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Ye Z, Pan J, Yin Z, Wang S, Li Y, Cai X, Zheng H, Cao Z. Dendritic cells infected with recombinant adenoviral vector encoding mouse fibroblast activation protein-α and human livin α exert an antitumor effect against Lewis lung carcinoma in mice. Immun Inflamm Dis 2023; 11:e1011. [PMID: 37773704 PMCID: PMC10523997 DOI: 10.1002/iid3.1011] [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: 04/07/2023] [Revised: 08/23/2023] [Accepted: 08/30/2023] [Indexed: 10/01/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Fibroblast activation protein-α (FAP) and livin α are considered as cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) and tumor-specific targets, respectively, for immunogenic tumor vaccines. This study is designed to decipher the antitumor effect of double-gene modified dendritic cells (DCs) on Lewis lung carcinoma (LLC). METHODS By encoding mouse FAP cDNA and human livin α (i.e., hlivin α) cDNA into recombinant adenoviral vector (rAd), rAd-FAP, rAd-hlivin α, and rAd-FAP/hlivin α were constructed, which were then transduced into mouse DCs. LLC-bearinig mice were immunized with the infected DCs (5 × 105 cells/mouse), followed by calculation of tumor volume and survival rate. The identification of CAFs from mouse LLC as well as the determination on expressions of FAP and livin α, was accomplished by western blot. Cytotoxic T lymphocyte assay was harnessed to assess the effect of the infected DCs on inducing splenic lymphocytes to lyse CAFs. RESULTS DCs were successfully transduced with rAd-FAP/hlivin α in vitro. FAP was highly expressed in CAFs. CAFs were positive for α-SMA and negative for CD45 and CD31. Livin α level was upregulated in mouse LLC. Immunization with rAd-FAP/hlivin α-transduced DCs suppressed LLC volume and improved the survival of tumor-bearing mice. Immunization with rAd-FAP/hlivin α-transduced DCs enhanced the cytotoxic effect of splenic lymphocytes on LLC tumor-derived CAFs. CONCLUSION Injection with rAd-FAP/hlivin α-transduced DCs promotes immune-enhanced tumor microenvironment by decreasing CAFs and suppresses tumor growth in LLC mouse models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zaiting Ye
- Department of RadiologyThe Sixth Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical UniversityLishuiZhejiangChina
| | - Jiongwei Pan
- Department of RespiratoryThe Sixth Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical UniversityLishuiZhejiangChina
| | - Zhangyong Yin
- Department of RespiratoryThe Sixth Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical UniversityLishuiZhejiangChina
| | - Shuanghu Wang
- Department of MedicineLishui People's HospitalLishuiZhejiangChina
| | - Yuling Li
- Department of RespiratoryThe Sixth Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical UniversityLishuiZhejiangChina
| | - Xiaoping Cai
- Department of RespiratoryThe Sixth Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical UniversityLishuiZhejiangChina
| | - Hao Zheng
- Department of RespiratoryThe Sixth Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical UniversityLishuiZhejiangChina
| | - Zhuo Cao
- Department of RespiratoryThe Sixth Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical UniversityLishuiZhejiangChina
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Shahvali S, Rahiman N, Jaafari MR, Arabi L. Targeting fibroblast activation protein (FAP): advances in CAR-T cell, antibody, and vaccine in cancer immunotherapy. Drug Deliv Transl Res 2023; 13:2041-2056. [PMID: 36840906 DOI: 10.1007/s13346-023-01308-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/01/2023] [Indexed: 02/26/2023]
Abstract
Fibroblast activation protein (FAP) is a serine protease with dual enzymatic activities overexpressed in cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) in several tumor types, while its expression in healthy adult tissues is scarce. FAP overexpression on CAFs is associated with poor prognosis and plays an important role in tumor development, progression, and invasion. Therefore, FAP is considered a robust therapeutic target for cancer therapy. Here, we try to review and highlight the recent advances in immunotherapies for FAP targeting including the anti-FAP antibodies and immunoconjugates, FAP chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-T cell, and various FAP vaccines in a preclinical and clinical setting. Subsequently, a discussion on the challenges and prospects associated with the development and translation of effective and safe therapies for targeting and depletion of FAP is provided. We proposed that new CAR-T cell engineering strategies and nanotechnology-based systems as well as advanced functional biomaterials can be used to improve the efficiency and safety of CAR-T cells and vaccines against FAP for more personalized immunotherapy. This review emphasizes the immune targeting of FAP as an emerging stromal candidate and one of the crucial elements in immunotherapy and shows the potential for improvement of current cancer therapy. A summary of different immunotherapy approaches to target fibroblast activation protein (FAP) for cancer therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sedigheh Shahvali
- Nanotechnology Research Center, Institute of Pharmaceutical Technology, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Niloufar Rahiman
- Nanotechnology Research Center, Institute of Pharmaceutical Technology, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Mahmoud Reza Jaafari
- Nanotechnology Research Center, Institute of Pharmaceutical Technology, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
- Department of Pharmaceutical Nanotechnology, School of Pharmacy, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Leila Arabi
- Nanotechnology Research Center, Institute of Pharmaceutical Technology, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
