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
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
Skin cutaneous melanoma(SKCM),a highly invasive malignant tumor originating from skin melanocytes,poses a significant threat to public health[1,2].Its development is closely associated with multiple factors,such as ul...Skin cutaneous melanoma(SKCM),a highly invasive malignant tumor originating from skin melanocytes,poses a significant threat to public health[1,2].Its development is closely associated with multiple factors,such as ultraviolet radiation,gene mutations,and immune escape.Among these,imbalance in the immune surveillance and clearance of tumor cells is a crucial link to disease progression[3,4].Tripartite motif-containing 27,which belongs to the TRIM protein family and is encoded by the TRIM27 gene,contains the RING,B-box,and coiled-coil domains.It participates in biological processes such as cell-cycle regulation,signal transduction,and immune response mainly by modifying target proteins through ubiquitination.Notably,increasing evidence indicates that TRIM27 is closely associated with the tumor immune microenvironment and contributes to cancer immune escape via multiple mechanisms,thereby promoting tumor development[5].However,the role of TRIM27 in SKCM remains unclear,thus prompting our investigation to elucidate this.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
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
Hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC) is the most common primary liver cancer with a dismal prognosis, especially when diagnosed at advanced stages. Annexin A2(ANXA2), is found to promote cancer progression and therapeutic re...Hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC) is the most common primary liver cancer with a dismal prognosis, especially when diagnosed at advanced stages. Annexin A2(ANXA2), is found to promote cancer progression and therapeutic resistance.However, the underlining mechanisms of ANXA2 in immune escape of HCC remain poorly understood up to now. Herein, we summarized the molecular function of ANXA2 in HCC and its relationship with prognosis. Furthermore, we tentatively elucidated the underlying mechanism of ANXA2 immune escape of HCC by upregulating the proportion of regulatory T cells and the expression of several inhibitory molecules, and by downregulating the proportion of natural killer cells and dendritic cells and the expression of several inhibitory molecules or effector molecules. We expect a lot of in-depth studies to further reveal the underlying mechanism of ANXA2 in immune escape of HCC in the future.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
The advent of single-cell RNA sequencing(scRNA-seq)has provided insight into the tumour immune microenvironment(TIME).This review focuses on the application of scRNA-seq in investigation of the TIME.Over time,scRNA-se...The advent of single-cell RNA sequencing(scRNA-seq)has provided insight into the tumour immune microenvironment(TIME).This review focuses on the application of scRNA-seq in investigation of the TIME.Over time,scRNA-seq methods have evolved,and components of the TIME have been deciphered with high resolution.In this review,we first introduced the principle of scRNA-seq and compared different sequencing approaches.Novel cell types in the TIME,a continuous transitional state,and mutual intercommunication among TIME components present potential targets for prognosis prediction and treatment in cancer.Thus,we concluded novel cell clusters of cancerassociated fibroblasts(CAFs),T cells,tumour-associated macrophages(TAMs)and dendritic cells(DCs)discovered after the application of scRNA-seq in TIME.We also proposed the development of TAMs and exhausted T cells,as well as the possible targets to interrupt the process.In addition,the therapeutic interventions based on cellular interactions in TIME were also summarized.For decades,quantification of the TIME components has been adopted in clinical practice to predict patient survival and response to therapy and is expected to play an important role in the precise treatment of cancer.Summarizing the current findings,we believe that advances in technology and wide application of single-cell analysis can lead to the discovery of novel perspectives on cancer therapy,which can subsequently be implemented in the clinic.Finally,we propose some future directions in the field of TIME studies that can be aided by scRNA-seq technology.展开更多
