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Olislagers M, de Jong FC, Rutten VC, Boormans JL, Mahmoudi T, Zuiverloon TCM. Molecular biomarkers of progression in non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer - beyond conventional risk stratification. Nat Rev Urol 2024:10.1038/s41585-024-00914-7. [PMID: 39095581 DOI: 10.1038/s41585-024-00914-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/21/2024] [Indexed: 08/04/2024]
Abstract
The global incidence of bladder cancer is more than half a million diagnoses each year. Bladder cancer can be categorized into non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC), which accounts for ~75% of diagnoses, and muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC). Up to 45% of patients with NMIBC develop disease progression to MIBC, which is associated with a poor outcome, highlighting a clinical need to identify these patients. Current risk stratification has a prognostic value, but relies solely on clinicopathological parameters that might not fully capture the complexity of disease progression. Molecular research has led to identification of multiple crucial players involved in NMIBC progression. Identified biomarkers of progression are related to cell cycle, MAPK pathways, apoptosis, tumour microenvironment, chromatin stability and DNA-damage response. However, none of these biomarkers has been prospectively validated. Reported gene signatures of progression do not improve NMIBC risk stratification. Molecular subtypes of NMIBC have improved our understanding of NMIBC progression, but these subtypes are currently unsuitable for clinical implementation owing to a lack of prospective validation, limited predictive value as a result of intratumour subtype heterogeneity, technical challenges, costs and turnaround time. Future steps include the development of consensus molecular NMIBC subtypes that might improve conventional clinicopathological risk stratification. Prospective implementation studies of biomarkers and the design of biomarker-guided clinical trials are required for the integration of molecular biomarkers into clinical practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mitchell Olislagers
- Department of Urology, Erasmus University Medical Center, Erasmus MC Cancer Institute, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Florus C de Jong
- Department of Urology, Erasmus University Medical Center, Erasmus MC Cancer Institute, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Vera C Rutten
- Department of Urology, Erasmus University Medical Center, Erasmus MC Cancer Institute, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Joost L Boormans
- Department of Urology, Erasmus University Medical Center, Erasmus MC Cancer Institute, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Tokameh Mahmoudi
- Department of Urology, Erasmus University Medical Center, Erasmus MC Cancer Institute, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
- Department of Pathology, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Tahlita C M Zuiverloon
- Department of Urology, Erasmus University Medical Center, Erasmus MC Cancer Institute, Rotterdam, the Netherlands.
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2
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Wan P, Zhong L, Yu L, Shen C, Shao X, Chen S, Zhou Z, Wang M, Zhang H, Liu B. Lysosome-related genes predict acute myeloid leukemia prognosis and response to immunotherapy. Front Immunol 2024; 15:1384633. [PMID: 38799454 PMCID: PMC11117069 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2024.1384633] [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: 02/10/2024] [Accepted: 04/24/2024] [Indexed: 05/29/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a highly aggressive and pathogenic hematologic malignancy with consistently high mortality. Lysosomes are organelles involved in cell growth and metabolism that fuse to form specialized Auer rods in AML, and their role in AML has not been elucidated. This study aimed to identify AML subtypes centered on lysosome-related genes and to construct a prognostic model to guide individualized treatment of AML. Methods Gene expression data and clinical data from AML patients were downloaded from two high-throughput sequencing platforms. The 191 lysosomal signature genes were obtained from the database MsigDB. Lysosomal clusters were identified by unsupervised consensus clustering. The differences in molecular expression, biological processes, and the immune microenvironment among lysosomal clusters were subsequently analyzed. Based on the molecular expression differences between lysosomal clusters, lysosomal-related genes affecting AML prognosis were screened by univariate cox regression and multivariate cox regression analyses. Algorithms for LASSO regression analyses were employed to construct prognostic models. The risk factor distribution, KM survival curve, was applied to evaluate the survival distribution of the model. Time-dependent ROC curves, nomograms and calibration curves were used to evaluate the predictive performance of the prognostic models. TIDE scores and drug sensitivity analyses were used to explore the implication of the model for AML treatment. Results Our study identified two lysosomal clusters, cluster1 has longer survival time and stronger immune infiltration compared to cluster2. The differences in biological processes between the two lysosomal clusters are mainly manifested in the lysosomes, vesicles, immune cell function, and apoptosis. The prognostic model consisting of six prognosis-related genes was constructed. The prognostic model showed good predictive performance in all three data sets. Patients in the low-risk group survived significantly longer than those in the high-risk group and had higher immune infiltration and stronger response to immunotherapy. Patients in the high-risk group showed greater sensitivity to cytarabine, imatinib, and bortezomib, but lower sensitivity to ATRA compared to low -risk patients. Conclusion Our prognostic model based on lysosome-related genes can effectively predict the prognosis of AML patients and provide reference evidence for individualized immunotherapy and pharmacological chemotherapy for AML.
