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Marzęta-Assas P, Jacenik D, Zasłona Z. Pathophysiology of Arginases in Cancer and Efforts in Their Pharmacological Inhibition. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:9782. [PMID: 39337272 PMCID: PMC11431790 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25189782] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2024] [Revised: 09/02/2024] [Accepted: 09/05/2024] [Indexed: 09/30/2024] Open
Abstract
Arginases are key enzymes that hydrolyze L-arginine to urea and L-ornithine in the urea cycle. The two arginase isoforms, arginase 1 (ARG1) and arginase 2 (ARG2), regulate the proliferation of cancer cells, migration, and apoptosis; affect immunosuppression; and promote the synthesis of polyamines, leading to the development of cancer. Arginases also compete with nitric oxide synthase (NOS) for L-arginine, and their participation has also been confirmed in cardiovascular diseases, stroke, and inflammation. Due to the fact that arginases play a crucial role in the development of various types of diseases, finding an appropriate candidate to inhibit the activity of these enzymes would be beneficial for the therapy of many human diseases. In this review, based on numerous experimental, preclinical, and clinical studies, we provide a comprehensive overview of the biological and physiological functions of ARG1 and ARG2, their molecular mechanisms of action, and affected metabolic pathways. We summarize the recent clinical trials' advances in targeting arginases and describe potential future drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Damian Jacenik
- Molecure S.A., 101 Żwirki i Wigury St., 02-089 Warsaw, Poland
- Department of Cytobiochemistry, Faculty of Biology and Environmental Protection, University of Lodz, 141/143 Pomorska St., 90-236 Lodz, Poland
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2
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Nakanuma Y, Kakuda Y, Canh HN, Sasaki M, Harada K, Sugino T. Pathologic characterization of precursors and cholangiocarcinoma referring to peribiliary capillary plexus: a new pathologic approach to bile duct neoplasm. Virchows Arch 2024; 485:257-268. [PMID: 39008118 DOI: 10.1007/s00428-024-03859-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2024] [Revised: 06/12/2024] [Accepted: 06/26/2024] [Indexed: 07/16/2024]
Abstract
The peribiliary capillary plexus (PCP) regularly and densely lines the basal side of the lining epithelia of normal bile ducts. To determine the pathology of the PCP in high-grade biliary intraepithelial neoplasms (BilINs) and intraductal papillary neoplasms of the bile duct (IPNBs), a precursor of cholangiocarcinoma (CCA), and CCA. Seventy-six cases of surgically resected high-grade BilIN and 83 cases of IPNB were histopathologically examined using endothelial immunostaining of PCP; all cases of high-grade BilIN and 40 cases of IPNB were associated with invasive CCA. Invasive and preinvasive neoplasms were pathologically examined referring to a two-layer pattern composed of biliary lining epithelia and underlying PCP unique to the bile duct. All high-grade BilIIN cases had an underlying single layer of capillaries, similar to PCP (PCP-like capillaries). In 43% of the 83 cases of IPNB, these capillaries were regularly distributed in almost all stalks and intervening stroma of intraluminal neoplastic components, while in the remaining 57% of IPNB, capillaries were sparsely or irregularly distributed in intraluminal components showing cribriform or solid growth patterns composed of striking atypical neoplastic epithelia. Invasive carcinomas associated with high-grade BilIN and IPNB were not lined with capillaries. The loss of PCP-like capillaries underlying high-grade BilIN and in stalks or stroma of IPNB may be involved in the malignant progression of these precursors. Immunostaining of PCP could be a new pathological tool for the evaluation of malignant progression and vascular supply in CCA and its precursors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yasuni Nakanuma
- Division of Pathology, Shizuoka Cancer Center, Shizuoka, Japan.
- Department of Diagnostic Pathology, Fukui Prefecture Saiseikai Hospital, Wadanakacho Funahashi 7-1, Fukui, 918-8503, Japan.
| | - Yuko Kakuda
- Division of Pathology, Shizuoka Cancer Center, Shizuoka, Japan
| | - Hiep Nguyen Canh
- Department of Human Pathology, Kanazawa University Graduate School of Medicine, Kanazawa, Japan
| | - Motoko Sasaki
- Department of Human Pathology, Kanazawa University Graduate School of Medicine, Kanazawa, Japan
| | - Kenichi Harada
- Department of Human Pathology, Kanazawa University Graduate School of Medicine, Kanazawa, Japan
| | - Takashi Sugino
- Division of Pathology, Shizuoka Cancer Center, Shizuoka, Japan
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3
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Moraly J, Kondo T, Benzaoui M, DuSold J, Talluri S, Pouzolles MC, Chien C, Dardalhon V, Taylor N. Metabolic dialogues: regulators of chimeric antigen receptor T cell function in the tumor microenvironment. Mol Oncol 2024; 18:1695-1718. [PMID: 38922759 PMCID: PMC11223614 DOI: 10.1002/1878-0261.13691] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2023] [Revised: 02/23/2024] [Accepted: 06/11/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) and chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells have demonstrated remarkable success in the treatment of relapsed/refractory melanoma and hematological malignancies, respectively. These treatments have marked a pivotal shift in cancer management. However, as "living drugs," their effectiveness is dependent on their ability to proliferate and persist in patients. Recent studies indicate that the mechanisms regulating these crucial functions, as well as the T cell's differentiation state, are conditioned by metabolic shifts and the distinct utilization of metabolic pathways. These metabolic shifts, conditioned by nutrient availability as well as cell surface expression of metabolite transporters, are coupled to signaling pathways and the epigenetic landscape of the cell, modulating transcriptional, translational, and post-translational profiles. In this review, we discuss the processes underlying the metabolic remodeling of activated T cells, the impact of a tumor metabolic environment on T cell function, and potential metabolic-based strategies to enhance T cell immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Josquin Moraly
- Pediatric Oncology Branch, National Cancer InstituteNational Institutes of HealthBethesdaMDUSA
- Université Sorbonne Paris CitéParisFrance
| | - Taisuke Kondo
- Pediatric Oncology Branch, National Cancer InstituteNational Institutes of HealthBethesdaMDUSA
| | - Mehdi Benzaoui
- Pediatric Oncology Branch, National Cancer InstituteNational Institutes of HealthBethesdaMDUSA
- Université de Montpellier, Institut de Génétique Moléculaire de Montpellier, CNRSMontpellierFrance
| | - Justyn DuSold
- Pediatric Oncology Branch, National Cancer InstituteNational Institutes of HealthBethesdaMDUSA
| | - Sohan Talluri
- Pediatric Oncology Branch, National Cancer InstituteNational Institutes of HealthBethesdaMDUSA
| | - Marie C. Pouzolles
- Pediatric Oncology Branch, National Cancer InstituteNational Institutes of HealthBethesdaMDUSA
| | - Christopher Chien
- Pediatric Oncology Branch, National Cancer InstituteNational Institutes of HealthBethesdaMDUSA
| | - Valérie Dardalhon
- Université de Montpellier, Institut de Génétique Moléculaire de Montpellier, CNRSMontpellierFrance
| | - Naomi Taylor
- Pediatric Oncology Branch, National Cancer InstituteNational Institutes of HealthBethesdaMDUSA
- Université de Montpellier, Institut de Génétique Moléculaire de Montpellier, CNRSMontpellierFrance
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4
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Chen T. Unveiling the significance of inducible nitric oxide synthase: Its impact on cancer progression and clinical implications. Cancer Lett 2024; 592:216931. [PMID: 38701892 DOI: 10.1016/j.canlet.2024.216931] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2024] [Revised: 04/14/2024] [Accepted: 04/29/2024] [Indexed: 05/05/2024]
Abstract
The intricate role of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) in cancer pathophysiology has garnered significant attention, highlighting the complex interplay between tumorigenesis, immune response, and cellular metabolism. As an enzyme responsible for producing nitric oxide (NO) in response to inflammatory stimuli. iNOS is implicated in various aspects of cancer development, including DNA damage, angiogenesis, and evasion of apoptosis. This review synthesizes the current findings from both preclinical and clinical studies on iNOS across different cancer types, reflecting the variability depending on cellular context and tumor microenvironment. We explore the molecular mechanisms by which iNOS modulates cancer cell growth, survival, and metastasis, emphasizing its impact on immune surveillance and response to treatment. Additionally, the potential of targeting iNOS as a therapeutic strategy in cancer treatment is examined. By integrating insights from recent advances, this review aims to elucidate the significant role of iNOS in cancer and pave the way for novel diagnostic and therapeutic approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tong Chen
- Division of Medical Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA; The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA.
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5
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Qin Q, Yu R, Eriksson JE, Tsai HI, Zhu H. Cancer-associated fibroblasts in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma therapy: Challenges and opportunities. Cancer Lett 2024; 591:216859. [PMID: 38615928 DOI: 10.1016/j.canlet.2024.216859] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2023] [Revised: 03/30/2024] [Accepted: 04/02/2024] [Indexed: 04/16/2024]
Abstract
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a solid organ malignancy with a high mortality rate. Statistics indicate that its incidence has been increasing as well as the associated deaths. Most patients with PDAC show poor response to therapies making the clinical management of this cancer difficult. Stromal cells in the tumor microenvironment (TME) contribute to the development of resistance to therapy in PDAC cancer cells. Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs), the most prevalent stromal cells in the TME, promote a desmoplastic response, produce extracellular matrix proteins and cytokines, and directly influence the biological behavior of cancer cells. These multifaceted effects make it difficult to eradicate tumor cells from the body. As a result, CAF-targeting synergistic therapeutic strategies have gained increasing attention in recent years. However, due to the substantial heterogeneity in CAF origin, definition, and function, as well as high plasticity, majority of the available CAF-targeting therapeutic approaches are not effective, and in some cases, they exacerbate disease progression. This review primarily elucidates on the effect of CAFs on therapeutic efficiency of various treatment modalities, including chemotherapy, radiotherapy, immunotherapy, and targeted therapy. Strategies for CAF targeting therapies are also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qin Qin
- Institute of Medical Imaging and Artificial Intelligence, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, 212001, China
| | - Rong Yu
- Institute of Medical Imaging and Artificial Intelligence, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, 212001, China
| | - John E Eriksson
- Cell Biology, Biosciences, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Åbo Akademi University, Turku, FI-20520 Finland
| | - Hsiang-I Tsai
- Institute of Medical Imaging and Artificial Intelligence, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, 212001, China; Department of Medical Imaging, The Affiliated Hospital of Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, 212001, China.
| | - Haitao Zhu
- Institute of Medical Imaging and Artificial Intelligence, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, 212001, China; Department of Medical Imaging, The Affiliated Hospital of Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, 212001, China.
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6
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Holbert CE, Casero RA, Stewart TM. Polyamines: the pivotal amines in influencing the tumor microenvironment. Discov Oncol 2024; 15:173. [PMID: 38761252 PMCID: PMC11102423 DOI: 10.1007/s12672-024-01034-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2023] [Accepted: 05/11/2024] [Indexed: 05/20/2024] Open
Abstract
Cellular proliferation, function and survival is reliant upon maintaining appropriate intracellular polyamine levels. Due to increased metabolic needs, cancer cells elevate their polyamine pools through coordinated metabolism and uptake. High levels of polyamines have been linked to more immunosuppressive tumor microenvironments (TME) as polyamines support the growth and function of many immunosuppressive cell types such as MDSCs, macrophages and regulatory T-cells. As cancer cells and other pro-tumorigenic cell types are highly dependent on polyamines for survival, pharmacological modulation of polyamine metabolism is a promising cancer therapeutic strategy. This review covers the roles of polyamines in various cell types of the TME including both immune and stromal cells, as well as how competition for nutrients, namely polyamine precursors, influences the cellular landscape of the TME. It also details the use of polyamines as biomarkers and the ways in which polyamine depletion can increase the immunogenicity of the TME and reprogram tumors to become more responsive to immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cassandra E Holbert
- Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Robert A Casero
- Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Tracy Murray Stewart
- Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.
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7
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Hajaj E, Pozzi S, Erez A. From the Inside Out: Exposing the Roles of Urea Cycle Enzymes in Tumors and Their Micro and Macro Environments. Cold Spring Harb Perspect Med 2024; 14:a041538. [PMID: 37696657 PMCID: PMC10982720 DOI: 10.1101/cshperspect.a041538] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/13/2023]
Abstract
Catabolic pathways change in anabolic diseases such as cancer to maintain metabolic homeostasis. The liver urea cycle (UC) is the main catabolic pathway for disposing excess nitrogen. Outside the liver, the UC enzymes are differentially expressed based on each tissue's needs for UC intermediates. In tumors, there are changes in the expression of UC enzymes selected for promoting tumorigenesis by increasing the availability of essential UC substrates and products. Consequently, there are compensatory changes in the expression of UC enzymes in the cells that compose the tumor microenvironment. Moreover, extrahepatic tumors induce changes in the expression of the liver UC, which contribute to the systemic manifestations of cancer, such as weight loss. Here, we review the multilayer changes in the expression of UC enzymes throughout carcinogenesis. Understanding the changes in UC expression in the tumor and its micro and macro environment can help identify biomarkers for early cancer diagnosis and vulnerabilities that can be targeted for therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emma Hajaj
- Department of Molecular Cell Biology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 7610001, Israel
| | - Sabina Pozzi
- Department of Molecular Cell Biology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 7610001, Israel
| | - Ayelet Erez
- Department of Molecular Cell Biology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 7610001, Israel
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Gzik A, Borek B, Chrzanowski J, Jedrzejczak K, Dziegielewski M, Brzezinska J, Nowicka J, Grzybowski MM, Rejczak T, Niedzialek D, Wieczorek G, Olczak J, Golebiowski A, Zaslona Z, Blaszczyk R. Novel orally bioavailable piperidine derivatives as extracellular arginase inhibitors developed by a ring expansion. Eur J Med Chem 2024; 264:116033. [PMID: 38096651 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2023.116033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2023] [Revised: 11/24/2023] [Accepted: 12/04/2023] [Indexed: 12/30/2023]
Abstract
Arginase is a multifaced enzyme that plays an important role in health and disease being regarded as a therapeutic target for the treatment of various pathological states such as malignancies, asthma, and cardiovascular disease. The discovery of boronic acid-based arginase inhibitors in 1997 revolutionized attempts of medicinal chemistry focused on development of drugs targeting arginase. Unfortunately, these very polar compounds had limitations such as analysis and purification without chromophores, synthetically challenging space, and poor oral bioavailability. Herein, we present a novel class of boronic acid-based arginase inhibitors which are piperidine derivatives exhibiting a different pharmacological profile compared to our drug candidate in cancer immunotherapy -OATD-02 - dual ARG1/2 inhibitor with high intracellular activity. Compounds from this new series show low intracellular activity, hence they can inhibit mainly extracellular arginase, providing different therapeutic space compared to a dual intracellular ARG1/2 inhibitor. The disclosed series showed good inhibitory potential towards arginase enzyme in vitro (IC50 up to 160 nM), favorable pharmacokinetics in animal models, and encouraging preliminary in vitro and in vivo tolerability. Compounds from the new series have moderate-to-high oral bioavailability (up to 66 %) and moderate clearance in vivo. Herein we describe the development and optimization of the synthesis of the new class of boronic acid-based arginase inhibitors via a ring expansion approach starting from the inexpensive chirality source (d-hydroxyproline). This upgraded methodology facilitated a gram-scale delivery of the final compound and eliminated the need for costly and time-consuming chiral resolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Gzik
- Molecure S.A., Zwirki i Wigury 101, Warsaw, 02-089, Poland
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Julita Nowicka
- Molecure S.A., Zwirki i Wigury 101, Warsaw, 02-089, Poland
| | | | - Tomasz Rejczak
- Molecure S.A., Zwirki i Wigury 101, Warsaw, 02-089, Poland
| | | | | | - Jacek Olczak
- Molecure S.A., Zwirki i Wigury 101, Warsaw, 02-089, Poland
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9
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Akinjiyan FA, Ibitoye Z, Zhao P, Shriver LP, Patti GJ, Longmore GD, Fuh KC. DDR2-regulated arginase activity in ovarian cancer-associated fibroblasts promotes collagen production and tumor progression. Oncogene 2024; 43:189-201. [PMID: 37996700 PMCID: PMC10786713 DOI: 10.1038/s41388-023-02884-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2023] [Revised: 10/21/2023] [Accepted: 10/30/2023] [Indexed: 11/25/2023]
Abstract
Ovarian cancer has poor survival outcomes particularly for advanced stage, metastatic disease. Metastasis is promoted by interactions of stromal cells, such as cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) in the tumor microenvironment (TME), with tumor cells. CAFs play a key role in tumor progression by remodeling the TME and extracellular matrix (ECM) to result in a more permissive environment for tumor progression. It has been shown that fibroblasts, in particular myofibroblasts, utilize metabolism to support ECM remodeling. However, the intricate mechanisms by which CAFs support collagen production and tumor progression are poorly understood. In this study, we show that the fibrillar collagen receptor, Discoidin Domain Receptor 2 (DDR2), promotes collagen production in human and mouse omental CAFs through arginase activity. CAFs with high DDR2 or arginase promote tumor colonization in the omentum. In addition, DDR2-depleted CAFs had decreased ornithine levels leading to decreased collagen production and polyamine levels compared to WT control CAFs. Tumor cell invasion was decreased in the presence CAF conditioned media (CM) depleted of DDR2 or arginase-1, and this invasion defect was rescued in the presence of CM from DDR2-depleted CAFs that constitutively overexpressed arginase-1. Similarly, the addition of exogenous polyamines to CM from DDR2-depleted CAFs led to increased tumor cell invasion. We detected SNAI1 protein at the promoter region of the arginase-1 gene, and DDR2-depleted CAFs had decreased levels of SNAI1 protein at the arginase-1 promoter region. Furthermore, high stromal arginase-1 expression correlated with poor survival in ovarian cancer patients. These findings highlight how DDR2 regulates collagen production by CAFs in the tumor microenvironment by controlling the transcription of arginase-1, and CAFs are a major source of arginase activity and L-arginine metabolites in ovarian cancer models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Favour A Akinjiyan
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA
- Center for Reproductive Health Sciences, Washington University, St Louis, MO, 63110, USA
- ICCE Institute, Washington University, St Louis, MO, 63110, USA
- Department of Medicine (Oncology), Washington University, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA
| | - Zainab Ibitoye
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA
- Center for Reproductive Health Sciences, Washington University, St Louis, MO, 63110, USA
- ICCE Institute, Washington University, St Louis, MO, 63110, USA
- Department of Medicine (Oncology), Washington University, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA
| | - Peinan Zhao
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA
| | - Leah P Shriver
- Department of Medicine (Oncology), Washington University, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA
- Department of Chemistry, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA
- Center for Metabolomics and Isotope Tracing, Washington University, St. Louis, MO, 63130, USA
| | - Gary J Patti
- Department of Medicine (Oncology), Washington University, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA
- Department of Chemistry, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA
- Center for Metabolomics and Isotope Tracing, Washington University, St. Louis, MO, 63130, USA
| | - Gregory D Longmore
- ICCE Institute, Washington University, St Louis, MO, 63110, USA
- Department of Medicine (Oncology), Washington University, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA
| | - Katherine C Fuh
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA.
