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Khan IR, Sadida HQ, Hashem S, Singh M, Macha MA, Al-Shabeeb Akil AS, Khurshid I, Bhat AA. Therapeutic implications of signaling pathways and tumor microenvironment interactions in esophageal cancer. Biomed Pharmacother 2024; 176:116873. [PMID: 38843587 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2024.116873] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2024] [Revised: 05/21/2024] [Accepted: 06/03/2024] [Indexed: 06/20/2024] Open
Abstract
Esophageal cancer (EC) is significantly influenced by the tumor microenvironment (TME) and altered signaling pathways. Downregulating these pathways in EC is essential for suppressing tumor development, preventing metastasis, and enhancing therapeutic outcomes. This approach can increase tumor sensitivity to treatments, enhance patient outcomes, and inhibit cancer cell proliferation and spread. The TME, comprising cellular and non-cellular elements surrounding the tumor, significantly influences EC's development, course, and treatment responsiveness. Understanding the complex relationships within the TME is crucial for developing successful EC treatments. Immunotherapy is a vital TME treatment for EC. However, the heterogeneity within the TME limits the application of anticancer drugs outside clinical settings. Therefore, identifying reliable microenvironmental biomarkers that can detect therapeutic responses before initiating therapy is crucial. Combining approaches focusing on EC signaling pathways with TME can enhance treatment outcomes. This integrated strategy aims to interfere with essential signaling pathways promoting cancer spread while disrupting factors encouraging tumor development. Unraveling aberrant signaling pathways and TME components can lead to more focused and efficient treatment approaches, identifying specific cellular targets for treatments. Targeting the TME and signaling pathways may reduce metastasis risk by interfering with mechanisms facilitating cancer cell invasion and dissemination. In conclusion, this integrative strategy has significant potential for improving patient outcomes and advancing EC research and therapy. This review discusses the altered signaling pathways and TME in EC, focusing on potential future therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Inamu Rashid Khan
- Department of Zoology, Central University of Kashmir, Ganderbal, Jammu and Kashmir 191201, India
| | - Hana Q Sadida
- Department of Human Genetics-Precision Medicine in Diabetes, Obesity and Cancer Program, Sidra Medicine, Doha 26999, Qatar
| | - Sheema Hashem
- Department of Human Genetics, Sidra Medicine Doha 26999, Qatar
| | - Mayank Singh
- Department of Medical Oncology (Lab), Dr. B. R. Ambedkar Institute Rotary Cancer Hospital, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi 110029, India
| | - Muzafar A Macha
- Watson-Crick Centre for Molecular Medicine, Islamic University of Science and Technology, Awantipora, Jammu and Kashmir 192122, India
| | - Ammira S Al-Shabeeb Akil
- Department of Human Genetics-Precision Medicine in Diabetes, Obesity and Cancer Program, Sidra Medicine, Doha 26999, Qatar
| | - Ibraq Khurshid
- Department of Zoology, Central University of Kashmir, Ganderbal, Jammu and Kashmir 191201, India.
| | - Ajaz A Bhat
- Department of Human Genetics-Precision Medicine in Diabetes, Obesity and Cancer Program, Sidra Medicine, Doha 26999, Qatar.
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Dunbar KJ, Wong KK, Rustgi AK. Cancer-Associated Fibroblasts in Esophageal Cancer. Cell Mol Gastroenterol Hepatol 2024; 17:687-695. [PMID: 38246591 PMCID: PMC10958110 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcmgh.2024.01.008] [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: 11/03/2023] [Revised: 01/09/2024] [Accepted: 01/09/2024] [Indexed: 01/23/2024]
Abstract
Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs), a heterogenous population, can promote cancer cell proliferation, migration, invasion, immunosuppression, and therapeutic resistance in solid tumors. These effects are mediated through secretion of cytokines and growth factors, remodeling of the extracellular matrix, and providing metabolic support for cancer cells. The presence of CAFs in esophageal carcinoma are associated with reduced overall survival and increased resistance to chemotherapy and radiotherapy; thus, identifying therapeutic vulnerabilities of CAFs is a necessity. In esophageal cancer, the mechanisms for CAF recruitment, CAF-mediated promotion of tumorigenesis, metastatic dissemination, and therapeutic resistance have yet to be fully evaluated. Here, we provide an overview of the current understanding of CAFs in esophageal cancer, namely in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma and esophageal adenocarcinoma, as well as in the preneoplastic conditions that predispose to these cancers. Interestingly, there is a discrepancy in our knowledge of CAF biology between esophageal cancer subtypes, with very few studies in esophageal adenocarcinoma, and its precursor lesion Barrett's esophagus, compared with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. We propose that although great strides have been made, certain questions remain to which answers hopefully will emerge to have an impact on biomarker diagnostics and translational therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karen J Dunbar
- Division of Digestive and Liver Diseases, Department of Medicine, Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center, Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, New York
| | - Kwok K Wong
- Division of Hematology-Oncology, Perlmutter Cancer Center, New York University Langone Health, New York, New York
| | - Anil K Rustgi
- Division of Digestive and Liver Diseases, Department of Medicine, Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center, Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, New York.