BACKGROUND Various histological types of gastric carcinomas(GCs)differ in terms of their pathogenesis and their preexisting background,both of which could impact the tumor immune microenvironment(TIME).However,the cur...BACKGROUND Various histological types of gastric carcinomas(GCs)differ in terms of their pathogenesis and their preexisting background,both of which could impact the tumor immune microenvironment(TIME).However,the current understanding of the immune contexture of GC is far from complete.AIM To clarify the tumor-host immune interplay through histopathological features and the tumor immune cycle concept.METHODS In total,50 GC cases were examined(15 cases of diffuse GC,31 patients with intestinal-type GC and 4 cases of mucinous GC).The immunophenotype of GC was assessed and classified as immune desert(ID),immune excluded(IE)or inflamed(Inf)according to CD8+cell count and spatial pattern.In addition,CD68+and CD163+macrophages and programmed death-ligand 1(PD-L1)expression were estimated.RESULTS We found that GCs with different histological differentiation demonstrated distinct immune contexture.Most intestinal-type GCs had inflamed TIMEs rich in both CD8+cells and macrophages.In contrast,more aggressive diffuse-type GC more often possessed ID characteristics with few CD8+lymphocytes but abundant CD68+macrophages,while mucinous GC had an IE-TIME with a prevalence of CD68+macrophages and CD8+lymphocytes in the peritumor stroma.PD-L1 expression prevailed mostly in intestinal-type Inf-GC,with numerous CD163+cells observed.Therefore,GCs of different histological patterns have specific mechanisms of immune escape.While intestinal-type GC was more often related to PD-L1 expression,diffuse and mucinous GCs possessing more aggressive behavior demonstrated low immunogenicity and a lack of tumor antigen recognition or immune cell recruitment into the tumor clusters.CONCLUSION These data help to clarify the links between tumor histogenesis and immunogenicity for a better understanding of GC biology and more tailored patient management.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: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
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
Aging is highly associated with tumor formation and progression.However,little research has explored the association of aging-related lncRNAs(ARLs)with the prognosis and tumor immune microenvironment(TIME)of head and ...Aging is highly associated with tumor formation and progression.However,little research has explored the association of aging-related lncRNAs(ARLs)with the prognosis and tumor immune microenvironment(TIME)of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma(HNSCC).RNA sequences and clinicopathological data of HNSCC patients and normal subjects were downloaded from The Cancer Genome Atlas.In the training group,we used Pearson correlation,univariate Cox regression,least absolute shrinkage/selection operator regression analyses,and multivariate Cox regression to build a prognostic model.In the test group,we evaluated the model.Multivariate Cox regression was done to screen out independent prognostic factors,with which we constructed a nomogram.Afterward,we demonstrated the predictive value of the risk scores based on the model and the nomogram using time-dependent receiver operating characteristics.Gene set enrichment analysis,immune correlation analysis,and half-maximal inhibitory concentration were also performed to reveal the different landscapes of TIME between risk groups and to predict immuno-and chemo-therapeutic responses.The most important LINC00861 in the model was examined in HNE1,CNE1,and CNE2 nasopharyngeal carcinoma cell lines and transfected into the cell lines CNE1 and CNE2 using the LINC00861-pcDNA3.1 construct plasmid.In addition,CCK-8,Edu,and SA-β-gal staining assays were conducted to test the biofunction of LINC00861 in the CNE1 and CNE2 cells.The signature based on nine ARLs has a good predictive value in survival time,immune infiltration,immune checkpoint expression,and sensitivity to multiple drugs.LINC00861 expression in CNE2 was significantly lower than in the HNE1 and CNE1 cells,and LINC00861 overexpression significantly inhibited the proliferation and increased the senescence of nasopharyngeal carcinoma cell lines.This work built and verified a new prognostic model for HNSCC based on ARLs and mapped the immune landscape in HNSCC.LINC00861 is a protective factor for the development of HNSCC.展开更多
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 Natural Science Foundation of Hebei Province(Grant number:C2025405060).