- Department of Pharmaceutical Nanotechnology, School of Pharmacy, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
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Therapeutic Targeting of Cancer-Associated Fibroblasts in the Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Tumor Microenvironment. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:cancers15020335. [PMID: 36672284 PMCID: PMC9856659 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15020335] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2022] [Accepted: 01/01/2023] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Lung cancer is the most frequently diagnosed cancer and the leading cause of cancer death worldwide. The most common lung cancer is non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), with an overall 5-year survival rate of around 20% because NSCLC is a metastatic disease. A better understanding of the mechanism underlying lung cancer metastasis is therefore urgently needed. The tumor microenvironment involves different types of stromal cells and functions as key components in the progression of NSCLC. Through epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), in which epithelial cells lose their polarity and acquire mesenchymal potential, cancer cells acquire metastatic abilities, as well as cancer stem-cell-like potential. We previously reported that cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) interact with lung cancer cells to allow for the acquisition of malignancy and treatment resistance by paracrine loops via EMT signals in the tumor microenvironment. Furthermore, CAFs regulate the cytotoxic activity of immune cells via various cytokines and chemokines, creating a microenvironment of immune tolerance. Regulation of CAFs can therefore affect immune responses. Recent research has shown several roles of CAFs in NSCLC tumorigenesis, owing to their heterogeneity, so molecular markers of CAFs should be elucidated to better classify tumor-promoting subtypes and facilitate the establishment of CAF-specific targeted therapies. CAF-targeted cancer treatments may suppress EMT and regulate the niche of cancer stem cells and the immunosuppressive network and thus may prove useful for NSCLC treatment through multiple mechanisms.
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Wu Z, Hua Y, Shen Q, Yu C. Research progress on the role of fibroblast activation protein in diagnosis and treatment of cancer. Nucl Med Commun 2022; 43:746-755. [PMID: 35506275 DOI: 10.1097/mnm.0000000000001565] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Fibroblast activation protein (FAP) is a type II transmembrane protein, which is over-expressed in cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs). CAFs are tumor stromal cells that constitute a major component of cancer volume and are reportedly related to tumorigenesis, angiogenesis, metastasis, promotion of drug resistance and induction of tumor immunity. FAP is widely acknowledged as the signature protein of CAFs. At present, FAP inhibitors (FAPI) have achieved ideal results in tumor PET/computed tomography (CT) imaging. Theoretically, FAP-targeted drugs can inhibit tumor progression. Nonetheless, no satisfactory therapeutic effect has been observed so far, which has impeded their implementation in clinical practice. In this review, we describe the characteristics of FAP and its role in the occurrence and development of cancer. We also highlight the potential value of targeting FAP to improve current diagnostic and therapeutic approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhaoye Wu
- Wuxi School of Medicine, Jiangnan University
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of Jiangnan University, Wuxi, China
| | - Yuqi Hua
- Wuxi School of Medicine, Jiangnan University
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of Jiangnan University, Wuxi, China
| | - Qiaoling Shen
- Wuxi School of Medicine, Jiangnan University
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of Jiangnan University, Wuxi, China
| | - Chunjing Yu
- Wuxi School of Medicine, Jiangnan University
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Zhou C, Hu X, Liu Q, Wang L, Zhou Y, Jin Y, Ma Y, Liu Y. Stromal Barrier-Dismantled Nanodrill-Like and Cancer Cell-Targeted pH-Responsive Polymeric Micelles for Further Enhancing the Anticancer Efficacy of Doxorubicin. ACS Biomater Sci Eng 2021; 7:5690-5705. [PMID: 34761919 DOI: 10.1021/acsbiomaterials.1c01131] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) were believed to establish a tight physical barrier and a dense scaffold for tumor cells to make them maintain immunosuppression and drug resistance, strongly hindering nanoparticles to penetrate into the core of tumor tissues and limiting the performance of tumor cell-targeted nanoparticles. Here, we fabricated the substrate Z-Gly-Pro of fibroblast activation protein α (FAPα) and folic acid-codecorated pH-responsive polymeric micelles (dual ligand-modified PEOz-PLA polymeric micelles, DL-PP-PMs) that possessed nanodrill and tumor cell-targeted functions based on Z-Gly-pro-conjugated poly(2-ethyl-2-oxazoline)-poly(D,l-lactide) (ZGP-PEOz-PLA), folic acid (FA)-conjugated PEOz-PLA (FA-PEOz-PLA), and PEOz-PLA for cancer therapy. The micelles with about 40 nm particle size and a narrow distribution exhibited favorable pH-activated endo/lysosome escape induced by their pH responsibility. In addition, the enhancement of in vitro cellular uptake and cytotoxicity to folate receptors or FAPα-positive cells for doxorubicin (DOX)/DL-PP-PMs compared with DOX/PP-PMs evidenced the dual target ability of DOX/DL-PP-PMs, which was further supported by in vivo biodistribution results. As expected, in the human oral epidermal carcinoma (KB) cells xenograft nude mice model, the remarkable enhancement of antitumor efficacy for DOX/DL-PP-PMs with low toxicity was observed compared with DOX/FA-PP-PMs and DOX/ZGP-PP-PMs. The possible mechanism was elucidated to be the dismantling of the stromal barrier by nanodrill-like DOX/DL-PP-PMs via the deletion of CAFs evidenced by the downregulation of α-SMA and inhibition of their functions proved by the decrease in the microvascular density labeled with CD31 and the reduction in the extracellular matrix detected by the collagen content, thereby promoting tumor penetration and enhancing their uptake by tumor cells. The present research offered an alternative approach integrating anticancer and antifibrosis effects in one delivery system to enhance the delivery efficiency and therapeutic efficacy of anticancer drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chuhang Zhou
