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Cantoni C, Falco M, Vitale M, Pietra G, Munari E, Pende D, Mingari MC, Sivori S, Moretta L. Human NK cells and cancer. Oncoimmunology 2024; 13:2378520. [PMID: 39022338 PMCID: PMC11253890 DOI: 10.1080/2162402x.2024.2378520] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2024] [Accepted: 07/05/2024] [Indexed: 07/20/2024] Open
Abstract
The long story of NK cells started about 50 y ago with the first demonstration of a natural cytotoxic activity within an undefined subset of circulating leukocytes, has involved an ever-growing number of researchers, fascinated by the apparently easy-to-reach aim of getting a "universal anti-tumor immune tool". In fact, in spite of the impressive progress obtained in the first decades, these cells proved far more complex than expected and, paradoxically, the accumulating findings have continuously moved forward the attainment of a complete control of their function for immunotherapy. The refined studies of these latter years have indicated that NK cells can epigenetically calibrate their functional potential, in response to specific environmental contexts, giving rise to extraordinarily variegated subpopulations, comprehensive of memory-like cells, tissue-resident cells, or cells in various differentiation stages, or distinct functional states. In addition, NK cells can adapt their activity in response to a complex body of signals, spanning from the interaction with either suppressive or stimulating cells (myeloid-derived suppressor cells or dendritic cells, respectively) to the engagement of various receptors (specific for immune checkpoints, cytokines, tumor/viral ligands, or mediating antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity). According to this picture, the idea of an easy and generalized exploitation of NK cells is changing, and the way is opening toward new carefully designed, combined and personalized therapeutic strategies, also based on the use of genetically modified NK cells and stimuli capable of strengthening and redirecting their effector functions against cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudia Cantoni
- Department of Experimental Medicine (DIMES), University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
- Laboratory of Clinical and Experimental Immunology, Integrated Department of Services and Laboratories, IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Genoa, Italy
| | - Michela Falco
- Laboratory of Clinical and Experimental Immunology, Integrated Department of Services and Laboratories, IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Genoa, Italy
| | - Massimo Vitale
- UO Pathology and Experimental Immunology, IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico, San Martino, Genova, Italy
| | - Gabriella Pietra
- Department of Experimental Medicine (DIMES), University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
- UO Pathology and Experimental Immunology, IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico, San Martino, Genova, Italy
| | - Enrico Munari
- Pathology Unit, Department of Pathology and Diagnostics, University and Hospital Trust of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Daniela Pende
- UO Pathology and Experimental Immunology, IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico, San Martino, Genova, Italy
| | - Maria Cristina Mingari
- Department of Experimental Medicine (DIMES), University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
- UO Pathology and Experimental Immunology, IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico, San Martino, Genova, Italy
| | - Simona Sivori
- Department of Experimental Medicine (DIMES), University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
- IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico, San Martino, Genova, Italy
| | - Lorenzo Moretta
- Tumor Immunology Unit, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital IRCCS, Rome, Italy
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Carlomagno S, Setti C, Ortolani F, Sivori S. Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma microenvironment: Soluble factors and cancer associated fibroblasts as modulators of NK cell functions. Immunol Lett 2024; 269:106898. [PMID: 39019404 DOI: 10.1016/j.imlet.2024.106898] [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: 06/03/2024] [Accepted: 07/13/2024] [Indexed: 07/19/2024]
Abstract
Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is the most frequent pancreatic cancer and represents one of the most aggressive human neoplasms. Typically identified at advance stage disease, most PDAC tumors are unresectable and resistant to standard therapies. The immunosuppressive microenvironment in PDAC impedes tumor control but a greater understanding of the complex stromal interactions within the tumor microenvironment (TME) and the development of strategies capable of restoring antitumor effector immune responses could be crucial to fight this aggressive tumor and its spread. Natural Killer (NK) cells play a crucial role in cancer immunosurveillance and represent an attractive target for immunotherapies, both as cell therapy and as a pharmaceutical target. This review describes some crucial components of the PDAC TME (collagens, soluble factors and fibroblasts) that can influence the presence, phenotype and function of NK cells in PDAC patients tumor tissue. This focused overview highlights the therapeutic relevance of dissecting the complex stromal composition to define new strategies for NK cell-based immunotherapies to improve the treatment of PDAC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simona Carlomagno
- Department of Medicine (DMED), University of Udine, Piazzale Kolbe 4, Udine 33100, Italy.
| | - Chiara Setti
- Department of Experimental Medicine (DIMES), University of Genoa, Via Leon Battista Alberti 2, Genoa 16132, Italy
| | - Fulvia Ortolani
- Department of Medicine (DMED), University of Udine, Piazzale Kolbe 4, Udine 33100, Italy
| | - Simona Sivori
- Department of Experimental Medicine (DIMES), University of Genoa, Via Leon Battista Alberti 2, Genoa 16132, Italy; IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genoa, Italy.
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Sun X, Nagahama Y, Singh SK, Kozakai Y, Nabeshima H, Fukushima K, Tanaka H, Motooka D, Fukui E, Vivier E, Diez D, Akira S. Deletion of the mRNA endonuclease Regnase-1 promotes NK cell anti-tumor activity via OCT2-dependent transcription of Ifng. Immunity 2024; 57:1360-1377.e13. [PMID: 38821052 DOI: 10.1016/j.immuni.2024.05.006] [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: 07/13/2023] [Revised: 12/31/2023] [Accepted: 05/07/2024] [Indexed: 06/02/2024]
Abstract
Limited infiltration and activity of natural killer (NK) and T cells within the tumor microenvironment (TME) correlate with poor immunotherapy responses. Here, we examined the role of the endonuclease Regnase-1 on NK cell anti-tumor activity. NK cell-specific deletion of Regnase-1 (Reg1ΔNK) augmented cytolytic activity and interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) production in vitro and increased intra-tumoral accumulation of Reg1ΔNK-NK cells in vivo, reducing tumor growth dependent on IFN-γ. Transcriptional changes in Reg1ΔNK-NK cells included elevated IFN-γ expression, cytolytic effectors, and the chemokine receptor CXCR6. IFN-γ induced expression of the CXCR6 ligand CXCL16 on myeloid cells, promoting further recruitment of Reg1ΔNK-NK cells. Mechanistically, Regnase-1 deletion increased its targets, the transcriptional regulators OCT2 and IκBζ, following interleukin (IL)-12 and IL-18 stimulation, and the resulting OCT2-IκBζ-NF-κB complex induced Ifng transcription. Silencing Regnase-1 in human NK cells increased the expression of IFNG and POU2F2. Our findings highlight NK cell dysfunction in the TME and propose that targeting Regnase-1 could augment active NK cell persistence for cancer immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xin Sun
- Laboratory of Host Defense, WPI Immunology Frontier Research Center (WPI-IFReC), Osaka University, 3-1 Yamada-oka, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan; Quantitative Immunology Unit, WPI-IFReC, Osaka University, 3-1 Yamada-oka, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan; Joint Research Chair of Innate Immunity for Drug Discovery, WPI-IFReC, Osaka University, 3-1 Yamada-oka, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
| | - Yasuharu Nagahama
- Laboratory of Host Defense, WPI Immunology Frontier Research Center (WPI-IFReC), Osaka University, 3-1 Yamada-oka, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan; Host Defense Laboratory, Immunology Unit, Department of Medical Innovations, Osaka Research Center for Drug Discovery, Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd., 5-1-35 Saito-aokita, Minoh, Osaka 562-0029, Japan; Joint Research Chair of Innate Immunity for Drug Discovery, WPI-IFReC, Osaka University, 3-1 Yamada-oka, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
| | - Shailendra Kumar Singh
- Laboratory of Host Defense, WPI Immunology Frontier Research Center (WPI-IFReC), Osaka University, 3-1 Yamada-oka, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan; Joint Research Chair of Innate Immunity for Drug Discovery, WPI-IFReC, Osaka University, 3-1 Yamada-oka, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
| | - Yuuki Kozakai
- Laboratory of Host Defense, WPI Immunology Frontier Research Center (WPI-IFReC), Osaka University, 3-1 Yamada-oka, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
| | - Hiroshi Nabeshima
- Laboratory of Host Defense, WPI Immunology Frontier Research Center (WPI-IFReC), Osaka University, 3-1 Yamada-oka, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan; Host Defense Laboratory, Immunology Unit, Department of Medical Innovations, Osaka Research Center for Drug Discovery, Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd., 5-1-35 Saito-aokita, Minoh, Osaka 562-0029, Japan; Joint Research Chair of Innate Immunity for Drug Discovery, WPI-IFReC, Osaka University, 3-1 Yamada-oka, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
| | - Kiyoharu Fukushima
- Laboratory of Host Defense, WPI Immunology Frontier Research Center (WPI-IFReC), Osaka University, 3-1 Yamada-oka, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan; Joint Research Chair of Innate Immunity for Drug Discovery, WPI-IFReC, Osaka University, 3-1 Yamada-oka, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan; Department of Host Defense, Research Institute for Microbial Diseases (RIMD), Osaka University, 3-1 Yamada-oka, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan; Department of Respiratory Medicine and Clinical Immunology, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, 3-1 Yamada-oka, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
| | - Hiroki Tanaka
- Laboratory of Host Defense, WPI Immunology Frontier Research Center (WPI-IFReC), Osaka University, 3-1 Yamada-oka, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
| | - Daisuke Motooka
- NGS Core Facility of the Genome Information Research Center, RIMD, Osaka University, 3-1 Yamada-oka, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
| | - Eriko Fukui
- Department of General Thoracic Surgery, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, 2-2 Yamada-oka, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
| | - Eric Vivier
- Aix-Marseille Université, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale, Centre d'Immunologie de Marseille-Luminy, Marseille, France; Innate Pharma Research Laboratories, Marseille, France; APHM, Hôpital de la Timone, Marseille-Immunopole, Marseille, France
| | - Diego Diez
- Quantitative Immunology Unit, WPI-IFReC, Osaka University, 3-1 Yamada-oka, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
| | - Shizuo Akira
- Laboratory of Host Defense, WPI Immunology Frontier Research Center (WPI-IFReC), Osaka University, 3-1 Yamada-oka, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan; Joint Research Chair of Innate Immunity for Drug Discovery, WPI-IFReC, Osaka University, 3-1 Yamada-oka, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan; Department of Host Defense, Research Institute for Microbial Diseases (RIMD), Osaka University, 3-1 Yamada-oka, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan; Center for Advanced Modalities and Drug Delivery System (CAMaD), Osaka University, 2-8 Yamada-oka, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan.
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Nakazawa T, Morimoto T, Maeoka R, Yamada K, Matsuda R, Nakamura M, Nishimura F, Yamada S, Park YS, Tsujimura T, Nakagawa I. Characterization of HIF-1α Knockout Primary Human Natural Killer Cells Including Populations in Allogeneic Glioblastoma. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:5896. [PMID: 38892084 PMCID: PMC11173110 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25115896] [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: 04/25/2024] [Revised: 05/23/2024] [Accepted: 05/26/2024] [Indexed: 06/21/2024] Open
Abstract
Enhancing immune cell functions in tumors remains a major challenge in cancer immunotherapy. Natural killer cells (NK) are major innate effector cells with broad cytotoxicity against tumors. Accordingly, NK cells are ideal candidates for cancer immunotherapy, including glioblastoma (GBM). Hypoxia is a common feature of solid tumors, and tumor cells and normal cells adapt to the tumor microenvironment by upregulating the transcription factor hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF)-1α, which can be detrimental to anti-tumor effector immune cell function, including that of NK cells. We knocked out HIF-1α in human primary NK cells using clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat (CRISPR)-associated protein 9 (Cas9). Then, cellular characterizations were conducted in normoxic and hypoxic conditions. Electroporating two HIF-1α-targeting guide RNA-Cas9 protein complexes inhibited HIF-1α expression in expanded NK cells. HIF-1α knockout human NK cells, including populations in hypoxic conditions, enhanced the growth inhibition of allogeneic GBM cells and induced apoptosis in GBM-cell-derived spheroids. RNA-sequencing revealed that the cytotoxicity of HIF-1α knockout NK cells could be related to increased perforin and TNF expression. The results demonstrated that HIF-1α knockout human NK cells, including populations, enhanced cytotoxicity in an environment mimicking the hypoxic conditions of GBM. CRISPR-Cas9-mediated HIF-1α knockout NK cells, including populations, could be a promising immunotherapeutic alternative in patients with GBM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tsutomu Nakazawa
- Department of Neurosurgery, Nara Medical University, Kashihara 634-8521, Japan; (T.M.); (R.M.); (K.Y.); (R.M.); (M.N.); (F.N.); (S.Y.); (Y.-S.P.); (I.N.)
- Clinic Grandsoul Nara, Uda 633-2221, Japan;
- Grandsoul Research Institute for Immunology, Inc., Uda 633-2221, Japan
| | - Takayuki Morimoto
- Department of Neurosurgery, Nara Medical University, Kashihara 634-8521, Japan; (T.M.); (R.M.); (K.Y.); (R.M.); (M.N.); (F.N.); (S.Y.); (Y.-S.P.); (I.N.)
| | - Ryosuke Maeoka
- Department of Neurosurgery, Nara Medical University, Kashihara 634-8521, Japan; (T.M.); (R.M.); (K.Y.); (R.M.); (M.N.); (F.N.); (S.Y.); (Y.-S.P.); (I.N.)
| | - Kengo Yamada
- Department of Neurosurgery, Nara Medical University, Kashihara 634-8521, Japan; (T.M.); (R.M.); (K.Y.); (R.M.); (M.N.); (F.N.); (S.Y.); (Y.-S.P.); (I.N.)
| | - Ryosuke Matsuda
- Department of Neurosurgery, Nara Medical University, Kashihara 634-8521, Japan; (T.M.); (R.M.); (K.Y.); (R.M.); (M.N.); (F.N.); (S.Y.); (Y.-S.P.); (I.N.)
| | - Mitsutoshi Nakamura
- Department of Neurosurgery, Nara Medical University, Kashihara 634-8521, Japan; (T.M.); (R.M.); (K.Y.); (R.M.); (M.N.); (F.N.); (S.Y.); (Y.-S.P.); (I.N.)
