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Shu P, Liu N, Luo X, Tang Y, Chen Z, Li D, Miao D, Duan J, Yan O, Sheng L, Ouyang G, Wang S, Jiang D, Deng X, Wang Z, Li Q, Wang X. An immune-related gene prognostic prediction risk model for neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy in rectal cancer using artificial intelligence. Front Oncol 2024; 14:1294440. [PMID: 38406803 PMCID: PMC10889124 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2024.1294440] [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: 11/10/2023] [Accepted: 01/24/2024] [Indexed: 02/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Background This study aimed to establish and validate a prognostic model based on immune-related genes (IRGPM) for predicting disease-free survival (DFS) in patients with locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC) undergoing neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy, and to elucidate the immune profiles associated with different prognostic outcomes. Methods Transcriptomic and clinical data were sourced from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database and the West China Hospital database. We focused on genes from the RNA immune-oncology panel. The elastic net approach was employed to pinpoint immune-related genes significantly impacting DFS. We developed the IRGPM for rectal cancer using the random forest technique. Based on the IRGPM, we calculated prognostic risk scores to categorize patients into high-risk and low-risk groups. Comparative analysis of immune characteristics between these groups was conducted. Results In this study, 407 LARC samples were analyzed. The elastic net identified a signature of 20 immune-related genes, forming the basis of the IRGPM. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis revealed a lower 5-year DFS in the high-risk group compared to the low-risk group. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve affirmed the model's robust predictive capability. Validation of the model was performed in the GSE190826 cohort and our institution's cohort. Gene expression differences between high-risk and low-risk groups predominantly related to cytokine-cytokine receptor interactions. Notably, the low-risk group exhibited higher immune scores. Further analysis indicated a greater presence of activated B cells, activated CD8 T cells, central memory CD8 T cells, macrophages, T follicular helper cells, and type 2 helper cells in the low-risk group. Additionally, immune checkpoint analysis revealed elevated PDCD1 expression in the low-risk group. Conclusions The IRGPM, developed through random forest and elastic net methodologies, demonstrates potential in distinguishing DFS among LARC patients receiving standard treatment. Notably, the low-risk group, as defined by the IRGPM, showed enhanced activation of adaptive immune responses within the tumor microenvironment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pei Shu
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
- Department of Abdominal Tumor Multimodality Treatment, Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
- Clinical Trial Center, National Medical Products Administration Key Laboratory for Clinical Research and Evaluation of Innovative Drugs, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Ning Liu
- Division of Thoracic Tumor Multimodality Treatment, Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Xu Luo
- Chengdu Institute of Computer Application, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chengdu, China
- School of Computer Science and Technology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Yuanling Tang
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
- Department of Abdominal Tumor Multimodality Treatment, Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Zhebin Chen
- Chengdu Institute of Computer Application, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chengdu, China
- School of Computer Science and Technology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Dandan Li
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
- Department of Abdominal Tumor Multimodality Treatment, Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Dong Miao
- Chengdu Institute of Computer Application, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chengdu, China
- School of Computer Science and Technology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Jiayu Duan
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
- Department of Abdominal Tumor Multimodality Treatment, Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Ouying Yan
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
- Department of Abdominal Tumor Multimodality Treatment, Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Leiming Sheng
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
- Department of Abdominal Tumor Multimodality Treatment, Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Ganlu Ouyang
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
- Department of Abdominal Tumor Multimodality Treatment, Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Sen Wang
- Chengdu Institute of Computer Application, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chengdu, China
- School of Computer Science and Technology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Dan Jiang
- Department of Pathology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
- Sichuan University-University of Oxford Huaxi Joint Center for Gastrointestinal Cancer, Frontiers Science Center for Disease-Related Molecular Network, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Xiangbing Deng
- Division of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Department of General Surgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Ziqiang Wang
- Sichuan University-University of Oxford Huaxi Joint Center for Gastrointestinal Cancer, Frontiers Science Center for Disease-Related Molecular Network, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
- Division of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Department of General Surgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Qingyun Li
- Genecast Biotechnology Co., Ltd., Xishan District, Wuxi, Jiangsu, China
| | - Xin Wang
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
- Department of Abdominal Tumor Multimodality Treatment, Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
- Sichuan University-University of Oxford Huaxi Joint Center for Gastrointestinal Cancer, Frontiers Science Center for Disease-Related Molecular Network, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