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MESH Headings
- Humans
- Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute/genetics
- Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute/therapy
- Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute/immunology
- Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute/diagnosis
- Lysosomes/metabolism
- Prognosis
- Female
- Male
- Immunotherapy/methods
- Biomarkers, Tumor/genetics
- Middle Aged
- Gene Expression Profiling
- Adult
- Nomograms
- Tumor Microenvironment/genetics
- Tumor Microenvironment/immunology
- Aged
- Gene Expression Regulation, Leukemic
- Transcriptome
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Affiliation(s)
- Peng Wan
- Central Laboratory of Yongchuan Hospital, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Liang Zhong
- Key Laboratory of Laboratory Medical Diagnostics, Ministry of Education, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Lihua Yu
- Clinical Laboratory of Yongchuan Hospital, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Chenlan Shen
- Central Laboratory of Yongchuan Hospital, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Xin Shao
- Central Laboratory of Yongchuan Hospital, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Shuyu Chen
- Central Laboratory of Yongchuan Hospital, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Ziwei Zhou
- Central Laboratory of Yongchuan Hospital, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Meng Wang
- Central Laboratory of Yongchuan Hospital, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Hongyan Zhang
- Central Laboratory of Yongchuan Hospital, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Beizhong Liu
- Central Laboratory of Yongchuan Hospital, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
- Key Laboratory of Laboratory Medical Diagnostics, Ministry of Education, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
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3
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Gao Y, Zhou L, Su Q, Li Q. Identification of Lung Adenocarcinoma Subtypes Based on MHC-II Gene Expression Profile and Immunological Analysis. Int Arch Allergy Immunol 2024; 185:884-899. [PMID: 38636483 DOI: 10.1159/000538056] [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: 12/04/2023] [Accepted: 02/26/2024] [Indexed: 04/20/2024] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Major histocompatibility complex class II molecule (MHC-II) is pivotal in anti-tumor immunity, and targeting MHC-II in tumors may help improve patient survival. But function of MHC-II in the immunotherapy and prognosis of lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) patients has not been thoroughly studied and reported. METHODS We selected LUAD-related MHC-II genes from public databases based on previous literature reports. We identified different subtypes according to expression differences of these genes in different LUAD samples through cluster analysis. We used R package to conduct a series of analyses on different subtypes, exploring their survival differences, gene expression differences, pathway enrichment differences, and differences in immune characteristics and immune therapy. Finally, we screened potential drugs from the cMAP database. RESULTS We identified two MHC-II-related LUAD subtypes. Our analyses presented that patients with cluster2 subtype showed better prognosis, higher immune scores, higher levels of immune cell infiltration and immune function activation. In addition, patients with this subtype had higher immunophenoscore, lower TIDE scores, and DEPTH scores. We also identified 10 small molecule drugs, such as lenalidomide, VX-745, and tyrphostin-AG-1295. CONCLUSION Overall, MHC-II is not only a potential biomarker for accurately distinguishing LUAD subtypes but also a predictive factor for their survival. Our study offers novel insights into understanding of impact of MHC-II in LUAD and offers a new perspective for improving the accurate classification of LUAD patients and enhancing drug treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yongcai Gao
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Suizhou Hospital, Hubei University of Medicine, Suizhou, China
| | - Lingli Zhou
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Suizhou Hospital, Hubei University of Medicine, Suizhou, China
| | - Qiong Su
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Suizhou Hospital, Hubei University of Medicine, Suizhou, China
| | - Qiang Li
- Department of Neurosurgery Medicine, Suizhou Hospital, Hubei University of Medicine, Suizhou, China
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4
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Souza VGP, Telkar N, Lam WL, Reis PP. Comprehensive Analysis of Lung Adenocarcinoma and Brain Metastasis through Integrated Single-Cell Transcriptomics. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:3779. [PMID: 38612588 PMCID: PMC11012108 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25073779] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2024] [Revised: 03/21/2024] [Accepted: 03/21/2024] [Indexed: 04/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) is a highly prevalent and lethal form of lung cancer, comprising approximately half of all cases. It is often diagnosed at advanced stages with brain metastasis (BM), resulting in high mortality rates. Current BM management involves complex interventions and conventional therapies that offer limited survival benefits with neurotoxic side effects. The tumor microenvironment (TME) is a complex system where cancer cells interact with various elements, significantly influencing tumor behavior. Immunotherapies, particularly immune checkpoint inhibitors, target the TME for cancer treatment. Despite their effectiveness, it is crucial to understand metastatic lung cancer and the specific characteristics of the TME, including cell-cell communication mechanisms, to refine treatments. Herein, we investigated the tumor microenvironment of brain metastasis from lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD-BM) and primary tumors across various stages (I, II, III, and IV) using single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) from publicly available datasets. Our analysis included exploring the immune and non-immune cell composition and the expression profiles and functions of cell type-specific genes, and investigating the interactions between different cells within the TME. Our results showed that T cells constitute the majority of immune cells present in primary tumors, whereas microglia represent the most dominant immune cell type in BM. Interestingly, microglia exhibit a significant increase in the COX pathway. Moreover, we have shown that microglia primarily interact with oligodendrocytes and endothelial cells. One significant interaction was identified between DLL4 and NOTCH4, which demonstrated a relevant association between endothelial cells and microglia and between microglia and oligodendrocytes. Finally, we observed that several genes within the HLA complex are suppressed in BM tissue. Our study reveals the complex molecular and cellular dynamics of BM-LUAD, providing a path for improved patient outcomes with personalized treatments and immunotherapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vanessa G. P. Souza
