1
|
Patel RK, Parappilly MS, Walker BS, Heussner RT, Fung A, Chang YH, Kardosh A, Lopez CD, Mayo SC, Wong MH. Exploratory Analyses of Circulating Neoplastic-Immune Hybrid Cells as Prognostic Biomarkers in Advanced Intrahepatic Cholangiocarcinoma. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:9198. [PMID: 39273147 PMCID: PMC11395231 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25179198] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2024] [Revised: 08/16/2024] [Accepted: 08/19/2024] [Indexed: 09/15/2024] Open
Abstract
Existing clinical biomarkers do not reliably predict treatment response or disease progression in patients with advanced intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC). Circulating neoplastic-immune hybrid cells (CHCs) have great promise as a blood-based biomarker for patients with advanced ICC. Peripheral blood specimens were longitudinally collected from patients with advanced ICC enrolled in the HELIX-1 phase II clinical trial (NCT04251715). CHCs were identified by co-expression of pan-cytokeratin (CK) and CD45, and levels were correlated to patient clinical disease course. Unsupervised machine learning was then performed to extract their morphological features to compare them across disease courses. Five patients were included in this study, with a median of nine specimens collected per patient. A median of 13.5 CHCs per 50,000 peripheral blood mononuclear cells were identified at baseline, and levels decreased to zero following the initiation of treatment in all patients. Counts remained undetectable in three patients who demonstrated end-of-trial clinical treatment response and conversely increased in two patients with evidence of therapeutic resistance. In the post-trial surveillance period, interval counts increased prior to or at the time of clinical progression in three patients and remain undetectable in one patient with continued long-term disease stability. Using our machine learning platform, treatment-resistant CHCs exhibited upregulation of CK and downregulation of CD45 relative to treatment-responsive CHCs. CHCs represent a promising blood-based biomarker to supplement traditional radiographic and biochemical measures.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ranish K. Patel
- Department of Surgery, Division of Surgical Oncology, Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU), Portland, OR 97239, USA; (R.K.P.)
| | - Michael S. Parappilly
- Department of Cell, Developmental, and Cancer Biology, Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU), Portland, OR 97201, USA
| | - Brett S. Walker
- Department of Surgery, Division of Surgical Oncology, Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU), Portland, OR 97239, USA; (R.K.P.)
| | - Robert T. Heussner
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU), Portland, OR 97201, USA
| | - Alice Fung
- Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU), Portland, OR 97239, USA
| | - Young Hwan Chang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU), Portland, OR 97201, USA
- Knight Cancer Institute, Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU), Portland, OR 97201, USA
| | - Adel Kardosh
- Knight Cancer Institute, Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU), Portland, OR 97201, USA
- Department of Medicine, Division of Medical Oncology, Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU), Portland, OR 97239, USA
| | - Charles D. Lopez
- Knight Cancer Institute, Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU), Portland, OR 97201, USA
- Department of Medicine, Division of Medical Oncology, Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU), Portland, OR 97239, USA
| | - Skye C. Mayo
- Department of Surgery, Division of Surgical Oncology, Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU), Portland, OR 97239, USA; (R.K.P.)
- Knight Cancer Institute, Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU), Portland, OR 97201, USA
| | - Melissa H. Wong
- Department of Cell, Developmental, and Cancer Biology, Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU), Portland, OR 97201, USA
- Knight Cancer Institute, Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU), Portland, OR 97201, USA
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Grzybowska EA. Circulating Tumor Cells: Pathological, Molecular and Functional Characteristics. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:8198. [PMID: 39125767 PMCID: PMC11311292 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25158198] [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: 07/14/2024] [Accepted: 07/25/2024] [Indexed: 08/12/2024] Open
Abstract
This Special Issue, 'Circulating Tumor Cells: Pathological, Molecular and Functional Characteristics 1 [...].
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ewa A Grzybowska
- Maria Sklodowska-Curie National Research Institute of Oncology, Roentgena 5, 02-781 Warsaw, Poland
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Anderson AN, Conley P, Klocke CD, Sengupta SK, Pang A, Farley HC, Gillingham AR, Dawson AD, Fan Y, Jones JA, Gibbs SL, Skalet AH, Wu G, Wong MH. Detection of neoplastic-immune hybrid cells with metastatic properties in uveal melanoma. Biomark Res 2024; 12:67. [PMID: 39030653 PMCID: PMC11264923 DOI: 10.1186/s40364-024-00609-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2024] [Accepted: 06/18/2024] [Indexed: 07/21/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Uveal melanoma is the most common non-cutaneous melanoma and is an intraocular malignancy affecting nearly 7,000 individuals per year worldwide. Of these, approximately 50% will progress to metastatic disease for which there are currently no effective curative therapies. Despite advances in molecular profiling and metastatic stratification of uveal melanoma tumors, little is known regarding their underlying biology of metastasis. Our group has identified a disseminated neoplastic cell population characterized by co-expression of immune and melanoma proteins, circulating hybrid cells (hybrids), in patients with uveal melanoma. Compared to circulating tumor cells, which lack expression of immune proteins, hybrids are detected at an increased prevalence in peripheral blood and can be used as a non-invasive biomarker to predict metastatic progression. METHODS To ascertain mechanisms underlying enhanced hybrid cell dissemination we identified hybrid cells within primary uveal melanoma tumors using single cell RNA sequencing (n = 8) and evaluated their gene expression and predicted ligand-receptor interactions in relation to other melanoma and immune cells within the primary tumor. We then verified expression of upregulated hybrid pathways within patient-matched tumor and peripheral blood hybrids (n = 4) using cyclic immunofluorescence and quantified their protein expression relative to other non-hybrid tumor and disseminated tumor cells. RESULTS Among the top upregulated genes and pathways in hybrid cells were those involved in enhanced cell motility and cytoskeletal rearrangement, immune evasion, and altered cellular metabolism. In patient-matched tumor and peripheral blood, we verified gene expression by examining concordant protein expression for each pathway category: TMSB10 (cell motility), CD74 (immune evasion) and GPX1 (metabolism). Both TMSB10 and GPX1 were expressed on significantly higher numbers of disseminated hybrid cells compared to circulating tumor cells, and CD74 and GPX1 were expressed on more disseminated hybrids than tumor-resident hybrids. Lastly, we identified that hybrid cells express ligand-receptor signaling pathways implicated in promoting metastasis including GAS6-AXL, CXCL12-CXCR4, LGALS9-P4HB and IGF1-IGFR1. CONCLUSION These findings highlight the importance of TMSB10, GPX1 and CD74 for successful hybrid cell dissemination and survival in circulation. Our results contribute to the understanding of uveal melanoma tumor progression and interactions between tumor cells and immune cells in the tumor microenvironment that may promote metastasis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ashley N Anderson
- Department of Cell, Developmental and Cancer Biology, Oregon Health and Science University (OHSU), Portland, OR, USA
| | - Patrick Conley
- Department of Medical Informatics and Clinical Epidemiology, OHSU, Portland, OR, USA
| | - Christopher D Klocke
- Department of Medical Informatics and Clinical Epidemiology, OHSU, Portland, OR, USA
| | - Sidharth K Sengupta
- Department of Cell, Developmental and Cancer Biology, Oregon Health and Science University (OHSU), Portland, OR, USA
| | - Amara Pang
- Department of Cell, Developmental and Cancer Biology, Oregon Health and Science University (OHSU), Portland, OR, USA
| | - Hannah C Farley
- Department of Cell, Developmental and Cancer Biology, Oregon Health and Science University (OHSU), Portland, OR, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, OHSU, Portland, OR, USA
| | - Abigail R Gillingham
- Department of Cell, Developmental and Cancer Biology, Oregon Health and Science University (OHSU), Portland, OR, USA
| | - Aubrey D Dawson
- Department of Cell, Developmental and Cancer Biology, Oregon Health and Science University (OHSU), Portland, OR, USA
| | - Yichen Fan
- Department of Cell, Developmental and Cancer Biology, Oregon Health and Science University (OHSU), Portland, OR, USA
| | - Jocelyn A Jones
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, OHSU, Portland, OR, USA
| | - Summer L Gibbs
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, OHSU, Portland, OR, USA
- Knight Cancer Institute, OHSU, Portland, OR, USA
| | - Alison H Skalet
- Casey Eye Institute, OHSU, Portland, OR, USA
- Knight Cancer Institute, OHSU, Portland, OR, USA
| | - Guanming Wu
- Department of Medical Informatics and Clinical Epidemiology, OHSU, Portland, OR, USA
- Knight Cancer Institute, OHSU, Portland, OR, USA
| | - Melissa H Wong
- Department of Cell, Developmental and Cancer Biology, Oregon Health and Science University (OHSU), Portland, OR, USA.
- Knight Cancer Institute, OHSU, Portland, OR, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Yaghoubi Naei V, Ivanova E, Mullally W, O'Leary CG, Ladwa R, O'Byrne K, Warkiani ME, Kulasinghe A. Characterisation of circulating tumor-associated and immune cells in patients with advanced-stage non-small cell lung cancer. Clin Transl Immunology 2024; 13:e1516. [PMID: 38835954 PMCID: PMC11147668 DOI: 10.1002/cti2.1516] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/29/2024] [Revised: 04/26/2024] [Accepted: 05/16/2024] [Indexed: 06/06/2024] Open
Abstract
Objectives Globally, non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is the most prevalent form of lung cancer and the leading cause of cancer-related deaths. Tumor-associated circulating cells in NSCLC can have a wide variety of morphological and phenotypic characteristics, including epithelial, immunological or hybrid subtypes. The distinctive characteristics and potential clinical significance of these cells in patients with NSCLC are explored in this study. Methods We utilised a spiral microfluidic device to enrich large cells and cell aggregates from the peripheral blood samples of NSCLC patients. These cells were characterised through high-resolution immunofluorescent imaging and statistical analysis, correlating findings with clinical information from our patient cohort. Results We have identified varied populations of heterotypic circulating tumor cell clusters with differing immune cell composition that included a distinct class of atypical tumor-associated macrophages that exhibits unique morphology and cell size. This subtype's prevalence is positively correlated with the tumor stage, progression and metastasis. Conclusions Our study reveals a heterogeneous landscape of circulating tumor cells and their clusters, underscoring the complexity of NSCLC pathobiology. The identification of a unique subtype of atypical tumor-associatedmacrophages that simultaneously express both tumor and immune markers and whose presence correlates with late disease stages, poor clinical outcomes and metastatic risk infers the potential of these cells as biomarkers for NSCLC staging and prognosis. Future studies should focus on the role of these cells in the tumor microenvironment and their potential as therapeutic targets. Additionally, longitudinal studies tracking these cell types through disease progression could provide further insights into their roles in NSCLC evolution and response to treatment.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Vahid Yaghoubi Naei
- School of Biomedical EngineeringUniversity of Technology SydneySydneyNSWAustralia
- Frazer Institute, Faculty of MedicineThe University of QueenslandBrisbaneQLDAustralia
| | - Ekaterina Ivanova
- Cancer and Ageing Research Program, Centre for Genomics and Personalised HealthQueensland University of TechnologyWoolloongabbaQLDAustralia
| | | | | | - Rahul Ladwa
- Frazer Institute, Faculty of MedicineThe University of QueenslandBrisbaneQLDAustralia
- The Princess Alexandra HospitalBrisbaneQLDAustralia
| | - Ken O'Byrne
- The Princess Alexandra HospitalBrisbaneQLDAustralia
| | - Majid E Warkiani
- School of Biomedical EngineeringUniversity of Technology SydneySydneyNSWAustralia
| | - Arutha Kulasinghe
- Frazer Institute, Faculty of MedicineThe University of QueenslandBrisbaneQLDAustralia
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Wiegmans AP, Ivanova E, Naei VY, Monkman J, Fletcher J, Mullally W, Warkiani ME, O'Byrne K, Kulasinghe A. Poor patient outcome correlates with active engulfment of cytokeratin positive CTCs within cancer-associated monocyte population in lung cancer. Clin Exp Metastasis 2024; 41:219-228. [PMID: 38416302 PMCID: PMC11213738 DOI: 10.1007/s10585-024-10270-w] [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: 10/15/2023] [Accepted: 01/18/2024] [Indexed: 02/29/2024]
Abstract
High rates of mortality in non-small cell lung cancer lung cancer is due to inherent and acquired resistance to systemic therapies and subsequent metastatic burden. Metastasis is supported by suppression of the immune system at secondary organs and within the circulation. Modulation of the immune system is now being exploited as a therapeutic target with immune checkpoint inhibitors. The tracking of therapeutic efficacy in a real-time can be achieved with liquid biopsy, and evaluation of circulating tumour cells and the associated immune cells. A stable liquid biopsy biomarker for non-small cell lung cancer lung cancer has yet to be approved for clinical use. We performed a cross-sectional single-site study, and collected liquid biopsies from patients diagnosed with early, locally advanced, or metastatic lung cancer, undergoing surgery, or systemic therapy (chemotherapy/checkpoint inhibitors). Evaluation of overall circulating tumour cell counts, or cluster counts did not correlate with patient outcome. Interestingly, the numbers of Pan cytokeratin positive circulating tumour cells engulfed by tumour associated monocytes correlated strongly with patient outcome independent of circulating tumour cell counts and the use of checkpoint inhibitors. We suggest that Pan cytokeratin staining within monocytes is an important indicator of tumour-associated inflammation post-therapy and an effective biomarker with strong prognostic capability for patient outcome.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- A P Wiegmans
- Cancer and Ageing Research Program, Centre for Genomics and Personalised Health, Queensland University of Technology, Woolloongabba, QLD, 4102, Australia
- Princess Alexandra Hospital, Oncology, Woolloongabba, QLD, 4102, Australia
| | - E Ivanova
- Cancer and Ageing Research Program, Centre for Genomics and Personalised Health, Queensland University of Technology, Woolloongabba, QLD, 4102, Australia
| | - V Y Naei
- School of Biomedical Engineering, University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, Australia
- Faculty of Medicine, Frazer Institute, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - J Monkman
- Faculty of Medicine, Frazer Institute, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - J Fletcher
- Princess Alexandra Hospital, Oncology, Woolloongabba, QLD, 4102, Australia
| | - W Mullally
- Princess Alexandra Hospital, Oncology, Woolloongabba, QLD, 4102, Australia
| | - M E Warkiani
- School of Biomedical Engineering, University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - K O'Byrne
- Cancer and Ageing Research Program, Centre for Genomics and Personalised Health, Queensland University of Technology, Woolloongabba, QLD, 4102, Australia
- Princess Alexandra Hospital, Oncology, Woolloongabba, QLD, 4102, Australia
| | - A Kulasinghe
- Faculty of Medicine, Frazer Institute, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
De Zuani M, Xue H, Park JS, Dentro SC, Seferbekova Z, Tessier J, Curras-Alonso S, Hadjipanayis A, Athanasiadis EI, Gerstung M, Bayraktar O, Cvejic A. Single-cell and spatial transcriptomics analysis of non-small cell lung cancer. Nat Commun 2024; 15:4388. [PMID: 38782901 PMCID: PMC11116453 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-48700-8] [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: 11/02/2023] [Accepted: 05/08/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Lung cancer is the second most frequently diagnosed cancer and the leading cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide. Tumour ecosystems feature diverse immune cell types. Myeloid cells, in particular, are prevalent and have a well-established role in promoting the disease. In our study, we profile approximately 900,000 cells from 25 treatment-naive patients with adenocarcinoma and squamous-cell carcinoma by single-cell and spatial transcriptomics. We note an inverse relationship between anti-inflammatory macrophages and NK cells/T cells, and with reduced NK cell cytotoxicity within the tumour. While we observe a similar cell type composition in both adenocarcinoma and squamous-cell carcinoma, we detect significant differences in the co-expression of various immune checkpoint inhibitors. Moreover, we reveal evidence of a transcriptional "reprogramming" of macrophages in tumours, shifting them towards cholesterol export and adopting a foetal-like transcriptional signature which promotes iron efflux. Our multi-omic resource offers a high-resolution molecular map of tumour-associated macrophages, enhancing our understanding of their role within the tumour microenvironment.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Marco De Zuani
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, UK
- OpenTargets, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, UK
- Department of Haematology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
- Wellcome Trust-Medical Research Council Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, Cambridge, UK
| | - Haoliang Xue
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, UK
- OpenTargets, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, UK
- Department of Haematology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
- Wellcome Trust-Medical Research Council Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, Cambridge, UK
| | - Jun Sung Park
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, UK
- OpenTargets, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, UK
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, European Bioinformatics Institute EMBL-EBI, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, UK
| | - Stefan C Dentro
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, European Bioinformatics Institute EMBL-EBI, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, UK
- Division of Artificial Intelligence in Oncology, DKFZ, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Zaira Seferbekova
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, European Bioinformatics Institute EMBL-EBI, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, UK
| | - Julien Tessier
- Precision Medicine and Computational Biology, Sanofi, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | | | | | - Emmanouil I Athanasiadis
- OpenTargets, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, UK
- Medical Image and Signal Processing Laboratory (MEDISP), Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of West Attica, Athens, Greece
| | - Moritz Gerstung
- OpenTargets, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, UK
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, European Bioinformatics Institute EMBL-EBI, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, UK
- Division of Artificial Intelligence in Oncology, DKFZ, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Omer Bayraktar
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, UK
- OpenTargets, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, UK
| | - Ana Cvejic
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, UK.
