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Zhang Q, Yang C, Gao X, Dong J, Zhong C. Phytochemicals in regulating PD-1/PD-L1 and immune checkpoint blockade therapy. Phytother Res 2024; 38:776-796. [PMID: 38050789 DOI: 10.1002/ptr.8082] [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: 04/14/2023] [Revised: 10/27/2023] [Accepted: 11/12/2023] [Indexed: 12/06/2023]
Abstract
Clinical treatment and preclinical studies have highlighted the role of immune checkpoint blockade in cancer treatment. Research has been devoted to developing immune checkpoint inhibitors in combination with other drugs to achieve better efficacy or reduce adverse effects. Phytochemicals sourced from vegetables and fruits have demonstrated antiproliferative, proapoptotic, anti-migratory, and antiangiogenic effects against several cancers. Phytochemicals also modulate the tumor microenvironment such as T cells, regulatory T cells, and cytokines. Recently, several phytochemicals have been reported to modulate immune checkpoint proteins in in vivo or in vitro models. Phytochemicals decreased programmed cell death ligand-1 expression and synergized programmed cell death receptor 1 (PD-1) monoclonal antibody to suppress tumor growth. Combined administration of phytochemicals and PD-1 monoclonal antibody enhanced the tumor growth inhibition as well as CD4+ /CD8+ T-cell infiltration. In this review, we discuss immune checkpoint molecules as potential therapeutic targets of cancers. We further assess the impact of phytochemicals including carotenoids, polyphenols, saponins, and organosulfur compounds on cancer PD-1/programmed cell death ligand-1 immune checkpoint molecules and document their combination effects with immune checkpoint inhibitors on various malignancies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qi Zhang
- Department of Public Health, School of Medicine & Holistic Integrative Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, China
| | - Chenying Yang
- Yinzhou Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Ningbo, China
| | - Xingsu Gao
- Department of Public Health, School of Medicine & Holistic Integrative Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, China
| | - Ju Dong
- Department of Public Health, School of Medicine & Holistic Integrative Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, China
| | - Caiyun Zhong
- Department of Nutrition and Food Safety, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
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2
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Xu W, Cui J, Busayli AM, Zhang T, Chen G. Arsenic up-regulates PD-L1 and enhances lung tumorigenesis through activation of STAT3 in alveolar epithelial type 2 cells. Toxicol Appl Pharmacol 2024; 482:116787. [PMID: 38101582 PMCID: PMC10843590 DOI: 10.1016/j.taap.2023.116787] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2023] [Revised: 12/05/2023] [Accepted: 12/07/2023] [Indexed: 12/17/2023]
Abstract
Arsenic is a carcinogen and chronic exposure to arsenic increases the risk of many cancers, including lung cancer. However, the underlying mechanism is not clear. Using A/J mice as a model, our previous animal study has shown that chronic arsenic exposure up-regulates PD-L1 on lung tumor cells which interacts with PD-1 on T cells and inhibits T cell anti-tumor function resulting in increased lung tumorigenesis. In a subsequent in vitro study, we further found that arsenic up-regulated PD-L1 by activating STAT3 at tyrosine 705 in lung epithelial cells, and inhibition of STAT3 mitigated arsenic-induced PD-L1 up-regulation. The present study aims to determine whether STAT3 regulates PD-L1 in the lung of A/J mice and the type of cells from which lung tumor develops upon arsenic exposure. For that purpose, a mouse line with STAT3 conditional knockout in alveolar type 2 (AT2) cells was developed. Our results indicate that arsenic exposure up-regulates PD-L1 in AT2 cells through activating STAT3 in A/J mice. Conditional knockout of STAT3 in AT2 cells inhibited arsenic-induced PD-L1 up-regulation and lung tumor formation. Thus, our findings reveal that STAT3 is the upstream regulator of arsenic-induced PD-L1 up-regulation in AT2 cells and the inhibition of T cell anti-tumor function in the lung, and that AT2 cells are sensitive to arsenic exposure and from which arsenic-enhanced lung tumor formation in A/J mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenhua Xu
- Department Pharmacology & Nutritional Sciences, University of Kentucky College of Medicine, Lexington, KY 40536, USA; Department of Neurology, the First Affiliated Hospital of University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230001, China
| | - Jiajun Cui
- Department of Biochemistry, College of Medicine, Yichun University, Yichun, Jiangxi 336000, China
| | - Abdulrahman M Busayli
- Department Pharmacology & Nutritional Sciences, University of Kentucky College of Medicine, Lexington, KY 40536, USA
| | - Tong Zhang
- Department of General Medicine, The First People's Hospital of Yunnan Province Kunming, Yunnan 650032, China
| | - Gang Chen
- Department Pharmacology & Nutritional Sciences, University of Kentucky College of Medicine, Lexington, KY 40536, USA.
