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Long Z, Li X, Deng W, Tan Y, Liu J. Tumor-associated characteristics and immune dysregulation in nasopharyngeal carcinoma under the regulation of m7G-related tumor microenvironment cells. World J Surg Oncol 2024; 22:166. [PMID: 38918785 PMCID: PMC11202337 DOI: 10.1186/s12957-024-03441-2] [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: 02/02/2024] [Accepted: 06/16/2024] [Indexed: 06/27/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is a type of malignant tumor with high morbidity. Aberrant levels of N7-methylguanosine (m7G) are closely associated with tumor progression. However, the characteristics of the tumor microenvironment (TME) in NPC associated with m7G modification remain unclear. METHODS A total of 68,795 single cells from single-cell RNA sequencing data derived from 11 NPC tumor samples and 3 nasopharyngeal lymphatic hyperplasia (NLH) samples were clustered using a nonnegative matrix factorization algorithm according to 61 m7G RNA modification regulators. RESULTS The m7G regulators were found differential expression in the TME cells of NPC, and most m7G-related immune cell clusters in NPC tissues had a higher abundance compared to non-NPC tissues. Specifically, m7G scores in the CD4+ and CD8+ T cell clusters were significantly lower in NPC than in NLH. T cell clusters differentially expressed immune co-stimulators and co-inhibitors. Macrophage clusters differentially expressed EIF4A1, and high EIF4A1 expression was associated with poor survival in patients with head and neck squamous carcinoma. EIF4A1 was upregulated in NPC tissues compared to the non-NPC tissues and mainly expressed in CD86+ macrophages. Moreover, B cell clusters exhibited tumor biological characteristics under the regulation of m7G-related genes in NPC. The fibroblast clusters interacted with the above immune cell clusters and enriched tumor biological pathways, such as FGER2 signaling pathway. Importantly, there were correlations and interactions through various ligand-receptor links among epithelial cells and m7G-related TME cell clusters. CONCLUSION Our study revealed tumor-associated characteristics and immune dysregulation in the NPC microenvironment under the regulation of m7G-related TME cells. These results demonstrated the underlying regulatory roles of m7G in NPC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhen Long
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, No. 26, Yuancun Erheng Road, Tianhe District, Guangzhou City, Guangdong Province, China
- Biomedical Innovation Center, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xiaochen Li
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, No. 26, Yuancun Erheng Road, Tianhe District, Guangzhou City, Guangdong Province, China
- Biomedical Innovation Center, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Wenmin Deng
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, No. 26, Yuancun Erheng Road, Tianhe District, Guangzhou City, Guangdong Province, China
- Biomedical Innovation Center, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yan Tan
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, No. 26, Yuancun Erheng Road, Tianhe District, Guangzhou City, Guangdong Province, China
- Biomedical Innovation Center, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jie Liu
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, No. 26, Yuancun Erheng Road, Tianhe District, Guangzhou City, Guangdong Province, China.
- Biomedical Innovation Center, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China.