- OpenTargets, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, UK.
- Department of Haematology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.
- Biotech Research & Innovation Centre (BRIC), University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Sieler M, Dörnen J, Dittmar T. How Much Do You Fuse? A Comparison of Cell Fusion Assays in a Breast Cancer Model. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:5668. [PMID: 38891857 PMCID: PMC11172233 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25115668] [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: 04/23/2024] [Revised: 05/17/2024] [Accepted: 05/20/2024] [Indexed: 06/21/2024] Open
Abstract
Cell fusion is a biological process that is crucial for the development and homeostasis of different tissues, but it is also pathophysiologically associated with tumor progression and malignancy. The investigation of cell fusion processes is difficult because there is no standardized marker. Many studies therefore use different systems to observe and quantify cell fusion in vitro and in vivo. The comparability of the results must be critically questioned, because both the experimental procedure and the assays differ between studies. The comparability of the fluorescence-based fluorescence double reporter (FDR) and dual split protein (DSP) assay was investigated as part of this study, in which general conditions were kept largely constant. In order to be able to induce both a high and a low cell fusion rate, M13SV1 breast epithelial cells were modified with regard to the expression level of the fusogenic protein Syncytin-1 and its receptor ASCT2 and were co-cultivated for 72 h with different breast cancer cell lines. A high number of fused cells was found in co-cultures with Syncytin-1-overexpressing M13SV1 cells, but differences between the assays were also observed. This shows that the quantification of cell fusion events in particular is highly dependent on the assay selected, but the influence of fusogenic proteins can be visualized very well.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mareike Sieler
- Institute of Immunology, Center for Biomedical Education and Research (ZBAF), Witten/Herdecke University, Stockumer Str. 10, 58453 Witten, Germany; (M.S.); (J.D.)
| | - Jessica Dörnen
- Institute of Immunology, Center for Biomedical Education and Research (ZBAF), Witten/Herdecke University, Stockumer Str. 10, 58453 Witten, Germany; (M.S.); (J.D.)
- Faculty of Medicine, Ruhr University Bochum, 44789 Bochum, Germany
| | - Thomas Dittmar
- Institute of Immunology, Center for Biomedical Education and Research (ZBAF), Witten/Herdecke University, Stockumer Str. 10, 58453 Witten, Germany; (M.S.); (J.D.)
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Ali AM, Raza A. scRNAseq and High-Throughput Spatial Analysis of Tumor and Normal Microenvironment in Solid Tumors Reveal a Possible Origin of Circulating Tumor Hybrid Cells. Cancers (Basel) 2024; 16:1444. [PMID: 38611120 PMCID: PMC11010995 DOI: 10.3390/cancers16071444] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2024] [Revised: 03/31/2024] [Accepted: 04/03/2024] [Indexed: 04/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Metastatic cancer is a leading cause of death in cancer patients worldwide. While circulating hybrid cells (CHCs) are implicated in metastatic spread, studies documenting their tissue origin remain sparse, with limited candidate approaches using one-two markers. Utilizing high-throughput single-cell and spatial transcriptomics, we identified tumor hybrid cells (THCs) co-expressing epithelial and macrophage markers and expressing a distinct transcriptome. Rarely, normal tissue showed these cells (NHCs), but their transcriptome was easily distinguishable from THCs. THCs with unique transcriptomes were observed in breast and colon cancers, suggesting this to be a generalizable phenomenon across cancer types. This study establishes a framework for HC identification in large datasets, providing compelling evidence for their tissue residence and offering comprehensive transcriptomic characterization. Furthermore, it sheds light on their differential function and identifies pathways that could explain their newly acquired invasive capabilities. THCs should be considered as potential therapeutic targets.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Abdullah Mahmood Ali
- Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology/Oncology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY 10032, USA
- Edward P Evans MDS Center, Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Azra Raza
- Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology/Oncology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY 10032, USA
- Edward P Evans MDS Center, Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center, New York, NY 10032, USA
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Uddin MH, Zhang D, Muqbil I, El-Rayes BF, Chen H, Philip PA, Azmi AS. Deciphering cellular plasticity in pancreatic cancer for effective treatments. Cancer Metastasis Rev 2024; 43:393-408. [PMID: 38194153 DOI: 10.1007/s10555-023-10164-5] [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: 10/01/2023] [Accepted: 12/19/2023] [Indexed: 01/10/2024]
Abstract
Cellular plasticity and therapy resistance are critical features of pancreatic cancer, a highly aggressive and fatal disease. The pancreas, a vital organ that produces digestive enzymes and hormones, is often affected by two main types of cancer: the pre-dominant ductal adenocarcinoma and the less common neuroendocrine tumors. These cancers are difficult to treat due to their complex biology characterized by cellular plasticity leading to therapy resistance. Cellular plasticity refers to the capability of cancer cells to change and adapt to different microenvironments within the body which includes acinar-ductal metaplasia, epithelial to mesenchymal/epigenetic/metabolic plasticity, as well as stemness. This plasticity allows heterogeneity of cancer cells, metastasis, and evasion of host's immune system and develops resistance to radiation, chemotherapy, and targeted therapy. To overcome this resistance, extensive research is ongoing exploring the intrinsic and extrinsic factors through cellular reprogramming, chemosensitization, targeting metabolic, key survival pathways, etc. In this review, we discussed the mechanisms of cellular plasticity involving cellular adaptation and tumor microenvironment and provided a comprehensive understanding of its role in therapy resistance and ways to overcome it.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Md Hafiz Uddin
- Department of Oncology, Karmanos Cancer Institute, Wayne State University School of Medicine, 4100 John R, HWCRC 740, Detroit, MI, 48201, USA.
| | - Dingqiang Zhang
- Department of Natural Sciences, Lawrence Technological University, 21000 W 10 Mile Rd, Southfield, MI, 48075, USA
| | - Irfana Muqbil
- Department of Natural Sciences, Lawrence Technological University, 21000 W 10 Mile Rd, Southfield, MI, 48075, USA
| | - Bassel F El-Rayes
- Division of Hematology and Oncology, Department of Medicine, O'Neal Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Alabama at Birmingham Heersink School of Medicine, Birmingham, AL, 35233, USA
| | - Herbert Chen
- Department of Surgery, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, 35294, USA
| | - Philip A Philip
- Department of Oncology, Karmanos Cancer Institute, Wayne State University School of Medicine, 4100 John R, HWCRC 740, Detroit, MI, 48201, USA
- Henry Ford Health Systems, Detroit, MI, 48202, USA
| | - Asfar S Azmi
- Department of Oncology, Karmanos Cancer Institute, Wayne State University School of Medicine, 4100 John R, HWCRC 740, Detroit, MI, 48201, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Kumar V, Stewart JH. Obesity, bone marrow adiposity, and leukemia: Time to act. Obes Rev 2024; 25:e13674. [PMID: 38092420 DOI: 10.1111/obr.13674] [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: 09/21/2022] [Revised: 10/07/2023] [Accepted: 11/13/2023] [Indexed: 02/28/2024]
Abstract
Obesity has taken the face of a pandemic with less direct concern among the general population and scientific community. However, obesity is considered a low-grade systemic inflammation that impacts multiple organs. Chronic inflammation is also associated with different solid and blood cancers. In addition, emerging evidence demonstrates that individuals with obesity are at higher risk of developing blood cancers and have poorer clinical outcomes than individuals in a normal weight range. The bone marrow is critical for hematopoiesis, lymphopoiesis, and myelopoiesis. Therefore, it is vital to understand the mechanisms by which obesity-associated changes in BM adiposity impact leukemia development. BM adipocytes are critical to maintain homeostasis via different means, including immune regulation. However, obesity increases BM adiposity and creates a pro-inflammatory environment to upregulate clonal hematopoiesis and a leukemia-supportive environment. Obesity further alters lymphopoiesis and myelopoiesis via different mechanisms, which dysregulate myeloid and lymphoid immune cell functions mentioned in the text under different sequentially discussed sections. The altered immune cell function during obesity alters hematological malignancies and leukemia susceptibility. Therefore, obesity-induced altered BM adiposity, immune cell generation, and function impact an individual's predisposition and severity of leukemia, which should be considered a critical factor in leukemia patients.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Vijay Kumar
- Department of Surgery, Laboratory of Tumor Immunology and Immunotherapy, Morehouse School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - John H Stewart
- Department of Surgery, Laboratory of Tumor Immunology and Immunotherapy, Morehouse School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Bandini S, Ulivi P, Rossi T. Extracellular Vesicles, Circulating Tumor Cells, and Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors: Hints and Promises. Cells 2024; 13:337. [PMID: 38391950 PMCID: PMC10887032 DOI: 10.3390/cells13040337] [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: 01/15/2024] [Revised: 02/07/2024] [Accepted: 02/08/2024] [Indexed: 02/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) therapy has revolutionized the treatment of cancer, in particular lung cancer, while the introduction of predictive biomarkers from liquid biopsies has emerged as a promising tool to achieve an effective and personalized therapy response. Important progress has also been made in the molecular characterization of extracellular vesicles (EVs) and circulating tumor cells (CTCs), highlighting their tremendous potential in modulating the tumor microenvironment, acting on immunomodulatory pathways, and setting up the pre-metastatic niche. Surface antigens on EVs and CTCs have proved to be particularly useful in the case of the characterization of potential immune escape mechanisms through the expression of immunosuppressive ligands or the transport of cargos that may mitigate the antitumor immune function. On the other hand, novel approaches, to increase the expression of immunostimulatory molecules or cargo contents that can enhance the immune response, offer premium options in combinatorial clinical strategies for precision immunotherapy. In this review, we discuss recent advances in the identification of immune checkpoints using EVs and CTCs, their potential applications as predictive biomarkers for ICI therapy, and their prospective use as innovative clinical tools, considering that CTCs have already been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for clinical use, but providing good reasons to intensify the research on both.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Paola Ulivi
- Biosciences Laboratory, IRCCS Istituto Romagnolo per lo Studio dei Tumori (IRST) “Dino Amadori”, 47014 Meldola, Italy; (S.B.); (T.R.)
| | | |
Collapse
|
12
|
Rey-Barroso J, Dufrançais O, Vérollet C. Tunneling Nanotubes in Myeloid Cells: Perspectives for Health and Infectious Diseases. Results Probl Cell Differ 2024; 73:419-434. [PMID: 39242388 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-031-62036-2_17] [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] [Indexed: 09/09/2024]
Abstract
Tunneling nanotubes (TNTs) are cellular connections, which represent a novel route for cell-to-cell communication. Strong evidence points to a role for TNTs in the intercellular transfer of signals, molecules, organelles, and pathogens, involving them in many cellular functions. In myeloid cells (e.g., monocytes/macrophages, dendritic cells, and osteoclasts), intercellular communication via TNT contributes to their differentiation and immune functions, by favoring material and pathogen transfer, as well as cell fusion. This chapter addresses the complexity of the definition and characterization of TNTs in myeloid cells, the different processes involved in their formation, their existence in vivo, and finally their function(s) in health and infectious diseases, with the example of HIV-1 infection.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Javier Rey-Barroso
- Institut de Pharmacologie et Biologie Structurale (IPBS), Université de Toulouse, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Université Toulouse III - Paul Sabatier (UPS), Toulouse, France
| | - Ophélie Dufrançais
- Institut de Pharmacologie et Biologie Structurale (IPBS), Université de Toulouse, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Université Toulouse III - Paul Sabatier (UPS), Toulouse, France
| | - Christel Vérollet
- Institut de Pharmacologie et Biologie Structurale (IPBS), Université de Toulouse, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Université Toulouse III - Paul Sabatier (UPS), Toulouse, France.
- International Research Laboratory (IRP) CNRS "IM-TB/HIV", Toulouse, France.
- International Research Laboratory (IRP) CNRS "IM-TB/HIV", Buenos Aires, Argentina.