- Molecular Oncology Laboratory, Experimental Research Unit, Faculty of Medicine, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Botucatu 18618-687, SP, Brazil
- British Columbia Cancer Research Institute, Vancouver, BC V5Z 1L3, Canada
| | - Nikita Telkar
- British Columbia Cancer Research Institute, Vancouver, BC V5Z 1L3, Canada
- British Columbia Children’s Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, BC V5Z 4H4, Canada
| | - Wan L. Lam
- British Columbia Cancer Research Institute, Vancouver, BC V5Z 1L3, Canada
| | - Patricia P. Reis
- Molecular Oncology Laboratory, Experimental Research Unit, Faculty of Medicine, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Botucatu 18618-687, SP, Brazil
- Department of Surgery and Orthopedics, Faculty of Medicine, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Botucatu 18618-687, SP, Brazil
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5
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Nersesian S, Carter EB, Lee SN, Westhaver LP, Boudreau JE. Killer instincts: natural killer cells as multifactorial cancer immunotherapy. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1269614. [PMID: 38090565 PMCID: PMC10715270 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1269614] [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: 07/30/2023] [Accepted: 10/30/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Natural killer (NK) cells integrate heterogeneous signals for activation and inhibition using germline-encoded receptors. These receptors are stochastically co-expressed, and their concurrent engagement and signaling can adjust the sensitivity of individual cells to putative targets. Against cancers, which mutate and evolve under therapeutic and immunologic pressure, the diversity for recognition provided by NK cells may be key to comprehensive cancer control. NK cells are already being trialled as adoptive cell therapy and targets for immunotherapeutic agents. However, strategies to leverage their naturally occurring diversity and agility have not yet been developed. In this review, we discuss the receptors and signaling pathways through which signals for activation or inhibition are generated in NK cells, focusing on their roles in cancer and potential as targets for immunotherapies. Finally, we consider the impacts of receptor co-expression and the potential to engage multiple pathways of NK cell reactivity to maximize the scope and strength of antitumor activities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Nersesian
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada
- Beatrice Hunter Cancer Research Institute, Halifax, NS, Canada
| | - Emily B. Carter
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada
- Beatrice Hunter Cancer Research Institute, Halifax, NS, Canada
| | - Stacey N. Lee
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada
- Beatrice Hunter Cancer Research Institute, Halifax, NS, Canada
| | | | - Jeanette E. Boudreau
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada
- Beatrice Hunter Cancer Research Institute, Halifax, NS, Canada
- Department of Pathology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada
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Vanguri RS, Smithy JW, Li Y, Zhuang M, Maher CA, Aleynick N, Peng X, Al-Ahmadie H, Funt SA, Rosenberg JE, Iyer G, Bajorin D, Mathews JC, Nadeem S, Panageas KS, Shen R, Callahan MK, Hollmann TJ. Integration of peripheral blood- and tissue-based biomarkers of response to immune checkpoint blockade in urothelial carcinoma. J Pathol 2023; 261:349-360. [PMID: 37667855 PMCID: PMC11157502 DOI: 10.1002/path.6197] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2023] [Revised: 07/28/2023] [Accepted: 08/02/2023] [Indexed: 09/06/2023]
Abstract
As predictive biomarkers of response to immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) remain a major unmet clinical need in patients with urothelial carcinoma (UC), we sought to identify tissue-based immune biomarkers of clinical benefit to ICIs using multiplex immunofluorescence and to integrate these findings with previously identified peripheral blood biomarkers of response. Fifty-five pretreatment and 12 paired on-treatment UC specimens were identified from patients treated with nivolumab with or without ipilimumab. Whole tissue sections were stained with a 12-plex mIF panel, including CD8, PD-1/CD279, PD-L1/CD274, CD68, CD3, CD4, FoxP3, TCF1/7, Ki67, LAG-3, MHC-II/HLA-DR, and pancytokeratin+SOX10 to identify over three million cells. Immune tissue densities were compared to progression-free survival (PFS) and best overall response (BOR) by RECIST version 1.1. Correlation coefficients were calculated between tissue-based and circulating immune populations. The frequency of intratumoral CD3+ LAG-3+ cells was higher in responders compared to nonresponders (p = 0.0001). LAG-3+ cellular aggregates were associated with response, including CD3+ LAG-3+ in proximity to CD3+ (p = 0.01). Exploratory multivariate modeling showed an association between intratumoral CD3+ LAG-3+ cells and improved PFS independent of prognostic clinical factors (log HR -7.0; 95% confidence interval [CI] -12.7 to -1.4), as well as established biomarkers predictive of ICI response (log HR -5.0; 95% CI -9.8 to -0.2). Intratumoral LAG-3+ immune cell populations warrant further study as a predictive biomarker of clinical benefit to ICIs. Differences in LAG-3+ lymphocyte populations across the intratumoral and peripheral compartments may provide complementary information that could inform the future development of multimodal composite biomarkers of ICI response. © 2023 The Authors. The Journal of Pathology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of The Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rami S. Vanguri
