1
|
Salesse L, Duval A, Sauvanet P, Da Silva A, Barnich N, Godfraind C, Dalmasso G, Nguyen HTT. ATG16L1 in myeloid cells limits colorectal tumor growth in ApcMin/+ mice infected with colibactin-producing Escherichia coli via decreasing inflammasome activation. Autophagy 2024:1-19. [PMID: 38818900 DOI: 10.1080/15548627.2024.2359770] [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: 11/06/2023] [Accepted: 05/21/2024] [Indexed: 06/01/2024] Open
Abstract
Escherichia coli strains producing the genotoxin colibactin, designated as CoPEC (colibactin-producing E. coli), have emerged as an important player in the etiology of colorectal cancer (CRC). Here, we investigated the role of macroautophagy/autophagy in myeloid cells, an important component of the tumor microenvironment, in the tumorigenesis of a susceptible mouse model infected with CoPEC. For that, a preclinical mouse model of CRC, the ApcMin/+ mice, with Atg16l1 deficiency specifically in myeloid cells (ApcMin/+/Atg16l1[∆MC]) and the corresponding control mice (ApcMin/+), were infected with a clinical CoPEC strain 11G5 or its isogenic mutant 11G5∆clbQ that does not produce colibactin. We showed that myeloid cell-specific Atg16l1 deficiency led to an increase in the volume of colonic tumors in ApcMin/+ mice under infection with 11G5, but not with 11G5∆clbQ. This was accompanied by increased colonocyte proliferation, enhanced inflammasome activation and IL1B/IL-1β secretion, increased neutrophil number and decreased total T cell and cytotoxic CD8+ T cell numbers in the colonic mucosa and tumors. In bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMDMs), compared to uninfected and 11G5∆clbQ-infected conditions, 11G5 infection increased inflammasome activation and IL1B secretion, and this was further enhanced by autophagy deficiency. These data indicate that ATG16L1 in myeloid cells was necessary to inhibit colonic tumor growth in CoPEC-infected ApcMin/+ mice via inhibiting colibactin-induced inflammasome activation and modulating immune cell response in the tumor microenvironment. Abbreviation: AOM, azoxymethane; APC, APC regulator of WNT signaling pathway; ATG, autophagy related; Atg16l1[∆MC] mice, mice deficient for Atg16l1 specifically in myeloid cells; CASP1, caspase 1; BMDM, bone marrow-derived macrophage; CFU, colony-forming unit; CoPEC, colibactin-producing Escherichia coli; CRC, colorectal cancer; CXCL1/KC, C-X-C motif chemokine ligand 1; ELISA, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay; IL, interleukin; MC, myeloid cell; MOI, multiplicity of infection; PBS, phosphate-buffered saline; pks, polyketide synthase; qRT-PCR, quantitative real-time reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction; siRNA, small interfering RNA; TME, tumor microenvironment; TNF/TNF-α, tumor necrosis factor.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Laurène Salesse
- M2iSH, UMR 1071 Inserm, University of Clermont Auvergne, INRAE USC 1382, CRNH, Clermont-Ferrand, France
| | - Angéline Duval
- M2iSH, UMR 1071 Inserm, University of Clermont Auvergne, INRAE USC 1382, CRNH, Clermont-Ferrand, France
| | - Pierre Sauvanet
- M2iSH, UMR 1071 Inserm, University of Clermont Auvergne, INRAE USC 1382, CRNH, Clermont-Ferrand, France
- Department of Digestive and Hepatobiliary Surgery, CHU, Clermont-Ferrand, France
| | - Alison Da Silva
- M2iSH, UMR 1071 Inserm, University of Clermont Auvergne, INRAE USC 1382, CRNH, Clermont-Ferrand, France
| | - Nicolas Barnich
- M2iSH, UMR 1071 Inserm, University of Clermont Auvergne, INRAE USC 1382, CRNH, Clermont-Ferrand, France
| | - Catherine Godfraind
- M2iSH, UMR 1071 Inserm, University of Clermont Auvergne, INRAE USC 1382, CRNH, Clermont-Ferrand, France
- Department of Pathology, CHU Gabriel Montpied, Clermont-Ferrand, France
| | - Guillaume Dalmasso
- M2iSH, UMR 1071 Inserm, University of Clermont Auvergne, INRAE USC 1382, CRNH, Clermont-Ferrand, France
| | - Hang Thi Thu Nguyen
- M2iSH, UMR 1071 Inserm, University of Clermont Auvergne, INRAE USC 1382, CRNH, Clermont-Ferrand, France
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Cañellas-Socias A, Sancho E, Batlle E. Mechanisms of metastatic colorectal cancer. Nat Rev Gastroenterol Hepatol 2024:10.1038/s41575-024-00934-z. [PMID: 38806657 DOI: 10.1038/s41575-024-00934-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 04/17/2024] [Indexed: 05/30/2024]
Abstract
Despite extensive research and improvements in understanding colorectal cancer (CRC), its metastatic form continues to pose a substantial challenge, primarily owing to limited therapeutic options and a poor prognosis. This Review addresses the emerging focus on metastatic CRC (mCRC), which has historically been under-studied compared with primary CRC despite its lethality. We delve into two crucial aspects: the molecular and cellular determinants facilitating CRC metastasis and the principles guiding the evolution of metastatic disease. Initially, we examine the genetic alterations integral to CRC metastasis, connecting them to clinically marked characteristics of advanced CRC. Subsequently, we scrutinize the role of cellular heterogeneity and plasticity in metastatic spread and therapy resistance. Finally, we explore how the tumour microenvironment influences metastatic disease, emphasizing the effect of stromal gene programmes and the immune context. The ongoing research in these fields holds immense importance, as its future implications are projected to revolutionize the treatment of patients with mCRC, hopefully offering a promising outlook for their survival.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Adrià Cañellas-Socias
- Institute for Research in Biomedicine (IRB Barcelona), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST), Barcelona, Spain.
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Cáncer (CIBERONC), Barcelona, Spain.
- Center for Cancer Cell Therapy, Stanford Cancer Institute, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA.
| | - Elena Sancho
- Institute for Research in Biomedicine (IRB Barcelona), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST), Barcelona, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Cáncer (CIBERONC), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Eduard Batlle
- Institute for Research in Biomedicine (IRB Barcelona), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST), Barcelona, Spain.
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Cáncer (CIBERONC), Barcelona, Spain.