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Sieler M, Dittmar T. Cell Fusion and Syncytia Formation in Cancer. Results Probl Cell Differ 2024; 71:433-465. [PMID: 37996689 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-031-37936-9_20] [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] [Indexed: 11/25/2023]
Abstract
The natural phenomenon of cell-cell fusion does not only take place in physiological processes, such as placentation, myogenesis, or osteoclastogenesis, but also in pathophysiological processes, such as cancer. More than a century ago postulated, today the hypothesis that the fusion of cancer cells with normal cells leads to the formation of cancer hybrid cells with altered properties is in scientific consensus. Some studies that have investigated the mechanisms and conditions for the fusion of cancer cells with other cells, as well as studies that have characterized the resulting cancer hybrid cells, are presented in this review. Hypoxia and the cytokine TNFα, for example, have been found to promote cell fusion. In addition, it has been found that both the protein Syncytin-1, which normally plays a role in placentation, and phosphatidylserine signaling on the cell membrane are involved in the fusion of cancer cells with other cells. In human cancer, cancer hybrid cells were detected not only in the primary tumor, but also in the circulation of patients as so-called circulating hybrid cells, where they often correlated with a worse outcome. Although some data are available, the questions of how and especially why cancer cells fuse with other cells are still not fully answered.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mareike Sieler
- Institute of Immunology, Center for Biomedical Education and Research (ZBAF), University of Witten/Herdecke, Witten, Germany.
| | - Thomas Dittmar
- Institute of Immunology, Center for Biomedical Education and Research (ZBAF), University of Witten/Herdecke, Witten, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Merckens A, Sieler M, Keil S, Dittmar T. Altered Phenotypes of Breast Epithelial × Breast Cancer Hybrids after ZEB1 Knock-Out. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:17310. [PMID: 38139138 PMCID: PMC10744253 DOI: 10.3390/ijms242417310] [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: 10/30/2023] [Revised: 12/06/2023] [Accepted: 12/07/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023] Open
Abstract
ZEB1 plays a pivotal role in epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT), (cancer) cell stemness and cancer therapy resistance. The M13HS tumor hybrids, which were derived from spontaneous fusion events between the M13SV1-EGFP-Neo breast epithelial cells and HS578T-Hyg breast cancer cells, express ZEB1 and exhibit prospective cancer stem cell properties. To explore a possible correlation between the ZEB1 and stemness/ EMT-related properties in M13HS tumor hybrids, ZEB1 was knocked-out by CRISPR/Cas9. Colony formation, mammosphere formation, cell migration, invasion assays, flow cytometry and Western blot analyses were performed for the characterization of ZEB1 knock-out cells. The ZEB1 knock-out in M13HS tumor cells was not correlated with the down-regulation of the EMT-related markers N-CADHERIN (CDH2) and VIMENTIN and up-regulation of miR-200c-3p. Nonetheless, both the colony formation and mammosphere formation capacities of the M13HS ZEB1 knock-out cells were markedly reduced. Interestingly, the M13HS-2 ZEB1-KO cells harbored a markedly higher fraction of ALDH1-positive cells. The Transwell/ Boyden chamber migration assay data indicated a reduced migratory activity of the M13HS ZEB1-knock-out tumor hybrids, whereas in scratch/ wound-healing assays only the M13SH-8 ZEB1-knock-out cells possessed a reduced locomotory activity. Similarly, only the M13HS-8 ZEB1-knock-out tumor hybrids showed a reduced invasion capacity. Although the ZEB1 knock-out resulted in only moderate phenotypic changes, our data support the role of ZEB1 in EMT and stemness.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Thomas Dittmar
- Institute of Immunology, Center for Biomedical Education and Research (ZBAF), Witten/Herdecke University, Stockumer Str. 10, 58448 Witten, Germany; (A.M.); (M.S.); (S.K.)
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Anderson AN, Conley P, Klocke CD, Sengupta SK, Pang A, Farley HC, Gillingham AR, Dawson AD, Fan Y, Jones JA, Gibbs SL, Skalet AH, Wu G, Wong MH. Detection of neoplastic-immune hybrid cells with metastatic properties in uveal melanoma. RESEARCH SQUARE 2023:rs.3.rs-3694879. [PMID: 38106024 PMCID: PMC10723549 DOI: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-3694879/v1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2023]
Abstract
Background Uveal melanoma is the most common non-cutaneous melanoma and is an intraocular malignancy affecting nearly 7,000 individuals per year worldwide. Of these, approximately 50% will progress to metastatic disease for which there are currently no effective therapies. Despite advances in molecular profiling and metastatic stratification of uveal melanoma tumors, little is known regarding their underlying biology of metastasis. Our group has identified a disseminated neoplastic cell population characterized by co-expression of immune and melanoma proteins, circulating hybrid cells (hybrids), in patients with uveal melanoma. Compared to circulating tumor cells, which lack expression of immune proteins, hybrids are detected at an increased prevalence in peripheral blood and can be used as a non-invasive biomarker to predict metastatic progression. Methods To ascertain mechanisms underlying enhanced hybrid cell dissemination we identified hybrid cells within primary uveal melanoma tumors using single cell RNA sequencing and evaluated their gene expression and predicted ligand-receptor interactions in relation to other melanoma and immune cells within the primary tumor. We then verified expression of upregulated hybrid pathways within patient-matched tumor and peripheral blood hybrids using cyclic immunofluorescence and quantified their protein expression relative to other non-hybrid tumor and disseminated tumor cells. Results Among the top upregulated genes and pathways in hybrid cells were those involved in enhanced cell motility and cytoskeletal rearrangement, immune evasion, and altered cellular metabolism. In patient-matched tumor and peripheral blood, we verified gene expression by examining concordant protein expression for each pathway category: TMSB10 (cell motility), CD74 (immune evasion) and GPX1 (metabolism). Both TMSB10 and GPX1 were expressed on significantly higher numbers of disseminated hybrid cells compared to circulating tumor cells, and CD74 and GPX1 were expressed on more disseminated hybrids than tumor-resident hybrids. Lastly, we identified that hybrid cells express ligand-receptor signaling pathways implicated in promoting metastasis including GAS6-AXL, CXCL12-CXCR4, LGALS9-P4HB and IGF1-IGFR1. Conclusion These findings highlight the importance of TMSB10, GPX1 and CD74 for successful hybrid cell dissemination and survival in circulation. Our results contribute to the understanding of uveal melanoma tumor progression and interactions between tumor cells and immune cells in the tumor microenvironment that may promote metastasis.
Collapse
|
16
|
Anderson AN, Conley P, Klocke CD, Sengupta SK, Robinson TL, Fan Y, Jones JA, Gibbs SL, Skalet AH, Wu G, Wong MH. Analysis of uveal melanoma scRNA sequencing data identifies neoplastic-immune hybrid cells that exhibit metastatic potential. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.10.24.563815. [PMID: 37961378 PMCID: PMC10634980 DOI: 10.1101/2023.10.24.563815] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2023]
Abstract
Uveal melanoma (UM) is the most common non-cutaneous melanoma and is an intraocular malignancy that affects nearly 7,000 individuals per year worldwide. Of these, nearly 50% will progress to metastatic disease for which there are currently no effective therapies. Despite advances in the molecular profiling and metastatic stratification of class 1 and 2 UM tumors, little is known regarding the underlying biology of UM metastasis. Our group has identified a disseminated tumor cell population characterized by co-expression of immune and melanoma proteins, (circulating hybrid cells (CHCs), in patients with UM. Compared to circulating tumor cells, CHCs are detected at an increased prevalence in peripheral blood and can be used as a non-invasive biomarker to predict metastatic progression. To identify mechanisms underlying enhanced hybrid cell dissemination we sought to identify hybrid cells within a primary UM single cell RNA-seq dataset. Using rigorous doublet discrimination approaches, we identified UM hybrids and evaluated their gene expression, predicted ligand-receptor status, and cell-cell communication state in relation to other melanoma and immune cells within the primary tumor. We identified several genes and pathways upregulated in hybrid cells, including those involved in enhancing cell motility and cytoskeleton rearrangement, evading immune detection, and altering cellular metabolism. In addition, we identified that hybrid cells express ligand-receptor signaling pathways implicated in promoting cancer metastasis including IGF1-IGFR1, GAS6-AXL, LGALS9-P4HB, APP-CD74 and CXCL12-CXCR4. These results contribute to our understanding of tumor progression and interactions between tumor cells and immune cells in the UM microenvironment that may promote metastasis.
Collapse
|
17
|
Dittmar T, Sieler M, Hass R. Why do certain cancer cells alter functionality and fuse? Biol Chem 2023; 404:951-960. [PMID: 37246410 DOI: 10.1515/hsz-2023-0162] [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: 03/17/2023] [Accepted: 05/11/2023] [Indexed: 05/30/2023]
Abstract
Cancer cell fusion represents a rare event. However, the surviving cancer hybrid cells after a post-hybrid selection process (PHSP) can overgrow other cancer cells by exhibiting a proliferation advantage and/or expression of cancer stem-like properties. Addition of new tumor properties during hetero-fusion of cancer cells e.g. with mesenchymal stroma-/stem-like cells (MSC) contribute to enhanced tumor plasticity via acquisition of new/altered functionalities. This provides new avenues for tumor development and metastatic behavior. Consequently, the present review article will also address the question as to whether cancer cell fusion represents a general and possibly evolutionary-conserved program or rather a random process?
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Dittmar
- Institute of Immunology, Center for Biomedical Education and Research (ZBAF), Witten/Herdecke University, Stockumer Str. 10, D-58448 Witten, Germany
| | - Mareike Sieler
- Institute of Immunology, Center for Biomedical Education and Research (ZBAF), Witten/Herdecke University, Stockumer Str. 10, D-58448 Witten, Germany
| | - Ralf Hass
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Biochemistry and Tumor Biology Laboratory, Hannover Medical School, D-30625 Hannover, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
18
|
Chohan MH, Perry M, Laurance-Young P, Salih VM, Foey AD. Prognostic Role of CD68 + and CD163 + Tumour-Associated Macrophages and PD-L1 Expression in Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma: A Meta-Analysis. Br J Biomed Sci 2023; 80:11065. [PMID: 37397243 PMCID: PMC10310926 DOI: 10.3389/bjbs.2023.11065] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2022] [Accepted: 02/10/2023] [Indexed: 07/04/2023]
Abstract
Background: Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is a common malignant cancer in humans. An abundance of tumour associated macrophages (TAMs) create an immunosuppressive tumour microenvironment (TME). TAM markers (CD163 and CD68) are seen to serve as prognostic factors in OSCC. PD-L1 has seen to widely modulate the TME but its prognostic significance remains controversial. The aim of this meta-analysis is to evaluate the prognostic role of CD163+, CD68+ TAMs and PD-L1 in OSCC patients. Methods: Searches in PubMed, Scopus and Web of Science were performed; 12 studies were included in this meta-analysis. Quality assessment of included studies was performed according to REMARK guidelines. Risk of bias across studies was investigated according to the rate of heterogeneity. Meta-analysis was performed to investigate the association of all three biomarkers with overall survival (OS). Results: High expression of CD163+ TAMs were associated with poor overall survival (HR = 2.64; 95% Cl: [1.65, 4.23]; p < 0.0001). Additionally, high stromal expression of CD163+ TAMs correlated with poor overall survival (HR = 3.56; 95% Cl: [2.33, 5.44]; p < 0.00001). Conversely, high CD68 and PD-L1 expression was not associated with overall survival (HR = 1.26; 95% Cl: [0.76, 2.07]; p = 0.37) (HR = 0.64; 95% Cl: [0.35, 1.18]; p = 0.15). Conclusion: In conclusion, our findings indicate CD163+ can provide prognostic utility in OSCC. However, our data suggests CD68+ TAMs were not associated with any prognostic relevance in OSCC patients, whereas PD-L1 expression may prove to be a differential prognostic marker dependent on tumour location and stage of progression.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mohammed Haseeb Chohan
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health, University of Plymouth, Plymouth, United Kingdom
- School of Dentistry, Faculty of Health, University of Plymouth, Plymouth, United Kingdom
| | - Matthew Perry
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health, University of Plymouth, Plymouth, United Kingdom
- School of Dentistry, Faculty of Health, University of Plymouth, Plymouth, United Kingdom
| | - Paul Laurance-Young
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health, University of Plymouth, Plymouth, United Kingdom
| | - Vehid M. Salih
- School of Dentistry, Faculty of Health, University of Plymouth, Plymouth, United Kingdom
| | - Andrew D. Foey
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health, University of Plymouth, Plymouth, United Kingdom
| |
Collapse
|
19
|
Ali AM, BenMohamed F, Decina A, Mukherjee S, Levi S, Garrido Castillo LN, Bréchot D, Jurcic J, Raza A, Paterlini Bréchot P. Circulating cancer giant cells with unique characteristics frequently found in patients with myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS). Med Oncol 2023; 40:204. [PMID: 37316755 DOI: 10.1007/s12032-023-02064-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2023] [Accepted: 05/20/2023] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) are incurable diseases characterized by dysplastic hematopoietic cells, cytopenias in the blood and an inherent tendency for transformation to secondary acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Since most therapies fail to prevent rapid clonal evolution and disease resistance, new and non-invasive predictive markers are needed to monitor patients and adapt the therapeutic strategy. By using ISET, a very sensitive approach to isolate cells larger than mature leukocytes from peripheral blood samples, we looked for cellular markers in 99 patients (158 samples) with MDS and 66 healthy individuals (76 samples) used as controls. We found a total of 680 Giant Cells, defined as cells having a size of 40 microns or larger in 46 MDS patients (80 samples) and 28 Giant Cells in 11 healthy individuals (11 samples). In order to understand if we had enriched from peripheral blood atypical cells of the megakaryocyte line, we studied the Giant Cells using immunolabeling with megakaryocytes and tumor-specific markers. We report that the Giant Cells we found in the peripheral blood of MDS patients primarily express tumor markers. Our results show that Polyploid Giant Cancer Cells (PGCC), similar to those described in solid tumors, are found in the peripheral blood of patients with MDS and suggest the working hypothesis that they could play a role in hematological malignancies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Abdullah Mahmood Ali
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, 10032, USA
- Edward P Evans MDS Center, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, 10032, USA
| | - Fatima BenMohamed
- Rarecells Diagnostics, Faculté de Médecine Necker, 160 rue de Vaugirard, 75015, Paris, France
| | - Alessandra Decina
- Rarecells Diagnostics, Faculté de Médecine Necker, 160 rue de Vaugirard, 75015, Paris, France
| | - Sanjay Mukherjee
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, 10032, USA
| | - Shelley Levi
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, 10032, USA
| | | | - Davide Bréchot
- Rarecells Diagnostics, Faculté de Médecine Necker, 160 rue de Vaugirard, 75015, Paris, France
- Rarecells Inc, Alexandria LaunchLabs® at Columbia, Lasker Biomedical Research Building, 3960 Broadway, New York, NY, 10032, USA
| | - Joseph Jurcic
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, 10032, USA
- Edward P Evans MDS Center, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, 10032, USA
| | - Azra Raza
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, 10032, USA.
- Edward P Evans MDS Center, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, 10032, USA.
| | - Patrizia Paterlini Bréchot
- Rarecells Diagnostics, Faculté de Médecine Necker, 160 rue de Vaugirard, 75015, Paris, France.
- Rarecells Inc, Alexandria LaunchLabs® at Columbia, Lasker Biomedical Research Building, 3960 Broadway, New York, NY, 10032, USA.