- Center for Reproductive Health Sciences, Washington University, St Louis, MO, 63110, USA.
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology & Reproductive Sciences, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, 94143, USA.
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10
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Di Giorgio E, Choudhary H, Ferino A, Cortolezzis Y, Dalla E, D’Este F, Comelli M, Rapozzi V, Xodo LE. Suppression of the KRAS- NRF2 axis shifts arginine into the phosphocreatine energy system in pancreatic cancer cells. iScience 2023; 26:108566. [PMID: 38144458 PMCID: PMC10746371 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2023.108566] [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: 05/24/2023] [Revised: 10/21/2023] [Accepted: 11/21/2023] [Indexed: 12/26/2023] Open
Abstract
In pancreatic ductal adenocarcinomas (PDAC), the KRASG12D-NRF2 axis controls cellular functions such as redox homeostasis and metabolism. Disruption of this axis through suppression of NRF2 leads to profound reprogramming of metabolism. Unbiased transcriptome and metabolome analyses showed that PDAC cells with disrupted KRASG12D-NRF2 signaling (NRF2-/- cells) shift from aerobic glycolysis to metabolic pathways fed by amino acids. Metabolome, RNA-seq and qRT-PCR analyses revealed a blockade of the urea cycle, making NRF2-/- cells dependent on exogenous arginine for survival. Arginine is channeled into anabolic pathways, including the synthesis of phosphocreatine, which generates an energy buffer essential for cell growth. A similar switch was observed in tumor clones that had survived FOLFIRINOX therapy or blockade of KRAS signaling. Inhibition of the creatine pathway with cyclocreatine reduced both ATP and invasion rate in 3D spheroids from NRF2-deficient PDAC cells. Our study provides basis for the rational development of combination therapies for pancreatic cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eros Di Giorgio
- Department of Medicine, Laboratory of Biochemistry, P.le Kolbe 4, 33100 Udine, Italy
| | - Himanshi Choudhary
- Department of Medicine, Laboratory of Biochemistry, P.le Kolbe 4, 33100 Udine, Italy
| | - Annalisa Ferino
- Department of Medicine, Laboratory of Biochemistry, P.le Kolbe 4, 33100 Udine, Italy
| | - Ylenia Cortolezzis
- Department of Medicine, Laboratory of Biochemistry, P.le Kolbe 4, 33100 Udine, Italy
| | - Emiliano Dalla
- Department of Medicine, Laboratory of Biochemistry, P.le Kolbe 4, 33100 Udine, Italy
| | - Francesca D’Este
- Department of Medicine, Laboratory of Biochemistry, P.le Kolbe 4, 33100 Udine, Italy
| | - Marina Comelli
- Department of Medicine, Laboratory of Biochemistry, P.le Kolbe 4, 33100 Udine, Italy
| | - Valentina Rapozzi
- Department of Medicine, Laboratory of Biochemistry, P.le Kolbe 4, 33100 Udine, Italy
| | - Luigi E. Xodo
- Department of Medicine, Laboratory of Biochemistry, P.le Kolbe 4, 33100 Udine, Italy
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11
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Abou Khouzam R, Janji B, Thiery J, Zaarour RF, Chamseddine AN, Mayr H, Savagner P, Kieda C, Gad S, Buart S, Lehn JM, Limani P, Chouaib S. Hypoxia as a potential inducer of immune tolerance, tumor plasticity and a driver of tumor mutational burden: Impact on cancer immunotherapy. Semin Cancer Biol 2023; 97:104-123. [PMID: 38029865 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcancer.2023.11.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2023] [Revised: 11/04/2023] [Accepted: 11/06/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023]
Abstract
In cancer patients, immune cells are often functionally compromised due to the immunosuppressive features of the tumor microenvironment (TME) which contribute to the failures in cancer therapies. Clinical and experimental evidence indicates that developing tumors adapt to the immunological environment and create a local microenvironment that impairs immune function by inducing immune tolerance and invasion. In this context, microenvironmental hypoxia, which is an established hallmark of solid tumors, significantly contributes to tumor aggressiveness and therapy resistance through the induction of tumor plasticity/heterogeneity and, more importantly, through the differentiation and expansion of immune-suppressive stromal cells. We and others have provided evidence indicating that hypoxia also drives genomic instability in cancer cells and interferes with DNA damage response and repair suggesting that hypoxia could be a potential driver of tumor mutational burden. Here, we reviewed the current knowledge on how hypoxic stress in the TME impacts tumor angiogenesis, heterogeneity, plasticity, and immune resistance, with a special interest in tumor immunogenicity and hypoxia targeting. An integrated understanding of the complexity of the effect of hypoxia on the immune and microenvironmental components could lead to the identification of better adapted and more effective combinational strategies in cancer immunotherapy. Clearly, the discovery and validation of therapeutic targets derived from the hypoxic tumor microenvironment is of major importance and the identification of critical hypoxia-associated pathways could generate targets that are undeniably attractive for combined cancer immunotherapy approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raefa Abou Khouzam
- Thumbay Research Institute for Precision Medicine, Gulf Medical University, Ajman 4184, United Arab Emirates.
| | - Bassam Janji
- Department of Cancer Research, Luxembourg Institute of Health, Tumor Immunotherapy and Microenvironment (TIME) Group, 6A, rue Nicolas-Ernest Barblé, L-1210 Luxembourg city, Luxembourg.
| | - Jerome Thiery
- INSERM UMR 1186, Integrative Tumor Immunology and Immunotherapy, Gustave Roussy, Faculty of Medicine, University Paris-Saclay, 94805 Villejuif, France.
| | - Rania Faouzi Zaarour
- Thumbay Research Institute for Precision Medicine, Gulf Medical University, Ajman 4184, United Arab Emirates.
| | - Ali N Chamseddine
- Gastroenterology Department, Cochin University Hospital, Université de Paris, APHP, Paris, France; Ambroise Paré - Hartmann Private Hospital Group, Oncology Unit, Neuilly-sur-Seine, France.
| | - Hemma Mayr
- Swiss Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary (HPB) and Transplantation Center, University Hospital Zurich, Raemistrasse 100, Zurich, Switzerland; Department of Surgery & Transplantation, University and University Hospital Zurich, Raemistrasse 100, Zurich, Switzerland.
| | - Pierre Savagner
- INSERM UMR 1186, Integrative Tumor Immunology and Immunotherapy, Gustave Roussy, Faculty of Medicine, University Paris-Saclay, 94805 Villejuif, France.
| | - Claudine Kieda
- Laboratory of Molecular Oncology and Innovative Therapies, Military Institute of Medicine-National Research Institute, 04-141 Warsaw, Poland; Centre for Molecular Biophysics, UPR 4301 CNRS, 45071 Orleans, France; Centre of Postgraduate Medical Education, 01-004 Warsaw, Poland.
| | - Sophie Gad
- Ecole Pratique des Hautes Etudes (EPHE), Paris Sciences Lettres University (PSL), 75014 Paris, France; UMR CNRS 9019, Genome Integrity and Cancers, Gustave Roussy, Paris-Saclay University, 94800 Villejuif, France.
| | - Stéphanie Buart
- INSERM UMR 1186, Integrative Tumor Immunology and Immunotherapy, Gustave Roussy, Faculty of Medicine, University Paris-Saclay, 94805 Villejuif, France.
| | - Jean-Marie Lehn
- Institut de Science et d'Ingénierie Supramoléculaires (ISIS), Université de Strasbourg, 8 allée Gaspard Monge, Strasbourg, France.
| | - Perparim Limani
- Swiss Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary (HPB) and Transplantation Center, University Hospital Zurich, Raemistrasse 100, Zurich, Switzerland; Department of Surgery & Transplantation, University and University Hospital Zurich, Raemistrasse 100, Zurich, Switzerland.
| | - Salem Chouaib
- Thumbay Research Institute for Precision Medicine, Gulf Medical University, Ajman 4184, United Arab Emirates; INSERM UMR 1186, Integrative Tumor Immunology and Immunotherapy, Gustave Roussy, Faculty of Medicine, University Paris-Saclay, 94805 Villejuif, France.
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12
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Gao D, Fang L, Liu C, Yang M, Yu X, Wang L, Zhang W, Sun C, Zhuang J. Microenvironmental regulation in tumor progression: Interactions between cancer-associated fibroblasts and immune cells. Biomed Pharmacother 2023; 167:115622. [PMID: 37783155 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2023.115622] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2023] [Revised: 09/20/2023] [Accepted: 09/28/2023] [Indexed: 10/04/2023] Open
Abstract
The tumor microenvironment (TME), the "soil" on which tumor cells grow, has an important role in regulating the proliferation and metastasis of tumor cells as well as their response to treatment. Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs), as the most abundant stromal cells of the TME, can not only directly alter the immunosuppressive effect of the TME through their own metabolism, but also influence the aggregation and function of immune cells by secreting a large number of cytokines and chemokines, reducing the body's immune surveillance of tumor cells and making them more prone to immune escape. Our study provides a comprehensive review of fibroblast chemotaxis, malignant transformation, metabolic characteristics, and interactions with immune cells. In addition, the current small molecule drugs targeting CAFs have been summarized, including both natural small molecules and targeted drugs for current clinical therapeutic applications. A complete review of the role of fibroblasts in TME from an immune perspective is presented, which has important implications in improving the efficiency of immunotherapy by targeting fibroblasts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dandan Gao
- College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Weifang Medical University, Weifang 261000, China
| | - Liguang Fang
- College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan 250355, China
| | - Cun Liu
- College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Weifang Medical University, Weifang 261000, China
| | - Mengrui Yang
- College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Weifang Medical University, Weifang 261000, China
| | - Xiaoyun Yu
- College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Weifang Medical University, Weifang 261000, China
| | - Longyun Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine and Faculty of Chinese Medicine, Macau University of Science and Technology, 999078, Macao Special Administrative Region of China
| | - Wenfeng Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine and Faculty of Chinese Medicine, Macau University of Science and Technology, 999078, Macao Special Administrative Region of China
| | - Changgang Sun
- College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Weifang Medical University, Weifang 261000, China; Department of Oncology, Weifang Traditional Chinese Hospital, Weifang 261000, China.
| | - Jing Zhuang
- Department of Oncology, Weifang Traditional Chinese Hospital, Weifang 261000, China.
