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Hosohama L, Tifrea DF, Nee K, Park SY, Wu J, Habowski AN, Van C, Seldin MM, Edwards RA, Waterman ML. Colorectal Cancer Stem Cell Subtypes Orchestrate Distinct Tumor Microenvironments. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.04.25.591144. [PMID: 38712298 PMCID: PMC11071458 DOI: 10.1101/2024.04.25.591144] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/08/2024]
Abstract
Several classification systems have been developed to define tumor subtypes in colorectal cancer (CRC). One system proposes that tumor heterogeneity derives in part from distinct cancer stem cell populations that co-exist as admixtures of varying proportions. However, the lack of single cell resolution has prohibited a definitive identification of these types of stem cells and therefore any understanding of how each influence tumor phenotypes. Here were report the isolation and characterization of two cancer stem cell subtypes from the SW480 CRC cell line. We find these cancer stem cells are oncogenic versions of the normal Crypt Base Columnar (CBC) and Regenerative Stem Cell (RSC) populations from intestinal crypts and that their gene signatures are consistent with the "Admixture" and other CRC classification systems. Using publicly available single cell RNA sequencing (scRNAseq) data from CRC patients, we determine that RSC and CBC cancer stem cells are commonly co-present in human CRC. To characterize influences on the tumor microenvironment, we develop subtype-specific xenograft models and we define their tumor microenvironments at high resolution via scRNAseq. RSCs create differentiated, inflammatory, slow growing tumors. CBCs create proliferative, undifferentiated, invasive tumors. With this enhanced resolution, we unify current CRC patient classification schema with TME phenotypes and organization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Linzi Hosohama
- Department of Microbiology & Molecular Genetics, School of Medicine, University of California, Irvine, California
| | - Delia F. Tifrea
- Department of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine, School of Medicine, University of California, Irvine, California
- Chao Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California, Irvine, California
| | - Kevin Nee
- Department of Biological Chemistry, School of Medicine, University of California, Irvine, California
| | - Sung Yun Park
- Department of Microbiology & Molecular Genetics, School of Medicine, University of California, Irvine, California
| | - Jie Wu
- Department of Biological Chemistry, School of Medicine, University of California, Irvine, California
- Chao Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California, Irvine, California
| | - Amber N. Habowski
- Department of Microbiology & Molecular Genetics, School of Medicine, University of California, Irvine, California
| | - Cassandra Van
- Department of Biological Chemistry, School of Medicine, University of California, Irvine, California
| | - Marcus M. Seldin
- Department of Biological Chemistry, School of Medicine, University of California, Irvine, California
- Chao Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California, Irvine, California
- Cancer Research Institute, University of California, Irvine, California
| | - Robert A. Edwards
- Department of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine, School of Medicine, University of California, Irvine, California
- Chao Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California, Irvine, California
- Cancer Research Institute, University of California, Irvine, California
| | - Marian L. Waterman
- Department of Microbiology & Molecular Genetics, School of Medicine, University of California, Irvine, California
- Chao Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California, Irvine, California
- Cancer Research Institute, University of California, Irvine, California
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2
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Müller S, Krishnamurty AT. One Mutation to Rule Them All: Mutant KRAS Controls Tumor Intrinsic and Microenvironment Signaling. Cancer Res 2024; 84:6-8. [PMID: 38016110 DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-23-3682] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2023] [Accepted: 11/27/2023] [Indexed: 11/30/2023]
Abstract
In a recent study published in Cancer Discovery, Hsu and colleagues employ an elegant combination of single-cell and bulk RNA sequencing experiments from mouse and human colorectal cancer samples, patient-derived organoids, two-dimensional in vitro systems, and in vivo validation in genetically engineered colorectal cancer mouse models to investigate how mutant KRAS (KRAS*) impacts the tumor microenvironment. They identify a molecular signaling cascade downstream of KRAS* that activates a specific program of lipid-rich cancer-associated fibroblasts, promoting tumor angiogenesis and progression. These findings may lead to new therapeutic strategies for patients with colorectal cancer with KRAS*.
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3
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Liu Q, Guo Z, Li G, Zhang Y, Liu X, Li B, Wang J, Li X. Cancer stem cells and their niche in cancer progression and therapy. Cancer Cell Int 2023; 23:305. [PMID: 38041196 PMCID: PMC10693166 DOI: 10.1186/s12935-023-03130-2] [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: 08/30/2023] [Accepted: 11/09/2023] [Indexed: 12/03/2023] Open
Abstract
High recurrence and metastasis rates and poor prognoses are the major challenges of current cancer therapy. Mounting evidence suggests that cancer stem cells (CSCs) play an important role in cancer development, chemoradiotherapy resistance, recurrence, and metastasis. Therefore, targeted CSC therapy has become a new strategy for solving the problems of cancer metastasis and recurrence. Since the properties of CSCs are regulated by the specific tumour microenvironment, the so-called CSC niche, which targets crosstalk between CSCs and their niches, is vital in our pursuit of new therapeutic opportunities to prevent cancer from recurring. In this review, we aim to highlight the factors within the CSC niche that have important roles in regulating CSC properties, including the extracellular matrix (ECM), stromal cells (e.g., associated macrophages (TAMs), cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs), and mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs)), and physiological changes (e.g., inflammation, hypoxia, and angiogenesis). We also discuss recent progress regarding therapies targeting CSCs and their niche to elucidate developments of more effective therapeutic strategies to eliminate cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiuping Liu
- Institute of Translational Medicine, College of Life Science and Agronomy, Zhoukou Normal University, Zhoukou, 466001, Henan, China
| | - Zongliang Guo
- Department of General Surgery, Shanxi Province Cancer Hospital, Affiliated of Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, 030013, Shanxi, China
| | - Guoyin Li
- Institute of Translational Medicine, College of Life Science and Agronomy, Zhoukou Normal University, Zhoukou, 466001, Henan, China
| | - Yunxia Zhang
- Institute of Translational Medicine, College of Life Science and Agronomy, Zhoukou Normal University, Zhoukou, 466001, Henan, China
| | - Xiaomeng Liu
- Institute of Translational Medicine, College of Life Science and Agronomy, Zhoukou Normal University, Zhoukou, 466001, Henan, China
| | - Bing Li
- Institute of Translational Medicine, College of Life Science and Agronomy, Zhoukou Normal University, Zhoukou, 466001, Henan, China
| | - Jinping Wang
- Department of Ultrasound, Shanxi Province People's Hospital, Taiyuan, 030012, Shanxi, China.
| | - Xiaoyan Li
- Department of blood transfusion, Shanxi Provincial People's Hospital, Taiyuan, 030032, Shanxi, China.
- Department of central laboratory, Shanxi Provincial People's Hospital, Taiyuan, 030032, Shanxi, China.