- Clinic Grandsoul Nara, Uda 633-2221, Japan;
| | - Fumihiko Nishimura
- Department of Neurosurgery, Nara Medical University, Kashihara 634-8521, Japan; (T.M.); (R.M.); (K.Y.); (R.M.); (M.N.); (F.N.); (S.Y.); (Y.-S.P.); (I.N.)
| | - Shuichi Yamada
- Department of Neurosurgery, Nara Medical University, Kashihara 634-8521, Japan; (T.M.); (R.M.); (K.Y.); (R.M.); (M.N.); (F.N.); (S.Y.); (Y.-S.P.); (I.N.)
| | - Young-Soo Park
- Department of Neurosurgery, Nara Medical University, Kashihara 634-8521, Japan; (T.M.); (R.M.); (K.Y.); (R.M.); (M.N.); (F.N.); (S.Y.); (Y.-S.P.); (I.N.)
| | - Takahiro Tsujimura
- Clinic Grandsoul Nara, Uda 633-2221, Japan;
- Grandsoul Research Institute for Immunology, Inc., Uda 633-2221, Japan
| | - Ichiro Nakagawa
- Department of Neurosurgery, Nara Medical University, Kashihara 634-8521, Japan; (T.M.); (R.M.); (K.Y.); (R.M.); (M.N.); (F.N.); (S.Y.); (Y.-S.P.); (I.N.)
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Zhang Y, Guo F, Wang Y. Hypoxic tumor microenvironment: Destroyer of natural killer cell function. Chin J Cancer Res 2024; 36:138-150. [PMID: 38751439 PMCID: PMC11090795 DOI: 10.21147/j.issn.1000-9604.2024.02.04] [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: 01/19/2024] [Accepted: 04/10/2024] [Indexed: 05/18/2024] Open
Abstract
In recent years, immunotherapy has made remarkable progress in treating certain tumors and hematological malignancies. However, the efficacy of natural killer (NK) cells, which are an important subset of innate lymphocytes used in anticancer immunotherapy, remains limited. Hypoxia, a critical characteristic of the tumor microenvironment (TME), is involved in tumor development and resistance to radiotherapy, chemotherapy, and immunotherapy. Moreover, hypoxia contributes to the impairment of NK cell function and may be a significant factor that limits their therapeutic effects. Targeted hypoxia therapy has emerged as a promising research area for enhancing the efficacy of NK cell therapy. Therefore, understanding how the hypoxic TME influences NK cell function is crucial for improving antitumor treatment outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yongfei Zhang
- Cancer Center, the First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun 130021, China
| | - Feifei Guo
- Cancer Center, the First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun 130021, China
| | - Yufeng Wang
- Cancer Center, the First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun 130021, China
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Wang ZT, Deng ZM, Dai FF, Yuan MQ, Liu SY, Li BS, Cheng YX. Tumor immunity: A brief overview of tumor‑infiltrating immune cells and research advances into tumor‑infiltrating lymphocytes in gynecological malignancies (Review). Exp Ther Med 2024; 27:166. [PMID: 38476909 PMCID: PMC10928974 DOI: 10.3892/etm.2024.12453] [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: 07/26/2022] [Accepted: 01/03/2023] [Indexed: 03/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Tumor immunity is a promising topic in the area of cancer therapy. The 'soil' function of the tumor microenvironment (TME) for tumor growth has attracted wide attention from scientists. Tumor-infiltrating immune cells in the TME, especially the tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs), serve a key role in cancer. Firstly, relevant literature was searched in the PubMed and Web of Science databases with the following key words: 'Tumor microenvironment'; 'TME'; 'tumor-infiltrating immunity cells'; 'gynecologic malignancies'; 'the adoptive cell therapy (ACT) of TILs'; and 'TIL-ACT' (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/). According to the title and abstract of the articles, relevant items were screened out in the preliminary screening. The most relevant selected items were of two types: All kinds of tumor-infiltrating immune cells; and advanced research on TILs in gynecological malignancies. The results showed that the subsets of TILs were various and complex, while each subpopulation influenced each other and their effects on tumor prognosis were diverse. Moreover, the related research and clinical trials on TILs were mostly concentrated in melanoma and breast cancer, but relatively few focused on gynecological tumors. In conclusion, the present review summarized the biological classification of TILs and the mechanisms of their involvement in the regulation of the immune microenvironment, and subsequently analyzed the development of tumor immunotherapy for TILs. Collectively, the present review provides ideas for the current treatment dilemma of gynecological tumor immune checkpoints, such as adverse reactions, safety, personal specificity and efficacy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zi-Tao Wang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei 430060, P.R. China
| | - Zhi-Min Deng
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei 430060, P.R. China
| | - Fang-Fang Dai
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei 430060, P.R. China
| | - Meng-Qin Yuan
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei 430060, P.R. China
| | - Shi-Yi Liu
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei 430060, P.R. China
| | - Bing-Shu Li
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei 430060, P.R. China
| | - Yan-Xiang Cheng
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei 430060, P.R. China
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Luo Z, Huang X, Xu X, Wei K, Zheng Y, Gong K, Li W. Decreased LDHB expression in breast tumor cells causes NK cell activation and promotes tumor progression. Cancer Biol Med 2024; 21:j.issn.2095-3941.2023.0382. [PMID: 38525901 PMCID: PMC11208901 DOI: 10.20892/j.issn.2095-3941.2023.0382] [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: 09/27/2023] [Accepted: 02/26/2024] [Indexed: 03/26/2024] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Abnormal metabolism is the underlying reason for breast cancer progression. Decreased lactate dehydrogenase B (LDHB) has been detected in breast cancer but the function of LDHB remains unknown. METHODS Western blot was used to analyze LDHB expression in breast cancer cells. The impact of LDHB on tumor cell migration and invasion was determined using Transwell assays, wound healing assays, and a mouse lung metastasis model. Subcutaneous tumor formation, a natural killer (NK) cell cytotoxicity assay, and flow cytometry evaluated NK cell activation. Immunofluorescence and quantitative real-time PCR detected NK cell activation markers. Kaplan-Meier analysis evaluated the effect of immune cell infiltration on prognosis. Single-sample gene set enrichment analysis determined NK cell activation scores. A support vector machine predicted the role of LDHB in NK cell activation. RESULTS In this study we showed that LDHB inhibits the breast cancer cell metastasis and orchestrates metabolic reprogramming within tumor cells. Our results revealed that LDHB-mediated lactic acid clearance in breast cancer cells triggers NK cell activation within the tumor microenvironment. Our findings, which were confirmed in a murine model, demonstrated that LDHB in tumor cells promotes NK cell activation and ultimately results in the eradication of malignant cells. Clinically, our study further validated that LDHB affects immune cell infiltration and function. Specifically, its expression has been linked to enhanced NK cell-mediated cytotoxicity and improved patient survival. Furthermore, we identified LDHB expression in tumors as an important predictor of NK cell activation, with strong predictive ability in some cancers. CONCLUSIONS Our results suggest that LDHB is a promising target for activating the tumor immune microenvironment in breast cancer, where LDHB-associated lactic acid clearance leads to increased NK cell activity. This study highlights the critical role of LDHB in regulating immune responses and its potential as a therapeutic target for breast cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhihong Luo
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Cell Homeostasis, College of Life Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, China
- Wuhan University Shenzhen Research Institute, Shenzhen 518057, China
| | - Xiaohua Huang
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Cell Homeostasis, College of Life Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, China
| | - Xinyi Xu
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Cell Homeostasis, College of Life Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, China
| | - Kefeng Wei
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Cell Homeostasis, College of Life Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, China
| | - Yi Zheng
- Central Laboratory, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences-Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen 518107, China
| | - Ke Gong
- Hubei Province Key Laboratory of Allergy and Immunology and Department of Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, China
| | - Wenhua Li
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Cell Homeostasis, College of Life Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, China
- Wuhan University Shenzhen Research Institute, Shenzhen 518057, China
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Tavakoli Pirzaman A, Alishah A, Babajani B, Ebrahimi P, Sheikhi SA, Moosaei F, Salarfar A, Doostmohamadian S, Kazemi S. The Role of microRNAs in Hepatocellular Cancer: A Narrative Review Focused on Tumor Microenvironment and Drug Resistance. Technol Cancer Res Treat 2024; 23:15330338241239188. [PMID: 38634139 PMCID: PMC11025440 DOI: 10.1177/15330338241239188] [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: 11/22/2023] [Revised: 01/26/2024] [Accepted: 02/26/2024] [Indexed: 04/19/2024] Open
Abstract
Globally, hepatic cancer ranks fourth in terms of cancer-related mortality and is the sixth most frequent kind of cancer. Around 80% of liver cancers are hepatocellular carcinomas (HCC), which are the leading cause of cancer death. It is well known that HCC may develop resistance to the available chemotherapy treatments very fast. One of the biggest obstacles in providing cancer patients with appropriate care is drug resistance. According to reports, more than 90% of cancer-specific fatalities are caused by treatment resistance. By binding to the 3'-untranslated region of target messenger RNAs (mRNAs), microRNAs (miRNAs), a group of noncoding RNAs which are around 17 to 25 nucleotides long, regulate target gene expression. Moreover, they play role in the control of signaling pathways, cell proliferation, and cell death. As a result, miRNAs play an important role in the microenvironment of HCC by changing immune phenotypes, hypoxic conditions, and acidification, as well as angiogenesis and extracellular matrix components. Moreover, changes in miRNA levels in HCC can effectively resist cancer cells to chemotherapy by affecting various cellular processes such as autophagy, apoptosis, and membrane transporter activity. In the current work, we narratively reviewed the role of miRNAs in HCC, with a special focus on tumor microenvironment and drug resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Ali Alishah
- Student Research Committee, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran
| | - Bahareh Babajani
- Student Research Committee, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran
| | - Pouyan Ebrahimi
- Student Research Committee, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran
| | - Seyyed Ali Sheikhi
- Student Research Committee, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran
| | - Farhad Moosaei
- Student Research Committee, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran
| | | | | | - Sohrab Kazemi
- Cellular and Molecular Biology Research Center, Health Research Center, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran
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Qin L, Wu J. Targeting anticancer immunity in oral cancer: Drugs, products, and nanoparticles. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2023; 239:116751. [PMID: 37507044 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2023.116751] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2023] [Revised: 07/19/2023] [Accepted: 07/25/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023]
Abstract
Oral cavity carcinomas are the most frequent malignancies among head and neck malignancies. Oral tumors include not only oral cancer cells with different potency and stemness but also consist of diverse cells, containing anticancer immune cells, stromal and also immunosuppressive cells that influence the immune system reactions. The infiltrated T and natural killer (NK) cells are the substantial tumor-suppressive immune compartments in the tumor. The infiltration of these cells has substantial impacts on the response of tumors to immunotherapy, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy. Nevertheless, cancer cells, stromal cells, and some other compartments like regulatory T cells (Tregs), macrophages, and myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) can repress the immune responses against malignant cells. Boosting anticancer immunity by inducing the immune system or repressing the tumor-promoting cells is one of the intriguing approaches for the eradication of malignant cells such as oral cancers. This review aims to concentrate on the secretions and interactions in the oral tumor immune microenvironment. We review targeting tumor stroma, immune system and immunosuppressive interactions in oral tumors. This review will also focus on therapeutic targets and therapeutic agents such as nanoparticles and products with anti-tumor potency that can boost anticancer immunity in oral tumors. We also explain possible future perspectives including delivery of various cells, natural products and drugs by nanoparticles for boosting anticancer immunity in oral tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liling Qin
- Gezhouba Central Hospital of the Third Clinical Medical College of Three Gorges University, Yichang, Hubei, 443002, China
| | - Jianan Wu
- Experimental and Practical Teaching Center, Hubei College of Chinese Medicine, Jingzhou, Hubei, 434000, China.
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10
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Hajibabaie F, Abedpoor N, Haghjooy Javanmard S, Hasan A, Sharifi M, Rahimmanesh I, Shariati L, Makvandi P. The molecular perspective on the melanoma and genome engineering of T-cells in targeting therapy. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2023; 237:116980. [PMID: 37648188 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2023.116980] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2023] [Revised: 08/19/2023] [Accepted: 08/23/2023] [Indexed: 09/01/2023]
Abstract
Melanoma, an aggressive malignant tumor originating from melanocytes in humans, is on the rise globally, with limited non-surgical treatment options available. Recent advances in understanding the molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying immune escape, tumorigenesis, drug resistance, and cancer metastasis have paved the way for innovative therapeutic strategies. Combination therapy targeting multiple pathways simultaneously has been shown to be promising in treating melanoma, eliciting favorable responses in most melanoma patients. CAR T-cells, engineered to overcome the limitations of human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-dependent tumor cell detection associated with T-cell receptors, offer an alternative approach. By genetically modifying apheresis-collected allogeneic or autologous T-cells to express chimeric antigen receptors, CAR T-cells can appreciate antigens on cell surfaces independently of major histocompatibility complex (MHC), providing a significant cancer cell detection advantage. However, identifying the most effective target antigen is the initial step, as it helps mitigate the risk of toxicity due to "on-target, off-tumor" and establishes a targeted therapeutic strategy. Furthermore, evaluating signaling pathways and critical molecules involved in melanoma pathogenesis remains insufficient. This study emphasizes the novel approaches of CAR T-cell immunoediting and presents new insights into the molecular signaling pathways associated with melanoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fatemeh Hajibabaie
- Department of Biology, Shahrekord Branch, Islamic Azad University, Shahrekord, Iran; Department of Medical Biotechnology, Isfahan (Khorasgan) Branch, Islamic Azad University, Isfahan, Iran.
| | - Navid Abedpoor
- Department of Sports Physiology, Faculty of Sports Sciences, Isfahan (Khorasgan) Branch, Islamic Azad University, Isfahan, Iran; Department of Medical Biotechnology, Isfahan (Khorasgan) Branch, Islamic Azad University, Isfahan, Iran.
| | - Shaghayegh Haghjooy Javanmard
- Applied Physiology Research Center, Cardiovascular Research Institute, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
| | - Anwarul Hasan
- Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, Qatar University, Doha, 2713, Qatar; Biomedical Research Center, Qatar University, Doha, 2713, Qatar.
| | - Mehran Sharifi
- Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Cancer Prevention Research Center, Seyyed Al-Shohada Hospital, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
| | - Ilnaz Rahimmanesh
- Applied Physiology Research Center, Cardiovascular Research Institute, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
| | - Laleh Shariati
- Department of Biomaterials, Nanotechnology and Tissue Engineering, School of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, 8174673461, Iran; Biosensor Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
| | - Pooyan Makvandi
- The Quzhou Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Quzhou People's Hospital, Quzhou, 324000, Zhejiang, China; School of Engineering, Institute for Bioengineering, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH9 3JL, UK.