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13
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Laubach K, Turan T, Mathew R, Wilsbacher J, Engelhardt J, Samayoa J. Tumor-intrinsic metabolic reprogramming and how it drives resistance to anti-PD-1/PD-L1 treatment. CANCER DRUG RESISTANCE (ALHAMBRA, CALIF.) 2023; 6:611-641. [PMID: 37842241 PMCID: PMC10571065 DOI: 10.20517/cdr.2023.60] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2023] [Revised: 08/15/2023] [Accepted: 08/29/2023] [Indexed: 10/17/2023]
Abstract
The development of immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) therapies has been instrumental in advancing the field of immunotherapy. Despite the prominence of these treatments, many patients exhibit primary or acquired resistance, rendering them ineffective. For example, anti-programmed cell death protein 1 (anti-PD-1)/anti-programmed cell death ligand 1 (anti-PD-L1) treatments are widely utilized across a range of cancer indications, but the response rate is only 10%-30%. As such, it is necessary for researchers to identify targets and develop drugs that can be used in combination with existing ICB therapies to overcome resistance. The intersection of cancer, metabolism, and the immune system has gained considerable traction in recent years as a way to comprehensively study the mechanisms that drive oncogenesis, immune evasion, and immunotherapy resistance. As a result, new research is continuously emerging in support of targeting metabolic pathways as an adjuvant to ICB to boost patient response and overcome resistance. Due to the plethora of studies in recent years highlighting this notion, this review will integrate the relevant articles that demonstrate how tumor-derived alterations in energy, amino acid, and lipid metabolism dysregulate anti-tumor immune responses and drive resistance to anti-PD-1/PD-L1 therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kyra Laubach
- Computational Oncology, AbbVie, South San Francisco, CA 94080, USA
- Immuno-Oncology, AbbVie, South San Francisco, CA 94080, USA
| | - Tolga Turan
- Computational Oncology, AbbVie, South San Francisco, CA 94080, USA
| | - Rebecca Mathew
- Immuno-Oncology, AbbVie, South San Francisco, CA 94080, USA
| | | | | | - Josue Samayoa
- Computational Oncology, AbbVie, South San Francisco, CA 94080, USA
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14
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Zhang H, Cao K, Xiang J, Zhang M, Zhu M, Xi Q. Hypoxia induces immunosuppression, metastasis and drug resistance in pancreatic cancers. Cancer Lett 2023; 571:216345. [PMID: 37558084 DOI: 10.1016/j.canlet.2023.216345] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2023] [Revised: 07/26/2023] [Accepted: 08/04/2023] [Indexed: 08/11/2023]
Abstract
Pancreatic cancer is one of the common malignant tumors of the digestive system and is known as the "king of cancers". It is extremely difficult to diagnose at an early stage, the disease progresses rapidly, and the effect of chemotherapy and radiotherapy is poor, so the prognosis of pancreatic cancer patients is very poor. Numerous studies have suggested that hypoxia is closely related to the development and progression of pancreatic cancer. Inadequate blood supply and desmoplasia in the microenvironment of pancreatic cancer can result in its extreme hypoxia. This hypoxic microenvironment can further contribute to angiogenesis and desmoplasia. Hypoxia is mediated by the complex hypoxia inducible factor (HIF) signaling pathway and plays an important role in the formation of a highly immunosuppressive microenvironment and the metastasis of pancreatic cancer. Further work on the hypoxic microenvironment will help clarify the specific mechanisms of the role of hypoxia in pancreatic cancer and provide a basis for the realization of hypoxia-targeted therapeutic and diagnostic strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huan Zhang
- Department of Gastroenterology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, China.
| | - Kailei Cao
- Department of Gastroenterology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, China.
| | - Jingrong Xiang
- Department of Gastroenterology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, China.
| | - Mengting Zhang
- Department of Gastroenterology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, China.
| | - Mengxin Zhu
- Department of Gastroenterology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, China.
| | - Qinhua Xi
- Department of Gastroenterology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, China.
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15
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Mahé M, Rios-Fuller TJ, Karolin A, Schneider RJ. Genetics of enzymatic dysfunctions in metabolic disorders and cancer. Front Oncol 2023; 13:1230934. [PMID: 37601653 PMCID: PMC10433910 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2023.1230934] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2023] [Accepted: 07/19/2023] [Indexed: 08/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Inherited metabolic disorders arise from mutations in genes involved in the biogenesis, assembly, or activity of metabolic enzymes, leading to enzymatic deficiency and severe metabolic impairments. Metabolic enzymes are essential for the normal functioning of cells and are involved in the production of amino acids, fatty acids and nucleotides, which are essential for cell growth, division and survival. When the activity of metabolic enzymes is disrupted due to mutations or changes in expression levels, it can result in various metabolic disorders that have also been linked to cancer development. However, there remains much to learn regarding the relationship between the dysregulation of metabolic enzymes and metabolic adaptations in cancer cells. In this review, we explore how dysregulated metabolism due to the alteration or change of metabolic enzymes in cancer cells plays a crucial role in tumor development, progression, metastasis and drug resistance. In addition, these changes in metabolism provide cancer cells with a number of advantages, including increased proliferation, resistance to apoptosis and the ability to evade the immune system. The tumor microenvironment, genetic context, and different signaling pathways further influence this interplay between cancer and metabolism. This review aims to explore how the dysregulation of metabolic enzymes in specific pathways, including the urea cycle, glycogen storage, lysosome storage, fatty acid oxidation, and mitochondrial respiration, contributes to the development of metabolic disorders and cancer. Additionally, the review seeks to shed light on why these enzymes represent crucial potential therapeutic targets and biomarkers in various cancer types.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Robert J. Schneider
- Department of Microbiology, Grossman NYU School of Medicine, New York, NY, United States
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16
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Brichkina A, Polo P, Sharma SD, Visestamkul N, Lauth M. A Quick Guide to CAF Subtypes in Pancreatic Cancer. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:cancers15092614. [PMID: 37174079 PMCID: PMC10177377 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15092614] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2023] [Revised: 04/21/2023] [Accepted: 04/28/2023] [Indexed: 05/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Pancreatic cancer represents one of the most desmoplastic malignancies and is characterized by an extensive deposition of extracellular matrix. The latter is provided by activated cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs), which are abundant cells in the pancreatic tumor microenvironment. Many recent studies have made it clear that CAFs are not a singular cellular entity but represent a multitude of potentially dynamic subgroups that affect tumor biology at several levels. As mentioned before, CAFs significantly contribute to the fibrotic reaction and the biomechanical properties of the tumor, but they can also modulate the local immune environment and the response to targeted, chemo or radiotherapy. As the number of known and emerging CAF subgroups is steadily increasing, it is becoming increasingly difficult to keep up with these developments and to clearly discriminate the cellular subsets identified so far. This review aims to provide a helpful overview that enables readers to quickly familiarize themselves with field of CAF heterogeneity and to grasp the phenotypic, functional and therapeutic distinctions of the various stromal subpopulations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Brichkina
- Center for Tumor and Immune Biology, Clinics for Gastroenterology, Endocrinology and Metabolism, Philipps University Marburg, Hans-Meerwein-Str. 3, 35043 Marburg, Germany
| | - Pierfrancesco Polo
- Center for Tumor and Immune Biology, Clinics for Gastroenterology, Endocrinology and Metabolism, Philipps University Marburg, Hans-Meerwein-Str. 3, 35043 Marburg, Germany
| | - Shrey Dharamvir Sharma
- Center for Tumor and Immune Biology, Clinics for Gastroenterology, Endocrinology and Metabolism, Philipps University Marburg, Hans-Meerwein-Str. 3, 35043 Marburg, Germany
| | - Nico Visestamkul
- Center for Tumor and Immune Biology, Clinics for Gastroenterology, Endocrinology and Metabolism, Philipps University Marburg, Hans-Meerwein-Str. 3, 35043 Marburg, Germany
| | - Matthias Lauth
- Center for Tumor and Immune Biology, Clinics for Gastroenterology, Endocrinology and Metabolism, Philipps University Marburg, Hans-Meerwein-Str. 3, 35043 Marburg, Germany
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17
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Zaki MEA, Al-Hussain SA, Al-Mutairi AA, Samad A, Ghosh A, Chaudhari S, Khatale PN, Ajmire P, Jawarkar RD. In-silico studies to recognize repurposing therapeutics toward arginase-I inhibitors as a potential onco-immunomodulators. Front Pharmacol 2023; 14:1129997. [PMID: 37144217 PMCID: PMC10151555 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2023.1129997] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2022] [Accepted: 02/27/2023] [Indexed: 05/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Rudolf Virchow was the first person to point out the important link between immune function and cancer. He did this by noticing that leukocytes were often found in tumors. Overexpression of arginase 1 (ARG1) and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) in myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) and tumour-associated macrophages (TAMs) depletes both intracellular and extracellular arginine. TCR signalling is slowed as a result, and the same types of cells produce reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (ROS and RNS), which aggravates the situation. Human arginase I is a double-stranded manganese metalloenzyme that helps L-arginine break down into L-ornithine and urea. Thus, a quantitative structure-activity relationship (QSAR) analysis was performed to unearth the unrecognised structural aspects crucial for arginase-I inhibition. In this work, a balanced QSAR model with good prediction performance and clear mechanistic interpretation was developed using a dataset of 149 molecules encompassing a broad range of structural scaffolds and compositions. The model was made to meet OECD standards, and all of its validation parameters have values that are higher than the minimum requirements (R2 tr = 0.89, Q2 LMO = 0.86, and R2 ex = 0.85). The present QSAR study linked structural factors to arginase-I inhibitory action, including the proximity of lipophilic atoms to the molecule's centre of mass (within 3A), the position of the donor to the ring nitrogen (exactly 3 bonds away), and the surface area ratio. As OAT-1746 and two others are the only arginase-I inhibitors in development at the time, we have performed a QSAR-based virtual screening with 1650 FDA compounds taken from the zinc database. In this screening, 112 potential hit compounds were found to have a PIC50 value of less than 10 nm against the arginase-I receptor. The created QSAR model's application domain was evaluated in relation to the most active hit molecules identified using QSAR-based virtual screening, utilising a training set of 149 compounds and a prediction set of 112 hit molecules. As shown in the Williams plot, the top hit molecule, ZINC000252286875, has a low leverage value of HAT i/i h* = 0.140, placing it towards the boundary of the usable range. Furthermore, one of 112 hit molecules with a docking score of -10.891 kcal/mol (PIC50 = 10.023 M) was isolated from a study of arginase-I using molecular docking. Protonated ZINC000252286875-linked arginase-1 showed 2.9 RMSD, whereas non-protonated had 1.8. RMSD plots illustrate protein stability in protonated and non-protonated ZINC000252286875-bound states. Protonated-ZINC000252286875-bound proteins contain 25 Rg. The non-protonated protein-ligand combination exhibits a 25.2-Rg, indicating compactness. Protonated and non-protonated ZINC000252286875 stabilised protein targets in binding cavities posthumously. Significant root mean square fluctuations (RMSF) were seen in the arginase-1 protein at a small number of residues for a time function of 500 ns in both the protonated and unprotonated states. Protonated and non-protonated ligands interacted with proteins throughout the simulation. ZINC000252286875 bound Lys64, Asp124, Ala171, Arg222, Asp232, and Gly250. Aspartic acid residue 232 exhibited 200% ionic contact. 500-ns simulations-maintained ions. Salt bridges for ZINC000252286875 aided docking. ZINC000252286875 created six ionic bonds with Lys68, Asp117, His126, Ala171, Lys224, and Asp232 residues. Asp117, His126, and Lys224 showed 200% ionic interactions. In protonated and deprotonated states, GbindvdW, GbindLipo, and GbindCoulomb energies played crucial role. Moreover, ZINC000252286875 meets all of the ADMET standards to serve as a drug. As a result, the current analyses were successful in locating a novel and potent hit molecule that inhibits arginase-I effectively at nanomolar concentrations. The results of this investigation can be used to develop brand-new arginase I inhibitors as an alternative immune-modulating cancer therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Magdi E. A. Zaki
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Imam Mohammad Ibn Saud Islamic University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
- *Correspondence: Magdi E. A. Zaki, ; Rahul D. Jawarkar,
| | - Sami A. Al-Hussain
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Imam Mohammad Ibn Saud Islamic University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Aamal A. Al-Mutairi
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Imam Mohammad Ibn Saud Islamic University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Abdul Samad
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Tishk International University, Erbil, Kurdistan Region, Iraq
| | - Arabinda Ghosh
- Microbiology Division, Department of Botany, Gauhati University, Guwahati, India
| | - Somdatta Chaudhari
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Progressive Education Society’s Modern College of Pharmacy, Pune, India
| | - Pravin N. Khatale
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Dr Rajendra Gode Institute of Pharmacy, Amravati, Maharashtra, India
| | - Prashant Ajmire
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Dr Rajendra Gode Institute of Pharmacy, Amravati, Maharashtra, India
| | - Rahul D. Jawarkar
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Dr Rajendra Gode Institute of Pharmacy, Amravati, Maharashtra, India
- *Correspondence: Magdi E. A. Zaki, ; Rahul D. Jawarkar,
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18
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Magri S, Musca B, Pinton L, Orecchini E, Belladonna ML, Orabona C, Bonaudo C, Volpin F, Ciccarino P, Baro V, Della Puppa A, Mandruzzato S. The immunosuppression pathway of tumor-associated macrophages is controlled by heme oxygenase-1 in glioblastoma patients. Int J Cancer 2022; 151:2265-2277. [PMID: 36054818 PMCID: PMC9825884 DOI: 10.1002/ijc.34270] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2022] [Revised: 08/05/2022] [Accepted: 08/11/2022] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
The immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (TME) in glioblastoma (GBM) is mainly driven by tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs). We explored whether their sustained iron metabolism and immunosuppressive activity were correlated, and whether blocking the central enzyme of the heme catabolism pathway, heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), could reverse their tolerogenic activity. To this end, we investigated iron metabolism in bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMDMs) isolated from GBM specimens and in in vitro-derived macrophages (Mφ) from healthy donor (HD) blood monocytes. We found that HO-1 inhibition abrogated the immunosuppressive activity of both BMDMs and Mφ, and that immunosuppression requires both cell-to-cell contact and soluble factors, as HO-1 inhibition abolished IL-10 release, and significantly reduced STAT3 activation as well as PD-L1 expression. Interestingly, not only did HO-1 inhibition downregulate IDO1 and ARG-2 gene expression, but also reduced IDO1 enzymatic activity. Moreover, T cell activation status affected PD-L1 expression and IDO1 activity, which were upregulated in the presence of activated, but not resting, T cells. Our results highlight the crucial role of HO-1 in the immunosuppressive activity of macrophages in the GBM TME and demonstrate the feasibility of reprogramming them as an alternative therapeutic strategy for restoring immune surveillance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Magri
- Department of Surgery, Oncology and GastroenterologyUniversity of PadovaPadovaItaly
| | - Beatrice Musca
- Immunology and Molecular OncologyVeneto Institute of Oncology IOV—IRCCSPadovaItaly
| | - Laura Pinton
- Immunology and Molecular OncologyVeneto Institute of Oncology IOV—IRCCSPadovaItaly
| | - Elena Orecchini
- Department of Medicine and SurgeryUniversity of PerugiaPerugiaItaly
| | | | - Ciriana Orabona
- Department of Medicine and SurgeryUniversity of PerugiaPerugiaItaly
| | - Camilla Bonaudo
- Neurosurgery, Department of NEUROFARBAUniversity of Florence, University Hospital of CareggiFlorenceItaly
| | | | | | - Valentina Baro
- Academic Neurosurgery, Department of NeurosciencesUniversity of PadovaPadovaItaly
| | - Alessandro Della Puppa
- Neurosurgery, Department of NEUROFARBAUniversity of Florence, University Hospital of CareggiFlorenceItaly
| | - Susanna Mandruzzato
- Department of Surgery, Oncology and GastroenterologyUniversity of PadovaPadovaItaly,Immunology and Molecular OncologyVeneto Institute of Oncology IOV—IRCCSPadovaItaly
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19
