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Sonokawa T, Fujiwara Y, Pan C, Komohara Y, Usuda J. Enhanced systemic antitumor efficacy of PD-1/PD-L1 blockade with immunological response induced by photodynamic therapy. Thorac Cancer 2024; 15:1429-1436. [PMID: 38739102 PMCID: PMC11194119 DOI: 10.1111/1759-7714.15325] [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: 02/15/2024] [Revised: 04/19/2024] [Accepted: 04/23/2024] [Indexed: 05/14/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is an antitumor therapy and has traditionally been regarded as a localized therapy in itself. However, recent reports have shown that it not only exerts a direct cytotoxic effect on cancer cells but also enhances body's tumor immunity. We hypothesized that the immunological response induced by PDT could potentially enhance the efficacy of programmed death-1 (PD-1) / programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) blockade. METHODS The cytotoxic effects of PDT on colon 26 cells were investigated in vitro using the WST assay. We investigated whether the antitumor effect of anti-PD-1 antibodies could be amplified by the addition of PDT. We performed combination therapy by randomly allocating tumor-bearing mice to four treatment groups: control, anti-PD-1 antibodies, PDT, and a combination of anti-PD-1 antibodies and PDT. To analyze the tumor microenvironment after treatment, the tumors were resected and pathologically evaluated. RESULTS The viability rate of colon 26 cells decreased proportionally with the laser dose. In vivo experiments for combined PDT and anti-PD-1 antibody treatment, combination therapy showed an enhanced antitumor effect compared with the control. Immunohistochemical findings of the tumor microenvironment 10 days after PDT indicated that the number of CD8+ cells, the area of Iba-1+ cells and the area expressing PD-L1 were significantly higher in tumors treated with combination therapy than in tumors treated with anti-PD-1 antibody alone, PDT alone, or the control. CONCLUSIONS PDT increased immune cell infiltration into the tumor microenvironment. The immunological response induced by PDT may enhance the efficacy of PD-1/PD-L1 blockade.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takumi Sonokawa
- Department of Thoracic SurgeryNippon Medical School HospitalTokyoJapan
| | - Yukio Fujiwara
- Department of Cell Pathology, Graduate School of Medical SciencesKumamoto UniversityKumamotoJapan
| | - Cheng Pan
- Department of Cell Pathology, Graduate School of Medical SciencesKumamoto UniversityKumamotoJapan
| | - Yoshihiro Komohara
- Department of Cell Pathology, Graduate School of Medical SciencesKumamoto UniversityKumamotoJapan
| | - Jitsuo Usuda
- Department of Thoracic SurgeryNippon Medical School HospitalTokyoJapan
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2
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Ballarò C, Quaranta V, Giannelli G. Colorectal Liver Metastasis: Can Cytokines Make the Difference? Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:5359. [PMID: 38001618 PMCID: PMC10670198 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15225359] [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: 09/08/2023] [Revised: 10/20/2023] [Accepted: 11/08/2023] [Indexed: 11/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide. Metastasis is the prime driver of CRC-related mortality, and the liver is the organ most frequently involved. Despite the overall success of current treatments, colorectal liver metastasis (CRLM) is associated with poor prognoses and a survival rate of only 14%. Recent studies have highlighted the importance of the tumor microenvironment (TME) and the crosstalk within it in determining the invasion of distant organs by circulating cancer cells. In the TME, cellular communication is mediated via soluble molecules, among which cytokines have recently emerged as key regulators, involved in every aspect of tumor progression and the metastatic cascade. Indeed, in the serum of CRC patients elevated levels of several cytokines are associated with cancer development and progression. The current review evaluates the role of different cytokines during CRLM development. Additionally, considering the increasing amount of data concerning the importance of cytokine complex networks, we outline the potential of combination treatments using targeted cytokines together with other well-established therapies, such as immune checkpoint blockades, chemotherapy, or gene therapy, to improve therapeutic outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Costanza Ballarò
- Laboratory of Molecular Medicine, National Institute of Gastroenterology, IRCCS “S. de Bellis” Research Hospital, Via Turi 27, Castellana Grotte, 70013 Bari, Italy
| | - Valeria Quaranta
- Laboratory of Personalized Medicine, National Institute of Gastroenterology, IRCCS “S. de Bellis” Research Hospital, Via Turi 27, Castellana Grotte, 70013 Bari, Italy;
| | - Gianluigi Giannelli
- Scientific Direction, National Institute of Gastroenterology, IRCCS “S. de Bellis” Research Hospital, Via Turi 27, Castellana Grotte, 70013 Bari, Italy;
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3
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Lee YR. A multidisciplinary approach with immunotherapies for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma. JOURNAL OF LIVER CANCER 2023; 23:316-329. [PMID: 37743048 PMCID: PMC10565553 DOI: 10.17998/jlc.2023.09.04] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2023] [Revised: 08/30/2023] [Accepted: 09/04/2023] [Indexed: 09/26/2023]
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a highly aggressive disease that is usually diagnosed at an advanced stage. Advanced HCC has limited treatment options and often has a poor prognosis. For the past decade, tyrosine kinase inhibitors have been the only treatments approved for advanced HCC that have shown overall survival (OS) benefits; however, but their clinical efficacy has been limited. Recent trials have demonstrated promising advancements in survival outcomes through immunotherapy-based treatments, such as combinations of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) with other ICIs, antiangiogenic drugs, and locoregional therapies. The atezolizumab-bevacizumab and durvalumab-tremelimumab (STRIDE) regimen has significantly improved survival rates as a first-line treatment and has become the new standard of care. Therefore, combined treatments for advanced HCC can result in better treatment outcomes owing to their synergistic effects, which requires a multidisciplinary approach. Ongoing studies are examining other therapeutic innovations that can improve disease control and OS rates. Despite improvements in the treatment of advanced HCC, further studies on the optimal treatment selection and sequences, biomarker identification, combination approaches with other therapies, and development of novel immunotherapy agents are required. This review presents the current treatment options and clinical data of the ICI-based combination immunotherapies for advanced HCC from a multidisciplinary perspective.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Rim Lee
- Department of Internal Medicine, Kyungpook National University Chilgok Hospital, School of Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, Korea
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4
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Yu SJ. Immunotherapy for hepatocellular carcinoma: Recent advances and future targets. Pharmacol Ther 2023; 244:108387. [PMID: 36948423 DOI: 10.1016/j.pharmthera.2023.108387] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2021] [Revised: 02/12/2023] [Accepted: 03/15/2023] [Indexed: 03/24/2023]
Abstract
Immunotherapy is a promising approach to treating various types of cancers, including hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). While single immunotherapy drugs show limited effectiveness on a small subset of patients, the combination of the anti PD-L1 atezolizumab and anti-vascular endothelial growth factor bevacizumab has shown significant improvement in survival compared to sorafenib as a first-line treatment. However, the current treatment options still have a low success rate of about 30%. Thus, more effective treatments for HCC are urgently required. Several novel immunotherapeutic methods, including the use of novel immune checkpoint inhibitors, innovative immune cell therapies like chimeric antigen receptor T cells (CAR-T), TCR gene-modified T cells and stem cells, as well as combination strategies are being tested in clinical trials for the treatment of HCC. However, some crucial issues still exist such as the presence of heterogeneous antigens in solid tumors, the immune-suppressive environment within tumors, the risk of on-target/off-tumor, infiltrating CAR-T cells, immunosuppressive checkpoint molecules, and cytokines. Overall, immunotherapy is on the brink of major advancements in the fight against HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Su Jong Yu
- Department of Internal Medicine and Liver Research Institute, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
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5
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Minaei N, Ramezankhani R, Tamimi A, Piryaei A, Zarrabi A, Aref AR, Mostafavi E, Vosough M. Immunotherapeutic approaches in Hepatocellular carcinoma: Building blocks of hope in near future. Eur J Cell Biol 2023; 102:151284. [PMID: 36584598 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejcb.2022.151284] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2022] [Revised: 11/30/2022] [Accepted: 12/16/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common type of primary hepatic cancer and is among the major causes of mortality due to cancer. Due to the lack of efficient conventional therapeutic options for this cancer, particularly in advanced cases, novel treatments including immunotherapy have been considered. However, despite the encouraging clinical outcomes after implementing these innovative approaches, such as oncolytic viruses (OVs), adoptive cell therapies (ACT), immune checkpoint blockades (ICBs), and cancer vaccines, several factors have restricted their therapeutic effect. The main concern is the existence of an immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (TME). Combination of different ICBs or ICBs plus tyrosine kinase inhibitors have shown promising results in overcoming these limiting factors to some extent. Combination of programmed cell death ligand-1 (PD-L1) antibody Atezolizumab and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) antibody Bevacizumab has become the standard of care in the first-line therapy for untestable HCC, approved by regulatory agencies. This paper highlighted a wide overview of the direct and indirect immunotherapeutic strategies proposed for the treatment of HCC patients and the common challenges that have hindered their further clinical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Neda Minaei
- Department of Regenerative Medicine, Cell Science Research Center, Royan Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Technology, Academic Center for Education, Culture and Research (ACECR), Tehran, Iran; Department of Stem Cells and Developmental Biology, Cell Science Research Center, Royan Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Technology, Academic Center for Education, Culture and Research (ACECR), Tehran, Iran
| | - Roya Ramezankhani
- Department of Regenerative Medicine, Cell Science Research Center, Royan Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Technology, Academic Center for Education, Culture and Research (ACECR), Tehran, Iran; Department of Stem Cells and Developmental Biology, Cell Science Research Center, Royan Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Technology, Academic Center for Education, Culture and Research (ACECR), Tehran, Iran; Department of Development and Regeneration, KU Leuven Stem Cell Institute, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Atena Tamimi
- Department of Regenerative Medicine, Cell Science Research Center, Royan Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Technology, Academic Center for Education, Culture and Research (ACECR), Tehran, Iran
| | - Abbas Piryaei
- Department of Biology and Anatomical Sciences, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; Department of Tissue Engineering and Applied Cell Sciences, School of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Ali Zarrabi
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences, Istinye University, Istanbul 34396, Turkey
| | - Amir Reza Aref
- Belfer Center for Applied Cancer Science, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Ebrahim Mostafavi
- Stanford Cardiovascular Institute, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA; Department of Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA.
