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Saw PE, Song E. Advancements in clinical RNA therapeutics: Present developments and prospective outlooks. Cell Rep Med 2024; 5:101555. [PMID: 38744276 PMCID: PMC11148805 DOI: 10.1016/j.xcrm.2024.101555] [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: 01/16/2024] [Revised: 03/05/2024] [Accepted: 04/15/2024] [Indexed: 05/16/2024]
Abstract
RNA molecules have emerged as promising clinical therapeutics due to their ability to target "undruggable" proteins or molecules with high precision and minimal side effects. Nevertheless, the primary challenge in RNA therapeutics lies in rapid degradation and clearance from systemic circulation, the inability to traverse cell membranes, and the efficient intracellular delivery of bioactive RNA molecules. In this review, we explore the implications of RNAs in diseases and provide a chronological overview of the development of RNA therapeutics. Additionally, we summarize the technological advances in RNA-screening design, encompassing various RNA databases and design platforms. The paper then presents an update on FDA-approved RNA therapeutics and those currently undergoing clinical trials for various diseases, with a specific emphasis on RNA medicine and RNA vaccines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Phei Er Saw
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Epigenetics and Gene Regulation, Guangdong-Hong Kong Joint Laboratory for RNA Medicine, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510120, China; Nanhai Clinical Translational Center, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Foshan 528200, China
| | - Erwei Song
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Epigenetics and Gene Regulation, Guangdong-Hong Kong Joint Laboratory for RNA Medicine, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510120, China; Nanhai Clinical Translational Center, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Foshan 528200, China; Breast Tumor Center, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510120, China.
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2
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Qiu X, Dong L, Wang K, Zhong X, Xu H, Xu S, Guo H, Wei X, Chen W, Xu X. Development and Validation of a Novel Nomogram Integrated with Hypoxic and Lactate Metabolic Characteristics for Prognosis Prediction in Hepatocellular Carcinoma. J Hepatocell Carcinoma 2024; 11:241-255. [PMID: 38333220 PMCID: PMC10850990 DOI: 10.2147/jhc.s446313] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2023] [Accepted: 01/24/2024] [Indexed: 02/10/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the third leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide. Accumulating evidence indicates that hypoxia and lactate metabolism play critical roles in tumor progression and therapeutic efficacy. This study aimed to construct a hypoxia- and lactate metabolism-related prognostic model (HLPM) to evaluate survival and treatment responses for HCC patients and develop a nomogram integrated with HLPM and clinical characteristics for prognosis prediction in HCC. Methods Expression profile and clinical data of HCC were obtained from TCGA and ICGC databases. The univariate, LASSO and stepwise multivariate Cox analyses were used to identify the hypoxia- and lactate metabolism-related biomarkers, whose expression levels were then validated in 14 pairs tissue samples and single-cell RNA sequencing dataset. Kaplan-Meier survival curves were utilized to assess the prognostic values of biomarkers or models. Analyses of ImmuCellAI, TIDE and drug sensitivity were conducted to evaluate the therapeutic responses of patients. Furthermore, the nomogram integrated with hypoxic and lactate metabolic characteristics was established through univariate and multivariate Cox analyses. ROC curves, C-index, and calibration curves were depicted to evaluate the performance of the nomogram. Results Five hypoxia- and lactate metabolism-related biomarkers (KIF20A, IRAK1, ADM, PPARGC1A and EPO) were used to construct HLPM. The expression of five prognostic biomarkers was validated in 14 pairs tissue samples and single-cell RNA sequencing dataset. Analyses of ImmuCellAI, TIDE and drug sensitivity implied that patients with low-risk score were more sensitive to immunotherapy and major chemotherapeutic agents. The nomogram that contained age, histological grade and risk score of HLPM was developed and exhibited a better capacity in prognosis prediction than HLPM only. Conclusion A novel nomogram integrated with hypoxic and lactate metabolic characteristics was developed and validated for prognosis prediction in HCC, providing insight into personalized decision-making in clinical management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xun Qiu
- Department of Surgery, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310058, People’s Republic of China
- Key Laboratory of Integrated Oncology and Intelligent Medicine of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou, 310006, People’s Republic of China
| | - Libin Dong
- Department of Surgery, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310058, People’s Republic of China
- Key Laboratory of Integrated Oncology and Intelligent Medicine of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou, 310006, People’s Republic of China
| | - Kai Wang
- Department of Surgery, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310058, People’s Republic of China
- Key Laboratory of Integrated Oncology and Intelligent Medicine of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou, 310006, People’s Republic of China
| | - Xinyang Zhong
- Department of Surgery, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310058, People’s Republic of China
- Key Laboratory of Integrated Oncology and Intelligent Medicine of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou, 310006, People’s Republic of China
| | - Hanzhi Xu
- Department of Surgery, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310058, People’s Republic of China
- Key Laboratory of Integrated Oncology and Intelligent Medicine of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou, 310006, People’s Republic of China
| | - Shengjun Xu
- Key Laboratory of Integrated Oncology and Intelligent Medicine of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou, 310006, People’s Republic of China
| | - Haijun Guo
- Key Laboratory of Integrated Oncology and Intelligent Medicine of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou, 310006, People’s Republic of China