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11
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Gao D, Fang L, Liu C, Yang M, Yu X, Wang L, Zhang W, Sun C, Zhuang J. Microenvironmental regulation in tumor progression: Interactions between cancer-associated fibroblasts and immune cells. Biomed Pharmacother 2023; 167:115622. [PMID: 37783155 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2023.115622] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2023] [Revised: 09/20/2023] [Accepted: 09/28/2023] [Indexed: 10/04/2023] Open
Abstract
The tumor microenvironment (TME), the "soil" on which tumor cells grow, has an important role in regulating the proliferation and metastasis of tumor cells as well as their response to treatment. Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs), as the most abundant stromal cells of the TME, can not only directly alter the immunosuppressive effect of the TME through their own metabolism, but also influence the aggregation and function of immune cells by secreting a large number of cytokines and chemokines, reducing the body's immune surveillance of tumor cells and making them more prone to immune escape. Our study provides a comprehensive review of fibroblast chemotaxis, malignant transformation, metabolic characteristics, and interactions with immune cells. In addition, the current small molecule drugs targeting CAFs have been summarized, including both natural small molecules and targeted drugs for current clinical therapeutic applications. A complete review of the role of fibroblasts in TME from an immune perspective is presented, which has important implications in improving the efficiency of immunotherapy by targeting fibroblasts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dandan Gao
- College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Weifang Medical University, Weifang 261000, China
| | - Liguang Fang
- College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan 250355, China
| | - Cun Liu
- College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Weifang Medical University, Weifang 261000, China
| | - Mengrui Yang
- College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Weifang Medical University, Weifang 261000, China
| | - Xiaoyun Yu
- College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Weifang Medical University, Weifang 261000, China
| | - Longyun Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine and Faculty of Chinese Medicine, Macau University of Science and Technology, 999078, Macao Special Administrative Region of China
| | - Wenfeng Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine and Faculty of Chinese Medicine, Macau University of Science and Technology, 999078, Macao Special Administrative Region of China
| | - Changgang Sun
- College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Weifang Medical University, Weifang 261000, China; Department of Oncology, Weifang Traditional Chinese Hospital, Weifang 261000, China.
| | - Jing Zhuang
- Department of Oncology, Weifang Traditional Chinese Hospital, Weifang 261000, China.
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12
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Shang Z, Wang Z, Zhang Y, Liu S. DNA damage repair molecular subtype derived immune signature applicable for the prognosis and immunotherapy response prediction in colon cancer. Transl Cancer Res 2023; 12:2781-2805. [PMID: 37969400 PMCID: PMC10643980 DOI: 10.21037/tcr-23-747] [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: 04/06/2023] [Accepted: 08/17/2023] [Indexed: 11/17/2023]
Abstract
Background The DNA damage repair (DDR) pathway is one of the pathways of tumor pathogenesis, but its relationship with the immunophenotype has not been clarified in colon cancer (CC). Methods We identified the differentially expressed immune-related genes (DEIRGs) between two DDR molecular subtypes, namely, C1 and C2, and used univariate Cox analysis and least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) penalized Cox regression analysis to construct the risk score in the training cohort [n=1,009, a combination of The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and GSE39582]. Regarding the median risk score as the unified cutoff to classify the patients into high- and low-risk groups. Two independent cohorts (GSE17538, n=232; GSE38832, n=122) were used for external validation of the prognostic value of the risk score. The IMvigor210 cohort (n=348) was used to test the predictive value of the risk score for immunotherapy response. Gene set variation analysis (GSVA) and gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) were performed to discover the underlying mechanism. Immune cell infiltration was quantified by the single sample gene set enrichment analysis (ssGSEA) algorithm. Results The high-risk group showed significantly reduced overall survival (OS), disease-specific survival (DSS), disease-free survival (DFS), progression-free survival (PFS), and relapse-free survival (RFS) compared to the low-risk group, and the two groups differed significantly in lymphatic invasion, American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) TNM stage, preoperative carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) level, etc. The enrichment levels of pathways related to colorectal cancer, epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), angiogenesis, hypoxia, P53, TGF-β, KRAS signaling, etc., were upregulated in the high-risk group, but DDR-related pathways were defective in the high-risk group. The immunophenotypes of the high-risk group tended to be desert and excluded, and the risk score of patients who responded to immunotherapy was significantly lower than that of patients who did not respond to immunotherapy. The higher the infiltration levels of gamma delta T cells (γδ T cells), immature dendritic cells, and T follicular helper (Tfh) cells, the more significant adverse impact on the prognosis of CC patients was exhibited and an obviously positive correlation with the risk score was showed. Conclusions An immune gene risk score associated with the DDR molecular subtype was built and verified herein; that is applicable to the prognosis and immunotherapy response prediction in CC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhen Shang
- Medical Department of Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
| | - Ze Wang
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Qingdao Haici Medical Treatment Group, Qingdao, China
| | - Yongtao Zhang
- Department of Orthopedics, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
| | - Shanglong Liu
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
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13
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Ma S, Caligiuri MA, Yu J. Harnessing Natural Killer Cells for Lung Cancer Therapy. Cancer Res 2023; 83:3327-3339. [PMID: 37531223 DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-23-1097] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2023] [Revised: 06/13/2023] [Accepted: 07/31/2023] [Indexed: 08/04/2023]
Abstract
Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide. Although natural killer (NK) cells are garnering interest as a potential anticancer therapy because they selectively recognize and eliminate cancer cells, their use in treating solid tumors, including lung cancer, has been limited due to impediments to their efficacy, such as their limited ability to reach tumor tissues, the reduced antitumor activity of tumor-infiltrating NK cells, and the suppressive tumor microenvironment (TME). This comprehensive review provides an in-depth analysis of the cross-talk between the lung cancer TME and NK cells. We highlight the various mechanisms used by the TME to modulate NK-cell phenotypes and limit infiltration, explore the role of the TME in limiting the antitumor activity of NK cells, and discuss the current challenges and obstacles that hinder the success of NK-cell-based immunotherapy for lung cancer. Potential opportunities and promising strategies to address these challenges have been implemented or are being developed to optimize NK-cell-based immunotherapy for lung cancer. Through critical evaluation of existing literature and emerging trends, this review provides a comprehensive outlook on the future of NK-cell-based immunotherapy for treating lung cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shoubao Ma
- Department of Hematology and Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation, City of Hope National Medical Center, Los Angeles, California
- Hematologic Malignancies and Stem Cell Transplantation Institute, City of Hope National Medical Center, Los Angeles, California
| | - Michael A Caligiuri
- Department of Hematology and Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation, City of Hope National Medical Center, Los Angeles, California
- Hematologic Malignancies and Stem Cell Transplantation Institute, City of Hope National Medical Center, Los Angeles, California
- Comprehensive Cancer Center, City of Hope, Los Angeles, California
| | - Jianhua Yu
- Department of Hematology and Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation, City of Hope National Medical Center, Los Angeles, California
- Hematologic Malignancies and Stem Cell Transplantation Institute, City of Hope National Medical Center, Los Angeles, California
- Comprehensive Cancer Center, City of Hope, Los Angeles, California
- Department of Immuno-Oncology, Beckman Research Institute, City of Hope, Los Angeles, California
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14
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Merino A, Maakaron J, Bachanova V. Advances in NK cell therapy for hematologic malignancies: NK source, persistence and tumor targeting. Blood Rev 2023; 60:101073. [PMID: 36959057 PMCID: PMC10979648 DOI: 10.1016/j.blre.2023.101073] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2022] [Revised: 03/07/2023] [Accepted: 03/09/2023] [Indexed: 03/14/2023]
Abstract
Natural Killer (NK) cells yield promise in therapy of hematologic malignancies. The clinical experience with adoptively transferred allogeneic NK cells over past two decades has revealed safety and minimal risk of CRS or ICANS. Unlike T cells which have to be genetically altered to avoid graft vs host disease (GVHD), HLA mismatched NK cells can be infused without GVHD risk. This makes them ideal for the development of off-the-shelf products. In this review we focus on NK biology relevant to the cancer therapy, the trajectory of NK therapeutics for leukemia, lymphoma, and myeloma; and advantages of the NK cell platform. We will also discuss novel methods to enhance NK cell targeting, persistence, and function in the tumor microenvironment. The future of NK cell therapy depends on novel strategies to realize these qualities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aimee Merino
- Division of Hematology, Oncology, and Transplantation, University of Minnesota, 420 Delaware St, Minneapolis, MN, United States of America
| | - Joseph Maakaron
- Division of Hematology, Oncology, and Transplantation, University of Minnesota, 420 Delaware St, Minneapolis, MN, United States of America
| | - Veronika Bachanova
- Division of Hematology, Oncology, and Transplantation, University of Minnesota, 420 Delaware St, Minneapolis, MN, United States of America.
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15
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Yu SJ. Immunotherapy for hepatocellular carcinoma: Recent advances and future targets. Pharmacol Ther 2023; 244:108387. [PMID: 36948423 DOI: 10.1016/j.pharmthera.2023.108387] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2021] [Revised: 02/12/2023] [Accepted: 03/15/2023] [Indexed: 03/24/2023]
Abstract
Immunotherapy is a promising approach to treating various types of cancers, including hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). While single immunotherapy drugs show limited effectiveness on a small subset of patients, the combination of the anti PD-L1 atezolizumab and anti-vascular endothelial growth factor bevacizumab has shown significant improvement in survival compared to sorafenib as a first-line treatment. However, the current treatment options still have a low success rate of about 30%. Thus, more effective treatments for HCC are urgently required. Several novel immunotherapeutic methods, including the use of novel immune checkpoint inhibitors, innovative immune cell therapies like chimeric antigen receptor T cells (CAR-T), TCR gene-modified T cells and stem cells, as well as combination strategies are being tested in clinical trials for the treatment of HCC. However, some crucial issues still exist such as the presence of heterogeneous antigens in solid tumors, the immune-suppressive environment within tumors, the risk of on-target/off-tumor, infiltrating CAR-T cells, immunosuppressive checkpoint molecules, and cytokines. Overall, immunotherapy is on the brink of major advancements in the fight against HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Su Jong Yu
- Department of Internal Medicine and Liver Research Institute, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
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16
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Lopes N, Vivier E, Narni-Mancinelli E. Natural killer cells and type 1 innate lymphoid cells in cancer. Semin Immunol 2023; 66:101709. [PMID: 36621291 DOI: 10.1016/j.smim.2022.101709] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2022] [Revised: 12/17/2022] [Accepted: 12/23/2022] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Innate lymphoid cells (ILCs) are a group of innate lymphocytes that do not express RAG-dependent rearranged antigen-specific cell surface receptors. ILCs are classified into five groups according to their developmental trajectory and cytokine production profile. They encompass NK cells, which are cytotoxic, helper-like ILCs 1-3, which functionally mirror CD4+ T helper (Th) type 1, Th2 and Th17 cells respectively, and lymphoid tissue inducer (LTi) cells. NK cell development depends on Eomes (eomesodermin), whereas the ILC1 program is regulated principally by the transcription factor T-bet (T-box transcription factor Tbx21), that of ILC2 is regulated by GATA3 (GATA-binding protein 3) and that of ILC3 is regulated by RORγt (RAR-related orphan receptor γ). NK cells were discovered close to fifty years ago, but ILC1s were first described only about fifteen years ago. Within the ILC family, NK and ILC1s share many similarities, as witnessed by their cell surface phenotype which largely overlap. NK cells and ILC1s have been reported to respond to tissue inflammation and intracellular pathogens. Several studies have reported an antitumorigenic role for NK cells in both humans and mice, but data for ILC1s are both scarce and contradictory. In this review, we will first describe the different NK cell and ILC1 subsets, their effector functions and development. We will then discuss their role in cancer and the effects of the tumor microenvironment on their metabolism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Noella Lopes
- Aix Marseille Université, CNRS, INSERM, Centre d'Immunologie de Marseille-Luminy, Marseille, France
| | - Eric Vivier
- Aix Marseille Université, CNRS, INSERM, Centre d'Immunologie de Marseille-Luminy, Marseille, France; Innate Pharma Research Laboratories, Innate Pharma, Marseille, France; APHM, Hôpital de la Timone, Marseille-Immunopôle, Marseille, France
| | - Emilie Narni-Mancinelli
- Aix Marseille Université, CNRS, INSERM, Centre d'Immunologie de Marseille-Luminy, Marseille, France.