| | - Massoud Vosough
- Department of Regenerative Medicine, Cell Science Research Center, Royan Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Technology, Academic Center for Education, Culture and Research (ACECR), Tehran, Iran; Department of Stem Cells and Developmental Biology, Cell Science Research Center, Royan Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Technology, Academic Center for Education, Culture and Research (ACECR), Tehran, Iran; Experimental Cancer Medicine, Institution for Laboratory Medicine, Karolinska Institutet and Karolinska University Hospital-Huddinge, Sweden.
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6
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Hu M, Yao W, Shen Q. Advances and challenges of immunocheckpoint inhibitors in the treatment of primary liver cancer. Front Genet 2022; 13:1005658. [PMID: 36246617 PMCID: PMC9561712 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2022.1005658] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2022] [Accepted: 09/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Primary liver cancer (PLC) is one of the most common malignant tumors, which clinically characterized by occult onset, rapid development, easy recurrence and poor prognosis. With the rapid development of tumor immunotherapy research, tumor immunotherapy has also achieved remarkable clinical efficacy, and jointly promoted the overall improvement of tumor immunology from mechanism research to clinical transformation, from single discipline to multi-disciplinary integration. Immunotherapy has obvious advantages in treatment-related toxicity and efficacy compared with traditional therapy. In hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), immunotherapy alone or in combination with other therapies may help to control tumor progression, and there are many immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) widely used in clinical or ongoing clinical trials. However, tumor immunology research is still facing many challenges. How to effectively evaluate the efficacy, whether there are related biomarkers, the generation of immune tolerance and the lack of clinical trials to objectively evaluate the efficacy are still urgent problems to be solved, but it also brings new research opportunities for basic and clinical immunology researchers. The study of treatment of ICIs of PLC has become a hot spot in clinical research field. This paper summarizes and prospects the research progress and challenges of ICIs for PLC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meng Hu
- Department of Oncology, Jiangxi Provincial People’s Hospital, the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang Medical College, Nanchang, China
| | - Weirong Yao
- Department of Oncology, Jiangxi Provincial People’s Hospital, the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang Medical College, Nanchang, China
| | - Qinglin Shen
- Department of Oncology, Jiangxi Provincial People’s Hospital, the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang Medical College, Nanchang, China
- Institute of Clinical Medicine, Jiangxi Provincial People’s Hospital, the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang Medical College, Nanchang, China
- *Correspondence: Qinglin Shen,
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Chuah S, Lee J, Song Y, Kim HD, Wasser M, Kaya NA, Bang K, Lee YJ, Jeon SH, Suthen S, A'Azman S, Gien G, Lim CJ, Chua C, Hazirah SN, Lee HK, Lim JQ, Lim TKH, Yeong J, Chen J, Shin EC, Albani S, Zhai W, Yoo C, Liu H, Choo SP, Tai D, Chew V. Uncoupling immune trajectories of response and adverse events from anti-PD-1 immunotherapy in hepatocellular carcinoma. J Hepatol 2022; 77:683-694. [PMID: 35430299 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhep.2022.03.039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2021] [Revised: 03/27/2022] [Accepted: 03/31/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND & AIMS While immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) has shown promise in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), it is associated with modest response rates and immune-related adverse events (irAEs) are common. In this study, we aimed to decipher immune trajectories and mechanisms of response and/or irAEs in patients with HCC receiving anti-programmed cell death 1 (anti-PD-1) therapy. METHODS Pre- and on-treatment peripheral blood samples (n = 60) obtained from 32 patients with HCC (Singapore cohort) were analysed by cytometry by time-of-flight and single-cell RNA sequencing, with flow cytometric validation in an independent Korean cohort (n = 29). Mechanistic validation was conducted by bulk RNA sequencing of 20 pre- and on-treatment tumour biopsies and using a murine HCC model treated with different immunotherapeutic combinations. RESULTS Single-cell analyses identified CXCR3+CD8+ effector memory T (TEM) cells and CD11c+ antigen-presenting cells (APC) as associated with response (p = 0.0004 and 0.0255, respectively), progression-free survival (p = 0.00079 and 0.0015, respectively), and irAEs (p = 0.0034 and 0.0125, respectively) in anti-PD-1-treated patients with HCC. Type-1 conventional dendritic cells were identified as the specific APC associated with response, while 2 immunosuppressive CD14+ myeloid clusters were linked to reduced irAEs. Further analyses of CXCR3+CD8+ TEM cells showed cell-cell interactions specific to response vs. irAEs, from which the anti-PD-1 and anti-TNFR2 combination was harnessed to uncouple these effects, resulting in enhanced response without increased irAEs in a murine HCC model. CONCLUSIONS This study identifies early predictors of clinical response to anti-PD-1 ICB in patients with HCC and offers mechanistic insights into the immune trajectories of these immune subsets at the interface between response and toxicity. We also propose a new combination immunotherapy for HCC to enhance response without exacerbating irAEs. CLINICAL TRIAL NUMBER NCT03695952. LAY SUMMARY Response rates to immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) treatment in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remain modest and adverse events are common. Herein, we identified early predictors of response and gained an in-depth understanding of the immunological mechanisms behind response and adverse events in patients with HCC treated with ICB. We also proposed a new combination immunotherapy for HCC that enhances response without exacerbating adverse events.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samuel Chuah
- Translational Immunology Institute (TII), SingHealth-DukeNUS Academic Medical Centre, Singapore 169856, Singapore
| | - Joycelyn Lee
- Division of Medical Oncology, National Cancer Centre Singapore, Singapore 169610, Singapore
| | - Yuan Song
- Immunology Programme, Life Sciences Institute, Immunology Translational Research Program and Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117456, Singapore
| | - Hyung-Don Kim
- Department of Oncology, Asan Medical Center (AMC), University of Ulsan College of Medicine, 88, Olympic-ro 43-gil, Songpa-gu, Seoul 05505, Republic of Korea
| | - Martin Wasser
- Translational Immunology Institute (TII), SingHealth-DukeNUS Academic Medical Centre, Singapore 169856, Singapore; Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore 169857, Singapore
| | - Neslihan A Kaya
- Genome Institute of Singapore (GIS), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A∗STAR), Singapore 138672, Singapore; School of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 637551, Singapore
| | - Kyunghye Bang
- Department of Oncology, Asan Medical Center (AMC), University of Ulsan College of Medicine, 88, Olympic-ro 43-gil, Songpa-gu, Seoul 05505, Republic of Korea
| | - Yong Joon Lee
- Graduate School of Medical Science and Engineering, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), Daejeon 34141, Republic of Korea
| | - Seung Hyuck Jeon
- Graduate School of Medical Science and Engineering, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), Daejeon 34141, Republic of Korea
| | - Sheena Suthen
- Translational Immunology Institute (TII), SingHealth-DukeNUS Academic Medical Centre, Singapore 169856, Singapore
| | - Shamirah A'Azman
- Translational Immunology Institute (TII), SingHealth-DukeNUS Academic Medical Centre, Singapore 169856, Singapore
| | - Gerald Gien
- Translational Immunology Institute (TII), SingHealth-DukeNUS Academic Medical Centre, Singapore 169856, Singapore
| | - Chun Jye Lim
- Translational Immunology Institute (TII), SingHealth-DukeNUS Academic Medical Centre, Singapore 169856, Singapore
| | - Camillus Chua
- Translational Immunology Institute (TII), SingHealth-DukeNUS Academic Medical Centre, Singapore 169856, Singapore
| | - Sharifah Nur Hazirah
- Translational Immunology Institute (TII), SingHealth-DukeNUS Academic Medical Centre, Singapore 169856, Singapore
| | - Hong Kai Lee
- Singapore Immunology Network (SIgN), A∗STAR, Singapore 138648, Singapore
| | - Jia Qi Lim
- Genome Institute of Singapore (GIS), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A∗STAR), Singapore 138672, Singapore
| | - Tony K H Lim
- Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore 169857, Singapore; Department of Anatomical Pathology, Singapore General Hospital (SGH), Singapore 169856, Singapore
| | - Joe Yeong
- Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore 169857, Singapore; Department of Anatomical Pathology, Singapore General Hospital (SGH), Singapore 169856, Singapore; Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology (IMCB), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A∗STAR), Singapore 138673, Singapore
| | - Jinmiao Chen
- Singapore Immunology Network (SIgN), A∗STAR, Singapore 138648, Singapore
| | - Eui-Cheol Shin
- Graduate School of Medical Science and Engineering, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), Daejeon 34141, Republic of Korea
