1
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Sulsenti R, Scialpi GB, Frossi B, Botti L, Ferri R, Tripodi I, Piva A, Sangaletti S, Pernici D, Cancila V, Romeo F, Chiodoni C, Lecis D, Bianchi F, Fischetti I, Enriquez C, Crivelli F, Bregni M, Renne G, Pece S, Tripodo C, Pucillo CE, Colombo MP, Jachetti E. Intracellular Osteopontin Promotes the Release of TNFα by Mast Cells to Restrain Neuroendocrine Prostate Cancer. Cancer Immunol Res 2024; 12:1147-1169. [PMID: 38869181 PMCID: PMC11369624 DOI: 10.1158/2326-6066.cir-23-0792] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2023] [Revised: 03/28/2024] [Accepted: 06/11/2024] [Indexed: 06/14/2024]
Abstract
Neuroendocrine prostate cancer (NEPC) is an aggressive form of prostate cancer that emerges as tumors become resistant to hormone therapies or, rarely, arises de novo in treatment-naïve patients. The urgent need for effective therapies against NEPC is hampered by the limited knowledge of the biology governing this lethal disease. Based on our prior observations in the transgenic adenocarcinoma of the mouse prostate (TRAMP) spontaneous prostate cancer model, in which the genetic depletion of either mast cells (MC) or the matricellular protein osteopontin (OPN) increases NEPC frequency, we tested the hypothesis that MCs can restrain NEPC through OPN production, using in vitro co-cultures between murine or human tumor cell lines and MCs, and in vivo experiments. We unveiled a role for the intracellular isoform of OPN, so far neglected compared with the secreted isoform. Mechanistically, we unraveled that the intracellular isoform of OPN promotes TNFα production in MCs via the TLR2/TLR4-MyD88 axis, specifically triggered by the encounter with NEPC cells. We found that MC-derived TNFα, in turn, hampered the growth of NEPC. We then identified the protein syndecan-1 (SDC1) as the NEPC-specific TLR2/TLR4 ligand that triggered this pathway. Interrogating published single-cell RNA-sequencing data, we validated this mechanism in a different mouse model. Translational relevance of the results was provided by in silico analyses of available human NEPC datasets and by immunofluorescence on patient-derived adenocarcinoma and NEPC lesions. Overall, our results show that MCs actively inhibit NEPC, paving the way for innovative MC-based therapies for this fatal tumor. We also highlight SDC1 as a potential biomarker for incipient NEPC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roberta Sulsenti
- Molecular Immunology Unit, Department of Experimental Oncology, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori di Milano, Milan, Italy.
| | - Giuseppina B. Scialpi
- Molecular Immunology Unit, Department of Experimental Oncology, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori di Milano, Milan, Italy.
| | - Barbara Frossi
- Immunology Section, Department of Medicine, University of Udine, Udine, Italy.
| | - Laura Botti
- Molecular Immunology Unit, Department of Experimental Oncology, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori di Milano, Milan, Italy.
| | - Renata Ferri
- Molecular Immunology Unit, Department of Experimental Oncology, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori di Milano, Milan, Italy.
| | - Irene Tripodi
- Molecular Immunology Unit, Department of Experimental Oncology, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori di Milano, Milan, Italy.
| | - Annamaria Piva
- Molecular Immunology Unit, Department of Experimental Oncology, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori di Milano, Milan, Italy.
| | - Sabina Sangaletti
- Molecular Immunology Unit, Department of Experimental Oncology, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori di Milano, Milan, Italy.
| | - Davide Pernici
- Molecular Immunology Unit, Department of Experimental Oncology, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori di Milano, Milan, Italy.
| | - Valeria Cancila
- Tumor Immunology Unit, Department of Health Sciences, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy.
| | - Francesco Romeo
- Dipartimento di Onologia Sperimentale, European Institute of Oncology IRCCS, Milan, Italy.
| | - Claudia Chiodoni
- Molecular Immunology Unit, Department of Experimental Oncology, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori di Milano, Milan, Italy.
| | - Daniele Lecis
- Molecular Immunology Unit, Department of Experimental Oncology, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori di Milano, Milan, Italy.
| | - Francesca Bianchi
- Microenvironment and Biomarkers in Solid tumors Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori di Milano, Milan, Italy.
| | - Irene Fischetti
- Molecular Immunology Unit, Department of Experimental Oncology, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori di Milano, Milan, Italy.
| | - Claudia Enriquez
- Molecular Immunology Unit, Department of Experimental Oncology, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori di Milano, Milan, Italy.
| | - Filippo Crivelli
- Oncology-Hematology Unit, ASST Valle Olona, Busto Arsizio, Italy.
