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Farhangnia P, Khorramdelazad H, Nickho H, Delbandi AA. Current and future immunotherapeutic approaches in pancreatic cancer treatment. J Hematol Oncol 2024; 17:40. [PMID: 38835055 DOI: 10.1186/s13045-024-01561-6] [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: 04/09/2024] [Accepted: 05/28/2024] [Indexed: 06/06/2024] Open
Abstract
Pancreatic cancer is a major cause of cancer-related death, but despondently, the outlook and prognosis for this resistant type of tumor have remained grim for a long time. Currently, it is extremely challenging to prevent or detect it early enough for effective treatment because patients rarely exhibit symptoms and there are no reliable indicators for detection. Most patients have advanced or spreading cancer that is difficult to treat, and treatments like chemotherapy and radiotherapy can only slightly prolong their life by a few months. Immunotherapy has revolutionized the treatment of pancreatic cancer, yet its effectiveness is limited by the tumor's immunosuppressive and hard-to-reach microenvironment. First, this article explains the immunosuppressive microenvironment of pancreatic cancer and highlights a wide range of immunotherapy options, including therapies involving oncolytic viruses, modified T cells (T-cell receptor [TCR]-engineered and chimeric antigen receptor [CAR] T-cell therapy), CAR natural killer cell therapy, cytokine-induced killer cells, immune checkpoint inhibitors, immunomodulators, cancer vaccines, and strategies targeting myeloid cells in the context of contemporary knowledge and future trends. Lastly, it discusses the main challenges ahead of pancreatic cancer immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pooya Farhangnia
- Reproductive Sciences and Technology Research Center, Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
- Immunology Research Center, Institute of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
- Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
- Immunology Board for Transplantation and Cell-Based Therapeutics (ImmunoTACT), Universal Scientific Education and Research Network (USERN), Tehran, Iran
| | - Hossein Khorramdelazad
- Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences, Rafsanjan, Iran
| | - Hamid Nickho
- Immunology Research Center, Institute of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
- Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Ali-Akbar Delbandi
- Reproductive Sciences and Technology Research Center, Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
- Immunology Research Center, Institute of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
- Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
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Mahale A, Routholla G, Lavanya S, Sharma P, Ghosh B, Kulkarni OP. Pharmacological blockade of HDAC6 attenuates cancer progression by inhibiting IL-1β and modulating immunosuppressive response in OSCC. Int Immunopharmacol 2024; 132:111921. [PMID: 38547770 DOI: 10.1016/j.intimp.2024.111921] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2023] [Revised: 03/20/2024] [Accepted: 03/21/2024] [Indexed: 05/01/2024]
Abstract
Interleukin-1-beta (IL-1β) one of the biomarkers for oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC), is upregulated in tumor-microenvironment (TME) and associated with poor patient survival. Thus, a novel modulator of IL-1β would be of great therapeutic value for OSCC treatment. Here we report regulation of IL-1β and TME by histone deacetylase-6 (HDAC6)-inhibitor in OSCC. We observed significant upregulation of HDAC6 in 4-nitroquniline (4-NQO)-induced OSCC in mice and 4-NQO & Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulated OSCC and fibroblast cells. Tubastatin A (TSA)-attenuated the OSCC progression in mice as observed improvement in the histology over tongue and esophagus, with reduced tumor burden. TSA treatment to 4-NQO mice attenuated protein expression of HDAC6, pro-and-mature-IL-1β and pro-and-cleaved-caspase-1 and ameliorated acetylated-tubulin. In support of our experimental work, human TCGA analysis revealed HDAC6 and IL-1β were upregulated in the primary tumor, with different tumor stages and grades. We found TSA modulate TME, indicated by downregulation of CD11b+Gr1+-Myeloid-derived suppressor cells, CD11b+F4/80+CD206+ M2-macrophages and increase in CD11b+F4/80+MHCII+ M1-macrophages. TSA significantly reduced the gene expression of HDAC6, IL-1β, Arginase-1 and iNOS in isolated splenic-MDSCs. FaDu-HTB-43 and NIH3T3 cells stimulated with LPS and 4-NQO exhibit higher IL-1β levels in the supernatant. Interestingly, immunoblot analysis of the cell lysate, we observed that TSA does not alter the expression as well as activation of IL-1β and caspase-1 but the acetylated-tubulin was found to be increased. Nocodazole pre-treatment proved that TSA inhibited the lysosomal exocytosis of IL-1β through tubulin acetylation. In conclusion, HDAC6 inhibitors attenuated TME and cancer progression through the regulation of IL-1β in OSCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashutosh Mahale
- Metabolic Disorders and Neuroscience Research laboratory, Department of Pharmacy, Birla Institute of Technology and Science-Pilani, Hyderabad Campus, India
| | - Ganesh Routholla
- Epigenetic Research Laboratory, Birla Institute of Technology and Science-Pilani, Hyderabad Campus, India
| | - S Lavanya
- Metabolic Disorders and Neuroscience Research laboratory, Department of Pharmacy, Birla Institute of Technology and Science-Pilani, Hyderabad Campus, India
| | - Pravesh Sharma
- Metabolic Disorders and Neuroscience Research laboratory, Department of Pharmacy, Birla Institute of Technology and Science-Pilani, Hyderabad Campus, India
| | - Balaram Ghosh
- Epigenetic Research Laboratory, Birla Institute of Technology and Science-Pilani, Hyderabad Campus, India
| | - Onkar Prakash Kulkarni
- Metabolic Disorders and Neuroscience Research laboratory, Department of Pharmacy, Birla Institute of Technology and Science-Pilani, Hyderabad Campus, India.
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Skirzynska A, Xue C, Shoichet MS. Engineering Biomaterials to Model Immune-Tumor Interactions In Vitro. ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2024; 36:e2310637. [PMID: 38349174 DOI: 10.1002/adma.202310637] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2023] [Revised: 02/05/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024]
Abstract
Engineered biomaterial scaffolds are becoming more prominent in research laboratories to study drug efficacy for oncological applications in vitro, but do they have a place in pharmaceutical drug screening pipelines? The low efficacy of cancer drugs in phase II/III clinical trials suggests that there are critical mechanisms not properly accounted for in the pre-clinical evaluation of drug candidates. Immune cells associated with the tumor may account for some of these failures given recent successes with cancer immunotherapies; however, there are few representative platforms to study immune cells in the context of cancer as traditional 2D culture is typically monocultures and humanized animal models have a weakened immune composition. Biomaterials that replicate tumor microenvironmental cues may provide a more relevant model with greater in vitro complexity. In this review, the authors explore the pertinent microenvironmental cues that drive tumor progression in the context of the immune system, discuss how these cues can be incorporated into hydrogel design to culture immune cells, and describe progress toward precision oncological drug screening with engineered tissues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arianna Skirzynska
- Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry, University of Toronto, 200 College Street, Toronto, ON, M5S 3E5, Canada
- Terrence Donnelly Centre for Cellular & Biomolecular Research, University of Toronto, 160 College St, Toronto, ON, M5S 3E1, Canada
| | - Chang Xue
- Terrence Donnelly Centre for Cellular & Biomolecular Research, University of Toronto, 160 College St, Toronto, ON, M5S 3E1, Canada
- Institute for Biomedical Engineering, University of Toronto, 164 College Street, Toronto, ON, M5S 3G9, Canada
| | - Molly S Shoichet
- Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry, University of Toronto, 200 College Street, Toronto, ON, M5S 3E5, Canada
- Terrence Donnelly Centre for Cellular & Biomolecular Research, University of Toronto, 160 College St, Toronto, ON, M5S 3E1, Canada
- Institute for Biomedical Engineering, University of Toronto, 164 College Street, Toronto, ON, M5S 3G9, Canada
- Department of Chemistry, University of Toronto, 80 College Street, Toronto, ON, M5S 3H4, Canada
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4
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Liou GY, Byrd CJ, Storz P, Messex JK. Cytokine CCL9 Mediates Oncogenic KRAS-Induced Pancreatic Acinar-to-Ductal Metaplasia by Promoting Reactive Oxygen Species and Metalloproteinases. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:4726. [PMID: 38731942 PMCID: PMC11083758 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25094726] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/29/2024] [Revised: 04/24/2024] [Accepted: 04/24/2024] [Indexed: 05/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) can originate from acinar-to-ductal metaplasia (ADM). Pancreatic acini harboring oncogenic Kras mutations are transdifferentiated to a duct-like phenotype that further progresses to become pancreatic intraepithelial neoplasia (PanIN) lesions, giving rise to PDAC. Although ADM formation is frequently observed in KrasG12D transgenic mouse models of PDAC, the exact mechanisms of how oncogenic KrasG12D regulates this process remain an enigma. Herein, we revealed a new downstream target of oncogenic Kras, cytokine CCL9, during ADM formation. Higher levels of CCL9 and its receptors, CCR1 and CCR3, were detected in ADM regions of the pancreas in p48cre:KrasG12D mice and human PDAC patients. Knockdown of CCL9 in KrasG12D-expressed pancreatic acini reduced KrasG12D-induced ADM in a 3D organoid culture system. Moreover, exogenously added recombinant CCL9 and overexpression of CCL9 in primary pancreatic acini induced pancreatic ADM. We also showed that, functioning as a downstream target of KrasG12D, CCL9 promoted pancreatic ADM through upregulation of the intracellular levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and metalloproteinases (MMPs), including MMP14, MMP3 and MMP2. Blockade of MMPs via its generic inhibitor GM6001 or knockdown of specific MMP such as MMP14 and MMP3 decreased CCL9-induced pancreatic ADM. In p48cre:KrasG12D transgenic mice, blockade of CCL9 through its specific neutralizing antibody attenuated pancreatic ADM structures and PanIN lesion formation. Furthermore, it also diminished infiltrating macrophages and expression of MMP14, MMP3 and MMP2 in the ADM areas. Altogether, our results provide novel mechanistic insight into how oncogenic Kras enhances pancreatic ADM through its new downstream target molecule, CCL9, to initiate PDAC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Geou-Yarh Liou
- Center for Cancer Research and Therapeutic Development, Clark Atlanta University, Atlanta, GA 30314, USA
- Department of Biological Sciences, Clark Atlanta University, Atlanta, GA 30314, USA
| | - Crystal J. Byrd
- Department of Biological Sciences, Clark Atlanta University, Atlanta, GA 30314, USA
| | - Peter Storz
- Department of Cancer Biology, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL 32224, USA
| | - Justin K. Messex
- Center for Cancer Research and Therapeutic Development, Clark Atlanta University, Atlanta, GA 30314, USA
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Merali N, Jessel MD, Arbe-Barnes EH, Ruby Lee WY, Gismondi M, Chouari T, O'Brien JW, Patel B, Osei-Bordom D, Rockall TA, Sivakumar S, Annels N, Frampton AE. Impact of tertiary lymphoid structures on prognosis and therapeutic response in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. HPB (Oxford) 2024:S1365-182X(24)01275-9. [PMID: 38729813 DOI: 10.1016/j.hpb.2024.04.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2024] [Revised: 03/27/2024] [Accepted: 04/19/2024] [Indexed: 05/12/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is known to have a heterogeneous desmoplastic tumour microenvironment (TME) with a large number of immunosuppressive cells. Recently, high B-cell infiltration in PDAC has received growing interest as a potential therapeutic target. METHODS Our literature review summarises the characteristics of tumour-associated tertiary lymphoid structures (TLSs) and highlight the key studies exploring the clinical outcomes of TLSs in PDAC patients and the direct effect on the TME. RESULTS The location, density and maturity stages of TLSs within tumours play a key role in determining the prognosis and is a new emerging target in cancer immunotherapy. DISCUSSION TLS development is imperative to improve the prognosis of PDAC patients. In the future, studying the genetics and immune characteristics of tumour infiltrating B cells and TLSs may lead towards enhancing adaptive immunity in PDAC and designing personalised therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nabeel Merali
- Section of Oncology, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Science, University of Surrey, Guildford, UK; Department of Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary (HPB) Surgery, Royal Surrey County Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Egerton Road, Guildford, UK; Minimal Access Therapy Training Unit (MATTU), Royal Surrey County Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Egerton Road, Guildford, UK
| | - Maria-Danae Jessel
- Section of Oncology, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Science, University of Surrey, Guildford, UK
| | - Edward H Arbe-Barnes
- UCL Institute of Immunity and Transplantation, The Pears Building, Pond Street, London, UK
| | - Wing Yu Ruby Lee
- Department of Surgery and Cancer, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Martha Gismondi
- Department of Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary (HPB) Surgery, Royal Surrey County Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Egerton Road, Guildford, UK
| | - Tarak Chouari
- Section of Oncology, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Science, University of Surrey, Guildford, UK; Department of Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary (HPB) Surgery, Royal Surrey County Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Egerton Road, Guildford, UK
| | - James W O'Brien
- Minimal Access Therapy Training Unit (MATTU), Royal Surrey County Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Egerton Road, Guildford, UK
| | - Bhavik Patel
- Section of Oncology, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Science, University of Surrey, Guildford, UK; Department of Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary (HPB) Surgery, Royal Surrey County Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Egerton Road, Guildford, UK; Minimal Access Therapy Training Unit (MATTU), Royal Surrey County Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Egerton Road, Guildford, UK
| | - Daniel Osei-Bordom
- Liver and Digestive Health, University College London, Royal Free Hospital, Pond St, London, UK
| | - Timothy A Rockall
- Minimal Access Therapy Training Unit (MATTU), Royal Surrey County Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Egerton Road, Guildford, UK
| | - Shivan Sivakumar
- Oncology Department and Institute of Immunology and Immunotherapy, Birmingham Medical School, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
| | - Nicola Annels
- Section of Oncology, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Science, University of Surrey, Guildford, UK
| | - Adam E Frampton
- Section of Oncology, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Science, University of Surrey, Guildford, UK; Department of Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary (HPB) Surgery, Royal Surrey County Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Egerton Road, Guildford, UK; Minimal Access Therapy Training Unit (MATTU), Royal Surrey County Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Egerton Road, Guildford, UK.
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6
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Olaoba OT, Yang M, Adelusi TI, Maidens T, Kimchi ET, Staveley-O’Carroll KF, Li G. Targeted Therapy for Highly Desmoplastic and Immunosuppressive Tumor Microenvironment of Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma. Cancers (Basel) 2024; 16:1470. [PMID: 38672552 PMCID: PMC11048089 DOI: 10.3390/cancers16081470] [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: 02/17/2024] [Revised: 04/05/2024] [Accepted: 04/09/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a highly lethal malignancy with a very poor prognosis. Despite advancements in treatment strategies, PDAC remains recalcitrant to therapies because patients are often diagnosed at an advanced stage. The advanced stage of PDAC is characterized by metastasis, which typically renders it unresectable by surgery or untreatable by chemotherapy. The tumor microenvironment (TME) of PDAC comprises highly proliferative myofibroblast-like cells and hosts the intense deposition of a extracellular matrix component that forms dense fibrous connective tissue, a process called the desmoplastic reaction. In desmoplastic TMEs, the incessant aberration of signaling pathways contributes to immunosuppression by suppressing antitumor immunity. This feature offers a protective barrier that impedes the targeted delivery of drugs. In addition, the efficacy of immunotherapy is compromised because of the immune cold TME of PDAC. Targeted therapy approaches towards stromal and immunosuppressive TMEs are challenging. In this review, we discuss cellular and non-cellular TME components that contain actionable targets for drug development. We also highlight findings from preclinical studies and provide updates about the efficacies of new investigational drugs in clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olamide T. Olaoba
- Department of Surgery, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65212, USA; (O.T.O.); (M.Y.); (T.I.A.); (T.M.); (E.T.K.)
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65212, USA
| | - Ming Yang
- Department of Surgery, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65212, USA; (O.T.O.); (M.Y.); (T.I.A.); (T.M.); (E.T.K.)
| | - Temitope I. Adelusi
- Department of Surgery, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65212, USA; (O.T.O.); (M.Y.); (T.I.A.); (T.M.); (E.T.K.)
- Roy Blunt NextGen Precision Health Institute, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65212, USA
| | - Tessa Maidens
- Department of Surgery, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65212, USA; (O.T.O.); (M.Y.); (T.I.A.); (T.M.); (E.T.K.)
| | - Eric T. Kimchi
- Department of Surgery, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65212, USA; (O.T.O.); (M.Y.); (T.I.A.); (T.M.); (E.T.K.)
- Roy Blunt NextGen Precision Health Institute, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65212, USA
- Harry S. Truman Memorial Veterans’ Hospital, Columbia, MO 65201, USA
- Ellis Fischel Cancer Center, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65212, USA
| | - Kevin F. Staveley-O’Carroll
- Department of Surgery, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65212, USA; (O.T.O.); (M.Y.); (T.I.A.); (T.M.); (E.T.K.)
- Roy Blunt NextGen Precision Health Institute, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65212, USA
- Harry S. Truman Memorial Veterans’ Hospital, Columbia, MO 65201, USA
- Ellis Fischel Cancer Center, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65212, USA
| | - Guangfu Li
- Department of Surgery, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65212, USA; (O.T.O.); (M.Y.); (T.I.A.); (T.M.); (E.T.K.)