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17
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Charles A, Thomas RM. The Influence of the microbiome on the innate immune microenvironment of solid tumors. Neoplasia 2023; 37:100878. [PMID: 36696837 PMCID: PMC9879786 DOI: 10.1016/j.neo.2023.100878] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2022] [Accepted: 01/17/2023] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
Cancer remains a leading cause of death despite many advances in medical and surgical therapy. In recent decades, the investigation for novel therapeutic strategies with greater efficacy and reduced side effects has led to a deeper understanding of the relationship between the microbiome and the immune system in the context of cancer. The ability of the immune system to detect and kill cancer is now recognized to be greatly influenced by the microbial ecosystem of the host. While most of these studies, as well as currently used immunotherapeutics, focus on the adaptive immune system, this minimizes the impact of the innate immune system in cancer surveillance and its regulation by the host microbiome. In this review, known influences of the microbiome on the innate immune cells in the tumor microenvironment will be discussed in the context of individual innate immune cells. Current and needed areas of investigation will highlight the field and its potential impact in the clinical treatment of solid malignancies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angel Charles
- Department of Surgery, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, Florida, USA
| | - Ryan M. Thomas
- Department of Surgery, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, Florida, USA,Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, Florida, USA,Corresponding author at: University of Florida, Department of Surgery, PO Box 100109, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
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18
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Chen G, Wu K, Li H, Xia D, He T. Role of hypoxia in the tumor microenvironment and targeted therapy. Front Oncol 2022; 12:961637. [PMID: 36212414 PMCID: PMC9545774 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2022.961637] [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: 06/05/2022] [Accepted: 09/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Tumor microenvironment (TME), which is characterized by hypoxia, widely exists in solid tumors. As a current research hotspot in the TME, hypoxia is expected to become a key element to break through the bottleneck of tumor treatment. More and more research results show that a variety of biological behaviors of tumor cells are affected by many factors in TME which are closely related to hypoxia. In order to inhibiting the immune response in TME, hypoxia plays an important role in tumor cell metabolism and anti-apoptosis. Therefore, exploring the molecular mechanism of hypoxia mediated malignant tumor behavior and therapeutic targets is expected to provide new ideas for anti-tumor therapy. In this review, we discussed the effects of hypoxia on tumor behavior and its interaction with TME from the perspectives of immune cells, cell metabolism, oxidative stress and hypoxia inducible factor (HIF), and listed the therapeutic targets or signal pathways found so far. Finally, we summarize the current therapies targeting hypoxia, such as glycolysis inhibitors, anti-angiogenesis drugs, HIF inhibitors, hypoxia-activated prodrugs, and hyperbaric medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gaoqi Chen
- Department of Hepatobiliary Pancreatic Surgery, Changhai Hospital, Second Military Medical University (Naval Medical University), Shanghai, China
| | - Kaiwen Wu
- Department of Gastroenterology, The Third People’s Hospital of Chengdu, The Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Jiaotong University, Chengdu, China
| | - Hao Li
- Deparment of Neurology, Affiliated Hospital of Jiangsu University, Jiang Su University, Zhenjiang, China
| | - Demeng Xia
- Luodian Clinical Drug Research Center, Shanghai Baoshan Luodian Hospital, Shanghai University, Shanghai, China
- *Correspondence: Demeng Xia, ; Tianlin He,
| | - Tianlin He
- Department of Hepatobiliary Pancreatic Surgery, Changhai Hospital, Second Military Medical University (Naval Medical University), Shanghai, China
- *Correspondence: Demeng Xia, ; Tianlin He,
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Cord Blood-Derived Natural Killer Cell Exploitation in Immunotherapy Protocols: More Than a Promise? Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14184439. [PMID: 36139598 PMCID: PMC9496735 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14184439] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2022] [Revised: 08/25/2022] [Accepted: 09/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary NK cell anti-tumor activity against hematological malignancies is well-established and many studies support their role in the control of solid tumor growth and metastasis generation. However, tumor microenvironment may affect NK cell function. Ongoing studies are aimed to design novel immunotherapeutic protocols to combine NK cell-based immunotherapy with other therapeutic strategies to improve the anti-tumor NK cell response. In this context, UCB is one of the main sources of both mature NK cells and of CD34+ HSPC that can generate NK cells, both in-vivo and in-vitro. UCB-derived NK cells represent a valuable tool to perform in-vitro and preclinical analyses and are already used in several clinical settings, particularly against hematological malignancies. The present review describes the characteristics of different types of UCB-derived NK cells and the in-vitro models to expand them, both for research and clinical purposes in the context of cancer immunotherapy. Abstract In the last 20 years, Natural Killer (NK) cell-based immunotherapy has become a promising approach to target various types of cancer. Indeed, NK cells play a pivotal role in the first-line defense against tumors through major histocompatibility complex-independent immunosurveillance. Their role in the control of leukemia relapse has been clearly established and, moreover, the presence of NK cells in the tumor microenvironment (TME) generally correlates with good prognosis. However, it has also been observed that, often, NK cells poorly infiltrate the tumor tissue, and, in TME, their functions may be compromised by immunosuppressive factors that contribute to the failure of anti-cancer immune response. Currently, studies are focused on the design of effective strategies to expand NK cells and enhance their cytotoxic activity, exploiting different cell sources, such as peripheral blood (PB), umbilical cord blood (UCB) and NK cell lines. Among them, UCB represents an important source of mature NK cells and CD34+ Hematopoietic Stem and Progenitor Cells (HSPCs), as precursors of NK cells. In this review, we summarize the UCB-derived NK cell activity in the tumor context, review the different in-vitro models to expand NK cells from UCB, and discuss the importance of their exploitation in anti-tumor immunotherapy protocols.
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20
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Wang J, Liu X, Jin T, Cao Y, Tian Y, Xu F. NK cell immunometabolism as target for liver cancer therapy. Int Immunopharmacol 2022; 112:109193. [PMID: 36087507 DOI: 10.1016/j.intimp.2022.109193] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2022] [Revised: 08/04/2022] [Accepted: 08/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Natural killer (NK) cells are being used effectively as a potential candidate in tumor immunotherapy. However, the migration and transport of NK cells to solid tumors is inadequate. NK cell dysfunction, tumor invasiveness, and metastasis are associated with altered metabolism of NK cells in the liver cancer microenvironment. However, in liver cancers, metabolic impairment of NK cells is still not understood fully. Evidence from various sources has shown that the interaction of NK cell's immune checkpoints with its metabolic checkpoints is responsible for the regulation of the development and function of these cells. How immune checkpoints contribute to metabolic programming is still not fully understood, and how this can be beneficial needs a better understanding, but they are emerging to be incredibly compelling to rebuilding the function of NK cells in the tumor. It is expected to represent a potential aim that focuses on improving the efficacy of therapies based on NK cells for treating liver cancer. Here, the recent advancements made to understand the NK cell's metabolic reprogramming in liver cancer have been summarized, along with the possible interplay between the immune and the metabolic checkpoints in NK cell function. Finally, an overview of some potential metabolic-related targets that can be used for liver cancer therapy treatment has been presented.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junqi Wang
- Department of General Surgery, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang 110004, China
| | - Xiaolin Liu
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Jiaxing University, Jiaxing 314000, Zhejiang, China
| | - Tianqiang Jin
- Department of General Surgery, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang 110004, China
| | - Yuqing Cao
- Department of General Surgery, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang 110004, China
| | - Yu Tian
- Department of General Surgery, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang 110004, China
| | - Feng Xu
- Department of General Surgery, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang 110004, China.
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21
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Zhu Y, Li X, Wang L, Hong X, Yang J. Metabolic reprogramming and crosstalk of cancer-related fibroblasts and immune cells in the tumor microenvironment. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2022; 13:988295. [PMID: 36046791 PMCID: PMC9421293 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2022.988295] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2022] [Accepted: 07/25/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
It is notorious that cancer cells alter their metabolism to adjust to harsh environments of hypoxia and nutritional starvation. Metabolic reprogramming most often occurs in the tumor microenvironment (TME). TME is defined as the cellular environment in which the tumor resides. This includes surrounding blood vessels, fibroblasts, immune cells, signaling molecules and the extracellular matrix (ECM). It is increasingly recognized that cancer cells, fibroblasts and immune cells within TME can regulate tumor progression through metabolic reprogramming. As the most significant proportion of cells among all the stromal cells that constitute TME, cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) are closely associated with tumorigenesis and progression. Multitudinous studies have shown that CAFs participate in and promote tumor metabolic reprogramming and exert regulatory effects via the dysregulation of metabolic pathways. Previous studies have demonstrated that curbing the substance exchange between CAFs and tumor cells can dramatically restrain tumor growth. Emerging studies suggest that CAFs within the TME have emerged as important determinants of metabolic reprogramming. Metabolic reprogramming also occurs in the metabolic pattern of immune cells. In the meanwhile, immune cell phenotype and functions are metabolically regulated. Notably, immune cell functions influenced by metabolic programs may ultimately lead to alterations in tumor immunity. Despite the fact that multiple previous researches have been devoted to studying the interplays between different cells in the tumor microenvironment, the complicated relationship between CAFs and immune cells and implications of metabolic reprogramming remains unknown and requires further investigation. In this review, we discuss our current comprehension of metabolic reprogramming of CAFs and immune cells (mainly glucose, amino acid, and lipid metabolism) and crosstalk between them that induces immune responses, and we also highlight their contributions to tumorigenesis and progression. Furthermore, we underscore potential therapeutic opportunities arising from metabolism dysregulation and metabolic crosstalk, focusing on strategies targeting CAFs and immune cell metabolic crosstalk in cancer immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yifei Zhu
- School of Medicine, Southeast University, Nanjing, China
| | - Xinyan Li
- School of Medicine, Southeast University, Nanjing, China
| | - Lei Wang
- School of Medicine, Southeast University, Nanjing, China
| | - Xiwei Hong
- School of Medicine, Southeast University, Nanjing, China
| | - Jie Yang
- Department of General surgery, Affiliated Kunshan Hospital of Jiangsu University, Kunshan, China
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22
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Functional crosstalk and regulation of natural killer cells in tumor microenvironment: Significance and potential therapeutic strategies. Genes Dis 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.gendis.2022.07.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
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23
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Chen Y, Hu H, Yuan X, Fan X, Zhang C. Advances in Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors for Advanced Hepatocellular Carcinoma. Front Immunol 2022; 13:896752. [PMID: 35757756 PMCID: PMC9226303 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.896752] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2022] [Accepted: 05/16/2022] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is usually diagnosed in an advanced stage and has become the second deadliest type of cancer worldwide. The systemic treatment of advanced HCC has been a challenge, and for decades was limited to treatment with tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) until the application of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) became available. Due to drug resistance and unsatisfactory therapeutic effects of monotherapy with TKIs or ICIs, multi-ICIs, or the combination of ICIs with antiangiogenic drugs has become a novel strategy to treat advanced HCC. Antiangiogenic drugs mostly include TKIs (sorafenib, lenvatinib, regorafenib, cabozantinib and so on) and anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), such as bevacizumab. Common ICIs include anti-programmed cell death-1 (PD-1)/programmed cell death ligand 1 (PD-L1), including nivolumab, pembrolizumab, durvalumab, and atezolizumab, and anti-cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated protein 4 (CTLA4), including tremelimumab and ipilimumab. Combination therapies involving antiangiogenic drugs and ICIs or two ICIs may have a synergistic action and have shown greater efficacy in advanced HCC. In this review, we present an overview of the current knowledge and recent clinical developments in ICI-based combination therapies for advanced HCC and we provide an outlook on future prospects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yue Chen
- Department of Pathology, Beijing Shijitan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Haoyue Hu
- Department of Medical Oncology, Sichuan Cancer Hospital and Institute, Sichuan Cancer Center, Medicine School of University of Electronic Science and Technology, Chengdu, China
| | - Xianglei Yuan
- Department of Gastroenterology, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Xue Fan
- Department of Medical Oncology, Sichuan Cancer Hospital and Institute, Sichuan Cancer Center, Medicine School of University of Electronic Science and Technology, Chengdu, China
| | - Chengda Zhang
- Department of Gastroenterology, The Third Hospital of Mianyang (Sichuan Mental Health Center), Mianyang, China
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24
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De S, Mühlemann O. A comprehensive coverage insurance for cells: revealing links between ribosome collisions, stress responses and mRNA surveillance. RNA Biol 2022; 19:609-621. [PMID: 35491909 PMCID: PMC9067528 DOI: 10.1080/15476286.2022.2065116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Cells of metazoans respond to internal and external stressors by activating stress response pathways that aim for re-establishing cellular homoeostasis or, if this cannot be achieved, triggering programmed cell death. Problems during translation, arising from defective mRNAs, tRNAs, ribosomes or protein misfolding, can activate stress response pathways as well as mRNA surveillance and ribosome quality control programs. Recently, ribosome collisions have emerged as a central signal for translational stress and shown to elicit different stress responses. Here, we review our current knowledge about the intricate mutual connections between ribosome collisions, stress response pathways and mRNA surveillance. A central factor connecting the sensing of collided ribosomes with degradation of the nascent polypeptides, dissociation of the stalled ribosomes and degradation of the mRNA by no-go or non-stop decay is the E3-ligase ZNF598. We tested whether ZNF598 also plays a role in nonsense-mediated mRNA decay (NMD) but found that it is dispensable for this translation termination-associated mRNA surveillance pathway, which in combination with other recent data argues against stable ribosome stalling at termination codons being the NMD-triggering signal.
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Affiliation(s)
- Soumasree De
- University of Bern, Department of Chemistry, Biochemistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Oliver Mühlemann
- University of Bern, Department of Chemistry, Biochemistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Bern, Switzerland
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25
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Comprehensive Analysis of RAPGEF2 for Predicting Prognosis and Immunotherapy Response in Patients with Hepatocellular Carcinoma. JOURNAL OF ONCOLOGY 2022; 2022:6560154. [PMID: 35518785 PMCID: PMC9064514 DOI: 10.1155/2022/6560154] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2022] [Accepted: 03/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Background Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the sixth most common tumor worldwide. Additionally, deletion of RAPGEF2 plays a critical role in CNV and related to tumor immune microenvironment, whereas the prognostic potential of RAPGEF2 in HCC patient needs to be explored. Methods We looked for prognostic potential genes in HCC using a variety of R programs. Then, using the LASSO Cox regression, we thoroughly evaluated and integrated the RAPGEF2-related genes from TCGA database. Meanwhile, utilizing TCGA and ICGA databases, the link between RAPGEF2 and immunotherapy response in HCC was studied. In vivo, the effect of RAPGEF2 on tumor development and the capacity of natural killer (NK) cells to recruit were confirmed. To ascertain the connection between RAPGEF2-related genes and the prognosis of HCC, a prognostic model was created and validated. Result We demonstrated RAPGEF2 has a differential expression, and patients with deletion of RAPGEF2 gene get shorter survival in HCC. Additionally, the tissues without RAPGEF2 have a weaker ability to recruit the NK cells and response to immunotherapy. After that, we scoured the database for eight RAPGEF2-related genes linked with a better prognosis in HCC patients. Additionally, silencing RAPGEF2 accelerated tumor development in the HCC mouse model and decreased CD56+ NK cell recruitment in HCC tissues. TCGA database was used to classify patients into low- and high-risk categories based on the expression of related genes. Patients in the low-risk group had a significantly greater overall survival than those in the high-risk group (P < 0.001). Meanwhile, the low-risk group demonstrated connections with the NK cell and immunotherapy response. Finally, the prognostic nomogram showed a high sensitivity and specificity for predicting the survival of HCC patients at 1, 2, and 3 years. Conclusion The prognostic model based on RAPGEF2 and RAPGEF2-related genes showed an excellent predictive performance in terms of prognosis and immunotherapy response in HCC, therefore establishing a unique prognostic model for clinical assessment of HCC patients.