| | - Salvatore Albani
- Translational Immunology Institute (TII), SingHealth-DukeNUS Academic Medical Centre, Singapore 169856, Singapore; Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore 169857, Singapore
| | - Weiwei Zhai
- Genome Institute of Singapore (GIS), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A∗STAR), Singapore 138672, Singapore; Key Laboratory of Zoological Systematics and Evolution, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100107, China; Center for Excellence in Animal Evolution and Genetics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming 650223, China
| | - Changhoon Yoo
- Department of Oncology, Asan Medical Center (AMC), University of Ulsan College of Medicine, 88, Olympic-ro 43-gil, Songpa-gu, Seoul 05505, Republic of Korea
| | - Haiyan Liu
- Immunology Programme, Life Sciences Institute, Immunology Translational Research Program and Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117456, Singapore
| | - Su Pin Choo
- Division of Medical Oncology, National Cancer Centre Singapore, Singapore 169610, Singapore; Curie Oncology, Mount Elizabeth Novena Specialist Centre, Singapore 329563, Singapore
| | - David Tai
- Division of Medical Oncology, National Cancer Centre Singapore, Singapore 169610, Singapore.
| | - Valerie Chew
- Translational Immunology Institute (TII), SingHealth-DukeNUS Academic Medical Centre, Singapore 169856, Singapore; Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore 169857, Singapore.
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Wu Q, Chen Y, Li Q, Chen J, Mo J, Jin M, Yang Q, Rizzello L, Tian X, Luo L. Time Rules the Efficacy of Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors in Photodynamic Therapy. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2022; 9:e2200999. [PMID: 35470595 PMCID: PMC9313507 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202200999] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2022] [Revised: 04/02/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Lack of adequate effector T cells infiltrated in tumor is one of the main problems in the failure of immune checkpoint blockade therapy (ICBT). Photodynamic therapy (PDT) induced acute inflammation can sensitize tumors and activate T cells, thus assisting immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) against tumor growth and metastasis. T cells maturation and activation lag 3 to 7 days behind PDT. However, such timing in the combination therapy of ICI and PDT is commonly ignored in designing numerous multi-functional integrated nanomedicines. Herein, the authors illustrate that intervention timing of ICI after PDT affects the anti-tumor efficacy. A tumor-targeting nanomedicine is prepared by encapsulating indocyanine green into CD44 specifically binding material, a hyaluronic acid conjugated lipid poly(ethylene glycol). The PDT nanomedicine is designed to induce a robust immune response in tumor. The optimal group (Combo-STAR), ICI gave 5 days after PDT, significantly suppresses local tumor growth and eliminates metastasis. What should be highlighted is the time point of administration because if ICI is given too early, T cells are immature, otherwise, T cells are exhausted if ICI is given too late. This work presents theoretical guidance for raising awareness of intervention timing when augmenting ICBT with immune response inducers in clinic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qinghua Wu
- College of Pharmaceutical SciencesSouthwest UniversityChongqing400715China
| | - Yang Chen
- College of Pharmaceutical SciencesSouthwest UniversityChongqing400715China
| | - Qing Li
- College of Pharmaceutical SciencesSouthwest UniversityChongqing400715China
| | - Junmeng Chen
- College of Pharmaceutical SciencesSouthwest UniversityChongqing400715China
| | - Junfeng Mo
- College of Pharmaceutical SciencesSouthwest UniversityChongqing400715China
| | - Ming Jin
- College of Pharmaceutical SciencesSouthwest UniversityChongqing400715China
| | - Qianzhan Yang
- Analytical Instruments DepartmentAnalytical Applications CenterShimadzu (China) Co., Ltd. Chongqing BranchChongqing404100China
| | - Loris Rizzello
- Department of Pharmaceutical SciencesUniversity of MilanMilan20133Italy
| | - Xiaohe Tian
- Huaxi MR Research Center (HMRRC)Department of RadiologyFunction & Molecular Imaging Key LabSichuan UniversityChengdu610041China
| | - Lei Luo
- College of Pharmaceutical SciencesSouthwest UniversityChongqing400715China
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Liu J, Gu L, Zhang D, Li W. Determining the Prognostic Value of Spliceosome-Related Genes in Hepatocellular Carcinoma Patients. Front Mol Biosci 2022; 9:759792. [PMID: 35281269 PMCID: PMC8907852 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2022.759792] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2021] [Accepted: 02/08/2022] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Background: The spliceosome plays an important role in mRNA alternative splicing and is aberrantly expressed in several tumors. However, the potential roles of spliceosome-related genes in the progression of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remain poorly understood. Materials and Methods: Patient data were acquired from public databases. Expression differences and survival analyses were used to assess the importance of spliceosome-related genes in HCC prognosis. To explore the potential regulatory mechanisms of these genes, a protein-protein interaction network was constructed and screened using univariate and multivariate Cox regression and random forest analyses. This was used to create a five-gene prognostic model. The prognostic value and predictive power of the five-gene signature were assessed using the Kaplan-Meier and time-dependent receiver operating characteristic analyses in the training set. These results were further validated in an independent external set. To facilitate clinical application, a nomogram was prepared to predict the overall survival of HCC patients. The relative expression of five genes was detected using real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Results: The analysis revealed that LSM1-7, SNRPB, SNRPD1-3, SNRPE, SNRPF, SNRPG, and SNRPN could be used as prognostic biomarkers in HCC patients. Moreover, the five-gene risk model could clearly distinguish between the high-and low-risk groups. Furthermore, the risk model was associated with the tumor mutation burden, immune cell infiltration of CD8+ T cells, natural killer T cells, M2 macrophages, and immune checkpoint inhibitors, which also demonstrated the predictive efficacy of this risk model in HCC immunotherapy. Conclusion: Spliceosome-related genes and the five-gene signature could serve as novel prognostic biomarkers for HCC patients, aiding clinical patient monitoring and follow-up.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jun Liu
- Reproductive Medicine Center, Yue Bei People’s Hospital, Shantou University Medical College, Shaoguan, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Infectious Diseases and Molecular Immunopathology, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, China
- Medical Research Center, Yue Bei People’s Hospital, Shantou University Medical College, Shaoguan, China
| | - Liming Gu
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Infectious Diseases and Molecular Immunopathology, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, China
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Center of Pathogen Biology and Immunology, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, China
| | - Dangui Zhang
- Research Center of Translational Medicine, Second Affiliated Hospital of Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, China
| | - Wenli Li
- Reproductive Medicine Center, Yue Bei People’s Hospital, Shantou University Medical College, Shaoguan, China
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10
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Wang J, Li Y, Zhang C, Chen X, Zhu L, Luo T. A hypoxia-linked gene signature for prognosis prediction and evaluating the immune microenvironment in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma. Transl Cancer Res 2022; 10:3979-3992. [PMID: 35116696 PMCID: PMC8798548 DOI: 10.21037/tcr-21-741] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2021] [Accepted: 07/30/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Background Previous research indicates that hypoxia critically affects the initiation and progression of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Nevertheless, the molecular mechanisms responsible for HCC development are poorly understood. Herein, we purposed to build a prognostic model using hypoxia-linked genes to predict patient prognosis and investigate the relationship of hypoxia with immune status in the tumor microenvironment (TME). Methods The training cohort included transcriptome along with clinical data abstracted from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA). The validation cohort was abstracted from Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO). Univariate along with multivariate Cox regression were adopted to create the prediction model. We divided all patients into low- and high-risk groups using median risk scores. The estimation power of the prediction model was determined with bioinformatic tools. Results Six hypoxia-linked genes, HMOX1, TKTL1, TPI1, ENO2, LDHA, and SLC2A1, were employed to create an estimation model. Kaplan-Meier, ROC curve, and risk plot analyses demonstrated that the estimation potential of the risk model was satisfactory. Univariate along with multivariate regression data illustrated that the risk model could independently predict the overall survival (OS). A nomogram integrating the risk signature and clinicopathological characteristics showed a good potential to estimate HCC prognosis. Gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) revealed that genes associated with cell proliferation and metabolism cascades were abundant in high-risk group. Furthermore, the signature showed a strong ability to distinguish the two groups in terms of immune status. Conclusions A prediction model for predicting HCC prognosis using six hypoxia-linked genes was designed in this study, facilitating the diagnosis and treatment of HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jukun Wang