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65212, USA
- Roy Blunt NextGen Precision Health Institute, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65212, USA
- Harry S. Truman Memorial Veterans’ Hospital, Columbia, MO 65201, USA
- Ellis Fischel Cancer Center, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65212, USA
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Perez-Penco M, Lara de la Torre L, Lecoq I, Martinenaite E, Andersen MH. TGFβ-specific T cells induced by a TGFβ-derived immune modulatory vaccine both directly and indirectly modulate the phenotype of tumor-associated macrophages and fibroblasts. J Immunother Cancer 2024; 12:e008405. [PMID: 38417917 PMCID: PMC10900378 DOI: 10.1136/jitc-2023-008405] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/14/2024] [Indexed: 03/01/2024] Open
Abstract
The tumor microenvironment (TME) of pancreatic cancer is highly immunosuppressive. We recently developed a transforming growth factor (TGF)β-based immune modulatory vaccine that controlled tumor growth in a murine model of pancreatic cancer by targeting immunosuppression and desmoplasia in the TME. We found that treatment with the TGFβ vaccine not only reduced the percentage of M2-like tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) and cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) in the tumor but polarized CAFs away from the myofibroblast-like phenotype. However, whether the immune modulatory properties of the TGFβ vaccine on TAM and CAF phenotypes are a direct consequence of the recognition and subsequent targeting of these subsets by TGFβ-specific T cells or an indirect consequence of the overall modulation induced within the TME remains unknown. Recognition of M2 macrophages and fibroblast by TGFβ-specific T cells was assessed by ELISpot and flow cytometry. The indirect and direct effects of the TGFβ vaccine on these cell subsets were evaluated by culturing M2 macrophages or fibroblasts with tumor-conditioned media or with T cells isolated from the spleen of mice treated with the TGFβ vaccine or a control vaccine, respectively. Changes in phenotype were assessed by flow cytometry and Bio-Plex multiplex system (Luminex). We found that TGFβ-specific T cells induced by the TGFβ vaccine can recognize M2 macrophages and fibroblasts. Furthermore, we demonstrated that the phenotype of M2 macrophages and CAFs can be directly modulated by TGFβ-specific T cells induced by the TGFβ vaccine, as well as indirectly modulated as a result of the immune-modulatory effects of the vaccine within the TME. TAMs tend to have tumor-promoting functions, harbor an immunosuppressive phenotype and are linked to decreased overall survival in pancreatic cancer when they harbor an M2-like phenotype. In addition, myofibroblast-like CAFs create a stiff extracellular matrix that restricts T cell infiltration, impeding the effectiveness of immune therapies in desmoplastic tumors, such as pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. Reducing immunosuppression and immune exclusion in pancreatic tumors by targeting TAMs and CAFs with the TGFβ-based immune modulatory vaccine emerges as an innovative strategy for the generation of a more favorable environment for immune-based therapies, such as immune checkpoint inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Perez-Penco
- Department of Oncology, Copenhagen University Hospital, National Center for Cancer Immune Therapy (CCIT- DK), Herlev, Denmark
| | - Lucia Lara de la Torre
- Department of Oncology, Copenhagen University Hospital, National Center for Cancer Immune Therapy (CCIT- DK), Herlev, Denmark
| | - Inés Lecoq
- Department of Oncology, Copenhagen University Hospital, National Center for Cancer Immune Therapy (CCIT- DK), Herlev, Denmark
| | - Evelina Martinenaite
- Department of Oncology, Copenhagen University Hospital, National Center for Cancer Immune Therapy (CCIT- DK), Herlev, Denmark
| | - Mads Hald Andersen
- Department of Oncology, Copenhagen University Hospital, National Center for Cancer Immune Therapy (CCIT- DK), Herlev, Denmark
- Department of Immunology, University of Copenhagen, Kobenhavn, Denmark
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Yun HY. Leucine rich repeat LGI family member 3: Integrative analyses support its prognostic association with pancreatic adenocarcinoma. Medicine (Baltimore) 2024; 103:e37183. [PMID: 38394487 DOI: 10.1097/md.0000000000037183] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Leucine rich repeat LGI family member 3 (LGI3) is a member of the LGI protein family. Previous studies of our group have reported that LGI3 is expressed in adipose tissue, skin and brain, and serves as a multifunctional cytokine. LGI3 may also be involved in cytokine networks in various cancers. This study aimed to analyze differentially expressed genes in pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PAC) tissues and PAC cohort data in order to evaluate the prognostic role of LGI3. The expression microarray and the PAC cohort data were analyzed by bioinformatic methods for differential expression, protein-protein interactions, functional enrichment and pathway analyses, gene co-expression network analysis, and prognostic association analysis. Results showed that LGI3 expression was significantly reduced in PAC tissues. Nineteen upregulated genes and 31 downregulated genes in PAC tissues were identified as LGI3-regulated genes. Protein-protein interaction network analysis demonstrated that 92% (46/50) of the LGI3-regulated genes that were altered in PACs belonged to a protein-protein interaction network cluster. Functional enrichment and gene co-expression network analyses demonstrated that these genes in the network cluster were associated with various processes including inflammatory and immune responses, metabolic processes, cell differentiation, and angiogenesis. PAC cohort analyses revealed that low expression levels of LGI3 were significantly associated with poor PAC prognosis. Analysis of favorable or unfavorable prognostic gene products in PAC showed that 93 LGI3-regulated genes were differentially associated with PAC prognosis. LGI3 expression was correlated with the tumor-infiltration levels of various immune cells. Taken together, these results suggested that LGI3 may be a potential prognostic marker of PAC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hye-Young Yun
- Department of Biochemistry, Chung-Ang University, College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
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9
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Luckett T, Abudula M, Ireland L, Glenn M, Bellomo G, Stafferton R, Halloran C, Ghaneh P, Jones R, Schmid MC, Mielgo A. Mesothelin Secretion by Pancreatic Cancer Cells Co-opts Macrophages and Promotes Metastasis. Cancer Res 2024; 84:527-544. [PMID: 38356443 DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-23-1542] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2023] [Revised: 10/27/2023] [Accepted: 12/20/2023] [Indexed: 02/16/2024]
Abstract
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a highly metastatic disease, yet effective treatments to inhibit PDAC metastasis are lacking. The rich PDAC tumor microenvironment plays a major role in disease progression. Macrophages are the most abundant immune cell population in PDAC tumors and can acquire a range of functions that either hinder or promote tumor growth and metastasis. Here, we identified that mesothelin secretion by pancreatic cancer cells co-opts macrophages to support tumor growth and metastasis of cancer cells to the lungs, liver, and lymph nodes. Mechanistically, secretion of high levels of mesothelin by metastatic cancer cells induced the expression of VEGF alpha (VEGFA) and S100A9 in macrophages. Macrophage-derived VEGFA fed back to cancer cells to support tumor growth, and S100A9 increased neutrophil lung infiltration and formation of neutrophil extracellular traps. These results reveal a role for mesothelin in regulating macrophage functions and interaction with neutrophils to support PDAC metastasis. SIGNIFICANCE Mesothelin secretion by cancer cells supports pancreatic cancer metastasis by inducing macrophage secretion of VEGFA and S100A9 to support cancer cell proliferation and survival, recruit neutrophils, and stimulate neutrophil extracellular trap formation. See related commentary by Alewine, p. 513.
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Affiliation(s)
- Teifion Luckett
- Department of Molecular and Clinical Cancer Medicine, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Maidinaimu Abudula
- Department of Molecular and Clinical Cancer Medicine, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Lucy Ireland
- Department of Molecular and Clinical Cancer Medicine, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Mark Glenn
- Department of Molecular and Clinical Cancer Medicine, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Gaia Bellomo
- Department of Molecular and Clinical Cancer Medicine, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Ruth Stafferton
- Department of Molecular and Clinical Cancer Medicine, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Chris Halloran
- Department of Molecular and Clinical Cancer Medicine, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Paula Ghaneh
- Department of Molecular and Clinical Cancer Medicine, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Rob Jones
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Liverpool University Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Michael C Schmid
- Department of Molecular and Clinical Cancer Medicine, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Ainhoa Mielgo
- Department of Molecular and Clinical Cancer Medicine, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom
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10
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Zhang H, Xu W, Zhu H, Chen X, Tsai HI. Overcoming the limitations of immunotherapy in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma: Combining radiotherapy and metabolic targeting therapy. J Cancer 2024; 15:2003-2023. [PMID: 38434964 PMCID: PMC10905401 DOI: 10.7150/jca.92502] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2023] [Accepted: 01/20/2024] [Indexed: 03/05/2024] Open
Abstract
As a novel anticancer therapy, immunotherapy has demonstrated robust efficacy against a few solid tumors but poor efficacy against pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). This poor outcome is primarily attributable to the intrinsic cancer cell resistance and T-cell exhaustion, which is also the reason for the failure of conventional therapy. The present review summarizes the current PDAC immunotherapy avenues and the underlying resistance mechanisms. Then, the review discusses synergistic combination therapies, such as radiotherapy (RT) and metabolic targeting. Research suggests that RT boosts the antigen of PDAC, which facilitates the anti-tumor immune cell infiltration and exerts function. Metabolic reprogramming contributes to restoring the exhausted T cell function. The current review will help in tailoring combination regimens to enhance the efficacy of immunotherapy. In addition, it will help provide new approaches to address the limitations of the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (TME) by examining the relationship among immunotherapy, RT, and metabolism targeting therapy in PDAC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Han Zhang
- Institute of Medical Imaging and Artificial Intelligence, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, China
| | - Wenjin Xu
- Institute of Medical Imaging and Artificial Intelligence, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, China
| | - Haitao Zhu
- Institute of Medical Imaging and Artificial Intelligence, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, China
- Department of Medical Imaging, The Affiliated Hospital of Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, China
| | - Xuelian Chen
- Department of Radiology, Affiliated Kunshan Hospital of Jiangsu University, Kunshan, Jiangsu, China
| | - Hsiang-I Tsai
- Institute of Medical Imaging and Artificial Intelligence, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, China
- Department of Medical Imaging, The Affiliated Hospital of Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, China
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11
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Wang J, Gai J, Zhang T, Niu N, Qi H, Thomas DL, Li K, Xia T, Rodriguez C, Parkinson R, Durham J, McPhaul T, Narang AK, Anders RA, Osipov A, Wang H, He J, Laheru DA, Herman JM, Lee V, Jaffee EM, Thompson ED, Zhu Q, Zheng L. Neoadjuvant radioimmunotherapy in pancreatic cancer enhances effector T cell infiltration and shortens their distances to tumor cells. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2024; 10:eadk1827. [PMID: 38324679 PMCID: PMC10849596 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adk1827] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2023] [Accepted: 01/08/2024] [Indexed: 02/09/2024]
Abstract
Radiotherapy is hypothesized to have an immune-modulating effect on the tumor microenvironment (TME) of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) to sensitize it to anti-PD-1 antibody (a-PD-1) treatment. We collected paired pre- and posttreatment specimens from a clinical trial evaluating combination treatment with GVAX vaccine, a-PD-1, and stereotactic body radiation (SBRT) following chemotherapy for locally advanced PDACs (LAPC). With resected PDACs following different neoadjuvant therapies as comparisons, effector cells in PDACs were found to skew toward a more exhausted status in LAPCs following chemotherapy. The combination of GVAX/a-PD-1/SBRT drives TME to favor antitumor immune response including increased densities of GZMB+CD8+ T cells, TH1, and TH17, which are associated with longer survival, however increases immunosuppressive M2-like tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs). Adding SBRT to GVAX/a-PD-1 shortens the distances from PD-1+CD8+ T cells to tumor cells and to PD-L1+ myeloid cells, which portends prolonged survival. These findings have guided the design of next radioimmunotherapy studies by targeting M2-like TAM in PDACs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junke Wang
- Department of Oncology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
- The Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
- The Pancreatic Cancer Precision Medicine Center of Excellence Program, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
- The Bloomberg Kimmel Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
- Division of Biliary Tract Surgery, Department of General Surgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, China
| | - Jessica Gai
- Department of Oncology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
- The Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
- The Pancreatic Cancer Precision Medicine Center of Excellence Program, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
- The Bloomberg Kimmel Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
- The Skip Viragh Pancreatic Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
| | - Tengyi Zhang
- Department of Oncology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
- The Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
- The Pancreatic Cancer Precision Medicine Center of Excellence Program, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
- The Bloomberg Kimmel Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
| | - Nan Niu
- Department of Oncology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
- The Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
- The Pancreatic Cancer Precision Medicine Center of Excellence Program, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
- The Bloomberg Kimmel Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
| | - Hanfei Qi
- Department of Oncology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
- The Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
- Quantitative Sciences Division, Department of Oncology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
- The Cancer Convergence Institute at Johns Hopkins, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
| | - Dwayne L. Thomas
- Department of Oncology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
- The Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
- The Pancreatic Cancer Precision Medicine Center of Excellence Program, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
- The Bloomberg Kimmel Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
- Department of Surgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
| | - Keyu Li
- Department of Oncology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
- The Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
- The Pancreatic Cancer Precision Medicine Center of Excellence Program, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
- The Bloomberg Kimmel Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
| | - Tao Xia
- Department of Oncology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
- The Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
- The Pancreatic Cancer Precision Medicine Center of Excellence Program, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
- The Bloomberg Kimmel Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
| | - Christina Rodriguez
- Department of Oncology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
- The Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
- The Bloomberg Kimmel Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
- The Skip Viragh Pancreatic Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
| | - Rose Parkinson
- Department of Oncology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
- The Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
- The Bloomberg Kimmel Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
- The Skip Viragh Pancreatic Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
- The Cancer Convergence Institute at Johns Hopkins, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
| | - Jennifer Durham
- Department of Oncology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
- The Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
- The Bloomberg Kimmel Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
- The Skip Viragh Pancreatic Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
- The Cancer Convergence Institute at Johns Hopkins, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
| | - Thomas McPhaul
- Department of Oncology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
- The Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
- The Pancreatic Cancer Precision Medicine Center of Excellence Program, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
- Department of Surgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
| | - Amol K. Narang
- Department of Oncology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
- The Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
- The Pancreatic Cancer Precision Medicine Center of Excellence Program, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
- The Bloomberg Kimmel Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
| | - Robert A. Anders
- The Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
- The Pancreatic Cancer Precision Medicine Center of Excellence Program, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
- The Skip Viragh Pancreatic Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
- Department of Pathology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
| | - Arsen Osipov
- Department of Oncology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
- The Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
- The Pancreatic Cancer Precision Medicine Center of Excellence Program, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
- The Bloomberg Kimmel Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
- The Skip Viragh Pancreatic Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
- Cedars Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, 90048, USA
| | - Hao Wang
- Department of Oncology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
- The Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
- The Pancreatic Cancer Precision Medicine Center of Excellence Program, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
- The Skip Viragh Pancreatic Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
- Quantitative Sciences Division, Department of Oncology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
- The Cancer Convergence Institute at Johns Hopkins, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
| | - Jin He
- Department of Oncology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
- The Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
- The Pancreatic Cancer Precision Medicine Center of Excellence Program, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
- The Skip Viragh Pancreatic Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
- Department of Surgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
| | - Daniel A. Laheru
- Department of Oncology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
- The Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
- The Pancreatic Cancer Precision Medicine Center of Excellence Program, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
- The Bloomberg Kimmel Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
- The Skip Viragh Pancreatic Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
- The Cancer Convergence Institute at Johns Hopkins, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
| | - Joseph M. Herman
- Department of Oncology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
- The Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
- The Skip Viragh Pancreatic Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
- Northwell Health System, New Hyde Park, NY, 11042, USA
| | - Valerie Lee
- Department of Oncology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
- The Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
| | - Elizabeth M. Jaffee
- Department of Oncology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
- The Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
- The Pancreatic Cancer Precision Medicine Center of Excellence Program, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
- The Bloomberg Kimmel Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
- The Skip Viragh Pancreatic Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
- The Cancer Convergence Institute at Johns Hopkins, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
| | - Elizabeth D. Thompson
- Department of Oncology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
- The Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
- The Pancreatic Cancer Precision Medicine Center of Excellence Program, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
- The Bloomberg Kimmel Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
- Department of Pathology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
| | - Qingfeng Zhu
- Department of Oncology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
- The Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
- The Pancreatic Cancer Precision Medicine Center of Excellence Program, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
- The Bloomberg Kimmel Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
- The Cancer Convergence Institute at Johns Hopkins, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
| | - Lei Zheng
- Department of Oncology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
- The Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
- The Pancreatic Cancer Precision Medicine Center of Excellence Program, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
- The Bloomberg Kimmel Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
- The Skip Viragh Pancreatic Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
- The Cancer Convergence Institute at Johns Hopkins, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
- Department of Surgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
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12
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Joseph AM, Al Aiyan A, Al-Ramadi B, Singh SK, Kishore U. Innate and adaptive immune-directed tumour microenvironment in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. Front Immunol 2024; 15:1323198. [PMID: 38384463 PMCID: PMC10879611 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2024.1323198] [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: 10/17/2023] [Accepted: 01/11/2024] [Indexed: 02/23/2024] Open
Abstract
One of the most deadly and aggressive cancers in the world, pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), typically manifests at an advanced stage. PDAC is becoming more common, and by the year 2030, it is expected to overtake lung cancer as the second greatest cause of cancer-related death. The poor prognosis can be attributed to a number of factors, including difficulties in early identification, a poor probability of curative radical resection, limited response to chemotherapy and radiotherapy, and its immunotherapy resistance. Furthermore, an extensive desmoplastic stroma that surrounds PDAC forms a mechanical barrier that prevents vascularization and promotes poor immune cell penetration. Phenotypic heterogeneity, drug resistance, and immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment are the main causes of PDAC aggressiveness. There is a complex and dynamic interaction between tumor cells in PDAC with stromal cells within the tumour immune microenvironment. The immune suppressive microenvironment that promotes PDAC aggressiveness is contributed by a range of cellular and humoral factors, which itself are modulated by the cancer. In this review, we describe the role of innate and adaptive immune cells, complex tumor microenvironment in PDAC, humoral factors, innate immune-mediated therapeutic advances, and recent clinical trials in PDAC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ann Mary Joseph
- Department of Veterinary Medicine (CAVM), United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates
| | - Ahmad Al Aiyan
- Department of Veterinary Medicine (CAVM), United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates
| | - Basel Al-Ramadi
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates
- Zayed Center for Health Sciences, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates
- ASPIRE Precision Medicine Research Institute Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates
| | - Shiv K. Singh
- Department of Gastroenterology and Gastrointestinal Oncology, University Medical Center, Goettingen, Germany
| | - Uday Kishore
- Department of Veterinary Medicine (CAVM), United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates
- Zayed Center for Health Sciences, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates
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13
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Hartupee C, Nagalo BM, Chabu CY, Tesfay MZ, Coleman-Barnett J, West JT, Moaven O. Pancreatic cancer tumor microenvironment is a major therapeutic barrier and target. Front Immunol 2024; 15:1287459. [PMID: 38361931 PMCID: PMC10867137 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2024.1287459] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2023] [Accepted: 01/04/2024] [Indexed: 02/17/2024] Open
Abstract
Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is projected to become the 2nd leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the United States. Limitations in early detection and treatment barriers contribute to the lack of substantial success in the treatment of this challenging-to-treat malignancy. Desmoplasia is the hallmark of PDAC microenvironment that creates a physical and immunologic barrier. Stromal support cells and immunomodulatory cells face aberrant signaling by pancreatic cancer cells that shifts the complex balance of proper repair mechanisms into a state of dysregulation. The product of this dysregulation is the desmoplastic environment that encases the malignant cells leading to a dense, hypoxic environment that promotes further tumorigenesis, provides innate systemic resistance, and suppresses anti-tumor immune invasion. This desmoplastic environment combined with the immunoregulatory events that allow it to persist serve as the primary focus of this review. The physical barrier and immune counterbalance in the tumor microenvironment (TME) make PDAC an immunologically cold tumor. To convert PDAC into an immunologically hot tumor, tumor microenvironment could be considered alongside the tumor cells. We discuss the complex network of microenvironment molecular and cellular composition and explore how they can be targeted to overcome immuno-therapeutic challenges.