- Institució Catalana de Recerca i Estudis Avançats (ICREA), Barcelona, Spain.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Ming L, Tang J, Qin F, Qin Y, Wang D, Huang L, Cao Y, Huang Z, Yin Y. Exosome secretion related gene signature predicts chemoresistance in patients with colorectal cancer. Pathol Res Pract 2024; 257:155313. [PMID: 38642509 DOI: 10.1016/j.prp.2024.155313] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2023] [Revised: 03/14/2024] [Accepted: 04/16/2024] [Indexed: 04/22/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a highly heterogeneous malignancy, and patients often have different responses to treatment. In this study, the genetic characteristics related to exosome formation and secretion procedure were used to predict chemoresistance and guide the individualized treatment of patients. METHODS Firstly, seven microarray datasets in Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) and RNA-Seq dataset from the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) were used to analysis the transcriptome profiles and associated characteristics of CRC patients. Then, a predictive model based on gene features linked to exosome formation and secretion was created and validated using Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator (LASSO) regression analysis and Support Vector Machine-Recursive Feature Elimination (SVM-RFE) machine learning. Finally, we evaluated the model using chemoresistant/chemosensitive cells and tissues by immunofluorescence (IF), western blot (WB), quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) and immunocytochemistry (IHC) experiments, and the predictive value of integrated model in the clinical validation cohort were performed by Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) and Kaplan-Meier (K-M) curves analyses. RESULTS We established a risk score signature based on three genes related to exosome secretion in CRC. Better Overall Survival (OS) and greater chemosensitivity were seen in the low-risk group, whereas the high-risk group exhibited chemoresistance and a subpar response to immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) therapy. Higher expression of the model genes EXOC2, EXOC3 and STX4 were observed in chemoresistant cells and specimens. The AUC of 5-year disease-free survival (DFS) was 0.804. Compared with that in the low-risk group, patients' DFS was found to be significantly worse in the high-risk group. CONCLUSIONS In summary, the gene signature related to exosome formation and secretion could reliably predict patients' chemosensitivity and ICB treatment response, which providing new independent biomarkers for the treatment of CRC.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Liang Ming
- Wuxi Cancer Institute, Affiliated Hospital of Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu 214062, China; Laboratory of Cancer Epigenetics, Wuxi School of Medicine, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu 214122, China
| | - Junhui Tang
- Wuxi Cancer Institute, Affiliated Hospital of Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu 214062, China; Laboratory of Cancer Epigenetics, Wuxi School of Medicine, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu 214122, China
| | - Feiyu Qin
- Wuxi Cancer Institute, Affiliated Hospital of Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu 214062, China; Laboratory of Cancer Epigenetics, Wuxi School of Medicine, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu 214122, China
| | - Yan Qin
- Department of Pathology, Affiliated Hospital of Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu 214062, China
| | - Duo Wang
- Wuxi Cancer Institute, Affiliated Hospital of Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu 214062, China; Laboratory of Cancer Epigenetics, Wuxi School of Medicine, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu 214122, China
| | - Liuying Huang
- Wuxi Cancer Institute, Affiliated Hospital of Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu 214062, China; Laboratory of Cancer Epigenetics, Wuxi School of Medicine, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu 214122, China
| | - Yulin Cao
- Wuxi Cancer Institute, Affiliated Hospital of Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu 214062, China; Laboratory of Cancer Epigenetics, Wuxi School of Medicine, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu 214122, China
| | - Zhaohui Huang
- Wuxi Cancer Institute, Affiliated Hospital of Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu 214062, China; Laboratory of Cancer Epigenetics, Wuxi School of Medicine, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu 214122, China
| | - Yuan Yin
- Wuxi Cancer Institute, Affiliated Hospital of Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu 214062, China; Laboratory of Cancer Epigenetics, Wuxi School of Medicine, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu 214122, China.
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Isermann T, Schneider KL, Wegwitz F, De Oliveira T, Conradi LC, Volk V, Feuerhake F, Papke B, Stintzing S, Mundt B, Kühnel F, Moll UM, Schulz-Heddergott R. Enhancement of colorectal cancer therapy through interruption of the HSF1-HSP90 axis by p53 activation or cell cycle inhibition. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.02.22.581507. [PMID: 38464125 PMCID: PMC10925225 DOI: 10.1101/2024.02.22.581507] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/12/2024]
Abstract
The stress-associated molecular chaperone system is an actionable target in cancer therapies. It is ubiquitously upregulated in cancer tissues and enables tumorigenicity by stabilizing hundreds of oncoproteins and disturbing the stoichiometry of protein complexes. Most inhibitors target the key component heat-shock protein 90 (HSP90). However, although classical HSP90 inhibitors are highly tumor-selective, they fail in phase 3 clinical oncology trials. These failures are at least partly due to an interference with a negative feedback loop by HSP90 inhibition, known as heat-shock response (HSR): in response to HSP90 inhibition there is compensatory synthesis of stress-inducible chaperones, mediated by the transcription factor heat-shock factor 1 (HSF1). We recently identified that wildtype p53 (p53) actively reduces the HSR by repressing HSF1 via a p21-CDK4/6-MAPK-HSF1 axis. Here we test the hypothesis that in HSP90-based therapies simultaneous p53 activation or direct cell cycle inhibition interrupts the deleterious HSF1-HSR axis and improves the efficiency of HSP90 inhibitors. Indeed, we find that the clinically relevant p53 activator Idasanutlin suppresses the HSF1-HSR activity in HSP90 inhibitor-based therapies. This combination synergistically reduces cell viability and accelerates cell death in p53-proficient colorectal cancer (CRC) cells, murine tumor-derived organoids and patient-derived organoids (PDOs). Mechanistically, upon combination therapy human CRC cells strongly upregulate p53-associated pathways, apoptosis, and inflammatory immune pathways. Likewise, in the chemical AOM/DSS CRC model in mice, dual HSF1-HSP90 inhibition strongly represses tumor growth and remodels immune cell composition, yet displays only minor toxicities in mice and normal mucosa-derived organoids. Importantly, inhibition of the cyclin dependent kinases 4 and 6 (CDK4/6) under HSP90 inhibition phenocopies synergistic repression of the HSR in p53-proficient CRC cells. Even more important, in p53-deficient (mutp53-harboring) CRC cells, an HSP90 inhibition in combination with CDK4/6 inhibitors similarly suppresses the HSF1-HSR system and reduces cancer growth. Likewise, p53-mutated PDOs strongly respond to dual HSF1-HSP90 pathway inhibition and thus, providing a strategy to target CRC independent of the p53 status. In sum, activating p53 (in p53-proficient cancer cells) or inhibiting CDK4/6 (independent of the p53 status) provide new options to improve the clinical outcome of HSP90-based therapies and to enhance colorectal cancer therapy.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tamara Isermann
- Department of Molecular Oncology, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
- Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Institute of Pathology, Laboratory of Molecular Tumor Pathology and Systems Biology, Berlin, Germany
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK); Partner Site Berlin, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Kim Lucia Schneider
- Department of Molecular Oncology, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Florian Wegwitz
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Tiago De Oliveira
- Department of General, Visceral, and Pediatric Surgery, University Medical Center Göttingen, Germany
| | - Lena-Christin Conradi
- Department of General, Visceral, and Pediatric Surgery, University Medical Center Göttingen, Germany
| | - Valery Volk
- Institute for Pathology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | | | - Björn Papke
- Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Institute of Pathology, Laboratory of Molecular Tumor Pathology and Systems Biology, Berlin, Germany
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK); Partner Site Berlin, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Sebastian Stintzing
- Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Department of Hematology, Oncology, and Cancer Immunology, Berlin, Germany
| | - Bettina Mundt
- Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, Infectious Diseases and Endocrinology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Florian Kühnel
- Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, Infectious Diseases and Endocrinology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Ute M. Moll
- Department of Pathology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY
| | | |
Collapse
|
5
|