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2
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Tse BCY, Bergamin S, Steffen P, Hruby G, Pavlakis N, Clarke SJ, Evans J, Engel A, Kneebone A, Molloy MP. CD11c + and IRF8 + cell densities in rectal cancer biopsies predict outcomes of neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy. Oncoimmunology 2023; 12:2238506. [PMID: 37485033 PMCID: PMC10361136 DOI: 10.1080/2162402x.2023.2238506] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2022] [Revised: 07/09/2023] [Accepted: 07/16/2023] [Indexed: 07/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Approximately 20% of locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC) patients treated preoperatively with chemoradiotherapy (CRT) achieve pathologically confirmed complete regression. However, there are no clinically implemented biomarkers measurable in biopsies that are predictive of tumor regression. Here, we conducted multiplexed immunophenotyping of rectal cancer diagnostic biopsies from 16 LARC patients treated preoperatively with CRT. We identified that patients with greater tumor regression had higher tumor infiltration of pan-T cells and IRF8+HLA-DR+ cells prior to CRT. High IRF8+HLA-DR+ cell density was further associated with prolonged disease-specific survival with 83% survival at 5 y compared to 28% in patients with low infiltration. Contrastingly, low CD11c+ myeloid cell infiltration prior to CRT was a putative biomarker associated with longer 3- and 5-y disease-free survival. The results demonstrate the potential use of rectal cancer diagnostic biopsies to measure IRF8+ HLA-DR+ cells as predictors of CRT-induced tumor regression and CD11c+ myeloid cells as predictors of LARC patient survival.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benita C. Y. Tse
- Bowel Cancer and Biomarker Laboratory, School of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, Australia
| | - Sarah Bergamin
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Royal North Shore Hospital, Sydney, Australia
| | - Pascal Steffen
- Bowel Cancer and Biomarker Laboratory, School of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, Australia
| | - George Hruby
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Royal North Shore Hospital, Sydney, Australia
| | - Nick Pavlakis
- Department of Medical Oncology, Royal North Shore Hospital, Sydney, Australia
- Sydney Medical School, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Camperdown, Australia
| | - Stephen J. Clarke
- Department of Medical Oncology, Royal North Shore Hospital, Sydney, Australia
- Sydney Medical School, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Camperdown, Australia
| | - Justin Evans
- Colorectal Surgical Unit, Royal North Shore Hospital, Sydney, Australia
| | - Alexander Engel
- Sydney Medical School, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Camperdown, Australia
- Colorectal Surgical Unit, Royal North Shore Hospital, Sydney, Australia
| | - Andrew Kneebone
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Royal North Shore Hospital, Sydney, Australia
- Sydney Medical School, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Camperdown, Australia
| | - Mark P. Molloy
- Bowel Cancer and Biomarker Laboratory, School of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, Australia
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Koukourakis IM, Platoni K, Tiniakos D, Kouloulias V, Zygogianni A. Immune Response and Immune Checkpoint Molecules in Patients with Rectal Cancer Undergoing Neoadjuvant Chemoradiotherapy: A Review. Curr Issues Mol Biol 2023; 45:4495-4517. [PMID: 37232754 DOI: 10.3390/cimb45050285] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2023] [Revised: 05/17/2023] [Accepted: 05/18/2023] [Indexed: 05/27/2023] Open
Abstract
It is well-established that tumor antigens and molecules expressed and secreted by cancer cells trigger innate and adaptive immune responses. These two types of anti-tumor immunity lead to the infiltration of the tumor's microenvironment by immune cells with either regulatory or cytotoxic properties. Whether this response is associated with tumor eradication after radiotherapy and chemotherapy or regrowth has been a matter of extensive research through the years, mainly focusing on tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes and monocytes and their subtypes, and the expression of immune checkpoint and other immune-related molecules by both immune and cancer cells in the tumor microenvironment. A literature search has been conducted on studies dealing with the immune response in patients with rectal cancer treated with neoadjuvant radiotherapy or chemoradiotherapy, assessing its impact on locoregional control and survival and underlying the potential role of immunotherapy in the treatment of this cancer subtype. Here, we provide an overview of the interactions between local/systemic anti-tumor immunity, cancer-related immune checkpoint, and other immunological pathways and radiotherapy, and how these affect the prognosis of rectal cancer patients. Chemoradiotherapy induces critical immunological changes in the tumor microenvironment and cancer cells that can be exploited for therapeutic interventions in rectal cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ioannis M Koukourakis
- Radiation Oncology Unit, 1st Department of Radiology, School of Medicine, Aretaieion University Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (NKUOA), 11528 Athens, Greece
| | - Kalliopi Platoni
- Medical Physics Unit, 2nd Department of Radiology, School of Medicine, Attikon University Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 12462 Athens, Greece
| | - Dina Tiniakos
- Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, Aretaieion University Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 11528 Athens, Greece
- Translational and Clinical Research Institute, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne NE2 4HH, UK
| | - Vassilis Kouloulias
- Radiotherapy Unit, 2nd Department of Radiology, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 12462 Athens, Greece
| | - Anna Zygogianni
- Radiation Oncology Unit, 1st Department of Radiology, School of Medicine, Aretaieion University Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (NKUOA), 11528 Athens, Greece