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - James W. Smithy
- Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York NY USA
| | - Yanyun Li
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Medical Physics, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY USA
| | - Mingqiang Zhuang
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Colleen A. Maher
- Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York NY USA
- Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Nathaniel Aleynick
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Xiyu Peng
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY USA
| | - Hikmat Al-Ahmadie
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Samuel A Funt
- Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York NY USA
- Department of Medicine, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York NY USA
| | - Jonathan E Rosenberg
- Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York NY USA
- Department of Medicine, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York NY USA
| | - Gopa Iyer
- Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York NY USA
- Department of Medicine, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York NY USA
| | - Dean Bajorin
- Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York NY USA
- Department of Medicine, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York NY USA
| | - James C. Mathews
- Department of Medical Physics, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY USA
| | - Saad Nadeem
- Department of Medical Physics, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY USA
| | - Katherine S. Panageas
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY USA
| | - Ronglai Shen
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY USA
| | - Margaret K. Callahan
- Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York NY USA
- Department of Medicine, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York NY USA
- Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Travis J. Hollmann
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
- Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Bristol Myers Squibb, Princeton, NJ, USA
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7
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Abdel-Hafiz HA, Kailasam Mani SK, Huang W, Gouin KH, Chang Y, Xiao T, Ma Q, Li Z, Knott SR, Theodorescu D. Single-cell profiling of murine bladder cancer identifies sex-specific transcriptional signatures with prognostic relevance. iScience 2023; 26:107703. [PMID: 37701814 PMCID: PMC10494466 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2023.107703] [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: 06/09/2023] [Revised: 07/18/2023] [Accepted: 08/21/2023] [Indexed: 09/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Bladder cancer (BLCA) is more common in men but more aggressive in women. Sex-based differences in cancer biology are commonly studied using a murine model with BLCA generated by N-butyl-N-(4-hydroxybutyl)-nitrosamine (BBN). While tumors in the BBN model have been profiled, these profiles provide limited information on the tumor microenvironment. Here, we applied single-cell RNA sequencing to characterize cell-type specific transcriptional differences between male and female BBN-induced tumors. We found proportional and gene expression differences in epithelial and non-epithelial subpopulations between male and female tumors. Expression of several genes predicted sex-specific survival in several human BLCA datasets. We identified novel and clinically relevant sex-specific transcriptional signatures including immune cells in the tumor microenvironment and it validated the relevance of the BBN model for studying sex differences in human BLCA. This work highlights the importance of considering sex as a biological variable in the development of new and accurate cancer markers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hany A. Abdel-Hafiz
- Department of Urology, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA
- Department of Medicine, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA
- Cedars-Sinai Samuel Oschin Comprehensive Cancer Institute, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | | | - Wesley Huang
- Department of Urology, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Kenneth H. Gouin
- Department of Urology, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Yuzhou Chang
- Pelotonia Institute for Immuno-Oncology, The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center – The James, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
| | - Tong Xiao
- Pelotonia Institute for Immuno-Oncology, The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center – The James, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
| | - Qin Ma
- Pelotonia Institute for Immuno-Oncology, The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center – The James, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
| | - Zihai Li
- Pelotonia Institute for Immuno-Oncology, The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center – The James, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
| | - Simon R.V. Knott
- Cedars-Sinai Samuel Oschin Comprehensive Cancer Institute, Los Angeles, CA, USA
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Dan Theodorescu
- Department of Urology, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA
- Cedars-Sinai Samuel Oschin Comprehensive Cancer Institute, Los Angeles, CA, USA
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA
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8