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Zhang J, Chen M, Fang C, Luo P. A cancer-associated fibroblast gene signature predicts prognosis and therapy response in patients with pancreatic cancer. Front Oncol 2022; 12:1052132. [PMID: 36465388 PMCID: PMC9716208 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2022.1052132] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2022] [Accepted: 10/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Pancreatic cancer is a lethal malignancy with a 5-year survival rate of about 10% in the United States, and it is becoming an increasingly prominent cause of cancer death. Among pancreatic cancer patients, pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) accounts for more than 90% of all cases and has a very poor prognosis with an average survival of only 1 year in about 18% of all tumor stages. In the past years, there has been an increasing interest in cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) and their roles in PDAC. Recent data reveals that CAFs in PDAC are heterogeneous and various CAF subtypes have been demonstrated to promote tumor development while others hinder cancer proliferation. Furthermore, CAFs and other stromal populations can be potentially used as novel prognostic markers in cancer. In the present study, in order to evaluate the prognostic value of CAFs in PDAC, CAF infiltration rate was evaluated in 4 PDAC datasets of TCGA, GEO, and ArrayExpress databases and differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between CAF-high and CAF-low patients were identified. Subsequently, a CAF-based gene expression signature was developed and studied for its association with overall survival (OS). Additionally, functional enrichment analysis, somatic alteration analysis, and prognostic risk model construction was conducted on the identified DEGs. Finally, oncoPredict algorithm was implemented to assess drug sensitivity prediction between high- and low-risk cohorts. Our results revealed that CAF risk-high patients have a worse survival rate and increased CAF infiltration is a poor prognostic indicator in pancreatic cancer. Functional enrichment analysis also revealed that "extracellular matrix organization" and "vasculature development" were the top enriched pathways among the identified DEGs. We also developed a panel of 12 genes, which in additional to its prognostic value, could predict higher chemotherapy resistance rate. This CAF-based panel can be potentially utilized alone or in conjunction with other clinical parameters to make early predictions and prognosticate responsiveness to treatment in PDAC patients. Indeed, it is necessary to conduct extensive prospective investigations to confirm the clinical utility of these findings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinbao Zhang
- Department of General Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China
| | - Meiling Chen
- Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory on Hematology, Fujian Institute of Hematology, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, Fuzhou, China
| | - Chuanfa Fang
- Department of Gastroenteric Hernia Surgery, Ganzhou Hospital Affiliated to Nanchang University, Jiangxi, Ganzhou, China
| | - Peng Luo
- Department of General Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China
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20
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Yu Y, Ren Y, Wang C, Li Z, Niu F, Li Z, Ye Q, Wang J, Yan Y, Liu P, Qian L, Xiong Y. Arginase 2 negatively regulates sorafenib-induced cell death by mediating ferroptosis in melanoma. Acta Biochim Biophys Sin (Shanghai) 2022; 54:1658-1670. [PMID: 36604146 PMCID: PMC9828469 DOI: 10.3724/abbs.2022166] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Ferroptosis, a newly defined and iron-dependent cell death, morphologically and biochemically differs from other cell deaths. Melanoma is a serious type of skin cancer, and the poor efficacy of current therapies causes a major increase in mortality. Sorafenib, a multiple kinase inhibitor, has been evaluated in clinical phase trials of melanoma patients, which shows modest efficacy. Emerging evidence has demonstrated that arginase 2 (Arg2), type 2 of arginase, is elevated in various types of cancers including melanoma. To investigate the role and underlying mechanism of Arg2 in sorafenib-induced ferroptosis in melanoma, reverse transcriptase-quantitative polymerase chain reaction, western blot analysis, adenovirus and lentivirus transduction, and in vivo tumor homograft model experiments were conducted. In this study, we show that sorafenib treatment leads to melanoma cell death and a decrease in Arg2 at both the mRNA and protein levels. Knockdown of Arg2 increases lipid peroxidation, which contributes to ferroptosis, and decreases the phosphorylation of Akt. In contrast, overexpression of Arg2 rescues sorafenib-induced ferroptosis, which is prevented by an Akt inhibitor. In addition, genetic and pharmacological suppression of Arg2 is able to ameliorate the anticancer activity of sorafenib in melanoma cells in vitro and in tumor homograft models. We also show that Arg2 suppresses ferroptosis by activating the Akt/GPX4 signaling pathway, negatively regulating sorafenib-induced cell death in melanoma cells. Our study not only uncovers a novel mechanism of ferroptosis in melanoma but also provides a new strategy for the clinical applications of sorafenib in melanoma treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi Yu
- Xi’an Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular and Cerebrovascular DiseasesXi’an No.3 HospitalFaculty of Life Sciences and MedicineNorthwest UniversityXi’an710018China,Key Laboratory of Resource Biology and Biotechnology in Western ChinaMinistry of EducationSchool of MedicineNorthwest UniversityXi’an710069China
| | - Yuanyuan Ren
- Xi’an Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular and Cerebrovascular DiseasesXi’an No.3 HospitalFaculty of Life Sciences and MedicineNorthwest UniversityXi’an710018China,Key Laboratory of Resource Biology and Biotechnology in Western ChinaMinistry of EducationSchool of MedicineNorthwest UniversityXi’an710069China
| | - Caihua Wang
- Xi’an Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular and Cerebrovascular DiseasesXi’an No.3 HospitalFaculty of Life Sciences and MedicineNorthwest UniversityXi’an710018China,Key Laboratory of Resource Biology and Biotechnology in Western ChinaMinistry of EducationSchool of MedicineNorthwest UniversityXi’an710069China
| | - Zhuozhuo Li
- Xi’an Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular and Cerebrovascular DiseasesXi’an No.3 HospitalFaculty of Life Sciences and MedicineNorthwest UniversityXi’an710018China,Key Laboratory of Resource Biology and Biotechnology in Western ChinaMinistry of EducationSchool of MedicineNorthwest UniversityXi’an710069China
| | - Fanglin Niu
- Xi’an Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular and Cerebrovascular DiseasesXi’an No.3 HospitalFaculty of Life Sciences and MedicineNorthwest UniversityXi’an710018China,Key Laboratory of Resource Biology and Biotechnology in Western ChinaMinistry of EducationSchool of MedicineNorthwest UniversityXi’an710069China
| | - Zi Li
- Xi’an Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular and Cerebrovascular DiseasesXi’an No.3 HospitalFaculty of Life Sciences and MedicineNorthwest UniversityXi’an710018China,Key Laboratory of Resource Biology and Biotechnology in Western ChinaMinistry of EducationSchool of MedicineNorthwest UniversityXi’an710069China
| | - Qiang Ye
- Xi’an Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular and Cerebrovascular DiseasesXi’an No.3 HospitalFaculty of Life Sciences and MedicineNorthwest UniversityXi’an710018China,Key Laboratory of Resource Biology and Biotechnology in Western ChinaMinistry of EducationSchool of MedicineNorthwest UniversityXi’an710069China
| | - Jiangxia Wang
- Xi’an Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular and Cerebrovascular DiseasesXi’an No.3 HospitalFaculty of Life Sciences and MedicineNorthwest UniversityXi’an710018China,Key Laboratory of Resource Biology and Biotechnology in Western ChinaMinistry of EducationSchool of MedicineNorthwest UniversityXi’an710069China
| | - Yuan Yan
- Xi’an Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular and Cerebrovascular DiseasesXi’an No.3 HospitalFaculty of Life Sciences and MedicineNorthwest UniversityXi’an710018China,Key Laboratory of Resource Biology and Biotechnology in Western ChinaMinistry of EducationSchool of MedicineNorthwest UniversityXi’an710069China
| | - Ping Liu
- Xi’an Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular and Cerebrovascular DiseasesXi’an No.3 HospitalFaculty of Life Sciences and MedicineNorthwest UniversityXi’an710018China,Department of EndocrinologyXi’an No.3 Hospitalthe Affiliated Hospital of Northwest UniversityNorthwest UniversityXi’an710069China,Correspondence address. Tel: +86-29-61816169; (P.L.) / Tel: +86-29-61816169; (L.Q.) /Tel: +86-29-88302411; (Y.X.) @
| | - Lu Qian
- Xi’an Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular and Cerebrovascular DiseasesXi’an No.3 HospitalFaculty of Life Sciences and MedicineNorthwest UniversityXi’an710018China,Department of EndocrinologyXi’an No.3 Hospitalthe Affiliated Hospital of Northwest UniversityNorthwest UniversityXi’an710069China,Correspondence address. Tel: +86-29-61816169; (P.L.) / Tel: +86-29-61816169; (L.Q.) /Tel: +86-29-88302411; (Y.X.) @
| | - Yuyan Xiong
- Xi’an Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular and Cerebrovascular DiseasesXi’an No.3 HospitalFaculty of Life Sciences and MedicineNorthwest UniversityXi’an710018China,Key Laboratory of Resource Biology and Biotechnology in Western ChinaMinistry of EducationSchool of MedicineNorthwest UniversityXi’an710069China,Correspondence address. Tel: +86-29-61816169; (P.L.) / Tel: +86-29-61816169; (L.Q.) /Tel: +86-29-88302411; (Y.X.) @
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21
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Low V, Li Z, Blenis J. Metabolite activation of tumorigenic signaling pathways in the tumor microenvironment. Sci Signal 2022; 15:eabj4220. [DOI: 10.1126/scisignal.abj4220] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
The role of metabolites exchanged in the tumor microenvironment is largely thought of as fuels to drive the increased biosynthetic and bioenergetic demands of growing tumors. However, this view is shifting as metabolites are increasingly shown to function as signaling molecules that directly regulate oncogenic pathways. Combined with our growing understanding of the essential role of stromal cells, this shift has led to increased interest in how the collective and interconnected metabolome of the tumor microenvironment can drive malignant transformation, epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition, drug resistance, immune evasion, and metastasis. In this review, we discuss how metabolite exchange between tumors and various cell types in the tumor microenvironment—such as fibroblasts, adipocytes, and immune cells—can activate signaling pathways that drive cancer progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vivien Low
- Meyer Cancer Center, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10021, USA
- Department of Pharmacology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10021, USA
| | - Zhongchi Li
- Meyer Cancer Center, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10021, USA
- Department of Pharmacology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10021, USA
| | - John Blenis
- Meyer Cancer Center, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10021, USA
- Department of Pharmacology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10021, USA
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22
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Thiery J. Modulation of the antitumor immune response by cancer-associated fibroblasts: mechanisms and targeting strategies to hamper their immunosuppressive functions. EXPLORATION OF TARGETED ANTI-TUMOR THERAPY 2022; 3:598-629. [PMID: 36338519 PMCID: PMC9630350 DOI: 10.37349/etat.2022.00103] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2022] [Accepted: 07/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) are highly heterogeneous players that shape the tumor microenvironment and influence tumor progression, metastasis formation, and response to conventional therapies. During the past years, some CAFs subsets have also been involved in the modulation of immune cell functions, affecting the efficacy of both innate and adaptive anti-tumor immune responses. Consequently, the implication of these stromal cells in the response to immunotherapeutic strategies raised major concerns. In this review, current knowledge of CAFs origins and heterogeneity in the tumor stroma, as well as their effects on several immune cell populations that explain their immunosuppressive capabilities are summarized. The current development of therapeutic strategies for targeting this population and their implication in the field of cancer immunotherapy is also highlighted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jerome Thiery
- INSERM, UMR 1186, 94800 Villejuif, France
- Gustave Roussy Cancer Campus, 94805 Villejuif, France
- University Paris Saclay, Faculty of Medicine, 94270 Le Kremlin Bicêtre, France
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23
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Weis-Banke SE, Lisle TL, Perez-Penco M, Schina A, Hübbe ML, Siersbæk M, Holmström MO, Jørgensen MA, Marie Svane I, Met Ö, Ødum N, Madsen DH, Donia M, Grøntved L, Andersen MH. Arginase-2-specific cytotoxic T cells specifically recognize functional regulatory T cells. J Immunother Cancer 2022; 10:jitc-2022-005326. [PMID: 36316062 PMCID: PMC9628693 DOI: 10.1136/jitc-2022-005326] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Background High expression of the metabolic enzyme arginase-2 (ARG2) by cancer cells, regulatory immune cells, or cells of the tumor stroma can reduce the availability of arginine (L-Arg) in the tumor microenvironment (TME). Depletion of L-Arg has detrimental consequences for T cells and leads to T-cell dysfunction and suppression of anticancer immune responses. Previous work from our group has demonstrated the presence of proinflammatory ARG2-specific CD4 T cells that inhibited tumor growth in murine models on activation with ARG2-derived peptides. In this study, we investigated the natural occurrence of ARG2-specific CD8 T cells in both healthy donors (HDs) and patients with cancer, along with their immunomodulatory capabilities in the context of the TME. Materials and methods A library of 15 major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I-restricted ARG2-derived peptides were screened in HD peripheral blood mononuclear cells using interferon gamma (IFN-γ) ELISPOT. ARG2-specific CD8 T-cell responses were identified using intracellular cytokine staining and ARG2-specific CD8 T-cell cultures were established by enrichment and rapid expansion following in vitro peptide stimulation. The reactivity of the cultures toward ARG2-expressing cells, including cancer cell lines and activated regulatory T cells (Tregs), was assessed using IFN-γ ELISPOT and a chromium release assay. The Treg signature was validated based on proliferation suppression assays, flow cytometry and quantitative reverse transcription PCR (RT-qPCR). In addition, vaccinations with ARG2-derived epitopes were performed in the murine Pan02 tumor model, and induction of ARG2-specific T-cell responses was evaluated with IFN-γ ELISPOT. RNAseq and subsequent GO-term and ImmuCC analysis was performed on the tumor tissue. Results We describe the existence of ARG2-specific CD8+ T cells and demonstrate these CD8+ T-cell responses in both HDs and patients with cancer. ARG2-specific T cells recognize and react to an ARG2-derived peptide presented in the context of HLA-B8 and exert their cytotoxic function against cancer cells with endogenous ARG2 expression. We demonstrate that ARG2-specific T cells can specifically recognize and react to activated Tregs with high ARG2 expression. Finally, we observe tumor growth suppression and antitumorigenic immunomodulation following ARG2 vaccination in an in vivo setting. Conclusion These findings highlight the ability of ARG2-specific T cells to modulate the immunosuppressive TME and suggest that ARG2-based immunomodulatory vaccines may be an interesting option for cancer immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stine Emilie Weis-Banke
- Department of Oncology, Herlev Hospital, National Center for Cancer Immune Therapy (CCIT-DK), Herlev, Denmark
| | - Thomas Landkildehus Lisle
- Department of Oncology, Herlev Hospital, National Center for Cancer Immune Therapy (CCIT-DK), Herlev, Denmark
| | - Maria Perez-Penco
- Department of Oncology, Herlev Hospital, National Center for Cancer Immune Therapy (CCIT-DK), Herlev, Denmark
| | - Aimilia Schina
- Department of Oncology, Herlev Hospital, National Center for Cancer Immune Therapy (CCIT-DK), Herlev, Denmark
| | - Mie Linder Hübbe
- Department of Oncology, Herlev Hospital, National Center for Cancer Immune Therapy (CCIT-DK), Herlev, Denmark
| | - Majken Siersbæk
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
| | - Morten Orebo Holmström
- Department of Oncology, Herlev Hospital, National Center for Cancer Immune Therapy (CCIT-DK), Herlev, Denmark.,Department of Immunology and Microbiology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Mia Aaboe Jørgensen
- Department of Oncology, Herlev Hospital, National Center for Cancer Immune Therapy (CCIT-DK), Herlev, Denmark
| | - Inge Marie Svane
- Department of Oncology, Herlev Hospital, National Center for Cancer Immune Therapy (CCIT-DK), Herlev, Denmark
| | - Özcan Met
- Department of Oncology, Herlev Hospital, National Center for Cancer Immune Therapy (CCIT-DK), Herlev, Denmark
| | - Niels Ødum
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Daniel Hargbøl Madsen
- Department of Oncology, Herlev Hospital, National Center for Cancer Immune Therapy (CCIT-DK), Herlev, Denmark
| | - Marco Donia
- Department of Oncology, Herlev Hospital, National Center for Cancer Immune Therapy (CCIT-DK), Herlev, Denmark
| | - Lars Grøntved
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
| | - Mads Hald Andersen
- Department of Oncology, Herlev Hospital, National Center for Cancer Immune Therapy (CCIT-DK), Herlev, Denmark .,Department of Immunology and Microbiology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
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Abstract
The identification and characterization of tumor antigens are central objectives in developing anti-cancer immunotherapy. Traditionally, tumor-associated antigens (TAAs) are considered relatively restricted to tumor cells (i.e., overexpressed proteins in tumor cells), whereas tumor-specific antigens (TSAs) are considered unique to tumor cells. Recent studies have focused on identifying patient-specific neoantigens, which might be highly immunogenic because they are not expressed in normal tissues. The opposite strategy has emerged with the discovery of anti-regulatory T cells (anti-Tregs) that recognize and attack many cell types in the tumor microenvironment, such as regulatory immune cells, in addition to tumor cells. The term proposed in this review is "tumor microenvironment antigens" (TMAs) to describe the antigens that draw this attack. As therapeutic targets, TMAs offer several advantages that differentiate them from more traditional tumor antigens. Targeting TMAs leads not only to a direct attack on tumor cells but also to modulation of the tumor microenvironment, rendering it immunocompetent and tumor-hostile. Of note, in contrast to TAAs and TSAs, TMAs also are expressed in non-transformed cells with consistent human leukocyte antigen (HLA) expression. Inflammation often induces HLA expression in malignant cells, so that targeting TMAs could additionally affect tumors with no or very low levels of surface HLA expression. This review defines the characteristics, differences, and advantages of TMAs compared with traditional tumor antigens and discusses the use of these antigens in immune modulatory vaccines as an attractive approach to immunotherapy. Different TMAs are expressed by different cells and could be combined in anti-cancer immunotherapies to attack tumor cells directly and modulate local immune cells to create a tumor-hostile microenvironment and inhibit tumor angiogenesis. Immune modulatory vaccines offer an approach for combinatorial therapy with additional immunotherapy including checkpoint blockade, cellular therapy, or traditional cancer vaccines. These combinations would increase the number of patients who can benefit from such therapeutic measures, which all have optimal efficiency in inflamed tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mads Hald Andersen
- National Center for Cancer Immune Therapy (CCIT-DK), Department of Oncology, Copenhagen University Hospital Herlev, Borgmester Ib Juuls Vej 25C, 5th floor, DK-2730, Herlev, Denmark.