- University Paris Cité, 85 Boulevard Saint-Germain, 75006, Paris, France.
| |
Collapse
|
20
|
Li M, Basile JR, Mallya S, Lin YL. The impact and outcomes of cancer-macrophage fusion. BMC Cancer 2023; 23:497. [PMID: 37264310 PMCID: PMC10236829 DOI: 10.1186/s12885-023-10961-9] [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: 03/02/2023] [Accepted: 05/14/2023] [Indexed: 06/03/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cancer's hallmark feature is its ability to evolve, leading to metastasis and recurrence. Although genetic mutations and epigenetic changes have been implicated, they don't fully explain the leukocytic traits that many cancers develop. Cell fusion between cancer and somatic cells, particularly macrophages, has been suggested as an alternative pathway for cancer cells to obtain new traits by acquiring exogenous genetic material. METHODS This study aims to investigate the potential biological outcomes of tumor-myeloid cell fusion by generating tumor-macrophage hybrid cells. Two clones with markedly different tumorigenicity were selected, and RNA-seq was used to compare their RNA expressions with that of the control cells. Based on the results that the hybrid cells showed differential activation in several upstream regulator pathways that impact their biological behaviors, the hybrid cells' abilities to recruit stromal cells and establish angiogenesis as well as their cell cycle distributions were investigated through in vitro and in vivo studies. RESULTS Although both hybrid clones demonstrated p53 activation and reduced growth rates, they exhibited distinct cell cycle distributions and ability to grow in vivo. Notably, while one clone was highly tumorigenic, the other showed little tumorigenicity. Despite these differences, both hybrid clones were potent environmental modifiers, exhibiting significant abilities to recruit stromal and immune cells and establish angiogenesis. CONCLUSIONS The study revealed that tumor-somatic cell fusion is a potent environmental modifier that can modulate tumor survival and evolution, despite its relatively low occurrence. These findings suggest that tumor-somatic cell fusion could be a promising target for developing new cancer therapies. Furthermore, this study provides an experimental animal platform to investigate cancer-myeloid fusion and highlights the potential role of tumor-somatic cell fusion in modulating the tumor environment.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mengtao Li
- Division of Diagnostic and Surgical Sciences, School of Dentistry, University of California, CHS 23-068B. 10833 Le Conte Ave, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
| | - John R Basile
- Department of Oncology and Diagnostic Sciences, University of Maryland Dental School, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Department of Oncology and Diagnostic Sciences, University of Maryland Dental School, 650 W. Baltimore St, Baltimore, MD, 7261, 21201, USA
| | - Sanjay Mallya
- Division of Diagnostic and Surgical Sciences, School of Dentistry, University of California, CHS 23-068B. 10833 Le Conte Ave, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
| | - Yi-Ling Lin
- Division of Diagnostic and Surgical Sciences, School of Dentistry, University of California, CHS 23-068B. 10833 Le Conte Ave, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA.
- Gene regulation program, Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
21
|
Smejkal J, Aubrecht P, Semerádtová A, Štofik M, Liegertová M, Malý J. Immunocapturing rare cells from blood: A simple and robust microsystem approach. Biosens Bioelectron 2023; 227:115155. [PMID: 36821992 DOI: 10.1016/j.bios.2023.115155] [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: 12/13/2022] [Revised: 02/06/2023] [Accepted: 02/14/2023] [Indexed: 02/21/2023]
Abstract
Cell immunocapture microsystems are a fast-emerging field with several potential medical diagnostic applications. Isolation and quantification of circulating rare cells (CRCs) show great importance in the early stages of disease diagnostics and prognostics. Here, we present a simple and robust stop-flow microsystem (fabricated by a combination of glass microblasting and 3D printing) based on a planar antibody-coated surface that is effective in the immunocapture of the model as well as naturally occurring rare cells. A chip with a planar immunocapture channel working in the so-called stop-flow dynamic regime was designed to enable monitoring the efficiency of the cell capture by fluorescence microscopy. Up to 90% immunocapture efficiency of MCF-7 cells spiked into whole blood on CD326 antibody-coated planar surfaces was achieved. We discuss the role of the planar surface modifications, the influence of the set stop-flow dynamic conditions, and medium complexity on the efficiency of cell immunocapture. The presented results could be further employed in the design of microsystems for cell-size-independent isolation and identification of rare cells from blood.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jiří Smejkal
- Centre for Nanomaterials and Biotechnology, Faculty of Science, Jan Evangelista Purkyně University in Ústí nad Labem, 400 96, Ústí nad Labem, Czech Republic.
| | - Petr Aubrecht
- Centre for Nanomaterials and Biotechnology, Faculty of Science, Jan Evangelista Purkyně University in Ústí nad Labem, 400 96, Ústí nad Labem, Czech Republic
| | - Alena Semerádtová
- Centre for Nanomaterials and Biotechnology, Faculty of Science, Jan Evangelista Purkyně University in Ústí nad Labem, 400 96, Ústí nad Labem, Czech Republic
| | - Marcel Štofik
- Centre for Nanomaterials and Biotechnology, Faculty of Science, Jan Evangelista Purkyně University in Ústí nad Labem, 400 96, Ústí nad Labem, Czech Republic
| | - Michaela Liegertová
- Centre for Nanomaterials and Biotechnology, Faculty of Science, Jan Evangelista Purkyně University in Ústí nad Labem, 400 96, Ústí nad Labem, Czech Republic
| | - Jan Malý
- Centre for Nanomaterials and Biotechnology, Faculty of Science, Jan Evangelista Purkyně University in Ústí nad Labem, 400 96, Ústí nad Labem, Czech Republic
| |
Collapse
|
22
|
Dittmar T, Hass R. Intrinsic signalling factors associated with cancer cell-cell fusion. Cell Commun Signal 2023; 21:68. [PMID: 37016404 PMCID: PMC10071245 DOI: 10.1186/s12964-023-01085-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2023] [Accepted: 02/21/2023] [Indexed: 04/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Cellular fusion e.g. between cancer cells and normal cells represents a stepwise process that is tightly regulated. During a pre-hybrid preparation program somatic cells and/or cancer cells are promoted to a pro-fusogenic state as a prerequisite to prepare a fusion process. A pro-fusogenic state requires significant changes including restructure of the cytoskeleton, e.g., by the formation of F-actin. Moreover, distinct plasma membrane lipids such as phosphatidylserine play an important role during cell fusion. In addition, the expression of distinct fusogenic factors such as syncytins and corresponding receptors are of fundamental importance to enable cellular mergers. Subsequent hybrid formation and fusion are followed by a post-hybrid selection process. Fusion among normal cells is important and often required during organismal development. Cancer cells fusion appears more rarely and is associated with the generation of new cancer hybrid cell populations. These cancer hybrid cells contribute to an elevated tumour plasticity by altered metastatic behaviour, changes in therapeutic and apoptotic responses, and even in the formation of cancer stem/ initiating cells. While many parts within this multi-step cascade are still poorly understood, this review article predominantly focusses on the intracellular necessities for fusion among cancer cells or with other cell populations of the tumour microenvironment. Video Abstract.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Dittmar
- Institute of Immunology, Centre for Biomedical Education and Research (ZBAF), Witten/Herdecke University, Stockumer Str. 10, 58448, Witten, Germany.
| | - Ralf Hass
- Biochemistry and Tumor Biology Laboratory, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Hannover Medical School, 30625, Hannover, Germany.
| |
Collapse
|
23
|
Suvilesh KN, Manjunath Y, Pantel K, Kaifi JT. Preclinical models to study patient-derived circulating tumor cells and metastasis. Trends Cancer 2023; 9:355-371. [PMID: 36759267 DOI: 10.1016/j.trecan.2023.01.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2022] [Revised: 01/17/2023] [Accepted: 01/18/2023] [Indexed: 02/10/2023]
Abstract
Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) that are detached from the tumor can be precursors of metastasis. The majority of studies focus on enumeration of CTCs from patient blood to predict recurrence and therapy outcomes. Very few studies have managed to expand CTCs to investigate their functional dynamics with respect to genetic changes, tumorigenic potential, and response to drug treatment. A growing amount of evidence based on successful CTC expansion has revealed novel therapeutic targets that are associated with the process of metastasis. In this review, we summarize the successes, challenges, and limitations that collectively contribute to the better understanding of metastasis using patient-derived CTCs as blood-borne seeds of metastasis. The roadblocks and future avenues to move CTC-based scientific discoveries forward are also discussed.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kanve N Suvilesh
- Hugh E. Stephenson Jr., MD, Department of Surgery, Ellis Fischel Cancer Center, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA.
| | - Yariswamy Manjunath
- Hugh E. Stephenson Jr., MD, Department of Surgery, Ellis Fischel Cancer Center, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA; Harry S. Truman Memorial Veterans' Hospital, Columbia, MO, USA
| | - Klaus Pantel
- Institute for Tumor Biology, University of Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Jussuf T Kaifi
- Hugh E. Stephenson Jr., MD, Department of Surgery, Ellis Fischel Cancer Center, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA; Harry S. Truman Memorial Veterans' Hospital, Columbia, MO, USA; Siteman Cancer Center, St. Louis, MO, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
24
|
Wieder R. Fibroblasts as Turned Agents in Cancer Progression. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:2014. [PMID: 37046676 PMCID: PMC10093070 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15072014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2023] [Revised: 03/19/2023] [Accepted: 03/23/2023] [Indexed: 03/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Differentiated epithelial cells reside in the homeostatic microenvironment of the native organ stroma. The stroma supports their normal function, their G0 differentiated state, and their expansion/contraction through the various stages of the life cycle and physiologic functions of the host. When malignant transformation begins, the microenvironment tries to suppress and eliminate the transformed cells, while cancer cells, in turn, try to resist these suppressive efforts. The tumor microenvironment encompasses a large variety of cell types recruited by the tumor to perform different functions, among which fibroblasts are the most abundant. The dynamics of the mutual relationship change as the sides undertake an epic battle for control of the other. In the process, the cancer "wounds" the microenvironment through a variety of mechanisms and attracts distant mesenchymal stem cells to change their function from one attempting to suppress the cancer, to one that supports its growth, survival, and metastasis. Analogous reciprocal interactions occur as well between disseminated cancer cells and the metastatic microenvironment, where the microenvironment attempts to eliminate cancer cells or suppress their proliferation. However, the altered microenvironmental cells acquire novel characteristics that support malignant progression. Investigations have attempted to use these traits as targets of novel therapeutic approaches.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Robert Wieder
- Rutgers New Jersey Medical School and the Cancer Institute of New Jersey, Newark, NJ 07103, USA
| |
Collapse
|
25
|
Comparative transcriptome profile of mouse macrophages treated with the RhoA/Rock pathway inhibitors Y27632, Fingolimod (Gilenya), and Rezurock (Belumosudil, SLx-2119). Int Immunopharmacol 2023; 118:110017. [PMID: 36931169 DOI: 10.1016/j.intimp.2023.110017] [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: 12/02/2022] [Revised: 03/02/2023] [Accepted: 03/07/2023] [Indexed: 03/17/2023]
Abstract
Macrophages play a crucial role in, the currently uncurable, chronic rejection of transplants. In rodent transplantation models, inhibition of the RhoA/Rock pathway disrupts actin-related functions of macrophages, preventing them from entering the graft, and reducing vessel occlusion, fibrosis, and chronic rejection. Among RhoA/Rock inhibitors that inhibit chronic rejection in mouse transplantation are Y27632, Fingolimod, and Rezurock. In a mouse model, Rezurok is more effective in preventing fibrosis and less effective in preventing vessel occlusion than Y27632 or Fingolimod. Fingolimod is FDA-approved for treating multiple sclerosis (MS) and Rezurock for chronic graft versus host disease (GVHD). Still, none had been tested for chronic rejection in humans. To explain the differences in the anti-chronic rejection properties of Y27632, Fingolimod, and Rezurock, we compared the transcriptome profile of mouse macrophages treated with these compounds separately. Treatment with Y27632 or Fingolimod downregulated GTPase and actin pathways involved in cell migration. Rezurock downregulated genes related to fibrosis, such as PTX3, CCR2, CCL2, cell cycle, DNA replication, adaptive immune response, and organelle assembly, while Fingolimod also specifically downregulated NOTCH1 at mRNA . The result of this study not only uncovers which pathways are shared or specific for these drugs but will help in the development of macrophage pathway-targeted therapies in human transplantation, MS, and GVHD. Because macrophages are the major players in immune response, tissue regeneration, renewal, and homeostasis, and development of many diseases, including cancer, the data compiled here will help in designing novel or improved therapies in many clinical applications.