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4
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Jalil AT, Abdulhadi MA, Al Jawadri AMH, Talib HA, Al-Azzawi AKJ, Zabibah RS, Ali A. Cancer Stem Cells in Colorectal Cancer: Implications for Targeted Immunotherapies. J Gastrointest Cancer 2023; 54:1046-1057. [PMID: 37247115 DOI: 10.1007/s12029-023-00945-0] [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] [Accepted: 05/13/2023] [Indexed: 05/30/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE Colorectal cancers are composed of heterogeneous cell populations in the concepts of genetic and functional degrees that among them cancer stem cells are identified with their self-renewal and stemness capability mediating primary tumorigenesis, metastasize, therapeutic resistance, and tumor recurrence. Therefore, understanding the key mechanisms of stemness in colorectal cancer stem cells (CRCSCs) provides opportunities to discover new treatments or improve existing therapeutic regimens. METHODS We review the biological significance of stemness and the results of potential CRCSC-based targeted immunotherapies. Then, we pointed out the barriers to targeting CRCSCs in vivo and highlight new strategies based on synthetic and biogenic nanocarriers for the development of future anti-CRCSC trials. RESULTS The CSCs' surface markers, antigens, neoantigens, and signaling pathways supportive CRCSCs or immune cells that are interacted with CRCSCs could be targeted by immune monotherapy or in formulation with developed nanocarriers to overcome the resistant mechanisms in immune evader CRCSCs. CONCLUSION Identification molecular and cellular cues supporting stemness in CRCSCs and their targeting by nanoimmunotherpy can improve the efficacy of existed therapies or explore novel therapeutic options in future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abduladheem Turki Jalil
- Medical Laboratories Techniques Department, Al-Mustaqbal University College, Babylon, Hilla, 51001, Iraq.
| | | | | | - Hayder Abdullah Talib
- College of Agriculture, National University of Science and Technology, Dhi Qar, Iraq
| | | | - Rahman S Zabibah
- Medical Laboratory Technology Department, College of Medical Technology, The Islamic University, Najaf, Iraq
| | - Ahmed Ali
- Medical Technical College, Al-Farahidi University, Baghdad, Iraq
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5
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Al-Bzour NN, Al-Bzour AN, Ababneh OE, Al-Jezawi MM, Saeed A, Saeed A. Cancer-Associated Fibroblasts in Gastrointestinal Cancers: Unveiling Their Dynamic Roles in the Tumor Microenvironment. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:16505. [PMID: 38003695 PMCID: PMC10671196 DOI: 10.3390/ijms242216505] [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: 10/03/2023] [Revised: 11/15/2023] [Accepted: 11/17/2023] [Indexed: 11/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Gastrointestinal cancers are highly aggressive malignancies with significant mortality rates. Recent research emphasizes the critical role of the tumor microenvironment (TME) in these cancers, which includes cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs), a key component of the TME that have diverse origins, including fibroblasts, mesenchymal stem cells, and endothelial cells. Several markers, such as α-SMA and FAP, have been identified to label CAFs, and some specific markers may serve as potential therapeutic targets. In this review article, we summarize the literature on the multifaceted role of CAFs in tumor progression, including their effects on angiogenesis, immune suppression, invasion, and metastasis. In addition, we highlight the use of single-cell transcriptomics to understand CAF heterogeneity and their interactions within the TME. Moreover, we discuss the dynamic interplay between CAFs and the immune system, which contributes to immunosuppression in the TME, and the potential for CAF-targeted therapies and combination approaches with immunotherapy to improve cancer treatment outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Noor N. Al-Bzour
- Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology & Oncology, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC), Pittsburgh, PA 15232, USA; (N.N.A.-B.); (A.N.A.-B.)
| | - Ayah N. Al-Bzour
- Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology & Oncology, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC), Pittsburgh, PA 15232, USA; (N.N.A.-B.); (A.N.A.-B.)
| | - Obada E. Ababneh
- Faculty of Medicine, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid 22110, Jordan; (O.E.A.); (M.M.A.-J.)
| | - Moayad M. Al-Jezawi
- Faculty of Medicine, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid 22110, Jordan; (O.E.A.); (M.M.A.-J.)
| | - Azhar Saeed
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Vermont Medical Center, Burlington, VT 05401, USA;
| | - Anwaar Saeed
- Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology & Oncology, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC), Pittsburgh, PA 15232, USA; (N.N.A.-B.); (A.N.A.-B.)
- UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, Pittsburgh, PA 15232, USA
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6
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Furuhashi S, Bustos MA, Mizuno S, Ryu S, Naeini Y, Bilchik AJ, Hoon DSB. Spatial profiling of cancer-associated fibroblasts of sporadic early onset colon cancer microenvironment. NPJ Precis Oncol 2023; 7:118. [PMID: 37964075 PMCID: PMC10645739 DOI: 10.1038/s41698-023-00474-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2023] [Accepted: 10/24/2023] [Indexed: 11/16/2023] Open
Abstract
The incidence of sporadic early-onset colon cancer (EOCC) has increased worldwide. The molecular mechanisms in the tumor and the tumor microenvironment (TME) in EOCC are not fully understood. The aim of this study is to unravel unique spatial transcriptomic and proteomic profiles in tumor epithelial cells and cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs). Here, we divide the sporadic colon cancer tissue samples with transcriptomic data into patients diagnosed with EOCC (<50 yrs) and late-onset colon cancer (LOCC, ≥50 yrs) and then, analyze the data using CIBERSORTx deconvolution software. EOCC tumors are more enriched in CAFs with fibroblast associated protein positive expression (FAP(+)) than LOCC tumors. EOCC patients with higher FAP mRNA levels in CAFs have shorter OS (Log-rank test, p < 0.029). Spatial transcriptomic analysis of 112 areas of interest, using NanoString GeoMx digital spatial profiling, demonstrate that FAP(+) CAFs at the EOCC tumor invasive margin show a significant upregulation of WNT signaling and higher mRNA/protein levels of fibroblast growth factor 20 (FGF20). Tumor epithelial cells at tumor invasive margin of EOCC tumors neighboring FAP(+) CAFs show significantly higher mRNA/protein levels of fibroblast growth factor receptor (FGFR2) and PI3K/Akt signaling activation. NichNET analysis show a potential interaction between FGF20 and FGFFR2. The role of FGF20 in activating FGFR2/pFGFR2 and AKT/pAKT was validated in-vitro. In conclusion, we identify a unique FAP(+) CAF population that showed WNT signaling upregulation and increased FGF20 levels; while neighbor tumor cells show the upregulation/activation of FGFR2-PI3K/Akt signaling at the tumor invasive margin of EOCC tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Satoru Furuhashi
- Department of Translational Molecular Medicine, Saint John's Cancer Institute (SJCI), Providence Saint John's Health Center (SJHC), Santa Monica, CA, 90404, USA
| | - Matias A Bustos
- Department of Translational Molecular Medicine, Saint John's Cancer Institute (SJCI), Providence Saint John's Health Center (SJHC), Santa Monica, CA, 90404, USA
| | - Shodai Mizuno
- Department of Translational Molecular Medicine, Saint John's Cancer Institute (SJCI), Providence Saint John's Health Center (SJHC), Santa Monica, CA, 90404, USA
| | - Suyeon Ryu
- Department of Genome Sequencing Center, SJCI, Providence SJHC, Santa Monica, CA, 90404, USA
| | - Yalda Naeini
- Department of Surgical Pathology, Providence SJHC, Santa Monica, CA, 90404, USA
| | - Anton J Bilchik
- Department of Gastrointestinal and Hepatobiliary Surgery, Providence SJHC, Santa Monica, CA, 90404, USA
| | - Dave S B Hoon
- Department of Translational Molecular Medicine, Saint John's Cancer Institute (SJCI), Providence Saint John's Health Center (SJHC), Santa Monica, CA, 90404, USA.
- Department of Genome Sequencing Center, SJCI, Providence SJHC, Santa Monica, CA, 90404, USA.