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.
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25
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OATD-02 Validates the Benefits of Pharmacological Inhibition of Arginase 1 and 2 in Cancer. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14163967. [PMID: 36010962 PMCID: PMC9406419 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14163967] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2022] [Revised: 08/10/2022] [Accepted: 08/15/2022] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Arginase 1 and 2 are drivers of multiple immunosuppressive mechanisms and tumour-specific metabolic adaptations. Pharmacological inhibition of extracellular ARG1 has shown antitumour efficacy in various syngeneic tumour models, however, the importance of ARG2 as a therapeutic target has only been demonstrated by genetic deletion studies. This is the first study validating the benefits of pharmacological inhibition of ARG2 in cancer. Our work describes OATD-02 as a potent dual ARG1/ARG2 inhibitor with a cellular activity (necessary for targeting ARG2) exhibiting immunomodulatory and direct antitumour efficacy in animal models. Our results present OATD-02 as an attractive option for combination with other immunotherapeutics, such as PD-1/PD-L1 antibodies or IDO1 inhibitors, especially in the therapy of particularly resistant hypoxic tumours. The presented findings provided the rationale for planning first-in-human clinical trials for OATD-02 in cancer patients. Abstract Background: Arginases play essential roles in metabolic pathways, determining the fitness of both immune and tumour cells. Along with the previously validated role of ARG1 in cancer, the particular significance of ARG2 as a therapeutic target has emerged as its levels correlate with malignant phenotype and poor prognosis. These observations unveil arginases, and specifically ARG2, as well-validated and promising therapeutic targets. OATD-02, a new boronic acid derivative, is the only dual inhibitor, which can address the benefits of pharmacological inhibition of arginase 1 and 2 in cancer. Methods: The inhibitory activity of OATD-02 was determined using recombinant ARG1 and ARG2, as well as in a cellular system using primary hepatocytes and macrophages. In vivo antitumor activity was determined in syngeneic models of colorectal and kidney carcinomas (CT26 and Renca, respectively), as well as in an ARG2-dependent xenograft model of leukaemia (K562). Results: OATD-02 was shown to be a potent dual (ARG1/ARG2) arginase inhibitor with a cellular activity necessary for targeting ARG2. Compared to a reference inhibitor with predominant extracellular activity towards ARG1, we have shown improved and statistically significant antitumor efficacy in the CT26 model and an immunomodulatory effect reflected by Treg inhibition in the Renca model. Importantly, OATD-02 had a superior activity when combined with other immunotherapeutics. Finally, OATD-02 effectively inhibited the proliferation of human K562 leukemic cells both in vitro and in vivo. Conclusions: OATD-02 is a potent small-molecule arginase inhibitor with optimal drug-like properties, including PK/PD profile. Excellent activity against intracellular ARG2 significantly distinguishes OATD-02 from other arginase inhibitors. OATD-02 represents a very promising drug candidate for the combined treatment of tumours, and is the only pharmacological tool that can effectively address the benefits of ARG1/ARG2 inhibition. OATD-02 will enter clinical trials in cancer patients in 2022.
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26
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Zhu Y, Li X, Wang L, Hong X, Yang J. Metabolic reprogramming and crosstalk of cancer-related fibroblasts and immune cells in the tumor microenvironment. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2022; 13:988295. [PMID: 36046791 PMCID: PMC9421293 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2022.988295] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2022] [Accepted: 07/25/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
It is notorious that cancer cells alter their metabolism to adjust to harsh environments of hypoxia and nutritional starvation. Metabolic reprogramming most often occurs in the tumor microenvironment (TME). TME is defined as the cellular environment in which the tumor resides. This includes surrounding blood vessels, fibroblasts, immune cells, signaling molecules and the extracellular matrix (ECM). It is increasingly recognized that cancer cells, fibroblasts and immune cells within TME can regulate tumor progression through metabolic reprogramming. As the most significant proportion of cells among all the stromal cells that constitute TME, cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) are closely associated with tumorigenesis and progression. Multitudinous studies have shown that CAFs participate in and promote tumor metabolic reprogramming and exert regulatory effects via the dysregulation of metabolic pathways. Previous studies have demonstrated that curbing the substance exchange between CAFs and tumor cells can dramatically restrain tumor growth. Emerging studies suggest that CAFs within the TME have emerged as important determinants of metabolic reprogramming. Metabolic reprogramming also occurs in the metabolic pattern of immune cells. In the meanwhile, immune cell phenotype and functions are metabolically regulated. Notably, immune cell functions influenced by metabolic programs may ultimately lead to alterations in tumor immunity. Despite the fact that multiple previous researches have been devoted to studying the interplays between different cells in the tumor microenvironment, the complicated relationship between CAFs and immune cells and implications of metabolic reprogramming remains unknown and requires further investigation. In this review, we discuss our current comprehension of metabolic reprogramming of CAFs and immune cells (mainly glucose, amino acid, and lipid metabolism) and crosstalk between them that induces immune responses, and we also highlight their contributions to tumorigenesis and progression. Furthermore, we underscore potential therapeutic opportunities arising from metabolism dysregulation and metabolic crosstalk, focusing on strategies targeting CAFs and immune cell metabolic crosstalk in cancer immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yifei Zhu
- School of Medicine, Southeast University, Nanjing, China
| | - Xinyan Li
- School of Medicine, Southeast University, Nanjing, China
| | - Lei Wang
- School of Medicine, Southeast University, Nanjing, China
| | - Xiwei Hong
- School of Medicine, Southeast University, Nanjing, China
| | - Jie Yang
- Department of General surgery, Affiliated Kunshan Hospital of Jiangsu University, Kunshan, China
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27
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Kim I, Choi S, Yoo S, Lee M, Kim IS. Cancer-Associated Fibroblasts in the Hypoxic Tumor Microenvironment. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14143321. [PMID: 35884382 PMCID: PMC9320406 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14143321] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2022] [Revised: 06/30/2022] [Accepted: 07/05/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Cancers have regions of low oxygen concentration where hypoxia-related signaling pathways are activated. The hypoxic tumor microenvironment has been widely accepted as a hallmark of cancer and shown to be a critical factor in the crosstalk between cancer and stromal cells. Fibroblasts are one of the most abundant cellular components in the tumor stroma and are also significantly affected by oxygen deprivation. In this case, we discuss the molecular and cellular mechanisms that regulate fibroblasts under hypoxic conditions and their effect on cancer development and progression. Unraveling these regulatory mechanisms could be exploited in developing potential fibroblast-specific therapeutics for cancer. Abstract Solid cancers are composed of malignant cells and their surrounding matrix components. Hypoxia plays a critical role in shaping the tumor microenvironment that contributes to cancer progression and treatment failure. Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) are one of the most prominent components of the tumor microenvironment. CAFs are highly sensitive to hypoxia and participates in the crosstalk with cancer cells. Hypoxic CAFs modulate several mechanisms that induce cancer malignancy, such as extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling, immune evasion, metabolic reprogramming, angiogenesis, metastasis, and drug resistance. Key signaling molecules regulating CAFs in hypoxia include transforming growth factor (TGF-β) and hypoxia-inducible factors (HIFs). In this article, we summarize the mechanisms underlying the hypoxic regulation of CAFs and how hypoxic CAFs affect cancer development and progression. We also discuss the potential therapeutic strategies focused on targeting CAFs in the hypoxic tumor microenvironment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Iljin Kim
- Department of Pharmacology and Research Center for Controlling Intercellular Communication, Inha University College of Medicine, Incheon 22212, Korea; (S.C.); (S.Y.)
- Correspondence: (I.K.); (I.-S.K.)
| | - Sanga Choi
- Department of Pharmacology and Research Center for Controlling Intercellular Communication, Inha University College of Medicine, Incheon 22212, Korea; (S.C.); (S.Y.)
| | - Seongkyeong Yoo
- Department of Pharmacology and Research Center for Controlling Intercellular Communication, Inha University College of Medicine, Incheon 22212, Korea; (S.C.); (S.Y.)
| | - Mingyu Lee
- Division of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA;
| | - In-San Kim
- KU-KIST Graduate School of Converging Science and Technology, Korea University, Seoul 02841, Korea
- Medicinal Materials Research Center, Biomedical Research Institute, Korea Institute Science and Technology, Seoul 02792, Korea
- Correspondence: (I.K.); (I.-S.K.)
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28
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Kumar A, Taghi Khani A, Sanchez Ortiz A, Swaminathan S. GM-CSF: A Double-Edged Sword in Cancer Immunotherapy. Front Immunol 2022; 13:901277. [PMID: 35865534 PMCID: PMC9294178 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.901277] [Citation(s) in RCA: 73] [Impact Index Per Article: 36.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2022] [Accepted: 06/06/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) is a cytokine that drives the generation of myeloid cell subsets including neutrophils, monocytes, macrophages, and dendritic cells in response to stress, infections, and cancers. By modulating the functions of innate immune cells that serve as a bridge to activate adaptive immune responses, GM-CSF globally impacts host immune surveillance under pathologic conditions. As with other soluble mediators of immunity, too much or too little GM-CSF has been found to promote cancer aggressiveness. While too little GM-CSF prevents the appropriate production of innate immune cells and subsequent activation of adaptive anti-cancer immune responses, too much of GM-CSF can exhaust immune cells and promote cancer growth. The consequences of GM-CSF signaling in cancer progression are a function of the levels of GM-CSF, the cancer type, and the tumor microenvironment. In this review, we first discuss the secretion of GM-CSF, signaling downstream of the GM-CSF receptor, and GM-CSF’s role in modulating myeloid cell homeostasis. We then outline GM-CSF’s anti-tumorigenic and pro-tumorigenic effects both on the malignant cells and on the non-malignant immune and other cells in the tumor microenvironment. We provide examples of current clinical and preclinical strategies that harness GM-CSF’s anti-cancer potential while minimizing its deleterious effects. We describe the challenges in achieving the Goldilocks effect during administration of GM-CSF-based therapies to patients with cancer. Finally, we provide insights into how technologies that map the immune microenvironment spatially and temporally may be leveraged to intelligently harness GM-CSF for treatment of malignancies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anil Kumar
- Department of Systems Biology, Beckman Research Institute of City of Hope, Monrovia, CA, United States
| | - Adeleh Taghi Khani
- Department of Systems Biology, Beckman Research Institute of City of Hope, Monrovia, CA, United States
| | - Ashly Sanchez Ortiz
- Department of Systems Biology, Beckman Research Institute of City of Hope, Monrovia, CA, United States
| | - Srividya Swaminathan
- Department of Systems Biology, Beckman Research Institute of City of Hope, Monrovia, CA, United States
- Department of Hematological Malignancies, Beckman Research Institute of City of Hope, Monrovia, CA, United States
- *Correspondence: Srividya Swaminathan,
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29
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Xiang X, Niu YR, Wang ZH, Ye LL, Peng WB, Zhou Q. Cancer-associated fibroblasts: Vital suppressors of the immune response in the tumor microenvironment. Cytokine Growth Factor Rev 2022; 67:35-48. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cytogfr.2022.07.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2022] [Revised: 07/13/2022] [Accepted: 07/15/2022] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
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30
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Cao X, Wang Y, Zhang W, Zhong X, Gunes EG, Dang J, Wang J, Epstein AL, Querfeld C, Sun Z, Rosen ST, Feng M. Targeting macrophages for enhancing CD47 blockade-elicited lymphoma clearance and overcoming tumor-induced immunosuppression. Blood 2022; 139:3290-3302. [PMID: 35134139 PMCID: PMC9164740 DOI: 10.1182/blood.2021013901] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2021] [Accepted: 01/19/2022] [Indexed: 01/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) are often the most abundant immune cells in the tumor microenvironment (TME). Strategies targeting TAMs to enable tumor cell killing through cellular phagocytosis have emerged as promising cancer immunotherapy. Although several phagocytosis checkpoints have been identified, the desired efficacy has not yet been achieved by blocking such checkpoints in preclinical models or clinical trials. Here, we showed that late-stage non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) was resistant to therapy targeting phagocytosis checkpoint CD47 due to the compromised capacity of TAMs to phagocytose lymphoma cells. Via a high-throughput screening of the US Food and Drug Administration-approved anticancer small molecule compounds, we identified paclitaxel as a potentiator that promoted the clearance of lymphoma by directly evoking phagocytic capability of macrophages, independently of paclitaxel's chemotherapeutic cytotoxicity toward NHL cells. A combination with paclitaxel dramatically enhanced the anticancer efficacy of CD47-targeted therapy toward late-stage NHL. Analysis of TME by single-cell RNA sequencing identified paclitaxel-induced TAM populations with an upregulation of genes for tyrosine kinase signaling. The activation of Src family tyrosine kinases signaling in macrophages by paclitaxel promoted phagocytosis against NHL cells. In addition, we identified a role of paclitaxel in modifying the TME by preventing the accumulation of a TAM subpopulation that was only present in late-stage lymphoma resistant to CD47-targeted therapy. Our findings identify a novel and effective strategy for NHL treatment by remodeling TME to enable the tumoricidal roles of TAMs. Furthermore, we characterize TAM subgroups that determine the efficiency of lymphoma phagocytosis in the TME and can be potential therapeutic targets to unleash the antitumor activities of macrophages.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xu Cao
- Department of Immuno-Oncology, Beckman Research Institute
| | | | - Wencan Zhang
- Department of Immunology & Theranostics, Arthur Riggs Diabetes & Metabolism Research Institute, Beckman Research Institute
| | - Xiancai Zhong
- Department of Immunology & Theranostics, Arthur Riggs Diabetes & Metabolism Research Institute, Beckman Research Institute
| | - E Gulsen Gunes
- Department of Immuno-Oncology, Beckman Research Institute
- Department of Hematology and Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation, and
| | - Jessica Dang
- Department of Immuno-Oncology, Beckman Research Institute
| | - Jinhui Wang
- Integrative Genomics Core, Beckman Research Institute, City of Hope, Duarte, CA
| | - Alan L Epstein
- Department of Pathology, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA; and
| | - Christiane Querfeld
- Department of Immuno-Oncology, Beckman Research Institute
- Department of Hematology and Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation, and
- Division of Dermatology
- Department of Pathology, and
| | - Zuoming Sun
- Department of Immunology & Theranostics, Arthur Riggs Diabetes & Metabolism Research Institute, Beckman Research Institute
| | - Steven T Rosen
- Department of Hematology and Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation, and
- Beckman Research Institute, City of Hope, Duarte, CA
| | - Mingye Feng
- Department of Immuno-Oncology, Beckman Research Institute
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31
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Niu F, Yu Y, Li Z, Ren Y, Li Z, Ye Q, Liu P, Ji C, Qian L, Xiong Y. Arginase: An emerging and promising therapeutic target for cancer treatment. Biomed Pharmacother 2022; 149:112840. [PMID: 35316752 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2022.112840] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2022] [Revised: 03/03/2022] [Accepted: 03/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Arginase is a key hydrolase in the urea cycle that hydrolyses L-arginine to urea and L-ornithine. Increasing number of studies in recent years demonstrate that two mammalian arginase isoforms, arginase 1 (ARG1) and arginase 2 (ARG2), were aberrantly upregulated in various types of cancers, and played crucial roles in the regulation of tumor growth and metastasis through various mechanisms such as regulating L-arginine metabolism, influencing tumor immune microenvironment, etc. Thus, arginase receives increasing focus as an attractive target for cancer therapy. In this review, we provide a comprehensive overview of the physiological and biological roles of arginase in a variety of cancers, and shed light on the underlying mechanisms of arginase mediating cancer cells growth and development, as well as summarize the recent clinical research advances of targeting arginase for cancer therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fanglin Niu
- Key Laboratory of Resource Biology and Biotechnology in Western China, Ministry of Education, School of Medicine, Northwest University, Xi'an 710069, Shaanxi, China
| | - Yi Yu
- Key Laboratory of Resource Biology and Biotechnology in Western China, Ministry of Education, School of Medicine, Northwest University, Xi'an 710069, Shaanxi, China
| | - Zhuozhuo Li
- Key Laboratory of Resource Biology and Biotechnology in Western China, Ministry of Education, School of Medicine, Northwest University, Xi'an 710069, Shaanxi, China
| | - Yuanyuan Ren
- Key Laboratory of Resource Biology and Biotechnology in Western China, Ministry of Education, School of Medicine, Northwest University, Xi'an 710069, Shaanxi, China
| | - Zi Li
- Key Laboratory of Resource Biology and Biotechnology in Western China, Ministry of Education, School of Medicine, Northwest University, Xi'an 710069, Shaanxi, China
| | - Qiang Ye
- Key Laboratory of Resource Biology and Biotechnology in Western China, Ministry of Education, School of Medicine, Northwest University, Xi'an 710069, Shaanxi, China
| | - Ping Liu
- Xi'an Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular and Cerebrovascular Diseases, Xi'an No.3 Hospital, the Affiliated Hospital of Northwest University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China; Department of Endocrinology, Xi'an No.3 Hospital, the Affiliated Hospital of Northwest University, Xi'an 710018, Shaanxi, China
| | - Chenshuang Ji
- Key Laboratory of Resource Biology and Biotechnology in Western China, Ministry of Education, School of Medicine, Northwest University, Xi'an 710069, Shaanxi, China
| | - Lu Qian
- Xi'an Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular and Cerebrovascular Diseases, Xi'an No.3 Hospital, the Affiliated Hospital of Northwest University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China; Department of Endocrinology, Xi'an No.3 Hospital, the Affiliated Hospital of Northwest University, Xi'an 710018, Shaanxi, China.