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Yang F, Li J, Ge Q, Zhang Y, Zhang M, Zhou J, Wang H, Du J, Gao S, Liang C, Meng J. Non-coding RNAs: emerging roles in the characterization of immune microenvironment and immunotherapy of prostate cancer. Biochem Pharmacol 2023:115669. [PMID: 37364622 DOI: 10.1016/j.bcp.2023.115669] [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: 02/10/2023] [Revised: 06/17/2023] [Accepted: 06/20/2023] [Indexed: 06/28/2023]
Abstract
Prostate cancer is the most common tumor among men. Although the prognosis for early-stage prostate cancer is good, patients with advanced disease often progress to metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC), which usually leads to death owing to resistance to existing treatments and lack of long-term effective therapy. In recent years, immunotherapy, especially immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), has made great progress in the treatment of various solid tumors, including prostate cancer. However, the ICIs have only shown modest outcomes in mCRPC compared with other tumors. Previous studies have suggested that the suppressive tumor immune microenvironment (TIME) of prostate cancer leads to poor anti-tumor immune response and tumor resistance to immunotherapy. It has been reported that non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) are capable of regulating upstream signaling at the transcriptional level, leading to a "cascade of changes" in downstream molecules. As a result, ncRNAs have been identified as an ideal class of molecules for cancer treatment. The discovery of ncRNAs provides a new perspective on TIME regulation in prostate cancer. ncRNAs have been associated with establishing an immunosuppressive microenvironment in prostate cancer through multiple pathways to modulate the immune escape of tumor cells which can promote resistance of prostate cancer to immunotherapy. Targeting these related ncRNAs presents an opportunity to improve the effectiveness of immunotherapy in this patient population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Feixiang Yang
- Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Genitourinary Diseases, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230022, China.
| | - Jiawei Li
- Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Genitourinary Diseases, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230022, China
| | - Qintao Ge
- Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Genitourinary Diseases, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230022, China
| | - Yuchen Zhang
- First School of Clinical Medicine, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230022, China.
| | - Meng Zhang
- Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Genitourinary Diseases, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230022, China
| | - Jun Zhou
- Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Genitourinary Diseases, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230022, China
| | - Haitao Wang
- Center for Cancer Research, Clinical Research/NCI/NIH, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Juan Du
- The Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen 518172, Guangdong, China.
| | - Shenglin Gao
- Department of Urology, The Affiliated Changzhou No. 2 People's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Changzhou 213003, Jiangsu, China; Gonghe County Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Hainan 813099, Qinghai, China
| | - Chaozhao Liang
- Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Genitourinary Diseases, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230022, China
| | - Jialin Meng
- Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Genitourinary Diseases, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230022, China.
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Hou Y, Meng X, Sun K, Zhao M, Liu X, Yang T, Zhang Z, Su R. Anti-cancer effects of ginsenoside CK on acute myeloid leukemia in vitro and in vivo. Heliyon 2022; 8:e12106. [PMID: 36544827 PMCID: PMC9761710 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2022.e12106] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2022] [Revised: 10/17/2022] [Accepted: 11/28/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Objectives Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a malignant disease characterized by clonal proliferation of myeloid cells, and its treatment continues to be a challenge due to high morbidity and mortality. Ginsenoside compound K, a major active metabolite of the protopanaxadiol-type ginsenosides, exhibits biological activities in various cancer cells and animal models. Here, we investigated the role of CK in anticancer potential in AML both in vitro and in vivo. Materials and methods To investigate the inhibitory effects of CK in AML cells, in vitro experiments, including cell viability assays, colony forming assays, and cell cycle and apoptosis assays were performed. AML animal experiment was established and quantitative analysis of lung tumor growth nodules and spleen weight and H&E staining were carried out to further determine the effects of CK on AML. In addition, the potential key genes induced and influenced by CK during treatment was identification by RNA-seq and qRT-PCR. Results CK suppressed AML cell activity and induced apoptosis and G1 cell cycle arrest based on the experiment results. Moreover, significantly down-regulated expression genes of BCL2, KIT, DNMT3A, MYC and CSF-1 and up-regulated expression gene of TET2 in CK treatment AML cells were discovered. Conclusion Our results demonstrated that CK could be used as an anti-AML drug with significant therapeutic efficacy and good biosafety.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuzhu Hou
- Jilin Ginseng Academy, Changchun University of Chinese Medicine, Changchun, 130017, China
| | - Xiangru Meng
- Jilin Ginseng Academy, Changchun University of Chinese Medicine, Changchun, 130017, China
| | - Kaiju Sun
- Jilin Ginseng Academy, Changchun University of Chinese Medicine, Changchun, 130017, China
| | - Mingyue Zhao
- Jilin Ginseng Academy, Changchun University of Chinese Medicine, Changchun, 130017, China
| | - Xin Liu
- Jilin Ginseng Academy, Changchun University of Chinese Medicine, Changchun, 130017, China
| | - Tongtong Yang
- Jilin Ginseng Academy, Changchun University of Chinese Medicine, Changchun, 130017, China
| | - Zhe Zhang
- Jilin Ginseng Academy, Changchun University of Chinese Medicine, Changchun, 130017, China
- Corresponding author.
