Colorectal cancer(CRC)is a complex disease with diverse etiologies and clinical outcomes.Despite considerable progress in development of CRC therapeutics,challenges remain regarding the diagnosis and management of adv...Colorectal cancer(CRC)is a complex disease with diverse etiologies and clinical outcomes.Despite considerable progress in development of CRC therapeutics,challenges remain regarding the diagnosis and management of advanced stage metastatic CRC(mCRC).In particular,the five-year survival rate is very low since mCRC is currently rarely curable.Over the past decade,cancer treatment has significantly improved with the introduction of cancer immunotherapies,specifically immune checkpoint inhibitors.Therapies aimed at blocking immune checkpoints such as PD-1,PD-L1,and CTLA-4 target inhibitory pathways of the immune system,and thereby enhance anti-tumor immunity.These therapies thus have shown promising results in many clinical trials alone or in combination.The efficacy and safety of immunotherapy,either alone or in combination with CRC,have been investigated in several clinical trials.Clinical trials,including KEYNOTE-164 and CheckMate 142,have led to Food and Drug Administration approval of the PD-1 inhibitors pembrolizumab and nivolumab,respectively,for the treatment of patients with unresectable or metastatic microsatellite instability-high or deficient mismatch repair CRC.Unfortunately,these drugs benefit only a small percentage of patients,with the benefits of immunotherapy remaining elusive for the vast majority of CRC patients.To this end,primary and secondary resistance to immunotherapy remains a significant issue,and further research is necessary to optimize the use of immunotherapy in CRC and identify biomarkers to predict the response.This review provides a comprehensive overview of the clinical trials involving immune checkpoint inhibitors in CRC.The underlying rationale,challenges faced,and potential future steps to improve the prognosis and enhance the likelihood of successful trials in this field are discussed.展开更多
Although immunotherapy has revolutionized cancer treatment and achieved remarkable success across many different cancer types,only a subset of patients shows meaningful clinical responses.In particular,advanced prosta...Although immunotherapy has revolutionized cancer treatment and achieved remarkable success across many different cancer types,only a subset of patients shows meaningful clinical responses.In particular,advanced prostate cancer exhibits overwhelming de novo resistance to immune checkpoint blockade therapy.This is primarily due to the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment of prostate cancer.Therefore,it is paramount to understand how prostate cancer cell-intrinsic mechanisms promote immune evasion and foster an immunosuppressive microenvironment.Here,we review recent findings that reveal the roles of the genetic alterations,androgen receptor signaling,cancer cell plasticity,and oncogenic pathways in shaping the immunosuppressive microenvironment and thereby driving immunotherapy resistance.Based on preclinical and clinical observations,a variety of therapeutic strategies are being developed that may illuminate new paths to enhance immunotherapy efficacy in prostate cancer.展开更多
Glioblastoma(GBM)is one of the most immunosuppressive and heterogeneous tumors with limited treatment options.Most studies relied on treatment-experienced patient samples to elucidate the origins of tumor heterogeneit...Glioblastoma(GBM)is one of the most immunosuppressive and heterogeneous tumors with limited treatment options.Most studies relied on treatment-experienced patient samples to elucidate the origins of tumor heterogeneity,introducing bias into the analysis.The analysis of samples from multifocal GBM patients,in which independent lesions arise from the same progenitor and undergo parallel evolution,enables the study of the natural evolution of GBM while removing the effect of therapy on the emergence of heterogeneity.This enables the identification of critical events in the evolution of GBM and the unbiased study of subtype progression,diversity,and invasive potential.The tumor microenvironment of GBM undergoes significant changes throughout tumor progression.Recent studies have highlighted the switch from an abundance of resident microglia-derived macrophages in earlier stages to the prevalence of blood-derived macrophages in later stages of GBM.There is conclusive evidence that these alterations cannot be viewed in isolation and that the tumor microenvironment co-evolves with tumor cells during cancer progression.Together with an increasingly hypoxic environment,this culminates in highly immunosuppressive conditions,resulting in a feedback loop further reinforcing evolutionary changes in the tumor.A new study now provides a unique look at the natural evolution of GBM,identifies critical events in its development,and has the potential to help improve the diagnosis and therapy of this deadly disease.展开更多