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Affiliation(s)
- Conner Hartupee
- Division of Surgical Oncology, Department of Surgery, Louisiana State University (LSU) Health, New Orleans, LA, United States
| | - Bolni Marius Nagalo
- Department of Pathology, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS), Little Rock, AR, United States
- The Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS), Little Rock, AR, United States
| | - Chiswili Y. Chabu
- Division of Biological Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, United States
- Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, United States
- Siteman Cancer Center, Washington University, St. Louis, MO, United States
| | - Mulu Z. Tesfay
- Department of Pathology, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS), Little Rock, AR, United States
| | - Joycelynn Coleman-Barnett
- Division of Surgical Oncology, Department of Surgery, Louisiana State University (LSU) Health, New Orleans, LA, United States
- Department of Interdisciplinary Oncology, Louisiana Cancer Research Center, Louisiana State University (LSU) Health, New Orleans, LA, United States
| | - John T. West
- Department of Interdisciplinary Oncology, Louisiana Cancer Research Center, Louisiana State University (LSU) Health, New Orleans, LA, United States
| | - Omeed Moaven
- Division of Surgical Oncology, Department of Surgery, Louisiana State University (LSU) Health, New Orleans, LA, United States
- Department of Interdisciplinary Oncology, Louisiana Cancer Research Center, Louisiana State University (LSU) Health, New Orleans, LA, United States
- Louisiana State University - Louisiana Children's Medical Center (LSU - LCMC) Cancer Center, New Orleans, LA, United States
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14
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Pramanik N, Gupta A, Ghanwatkar Y, Mahato RI. Recent advances in drug delivery and targeting for the treatment of pancreatic cancer. J Control Release 2024; 366:231-260. [PMID: 38171473 PMCID: PMC10922996 DOI: 10.1016/j.jconrel.2023.12.053] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2023] [Revised: 11/24/2023] [Accepted: 12/29/2023] [Indexed: 01/05/2024]
Abstract
Despite significant treatment efforts, pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), the deadliest solid tumor, is still incurable in the preclinical stages due to multifacet stroma, dense desmoplasia, and immune regression. Additionally, tumor heterogeneity and metabolic changes are linked to low grade clinical translational outcomes, which has prompted the investigation of the mechanisms underlying chemoresistance and the creation of effective treatment approaches by selectively targeting genetic pathways. Since targeting upstream molecules in first-line oncogenic signaling pathways typically has little clinical impact, downstream signaling pathways have instead been targeted in both preclinical and clinical studies. In this review, we discuss how the complexity of various tumor microenvironment (TME) components and the oncogenic signaling pathways that they are connected to actively contribute to the development and spread of PDAC, as well as the ways that recent therapeutic approaches have been targeted to restore it. We also illustrate how many endogenous stimuli-responsive linker-based nanocarriers have recently been developed for the specific targeting of distinct oncogenes and their downstream signaling cascades as well as their ongoing clinical trials. We also discuss the present challenges, prospects, and difficulties in the development of first-line oncogene-targeting medicines for the treatment of pancreatic cancer patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nilkamal Pramanik
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, the University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198, USA
| | - Aditya Gupta
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, the University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198, USA
| | - Yashwardhan Ghanwatkar
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, the University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198, USA
| | - Ram I Mahato
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, the University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198, USA.
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15
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Cornice J, Verzella D, Arboretto P, Vecchiotti D, Capece D, Zazzeroni F, Franzoso G. NF-κB: Governing Macrophages in Cancer. Genes (Basel) 2024; 15:197. [PMID: 38397187 PMCID: PMC10888451 DOI: 10.3390/genes15020197] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2024] [Revised: 01/26/2024] [Accepted: 01/27/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) are the major component of the tumor microenvironment (TME), where they sustain tumor progression and or-tumor immunity. Due to their plasticity, macrophages can exhibit anti- or pro-tumor functions through the expression of different gene sets leading to distinct macrophage phenotypes: M1-like or pro-inflammatory and M2-like or anti-inflammatory. NF-κB transcription factors are central regulators of TAMs in cancers, where they often drive macrophage polarization toward an M2-like phenotype. Therefore, the NF-κB pathway is an attractive therapeutic target for cancer immunotherapy in a wide range of human tumors. Hence, targeting NF-κB pathway in the myeloid compartment is a potential clinical strategy to overcome microenvironment-induced immunosuppression and increase anti-tumor immunity. In this review, we discuss the role of NF-κB as a key driver of macrophage functions in tumors as well as the principal strategies to overcome tumor immunosuppression by targeting the NF-κB pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica Cornice
- Department of Immunology and Inflammation, Imperial College London, London W12 0NN, UK; (J.C.); (P.A.)
| | - Daniela Verzella
- Department of Biotechnological and Applied Clinical Sciences (DISCAB), University of L’Aquila, 67100 L’Aquila, Italy; (D.V.); (D.C.); (F.Z.)
| | - Paola Arboretto
- Department of Immunology and Inflammation, Imperial College London, London W12 0NN, UK; (J.C.); (P.A.)
| | - Davide Vecchiotti
- Department of Biotechnological and Applied Clinical Sciences (DISCAB), University of L’Aquila, 67100 L’Aquila, Italy; (D.V.); (D.C.); (F.Z.)
| | - Daria Capece
- Department of Biotechnological and Applied Clinical Sciences (DISCAB), University of L’Aquila, 67100 L’Aquila, Italy; (D.V.); (D.C.); (F.Z.)
| | - Francesca Zazzeroni
- Department of Biotechnological and Applied Clinical Sciences (DISCAB), University of L’Aquila, 67100 L’Aquila, Italy; (D.V.); (D.C.); (F.Z.)
| | - Guido Franzoso
- Department of Immunology and Inflammation, Imperial College London, London W12 0NN, UK; (J.C.); (P.A.)
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16
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Lekan AA, Weiner LM. The Role of Chemokines in Orchestrating the Immune Response to Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma. Cancers (Basel) 2024; 16:559. [PMID: 38339310 PMCID: PMC10854906 DOI: 10.3390/cancers16030559] [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: 01/08/2024] [Revised: 01/24/2024] [Accepted: 01/26/2024] [Indexed: 02/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Chemokines are small molecules that function as chemotactic factors which regulate the migration, infiltration, and accumulation of immune cells. Here, we comprehensively assess the structural and functional role of chemokines, examine the effects of chemokines that are present in the pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) tumor microenvironment (TME), specifically those produced by cancer cells and stromal components, and evaluate their impact on immune cell trafficking, both in promoting and suppressing anti-tumor responses. We further explore the impact of chemokines on patient outcomes in PDAC and their role in the context of immunotherapy treatments, and review clinical trials that have targeted chemokine receptors and ligands in the treatment of PDAC. Lastly, we highlight potential strategies that can be utilized to harness chemokines in order to increase cytotoxic immune cell infiltration and the anti-tumor effects of immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Louis M. Weiner
- Department of Oncology, Georgetown Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, Georgetown University Medical Center, 3970 Reservoir Road NW, Washington, DC 20057, USA;
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17
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Erreni M, Fumagalli MR, Zanini D, Candiello E, Tiberi G, Parente R, D’Anna R, Magrini E, Marchesi F, Cappello P, Doni A. Multiplexed Imaging Mass Cytometry Analysis in Preclinical Models of Pancreatic Cancer. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:1389. [PMID: 38338669 PMCID: PMC10855072 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25031389] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2023] [Revised: 01/19/2024] [Accepted: 01/20/2024] [Indexed: 02/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is one of the most lethal cancers. PDAC is characterized by a complex tumor microenvironment (TME), that plays a pivotal role in disease progression and resistance to therapy. Investigating the spatial distribution and interaction of TME cells with the tumor is the basis for understanding the mechanisms underlying disease progression and represents a current challenge in PDAC research. Imaging mass cytometry (IMC) is the major multiplex imaging technology for the spatial analysis of tumor heterogeneity. However, there is a dearth of reports of multiplexed IMC panels for different preclinical mouse models, including pancreatic cancer. We addressed this gap by utilizing two preclinical models of PDAC: the genetically engineered, bearing KRAS-TP53 mutations in pancreatic cells, and the orthotopic, and developed a 28-marker panel for single-cell IMC analysis to assess the abundance, distribution and phenotypes of cells involved in PDAC progression and their reciprocal functional interactions. Herein, we provide an unprecedented definition of the distribution of TME cells in PDAC and compare the diversity between transplanted and genetic disease models. The results obtained represent an important and customizable tool for unraveling the complexities of PDAC and deciphering the mechanisms behind therapy resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marco Erreni
- Unit of Multiscale and Nanostructural Imaging, IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital -, via Manzoni 56, 20089 Rozzano, Milan, Italy
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Humanitas University, Via Rita Levi Montalcini 4, Pieve Emanuele, 20072 Milan, Italy
| | - Maria Rita Fumagalli
- Unit of Multiscale and Nanostructural Imaging, IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital -, via Manzoni 56, 20089 Rozzano, Milan, Italy
| | - Damiano Zanini
- Unit of Multiscale and Nanostructural Imaging, IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital -, via Manzoni 56, 20089 Rozzano, Milan, Italy
| | - Ermes Candiello
- Department of Molecular Biotechnology and Health Sciences, University of Turin, Piazza Nizza 44b, 10126 Torino, Italy
| | - Giorgia Tiberi
- Department of Molecular Biotechnology and Health Sciences, University of Turin, Piazza Nizza 44b, 10126 Torino, Italy
| | - Raffaella Parente
- Unit of Multiscale and Nanostructural Imaging, IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital -, via Manzoni 56, 20089 Rozzano, Milan, Italy
| | - Raffaella D’Anna
- Unit of Multiscale and Nanostructural Imaging, IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital -, via Manzoni 56, 20089 Rozzano, Milan, Italy
| | - Elena Magrini
- IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital -, via Manzoni 56, 20089 Rozzano, Milan, Italy
| | - Federica Marchesi
- IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital -, via Manzoni 56, 20089 Rozzano, Milan, Italy
- Department of Medical Biotechnology and Translational Medicine, University of Milan, 20133 Milan, Italy
| | - Paola Cappello
- Department of Molecular Biotechnology and Health Sciences, University of Turin, Piazza Nizza 44b, 10126 Torino, Italy
| | - Andrea Doni
- Unit of Multiscale and Nanostructural Imaging, IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital -, via Manzoni 56, 20089 Rozzano, Milan, Italy
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18
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Horvat NK, Karpovsky I, Phillips M, Wyatt MM, Hall MA, Herting CJ, Hammons J, Mahdi Z, Moffitt RA, Paulos CM, Lesinski GB. Clinically relevant orthotopic pancreatic cancer models for adoptive T cell transfer therapy. J Immunother Cancer 2024; 12:e008086. [PMID: 38191243 PMCID: PMC10806555 DOI: 10.1136/jitc-2023-008086] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 12/18/2023] [Indexed: 01/10/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is an aggressive tumor. Prognosis is poor and survival is low in patients diagnosed with this disease, with a survival rate of ~12% at 5 years. Immunotherapy, including adoptive T cell transfer therapy, has not impacted the outcomes in patients with PDAC, due in part to the hostile tumor microenvironment (TME) which limits T cell trafficking and persistence. We posit that murine models serve as useful tools to study the fate of T cell therapy. Currently, genetically engineered mouse models (GEMMs) for PDAC are considered a "gold-standard" as they recapitulate many aspects of human disease. However, these models have limitations, including marked tumor variability across individual mice and the cost of colony maintenance. METHODS Using flow cytometry and immunohistochemistry, we characterized the immunological features and trafficking patterns of adoptively transferred T cells in orthotopic PDAC (C57BL/6) models using two mouse cell lines, KPC-Luc and MT-5, isolated from C57BL/6 KPC-GEMM (KrasLSL-G12D/+p53-/- and KrasLSL-G12D/+p53LSL-R172H/+, respectively). RESULTS The MT-5 orthotopic model best recapitulates the cellular and stromal features of the TME in the PDAC GEMM. In contrast, far more host immune cells infiltrate the KPC-Luc tumors, which have less stroma, although CD4+ and CD8+ T cells were similarly detected in the MT-5 tumors compared with KPC-GEMM in mice. Interestingly, we found that chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells redirected to recognize mesothelin on these tumors that signal via CD3ζ and 41BB (Meso-41BBζ-CAR T cells) infiltrated the tumors of mice bearing stroma-devoid KPC-Luc orthotopic tumors, but not MT-5 tumors. CONCLUSIONS Our data establish for the first time a reproducible and realistic clinical system useful for modeling stroma-rich and stroma-devoid PDAC tumors. These models shall serve an indepth study of how to overcome barriers that limit antitumor activity of adoptively transferred T cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natalie K Horvat
- Department of Pediatric Hematology, Oncology and Immunology, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Isaac Karpovsky
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Maggie Phillips
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Megan M Wyatt
- Department of Surgery, Department of Microbiology & Immunology, Emory University Winship Cancer Institute, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Margaret A Hall
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Cameron J Herting
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Jacklyn Hammons
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Zaid Mahdi
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Richard A Moffitt
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Chrystal M Paulos
- Department of Surgery, Department of Microbiology & Immunology, Emory University Winship Cancer Institute, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Gregory B Lesinski
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, Emory University Winship Cancer Institute, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
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19
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van Eijck CWF, Mustafa DAM, Vadgama D, de Miranda NFCC, Groot Koerkamp B, van Tienhoven G, van der Burg SH, Malats N, van Eijck CHJ. Enhanced antitumour immunity following neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy mediates a favourable prognosis in women with resected pancreatic cancer. Gut 2024; 73:311-324. [PMID: 37709493 PMCID: PMC10850691 DOI: 10.1136/gutjnl-2023-330480] [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: 06/12/2023] [Accepted: 08/01/2023] [Indexed: 09/16/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND This study investigates sex disparities in clinical outcomes and tumour immune profiles in patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) who underwent upfront resection or resection preceded by gemcitabine-based neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (nCRT). METHODS Patients originated from the PREOPANC randomised controlled trial. Upfront surgery was performed in 82 patients, and 66 received nCRT before resection. The impact of sex on overall survival (OS) was investigated using Cox proportional hazards models. The immunological landscape within the tumour microenvironment (TME) was mapped using transcriptomic and spatial proteomic profiling. RESULTS The 5-year OS rate differed between the sexes following resection preceded by nCRT, with 43% for women compared with 22% for men. In multivariate analysis, the female sex was a favourable independent prognostic factor for OS only in the nCRT group (HR 0.19; 95% CI 0.07 to 0.52). Multivariate heterogeneous treatment effects analysis revealed a significant interaction between sex and treatment, implying increased nCRT efficacy among women with resected PDAC. The TME of women contained fewer protumoural CD163+MRC1+M2 macrophages than that of men after nCRT, as indicated by transcriptomic and validated using spatial proteomic profiling. CONCLUSION PDAC tumours of women are more sensitive to gemcitabine-based nCRT, resulting in longer OS after resection compared with men. This may be due to enhanced immunity impeding the infiltration of protumoral M2 macrophages into the TME. Our findings highlight the importance of considering sex disparities and mitigating immunosuppressive macrophage polarisation for personalised PDAC treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Casper W F van Eijck
- Department of Surgery, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
- Genetic and Molecular Epidemiology Group, Spanish National Cancer Research Centre, and CIBERONC, Madrid, Spain
| | - Dana A M Mustafa
- Department of Pathology, Tumour-Immuno Pathology Laboratory, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Disha Vadgama
- Department of Pathology, Tumour-Immuno Pathology Laboratory, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | | | - Bas Groot Koerkamp
- Department of Surgery, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | | | - Sjoerd H van der Burg
- Department of Medical Oncology, Oncode Institute, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Núria Malats
- Genetic and Molecular Epidemiology Group, Spanish National Cancer Research Centre, and CIBERONC, Madrid, Spain
| | - Casper H J van Eijck
- Department of Surgery, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
- Genetic and Molecular Epidemiology Group, Spanish National Cancer Research Centre, and CIBERONC, Madrid, Spain
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20
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Hussain Z, Bertran T, Finetti P, Lohmann E, Mamessier E, Bidaut G, Bertucci F, Rego M, Tomasini R. Macrophages reprogramming driven by cancer-associated fibroblasts under FOLFIRINOX treatment correlates with shorter survival in pancreatic cancer. Cell Commun Signal 2024; 22:1. [PMID: 38167013 PMCID: PMC10759487 DOI: 10.1186/s12964-023-01388-7] [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: 09/12/2023] [Accepted: 11/06/2023] [Indexed: 01/05/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) remains a clinically challenging cancer, mainly due to limited therapeutic options and the presence of a highly prominent tumor microenvironment (TME), facilitating tumor progression. The TME is predominated by heterogeneous populations of cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) and tumor associated macrophages (TAMs), in constant communication with each other and with tumor cells, influencing many tumoral abilities such as therapeutic resistance. However how the crosstalk between CAFs and macrophages evolves following chemotherapeutic treatment remains poorly understood, limiting our capacity to halt therapeutic resistance. METHODS We combined biological characterization of macrophages indirectly cocultured with human PDAC CAFs, under FOLFIRINOX treatment, with mRNAseq analyses of such macrophages and evaluated the relevance of the specific gene expression signature in a large series of primary PDAC patients to search for correlation with overall survival (OS) after FOLFIRINOX chemotherapy. RESULTS Firstly, we demonstrated that CAFs polarize naïve and M1 macrophages towards an M2-like phenotype with a specific increase of CD200R and CD209 M2 markers. Then, we demonstrated that CAFs counteract the pro-inflammatory phenotype induced by the FOLFIRINOX on Macrophages. Indeed, we highlighted that, under FOLFIRINOX, CAFs limit the FOLFIRINOX-induced cell death of macrophages and further reinforce their M2 phenotype as well as their immunosuppressive impact through specific chemokines production. Finally, we revealed that under FOLFIRINOX CAFs drive a specific macrophage gene expression signature involving SELENOP and GOS2 that correlates with shortened OS in FOLFIRINOX-treated PDAC patients. CONCLUSION Our study provides insight into the complex interactions between TME cells under FOLFIRINOX treatment. It suggests potential novel candidates that could be used as therapeutic targets in combination with FOLFIRINOX to prevent and alleviate TME influx on therapeutic resistance as well as biomarkers to predict FOLFIRINOX response in PDAC patients. Video Abstract.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zainab Hussain
- Cancer Research Center of Marseille, Aix-Marseille University, INSERM U1068, CNRS UMR7258, Institute Paoli-Calmettes, Marseille, France
| | - Thomas Bertran
- Cancer Research Center of Marseille, Aix-Marseille University, INSERM U1068, CNRS UMR7258, Institute Paoli-Calmettes, Marseille, France
| | - Pascal Finetti
- Cancer Research Center of Marseille, Aix-Marseille University, INSERM U1068, CNRS UMR7258, Institute Paoli-Calmettes, Marseille, France
| | - Eugenie Lohmann
- Cancer Research Center of Marseille, Aix-Marseille University, INSERM U1068, CNRS UMR7258, Institute Paoli-Calmettes, Marseille, France
| | - Emilie Mamessier
- Cancer Research Center of Marseille, Aix-Marseille University, INSERM U1068, CNRS UMR7258, Institute Paoli-Calmettes, Marseille, France
| | - Ghislain Bidaut
- Cancer Research Center of Marseille, Aix-Marseille University, INSERM U1068, CNRS UMR7258, Institute Paoli-Calmettes, Marseille, France
| | - François Bertucci
- Cancer Research Center of Marseille, Aix-Marseille University, INSERM U1068, CNRS UMR7258, Institute Paoli-Calmettes, Marseille, France
- Department of Medical Oncology, Institut Paoli-Calmettes, Marseille, France
| | - Moacyr Rego
- Therapeutic Innovation Center, Federal University of Pernambuco, Recife, Brazil
| | - Richard Tomasini
- Cancer Research Center of Marseille, Aix-Marseille University, INSERM U1068, CNRS UMR7258, Institute Paoli-Calmettes, Marseille, France.
