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Thongchot S, Aksonnam K, Prasopsiri J, Warnnissorn M, Sa-Nguanraksa D, O-Charoenrat P, Thuwajit P, Yenchitsomanus PT, Thuwajit C. Mesothelin- and nucleolin-specific T cells from combined short peptides effectively kill triple-negative breast cancer cells. BMC Med 2024; 22:400. [PMID: 39294656 PMCID: PMC11411782 DOI: 10.1186/s12916-024-03625-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2024] [Accepted: 09/10/2024] [Indexed: 09/21/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), known for its aggressiveness and limited treatment options, presents a significant challenge. Adoptive cell transfer, involving the ex vivo generation of antigen-specific T cells from peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), emerges as a promising approach. The overexpression of mesothelin (MSLN) and nucleolin (NCL) in TNBC samples underscores their potential as targets for T cell therapy. This study explored the efficacy of multi-peptide pulsing of PBMCs to generate MSLN/NCL-specific T cells targeting MSLN+/NCL+ TNBC cells. METHODS TNBC patient samples were confirmed for both MSLN and NCL expression via immunohistochemistry. Synthesized MSLN and NCL peptides were combined and administered to activate PBMCs from healthy donors. The cancer-killing ability of the resultant T cells was assessed using crystal violet staining, and their subtypes and cytotoxic cytokines were characterized through flow cytometry and cytokine bead array. RESULTS Findings showed that 85.3% (127/149) of TNBC cases were positive for either MSLN or NCL, or both; with single positivity rates for MSLN and NCL of 14.1% and 28.9%, respectively. MSLN and NCL peptides, with high binding affinity for HLA-A*02, were combined and introduced to activated PBMCs from healthy donors. The co-pulsed PBMCs significantly induced TEM and TEMRA CD3+/CD8+ T cells and IFN-γ production, compared to single-peptide pulsed or unpulsed conditions. Notably, MSLN/NCL-specific T cells successfully induced cell death in MSLN+/NCL+ MDA-MB-231 cells, releasing key cytotoxic factors such as perforin, granzymes A and B, Fas ligand, IFN-γ, and granulysin. CONCLUSIONS These findings serve as a proof-of-concept for using multiple immunogenic peptides as a novel therapeutic approach in TNBC patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Suyanee Thongchot
- Department of Immunology, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, 10700, Thailand
- Siriraj Center of Research Excellence for Cancer Immunotherapy (SiCORE-CIT), Research Department, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, 10700, Thailand
| | - Krittaya Aksonnam
- Department of Immunology, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, 10700, Thailand
| | - Jaturawitt Prasopsiri
- Department of Immunology, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, 10700, Thailand
| | - Malee Warnnissorn
- Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, 10700, Thailand
| | - Doonyapat Sa-Nguanraksa
- Division of Head Neck and Breast Surgery, Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, 10700, Thailand
| | | | - Peti Thuwajit
- Department of Immunology, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, 10700, Thailand
| | - Pa-Thai Yenchitsomanus
- Siriraj Center of Research Excellence for Cancer Immunotherapy (SiCORE-CIT), Research Department, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, 10700, Thailand
- Division of Molecular Medicine, Research Department, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, 10700, Thailand
| | - Chanitra Thuwajit
- Department of Immunology, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, 10700, Thailand.
