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He Y, Li J, Chen Y, Ren B, Zhou Z, Liu J, Gao H, Li F, Li B, Liu L, Shen H. Expression and Function of Long Non-coding RNA in Endemic Cretinism. Mol Neurobiol 2024:10.1007/s12035-024-04358-3. [PMID: 39031326 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-024-04358-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2024] [Accepted: 07/09/2024] [Indexed: 07/22/2024]
Abstract
Endemic cretinism (EC) is one of the most severe iodine deficiency disorders, leading to typical symptoms such as neurodevelopmental impairments or mental deficits. In addition to environmental factors, the pathogenesis of its genetic contribution remains unclear. The study revealed the differential expression profiles of long non-coding RNA(lncRNA) and messenger RNA(mRNA) based on high-throughput RNA-seq. GO and KEGG analyses were used to annotate the function and pathway of differentially expressed (DE) mRNA and co-expressed mRNA. The protein-protein interaction(PPI) network was established. The expression levels of three lncRNAs and six mRNAs were validated by quantitative real-time PCR analysis (qRT-PCR) and subjected to correlation analysis. Compared to controls, a total of 864 lncRNAs and 393 mRNAs were differentially expressed. The PPI network had 149 nodes and 238 edges, and three key protein-coding genes were observed. Levels of LINC01220 and target mRNA IDO1 were statistically elevated in EC patients. Differentially expressed lncRNA may be a new potential player in EC. LINC01220 and IDO1 might interact with each other to participate in EC. The biological process of regulation of postsynaptic membrane potential and the Rap1 signaling pathway might exert a regulating role in the pathophysiological process of EC. Our findings could provide more theoretical and experimental evidence for investigating the pathophysiological mechanisms of EC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanhong He
- Chinese Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, Centre for Endemic Disease Control, Harbin Medical University, Heilongjiang Province 150081, Harbin City, People's Republic of China
- Commission & Education Bureau of Heilongjiang Province, Key Laboratory of Etiology and Epidemiology, National Health, Harbin Medical University, Heilongjiang Province 150081, Harbin City, People's Republic of China
- Heilongjiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Trace Elements and Human Health, Harbin Medical University, Heilongjiang Province 150081, Harbin City, People's Republic of China
| | - Jianshuang Li
- Chinese Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, Centre for Endemic Disease Control, Harbin Medical University, Heilongjiang Province 150081, Harbin City, People's Republic of China
- Commission & Education Bureau of Heilongjiang Province, Key Laboratory of Etiology and Epidemiology, National Health, Harbin Medical University, Heilongjiang Province 150081, Harbin City, People's Republic of China
- Heilongjiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Trace Elements and Human Health, Harbin Medical University, Heilongjiang Province 150081, Harbin City, People's Republic of China
- College of Medical Laboratory Science and Technology, Harbin Medical University (Daqing), Heilongjiang Province 163319, Daqing City, People's Republic of China
| | - Yun Chen
- Chinese Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, Centre for Endemic Disease Control, Harbin Medical University, Heilongjiang Province 150081, Harbin City, People's Republic of China
- Commission & Education Bureau of Heilongjiang Province, Key Laboratory of Etiology and Epidemiology, National Health, Harbin Medical University, Heilongjiang Province 150081, Harbin City, People's Republic of China
- Heilongjiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Trace Elements and Human Health, Harbin Medical University, Heilongjiang Province 150081, Harbin City, People's Republic of China
| | - Bingxuan Ren
- Chinese Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, Centre for Endemic Disease Control, Harbin Medical University, Heilongjiang Province 150081, Harbin City, People's Republic of China
- Commission & Education Bureau of Heilongjiang Province, Key Laboratory of Etiology and Epidemiology, National Health, Harbin Medical University, Heilongjiang Province 150081, Harbin City, People's Republic of China
- Heilongjiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Trace Elements and Human Health, Harbin Medical University, Heilongjiang Province 150081, Harbin City, People's Republic of China
| | - Zheng Zhou
- Chinese Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, Centre for Endemic Disease Control, Harbin Medical University, Heilongjiang Province 150081, Harbin City, People's Republic of China
- Commission & Education Bureau of Heilongjiang Province, Key Laboratory of Etiology and Epidemiology, National Health, Harbin Medical University, Heilongjiang Province 150081, Harbin City, People's Republic of China
- Heilongjiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Trace Elements and Human Health, Harbin Medical University, Heilongjiang Province 150081, Harbin City, People's Republic of China
| | - Jinjin Liu
- Chinese Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, Centre for Endemic Disease Control, Harbin Medical University, Heilongjiang Province 150081, Harbin City, People's Republic of China
- Commission & Education Bureau of Heilongjiang Province, Key Laboratory of Etiology and Epidemiology, National Health, Harbin Medical University, Heilongjiang Province 150081, Harbin City, People's Republic of China
- Heilongjiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Trace Elements and Human Health, Harbin Medical University, Heilongjiang Province 150081, Harbin City, People's Republic of China
| | - Haiyan Gao
- Chinese Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, Centre for Endemic Disease Control, Harbin Medical University, Heilongjiang Province 150081, Harbin City, People's Republic of China
- Commission & Education Bureau of Heilongjiang Province, Key Laboratory of Etiology and Epidemiology, National Health, Harbin Medical University, Heilongjiang Province 150081, Harbin City, People's Republic of China
- Heilongjiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Trace Elements and Human Health, Harbin Medical University, Heilongjiang Province 150081, Harbin City, People's Republic of China
| | - Fan Li
- Chinese Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, Centre for Endemic Disease Control, Harbin Medical University, Heilongjiang Province 150081, Harbin City, People's Republic of China
- Commission & Education Bureau of Heilongjiang Province, Key Laboratory of Etiology and Epidemiology, National Health, Harbin Medical University, Heilongjiang Province 150081, Harbin City, People's Republic of China
- Heilongjiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Trace Elements and Human Health, Harbin Medical University, Heilongjiang Province 150081, Harbin City, People's Republic of China
| | - Baoxiang Li
- Chinese Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, Centre for Endemic Disease Control, Harbin Medical University, Heilongjiang Province 150081, Harbin City, People's Republic of China
- Commission & Education Bureau of Heilongjiang Province, Key Laboratory of Etiology and Epidemiology, National Health, Harbin Medical University, Heilongjiang Province 150081, Harbin City, People's Republic of China
- Heilongjiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Trace Elements and Human Health, Harbin Medical University, Heilongjiang Province 150081, Harbin City, People's Republic of China
| | - Lixiang Liu
- Chinese Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, Centre for Endemic Disease Control, Harbin Medical University, Heilongjiang Province 150081, Harbin City, People's Republic of China
- Commission & Education Bureau of Heilongjiang Province, Key Laboratory of Etiology and Epidemiology, National Health, Harbin Medical University, Heilongjiang Province 150081, Harbin City, People's Republic of China
- Heilongjiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Trace Elements and Human Health, Harbin Medical University, Heilongjiang Province 150081, Harbin City, People's Republic of China
| | - Hongmei Shen
- Chinese Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, Centre for Endemic Disease Control, Harbin Medical University, Heilongjiang Province 150081, Harbin City, People's Republic of China.
- Commission & Education Bureau of Heilongjiang Province, Key Laboratory of Etiology and Epidemiology, National Health, Harbin Medical University, Heilongjiang Province 150081, Harbin City, People's Republic of China.
- Heilongjiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Trace Elements and Human Health, Harbin Medical University, Heilongjiang Province 150081, Harbin City, People's Republic of China.
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Komatsuda H, Kono M, Wakisaka R, Sato R, Inoue T, Kumai T, Takahara M. Harnessing Immunity to Treat Advanced Thyroid Cancer. Vaccines (Basel) 2023; 12:45. [PMID: 38250858 PMCID: PMC10820966 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines12010045] [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: 11/20/2023] [Revised: 12/26/2023] [Accepted: 12/29/2023] [Indexed: 01/23/2024] Open
Abstract
The incidence of thyroid cancer (TC) has increased over the past 30 years. Although differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) has a good prognosis in most patients undergoing total thyroidectomy followed by radioiodine therapy (RAI), 5-10% of patients develop metastasis. Anaplastic thyroid cancer (ATC) has a low survival rate and few effective treatments have been available to date. Recently, tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) have been successfully applied to RAI-resistant or non-responsive TC to suppress the disease. However, TC eventually develops resistance to TKIs. Immunotherapy is a promising treatment for TC, the majority of which is considered an immune-hot malignancy. Immune suppression by TC cells and immune-suppressing cells, including tumor-associated macrophages, myeloid-derived suppressor cells, and regulatory T cells, is complex and dynamic. Negative immune checkpoints, cytokines, vascular endothelial growth factors (VEGF), and indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase 1 (IDO1) suppress antitumor T cells. Basic and translational advances in immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), molecule-targeted therapy, tumor-specific immunotherapy, and their combinations have enabled us to overcome immune suppression and activate antitumor immune cells. This review summarizes current findings regarding the immune microenvironment, immunosuppression, immunological targets, and immunotherapy for TC and highlights the potential efficacy of immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hiroki Komatsuda
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Asahikawa Medical University, Asahikawa 078-8510, Japan; (H.K.); (M.K.); (R.W.); (R.S.); (T.I.); (M.T.)
| | - Michihisa Kono
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Asahikawa Medical University, Asahikawa 078-8510, Japan; (H.K.); (M.K.); (R.W.); (R.S.); (T.I.); (M.T.)
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - Risa Wakisaka
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Asahikawa Medical University, Asahikawa 078-8510, Japan; (H.K.); (M.K.); (R.W.); (R.S.); (T.I.); (M.T.)
| | - Ryosuke Sato
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Asahikawa Medical University, Asahikawa 078-8510, Japan; (H.K.); (M.K.); (R.W.); (R.S.); (T.I.); (M.T.)
| | - Takahiro Inoue
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Asahikawa Medical University, Asahikawa 078-8510, Japan; (H.K.); (M.K.); (R.W.); (R.S.); (T.I.); (M.T.)
| | - Takumi Kumai
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Asahikawa Medical University, Asahikawa 078-8510, Japan; (H.K.); (M.K.); (R.W.); (R.S.); (T.I.); (M.T.)
- Department of Innovative Head & Neck Cancer Research and Treatment, Asahikawa Medical University, Asahikawa 078-8510, Japan
| | - Miki Takahara
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Asahikawa Medical University, Asahikawa 078-8510, Japan; (H.K.); (M.K.); (R.W.); (R.S.); (T.I.); (M.T.)
- Department of Innovative Head & Neck Cancer Research and Treatment, Asahikawa Medical University, Asahikawa 078-8510, Japan
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Fagin JA, Krishnamoorthy GP, Landa I. Pathogenesis of cancers derived from thyroid follicular cells. Nat Rev Cancer 2023; 23:631-650. [PMID: 37438605 PMCID: PMC10763075 DOI: 10.1038/s41568-023-00598-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/08/2023] [Indexed: 07/14/2023]
Abstract
The genomic simplicity of differentiated cancers derived from thyroid follicular cells offers unique insights into how oncogenic drivers impact tumour phenotype. Essentially, the main oncoproteins in thyroid cancer activate nodes in the receptor tyrosine kinase-RAS-BRAF pathway, which constitutively induces MAPK signalling to varying degrees consistent with their specific biochemical mechanisms of action. The magnitude of the flux through the MAPK signalling pathway determines key elements of thyroid cancer biology, including differentiation state, invasive properties and the cellular composition of the tumour microenvironment. Progression of disease results from genomic lesions that drive immortalization, disrupt chromatin accessibility and cause cell cycle checkpoint dysfunction, in conjunction with a tumour microenvironment characterized by progressive immunosuppression. This Review charts the genomic trajectories of these common endocrine tumours, while connecting them to the biological states that they confer.
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Affiliation(s)
- James A Fagin
- Human Oncology and Pathogenesis Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA.