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Shinohara H, Kobayashi M, Hayashi K, Nogawa D, Asakawa A, Ohata Y, Kubota K, Takahashi H, Yamada M, Tokunaga M, Kinugasa Y, Oda G, Nakagawa T, Onishi I, Kinowaki Y, Kurata M, Ohashi K, Kitagawa M, Yamamoto K. Spatial and Quantitative Analysis of Tumor-Associated Macrophages: Intratumoral CD163-/PD-L1+ TAMs as a Marker of Favorable Clinical Outcomes in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:13235. [PMID: 36362023 PMCID: PMC9656504 DOI: 10.3390/ijms232113235] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2022] [Revised: 10/18/2022] [Accepted: 10/25/2022] [Indexed: 08/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) and abnormalities in cancer cells affect cancer progression and response to therapy. TAMs are a major component of the tumor microenvironment (TME) in breast cancer, with their invasion affecting clinical outcomes. Programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1), a target of immune checkpoint inhibitors, acts as a suppressive signal for the surrounding immune system; however, its expression and effect on TAMs and the clinical outcome in breast cancer are unknown. In this study, we used high-throughput multiple immunohistochemistry to spatially and quantitatively analyze TAMs. We subjected 81 breast cancer specimens to immunostaining for CD68, CD163, PD-1, PD-L1, CD20, and pan-CK. In both stromal and intratumoral areas, the triple-negative subtype had significantly more CD68/CD163, CD68/PD-L1, and CD163/PD-L1 double-positive cells than the estrogen receptor (ER)/progesterone receptor (PR) subtype. Interestingly, a higher number of CD68+/PD-L1+/CK-/CD163- TAMs in the intratumoral area was correlated with a favorable recurrence rate (p = 0.048). These findings indicated that the specific subpopulation and localization of TAMs in the TME affect clinical outcomes in breast cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hajime Shinohara
- Department of Gasrointestinal Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine and Dentistry, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, 1-5-45 Yushima, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8519, Japan
| | - Maki Kobayashi
- Molecular Pathology Group, Translational Research Department, Daiichisankyo RD Novare, 1-16-13 Kitakasai, Edogawa-ku, Tokyo 134-0081, Japan
| | - Kumiko Hayashi
- Department of Specialized Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine and Dentistry, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, 1-5-45 Yushima, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8519, Japan
| | - Daichi Nogawa
- Department of Comprehensive Pathology, Graduate School of Medicine and Dentistry, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, 1-5-45 Yushima, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8519, Japan
| | - Ayaka Asakawa
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine and Dentistry, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, 1-5-45 Yushima, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8519, Japan
| | - Yae Ohata
- Science for Life Laboratory, Department of Medical Biochemistry and Microbiology, Uppsala University, 75236 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Kazuishi Kubota
- Translational Science Department, Daiichi Sankyo, Inc., Basking Ridge, NJ 07920, USA
| | - Hisashi Takahashi
- Molecular Pathology Group, Translational Research Department, Daiichisankyo RD Novare, 1-16-13 Kitakasai, Edogawa-ku, Tokyo 134-0081, Japan
| | - Miyuki Yamada
- Molecular Pathology Group, Translational Research Department, Daiichisankyo RD Novare, 1-16-13 Kitakasai, Edogawa-ku, Tokyo 134-0081, Japan
| | - Masanori Tokunaga
- Department of Gasrointestinal Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine and Dentistry, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, 1-5-45 Yushima, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8519, Japan
| | - Yusuke Kinugasa
- Department of Gasrointestinal Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine and Dentistry, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, 1-5-45 Yushima, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8519, Japan
| | - Goshi Oda
- Department of Specialized Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine and Dentistry, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, 1-5-45 Yushima, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8519, Japan
| | - Tsuyoshi Nakagawa
- Department of Specialized Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine and Dentistry, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, 1-5-45 Yushima, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8519, Japan
| | - Iichiroh Onishi
- Department of Comprehensive Pathology, Graduate School of Medicine and Dentistry, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, 1-5-45 Yushima, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8519, Japan
| | - Yuko Kinowaki
- Department of Comprehensive Pathology, Graduate School of Medicine and Dentistry, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, 1-5-45 Yushima, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8519, Japan
| | - Morito Kurata
- Department of Comprehensive Pathology, Graduate School of Medicine and Dentistry, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, 1-5-45 Yushima, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8519, Japan
| | - Kenichi Ohashi
- Department of Human Pathology, Graduate School of Medicine and Dentistry, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, 1-5-45 Yushima, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8519, Japan
| | - Masanobu Kitagawa
- Department of Comprehensive Pathology, Graduate School of Medicine and Dentistry, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, 1-5-45 Yushima, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8519, Japan
| | - Kouhei Yamamoto
- Department of Comprehensive Pathology, Graduate School of Medicine and Dentistry, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, 1-5-45 Yushima, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8519, Japan
- Department of Human Pathology, Graduate School of Medicine and Dentistry, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, 1-5-45 Yushima, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8519, Japan
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5
