scholarly journals Iron Metabolism in the Tumor Microenvironment—Implications for Anti-Cancer Immune Response

Cells ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 303
Author(s):  
Alessandro Sacco ◽  
Anna Martina Battaglia ◽  
Cirino Botta ◽  
Ilenia Aversa ◽  
Serafina Mancuso ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Tumor Microenvironment ◽  
Iron Metabolism ◽  
Immune Cells ◽  
Metabolic Pathways ◽  
Tumor Infiltrating Lymphocytes ◽  
Oxygen Species ◽  
Iron Availability ◽  
Anti Cancer ◽  
Immune Exclusion ◽  
Infiltrating Lymphocytes

New insights into the field of iron metabolism within the tumor microenvironment have been uncovered in recent years. Iron promotes the production of reactive oxygen species, which may either trigger ferroptosis cell death or contribute to malignant transformation. Once transformed, cancer cells divert tumor-infiltrating immune cells to satisfy their iron demand, thus affecting the tumor immunosurveillance. In this review, we highlight how the bioavailability of this metal shapes complex metabolic pathways within the tumor microenvironment and how this affects both tumor-associated macrophages and tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes functions. Furthermore, we discuss the potentials as well as the current clinical controversies surrounding the use of iron metabolism as a target for new anticancer treatments in two opposed conditions: (i) the “hot” tumors, which are usually enriched in immune cells infiltration and are extremely rich in iron availability within the microenvironment, and (ii) the “cold” tumors, which are often very poor in immune cells, mainly due to immune exclusion.

scholarly journals P03.26 Immunoprofiling of oral and oropharyngeal tumors of different etiology

2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (Suppl 2) ◽  
pp. A33.1-A33
Author(s):  
B Pokrývková ◽  
M Grega ◽  
J Klozar ◽  
O Vencalek ◽  
J Nunvar ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Tumor Microenvironment ◽  
Immune Cells ◽  
Demographic Data ◽  
Tumor Infiltrating Lymphocytes ◽  
Tumor Parenchyma ◽  
Fluorescent Immunohistochemistry ◽  
Infiltrating Lymphocytes ◽  
Formalin Fixed ◽  
Selection Of

BackgroundHead and neck carcinomas (HNC) are the world’s sixth most common cancer. Most of HNCs are associated with tobacco and other environmental factors but a growing part of oropharyngeal tumors are caused by persistent infection of human papillomavirus (HPV). Patients with HPV positive cancers have a better prognosis with fewer recurrences. This may be caused by different anti-tumor immune response and immune profile of patients. Multispectral fluorescent immunohistochemistry (fIHC) is a powerful tool for a detailed analysis of the tumor microenvironment. This method allows to access the phenotype and calculate cells in tumor parenchyma and stroma of the tumor since in comparison to flow cytometry, an architecture of the tissue remains preserved. fIHC is uniquely suited to study interaction of immune and cancer cells in situ.Materials and MethodsNumber of 97 formalin fixed paraffine-embedded slides of the human HNC tissue with known etiology were examined using 4 different panels of 5 antibodies each. These panels include antibodies suitable for phenotyping of immune cells (CD3e, CD4, CD8, FOXP3) or their functional description (PD1, CTLA4, ICOS, CCR4). Additionally, antibodies against Ki67, VEGF and cell cytokeratin were used. Slides were stained using Opal™ 7-Color Fluorescent IHC Kit (Akoya Biosciences). The quantity of immune cells was evaluated in stroma and tumor compartment using InForm™ 2.4.6. software (Akoya Biosciences). For all patients the demographic and clinical data were available and these patients were followed for up to 18 years.ResultsOur results have shown significantly higher abundance of Th and Tc in both compartments of HPV+ samples. Besides HPV etiology Th and Tc in the tumor microenvironment predict independently better survival of patients. We did not observed difference in number of Tregs (characterized as a CD3+CD4+FOXP3+ cells) in tumors of different etiology, but we detected higher number of ICOS+Tregs in stroma of HPV- tumors. We also quantified the subpopulations of Th and Tc cells expressing regulatory receptors PD1 and CTLA4. PD1 showed significantly higher expression on Th and Tc both in tumor and stroma of HPV+ tumors, but CTLA4 expression was significantly higher only on Th located in stroma of HPV- tumors. Moreover, we detected significantly higher VEGF expression in both compartments and higher proliferating activity of tumor cells in HPV- tumors.ConclusionsDetailed analyses of the tumor infiltrating lymphocytes allows for selection of prognostic markers in HNC of different etiology. Our results may also help to understand the better prognosis of HPV+ patients. More detailed survival analyses with inclusion of other clinical and demographic data will be presented.Disclosure InformationB. Pokrývková: None. M. Grega: None. J. Klozar: None. O. Vencalek: None. J. Nunvar: None. R. Tachezy: None.