Lenvatinib,a second-generation multi-receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor approved by the FDA for first-line treatment of advanced liver cancer,facing limitations due to drug resistance.Here,we applied a multidimensiona...Lenvatinib,a second-generation multi-receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor approved by the FDA for first-line treatment of advanced liver cancer,facing limitations due to drug resistance.Here,we applied a multidimensional,high-throughput screening platform comprising patient-derived resistant liver tumor cells(PDCs),organoids(PDOs),and xenografts(PDXs)to identify drug susceptibilities for conquering lenvatinib resistance in clinically relevant settings.Expansion and passaging of PDCs and PDOs from resistant patient liver tumors retained functional fidelity to lenvatinib treatment,expediting drug repurposing screens.Pharmacological screening identified romidepsin,YM155,apitolisib,NVP-TAE684 and dasatinib as potential antitumor agents in lenvatinib-resistant PDC and PDO models.Notably,romidepsin treatment enhanced antitumor response in syngeneic mouse models by triggering immunogenic tumor cell death and blocking the EGFR signaling pathway.A combination of romidepsin and immunotherapy achieved robust and synergistic antitumor effects against lenvatinib resistance in humanized immunocompetent PDX models.Collectively,our findings suggest that patient-derived liver cancer models effectively recapitulate lenvatinib resistance observed in clinical settings and expedite drug discovery for advanced liver cancer,providing a feasible multidimensional platform for personalized medicine.展开更多
Metabolic flexibility has emerged as a critical determinant of CD8+T-cell antitumor activity,yet the mechanisms driving the metabolic flexibility of T cells have not been determined.In this study,we investigated the i...Metabolic flexibility has emerged as a critical determinant of CD8+T-cell antitumor activity,yet the mechanisms driving the metabolic flexibility of T cells have not been determined.In this study,we investigated the influence of the nuclear cap-binding complex(CBC)adaptor protein ARS2 on mature T cells.In doing so,we discovered a novel signaling axis that endows activated CD8+T cells with flexibility of glucose catabolism.ARS2 upregulation driven by CD28 signaling reinforced splicing factor recruitment to pre-mRNAs and affected approximately one-third of T-cell activation-induced alternative splicing events.Among these effects,the CD28-ARS2 axis suppressed the expression of the M1 isoform of pyruvate kinase in favor of PKM2,a key determinant of CD8+T-cell glucose utilization,interferon gamma production,and antitumor effector function.Importantly,PKM alternative splicing occurred independently of CD28-driven PI3K pathway activation,revealing a novel means by which costimulation reprograms glucose metabolism in CD8+T cells.展开更多
Glycosylphosphatidylinositol-anchored sperm hyaluronidases have long been believed to assist in sperm penetration through the cumulus-oocyte complex(COC);however,their role in mammalian fertilization remains unclear.P...Glycosylphosphatidylinositol-anchored sperm hyaluronidases have long been believed to assist in sperm penetration through the cumulus-oocyte complex(COC);however,their role in mammalian fertilization remains unclear.Previously,we have shown that hyaluronidase 5(Hyal5)/Hyal7 double-knockout(dKO)mice produce significantly fewer offspring than their wild-type(WT)counterparts because of defective COC dispersal.Male infertility is mainly caused by a low sperm count.It can be further exacerbated by the deficiency of sperm hyaluronidase,which disperses the cumulus cells of the outer layer of the COC.In the current study,we evaluated the effects of a low count of Hyal-deficient sperm and conditions of ovulated oocytes on the fertilization rate using a mouse model.Our results demonstrated that a low sperm count further decreases the in vitro fertilization(IVF)rate of Hyal-deficient dKO spermatozoa.In addition,the dKO spermatozoa resulted in a fertilization rate of 12.5%upon fertilizing COCs with a thick cumulus layer,whereas the IVF rate was comparable to that of WT spermatozoa when oocytes with a thin or no cumulus layer were fertilized.Finally,we proved that the IVF rate of dKO spermatozoa could be recovered by adding rat spermatozoa as a source of sperm hyal.Our results suggest that a deficiency of proteins involved in fertilization,such as sperm hyal,has a vital role in fertilization.展开更多
基金Supported by IU Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center grant,No.5P30CA082709-24.
