Epithelial-mesenchymal transition is the main way in which glioma-associated microglia/macrophages promote glioma progression

Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition Related Score Functions as a Predictive Tool for Immunotherapy and Candidate Drugs in Glioma

Gliomas are aggressive CNS tumors where the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is crucial for prognosis. We developed an EMT-based score predicting overall survival (OS) and conducted pathway analyses, revealing functions such as cell proliferation and immune response in glioma progression. The EMT score, correlated with immune functions and cell infiltration, shows potential as an immune response indicator. We identified two promising compounds, BIX02189 and QL-XI-92, as potential glioma treatments based on candidate gene analysis.

Radiomic profiling for insular diffuse glioma stratification with distinct biologic pathway activities

Current literature emphasizes surgical complexities and customized resection for managing insular gliomas; however, radiogenomic investigations into prognostic radiomic traits remain limited. We aimed to develop and validate a radiomic model using multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for prognostic prediction and to reveal the underlying biological mechanisms. Radiomic features from preoperative MRI were utilized to develop and validate a radiomic risk signature (RRS) for insular gliomas, validated through paired MRI and RNA-seq data (N = 39), to identify core pathways underlying the RRS and individual prognostic radiomic features. An 18-feature-based RRS was established for overall survival (OS) prediction. Gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) and weighted gene coexpression network analysis (WGCNA) were used to identify intersectional pathways. In total, 364 patients with insular gliomas (training set, N = 295; validation set, N = 69) were enrolled. RRS was significantly associated with insular glioma OS (log-rank p = 0.00058; HR = 3.595, 95% CI:1.636-7.898) in the validation set. The radiomic-pathological-clinical model (R-P-CM) displayed enhanced reliability and accuracy in prognostic prediction. The radiogenomic analysis revealed 322 intersectional pathways through GSEA and WGCNA fusion; 13 prognostic radiomic features were significantly correlated with these intersectional pathways. The RRS demonstrated independent predictive value for insular glioma prognosis compared with established clinical and pathological profiles. The biological basis for prognostic radiomic indicators includes immune, proliferative, migratory, metabolic, and cellular biological function-related pathways.

SUMF1 overexpression promotes tumorous cell growth and migration and is correlated with the immune status of patients with glioma

BACKGROUND

Glioma is a prevalent type of malignant tumor. To date, there is a lack of literature reports that have examined the association between sulfatase modifying factor 1 (SUMF1) and glioma.

METHODS

The levels of SUMF1 were examined, and their relationships with the diagnosis, prognosis, and immune microenvironment of patients with glioma were investigated. Cox and Lasso regression analysis were employed to construct nomograms and risk models associated with SUMF1. The functions and mechanisms of SUMF1 were explored and verified using gene ontology, cell counting kit-8, wound healing, western blotting, and transwell experiments.

RESULTS

SUMF1 expression tended to increase in glioma tissues. SUMF1 overexpression was linked to the diagnosis of cancer, survival events, isocitrate dehydrogenase status, age, and histological subtype and was positively correlated with poor prognosis in patients with glioma. SUMF1 overexpression was an independent risk factor for poor prognosis. SUMF1-related nomograms and high-risk scores could predict the outcome of patients with glioma. SUMF1 co-expressed genes were involved in cytokine, T-cell activation, and lymphocyte proliferation. Inhibiting the expression of SUMF1 could deter the proliferation, migration, and invasion of glioma cells through epithelial mesenchymal transition. SUMF1 overexpression was significantly associated with the stromal score, immune cells (such as macrophages, neutrophils, activated dendritic cells), estimate score, immune score, and the expression of the programmed cell death 1, cytotoxic T-lymphocyte associated protein 4, CD79A and other immune cell marker.

CONCLUSION

SUMF1 overexpression was found to be correlated with adverse prognosis, cancer detection, and immune status in patients with glioma. Inhibiting the expression of SUMF1 was observed to deter the proliferation, migration, and invasion of cancer cells. The nomograms and risk models associated with SUMF1 could predict the prognosis of patients with glioma.

MET receptor serves as a promising target in melanoma brain metastases

The development of brain metastases hallmarks disease progression in 20-40% of melanoma patients and is a serious obstacle to therapy. Understanding the processes involved in the development and maintenance of melanoma brain metastases (MBM) is critical for the discovery of novel therapeutic strategies. Here, we generated transcriptome and methylome profiles of MBM showing high or low abundance of infiltrated Iba1high tumor-associated microglia and macrophages (TAMs). Our survey identified potential prognostic markers of favorable disease course and response to immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICi) therapy, among them APBB1IP and the interferon-responsive gene ITGB7. In MBM with high ITGB7/APBB1IP levels, the accumulation of TAMs correlated significantly with the immune score. Signature-based deconvolution of MBM via single sample GSEA revealed enrichment of interferon-response and immune signatures and revealed inflammation, stress and MET receptor signaling. MET receptor phosphorylation/activation maybe elicited by inflammatory processes in brain metastatic melanoma cells via stroma cell-released HGF. We found phospho-METY1234/1235 in a subset of MBM and observed a marked response of brain metastasis-derived cell lines (BMCs) that lacked druggable BRAF mutations or developed resistance to BRAF inhibitors (BRAFi) in vivo to MET inhibitors PHA-665752 and ARQ197 (tivantinib). In summary, the activation of MET receptor in brain colonizing melanoma cells by stromal cell-released HGF may promote tumor self-maintenance and expansion and might counteract ICi therapy. Therefore, therapeutic targeting of MET possibly serves as a promising strategy to control intracranial progressive disease and improve patient survival.