Xu M, Zhao X, Wen T, Qu X. Unveiling the role of KRAS in tumor immune microenvironment. Biomed Pharmacother 2024; 171:116058. [PMID: 38171240 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2023.116058] [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: 10/09/2023] [Revised: 12/03/2023] [Accepted: 12/14/2023] [Indexed: 01/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Kirsten rats sarcoma viral oncogene (KRAS), the first discovered human oncogene, has long been recognized as "undruggable". KRAS mutations frequently occur in multiple human cancers including non-small cell lung cancer(NSCLC), colorectal cancer(CRC) and pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma(PDAC), functioning as a "molecule switch" determining the activation of various oncogenic signaling pathways. Except for its intrinsic pro-tumorigenic role, KRAS alteration also exhibits an unique immune signature characterized by elevated PD-L1 level and high tumor mutational burden(TMB). KRAS mutation shape an immune suppressive microenvironment by impeding effective T cells infiltration and recruiting suppressive immune cells including myeloid-derived suppressor cells(MDSCs), regulatory T cells(Tregs), cancer associated fibroblasts(CAFs). In immune checkpoint inhibitor(ICI) era, NSCLC patients with mutated KRAS tend to be more responsive to ICI than patients with intact KRAS. The hallmark for KRAS mutation is the existence of multiple kinds of co-mutations. Different types of co-alterations have distinct tumor microenvironment(TME) signatures and responses to ICI. TP53 co-mutation possess a "hot" TME and achieve higher response to immunotherapy while other loss of function mutation correlated with a "colder" TME and a poor outcome to ICI-based therapy. The groundbreaking discovery of KRAS G12C inhibitors significantly improved outcomes for this KRAS subtype even though efficacy was limited to NSCLC patients. KRAS G12C inhibitors also restore the suppressive TME, creating an opportunity for combinations with ICI. However, an inevitable challenge to KRAS inhibitors is drug resistance. Promising combination strategies such as combination with SHP2 is an approach deserve further exploration because of their immune modulatory effect.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Miao Xu
- Department of Medical Oncology, the First Hospital of China Medical University, 155 North Nanjing Street, Shenyang, Liaoning, China; Key Laboratory of Anticancer Drugs and Biotherapy of Liaoning Provinces, The First Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, China; Clinical Cancer Research Center of Shenyang, the First Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China; Key Laboratory of Precision Diagnosis and Treatment of Gastrointestinal Tumors, Ministry of Education, Shenyang, Liaoning, China
| | - Xing Zhao
- Department of Pediatrics, the First Hospital of China Medical University, 155 North Nanjing Street, Shenyang, Liaoning, China
| | - Ti Wen
- Department of Medical Oncology, the First Hospital of China Medical University, 155 North Nanjing Street, Shenyang, Liaoning, China; Key Laboratory of Anticancer Drugs and Biotherapy of Liaoning Provinces, The First Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, China; Clinical Cancer Research Center of Shenyang, the First Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China; Key Laboratory of Precision Diagnosis and Treatment of Gastrointestinal Tumors, Ministry of Education, Shenyang, Liaoning, China
| | - Xiujuan Qu
- Department of Medical Oncology, the First Hospital of China Medical University, 155 North Nanjing Street, Shenyang, Liaoning, China; Key Laboratory of Anticancer Drugs and Biotherapy of Liaoning Provinces, The First Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, China; Clinical Cancer Research Center of Shenyang, the First Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China; Key Laboratory of Precision Diagnosis and Treatment of Gastrointestinal Tumors, Ministry of Education, Shenyang, Liaoning, China.
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Yue M, Chen MM, Zhang B, Wang Y, Li P, Zhao Y. The functional roles of chemokines and chemokine receptors in colorectal cancer progression. Biomed Pharmacother 2024; 170:116040. [PMID: 38113624 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2023.116040] [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: 09/27/2023] [Revised: 11/30/2023] [Accepted: 12/14/2023] [Indexed: 12/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Colorectal cancer is a common malignancy with significant rates of morbidity and mortality. A number of factors, including the tumor microenvironment, chemokines, the inflammatory response, have an impact on the development of colorectal cancer. A critical component of the tumor microenvironment is chemokines. Various cell subsets are attracted to the tumor microenvironment through interactions with chemokine receptors. These cells have varying effects on the development of the tumor and the effectiveness of treatment. Additionally, chemokines can participate in inflammatory processes and have effects that are either pro- or anti-tumor. Chemokines can be exploited as targets for medication resistance and treatment in colorectal cancer. In this review, we discuss the expression of chemokines and chemokine receptors, and their relationship with immune cells in the tumor microenvironment. At the same time, we also collect and discuss the significance of chemokines and chemokine receptors in colorectal cancer progression, and their potential as molecular targets for CRC treatment.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mingli Yue
- Institute for Translational Medicine, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, College of Medicine, Qingdao University, Qingdao 266021, China
| | - Meng-Meng Chen
- Key Laboratory of Cancer and Immune Cells of Qingdao, Qingdao 266021, China; Qingdao Restore Biotechnology Co., Ltd., Qingdao, Shandong 266111, PR China
| | - Bingqiang Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Cancer and Immune Cells of Qingdao, Qingdao 266021, China
| | - Yin Wang
- Institute for Translational Medicine, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, College of Medicine, Qingdao University, Qingdao 266021, China
| | - Peifeng Li
- Institute for Translational Medicine, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, College of Medicine, Qingdao University, Qingdao 266021, China
| | - Yi Zhao
- Institute for Translational Medicine, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, College of Medicine, Qingdao University, Qingdao 266021, China; Key Laboratory of Birth Regulation and Control Technology of National Health Commission of China, Maternal and Child Health Care Hospital of Shandong Province affiliated to Qingdao University, Shandong Province, China.
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Kromidas E, Geier A, Weghofer A, Liu HY, Weiss M, Loskill P. Immunocompetent PDMS-Free Organ-on-Chip Model of Cervical Cancer Integrating Patient-Specific Cervical Fibroblasts and Neutrophils. Adv Healthc Mater 2023:e2302714. [PMID: 38029413 DOI: 10.1002/adhm.202302714] [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: 08/17/2023] [Revised: 11/04/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023]
Abstract
Despite preventive measures and available treatments, cervical cancer still ranks as the fourth most prevalent cancer among women worldwide and remains the leading cause of cancer death in women in many developing countries. To gain further insights into pathogenesis and to develop novel (immuno)therapies, more sophisticated human models recreating patient heterogeneities and including aspects of the tumor microenvironment are urgently required. A novel polydimethylsiloxane-free microfluidic platform, designed specifically for the generation and ccultivation of cervical cancerous tissue, is introduced. The microscale open-top tissue chambers of the cervical cancer-on-chip (CCoC) enable facile generation and long-term cultivation of SiHa spheroids in co-culture with donor-derived cervical fibroblasts. The resulting 3D tissue emulates physiological architecture and allows dissection of distinct effects of the stromal tissue on cancer viability and growth. Treatment with cisplatin at clinically-relevant routes of administration and dosing highlights the platform's applicability for drug testing. Moreover, the model is amenable for integration and recruitment of donor-derived neutrophils from the microvasculature-like channel into the tissue, all while retaining their ability to produce neutrophil extracellular traps. In the future, the immunocompetent CCoC featuring donor-specific primary cells and tumor spheroids has the potential to contribute to the development of new (immuno)therapeutic options.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Elena Kromidas
- Department for Microphysiological Systems, Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Medicine, Eberhard Karls University Tübingen, 72074, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Alicia Geier
- Department for Microphysiological Systems, Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Medicine, Eberhard Karls University Tübingen, 72074, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Adrian Weghofer
- Department for Microphysiological Systems, Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Medicine, Eberhard Karls University Tübingen, 72074, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Hui-Yu Liu
- Department for Microphysiological Systems, Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Medicine, Eberhard Karls University Tübingen, 72074, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Martin Weiss
- Department for Biomedicine and Materials Science, NMI Natural and Medical Sciences Institute at the University of Tübingen, 72770, Reutlingen, Germany
- Department for Women's Health, Faculty of Medicine, Eberhard Karls University Tübingen, 72076, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Peter Loskill
- Department for Microphysiological Systems, Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Medicine, Eberhard Karls University Tübingen, 72074, Tübingen, Germany
- Department for Biomedicine and Materials Science, NMI Natural and Medical Sciences Institute at the University of Tübingen, 72770, Reutlingen, Germany
