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Li X, González-Maroto C, Tavassoli M. Crosstalk between CAFs and tumour cells in head and neck cancer. Cell Death Discov 2024; 10:303. [PMID: 38926351 PMCID: PMC11208506 DOI: 10.1038/s41420-024-02053-9] [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: 02/02/2024] [Revised: 05/30/2024] [Accepted: 05/31/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCCs) are amongst the most aggressive, complex, and heterogeneous malignancies. The standard of care treatments for HNC patients include surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, or their combination. However, around 50% do not benefit while suffering severe toxic side effects, costing the individuals and society. Decades have been spent to improve HNSCC treatment outcomes with only limited success. Much of the research in HNSCC treatment has focused on understanding the genetics of the HNSCC malignant cells, but it has become clear that tumour microenvironment (TME) plays an important role in the progression as well as treatment response in HNSCC. Understanding the crosstalk between cancer cells and TME is crucial for inhibiting progression and treatment resistance. Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs), the predominant component of stroma in HNSCC, serve as the primary source of extra-cellular matrix (ECM) and various pro-tumoral composites in TME. The activation of CAFs in HNSCC is primarily driven by cancer cell-secreted molecules, which in turn induce phenotypic changes, elevated secretive status, and altered ECM production profile. Concurrently, CAFs play a pivotal role in modulating the cell cycle, stemness, epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), and resistance to targeted and chemoradiotherapy in HNSCC cells. This modulation occurs through interactions with secreted molecules or direct contact with the ECM or CAF. Co-culture and 3D models of tumour cells and other TME cell types allows to mimic the HNSCC tumour milieu and enable modulating tumour hypoxia and reprograming cancer stem cells (CSC). This review aims to provide an update on the development of HNSCC tumour models comprising CAFs to obtain better understanding of the interaction between CAFs and tumour cells, and for providing preclinical testing platforms of current and combination with emerging therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinyang Li
- Head and Neck Oncology Group, Centre for Host Microbiome Interaction, King's College London, Hodgkin Building, London, SE1 1UL, UK
| | - Celia González-Maroto
- Head and Neck Oncology Group, Centre for Host Microbiome Interaction, King's College London, Hodgkin Building, London, SE1 1UL, UK
- Blizard Institute, Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK
| | - Mahvash Tavassoli
- Head and Neck Oncology Group, Centre for Host Microbiome Interaction, King's College London, Hodgkin Building, London, SE1 1UL, UK.
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2
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Struckmeier AK, Eichhorn P, Agaimy A, Buchbender M, Moest T, Lutz R, Kesting M. Comparison of the 7th and revised 8th UICC editions (2020) for oral squamous cell carcinoma: How does the reclassification impact staging and survival? Virchows Arch 2024; 484:901-913. [PMID: 38191928 PMCID: PMC11186894 DOI: 10.1007/s00428-023-03727-y] [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: 10/03/2023] [Revised: 11/28/2023] [Accepted: 12/18/2023] [Indexed: 01/10/2024]
Abstract
Since its introduction in 1968, the TNM (tumor, node, metastasis) classification established by the International Union Against Cancer has provided a consistent framework for staging of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). The introduction of the 8th edition in 2017 brought about significant modifications, encompassing the integration of depth of invasion (DOI) and extranodal extension (ENE) into the T and N classifications. Further, the UICC the criteria for the T3 and T4a categories were amended in 2020. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of reclassification on staging and, subsequently, the survival of patients with OSCC. Primary OSCCs from 391 patients were classified according to the 7th and revised 8th UICC editions (2020). Stage migration was assessed, and stage-specific progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were evaluated using the Kaplan-Meier method. The log-rank test was used to compare the different stages. Cox-proportional hazard modeling was used to compare the two editions. Incorporating the DOI into the T classification resulted in an upstaging of 77 patients, constituting 19.69% of the cohort. In addition, 49 (12.53%) patients experienced an upstaging when considering ENE in the N classification. Consequently, 103 patients underwent upstaging in UICC staging, accounting for 21.74% of cases. Upstaging mainly occurred from stage III to IVA (26.92%) and from stage IVA to IVB (31.78%). Upon comparing the categories in survival analysis, significant differences in OS and PFS were especially observed between stage IVB and lower stages. When examining the hazard ratios, it became evident that UICC 8 stage IVB is burdened by a 5.59-fold greater risk of disease progression than stage I. Furthermore, UICC 8 stage IVB exhibits a 3.83 times higher likelihood of death than stage I disease. We demonstrated significant stage migration from the 7th to the revised 8th UICC edition. Overall, incorporating DOI and ENE into the T and N classifications represents a substantial clinical advancement, leading to a more accurate staging of OSCC patients. Both staging systems exhibited statistically significant discrimination between stages; however, the 8th UICC edition allowed for a more precise categorization of patients based on their prognosis and led to enhanced hazard discrimination, particularly within higher stages.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ann-Kristin Struckmeier
- Department of Oral and Cranio-Maxillofacial Surgery, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Glückstraße 11, 91054, Erlangen, Germany.
- Comprehensive Cancer Center Erlangen-European Metropolitan Area of Nuremberg (CCC ER-EMN), Erlangen, Germany.
| | - Philip Eichhorn
- Comprehensive Cancer Center Erlangen-European Metropolitan Area of Nuremberg (CCC ER-EMN), Erlangen, Germany
- Institute of Pathology, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Erlangen, Germany
| | - Abbas Agaimy
- Comprehensive Cancer Center Erlangen-European Metropolitan Area of Nuremberg (CCC ER-EMN), Erlangen, Germany
- Institute of Pathology, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Erlangen, Germany
| | - Mayte Buchbender
- Department of Oral and Cranio-Maxillofacial Surgery, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Glückstraße 11, 91054, Erlangen, Germany
- Comprehensive Cancer Center Erlangen-European Metropolitan Area of Nuremberg (CCC ER-EMN), Erlangen, Germany
| | - Tobias Moest
- Department of Oral and Cranio-Maxillofacial Surgery, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Glückstraße 11, 91054, Erlangen, Germany
- Comprehensive Cancer Center Erlangen-European Metropolitan Area of Nuremberg (CCC ER-EMN), Erlangen, Germany
| | - Rainer Lutz
- Department of Oral and Cranio-Maxillofacial Surgery, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Glückstraße 11, 91054, Erlangen, Germany
- Comprehensive Cancer Center Erlangen-European Metropolitan Area of Nuremberg (CCC ER-EMN), Erlangen, Germany
| | - Marco Kesting
- Department of Oral and Cranio-Maxillofacial Surgery, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Glückstraße 11, 91054, Erlangen, Germany
- Comprehensive Cancer Center Erlangen-European Metropolitan Area of Nuremberg (CCC ER-EMN), Erlangen, Germany
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3
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Mukherjee P, Zhou X, Galli S, Davidson B, Zhang L, Ahn J, Aljuhani R, Benicky J, Ailles L, Pomin VH, Olsen M, Goldman R. Aspartate β-Hydroxylase Is Upregulated in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma and Regulates Invasiveness in Cancer Cell Models. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:4998. [PMID: 38732216 PMCID: PMC11084744 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25094998] [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: 04/11/2024] [Revised: 04/23/2024] [Accepted: 04/26/2024] [Indexed: 05/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Aspartate β-hydroxylase (ASPH) is a protein associated with malignancy in a wide range of tumors. We hypothesize that inhibition of ASPH activity could have anti-tumor properties in patients with head and neck cancer. In this study, we screened tumor tissues of 155 head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) patients for the expression of ASPH using immunohistochemistry. We used an ASPH inhibitor, MO-I-1151, known to inhibit the catalytic activity of ASPH in the endoplasmic reticulum, to show its inhibitory effect on the migration of SCC35 head and neck cancer cells in cell monolayers and in matrix-embedded spheroid co-cultures with primary cancer-associated fibroblast (CAF) CAF 61137 of head and neck origin. We also studied a combined effect of MO-I-1151 and HfFucCS, an inhibitor of invasion-blocking heparan 6-O-endosulfatase activity. We found ASPH was upregulated in HNSCC tumors compared to the adjacent normal tissues. ASPH was uniformly high in expression, irrespective of tumor stage. High expression of ASPH in tumors led us to consider it as a therapeutic target in cell line models. ASPH inhibitor MO-I-1151 had significant effects on reducing migration and invasion of head and neck cancer cells, both in monolayers and matrix-embedded spheroids. The combination of the two enzyme inhibitors showed an additive effect on restricting invasion in the HNSCC cell monolayers and in the CAF-containing co-culture spheroids. We identify ASPH as an abundant protein in HNSCC tumors. Targeting ASPH with inhibitor MO-I-1151 effectively reduces CAF-mediated cellular invasion in cancer cell models. We propose that the additive effect of MO-I-1151 with HfFucCS, an inhibitor of heparan 6-O-endosulfatases, on HNSCC cells could improve interventions and needs to be further explored.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pritha Mukherjee
- Department of Oncology, Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, Georgetown University, Washington, DC 20057, USA
- Clinical and Translational Glycoscience Research Center, Georgetown University, Washington, DC 20057, USA
| | - Xin Zhou
- Department of Oncology, Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, Georgetown University, Washington, DC 20057, USA
- Clinical and Translational Glycoscience Research Center, Georgetown University, Washington, DC 20057, USA
- Biotechnology Program, Northern Virginia Community College, Manassas, VA 20109, USA
| | - Susana Galli
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular & Cellular Biology, Georgetown University, Washington, DC 20057, USA
| | - Bruce Davidson
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, MedStar Georgetown University Hospital, Washington, DC 20057, USA
| | - Lihua Zhang
- Department of Oncology, Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, Georgetown University, Washington, DC 20057, USA
- Clinical and Translational Glycoscience Research Center, Georgetown University, Washington, DC 20057, USA
| | - Jaeil Ahn
- Department of Biostatistics, Bioinformatics and Biomathematics, Georgetown University, Washington, DC 20057, USA
| | - Reem Aljuhani
- Clinical and Translational Glycoscience Research Center, Georgetown University, Washington, DC 20057, USA
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular & Cellular Biology, Georgetown University, Washington, DC 20057, USA
| | - Julius Benicky
- Department of Oncology, Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, Georgetown University, Washington, DC 20057, USA
- Clinical and Translational Glycoscience Research Center, Georgetown University, Washington, DC 20057, USA
| | - Laurie Ailles
- Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5G 1L7, Canada
