urology, Medical Center-University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Christian Gratzke
- Department of Urology, Medical Center-University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Philipp Wolf
- Department of Urology, Medical Center-University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
- *Correspondence: Philipp Wolf,
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10
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Gao W, Wang Y, Yu S, Wang Z, Ma T, Chan AML, Chiu PKF, Ng CF, Wu D, Chan FL. Endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS)-NO signaling axis functions to promote the growth of prostate cancer stem-like cells. Stem Cell Res Ther 2022; 13:188. [PMID: 35526071 PMCID: PMC9080127 DOI: 10.1186/s13287-022-02864-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2021] [Accepted: 04/24/2022] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Accumulating evidence supports that prostate cancer stem-like cells (PCSCs) play significant roles in therapy resistance and metastasis of prostate cancer. Many studies also show that nitric oxide (NO) synthesized by NO synthases can function to promote tumor progression. However, the exact roles of NOSs and NO signaling in the growth regulation of PCSCs and castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) are still not fully understood. METHODS The regulatory functions of NOS-NO signaling were evaluated in prostate cancer cells, especially in PCSCs enriched by 3D spheroid culture and CD133/CD44 cell sorting. The molecular mechanisms of NOS-NO signaling in PCSCs growth regulation and tumor metastasis were investigated in PCSCs and mice orthotopic prostate tumor model. RESULTS Endothelial NOS (eNOS) exhibited a significant upregulation in high-grade prostate cancer and metastatic CRPC. Xenograft models of CRPC exhibited notable increased eNOS expression and higher intracellular NO levels. PCSCs isolated from various models displayed significant enhanced eNOS-NO signaling. Functional analyses demonstrated that increased eNOS expression could promote in vivo tumorigenicity and metastatic potential of prostate cancer cells. Characterization of eNOS-NO involved downstream pathway which confirmed that enhanced eNOS signaling could promote the growth of PCSCs and antiandrogen-resistant prostate cancer cells via an activated downstream NO-sGC-cGMP-PKG effector signaling pathway. Interestingly, eNOS expression could be co-targeted by nuclear receptor ERRα and transcription factor ERG in prostate cancer cells and PCSCs. CONCLUSIONS Enhanced eNOS-NO signaling could function to promote the growth of PCSCs and also the development of metastatic CRPC. Besides eNOS-NO as potential targets, targeting its upstream regulators (ERRα and ERG) of eNOS-NO signaling could also be the therapeutic strategy for the management of advanced prostate cancer, particularly the aggressive cancer carrying with the TMPRSS2:ERG fusion gene.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weijie Gao
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Sun Yat-Sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, China
- School of Biomedical Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong, China
| | - Yuliang Wang
- School of Biomedical Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong, China
| | - Shan Yu
- School of Biomedical Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong, China
| | - Zhu Wang
- School of Biomedical Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong, China
| | - Taiyang Ma
- School of Biomedical Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong, China
| | - Andrew Man-Lok Chan
- School of Biomedical Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong, China
| | - Peter Ka-Fung Chiu
- Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Chi-Fai Ng
- Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Dinglan Wu
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Viral Oncology, The Clinical Innovation & Research Center (CIRC), Shenzhen Hospital, Southern Medical University, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China.
| | - Franky Leung Chan
- School of Biomedical Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong, China.
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11
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The Immune Privilege of Cancer Stem Cells: A Key to Understanding Tumor Immune Escape and Therapy Failure. Cells 2021; 10:cells10092361. [PMID: 34572009 PMCID: PMC8469208 DOI: 10.3390/cells10092361] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2021] [Revised: 09/04/2021] [Accepted: 09/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are broadly considered immature, multipotent, tumorigenic cells within the tumor mass, endowed with the ability to self-renew and escape immune control. All these features contribute to place CSCs at the pinnacle of tumor aggressiveness and (immune) therapy resistance. The immune privileged status of CSCs is induced and preserved by various mechanisms that directly affect them (e.g., the downregulation of the major histocompatibility complex class I) and indirectly are induced in the host immune cells (e.g., activation of immune suppressive cells). Therefore, deeper insights into the immuno-biology of CSCs are essential in our pursuit to find new therapeutic opportunities that eradicate cancer (stem) cells. Here, we review and discuss the ability of CSCs to evade the innate and adaptive immune system, as we offer a view of the immunotherapeutic strategies adopted to potentiate and address specific subsets of (engineered) immune cells against CSCs.
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Donini C, Rotolo R, Proment A, Aglietta M, Sangiolo D, Leuci V. Cellular Immunotherapy Targeting Cancer Stem Cells: Preclinical Evidence and Clinical Perspective. Cells 2021; 10:cells10030543. [PMID: 33806296 PMCID: PMC8001974 DOI: 10.3390/cells10030543] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2021] [Revised: 02/24/2021] [Accepted: 02/25/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
The term “cancer stem cells” (CSCs) commonly refers to a subset of tumor cells endowed with stemness features, potentially involved in chemo-resistance and disease relapses. CSCs may present peculiar immunogenic features influencing their homeostasis within the tumor microenvironment. The susceptibility of CSCs to recognition and targeting by the immune system is a relevant issue and matter of investigation, especially considering the multiple emerging immunotherapy strategies. Adoptive cellular immunotherapies, especially those strategies encompassing the genetic redirection with chimeric antigen receptors (CAR), hold relevant promise in several tumor settings and might in theory provide opportunities for selective elimination of CSC subsets. Initial dedicated preclinical studies are supporting the potential targeting of CSCs by cellular immunotherapies, indirect evidence from clinical studies may be derived and new studies are ongoing. Here we review the main issues related to the putative immunogenicity of CSCs, focusing on and highlighting the existing evidence and opportunities for cellular immunotherapy approaches with T and non-T antitumor lymphocytes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chiara Donini
- Department of Oncology, University of Turin, 10124 Turin, Italy; (C.D.); (A.P.); (M.A.)
- Candiolo Cancer Institute, FPO–IRCCS, Str. Prov. 142, km 3,95, 10060 Candiolo (TO), Italy; (R.R.); (V.L.)
| | - Ramona Rotolo
- Candiolo Cancer Institute, FPO–IRCCS, Str. Prov. 142, km 3,95, 10060 Candiolo (TO), Italy; (R.R.); (V.L.)
| | - Alessia Proment
- Department of Oncology, University of Turin, 10124 Turin, Italy; (C.D.); (A.P.); (M.A.)
| | - Massimo Aglietta
- Department of Oncology, University of Turin, 10124 Turin, Italy; (C.D.); (A.P.); (M.A.)
- Candiolo Cancer Institute, FPO–IRCCS, Str. Prov. 142, km 3,95, 10060 Candiolo (TO), Italy; (R.R.); (V.L.)
| | - Dario Sangiolo
- Department of Oncology, University of Turin, 10124 Turin, Italy; (C.D.); (A.P.); (M.A.)
- Candiolo Cancer Institute, FPO–IRCCS, Str. Prov. 142, km 3,95, 10060 Candiolo (TO), Italy; (R.R.); (V.L.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +39-011-993-3503; Fax: +39-011-993-3522
| | - Valeria Leuci
- Candiolo Cancer Institute, FPO–IRCCS, Str. Prov. 142, km 3,95, 10060 Candiolo (TO), Italy; (R.R.); (V.L.)
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