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Thongchot S, Aksonnam K, Thuwajit P, Yenchitsomanus PT, Thuwajit C. Nucleolin‑based targeting strategies in cancer treatment: Focus on cancer immunotherapy (Review). Int J Mol Med 2023; 52:81. [PMID: 37477132 PMCID: PMC10555485 DOI: 10.3892/ijmm.2023.5284] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2023] [Accepted: 06/15/2023] [Indexed: 07/22/2023] Open
Abstract
The benefits of treating several types of cancers using immunotherapy have recently been established. The overexpression of nucleolin (NCL) in a number of types of cancer provides an attractive antigen target for the development of novel anticancer immunotherapeutic treatments. NCL is a multifunctional protein abundantly distributed in the nucleus, cytoplasm and cell membrane. It influences carcinogenesis, and the proliferation, survival and metastasis of cancer cells, leading to cancer progression. Additionally, the meta‑analysis of total and cytoplasmic NCL overexpression indicates a poor prognosis of patients with breast cancer. The AS1411 aptamers currently appear to have therapeutic action in the phase II clinical trial. The authors' research group has recently explored the anticancer function of NCL through the activation of T cells by dendritic cell‑based immunotherapy. The present review describes and discusses the mechanisms through which the multiple functions of NCL can participate in the progression of cancer. In addition, the studies that define the utility of NCL‑dependent anticancer therapies are summarized, with specific focus being paid to cancer immunotherapeutic approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Suyanee Thongchot
- Department of Immunology, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University
- Siriraj Center of Research Excellence for Cancer Immunotherapy (SiCORE-CIT), Research Department, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University
| | - Krittaya Aksonnam
- Department of Immunology, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University
| | - Peti Thuwajit
- Department of Immunology, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University
| | - Pa-Thai Yenchitsomanus
- Siriraj Center of Research Excellence for Cancer Immunotherapy (SiCORE-CIT), Research Department, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University
- Division of Molecular Medicine, Research Department, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10700, Thailand
| | - Chanitra Thuwajit
- Department of Immunology, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University
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Yangngam S, Prasopsiri J, Hatthakarnkul P, Thongchot S, Thuwajit P, Yenchitsomanus PT, Edwards J, Thuwajit C. Cellular localization of nucleolin determines the prognosis in cancers: a meta-analysis. J Mol Med (Berl) 2022; 100:1145-1157. [PMID: 35861882 PMCID: PMC9329415 DOI: 10.1007/s00109-022-02228-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2022] [Revised: 06/09/2022] [Accepted: 06/22/2022] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
Nucleolin (NCL) is a multifunctional protein expressed in the nucleus, cytoplasm, and cell membrane. Overexpression of NCL has a controversial role as a poor prognostic marker in cancers. In this study, a meta-analysis was performed to evaluate the prognostic value of NCL in different subcellular localizations (cytoplasmic (CyNCL) and nuclear (NuNCL)) across a range of cancers. PubMed was searched for relevant publications. Data were extracted and analyzed from 12 studies involving 1221 patients with eight cancer types. The results revealed high total NCL was significantly associated with poor overall survival (OS) (HR = 2.85 (1.94, 4.91), p < 0.00001, I2 = 59%) and short disease-free survival (DFS) (HR = 3.57 (2.76, 4.62), p < 0.00001, I2 = 2%). High CyNCL was significantly associated with poor OS (HR = 4.32 (3.01, 6.19), p < 0.00001, I2 = 0%) and short DFS (HR = 3.00 (2.17, 4.15), p < 0.00001, I2 = 0%). In contrast, high NuNCL correlated with increased patient OS (HR = 0.42 (0.20, 0.86), p = 0.02, I2 = 66%), with no significant correlation to DFS observed (HR = 0.46 (0.19, 1.14), p = 0.09, I2 = 57%). This study supports the role of subcellular NCL as a poor prognostic cancer biomarker.
