scholarly journals Control of the Antitumor Immune Response by Cancer Metabolism

Cells ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 104 ◽  
Author(s):  
Charlotte Domblides ◽  
Lydia Lartigue ◽  
Benjamin Faustin

The metabolic reprogramming of tumor cells and immune escape are two major hallmarks of cancer cells. The metabolic changes that occur during tumorigenesis, enabling survival and proliferation, are described for both solid and hematological malignancies. Concurrently, tumor cells have deployed mechanisms to escape immune cell recognition and destruction. Additionally, therapeutic blocking of tumor-mediated immunosuppression has proven to have an unprecedented positive impact in clinical oncology. Increased evidence suggests that cancer metabolism not only plays a crucial role in cancer signaling for sustaining tumorigenesis and survival, but also has wider implications in the regulation of antitumor immune signaling through both the release of signaling molecules and the expression of immune membrane ligands. Here, we review these molecular events to highlight the contribution of cancer cell metabolic reprogramming on the shaping of the antitumor immune response.

2021 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Longzheng Xia ◽  
Linda Oyang ◽  
Jinguan Lin ◽  
Shiming Tan ◽  
Yaqian Han ◽  
...  

AbstractThe overlapping metabolic reprogramming of cancer and immune cells is a putative determinant of the antitumor immune response in cancer. Increased evidence suggests that cancer metabolism not only plays a crucial role in cancer signaling for sustaining tumorigenesis and survival, but also has wider implications in the regulation of antitumor immune response through both the release of metabolites and affecting the expression of immune molecules, such as lactate, PGE2, arginine, etc. Actually, this energetic interplay between tumor and immune cells leads to metabolic competition in the tumor ecosystem, limiting nutrient availability and leading to microenvironmental acidosis, which hinders immune cell function. More interestingly, metabolic reprogramming is also indispensable in the process of maintaining self and body homeostasis by various types of immune cells. At present, more and more studies pointed out that immune cell would undergo metabolic reprogramming during the process of proliferation, differentiation, and execution of effector functions, which is essential to the immune response. Herein, we discuss how metabolic reprogramming of cancer cells and immune cells regulate antitumor immune response and the possible approaches to targeting metabolic pathways in the context of anticancer immunotherapy. We also describe hypothetical combination treatments between immunotherapy and metabolic intervening that could be used to better unleash the potential of anticancer therapies.


2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (8) ◽  
pp. 2805 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marta Gomarasca ◽  
Paola Maroni ◽  
Giuseppe Banfi ◽  
Giovanni Lombardi

Breast cancer is the most common type of cancer in women, and the occurrence of metastasis drastically worsens the prognosis and reduces overall survival. Understanding the biological mechanisms that regulate the transformation of malignant cells, the consequent metastatic transformation, and the immune surveillance in the tumor progression would contribute to the development of more effective and targeted treatments. In this context, microRNAs (miRNAs) have proven to be key regulators of the tumor-immune cells crosstalk for the hijack of the immunosurveillance to promote tumor cells immune escape and cancer progression, as well as modulators of the metastasis formation process, ranging from the preparation of the metastatic site to the transformation into the migrating phenotype of tumor cells. In particular, their deregulated expression has been linked to the aberrant expression of oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes to promote tumorigenesis. This review aims at summarizing the role and functions of miRNAs involved in antitumor immune response and in the metastasis formation process in breast cancer. Additionally, miRNAs are promising targets for gene therapy as their modulation has the potential to support or inhibit specific mechanisms to negatively affect tumorigenesis. With this perspective, the most recent strategies developed for miRNA-based therapeutics are illustrated.


