In this article,we comment on the work published by Huang et al,which explores the mechanisms by which Calculus bovis(CB)modulates the liver cancer immune microenvironment via the Wnt/β-catenin signalling pathway.The...In this article,we comment on the work published by Huang et al,which explores the mechanisms by which Calculus bovis(CB)modulates the liver cancer immune microenvironment via the Wnt/β-catenin signalling pathway.The study demon-strates that active components in CB effectively inhibit the activation of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway,significantly reducing the polarization of M2 tumor-associated macrophages.Both in vivo and in vitro experiments have validated the anti-tumour effects of CB,revealing its complex mechanisms of action through the modulation of immune cell functions within the tumour microenvironment.This article highlights CB’s therapeutic potential in liver cancer treatment and calls for further investigations into its mechanisms and clinical applications to develop safer,more effective options for patients.The study also revealed that key com-ponents of CB,such as bilirubin and bile acids,inhibit tumour cell proliferation and promote apoptosis through multiple pathways.Future research should explore the mechanisms of action of CB and its potential integration with existing treatments to improve the therapeutic outcomes of liver cancer patients.With multidisciplinary collaboration and advanced research,CB could become a key component of comprehensive liver cancer treatment,offering new hope for patients.展开更多
BACKGROUND In recent years,numerous reports have been published regarding the relationship between the gut microbiota and the tumor immune microenvironment(TIME).However,to date,no systematic study has been conducted ...BACKGROUND In recent years,numerous reports have been published regarding the relationship between the gut microbiota and the tumor immune microenvironment(TIME).However,to date,no systematic study has been conducted on the relationship between gut microbiota and the TIME using bibliometric methods.AIM To describe the current global research status on the correlation between gut microbiota and the TIME,and to identify the most influential countries,research institutions,researchers,and research hotspots related to this topic.METHODS We searched for all literature related to gut microbiota and TIME published from January 1,2014,to May 28,2024,in the Web of Science Core Collection database.We then conducted a bibliometric analysis and created visual maps of the published literature on countries,institutions,authors,keywords,references,etc.,using CiteSpace(6.2R6),VOSviewer(1.6.20),and bibliometrics(based on R 4.3.2).RESULTS In total,491 documents were included,with a rapid increase in the number of publications starting in 2019.The country with the highest number of publications was China,followed by the United States.Germany has the highest number of citations in literature.From a centrality perspective,the United States has the highest influence in this field.The institutions with the highest number of publications were Shanghai Jiao Tong University and Zhejiang University.However,the institution with the most citations was the United States National Cancer Institute.Among authors,Professor Giorgio Trinchieri from the National Institutes of Health has the most local impact in this field.The most cited author was Fan XZ.The results of journal publications showed that the top three journals with the highest number of published papers were Frontiers in Immunology,Cancers,and Frontiers in Oncology.The three most frequently used keywords were gut microbiota,tumor microenvironment,and immunotherapy.CONCLUSION This study systematically elaborates on the research progress related to gut microbiota and TIME over the past decade.Research results indicate that the number of publications has rapidly increased since 2019,with research hotspots including“gut microbiota”,“tumor microenvironment”and“immunotherapy”.Exploring the effects of specific gut microbiota or derived metabolites on the behavior of immune cells in the TIME,regulating the secretion of immune molecules,and influencing immunotherapy are research hotspots and future research directions.展开更多
Computed tomography-based deep learning radiomics provides a novel,noninvasive approach to predicting the tumor immune microenvironment in colorectal cancer,revolutionizing precision oncology.The retrospective study b...Computed tomography-based deep learning radiomics provides a novel,noninvasive approach to predicting the tumor immune microenvironment in colorectal cancer,revolutionizing precision oncology.The retrospective study by Zhou et al analyzed preoperative computed tomography scans from 315 patients using convolutional neural networks,achieving robust predictive performance(area under the curve:0.851-0.892)for critical tumor immune microenvironment features,such as tumor-stroma ratio and lymphocyte infiltration,without requiring invasive biopsies.This editorial explores how this technique advances personalized immunotherapy,chemotherapy,and targeted therapies;challenges conventional oncology practices;and paves the way for a future of precision medicine.By integrating advanced imaging with immune profiling,deep learning radiomics redefines colorectal cancer management,highlighting the need to reevaluate the interplay of technology,biology,and ethics in gastrointestinal oncology.展开更多
BACKGROUND Colorectal cancer(CRC)is a leading cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide,primarily due to tumor heterogeneity and treatment resistance.The leucine-rich repeat-containing protein 19(LRRC19)has been lin...BACKGROUND Colorectal cancer(CRC)is a leading cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide,primarily due to tumor heterogeneity and treatment resistance.The leucine-rich repeat-containing protein 19(LRRC19)has been linked to immune regulation and tumor suppression,yet its specific role in CRC remains poorly understood.AIM To investigate the tumor-suppressive role of LRRC19 in CRC,focusing on cell cycle,immune microenvironment,and chemotherapy response.METHODS Bioinformatics analyses of Gene Expression Omnibus and The Cancer Genome Atlas databases identified differentially expressed genes in CRC.LRRC19 exp-ression was validated in CRC tissues and cell lines by quantitative PCR,immuno-histochemistry,and Western blotting.Functional assays,including proliferation,soft agar colony formation,flow cytometry,and xenograft models,assessed biological effects.Mechanistic studies with dual-luciferase reporter assays,molecular docking,and drug sensitivity testing explored LRRC19’s interaction with the cyclin-dependent kinase 6(CDK6)/E2F1 axis and oxaliplatin(OXA)response.Single-cell sequencing and immune infiltration analyses assessed its impact on the immune microenvironment.RESULTS LRRC19 expression was significantly downregulated in CRC and associated with poor prognosis.Overexpression of LRRC19 inhibited CRC cell proliferation,induced G0/G1 phase arrest,and suppressed tumor growth in vivo.Mechanistically,LRRC19 suppressed CDK6 transcription by downregulating E2F1,leading to cell cycle arrest.Additionally,LRRC19 promoted immune cell infiltration,particularly B cells and CD4+T cells,while decreasing immunosuppressive cells.LRRC19 also sensitized CRC cells to OXA,enhancing chemotherapy efficacy.CONCLUSION LRRC19 suppresses CRC by targeting the CDK6/E2F1 axis,modulating the immune microenvironment,and enhancing chemotherapy sensitivity,making it a promising therapeutic target for precision medicine in CRC.展开更多
The immunomodulatory function of estrogen within the ovary remains a subject of ongoing debate,and the neonatal ovarian immune microenvironment,particularly its modulation by estrogen,has not been comprehensively char...The immunomodulatory function of estrogen within the ovary remains a subject of ongoing debate,and the neonatal ovarian immune microenvironment,particularly its modulation by estrogen,has not been comprehensively characterized.In this study,the effects of 17β-estradiol(E_(2)),a key regulator of immune function,were investigated using single-cell transcriptomic profiling of C57BL/6J neonatal mouse ovaries after E_(2)treatment.Results revealed dynamic alterations in the proportion of immune cell types after E_(2)treatment,accompanied by changes in cytokine and chemokine expression.Detailed analyses of gene expression,cell states,and developmental trajectories across distinct cell types indicated that E_(2)treatment influenced cell differentiation and development.Notably,E_(2)treatment reduced the abundance of macrophages and promoted a phenotypic transition from M1 to M2 macrophages.These findings demonstrate that the neonatal mouse ovarian immune microenvironment is sensitive to estrogenic modulation,which governs both the distribution and functional specialization of resident immune cells,offering novel mechanistic insights into the immunomodulatory roles of estrogen across various immune cell types.展开更多
The initiation and progression of colorectal cancer(CRC)are profoundly influenced by the complex interplay between the gut microbiota and the immune system,underscoring the clinical importance of exploring the bidirec...The initiation and progression of colorectal cancer(CRC)are profoundly influenced by the complex interplay between the gut microbiota and the immune system,underscoring the clinical importance of exploring the bidirectional regulatory mechanisms of the microbiota-immune axis within the CRC immune microenvironment.Emerging evidence indicates that the composition and functional capacity of the gut microbiota play a vital role in modulating the host’s immune responses,while the immune system,in turn,can reciprocally regulate the structure and function of the microbiota.Despite significant insights into the role of the microbiota-immune axis in CRC progression,several critical questions remain unanswered-including how microbial heterogeneity affects therapeutic outcomes and the specific consequences of dysregulated regulatory mechanisms on the immune microenvironment.This review aims to provide a comprehensive analysis of the compositional features of the CRC immune microenvironment,examine the bidirectional molecular mechanisms underpinning the microbiotaimmune axis,and evaluate the potential of targeted therapeutic strategies,thereby offering novel research perspectives and clinical applications for CRC treatment.展开更多