| | - Gnana P Krishnamoorthy
- Human Oncology and Pathogenesis Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Iñigo Landa
- Human Oncology and Pathogenesis Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
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Song M, Liu Q, Sun W, Zhang H. Crosstalk between Thyroid Carcinoma and Tumor-Correlated Immune Cells in the Tumor Microenvironment. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:2863. [PMID: 37345200 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15102863] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2023] [Revised: 05/07/2023] [Accepted: 05/19/2023] [Indexed: 06/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Thyroid cancer (TC) is the most common malignancy in the endocrine system. Although most TC can achieve a desirable prognosis, some refractory thyroid carcinomas, including radioiodine-refractory differentiated thyroid cancer, as well as anaplastic thyroid carcinoma, face a myriad of difficulties in clinical treatment. These types of tumors contribute to the majority of TC deaths due to limited initial therapy, recurrence, and metastasis of the tumor and tumor resistance to current clinically targeted drugs, which ultimately lead to treatment failure. At present, a growing number of studies have demonstrated crosstalk between TC and tumor-associated immune cells, which affects tumor deterioration and metastasis through distinct signal transduction or receptor activation. Current immunotherapy focuses primarily on cutting off the interaction between tumor cells and immune cells. Since the advent of immunotherapy, scholars have discovered targets for TC immunotherapy, which also provides new strategies for TC treatment. This review methodically and intensively summarizes the current understanding and mechanism of the crosstalk between distinct types of TC and immune cells, as well as potential immunotherapy strategies and clinical research results in the area of the tumor immune microenvironment. We aim to explore the current research advances to formulate better individualized treatment strategies for TC patients and to provide clues and references for the study of potential immune checkpoints and the development of immunotherapy technologies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mingyuan Song
- Department of Thyroid Surgery, The First Hospital of China Medical University, 155 Nanjing North Street, Shenyang 110001, China
| | - Qi Liu
- Department of Thyroid Surgery, The First Hospital of China Medical University, 155 Nanjing North Street, Shenyang 110001, China
| | - Wei Sun
- Department of Thyroid Surgery, The First Hospital of China Medical University, 155 Nanjing North Street, Shenyang 110001, China
| | - Hao Zhang
- Department of Thyroid Surgery, The First Hospital of China Medical University, 155 Nanjing North Street, Shenyang 110001, China
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Cao ZX, Weng X, Huang JS, Long X. Receptor–ligand pair typing and prognostic risk model for papillary thyroid carcinoma based on single-cell sequencing. Front Immunol 2022; 13:902550. [PMID: 35935973 PMCID: PMC9354623 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.902550] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2022] [Accepted: 06/27/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
The papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) microenvironment consists of various cancer and surrounding cells, and the communication between them is mainly performed through ligand–receptor (LR) interactions. Single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) has been performed to investigate the role of intercellular communication networks in tumor progression. In addition, scRNA-seq can accurately identify the characteristics of immune cell subsets, which is of great significance for predicting the efficacy of immunotherapy. In this study, the cell–cell communication network was analyzed through LR pairs, and a new PTC molecular phenotype was developed based on LR pairs. Furthermore, a risk model was established to predict patient response to PD-1 blockade immunotherapy. The scRNA-seq dataset was obtained from GSE184362, and the bulk tumor RNA-seq dataset was obtained from The Cancer Genome Atlas. CellPhoneDB was used for cellular communication analysis. LR pair correlations were calculated and used to identify molecular subtypes, and the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (Lasso) Cox regression was used to develop a risk model based on LR pairs. The IMvigor210 and GSE78220 cohorts were used as external validations for the LR.score to predict responses to PD-L1 blockade therapy. A total of 149 LR pairs with significant expression and prognostic correlation were included, and three PTC molecular subtypes were obtained from those with significant prognostic differences. Then, five LR pairs were selected to construct the risk scoring model, a reliable and independent prognostic factor in the training set, test set, and whole dataset. Furthermore, two external validation sets confirmed the predictive efficacy of the LR.score for response to PD-1 blockade therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhe Xu Cao
- Department of Thyroid Surgery, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Xin Weng
- Hunan Sixth Engineering Company Construction Hospital, Changsha, China
| | - Jiang Sheng Huang
- Department of Thyroid Surgery, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Xia Long
- Hospital Office, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
- *Correspondence: Xia Long,
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Shi L, Duan R, Jia Q, Wu W, Zhou J, Li S, Zhang H, Xue X. Indoleamine 2,3-Dioxygenase Immune Status as a Potential Biomarker of Radioiodine Efficacy for Advanced Distant Metastatic Differentiated Thyroid Cancer. Front Oncol 2022; 12:871792. [PMID: 35924153 PMCID: PMC9339611 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2022.871792] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2022] [Accepted: 06/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
PurposeHost immunity influences the impact of cancer therapy but the effect of immune status in radioiodine (RAI)-treated differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) remains obscure. Here we investigated indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO) activity as a biomarker of response to RAI in patients with distant metastatic DTC (dmDTC).MethodsPatients with dmDTC receiving RAI were evaluated for serum IDO activity (kynurenine and kynurenine:tryptophan ratio) at baseline and 3 months after RAI. The optimal cut-off value for these biomarkers to predict response was established by receiver operating characteristic analysis. The relationship between disease outcomes, overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS), and IDO activity levels was studied.ResultsHigher baseline kynurenine:tryptophan ratio (>2.46) was correlated with poorer RAI response as well as shorter median PFS (45 mo versus not reached, p=0.002) and OS (78 mo versus not reached, p=0.035). High baseline kynurenine:tryptophan ratio was also correlated with a reduced number of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes. Higher post/pre-kynurenine ratio (>1.69) was associated with survival endpoints: shorter median PFS (48 mo versus not reached, p=0.002) and OS (68 mo versus not reached, p=0.010). Favorable baseline and favorable change corresponded with better PFS and OS.ConclusionsOur results suggest that RAI also alters IDO activity in dmDTC patients. IDO activity could predict progression and survival outcomes for advanced dmDTC patients. Serum IDO biomarker levels could be used to select dmDTC likely to benefit from RAI therapy, although further studies are necessary.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liang Shi
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Nanjing First Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Rui Duan
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Nanjing First Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
- Department of Neurology, Nanjing First Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Qiong Jia
- Department of Oncology, Nanjing First Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Wenyu Wu
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Nanjing First Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Jianming Zhou
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, China
| | - Shaohua Li
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Nanjing First Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Hao Zhang
- Department of Emergency, Affiliated Hospital of Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, China
- *Correspondence: Xue Xue, ; Hao Zhang,
| | - Xue Xue
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Nanjing First Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
- *Correspondence: Xue Xue, ; Hao Zhang,
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LI XM, YUAN DY, LIU YH, ZHU L, QIN HK, YANG YB, LI Y, YAN F, WANG YJ. Panax notoginseng saponins prevent colitis-associated colorectal cancer via inhibition IDO1 mediated immune regulation. Chin J Nat Med 2022; 20:258-269. [DOI: 10.1016/s1875-5364(22)60179-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
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Chakraborty S, Carnazza M, Jarboe T, DeSouza N, Li XM, Moscatello A, Geliebter J, Tiwari RK. Disruption of Cell-Cell Communication in Anaplastic Thyroid Cancer as an Immunotherapeutic Opportunity. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2021; 1350:33-66. [PMID: 34888843 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-83282-7_2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Thyroid cancer incidence is increasing at an alarming rate, almost tripling every decade. About 44,280 new cases of thyroid cancer (12,150 in men and 32,130 in women) are estimated to be diagnosed in 2021, with an estimated death toll of around 2200. Although most thyroid tumors are treatable and associated with a favorable outcome, anaplastic thyroid cancer (ATC) is extremely aggressive with a grim prognosis of 6-9 months post-diagnosis. A large contributing factor to this aggressive nature is that ATC is completely refractory to mainstream therapies. Analysis of the tumor microenvironment (TME) associated with ATC can relay insight to the pathological realm that encompasses tumors and aids in cancer progression and proliferation. The TME is defined as a complex niche that surrounds a tumor and involves a plethora of cellular components whose secretions can modulate the environment in order to favor tumor progression. The cellular heterogeneity of the TME contributes to its dynamic function due to the presence of both immune and nonimmune resident, infiltrating, and interacting cell types. Associated immune cells discussed in this chapter include macrophages, dendritic cells (DCs), natural killer (NK) cells, and tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs). Nonimmune cells also play a role in the establishment and proliferation of the TME, including neuroendocrine (NE) cells, adipocytes, endothelial cells (ECs), mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), and fibroblasts. The dynamic nature of the TME contributes greatly to cancer progression.Recent work has found ATC tissues to be defined by a T cell-inflamed "hot" tumor immune microenvironment (TIME) as evidenced by presence of CD3+ and CD8+ T cells. These tumor types are amenable to immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) therapy. This therapeutic avenue, as of 2021, has remained unexplored in ATC. New studies should seek to explore the therapeutic feasibility of a combination therapy, through the use of a small molecule inhibitor with ICB in ATC. Screening of in vitro model systems representative of papillary, anaplastic, and follicular thyroid cancer explored the expression of 29 immune checkpoint molecules. There are higher expressions of HVEM, BTLA, and CD160 in ATC cell lines when compared to the other TC subtypes. The expression level of HVEM was more than 30-fold higher in ATC compared to the others, on average. HVEM is a member of tumor necrosis factor (TNF) receptor superfamily, which acts as a bidirectional switch through interaction with BTLA, CD160, and LIGHT, in a cis or trans manner. Given the T cell-inflamed hot TIME in ATC, expression of HVEM on tumor cells was suggestive of a possibility for complex crosstalk of HVEM with inflammatory cytokines. Altogether, there is emerging evidence of a T cell-inflamed TIME in ATC along with the expression of immune checkpoint proteins HVEM, BTLA, and CD160 in ATC. This can open doors for combination therapies using small molecule inhibitors targeting downstream effectors of MAPK pathway and antagonistic antibodies targeting the HVEM/BTLA axis as a potentially viable therapeutic avenue for ATC patients. With this being stated, the development of adaptive resistance to targeted therapies is inevitable; therefore, using a combination therapy that targets the TIME can serve as a preemptive tactic against the characteristic therapeutic resistance that is seen in ATC. The dynamic nature of the TME, including the immune cells, nonimmune cells, and acellular components, can serve as viable targets for combination therapy in ATC. Understanding the complex interactions of these associated cells and the paradigm in which their secretions and components can serve as immunomodulators are critical points of understanding when trying to develop therapeutics specifically tailored for the anaplastic thyroid carcinoma microenvironment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sanjukta Chakraborty
- Department of Pathology, Microbiology, and Immunology, New York Medical College, Valhalla, NY, USA.,Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Michelle Carnazza
- Department of Pathology, Microbiology, and Immunology, New York Medical College, Valhalla, NY, USA
| | - Tara Jarboe
- Department of Pathology, Microbiology, and Immunology, New York Medical College, Valhalla, NY, USA
| | - Nicole DeSouza
- Department of Pathology, Microbiology, and Immunology, New York Medical College, Valhalla, NY, USA
| | - Xiu-Min Li
- Department of Pathology, Microbiology, and Immunology, New York Medical College, Valhalla, NY, USA
| | | | - Jan Geliebter
- Department of Pathology, Microbiology, and Immunology, New York Medical College, Valhalla, NY, USA
| | - Raj K Tiwari
- Department of Pathology, Microbiology, and Immunology, New York Medical College, Valhalla, NY, USA.
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Bao L, Xu T, Lu X, Huang P, Pan Z, Ge M. Metabolic Reprogramming of Thyroid Cancer Cells and Crosstalk in Their Microenvironment. Front Oncol 2021; 11:773028. [PMID: 34926283 PMCID: PMC8674491 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2021.773028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2021] [Accepted: 11/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Metabolism differs significantly between tumor and normal cells. Metabolic reprogramming in cancer cells and metabolic interplay in the tumor microenvironment (TME) are important for tumor formation and progression. Tumor cells show changes in both catabolism and anabolism. Altered aerobic glycolysis, known as the Warburg effect, is a well-recognized characteristic of tumor cell energy metabolism. Compared with normal cells, tumor cells consume more glucose and glutamine. The enhanced anabolism in tumor cells includes de novo lipid synthesis as well as protein and nucleic acid synthesis. Although these forms of energy supply are uneconomical, they are required for the functioning of cancer cells, including those in thyroid cancer (TC). Increasing attention has recently focused on alterations of the TME. Understanding the metabolic changes governing the intricate relationship between TC cells and the TME may provide novel ideas for the treatment of TC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisha Bao
- Second Clinical College, Zhejiang Chinese Medical School, Hangzhou, China
- ENT-Head & Neck Surgery Center, Department of Head and Neck Surgery, Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital, Affiliated People's Hospital, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, China
- Key Laboratory of Endocrine Gland Diseases of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital, Hangzhou, China
| | - Tong Xu
- Clinical Pharmacy Center, Department of Pharmacy, Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital, Affiliated People's Hospital, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, China
| | - Xixuan Lu
- ENT-Head & Neck Surgery Center, Department of Head and Neck Surgery, Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital, Affiliated People's Hospital, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, China
- Key Laboratory of Endocrine Gland Diseases of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital, Hangzhou, China
| | - Ping Huang
- Key Laboratory of Endocrine Gland Diseases of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital, Hangzhou, China
- Clinical Pharmacy Center, Department of Pharmacy, Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital, Affiliated People's Hospital, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, China
| | - Zongfu Pan
- Key Laboratory of Endocrine Gland Diseases of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital, Hangzhou, China
- Clinical Pharmacy Center, Department of Pharmacy, Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital, Affiliated People's Hospital, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, China
| | - Minghua Ge
- ENT-Head & Neck Surgery Center, Department of Head and Neck Surgery, Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital, Affiliated People's Hospital, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, China
- Key Laboratory of Endocrine Gland Diseases of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital, Hangzhou, China
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Zhang J, Wen X, Li Y, Zhang J, Li X, Qian C, Tian Y, Ling R, Duan Y. Diagnostic approach to thyroid cancer based on amino acid metabolomics in saliva by ultra-performance liquid chromatography with high resolution mass spectrometry. Talanta 2021; 235:122729. [PMID: 34517597 DOI: 10.1016/j.talanta.2021.122729] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2021] [Revised: 07/08/2021] [Accepted: 07/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Thyroid cancer is a malignant disease with dramatically low advanced-stage 10-year survival. Meanwhile, the metabolites in saliva are becoming a wealthy source of disease biomarkers. However, there is a lack of non-invasive analytical methods for the identification of biomarkers in saliva for the preoperative diagnosis of thyroid cancer. Therefore, we developed an ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-high resolution mass spectrometry (UPLC-HRMS) method to simultaneously determine the metabolic levels of 10 amino acids in saliva, aiming to study the amino acid metabolism profile to promote early diagnosis of thyroid cancer. We tested unstimulated whole saliva from patients with papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC; n = 61) and healthy controls (HC; n = 61), and used receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves to establish the diagnostic value of potential markers. The method validation results showed good precision, linearity (R2 > 0.99), recovery (92.2 %-110.3 %), intra- and inter-day precision (RSD < 7 % and RSD < 9 %, respectively). The concentration of 10 amino acids was significantly different between PTC and HC in human salivary analysis (P < 0.05), the area under the curve (AUC) values of a single marker for the diagnosis of PTC were ranging from 0.678 to 0.833. A panel of alanine, valine, proline, phenylalanine was selected in combination yielded the AUC of 0.936, which will improve the accuracy of early diagnosis of thyroid cancer (sensitivity: 91.2 %; specificity: 85.2 %). This study proved the possibility of salivary amino acid biomarkers for PTC early diagnosis, providing a simple auxiliary way for the non-invasive diagnosis of thyroid cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing Zhang
- Research Center of Analytical Instrumentation, Key Laboratory of Synthetic and Natural Functional Molecule Chemistry of Ministry of Education, College of Chemistry & Materials Science, Northwest University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710069, China
| | - Xinxin Wen
- Department of Thyroid, Breast and Vascular Surgery, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710069, China
| | - Yuting Li
- Research Center of Analytical Instrumentation, Key Laboratory of Synthetic and Natural Functional Molecule Chemistry of Ministry of Education, College of Chemistry & Materials Science, Northwest University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710069, China
| | - Jing Zhang
- Research Center of Analytical Instrumentation, Key Laboratory of Synthetic and Natural Functional Molecule Chemistry of Ministry of Education, College of Chemistry & Materials Science, Northwest University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710069, China
| | - Xian Li
- Research Center of Analytical Instrumentation, Key Laboratory of Synthetic and Natural Functional Molecule Chemistry of Ministry of Education, College of Chemistry & Materials Science, Northwest University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710069, China
| | - Cheng Qian
- Research Center of Analytical Instrumentation, Key Laboratory of Synthetic and Natural Functional Molecule Chemistry of Ministry of Education, College of Chemistry & Materials Science, Northwest University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710069, China
| | - Yonghui Tian
- Research Center of Analytical Instrumentation, Key Laboratory of Synthetic and Natural Functional Molecule Chemistry of Ministry of Education, College of Chemistry & Materials Science, Northwest University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710069, China
| | - Rui Ling
- Department of Thyroid, Breast and Vascular Surgery, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710069, China.
| | - Yixiang Duan
- Research Center of Analytical Instrumentation, Key Laboratory of Synthetic and Natural Functional Molecule Chemistry of Ministry of Education, College of Chemistry & Materials Science, Northwest University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710069, China.
