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Jeibouei S, Monfared AK, Hojat A, Aref AR, Shams F, Dolati M, Moradi A, Hosseini M, Javadi SM, Ajoudanian M, Molavi Z, Moghaddam M, Mohammadi F, Nuoroozi G, Naeimi SK, Shahani M, Zali H, Akbari ME, Mostafavi E. Human-derived Tumor-On-Chip model to study the heterogeneity of breast cancer tissue. BIOMATERIALS ADVANCES 2024; 162:213915. [PMID: 38878646 DOI: 10.1016/j.bioadv.2024.213915] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2023] [Revised: 05/19/2024] [Accepted: 05/29/2024] [Indexed: 07/03/2024]
Abstract
One of the leading causes that complicate the treatment of some malignancies, including breast cancer, is tumor heterogeneity. In addition to inter-heterogeneity and intra-heterogeneity of tumors that reflect the differences between cancer cell characteristics, heterogeneity in the tumor microenvironment plays a critical role in tumor progression and could be considered an overlooked and a proper target for the effective selection of therapeutic approaches. Due to the difficulty of completely capturing tumor heterogeneity in conventional detection methods, Tumor-on-Chip (TOC) devices with culturing patient-derived spheroids could be an appropriate alternative. In this research, human-derived spheroids from breast cancer individuals were cultured for 6 days in microfluidic devices. To compare TOC data with conventional detection methods, immunohistochemistry (IHC) and ITRAQ data were employed, and various protein expressions were validated using the transcriptomic databases. The behavior of the spheroids in the collagen matrix and the cell viability were monitored over 6 days of culture. IHC and immunocytochemistry (ICC) results revealed that inter and intra-heterogeneity of tumor spheroids are associated with HER2/ER expression. HER2 expression levels revealed a more important biomarker associated with invasion in the 3D culturing of spheroids. The expression levels of CD163 (as a marker for Ma2 macrophages) and CD44 (a marker for cancer stem cells (CSCs)) were also evaluated. Interestingly, the levels of M2a macrophages and CSCs were higher in triple-negative specimens and samples that showed higher migration and invasion. Cell density and extracellular matrix (ECM) stiffness were also important factors affecting the migration and invasion of the spheroids through the matrix. Among these, rigid ECM revealed a more crucial role than cell density. To sum up, these research findings demonstrated that human-derived spheroids from breast cancer specimens in microfluidic devices provide a dynamic condition for predicting tumor heterogeneity in patients, which can help move the field forward for better and more accurate therapeutic strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shabnam Jeibouei
- Cancer Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran 19839-63113, Iran; Virginia Seafood Agricultural Research and Extension Center, Virginia Tech, Hampton, VA 23669, USA
| | - Arefeh Khazraie Monfared
- William Harvey Research Institute, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Ali Hojat
- Cancer Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran 19839-63113, Iran
| | - Amir Reza Aref
- Department of surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Vitro Vision, DeepkinetiX Inc, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Forough Shams
- Department of Medical Biotechnology, School of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mandana Dolati
- Cancer Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran 19839-63113, Iran
| | - Afshin Moradi
- Cancer Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran 19839-63113, Iran
| | - Masoumeh Hosseini
- Cancer Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran 19839-63113, Iran
| | - Seyed Mohammadreza Javadi
- Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, Besat Hospital, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan 65178-38636, Iran
| | - Mohammad Ajoudanian
- Department of Medical Biotechnology, School of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Zahra Molavi
- Proteomics Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Science, Tehran 19839-63113, Iran
| | - Maryam Moghaddam
- Department of Tissue Engineering and Applied Cell Sciences, School of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran 19839-63113, Iran
| | - Farzaneh Mohammadi
- Cancer Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran 19839-63113, Iran
| | - Ghader Nuoroozi
- Men's Health and Reproductive Health Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Sahar Khakpour Naeimi
- Islamic Azad University, Central Tehran Branch, Faculty of Basic Sciences, Department of Biology, Tehran 63537-11489, Iran
| | - Minoo Shahani
- Cancer Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran 19839-63113, Iran
| | - Hakimeh Zali
- Cancer Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran 19839-63113, Iran; Department of Tissue Engineering and Applied Cell Sciences, School of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran 19839-63113, Iran.
| | - Mohammad Esmaeil Akbari
- Cancer Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran 19839-63113, Iran.
| | - Ebrahim Mostafavi
- Stanford Cardiovascular Institute, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA; Department of Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA.
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Rodríguez-Bejarano OH, Parra-López C, Patarroyo MA. A review concerning the breast cancer-related tumour microenvironment. Crit Rev Oncol Hematol 2024; 199:104389. [PMID: 38734280 DOI: 10.1016/j.critrevonc.2024.104389] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2024] [Revised: 04/29/2024] [Accepted: 05/06/2024] [Indexed: 05/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Breast cancer (BC) is currently the most common malignant tumour in women and one of the leading causes of their death around the world. New and increasingly personalised diagnostic and therapeutic tools have been introduced over the last few decades, along with significant advances regarding the study and knowledge related to BC. The tumour microenvironment (TME) refers to the tumour cell-associated cellular and molecular environment which can influence conditions affecting tumour development and progression. The TME is composed of immune cells, stromal cells, extracellular matrix (ECM) and signalling molecules secreted by these different cell types. Ever deeper understanding of TME composition changes during tumour development and progression will enable new and more innovative therapeutic strategies to become developed for targeting tumours during specific stages of its evolution. This review summarises the role of BC-related TME components and their influence on tumour progression and the development of resistance to therapy. In addition, an account on the modifications in BC-related TME components associated with therapy is given, and the completed or ongoing clinical trials related to this topic are presented.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oscar Hernán Rodríguez-Bejarano
- Health Sciences Faculty, Universidad de Ciencias Aplicadas y Ambientales (U.D.C.A), Calle 222#55-37, Bogotá 111166, Colombia; Molecular Biology and Immunology Department, Fundación Instituto de Inmunología de Colombia (FIDIC), Carrera 50#26-20, Bogotá 111321, Colombia; PhD Programme in Biotechnology, Faculty of Sciences, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Carrera 45#26-85, Bogotá 111321, Colombia
| | - Carlos Parra-López
- Microbiology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Carrera 45#26-85, Bogotá 111321, Colombia.
| | - Manuel Alfonso Patarroyo
- Molecular Biology and Immunology Department, Fundación Instituto de Inmunología de Colombia (FIDIC), Carrera 50#26-20, Bogotá 111321, Colombia; Microbiology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Carrera 45#26-85, Bogotá 111321, Colombia.
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3
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Chang K, Yue Q, Jin L, Fan P, Liu Y, Cao F, Zhang Y. Comprehensive Molecular Analyses of an M2-Like Tumor-Associated Macrophage for Predicting the Prognosis and Immunotherapy in Breast Cancer. J Immunother 2024; 47:205-215. [PMID: 38686904 DOI: 10.1097/cji.0000000000000517] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2024] [Accepted: 03/07/2024] [Indexed: 05/02/2024]
Abstract
The involvement of M2-like tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) in the advancement and treatment of cancer has been widely documented. This study aimed to develop a new signature associated with M2-like TAMs to predict the prognosis and treatment response in individuals diagnosed with breast cancer (BC). Weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) was used to identity for M2-like TAM-related modular genes. The M2-like TAM-related modular subtype was identified using unsupervised clustering. WGCNA identified 722 M2-like TAM genes, 204 of which were associated with recurrence-free survival (RFS). Patients in cluster 1 exhibited upregulated cancer-related pathways, a higher proportion of triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) subtypes, lower expression of immune checkpoints, and worse prognosis. Cluster 2 was characterized by upregulated immune-related pathways, a higher proportion of luminal A subtypes, and higher expression of immune checkpoints. A prognostic signature was created and confirmed using an independent dataset. A well-built nomogram can accurately forecast the survival outcomes for every individual. Furthermore, patients classified as low-risk exhibited a more favorable outlook, elevated tumor microenvironment (TME) score, and superior reaction to immunotherapy. In conclusion, we discovered 2 different types of M2-like TAMs and developed a prognostic signature revealing the diversity of M2-like TAMs in BC and their correlation with immune status and prognosis. This feature can predict the prognosis and immunotherapeutic effects of BC and offer novel concepts and approaches for tailoring BC treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kexin Chang
- Department of Thyroid, Breast and Vascular Surgery, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China
| | - QingFang Yue
- Department of Oncology, Shaanxi Provincial People's Hospital, Xi'an, China
| | - Long Jin
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Shaanxi Provincial People's Hospital, Xi'an, China
| | - Pengyu Fan
- Department of Thyroid, Breast and Vascular Surgery, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, The State Key Laboratory of Cancer Biology, The Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China
| | - Yi Liu
- Department of Oncology, Shaanxi Provincial People's Hospital, Xi'an, China
| | - Fei Cao
- Department of Oncology, Shaanxi Provincial People's Hospital, Xi'an, China
| | - Yuan Zhang
- Department of Oncology, Shaanxi Provincial People's Hospital, Xi'an, China
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Li Z, Xia Q, He Y, Li L, Yin P. MDSCs in bone metastasis: Mechanisms and therapeutic potential. Cancer Lett 2024; 592:216906. [PMID: 38649108 DOI: 10.1016/j.canlet.2024.216906] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2023] [Revised: 04/17/2024] [Accepted: 04/17/2024] [Indexed: 04/25/2024]
Abstract
Bone metastasis (BM) is a frequent complication associated with advanced cancer that significantly increases patient mortality. Myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) play a pivotal role in BM progression by promoting angiogenesis, inhibiting immune responses, and inducing osteoclastogenesis. MDSCs induce immunosuppression through diverse mechanisms, including the generation of reactive oxygen species, nitric oxide, and immunosuppressive cytokines. Within the bone metastasis niche (BMN), MDSCs engage in intricate interactions with tumor, stromal, and bone cells, thereby establishing a complex regulatory network. The biological activities and functions of MDSCs are regulated by the microenvironment within BMN. Conversely, MDSCs actively contribute to microenvironmental regulation, thereby promoting BM development. A comprehensive understanding of the indispensable role played by MDSCs in BM is imperative for the development of novel therapeutic strategies. This review highlights the involvement of MDSCs in BM development, their regulatory mechanisms, and their potential as viable therapeutic targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhi Li
- Interventional Cancer Institute of Chinese Integrative Medicine, Putuo Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 200062, China; Department of General Surgery, Hubei Provincial Clinical Research Center for Umbilical Cord Blood Hematopoietic Stem Cells, Taihe Hospital, Hubei University of Medicine, Shiyan 442000, China
| | - Qi Xia
- Interventional Cancer Institute of Chinese Integrative Medicine, Putuo Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 200062, China
| | - Yujie He
- Interventional Cancer Institute of Chinese Integrative Medicine, Putuo Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 200062, China
| | - Lei Li
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Regulatory Biology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, School of Life Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, China.
| | - Peihao Yin
- Interventional Cancer Institute of Chinese Integrative Medicine, Putuo Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 200062, China.
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Chen X, Peng H, Zhang Z, Yang C, Liu Y, Chen Y, Yu F, Wu S, Cao L. SPDYC serves as a prognostic biomarker related to lipid metabolism and the immune microenvironment in breast cancer. Immunol Res 2024:10.1007/s12026-024-09505-5. [PMID: 38890248 DOI: 10.1007/s12026-024-09505-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2024] [Accepted: 06/04/2024] [Indexed: 06/20/2024]
Abstract
Breast cancer remains the most common malignant carcinoma among women globally and is resistant to several therapeutic agents. There is a need for novel targets to improve the prognosis of patients with breast cancer. Bioinformatics analyses were conducted to explore potentially relevant prognostic genes in breast cancer using The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and The Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) databases. Gene subtypes were categorized by machine learning algorithms. The machine learning-related breast cancer (MLBC) score was evaluated through principal component analysis (PCA) of clinical patients' pathological statuses and subtypes. Immune cell infiltration was analyzed using the xCell and CIBERSORT algorithms. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes enrichment analysis elucidated regulatory pathways related to speedy/RINGO cell cycle regulator family member C (SPDYC) in breast cancer. The biological functions and lipid metabolic status of breast cancer cell lines were validated via quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT‒qPCR) assays, western blotting, CCK-8 assays, PI‒Annexin V fluorescence staining, transwell assays, wound healing assays, and Oil Red O staining. Key differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in breast cancer from the TCGA and GEO databases were screened and utilized to establish the MLBC score. Moreover, the MLBC score we established was negatively correlated with poor prognosis in breast cancer patients. Furthermore, the impacts of SPDYC on the tumor immune microenvironment and lipid metabolism in breast cancer were revealed and validated. SPDYC is closely related to activated dendritic cells and macrophages and is simultaneously correlated with the immune checkpoints CD47, cytotoxic T lymphocyte antigen-4 (CTLA-4), and poliovirus receptor (PVR). SPDYC strongly correlated with C-C motif chemokine ligand 7 (CCL7), a chemokine that influences breast cancer patient prognosis. A significant relationship was discovered between key genes involved in lipid metabolism and SPDYC, such as ELOVL fatty acid elongase 2 (ELOVL2), malic enzyme 1 (ME1), and squalene epoxidase (SQLE). Potent inhibitors targeting SPDYC in breast cancer were also discovered, including JNK inhibitor VIII, AICAR, and JW-7-52-1. Downregulation of SPDYC expression in vitro decreased proliferation, increased the apoptotic rate, decreased migration, and reduced lipid droplets. SPDYC possibly influences the tumor immune microenvironment and regulates lipid metabolism in breast cancer. Hence, this study identified SPDYC as a pivotal biomarker for developing therapeutic strategies for breast cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinxin Chen
- Department of Breast Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Haojie Peng
- Department of Breast Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Zhentao Zhang
- The First Clinical College, Guangdong Medical University, Zhanjiang, Guangdong, China
| | - Changnian Yang
- The First Clinical College, Guangdong Medical University, Zhanjiang, Guangdong, China
| | - Yingqi Liu
- The First Clinical College, Guangdong Medical University, Zhanjiang, Guangdong, China
| | - Yanzhen Chen
- Department of Gynecology, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital, Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Fei Yu
- Medical Research Institute, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital (Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences), Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Shanshan Wu
- Department of Biology, School of Basic Medical Science, Guangdong Medical University, Zhanjiang, Guangdong, China.
| | - Lixue Cao
- Medical Research Institute, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital (Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences), Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China.
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6
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Zaakouk M, Longworth A, Hunter K, Jiman S, Kearns D, El-Deftar M, Shaaban AM. Detailed Profiling of the Tumor Microenvironment in Ethnic Breast Cancer, Using Tissue Microarrays and Multiplex Immunofluorescence. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:6501. [PMID: 38928207 PMCID: PMC11203983 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25126501] [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: 04/30/2024] [Revised: 06/04/2024] [Accepted: 06/07/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Breast cancer poses a global health challenge, yet the influence of ethnicity on the tumor microenvironment (TME) remains understudied. In this investigation, we examined immune cell infiltration in 230 breast cancer samples, emphasizing diverse ethnic populations. Leveraging tissue microarrays (TMAs) and core samples, we applied multiplex immunofluorescence (mIF) to dissect immune cell subtypes across TME regions. Our analysis revealed distinct immune cell distribution patterns, particularly enriched in aggressive molecular subtypes triple-negative and HER2-positive tumors. We observed significant correlations between immune cell abundance and key clinicopathological parameters, including tumor size, lymph node involvement, and patient overall survival. Notably, immune cell location within different TME regions showed varying correlations with clinicopathologic parameters. Additionally, ethnicities exhibited diverse distributions of cells, with certain ethnicities showing higher abundance compared to others. In TMA samples, patients of Chinese and Caribbean origin displayed significantly lower numbers of B cells, TAMs, and FOXP3-positive cells. These findings highlight the intricate interplay between immune cells and breast cancer progression, with implications for personalized treatment strategies. Moving forward, integrating advanced imaging techniques, and exploring immune cell heterogeneity in diverse ethnic cohorts can uncover novel immune signatures and guide tailored immunotherapeutic interventions, ultimately improving breast cancer management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohamed Zaakouk
- Institute of Cancer and Genomic Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK; (M.Z.); (K.H.)
- Department of Cellular Pathology, Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2GW, UK; (A.L.); (S.J.); (D.K.)