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Liu F, Tang L, Liu H, Chen Y, Xiao T, Gu W, Yang H, Wang H, Chen P. Cancer-associated fibroblasts secrete FGF5 to inhibit ferroptosis to decrease cisplatin sensitivity in nasopharyngeal carcinoma through binding to FGFR2. Cell Death Dis 2024; 15:279. [PMID: 38637504 PMCID: PMC11026472 DOI: 10.1038/s41419-024-06671-0] [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: 07/07/2023] [Revised: 04/09/2024] [Accepted: 04/10/2024] [Indexed: 04/20/2024]
Abstract
Cisplatin (DDP)-based chemoradiotherapy is one of the standard treatments for nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). However, the sensitivity and side effects of DDP to patients remain major obstacles for NPC treatment. This research aimed to study DDP sensitivity regulated by cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) through modulating ferroptosis. We demonstrated that DDP triggered ferroptosis in NPC cells, and it inhibited tumor growth via inducing ferroptosis in xenograft model. CAFs secreted high level of FGF5, thus inhibiting DDP-induced ferroptosis in NPC cells. Mechanistically, FGF5 secreted by CAFs directly bound to FGFR2 in NPC cells, leading to the activation of Keap1/Nrf2/HO-1 signaling. Rescued experiments indicated that FGFR2 overexpression inhibited DDP-induced ferroptosis, and CAFs protected against DDP-induced ferroptosis via FGF5/FGFR2 axis in NPC cells. In vivo data further showed the protective effects of FGF5 on DDP-triggered ferroptosis in NPC xenograft model. In conclusion, CAFs inhibited ferroptosis to decrease DDP sensitivity in NPC through secreting FGF5 and activating downstream FGFR2/Nrf2 signaling. The therapeutic strategy targeting FGF5/FGFR2 axis from CAFs might augment DDP sensitivity, thus decreasing the side effects of DDP in NPC treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Feng Liu
- Hunan Key Laboratory of Translational Radiation Oncology, Hunan Cancer Hospital and the Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, 410013, Hunan Province, P. R. China
| | - Ling Tang
- Hunan Key Laboratory of Translational Radiation Oncology, Hunan Cancer Hospital and the Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, 410013, Hunan Province, P. R. China
| | - Huai Liu
- Hunan Key Laboratory of Translational Radiation Oncology, Hunan Cancer Hospital and the Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, 410013, Hunan Province, P. R. China
| | - Yanzhu Chen
- Hunan Key Laboratory of Translational Radiation Oncology, Hunan Cancer Hospital and the Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, 410013, Hunan Province, P. R. China
| | - Tengfei Xiao
- The Animal Laboratory Center, Hunan Cancer Hospital and the Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, 410013, Hunan Province, P. R. China
| | - Wangning Gu
- The Animal Laboratory Center, Hunan Cancer Hospital and the Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, 410013, Hunan Province, P. R. China
| | - Hongmin Yang
- The Animal Laboratory Center, Hunan Cancer Hospital and the Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, 410013, Hunan Province, P. R. China
| | - Hui Wang
- Hunan Key Laboratory of Translational Radiation Oncology, Hunan Cancer Hospital and the Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, 410013, Hunan Province, P. R. China.
| | - Pan Chen
- The Animal Laboratory Center, Hunan Cancer Hospital and the Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, 410013, Hunan Province, P. R. China.
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Gong Y, Liao YH, Yi QY, Li M, Chen LS, Wang YY. Nintedanib induces apoptosis in human pterygium cells through the FGFR2-ERK signalling pathway. Int J Ophthalmol 2023; 16:505-513. [PMID: 37077497 PMCID: PMC10089899 DOI: 10.18240/ijo.2023.04.03] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2022] [Accepted: 03/06/2023] [Indexed: 04/05/2023] Open
Abstract
AIM To investigate whether nintedanib can inhibit pterygium cells through the fibroblast growth factor receptor 2 (FGFR2)/extracellular-signal-regulated kinase (ERK) pathway. METHODS Human primary pterygium cells were cultured in vitro. After treatment with nintedanib, the cell morphology was observed under microscopy, the morphological changes of the nucleus were observed after DAPI staining, apoptosis was analyzed by Annexin-V FITC/PI double staining, and the changes of apoptosis-associated proteins were detected by Western blot. The binding ability of nintedanib to FGFR2 was predicted by molecular docking. Finally, by silencing FGFR2, we explored whether nintedanib inhibited FGFR2/ERK pathway. RESULTS The results showed that nintedanib inhibited the growth of pterygium cells and caused nuclear pyknosis. The results of Annexin-VFITC/PI double staining showed that nintedanib was able to induce early and late apoptosis of pterygium cells, significantly increasing the expression of apoptosis-associated proteins Bax and cleaved-Caspase3 (P<0.05), and reducing the expression of Bcl-2 (P<0.05). In addition, nintedanib significantly inhibited ERK1/2 phosphorylation through FGFR2 (P<0.05). After silencing the expression of FGFR2, there was no significant difference in the inhibition of ERK1/2 phosphorylation by nintedanib (P>0.05). CONCLUSION Nintedanib induces apoptosis of pterygium cells by inhibiting FGFR2/ERK pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan Gong