| | - Xuyong Wei
- Department of Surgery, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310058, People’s Republic of China
- Key Laboratory of Integrated Oncology and Intelligent Medicine of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou, 310006, People’s Republic of China
| | - Wei Chen
- Key Laboratory of Integrated Oncology and Intelligent Medicine of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou, 310006, People’s Republic of China
- Department of Cell Biology, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310058, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiao Xu
- Department of Surgery, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310058, People’s Republic of China
- Key Laboratory of Integrated Oncology and Intelligent Medicine of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou, 310006, People’s Republic of China
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3
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Gao X, Zuo S. Immune landscape and immunotherapy of hepatocellular carcinoma: focus on innate and adaptive immune cells. Clin Exp Med 2023; 23:1881-1899. [PMID: 36773210 PMCID: PMC10543580 DOI: 10.1007/s10238-023-01015-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2023] [Accepted: 01/27/2023] [Indexed: 02/12/2023]
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is responsible for roughly 90% of all cases of primary liver cancer, and the cases are on the rise. The treatment of advanced HCC is a serious challenge. Immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) therapy has marked a watershed moment in the history of HCC systemic treatment. Atezolizumab in combination with bevacizumab has been approved as a first-line treatment for advanced HCC since 2020; however, the combination therapy is only effective in a limited percentage of patients. Considering that the tumor immune microenvironment (TIME) has a great impact on immunotherapies for HCC, an in-depth understanding of the immune landscape in tumors and the current immunotherapeutic approaches is extremely necessary. We elaborate on the features, functions, and cross talk of the innate and adaptive immune cells in HCC and highlight the benefits and drawbacks of various immunotherapies for advanced HCC, as well as future projections. HCC consists of a heterogeneous group of cancers with distinct etiologies and immune microenvironments. Almost all the components of innate and adaptive immune cells in HCC have altered, showing a decreasing trend in the number of tumor suppressor cells and an increasing trend in the pro-cancer cells, and there is also cross talk between various cell types. Various immunotherapies for HCC have also shown promising efficacy and application prospect. There are multilayered interwoven webs among various immune cell types in HCC, and emerging evidence demonstrates the promising prospect of immunotherapeutic approaches for HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoqiang Gao
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Affiliated Hospital of Guizhou Medical University, No. 28, Guiyi Street, Guiyang, 550000, Guizhou, China
- Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, Guizhou, China
| | - Shi Zuo
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Affiliated Hospital of Guizhou Medical University, No. 28, Guiyi Street, Guiyang, 550000, Guizhou, China.
- Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, Guizhou, China.
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4
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Niu D, Wu Y, Lian J. Circular RNA vaccine in disease prevention and treatment. Signal Transduct Target Ther 2023; 8:341. [PMID: 37691066 PMCID: PMC10493228 DOI: 10.1038/s41392-023-01561-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2023] [Revised: 06/02/2023] [Accepted: 07/09/2023] [Indexed: 09/12/2023] Open
Abstract
CircRNAs are a class of single-stranded RNAs with covalently linked head-to-tail topology. In the decades since its initial discovery, their biogenesis, regulation, and function have rapidly disclosed, permitting a better understanding and adoption of them as new tools for medical applications. With the development of biotechnology and molecular medicine, artificial circRNAs have been engineered as a novel class of vaccines for disease treatment and prevention. Unlike the linear mRNA vaccine which applications were limited by its instability, inefficiency, and innate immunogenicity, circRNA vaccine which incorporate internal ribosome entry sites (IRESs) and open reading frame (ORF) provides an improved approach to RNA-based vaccination with safety, stability, simplicity of manufacture, and scalability. However, circRNA vaccines are at an early stage, and their optimization, delivery and applications require further development and evaluation. In this review, we comprehensively describe circRNA vaccine, including their history and superiority. We also summarize and discuss the current methodological research for circRNA vaccine preparation, including their design, synthesis, and purification. Finally, we highlight the delivery options of circRNA vaccine and its potential applications in diseases treatment and prevention. Considering their unique high stability, low immunogenicity, protein/peptide-coding capacity and special closed-loop construction, circRNA vaccine, and circRNA-based therapeutic platforms may have superior application prospects in a broad range of diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dun Niu
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Medicine, Southwest Hospital, Army Medical University (Third Military Medical University), 400038, Chongqing, China
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Army Medical University (Third Military Medical University), 400038, Chongqing, China
| | - Yaran Wu
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Medicine, Southwest Hospital, Army Medical University (Third Military Medical University), 400038, Chongqing, China
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Army Medical University (Third Military Medical University), 400038, Chongqing, China
| | - Jiqin Lian
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Medicine, Southwest Hospital, Army Medical University (Third Military Medical University), 400038, Chongqing, China.
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Army Medical University (Third Military Medical University), 400038, Chongqing, China.