| | - Vitor H. Pomin
- Department of BioMolecular Sciences, University of Mississippi, Oxford, MS 38677, USA;
- Research Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, University of Mississippi, Oxford, MS 38677, USA
| | - Mark Olsen
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy Glendale Campus, Midwestern University, Glendale, AZ 85308, USA
- Pharmacometrics Center of Excellence, Midwestern University, Downers Grove, IL 60515, USA
| | - Radoslav Goldman
- Department of Oncology, Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, Georgetown University, Washington, DC 20057, USA
- Clinical and Translational Glycoscience Research Center, Georgetown University, Washington, DC 20057, USA
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular & Cellular Biology, Georgetown University, Washington, DC 20057, USA
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Wu X, Chen S, Ji Q, Chen H, Chen X. Characteristics and significance of programmed cell death-related gene expression signature in skin cutaneous melanoma. Skin Res Technol 2024; 30:e13739. [PMID: 38766879 PMCID: PMC11103559 DOI: 10.1111/srt.13739] [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: 02/24/2024] [Accepted: 04/24/2024] [Indexed: 05/22/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Programmed cell death (PCD) pathways play crucial roles in the pathogenesis of skin cutaneous melanoma (SKCM). Understanding their prognostic significance and clinical implications is imperative for the development of personalized treatment strategies. METHODS A total of 1466 PCD-related genes were analyzed using data from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA)-SKCM cohort (n = 353). Prognostic cell death index (CDI) was established and validated through survival analysis and predictive modeling. Functional enrichment, protein-protein interaction (PPI), consensus clustering, and tumor microenvironment assessment and drug sensitivity analysis were performed to elucidate the biological and clinical relevance of CDI. RESULTS CDI effectively stratified SKCM patients into high and low-risk groups, demonstrating significant differences in survival outcomes. It exhibited predictive value for survival at 1, 3, and 5 years. The concordance index (C-index) was 0.794 in the training set, and 0.792 and 0.821 in the internal and external validation sets, respectively. The corresponding area under curve (AUC) was all above 0.75 in these data sets. Functional enrichment analysis revealed significant associations with immune response and inflammatory processes. PPI analysis identified key molecular modules associated with apoptosis and chemokine signaling. Consensus clustering unveiled three discernible subtypes demonstrating notable disparities in survival outcomes based on CDI expression profiles. Assessment of the tumor microenvironment highlighted correlations with immune cell infiltration such as M1 macrophages and T cells. Drug sensitivity analysis indicated tight correlations between CDI levels and response to immunotherapy. CONCLUSION Our comprehensive analysis establishes the prognostic significance of PCD-related genes in SKCM. CDI emerges as a promising prognostic biomarker, offering insights into tumor biology and potential implications for personalized treatment strategies. Further validation and clinical integration of CDI are warranted to improve SKCM management and patient outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoxia Wu
- Department of DermatologyThe 95th Hospital of PutianPutianFujianChina
| | - Suhong Chen
- Department of DermatologyPutian First Hospital of Fujian ProvincePutianFujianChina
| | - Qingfa Ji
- Department of DermatologyPutian City Dermatology Prevention and Treatment HospitalPutianFujianChina
| | - Han Chen
- Laboratory Pathology DepartmentJoint Logistics Support Force 900th Hospital Cangshan CampusFuzhouFujianChina
| | - Xiuxia Chen
- Department of AnesthesiologyThe 95th Hospital of PutianPutianFujianChina
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Stöth M, Mineif AT, Sauer F, Meyer TJ, Mueller-Diesing F, Haug L, Scherzad A, Steinke M, Rossi A, Hackenberg S. A Tissue Engineered 3D Model of Cancer Cell Invasion for Human Head and Neck Squamous-Cell Carcinoma. Curr Issues Mol Biol 2024; 46:4049-4062. [PMID: 38785518 PMCID: PMC11119844 DOI: 10.3390/cimb46050250] [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: 03/13/2024] [Revised: 04/23/2024] [Accepted: 04/25/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Head and neck squamous-cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is associated with aggressive local invasiveness, being a main reason for its poor prognosis. The exact mechanisms underlying the strong invasive abilities of HNSCC remain to be elucidated. Therefore, there is a need for in vitro models to study the interplay between cancer cells and normal adjacent tissue at the invasive tumor front. To generate oral mucosa tissue models (OMM), primary keratinocytes and fibroblasts from human oral mucosa were isolated and seeded onto a biological scaffold derived from porcine small intestinal submucosa with preserved mucosa. Thereafter, we tested different methods (single tumor cells, tumor cell spots, spheroids) to integrate the human cancer cell line FaDu to generate an invasive three-dimensional model of HNSCC. All models were subjected to morphological analysis by histology and immunohistochemistry. We successfully built OMM tissue models with high in vivo-in vitro correlation. The integration of FaDu cell spots and spheroids into the OMM failed. However, with the integration of single FaDu cells into the OMM, invasive tumor cell clusters developed. Between segments of regular epithelial differentiation of the OMM, these clusters showed a basal membrane penetration and lamina propria infiltration. Primary human fibroblasts and keratinocytes seeded onto a porcine carrier structure are suitable to build an OMM. The HNSCC model with integrated FaDu cells could enable subsequent investigations into cancer cell invasiveness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manuel Stöth
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Plastic, Aesthetic and Reconstructive Head and Neck Surgery, University Hospital Würzburg, 97080 Würzburg, Germany; (M.S.); (T.J.M.); (F.M.-D.); (A.S.); (M.S.)
| | - Anna Teresa Mineif
- Chair of Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, University Hospital Würzburg, 97070 Würzburg, Germany; (A.T.M.)
| | - Fabian Sauer
- Chair of Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, University Hospital Würzburg, 97070 Würzburg, Germany; (A.T.M.)
| | - Till Jasper Meyer
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Plastic, Aesthetic and Reconstructive Head and Neck Surgery, University Hospital Würzburg, 97080 Würzburg, Germany; (M.S.); (T.J.M.); (F.M.-D.); (A.S.); (M.S.)
| | - Flurin Mueller-Diesing
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Plastic, Aesthetic and Reconstructive Head and Neck Surgery, University Hospital Würzburg, 97080 Würzburg, Germany; (M.S.); (T.J.M.); (F.M.-D.); (A.S.); (M.S.)
| | - Lukas Haug
- Institute of Pathology, University of Würzburg, 97080 Würzburg, Germany;
| | - Agmal Scherzad
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Plastic, Aesthetic and Reconstructive Head and Neck Surgery, University Hospital Würzburg, 97080 Würzburg, Germany; (M.S.); (T.J.M.); (F.M.-D.); (A.S.); (M.S.)
| | - Maria Steinke
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Plastic, Aesthetic and Reconstructive Head and Neck Surgery, University Hospital Würzburg, 97080 Würzburg, Germany; (M.S.); (T.J.M.); (F.M.-D.); (A.S.); (M.S.)
- Chair of Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, University Hospital Würzburg, 97070 Würzburg, Germany; (A.T.M.)
- Fraunhofer Institute for Silicate Research ISC, 97082 Würzburg, Germany;
| | - Angela Rossi
- Fraunhofer Institute for Silicate Research ISC, 97082 Würzburg, Germany;
| | - Stephan Hackenberg
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Plastic, Aesthetic and Reconstructive Head and Neck Surgery, University Hospital Würzburg, 97080 Würzburg, Germany; (M.S.); (T.J.M.); (F.M.-D.); (A.S.); (M.S.)
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Ravera S, Pasquale C, Panfoli I, Bozzo M, Agas D, Bruno S, Hamblin MR, Amaroli A. Assessing the Effects of Curcumin and 450 nm Photodynamic Therapy on Oxidative Metabolism and Cell Cycle in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma: An In Vitro Study. Cancers (Basel) 2024; 16:1642. [PMID: 38730594 PMCID: PMC11083672 DOI: 10.3390/cancers16091642] [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: 03/25/2024] [Revised: 04/18/2024] [Accepted: 04/22/2024] [Indexed: 05/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Oral cancer is the 16th most common malignant tumor worldwide. The risk of recurrence and mortality is high, and the survival rate is low over the following five years. Recent studies have shown that curcumin causes apoptosis in tumor cells by affecting FoF1-ATP synthase (ATP synthase) activity, which, in turn, hinders cell energy production, leading to a loss of cell viability. Additionally, irradiation of curcumin within cells can intensify its detrimental effects on cancer cell viability and proliferation (photodynamic therapy). We treated the OHSU-974 cell line, a model for human head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC), and primary human fibroblasts. The treatment involved a 1 h exposure of cells to 0.1, 1.0, and 10 μM curcumin, followed or not by irradiation or the addition of the same concentration of pre-irradiated curcumin. Both instances involved a diode laser with a wavelength of 450 nm (0.25 W, 15 J, 60 s, 1 cm2, continuous wave mode). The treatment with non-irradiated 1 and 10 µM curcumin caused ATP synthase inhibition and a consequent reduction in the oxygen consumption rate (OCR) and the ATP/AMP ratio, which was associated with a decrement in lipid peroxidation accumulation and a slight increase in glutathione reductase and catalase activity. By contrast, 60 s curcumin irradiation with 0.25 W-450 nm caused a further oxidative phosphorylation (OxPhos) metabolism impairment that induced an uncoupling between respiration and energy production, leading to increased oxidative damage, a cellular growth and viability reduction, and a cell cycle block in the G1 phase. These effects appeared to be more evident when the curcumin was irradiated after cell incubation. Since cells belonging to the HNSCC microenvironment support tumor development, curcumin's effects have been analyzed on primary human fibroblasts, and a decrease in cell energy status has been observed with both irradiated and non-irradiated curcumin and an increase in oxidative lipid damage and a slowing of cell growth were observed when the curcumin was irradiated before or after cellular administration. Thus, although curcumin displays an anti-cancer role on OHSU-974 in its native form, photoactivation seems to enhance its effects, making it effective even at low dosages.
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Affiliation(s)
- Silvia Ravera
- Department of Experimental Medicine (DIMES), University of Genoa, 16132 Genoa, Italy;
| | - Claudio Pasquale
- Department of Surgical and Diagnostic Sciences (DISC), University of Genoa, 16132 Genoa, Italy;
| | - Isabella Panfoli
- Department of Pharmacy (DIFAR), University of Genoa, 16132 Genoa, Italy
| | - Matteo Bozzo
- BIO-Photonics Overarching Research Laboratory (BIOPHOR), Department of Earth, Environmental and Life Sciences (DISTAV), University of Genoa, 16132 Genoa, Italy; (M.B.); (A.A.)
| | - Dimitrios Agas
- School of Biosciences and Veterinary Medicine, University of Camerino, 62032 Camerino, Italy;
| | - Silvia Bruno
- Department of Experimental Medicine (DIMES), University of Genoa, 16132 Genoa, Italy;
| | - Michael R. Hamblin
- Laser Research Centre, Faculty of Health Science, University of Johannesburg, Johannesburg 2092, South Africa;
| | - Andrea Amaroli
- BIO-Photonics Overarching Research Laboratory (BIOPHOR), Department of Earth, Environmental and Life Sciences (DISTAV), University of Genoa, 16132 Genoa, Italy; (M.B.); (A.A.)