| | - Marco Bregni
- Oncology-Hematology Unit, ASST Valle Olona, Busto Arsizio, Italy.
| | - Giuseppe Renne
- Uropathology and Intraoperative Diagnostic Division, European Institute of Oncology IRCCS, Milan, Italy.
| | - Salvatore Pece
- Dipartimento di Onologia Sperimentale, European Institute of Oncology IRCCS, Milan, Italy.
| | - Claudio Tripodo
- Tumor Immunology Unit, Department of Health Sciences, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy.
| | - Carlo E. Pucillo
- Immunology Section, Department of Medicine, University of Udine, Udine, Italy.
| | - Mario P. Colombo
- Molecular Immunology Unit, Department of Experimental Oncology, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori di Milano, Milan, Italy.
| | - Elena Jachetti
- Molecular Immunology Unit, Department of Experimental Oncology, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori di Milano, Milan, Italy.
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Zhang T, Zhao F, Lin Y, Liu M, Zhou H, Cui F, Jin Y, Chen L, Sheng X. Integrated analysis of single-cell and bulk transcriptomics develops a robust neuroendocrine cell-intrinsic signature to predict prostate cancer progression. Theranostics 2024; 14:1065-1080. [PMID: 38250042 PMCID: PMC10797290 DOI: 10.7150/thno.92336] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2023] [Accepted: 12/26/2023] [Indexed: 01/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Neuroendocrine prostate cancer (NEPC) typically implies severe lethality and limited treatment options. The precise identification of NEPC cells holds paramount significance for both research and clinical applications, yet valid NEPC biomarker remains to be defined. Methods: Leveraging 11 published NE-related gene sets, 11 single-cell RNA-sequencing (scRNA-seq) cohorts, 15 bulk transcriptomic cohorts, and 13 experimental models of prostate cancer (PCa), we employed multiple advanced algorithms to construct and validate a robust NEPC risk prediction model. Results: Through the compilation of a comprehensive scRNA-seq reference atlas (comprising a total of 210,879 single cells, including 66 tumor samples) from 9 multicenter datasets of PCa, we observed inconsistent and inefficient performance among the 11 published NE gene sets. Therefore, we developed an integrative analysis pipeline, identifying 762 high-quality NE markers. Subsequently, we derived the NE cell-intrinsic gene signature, and developed an R package named NEPAL, to predict NEPC risk scores. By applying to multiple independent validation datasets, NEPAL consistently and accurately assigned NE feature and delineated PCa progression. Intriguingly, NEPAL demonstrated predictive capabilities for prognosis and therapy responsiveness, as well as the identification of potential epigenetic drivers of NEPC. Conclusion: The present study furnishes a valuable tool for the identification of NEPC and the monitoring of PCa progression through transcriptomic profiles obtained from both bulk and single-cell sources.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tingting Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Environmental Health, Ministry of Education & Ministry of Environmental Protection, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
- School of Life and Health Sciences, Hainan University, Haikou, China
| | - Faming Zhao
- Key Laboratory of Environmental Health, Ministry of Education & Ministry of Environmental Protection, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
- School of Life and Health Sciences, Hainan University, Haikou, China
| | - Yahang Lin
- Department of Neurology, Wuhan Fourth Hospital/Pu'ai Hospital, Wuhan, China
| | - Mingsheng Liu
- The Second Ward of Urology, Qujing Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Qujing, China
| | - Hongqing Zhou
- The Second Ward of Urology, Qujing Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Qujing, China
| | - Fengzhen Cui
- Key Laboratory of Environmental Health, Ministry of Education & Ministry of Environmental Protection, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
- School of Life and Health Sciences, Hainan University, Haikou, China
| | - Yang Jin
- Institute for Cancer Genetics and Informatics, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - Liang Chen
- Department of Urology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Xia Sheng
- Key Laboratory of Environmental Health, Ministry of Education & Ministry of Environmental Protection, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
- School of Life and Health Sciences, Hainan University, Haikou, China
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3
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Silver SV, Popovics P. The Multifaceted Role of Osteopontin in Prostate Pathologies. Biomedicines 2023; 11:2895. [PMID: 38001899 PMCID: PMC10669591 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines11112895] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2023] [Revised: 10/22/2023] [Accepted: 10/23/2023] [Indexed: 11/26/2023] Open
Abstract