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5
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Kotsari M, Dimopoulou V, Koskinas J, Armakolas A. Immune System and Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC): New Insights into HCC Progression. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:11471. [PMID: 37511228 PMCID: PMC10380581 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241411471] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2023] [Revised: 07/12/2023] [Accepted: 07/13/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
According to the WHO's recently released worldwide cancer data for 2020, liver cancer ranks sixth in morbidity and third in mortality among all malignancies. Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the most common kind of liver cancer, accounts approximately for 80% of all primary liver malignancies and is one of the leading causes of death globally. The intractable tumor microenvironment plays an important role in the development and progression of HCC and is one of three major unresolved issues in clinical practice (cancer recurrence, fatal metastasis, and the refractory tumor microenvironment). Despite significant advances, improved molecular and cellular characterization of the tumor microenvironment is still required since it plays an important role in the genesis and progression of HCC. The purpose of this review is to present an overview of the HCC immune microenvironment, distinct cellular constituents, current therapies, and potential immunotherapy methods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Kotsari
- Physiology Laboratory, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 11527 Athens, Greece
| | - Vassiliki Dimopoulou
- Physiology Laboratory, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 11527 Athens, Greece
| | - John Koskinas
- B' Department of Medicine, Hippokration Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 11527 Athens, Greece
| | - Athanasios Armakolas
- Physiology Laboratory, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 11527 Athens, Greece
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Sankar K, Pearson AN, Worlikar T, Perricone MD, Holcomb EA, Mendiratta-Lala M, Xu Z, Bhowmick N, Green MD. Impact of immune tolerance mechanisms on the efficacy of immunotherapy in primary and secondary liver cancers. Transl Gastroenterol Hepatol 2023; 8:29. [PMID: 37601739 PMCID: PMC10432235 DOI: 10.21037/tgh-23-11] [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] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2023] [Accepted: 06/13/2023] [Indexed: 08/22/2023] Open
Abstract
The liver is a functionally unique organ with an immunosuppressive microenvironment. The liver is the sixth most common site of primary cancer in humans and is a frequent site of metastasis from other solid tumors. The development of effective therapies for primary and metastatic liver cancer has been challenging due to the complex metabolic and immune microenvironment of the liver. The liver tumor microenvironment (TME) in primary and secondary (metastatic) liver cancers is heterogenous and consists of unique immune and stromal cell populations. Crosstalk between these cell populations and tumor cells creates an immunosuppressive microenvironment within the liver which potentiates cancer progression. Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) are now clinically approved for the management of primary and secondary liver cancer and can partially overcome liver immune tolerance, but their efficacy is limited. In this review, we describe the liver microenvironment and the use of immunotherapy in primary and secondary liver cancer. We discuss emerging combination strategies utilizing locoregional and systemic therapy approaches which may enhance efficacy of immunotherapy in primary and secondary liver cancer. A deeper understanding of the immunosuppressive microenvironment of the liver will inform novel therapies and therapeutic combinations in order to improve outcomes of patients with primary and secondary liver cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kamya Sankar
- Division of Medical Oncology, Department of Medicine, Samuel Oschin Comprehensive Cancer Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Ashley N. Pearson
- Graduate Program in Immunology, School of Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
- Rogel Cancer Center, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Tejaswi Worlikar
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Matthew D. Perricone
- Program in Biomedical Sciences, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Erin A. Holcomb
- Graduate Program in Immunology, School of Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
- Rogel Cancer Center, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | | | - Zhen Xu
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Neil Bhowmick
- Division of Medical Oncology, Department of Medicine, Samuel Oschin Comprehensive Cancer Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Michael D. Green
- Graduate Program in Immunology, School of Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
- Rogel Cancer Center, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Veterans Affairs Ann Arbor Healthcare System, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
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7
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Donne R, Lujambio A. The liver cancer immune microenvironment: Therapeutic implications for hepatocellular carcinoma. Hepatology 2023; 77:1773-1796. [PMID: 35989535 PMCID: PMC9941399 DOI: 10.1002/hep.32740] [Citation(s) in RCA: 103] [Impact Index Per Article: 103.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2022] [Revised: 07/26/2022] [Accepted: 08/18/2022] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
The liver is the sixth most common site of primary cancer in humans and the fourth leading cause of cancer-related death in the world. Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) accounts for 90% of liver cancers. HCC is a prevalent disease with a progression that is modulated by the immune system. Half of the patients with HCC receive systemic therapies, traditionally sorafenib or lenvatinib, as a first-line therapy. In the last few years, immune-checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have revolutionized cancer therapy and have gained an increased interest in the treatment of HCC. In 2020, the combination of atezolizumab (anti-programmed death-ligand 1) and bevacizumab (anti-vascular endothelial growth factor) improved overall survival over sorafenib, resulting in Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval as a first-line treatment for patients with advanced HCC. Despite these major advances, a better molecular and cellular characterization of the tumor microenvironment is still needed because it has a crucial role in the development and progression of HCC. Inflamed (hot) and noninflamed (cold) HCC tumors and genomic signatures have been associated with response to ICIs. However, there are no additional biomarkers to guide clinical decision-making. Other immune-targeting strategies, such as adoptive T-cell transfer, vaccination, and virotherapy, are currently under development. This review provides an overview on the HCC immune microenvironment, different cellular players, current available immunotherapies, and potential immunotherapy modalities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Romain Donne