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Graham Martínez C, Barella Y, Kus Öztürk S, Ansems M, Gorris MA, van Vliet S, Marijnen CA, Nagtegaal ID. The immune microenvironment landscape shows treatment-specific differences in rectal cancer patients. Front Immunol 2022; 13:1011498. [PMID: 36238289 PMCID: PMC9552175 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.1011498] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2022] [Accepted: 08/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Neoadjuvant therapy is the cornerstone of modern rectal cancer treatment. Insights into the biology of tumor responses are essential for the successful implementation of organ-preserving strategies, as different treatments may lead to specific tumor responses. In this study, we aim to explore treatment-specific responses of the tumor microenvironment. Patients with locally advanced adenocarcinoma of the rectum who had received neo-adjuvant chemotherapy (CT), neo-adjuvant radiochemotherapy (RCT), neo-adjuvant radiotherapy with a long-interval (LRT) or short-interval (SRT) or no neoadjuvant therapy (NT) as control were included. Multiplex-immunofluorescence was performed to determine the presence of cytotoxic T-cells (T-cyt; CD3+CD8+), regulatory T-cells (T-reg; CD3+FOXP3+), T-helper cells (T-helper; CD3+CD8-FOXP3-), B cells (CD20+), dendritic cells (CD11c+) and tumor cells (panCK+). A total of 80 rectal cancer patients were included. Treatment groups were matched for gender, tumor location, response to therapy, and TNM stage. The pattern of response (shrinkage vs. fragmentation) was, however, different between treatment groups. Our analyses reveal that RCT-treated patients exhibited lower stromal T-helper, T-reg, and T-cyt cells compared to other treatment regimens. In conclusion, we demonstrated treatment-specific differences in the immune microenvironment landscape of rectal cancer patients. Understanding the underlying mechanisms of this landscape after a specific therapy will benefit future treatment decisions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cristina Graham Martínez
- Department of Pathology, Radboud University Medical Centre, Nijmegen, Netherlands
- *Correspondence: Cristina Graham Martínez,
| | - Yari Barella
- Department of Pathology, Radboud University Medical Centre, Nijmegen, Netherlands
| | - Sonay Kus Öztürk
- Department of Pathology, Radboud University Medical Centre, Nijmegen, Netherlands
| | - Marleen Ansems
- Radiotherapy & OncoImmunology Laboratory, Department of Radiation Oncology, Radboud University Medical Centre, Nijmegen, Netherlands
| | - Mark A.J Gorris
- Department of Tumor Immunology, Radboud University Medical Centre, Nijmegen, Netherlands
- Oncode Institute, Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - Shannon van Vliet
- Department of Pathology, Radboud University Medical Centre, Nijmegen, Netherlands
| | - Corrie A.M Marijnen
- Department of Radiotherapy, Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, Netherlands
- Department of Medical Oncology, Leiden University Medical Centre, Leiden, Netherlands
| | - Iris D Nagtegaal
- Department of Pathology, Radboud University Medical Centre, Nijmegen, Netherlands
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6
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Hayashi K, Nogawa D, Kobayashi M, Asakawa A, Ohata Y, Kitagawa S, Kubota K, Takahashi H, Yamada M, Oda G, Nakagawa T, Uetake H, Onishi I, Kinowaki Y, Kurata M, Kitagawa M, Yamamoto K. Quantitative high-throughput analysis of tumor infiltrating lymphocytes in breast cancer. Front Oncol 2022; 12:901591. [PMID: 36132149 PMCID: PMC9484474 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2022.901591] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2022] [Accepted: 07/22/2022] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
In breast cancer (BC), the development of cancer immunotherapy including immune checkpoint inhibitors has progressed. Tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) is one of the important factors for an immune response between tumor cells and immune cells in the tumor microenvironment, and the presence of TILs has been identified as predictors of response to chemotherapy. However, because complex mechanisms underlies the crosstalk between immune cells and cancer cells, the relationship between immune profiles in the tumor microenvironment and the efficacy of the immune checkpoint blocked has been unclear. Moreover, in many cases of breast cancer, the quantitative analysis of TILs and immuno-modification markers in a single tissue section are not studied. Therefore, we quantified detailed subsets of tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) from BC tissues and compared among BC subtypes. The TILs of BC tissues from 86 patients were classified using multiplex immunohistochemistry and an artificial intelligence-based analysis system based on T-cell subset markers, immunomodification markers, and the localization of TILs. The levels of CD4/PD1 and CD8/PD1 double-positive stromal TILs were significantly lower in the HER2- BC subtype (p <0.01 and p <0.05, respectively). In triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), single marker-positive intratumoral TILs did not affect prognosis, however CD4/PDL1, CD8/PD1, and CD8/PDL1 double-positive TILs were significantly associated with TNBC recurrence (p<0.05, p<0.01, and p<0.001, respectively). TIL profiles differed among different BC subtypes, suggesting that the localization of TILs and their tumor-specific subsets influence the BC microenvironment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kumiko Hayashi
- Department of Specialized Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine and Dentistry, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Daichi Nogawa
- Department of Comprehensive Pathology, Graduate School of Medicine and Dentistry, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Maki Kobayashi
- Molecular Pathology Group, Translational Research Department, Daiichisankyo RD Novare, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Ayaka Asakawa
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine and Dentistry, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Yae Ohata
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Microbiology, Science for Life Laboratory, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Shota Kitagawa
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine and Dentistry, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Kazuishi Kubota
- Department of Translational Science, Daiichi Sankyo, Inc., Basking Ridge, NJ, United States
| | - Hisashi Takahashi
- Molecular Pathology Group, Translational Research Department, Daiichisankyo RD Novare, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Miyuki Yamada
- Molecular Pathology Group, Translational Research Department, Daiichisankyo RD Novare, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Goshi Oda
- Department of Specialized Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine and Dentistry, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Tsuyoshi Nakagawa
- Department of Specialized Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine and Dentistry, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Hiroyuki Uetake