- Department of General Surgery, Xuanwu Hospital of Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Yu Li
- Department of General Surgery, Xuanwu Hospital of Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Chao Zhang
- Department of General Surgery, Xuanwu Hospital of Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Xin Chen
- Department of General Surgery, Xuanwu Hospital of Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Linzhong Zhu
- Department of General Surgery, Xuanwu Hospital of Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Tao Luo
- Department of General Surgery, Xuanwu Hospital of Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
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11
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Cao J, Zhang R, Zhang Y, Wang Y. Combined screening analysis of aberrantly methylated-differentially expressed genes and pathways in hepatocellular carcinoma. J Gastrointest Oncol 2022; 13:311-325. [PMID: 35284134 PMCID: PMC8899745 DOI: 10.21037/jgo-21-866] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2021] [Accepted: 12/30/2021] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Methylation plays an important role in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) by altering the expression of key genes. The aim of this study was to screen the aberrantly methylated-differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in HCC and elucidate their underlying molecular mechanism. METHODS Gene expression microarrays (GSE101685) and gene methylation microarrays (GSE44909) were selected. DEGs and differentially methylated genes (DMGs) were screened. Gene ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analyses were performed using the Database for Annotation, Visualization, and Integrated discovery (DAVID). The Search Tool for the Retrieval of Interacting Genes (STRING) database was used to analyze the functional protein-protein interaction (PPI) network. Molecular Complex Detection (MCODE) analysis was performed using the Cytoscape software. Hub genes were verified in The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database. RESULTS A total of 80 hypomethylation-high expression genes (Hypo-HGs) were identified. Pathway enrichment analysis showed DNA replication, cell cycle, viral carcinogenesis, and the spliceosome. The top 5 hub genes were minichromosome maintenance complex component 3 (MCM3), checkpoint kinase 1 (CHEK1), kinesin family member 11 (KIF11), PDZ binding kinase (PBK), and Rac GTPase activating protein 1 (RACGAP1). In addition, 189 hypermethylation-low expression genes (Hyper-LGs) were identified. Pathway enrichment analysis indicated enrichment in metabolic pathways, drug metabolism-other enzymes, and chemical carcinogenesis. The top 5 hub genes were leukocyte immunoglobulin like receptor B2 (LILRB2), formyl peptide receptor 1 (FPR1), S100 calcium binding protein A9 (S100A9), S100 calcium binding protein A8 (S100A8), and myeloid cell nuclear differentiation antigen (MNDA). The methylation status and mRNA expression of MCM3, CHEK1, KIF11, PBK, and S100A9 were consistent in the TCGA database and significantly correlated with the prognosis of patients. CONCLUSIONS Combined screening of aberrantly methylated-DEGs based on bioinformatic analysis may provide new clues for elucidating the epigenetic mechanism in HCC. Hub genes, including MCM3, CHEK1, KIF11, PBK, and S100A9, may serve as biomarkers for the precise diagnosis of HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jisen Cao
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, The Third Central Hospital of Tianjin, Tianjin, China
| | - Ruiqiang Zhang
- Department of Orthopedics, General Hospital of Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China
| | - Ye Zhang
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, The Third Central Hospital of Tianjin, Tianjin, China
| | - Yijun Wang
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, The Third Central Hospital of Tianjin, Tianjin, China
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12
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Hsu C, Rimassa L, Sun HC, Vogel A, Kaseb AO. Immunotherapy in hepatocellular carcinoma: evaluation and management of adverse events associated with atezolizumab plus bevacizumab. Ther Adv Med Oncol 2021; 13:17588359211031141. [PMID: 34377156 PMCID: PMC8327224 DOI: 10.1177/17588359211031141] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2021] [Accepted: 06/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
In light of positive efficacy and safety findings from the IMbrave150 trial of atezolizumab plus bevacizumab, this novel combination has become the preferred first-line standard of care for patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Several additional trials are ongoing that combine an immune checkpoint inhibitor with another agent such as a multiple kinase inhibitor or antiangiogenic agent. Therefore, the range of first-line treatment options for unresectable HCC is likely to increase, and healthcare providers need succinct information about the use of such combinations, including their efficacy and key aspects of their safety profiles. Here, we review efficacy and safety data on combination immunotherapies and offer guidance on monitoring and managing adverse events, especially those associated with atezolizumab plus bevacizumab. Because of their underlying liver disease and high likelihood of portal hypertension, patients with unresectable HCC are at particular risk of gastrointestinal bleeding, and this risk may be exacerbated by treatments that include antiangiogenic agents. Healthcare providers also need to be alert to the risks of proteinuria and hypertension, colitis, hepatitis, and reactivation of hepatitis B or C virus infection. They should also be aware of the possibility of rarer but potentially life-threatening adverse events such as pneumonitis and cardiovascular events. Awareness of the risks associated with these therapies and knowledge of adverse event monitoring and management will become increasingly important as the therapeutic range broadens in unresectable HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chiun Hsu
- Graduate Institute of Oncology, National University College of Medicine, National University Hospital, and National University Cancer Center, Taipei
| | - Lorenza Rimassa
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Humanitas University, Pieve Emanuele, Milan, Italy
| | - Hui-Chuan Sun
- Department of Liver Surgery and Transplantation, Liver Cancer Institute, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Arndt Vogel
- Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Endocrinology, Medical School Hannover, Carl-Neubergstrasse 1, Hannover, 30625, Germany
| | - Ahmed O Kaseb
- Gastrointestinal Medical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 1515 Holcombe Blvd, Unit 426, Houston, TX 77030, USA
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13
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Osei-Bordom DC, Kamarajah S, Christou N. Colorectal Cancer, Liver Metastases and Biotherapies. Biomedicines 2021; 9:894. [PMID: 34440099 PMCID: PMC8389538 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines9080894] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2021] [Revised: 07/13/2021] [Accepted: 07/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Abstract
(1) Background: colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the deadliest causes of death by cancer worldwide. Its first main metastatic diffusion spreads to the liver. Different mechanisms such as the epithelial-mesenchymal transition and angiogenesis are the characteristics of this invasion. At this stage, different options are possible and still in debate, especially regarding the use of targeted therapeutics and biotherapies. (2) Methods: A review of the literature has been done focusing on the clinical management of liver metastasis of colorectal cancer and the contribution of biotherapies in this field. (3) Results: In a clinical setting, surgeons and oncologists consider liver metastasis in CRC into two groups to launch adapted therapeutics: resectable and non-resectable. Around these two entities, the combination of targeted therapies and biotherapies are of high interest and are currently tested to know in which molecular and clinical conditions they have to be applied to impact positively both on survival and quality of life of patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel-Clement Osei-Bordom
- Department of General Surgery, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, University Hospitals Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TH, UK; (D.-C.O.-B.); (S.K.)
- Institute of Immunology and Immunotherapy, University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK
- NIHR Birmingham Biomedical Research Centre, Centre for Liver and Gastroenterology Research, University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK
| | - Sivesh Kamarajah
- Department of General Surgery, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, University Hospitals Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TH, UK; (D.-C.O.-B.); (S.K.)
| | - Niki Christou
- Department of General Surgery, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, University Hospitals Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TH, UK; (D.-C.O.-B.); (S.K.)
