scholarly journals Nano-Strategies to Target Breast Cancer-Associated Fibroblasts: Rearranging the Tumor Microenvironment to Achieve Antitumor Efficacy

2019 ◽  
Vol 20 (6) ◽  
pp. 1263 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marta Truffi ◽  
Serena Mazzucchelli ◽  
Arianna Bonizzi ◽  
Luca Sorrentino ◽  
Raffaele Allevi ◽  
...  

Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAF) are the most abundant cells of the tumor stroma and they critically influence cancer growth through control of the surrounding tumor microenvironment (TME). CAF-orchestrated reactive stroma, composed of pro-tumorigenic cytokines and growth factors, matrix components, neovessels, and deregulated immune cells, is associated with poor prognosis in multiple carcinomas, including breast cancer. Therefore, beyond cancer cells killing, researchers are currently focusing on TME as strategy to fight breast cancer. In recent years, nanomedicine has provided a number of smart delivery systems based on active targeting of breast CAF and immune-mediated overcome of chemoresistance. Many efforts have been made both to eradicate breast CAF and to reshape their identity and function. Nano-strategies for CAF targeting profoundly contribute to enhance chemosensitivity of breast tumors, enabling access of cytotoxic T-cells and reducing immunosuppressive signals. TME rearrangement also includes reorganization of the extracellular matrix to enhance permeability to chemotherapeutics, and nano-systems for smart coupling of chemo- and immune-therapy, by increasing immunogenicity and stimulating antitumor immunity. The present paper reviews the current state-of-the-art on nano-strategies to target breast CAF and TME. Finally, we consider and discuss future translational perspectives of proposed nano-strategies for clinical application in breast cancer.

Author(s):  
H. Kuroda ◽  
T. Jamiyan ◽  
R. Yamaguchi ◽  
A. Kakumoto ◽  
A. Abe ◽  
...  

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.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Helena Andrea Sterle ◽  
Ximena Hildebrandt ◽  
Matías Valenzuela Álvarez ◽  
María Alejandra Paulazo ◽  
Luciana Mariel Gutierrez ◽  
...  

The patient’s hormonal context plays a crucial role in the outcome of cancer. However, the association between thyroid disease and breast cancer risk remains unclear. We evaluated the effect of thyroid status on breast cancer growth and dissemination in an immunocompetent mouse model. For this, hyperthyroid and hypothyroid Balb/c mice were orthotopically inoculated with triple negative breast cancer 4T1 cells. Tumors from hyperthyroid mice showed increased growth rate and an immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment, characterized by increased IL-10 levels and decreased percentage of activated cytotoxic T cells. On the other hand, a delayed tumor growth in hypothyroid animals was associated with increased tumor infiltration of activated CD8+ cells and a high IFNγ/IL-10 ratio. Paradoxically, hypothyroid mice developed a higher number of lung metastasis than hyperthyroid animals. This was related to an increased secretion of tumor CCL2 and an immunosuppressive systemic environment, with increased proportion of regulatory T cells and IL-10 levels in spleens. A lower number of lung metastasis in hyperthyroid mice was related to the reduced presence of mesenchymal stem cells in tumors and metastatic sites. These animals also exhibited decreased percentages of regulatory T lymphocytes and myeloid-derived suppressor cells in spleens, but increased activated CD8+ cells and IFNγ/IL-10 ratio. Therefore, thyroid hormones modulate the cellular and cytokine content of the breast tumor microenvironment. The better understanding of the mechanisms involved in these effects could be a starting point for the discovery of new therapeutic targets for breast cancer.


Oncotarget ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 8 (11) ◽  
pp. 17981-17994 ◽  
Author(s):  
Balaji Krishnamachary ◽  
Ioannis Stasinopoulos ◽  
Samata Kakkad ◽  
Marie-France Penet ◽  
Desmond Jacob ◽  
...  