BACKGROUND Colorectal cancer(CRC)is a leading cause of cancer-related death globally,with the tumor immune microenvironment(TIME)influencing prognosis and immunotherapy response.Current TIME evaluation relies on invas...BACKGROUND Colorectal cancer(CRC)is a leading cause of cancer-related death globally,with the tumor immune microenvironment(TIME)influencing prognosis and immunotherapy response.Current TIME evaluation relies on invasive biopsies,limiting its clinical application.This study hypothesized that computed tomography(CT)-based deep learning(DL)radiomics models can non-invasively predict key TIME biomarkers:Tumor-stroma ratio(TSR),tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes(TILs),and immune score(IS).AIM To develop a non-invasive DL approach using preoperative CT radiomics to evaluate TIME components in CRC patients.METHODS In this retrospective study,preoperative CT images of 315 pathologically confirmed CRC patients(220 in training cohort and 95 in validation cohort)were analyzed.Manually delineated regions of interest were used to extract DL features.Predictive models(DenseNet-121/169)for TSR,TILs,IS,and TIME classification were constructed.Performance was evaluated via receiver operating characteristic curves,calibration curves,and decision curve analysis(DCA).RESULTS The DL-DenseNet-169 model achieved area under the curve(AUC)values of 0.892[95%confidence interval(CI):0.828-0.957]for TSR and 0.772(95%CI:0.674-0.870)for TIME score.The DenseNet-121 model yielded AUC values of 0.851(95%CI:0.768-0.933)for TILs and 0.852(95%CI:0.775-0.928)for IS.Calibration curves demonstrated strong prediction-observation agreement,and DCA confirmed clinical utility across threshold probabilities(P<0.05 for all models).CONCLUSION CT-based DL radiomics provides a reliable non-invasive method for preoperative TIME evaluation,enabling personalized immunotherapy strategies in CRC management.展开更多
Immunotherapies have demonstrated notable clinical benefits in the treatment of cervical cancer(CC).However,the development of therapeutic resistance and diverse adverse effects in immunotherapy stem from complex inte...Immunotherapies have demonstrated notable clinical benefits in the treatment of cervical cancer(CC).However,the development of therapeutic resistance and diverse adverse effects in immunotherapy stem from complex interactions among biological processes and factors within the tumor immune microenvironment(TIME).Advanced omic technologies offer novel insights into a more expansive and thorough layer of the TIME.Furthermore,integrating multidimensional omics within the frameworks of systems biology and computational methodologies facilitates the generation of interpretable data outputs to characterize the clinical and biological trajectories of tumor behavior.In this review,we present advanced omics technologies that utilize various clinical samples to address scientific inquiries related to immunotherapies for CC,highlighting their utility in identifying metastasis dissemination,recurrence risk,and therapeutic resistance in patients treated with immunotherapeutic approaches.This review elaborates on the strategy for integrating multi-omics data through artificial intelligence algorithms.Additionally,an analysis of the obstacles encountered in the multi-omics analysis process and potential avenues for future research in this domain are presented.展开更多
BACKGROUND The complexity of the immune microenvironment has an impact on the treatment of colorectal cancer(CRC),one of the most prevalent malignancies worldwide.In this study,multi-omics and single-cell sequencing t...BACKGROUND The complexity of the immune microenvironment has an impact on the treatment of colorectal cancer(CRC),one of the most prevalent malignancies worldwide.In this study,multi-omics and single-cell sequencing techniques were used to investigate the mechanism of action of circulating and infiltrating B cells in CRC.By revealing the heterogeneity and functional differences of B cells in cancer immunity,we aim to deepen our understanding of immune regulation and provide a scientific basis for the development of more effective cancer treatment strategies.AIM To explore the role of circulating and infiltrating B cell subsets in the immune microenvironment of CRC,explore the potential driving mechanism of B cell development,analyze the interaction between B cells and other immune cells in the immune microenvironment and the functions of communication molecules,and search for possible regulatory pathways to promote the anti-tumor effects of B cells.METHODS A total of 69 paracancer(normal),tumor and peripheral blood samples were collected from 23 patients with CRC from The Cancer Genome Atlas database(https://portal.gdc.cancer.gov/).After the immune cells were sorted by multicolor flow cytometry,the single cell transcriptome and B cell receptor group library were sequenced using the 10X Genomics platform,and the data were analyzed using bioinformatics tools such as Seurat.The differences in the number and function of B cell infiltration between tumor and normal tissue,the interaction between B cell subsets and T cells and myeloid cell subsets,and the transcription factor regulatory network of B cell subsets were explored and analyzed.RESULTS Compared with normal tissue,the infiltrating number of CD20+B cell subsets in tumor tissue increased significantly.Among them,germinal center B cells(GCB)played the most prominent role,with positive clone expansion and heavy chain mutation level increasing,and the trend of differentiation into memory B cells increased.However,the number of plasma cells in the tumor microenvironment decreased significantly,and the plasma cells secreting IgA antibodies decreased most obviously.In addition,compared with the immune microenvironment of normal tissues,GCB cells in tumor tissues became more closely connected with other immune cells such as T cells,and communication molecules that positively regulate immune function were significantly enriched.CONCLUSION The role of GCB in CRC tumor microenvironment is greatly enhanced,and its affinity to tumor antigen is enhanced by its significantly increased heavy chain mutation level.Meanwhile,GCB has enhanced its association with immune cells in the microenvironment,which plays a positive anti-tumor effect.展开更多
Hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)is the most common primary tumor of the liver and has a high mortality rate.The Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer staging system in addition to tumor staging also links the modality of treatme...Hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)is the most common primary tumor of the liver and has a high mortality rate.The Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer staging system in addition to tumor staging also links the modality of treatment available to a particular stage.The recent description of the tumor microenvironment(TME)in HCC has provided a new concept of immunogenicity within the HCC.Virusrelated HCC has been shown to be more immunogenic with higher expression of cytotoxic T lymphocytes and decreased elements for immunosuppression such as regulatory T cells.This immunogenic milieu provides a better response to immunotherapy especially immune checkpoint inhibitors(ICIs).In addition,the recent data on combining locoregional therapies and other strategies may convert the less immunogenic state of the TME towards higher immunogenicity.Therefore,data are emerging on the use of combinations of locoregional therapy and ICIs in unresectable or advanced HCC and has shown better survival outcomes in this difficult population.展开更多
Objective:Osteosarcoma is a highly aggressive primary malignant bone tumor commonly seen in children and adolescents,with a poor prognosis.Anchorage-dependent cell death(anoikis)has been proven to be indispensable in ...Objective:Osteosarcoma is a highly aggressive primary malignant bone tumor commonly seen in children and adolescents,with a poor prognosis.Anchorage-dependent cell death(anoikis)has been proven to be indispensable in tumor metastasis,regulating the migration and adhesion of tumor cells at the primary site.However,as a type of programmed cell death,anoikis is rarely studied in osteosarcoma,especially in the tumor immune microenvironment.This study aims to clarify prognostic value of anoikis and tumor immune microenvironment-related gene in the treatment of osteosarcoma.Methods:Anoikis-related genes(ANRGs)were obtained from GeneCards.Clinical information and ANRGs expression profiles of osteosarcoma patients were sourced from the therapeutically applicable research to generate effective therapies and Gene Expression Omnibus(GEO)databases.ANRGs highly associated with tumor immune microenvironment were identified by the estimate package and the weighted gene coexpression network analysis(WGCNA)algorithm.Machine learning algorithms were performed to construct long-term survival predictive strategy,each sample was divided into high-risk and low-risk subgroups,which was further verified in the GEO cohort.Finally,based on single-cell RNA-seq from the GEO database,analysis was done on the function of signature genes in the osteosarcoma tumor microenvironment.Results:A total of 51 hub ANRGs closely associated with the tumor microenvironment were identified,from which 3 genes(MERTK,BNIP3,S100A8)were selected to construct the prognostic model.Significant differences in immune cell activation and immune-related signaling pathways were observed between the high-risk and low-risk groups based on tumor microenvironment analysis(all P<0.05).Additionally,characteristic genes within the osteosarcoma microenvironment were identified in regulation of intercellular crosstalk through the GAS6-MERTK signaling pathway.Conclusion:The prognostic model based on ANRGs and tumor microenvironment demonstrate good predictive power and provide more personalized treatment options for patients with osteosarcoma.展开更多