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21
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Tay AHM, Cinotti R, Sze NSK, Lundqvist A. Inhibition of ERO1a and IDO1 improves dendritic cell infiltration into pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1264012. [PMID: 38187398 PMCID: PMC10766682 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1264012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2023] [Accepted: 12/11/2023] [Indexed: 01/09/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is one of the most lethal and treatment resistant cancers. Due to its desmoplastic and hypoxic nature along with an abundance of myeloid cell infiltration and scarce T cell infiltration, PDAC is considered a cold tumor. Methods Here we sought to investigate myeloid cell infiltration and composition in PDAC spheroids by targeting the hypoxia-associated pathways endoplasmic reticulum oxidoreductase 1 alpha (ERO1a) and indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase 1 (IDO1). Using MiaPaCa2 spheroids with hypoxic core, we assessed the roles of ERO1a and IDO1 inhibition in modulating monocyte infiltration and differentiation, followed by characterizing immunomodulatory factors secreted using LC-MS/MS. Results Inhibition of ERO1a and IDO1 significantly improved monocyte infiltration and differentiation into dendritic cells. LC-MS/MS analysis of the PDAC spheroid secretome identified downregulation of hypoxia and PDAC pathways, and upregulation of antigen presentation pathways upon inhibition of ERO1a and IDO1. Furthermore, immunomodulatory factors involved in immune infiltration and migration including interleukin-8, lymphocyte cytosolic protein 1, and transgelin-2, were upregulated upon inhibition of ERO1a and IDO1. Discussion Collectively, our results show that inhibition of ERO1a and IDO1 modulates the tumor microenvironment associated with improved monocyte infiltration and differentiation into dendritic cells to potentially influence therapeutic responses in patients with PDAC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Apple Hui Min Tay
- School of Biological Science, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, Singapore
- Department of Oncology-Pathology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Riccardo Cinotti
- Department of Oncology-Pathology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Newman Sui Kwan Sze
- School of Biological Science, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, Singapore
- Department of Health Sciences, Faculty of Applied Health Sciences, Brock University, St. Catharines, ON, Canada
| | - Andreas Lundqvist
- Department of Oncology-Pathology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
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22
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Schoumacher C, Derangère V, Gaudillière-Le Dain G, Huppe T, Rageot D, Ilie A, Vienot A, Borg C, Monnien F, Bibeau F, Truntzer C, Ghiringhelli F. CD3-CD8 immune score associated with a clinical score stratifies PDAC prognosis regardless of adjuvant or neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Oncoimmunology 2023; 13:2294563. [PMID: 38169969 PMCID: PMC10761164 DOI: 10.1080/2162402x.2023.2294563] [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: 06/21/2023] [Accepted: 12/08/2023] [Indexed: 01/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Stratification of the prognosis of pancreatic cancer (PDAC) patients treated by surgery is based solely on clinical variables, such as tumor stage and node status. The development of biomarkers of relapse is needed, especially to drive administration of adjuvant therapy in this at-risk population. Our study evaluates the prognostic performance of a CD3- and CD8-based immune score. CD3, CD8 and Foxp3 expression were evaluated on whole slides in two retrospective PDAC cohorts totaling 334 patients. For this study, we developed an immune score to estimate CD3 and CD8 infiltration in both tumor core and invasive margin using computer-guided analysis with QuPath software. Variables were combined in a dichotomous immune score. The association between immune and clinical scores, and both PFS and OS was investigated. We observed that a dichotomous immune score predicts both PFS and OS of localized PDAC. By univariate and multivariate analysis, immune score, tumor grade, adjuvant therapy, lymph node status, and adjuvant chemotherapy administration were associated with PFS and OS. We subsequently associated the PDAC immune score and clinical variables in a combined score. This combined score predicted patient outcomes independently of adjuvant or neoadjuvant treatment, and improved patient prognostic prediction compared to clinical variables or immune score alone.
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Affiliation(s)
- Coralie Schoumacher
- Cancer Biology Transfer Platform, Centre Georges-François Leclerc, Dijon, France
| | - Valentin Derangère
- Cancer Biology Transfer Platform, Centre Georges-François Leclerc, Dijon, France
- INSERM LNC-UMR1231 Research Center, TIRECS Team, Dijon, France
| | | | - Titouan Huppe
- Cancer Biology Transfer Platform, Centre Georges-François Leclerc, Dijon, France
| | - David Rageot
- Cancer Biology Transfer Platform, Centre Georges-François Leclerc, Dijon, France
- INSERM LNC-UMR1231 Research Center, TIRECS Team, Dijon, France
| | - Alis Ilie
- Cancer Biology Transfer Platform, Centre Georges-François Leclerc, Dijon, France
| | | | - Christophe Borg
- Department of Medical Oncology, CHU Besançon, Besançon, France
| | | | | | - Caroline Truntzer
- Cancer Biology Transfer Platform, Centre Georges-François Leclerc, Dijon, France
- INSERM LNC-UMR1231 Research Center, TIRECS Team, Dijon, France
| | - François Ghiringhelli
- Cancer Biology Transfer Platform, Centre Georges-François Leclerc, Dijon, France
- INSERM LNC-UMR1231 Research Center, TIRECS Team, Dijon, France
- Genetic and Immunology Medical Institute, GIMI, Dijon, France
- Department of Medical Oncology, Centre Georges-François Leclerc, Dijon, France
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23
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Ganesh SR, Roth CM, Parekkadan B. Simulating Interclonal Interactions in Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma. Bioengineering (Basel) 2023; 10:1360. [PMID: 38135951 PMCID: PMC10740451 DOI: 10.3390/bioengineering10121360] [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: 10/23/2023] [Revised: 11/22/2023] [Accepted: 11/24/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) is one of the most common types of cancers, accounting for 37% of B-cell tumor cases globally. DLBCL is known to be a heterogeneous disease, resulting in variable clinical presentations and the development of drug resistance. One underexplored aspect of drug resistance is the evolving dynamics between parental and drug-resistant clones within the same microenvironment. In this work, the effects of interclonal interactions between two cell populations-one sensitive to treatment and the other resistant to treatment-on tumor growth behaviors were explored through a mathematical model. In vitro cultures of mixed DLBCL populations demonstrated cooperative interactions and revealed the need for modifying the model to account for complex interactions. Multiple best-fit models derived from in vitro data indicated a difference in steady-state behaviors based on therapy administrations in simulations. The model and methods may serve as a tool for understanding the behaviors of heterogeneous tumors and identifying the optimal therapeutic regimen to eliminate cancer cell populations using computer-guided simulations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Siddarth R. Ganesh
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA; (S.R.G.); (C.M.R.)
| | - Charles M. Roth
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA; (S.R.G.); (C.M.R.)
| | - Biju Parekkadan
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA; (S.R.G.); (C.M.R.)
- Department of Medicine, Rutgers Biomedical Health Sciences, New Brunswick, NJ 08852, USA
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24
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Fyfe J, Dye D, Razak NBA, Metharom P, Falasca M. Immune evasion on the nanoscale: Small extracellular vesicles in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma immunity. Semin Cancer Biol 2023; 96:36-47. [PMID: 37748738 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcancer.2023.09.004] [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: 08/02/2023] [Revised: 09/16/2023] [Accepted: 09/18/2023] [Indexed: 09/27/2023]
Abstract
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a type of cancer alarmingly expanding in our modern societies that is still proving to be very challenging to counteract. This disease constitutes a quintessential example of the multiple interactions existing between the tumour and its surrounding microenvironment. In particular, PDAC is characterized by a very immunosuppressive environment that favours cancer growth and makes this cancer type very resistant to immunotherapy. The primary tumour releases many factors that influence both the microenvironment and the immune landscape. Extracellular vesicles (EVs), recently identified as indispensable entities ensuring cell-to-cell communication in both physiological and pathological processes, seem to play a pivotal function in ensuring the delivery of these factors to the tumour-surrounding tissues. In this review, we summarize the present understanding on the crosstalk among tumour cells and the cellular immune microenvironment emphasizing the pro-malignant role played by extracellular vesicles. We also discuss how a greater knowledge of the roles of EVs in tumour immune escape could be translated into clinical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jordan Fyfe
- Metabolic Signalling Group, Curtin Medical School, Curtin Health and Innovation Research Institute [1], Faculty of Health Sciences, Curtin University, Bentley, WA 6102, Australia
| | - Danielle Dye
- Curtin Medical School, Curtin Health and Innovation Research Institute [1], Faculty of Health Sciences, Curtin University, Bentley, WA 6102, Australia
| | - Norbaini Binti Abdol Razak
- Platelet Research Laboratory, Curtin Medical School, Curtin Health and Innovation Research Institute [1], Faculty of Health Sciences, Curtin University, Bentley, WA 6102, Australia
| | - Pat Metharom
- Platelet Research Laboratory, Curtin Medical School, Curtin Health and Innovation Research Institute [1], Faculty of Health Sciences, Curtin University, Bentley, WA 6102, Australia
| | - Marco Falasca
- Metabolic Signalling Group, Curtin Medical School, Curtin Health and Innovation Research Institute [1], Faculty of Health Sciences, Curtin University, Bentley, WA 6102, Australia; University of Parma, Department of Medicine and Surgery, Via Volturno 39, 43125 Parma, Italy.
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25
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Thielman NRJ, Funes V, Davuluri S, Ibanez HE, Sun WC, Fu J, Li K, Muth S, Pan X, Fujiwara K, Thomas D, Henderson M, Teh SS, Zhu Q, Thompson E, Jaffee EM, Kolodkin A, Meng F, Zheng L. Tumor- and Nerve-Derived Axon Guidance Molecule Promotes Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma Progression and Metastasis through Macrophage Reprogramming. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.10.24.563862. [PMID: 37961340 PMCID: PMC10634802 DOI: 10.1101/2023.10.24.563862] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2023]
Abstract
Axon guidance molecules were found to be the gene family most frequently altered in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDA) through mutations and copy number changes. However, the exact molecular mechanism regarding PDA development remained unclear. Using genetically engineered mouse models to examine one of the axon guidance molecules, semaphorin 3D (SEMA3D), we found a dual role for tumor-derived SEMA3D in malignant transformation of pancreatic epithelial cells and a role for nerve-derived SEMA3D in PDA development. This was demonstrated by the pancreatic-specific knockout of the SEMA3D gene from the KRAS G12D and TP53 R 172 H mutation knock-in, PDX1-Cre (KPC) mouse model which demonstrated a delayed tumor initiation and growth comparing to the original KPC mouse model. Our results showed that SEMA3D knockout skews the macrophages in the pancreas away from M2 polarization, providing a potential mechanistic role of tumor-derived SEMA3D in PDA development. The KPC mice with the SEMA3D knockout remained metastasis-free, however, died from primary tumor growth. We then tested the hypothesis that a potential compensation mechanism could result from SEMA3D which is naturally expressed by the intratumoral nerves. Our study further revealed that nerve-derived SEMA3D does not reprogram macrophages directly, but reprograms macrophages indirectly through ARF6 signaling and lactate production in PDA tumor cells. SEMA3D increases tumor-secreted lactate which is sensed by GPCR132 on macrophages and subsequently stimulates pro-tumorigenic M2 polarization in vivo. Tumor intrinsic- and extrinsic-SEMA3D induced ARF6 signaling through its receptor Plexin D1 in a mutant KRAS-dependent manner. Consistently, RNA sequencing database analysis revealed an association of higher KRAS MUT expression with an increase in SEMA3D and ARF6 expression in human PDAs. Moreover, multiplex immunohistochemistry analysis showed an increased number of M2-polarized macrophages proximal to nerves in human PDA tissue expressing SEMA3D. Thus, this study suggests altered expression of SEMA3D in tumor cells lead to acquisition of cancer-promoting functions and the axon guidance signaling originating from nerves is "hijacked" by tumor cells to support their growth. Other axon guidance and neuronal development molecules may play a similar dual role which is worth further investigation. One sentence summary Tumor- and nerve-derived SEMA3D promotes tumor progression and metastasis through macrophage reprogramming in the tumor microenvironment. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE This study established the dual role of axon guidance molecule, SEMA3D, in the malignant transformation of pancreatic epithelial cells and of nerve-derived SEMA3D in PDA progression and metastasis. It revealed macrophage reprogramming as the mechanism underlying bothroles. Together, this research elucidated how inflammatory responses promote invasive PDA progression and metastasis through an oncogenic process.
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Bogut A, Stojanovic B, Jovanovic M, Dimitrijevic Stojanovic M, Gajovic N, Stojanovic BS, Balovic G, Jovanovic M, Lazovic A, Mirovic M, Jurisevic M, Jovanovic I, Mladenovic V. Galectin-1 in Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma: Bridging Tumor Biology, Immune Evasion, and Therapeutic Opportunities. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:15500. [PMID: 37958483 PMCID: PMC10650903 DOI: 10.3390/ijms242115500] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2023] [Revised: 10/13/2023] [Accepted: 10/13/2023] [Indexed: 11/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma (PDAC) remains one of the most challenging malignancies to treat, with a complex interplay of molecular pathways contributing to its aggressive nature. Galectin-1 (Gal-1), a member of the galectin family, has emerged as a pivotal player in the PDAC microenvironment, influencing various aspects from tumor growth and angiogenesis to immune modulation. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the multifaceted role of Galectin-1 in PDAC. We delve into its contributions to tumor stroma remodeling, angiogenesis, metabolic reprogramming, and potential implications for therapeutic interventions. The challenges associated with targeting Gal-1 are discussed, given its pleiotropic functions and complexities in different cellular conditions. Additionally, the promising prospects of Gal-1 inhibition, including the utilization of nanotechnology and theranostics, are highlighted. By integrating recent findings and shedding light on the intricacies of Gal-1's involvement in PDAC, this review aims to provide insights that could guide future research and therapeutic strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Bogut
- City Medical Emergency Department, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia;
| | - Bojan Stojanovic
- Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Kragujevac, 34000 Kragujevac, Serbia; (B.S.); (G.B.)