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Sulaiman R, Koirala N, Aske JC, Lin X, Rojas-Espaillat L, Starks D, Dale A, Gaster K, De P, Dey N. A landscape of patient-derived cancer-associated fibroblast signals in endometrial cancers. Am J Cancer Res 2024; 14:467-489. [PMID: 38455423 PMCID: PMC10915338] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2023] [Accepted: 11/02/2023] [Indexed: 03/09/2024] Open
Abstract
In conversation with endometrial tumor cells, the endometrial cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) are the "partners in crime" of uterine neoplasm's highly heterogeneous tumor microenvironment (TME). We designed a laboratory-friendly method to culture endometrial CAFs on a patient-to-patient basis for studying the CAF-TME and CAF-tumor cell interaction(s). Here, we present a comprehensive characterization of endometrial CAFs derived from patients' tumor tissues (T) and tumor-adjacent normal tissues (N). We used more than 80 T and N from 53 consecutive consented patients with endometrial cancers at the Avera Cancer Institute. We derived TCAF and NCAF in a non-enzymatic feeder-layer culture and characterized their expression of markers by qRT-PCR, flow cytometry, immunocytochemistry, immunofluorescence, and Western blot. Although similar in the expression pattern of EpCAM-/CK18-/vimentin+ as in ovarian CAFs, endometrial NCAFs, and TCAFs characteristically presented dual morphology in culture. Endometrial CAFs were EpCAM-/CK18-/CD45-/CD31-/SMA+/TE-7+/PDGFRA+/CXCL12+/Meflin+/CD155+/CD90+ with patient-specific positivity for S100A4/FAP/PD-L1/CD44. Endometrial CAFs expressed mRNAs for signaling proteins of several pathways and receptor-ligands, including (1) cell cycle pathway, (2) TGF pathway, (3) FGF pathway, (4) Wnt-beta-catenin pathway, (5) HER pathway, (6) tyrosine kinase receptor ligands, and (7) steroid receptors. We tested the hypoxic response of CAFs to show that endometrial CAFs upregulate MMP1 in a HIF-1a-independent manner. In trying to delineate the relationship between expressions of CAF markers and T-cells in the tumor tissue, we observed that FAP-positive CAFs that are derived from CD4/CD8 positive tumor tissue expressed CXCL12 mRNA. The data indicate the role of the CXCL12-CXCR4 pathway of the CAF-rich stroma in the lymphocytic infiltration of the tumor. We demonstrate that endometrial CAFs can be cultured in an enzymatic-digestion-independent manner, and their signaling landscape can be mapped toward understanding CAF-TME dialogue. Our data will help unearth the functional relevance of endometrial CAFs in the context of clinical outcomes and designing CAF-inclusive therapy in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raed Sulaiman
- Department of Pathology, Avera Cancer InstituteSioux Falls, SD 57108, USA
| | - Nischal Koirala
- Translational Oncology Laboratory, Avera Cancer InstituteSioux Falls, SD 57108, USA
- Comprehensive Cancer Center, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical CenterColumbus, OH 43210, USA
| | - Jennifer C Aske
- Translational Oncology Laboratory, Avera Cancer InstituteSioux Falls, SD 57108, USA
| | - Xiaoqian Lin
- Translational Oncology Laboratory, Avera Cancer InstituteSioux Falls, SD 57108, USA
| | - Luis Rojas-Espaillat
- Department of Gynecologic Oncology, Avera Cancer InstituteSioux Falls, SD 57108, USA
| | - David Starks
- Department of Gynecologic Oncology, Avera Cancer InstituteSioux Falls, SD 57108, USA
| | - Adam Dale
- Translational Oncology Laboratory, Avera Cancer InstituteSioux Falls, SD 57108, USA
| | - Kris Gaster
- Assistant VP Outpatient Cancer Clinics, Avera Cancer InstituteSioux Falls, SD 57108, USA
| | - Pradip De
- Translational Oncology Laboratory, Avera Cancer InstituteSioux Falls, SD 57108, USA
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of South Dakota SSOMSioux Falls, SD 57108, USA
- VieCureGreenwood Village, CO 80111, USA
| | - Nandini Dey
- Translational Oncology Laboratory, Avera Cancer InstituteSioux Falls, SD 57108, USA
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8
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Tian G, Zhang J, Bao Y, Li Q, Hou J. A prognostic model based on Scissor + cancer associated fibroblasts identified from bulk and single cell RNA sequencing data in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. Cell Signal 2024; 114:110984. [PMID: 38029947 DOI: 10.1016/j.cellsig.2023.110984] [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: 08/31/2023] [Revised: 10/23/2023] [Accepted: 11/15/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023]
Abstract
Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is one of the most lethal diseases in the world, which often recur after multimodality treatment approaches, leading to a poor prognosis. Fibroblasts, a heterogeneous component of the tumor microenvironment, can modulate numerous aspects of tumor biology and have been increasingly acknowledged in dictating the clinical outcome of patients with HNSCC. However, the subpopulation of fibroblasts that are related to the prognosis of HNSCC has not yet been fully explored. To do so, we combined a single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) dataset and bulk RNA-sequencing dataset with clinical information, identifying the fibroblast population that are related to poor prognosis of HNSCC. We found these specific population of fibroblasts are less differentiated. In addition, to identify the prognostic signatures of HNSCC, bioinformatics analysis included least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) analyses and univariate cox and were performed. We selected 12 prognosis-related genes for constructing a risk model using The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA). The AUC values and calibration plots of this model indicated good prognostic prediction efficacy. This model also was validated in two Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) datasets. In conclusion, we constructed an optimal model that was derived from single cell RNA-seq and bulk RNA-seq to predict the survival probability of HNSCC patients. Among this model, AKR1C3 higher expression in cancer associated fibroblasts (CAFs) of HNSCC has been confirmed by preliminary experiments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guoli Tian
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Guanghua School of Stomatology, Hospital of Stomatology, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Stomatology, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jiaqiang Zhang
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Guanghua School of Stomatology, Hospital of Stomatology, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Stomatology, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yong Bao
- Department of Medical Oncology; Institute of Precision Medicine; Center for Translational Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China.
| | - Qiuli Li
- Department of Head and Neck Surgery, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Guangzhou 510060, China.
| | - Jinsong Hou
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Guanghua School of Stomatology, Hospital of Stomatology, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Stomatology, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China.
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9
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Arebro J, Lee CM, Bennewith KL, Garnis C. Cancer-Associated Fibroblast Heterogeneity in Malignancy with Focus on Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:1300. [PMID: 38279300 PMCID: PMC10816981 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25021300] [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: 12/01/2023] [Revised: 01/18/2024] [Accepted: 01/19/2024] [Indexed: 01/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) remains an understudied and significant global cancer killer and dismal survival rates have not changed in decades. A better understanding of the molecular basis of OSCC progression and metastasis is needed to develop new approaches for treating this disease. The supportive network surrounding cancer tumor cells known as the tumor microenvironment (TME) has gained increasing interest lately since it performs essential protumorigenic functions. Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) are one of the main cell types in the TME and are known to play a key role in influencing the biological behavior of tumors. CAFs present a heterogeneity both in phenotype as well as functions, leading to the suggestion of different CAF subtypes in several cancer forms. The task to subtype CAFs in OSCC has, however, just begun, and there is today no united way of subtyping CAFs in this disease. This review aims to define the features of CAFs and to summarize CAF subtype research in malignancy with focus on OSCC including aspects as disease prognosis and therapeutic opportunities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia Arebro
- Department of Interdisciplinary Oncology, British Columbia Cancer Research Centre, Vancouver, BC V5Z 1L3, Canada; (C.-M.L.); (K.L.B.); (C.G.)
- Division of ENT Diseases, Department of Clinical Science, Intervention and Technology, Karolinska Institutet, 14186 Stockholm, Sweden
- Department of ENT Diseases, Karolinska University Hospital, 14186 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Che-Min Lee
- Department of Interdisciplinary Oncology, British Columbia Cancer Research Centre, Vancouver, BC V5Z 1L3, Canada; (C.-M.L.); (K.L.B.); (C.G.)
- Interdisciplinary Oncology Program, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V5Z 1L3, Canada
| | - Kevin L. Bennewith
- Department of Interdisciplinary Oncology, British Columbia Cancer Research Centre, Vancouver, BC V5Z 1L3, Canada; (C.-M.L.); (K.L.B.); (C.G.)
- Interdisciplinary Oncology Program, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V5Z 1L3, Canada
- Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z7, Canada
| | - Cathie Garnis
- Department of Interdisciplinary Oncology, British Columbia Cancer Research Centre, Vancouver, BC V5Z 1L3, Canada; (C.-M.L.); (K.L.B.); (C.G.)