Objective:Ginsenoside Rh1(G-Rh1)has been confirmed to inhibit the growth of breast cancer and colon cancer,but its therapeutic effect on hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)is unclear.This study investigates the therapeutic ...Objective:Ginsenoside Rh1(G-Rh1)has been confirmed to inhibit the growth of breast cancer and colon cancer,but its therapeutic effect on hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)is unclear.This study investigates the therapeutic effect of G-Rh1 on HCC as well as the underlying mechanism.Methods:Bioinformatics methods were used to analyze glucocorticoid receptor(GR)expression and the tumor microenvironment in HCC tissues from HCC patients.The effect of G-Rh1 on HCC cells was investigated in vitro using the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide method.The therapeutic effect of G-Rh1 was investigated in vivo using subcutaneous transplantation models in C57BL/6J and nude mice.Additionally,the proportion of infiltrating immune cells in tumors was analyzed using flow cytometry,the GR and major histocompatibility complex class-I(MHC-I)expression of HCC cells after G-Rh1 treatment was analyzed using Western blotting,and G-Rh1-treated Hepa1-6 cells were cocultured with bone marrow-derived dendritic cells and B3Z T cells to further analyze the ability of G-Rh1 to induce dendritic cell(DC)maturation and CD8+T cell activation.Results:GR expression was upregulated in HCC tissues,and high GR expression was associated with a worsened immune microenvironment.In vitro studies showed that G-Rh1 had no significant effect on the proliferation of HCC cells,while in vivo studies showed that G-Rh1 exerted antitumor effects in C57BL/6J mice but not in nude mice.Further research revealed that G-Rh1 ameliorated the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment,thereby enhancing the antitumor effects of lenvatinib by increasing the infiltration of CD8+T cells,mature DCs,and MHC-I-positive cells.MHC-I was upregulated by G-Rh1 via GR suppression.Moreover,overexpression of GR abolished the G-Rh1-mediated promotion of MHC-I expression in Huh7 cells,as well as the maturation of DCs and the activation of CD8+T cells.Conclusion:G-Rh1 can regulate the immune microenvironment of HCC by targeting GR,thus increasing the antitumor effect of lenvatinib.展开更多
The interplay between DNA replication stress and immune microenvironment alterations is known to play a crucial role in colorectal tumorigenesis,but a comprehensive understanding of their association with and relevant...The interplay between DNA replication stress and immune microenvironment alterations is known to play a crucial role in colorectal tumorigenesis,but a comprehensive understanding of their association with and relevant biomarkers involved in colorectal tumorigenesis is lacking.To address this gap,we conducted a study aiming to investigate this association and identify relevant biomarkers.We analyzed transcriptomic and proteomic profiles of 904 colorectal tumor tissues and 342 normal tissues to examine pathway enrichment,biological activity,and the immune microenvironment.Additionally,we evaluated genetic effects of single variants and genes on colorectal cancer susceptibility using data from genome-wide association studies(GWASs)involving both East Asian(7062 cases and 195745 controls)and European(24476 cases and 23073 controls)populations.We employed mediation analysis to infer the causal pathway,and applied multiplex immunofluorescence to visualize colocalized biomarkers in colorectal tumors and immune cells.Our findings revealed that both DNA replication activity and the flap structure-specific endonuclease 1(FEN1)gene were significantly enriched in colorectal tumor tissues,compared with normal tissues.Moreover,a genetic variant rs4246215 G>T in FEN1 was associated with a decreased risk of colorectal cancer(odds ratio=0.94,95%confidence interval:0.90–0.97,P_(meta)=4.70×10^(-9)).Importantly,we identified basophils and eosinophils that both exhibited a significantly decreased infiltration in colorectal tumors,and were regulated by rs4246215 through causal pathways involving both FEN1 and DNA replication.In conclusion,this trans-omics incorporating GWAS data provides insights into a plausible pathway connecting DNA replication and immunity,expanding biological knowledge of colorectal tumorigenesis and therapeutic targets.展开更多
Background:Protein lactylation is a new way for the“metabolic waste”lactic acid to perform novel functions.Nevertheless,our understanding of the contribution of protein lactylation to both tumor progression and ther...Background:Protein lactylation is a new way for the“metabolic waste”lactic acid to perform novel functions.Nevertheless,our understanding of the contribution of protein lactylation to both tumor progression and therapeutic interventions remains imited.The construction of a scoring system for lactylation to predict the prognosis of pancancer patients and to evaluate the tumor immune microenvironment(TIME)would improve our understanding of the clinical significance of lactylation.Methods:Consensus clustering analysis of lactylation-related genes was used to cluster 177 pancreatic adenocarcinoma(PAAD)patients.Subsequently,a scoring system was developed using the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator(LASSO)regression.Internal validation and external validation were both conducted to assess and confirm the predictive accuracy of the scoring system.Finally,leucine rich repeat containing 1(LRRC1),a newly discovered lactylation-related gene,was analyzed in PAAD in vitro.Results:Utilizing the profiles of 332 lactylation-related genes,a total of 177 patients with PAAD were segregated into two distinct groups.LacCluster^(high) patients had a poorer prognosis than LacCluster^(low) patients.Through the differential analysis between the LacCluster^(high) and LacCluster^(low) groups,we identified additional genes associated with lactylation.These genes were then integrated to construct the LacCluster-enhanced system,which enabled more accurate prognosis prediction for patients with PAAD.Then,a lactylation index containing three genes(LacI-3)was constructed using LASSO regression.This was done to enhance the usability of the LacCluster-enhanced system in the clinic.Compared to those in the LacI-3^(high) subgroup,patients in the LacI-3^(low) subgroup exhibited increased expression of immune checkpoint-related genes,more immune cell infiltration,lower tumor mutation burdens,and better prognoses,indicating a“hot tumor”phenotype.Moreover,knocking down the expression of LRRC1,the hub gene in the LacI-3 scoring system,inhibited PAAD cell invasion,migration,and proliferation in vitro.Ultimately,the significance of LacI-3 across cancers was confirmed.Conclusion:Our findings strongly imply that protein lactylation may represent a new approach to diagnosing and treating malignant tumors.展开更多
DNA damage occurs across tumorigenesis and tumor development.Tumor intrinsic DNA damage can not only increase the risk of mutations responsible for tumor generation but also initiate a cellular stress response to orch...DNA damage occurs across tumorigenesis and tumor development.Tumor intrinsic DNA damage can not only increase the risk of mutations responsible for tumor generation but also initiate a cellular stress response to orchestrate the tumor immune microenvironment(TIME)and dominate tumor progression.Accumulating evidence documents that multiple signaling pathways,including cyclic GMP-AMP synthase-stimulator of interferon genes(cGAS-STING)and ataxia telangiectasia-mutated protein/ataxia telangiectasia and Rad3-related protein(ATM/ATR),are activated downstream of DNA damage and they are associated with the secretion of diverse cytokines.These cytokines possess multifaced functions in the anti-tumor immune response.Thus,it is necessary to deeply interpret the complex TIME reshaped by damaged DNA and tumor-derived cytokines,critical for the development of effective tumor therapies.This manuscript comprehensively reviews the relationship between the DNA damage response and related cytokines in tumors and depicts the dual immunoregulatory roles of these cytokines.We also summarize clinical trials targeting signaling pathways and cytokines associated with DNA damage and provide future perspectives on emerging technologies.展开更多
Colorectal cancer(CRC)represents a molecularly heterogeneous disease and one of the most frequent causes of cancer-related death worldwide.The traditional classification of CRC is based on pathomorphological and molec...Colorectal cancer(CRC)represents a molecularly heterogeneous disease and one of the most frequent causes of cancer-related death worldwide.The traditional classification of CRC is based on pathomorphological and molecular character-istics of tumor cells(mucinous,ring-cell carcinomas,etc.),analysis of mechanisms of carcinogenesis involved(chromosomal instability,microsatellite instability,CpG island methylator phenotype)and mutational statuses of commonly altered genes(KRAS,NRAS,BRAF,APC,etc.),as well as expression signatures(CMS 1-4).It is also suggested that the tumor microenvironment is a key player in tumor progression and metastasis in CRC.According to the latest data,the immune microenvironment can also be predictive of the response to immune checkpoint inhibitors.In this review,we highlight how the immune environment influences CRC prognosis and sensitivity to systemic therapy.展开更多