- Cancer Pathology Department, National Cancer Institute, Cairo University, Cairo 11796, Egypt;
| | - Aisling Longworth
- Department of Cellular Pathology, Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2GW, UK; (A.L.); (S.J.); (D.K.)
| | - Kelly Hunter
- Institute of Cancer and Genomic Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK; (M.Z.); (K.H.)
| | - Suhaib Jiman
- Department of Cellular Pathology, Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2GW, UK; (A.L.); (S.J.); (D.K.)
| | - Daniel Kearns
- Department of Cellular Pathology, Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2GW, UK; (A.L.); (S.J.); (D.K.)
| | - Mervat El-Deftar
- Cancer Pathology Department, National Cancer Institute, Cairo University, Cairo 11796, Egypt;
| | - Abeer M Shaaban
- Institute of Cancer and Genomic Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK; (M.Z.); (K.H.)
- Department of Cellular Pathology, Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2GW, UK; (A.L.); (S.J.); (D.K.)
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Tu Y, Luo Y, Zhao Q, Zeng Y, Leng K, Zhu M. Role of macrophage in ocular neovascularization. Heliyon 2024; 10:e30840. [PMID: 38770313 PMCID: PMC11103465 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e30840] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2023] [Revised: 04/10/2024] [Accepted: 05/06/2024] [Indexed: 05/22/2024] Open
Abstract
Ocular neovascularization is the leading cause of blindness in clinical settings. Pathological angiogenesis of the eye can be divided into corneal neovascularization (CoNV), retinal neovascularization (RNV, including diabetic retinopathy and retinopathy of prematurity), and choroidal neovascularization (CNV) based on the anatomical location of abnormal neovascularization. Although anti-Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) agents have wide-ranging clinical applications and are an effective treatment for neovascular eye disease, many deficiencies in this treatment strategy remain. Recently, emerging evidence has demonstrated that macrophages are vital during the process of physiological and pathological angiogenesis. Monocyte-macrophage lineage is diverse and plastic, they can shift between different activation modes and have different functions. Due to the obvious regulatory effect of macrophages on inflammation and angiogenesis, macrophages have been increasingly studied in the field of ophthalmology. Here, we detail how macrophage activated and the role of different subtypes of macrophages in the pathogenesis of ocular neovascularization. The complexity of macrophages has recently taken center stage owing to their subset diversity and tightly regulated molecular and metabolic phenotypes. In this review, we reveal the functional and phenotypic characterization of macrophage subsets associated with ocular neovascularization, more in-depth research is needed to explore the specific mechanisms by which macrophages regulate angiogenesis as well as macrophage polarization. Targeted regulation of macrophage differentiation based on their phenotype and function could be an effective approach to treat and manage ocular neovascularization in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuanyuan Tu
- Department of Ophthalmology, Lixiang Eye Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, China
| | - Yalu Luo
- Suzhou Medical College, Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Qingliang Zhao
- Department of Ophthalmology, Lixiang Eye Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, China
| | - Yanfeng Zeng
- Department of Ophthalmology, Lixiang Eye Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, China
| | - Kai Leng
- Department of Medical Informatics, Jiangsu Province Hospital, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 210029, China
| | - Manhui Zhu
- Department of Ophthalmology, Lixiang Eye Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, China
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Roberts M, Finn J, Lass M, Oviedo-Bermudez E, Kurt RA. Efficacy of IFN-γ, sCD40L, and Poly(I:C) Treated Bone Marrow-Derived Macrophages in Murine Mammary Carcinoma. Immunol Invest 2024:1-15. [PMID: 38813886 DOI: 10.1080/08820139.2024.2354264] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/31/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Here, we explored methods to generate anti-tumor bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMDM) and how delivery of the BMDM at early tumor sites could impact disease progression. METHODS BMDM treated with IFN-γ, sCD40L, poly(I:C), and a combination of the three were assessed. RESULTS Treatment with sCD40L had no significant impact on the BMDM. Treating BMDM with IFN-γ impacted IL-1β, MHC Class II, and CD80 expression. While poly(I:C) treatment had a greater impact on the BMDM than IFN-γ when assessed by the in vitro assays, the BMDM treated with poly (I:C) had mixed results in vivo where they decreased growth of the EMT6 tumor, did not impact growth of the 168 tumor, and enhanced growth of the 4T1 tumor. The combination of poly(I:C), IFN-γ, and sCD40L had the greatest impact on the BMDM in vitro and in vivo. Treatment with all three agonists resulted in increased IL-1β, TNF-α, and IL-12 expression, decreased expression of arginase and mrc, increased phagocytic activity, nitrite production, and MHC Class II and CD80 expression, and significantly impacted growth of the EMT6 and 168 murine mammary carcinoma models. DISCUSSION Collectively, these data show that treating BMDM with poly(I:C), IFN-γ, and sCD40L generates BMDM with more consistent anti-tumor activity than BMDM generated with the individual agonists.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meghan Roberts
- Department of Biology, Lafayette College, Easton, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Joshua Finn
- Department of Biology, Lafayette College, Easton, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Melissa Lass
- Department of Biology, Lafayette College, Easton, Pennsylvania, USA
| | | | - Robert A Kurt
- Department of Biology, Lafayette College, Easton, Pennsylvania, USA
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Raja MRK, Gupta G, Atkinson G, Kathrein K, Armstrong A, Gower M, Roninson I, Broude E, Chen M, Ji H, Lim C, Wang H, Fan D, Xu P, Li J, Zhou G, Chen H. Host-derived Interleukin 1α induces an immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment via regulating monocyte-to-macrophage differentiation. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.05.03.592354. [PMID: 38746389 PMCID: PMC11092773 DOI: 10.1101/2024.05.03.592354] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/16/2024]
Abstract
Tumor-associated macrophages exhibit high heterogeneity and contribute to the establishment of an immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (TME). Although numerous studies have demonstrated that extracellular factors promote macrophage proliferation and polarization, the regulatory mechanisms governing the differentiation process to generate phenotypically, and functionally diverse macrophage subpopulations remain largely unexplored. In this study, we examined the influence of interleukin 1α (IL-1α) on the development of an immunosuppressive TME using orthotopic transplantation murine models of breast cancer. Deletion of host Il1α led to the rejection of inoculated congenic tumors. Single-cell sequencing analysis revealed that CX3CR1+ macrophage cells were the primary sources of IL-1α in the TME. The absence of IL-1α reprogrammed the monocyte-to-macrophage differentiation process within the TME, characterized by a notable decrease in the subset of CX3CR+ ductal-like macrophages and an increase in iNOS-expressing inflammatory cells. Comparative analysis of gene signatures in both human and mouse macrophage subsets suggested that IL-1α deficiency shifted the macrophage polarization from M2 to M1 phenotypes, leading to enhanced cytotoxic T lymphocyte activity in the TME. Importantly, elevated levels of IL-1α in human cancers were associated with worse prognosis following immunotherapy. These findings underscore the pivotal role of IL-1α in shaping an immune-suppressive TME through the regulation of macrophage differentiation and activity, highlighting IL-1α as a potential target for breast cancer treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Gourab Gupta
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC 29208, USA
| | - Grace Atkinson
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC 29208, USA
| | - Katie Kathrein
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC 29208, USA
| | - Alissa Armstrong
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC 29208, USA
| | - Michael Gower
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Biomedical Engineering, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC 29108, USA
| | - Igor Roninson
- Department of Drug Discovery & Biomedical Sciences (DDBS), College of Pharmacy, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC 29208, USA
| | - Eugenia Broude
- Department of Drug Discovery & Biomedical Sciences (DDBS), College of Pharmacy, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC 29208, USA
| | - Menqiang Chen
- Department of Drug Discovery & Biomedical Sciences (DDBS), College of Pharmacy, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC 29208, USA
| | - Hao Ji
- Department of Drug Discovery & Biomedical Sciences (DDBS), College of Pharmacy, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC 29208, USA
| | - Changuk Lim
- Department of Drug Discovery & Biomedical Sciences (DDBS), College of Pharmacy, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC 29208, USA
| | - Hongjun Wang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Stevens Institute of Technology, Hoboken, NJ 07030, USA
| | - Daping Fan
- Department of Cell Biology and Anatomy, University of South Carolina School of Medicine, Columbia, SC 29209, USA
| | - Peisheng Xu
- Department of Drug Discovery & Biomedical Sciences (DDBS), College of Pharmacy, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC 29208, USA
| | - Jie Li
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC 29201, USA
| | - Gang Zhou
- Georgia Cancer Center, Department of Medicine, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta, GA 30912, USA
| | - Hexin Chen
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC 29208, USA
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10
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Bai C, Liu J, Zhang X, Li Y, Qin Q, Song H, Yuan C, Huang Z. Research status and challenges of plant-derived exosome-like nanoparticles. Biomed Pharmacother 2024; 174:116543. [PMID: 38608523 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2024.116543] [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: 01/08/2024] [Revised: 03/26/2024] [Accepted: 04/04/2024] [Indexed: 04/14/2024] Open
Abstract
In recent years, there has been an increasing number of related studies on exosomes. Most studies have focused on exosomes derived from mammals, confirming the important role that exosomes play in cell communication. Plants, as a natural ingredient, plant-derived exosomes have been confirmed to have similar structures and functions to mammalian-derived exosomes. Plant-derived exosome-like nanoparticles (PELNs) are lipid bilayer membrane nanovesicles containing bioactive constituents such as miRNA, mRNA, protein, and lipids obtained from plant cells, that can participate in intercellular communication and mediate transboundary communication, have high bioavailability and low immunogenicity, are relatively safe, and have been shown to play an important role in maintaining cell homeostasis and preventing, and treating a variety of diseases. In this review, we describe the biogenesis, isolation and purification methods, structural composition, stability, safety, function of PELNs and challenges. The functions of PELNs in anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antitumor and drug delivery are mainly described, and the status of research on exosome nanoparticles of Chinese herbal medicines is outlined. Overall, we summarized the importance of PELNs and the latest research results in this field and provided a theoretical basis for the future research and clinical application of PELNs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chunmei Bai
- The Fifth Clinical Medical College of Shanxi Medical University, Xinjian South Road, Yingze District, Taiyuan City, Shanxi Province, 030001, China
| | - Jianrong Liu
- The Fifth Clinical Medical College of Shanxi Medical University, Xinjian South Road, Yingze District, Taiyuan City, Shanxi Province, 030001, China; Department of reproductive medicine of Shanxi Provincial People's Hospital, Shuangtaxi Street, Taiyuan City, 030012, China.
| | - Xumin Zhang
- The Fifth Clinical Medical College of Shanxi Medical University, Xinjian South Road, Yingze District, Taiyuan City, Shanxi Province, 030001, China
| | - Yang Li
- The Fifth Clinical Medical College of Shanxi Medical University, Xinjian South Road, Yingze District, Taiyuan City, Shanxi Province, 030001, China
| | - Qin Qin
- The Fifth Clinical Medical College of Shanxi Medical University, Xinjian South Road, Yingze District, Taiyuan City, Shanxi Province, 030001, China; Department of reproductive medicine of Shanxi Provincial People's Hospital, Shuangtaxi Street, Taiyuan City, 030012, China
| | - Haixia Song
- Department of reproductive medicine of Shanxi Provincial People's Hospital, Shuangtaxi Street, Taiyuan City, 030012, China
| | - Caixia Yuan
- Department of reproductive medicine of Shanxi Provincial People's Hospital, Shuangtaxi Street, Taiyuan City, 030012, China
| | - Ziwei Huang
- Department of reproductive medicine of Shanxi Provincial People's Hospital, Shuangtaxi Street, Taiyuan City, 030012, China
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11
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Fang M, Yin W, Qiu C, Song T, Lin B, Wang Y, Xiong H, Wu S. Stromal B Lymphocytes Affecting Prognosis in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer by Opal/TSA Multiplexed Immunofluorescence. Int J Womens Health 2024; 16:755-767. [PMID: 38706691 PMCID: PMC11067943 DOI: 10.2147/ijwh.s444202] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2023] [Accepted: 12/28/2023] [Indexed: 05/07/2024] Open
Abstract
Objective Immune cells play a key role in tumor microenvironment. The purpose of this study was to investigate the infiltration and clinical indication of immune cells including their combined prognostic value in microenvironment of triple negative breast cancer. Methods We investigated 100 patients with triple negative breast cancer by Opal/Tyramide Signal Amplification multispectral immunofluorescence between 2003 and 2017 at Zhejiang Provincial people's Hospital. Intratumoral and stromal immune cells of triple negative breast cancer were classified and quantitatively analyzed. Survival outcomes were compared using the Kaplan-Meier method and further analyzed with multivariate analysis. Results Infiltration level of stromal B lymphocytes, stromal and intratumoral CD8+ T cells, stromal CD4+ T cells, stromal PD-L1 and intratumoral tumor associated macrophages 2 cells were shown as independent factors affecting disease-free survival and overall survival in univariate analysis. Stromal B lymphocytes, T stage, N stage and pathological type were independent predictive factors for both DFS and OS in multivariate analysis. We firstly found that patients with B lymphocytes-enriched subtypes have a better prognosis than those with T lymphocytes-enriched subtypes and tumor-associated macrophage-enriched subtypes. Conclusion The present study identified a bunch of immune targets and subtypes, which could be exploited in future combined immunotherapy/chemotherapy strategies for triple negative breast cancer patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Min Fang
- Department of Radiation Oncology, The Affiliated Hangzhou Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, People’s Republic of China
- Cancer Center, Department of Radiation Oncology, Zhejiang Provincial People’s Hospital(Affiliated People’s Hospital), Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, People’s Republic of China
| | - Wei Yin
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Hangzhou Cancer Hospital, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, People’s Republic of China
| | - Chunyan Qiu
- National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/ Cancer Hospital & Shenzhen Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Shenzhen, People’s Republic of China
| | - Tao Song
- Cancer Center, Department of Radiation Oncology, Zhejiang Provincial People’s Hospital(Affiliated People’s Hospital), Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, People’s Republic of China
| | - Baihua Lin
- Cancer Center, Department of Radiation Oncology, Zhejiang Provincial People’s Hospital(Affiliated People’s Hospital), Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, People’s Republic of China
| | - Ying Wang
- Cancer Center, Department of Radiation Oncology, Zhejiang Provincial People’s Hospital(Affiliated People’s Hospital), Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, People’s Republic of China
| | - Hanchu Xiong
- Cancer Center, Department of Radiation Oncology, Zhejiang Provincial People’s Hospital(Affiliated People’s Hospital), Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, People’s Republic of China
| | - Shixiu Wu
- Department of Radiation Oncology, The Affiliated Hangzhou Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, People’s Republic of China
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12
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Yuan X, Hao X, Chan HL, Zhao N, Pedroza DA, Liu F, Le K, Smith AJ, Calderon SJ, Lieu N, Soth MJ, Jones P, Zhang XHF, Rosen JM. CBP/P300 BRD Inhibition Reduces Neutrophil Accumulation and Activates Antitumor Immunity in TNBC. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.04.25.590983. [PMID: 38712292 PMCID: PMC11071628 DOI: 10.1101/2024.04.25.590983] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/08/2024]
Abstract
Tumor-associated neutrophils (TANs) have been shown to promote immunosuppression and tumor progression, and a high TAN frequency predicts poor prognosis in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). Dysregulation of CREB binding protein (CBP)/P300 function has been observed with multiple cancer types. The bromodomain (BRD) of CBP/P300 has been shown to regulate its activity. In this study, we found that IACS-70654, a novel and selective CBP/P300 BRD inhibitor, reduced TANs and inhibited the growth of neutrophil-enriched TNBC models. In the bone marrow, CBP/P300 BRD inhibition reduced the tumor-driven abnormal differentiation and proliferation of neutrophil progenitors. Inhibition of CBP/P300 BRD also stimulated the immune response by inducing an IFN response and MHCI expression in tumor cells and increasing tumor-infiltrated CTLs. Moreover, IACS-70654 improved the response of a neutrophil-enriched TNBC model to docetaxel and immune checkpoint blockade. This provides a rationale for combining a CBP/P300 BRD inhibitor with standard-of-care therapies in future clinical trials for neutrophil-enriched TNBC. Summary In neutrophil-enriched triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) models, CREB binding protein (CBP)/P300 bromodomain (BRD) inhibition reduces tumor growth and systemic neutrophil accumulation while stimulating an antitumor immune response. This improves standard-of-care therapies, suggesting a potential therapeutic benefit of CBP/P300 BRD inhibitors for neutrophil-enriched TNBC.