The prostate gland, located beneath the bladder and surrounding the proximal urethra in men, plays a vital role in reproductive physiology and sexual health. Despite its importance, the prostate is vulnerable to various pathologies, including prostatitis, benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and prostate cancer (PCa). Osteopontin (OPN), a versatile protein involved in wound healing, inflammatory responses, and fibrotic diseases, has been implicated in all three prostate conditions. The role of OPN in prostatic pathophysiology, affecting both benign and malignant prostate conditions, is significant. Current evidence strongly suggests that OPN is expressed at a higher level in prostate cancer and promotes tumor progression and aggressiveness. Conversely, OPN is primarily secreted by macrophages and foam cells in benign prostate conditions and provokes inflammation and fibrosis. This review discusses the accumulating evidence on the role of OPN in prostatic diseases, cellular sources, and potential roles while also highlighting areas for future investigations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samara V. Silver
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Cell Biology, Eastern Virginia Medical School, Norfolk, VA 23507, USA;
- Leroy T. Canoles Jr. Cancer Research Center, Eastern Virginia Medical School, Norfolk, VA 23507, USA
| | - Petra Popovics
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Cell Biology, Eastern Virginia Medical School, Norfolk, VA 23507, USA;
- Leroy T. Canoles Jr. Cancer Research Center, Eastern Virginia Medical School, Norfolk, VA 23507, USA
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Saup R, Nair N, Shen J, Schmaus A, Thiele W, Garvalov BK, Sleeman JP. Increased Circulating Osteopontin Levels Promote Primary Tumour Growth, but Do Not Induce Metastasis in Melanoma. Biomedicines 2023; 11:biomedicines11041038. [PMID: 37189656 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines11041038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2023] [Revised: 03/21/2023] [Accepted: 03/25/2023] [Indexed: 03/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Osteopontin (OPN) is a phosphoprotein with diverse functions in various physiological and pathological processes. OPN expression is increased in multiple cancers, and OPN within tumour tissue has been shown to promote key stages of cancer development. OPN levels are also elevated in the circulation of cancer patients, which in some cases has been correlated with enhanced metastatic propensity and poor prognosis. However, the precise impact of circulating OPN (cOPN) on tumour growth and progression remains insufficiently understood. To examine the role of cOPN, we used a melanoma model, in which we stably increased the levels of cOPN through adeno-associated virus-mediated transduction. We found that increased cOPN promoted the growth of primary tumours, but did not significantly alter the spontaneous metastasis of melanoma cells to the lymph nodes or lungs, despite an increase in the expression of multiple factors linked to tumour progression. To assess whether cOPN has a role at later stages of metastasis formation, we employed an experimental metastasis model, but again could not detect any increase in pulmonary metastasis in animals with elevated levels of cOPN. These results demonstrate that increased levels of OPN in the circulation play distinct roles during different stages of melanoma progression.
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Mather RL, Parolia A, Carson SE, Venalainen E, Roig-Carles D, Jaber M, Chu SC, Alborelli I, Wu R, Lin D, Nabavi N, Jachetti E, Colombo MP, Xue H, Pucci P, Ci X, Hawkes C, Li Y, Pandha H, Ulitsky I, Marconett C, Quagliata L, Jiang W, Romero I, Wang Y, Crea F. The evolutionarily conserved long non-coding RNA LINC00261 drives neuroendocrine prostate cancer proliferation and metastasis via distinct nuclear and cytoplasmic mechanisms. Mol Oncol 2021; 15:1921-1941. [PMID: 33793068 PMCID: PMC8253100 DOI: 10.1002/1878-0261.12954] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2020] [Revised: 01/21/2021] [Accepted: 03/30/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Metastatic neuroendocrine prostate cancer (NEPC) is a highly aggressive disease, whose incidence is rising. Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) represent a large family of disease- and tissue-specific transcripts, most of which are still functionally uncharacterized. Thus, we set out to identify the highly conserved lncRNAs that play a central role in NEPC pathogenesis. To this end, we performed transcriptomic analyses of donor-matched patient-derived xenograft models (PDXs) with immunohistologic features of prostate adenocarcinoma (AR+ /PSA+ ) or NEPC (AR- /SYN+ /CHGA+ ) and through differential expression analyses identified lncRNAs that were upregulated upon neuroendocrine transdifferentiation. These genes were prioritized for functional assessment based on the level of conservation in vertebrates. Here, LINC00261 emerged as the top gene with over 3229-fold upregulation in NEPC. Consistently, LINC00261 expression was significantly upregulated in NEPC specimens in multiple patient cohorts. Knockdown of LINC00261 in PC-3 cells dramatically attenuated its proliferative and metastatic abilities, which are explained by parallel downregulation of CBX2 and FOXA2 through distinct molecular mechanisms. In the cell cytoplasm, LINC00261 binds to and sequesters miR-8485 from targeting the CBX2 mRNA, while inside the nucleus, LINC00261 functions as a transcriptional scaffold to induce SMAD-driven expression of the FOXA2 gene. For the first time, these results demonstrate hyperactivation of the LINC00261-CBX2-FOXA2 axes in NEPC to drive proliferation and metastasis, and that LINC00261 may be utilized as a therapeutic target and a biomarker for this incurable disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca L Mather