- Department of General Surgery, University Clinical Center Kragujevac, 34000 Kragujevac, Serbia;
| | - Marina Jovanovic
- Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Kragujevac, 34000 Kragujevac, Serbia; (M.J.); (V.M.)
| | | | - Nevena Gajovic
- Center for Molecular Medicine and Stem Cell Research, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Kragujevac, 34000 Kragujevac, Serbia;
| | - Bojana S. Stojanovic
- Department of Pathophysiology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Kragujevac, 34000 Kragujevac, Serbia;
| | - Goran Balovic
- Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Kragujevac, 34000 Kragujevac, Serbia; (B.S.); (G.B.)
| | - Milan Jovanovic
- Department of Abdominal Surgery, Military Medical Academy, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia;
| | - Aleksandar Lazovic
- Department of General Surgery, University Clinical Center Kragujevac, 34000 Kragujevac, Serbia;
| | - Milos Mirovic
- Department of Surgery, General Hospital of Kotor, 85330 Kotor, Montenegro;
| | - Milena Jurisevic
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Kragujevac, 34000 Kragujevac, Serbia
| | - Ivan Jovanovic
- Center for Molecular Medicine and Stem Cell Research, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Kragujevac, 34000 Kragujevac, Serbia;
| | - Violeta Mladenovic
- Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Kragujevac, 34000 Kragujevac, Serbia; (M.J.); (V.M.)
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Li O, Li L, Sheng Y, Ke K, Wu J, Mou Y, Liu M, Jin W. Biological characteristics of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma: Initiation to malignancy, intracellular to extracellular. Cancer Lett 2023; 574:216391. [PMID: 37714257 DOI: 10.1016/j.canlet.2023.216391] [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: 05/28/2023] [Revised: 09/04/2023] [Accepted: 09/10/2023] [Indexed: 09/17/2023]
Abstract
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a highly life-threatening tumour with a low early-detection rate, rapid progression and a tendency to develop resistance to chemotherapy. Therefore, understanding the regulatory mechanisms underlying the initiation, development and metastasis of pancreatic cancer is necessary for enhancing therapeutic effectiveness. In this review, we summarised single-gene mutations (including KRAS, CDKN2A, TP53, SMAD4 and some other less prevalent mutations), epigenetic changes (including DNA methylation, histone modifications and RNA interference) and large chromosome alterations (such as copy number variations, chromosome rearrangements and chromothripsis) associated with PDAC. In addition, we discussed variations in signalling pathways that act as intermediate oncogenic factors in PDAC, including PI3K/AKT, MAPK/ERK, Hippo and TGF-β signalling pathways. The focus of this review was to investigate alterations in the microenvironment of PDAC, particularly the role of immunosuppressive cells, cancer-associated fibroblasts, lymphocytes, other para-cancerous cells and tumour extracellular matrix in tumour progression. Peripheral axons innervating the pancreas have been reported to play a crucial role in the development of cancer. In addition, tumour cells can influence the behaviour of neighbouring non-tumour cells by secreting certain factors, both locally and at a distance. In this review, we elucidated the alterations in intracellular molecules and the extracellular environment that occur during the progression of PDAC. Altogether, this review may enhance the understanding of the biological characteristics of PDAC and guide the development of more precise treatment strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ou Li
- General Surgery, Cancer Center, Department of Gastrointestinal and Pancreatic Surgery, Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital (Affiliated People's Hospital), Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China; Key Laboratory of Gastroenterology of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital, Affiliated People's Hospital, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Li Li
- General Surgery, Cancer Center, Department of Gastrointestinal and Pancreatic Surgery, Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital (Affiliated People's Hospital), Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China; Key Laboratory of Gastroenterology of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital, Affiliated People's Hospital, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Yunru Sheng
- Center for Rehabilitation Medicine, Department of Anesthesiology, Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital (Affiliated People's Hospital), Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Kun Ke
- General Surgery, Cancer Center, Department of Gastrointestinal and Pancreatic Surgery, Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital (Affiliated People's Hospital), Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China; Key Laboratory of Gastroenterology of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital, Affiliated People's Hospital, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Jianzhang Wu
- General Surgery, Cancer Center, Department of Gastrointestinal and Pancreatic Surgery, Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital (Affiliated People's Hospital), Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China; Key Laboratory of Gastroenterology of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital, Affiliated People's Hospital, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Yiping Mou
- General Surgery, Cancer Center, Department of Gastrointestinal and Pancreatic Surgery, Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital (Affiliated People's Hospital), Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China; Key Laboratory of Gastroenterology of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital, Affiliated People's Hospital, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Mingyang Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, National Cancer Center, China; National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, China; Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100021, China.
| | - Weiwei Jin
- General Surgery, Cancer Center, Department of Gastrointestinal and Pancreatic Surgery, Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital (Affiliated People's Hospital), Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China; Key Laboratory of Gastroenterology of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital, Affiliated People's Hospital, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.
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Guo J, Wang S, Gao Q. An integrated overview of the immunosuppression features in the tumor microenvironment of pancreatic cancer. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1258538. [PMID: 37771596 PMCID: PMC10523014 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1258538] [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: 07/14/2023] [Accepted: 08/29/2023] [Indexed: 09/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is one of the deadliest malignancies. It is characterized by a complex and immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (TME), which is primarily composed of tumor cells, stromal cells, immune cells, and acellular components. The cross-interactions and -regulations among various cell types in the TME have been recognized to profoundly shape the immunosuppression features that meaningfully affect PDAC biology and treatment outcomes. In this review, we first summarize five cellular composition modules by integrating the cellular (sub)types, phenotypes, and functions in PDAC TME. Then we discuss an integrated overview of the cross-module regulations as a determinant of the immunosuppressive TME in PDAC. We also briefly highlight TME-targeted strategies that potentially improve PDAC therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinglong Guo
- Department of Cardiovascular Disease, the First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Siyue Wang
- Baylor College of Medicine, One Baylor Plaza, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Qi Gao
- Department of Cardiovascular Disease, the First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China
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Rohila D, Park IH, Pham TV, Weitz J, Hurtado de Mendoza T, Madheswaran S, Ishfaq M, Beaman C, Tapia E, Sun S, Patel J, Tamayo P, Lowy AM, Joshi S. Syk Inhibition Reprograms Tumor-Associated Macrophages and Overcomes Gemcitabine-Induced Immunosuppression in Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma. Cancer Res 2023; 83:2675-2689. [PMID: 37306759 PMCID: PMC10416758 DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-22-3645] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2022] [Revised: 04/25/2023] [Accepted: 06/07/2023] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is an insidious disease with a low 5-year survival rate. PDAC is characterized by infiltration of abundant tumor-associated macrophages (TAM), which promote immune tolerance and immunotherapeutic resistance. Here we report that macrophage spleen tyrosine kinase (Syk) promotes PDAC growth and metastasis. In orthotopic PDAC mouse models, genetic deletion of myeloid Syk reprogrammed macrophages into immunostimulatory phenotype, increased the infiltration, proliferation, and cytotoxicity of CD8+ T cells, and repressed PDAC growth and metastasis. Furthermore, gemcitabine (Gem) treatment induced an immunosuppressive microenvironment in PDAC by promoting protumorigenic polarization of macrophages. In contrast, treatment with the FDA-approved Syk inhibitor R788 (fostamatinib) remodeled the tumor immune microenvironment, "re-educated" protumorigenic macrophages towards an immunostimulatory phenotype and boosted CD8+ T-cell responses in Gem-treated PDAC in orthotopic mouse models and an ex vivo human pancreatic slice culture model. These findings illustrate the potential of Syk inhibition for enhancing the antitumor immune responses in PDAC and support the clinical evaluation of R788 either alone or together with Gem as a potential treatment strategy for PDAC. SIGNIFICANCE Syk blockade induces macrophage polarization to an immunostimulatory phenotype, which enhances CD8+ T-cell responses and improves gemcitabine efficacy in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma, a clinically challenging malignancy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Deepak Rohila
- Division of Pediatric Hematology-Oncology, Moores Cancer Center, University of California, San Diego, California
| | - In Hwan Park
- Division of Pediatric Hematology-Oncology, Moores Cancer Center, University of California, San Diego, California
| | - Timothy V. Pham
- Office of Cancer Genomics, Moores Cancer Center, University of California, San Diego, California
| | - Jonathan Weitz
- Department of Surgery, University of California, San Diego, California
| | | | - Suresh Madheswaran
- Division of Pediatric Hematology-Oncology, Moores Cancer Center, University of California, San Diego, California
| | - Mehreen Ishfaq
- Division of Pediatric Hematology-Oncology, Moores Cancer Center, University of California, San Diego, California
| | - Cooper Beaman
- Division of Pediatric Hematology-Oncology, Moores Cancer Center, University of California, San Diego, California
| | - Elisabette Tapia
- Division of Pediatric Hematology-Oncology, Moores Cancer Center, University of California, San Diego, California
| | - Siming Sun
- Department of Surgery, University of California, San Diego, California
| | - Jay Patel
- Department of Surgery, University of California, San Diego, California
| | - Pablo Tamayo
- Office of Cancer Genomics, Moores Cancer Center, University of California, San Diego, California
| | - Andrew M. Lowy
- Department of Surgery, University of California, San Diego, California
| | - Shweta Joshi
- Division of Pediatric Hematology-Oncology, Moores Cancer Center, University of California, San Diego, California
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Giustarini G, Teng G, Pavesi A, Adriani G. Characterization of 3D heterocellular spheroids of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma for the study of cell interactions in the tumor immune microenvironment. Front Oncol 2023; 13:1156769. [PMID: 37519820 PMCID: PMC10375712 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2023.1156769] [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: 02/01/2023] [Accepted: 06/27/2023] [Indexed: 08/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is one of the deadliest malignancies nowadays. The available chemo- and immunotherapies are often ineffective in treating PDAC due to its immunosuppressive and highly desmoplastic tumor immune microenvironment (TIME), which is hardly reproduced in the existing preclinical models. The PDAC TIME results from a peculiar spatial organization between different cell types. For this reason, developing new human models recapitulating the tissue organization and cell heterogeneity of PDAC is highly desirable. We developed human 3D heterocellular tumor spheroids of PDAC formed by cancer cells, endothelial cells, pancreatic stellate cells (PSC), and monocytes. As a control, we formed spheroids using immortalized epithelial pancreatic ductal cells (non-cancerous spheroids) with cellular heterogeneity similar to the tumor spheroids. Normal spheroids containing endothelial cells formed a complex 3D endothelial network significantly compromised in tumor spheroids. Monocyte/macrophages within the 4-culture tumor spheroids were characterized by a higher expression of CD163, CD206, PD-L1, and CD40 than those in the non-cancerous spheroids suggesting their differentiation towards an immunosuppressive phenotype. The heterocellular tumor spheroids presented a hypoxic core populated with PSC and monocytes/macrophages. The 4-culture tumor spheroids were characterized by spatial proximity of PSC and monocytes to the endothelial cells and a cytokine signature with increased concentrations of CXCL10, CCL2, and IL-6, which have been observed in PDAC patients and associated with poor survival. Further, 4-culture tumor spheroids decreased the concentrations of T-cell chemoattracting cytokines, i.e., CCL4, CCL5, and CXCL9, when compared with the non-cancerous spheroids, revealing a critical immunosuppressive feature of the different types of cells forming the tumor spheroids. Our results showed that the 4-culture tumor spheroids better resembled some critical features of patients' PDAC TIME than monoculture tumor spheroids. Using the proposed human 3D spheroid model for therapy testing at the preclinical stage may reveal pitfalls of chemo- and immuno-therapies to help the development of better anti-tumor therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giulio Giustarini
- Singapore Immunology Network (SIgN), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (ASTAR), Singapore, Singapore
| | - Germaine Teng
- Singapore Immunology Network (SIgN), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (ASTAR), Singapore, Singapore
| | - Andrea Pavesi
- Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology (IMCB), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (ASTAR), Singapore, Singapore
- Mechanobiology Institute, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Giulia Adriani
- Singapore Immunology Network (SIgN), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (ASTAR), Singapore, Singapore
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
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Lin HJ, Liu Y, Caroland K, Lin J. Polarization of Cancer-Associated Macrophages Maneuver Neoplastic Attributes of Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:3507. [PMID: 37444617 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15133507] [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: 05/31/2023] [Revised: 07/01/2023] [Accepted: 07/03/2023] [Indexed: 07/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Mounting evidence links the phenomenon of enhanced recruitment of tumor-associated macrophages towards cancer bulks to neoplastic growth, invasion, metastasis, immune escape, matrix remodeling, and therapeutic resistance. In the context of cancer progression, naïve macrophages are polarized into M1 or M2 subtypes according to their differentiation status, gene signatures, and functional roles. While the former render proinflammatory and anticancer effects, the latter subpopulation elicits an opposite impact on pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. M2 macrophages have gained increasing attention as they are largely responsible for molding an immune-suppressive landscape. Through positive feedback circuits involving a paracrine manner, M2 macrophages can be amplified by and synergized with neighboring neoplastic cells, fibroblasts, endothelial cells, and non-cell autonomous constituents in the microenvironmental niche to promote an advanced disease state. This review delineates the molecular cues expanding M2 populations that subsequently convey notorious clinical outcomes. Future therapeutic regimens shall comprise protocols attempting to abolish environmental niches favoring M2 polarization; weaken cancer growth typically assisted by M2; promote the recruitment of tumoricidal CD8+ T lymphocytes and dendritic cells; and boost susceptibility towards gemcitabine as well as other chemotherapeutic agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huey-Jen Lin
- Department of Medical & Molecular Sciences, University of Delaware, Willard Hall Education Building, 16 West Main Street, Newark, DE 19716, USA
| | - Yingguang Liu
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Sciences, College of Osteopathic Medicine, Liberty University, 306 Liberty View Lane, Lynchburg, VA 24502, USA
| | - Kailey Caroland
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Molecular Medicine Graduate Program, Greenebaum Comprehensive Cancer Center, School of Medicine, University of Maryland, 108 N. Greene Street, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA
| | - Jiayuh Lin
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Molecular Medicine Graduate Program, Greenebaum Comprehensive Cancer Center, School of Medicine, University of Maryland, 108 N. Greene Street, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA
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Daunke T, Beckinger S, Rahn S, Krüger S, Heckl S, Schäfer H, Wesch D, Pilarsky C, Eckstein M, Hartmann A, Röcken C, Wandmacher AM, Sebens S. Expression and role of the immune checkpoint regulator PD-L1 in the tumor-stroma interplay of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1157397. [PMID: 37449210 PMCID: PMC10337136 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1157397] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2023] [Accepted: 06/09/2023] [Indexed: 07/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI), e.g., targeting programmed cell death protein 1-ligand 1 (PD-L1) or its receptor PD-1, have markedly improved the therapy of many cancers but so far failed in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). Macrophages represent one of the most abundant immune cell populations within the tumor microenvironment (TME) of PDAC being able to either support or restrain tumor progression depending on their phenotype. To better understand treatment failure of PD-L1/PD-1 inhibitors in PDAC, this study examined PD-L1 expression in the context of a dynamic TME in PDAC with a particular focus on the impact of macrophages. Methods Formalin-fixed and paraffin embedded tissue samples of primary PDAC tissues and corresponding liver metastases were used for immunohistochemical analyses. Serial sections were stained with antibodies detecting Pan-Cytokeratin, CD68, CD163, CD8, and PD-L1.To investigate whether the PD-1/PD-L1 axis and macrophages contribute to immune escape of PDAC cells, a stroma enriched 3D spheroid coculture model was established in vitro, using different PDAC cell lines and macrophages subtypes as well as CD8+ T cells. Functional and flow cytometry analyses were conducted to characterize cell populations. Results Immunohistochemical analyses revealed that PD-L1 is mainly expressed by stroma cells, including macrophages and not PDAC cells in primary PDAC tissues and corresponding liver metastases. Notably, high local abundance of macrophages and strong PD-L1 staining were commonly found at invasion fronts of tumoral lesions between CD8+ T cells and tumor cells. In order to investigate whether PD-L1 expressing macrophages impact the response of PDAC cells to treatment with PD-L1/PD-1 inhibitors, we developed a spheroid model comprising two different PDAC cell lines and different ratios of in vitro differentiated primary M1- or M2-like polarized macrophages. In line with our in situ findings, high PD-L1 expression was observed in macrophages rather than PDAC cells, which was further increased by the presence of PDAC cells. The effector phenotype of co-cultured CD8+ T cells exemplified by expression of activation markers and release of effector molecules was rather enhanced by PDAC macrophage spheroids, particularly with M1-like macrophages compared to mono-culture spheroids. However, this was not associated with enhanced PDAC cell death. ICI treatment with either Durvalumab or Pembrolizumab alone or in combination with Gemcitabine hardly affected the effector phenotype of CD8+ T cells along with PDAC cell death. Thus, despite strong PD-L1 expression in macrophages, ICI treatment did not result in an enhanced activation and cytotoxic phenotype of CD8+ T cells. Conclusion Overall, our study revealed novel insights into the interplay of PDAC cells and macrophages in the presence of ICI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tina Daunke
- Institute for Experimental Cancer Research, Kiel University and University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein, Kiel, Germany
| | - Silje Beckinger
- Institute for Experimental Cancer Research, Kiel University and University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein, Kiel, Germany
| | - Sascha Rahn
- Biochemical Institute, Kiel University, Kiel, Germany
| | - Sandra Krüger
- Institute of Pathology, University Medical Center Schleswig-Holstein, Kiel, Germany
| | - Steffen Heckl
- Institute of Pathology, University Medical Center Schleswig-Holstein, Kiel, Germany
- Department of Internal Medicine II, University Medical Center Schleswig-Holstein, Kiel, Germany
| | - Heiner Schäfer
- Institute for Experimental Cancer Research, Kiel University and University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein, Kiel, Germany
| | - Daniela Wesch
- Institute of Immunology, Kiel University and University Medical Center Schleswig-Holstein (UKSH), Kiel, Germany
| | - Christian Pilarsky
- Translational Research Center, University Hospital Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Markus Eckstein
- Institute of Pathology, University Hospital Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Erlangen, Germany
| | - Arndt Hartmann
- Institute of Pathology, University Hospital Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Erlangen, Germany
| | - Christoph Röcken
- Institute of Pathology, University Medical Center Schleswig-Holstein, Kiel, Germany
| | - Anna Maxi Wandmacher
- Institute for Experimental Cancer Research, Kiel University and University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein, Kiel, Germany
- Department of Internal Medicine II, University Medical Center Schleswig-Holstein, Kiel, Germany
| | - Susanne Sebens
- Institute for Experimental Cancer Research, Kiel University and University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein, Kiel, Germany
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Mekapogu AR, Xu Z, Pothula S, Perera C, Pang T, Hosen SMZ, Damalanka V, Janetka J, Goldstein D, Pirola R, Wilson J, Apte M. HGF/c-Met pathway inhibition combined with chemotherapy increases cytotoxic T-cell infiltration and inhibits pancreatic tumour growth and metastasis. Cancer Lett 2023:216286. [PMID: 37354984 DOI: 10.1016/j.canlet.2023.216286] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2023] [Revised: 06/17/2023] [Accepted: 06/20/2023] [Indexed: 06/26/2023]
Abstract
Pancreatic cancer (PC) is a deadly cancer with a high mortality rate. The unique characteristics of PC, including desmoplasia and immunosuppression, have made it difficult to develop effective treatment strategies. Pancreatic stellate cells (PSCs) play a crucial role in the progression of the disease by interacting with cancer cells. One of the key mediators of PSC - cancer cell interactions is the hepatocyte growth factor (HGF)/c-MET pathway. Using an immunocompetent in vivo model of PC as well as in vitro experiments, this study has shown that a combined approach using HGF/c-MET inhibitors to target stromal-tumour interactions and chemotherapy (gemcitabine) to target cancer cells effectively decreases tumour volume, EMT, and stemness, and importantly, eliminates metastasis. Notably, HGF/c-MET inhibition decreases TGF-β secretion by cancer cells, resulting in an increase in cytotoxic T-cell infiltration, thus contributing to cancer cell death in tumours. HGF/c-MET inhibition + chemotherapy was also found to normalise the gut microbiome and improve gut microbial diversity. These findings provide a strong platform for assessment of this triple therapy (HGF/c-MET inhibition + chemotherapy) approach in the clinical setting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alpha Raj Mekapogu
- Pancreatic Research Group, South West Sydney Clinical Campuses, School of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health, UNSW Sydney, Australia; Ingham Institute for Applied Medical Research, Sydney, Australia
| | - Zhihong Xu
- Pancreatic Research Group, South West Sydney Clinical Campuses, School of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health, UNSW Sydney, Australia; Ingham Institute for Applied Medical Research, Sydney, Australia
| | - Srinivasa Pothula
- Pancreatic Research Group, South West Sydney Clinical Campuses, School of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health, UNSW Sydney, Australia; Ingham Institute for Applied Medical Research, Sydney, Australia; AbCellera, Beaconsfield, New South Wales, United Kingdom
| | - Chamini Perera
- Pancreatic Research Group, South West Sydney Clinical Campuses, School of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health, UNSW Sydney, Australia; Ingham Institute for Applied Medical Research, Sydney, Australia
| | - Tony Pang
- Pancreatic Research Group, South West Sydney Clinical Campuses, School of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health, UNSW Sydney, Australia; Ingham Institute for Applied Medical Research, Sydney, Australia; Surgical Innovations Unit, Westmead Hospital, Sydney, Australia; Westmead Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - S M Zahid Hosen
- Pancreatic Research Group, South West Sydney Clinical Campuses, School of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health, UNSW Sydney, Australia; Ingham Institute for Applied Medical Research, Sydney, Australia
| | - Vishnu Damalanka
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Washington University, St. Louis, USA
| | - James Janetka
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Washington University, St. Louis, USA
| | - David Goldstein
- Pancreatic Research Group, South West Sydney Clinical Campuses, School of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health, UNSW Sydney, Australia
| | - Romano Pirola
- Pancreatic Research Group, South West Sydney Clinical Campuses, School of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health, UNSW Sydney, Australia
| | - Jeremy Wilson
- Pancreatic Research Group, South West Sydney Clinical Campuses, School of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health, UNSW Sydney, Australia; Ingham Institute for Applied Medical Research, Sydney, Australia
| | - Minoti Apte
- Pancreatic Research Group, South West Sydney Clinical Campuses, School of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health, UNSW Sydney, Australia; Ingham Institute for Applied Medical Research, Sydney, Australia.