- Department of Specialized Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine and Dentistry, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Iichiroh Onishi
- Department of Comprehensive Pathology, Graduate School of Medicine and Dentistry, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Yuko Kinowaki
- Department of Comprehensive Pathology, Graduate School of Medicine and Dentistry, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Morito Kurata
- Department of Comprehensive Pathology, Graduate School of Medicine and Dentistry, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Masanobu Kitagawa
- Department of Comprehensive Pathology, Graduate School of Medicine and Dentistry, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Kouhei Yamamoto
- Department of Comprehensive Pathology, Graduate School of Medicine and Dentistry, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Tokyo, Japan
- Department of Human Pathology, Graduate School of Medicine and Dentistry, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Tokyo, Japan
- *Correspondence: Kouhei Yamamoto,
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7
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Multiplex Tissue Imaging: Spatial Revelations in the Tumor Microenvironment. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14133170. [PMID: 35804939 PMCID: PMC9264815 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14133170] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2022] [Revised: 06/22/2022] [Accepted: 06/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Cancer is the leading cause of death worldwide, and the overall aging of the population results in an increased risk of a cancer diagnosis during a person’s lifetime. Diagnosis and treatment at an early stage will typically increase the chances of survival. Tumors can develop therapy resistance, and it is difficult to predict how individual patients will respond to therapy. Most studies that aim to resolve this problem have focused on studying the composition and characteristics of dissociated tumors, while ignoring the role of cell localization and interactions within the tumor microenvironment. In the past decade, technological innovations have enabled multiplex imaging analyses of intact tumors to study localization and interaction parameters, which can be used as biomarkers, or can be correlated with treatment responses and clinical outcomes. Abstract The tumor microenvironment is a complex ecosystem containing various cell types, such as immune cells, fibroblasts, and endothelial cells, which interact with the tumor cells. In recent decades, the cancer research field has gained insight into the cellular subtypes that are involved in tumor microenvironment heterogeneity. Moreover, it has become evident that cellular interactions in the tumor microenvironment can either promote or inhibit tumor development, progression, and drug resistance, depending on the context. Multiplex spatial analysis methods have recently been developed; these have offered insight into how cellular crosstalk dynamics and heterogeneity affect cancer prognoses and responses to treatment. Multiplex (imaging) technologies and computational analysis methods allow for the spatial visualization and quantification of cell–cell interactions and properties. These technological advances allow for the discovery of cellular interactions within the tumor microenvironment and provide detailed single-cell information on properties that define cellular behavior. Such analyses give insights into the prognosis and mechanisms of therapy resistance, which is still an urgent problem in the treatment of multiple types of cancer. Here, we provide an overview of multiplex imaging technologies and concepts of downstream analysis methods to investigate cell–cell interactions, how these studies have advanced cancer research, and their potential clinical implications.
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Lee SW, Lee HY, Kang SW, Kim MJ, Lee YJ, Sung CO, Kim YM. Application of Immunoprofiling Using Multiplexed Immunofluorescence Staining Identifies the Prognosis of Patients with High-Grade Serous Ovarian Cancer. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22179638. [PMID: 34502561 PMCID: PMC8431807 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22179638] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2021] [Revised: 09/03/2021] [Accepted: 09/04/2021] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Immunoprofiling has an established impact on the prognosis of several cancers; however, its role and definition in high-grade serous ovarian cancer (HGSOC) are mostly unknown. This study is to investigate immunoprofiling which could be a prognostic factor in HGSOC. We produced tumor microarrays of 187 patients diagnosed with HGSOC. We performed a multiplexed immunofluorescence staining using Opal Multiplex IHC kit and quantitative analysis with Vectra-Inform system. The expression intensities of programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1), CD4, CD8, CD20, FoxP3, and CK in whole tumor tissues were evaluated. The enrolled patients showed general characteristics, mostly FIGO stage III/IV and responsive to chemotherapy. Each immune marker showed diverse positive densities, and each tumor sample represented its immune characteristics as an inflamed tumor or noninflamed tumor. No marker was associated with survival as a single one. Interestingly, high ratios of CD8 to FoxP3 and CD8 to PD-L1 were related to the favorable overall survival (77 vs. 39 months, 84 vs. 47 months, respectively), and CD8 to PD-L1 ratio was also a significant prognostic factor (HR 0.621, 95% CI 0.420-0.917, p = 0.017) along with well-known clinical prognostic factors. Additionally, CD8 to PD-L1 ratio was found to be higher in the chemosensitive group (p = 0.034). In conclusion, the relative expression levels of CD8, FoxP3, and PD-L1 were significantly related to the clinical outcome of patients with HGSOC, which could be a kind of significant immunoprofiling of ovarian cancer patients to apply for treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shin-Wha Lee
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul 05505, Korea;
- Correspondence:
| | - Ha-Young Lee
- Asan Institute for Life Science, Seoul 05505, Korea; (H.-Y.L.); (S.W.K.); (M.J.K.)
| | - Sung Wan Kang
- Asan Institute for Life Science, Seoul 05505, Korea; (H.-Y.L.); (S.W.K.); (M.J.K.)
| | - Min Je Kim
- Asan Institute for Life Science, Seoul 05505, Korea; (H.-Y.L.); (S.W.K.); (M.J.K.)
