Comprehensive Analysis of the Potential Immune-Related Biomarker Transporter Associated With Antigen Processing 1 That Inhibits Metastasis and Invasion of Ovarian Cancer Cells

Clinical efficacy and biomarker analysis of neoadjuvant camrelizumab plus chemotherapy for early-stage triple-negative breast cancer: a experimental single-arm phase II clinical trial pilot study

BACKGROUND

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is associated with a dismal prognosis. Immune checkpoint inhibitors have shown promising antitumor activity in neoadjuvant settings. This single-arm, phase II trial aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of camrelizumab plus chemotherapy as the neoadjuvant therapy (NAT) in early TNBC.

METHODS

Patients received eight cycles of camrelizumab plus nonplatinum-based chemotherapy. The primary endpoint was total pathological complete response (pCR). Secondary endpoints included the breast pathological complete response (bpCR), adverse events (AEs). Multiomics biomarkers were assessed as exploratory objective.

RESULTS

Twenty of 23 TNBC patients receiving NAT underwent surgery, with the total pCR rate of 65% (13/20) and bpCR rate of 70% (14/20). Grade ≥3 treatment-related AEs were observed in 14 (60.9%) patients, with the most common AE being neutropenia (65.2%). Tumor immune microenvironment was analyzed between pCR and non-pCR samples before and after the NAT. Gene expression profiling showed a higher immune infiltration in pCR patients than non-pCR patients in pre-NAT samples. Through establishment of a predictive model for the NAT efficacy, TAP1 and IRF4 were identified as the potential predictive biomarkers for response to the NAT. Gene set enrichment analysis revealed the glycolysis and hypoxia pathways were significantly activated in non-pCR patients before the NAT, and this hypoxia was aggravated after the NAT.

CONCLUSION

Camrelizumab plus nonplatinum-based chemotherapy shows a promising pCR rate in early-stage TNBC, with an acceptable safety profile. TAP1 and IRF4 may serve as potential predictive biomarkers for response to the NAT. Aggravated hypoxia and activated glycolysis after the NAT may be associated with the treatment resistance.

Differential Gene Expression of Checkpoint Markers and Cancer Markers in Mouse Models of Spontaneous Chronic Colitis

The presence of checkpoint markers in cancer cells aids in immune escape. The identification of checkpoint markers and early cancer markers is of utmost importance to gain clarity regarding the relationship between colitis and progressive inflammation leading to cancer. Herein, the gene expression levels of checkpoint makers, cancer-related pathways, and cancer genes in colon tissues of mouse models of chronic colitis (Winnie and Winnie-Prolapse mice) using next-generation sequencing are determined. Winnie mice are a result of a Muc2 missense mutation. The identification of such genes and their subsequent expression and role at the protein level would enable novel markers for the early diagnosis of cancer in IBD patients. The differentially expressed genes in the colonic transcriptome were analysed based on the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway. The expression of several oncogenes is associated with the severity of IBD, with Winnie-Prolapse mice expressing a large number of key genes associated with development of cancer. This research presents a number of new targets to evaluate for the development of biomarkers and therapeutics.

Chemokine CCL14 affected the clinical outcome and correlated with immune infiltrates in thyroid carcinoma

BACKGROUND

As an important member of the chemokines, CCL14 plays a vital role in cancer progression. However, the role of CCL14 in THCA has not been investigated. This study aimed to reveal the clinical significance of CCL14 in THCA.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

This study evaluated the expression and prognostic value of CCL14 in THCA. Also, the correlation between CCL14 and immune infiltrates was assessed. Enrichment analysis was finally performed to predict CCL14-associated pathways involved in THCA.

RESULTS

The mRNA and protein expressions of CCL14 in THCA tissues were down-regulated compared with normal tissues. CCL14 high expression predicted favorable DFI and PFI but did not influence the DSS and OS. Further, CCL14 showed a good prediction performance on the PFI of patients. Enrichment analysis found that CCL14 was negatively correlated with migration-related pathways such as Notch signaling, ECM-receptor interaction, and cell adhesion molecules. Further, we found that CCL14 was negatively related to immune infiltrates and their gene markers. A negative relationship was also observed between CCL14 and immune checkpoint genes. These results implied the potential effect of CCL14 on the immune response and immune therapy in THCA.

