Unraveling tumour microenvironment heterogeneity in nasopharyngeal carcinoma identifies biologically distinct immune subtypes predicting prognosis and immunotherapy responses

AbstractCurrently, there is no strong evidence of the well-established biomarkers for immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). Here, we aimed to reveal the heterogeneity of tumour microenvironment (TME) through virtual microdissection of gene expression profiles. An immune-enriched subtype was identified in 38% (43/113) of patients, which was characterized by significant enrichment of immune cells or immune responses. The remaining patients were therefore classified as a non-Immune Subtype (non-IS), which exhibited highly proliferative features. Then we identified a tumour immune evasion state within the immune-enriched subtype (18/43, 42%), in which high expression of exclusion- and dysfunction-related signatures was observed. These subgroups were designated the Evaded and Active Immune Subtype (E-IS and A-IS), respectively. We further demonstrated that A-IS predicted favourable survival and improved ICI response as compared to E-IS and non-IS. In summary, this study introduces the novel immune subtypes and demonstrates their feasibility in tailoring immunotherapeutic strategies.

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P02.10 FocuSCOPE: a single cell, multi-omics solution to simultaneously analyze tumor variants and microenvironment

Journal for ImmunoTherapy of Cancer ◽

10.1136/jitc-2021-itoc8.22 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 9 (Suppl 1) ◽

pp. A12.1-A12

Author(s):

Y Arjmand Abbassi ◽

N Fang ◽

W Zhu ◽

Y Zhou ◽

Y Chen ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Gene Expression ◽

Tumor Microenvironment ◽

Single Cell ◽

High Throughput ◽

Immune Cells ◽

Genetic Variants ◽

Expression Profiles ◽

Single Cells ◽

Gene Expression Profiles ◽

Single Cell Sequencing

Recent advances of high-throughput single cell sequencing technologies have greatly improved our understanding of the complex biological systems. Heterogeneous samples such as tumor tissues commonly harbor cancer cell-specific genetic variants and gene expression profiles, both of which have been shown to be related to the mechanisms of disease development, progression, and responses to treatment. Furthermore, stromal and immune cells within tumor microenvironment interact with cancer cells to play important roles in tumor responses to systematic therapy such as immunotherapy or cell therapy. However, most current high-throughput single cell sequencing methods detect only gene expression levels or epigenetics events such as chromatin conformation. The information on important genetic variants including mutation or fusion is not captured. To better understand the mechanisms of tumor responses to systematic therapy, it is essential to decipher the connection between genotype and gene expression patterns of both tumor cells and cells in the tumor microenvironment. We developed FocuSCOPE, a high-throughput multi-omics sequencing solution that can detect both genetic variants and transcriptome from same single cells. FocuSCOPE has been used to successfully perform single cell analysis of both gene expression profiles and point mutations, fusion genes, or intracellular viral sequences from thousands of cells simultaneously, delivering comprehensive insights of tumor and immune cells in tumor microenvironment at single cell resolution.Disclosure InformationY. Arjmand Abbassi: None. N. Fang: None. W. Zhu: None. Y. Zhou: None. Y. Chen: None. U. Deutsch: None.

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Identification and Validation of an Immune-Related eRNA Prognostic Signature for Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Frontiers in Genetics ◽

10.3389/fgene.2021.657051 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 ◽

Author(s):

Shenglan Cai ◽

Xingwang Hu ◽

Ruochan Chen ◽

Yiya Zhang

Keyword(s):

Hepatocellular Carcinoma ◽

Immune Cells ◽

Cox Regression ◽

Expression Profiles ◽

Gene Expression Profiles ◽

Roc Curves ◽

The Cancer Genome Atlas ◽

Immune Checkpoints ◽

Immune Genes ◽

Normal Tissues

BackgroundEnhancer RNAs (eRNAs) are intergenic long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) that participate in the progression of malignancies by targeting tumor-related genes and immune checkpoints. However, the potential role of eRNAs in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is unclear. In this study, we aimed to construct an immune-related eRNA prognostic model that could be used to prospectively assess the prognosis of patients with HCC.MethodsGene expression profiles of patients with HCC were downloaded from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA). The eRNAs co-expressed from immune genes were identified as immune-related eRNAs. Cox regression analyses were applied in a training cohort to construct an immune-related eRNA signature (IReRS), that was subsequently used to analyze a testing cohort and combination of the two cohorts. Kaplan-Meier and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were used to validate the predictive effect in the three cohorts. Gene Set Enrishment Analysis (GSEA) computation was used to identify an IReRS-related signaling pathway. A web-based cell type identification by estimating relative subsets of RNA transcripts (CIBERSORT) computation was used to evaluate the relationship between the IReRS and infiltrating immune cells.ResultsA total of sixty-four immune-related eRNAs (IReRNAs) was identified in HCC, and 14 IReRNAs were associated with overall survival (OS). Five IReRNAs were used for constructing an immune-related eRNA signature (IReRS), which was shown to correlate with poor survival and to be an independent prognostic biomarker for HCC. The GSEA results showed that the IReRS was correlated to cancer-related and immune-related pathways. Moreover, we found that IReRS was correlated to infiltrating immune cells, including CD8+ T cells and M0 macrophages. Finally, differential expressions of the five risk IReRNAs in tumor tissues vs. adjacent normal tissues and their prognostic values were verified, in which the AL445524.1 may function as an oncogene that affects prognosis partly by regulating CD4-CLTA4 related genes.ConclusionOur results suggest that the IReRS could serve as a biomarker for predicting prognosis in patients with HCC. Additionally, it may be correlated to the tumor immune microenvironment and could also be used as a biomarker in immunotherapy for HCC.