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11
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Morita N, Hoshi M, Hara T, Ninomiya S, Enoki T, Yoneda M, Tsurumi H, Saito K. Viability of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma cells is regulated by kynurenine 3-monooxygenase activity. Oncol Lett 2021; 22:790. [PMID: 34584567 PMCID: PMC8461759 DOI: 10.3892/ol.2021.13051] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2021] [Accepted: 09/03/2021] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) is a clinically heterogeneous lymphoid malignancy that is the most common type of lymphoma in Japan. Previous studies have demonstrated that patients with DLBCL have a poor prognosis due to increased levels of indoleamine 2,3-dioxygnase and kynurenine (KYN). However, the roles of metabolites acting downstream of KYN and associated enzymes are not fully understood. The present study investigated the role of kynurenine 3-monooxygenase (KMO), which catalyzes the conversion of KYN to 3-hydroxykynurenine (3-HK), using serum samples from patients with DLBCL and human DLBCL cell lines with different KMO expression [STR-428 cells with high levels of KMO expression (KMOhigh) and KML-1 cells with low levels of KMO expression (KMOlow)]. Serum samples from 28 patients with DLBCL and 34 healthy volunteers were used to investigate the association between prognosis and KMO activity or 3-HK levels. Furthermore, to investigate the roles of KMO and its related metabolites, STR-428 and KML-1 cell lines, and the lymph nodes of patients with DLBCL were analyzed by reverse transcription-quantitative PCR for KMO, KYNU, 3-hydroxyanthranilate-3,4-dioxygenase and quinolinate phosphoribosyltransferase, by western blotting, and immunohistochemical or immunofluorescence staining for KMO, and by cell viability and NAD+/NADH assays. KYN pathway metabolites in serum samples were measured by HPLC. Serum 3-HK levels were regulated independently of serum KYN levels, and increased serum 3-HK levels and KMO activity were found to be associated with worse disease progression. Notably, the addition of KMO inhibitors and 3-HK negatively and positively regulated the viability of DLBCL cells, respectively. Furthermore, NAD+ levels in KMOhigh STR-428 cells were significantly higher than those in KMOlow KML-1 cells. These results suggested that 3-HK generated by KMO activity may be involved in the regulation of DLBCL cell viability via NAD+ synthesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nanaka Morita
- Department of Disease Control and Prevention, Fujita Health University, Toyoake, Aichi 470-1192, Japan
| | - Masato Hoshi
- Department of Biochemical and Analytical Science, Fujita Health University, Toyoake, Aichi 470-1192, Japan
| | - Takeshi Hara
- First Department of Internal Medicine, Gifu University Graduate School of Medicine, Yanagido, Gifu 501-1194, Japan.,Department of Hematology, Matsunami General Hospital, Kasamatsucho, Gifu 501-6062, Japan
| | - Soranobu Ninomiya
- Department of Hematology, Matsunami General Hospital, Kasamatsucho, Gifu 501-6062, Japan
| | - Taisuke Enoki
- Department of Educational Collaboration, Health and Safety Sciences, Osaka Kyoiku University, Kashiwara, Osaka 582-8285, Japan
| | - Misao Yoneda
- Department of Pathology, Suzuka University of Medical Sciences, Suzuka, Mie 510-0293, Japan
| | - Hisashi Tsurumi
- First Department of Internal Medicine, Gifu University Graduate School of Medicine, Yanagido, Gifu 501-1194, Japan.,Department of Hematology, Matsunami General Hospital, Kasamatsucho, Gifu 501-6062, Japan
| | - Kuniaki Saito
- Department of Disease Control and Prevention, Fujita Health University, Toyoake, Aichi 470-1192, Japan
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12
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The Kynurenine Pathway-New Linkage between Innate and Adaptive Immunity in Autoimmune Endocrinopathies. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22189879. [PMID: 34576041 PMCID: PMC8469440 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22189879] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2021] [Revised: 09/09/2021] [Accepted: 09/10/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The kynurenine pathway (KP) is highly regulated in the immune system, where it promotes immunosuppression in response to infection or inflammation. Indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase 1 (IDO1), the main enzyme of KP, has a broad spectrum of activity on immune cells regulation, controlling the balance between stimulation and suppression of the immune system at sites of local inflammation, relevant to a wide range of autoimmune and inflammatory diseases. Various autoimmune diseases, among them endocrinopathies, have been identified to date, but despite significant progress in their diagnosis and treatment, they are still associated with significant complications, morbidity, and mortality. The precise cellular and molecular mechanisms leading to the onset and development of autoimmune disease remain poorly clarified so far. In breaking of tolerance, the cells of the innate immunity provide a decisive microenvironment that regulates immune cells’ differentiation, leading to activation of adaptive immunity. The current review provided a comprehensive presentation of the known role of IDO1 and KP activation in the regulation of the innate and adaptive arms of the immune system. Significant attention has been paid to the immunoregulatory role of IDO1 in the most prevalent, organ-specific autoimmune endocrinopathies—type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) and autoimmune thyroiditis.
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13
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Marszalek-Grabska M, Walczak K, Gawel K, Wicha-Komsta K, Wnorowska S, Wnorowski A, Turski WA. Kynurenine emerges from the shadows – Current knowledge on its fate and function. Pharmacol Ther 2021; 225:107845. [DOI: 10.1016/j.pharmthera.2021.107845] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2021] [Accepted: 03/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
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14
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Chen Z, Gao Y, Huang X, Yao Y, Chen K, Zeng S, Mao W. Tissue-based metabolomics reveals metabolic biomarkers and potential therapeutic targets for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. J Pharm Biomed Anal 2021; 197:113937. [PMID: 33609949 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpba.2021.113937] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2020] [Revised: 12/25/2020] [Accepted: 01/24/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Prognosis for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is poor, so it is essential to develop a more complete understanding of the disease. The purpose of this study was to explore metabolic biomarkers and potential therapeutic targets for ESCC. An ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with high resolution mass (UPLC/MS)-based metabolomic analysis was performed in 141 ESCC cancerous tissue samples and 70 non-cancerous counterparts. The results showed that 41 differential metabolites were annotated in the training set, and 37 were validated in the test set. Single-metabolite-based receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves as well as metabolite-based machine learning models, including Partial Least Squares (PLS), Support Vector Machine (SVM), and Random Forest (RF), were investigated for cancerous and non-cancerous tissue classification. Six most prevalent diagnostic metabolites-adenylsuccinic acid, UDP-GalNAc, maleylacetoacetic acid, hydroxyphenylacetylglycine, galactose, and kynurenine-showed testing predictive accuracies of 0.89, 0.95, 0.97, 0.89, 0.84, and 0.84, respectively. Moreover, the metabolite-based models (PLS, SVM, and RF) had testing predictive accuracies of 0.95, 0.95, and 1.00, respectively. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis and Cox proportional hazards regression analysis demonstrated that 2-hydroxymyristoylcarnitine (HR: 0.55, 95 % CI: 0.32 to 0.92), 3-hydroxyhexadecanoylcarnitine (HR: 0.49, 95 % CI: 0.29 to 0.83), and 2,3-Dinor-TXB1 (HR: 0.56, 95 % CI: 0.33 to 0.95) to be significantly associated with OS. Based on the observation of accumulation in amino acids, immunohistochemistry (IHC) staining revealed that the amino acid transporters SLC7A5/LAT1, SLC1A5/ASCT2, and SLC16A10/MCT10 were up-regulated in ESCC cancerous tissues when compared to non-cancerous equivalents. Consistently, the same panel of amino acids were downregulated in cells with SLC1A5 knockdown. Herein, it is concluded that this study not only identified several metabolites with diagnostic and/or prognostic value, but also provided accurate metabolite-based prediction models for ESCC tissue classification. Furthermore, the three up-regulated amino acid transporters were identified as potential therapeutic targets for ESCC, especially SLC1A5.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhongjian Chen
- College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Yuhangtang Road #866, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, 310058, China; Institute of Cancer and Basic Medicine (ICBM), Chinese Academy of Sciences, Banshandong Road#1, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, 310022, China; Cancer Hospital of the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Banshandong Road#1, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, 310022, China; Zhejiang Cancer Hospital, Banshandong Road#1, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, 310022, China.
| | - Yun Gao
- Institute of Cancer and Basic Medicine (ICBM), Chinese Academy of Sciences, Banshandong Road#1, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, 310022, China; Cancer Hospital of the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Banshandong Road#1, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, 310022, China; Zhejiang Cancer Hospital, Banshandong Road#1, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, 310022, China
| | - Xiancong Huang
- Institute of Cancer and Basic Medicine (ICBM), Chinese Academy of Sciences, Banshandong Road#1, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, 310022, China; Cancer Hospital of the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Banshandong Road#1, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, 310022, China; Zhejiang Cancer Hospital, Banshandong Road#1, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, 310022, China
| | - Yao Yao
- Institute of Cancer and Basic Medicine (ICBM), Chinese Academy of Sciences, Banshandong Road#1, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, 310022, China; Cancer Hospital of the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Banshandong Road#1, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, 310022, China; Zhejiang Cancer Hospital, Banshandong Road#1, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, 310022, China
| | - Keke Chen
- Institute of Cancer and Basic Medicine (ICBM), Chinese Academy of Sciences, Banshandong Road#1, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, 310022, China; Cancer Hospital of the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Banshandong Road#1, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, 310022, China; Zhejiang Cancer Hospital, Banshandong Road#1, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, 310022, China
| | - Su Zeng
- College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Yuhangtang Road #866, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, 310058, China
| | - Weimin Mao
- Institute of Cancer and Basic Medicine (ICBM), Chinese Academy of Sciences, Banshandong Road#1, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, 310022, China; Cancer Hospital of the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Banshandong Road#1, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, 310022, China; Zhejiang Cancer Hospital, Banshandong Road#1, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, 310022, China.
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15
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Sasidharan Nair V, Saleh R, Toor SM, Cyprian FS, Elkord E. Metabolic reprogramming of T regulatory cells in the hypoxic tumor microenvironment. Cancer Immunol Immunother 2021; 70:2103-2121. [PMID: 33532902 PMCID: PMC8289790 DOI: 10.1007/s00262-020-02842-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2020] [Accepted: 12/21/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Metabolic dysregulation in the hypoxic tumor microenvironment (TME) is considered as a hallmark of solid tumors, leading to changes in biosynthetic pathways favoring onset, survival and proliferation of malignant cells. Within the TME, hypoxic milieu favors metabolic reprogramming of tumor cells, which subsequently affects biological properties of tumor-infiltrating immune cells. T regulatory cells (Tregs), including both circulating and tissue-resident cells, are particularly susceptible to hypoxic metabolic signaling that can reprogram their biological and physicochemical properties. Furthermore, metabolic reprogramming modifies Tregs to utilize alternative substrates and undergo a plethora of metabolic events to meet their energy demands. Major impact of this metabolic reprogramming can result in differentiation, survival, excessive secretion of immunosuppressive cytokines and proliferation of Tregs within the TME, which in turn dampen anti-tumor immune responses. Studies on fine-tuning of Treg metabolism are challenging due to heterogenicity of tissue-resident Tregs and their dynamic functions. In this review, we highlight tumor intrinsic and extrinsic factors, which can influence Treg metabolism in the hypoxic TME. Moreover, we focus on metabolic reprogramming of Tregs that could unveil potential regulatory networks favoring tumorigenesis/progression, and provide novel insights, including inhibitors against acetyl-coA carboxylase 1 and transforming growth factor beta into targeting Treg metabolism for therapeutic benefits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Varun Sasidharan Nair
- Cancer Research Center, Qatar Biomedical Research Institute (QBRI), Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU), Qatar Foundation (QF), Doha, Qatar
| | - Reem Saleh
- Cancer Research Center, Qatar Biomedical Research Institute (QBRI), Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU), Qatar Foundation (QF), Doha, Qatar
| | - Salman M Toor
- Cancer Research Center, Qatar Biomedical Research Institute (QBRI), Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU), Qatar Foundation (QF), Doha, Qatar
| | - Farhan S Cyprian
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, Member of QU Health, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar
| | - Eyad Elkord
- Biomedical Research Center, School of Science, Engineering and Environment, University of Salford, Manchester, M5 4WT, UK.
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16
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Ala M. The footprint of kynurenine pathway in every cancer: a new target for chemotherapy. Eur J Pharmacol 2021; 896:173921. [PMID: 33529725 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejphar.2021.173921] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2020] [Revised: 01/08/2021] [Accepted: 01/26/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Treatment of cancers has always been a challenge for physicians. Typically, several groups of anti-cancer medications are needed for effective management of an invasive and metastatic cancer. Recently, therapeutic potentiation of immune system markedly improved treatment of cancers. Kynurenine pathway has an interwoven correlation with immune system. Kynurenine promotes T Reg (regulatory) differentiation, which leads to increased production of anti-inflammatory cytokines and suppression of cytotoxic activity of T cells. Overactivation of kynurenine pathway in cancers provides an immunologically susceptible microenvironment for mutant cells to survive and invade surrounding tissues. Interestingly, kynurenine pathway vigorously interacts with other molecular pathways involved in tumorigenesis. For instance, kynurenine pathway interacts with phospoinosisitide-3 kinase (PI3K), extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK), Wnt/β-catenin, P53, bridging integrator 1 (BIN-1), cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2), cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK) and collagen type XII α1 chain (COL12A1). Overactivation of kynurenine pathway, particularly overactivation of indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO) predicts poor prognosis of several cancers such as gastrointestinal cancers, gynecological cancers, hematologic malignancies, breast cancer, lung cancer, glioma, melanoma, prostate cancer and pancreatic cancer. Furthermore, kynurenine increases the invasion, metastasis and chemoresistance of cancer cells. Recently, IDO inhibitors entered clinical trials and successfully passed their safety tests and showed promising therapeutic efficacy for cancers such as melanoma, brain cancer, renal cell carcinoma, prostate cancer and pancreatic cancer. However, a phase III trial of epacadostat, an IDO inhibitor, could not increase the efficacy of treatment with pembrolizumab for melanoma. In this review the expanding knowledge towards kynurenine pathway and its application in each cancer is discussed separately.
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Affiliation(s)
- Moein Ala
- School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences (TUMS), Tehran, Iran.
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17
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Mariotti V, Han H, Ismail-Khan R, Tang SC, Dillon P, Montero AJ, Poklepovic A, Melin S, Ibrahim NK, Kennedy E, Vahanian N, Link C, Tennant L, Schuster S, Smith C, Danciu O, Gilman P, Soliman H. Effect of Taxane Chemotherapy With or Without Indoximod in Metastatic Breast Cancer: A Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA Oncol 2021; 7:61-69. [PMID: 33151286 DOI: 10.1001/jamaoncol.2020.5572] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Importance Indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase 1 (IDO1) causes tumor immune suppression. The IDO1 pathway inhibitor indoximod combined with a taxane in patients with ERBB2-negative metastatic breast cancer was tested in a prospective clinical trial. Objective To assess clinical outcomes in patients with ERBB2-negative metastatic breast cancer treated with indoximod plus a taxane. Design, Setting, and Participants This phase 2 double-blinded randomized 1:1 placebo-controlled clinical trial enrolled patients at multiple international centers from August 26, 2013, to January 25, 2016. Eligibility criteria included ERBB2-negative metastatic breast cancer, ability to receive taxane therapy, good performance status, normal organ function, no previous immunotherapy use, and no autoimmune disease. The study was discontinued in June 2017 because of lack of efficacy. Data analysis was performed from February 2019 to April 2020. Interventions A taxane (paclitaxel [80 mg/m2] weekly 3 weeks on, 1 week off, or docetaxel [75 mg/m2] every 3 weeks) plus placebo or indoximod (1200 mg) orally twice daily as first-line treatment. Main Outcomes and Measures The primary end point was progression-free survival (PFS); secondary end points were median overall survival, objective response rate, and toxic effects. A sample size of 154 patients would detect a hazard ratio of 0.64 with 1-sided α = .1 and β = .2 after 95 events. Archival tumor tissue was stained with immunohistochemistry for IDO1 expression as an exploratory analysis. Results Of 209 patients enrolled, 169 were randomized and 164 were treated (85 in the indoximod arm; 79 in the placebo arm). The median (range) age was 58 (29-85) years; 166 (98.2%) were female, and 135 (79.9%) were White. The objective response rate was 40% and 37%, respectively (indoximod vs placebo) (P = .74). The median (range) follow-up time was 17.4 (0.1-39.4) months. The median PFS was 6.8 months (95% CI, 4.8-8.9) in the indoximod arm and 9.5 months (95% CI, 7.8-11.2) in the placebo arm (hazard ratio, 1.2; 95% CI, 0.8-1.8). Differences between the experimental and placebo arms in median PFS (6.8 vs 9.5 months) and overall survival (19.5 vs 20.6 months) were not statistically significant. Grade 3 or greater treatment-emergent adverse events occurred in 60% of patients in both arms. Conclusions and Relevance This randomized clinical trial found that, among patients with ERBB2-negative metastatic breast cancer, addition of indoximod to a taxane did not improve PFS compared with a taxane alone. Trial Registration ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT01792050.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Hyo Han
- H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, Florida
| | | | - Shou-Ching Tang
- University of Mississippi Cancer Center and Research Institute, Jackson
| | | | | | | | - Susan Melin
- Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, North Carolina
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Paul Gilman
- Lankenau Institute for Medical Research, Wynnewood, Pennsylvania
| | - Hatem Soliman
- H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, Florida
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18
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Postolache TT, Wadhawan A, Rujescu D, Hoisington AJ, Dagdag A, Baca-Garcia E, Lowry CA, Okusaga OO, Brenner LA. Toxoplasma gondii, Suicidal Behavior, and Intermediate Phenotypes for Suicidal Behavior. Front Psychiatry 2021; 12:665682. [PMID: 34177652 PMCID: PMC8226025 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2021.665682] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2021] [Accepted: 04/30/2021] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Within the general literature on infections and suicidal behavior, studies on Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) occupy a central position. This is related to the parasite's neurotropism, high prevalence of chronic infection, as well as specific and non-specific behavioral alterations in rodents that lead to increased risk taking, which are recapitulated in humans by T. gondii's associations with suicidal behavior, as well as trait impulsivity and aggression, mental illness and traffic accidents. This paper is a detailed review of the associations between T. gondii serology and suicidal behavior, a field of study that started 15 years ago with our publication of associations between T. gondii IgG serology and suicidal behavior in persons with mood disorders. This "legacy" article presents, chronologically, our primary studies in individuals with mood disorders and schizophrenia in Germany, recent attempters in Sweden, and in a large cohort of mothers in Denmark. Then, it reviews findings from all three meta-analyses published to date, confirming our reported associations and overall consistent in effect size [ranging between 39 and 57% elevation of odds of suicide attempt in T. gondii immunoglobulin (IgG) positives]. Finally, the article introduces certain links between T. gondii and biomarkers previously associated with suicidal behavior (kynurenines, phenylalanine/tyrosine), intermediate phenotypes of suicidal behavior (impulsivity, aggression) and state-dependent suicide risk factors (hopelessness/dysphoria, sleep impairment). In sum, an abundance of evidence supports a positive link between suicide attempts (but not suicidal ideation) and T. gondii IgG (but not IgM) seropositivity and serointensity. Trait impulsivity and aggression, endophenotypes of suicidal behavior have also been positively associated with T. gondii seropositivity in both the psychiatrically healthy as well as in patients with Intermittent Explosive Disorder. Yet, causality has not been demonstrated. Thus, randomized interventional studies are necessary to advance causal inferences and, if causality is confirmed, to provide hope that an etiological treatment for a distinct subgroup of individuals at an increased risk for suicide could emerge.
