| 1. |
- Corvigno, Sara, et al.
(författare)
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High density of stroma-localized CD11c-positive macrophages is associated with longer overall survival in high-grade serous ovarian cancer.
- 2020
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Ingår i: Gynecologic Oncology. - : Elsevier BV. - 0090-8258 .- 1095-6859. ; 159:3, s. 860-868
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- OBJECTIVE: Pre-clinical studies have identified marker- and tumor compartment-defined functionally distinct macrophage subsets. Our study analyzes marker-defined macrophage subsets in different tumor compartments of high-grade serous ovarian cancer (HGSC).METHODS: A discovery cohort (N = 113) was subjected to immunohistochemistry (IHC) analyses. CD68-positivity was confirmed for CD11c-, CD80- and CD163-positive cells. Subset-marker-positive cells were scored in the total tumor and in four tumor compartments. Correlation analyses investigated co-expression of subsets, relationship to CD8+ cells and survival associations. A validation cohort (N = 121) was used to confirm selected findings from the discovery cohort.RESULTS: CD163-positve cells was the most abundant subtype in all compartments. CD11c and CD163 subsets were strongly correlated with each other in stroma and epithelial areas, whereas CD80 and CD163 were correlated in epithelial areas. CD80 and CD11c in perivascular areas showed low correlations. Strong associations were detected between CD8 and CD80 in the tumor epithelium-dominated areas, and between CD8 and CD11c in stroma areas. High stromal CD11c density was associated with a longer median overall survival in the discovery cohort (HR 0.39; CI 95%, 0.23-0.68; p = 0.001) and in the validation cohort (HR 0.46; CI 95%, 0.22-0.93; p = 0.03).CONCLUSIONS: Our study supports the existence of clinically relevant marker- and localization defined macrophage subsets in HGSC, which are independently regulated. Moreover, it suggests stromal CD11c as a novel prognostic marker in HGSC.
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| 2. |
- Corvigno, Sara, et al.
(författare)
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Markers of fibroblast-rich tumor stroma and perivascular cells in serous ovarian cancer: Inter- and intra-patient heterogeneity and impact on survival
- 2016
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Ingår i: Oncotarget. - : Impact Journals LLC. - 1949-2553. ; 7:14, s. 18573-18584
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Inter- and intra-patient variations in tumor microenvironment of serous ovarian cancer are largely unexplored. We aimed to explore potential co-regulation of tumor stroma characteristics, analyze their concordance in primary and metastatic lesions, and study their impact on survival. A tissue microarray (TMA) with 186 tumors and 91 matched metastases was subjected to immunohistochemistry double staining with endothelial cell marker CD34 and fibroblast and pericyte markers alpha-SMA, PDGF beta R and desmin. Images were digitally analyzed to yield "metrics" related to vasculature and stroma features. Intra-case analyses showed that PDGF beta R in perivascular cells and fibroblasts were strongly correlated. Similar findings were observed concerning `-SMA. Most stroma characteristics showed large variations in intra-case comparisons of primary tumors and metastasis. Large PDGF beta R-positive stroma fraction and high PDGF beta FR positive perivascular intensity were both significantly associated with shorter survival in uni- and multi-variate analyses (HR 1.7, 95% CI 1.1-2.5; HR 1.7, 95% CI 1.1-2.8). In conclusion, we found PDGF beta R- and alpha-SMA-expression to be largely independent of each other but concordantly activated in perivascular cells and in fibroblasts within the primary tumor. Stromal characteristics differed between primary tumors and metastases. PDGF beta R in perivascular cells and in fibroblasts may be novel prognostic markers in serous ovarian cancer.
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| 3. |
- Corvigno, Sara, et al.