- Interdisciplinary Oncology Program, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V5Z 1L3, Canada
- Division of Otolaryngology, Department of Surgery, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V5Z 1M9, Canada
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10
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Kang SH, Oh SY, Lee KY, Lee HJ, Kim MS, Kwon TG, Kim JW, Lee ST, Choi SY, Hong SH. Differential effect of cancer-associated fibroblast-derived extracellular vesicles on cisplatin resistance in oral squamous cell carcinoma via miR-876-3p. Theranostics 2024; 14:460-479. [PMID: 38169528 PMCID: PMC10758057 DOI: 10.7150/thno.87329] [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: 06/20/2023] [Accepted: 11/20/2023] [Indexed: 01/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Rationale: Platinum-based chemotherapy is commonly used for treating solid tumors, but drug resistance often limits its effectiveness. Cancer-associated fibroblast (CAF)-derived extracellular vesicle (EV), which carry various miRNAs, have been implicated in chemotherapy resistance. However, the molecular mechanism through which CAFs modulate cisplatin resistance in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is not well understood. We employed two distinct primary CAF types with differential impacts on cancer progression: CAF-P, representing a more aggressive cancer-promoting category, and CAF-D, characterized by properties that moderately delay cancer progression. Consequently, we sought to investigate whether the two CAF types differentially affect cisplatin sensitivity and the underlying molecular mechanism. Methods: The secretion profile was examined by utilizing an antibody microarray with conditioned medium obtained from the co-culture of OSCC cells and two types of primary CAFs. The effect of CAF-dependent factors on cisplatin resistance was investigated by utilizing conditioned media (CM) and extracellular vesicle (EVs) derived from CAFs. The impacts of candidate genes were confirmed using gain- and loss-of-function analyses in spheroids and organoids, and a mouse xenograft. Lastly, we compared the expression pattern of the candidate genes in tissues from OSCC patients exhibiting different responses to cisplatin. Results: When OSCC cells were cultured with conditioned media (CM) from the two different CAF groups, cisplatin resistance increased only under CAF-P CM. OSCC cells specifically expressed insulin-like growth factor binding protein 3 (IGFBP3) after co-culture with CAF-D. Meanwhile, IGFBP3-knockdown OSCC cells acquired cisplatin resistance in CAF-D CM. IGFBP3 expression was promoted by GATA-binding protein 1 (GATA1), a transcription factor targeted by miR-876-3p, which was enriched only in CAF-P-derived EV. Treatment with CAF-P EV carrying miR-876-3p antagomir decreased cisplatin resistance compared to control miRNA-carrying CAF-P EV. On comparing the staining intensity between cisplatin-sensitive and -insensitive tissues from OSCC patients, there was a positive correlation between IGFBP3 and GATA1 expression and cisplatin sensitivity in OSCC tissues from patients. Conclusion: These results provide insights for overcoming cisplatin resistance, especially concerning EVs within the tumor microenvironment. Furthermore, it is anticipated that the expression levels of GATA1 and miR-876-3p, along with IGFBP3, could aid in the prediction of cisplatin resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Soo Hyun Kang
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, School of Dentistry, Kyungpook National University, Daegu 700-412, Korea
| | - Su Young Oh
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, School of Dentistry, Kyungpook National University, Daegu 700-412, Korea
| | - Kah-Young Lee
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, School of Dentistry, Kyungpook National University, Daegu 700-412, Korea
| | - Heon-Jin Lee
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, School of Dentistry, Kyungpook National University, Daegu 700-412, Korea
| | - Mee-Seon Kim
- Department of Oral Pathology, School of Dentistry, Kyungpook National University, Daegu 700-412, Korea
| | - Tae-Geon Kwon
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, School of Dentistry, Kyungpook National University, Daegu 700-412, Korea
| | - Jin-Wook Kim
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, School of Dentistry, Kyungpook National University, Daegu 700-412, Korea
| | - Sung-Tak Lee
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, School of Dentistry, Kyungpook National University, Daegu 700-412, Korea
| | - So-Young Choi
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, School of Dentistry, Kyungpook National University, Daegu 700-412, Korea
| | - Su-Hyung Hong
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, School of Dentistry, Kyungpook National University, Daegu 700-412, Korea
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11
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Qin L, Wu J. Targeting anticancer immunity in oral cancer: Drugs, products, and nanoparticles. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2023; 239:116751. [PMID: 37507044 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2023.116751] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2023] [Revised: 07/19/2023] [Accepted: 07/25/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023]
Abstract
Oral cavity carcinomas are the most frequent malignancies among head and neck malignancies. Oral tumors include not only oral cancer cells with different potency and stemness but also consist of diverse cells, containing anticancer immune cells, stromal and also immunosuppressive cells that influence the immune system reactions. The infiltrated T and natural killer (NK) cells are the substantial tumor-suppressive immune compartments in the tumor. The infiltration of these cells has substantial impacts on the response of tumors to immunotherapy, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy. Nevertheless, cancer cells, stromal cells, and some other compartments like regulatory T cells (Tregs), macrophages, and myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) can repress the immune responses against malignant cells. Boosting anticancer immunity by inducing the immune system or repressing the tumor-promoting cells is one of the intriguing approaches for the eradication of malignant cells such as oral cancers. This review aims to concentrate on the secretions and interactions in the oral tumor immune microenvironment. We review targeting tumor stroma, immune system and immunosuppressive interactions in oral tumors. This review will also focus on therapeutic targets and therapeutic agents such as nanoparticles and products with anti-tumor potency that can boost anticancer immunity in oral tumors. We also explain possible future perspectives including delivery of various cells, natural products and drugs by nanoparticles for boosting anticancer immunity in oral tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liling Qin
- Gezhouba Central Hospital of the Third Clinical Medical College of Three Gorges University, Yichang, Hubei, 443002, China
| | - Jianan Wu
- Experimental and Practical Teaching Center, Hubei College of Chinese Medicine, Jingzhou, Hubei, 434000, China.
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12
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Li Y, Ma Z, Li W, Xu X, Shen P, Zhang SE, Cheng B, Xia J. PDPN + CAFs facilitate the motility of OSCC cells by inhibiting ferroptosis via transferring exosomal lncRNA FTX. Cell Death Dis 2023; 14:759. [PMID: 37993428 PMCID: PMC10665425 DOI: 10.1038/s41419-023-06280-3] [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: 07/14/2023] [Revised: 10/28/2023] [Accepted: 11/06/2023] [Indexed: 11/24/2023]
Abstract
Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) are abundant and heterogeneous in tumor microenvironment (TME). Cross-talk between cancer cells and CAFs results in cancer progression. Here, we demonstrated that a distinct cancer-associated fibroblasts subset with podoplanin (PDPN) positive expression (PDPN+ CAFs) was correlated with poor survival in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). PDPN+ CAFs promoted the progression of OSCC by transferring exosomal lncRNA FTX to OSCC cells. Mechanically, FTX bound to flap endonuclease-1 (FEN1), forming an RNA‒protein complex. FTX enhanced promoter demethylation of FEN1 by recruiting ten-eleven translocation-2 (TET2). In addition, FTX/FEN1 axis promoted OSCC cells motility by inhibiting ferroptosis. In xenograft experiments, RSL-3, a ferroptosis-inducing agent, suppressed the tumorigenesis potential of FEN1-overexpressed OSCC cells. Furthermore, Acyl-CoA synthetase long-chain family member 4 (ACSL4) was confirmed to participate in the motility promotion induced by FEN1 overexpression. FEN1 could bind to promoter region of ACSL4 and then inhibit ferroptosis in OSCC cells. Our study reveals that PDPN+ CAFs promote the invasiveness of OSCC cells by inhibiting ferroptosis through FTX/FEN1/ACSL4 signaling cascade. PDPN+ CAFs may serve as a novel potential therapeutic target for OSCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yaoyin Li
- Hospital of Stomatology, Guanghua School of Stomatology, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, PR China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Stomatology, Guangzhou, Guangdong, PR China
| | - Zeyi Ma
- Hospital of Stomatology, Guanghua School of Stomatology, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, PR China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Stomatology, Guangzhou, Guangdong, PR China
| | - Weiyu Li
- Hospital of Stomatology, Guanghua School of Stomatology, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, PR China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Stomatology, Guangzhou, Guangdong, PR China
| | - Xiaoqing Xu
- Hospital of Stomatology, Guanghua School of Stomatology, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, PR China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Stomatology, Guangzhou, Guangdong, PR China
| | - Peiqi Shen
- Hospital of Stomatology, Guanghua School of Stomatology, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, PR China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Stomatology, Guangzhou, Guangdong, PR China
| | - Si-En Zhang
- Hospital of Stomatology, Guanghua School of Stomatology, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, PR China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Stomatology, Guangzhou, Guangdong, PR China
| | - Bin Cheng
- Hospital of Stomatology, Guanghua School of Stomatology, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, PR China.
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Stomatology, Guangzhou, Guangdong, PR China.
| | - Juan Xia
- Hospital of Stomatology, Guanghua School of Stomatology, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, PR China.
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Stomatology, Guangzhou, Guangdong, PR China.
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13
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Niklander SE, Aránguiz P, Faunes F, Martínez-Flores R. Aging and oral squamous cell carcinoma development: the role of cellular senescence. FRONTIERS IN ORAL HEALTH 2023; 4:1285276. [PMID: 37904749 PMCID: PMC10613501 DOI: 10.3389/froh.2023.1285276] [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: 08/29/2023] [Accepted: 09/29/2023] [Indexed: 11/01/2023] Open
Abstract
The gradual accumulation and inadequate renewal of senescent cells over time drive organismal aging. Senescent cells undergo altered gene expression and release inflammatory mediators collectively termed the senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP), which significantly contributes to a spectrum of age-related disorders, including cancer. In the context of carcinogenesis, the SASP produced by senescent cells has been implicated in the promotion of epithelial cancers, including oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC), the most common form of oral cancer. Senescent cells within the tumor microenvironment release factors that amplify the growth and invasiveness of neighboring cancer cells. Senotherapeutics, including senolytics and senomorphics, emerge as promising modalities to target senescent cells and their associated inflammatory factors, thereby opening novel avenues for augmenting the efficacy of cancer treatments. Here, we review the general aspects of cellular senescence, focusing on the relation between senescence-related inflammation with cancer development. We also analyze the available evidence linking cellular senescence with OSCC, highlighting possible clinical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sven Eric Niklander
- Unit of Oral Pathology and Oral Medicine, Faculty of Dentistry, Universidad Andres Bello, Viña del Mar, Chile
| | - Pablo Aránguiz
- Escuela de Química y Farmacia, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Andres Bello, Viña del Mar, Chile
| | - Fernando Faunes
- Departamento de Ciencias Biológicas, Facultad de Ciencias de la Vida, Universidad Andres Bello, Viña del Mar, Chile
| | - René Martínez-Flores
- Unit of Oral Pathology and Oral Medicine, Faculty of Dentistry, Universidad Andres Bello, Viña del Mar, Chile
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14
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Kayamori K, Katsube KI, Hirai H, Harada H, Ikeda T. Role of Stromal Fibroblast-Induced WNT7A Associated with Cancer Cell Migration Through the AKT/CLDN1 Signaling Axis in Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma. J Transl Med 2023; 103:100228. [PMID: 37541622 DOI: 10.1016/j.labinv.2023.100228] [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: 05/24/2023] [Revised: 07/13/2023] [Accepted: 07/26/2023] [Indexed: 08/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Wnt signaling plays a crucial role in the progression of various cancers, including oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). However, the tumor microenvironment (TME) regulating Wnt signaling has not yet been fully elucidated. In this study, we investigated whether cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs), the primary components of the TME, activate Wnt signaling and promote tumor progression in OSCC. We conducted a Transwell coculture assay using human OSCC cell lines and normal human dermal fibroblasts (NHDFs). NHDFs stimulated WNT7A expression in several OSCC cell lines, especially HO-1-N-1 and HSC-5. An immunohistochemical study using 122 human OSCC samples indicated that high WNT7A expression in tumor cells was significantly associated with invasion depth and poor prognosis. Moreover, WNT7A expression in OSCC cells was positively correlated with α-smooth muscle actin expression in CAFs. WNT7A knockdown in OSCC cells demonstrated that OSCC cells cocultured with NHDFs significantly promoted tumor cell migration and invasion, which was dependent on WNT7A expression in OSCC cells. We also isolated HSC-5 cells from the coculture and conducted microarray analysis to investigate the factors that promote tumor progression induced by WNT7A. Among the various differentially expressed genes, we identified a downregulated gene encoding CLDN1 and confirmed that WNT7A negatively regulated CLDN1 expression in OSCC cells and CLDN1 knockdown in OSCC cells promoted their migration. Phosphokinase array analysis showed that WNT7A activates protein kinase B (AKT) phosphorylation. Activating AKT signaling using the SC79 agonist induced CLDN1 downregulation in OSCC cells. In the coculture assay, the AKT inhibitor MK2206 significantly recovered CLDN1 expression downregulated by WNT7A, resulting in OSCC cell migration suppression. These results suggest that CAFs stimulate OSCC cells to produce WNT7A, following CLDN1 expression downregulation by activating AKT signaling, promoting cancer cell migration. These findings highlight the importance of molecular therapies targeting the TME in OSCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kou Kayamori
- Department of Oral Pathology, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Tokyo, Japan.