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7
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Bersano J, Lashuk K, Edinger A, Schueler J. A Subset of Colon Cancer Cell Lines Displays a Cytokine Profile Linked to Angiogenesis, EMT and Invasion Which Is Modulated by the Culture Conditions In Vitro. Cells 2023; 12:2539. [PMID: 37947617 PMCID: PMC10648033 DOI: 10.3390/cells12212539] [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: 09/26/2023] [Revised: 10/24/2023] [Accepted: 10/27/2023] [Indexed: 11/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the deadliest cancers worldwide. The dysregulation of secretory pathways is a crucial driver of CRC progression, since it modulates cell proliferation, angiogenesis and survival. This study explores the changes in the CRC cytokine profile depending on the culture conditions and the presence of fibroblasts and macrophages as cellular components of the tumor microenvironment in 2D and in 3D formed spheroids. Upon analysis of 45 different cytokines, chemokines and growth factors, 20 CRC cell lines were categorized into high and low secretors. In the high secretor group cytokines related to angiogenesis, EMT and invasion were significantly upregulated. LIF and HFG were identified as the best discriminator between both groups. Independent of this grouping, the addition of normal as well as cancer-associated fibroblasts had a similar impact on the cytokine profile by increasing the total amount of secreted cytokines in most of the investigated cell lines. In contrast, the differentiation and polarization of macrophages was modulated differently by normal vs. cancer-associated fibroblasts. In summary, we identified two groups of CRC cell lines that differ in their cytokine profile. The dependance of this profile was analyzed in detail-not only from the tumor cell line but as well from the culture condition in vitro. Key cytokines that discriminate the two groups were identified and their importance as promising biomarker candidates for CRC discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Julia Schueler
- Charles River Discovery Research Services Germany GmbH, Am Flughafen 12–14, 79108 Freiburg, Germany; (J.B.); (K.L.); (A.E.)
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8
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Hajiabadi S, Alidadi S, Montakhab Farahi Z, Ghahramani Seno MM, Farzin H, Haghparast A. Immunotherapy with STING and TLR9 agonists promotes synergistic therapeutic efficacy with suppressed cancer-associated fibroblasts in colon carcinoma. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1258691. [PMID: 37901237 PMCID: PMC10611477 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1258691] [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: 09/06/2023] [Indexed: 10/31/2023] Open
Abstract
The innate immune sensing of nucleic acids using effective immunoadjuvants is critical for increasing protective immune responses against cancer. Stimulators of interferon genes (STING) and toll-like receptor 9 (TLR9) agonists are considered promising candidates in several preclinical tumor models with the potential to be used in clinical settings. However, the effects of such treatment on tumor stroma are currently unknown. In this study, we investigated the immunotherapeutic effects of ADU-S100 as a STING agonist and CpG ODN1826 as a TLR9 agonist in a preclinical model of colon carcinoma. Tumor-bearing mice were treated intratumorally on days 10 and 16 post-tumor inoculation with ADU-S100 and CpG ODN1826. Cytokine profiles in the tumor and spleen, tumor cell apoptosis, the infiltration of immune cells, and cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) in the tumor microenvironment (TME) were evaluated to identify the immunological mechanisms after treatment. The powerful antitumor activity of single and combination treatments, the upregulation of the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines in the tumor and spleen, and the recruitment and infiltration of the TME by immune cells revealed the synergism of immunoadjuvants in the eradication of the colon carcinoma model. Remarkably, the significant downregulation of CAFs in the TME indicated that suppression of tumorigenesis occurred after immunoadjuvant therapy. The results illustrate the potential of targeting the STING and TLR9 pathways as powerful immunoadjuvants in the treatment of preclinical colon carcinoma and the possibility of harnessing these pathways in future therapeutic approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sare Hajiabadi
- Department of Pathobiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Soodeh Alidadi
- Department of Pathobiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Zohreh Montakhab Farahi
- Department of Pathobiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran
| | | | - Hamidreza Farzin
- Razi Vaccine and Serum Research Institute, Agriculture Research, Education and Extension Organization (AREEO), Mashhad, Iran
| | - Alireza Haghparast
- Department of Pathobiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran
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9
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Brügger MD, Basler K. The diverse nature of intestinal fibroblasts in development, homeostasis, and disease. Trends Cell Biol 2023; 33:834-849. [PMID: 37080817 DOI: 10.1016/j.tcb.2023.03.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2022] [Revised: 02/28/2023] [Accepted: 03/13/2023] [Indexed: 04/22/2023]
Abstract
Only in recent years have we begun to appreciate the involvement of fibroblasts in intestinal development, tissue homeostasis, and disease. These insights followed the advent of single-cell transcriptomics that allowed researchers to explore the heterogeneity of intestinal fibroblasts in unprecedented detail. Since researchers often defined cell types and their associated function based on the biological process they studied, there are a plethora of partially overlapping markers for different intestinal fibroblast populations. This ambiguity complicates putting different research findings into context. Here, we provide a census on the function and identity of intestinal fibroblasts in mouse and human. We propose a simplified framework consisting of three colonic and four small intestinal fibroblast populations to aid navigating the diversity of intestinal fibroblasts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael David Brügger
- Department of Molecular Life Sciences, University of Zürich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057 Zürich, Switzerland.
| | - Konrad Basler
- Department of Molecular Life Sciences, University of Zürich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057 Zürich, Switzerland.
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10
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Li S, Pan T, Xu G, Gao Y, Zhang Y, Xu Q, Pan J, Zhou W, Xu J, Li Q, Li Y. Deep immunophenotyping reveals clinically distinct cellular states and ecosystems in large-scale colorectal cancer. Commun Biol 2023; 6:785. [PMID: 37500893 PMCID: PMC10374645 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-023-05117-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2022] [Accepted: 07/07/2023] [Indexed: 07/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Determining the diverse cell types in the tumor microenvironment (TME) and their organization into cellular communities, is critical for understanding the biological heterogeneity and therapy of cancer. Here, we deeply immunophenotype the colorectal cancer (CRC) by integrative analysis of large-scale bulk and single cell transcriptome of 2350 patients and 53,137 cells. A rich landscape of 42 cellular states and 7 ecosystems in TMEs is uncovered and extend the previous immune classifications of CRC. Functional pathways and potential transcriptional regulators analysis of cellular states and ecosystems reveal cancer hallmark-related pathways and several critical transcription factors in CRC. High-resolution characterization of the TMEs, we discover the potential utility of cellular states (i.e., Monocytes/Macrophages and CD8 T cell) and ecosystems for prognosis and clinical therapy selection of CRC. Together, our results expand our understanding of cellular organization in TMEs of CRC, with potential implications for the development of biomarkers and precision therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Si Li
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Translational Medicine of Ministry of Education, College of Biomedical Information and Engineering, Hainan Women and Children's Medical Center, Hainan Medical University, Haikou, 571199, China
- School of Interdisciplinary Medicine and Engineering, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, 150081, China
| | - Tao Pan
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Translational Medicine of Ministry of Education, College of Biomedical Information and Engineering, Hainan Women and Children's Medical Center, Hainan Medical University, Haikou, 571199, China
| | - Gang Xu
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Translational Medicine of Ministry of Education, College of Biomedical Information and Engineering, Hainan Women and Children's Medical Center, Hainan Medical University, Haikou, 571199, China
- College of Bioinformatics Science and Technology, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, 150081, China
| | - Yueying Gao
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Translational Medicine of Ministry of Education, College of Biomedical Information and Engineering, Hainan Women and Children's Medical Center, Hainan Medical University, Haikou, 571199, China
- School of Interdisciplinary Medicine and Engineering, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, 150081, China
| | - Ya Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Translational Medicine of Ministry of Education, College of Biomedical Information and Engineering, Hainan Women and Children's Medical Center, Hainan Medical University, Haikou, 571199, China
| | - Qi Xu
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Translational Medicine of Ministry of Education, College of Biomedical Information and Engineering, Hainan Women and Children's Medical Center, Hainan Medical University, Haikou, 571199, China
| | - Jiwei Pan
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Translational Medicine of Ministry of Education, College of Biomedical Information and Engineering, Hainan Women and Children's Medical Center, Hainan Medical University, Haikou, 571199, China
| | - Weiwei Zhou
- College of Bioinformatics Science and Technology, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, 150081, China
| | - Juan Xu
- College of Bioinformatics Science and Technology, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, 150081, China.