(författare)
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Multi-parametric profiling of renal cell, colorectal, and ovarian cancer identifies tumour-type-specific stroma phenotypes and a novel vascular biomarker
- 2017
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Ingår i: The journal of pathology. Clinical research. - : WILEY. - 2056-4538. ; 3:3, s. 214-224
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- A novel set of integrated procedures for quantification of fibroblast-rich stroma and vascular characteristics has recently been presented allowing discovery of novel perivascular and stromal biomarkers in colorectal, renal cell, and ovarian cancer. In the present study, data obtained through these procedures from clinically well-annotated collections of these three tumour types have been used to address two novel questions. First, data have been used to investigate if the three tumour types demonstrate significant differences regarding features such as vessel diameter, vessel density, and perivascular marker expression. Second, analyses of the cohorts have been used to explore the prognostic significance of a novel vascular metric, 'vessel distance inter-quartile range (IQR)' that describes intra-case heterogeneity regarding vessel distribution. The comparisons between the three tumour types demonstrated a set of significant differences. Vessel density of renal cell cancer was statistically significantly higher than in colorectal and ovarian cancer. Vessel diameter was statistically significantly higher in ovarian cancer. Concerning perivascular status, colorectal cancer displayed significantly higher levels of perivascular PDGFR-beta expression than the other two tumour types. Intra-case heterogeneity of perivascular PDGFR-beta expression was also higher in colorectal cancer. Notably, these fibroblast-dominated stroma phenotypes matched previously described experimental tumour stroma characteristics, which have been linked to differential sensitivity to anti-VEGF drugs. High 'vessel distance IQR' was significantly associated with poor survival in both renal cell cancer and colorectal cancer. In renal cell cancer, this characteristic also acted as an independent prognostic marker according to multivariate analyses including standard clinico-pathological characteristics. Explorative subset analyses indicated particularly strong prognostic significance of 'vessel distance IQR' in T stage 4 of this cancer type. Together, these analyses identified tumour-type-specific vascular-stroma phenotypes of possible functional significance, and suggest 'vessel distance IQR' as a novel prognostic biomarker.
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| 4. |
- Corvigno, Sara
(författare)
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Tumour microenvironment in serous ovarian cancer
- 2017
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Ovarian cancer is the seventh most common malignancy in women worldwide and the most lethal gynaecological malignancy in developed countries. The epithelial subtype is divided in five main histologic groups, of which the high-grade serous is the most common subtype. Advanced stage at diagnosis, poor prognosis and high incidence of resistance to therapy constitute the most important challenges for patients with ovarian cancer. The search to identify new prognostic and predictive markers represents one of the major goals in the research field of high-grade serous ovarian cancer (HGSOC). During tumour development and progression, the ovarian stroma, constituted by blood vessels, fibroblasts, smooth muscle cells and connective tissue, sustains cancer cells through synergistic paracrine communications. This thesis aimed at studying the components of tumour microenvironment in serous ovarian cancer, especially HGSOC, and their possible association with survival and response to therapy. We identified PDGFRβ positive stroma fibroblasts and perivascular cells as a determinant of poor survival in serous ovarian cancer. When we characterized PDGFRβ positive stroma and vasculature of ovarian cancer, compared to renal and colorectal cancer, we found both similarities and differences. We also studied the interaction between cancer-associated fibroblasts and immune cells and noted an inhibitory effect of FAP positive fibroblasts in patients with high tumour infiltration of CD8 positive T cells on response to platinum-based treatment in a population of HGSOC patients. On the same population, we studied the macrophage profile and discovered a correlation of two distinct subtypes of macrophages (CD11c and CD80 positive) in specific tumour localizations, with overall and progression-free survival respectively, indicating independent effects of these subsets on natural course of the disease and response to treatment. In summary, our research identified a number of tumour stroma-related measurable features associated with survival and response to treatment. Our findings support continued analyses of ovarian cancer tumour microenvironment in order to discover and develop new prognostic and predictive tools, to improve the clinical outcome in ovarian cancer.
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| 5. |
- Frödin, Magnus, et al.