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Affiliation(s)
- Teodor T Postolache
- Department of Psychiatry, Mood and Anxiety Program, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States.,Veterans Health Administration, Rocky Mountain Mental Illness Research Education and Clinical Center (MIRECC), Military and Veteran Microbiome: Consortium for Research and Education (MVM-CoRE), Aurora, CO, United States.,Mental Illness Research, Education and Clinical Center (MIRECC), Veterans Integrated Service Network (VISN) 5, VA Capitol Health Care Network, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Abhishek Wadhawan
- Department of Psychiatry, Mood and Anxiety Program, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States.,Department of Psychiatry, Saint Elizabeth's Hospital, Washington, DC, United States
| | - Dan Rujescu
- Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, University of Halle, Halle, Germany
| | - Andrew J Hoisington
- Veterans Health Administration, Rocky Mountain Mental Illness Research Education and Clinical Center (MIRECC), Military and Veteran Microbiome: Consortium for Research and Education (MVM-CoRE), Aurora, CO, United States.,Department of Systems Engineering and Management, Air Force Institute of Technology, Dayton, OH, United States.,Department of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, University of Colorado, Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, United States
| | - Aline Dagdag
- Department of Psychiatry, Mood and Anxiety Program, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Enrique Baca-Garcia
- Department of Psychiatry, Jimenez Diaz Foundation Hospital, Madrid, Spain.,Department of Psychiatry, Madrid Autonomous University, Madrid, Spain.,Department of Psychiatry, Rey Juan Carlos University Hospital, Móstoles, Spain.,Department of Psychiatry, General Hospital of Villalba, Madrid, Spain.,Department of Psychiatry, Infanta Elena University Hospital, Valdemoro, Spain.,Universidad Catolica del Maule, Talca, Chile.,Department of Psychiatry, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Nîmes, Nîmes, France
| | - Christopher A Lowry
- Veterans Health Administration, Rocky Mountain Mental Illness Research Education and Clinical Center (MIRECC), Military and Veteran Microbiome: Consortium for Research and Education (MVM-CoRE), Aurora, CO, United States.,Department of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, University of Colorado, Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, United States.,Department of Integrative Physiology, Center for Neuroscience, Center for Microbial Exploration, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, United States
| | - Olaoluwa O Okusaga
- Department of Psychiatry, Mood and Anxiety Program, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States.,Menninger Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States.,Michael E DeBakey VA Medical Center, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Lisa A Brenner
- Veterans Health Administration, Rocky Mountain Mental Illness Research Education and Clinical Center (MIRECC), Military and Veteran Microbiome: Consortium for Research and Education (MVM-CoRE), Aurora, CO, United States.,Department of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, University of Colorado, Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, United States.,Department of Psychiatry & Neurology, University of Colorado, Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, United States
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19
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Meireson A, Devos M, Brochez L. IDO Expression in Cancer: Different Compartment, Different Functionality? Front Immunol 2020; 11:531491. [PMID: 33072086 PMCID: PMC7541907 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2020.531491] [Citation(s) in RCA: 102] [Impact Index Per Article: 25.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2020] [Accepted: 08/25/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase 1 (IDO1) is a cytosolic haem-containing enzyme involved in the degradation of tryptophan to kynurenine. Although initially thought to be solely implicated in the modulation of innate immune responses during infection, subsequent discoveries demonstrated IDO1 as a mechanism of acquired immune tolerance. In cancer, IDO1 expression/activity has been observed in tumor cells as well as in the tumor-surrounding stroma, which is composed of endothelial cells, immune cells, fibroblasts, and mesenchymal cells. IDO1 expression/activity has also been reported in the peripheral blood. This manuscript reviews available data on IDO1 expression, mechanisms of its induction, and its function in cancer for each of these compartments. In-depth study of the biological function of IDO1 according to the expressing (tumor) cell can help to understand if and when IDO1 inhibition can play a role in cancer therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annabel Meireson
- Department of Dermatology, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium.,Cancer Research Institute Ghent, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Michael Devos
- Department of Dermatology, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Lieve Brochez
- Department of Dermatology, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium.,Cancer Research Institute Ghent, Ghent, Belgium
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20
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Chen Z, Dai Y, Huang X, Chen K, Gao Y, Li N, Wang D, Chen A, Yang Q, Hong Y, Zeng S, Mao W. Combined Metabolomic Analysis of Plasma and Tissue Reveals a Prognostic Risk Score System and Metabolic Dysregulation in Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma. Front Oncol 2020; 10:1545. [PMID: 32984013 PMCID: PMC7479226 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2020.01545] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2020] [Accepted: 07/20/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is a gastrointestinal malignancy with a poor prognosis. Although studies have shown metabolic reprogramming to be linked to ESCC development, no prognostic metabolic biomarkers or potential therapeutic metabolic targets have been identified. Method: The present study investigated some circulating metabolites associated with overall survival in 276 curatively resected ESCC patients using liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry metabolomics and Kaplan-Meier analysis. Tissue metabolomic analysis of 23-paired ESCC tissue samples was performed to discover metabolic dysregulation in ESCC cancerous tissue. A method consisting of support vector machine recursive feature elimination and LIMMA differential expression analysis was utilized to select promising feature genes within transcriptomic data from 179-paired ESCC tissue samples. Joint pathway analysis with genes and metabolites identified relevant metabolic pathways and targets for ESCC. Results: Four metabolites, kynurenine, 1-myristoyl-glycero-3-phosphocholine (LPC(14:0)sn-1), 2-piperidinone, and hippuric acid, were identified as prognostic factors in the preoperative plasma from ESCC patients. A risk score consisting of kynurenine and LPC(14:0)sn-1 significantly improved the prognostic performance of the tumor-node-metastasis staging system and was able to stratify risk for ESCC. Combined tissue metabolomic analysis and support vector machine recursive feature elimination gene selection revealed dysregulated kynurenine pathway as an important metabolic feature of ESCC, including accumulation of tryptophan, formylkynurenine, and kynurenine, as well as up-regulated indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase 1 in ESCC cancerous tissue. Conclusions: This work identified for the first time four potential prognostic circulating metabolites. In addition, kynurenine pathway metabolism was shown to be up-regulated tryptophan-kynurenine metabolism in ESCC. Results not only provide a metabolite-based risk score system for prognosis, but also improve the understanding of the molecular basis of ESCC onset and progression, and as well as novel potential therapeutic targets for ESCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhongjian Chen
- College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.,Institute of Cancer and Basic Medicine (ICBM), Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou, China.,Cancer Hospital of the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou, China.,Zhejiang Cancer Hospital, Hangzhou, China
| | - Yalan Dai
- Institute of Cancer and Basic Medicine (ICBM), Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou, China.,Cancer Hospital of the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou, China.,Zhejiang Cancer Hospital, Hangzhou, China
| | - Xiancong Huang
- Institute of Cancer and Basic Medicine (ICBM), Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou, China.,Cancer Hospital of the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou, China.,Zhejiang Cancer Hospital, Hangzhou, China
| | - Keke Chen
- Institute of Cancer and Basic Medicine (ICBM), Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou, China.,Cancer Hospital of the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou, China.,Zhejiang Cancer Hospital, Hangzhou, China.,School of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Yun Gao
- Institute of Cancer and Basic Medicine (ICBM), Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou, China.,Cancer Hospital of the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou, China.,Zhejiang Cancer Hospital, Hangzhou, China
| | - Na Li
- Institute of Cancer and Basic Medicine (ICBM), Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou, China.,Cancer Hospital of the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou, China.,Zhejiang Cancer Hospital, Hangzhou, China
| | - Ding Wang
- Institute of Cancer and Basic Medicine (ICBM), Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou, China.,Cancer Hospital of the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou, China.,Zhejiang Cancer Hospital, Hangzhou, China
| | - Aiping Chen
- Institute of Cancer and Basic Medicine (ICBM), Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou, China.,Cancer Hospital of the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou, China.,Zhejiang Cancer Hospital, Hangzhou, China
| | - Qingxia Yang
- College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Yanjun Hong
- Department of Chemistry, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong, China
| | - Su Zeng
- College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Weimin Mao
- Institute of Cancer and Basic Medicine (ICBM), Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou, China.,Cancer Hospital of the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou, China.,Zhejiang Cancer Hospital, Hangzhou, China
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21
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Yin H, Tang Y, Guo Y, Wen S. Immune Microenvironment of Thyroid Cancer. J Cancer 2020; 11:4884-4896. [PMID: 32626535 PMCID: PMC7330689 DOI: 10.7150/jca.44506] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2020] [Accepted: 05/28/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Thyroid cancer (TC) is a highly heterogeneous endocrine malignancy with an increased incidence in women than in men. Previous studies regarding the pathogenesis of TC focused on the pathological changes of the tumor cells while ignoring the importance of the mesenchymal cells in tumor microenvironment. However, more recently, the stable environment provided by the interaction of thyroid cancer cells with the peri-tumoral stroma has been widely studied. Studies have shown that components of an individual's immune system are closely related to the occurrence, invasion, and metastasis of TC, which may affect response to treatment and prognosis of the patients. This article presents a comprehensive review of the immune cells, secreted soluble mediators and immune checkpoints in the immune microenvironment, mechanisms that promoting TC cells immune evasion and existing immunotherapy strategies. Besides it provides new strategies for TC prognosis prediction and immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongyu Yin
- Shanxi Key Laboratory of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Cancer, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan 030001, Shanxi, P.R. China.,Department of Otolaryngology Head & Neck Surgery, The First Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan 030001, Shanxi, P.R. China
| | - Yemei Tang
- Shanxi Key Laboratory of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Cancer, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan 030001, Shanxi, P.R. China.,Department of Otolaryngology Head & Neck Surgery, The First Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan 030001, Shanxi, P.R. China
| | - Yujia Guo
- Shanxi Key Laboratory of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Cancer, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan 030001, Shanxi, P.R. China.,Department of Otolaryngology Head & Neck Surgery, The First Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan 030001, Shanxi, P.R. China
| | - Shuxin Wen
- Shanxi Province Clinical Medical Research Center for Precision Medicine of Head and Neck Cancer, The First Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan 030001, Shanxi, P.R. China.,General Hospital, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518061, Guangdong, P.R. China
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22
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Zhou QH, Han H, Lu JB, Liu TY, Huang KB, Deng CZ, Li ZS, Chen JP, Yao K, Qin ZK, Liu ZW, Li YH, Guo SJ, Ye YL, Zhou FJ, Liu RY. Up-regulation of indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase 1 (IDO1) expression and catalytic activity is associated with immunosuppression and poor prognosis in penile squamous cell carcinoma patients. Cancer Commun (Lond) 2020; 40:3-15. [PMID: 32125093 PMCID: PMC7163927 DOI: 10.1002/cac2.12001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2019] [Accepted: 12/10/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Indoleamine 2,3‐dioxygenase 1 (IDO1) and tryptophan (Trp) catabolism have been demonstrated to play an important role in tumor immunosuppression. This study examined the expression and catalytic activity of IDO1 in penile squamous cell carcinoma (PSCC) and explored their clinical significance. Methods IDO1 expression level, serum concentrations of Trp and kynurenine (Kyn) were examined in 114 PSCC patients by immunohistonchemistry and solid‐phase extraction‐liquid chromatography‐tandem mass spectrometry. The survival was analyzed using Kaplan‐Meier method and the log‐rank test. Hazard ratio of death was analyzed via univariate and multivariate Cox regression. Immune cell types were defined by principal component analysis. The correlativity was assessed by Pearson's correlation analysis. Results The expression level of IDO1 in PSCC cells was positively correlated with serum Kyn concentration and Kyn/Trp radio (KTR; both P < 0.001) but negatively correlated with serum Trp concentration (P = 0.001). Additionally, IDO1 up‐regulation in cancer cells and the increase of serum KTR were significantly associated with advanced N stage (both P < 0.001) and high pathologic grade (P = 0.008 and 0.032, respectively). High expression level of IDO1 in cancer cells and serum KTR were associated with short disease‐specific survival (both P < 0.001). However, besides N stage (hazard radio [HR], 6.926; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.458‐19.068; P < 0.001) and pathologic grade (HR, 2.194; 95% CI, 1.021‐4.529; P = 0.038), only serum KTR (HR, 2.780; 95% CI, 1.066‐7.215; P = 0.036) was an independent predictor for PSCC prognosis. IDO1 expression was positively correlated with the expression of interferon‐γ (IFNγ, P < 0.001) and immunosuppressive markers (programmed cell death protein 1, cytotoxic T‐lymphocyte‐associated protein 4 and programmed death‐ligand 1 and 2; all P < 0.05), and the infiltration of immune cells (including cytotoxic T lymphocytes, regulatory T lymphocytes, tumor‐associated macrophages, and myeloid‐derived suppressor cells; all P < 0.001) in PSCC tissues. Furthermore, the expression of IDO1 was induced by IFNγ in a dose‐dependent manner in PSCC cells. Conclusions IFNγ‐induced IDO1 plays a crucial role in immunoediting and immunosuppression in PSCC. Additionally, serum KTR, an indicator of IDO1 catabolic activity, can be utilized as an independent prognostic factor for PSCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiang-Hua Zhou
- Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center of Cancer Medicine, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510060, P. R. China.,Department of Urology, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510120, P. R. China
| | - Hui Han
- Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center of Cancer Medicine, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510060, P. R. China.,Department of Urology, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510060, P. R. China
| | - Jia-Bin Lu
- Department of Pathology, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510060, P. R. China
| | - Ting-Yu Liu
- Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center of Cancer Medicine, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510060, P. R. China.,Department of Urology, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510060, P. R. China
| | - Kang-Bo Huang
- Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center of Cancer Medicine, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510060, P. R. China.,Department of Urology, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510060, P. R. China
| | - Chuang-Zhong Deng
- Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center of Cancer Medicine, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510060, P. R. China
| | - Zai-Shang Li
- Department of Urology, Shenzhen People's Hospital, Jinan University, Shenzhen, Guangdong, 518021, P. R. China
| | - Jie-Ping Chen
- Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center of Cancer Medicine, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510060, P. R. China
| | - Kai Yao
- Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center of Cancer Medicine, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510060, P. R. China.,Department of Urology, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510060, P. R. China
| | - Zi-Ke Qin
- Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center of Cancer Medicine, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510060, P. R. China.,Department of Urology, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510060, P. R. China
| | - Zhuo-Wei Liu
- Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center of Cancer Medicine, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510060, P. R. China.,Department of Urology, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510060, P. R. China
