scholarly journals The acidic tumor microenvironment: a target for smart cancer nano-theranostics

2017 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 269-286 ◽  
Author(s):  
Liangzhu Feng ◽  
Ziliang Dong ◽  
Danlei Tao ◽  
Yicheng Zhang ◽  
Zhuang Liu
Keyword(s):  
Tumor Microenvironment ◽  
Tumor Progression ◽  
Effective Treatment ◽  
Solid Tumors ◽  
Tumor Cells ◽  
Future Perspectives ◽  
Ph Responsive ◽  
The Future ◽  
Precise Diagnosis ◽  
Glycolytic Rate

Abstract The acidic tumor microenvironment (TME), which mainly results from the high glycolytic rate of tumor cells, has been characterized as a hallmark of solid tumors and found to be a pivotal factor participating in tumor progression. Recently, due to the increasing understanding of the acidic TME, it has been shown that the acidic TME could be utilized as a multifaceted target during the design of various pH-responsive nanoscale theranostic platforms for the precise diagnosis and effective treatment of cancers. In this article, we will give a focused overview on the latest progress in utilizing this characteristic acidic TME as the target of nano-theranostics to enable cancer-specific imaging and therapy. The future perspectives in the development of acidic TME-targeting nanomedicine strategies will be discussed afterwards.

scholarly journals Differentiated glioblastoma cells accelerate tumor progression by shaping the tumor microenvironment via CCN1-mediated macrophage infiltration

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Atsuhito Uneda ◽  
Kazuhiko Kurozumi ◽  
Atsushi Fujimura ◽  
Kentaro Fujii ◽  
Joji Ishida ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Tumor Microenvironment ◽  
Tumor Progression ◽  
Tumor Cells ◽  
In Silico ◽  
Tumor Tissue ◽  
The Cancer Genome Atlas ◽  
Macrophage Infiltration ◽  
Macrophage Migration

AbstractGlioblastoma (GBM) is the most lethal primary brain tumor characterized by significant cellular heterogeneity, namely tumor cells, including GBM stem-like cells (GSCs) and differentiated GBM cells (DGCs), and non-tumor cells such as endothelial cells, vascular pericytes, macrophages, and other types of immune cells. GSCs are essential to drive tumor progression, whereas the biological roles of DGCs are largely unknown. In this study, we focused on the roles of DGCs in the tumor microenvironment. To this end, we extracted DGC-specific signature genes from transcriptomic profiles of matched pairs of in vitro GSC and DGC models. By evaluating the DGC signature using single cell data, we confirmed the presence of cell subpopulations emulated by in vitro culture models within a primary tumor. The DGC signature was correlated with the mesenchymal subtype and a poor prognosis in large GBM cohorts such as The Cancer Genome Atlas and Ivy Glioblastoma Atlas Project. In silico signaling pathway analysis suggested a role of DGCs in macrophage infiltration. Consistent with in silico findings, in vitro DGC models promoted macrophage migration. In vivo, coimplantation of DGCs and GSCs reduced the survival of tumor xenograft-bearing mice and increased macrophage infiltration into tumor tissue compared with transplantation of GSCs alone. DGCs exhibited a significant increase in YAP/TAZ/TEAD activity compared with GSCs. CCN1, a transcriptional target of YAP/TAZ, was selected from the DGC signature as a candidate secreted protein involved in macrophage recruitment. In fact, CCN1 was secreted abundantly from DGCs, but not GSCs. DGCs promoted macrophage migration in vitro and macrophage infiltration into tumor tissue in vivo through secretion of CCN1. Collectively, these results demonstrate that DGCs contribute to GSC-dependent tumor progression by shaping a mesenchymal microenvironment via CCN1-mediated macrophage infiltration. This study provides new insight into the complex GBM microenvironment consisting of heterogeneous cells.

scholarly journals P09.05 Plasma CD27, a surrogate of intratumoral CD27-CD70 interaction, correlates with immunotherapy resistance in renal cancer