- Department of Oncological Sciences , Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai , New York , New York , USA
- Liver Cancer Program, Division of Liver Diseases, Department of Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai , Tisch Cancer Institute , New York , New York , USA
- Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai , The Precision Immunology Institute , New York , New York , USA
| | - Amaia Lujambio
- Department of Oncological Sciences , Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai , New York , New York , USA
- Liver Cancer Program, Division of Liver Diseases, Department of Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai , Tisch Cancer Institute , New York , New York , USA
- Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai , The Precision Immunology Institute , New York , New York , USA
- Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences , Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai , New York , New York , USA
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8
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Zabransky DJ, Danilova L, Leatherman JM, Lopez-Vidal TY, Sanchez J, Charmsaz S, Gross NE, Shin S, Yuan X, Hernandez A, Yang H, Xavier S, Shu D, Saeed A, Munjal K, Kamdar Z, Kagohara LT, Jaffee EM, Yarchoan M, Ho WJ. Profiling of syngeneic mouse HCC tumor models as a framework to understand anti-PD-1 sensitive tumor microenvironments. Hepatology 2023; 77:1566-1579. [PMID: 35941803 PMCID: PMC9905363 DOI: 10.1002/hep.32707] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2022] [Revised: 07/25/2022] [Accepted: 07/28/2022] [Indexed: 12/08/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS The treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has been transformed by the use of immune checkpoint inhibitors. However, most patients with HCC do not benefit from treatment with immunotherapy. There is an urgent need to understand the mechanisms that underlie response or resistance to immunotherapy for patients with HCC. The use of syngeneic mouse models that closely recapitulate the heterogeneity of human HCC will provide opportunities to examine the complex interactions between cancer cells and nonmalignant cells in the tumor microenvironment. APPROACH AND RESULTS We leverage a multifaceted approach that includes imaging mass cytometry and suspension cytometry by time of flight to profile the tumor microenvironments of the Hep53.4, Hepa 1-6, RIL-175, and TIBx (derivative of TIB-75) syngeneic mouse HCC models. The immune tumor microenvironments vary across these four models, and various immunosuppressive pathways exist at baseline in orthotopic liver tumors derived from these models. For instance, TIBx, which is resistant to anti-programmed cell death protein 1 therapy, contains a high proportion of "M2-like" tumor-associated macrophages with the potential to diminish antitumor immunity. Investigation of The Cancer Genome Atlas reveals that the baseline immunologic profiles of Hep53.4, RIL-175, and TIBx are broadly representative of human HCCs; however, Hepa 1-6 does not recapitulate the immune tumor microenvironment of the vast majority of human HCCs. CONCLUSIONS There is a wide diversity in the immune tumor microenvironments in preclinical models and in human HCC, highlighting the need to use multiple syngeneic HCC models to improve the understanding of how to treat HCC through immune modulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel J. Zabransky
- Department of Oncology, Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, the Bloomberg-Kimmel Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Ludmila Danilova
- Department of Oncology, Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, the Bloomberg-Kimmel Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - James M. Leatherman
- Department of Oncology, Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, the Bloomberg-Kimmel Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Tamara Y. Lopez-Vidal
- Department of Oncology, Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, the Bloomberg-Kimmel Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Jessica Sanchez
- Department of Oncology, Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, the Bloomberg-Kimmel Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Soren Charmsaz
- Department of Oncology, Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, the Bloomberg-Kimmel Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Nicole E. Gross
- Department of Oncology, Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, the Bloomberg-Kimmel Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Sarah Shin
- Department of Oncology, Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, the Bloomberg-Kimmel Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Xuan Yuan
- Flow/Mass Cytometry Facility, Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Alexei Hernandez
- Department of Oncology, Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, the Bloomberg-Kimmel Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Hongqui Yang
- Flow/Mass Cytometry Facility, Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Stephanie Xavier
- Department of Oncology, Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, the Bloomberg-Kimmel Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Daniel Shu
- Department of Oncology, Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, the Bloomberg-Kimmel Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Ali Saeed
- Department of Oncology, Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, the Bloomberg-Kimmel Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Kabeer Munjal
- Department of Oncology, Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, the Bloomberg-Kimmel Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Zeal Kamdar
- Department of Oncology, Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, the Bloomberg-Kimmel Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Luciane T. Kagohara
- Department of Oncology, Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, the Bloomberg-Kimmel Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Elizabeth M. Jaffee
- Department of Oncology, Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, the Bloomberg-Kimmel Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
- The Cancer Convergence Institute at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Mark Yarchoan
- Department of Oncology, Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, the Bloomberg-Kimmel Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Won Jin Ho
- Department of Oncology, Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, the Bloomberg-Kimmel Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