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Abstract
The discovery of immune checkpoints (ICs) and the development of specific blockers to relieve immune effector cells from this inhibiting mechanism has changed the view of anti-cancer therapy. In addition to cytotoxic T lymphocyte antigen 4 (CTLA4) and programmed death 1 (PD1), classical ICs of T lymphocytes and recently described also on a fraction of natural killer (NK) cells, several NK cell receptors, including killer immunoglobulin-like inhibitory receptors (KIRs) and NGK2A, have been recognized as checkpoint members typical of the NK cell population. This offers the opportunity of a dual-checkpoint inhibition approach, targeting classical and non-classical ICs and leading to a synergistic therapeutic effect. In this review, we will overview and discuss this new perspective, focusing on the most relevant candidates for this role among the variety of potential NK ICs. Beside listing and defining classical ICs expressed also by NK cells, or non-classical ICs either on T or on NK cells, we will address their role in NK cell survival, chronic stimulation or functional exhaustion, and the potential relevance of this phenomenon on anti-tumor immune response. Furthermore, NK ICs will be proposed as possible new targets for the development of efficient combined immunotherapy, not forgetting the relevant concerns that may be raised on NK IC blockade. Finally, the impact of epigenetic drugs in such a complex therapeutic picture will be briefly addressed.
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27
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Palano MT, Gallazzi M, Cucchiara M, Dehò F, Capogrosso P, Bruno A, Mortara L. The tumor innate immune microenvironment in prostate cancer: an overview of soluble factors and cellular effectors. EXPLORATION OF TARGETED ANTI-TUMOR THERAPY 2022; 3:694-718. [PMID: 36338516 PMCID: PMC9630328 DOI: 10.37349/etat.2022.00108] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2022] [Accepted: 08/12/2022] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Prostate cancer (PCa) accounts as the most common non-cutaneous disease affecting males, and as the first cancer, for incidence, in male. With the introduction of the concept of immunoscore, PCa has been classified as a cold tumor, thus driving the attention in the development of strategies aimed at blocking the infiltration/activation of immunosuppressive cells, while favoring the infiltration/activation of anti-tumor immune cells. Even if immunotherapy has revolutionized the approaches to cancer therapy, there is still a window failure, due to the immune cell plasticity within PCa, that can acquire pro-tumor features, subsequent to the tumor microenvironment (TME) capability to polarize them. This review discussed selected relevant soluble factors [transforming growth factor-beta (TGFβ), interleukin-6 (IL-6), IL-10, IL-23] and cellular components of the innate immunity, as drivers of tumor progression, immunosuppression, and angiogenesis within the PCa-TME.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Teresa Palano
- Laboratory of Innate Immunity, Unit of Molecular Pathology, Biochemistry and Immunology, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS) MultiMedica, 20138 Milan, Italy
| | - Matteo Gallazzi
- Laboratory of Immunology and General Pathology, Department of Biotechnology and Life Sciences, University of Insubria, 21100 Varese, Italy
| | - Martina Cucchiara
- Laboratory of Immunology and General Pathology, Department of Biotechnology and Life Sciences, University of Insubria, 21100 Varese, Italy
| | - Federico Dehò
- Unit of Urology, ASST-Sette Laghi, Ospedale di Circolo e Fondazione Macchi, University of Insubria, 21100 Varese, Italy
| | - Paolo Capogrosso
- Unit of Urology, ASST-Sette Laghi, Ospedale di Circolo e Fondazione Macchi, University of Insubria, 21100 Varese, Italy
| | - Antonino Bruno
- Laboratory of Innate Immunity, Unit of Molecular Pathology, Biochemistry and Immunology, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS) MultiMedica, 20138 Milan, Italy,Laboratory of Immunology and General Pathology, Department of Biotechnology and Life Sciences, University of Insubria, 21100 Varese, Italy,Correspondence: Antonino Bruno,
| | - Lorenzo Mortara
- Laboratory of Immunology and General Pathology, Department of Biotechnology and Life Sciences, University of Insubria, 21100 Varese, Italy,Lorenzo Mortara, . Laboratory of Immunology and General Pathology, Department of Biotechnology and Life Sciences, University of Insubria, 21100 Varese, Italy
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28
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Wu T, Ke Y, Tang H, Liao C, Li J, Wang L. Fidarestat induces glycolysis of NK cells through decreasing AKR1B10 expression to inhibit hepatocellular carcinoma. Mol Ther Oncolytics 2021; 23:420-431. [PMID: 34853813 PMCID: PMC8605295 DOI: 10.1016/j.omto.2021.06.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2020] [Accepted: 06/08/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
The aldose reductase inhibitor Fidarestat has been noted to have efficacy in treating a variety of tumors. To define its role in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), we induced a HCC xenograft model in mice, which were treated with different doses of Fidarestat. The amounts of natural killer (NK) cells and related inflammatory factors were detected in the serum of the mice. Fidarestat inhibited HCC tumor growth and lung metastasis in vivo and increased NK cell number as well as levels of NK cell-related inflammatory factors in mouse serum. NK cells were then co-cultured with the HCC cell line in vitro to detect effects on HCC cell progression after Fidarestat administration. The glycolysis activity of the NK cells was evaluated by extracellular acidification rate, while aldo-keto reductase family 1 member B10 (AKR1B10) expression was detected by western blot analysis. Administration of Fidarestat downregulated the expression of AKR1B10 in NK cells and promoted NK cell glycolysis to enhance their killing activity against HCC cells. However, depletion of NK cells or upregulation of AKR1B10 attenuated the anticancer activity of Fidarestat. Taken together, Fidarestat downregulated AKR1B10 expression in NK cells to promote NK cell glycolysis, thereby alleviating HCC progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tiangen Wu
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, No. 374, Dianmian Avenue, Kunming 650101, China
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming 650101, China
| | - Yang Ke
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, No. 374, Dianmian Avenue, Kunming 650101, China
| | - Haoran Tang
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming 650101, China
| | - Chen Liao
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming 650101, China
| | - Jinze Li
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, No. 374, Dianmian Avenue, Kunming 650101, China
| | - Lin Wang
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, No. 374, Dianmian Avenue, Kunming 650101, China
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29
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Xing R, Gao J, Cui Q, Wang Q. Strategies to Improve the Antitumor Effect of Immunotherapy for Hepatocellular Carcinoma. Front Immunol 2021; 12:783236. [PMID: 34899747 PMCID: PMC8660685 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.783236] [Citation(s) in RCA: 67] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2021] [Accepted: 11/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), one of the most fatal malignancies in the world, is usually diagnosed in advanced stages due to late symptom manifestation with very limited therapeutic options, which leads to ineffective intervention and dismal prognosis. For a decade, tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) have offered an overall survival (OS) benefit when used in a first-line (sorafenib and lenvatinib) and second-line setting (regorafenib and cabozantinib) in advanced HCC, while long-term response remains unsatisfactory due to the onset of primary or acquired resistance. Recently, immunotherapy has emerged as a promising therapy in the treatment of several solid tumors, such as melanoma and non-small cell lung cancer. Moreover, as the occurrence of HCC is associated with immune tolerance and immunosurveillance escape, there is a potent rationale for employing immunotherapy in HCC. However, immunotherapy monotherapy, mainly including immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) that target checkpoints programmed death-1 (PD-1), programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1), and the cytotoxic T lymphocyte antigen-4 (CTLA-4), has a relatively low response rate. Thus, the multi-ICIs or the combination of immunotherapy with other therapies, like antiangiogenic drugs and locoregional therapies, has become a novel strategy to treat HCC. Combining different ICIs may have a synergistical effect attributed to the complementary effects of the two immune checkpoint pathways (CTLA-4 and PD-1/PD-L1 pathways). The incorporation of antiangiogenic drugs in ICIs can enhance antitumor immune responses via synergistically regulating the vasculature and the immune microenvironment of tumor. In addition, locoregional treatments can improve antitumor immunity by releasing the neoplasm antigens from killed tumor cells; in turn, this antitumor immune response can be intensified by immunotherapy. Therefore, the combination of locoregional treatments and immunotherapy may achieve greater efficacy through further synergistic effects for advanced HCC. This review aims to summarize the currently reported results and ongoing trials of the ICIs-based combination therapies for HCC to explore the rational combination strategies and further improve the survival of patients with HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rui Xing
- Department of Oncology, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Jinping Gao
- Department of Oncology, North War Zone General Hospital, Shenyang, China
| | - Qi Cui
- Department of Cold Environmental Medicine, College of High Altitude Military Medicine, Third Military Medical University (Army Medical University), Chongqing, China
| | - Qian Wang
- Department of Oncology, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China
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Vuletić A, Mirjačić Martinović K, Tišma Miletić N, Zoidakis J, Castellvi-Bel S, Čavić M. Cross-Talk Between Tumor Cells Undergoing Epithelial to Mesenchymal Transition and Natural Killer Cells in Tumor Microenvironment in Colorectal Cancer. Front Cell Dev Biol 2021; 9:750022. [PMID: 34858978 PMCID: PMC8631470 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2021.750022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2021] [Accepted: 10/14/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Tumor cells undergoing epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) and immune cells in tumor microenvironment (TME) reciprocally influence each other. Immune cells, by supplying TME with bioactive molecules including cytokines, chemokines, enzymes, metabolites, and by physical interactions with tumor cells via their receptors, represent an important factor that affects EMT. Chronical inflammation in TME favorizes tumor growth and invasiveness and stimulates synthesis of EMT promoting transcription factors. Natural killer (NK) cells, owing to their unique ability to exert cytotoxic function independent of major histocompatibility (MHC)-mediated antigen presentation, play a significant role in the control of metastasis in colorectal cancer (CRC). Although, the cross-talk between immune cells and tumor cells in general favors the induction of EMT and inhibition of antitumor immune responses, there are some changes in the immunogenicity of tumor cells during EMT of CRC cells that increase their susceptibility to NK cell cytotoxic lysis. However, suppressive TME downmodulates the expression of activating NK cell receptors, decreases the expression of activating and increases the expression of inhibitory NK cell ligands on tumor cells, and impairs NK cell metabolism that altogether negatively affects the overall NK cell function. Furthermore, process of EMT is often associated with increased expression of programmed cell death ligand (PD-L) and expression of immune checkpoint molecules PD-1, TIGIT, and TIM3 on functionally exhausted NK cells in TME in CRC. In this review we discuss modalities of cross-talk between tumor cells and NK cells, with regard of EMT-driven changes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Vuletić
- Department of Experimental Oncology, Institute of Oncology and Radiology of Serbia, Belgrade, Serbia
| | | | - Nevena Tišma Miletić
- Department of Experimental Oncology, Institute of Oncology and Radiology of Serbia, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Jerome Zoidakis
- Department of Biotechnology, Biomedical Research Foundation, Academy of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Sergi Castellvi-Bel
- Gastroenterology Department, Hospital Clínic, Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Hepáticas y Digestivas (CIBERehd), Institut d'Investigacions Biomčdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Milena Čavić
- Department of Experimental Oncology, Institute of Oncology and Radiology of Serbia, Belgrade, Serbia
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31
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Nguyen OTP, Misun PM, Lohasz C, Lee J, Wang W, Schroeder T, Hierlemann A. An Immunocompetent Microphysiological System to Simultaneously Investigate Effects of Anti-Tumor Natural Killer Cells on Tumor and Cardiac Microtissues. Front Immunol 2021; 12:781337. [PMID: 34925361 PMCID: PMC8675866 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.781337] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2021] [Accepted: 11/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Existing first-line cancer therapies often fail to cope with the heterogeneity and complexity of cancers, so that new therapeutic approaches are urgently needed. Among novel alternative therapies, adoptive cell therapy (ACT) has emerged as a promising cancer treatment in recent years. The limited clinical applications of ACT, despite its advantages over standard-of-care therapies, can be attributed to (i) time-consuming and cost-intensive procedures to screen for potent anti-tumor immune cells and the corresponding targets, (ii) difficulties to translate in-vitro and animal-derived in-vivo efficacies to clinical efficacy in humans, and (iii) the lack of systemic methods for the safety assessment of ACT. Suitable experimental models and testing platforms have the potential to accelerate the development of ACT. Immunocompetent microphysiological systems (iMPS) are microfluidic platforms that enable complex interactions of advanced tissue models with different immune cell types, bridging the gap between in-vitro and in-vivo studies. Here, we present a proof-of-concept iMPS that supports a triple culture of three-dimensional (3D) colorectal tumor microtissues, 3D cardiac microtissues, and human-derived natural killer (NK) cells in the same microfluidic network. Different aspects of tumor-NK cell interactions were characterized using this iMPS including: (i) direct interaction and NK cell-mediated tumor killing, (ii) the development of an inflammatory milieu through enrichment of soluble pro-inflammatory chemokines and cytokines, and (iii) secondary effects on healthy cardiac microtissues. We found a specific NK cell-mediated tumor-killing activity and elevated levels of tumor- and NK cell-derived chemokines and cytokines, indicating crosstalk and development of an inflammatory milieu. While viability and morphological integrity of cardiac microtissues remained mostly unaffected, we were able to detect alterations in their beating behavior, which shows the potential of iMPS for both, efficacy and early safety testing of new candidate ACTs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oanh T. P. Nguyen
- Bio Engineering Laboratory, Department of Biosystems Science and Engineering, ETH Zürich, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Patrick M. Misun
- Bio Engineering Laboratory, Department of Biosystems Science and Engineering, ETH Zürich, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Christian Lohasz
- Bio Engineering Laboratory, Department of Biosystems Science and Engineering, ETH Zürich, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Jihyun Lee
- Bio Engineering Laboratory, Department of Biosystems Science and Engineering, ETH Zürich, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Weijia Wang
- Cell Systems Dynamics Group, Department of Biosystems Science and Engineering, ETH Zürich, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Timm Schroeder
- Cell Systems Dynamics Group, Department of Biosystems Science and Engineering, ETH Zürich, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Andreas Hierlemann
- Bio Engineering Laboratory, Department of Biosystems Science and Engineering, ETH Zürich, Basel, Switzerland
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32
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Velichinskii RA, Streltsova MA, Kust SA, Sapozhnikov AM, Kovalenko EI. The Biological Role and Therapeutic Potential of NK Cells in Hematological and Solid Tumors. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms222111385. [PMID: 34768814 PMCID: PMC8584101 DOI: 10.3390/ijms222111385] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2021] [Revised: 10/16/2021] [Accepted: 10/18/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
NK cells are an attractive target for cancer immunotherapy due to their potent antitumor activity. The main advantage of using NK cells as cytotoxic effectors over T cells is a reduced risk of graft versus host disease. At present, several variants of NK-cell-based therapies are undergoing clinical trials and show considerable effectiveness for hematological tumors. In these types of cancers, the immune cells themselves often undergo malignant transformation, which determines the features of the disease. In contrast, the current use of NK cells as therapeutic agents for the treatment of solid tumors is much less promising. Most studies are at the stage of preclinical investigation, but few progress to clinical trials. Low efficiency of NK cell migration and functional activity in the tumor environment are currently considered the major barriers to NK cell anti-tumor therapies. Various therapeutic combinations, genetic engineering methods, alternative sources for obtaining NK cells, and other techniques are aiming at the development of promising NK cell anticancer therapies, regardless of tumorigenesis. In this review, we compare the role of NK cells in the pathogenesis of hematological and solid tumors and discuss current prospects of NK-cell-based therapy for hematological and solid tumors.