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3
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Luo T, Guan H, Liu J, Wang J, Zhang Y. Curcumin inhibits esophageal squamous cell carcinoma progression through down-regulating the circNRIP1/miR-532-3p/AKT pathway. ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY 2023; 38:2705-2716. [PMID: 37471645 DOI: 10.1002/tox.23905] [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: 05/11/2023] [Revised: 06/20/2023] [Accepted: 07/09/2023] [Indexed: 07/22/2023]
Abstract
Curcumin shows an anti-cancer role in many kinds of tumors. However, the mechanism of its anti-tumor function in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) remains largely unknown. Herein, we explored the therapeutic potential of curcumin for esophageal cancer. Curcumin could time- and dose-dependently inhibit ESCC cells activity. Additionally, ESCC cells exposed to 20 μM of curcumin exhibited significantly decreased proliferative and invasive capacities, as well as enhanced cell apoptosis. ESCC tissues and cells exhibited significantly increased circNRIP1 expression when compared to their counterparts. circNRIP1 knockdown markedly impaired cell proliferation, clone formation, cell migration and invasion but promoted apoptosis. Exposure to 10-20 μM of curcumin inhibited circNRIP1 expression, however, overexpression of circNRIP1 could significantly restored the biological characteristics that were inhibited by curcumin exposure in vivo and in vitro. circNRIP1 promoted the malignancy of ESCC by combining miR-532-3p, and downstream AKT3. Curcumin inhibited AKT phosphorylation by up-regulating miR-532-3p expression, thereby inhibiting the activation of the AKT pathway. In summary, curcumin is a potent inhibitor of ESCC growth, which can be achieved through the regulation of the circNRIP1/miR-532-3p/AKT pathway. This research may provide new mechanisms for curcumin to inhibit the malignant development of ESCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tianxia Luo
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Henan University of Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Hongya Guan
- Trauma Research Center, Zhengzhou Central Hospital Affiliated to Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Jia Liu
- Translational Medical Center, Zhengzhou Central Hospital Affiliated to Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Jiang Wang
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Zhengzhou Central Hospital Affiliated to Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Yueli Zhang
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Zhengzhou Central Hospital Affiliated to Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
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ZHANG RUI, ZHOU PENG, OU XIA, ZHAO PEIZHU, GUO XIJING, XI MIAN, QING CHEN. The DMRTA1-SOX2 positive feedback loop promotes progression and chemotherapy resistance of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. Oncol Res 2023; 31:887-897. [PMID: 37744275 PMCID: PMC10513955 DOI: 10.32604/or.2023.030184] [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: 03/25/2023] [Accepted: 06/14/2023] [Indexed: 09/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is among the most prevalent causes of cancer-related death in patients worldwide. Resistance to immunotherapy and chemotherapy results in worse survival outcomes in ESCC. It is urgent to explore the underlying molecular mechanism of immune evasion and chemoresistance in ESCC. Here, we conducted RNA-sequencing analysis in ten ESCC tissues from cisplatin-based neoadjuvant chemotherapy patients. We found that DMRTA1 was extremely upregulated in the non-pathologic complete response (non-pCR) group. The proliferation rate of esophageal squamous carcinoma cells was markedly decreased after knockdown of DMRTA1 expression, which could increase cisplatin sensitivity in ESCC. Additionally, suppression of DMRTA1 could decrease the immune escape of esophageal squamous carcinoma cells. Further mechanistic studies suggest that DMRTA1 can promote its expression by binding to the promoter of SOX2, which plays important roles in the progression and chemoresistance of ESCC in the form of positive feedback. Therefore, DMRTA1 could be a potential target to suppress immune escape and overcome chemoresistance in ESCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- RUI ZHANG
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Yunnan Key Laboratory of Pharmacology for Natural Products, Kunming Medical University, Kunming, 650500, China
- Department of Radiotherapy, The First Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming, 650032, China
| | - PENG ZHOU
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Yunnan Key Laboratory of Pharmacology for Natural Products, Kunming Medical University, Kunming, 650500, China
- Department of Pharmacy, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming, 650101, China
| | - XIA OU
- Medical School, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, 650504, China