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13
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Niu Z, Wu J, Zhao Q, Zhang J, Zhang P, Yang Y. CAR-based immunotherapy for breast cancer: peculiarities, ongoing investigations, and future strategies. Front Immunol 2024; 15:1385571. [PMID: 38680498 PMCID: PMC11045891 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2024.1385571] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2024] [Accepted: 03/27/2024] [Indexed: 05/01/2024] Open
Abstract
Surgery, chemotherapy, and endocrine therapy have improved the overall survival and postoperative recurrence rates of Luminal A, Luminal B, and HER2-positive breast cancers but treatment modalities for triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) with poor prognosis remain limited. The effective application of the rapidly developing chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-T cell therapy in hematological tumors provides new ideas for the treatment of breast cancer. Choosing suitable and specific targets is crucial for applying CAR-T therapy for breast cancer treatment. In this paper, we summarize CAR-T therapy's effective targets and potential targets in different subtypes based on the existing research progress, especially for TNBC. CAR-based immunotherapy has resulted in advancements in the treatment of breast cancer. CAR-macrophages, CAR-NK cells, and CAR-mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) may be more effective and safer for treating solid tumors, such as breast cancer. However, the tumor microenvironment (TME) of breast tumors and the side effects of CAR-T therapy pose challenges to CAR-based immunotherapy. CAR-T cells and CAR-NK cells-derived exosomes are advantageous in tumor therapy. Exosomes carrying CAR for breast cancer immunotherapy are of immense research value and may provide a treatment modality with good treatment effects. In this review, we provide an overview of the development and challenges of CAR-based immunotherapy in treating different subtypes of breast cancer and discuss the progress of CAR-expressing exosomes for breast cancer treatment. We elaborate on the development of CAR-T cells in TNBC therapy and the prospects of using CAR-macrophages, CAR-NK cells, and CAR-MSCs for treating breast cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhipu Niu
- Clinical Medicine, China-Japan Union Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Jingyuan Wu
- Clinical Medicine, China-Japan Union Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Qiancheng Zhao
- Department of Cell Biology and Medical Genetics, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Jinyu Zhang
- Department of Pharmacology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Pengyu Zhang
- Clinical Medicine, China-Japan Union Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Yiming Yang
- Department of Cell Biology and Medical Genetics, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, China
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14
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Williams JS, Higgins AT, Stott KJ, Thomas C, Farrell L, Bonnet CS, Peneva S, Derrick AV, Hay T, Wang T, Morgan C, Dwyer S, D'Ambrogio J, Hogan C, Smalley MJ, Parry L, Dyson P. Enhanced bacterial cancer therapy delivering therapeutic RNA interference of c-Myc. Cell Biosci 2024; 14:38. [PMID: 38521952 PMCID: PMC10961001 DOI: 10.1186/s13578-024-01206-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2023] [Accepted: 02/06/2024] [Indexed: 03/25/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Bacterial cancer therapy was first trialled in patients at the end of the nineteenth century. More recently, tumour-targeting bacteria have been harnessed to deliver plasmid-expressed therapeutic interfering RNA to a range of solid tumours. A major limitation to clinical translation of this is the short-term nature of RNA interference in vivo due to plasmid instability. To overcome this, we sought to develop tumour-targeting attenuated bacteria that stably express shRNA by virtue of integration of an expression cassette within the bacterial chromosome and demonstrate therapeutic efficacy in vitro and in vivo. RESULTS The attenuated tumour targeting Salmonella typhimurium SL7207 strain was modified to carry chromosomally integrated shRNA expression cassettes at the xylA locus. The colorectal cancer cell lines SW480, HCT116 and breast cancer cell line MCF7 were used to demonstrate the ability of these modified strains to perform intracellular infection and deliver effective RNA and protein knockdown of the target gene c-Myc. In vivo therapeutic efficacy was demonstrated using the Lgr5creERT2Apcflx/flx and BlgCreBrca2flx/flp53flx/flx orthotopic immunocompetent mouse models of colorectal and breast cancer, respectively. In vitro co-cultures of breast and colorectal cancer cell lines with modified SL7207 demonstrated a significant 50-95% (P < 0.01) reduction in RNA and protein expression with SL7207/c-Myc targeted strains. In vivo, following establishment of tumour tissue, a single intra-peritoneal administration of 1 × 106 CFU of SL7207/c-Myc was sufficient to permit tumour colonisation and significantly extend survival with no overt toxicity in control animals. CONCLUSIONS In summary we have demonstrated that tumour tropic bacteria can be modified to safely deliver therapeutic levels of gene knockdown. This technology has the potential to specifically target primary and secondary solid tumours with personalised therapeutic payloads, providing new multi-cancer detection and treatment options with minimal off-target effects. Further understanding of the tropism mechanisms and impact on host immunity and microbiome is required to progress to clinical translation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jason S Williams
- Institute of Life Science, School of Medicine, Swansea University, Singleton Park, Swansea, SA2 8PP, UK
| | - Adam T Higgins
- European Cancer Stem Cell Research Institute, School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, Hadyn Ellis Building, Maindy Road, Cathays, Cardiff, CF24 4HQ, UK
| | - Katie J Stott
- European Cancer Stem Cell Research Institute, School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, Hadyn Ellis Building, Maindy Road, Cathays, Cardiff, CF24 4HQ, UK
| | - Carly Thomas
- Institute of Life Science, School of Medicine, Swansea University, Singleton Park, Swansea, SA2 8PP, UK
| | - Lydia Farrell
- Institute of Life Science, School of Medicine, Swansea University, Singleton Park, Swansea, SA2 8PP, UK
| | - Cleo S Bonnet
- Institute of Life Science, School of Medicine, Swansea University, Singleton Park, Swansea, SA2 8PP, UK
| | - Severina Peneva
- Institute of Life Science, School of Medicine, Swansea University, Singleton Park, Swansea, SA2 8PP, UK
| | - Anna V Derrick
- Institute of Life Science, School of Medicine, Swansea University, Singleton Park, Swansea, SA2 8PP, UK
| | - Trevor Hay
- European Cancer Stem Cell Research Institute, School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, Hadyn Ellis Building, Maindy Road, Cathays, Cardiff, CF24 4HQ, UK
| | - Tianqi Wang
- European Cancer Stem Cell Research Institute, School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, Hadyn Ellis Building, Maindy Road, Cathays, Cardiff, CF24 4HQ, UK
| | - Claire Morgan
- Institute of Life Science, School of Medicine, Swansea University, Singleton Park, Swansea, SA2 8PP, UK
| | - Sarah Dwyer
- European Cancer Stem Cell Research Institute, School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, Hadyn Ellis Building, Maindy Road, Cathays, Cardiff, CF24 4HQ, UK
| | - Joshua D'Ambrogio
- European Cancer Stem Cell Research Institute, School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, Hadyn Ellis Building, Maindy Road, Cathays, Cardiff, CF24 4HQ, UK
| | - Catherine Hogan
- European Cancer Stem Cell Research Institute, School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, Hadyn Ellis Building, Maindy Road, Cathays, Cardiff, CF24 4HQ, UK
| | - Matthew J Smalley
- European Cancer Stem Cell Research Institute, School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, Hadyn Ellis Building, Maindy Road, Cathays, Cardiff, CF24 4HQ, UK
| | - Lee Parry
- European Cancer Stem Cell Research Institute, School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, Hadyn Ellis Building, Maindy Road, Cathays, Cardiff, CF24 4HQ, UK.
| | - Paul Dyson
- Institute of Life Science, School of Medicine, Swansea University, Singleton Park, Swansea, SA2 8PP, UK.
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15
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Ren X, Cui H, Dai L, Chang L, Liu D, Yan W, Zhao X, Kang H, Ma X. PIK3CA mutation-driven immune signature as a prognostic marker for evaluating the tumor immune microenvironment and therapeutic response in breast cancer. J Cancer Res Clin Oncol 2024; 150:119. [PMID: 38466449 PMCID: PMC10927816 DOI: 10.1007/s00432-024-05626-4] [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: 08/02/2023] [Accepted: 01/16/2024] [Indexed: 03/13/2024]
Abstract
PURPOSE Gene mutations drive tumor immune microenvironment (TIME) heterogeneity, in turn affecting prognosis and immunotherapy efficacy. PIK3CA is the most frequently mutated gene in breast cancer (BC), yet its relevance to BC prognosis remains controversial. Herein, we sought to determine the impact of PIK3CA mutation-driven immune genes (PDIGs) on BC prognosis in relation to TIME heterogeneity. METHODS PIK3CA mutation characteristics were compared and verified between the TCGA-BRCA dataset and a patient cohort from our hospital. PIK3CA mutation-driven differentially expressed genes were identified for consensus clustering and weighted gene co-expression network analysis to select the modules most relevant to the immune subtype. Thereafter, the two were intersected to obtain PDIGs. Univariate Cox, LASSO, and multivariate Cox regression analyses were sequentially performed on PDIGs to obtain a PIK3CA mutation-driven immune signature (PDIS), which was then validated using the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database. Differences in functional enrichment, mutation landscape, immune infiltration, checkpoint gene expression, and drug response were compared between different risk groups. RESULTS PIK3CA mutation frequencies in the TCGA and validation cohorts were 34.49% and 40.83%, respectively. PIK3CA mutants were significantly associated with ER, PR, and molecular BC subtypes in our hospital cohort. The PDIS allowed for effective risk stratification and exhibited prognostic power in TCGA and GEO sets. The low-risk patients exhibited greater immune infiltration, higher expression of common immune checkpoint factors, and lower scores for tumor immune dysfunction and exclusion. CONCLUSION The PDIS can be used as an effective prognostic model for predicting immunotherapy response to guide clinical decision-making.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xueting Ren
- Department of Oncology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China
| | - Hanxiao Cui
- Department of Oncology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China
| | - Luyao Dai
- Department of Oncology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China
| | - Lidan Chang
- Department of Oncology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China
| | - Dandan Liu
- Department of Oncology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China
| | - Wenyu Yan
- Department of Oncology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China
| | - Xuyan Zhao
- Department of Oncology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China
| | - Huafeng Kang
- Department of Oncology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China.
| | - Xiaobin Ma
- Department of Oncology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China.
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16
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Wu Y, Li J, Shu L, Tian Z, Wu S, Wu Z. Ultrasound combined with microbubble mediated immunotherapy for tumor microenvironment. Front Pharmacol 2024; 15:1304502. [PMID: 38487163 PMCID: PMC10937735 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2024.1304502] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2023] [Accepted: 01/11/2024] [Indexed: 03/17/2024] Open
Abstract
The tumor microenvironment (TME) plays an important role in dynamically regulating the progress of cancer and influencing the therapeutic results. Targeting the tumor microenvironment is a promising cancer treatment method in recent years. The importance of tumor immune microenvironment regulation by ultrasound combined with microbubbles is now widely recognized. Ultrasound and microbubbles work together to induce antigen release of tumor cell through mechanical or thermal effects, promoting antigen presentation and T cells' recognition and killing of tumor cells, and improve tumor immunosuppression microenvironment, which will be a breakthrough in improving traditional treatment problems such as immune checkpoint blocking (ICB) and himeric antigen receptor (CAR)-T cell therapy. In order to improve the therapeutic effect and immune regulation of TME targeted tumor therapy, it is necessary to develop and optimize the application system of microbubble ultrasound for organs or diseases. Therefore, the combination of ultrasound and microbubbles in the field of TME will continue to focus on developing more effective strategies to regulate the immunosuppression mechanisms, so as to activate anti-tumor immunity and/or improve the efficacy of immune-targeted drugs, At present, the potential value of ultrasound combined with microbubbles in TME targeted therapy tumor microenvironment targeted therapy has great potential, which has been confirmed in the experimental research and application of breast cancer, colon cancer, pancreatic cancer and prostate cancer, which provides a new alternative idea for clinical tumor treatment. This article reviews the research progress of ultrasound combined with microbubbles in the treatment of tumors and their application in the tumor microenvironment.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | - Zuohui Wu
- Department of Ultrasound, Affiliated Hospital of Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, China
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17
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Chen S, Lei J, Mou H, Zhang W, Jin L, Lu S, Yinwang E, Xue Y, Shao Z, Chen T, Wang F, Zhao S, Chai X, Wang Z, Zhang J, Zhang Z, Ye Z, Li B. Multiple influence of immune cells in the bone metastatic cancer microenvironment on tumors. Front Immunol 2024; 15:1335366. [PMID: 38464516 PMCID: PMC10920345 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2024.1335366] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2023] [Accepted: 02/07/2024] [Indexed: 03/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Bone is a common organ for solid tumor metastasis. Malignant bone tumor becomes insensitive to systemic therapy after colonization, followed by poor prognosis and high relapse rate. Immune and bone cells in situ constitute a unique immune microenvironment, which plays a crucial role in the context of bone metastasis. This review firstly focuses on lymphatic cells in bone metastatic cancer, including their function in tumor dissemination, invasion, growth and possible cytotoxicity-induced eradication. Subsequently, we examine myeloid cells, namely macrophages, myeloid-derived suppressor cells, dendritic cells, and megakaryocytes, evaluating their interaction with cytotoxic T lymphocytes and contribution to bone metastasis. As important components of skeletal tissue, osteoclasts and osteoblasts derived from bone marrow stromal cells, engaging in 'vicious cycle' accelerate osteolytic bone metastasis. We also explain the concept tumor dormancy and investigate underlying role of immune microenvironment on it. Additionally, a thorough review of emerging treatments for bone metastatic malignancy in clinical research, especially immunotherapy, is presented, indicating current challenges and opportunities in research and development of bone metastasis therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shixin Chen
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
- Orthopedics Research Institute of Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
- Key Laboratory of Motor System Disease Research and Precision Therapy of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
- Clinical Research Center of Motor System Disease of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Jiangchu Lei
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
- Orthopedics Research Institute of Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
- Key Laboratory of Motor System Disease Research and Precision Therapy of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
- Clinical Research Center of Motor System Disease of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Haochen Mou
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
- Orthopedics Research Institute of Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
- Key Laboratory of Motor System Disease Research and Precision Therapy of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
- Clinical Research Center of Motor System Disease of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Wenkan Zhang
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
- Orthopedics Research Institute of Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
- Key Laboratory of Motor System Disease Research and Precision Therapy of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
- Clinical Research Center of Motor System Disease of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Lingxiao Jin
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
- Orthopedics Research Institute of Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
- Key Laboratory of Motor System Disease Research and Precision Therapy of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
- Clinical Research Center of Motor System Disease of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Senxu Lu
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
- Orthopedics Research Institute of Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
- Key Laboratory of Motor System Disease Research and Precision Therapy of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
- Clinical Research Center of Motor System Disease of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Eloy Yinwang
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
- Orthopedics Research Institute of Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
- Key Laboratory of Motor System Disease Research and Precision Therapy of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
- Clinical Research Center of Motor System Disease of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Yucheng Xue
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
- Orthopedics Research Institute of Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
- Key Laboratory of Motor System Disease Research and Precision Therapy of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
- Clinical Research Center of Motor System Disease of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Zhenxuan Shao
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
- Orthopedics Research Institute of Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
- Key Laboratory of Motor System Disease Research and Precision Therapy of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
- Clinical Research Center of Motor System Disease of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Tao Chen
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
- Orthopedics Research Institute of Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
- Key Laboratory of Motor System Disease Research and Precision Therapy of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
- Clinical Research Center of Motor System Disease of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Fangqian Wang
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
- Orthopedics Research Institute of Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
- Key Laboratory of Motor System Disease Research and Precision Therapy of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
- Clinical Research Center of Motor System Disease of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Shenzhi Zhao
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
- Orthopedics Research Institute of Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