| | - Young-Jae Lee
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, GangNeung Asan Hospital, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Gangneung 25440, Korea;
| | - Chang Ohk Sung
- Department of Pathology, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul 05505, Korea;
| | - Yong-Man Kim
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul 05505, Korea;
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9
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Zhang Q, Wang J, Huang F, Yao Y, Xu L. Leptin induces NAFLD progression through infiltrated CD8+ T lymphocytes mediating pyroptotic-like cell death of hepatocytes and macrophages. Dig Liver Dis 2021; 53:598-605. [PMID: 33172809 DOI: 10.1016/j.dld.2020.10.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2020] [Revised: 09/29/2020] [Accepted: 10/15/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a chronic liver disease, which causes serious health problems worldwide. Hyperleptinemia and inflammatory stress are crucial in the progression of NAFLD. However, the relationship between leptin and immune cells or hepatocytes is still unclear. AIMS This study aimed to clarify the regulatory mechanism of leptin-mediated disease progression through immune cells and its relationship with hepatocytes. METHODS An NAFLD rat model was established to verify the relationship between hyperleptinemia and CD8+ T lymphocytes and cytokines in liver tissue. CD8+ T lymphocytes isolated from blood mononuclear cells were co-cultured with macrophages or hepatocytes stimulated with leptin or treated with granzyme inhibitors to observe target cell morphology and expression of pivotal protein family members. RESULTS CD8+ T lymphocyte infiltration positively correlated with blood leptin, IL-18 and IL-1β levels and was related to macrophage recruitment and differentiation in a rat model of NAFLD. Leptin could induce activated caspase-1 and caspase-3 in hepatocytes and trigger hepatocyte pyroptosis. CONCLUSIONS Leptin may regulate the pyroptotic-like death of macrophages and hepatocytes through CD8+ T lymphocytes in NAFLD progression. The intervention of related pathways of leptin and immune cells may provide a promising strategy for treating NAFLD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qinghui Zhang
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Kunshan First People's Hospital, Jiangsu University, Kunshan 215300, China.
| | - Jianjun Wang
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Kunshan First People's Hospital, Jiangsu University, Kunshan 215300, China
| | - Feng Huang
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Kunshan First People's Hospital, Jiangsu University, Kunshan 215300, China
| | - Yongliang Yao
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Kunshan First People's Hospital, Jiangsu University, Kunshan 215300, China
| | - Ling Xu
- Department of Gastroenterology, Shanghai Tongren Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200336, China.
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10
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Ortega S, Halicek M, Fabelo H, Callico GM, Fei B. Hyperspectral and multispectral imaging in digital and computational pathology: a systematic review [Invited]. BIOMEDICAL OPTICS EXPRESS 2020; 11:3195-3233. [PMID: 32637250 PMCID: PMC7315999 DOI: 10.1364/boe.386338] [Citation(s) in RCA: 64] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2019] [Revised: 03/28/2020] [Accepted: 05/08/2020] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
Hyperspectral imaging (HSI) and multispectral imaging (MSI) technologies have the potential to transform the fields of digital and computational pathology. Traditional digitized histopathological slides are imaged with RGB imaging. Utilizing HSI/MSI, spectral information across wavelengths within and beyond the visual range can complement spatial information for the creation of computer-aided diagnostic tools for both stained and unstained histological specimens. In this systematic review, we summarize the methods and uses of HSI/MSI for staining and color correction, immunohistochemistry, autofluorescence, and histopathological diagnostic research. Studies include hematology, breast cancer, head and neck cancer, skin cancer, and diseases of central nervous, gastrointestinal, and genitourinary systems. The use of HSI/MSI suggest an improvement in the detection of diseases and clinical practice compared with traditional RGB analysis, and brings new opportunities in histological analysis of samples, such as digital staining or alleviating the inter-laboratory variability of digitized samples. Nevertheless, the number of studies in this field is currently limited, and more research is needed to confirm the advantages of this technology compared to conventional imagery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samuel Ortega
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, TX 75080, USA
- Institute for Applied Microelectronics (IUMA), University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (ULPGC), Campus de Tafira, 35017, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Las Palmas, Spain
- These authors contributed equally to this work
| | - Martin Halicek
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, TX 75080, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Inst. of Tech. and Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
- These authors contributed equally to this work
| | - Himar Fabelo
- Institute for Applied Microelectronics (IUMA), University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (ULPGC), Campus de Tafira, 35017, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Las Palmas, Spain
| | - Gustavo M Callico
- Institute for Applied Microelectronics (IUMA), University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (ULPGC), Campus de Tafira, 35017, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Las Palmas, Spain
| | - Baowei Fei
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, TX 75080, USA
- University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Advanced Imaging Research Center, Dallas, TX 75235, USA
- University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Department of Radiology, Dallas, TX 75235, USA
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11
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Powley IR, Patel M, Miles G, Pringle H, Howells L, Thomas A, Kettleborough C, Bryans J, Hammonds T, MacFarlane M, Pritchard C. Patient-derived explants (PDEs) as a powerful preclinical platform for anti-cancer drug and biomarker discovery. Br J Cancer 2020; 122:735-744. [PMID: 31894140 PMCID: PMC7078311 DOI: 10.1038/s41416-019-0672-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 118] [Impact Index Per Article: 29.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2019] [Revised: 10/30/2019] [Accepted: 11/15/2019] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Preclinical models that can accurately predict outcomes in the clinic are much sought after in the field of cancer drug discovery and development. Existing models such as organoids and patient-derived xenografts have many advantages, but they suffer from the drawback of not contextually preserving human tumour architecture. This is a particular problem for the preclinical testing of immunotherapies, as these agents require an intact tumour human-specific microenvironment for them to be effective. In this review, we explore the potential of patient-derived explants (PDEs) for fulfilling this need. PDEs involve the ex vivo culture of fragments of freshly resected human tumours that retain the histological features of original tumours. PDE methodology for anti-cancer drug testing has been in existence for many years, but the platform has not been widely adopted in translational research facilities, despite strong evidence for its clinical predictivity. By modifying PDE endpoint analysis to include the spatial profiling of key biomarkers by using multispectral imaging, we argue that PDEs offer many advantages, including the ability to correlate drug responses with tumour pathology, tumour heterogeneity and changes in the tumour microenvironment. As such, PDEs are a powerful model of choice for cancer drug and biomarker discovery programmes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ian R Powley
- Leicester Cancer Research Centre, University of Leicester, Clinical Sciences Building, Leicester, LE2 7LX, UK.