- 3R Center Tübingen for In Vitro Models and Alternatives to Animal Testing, 72074, Tübingen, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Wu J, Dong W, Pan Y, Wang J, Wu M, Yu Y. Crosstalk between gut microbiota and metastasis in colorectal cancer: implication of neutrophil extracellular traps. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1296783. [PMID: 37936694 PMCID: PMC10626548 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1296783] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2023] [Accepted: 10/10/2023] [Indexed: 11/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Primary colorectal cancer (CRC) often leads to liver metastasis, possibly due to the formation of pre-metastatic niche (PMN) in liver. Thus, unravelling the key modulator in metastasis is important for the development of clinical therapies. Gut microbiota dysregulation is a key event during CRC progression and metastasis. Numerous studies have elucidated the correlation between specific gut bacteria strains (e.g., pks + E. coli and Bacteroides fragilis) and CRC initiation, and gut bacteria translocation is commonly witnessed during CRC progression. Gut microbiota shapes tumor microenvironment (TME) through direct contact with immune cells or through its functional metabolites. However, how gut microbiota facilitates CRC metastasis remains controversial. Meanwhile, recent studies identify the dissemination of bacteria from gut lumen to liver, suggesting the role of gut microbiota in shaping tumor PMN. A pro-tumoral PMN is characterized by the infiltration of immunosuppressive cells and increased pro-inflammatory immune responses. Notably, neutrophils form web-like structures known as neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) both in primary TME and metastatic sites, NETs are involved in cancer progression and metastasis. In this review, we focus on the role of gut microbiota in CRC progression and metastasis, highlight the multiple functions of different immune cell types in TME, especially neutrophils and NETs, discuss the possible mechanisms of gut microbiota in shaping PMN formation, and provide therapeutical indications in clinic.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jiawei Wu
- Department of General Surgery, Changhai Hospital, Naval Medical University, Shanghai, China
- Clinical Research and Lab Center, Affiliated Kunshan Hospital of Jiangsu University, Kunshan, China
| | - Wenyan Dong
- Department of General Surgery, Changhai Hospital, Naval Medical University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yayun Pan
- Department of Anesthesiology, Changhai Hospital, Naval Medical University, Shanghai, China
| | - Jingjing Wang
- Department of Burn and Plastic Surgery, Affiliated Kunshan Hospital of Jiangsu University, Kunshan, China
| | - Minliang Wu
- Department of Plastic Surgery, Changhai Hospital, Naval Medical University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yue Yu
- Department of General Surgery, Changhai Hospital, Naval Medical University, Shanghai, China
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Pan Q, Fan X, Xie L, Wu D, Liu R, Gao W, Luo K, He B, Pu Y. Nano-enabled colorectal cancer therapy. J Control Release 2023; 362:548-564. [PMID: 37683732 DOI: 10.1016/j.jconrel.2023.09.014] [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: 06/13/2023] [Revised: 08/31/2023] [Accepted: 09/04/2023] [Indexed: 09/10/2023]
Abstract
Colorectal cancer (CRC), one of the most common and deadliest diseases worldwide, poses a great health threat and social burden. The clinical treatments of CRC encompassing surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy are challenged with toxicity, therapy resistance, and recurrence. In the past two decades, targeted therapy and immunotherapy have greatly improved the therapeutic benefits of CRC patients but they still suffer from drug resistance and low response rates. Very recently, gut microbiota regulation has exhibited a great potential in preventing and treating CRC, as well as in modulating the efficacy and toxicity of chemotherapy and immunotherapy. In this review, we provide a cutting-edge summary of nanomedicine-based treatment in colorectal cancer, highlighting the recent progress of oral and systemic tumor-targeting and/or tumor-activatable drug delivery systems as well as novel therapeutic strategies against CRC, including nano-sensitizing immunotherapy, anti-inflammation, gut microbiota modulation therapy, etc. Finally, the recent endeavors to address therapy resistance, metastasis, and recurrence in CRC were discussed. We hope this review could offer insight into the design and development of nanomedicines for CRC and beyond.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Qingqing Pan
- School of Preclinical Medicine, Chengdu University, Chengdu 610106, China
| | - Xi Fan
- National Engineering Research Center for Biomaterials, College of Biomedical Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610064, China
| | - Li Xie
- School of Preclinical Medicine, Chengdu University, Chengdu 610106, China
| | - Di Wu
- Meat Processing Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, School of Food and Biological Engineering, Chengdu University, Chengdu 610106, China
| | - Rong Liu
- School of Preclinical Medicine, Chengdu University, Chengdu 610106, China.
| | - Wenxia Gao
- College of Chemistry & Materials Engineering, Wenzhou University, Wenzhou 325027, China
| | - Kui Luo
- Huaxi MR Research Center (HMRRC), Department of Radiology, West China Hospital, Functional and molecular imaging Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Bin He
- National Engineering Research Center for Biomaterials, College of Biomedical Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610064, China
| | - Yuji Pu
- National Engineering Research Center for Biomaterials, College of Biomedical Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610064, China.
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Kong X, Zhang Y, Xiang L, You Y, Duan Y, Zhao Y, Li S, Wu R, Zhang J, Zhou L, Duan L. Fusobacterium nucleatum-triggered neutrophil extracellular traps facilitate colorectal carcinoma progression. J Exp Clin Cancer Res 2023; 42:236. [PMID: 37684625 PMCID: PMC10492297 DOI: 10.1186/s13046-023-02817-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2023] [Accepted: 08/29/2023] [Indexed: 09/10/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Fusobacterium nucleatum (Fn) acts as a procarcinogenic bacterium in colorectal carcinoma (CRC) by regulating the inflammatory tumor microenvironment (TME). Neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs), which can be generated by persistent inflammation, have been recently considered to be significant contributors in promoting cancer progression. However, whether NETs are implicated in Fn-related carcinogenesis is still poorly characterized. Here, we explored the role of NETs in Fn-related CRC as well as their potential clinical significance. METHODS Fn was measured in tissue specimens and feces samples from CRC patients. The expression of NET markers were also detected in tissue specimens, freshly isolated neutrophils and blood serum from CRC patients, and the correlation of circulating NETs levels with Fn was evaluated. Cell-based experiments were conducted to investigate the mechanism by which Fn modulates NETs formation. In addition, we clarified the functional mechanism of Fn-induced NETs on the growth and metastasis of CRC in vitro and in vivo experiments. RESULTS Tissue and blood samples from CRC patients, particularly those from Fn-infected CRC patients, exhibited greater neutrophil infiltration and higher NETs levels. Fn infection induced abundant NETs production in in vitro studies. Subsequently, we demonstrated that Fn-induced NETs indirectly accelerated malignant tumor growth through angiopoiesis, and facilitated tumor metastasis, as manifested by epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT)-related cell migration, matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-mediated basement membrane protein degradation, and trapping of CRC cells. Mechanistically, the Toll-like receptor (TLR4)-reactive oxygen species (ROS) signaling pathway and NOD-like receptor (NOD1/2)-dependent signaling were responsible for Fn-stimulated NETs formation. More importantly, circulating NETs combined with carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) could predict CRC occurrence and metastasis, with areas under the ROC curves (AUCs) of 0.92 and 0.85, respectively. CONCLUSIONS Our findings indicated that Fn-induced NETs abundance by activating TLR4-ROS and NOD1/2 signalings in neutrophils facilitated CRC progression. The combination of circulating NETs and CEA was identified as a novel screening strategy for predicting CRC occurrence and metastasis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xuehua Kong
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Key Laboratory of Laboratory Medical Diagnostics, Ministry of Education, Chongqing Medical University, No. 1 of Yixueyuan Road, Yuzhong District, Chongqing, 400016, China
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, No.74 Linjiang Road, Yu Zhong District, Chongqing, 400010, China
| | - Yu Zhang
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, No.74 Linjiang Road, Yu Zhong District, Chongqing, 400010, China
| | - Linwei Xiang
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Key Laboratory of Laboratory Medical Diagnostics, Ministry of Education, Chongqing Medical University, No. 1 of Yixueyuan Road, Yuzhong District, Chongqing, 400016, China
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, No.74 Linjiang Road, Yu Zhong District, Chongqing, 400010, China
| | - Yan You
- Department of Pathology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400010, China
| | - Yaqian Duan
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, No.74 Linjiang Road, Yu Zhong District, Chongqing, 400010, China
| | - Yuqing Zhao
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Key Laboratory of Laboratory Medical Diagnostics, Ministry of Education, Chongqing Medical University, No. 1 of Yixueyuan Road, Yuzhong District, Chongqing, 400016, China
| | - Shue Li
- Department of Academic Research, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400010, China
| | - Rui Wu
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chonqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400016, China
| | - Jiangbo Zhang
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Lan Zhou
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Key Laboratory of Laboratory Medical Diagnostics, Ministry of Education, Chongqing Medical University, No. 1 of Yixueyuan Road, Yuzhong District, Chongqing, 400016, China.
