{"title":"Immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment in the progression, metastasis, and therapy of hepatocellular carcinoma: from bench to bedside.","authors":"Yue Yin, Weibo Feng, Jie Chen, Xilang Chen, Guodong Wang, Shuai Wang, Xiao Xu, Yongzhan Nie, Daiming Fan, Kaichun Wu, Limin Xia","doi":"10.1186/s40164-024-00539-x","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s40164-024-00539-x","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a highly heterogeneous malignancy with high incidence, recurrence, and metastasis rates. The emergence of immunotherapy has improved the treatment of advanced HCC, but problems such as drug resistance and immune-related adverse events still exist in clinical practice. The immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (TME) of HCC restricts the efficacy of immunotherapy and is essential for HCC progression and metastasis. Therefore, it is necessary to elucidate the mechanisms behind immunosuppressive TME to develop and apply immunotherapy. This review systematically summarizes the pathogenesis of HCC, the formation of the highly heterogeneous TME, and the mechanisms by which the immunosuppressive TME accelerates HCC progression and metastasis. We also review the status of HCC immunotherapy and further discuss the existing challenges and potential therapeutic strategies targeting immunosuppressive TME. We hope to inspire optimizing and innovating immunotherapeutic strategies by comprehensively understanding the structure and function of immunosuppressive TME in HCC.</p>","PeriodicalId":12180,"journal":{"name":"Experimental Hematology & Oncology","volume":"13 1","pages":"72"},"PeriodicalIF":9.4,"publicationDate":"2024-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11292955/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141859464","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Yi Ren, Yusheng Guo, Qingliu He, Zhixuan Cheng, Qiming Huang, Lian Yang
{"title":"Exploring whether ChatGPT-4 with image analysis capabilities can diagnose osteosarcoma from X-ray images","authors":"Yi Ren, Yusheng Guo, Qingliu He, Zhixuan Cheng, Qiming Huang, Lian Yang","doi":"10.1186/s40164-024-00537-z","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1186/s40164-024-00537-z","url":null,"abstract":"The generation of radiological results from image data represents a pivotal aspect of medical image analysis. The latest iteration of ChatGPT-4, a large multimodal model that integrates both text and image inputs, including dermatoscopy images, histology images, and X-ray images, has attracted considerable attention in the field of radiology. To further investigate the performance of ChatGPT-4 in medical image recognition, we examined the ability of ChatGPT-4 to recognize credible osteosarcoma X-ray images. The results demonstrated that ChatGPT-4 can more accurately diagnose bone with or without significant space-occupying lesions but has a limited ability to differentiate between malignant lesions in bone compared to adjacent normal tissue. Thus far, the current capabilities of ChatGPT-4 are insufficient to make a reliable imaging diagnosis of osteosarcoma. Therefore, users should be aware of the limitations of this technology.","PeriodicalId":12180,"journal":{"name":"Experimental Hematology & Oncology","volume":"22 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":10.9,"publicationDate":"2024-07-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141782483","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Xinyu Gu, Yalan Zhang, Weilin Zhou, Fengling Wang, Feiyang Yan, Haozhan Gao, Wei Wang
{"title":"Infusion and delivery strategies to maximize the efficacy of CAR-T cell immunotherapy for cancers.","authors":"Xinyu Gu, Yalan Zhang, Weilin Zhou, Fengling Wang, Feiyang Yan, Haozhan Gao, Wei Wang","doi":"10.1186/s40164-024-00542-2","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s40164-024-00542-2","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy has achieved substantial clinical outcomes for tumors, especially for hematological malignancies. However, extending the duration of remission, reduction of relapse for hematological malignancies and improvement of the anti-tumor efficacy for solid tumors are challenges for CAR-T cells immunotherapy. Besides the endeavors to enhance the functionality of CAR-T cell per se, optimization of the infusion and delivery strategies facilitates the breakthrough of the hurdles that limited the efficacy of this cancer immunotherapy. Here, we summarized the infusion and delivery strategies of CAR-T cell therapies under pre-clinical study, clinical trials and on-market status, through which the improvements of safety and efficacy for hematological and solid tumors were analyzed. Of note, novel infusion and delivery strategies, including local-regional infusion, biomaterials bearing the CAR-T cells and multiple infusion technique, overcome many limitations of CAR-T cell therapy. This review provides hints to determine infusion and delivery strategies of CAR-T cell cancer immunotherapy to maximize clinical benefits.