Cancers ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (14) ◽  
pp. 3386
Author(s):  
Bart Spiesschaert ◽  
Katharina Angerer ◽  
John Park ◽  
Guido Wollmann

The focus of treating cancer with oncolytic viruses (OVs) has increasingly shifted towards achieving efficacy through the induction and augmentation of an antitumor immune response. However, innate antiviral responses can limit the activity of many OVs within the tumor and several immunosuppressive factors can hamper any subsequent antitumor immune responses. In recent decades, numerous small molecule compounds that either inhibit the immunosuppressive features of tumor cells or antagonize antiviral immunity have been developed and tested for. Here we comprehensively review small molecule compounds that can achieve therapeutic synergy with OVs. We also elaborate on the mechanisms by which these treatments elicit anti-tumor effects as monotherapies and how these complement OV treatment.


2021 ◽  
Vol 28 (10) ◽  
pp. 683-693
Author(s):  
Vivian Rosery ◽  
Henning Reis ◽  
Konstantinos Savvatakis ◽  
Bernd Kowall ◽  
Martin Stuschke ◽  
...  

The tumor immune microenvironment (TME) represents a key determinant for responses to cancer treatment. However, the immune phenotype of highly proliferative gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine neoplasms (GEP-NEN) is still largely elusive. In this retrospective study, we characterized the TME of high-grade (G3, Ki-67 > 20%) GEP-NEN. We analyzed formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded samples from 37 patients with GEP-NEN G3 by immunohistochemistry and multiplex immunofluorescence to address the abundance and spatial interaction of relevant immune subsets. We focused on the expression of immune checkpoint molecules PD-1 and PD-L1, the cytotoxic T-cell marker CD8, and the tumor-associated macrophage marker CD206. Findings were correlated with overall survival (OS) from the date of a cancer diagnosis. Patients with PD-L1-positive tumors (CPS ≥ 1) and intense PD-1+CD8+ immune cell infiltration showed the most favorable median OS. Multiplex immunofluorescence staining of ten representative tissue samples illustrated intratumoral heterogeneity of PD-L1 expression. Dense PD-1+CD8+ immune cell infiltrates were observed in PD-L1-positive tumor regions but not in PD-L1-negative regions. Proximity analysis revealed a spatial interaction between PD-1+CD8+ cells and PD-L1-positive cells. Our data suggest a pre-existing antitumor immune response in the TME in a subgroup of GEP-NEN G3. This supports a targeted clinical exploration of immunotherapeutic approaches.


2012 ◽  
Vol 2012 ◽  
pp. 1-9 ◽  
Author(s):  
François Ghiringhelli ◽  
Mélanie Bruchard ◽  
Fanny Chalmin ◽  
Cédric Rébé

It is now well known that tumor immunosurveillance contributes to the control of cancer growth. Many mechanisms can be used by cancer cells to avoid the antitumor immune response. One such mechanism relies on the capacity of cancer cells or more generally of the tumor microenvironment to generate adenosine, a major molecule involved in antitumor T cell response suppression. Adenosine is generated by the dephosphorylation of extracellular ATP released by dying tumor cells. The conversion of ATP into adenosine is mediated by ectonucleotidase molecules, namely, CD73 and CD39. These molecules are frequently expressed in the tumor bed by a wide range of cells including tumor cells, regulatory T cells, Th17 cells, myeloid cells, and stromal cells. Recent evidence suggests that targeting adenosine by inhibiting ectonucleotidases may restore the resident antitumor immune response or enhance the efficacy of antitumor therapies. This paper will underline the impact of adenosine and ectonucleotidases on the antitumor response.


2021 ◽  
Vol 27 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ning Zhang ◽  
Yiwen Liu ◽  
Hong Yang ◽  
Mengxia Liang ◽  
Xiaopeng Wang ◽  
...  