| | - Qifu Li
- The First Affiliated Hospital, Hainan Medical University, Haikou, 571199, China.
| | - Yongsheng Li
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Translational Medicine of Ministry of Education, College of Biomedical Information and Engineering, Hainan Women and Children's Medical Center, Hainan Medical University, Haikou, 571199, China.
- School of Interdisciplinary Medicine and Engineering, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, 150081, China.
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11
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Kalaei Z, Manafi-Farid R, Rashidi B, Kiani FK, Zarei A, Fathi M, Jadidi-Niaragh F. The Prognostic and therapeutic value and clinical implications of fibroblast activation protein-α as a novel biomarker in colorectal cancer. Cell Commun Signal 2023; 21:139. [PMID: 37316886 DOI: 10.1186/s12964-023-01151-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2022] [Accepted: 04/28/2023] [Indexed: 06/16/2023] Open
Abstract
The identification of contributing factors leading to the development of Colorectal Cancer (CRC), as the third fatal malignancy, is crucial. Today, the tumor microenvironment has been shown to play a key role in CRC progression. Fibroblast-Activation Protein-α (FAP) is a type II transmembrane cell surface proteinase expressed on the surface of cancer-associated fibroblasts in tumor stroma. As an enzyme, FAP has di- and endoprolylpeptidase, endoprotease, and gelatinase/collagenase activities in the Tumor Microenvironment (TME). According to recent reports, FAP overexpression in CRC contributes to adverse clinical outcomes such as increased lymph node metastasis, tumor recurrence, and angiogenesis, as well as decreased overall survival. In this review, studies about the expression level of FAP and its associations with CRC patients' prognosis are reviewed. High expression levels of FAP and its association with clinicopathological factors have made as a potential target. In many studies, FAP has been evaluated as a therapeutic target and diagnostic factor into which the current review tries to provide a comprehensive insight. Video Abstract.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zahra Kalaei
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Tabriz University, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Reyhaneh Manafi-Farid
- Research Center for Nuclear Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Bentolhoda Rashidi
- Immunology Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Fariba Karoon Kiani
- Immunology Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Asieh Zarei
- Immunology Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Mehrdad Fathi
- Research Center for Integrative Medicine in Aging, Aging Research Institute, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Farhad Jadidi-Niaragh
- Immunology Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
- Research Center for Integrative Medicine in Aging, Aging Research Institute, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
- Department of Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
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12
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Sun S, Zhang Y, Li Y, Wei L. Crosstalk between colorectal cancer cells and cancer-associated fibroblasts in the tumor microenvironment mediated by exosomal noncoding RNAs. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1161628. [PMID: 37234178 PMCID: PMC10206140 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1161628] [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: 02/08/2023] [Accepted: 05/02/2023] [Indexed: 05/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a common malignant tumor of the digestive system, and its morbidity rates are increasing worldwide. Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs), as part of the tumor microenvironment (TME), are not only closely linked to normal fibroblasts, but also can secrete a variety of substances (including exosomes) to participate in the regulation of the TME. Exosomes can play a key role in intercellular communication by delivering intracellular signaling substances (e.g., proteins, nucleic acids, non-coding RNAs), and an increasing number of studies have shown that non-coding RNAs of exosomal origin from CAFs are not only closely associated with the formation of the CRC microenvironment, but also increase the ability of CRC to grow in metastasis, mediate tumor immunosuppression, and are involved in the mechanism of drug resistance in CRC patients receiving. It is also involved in the mechanism of drug resistance after radiotherapy in CRC patients. In this paper, we review the current status and progress of research on CAFs-derived exosomal non-coding RNAs in CRC.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Linlin Wei
- Department of Radiotherapy, Liaoning Cancer Hospital & Institute, Cancer Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, China
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13
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Villéger R, Chulkina M, Mifflin RC, Markov NS, Trieu J, Sinha M, Johnson P, Saada JI, Adegboyega PA, Luxon BA, Beswick EJ, Powell DW, Pinchuk IV. Loss of alcohol dehydrogenase 1B in cancer-associated fibroblasts: contribution to the increase of tumor-promoting IL-6 in colon cancer. Br J Cancer 2023; 128:537-548. [PMID: 36482184 PMCID: PMC9938173 DOI: 10.1038/s41416-022-02066-0] [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: 04/15/2022] [Revised: 10/24/2022] [Accepted: 11/10/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Increases in IL-6 by cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) contribute to colon cancer progression, but the mechanisms involved in the increase of this tumor-promoting cytokine are unknown. The aim of this study was to identify novel targets involved in the dysregulation of IL-6 expression by CAFs in colon cancer. METHODS Colonic normal (N), hyperplastic, tubular adenoma, adenocarcinoma tissues, and tissue-derived myo-/fibroblasts (MFs) were used in these studies. RESULTS Transcriptomic analysis demonstrated a striking decrease in alcohol dehydrogenase 1B (ADH1B) expression, a gene potentially involved in IL-6 dysregulation in CAFs. ADH1B expression was downregulated in approximately 50% of studied tubular adenomas and all T1-4 colon tumors, but not in hyperplastic polyps. ADH1B metabolizes alcohols, including retinol (RO), and is involved in the generation of all-trans retinoic acid (atRA). LPS-induced IL-6 production was inhibited by either RO or its byproduct atRA in N-MFs, but only atRA was effective in CAFs. Silencing ADH1B in N-MFs significantly upregulated LPS-induced IL-6 similar to those observed in CAFs and lead to the loss of RO inhibitory effect on inducible IL-6 expression. CONCLUSION Our data identify ADH1B as a novel potential mesenchymal tumor suppressor, which plays a critical role in ADH1B/retinoid-mediated regulation of tumor-promoting IL-6.