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Mouse Breast Carcinoma Monocytic/Macrophagic Myeloid-Derived Suppressor Cell Infiltration as a Consequence of Endothelial Dysfunction in Shb-Deficient Endothelial Cells Increases Tumor Lung Metastasis

International Journal of Molecular Sciences ◽

10.3390/ijms222111478 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 22 (21) ◽

pp. 11478

Author(s):

Qi He ◽

Maria Jamalpour ◽

Eric Bergquist ◽

Robin L. Anderson ◽

Karin Gustafsson ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Breast Carcinoma ◽

Lung Metastasis ◽

Immune Cells ◽

Tyrosine Kinases ◽

Immune Cell ◽

Expression Profiles ◽

Gene Expression Profiles ◽

Suppressor Cells ◽

Suppressor Cell ◽

Barrier Properties

Metastasis reflects both the inherent properties of tumor cells and the response of the stroma to the presence of the tumor. Vascular barrier properties, either due to endothelial cell (EC) or pericyte function, play an important role in metastasis in addition to the contribution of the immune system. The Shb gene encodes the Src homology-2 domain protein B that operates downstream of tyrosine kinases in both vascular and immune cells. We have investigated E0771.lmb breast carcinoma metastasis in mice with conditional deletion of the Shb gene using the Cdh5-CreERt2 transgene, resulting in inactivation of the Shb-gene in EC and some hematopoietic cell populations. Lung metastasis from orthotopic tumors, tumor vascular and immune cell characteristics, and immune cell gene expression profiles were determined. We found no increase in vascular leakage that could explain the observed increase in metastasis upon the loss of Shb expression. Instead, Shb deficiency in EC promoted the recruitment of monocytic/macrophagic myeloid-derived suppressor cells (mMDSC), an immune cell type that confers a suppressive immune response, thus enhancing lung metastasis. An MDSC-promoting cytokine/chemokine profile was simultaneously observed in tumors grown in mice with EC-specific Shb deficiency, providing an explanation for the expanded mMDSC population. The results demonstrate an intricate interplay between tumor EC and immune cells that pivots between pro-tumoral and anti-tumoral properties, depending on relevant genetic and/or environmental factors operating in the microenvironment.

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Recapitulating tumour microenvironment in chitosan–gelatin three-dimensional scaffolds: an improved in vitro tumour model

Journal of The Royal Society Interface ◽

10.1098/rsif.2012.0564 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 9 (77) ◽

pp. 3288-3302 ◽

Cited By ~ 29

Author(s):

Neha Arya ◽

Viren Sardana ◽

Meera Saxena ◽

Annapoorni Rangarajan ◽

Dhirendra S. Katti

Keyword(s):

Cancer Progression ◽

Expression Profiles ◽

Three Dimensional ◽

Gene Expression Profiles ◽

Petri Dish ◽

Tumour Microenvironment ◽

Two Dimensional ◽

Tumour Model

Owing to the reduced co-relationship between conventional flat Petri dish culture (two-dimensional) and the tumour microenvironment, there has been a shift towards three-dimensional culture systems that show an improved analogy to the same. In this work, an extracellular matrix (ECM)-mimicking three-dimensional scaffold based on chitosan and gelatin was fabricated and explored for its potential as a tumour model for lung cancer. It was demonstrated that the chitosan–gelatin (CG) scaffolds supported the formation of tumoroids that were similar to tumours grown in vivo for factors involved in tumour-cell–ECM interaction, invasion and metastasis, and response to anti-cancer drugs. On the other hand, the two-dimensional Petri dish surfaces did not demonstrate gene-expression profiles similar to tumours grown in vivo . Further, the three-dimensional CG scaffolds supported the formation of tumoroids, using other types of cancer cells such as breast, cervix and bone, indicating a possible wider potential for in vitro tumoroid generation. Overall, the results demonstrated that CG scaffolds can be an improved in vitro tool to study cancer progression and drug screening for solid tumours.