A variety of pathogenic microorganisms promote tumor occurrence and development through long-term colonization in the body. Fusobacterium nucleatum (F. nucleatum) is abundant in precancerous esophageal lesions and is closely related to the malignant progression of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). The invasion of exogenous microorganisms can reshape the immune microenvironment, make the immune system incapacitated, and assist tumor cells in immune escape. A variety of pathogenic microorganisms induce the recruitment of regulatory T cell (Tregs) to allow tumor cells to escape immune surveillance and provide favorable conditions for their own long-term colonization. Tregs are one of the major obstacles to tumor immunotherapy and have a significant positive correlation with the occurrence and development of many kinds of tumors. Because F. nucleatum can instantly enter cells and colonize for a long time, we speculated that F. nucleatum infection could facilitate the immune escape of tumor cells through enrichment of Tregs and promote the malignant progression of ESCC. In this study, we found a significant concordance between F. nucleatum infection and Tregs infiltration. Therefore, we propose the view that chronic infection of F. nucleatum may provide favorable conditions for long-term colonization of itself by recruiting Tregs and suppressing the immune response. At the same time, the massive enrichment of Treg may also weaken the immune response and assist in the long-term colonization of F. nucleatum. We analyzed the correlation between F. nucleatum infection with the clinicopathological characteristics and survival prognosis of the patients. F. nucleatum infection was found to be closely related to sex, smoking, drinking, degree of differentiation, depth of invasion, lymph node metastasis, and clinical stage. The degree of differentiation, depth of infiltration, lymph node metastasis, clinical stage, and F. nucleatum infection are independent risk factors affecting ESCC prognosis. Additionally, the survival rate and median survival time were significantly shortened in the F. nucleatum infection positive group. Therefore, we propose that long-term smoking and alcohol consumption cause poor oral and esophageal environments, thereby significantly increasing the risk of F. nucleatum infection. In turn, F. nucleatum infection and colonization may weaken the antitumor immune response through Treg enrichment and further assist in self-colonization, promoting the malignant progression of ESCC.


2021 ◽  
Vol 2021 ◽  
pp. 1-11
Author(s):  
Sanyog Dwivedi ◽  
Erika P. Rendón-Huerta ◽  
Vianney Ortiz-Navarrete ◽  
Luis F. Montaño

Cancer is a leading cause of death worldwide. Understanding the functional mechanisms associated with metabolic reprogramming, which is a typical feature of cancer cells, is key to effective therapy. CD38, primarily a NAD + glycohydrolase and ADPR cyclase, is a multifunctional transmembrane protein whose abnormal overexpression in a variety of tumor types is associated with cancer progression. It is linked to VEGFR2 mediated angiogenesis and immune suppression as it favors the recruitment of suppressive immune cells like Tregs and myeloid-derived suppressor cells, thus helping immune escape. CD38 is expressed in M1 macrophages and in neutrophil and T cell-mediated immune response and is associated with IFNγ-mediated suppressor activity of immune responses. Targeting CD38 with anti-CD38 monoclonal antibodies in hematological malignancies has shown excellent results. Bearing that in mind, targeting CD38 in other nonhematological cancer types, especially carcinomas, which are of epithelial origin with specific anti-CD38 antibodies alone or in combination with immunomodulatory drugs, is an interesting option that deserves profound consideration.


2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yang Li ◽  
Mingyou Zhang ◽  
Xiaodan Wang ◽  
Wentao Liu ◽  
Hui Wang ◽  
...  

2017 ◽  
Vol 35 (15_suppl) ◽  
pp. e23087-e23087
Author(s):  
Anne Jarry ◽  
Adrien Ouairy ◽  
Delphine Dansette ◽  
Cécile Deleine ◽  
Nicolas Jouand ◽  
...  