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Affiliation(s)
- Romain Villéger
- Laboratoire Ecologie and Biologie des Interactions, UMR CNRS 7267, Université de Poitiers, Poitiers, France
| | - Marina Chulkina
- Department of Medicine at PennState Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, Hershey, PA, USA
| | - Randy C Mifflin
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine, UTMB, Galveston, TX, 77555, USA
| | - Nikolay S Markov
- Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Judy Trieu
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine, UTMB, Galveston, TX, 77555, USA
| | - Mala Sinha
- Institute for Translational Sciences, UTMB, Galveston, TX, 77555, USA
| | - Paul Johnson
- Department of Surgery, UTMB, Galveston, TX, 77555, USA
| | - Jamal I Saada
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine, UTMB, Galveston, TX, 77555, USA
| | - Patrick A Adegboyega
- Department of Pathology, St. Louis University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, 63106, USA
| | - Bruce A Luxon
- Institute for Translational Sciences, UTMB, Galveston, TX, 77555, USA
| | - Ellen J Beswick
- Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, 84132, USA
| | - Don W Powell
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine, UTMB, Galveston, TX, 77555, USA
- Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, 84132, USA
- Department of Neuroscience and Cell Biology, UTMB, Galveston, TX, 77555, USA
| | - Irina V Pinchuk
- Department of Medicine at PennState Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, Hershey, PA, USA.
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14
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Mirza S, Bhadresha K, Mughal MJ, McCabe M, Shahbazi R, Ruff P, Penny C. Liquid biopsy approaches and immunotherapy in colorectal cancer for precision medicine: Are we there yet? Front Oncol 2023; 12:1023565. [PMID: 36686736 PMCID: PMC9853908 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2022.1023565] [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: 08/19/2022] [Accepted: 12/08/2022] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths globally, with nearly half of patients detected in the advanced stages. This is due to the fact that symptoms associated with CRC often do not appear until the cancer has reached an advanced stage. This suggests that CRC is a cancer with a slow progression, making it curable and preventive if detected in its early stage. Therefore, there is an urgent clinical need to improve CRC early detection and personalize therapy for patients with this cancer. Recently, liquid biopsy as a non-invasive or nominally invasive approach has attracted considerable interest for its real-time disease monitoring capability through repeated sample analysis. Several studies in CRC have revealed the potential for liquid biopsy application in a real clinical setting using circulating RNA/miRNA, circulating tumor cells (CTCs), exosomes, etc. However, Liquid biopsy still remains a challenge since there are currently no promising results with high specificity and specificity that might be employed as optimal circulatory biomarkers. Therefore, in this review, we conferred the plausible role of less explored liquid biopsy components like mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA), organoid model of CTCs, and circulating cancer-associated fibroblasts (cCAFs); which may allow researchers to develop improved strategies to unravel unfulfilled clinical requirements in CRC patients. Moreover, we have also discussed immunotherapy approaches to improve the prognosis of MSI (Microsatellite Instability) CRC patients using neoantigens and immune cells in the tumor microenvironment (TME) as a liquid biopsy approach in detail.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sheefa Mirza
- Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa,Department of Internal Medicine, Common Epithelial Cancer Research Centre, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Kinjal Bhadresha
- Hematology/Oncology Division, School of Medicine, Indiana University, Indianapolis, IN, United States
| | - Muhammed Jameel Mughal
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, School of Medicine and Health Science, The George Washington University, Washington, DC, United States
| | - Michelle McCabe
- Department of Anatomical Pathology, School of Pathology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Parktown, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Reza Shahbazi
- Hematology/Oncology Division, School of Medicine, Indiana University, Indianapolis, IN, United States
| | - Paul Ruff
- Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa,Department of Internal Medicine, Common Epithelial Cancer Research Centre, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Clement Penny
- Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa,Department of Internal Medicine, Common Epithelial Cancer Research Centre, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa,*Correspondence: Clement Penny,
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15
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Cheng B, Yu Q, Wang W. Intimate communications within the tumor microenvironment: stromal factors function as an orchestra. J Biomed Sci 2023; 30:1. [PMID: 36600243 DOI: 10.1186/s12929-022-00894-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2022] [Accepted: 12/18/2022] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Extensive studies of the tumor microenvironment (TME) in the last decade have reformed the view of cancer as a tumor cell-centric disease. The tumor microenvironment, especially termed the "seed and soil" theory, has emerged as the key determinant in cancer development and therapeutic resistance. The TME mainly consists of tumor cells, stromal cells such as fibroblasts, immune cells, and other noncellular components. Within the TME, intimate communications among these components largely determine the fate of the tumor. The pivotal roles of the stroma, especially cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs), the most common component within the TME, have been revealed in tumorigenesis, tumor progression, therapeutic response, and tumor immunity. A better understanding of the function of the TME sheds light on tumor therapy. In this review, we summarize the emerging understanding of stromal factors, especially CAFs, in cancer progression, drug resistance, and tumor immunity with an emphasis on their functions in epigenetic regulation. Moreover, the importance of epigenetic regulation in reshaping the TME and the basic biological principles underpinning the synergy between epigenetic therapy and immunotherapy will be further discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bing Cheng
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Colorectal and Pelvic Floor Disease, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China.,Guangdong Research Institute of Gastroenterology, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Qiang Yu
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Colorectal and Pelvic Floor Disease, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China. .,Guangdong Research Institute of Gastroenterology, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China. .,Cancer Precision Medicine, Genome Institute of Singapore, Agency for Science, Technology, and Research, Biopolis, Singapore. .,Department of Physiology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore. .,Cancer and Stem Cell Biology, DUKE-NUS Graduate Medical School of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore.
| | - Wenyu Wang
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Colorectal and Pelvic Floor Disease, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China. .,Guangdong Research Institute of Gastroenterology, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China.
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16
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Pandey A, Kurera M, Man SM. Primary Intestinal Fibroblasts: Isolation, Cultivation, and Maintenance. Methods Mol Biol 2023; 2691:327-335. [PMID: 37355555 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-3331-1_23] [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] [Indexed: 06/26/2023]
Abstract
Intestinal fibroblasts maintain homeostasis and contribute to inflammatory responses and the development of cancer. Intestinal fibroblasts express pattern recognition receptors which can mount an immune response. Since intestinal fibroblasts interact with diverse immune and nonimmune cells, further insights into the biology of intestinal fibroblasts could expand our knowledge of the development, homeostasis, and pathophysiology of the intestine. Here, we describe a simple protocol for the isolation, cultivation, and maintenance of primary fibroblasts from the mouse colon. These cells express α-smooth muscle actin, a characteristic of specialized contractile fibroblasts called myofibroblasts. We also outline the use of these colonic fibroblasts for immunoblotting and immunofluorescence assays with or without stimulation with a growth factor.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abhimanu Pandey
- Division of Immunology and Infectious Disease, The John Curtin School of Medical Research, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia
| | - Melan Kurera
- Division of Immunology and Infectious Disease, The John Curtin School of Medical Research, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia
| | - Si Ming Man
- Division of Immunology and Infectious Disease, The John Curtin School of Medical Research, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia.