| | - Yuyan Xiong
- Key Laboratory of Resource Biology and Biotechnology in Western China, Ministry of Education, School of Medicine, Northwest University, Xi'an 710069, Shaanxi, China; Xi'an Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular and Cerebrovascular Diseases, Xi'an No.3 Hospital, the Affiliated Hospital of Northwest University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China.
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Feng B, Wu J, Shen B, Jiang F, Feng J. Cancer-associated fibroblasts and resistance to anticancer therapies: status, mechanisms, and countermeasures. Cancer Cell Int 2022; 22:166. [PMID: 35488263 PMCID: PMC9052457 DOI: 10.1186/s12935-022-02599-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 28.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2022] [Accepted: 04/19/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) are critical components of the tumor microenvironment (TME) with diverse functions such as extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling, modulation of metabolism and angiogenesis, and crosstalk with both cancer cells and infiltrating immune cells by production of growth factors, cytokines, and chemokines. Within the TME milieu, CAFs exhibit morphological and functional transitions with relatively specific markers and hold tremendous potential to facilitate tumorigenesis, development, and resistance towards multiple therapeutic strategies including chemotherapy, radiotherapy, targeted therapy, anti-angiogenesis therapy, immunotherapy, and endocrine therapy. Accordingly, CAFs themselves and the downstream effectors and/or signaling pathways are potential targets for optimizing the sensitivity of anti-cancer therapies. This review aims to provide a detailed landscape of the role that CAFs play in conferring therapeutic resistance in different cancers and the underlying mechanisms. The translational and therapeutic perspectives of CAFs in the individualized treatment of malignant tumors are also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bing Feng
- Jiangsu Cancer Hospital & Jiangsu Institute of Cancer Research & The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, 42 Baiziting, Nanjing, 210009, China
| | - Jianzhong Wu
- Jiangsu Cancer Hospital & Jiangsu Institute of Cancer Research & The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, 42 Baiziting, Nanjing, 210009, China
| | - Bo Shen
- Jiangsu Cancer Hospital & Jiangsu Institute of Cancer Research & The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, 42 Baiziting, Nanjing, 210009, China
| | - Feng Jiang
- Jiangsu Cancer Hospital & Jiangsu Institute of Cancer Research & The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, 42 Baiziting, Nanjing, 210009, China.
| | - Jifeng Feng
- Jiangsu Cancer Hospital & Jiangsu Institute of Cancer Research & The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, 42 Baiziting, Nanjing, 210009, China.
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33
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Tang Y, Xu L, Ren Y, Li Y, Yuan F, Cao M, Zhang Y, Deng M, Yao Z. Identification and Validation of a Prognostic Model Based on Three MVI-Related Genes in Hepatocellular Carcinoma. Int J Biol Sci 2022; 18:261-275. [PMID: 34975331 PMCID: PMC8692135 DOI: 10.7150/ijbs.66536] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2021] [Accepted: 10/20/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
MVI has significant clinical value for treatment selection and prognosis evaluation in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). We aimed to construct a model based on MVI-Related Genes (MVIRGs) for risk assessment and prognosis prediction in patients with HCC. This study utilized various statistical analysis methods for prognostic model construction and validation in the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and International Cancer Genome Consortium (ICGC) cohorts, respectively. In addition, immunohistochemistry and qRT-PCR were used to analyze and identify the value of the model in our cohort. After the analyses, 153 differentially expressed MVIRGs were identified, and three key genes were selected to construct a prognostic model. The high-risk group showed significantly lower overall survival (OS), and this trend was observed in all subgroups: different age groups, genders, stages, and grades. Risk score was a risk factor independent of age, gender, stage, and grade. Moreover, the ICGC cohort validated the prognostic value of the model corresponding to the TCGA. In our cohort, qRT-PCR and immunohistochemistry showed that all three genes had higher expression levels in HCC samples than in normal controls. High expression levels of genes and high-risk scores showed significantly lower recurrence-free survival (RFS) and OS, especially in MVI-positive HCC samples. Therefore, the prognostic model constructed by three MVIRGs can reliably predict the RFS and OS of patients with HCC and is valuable for guiding clinical treatment selection and prognostic assessment of HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yongchang Tang
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, The Third Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510630, China
| | - Lei Xu
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, The Seventh Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, 518107, China.,Department of Nuclear Medicine, The Third Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510630, China
| | - Yupeng Ren
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, The Third Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510630, China
| | - Yuxuan Li
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, The Third Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510630, China
| | - Feng Yuan
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, The Third Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510630, China
| | - Mingbo Cao
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, The Third Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510630, China
| | - Yong Zhang
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, The Third Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510630, China
| | - Meihai Deng
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, The Third Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510630, China
| | - Zhicheng Yao
- Department of General Surgery, The Third Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510630, China
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Saw PE, Chen J, Song E. Targeting CAFs to overcome anticancer therapeutic resistance. Trends Cancer 2022; 8:527-555. [PMID: 35331673 DOI: 10.1016/j.trecan.2022.03.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 76] [Impact Index Per Article: 38.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2021] [Revised: 03/01/2022] [Accepted: 03/01/2022] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
The view of cancer as a tumor cell-centric disease is now replaced by our understanding of the interconnection and dependency of tumor stroma. Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs), the most abundant stromal cells in the tumor microenvironment (TME), are involved in anticancer therapeutic resistance. As we unearth more solid evidence on the link between CAFs and tumor progression, we gain insight into the role of CAFs in establishing resistance to cancer therapies. Herein, we review the origin, heterogeneity, and function of CAFs, with a focus on how CAF subsets can be used as biomarkers and can contribute to therapeutic resistance in cancer. We also depict current breakthroughs in targeting CAFs to overcome anticancer therapeutic resistance and discuss emerging CAF-targeting modalities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Phei Er Saw
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Epigenetics and Gene Regulation, Guangdong-Hong Kong Joint Laboratory for RNA Medicine, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510120, China; Medical Research Center, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510120, China
| | - Jianing Chen
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Epigenetics and Gene Regulation, Guangdong-Hong Kong Joint Laboratory for RNA Medicine, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510120, China; Medical Research Center, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510120, China
| | - Erwei Song
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Epigenetics and Gene Regulation, Guangdong-Hong Kong Joint Laboratory for RNA Medicine, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510120, China; Medical Research Center, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510120, China; Guangzhou Regenerative Medicine and Health Guangdong Laboratory, Guangzhou 510005, China; Fountain-Valley Institute for Life Sciences, Guangzhou Institute of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510530, China.
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Neoadjuvant therapy alters the collagen architecture of pancreatic cancer tissue via Ephrin-A5. Br J Cancer 2022; 126:628-639. [PMID: 34824448 PMCID: PMC8854423 DOI: 10.1038/s41416-021-01639-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2020] [Revised: 10/26/2021] [Accepted: 11/10/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The treatment of pancreatic cancer (PDAC) remains clinically challenging, and neoadjuvant therapy (NAT) offers down staging and improved surgical resectability. Abundant fibrous stroma is involved in malignant characteristic of PDAC. We aimed to investigate tissue remodelling, particularly the alteration of the collagen architecture of the PDAC microenvironment by NAT. METHODS We analysed the alteration of collagen and gene expression profiles in PDAC tissues after NAT. Additionally, we examined the biological role of Ephrin-A5 using primary cultured cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs). RESULTS The expression of type I, III, IV, and V collagen was reduced in PDAC tissues after effective NAT. The bioinformatics approach provided comprehensive insights into NAT-induced matrix remodelling, which showed Ephrin-A signalling as a likely pathway and Ephrin-A5 (encoded by EFNA5) as a crucial ligand. Effective NAT reduced the number of Ephrin-A5+ cells, which were mainly CAFs; this inversely correlated with the clinical tumour shrinkage rate. Experimental exposure to radiation and chemotherapeutic agents suppressed proliferation, EFNA5 expression, and collagen synthesis in CAFs. Forced EFNA5 expression altered CAF collagen gene profiles similar to those found in PDAC tissues after NAT. CONCLUSION These results suggest that effective NAT changes the extracellular matrix with collagen profiles through CAFs and their Ephrin-A5 expression.
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Integrated Metabolomics and Transcriptomic Analysis of Hepatopancreas in Different Living Status Macrobrachium nipponense in Response to Hypoxia. Antioxidants (Basel) 2021; 11:antiox11010036. [PMID: 35052540 PMCID: PMC8772856 DOI: 10.3390/antiox11010036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2021] [Revised: 12/19/2021] [Accepted: 12/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
As the basic element of aerobic animal life, oxygen participates in most physiological activities of animals. Hypoxia stress is often the subject of aquatic animal research. Macrobrachium nipponense, an economically important aquatic animal in southern China, has been affected by hypoxia for many years and this has resulted in a large amount of economic loss due to its sensitivity to hypoxia; Metabolism and transcriptome data were combined in the analysis of the hepatopancreas of M. nipponense in different physiological states under hypoxia; A total of 108, 86, and 48 differentially expressed metabolites (DEMs) were found in three different comparisons (survived, moribund, and dead shrimps), respectively. Thirty-two common DEMs were found by comparing the different physiological states of M. nipponense with the control group in response to hypoxia. Twelve hypoxia-related genes were identified by screening and analyzing common DEMs. GTP phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PEPCK) was the only differentially expressed gene that ranked highly in transcriptome analysis combined with metabolome analysis. PEPCK ranked highly both in transcriptome analysis and in combination with metabolism analysis; therefore, it was considered to have an important role in hypoxic response. This manuscript fills the one-sidedness of the gap in hypoxia transcriptome analysis and reversely deduces several new genes related to hypoxia from metabolites. This study contributes to the clarification of the molecular process associated with M. nipponense under hypoxic stress.
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Li Z, Ning F, Wang C, Yu H, Ma Q, Sun Y. Normalization of the tumor microvasculature based on targeting and modulation of the tumor microenvironment. NANOSCALE 2021; 13:17254-17271. [PMID: 34651623 DOI: 10.1039/d1nr03387e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Angiogenesis is an essential process for tumor development. Owing to the imbalance between pro- and anti-angiogenic factors, the tumor vasculature possesses the characteristics of tortuous, hyperpermeable vessels and compressive force, resulting in a reduction in the effect of traditional chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Anti-angiogenesis has emerged as a promising strategy for cancer treatment. Tumor angiogenesis, however, has been proved to be a complex process in which the tumor microenvironment (TME) plays a vital role in the initiation and development of the tumor microvasculature. The host stromal cells in the TME, such as cancer associated fibroblasts (CAFs), tumor associated macrophages (TAMs) and Treg cells, contribute to angiogenesis. Furthermore, the abnormal metabolic environment, such as hypoxia and acidosis, leads to the up-regulated expression of angiogenic factors. Indeed, normalization of the tumor microvasculature via targeting and modulating the TME has become a promising strategy for anti-angiogenesis and anti-tumor therapy. In this review, we summarize the abnormalities of the tumor microvasculature, tumor angiogenesis induced by an abnormal metabolic environment and host stromal cells, as well as drug delivery therapies to restore the balance between pro- and anti-angiogenic factors by targeting and normalizing the tumor vasculature in the TME.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhipeng Li
- Department of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy, Qingdao University, Qingdao 266021, China.
| | - Fang Ning
- Department of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy, Qingdao University, Qingdao 266021, China.
| | - Changduo Wang
- Department of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy, Qingdao University, Qingdao 266021, China.
| | - Hongli Yu
- Department of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy, Qingdao University, Qingdao 266021, China.
| | - Qingming Ma
- Department of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy, Qingdao University, Qingdao 266021, China.
| | - Yong Sun
- Department of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy, Qingdao University, Qingdao 266021, China.