- Flow/Mass Cytometry Facility, Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
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Milardi G, Lleo A. Tumor-Infiltrating B Lymphocytes: Promising Immunotherapeutic Targets for Primary Liver Cancer Treatment. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:cancers15072182. [PMID: 37046842 PMCID: PMC10093314 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15072182] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2023] [Revised: 03/23/2023] [Accepted: 04/03/2023] [Indexed: 04/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma and cholangiocarcinoma are the fourth most lethal primary cancers worldwide. Therefore, there is an urgent need for therapeutic strategies, including immune cell targeting therapies. The heterogeneity of liver cancer is partially explained by the characteristics of the tumor microenvironment (TME), where adaptive and innate immune system cells are the main components. Pioneering studies of primary liver cancers revealed that tumor-infiltrating immune cells and their dynamic interaction with cancer cells significantly impacted carcinogenesis, playing an important role in cancer immune evasion and responses to immunotherapy treatment. In particular, B cells may play a prominent role and have a controversial function in the TME. In this work, we highlight the effect of B lymphocytes as tumor infiltrates in relation to primary liver cancers and their potential prognostic value. We also present the key pathways underlying B-cell interactions within the TME, as well as the way that a comprehensive characterization of B-cell biology can be exploited to develop novel immune-based therapeutic approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giulia Milardi
- Hepatobiliary Immunopathology Labaratory, IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, 20089 Milan, Italy
| | - Ana Lleo
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Humanitas University, 20072 Milan, Italy
- Department of Gastroenterology, Division of Internal Medicine and Hepatology, IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, Rozzano, 20089 Milan, Italy
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10
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Moreira H, Dobosz A, Cwynar-Zając Ł, Nowak P, Czyżewski M, Barg M, Reichert P, Królikowska A, Barg E. Unraveling the role of Breg cells in digestive tract cancer and infectious immunity. Front Immunol 2022; 13:981847. [PMID: 36618354 PMCID: PMC9816437 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.981847] [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: 06/29/2022] [Accepted: 12/02/2022] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Over the past two decades, regulatory B cells (Breg cells or Bregs) have emerged as an immunosuppressive subset of B lymphocytes playing a key role in inflammation, infection, allergy, transplantation, and cancer. However, the involvement of Bregs in various pathological conditions of the gastrointestinal tract is not fully understood and is the subject of much recent research. In this review, we aimed to summarize the current state of knowledge about the origin, phenotype, and suppressive mechanisms of Bregs. The relationship between the host gut microbiota and the function of Bregs in the context of the disturbance of mucosal immune homeostasis is also discussed. Moreover, we focused our attention on the role of Bregs in certain diseases and pathological conditions related to the digestive tract, especially Helicobacter pylori infection, parasitic diseases (leishmaniasis and schistosomiasis), and gastrointestinal neoplasms. Increasing evidence points to a relationship between the presence and number of Bregs and the severity and progression of these pathologies. As the number of cases is increasing year by year, also among young people, it is extremely important to understand the role of these cells in the digestive tract.
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Affiliation(s)
- Helena Moreira
- Department of Medical Sciences Foundation, Wroclaw Medical University, Wroclaw, Poland,*Correspondence: Helena Moreira, ; Agnieszka Dobosz,
| | - Agnieszka Dobosz
- Department of Medical Sciences Foundation, Wroclaw Medical University, Wroclaw, Poland,*Correspondence: Helena Moreira, ; Agnieszka Dobosz,
| | - Łucja Cwynar-Zając
- Department of Medical Sciences Foundation, Wroclaw Medical University, Wroclaw, Poland
| | - Paulina Nowak
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Wroclaw Medical University, Wroclaw, Poland
| | - Marek Czyżewski
- Faculty of Medicine, Wroclaw Medical University, Wroclaw, Poland
| | - Marta Barg
- Faculty of Medicine, Wroclaw Medical University, Wroclaw, Poland
| | - Paweł Reichert
- Department of Trauma Surgery, Clinical Department of Trauma and Hand Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Wroclaw Medical University, Wroclaw, Poland
| | - Aleksandra Królikowska
- Ergonomics and Biomedical Monitoring Laboratory, Department of Physiotherapy, Faculty of Health Sciences, Wroclaw Medical University, Wroclaw, Poland
| | - Ewa Barg
- Department of Medical Sciences Foundation, Wroclaw Medical University, Wroclaw, Poland
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11
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Tang Y, Zhang H, Chen L, Zhang T, Xu N, Huang Z. Identification of Hypoxia-Related Prognostic Signature and Competing Endogenous RNA Regulatory Axes in Hepatocellular Carcinoma. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:13590. [PMID: 36362375 PMCID: PMC9658439 DOI: 10.3390/ijms232113590] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2022] [Revised: 10/24/2022] [Accepted: 10/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a common type of liver cancer and one of the highly lethal diseases worldwide. Hypoxia plays an important role in the development and prognosis of HCC. This study aimed to construct a new hypoxia-related prognosis signature and investigate its potential ceRNA axes in HCC. RNA profiles and hypoxia genes were downloaded, respectively, from the Cancer Genome Atlas hepatocellular carcinoma database and Gene Set Enrichment Analysis website. Cox regression analyses were performed to select the prognostic genes and construct the risk model. The ENCORI database was applied to build the lncRNA-miRNA-mRNA prognosis-related network. The TIMER and CellMiner databases were employed to analyze the association of gene expression in ceRNA with immune infiltration and drug sensitivity, respectively. Finally, the co-expression analysis was carried out to construct the potential lncRNA/miRNA/mRNA regulatory axes. We obtained a prognostic signature including eight hypoxia genes (ENO2, KDELR3, PFKP, SLC2A1, PGF, PPFIA4, SAP30, and TKTL1) and further established a hypoxia-related prognostic ceRNA network including 17 lncRNAs, six miRNAs, and seven mRNAs for hepatocellular carcinoma. Then, the analysis of immune infiltration and drug sensitivity showed that gene expression in the ceRNA network was significantly correlated with the infiltration abundance of multiple immune cells, the expression level of immune checkpoints, and drug sensitivity. Finally, we identified three ceRNA regulatory axes (SNHG1/miR-101-3p/PPFIA4, SNHG1/miR-101-3p/SAP30, and SNHG1/miR-101-3p/TKTL1) associated with the progression of HCC under hypoxia. Here, we constructed a prognosis gene signature and a ceRNA network related to hypoxia for hepatocellular carcinoma. Among the ceRNA network, six highly expressed lncRNAs (AC005540.1, AC012146.1, AC073529.1, AC090772.3, AC138150.2, AL390728.6) and one highly expressed mRNA (PPFIA4) were the potential biomarkers of hepatocellular carcinoma which we firstly reported. The three predicted hypoxia-related regulatory axes may play a vital role in the progression of hepatocellular carcinoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yulai Tang