CONCLUSIONS

CCL14 high expression prolonged the DFI and PFI of THCA patients. It was negatively correlated with the migration-related pathways, suggesting that CCL14 might participate in the recurrence of THCA. Further, CCL14 was also shown to be important in immune response and immune therapy in THCA.

TAP1, a potential immune-related prognosis biomarker with functional significance in uveal melanoma

BACKGROUND

TAP1 is an immunomodulation-related protein that plays different roles in various malignancies. This study investigated the transcriptional expression profile of TAP1 in uveal melanoma (UVM), revealed its potential biological interaction network, and determined its prognostic value.

METHODS

CIBERSORT and ESTIMATE bioinformatic methods were used on data sourced from The Cancer Genome Atlas database (TCGA) to determine the correlation between TAP1 expression, UVM prognosis, biological characteristics, and immune infiltration. Gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) was used to discover the signaling pathways associated with TAP1, while STRING database and CytoHubba were used to construct protein-protein interaction (PPI) and competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) networks, respectively. An overall survival (OS) prognostic model was constructed to test the predictive efficacy of TAP1, and its effect on the in vitro proliferation activity and metastatic potential of UVM cell line C918 cells was verified by RNA interference.

RESULTS

There was a clear association between TAP1 expression and UVM patient prognosis. Upregulated TAP1 was strongly associated with a shorter survival time, higher likelihood of metastasis, and higher mortality outcomes. According to GSEA analysis, various immunity-related signaling pathways such as primary immunodeficiency were enriched in the presence of elevated TAP1 expression. A PPI network and a ceRNA network were constructed to show the interactions among mRNAs, miRNAs, and lncRNAs. Furthermore, TAP1 expression showed a significant positive correlation with immunoscore, stromal score, CD8+ T cells, and dendritic cells, whereas the correlation with B cells and neutrophils was negative. The Cox regression model and calibration plots confirmed a strong agreement between the estimated OS and actual observed patient values. In vitro silencing of TAP1 expression in C918 cells significantly inhibited cell proliferation and metastasis.

CONCLUSIONS

This study is the first to demonstrate that TAP1 expression is positively correlated with clinicopathological factors and poor prognosis in UVM. In vitro experiments also verified that TAP1 is associated with C918 cell proliferation, apoptosis, and metastasis. These results suggest that TAP1 may function as an oncogene, prognostic marker, and importantly, as a novel therapeutic target in patients with UVM.

Prognosis comparison between small cell carcinoma of ovary and high-grade serous ovarian cancer: A retrospective observational cohort study

BACKGROUND

Small cell carcinoma of ovary (SCCO) is a rare and aggressive cancer primarily reported in the form of case reports. Due to limited epidemiological and prognostic analyses based on large populations, SCCO has varied considerably without prognostic models and a recognized first-line treatment strategy. The study aimed to compare the clinical characteristics, treatment methods, and prognosis of SCCO and high-grade serous ovarian cancer (HGSOC), the most prevalent subtype of ovarian cancer, in a large sample and develop a predictive model for these two subtypes.

METHODS

Data from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results program were analyzed for patients with SCCO or HGSOC from 2000 to 2017. Clinical, demographic, and treatment characteristics were compared between the two groups. Propensity-score matching, Cox risk regression analysis, and Kaplan-Meier survival curves were used to assess the data. Finally, a nomogram was developed to predict the patient survival time.

RESULTS

A total of 32,185 women, including 31,979 (99.4%) diagnosed with HGSOC and 206 (0.6%) diagnosed with SCCO, were identified. Age ≤ 51 years, single, median house income less than $70,000, early stage, and unilateral disease were more common characteristics of patients with SCCO than those with HGSOC. Patients with SCCO were more likely to receive radiotherapy (6.8% vs. 0.8%, p <0.001) and have tumors ≥ 141 mm (38.3% vs. 9.7%, p <0.001) than patients with HGSOC. The independent risk factors for SCCO patients included older age at diagnosis, advanced stage, surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, larger tumor size, and bilateral tumor. Overall and cancer-specific survival rates were significantly lower for SCCO than more malignant HGSOC. Prognostic models and nomograms had been constructed to predict the individual survival rates of patients with SCCO and HGSOC.

CONCLUSION

Patients with SCCO presented with the early-stage disease more frequently than patients with HGSOC and had decreased overall and cancer-specific survival rates.

