scholarly journals Tumor Microenvironment in Metastatic Colorectal Cancer: The Arbitrator in Patients’ Outcome

Cancers ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (5) ◽  
pp. 1130
Author(s):  
Cristina Galindo-Pumariño ◽  
Manuel Collado ◽  
Mercedes Herrera ◽  
Cristina Peña

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most common cancers in western countries. Its mortality rate varies greatly, depending on the stage of the disease. The main cause of CRC mortality is metastasis, which most commonly affects the liver. The role of tumor microenvironment in tumor initiation, progression and metastasis development has been widely studied. In this review we summarize the role of the tumor microenvironment in the liver pre-metastatic niche formation, paying attention to the distant cellular crosstalk mediated by exosomes. Moreover, and based on the prognostic and predictive capacity of alterations in the stromal compartment of tumors, we describe the role of tumor microenvironment cells and related liquid biopsy biomarkers in the delivery of precise medication for metastatic CRC. Finally, we evaluate the different clinical strategies to prevent and treat liver metastatic disease, based on the targeting of the tumor microenvironment. Specifically, targeting angiogenesis pathways and regulating immune response are two important research pipelines that are being widely developed and promise great benefits.

2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (18) ◽  
pp. 6837 ◽  
Author(s):  
Issraa Shoucair ◽  
Fernanda Weber Mello ◽  
James Jabalee ◽  
Saeideh Maleki ◽  
Cathie Garnis

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) play a key role in the communication between cancer cells and stromal components of the tumor microenvironment (TME). In this context, cancer cell-derived EVs can regulate the activation of a CAF phenotype in TME cells, which can be mediated by several EV cargos (e.g., miRNA, proteins, mRNA and lncRNAs). On the other hand, CAF-derived EVs can mediate several processes during tumorigenesis, including tumor growth, invasion, metastasis, and therapy resistance. This review aimed to discuss the molecular aspects of EV-based cross-talk between CAFs and cancer cells during tumorigenesis, in addition to assessing the roles of EV cargo in therapy resistance and pre-metastatic niche formation.


Tumor Biology ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 43 (1) ◽  
pp. 141-157
Author(s):  
Bahare Zarin ◽  
Laleh Rafiee ◽  
Parnaz Daneshpajouhnejad ◽  
Shaghayegh Haghjooy Javanmard

Cancers evolve as a result of the accelerated proliferation of cancer cells in a complicated, enriched, and active microenvironment. Tumor microenvironment (TME) components are the master regulators of any step of cancer development. The tumor microenvironment is composed of many cellular and noncellular components that contribute to the evolution of cancer cells. Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) are activated fibroblasts in the TME that implicate in tumor progression and metastasis dissemination through secretion of oncogenic factors which are carried to the secondary metastatic sites through exosomes. In this review, we aimed to assess the role of CAF-derived exosomes in TME construction and pre-metastatic niche formation in different cancers of the digestive system in order to better understand some important mechanisms of metastasis and provide possible targets for clinical intervention. This review article is divided into two thematic parts explaining the general mechanisms of pre-metastatic niche formation and metastasis and the role of CAF-derived exosomes in different digestive system cancers including colorectal, gastric, esophageal, pancreatic, and liver cancers.


2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (11) ◽  
Author(s):  
Chunliang Shang ◽  
Jie Qiao ◽  
Hongyan Guo

AbstractThe pre-metastatic niche is a favorable microenvironment for the colonization of metastatic tumor cells in specific distant organs. Lipid droplets (LDs, also known as lipid bodies or adiposomes) have increasingly been recognized as lipid-rich, functionally dynamic organelles within tumor cells, immune cells, and other stromal cells that are linked to diverse biological functions and human diseases. Moreover, in recent years, several studies have described the indispensable role of LDs in the development of pre-metastatic niches. This review discusses current evidence related to the biogenesis, composition, and functions of LDs related to the following characteristics of the pre-metastatic niche: immunosuppression, inflammation, angiogenesis/vascular permeability, lymphangiogenesis, organotropism, reprogramming. We also address the function of LDs in mediating pre-metastatic niche formation. The potential of LDs as markers and targets for novel antimetastatic therapies will be discussed.


2018 ◽  
Vol 26 (23) ◽  
pp. 1390-1395
Author(s):  
Xiao-Xia Xing ◽  
Si-Fan Wu ◽  
Jie-Feng Cui

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jinbing Sun ◽  
Zhihua Lu ◽  
Wei Fu ◽  
Kuangyi Lu ◽  
Xiuwen Gu ◽  
...  