| | - Ken-Ichi Katsube
- Department of Oral Pathology, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Tokyo, Japan; Faculty of Human Care, Tohto University, Saitama, Japan
| | - Hideaki Hirai
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgical Oncology, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Tokyo, Japan; Division of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Faculty of Dentistry & Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Niigata University, Niigata, Japan
| | - Hiroyuki Harada
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgical Oncology, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Tohru Ikeda
- Department of Oral Pathology, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Tokyo, Japan
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15
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Ramalingam S, Shantha S, Muralitharan S, Sudhakar U, Thamizhchelvan H, Parvathi VD. Role of tissue markers associated with tumor microenvironment in the progression and immune suppression of oral squamous cell carcinoma. Med Oncol 2023; 40:303. [PMID: 37731058 DOI: 10.1007/s12032-023-02169-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2023] [Accepted: 08/18/2023] [Indexed: 09/22/2023]
Abstract
Head and neck cancers (HNC) continues to dominate major cancers contributing to mortality worldwide. Squamous cell carcinoma is the major type of HNC. Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma grouped under HNC is a malignant tumor occurring in the oral cavity. The primary risk factors of OSCC are tobacco, alcohol consumption, etc. This review focuses on modulations, mechanisms, growth and differentiation of oral squamous cell carcinoma. Cancer cell surrounds itself with a group of elements forming a favorable environment known as tumor microenvironment (TME). It consists of numerous cells which includes immune cells, blood cells and acellular components that are responsible for the progression, immunosuppression, metastasis and angiogenesis of cancer. This review highlights the most important tissue biomarkers (mTOR, CAF, FOXp3, CD163, CD33, CD34) that are associated with TME cells. mTOR remains as the primary regulator responsible in cancer and its importance towards immune-suppression is highlighted. Tumor-associated macrophages associated with cancer development and its relationship with immunomodulatory mechanism and Tregs, which are potential blockers of immune response and its mechanism and aberrations are discussed. Cancer-associated fibroblasts that are a part of TME and their role in evading the immune response and myeloid derived suppressor cells that have slight control over the immune response and their mechanism in the tumor progression is further explained. These markers have been emphasised as therapeutic targets and are currently in different stages of clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Suganya Ramalingam
- Department of Oral Pathology, Sri Ramachandra Dental College and Hospital, Sri Ramachandra Institute of Higher Education and Research, Porur, Chennai, 600116, India
| | - Sivaramakrishnan Shantha
- Department of Oral Pathology, Sri Ramachandra Dental College and Hospital, Sri Ramachandra Institute of Higher Education and Research, Porur, Chennai, 600116, India
| | - Susruthan Muralitharan
- Department of Pathology, Sri Ramachandra Institute of Higher Education and Research, Porur, Chennai, 600116, India
- Susrutha Diagnostics, Chennai, India
| | - Uma Sudhakar
- Department of Periodontics, Department of Dental Sciences, Tamil Nadu Dr. M.G.R. Medical University, Guindy, Chennai, 600032, India
| | - Harikrishnan Thamizhchelvan
- Department of Oral Pathology, Sri Ramachandra Dental College and Hospital, Sri Ramachandra Institute of Higher Education and Research, Porur, Chennai, 600116, India.
| | - Venkatachalam Deepa Parvathi
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Biomedical Sciences and Technology, Sri Ramachandra Institute of Higher Education and Research, Porur, Chennai, 600116, India.
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16
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Knebel M, Körner S, Kühn JP, Wemmert S, Brust L, Smola S, Wagner M, Bohle RM, Morris LGT, Pandey A, Schick B, Linxweiler M. Prognostic impact of intra- and peritumoral immune cell subpopulations in head and neck squamous cell carcinomas - comprehensive analysis of the TCGA-HNSC cohort and immunohistochemical validation on 101 patients. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1172768. [PMID: 37383237 PMCID: PMC10294051 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1172768] [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: 02/23/2023] [Accepted: 05/31/2023] [Indexed: 06/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Due to the expanding role of immune checkpoint inhibition in the treatment of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma, understanding immunological processes in the tumor microevironment (TME) has strong translational importance. Though analytical methods for a comprehensive analysis of the immunological TME have constantly improved and expanded over the past years the prognostic relevance of immune cell composition in head and neck cancer TME largely remains ambiguous with most studies focusing on one or a small subset of immune cells. Methods The overall survival (OS) of the TCGA-HNSC patient cohort comprising 513 head and neck cancer patients was correlated with a total of 29 different immune metrics including a wide spectrum of immune cell subpopulations as well as immune checkpoint receptors and cytokines using RNAseq based immune deconvolution analyses. The most significant predictors of survival among these 29 immune metrics were validated on a separate HNSCC patient cohort (n=101) using immunohistochemistry: CD3, CD20+CXCR5, CD4+CXCR5, Foxp3 and CD68. Results Overall immune infiltration irrespective of immune cell composition showed no significant correlation with the patients' overall survival in the TCGA-HNSC cohort. However, when focusing on different immune cell subpopulations, naïve B cells (p=0.0006), follicular T-helper cells (p<0.0001), macrophages (p=0.0042), regulatory T cells (p=0.0306), lymphocytes (p=0.0001), and cytotoxic T cells (p=0.0242) were identified as highly significant predictors of improved patient survival. Using immunohistochemical detection of these immune cells in a second independent validation cohort of 101 HNSCC patients, we confirmed the prognostic relevance of follicular T helper cells, cytotoxic T cells and lymphocytes. In multivariable analysis, HPV negativity and advanced UICC stages were identified as additional prognostic biomarkers associated with poor outcome. Conclusion Our study highlights the prognostic relevance of the immunological tumor environment in head and neck cancer and demonstrates that a more detailed analysis of immune cell composition and immune cell subtypes is necessary to accurately prognosticate. We observed the highest prognostic relevance for lymphocytes, cytotoxic T cells, and follicular T helper cells, suggesting further investigations focusing on these specific immune cell subpopulations not only as predictors of patient prognosis but also as promising targets of new immunotherapeutic strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Moritz Knebel
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Saarland University Medical Center, Homburg, Saar, Germany
| | - Sandrina Körner
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Saarland University Medical Center, Homburg, Saar, Germany
| | - Jan Philipp Kühn
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Saarland University Medical Center, Homburg, Saar, Germany
| | - Silke Wemmert
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Saarland University Medical Center, Homburg, Saar, Germany
| | - Lukas Brust
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Saarland University Medical Center, Homburg, Saar, Germany
| | - Sigrun Smola
- Institute of Virology, Saarland University Medical Center, Homburg, Saar, Germany
| | - Mathias Wagner
- Department of General and Surgical Pathology, Saarland University Medical Center, Homburg, Saar, Germany
| | - Rainer M. Bohle
- Department of General and Surgical Pathology, Saarland University Medical Center, Homburg, Saar, Germany
| | - Luc G. T. Morris
- Department of Surgery, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York City, NY, United States
| | - Abhinav Pandey
- Weill Cornell School of Medical Sciences, New York City, NY, United States
| | - Bernhard Schick
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Saarland University Medical Center, Homburg, Saar, Germany
| | - Maximilian Linxweiler
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Saarland University Medical Center, Homburg, Saar, Germany
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17
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Kharouf N, Flanagan TW, Hassan SY, Shalaby H, Khabaz M, Hassan SL, Megahed M, Haikel Y, Santourlidis S, Hassan M. Tumor Microenvironment as a Therapeutic Target in Melanoma Treatment. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:3147. [PMID: 37370757 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15123147] [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: 05/07/2023] [Revised: 06/02/2023] [Accepted: 06/07/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Abstract
The role of the tumor microenvironment in tumor growth and therapy has recently attracted more attention in research and drug development. The ability of the microenvironment to trigger tumor maintenance, progression, and resistance is the main cause for treatment failure and tumor relapse. Accumulated evidence indicates that the maintenance and progression of tumor cells is determined by components of the microenvironment, which include stromal cells (endothelial cells, fibroblasts, mesenchymal stem cells, and immune cells), extracellular matrix (ECM), and soluble molecules (chemokines, cytokines, growth factors, and extracellular vesicles). As a solid tumor, melanoma is not only a tumor mass of monolithic tumor cells, but it also contains supporting stroma, ECM, and soluble molecules. Melanoma cells are continuously in interaction with the components of the microenvironment. In the present review, we focus on the role of the tumor microenvironment components in the modulation of tumor progression and treatment resistance as well as the impact of the tumor microenvironment as a therapeutic target in melanoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Naji Kharouf
- Biomaterials and Bioengineering, Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale, Université de Strasbourg, Unité Mixte de Recherche 1121, 67000 Strasbourg, France
- Department of Endodontics and Conservative Dentistry, Faculty of Dental Medicine, University of Strasbourg, 67000 Strasbourg, France
| | - Thomas W Flanagan
- Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, LSU Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA
| | - Sofie-Yasmin Hassan
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Heinrich-Heine University Duesseldorf, 40225 Dusseldorf, Germany
| | - Hosam Shalaby
- Department of Urology, School of Medicine, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA
| | - Marla Khabaz
- Department of Production, Beta Factory for Veterinary Pharmaceutical Industries, Damascus 0100, Syria
| | - Sarah-Lilly Hassan
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Heinrich-Heine University Duesseldorf, 40225 Dusseldorf, Germany
| | - Mosaad Megahed
- Clinic of Dermatology, University Hospital of Aachen, 52074 Aachen, Germany
| | - Youssef Haikel
- Biomaterials and Bioengineering, Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale, Université de Strasbourg, Unité Mixte de Recherche 1121, 67000 Strasbourg, France
- Department of Endodontics and Conservative Dentistry, Faculty of Dental Medicine, University of Strasbourg, 67000 Strasbourg, France
- Pôle de Médecine et Chirurgie Bucco-Dentaire, Hôpital Civil, Hôpitaux Universitaire de Strasbourg, 67000 Strasbourg, France
| | - Simeon Santourlidis
- Epigenetics Core Laboratory, Institute of Transplantation Diagnostics and Cell Therapeutics, Medical Faculty, Heinrich-Heine University Duesseldorf, 40225 Duesseldorf, Germany
| | - Mohamed Hassan
- Biomaterials and Bioengineering, Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale, Université de Strasbourg, Unité Mixte de Recherche 1121, 67000 Strasbourg, France
- Department of Endodontics and Conservative Dentistry, Faculty of Dental Medicine, University of Strasbourg, 67000 Strasbourg, France
- Research Laboratory of Surgery-Oncology, Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA
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18