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Boll LM, Perera-Bel J, Rodriguez-Vida A, Arpí O, Rovira A, Juanpere N, Vázquez Montes de Oca S, Hernández-Llodrà S, Lloreta J, Albà MM, Bellmunt J. The impact of mutational clonality in predicting the response to immune checkpoint inhibitors in advanced urothelial cancer. Sci Rep 2023; 13:15287. [PMID: 37714872 PMCID: PMC10504302 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-42495-2] [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: 04/05/2023] [Accepted: 09/11/2023] [Indexed: 09/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) have revolutionized cancer treatment and can result in complete remissions even at advanced stages of the disease. However, only a small fraction of patients respond to the treatment. To better understand which factors drive clinical benefit, we have generated whole exome and RNA sequencing data from 27 advanced urothelial carcinoma patients treated with anti-PD-(L)1 monoclonal antibodies. We assessed the influence on the response of non-synonymous mutations (tumor mutational burden or TMB), clonal and subclonal mutations, neoantigen load and various gene expression markers. We found that although TMB is significantly associated with response, this effect can be mostly explained by clonal mutations, present in all cancer cells. This trend was validated in an additional cohort. Additionally, we found that responders with few clonal mutations had abnormally high levels of T and B cell immune markers, suggesting that a high immune cell infiltration signature could be a better predictive biomarker for this subset of patients. Our results support the idea that highly clonal cancers are more likely to respond to ICI and suggest that non-additive effects of different signatures should be considered for predictive models.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Alejo Rodriguez-Vida
- Hospital del Mar Research Institute, Barcelona, Spain
- Medical Oncology Department, Hospital del Mar, Barcelona, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Oncología (CIBERONC-ISCIII), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Oriol Arpí
- Hospital del Mar Research Institute, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Ana Rovira
- Hospital del Mar Research Institute, Barcelona, Spain
- Medical Oncology Department, Hospital del Mar, Barcelona, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Oncología (CIBERONC-ISCIII), Barcelona, Spain
| | | | | | | | - Josep Lloreta
- Hospital del Mar Research Institute, Barcelona, Spain
- Department of Medicine and Life Science, Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain
| | - M Mar Albà
- Hospital del Mar Research Institute, Barcelona, Spain.
- Catalan Institute for Research and Advanced Studies (ICREA), Barcelona, Spain.
| | - Joaquim Bellmunt
- Hospital del Mar Research Institute, Barcelona, Spain.
- Dana Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
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9
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Goodman RS, Jung S, Balko JM, Johnson DB. Biomarkers of immune checkpoint inhibitor response and toxicity: Challenges and opportunities. Immunol Rev 2023; 318:157-166. [PMID: 37470280 PMCID: PMC10528475 DOI: 10.1111/imr.13249] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2023] [Accepted: 06/28/2023] [Indexed: 07/21/2023]
Abstract
Immune checkpoint inhibitors have transformed cancer therapy, but their optimal use is still constrained by lack of response and toxicity. Biomarkers of response may facilitate drug development by allowing appropriate therapy selection and focusing clinical trial enrollment. However, aside from PD-L1 staining in a subset of tumors and rarely mismatch repair deficiency, no biomarkers are routinely used in the clinic. In addition, severe toxicities may cause severe morbidity, therapy discontinuation, and even death. Here, we review the state of the field with a focus on our research in therapeutic biomarkers and toxicities from immune checkpoint inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Seungyeon Jung
- Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, Tennessee
| | - Justin M. Balko
- Department of Medicine, Department of Cancer Biology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee
| | - Douglas B. Johnson
- Department of Hematology/Oncology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee
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10
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Bernitsa S, Dayan R, Stephanou A, Tzvetanova ID, Patrikios IS. Natural biomolecules and derivatives as anticancer immunomodulatory agents. Front Immunol 2023; 13:1070367. [PMID: 36700235 PMCID: PMC9868674 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.1070367] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2022] [Accepted: 12/05/2022] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Despite advancements in chemotherapy, the issue of resistance and non-responsiveness to many chemotherapeutic drugs that are currently in clinical use still remains. Recently, cancer immunotherapy has gathered attention as a novel treatment against select cancers. Immunomodulation is also emerging as an effective strategy to improve efficacy. Natural phytochemicals, with known anticancer properties, been reported to mediate their effects by modulating both traditional cancer pathways and immunity. The mechanism of phytochemical mediated-immunomodulatory activity may be attributed to the remodeling of the tumor immunosuppressive microenvironment and the sensitization of the immune system. This allows for improved recognition and targeting of cancer cells by the immune system and synergy with chemotherapeutics. In this review, we will discuss several well-known plant-derived biomolecules and examine their potential as immunomodulators, and therefore, as novel immunotherapies for cancer treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Rotem Dayan
- School of Medicine, European University Cyprus, Nicosia, Cyprus
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11
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Korotaeva AA, Borunova AA, Kuzevanova AY, Zabotina TN, Alimov AA. [Molecular mechanisms of impaired antigenic presentation as a cause of tumor escape from immune surveillance]. Arkh Patol 2023; 85:76-83. [PMID: 38010642 DOI: 10.17116/patol20238506176] [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: 11/29/2023]
Abstract
The review summarizes data on the features of antigen presentation in tumor cells. The molecular mechanisms of the antitumor immune response are considered with an emphasis on the ability of tumor cells to avoid the action of immune surveillance. The features of expression of MHC molecules depending on treatment regimens are provided. Ways to improve existing and create new treatment regimens aimed at elimination of tumor cells because of antitumor immune response are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- A A Korotaeva
- Research Centre for Medical Genetics, Moscow, Russia
| | - A A Borunova