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33
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Schoenberg MB, Li X, Li X, Han Y, Börner N, Koch D, Guba MO, Werner J, Bazhin AV. The interactions between major immune effector cells and Hepatocellular Carcinoma: A systematic review. Int Immunopharmacol 2021; 101:108220. [PMID: 34673334 DOI: 10.1016/j.intimp.2021.108220] [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: 06/13/2021] [Revised: 09/13/2021] [Accepted: 09/30/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common liver neoplasm with high morbidity and mortality. Tumor immunotherapy might be promising adjuvant therapy for HCC after surgery. To better develop HCC immunotherapy, comprehensive understanding of cell-cell interactions between immune effector cells and HCC cells remains crucial. AIM To review the existing studies to summarize the cell-cell interactions between major immune effector cells and HCC cells providing new data for HCC immunotherapy. METHODS A systematic review was conducted by searching PubMed database covering all papers published in recent five years up to January 2020. The guidelines of the preferred reporting items for systematic reviews were firmly followed. RESULTS There are 9 studies researching the interactions between CD8+ T lymphocytes and HCC cells and 22 studies researching that between natural killer (NK) cells and HCC cells. Among the 9 studies, 6 studies reported that CD8+ T lymphocytes showed cytotoxicity towards HCC cells while 3 studies found CD8+ T lymphocytes were impaired by HCC cells. Among the 22 studies, 20 studies presented that NK cells could inhibit HCC cells. Two studies were found to report NK cell dysfunction in HCC. CONCLUSION Based on the systematic analysis, we concluded that CD8+ T lymphocytes and NK cells can inhibit HCC cells. While in turn, HCC cells can also result in the dysfunction of those effector cells through various mechanisms. Organoids and direct contact cell co-culture with primary HCC cells and TILs should be the most innovative way to investigate the interactions and develop novel immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Markus Bo Schoenberg
- Department of General, Visceral, and Transplant Surgery, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, Munich, Germany; German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Partner Site Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Xiaokang Li
- Department of General, Visceral, and Transplant Surgery, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, Munich, Germany; Department of Dermatology, Jinan Central Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Xinyu Li
- Department of General, Visceral, and Transplant Surgery, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, Munich, Germany; Department of Oncology, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Yongsheng Han
- Department of General, Visceral, and Transplant Surgery, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Nikolaus Börner
- Department of General, Visceral, and Transplant Surgery, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Dominik Koch
- Department of General, Visceral, and Transplant Surgery, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Markus Otto Guba
- Department of General, Visceral, and Transplant Surgery, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, Munich, Germany; Transplantation Center Munich, Hospital of the LMU, Campus Grosshadern, Munich, Germany
| | - Jens Werner
- Department of General, Visceral, and Transplant Surgery, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, Munich, Germany; German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Partner Site Munich, Munich, Germany; Bavarian Cancer Research Center (BZKF), Munich, Germany
| | - Alexandr V Bazhin
- Department of General, Visceral, and Transplant Surgery, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, Munich, Germany; German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Partner Site Munich, Munich, Germany.
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Yang L, Li F, Cao Y, Liu Q, Jing G, Niu J, Sun F, Qian Y, Wang S, Li A. Multifunctional silica nanocomposites prime tumoricidal immunity for efficient cancer immunotherapy. J Nanobiotechnology 2021; 19:328. [PMID: 34663354 PMCID: PMC8524820 DOI: 10.1186/s12951-021-01073-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2021] [Accepted: 10/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The tumor immune microenvironment (TIME) has been demonstrated to be the main cause of cancer immunotherapy failure in various malignant tumors, due to poor immunogenicity and existence of immunosuppressive factors. Thus, establishing effective treatments for hostile TIME remodeling has considerable potential to enhance immune response rates for durable tumor growth retardation. This study aims to develop a novel nanocomposite, polyethyleneimine-modified dendritic mesoporous silica nanoparticles loaded with microRNA-125a (DMSN-PEI@125a) to synergistically enhance immune response and immunosuppression reversion, ultimately generating a tumoricidal environment. Our results showed that DMSN-PEI@125a exhibited excellent ability in cellular uptake by murine macrophages and the cervical cancer cell line TC-1, repolarization of tumor associated macrophages (TAMs) to M1 type in a synergistic manner, and promotion of TC-1 immunogenic death. Intratumor injection of DMSN-PEI@125a facilitated the release of more damage-related molecular patterns and enhanced the infiltration of natural killer and CD8+ T cells. Meanwhile, repolarized TAMs could function as a helper to promote antitumor immunity, thus inhibiting tumor growth in TC-1 mouse models in a collaborative manner. Collectively, this work highlights the multifunctional roles of DMSN-PEI@125a in generating an inflammatory TIME and provoking antitumor immunity, which may serve as a potential agent for cancer immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Linnan Yang
- Research Center for Translational Medicine at East Hospital, School of Life Science and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai, People's Republic of China.,Central Laboratory, First Affiliated Hospital, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, People's Republic of China
| | - Feng Li
- Research Center for Translational Medicine at East Hospital, School of Life Science and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
| | - Yongsheng Cao
- The Second Department of Urology, Anhui Provincial Children's Hospital, Hefei, People's Republic of China
| | - Qiang Liu
- Research Center for Translational Medicine at East Hospital, School of Life Science and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
| | - Guoxin Jing
- Research Center for Translational Medicine at East Hospital, School of Life Science and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
| | - Jintong Niu
- Research Center for Translational Medicine at East Hospital, School of Life Science and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
| | - Feiyue Sun
- Research Center for Translational Medicine at East Hospital, School of Life Science and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
| | - Yechang Qian
- Department of Respiratory Disease, Baoshan District Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Shanghai, People's Republic of China.
| | - Shilong Wang
- Research Center for Translational Medicine at East Hospital, School of Life Science and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai, People's Republic of China.
| | - Ang Li
- Research Center for Translational Medicine at East Hospital, School of Life Science and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai, People's Republic of China.
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De Lerma Barbaro A, Palano MT, Cucchiara M, Gallazzi M, Mortara L, Bruno A. Metabolic Rewiring in the Tumor Microenvironment to Support Immunotherapy: A Focus on Neutrophils, Polymorphonuclear Myeloid-Derived Suppressor Cells and Natural Killer Cells. Vaccines (Basel) 2021; 9:vaccines9101178. [PMID: 34696286 PMCID: PMC8539473 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines9101178] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2021] [Revised: 10/09/2021] [Accepted: 10/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Leukocytes often undergo rapid changes in cell phenotype, for example, from a resting to an activated state, which places significant metabolic demands on the cell. These rapid changes in metabolic demand need to be tightly regulated to support immune cell effector functions during the initiation and downregulation of an immune response. Prospects for implementing cancer immunotherapy also rest on the idea of optimizing the metabolic profile of immune cell effectors. Here, we examine this issue by focusing on neutrophils and NK cells as cells of increasing interest in cancer immunology and tumor immunometabolism, because they can be targeted or, in the case of NK, used as effectors in immunotherapy. In addition, neutrophils and NK cells have been shown to functionally interact. In the case of neutrophils, we also extended our interest to polymorphonuclear MDSC (PMN-MDSCs), since the granulocytic subset of MDSCs share many phenotypes and are functionally similar to pro-tumor neutrophils. Finally, we reviewed relevant strategies to target tumor metabolism, focusing on neutrophils and NK cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea De Lerma Barbaro
- Laboratory of Comparative Physiopathology, Department of Biotechnology and Life Sciences, University of Insubria, 21100 Varese, Italy
- Correspondence: (A.D.L.B.); (A.B.)
| | - Maria Teresa Palano
- Laboratory of Innate Immunity, Unit of Molecular Pathology, Biochemistry and Immunology, IRCCS MultiMedica, 20100 Milan, Italy; (M.T.P.); (M.C.)
| | - Martina Cucchiara
- Laboratory of Innate Immunity, Unit of Molecular Pathology, Biochemistry and Immunology, IRCCS MultiMedica, 20100 Milan, Italy; (M.T.P.); (M.C.)
| | - Matteo Gallazzi
- Laboratory of Immunology and General Pathology, Department of Biotechnology and Life Sciences, University of Insubria, 21100 Varese, Italy; (M.G.); (L.M.)
| | - Lorenzo Mortara
- Laboratory of Immunology and General Pathology, Department of Biotechnology and Life Sciences, University of Insubria, 21100 Varese, Italy; (M.G.); (L.M.)
| | - Antonino Bruno
- Laboratory of Innate Immunity, Unit of Molecular Pathology, Biochemistry and Immunology, IRCCS MultiMedica, 20100 Milan, Italy; (M.T.P.); (M.C.)
- Correspondence: (A.D.L.B.); (A.B.)
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Sfifou F, Hakkou EM, Bouaiti ELA, Slaoui M, Errihani H, Al Bouzidi A, Abouqal R, El Ouahabi A, Cherradi N. Correlation of immunohistochemical expression of HIF-1alpha and IDH1 with clinicopathological and therapeutic data of moroccan glioblastoma and survival analysis. Ann Med Surg (Lond) 2021; 69:102731. [PMID: 34466221 PMCID: PMC8384773 DOI: 10.1016/j.amsu.2021.102731] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2021] [Revised: 08/15/2021] [Accepted: 08/15/2021] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Glioblastomas are aggressive primary intracranial tumours of the central nervous system causing significant mortality and morbidity worldwide. OBJECTIVE This study aims to evaluate the prognostic value of tissue expression by immunostaining of hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF-1α), isocitrate dehydrogenase 1 (IDH1), and tumour protein p53 in glioblastoma in Moroccan patients. The association of HIF-1α, IDH1, and p53 expression with the clinicopathological data and overall patient survival (OS) was also evaluated. MATERIALS AND METHODS Confirmed glioblastomas were included in this study. Twenty-two tissue samples were obtained by neurosurgical intervention resulting from total resection, and subtotal resection or biopsy. Karnofsky index, histological type of tumour, and the status of IDH1, p53 protein, and HIF-1α expression by immunostaining were reported. RESULTS The majority of the patients were males (64%) with a sex ratio of 1.75. The average age was 54 ± 13. Median follow-up was 10.10 months and median overall survival was 10 months. The expression of HIF-1α was high in 10 samples (45%) and low in 12 (55%). There was a statistically significant difference in OS of 85% at 12 months for the subgroup of patients "HIF-1α negative IDH1 positive" p = 0.038, the unadjusted analysis showed that the group "HIF-1α positive, IDH1 positive" was a poor prognostic factor, the HR was 0.08 (95% CI: 0.009-0.756, p = 0.027). CONCLUSION Patients with negative HIF-1α expression and positive IDH1 expression have a better prognosis, suggesting that these two biomarkers may be useful in the search for new approaches for targeted therapy in glioblastoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fatima Sfifou
- Research's Pedagogic Unit of Pathological Anatomy, Laboratory of Pathological Anatomy. Research Team in Tumour Pathology, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, Mohammed V University in Rabat, Morocco
- Pathological Anatomy Department, Hospital of Specialities in Rabat, Morocco
| | - El Mehdi Hakkou
- Neurosurgery Department, Hospital of Specialities in Rabat, Morocco
| | - EL Arbi Bouaiti
- Laboratory of Biostatistics, Clinical Research and Epidemiology, Rabat Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, Mohammed V University in Rabat, Morocco
| | - Meriem Slaoui
- Research's Pedagogic Unit of Pathological Anatomy, Laboratory of Pathological Anatomy. Research Team in Tumour Pathology, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, Mohammed V University in Rabat, Morocco
| | - Hassan Errihani
- National Oncology Centre Sidi Mohamed Ben Abdallah in Rabat, Morocco
| | - Abderrahmane Al Bouzidi
- Research's Pedagogic Unit of Pathological Anatomy, Laboratory of Pathological Anatomy. Research Team in Tumour Pathology, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, Mohammed V University in Rabat, Morocco
| | - Redouane Abouqal
- Laboratory of Biostatistics, Clinical Research and Epidemiology, Rabat Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, Mohammed V University in Rabat, Morocco
| | | | - Nadia Cherradi
- Research's Pedagogic Unit of Pathological Anatomy, Laboratory of Pathological Anatomy. Research Team in Tumour Pathology, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, Mohammed V University in Rabat, Morocco
- Pathological Anatomy Department, Hospital of Specialities in Rabat, Morocco
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Borgia M, Dal Bo M, Toffoli G. Role of Virus-Related Chronic Inflammation and Mechanisms of Cancer Immune-Suppression in Pathogenesis and Progression of Hepatocellular Carcinoma. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:cancers13174387. [PMID: 34503196 PMCID: PMC8431318 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13174387] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2021] [Revised: 08/25/2021] [Accepted: 08/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Hepatocellular carcinoma pathogenesis is dependent on a chronic inflammation caused by several factors, including hepatotropic viruses, such as HCV and HBV. This chronic inflammation is established in the context of the immunotolerogenic environment peculiar of the liver, in which the immune system can be stimulated by HCV and HBV viral antigens. This complex interaction can be influenced by direct-acting antiviral drug treatments, capable of (almost totally) rapidly eradicating HCV infection. The influence of anti-viral treatments on HCC pathogenesis and progression remains to be fully clarified. Abstract Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) can be classified as a prototypical inflammation-driven cancer that generally arises from a background of liver cirrhosis, but that in the presence of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), could develop in the absence of fibrosis or cirrhosis. Tumor-promoting inflammation characterizes HCC pathogenesis, with an epidemiology of the chronic liver disease frequently encompassing hepatitis virus B (HBV) or C (HCV). HCC tumor onset and progression is a serial and heterogeneous process in which intrinsic factors, such as genetic mutations and chromosomal instability, are closely associated with an immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (TME), which may have features associated with the etiopathogenesis and expression of the viral antigens, which favor the evasion of tumor neoantigens to immune surveillance. With the introduction of direct-acting antiviral (DAA) therapies for HCV infection, sustained virological response (SVR) has become very high, although occurrence of HCC and reactivation of HBV in patients with co-infection, who achieved SVR in short term, have been observed in a significant proportion of treated cases. In this review, we discuss the main molecular and TME features that are responsible for HCC pathogenesis and progression. Peculiar functional aspects that could be related to the presence and treatment of HCV/HBV viral infections are also dealt with.