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17
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Zheng X, Ma Y, Bai Y, Huang T, Lv X, Deng J, Wang Z, Lian W, Tong Y, Zhang X, Yue M, Zhang Y, Li L, Peng M. Identification and validation of immunotherapy for four novel clusters of colorectal cancer based on the tumor microenvironment. Front Immunol 2022; 13:984480. [PMID: 36389763 PMCID: PMC9650243 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.984480] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2022] [Accepted: 10/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
The incidence and mortality of colorectal cancer (CRC) are increasing year by year. The accurate classification of CRC can realize the purpose of personalized and precise treatment for patients. The tumor microenvironment (TME) plays an important role in the malignant progression and immunotherapy of CRC. An in-depth understanding of the clusters based on the TME is of great significance for the discovery of new therapeutic targets for CRC. We extracted data on CRC, including gene expression profile, DNA methylation array, somatic mutations, clinicopathological information, and copy number variation (CNV), from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) (four datasets—GSE14333, GSE17538, GSE38832, and GSE39582), cBioPortal, and FireBrowse. The MCPcounter was utilized to quantify the abundance of 10 TME cells for CRC samples. Cluster repetitive analysis was based on the Hcluster function of the Pheatmap package in R. The ESTIMATE package was applied to compute immune and stromal scores for CRC patients. PCA analysis was used to remove batch effects among different datasets and transform genome-wide DNA methylation profiling into methylation of tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte (MeTIL). We evaluated the mutation differences of the clusters using MOVICS, DeconstructSigs, and GISTIC packages. As for therapy, TIDE and SubMap analyses were carried out to forecast the immunotherapy response of the clusters, and chemotherapeutic sensibility was estimated based on the pRRophetic package. All results were verified in the TCGA and GEO data. Four immune clusters (ImmClust-CS1, ImmClust-CS2, ImmClust-CS3, and ImmClust-CS4) were identified for CRC. The four ImmClusts exhibited distinct TME compositions, cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs), functional orientation, and immune checkpoints. The highest immune, stromal, and MeTIL scores were observed in CS2, in contrast to the lowest scores in CS4. CS1 may respond to immunotherapy, while CS2 may respond to immunotherapy after anti-CAFs. Among the four ImmClusts, the top 15 markers with the highest mutation frequency were acquired, and CS1 had significantly lower CNA on the focal level than other subtypes. In addition, CS1 and CS2 patients had more stable chromosomes than CS3 and CS4. The most sensitive chemotherapeutic agents in these four ImmClusts were also found. IHC results revealed that CD29 stained significantly darker in the cancer samples, indicating that their CD29 was highly expressed in colon cancer. This work revealed the novel clusters based on TME for CRC, which would guide in predicting the prognosis, biological features, and appropriate treatment for patients with CRC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoyong Zheng
- Department of Digestion, Henan Provincial Third People’s Hospital, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Yajie Ma
- Department of Medical Affair, Henan Provincial Third People’s Hospital, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Yan Bai
- Department of Digestion, Zhengzhou First People’s Hospital, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Tao Huang
- Medical School, Huanghe Science and Technology University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Xuefeng Lv
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Jinhai Deng
- Richard Dimbleby Department of Cancer Research, Comprehensive Cancer Centre, Kings College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Zhongquan Wang
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Henan Provincial Third People’s Hospital, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Wenping Lian
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Henan Provincial Third People’s Hospital, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Yalin Tong
- Department of Digestion, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Xinyu Zhang
- Department of Medical Affair, Henan Provincial Third People’s Hospital, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Miaomiao Yue
- Department of Digestion, Henan Provincial Third People’s Hospital, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Yan Zhang
- Department of Digestion, Henan Provincial Third People’s Hospital, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Lifeng Li
- Medical School, Huanghe Science and Technology University, Zhengzhou, China
- Cancer Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
- Internet Medical and System Applications of National Engineering Laboratory, Zhengzhou, China
- *Correspondence: Mengle Peng, ; Lifeng Li,
| | - Mengle Peng
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Henan Provincial Third People’s Hospital, Zhengzhou, China
- *Correspondence: Mengle Peng, ; Lifeng Li,
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Eskandari-Malayeri F, Rezaei M. Immune checkpoint inhibitors as mediators for immunosuppression by cancer-associated fibroblasts: A comprehensive review. Front Immunol 2022; 13:996145. [PMID: 36275750 PMCID: PMC9581325 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.996145] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2022] [Accepted: 09/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
The tumor microenvironment (TME) is a significant contributor to cancer progression containing complex connections between cellular and chemical components and provides a suitable substrate for tumor growth and development. Growing evidence shows targeting tumor cells while ignoring the surrounding TME is not effective enough to overcome the cancer disease. Fibroblasts are essential sentinels of the stroma that due to certain conditions in TME, such as oxidative stress and local hypoxia, become activated, and play the prominent role in the physical support of tumor cells and the enhancement of tumorigenesis. Activated fibroblasts in TME, defined as cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs), play a crucial role in regulating the biological behavior of tumors, such as tumor metastasis and drug resistance. CAFs are highly heterogeneous populations that have different origins and, in addition to their role in supporting stromal cells, have multiple immunosuppressive functions via a membrane and secretory patterns. The secretion of different cytokines/chemokines, interactions that mediate the recruitment of regulatory immune cells and the reprogramming of an immunosuppressive function in immature myeloid cells are just a few examples of how CAFs contribute to the immune escape of tumors through various direct and indirect mechanisms on specific immune cell populations. Moreover, CAFs directly abolish the role of cytotoxic lymphocytes. The activation and overexpression of inhibitory immune checkpoints (iICPs) or their ligands in TME compartments are one of the main regulatory mechanisms that inactivate tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes in cancer lesions. CAFs are also essential players in the induction or expression of iICPs and the suppression of immune response in TME. Based on available studies, CAF subsets could modulate immune cell function in TME through iICPs in two ways; direct expression of iICPs by activated CAFs and indirect induction by production soluble and then upregulation of iICPs in TME. With a focus on CAFs’ direct and indirect roles in the induction of iICPs in TME as well as their use in immunotherapy and diagnostics, we present the evolving understanding of the immunosuppressive mechanism of CAFs in TME in this review. Understanding the complete picture of CAFs will help develop new strategies to improve precision cancer therapy.
