Combining TNFR2-Expressing Tregs and IL-6 as Superior Diagnostic Biomarkers for High-Grade Serous Ovarian Cancer Masses

Single-cell RNA sequencing reveals the change in cytotoxic NK/T cells, epithelial cells and myeloid cells of the tumor microenvironment of high-grade serous ovarian carcinoma

BACKGROUND

The heterogeneity of high-grade serous ovarian carcinoma (HGSOC) has hindered the clinical treatment, and our current study aims to characterize the change in tumor microenvironment (TME) with the progression of HGSOC via single cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq).

METHODS

The single-cell landscape in HGSOC was downloaded from the dataset GSE184880, which included 7 HGSOC and 5 normal samples and then applied for the filtering and annotation of cell clusters. The differentially expressed marker genes in these clusters were analyzed via "FindAllMarker" function in Seurat package and the functional enrichment analyses were implemented using clusterProflier package. Finally, the CellChat package was applied for the cell-cell communication analysis. Cellular experimental were determined Real-time Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-qPCR).

RESULTS

45,448 single cells were categorized into 10 cell clusters. The proportion of NK/T cells (49.5%), epithelial cells (15.3%) and myeloid cells (14%) was higher in the HGSOC samples. The heterogeneity and different enriched pathways of epithelial cells have been revealed with the progression of HGSOC from early to late stage, concurrent with the reduced activity of cytotoxic NK/T cells and the decreased capabilities of recruiting immune cells and presenting antigens in macrophages. Besides, the cell-cell communication analysis has revealed a strong communication of CXCL and CCL signal between M1 macrophages and cytotoxic NK/T cells in early stage of HGSOC. Moreover, RT-qPCR indicated that CCL4/5 and CCR1/5 levels were upregulated in tumor cell SK-OV-3.

CONCLUSION

The investigation using scRNA-seq has depicted the change in cytotoxic NK/T cells, epithelial cells and myeloid cells of the TME of HGSOC, which may provide another insight into the specific mechanisms underlying the progression of HGSOC.

Dysregulation of Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells and Immune-Related Proteins during the Early Post-Operative Immune Response in Ovarian Cancer Patients

Surgical treatment is a cornerstone of ovarian cancer (OC) therapy and exerts a substantial influence on the immune system. Immune responses also play a pivotal and intricate role in OC progression. The aim of this study was to investigate the dynamics of immune-related protein expression and the activity of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) in OC patients, both before surgery and during the early postoperative phase. The study cohort comprised 23 OC patients and 20 non-cancer controls. A comprehensive analysis of PBMCs revealed significant pre-operative downregulation in the mRNA expression of multiple immune-related proteins, including interleukins, PD-1, PD-L1, and HO-1. This was followed by further dysregulation during the first 5 post-operative days. Although most serum interleukin concentrations showed only minor changes, a distinct increase in IL-6 and HO-1 levels was observed post-operatively. Reduced metabolic and phagocytic activity and increased production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) were observed on day 1 post-surgery. These findings suggest a shift towards immune tolerance during the early post-operative phase of OC, potentially creating a window for treatment. Further research into post-operative PBMC activity could lead to the development of new or improved treatment strategies for OC.

A Novel Predictive Multi-Marker Test for the Pre-Surgical Identification of Ovarian Cancer

Ovarian cancer remains the most lethal of gynecological malignancies, with the 5-year survival below 50%. Currently there is no simple and effective pre-surgical diagnosis or triage for patients with malignancy, particularly those with early-stage or low-volume tumors. Recently we discovered that CXCL10 can be processed to an inactive form in ovarian cancers and that its measurement has diagnostic significance. In this study we evaluated the addition of processed CXCL10 to a biomarker panel for the discrimination of benign from malignant disease. Multiple biomarkers were measured in retrospectively collected plasma samples (n = 334) from patients diagnosed with benign or malignant disease, and a classifier model was developed using CA125, HE4, Il6 and CXCL10 (active and total). The model provided 95% sensitivity/95% specificity for discrimination of benign from malignant disease. Positive predictive performance exceeded that of "gold standard" scoring systems including CA125, RMI and ROMA% and was independent of menopausal status. In addition, 80% of stage I-II cancers in the cohort were correctly identified using the multi-marker scoring system. Our data suggest the multi-marker panel and associated scoring algorithm provides a useful measurement to assist in pre-surgical diagnosis and triage of patients with suspected ovarian cancer.