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Wang DK, Zuo Q, He QY, Li B. Targeted Immunotherapies in Gastrointestinal Cancer: From Molecular Mechanisms to Implications. Front Immunol 2021; 12:705999. [PMID: 34447376 PMCID: PMC8383067 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.705999] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2021] [Accepted: 07/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Gastrointestinal cancer is a leading cause of cancer-related mortality and remains a major challenge for cancer treatment. Despite the combined administration of modern surgical techniques and chemoradiotherapy (CRT), the overall 5-year survival rate of gastrointestinal cancer patients in advanced stage disease is less than 15%, due to rapid disease progression, metastasis, and CRT resistance. A better understanding of the mechanisms underlying cancer progression and optimized treatment strategies for gastrointestinal cancer are urgently needed. With increasing evidence highlighting the protective role of immune responses in cancer initiation and progression, immunotherapy has become a hot research topic in the integrative management of gastrointestinal cancer. Here, an overview of the molecular understanding of colorectal cancer, esophageal cancer and gastric cancer is provided. Subsequently, recently developed immunotherapy strategies, including immune checkpoint inhibitors, chimeric antigen receptor T cell therapies, tumor vaccines and therapies targeting other immune cells, have been described. Finally, the underlying mechanisms, fundamental research and clinical trials of each agent are discussed. Overall, this review summarizes recent advances and future directions for immunotherapy for patients with gastrointestinal malignancies.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Bin Li
- Ministry of Education (MOE), Key Laboratory of Tumor Molecular Biology and Key Laboratory of Functional Protein Research of Guangdong Higher Education Institutes, Institute of Life and Health Engineering, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
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Liu X, Li L, Si F, Huang L, Zhao Y, Zhang C, Hoft DF, Peng G. NK and NKT cells have distinct properties and functions in cancer. Oncogene 2021; 40:4521-4537. [PMID: 34120141 DOI: 10.1038/s41388-021-01880-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2020] [Revised: 05/14/2021] [Accepted: 06/01/2021] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
Natural killer (NK) and natural killer T (NKT) cells are two important cell subsets of the innate immune system. NK and NKT cells share many phenotypes and functions for anti-tumor immunity; however, the dynamic changes in phenotypes and functional interactions within the tumor microenvironment during tumor development and progression are unknown. Here we report that NK and NKT cells have distinct properties, metabolic profiles, and functions during tumor development. Using the mouse E0771 breast cancer and B16 melanoma models, we found that both NK and NKT cells are dynamically involved in the immune responses to cancer but have distinct distributions and phenotypic profiles in tumor sites and other peripheral organs during the course of tumor development and progression. In the early stages of tumor development, both NK and NKT cells exhibit effector properties. In the later cancer stages, NK and NKT cells have impaired cytotoxic capacities and dysfunctional states. NK cells become senescent cells, while NKT cells, other than invariant NKT (iNKT) cells, are exhausted in the advanced cancers. In contrast, iNKT cells develop increases in activation and effector function within the breast tumor microenvironment. In addition, senescent NK cells have heightened glucose and lipid metabolism, but exhausted NKT cells display unbalanced metabolism in tumor microenvironments of both breast cancer and melanoma tumor models. These studies provide a better understanding of the dynamic and distinct functional roles of NK and NKT cells in anti-tumor immunity, which may facilitate the development of novel immunotherapies targeting NK and NKT cells for cancer treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xia Liu
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Allergy & Immunology and Department of Internal Medicine, Saint Louis University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, MO, USA
| | - Lingyun Li
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Allergy & Immunology and Department of Internal Medicine, Saint Louis University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, MO, USA
| | - Fusheng Si
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Allergy & Immunology and Department of Internal Medicine, Saint Louis University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, MO, USA
| | - Lan Huang
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Allergy & Immunology and Department of Internal Medicine, Saint Louis University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, MO, USA
| | - Yangjing Zhao
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Allergy & Immunology and Department of Internal Medicine, Saint Louis University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, MO, USA
| | - Chenchen Zhang
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Allergy & Immunology and Department of Internal Medicine, Saint Louis University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, MO, USA
| | - Daniel F Hoft
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Allergy & Immunology and Department of Internal Medicine, Saint Louis University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, MO, USA
- Department of Molecular Microbiology & Immunology, Saint Louis University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, MO, USA
| | - Guangyong Peng
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Allergy & Immunology and Department of Internal Medicine, Saint Louis University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, MO, USA.
- Department of Molecular Microbiology & Immunology, Saint Louis University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, MO, USA.
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The TGF-β Pathway: A Pharmacological Target in Hepatocellular Carcinoma? Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:cancers13133248. [PMID: 34209646 PMCID: PMC8268320 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13133248] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2021] [Revised: 06/23/2021] [Accepted: 06/24/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Transforming Growth Factor-beta (TGF-β) superfamily members are essential for tissue homeostasis and consequently, dysregulation of their signaling pathways contributes to the development of human diseases. In the liver, TGF-β signaling participates in all the stages of disease progression from initial liver injury to hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). During liver carcinogenesis, TGF-β plays a dual role on the malignant cell, behaving as a suppressor factor at early stages, but contributing to later tumor progression once cells escape from its cytostatic effects. Moreover, TGF-β can modulate the response of the cells forming the tumor microenvironment that may also contribute to HCC progression, and drive immune evasion of cancer cells. Thus, targeting the TGF-β pathway may constitute an effective therapeutic option for HCC treatment. However, it is crucial to identify biomarkers that allow to predict the response of the tumors and appropriately select the patients that could benefit from TGF-β inhibitory therapies. Here we review the functions of TGF-β on HCC malignant and tumor microenvironment cells, and the current strategies targeting TGF-β signaling for cancer therapy. We also summarize the clinical impact of TGF-β inhibitors in HCC patients and provide a perspective on its future use alone or in combinatorial strategies for HCC treatment.
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Gastric Cancer Mesenchymal Stem Cells Inhibit NK Cell Function through mTOR Signalling to Promote Tumour Growth. Stem Cells Int 2021; 2021:9989790. [PMID: 34306099 PMCID: PMC8263240 DOI: 10.1155/2021/9989790] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2021] [Revised: 06/04/2021] [Accepted: 06/14/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
The dysfunction of natural killer (NK) cells has been increasingly reported in malignancies, especially in solid tumours. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) exhibit pleiotropic functions that include mediating immune cell exhaustion which is implicated in cancer progression. However, the association of MSCs derived from gastric cancer (gastric cancer mesenchymal stem cells: GCMSCs) with the dysfunction of NK cells remains poorly understood. In this study, we demonstrated that GCMSCs effectively contributed to the exhaustion of NK cells through the release of soluble factors. Furthermore, passivation of the antitumour effect in NK cells was closely associated with their dysfunctional state. The GCMSC-conditioned medium prevented the frequency and effector function of infiltrating NK cells in tumour-bearing mouse models, thus promoting tumour growth. Mechanistically, mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signalling, a critical regulator of cellular metabolism that mediates the function of immune cells, was inhibited in NK cells treated with GCMSCs. However, the checkpoint receptor PD-1 was still present at minimal levels with or without GCMSCs. The study results revealed that GCMSCs contributed to dysfunctional NK cells involved at least partially in the inhibition of mTOR signalling, suggesting potential directions for NK cell-based cancer immunotherapy.
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Kaweme NM, Zhou F. Optimizing NK Cell-Based Immunotherapy in Myeloid Leukemia: Abrogating an Immunosuppressive Microenvironment. Front Immunol 2021; 12:683381. [PMID: 34220833 PMCID: PMC8247591 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.683381] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2021] [Accepted: 05/31/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Natural killer (NK) cells are prominent cytotoxic and cytokine-producing components of the innate immune system representing crucial effector cells in cancer immunotherapy. Presently, various NK cell-based immunotherapies have contributed to the substantial improvement in the reconstitution of NK cells against advanced-staged and high-risk AML. Various NK cell sources, including haploidentical NK cells, adaptive NK cells, umbilical cord blood NK cells, stem cell-derived NK cells, chimeric antigen receptor NK cells, cytokine-induced memory-like NK cells, and NK cell lines have been identified. Devising innovative approaches to improve the generation of therapeutic NK cells from the aforementioned sources is likely to enhance NK cell expansion and activation, stimulate ex vivo and in vivo persistence of NK cells and improve conventional treatment response of myeloid leukemia. The tumor-promoting properties of the tumor microenvironment and downmodulation of NK cellular metabolic activity in solid tumors and hematological malignancies constitute a significant impediment in enhancing the anti-tumor effects of NK cells. In this review, we discuss the current NK cell sources, highlight ongoing interventions in enhancing NK cell function, and outline novel strategies to circumvent immunosuppressive factors in the tumor microenvironment to improve the efficacy of NK cell-based immunotherapy and expand their future success in treating myeloid leukemia.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Fuling Zhou
- Department of Hematology, Zhongnan Hospital, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
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Capuano C, Pighi C, Battella S, De Federicis D, Galandrini R, Palmieri G. Harnessing CD16-Mediated NK Cell Functions to Enhance Therapeutic Efficacy of Tumor-Targeting mAbs. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:cancers13102500. [PMID: 34065399 PMCID: PMC8161310 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13102500] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2021] [Accepted: 05/18/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Natural Killer (NK) cells play a major role in cancer immunotherapy based on tumor-targeting mAbs. NK cell-mediated tumor cell killing and cytokine secretion are powerfully stimulated upon interaction with IgG-opsonized tumor cells, through the aggregation of FcγRIIIA/CD16 IgG receptor. Advances in basic and translational NK cell biology have led to the development of strategies that, by improving mAb-dependent antitumor responses, may overcome the current limitations of antibody therapy attributable to tolerance, immunosuppressive microenvironment, and genotypic factors. This review provides an overview of the immunotherapeutic strategies being pursued to improve the efficacy of mAb-induced NK antitumor activity. The exploitation of antibody combinations, antibody-based molecules, used alone or combined with adoptive NK cell therapy, will be uncovered. Within the landscape of NK cell heterogeneity, we stress the role of memory NK cells as promising effectors in the next generation of immunotherapy with the aim to obtain long-lasting tumor control. Abstract Natural killer (NK) cells hold a pivotal role in tumor-targeting monoclonal antibody (mAb)-based activity due to the expression of CD16, the low-affinity receptor for IgG. Indeed, beyond exerting cytotoxic function, activated NK cells also produce an array of cytokines and chemokines, through which they interface with and potentiate adaptive immune responses. Thus, CD16-activated NK cells can concur to mAb-dependent “vaccinal effect”, i.e., the development of antigen-specific responses, which may be highly relevant in maintaining long-term protection of treated patients. On this basis, the review will focus on strategies aimed at potentiating NK cell-mediated antitumor functions in tumor-targeting mAb-based regimens, represented by (a) mAb manipulation strategies, aimed at augmenting recruitment and efficacy of NK cells, such as Fc-engineering, and the design of bi- or trispecific NK cell engagers and (b) the possible exploitation of memory NK cells, whose distinctive characteristics (enhanced responsiveness to CD16 engagement, longevity, and intrinsic resistance to the immunosuppressive microenvironment) may maximize therapeutic mAb antitumor efficacy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cristina Capuano
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy; (C.C.); (C.P.); (S.B.); (D.D.F.)
| | - Chiara Pighi
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy; (C.C.); (C.P.); (S.B.); (D.D.F.)
| | - Simone Battella
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy; (C.C.); (C.P.); (S.B.); (D.D.F.)
- ReiThera Srl, 00128 Rome, Italy
| | - Davide De Federicis
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy; (C.C.); (C.P.); (S.B.); (D.D.F.)
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Ricciarda Galandrini
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy; (C.C.); (C.P.); (S.B.); (D.D.F.)
- Correspondence: (R.G.); (G.P.)
| | - Gabriella Palmieri
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy; (C.C.); (C.P.); (S.B.); (D.D.F.)
- Correspondence: (R.G.); (G.P.)