| | - Meeta Patel
- Leicester Cancer Research Centre, University of Leicester, Clinical Sciences Building, Leicester, LE2 7LX, UK
| | - Gareth Miles
- Leicester Cancer Research Centre, University of Leicester, Clinical Sciences Building, Leicester, LE2 7LX, UK
| | - Howard Pringle
- Leicester Cancer Research Centre, University of Leicester, Clinical Sciences Building, Leicester, LE2 7LX, UK
| | - Lynne Howells
- Leicester Cancer Research Centre, University of Leicester, Clinical Sciences Building, Leicester, LE2 7LX, UK
| | - Anne Thomas
- Leicester Cancer Research Centre, University of Leicester, Clinical Sciences Building, Leicester, LE2 7LX, UK
| | | | - Justin Bryans
- LifeArc, Accelerator Building, Open Innovation Campus, Stevenage, SG1 2FX, UK
| | - Tim Hammonds
- Cancer Research UK, Therapeutics Discovery Laboratories, London Bioscience Innovation Centre, 2 Royal College Street, London, NW1 0NH, UK
| | - Marion MacFarlane
- MRC Toxicology Unit, Hodgkin Building, Lancaster Road, Leicester, LE1 9HN, UK.
| | - Catrin Pritchard
- Leicester Cancer Research Centre, University of Leicester, Clinical Sciences Building, Leicester, LE2 7LX, UK.
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12
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Jung HR, Kim MJ, Wee YM, Kim JY, Choi MY, Choi JY, Kwon H, Jung JH, Cho YM, Go H, Kim SY, Ryu YM, Kim YJ, Kim YH, Han DJ, Shin S. CD56 +CD57 + infiltrates as the most predominant subset of intragraft natural killer cells in renal transplant biopsies with antibody-mediated rejection. Sci Rep 2019; 9:16606. [PMID: 31719573 PMCID: PMC6851356 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-52864-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2019] [Accepted: 10/24/2019] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Little is known about the characteristics and clinical implications of specific subsets of intragraft natural killer (NK) cells in kidney transplant recipients. We analyzed 39 for-cause renal transplant biopsies performed at our center from May 2015 to July 2017. According to histopathologic reports, 8 patients (20.5%) had no rejection (NR), 11 (28.2%) had T cell-mediated rejections (TCMR) only, and 20 (51.3%) had antibody-mediated rejection (ABMR). NK cells were defined as CD3–CD56+ lymphocytes that are positive for CD57, CD49b, NKG2A, or KIR. The density of NK cells was significantly higher in the ABMR group (2.57 ± 2.58/mm2) than in the NR (0.12 ± 0.22/mm2) or the TCMR (0.25 ± 0.34/mm2) group (P = 0.002). Notably, CD56+CD57+ infiltrates (2.16 ± 1.89) were the most frequently observed compared with CD56+CD49b+ (0.05 ± 0.13), CD56+NKG2A+ (0.21 ± 0.69), and CD56+KIR+ (0.15 ± 0.42) cells in the ABMR group (P < 0.001). Death-censored graft failure was significantly higher in patients with NK cell infiltration than those without (Log-rank test, P = 0.025). In conclusion, CD56+CD57+ infiltrates are a major subset of NK cells in kidney transplant recipients with ABMR and NK cell infiltration is significantly associated with graft failure post-transplant.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hey Rim Jung
- Division of Kidney and Pancreas Transplantation, Department of Surgery, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.,Department of Medical Science, Asan Medical Institute of Convergence Science and Technology, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Mi Joung Kim
- Division of Kidney and Pancreas Transplantation, Department of Surgery, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Yu-Mee Wee
- Division of Kidney and Pancreas Transplantation, Department of Surgery, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Jee Yeon Kim
- Division of Kidney and Pancreas Transplantation, Department of Surgery, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Monica Young Choi
- Division of Kidney and Pancreas Transplantation, Department of Surgery, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Ji Yoon Choi
- Division of Kidney and Pancreas Transplantation, Department of Surgery, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Hyunwook Kwon
- Division of Kidney and Pancreas Transplantation, Department of Surgery, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Joo Hee Jung
- Division of Kidney and Pancreas Transplantation, Department of Surgery, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Yong Mee Cho
- Department of Pathology, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Heounjeong Go
- Department of Pathology, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Sang-Yeob Kim
- Department of Convergence Medicine, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.,Asan Institute for life sciences, Asan Medical Center, Seoul, Korea
| | - Yeon-Mi Ryu
- Asan Institute for life sciences, Asan Medical Center, Seoul, Korea
| | - Yun Jae Kim
- Asan Institute for life sciences, Asan Medical Center, Seoul, Korea
| | - Young Hoon Kim
- Division of Kidney and Pancreas Transplantation, Department of Surgery, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Duck Jong Han
- Division of Kidney and Pancreas Transplantation, Department of Surgery, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Sung Shin
- Division of Kidney and Pancreas Transplantation, Department of Surgery, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
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13
