Browsing by Subject "Tumor microenvironment"
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- PublicationOpen AccessAltered growth pattern, not altered growth per se, is the hallmark of early lesions preceding cancer development(Murcia : F. Hernández, 2009) Doratiotto, Silvia; Marongiu, Fabio; Faedda, Simona; Pani, Paolo; Laconi, EzioMany human solid cancers arise from focal proliferative lesions that long precede the overt clinical appearance of the disease. The available evidence supports the notion that cancer precursor lesions are clonal in origin, and this notion forms the basis for most of the current theories on the pathogenesis of neoplastic disease. In contrast, far less attention has been devoted to the analysis of the phenotypic property that serves to define these focal lesions, i.e. their altered growth pattern. In fact, the latter is often considered a mere morphological by-product of clonal growth, with no specific relevance in the process. In the following study, evidence will be presented to support the concept that focal growth pattern is an inherent property of altered cells, independent of clonal growth; furthermore, it will be discussed how such a property, far from being merely descriptive, might indeed play a fundamental role in the sequence of events leading to the development of cancer. Within this paradigm, the earliest steps of neoplasia should be considered and analysed as defects in the mechanisms of tissue pattern formation.
- PublicationOpen AccessExpression of lumican and osteopontin in perivascular areas of the glioblastoma peritumoral niche and its value for prognosis(MDPI, 2024-12-29) Salinas, María Dolores; Rodríguez, Pablo; Rubio, Gonzalo; Valdor, Rut; Bioquímica y Biología Molecular B e InmunologíaGlioblastoma (GB) is one of the most aggressive and treatment-resistant cancers due to its complex tumor microenvironment (TME). We previously showed that GB progression is dependent on the aberrant induction of chaperone-mediated autophagy (CMA) in pericytes (PCs), which promotes TME immunosuppression through the PC secretome. The secretion of extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins with anti-tumor (Lumican) and pro-tumoral (Osteopontin, OPN) properties was shown to be dependent on the regulation of GB-induced CMA in PCs. As biomarkers are rarely studied in TME, in this work, we aimed to validate Lumican and OPN as prognostic markers in the perivascular areas of the peritumoral niche of a cohort of GB patients. Previously, we had validated their expression in GB xenografted mice presenting GB infiltration (OPN) or GB elimination (Lumican) dependent on competent or deficient CMA PCs, respectively. Then, patient sample classification by GB infiltration into the peritumoral brain parenchyma was related to GB-induced CMA in microvasculature PCs, analyzing the expression of the lysosomal receptor, LAMP-2A. Our results revealed a correlation between GB-induced CMA activity in peritumoral PCs and GB patients’ outcomes, identifying three degrees of severity. The perivascular expression of both immune activation markers, Iba1 and CD68, was related to CMA-dependent PC immune function and determined as useful for efficient GB prognosis. Lumican expression was identified in perivascular areas of patients with less severe outcome and partially co-localizing with PCs presenting low CMA activity, while OPN was primarily found in perivascular areas of patients with poor outcome and partially co-localizing with PCs presenting high CMA activity. Importantly, we found sex differences in the incidence of middle-aged patients, being significantly higher in men but with worse prognosis in women. Our results confirmed that Lumican and OPN in perivascular areas of the GB peritumoral niche are effective predictive biomarkers for evaluating prognosis and monitoring possible therapeutic immune responses dependent on PCs in tumor progression.
- PublicationOpen AccessFacilitating tailored therapeutic strategies for glioblastoma through an orthotopic patient-derived xenograft platform(Universidad de Murcia. Departamento de Biología Celular e Histología, 2016) Lee, Hye Won; Lee, Kyoungmin; Kim, Dong Geon; Yang, Hee Kyoung; Nam, Do-HyunDespite years of research into its pathobiology and continuing clinical trials for novel therapies, the prognosis for patients with glioblastoma (GBM) remains dismal. An important obstacle against treatment efficacy may be a high degree of intra- and inter-tumoral heterogeneity within GBMs, which may be caused by the presence of self-renewing GBM stem cells (GSCs). Recent advances in multi-omics technology introduce new possibilities for applying personalized strategies to GBM therapy. As drug discovery is accelerating with the transition from non-selective, cytotoxic therapy to a precision, targeted approach, the appropriate in vivo platform for GBM is critical for validating drug targets and prioritizing candidates for clinical studies, for co-development of companion diagnostics and, ultimately, for drug approval. Here we will describe GBM orthotopic patient-derived xenografts (PDXs) as more useful, clinically relevant resources for individually tailored strategies for GBM.