- Department of General Surgery, University Hospital of Limoges, 87000 Limoges, France
- EA3842 CAPTuR Laboratory “Cell Activation Control, Tumor Progression and Therapeutic Resistance”, Faculty of Medicine, 2 Rue du Docteur Marcland, 87025 Limoges, France
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14
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Plaz Torres MC, Lai Q, Piscaglia F, Caturelli E, Cabibbo G, Biasini E, Pelizzaro F, Marra F, Trevisani F, Giannini EG. Treatment of Hepatocellular Carcinoma with Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors and Applicability of First-Line Atezolizumab/Bevacizumab in a Real-Life Setting. J Clin Med 2021; 10:3201. [PMID: 34361985 PMCID: PMC8347923 DOI: 10.3390/jcm10153201] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2021] [Revised: 07/16/2021] [Accepted: 07/19/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) are the new frontier for the treatment of advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Since the first trial with tremelimumab, a cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated protein 4 inhibitor, increasing evidence has confirmed that these drugs can significantly extend the survival of patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). As a matter of fact, the overall survival and objective response rates reported in patients with advanced HCC treated with ICIs are the highest ever reported in the second-line setting and, most recently, the combination of the anti-programmed death ligand protein-1 atezolizumab with bevacizumab-an anti-vascular endothelial growth factor monoclonal antibody-demonstrated superiority to sorafenib in a Phase III randomized clinical trial. Therefore, this regimen has been approved in several countries as first-line treatment for advanced HCC and is soon expected to be widely used in clinical practice. However, despite the promising results of trials exploring ICIs alone or in combination with other agents, there are still some critical issues to deal with to optimize the prognosis of advanced HCC patients. For instance, the actual proportion of patients who are deemed eligible for ICIs in the real-life ranges from 10% to 20% in the first-line setting, and is even lower in the second-line scenario. Moreover, long-term data regarding the safety of ICIs in the population of patients with cirrhosis and impaired liver function are lacking. Lastly, no biomarkers have been identified to predict response, and thus to help clinicians to individually tailor treatment. This review aimed to summarize the state of the art immunotherapy in HCC and, by analyzing a large, multicenter cohort of Italian patients with HCC, to assess the potential applicability of the combination of atezolizumab/bevacizumab in the real-life setting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Corina Plaz Torres
- Gastroenterology Unit, Department of Internal Medicine, IRCCS—Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, University of Genoa, 16132 Genoa, Italy;
| | - Quirino Lai
- Hepatobiliary and Organ Transplantation Unit, Umberto I Polyclinic of Rome, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy;
| | - Fabio Piscaglia
- Internal Medicine Unit, Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero—Universitaria di Bologna, 40138 Bologna, Italy;
| | | | - Giuseppe Cabibbo
- Gastroenterology and Hepatology Unit, Department of Health Promotion, Mother and Child Care, Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties (PROMISE), University of Palermo, 90133 Palermo, Italy;
| | - Elisabetta Biasini
- Infectious Diseases and Hepatology Unit, Azienda Ospedaliero—Universitaria di Parma, 43126 Parma, Italy;
| | - Filippo Pelizzaro
- Gastroenterology Unit, Department of Surgery, Oncology and Gastroenterology, University of Padova, 35128 Padova, Italy;
| | - Fabio Marra
- Internal Medicine and Hepatology Unit, Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Firenze, 50134 Firenze, Italy;
| | - Franco Trevisani
- Medical Semeiotics Unit, Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero—Universitaria di Bologna, 40138 Bologna, Italy;
| | - Edoardo G. Giannini
- Gastroenterology Unit, Department of Internal Medicine, IRCCS—Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, University of Genoa, 16132 Genoa, Italy;
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Zhou W, Fang D, He Y, Wei J. Correlation analysis of tumor mutation burden of hepatocellular carcinoma based on data mining. J Gastrointest Oncol 2021; 12:1117-1131. [PMID: 34295561 DOI: 10.21037/jgo-21-259] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2021] [Accepted: 05/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between tumor mutation burden (TMB) and prognosis of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), and to explore the differential expression of genes in HCC by TMB and the relationship between immune cells, TMB, and HCC. Methods Somatic variation data, gene transcriptional expression data and clinical information of patients with HCC were obtained from cancer genome map (TCGA) database. Analyze the characteristics of the gene mutation data of the sample, divide the high and low TMB groups and draw the survival curve at the same time, carry on the difference analysis to the gene of TMB, further carry on the univariate Cox regression analysis and Lasso regression analysis and construct the clinical model. Download the dataset GSE14520, from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database to verify the genes of the prognostic model. The differential genes were analyzed by gene ontology (GO) enrichment analysis and Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes by (KEGG) enrichment analysis. Then the relative abundance of 22 immune cell types in HCC and normal control samples was calculated. Finally, the correlation between the scores of immune cells and Risk model was analyzed. Results Tumor protein p53 (TP53), catenin1 (CTNNB1), titin (TTN), mucin 16 (MUC16), and albumin (ALB) are the most common top 5 mutations in HCC. The prognosis of high level TMB group is worse than that of low TMB group. A total of 122 differentially expressed genes were screened by differential analysis of TMB genes. SQSTM1, ME1, BAMBI and PTTG1 are independent risk factors for poor prognosis of HCC. GO and KEGG analysis showed that the differential genes were mainly in extracellular matrix and immune response. There were significant differences in the distribution of Macrophages M0 and T cells CD4 native cells between HCC and normal tissues, which were correlated with the differential genes of TMB and correlated with prognosis. Conclusions There is a negative correlation between TMB and the prognosis of patients with HCC. TMB has an effect on the differential expression of genes in HCC cells and the distribution of immune cells in tumor tissues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weijie Zhou
- Department of Hematology, Baise People's Hospital, Baise, China
| | - Dalang Fang
- Department of Breast and Thyroid Surgery, The Affiliated Hospital of Youjiang Medical University for Nationalities, Baise, China
| | - Yongfei He
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Guangxi, China
| | - Jie Wei
- Department of Hematology, Baise People's Hospital, Baise, China
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16
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Ogasawara S, Choo SP, Li JT, Yoo C, Wang B, Lee D, Chow PKH. Evolving Treatment of Advanced Hepatocellular Carcinoma in the Asia-Pacific Region: A Review and Multidisciplinary Expert Opinion. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:cancers13112626. [PMID: 34071818 PMCID: PMC8197840 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13112626] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2021] [Revised: 05/10/2021] [Accepted: 05/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary For years, the systemic therapies sorafenib and lenvatinib have represented standard of care for first-line treatment of advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The recent approval of atezolizumab in combination with bevacizumab heralded the arrival of immunotherapy for first-line treatment of advanced HCC, and the field is growing, with other combination immunotherapies under investigation. Focusing on the Asia–Pacific region, where drug availability and reimbursement systems differ widely, this article reviews the evolving treatment landscape and summarises the authors’ expert opinion on therapeutic decision-making to optimise outcomes in advanced HCC. Abstract Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the fourth most common driver of cancer-related death globally, with an estimated 72% of cases in Asia. For more than a decade, first-line systemic treatments for advanced or unresectable HCC were limited to the multi-targeted kinase inhibitors sorafenib and, more recently, lenvatinib. Now, treatment options have expanded to include immunotherapy, as exemplified by the immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) atezolizumab combined with the antiangiogenic agent bevacizumab. Additional combinations of ICIs with kinase inhibitors, other ICIs, or antiangiogenic agents are under investigation, further supporting the new era of immunotherapy for first-line treatment of advanced or unresectable HCC. We describe this evolving landscape and provide expert opinion on therapeutic best practices in the Asia–Pacific region, where different costs of, and patient access to, treatment are a challenge. With the combination of atezolizumab plus bevacizumab likely to become the clinical standard of care, optimising treatment sequence and ensuring patient access to newer therapies remain priorities. Cost containment and treatment sequencing may be facilitated by characterisation of predictive positive and negative biomarkers. With these considerations in mind, this review and expert opinion focused on advanced HCC in the Asia–Pacific region offers perspectives of multiple stakeholders, including physicians, payer systems, and patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sadahisa Ogasawara
- Department of Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, 1-8-1 Inohana, Chuo-ku, Chiba 260-8670, Japan;
| | - Su-Pin Choo
- Curie Oncology, 38 Irrawaddy Road #08-21/29, Mount Elizabeth Novena Specialist Centre, Singapore 329563, Singapore;
| | - Jiang-Tao Li
- Department of Surgery, Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, 88 Jiefang Street, Hangzhou 310009, China;
| | - Changhoon Yoo
- Department of Oncology, Asan Medical Center and University of Ulsan College of Medicine, 88 Olympic-ro 43-gil, Songpa-gu, Seoul 05505, Korea;
| | - Bruce Wang
- Elysia Group Ltd., Xiamen Street, Lane 113, No 17-1, Floor 2, Taipei 10082, Taiwan;
| | - Dee Lee
- Inno Community Development Organisation, Dezheng South Business Center, 57 Dezheng S. Road, Yuexiu District, Guangzhou 510000, China;
| | - Pierce K. H. Chow
- National Cancer Centre Singapore and Duke-NUS Medical School, 11 Hospital Crescent, Singapore 169610, Singapore
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +65-65762151
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17