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Wang Y, Wang R, Li B, Huang Z, Zhao S, Chen S, Lan T, Ren S, Wu F, Tan J, Li J. Cancer-associated fibroblasts in the invasive tumour front promote the metastasis of oral squamous cell carcinoma through MFAP5 upregulation. Gene 2023:147504. [PMID: 37217152 DOI: 10.1016/j.gene.2023.147504] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2023] [Revised: 04/26/2023] [Accepted: 05/19/2023] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) are widely involved in the development and progression of tumours. As a direct junction between tumour and normal host tissue, the tumour invasive front can remodel host tissue to generate a microenvironment more suitable for tumour invasion. However, whether CAFs derived from the invasive front (CAFs-F) have a greater ability to promote tumour invasion than CAFs derived from the superficial tumour (CAFs-S) is unclear. In this study, we characterized primary CAFs from different spatial locations of tumours. We demonstrated that CAFs-F had an increased ability to promote oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) proliferation and invasion in vitro and significantly enhanced tumour growth in vivo compared to CAFs-S. Mechanistically, transcriptome profiling analysis revealed that the expression of MFAP5, encoding microfibril associated protein 5, was dramatically increased in CAFs-F compared to CAFs-S, which further confirmed that the MFAP5 protein level was elevated in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) and that this increase was correlated with poor survival. Genetic ablation of MFAP5 impaired the preinvasive capabilities of CAFs-F. Together, our findings demonstrated that CAFs-F had a greater ability to promote tumour invasion than CAFs-S and that MFAP5 might be involved in this process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yujia Wang
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Department of General Dentistry, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University. 107 Yanjiang West Road, Guangzhou 510120, China
| | - Ruixin Wang
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Department of General Dentistry, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University. 107 Yanjiang West Road, Guangzhou 510120, China
| | - Bowen Li
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Department of General Dentistry, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University. 107 Yanjiang West Road, Guangzhou 510120, China
| | - Zhuoshan Huang
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Department of General Dentistry, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University. 107 Yanjiang West Road, Guangzhou 510120, China
| | - Sufeng Zhao
- Nanjing Stomatological Hospital, Medical School of Nanjing University. 30 Zhongyang Road, Nanjing 210000, China
| | - Suling Chen
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Department of General Dentistry, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University. 107 Yanjiang West Road, Guangzhou 510120, China
| | - Tianjun Lan
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Department of General Dentistry, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University. 107 Yanjiang West Road, Guangzhou 510120, China
| | - Siqi Ren
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Department of General Dentistry, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University. 107 Yanjiang West Road, Guangzhou 510120, China
| | - Fan Wu
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Department of General Dentistry, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University. 107 Yanjiang West Road, Guangzhou 510120, China
| | - Jing Tan
- Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Guangzhou 510060, China.
| | - Jinsong Li
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Department of General Dentistry, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University. 107 Yanjiang West Road, Guangzhou 510120, China.
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19
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Ruffin AT, Li H, Vujanovic L, Zandberg DP, Ferris RL, Bruno TC. Improving head and neck cancer therapies by immunomodulation of the tumour microenvironment. Nat Rev Cancer 2023; 23:173-188. [PMID: 36456755 PMCID: PMC9992112 DOI: 10.1038/s41568-022-00531-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 52.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/18/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022]
Abstract
Targeted immunotherapy has improved patient survival in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC), but less than 20% of patients produce a durable response to these treatments. Thus, new immunotherapies that consider all key players of the complex HNSCC tumour microenvironment (TME) are necessary to further enhance tumour-specific T cell responses in patients. HNSCC is an ideal tumour type in which to evaluate immune and non-immune cell differences because of two distinct TME aetiologies (human papillomavirus (HPV)-positive and HPV-negative disease), multiple anatomic sites for tumour growth, and clear distinctions between patients with locally advanced disease and those with recurrent and/or metastatic disease. Recent technological and scientific advancements have provided a more complete picture of all cellular constituents within this complex TME and have evaluated the interplay of both immune and non-immune cells within HNSCC. Here, we include a comprehensive analysis of the complete ecosystem of the HNSCC TME, performed utilizing data-rich resources such as The Cancer Genome Atlas, and cutting-edge techniques, such as single-cell RNA sequencing, high-dimensional flow cytometry and spatial multispectral imaging, to generate improved treatment strategies for this diverse disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ayana T Ruffin
- UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- Tumour Microenvironment Center, UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- Department of Immunology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- Graduate Program of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Housaiyin Li
- UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- Tumour Microenvironment Center, UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- Department of Otolaryngology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- Molecular Genetics and Developmental Biology (MGDB) Graduate Program, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Lazar Vujanovic
- UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- Tumour Microenvironment Center, UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- Department of Otolaryngology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Dan P Zandberg
- UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- Tumour Microenvironment Center, UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Robert L Ferris
- UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
- Tumour Microenvironment Center, UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
- Department of Immunology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
- Department of Otolaryngology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
| | - Tullia C Bruno
- UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
- Tumour Microenvironment Center, UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
- Department of Immunology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
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20
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Dong J, Wang F, Gao X, Zhao H, Zhang J, Wang N, Liu Z, Yan X, Jin J, Ba Y, Ma S, Du J, Ji H, Hu S. Integrated analysis of genome-wide DNA methylation and cancer-associated fibroblasts identified prognostic biomarkers and immune checkpoint blockade in lower grade gliomas. Front Oncol 2023; 12:977251. [PMID: 36727078 PMCID: PMC9885112 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2022.977251] [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: 06/24/2022] [Accepted: 12/28/2022] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) are vital components of prominent cellular components in lower-grade gliomas (LGGs) that contribute to LGGs' progression, treatment resistance, and immunosuppression. Epigenetic modification and immunity have significant implications for tumorigenesis and development. Methods We combined aberrant methylation and CAFs abundances to build a prognostic model and the impact on the biological properties of LGGs. Grouping based on the median CAFs abundances score of samples in the TCGA-LGGs dataset, differentially expressed genes and aberrantly methylated genes were combined for subsequent analysis. Results We identified five differentially methylated and expressed genes (LAT32, SWAP70, GSAP, EMP3, and SLC2A10) and established a prognostic gene signature validated in the CGGA-LGGs dataset. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) and in vitro tests were performed to verify these expressions. The high-risk group increased in tumor-promoting immune cells and tumor mutational burden. Notably, risk stratification had different ICB sensitivities in LGGs, and there were also significant sensitivity differences for temozolomide and the other three novel chemotherapeutic agents. Conclusion Our study reveals characteristics of CAFs in LGGs, refines the direct link between epigenetics and tumor stroma, and might provide clinical implications for guiding tailored anti-CAFs therapy in combination with immunotherapy for LGGs patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiawei Dong
- Cancer Center, Department of Neurosurgery, Zhejiang Provincial People’s Hospital, Affiliated People’s Hospital, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China,Department of Neurosurgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
| | - Fang Wang
- Cancer Center, Department of Neurosurgery, Zhejiang Provincial People’s Hospital, Affiliated People’s Hospital, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China,Department of Neurosurgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
| | - Xin Gao
- Cancer Center, Department of Neurosurgery, Zhejiang Provincial People’s Hospital, Affiliated People’s Hospital, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Hongtao Zhao
- Cancer Center, Department of Neurosurgery, Zhejiang Provincial People’s Hospital, Affiliated People’s Hospital, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China,Department of Neurosurgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
| | - Jiheng Zhang
- Cancer Center, Department of Neurosurgery, Zhejiang Provincial People’s Hospital, Affiliated People’s Hospital, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China,Department of Neurosurgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
| | - Nan Wang
- Cancer Center, Department of Neurosurgery, Zhejiang Provincial People’s Hospital, Affiliated People’s Hospital, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China,Department of Neurosurgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
| | - Zhihui Liu
- Cancer Center, Department of Neurosurgery, Zhejiang Provincial People’s Hospital, Affiliated People’s Hospital, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China,Department of Neurosurgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
| | - Xiuwei Yan
- Cancer Center, Department of Neurosurgery, Zhejiang Provincial People’s Hospital, Affiliated People’s Hospital, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China,Department of Neurosurgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
| | - Jiaqi Jin
- Cancer Center, Department of Neurosurgery, Zhejiang Provincial People’s Hospital, Affiliated People’s Hospital, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China,Department of Neurosurgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
| | - Yixu Ba
- Cancer Center, Department of Neurosurgery, Zhejiang Provincial People’s Hospital, Affiliated People’s Hospital, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China,Department of Neurosurgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
| | - Shuai Ma
- Cancer Center, Department of Neurosurgery, Zhejiang Provincial People’s Hospital, Affiliated People’s Hospital, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China,Department of Neurosurgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
| | - Jianyang Du
- Cancer Center, Department of Neurosurgery, Zhejiang Provincial People’s Hospital, Affiliated People’s Hospital, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Hang Ji
- Cancer Center, Department of Neurosurgery, Zhejiang Provincial People’s Hospital, Affiliated People’s Hospital, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China,Department of Neurosurgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China,*Correspondence: Shaoshan Hu, ; Hang Ji,
| | - Shaoshan Hu
- Cancer Center, Department of Neurosurgery, Zhejiang Provincial People’s Hospital, Affiliated People’s Hospital, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China,Department of Neurosurgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China,*Correspondence: Shaoshan Hu, ; Hang Ji,
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21