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Hellevik T, Berzaghi R, Lode K, Islam A, Martinez-Zubiaurre I. Immunobiology of cancer-associated fibroblasts in the context of radiotherapy. J Transl Med 2021; 19:437. [PMID: 34663337 PMCID: PMC8524905 DOI: 10.1186/s12967-021-03112-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2021] [Accepted: 10/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Radiotherapy (RT) still represents a mainstay of treatment in clinical oncology. Traditionally, the effectiveness of radiotherapy has been attributed to the killing potential of ionizing radiation (IR) over malignant cells, however, it has become clear that therapeutic efficacy of RT also involves activation of innate and adaptive anti-tumor immune responses. Therapeutic irradiation of the tumor microenvironment (TME) provokes profound cellular and biological reconfigurations which ultimately may influence immune recognition. As one of the major constituents of the TME, cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) play central roles in cancer development at all stages and are recognized contributors of tumor immune evasion. While some studies argue that RT affects CAFs negatively through growth arrest and impaired motility, others claim that exposure of fibroblasts to RT promotes their conversion into a more activated phenotype. Nevertheless, despite the well-described immunoregulatory functions assigned to CAFs, little is known about the interplay between CAFs and immune cells in the context of RT. In this review, we go over current literature on the effects of radiation on CAFs and the influence that CAFs have on radiotherapy outcomes, and we summarize present knowledge on the transformed cellular crosstalk between CAFs and immune cells after radiation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Turid Hellevik
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University Hospital of Northern Norway, Tromsø, Norway
| | - Rodrigo Berzaghi
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, UiT-the Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway
| | - Kristin Lode
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, UiT-the Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway
| | - Ashraful Islam
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, UiT-the Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway
| | - Inigo Martinez-Zubiaurre
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, UiT-the Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway.
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Mao X, Xu J, Wang W, Liang C, Hua J, Liu J, Zhang B, Meng Q, Yu X, Shi S. Crosstalk between cancer-associated fibroblasts and immune cells in the tumor microenvironment: new findings and future perspectives. Mol Cancer 2021; 20:131. [PMID: 34635121 PMCID: PMC8504100 DOI: 10.1186/s12943-021-01428-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 858] [Impact Index Per Article: 286.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2021] [Accepted: 09/11/2021] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs), a stromal cell population with cell-of-origin, phenotypic and functional heterogeneity, are the most essential components of the tumor microenvironment (TME). Through multiple pathways, activated CAFs can promote tumor growth, angiogenesis, invasion and metastasis, along with extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling and even chemoresistance. Numerous previous studies have confirmed the critical role of the interaction between CAFs and tumor cells in tumorigenesis and development. However, recently, the mutual effects of CAFs and the tumor immune microenvironment (TIME) have been identified as another key factor in promoting tumor progression. The TIME mainly consists of distinct immune cell populations in tumor islets and is highly associated with the antitumor immunological state in the TME. CAFs interact with tumor-infiltrating immune cells as well as other immune components within the TIME via the secretion of various cytokines, growth factors, chemokines, exosomes and other effector molecules, consequently shaping an immunosuppressive TME that enables cancer cells to evade surveillance of the immune system. In-depth studies of CAFs and immune microenvironment interactions, particularly the complicated mechanisms connecting CAFs with immune cells, might provide novel strategies for subsequent targeted immunotherapies. Herein, we shed light on recent advances regarding the direct and indirect crosstalk between CAFs and infiltrating immune cells and further summarize the possible immunoinhibitory mechanisms induced by CAFs in the TME. In addition, we present current related CAF-targeting immunotherapies and briefly describe some future perspectives on CAF research in the end.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoqi Mao
- Department of Pancreatic Surgery, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, No. 270 Dong'An Road, Xuhui District, Shanghai, 200032, China.,Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China.,Shanghai Pancreatic Cancer Institute, Shanghai, 200032, China.,Pancreatic Cancer Institute, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Jin Xu
- Department of Pancreatic Surgery, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, No. 270 Dong'An Road, Xuhui District, Shanghai, 200032, China.,Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China.,Shanghai Pancreatic Cancer Institute, Shanghai, 200032, China.,Pancreatic Cancer Institute, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Wei Wang
- Department of Pancreatic Surgery, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, No. 270 Dong'An Road, Xuhui District, Shanghai, 200032, China.,Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China.,Shanghai Pancreatic Cancer Institute, Shanghai, 200032, China.,Pancreatic Cancer Institute, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Chen Liang
- Department of Pancreatic Surgery, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, No. 270 Dong'An Road, Xuhui District, Shanghai, 200032, China.,Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China.,Shanghai Pancreatic Cancer Institute, Shanghai, 200032, China.,Pancreatic Cancer Institute, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Jie Hua
- Department of Pancreatic Surgery, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, No. 270 Dong'An Road, Xuhui District, Shanghai, 200032, China.,Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China.,Shanghai Pancreatic Cancer Institute, Shanghai, 200032, China.,Pancreatic Cancer Institute, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Jiang Liu
- Department of Pancreatic Surgery, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, No. 270 Dong'An Road, Xuhui District, Shanghai, 200032, China.,Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China.,Shanghai Pancreatic Cancer Institute, Shanghai, 200032, China.,Pancreatic Cancer Institute, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Bo Zhang
- Department of Pancreatic Surgery, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, No. 270 Dong'An Road, Xuhui District, Shanghai, 200032, China.,Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China.,Shanghai Pancreatic Cancer Institute, Shanghai, 200032, China.,Pancreatic Cancer Institute, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Qingcai Meng
- Department of Pancreatic Surgery, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, No. 270 Dong'An Road, Xuhui District, Shanghai, 200032, China. .,Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China. .,Shanghai Pancreatic Cancer Institute, Shanghai, 200032, China. .,Pancreatic Cancer Institute, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China.
| | - Xianjun Yu
- Department of Pancreatic Surgery, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, No. 270 Dong'An Road, Xuhui District, Shanghai, 200032, China. .,Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China. .,Shanghai Pancreatic Cancer Institute, Shanghai, 200032, China. .,Pancreatic Cancer Institute, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China.
| | - Si Shi
- Department of Pancreatic Surgery, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, No. 270 Dong'An Road, Xuhui District, Shanghai, 200032, China. .,Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China. .,Shanghai Pancreatic Cancer Institute, Shanghai, 200032, China. .,Pancreatic Cancer Institute, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China.
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Effect of AAV-mediated overexpression of ATF5 and downstream targets of an integrated stress response in murine skeletal muscle. Sci Rep 2021; 11:19796. [PMID: 34611283 PMCID: PMC8492641 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-99432-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2021] [Accepted: 09/24/2021] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
We previously reported that growth promoter-induced skeletal muscle hypertrophy co-ordinately upregulated expression of genes associated with an integrated stress response (ISR), as well as potential ISR regulators. We therefore used Adeno-Associated Virus (AAV)-mediated overexpression of these genes, individually or in combination, in mouse skeletal muscle to test whether they induced muscle hypertrophy. AAV of each target gene was injected into mouse Tibialis anterior (TA) and effects on skeletal muscle growth determined 28 days later. Individually, AAV constructs for Arginase-2 (Arg2) and Activating transcription factor-5 (Atf5) reduced hindlimb muscle weights and upregulated expression of genes associated with an ISR. AAV-Atf5 also decreased Myosin heavy chain (MyHC)-IIB mRNA, but increased MyHC-IIA and isocitrate dehydrogenase-2 (Idh2) mRNA, suggesting ATF5 is a novel transcriptional regulator of Idh2. AAV-Atf5 reduced the size of both TA oxidative and glycolytic fibres, without affecting fibre-type proportions, whereas Atf5 combined with Cebpg (CCAAT enhancer binding protein-gamma) only reduced the size of glycolytic fibres and tended to increase the proportion of oxidative fibres. It is likely that persistent Atf5 overexpression maintains activation of the ISR, thereby reducing protein synthesis and/or increasing protein degradation and possibly apoptosis, resulting in inhibition of muscle growth, with overexpression of Arg2 having a similar effect.
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41
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Jones JO, Moody WM, Shields JD. Microenvironmental modulation of the developing tumour: an immune-stromal dialogue. Mol Oncol 2021; 15:2600-2633. [PMID: 32741067 PMCID: PMC8486574 DOI: 10.1002/1878-0261.12773] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2020] [Revised: 07/03/2020] [Accepted: 07/27/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Successful establishment of a tumour relies on a cascade of interactions between cancer cells and stromal cells within an evolving microenvironment. Both immune and nonimmune cellular components are key factors in this process, and the individual players may change their role from tumour elimination to tumour promotion as the microenvironment develops. While the tumour-stroma crosstalk present in an established tumour is well-studied, aspects in the early tumour or premalignant microenvironment have received less attention. This is in part due to the challenges in studying this process in the clinic or in mouse models. Here, we review the key anti- and pro-tumour factors in the early microenvironment and discuss how understanding this process may be exploited in the clinic.
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Affiliation(s)
- James O. Jones
- MRC Cancer UnitHutchison/MRC Research CentreUniversity of CambridgeCambridgeUK
- Department of OncologyCambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation TrustCambridgeUK
| | - William M. Moody
- MRC Cancer UnitHutchison/MRC Research CentreUniversity of CambridgeCambridgeUK
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42
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Boottanun P, Ino Y, Shimada K, Hiraoka N, Angata K, Narimatsu H. Association between the expression of core 3 synthase and survival outcomes of patients with cholangiocarcinoma. Oncol Lett 2021; 22:760. [PMID: 34539864 PMCID: PMC8436361 DOI: 10.3892/ol.2021.13021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2021] [Accepted: 08/04/2021] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) is a highly aggressive and metastatic type of malignant carcinoma that is associated with high mortality rates and is difficult to detect at early stages. Core 3 structure is a mucin-type O-glycans synthesized by β1,3-N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase 6 (core 3 synthase), which plays an important role in the digestive system, in particular gastrointestinal goblet cells. It has been reported that core 3 synthase-expressing cells show lower migratory and invasive rates, and lower metastatic activity. A immunohistochemical study also showed that this enzyme was expressed in normal epithelial cells of the colon, but completely disappeared in colorectal cancer cells. The present study aimed to identify biomarkers that could be used to predict the prognosis of patients with CCA. Pathological specimens of 185 CCA tissues were immunohistochemically stained with two antibodies, G8-144 and MECA-79, which recognize core 3 synthase and 6-sulfated N-acetyllactosamine on the extended core-1 O-glycans, respectively. The association between G8-144 or MECA-79 positivity and patient prognosis was statistically analyzed. Positive expression of G8-144 was associated with improved prognosis in patients with distal CCA (dCCA). Patients with dCCA positive for G8-144 showed lower mortality rates than those with negative expression. However, the positive expression of MECA-79 was associated with CCA progression and metastasis, indicating that it is a poor prognostic marker for CCA. In conclusion, as both antibodies resulted in mirror-image staining, the involvement of G8-144 and MECA-79 in O-glycan synthesis could be considered as potential favorable and unfavorable biomarkers, respectively, for CCA prognosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patcharaporn Boottanun
- Graduate School of Comprehensive Human Sciences, Major in Medical Sciences, Clinical Sciences Program, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8575, Japan.,Molecular and Cellular Glycoproteomics Research Group, Department of Life Science and Biotechnology, Cellular and Molecular Biotechnology Research Institute, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8565, Japan.,Division of Molecular Pathology, National Cancer Center Research Institute, Chuo-ku, Tokyo 104-0045, Japan
| | - Yoshinori Ino
- Division of Molecular Pathology, National Cancer Center Research Institute, Chuo-ku, Tokyo 104-0045, Japan
| | - Kazuaki Shimada
- Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery Division, National Cancer Center Hospital, Chuo-ku, Tokyo 104-0045, Japan
| | - Nobuyoshi Hiraoka
- Division of Molecular Pathology, National Cancer Center Research Institute, Chuo-ku, Tokyo 104-0045, Japan.,Department of Analytical Pathology, National Cancer Center Research Institute, Chuo-ku, Tokyo 104-0045, Japan
| | - Kiyohiko Angata
- Molecular and Cellular Glycoproteomics Research Group, Department of Life Science and Biotechnology, Cellular and Molecular Biotechnology Research Institute, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8565, Japan
| | - Hisashi Narimatsu
- Graduate School of Comprehensive Human Sciences, Major in Medical Sciences, Clinical Sciences Program, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8575, Japan.,Molecular and Cellular Glycoproteomics Research Group, Department of Life Science and Biotechnology, Cellular and Molecular Biotechnology Research Institute, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8565, Japan
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43
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Kay EJ, Koulouras G, Zanivan S. Regulation of Extracellular Matrix Production in Activated Fibroblasts: Roles of Amino Acid Metabolism in Collagen Synthesis. Front Oncol 2021; 11:719922. [PMID: 34513697 PMCID: PMC8429785 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2021.719922] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2021] [Accepted: 07/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Cancer associated fibroblasts (CAFs) are a major component of the tumour microenvironment in most tumours, and are key mediators of the response to tissue damage caused by tumour growth and invasion, contributing to the observation that tumours behave as 'wounds that do not heal'. CAFs have been shown to play a supporting role in all stages of tumour progression, and this is dependent on the highly secretory phenotype CAFs develop upon activation, of which extracellular matrix (ECM) production is a key element. A collagen rich, stromal ECM has been shown to influence tumour growth and metastasis, exclude immune cells and impede drug delivery, and is associated with poor prognosis in many cancers. CAFs also extensively remodel their metabolism to support cancer cells, however, it is becoming clear that metabolic rewiring also supports intrinsic functions of activated fibroblasts, such as increased ECM production. In this review, we summarise how fibroblasts metabolically regulate ECM production, focussing on collagen production, at the transcriptional, translational and post-translational level, and discuss how this can provide possible strategies for effectively targeting CAF activation and formation of a tumour-promoting stroma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily J. Kay
- Cancer Research UK Beatson Institute, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Grigorios Koulouras
- Cancer Research UK Beatson Institute, Glasgow, United Kingdom
- Institute of Cancer Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Sara Zanivan
- Cancer Research UK Beatson Institute, Glasgow, United Kingdom
- Institute of Cancer Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom
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44
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Clemente GS, Antunes IF, Kurhade S, van den Berg MPM, Sijbesma JWA, van Waarde A, Buijsman RC, Willemsen-Seegers N, Gosens R, Meurs H, Dömling A, Elsinga PH. Mapping Arginase Expression with 18F-Fluorinated Late-Generation Arginase Inhibitors Derived from Quaternary α-Amino Acids. J Nucl Med 2021; 62:1163-1170. [PMID: 33712529 DOI: 10.2967/jnumed.120.255968] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2020] [Accepted: 12/22/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Arginase hydrolyzes L-arginine and influences levels of polyamines and nitric oxide. Arginase overexpression is associated with inflammation and tumorigenesis. Thus, radiolabeled arginase inhibitors may be suitable PET tracers for staging arginase-related pathophysiologies. We report the synthesis and evaluation of 2 radiolabeled arginase inhibitors, 18F-FMARS and 18F-FBMARS, developed from α-substituted-2-amino-6-boronohexanoic acid derivatives. Methods: Arylboronic ester-derived precursors were radiolabeled via copper-mediated fluorodeboronation. Binding assays using arginase-expressing PC3 and LNCaP cells were performed. Autoradiography of lung sections from a guinea pig model of asthma overexpressing arginase and dynamic small-animal PET imaging with PC3-xenografted mice evaluated the radiotracers' specific binding and pharmacokinetics. Results:18F-fluorinated compounds were obtained with radiochemical yields of up to 5% (decay-corrected) and an average molar activity of 53 GBq⋅μmol-1 Cell and lung section experiments indicated specific binding that was blocked up to 75% after pretreatment with arginase inhibitors. Small-animal PET studies indicated fast clearance of the radiotracers (7.3 ± 0.6 min), arginase-mediated uptake, and a selective tumor accumulation (SUV, 3.0 ± 0.7). Conclusion: The new 18F-fluorinated arginase inhibitors have the potential to map increased arginase expression related to inflammatory and tumorigenic processes. 18F-FBMARS showed the highest arginase-mediated uptake in PET imaging and a significant difference between uptake in control and arginase-inhibited PC3 xenografted mice. These results encourage further research to examine the suitability of 18F-FBMARS for selecting patients for treatments with arginase inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gonçalo S Clemente