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Koulouris A, Tsagkaris C, Spyrou V, Pappa E, Troullinou A, Nikolaou M. Hepatocellular Carcinoma: An Overview of the Changing Landscape of Treatment Options. J Hepatocell Carcinoma 2021; 8:387-401. [PMID: 34012929 PMCID: PMC8128500 DOI: 10.2147/jhc.s300182] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2021] [Accepted: 04/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The last three years have seen remarkable progress in comprehending predisposing factors and upgrading our treatment arsenal concerning hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Until recently, there were no means to withstand the progression of viral hepatitis-associated liver cirrhosis to HCC. A deeper understanding of the molecular mechanism of the disease, the use of biomarkers, and the follow-up, allowed us to realize that conventional chemotherapy failing to increase survival in patients with advanced HCC tends to be exiled from clinical practice. Multi-kinase inhibitors (TKIs) such as sorafenib, lenvatinib targeting mainly the vascular endothelial growth factor receptors 1–3 VEGFRs 1–3 provided until recently the standard of care for these patients, as first- or second-line treatment. Since May 2020, the atezolizumab plus bevacizumab combination (immunotherapy plus anti-VEGF) has become the new reference standard in first-line HCC treatment. Additionally, anti-programmed cell death protein 1 (anti-PD-1) immunotherapy can be used as a second-line treatment following first-line treatment’s failure. Phase III clinical trials have recently suggested the efficacy of novel anti-angiogenic factors such as cabozantinib and ramucirumab as a second-line treatment option. With considerations about toxicity arising, clinical trials are investigating combinations of the aforementioned targeted therapies with immunotherapy as first-line treatment. This paper aims to perform a systematic review describing the evolving treatment options for HCC over the last decades, ranging from neoadjuvant treatment to systemic therapy of advanced-stage HCC. With the landscape of HCC treatment shifting towards novel agents the forming of a new therapeutic algorithm for HCC seems to be imperative.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andreas Koulouris
- Resident of Medical Oncology, University General Hospital of Heraklion, University of Crete, Crete, Greece
| | | | | | - Eleni Pappa
- Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | | | - Michail Nikolaou
- 1st Oncology Department, "Saint Savas" Anticancer - Oncology Hospital, Athens, Greece
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18
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Gallage S, García-Beccaria M, Szydlowska M, Rahbari M, Mohr R, Tacke F, Heikenwalder M. The therapeutic landscape of hepatocellular carcinoma. MED 2021; 2:505-552. [DOI: 10.1016/j.medj.2021.03.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2021] [Revised: 02/23/2021] [Accepted: 03/11/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
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19
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Chen H, Li Y, Xiao SY, Guo J. Identification of a five-immune gene model as an independent prognostic factor in hepatocellular carcinoma. BMC Cancer 2021; 21:278. [PMID: 33726698 PMCID: PMC7962305 DOI: 10.1186/s12885-021-08012-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2020] [Accepted: 03/04/2021] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a common malignant tumor with a poor prognosis. We aimed to identify a new prognostic model of HCC based on differentially expressed (DE) immune genes. Methods The DE immune genes were identified based on an analysis of 374 cases of HCC and 50 adjacent non-tumor specimens from the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database. Univariate Cox analysis, Lasso regression, and multivariate Cox analysis were used to construct the model based on the training group. Survival analysis and the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were used to evaluate model performance. The testing group and the entire group were subsequently used for validation of the model. Results A five-immune gene model consisted of HSPA4, ISG20L2, NDRG1, EGF, and IL17D was identified. Based on the model, the overall survival was significantly different between the high-risk and low-risk groups (P = 7.953e-06). The AUCs for the model at 1- and 3-year were 0.849 and 0.74, respectively. The reliability of the model was confirmed using the validation groups. The risk score was identified as an independent prognostic parameter and closely related to the content of immune cells from human HCC specimens. Conclusion We identified a five-immune gene model that can be used as an independent prognostic marker for HCC. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12885-021-08012-2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haitao Chen
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430071, China
| | - Yueying Li
- Department of Pathology, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430071, China.,Wuhan University Center for Pathology and Molecular Diagnostics, Wuhan, 430071, China
| | - Shu-Yuan Xiao
- Department of Pathology, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430071, China. .,Wuhan University Center for Pathology and Molecular Diagnostics, Wuhan, 430071, China. .,Department of Pathology, University of Chicago Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA.
| | - Jianchun Guo
- Department of Pathology, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430071, China. .,Wuhan University Center for Pathology and Molecular Diagnostics, Wuhan, 430071, China.
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20
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Koulouris A, Tsagkaris C, Nikolaou M. Real Impact of Novel Immunotherapy Drugs in Cancer. The Experience of 10 Last Years. Toxins (Basel) 2021; 13:149. [PMID: 33672017 PMCID: PMC7919369 DOI: 10.3390/toxins13020149] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2021] [Revised: 02/04/2021] [Accepted: 02/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Intense research on immunotherapy has been conducted during recent years. As advances in the field have started changing the landscape of cancer therapy, it is necessary to assess the impact of immunotherapeutic modalities in the treatment of various cancers. Ten years ago, in 2011, ipilimumab was the first of the newest immunotherapeutic drugs against cancer to be approved by the FDA. Then several drugs followed and formed a therapeutic arsenal to fight cancer. Initial studies were performed on metastatic patients, but there are currently several studies in patients with potentially curable cancers. All these developments have created a new environment for oncology which we will present in this article. This review examines the current evidence related to the impact of immunotherapy on various cancers and discusses its potential clinical and research implications, including its effectiveness in comparison to other treatment modalities (chemotherapy, radiotherapy), its toxicity and prospective research opportunities. While constant updates and further research is critical to understand the impact of immunotherapy in cancer therapy, not only does it seem to be important to assess the current state of knowledge highlighting the success but also to determine the challenging aspects of cancer immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andreas Koulouris
- Department of Medical Oncology University General Hospital of Heraklion, University of Crete, 71003 Heraklion, Greece;
| | | | - Michail Nikolaou
- 1st Oncology Department, “Saint Savas” Anticancer—Oncology Hospital, 11522 Athens, Greece
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21
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Yu X, Zhu L, Liu J, Xie M, Chen J, Li J. Emerging Role of Immunotherapy for Colorectal Cancer with Liver Metastasis. Onco Targets Ther 2020; 13:11645-11658. [PMID: 33223838 PMCID: PMC7671511 DOI: 10.2147/ott.s271955] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2020] [Accepted: 10/29/2020] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common malignant tumor in the world and the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths, with the liver as the most common site of distant metastasis. The prognosis of CRC with liver metastasis is poor, and most patients cannot undergo surgery. In addition, conventional antitumor approaches such as chemotherapy, radiotherapy, targeted therapy, and surgery result in unsatisfactory outcomes. In recent years, immunotherapy has shown good prospects in the treatment of assorted tumors by enhancing the host's antitumor immune function, and it may become a new effective treatment for liver metastasis of CRC. However, challenges remain in applying immunotherapy to CRC with liver metastasis. This review examines how the microenvironment and immunosuppressive landscape of the liver favor tumor progression. It also highlights the latest research advances in immunotherapy for colorectal liver metastasis and identifies immunotherapy as a treatment regimen with a promising future in clinical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xianzhe Yu
- Gastrointestinal Department, The Affiliated Hospital of Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, Guizhou Province, People's Republic of China
| | - Lingling Zhu
- Lung Cancer Center, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan Province, People's Republic of China
| | - Jiewei Liu
- Lung Cancer Center, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan Province, People's Republic of China
| | - Ming Xie
- Gastrointestinal Department, The Affiliated Hospital of Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, Guizhou Province, People's Republic of China
| | - Jiang Chen
- Department of General Surgery, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, People's Republic of China
| | - Jianguo Li
- Gastrointestinal Department, The Affiliated Hospital of Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, Guizhou Province, People's Republic of China
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22
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Lai E, Astara G, Ziranu P, Pretta A, Migliari M, Dubois M, Donisi C, Mariani S, Liscia N, Impera V, Persano M, Tolu S, Balconi F, Pinna G, Spanu D, Pireddu A, Saba G, Camera S, Musio F, Puzzoni M, Pusceddu V, Madeddu C, Casadei Gardini A, Scartozzi M. Introducing immunotherapy for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma patients: Too early or too fast? Crit Rev Oncol Hematol 2020; 157:103167. [PMID: 33271389 DOI: 10.1016/j.critrevonc.2020.103167] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2020] [Revised: 11/02/2020] [Accepted: 11/05/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most frequent liver cancer. Immunotherapy has been explored in this disease in order to improve survival outcomes. Nowadays, scientific research is focusing especially on immune checkpoint inhibitors, in particular anti-PD1, anti-PD-L1 and anti-CTLA4 monoclonal antibodies (mAbs), as single-agent or in combination with other immunotherapy agents, target therapies, anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and other agents targeting specific molecular pathways. Other immunotherapy strategies have been assessed or are under investigation in advanced HCC, namely cytokines, adoptive cell therapy, oncolytic virus, cancer vaccines. Each treatment presents specific efficacy and toxicity profiles, strictly related to their mechanism of action and to advanced HCC tumour microenvironment (TME). The aim of this review is to outline the state-of-the-art of immunotherapy in advanced HCC treatment, highlighting data on already investigated treatment strategies, safety and toxicity (including HBV/HCV-related HCC), and ongoing clinical trials focusing on new promising therapeutic weapons.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eleonora Lai
- Medical Oncology Unit, University Hospital and University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy. Oncologia Medica, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria di Cagliari, Presidio Policlinico Universitario "Duilio Casula" S.S. 554, Km 4,500 Bivio per Sestu, 09042 Monserrato, Cagliari, Italy.