The potential role of interleukins and interferons in ovarian cancer

Ovarian cancer poses significant challenges and remains a highly lethal disease with limited treatment options. In the context of ovarian cancer, interleukins (ILs) and interferons (IFNs), important cytokines that play crucial roles in regulating the immune system, have emerged as significant factors influencing its development. This article provides a comprehensive review of the involvement of various ILs, including those from the IL-1 family, IL-2 family, IL-6 family, IL-8 family, IL-10 family, and IL-17 family, in ovarian cancer. The focus is on their impact on tumor growth, metastasis, and their role in evading immune responses within the tumor microenvironment. Additionally, the article conducts an in-depth examination of the oncogenic or antitumor roles of each IL in the context of ovarian cancer pathogenesis and progression. Besides, we elucidated the enhancements in the treatment of ovarian cancer through the utilization of type-I IFN and type-II IFN. Recent research has shed light on the intricate mechanisms through which specific ILs and IFNs contribute to the advancement of the disease. By incorporating recent findings, this review also seeks to inspire further investigations into unexplored mechanisms, fostering ongoing research to develop more effective therapeutic strategies for ovarian cancer. Moreover, through an in-depth analysis of IL- and IFN-associated clinical trials, we have highlighted their promising potential of in the treatment of ovarian cancer. These clinical trials serve to reinforce the significant outlook for utilizing ILs and IFNs as therapeutic agents in combating this disease.

The role of inflammatory factors and T-cell subsets in the diagnosis of recurrence in epithelial ovarian cancer patients and the effect of olaparin treatment on them

BACKGROUND

The aim of the study is to investigate the role of serum inflammatory factors and T-cell subsets in the diagnosis of recurrence in epithelial ovarian cancer patients and the effect of olaparib on inflammatory factor and T-lymphocyte subsets in patients with recurrent epithelial ovarian cancer.

METHODS

In this study, 100 patients diagnosed as recurrent epithelial ovarian cancer in our hospital and 100 patients without recurrent epithelial ovarian cancer in the same period were selected. According to the treatment plan, the recurrent patients were divided into conventional therapy group (Paclitaxel and Carboplatin) and combined therapy group (Paclitaxel, Carboplatin, and olaparib). The levels of serum inflammatory factors were evaluated by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The peripheral blood T-lymphocyte subsets in each group were detected by flow cytometry.

RESULTS

Compared with nonrecurrent patients, recurrent patients have higher serum interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) levels (p < .05), and lower interferon-γ (IFN-γ) level and the CD4+/CD8+ ratio. After adjusting for confounding factors, the results showed that the serum IL-6, IFN-γ, and TNF-α levels were influencing factors of recurrence in epithelial ovarian cancer patients. The area under the receiver operating curve and the sensitivity of serum TNF-α in predicting ovarian cancer recurrence were higher than those of IL-6 and IFN-γ. After secondary chemotherapy and/or olaparib maintenance treatment, the IL-6 (p < .001) and TNF-α (p < .001) levels in combined therapy group were lower than those in the conventional therapy, whereas the IFN-γ level (p < .001), the CD4+ T-cell proportion (p = .0069) and the CD4+/CD8+ ratio (p = .0201) were higher than those in the conventional therapy.

CONCLUSION

The serum IL-6, TNF-α, and IFN-γ levels were closely related to the recurrence of ovarian cancer. Olaparib maintenance treatment can significantly decrease the IL-6 and TNF-α level, and increase IFN-γ level and the CD4+/CD8+ ratio in patients with recurrent ovarian cancer.