- Cancer Research Group-School of Life Health and Chemical Sciences, The Open University, Milton Keynes, UK
| | - Abhijit Parolia
- Michigan Center for Translational Pathology, Department of Pathology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Sandra E Carson
- Michigan Center for Translational Pathology, Department of Pathology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Erik Venalainen
- Experimental Therapeutics, BC Cancer Research Centre, Vancouver, Canada
| | - David Roig-Carles
- Cancer Research Group-School of Life Health and Chemical Sciences, The Open University, Milton Keynes, UK
| | - Mustapha Jaber
- Michigan Center for Translational Pathology, Department of Pathology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Shih-Chun Chu
- Michigan Center for Translational Pathology, Department of Pathology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | | | - Rebecca Wu
- Experimental Therapeutics, BC Cancer Research Centre, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Dong Lin
- Experimental Therapeutics, BC Cancer Research Centre, Vancouver, Canada.,The Vancouver Prostate Centre, Vancouver General Hospital, Vancouver, Canada.,Department of Urologic Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Noushin Nabavi
- Experimental Therapeutics, BC Cancer Research Centre, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Elena Jachetti
- Molecular Immunology Unit, Department of Research, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale Tumori, Milano, Italy
| | - Mario P Colombo
- Molecular Immunology Unit, Department of Research, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale Tumori, Milano, Italy
| | - Hui Xue
- Experimental Therapeutics, BC Cancer Research Centre, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Perla Pucci
- Cancer Research Group-School of Life Health and Chemical Sciences, The Open University, Milton Keynes, UK
| | - Xinpei Ci
- The Vancouver Prostate Centre, Vancouver General Hospital, Vancouver, Canada.,Department of Urologic Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Cheryl Hawkes
- Cancer Research Group-School of Life Health and Chemical Sciences, The Open University, Milton Keynes, UK
| | - Yinglei Li
- Medical Research Institute, School of Medicine, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Hardev Pandha
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Science, University of Surrey, Guildford, UK
| | - Igor Ulitsky
- Department of Biological Regulation, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Crystal Marconett
- Departments of Surgery, Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, Norris Cancer Center, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Luca Quagliata
- Institute of Pathology, University Hospital Basel, Switzerland
| | - Wei Jiang
- Medical Research Institute, School of Medicine, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Ignacio Romero
- Cancer Research Group-School of Life Health and Chemical Sciences, The Open University, Milton Keynes, UK
| | - Yuzhuo Wang
- Experimental Therapeutics, BC Cancer Research Centre, Vancouver, Canada.,The Vancouver Prostate Centre, Vancouver General Hospital, Vancouver, Canada.,Department of Urologic Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Francesco Crea
- Cancer Research Group-School of Life Health and Chemical Sciences, The Open University, Milton Keynes, UK
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Sulsenti R, Frossi B, Bongiovanni L, Cancila V, Ostano P, Fischetti I, Enriquez C, Guana F, Chiorino G, Tripodo C, Pucillo CE, Colombo MP, Jachetti E. Repurposing of the Antiepileptic Drug Levetiracetam to Restrain Neuroendocrine Prostate Cancer and Inhibit Mast Cell Support to Adenocarcinoma. Front Immunol 2021; 12:622001. [PMID: 33737929 PMCID: PMC7960782 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.622001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2020] [Accepted: 02/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
A relevant fraction of castration-resistant prostate cancers (CRPC) evolve into fatal neuroendocrine (NEPC) tumors in resistance to androgen deprivation and/or inhibitors of androgen receptor pathway. Therefore, effective drugs against both CRPC and NEPC are needed. We have previously described a dual role of mast cells (MCs) in prostate cancer, being capable to promote adenocarcinoma but also to restrain NEPC. This finding suggests that a molecule targeting both MCs and NEPC cells could be effective against prostate cancer. Using an in silico drug repurposing approach, here we identify the antiepileptic drug levetiracetam as a potential candidate for this purpose. We found that the protein target of levetiracetam, SV2A, is highly expressed by both NEPC cells and MCs infiltrating prostate adenocarcinoma, while it is low or negligible in adenocarcinoma cells. In vitro, levetiracetam inhibited the proliferation of NEPC cells and the degranulation of MCs. In mice bearing subcutaneous tumors levetiracetam was partially active on both NEPC and adenocarcinoma, the latter effect due to the inhibition of MMP9 release by MCs. Notably, in TRansgenic Adenocarcinoma of the Mouse Prostate (TRAMP) mice subjected to surgical castration to mimic androgen deprivation therapy, levetiracetam reduced onset and frequency of both high grade prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia, adenocarcinoma and NEPC, thus increasing the number of cured mice showing only signs of tumor regression. Our results demonstrate that levetiracetam can directly restrain NEPC development after androgen deprivation, and that it can also block adenocarcinoma progression through the inhibition of some MCs functions. These findings open the possibility of further testing levetiracetam for the therapy of prostate cancer or of MC-mediated diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roberta Sulsenti