scholarly journals Ironing out Macrophage Immunometabolism

2019 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 94 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stefania Recalcati ◽  
Elena Gammella ◽  
Gaetano Cairo
Keyword(s):  
Iron Metabolism ◽  
Immune Cells ◽  
Metabolic Pathways ◽  
Macrophage Activation ◽  
Metabolic Reprogramming ◽  
Iron Availability ◽  
Effector Functions ◽  
Expression Of Genes ◽  
Macrophage Plasticity

Over the last decade, increasing evidence has reinforced the key role of metabolic reprogramming in macrophage activation. In addition to supporting the specific immune response of different subsets of macrophages, intracellular metabolic pathways also directly control the specialized effector functions of immune cells. In this context, iron metabolism has been recognized as an important component of macrophage plasticity. Since macrophages control the availability of this essential metal, changes in the expression of genes coding for the major proteins of iron metabolism may result in different iron availability for the macrophage itself and for other cells in the microenvironment. In this review, we discuss how macrophage iron can also play a role in immunometabolism.

ROS-responsive nanomedicine: Towards targeting the breast tumor microenvironment

2020 ◽  
Vol 28 ◽  
Author(s):  
RamaRao Malla ◽  
Mohammad Amjad Kamal
Keyword(s):  
Reactive Oxygen Species ◽  
Gene Therapy ◽  
Drug Resistance ◽  
Molecular Imaging ◽  
Tumor Microenvironment ◽  
Immune Cells ◽  
Breast Tumor ◽  
Imaging Techniques ◽  
Oxygen Species ◽  
Massive Accumulation

: The breast tumor microenvironment (TME) promotes drug resistance through an elaborated interaction of TME components mediated by reactive oxygen species (ROS). Despite a massive accumulation of data concerning the targeting the ROS, but little is known about the ROS-responsive nanomedicine for targeting breast TME. This review submits the ROS landscape in breast TME, including ROS biology, ROS mediated carcinogenesis, reprogramming of stromal and immune cells of TME. We also discussed ROS-based precision strategies for imaging TME, including molecular imaging techniques with advanced probes, multiplexed methods, and multi-omic profiling strategies. ROS-responsive nanomedicine also describes various therapies, such as chemo-dynamic, photodynamic, photothermal, sono-dynamic, immune, and gene therapy for BC. We expound ROS-responsive primary delivery systems for chemotherapeutics, phytochemicals, and immunotherapeutics. This review also presents recent updates on nano-theranostics for simultaneous diagnosis and treatment of BCs. We assume that review on this advancing field will be beneficial to the development of ROS-based nanotheranostics for BC.

scholarly journals C4b-binding protein α-chain enhances antitumor immunity by facilitating the accumulation of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes in the tumor microenvironment in pancreatic cancer

2021 ◽  
Vol 40 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kosuke Sasaki ◽  
Shigetsugu Takano ◽  
Satoshi Tomizawa ◽  
Yoji Miyahara ◽  
Katsunori Furukawa ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
T Cell ◽  
Tumor Microenvironment ◽  
Binding Protein ◽  
Combined Treatment ◽  
Tumor Infiltrating Lymphocytes ◽  
Pdac Cell ◽  
Α Chain ◽  
Infiltrating Lymphocytes