| | - Liang Duan
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, No.74 Linjiang Road, Yu Zhong District, Chongqing, 400010, China.
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Zhang X, Yang L, Deng Y, Huang Z, Huang H, Wu Y, He B, Hu F. Single-cell RNA-Seq and bulk RNA-Seq reveal reliable diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers for CRC. J Cancer Res Clin Oncol 2023; 149:9805-9821. [PMID: 37247080 DOI: 10.1007/s00432-023-04882-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2023] [Accepted: 05/19/2023] [Indexed: 05/30/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE The potential role of epithelium-specific genes through the adenoma-carcinoma sequence in the development of colorectal cancer (CRC) remains unknown. Therefore, we integrated single-cell RNA sequencing and bulk RNA sequencing data to select diagnosis and prognosis biomarkers for CRC. METHODS The CRC scRNA-seq dataset was used to describe the cellular landscape of normal intestinal mucosa, adenoma and CRC and to further select epithelium-specific clusters. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) of epithelium-specific clusters were identified between intestinal lesion and normal mucosa in the scRNA-seq data throughout the adenoma-carcinoma sequence. Diagnostic biomarkers and prognostic biomarker (the risk score) for CRC were selected in the bulk RNA-seq dataset based on DEGs shared by the adenoma epithelium-specific cluster and the CRC epithelium-specific cluster (shared-DEGs). RESULTS Among the 1063 shared-DEGs, we selected 38 gene expression biomarkers and 3 methylation biomarkers that had promising diagnostic power in plasma. Multivariate Cox regression identified 174 shared-DEGs as prognostic genes for CRC. We combined 1000 times LASSO-Cox regression and two-way stepwise regression to select 10 prognostic shared-DEGs to construct the risk score in the CRC meta-dataset. In the external validation dataset, the 1- and 5-year AUCs of the risk score were higher than those of stage, the pyroptosis-related genes (PRG) score and the cuproptosis-related genes (CRG) score. In addition, the risk score was closely associated with the immune infiltration of CRC. CONCLUSION The combined analysis of the scRNA-seq dataset and the bulk RNA-seq dataset in this study provides reliable biomarkers for the diagnosis and prognosis of CRC.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xing Zhang
- Department of Epidemiology, The School of Public Health, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, 350122, Fujian, People's Republic of China
| | - Longkun Yang
- Department of Epidemiology, The School of Public Health, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, 350122, Fujian, People's Republic of China
| | - Ying Deng
- Department of Epidemiology, The School of Public Health, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, 350122, Fujian, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhicong Huang
- Department of Epidemiology, The School of Public Health, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, 350122, Fujian, People's Republic of China
| | - Hao Huang
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Shenzhen University Health Science Center, Shenzhen University Medical School, Shenzhen, 518061, Guangdong Province, People's Republic of China
| | - Yuying Wu
- Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, School of Public Health, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450001, Henan, People's Republic of China
| | - Baochang He
- Department of Epidemiology, The School of Public Health, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, 350122, Fujian, People's Republic of China.
| | - Fulan Hu
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Shenzhen University Health Science Center, Shenzhen University Medical School, Shenzhen, 518061, Guangdong Province, People's Republic of China.
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Cheng X, Wang H, Wang Z, Zhu B, Long H. Tumor-associated myeloid cells in cancer immunotherapy. J Hematol Oncol 2023; 16:71. [PMID: 37415162 PMCID: PMC10324139 DOI: 10.1186/s13045-023-01473-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2023] [Accepted: 06/23/2023] [Indexed: 07/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Tumor-associated myeloid cells (TAMCs) are among the most important immune cell populations in the tumor microenvironment, and play a significant role on the efficacy of immune checkpoint blockade. Understanding the origin of TAMCs was found to be the essential to determining their functional heterogeneity and, developing cancer immunotherapy strategies. While myeloid-biased differentiation in the bone marrow has been traditionally considered as the primary source of TAMCs, the abnormal differentiation of splenic hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells, erythroid progenitor cells, and B precursor cells in the spleen, as well as embryo-derived TAMCs, have been depicted as important origins of TAMCs. This review article provides an overview of the literature with a focus on the recent research progress evaluating the heterogeneity of TAMCs origins. Moreover, this review summarizes the major therapeutic strategies targeting TAMCs with heterogeneous sources, shedding light on their implications for cancer antitumor immunotherapies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xinyu Cheng
- Institute of Cancer, Xinqiao Hospital, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, 400037, China
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Immunotherapy, Chongqing, 400037, China
| | - Huilan Wang
- Institute of Cancer, Xinqiao Hospital, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, 400037, China
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Immunotherapy, Chongqing, 400037, China
| | - Zhongyu Wang
- Institute of Cancer, Xinqiao Hospital, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, 400037, China
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Immunotherapy, Chongqing, 400037, China
| | - Bo Zhu
- Institute of Cancer, Xinqiao Hospital, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, 400037, China.
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Immunotherapy, Chongqing, 400037, China.
| | - Haixia Long
- Institute of Cancer, Xinqiao Hospital, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, 400037, China.
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Immunotherapy, Chongqing, 400037, China.