文摘Colorectal cancer(CRC)is a complex disease with diverse etiologies and clinical outcomes.Despite considerable progress in development of CRC therapeutics,challenges remain regarding the diagnosis and management of advanced stage metastatic CRC(mCRC).In particular,the five-year survival rate is very low since mCRC is currently rarely curable.Over the past decade,cancer treatment has significantly improved with the introduction of cancer immunotherapies,specifically immune checkpoint inhibitors.Therapies aimed at blocking immune checkpoints such as PD-1,PD-L1,and CTLA-4 target inhibitory pathways of the immune system,and thereby enhance anti-tumor immunity.These therapies thus have shown promising results in many clinical trials alone or in combination.The efficacy and safety of immunotherapy,either alone or in combination with CRC,have been investigated in several clinical trials.Clinical trials,including KEYNOTE-164 and CheckMate 142,have led to Food and Drug Administration approval of the PD-1 inhibitors pembrolizumab and nivolumab,respectively,for the treatment of patients with unresectable or metastatic microsatellite instability-high or deficient mismatch repair CRC.Unfortunately,these drugs benefit only a small percentage of patients,with the benefits of immunotherapy remaining elusive for the vast majority of CRC patients.To this end,primary and secondary resistance to immunotherapy remains a significant issue,and further research is necessary to optimize the use of immunotherapy in CRC and identify biomarkers to predict the response.This review provides a comprehensive overview of the clinical trials involving immune checkpoint inhibitors in CRC.The underlying rationale,challenges faced,and potential future steps to improve the prognosis and enhance the likelihood of successful trials in this field are discussed.
基金This work was supported by the National Institutes of Health grant R01CA248033(to Xin L)Department of Defense CDMRP PCRP grants W81XWH2010312(to Xin L)+3 种基金W81XWH2010332(to Xin L)an Investigator-Initiated Research Grant from American Institute for Cancer Research(to Xin L),Indiana CTSI pilot grants(to Xin L)through the NIH NCATS CTSA grant ULITR002529an Exceptional Project Award Grant from Breast Cancer Alliance(to Xin L)CCV and IITP grants from Walther Cancer Foundation(to YZ and LD).
文摘Although immunotherapy has revolutionized cancer treatment and achieved remarkable success across many different cancer types,only a subset of patients shows meaningful clinical responses.In particular,advanced prostate cancer exhibits overwhelming de novo resistance to immune checkpoint blockade therapy.This is primarily due to the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment of prostate cancer.Therefore,it is paramount to understand how prostate cancer cell-intrinsic mechanisms promote immune evasion and foster an immunosuppressive microenvironment.Here,we review recent findings that reveal the roles of the genetic alterations,androgen receptor signaling,cancer cell plasticity,and oncogenic pathways in shaping the immunosuppressive microenvironment and thereby driving immunotherapy resistance.Based on preclinical and clinical observations,a variety of therapeutic strategies are being developed that may illuminate new paths to enhance immunotherapy efficacy in prostate cancer.
基金This work was partly supported by the NCI grants(1RO1CA231349,1RO1CA262798)the Brown Center for Immunotherapy at Indiana University Melvin and Bren Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center.
文摘Glioblastoma(GBM)is one of the most immunosuppressive and heterogeneous tumors with limited treatment options.Most studies relied on treatment-experienced patient samples to elucidate the origins of tumor heterogeneity,introducing bias into the analysis.The analysis of samples from multifocal GBM patients,in which independent lesions arise from the same progenitor and undergo parallel evolution,enables the study of the natural evolution of GBM while removing the effect of therapy on the emergence of heterogeneity.This enables the identification of critical events in the evolution of GBM and the unbiased study of subtype progression,diversity,and invasive potential.The tumor microenvironment of GBM undergoes significant changes throughout tumor progression.Recent studies have highlighted the switch from an abundance of resident microglia-derived macrophages in earlier stages to the prevalence of blood-derived macrophages in later stages of GBM.There is conclusive evidence that these alterations cannot be viewed in isolation and that the tumor microenvironment co-evolves with tumor cells during cancer progression.Together with an increasingly hypoxic environment,this culminates in highly immunosuppressive conditions,resulting in a feedback loop further reinforcing evolutionary changes in the tumor.A new study now provides a unique look at the natural evolution of GBM,identifies critical events in its development,and has the potential to help improve the diagnosis and therapy of this deadly disease.
基金This study was partly supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(82122069,82073869,30900650,81372501,81572260,81773299,and H2808/82330065)Guangdong Basic and Applied Basic Research Foundation(2021B1515020004,2020B1515120032,2021B1212040017,and 2023B03J0106,China)+1 种基金the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities(23yxqntd001,China)the Opening Project of Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of New Drug Design and Evaluation(2020B1212060034,China).