| | - Rui Su
- Jilin Ginseng Academy, Changchun University of Chinese Medicine, Changchun, 130017, China
- State Key Laboratory of Inorganic Synthesis and Preparative Chemistry, College of Chemistry, Jilin University, Changchun 130012, China
- Corresponding author.
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Cooke M, Zhang X, Zhang S, Eruslanov E, Lal P, Daniel RE, Feldman MD, Abba MC, Kazanietz MG. PROTEIN KINASE C ALPHA IS A CENTRAL NODE FOR TUMORIGENIC TRANSCRIPTIONAL NETWORKS IN HUMAN PROSTATE CANCER. CANCER RESEARCH COMMUNICATIONS 2022; 2:1372-1387. [PMID: 36818489 PMCID: PMC9933888 DOI: 10.1158/2767-9764.crc-22-0170] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2022] [Revised: 08/12/2022] [Accepted: 09/26/2022] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Aberrant expression of protein kinase C (PKC) isozymes is a hallmark of cancer. The different members of the PKC family control cellular events associated with cancer development and progression. Whereas the classical/conventional PKCα isozyme has been linked to tumor suppression in most cancer types, here we demonstrate that this kinase is required for the mitogenic activity of aggressive human prostate cancer cells displaying aberrantly high PKCα expression. Immunohistochemical analysis showed abnormal up-regulation of PKCα in human primary prostate tumors. Interestingly, silencing PKCα expression from aggressive prostate cancer cells impairs cell cycle progression, proliferation and invasion, as well as their tumorigenic activity in a mouse xenograft model. Mechanistic analysis revealed that PKCα exerts a profound control of gene expression, particularly over genes and transcriptional networks associated with cell cycle progression and E2F transcription factors. PKCα RNAi depletion from PC3 prostate cancer cells led to a reduction in the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokine and epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) genes, as well as a prominent down-regulation of the immune checkpoint ligand PD-L1. This PKCα-dependent gene expression profile was corroborated in silico using human prostate cancer databases. Our studies established PKCα as a multifunctional kinase that plays pleiotropic roles in prostate cancer, particularly by controlling genetic networks associated with tumor growth and progression. The identification of PKCα as a pro-tumorigenic kinase in human prostate cancer provides strong rationale for the development of therapeutic approaches towards targeting PKCα or its effectors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mariana Cooke
- Department of Systems Pharmacology and Translational Therapeutics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Department of Medicine, Einstein Medical Center Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Xuyao Zhang
- Department of Systems Pharmacology and Translational Therapeutics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Suli Zhang
- Department of Systems Pharmacology and Translational Therapeutics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Evgeniy Eruslanov
- Division of Thoracic Surgery, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Priti Lal
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Reba E. Daniel
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Michael D. Feldman
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Martin C. Abba
- Centro de Investigaciones Inmunológicas Básicas y Aplicadas, Universidad Nacional de La Plata, La Plata, Argentina
| | - Marcelo G. Kazanietz
- Department of Systems Pharmacology and Translational Therapeutics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
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Feng Y, Ma F, Wu E, Cheng Z, Wang Z, Yang L, Zhang J. Ginsenosides: Allies of gastrointestinal tumor immunotherapy. Front Pharmacol 2022; 13:922029. [PMID: 36386161 PMCID: PMC9659574 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2022.922029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2022] [Accepted: 09/26/2022] [Indexed: 09/25/2023] Open
Abstract
In the past decade, immunotherapy has been the most promising treatment for gastrointestinal tumors. But the low response rate and drug resistance remain major concerns. It is therefore imperative to develop adjuvant therapies to increase the effectiveness of immunotherapy and prevent drug resistance. Ginseng has been used in Traditional Chinese medicine as a natural immune booster for thousands of years. The active components of ginseng, ginsenosides, have played an essential role in tumor treatment for decades and are candidates for anti-tumor adjuvant therapy. They are hypothesized to cooperate with immunotherapy drugs to improve the curative effect and reduce tumor resistance and adverse reactions. This review summarizes the research into the use of ginsenosides in immunotherapy of gastrointestinal tumors and discusses potential future applications.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Jiwei Zhang