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Fotsitzoudis C, Koulouridi A, Messaritakis I, Konstantinidis T, Gouvas N, Tsiaoussis J, Souglakos J. Cancer-Associated Fibroblasts: The Origin, Biological Characteristics and Role in Cancer-A Glance on Colorectal Cancer. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14184394. [PMID: 36139552 PMCID: PMC9497276 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14184394] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2022] [Revised: 09/05/2022] [Accepted: 09/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Tumor microenvironment is a major contributor to tumor growth, metastasis and resistance to therapy. It consists of many cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs), which derive from different types of cells. CAFs detected in different tumor types are linked to poor prognosis, as in the case of colorectal cancer. Although their functions differ according to their subtype, their detection is not easy, and there are no established markers for such detection. They are possible targets for therapeutic treatment. Many trials are ongoing for their use as a prognostic factor and as a treatment target. More research remains to be carried out to establish their role in prognosis and treatment. Abstract The therapeutic approaches to cancer remain a considerable target for all scientists around the world. Although new cancer treatments are an everyday phenomenon, cancer still remains one of the leading mortality causes. Colorectal cancer (CRC) remains in this category, although patients with CRC may have better survival compared with other malignancies. Not only the tumor but also its environment, what we call the tumor microenvironment (TME), seem to contribute to cancer progression and resistance to therapy. TME consists of different molecules and cells. Cancer-associated fibroblasts are a major component. They arise from normal fibroblasts and other normal cells through various pathways. Their role seems to contribute to cancer promotion, participating in tumorigenesis, proliferation, growth, invasion, metastasis and resistance to treatment. Different markers, such as a-SMA, FAP, PDGFR-β, periostin, have been used for the detection of cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs). Their detection is important for two main reasons; research has shown that their existence is correlated with prognosis, and they are already under evaluation as a possible target for treatment. However, extensive research is warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charalampos Fotsitzoudis
- Laboratory of Translational Oncology, School of Medicine, University of Crete, 70013 Heraklion, Greece
| | - Asimina Koulouridi
- Laboratory of Translational Oncology, School of Medicine, University of Crete, 70013 Heraklion, Greece
| | - Ippokratis Messaritakis
- Laboratory of Translational Oncology, School of Medicine, University of Crete, 70013 Heraklion, Greece
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +30-2810-394926
| | | | | | - John Tsiaoussis
- Department of Anatomy, School of Medicine, University of Crete, 70013 Heraklion, Greece
| | - John Souglakos
- Laboratory of Translational Oncology, School of Medicine, University of Crete, 70013 Heraklion, Greece
- Department of Medical Oncology, University Hospital of Heraklion, 71110 Heraklion, Greece
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The Expression Pattern of Bcl-2 and Bax in the Tumor and Stromal Cells in Colorectal Carcinoma. MEDICINA (KAUNAS, LITHUANIA) 2022; 58:medicina58081135. [PMID: 36013602 PMCID: PMC9416041 DOI: 10.3390/medicina58081135] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2022] [Revised: 08/17/2022] [Accepted: 08/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Background and objectives: The epithelial and stromal tissues both play a role in the progression of colorectal cancer (CRC). The aim of this study was to assess the expression of anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 and pro-apoptotic Bax in the epithelium as well as the lamina propria of normal colonic controls, low-grade tumor samples and high-grade tumor samples. Materials and Methods: A total of 60 samples consisting of both normal colonic and carcinoma samples was collected from the Department of Pathology, Cytology and Forensic Medicine, University Hospital Center, Split from January 2020 to December 2021. The expression of Bcl-2 and Bax markers was semi-quantitatively and quantitatively evaluated by recording immunofluorescence stain intensity and by counting stained cells in the lamina propria and epithelium. Analysis of positive cells was performed using the Mann-Whitney test. Results: In all samples, Bcl-2 was significantly more expressed in the lamina propria when compared with the epithelium. Bax was significantly more expressed in the epithelium of normal and low-grade cancer samples when compared with their respective laminae propriae. The percentage of Bcl-2-positive cells in lamina propria is about two times lower in high-grade CRC and about three times lower in low-grade CRC in comparison with healthy controls. Contrary to this, the percentage of Bax-positive cells was greater in the epithelium of low-grade CRC in comparison with healthy control and high-grade CRC. Conclusions: Our study provides a new insight into Bcl-2 and Bax expression pattern in CRC. Evaluation of Bcl-2 expression in the lamina propria and Bax expression in the epithelium could provide important information for colorectal cancer prognosis as well as potential treatment strategies.
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The Role of Inflammatory Cytokines in the Pathogenesis of Colorectal Carcinoma—Recent Findings and Review. Biomedicines 2022; 10:biomedicines10071670. [PMID: 35884974 PMCID: PMC9312930 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines10071670] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2022] [Revised: 07/04/2022] [Accepted: 07/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The inflammatory process plays a significant role in the development of colon cancer (CRC). Intestinal cytokine networks are critical mediators of tissue homeostasis and inflammation but also impact carcinogenesis at all stages of the disease. Recent studies suggest that inflammation is of greater importance in the serrated pathway than in the adenoma-carcinoma pathway. Interleukins have gained the most attention due to their potential role in CRC pathogenesis and promising results of clinical trials. Malignant transformation is associated with the pro-tumorigenic and anti-tumorigenic cytokines. The harmony between proinflammatory and anti-inflammatory factors is crucial to maintaining homeostasis. Immune cells in the tumor microenvironment modulate immune sensitivity and facilitate cancer escape from immune surveillance. Therefore, clarifying the role of underlying cytokine pathways and the effects of their modulation may be an important step to improve the effectiveness of cancer immunotherapy.
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22
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Chang YH, Hoang NN, Khanh VC, Yamashita T, Osaka M, Hiramatsu Y, Ohneda O. Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Promotes the Differentiation of Adipose Tissue-derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells into Cancer-associated Fibroblasts, Induced by Breast Cancer Cells. Stem Cells Dev 2022; 31:659-671. [PMID: 35734905 DOI: 10.1089/scd.2022.0086] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Triple Negative Breast Cancer (TNBC) is a highly aggressive and invasive type of breast cancer. In addition, type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is recognized as a risk factor for cancer metastasis, which is associated with mortality in patients with breast cancer. Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) generated from adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells (AT-MSCs) play a vital role in the progression of TNBC. However, to date, whether T2DM affects the ability of AT-MSCs to differentiate into CAFs is still unclear. In the present study, we found that in coculture with TNBC cells (BCCs) under hypoxic conditions, AT-MSCs derived from T2DM donors (dAT-MSCs) were facilitated to differentiate into CAFs, which showed fibroblastic morphology, and the induced expression of fibroblastic markers, such as FAP, FSP and vimentin. This was involved in the higher expression of TGFRand the phosphorylation of Smad2/3. Furthermore, T2DM affected the fate and functions of CAFs derived from dAT-MSCs. While CAFs derived from AT-MSCs of healthy donors (AT-CATs) exhibited the markers of inflammatory CAFs, those derived from dAT-MSCs (dAT-CAFs) showed the markers of myofibroblastic CAFs. Of note, in comparison to AT-CAFs, dAT-CAFs showed a higher ability to induce the proliferation and in vivo metastasis of BCCs, which was involved in the activation of the TGF-Smad2/3 signaling pathway. Collectively, our study suggests that T2DM contributes to metastasis of BCCs by inducing the myofibroblastic CAFs differentiation of dAT-MSCs. In addition, targeting the TGF-Smad2/3 signaling pathway in dAT-MSCs may be useful in cancer therapy for TNBC patients with T2DM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yun-Hsuan Chang
- University of Tsukuba, 13121, Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Biology, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan;
| | - Ngo Nhat Hoang
- University of Tsukuba, 13121, Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Biology, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan;
| | - Vuong Cat Khanh
- University of Tsukuba, Regenerative Medicine, Tsukuba, Japan;
| | | | - Motoo Osaka
- University of Tsukuba, Cardiovascular Surgery, Tsukuba, Japan;
| | - Yuji Hiramatsu
- University of Tsukuba, Cardiovascular Surgery, Tsukuba, Japan;
| | - Osamu Ohneda
- University of Tsukuba, Regenerative Medicine, 1-1-1 Tennoudai, Tsukuba, Japan, 305-8575;
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Huyghe N, Benidovskaya E, Stevens P, Van den Eynde M. Biomarkers of Response and Resistance to Immunotherapy in Microsatellite Stable Colorectal Cancer: Toward a New Personalized Medicine. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:2241. [PMID: 35565369 PMCID: PMC9105843 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14092241] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2022] [Revised: 04/25/2022] [Accepted: 04/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors (ICIs) are well recognized as a major immune treatment modality for multiple types of solid cancers. However, for colorectal cancer (CRC), ICIs are only approved for the treatment of Mismatch-Repair-Deficient and Microsatellite Instability-High (dMMR/MSI-H) tumors. For the vast majority of CRC, that are not dMMR/MSI-H, ICIs alone provide limited to no clinical benefit. This discrepancy of response between CRC and other solid cancers suggests that CRC may be inherently resistant to ICIs alone. In translational research, efforts are underway to thoroughly characterize the immune microenvironment of CRC to better understand the mechanisms behind this resistance and to find new biomarkers of response. In the clinic, trials are being set up to study biomarkers along with treatments targeting newly discovered immune checkpoint molecules or treatments combining ICIs with other existing therapies to improve response in MSS CRC. In this review, we will focus on the characteristics of response and resistance to ICIs in CRC, and discuss promising biomarkers studied in recent clinical trials combining ICIs with other therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicolas Huyghe
- Institut de Recherche Clinique et Expérimentale (Pole MIRO), UCLouvain, 1200 Brussels, Belgium; (N.H.); (E.B.); (P.S.)