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (Suppl 1) ◽  
pp. A30.1-A30
Author(s):  
N Benhamouda ◽  
I Sam ◽  
N Epaillard ◽  
A Gey ◽  
A Saldmann ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
T Cells ◽  
T Cell ◽  
Tumor Microenvironment ◽  
Single Cell ◽  
Solid Tumors ◽  
Tumor Cells ◽  
Principal Investigator ◽  
Cell Phenotype ◽  
Metastatic Rcc ◽  
Research Grant

BackgroundCD70, a costimulatory molecule on antigen presenting cells, is known to activate CD27-expressing T cells. CD27-CD70 interaction leads to the release of soluble CD27 (sCD27). However, persistent interaction of CD27 and CD70 such as in chronic infection may exhaust the T cell pool and promote apoptosis. Surprisingly, our analysis based on TCGA database show that clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) expresses the highest levels of CD70 among all solid tumors. Despite the important clinical efficacy of immunotherapy by anti-PD-1 in RCC patients, the overall response to anti-PD1 remains modest. The relationship between the CD27-CD70 interaction in the RCC and the response to immunotherapy is still unclear.Materials and MethodsTo study the CD27 and CD70 expression in the tumor microenvironment (TME), FFPE tumor tissues from 25 RCC patients were analysed using multiplex in situ immunofluorescence. 10 fresh RCC tumor samples were collected to analyse the phenotype of CD27+ T cells by flow cytometry and 4 samples were proceeded for single-cell RNA-seq analysis. A cohort of metastatic RCC patients (n = 35) treated by anti-PD-1 were enrolled for the measurement of plasma sCD27 by ELISA and the survival analysis is also realized.ResultsIn the TME, we demonstrated that CD27+ T cells interact with CD70-expressing tumor cells. In fresh tumors from RCC patients, CD27+ T cells express higher levels of cleaved caspase 3 (a classical marker of apoptosis) than CD27- T cells. We confirmed the apoptotic signature (BAX, FASLG, BCL2L11, CYCS, FBXO32, LGALS1, PIK3R1, TERF1, TXNIP, CDKN2A) of CD27+ T cells by single-cell RNAseq analysis. CD27+T cells also had a tissue resident memory T cell phenotype with enriched gene expression of ITGAE, PRDM1, RBPJ and ZNF683. Moreover, CD27+T cells display an exhaustion phenotype with the expression of multiple inhibitory receptors gene signature (PDCD1, CTLA4, HAVCR2, LAG3, etc). Besides, intratumoral CD27-CD70 interaction significantly correlates with plasma sCD27 concentration in RCC (p = 0.0017). In metastatic RCC patients treated with anti-PD-1, higher levels of sCD27 predict poor overall survival (p = 0.037), while it did not correlate with inflammatory markers or clinical prognostic criteria.ConclusionsIn conclusion, we demonstrated that sCD27, a surrogate of T cell dysfunction in tumors likely induced by persistent interactions of CD27+T cells and CD70-expressing tumor cells, is a predictive biomarker of resistance to immunotherapy in mRCC. To our knowledge, this is the first report showing that a peripheral blood biomarker may reflect certain aspects of the tumor-host interaction in the tumor microenvironment. Given the frequent expression of CD70 and CD27 in solid tumors, our findings may be further extended to other types of tumors. CD70-CD27 interaction could thus be considered as a mechanism of tumor escape, but also a novel therapeutic target in cancers.Disclosure InformationN. Benhamouda: None. I. Sam: None. N. Epaillard: None. A. Gey: None. A. Saldmann: None. J. Pineau: None. M. Hasan: None. V. Verkarre: None. V. Libri: None. S. Mella: None. C. Granier: None. C. Broudin: None. P. Ravel: None. B. Jabla: None. N. Chaput: None. L. Albiges: None. Y. Vano: None. O. Adotevi: None. S. Oudard: B. Research Grant (principal investigator, collaborator or consultant and pending grants as well as grants already received); Modest; SIRIC CARPEM, FONCER. E. Tartour: B. Research Grant (principal investigator, collaborator or consultant and pending grants as well as grants already received); Modest; Fondation ARC, INCA PLBio, Labex Immuno-Oncology, SIRIC CARPEM, FONCER, IDEX université de Paris, Inserm Transfert.