</p>","PeriodicalId":12180,"journal":{"name":"Experimental Hematology & Oncology","volume":"13 1","pages":"70"},"PeriodicalIF":9.4,"publicationDate":"2024-07-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11282638/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141765861","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"CAR-T cell combination therapies in hematologic malignancies.","authors":"Delian Zhou, Xiaojian Zhu, Yi Xiao","doi":"10.1186/s40164-024-00536-0","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s40164-024-00536-0","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Chimeric antigen receptor-T cell therapy, a groundbreaking cancer treatment, has achieved remarkable success against hematologic malignancies. However, CAR-T monotherapy faces challenges in certain cases, including treatment tolerance and relapse rates. To overcome these challenges, researchers are investigating combining CAR-T cells with other treatments to enhance therapeutic efficacy. Therefore, this review aims to investigate the progress of research in combining CAR-T cells for hematologic malignancies. It covers the basic principles and clinical applications of CAR-T cell therapy, detailing combinations with chemotherapy, immune checkpoint inhibitors, targeted drugs, radiotherapy, hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, and other treatments. These combinations synergistically enhance the antitumor effects of CAR-T cells and comprehensively target tumors through different mechanisms, improving patient response and survival rates.</p>","PeriodicalId":12180,"journal":{"name":"Experimental Hematology & Oncology","volume":"13 1","pages":"69"},"PeriodicalIF":9.4,"publicationDate":"2024-07-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11264744/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141723323","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Versatile function of NF-ĸB in inflammation and cancer.","authors":"Qiang Ma, Shuai Hao, Weilong Hong, Vinay Tergaonkar, Gautam Sethi, Yu Tian, Chenyang Duan","doi":"10.1186/s40164-024-00529-z","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s40164-024-00529-z","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-ĸB) plays a crucial role in both innate and adaptive immune systems, significantly influencing various physiological processes such as cell proliferation, migration, differentiation, survival, and stemness. The function of NF-ĸB in cancer progression and response to chemotherapy has gained increasing attention. This review highlights the role of NF-ĸB in inflammation control, biological mechanisms, and therapeutic implications in cancer treatment. NF-ĸB is instrumental in altering the release of inflammatory factors such as TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-1β, which are key in the regulation of carcinogenesis. Specifically, in conditions including colitis, NF-ĸB upregulation can intensify inflammation, potentially leading to the development of colorectal cancer. Its pivotal role extends to regulating the tumor microenvironment, impacting components such as macrophages, fibroblasts, T cells, and natural killer cells. This regulation influences tumorigenesis and can dampen anti-tumor immune responses. Additionally, NF-ĸB modulates cell death mechanisms, notably by inhibiting apoptosis and ferroptosis. It also has a dual role in stimulating or suppressing autophagy in various cancers. Beyond these functions, NF-ĸB plays a role in controlling cancer stem cells, fostering angiogenesis, increasing metastatic potential through EMT induction, and reducing tumor cell sensitivity to chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Given its oncogenic capabilities, research has focused on natural products and small molecule compounds that can suppress NF-ĸB, offering promising avenues for cancer therapy.</p>","PeriodicalId":12180,"journal":{"name":"Experimental Hematology & Oncology","volume":"13 1","pages":"68"},"PeriodicalIF":9.4,"publicationDate":"2024-07-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11251119/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141626511","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Phatchanat Klaihmon, Parinya Samart, Yon Rojanasakul, Surapol Issaragrisil, Sudjit Luanpitpong
{"title":"Anti-TIM3 chimeric antigen receptor-natural killer cells preferentially target primitive acute myeloid leukemia cells with minimal fratricide and exhaustion","authors":"Phatchanat Klaihmon, Parinya Samart, Yon Rojanasakul, Surapol Issaragrisil, Sudjit Luanpitpong","doi":"10.1186/s40164-024-00534-2","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1186/s40164-024-00534-2","url":null,"abstract":"Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is an aggressive and genetically heterogeneous disease with poor clinical outcomes. Refractory AML is common, and relapse remains a major challenge, attributable to the presence of therapy-resistant leukemic stem cells (LSCs), which possess self-renewal and repopulating capability. Targeting LSCs is currently the most promising avenue for long-term management of