| | - Elena Benidovskaya
- Institut de Recherche Clinique et Expérimentale (Pole MIRO), UCLouvain, 1200 Brussels, Belgium; (N.H.); (E.B.); (P.S.)
| | - Philippe Stevens
- Institut de Recherche Clinique et Expérimentale (Pole MIRO), UCLouvain, 1200 Brussels, Belgium; (N.H.); (E.B.); (P.S.)
| | - Marc Van den Eynde
- Institut de Recherche Clinique et Expérimentale (Pole MIRO), UCLouvain, 1200 Brussels, Belgium; (N.H.); (E.B.); (P.S.)
- Institut Roi Albert II, Department of Medical Oncology and Gastroenterology, Cliniques Universitaires St-Luc, 1200 Brussels, Belgium
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Patient-Derived Organoids of Colorectal Cancer: A Useful Tool for Personalized Medicine. J Pers Med 2022; 12:jpm12050695. [PMID: 35629118 PMCID: PMC9147270 DOI: 10.3390/jpm12050695] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2022] [Revised: 04/22/2022] [Accepted: 04/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Colorectal cancer is one of the most important malignancies worldwide, with high incidence and mortality rates. Several studies have been conducted using two-dimensional cultured cell lines; however, these cells do not represent a study model of patient tumors very well. In recent years, advancements in three-dimensional culture methods have facilitated the establishment of patient-derived organoids, which have become indispensable for molecular biology-related studies of colorectal cancer. Patient-derived organoids are useful in both basic science and clinical practice; they can help predict the sensitivity of patients with cancer to chemotherapy and radiotherapy and provide the right treatment to the right patient. Regarding precision medicine, combining gene panel testing and organoid-based screening can increase the effectiveness of medical care. In this study, we review the development of three-dimensional culture methods and present the most recent information on the clinical application of patient-derived organoids. Moreover, we discuss the problems and future prospects of organoid-based personalized medicine.
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25
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Chen S, Nishi M, Morine Y, Shimada M, Tokunaga T, Kashihara H, Takasu C, Yamada S, Wada Y. Epigallocatechin‑3‑gallate hinders metabolic coupling to suppress colorectal cancer malignancy through targeting aerobic glycolysis in cancer‑associated fibroblasts. Int J Oncol 2022; 60:19. [PMID: 35029285 PMCID: PMC8776327 DOI: 10.3892/ijo.2022.5309] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2021] [Accepted: 11/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
In recent times, researchers working on tumor metabolism have paid increasing attention to the tumor microenvironment. Emerging evidence has confirmed that epigenetic modifications of cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) alters the characteristics of glucose metabolism to achieve a symbiotic relationship with the cancer cells. Epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) exerts anti-tumor effects via a variety of mechanisms, although the underlying mechanism that accounts for the effects of EGCG on glucose metabolic alterations of CAFs have yet to be elucidated. In the present study, through co-culture with colorectal cancer (CRC) cells, human intestinal fibroblasts were transformed into CAFs, and exhibited enhanced aerobic glycolysis. Induced CAFs were able to enhance the proliferation, migration and invasion of CRC cells in vitro. EGCG treatment led to direct inhibition of the proliferation and migration of CRC cells; furthermore, EGCG treatment of CAFs suppressed their tumor-promoting capabilities by inhibiting their glycolytic activity. Blocking the lactic acid efflux of CAFs with a monocarboxylate transporter 4 (MCT4) inhibitor or through silencing MCT4 could also suppress their tumor-promoting capabilities, indicating that lactate fulfills an important role in the metabolic coupling that occurs between CAFs and cancer cells. Taken together, the results of the present study showed that EGCG targeting of the metabolism of tumor stromal cells provided a safe and effective strategy of anti-cancer therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuhai Chen
- Department of Surgery, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Tokushima University, Tokushima 770‑8503, Japan
| | - Masaaki Nishi
- Department of Surgery, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Tokushima University, Tokushima 770‑8503, Japan
| | - Yuji Morine
- Department of Surgery, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Tokushima University, Tokushima 770‑8503, Japan
| | - Mitsuo Shimada
- Department of Surgery, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Tokushima University, Tokushima 770‑8503, Japan
| | - Takuya Tokunaga
- Department of Surgery, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Tokushima University, Tokushima 770‑8503, Japan
| | - Hideya Kashihara
- Department of Surgery, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Tokushima University, Tokushima 770‑8503, Japan
| | - Chie Takasu
- Department of Surgery, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Tokushima University, Tokushima 770‑8503, Japan
| | - Shinichiro Yamada
- Department of Surgery, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Tokushima University, Tokushima 770‑8503, Japan
| | - Yuma Wada
- Department of Surgery, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Tokushima University, Tokushima 770‑8503, Japan
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26
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Oliveira LFS, Predes D, Borges HL, Abreu JG. Therapeutic Potential of Naturally Occurring Small Molecules to Target the Wnt/β-Catenin Signaling Pathway in Colorectal Cancer. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14020403. [PMID: 35053565 PMCID: PMC8774030 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14020403] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2021] [Revised: 12/29/2021] [Accepted: 01/06/2022] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Colorectal cancer (CRC) is an emerging public health problem and the second leading cause of death worldwide, with a significant socioeconomic impact in several countries. The 5-year survival rate is only 12% due to the lack of early diagnosis and resistance to available treatments, and the canonical Wnt signaling pathway is involved in this process. This review underlines the importance of understanding the fundamental roles of this pathway in physiological and pathological contexts and analyzes the use of naturally occurring small molecules that inhibits the Wnt/β-catenin pathway in experimental models of CRC. We also discuss the progress and challenges of moving these small molecules off the laboratory bench into the clinical platform. Abstract Colorectal cancer (CRC) ranks second in the number of cancer deaths worldwide, mainly due to late diagnoses, which restrict treatment in the potentially curable stages and decrease patient survival. The treatment of CRC involves surgery to remove the tumor tissue, in addition to radiotherapy and systemic chemotherapy sessions. However, almost half of patients are resistant to these treatments, especially in metastatic cases, where the 5-year survival rate is only 12%. This factor may be related to the intratumoral heterogeneity, tumor microenvironment (TME), and the presence of cancer stem cells (CSCs), which is impossible to resolve with the standard approaches currently available in clinical practice. CSCs are APC-deficient, and the search for alternative therapeutic agents such as small molecules from natural sources is a promising strategy, as these substances have several antitumor properties. Many of those interfere with the regulation of signaling pathways at the central core of CRC development, such as the Wnt/β-catenin, which plays a crucial role in the cell proliferation and stemness in the tumor. This review will discuss the use of naturally occurring small molecules inhibiting the Wnt/β-catenin pathway in experimental CRC models over the past decade, highlighting the molecular targets in the Wnt/β-catenin pathway and the mechanisms through which these molecules perform their antitumor activities.
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