Collapse
|
26
|
Sturgess V, Azubuike UF, Tanner K. Vascular regulation of disseminated tumor cells during metastatic spread. BIOPHYSICS REVIEWS 2023; 4:011310. [PMID: 38510161 PMCID: PMC10903479 DOI: 10.1063/5.0106675] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2022] [Accepted: 02/17/2023] [Indexed: 03/22/2024]
Abstract
Cancer cells can travel to other organs via interconnected vascular systems to form new lesions in a process known as metastatic spread. Unfortunately, metastasis remains the leading cause of patient lethality. In recent years, it has been demonstrated that physical cues are just as important as chemical and genetic perturbations in driving changes in gene expression, cell motility, and survival. In this concise review, we focus on the physical cues that cancer cells experience as they migrate through the lymphatic and blood vascular networks. We also present an overview of steps that may facilitate organ specific metastasis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Victoria Sturgess
- Laboratory of Cell Biology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Building 37, Room 2132, Bethesda MD 20892, USA
| | - Udochi F. Azubuike
- Laboratory of Cell Biology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Building 37, Room 2132, Bethesda MD 20892, USA
| | - Kandice Tanner
- Laboratory of Cell Biology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Building 37, Room 2132, Bethesda MD 20892, USA
| |
Collapse
|
27
|
Moran JA, Adams DL, Edelman MJ, Lopez P, He J, Qiao Y, Xu T, Liao Z, Gardner KP, Tang CM, Lin SH. Monitoring PD-L1 Expression on Circulating Tumor-Associated Cells in Recurrent Metastatic Non-Small-Cell Lung Carcinoma Predicts Response to Immunotherapy With Radiation Therapy. JCO Precis Oncol 2022; 6:e2200457. [PMID: 36516370 PMCID: PMC10166406 DOI: 10.1200/po.22.00457] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE Current diagnostic methods to determine programmed death 1 (PD-1) receptor and its ligand (PD-L1)/PD-1 immunotherapy (immune checkpoint inhibitor [ICI]) efficacy in recurrent or metastatic non-small-cell lung carcinoma (rmNSCLC) are imprecise. Although previously shown that patients with high tumor PD-L1 (≥ 50%) demonstrate clinical benefit in the form of disease reduction and improved survival, patients with low PD-L1 (< 50%) sometimes benefit from treatment. Since the PD-L1/PD-1 pathway is dynamic, monitoring PD-L1 levels during treatment may be more accurate than a static baseline tumor biopsy; however, rebiopsying the primary or metastatic disease is rarely feasible. Liquid biopsies that measure the upregulation of PD-L1 on tumor-associated cells (TACs), ie, cancer-associated macrophage-like cells and circulating tumor cells, have been performed, but their predictive value for ICI therapy efficacy is unknown. MATERIALS AND METHODS We initiated a single-blind prospective study to evaluate TAC PD-L1 expression changes in rmNSCLC from blood samples before (T0) and after (T1) treatment with ICI (ICI, n = 41) or without ICI (no ICI, n = 41). Anonymized blood was filtered to isolate TACs, which were then quantified for high/low PD-L1 expression. Progression-free survival (PFS) or overall survival (OS) hazard ratios (HRs) were evaluated at 18 and 24 months by censored univariate analysis. RESULTS Increased TAC PD-L1 expression between T0 and T1 in patients who were not treated with ICI had no relationship with PFS or OS. However, increased TAC PD-L1 expression between T0 and T1 in patients treated with ICI had significantly better PFS (HR, 3.49; 95% CI, 1.5 to 8.3; P = .0091) and OS (HR, 3.058; 95% CI, 1.2 to 7.9; P = .0410). CONCLUSION Blood-based monitoring of dynamic changes in PD-L1 in TACs appears to identify patients with rmNSCLC who may benefit from ICI.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jillian A Moran
- Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, New Brunswick, NJ.,Creatv MicroTech, Inc, Monmouth Junction, NJ
| | - Daniel L Adams
- Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, New Brunswick, NJ.,Creatv MicroTech, Inc, Monmouth Junction, NJ
| | | | | | | | | | - Ting Xu
- MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
| | | | - Kirby P Gardner
- Creatv MicroTech, Inc, Monmouth Junction, NJ.,Rutgers University, School of Graduate Studies, Piscataway, NJ
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
28
|
Jang G, Oh J, Jun E, Lee J, Kwon JY, Kim J, Lee SH, Kim SC, Cho SY, Lee C. Direct cell-to-cell transfer in stressed tumor microenvironment aggravates tumorigenic or metastatic potential in pancreatic cancer. NPJ Genom Med 2022; 7:63. [PMID: 36302783 PMCID: PMC9613679 DOI: 10.1038/s41525-022-00333-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2022] [Accepted: 10/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Pancreatic cancer exhibits a characteristic tumor microenvironment (TME) due to enhanced fibrosis and hypoxia and is particularly resistant to conventional chemotherapy. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying TME-associated treatment resistance in pancreatic cancer are not fully understood. Here, we developed an in vitro TME mimic system comprising pancreatic cancer cells, fibroblasts and immune cells, and a stress condition, including hypoxia and gemcitabine. Cells with high viability under stress showed evidence of increased direct cell-to-cell transfer of biomolecules. The resulting derivative cells (CD44high/SLC16A1high) were similar to cancer stem cell-like-cells (CSCs) with enhanced anchorage-independent growth or invasiveness and acquired metabolic reprogramming. Furthermore, CD24 was a determinant for transition between the tumorsphere formation or invasive properties. Pancreatic cancer patients with CD44low/SLC16A1low expression exhibited better prognoses compared to other groups. Our results suggest that crosstalk via direct cell-to-cell transfer of cellular components foster chemotherapy-induced tumor evolution and that targeting of CD44 and MCT1(encoded by SLC16A1) may be useful strategy to prevent recurrence of gemcitabine-exposed pancreatic cancers.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Giyong Jang
- Department of Life Science, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, 03760, Republic of Korea.,Ewha-JAX Cancer Immunotherapy Research Center, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, 03760, Republic of Korea.,Medical Research Center, Genomic Medicine Institute, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, 03080, Republic of Korea
| | - Jaeik Oh
- Department of Translational Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, 03080, Republic of Korea.,Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, 03080, Republic of Korea
| | - Eunsung Jun
- Department of Surgery, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, 05505, Republic of Korea.,Asan Medical Institute of Convergence Science and Technology (AMIST), Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, 05505, Republic of Korea.,Department of Convergence Medicine, Asan Institute for Life Sciences, University of Ulsan College of Medicine and Asan Medical Center, Seoul, 05505, Republic of Korea
| | - Jieun Lee
- Department of Life Science, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, 03760, Republic of Korea.,Ewha-JAX Cancer Immunotherapy Research Center, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, 03760, Republic of Korea.,Department of Surgery, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Gyeonggi-do, 13620, Republic of Korea
| | - Jee Young Kwon
- Department of Life Science, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, 03760, Republic of Korea.,Ewha-JAX Cancer Immunotherapy Research Center, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, 03760, Republic of Korea.,The Jackson Laboratory for Genomic Medicine, Farmington, CT, 06032, USA
| | - Jaesang Kim
- Department of Life Science, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, 03760, Republic of Korea.,Ewha-JAX Cancer Immunotherapy Research Center, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, 03760, Republic of Korea
| | - Sang-Hyuk Lee
- Department of Life Science, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, 03760, Republic of Korea.,Ewha-JAX Cancer Immunotherapy Research Center, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, 03760, Republic of Korea.,Department of Bio-Information Science, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, 03760, Republic of Korea
| | - Song Cheol Kim
- Department of Surgery, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, 05505, Republic of Korea.,Asan Medical Institute of Convergence Science and Technology (AMIST), Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, 05505, Republic of Korea.,Department of Convergence Medicine, Asan Institute for Life Sciences, University of Ulsan College of Medicine and Asan Medical Center, Seoul, 05505, Republic of Korea
| | - Sung-Yup Cho
- Medical Research Center, Genomic Medicine Institute, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, 03080, Republic of Korea. .,Department of Translational Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, 03080, Republic of Korea. .,Department of Biomedical Sciences, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, 03080, Republic of Korea. .,Cancer Research Institute, Seoul National University, Seoul, 03080, Republic of Korea.
| | - Charles Lee
- Department of Life Science, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, 03760, Republic of Korea. .,Ewha-JAX Cancer Immunotherapy Research Center, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, 03760, Republic of Korea. .,The Jackson Laboratory for Genomic Medicine, Farmington, CT, 06032, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
29
|
Sulaiman R, De P, Aske JC, Lin X, Dale A, Vaselaar E, Ageton C, Gaster K, Espaillat LR, Starks D, Dey N. Identification and Morphological Characterization of Features of Circulating Cancer-Associated Macrophage-like Cells (CAMLs) in Endometrial Cancers. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14194577. [PMID: 36230499 PMCID: PMC9558552 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14194577] [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: 08/24/2022] [Revised: 09/09/2022] [Accepted: 09/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The blood of patients with solid tumors contains circulating tumor-associated cells, including epithelial cells originating from the tumor mass, such as circulating tumor cells (CTCs), or phagocytic myeloid cells (differentiated monocytes), such as circulating cancer-associated macrophage-like cells (CAMLs). We report for the first time the identification and in-depth morphologic characterization of CAMLs in patients with endometrial cancers. We isolated CAMLs by size-based filtration on lithographically fabricated membranes followed by immunofluorescence, using a CD45+/CK 8,18,19+/EpCAM+/CD31+/macrophage-like nuclear morphology, from > 70 patients. Irrespective of the histological and pathological parameters, 98% of patients were positive for CAMLs. Two size-based subtypes of CAMLs, <20 µm (tiny) and >20 µm (giant) CAMLs, of distinctive polymorphic morphologies with mononuclear or fused polynuclear structures in several morphological states were observed, including apoptotic CAMLs, CAML−WBC doublets, conjoined CAMLs, CAML−WBC clusters, and CTC−CAML−WBC clusters. In contrast, CAMLs were absent in patients with non-neoplastic/benign tumors, healthy donors, and leucopaks. Enumerating CTCs simultaneously from the same patient, we observed that CTC-positive patients are positive for CAMLs, while 55% out of all CAML-positive patients were found positive for CTCs. Our study demonstrated for the first time the distinctive morphological characteristics of endometrial CAMLs in the context of the presence of CTCs in patients.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Raed Sulaiman
- Department of Pathology, Avera Cancer Institute, Sioux Falls, SD 57105, USA
| | - Pradip De
- Translational Oncology Laboratory, Avera Research Institute, Sioux Falls, SD 57105, USA
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of South Dakota SSOM, Sioux Falls, SD 57069, USA
| | - Jennifer C. Aske
- Translational Oncology Laboratory, Avera Research Institute, Sioux Falls, SD 57105, USA
| | - Xiaoqian Lin
- Translational Oncology Laboratory, Avera Research Institute, Sioux Falls, SD 57105, USA
| | - Adam Dale
- Translational Oncology Laboratory, Avera Research Institute, Sioux Falls, SD 57105, USA
| | - Ethan Vaselaar
- Translational Oncology Laboratory, Avera Research Institute, Sioux Falls, SD 57105, USA
| | - Cheryl Ageton
- Department of Research Oncology, Avera Cancer Institute, Sioux Falls, SD 57105, USA
| | - Kris Gaster
- Outpatient Cancer Clinics, Avera Cancer Institute, Sioux Falls, SD 57105, USA
| | - Luis Rojas Espaillat
- Department of Gynecologic Oncology, Avera Cancer Institute, Sioux Falls, SD 57105, USA
| | - David Starks
- Department of Gynecologic Oncology, Avera Cancer Institute, Sioux Falls, SD 57105, USA
| | - Nandini Dey
- Translational Oncology Laboratory, Avera Research Institute, Sioux Falls, SD 57105, USA
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of South Dakota SSOM, Sioux Falls, SD 57069, USA
- Correspondence:
| |
Collapse
|
30
|
Filippova N, Grimes JM, Leavenworth JW, Namkoong D, Yang X, King PH, Crowley M, Crossman DK, Nabors LB. Targeting the TREM1-positive myeloid microenvironment in glioblastoma. Neurooncol Adv 2022; 4:vdac149. [PMID: 36249290 PMCID: PMC9555298 DOI: 10.1093/noajnl/vdac149] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Tumor cellular and molecular heterogeneity is a hallmark of glioblastoma and underlies treatment resistance and recurrence. This manuscript investigated the myeloid-derived microenvironment as a driver of glioblastoma heterogeneity and provided a pharmacological pathway for its suppression. Methods Transcriptomic signatures of glioblastoma infiltrated myeloid-derived cells were assessed using R2: genomic platform, Ivy Glioblastoma Spatial Atlas, and single-cell RNA-seq data of primary and recurrent glioblastomas. Myeloid-derived cell prints were evaluated in five PDX cell lines using RNA-seq data. Two immunocompetent mouse glioblastoma models were utilized to isolate and characterize tumor-infiltrated myeloid-derived cells and glioblastoma/host cell hybrids. The ability of an inhibitor of HuR dimerization SRI42127 to suppress TREM1+-microenvironment and glioblastoma/myeloid-derived cell interaction was assessed in vivo and in vitro. Results TREM1+-microenvironment is enriched in glioblastoma peri-necrotic zones. TREM1 appearance is enhanced with tumor grade and associated with poor patient outcomes. We confirmed an expression of a variety of myeloid-derived cell markers, including TREM1, in PDX cell lines. In mouse glioblastoma models, we demonstrated a reduction in the TREM1+-microenvironment and glioblastoma/host cell fusion after treatment with SRI42127. In vitro assays confirmed inhibition of cell fusion events and reduction of myeloid-derived cell migration towards glioblastoma cells by SRI42127 and TREM1 decoy peptide (LP17) versus control treatments. Conclusions TREM1+-myeloid-derived microenvironment promulgates glioblastoma heterogeneity and is a therapeutic target. Pharmacological inhibition of HuR dimerization leads to suppression of the TREM1+-myeloid-derived microenvironment and the neoplastic/non-neoplastic fusogenic cell network.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Natalia Filippova
- Department of Neurology, Division of Neuro-oncology, UAB, Birmingham, Alabama, USA
| | - Jeffrey M Grimes
- Department of Neurosurgery, Program of Immunology, UAB, Birmingham, Alabama, USA
| | | | - David Namkoong
- Department of Neurology, Division of Neuro-oncology, UAB, Birmingham, Alabama, USA
| | - Xiuhua Yang
- Department of Neurology, Division of Neuro-oncology, UAB, Birmingham, Alabama, USA
| | - Peter H King
- Department of Neurology, Birmingham Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Birmingham, Alabama, USA
| | - Michael Crowley
- Department of Genetics, Heflin Center Genomics Core, UAB, Birmingham, Alabama, USA (M.C., D.K.C.)
| | - David K Crossman
- Department of Genetics, Heflin Center Genomics Core, UAB, Birmingham, Alabama, USA (M.C., D.K.C.)
| | - L Burt Nabors
- Corresponding Author: L. Burt Nabors, MD, Division Neuro-oncology, Department of Neurology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, FOT 1020, 510 20th Street South, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA ()
| |
Collapse
|
31
|
Monocyte-Macrophage Lineage Cell Fusion. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23126553. [PMID: 35742997 PMCID: PMC9223484 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23126553] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2022] [Revised: 06/07/2022] [Accepted: 06/10/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Cell fusion (fusogenesis) occurs in natural and pathological conditions in prokaryotes and eukaryotes. Cells of monocyte–macrophage lineage are highly fusogenic. They create syncytial multinucleated giant cells (MGCs) such as osteoclasts (OCs), MGCs associated with the areas of infection/inflammation, and foreign body-induced giant cells (FBGCs). The fusion of monocytes/macrophages with tumor cells may promote cancer metastasis. We describe types and examples of monocyte–macrophage lineage cell fusion and the role of actin-based structures in cell fusion.
Collapse
|
32
|
Cell Lines of Circulating Tumor Cells: What Is Known and What Needs to Be Resolved. J Pers Med 2022; 12:jpm12050666. [PMID: 35629089 PMCID: PMC9148030 DOI: 10.3390/jpm12050666] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2022] [Revised: 04/13/2022] [Accepted: 04/15/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
The importance of circulating tumor cells (CTC) is well recognized. However, the biological characteristics of CTC in the bloodstream have not yet been examined in detail, due to the limited number of CTC cell lines currently available. Thirty-nine CTC cell lines were reported by 2021. For successful cell culturing, these CTC cell lines were reviewed. Previous studies on short-term cultures of CTC also analyzed approaches for establishing the long-term culture of CTC. Negative selection, hypoxic conditions, three-dimensional conditions, and careful management are preferable for the long-term culture of CTC. However, the establishment of CTC cell lines is dependent on the specific characteristics of each cell type. Therefore, a method to establish CTC cell lines has not yet been developed. Further efforts are needed to resolve this issue.
Collapse
|
33
|
Generation of Cancer Stem/Initiating Cells by Cell-Cell Fusion. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23094514. [PMID: 35562905 PMCID: PMC9101717 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23094514] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2022] [Revised: 04/10/2022] [Accepted: 04/17/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
CS/ICs have raised great expectations in cancer research and therapy, as eradication of this key cancer cell type is expected to lead to a complete cure. Unfortunately, the biology of CS/ICs is rather complex, since no common CS/IC marker has yet been identified. Certain surface markers or ALDH1 expression can be used for detection, but some studies indicated that cancer cells exhibit a certain plasticity, so CS/ICs can also arise from non-CS/ICs. Another problem is intratumoral heterogeneity, from which it can be inferred that different CS/IC subclones must be present in the tumor. Cell–cell fusion between cancer cells and normal cells, such as macrophages and stem cells, has been associated with the generation of tumor hybrids that can exhibit novel properties, such as an enhanced metastatic capacity and even CS/IC properties. Moreover, cell–cell fusion is a complex process in which parental chromosomes are mixed and randomly distributed among daughter cells, resulting in multiple, unique tumor hybrids. These, if they have CS/IC properties, may contribute to the heterogeneity of the CS/IC pool. In this review, we will discuss whether cell–cell fusion could also lead to the origin of different CS/ICs that may expand the overall CS/IC pool in a primary tumor.