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Affiliation(s)
- Supaporn Yangngam
- Department of Immunology, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, 10700, Thailand
| | - Jaturawitt Prasopsiri
- Department of Immunology, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, 10700, Thailand
| | - Phimmada Hatthakarnkul
- Biomedical Sciences Graduate Program, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, 10700, Thailand.,Institute of Cancer Sciences, University of Glasgow, Wolfson Wohl Cancer Research Centre, Garscube Estate, Glasgow, G61 1QH, UK
| | - Suyanee Thongchot
- Department of Immunology, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, 10700, Thailand.,Siriraj Center of Research Excellence for Cancer Immunotherapy (SiCORE-CIT), Research Department, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, 10700, Thailand
| | - Peti Thuwajit
- Department of Immunology, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, 10700, Thailand
| | - Pa-Thai Yenchitsomanus
- Siriraj Center of Research Excellence for Cancer Immunotherapy (SiCORE-CIT), Research Department, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, 10700, Thailand
| | - Joanne Edwards
- Institute of Cancer Sciences, University of Glasgow, Wolfson Wohl Cancer Research Centre, Garscube Estate, Glasgow, G61 1QH, UK
| | - Chanitra Thuwajit
- Department of Immunology, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, 10700, Thailand.
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Barzilova VD, Drury J, Rogers B, Thomas E, Ahmed F, Bradfield A, Al-Lamee H, Hapangama DK. Role of Nucleolin in Endometrial Precancerous Hyperplasia and Carcinogenesis: Ex Vivo and In Silico Study. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:6228. [PMID: 35682908 PMCID: PMC9181237 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23116228] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2022] [Revised: 05/26/2022] [Accepted: 05/29/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Endometrial cancer (EC) is the most common gynaecological malignancy. Nucleolin (NCL) is involved in rDNA transcription, cell proliferation, and apoptosis, with high expression associated with worse overall survival (OS) in other adenocarcinomas. Our aims were to assess NCL gene and protein expression and explore the differential expression of NCL-associated genes (NAGs) in endometrial carcinogenesis. Endometrial samples were obtained from 157 women to include healthy, hyperplastic (EH), EC, and metastatic groups. RT-qPCR and immunohistochemistry were employed to assess NCL gene and protein levels. In silico analysis of NAGs in TCGA and GEO datasets was performed, with the prognostic value determined via Human Protein Atlas. NCL mRNA level of EC was lower than in healthy post-menopausal endometrium (p < 0.01). EH samples had lower NCL immuno-expression scores than healthy pre-menopausal (p < 0.001), benign post-menopausal (p < 0.01), and EC (p < 0.0001) samples. Metastatic lesions demonstrated higher NCL quick scores than primary tissue (p = 0.04). Higher NCL Immuno quick scores carried a worse OS in high-grade EC (p = 0.01). Interrogating Uterine Corpus Endometrial Carcinoma (TCGA-UCEC) and Uterine Carcinosarcoma (TCGA-UCS) cohorts revealed NCL to be the most highly upregulated gene in carcinosarcoma, with S100A11, LMNB2, RERG, E2F1 and CCNA2 representing key dysregulated NAGs in EC. Since NCL is implicated in transforming hyperplastic glands into cancer, with further involvement in metastasis, it is suggested to be a promising target for better-informed diagnosis, risk stratification, and management of EC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vanya D. Barzilova
- Centre for Women’s Health Research, Department of Women’s and Children’s Health, Institute of Life Course and Medical Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L8 7SS, UK; (V.D.B.); (J.D.); (B.R.); (E.T.); (F.A.); (H.A.-L.)
| | - Josephine Drury
- Centre for Women’s Health Research, Department of Women’s and Children’s Health, Institute of Life Course and Medical Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L8 7SS, UK; (V.D.B.); (J.D.); (B.R.); (E.T.); (F.A.); (H.A.-L.)
| | - Bryony Rogers
- Centre for Women’s Health Research, Department of Women’s and Children’s Health, Institute of Life Course and Medical Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L8 7SS, UK; (V.D.B.); (J.D.); (B.R.); (E.T.); (F.A.); (H.A.-L.)
| | - Emily Thomas
- Centre for Women’s Health Research, Department of Women’s and Children’s Health, Institute of Life Course and Medical Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L8 7SS, UK; (V.D.B.); (J.D.); (B.R.); (E.T.); (F.A.); (H.A.-L.)
| | - Fareen Ahmed
- Centre for Women’s Health Research, Department of Women’s and Children’s Health, Institute of Life Course and Medical Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L8 7SS, UK; (V.D.B.); (J.D.); (B.R.); (E.T.); (F.A.); (H.A.-L.)
| | - Alice Bradfield
- Liverpool Women’s NHS Foundation Trust, Member of Liverpool Health Partners, Liverpool L8 7SS, UK;
| | - Hannan Al-Lamee
- Centre for Women’s Health Research, Department of Women’s and Children’s Health, Institute of Life Course and Medical Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L8 7SS, UK; (V.D.B.); (J.D.); (B.R.); (E.T.); (F.A.); (H.A.-L.)