| | - Yong-Hong Li
- Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center of Cancer Medicine, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510060, P. R. China.,Department of Urology, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510060, P. R. China
| | - Sheng-Jie Guo
- Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center of Cancer Medicine, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510060, P. R. China.,Department of Urology, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510060, P. R. China
| | - Yun-Lin Ye
- Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center of Cancer Medicine, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510060, P. R. China.,Department of Urology, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510060, P. R. China
| | - Fang-Jian Zhou
- Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center of Cancer Medicine, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510060, P. R. China.,Department of Urology, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510060, P. R. China
| | - Ran-Yi Liu
- Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center of Cancer Medicine, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510060, P. R. China
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23
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Lanser L, Kink P, Egger EM, Willenbacher W, Fuchs D, Weiss G, Kurz K. Inflammation-Induced Tryptophan Breakdown is Related With Anemia, Fatigue, and Depression in Cancer. Front Immunol 2020; 11:249. [PMID: 32153576 PMCID: PMC7047328 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2020.00249] [Citation(s) in RCA: 97] [Impact Index Per Article: 24.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2019] [Accepted: 01/30/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Many patients with cancer suffer from anemia, depression, and an impaired quality of life (QoL). These patients often also show decreased plasma tryptophan levels and increased kynurenine concentrations in parallel with elevated concentrations of Th1 type immune activation marker neopterin. In the course of anti-tumor immune response, the pro-inflammatory cytokine interferon gamma (IFN-γ) induces both, the enzyme indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO) to degrade tryptophan and the enzyme GTP-cyclohydrolase I to form neopterin. High neopterin concentrations as well as an increased kynurenine to tryptophan ratio (Kyn/Trp) in the blood of cancer patients are predictive for a worse outcome. Inflammation-mediated tryptophan catabolism along the kynurenine pathway is related to fatigue and anemia as well as to depression and a decreased QoL in patients with solid tumors. In fact, enhanced tryptophan breakdown might greatly contribute to the development of anemia, fatigue, and depression in cancer patients. IDO activation and stimulation of the kynurenine pathway exert immune regulatory mechanisms, which may impair anti-tumor immune responses. In addition, tumor cells can degrade tryptophan to weaken immune responses directed against them. High IDO expression in the tumor tissue is associated with a poor prognosis of patients. The efficiency of IDO-inhibitors to inhibit cancer progression is currently tested in combination with established chemotherapies and with immune checkpoint inhibitors. Inflammation-mediated tryptophan catabolism and its possible influence on the development and persistence of anemia, fatigue, and depression in cancer patients are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lukas Lanser
- Department of Internal Medicine II, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Patricia Kink
- Department of Internal Medicine II, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Eva Maria Egger
- Department of Internal Medicine II, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Wolfgang Willenbacher
- Department of Internal Medicine V, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
- Oncotyrol Centre for Personalized Cancer Medicine, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Dietmar Fuchs
- Division of Biological Chemistry, Biocenter, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Guenter Weiss
- Department of Internal Medicine II, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Katharina Kurz
- Department of Internal Medicine II, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
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24
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The Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor Is Expressed in Thyroid Carcinoma and Appears to Mediate Epithelial-Mesenchymal-Transition. Cancers (Basel) 2020; 12:cancers12010145. [PMID: 31936153 PMCID: PMC7016998 DOI: 10.3390/cancers12010145] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2019] [Revised: 12/31/2019] [Accepted: 01/01/2020] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) is expected to promote initiation, progression and invasion of cancer cells regulating proliferation, differentiation, gene expression, inflammation, cell motility and migration. Furthermore, an immunosuppressant function of AhR has been recognized. This study evaluated AhR expression and its role in thyroid cancer progression. AhR expression was assessed by qPCR in 107 thyroid cancer samples (90 PTCs, 11 MTCs, 6 ATCs), and by immunohistochemistry in 41 PTCs. To estimate receptor activation, the expression of target genes CYP1A1 and CYP1B1 was measured. AhR functional effects were evaluated in kynurenine-stimulated FTC-133 and BcPap cell lines by analyzing the expression of genes involved in EMT and cell motility. AhR mRNA expression resulted significantly higher in all the analyzed thyroid cancer samples compared to normal thyroid and a statistically significant correlation with CYP1B1 was detected. Kynurenine-stimulated FTC-133 and BcPap showed the activation of a specific AhR-driven EMT program characterized by E-cadherin decrease and SLUG, N-cadherin and fibronectin increase, resulting in boost of cell motility and invasion. This study confirmed the importance of the IDO1-Kyn-AhR pathway in thyroid cancer tumorigenesis, suggesting an AhR pivotal role in mediating an immunosuppressive microenvironment and favoring the acquisition of a mesenchymal phenotype that could promote invasiveness and metastasis.
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25
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Menicali E, Guzzetti M, Morelli S, Moretti S, Puxeddu E. Immune Landscape of Thyroid Cancers: New Insights. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2020; 11:637826. [PMID: 33986723 PMCID: PMC8112200 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2020.637826] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2020] [Accepted: 12/30/2020] [Indexed: 01/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Immune system plays a key role in cancer prevention as well as in its initiation and progression. During multistep development of tumors, cells must acquire the capability to evade immune destruction. Both in vitro and in vivo studies showed that thyroid tumor cells can avoid immune response by promoting an immunosuppressive microenvironment. The recruitment of immunosuppressive cells such as TAMs (tumor-associated macrophages), TAMCs (tumor-associated mast cells), MDSC (myeloid-derived suppressor cells), TANs (tumor-associated neutrophils) and Tregs (regulatory T cells) and/or the expression of negative immune checkpoints, like PD-L1 (programmed death-ligand 1), CTLA-4 (cytotoxic T-lymphocyte associated protein 4), and/or immunosuppressive enzymes, as IDO1 (indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase 1), are just some of the mechanisms that thyroid cancer cells exploit to escape immune destruction. Some authors systematically characterized immune cell populations and soluble mediators (chemokines, cytokines, and angiogenic factors) that constitute thyroid cancer microenvironment. Their purpose was to verify immune system involvement in cancer growth and progression, highlighting the differences in immune infiltrate among tumor histotypes. More recently, some authors have provided a more comprehensive view of the relationships between tumor and immune system involved in thyroid carcinogenesis. The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) delivered a large amount of data that allowed to combine information on the inflammatory microenvironment with gene expression data, genetic and clinical-pathological characteristics, and differentiation degree of papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC). Moreover, using a new sensitive and highly multiplex analysis, the NanoString Technology, it was possible to divide thyroid tumors in two main clusters based on expression of immune-related genes. Starting from these results, the authors performed an immune phenotype analysis that allowed to classify thyroid cancers in hot, cold, or intermediate depending on immune infiltration patterns of the tumor microenvironment. The aim of this review is to provide a comprehensive and updated view of the knowledge on immune landscape of thyroid tumors. Understanding interactions between tumor and microenvironment is crucial to effectively direct immunotherapeutic approaches in the treatment of thyroid cancer, particularly for those not responsive to conventional therapies.
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26
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Abstract
Tryptophan (TRP), an essential amino acid in mammals, is involved in several physiological processes including neuronal function, immunity, and gut homeostasis. In humans, TRP is metabolized via the kynurenine and serotonin pathways, leading to the generation of biologically active compounds, such as serotonin, melatonin and niacin. In addition to endogenous TRP metabolism, resident gut microbiota also contributes to the production of specific TRP metabolites and indirectly influences host physiology. The variety of physiologic functions regulated by TRP reflects the complex pattern of diseases associated with altered homeostasis. Indeed, an imbalance in the synthesis of TRP metabolites has been associated with pathophysiologic mechanisms occurring in neurologic and psychiatric disorders, in chronic immune activation and in the immune escape of cancer. In this chapter, the role of TRP metabolism in health and disease is presented. Disorders involving the central nervous system, malignancy, inflammatory bowel and cardiovascular disease are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefano Comai
- Division of Neuroscience, San Raffaele Scientific Institute and Vita-Salute University, Milan, Italy; Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Antonella Bertazzo
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
| | - Martina Brughera
- Division of Neuroscience, San Raffaele Scientific Institute and Vita-Salute University, Milan, Italy
| | - Sara Crotti
- Institute of Paediatric Research-Città della Speranza, Padua, Italy.
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27
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Virotherapy as a Potential Therapeutic Approach for the Treatment of Aggressive Thyroid Cancer. Cancers (Basel) 2019; 11:cancers11101532. [PMID: 31636245 PMCID: PMC6826611 DOI: 10.3390/cancers11101532] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2019] [Revised: 10/02/2019] [Accepted: 10/03/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Virotherapy is a novel cancer treatment based on oncolytic viruses (OVs), which selectively infect and lyse cancer cells, without harming normal cells or tissues. Several viruses, either naturally occurring or developed through genetic engineering, are currently under investigation in clinical studies. Emerging reports suggesting the immune-stimulatory property of OVs against tumor cells further support the clinical use of OVs for the treatment of lesions lacking effective therapies. Poorly differentiated thyroid carcinoma (PDTC) and anaplastic thyroid carcinoma (ATC), have a poor prognosis and limited treatment options. Therefore, several groups investigated the therapeutic potential of OVs in PDTC/ATC models producing experimental data sustaining the potential clinical efficacy of OVs in these cancer models. Moreover, the presence of an immunosuppressive microenvironment further supports the potential use of OVs in ATC. In this review, we present the results of the studies evaluating the efficacy of OVs alone or in combination with other treatment options. In particular, their potential therapeutic combination with multiple kinases inhibitors (MKIs) or immune checkpoint inhibitors are discussed.
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28
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Sforzini L, Nettis MA, Mondelli V, Pariante CM. Inflammation in cancer and depression: a starring role for the kynurenine pathway. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 2019; 236:2997-3011. [PMID: 30806743 PMCID: PMC6820591 DOI: 10.1007/s00213-019-05200-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2018] [Accepted: 02/13/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Depression is a common comorbidity in cancer cases, but this is not only due to the emotional distress of having a life-threatening disease. A common biological mechanism, involving a dysregulated immune system, seems to underpin this comorbidity. In particular, the activation of the kynurenine pathway of tryptophan degradation due to inflammation may play a key role in the development and persistence of both diseases. As a consequence, targeting enzymes involved in this pathway offers a unique opportunity to develop new strategies to treat cancer and depression at once. In this work, we provide a systematic review of the evidence up to date on the kynurenine pathway role in linking depression and cancer and on clinical implications of this evidence. In particular, complications due to chemotherapy are discussed, as well as the potential antidepressant efficacy of novel immunotherapies for cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luca Sforzini
- Psychiatry Unit, Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, ASST Fatebenefratelli-Sacco University Hospital, Università di Milano, Milan, Italy
- Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, Department of Psychological Medicine, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Maria Antonietta Nettis
- Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, Department of Psychological Medicine, King's College London, London, UK.
- National Institute for Health and Research Biomedical Research Centre at South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust and King's College London, London, UK.
| | - Valeria Mondelli
- Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, Department of Psychological Medicine, King's College London, London, UK
- National Institute for Health and Research Biomedical Research Centre at South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust and King's College London, London, UK
| | - Carmine Maria Pariante
- Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, Department of Psychological Medicine, King's College London, London, UK
- National Institute for Health and Research Biomedical Research Centre at South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust and King's College London, London, UK
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29
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Ferrari SM, Fallahi P, Galdiero MR, Ruffilli I, Elia G, Ragusa F, Paparo SR, Patrizio A, Mazzi V, Varricchi G, Marone G, Antonelli A. Immune and Inflammatory Cells in Thyroid Cancer Microenvironment. Int J Mol Sci 2019; 20:E4413. [PMID: 31500315 PMCID: PMC6769504 DOI: 10.3390/ijms20184413] [Citation(s) in RCA: 129] [Impact Index Per Article: 25.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2019] [Revised: 08/30/2019] [Accepted: 09/05/2019] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
A hallmark of cancer is the ability of tumor cells to avoid immune destruction. Activated immune cells in tumor microenvironment (TME) secrete proinflammatory cytokines and chemokines which foster the proliferation of tumor cells. Specific antigens expressed by cancer cells are recognized by the main actors of immune response that are involved in their elimination (immunosurveillance). By the recruitment of immunosuppressive cells, decreasing the tumor immunogenicity, or through other immunosuppressive mechanisms, tumors can impair the host immune cells within the TME and escape their surveillance. Within the TME, cells of the innate (e.g., macrophages, mast cells, neutrophils) and the adaptive (e.g., lymphocytes) immune responses are interconnected with epithelial cancer cells, fibroblasts, and endothelial cells via cytokines, chemokines, and adipocytokines. The molecular pattern of cytokines and chemokines has a key role and could explain the involvement of the immune system in tumor initiation and progression. Thyroid cancer-related inflammation is an important target for diagnostic procedures and novel therapeutic strategies. Anticancer immunotherapy, especially immune checkpoint inhibitors, unleashes the immune system and activates cytotoxic lymphocytes to kill cancer cells. A better knowledge of the molecular and immunological characteristics of TME will allow novel and more effective immunotherapeutic strategies in advanced thyroid cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Silvia Martina Ferrari
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa, Italy; (S.M.F.); (I.R.); (G.E.); (F.R.); (S.R.P.); (A.P.); (V.M.)
| | - Poupak Fallahi
- Department of Translational Research and of New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa, Italy;
| | - Maria Rosaria Galdiero
- Department of Translational Medical Sciences and Center for Basic and Clinical Immunology Research (CISI), University of Naples Federico II, 80138 Naples, Italy; (M.R.G.); (G.V.); (G.M.)
- WAO Center of Excellence, 80138 Naples, Italy
| | - Ilaria Ruffilli
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa, Italy; (S.M.F.); (I.R.); (G.E.); (F.R.); (S.R.P.); (A.P.); (V.M.)
| | - Giusy Elia
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa, Italy; (S.M.F.); (I.R.); (G.E.); (F.R.); (S.R.P.); (A.P.); (V.M.)
| | - Francesca Ragusa
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa, Italy; (S.M.F.); (I.R.); (G.E.); (F.R.); (S.R.P.); (A.P.); (V.M.)
| | - Sabrina Rosaria Paparo
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa, Italy; (S.M.F.); (I.R.); (G.E.); (F.R.); (S.R.P.); (A.P.); (V.M.)
| | - Armando Patrizio
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa, Italy; (S.M.F.); (I.R.); (G.E.); (F.R.); (S.R.P.); (A.P.); (V.M.)
| | - Valeria Mazzi
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa, Italy; (S.M.F.); (I.R.); (G.E.); (F.R.); (S.R.P.); (A.P.); (V.M.)
| | - Gilda Varricchi
- Department of Translational Medical Sciences and Center for Basic and Clinical Immunology Research (CISI), University of Naples Federico II, 80138 Naples, Italy; (M.R.G.); (G.V.); (G.M.)