- Key Laboratory of Motor System Disease Research and Precision Therapy of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
- Clinical Research Center of Motor System Disease of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Xupeng Chai
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
- Orthopedics Research Institute of Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
- Key Laboratory of Motor System Disease Research and Precision Therapy of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
- Clinical Research Center of Motor System Disease of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Zenan Wang
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
- Orthopedics Research Institute of Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
- Key Laboratory of Motor System Disease Research and Precision Therapy of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
- Clinical Research Center of Motor System Disease of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Jiahao Zhang
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
- Orthopedics Research Institute of Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
- Key Laboratory of Motor System Disease Research and Precision Therapy of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
- Clinical Research Center of Motor System Disease of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Zengjie Zhang
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
- Orthopedics Research Institute of Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
- Key Laboratory of Motor System Disease Research and Precision Therapy of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
- Clinical Research Center of Motor System Disease of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Zhaoming Ye
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
- Orthopedics Research Institute of Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
- Key Laboratory of Motor System Disease Research and Precision Therapy of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
- Clinical Research Center of Motor System Disease of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Binghao Li
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
- Orthopedics Research Institute of Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
- Key Laboratory of Motor System Disease Research and Precision Therapy of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
- Clinical Research Center of Motor System Disease of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
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18
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Xiao Y, Hu G, Xie N, Yin L, Pan Y, Liu C, Lou S, Zhu C. Development of a novel prognostic signature based on single-cell combined bulk RNA analysis in breast cancer. J Gene Med 2024; 26:e3673. [PMID: 38404059 DOI: 10.1002/jgm.3673] [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: 09/11/2023] [Revised: 12/16/2023] [Accepted: 01/26/2024] [Indexed: 02/27/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Breast cancer (BC), a malignant tumor, is a significant cause of death and disability among women globally. Recent research indicates that copy number variation plays a crucial role in tumor development. In this study, we employed the Single-Cell Variational Aneuploidy Analysis (SCEVAN) algorithm to differentiate between malignant and non-malignant cells, aiming to identify genetic signatures with prognostic relevance for predicting patient survival. METHODS We analyzed gene expression profiles and associated clinical data from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) and The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) databases. Using the SCEVAN algorithm, we distinguished malignant from non-malignant cells and investigated cellular interactions within the tumor microenvironment (TME). We categorized TCGA samples based on differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between these cell types. Subsequent Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway analysis was conducted. Additionally, we developed polygenic models for the DEGs using least absolute shrinkage and selection operator-penalized Cox regression analysis. To assess the prognostic accuracy of these characteristics, we generated Kaplan-Meier and receiver operating characteristic curves from training and validation datasets. We also monitored the expression variations of prognostic genes across the pseudotime of malignant cells. Patients were divided into high-risk and low-risk groups based on median risk scores to compare their TME and identify potential therapeutic agents. Lastly, polymerase chain reaction was used to validate seven pivotal genes. RESULTS The SCEVAN algorithm identified distinct malignant and non-malignant cells in GSE180286. Cellchat analysis revealed significantly increased cellular communication, particularly between fibroblasts, endothelial cells and malignant cells. The DEGs were predominantly involved in immune-related pathways. TCGA samples were classified into clusters A and B based on these genes. Cluster A, enriched in immune pathways, was associated with poorer prognosis, whereas cluster B, predominantly involved in circadian rhythm pathways, showed better outcomes. We constructed a 14-gene prognostic signature, validated in a 1:1 internal TCGA cohort and external GEO datasets (GSE42568 and GSE146558). Kaplan-Meier analysis confirmed the prognostic signature's accuracy (p < 0.001). Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis demonstrated the predictive reliability of these prognostic features. Single-cell pseudotime analysis with monocle2 highlighted the distinct expression trends of these genes in malignant cells, underscoring the intratumoral heterogeneity. Furthermore, we explored the differences in TME between high- and low-risk groups and identified 16 significantly correlated drugs. CONCLUSION Our findings suggest that the 14-gene prognostic signature could serve as a novel biomarker for forecasting the prognosis of BC patients. Additionally, the immune cells and pathways in different risk groups indicate that immunotherapy may be a crucial component of treatment strategies for BC patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying Xiao
- Department of Emergency, Nanjing Jiangning Hospital, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Ge Hu
- Hefei Cancer Hospital, Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Medical Physics and Technology, Institute of Health and Medical Technology, Institutes of Physical Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hefei, China
| | - Ning Xie
- Department of Emergency, Nanjing Jiangning Hospital, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Liang Yin
- Department of Breast Surgery, Affiliated People's Hospital of Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, China
| | - Yaqiang Pan
- Department of Breast Surgery, Affiliated People's Hospital of Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, China
| | - Cong Liu
- Department of Emergency, Nanjing Jiangning Hospital, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Shihan Lou
- Department of Emergency, Nanjing Jiangning Hospital, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Cunzhi Zhu
- Department of Emergency, Nanjing Tianyinshan Hospital & The First Affiliated Hospital of China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
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19
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Elfstrum AK, Bapat AS, Schwertfeger KL. Defining and targeting macrophage heterogeneity in the mammary gland and breast cancer. Cancer Med 2024; 13:e7053. [PMID: 38426622 PMCID: PMC10905685 DOI: 10.1002/cam4.7053] [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: 11/08/2023] [Revised: 02/09/2024] [Accepted: 02/16/2024] [Indexed: 03/02/2024] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Macrophages are innate immune cells that are associated with extensive phenotypic and functional plasticity and contribute to normal development, tissue homeostasis, and diseases such as cancer. In this review, we discuss the heterogeneity of tissue resident macrophages in the normal mammary gland and tumor-associated macrophages in breast cancer. Tissue resident macrophages are required for mammary gland development, where they have been implicated in promoting extracellular matrix remodeling, apoptotic clearance, and cellular crosstalk. In the context of cancer, tumor-associated macrophages are key drivers of growth and metastasis via their ability to promote matrix remodeling, angiogenesis, lymphangiogenesis, and immunosuppression. METHOD We identified and summarized studies in Pubmed that describe the phenotypic and functional heterogeneity of macrophages and the implications of targeting individual subsets, specifically in the context of mammary gland development and breast cancer. We also identified and summarized recent studies using single-cell RNA sequencing to identify and describe macrophage subsets in human breast cancer samples. RESULTS Advances in single-cell RNA sequencing technologies have yielded nuances in macrophage heterogeneity, with numerous macrophage subsets identified in both the normal mammary gland and breast cancer tissue. Macrophage subsets contribute to mammary gland development and breast cancer progression in differing ways, and emerging studies highlight a role for spatial localization in modulating their phenotype and function. CONCLUSION Understanding macrophage heterogeneity and the unique functions of each subset in both normal mammary gland development and breast cancer progression may lead to more promising targets for the treatment of breast cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexis K. Elfstrum
- Microbiology, Immunology, and Cancer Biology Graduate ProgramUniversity of MinnesotaMinneapolisMinnesotaUSA
| | - Aditi S. Bapat
- Molecular Pharmacology and Therapeutics Graduate ProgramUniversity of MinnesotaMinneapolisMinnesotaUSA
| | - Kathryn L. Schwertfeger
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and PathologyUniversity of MinnesotaMinneapolisMinnesotaUSA
- Masonic Cancer CenterUniversity of MinnesotaMinneapolisMinnesotaUSA
- Center for ImmunologyUniversity of MinnesotaMinneapolisMinnesotaUSA
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20
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Zhang Z, Luo X, Xue X, Pang M, Wang X, Yu L, Qian J, Li X, Tian M, Lu A, Lu C, Liu Y. Engineered Exosomes Carrying miR-588 for Treatment of Triple Negative Breast Cancer Through Remodeling the Immunosuppressive Microenvironment. Int J Nanomedicine 2024; 19:743-758. [PMID: 38283199 PMCID: PMC10821654 DOI: 10.2147/ijn.s440619] [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: 09/16/2023] [Accepted: 01/18/2024] [Indexed: 01/30/2024] Open
Abstract
Background The morbidity and mortality of triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) are still high, causing a heavy medical burden. CCL5, as a chemokine, can be involved in altering the composition of the tumor microenvironment (TME) as well as the immunosuppressive degree, and has become a very promising target for the treatment of TNBC. Dysregulation of microRNAs (miRNAs) in tumor tissues is closely related to tumor progression, and its utilization can be used to achieve therapeutic purposes. Engineered exosomes can avoid the shortcomings of miRNAs and also enhance their targeting and anti-tumor effects through engineering. Therefore, we aimed to create a cRGD-modified exosome for targeted delivery of miR-588 and to investigate its effect in remodeling immunosuppressive TME by anchoring CCL5 in TNBC. Methods In this study, we loaded miR-588 into exosomes using electroporation and modified it with cRGD using post insertion to obtain cRGD-Exos/miR-588. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM), nanoparticle tracking assay technique (NTA), Western Blots, qPCR, and flow cytometry were applied for its characterization. CCK-8, qPCR and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), in vivo fluorescence imaging system, immunohistochemistry and H&E staining were used to explore the efficacy as well as the mechanism at the cellular level as well as in subcutaneous graft-tumor nude mouse model. Results The cRGD-Exos/miR-588 was successfully constructed and had strong TNBC tumor targeting in vitro and in vivo. Meanwhile, it has significant efficacy on TME components affected by CCL5 and the degree of immunosuppression, which can effectively control TNBC with good safety. Conclusion In this experiment, cRGD-Exos/miR-588 was prepared to remodel immunosuppressive TME by anchoring CCL5, which is affected by the vicious cycle of immune escape. Overall, cRGD-Exos/miR-588 explored the feasibility of targeting TME for the TNBC treatment, and provided a competitive delivery system for the engineered exosomes to deliver miRNAs for antitumor therapy drug.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhengjia Zhang
- School of Materia Medica, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, People’s Republic of China
| | - Xinyi Luo
- School of Materia Medica, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, People’s Republic of China
| | - Xiaoxia Xue
- School of Materia Medica, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, People’s Republic of China
| | - Mingshi Pang
- School of Materia Medica, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, People’s Republic of China
| | - Xiangpeng Wang
- School of Materia Medica, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, People’s Republic of China
| | - Liuchunyang Yu
- School of Materia Medica, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, People’s Republic of China
| | - Jinxiu Qian
- School of Materia Medica, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, People’s Republic of China
| | - Xiaoyu Li
- School of Materia Medica, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, People’s Republic of China
| | - Meng Tian
- School of Materia Medica, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, People’s Republic of China
| | - Aiping Lu
- School of Chinese Medicine, Hong Kong Baptist University, Kowloon, Hongkong, People’s Republic of China
| | - Cheng Lu
- Institute of Basic Research in Clinical Medicine, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, People’s Republic of China
| | - Yuanyan Liu
- School of Materia Medica, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, People’s Republic of China
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21
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Tong Y, Zhou T, Wang X, Deng S, Qin L. Upregulation of CENPM promotes breast carcinogenesis by altering immune infiltration. BMC Cancer 2024; 24:54. [PMID: 38200449 PMCID: PMC10777552 DOI: 10.1186/s12885-023-11808-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2023] [Accepted: 12/28/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The involvement of centromere protein M (CENPM) in various types of cancer has been established, however, its impact on breast cancer and immune infiltration remains unknown. METHODS We examined the expression of CENPM in different cancer types by utilizing the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and Genotype Tissue Expression Pan-Cancer (GEO) databases. Using data from the TCGA, we examined the correlation between the expression of CENPM, the prognosis, and the clinicopathological features of individuals diagnosed with breast cancer. We conducted an enrichment analysis of CENPM using the clusterProfiler R software tool, utilizing data obtained from breast cancer patients and specimens at our institution. In addition to examining the correlation between CENPM expression and genes associated with immune checkpoints, the TIDE algorithm was employed to explore the potential of CENPM as a biomarker for immunotherapy in breast cancer. The impact of CENPM on the growth of breast cancer cells was evaluated through the utilization of the CCK8 test and the colony formation assay. The effect of CENPM on the migration of breast cancer cells was assessed using scratch and transwell assays. RESULTS Research findings indicate that elevated levels of CENPM are linked to patient outcomes in breast cancer and various clinicopathological features. Furthermore, elevated levels of CENPM expression correlated with decreased levels of CD8 + T cells and mast cells, increased levels of Tregs and Th2, and reduced levels of CD8 + T cells. Additionally, the coexpression of CENPM with the majority of genes related to immune checkpoints indicates its potential to forecast the effectiveness of treatment in breast cancer. Suppression of CENPM hampers the growth and movement of breast tumor cells. CONCLUSIONS In summary, our study findings indicate that CENPM may serve as a cancer-causing gene in breast cancer and also as a biomarker for predicting the efficacy of immunotherapy. The oncogene CENPM is associated with breast cancer and is involved in cell proliferation and immune infiltration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanchu Tong
- Jingzhou Central Hospital, No. 60 Jingzhong Road, Jingzhou District, Jingzhou City, 434020, Hubei Province, China
| | - Tongzhou Zhou
- The HongKong Polytechnic University, 11 Yuk Choi Road, Hung Hom, Kowloon, 999077, HKSAR, China
| | - Xiaokun Wang
- Jingzhou Central Hospital, No. 60 Jingzhong Road, Jingzhou District, Jingzhou City, 434020, Hubei Province, China
| | - Shun Deng
- Jingzhou Central Hospital, No. 60 Jingzhong Road, Jingzhou District, Jingzhou City, 434020, Hubei Province, China
| | - Lu Qin
- Jingzhou Central Hospital, No. 60 Jingzhong Road, Jingzhou District, Jingzhou City, 434020, Hubei Province, China.
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22
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Guerriero JL, Lin JR, Pastorello RG, Du Z, Chen YA, Townsend MG, Shimada K, Hughes ME, Ren S, Tayob N, Zheng K, Mei S, Patterson A, Taneja KL, Metzger O, Tolaney SM, Lin NU, Dillon DA, Schnitt SJ, Sorger PK, Mittendorf EA, Santagata S. Qualification of a multiplexed tissue imaging assay and detection of novel patterns of HER2 heterogeneity in breast cancer. NPJ Breast Cancer 2024; 10:2. [PMID: 38167908 PMCID: PMC10761880 DOI: 10.1038/s41523-023-00605-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2022] [Accepted: 12/02/2023] [Indexed: 01/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Emerging data suggests that HER2 intratumoral heterogeneity (ITH) is associated with therapy resistance, highlighting the need for new strategies to assess HER2 ITH. A promising approach is leveraging multiplexed tissue analysis techniques such as cyclic immunofluorescence (CyCIF), which enable visualization and quantification of 10-60 antigens at single-cell resolution from individual tissue sections. In this study, we qualified a breast cancer-specific antibody panel, including HER2, ER, and PR, for multiplexed tissue imaging. We then compared the performance of these antibodies against established clinical standards using pixel-, cell- and tissue-level analyses, utilizing 866 tissue cores (representing 294 patients). To ensure reliability, the CyCIF antibodies were qualified against HER2 immunohistochemistry (IHC) and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) data from the same samples. Our findings demonstrate the successful qualification of a breast cancer antibody panel for CyCIF, showing high concordance with established clinical antibodies. Subsequently, we employed the qualified antibodies, along with antibodies for CD45, CD68, PD-L1, p53, Ki67, pRB, and AR, to characterize 567 HER2+ invasive breast cancer samples from 189 patients. Through single-cell analysis, we identified four distinct cell clusters within HER2+ breast cancer exhibiting heterogeneous HER2 expression. Furthermore, these clusters displayed variations in ER, PR, p53, AR, and PD-L1 expression. To quantify the extent of heterogeneity, we calculated heterogeneity scores based on the diversity among these clusters. Our analysis revealed expression patterns that are relevant to breast cancer biology, with correlations to HER2 ITH and potential relevance to clinical outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer L Guerriero
- Division of Breast Surgery, Department of Surgery, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, 02115, USA.
- Breast Tumor Immunology Laboratory, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, 02215, USA.
- Ludwig Center for Cancer Research at Harvard, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02215, USA.