- Liverpool Women’s NHS Foundation Trust, Member of Liverpool Health Partners, Liverpool L8 7SS, UK;
- Hewitt Centre for Reproductive Medicine, Liverpool Women’s NHS Foundation Trust, Liverpool L8 7SS, UK
| | - Dharani K. Hapangama
- Centre for Women’s Health Research, Department of Women’s and Children’s Health, Institute of Life Course and Medical Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L8 7SS, UK; (V.D.B.); (J.D.); (B.R.); (E.T.); (F.A.); (H.A.-L.)
- Liverpool Women’s NHS Foundation Trust, Member of Liverpool Health Partners, Liverpool L8 7SS, UK;
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Firlej V, Soyeux P, Nourieh M, Huet E, Semprez F, Allory Y, Londono-Vallejo A, de la Taille A, Vacherot F, Destouches D. Overexpression of Nucleolin and Associated Genes in Prostate Cancer. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:4491. [PMID: 35562881 PMCID: PMC9101690 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23094491] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2022] [Revised: 04/04/2022] [Accepted: 04/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Prostate cancer (PCa) is the second most frequent cancer and the fifth leading cause of cancer death in men worldwide. If local PCa presents a favorable prognosis, available treatments for advanced PCa display limiting benefits due to therapeutic resistances. Nucleolin (NCL) is a ubiquitous protein involved in numerous cell processes, such as ribosome biogenesis, cell cycles, or angiogenesis. NCL is overexpressed in several tumor types in which it has been proposed as a diagnostic and prognostic biomarker. In PCa, NCL has mainly been studied as a target for new therapeutic agents. Nevertheless, little data are available concerning its expression in patient tissues. Here, we investigated the expression of NCL using a new cohort from Mondor Hospital and data from published cohorts. Results were then compared with NCL expression using in vitro models. NCL was overexpressed in PCa tissues compared to the normal tissues, but no prognostic values were demonstrated. Nine genes were highly co-expressed with NCL in patient tissues and tumor prostate cell lines. Our data demonstrate that NCL is an interesting diagnostic biomarker and propose a signature of genes co-expressed with NCL.
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Affiliation(s)
- Virginie Firlej
- Univ Paris Est Creteil, TRePCa, F-94010 Creteil, France; (V.F.); (P.S.); (E.H.); (A.d.l.T.); (F.V.)
| | - Pascale Soyeux
- Univ Paris Est Creteil, TRePCa, F-94010 Creteil, France; (V.F.); (P.S.); (E.H.); (A.d.l.T.); (F.V.)
| | - Maya Nourieh
- Department of Pathology, Institut Curie, F-92210 Saint-Cloud, France; (M.N.); (Y.A.)
| | - Eric Huet
- Univ Paris Est Creteil, TRePCa, F-94010 Creteil, France; (V.F.); (P.S.); (E.H.); (A.d.l.T.); (F.V.)
| | - Fannie Semprez
- SPPIN—Saints-Pères Paris Institute for the Neurosciences, Université de Paris, CNRS, F-75006 Paris, France;
| | - Yves Allory
- Department of Pathology, Institut Curie, F-92210 Saint-Cloud, France; (M.N.); (Y.A.)