- Department of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Inês F Antunes
- Department of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Santosh Kurhade
- Department of Drug Design, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | | | - Jürgen W A Sijbesma
- Department of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Aren van Waarde
- Department of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Rogier C Buijsman
- Netherlands Translational Research Center B.V., Oss, The Netherlands
| | | | - Reinoud Gosens
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands; and
| | - Herman Meurs
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands; and
| | - Alexander Dömling
- Department of Drug Design, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Philip H Elsinga
- Department of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands;
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45
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Ziani L, Buart S, Chouaib S, Thiery J. Hypoxia increases melanoma-associated fibroblasts immunosuppressive potential and inhibitory effect on T cell-mediated cytotoxicity. Oncoimmunology 2021; 10:1950953. [PMID: 34367731 PMCID: PMC8312612 DOI: 10.1080/2162402x.2021.1950953] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2021] [Revised: 06/29/2021] [Accepted: 06/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) and hypoxia are central players in the complex process of tumor cell-stroma interaction and are involved in the alteration of the anti-tumor immune response by impacting both cancer and immune cell populations. However, even if their independent immunomodulatory properties are now well documented, whether the interaction between these two components of the tumor microenvironment can affect CAFs ability to alter the anti-tumor immune response is still poorly defined. In this study, we provide evidence that hypoxia increases melanoma-associated fibroblasts expression and/or secretion of several immunosuppressive factors (including TGF-β, IL6, IL10, VEGF and PD-L1). Moreover, we demonstrate that hypoxic CAF secretome exerts a more profound effect on T cell-mediated cytotoxicity than its normoxic counterpart. Together, our data suggest that the crosstalk between hypoxia and CAFs is probably an important determinant in the complex immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Linda Ziani
- INSERM, UMR 1186 “Human Tumor Immunology and Cancer Immunotherapy”, Villejuif, France
- Gustave Roussy Cancer Campus, Villejuif, France
- Faculty of Medicine, University Paris Saclay, France
| | - Stéphanie Buart
- INSERM, UMR 1186 “Human Tumor Immunology and Cancer Immunotherapy”, Villejuif, France
- Gustave Roussy Cancer Campus, Villejuif, France
- Faculty of Medicine, University Paris Saclay, France
| | - Salem Chouaib
- INSERM, UMR 1186 “Human Tumor Immunology and Cancer Immunotherapy”, Villejuif, France
- Gustave Roussy Cancer Campus, Villejuif, France
- Faculty of Medicine, University Paris Saclay, France
- Thumbay Research Institute of Precision Medicine, Gulf Medical University, Ajman, United Arab Emirates
| | - Jerome Thiery
- INSERM, UMR 1186 “Human Tumor Immunology and Cancer Immunotherapy”, Villejuif, France
- Gustave Roussy Cancer Campus, Villejuif, France
- Faculty of Medicine, University Paris Saclay, France
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46
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Sosnowska A, Chlebowska-Tuz J, Matryba P, Pilch Z, Greig A, Wolny A, Grzywa TM, Rydzynska Z, Sokolowska O, Rygiel TP, Grzybowski M, Stanczak P, Blaszczyk R, Nowis D, Golab J. Inhibition of arginase modulates T-cell response in the tumor microenvironment of lung carcinoma. Oncoimmunology 2021; 10:1956143. [PMID: 34367736 PMCID: PMC8312619 DOI: 10.1080/2162402x.2021.1956143] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Immunotherapy has demonstrated significant activity in a broad range of cancer types, but still the majority of patients receiving it do not maintain durable therapeutic responses. Amino acid metabolism has been proposed to be involved in the regulation of immune response. Here, we investigated in detail the role of arginase 1 (Arg1) in the modulation of antitumor immune response against poorly immunogenic Lewis lung carcinoma. We observed that tumor progression is associated with an incremental increase in the number of Arg1+ myeloid cells that accumulate in the tumor microenvironment and cause systemic depletion of ʟ-arginine. In advanced tumors, the systemic concentrations of ʟ-arginine are decreased to levels that impair the proliferation of antigen-specific T-cells. Systemic or myeloid-specific Arg1 deletion improves antigen-induced proliferation of adoptively transferred T-cells and leads to inhibition of tumor growth. Arginase inhibitor was demonstrated to modestly inhibit tumor growth when used alone, and to potentiate antitumor effects of anti-PD-1 monoclonal antibodies and STING agonist. The effectiveness of the combination immunotherapy was insufficient to induce complete antitumor responses, but was significantly better than treatment with the checkpoint inhibitor alone. Together, these results indicate that arginase inhibition alone is of modest therapeutic benefit in poorly immunogenic tumors; however, in combination with other treatment strategies it may significantly improve survival outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Sosnowska
- Department of Immunology, Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland.,Postgraduate School of Molecular Medicine, Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Justyna Chlebowska-Tuz
- Department of Immunology, Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland.,Laboratory of Experimental Medicine, Centre of New Technologies, University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Pawel Matryba
- Department of Immunology, Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland.,Laboratory of Neurobiology, BRAINCITY, Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology of Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland.,The Doctoral School of the Medical University of Warsaw, Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Zofia Pilch
- Department of Immunology, Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Alan Greig
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Division of Biosciences, University College London, London, UK
| | - Artur Wolny
- Laboratory of Imaging Tissue Structure and Function, Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology of Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Tomasz M Grzywa
- Department of Immunology, Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland.,The Doctoral School of the Medical University of Warsaw, Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Zuzanna Rydzynska
- Department of Immunology, Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Olga Sokolowska
- Postgraduate School of Molecular Medicine, Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland.,Laboratory of Experimental Medicine, Centre of New Technologies, University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Tomasz P Rygiel
- Department of Immunology, Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland
| | | | | | | | - Dominika Nowis
- Department of Immunology, Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland.,Laboratory of Experimental Medicine, Centre of New Technologies, University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland.,Laboratory of Experimental Medicine, Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Jakub Golab
- Department of Immunology, Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland.,Centre of Preclinical Research, Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland
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47
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Mhaidly R, Mechta‐Grigoriou F. Role of cancer-associated fibroblast subpopulations in immune infiltration, as a new means of treatment in cancer. Immunol Rev 2021; 302:259-272. [PMID: 34013544 PMCID: PMC8360036 DOI: 10.1111/imr.12978] [Citation(s) in RCA: 117] [Impact Index Per Article: 39.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2021] [Revised: 04/26/2021] [Accepted: 04/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
The tumor microenvironment (TME) has been identified as one of the driving factors of tumor progression and invasion. Within this microenvironment, cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAF) have multiple tumor-promoting functions and play key roles in drug resistance, through multiple mechanisms, including extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling, production of growth factors, cytokines, and chemokines, and modulation of metabolism and angiogenesis. More recently, a growing body of evidence has shown that CAF also modulate immune cell activity and suppress anti-tumor immune response. In this review, we describe the current knowledge on CAF heterogeneity in terms of identity and functions. Moreover, we analyze how distinct CAF subpopulations differentially interact with immune cells, with a particular focus on T lymphocytes. We address how specific CAF subsets contribute to cancer progression through induction of an immunosuppressive microenvironment. Finally, we highlight potential therapeutic strategies for targeting CAF subpopulations in cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rana Mhaidly
- Institut CurieStress and Cancer LaboratoryEquipe labelisée Ligue Nationale Contre le CancerPSL Research UniversityParisFrance
- U830, InsermParisFrance
| | - Fatima Mechta‐Grigoriou
- Institut CurieStress and Cancer LaboratoryEquipe labelisée Ligue Nationale Contre le CancerPSL Research UniversityParisFrance
- U830, InsermParisFrance
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48
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Karta J, Bossicard Y, Kotzamanis K, Dolznig H, Letellier E. Mapping the Metabolic Networks of Tumor Cells and Cancer-Associated Fibroblasts. Cells 2021; 10:304. [PMID: 33540679 PMCID: PMC7912987 DOI: 10.3390/cells10020304] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2020] [Revised: 01/20/2021] [Accepted: 01/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Metabolism is considered to be the core of all cellular activity. Thus, extensive studies of metabolic processes are ongoing in various fields of biology, including cancer research. Cancer cells are known to adapt their metabolism to sustain high proliferation rates and survive in unfavorable environments with low oxygen and nutrient concentrations. Hence, targeting cancer cell metabolism is a promising therapeutic strategy in cancer research. However, cancers consist not only of genetically altered tumor cells but are interwoven with endothelial cells, immune cells and fibroblasts, which together with the extracellular matrix (ECM) constitute the tumor microenvironment (TME). Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs), which are linked to poor prognosis in different cancer types, are one important component of the TME. CAFs play a significant role in reprogramming the metabolic landscape of tumor cells, but how, and in what manner, this interaction takes place remains rather unclear. This review aims to highlight the metabolic landscape of tumor cells and CAFs, including their recently identified subtypes, in different tumor types. In addition, we discuss various in vitro and in vivo metabolic techniques as well as different in silico computational tools that can be used to identify and characterize CAF-tumor cell interactions. Finally, we provide our view on how mapping the complex metabolic networks of stromal-tumor metabolism will help in finding novel metabolic targets for cancer treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica Karta
- Molecular Disease Mechanisms Group, Department of Life Sciences and Medicine, Faculty of Science, Technology and Medicine, University of Luxembourg, 6 avenue du Swing, L-4367 Belval, Luxembourg; (J.K.); (Y.B.); (K.K.)
| | - Ysaline Bossicard
- Molecular Disease Mechanisms Group, Department of Life Sciences and Medicine, Faculty of Science, Technology and Medicine, University of Luxembourg, 6 avenue du Swing, L-4367 Belval, Luxembourg; (J.K.); (Y.B.); (K.K.)
| | - Konstantinos Kotzamanis
- Molecular Disease Mechanisms Group, Department of Life Sciences and Medicine, Faculty of Science, Technology and Medicine, University of Luxembourg, 6 avenue du Swing, L-4367 Belval, Luxembourg; (J.K.); (Y.B.); (K.K.)
| | - Helmut Dolznig
- Tumor Stroma Interaction Group, Institute of Medical Genetics, Medical University of Vienna, Währinger Strasse 10, 1090 Vienna, Austria;
| | - Elisabeth Letellier
- Molecular Disease Mechanisms Group, Department of Life Sciences and Medicine, Faculty of Science, Technology and Medicine, University of Luxembourg, 6 avenue du Swing, L-4367 Belval, Luxembourg; (J.K.); (Y.B.); (K.K.)
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49
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Zhao S, Peralta RM, Avina-Ochoa N, Delgoffe GM, Kaech SM. Metabolic regulation of T cells in the tumor microenvironment by nutrient availability and diet. Semin Immunol 2021; 52:101485. [PMID: 34462190 PMCID: PMC8545851 DOI: 10.1016/j.smim.2021.101485] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2021] [Accepted: 08/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Recent advances in immunotherapies such as immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) and chimeric antigen receptor T cells (CAR-T) for the treatment of cancer have generated excitement over their ability to yield durable, and potentially curative, responses in a multitude of cancers. These findings have established that the immune system is capable of eliminating tumors and led us to a better, albeit still incomplete, understanding of the mechanisms by which tumors interact with and evade destruction by the immune system. Given the central role of T cells in immunotherapy, elucidating the cell intrinsic and extrinsic factors that govern T cell function in tumors will facilitate the development of immunotherapies that establish durable responses in a greater number of patients. One such factor is metabolism, a set of fundamental cellular processes that not only sustains cell survival and proliferation, but also serves as a means for cells to interpret their local environment. Nutrient sensing is critical for T cells that must infiltrate into a metabolically challenging tumor microenvironment and expand under these harsh conditions to eliminate cancerous cells. Here we introduce T cell exhaustion with respect to cellular metabolism, followed by a discussion of nutrient availability at the tumor and organismal level in relation to T cell metabolism and function to provide rationale for the study and targeting of metabolism in anti-tumor immune responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Steven Zhao
- NOMIS Center for Immunobiology and Microbial Pathogenesis, Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Ronal M Peralta
- Tumor Microenvironment Center, Department of Immunology, UPMC Hillman Cancer Center and University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Natalia Avina-Ochoa
- NOMIS Center for Immunobiology and Microbial Pathogenesis, Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Greg M Delgoffe
- Tumor Microenvironment Center, Department of Immunology, UPMC Hillman Cancer Center and University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
| | - Susan M Kaech
- NOMIS Center for Immunobiology and Microbial Pathogenesis, Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, CA, USA.
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50
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Tao J, Yang G, Zhou W, Qiu J, Chen G, Luo W, Zhao F, You L, Zheng L, Zhang T, Zhao Y. Targeting hypoxic tumor microenvironment in pancreatic cancer. J Hematol Oncol 2021; 14:14. [PMID: 33436044 PMCID: PMC7805044 DOI: 10.1186/s13045-020-01030-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 206] [Impact Index Per Article: 68.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2020] [Accepted: 12/25/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Attributable to its late diagnosis, early metastasis, and poor prognosis, pancreatic cancer remains one of the most lethal diseases worldwide. Unlike other solid tumors, pancreatic cancer harbors ample stromal cells and abundant extracellular matrix but lacks vascularization, resulting in persistent and severe hypoxia within the tumor. Hypoxic microenvironment has extensive effects on biological behaviors or malignant phenotypes of pancreatic cancer, including metabolic reprogramming, cancer stemness, invasion and metastasis, and pathological angiogenesis, which synergistically contribute to development and therapeutic resistance of pancreatic cancer. Through various mechanisms including but not confined to maintenance of redox homeostasis, activation of autophagy, epigenetic regulation, and those induced by hypoxia-inducible factors, intratumoral hypoxia drives the above biological processes in pancreatic cancer. Recognizing the pivotal roles of hypoxia in pancreatic cancer progression and therapies, hypoxia-based antitumoral strategies have been continuously developed over the recent years, some of which have been applied in clinical trials to evaluate their efficacy and safety in combinatory therapies for patients with pancreatic cancer. In this review, we discuss the molecular mechanisms underlying hypoxia-induced aggressive and therapeutically resistant phenotypes in both pancreatic cancerous and stromal cells. Additionally, we focus more on innovative therapies targeting the tumor hypoxic microenvironment itself, which hold great potential to overcome the resistance to chemotherapy and radiotherapy and to enhance antitumor efficacy and reduce toxicity to normal tissues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinxin Tao
- Department of General Surgery, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, No. 1 Shuaifuyuan, Wangfujing Street, Beijing, 100730, China
| | - Gang Yang
- Department of General Surgery, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, No. 1 Shuaifuyuan, Wangfujing Street, Beijing, 100730, China
| | - Wenchuan Zhou
- Department of Ophthalmology, Xinhua Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai JiaoTong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200092, China
| | - Jiangdong Qiu
- Department of General Surgery, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, No. 1 Shuaifuyuan, Wangfujing Street, Beijing, 100730, China
| | - Guangyu Chen
- Department of General Surgery, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, No. 1 Shuaifuyuan, Wangfujing Street, Beijing, 100730, China
| | - Wenhao Luo
- Department of General Surgery, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, No. 1 Shuaifuyuan, Wangfujing Street, Beijing, 100730, China
| | - Fangyu Zhao
- Department of General Surgery, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, No. 1 Shuaifuyuan, Wangfujing Street, Beijing, 100730, China
| | - Lei You
- Department of General Surgery, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, No. 1 Shuaifuyuan, Wangfujing Street, Beijing, 100730, China
| | - Lianfang Zheng
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100730, China
| | - Taiping Zhang
- Department of General Surgery, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, No. 1 Shuaifuyuan, Wangfujing Street, Beijing, 100730, China. .,Clinical Immunology Center, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100730, China.
| | - Yupei Zhao
- Department of General Surgery, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, No. 1 Shuaifuyuan, Wangfujing Street, Beijing, 100730, China.
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