Abstract Background Recent studies indicate that complement plays pivotal roles in promoting or suppressing cancer progression. We have previously identified C4b-binding protein α-chain (C4BPA) as a serum biomarker for the early detection of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). However, its mechanism of action remains unclear. Here, we elucidated the functional roles of C4BPA in PDAC cells and the tumor microenvironment. Methods We assessed stromal C4BPA, the C4BPA binding partner CD40, and the number of CD8+ tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes in resected human PDAC tissues via immunohistochemical staining. The biological functions of C4BPA were investigated in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and human PDAC cell lines. Mouse C4BPA (mC4BPA) peptide, which is composed of 30 amino acids from the C-terminus and binds to CD40, was designed for further in vitro and in vivo experiments. In a preclinical experiment, we assessed the efficacy of gemcitabine plus nab-paclitaxel (GnP), dual immune checkpoint blockades (ICBs), and mC4BPA peptide in a mouse orthotopic transplantation model. Results Immunohistochemical analysis revealed that high stromal C4BPA and CD40 was associated with favorable PDAC prognosis (P=0.0005). Stromal C4BPA strongly correlated with the number of CD8+ tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (P=0.001). In in vitro experiments, flow cytometry revealed that recombinant human C4BPA (rhC4BPA) stimulation increased CD4+ and CD8+ T cell numbers in PBMCs. rhC4BPA also promoted the proliferation of CD40-expressing PDAC cells. By contrast, combined treatment with gemcitabine and rhC4BPA increased PDAC cell apoptosis rate. mC4BPA peptide increased the number of murine T lymphocytes in vitro and the number of CD8+ tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes surrounding PDAC tumors in vivo. In a preclinical study, GnP/ICBs/mC4BPA peptide treatment, but not GnP treatment, led to the accumulation of a greater number of CD8+ T cells in the periphery of PDAC tumors and to greater tumor regression than did control treatment. Conclusions These findings demonstrate that the combination of GnP therapy with C4BPA inhibits PDAC progression by promoting antitumor T cell accumulation in the tumor microenvironment.

scholarly journals Tumor-Infiltrating Lymphocytes in the Tumor Microenvironment of Laryngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Biomedicines ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (5) ◽  
pp. 486
Author(s):  
Juan P. Rodrigo ◽  
Mario Sánchez-Canteli ◽  
Fernando López ◽  
Gregory T. Wolf ◽  
Juan C. Hernández-Prera ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Squamous Cell Carcinoma ◽  
Tumor Microenvironment ◽  
Cell Carcinoma ◽  
Squamous Cell ◽  
Prognostic Value ◽  
Laryngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Tumor Infiltrating Lymphocytes ◽  
Infiltrating Lymphocytes

The presence of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL) in the tumor microenvironment has been demonstrated to be of prognostic value in various cancers. In this systematic review and meta-analysis, we investigated the prognostic value of TIL in laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC). We performed a systematic search in PubMed for publications that investigated the prognostic value of TIL in LSCC. A meta-analysis was performed including all studies assessing the association between TIL counts in hematoxylin-eosin (HE)-stained sections, for CD8+ and/or CD3+/CD4+ TIL and overall survival (OS) or disease-free survival (DFS). The pooled meta-analysis showed a favorable prognostic role for stromal TIL in HE sections for OS (HR 0.57, 95% CI 0.36–0.91, p = 0.02), and for DFS (HR 0.56, 95% CI 0.34–0.94, p = 0.03). High CD8+ TIL were associated with a prolonged OS (HR 0.62, 95% CI 0.4–0.97, p = 0.04) and DFS (HR 0.73, 95% CI 0.34–0.94, p = 0.002). High CD3+/CD4+ TIL demonstrated improved OS (HR 0.32, 95% CI 0.16–0.9, p = 0.03) and DFS (HR 0.23, 95% CI 0.10–0.53, p = 0.0005). This meta-analysis confirmed the favorable prognostic significance of TIL in LSCC. High stromal TIL evaluated in HE sections and intra-tumoral and stromal CD3+, CD4+ and/or CD8+ TIL might predict a better clinical outcome.