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Kim BY, Ryu JH, Park J, Ji B, Chun HS, Kim MS, Shin YI. Fermented Lettuce Extract Induces Immune Responses through Polarization of Macrophages into the Pro-Inflammatory M1-Subtype. Nutrients 2023; 15:2750. [PMID: 37375653 PMCID: PMC10303209 DOI: 10.3390/nu15122750] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2023] [Revised: 06/12/2023] [Accepted: 06/13/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Abstract
It has been reported that lettuce and its bioactive compounds enhance the host immune system by acting as immune modulators. This study aimed to identify the immunological effect of fermented lettuce extract (FLE) on macrophages. To evaluate the efficacy of FLE in enhancing macrophage function, we measured and compared the levels of macrophage activation-related markers in FLE- and lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells. Treatment with FLE activated RAW 264.7 macrophages, increased their phagocytic ability, and increased the production of nitric oxide (NO) and pro-inflammatory cytokine levels-similar to LPS. The effects of FLE on M1/M2 macrophage polarization were investigated by determining M1 and M2 macrophage transcript markers in mouse peritoneal macrophages. The FLE-related treatment of peritoneal macrophages enhanced the expression of M1 markers but reduced IL-4 treatment-induced M2 markers. After the generation of tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs), alterations in the levels of M1 and M2 macrophage markers were measured after treatment with FLE. The FLE-related treatment of TAMs increased the expression and production of pro-inflammatory cytokines and also led to the enhanced apoptosis of pancreatic cancer cells. These findings suggest that FLE may be useful for macrophage-targeted cancer therapy because of its ability to regulate the activation and polarization of macrophages in the tumor microenvironment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bo-Young Kim
- Research Institute for Convergence of Biomedical Science and Technology, Pusan National University Yangsan Hospital, Yangsan 50612, Republic of Korea; (B.-Y.K.); (J.H.R.); (J.P.)
| | - Ji Hyeon Ryu
- Research Institute for Convergence of Biomedical Science and Technology, Pusan National University Yangsan Hospital, Yangsan 50612, Republic of Korea; (B.-Y.K.); (J.H.R.); (J.P.)
| | - Jisu Park
- Research Institute for Convergence of Biomedical Science and Technology, Pusan National University Yangsan Hospital, Yangsan 50612, Republic of Korea; (B.-Y.K.); (J.H.R.); (J.P.)
| | - Byeongjun Ji
- HumanEnos LLC, Wanju 55347, Republic of Korea; (B.J.); (H.S.C.)
| | - Hyun Soo Chun
- HumanEnos LLC, Wanju 55347, Republic of Korea; (B.J.); (H.S.C.)
| | - Min Sun Kim
- Center for Nitric Oxide Metabolite, Wonkwang University, Iksan 54538, Republic of Korea;
| | - Yong-Il Shin
- Research Institute for Convergence of Biomedical Science and Technology, Pusan National University Yangsan Hospital, Yangsan 50612, Republic of Korea; (B.-Y.K.); (J.H.R.); (J.P.)
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, School of Medicine, Pusan National University, Yangsan 50612, Republic of Korea
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Hou Z, Lin J, Ma Y, Fang H, Wu Y, Chen Z, Lin X, Lu F, Wen S, Yu X, Huang H, Pan Y. Single-cell RNA sequencing revealed subclonal heterogeneity and gene signatures of gemcitabine sensitivity in pancreatic cancer. Front Pharmacol 2023; 14:1193791. [PMID: 37324492 PMCID: PMC10267405 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2023.1193791] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2023] [Accepted: 05/15/2023] [Indexed: 06/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction: Resistance to gemcitabine is common and critically limits its therapeutic efficacy in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). Methods: We constructed 17 patient-derived xenograft (PDX) models from PDAC patient samples and identified the most notable responder to gemcitabine by screening the PDX sets in vivo. To analyze tumor evolution and microenvironmental changes pre- and post-chemotherapy, single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) was performed. Results: ScRNA-seq revealed that gemcitabine promoted the expansion of subclones associated with drug resistance and recruited macrophages related to tumor progression and metastasis. We further investigated the particular drug-resistant subclone and established a gemcitabine sensitivity gene panel (GSGP) (SLC46A1, PCSK1N, KRT7, CAV2, and LDHA), dividing PDAC patients into two groups to predict the overall survival (OS) in The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) training dataset. The signature was successfully validated in three independent datasets. We also found that 5-GSGP predicted the sensitivity to gemcitabine in PDAC patients in the TCGA training dataset who were treated with gemcitabine. Discussion and conclusion: Our study provides new insight into the natural selection of tumor cell subclones and remodeling of tumor microenvironment (TME) cells induced by gemcitabine. We revealed a specific drug resistance subclone, and based on the characteristics of this subclone, we constructed a GSGP that can robustly predict gemcitabine sensitivity and prognosis in pancreatic cancer, which provides a theoretical basis for individualized clinical treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zelin Hou
- Department of General Surgery, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, Fuzhou, China
| | - Jiajing Lin
- Department of General Surgery, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, Fuzhou, China
| | - Yuan Ma
- Department of General Surgery, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, Fuzhou, China
| | - Haizhong Fang
- Department of General Surgery, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, Fuzhou, China
| | - Yuwei Wu
- Department of General Surgery, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, Fuzhou, China
| | - Zhijiang Chen
- Department of General Surgery, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, Fuzhou, China
| | - Xianchao Lin
- Department of General Surgery, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, Fuzhou, China
| | - Fengchun Lu
- Department of General Surgery, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, Fuzhou, China
| | - Shi Wen
- Department of General Surgery, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, Fuzhou, China
| | | | - Heguang Huang
- Department of General Surgery, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, Fuzhou, China
| | - Yu Pan
- Department of General Surgery, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, Fuzhou, China
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36
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Chen S, Saeed AFUH, Liu Q, Jiang Q, Xu H, Xiao GG, Rao L, Duo Y. Macrophages in immunoregulation and therapeutics. Signal Transduct Target Ther 2023; 8:207. [PMID: 37211559 DOI: 10.1038/s41392-023-01452-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 144] [Impact Index Per Article: 144.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2022] [Revised: 03/06/2023] [Accepted: 04/26/2023] [Indexed: 05/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Macrophages exist in various tissues, several body cavities, and around mucosal surfaces and are a vital part of the innate immune system for host defense against many pathogens and cancers. Macrophages possess binary M1/M2 macrophage polarization settings, which perform a central role in an array of immune tasks via intrinsic signal cascades and, therefore, must be precisely regulated. Many crucial questions about macrophage signaling and immune modulation are yet to be uncovered. In addition, the clinical importance of tumor-associated macrophages is becoming more widely recognized as significant progress has been made in understanding their biology. Moreover, they are an integral part of the tumor microenvironment, playing a part in the regulation of a wide variety of processes including angiogenesis, extracellular matrix transformation, cancer cell proliferation, metastasis, immunosuppression, and resistance to chemotherapeutic and checkpoint blockade immunotherapies. Herein, we discuss immune regulation in macrophage polarization and signaling, mechanical stresses and modulation, metabolic signaling pathways, mitochondrial and transcriptional, and epigenetic regulation. Furthermore, we have broadly extended the understanding of macrophages in extracellular traps and the essential roles of autophagy and aging in regulating macrophage functions. Moreover, we discussed recent advances in macrophages-mediated immune regulation of autoimmune diseases and tumorigenesis. Lastly, we discussed targeted macrophage therapy to portray prospective targets for therapeutic strategies in health and diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shanze Chen
- Department of Respiratory Diseases and Critic Care Unit, Shenzhen Institute of Respiratory Disease, Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, Shenzhen People's Hospital (The Second Clinical Medical College, Jinan University; The First Affiliated Hospital, Southern University of Science and Technology), Shenzhen, 518020, China
| | - Abdullah F U H Saeed
- Department of Cancer Biology, Beckman Research Institute of City of Hope National Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, 91010, USA
| | - Quan Liu
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Huazhong University of Science and Technology Union Shenzhen Hospital (Nanshan Hospital), Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, 518052, China
| | - Qiong Jiang
- Department of Respiratory Diseases and Critic Care Unit, Shenzhen Institute of Respiratory Disease, Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, Shenzhen People's Hospital (The Second Clinical Medical College, Jinan University; The First Affiliated Hospital, Southern University of Science and Technology), Shenzhen, 518020, China
| | - Haizhao Xu
- Department of Respiratory Diseases and Critic Care Unit, Shenzhen Institute of Respiratory Disease, Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, Shenzhen People's Hospital (The Second Clinical Medical College, Jinan University; The First Affiliated Hospital, Southern University of Science and Technology), Shenzhen, 518020, China
- Department of Respiratory, The First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, 518055, China
| | - Gary Guishan Xiao
- State Key Laboratory of Fine Chemicals, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Chemical Engineering, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian, China.
| | - Lang Rao
- Institute of Biomedical Health Technology and Engineering, Shenzhen Bay Laboratory, Shenzhen, 518132, China.
| | - Yanhong Duo
- Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology (MTC), Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
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Chang J, Lo ZHY, Alenizi S, Kovacevic Z. Re-Shaping the Pancreatic Cancer Tumor Microenvironment: A New Role for the Metastasis Suppressor NDRG1. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:2779. [PMID: 37345116 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15102779] [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: 04/03/2023] [Revised: 05/01/2023] [Accepted: 05/05/2023] [Indexed: 06/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Pancreatic cancer (PaC) is a highly aggressive disease, with poor response to current treatments and 5-year survival rates of 10-15%. PaC progression is facilitated by its interaction with the complex and multifaceted tumor microenvironment (TME). In the TME, cancer cells and surrounding stromal cells constantly communicate with each other via the secretion and uptake of factors including cytokines, chemokines, growth factors, metabolites, and extracellular vesicles (EVs), reshaping the landscape of PaC. Recent studies demonstrated that the metastasis suppressor N-myc downstream regulated 1 (NDRG1) not only inhibits oncogenic signaling pathways in PaC cells but also alters the communication between PaC cells and the surrounding stroma. In fact, NDRG1 was found to influence the secretome of PaC cells, alter cancer cell metabolism, and interfere with intracellular trafficking and intercellular communication between PaC cells and surrounding fibroblasts. This review will present recent advancements in understanding the role of NDRG1 in PaC progression, with a focus on how this molecule influences PaC-stroma communication and its potential for re-shaping the PaC TME.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiawei Chang
- School of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine & Health, University of Sydney, Sydney 2006, Australia
- Department of Physiology, School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine & Health, University of NSW, Sydney 2052, Australia
| | - Zoe H Y Lo
- School of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine & Health, University of Sydney, Sydney 2006, Australia
| | - Shafi Alenizi
- School of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine & Health, University of Sydney, Sydney 2006, Australia
| | - Zaklina Kovacevic
- School of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine & Health, University of Sydney, Sydney 2006, Australia
- Department of Physiology, School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine & Health, University of NSW, Sydney 2052, Australia
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Wiedmann L, De Angelis Rigotti F, Vaquero-Siguero N, Donato E, Espinet E, Moll I, Alsina-Sanchis E, Bohnenberger H, Fernandez-Florido E, Mülfarth R, Vacca M, Gerwing J, Conradi LC, Ströbel P, Trumpp A, Mogler C, Fischer A, Rodriguez-Vita J. HAPLN1 potentiates peritoneal metastasis in pancreatic cancer. Nat Commun 2023; 14:2353. [PMID: 37095087 PMCID: PMC10126109 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-38064-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2022] [Accepted: 04/12/2023] [Indexed: 04/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) frequently metastasizes into the peritoneum, which contributes to poor prognosis. Metastatic spreading is promoted by cancer cell plasticity, yet its regulation by the microenvironment is incompletely understood. Here, we show that the presence of hyaluronan and proteoglycan link protein-1 (HAPLN1) in the extracellular matrix enhances tumor cell plasticity and PDAC metastasis. Bioinformatic analysis showed that HAPLN1 expression is enriched in the basal PDAC subtype and associated with worse overall patient survival. In a mouse model for peritoneal carcinomatosis, HAPLN1-induced immunomodulation favors a more permissive microenvironment, which accelerates the peritoneal spread of tumor cells. Mechanistically, HAPLN1, via upregulation of tumor necrosis factor receptor 2 (TNFR2), promotes TNF-mediated upregulation of Hyaluronan (HA) production, facilitating EMT, stemness, invasion and immunomodulation. Extracellular HAPLN1 modifies cancer cells and fibroblasts, rendering them more immunomodulatory. As such, we identify HAPLN1 as a prognostic marker and as a driver for peritoneal metastasis in PDAC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lena Wiedmann
- Division Vascular Signaling and Cancer, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
- Faculty of Biosciences, University of Heidelberg, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Francesca De Angelis Rigotti
- Division Vascular Signaling and Cancer, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
- Tumor-Stroma Communication Laboratory, Centro de Investigación Príncipe Felipe, 46012, Valencia, Spain
| | - Nuria Vaquero-Siguero
- Division Vascular Signaling and Cancer, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Elisa Donato
- Division of Stem Cells and Cancer, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
- HI-STEM - Heidelberg Institute for Stem Cell Technology and Experimental Medicine gGmbH, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Elisa Espinet
- Division of Stem Cells and Cancer, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
- HI-STEM - Heidelberg Institute for Stem Cell Technology and Experimental Medicine gGmbH, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
- Department of Pathology and Experimental Therapy, School of Medicine, University of Barcelona (UB), L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain
- Molecular Mechanisms and Experimental Therapy in Oncology Program (Oncobell), Institut d'Investigació Biomèdica de Bellvitge (IDIBELL), L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, 08908, Spain
| | - Iris Moll
- Division Vascular Signaling and Cancer, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Elisenda Alsina-Sanchis
- Division Vascular Signaling and Cancer, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
- Institute for Clinical Chemistry, University Medical Center Göttingen, 37075, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Hanibal Bohnenberger
- Institute of Pathology, University Medical Center Göttingen, Georg-August-University, 37075, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Elena Fernandez-Florido
- Division Vascular Signaling and Cancer, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Ronja Mülfarth
- Division Vascular Signaling and Cancer, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
- Faculty of Biosciences, University of Heidelberg, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Margherita Vacca
- Division Vascular Signaling and Cancer, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Jennifer Gerwing
- Division Vascular Signaling and Cancer, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Lena-Christin Conradi
- Clinic of General, Visceral and Pediatric Surgery, University Medical Center Göttingen, Robert-Koch-Straβe 40, 37075, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Philipp Ströbel
- Institute of Pathology, University Medical Center Göttingen, Georg-August-University, 37075, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Andreas Trumpp
- Division of Stem Cells and Cancer, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
- HI-STEM - Heidelberg Institute for Stem Cell Technology and Experimental Medicine gGmbH, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Carolin Mogler
- Institute of Pathology, Technical University of Munich, 81675, Munich, Germany
| | - Andreas Fischer
- Division Vascular Signaling and Cancer, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), 69120, Heidelberg, Germany.