AML. Likewise, chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-natural killer (NK) cells have emerged as a promising alternative to CAR-T cells due to their intrinsic potential as off-the-shelf products and safer clinical profiles. Here, we introduced a third-generation CAR harboring TIM3 scFv, CD28, 4-1BB, and CD3ζ (CAR-TIM3) into human NK-92 cells, the only FDA-approved NK cell line for clinical trials. TIM3 was chosen as a target antigen owing to its differential expression in LSCs and normal hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells (HSPCs). The established CAR-TIM3 NK-92 cells effectively targeted TIM3 and displayed potent anti-tumor activity against various primitive AML cells, subsequently causing a reduction in leukemic clonogenic growth in vitro, while having minimal effects on HSPCs. CAR-TIM3 NK-92 cells significantly reduced leukemic burden in vivo and interestingly suppressed the engraftment of AML cells into the mouse liver and bone marrow. Surprisingly, we found that CAR-TIM3 NK-92 cells expressed relatively low surface TIM3, leading to a low fratricidal effect. As TIM3 and PD-1 are immune checkpoints involved in NK cell dysfunction, we further tested and found that CAR-TIM3 NK-92 cells are beneficial for alleviating NK cell exhaustion. Our findings highlight the potential application of CAR-TIM3 NK cells for cellular immunotherapy for TIM3+ AML.","PeriodicalId":12180,"journal":{"name":"Experimental Hematology & Oncology","volume":"31 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":10.9,"publicationDate":"2024-07-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141586266","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Arne Van der Vreken, Karin Vanderkerken, Elke De Bruyne, Kim De Veirman, Karine Breckpot, Eline Menu
{"title":"Fueling CARs: metabolic strategies to enhance CAR T-cell therapy","authors":"Arne Van der Vreken, Karin Vanderkerken, Elke De Bruyne, Kim De Veirman, Karine Breckpot, Eline Menu","doi":"10.1186/s40164-024-00535-1","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1186/s40164-024-00535-1","url":null,"abstract":"CAR T cells are widely applied for relapsed hematological cancer patients. With six approved cell therapies, for Multiple Myeloma and other B-cell malignancies, new insights emerge. Profound evidence shows that patients who fail CAR T-cell therapy have, aside from antigen escape, a more glycolytic and weakened metabolism in their CAR T cells, accompanied by a short lifespan. Recent advances show that CAR T cells can be metabolically engineered towards oxidative phosphorylation, which increases their longevity via epigenetic and phenotypical changes. In this review we elucidate various strategies to rewire their metabolism, including the design of the CAR construct, co-stimulus choice, genetic modifications of metabolic genes, and pharmacological interventions. We discuss their potential to enhance CAR T-cell functioning and persistence through memory imprinting, thereby improving outcomes. Furthermore, we link the pharmacological treatments with their anti-cancer properties in hematological malignancies to ultimately suggest novel combination strategies.","PeriodicalId":12180,"journal":{"name":"Experimental Hematology & Oncology","volume":"8 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":10.9,"publicationDate":"2024-07-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141571160","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"HIV associated lymphoma: latest updates from 2023 ASH annual meeting.","authors":"Chaoyu Wang, Qing Xiao, Xiaomei Zhang, Yao Liu","doi":"10.1186/s40164-024-00530-6","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s40164-024-00530-6","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The incidence, clinical characteristics, and prognostic factors of HIV-associated lymphoma remain poorly defined compared to HIV-negative lymphoma. Currently, there are no standard guidelines for treatment of these patients. We summarized several latest reports of HIV associated lymphoma from the 2023 ASH Annual Meeting (ASH2023).</p>","PeriodicalId":12180,"journal":{"name":"Experimental Hematology & Oncology","volume":"13 1","pages":"65"},"PeriodicalIF":9.4,"publicationDate":"2024-07-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11225138/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141537802","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Revisiting the role of mesenchymal stromal cells in cancer initiation, metastasis and immunosuppression.","authors":"Yanyan Zhang, Charles Wang, Jian Jian Li","doi":"10.1186/s40164-024-00532-4","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s40164-024-00532-4","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) necessitates a thorough understanding of intricate cellular interactions within the tumor microenvironment (TME). Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) play a pivotal role in cancer generation, progression, and immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment. Within the TME, MSCs encompass both resident and circulating counterparts that dynamically communicate and actively participate in TME immunosurveillance and response to ICB. This review aims to reevaluate various facets of MSCs, including their potential self-transformation to function as cancer-initiating cells and contributions to the creation of a conducive environment for tumor proliferation and metastasis. Additionally, we explore the immune regulatory functions of tumor-associated MSCs (TA-MSCs) and MSC-derived extracellular vesicles (MSC-EVs) with analysis of potential connections between circulating and tissue-resident MSCs. A comprehensive understanding of the dynamics of MSC-immune cell communication and the heterogeneous cargo of tumor-educated versus naïve MSCs may unveil a new MSC-mediated immunosuppressive pathway that can be targeted to enhance cancer control by ICB.</p>","PeriodicalId":12180,"journal":{"name":"Experimental Hematology & Oncology","volume":"13 1","pages":"64"},"PeriodicalIF":9.4,"publicationDate":"2024-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11218091/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141476269","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Jingyuan Li, Jun Tan, Tao Wang, Shan Yu, Guangliang Guo, Kan Li, Le Yang, Bin Zeng, Xueying Mei, Siyong Gao, Xiaomei Lao, Sien Zhang, Guiqing Liao, Yujie Liang
{"title":"cGAS-ISG15-RAGE axis reprogram necroptotic microenvironment and promote lymphatic metastasis in head and neck cancer.","authors":"Jingyuan Li, Jun Tan, Tao Wang, Shan Yu, Guangliang Guo, Kan Li, Le Yang, Bin Zeng, Xueying Mei, Siyong Gao, Xiaomei Lao, Sien Zhang, Guiqing Liao, Yujie Liang","doi":"10.1186/s40164-024-00531-5","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s40164-024-00531-5","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Cancer cells frequently evolve necroptotic resistance to overcome various survival stress during tumorigenesis. However, we have previously showed that necroptosis is widespread in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) and contributes to tumor progression and poor survival via DAMPs-induced migration and invasiveness in peri-necroptotic tumor cells. This implicated an alternative strategy that cancers cope with necroptotic stress by reprogramming a pro-invasive necroptotic microenvironment (NME). Here, we aim to decipher how necroptotic cells shape the NME and affect HNSCC progression.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Both our pre-established cellular necroptotic model and newly established Dox-induce intratumoral necroptosis model were used to investigate how necroptosis affect HNSCC progression. Transcriptomic alterations in peri-necroptotic tumor cells were analyzed by RNA-seq and validated in the NME in mice and patients' samples. The differential DAMPs compositon among apopotosis. Necrosis, and necroptosis were analyzed by label-free proteomic technique, and the necroptosis-specific DAMPs were then identified and validated. The potential receptor for ISG15 were simulated using molecular docking and further validated by in vitro assays. Then the ISG15-RAGE axis was blocked by either knockdown of necroptotic-ISG15 release and RAGE inhibitor FPS-ZM1, and the impact on tumor progression were tested. Last, we further tested our findings in a HNSCC-patients cohort.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Necroptosis played a crucial role in driving tumor-cell invasiveness and lymphatic metastasis via tumor-type dependent DAMPs-releasing. Mechanistically, necroptotic DAMPs induced peri-necroptotic EMT via NF-κB and STAT3 signaling. Furthermore, intrinsic orchestration between necroptotic and cGAS-STING signaling resulted in producing a group of interferon stimulated genes (ISGs) as HNSCC-dependent necroptotic DAMPs. Among them, ISG15 played an essential role in reprogramming the NME. We then identified RAGE as a novel receptor for extracellular ISG15. Either blockage of ISG15 release or ISG15-RAGE interaction dramatically impeded necroptosis-driven EMT and lymphatic metastasis in HNSCC. Lastly, clinicopathological analysis showed high ISG15 expression in NME. Extensive necroptosis and high tumor-cell RAGE expression correlated with tumor progression and poor survival of HNSCC patients.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Our data revealed a previously unknown cGAS-ISG15-RAGE dependent reprogramming of the necroptotic microenvironment which converts the necroptotic stress into invasive force to foster HNSCC-cell dissemination. By demonstrating the programmatic production of ISG15 via necroptosis-cGAS orchestration and its downstream signaling through RAGE, we shed light on the unique role of ISG15 in HNSCC progression. Targeting such machineries may hold therapeutic potential for restoring intratumoral survival stress ","PeriodicalId":12180,"journal":{"name":"Experimental Hematology & Oncology","volume":"13 1","pages":"63"},"PeriodicalIF":9.4,"publicationDate":"2024-06-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11200990/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141456147","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}