文摘Lenvatinib,a second-generation multi-receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor approved by the FDA for first-line treatment of advanced liver cancer,facing limitations due to drug resistance.Here,we applied a multidimensional,high-throughput screening platform comprising patient-derived resistant liver tumor cells(PDCs),organoids(PDOs),and xenografts(PDXs)to identify drug susceptibilities for conquering lenvatinib resistance in clinically relevant settings.Expansion and passaging of PDCs and PDOs from resistant patient liver tumors retained functional fidelity to lenvatinib treatment,expediting drug repurposing screens.Pharmacological screening identified romidepsin,YM155,apitolisib,NVP-TAE684 and dasatinib as potential antitumor agents in lenvatinib-resistant PDC and PDO models.Notably,romidepsin treatment enhanced antitumor response in syngeneic mouse models by triggering immunogenic tumor cell death and blocking the EGFR signaling pathway.A combination of romidepsin and immunotherapy achieved robust and synergistic antitumor effects against lenvatinib resistance in humanized immunocompetent PDX models.Collectively,our findings suggest that patient-derived liver cancer models effectively recapitulate lenvatinib resistance observed in clinical settings and expedite drug discovery for advanced liver cancer,providing a feasible multidimensional platform for personalized medicine.
基金supported by National Cancer Institute grants R00CA175189,R01AI155499(both to SHO),R01CA205246(to EAR),R01CA121044(to KPL),T32CA085183(to GAH and MML),and P30CA016056,involving the use of the Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center Flow and Image Cytometry,Genomics,Laboratory Animal,and Immune Analysis Shared Resourcesby the Roswell Park Alliance Foundation.NMR experiments were carried out at the Center for Environmental and Systems Biochemistry Shared Resource Facility funded in part by the Markey Cancer Center(P30CA177558).
文摘Metabolic flexibility has emerged as a critical determinant of CD8+T-cell antitumor activity,yet the mechanisms driving the metabolic flexibility of T cells have not been determined.In this study,we investigated the influence of the nuclear cap-binding complex(CBC)adaptor protein ARS2 on mature T cells.In doing so,we discovered a novel signaling axis that endows activated CD8+T cells with flexibility of glucose catabolism.ARS2 upregulation driven by CD28 signaling reinforced splicing factor recruitment to pre-mRNAs and affected approximately one-third of T-cell activation-induced alternative splicing events.Among these effects,the CD28-ARS2 axis suppressed the expression of the M1 isoform of pyruvate kinase in favor of PKM2,a key determinant of CD8+T-cell glucose utilization,interferon gamma production,and antitumor effector function.Importantly,PKM alternative splicing occurred independently of CD28-driven PI3K pathway activation,revealing a novel means by which costimulation reprograms glucose metabolism in CD8+T cells.
基金supported by the KRIBB Research Initiative Program(KGM4252122)the National Research Foundation(2018M2A9Hl078340)the National Research Foundation of Korea Grant funded by the Korean Government(NRF-2020R111A3072358).
文摘Glycosylphosphatidylinositol-anchored sperm hyaluronidases have long been believed to assist in sperm penetration through the cumulus-oocyte complex(COC);however,their role in mammalian fertilization remains unclear.Previously,we have shown that hyaluronidase 5(Hyal5)/Hyal7 double-knockout(dKO)mice produce significantly fewer offspring than their wild-type(WT)counterparts because of defective COC dispersal.Male infertility is mainly caused by a low sperm count.It can be further exacerbated by the deficiency of sperm hyaluronidase,which disperses the cumulus cells of the outer layer of the COC.In the current study,we evaluated the effects of a low count of Hyal-deficient sperm and conditions of ovulated oocytes on the fertilization rate using a mouse model.Our results demonstrated that a low sperm count further decreases the in vitro fertilization(IVF)rate of Hyal-deficient dKO spermatozoa.In addition,the dKO spermatozoa resulted in a fertilization rate of 12.5%upon fertilizing COCs with a thick cumulus layer,whereas the IVF rate was comparable to that of WT spermatozoa when oocytes with a thin or no cumulus layer were fertilized.Finally,we proved that the IVF rate of dKO spermatozoa could be recovered by adding rat spermatozoa as a source of sperm hyal.Our results suggest that a deficiency of proteins involved in fertilization,such as sperm hyal,has a vital role in fertilization.