- Institute for Clinical Chemistry, University Medical Center Göttingen, 37075, Göttingen, Germany.
- German Center for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), partner site Göttingen, Germany.
| | - Juan Rodriguez-Vita
- Division Vascular Signaling and Cancer, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), 69120, Heidelberg, Germany.
- Tumor-Stroma Communication Laboratory, Centro de Investigación Príncipe Felipe, 46012, Valencia, Spain.
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Myo Min KK, Ffrench CB, Jessup CF, Shepherdson M, Barreto SG, Bonder CS. Overcoming the Fibrotic Fortress in Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma: Challenges and Opportunities. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:cancers15082354. [PMID: 37190281 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15082354] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2023] [Revised: 04/06/2023] [Accepted: 04/14/2023] [Indexed: 05/17/2023] Open
Abstract
An overabundance of desmoplasia in the tumour microenvironment (TME) is one of the defining features that influences pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) development, progression, metastasis, and treatment resistance. Desmoplasia is characterised by the recruitment and activation of fibroblasts, heightened extracellular matrix deposition (ECM) and reduced blood supply, as well as increased inflammation through an influx of inflammatory cells and cytokines, creating an intrinsically immunosuppressive TME with low immunogenic potential. Herein, we review the development of PDAC, the drivers that initiate and/or sustain the progression of the disease and the complex and interwoven nature of the cellular and acellular components that come together to make PDAC one of the most aggressive and difficult to treat cancers. We review the challenges in delivering drugs into the fortress of PDAC tumours in concentrations that are therapeutic due to the presence of a highly fibrotic and immunosuppressive TME. Taken together, we present further support for continued/renewed efforts focusing on aspects of the extremely dense and complex TME of PDAC to improve the efficacy of therapy for better patient outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kay K Myo Min
- Centre for Cancer Biology, University of South Australia and SA Pathology, Adelaide, SA 5000, Australia
| | - Charlie B Ffrench
- Centre for Cancer Biology, University of South Australia and SA Pathology, Adelaide, SA 5000, Australia
| | - Claire F Jessup
- College of Medicine & Public Health, Flinders University, Bedford Park, SA 5042, Australia
- Adelaide Medical School, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA 5000, Australia
| | - Mia Shepherdson
- College of Medicine & Public Health, Flinders University, Bedford Park, SA 5042, Australia
- Hepatopancreatobiliary & Liver Transplant Unit, Division of Surgery & Perioperative Medicine, Flinders Medical Centre, Bedford Park, SA 5042, Australia
| | - Savio George Barreto
- College of Medicine & Public Health, Flinders University, Bedford Park, SA 5042, Australia
- Hepatopancreatobiliary & Liver Transplant Unit, Division of Surgery & Perioperative Medicine, Flinders Medical Centre, Bedford Park, SA 5042, Australia
| | - Claudine S Bonder
- Centre for Cancer Biology, University of South Australia and SA Pathology, Adelaide, SA 5000, Australia
- Adelaide Medical School, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA 5000, Australia
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40
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Shankar LK, Schöder H, Sharon E, Wolchok J, Knopp MV, Wahl RL, Ellingson BM, Hall NC, Yaffe MJ, Towbin AJ, Farwell MD, Pryma D, Poussaint TY, Wright CL, Schwartz L, Harisinghani M, Mahmood U, Wu AM, Leung D, de Vries EGE, Tang Y, Beach G, Reeves SA. Harnessing imaging tools to guide immunotherapy trials: summary from the National Cancer Institute Cancer Imaging Steering Committee workshop. Lancet Oncol 2023; 24:e133-e143. [PMID: 36858729 PMCID: PMC10119769 DOI: 10.1016/s1470-2045(22)00742-2] [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: 09/08/2022] [Revised: 11/18/2022] [Accepted: 11/30/2022] [Indexed: 03/02/2023]
Abstract
As the immuno-oncology field continues the rapid growth witnessed over the past decade, optimising patient outcomes requires an evolution in the current response-assessment guidelines for phase 2 and 3 immunotherapy clinical trials and clinical care. Additionally, investigational tools-including image analysis of standard-of-care scans (such as CT, magnetic resonance, and PET) with analytics, such as radiomics, functional magnetic resonance agents, and novel molecular-imaging PET agents-offer promising advancements for assessment of immunotherapy. To document current challenges and opportunities and identify next steps in immunotherapy diagnostic imaging, the National Cancer Institute Clinical Imaging Steering Committee convened a meeting with diverse representation among imaging experts and oncologists to generate a comprehensive review of the state of the field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lalitha K Shankar
- Clinical Trials Branch, National Cancer Institute, Rockville, MD, USA.
| | - Heiko Schöder
- Department of Radiology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Elad Sharon
- Investigational Drug Branch, National Cancer Institute, Rockville, MD, USA
| | - Jedd Wolchok
- Meyer Cancer Center, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Michael V Knopp
- Department of Radiology, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Richard L Wahl
- Department of Radiology, Washington University, St Louis, MO, USA
| | - Benjamin M Ellingson
- Department of Radiological Sciences, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Nathan C Hall
- Department of Radiology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Martin J Yaffe
- Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Alexander J Towbin
- Department of Radiology and Medical Imaging, Cincinnati Children's Hospital, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Michael D Farwell
- Department of Radiology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Daniel Pryma
- Department of Radiology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | | | | | | | | | - Umar Mahmood
- Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Anna M Wu
- Department of Immunology & Theranostics, City of Hope Comprehensive Cancer Center, Duarte, CA, USA
| | | | - Elisabeth G E de Vries
- Department of Medical Oncology, University Medical Centre Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands
| | | | | | - Steven A Reeves
- Coordinating Center for Clinical Trials, National Cancer Institute, Rockville, MD, USA
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41
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Kung H, Yu J. Targeted therapy for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma: Mechanisms and clinical study. MedComm (Beijing) 2023; 4:e216. [PMID: 36814688 PMCID: PMC9939368 DOI: 10.1002/mco2.216] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2022] [Revised: 01/12/2023] [Accepted: 01/13/2023] [Indexed: 02/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is an aggressive and lethal malignancy with a high rate of recurrence and a dismal 5-year survival rate. Contributing to the poor prognosis of PDAC is the lack of early detection, a complex network of signaling pathways and molecular mechanisms, a dense and desmoplastic stroma, and an immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment. A recent shift toward a neoadjuvant approach to treating PDAC has been sparked by the numerous benefits neoadjuvant therapy (NAT) has to offer compared with upfront surgery. However, certain aspects of NAT against PDAC, including the optimal regimen, the use of radiotherapy, and the selection of patients that would benefit from NAT, have yet to be fully elucidated. This review describes the major signaling pathways and molecular mechanisms involved in PDAC initiation and progression in addition to the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment of PDAC. We then review current guidelines, ongoing research, and future research directions on the use of NAT based on randomized clinical trials and other studies. Finally, the current use of and research regarding targeted therapy for PDAC are examined. This review bridges the molecular understanding of PDAC with its clinical significance, development of novel therapies, and shifting directions in treatment paradigm.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heng‐Chung Kung
- Krieger School of Arts and SciencesJohns Hopkins UniversityBaltimoreMarylandUSA
| | - Jun Yu
- Departments of Medicine and OncologyJohns Hopkins University School of MedicineBaltimoreMarylandUSA
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42
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Liu Q, Li J, Zheng H, Yang S, Hua Y, Huang N, Kleeff J, Liao Q, Wu W. Adoptive cellular immunotherapy for solid neoplasms beyond CAR-T. Mol Cancer 2023; 22:28. [PMID: 36750830 PMCID: PMC9903509 DOI: 10.1186/s12943-023-01735-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2022] [Accepted: 01/30/2023] [Indexed: 02/09/2023] Open
Abstract
In recent decades, immune checkpoint blockade and chimeric antigen receptor T cell (CAR-T) therapy are two milestone achievements in clinical immunotherapy. However, both show limited efficacies in most solid neoplasms, which necessitates the exploration of new immunotherapeutic modalities. The failure of CAR-T and immune checkpoint blockade in several solid neoplasms is attributed to multiple factors, including low antigenicity of tumor cells, low infiltration of effector T cells, and diverse mechanisms of immunosuppression in the tumor microenvironment. New adoptive cell therapies have been attempted for solid neoplasms, including TCR-T, CAR-natural killer cells (CAR-NK), and CAR-macrophages (CAR-M). Compared to CAR-T, these new adoptive cell therapies have certain advantages in treating solid neoplasms. In this review, we summarized the 40-year evolution of adoptive cell therapies, then focused on the advances of TCR-T, CAR-NK, and CAR-M in solid neoplasms and discussed their potential clinical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiaofei Liu
- grid.506261.60000 0001 0706 7839Department of General Surgery, State Key Laboratory of Complex Severe and Rare Diseases, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Peking Union Medical College, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, No.1 Shuai Fu Yuan, Dongcheng District, Beijing, 100730 China
| | - Jiayi Li
- grid.506261.60000 0001 0706 7839Department of General Surgery, State Key Laboratory of Complex Severe and Rare Diseases, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Peking Union Medical College, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, No.1 Shuai Fu Yuan, Dongcheng District, Beijing, 100730 China
| | - Huaijin Zheng
- grid.506261.60000 0001 0706 7839Department of General Surgery, State Key Laboratory of Complex Severe and Rare Diseases, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Peking Union Medical College, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, No.1 Shuai Fu Yuan, Dongcheng District, Beijing, 100730 China
| | - Sen Yang
- grid.506261.60000 0001 0706 7839Department of General Surgery, State Key Laboratory of Complex Severe and Rare Diseases, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Peking Union Medical College, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, No.1 Shuai Fu Yuan, Dongcheng District, Beijing, 100730 China
| | - Yuze Hua
- grid.506261.60000 0001 0706 7839Department of General Surgery, State Key Laboratory of Complex Severe and Rare Diseases, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Peking Union Medical College, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, No.1 Shuai Fu Yuan, Dongcheng District, Beijing, 100730 China
| | - Nan Huang
- grid.506261.60000 0001 0706 7839Department of General Surgery, State Key Laboratory of Complex Severe and Rare Diseases, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Peking Union Medical College, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, No.1 Shuai Fu Yuan, Dongcheng District, Beijing, 100730 China
| | - Jorg Kleeff
- grid.9018.00000 0001 0679 2801Department of Visceral, Vascular and Endocrine Surgery, Martin-Luther-University Halle-Wittenberg, 06120 Halle (Saale), Germany
| | - Quan Liao
- Department of General Surgery, State Key Laboratory of Complex Severe and Rare Diseases, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Peking Union Medical College, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, No.1 Shuai Fu Yuan, Dongcheng District, Beijing, 100730, China.
| | - Wenming Wu
- Department of General Surgery, State Key Laboratory of Complex Severe and Rare Diseases, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Peking Union Medical College, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, No.1 Shuai Fu Yuan, Dongcheng District, Beijing, 100730, China.
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43
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Yamazaki K, Kubara K, Suzuki Y, Hihara T, Kurotaki D, Tamura T, Ito M, Tsukahara K. Multivalent mannose-conjugated siRNA causes robust gene silencing in pancreatic macrophages in vivo. Eur J Pharm Biopharm 2023; 183:61-73. [PMID: 36603692 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejpb.2022.12.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2022] [Revised: 12/22/2022] [Accepted: 12/28/2022] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
Nucleic acid therapeutics have been utilized for gene regulation, and their recent advancement has led to approval of novel drugs for liver-related disorders. However, systemic extrahepatic delivery remains challenging. Here, we report newly designed mannose-conjugated oligonucleotides for delivering oligonucleotides to macrophages by leveraging the mannose receptor, C-type 1 (MRC1, CD206), which is abundantly expressed in macrophages. We investigated the relationship between cellular uptake and multivalency (mono to tetra) of mannose ligands or linker length and selected a trivalent-mannose ligand. Trivalent-mannose (Man3)-conjugated siRNA induced concentration-dependent gene silencing in both human CD206-overexpressing cells and human macrophages in vitro. After subcutaneous injection into mice, we observed a high distribution of Man3-conjugated oligonucleotides in the liver and pancreata as well as cellular uptake into Kupffer cells and pancreatic macrophages. A single subcutaneous injection of Man3-conjugated siRNA (10 mg/kg) targeting β2-microglobulin (B2M) silenced B2m mRNA expression by ∼50% and decreased its protein levels in mouse pancreatic macrophages compared to those in saline-treated mice. Of note, multiple subcutaneous injections decreased B2m gene expression and B2M protein levels by ∼80% and ∼85%, respectively. These results show that mannose-conjugation with oligonucleotides is expected to help deliver oligonucleotides to macrophages and regulate gene expression in vivo, particularly in the pancreas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kazuto Yamazaki
- Tsukuba Research Laboratories, Eisai Co., Ltd., 5-1-3, Tokodai, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 300-2635, Japan.