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Yang Y, Ma B, Han L, Xu W, Du X, Wei W, Liao T, Ji Q, Qu N, Wang Y. Integrated single-cell and bulk RNA sequencing analyses reveal a prognostic signature of cancer-associated fibroblasts in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. Front Genet 2022; 13:1028469. [PMID: 36568368 PMCID: PMC9775281 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2022.1028469] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2022] [Accepted: 11/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Objectives: To identify a prognosis-related subtype of cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) and comprehend its contributions to molecular characteristics, immune characteristics, and their potential benefits in immunotherapy and chemotherapy for HNSCC. Materials and Methods: We performed single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) analysis of CAFs from the samples of HNSCC patients derived from Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO), to identify the prognosis-related subtype of CAFs. CAFs were clustered into five subtypes, and a prognosis-related subtype was identified. Univariate and multivariate cox regression analyses were performed on the cohort selected from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) to determine signature construction, which was validated in GSE65858 and GSE42743. A prognostic signature based on 4 genes was constructed, which were derived from prognosis-related CAFs. The molecular characteristics, immune characteristics as well as the predicted chemosensitivity and immunotherapeutic response in the signature-defined subgroups were analyzed subsequently. Results: The patients with higher CAF scores correlated with poor survival outcomes. Additionally, a high CAF score correlated with lower infiltration levels of many immune cells including M1 macrophages, CD8+ T cells, follicular T helper cells, monocytes, and naïve B cells. High CAF score also demonstrated different enrichment pathways, mutation genes and copy number variated genes. Furthermore, patients with high CAF scores showed lower sensitivity for chemotherapy and immunotherapy than those with low CAF scores. Conclusion: The results of our study indicate the potential of the CAF signature as a biomarker for the prognosis of HNSCC patients. Furthermore, the signature could be a prospective therapeutic target in HNSCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yichen Yang
- Department of Head and Neck Surgery, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, China,Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Ben Ma
- Department of Head and Neck Surgery, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, China,Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Litao Han
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Weibo Xu
- Department of Head and Neck Surgery, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, China
| | - Xiaoxue Du
- Department of Head and Neck Surgery, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, China,Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Wenjun Wei
- Department of Head and Neck Surgery, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, China,Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Tian Liao
- Department of Head and Neck Surgery, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, China,Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Qinghai Ji
- Department of Head and Neck Surgery, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, China,Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China,*Correspondence: Qinghai Ji, ; Ning Qu, ; Yu Wang,
| | - Ning Qu
- Department of Head and Neck Surgery, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, China,Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China,*Correspondence: Qinghai Ji, ; Ning Qu, ; Yu Wang,
| | - Yu Wang
- Department of Head and Neck Surgery, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, China,Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China,*Correspondence: Qinghai Ji, ; Ning Qu, ; Yu Wang,
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22
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Berndt A, Gaßler N, Franz M. Invasion-Associated Reorganization of Laminin 332 in Oral Squamous Cell Carcinomas: The Role of the Laminin γ2 Chain in Tumor Biology, Diagnosis, and Therapy. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14194903. [PMID: 36230826 PMCID: PMC9564360 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14194903] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2022] [Revised: 09/30/2022] [Accepted: 10/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary The destructive growth of carcinomas is associated with crossing the border between the epithelial and the connective tissue parts of an organ. One component of this borderline, the basement membrane, is the heterotrimeric laminin 332, which mediates the adhesion of basal epithelial cells. This protein, in particular its gamma 2 chain, is fundamentally reorganized during tumor cell invasion. Specific deposition patterns of laminin 332 are also present in oral squamous cell carcinomas and have been shown to be of high diagnostic and predictive value. Furthermore, laminin 332 restructuring is associated with important tumor biological processes, e.g., stromal activation, the development of a motile phenotype, and tumor spreading. In this review, current knowledge in the field is summarized and the recommendation to consider laminin 332 as a promising grading and monitoring parameter and as a potential therapeutic target is discussed. Abstract Invasion of the connective tissue by carcinoma cells is accompanied by disintegration and reorganization of the hemidesmosomes, which connect the basement membrane to the basal epithelial cells. In terms of mediating the basement membrane, i.e., basal cell interactions, the heterotrimeric laminin 332 is the most important bridging molecule. Due to this distinct function, laminin 332, especially its gamma 2 chain, came into the focus of cancer research. Specific de novo synthesis and deposition patterns of laminin 332 are evident upon development and progression of oral squamous cell carcinomas (OSCCs). Loss from the basement membrane, cytoplasmic accumulation, and extracellular deposition are associated with crucial processes such as stromal activation and immune response, epithelial to mesenchymal transition, and tumor cell budding. In networks with components of the tumor microenvironment, altered expression of laminin 332 chains, proteolytic processing, and interaction with integrin receptors seem to promote cancer cell migration. Indeed, reorganization patterns are shown to have a high diagnostic and prognostic value. Here, we summarize the current knowledge on laminin 332 reorganization in OSCCs with special focus on its gamma 2 chain and provide, based on the current literature, evidence on its promising role as a grading and monitoring parameter and as a potential therapeutic target.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander Berndt
- Section Pathology, Institute of Legal Medicine, University Hospital Jena, 07747 Jena, Germany
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +49-3641-939-70-61
| | - Nikolaus Gaßler
- Section Pathology, Institute of Legal Medicine, University Hospital Jena, 07747 Jena, Germany
| | - Marcus Franz
- Department of Internal Medicine I, University Hospital Jena, 07747 Jena, Germany
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23
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Dongre HN, Mahadik S, Ahire C, Rane P, Sharma S, Lukmani F, Patil A, Chaukar D, Gupta S, Sawant SS. Diagnostic and prognostic role of protein and ultrastructural alterations at cell-extracellular matrix junctions in neoplastic progression of human oral malignancy. Ultrastruct Pathol 2022; 46:476-489. [PMID: 36049041 DOI: 10.1080/01913123.2022.2114565] [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: 10/14/2022]
Abstract
Despite advancements in technology and increase in favorable outcomes associated with oral cancer, early detection remains the most significant factor in limiting mortality. The current study aimed to develop early diagnostic and prognostic markers for oral tumorigenesis. Protein and ultrastructural alterations at cell-extracellular matrix (ECM) adhesion junctions were examined concurrently using immunohistochemistry (IHC) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) on progressive grade of oral carcinomas (n = 285). The expression of hemidesmosome (HD) proteins-integrin β4, BP180, and laminin-5 increased in hyperplasia as compared to normal, and significantly increased further, as the disease progressed. TEM analysis in parallel tissues revealed a significant decrease in HD number and increase in the length of basal lamina (BL) in hyperplasia. With cancer progression, the severity of ultrastructural alterations increased gradually and significantly. Overexpression of HD proteins, decrease in HD number and increase in BL length significantly correlated with nodal metastasis, local recurrence, and recurrence-free survival of patients. Concurrent use of IHC and TEM can add value to early recognition of neoplastic changes in primary carcinomas of oral cavity. In this regard, altered expression of integrin β4 and laminin-5, loss of HDs, and increased BL length could offer criteria for early diagnosis and prognosis of oral malignancy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Harsh Nitin Dongre
- Electron Microscopy Laboratory, Advanced Centre for Treatment, Research and Education in Cancer, Tata Memorial Centre, Kharghar, Navi Mumbai, India.,The Gade Laboratory for Pathology and Centre for Cancer biomarkers (CCBio), Department of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
| | - Snehal Mahadik
- Electron Microscopy Laboratory, Advanced Centre for Treatment, Research and Education in Cancer, Tata Memorial Centre, Kharghar, Navi Mumbai, India
| | - Chetan Ahire
- Electron Microscopy Laboratory, Advanced Centre for Treatment, Research and Education in Cancer, Tata Memorial Centre, Kharghar, Navi Mumbai, India
| | - Pallavi Rane
- Epidemiology and Clinical Trials Unit, Advanced Centre for Treatment, Research and Education in Cancer, Tata Memorial Centre, Kharghar, Navi Mumbai, India.,Training School Complex, Homi Bhabha National Institute, Mumbai, India
| | - Shilpi Sharma
- Oral Surgery, Head and Neck Unit, Tata Memorial Hospital, Parel, Mumbai, India
| | - Fatima Lukmani
- Electron Microscopy Laboratory, Advanced Centre for Treatment, Research and Education in Cancer, Tata Memorial Centre, Kharghar, Navi Mumbai, India
| | - Asawari Patil
- Training School Complex, Homi Bhabha National Institute, Mumbai, India.,Department of Pathology, Tata Memorial Hospital, Parel, Mumbai, India
| | - Devendra Chaukar
- Training School Complex, Homi Bhabha National Institute, Mumbai, India.,Oral Surgery, Head and Neck Unit, Tata Memorial Hospital, Parel, Mumbai, India
| | - Sudeep Gupta
- Training School Complex, Homi Bhabha National Institute, Mumbai, India.,Department of Medical Oncology, Tata Memorial Hospital, Advanced Centre for Treatment, Research and Education in Cancer, Kharghar, Navi Mumbai, India
| | - Sharada Suhas Sawant
- Electron Microscopy Laboratory, Advanced Centre for Treatment, Research and Education in Cancer, Tata Memorial Centre, Kharghar, Navi Mumbai, India.,Training School Complex, Homi Bhabha National Institute, Mumbai, India
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24
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Gandhi V, Mahajan A, Kansal YP. Establishment of the role of myofibroblasts in invasive process of oral squamous cell carcinoma: A pilot study. J Family Med Prim Care 2022; 11:5485-5489. [PMID: 36505558 PMCID: PMC9730971 DOI: 10.4103/jfmpc.jfmpc_1123_21] [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: 06/10/2021] [Revised: 05/02/2022] [Accepted: 05/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Aims To establish the role of myofibroblasts in invasive process of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). Materials and Methods Four study groups were formed as follows: group 1 consisting of 30 cases of well-differentiated OSCC, group 2 consisting of 30 cases of moderately differentiated OSCC, group 3 consisting of 30 cases of poorly differentiated OSCC, and group 4 consisting of controls. Staining of all of the specimens was done using a-SMA antibody through immunohistochemistry (IHC) procedure. Multiplication product of staining intensity (A) and percentage of a-SMA-stained immuno-positive cells (B) gave a final staining index (FSI). According to FSI, score zero was graded as index zero; score one and two were graded as index low; score three and score were graded as index moderate; and score six, seven, eight and nine were graded as index high. Results Mean FSI among specimens of groups 1, 2, 3, and 4 was 7.93, 8.47, 8.8, and 0, respectively. Non-significant results were obtained while comparing the mean final staining index among specimens of groups 1, 2 and 3. However; while comparing between groups 1 and 4, groups 2 and 4, and groups 3 and 4, significant results were obtained. While comparing the FSI among overall OSCC group (groups 1, 2 and 3) and controls (group 4), significant results were obtained. Conclusion Myofibroblasts are an integral component of processes associated with the creation of a permissive environment for cancer invasion process in patients with OSCC. Clinical Significance Myofibroblasts are associated with the creation of progressive and invasive processes of oral squamous cell carcinoma. Hence, they might be employed as a part of future target for therapeutics in cancer therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vaishali Gandhi
- Department of Human Anatomy, SGRD University of Health Sciences, Amritsar, Punjab, India,Address for correspondence: Dr. Vaishali Gandhi, PhD Research Scholar, Department of Human Anatomy, SGRD University of Health Sciences, Amritsar, Punjab, India. E-mail:
| | - Anupama Mahajan
- Department of Human Anatomy, SGRD Medical College and Hospital, Amritsar, Punjab, India
| | - Yash Pal Kansal
- Department of General Pathology, Dasmesh Institute of Research and Dental Sciences, Faridkot, Punjab, India
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25
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Li J, Chen S, Liao Y, Wang H, Zhou D, Zhang B. Arecoline Is Associated With Inhibition of Cuproptosis and Proliferation of Cancer-Associated Fibroblasts in Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma: A Potential Mechanism for Tumor Metastasis. Front Oncol 2022; 12:925743. [PMID: 35875097 PMCID: PMC9303015 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2022.925743] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2022] [Accepted: 06/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
BackgroundMetastatic disease remains the primary cause of death in patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC), especially those who use betel nut. The different steps of the metastatic cascade rely on reciprocal interactions between cancer cells and the tumor microenvironment (TME). Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) are regarded as a significant component in the TME of OSCC. However, the precise mechanisms regulating CAFs in OSCC are poorly understood.MethodsThirteen genes related to the arecoline were analyzed to explore the significant ones involved in arecoline-related OSCC metastasis. The GSE139869 (n = 10) and The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA)-OSCC data (n = 361) were mined for the identification of the differentially expressed genes. The least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression was performed to identify the independent prognostic signatures. Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analyses were conducted to explore the functional enrichment of selected genes, and gene set enrichment analysis of cuproptosis-related genes was completed. Spearman’s analysis and Tumor Immune Estimation Resource (TIMER) were used to visualize the correlation between the infiltration of CAFs and the gene expression. The correlation analysis of the cells and different genes, including CAF infiltration and transcripts per million expression, was assessed. The relationship between arecoline and CAFs was confirmed by cell counting kit-8 assay (CCK-8). CancerSEA was searched to identify the single-cell phenotype.ResultArecoline-associated fibrosis-related OSCC differentially expressed genes (AFOC-DEGs), namely, PLAU, IL1A, SPP1, CCL11, TERT, and COL1A2, were screened out and selected from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database and TCGA database. AFOC-DEGs were highly expressed in OSCC, which led to poor survival of patients. Functional enrichment analysis, protein–protein interaction network construction, and Spearman’s correlation analysis all suggested that AFOC-DEGs were closely associated with cuproptosis. Cellular experiments demonstrated that arecoline stimulation could significantly increase the cell viability of CAFs. Single-sample Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (ssGSEA) results showed that GLS and MTF1 were highly expressed when fibroblasts proliferated at high enrichment levels. In addition, analysis of single-cell sequencing results suggested that OSCC cells with high expression of AFOC-DEGs were associated with OSCC metastasis.ConclusionWe found a close association between arecoline, cuproptosis, and CAFs, which might play an important role in the metastasis of OSCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinfei Li
- Department of Stomatology, Third Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, China
- Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Shuangyi Chen
- Department of Stomatology, Third Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, China
- Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Yuxuan Liao
- Department of Stomatology, Third Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, China
- Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Hongyi Wang
- Department of Stomatology, Third Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, China
- Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Dawei Zhou
- Department of Stomatology, Third Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, China
- Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Bo Zhang
- Department of Stomatology, Third Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, China
- *Correspondence: Bo Zhang,
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N 6-methyladenosine (m 6A) reader IGF2BP2 stabilizes HK2 stability to accelerate the Warburg effect of oral squamous cell carcinoma progression. J Cancer Res Clin Oncol 2022; 148:3375-3384. [PMID: 35763110 DOI: 10.1007/s00432-022-04093-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2022] [Accepted: 05/25/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE The N6-methyladenosine (m6A) has been involved in the regulation of cell proliferation and metastasis in multiple cancers. However, the biological significance of m6A reader IGF2BP2 in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) and the mechanism of IGF2BP2 itself have not been fully investigated. METHODS The cellular phenotypes of OSCC cells were determined by CCK-8 and transwell migration assays. The energy metabolism was detected using glucose uptake/lactate production assay and extracellular acidification rate analysis. The molecular interaction was tested by RNA immunoprecipitation assay. RESULTS Here, results indicated that IGF2BP2 was up-regulated in OSCC and that it acted as a predictor of poor prognosis. IGF2BP2 promoted the proliferation, migration and Warburg effect of OSCC cells in vitro. Mechanistical assays illustrated that IGF2BP2 directly interacted with HK2 mRNA by binding the 3'-UTR m6A site. Moreover, IGF2BP2 positively promoted the stability of HK2 mRNA and thus the protein level of HK2 increased upon IGF2BP2 overexpression. CONCLUSIONS In conclusion, the IGF2BP2/m6A/HK2 axis accelerated the abnormal energy metabolism of OSCC. Taken together, these findings revealed a novel mechanism by which IGF2BP2 functions in OSCC progression, which may provide new therapy options for OSCC patients.
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Single-cell analysis reveals that cancer-associated fibroblasts stimulate oral squamous cell carcinoma invasion via the TGF-β/Smad pathway. Acta Biochim Biophys Sin (Shanghai) 2022; 55:262-273. [PMID: 36148955 PMCID: PMC10157546 DOI: 10.3724/abbs.2022132] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Although substantial progress has been made in cancer biology and treatment, the prognosis of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is still not satisfactory because of local tumor invasion and frequent lymph node metastasis. The tumor microenvironment (TME) is a potential target in which cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) are of great significance due to their interactions with cancer cells. However, the exact mechanism is still unclear. Therefore, we focus on the crosstalk between cancer cells and CAFs and discover that CAFs are the main source of TGF-β1. Transwell assays and western blot analysis further prove that CAFs activate the TGF-β1/Smad pathway to promote OSCC invasion. Through survival analysis, we confirm that CAF overexpression is correlated with poor overall survival in OSCC. To further elucidate the origin and role of CAFs in OSCC, we analyze single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) data from 14 OSCC tumor samples and identify four distinct cell types, including CAFs, in the TME, indicating high intratumoral heterogeneity. Then, two subtypes of CAFs, namely, myofibroblasts (mCAFs) and inflammatory CAFs (iCAFs), are further distinguished. Based on the differentially upregulated genes of mCAFs and iCAFs, GO enrichment analysis reveals their different roles in OSCC progression. Furthermore, the gene expression pattern is dynamically altered across pseudotime, potentially taking part in the transformation from epithelial to mCAFs or iCAFs through the epithelial to mesenchymal transition.
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de Miranda MC, Melo MIAD, Cunha PDS, Gentilini J, Faria JAQA, Rodrigues MA, Gomes DA. Roles of mesenchymal stromal cells in the head and neck cancer microenvironment. Biomed Pharmacother 2021; 144:112269. [PMID: 34794230 PMCID: PMC8630686 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2021.112269] [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: 08/16/2021] [Revised: 09/18/2021] [Accepted: 09/27/2021] [Indexed: 10/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Head and neck cancer (HNC), a common malignancy worldwide, is associated with high morbidity and mortality rates. Squamous cell carcinoma is the most common HNC type, followed by salivary gland carcinomas, head and neck sarcomas, and lymphomas. The microenvironment of HNCs comprises various cells that regulate tumor development. Recent studies have reported that the tumor microenvironment, which modulates cancer progression, regulates cancer treatment response. However, the presence of different types of stromal cells in cancers is a major challenge to elucidate the role of individual cells in tumor progression. The role of mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs), which are a component of the tumor microenvironment, in HNC is unclear. The major impediment for characterizing the role of MSCs in cancer progression is the lack of MSC-specific markers and their phenotypic similarity with stromal cells. This review aimed to summarize the latest findings on the role of MSCs in the progression of HNC to improve our understanding of HNC pathophysiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcelo Coutinho de Miranda
- Biochemistry and Immunology Department, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
| | - Mariane Izabella Abreu de Melo
- Biochemistry and Immunology Department, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Pricila da Silva Cunha
- Biochemistry and Immunology Department, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Jovino Gentilini
- Biochemistry and Immunology Department, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | | | - Michele Angela Rodrigues
- Department of General Pathology, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Dawidson Assis Gomes
- Biochemistry and Immunology Department, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Minas Gerais, Brazil
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Shetty SS, Padam KSR, Hunter KD, Kudva A, Radhakrishnan R. Biological implications of the immune factors in the tumour microenvironment of oral cancer. Arch Oral Biol 2021; 133:105294. [PMID: 34735925 DOI: 10.1016/j.archoralbio.2021.105294] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2021] [Revised: 10/16/2021] [Accepted: 10/18/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The objective of this review is to decipher the biological implications of the immune factors in the tumour microenvironment in oral cancer. The restoration of balance between tumour tolerance and tumour eradication by the host immune cells is critical to provide effective therapeutic strategies. DESIGN The specific role of the stromal and the immune components in oral cancer was reviewed with a tailored search strategy using relevant keywords. The articles were retrieved from bibliometric databases indexed in PubMed, Scopus, and Embase. An in silico analysis was performed to identify potential drug candidates for immunotherapy, by accessing the Drug-Gene Interactions Database (DGIdb) using the rDGIdb package. RESULTS There is compelling evidence for the role of the cellular and extracellular components of the tumour microenvironment in inducing immunosuppression and progression of oral cancer. The druggable candidates specifically targeting the immune system are a viable option in the treatment of oral cancer as they can regulate the tumour microenvironment. CONCLUSION A complex interaction between the tumour and the immunological microenvironment influences the disease outcome in oral cancer. Targeting specific components of the immune system might be relevant, as immunotherapy may become the new standard of care for oral cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Smitha Sammith Shetty
- Department of Oral Pathology, Faculty of Dentistry, Melaka Manipal Medical College, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal 576104, India
| | - Kanaka Sai Ram Padam
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Manipal School of Life Sciences, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal 576104, India
| | - Keith D Hunter
- Academic Unit of Oral and Maxillofacial Medicine and Pathology, School of Clinical Dentistry, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
| | - Adarsh Kudva
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Manipal College of Dental Sciences, Manipal, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal 576104, India
| | - Raghu Radhakrishnan
- Department of Oral Pathology, Manipal College of Dental Sciences, Manipal, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal 576104, India.
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