scholarly journals Tumor microenvironment in triple-negative breast cancer: the correlation of tumor-associated macrophages and tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. Kuroda ◽  
T. Jamiyan ◽  
R. Yamaguchi ◽  
A. Kakumoto ◽  
A. Abe ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Breast Cancer ◽  
T Cells ◽  
Tumor Microenvironment ◽  
Triple Negative Breast Cancer ◽  
Triple Negative ◽  
Cytotoxic T Cells ◽  
Tumor Infiltrating Lymphocytes ◽  
Tumor Associated Macrophages ◽  
Free Survival ◽  
Infiltrating Lymphocytes

Abstract Purpose Immune cells such as cytotoxic T cells, helper T cells, B cells or tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) contribute to the anti-tumor response or pro-tumorigenic effect in triple negative breast cancer (TNBC). The interrelation of TAMs, T and B tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) in TNBC has not been fully elucidated. Methods We evaluated the association of tumor-associated macrophages, T and B TILs in TNBC. Results TNBCs with a high CD68+, CD163+ TAMs and low CD4+, CD8+, CD20+ TILs had a significantly shorter relapse-free survival (RFS) and overall survival (OS) than those with low CD68+, CD163+ TAMs and high CD4+, CD8+, CD20+ TILs. TNBCs with high CD68+ TAMs/low CD8+ TILs showed a significantly shorter RFS and OS and a significantly poorer prognosis than those with high CD68+ TAMs/high CD8+ TILs, low CD68+ TAMs/high CD8+ TILs, and low CD68+/low CD8+. TNBCs with high CD163+ TAMs/low CD8+, low CD20 + TILs showed a significantly shorter RFS and OS and a significantly poorer prognosis than those with high CD163+ TAMs/high CD8+ TILs and high CD163+ TAMs /high CD20+ TILs. Conclusions Our study suggests that TAMs further create an optimal tumor microenvironment (TME) for growth and invasion of cancer cells when evasion of immunoreactions due to T and B TILs occurs. In TNBCs, all these events combine to affect prognosis. The process of TME is highly complex in TNBCs and for an improved understanding, larger validation studies are necessary to confirm these findings.

scholarly journals Semaphorin Signaling in Cancer-Associated Inflammation

2019 ◽  
Vol 20 (2) ◽  
pp. 377 ◽  
Author(s):  
Giulia Franzolin ◽  
Luca Tamagnone
Keyword(s):  
Immune Response ◽  
Tumor Microenvironment ◽  
Cancer Cells ◽  
Disease Progression ◽  
Tumor Cells ◽  
Cross Talk ◽  
Immune Cells ◽  
Major Element ◽  
Inflammatory Cells ◽  
Anti Cancer

The inflammatory and immune response elicited by the growth of cancer cells is a major element conditioning the tumor microenvironment, impinging on disease progression and patients’ prognosis. Semaphorin receptors are widely expressed in inflammatory cells, and their ligands are provided by tumor cells, featuring an intense signaling cross-talk at local and systemic levels. Moreover, diverse semaphorins control both cells of the innate and the antigen-specific immunity. Notably, semaphorin signals acting as inhibitors of anti-cancer immune response are often dysregulated in human tumors, and may represent potential therapeutic targets. In this mini-review, we provide a survey of the best known semaphorin regulators of inflammatory and immune cells, and discuss their functional impact in the tumor microenvironment.

scholarly journals Novel Pathological Predictive Factors for Extranodal Extension in Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma: a Retrospective Cohort Study Based on Tumor Budding, Desmoplastic Reaction, and Tumor-infiltrating Lymphocytes

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yuri Noda ◽  
Mitsuaki Ishida ◽  
Yasuhiro Ueno ◽  
Takuo Fujisawa ◽  
Hiroshi Iwai ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Squamous Cell Carcinoma ◽  
Tumor Microenvironment ◽  
Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma ◽  
Cell Carcinoma ◽  
Squamous Cell ◽  
Tumor Infiltrating Lymphocytes ◽  
Desmoplastic Reaction ◽  
Extranodal Extension ◽  
Biopsy Specimens ◽  
Infiltrating Lymphocytes