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Wang Y, Liu Y, Zhang Z, Lu B, Gao Y, Tong L, Hu M, Lin PP, Li B, Zhang T. Post-therapeutic circulating tumor cell-associated white blood cell clusters predict poor survival in patients with advanced driver gene-negative non-small cell lung cancer. BMC Cancer 2023; 23:578. [PMID: 37349714 DOI: 10.1186/s12885-023-10985-1] [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: 02/13/2023] [Accepted: 05/19/2023] [Indexed: 06/24/2023] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE This study aimed to investigate the clinical utility of diverse aneuploid circulating tumor cell (CTC) subtypes and particularly CTC-associated white blood cell (CTC-WBC) clusters in predicting treatment response, prognosis and real-time monitoring disease progression in advanced driver gene-negative non-small lung cancer (NSCLC) patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS A total of 74 eligible patients were prospectively enrolled and serial blood samples were collected at pre-treatment(t0), after two cycles of therapy (t1) and at post-four-to-six treatment cycles (t2). Co-detection of diverse subtypes of aneuploid CTCs and CTC-WBC clusters was conducted in advanced NSCLC patients receiving first-line treatment. RESULTS At baseline, CTCs were detected in 69 (93.24%) patients and CTC-WBC clusters were detected in 23 (31.08%) patients. Patients with CTCs < 5/6ml or with CTC-WBC clusters undetectable exhibited a better treatment response than patients with pre-therapeutic aneuploid CTCs ≥ 5/6ml or harboring CTC-WBC clusters (p = 0.034 and p = 0.012, respectively). Before treatment, patients bearing tetraploid CTCs ≥ 1/6ml showed significantly inferior progression-free survival (PFS) [hazard ratio (HR):2.420, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.426-4.106; p = 0.001] and overall survival (OS) compared to patients with tetraploid CTCs < 1/6ml (HR:1.907, 95%CI: 1.119-3.251; p = 0.018). A longitudinal study demonstrated that post-therapeutic patients harboring CTC-WBC clusters displayed the reduced PFS and OS compared with those without CTC-WBC clusters, and subgroup analysis showed that the presence of CTC-WBC clusters indicated a worse prognosis in both lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) and lung squamous cell carcinoma (LUSC) patients. After adjusting for multiple significant factors, post-therapeutic CTC-WBC clusters were the only independent predictor of both PFS (HR:2.872, 95% CI: 1.539-5.368; p = 0.001) and OS (HR:2.162, 95% CI: 1.168-4.003; p = 0.014). CONCLUSIONS In addition to CTCs, longitudinal detection of CTC-WBC clusters provided a feasible tool to indicate initial treatment response, dynamically monitor disease progression and predict survival in driver gene-negative advanced NSCLC patients.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ying Wang
- Department of General Medicine, Beijing Chest Hospital, Capital Medical University & Beijing Tuberculosis and Thoracic Tumor Research Institute, Beijing, China
| | - Yanxia Liu
- Department of General Medicine, Beijing Chest Hospital, Capital Medical University & Beijing Tuberculosis and Thoracic Tumor Research Institute, Beijing, China
- Department of Cancer Research Center, Beijing Chest Hospital, Capital Medical University & Beijing Tuberculosis and Thoracic Tumor Research Institute, Beijing, China
| | - Zhiyun Zhang
- Department of General Medicine, Beijing Chest Hospital, Capital Medical University & Beijing Tuberculosis and Thoracic Tumor Research Institute, Beijing, China
- Department of Cancer Research Center, Beijing Chest Hospital, Capital Medical University & Beijing Tuberculosis and Thoracic Tumor Research Institute, Beijing, China
| | - Baohua Lu
- Department of General Medicine, Beijing Chest Hospital, Capital Medical University & Beijing Tuberculosis and Thoracic Tumor Research Institute, Beijing, China
| | - Yuan Gao
- Department of General Medicine, Beijing Chest Hospital, Capital Medical University & Beijing Tuberculosis and Thoracic Tumor Research Institute, Beijing, China
| | - Li Tong
- Department of General Medicine, Beijing Chest Hospital, Capital Medical University & Beijing Tuberculosis and Thoracic Tumor Research Institute, Beijing, China
| | - Mingming Hu
- Department of General Medicine, Beijing Chest Hospital, Capital Medical University & Beijing Tuberculosis and Thoracic Tumor Research Institute, Beijing, China
| | | | - Baolan Li
- Department of General Medicine, Beijing Chest Hospital, Capital Medical University & Beijing Tuberculosis and Thoracic Tumor Research Institute, Beijing, China
| | - Tongmei Zhang
- Department of General Medicine, Beijing Chest Hospital, Capital Medical University & Beijing Tuberculosis and Thoracic Tumor Research Institute, Beijing, China.
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Lucarini V, Nardozi D, Angiolini V, Benvenuto M, Focaccetti C, Carrano R, Besharat ZM, Bei R, Masuelli L. Tumor Microenvironment Remodeling in Gastrointestinal Cancer: Role of miRNAs as Biomarkers of Tumor Invasion. Biomedicines 2023; 11:1761. [PMID: 37371856 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines11061761] [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: 05/10/2023] [Revised: 06/13/2023] [Accepted: 06/15/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Gastrointestinal (GI) cancers are the most frequent neoplasm, responsible for half of all cancer-related deaths. Metastasis is the leading cause of death from GI cancer; thus, studying the processes that regulate cancer cell migration is of paramount importance for the development of new therapeutic strategies. In this review, we summarize the mechanisms adopted by cancer cells to promote cell migration and the subsequent metastasis formation by highlighting the key role that tumor microenvironment components play in deregulating cellular pathways involved in these processes. We, therefore, provide an overview of the role of different microRNAs in promoting tumor metastasis and their role as potential biomarkers for the prognosis, monitoring, and diagnosis of GI cancer patients. Finally, we relate the possible use of nutraceuticals as a new strategy for targeting numerous microRNAs and different pathways involved in GI tumor invasiveness.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Valeria Lucarini
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Rome "Sapienza", Viale Regina Elena 324, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Daniela Nardozi
- Department of Clinical Sciences and Translational Medicine, University of Rome "Tor Vergata", Via Montpellier 1, 00133 Rome, Italy
| | - Valentina Angiolini
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Rome "Sapienza", Viale Regina Elena 324, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Monica Benvenuto
- Department of Clinical Sciences and Translational Medicine, University of Rome "Tor Vergata", Via Montpellier 1, 00133 Rome, Italy
- Departmental Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, Saint Camillus International University of Health and Medical Sciences, via di Sant'Alessandro 8, 00131 Rome, Italy
| | - Chiara Focaccetti
- Department of Clinical Sciences and Translational Medicine, University of Rome "Tor Vergata", Via Montpellier 1, 00133 Rome, Italy
| | - Raffaele Carrano
- Department of Clinical Sciences and Translational Medicine, University of Rome "Tor Vergata", Via Montpellier 1, 00133 Rome, Italy
| | - Zein Mersini Besharat
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Rome "Sapienza", Viale Regina Elena 324, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Roberto Bei
- Department of Clinical Sciences and Translational Medicine, University of Rome "Tor Vergata", Via Montpellier 1, 00133 Rome, Italy
| | - Laura Masuelli