- WAO Center of Excellence, 80138 Naples, Italy
| | - Gianni Marone
- Department of Translational Medical Sciences and Center for Basic and Clinical Immunology Research (CISI), University of Naples Federico II, 80138 Naples, Italy; (M.R.G.); (G.V.); (G.M.)
- WAO Center of Excellence, 80138 Naples, Italy
- Institute of Experimental Endocrinology and Oncology “Gaetano Salvatore” (IEOS), National Research Council (CNR), 80131 Naples, Italy
| | - Alessandro Antonelli
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa, Italy; (S.M.F.); (I.R.); (G.E.); (F.R.); (S.R.P.); (A.P.); (V.M.)
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Indoleamine-2,3-dioxygenase-1 expression predicts poorer survival and up-regulates ZEB2 expression in human early stage bladder cancer. Urol Oncol 2019; 37:810.e17-810.e27. [PMID: 31253481 DOI: 10.1016/j.urolonc.2019.05.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2019] [Revised: 04/25/2019] [Accepted: 05/13/2019] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSES Indoleamine-2,3-dioxygenase-1 (IDO1) is a key enzyme of tryptophan metabolism which regulates T cell function in immune cells and little is known about the role of IDO1 expression in bladder cancer cells. The study is aimed to evaluate the clinical relevance of IDO1 expression in human bladder urothelial carcinoma (UC). MATERIALS AND METHODS One hundred and sixty paraffin-embedded UC tissues (130 bladder, 30 upper urinary tract) and 47 adjacent normal tissues were retrieved for IDO1 immunostaining. Urine samples from UC and non-UC patients were collected before surgery for measuring the concentration of tryptophan and its metabolites. Clinicopathological correlates of IDO1 expression and the prognostic values in human bladder cancer were explored. External validation was performed with 4 published bladder cancer datasets, as well as in vitro studies. RESULTS As compared with normal adjacent tissues, UC exhibited a higher frequency of IDO1 expression (chi-square, P = 0.0005). IDO1 expression is an independent poor prognostic factor for disease progression [hazard ratio and 95% confidence interval, 3.80 (1.46-9.86), P = 0.006], which is associated with decreased number of intratumoral infiltrating CD8+ lymphocyte (unpaired t test, P = 0.026). External validation showed that patients with higher IDO1 expression exhibit decreased disease-specific survival than those with lower IDO1 expression. Furthermore, IDO1 expression correlated positively with the expression of several EMT markers, including ZEB2, fibronectin and vimentin. The in vitro T24 cell subline demonstrated that IDO1 expression can up-regulate ZEB2 expression probably through miR-200c signaling. CONCLUSION IDO1 expression predicts poorer survival and up-regulates ZEB2 expression in human bladder cancer.
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Antognelli C, Moretti S, Frosini R, Puxeddu E, Sidoni A, Talesa VN. Methylglyoxal Acts as a Tumor-Promoting Factor in Anaplastic Thyroid Cancer. Cells 2019; 8:cells8060547. [PMID: 31174324 PMCID: PMC6627963 DOI: 10.3390/cells8060547] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2019] [Revised: 06/03/2019] [Accepted: 06/03/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Methylglyoxal (MG) is a potent inducer of advanced glycation end products (AGEs). MG, long considered a highly cytotoxic molecule with potential anticancer value, is now being re-evaluated to a protumorigenic agent in some malignancies. Anaplastic thyroid cancer (ATC) is an extremely aggressive and highly lethal cancer for which conventional therapies have proved ineffective. Successful therapeutic intervention in ATC is undermined by our poor understanding of its molecular etiology. In the attempt to understand the role of MG in ATC aggressiveness, we used immunohistochemistry to examine the level of MG protein adducts in ATC and slow-growing papillary thyroid cancer (PTC). We detected a high level of MG adducts in ATC compared to PTC ones, suggesting a protumor role for MG-mediated dicarbonyl stress in ATC. Accordingly, MG adduct accumulation in ATC cells in vitro was associated with a marked mesenchymal phenotype and increased migration/invasion, which were both reversed by aminoguanidine (AG)—a scavenger of MG—and resveratrol—an activator of Glyoxalase 1 (Glo1), the key metabolizing enzyme of MG. Our study represents the first demonstration that MG, via AGEs, acts as a tumor-promoting factor in ATC and suggests that MG scavengers and/or Glo1 activators merit investigations as potential therapeutic strategies for this malignancy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cinzia Antognelli
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Perugia, Piazza Lucio Severi 1, 06132 Perugia, Italy.
| | - Sonia Moretti
- Department of Medicine, University of Perugia, Piazza Lucio Severi 1, 06132 Perugia, Italy.
| | - Roberta Frosini
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Perugia, Piazza Lucio Severi 1, 06132 Perugia, Italy.
| | - Efisio Puxeddu
- Department of Medicine, University of Perugia, Piazza Lucio Severi 1, 06132 Perugia, Italy.
| | - Angelo Sidoni
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Perugia, Piazza Lucio Severi 1, 06132 Perugia, Italy.
| | - Vincenzo N Talesa
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Perugia, Piazza Lucio Severi 1, 06132 Perugia, Italy.
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Liotti F, Prevete N, Vecchio G, Melillo RM. Recent advances in understanding immune phenotypes of thyroid carcinomas: prognostication and emerging therapies. F1000Res 2019; 8. [PMID: 30854191 PMCID: PMC6396838 DOI: 10.12688/f1000research.16677.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/19/2019] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Tumors modulate the host immune cells within their microenvironment to avoid recognition and elimination by our immune system, a phenotype called cancer immune escape. Different mechanisms responsible for cancer immune escape that result either in decreased tumor immunogenicity or in increased tumor immunosuppressive activity have been identified. Recently, various immunotherapeutic approaches have been developed with the aim to revert tumor immune escape. The aims of this review are to explore the immunological aspects of thyroid cancer and to assess whether these features can be exploited in the prognosis and treatment of advanced forms of this disease. Therefore, we will describe the immune landscape and phenotypes of thyroid cancer, summarize studies investigating the expression of immunomodulatory molecules, and finally describe the preclinical and clinical trials investigating the utility of immunotherapies in the management of thyroid cancer. The aim of this review is to explore the immunological aspects of thyroid cancer and to assess whether these features can be exploited in the prognosis and treatment of advanced forms of this disease. Therefore, we will describe the immune-landscape and phenotypes of thyroid cancer, we will summarize studies investigating the expression of immunomodulatory molecules, and we will finally describe the preclinical and clinical trials investigating the utility of immunotherapies in the management of thyroid cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Federica Liotti
- Dipartimento di Medicina Molecolare e Biotecnologie Mediche, Università di Napoli Federico II, Naples, Italy, Italy
| | - Nella Prevete
- Dipartimento di Scienze Mediche Traslazionali, Università ¨Federico II¨ di Napoli, Naples, Italy, Italy.,Istituto di Endocrinologia e Oncologia Sperimentale "G. Salvatore", CNR, Naples, Italy, Italy
| | - Giancarlo Vecchio
- Dipartimento di Medicina Molecolare e Biotecnologie Mediche, Università di Napoli Federico II, Naples, Italy, Italy.,Istituto Superiore di Oncologia, Naples, Italy.,Istituto Superiore di Oncologia, Genoa, Italy
| | - Rosa Marina Melillo
- Dipartimento di Medicina Molecolare e Biotecnologie Mediche, Università di Napoli Federico II, Naples, Italy, Italy.,Istituto di Endocrinologia e Oncologia Sperimentale "G. Salvatore", CNR, Naples, Italy, Italy
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Zhao Y, Wang B, Liu J, Sun P, Liu H. An overview on the methods of determining the activity of Indoleamine 2, 3-Dioxygenase 1. J Drug Target 2018; 27:724-731. [DOI: 10.1080/1061186x.2018.1523416] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Yuandi Zhao
- Collaborative Innovation Center of New Drug Research and Safety, Henan Province, PR China
- Key Laboratory of Advanced Drug Preparation Technologies, Ministry of Education, Zhengzhou, Henan Province, PR China
- Key Laboratory of Henan Province for Drug Quality and Evaluation Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan Province, PR China
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, PR China
| | - Bo Wang
- Collaborative Innovation Center of New Drug Research and Safety, Henan Province, PR China
- Key Laboratory of Advanced Drug Preparation Technologies, Ministry of Education, Zhengzhou, Henan Province, PR China
- Key Laboratory of Henan Province for Drug Quality and Evaluation Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan Province, PR China
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, PR China
| | - Jinzhi Liu
- Collaborative Innovation Center of New Drug Research and Safety, Henan Province, PR China
- Key Laboratory of Advanced Drug Preparation Technologies, Ministry of Education, Zhengzhou, Henan Province, PR China
- Key Laboratory of Henan Province for Drug Quality and Evaluation Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan Province, PR China
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, PR China
| | - Pei Sun
- Collaborative Innovation Center of New Drug Research and Safety, Henan Province, PR China
- Key Laboratory of Advanced Drug Preparation Technologies, Ministry of Education, Zhengzhou, Henan Province, PR China
- Key Laboratory of Henan Province for Drug Quality and Evaluation Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan Province, PR China
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, PR China
| | - Hongmin Liu
- Collaborative Innovation Center of New Drug Research and Safety, Henan Province, PR China
- Key Laboratory of Advanced Drug Preparation Technologies, Ministry of Education, Zhengzhou, Henan Province, PR China
- Key Laboratory of Henan Province for Drug Quality and Evaluation Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan Province, PR China
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, PR China
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Passaro C, Somma SD, Malfitano AM, Portella G. Oncolytic virotherapy for anaplastic and poorly differentiated thyroid cancer: a promise or a clinical reality? INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENDOCRINE ONCOLOGY 2018. [DOI: 10.2217/ije-2017-0028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Oncolytic viruses (OVs) selectively infect and lyse cancer cells. A direct lytic effect of OVs has been theorized in the initial studies; however, the antineoplastic effect of OVs is also due to the induction of an immune response against cancer cells. Anaplastic thyroid cancer is one of the most aggressive human malignancies with a short survival time of about 6–12 months from the diagnosis. The lack of effective therapies has prompted to investigate the efficacy of OVs in anaplastic thyroid carcinoma. Different OVs have been tested in preclinical studies, either as single agents or in combinatorial treatments. In this review, the results of these studies are summarized and future perspective discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carmela Passaro
- Dipartimento di Scienze Mediche Traslazionali, Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II, Napoli, Italia
- Department of Neurosurgery, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Sarah Di Somma
- Dipartimento di Scienze Mediche Traslazionali, Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II, Napoli, Italia
| | - Anna Maria Malfitano
- Dipartimento di Scienze Mediche Traslazionali, Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II, Napoli, Italia
| | - Giuseppe Portella
- Dipartimento di Scienze Mediche Traslazionali, Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II, Napoli, Italia
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Zhu L, Tu H, Liang Y, Tang D. MiR-218 produces anti-tumor effects on cervical cancer cells in vitro. World J Surg Oncol 2018; 16:204. [PMID: 30314496 PMCID: PMC6186038 DOI: 10.1186/s12957-018-1506-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2018] [Accepted: 09/30/2018] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Background As indoleamine-2,3-dioxygenase 1 (IDO1) is critical in tumor immune escape, we determined to study the regulatory mechanism of miR-218 on IDO1 in cervical cancer. Methods Real-time PCR (RT-qPCR) was carried out to measure the expression of miR-218. RT-qPCR and Western blot were performed to detect the expression of IDO1 in cervical cancer. Dual-luciferase reporter assay was used to determine the binding of miR-218 on the IDO1 3′UTR. Cell viability, apoptosis, and related factors were determined using cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8), Annexin-V/PI (propidium) assay, enzyme-linked immunosorbnent assay (ELISA), RT-qPCR, and Western blot assays after miR-218 mimics has been transfected to HeLa cervical cancer cells. Results MiR-218 was downregulated in cervical cancer. The expression of miR-218 was negatively correlated with IDO1 in cervical cancer tissues and cells. IDO1 is a direct target of miR-218. MiR-218 overexpression was found to inhibit cell viability and promoted apoptosis via activating the expression of Cleaved-Caspase-3 and to inhibit the expression of Survivin, immune factors (TGF-β, VEGF, IL-6, PGE2, COX-2), and JAK2/STAT3 pathway. Conclusion MiR-218 inhibits immune escape of cervical cancer cells by direct downregulating IDO1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Li Zhu
- Department of Gynecologic Oncology, The People's Hospital of Taojiang County, Taojiang, China
| | - Huaidong Tu
- Department of Gynecologic Oncology, The People's Hospital of Taojiang County, Taojiang, China
| | - Yanmei Liang
- Department of Gynecologic Oncology, The People's Hospital of Taojiang County, Taojiang, China
| | - Dihong Tang
- Department of Gynecologic Oncology, Hunan Cancer Hospital, No.283 Tongzipo Road, Yuelu District, Changsha, 410006, Hunan Province, China.
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Rosenbaum MW, Gigliotti BJ, Pai SI, Parangi S, Wachtel H, Mino-Kenudson M, Gunda V, Faquin WC. PD-L1 and IDO1 Are Expressed in Poorly Differentiated Thyroid Carcinoma. Endocr Pathol 2018; 29:59-67. [PMID: 29372535 PMCID: PMC6500591 DOI: 10.1007/s12022-018-9514-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
Poorly differentiated thyroid carcinoma (PDTC) is an aggressive form of thyroid cancer that currently has limited effective treatment options. Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have shown to be an effective treatment for a variety of carcinomas. In this study, we explore whether immune checkpoint pathways, such as programmed cell death ligand 1 (PD-L1) and indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase 1 (IDO1), are activated in a cohort of patients with PDTC to determine whether ICIs may be an effective therapy for these patients. PDTC from 28 patients were stained for IDO1, PD-L1, and CD8 using immunohistochemistry. Staining was scored using an H-score, and PD-L1 and IDO1 expression was correlated with clinicopathologic characteristics. Positivity for PD-L1 and IDO1 was set at an H-score cutoff of five. Twenty-five percent (n = 7/28) of the PDTC were positive for PD-L1 expression. Twenty-nine percent (n = 2/7) of the PD-L1 positive PDTCs also co-expressed IDO1. The expression of PD-L1 in PDTC was significantly associated with tumor size and multifocality, with a non-significant trend towards associations with older age, extrathyroidal extension, presence of metastasis, higher stage, increased number of CD8+ T cells, and decreased disease-free and overall survival. PD-L1 expression occurs in a subset of PDTC, and is associated with a subset of clinical features of aggressive thyroid disease. Given the limited effective treatments for this patient population, consideration for ICIs as monotherapy or in combination with an IDO1 inhibitor should be explored as a novel treatment modality for patients with PDTC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew W Rosenbaum
- Department of Pathology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Warren 219, 55 Fruit Street, Boston, MA, 02114, USA.
| | - Benjamin J Gigliotti
- Department of Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, 15 Parkman Street, Boston, MA, 02114, USA
| | - Sara I Pai
- Department of Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, 15 Parkman Street, Boston, MA, 02114, USA
| | - Sareh Parangi
- Department of Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, 15 Parkman Street, Boston, MA, 02114, USA
| | - Heather Wachtel
- Department of Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, 15 Parkman Street, Boston, MA, 02114, USA
| | - Mari Mino-Kenudson
- Department of Pathology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Warren 219, 55 Fruit Street, Boston, MA, 02114, USA
| | - Viswanath Gunda
- Department of Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, 15 Parkman Street, Boston, MA, 02114, USA
| | - William C Faquin
- Department of Pathology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Warren 219, 55 Fruit Street, Boston, MA, 02114, USA.