- Molecular Immunology Unit, Department of Research, Fondazione Istituto di Ricerca e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS) Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Milan, Italy
| | - Barbara Frossi
- Immunology Section, Department of Medicine, University of Udine, Udine, Italy
| | - Lucia Bongiovanni
- Tumor Immunology Unit, Department of Health Sciences, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
| | - Valeria Cancila
- Tumor Immunology Unit, Department of Health Sciences, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
| | - Paola Ostano
- Laboratory of Cancer Genomics, Fondazione Edo ed Elvo Tempia, Biella, Italy
| | - Irene Fischetti
- Molecular Immunology Unit, Department of Research, Fondazione Istituto di Ricerca e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS) Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Milan, Italy
| | - Claudia Enriquez
- Molecular Immunology Unit, Department of Research, Fondazione Istituto di Ricerca e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS) Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Milan, Italy
| | - Francesca Guana
- Laboratory of Cancer Genomics, Fondazione Edo ed Elvo Tempia, Biella, Italy
| | - Giovanna Chiorino
- Laboratory of Cancer Genomics, Fondazione Edo ed Elvo Tempia, Biella, Italy
| | - Claudio Tripodo
- Tumor Immunology Unit, Department of Health Sciences, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
| | - Carlo E. Pucillo
- Immunology Section, Department of Medicine, University of Udine, Udine, Italy
| | - Mario P. Colombo
- Molecular Immunology Unit, Department of Research, Fondazione Istituto di Ricerca e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS) Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Milan, Italy
| | - Elena Jachetti
- Molecular Immunology Unit, Department of Research, Fondazione Istituto di Ricerca e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS) Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Milan, Italy
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7
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Ostano P, Mello-Grand M, Sesia D, Gregnanin I, Peraldo-Neia C, Guana F, Jachetti E, Farsetti A, Chiorino G. Gene Expression Signature Predictive of Neuroendocrine Transformation in Prostate Adenocarcinoma. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21031078. [PMID: 32041153 PMCID: PMC7037893 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21031078] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/24/2019] [Revised: 01/28/2020] [Accepted: 02/04/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Neuroendocrine prostate cancer (NEPC) can arise de novo, but much more commonly occurs as a consequence of a selective pressure from androgen deprivation therapy or androgen receptor antagonists used for prostate cancer (PCa) treatment. The process is known as neuroendocrine transdifferentiation. There is little molecular characterization of NEPCs and consequently there is no standard treatment for this kind of tumors, characterized by highly metastases rates and poor survival. For this purpose, we profiled 54 PCa samples with more than 10-years follow-up for gene and miRNA expression. We divided samples into two groups (NE-like vs. AdenoPCa), according to their clinical and molecular features. NE-like tumors were characterized by a neuroendocrine fingerprint made of known neuroendocrine markers and novel molecules, including long non-coding RNAs and components of the estrogen receptor signaling. A gene expression signature able to predict NEPC was built and tested on independently published datasets. This study identified molecular features (protein-coding, long non-coding, and microRNAs), at the time of surgery, that may anticipate the NE transformation process of prostate adenocarcinoma. Our results may contribute to improving the diagnosis and treatment of this subgroup of tumors for which traditional therapy regimens do not show beneficial effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paola Ostano
- Laboratory of Cancer Genomics, Fondazione Edo ed Elvo Tempia, via Malta 3, 13900 Biella, Italy; (P.O.); (M.M.-G.); (D.S.); (I.G.); (C.P.-N.); (F.G.)
| | - Maurizia Mello-Grand
- Laboratory of Cancer Genomics, Fondazione Edo ed Elvo Tempia, via Malta 3, 13900 Biella, Italy; (P.O.); (M.M.-G.); (D.S.); (I.G.); (C.P.-N.); (F.G.)
| | - Debora Sesia
- Laboratory of Cancer Genomics, Fondazione Edo ed Elvo Tempia, via Malta 3, 13900 Biella, Italy; (P.O.); (M.M.-G.); (D.S.); (I.G.); (C.P.-N.); (F.G.)
| | - Ilaria Gregnanin
- Laboratory of Cancer Genomics, Fondazione Edo ed Elvo Tempia, via Malta 3, 13900 Biella, Italy; (P.O.); (M.M.-G.); (D.S.); (I.G.); (C.P.-N.); (F.G.)