BACKGROUND The immune microenvironment(IME)in hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)plays a pivotal role in determining patient outcomes and responses to treatment.This area is witnessing rapid growth in research interest.Howe...BACKGROUND The immune microenvironment(IME)in hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)plays a pivotal role in determining patient outcomes and responses to treatment.This area is witnessing rapid growth in research interest.However,there is a lack of comprehensive bibliometric analyses that dissect trends and potential focal points in this field.AIM To explore the evolution of research on the IME in HCC from January 1,2004,to December 31,2023,using bibliometric methodologies.METHODS English articles and reviews concerning the IME of HCC were retrieved from the Web of Science Core Collection with a search date of December 31,2023.The R package Bibliometrix was employed to compute basic bibliometric characteristics,illustrate collaborations among countries and authors,and create a three-field diagram illustrating the connections between authors,affiliations,and keywords.Analyses of country and institutional co-authorship,as well as keyword co-occurrence,were conducted using VOSviewer.Additionally,CiteSpace was utilized for the cite burst analysis of keywords and cited literature.RESULTS The study encompassed 3125 documents in the research areas related to HCC of IME,revealing a substantial and continuous increase in the annual publication trend over time.China and Fudan University emerged as leading contributors,with 2103 and 165 publications,respectively.Frontiers in immunology was the most prolific journal in this domain.Among the top ten researchers in the field,eight are based in China.Key research terms identified include tumour microenvironment,expression,immunotherapy,and prognosis.CONCLUSION The relationship between HCC and IME is receiving increasing attention,and related research is in a highly developed stage.Key focus areas,including IME and immune checkpoint inhibitors,immunotherapy are poised to be central to future research endeavors,offering promising pathways for further exploration.展开更多
Objective:The aim of this study was to investigate how the tumor immune microenvironment differs regarding tumor genomics,as well as its impact on prognoses and responses to immunotherapy in East Asian patients with n...Objective:The aim of this study was to investigate how the tumor immune microenvironment differs regarding tumor genomics,as well as its impact on prognoses and responses to immunotherapy in East Asian patients with non-small cell lung cancer(NSCLC).Methods:We performed an integrated analysis using publicly available data to identify associations between anti-programmed death 1(PD-1)/programmed death-ligand 1(PD-L1)immunotherapy efficacy and classic driver oncogene mutations in East Asian NSCLC patients.Four pooled and clinical cohort analyses were used to correlate driver oncogene mutation status and tumor microenvironment based on PD-L1 and CD8+tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes(TILs).Immune infiltrating patterns were also established for genomic NSCLC subgroups using the CIBERSORT algorithm.Results:Based on East Asian NSCLC patients,TIDE analyses revealed that for anti-PD-1/PD-L1 immunotherapy,epidermal growth factor receptor(EGFR)-mutant and anaplastic lymphoma kinase(ALK)-rearranged tumors yielded inferior responses;however,although Kirsten rat sarcoma viral oncogene homolog(KRAS)-mutant tumors responded better,the difference was not statistically significant(EGFR:P=0.037;ALK:P<0.001;KRAS:P=0.701).Pooled and clinical cohort analyses demonstrated tumor immune microenvironment heterogeneities correlated with oncogenic patterns.The results showed remarkably higher PD-L1-and TIL-positive KRAS-mutant tumors,suggesting KRAS mutations may drive an inflammatory phenotype with adaptive immune resistance.However,the EGFR-mutant or ALK-rearranged groups showed a remarkably higher proportion of PD-L1-/TIL-tumors,suggesting an uninflamed phenotype with immunological ignorance.Notably,similar to triple wild-type NSCLC tumors,EGFR L858R-mutant tumors positively correlated with an inflammatory phenotype,suggesting responsiveness to anti-PD-1/PD-L1 immunotherapy(P<0.05).Furthermore,the CIBERSORT algorithm results revealed that EGFR-mutant and ALK-rearranged tumors were characterized by an enriched resting memory CD4+T cell population(P<0.001),as well as a lack of CD8+T cells(P<0.01),and activated memory CD4+T cells(P=0.001).Conclusions:Our study highlighted the complex relationships between immune heterogeneity and immunotherapeutic responses in East Asian NSCLC patients regarding oncogenic dependence.展开更多
The anti-tumor effect of anti-PD-1 antibody has long been shown to be strongly related to the tumor immune microenvironment(TIME).This study aimed to mechanistically assess whether Chang Wei Qing(CWQ)Decoction can enh...The anti-tumor effect of anti-PD-1 antibody has long been shown to be strongly related to the tumor immune microenvironment(TIME).This study aimed to mechanistically assess whether Chang Wei Qing(CWQ)Decoction can enhance the anti-tumor effect of PD-1 inhibitor therapy.PD-1 inhibitor therapy showed the significant anti-tumor effect in patients with mismatch repairdeficient/microsatellite instability-high(dMMR/MSI-H)colorectal cancer(CRC),rather than those with mismatch repairproficient/microsatellite stable(pMMR/MSS)CRC.Hence,immunofluorescence double-label staining was utilized to explore the difference in the TIME between dMMR/MSI-H and pMMR/MSS CRC patients.Flow cytometry was used to analyze T-lymphocytes in tumors from mice.Western blot was used to measure the expression of PD-L1 protein in mouse tumors.The intestinal mucosal barrier of mice was evaluated by hematoxylin-eosin staining and immunohistochemistry.16S rRNA-gene sequencing was used to examine the structure of the gut microbiota in mice.Subsequently,Spearman’s correlation analysis was used to analyze the relationship between the gut microbiota and tumor-infiltrating T-lymphocytes.The results showed that dMMR/MSI-H CRC patients had more CD8+T cells and higher expression of PD-1 and PD-L1 proteins.In vivo,CWQ enhanced the anti-tumor effect of anti-PD-1 antibody and increased the infiltration of CD8+and PD-1+CD8+T cells in tumors.Additionally,the combination of CWQ with anti-PD-1 antibody resulted in lower inflammation in the intestinal mucosa than that induced by anti-PD-1 antibody alone.CWQ and anti-PD-1 antibody co-treatment upregulated PD-L1 protein and reduced the abundance of Bacteroides in the gut microbiota but increased the abundance of Akkermansia,Firmicutes,and Actinobacteria.Additionally,the proportion of infiltrated CD8+PD-1+,CD8+,and CD3+T cells were found to be positively correlated with the abundance of Akkermansia.Accordingly,CWQ may modulate the TIME by modifying the gut microbiota and consequently enhance the anti-tumor effect of PD-1 inhibitor therapy.展开更多
Objective: Neoantigens derived from tumor-specific genomic alterations have demonstrated great potential for immunotherapeutic interventions in cancers. However, the comprehensive profile of hepatocellular carcinoma(H...Objective: Neoantigens derived from tumor-specific genomic alterations have demonstrated great potential for immunotherapeutic interventions in cancers. However, the comprehensive profile of hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC) neoantigens and their complex interplay with immune microenvironment and tumor evolution have not been fully addressed.Methods: Here we integrated whole exome sequencing data, transcriptome sequencing data and clinical information of 72 primary HCC patients to characterize the HCC neoantigen profile, and systematically explored its interactions with tumor clonal evolution, driver mutations and immune microenvironments.Results: We observed that higher somatic mutation/neoantigen load was associated with better clinical outcomes and HCC patients could be further divided into two subgroups with distinct prognosis based on their neoantigen expression patterns. HCC subgroup with neoantigen expression probability high(NEP-H) showed more aggressive pathologic features including increased incidence of tumor thrombus(P=0.038), higher recurrence rate(P=0.029),more inclined to lack tumor capsule(P=0.026) and with more microsatellite instability sites(P=0.006). In addition,NEP-H subgroup was also characterized by higher chance to be involved in tumor clonal evolution [odds ratio(OR)=46.7, P<0.001]. Gene set enrichment analysis revealed that upregulation of MYC and its targets could suppress immune responses, leading to elevated neoantigen expression proportion in tumor cells. Furthermore, we discovered an immune escape mechanism that tumors could become more inconspicuous by evolving subclones with less immunogenicity. We observed that smaller clonal mutation clusters with higher immunogenicity in tumor were more likely to involve in clonal evolution. Based on identified neoantigen profiles, we also discovered series of neoantigenic hotspot genes, which could serve as potential actionable targets in future.Conclusions: Our results revealed the landscape of HCC neoantigens and discovered two clinically relevant subgroups with distinct neoantigen expression patterns, suggesting the neoantigen expression should be fully considered in future immunotherapeutic interventions.展开更多
文摘In this article,we comment on the work published by Huang et al,which explores the mechanisms by which Calculus bovis(CB)modulates the liver cancer immune microenvironment via the Wnt/β-catenin signalling pathway.The study demon-strates that active components in CB effectively inhibit the activation of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway,significantly reducing the polarization of M2 tumor-associated macrophages.Both in vivo and in vitro experiments have validated the anti-tumour effects of CB,revealing its complex mechanisms of action through the modulation of immune cell functions within the tumour microenvironment.This article highlights CB’s therapeutic potential in liver cancer treatment and calls for further investigations into its mechanisms and clinical applications to develop safer,more effective options for patients.The study also revealed that key com-ponents of CB,such as bilirubin and bile acids,inhibit tumour cell proliferation and promote apoptosis through multiple pathways.Future research should explore the mechanisms of action of CB and its potential integration with existing treatments to improve the therapeutic outcomes of liver cancer patients.With multidisciplinary collaboration and advanced research,CB could become a key component of comprehensive liver cancer treatment,offering new hope for patients.