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Marconcini R, Spagnolo F, Stucci LS, Ribero S, Marra E, Rosa FD, Picasso V, Di Guardo L, Cimminiello C, Cavalieri S, Orgiano L, Tanda E, Spano L, Falcone A, Queirolo P. Current status and perspectives in immunotherapy for metastatic melanoma. Oncotarget 2018; 9:12452-12470. [PMID: 29552325 PMCID: PMC5844761 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.23746] [Citation(s) in RCA: 63] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2017] [Accepted: 11/03/2017] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Metastatic melanoma was the first malignancy in which immune checkpoint inhibitors demonstrated their successful efficacy. Currently, the knowledge on the interaction between the immune system and malignant disease is steadily increasing and new drugs and therapeutic strategies are overlooking in the clinical scenario. To provide a comprehensive overview of immune modulating drugs currently available in the treatment of melanoma as well as to discuss of possible future strategies in the metastatic melanoma setting, the present review aims at analyzing controversial aspects about the optimal immunomodulating treatment sequences, the search for biomarkers of efficacy of immunocheckpoint inhibitors, and innovative combinations of drugs currently under investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Riccardo Marconcini
- Unit of Medical Oncology 2, Azienda Ospedaliera-Universitaria
Pisana, Department of Translational Research and New Technologies in Medicine and
Surgery, University of Pisa, Italy
| | - Francesco Spagnolo
- Department of Medical Oncology, IRCCS AOU San Martino-Istituto
Nazionale per la Ricerca sul Cancro, Genova, Italy
| | - Luigia Stefania Stucci
- Medical Oncology Unit, Department of Biomedical Sciences and
Clinical Oncology, University of Bari, Bari, Italy
| | - Simone Ribero
- Dermatologic Clinic, Department of Medical Sciences,
University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | - Elena Marra
- Dermatologic Clinic, Department of Medical Sciences,
University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | - Francesco De Rosa
- Istituto Scientifico Romagnolo per lo Studio e la Cura dei
Tumori, IRST IRCCS, Meldola, Italy
| | - Virginia Picasso
- Department of Medical Oncology, IRCCS AOU San Martino-Istituto
Nazionale per la Ricerca sul Cancro, Genova, Italy
| | | | | | | | - Laura Orgiano
- AOU Cagliari, Department of Medical Oncology, University of
Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Enrica Tanda
- Department of Medical Oncology, IRCCS AOU San Martino-Istituto
Nazionale per la Ricerca sul Cancro, Genova, Italy
| | - Laura Spano
- Department of Medical Oncology, IRCCS AOU San Martino-Istituto
Nazionale per la Ricerca sul Cancro, Genova, Italy
| | - Alfredo Falcone
- Unit of Medical Oncology 2, Azienda Ospedaliera-Universitaria
Pisana, Department of Translational Research and New Technologies in Medicine and
Surgery, University of Pisa, Italy
| | - Paola Queirolo
- Department of Medical Oncology, IRCCS AOU San Martino-Istituto
Nazionale per la Ricerca sul Cancro, Genova, Italy
| | - for the Italian Melanoma Intergroup (IMI)
- Unit of Medical Oncology 2, Azienda Ospedaliera-Universitaria
Pisana, Department of Translational Research and New Technologies in Medicine and
Surgery, University of Pisa, Italy
- Department of Medical Oncology, IRCCS AOU San Martino-Istituto
Nazionale per la Ricerca sul Cancro, Genova, Italy
- Medical Oncology Unit, Department of Biomedical Sciences and
Clinical Oncology, University of Bari, Bari, Italy
- Dermatologic Clinic, Department of Medical Sciences,
University of Turin, Turin, Italy
- Istituto Scientifico Romagnolo per lo Studio e la Cura dei
Tumori, IRST IRCCS, Meldola, Italy
- Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Milan,
Italy
- AOU Cagliari, Department of Medical Oncology, University of
Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
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Ayroldi E, Petrillo MG, Marchetti MC, Cannarile L, Ronchetti S, Ricci E, Cari L, Avenia N, Moretti S, Puxeddu E, Riccardi C. Long glucocorticoid-induced leucine zipper regulates human thyroid cancer cell proliferation. Cell Death Dis 2018; 9:305. [PMID: 29467389 PMCID: PMC5833869 DOI: 10.1038/s41419-018-0346-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2017] [Revised: 11/20/2017] [Accepted: 01/25/2018] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Long glucocorticoid-induced leucine zipper (L-GILZ) has recently been implicated in cancer cell proliferation. Here, we investigated its role in human thyroid cancer cells. L-GILZ protein was highly expressed in well-differentiated cancer cells from thyroid cancer patients and differentiated thyroid cancer cell lines, but poorly expressed in anaplastic tumors. A fusion protein containing L-GILZ, when overexpressed in an L-GILZ-deficient 8505C cell line derived from undifferentiated human thyroid cancer tissue, inhibited cellular proliferation in vitro. In addition, when this protein was injected into nude mice, in which cells from line 8505C had been transplanted, xenograft growth was reduced. Since the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway is frequently hyperactivated in thyroid cancer cells as a result of the BRAFV600E or Ras mutation, we sought to further investigate the role of L-GILZ in the MAPK pathway. To this end, we analyzed L-GILZ expression and function in cells treated with MAPK inhibitors. We used 8505C cells, which have the BRAFV600E mutation, or the CAL-62 cell line, which harbors a Ras mutation. The cells were treated with the BRAF-specific drug vemurafenib (PLX4032) or the MEK1/2 inhibitor, U0126, respectively. Treatment with these agents inhibited MAPK activation, reduced cell proliferation, and upregulated L-GILZ expression. L-GILZ silencing reversed the antiproliferative activity of the MAPK inhibitors, consistent with an antiproliferative role. Treatment with MAPK inhibitors led to the phosphorylation of the cAMP/response element-binding protein (CREB), and active CREB bound to the L-GILZ promoter, contributing to its transcription. We suggest that the CREB signaling pathway, frequently deregulated in thyroid tumors, is involved in L-GILZ upregulation and that L-GILZ regulates thyroid cancer cell proliferation, which may have potential in cancer treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emira Ayroldi
- Department of Medicine, Section of Pharmacology, Medical School, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy.
| | - Maria Grazia Petrillo
- Department of Medicine, Section of Pharmacology, Medical School, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy.,Signal Transduction Laboratory, Department of Health and Human Services, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA
| | - Maria Cristina Marchetti
- Department of Medicine, Section of Pharmacology, Medical School, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | - Lorenza Cannarile
- Department of Medicine, Section of Pharmacology, Medical School, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | - Simona Ronchetti
- Department of Medicine, Section of Pharmacology, Medical School, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | - Erika Ricci
- Department of Medicine, Section of Pharmacology, Medical School, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | - Luigi Cari
- Department of Medicine, Section of Pharmacology, Medical School, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | - Nicola Avenia
- Department of Surgical and Biomedical Sciences, Medical School, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | - Sonia Moretti
- Department of Medicine, Section of Endocrinology, Medical School, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | - Efisio Puxeddu
- Department of Medicine, Section of Endocrinology, Medical School, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | - Carlo Riccardi
- Department of Medicine, Section of Pharmacology, Medical School, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
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Castellone MD, Melillo RM. RET-mediated modulation of tumor microenvironment and immune response in multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2 (MEN2). Endocr Relat Cancer 2018; 25:T105-T119. [PMID: 28931560 DOI: 10.1530/erc-17-0303] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2017] [Accepted: 09/20/2017] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Medullary thyroid carcinomas (MTC) arise from thyroid parafollicular, calcitonin-producing C-cells and can occur either as sporadic or as hereditary diseases in the context of familial syndromes, including multiple endocrine neoplasia 2A (MEN2A), multiple endocrine neoplasia 2B (MEN2B) and familial MTC (FMTC). In a large fraction of sporadic cases, and virtually in all inherited cases of MTC, activating point mutations of the RET proto-oncogene are found. RET encodes for a receptor tyrosine kinase protein endowed with transforming potential on thyroid parafollicular cells. As in other cancer types, microenvironmental factors play a critical role in MTC. Tumor-associated extracellular matrix, stromal cells and immune cells interact and influence the behavior of cancer cells both in a tumor-promoting and in a tumor-suppressing manner. Several studies have shown that, besides the neoplastic transformation of thyroid C-cells, a profound modification of tumor microenvironment has been associated to the RET FMTC/MEN2-associated oncoproteins. They influence the surrounding stroma, activating cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs), promoting cancer-associated inflammation and suppressing anti-cancer immune response. These mechanisms might be exploited to develop innovative anti-cancer therapies and novel prognostic tools in the context of familial, RET-associated MTC.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Rosa Marina Melillo
- Istituto di Endocrinologia ed Oncologia Sperimentale del CNR 'G. Salvatore'Naples, Italy
- Dipartimento di Medicina Molecolare e Biotecnologie MedicheUniversity of Naples 'Federico II', Naples, Italy
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Davar D, Bahary N. Modulating Tumor Immunology by Inhibiting Indoleamine 2,3-Dioxygenase (IDO): Recent Developments and First Clinical Experiences. Target Oncol 2018; 13:125-140. [DOI: 10.1007/s11523-017-0547-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
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Galgani M, De Rosa V, La Cava A, Matarese G. Role of Metabolism in the Immunobiology of Regulatory T Cells. THE JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY 2017; 197:2567-75. [PMID: 27638939 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.1600242] [Citation(s) in RCA: 81] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2016] [Accepted: 06/25/2016] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Intracellular metabolism is central to cell activity and function. CD4(+)CD25(+) regulatory T cells (Tregs) that express the transcription factor FOXP3 play a pivotal role in the maintenance of immune tolerance to self. Recent studies showed that the metabolism and function of Tregs are influenced significantly by local environmental conditions and the availability of certain metabolites. It also was reported that defined metabolic programs associate with Treg differentiation, expression of FOXP3, and phenotype stabilization. This article reviews how metabolism modulates FOXP3 expression and Treg function, what environmental factors are involved, and how metabolic manipulation could alter Treg frequency and function in physiopathologic conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mario Galgani
- Istituto di Endocrinologia e Oncologia Sperimentale, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, 80131 Naples, Italy
| | - Veronica De Rosa
- Istituto di Endocrinologia e Oncologia Sperimentale, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, 80131 Naples, Italy; Unità di NeuroImmunologia, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico Fondazione Santa Lucia, 00179 Rome, Italy
| | - Antonio La Cava
- Department of Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095; and
| | - Giuseppe Matarese
- Dipartimento di Medicina Molecolare e Biotecnologie Mediche, Università di Napoli Federico II, 80131 Naples, Italy
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Lopes-Bastos B, Jin L, Ruge F, Owen S, Sanders A, Cogle C, Chester J, Jiang WG, Cai J. Association of breast carcinoma growth with a non-canonical axis of IFNγ/IDO1/TSP1. Oncotarget 2017; 8:85024-85039. [PMID: 29156701 PMCID: PMC5689591 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.18781] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2017] [Accepted: 05/29/2017] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Reciprocal interactions between cancers and the surrounding microenvironment have an important role in tumour evolution. In this study, our data suggested that through thrombospondin 1 (TSP1), tumour-associated microvessel provides a dormant niche to sustain inactive status of breast invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC) cells. TSP1 levels in the tumour stroma were negatively correlated with vascular indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase 1 (IDO1) in IDC tissues. IDO1 is an intracellular enzyme initiating the first and rate-limited step of tryptophan breakdown. Lower stromal TSP1 levels and positive tumour vascular IDO1 staining seems to associate with poor survive of patients with IDC. IDC cells induced a significantly increase in IDO1 expression in endothelial cells (ECs). IFNγ exerts a similar effect on ECs. We hypothesized a tryptophan starvation theory that since tryptophan is essential for the synthesis of TSP1, IDO1 induce a decrease in tryptophan availability and a reduction in TSP1 synthesis in ECs, leading to overcoming the dormancy state of IDC cells and exacerbating conditions such as tumour invasion and metastasis. These findings identify a non-canonical role of IFNγ/IDO1/TSP1 axis in microvascular niche-dominated dormancy of breast invasive ductal carcinoma with a solid foundation for further investigation of therapeutic and prognostic relevance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bruno Lopes-Bastos
- Cardiff China Medical Research Collaborative, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Cardiff CF14 4XN, UK
| | - Liang Jin
- Cardiff China Medical Research Collaborative, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Cardiff CF14 4XN, UK
| | - Fiona Ruge
- Cardiff China Medical Research Collaborative, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Cardiff CF14 4XN, UK
| | - Sioned Owen
- Cardiff China Medical Research Collaborative, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Cardiff CF14 4XN, UK
| | - Andrew Sanders
- Cardiff China Medical Research Collaborative, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Cardiff CF14 4XN, UK
| | - Christopher Cogle
- School of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32610-0278, USA
| | - John Chester
- Division of Cancer & Genetics, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Cardiff CF14 4XN, UK
| | - Wen G Jiang
- Cardiff China Medical Research Collaborative, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Cardiff CF14 4XN, UK
| | - Jun Cai
- Cardiff China Medical Research Collaborative, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Cardiff CF14 4XN, UK
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De Rosa V, Di Rella F, Di Giacomo A, Matarese G. Regulatory T cells as suppressors of anti-tumor immunity: Role of metabolism. Cytokine Growth Factor Rev 2017; 35:15-25. [PMID: 28442214 DOI: 10.1016/j.cytogfr.2017.04.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2017] [Accepted: 04/07/2017] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Novel concepts in immunometabolism support the hypothesis that glucose consumption is also used to modulate anti-tumor immune responses, favoring growth and expansion of specific cellular subsets defined in the past as suppressor T cells and currently reborn as regulatory T (Treg) cells. During the 1920s, Otto Warburg and colleagues observed that tumors consumed high amounts of glucose compared to normal tissues, even in the presence of oxygen and completely functioning mitochondria. However, the role of the Warburg Effect is still not completely understood, particularly in the context of an ongoing anti-tumor immune response. Current experimental evidence suggests that tumor-derived metabolic restrictions can drive T cell hyporesponsiveness and immune tolerance. For example, several glycolytic enzymes, deregulated in cancer, contribute to tumor progression independently from their canonical metabolic activity. Indeed, they can control apoptosis, gene expression and activation of specific intracellular pathways, thus suggesting a direct link between metabolic switches and pro-tumorigenic transcriptional programs. Focus of this review is to define the specific metabolic pathways controlling Treg cell immunobiology in the context of anti-tumor immunity and tumor progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Veronica De Rosa
- Istituto per l'Endocrinologia e l'Oncologia Sperimentale, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (IEOS-CNR), Napoli, Italy.
| | - Francesca Di Rella
- Oncologia Medica, Dipartimento di Senologia, Istituto Nazionale Tumori "Fondazione G. Pascale", Napoli, Italy
| | - Antonio Di Giacomo
- Istituto per l'Endocrinologia e l'Oncologia Sperimentale, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (IEOS-CNR), Napoli, Italy; Unità Operativa Complessa di Patologia Clinica, Azienda Ospedaliera dei Colli "V. Monaldi", Napoli, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Matarese
- Istituto per l'Endocrinologia e l'Oncologia Sperimentale, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (IEOS-CNR), Napoli, Italy; Treg cell Lab, Dipartimento di Medicina Molecolare e Biotecnologie Mediche, Università degli Studi di Napoli "Federico II", Napoli, Italy.