| | - PEIZHU ZHAO
- Department of Radiotherapy, The First Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming, 650032, China
| | - XIJING GUO
- Department of Radiotherapy, The First Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming, 650032, China
| | - MIAN XI
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Guangzhou, 510060, China
| | - CHEN QING
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Yunnan Key Laboratory of Pharmacology for Natural Products, Kunming Medical University, Kunming, 650500, China
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Ko KP, Huang Y, Zhang S, Zou G, Kim B, Zhang J, Jun S, Martin C, Dunbar KJ, Efe G, Rustgi AK, Nakagawa H, Park JI. Key Genetic Determinants Driving Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma Initiation and Immune Evasion. Gastroenterology 2023; 165:613-628.e20. [PMID: 37257519 PMCID: PMC10527250 DOI: 10.1053/j.gastro.2023.05.030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2022] [Revised: 05/17/2023] [Accepted: 05/22/2023] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND & AIMS Despite recent progress in identifying aberrant genetic and epigenetic alterations in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC), the mechanism of ESCC initiation remains unknown. METHODS Using CRISPR/Cas 9-based genetic ablation, we targeted 9 genes (TP53, CDKN2A, NOTCH1, NOTCH3, KMT2D, KMT2C, FAT1, FAT4, and AJUBA) in murine esophageal organoids. Transcriptomic phenotypes of organoids and chemokine released by organoids were analyzed by single-cell RNA sequencing. Tumorigenicity and immune evasion of organoids were monitored by allograft transplantation. Human ESCC single-cell RNA sequencing data sets were analyzed to classify patients and find subsets relevant to organoid models and immune evasion. RESULTS We established 32 genetically engineered esophageal organoids and identified key genetic determinants that drive ESCC initiation. A single-cell transcriptomic analysis uncovered that Trp53, Cdkn2a, and Notch1 (PCN) triple-knockout induces neoplastic features of ESCC by generating cell lineage heterogeneity and high cell plasticity. PCN knockout also generates an immunosuppressive niche enriched with exhausted T cells and M2 macrophages via the CCL2-CCR2 axis. Mechanistically, CDKN2A inactivation transactivates CCL2 via nuclear factor-κB. Moreover, comparative single-cell transcriptomic analyses stratified patients with ESCC and identified a specific subtype recapitulating the PCN-type ESCC signatures, including the high expression of CCL2 and CD274/PD-L1. CONCLUSIONS Our study unveils that loss of TP53, CDKN2A, and NOTCH1 induces esophageal neoplasia and immune evasion for ESCC initiation and proposes the CCL2 blockade as a viable option for targeting PCN-type ESCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kyung-Pil Ko
- Department of Experimental Radiation Oncology, Division of Radiation Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
| | - Yuanjian Huang
- Department of Experimental Radiation Oncology, Division of Radiation Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas; Department of General Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Shengzhe Zhang
- Department of Experimental Radiation Oncology, Division of Radiation Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
| | - Gengyi Zou
- Department of Experimental Radiation Oncology, Division of Radiation Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
| | - Bongjun Kim
- Department of Experimental Radiation Oncology, Division of Radiation Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
| | - Jie Zhang
- Department of Experimental Radiation Oncology, Division of Radiation Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
| | - Sohee Jun
- Department of Experimental Radiation Oncology, Division of Radiation Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
| | - Cecilia Martin
- Division of Digestive and Liver Diseases, Department of Medicine, Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, New York
| | - Karen J Dunbar
- Division of Digestive and Liver Diseases, Department of Medicine, Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, New York
| | - Gizem Efe
- Division of Digestive and Liver Diseases, Department of Medicine, Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, New York
| | - Anil K Rustgi
- Division of Digestive and Liver Diseases, Department of Medicine, Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, New York
| | - Hiroshi Nakagawa
- Division of Digestive and Liver Diseases, Department of Medicine, Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, New York
| | - Jae-Il Park
- Department of Experimental Radiation Oncology, Division of Radiation Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas; The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, UTHealth Houston Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Houston, Texas; Program in Genetics and Epigenetics, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas.