| | - Giorgio Astara
- Medical Oncology Unit, University Hospital and University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy. Oncologia Medica, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria di Cagliari, Presidio Policlinico Universitario "Duilio Casula" S.S. 554, Km 4,500 Bivio per Sestu, 09042 Monserrato, Cagliari, Italy.
| | - Pina Ziranu
- Medical Oncology Unit, University Hospital and University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy. Oncologia Medica, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria di Cagliari, Presidio Policlinico Universitario "Duilio Casula" S.S. 554, Km 4,500 Bivio per Sestu, 09042 Monserrato, Cagliari, Italy.
| | - Andrea Pretta
- Medical Oncology Unit, Sapienza University of Rome - University Hospital and University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy. Oncologia Medica, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria di Cagliari, Presidio Policlinico Universitario "Duilio Casula" S.S. 554, Km 4,500 Bivio per Sestu, 09042 Monserrato, Cagliari, Italy.
| | - Marco Migliari
- Medical Oncology Unit, University Hospital and University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy. Oncologia Medica, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria di Cagliari, Presidio Policlinico Universitario "Duilio Casula" S.S. 554, Km 4,500 Bivio per Sestu, 09042 Monserrato, Cagliari, Italy.
| | - Marco Dubois
- Medical Oncology Unit, University Hospital and University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy. Oncologia Medica, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria di Cagliari, Presidio Policlinico Universitario "Duilio Casula" S.S. 554, Km 4,500 Bivio per Sestu, 09042 Monserrato, Cagliari, Italy.
| | - Clelia Donisi
- Medical Oncology Unit, University Hospital and University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy. Oncologia Medica, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria di Cagliari, Presidio Policlinico Universitario "Duilio Casula" S.S. 554, Km 4,500 Bivio per Sestu, 09042 Monserrato, Cagliari, Italy.
| | - Stefano Mariani
- Medical Oncology Unit, University Hospital and University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy. Oncologia Medica, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria di Cagliari, Presidio Policlinico Universitario "Duilio Casula" S.S. 554, Km 4,500 Bivio per Sestu, 09042 Monserrato, Cagliari, Italy.
| | - Nicole Liscia
- Medical Oncology Unit, Sapienza University of Rome - University Hospital and University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy. Oncologia Medica, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria di Cagliari, Presidio Policlinico Universitario "Duilio Casula" S.S. 554, Km 4,500 Bivio per Sestu, 09042 Monserrato, Cagliari, Italy.
| | - Valentino Impera
- Medical Oncology Unit, Sapienza University of Rome - University Hospital and University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy. Oncologia Medica, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria di Cagliari, Presidio Policlinico Universitario "Duilio Casula" S.S. 554, Km 4,500 Bivio per Sestu, 09042 Monserrato, Cagliari, Italy.
| | - Mara Persano
- Medical Oncology Unit, University Hospital and University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy. Oncologia Medica, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria di Cagliari, Presidio Policlinico Universitario "Duilio Casula" S.S. 554, Km 4,500 Bivio per Sestu, 09042 Monserrato, Cagliari, Italy.
| | - Simona Tolu
- Medical Oncology Unit, Sapienza University of Rome - University Hospital and University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy. Oncologia Medica, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria di Cagliari, Presidio Policlinico Universitario "Duilio Casula" S.S. 554, Km 4,500 Bivio per Sestu, 09042 Monserrato, Cagliari, Italy.
| | - Francesca Balconi
- Medical Oncology Unit, University Hospital and University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy. Oncologia Medica, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria di Cagliari, Presidio Policlinico Universitario "Duilio Casula" S.S. 554, Km 4,500 Bivio per Sestu, 09042 Monserrato, Cagliari, Italy.
| | - Giovanna Pinna
- Medical Oncology Unit, University Hospital and University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy. Oncologia Medica, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria di Cagliari, Presidio Policlinico Universitario "Duilio Casula" S.S. 554, Km 4,500 Bivio per Sestu, 09042 Monserrato, Cagliari, Italy.
| | - Dario Spanu
- Medical Oncology Unit, University Hospital and University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy. Oncologia Medica, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria di Cagliari, Presidio Policlinico Universitario "Duilio Casula" S.S. 554, Km 4,500 Bivio per Sestu, 09042 Monserrato, Cagliari, Italy.
| | - Annagrazia Pireddu
- Medical Oncology Unit, Sapienza University of Rome - University Hospital and University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy. Oncologia Medica, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria di Cagliari, Presidio Policlinico Universitario "Duilio Casula" S.S. 554, Km 4,500 Bivio per Sestu, 09042 Monserrato, Cagliari, Italy.
| | - Giorgio Saba
- Medical Oncology Unit, University Hospital and University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy. Oncologia Medica, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria di Cagliari, Presidio Policlinico Universitario "Duilio Casula" S.S. 554, Km 4,500 Bivio per Sestu, 09042 Monserrato, Cagliari, Italy.
| | - Silvia Camera
- Department of Medical Oncology, Università Vita-Salute, San Raffaele Hospital IRCCS, 20019, Milan, Italy. Dipartimento di Oncologia, IRCCS Ospedale San Raffaele, via Olgettina 60, Milan, Italy.
| | - Francesca Musio
- Medical Oncology Unit, University Hospital and University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy. Oncologia Medica, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria di Cagliari, Presidio Policlinico Universitario "Duilio Casula" S.S. 554, Km 4,500 Bivio per Sestu, 09042 Monserrato, Cagliari, Italy.
| | - Marco Puzzoni
- Medical Oncology Unit, University Hospital and University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy. Oncologia Medica, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria di Cagliari, Presidio Policlinico Universitario "Duilio Casula" S.S. 554, Km 4,500 Bivio per Sestu, 09042 Monserrato, Cagliari, Italy.
| | - Valeria Pusceddu
- Medical Oncology Unit, University Hospital and University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy. Oncologia Medica, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria di Cagliari, Presidio Policlinico Universitario "Duilio Casula" S.S. 554, Km 4,500 Bivio per Sestu, 09042 Monserrato, Cagliari, Italy.
| | - Clelia Madeddu
- Medical Oncology Unit, University Hospital and University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy. Oncologia Medica, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria di Cagliari, Presidio Policlinico Universitario "Duilio Casula" S.S. 554, Km 4,500 Bivio per Sestu, 09042 Monserrato, Cagliari, Italy.
| | - Andrea Casadei Gardini
- Department of Medical Oncology, Università Vita-Salute, San Raffaele Hospital IRCCS, 20019, Milan, Italy. Dipartimento di Oncologia, IRCCS Ospedale San Raffaele, via Olgettina 60, Milan, Italy.
| | - Mario Scartozzi
- Medical Oncology Unit, University Hospital and University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy. Oncologia Medica, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria di Cagliari, Presidio Policlinico Universitario "Duilio Casula" S.S. 554, Km 4,500 Bivio per Sestu, 09042 Monserrato, Cagliari, Italy.