Collapse
|
34
|
Shi J, Zhao C, Shen M, Chen Z, Liu J, Zhang S, Zhang Z. Combination of microfluidic chips and biosensing for the enrichment of circulating tumor cells. Biosens Bioelectron 2022; 202:114025. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bios.2022.114025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2021] [Revised: 01/12/2022] [Accepted: 01/18/2022] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
|
35
|
Kaigorodova EV, Kozik AV, Zavaruev IS, Grishchenko MY. Hybrid/Atypical Forms of Circulating Tumor Cells: Current State of the Art. BIOCHEMISTRY (MOSCOW) 2022; 87:380-390. [PMID: 35527376 PMCID: PMC8993035 DOI: 10.1134/s0006297922040071] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Cancer is one of the most common diseases worldwide, and its treatment is associated with many challenges such as drug and radioresistance and formation of metastases. These difficulties are due to tumor heterogeneity, which has many causes. One may be the cell fusion, a process that is relevant to both physiological (e.g., wound healing) and pathophysiological (cancer and viral infection) processes. This literature review aimed to summarize the existing data on the hybrid/atypical forms of circulating cancer cells and their role in tumor progression. For that, the bioinformatics search in universal databases, such as PubMed, NCBI, and Google Scholar was conducted by using the keywords “hybrid cancer cells”, “cancer cell fusion”, etc. In this review the latest information related to the hybrid tumor cells, theories of their genesis, characteristics of different variants with data from our own researches are presented. Many aspects of the hybrid cell research are still in their infancy. However, with the level of knowledge already accumulated, circulating hybrids such as CAML and CHC could be considered as promising biomarkers of cancerous tumors, and even more as a new approach to cancer treatment.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Evgeniya V Kaigorodova
- Cancer Research Institute, Tomsk National Research Medical Center, Russian Academy of Sciences, Tomsk, 634050, Russia.
- Siberian State Medical University, Tomsk, 634050, Russia
| | - Alexey V Kozik
- Siberian State Medical University, Tomsk, 634050, Russia
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
36
|
Tang CM, Adams DL. Clinical Applications of Cancer-Associated Cells Present in the Blood of Cancer Patients. Biomedicines 2022; 10:biomedicines10030587. [PMID: 35327389 PMCID: PMC8945841 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines10030587] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2022] [Revised: 02/08/2022] [Accepted: 02/22/2022] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
The ability to obtain tumor material from cells in the blood of cancer patients provides a significant benefit over the use of tumor tissue as a diagnostic to make treatment decisions. However, the traditionally defined circulating tumor cell (CTC) has been shown to be useful only in some cases. A recently identified type of circulating stromal cell, which appears to be more frequent than CTCs, was found engulfing tumor material at the tumor site and then entering the blood stream. These cells were defined as cancer-associated macrophage-like cells (CAMLs). Together, CTCs and CAMLs may be able to provide information for cancer detection and diagnosis, without the use of tissue. CTCs and CAMLs have many clinical applications, three of which are summarized in this review: for prognosis, as companion diagnostics, and for residual disease monitoring.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Cha-Mei Tang
- Creatv MicroTech, Inc., 9900 Belward Campus Drive, Suite 330, Rockville, MD 20850, USA
- Correspondence:
| | - Daniel L. Adams
- Creatv MicroTech, Inc., 9 Deer Park Drive, Suite M5, Middlesex County, NJ 08852, USA;
| |
Collapse
|
37
|
Manjunath Y, Suvilesh KN, Mitchem JB, Avella Patino DM, Kimchi ET, Staveley-O'Carroll KF, Pantel K, Yi H, Li G, Harris PK, Chaudhuri AA, Kaifi JT. Circulating Tumor-Macrophage Fusion Cells and Circulating Tumor Cells Complement Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer Screening in Patients With Suspicious Lung-RADS 4 Nodules. JCO Precis Oncol 2022; 6:e2100378. [PMID: 35417204 PMCID: PMC9012602 DOI: 10.1200/po.21.00378] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2021] [Revised: 01/30/2022] [Accepted: 02/23/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE Low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) screening of high-risk patients decreases lung cancer-related mortality. However, high false-positive rates associated with LDCT result in unnecessary interventions. To distinguish non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) from benign nodules, in the present study, we integrated cellular liquid biomarkers in patients with suspicious lung nodules (lung cancer screening reporting and data system [Lung-RADS] 4). METHODS Prospectively, 7.5 mL of blood was collected from 221 individuals (training set: 90 nonscreened NSCLC patients, 74 high-risk screening patients with no/benign nodules [Lung-RADS 1-3], and 20 never smokers; validation set: 37 patients with suspicious nodules [Lung-RADS 4]). Circulating tumor cells (CTCs), CTC clusters, and tumor-macrophage fusion (TMF) cells were identified by blinded analyses. Screening patients underwent a median of two LDCTs (range, 1-4) with a median surveillance time of 30 (range, 11-50) months. RESULTS In the validation set of 37 Lung-RADS 4 patients, all circulating cellular biomarker counts (P < .005; Wilcoxon test) and positivity rates were significantly higher in 23 biopsy-proven NSCLC patients (CTCs: 23 of 23 [100%], CTC clusters: 6 of 23 [26.1%], and TMF cells: 15 of 23 [65.2%]) than in 14 patients with biopsy-proven benign nodules (6 of 14 [42.9%], 0 of 14 [0%], and 2 of 14 [14.3%]). On the basis of cutoff values from the training set, logistic regression with receiver operating characteristic and area under the curve analyses demonstrated that CTCs (sensitivity: 0.870, specificity: 1.0, and area under the curve: 0.989) and TMF cells (0.652; 0.880; 0.790) complement LDCT in diagnosing NSCLC in Lung-RADS 4 patients. CONCLUSION Cellular liquid biomarkers have a potential to complement LDCT interpretation of suspicious Lung-RADS 4 nodules to distinguish NSCLC from benign lung nodules. A future prospective, large-scale, multicenter clinical trial should validate the role of cellular liquid biomarkers in improving diagnostic accuracy in high-risk patients with Lung-RADS 4 nodules.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yariswamy Manjunath
- Department of Surgery, Ellis Fischel Cancer Center, University of Missouri-Columbia, Columbia, MO
- Harry S. Truman Memorial Veterans' Hospital, Columbia, MO
| | - Kanve Nagaraj Suvilesh
- Department of Surgery, Ellis Fischel Cancer Center, University of Missouri-Columbia, Columbia, MO
| | - Jonathan B. Mitchem
- Department of Surgery, Ellis Fischel Cancer Center, University of Missouri-Columbia, Columbia, MO
- Harry S. Truman Memorial Veterans' Hospital, Columbia, MO
- Siteman Cancer Center, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, MO
| | - Diego M. Avella Patino
- Department of Surgery, Ellis Fischel Cancer Center, University of Missouri-Columbia, Columbia, MO
- Harry S. Truman Memorial Veterans' Hospital, Columbia, MO
| | - Eric T. Kimchi
- Department of Surgery, Ellis Fischel Cancer Center, University of Missouri-Columbia, Columbia, MO
- Harry S. Truman Memorial Veterans' Hospital, Columbia, MO
- Siteman Cancer Center, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, MO
| | - Kevin F. Staveley-O'Carroll
- Department of Surgery, Ellis Fischel Cancer Center, University of Missouri-Columbia, Columbia, MO
- Harry S. Truman Memorial Veterans' Hospital, Columbia, MO
- Siteman Cancer Center, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, MO
| | - Klaus Pantel
- Institute for Tumor Biology, University of Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Huang Yi
- Departments of Radiation Oncology, Genetics, and Computer Science and Engineering, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, MO
| | - Guangfu Li
- Department of Surgery, Ellis Fischel Cancer Center, University of Missouri-Columbia, Columbia, MO
- Harry S. Truman Memorial Veterans' Hospital, Columbia, MO
| | - Peter K. Harris
- Siteman Cancer Center, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, MO
- Departments of Radiation Oncology, Genetics, and Computer Science and Engineering, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, MO
| | - Aadel A. Chaudhuri
- Siteman Cancer Center, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, MO
- Departments of Radiation Oncology, Genetics, and Computer Science and Engineering, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, MO
| | - Jussuf T. Kaifi
- Department of Surgery, Ellis Fischel Cancer Center, University of Missouri-Columbia, Columbia, MO
- Harry S. Truman Memorial Veterans' Hospital, Columbia, MO
- Siteman Cancer Center, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, MO
| |
Collapse
|
38
|
Identification of Atypical Circulating Tumor Cells with Prognostic Value in Metastatic Breast Cancer Patients. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14040932. [PMID: 35205679 PMCID: PMC8869799 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14040932] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2021] [Revised: 02/03/2022] [Accepted: 02/09/2022] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary In this study we have isolated and analyzed atypical cells found in the blood of metastatic breast cancer patients using a micro-filtration technic. This technic, being very easy to implement, was also extremely useful for studying circulating tumors cells’ (CTCs) heterogeneity in cancer patients. We highlighted three subsets of CTCs, with different independent unfavorable prognostic values for progression-free and overall survival. We demonstrated that these cells can further be analyzed by immunofluorescence to narrow their molecular profiles and identify specific characteristics. Moreover, we identified a subset of CTCs, for which positivity might be a useful stratification tool to select patients more susceptible to benefit from early clinical trials testing novel therapeutics, which frequently enroll late-stage, already heavily pre-treated and thus poor-responder patients. Abstract Circulating tumor cells have a strong potential as a quasi-non-invasive tool for setting up a precision medicine strategy for cancer patients. Using a second-generation “filtration-based” technology to isolate CTCs, the Screencell™ technology (Sarcelles, France), we performed a large and simultaneous analysis of all atypical circulating tumor cells (aCTCs) isolated from the blood of metastatic breast cancer (mBC) patients. We correlated their presence with clinicopathological and survival data. We included 91 mBC patients from the PERMED-01 study. The median number of aCTCs was 8.3 per mL of blood. Three subsets of aCTCs, absent from controls, were observed in patients: single (s-aCTCs), circulating tumor micro-emboli (CTM), and giant-aCTCs (g-aCTCs). The presence of g-aCTCs was associated with shorter progression free survival and overall survival. This study highlights the heterogeneity of aCTCs in mBC patients both at the cytomorphological and molecular levels. In addition, it suggests the usefulness of the g-aCTC subset as a prognostic factor and a potential stratification tool to treat late-stage mBC patients and improve their chances of benefiting from early clinical trials.
Collapse
|
39
|
Synergistic Analysis of Circulating Tumor Cells Reveals Prognostic Signatures in Pilot Study of Treatment-Naïve Metastatic Pancreatic Cancer Patients. Biomedicines 2022; 10:biomedicines10010146. [PMID: 35052825 PMCID: PMC8773204 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines10010146] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2021] [Revised: 01/02/2022] [Accepted: 01/04/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Pancreatic cancer is one of the most deadly cancer types because it usually is not diagnosed until the cancer has spread throughout the body. In this study, we isolate cancer cells found in the blood of pancreatic cancer patients called circulating tumor cells (CTCs) to study their mutation and gene expression profiles. Comparing patients with better and worse survival duration revealed signatures found in these cancer cells. Characterizing these signatures may help improve patient care by using alternative treatment options. Abstract Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma is typically diagnosed at late stages and has one of the lowest five-year survival rates of all malignancies. In this pilot study, we identify signatures related to survival and treatment response found in circulating tumor cells (CTCs). Patients with poor survival had increased mutant KRAS expression and deregulation of connected pathways such as PI3K-AKT and MAPK signaling. Further, in a subset of these patients, expression patterns of gemcitabine resistance mechanisms were observed, even prior to initiating treatment. This work highlights the need for identifying patients with these resistance profiles and designing treatment regimens to circumvent these mechanisms.
Collapse
|
40
|
Rubio C, Avendaño-Ortiz J, Ruiz-Palomares R, Karaivanova V, Alberquilla O, Sánchez-Domínguez R, Casalvilla-Dueñas JC, Montalbán-Hernández K, Lodewijk I, Rodríguez-Izquierdo M, Munera-Maravilla E, Nunes SP, Suárez-Cabrera C, Pérez-Crespo M, Martínez VG, Morales L, Pérez-Escavy M, Alonso-Sánchez M, Lozano-Rodríguez R, Cueto FJ, Aguirre LA, Guerrero-Ramos F, Paramio JM, López-Collazo E, Dueñas M. Toward Tumor Fight and Tumor Microenvironment Remodeling: PBA Induces Cell Cycle Arrest and Reduces Tumor Hybrid Cells' Pluripotency in Bladder Cancer. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:287. [PMID: 35053451 PMCID: PMC8773853 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14020287] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/26/2021] [Accepted: 01/05/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Bladder cancer (BC) is the second most frequent cancer of the genitourinary system. The most successful therapy since the 1970s has consisted of intravesical instillations of Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) in which the tumor microenvironment (TME), including macrophages, plays an important role. However, some patients cannot be treated with this therapy due to comorbidities and severe inflammatory side effects. The overexpression of histone deacetylases (HDACs) in BC has been correlated with macrophage polarization together with higher tumor grades and poor prognosis. Herein we demonstrated that phenylbutyrate acid (PBA), a HDAC inhibitor, acts as an antitumoral compound and immunomodulator. In BC cell lines, PBA induced significant cell cycle arrest in G1, reduced stemness markers and increased PD-L1 expression with a corresponding reduction in histone 3 and 4 acetylation patterns. Concerning its role as an immunomodulator, we found that PBA reduced macrophage IL-6 and IL-10 production as well as CD14 downregulation and the upregulation of both PD-L1 and IL-1β. Along this line, PBA showed a reduction in IL-4-induced M2 polarization in human macrophages. In co-cultures of BC cell lines with human macrophages, a double-positive myeloid-tumoral hybrid population (CD11b+EPCAM+) was detected after 48 h, which indicates BC cell-macrophage fusions known as tumor hybrid cells (THC). These THC were characterized by high PD-L1 and stemness markers (SOX2, NANOG, miR-302) as compared with non-fused (CD11b-EPCAM+) cancer cells. Eventually, PBA reduced stemness markers along with BMP4 and IL-10. Our data indicate that PBA could have beneficial properties for BC management, affecting not only tumor cells but also the TME.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Carolina Rubio
- Biomedical Biomedical Research Institute I+12, University Hospital “12 de Octubre”, Av Córdoba s/n, 28041 Madrid, Spain; (C.R.); (R.R.-P.); (I.L.); (E.M.-M.); (S.P.N.); (C.S.-C.); (M.P.-C.); (V.G.M.); (L.M.); (M.P.-E.); (M.A.-S.); (J.M.P.)