- N.N. Blokhin National Medical Research Center of Oncology, Moscow, Russia
| | | | - T N Zabotina
- N.N. Blokhin National Medical Research Center of Oncology, Moscow, Russia
| | - A A Alimov
- Research Centre for Medical Genetics, Moscow, Russia
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12
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D'costa M, Bothe A, Das S, Udhaya Kumar S, Gnanasambandan R, George Priya Doss C. CDK regulators—Cell cycle progression or apoptosis—Scenarios in normal cells and cancerous cells. ADVANCES IN PROTEIN CHEMISTRY AND STRUCTURAL BIOLOGY 2023; 135:125-177. [PMID: 37061330 DOI: 10.1016/bs.apcsb.2022.11.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Serine/threonine kinases called cyclin-dependent kinases (CDKs) interact with cyclins and CDK inhibitors (CKIs) to control the catalytic activity. CDKs are essential controllers of RNA transcription and cell cycle advancement. The ubiquitous overactivity of the cell cycle CDKs is caused by a number of genetic and epigenetic processes in human cancer, and their suppression can result in both cell cycle arrest and apoptosis. This review focused on CDKs, describing their kinase activity, their role in phosphorylation inhibition, and CDK inhibitory proteins (CIP/KIP, INK 4, RPIC). We next compared the role of different CDKs, mainly p21, p27, p57, p16, p15, p18, and p19, in the cell cycle and apoptosis in cancer cells with respect to normal cells. The current work also draws attention to the use of CDKIs as therapeutics, overcoming the pharmacokinetic barriers of pan-CDK inhibitors, analyze new chemical classes that are effective at attacking the CDKs that control the cell cycle (cdk4/6 or cdk2). It also discusses CDKI's drawbacks and its combination therapy against cancer patients. These findings collectively demonstrate the complexity of cancer cell cycles and the need for targeted therapeutic intervention. In order to slow the progression of the disease or enhance clinical outcomes, new medicines may be discovered by researching the relationship between cell death and cell proliferation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria D'costa
- Laboratory of Integrative Genomics, Department of Integrative Biology, School of Bio Sciences and Technology, Vellore Institute of Technology (VIT), Vellore, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Anusha Bothe
- Laboratory of Integrative Genomics, Department of Integrative Biology, School of Bio Sciences and Technology, Vellore Institute of Technology (VIT), Vellore, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Soumik Das
- Laboratory of Integrative Genomics, Department of Integrative Biology, School of Bio Sciences and Technology, Vellore Institute of Technology (VIT), Vellore, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - S Udhaya Kumar
- Laboratory of Integrative Genomics, Department of Integrative Biology, School of Bio Sciences and Technology, Vellore Institute of Technology (VIT), Vellore, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - R Gnanasambandan
- Laboratory of Integrative Genomics, Department of Integrative Biology, School of Bio Sciences and Technology, Vellore Institute of Technology (VIT), Vellore, Tamil Nadu, India.
| | - C George Priya Doss
- Laboratory of Integrative Genomics, Department of Integrative Biology, School of Bio Sciences and Technology, Vellore Institute of Technology (VIT), Vellore, Tamil Nadu, India.
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13
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The PD-1/PD-L1 Pathway: A Perspective on Comparative Immuno-Oncology. Animals (Basel) 2022; 12:ani12192661. [PMID: 36230402 PMCID: PMC9558501 DOI: 10.3390/ani12192661] [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: 09/09/2022] [Revised: 09/25/2022] [Accepted: 09/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary The programmed cell death protein 1/programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-1/PD-L1) pathway inhibits the function of activated immune cells. This mediates immune tolerance and prevents immune-mediated tissue destruction. The malfunction of this pathway is involved in the pathogenesis of chronic infections, autoimmunity, and cancer. The PD-1/PD-L1 pathway is an excellent example of the research benefits of comparative pathology and attests to the importance of the “one health one medicine” concept. Pioneering research was mainly focused on the examination of cells and tissues of human and mouse origin. It mainly revealed that PD-L1-positive tumor cells can paralyze PD-1-bearing immune cells, which prevents immunological destruction of cancer cells. This led to a major breakthrough in cancer treatment, i.e., the use of antibodies that block the interaction of these molecules and restore anti-cancer immune defense (immune checkpoint therapy). Further studies provided more detailed information on the tissue-specific context and fine-tuning of this pathway. The most recent research has extended the investigations to the examination of several animal species with the aim of improving disease diagnostics and treatment for certain animal diseases, in particular cancer, which is a major cause of disease and death in companion animals. Abstract The programmed cell death protein 1/programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-1/PD-L1) pathway mainly attracted attention in immuno-oncology, leading to the development of immune checkpoint therapy. It has, however, much broader importance for tissue physiology and pathology. It mediates basic processes of immune tolerance and tissue homeostasis. In addition, it is involved in the pathogenesis of chronic infectious diseases, autoimmunity, and cancer. It is also an important paradigm for comparative pathology as well as the “one health one medicine” concept. The aim of this review is to provide an overview of novel research into the diverse facets of the PD-1/PD-L1 pathway and to give insights into its fine-tuning homeostatic role in a tissue-specific context. This review details early translational research from the discovery phase based on mice as animal models for understanding pathophysiological aspects in human tissues to more recent research extending the investigations to several animal species. The latter has the twofold goal of comparing this pathway between humans and different animal species and translating diagnostic tools and treatment options established for the use in human beings to animals and vice versa.