scholarly journals 799 Neoantigen-cytokine-chemokine multifunctional natural killer cell engager for immunotherapy of solid tumors

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (Suppl 3) ◽  
pp. A834-A834
Author(s):  
Xue Yao ◽  
Sandro Matosevic
Keyword(s):  
Tumor Microenvironment ◽  
Cell Therapy ◽  
Nk Cells ◽  
Natural Killer ◽  
Solid Tumors ◽  
Tumor Cells ◽  
Nk Cell ◽  
Killer Cell ◽  
Nk Cell Therapy

BackgroundThe effectiveness of natural killer (NK) cell-based immunotherapy against solid tumors is limited by the lack of specific antigens and the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (TME). Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is one such heavily immunosuppressive tumor that has been particularly hard to target and remains without a viable treatment. The development of novel approaches to enhance the efficacy of NK cells against GBM is urgently needed. NK cell engagers (NKCE) have been developed to enhance the efficacy of NK cell therapy.MethodsTo improve the clinical efficacy of NK cell therapy, we are developing a new generation of multi-specific killer engagers, which consists of a neoantigen-targeting moiety, together with cytokine and chemokine-producing domains. Neoantigens are new antigens formed specifically in tumor cells due to genome mutations, making them highly specific tools to target tumor cells. Our engager has been designed to target Wilms' tumor-1 (WT-1), a highly specific antigen overexpressed in GBM among other solid tumors. This is done through the generation of an scFv specific targeting the complex of WT-1126-134/HLA-A*02:01 on the surface of GBM. On the NK cell side, the engager is designed to target the activating receptor NKp46. Incorporation of the cytokine IL-15 within the engager supports the maturation, persistence, and expansion of NK cells in vivo while favoring their proliferation and survival in the tumor microenvironment. Additionally, our data indicated that the chemokine CXCL10 plays an important role in the infiltration of NK cells into GBM, however, GBM tumors produce low levels of this chemokine. Incorporation of a CXCL10-producing function into our engager supports intratumoral NK cell trafficking by promoting, through their synthetic production, increased levels of CXCL10 locally in the tumor microenvironment.ResultsCollectively, this has resulted in a novel multifunctional NK cell engager, combining neoantigen-cytokine-chemokine elements fused to an activating domain-specific to NK cells, and we have investigated its ability to support and enhance NK cell-mediated cytotoxicity against solid tumors in vitro and in vivo against patient-derived GBM models. The multi-specific engager shows both high tumor specificity, as well as the ability to overcome NK cell dysfunction encountered in the GBM TME.ConclusionsWe hypothesize that taking advantage of our multi-functional engager, NK cells will exhibit superior ex vivo expansion, infiltration, and antitumor activity in the treatment of GBM and other solid tumors.

scholarly journals Melanoma-specific bcl-2 promotes a protumoral M2-like phenotype by tumor-associated macrophages

2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. e000489 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marta Di Martile ◽  
Valentina Farini ◽  
Francesca Maria Consonni ◽  
Daniela Trisciuoglio ◽  
Marianna Desideri ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Tumor Microenvironment ◽  
Tumor Progression ◽  
Tumor Cells ◽  
Macrophage Polarization ◽  
Melanoma Cells ◽  
Response To Therapy ◽  
Major Constituent ◽  
M2 Macrophage ◽  
Tumor Associated Macrophages