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Meng RY, Li CS, Hu D, Kwon SG, Jin H, Chai OH, Lee JS, Kim SM. Inhibition of the interaction between Hippo/YAP and Akt signaling with ursolic acid and 3'3-diindolylmethane suppresses esophageal cancer tumorigenesis. THE KOREAN JOURNAL OF PHYSIOLOGY & PHARMACOLOGY : OFFICIAL JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN PHYSIOLOGICAL SOCIETY AND THE KOREAN SOCIETY OF PHARMACOLOGY 2023; 27:493-511. [PMID: 37641811 PMCID: PMC10466072 DOI: 10.4196/kjpp.2023.27.5.493] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2023] [Revised: 08/04/2023] [Accepted: 08/10/2023] [Indexed: 08/31/2023]
Abstract
Hippo/YAP signaling hinders cancer progression. Inactivation of this pathway contributes to the development of esophageal cancer by activation of Akt. However, the possible interaction between Akt and Hippo/YAP pathways in esophageal cancer progression is unclear. In this study, we found that ursolic acid (UA) plus 3'3-diindolylmethane (DIM) efficiently suppressed the oncogenic Akt/Gsk-3β signaling pathway while activating the Hippo tumor suppressor pathway in esophageal cancer cells. Moreover, the addition of the Akt inhibitor LY294002 and the PI3K inhibitor 3-methyladenine enhanced the inhibitory effects of UA plus DIM on Akt pathway activation and further stimulated the Hippo pathway, including the suppression of YAP nuclear translocation in esophageal cancer cells. Silencing YAP under UA plus DIM conditions significantly increased the activation of the tumor suppressor PTEN in esophageal cancer cells, while decreasing p-Akt activation, indicating that the Akt signaling pathway could be down-regulated in esophageal cancer cells by targeting PTEN. Furthermore, in a xenograft nude mice model, UA plus DIM treatment effectively diminished esophageal tumors by inactivating the Akt pathway and stimulating the Hippo signaling pathway. Thus, our study highlights a feedback loop between the PI3K/Akt and Hippo signaling pathways in esophageal cancer cells, implying that a low dose of UA plus DIM could serve as a promising chemotherapeutic combination strategy in the treatment of esophageal cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruo Yu Meng
- Department of Physiology, Institute for Medical Sciences, Jeonbuk National University Medical School, Jeonju 54907, Korea
| | - Cong Shan Li
- Department of Physiology, Institute for Medical Sciences, Jeonbuk National University Medical School, Jeonju 54907, Korea
| | - Dan Hu
- Department of Physiology, Institute for Medical Sciences, Jeonbuk National University Medical School, Jeonju 54907, Korea
| | - Soon-Gu Kwon
- Department of Oral Physiology, School of Dentistry, Kyung Hee University, Seoul 02447, Korea
| | - Hua Jin
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Ok Hee Chai
- Department of Anatomy, Institute for Medical Sciences, Jeonbuk National University Medical School, Jeonju 54907, Korea
| | - Ju-Seog Lee
- Department of Systems Biology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Soo Mi Kim
- Department of Physiology, Institute for Medical Sciences, Jeonbuk National University Medical School, Jeonju 54907, Korea
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Li R, Huang B, Tian H, Sun Z. Immune evasion in esophageal squamous cell cancer: From the perspective of tumor microenvironment. Front Oncol 2023; 12:1096717. [PMID: 36698392 PMCID: PMC9868934 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2022.1096717] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2022] [Accepted: 12/19/2022] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Esophageal cancer (EC) is one of the most life-threatening malignancies worldwide. Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is the dominant subtype, accounting for approximately 90% of new incident EC each year. Although multidisciplinary treatment strategies have advanced rapidly, patients with ESCC are often diagnosed at advanced stage and the long-term prognosis remains unsatisfactory. In recent decades, immunotherapy, such as immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), tumor vaccines, and chimeric antigen receptor T-cell (CAR-T) therapy, has been successfully used in clinical practice as a novel therapy for treating tumors, bringing new hope to ESCC patients. However, only a small fraction of patients achieved clinical benefits due to primary or acquired resistance. Immune evasion plays a pivotal role in the initiation and progression of ESCC. Therefore, a thorough understanding of the mechanisms by which ESCC cells escape from anti-tumor immunity is necessary for a more effective multidisciplinary treatment strategy. It has been widely recognized that immune evasion is closely associated with the crosstalk between tumor cells and the tumor microenvironment (TME). TME is a dynamic complex and comprehensive system including not only cellular components but also non-cellular components, which influence hallmarks and fates of tumor cells from the outside. Novel immunotherapy targeting tumor-favorable TME represents a promising strategy to achieve better therapeutic responses for patients with ESCC. In this review, we provide an overview of immune evasion in ESCC, mainly focusing on the molecular mechanisms that underlie the role of TME in immune evasion of ESCC. In addition, we also discuss the challenges and opportunities of precision therapy for ESCC by targeting TME.
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Li J, Zhu L, Kwok HF. Nanotechnology-based approaches overcome lung cancer drug resistance through diagnosis and treatment. Drug Resist Updat 2023; 66:100904. [PMID: 36462375 DOI: 10.1016/j.drup.2022.100904] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Lung cancer continues to be a malignant tumor with high mortality. Two obstacles interfere with curative therapy of lung cancer: (i) poor diagnosis at the early stages, as symptoms are not specific or asymptomatic; and (ii) invariably emerging drug resistance after treatment. Some factors contributing to drug resistance include preexisting genetic/genomic drug-resistant alteration(s); activation of adaptive drug resistance pathways; remodeling of the tumor microenvironment; and pharmacological mechanisms or activation of drug efflux pumps. Despite the mechanisms explored to better understand drug resistance, a gap remains between molecular understanding and clinical application. Therefore, facilitating the translation of basic science into the clinical setting is a great challenge. Nanomedicine has emerged as a promising tool for cancer treatment. Because of their excellent physicochemical properties and enhanced permeability and retention effects, nanoparticles have great potential to revolutionize conventional lung cancer diagnosis and combat drug resistance. Nanoplatforms can be designed as carriers to improve treatment efficacy and deliver multiple drugs in one system, facilitating combination treatment to overcome drug resistance. In this review, we describe the difficulties in lung cancer treatment and review recent research progress on nanoplatforms aimed at early diagnosis and lung cancer treatment. Finally, future perspectives and challenges of nanomedicine are also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junnan Li
- Cancer Centre, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Macau, Avenida de Universidade, Taipa, Macau SAR; Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Macau, Avenida de Universidade, Taipa, Macau SAR
| | - Lipeng Zhu
- Molecular Biology Research Center & Center for Medical Genetics, School of Life Sciences, Central South University, Changsha 410078, Hunan, China
| | - Hang Fai Kwok
- Cancer Centre, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Macau, Avenida de Universidade, Taipa, Macau SAR; Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Macau, Avenida de Universidade, Taipa, Macau SAR; MoE Frontiers Science Center for Precision Oncology, University of Macau, Avenida de Universidade, Taipa, Macau SAR.