基金Supported by the Shanghai Science and Technology Commission Project,No.21010504300Shanghai Jiading District Traditional Chinese Medicine Key Specialty Construction Project,No.2020-JDZYYZDZK-01.
文摘BACKGROUND In recent years,numerous reports have been published regarding the relationship between the gut microbiota and the tumor immune microenvironment(TIME).However,to date,no systematic study has been conducted on the relationship between gut microbiota and the TIME using bibliometric methods.AIM To describe the current global research status on the correlation between gut microbiota and the TIME,and to identify the most influential countries,research institutions,researchers,and research hotspots related to this topic.METHODS We searched for all literature related to gut microbiota and TIME published from January 1,2014,to May 28,2024,in the Web of Science Core Collection database.We then conducted a bibliometric analysis and created visual maps of the published literature on countries,institutions,authors,keywords,references,etc.,using CiteSpace(6.2R6),VOSviewer(1.6.20),and bibliometrics(based on R 4.3.2).RESULTS In total,491 documents were included,with a rapid increase in the number of publications starting in 2019.The country with the highest number of publications was China,followed by the United States.Germany has the highest number of citations in literature.From a centrality perspective,the United States has the highest influence in this field.The institutions with the highest number of publications were Shanghai Jiao Tong University and Zhejiang University.However,the institution with the most citations was the United States National Cancer Institute.Among authors,Professor Giorgio Trinchieri from the National Institutes of Health has the most local impact in this field.The most cited author was Fan XZ.The results of journal publications showed that the top three journals with the highest number of published papers were Frontiers in Immunology,Cancers,and Frontiers in Oncology.The three most frequently used keywords were gut microbiota,tumor microenvironment,and immunotherapy.CONCLUSION This study systematically elaborates on the research progress related to gut microbiota and TIME over the past decade.Research results indicate that the number of publications has rapidly increased since 2019,with research hotspots including“gut microbiota”,“tumor microenvironment”and“immunotherapy”.Exploring the effects of specific gut microbiota or derived metabolites on the behavior of immune cells in the TIME,regulating the secretion of immune molecules,and influencing immunotherapy are research hotspots and future research directions.
文摘Computed tomography-based deep learning radiomics provides a novel,noninvasive approach to predicting the tumor immune microenvironment in colorectal cancer,revolutionizing precision oncology.The retrospective study by Zhou et al analyzed preoperative computed tomography scans from 315 patients using convolutional neural networks,achieving robust predictive performance(area under the curve:0.851-0.892)for critical tumor immune microenvironment features,such as tumor-stroma ratio and lymphocyte infiltration,without requiring invasive biopsies.This editorial explores how this technique advances personalized immunotherapy,chemotherapy,and targeted therapies;challenges conventional oncology practices;and paves the way for a future of precision medicine.By integrating advanced imaging with immune profiling,deep learning radiomics redefines colorectal cancer management,highlighting the need to reevaluate the interplay of technology,biology,and ethics in gastrointestinal oncology.
基金Supported by the Natural Science Foundation of Zhejiang Province,No.LY22H160005。
文摘BACKGROUND Colorectal cancer(CRC)is a leading cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide,primarily due to tumor heterogeneity and treatment resistance.The leucine-rich repeat-containing protein 19(LRRC19)has been linked to immune regulation and tumor suppression,yet its specific role in CRC remains poorly understood.AIM To investigate the tumor-suppressive role of LRRC19 in CRC,focusing on cell cycle,immune microenvironment,and chemotherapy response.METHODS Bioinformatics analyses of Gene Expression Omnibus and The Cancer Genome Atlas databases identified differentially expressed genes in CRC.LRRC19 exp-ression was validated in CRC tissues and cell lines by quantitative PCR,immuno-histochemistry,and Western blotting.Functional assays,including proliferation,soft agar colony formation,flow cytometry,and xenograft models,assessed biological effects.Mechanistic studies with dual-luciferase reporter assays,molecular docking,and drug sensitivity testing explored LRRC19’s interaction with the cyclin-dependent kinase 6(CDK6)/E2F1 axis and oxaliplatin(OXA)response.Single-cell sequencing and immune infiltration analyses assessed its impact on the immune microenvironment.RESULTS LRRC19 expression was significantly downregulated in CRC and associated with poor prognosis.Overexpression of LRRC19 inhibited CRC cell proliferation,induced G0/G1 phase arrest,and suppressed tumor growth in vivo.Mechanistically,LRRC19 suppressed CDK6 transcription by downregulating E2F1,leading to cell cycle arrest.Additionally,LRRC19 promoted immune cell infiltration,particularly B cells and CD4+T cells,while decreasing immunosuppressive cells.LRRC19 also sensitized CRC cells to OXA,enhancing chemotherapy efficacy.CONCLUSION LRRC19 suppresses CRC by targeting the CDK6/E2F1 axis,modulating the immune microenvironment,and enhancing chemotherapy sensitivity,making it a promising therapeutic target for precision medicine in CRC.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(32072941)。
文摘The immunomodulatory function of estrogen within the ovary remains a subject of ongoing debate,and the neonatal ovarian immune microenvironment,particularly its modulation by estrogen,has not been comprehensively characterized.In this study,the effects of 17β-estradiol(E_(2)),a key regulator of immune function,were investigated using single-cell transcriptomic profiling of C57BL/6J neonatal mouse ovaries after E_(2)treatment.Results revealed dynamic alterations in the proportion of immune cell types after E_(2)treatment,accompanied by changes in cytokine and chemokine expression.Detailed analyses of gene expression,cell states,and developmental trajectories across distinct cell types indicated that E_(2)treatment influenced cell differentiation and development.Notably,E_(2)treatment reduced the abundance of macrophages and promoted a phenotypic transition from M1 to M2 macrophages.These findings demonstrate that the neonatal mouse ovarian immune microenvironment is sensitive to estrogenic modulation,which governs both the distribution and functional specialization of resident immune cells,offering novel mechanistic insights into the immunomodulatory roles of estrogen across various immune cell types.
文摘The initiation and progression of colorectal cancer(CRC)are profoundly influenced by the complex interplay between the gut microbiota and the immune system,underscoring the clinical importance of exploring the bidirectional regulatory mechanisms of the microbiota-immune axis within the CRC immune microenvironment.Emerging evidence indicates that the composition and functional capacity of the gut microbiota play a vital role in modulating the host’s immune responses,while the immune system,in turn,can reciprocally regulate the structure and function of the microbiota.Despite significant insights into the role of the microbiota-immune axis in CRC progression,several critical questions remain unanswered-including how microbial heterogeneity affects therapeutic outcomes and the specific consequences of dysregulated regulatory mechanisms on the immune microenvironment.This review aims to provide a comprehensive analysis of the compositional features of the CRC immune microenvironment,examine the bidirectional molecular mechanisms underpinning the microbiotaimmune axis,and evaluate the potential of targeted therapeutic strategies,thereby offering novel research perspectives and clinical applications for CRC treatment.
基金Supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China,No.81860047the Natural Science Foundation of Gansu Province,No.22JR5RA650+1 种基金Key Science and Technology Program in Gansu Province,No.21YF5FA016Gansu Provincial Hospital Scientific Research Foundation,No.23GSSYD-12.