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Lee YH, Tai D, Yip C, Choo SP, Chew V. Combinational Immunotherapy for Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Radiotherapy, Immune Checkpoint Blockade and Beyond. Front Immunol 2020; 11:568759. [PMID: 33117354 PMCID: PMC7561368 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2020.568759] [Citation(s) in RCA: 70] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2020] [Accepted: 09/14/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The systemic treatment landscape for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has experienced tremendous paradigm shift towards targeting tumor microenvironment (TME) following recent trials utilizing immune checkpoint blockade (ICB). However, limited success of ICB as monotherapy mandates the evaluation of combination strategies incorporating immunotherapy for improved clinical efficacy. Radiotherapy (RT) is an integral component in treatment of solid cancers, including HCC. Radiation mediates localized tumor killing and TME modification, thereby potentiating the action of ICB. Several preclinical and clinical studies have explored the efficacy of combining RT and ICB in HCC with promising outcomes. Greater efforts are required in discovery and understanding of novel combination strategies to maximize clinical benefit with tolerable adverse effects. This current review provides a comprehensive assessment of RT and ICB in HCC, their respective impact on TME, the rationale for their synergistic combination, as well as the current potential biomarkers available to predict clinical response. We also speculate on novel future strategies to further enhance the efficacy of this combination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yun Hua Lee
- Translational Immunology Institute (TII), SingHealth-DukeNUS Academic Medical Centre, Singapore, Singapore
| | - David Tai
- Division of Medical Oncology, National Cancer Centre, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Connie Yip
- Division of Radiation Oncology, National Cancer Centre, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Su Pin Choo
- Division of Medical Oncology, National Cancer Centre, Singapore, Singapore.,Curie Oncology, Mount Elizabeth Novena Specialist Centre, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Valerie Chew
- Translational Immunology Institute (TII), SingHealth-DukeNUS Academic Medical Centre, Singapore, Singapore
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Mitochondrial uncoupling and the disruption of the metabolic network in hepatocellular carcinoma. Oncotarget 2020; 11:3013-3024. [PMID: 32821346 PMCID: PMC7415405 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.27680] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2020] [Accepted: 06/30/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC) is the third most common cause of cancer related death worldwide. Adequate treatment options for patients with advanced HCC are currently limited. MATERIALS AND METHODS We studied the anti-HCC effect of FH535 and a novel derivative Y3, on proliferation, mitochondrial function and cellular metabolism focusing on the three key substrates, glutamine, glucose, and fatty acids. RESULTS FH535 and Y3 disrupted mitochondrial redox control in HCC cells that resulted from uncoupling mechanisms that increased proton leakage and decreased ATP production leading to apoptosis. The uncoupling effects of the sulfonamides in HCC cells were supported by the loss of activity of the methylated analogs. The accumulation of ROS significantly contributed to cell damage after the impaired autophagic machinery. These sulfonamides, FH535 and Y3, targeted glutamine and fatty acid metabolism and caused HCC cell reprograming towards the preferential use of glucose and the glycolytic pathway. CONCLUSIONS FH535, and Y3, demonstrated potent anti-HCC activity by targeting OXPHOS, increasing dangerous levels of ROS and reducing ATP production. These sulfonamides target glutamine and FA metabolic pathways significantly increasing the cellular dependency on glycolysis.
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Shen Q, Hu G, Wu J, Lv L. A new clinical prognostic nomogram for liver cancer based on immune score. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0236622. [PMID: 32730361 PMCID: PMC7392298 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0236622] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2020] [Accepted: 07/06/2020] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Increased attention is being paid to the relationship between the immune status of the tumor microenvironment and tumor prognosis. The application of immune scoring in evaluating the clinical prognosis of liver cancer patients has not yet been explored. This study sought to clarify the association between immune score and prognosis and construct a clinical nomogram to predict the survival of patients with liver cancer. Methods A total of 346 patients were included in our analysis datasets downloaded from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) dataset. A Cox proportional-hazards regression model was used to estimate the adjusted hazard ratios (HRs). A nomogram was built based on the results of multivariate analysis and was subjected to bootstrap internal validation. The predictive accuracy and discriminative ability were measured by the concordance index (C-index) and the calibration curve. Through the functional analysis of differential expression of genes with different immune scores, the target genes were screened out. Results In comparison with patients with low immune scores, those with intermediate and high immune scores had significantly improved survival time [HR and 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.54 (0.30–0.97) and 0.51 (0.27–0.97), respectively]. The C-index for survival time prediction was 0.66 (95% CI: 0.60–0.71). The calibration plot for the probability of survival at three or five years showed good agreement between prediction by the nomogram and actual observations. The top 10 hub genes were CXCL8(chemokine (C-X-C motif) ligand 8), SYK(spleen tyrosine kinase), CXCL12(chemokine (C-X-C motif) ligand 12), CXCL10 (chemokine (C-X-C motif) ligand10), CXCL1(chemokine (C-X-C motif) ligand1), CCL5(chemokine (C-C motif) ligand 5), CCL20(chemokine (C-C motif) ligand 20), LCK, CXCL11(chemokine (C-X-C motif) ligand 11), CCR5(chemokine (C-C motif) receptor 5). More importantly, we found that the high expression of CXCL8 and CXCL1 were related to the prognosis. Conclusions High and/or intermediate immune scores are significantly correlated with better survival time in patients with liver cancer. Moreover, nomograms for predicting prognosis may help to estimate the survival of patients. We also propose that CXCL8 and CXCL1 may be a potential therapeutic target for liver cancer treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qinyan Shen
- Department of Surgical Oncology, Affiliated Dongyang Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Dongyang, Zhejiang, China
- * E-mail:
| | - Guinv Hu
- Department of Surgical Oncology, Affiliated Dongyang Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Dongyang, Zhejiang, China
| | - JinZhong Wu
- Department of Surgical Oncology, Affiliated Dongyang Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Dongyang, Zhejiang, China
| | - Liting Lv
- Department of Surgical Oncology, Affiliated Dongyang Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Dongyang, Zhejiang, China
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Ocker M. Dissecting the immune cell landscape in hepatocellular carcinoma-are we understanding complexity? ANNALS OF TRANSLATIONAL MEDICINE 2020; 8:666. [PMID: 32617286 PMCID: PMC7327369 DOI: 10.21037/atm.2020.03.170] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Matthias Ocker
- Charité University Medicine Berlin, Berlin, Germany.,Translational Medicine & Clinical Pharmacology, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharma GmbH & Co. KG, Ingelheim, Germany
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Onuma AE, Zhang H, Huang H, Williams TM, Noonan A, Tsung A. Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors in Hepatocellular Cancer: Current Understanding on Mechanisms of Resistance and Biomarkers of Response to Treatment. Gene Expr 2020; 20:53-65. [PMID: 32340652 PMCID: PMC7284108 DOI: 10.3727/105221620x15880179864121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common primary liver malignancy worldwide and a leading cause of death worldwide. Its incidence continues to increase in the US due to hepatitis C infection and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis. Liver transplantation and resection remain the best therapeutic options for cure, but these are limited by the shortage of available organs for transplantation, diagnosis at advanced stage, and underlying chronic liver disease found in most patients with HCC. Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have been shown to be an evolving novel treatment option in certain advanced solid tumors and have been recently approved for inoperable, advanced, and metastatic HCC. Unfortunately, a large cohort of patients with HCC fail to respond to immunotherapy. In this review, we discuss the ICIs currently approved for HCC treatment and their various mechanisms of action. We will highlight current understanding of mechanism of resistance and limitations to ICIs. Finally, we will describe emerging biomarkers of response to ICIs and address future direction on overcoming resistance to immune checkpoint therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amblessed E. Onuma
- *Department of Surgery, Division of Surgical Oncology, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Hongji Zhang
- *Department of Surgery, Division of Surgical Oncology, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH, USA
- †Department of Surgery, Union Hospital, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, People’s Republic of China
| | - Hai Huang
- *Department of Surgery, Division of Surgical Oncology, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Terence M. Williams
- ‡Department of Radiation Oncology, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Anne Noonan
- §Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Medical Oncology, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Allan Tsung
- *Department of Surgery, Division of Surgical Oncology, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH, USA
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