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Umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells and breast cancer: a good therapeutic candidate or not? A minireview. Mol Biol Rep 2022; 49:9017-9022. [PMID: 35941415 DOI: 10.1007/s11033-022-07739-w] [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: 03/18/2022] [Revised: 06/09/2022] [Accepted: 06/22/2022] [Indexed: 12/09/2022]
Abstract
Breast cancer (BC), as the most common cancer among women, affects a great number of subjects around the world. This heterogenic disease is divided into several types and subtypes, and each subtype has various phenotypes and genotypes. Against BC, several options have been proposed, such as surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapeutic agents. However, these approaches may have detrimental effects on health and life quality of patients. Hence, harnessing a therapeutic tool with high effectiveness and low side effects is required. Recently, mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have created a new window to treat various disorders, like cancer, and among these, umbilical cord (UC)-derived MSCs have acquired much interest due to their advantages. Therefore, in this narrative review, the influences of UC-derived MSCs on BC were reviewed and summarized with a focus on the molecular mechanisms involved in its pathogenesis and treatment.
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Zhu L, Liu J, Qiu M, Chen J, Liang Q, Peng G, Zou Z. Bacteria-mediated metformin-loaded peptide hydrogel reprograms the tumor immune microenvironment in glioblastoma. Biomaterials 2022; 288:121711. [DOI: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2022.121711] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2022] [Revised: 07/14/2022] [Accepted: 07/31/2022] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
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Huang SJ, Tian D, Wang SC, Zeng RJ, Dong YJ, Hong LL, Wu HS, Xu FP, Zhang DK, Xie L, Zhou HY, Tang JM, Ben XS, Chen G, Chen RX, Tang Y, Qiao GB. Pathological Responses of the Primary Tumor and Locoregional Lymph Nodes After Neoadjuvant Immunochemotherapy in Esophageal Squamous Cell Cancer. World J Oncol 2022; 13:195-204. [PMID: 36128590 PMCID: PMC9451576 DOI: 10.14740/wjon1489] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2022] [Accepted: 06/23/2022] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The current study attempted to describe the specific patterns of pathological tumor response and locoregional node metastases from surgically resected esophageal squamous cell carcinoma after neoadjuvant immunochemotherapy (NAIC), as well as to explore the association between clinicopathological characteristics and such oncological patterns. METHODS Fifty-one patients with cT3 or deeper esophageal squamous cell cancer underwent subtotal esophagectomy after NAIC. The NAIC regimen included intravenous administration of platinum-based and docetaxel- and taxane-based chemotherapeutics along with a 200 mg fixed dose of one programmed death 1 (PD-1) inhibitor, given every 3 weeks. We divided patients into tumor/nodal good-responders and poor-responders based on the pathological observation of the tumor or nodal responses. We also examined the association between clinicopathological factors and tumor/nodal responses. Further, significant baseline predictors for tumor and nodal good-responders were identified using multivariate binary logistic regression. RESULTS Of the 51 patients, 68.6% achieved marked primary tumor response. Notably, 21.6% of patients achieved complete pathological response. Significant differences in treatment cycles between tumor good-responders and tumor poor-responders (P = 0.019) were observed. For locoregional nodal responses, only 33.3% of patients achieved down-staged nodal disease. Of the investigated variables, neoadjuvant cycles (odds ratio (OR): 5.271, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.278 - 21.740, P = 0.022) and pretreatment platelets (OR: 0.979, 95% CI: 0.962 - 0.996, P = 0.017) were identified as independent predictors for good tumor and nodal responses. CONCLUSIONS We conclusively noted that most patients receiving NAIC were tumor good-responders, whereas only one-third of patients were nodal good-responders. Furthermore, we identified that treatment cycle number and baseline platelet counts were independent predictors of combined tumor and nodal responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shu Jie Huang
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Guangdong Provincial People’s Hospital, Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, Guangzhou 510080, China
- Shantou University Medical College, Shantou 515041, China
- They contributed equally to this work
| | - Dan Tian
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Guangdong Provincial People’s Hospital, Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, Guangzhou 510080, China
- They contributed equally to this work
| | - Si Chao Wang
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Guangdong Provincial People’s Hospital, Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, Guangzhou 510080, China
- They contributed equally to this work
| | - Rui Jie Zeng
- Shantou University Medical College, Shantou 515041, China
- Department of Gastroenterology, Guangdong Provincial People’s Hospital, Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yue Jiao Dong
- Shantou University Medical College, Shantou 515041, China
- Department of Pathology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, China
| | - Liang Li Hong
- Shantou University Medical College, Shantou 515041, China
- Department of Pathology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, China
| | - Han Sheng Wu
- Shantou University Medical College, Shantou 515041, China