| | - Caterina Peraldo-Neia
- Laboratory of Cancer Genomics, Fondazione Edo ed Elvo Tempia, via Malta 3, 13900 Biella, Italy; (P.O.); (M.M.-G.); (D.S.); (I.G.); (C.P.-N.); (F.G.)
| | - Francesca Guana
- Laboratory of Cancer Genomics, Fondazione Edo ed Elvo Tempia, via Malta 3, 13900 Biella, Italy; (P.O.); (M.M.-G.); (D.S.); (I.G.); (C.P.-N.); (F.G.)
| | - Elena Jachetti
- Department of Research, Molecular Immunology Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, 20133 Milan, Italy;
| | - Antonella Farsetti
- National Research Council - Institute of Analysis, Systems and Computer Science –CNR-IASI, 00185 Rome, Italy;
| | - Giovanna Chiorino
- Laboratory of Cancer Genomics, Fondazione Edo ed Elvo Tempia, via Malta 3, 13900 Biella, Italy; (P.O.); (M.M.-G.); (D.S.); (I.G.); (C.P.-N.); (F.G.)
- Correspondence:
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8
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Mather RL, Andrews H, Pandha H, Jachetti E, Micallef J, Wang Y, Crea F. The Open University's first one-day symposium on treatment-emergent neuroendocrine prostate cancer. Future Oncol 2020; 16:147-149. [PMID: 31964195 DOI: 10.2217/fon-2019-0718] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
The Open University's first one-day symposium on treatment-emergent neuroendocrine prostate cancer attracted world-leading figures, early career researchers and industry colleagues. The symposium proved insightful into the 'real-world' impact and current problems faced in the diagnosis and treatment of neuroendocrine prostate cancer. It was important for this meeting to take place as the incidence of neuroendocrine prostate cancer is increasing due to the widespread use of next-generation androgen deprivation drugs. The symposium discussions proposed new molecularly driven deadlines to accelerate research and improved the treatment of this deadly and poorly recognized malignancy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca L Mather
- School of Life, Health & Chemical Sciences, The Open University, Walton Hall, Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire, MK7 6AA, UK
| | - Henry Andrews
- Urology Department, Milton Keynes University Hospital, Standing Way, Eaglestone, Milton Keynes, MK6 5LD, UK
| | - Hardev Pandha
- Department of Clinical & Experimental Medicine, Faculty of Health & Medical Science, Leggett Building, Daphne Jackson Road, University of Surrey, Guildford GU2 7WG, UK
| | - Elena Jachetti
- Molecular Immunology Unit, Department of Research, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale Tumori, 20133 Milano, Italy
| | - Jake Micallef
- VolitionRx, 93-95 Gloucester Place, London, W1U 6JQ, UK
| | - Yuzhuo Wang
- Experimental Therapeutics, BC Cancer Research Centre, Vancouver, BC, V5Z 4E6, Canada.,The Vancouver Prostate Centre, Vancouver General Hospital, Vancouver, BC, V5Z 1M9, Canada.,Department of Urologic Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, V5Z 1M9, Canada
| | - Francesco Crea
- School of Life, Health & Chemical Sciences, The Open University, Walton Hall, Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire, MK7 6AA, UK
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Jachetti E, Cancila V, Rigoni A, Bongiovanni L, Cappetti B, Belmonte B, Enriquez C, Casalini P, Ostano P, Frossi B, Sangaletti S, Chiodoni C, Chiorino G, Pucillo CE, Tripodo C, Colombo MP. Cross-Talk between Myeloid-Derived Suppressor Cells and Mast Cells Mediates Tumor-Specific Immunosuppression in Prostate Cancer. Cancer Immunol Res 2018. [PMID: 29523597 DOI: 10.1158/2326-6066.cir-17-0385] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Immunotherapy, including the use of checkpoint inhibitors, is a potent therapeutic approach for some cancers, but has limited success with prostate tumors, in which immune suppression is instigated by the tumor. The immunosuppressive capacity of mast cells, which promote adenocarcinoma development in the prostate, prompted our investigation on whether mast cells promote tolerance to SV40 Large-T antigen, the transforming oncogene in transgenic adenocarcinoma of the mouse prostate (TRAMP) mice. The incidence of adenocarcinoma was reduced in the offspring of a cross between TRAMP mice and mast cell-deficient KitWsh mice. TRAMP mice are tolerant to the SV40 Large T antigen, which is otherwise immunogenic in normal syngeneic B6 mice. Genetic ablation of mast cells in TRAMP mice restored their ability to mount a tumor-specific cytotoxic T-cell response. In KitWsh-TRAMP mice, the restored T-cell immunity correlated with the reduced activity of polymorphonuclear myeloid-derived suppressor cells (PMN-MDSC), along with their reduced expression of Arg1, Nos2, and Stat3 Having found that CD40L-expressing mast cells can interact in vivo with CD40-expressing PMN-MDSC, we then determined that only KitWsh-TRAMP mice reconstituted with mast cells expressing CD40L could restore PMN-MDSCs suppressive functions, T-cell unresponsiveness and adenocarcinoma development. Thus, mast cells have an immunoregulatory effect on PMN-MDSCs activity through CD40L-CD40 interaction, favoring immunosuppression and tumor onset. In prostate cancer patients, in silico analyses correlated poor clinical outcomes with high expression of genes related to mast cells and PMN-MDSCs. Cancer Immunol Res; 6(5); 552-65. ©2018 AACR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elena Jachetti