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Rome "Sapienza", Viale Regina Elena 324, 00161 Rome, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Giacomelli M, Monti M, Pezzola DC, Lonardi S, Bugatti M, Missale F, Cioncada R, Melocchi L, Giustini V, Villanacci V, Baronchelli C, Manenti S, Imberti L, Giurisato E, Vermi W. Immuno-Contexture and Immune Checkpoint Molecule Expression in Mismatch Repair Proficient Colorectal Carcinoma. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:3097. [PMID: 37370706 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15123097] [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: 05/05/2023] [Revised: 06/01/2023] [Accepted: 06/01/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Colorectal carcinoma (CRC) represents a lethal disease with heterogeneous outcomes. Only patients with mismatch repair (MMR) deficient CRC showing microsatellite instability and hyper-mutated tumors can obtain clinical benefits from current immune checkpoint blockades; on the other hand, immune- or target-based therapeutic strategies are very limited for subjects with mismatch repair proficient CRC (CRCpMMR). Here, we report a comprehensive typing of immune infiltrating cells in CRCpMMR. We also tested the expression and interferon-γ-modulation of PD-L1/CD274. Relevant findings were subsequently validated by immunohistochemistry on fixed materials. CRCpMMR contain a significantly increased fraction of CD163+ macrophages (TAMs) expressing TREM2 and CD66+ neutrophils (TANs) together with decrease in CD4-CD8-CD3+ double negative T lymphocytes (DNTs); no differences were revealed by the analysis of conventional and plasmacytoid dendritic cell populations. A fraction of tumor-infiltrating T-cells displays an exhausted phenotype, co-expressing PD-1 and TIM-3. Remarkably, expression of PD-L1 on fresh tumor cells and TAMs was undetectable even after in vitro stimulation with interferon-γ. These findings confirm the immune suppressive microenvironment of CRCpMMR characterized by dense infiltration of TAMs, occurrence of TANs, lack of DNTs, T-cell exhaustion, and interferon-γ unresponsiveness by host and tumor cells. Appropriate bypass strategies should consider these combinations of immune escape mechanisms in CRCpMMR.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mauro Giacomelli
- Department of Pathology, ASST Spedali Civili di Brescia, 25123 Brescia, Italy
| | - Matilde Monti
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, 25123 Brescia, Italy
| | - Diego Cesare Pezzola
- Department of Surgery, Surgery Division II, ASST Spedali Civili di Brescia, 25123 Brescia, Italy
| | - Silvia Lonardi
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, 25123 Brescia, Italy
| | - Mattia Bugatti
- Department of Pathology, ASST Spedali Civili di Brescia, 25123 Brescia, Italy
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, 25123 Brescia, Italy
| | - Francesco Missale
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, 25123 Brescia, Italy
- Department of Head & Neck Oncology & Surgery Otorhinolaryngology, Antoni Van Leeuwenhoek-Nederlands Kanker Instituut, 1066 CX Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Rossella Cioncada
- Department of Pathology, ASST Spedali Civili di Brescia, 25123 Brescia, Italy
| | - Laura Melocchi
- Department of Pathology, Fondazione Poliambulanza, 25124 Brescia, Italy
| | - Viviana Giustini
- CREA Laboratory, AIL Center for Hemato-Oncologic Research, Diagnostic Department, ASST Spedali Civili di Brescia, 25123 Brescia, Italy
| | - Vincenzo Villanacci
- Department of Pathology, ASST Spedali Civili di Brescia, 25123 Brescia, Italy
| | - Carla Baronchelli
- Department of Pathology, ASST Spedali Civili di Brescia, 25123 Brescia, Italy
| | - Stefania Manenti
- Department of Pathology, ASST Spedali Civili di Brescia, 25123 Brescia, Italy
| | - Luisa Imberti
- Section of Microbiology, University of Brescia, 25123 Brescia, Italy
| | - Emanuele Giurisato
- Department of Biotechnology Chemistry and Pharmacy, University of Siena, 53100 Siena, Italy
- Division of Cancer Sciences, School of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, The University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PL, UK
| | - William Vermi
- Department of Pathology, ASST Spedali Civili di Brescia, 25123 Brescia, Italy
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, 25123 Brescia, Italy
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, School of Medicine, Washington University, Saint Louis, MO 63130, USA
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Levy JJ, Zavras JP, Veziroglu EM, Nasir-Moin M, Kolling FW, Christensen BC, Salas LA, Barney RE, Palisoul SM, Ren B, Liu X, Kerr DA, Pointer KB, Tsongalis GJ, Vaickus LJ. Identification of Spatial Proteomic Signatures of Colon Tumor Metastasis: A Digital Spatial Profiling Approach. THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PATHOLOGY 2023; 193:778-795. [PMID: 37037284 PMCID: PMC10284031 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajpath.2023.02.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2022] [Revised: 01/29/2023] [Accepted: 02/24/2023] [Indexed: 04/12/2023]
Abstract
Over 150,000 Americans are diagnosed with colorectal cancer (CRC) every year, and annually >50,000 individuals are estimated to die of CRC, necessitating improvements in screening, prognostication, disease management, and therapeutic options. CRC tumors are removed en bloc with surrounding vasculature and lymphatics. Examination of regional lymph nodes at the time of surgical resection is essential for prognostication. Developing alternative approaches to indirectly assess recurrence risk would have utility in cases where lymph node yield is incomplete or inadequate. Spatially dependent, immune cell-specific (eg, tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes), proteomic, and transcriptomic expression patterns inside and around the tumor-the tumor immune microenvironment-can predict nodal/distant metastasis and probe the coordinated immune response from the primary tumor site. The comprehensive characterization of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes and other immune infiltrates is possible using highly multiplexed spatial omics technologies, such as the GeoMX Digital Spatial Profiler. In this study, machine learning and differential co-expression analyses helped identify biomarkers from Digital Spatial Profiler-assayed protein expression patterns inside, at the invasive margin, and away from the tumor, associated with extracellular matrix remodeling (eg, granzyme B and fibronectin), immune suppression (eg, forkhead box P3), exhaustion and cytotoxicity (eg, CD8), Programmed death ligand 1-expressing dendritic cells, and neutrophil proliferation, among other concomitant alterations. Further investigation of these biomarkers may reveal independent risk factors of CRC metastasis that can be formulated into low-cost, widely available assays.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Joshua J Levy
- Emerging Diagnostic and Investigative Technologies, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Dartmouth Health, Lebanon, New Hampshire; Department of Dermatology, Dartmouth Health, Lebanon, New Hampshire; Department of Epidemiology, Dartmouth College Geisel School of Medicine, Hanover, New Hampshire; Program in Quantitative Biomedical Sciences, Dartmouth College Geisel School of Medicine, Hanover, New Hampshire.
| | | | - Eren M Veziroglu
- Dartmouth College Geisel School of Medicine, Hanover, New Hampshire
| | | | | | - Brock C Christensen
- Department of Epidemiology, Dartmouth College Geisel School of Medicine, Hanover, New Hampshire; Department of Molecular and Systems Biology, Dartmouth College Geisel School of Medicine, Hanover, New Hampshire; Department of Community and Family Medicine, Dartmouth College Geisel School of Medicine, Hanover, New Hampshire
| | - Lucas A Salas
- Department of Epidemiology, Dartmouth College Geisel School of Medicine, Hanover, New Hampshire; Department of Molecular and Systems Biology, Dartmouth College Geisel School of Medicine, Hanover, New Hampshire; Integrative Neuroscience at Dartmouth Graduate Program, Dartmouth College Geisel School of Medicine, Hanover, New Hampshire
| | - Rachael E Barney
- Emerging Diagnostic and Investigative Technologies, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Dartmouth Health, Lebanon, New Hampshire
| | - Scott M Palisoul
- Emerging Diagnostic and Investigative Technologies, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Dartmouth Health, Lebanon, New Hampshire
| | - Bing Ren
- Emerging Diagnostic and Investigative Technologies, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Dartmouth Health, Lebanon, New Hampshire
| | - Xiaoying Liu
- Emerging Diagnostic and Investigative Technologies, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Dartmouth Health, Lebanon, New Hampshire
| | - Darcy A Kerr
- Emerging Diagnostic and Investigative Technologies, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Dartmouth Health, Lebanon, New Hampshire
| | - Kelli B Pointer
- Section of Radiation Oncology, Department of Medicine, Dartmouth College Geisel School of Medicine, Hanover, New Hampshire
| | - Gregory J Tsongalis
- Emerging Diagnostic and Investigative Technologies, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Dartmouth Health, Lebanon, New Hampshire.