文摘BACKGROUND Colorectal cancer(CRC)is a leading cause of cancer-related death globally,with the tumor immune microenvironment(TIME)influencing prognosis and immunotherapy response.Current TIME evaluation relies on invasive biopsies,limiting its clinical application.This study hypothesized that computed tomography(CT)-based deep learning(DL)radiomics models can non-invasively predict key TIME biomarkers:Tumor-stroma ratio(TSR),tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes(TILs),and immune score(IS).AIM To develop a non-invasive DL approach using preoperative CT radiomics to evaluate TIME components in CRC patients.METHODS In this retrospective study,preoperative CT images of 315 pathologically confirmed CRC patients(220 in training cohort and 95 in validation cohort)were analyzed.Manually delineated regions of interest were used to extract DL features.Predictive models(DenseNet-121/169)for TSR,TILs,IS,and TIME classification were constructed.Performance was evaluated via receiver operating characteristic curves,calibration curves,and decision curve analysis(DCA).RESULTS The DL-DenseNet-169 model achieved area under the curve(AUC)values of 0.892[95%confidence interval(CI):0.828-0.957]for TSR and 0.772(95%CI:0.674-0.870)for TIME score.The DenseNet-121 model yielded AUC values of 0.851(95%CI:0.768-0.933)for TILs and 0.852(95%CI:0.775-0.928)for IS.Calibration curves demonstrated strong prediction-observation agreement,and DCA confirmed clinical utility across threshold probabilities(P<0.05 for all models).CONCLUSION CT-based DL radiomics provides a reliable non-invasive method for preoperative TIME evaluation,enabling personalized immunotherapy strategies in CRC management.
基金supported by the Zhejiang Province Traditional Chinese Medicine Science and Technology Project(GZY-ZJ-KJ-24063)the Natural Science Foundation of Zhejiang Province(Q24H290031)the Key Laboratory for Molecular Medicine and Chinese Medicine Preparations(No.GZY-ZJ-SY-2303).
文摘Immunotherapies have demonstrated notable clinical benefits in the treatment of cervical cancer(CC).However,the development of therapeutic resistance and diverse adverse effects in immunotherapy stem from complex interactions among biological processes and factors within the tumor immune microenvironment(TIME).Advanced omic technologies offer novel insights into a more expansive and thorough layer of the TIME.Furthermore,integrating multidimensional omics within the frameworks of systems biology and computational methodologies facilitates the generation of interpretable data outputs to characterize the clinical and biological trajectories of tumor behavior.In this review,we present advanced omics technologies that utilize various clinical samples to address scientific inquiries related to immunotherapies for CC,highlighting their utility in identifying metastasis dissemination,recurrence risk,and therapeutic resistance in patients treated with immunotherapeutic approaches.This review elaborates on the strategy for integrating multi-omics data through artificial intelligence algorithms.Additionally,an analysis of the obstacles encountered in the multi-omics analysis process and potential avenues for future research in this domain are presented.
文摘BACKGROUND The complexity of the immune microenvironment has an impact on the treatment of colorectal cancer(CRC),one of the most prevalent malignancies worldwide.In this study,multi-omics and single-cell sequencing techniques were used to investigate the mechanism of action of circulating and infiltrating B cells in CRC.By revealing the heterogeneity and functional differences of B cells in cancer immunity,we aim to deepen our understanding of immune regulation and provide a scientific basis for the development of more effective cancer treatment strategies.AIM To explore the role of circulating and infiltrating B cell subsets in the immune microenvironment of CRC,explore the potential driving mechanism of B cell development,analyze the interaction between B cells and other immune cells in the immune microenvironment and the functions of communication molecules,and search for possible regulatory pathways to promote the anti-tumor effects of B cells.METHODS A total of 69 paracancer(normal),tumor and peripheral blood samples were collected from 23 patients with CRC from The Cancer Genome Atlas database(https://portal.gdc.cancer.gov/).After the immune cells were sorted by multicolor flow cytometry,the single cell transcriptome and B cell receptor group library were sequenced using the 10X Genomics platform,and the data were analyzed using bioinformatics tools such as Seurat.The differences in the number and function of B cell infiltration between tumor and normal tissue,the interaction between B cell subsets and T cells and myeloid cell subsets,and the transcription factor regulatory network of B cell subsets were explored and analyzed.RESULTS Compared with normal tissue,the infiltrating number of CD20+B cell subsets in tumor tissue increased significantly.Among them,germinal center B cells(GCB)played the most prominent role,with positive clone expansion and heavy chain mutation level increasing,and the trend of differentiation into memory B cells increased.However,the number of plasma cells in the tumor microenvironment decreased significantly,and the plasma cells secreting IgA antibodies decreased most obviously.In addition,compared with the immune microenvironment of normal tissues,GCB cells in tumor tissues became more closely connected with other immune cells such as T cells,and communication molecules that positively regulate immune function were significantly enriched.CONCLUSION The role of GCB in CRC tumor microenvironment is greatly enhanced,and its affinity to tumor antigen is enhanced by its significantly increased heavy chain mutation level.Meanwhile,GCB has enhanced its association with immune cells in the microenvironment,which plays a positive anti-tumor effect.
文摘Hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)is the most common primary tumor of the liver and has a high mortality rate.The Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer staging system in addition to tumor staging also links the modality of treatment available to a particular stage.The recent description of the tumor microenvironment(TME)in HCC has provided a new concept of immunogenicity within the HCC.Virusrelated HCC has been shown to be more immunogenic with higher expression of cytotoxic T lymphocytes and decreased elements for immunosuppression such as regulatory T cells.This immunogenic milieu provides a better response to immunotherapy especially immune checkpoint inhibitors(ICIs).In addition,the recent data on combining locoregional therapies and other strategies may convert the less immunogenic state of the TME towards higher immunogenicity.Therefore,data are emerging on the use of combinations of locoregional therapy and ICIs in unresectable or advanced HCC and has shown better survival outcomes in this difficult population.
基金This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation(82172594 and 82373046)the Hunan Graduate Research Innovation Project(CX20230318),China.
文摘Objective:Osteosarcoma is a highly aggressive primary malignant bone tumor commonly seen in children and adolescents,with a poor prognosis.Anchorage-dependent cell death(anoikis)has been proven to be indispensable in tumor metastasis,regulating the migration and adhesion of tumor cells at the primary site.However,as a type of programmed cell death,anoikis is rarely studied in osteosarcoma,especially in the tumor immune microenvironment.This study aims to clarify prognostic value of anoikis and tumor immune microenvironment-related gene in the treatment of osteosarcoma.Methods:Anoikis-related genes(ANRGs)were obtained from GeneCards.Clinical information and ANRGs expression profiles of osteosarcoma patients were sourced from the therapeutically applicable research to generate effective therapies and Gene Expression Omnibus(GEO)databases.ANRGs highly associated with tumor immune microenvironment were identified by the estimate package and the weighted gene coexpression network analysis(WGCNA)algorithm.Machine learning algorithms were performed to construct long-term survival predictive strategy,each sample was divided into high-risk and low-risk subgroups,which was further verified in the GEO cohort.Finally,based on single-cell RNA-seq from the GEO database,analysis was done on the function of signature genes in the osteosarcoma tumor microenvironment.Results:A total of 51 hub ANRGs closely associated with the tumor microenvironment were identified,from which 3 genes(MERTK,BNIP3,S100A8)were selected to construct the prognostic model.Significant differences in immune cell activation and immune-related signaling pathways were observed between the high-risk and low-risk groups based on tumor microenvironment analysis(all P<0.05).Additionally,characteristic genes within the osteosarcoma microenvironment were identified in regulation of intercellular crosstalk through the GAS6-MERTK signaling pathway.Conclusion:The prognostic model based on ANRGs and tumor microenvironment demonstrate good predictive power and provide more personalized treatment options for patients with osteosarcoma.