- Molecular Immunology Unit, Department of Research, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Milan, Italy
| | - Valeria Cancila
- Tumor Immunology Unit, Department of Health Sciences, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
| | - Alice Rigoni
- Molecular Immunology Unit, Department of Research, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Milan, Italy
| | - Lucia Bongiovanni
- Tumor Immunology Unit, Department of Health Sciences, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
| | - Barbara Cappetti
- Molecular Immunology Unit, Department of Research, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Milan, Italy
| | - Beatrice Belmonte
- Tumor Immunology Unit, Department of Health Sciences, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
| | - Claudia Enriquez
- Molecular Immunology Unit, Department of Research, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Milan, Italy
| | - Patrizia Casalini
- Molecular Targeting Unit, Department of Research, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Milan, Italy
| | | | - Barbara Frossi
- Department of Medical and Biological Science, University of Udine, Udine, Italy
| | - Sabina Sangaletti
- Molecular Immunology Unit, Department of Research, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Milan, Italy
| | - Claudia Chiodoni
- Molecular Immunology Unit, Department of Research, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Milan, Italy
| | | | - Carlo E Pucillo
- Department of Medical and Biological Science, University of Udine, Udine, Italy
| | - Claudio Tripodo
- Tumor Immunology Unit, Department of Health Sciences, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
| | - Mario P Colombo
- Molecular Immunology Unit, Department of Research, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Milan, Italy.
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Di Nicola M, Apetoh L, Bellone M, Colombo MP, Dotti G, Ferrone S, Muscolini M, Hiscott J, Anichini A, Pupa SM, Braud FD, Del Vecchio M. Innovative Therapy, Monoclonal Antibodies and Beyond. Cytokine Growth Factor Rev 2017; 38:1-9. [PMID: 29029813 DOI: 10.1016/j.cytogfr.2017.10.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2017] [Accepted: 10/02/2017] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
The seventh Edition of "Innovative Therapy, Monoclonal Antibodies and Beyond" Meeting took place in Milan, Italy, on January 27, 2017. The two sessions of the meeting were focused on: 1) Preclinical assays and novel biotargets; and 2) monoclonal antibodies, cell therapies and targeted molecules. Between these two sessions, a lecture entitled "HLA-antigens modulation and response to immune checkpoint inhibitor immunotherapy" was also presented. Despite the impressive successes in cancer immunotherapy in recent years, the response to immune based interventions occurs only in a minority of patients (∼20%). Several basic and translational mechanisms of resistance to immune checkpoint blockers (ICBs) were discussed during the meeting: 1. the impact of tumor microenvironment on the activity of immune system; 2. strategies to inhibit the cross-talk between extracellular matrix and myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSC) in the preclinical setting; 3. microRNA expression as a biomarker and as a target of therapy in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC); 4. the significance of complement activation pathways in response to immune checkpoint inhibitors; 5. the immunosuppressive activity of the microbiota by inducing IL-17 producing cells; and 6. modulation of HLA antigens as possible markers of response to ICB therapy. In order to overcome the deficiency in active anti-tumor T cells, several clinically applicable combination strategies were also discussed: 1. strategies to enhance the anticancer effects of immunogenic cell death inducing-chemotherapy; 2. the use of CAR T-cells in solid tumors; 3. the use of combination strategies involving oncolytic viruses and ICBs; 4. combinations of new ICBs with anti-PD-1/CTLA-4 therapy; and 4. combinations of targeted therapies and ICBs in melanoma. Overall, this conference emphasized the many novel strategies that are being investigated to improve the overall patient response to cancer immunotherapy. Optimization of biomarkers to accurately select patients who will respond to immunotherapy, coupled with combination strategies to improve long term patient survival remain critical challenges in the immuno-oncology field.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Di Nicola
- Unit of Immunotherapy and Anticancer Innovative Therapeutics, Milan, Italy; Medical Oncology Unit, Dept of Medical Oncology and Hematology, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale Tumori, Milan, Italy.