- PublicationOpen AccessPYCR1 expresses in cancer-associated fibroblasts and accelerates the progression of C6 glioblastoma(Universidad de Murcia, Departamento de Biologia Celular e Histiologia, 2025) Zhang, Mingkun; Bi, Baibin; Liu, Guangcun; Fan, XiaoyongBackground. Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) play important roles in tumor micro-environments. Pyrroline-5-carboxylate reductase 1 (PYCR1) is a potential cancer therapy target. This study aimed to explore the expression of PYCR1 in glioma-associated CAFs and analyze the effects of PYCR1 expression in CAFs on the proliferation of C6 glioma. Methods. A rat glioma model was induced by injecting C6 cells in the right caudate putamen via a microliter syringe. After 14 days, tumor tissues were collected, and the levels of COL1A1 and PYCR1 were measured by immunohistochemistry. The colocalization of fibroblast activation protein α (FAP) and PYCR1 in tissues was measured by double-immunofluorescence. The CAFs were labeled by FAP and isolated from the tumor tissues using a fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) machine. The isolated CAFs were further separated into CAFs with different PYCR1 expressions using the FACS machine. CAFs with different PYCR1 expressions were respectively cocultured with C6 cells or MUVECs for 48h using a Transwell permeable support. The invasion and proliferation of C6 cells were measured using a Transwell assay and colony formation assay, and the angiogenesis of MUVECs was measured using a Tube formation assay. The expression of COL1A1 and PYCR1 proteins in C6 cells and VEGF-A and EGF proteins in MUVECs was measured by western blotting. PYCR1 silencing in C6 cells was induced by PYCR1 siRNA transfection, the effects of which on the proliferation of C6 cells were measured using a wound healing assay, a Transwell assay, and western blotting. Results. The PYCR1 and COL1A1 upregulation co-occurred in the rat glioma, and PYCR1 was expressed in CAFs. The CAF coculture enhanced the invasion and proliferation of C6 cells and the angiogenesis of MUVECs. Meanwhile, the levels of COL1A1 protein in C6 cells, and the levels of VEGF-A and EGF proteins in MUVECs were increased after CAF coculture. Moreover, the effects of CAF coculture were increased with PYCR1 expression in the CAF. Silencing PYCR1 suppressed the migration and invasion of C6 cells, and decreased the levels of COL1A1 and VEGF-A proteins in C6 cells. Conclusions. PYCR1 is expressed in glioma-associated CAFs, and promotes the proliferation of C6 cells and angiogenesis of MUVECs, suggesting that targeting PYCR1 may be a therapeutic strategy for glioma.
- PublicationOpen AccessThe emerging role of exosomes in survivin secretion(F. Hernández y Juan F. Madrid. Universidad de Murcia: Departamento de Biología Celular e Histología, 2015) Khan, Salma; Ferguson Bennit, Heather; Wall, Nathan R.The tumor microenvironment plays an integral part in the biology of cancer, participating in tumor initiation, progression, and response to therapy. Factors released by tumor cells themselves contribute in creating an environment mostly favorable but sometimes detrimental to the tumor. Survivin, one of the key members of the inhibitor of apoptosis (IAP) family of proteins, has been shown in the cytoplasm, mitochondria, nucleus, and most recently in the extracellular space, transported via small membrane bound vesicles called exosomes. Exosomes are secreted from hematopoietic, non-hematopoietic, tumor, and nontumor cells, shuttling essential molecules such as proteins, RNAs, and microRNAs, all believed to be important for cell-cell and cell-extracellular communication. In this review, we discuss exosomal Survivin and its role in modifying the tumor microenvironment.