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, China
| | - Fang Ping Xu
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Guangdong Provincial People’s Hospital, Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, Guangzhou 510080, China
| | - Dong Kun Zhang
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Guangdong Provincial People’s Hospital, Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, Guangzhou 510080, China
| | - Liang Xie
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Guangdong Provincial People’s Hospital, Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, Guangzhou 510080, China
| | - Hai Yu Zhou
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Guangdong Provincial People’s Hospital, Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, Guangzhou 510080, China
| | - Ji Ming Tang
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Guangdong Provincial People’s Hospital, Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, Guangzhou 510080, China
| | - Xiao Song Ben
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Guangdong Provincial People’s Hospital, Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, Guangzhou 510080, China
| | - Gang Chen
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Guangdong Provincial People’s Hospital, Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, Guangzhou 510080, China
| | - Ri Xin Chen
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Guangdong Provincial People’s Hospital, Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, Guangzhou 510080, China
- Research Center of Medical Sciences, Guangdong Provincial People’s Hospital, Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, Guangzhou 510080, China
| | - Yong Tang
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Guangdong Provincial People’s Hospital, Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, Guangzhou 510080, China
- Corresponding Author: Gui Bin Qiao, Department of Thoracic Surgery, Guangdong Provincial People’s Hospital, Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, Guangzhou 510080, China. ; Yong Tang, Department of Thoracic Surgery, Guangdong Provincial People’s Hospital, Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, Guangzhou 510080, China.
| | - Gui Bin Qiao
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Guangdong Provincial People’s Hospital, Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, Guangzhou 510080, China
- Shantou University Medical College, Shantou 515041, China
- The Second School of Clinical Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
- Corresponding Author: Gui Bin Qiao, Department of Thoracic Surgery, Guangdong Provincial People’s Hospital, Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, Guangzhou 510080, China. ; Yong Tang, Department of Thoracic Surgery, Guangdong Provincial People’s Hospital, Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, Guangzhou 510080, China.
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12
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Anti-Cancer Evaluation of Mineral Colloids Against MCF-7 Cell Lines: An Investigation Through Thermal Spring Water. Macromol Res 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/s13233-022-0050-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
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13
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Tang K, Toyozumi T, Murakami K, Sakata H, Kano M, Endo S, Matsumoto Y, Suito H, Takahashi M, Sekino N, Otsuka R, Kinoshita K, Hirasawa S, Hu J, Uesato M, Hayano K, Matsubara H. HIF-1α stimulates the progression of oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma by activating the Wnt/β-catenin signalling pathway. Br J Cancer 2022; 127:474-487. [PMID: 35484214 PMCID: PMC9345968 DOI: 10.1038/s41416-022-01825-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2021] [Revised: 04/03/2022] [Accepted: 04/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND This study aimed to clarify the significance of the crosstalk between hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) and the Wnt/β-catenin pathway in oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). METHODS The oncogenic role of HIF-1α in ESCC was investigated using in vitro and in vivo assays. The clinicopathological significance of HIF-1α, β-catenin and TCF4/TCF7L2 in ESCC were evaluated using quantitative real-time PCR and immunohistochemistry. RESULTS The expression level of HIF-1α, β-catenin, and TCF4/TCF7L2 in T.Tn and TE1 cell lines were elevated under hypoxia in vitro. HIF-1α knockdown suppressed proliferation, migration/invasion and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) progression, induced G0/G1 cell cycle arrest, promoted apoptosis and inhibited 5-fluorouracil chemoresistance in vitro. In vivo assays showed that HIF-1α is essential in maintaining tumour growth, angiogenesis, and 5-fluorouracil chemoresistance. Mechanically, we identified the complex between HIF-1α and β-catenin, HIF-1α can directly bind to the promoter region of TCF4/TCF7L2. The mRNA level of HIF-1α, β-catenin and TCF4/TCF7L2 were increased in ESCC tumour tissues compared to the corresponding non-tumour tissues. High levels of HIF-1α and TCF4/TCF7L2 expression were correlated with aggressive phenotypes and poor prognosis in ESCC patients. CONCLUSIONS HIF-1α serves as an oncogenic transcriptional factor in ESCC, probably by directly targeting TCF4/TCF7L2 and activating the Wnt/β-catenin pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kang Tang
- Department of Frontier Surgery, Chiba University Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba, Japan
| | - Takeshi Toyozumi
- Department of Frontier Surgery, Chiba University Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba, Japan.