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14
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Lamberti MJ, Montico B, Ravo M, Nigro A, Giurato G, Iorio R, Tarallo R, Weisz A, Stellato C, Steffan A, Dolcetti R, Casolaro V, Faè DA, Dal Col J. Integration of miRNA:mRNA Co-Expression Revealed Crucial Mechanisms Modulated in Immunogenic Cancer Cell Death. Biomedicines 2022; 10:biomedicines10081896. [PMID: 36009442 PMCID: PMC9405340 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines10081896] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2022] [Revised: 07/23/2022] [Accepted: 07/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Immunogenic cell death (ICD) in cancer represents a functionally unique therapeutic response that can induce tumor-targeting immune responses. ICD is characterized by the exposure and release of numerous damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs), which confer adjuvanticity to dying cancer cells. The spatiotemporally defined emission of DAMPs during ICD has been well described, whereas the epigenetic mechanisms that regulate ICD hallmarks have not yet been deeply elucidated. Here, we aimed to examine the involvement of miRNAs and their putative targets using well-established in vitro models of ICD. To this end, B cell lymphoma (Mino) and breast cancer (MDA-MB-231) cell lines were exposed to two different ICD inducers, the combination of retinoic acid (RA) and interferon-alpha (IFN-α) and doxorubicin, and to non ICD inducers such as gamma irradiation. Then, miRNA and mRNA profiles were studied by next generation sequencing. Co-expression analysis identified 16 miRNAs differentially modulated in cells undergoing ICD. Integrated miRNA-mRNA functional analysis revealed candidate miRNAs, mRNAs, and modulated pathways associated with Immune System Process (GO Term). Specifically, ICD induced a distinctive transcriptional signature hallmarked by regulation of antigen presentation, a crucial step for proper activation of immune system antitumor response. Interestingly, the major histocompatibility complex class I (MHC-I) pathway was upregulated whereas class II (MHC-II) was downregulated. Analysis of MHC-II associated transcripts and HLA-DR surface expression confirmed inhibition of this pathway by ICD on lymphoma cells. miR-4284 and miR-212-3p were the strongest miRNAs upregulated by ICD associated with this event and miR-212-3p overexpression was able to downregulate surface expression of HLA-DR. It is well known that MHC-II expression on tumor cells facilitates the recruitment of CD4+ T cells. However, the interaction between tumor MHC-II and inhibitory coreceptors on tumor-associated lymphocytes could provide an immunosuppressive signal that directly represses effector cytotoxic activity. In this context, MHC-II downregulation by ICD could enhance antitumor immunity. Overall, we found that the miRNA profile was significantly altered during ICD. Several miRNAs are predicted to be involved in the regulation of MHC-I and II pathways, whose implication in ICD is demonstrated herein for the first time, which could eventually modulate tumor recognition and attack by the immune system.
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Affiliation(s)
- María Julia Lamberti
- Department of Medicine, Surgery and Dentistry “Scuola Medica Salernitana”, University of Salerno, 84081 Baronissi, SA, Italy
- INBIAS, CONICET-UNRC, Río Cuarto, Córdoba 5800, Argentina
- Correspondence: (M.J.L.); (J.D.C.); Tel.: +54-358-4676437 (M.J.L.); +39-089-965210 (J.D.C.)