- The First Dongguan Affiliated Hospital, Guangdong Medical University, Dongguan 523710, China
- The First Clinical Medical College, Guangdong Medical University, Dongguan 523808, China
| | - Hua Zhang
- The First Dongguan Affiliated Hospital, Guangdong Medical University, Dongguan 523710, China
- Key Laboratory of Big Data Mining and Precision Drug Design of Guangdong Medical University, Key Laboratory of Computer-Aided Drug Design of Dongguan City, Key Laboratory for Research and Development of Natural Drugs of Guangdong Province, Guangdong Medical University, Dongguan 523808, China
| | - Lingli Chen
- The First Clinical Medical College, Guangdong Medical University, Dongguan 523808, China
| | - Taomin Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Big Data Mining and Precision Drug Design of Guangdong Medical University, Key Laboratory of Computer-Aided Drug Design of Dongguan City, Key Laboratory for Research and Development of Natural Drugs of Guangdong Province, Guangdong Medical University, Dongguan 523808, China
| | - Na Xu
- Key Laboratory of Big Data Mining and Precision Drug Design of Guangdong Medical University, Key Laboratory of Computer-Aided Drug Design of Dongguan City, Key Laboratory for Research and Development of Natural Drugs of Guangdong Province, Guangdong Medical University, Dongguan 523808, China
| | - Zunnan Huang
- The First Dongguan Affiliated Hospital, Guangdong Medical University, Dongguan 523710, China
- Key Laboratory of Big Data Mining and Precision Drug Design of Guangdong Medical University, Key Laboratory of Computer-Aided Drug Design of Dongguan City, Key Laboratory for Research and Development of Natural Drugs of Guangdong Province, Guangdong Medical University, Dongguan 523808, China
- Marine Medical Research Institute of Guangdong Zhanjiang, Zhanjiang 524023, China
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12
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Harkus U, Wankell M, Palamuthusingam P, McFarlane C, Hebbard L. Immune checkpoint inhibitors in HCC: Cellular, molecular and systemic data. Semin Cancer Biol 2022; 86:799-815. [PMID: 35065242 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcancer.2022.01.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2021] [Revised: 01/12/2022] [Accepted: 01/17/2022] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the leading causes of cancer related deaths in the world, and for patients with advanced disease there are few therapeutic options available. The complex immunological microenvironment of HCC and the success of immunotherapy in several types of tumours, has raised the prospect of potential benefit for immune based therapies, such as immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), in HCC. This has led to significant breakthrough research, numerous clinical trials and the rapid approval of multiple systemic drugs for HCC by regulatory bodies worldwide. Although some patients responded well to ICIs, many have failed to achieve significant benefit, while others showed unexpected and paradoxical deterioration. The aim of this review is to discuss the pathophysiology of HCC, the tumour microenvironment, key clinical trials evaluating ICIs in HCC, various resistance mechanisms to ICIs, and possible ways to overcome these impediments to improve patient outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Uasim Harkus
- Townsville University Hospital, Townsville, Queensland 4811, Australia
| | - Miriam Wankell
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, College of Public Health, Medical and Veterinary Sciences, Australian Institute of Tropical Medicine and Health, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland 4811, Australia
| | - Pranavan Palamuthusingam
- College of Medicine and Dentistry, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland 4811, Australia; Townsville University Hospital, Townsville, Queensland 4811, Australia; Mater Hospital, Townsville, Queensland 4811, Australia
| | - Craig McFarlane
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, College of Public Health, Medical and Veterinary Sciences, Australian Institute of Tropical Medicine and Health, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland 4811, Australia
| | - Lionel Hebbard
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, College of Public Health, Medical and Veterinary Sciences, Australian Institute of Tropical Medicine and Health, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland 4811, Australia; Storr Liver Centre, Westmead Institute for Medical Research, Westmead Hospital and University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales 2145, Australia.
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13
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Role of B Lymphocytes in the Pathogenesis of NAFLD: A 2022 Update. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms232012376. [PMID: 36293233 PMCID: PMC9603875 DOI: 10.3390/ijms232012376] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2022] [Revised: 10/09/2022] [Accepted: 10/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and its related complications are becoming one of the most important health problems globally. The liver functions as both a metabolic and an immune organ. The crosstalk between hepatocytes and intrahepatic immune cells plays a key role in coordinating a dual function of the liver in terms of the protection of the host from antigenic overload as a result of receiving nutrients and gut microbiota antigenic stimulation via facilitating immunologic tolerance. B cells are the most abundant lymphocytes in the liver. The crucial role of intrahepatic B cells in energy metabolism under different immune conditions is now emerging in the literature. The accumulating evidence has demonstrated that the antibodies and cytokines produced by B cells in the microenvironment play key and distinct roles in the pathogenesis of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Herein, we have aimed to consolidate and update the current knowledge about the pathophysiological roles of B cells as well as the underlying mechanisms in energy metabolism. Understanding how B cells can exacerbate and suppress liver damage by exploiting the antibodies and cytokines they produce will be of great importance for designing B-cell targeting therapies to treat various liver diseases.