- Laboratory of Systems Pharmacology, Department of Systems Biology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02215, USA.
| | - Jia-Ren Lin
- Ludwig Center for Cancer Research at Harvard, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02215, USA
- Laboratory of Systems Pharmacology, Department of Systems Biology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02215, USA
| | - Ricardo G Pastorello
- Breast Tumor Immunology Laboratory, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, 02215, USA
- Department of Pathology, Hospital Sírio Libanês, São Paulo, SP, 01308-050, Brazil
| | - Ziming Du
- Department of Pathology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
- Department of Molecular Diagnostics, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yu-An Chen
- Laboratory of Systems Pharmacology, Department of Systems Biology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02215, USA
| | - Madeline G Townsend
- Division of Breast Surgery, Department of Surgery, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
- Breast Tumor Immunology Laboratory, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, 02215, USA
| | - Kenichi Shimada
- Division of Breast Surgery, Department of Surgery, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
- Breast Tumor Immunology Laboratory, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, 02215, USA
- Ludwig Center for Cancer Research at Harvard, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02215, USA
- Laboratory of Systems Pharmacology, Department of Systems Biology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02215, USA
| | - Melissa E Hughes
- Breast Oncology Program, Dana-Farber/Brigham and Women's Cancer Center, Boston, MA, 02215, USA
| | - Siyang Ren
- Department of Data Science, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, 02215, USA
| | - Nabihah Tayob
- Department of Data Science, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, 02215, USA
| | - Kelly Zheng
- Division of Breast Surgery, Department of Surgery, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Shaolin Mei
- Laboratory of Systems Pharmacology, Department of Systems Biology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02215, USA
| | - Alyssa Patterson
- Breast Oncology Program, Dana-Farber/Brigham and Women's Cancer Center, Boston, MA, 02215, USA
| | - Krishan L Taneja
- Department of Pathology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Otto Metzger
- Breast Oncology Program, Dana-Farber/Brigham and Women's Cancer Center, Boston, MA, 02215, USA
| | - Sara M Tolaney
- Breast Oncology Program, Dana-Farber/Brigham and Women's Cancer Center, Boston, MA, 02215, USA
| | - Nancy U Lin
- Breast Oncology Program, Dana-Farber/Brigham and Women's Cancer Center, Boston, MA, 02215, USA
| | - Deborah A Dillon
- Department of Pathology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Stuart J Schnitt
- Department of Pathology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Peter K Sorger
- Ludwig Center for Cancer Research at Harvard, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02215, USA
- Laboratory of Systems Pharmacology, Department of Systems Biology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02215, USA
| | - Elizabeth A Mittendorf
- Division of Breast Surgery, Department of Surgery, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
- Breast Tumor Immunology Laboratory, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, 02215, USA
- Ludwig Center for Cancer Research at Harvard, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02215, USA
- Breast Oncology Program, Dana-Farber/Brigham and Women's Cancer Center, Boston, MA, 02215, USA
| | - Sandro Santagata
- Ludwig Center for Cancer Research at Harvard, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02215, USA
- Laboratory of Systems Pharmacology, Department of Systems Biology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02215, USA
- Department of Pathology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
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23
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Chamorro DF, Somes LK, Hoyos V. Engineered Adoptive T-Cell Therapies for Breast Cancer: Current Progress, Challenges, and Potential. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 16:124. [PMID: 38201551 PMCID: PMC10778447 DOI: 10.3390/cancers16010124] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2023] [Revised: 12/19/2023] [Accepted: 12/21/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Breast cancer remains a significant health challenge, and novel treatment approaches are critically needed. This review presents an in-depth analysis of engineered adoptive T-cell therapies (E-ACTs), an innovative frontier in cancer immunotherapy, focusing on their application in breast cancer. We explore the evolving landscape of chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) and T-cell receptor (TCR) T-cell therapies, highlighting their potential and challenges in targeting breast cancer. The review addresses key obstacles such as target antigen selection, the complex breast cancer tumor microenvironment, and the persistence of engineered T-cells. We discuss the advances in overcoming these barriers, including strategies to enhance T-cell efficacy. Finally, our comprehensive analysis of the current clinical trials in this area provides insights into the future possibilities and directions of E-ACTs in breast cancer treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diego F. Chamorro
- Center for Cell and Gene Therapy, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA; (D.F.C.); (L.K.S.)
| | - Lauren K. Somes
- Center for Cell and Gene Therapy, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA; (D.F.C.); (L.K.S.)
| | - Valentina Hoyos
- Center for Cell and Gene Therapy, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA; (D.F.C.); (L.K.S.)
- Dan L. Duncan Comprehensive Cancer Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
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24
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Valera PS, Plou J, García I, Astobiza I, Viera C, M. Aransay A, Martin JE, Sasselli IR, Carracedo A, Liz-Marzán LM. SERS analysis of cancer cell-secreted purines reveals a unique paracrine crosstalk in MTAP-deficient tumors. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2023; 120:e2311674120. [PMID: 38109528 PMCID: PMC10756296 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2311674120] [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: 07/13/2023] [Accepted: 11/09/2023] [Indexed: 12/20/2023] Open
Abstract
The tumor microenvironment (TME) is a dynamic pseudoorgan that shapes the development and progression of cancers. It is a complex ecosystem shaped by interactions between tumor and stromal cells. Although the traditional focus has been on the paracrine communication mediated by protein messengers, recent attention has turned to the metabolic secretome in tumors. Metabolic enzymes, together with exchanged substrates and products, have emerged as potential biomarkers and therapeutic targets. However, traditional techniques for profiling secreted metabolites in complex cellular contexts are limited. Surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) has emerged as a promising alternative due to its nontargeted nature and simplicity of operation. Although SERS has demonstrated its potential for detecting metabolites in biological settings, its application in deciphering metabolic interactions within multicellular systems like the TME remains underexplored. In this study, we introduce a SERS-based strategy to investigate the secreted purine metabolites of tumor cells lacking methylthioadenosine phosphorylase (MTAP), a common genetic event associated with poor prognosis in various cancers. Our SERS analysis reveals that MTAP-deficient cancer cells selectively produce methylthioadenosine (MTA), which is taken up and metabolized by fibroblasts. Fibroblasts exposed to MTA exhibit: i) molecular reprogramming compatible with cancer aggressiveness, ii) a significant production of purine derivatives that could be readily recycled by cancer cells, and iii) the capacity to secrete purine derivatives that induce macrophage polarization. Our study supports the potential of SERS for cancer metabolism research and reveals an unprecedented paracrine crosstalk that explains TME reprogramming in MTAP-deleted cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pablo S. Valera
- Center for Cooperative Research in Biomaterials (CIC biomaGUNE), Basque Research and Technology Alliance (BRTA), Donostia-San Sebastián20014, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica En Red de Bioingeniería, Biomateriales y Nanomedicina (CIBER-BBN), Donostia-San Sebastián20014, Spain
- Center for Cooperative Research in Biosciences (CIC bioGUNE), Basque Research and Technology Alliance (BRTA), Derio48160, Spain
- Departamento de Química Aplicada, Universidad del País Vasco/Euskal Herriko Universitatea (UPV/EHU), Donostia-San Sebastián20018, Spain
| | - Javier Plou
- Center for Cooperative Research in Biomaterials (CIC biomaGUNE), Basque Research and Technology Alliance (BRTA), Donostia-San Sebastián20014, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica En Red de Bioingeniería, Biomateriales y Nanomedicina (CIBER-BBN), Donostia-San Sebastián20014, Spain
- Center for Cooperative Research in Nanoscience (CIC nanoGUNE), Basque Research and Technology Alliance (BRTA), Donostia-San Sebastián20018, Spain
| | - Isabel García
- Center for Cooperative Research in Biomaterials (CIC biomaGUNE), Basque Research and Technology Alliance (BRTA), Donostia-San Sebastián20014, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica En Red de Bioingeniería, Biomateriales y Nanomedicina (CIBER-BBN), Donostia-San Sebastián20014, Spain
| | - Ianire Astobiza
- Center for Cooperative Research in Biosciences (CIC bioGUNE), Basque Research and Technology Alliance (BRTA), Derio48160, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica En Red de Cáncer (CIBERONC),Madrid28029, Spain
| | - Cristina Viera
- Center for Cooperative Research in Biosciences (CIC bioGUNE), Basque Research and Technology Alliance (BRTA), Derio48160, Spain
| | - Ana M. Aransay
- Center for Cooperative Research in Biosciences (CIC bioGUNE), Basque Research and Technology Alliance (BRTA), Derio48160, Spain
- Biomedical Research Networking Center in hepatic diseases, Derio48160, Spain
| | - José E. Martin
- Center for Cooperative Research in Biosciences (CIC bioGUNE), Basque Research and Technology Alliance (BRTA), Derio48160, Spain
| | - Ivan R. Sasselli
- Center for Cooperative Research in Biomaterials (CIC biomaGUNE), Basque Research and Technology Alliance (BRTA), Donostia-San Sebastián20014, Spain
- Centro de Fisica de Materiales, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Cientificas-Universidad del País Vasco/Euskal Herriko Universitatea (CSIC-UPV)/EHU), Donostiarra-San Sebastián20018, Spain
| | - Arkaitz Carracedo
- Center for Cooperative Research in Biosciences (CIC bioGUNE), Basque Research and Technology Alliance (BRTA), Derio48160, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica En Red de Cáncer (CIBERONC),Madrid28029, Spain
- IKERBASQUE, Basque Foundation for Science, Bilbao48009, Spain
- Translational Prostate Cancer Research Lab, Center for Cooperative Research in Biosciences-Basurto, Biocruces Bizkaia Health Research Institute, Derio48160, Spain
- Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, Universidad del País Vasco/Euskal Herriko Universitatea (UPV/EHU), Leioa48940, Spain
| | - Luis M. Liz-Marzán
- Center for Cooperative Research in Biomaterials (CIC biomaGUNE), Basque Research and Technology Alliance (BRTA), Donostia-San Sebastián20014, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica En Red de Bioingeniería, Biomateriales y Nanomedicina (CIBER-BBN), Donostia-San Sebastián20014, Spain
- IKERBASQUE, Basque Foundation for Science, Bilbao48009, Spain
- Cinbio, Universidade de Vigo, Vigo36310, Spain
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Xiong SY, Wen HZ, Dai LM, Lou YX, Wang ZQ, Yi YL, Yan XJ, Wu YR, Sun W, Chen PH, Yang SZ, Qi XW, Zhang Y, Wu GY. A brain-tumor neural circuit controls breast cancer progression in mice. J Clin Invest 2023; 133:e167725. [PMID: 37847562 PMCID: PMC10721160 DOI: 10.1172/jci167725] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2022] [Accepted: 10/12/2023] [Indexed: 10/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Tumor burden, considered a common chronic stressor, can cause widespread anxiety. Evidence suggests that cancer-induced anxiety can promote tumor progression, but the underlying neural mechanism remains unclear. Here, we used neuroscience and cancer tools to investigate how the brain contributes to tumor progression via nerve-tumor crosstalk in a mouse model of breast cancer. We show that tumor-bearing mice exhibited significant anxiety-like behaviors and that corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) neurons in the central medial amygdala (CeM) were activated. Moreover, we detected newly formed sympathetic nerves in tumors, which established a polysynaptic connection to the brain. Pharmacogenetic or optogenetic inhibition of CeMCRH neurons and the CeMCRH→lateral paragigantocellular nucleus (LPGi) circuit significantly alleviated anxiety-like behaviors and slowed tumor growth. Conversely, artificial activation of CeMCRH neurons and the CeMCRH→LPGi circuit increased anxiety and tumor growth. Importantly, we found alprazolam, an antianxiety drug, to be a promising agent for slowing tumor progression. Furthermore, we show that manipulation of the CeMCRH→LPGi circuit directly regulated the activity of the intratumoral sympathetic nerves and peripheral nerve-derived norepinephrine, which affected tumor progression by modulating antitumor immunity. Together, these findings reveal a brain-tumor neural circuit that contributes to breast cancer progression and provide therapeutic insights for breast cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Si-Yi Xiong
- Breast and Thyroid Surgery, Southwest Hospital
| | - Hui-Zhong Wen
- Department of Neurobiology, Chongqing Key Laboratory of Neurobiology, College of Basic Medical Sciences
| | - Li-Meng Dai
- Department of Medical Genetics, College of Basic Medical Sciences
| | - Yun-Xiao Lou
- Department of Neurobiology, Chongqing Key Laboratory of Neurobiology, College of Basic Medical Sciences
| | - Zhao-Qun Wang
- Department of Neurobiology, Chongqing Key Laboratory of Neurobiology, College of Basic Medical Sciences
| | - Yi-Lun Yi
- Experimental Center of Basic Medicine, Chongqing Key Laboratory of Neurobiology, College of Basic Medical Sciences
| | - Xiao-Jing Yan
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Basic Medical Sciences
| | - Ya-Ran Wu
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy and Laboratory Medicine, and
| | - Wei Sun
- Biomedical Analysis Center, Army Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Peng-Hui Chen
- Department of Neurobiology, Chongqing Key Laboratory of Neurobiology, College of Basic Medical Sciences
| | - Si-Zhe Yang
- Breast and Thyroid Surgery, Southwest Hospital
| | - Xiao-Wei Qi
- Breast and Thyroid Surgery, Southwest Hospital
| | - Yi Zhang
- Breast and Thyroid Surgery, Southwest Hospital
| | - Guang-Yan Wu
- Experimental Center of Basic Medicine, Chongqing Key Laboratory of Neurobiology, College of Basic Medical Sciences
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Yao L, Wang Q, Ma W. Navigating the Immune Maze: Pioneering Strategies for Unshackling Cancer Immunotherapy Resistance. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:5857. [PMID: 38136402 PMCID: PMC10742031 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15245857] [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: 11/04/2023] [Revised: 12/08/2023] [Accepted: 12/13/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Cancer immunotherapy has ushered in a transformative era in oncology, offering unprecedented promise and opportunities. Despite its remarkable breakthroughs, the field continues to grapple with the persistent challenge of treatment resistance. This resistance not only undermines the widespread efficacy of these pioneering treatments, but also underscores the pressing need for further research. Our exploration into the intricate realm of cancer immunotherapy resistance reveals various mechanisms at play, from primary and secondary resistance to the significant impact of genetic and epigenetic factors, as well as the crucial role of the tumor microenvironment (TME). Furthermore, we stress the importance of devising innovative strategies to counteract this resistance, such as employing combination therapies, tailoring immune checkpoints, and implementing real-time monitoring. By championing these state-of-the-art methods, we anticipate a paradigm that blends personalized healthcare with improved treatment options and is firmly committed to patient welfare. Through a comprehensive and multifaceted approach, we strive to tackle the challenges of resistance, aspiring to elevate cancer immunotherapy as a beacon of hope for patients around the world.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liqin Yao
- Key Laboratory for Translational Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital, Huzhou University, Huzhou 313000, China
| | - Qingqing Wang
- Institute of Immunology, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310058, China;
| | - Wenxue Ma
- Department of Medicine, Moores Cancer Center, Sanford Stem Cell Institute, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
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Nasir I, McGuinness C, Poh AR, Ernst M, Darcy PK, Britt KL. Tumor macrophage functional heterogeneity can inform the development of novel cancer therapies. Trends Immunol 2023; 44:971-985. [PMID: 37995659 DOI: 10.1016/j.it.2023.10.007] [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: 10/04/2023] [Revised: 10/09/2023] [Accepted: 10/10/2023] [Indexed: 11/25/2023]
Abstract
Macrophages represent a key component of the tumor microenvironment (TME) and are largely associated with poor prognosis. Therapeutic targeting of macrophages has historically focused on inhibiting their recruitment or reprogramming their phenotype from a protumor (M2-like) to an antitumor (M1-like) one. Unfortunately, this approach has not provided clinical breakthroughs that have changed practice. Emerging studies utilizing single-cell RNA-sequencing (scRNA-seq) and spatial transcriptomics have improved our understanding of the ontogeny, phenotype, and functional plasticity of macrophages. Overlaying the wealth of current information regarding macrophage molecular subtypes and functions has also identified novel therapeutic vulnerabilities that might drive better control of tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs). Here, we discuss the functional profiling of macrophages and provide an update of novel macrophage-targeted therapies in development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ibraheem Nasir
- Breast Cancer Risk and Prevention Laboratory, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, 305 Grattan St, Melbourne, VIC 3000, Australia
| | - Conor McGuinness
- Breast Cancer Risk and Prevention Laboratory, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, 305 Grattan St, Melbourne, VIC 3000, Australia; Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Melbourne, VIC 3000, Australia
| | - Ashleigh R Poh
- Olivia Newton-John Cancer Research Institute, Heidelberg, Victoria 3084, Australia; La Trobe University School of Cancer Medicine, Heidelberg, Victoria 3084, Australia
| | - Matthias Ernst
- Olivia Newton-John Cancer Research Institute, Heidelberg, Victoria 3084, Australia; La Trobe University School of Cancer Medicine, Heidelberg, Victoria 3084, Australia
| | - Phillip K Darcy
- Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Melbourne, VIC 3000, Australia; Cancer Immunology Research Laboratory, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, 305 Grattan St, Melbourne, VIC 3000, Australia
| | - Kara L Britt
- Breast Cancer Risk and Prevention Laboratory, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, 305 Grattan St, Melbourne, VIC 3000, Australia; Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Melbourne, VIC 3000, Australia.