| | - Kentaro Murakami
- Department of Frontier Surgery, Chiba University Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba, Japan
| | - Haruhito Sakata
- Department of Frontier Surgery, Chiba University Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba, Japan
| | - Masayuki Kano
- Department of Frontier Surgery, Chiba University Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba, Japan
| | - Satoshi Endo
- Department of Frontier Surgery, Chiba University Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba, Japan
| | - Yasunori Matsumoto
- Department of Frontier Surgery, Chiba University Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba, Japan
| | - Hiroshi Suito
- Department of Frontier Surgery, Chiba University Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba, Japan
| | - Masahiko Takahashi
- Department of Frontier Surgery, Chiba University Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba, Japan
| | - Nobufumi Sekino
- Department of Frontier Surgery, Chiba University Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba, Japan
| | - Ryota Otsuka
- Department of Frontier Surgery, Chiba University Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba, Japan
| | - Kazuya Kinoshita
- Department of Frontier Surgery, Chiba University Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba, Japan
| | - Soichiro Hirasawa
- Department of Frontier Surgery, Chiba University Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba, Japan
| | - Jie Hu
- Department of Frontier Surgery, Chiba University Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba, Japan
| | - Masaya Uesato
- Department of Frontier Surgery, Chiba University Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba, Japan
| | - Koichi Hayano
- Department of Frontier Surgery, Chiba University Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba, Japan
| | - Hisahiro Matsubara
- Department of Frontier Surgery, Chiba University Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba, Japan
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14
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Chen F, Wang Q, Mu Y, Sun S, Yuan X, Shang P, Ji B. Systematic profiling and identification of the peptide-mediated interactions between human Yes-associated protein and its partners in esophageal cancer. J Mol Recognit 2021; 35:e2947. [PMID: 34964176 DOI: 10.1002/jmr.2947] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2021] [Revised: 11/26/2021] [Accepted: 12/10/2021] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
Human Yes-associated protein (YAP) is involved in the Hippo signaling pathway and serves as a coactivator to modulate gene expression, which contains a transactivation domain (TD) responsible for binding to the downstream TEA domain family (TEAD) of transcription factors and two WW1/2 domains that recognize the proline-rich motifs (PRMs) present in a variety of upstream protein partners through peptide-mediated interactions (PMIs). The downstream YAP TD-TEAD interactions are closely associated with gastric cancer, and a number of therapeutic agents have been developed to target the interactions. In contrast, the upstream YAP WW1/2-partner interactions are thought to be involved in esophageal cancer but still remain largely unexplored. Here, we attempted to elucidate the complicated PMIs between the YAP WW1/2 domains and various PRMs of YAP-interacting proteins. A total of 106 peptide segments carrying the class I WW-binding motif [P/L]Px[Y/P] were extracted from 22 partner candidates, which are potential recognition sites of YAP WW1/2 domains. Structural and energetic analyses of the intermolecular interactions between the domains and peptides created a systematic domain-peptide binding profile, from which a number of biologically functional PMIs were identified and then substantiated in vitro using fluorescence spectroscopy assays. It is revealed that: (a) The sequence requirement for the partner recognition site binding to YAP WW1/2 domains is a decapeptide segment that contains a core PRM motif as well as two three-residue extensions from each side of the motif; the core motif and extended sections are responsible for the binding stability and recognition specificity of domain-peptide interaction, respectively. (b) There is an exquisite difference in the recognition specificity of the two domains; the LPxP and PPxP appear to more prefer WW1 than WW2, whereas the WW2 can bind more effectively to LPxY and PPxY than WW1. (c) WW2 generally exhibits a higher affinity to the panel of recognition site candidates than WW1. In addition, a number of partner peptides were found as promising recognition sites of the two domains and/or to have a good selectivity between the two domains. For example, the DVL1 peptide was determined to have moderate affinity to WW2 and strong selectivity for WW2 over WW1. Hydrogen bonds play a central role in selectivity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fei Chen
- Department of Gastroenterology, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Shandong First Medical University, Taian, China
| | - Qifei Wang
- Department of Thoracic Medicine, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Shandong First Medical University, Taian, China
| | - Yushu Mu
- Department of Thoracic Medicine, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Shandong First Medical University, Taian, China
| | - Shibin Sun
- Department of Thoracic Medicine, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Shandong First Medical University, Taian, China
| | - Xulong Yuan
- Department of Thoracic Medicine, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Shandong First Medical University, Taian, China
| | - Pan Shang
- Department of Thoracic Medicine, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Shandong First Medical University, Taian, China
| | - Bo Ji
- Department of Thoracic Medicine, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Shandong First Medical University, Taian, China