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Deng H, Zhang J, Zheng Y, Li J, Xiao Q, Wei F, Han W, Xu X, Zhang Y. CCDC25 may be a potential diagnostic and prognostic marker of hepatocellular carcinoma: Results from microarray analysis. Front Surg 2022; 9:878648. [PMID: 36211267 PMCID: PMC9537757 DOI: 10.3389/fsurg.2022.878648] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2022] [Accepted: 08/31/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
BackgroundHepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a tumor with a high recurrence rate, poor prognosis, and rapid progression. Therefore, it is necessary to find a novel biomarker for HCC. Coiled-coil domain containing 25 (CCDC25) has been identified as a target molecule that mediates liver metastasis in colon cancer. However, the molecular mechanisms of CCDC25 in HCC are unknown. This study aimed to explore the role of CCDC25 in HCC.MethodsThe expression of CCDC25 in HCC was identified through The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) databases. Receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) curves were drawn to evaluate the diagnostic value of CCDC25 for HCC. The effect of CCDC25 on the prognosis of HCC was analyzed by using the Kaplan–Meier plotter. Co-expressed genes and Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA) were used to explore the related functions and regulatory signaling pathways of CCDC25. Moreover, we employed the Tumor Immune Estimation Resource (TIMER) database and CIBERSORT algorithm to investigate the relationship between CCDC25 and the tumor immune microenvironment (TME) in HCC. Meanwhile, the effect of CCDC25 on the sensitivity of HCC patients to chemotherapy drugs was evaluated. Finally, we explored the prognostic methylation sites of CCDC25 using the MethSurv database.ResultsCCDC25 expression was low in HCC. Low CCDC25 expression was significantly associated with poor overall survival of HCC and may be comparable to the ability of AFP to diagnose HCC. Dysregulation of glucose metabolism, fatty acid metabolism, amino acid metabolism, ubiquitination modification, and apoptosis inhibition caused by CCDC25 downregulation may be the causes and results of HCC. In addition, CCDC25 was positively correlated with the infiltration level of various adaptive antitumor immune cells. The levels of immune cell infiltration and immune checkpoint expression were lower in the samples with high CCDC25 expression. What is more, we found that downregulated CCDC25 may increase the sensitivity or resistance of HCC patients to multiple drugs, including sorafenib. We also identified a methylation site for CCDC25, which may be responsible for poor prognosis and low CCDC25 expression in HCC patients. Finally, CCDC25 may be associated with HCC ferroptosis.ConclusionsCCDC25 may be a potential diagnostic and prognostic marker for HCC and is associated with immune infiltration and ferroptosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongyang Deng
- Department of General Surgery, Hepatic-biliary-pancreatic Institute, Lanzhou University Second Hospital, Lanzhou, China
| | - Jiaxing Zhang
- Key Laboratory of the Digestive System Tumors of Gansu Province, Lanzhou University Second Hospital, Lanzhou, China
| | - Yijun Zheng
- Department of General Surgery, Hepatic-biliary-pancreatic Institute, Lanzhou University Second Hospital, Lanzhou, China
| | - Jipin Li
- Department of General Surgery, Hepatic-biliary-pancreatic Institute, Lanzhou University Second Hospital, Lanzhou, China
| | - Qi Xiao
- Department of General Surgery, Hepatic-biliary-pancreatic Institute, Lanzhou University Second Hospital, Lanzhou, China
| | - Fengxian Wei
- Department of General Surgery, Hepatic-biliary-pancreatic Institute, Lanzhou University Second Hospital, Lanzhou, China
| | - Wei Han
- Department of General Surgery, Hepatic-biliary-pancreatic Institute, Lanzhou University Second Hospital, Lanzhou, China
| | - Xiaodong Xu
- Department of General Surgery, Hepatic-biliary-pancreatic Institute, Lanzhou University Second Hospital, Lanzhou, China
| | - Youcheng Zhang
- Department of General Surgery, Hepatic-biliary-pancreatic Institute, Lanzhou University Second Hospital, Lanzhou, China
- Correspondence: Youcheng Zhang
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Dios-Barbeito S, González R, Cadenas M, García LF, Victor VM, Padillo FJ, Muntané J. Impact of nitric oxide in liver cancer microenvironment. Nitric Oxide 2022; 128:1-11. [DOI: 10.1016/j.niox.2022.07.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2021] [Revised: 07/16/2022] [Accepted: 07/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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16
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Yang F, Xu GL, Huang JT, Yin Y, Xiang W, Zhong BY, Li WC, Shen J, Zhang S, Yang J, Sun HP, Wang WS, Zhu XL. Transarterial Chemoembolization Combined With Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors and Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors for Unresectable Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Efficacy and Systemic Immune Response. Front Immunol 2022; 13:847601. [PMID: 35300339 PMCID: PMC8922415 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.847601] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2022] [Accepted: 01/27/2022] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Locoregional therapy combined with systemic therapy can further improve the prognoses for HCC. However, the efficacy of TACE combined with ICIs and TKIs for HCC and whether this triple therapy can activate systemic immune response are still unknown. Purpose To identify the efficacy of TACE+ICIs+TKIs for unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (uHCC) and its effect on systemic