- Institut Curie, PSL Research University, CNRS UMR 144, F-75005 Paris, France
| | - Arturo Londono-Vallejo
- Institut Curie, PSL Research University, CNRS UMR 3244 « Telomeres and Cancer », F-75005 Paris, France;
| | - Alexandre de la Taille
- Univ Paris Est Creteil, TRePCa, F-94010 Creteil, France; (V.F.); (P.S.); (E.H.); (A.d.l.T.); (F.V.)
- AP-HP, Hôpital Henri-Mondor, Service Urologie, F-94010 Creteil, France
| | - Francis Vacherot
- Univ Paris Est Creteil, TRePCa, F-94010 Creteil, France; (V.F.); (P.S.); (E.H.); (A.d.l.T.); (F.V.)
| | - Damien Destouches
- Univ Paris Est Creteil, TRePCa, F-94010 Creteil, France; (V.F.); (P.S.); (E.H.); (A.d.l.T.); (F.V.)
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Varty K, O’Brien C, Ignaszak A. Breast Cancer Aptamers: Current Sensing Targets, Available Aptamers, and Their Evaluation for Clinical Use in Diagnostics. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:cancers13163984. [PMID: 34439139 PMCID: PMC8391819 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13163984] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2021] [Revised: 07/28/2021] [Accepted: 08/04/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Breast cancer is the most commonly occurring cancer in women worldwide, and the rate of diagnosis continues to increase. Early detection and targeted treatment towards histological type is crucial to improving outcomes, but current screening methods leave some patients at risk of late diagnosis. The risk of late diagnosis and progressed disease is of particular concern for young women as current screening methods are not recommended early in life. Aptamers are oligonucleotides that can bind with high specificity to target molecules such as proteins, peptides, and other small molecules. They are relatively cheap to produce and are invariable from batch to batch, making them ideal for use in large-scale clinical or screening programs. The use of aptamers for breast cancer screening, diagnosis, and therapeutics is promising, but comparison of these aptamers and their corresponding biomarkers for use in breast cancer is significantly lacking. Here, we compare the currently available aptamers for breast cancer biomarkers and their respective biomarkers, as well as highlight the electrochemical sensors that are in development.
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GABPA Expression in Endometrial Carcinoma: A Prognostic Marker. DISEASE MARKERS 2021; 2021:5552614. [PMID: 34306255 PMCID: PMC8263239 DOI: 10.1155/2021/5552614] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2021] [Accepted: 06/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/02/2022]
Abstract
Background GA-binding protein A (GABPA), a transcription factor, is broadly involved in physiological and pathological processes. Several studies have investigated the relationship between GABPA expression level and outcomes of various malignancies. However, the function and clinicopathological significance of GABPA in endometrial carcinoma (EC) remain obscure. Methods The GABPA mRNA expression in EC tissues and adjacent nonneoplastic tissues in the TCGA database was involved in our study. The protein expression of GABPA in 107 EC tissues and 15 normal endometrial tissues was detected by immunohistochemistry. Results The GABPA expression was significantly downregulated in EC tissues compared with its expression in normal tissues (P < 0.001). The expression of GABPA was markedly correlated with type II EC (P < 0.01) and grade 3 EC (P < 0.05). A tendency has been observed that patients with low GABPA levels had relatively poorer overall survival (OS) (P = 0.036) and disease-free survival (DFS) (P = 0.016) than patients with high GABPA levels. The multivariate Cox proportional hazard model showed that lower expression of GABPA was an independent poor prognostic factor for OS (P = 0.043) and DFS (P = 0.045). Similar correlation between low expression levels of GABPA and unfavorable prognosis has also been found in type II or grade 3 EC. IHC analysis showed EC tissues had low expression of GABPA, which indicated relatively poor prognosis. Moreover, we identified that the GABPA mRNA expression was negatively correlated with its methylation level (R = −0.2512, P < 0.001) which is one of the mechanisms for the silencing of GABPA gene. Conclusion GABPA may act as an independent predictor of clinical prognosis and serve as a potential target gene for EC therapy.
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