- Ningbo Eye Hospital, Ningbo 315042, Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Yan-Hong Liao
- Ningbo Eye Hospital, Ningbo 315042, Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Quan-Yong Yi
- Ningbo Eye Hospital, Ningbo 315042, Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Meng Li
- Health Science Center, Ningbo University, Ningbo 315021, Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Li-Shuang Chen
- Ningbo Eye Hospital, Ningbo 315042, Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Yan-Yan Wang
- Ningbo Eye Hospital, Ningbo 315042, Zhejiang Province, China
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Aytatli A, Barlak N, Sanli F, Caglar HO, Gundogdu B, Tatar A, Ittmann M, Karatas OF. AZD4547 targets the FGFR/Akt/SOX2 axis to overcome paclitaxel resistance in head and neck cancer. Cell Oncol (Dordr) 2021; 45:41-56. [PMID: 34837170 DOI: 10.1007/s13402-021-00645-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE Development of chemoresistance is one of the major obstacles to the treatment of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). The PI3K/Akt pathway, involved in drug resistance, has been found to be overactivated in > 90% of HNSCCs. Aberrant activation of the FGF receptors (FGFRs) has been reported to cause overactivation of the PI3K/Akt pathway and to be associated with the maintenance of stem cell features, which is controlled via SOX2 expression. In this study, we aimed at investigating the potential of using AZD4547, an orally bioavailable FGFR inhibitor, to overcome taxol-resistance by targeting the FGFR/Akt/SOX2 axis in HNSCC. METHODS We initially evaluated FGFR2 and SOX2 expression using in silico tools. We analyzed the FGFR/Akt/SOX2 axis in normal/tumor tissue pairs and in recombinant FGF2 treated HNSCC cells. Next, we explored the effects of AZD4547 alone and in combination with taxol on the proliferation, migration and colony forming capacities of parental/taxol-resistant cells using in vitro models. RESULTS We found that the p-FGFR, p-AKT, p-GSK-3β and SOX2 expression levels were higher in tumor tissues than in its corresponding normal tissues, and that AZD4547 effectively suppressed the expression of FGFR and its downstream targets in recombinant FGF2 treated HNSCC cells. We also found that AZD4547 diminished the viability, migration and colony forming capacity of HNSCC cells, and that co-treatment with taxol potentiated the impact of taxol on these cells. Finally, we found that AZD4547 inhibited the overexpressed FGFR/Akt/SOX2 axis and profoundly suppressed cancer-related phenotypes in taxol-resistant HNSCC cells. CONCLUSION From our data we conclude that AZD4547 may increase the impact of taxol during HNSCC treatment. We suggest AZD4547 as a therapeutic agent to overcome taxol-resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abdulmelik Aytatli
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Erzurum Technical University, Omer Nasuhi Bilmen Mah. Havaalani Yolu Cad. No: 53 Yakutiye, Erzurum, Turkey
- Molecular Cancer Biology Laboratory, High Technology Application and Research Center, Erzurum Technical University, Erzurum, Turkey
| | - Neslisah Barlak
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Erzurum Technical University, Omer Nasuhi Bilmen Mah. Havaalani Yolu Cad. No: 53 Yakutiye, Erzurum, Turkey
- Molecular Cancer Biology Laboratory, High Technology Application and Research Center, Erzurum Technical University, Erzurum, Turkey
| | - Fatma Sanli
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Erzurum Technical University, Omer Nasuhi Bilmen Mah. Havaalani Yolu Cad. No: 53 Yakutiye, Erzurum, Turkey
- Molecular Cancer Biology Laboratory, High Technology Application and Research Center, Erzurum Technical University, Erzurum, Turkey
| | - Hasan Onur Caglar
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Erzurum Technical University, Omer Nasuhi Bilmen Mah. Havaalani Yolu Cad. No: 53 Yakutiye, Erzurum, Turkey
| | - Betul Gundogdu
- Department of Medical Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Ataturk University, Erzurum, Turkey
| | - Arzu Tatar
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology Diseases, Faculty of Medicine, Ataturk University, Erzurum, Turkey
| | - Michael Ittmann
- Department of Pathology & Immunology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
- Michael E. DeBakey VAMC, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Omer Faruk Karatas
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Erzurum Technical University, Omer Nasuhi Bilmen Mah. Havaalani Yolu Cad. No: 53 Yakutiye, Erzurum, Turkey.