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Molecular Pharmaceutics and New Drug Delivery Systems, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Xinping Hu
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Molecular Pharmaceutics and New Drug Delivery Systems, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Qi Liu
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Molecular Pharmaceutics and New Drug Delivery Systems, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Leqi Wang
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Molecular Pharmaceutics and New Drug Delivery Systems, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Yuanhang Zhou
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Molecular Pharmaceutics and New Drug Delivery Systems, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Yao Jin
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Molecular Pharmaceutics and New Drug Delivery Systems, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Yining Ma
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Molecular Pharmaceutics and New Drug Delivery Systems, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Yan Liu
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Molecular Pharmaceutics and New Drug Delivery Systems, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China
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Wei T, Song J, Liang K, Li L, Mo X, Huang Z, Chen G, Mao N, Yang J. Identification of a novel therapeutic candidate, NRK, in primary cancer-associated fibroblasts of lung adenocarcinoma microenvironment. J Cancer Res Clin Oncol 2021; 147:1049-1064. [PMID: 33387038 DOI: 10.1007/s00432-020-03489-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2020] [Accepted: 11/30/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE Lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) accounts for approximately half of patients in lung cancer. Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) are the major component in the tumor microenvironment (TME). Targeting CAFs is a promising therapeutic strategy for cancer treatment. However, therapeutic targets of CAFs in LUAD remains largely unclear. METHODS Seven CAFs and nine normal fibroblasts (NFs) were isolated from tumor and paratumor tissues of LUAD patients undergoing surgery, respectively. RNA-seq and bioinformatics analysis were performed to identify the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and their functions in CAFs compared with NFs. DEGs of ten overlaying were obtained from RNA-seq, our previously reported lncRNA microarray and public datasets (E-MTAB-6149, E-MTAB-6653) and validated by RT-qPCR. Nik-related kinase (NRK) was further validated by RT-qPCR, immunofluorescence (IF), Western Blot (WB) in vitro, and in Cancer Cell Line Encyclopedia (CCLE) database. Survival analysis was performed on Kaplan-Meier plotter. RESULTS A total of 1799 DEGs were identified, including 650 upregulated DEGs and 1149 downregulated DEGs. The upregulated and downregulated DEGs were mostly enriched in extracellular matrix (ECM) functions and in glycolysis/gluconeogenesis pathways. Interestingly, NRK was the most significantly upregulated overlaying DEGs which was rarely associated with CAFs before. NRK was predominantly expressed in CAFs, but weakly expressed in NFs, normal lung bronchial epithelial cell line BEAS-2B, LUAD cell lines A549 and H1299, as well as in the majority of 191 lung cancer cell lines including LUAD. Moreover, elevated NRK predicted poor survival in LUAD patients. CONCLUSION Here, we first report that NRK is significantly elevated in LUAD-associated CAFs and may function as a promising therapeutic target for cancer combination treatment. Besides, modulation of ECM and glycolysis/gluconeogenesis pathways may be an efficient approach to alter CAFs functionality in LUAD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tongtong Wei
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, 530021, Guangxi, People's Republic of China
| | - Jinjing Song
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, 530021, Guangxi, People's Republic of China
| | - Kai Liang
- Department of Thoracic Tumor Surgery, The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, 530021, Guangxi, People's Republic of China
| | - Li Li
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, 530021, Guangxi, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiaoxiang Mo
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, 530021, Guangxi, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhiguang Huang
- Department of Pathology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, 530021, Guangxi, People's Republic of China
| | - Gang Chen
- Department of Pathology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, 530021, Guangxi, People's Republic of China
| | - Naiquan Mao
- Department of Thoracic Tumor Surgery, The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, 530021, Guangxi, People's Republic of China.
| | - Jie Yang
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, 530021, Guangxi, People's Republic of China.
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