immunity. Materials and Methods This single-center retrospective study was approved by the Institutional Review Board. From August 1, 2019, to March 30, 2021, patients with uHCC who received the combination therapy of TACE+ICIs+TKIs were included. Peripheral blood samples were collected at baseline and once a month for 4 months after treatment. Lymphocyte subsets were measured by flow cytometry. Immunoglobulins were measured using the immune turbidimetric method. The dynamic change trend of circulating parameters was tested using simple linear regression. Results Fifty-three patients with a mean age of 59 ± 10.6 years were included. TTP was 8.0 months (95% CI, 5.5–10.5) and PFS was 8.5 months (95% CI, 5.4–11.5). ORR was 52.8% and DCR was 81.1%. Twenty patients had completed analysis of biomarkers in peripheral blood. For cellular immune response, the level of circulating CD8+, CD3+ T cells and NK cells increased, the frequency of CD4+T cells and the CD4+/CD8+ ratio decreased, and among them, CD8+ T cells increased significantly. For humoral immune response, there was a significant decrease in B cells and a significant increase in Ig G, Ig κ, and Ig λ. Moreover, Ig G, Ig κ, and Ig λ were related to tumor response. Conclusion TACE+ICIs+TKIs showed considerable efficacy in patients with uHCC. This triple therapy activated not only cell immune but also humoral immune activation. Circulating Ig G, Ig λ, and Ig κ can serve as potential biomarkers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fei Yang
- Department of Interventional Radiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, China
- Department of Interventional Radiology, Affiliated Hospital of Jiangnan University, Wuxi, China
| | - Gui-Li Xu
- Department of Interventional Radiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Jin-Tao Huang
- Department of Interventional Radiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Yu Yin
- Department of Interventional Radiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Wei Xiang
- Department of Oncology Intervention, Taizhou Municipal Hospital, Taizhou, China
| | - Bin-Yan Zhong
- Department of Interventional Radiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Wan-Ci Li
- Department of Interventional Radiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Jian Shen
- Department of Interventional Radiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Shuai Zhang
- Department of Interventional Radiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Jun Yang
- Department of Interventional Radiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Hong Peng Sun
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Preventive and Translational Medicine for Geriatric Diseases, School of Public Health, Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Wan-Sheng Wang
- Department of Interventional Radiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, China
- *Correspondence: Wan-Sheng Wang, ; Xiao-Li Zhu,
| | - Xiao-Li Zhu
- Department of Interventional Radiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, China
- *Correspondence: Wan-Sheng Wang, ; Xiao-Li Zhu,
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T- and B-Cells in the Inner Invasive Margin of Hepatocellular Carcinoma after Resection Associate with Favorable Prognosis. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14030604. [PMID: 35158872 PMCID: PMC8833821 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14030604] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2021] [Revised: 01/21/2022] [Accepted: 01/24/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common cancers in the world, which frequently recurs after curative resection. Several options to predict recurrence of HCC have been proposed, however, their prognostic ability is limited. This study aimed to test the hypothesis that distribution and numbers of T- and B-lymphocytes in different regions of the resected tumor may have different prognostic significance. Different subregions of HCC demonstrated uneven lymphocyte infiltration. CD20+ B-lymphocytes and CD8+ T-lymphocytes, or their combination in the inner tumor invasive margin and inner/outer margin ratios, convey the best prediction for time to recurrence and disease-free survival. The results offer a novel approach to the stratification of the risk of early tumor recurrence after curative liver resection. Abstract In this retrospective study on 67 patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), after tumor resection, we evaluated the significance of CD3+ and CD8+ T-lymphocytes and CD20+ B-lymphocytes in tumor and non-tumor liver for time to recurrence (TTR), disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival. After immunohistochemical staining, the density of nucleated lymphocyte profiles (QA) was estimated stereologically in the tumor center (TC), inner margin (inn M), outer margin (out M), peritumor and non-tumor liver. In TC, intermediate and high QA of CD8+ cells predicted longer TTR, whereas CD3+ and CD20+ were predictive only at high QA. DFS was predicted by high QA of CD3+, CD8+ and CD20+ cells in TC. The inn M harbored smaller QA of CD3+, CD8+ and CD20+ lymphocytes than out M. In contrast to out M, high T-cells’ QA and intermediate and high B-cell QA in inn M predicted longer TTR and DFS. High inn M/out M QA ratios of CD3+ and CD20+ cells were associated with longer TTR and DFS, whereas high inn M/out M QA ratio of CD8+ was predictive only for DFS. Patients with intermediate-high QA of combined CD8+ and CD20+ cells in inn M showed longer TTR and DFS, compared to CD8+-high or CD20+-high alone. Our findings highlight overall heterogeneity of the tumor invasive margin, the importance of inn M, and the predictive role of B-cells.
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