e23087 Background: In colorectal cancer (CRC), little is known about mechanisms by which tumor cells can influence the phenotype and biology of Tumor Infiltrating T lymphocytes (TILs) of the tumor microenvironment. One of these mechanisms could be the inflammasome, a molecular platform present in normal intestinal epithelial cells, whose effector protein, caspase-1, can rapidly mature IL18 and generate a mucosal Th1/Tc1 (IFNγ) response. However, the inflammasome status of tumor cells in CRC and its potential role on TILs are unknown yet. Methods: Prospective and retrospective cohort studies aimed to determine in CRC patients: the status of the inflammasome in tumor cells (IL18 immunostaining on tissue microarrays (TMA) and in situ detection of active caspase-1 on frozen sections) and the density of TILs (CD8+, T-bet+) in relation with i) the microsatellite stable (MSS) or unstable (MSI) status of CRC, and ii) the levels of cytokines (IL18, IFNγ) secreted in an ex vivo explant culture model of CRC. Finally, we assessed the effect of recombinant human IL18 (rhIL18) on the IFNγ response of isolated TILs. Results: TMA analysis of the retrospective cohort showed that IL18 was significantly expressed (in more than 50% of tumor cells) in 80% of CRC, especially in MSI CRC, and correlated with a high density of T-bet+ and CD8+ intraepithelial TILs (IEL-TILs). Active caspase-1 was detected in tumor cells in 60% of CRC. In the prospective cohort, the presence of active caspase-1 in tumor cells was associated with high levels of mature IL18 secreted in explant cultures, with high density of T-bet+ TILs and with IFNγ release in most cases. In addition, isolated TILs expressing IL18 receptors (IL18Rα), cultured with rhIL18, were able to secrete IFNγ either unstimulated or stimulated with OKT3. Conclusions: The inflammasome of tumor cells, when maintained and active, can contribute to a Th1/Tc1 antitumor immune response elicited by TILs, that can modulate tumor growth. The inflammasome of tumor cells can thus be considered as a potential new therapeutic target to strengthen the antitumor immune response in CRC, in association with other immunotherapies.


2017 ◽  
Vol 35 (4_suppl) ◽  
pp. 640-640
Author(s):  
Celine Bossard ◽  
Delphine Dansette ◽  
Adrien Ouairy ◽  
Nicolas Jouand ◽  
Romain Oger ◽  
...  

640 Background: In colorectal cancer (CRC), little is known about mechanisms by which tumor cells can influence the phenotype and biology of Tumor Infiltrating T lymphocytes (TILs) of the tumor microenvironment. One of these mechanisms could be the inflammasome, a molecular platform present in normal intestinal epithelial cells, whose effector protein, caspase-1, can rapidly mature IL18 and generate a mucosal Th1/Tc1 (IFNg) response. However, the inflammasome status of tumor cells in CRC and its potential role on TILs are unknown yet. Methods: Prospective and retrospective cohort studies aimed to determine in CRC patients: the status of the inflammasome in tumor cells (IL18 immunostaining on tissue microarrays (TMA) and in situ detection of active caspase-1 on frozen sections) and the density of TILs (CD8+, T-bet+) in relation with the microsatellite stable (MSS) or unstable (MSI) status of CRC, and the levels of cytokines (IL18, IFNg) secreted in an ex vivo explant culture model of CRC. Finally, we assessed the effect of recombinant human IL18 (rhIL18) on the IFNg response of isolated TILs. Results: TMA analysis of the retrospective cohort showed that IL18 was significantly expressed (in more than 50% of tumor cells) in 80% of CRC, especially in MSI CRC, and correlated with a high density of T-bet+ and CD8+ intraepithelial TILs (IEL-TILs). Active caspase-1 was detected in tumor cells in 60% of CRC. In the prospective cohort, the presence of active caspase-1 in tumor cells was associated with high levels of mature IL18 secreted in explant cultures, with high density of T-bet+ TILs and with IFNg release in most cases. In addition, isolated TILs expressing IL18 receptors (IL18Ra), cultured with rhIL18, were able to secrete IFNg either unstimulated or stimulated with OKT3. Conclusions: The inflammasome of tumor cells, when maintained and active, can contribute to a Th1/Tc1 antitumor immune response elicited by TILs, that can modulate tumor growth. The inflammasome of tumor cells can thus be considered as a potential new therapeutic target to strengthen the antitumor immune response in CRC, in association with other immunotherapies.


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