- Molecular Cancer Biology Laboratory, High Technology Application and Research Center, Erzurum Technical University, Erzurum, Turkey.
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Kang Y, He W, Ren C, Qiao J, Guo Q, Hu J, Xu H, Jiang X, Wang L. Advances in targeted therapy mainly based on signal pathways for nasopharyngeal carcinoma. Signal Transduct Target Ther 2020; 5:245. [PMID: 33093441 PMCID: PMC7582884 DOI: 10.1038/s41392-020-00340-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2020] [Revised: 09/12/2020] [Accepted: 09/16/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is a malignant epithelial carcinoma of the head and neck region which mainly distributes in southern China and Southeast Asia and has a crucial association with the Epstein-Barr virus. Based on epidemiological data, both incidence and mortality of NPC have significantly declined in recent decades grounded on the improvement of living standard and medical level in an endemic region, in particular, with the clinical use of individualized chemotherapy and intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) which profoundly contributes to the cure rate of NPC patients. To tackle the challenges including local recurrence and distant metastasis in the current NPC treatment, we discussed the implication of using targeted therapy against critical molecules in various signal pathways, and how they synergize with chemoradiotherapy in the NPC treatment. Combination treatment including targeted therapy and IMRT or concurrent chemoradiotherapy is presumably to be future options, which may reduce radiation or chemotherapy toxicities and open new avenues for the improvement of the expected functional outcome for patients with advanced NPC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuanbo Kang
- Department of Neurosurgery, Cancer Research Institute, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, 410008, Changsha, Hunan, China
- Cancer Research Institute, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, School of Basic Medical Science, Central South University, 410008, Changsha, Hunan, China
- The NHC Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and The Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion of the Chinese Ministry of Education, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, 410008, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Weihan He
- Department of Neurosurgery, Cancer Research Institute, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, 410008, Changsha, Hunan, China
- Cancer Research Institute, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, School of Basic Medical Science, Central South University, 410008, Changsha, Hunan, China
- The NHC Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and The Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion of the Chinese Ministry of Education, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, 410008, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Caiping Ren
- Department of Neurosurgery, Cancer Research Institute, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, 410008, Changsha, Hunan, China.
- Cancer Research Institute, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, School of Basic Medical Science, Central South University, 410008, Changsha, Hunan, China.
- The NHC Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and The Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion of the Chinese Ministry of Education, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, 410008, Changsha, Hunan, China.
| | - Jincheng Qiao
- Department of Neurosurgery, Cancer Research Institute, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, 410008, Changsha, Hunan, China
- Cancer Research Institute, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, School of Basic Medical Science, Central South University, 410008, Changsha, Hunan, China
- The NHC Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and The Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion of the Chinese Ministry of Education, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, 410008, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Qiuyong Guo
- Department of Neurosurgery, Cancer Research Institute, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, 410008, Changsha, Hunan, China
- Cancer Research Institute, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, School of Basic Medical Science, Central South University, 410008, Changsha, Hunan, China
- The NHC Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and The Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion of the Chinese Ministry of Education, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, 410008, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Jingyu Hu
- Department of Neurosurgery, Cancer Research Institute, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, 410008, Changsha, Hunan, China
- Cancer Research Institute, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, School of Basic Medical Science, Central South University, 410008, Changsha, Hunan, China
- The NHC Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and The Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion of the Chinese Ministry of Education, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, 410008, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Hongjuan Xu
- Department of Neurosurgery, Cancer Research Institute, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, 410008, Changsha, Hunan, China
- Cancer Research Institute, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, School of Basic Medical Science, Central South University, 410008, Changsha, Hunan, China
- The NHC Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and The Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion of the Chinese Ministry of Education, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, 410008, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Xingjun Jiang
- Department of Neurosurgery, Cancer Research Institute, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, 410008, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Lei Wang
- Department of Neurosurgery, Cancer Research Institute, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, 410008, Changsha, Hunan, China.
- Cancer Research Institute, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, School of Basic Medical Science, Central South University, 410008, Changsha, Hunan, China.
- The NHC Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and The Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion of the Chinese Ministry of Education, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, 410008, Changsha, Hunan, China.
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