文摘Skin cutaneous melanoma(SKCM),a highly invasive malignant tumor originating from skin melanocytes,poses a significant threat to public health[1,2].Its development is closely associated with multiple factors,such as ultraviolet radiation,gene mutations,and immune escape.Among these,imbalance in the immune surveillance and clearance of tumor cells is a crucial link to disease progression[3,4].Tripartite motif-containing 27,which belongs to the TRIM protein family and is encoded by the TRIM27 gene,contains the RING,B-box,and coiled-coil domains.It participates in biological processes such as cell-cycle regulation,signal transduction,and immune response mainly by modifying target proteins through ubiquitination.Notably,increasing evidence indicates that TRIM27 is closely associated with the tumor immune microenvironment and contributes to cancer immune escape via multiple mechanisms,thereby promoting tumor development[5].However,the role of TRIM27 in SKCM remains unclear,thus prompting our investigation to elucidate this.
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.
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.
基金Supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China,No.81401988China Postdoctoral Science Foundation,No.2019M661907+1 种基金Jiangsu Postdoctoral Science Foundation,No.2019K159 and No.2019Z153General Project of Jiangsu Provincial Health Committee,No.H2019101.
文摘Hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC) is the most common primary liver cancer with a dismal prognosis, especially when diagnosed at advanced stages. Annexin A2(ANXA2), is found to promote cancer progression and therapeutic resistance.However, the underlining mechanisms of ANXA2 in immune escape of HCC remain poorly understood up to now. Herein, we summarized the molecular function of ANXA2 in HCC and its relationship with prognosis. Furthermore, we tentatively elucidated the underlying mechanism of ANXA2 immune escape of HCC by upregulating the proportion of regulatory T cells and the expression of several inhibitory molecules, and by downregulating the proportion of natural killer cells and dendritic cells and the expression of several inhibitory molecules or effector molecules. We expect a lot of in-depth studies to further reveal the underlying mechanism of ANXA2 in immune escape of HCC in the future.
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.
基金supported by the National Key Research Development Program of China(2021YFA1301203)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(82103031,82103918,81973408)+6 种基金the Clinical Research Incubation Project,West China Hospital,Sichuan University(22HXFH019)the China Postdoctoral Science Foundation(2019 M653416)the International Cooperation Project of Chengdu Municipal Science and Technology Bureau(2020-GH02-00017-HZ)the“1.3.5 Project for Disciplines of Excellence,West China Hospital,Sichuan University”(ZYJC18035,ZYJC18025,ZYYC20003,ZYJC18003)the GIST Research Institute(GRI)IIBR grants funded by the GISTthe National Research Foundation of Korea funded by the Korean government(MSIP)(2019R1C1C1005403,2019R1A4A1028802 and2021M3H9A2097520)the Post-Doctor Research Project,West China Hospital,Sichuan University(2021HXBH054)。
文摘The advent of single-cell RNA sequencing(scRNA-seq)has provided insight into the tumour immune microenvironment(TIME).This review focuses on the application of scRNA-seq in investigation of the TIME.Over time,scRNA-seq methods have evolved,and components of the TIME have been deciphered with high resolution.In this review,we first introduced the principle of scRNA-seq and compared different sequencing approaches.Novel cell types in the TIME,a continuous transitional state,and mutual intercommunication among TIME components present potential targets for prognosis prediction and treatment in cancer.Thus,we concluded novel cell clusters of cancerassociated fibroblasts(CAFs),T cells,tumour-associated macrophages(TAMs)and dendritic cells(DCs)discovered after the application of scRNA-seq in TIME.We also proposed the development of TAMs and exhausted T cells,as well as the possible targets to interrupt the process.In addition,the therapeutic interventions based on cellular interactions in TIME were also summarized.For decades,quantification of the TIME components has been adopted in clinical practice to predict patient survival and response to therapy and is expected to play an important role in the precise treatment of cancer.Summarizing the current findings,we believe that advances in technology and wide application of single-cell analysis can lead to the discovery of novel perspectives on cancer therapy,which can subsequently be implemented in the clinic.Finally,we propose some future directions in the field of TIME studies that can be aided by scRNA-seq technology.