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15
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Meng RY, Jin H, Nguyen TV, Chai OH, Park BH, Kim SM. Ursolic Acid Accelerates Paclitaxel-Induced Cell Death in Esophageal Cancer Cells by Suppressing Akt/FOXM1 Signaling Cascade. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:11486. [PMID: 34768915 PMCID: PMC8584129 DOI: 10.3390/ijms222111486] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2021] [Revised: 09/17/2021] [Accepted: 10/20/2021] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Ursolic acid (UA), a pentacyclic triterpenoid extracted from various plants, inhibits cell growth, metastasis, and tumorigenesis in various cancers. Chemotherapy resistance and the side effects of paclitaxel (PTX), a traditional chemotherapy reagent, have limited the curative effect of PTX in esophageal cancer. In this study, we investigate whether UA promotes the anti-tumor effect of PTX and explore the underlying mechanism of their combined effect in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). Combination treatment with UA and PTX inhibited cell proliferation and cell growth more effectively than either treatment alone by inducing more significant apoptosis, as indicated by increased sub-G1 phase distribution and protein levels of cleaved-PARP and cleaved caspase-9. Similar to the cell growth suppressive effect, the combination of UA and PTX significantly inhibited cell migration by targeting uPA, MMP-9, and E-cadherin in ESCC cells. In addition, combination treatment with UA and PTX significantly activated p-GSK-3β and suppressed the activation of Akt and FOXM1 in ESCC cells. Those effects were enhanced by the Akt inhibitor LY2940002 and inverted by the Akt agonist SC79. In an in vivo evaluation of a murine xenograft model of esophageal cancer, combination treatment with UA and PTX suppressed tumor growth significantly better than UA or PTX treatment alone. Thus, UA effectively potentiates the anti-tumor efficacy of PTX by targeting the Akt/FOXM1 cascade since combination treatment shows significantly more anti-tumor potential than PTX alone both in vitro and in vivo. Combination treatment with UA and PTX could be a new strategy for curing esophageal cancer patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruo Yu Meng
- Department of Physiology, Institute for Medical Sciences, Jeonbuk National University Medical School, Jeonju 54907, Korea;
| | - Hua Jin
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China;
| | - Thi Van Nguyen
- Department of Anatomy, Institute for Medical Sciences, Jeonbuk National University Medical School, Jeonju 54907, Korea; (T.V.N.); (O.-H.C.)
| | - Ok-Hee Chai
- Department of Anatomy, Institute for Medical Sciences, Jeonbuk National University Medical School, Jeonju 54907, Korea; (T.V.N.); (O.-H.C.)
| | - Byung-Hyun Park
- Department of Biochemistry, Jeonbuk National University Medical School, Jeonju 54907, Korea;
| | - Soo Mi Kim
- Department of Physiology, Institute for Medical Sciences, Jeonbuk National University Medical School, Jeonju 54907, Korea;
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16
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Wang L, Han H, Wang Z, Shi L, Yang M, Qin Y. Targeting the Microenvironment in Esophageal Cancer. Front Cell Dev Biol 2021; 9:684966. [PMID: 34513829 PMCID: PMC8427432 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2021.684966] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2021] [Accepted: 07/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Esophageal cancer (EC) is the eighth most common type of cancer and the sixth leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. At present, the clinical treatment for EC is based mainly on radical surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy. However, due to the limited efficacy of conventional treatments and the serious adverse reactions, the outcome is still unsatisfactory (the 5-year survival rate for patients is less than 25%). Thus, it is extremely important and urgent to identify new therapeutic targets. The concept of tumor microenvironment (TME) has attracted increased attention since it was proposed. Recent studies have shown that TME is an important therapeutic target for EC. Microenvironment-targeting therapies such as immunotherapy and antiangiogenic therapy have played an indispensable role in prolonging survival and improving the prognosis of patients with EC. In addition, many new drugs and therapies that have been developed to target microenvironment may become treatment options in the future. We summarize the microenvironment of EC and the latest advances in microenvironment-targeting therapies in this review.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lei Wang
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China.,State Key Laboratory of Esophageal Cancer Prevention and Treatment, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Huiqiong Han
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China.,State Key Laboratory of Esophageal Cancer Prevention and Treatment, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Zehua Wang
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China.,State Key Laboratory of Esophageal Cancer Prevention and Treatment, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Litong Shi
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China.,State Key Laboratory of Esophageal Cancer Prevention and Treatment, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Mei Yang
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China.,State Key Laboratory of Esophageal Cancer Prevention and Treatment, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Yanru Qin
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China.,State Key Laboratory of Esophageal Cancer Prevention and Treatment, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
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