Cancers ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (7) ◽  
pp. 1827 ◽  
Author(s):  
Grace L. Wong ◽  
Sara Abu Jalboush ◽  
Hui-Wen Lo

Breast cancer is the most frequent malignancy for women in which one in eight women will be diagnosed with the disease in their lifetime. Despite advances made in treating primary breast cancer, there is still no effective treatment for metastatic breast cancer. Consequently, metastatic breast cancer is responsible for 90% of breast cancer-related deaths while only accounting for approximately one third of all breast cancer cases. To help develop effective treatments for metastatic breast cancer, it is important to gain a deeper understanding of the mechanisms by which breast cancer metastasizes, particularly, those underlying organotropism towards brain, bone, and lungs. In this review, we will primarily focus on the roles that circulating exosomal microRNAs (miRNAs) play in organotropism of breast cancer metastasis. Exosomes are extracellular vesicles that play critical roles in intercellular communication. MicroRNAs can be encapsulated in exosomes; cargo-loaded exosomes can be secreted by tumor cells into the tumor microenvironment to facilitate tumor–stroma interactions or released to circulation to prime distant organs for subsequent metastasis. Here, we will summarize our current knowledge on the biogenesis of exosomes and miRNAs, mechanisms of cargo sorting into exosomes, the exosomal miRNAs implicated in breast cancer metastasis, and therapeutic exosomal miRNAs.


Cells ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 7 (8) ◽  
pp. 93 ◽  
Author(s):  
James Jabalee ◽  
Rebecca Towle ◽  
Cathie Garnis

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are a heterogeneous collection of membrane-bound structures that play key roles in intercellular communication. EVs are potent regulators of tumorigenesis and function largely via the shuttling of cargo molecules (RNA, DNA, protein, etc.) among cancer cells and the cells of the tumor stroma. EV-based crosstalk can promote proliferation, shape the tumor microenvironment, enhance metastasis, and allow tumor cells to evade immune destruction. In many cases these functions have been linked to the presence of specific cargo molecules. Herein we will review various types of EV cargo molecule and their functional impacts in the context of oncology.


Author(s):  
Kevin Dzobo

Current therapeutic strategies targeting cancer cells within solid tumors have displayed limited success owing to the presence of non-cancer components referred to as the tumor stroma within the tumor microenvironment (TM). These stromal cells, extracellular matrix and blood vessels influence cancer cell response to therapy and play key roles in tumor relapse and resistance. Of the stromal cells present in the TM, a lot of attention has been given to cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) as they are the most abundant and are important in cancer initiation, progression and therapy resistance. In this updated review I emphasize the role of CAFs in the regulation of tumor cell behaviour and reveal how CAF-derived factors and signaling influence tumor cell heterogeneity and development of novel strategies to combat cancer. To investigate the expression of CAF markers in tumor tissues versus normal tissues, transcriptomic data from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and the Gene Expression Profiling Interactive Analysis (GEPIA) databases was used. Bioinformatic analysis reveals differential expression of CAF markers in several cancer types, underscoring the need for further multiomics and biochemical studies on CAFs, CAF subsets and markers. Differences in CAF markers’ expression could be due to different cellular origins as well as the effect of cancer-specific tumor microenvironmental effect on CAFs. Lastly, I present recent advances in therapeutic targeting of CAFs and the success of such endeavours or its lack thereof. It is recommended that for patients’ outcomes to improve, cancer treatment be combinatorial in nature, targeting both cancer cells and stromal cells and interactions.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dongwei Dou ◽  
Xiaoyang Ren ◽  
Mingli Han ◽  
Xiaodong Xu ◽  
Xin Ge ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Cancer associated fibroblasts (CAF) are important component in tumor microenvironment and has been reported contributes to tumor progression through many mechanisms, however, the detailed mechanism underling immune-suppression effect are not clearly defined. Methods In this study, human breast cancer-derived cancer associated fibroblasts was cultured, and CAF-derived exosomes in culture medium was isolated. Cancer cell migration was evaluated by transwell and wound healing assay, miR-92 binding to the LATS2 3’ untranslated region was validated by luciferase report assay, and underlying mechanism was investigated by chromatin immunoprecipitation and Immunoprecipitation. Results After treatment by CAF-derived exosomes, breast cancer cells express higher PD-L1, accompanied with increased miR-92 expression. Increased PD-L1 expression which induced by CAF- derived exosomes significantly promotes apoptosis and impaired proliferation of T cell. proliferation and migration of breast cancer cells was increased after transfection of miR-92, LATS2 was recognized as target gene of miR-92, which was proved by luciferase assay. Immunoprecipitation (IP) shown that LATS2 can interact with YAP1, after nuclear translocation, YAP1 could binds to enhancer region of PD-L1 to promotes transcription activity, which was confirmed by chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP). Furthermore, animal study confirmed that cancer associated fibroblasts significantly promotes tumor progression and impaired function of tumor infiltrated immune cells in vivo. Conclusion Our data revealed a novel mechanism which can induce immune suppression in tumor microenvironment.


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