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Development of a new patient-derived xenograft humanised mouse model to study human-specific tumour microenvironment and immunotherapy

Gut ◽

10.1136/gutjnl-2017-315201 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 67 (10) ◽

pp. 1845-1854 ◽

Cited By ~ 32

Author(s):

Yue Zhao ◽

Timothy Wai Ho Shuen ◽

Tan Boon Toh ◽

Xue Ying Chan ◽

Min Liu ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Immune System ◽

Immune Responses ◽

Immune Checkpoint ◽

Drug Testing ◽

Checkpoint Inhibitors ◽

Tumour Microenvironment ◽

Human Immune System ◽

Patient Derived Xenograft ◽

Human Immune ◽

Human Specific

ObjectiveAs the current therapeutic strategies for human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) have been proven to have limited effectiveness, immunotherapy becomes a compelling way to tackle the disease. We aim to provide humanised mouse (humice) models for the understanding of the interaction between human cancer and immune system, particularly for human-specific drug testing.DesignPatient-derived xenograft tumours are established with type I human leucocyte antigen matched human immune system in NOD-scid Il2rg−/− (NSG) mice. The longitudinal changes of the tumour and immune responses as well as the efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitors are investigated.ResultsSimilar to the clinical outcomes, the human immune system in our model is educated by the tumour and exhibits exhaustion phenotypes such as a significant declination of leucocyte numbers, upregulation of exhaustion markers and decreased the production of human proinflammatory cytokines. Notably, cytotoxic immune cells decreased more rapidly compared with other cell types. Tumour infiltrated T cells have much higher expression of exhaustion markers and lower cytokine production compared with peripheral T cells. In addition, tumour-associated macrophages and myeloid-derived suppressor cells are found to be highly enriched in the tumour microenvironment. Interestingly, the tumour also changes gene expression profiles in response to immune responses by upregulating immune checkpoint ligands. Most importantly, in contrast to the NSG model, our model demonstrates both therapeutic and side effects of immune checkpoint inhibitors pembrolizumab and ipilimumab.ConclusionsOur work provides a model for immune-oncology study and a useful parallel-to-human platform for anti-HCC drug testing, especially immunotherapy.

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So Close, yet so Far: Discrepancies between Uveal and Other Melanomas. A Position Paper from UM Cure 2020

Cancers ◽

10.3390/cancers11071032 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 11 (7) ◽

pp. 1032 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

Manuel Rodrigues ◽

Leanne de Koning ◽

Sarah Coupland ◽

Aart Jochemsen ◽

Richard Marais ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cutaneous Melanoma ◽

Checkpoint Inhibitors ◽

Expression Profiles ◽

Management Strategies ◽

Gene Expression Profiles ◽

Surveillance Strategy ◽

Rare Tumour ◽

Mutation Burden ◽

Medical Oncologists ◽

Melanoma Subtypes

Despite much progress in our understanding of uveal melanoma (UM) over the past decades, this rare tumour is still often misclassified. Although UM, like other melanomas, is very probably derived from melanocytes, it is drastically different from cutaneous melanoma and most other melanoma subtypes in terms of epidemiology, aetiology, biology and clinical features, including an intriguing metastatic hepatotropism. UM carries distinctive prognostic chromosome alterations, somatic mutations and gene expression profiles, allowing an active tailored surveillance strategy and dedicated adjuvant clinical trials. There is no standard systemic treatment for disseminated UM at present. In contrast to cutaneous melanoma, UMs are not BRAF-mutated, thus curtailing the use of B-Raf inhibitors. Although these tumours are characterised by some immune infiltrates, immune checkpoint inhibitors are rarely effective, possibly due to a low mutation burden. UM patients across the world not only face rare cancer-related issues (e.g., specific management strategies, access to information and to expert centres), but also specific UM problems, which can be exacerbated by the common misconception that it is a subtype of cutaneous melanoma. As a European Consortium dedicated to research on UM and awareness on the disease, “UM Cure 2020” participants urge medical oncologists, pharmaceutical companies, and regulatory agencies to acknowledge UM as a melanoma with specific issues, in order to accelerate the development of new therapies for patients.