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Abosalema H, Mahgoub S, Emara M, Kotb N, Soror S. Interrupted crosstalk between natural killer cells and anti-epidermal growth factor receptor: a possible role in hepatocellular carcinoma treatment failure. Curr Cancer Drug Targets 2021; 21:601-607. [PMID: 34011259 DOI: 10.2174/1568009621666210519105203] [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: 11/28/2020] [Revised: 02/20/2021] [Accepted: 02/23/2021] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a major health problem worldwide. Most patients are diagnosed for the first time at late stages; this leads to a very poor prognosis. It is challenging to discover strategies for treatment at these advanced stages. Recently, monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) targeting specific cellular signaling pathways in HCC have been developed. Unfortunately, they still have a low survival rate, and some of them failed clinically to produce effective responses even if they showed very good results against HCC in preclinical studies. This review focuses on and discusses the possible causes for the failure of mAbs, precisely anti-Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR) mAb and the crosstalk between this mAb and patients' NK cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hadeer Abosalema
- Deputy of Technical Mmanager, Biotechnology Unit, Egyptian Drug Authority (EDA), Giza, 12654, Egypt
| | - Shahenda Mahgoub
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Helwan University, Ein-Helwan, Helwan, Cairo,11795, Egypt
| | - Mohamed Emara
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Helwan University, Ein-Helwan, Helwan, Cairo,11795, Egypt
| | - Nahla Kotb
- Manager of Blood Derivative Unite, Egyptian Drug Authority (EDA), 12654, Egypt
| | - Sameh Soror
- Department of Biochemistry and molecular biology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Helwan University, Ein-Helwan, Helwan, Cairo,11795, Egypt
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Horowitz NB, Mohammad I, Moreno-Nieves UY, Koliesnik I, Tran Q, Sunwoo JB. Humanized Mouse Models for the Advancement of Innate Lymphoid Cell-Based Cancer Immunotherapies. Front Immunol 2021; 12:648580. [PMID: 33968039 PMCID: PMC8100438 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.648580] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2020] [Accepted: 03/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Innate lymphoid cells (ILCs) are a branch of the immune system that consists of diverse circulating and tissue-resident cells, which carry out functions including homeostasis and antitumor immunity. The development and behavior of human natural killer (NK) cells and other ILCs in the context of cancer is still incompletely understood. Since NK cells and Group 1 and 2 ILCs are known to be important for mediating antitumor immune responses, a clearer understanding of these processes is critical for improving cancer treatments and understanding tumor immunology as a whole. Unfortunately, there are some major differences in ILC differentiation and effector function pathways between humans and mice. To this end, mice bearing patient-derived xenografts or human cell line-derived tumors alongside human genes or human immune cells represent an excellent tool for studying these pathways in vivo. Recent advancements in humanized mice enable unparalleled insights into complex tumor-ILC interactions. In this review, we discuss ILC behavior in the context of cancer, the humanized mouse models that are most commonly employed in cancer research and their optimization for studying ILCs, current approaches to manipulating human ILCs for antitumor activity, and the relative utility of various mouse models for the development and assessment of these ILC-related immunotherapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nina B Horowitz
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Stanford Cancer Institute and Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, United States.,Department of Bioengineering, Stanford University School of Medicine and School of Engineering, Stanford, CA, United States
| | - Imran Mohammad
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Stanford Cancer Institute and Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, United States
| | - Uriel Y Moreno-Nieves
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Stanford Cancer Institute and Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, United States
| | - Ievgen Koliesnik
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Stanford Cancer Institute and Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, United States
| | - Quan Tran
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Stanford Cancer Institute and Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, United States
| | - John B Sunwoo
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Stanford Cancer Institute and Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, United States
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Lim SA, Moon Y, Shin MH, Kim TJ, Chae S, Yee C, Hwang D, Park H, Lee KM. Hypoxia-Driven HIF-1α Activation Reprograms Pre-Activated NK Cells towards Highly Potent Effector Phenotypes via ERK/STAT3 Pathways. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:cancers13081904. [PMID: 33920906 PMCID: PMC8071270 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13081904] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2021] [Revised: 04/07/2021] [Accepted: 04/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary In patients with advanced cancer, hypoxic stress shapes NK cells toward tumor-resistant and immunosuppressive phenotypes. Therefore, a strategy to restore NK cell function within hypoxia would be crucial for successful tumor immunotherapy. By manipulating pO2 exposure to naïve vs. pre-activated NK cells, we found that HIF-1α-dependent metabolic reprogramming of NK cells is the key to overcoming hypoxia-mediated NK cell impairment. Exposure of pre-activated NK cells to hypoxia with 1.5% pO2 initiated metabolic shift from oxidative phosphorylation to glycolysis and reduction of p21/p53-dependent apoptotic pathways, with concomitant upregulation of cell cycle-promoting genes and downregulation of cell cycle-arrest genes via HIF-1a/ERK/STAT3 activation. Furthermore, upregulation of NKp44 activating receptor in hypoxia-exposed pre-activated NK cells elevated cytotoxicity of K562, CEM, and A375 tumor cells, in both in-vitro and in-vivo tumor-clearance assays. Therefore, HIF-1α-mediated metabolic reprogramming of NK cells could reverse their impaired phenotype, generating functionally robust NK cells for adoptive therapy and clinical evaluation. Abstract NK cells are the predominant innate lymphocyte subsets specialized to kill malignant tumor cells. In patients with advanced cancer, hypoxic stress shapes NK cells toward tumor-resistant and immunosuppressive phenotypes, hence a strategy to restore NK function is critical for successful tumor immunotherapy. Here, we present evidence that pre-activation and subsequent HIF-1α-dependent metabolic shift of NK cells from oxidative phosphorylation into glycolysis are keys to overcome hypoxia-mediated impairment in NK cell survival, proliferation, and tumor cytotoxicity. Specifically, exposing NK cells to 7–9 days of normoxic culture followed by a pO2 of 1.5% hypoxia led to a highly potent effector phenotype via HIF-1α stabilization and upregulation of its target genes, BNIP3, PDK1, VEGF, PKM2, and LDHA. RNA sequencing and network analyses revealed that concomitant reduction of p21/p53 apoptotic pathways along with upregulation of cell cycle-promoting genes, CCNE1, CDC6, CDC20, and downregulation of cell cycle-arrest genes, CDKN1A, GADD45A, and MDM2 were accountable for superior expansion of NK cells via ERK/STAT3 activation. Furthermore, HIF-1α-dependent upregulation of the NKp44 receptor in hypoxia-exposed NK cells resulted in increased killing against K562, CEM, and A375 tumor targets both in-vitro and in-vivo tumor clearance assays. Therefore, hypoxic exposure on pre-activated proliferating NK cells triggered HIF-1α-dependent pathways to initiate coordinated regulation of cell cycle, apoptosis, and cytotoxicity at the global gene transcription level. Our results uncover a previously unidentified role of HIF-1α-mediated metabolic reprogramming that can reverse impaired NK effector phenotypes to generate requisite numbers of functionally robust NK cells for adoptive cellular therapy for clinical evaluation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seon Ah Lim
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Medicine, Korea University, Seoul 02841, Korea; (S.A.L.); (M.H.S.); (T.-J.K.)
| | - Yunwon Moon
- Department of Life Science, University of Seoul, Seoul 02504, Korea;
| | - Min Hwa Shin
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Medicine, Korea University, Seoul 02841, Korea; (S.A.L.); (M.H.S.); (T.-J.K.)
| | - Tae-Jin Kim
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Medicine, Korea University, Seoul 02841, Korea; (S.A.L.); (M.H.S.); (T.-J.K.)
| | - Sehyun Chae
- Korea Brain Bank, Korea Brain Research Institute, Daegu 41068, Korea;
| | - Cassian Yee
- Departments of Melanoma Medical Oncology and Immunology, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77054, USA;
| | - Daehee Hwang
- School of Biological Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Korea;
| | - Hyunsung Park
- Department of Life Science, University of Seoul, Seoul 02504, Korea;
- Correspondence: (H.P.); (K.-M.L.); Tel.: +82-2-6490-2670 (H.P.); +82-2-920-6251 (K-M.L.)
| | - Kyung-Mi Lee
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Medicine, Korea University, Seoul 02841, Korea; (S.A.L.); (M.H.S.); (T.-J.K.)
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Center for Bio-Integrated Electronics, Simpson Querrey Institute, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL 60208, USA
- Correspondence: (H.P.); (K.-M.L.); Tel.: +82-2-6490-2670 (H.P.); +82-2-920-6251 (K-M.L.)
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Lee H, Da Silva IP, Palendira U, Scolyer RA, Long GV, Wilmott JS. Targeting NK Cells to Enhance Melanoma Response to Immunotherapies. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:cancers13061363. [PMID: 33802954 PMCID: PMC8002669 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13061363] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2021] [Revised: 03/09/2021] [Accepted: 03/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Natural killer (NK) cells are a key component of an innate immune system. They are important not only in initiating, but also in augmenting adaptive immune responses. NK cell activation is mediated by a carefully orchestrated balance between the signals from inhibitory and activating NK cell receptors. NK cells are potent producers of proinflammatory cytokines and are also able to elicit strong antitumor responses through secretion of perforin and granzyme B. Tumors can develop many mechanisms to evade NK cell antitumor responses, such as upregulating ligands for inhibitory receptors, secreting anti-inflammatory cytokines and recruiting immunosuppressive cells. Enhancing NK cell responses will likely augment the effectiveness of immunotherapies, and strategies to accomplish this are currently being evaluated in clinical trials. A comprehensive understanding of NK cell biology will likely provide additional opportunities to further leverage the antitumor effects of NK cells. In this review, we therefore sought to highlight NK cell biology, tumor evasion of NK cells and clinical trials that target NK cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hansol Lee
- Melanoma Institute Australia, The University of Sydney, Sydney 2006, Australia; (H.L.); (I.P.D.S.); (U.P.); (R.A.S.); (J.S.W.)
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, The University of Sydney, Sydney 2006, Australia
| | - Inês Pires Da Silva
- Melanoma Institute Australia, The University of Sydney, Sydney 2006, Australia; (H.L.); (I.P.D.S.); (U.P.); (R.A.S.); (J.S.W.)
| | - Umaimainthan Palendira
- Melanoma Institute Australia, The University of Sydney, Sydney 2006, Australia; (H.L.); (I.P.D.S.); (U.P.); (R.A.S.); (J.S.W.)
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Immunology, The Charles Perkins Centre, School of Medical Sciences, The University of Sydney, Sydney 2006, Australia
| | - Richard A. Scolyer
- Melanoma Institute Australia, The University of Sydney, Sydney 2006, Australia; (H.L.); (I.P.D.S.); (U.P.); (R.A.S.); (J.S.W.)
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, The University of Sydney, Sydney 2006, Australia
- Department of Tissue Pathology and Diagnostic Oncology, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital and NSW Health Pathology, Sydney 2006, Australia
| | - Georgina V. Long
- Melanoma Institute Australia, The University of Sydney, Sydney 2006, Australia; (H.L.); (I.P.D.S.); (U.P.); (R.A.S.); (J.S.W.)
- Department of Medical Oncology, Royal North Shore Hospital and Mater Hospital, Sydney 2065, Australia
- Sydney Medical School, The University of Sydney, Sydney 2006, Australia
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +61-2-9911-7336
| | - James S. Wilmott
- Melanoma Institute Australia, The University of Sydney, Sydney 2006, Australia; (H.L.); (I.P.D.S.); (U.P.); (R.A.S.); (J.S.W.)
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, The University of Sydney, Sydney 2006, Australia
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Intratumor Regulatory Noncytotoxic NK Cells in Patients with Hepatocellular Carcinoma. Cells 2021; 10:cells10030614. [PMID: 33802077 PMCID: PMC7999652 DOI: 10.3390/cells10030614] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2020] [Revised: 03/05/2021] [Accepted: 03/07/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Previous studies support the role of natural killer (NK) cells in controlling hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) progression. However, ambiguity remains about the multiplicity and the role of different NK cell subsets, as a pro-oncogenic function has been suggested. We performed phenotypic and functional characterization of NK cells infiltrating HCC, with the corresponding nontumorous tissue and liver from patients undergoing liver resection for colorectal liver metastasis used as controls. We identified a reduced number of NK cells in tumors with higher frequency of CD56BRIGHTCD16- NK cells associated with higher expression of NKG2A, NKp44, and NKp30 and downregulation of NKG2D. Liver-resident (CXCR6+) NK cells were reduced in the tumors where T-bethiEomeslo expression was predominant. HCCs showed higher expression of CD49a with particular enrichment in CD49a+Eomes+ NK cells, a subset typically represented in the decidua and playing a proangiogenic function. Functional analysis showed reduced TNF-α production along with impaired cytotoxic capacity that was inversely related to CXCR6-, T-bethiEomeslo, and CD49a+Eomes+ NK cells. In conclusion, we identified a subset of NK cells infiltrating HCC, including non-liver-resident cells that coexpressed CD49a and Eomes and showed reduced cytotoxic potential. This NK cell subset likely plays a regulatory role in proangiogenic function.
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Malchiodi ZX, Weiner LM. Understanding and Targeting Natural Killer Cell-Cancer-Associated Fibroblast Interactions in Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:cancers13030405. [PMID: 33499238 PMCID: PMC7865209 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13030405] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2020] [Revised: 01/15/2021] [Accepted: 01/20/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Pancreatic cancer is an aggressive disease with a 5-year survival rate of less than 10%. Current therapies can be ineffective due to immune suppression and fibrosis (tissue scarring) that prevents cancer cells from being killed. This review article discusses the relevance of examining how natural killer (NK) cells, immune cells involved in the anti-cancer immune response, interact with cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs), which cause fibrosis, in pancreatic cancer. Understanding how these cell types interact may provide insights to guide the development of novel targeted therapies to increase immune response and survival in patients with pancreatic cancer. Abstract Interactions between natural killer (NK) cells and cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) comprise a relevant but relatively understudied crosstalk relationship within the tumor microenvironment (TME). This review discusses the relevance of both natural killer cell and cancer-associated fibroblast function and activity in cancers, with an emphasis on pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), incorporating additional insights from other malignancies to inform future directions for research. We describe what is currently known about NK cell-CAF crosstalk and their molecular interactions, how it is possible to exploit NK cell cytotoxicity in tumors and how to target CAFs to enhance efficacy of cancer therapies and cytotoxic immune cells. Although not previously tested in combination, there is an abundance of evidence demonstrating that targeting tumor-promoting CAFs and exploiting NK cells, separately, are beneficial as therapeutic strategies. This raises the possibility that a novel combination regimen addressing these two cell targets may be even more beneficial to eradicate PDAC and other solid tumors.
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Sundaram A, Peng L, Chai L, Xie Z, Ponraj JS, Wang X, Wang G, Zhang B, Nie G, Xie N, Rajesh Kumar M, Zhang H. Advanced nanomaterials for hypoxia tumor therapy: challenges and solutions. NANOSCALE 2020; 12:21497-21518. [PMID: 33094770 DOI: 10.1039/d0nr06271e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
In recent years, nanomaterials and nanotechnology have emerged as vital factors in the medical field with a unique contribution to cancer medicine. Given the increasing number of cancer patients, it is necessarily required to develop innovative strategies and therapeutic modalities to tackle hypoxia, which forms a hallmark and great barrier in treating solid tumors. The present review details the challenges in nanotechnology-based hypoxia, targeting the strategies and solutions for better therapeutic performances. The interaction between hypoxia and tumor is firstly introduced. Then, we review the recently developed engineered nanomaterials towards multimodal hypoxia tumor therapies, including chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and sonodynamic treatment. In the next part, we summarize the nanotechnology-based strategies for overcoming hypoxia problems. Finally, current challenges and future directions are proposed for successfully overcoming the hypoxia tumor problems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aravindkumar Sundaram
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, the Sixth Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, 511508 Qingyuan, Guangdong, China.
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