BackgroundA bidirectional crosstalk between tumor cells and the surrounding microenvironment contributes to tumor progression and response to therapy. Our previous studies have demonstrated that bcl-2 affects melanoma progression and regulates the tumor microenvironment. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether bcl-2 expression in melanoma cells could influence tumor-promoting functions of tumor-associated macrophages, a major constituent of the tumor microenvironment that affects anticancer immunity favoring tumor progression.MethodsTHP-1 monocytic cells, monocyte-derived macrophages and melanoma cells expressing different levels of bcl-2 protein were used. ELISA, qRT-PCR and Western blot analyses were used to evaluate macrophage polarization markers and protein expression levels. Chromatin immunoprecipitation assay was performed to evaluate transcription factor recruitment at specific promoters. Boyden chamber was used for migration experiments. Cytofluorimetric and immunohistochemical analyses were carried out to evaluate infiltrating macrophages and T cells in melanoma specimens from patients or mice.ResultsHigher production of tumor-promoting and chemotactic factors, and M2-polarized activation was observed when macrophages were exposed to culture media from melanoma cells overexpressing bcl-2, while bcl-2 silencing in melanoma cells inhibited the M2 macrophage polarization. In agreement, the number of melanoma-infiltrating macrophages in vivo was increased, in parallel with a greater expression of bcl-2 in tumor cells. Tumor-derived interleukin-1β has been identified as the effector cytokine of bcl-2-dependent macrophage reprogramming, according to reduced tumor growth, decreased number of M2-polarized tumor-associated macrophages and increased number of infiltrating CD4+IFNγ+and CD8+IFNγ+effector T lymphocytes, which we observed in response to in vivo treatment with the IL-1 receptor antagonist kineret. Finally, in tumor specimens from patients with melanoma, high bcl-2 expression correlated with increased infiltration of M2-polarized CD163+macrophages, hence supporting the clinical relevance of the crosstalk between tumor cells and microenvironment.ConclusionsTaken together, our results show that melanoma-specific bcl-2 controls an IL-1β-driven axis of macrophage diversion that establishes tumor microenvironmental conditions favoring melanoma development. Interfering with this pathway might provide novel therapeutic strategies.

A biomimetic nanozyme/camptothecin hybrid system for synergistically enhanced radiotherapy

2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (24) ◽  
pp. 5312-5319 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daoming Zhu ◽  
Meng Lyu ◽  
Wei Jiang ◽  
Meng Suo ◽  
Qinqin Huang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Tumor Microenvironment ◽  
Solid Tumors ◽  
Tumor Cells ◽  
Hybrid System ◽  
Therapeutic Regimen ◽  
Hypoxic Tumor

Although radiotherapy (RT) has been an effective therapeutic regimen for regulating most solid tumors, its effect is limited by the hypoxic tumor microenvironment and radio-tolerance of tumor cells to a large extent.

scholarly journals CAFs Interacting With TAMs in Tumor Microenvironment to Enhance Tumorigenesis and Immune Evasion

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gurcan Gunaydin
Keyword(s):  
Tumor Microenvironment ◽  
Tumor Progression ◽  
Tumor Cells ◽  
Immune Evasion ◽  
Poor Prognosis ◽  
Cancer Associated Fibroblasts ◽  
Mutual Relationship ◽  
Complex Interplay ◽  
Tumor Immune Evasion ◽  
Mechanisms Of Carcinogenesis

Cancer associated fibroblasts (CAFs) and tumor associated macrophages (TAMs) are among the most important and abundant players of the tumor microenvironment. CAFs as well as TAMs are known to play pivotal supportive roles in tumor growth and progression. The number of CAF or TAM cells is mostly correlated with poor prognosis. Both CAFs and TAMs are in a reciprocal communication with the tumor cells in the tumor milieu. In addition to such interactions, CAFs and TAMs are also involved in a dynamic and reciprocal interrelationship with each other. Both CAFs and TAMs are capable of altering each other’s functions. Here, the current understanding of the distinct mechanisms about the complex interplay between CAFs and TAMs are summarized. In addition, the consequences of such a mutual relationship especially for tumor progression and tumor immune evasion are highlighted, focusing on the synergistic pleiotropic effects. CAFs and TAMs are crucial components of the tumor microenvironment; thus, they may prove to be potential therapeutic targets. A better understanding of the tri-directional interactions of CAFs, TAMs and cancer cells in terms of tumor progression will pave the way for the identification of novel theranostic cues in order to better target the crucial mechanisms of carcinogenesis.