文摘BACKGROUND Various histological types of gastric carcinomas(GCs)differ in terms of their pathogenesis and their preexisting background,both of which could impact the tumor immune microenvironment(TIME).However,the current understanding of the immune contexture of GC is far from complete.AIM To clarify the tumor-host immune interplay through histopathological features and the tumor immune cycle concept.METHODS In total,50 GC cases were examined(15 cases of diffuse GC,31 patients with intestinal-type GC and 4 cases of mucinous GC).The immunophenotype of GC was assessed and classified as immune desert(ID),immune excluded(IE)or inflamed(Inf)according to CD8+cell count and spatial pattern.In addition,CD68+and CD163+macrophages and programmed death-ligand 1(PD-L1)expression were estimated.RESULTS We found that GCs with different histological differentiation demonstrated distinct immune contexture.Most intestinal-type GCs had inflamed TIMEs rich in both CD8+cells and macrophages.In contrast,more aggressive diffuse-type GC more often possessed ID characteristics with few CD8+lymphocytes but abundant CD68+macrophages,while mucinous GC had an IE-TIME with a prevalence of CD68+macrophages and CD8+lymphocytes in the peritumor stroma.PD-L1 expression prevailed mostly in intestinal-type Inf-GC,with numerous CD163+cells observed.Therefore,GCs of different histological patterns have specific mechanisms of immune escape.While intestinal-type GC was more often related to PD-L1 expression,diffuse and mucinous GCs possessing more aggressive behavior demonstrated low immunogenicity and a lack of tumor antigen recognition or immune cell recruitment into the tumor clusters.CONCLUSION These data help to clarify the links between tumor histogenesis and immunogenicity for a better understanding of GC biology and more tailored patient management.
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 National Natural Science Foundation of China(82003228)the Natural Science Foundation of Jiangsu Province(BK20201080)the Research Project of Clinical Medical Science and Technology Development Fund of Jiangsu University(JLY2021097).
文摘Aging is highly associated with tumor formation and progression.However,little research has explored the association of aging-related lncRNAs(ARLs)with the prognosis and tumor immune microenvironment(TIME)of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma(HNSCC).RNA sequences and clinicopathological data of HNSCC patients and normal subjects were downloaded from The Cancer Genome Atlas.In the training group,we used Pearson correlation,univariate Cox regression,least absolute shrinkage/selection operator regression analyses,and multivariate Cox regression to build a prognostic model.In the test group,we evaluated the model.Multivariate Cox regression was done to screen out independent prognostic factors,with which we constructed a nomogram.Afterward,we demonstrated the predictive value of the risk scores based on the model and the nomogram using time-dependent receiver operating characteristics.Gene set enrichment analysis,immune correlation analysis,and half-maximal inhibitory concentration were also performed to reveal the different landscapes of TIME between risk groups and to predict immuno-and chemo-therapeutic responses.The most important LINC00861 in the model was examined in HNE1,CNE1,and CNE2 nasopharyngeal carcinoma cell lines and transfected into the cell lines CNE1 and CNE2 using the LINC00861-pcDNA3.1 construct plasmid.In addition,CCK-8,Edu,and SA-β-gal staining assays were conducted to test the biofunction of LINC00861 in the CNE1 and CNE2 cells.The signature based on nine ARLs has a good predictive value in survival time,immune infiltration,immune checkpoint expression,and sensitivity to multiple drugs.LINC00861 expression in CNE2 was significantly lower than in the HNE1 and CNE1 cells,and LINC00861 overexpression significantly inhibited the proliferation and increased the senescence of nasopharyngeal carcinoma cell lines.This work built and verified a new prognostic model for HNSCC based on ARLs and mapped the immune landscape in HNSCC.LINC00861 is a protective factor for the development of HNSCC.