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Compound Chinese Medicines, The MOE Key Laboratory for Standardization of Chinese Medicines, Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
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Stikbakke E, Wilsgaard T, Haugnes HS, Pedersen MI, Knutsen T, Støyten M, Giovannucci E, Eggen AE, Thune I, Richardsen E. Expression of miR-24-1-5p in Tumor Tissue Influences Prostate Cancer Recurrence: The PROCA- life Study. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14051142. [PMID: 35267449 PMCID: PMC8909269 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14051142] [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: 12/26/2021] [Revised: 02/18/2022] [Accepted: 02/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
The role of miR-24-1-5p and its prognostic implications associated with prostate cancer are mainly unknown. In a population-based cohort, the Prostate Cancer Study throughout life (PROCA-life), all men had a general health examination at study entry and were followed between 1994 and 2016. Patients with available tissue samples after a prostatectomy with curative intent were identified (n = 189). The tissue expression of miR-24-1-5p in prostate cancer was examined by in situ hybridization (ISH) in tissue microarray (TMA) blocks by semi-quantitative scoring by two independent investigators. Multivariable Cox regression models were used to study the associations between miR-24-1-5p expression and prostate cancer recurrence. The prostate cancer patients had a median age of 65.0 years (range 47−75 years). The Cancer of the Prostate Risk Assessment Postsurgical Score, International Society of Urological Pathology grade group, and European Association of Urology Risk group were all significant prognostic factors for five-year recurrence-free survival (p < 0.001). Prostate cancer patients with a high miR-24-1-5p expression (≥1.57) in the tissue had a doubled risk of recurrence compared to patients with low expression (HR 1.99, 95% CI 1.13−3.51). Our study suggests that a high expression of miR-24-1-5p is associated with an increased risk of recurrence of prostate cancer after radical prostatectomy, which points to the potential diagnostic and therapeutic value of detecting miR-24-1-5p in prostate cancer cases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Einar Stikbakke
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, UiT, The Arctic University of Norway, 9037 Tromsø, Norway; (H.S.H.); (T.K.); (M.S.); (I.T.)
- Department of Oncology, University Hospital of North Norway, 9038 Tromsø, Norway
- Correspondence:
| | - Tom Wilsgaard
- Department of Community Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, UiT, The Arctic University of Norway, 9037 Tromsø, Norway; (T.W.); (A.E.E.)
| | - Hege Sagstuen Haugnes
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, UiT, The Arctic University of Norway, 9037 Tromsø, Norway; (H.S.H.); (T.K.); (M.S.); (I.T.)
- Department of Oncology, University Hospital of North Norway, 9038 Tromsø, Norway
| | - Mona Irene Pedersen
- Translational Cancer Research Group, Institute of Clinical Medicine, UiT, The Arctic University of Norway, 9037 Tromsø, Norway; (M.I.P.); (E.R.)
| | - Tore Knutsen
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, UiT, The Arctic University of Norway, 9037 Tromsø, Norway; (H.S.H.); (T.K.); (M.S.); (I.T.)
- Department of Urology, University Hospital of North Norway, 9038 Tromsø, Norway
| | - Martin Støyten
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, UiT, The Arctic University of Norway, 9037 Tromsø, Norway; (H.S.H.); (T.K.); (M.S.); (I.T.)
- Department of Oncology, University Hospital of North Norway, 9038 Tromsø, Norway
| | - Edward Giovannucci
- Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA;
- Departments of Nutrition and Epidemiology, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Anne Elise Eggen
- Department of Community Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, UiT, The Arctic University of Norway, 9037 Tromsø, Norway; (T.W.); (A.E.E.)
| | - Inger Thune
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, UiT, The Arctic University of Norway, 9037 Tromsø, Norway; (H.S.H.); (T.K.); (M.S.); (I.T.)
- Institute of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, 0316 Oslo, Norway
- Department of Oncology, The Cancer Centre, Oslo University Hospital, 0424 Oslo, Norway
| | - Elin Richardsen
- Translational Cancer Research Group, Institute of Clinical Medicine, UiT, The Arctic University of Norway, 9037 Tromsø, Norway; (M.I.P.); (E.R.)
- Department of Medical Biology, Faculty of Health Sciences, UiT, The Arctic University of Norway, 9037 Tromsø, Norway
- Department of Clinical Pathology, University Hospital of North Norway, 9038 Tromsø, Norway
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