基金supported by the Natural Science Foundation of Shandong Province(No.ZR2020MH39)。
文摘Objective:Ginsenoside Rh1(G-Rh1)has been confirmed to inhibit the growth of breast cancer and colon cancer,but its therapeutic effect on hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)is unclear.This study investigates the therapeutic effect of G-Rh1 on HCC as well as the underlying mechanism.Methods:Bioinformatics methods were used to analyze glucocorticoid receptor(GR)expression and the tumor microenvironment in HCC tissues from HCC patients.The effect of G-Rh1 on HCC cells was investigated in vitro using the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide method.The therapeutic effect of G-Rh1 was investigated in vivo using subcutaneous transplantation models in C57BL/6J and nude mice.Additionally,the proportion of infiltrating immune cells in tumors was analyzed using flow cytometry,the GR and major histocompatibility complex class-I(MHC-I)expression of HCC cells after G-Rh1 treatment was analyzed using Western blotting,and G-Rh1-treated Hepa1-6 cells were cocultured with bone marrow-derived dendritic cells and B3Z T cells to further analyze the ability of G-Rh1 to induce dendritic cell(DC)maturation and CD8+T cell activation.Results:GR expression was upregulated in HCC tissues,and high GR expression was associated with a worsened immune microenvironment.In vitro studies showed that G-Rh1 had no significant effect on the proliferation of HCC cells,while in vivo studies showed that G-Rh1 exerted antitumor effects in C57BL/6J mice but not in nude mice.Further research revealed that G-Rh1 ameliorated the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment,thereby enhancing the antitumor effects of lenvatinib by increasing the infiltration of CD8+T cells,mature DCs,and MHC-I-positive cells.MHC-I was upregulated by G-Rh1 via GR suppression.Moreover,overexpression of GR abolished the G-Rh1-mediated promotion of MHC-I expression in Huh7 cells,as well as the maturation of DCs and the activation of CD8+T cells.Conclusion:G-Rh1 can regulate the immune microenvironment of HCC by targeting GR,thus increasing the antitumor effect of lenvatinib.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant No.82173601)Yili&Jiangsu Joint Institute of Health(Grant No.yl2021ms02).
文摘The interplay between DNA replication stress and immune microenvironment alterations is known to play a crucial role in colorectal tumorigenesis,but a comprehensive understanding of their association with and relevant biomarkers involved in colorectal tumorigenesis is lacking.To address this gap,we conducted a study aiming to investigate this association and identify relevant biomarkers.We analyzed transcriptomic and proteomic profiles of 904 colorectal tumor tissues and 342 normal tissues to examine pathway enrichment,biological activity,and the immune microenvironment.Additionally,we evaluated genetic effects of single variants and genes on colorectal cancer susceptibility using data from genome-wide association studies(GWASs)involving both East Asian(7062 cases and 195745 controls)and European(24476 cases and 23073 controls)populations.We employed mediation analysis to infer the causal pathway,and applied multiplex immunofluorescence to visualize colocalized biomarkers in colorectal tumors and immune cells.Our findings revealed that both DNA replication activity and the flap structure-specific endonuclease 1(FEN1)gene were significantly enriched in colorectal tumor tissues,compared with normal tissues.Moreover,a genetic variant rs4246215 G>T in FEN1 was associated with a decreased risk of colorectal cancer(odds ratio=0.94,95%confidence interval:0.90–0.97,P_(meta)=4.70×10^(-9)).Importantly,we identified basophils and eosinophils that both exhibited a significantly decreased infiltration in colorectal tumors,and were regulated by rs4246215 through causal pathways involving both FEN1 and DNA replication.In conclusion,this trans-omics incorporating GWAS data provides insights into a plausible pathway connecting DNA replication and immunity,expanding biological knowledge of colorectal tumorigenesis and therapeutic targets.
基金supported by the National Key Research and Development Program of China(Grant Number 2022YFA1205003)Major Research Projects of the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant Number 92059204)+1 种基金General Research Projects of the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant Number 82273419)Major Projects of Technological Innovation and Application Development Foundation in Chongqing(Grant Number CSTB2022TIAD-STX0012).
文摘Background:Protein lactylation is a new way for the“metabolic waste”lactic acid to perform novel functions.Nevertheless,our understanding of the contribution of protein lactylation to both tumor progression and therapeutic interventions remains imited.The construction of a scoring system for lactylation to predict the prognosis of pancancer patients and to evaluate the tumor immune microenvironment(TIME)would improve our understanding of the clinical significance of lactylation.Methods:Consensus clustering analysis of lactylation-related genes was used to cluster 177 pancreatic adenocarcinoma(PAAD)patients.Subsequently,a scoring system was developed using the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator(LASSO)regression.Internal validation and external validation were both conducted to assess and confirm the predictive accuracy of the scoring system.Finally,leucine rich repeat containing 1(LRRC1),a newly discovered lactylation-related gene,was analyzed in PAAD in vitro.Results:Utilizing the profiles of 332 lactylation-related genes,a total of 177 patients with PAAD were segregated into two distinct groups.LacCluster^(high) patients had a poorer prognosis than LacCluster^(low) patients.Through the differential analysis between the LacCluster^(high) and LacCluster^(low) groups,we identified additional genes associated with lactylation.These genes were then integrated to construct the LacCluster-enhanced system,which enabled more accurate prognosis prediction for patients with PAAD.Then,a lactylation index containing three genes(LacI-3)was constructed using LASSO regression.This was done to enhance the usability of the LacCluster-enhanced system in the clinic.Compared to those in the LacI-3^(high) subgroup,patients in the LacI-3^(low) subgroup exhibited increased expression of immune checkpoint-related genes,more immune cell infiltration,lower tumor mutation burdens,and better prognoses,indicating a“hot tumor”phenotype.Moreover,knocking down the expression of LRRC1,the hub gene in the LacI-3 scoring system,inhibited PAAD cell invasion,migration,and proliferation in vitro.Ultimately,the significance of LacI-3 across cancers was confirmed.Conclusion:Our findings strongly imply that protein lactylation may represent a new approach to diagnosing and treating malignant tumors.
文摘DNA damage occurs across tumorigenesis and tumor development.Tumor intrinsic DNA damage can not only increase the risk of mutations responsible for tumor generation but also initiate a cellular stress response to orchestrate the tumor immune microenvironment(TIME)and dominate tumor progression.Accumulating evidence documents that multiple signaling pathways,including cyclic GMP-AMP synthase-stimulator of interferon genes(cGAS-STING)and ataxia telangiectasia-mutated protein/ataxia telangiectasia and Rad3-related protein(ATM/ATR),are activated downstream of DNA damage and they are associated with the secretion of diverse cytokines.These cytokines possess multifaced functions in the anti-tumor immune response.Thus,it is necessary to deeply interpret the complex TIME reshaped by damaged DNA and tumor-derived cytokines,critical for the development of effective tumor therapies.This manuscript comprehensively reviews the relationship between the DNA damage response and related cytokines in tumors and depicts the dual immunoregulatory roles of these cytokines.We also summarize clinical trials targeting signaling pathways and cytokines associated with DNA damage and provide future perspectives on emerging technologies.
文摘Colorectal cancer(CRC)represents a molecularly heterogeneous disease and one of the most frequent causes of cancer-related death worldwide.The traditional classification of CRC is based on pathomorphological and molecular character-istics of tumor cells(mucinous,ring-cell carcinomas,etc.),analysis of mechanisms of carcinogenesis involved(chromosomal instability,microsatellite instability,CpG island methylator phenotype)and mutational statuses of commonly altered genes(KRAS,NRAS,BRAF,APC,etc.),as well as expression signatures(CMS 1-4).It is also suggested that the tumor microenvironment is a key player in tumor progression and metastasis in CRC.According to the latest data,the immune microenvironment can also be predictive of the response to immune checkpoint inhibitors.In this review,we highlight how the immune environment influences CRC prognosis and sensitivity to systemic therapy.
基金Supported by The Specific Research Fund of The Innovation Platform for Academicians of Hainan Province,No.YSPTZX202313The Hainan Province Clinical Medical Center,No.2021818+2 种基金The Hainan Provincial Health Industry Research Project,No.22A200078The Hainan Provincial Postgraduate Innovation Research Project,No.Qhyb2022-133The National Clinical Key Specialty Capacity Building Project,No.202330。
文摘BACKGROUND The immune microenvironment(IME)in hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)plays a pivotal role in determining patient outcomes and responses to treatment.This area is witnessing rapid growth in research interest.However,there is a lack of comprehensive bibliometric analyses that dissect trends and potential focal points in this field.AIM To explore the evolution of research on the IME in HCC from January 1,2004,to December 31,2023,using bibliometric methodologies.METHODS English articles and reviews concerning the IME of HCC were retrieved from the Web of Science Core Collection with a search date of December 31,2023.The R package Bibliometrix was employed to compute basic bibliometric characteristics,illustrate collaborations among countries and authors,and create a three-field diagram illustrating the connections between authors,affiliations,and keywords.Analyses of country and institutional co-authorship,as well as keyword co-occurrence,were conducted using VOSviewer.Additionally,CiteSpace was utilized for the cite burst analysis of keywords and cited literature.RESULTS The study encompassed 3125 documents in the research areas related to HCC of IME,revealing a substantial and continuous increase in the annual publication trend over time.China and Fudan University emerged as leading contributors,with 2103 and 165 publications,respectively.Frontiers in immunology was the most prolific journal in this domain.Among the top ten researchers in the field,eight are based in China.Key research terms identified include tumour microenvironment,expression,immunotherapy,and prognosis.CONCLUSION The relationship between HCC and IME is receiving increasing attention,and related research is in a highly developed stage.Key focus areas,including IME and immune checkpoint inhibitors,immunotherapy are poised to be central to future research endeavors,offering promising pathways for further exploration.