scholarly journals Anti-Tumor Responses By Ibrutinib and Anti-PD-1 Blockade Is Enhanced By Phosphatidylserine-Targeting Antibody Therapy

Blood ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 128 (22) ◽  
pp. 5379-5379
Author(s):  
Jian Gong ◽  
Michael Gray ◽  
Jeff Hutchins ◽  
Bruce Freimark
Keyword(s):  
Breast Cancer ◽  
Endothelial Cells ◽  
Immune System ◽  
Tumor Microenvironment ◽  
Combination Therapy ◽  
B Cell ◽  
Cell Line ◽  
Solid Tumors ◽  
Tumor Cells ◽  
Triple Negative

Abstract Introduction: Phosphatidylserine (PS) is a phospholipid normally residing in the inner leaflet of the plasma membrane that becomes exposed on vascular endothelial cells and tumor cells in the tumor microenvironment, particularly in response to chemotherapy and irradiation. Binding of antibodies targeting PS on the tumor endothelial cells and tumors induces the recruitment of immune cells and engages the immune system to destroy tumor and associated vasculature and by blocking the immunosuppressive action of PS. Recent studies have demonstrated that PS-targeting antibodies enhance the anti-tumor activity of immune checkpoint antibody blockade to CTLA-4 and PD-1 in mouse breast and melanoma tumor models (Freimark et al. Cancer Immunol. Res. 2016; Gray et al. Breast Cancer Res 2016). Ibrutinib is an approved anticancer drug targeting B-cell malignancies that is a selective, covalent inhibitor of the enzyme Bruton's tyrosine kinase(BTK) in B-cell tumors. Data from recent mouse tumor studies demonstrate that ibrutinib in combination with anti-PD-1 antibody blockade inhibits growth of solid tumors (lacking BTK expression) suggesting that ibrutinib may inhibit kinases of the immune system such as interleukin-2 inducible T-cell kinase (ITK), to enhance specific anti-tumor responses (Sagiv-Barfli et al. PNAS 20 2015). Methods: The present study was conducted to evaluate the anti-tumor effects of combination therapy including PS-targeting antibody mouse chimeric 1N11 (mch1N11), ibrutinib (32765) and anti-PD-1 antibody using C57BL/6 mice bearing triple negative E0771 breast tumors. Tumors were staged to an initial volume of ~100mm3and randomized to treatment groups (N=10) with mch1N11 or isotype at 10 mg/kg qw, anti-PD-1 at 2.5 mg/kg qw or ibrunitib 6 mg/kg or vehicle qd x 8. Tumor volumes were measured twice per week to determine tumor growth inhibition (TGI) relative to control treated animals until a maximum volume of 1500-2000mm3. The in vitro sensitivity of E0771 tumor cells to ibrutinib was compared to drug sensitive Jeko-1 lymphoma cells in a 72 hour growth and viability assay. Results: The E0771 cell line is resistant in vitroto 10 mM ibrutinib compared to the drug-sensitive Jeko-1 cell line (Figure 1). Mice bearing E0771 tumors treated with mch1N11, ibrutinib and anti-PD-1 alone had 22.2%, 23.5% and 32.6% TGI respectively. Combination of two agents increased the TGI for mch1N11 and ibrutinib to 30.5%, ibrutinib and anti-PD-1 to 34.5%, mch1N11 and anti-PD-1 to 36.1%. A triple combination therapy had statistically greater TGI compared to control treated mice (59.9%, p = 0.0084) and was greater than single and double combination therapies. Conclusion:Treatment of solid tumors with a combination of inhibitors that target PS, ITK and the PD-1/PD-L1 axis in the tumor microenvironment provides a novel treatment for solid tumors, including triple negative breast cancer. Figure 1 Figure 1. Figure 2 Figure 2. Disclosures Gong: Peregrine Pharmaceuticals, Inc.: Employment. Gray:Peregrine Pharmaceuticals, Inc.: Employment. Hutchins:Peregrine Pharmaceuticals, Inc.: Employment. Freimark:Peregrine Pharmaceuticals, Inc.: Employment.