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Krijgsman D, Van Vlierberghe RLP, Evangelou V, Vahrmeijer AL, Van de Velde CJH, Sier CFM, Kuppen PJK. A method for semi-automated image analysis of HLA class I tumour epithelium expression in rectal cancer. Eur J Histochem 2019; 63. [PMID: 31113192 PMCID: PMC6536912 DOI: 10.4081/ejh.2019.3028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2019] [Accepted: 04/20/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Biomarkers may hold the key towards development and improvement of personalized cancer treatment. For instance, tumour expression of immune system-related proteins may reveal the tumour immune status and, accordingly, determine choice for type of immunotherapy. Therefore, objective evaluation of tumour biomarker expression is needed but often challenging. For instance, human leukocyte antigen (HLA) class I tumour epithelium expression is cumbersome to quantify by eye due to its presence on both tumour epithelial cells and tumour stromal cells, as well as tumourinfiltrating immune cells. In this study, we solved this problem by setting up an immunohistochemical (IHC) double staining using a tissue microarray (TMA) of rectal tumours wherein HLA class I expression was coloured with a blue chromogen, whereas non-epithelial tissue was visualized with a brown chromogen. We subsequently developed a semi-automated image analysis method that identified tumour epithelium as well as the percentage of HLA class I-positive tumour epithelium. Using this technique, we compared HCA2/HC10 and EMR8-5 antibodies for the assessment of HLA class I tumour expression and concluded that EMR8-5 is the superior antibody for this purpose. This IHC double staining can in principle be used for scoring of any biomarker expressed by tumour epithelium.
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14
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Liu Z, Chen S, Qiu C, Sun Y, Li W, Jiang J, Zhang JM. Fractalkine/CX3CR1 Contributes to Endometriosis-Induced Neuropathic Pain and Mechanical Hypersensitivity in Rats. Front Cell Neurosci 2018; 12:495. [PMID: 30622457 PMCID: PMC6309014 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2018.00495] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2018] [Accepted: 12/03/2018] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Pain is the most severe and common symptom of endometriosis. Its underlying pathogenetic mechanism is poorly understood. Nerve sensitization is a particular research challenge, due to the limitations of general endometriosis models and sampling nerve tissue from patients. The chemokine fractalkine (FKN) has been demonstrated to play a key role in various forms of neuropathic pain, while its role in endometriotic pain is unknown. Our study was designed to explore the function of FKN in the development and maintenance of peripheral hyperalgesia and central sensitization in endometriosis using a novel endometriosis animal model developed in our laboratory. After modeling, behavioral tests were carried out and the optimal time for molecular changes was obtained. We extracted ectopic tissues and L4-6 spinal cords to detect peripheral and central roles for FKN, respectively. To assess morphologic characteristics of endometriosis-like lesions-as well as expression and location of FKN/CX3CR1-we performed H&E staining, immunostaining, and western blotting analyses. Furthermore, inhibition of FKN expression in the spinal cord was achieved by intrathecal administration of an FKN-neutralizing antibody to demonstrate its function. Our results showed that implanted autologous uterine tissue around the sciatic nerve induced endometriosis-like lesions and produced mechanical hyperalgesia and allodynia. FKN was highly expressed on macrophages, whereas its receptor CX3CR1 was overexpressed in the myelin sheath of sciatic nerve fibers. Overexpressed FKN was also observed in neurons. CX3CR1/pp38-MAPK was upregulated in activated microglia in the spinal dorsal horn. Intrathecal administration of FKN-neutralizing antibody not only reversed the established mechanical hyperalgesia and allodynia, but also inhibited the expression of CX3CR1/pp38-MAPK in activated microglia, which was essential for the persistence of central sensitization. We concluded that the FKN/CX3CR1 signaling pathway might be one of the mechanisms of peripheral hyperalgesia in endometriosis, which requires further studies. Spinal FKN is important for the development and maintenance of central sensitization in endometriosis, and it may further serve as a novel therapeutic target to relieve persistent pain associated with endometriosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhiming Liu
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, China.,Key Laboratory of Gynecologic Oncology of Shandong Province, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, China
| | - Sisi Chen
- Pain Research Center, Department of Anesthesiology, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, United States
| | - Chunping Qiu
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, China.,Key Laboratory of Gynecologic Oncology of Shandong Province, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, China
| | - Yaqiong Sun
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Shandong Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital, Jinan, China
| | - Wenzhi Li
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, China.,Key Laboratory of Gynecologic Oncology of Shandong Province, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, China
| | - Jie Jiang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, China
| | - Jun-Ming Zhang
- Pain Research Center, Department of Anesthesiology, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, United States
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