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Keshavarz S, Wall JR, Keshavarz S, Vojoudi E, Jafari-Shakib R. Breast cancer immunotherapy: a comprehensive review. Clin Exp Med 2023; 23:4431-4447. [PMID: 37658246 DOI: 10.1007/s10238-023-01177-z] [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: 01/29/2023] [Accepted: 08/18/2023] [Indexed: 09/03/2023]
Abstract
Cancer remains a major health problem despite numerous new medical interventions that have been introduced in recent years. One of the major choices for cancer therapy is so-called adoptive cell therapy (ACT). ACT can be performed using both innate immune cells, including dendritic cells (DCs), natural killer (NK) cells, and γδ T cells and acquired immune T cells. It has become possible to utilize these cells in both their native and modified states in clinical studies. Because of considerable success in cancer treatment, ACT now plays a role in advanced therapy protocols. Genetic engineering of autologous and allogeneic immune cells (T lymphocytes, NK cells, macrophages, etc.) with chimeric antigen receptors (CAR) is a powerful new tool to target specific antigens on cancer cells. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the US has approved certain CAR-T cells for hematologic malignancies and it is hoped that their use can be extended to incorporate a variety of cells, in particular NK cells. However, the ACT method has some limitations, such as the risk of rejection in allogeneic engrafts. Accordingly, numerous efforts are being made to eliminate or minimize this and other complications. In the present review, we have developed a guide to breast cancer (BC) therapy from conventional therapy, through to cell-based approaches, in particular novel technologies including CAR with emphasis on NK cells as a new and safer candidate in this field as well as the more recent aptamer technology, which can play a major role in BC immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samaneh Keshavarz
- School of Paramedicine, Guilan University of Medical Sciences, Rasht, Iran
| | - Jack R Wall
- University of Notre Dame Australia, Sydney, Australia
| | - Somayeh Keshavarz
- School of Paramedicine, Guilan University of Medical Sciences, Rasht, Iran
| | - Elham Vojoudi
- Regenerative Medicine, Organ Procurement and Transplantation Multidisciplinary Center, Razi Hospital, School of Medicine, Guilan University of Medical Sciences, Rasht, Iran.
| | - Reza Jafari-Shakib
- Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Guilan University of Medical Sciences, Rasht, Iran.
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Petruk N, Sousa S, Croset M, Polari L, Zlatev H, Selander K, Mönkkönen J, Clézardin P, Määttä J. Liposome-encapsulated zoledronate increases inflammatory macrophage population in TNBC tumours. Eur J Pharm Sci 2023; 190:106571. [PMID: 37652236 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejps.2023.106571] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2023] [Revised: 08/23/2023] [Accepted: 08/28/2023] [Indexed: 09/02/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Tumour associated macrophages (TAMs) are important players in breast tumour progression and metastasis. Clinical and preclinical evidence suggests a role for zoledronate (ZOL) in breast cancer metastasis prevention. Further, zoledronate is able to induce inflammatory activation of monocytes and macrophages, which can be favourable in cancer treatments. The inherent bone tropism of zoledronate limits its availability in soft tissues and tumours. In this study we utilised an orthotopic murine breast cancer model to evaluate the possibility to use liposomes (EMP-LIP) to target zoledronate to tumours to modify TAM activation. METHODS Triple-negative breast cancer 4T1 cells were inoculated in the 4th mammary fat pad of female Balb/c mice. Animals were divided according to the treatment: vehicle, ZOL, EMP-LIP and liposome encapsulated zoledronate (ZOL-LIP). Treatment was done intravenously (with tumour resection) and intraperitoneally (without tumour resection). Tumour growth was followed by bioluminescence in vivo imaging (IVIS) and calliper measurements. Tumour-infiltrating macrophages were assessed by immunohistochemical and immunofluorescence staining. Protein and RNA expression levels of inflammatory transcription factors and cytokines were measured by Western Blotting and Taqman RT-qPCR. RESULTS Liposome encapsulated zoledronate (ZOL-LIP) treatment suppressed migration of 4T1 cell in vitro. Tumour growth and expression of the angiogenic marker CD34 were reduced upon both ZOL and ZOL-LIP treatment in vivo. Long-term ZOL-LIP treatment resulted in shift towards M1-type macrophage polarization, increased CD4 T cell infiltration and activation of NF-κB indicating changes in intratumoural inflammation, whereas ZOL treatment showed similar but non-significant trends. Moreover, ZOL-LIP had a lower bisphosphonate accumulation in bone compared to free ZOL. CONCLUSION Results show that the decreased bisphosphonate accumulation in bone promotes the systemic anti-tumour effect of ZOL-LIP by increasing inflammatory response in TNBC tumours via M1-type macrophage activation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nataliia Petruk
- Institute of Biomedicine, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
| | - Sofia Sousa
- School of Pharmacy, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
| | | | - Lauri Polari
- Institute of Biomedicine, University of Turku, Turku, Finland; Faculty of Science and Engineering, Cell Biology, Åbo Akademi University, Turku, Finland
| | - Hristo Zlatev
- School of Pharmacy, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Katri Selander
- Department of Oncology and Radiation Therapy, Oulu University Hospital, Oulu, Finland
| | - Jukka Mönkkönen
- School of Pharmacy, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
| | | | - Jorma Määttä
- Institute of Biomedicine, University of Turku, Turku, Finland; Turku Center for Disease Modeling, University of Turku, Turku, Finland.
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Batalha S, Gomes CM, Brito C. Immune microenvironment dynamics of HER2 overexpressing breast cancer under dual anti-HER2 blockade. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1267621. [PMID: 38022643 PMCID: PMC10643871 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1267621] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2023] [Accepted: 10/16/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction The clinical prognosis of the HER2-overexpressing (HER2-OE) subtype of breast cancer (BC) is influenced by the immune infiltrate of the tumor. Specifically, monocytic cells, which are promoters of pro-tumoral immunosuppression, and NK cells, whose basal cytotoxic function may be enhanced with therapeutic antibodies. One of the standards of care for HER2+ BC patients includes the combination of the anti-HER2 antibodies trastuzumab and pertuzumab. This dual combination was a breakthrough against trastuzumab resistance; however, this regimen does not yield complete clinical benefit for a large fraction of patients. Further therapy refinement is still hampered by the lack of knowledge on the immune mechanism of action of this antibody-based dual HER2 blockade. Methods To explore how the dual antibody challenge influences the phenotype and function of immune cells infiltrating the HER2-OE BC microenvironment, we developed in vitro 3D heterotypic cell models of this subtype. The models comprised aggregates of HER2+ BC cell lines and human peripheral blood mononuclear cells. Cells were co-encapsulated in a chemically inert alginate hydrogel and maintained in agitation-based culture system for up to 7 days. Results The 3D models of the HER2-OE immune microenvironment retained original BC molecular features; the preservation of the NK cell compartment was achieved upon optimization of culture time and cytokine supplementation. Challenging the models with the standard-of-care combination of trastuzumab and pertuzumab resulted in enhanced immune cytotoxicity compared with trastuzumab alone. Features of the response to therapy within the immune tumor microenvironment were recapitulated, including induction of an immune effector state with NK cell activation, enhanced cell apoptosis and decline of immunosuppressive PD-L1+ immune cells. Conclusions This work presents a unique human 3D model for the study of immune effects of anti-HER2 biologicals, which can be used to test novel therapy regimens and improve anti-tumor immune function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sofia Batalha
- iBET, Instituto de Biologia Experimental e Tecnológica, Oeiras, Portugal
- Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica António Xavier, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Oeiras, Portugal
| | - Catarina Monteiro Gomes
- iBET, Instituto de Biologia Experimental e Tecnológica, Oeiras, Portugal
- Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica António Xavier, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Oeiras, Portugal
| | - Catarina Brito
- iBET, Instituto de Biologia Experimental e Tecnológica, Oeiras, Portugal
- Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica António Xavier, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Oeiras, Portugal
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Tang C, Qin L, Li J. A novel anoikis-related gene signature predicts prognosis in patients with breast cancer and reveals immune infiltration. Medicine (Baltimore) 2023; 102:e35732. [PMID: 37904416 PMCID: PMC10615559 DOI: 10.1097/md.0000000000035732] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2023] [Accepted: 09/29/2023] [Indexed: 11/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Breast cancer (BRCA) is a common malignancy worldwide that is associated with a high mortality rate. Despite recent improvements in diagnosis and treatment, there is an urgent need to investigate the processes underlying cancer progression and identify novel prognostic indicators. Anoikis, which plays a role in the development of human malignant tumors, has been gaining increasing interest from researchers. However, the potential role of anoikis-related genes (ANRGs) in the advancement of BRCA remains unknown. In this study, we aimed to assess the predictive value of ANRGs in BRCA, construct a prognostic model based on ANRGs, and explore the tumor microenvironment in different prognostic score groups. This study utilized data from the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) databases to collect clinical information and RNA sequencing data from patients with BRCA. Information on ANRGs was gathered from GeneCards and Harmonizome portals. A risk score model based on ANRGs was created using least absolute shrinkage and selection operator Cox (LASSO) regression analysis. Additionally, the study explored the tumor microenvironment and enriched pathways in different risk groups. Finally, a novel ANRG-based nomogram is developed. A total of 142 differentially expressed genes associated with survival were identified, of which 5 genes were selected to create the ANRG signature. The risk score based on this signature proved to be an independent prognostic factor. Further analysis revealed that different risk subgroups exhibited variations in the tumor microenvironment and drug sensitivities. Subsequently, a nomogram was developed using risk scores and clinicopathological factors. The decision curve analysis results suggest that patients with BRCA might derive clinical treatment benefits from utilizing this prognostic model. Based on the results of this study, the ANRG signature and nomograph established can be used for clinical decision-making in patients with BRCA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chaoyi Tang
- Department of Gastrointestinal Gland Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, China
| | - Liuqing Qin
- Department of Gastrointestinal Gland Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, China
| | - Jiehua Li
- Department of Gastrointestinal Gland Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, China
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Qiu J, Qian D, Jiang Y, Meng L, Huang L. Circulating tumor biomarkers in early-stage breast cancer: characteristics, detection, and clinical developments. Front Oncol 2023; 13:1288077. [PMID: 37941557 PMCID: PMC10628786 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2023.1288077] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2023] [Accepted: 10/09/2023] [Indexed: 11/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Breast cancer is the most common form of cancer in women, contributing to high rates of morbidity and mortality owing to the ability of these tumors to metastasize via the vascular system even in the early stages of progression. While ultrasonography and mammography have enabled the more reliable detection of early-stage breast cancer, these approaches entail high rates of false positive and false negative results Mammograms also expose patients to radiation, raising clinical concerns. As such, there is substantial interest in the development of more accurate and efficacious approaches to diagnosing breast cancer in its early stages when patients are more likely to benefit from curative treatment efforts. Blood-based biomarkers derived from the tumor microenvironment (TME) have frequently been studied as candidate targets that can enable tumor detection when used for patient screening. Through these efforts, many promising biomarkers including tumor antigens, circulating tumor cell clusters, microRNAs, extracellular vesicles, circulating tumor DNA, metabolites, and lipids have emerged as targets that may enable the detection of breast tumors at various stages of progression. This review provides a systematic overview of the TME characteristics of early breast cancer, together with details on current approaches to detecting blood-based biomarkers in affected patients. The limitations, challenges, and prospects associated with different experimental and clinical platforms employed in this context are also discussed at length.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jie Qiu
- Department of Breast and Thyroid Surgery, Shaoxing People’s Hospital, Shaoxing, Zhejiang, China
| | - Da Qian
- Department of Burn and Plastic Surgery-Hand Surgery, Changshu Hospital Affiliated to Soochow University, Changshu No.1 People’s Hospital, Changshu, Jiangsu, China
| | - Yuancong Jiang
- Department of Breast and Thyroid Surgery, Shaoxing People’s Hospital, Shaoxing, Zhejiang, China
| | - Liwei Meng
- Department of Breast and Thyroid Surgery, Shaoxing People’s Hospital, Shaoxing, Zhejiang, China
| | - Liming Huang
- Department of Breast and Thyroid Surgery, Shaoxing People’s Hospital, Shaoxing, Zhejiang, China
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Marron TU, Guerriero JL. SIGLEC9 tips the myeloid balance in glioblastoma. NATURE CANCER 2023; 4:1217-1219. [PMID: 37500790 DOI: 10.1038/s43018-023-00603-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/29/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Thomas U Marron
- The Department of Immunology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- The Tisch Cancer Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Jennifer L Guerriero
- Breast Oncology Program, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA.
- Division of Breast Surgery, Department of Surgery, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.
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Bao W, Song Z, Wan H, Yu X, Chen Z, Jiang Y, Chen X, Le K. Model for predicting prognosis and immunotherapy based on CD +8 T cells infiltration in neuroblastoma. J Cancer Res Clin Oncol 2023; 149:9839-9855. [PMID: 37248319 DOI: 10.1007/s00432-023-04897-7] [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: 04/16/2023] [Accepted: 05/20/2023] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Neuroblastoma (NBL) is an extracranial malignant tumor in children deriving from the neural crest in the sympathetic nervous system. Although various immunotherapy interventions have made significant breakthroughs in many adult cancers, the efficacy of these immunotherapies was still limited in NBL. NBL has low immunogenicity which results in a lack of tumor-infiltrating T lymphocytes in the tumor microenvironment (TME). Moreover, tumor cells can wield many immune evasion strategies both in the TME and systemically to impede lymphocyte infiltration and activation. All these factors hamper the anti-tumor effects of CD8+ T cells during immunotherapy and the levels of infiltrating CD8+ T cells correlate with therapy response. MATERIALS AND METHODS In this study, we utilized multidimensional bioinformatic methods to establish a risk model based on CD8+ T cells -related genes (CD8+ TRGs). RESULTS We obtained 33 CD8+ TRGs with well-predictive ability for prognosis in both GSE49711 and E-MTAB-8248 cohorts. Then, 12 CD8+ TRGs including HK2, RP2, HPSE, ELL2, GFI1, SLC22A16, FCGR3A, CTSS, SH2D1A, RBP5, ATF5, and ADAM9 were finally identified for risk model construction and validation. This model revealed a stable performance in prognostic prediction of the overall survival (OS) and event-free survival (EFS) in patients with NBL. Additionally, our research indicated that the immune and stromal scores, immune-related pathways, immune cell infiltration, the expression of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) and immune checkpoint molecules, immunotherapy response, and drug susceptibility revealed significant differences between high and low-risk groups. CONCLUSIONS According to our analyses, the constructed CD8+ TRGs-based risk model may be promising for the clinical prediction of anti-tumor therapy responses and prognoses in NBL.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Bao
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, No.17 Yongwaizheng Street, Nanchang, 330006, Jiangxi Province, China
- Department of Pediatrics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, No.17 Yongwaizheng Street, Nanchang, 330006, Jiangxi Province, China
| | - Zhiping Song
- Department of Anesthesia, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, No.17 Yongwaizheng Street, Nanchang, 330006, Jiangxi Province, China
| | - Hao Wan
- Department of General Surgery, Jiangxi Provincial Children's Hospital, No.122 Yangming Road, Nanchang, 330006, Jiangxi Province, China
| | - Xiaoping Yu
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, No.17 Yongwaizheng Street, Nanchang, 330006, Jiangxi Province, China
| | - Zhaoyan Chen
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, No.17 Yongwaizheng Street, Nanchang, 330006, Jiangxi Province, China
| | - Yaqing Jiang
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, No.17 Yongwaizheng Street, Nanchang, 330006, Jiangxi Province, China
| | - Xiao Chen
- Department of Pediatrics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, No.17 Yongwaizheng Street, Nanchang, 330006, Jiangxi Province, China.
| | - Kai Le
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, No.17 Yongwaizheng Street, Nanchang, 330006, Jiangxi Province, China.
- Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, Faculty of Health and Social Sciences, Hong Kong Polytechnic University, 11 Yuk Choi Rd, Hong Kong S.A.R., China.