scholarly journals The control of acidity in tumor cells: a biophysical model

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicola Piasentin ◽  
Edoardo Milotti ◽  
Roberto Chignola
Keyword(s):  
Experimental Data ◽  
Tumor Microenvironment ◽  
Solid Tumors ◽  
Tumor Cells ◽  
Biophysical Model ◽  
Tumor Aggressiveness ◽  
Surrounding Environment ◽  
Carbonic Anhydrase 9 ◽  
Independent Experimental Data ◽  
Dynamic Interplay

ABSTRACTAcidosis of the tumor microenvironment leads to cancer invasion, progression and resistance to therapies. We present a biophysical model that describes how tumor cells regulate intracellular and extracellular acidity while they grow in a microenvironment characterized by increasing acidity and hypoxia. The model takes into account the dynamic interplay between glucose and O2 consumption with lactate and CO2 production and connects these processes to H+ and fluxes inside and outside cells. We have validated the model with independent experimental data and used it to investigate how and to which extent tumor cells can survive in adverse micro-environments characterized by acidity and hypoxia. The simulations show a dominance of the H+ exchanges in well-oxygenated regions, and of exchanges in the inner hypoxic regions where tumor cells are known to acquire malignant phenotypes. The model also includes the activity of the enzyme Carbonic Anhydrase 9 (CA9), a known marker of tumor aggressiveness, and the simulations demonstrate that CA9 acts as a nonlinear pHi equalizer at any O2 level in cells that grow in acidic extracellular environments.SIGNIFICANCEThe activity of cancer cells in solid tumors affects the surrounding environment in many ways, and an elevated acidity is a common feature of the tumor microenvironment. In this paper we propose a model of intracellular/extracellular acidity that is linked to cellular metabolism and includes all the main molecular players. The model is reliable, robust and validated with experimental data and can be used as an essential building block of more comprehensive in silico research on solid tumors.

scholarly journals Cancer: An Oxidative Crosstalk between Solid Tumor Cells and Cancer Associated Fibroblasts

2016 ◽  
Vol 2016 ◽  
pp. 1-7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alessandro Arcucci ◽  
Maria Rosaria Ruocco ◽  
Giuseppina Granato ◽  
Anna Maria Sacco ◽  
Stefania Montagnani
Keyword(s):  
Tumor Microenvironment ◽  
Tumor Growth ◽  
Tumor Progression ◽  
Cancer Cells ◽  
Tumor Cells ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Metabolic Reprogramming ◽  
Antioxidant Systems ◽  
Activation Process ◽  
Cancer Associated Fibroblasts

Redox balance is associated with the regulation of several cell signalling pathways and functions. In fact, under physiological conditions, cells maintain a balance between oxidant and antioxidant systems, and reactive oxygen species (ROS) can act as second messengers to regulate cell proliferation, cell death, and other physiological processes. Cancer tissues usually contain higher levels of ROS than normal tissues, and this ROS overproduction is associated with tumor development. Neoplastic tissues are very heterogeneous systems, composed of tumor cells and microenvironment that has a critical role in tumor progression. Cancer associated fibroblasts (CAFs) represent the main cell type of tumor microenvironment, and they contribute to tumor growth by undergoing an irreversible activation process. It is known that ROS can be transferred from cancer cells to fibroblasts. In particular, ROS affect the behaviour of CAFs by promoting the conversion of fibroblasts to myofibroblasts that support tumor progression and dissemination. Furthermore, the wrecking of redox homeostasis in cancer cells and tumor microenvironment induces a metabolic reprogramming in tumor cells and cancer associated fibroblasts, giving advantage to cancer growth. This review describes the role of ROS in tumor growth, by focusing on CAFs activation and metabolic interactions between cancer cells and stromal fibroblasts.

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