| | - Kenji Kubara
- Tsukuba Research Laboratories, Eisai Co., Ltd., 5-1-3, Tokodai, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 300-2635, Japan
| | - Yuta Suzuki
- Tsukuba Research Laboratories, Eisai Co., Ltd., 5-1-3, Tokodai, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 300-2635, Japan
| | - Taro Hihara
- Tsukuba Research Laboratories, Eisai Co., Ltd., 5-1-3, Tokodai, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 300-2635, Japan
| | - Daisuke Kurotaki
- Department of Immunology, Yokohama City University Graduate School of Medicine, 3-9, Fukuura, Kanazawa-ku, Yokohama 236-0004, Japan
| | - Tomohiko Tamura
- Department of Immunology, Yokohama City University Graduate School of Medicine, 3-9, Fukuura, Kanazawa-ku, Yokohama 236-0004, Japan
| | - Masashi Ito
- Tsukuba Research Laboratories, Eisai Co., Ltd., 5-1-3, Tokodai, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 300-2635, Japan
| | - Kappei Tsukahara
- Tsukuba Research Laboratories, Eisai Co., Ltd., 5-1-3, Tokodai, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 300-2635, Japan
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Benkhaled S, Peters C, Jullian N, Arsenijevic T, Navez J, Van Gestel D, Moretti L, Van Laethem JL, Bouchart C. Combination, Modulation and Interplay of Modern Radiotherapy with the Tumor Microenvironment and Targeted Therapies in Pancreatic Cancer: Which Candidates to Boost Radiotherapy? Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:cancers15030768. [PMID: 36765726 PMCID: PMC9913158 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15030768] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2022] [Revised: 01/20/2023] [Accepted: 01/22/2023] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma cancer (PDAC) is a highly diverse disease with low tumor immunogenicity. PDAC is also one of the deadliest solid tumor and will remain a common cause of cancer death in the future. Treatment options are limited, and tumors frequently develop resistance to current treatment modalities. Since PDAC patients do not respond well to immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), novel methods for overcoming resistance are being explored. Compared to other solid tumors, the PDAC's tumor microenvironment (TME) is unique and complex and prevents systemic agents from effectively penetrating and killing tumor cells. Radiotherapy (RT) has the potential to modulate the TME (e.g., by exposing tumor-specific antigens, recruiting, and infiltrating immune cells) and, therefore, enhance the effectiveness of targeted systemic therapies. Interestingly, combining ICI with RT and/or chemotherapy has yielded promising preclinical results which were not successful when translated into clinical trials. In this context, current standards of care need to be challenged and transformed with modern treatment techniques and novel therapeutic combinations. One way to reconcile these findings is to abandon the concept that the TME is a well-compartmented population with spatial, temporal, physical, and chemical elements acting independently. This review will focus on the most interesting advancements of RT and describe the main components of the TME and their known modulation after RT in PDAC. Furthermore, we will provide a summary of current clinical data for combinations of RT/targeted therapy (tRT) and give an overview of the most promising future directions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sofian Benkhaled
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Hopital Universitaire de Bruxelles (H.U.B.), Institut Jules Bordet, Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB), Rue Meylenmeersch 90, 1070 Brussels, Belgium
- Department of Radiation Oncology, UNIL-CHUV, Rue du Bugnon 46, 1011 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Cedric Peters
- Department of Radiation Oncology, AZ Turnhout, Rubensstraat 166, 2300 Turnhout, Belgium
| | - Nicolas Jullian
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Hopital Universitaire de Bruxelles (H.U.B.), Institut Jules Bordet, Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB), Rue Meylenmeersch 90, 1070 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Tatjana Arsenijevic
- Laboratory of Experimental Gastroenterology, Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB), 1070 Brussels, Belgium
- Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Digestive Oncology, Hopital Universitaire de Bruxelles H.U.B. CUB Hopital Erasme, Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB), Route de Lennik 808, 1070 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Julie Navez
- Department of Hepato-Biliary-Pancreatic Surgery, Hopital Universitaire de Bruxelles H.U.B. CUB Hopital Erasme, Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB), 1070 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Dirk Van Gestel
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Hopital Universitaire de Bruxelles (H.U.B.), Institut Jules Bordet, Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB), Rue Meylenmeersch 90, 1070 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Luigi Moretti
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Hopital Universitaire de Bruxelles (H.U.B.), Institut Jules Bordet, Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB), Rue Meylenmeersch 90, 1070 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Jean-Luc Van Laethem
- Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Digestive Oncology, Hopital Universitaire de Bruxelles H.U.B. CUB Hopital Erasme, Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB), Route de Lennik 808, 1070 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Christelle Bouchart
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Hopital Universitaire de Bruxelles (H.U.B.), Institut Jules Bordet, Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB), Rue Meylenmeersch 90, 1070 Brussels, Belgium
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +32-25-413-800
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Tanaka HY, Nakazawa T, Enomoto A, Masamune A, Kano MR. Therapeutic Strategies to Overcome Fibrotic Barriers to Nanomedicine in the Pancreatic Tumor Microenvironment. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:cancers15030724. [PMID: 36765684 PMCID: PMC9913712 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15030724] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2022] [Revised: 01/19/2023] [Accepted: 01/21/2023] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Pancreatic cancer is notorious for its dismal prognosis. The enhanced permeability and retention (EPR) effect theory posits that nanomedicines (therapeutics in the size range of approximately 10-200 nm) selectively accumulate in tumors. Nanomedicine has thus been suggested to be the "magic bullet"-both effective and safe-to treat pancreatic cancer. However, the densely fibrotic tumor microenvironment of pancreatic cancer impedes nanomedicine delivery. The EPR effect is thus insufficient to achieve a significant therapeutic effect. Intratumoral fibrosis is chiefly driven by aberrantly activated fibroblasts and the extracellular matrix (ECM) components secreted. Fibroblast and ECM abnormalities offer various potential targets for therapeutic intervention. In this review, we detail the diverse strategies being tested to overcome the fibrotic barriers to nanomedicine in pancreatic cancer. Strategies that target the fibrotic tissue/process are discussed first, which are followed by strategies to optimize nanomedicine design. We provide an overview of how a deeper understanding, increasingly at single-cell resolution, of fibroblast biology is revealing the complex role of the fibrotic stroma in pancreatic cancer pathogenesis and consider the therapeutic implications. Finally, we discuss critical gaps in our understanding and how we might better formulate strategies to successfully overcome the fibrotic barriers in pancreatic cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hiroyoshi Y. Tanaka
- Department of Pharmaceutical Biomedicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University, 1-1-1 Tsushima-naka, Kita-ku, Okayama-shi 700-8530, Okayama, Japan
| | - Takuya Nakazawa
- Department of Pharmaceutical Biomedicine, Graduate School of Interdisciplinary Science and Engineering in Health Systems, Okayama University, 1-1-1 Tsushima-naka, Kita-ku, Okayama-shi 700-8530, Okayama, Japan
| | - Atsushi Enomoto
- Department of Pathology, Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya University, 65 Tsurumai-cho, Showa-ku, Nagoya-shi 466-8550, Aichi, Japan
| | - Atsushi Masamune
- Division of Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Medicine, Tohoku University, 1-1 Seiryo-machi, Aoba-ku, Sendai-shi 980-8574, Miyagi, Japan
| | - Mitsunobu R. Kano
- Department of Pharmaceutical Biomedicine, Graduate School of Interdisciplinary Science and Engineering in Health Systems, Okayama University, 1-1-1 Tsushima-naka, Kita-ku, Okayama-shi 700-8530, Okayama, Japan
- Correspondence:
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46
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Ye L, Shi S, Chen W. Innate immunity in pancreatic cancer: Lineage tracing and function. Front Immunol 2023; 13:1081919. [PMID: 36726981 PMCID: PMC9884680 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.1081919] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2022] [Accepted: 12/28/2022] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Increasingly, patients with gastrointestinal tumors can benefit from immunotherapy, but not patients with pancreatic cancer. While this lack of benefit has been attributed to lower T-cell infiltration in pancreatic cancer, other studies have demonstrated the presence of numerous T cells in pancreatic cancer, suggesting another mechanism for the poor efficacy of immunotherapy. Single-cell RNA sequencing studies on the pancreatic cancer immune microenvironment have demonstrated the predominance of innate immune cells (e.g., macrophages, dendritic cells, mast cells, and innate immune lymphoid cells). Therefore, in-depth research on the source and function of innate immune lymphocytes in pancreatic cancer could guide pancreatic cancer immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Longyun Ye
- Department of Pancreatic Surgery, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, China,Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China,Shanghai Pancreatic Cancer Institute, Shanghai, China,Pancreatic Cancer Institute, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Saimeng Shi
- Department of Pancreatic Surgery, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, China,Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China,Shanghai Pancreatic Cancer Institute, Shanghai, China,Pancreatic Cancer Institute, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Wei Chen
- Institute of Clinical Medicine Research, Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, China,Cancer Institute of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Zhejiang Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tongde Hospital of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou, China,*Correspondence: Wei Chen,
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47
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Zhang CY, Liu S, Yang M. Clinical diagnosis and management of pancreatic cancer: Markers, molecular mechanisms, and treatment options. World J Gastroenterol 2022; 28:6827-6845. [PMID: 36632312 PMCID: PMC9827589 DOI: 10.3748/wjg.v28.i48.6827] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2022] [Revised: 11/04/2022] [Accepted: 11/29/2022] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Pancreatic cancer (PC) is the third-leading cause of cancer deaths. The overall 5-year survival rate of PC is 9%, and this rate for metastatic PC is below 3%. However, the PC-induced death cases will increase about 2-fold by 2060. Many factors such as genetic and environmental factors and metabolic diseases can drive PC development and progression. The most common type of PC in the clinic is pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma, comprising approximately 90% of PC cases. Multiple pathogenic processes including but not limited to inflammation, fibrosis, angiogenesis, epithelial-mesenchymal transition, and proliferation of cancer stem cells are involved in the initiation and progression of PC. Early diagnosis is essential for curable therapy, for which a combined panel of serum markers is very helpful. Although some mono or combined therapies have been approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration for PC treatment, current therapies have not shown promising outcomes. Fortunately, the development of novel immunotherapies, such as oncolytic viruses-mediated treatments and chimeric antigen receptor-T cells, combined with therapies such as neoadjuvant therapy plus surgery, and advanced delivery systems of immunotherapy will improve therapeutic outcomes and combat drug resistance in PC patients. Herein, the pathogenesis, molecular signaling pathways, diagnostic markers, prognosis, and potential treatments in completed, ongoing, and recruiting clinical trials for PC were reviewed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chun-Ye Zhang
- Christopher S. Bond Life Sciences Center, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, United States
| | - Shuai Liu
- The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310006, Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Ming Yang
- Department of Surgery, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, United States
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Kast V, Nadernezhad A, Pette D, Gabrielyan A, Fusenig M, Honselmann KC, Stange DE, Werner C, Loessner D. A Tumor Microenvironment Model of Pancreatic Cancer to Elucidate Responses toward Immunotherapy. Adv Healthc Mater 2022:e2201907. [PMID: 36417691 DOI: 10.1002/adhm.202201907] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2022] [Revised: 11/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Pancreatic cancer is a devastating malignancy with minimal treatment options. Standard-of-care therapy, including surgery and chemotherapy, is unsatisfactory, and therapies harnessing the immune system have been unsuccessful in clinical trials. Resistance to therapy and disease progression are mediated by the tumor microenvironment, which contains excessive amounts of extracellular matrix and stromal cells, acting as a barrier to drug delivery. There is a lack of preclinical pancreatic cancer models that reconstruct the extracellular, cellular, and biomechanical elements of tumor tissues to assess responses toward immunotherapy. To address this limitation and explore the effects of immunotherapy in combination with chemotherapy, a multicellular 3D cancer model using a star-shaped poly(ethylene glycol)-heparin hydrogel matrix is developed. Human pancreatic cancer cells, cancer-associated fibroblasts, and myeloid cells are grown encapsulated in hydrogels to mimic key components of tumor tissues, and cell responses toward treatment are assessed. Combining the CD11b agonist ADH-503 with anti-PD-1 immunotherapy and chemotherapy leads to a significant reduction in tumor cell viability, proliferation, metabolic activity, immunomodulation, and secretion of immunosuppressive and tumor growth-promoting cytokines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Verena Kast
- Leibniz Institute of Polymer Research Dresden e.V, Max Bergmann Centre of Biomaterials, Hohe Straße 6, 01069, Dresden, Germany
| | - Ali Nadernezhad
- Leibniz Institute of Polymer Research Dresden e.V, Max Bergmann Centre of Biomaterials, Hohe Straße 6, 01069, Dresden, Germany
| | - Dagmar Pette
- Leibniz Institute of Polymer Research Dresden e.V, Max Bergmann Centre of Biomaterials, Hohe Straße 6, 01069, Dresden, Germany
| | - Anastasiia Gabrielyan
- Leibniz Institute of Polymer Research Dresden e.V, Max Bergmann Centre of Biomaterials, Hohe Straße 6, 01069, Dresden, Germany
| | - Maximilian Fusenig
- Leibniz Institute of Polymer Research Dresden e.V, Max Bergmann Centre of Biomaterials, Hohe Straße 6, 01069, Dresden, Germany
| | - Kim C Honselmann
- Department of Surgery, University Medical Center Schleswig-Holstein, Campus Lübeck, 23562, Lübeck, Germany
| | - Daniel E Stange
- Department of Visceral, Thoracic and Vascular Surgery, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Medical Faculty, Technical University Dresden, 01307, Dresden, Germany
| | - Carsten Werner
- Leibniz Institute of Polymer Research Dresden e.V, Max Bergmann Centre of Biomaterials, Hohe Straße 6, 01069, Dresden, Germany.,Center for Regenerative Therapies Dresden, Technical University Dresden, Fetscherstr. 105, 01307, Dresden, Germany
| | - Daniela Loessner
- Leibniz Institute of Polymer Research Dresden e.V, Max Bergmann Centre of Biomaterials, Hohe Straße 6, 01069, Dresden, Germany.,Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering and Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, 3800, Australia.,Department of Anatomy and Developmental Biology, Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, 3800, Australia
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49
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Eckhoff AM, Fletcher AA, Landa K, Iyer M, Nussbaum DP, Shi C, Nair SK, Allen PJ. Multidimensional Immunophenotyping of Intraductal Papillary Mucinous Neoplasms Reveals Novel T Cell and Macrophage Signature. Ann Surg Oncol 2022; 29:7781-7788. [PMID: 35831529 PMCID: PMC9949893 DOI: 10.1245/s10434-022-12157-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2022] [Accepted: 06/19/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms (IPMN) are the only radiographically identifiable precursor to pancreatic adenocarcinoma, yet little is known about how these lesions progress to cancer. Inflammation has been associated with dysplastic progression; however, the cause and composition of this inflammation remains poorly characterized. We sought to comprehensively profile immune cell infiltration using parallel spatial transcriptomic and flow cytometric techniques. METHODS Twelve patients with resected IPMN exhibiting both high-grade dysplasia (HGD) and low-grade dysplasia (LGD) were selected for spatial transcriptomics (NanoString GeoMx). Immune (CD45+), epithelial (PanCK+), and stromal (SMA+) compartments were analyzed separately using the GeoMx NGS Pipeline. An additional 11 patients resected for IPMN of varying degrees of dysplasia underwent immunophenotyping using flow cytometry (DURAClone IM). RESULTS Spatial transcriptomics revealed that T cells represent the dominant immune cell within IPMN stroma, which was confirmed by flow cytometry (56%). Spatial profiling found that the T-cell infiltrate was significantly higher in regions of LGD compared with HGD (62% vs. 50%, p = 0.038). Macrophages were the only other immune cell type with > 10% abundance, yet conversely, were generally more abundant in regions of HGD compared to LGD (19% vs. 11%, p = 0.058). Correspondingly, immune cells within regions of HGD demonstrated transcriptional upregulation of genes associated with macrophage activity including secretion (CXCL1) and phagocytosis (C1QA, C1S, C4B). CONCLUSIONS IPMN immune infiltrate is primarily composed of T cells and macrophages. Regions of HGD appear to be relatively deplete of T cells and show a trend toward macrophage enrichment compared with regions of LGD.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Karenia Landa
- Department of Surgery, Duke University; Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - Matthew Iyer
- Department of Surgery, Duke University; Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | | | - Chanjuan Shi
- Department of Pathology, Duke University; Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - Smita K. Nair
- Department of Surgery, Duke University; Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - Peter J. Allen
- Department of Surgery, Duke University; Durham, North Carolina, USA
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50
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Jang G, Oh J, Jun E, Lee J, Kwon JY, Kim J, Lee SH, Kim SC, Cho SY, Lee C. Direct cell-to-cell transfer in stressed tumor microenvironment aggravates tumorigenic or metastatic potential in pancreatic cancer. NPJ Genom Med 2022; 7:63. [PMID: 36302783 PMCID: PMC9613679 DOI: 10.1038/s41525-022-00333-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2022] [Accepted: 10/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Pancreatic cancer exhibits a characteristic tumor microenvironment (TME) due to enhanced fibrosis and hypoxia and is particularly resistant to conventional chemotherapy. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying TME-associated treatment resistance in pancreatic cancer are not fully understood. Here, we developed an in vitro TME mimic system comprising pancreatic cancer cells, fibroblasts and immune cells, and a stress condition, including hypoxia and gemcitabine. Cells with high viability under stress showed evidence of increased direct cell-to-cell transfer of biomolecules. The resulting derivative cells (CD44high/SLC16A1high) were similar to cancer stem cell-like-cells (CSCs) with enhanced anchorage-independent growth or invasiveness and acquired metabolic reprogramming. Furthermore, CD24 was a determinant for transition between the tumorsphere formation or invasive properties. Pancreatic cancer patients with CD44low/SLC16A1low expression exhibited better prognoses compared to other groups. Our results suggest that crosstalk via direct cell-to-cell transfer of cellular components foster chemotherapy-induced tumor evolution and that targeting of CD44 and MCT1(encoded by SLC16A1) may be useful strategy to prevent recurrence of gemcitabine-exposed pancreatic cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giyong Jang
- Department of Life Science, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, 03760, Republic of Korea.,Ewha-JAX Cancer Immunotherapy Research Center, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, 03760, Republic of Korea.,Medical Research Center, Genomic Medicine Institute, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, 03080, Republic of Korea
| | - Jaeik Oh
- Department of Translational Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, 03080, Republic of Korea.,Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, 03080, Republic of Korea
| | - Eunsung Jun
- Department of Surgery, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, 05505, Republic of Korea.,Asan Medical Institute of Convergence Science and Technology (AMIST), Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, 05505, Republic of Korea.,Department of Convergence Medicine, Asan Institute for Life Sciences, University of Ulsan College of Medicine and Asan Medical Center, Seoul, 05505, Republic of Korea
| | - Jieun Lee
- Department of Life Science, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, 03760, Republic of Korea.,Ewha-JAX Cancer Immunotherapy Research Center, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, 03760, Republic of Korea.,Department of Surgery, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Gyeonggi-do, 13620, Republic of Korea
| | - Jee Young Kwon
- Department of Life Science, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, 03760, Republic of Korea.,Ewha-JAX Cancer Immunotherapy Research Center, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, 03760, Republic of Korea.,The Jackson Laboratory for Genomic Medicine, Farmington, CT, 06032, USA
| | - Jaesang Kim
- Department of Life Science, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, 03760, Republic of Korea.,Ewha-JAX Cancer Immunotherapy Research Center, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, 03760, Republic of Korea
| | - Sang-Hyuk Lee
- Department of Life Science, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, 03760, Republic of Korea.,Ewha-JAX Cancer Immunotherapy Research Center, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, 03760, Republic of Korea.,Department of Bio-Information Science, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, 03760, Republic of Korea
| | - Song Cheol Kim
- Department of Surgery, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, 05505, Republic of Korea.,Asan Medical Institute of Convergence Science and Technology (AMIST), Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, 05505, Republic of Korea.,Department of Convergence Medicine, Asan Institute for Life Sciences, University of Ulsan College of Medicine and Asan Medical Center, Seoul, 05505, Republic of Korea
| | - Sung-Yup Cho
- Medical Research Center, Genomic Medicine Institute, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, 03080, Republic of Korea. .,Department of Translational Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, 03080, Republic of Korea. .,Department of Biomedical Sciences, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, 03080, Republic of Korea. .,Cancer Research Institute, Seoul National University, Seoul, 03080, Republic of Korea.
| | - Charles Lee
- Department of Life Science, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, 03760, Republic of Korea. .,Ewha-JAX Cancer Immunotherapy Research Center, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, 03760, Republic of Korea. .,The Jackson Laboratory for Genomic Medicine, Farmington, CT, 06032, USA.
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