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Cáncer (CIBERONC), 28029 Madrid, Spain
- Molecular Oncology Unit, CIEMAT (Centro de Investigaciones Energéticas, Medioambientales y Tecnológicas), Avenida Complutense nº40, 28040 Madrid, Spain;
| | - José Avendaño-Ortiz
- TumorImmunology Laboratory and Innate Immunity Group, Institute for Health Research (IdiPAZ), 28029 Madrid, Spain; (J.A.-O.); (J.C.C.-D.); (K.M.-H.); (R.L.-R.); (F.J.C.); (L.A.A.)
| | - Raquel Ruiz-Palomares
- Biomedical Biomedical Research Institute I+12, University Hospital “12 de Octubre”, Av Córdoba s/n, 28041 Madrid, Spain; (C.R.); (R.R.-P.); (I.L.); (E.M.-M.); (S.P.N.); (C.S.-C.); (M.P.-C.); (V.G.M.); (L.M.); (M.P.-E.); (M.A.-S.); (J.M.P.)
| | - Viktoriya Karaivanova
- Molecular Oncology Unit, CIEMAT (Centro de Investigaciones Energéticas, Medioambientales y Tecnológicas), Avenida Complutense nº40, 28040 Madrid, Spain;
| | - Omaira Alberquilla
- Division of Hematopoietic Innovative Therapies, Centro de Investigaciones Energéticas, Medioambientales y Tecnológicas (CIEMAT), 28029 Madrid, Spain; (O.A.); (R.S.-D.)
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Raras (CIBER-ER), 28029 Madrid, Spain
- Advanced Therapy Unit, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Fundación Jiménez Díaz (IIS-FJD/UAM), 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - Rebeca Sánchez-Domínguez
- Division of Hematopoietic Innovative Therapies, Centro de Investigaciones Energéticas, Medioambientales y Tecnológicas (CIEMAT), 28029 Madrid, Spain; (O.A.); (R.S.-D.)
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Raras (CIBER-ER), 28029 Madrid, Spain
- Advanced Therapy Unit, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Fundación Jiménez Díaz (IIS-FJD/UAM), 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - José Carlos Casalvilla-Dueñas
- TumorImmunology Laboratory and Innate Immunity Group, Institute for Health Research (IdiPAZ), 28029 Madrid, Spain; (J.A.-O.); (J.C.C.-D.); (K.M.-H.); (R.L.-R.); (F.J.C.); (L.A.A.)
| | - Karla Montalbán-Hernández
- TumorImmunology Laboratory and Innate Immunity Group, Institute for Health Research (IdiPAZ), 28029 Madrid, Spain; (J.A.-O.); (J.C.C.-D.); (K.M.-H.); (R.L.-R.); (F.J.C.); (L.A.A.)
| | - Iris Lodewijk
- Biomedical Biomedical Research Institute I+12, University Hospital “12 de Octubre”, Av Córdoba s/n, 28041 Madrid, Spain; (C.R.); (R.R.-P.); (I.L.); (E.M.-M.); (S.P.N.); (C.S.-C.); (M.P.-C.); (V.G.M.); (L.M.); (M.P.-E.); (M.A.-S.); (J.M.P.)
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Cáncer (CIBERONC), 28029 Madrid, Spain
- Molecular Oncology Unit, CIEMAT (Centro de Investigaciones Energéticas, Medioambientales y Tecnológicas), Avenida Complutense nº40, 28040 Madrid, Spain;
| | - Marta Rodríguez-Izquierdo
- Uro-Oncology Unit, 12 de Octubre University Hospital, Av Córdoba s/n, 28041 Madrid, Spain; (M.R.-I.); (F.G.-R.)
| | - Ester Munera-Maravilla
- Biomedical Biomedical Research Institute I+12, University Hospital “12 de Octubre”, Av Córdoba s/n, 28041 Madrid, Spain; (C.R.); (R.R.-P.); (I.L.); (E.M.-M.); (S.P.N.); (C.S.-C.); (M.P.-C.); (V.G.M.); (L.M.); (M.P.-E.); (M.A.-S.); (J.M.P.)
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Cáncer (CIBERONC), 28029 Madrid, Spain
- Molecular Oncology Unit, CIEMAT (Centro de Investigaciones Energéticas, Medioambientales y Tecnológicas), Avenida Complutense nº40, 28040 Madrid, Spain;
| | - Sandra P. Nunes
- Biomedical Biomedical Research Institute I+12, University Hospital “12 de Octubre”, Av Córdoba s/n, 28041 Madrid, Spain; (C.R.); (R.R.-P.); (I.L.); (E.M.-M.); (S.P.N.); (C.S.-C.); (M.P.-C.); (V.G.M.); (L.M.); (M.P.-E.); (M.A.-S.); (J.M.P.)
- Molecular Oncology Unit, CIEMAT (Centro de Investigaciones Energéticas, Medioambientales y Tecnológicas), Avenida Complutense nº40, 28040 Madrid, Spain;
- Cancer Biology and Epigenetics Group, Research Center of IPO Porto (CI-IPOP)/RISE@CI-IPOP (Health Research Network) Porto Comprehensive Cancer Center (Porto.CCC), 4200-072 Porto, Portugal
| | - Cristian Suárez-Cabrera
- Biomedical Biomedical Research Institute I+12, University Hospital “12 de Octubre”, Av Córdoba s/n, 28041 Madrid, Spain; (C.R.); (R.R.-P.); (I.L.); (E.M.-M.); (S.P.N.); (C.S.-C.); (M.P.-C.); (V.G.M.); (L.M.); (M.P.-E.); (M.A.-S.); (J.M.P.)
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Cáncer (CIBERONC), 28029 Madrid, Spain
- Molecular Oncology Unit, CIEMAT (Centro de Investigaciones Energéticas, Medioambientales y Tecnológicas), Avenida Complutense nº40, 28040 Madrid, Spain;
| | - Miriam Pérez-Crespo
- Biomedical Biomedical Research Institute I+12, University Hospital “12 de Octubre”, Av Córdoba s/n, 28041 Madrid, Spain; (C.R.); (R.R.-P.); (I.L.); (E.M.-M.); (S.P.N.); (C.S.-C.); (M.P.-C.); (V.G.M.); (L.M.); (M.P.-E.); (M.A.-S.); (J.M.P.)
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Cáncer (CIBERONC), 28029 Madrid, Spain
- Molecular Oncology Unit, CIEMAT (Centro de Investigaciones Energéticas, Medioambientales y Tecnológicas), Avenida Complutense nº40, 28040 Madrid, Spain;
| | - Víctor G. Martínez
- Biomedical Biomedical Research Institute I+12, University Hospital “12 de Octubre”, Av Córdoba s/n, 28041 Madrid, Spain; (C.R.); (R.R.-P.); (I.L.); (E.M.-M.); (S.P.N.); (C.S.-C.); (M.P.-C.); (V.G.M.); (L.M.); (M.P.-E.); (M.A.-S.); (J.M.P.)
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Cáncer (CIBERONC), 28029 Madrid, Spain
- Molecular Oncology Unit, CIEMAT (Centro de Investigaciones Energéticas, Medioambientales y Tecnológicas), Avenida Complutense nº40, 28040 Madrid, Spain;
| | - Lucía Morales
- Biomedical Biomedical Research Institute I+12, University Hospital “12 de Octubre”, Av Córdoba s/n, 28041 Madrid, Spain; (C.R.); (R.R.-P.); (I.L.); (E.M.-M.); (S.P.N.); (C.S.-C.); (M.P.-C.); (V.G.M.); (L.M.); (M.P.-E.); (M.A.-S.); (J.M.P.)
- Molecular Oncology Unit, CIEMAT (Centro de Investigaciones Energéticas, Medioambientales y Tecnológicas), Avenida Complutense nº40, 28040 Madrid, Spain;
| | - Mercedes Pérez-Escavy
- Biomedical Biomedical Research Institute I+12, University Hospital “12 de Octubre”, Av Córdoba s/n, 28041 Madrid, Spain; (C.R.); (R.R.-P.); (I.L.); (E.M.-M.); (S.P.N.); (C.S.-C.); (M.P.-C.); (V.G.M.); (L.M.); (M.P.-E.); (M.A.-S.); (J.M.P.)
- Molecular Oncology Unit, CIEMAT (Centro de Investigaciones Energéticas, Medioambientales y Tecnológicas), Avenida Complutense nº40, 28040 Madrid, Spain;
| | - Miguel Alonso-Sánchez
- Biomedical Biomedical Research Institute I+12, University Hospital “12 de Octubre”, Av Córdoba s/n, 28041 Madrid, Spain; (C.R.); (R.R.-P.); (I.L.); (E.M.-M.); (S.P.N.); (C.S.-C.); (M.P.-C.); (V.G.M.); (L.M.); (M.P.-E.); (M.A.-S.); (J.M.P.)
- Molecular Oncology Unit, CIEMAT (Centro de Investigaciones Energéticas, Medioambientales y Tecnológicas), Avenida Complutense nº40, 28040 Madrid, Spain;
| | - Roberto Lozano-Rodríguez
- TumorImmunology Laboratory and Innate Immunity Group, Institute for Health Research (IdiPAZ), 28029 Madrid, Spain; (J.A.-O.); (J.C.C.-D.); (K.M.-H.); (R.L.-R.); (F.J.C.); (L.A.A.)
| | - Francisco J. Cueto
- TumorImmunology Laboratory and Innate Immunity Group, Institute for Health Research (IdiPAZ), 28029 Madrid, Spain; (J.A.-O.); (J.C.C.-D.); (K.M.-H.); (R.L.-R.); (F.J.C.); (L.A.A.)
| | - Luis A. Aguirre
- TumorImmunology Laboratory and Innate Immunity Group, Institute for Health Research (IdiPAZ), 28029 Madrid, Spain; (J.A.-O.); (J.C.C.-D.); (K.M.-H.); (R.L.-R.); (F.J.C.); (L.A.A.)
| | - Félix Guerrero-Ramos
- Uro-Oncology Unit, 12 de Octubre University Hospital, Av Córdoba s/n, 28041 Madrid, Spain; (M.R.-I.); (F.G.-R.)
| | - Jesús M. Paramio
- Biomedical Biomedical Research Institute I+12, University Hospital “12 de Octubre”, Av Córdoba s/n, 28041 Madrid, Spain; (C.R.); (R.R.-P.); (I.L.); (E.M.-M.); (S.P.N.); (C.S.-C.); (M.P.-C.); (V.G.M.); (L.M.); (M.P.-E.); (M.A.-S.); (J.M.P.)
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Cáncer (CIBERONC), 28029 Madrid, Spain
- Molecular Oncology Unit, CIEMAT (Centro de Investigaciones Energéticas, Medioambientales y Tecnológicas), Avenida Complutense nº40, 28040 Madrid, Spain;
| | - Eduardo López-Collazo
- TumorImmunology Laboratory and Innate Immunity Group, Institute for Health Research (IdiPAZ), 28029 Madrid, Spain; (J.A.-O.); (J.C.C.-D.); (K.M.-H.); (R.L.-R.); (F.J.C.); (L.A.A.)
- CIBER of Respiratory Diseases (CIBERES), 28029 Madrid, Spain
| | - Marta Dueñas
- Biomedical Biomedical Research Institute I+12, University Hospital “12 de Octubre”, Av Córdoba s/n, 28041 Madrid, Spain; (C.R.); (R.R.-P.); (I.L.); (E.M.-M.); (S.P.N.); (C.S.-C.); (M.P.-C.); (V.G.M.); (L.M.); (M.P.-E.); (M.A.-S.); (J.M.P.)
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Cáncer (CIBERONC), 28029 Madrid, Spain
- Molecular Oncology Unit, CIEMAT (Centro de Investigaciones Energéticas, Medioambientales y Tecnológicas), Avenida Complutense nº40, 28040 Madrid, Spain;
| |
Collapse
|
41
|
Lin D, Shen L, Luo M, Zhang K, Li J, Yang Q, Zhu F, Zhou D, Zheng S, Chen Y, Zhou J. Circulating tumor cells: biology and clinical significance. Signal Transduct Target Ther 2021; 6:404. [PMID: 34803167 PMCID: PMC8606574 DOI: 10.1038/s41392-021-00817-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 311] [Impact Index Per Article: 103.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2021] [Revised: 10/06/2021] [Accepted: 10/27/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) are tumor cells that have sloughed off the primary tumor and extravasate into and circulate in the blood. Understanding of the metastatic cascade of CTCs has tremendous potential for the identification of targets against cancer metastasis. Detecting these very rare CTCs among the massive blood cells is challenging. However, emerging technologies for CTCs detection have profoundly contributed to deepening investigation into the biology of CTCs and have facilitated their clinical application. Current technologies for the detection of CTCs are summarized herein, together with their advantages and disadvantages. The detection of CTCs is usually dependent on molecular markers, with the epithelial cell adhesion molecule being the most widely used, although molecular markers vary between different types of cancer. Properties associated with epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition and stemness have been identified in CTCs, indicating their increased metastatic capacity. Only a small proportion of CTCs can survive and eventually initiate metastases, suggesting that an interaction and modulation between CTCs and the hostile blood microenvironment is essential for CTC metastasis. Single-cell sequencing of CTCs has been extensively investigated, and has enabled researchers to reveal the genome and transcriptome of CTCs. Herein, we also review the clinical applications of CTCs, especially for monitoring response to cancer treatment and in evaluating prognosis. Hence, CTCs have and will continue to contribute to providing significant insights into metastatic processes and will open new avenues for useful clinical applications.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Danfeng Lin
- Department of Breast Surgery, the Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
- Cancer Institute (Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Intervention, China National Ministry of Education), the Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
- Department of Breast Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
| | - Lesang Shen
- Department of Breast Surgery, the Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Meng Luo
- Department of Breast Surgery, the Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
- Cancer Institute (Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Intervention, China National Ministry of Education), the Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Kun Zhang
- Department of Breast Surgery, the Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Jinfan Li
- Department of Pathology, the Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Qi Yang
- Department of Pathology, the Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Fangfang Zhu
- Department of Breast Surgery, the Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Dan Zhou
- Department of Surgery, Traditional Chinese Medical Hospital of Zhuji, Shaoxing, China
| | - Shu Zheng
- Department of Breast Surgery, the Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
- Cancer Institute (Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Intervention, China National Ministry of Education), the Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Yiding Chen
- Department of Breast Surgery, the Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China.
- Cancer Institute (Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Intervention, China National Ministry of Education), the Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China.
| | - Jiaojiao Zhou
- Department of Breast Surgery, the Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China.