Abstract Background: Extranodal extension (ENE) is a poor prognostic factor for oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). Identifying ENE by clinical and/or radiological examination is difficult, thereby leading to unnecessary neck dissections. Currently, no definitive predictors are available for ENE. Thus, we aimed to determine the histological predictors of ENE by routine histopathological examination using biopsy and surgically resected specimens.Methods: This retrospective study included 186 surgically resected OSCC and 83 matched biopsy specimens. Clinical features associated with the tumor microenvironment, including desmoplastic reaction (DR), tumor budding (TB), and tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs), were evaluated using hematoxylin and eosin-stained primary OSCC and neck dissection specimens. These histological features were divided into two groups: DR-immature (DR-I) and DR-mature (DR-M); TB-high (TB-H) and TB-low (TB-L); and TILs-low (TILs-L) and TILs-high (TILs-H). Clinical depth of invasion (cDOI) and pathological DOI (pDOI) were adapted for biopsies and resections, respectively; DOI was evaluated as DOI >10 mm and DOI ≤10 mm. The clinicopathological relationships between these histopathological features and ENE and the independent risk factors for ENE were analyzed. The histological predictors of ENE were evaluated.Results:The histological status of DR, TILs, and TB present in biopsy and resection specimens showed high accuracy with that of ENE. DR-I, TILs-L, and TB-H were significantly associated with lymph node metastasis, cDOI, and pDOI. Bivariate and multivariate analyses revealed that TB-H and pDOI >10 mm in resections were independent factors for the presence of ENE (ENE+). The combination of TB-H/pDOI >10 mm in resection specimens showed high specificity (91%) and accuracy (83%) regarding ENE+. Although there proved to be no independent factors in biopsies, DR-I and TILs-L were significantly associated with ENE+ (p<0.001). The combination of DR-I/TILs-L/cDOI >10 mm in biopsies exhibited high sensitivity and specificity with ENE+ (70% and 77%, respectively, p<0.001). These histological predictors could detect even minor ENE (<2 mm).Conclusions:The tumor microenvironment status in primary OSCC was significantly associated with that of ENE, and TB-H was an independent risk factor for ENE. The histological status of DR-I/TILs-L/cDOI >10 mm in biopsy specimens and TB-H/pDOI >10 mm in resection specimens is a useful predictor of ENE.

scholarly journals Targeting T cell metabolism in the tumor microenvironment: an anti-cancer therapeutic strategy

2019 ◽  
Vol 38 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhongping Yin ◽  
Ling Bai ◽  
Wei Li ◽  
Tanlun Zeng ◽  
Huimin Tian ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
T Cells ◽  
T Cell ◽  
Tumor Microenvironment ◽  
Metabolic Pathways ◽  
Cell Metabolism ◽  
Basic Research ◽  
Metabolic Reprogramming ◽  
Activated T Cells ◽  
Cell Functions ◽  
Anti Cancer

Abstract T cells play important roles in anti-tumor immunity. Emerging evidence has revealed that distinct metabolic changes impact the activation and differentiation of T cells. Tailoring immune responses by manipulating cellular metabolic pathways and the identification of new targets may provide new options for cancer immunotherapy. In this review, we focus on recent advances in the metabolic reprogramming of different subtypes of T cells and T cell functions. We summarize how metabolic pathways accurately regulate T cell development, differentiation, and function in the tumor microenvironment. Because of the similar metabolism in activated T cells and tumor cells, we also describe the effect of the tumor microenvironment on T cell metabolism reprogramming, which may provide strategies for maximal anti-cancer effects and enhancing the immunity of T cells. Thus, studies of T lymphocyte metabolism can not only facilitate the basic research of immune metabolism, but also provide potential targets for drug development and new strategies for clinical treatment of cancer.

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