Exosomes derived from cancer cells are deemed important drivers of pre-metastatic niche formation at distant organs, but the underlying mechanisms of their effects remain largely unknow. Although the role of ADAM17 in cancer cells has been well studied, the secreted ADAM17 effects transported via exosomes are less understood. Herein, we show that the level of exosome-derived ADAM17 is elevated in the serum of patients with metastatic colorectal cancer as well as in metastatic colorectal cancer cells. Furthermore, exosomal ADAM17 was shown to promote the migratory ability of colorectal cancer cells by cleaving the E-cadherin junction. Moreover, exosomal ADAM17 overexpression as well as RNA interference results highlighted its function as a tumor metastasis-promoting factor in colorectal cancer in vitro and in vivo. Taken together, our current work suggests that exosomal ADAM17 is involved in pre-metastatic niche formation and may be utilized as a blood-based biomarker of colorectal cancer metastasis.


2020 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
pp. 175883592095836
Author(s):  
Andrea Casadei Gardini ◽  
Emanuela Scarpi ◽  
Martina Valgiusti ◽  
Manlio Monti ◽  
Silvia Ruscelli ◽  
...  

Aims: We created a new index (Multi Inflammatory Index, MII) composed of an inflammatory index [neutrophil-to lymphocyte-ratio (NLR): MII-1; platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR): MII-2; or systemic immune-inflammation index (SII): MII-3] and C-reactive protein (CRP). Our aim was to evaluate the prognostic and/or predictive capacity of the MII in the randomized ITACa (Italian Trial in Advanced Colorectal Cancer) study on patients with metastatic colorectal cancer undergoing first-line chemotherapy. Methods: Between November 2007 and March 2012, baseline NLR, PLR; SII and CRP were available for 131 patients, 66 receiving chemotherapy plus bevacizumab and 65 receiving chemotherapy alone. Results: Patients with low (<25) MII-1 levels had a better outcome than those with high (⩾25) levels: median progression-free survival (PFS) was 12.4 versus 8.9 months [hazard ratio (HR) = 1.74, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.21–2.51, p = 0.003] and median overall survival (OS) was 30.9 months versus 15.0 months (HR = 2.05, 95% CI 1.40–3.02, p = 0.0002), respectively. Similar results were obtained for patients with low (<1424) MII-2 levels compared with those with high (⩾1424) levels: median PFS was 12.6 versus 8.9 months (HR = 1.95, 95% CI 1.35–2.82, p = 0.0004) and median OS was 32.4 versus 14.6 months, respectively (HR = 2.42, 95% CI 1.64–3.57, p < 0.0001). Patients with low (<6068) MII-3 levels had a longer median PFS and OS than those with high (⩾6068) levels: 12.6 versus 8.9 months (HR = 1.91, 95% CI 1.33–2.76, p = 0.005) and 30.9 versus15.0 months (HR = 2.10, 95% CI 1.43–3.09, p = 0.0002), respectively. Following adjustment for clinical covariates, multivariate analysis confirmed all MII indexes as independent prognostic factors for predicting PFS and OS. Conclusion: All MII indexes appear to be useful as prognostic markers. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT01878422 (registration date: 07/06/2013) https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT01878422


2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (4) ◽  
pp. 1565
Author(s):  
Aldona Kasprzak

Cancer cachexia (CC) is a multifactorial syndrome in patients with advanced cancer characterized by weight loss via skeletal-muscle and adipose-tissue atrophy, catabolic activity, and systemic inflammation. CC is correlated with functional impairment, reduced therapeutic responsiveness, and poor prognosis, and is a major cause of death in cancer patients. In colorectal cancer (CRC), cachexia affects around 50–61% of patients, but remains overlooked, understudied, and uncured. The mechanisms driving CC are not fully understood but are related, at least in part, to the local and systemic immune response to the tumor. Accumulating evidence demonstrates a significant role of tumor microenvironment (TME) cells (e.g., macrophages, neutrophils, and fibroblasts) in both cancer progression and tumor-induced cachexia, through the production of multiple procachectic factors. The most important role in CRC-associated cachexia is played by pro-inflammatory cytokines, including the tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα), originally known as cachectin, Interleukin (IL)-1, IL-6, and certain chemokines (e.g., IL-8). Heterogeneous CRC cells themselves also produce numerous cytokines (including chemokines), as well as novel factors called “cachexokines”. The tumor microenvironment (TME) contributes to systemic inflammation and increased oxidative stress and fibrosis. This review summarizes the current knowledge on the role of TME cellular components in CRC-associated cachexia, as well as discusses the potential role of selected mediators secreted by colorectal cancer cells in cooperation with tumor-associated immune and non-immune cells of tumor microenvironment in inducing or potentiating cancer cachexia. This knowledge serves to aid the understanding of the mechanisms of this process, as well as prevent its consequences.


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