- Cancer Institute (Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Intervention, China National Ministry of Education), the Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China.
| |
Collapse
|
42
|
Label-free enrichment of rare unconventional circulating neoplastic cells using a microfluidic dielectrophoretic sorting device. Commun Biol 2021; 4:1130. [PMID: 34561533 PMCID: PMC8463600 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-021-02651-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2021] [Accepted: 09/08/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Cellular circulating biomarkers from the primary tumor such as circulating tumor cells (CTCs) and circulating hybrid cells (CHCs) have been described to harbor tumor-like phenotype and genotype. CHCs are present in higher numbers than CTCs supporting their translational potential. Methods for isolation of CHCs do not exist and are restricted to low-throughput, time consuming, and biased methodologies. We report the development of a label-free dielectrophoretic microfluidic platform facilitating enrichment of CHCs in a high-throughput and rapid fashion by depleting healthy peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). We demonstrated up to 96.5% depletion of PBMCs resulting in 18.6-fold enrichment of cancer cells. In PBMCs from pancreatic adenocarcinoma patients, the platform enriched neoplastic cells identified by their KRAS mutant status using droplet digital PCR with one hour of processing. Enrichment was achieved in 75% of the clinical samples analyzed, establishing this approach as a promising way to non-invasively analyze tumor cells from patients.
Collapse
|
43
|
Hybrid Formation and Fusion of Cancer Cells In Vitro and In Vivo. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:cancers13174496. [PMID: 34503305 PMCID: PMC8431460 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13174496] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2021] [Revised: 09/02/2021] [Accepted: 09/03/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Cell fusion as a fundamental biological process is required for various physiological processes, including fertilization, placentation, myogenesis, osteoclastogenesis, and wound healing/tissue regeneration. However, cell fusion is also observed during pathophysiological processes like tumor development. Mesenchymal stroma/stem-like cells (MSC) which play an important role within the tumor microenvironment like other cell types such as macrophages can closely interact and hybridize with cancer cells. The formation of cancer hybrid cells can involve various different mechanisms whereby the genomic parts of the hybrid cells require rearrangement to form a new functional hybrid cell. The fusion of cancer cells with neighboring cell types may represent an important mechanism during tumor development since cancer hybrid cells are detectable in various tumor tissues. During this rare event with resulting genomic instability the cancer hybrid cells undergo a post-hybrid selection process (PHSP) to reorganize chromosomes of the two parental nuclei whereby the majority of the hybrid population undergoes cell death. The remaining cancer hybrid cells survive by displaying altered properties within the tumor tissue. Abstract The generation of cancer hybrid cells by intra-tumoral cell fusion opens new avenues for tumor plasticity to develop cancer stem cells with altered properties, to escape from immune surveillance, to change metastatic behavior, and to broaden drug responsiveness/resistance. Genomic instability and chromosomal rearrangements in bi- or multinucleated aneuploid cancer hybrid cells contribute to these new functions. However, the significance of cell fusion in tumorigenesis is controversial with respect to the low frequency of cancer cell fusion events and a clonal advantage of surviving cancer hybrid cells following a post-hybrid selection process. This review highlights alternative processes of cancer hybrid cell development such as entosis, emperipolesis, cannibalism, therapy-induced polyploidization/endoreduplication, horizontal or lateral gene transfer, and focusses on the predominant mechanisms of cell fusion. Based upon new properties of cancer hybrid cells the arising clinical consequences of the subsequent tumor heterogeneity after cancer cell fusion represent a major therapeutic challenge.
Collapse
|
44
|
Dufrançais O, Mascarau R, Poincloux R, Maridonneau-Parini I, Raynaud-Messina B, Vérollet C. Cellular and molecular actors of myeloid cell fusion: podosomes and tunneling nanotubes call the tune. Cell Mol Life Sci 2021; 78:6087-6104. [PMID: 34296319 PMCID: PMC8429379 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-021-03875-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2021] [Revised: 05/25/2021] [Accepted: 06/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Different types of multinucleated giant cells (MGCs) of myeloid origin have been described; osteoclasts are the most extensively studied because of their importance in bone homeostasis. MGCs are formed by cell-to-cell fusion, and most types have been observed in pathological conditions, especially in infectious and non-infectious chronic inflammatory contexts. The precise role of the different MGCs and the mechanisms that govern their formation remain poorly understood, likely due to their heterogeneity. First, we will introduce the main populations of MGCs derived from the monocyte/macrophage lineage. We will then discuss the known molecular actors mediating the early stages of fusion, focusing on cell-surface receptors involved in the cell-to-cell adhesion steps that ultimately lead to multinucleation. Given that cell-to-cell fusion is a complex and well-coordinated process, we will also describe what is currently known about the evolution of F-actin-based structures involved in macrophage fusion, i.e., podosomes, zipper-like structures, and tunneling nanotubes (TNT). Finally, the localization and potential role of the key fusion mediators related to the formation of these F-actin structures will be discussed. This review intends to present the current status of knowledge of the molecular and cellular mechanisms supporting multinucleation of myeloid cells, highlighting the gaps still existing, and contributing to the proposition of potential disease-specific MGC markers and/or therapeutic targets.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ophélie Dufrançais
- Institut de Pharmacologie et Biologie Structurale, IPBS, Université de Toulouse, CNRS, UPS, Toulouse, France
| | - Rémi Mascarau
- Institut de Pharmacologie et Biologie Structurale, IPBS, Université de Toulouse, CNRS, UPS, Toulouse, France
- International Associated Laboratory (LIA) CNRS "IM-TB/HIV" (1167), Toulouse, France
- International Associated Laboratory (LIA) CNRS "IM-TB/HIV" (1167), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Renaud Poincloux
- Institut de Pharmacologie et Biologie Structurale, IPBS, Université de Toulouse, CNRS, UPS, Toulouse, France
| | - Isabelle Maridonneau-Parini
- Institut de Pharmacologie et Biologie Structurale, IPBS, Université de Toulouse, CNRS, UPS, Toulouse, France
- International Associated Laboratory (LIA) CNRS "IM-TB/HIV" (1167), Toulouse, France
| | - Brigitte Raynaud-Messina
- Institut de Pharmacologie et Biologie Structurale, IPBS, Université de Toulouse, CNRS, UPS, Toulouse, France.
- International Associated Laboratory (LIA) CNRS "IM-TB/HIV" (1167), Toulouse, France.
- International Associated Laboratory (LIA) CNRS "IM-TB/HIV" (1167), Buenos Aires, Argentina.
| | - Christel Vérollet
- Institut de Pharmacologie et Biologie Structurale, IPBS, Université de Toulouse, CNRS, UPS, Toulouse, France.
- International Associated Laboratory (LIA) CNRS "IM-TB/HIV" (1167), Toulouse, France.
- International Associated Laboratory (LIA) CNRS "IM-TB/HIV" (1167), Buenos Aires, Argentina.
| |
Collapse
|
45
|
Sieler M, Weiler J, Dittmar T. Cell-Cell Fusion and the Roads to Novel Properties of Tumor Hybrid Cells. Cells 2021; 10:cells10061465. [PMID: 34207991 PMCID: PMC8230653 DOI: 10.3390/cells10061465] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2021] [Revised: 06/07/2021] [Accepted: 06/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
The phenomenon of cancer cell–cell fusion is commonly associated with the origin of more malignant tumor cells exhibiting novel properties, such as increased drug resistance or an enhanced metastatic capacity. However, the whole process of cell–cell fusion is still not well understood and seems to be rather inefficient since only a certain number of (cancer) cells are capable of fusing and only a rather small population of fused tumor hybrids will survive at all. The low survivability of tumor hybrids is attributed to post-fusion processes, which are characterized by the random segregation of mixed parental chromosomes, the induction of aneuploidy and further random chromosomal aberrations and genetic/epigenetic alterations in daughter cells. As post-fusion processes also run in a unique manner in surviving tumor hybrids, the occurrence of novel properties could thus also be a random event, whereby it might be speculated that the tumor microenvironment and its spatial habitats could direct evolving tumor hybrids towards a specific phenotype.
Collapse
|
46
|
Circulating Tumor Cells from Enumeration to Analysis: Current Challenges and Future Opportunities. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:cancers13112723. [PMID: 34072844 PMCID: PMC8198976 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13112723] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2021] [Accepted: 05/25/2021] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary With estimated numbers of 1–10 per mL of blood, circulating tumor cells (CTCs) are extremely rare compared to white (a few million) or red (billions) blood cells. Given their critical role in metastasis, CTCs have enormous potential as a biomarker for cancer diagnosis, prognosis, and monitoring of treatment response. There are now efforts to characterize CTCs more precisely through molecular and functional analysis, expanding the CTC effort from one of diagnosis and prognosis to now include the use of CTCs to specifically target cancers and discover therapeutic solutions, establishing CTCs as critical in precision medicine. This article summarizes current knowledge about CTC isolation technologies and discusses the translational benefits of different types of downstream analysis approaches, including single-CTC analysis, ex vivo expansion of CTCs, and characterization of CTC-associated cells. Abstract Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) have been recognized as a major contributor to distant metastasis. Their unique role as metastatic seeds renders them a potential marker in the circulation for early cancer diagnosis and prognosis as well as monitoring of therapeutic response. In the past decade, researchers mainly focused on the development of isolation techniques for improving the recovery rate and purity of CTCs. These developed techniques have significantly increased the detection sensitivity and enumeration accuracy of CTCs. Currently, significant efforts have been made toward comprehensive molecular characterization, ex vivo expansion of CTCs, and understanding the interactions between CTCs and their associated cells (e.g., immune cells and stromal cells) in the circulation. In this review, we briefly summarize existing CTC isolation technologies and specifically focus on advances in downstream analysis of CTCs and their potential applications in precision medicine. We also discuss the current challenges and future opportunities in their clinical utilization.
Collapse
|
47
|
Paul D. Cancer as a form of life: Musings of the cancer and evolution symposium. PROGRESS IN BIOPHYSICS AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2021; 165:120-139. [PMID: 33991584 DOI: 10.1016/j.pbiomolbio.2021.05.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2020] [Revised: 05/04/2021] [Accepted: 05/07/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Advanced cancer is one of the major problems in oncology as currently, despite the recent technological and scientific advancements, the mortality of metastatic disease remains very high at 70-90%. The field of oncology is in urgent need of novel ideas in order to improve quality of life and prognostic of cancer patients. The Cancer and Evolution Symposium organized online October 14-16, 2020 brought together a group of specialists from different fields that presented innovative strategies for better understanding, preventing, diagnosing, and treating cancer. Today still, the main reasons behind the high incidence and mortality of advanced cancer are, on one hand, the paucity of funding and effort directed to cancer prevention and early detection, and, on the other hand, the lack of understanding of the cancer process itself. I argue that besides being a disease, cancer is also a form of life, and, this frame of reference may provide a fresh look on this complex process. Here, I provide a different angle to several contemporary cancer theories discussing them from the perspective of "cancer-forms of life" (i.e. bionts) point of view. The perspectives and the several "bionts" introduced here, by no means exclusive or comprehensive, are just a shorthand that will hopefully encourage the readers, to further explore the contemporary oncology theoretical landscape.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Doru Paul
- Medical Oncology, Weill Cornell Medicine, 1305 York Avenue 12th Floor, New York, NY, 10021, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
48
|
Henn TE, Anderson AN, Hollett YR, Sutton TL, Walker BS, Swain JR, Sauer DA, Clayburgh DR, Wong MH. Circulating hybrid cells predict presence of occult nodal metastases in oral cavity carcinoma. Head Neck 2021; 43:2193-2201. [PMID: 33835633 DOI: 10.1002/hed.26692] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2020] [Revised: 02/23/2021] [Accepted: 03/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Levels of circulating hybrid cells (CHCs), a newly identified circulating tumor cell (CTC), correlate with disease stage and progression in cancer. We investigated their utility to risk-stratify patients with clinically N0 (cN0) oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma (OCSCC), and to identify patients with occult cervical lymph node metastases (pN+). METHODS We analyzed peripheral blood samples for CHCs with co-expression of cytokeratin (tumor) and CD45 (leukocyte) from 22 patients with cN0 OCSCC using immunofluorescence microscopy, then correlated levels with pathologic lymph node status. RESULTS CHC levels exceeded CTCs and correlated with the presence of both clinically overt (p = 0.002) and occult nodal metastases (p = 0.006). CONCLUSIONS For evaluated cN0 OCSCC patients, those with cN0 → pN+ status harbored elevated CHC levels compared to patients without occult disease. Our findings highlight a promising blood-based biologic assay with potential utility to determine the necessity of surgical neck dissection for staging and treatment.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tara E Henn
- Department of Otolaryngology, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon, USA
| | - Ashley N Anderson
- Department of Cell, Developmental and Cancer Biology, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon, USA
| | - Yvette R Hollett
- Department of Otolaryngology, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon, USA
| | - Thomas L Sutton
- Department of Surgery, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon, USA
| | - Brett S Walker
- Department of Surgery, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon, USA
| | - John R Swain
- Department of Cell, Developmental and Cancer Biology, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon, USA
| | - David A Sauer
- Department of Otolaryngology, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon, USA.,Department of Pathology, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon, USA
| | - Daniel R Clayburgh
- Department of Otolaryngology, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon, USA.,Operative Care Division, Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Portland, Oregon, USA.,Knight Cancer Institute, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon, USA
| | - Melissa H Wong
- Department of Cell, Developmental and Cancer Biology, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon, USA.,Knight Cancer Institute, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon, USA
| |
Collapse
|
49
|
Filippova N, Nabors LB. ELAVL1 Role in Cell Fusion and Tunneling Membrane Nanotube Formations with Implication to Treat Glioma Heterogeneity. Cancers (Basel) 2020; 12:E3069. [PMID: 33096700 PMCID: PMC7590168 DOI: 10.3390/cancers12103069] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2020] [Revised: 10/15/2020] [Accepted: 10/18/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Homotypic and heterotypic cell fusions via permanent membrane fusions and temporal tunneling nanotube formations in the glioma microenvironment were recently documented in vitro and in vivo and mediate glioma survival, plasticity, and recurrence. Chronic inflammation, a hypoxic environment, aberrant mitochondrial function, and ER stress due to unfolded protein accumulation upregulate cell fusion events, which leads to tumor heterogeneity and represents an adaptive mechanism to promote tumor cell survival and plasticity in cytotoxic, nutrient-deprived, mechanically stressed, and inflammatory microenvironments. Cell fusion is a multistep process, which consists of the activation of the cellular stress response, autophagy formation, rearrangement of cytoskeletal architecture in the areas of cell-to-cell contacts, and the expression of proinflammatory cytokines and fusogenic proteins. The mRNA-binding protein of ELAV-family HuR is a critical node, which orchestrates the stress response, autophagy formation, cytoskeletal architecture, and the expression of proinflammatory cytokines and fusogenic proteins. HuR is overexpressed in gliomas and is associated with poor prognosis and treatment resistance. Our review provides a link between the HuR role in the regulation of cell fusion and tunneling nanotube formations in the glioma microenvironment and the potential suppression of these processes by different classes of HuR inhibitors.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Natalia Filippova
- Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
| | - Louis B. Nabors
- Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
| |
Collapse
|
50
|
Circulating Giant Tumor-Macrophage Fusion Cells Are Independent Prognosticators in Patients With NSCLC. J Thorac Oncol 2020; 15:1460-1471. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jtho.2020.04.034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2020] [Revised: 04/09/2020] [Accepted: 04/28/2020] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
|