| | - Louis J Vaickus
- Emerging Diagnostic and Investigative Technologies, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Dartmouth Health, Lebanon, New Hampshire
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Bi Y, Yang Q, Li Z, Wang Y, Wang Y, Jia A, Pan Z, Yang R, Liu G. Aryl hydrocarbon receptor nuclear translocator limits the recruitment and function of regulatory neutrophils against colorectal cancer by regulating the gut microbiota. J Exp Clin Cancer Res 2023; 42:53. [PMID: 36859266 PMCID: PMC9976387 DOI: 10.1186/s13046-023-02627-y] [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: 11/14/2022] [Accepted: 02/21/2023] [Indexed: 03/03/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Although the role and mechanism of neutrophils in tumors have been widely studied, the precise effects of aryl hydrocarbon receptor nuclear translocator (ARNT) on neutrophils remain unclear. In this study, we investigated the roles of ARNT in the function of CD11b+Gr1+ neutrophils in colitis-associated colorectal cancer. METHODS Wild-type (WT), ARNT myeloid-specific deficient mice and a colitis-associated colorectal cancer mouse model were used in this study. The level and functions of CD11b+Gr1+ cells were evaluated by flow cytometry and confocal microscopy. RESULTS We found that ARNT deficiency drives neutrophils recruitment, neutrophil extracellular trap (NET) development, inflammatory cytokine secretion and suppressive activities when cells enter the periphery from bone marrow upon colorectal tumorigenesis. ARNT deficiency displays similar effects to aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) deficiency in neutrophils. CXCR2 is required for NET development, cytokine production and recruitment of neutrophils but not the suppressive activities induced by Arnt-/- in colorectal cancer. The gut microbiota is essential for functional alterations in Arnt-/- neutrophils to promote colorectal cancer growth. The colorectal cancer effects of Arnt-/- neutrophils were significantly restored by mouse cohousing or antibiotic treatment. Intragastric administration of the feces of Arnt-/- mice phenocopied their colorectal cancer effects. CONCLUSION Our results defined a new role for the transcription factor ARNT in regulating neutrophils recruitment and function and the gut microbiota with implications for the future combination of gut microbiota and immunotherapy approaches in colorectal cancer.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yujing Bi
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, 100071, Beijing, China.
| | - Qiuli Yang
- Key Laboratory of Cell Proliferation and Regulation Biology, Ministry of Education, College of Life Sciences, Beijing Normal University, 100875, Beijing, China
| | - Zhengchao Li
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, 100071, Beijing, China
| | - Yuexin Wang
- Key Laboratory of Cell Proliferation and Regulation Biology, Ministry of Education, College of Life Sciences, Beijing Normal University, 100875, Beijing, China
| | - Yufei Wang
- Key Laboratory of Cell Proliferation and Regulation Biology, Ministry of Education, College of Life Sciences, Beijing Normal University, 100875, Beijing, China
| | - Anna Jia
- Key Laboratory of Cell Proliferation and Regulation Biology, Ministry of Education, College of Life Sciences, Beijing Normal University, 100875, Beijing, China
| | - Zhiyuan Pan
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, 100071, Beijing, China
| | - Ruifu Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, 100071, Beijing, China
| | - Guangwei Liu
- Key Laboratory of Cell Proliferation and Regulation Biology, Ministry of Education, College of Life Sciences, Beijing Normal University, 100875, Beijing, China.
| |
Collapse
|
18
|
Wei X, Leng X, Li G, Wang R, Chi L, Sun D. Advances in research on the effectiveness and mechanism of Traditional Chinese Medicine formulas for colitis-associated colorectal cancer. Front Pharmacol 2023; 14:1120672. [PMID: 36909166 PMCID: PMC9995472 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2023.1120672] [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: 12/10/2022] [Accepted: 02/13/2023] [Indexed: 02/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) can progress into colitis-associated colorectal cancer (CAC) through the inflammation-cancer sequence. Although the mechanism of carcinogenesis in IBD has not been fully elucidated, the existing research indicates that CAC may represent a fundamentally different pathogenesis pattern of colorectal cancer. At present, there is no proven safe and effective medication to prevent IBD cancer. In recent years, Chinese medicine extracts and Chinese medicine monomers have been the subject of numerous articles about the prevention and treatment of CAC, but their clinical application is still relatively limited. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) formulas are widely applied in clinical practice. TCM formulas have demonstrated great potential in the prevention and treatment of CAC in recent years, although there is still a lack of review. Our work aimed to summarize the effects and potential mechanisms of TCM formulas for the prevention and treatment of CAC, point out the issues and limitations of the current research, and provide recommendations for the advancement of CAC research in the future. We discovered that TCM formulas regulated many malignant biological processes, such as inflammation-mediated oxidative stress, apoptosis, tumor microenvironment, and intestinal microecology imbalance in CAC, through a review of the articles published in databases such as PubMed, SCOPUS, Web of Science, Embase, and CNKI. Several major signal transduction pathways, including NF-κB, STAT3, Wnt/β-catenin, HIF-1α, and Nrf2, were engaged. TCM formula may be a promising treatment candidate to control the colitis-cancer transformation, however further high-quality research is required.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xiunan Wei
- College of First Clinical Medicine, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, China
| | - Xiaohui Leng
- Weifang Traditional Chinese Hospital, Weifang, China
| | - Gongyi Li
- College of Chinese Medicine, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, China
| | - Ruting Wang
- College of Chinese Medicine, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, China
| | - Lili Chi
- Affiliated Hospital of Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, China
| | - Dajuan Sun
- Affiliated Hospital of Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, China
| |
Collapse
|
19
|
Lv J, Liu J, Chao G, Zhang S. PARs in the inflammation-cancer transformation of CRC. Clin Transl Oncol 2022; 25:1242-1251. [PMID: 36547764 DOI: 10.1007/s12094-022-03052-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2022] [Accepted: 12/13/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the common malignancies with a global trend of increasing incidence and mortality. There is an urgent need to identify new predictive markers and therapeutic targets for the treatment of CRC. Protease-activated receptors (PARs) are a class of G-protein-coupled receptors, with currently identified subtypes including PAR1, PAR2, PAR3 and PAR4. Increasingly, studies suggest that PARs play an important role in the growth and metastasis of CRC. By targeting multiple signaling pathways may contribute to the pathogenesis of CRC. In this review, we first describe recent studies on the role of PARs in CRC inflammation-cancer transformation, focusing on the important role of PARs in signaling pathways associated with inflammation-cancer transformation, and summarize the progress of research on PARs-targeted drugs.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jianyu Lv
- The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Zhejiang, China
| | - Jinguo Liu
- The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Zhejiang, China
| | - Guanqun Chao
- Department of General Practice, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University, Hanghou, China.
| | - Shuo Zhang
- Department of Gastroenterology, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Zhejiang, China.
| |
Collapse
|
20
|
Complement and Fungal Dysbiosis as Prognostic Markers and Potential Targets in PDAC Treatment. Curr Oncol 2022; 29:9833-9854. [PMID: 36547187 PMCID: PMC9777542 DOI: 10.3390/curroncol29120773] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2022] [Revised: 12/02/2022] [Accepted: 12/09/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is still hampered by a dismal prognosis. A better understanding of the tumor microenvironment within the pancreas and of the factors affecting its composition is of utmost importance for developing new diagnostic and treatment tools. In this context, the complement system plays a prominent role. Not only has it been shown to shape a T cell-mediated immune response, but it also directly affects proliferation and apoptosis of the tumor cells, influencing angiogenesis, metastatic spread and therapeutic resistance. This makes complement proteins appealing not only as early biomarkers of PDAC development, but also as therapeutic targets. Fungal dysbiosis is currently the new kid on the block in tumorigenesis with cancer-associated mycobiomes extracted from several cancer types. For PDAC, colonization with the yeast Malassezia seems to promote cancer progression, already in precursor lesions. One responsible mechanism appears to be complement activation via the lectin pathway. In the present article, we review the role of the complement system in tumorigenesis, presenting observations that propose it as the missing link between fungal dysbiosis and PDAC development. We also present the results of a small pilot study supporting the crucial interplay between the complement system and Malassezia colonization in PDAC pathogenesis.
Collapse
|