| | - L Apetoh
- INSERM, U1231, Dijon, France; 4Faculté de Médecine, Université de Bourgogne Franche Comté, Dijon, France
| | - M Bellone
- Cellular Immunology Unit, Division of Immunology, Transplantation and Infectious Diseases, IRCSS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - M P Colombo
- Centre Georges François Leclerc, Dijon, France
| | - G Dotti
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - S Ferrone
- Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - M Muscolini
- Laboratorio Pasteur, Istituto Pasteur-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - J Hiscott
- Laboratorio Pasteur, Istituto Pasteur-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - A Anichini
- Human Tumor Immunobiology Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Milan, Italy
| | - S M Pupa
- Molecular Targeting Unit, Department of Research, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Milan, Italy
| | - F de Braud
- Medical Oncology Unit, Dept of Medical Oncology and Hematology, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale Tumori, Milan, Italy
| | - M Del Vecchio
- Medical Oncology Unit, Dept of Medical Oncology and Hematology, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale Tumori, Milan, Italy; Unit of Melanoma Medical Oncology, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale Tumori, Milan, Italy.
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11
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Jachetti E, Rigoni A, Bongiovanni L, Arioli I, Botti L, Parenza M, Cancila V, Chiodoni C, Festinese F, Bellone M, Tardanico R, Tripodo C, Colombo MP. Imatinib Spares cKit-Expressing Prostate Neuroendocrine Tumors, whereas Kills Seminal Vesicle Epithelial-Stromal Tumors by Targeting PDGFR-β. Mol Cancer Ther 2016; 16:365-375. [PMID: 27980106 DOI: 10.1158/1535-7163.mct-16-0466] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2016] [Revised: 10/31/2016] [Accepted: 11/19/2016] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Prostate cancer is a leading cause of cancer-related death in males worldwide. Indeed, advanced and metastatic disease characterized by androgen resistance and often associated with neuroendocrine (NE) differentiation remains incurable. Using the spontaneous prostate cancer TRAMP model, we have shown that mast cells (MCs) support in vivo the growth of prostate adenocarcinoma, whereas their genetic or pharmacologic targeting favors prostate NE cancer arousal. Aiming at simultaneously targeting prostate NE tumor cells and MCs, both expressing the cKit tyrosine kinase receptor, we have tested the therapeutic effect of imatinib in TRAMP mice. Imatinib-treated TRAMP mice experience a partial benefit against prostate adenocarcinoma, because of inhibition of supportive MCs. However, they show an unexpected outgrowth of prostate NE tumors, likely because of defective signaling pathway downstream of cKit receptor. Also unexpected but very effective was the inhibition of epithelial-stromal tumors of the seminal vesicles achieved by imatinib treatment. These tumors normally arise in the seminal vesicles of TRAMP mice, independently of the degree of prostatic glandular lesions, and resemble phyllodes tumors found in human prostate and seminal vesicles, and in breast. In both mice and in patients, these tumors are negative for cKit but express PDGFR-β, another tyrosine kinase receptor specifically inhibited by imatinib. Our results imply a possible detrimental effect of imatinib in prostate cancer patients but suggest a promising therapeutic application of imatinib in the treatment of recurrent or metastatic phyllodes tumors. Mol Cancer Ther; 16(2); 365-75. ©2016 AACR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elena Jachetti
- Molecular Immunology Unit, Department of Experimental Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Milan, Italy
| | - Alice Rigoni
- Molecular Immunology Unit, Department of Experimental Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Milan, Italy
| | - Lucia Bongiovanni
- Tumor Immunology Unit, Department of Health Sciences, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
| | - Ivano Arioli
- Molecular Immunology Unit, Department of Experimental Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Milan, Italy
| | - Laura Botti
- Molecular Immunology Unit, Department of Experimental Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Milan, Italy
| | - Mariella Parenza
- Molecular Immunology Unit, Department of Experimental Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Milan, Italy
| | - Valeria Cancila
- Tumor Immunology Unit, Department of Health Sciences, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
| | - Claudia Chiodoni
- Molecular Immunology Unit, Department of Experimental Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Milan, Italy
| | - Fabrizio Festinese
- Pharmacy Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Milan, Italy
| | - Matteo Bellone
- Division of Immunology, Transplantation and Infectious Diseases, Cellular Immunology Unit, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Regina Tardanico
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, Section of Pathology, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Claudio Tripodo
- Tumor Immunology Unit, Department of Health Sciences, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
| | - Mario P Colombo
- Molecular Immunology Unit, Department of Experimental Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori, Milan, Italy.
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