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Gene Expression Profiles Controlled by the Alternative Splicing Factor Nova2 in Endothelial Cells

Cells ◽

10.3390/cells8121498 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 8 (12) ◽

pp. 1498 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Elisa Belloni ◽

Anna Di Matteo ◽

Davide Pradella ◽

Margherita Vacca ◽

Christopher D. R. Wyatt ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Alternative Splicing ◽

Expression Profiles ◽

Gene Expression Profiles ◽

Protein Isoforms ◽

Peroxisome Proliferator ◽

Bioinformatics Analyses ◽

Peroxisome Proliferator Activated Receptor ◽

Ppar Γ ◽

Significant Enrichment ◽

Steady State Levels

Alternative splicing (AS) plays an important role in expanding the complexity of the human genome through the production of specialized proteins regulating organ development and physiological functions, as well as contributing to several pathological conditions. How AS programs impact on the signaling pathways controlling endothelial cell (EC) functions and vascular development is largely unknown. Here we identified, through RNA-seq, changes in mRNA steady-state levels in ECs caused by the neuro-oncological ventral antigen 2 (Nova2), a key AS regulator of the vascular morphogenesis. Bioinformatics analyses identified significant enrichment for genes regulated by peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma (Ppar-γ) and E2F1 transcription factors. We also showed that Nova2 in ECs controlled the AS profiles of Ppar-γ and E2F dimerization partner 2 (Tfdp2), thus generating different protein isoforms with distinct function (Ppar-γ) or subcellular localization (Tfdp2). Collectively, our results supported a mechanism whereby Nova2 integrated splicing decisions in order to regulate Ppar-γ and E2F1 activities. Our data added a layer to the sequential series of events controlled by Nova2 in ECs to orchestrate vascular biology.

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Profiles of Local and Systemic Inflammation in the Outcome of Treatment of Human Cutaneous Leishmaniasis Caused by Leishmania (Viannia)

Infection and Immunity ◽

10.1128/iai.00764-19 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 88 (3) ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Adriana Navas ◽

Olga Fernández ◽

Carolina Gallego-Marín ◽

María del Mar Castro ◽

Mariana Rosales-Chilama ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Gene Expression ◽

Immune Responses ◽

Treatment Failure ◽

Cutaneous Leishmaniasis ◽

Expression Profiles ◽

Gene Expression Profiles ◽

Neutrophil Activation ◽

Innate Immune ◽

Innate Immune Responses ◽

Biopsy Specimens

ABSTRACT The immune mechanisms that contribute to the efficacy of treatment of cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) are not fully understood. The aim of this study was to define immune correlates of the outcome of treatment of CL caused by Leishmania (Viannia) species during standard of care treatment with pentavalent antimonials. We conducted a comparative expression profiling of immune response genes in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and lesion biopsy specimens obtained from CL patients before and at the end of treatment (EoT) with meglumine antimoniate. The ex vivo response of PBMCs to L. (V.) panamensis partially reflected that of lesion microenvironments. Significant downregulation of gene expression profiles consistent with local innate immune responses (monocyte and neutrophil activation and chemoattractant molecules) was observed at EoT in biopsy specimens of patients who cured (n = 8), compared to those from patients with treatment failure (n = 8). Among differentially expressed genes, pretreatment expression of CCL2 was significantly predictive of the therapeutic response (receiver operating characteristic [ROC] curve, area under the curve [AUC] = 0.82, P = 0.02). Polymorphisms in regulatory regions of the CCL2 promoter were analyzed in a pilot cohort of DNA samples from CL patients (cures, n = 20, and treatment failure, n = 20), showing putative association of polymorphisms rs13900(C/T) and rs2857656(G/C) with treatment outcome. Our data indicate that dampening gene expression profiles of monocyte and neutrophil activation characterize clinical cure after treatment of CL, supporting participation of parasite-sustained inflammation or deregulated innate immune responses in treatment failure.

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ImmuSort, a database on gene plasticity and electronic sorting for immune cells

Scientific Reports ◽

10.1038/srep10370 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 5 (1) ◽

Cited By ~ 19

Author(s):

Pingzhang Wang ◽

Yehong Yang ◽

Wenling Han ◽

Dalong Ma

Keyword(s):

Gene Expression ◽

Immune Cells ◽

Immune Cell ◽

Expression Profiles ◽

Gene Expression Profiles ◽

Experimental Conditions ◽

Evaluation Scores ◽

Cell Groups ◽

Differential Gene ◽

Disease Associated Genes

Abstract Gene expression is highly dynamic and plastic. We present a new immunological database, ImmuSort. Unlike other gene expression databases, ImmuSort provides a convenient way to view global differential gene expression data across thousands of experimental conditions in immune cells. It enables electronic sorting, which is a bioinformatics process to retrieve cell states associated with specific experimental conditions that are mainly based on gene expression intensity. A comparison of gene expression profiles reveals other applications, such as the evaluation of immune cell biomarkers and cell subsets, identification of cell specific and/or disease-associated genes or transcripts, comparison of gene expression in different transcript variants and probe set quality evaluation. A plasticity score is introduced to measure gene plasticity. Average rank and marker evaluation scores are used to evaluate biomarkers. The current version includes 31 human and 17 mouse immune cell groups, comprising 10,422 and 3,929 microarrays derived from public databases, respectively. A total of 20,283 human and 20,963 mouse genes are available to query in the database. Examples show the distinct advantages of the database. The database URL is http://immusort.bjmu.edu.cn/.

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