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Brochez L, Chevolet I, Kruse V. The rationale of indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase inhibition for cancer therapy. Eur J Cancer 2017; 76:167-182. [PMID: 28324751 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejca.2017.01.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 201] [Impact Index Per Article: 28.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2016] [Revised: 10/24/2016] [Accepted: 01/23/2017] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO, also referred to as IDO1) has been demonstrated to be a normal endogenous mechanism of acquired peripheral immune tolerance in vivo. In the field of oncology, IDO expression and/or activity has been observed in several cancer types and has usually been associated with negative prognostic factors and worse outcome measures. This manuscript reviews current available data on the role of IDO in cancer and the current results obtained with IDO inhibition, both in animal models and in phase 1 and 2 clinical trials in humans. Preliminary results with IDO inhibitors, usually combined with other anti-cancer drugs, seem encouraging. Further studies are needed to clarify the conditions in which IDO inhibitors can be of value as an anti-cancer strategy. In addition, further research should address whether the expression of IDO in tissue or blood can be a marker to select patients who can benefit most from IDO inhibition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lieve Brochez
- Department of Dermatology, Ghent University Hospital, Belgium; Dermatology Research Unit, Ghent, Belgium; Immuno-Oncology Network Ghent (ION Ghent), Belgium; Cancer Research Institute Ghent (CRIG), Belgium.
| | - Ines Chevolet
- Department of Dermatology, Ghent University Hospital, Belgium; Dermatology Research Unit, Ghent, Belgium; Immuno-Oncology Network Ghent (ION Ghent), Belgium
| | - Vibeke Kruse
- Department of Medical Oncology, Ghent University Hospital, Belgium; Immuno-Oncology Network Ghent (ION Ghent), Belgium
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Renner K, Singer K, Koehl GE, Geissler EK, Peter K, Siska PJ, Kreutz M. Metabolic Hallmarks of Tumor and Immune Cells in the Tumor Microenvironment. Front Immunol 2017; 8:248. [PMID: 28337200 PMCID: PMC5340776 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2017.00248] [Citation(s) in RCA: 244] [Impact Index Per Article: 34.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2016] [Accepted: 02/20/2017] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Cytotoxic T lymphocytes and NK cells play an important role in eliminating malignant tumor cells and the number and activity of tumor-infiltrating T cells represent a good marker for tumor prognosis. Based on these findings, immunotherapy, e.g., checkpoint blockade, has received considerable attention during the last couple of years. However, for the majority of patients, immune control of their tumors is gray theory as malignant cells use effective mechanisms to outsmart the immune system. Increasing evidence suggests that changes in tumor metabolism not only ensure an effective energy supply and generation of building blocks for tumor growth but also contribute to inhibition of the antitumor response. Immunosuppression in the tumor microenvironment is often based on the mutual metabolic requirements of immune cells and tumor cells. Cytotoxic T and NK cell activation leads to an increased demand for glucose and amino acids, a well-known feature shown by tumor cells. These close metabolic interdependencies result in metabolic competition, limiting the proliferation, and effector functions of tumor-specific immune cells. Moreover, not only nutrient restriction but also tumor-driven shifts in metabolite abundance and accumulation of metabolic waste products (e.g., lactate) lead to local immunosuppression, thereby facilitating tumor progression and metastasis. In this review, we describe the metabolic interplay between immune cells and tumor cells and discuss tumor cell metabolism as a target structure for cancer therapy. Metabolic (re)education of tumor cells is not only an approach to kill tumor cells directly but could overcome metabolic immunosuppression in the tumor microenvironment and thereby facilitate immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kathrin Renner
- Internal Medicine III, University Hospital Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany; Regensburg Center for Interventional Immunology, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Katrin Singer
- Internal Medicine III, University Hospital Regensburg , Regensburg , Germany
| | - Gudrun E Koehl
- Department of Surgery, University Hospital Regensburg , Regensburg , Germany
| | - Edward K Geissler
- Department of Surgery, University Hospital Regensburg , Regensburg , Germany
| | - Katrin Peter
- Internal Medicine III, University Hospital Regensburg , Regensburg , Germany
| | - Peter J Siska
- Internal Medicine III, University Hospital Regensburg , Regensburg , Germany
| | - Marina Kreutz
- Internal Medicine III, University Hospital Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany; Regensburg Center for Interventional Immunology, Regensburg, Germany
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Moretti S, Menicali E, Nucci N, Voce P, Colella R, Melillo RM, Liotti F, Morelli S, Fallarino F, Macchiarulo A, Santoro M, Avenia N, Puxeddu E. Signal Transducer and Activator of Transcription 1 Plays a Pivotal Role in RET/PTC3 Oncogene-induced Expression of Indoleamine 2,3-Dioxygenase 1. J Biol Chem 2017; 292:1785-1797. [PMID: 27994058 PMCID: PMC5290952 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m116.745448] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2016] [Revised: 12/09/2016] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase 1 (IDO1) is a single chain oxidoreductase that catalyzes tryptophan degradation to kynurenine. In cancer, it exerts an immunosuppressive function as part of an acquired mechanism of immune escape. Recently, we demonstrated that IDO1 expression is significantly higher in all thyroid cancer histotypes compared with normal thyroid and that its expression levels correlate with T regulatory (Treg) lymphocyte densities in the tumor microenvironment. BRAFV600E- and RET/PTC3-expressing PcCL3 cells were used as cellular models for the evaluation of IDO1 expression in thyroid carcinoma cells and for the study of involved signal transduction pathways. BRAFV600E-expressing PcCL3 cells did not show IDO1 expression. Conversely, RET/PTC3-expressing cells were characterized by a high IDO1 expression. Moreover, we found that, the STAT1-IRF1 pathway was instrumental for IDO1 expression in RET/PTC3 expressing cells. In detail, RET/PTC3 induced STAT1 overexpression and phosphorylation at Ser-727 and Tyr-701. STAT1 transcriptional regulation appeared to require activation of the canonical NF-κB pathway. Conversely, activation of the MAPK and PI3K-AKT pathways primarily regulated Ser-727 phosphorylation, whereas a physical interaction between RET/PTC3 and STAT1, followed by a direct tyrosine phosphorylation event, was necessary for STAT1 Tyr-701 phosphorylation. These data provide the first evidence of a direct link between IDO1 expression and the oncogenic activation of RET in thyroid carcinoma and describe the involved signal transduction pathways. Moreover, they suggest possible novel molecular targets for the abrogation of tumor microenvironment immunosuppression. The detection of those targets is becoming increasingly important to yield the full function of novel immune checkpoint inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sonia Moretti
- From the Department of Medicine, University of Perugia, 06100 Perugia; the Research Centre of Thyroid Proteomics and Genomics (CRiProGeT), University of Perugia, 05100 Terni
| | - Elisa Menicali
- From the Department of Medicine, University of Perugia, 06100 Perugia; the Research Centre of Thyroid Proteomics and Genomics (CRiProGeT), University of Perugia, 05100 Terni
| | - Nicole Nucci
- From the Department of Medicine, University of Perugia, 06100 Perugia; the Research Centre of Thyroid Proteomics and Genomics (CRiProGeT), University of Perugia, 05100 Terni
| | - Pasquale Voce
- From the Department of Medicine, University of Perugia, 06100 Perugia; the Research Centre of Thyroid Proteomics and Genomics (CRiProGeT), University of Perugia, 05100 Terni
| | - Renato Colella
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Perugia, 06100 Perugia
| | - Rosa Marina Melillo
- the Department of Molecular Medicine and Medical Biotechnology, University of Naples "Federico II,", 80131 Naples, Italy; Istituto per l'Endocrinologia e l'Oncologia Sperimentale, CNR, 80131 Naples, Italy
| | - Federica Liotti
- the Department of Molecular Medicine and Medical Biotechnology, University of Naples "Federico II,", 80131 Naples, Italy
| | - Silvia Morelli
- From the Department of Medicine, University of Perugia, 06100 Perugia; the Research Centre of Thyroid Proteomics and Genomics (CRiProGeT), University of Perugia, 05100 Terni
| | | | | | - Massimo Santoro
- the Department of Molecular Medicine and Medical Biotechnology, University of Naples "Federico II,", 80131 Naples, Italy
| | - Nicola Avenia
- the Research Centre of Thyroid Proteomics and Genomics (CRiProGeT), University of Perugia, 05100 Terni; Departments of Surgical and Biomedical Sciences, University of Perugia, 06100 Perugia
| | - Efisio Puxeddu
- From the Department of Medicine, University of Perugia, 06100 Perugia; the Research Centre of Thyroid Proteomics and Genomics (CRiProGeT), University of Perugia, 05100 Terni.
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Routy JP, Routy B, Graziani GM, Mehraj V. The Kynurenine Pathway Is a Double-Edged Sword in Immune-Privileged Sites and in Cancer: Implications for Immunotherapy. Int J Tryptophan Res 2016; 9:67-77. [PMID: 27773992 PMCID: PMC5063567 DOI: 10.4137/ijtr.s38355] [Citation(s) in RCA: 126] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2016] [Revised: 09/18/2016] [Accepted: 09/20/2016] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
The term “immune privilege” was originally coined to describe the suppression of inflammatory responses within organs protected by anatomic barriers, ie, the eyes, brain, placenta, and testes. However, cellular and metabolic processes, which orchestrate immune responses, also control inflammation within these sites. Our current understanding of tolerogenic mechanisms has extended the definition of immune privilege to include hair follicles, the colon, and cancer. By catabolizing tryptophan, cells expressing the enzyme indoleamine-2,3-dioxygenase produce kynurenine metabolites, which orchestrate local and systemic responses to control inflammation, thus maintaining immune privilege. This review highlights the double-edged role played by the kynurenine pathway (KP), which establishes and maintains immune-privileged sites while contributing to cancer immune escape. The identification of the underlying molecular drivers of the KP in immune-privileged sites and in cancer is essential for the development of novel therapies to treat autoimmunity and cancer and to improve transplantation outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jean-Pierre Routy
- Chronic Viral Illness Service, McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, QC, Canada.; The Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, QC, Canada.; Professor of Medicine, Division of Hematology, McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, QC, Canada.; Louis Lowenstein Chair in Hematology and Oncology, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Bertrand Routy
- Postdoctoral Fellow, Gustave Roussy Cancer Campus, Villejuif, France.; INSERM U1015, Villejuif, France
| | - Gina M Graziani
- Research Associate, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Vikram Mehraj
- Chronic Viral Illness Service, McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, QC, Canada.; Postdoctoral Fellow, The Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, QC, Canada
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Tsiatas M, Grivas P. Immunobiology and immunotherapy in genitourinary malignancies. ANNALS OF TRANSLATIONAL MEDICINE 2016; 4:270. [PMID: 27563657 DOI: 10.21037/atm.2016.06.29] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Immunotherapy has traditionally been a critical component of the cancer treatment armamentarium in genitourinary (GU) cancers. It has an established role in the management of carefully selected patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma (RCC) [e.g., high dose interleukin-2 (IL-2)] and non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) [e.g., intravesical Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG)]. In 2010, the sipuleucel-T vaccine was approved by the FDA for the management of metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC), based on a phase III trial showing overall survival (OS) benefit compared to placebo. The immune checkpoint inhibitor nivolumab (anti-PD-1) recently received FDA approval for the management of patients with advanced RCC patients previously treated with anti-angiogenic therapy, based on OS benefit compared to everolimus. Recently, large clinical trials demonstrated meaningful clinical benefit, including durable responses, as well as a good tolerability/safety profile with the use of immune checkpoint inhibitors in advanced RCC and chemotherapy-resistant advanced urothelial carcinoma (UC), while FDA just approved atezolizumab for platinum-treated advanced UC. Numerous interesting trials in different cancers are ongoing. Several combinations of immune checkpoint blockade with chemotherapeutics, vaccines, targeted tyrosine kinase inhibitors & monoclonal antibodies, epigenetic modifiers, anti-angiogenic agents, tumor microenvironment & myeloid cell targeting therapies, metabolic modification strategies, radiation, and others, are being tested in clinical trials. Comprehensive understanding of the factors underlying antitumor immune responses in physiologically relevant animal models and humans will refine further the clinical benefit of immunotherapy. Discovery and validation of appropriate molecular biomarkers via coordinated translational research efforts, rational clinical trial designs with suitable endpoints and well-defined eligibility criteria, prospective registries/databases, careful evaluation of cost-effectiveness and safety/tolerability, adequate funding and open continuous discussions among all stakeholders will support the revolutionary nature of immunotherapy in GU cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marinos Tsiatas
- Department of Genitourinary Oncology, Athens Medical Center, Maroussi, Greece
| | - Petros Grivas
- Department of Hematology/Medical Oncology, Taussig Cancer Institute, Cleveland Clinic, OH, USA
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50
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Sharma R, Di Dalmazi G, Caturegli P. Exacerbation of Autoimmune Thyroiditis by CTLA-4 Blockade: A Role for IFNγ-Induced Indoleamine 2, 3-Dioxygenase. Thyroid 2016; 26:1117-24. [PMID: 27296629 PMCID: PMC4976247 DOI: 10.1089/thy.2016.0092] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cytotoxic T-lymphocyte associated protein 4 (CTLA-4) is a negative regulator of immune responses that suppresses the activity of effector T cells and contributes to the maintenance of self tolerance. When blocked therapeutically, CTLA-4 leads to an overall activation of T cells that has been exploited for cancer control, a control associated however with a variety of immune-related side effects such as autoimmune thyroiditis. To investigate the mechanism(s) underlying this form of thyroiditis, we used the NOD-H2(h4) mouse, a model that develops thyroiditis at very high incidence after addition of iodine to the drinking water. METHODS NOD-H2(h4) mice were started on drinking water supplemented with 0.05% sodium iodide when 8 weeks old and then injected with a hamster monoclonal antibody against mouse CTLA-4, polyclonal hamster immunoglobulins, or phosphate buffered saline when 11 weeks old. One month later (15 weeks of age), mice were sacrificed to assess thyroiditis, general immune responses in blood and spleen, and expression of indoleamine 2, 3-dioxygenase (IDO) in the thyroid and in isolated antigen-presenting cells after stimulation with interferon gamma. The study also analyzed IDO expression in four autopsy cases of metastatic melanoma who had received treatment with a CTLA-4 blocking antibody, and six surgical pathology Hashimoto thyroiditis controls. RESULTS CTLA-4 blockade worsened autoimmune thyroiditis, as assessed by a greater incidence, a more aggressive mononuclear cell infiltration in thyroids, and higher thyroglobulin antibody levels when compared to the control groups. CTLA-4 blockade also expanded the proportion of splenic CD4+ effector T cells, as well as the production of interleukin (IL)-2, interferon gamma, IL-10, and IL-13 cytokines. Interestingly, CTLA-4 blockade induced a strong expression of IDO in mouse and human thyroid glands, an expression that could represent a counter-regulatory mechanism to protect against the inflammatory environment. CONCLUSIONS This study shows that CTLA-4 blockade exacerbates the iodine-accelerated form of thyroiditis typical of the NOD-H2(h4) mouse. The study could also have implications for cancer patients who develop thyroiditis as an immune-related adverse event after CTLA-4 blockade.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rajni Sharma
- Department of Pathology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Giulia Di Dalmazi
- Department of Pathology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
- Department of Medicine, G. d'Annunzio University of Chieti, Cheti, Italy
| | - Patrizio Caturegli
- Department of Pathology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
- Harry Feinstone Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland
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