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Kashyap D, Bal A, Irinike S, Khare S, Bhattacharya S, Das A, Singh G. Heterogeneity of the Tumor Microenvironment Across Molecular Subtypes of Breast Cancer. Appl Immunohistochem Mol Morphol 2023; 31:533-543. [PMID: 37358863 DOI: 10.1097/pai.0000000000001139] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2022] [Accepted: 05/23/2023] [Indexed: 06/27/2023]
Abstract
Breast cancer is a heterogenous disease at the molecular level thus, it can be hypothesized that different molecular subtypes differ in their tumor microenvironment (TME) also. Understanding the TME heterogeneity may provide new prognostic biomarkers and new targets for cancer therapy. For deciphering heterogeneity in the TME, immunohistochemistry for immune markers (CD3, CD4, CD8, CD68, CD163, and programmed death-ligand 1), Cancer-associated fibroblast markers [anti-fibroblast activating protein α (FAP-α), platelet-derived growth factor receptor α (PDGFR-α), S100A4, Neuron-glial antigen 2, and Caveolin-1], and angiogenesis (CD31) was performed on tissue microarrays of different molecular subtypes of breast cancer. High CD3 + T cells were noted in the Luminal B subtype ( P =0.002) of which the majority were CD8 + cytotoxic T cells. Programmed death-ligand 1 expression in immune cells was highest in the human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (Her-2)-positive and Luminal B subtypes compared with the triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) subtype ( P =0.003). Her-2 subtype is rich in M2 tumor-associated macrophages ( P =0.000) compared with TNBC and Luminal B subtypes. M2 immune microenvironment correlated with high tumor grade and high Ki-67. Her-2 and TNBC subtypes are rich in extracellular matrix remodeling (FAP-α, P =0.003), angiogenesis-promoting (PDGFR-α; P =0.000) and invasion markers (Neuron-glial antigen 2, P =0.000; S100A4, P =0.07) compared with Luminal subtypes. Mean Microvessel density showed an increasing trend: Luminal A>Luminal B>Her-2 positive>TNBC; however, this difference was not statistically significant. The cancer-associated fibroblasts (FAP-α, PDGFR-α, and Neuron-glial antigen 2) showed a positive correlation with lymph node metastasis in specific subtypes. Immune cells, tumor-associated macrophage, and cancer-associated fibroblast-related s tromal markers showed higher expression in Luminal B, Her-2 positive, and TNBC respectively. This differential expression of different components of TME indicates heterogeneity of the TME across molecular subtypes of breast cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Shalmoli Bhattacharya
- Biophysics, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh, India
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Wang W, Chen H, Yin S, Yang Z, Zhang F. Targeting adipocyte-immune cell crosstalk to control breast cancer progression. J Cancer Res Clin Oncol 2023; 149:7969-7979. [PMID: 36914785 DOI: 10.1007/s00432-023-04685-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2022] [Accepted: 03/05/2023] [Indexed: 03/16/2023]
Abstract
Adipocytes are crucial components of breast cancer and are involved in regulating the progression, therapeutic efficacy, and prognosis of breast cancer patients. Characterized by storing energy and producing a variety of secretory factors, adipocytes are responsible for inducing obesity and regulating the tumor immune activity. Adipocytes communicate with tumor infiltrating immune cells through the secreted adipokines, cytokines, and exosomes in the breast cancer TIME, which shapes the tumor supporting environment to facilitate the immune escape of tumor cells. In-depth studies of the crosstalk between adipocytes and TIME can not only provide a more comprehensive regulatory landscape of TIME, but also be conducive to screening novel targets for future precision targeted therapy. The aim of this review is to discuss recent studies for understanding the role of crosstalk between adipocytes and immune cells in shaping the breast cancer immune microenvironment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weihua Wang
- Department of Breast and Thyroid Surgery, Chongqing General Hospital, 118 Xingguang Avenue, Chongqing, 401147, People's Republic of China
| | - Hongdan Chen
- Department of Breast and Thyroid Surgery, Chongqing General Hospital, 118 Xingguang Avenue, Chongqing, 401147, People's Republic of China
| | - Supeng Yin
- Department of Breast and Thyroid Surgery, Chongqing General Hospital, 118 Xingguang Avenue, Chongqing, 401147, People's Republic of China
| | - Zeyu Yang
- Department of Breast and Thyroid Surgery, Chongqing General Hospital, 118 Xingguang Avenue, Chongqing, 401147, People's Republic of China.
| | - Fan Zhang
- Department of Breast and Thyroid Surgery, Chongqing General Hospital, 118 Xingguang Avenue, Chongqing, 401147, People's Republic of China.
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Ogimoto T, Ozasa H, Yoshida H, Nomizo T, Funazo T, Yoshida H, Hashimoto K, Hosoya K, Yamazoe M, Ajimizu H, Tsuji T, Sakamori Y, Kuninaga K, Morita S, Hirai T. CD47 polymorphism for predicting nivolumab benefit in patients with advanced non‑small‑cell lung cancer. Oncol Lett 2023; 26:364. [PMID: 37545625 PMCID: PMC10398628 DOI: 10.3892/ol.2023.13950] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2023] [Accepted: 06/27/2023] [Indexed: 08/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), such as nivolumab, play an essential role in non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) treatment. Programmed death ligand-1 has been used as a predictive biomarker for the efficacy of ICI treatment in patients with NSCLC; however, its predictive value is considered insufficient. Therefore, there is an urgent need for better predictive biomarkers. The present study focused on the CD47 molecule, which is associated with macrophages and tumor immunity. The study aimed to investigate the association between CD47 single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) and the therapeutic effect of nivolumab in patients with NSCLC. The CD47 SNP genotypes and clinical outcomes were retrospectively analyzed in 164 patients with NSCLC treated with nivolumab at Kyoto University Hospital (Kyoto, Japan). Patients with the G/G genotype of the CD47 SNP rs3804639 had significantly longer progression-free survival than those with the G/T or T/T genotypes [2.6 months vs. 2.1 months, hazard ratio (HR), 0.70; P=0.026]. Moreover, the G/G genotype of the CD47 SNP rs3804639 was associated with a significantly longer median overall survival than the G/T or T/T genotypes of the CD47 SNP rs3804639 (24.8 months vs. 12.0 months, HR, 0.64; P=0.021). In conclusion, CD47 polymorphism may be a novel predictive biomarker of nivolumab efficacy in patients with advanced NSCLC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tatsuya Ogimoto
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto 606-8507, Japan
| | - Hiroaki Ozasa
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto 606-8507, Japan
| | - Hironori Yoshida
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto 606-8507, Japan
| | - Takashi Nomizo
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto 606-8507, Japan
| | - Tomoko Funazo
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto 606-8507, Japan
| | - Hiroshi Yoshida
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto 606-8507, Japan
| | - Kentaro Hashimoto
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto 606-8507, Japan
| | - Kazutaka Hosoya
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto 606-8507, Japan
| | - Masatoshi Yamazoe
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto 606-8507, Japan
| | - Hitomi Ajimizu
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto 606-8507, Japan
| | - Takahiro Tsuji
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto 606-8507, Japan
- Department of Anatomy and Molecular Cell Biology, Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Aichi 466-8550, Japan
| | - Yuichi Sakamori
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto 606-8507, Japan
| | - Kiyomitsu Kuninaga
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto 606-8507, Japan
| | - Satoshi Morita
- Department of Biomedical Statistics and Bioinformatics, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto 606-8507, Japan
| | - Toyohiro Hirai
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto 606-8507, Japan
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Zhao W, Chang Y, Wu Z, Jiang X, Li Y, Xie R, Fu D, Sun C, Gao J. Identification of PIMREG as a novel prognostic signature in breast cancer via integrated bioinformatics analysis and experimental validation. PeerJ 2023; 11:e15703. [PMID: 37483962 PMCID: PMC10358341 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.15703] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2023] [Accepted: 06/14/2023] [Indexed: 07/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Phosphatidylinositol binding clathrin assembly protein interacting mitotic regulator (PIMREG) expression is upregulated in a variety of cancers. However, its potential role in breast cancer (BC) remains uncertain. Methods The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) databases were used to gather relevant information. The expression of PIMREG and its clinical implication in BC were assessed by using Wilcoxon rank-sum test. The prognostic value of PIMREG in BC was evaluated through the Cox regression model and nomogram, and visualized by Kaplan-Meier survival curves. Genes/proteins that interact with PIMREG in BC were also identified through GeneMANIA and MaxLink. Gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) was then performed. The correlations of the immune cell infiltration and immune checkpoints with the expression of PIMREG in BC were explored via TIMER, TISIDB, and GEPIA. Potential drugs that interact with PIMREG in BC were explored via Q-omic. The siRNA transfection, CCK-8, and transwell migration assay were conducted to explore the function of PIMREG in cell proliferation and migration. Results PIMREG expression was significantly higher in infiltrating ductal carcinoma, estrogen receptor negative BC, and progestin receptor negative BC. High expression of PIMREG was associated with poor overall survival, disease-specific survival, and progression-free interval. A nomogram based on PIMREG was developed with a satisfactory prognostic value. PIMREG also had a high diagnostic ability, with an area under the curve of 0.940. Its correlations with several immunomodulators were also observed. Immune checkpoint CTLA-4 was significantly positively associated with PIMREG. HDAC2 was found as a potentially critical link between PIMREG and BRCA1/2. In addition, PIMREG knockdown could inhibit cell proliferation and migration in BC. Conclusions The high expression of PIMREG is associated with poor prognosis and immune checkpoints in BC. HDAC2 may be a critical link between PIMREG and BRCA1/2, potentially a therapeutic target.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenjing Zhao
- Clinical Medical College, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, China
| | - Yuanjin Chang
- School of Medicine, Jiangnan College, WuXi, JiangSu, China
| | - Zhaoye Wu
- School of Medicine, Jiangnan College, WuXi, JiangSu, China
| | - Xiaofan Jiang
- School of Medicine, Jiangnan College, WuXi, JiangSu, China
| | - Yong Li
- Clinical Medical College, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, China
| | - Ruijin Xie
- School of Medicine, Jiangnan College, WuXi, JiangSu, China
| | - Deyuan Fu
- Clinical Medical College, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, China
| | - Chenyu Sun
- Department of General Surgery, The second Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Anhui, China
- Department of Medicine, AMITA Health Saint Joseph Hospital, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Ju Gao
- Clinical Medical College, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu, China
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Liu H, Wang Z, Zhou Y, Yang Y. MDSCs in breast cancer: an important enabler of tumor progression and an emerging therapeutic target. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1199273. [PMID: 37465670 PMCID: PMC10350567 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1199273] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2023] [Accepted: 06/19/2023] [Indexed: 07/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Women worldwide are more likely to develop breast cancer (BC) than any other type of cancer. The treatment of BC depends on the subtype and stage of the cancer, such as surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, and immunotherapy. Although significant progress has been made in recent years, advanced or metastatic BC presents a poor prognosis, due to drug resistance and recurrences. During embryonic development, myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) develop that suppress the immune system. By inhibiting anti-immune effects and promoting non-immune mechanisms such as tumor cell stemness, epithelial-mesenchymal transformation (EMT) and angiogenesis, MDSCs effectively promote tumor growth and metastasis. In various BC models, peripheral tissues, and tumor microenvironments (TME), MDSCs have been found to amplification. Clinical progression or poor prognosis are strongly associated with increased MDSCs. In this review, we describe the activation, recruitment, and differentiation of MDSCs production in BC, the involvement of MDSCs in BC progression, and the clinical characteristics of MDSCs as a potential BC therapy target.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haoyu Liu
- Department of Radiotherapy, Second Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Zhicheng Wang
- National Health Commission (NHC) Key Laboratory of Radiobiology, School of Public Health, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Yuntao Zhou
- National Health Commission (NHC) Key Laboratory of Radiobiology, School of Public Health, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Yanming Yang
- Department of Radiotherapy, Second Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China
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Patterson-Fortin J, Jadhav H, Pantelidou C, Phan T, Grochala C, Mehta AK, Guerriero JL, Wulf GM, Wolpin BM, Stanger BZ, Aguirre AJ, Cleary JM, D'Andrea AD, Shapiro GI. Polymerase θ inhibition activates the cGAS-STING pathway and cooperates with immune checkpoint blockade in models of BRCA-deficient cancer. Nat Commun 2023; 14:1390. [PMID: 36914658 PMCID: PMC10011609 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-37096-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2022] [Accepted: 03/02/2023] [Indexed: 03/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Recently developed inhibitors of polymerase theta (POLθ) have demonstrated synthetic lethality in BRCA-deficient tumor models. To examine the contribution of the immune microenvironment to antitumor efficacy, we characterized the effects of POLθ inhibition in immunocompetent models of BRCA1-deficient triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) or BRCA2-deficient pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). We demonstrate that genetic POLQ depletion or pharmacological POLθ inhibition induces both innate and adaptive immune responses in these models. POLθ inhibition resulted in increased micronuclei, cGAS/STING pathway activation, type I interferon gene expression, CD8+ T cell infiltration and activation, local paracrine activation of dendritic cells and upregulation of PD-L1 expression. Depletion of CD8+ T cells compromised the efficacy of POLθ inhibition, whereas antitumor effects were augmented in combination with anti-PD-1 immunotherapy. Collectively, our findings demonstrate that POLθ inhibition induces immune responses in a cGAS/STING-dependent manner and provide a rationale for combining POLθ inhibition with immune checkpoint blockade for the treatment of HR-deficient cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeffrey Patterson-Fortin
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, 02215, USA
- Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Heta Jadhav
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, 02215, USA
| | - Constantia Pantelidou
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, 02215, USA
- Bayer Pharmaceuticals, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Tin Phan
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02215, USA
| | - Carter Grochala
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02215, USA
- Arpeggio, Boulder, CO, USA
| | - Anita K Mehta
- Department of Surgical Oncology and Harvard Medical School, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
- Sanofi, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Jennifer L Guerriero
- Department of Surgical Oncology and Harvard Medical School, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Gerburg M Wulf
- Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology-Oncology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02215, USA
| | - Brian M Wolpin
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, 02215, USA
- Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
- Hale Family Center for Pancreatic Cancer Research, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, 02215, USA
| | - Ben Z Stanger
- Department of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology, Abramson Family Cancer Research Institute, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Andrew J Aguirre
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, 02215, USA
- Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
- Hale Family Center for Pancreatic Cancer Research, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, 02215, USA
| | - James M Cleary
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, 02215, USA
- Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
- Hale Family Center for Pancreatic Cancer Research, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, 02215, USA
| | - Alan D D'Andrea
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02215, USA
- Center for DNA Damage and Repair, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, 02215, USA
| | - Geoffrey I Shapiro
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, 02215, USA.
- Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA.
- Center for DNA Damage and Repair, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, 02215, USA.