[Molecular mechanisms of impaired antigenic presentation as a cause of tumor escape from immune surveillance]

The review summarizes data on the features of antigen presentation in tumor cells. The molecular mechanisms of the antitumor immune response are considered with an emphasis on the ability of tumor cells to avoid the action of immune surveillance. The features of expression of MHC molecules depending on treatment regimens are provided. Ways to improve existing and create new treatment regimens aimed at elimination of tumor cells because of antitumor immune response are discussed.

Differences between complex epithelial neoplasms of the ovary and high-grade serous ovarian cancer: a retrospective observational cohort study

BACKGROUND

Complex epithelial neoplasms of the ovary (CENO), an uncommon pathological histotype in ovarian cancer, comprises adenosquamous carcinoma and adenocarcinoma with metaplasia. Owing to the rarity of relevant reports, there are currently no statistics on outcomes based on large samples. Meanwhile high-grade serous ovarian cancer (HGSOC) is the most common histotype in ovarian cancer which has a recognized first-line treatment regimen and poor prognosis. Thus, we aimed to determine the characteristics, prognosis, and independent predictors of survival for CENO, compare them with those of HGSOC and construct prognostic predictive models and nomograms.

METHODS

We used the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database to determine patients diagnosed with CENO or HGSOC from 2000 to 2017. Clinical, demographic, and treatment characteristics were compared between these groups. Propensity score matching, Cox risk regression analysis, Kaplan-Meier survival curves, and the Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator regression analysis were employed for analyzing the data.

RESULTS

Here, 31,567 patients with HGSOC and 216 patients with CENO between 2000 and 2017 in the SEER database were enrolled. Age < 57 years, unmarried, and early-stage diseases were more common in patients with CENO than in those with HGSOC. Women with CENO were less likely to receive adjuvant chemotherapy (65.7% vs. 79.4%) but more likely to receive radiotherapy (6.0% vs. 0.8%; both p < 0.001) than those with HGSOC. Year of diagnosis, surgery status, number of primary tumors, grade, and FIGO stage were independent prognostic factors for overall and cancer-specific survival in CENO. Overall survival rates were significantly lower for CENO than for more malignant HGSOC.

CONCLUSIONS

In summary, CENO was rare in ovarian cancer, while the year of diagnosis, surgery status, number of primary tumors, grade, and FIGO stage were independent prognostic factors. Compared with other common malignant ovarian tumors, CENO had a poor prognosis. Prognostic predictive models and nomograms had been determined to predict the individual survival rates of patients with CENO. These methods could improve evaluations of survival and therapeutic decisions for patients.

The expression and prognostic value of transporter 1, ATP binding cassette subfamily B member in clear cell renal cell cancer with experimental validation

Transporter associated with antigen processing 1(TAP1) serves as a protein to transport antigenic peptides from the surface of the endoplasmic reticulum to the lumen of the endoplasmic reticulum when the antigens are presented by major histocompatibility complex type I (MHC-I), which has been identified to play a critical role in antigen presentation in innate immunity. In tumors, the role of TAP1 seems to remain controversial. On the one hand, given the role of TAP1 in antigen presentation, it is indicated that high TAP1 expression corresponds to the emergence of more neoantigens epitopes that facilitate the recognition for phagocytes, T cells and other cells. On the other hand, the genetic ablation of transporter associated with antigen processing (TAP) results in the presentation of new class I-restricted epitopes encoded in house-keeping products. Opposite result has been revealed by studies in other tumors suggest, which implies a more complex function of TAP1. Therefore, it's significant to clarify the role of TAP1 in clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC). In this study, we found the elevated expression levels in mRNA and protein of TAP1 in ccRCC tissues, which indicated a relatively worse prognosis. Transwell assay and Scratch assay in vitro demonstrated the promotive role of TAP1 in ccRCC migration as well as a significant role in metastasis. And the increased expression of TAP1 resulted in more immune cells infiltrated in cancer tissues. TAP1 was also demonstrated to be related to immune regulator genes, as gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) indicated its significant role in immune regulation. The results of CancerSEA indicated the positive association of the high-level TAP1 expression with epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and the inverse association with Cell Cycle. The effective drugs were also predicted based on TAP1 expression, of which the high level was indeed associated with resistance to multiple drugs, but some effective drugs still identified based on high TAP1 expression. According to the analysis of various databases, the role of TAP1 in ccRCC was explored, especially in relationship of TAP1 with tumor microenvironment. These results indicate that TAP1 can serve as a potential target for treatment of ccRCC.