基金This work was supported by grants from the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant Nos.81802299,81502514,and 81702841)the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities(Grant No.3332018070)+4 种基金the CAMS Innovation Fund for Medical Sciences(CIFMS)(Grant Nos.2016-I2M-1-001 and 2017-I2M-1-005)the National Key Basic Research Development Plan(Grant No.2018YFC1312105)the Graduate Innovation Funds of Peking Union Medical College(Grant No.2019-1002-06)the China Postdoctoral Science Foundation Grant(Grant No.2019M650568)the Guangci Distinguished Young Scholars Training Program(Grant No.GCQN-2018-A09).
文摘Objective:The aim of this study was to investigate how the tumor immune microenvironment differs regarding tumor genomics,as well as its impact on prognoses and responses to immunotherapy in East Asian patients with non-small cell lung cancer(NSCLC).Methods:We performed an integrated analysis using publicly available data to identify associations between anti-programmed death 1(PD-1)/programmed death-ligand 1(PD-L1)immunotherapy efficacy and classic driver oncogene mutations in East Asian NSCLC patients.Four pooled and clinical cohort analyses were used to correlate driver oncogene mutation status and tumor microenvironment based on PD-L1 and CD8+tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes(TILs).Immune infiltrating patterns were also established for genomic NSCLC subgroups using the CIBERSORT algorithm.Results:Based on East Asian NSCLC patients,TIDE analyses revealed that for anti-PD-1/PD-L1 immunotherapy,epidermal growth factor receptor(EGFR)-mutant and anaplastic lymphoma kinase(ALK)-rearranged tumors yielded inferior responses;however,although Kirsten rat sarcoma viral oncogene homolog(KRAS)-mutant tumors responded better,the difference was not statistically significant(EGFR:P=0.037;ALK:P<0.001;KRAS:P=0.701).Pooled and clinical cohort analyses demonstrated tumor immune microenvironment heterogeneities correlated with oncogenic patterns.The results showed remarkably higher PD-L1-and TIL-positive KRAS-mutant tumors,suggesting KRAS mutations may drive an inflammatory phenotype with adaptive immune resistance.However,the EGFR-mutant or ALK-rearranged groups showed a remarkably higher proportion of PD-L1-/TIL-tumors,suggesting an uninflamed phenotype with immunological ignorance.Notably,similar to triple wild-type NSCLC tumors,EGFR L858R-mutant tumors positively correlated with an inflammatory phenotype,suggesting responsiveness to anti-PD-1/PD-L1 immunotherapy(P<0.05).Furthermore,the CIBERSORT algorithm results revealed that EGFR-mutant and ALK-rearranged tumors were characterized by an enriched resting memory CD4+T cell population(P<0.001),as well as a lack of CD8+T cells(P<0.01),and activated memory CD4+T cells(P=0.001).Conclusions:Our study highlighted the complex relationships between immune heterogeneity and immunotherapeutic responses in East Asian NSCLC patients regarding oncogenic dependence.
基金the Health System Innovation Project of Shanghai Putuo Science and Technology Commission(No.ptkwws202002)the Traditional Chinese Medicine Clinical Key Specialty Construction Project of Shanghai Putuo District(No.ptzyzk2101)the Clinical Specialized Discipline of Health System of Putuo District in Shanghai(No.2021tszk01).
文摘The anti-tumor effect of anti-PD-1 antibody has long been shown to be strongly related to the tumor immune microenvironment(TIME).This study aimed to mechanistically assess whether Chang Wei Qing(CWQ)Decoction can enhance the anti-tumor effect of PD-1 inhibitor therapy.PD-1 inhibitor therapy showed the significant anti-tumor effect in patients with mismatch repairdeficient/microsatellite instability-high(dMMR/MSI-H)colorectal cancer(CRC),rather than those with mismatch repairproficient/microsatellite stable(pMMR/MSS)CRC.Hence,immunofluorescence double-label staining was utilized to explore the difference in the TIME between dMMR/MSI-H and pMMR/MSS CRC patients.Flow cytometry was used to analyze T-lymphocytes in tumors from mice.Western blot was used to measure the expression of PD-L1 protein in mouse tumors.The intestinal mucosal barrier of mice was evaluated by hematoxylin-eosin staining and immunohistochemistry.16S rRNA-gene sequencing was used to examine the structure of the gut microbiota in mice.Subsequently,Spearman’s correlation analysis was used to analyze the relationship between the gut microbiota and tumor-infiltrating T-lymphocytes.The results showed that dMMR/MSI-H CRC patients had more CD8+T cells and higher expression of PD-1 and PD-L1 proteins.In vivo,CWQ enhanced the anti-tumor effect of anti-PD-1 antibody and increased the infiltration of CD8+and PD-1+CD8+T cells in tumors.Additionally,the combination of CWQ with anti-PD-1 antibody resulted in lower inflammation in the intestinal mucosa than that induced by anti-PD-1 antibody alone.CWQ and anti-PD-1 antibody co-treatment upregulated PD-L1 protein and reduced the abundance of Bacteroides in the gut microbiota but increased the abundance of Akkermansia,Firmicutes,and Actinobacteria.Additionally,the proportion of infiltrated CD8+PD-1+,CD8+,and CD3+T cells were found to be positively correlated with the abundance of Akkermansia.Accordingly,CWQ may modulate the TIME by modifying the gut microbiota and consequently enhance the anti-tumor effect of PD-1 inhibitor therapy.
基金supported by the National Science and Technology Major Project of China (No. 2018ZX 10302205)the Scientific Foundation of Fujian Province (No. 2018J01145, No. 2020J011171)+1 种基金the Scientific Foundation of Fujian Health and family planning Department (No. 2019-ZQN-87)the Joint Funds for the Innovation of Science and Technology of Fujian Province (No. 2018Y9121)。
文摘Objective: Neoantigens derived from tumor-specific genomic alterations have demonstrated great potential for immunotherapeutic interventions in cancers. However, the comprehensive profile of hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC) neoantigens and their complex interplay with immune microenvironment and tumor evolution have not been fully addressed.Methods: Here we integrated whole exome sequencing data, transcriptome sequencing data and clinical information of 72 primary HCC patients to characterize the HCC neoantigen profile, and systematically explored its interactions with tumor clonal evolution, driver mutations and immune microenvironments.Results: We observed that higher somatic mutation/neoantigen load was associated with better clinical outcomes and HCC patients could be further divided into two subgroups with distinct prognosis based on their neoantigen expression patterns. HCC subgroup with neoantigen expression probability high(NEP-H) showed more aggressive pathologic features including increased incidence of tumor thrombus(P=0.038), higher recurrence rate(P=0.029),more inclined to lack tumor capsule(P=0.026) and with more microsatellite instability sites(P=0.006). In addition,NEP-H subgroup was also characterized by higher chance to be involved in tumor clonal evolution [odds ratio(OR)=46.7, P<0.001]. Gene set enrichment analysis revealed that upregulation of MYC and its targets could suppress immune responses, leading to elevated neoantigen expression proportion in tumor cells. Furthermore, we discovered an immune escape mechanism that tumors could become more inconspicuous by evolving subclones with less immunogenicity. We observed that smaller clonal mutation clusters with higher immunogenicity in tumor were more likely to involve in clonal evolution. Based on identified neoantigen profiles, we also discovered series of neoantigenic hotspot genes, which could serve as potential actionable targets in future.Conclusions: Our results revealed the landscape of HCC neoantigens and discovered two clinically relevant subgroups with distinct neoantigen expression patterns, suggesting the neoantigen expression should be fully considered in future immunotherapeutic interventions.