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Luo Y, Ye Y, Chen Y, Zhang C, Sun Y, Wang C, Ou J. A degradome-based prognostic signature that correlates with immune infiltration and tumor mutation burden in breast cancer. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1140993. [PMID: 36993976 PMCID: PMC10040797 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1140993] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2023] [Accepted: 02/27/2023] [Indexed: 03/14/2023] Open
Abstract
IntroductionFemale breast cancer is the most common malignancy worldwide, with a high disease burden. The degradome is the most abundant class of cellular enzymes that play an essential role in regulating cellular activity. Dysregulation of the degradome may disrupt cellular homeostasis and trigger carcinogenesis. Thus we attempted to understand the prognostic role of degradome in breast cancer by means of establishing a prognostic signature based on degradome-related genes (DRGs) and assessed its clinical utility in multiple dimensions.MethodsA total of 625 DRGs were obtained for analysis. Transcriptome data and clinical information of patients with breast cancer from TCGA-BRCA, METABRIC and GSE96058 were collected. NetworkAnalyst and cBioPortal were also utilized for analysis. LASSO regression analysis was employed to construct the degradome signature. Investigations of the degradome signature concerning clinical association, functional characterization, mutation landscape, immune infiltration, immune checkpoint expression and drug priority were orchestrated. Cell phenotype assays including colony formation, CCK8, transwell and wound healing were conducted in MCF-7 and MDA-MB-435S breast cancer cell lines, respectively.ResultsA 10-gene signature was developed and verified as an independent prognostic predictor combined with other clinicopathological parameters in breast cancer. The prognostic nomogram based on risk score (calculated based on the degradome signature) showed favourable capability in survival prediction and advantage in clinical benefit. High risk scores were associated with a higher degree of clinicopathological events (T4 stage and HER2-positive) and mutation frequency. Regulation of toll-like receptors and several cell cycle promoting activities were upregulated in the high-risk group. PIK3CA and TP53 mutations were dominant in the low- and high-risk groups, respectively. A significantly positive correlation was observed between the risk score and tumor mutation burden. The infiltration levels of immune cells and the expressions of immune checkpoints were significantly influenced by the risk score. Additionally, the degradome signature adequately predicted the survival of patients undergoing endocrinotherapy or radiotherapy. Patients in the low-risk group may achieve complete response after the first round of chemotherapy with cyclophosphamide and docetaxel, whereas patients in the high-risk group may benefit from 5-flfluorouracil. Several regulators of the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway and the CDK family/PARP family were identified as potential molecular targets in the low- and high-risk groups, respectively. In vitro experiments further revealed that the knockdown of ABHD12 and USP41 significantly inhibit the proliferation, invasion and migration of breast cancer cells.ConclusionMultidimensional evaluation verified the clinical utility of the degradome signature in predicting prognosis, risk stratification and guiding treatment for patients with breast cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yulou Luo
- Department of Breast Surgery, Affiliated Tumor Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University, Urumqi, China
| | - Yinghui Ye
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Peking University Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen, China
| | - Yan Chen
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xinjiang Medical University, Urumqi, China
| | - Chenguang Zhang
- Department of Breast Surgery, Affiliated Tumor Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University, Urumqi, China
| | - Yutian Sun
- Department of Medical Oncology, Sichuan Cancer Hospital and Institute, Sichuan Cancer Center, School of Medicine, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China
| | - Chengwei Wang
- Cancer Research Institute of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Affiliated Tumor Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University, Urumqi, China
- *Correspondence: Chengwei Wang, ; Jianghua Ou,
| | - Jianghua Ou
- Department of Breast Surgery, Affiliated Tumor Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University, Urumqi, China
- *Correspondence: Chengwei Wang, ; Jianghua Ou,
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Pei S, Zhang P, Yang L, Kang Y, Chen H, Zhao S, Dai Y, Zheng M, Xia Y, Xie H. Exploring the role of sphingolipid-related genes in clinical outcomes of breast cancer. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1116839. [PMID: 36860848 PMCID: PMC9968761 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1116839] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2022] [Accepted: 01/30/2023] [Indexed: 02/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Despite tremendous advances in cancer research, breast cancer (BC) remains a major health concern and is the most common cancer affecting women worldwide. Breast cancer is a highly heterogeneous cancer with potentially aggressive and complex biology, and precision treatment for specific subtypes may improve survival in breast cancer patients. Sphingolipids are important components of lipids that play a key role in the growth and death of tumor cells and are increasingly the subject of new anti-cancer therapies. Key enzymes and intermediates of sphingolipid metabolism (SM) play an important role in regulating tumor cells and further influencing clinical prognosis. Methods We downloaded BC data from the TCGA database and GEO database, on which we performed in depth single-cell sequencing analysis (scRNA-seq), weighted co-expression network analysis, and transcriptome differential expression analysis. Then seven sphingolipid-related genes (SRGs) were identified using Cox regression, least absolute shrinkage, and selection operator (Lasso) regression analysis to construct a prognostic model for BC patients. Finally, the expression and function of the key gene PGK1 in the model were verified by in vitro experiments. Results This prognostic model allows for the classification of BC patients into high-risk and low-risk groups, with a statistically significant difference in survival time between the two groups. The model is also able to show high prediction accuracy in both internal and external validation sets. After further analysis of the immune microenvironment and immunotherapy, it was found that this risk grouping could be used as a guide for the immunotherapy of BC. The proliferation, migration, and invasive ability of MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7 cell lines were dramatically reduced after knocking down the key gene PGK1 in the model through cellular experiments. Conclusion This study suggests that prognostic features based on genes related to SM are associated with clinical outcomes, tumor progression, and immune alterations in BC patients. Our findings may provide insights for the development of new strategies for early intervention and prognostic prediction in BC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shengbin Pei
- Department of Breast Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Pengpeng Zhang
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Lili Yang
- Department of Breast Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Yakun Kang
- Department of Breast Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Huilin Chen
- Department of Breast Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Shuhan Zhao
- Department of Breast Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Yuhan Dai
- Department of Breast Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Mingjie Zheng
- Department of Breast Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Yiqin Xia
- Department of Breast Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China,*Correspondence: Hui Xie, ; Yiqin Xia,
| | - Hui Xie
- Department of Breast Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China,*Correspondence: Hui Xie, ; Yiqin Xia,
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(Stămat) LRB, Dinescu S, Costache M. Regulation of Inflammasome by microRNAs in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer: New Opportunities for Therapy. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24043245. [PMID: 36834660 PMCID: PMC9963301 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24043245] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2022] [Revised: 01/28/2023] [Accepted: 02/02/2023] [Indexed: 02/09/2023] Open
Abstract
During the past decade, researchers have investigated the molecular mechanisms of breast cancer initiation and progression, especially triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), in order to identify specific biomarkers that could serve as feasible targets for innovative therapeutic strategies development. TNBC is characterized by a dynamic and aggressive nature, due to the absence of estrogen, progesterone and human epidermal growth factor 2 receptors. TNBC progression is associated with the dysregulation of nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-like receptor and pyrin domain-containing protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome, followed by the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines and caspase-1 dependent cell death, termed pyroptosis. The heterogeneity of the breast tumor microenvironment triggers the interest of non-coding RNAs' involvement in NLRP3 inflammasome assembly, TNBC progression and metastasis. Non-coding RNAs are paramount regulators of carcinogenesis and inflammasome pathways, which could help in the development of efficient treatments. This review aims to highlight the contribution of non-coding RNAs that support inflammasome activation and TNBC progression, pointing up their potential for clinical applications as biomarkers for diagnosis and therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Sorina Dinescu
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Bucharest, 050095 Bucharest, Romania
- Research Institute of the University of Bucharest, 050663 Bucharest, Romania
- Correspondence:
| | - Marieta Costache
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Bucharest, 050095 Bucharest, Romania
- Research Institute of the University of Bucharest, 050663 Bucharest, Romania
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The Combination of Immune Checkpoint Blockade with Tumor Vessel Normalization as a Promising Therapeutic Strategy for Breast Cancer: An Overview of Preclinical and Clinical Studies. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24043226. [PMID: 36834641 PMCID: PMC9964596 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24043226] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2022] [Revised: 01/24/2023] [Accepted: 01/26/2023] [Indexed: 02/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have a modest clinical activity when administered as monotherapy against breast cancer (BC), the most common malignancy in women. Novel combinatorial strategies are currently being investigated to overcome resistance to ICIs and promote antitumor immune responses in a greater proportion of BC patients. Recent studies have shown that the BC abnormal vasculature is associated with immune suppression in patients, and hampers both drug delivery and immune effector cell trafficking to tumor nests. Thus, strategies directed at normalizing (i.e., at remodeling and stabilizing) the immature, abnormal tumor vessels are receiving much attention. In particular, the combination of ICIs with tumor vessel normalizing agents is thought to hold great promise for the treatment of BC patients. Indeed, a compelling body of evidence indicates that the addition of low doses of antiangiogenic drugs to ICIs substantially improves antitumor immunity. In this review, we outline the impact that the reciprocal interactions occurring between tumor angiogenesis and immune cells have on the immune evasion and clinical progression of BC. In addition, we overview preclinical and clinical studies that are presently evaluating the therapeutic effectiveness of combining ICIs with antiangiogenic drugs in BC patients.
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Radiosensitivity is associated with antitumor immunity in estrogen receptor-negative breast cancer. Breast Cancer Res Treat 2023; 197:479-488. [PMID: 36515748 DOI: 10.1007/s10549-022-06818-7] [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: 06/13/2022] [Accepted: 11/11/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE This study evaluated radiosensitivity and the tumor microenvironment (TME) to identify characteristics of breast cancer patients who would benefit most from radiation therapy. METHODS We analyzed 1903 records from the Molecular Taxonomy of Breast Cancer International Consortium cohort using the radiosensitivity index and gene expression deconvolution algorithms, CIBERSORT and xCell, that estimates the TME composition of tumor samples. In this study, patients were stratified according to TME and radiosensitivity. We performed integrative analyses of clinical and immuno-genomic data to characterize molecular features associated with radiosensitivity. RESULTS Radiosensitivity was significantly associated with activation of antitumor immunity. In contrast, radioresistance was associated with a reactive stromal microenvironment. The immuno-genomic analysis revealed that estrogen receptor (ER) pathway activity was correlated with suppression of antitumor immunity. In ER-negative disease, the best prognosis was shown in the immune-high and radiosensitive group patients, and the lowest was in the immune-low and radioresistant group patients. In ER-positive disease, immune signature and radiosensitivity had no prognostic significance. CONCLUSION Taken together, these results suggest that tumor radiosensitivity is associated with activation of antitumor immunity and a better prognosis, particularly in patients with ER-negative breast cancer.
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Onkar SS, Carleton NM, Lucas PC, Bruno TC, Lee AV, Vignali DAA, Oesterreich S. The Great Immune Escape: Understanding the Divergent Immune Response in Breast Cancer Subtypes. Cancer Discov 2023; 13:23-40. [PMID: 36620880 PMCID: PMC9833841 DOI: 10.1158/2159-8290.cd-22-0475] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 43.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2022] [Revised: 08/30/2022] [Accepted: 09/26/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Breast cancer, the most common type of cancer affecting women, encompasses a collection of histologic (mainly ductal and lobular) and molecular subtypes exhibiting diverse clinical presentation, disease trajectories, treatment options, and outcomes. Immunotherapy has revolutionized treatment for some solid tumors but has shown limited promise for breast cancers. In this review, we summarize recent advances in our understanding of the complex interactions between tumor and immune cells in subtypes of breast cancer at the cellular and microenvironmental levels. We aim to provide a perspective on opportunities for future immunotherapy agents tailored to specific features of each subtype of breast cancer. SIGNIFICANCE Although there are currently over 200 ongoing clinical trials testing immunotherapeutics, such as immune-checkpoint blockade agents, these are largely restricted to the triple-negative and HER2+ subtypes and primarily focus on T cells. With the rapid expansion of new in vitro, in vivo, and clinical data, it is critical to identify and highlight the challenges and opportunities unique for each breast cancer subtype to drive the next generation of treatments that harness the immune system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sayali S. Onkar
- Department of Immunology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
- Tumor Microenvironment Center, UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
- Graduate Program of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
| | - Neil M. Carleton
- Women’s Cancer Research Center, Magee-Women’s Research Institute, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
| | - Peter C Lucas
- Women’s Cancer Research Center, Magee-Women’s Research Institute, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
- Cancer Biology Program, UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
- Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
| | - Tullia C Bruno
- Department of Immunology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
- Tumor Microenvironment Center, UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
- Cancer Immunology and Immunotherapy Program, UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
| | - Adrian V Lee
- Women’s Cancer Research Center, Magee-Women’s Research Institute, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
- Cancer Biology Program, UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
- Department of Pharmacology and Chemical Biology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
| | - Dario AA Vignali
- Department of Immunology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
- Tumor Microenvironment Center, UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
- Cancer Immunology and Immunotherapy Program, UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
| | - Steffi Oesterreich
- Women’s Cancer Research Center, Magee-Women’s Research Institute, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
- Cancer Biology Program, UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
- Department of Pharmacology and Chemical Biology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
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47
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Cui H, Ren X, Dai L, Chang L, Liu D, Zhai Z, Kang H, Ma X. Comprehensive analysis of nicotinamide metabolism-related signature for predicting prognosis and immunotherapy response in breast cancer. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1145552. [PMID: 36969219 PMCID: PMC10031006 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1145552] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2023] [Accepted: 02/22/2023] [Indexed: 03/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Breast cancer (BC) is the most common malignancy among women. Nicotinamide (NAM) metabolism regulates the development of multiple tumors. Herein, we sought to develop a NAM metabolism-related signature (NMRS) to make predictions of survival, tumor microenvironment (TME) and treatment efficacy in BC patients. Methods Transcriptional profiles and clinical data from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) were analyzed. NAM metabolism-related genes (NMRGs) were retrieved from the Molecular Signatures Database. Consensus clustering was performed on the NMRGs and the differentially expressed genes between different clusters were identified. Univariate Cox, Lasso, and multivariate Cox regression analyses were sequentially conducted to develop the NAM metabolism-related signature (NMRS), which was then validated in the International Cancer Genome Consortium (ICGC) database and Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) single-cell RNA-seq data. Further studies, such as gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA), ESTIMATE, CIBERSORT, SubMap, and Immunophenoscore (IPS) algorithm, cancer-immunity cycle (CIC), tumor mutation burden (TMB), and drug sensitivity were performed to assess the TME and treatment response. Results We identified a 6-gene NMRS that was significantly associated with BC prognosis as an independent indicator. We performed risk stratification according to the NMRS and the low-risk group showed preferable clinical outcomes (P < 0.001). A comprehensive nomogram was developed and showed excellent predictive value for prognosis. GSEA demonstrated that the low-risk group was predominantly enriched in immune-associated pathways, whereas the high-risk group was enriched in cancer-related pathways. The ESTIMATE and CIBERSORT algorithms revealed that the low-risk group had a higher abundance of anti-tumor immunocyte infiltration (P < 0.05). Results of Submap, IPS, CIC, TMB, and external immunotherapy cohort (iMvigor210) analyses showed that the low-risk group were indicative of better immunotherapy response (P < 0.05). Conclusions The novel signature offers a promising way to evaluate the prognosis and treatment efficacy in BC patients, which may facilitate clinical practice and management.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Xiaobin Ma
- *Correspondence: Xiaobin Ma, ; Huafeng Kang,
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Shapiro GI, Barry SM. Combining PARP Inhibition and Immunotherapy in BRCA-Associated Cancers. Cancer Treat Res 2023; 186:207-221. [PMID: 37978138 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-031-30065-3_12] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2023]
Abstract
Poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) inhibitors have significantly improved treatment outcomes of homologous recombination (HR) repair-deficient cancers. While the activity of these agents is largely linked to multiple mechanisms underlying the synthetic lethality of PARP inhibition and HR deficiency, emerging data suggest that their efficacy is also tied to their effects on the immune microenvironment and dependent upon cytotoxic T-cell activation. Effects observed in preclinical models are currently being validated in on-treatment biopsy samples procured from patients enrolled in clinical trials. Although this work has stimulated the development of combinations of PARP inhibitors with immunomodulatory agents, results to date have not demonstrated the superiority of combined PARP inhibition and immune checkpoint blockade compared with PARP inhibition alone. These results have stimulated a more comprehensive assessment of the immunosuppressive components of the tumor microenvironment that must be addressed so that the efficacy of PARP inhibitor agents can be maximized.
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Affiliation(s)
- Geoffrey I Shapiro
- Department of Medical Oncology and Center for DNA Damage and Repair, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Harvard Medical School, Boston, USA.
| | - Suzanne M Barry
- Department of Medical Oncology and Center for DNA Damage and Repair, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Harvard Medical School, Boston, USA
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49
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The Effect of Oxidative Phosphorylation on Cancer Drug Resistance. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 15:cancers15010062. [PMID: 36612059 PMCID: PMC9817696 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15010062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2022] [Revised: 12/10/2022] [Accepted: 12/16/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Recent studies have shown that oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) is a target for the effective attenuation of cancer drug resistance. OXPHOS inhibitors can improve treatment responses to anticancer therapy in certain cancers, such as melanomas, lymphomas, colon cancers, leukemias and pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). However, the effect of OXPHOS on cancer drug resistance is complex and associated with cell types in the tumor microenvironment (TME). Cancer cells universally promote OXPHOS activity through the activation of various signaling pathways, and this activity is required for resistance to cancer therapy. Resistant cancer cells are prevalent among cancer stem cells (CSCs), for which the main metabolic phenotype is increased OXPHOS. CSCs depend on OXPHOS to survive targeting by anticancer drugs and can be selectively eradicated by OXPHOS inhibitors. In contrast to that in cancer cells, mitochondrial OXPHOS is significantly downregulated in tumor-infiltrating T cells, impairing antitumor immunity. In this review, we summarize novel research showing the effect of OXPHOS on cancer drug resistance, thereby explaining how this metabolic process plays a dual role in cancer progression. We highlight the underlying mechanisms of metabolic reprogramming in cancer cells, as it is vital for discovering new drug targets.
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50
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Anti-Inflammatory Mechanisms of Dietary Flavones: Tapping into Nature to Control Chronic Inflammation in Obesity and Cancer. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms232415753. [PMID: 36555392 PMCID: PMC9779861 DOI: 10.3390/ijms232415753] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2022] [Revised: 12/07/2022] [Accepted: 12/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Flavones are natural phytochemicals broadly distributed in our diet. Their anti-inflammatory properties provide unique opportunities to control the innate immune system and inflammation. Here, we review the role of flavones in chronic inflammation with an emphasis on their impact on the molecular mechanisms underlying inflammatory diseases including obesity and cancer. Flavones can influence the innate immune cell repertoire restoring the immune landscape. Flavones impinge on NF-κB, STAT, COX-2, or NLRP3 inflammasome pathways reestablishing immune homeostasis. Devoid of adverse side effects, flavones could present alternative opportunities for the treatment and prevention of chronic inflammation that contributes to obesity and cancer.
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