- PublicationOpen AccessThe evaluation of the distribution of CD133, CXCR1 and the tumor associated macrophages in different molecular subtypes of breast cancer(Universidad de Murcia, Departamento de Biologia Celular e Histiologia, ) Ilgın, Can; Çomut, Erdem; Sarıgül, Çağlar; Korkmaz, Selçuk; Vardar, Enver; Müftüoğlu, Sevda FatmaBreast cancer has different molecular subtypes, which determine the prognosis and response to the treatment. CD133 is a marker for cancer stem cells in tumor microenvironment with diagnostic/therapeutic importance. The tumor associated macrophages (TAMs) interact with the cancer stem cells through the CXCR1 receptor. In this study, we wanted to investigate the expression of these markers in patients with different molecular subtypes, in order to detect pathophysio- logical mechanisms and new molecular targets for the prospective targeted therapies. In this study we hypothesized a difference in expression of these antigens among different subtypes. We investigated expression of antigens in breast cancer patients with luminal A (LA), luminal B (LB), HER2 overexpressing (HER2OE), triple negative (TN) subtypes (n=70) and control patients (n=10) without cancer diagnosis. We applied indirect immunohistochemistry and evaluated immunostaining. CD133 expression was at the periphery and CXCR1 expression was at the central area of the tumor. The cytoplasmic CXCR1, CD133 expressions and nuclear CD133 expression, which is prominent in the TN subtype, were observed in patients. There was a statistically significant difference between the groups for CD133 (p=0.004), CXCR1 (p=0.002) H-Score values and M2 macrophages/whole TAM ratios (p=0.022). Between the CD133 and CXCR1 H-scores, there was a weak positive correlation (r=0.249, p=0.035). This study showed the compartment specific expression of the CD133 and CXCR1 antigens in neoplastic cells. The use of CD133 as a stem cell marker may be limited to TN subtype, due to its heterogeneous expression
- PublicationOpen AccessThe role of tumor-associated macrophage in breast cancer biology(Universidad de Murcia. Departamento de Biología Celular e Histología, 2018) Choi, Junjeong; Gyamfi, Jones; Jang, Haerin; Koo, Ja SeungBreast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed malignant tumor in women worldwide and contributes significantly as the primary cause of female cancer related mortality. Hence, research is focused on discovering new and effective treatment targets. The breast tumor microenvironment (TME) comprising of recruited host stromal cells and tumor cells, has recently emerged as an important player in tumor progression, with the potential for future treatment. The TME comprises immune system elements (such as macrophages and lymphocytes), cells composing blood vessel, fibroblast, myofibroblast, mesenchymal stem cells, adipocytes and extracellular matrix (ECM). Among these cells, tumor-associated macrophages (TAM) are the prominent components of TME in breast cancers. Macrophages exhibit a high plasticity in response to various external signals and participate in innate and adoptive immune responses to control numerous factors of TME. Depending on the microenvironmental signal present, macrophages are polarized into two distinct phenotypes, the classically activated (M1) or the alternative activated (M2) macrophages. Tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) closely resemble the M2-polarized. Clinicopathological studies have suggested that TAM accumulation in tumors correlates with a poor clinical outcome. In human breast carcinomas, high TAM density correlates with poor prognosis. Over the years, studies into the role of TAMs in breast cancer progression have identified TAMs to be capable of inducing angiogenesis, remodelling the tumor extracellular matrix to aid invasion, modelling breast cancer cells to evade host immune system and recruiting immunosuppressive leukocytes to the tumor microenvironment. Along with these functions, the potential role for TAMs in activation of breast cancer stem cells (CSC) has also emerged. Thus, TAMs in breast cancer can enhance cancer cell invasion by degrading the ECM, stimulate tumor vascularization and angiogenesis and suppress the antitumor functions of cytotoxic T cells resulting in poor prognosis for patients. These observations make TAMs an attractive target for therapeutic intervention by targeting various aspects of their function. This review discusses the mechanisms responsible for TAM recruitment and highlights the roles of TAMs in regulating tumor angiogenesis, invasion, metastasis, immunosuppression, and chemotherapeutic resistance. Finally, the potential for TAM-targeted therapy as a promising novel strategy is also discussed.
- PublicationOpen AccessTumoricidal potential of binary therapy in lymphoma: Role of DC-NK cross-talk and checkpoint inhibitors(Universidad de Murcia, Departamento de Biologia Celular e Histiologia, 2025) Chaudhary, Pratima; Yadav, Pragya; Manna, Partha Pratim; Biología Celular e HistologíaLymphoma is a common type of cancer that occurs in humans. Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) is the most common non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) subtype and is characterized by high clinical and biological heterogeneity. The tumor microenvironment (TME) in lymphoma is critical for the initiation, progression, and metastasis of tumors and influences the therapeutic efficiency of chemotherapy or immuno-therapy, including cell therapy or appropriate combinations of therapeutics. The role of effector immune cells in the development and progression of DLBCL is complex and involves reciprocal interactions between tumor cells, adaptive and innate immune cells, their soluble mediators, and structural components present in the TME. Recruitment of immune cells in the TME and their distinct effects on tumor progression and therapeutic outcomes in the presence of therapy have decisive effects on the outcome of therapy. In this review, we discuss the application and implications of binary therapy involving suboptimal-dose chemotherapy and adoptive cell therapy on the basis of our recent findings on γc cytokine-aided cross-talk between dendritic cells and natural killer cells in therapy against experimental murine lymphoma. This novel therapeutic protocol induces a healing response in experimental lymphoma by downregulating FOXP3 and programmed cell death protein 1. We discuss the various aspects of binary therapy covering multiple issues, including the participation of cell subsets and checkpoint inhibitors in the treatment of malignant lymphoma. These new therapies involve the induction of adoptive cell therapy through the passive transfer of immunologic effectors in addition to a suboptimal dose of adriamycin (doxorubicin hydrochloride) to increase the ability of the immune system to react against tumor antigens, inducing the destruction of tumor cells.