| | - Barbara Montico
- Immunopathology and Cancer Biomarkers, Centro di Riferimento Oncologico di Aviano (CRO), IRCCS, 33081 Aviano, PN, Italy
| | - Maria Ravo
- Genomix Life Srl, 84081 Baronissi, SA, Italy
| | - Annunziata Nigro
- Department of Medicine, Surgery and Dentistry “Scuola Medica Salernitana”, University of Salerno, 84081 Baronissi, SA, Italy
| | - Giorgio Giurato
- Laboratory of Molecular Medicine and Genomics, Department of Medicine, Surgery and Dentistry “Scuola Medica Salernitana”, University of Salerno, 84081 Baronissi, SA, Italy
| | | | - Roberta Tarallo
- Laboratory of Molecular Medicine and Genomics, Department of Medicine, Surgery and Dentistry “Scuola Medica Salernitana”, University of Salerno, 84081 Baronissi, SA, Italy
| | - Alessandro Weisz
- Laboratory of Molecular Medicine and Genomics, Department of Medicine, Surgery and Dentistry “Scuola Medica Salernitana”, University of Salerno, 84081 Baronissi, SA, Italy
| | - Cristiana Stellato
- Department of Medicine, Surgery and Dentistry “Scuola Medica Salernitana”, University of Salerno, 84081 Baronissi, SA, Italy
| | - Agostino Steffan
- Immunopathology and Cancer Biomarkers, Centro di Riferimento Oncologico di Aviano (CRO), IRCCS, 33081 Aviano, PN, Italy
| | - Riccardo Dolcetti
- Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, VIC 3000, Australia
- Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC 3010, Australia
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC 3010, Australia
| | - Vincenzo Casolaro
- Department of Medicine, Surgery and Dentistry “Scuola Medica Salernitana”, University of Salerno, 84081 Baronissi, SA, Italy
| | - Damiana Antonia Faè
- Immunopathology and Cancer Biomarkers, Centro di Riferimento Oncologico di Aviano (CRO), IRCCS, 33081 Aviano, PN, Italy
| | - Jessica Dal Col
- Department of Medicine, Surgery and Dentistry “Scuola Medica Salernitana”, University of Salerno, 84081 Baronissi, SA, Italy
- Correspondence: (M.J.L.); (J.D.C.); Tel.: +54-358-4676437 (M.J.L.); +39-089-965210 (J.D.C.)
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Wang Y, Liu Y, Li X, Li W, Xue Z, He X, Xiong W, He L, Bai Y. TCR Coexpression Signature Predicts Immunotherapy Resistance in NSCLC. Front Pharmacol 2022; 13:875149. [PMID: 35600862 PMCID: PMC9114764 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2022.875149] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2022] [Accepted: 03/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Lung cancer has the highest morbidity and mortality rate among types of malignant tumors, and as such, research into prolonging the survival time of patients is vital. The emergence of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) has greatly improved the survival of patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), however, the lack of effective biomarkers to predict the prognosis of immunotherapy has made it difficult to maximize the benefits. T cell receptor (TCR) is one of the most important components for recognizing tumor cells, and with this study we aim to clarify the relationship between TCR coexpression and the prognosis of NSCLC patients receiving immunotherapy.Methods: Univariate COX regression, logistics regression, and KM survival analysis were used to evaluate the relationship between TCR coexpression and the prognosis of immunotherapy. Additionally, CIBERSORT, Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA), and single-sample GSEA (ssGSEA) algorithms were used to evaluate the tumor immune microenvironment (TIME) of NSCLC patients.Results: Univariate Cox regression analysis showed that the TCR coexpression signature can be used as a clinical prognostic indicator for NSCLC patients receiving immunotherapy (p = 0.0205). In addition, those in the NSCLC group with a high TCR coexpression signature had significantly improved progression-free survival (PFS) (p = 0.014). In the ICI treatment cohort (GSE35640). In addition, there was a high infiltration of CD8+T cells, activated memory CD4+T cells, and M1 macrophages in the TIME of those with a high TCR coexpression signature. The results of pathway enrichment analysis showed that patients with a high TCR coexpression signature had significantly activated signal pathways such as lymphocyte proliferation and activation, chemokine binding, and inflammatory cytokine production. Also, we found that patients with a high TCR coexpression signature had an elevated T cell inflammation gene expression profile (GEP).Conclusion: We show that the TCR coexpression signature may be useful as a new biomarker for the prognosis of NSCLC patients undergoing immunotherapy, with high signatures indicating better treatment response. Additionally, we found that patients with a high TCR coexpression signature had tumor immune microenvironments with beneficial anti-tumor characteristics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuntao Wang
- Department of Oncology, The Fifth People’s Hospital Affiliated to Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine the Second Clinical Medical College, Chengdu, China
| | - Yi Liu
- Wenjiang District People’s Hospital of Chengdu City, Chengdu, China
| | - Xiaohua Li
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Sixth People’s Hospital of Chengdu, Chengdu, China
| | - Weiming Li
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Sixth People’s Hospital of Chengdu, Chengdu, China
| | - Zhihong Xue
- Department of Oncology, The Fifth People’s Hospital Affiliated to Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine the Second Clinical Medical College, Chengdu, China
| | - Xiaoqian He
- Department of Oncology, The Fifth People’s Hospital Affiliated to Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine the Second Clinical Medical College, Chengdu, China
| | - Weijie Xiong
- Department of Oncology, The Fifth People’s Hospital Affiliated to Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine the Second Clinical Medical College, Chengdu, China
| | - Lang He
- Department of Oncology, The Fifth People’s Hospital Affiliated to Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine the Second Clinical Medical College, Chengdu, China
- *Correspondence: Lang He, ; Yifeng Bai,
| | - Yifeng Bai
- Department of Oncology, Sichuan Provincial People’s Hospital, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China
- *Correspondence: Lang He, ; Yifeng Bai,
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