(författare)
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Perivascular PDGFR-β is an independent marker for prognosis in renal cell carcinoma
- 2017
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Ingår i: British Journal of Cancer. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 0007-0920 .- 1532-1827. ; 116:2, s. 195-201
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background:Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is a highly vascularised tumour, where anti-Angiogenic treatment with multi-Tyrosine-kinase-inhibitor, is used for first-line treatment of metastatic disease. Variations in vascular characteristics are likely to contribute to variations in intrinsic aggressiveness of the disease. Emerging studies are identifying perivascular status, including perivascular PDGFR-β, as a determinant of prognosis in other tumour types.Methods:This work explored the impact on prognosis of vascular characteristics in RCC through analyses of a population-based collection of tumours from surgery-Alone-Treated patients. The quantitative data from a panel of vascular metrics were obtained through computerised image analysis of sections double-stained for expression of the endothelial cell marker CD34 together with perivascular markers α-SMA or PDGFR-β.Results:Perivascular expression of PDGFR-β and α-SMA were positively correlated to each other, and negatively correlated to vessel density. High expression of PDGFR-β and α-SMA as well as low vessel density was significantly associated with short survival in uni-and multivariate analyses. Subgroup analyses demonstrated that the prognostic impact of the perivascular markers was particularly prominent in the T4-subgroup. A novel metric, related to PDGFR-β perivascular heterogeneity, was also associated with prognosis in uni-And multi-variate analyses. This novel metric also acted as a prognosis marker in ovarian cancer.Conclusions:The study demonstrates previously unrecognised associations between RCC survival and the absolute levels, and variability, of perivascular PDGFR-β. This marker should be further explored in other RCC cohorts. Findings also suggest mechanistic analyses and studies on the relationship between perivascular status and efficacy of multi-Tyrosine-kinase-inhibitors.
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| 6. |
- Herrera, Mercedes, et al.
(författare)
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Prognostic Interactions between FAP plus Fibroblasts and CD8a+T Cells in Colon Cancer
- 2020
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Ingår i: Cancers. - : MDPI. - 2072-6694. ; 12:11
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Simple Summary In addition to malignant cells, tumors are composed also of other cell types including immune cells and fibroblasts. These cell types interact with each other and with the malignant cells. Prognosis associations have previously been demonstrated for CD8-positive immune cells. Recent studies suggest that fibroblasts can affect the function of immune cells. The aim of this study was to investigate if the fibroblast composition of tumors affected the prognosis association of CD8 immune cells. This study demonstrated that in colon cancer, CD8 prognosis associations was restricted to the group of tumors with high expression the FAP fibroblast marker. Our findings suggest continued mechanistic studies regarding crosstalk between FAP-positive fibroblasts and the different immune cell types; and also support the investigation of fibroblast/T-cell interactions for therapeutic purposes. Inter-case variations in immune cell and fibroblast composition are associated with prognosis in solid tumors, including colon cancer. A series of experimental studies suggest immune-modulatory roles of marker-defined fibroblast populations, including FAP-positive fibroblasts. These studies imply that the fibroblast status of tumors might affect the prognostic significance of immune-related features. Analyses of a population-based colon cancer cohort demonstrated good prognosis associations of FAP intensity and CD8a density. Notably, a significant prognostic interaction was detected between these markers (p = 0.013 in nonadjusted analyses and p = 0.003 in analyses adjusted for cofounding factors) in a manner where the good prognosis association of CD8 density was restricted to the FAP intensity-high group. This prognostic interaction was also detected in an independent randomized trial-derived colon cancer cohort (p = 0.048 in nonadjusted analyses). In the CD8-high group, FAP intensity was significantly associated with a higher total tumor density of FoxP3-positive immune cells and a higher ratio of epithelial-to-stromal density of CD8a T cells. The study presents findings relevant for the ongoing efforts to improve the prognostic performance of CD8-related markers and should be followed by additional validation studies. Furthermore, findings support, in general, earlier model-derived studies implying fibroblast subsets as clinically relevant modulators of immune surveillance. Finally, the associations between FAP intensity and specific immune features suggest mechanisms of fibroblast-immune crosstalk with therapeutic potential.
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| 7. |
- Leiss, Lina, et al.
(författare)
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Platelet-derived growth factor receptor α/glial fibrillary acidic protein expressing peritumoral astrocytes associate with shorter median overall survival in glioblastoma patients.
- 2020
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Ingår i: Glia. - : Wiley. - 0894-1491 .- 1098-1136. ; 68:5, s. 979-988
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The microenvironment and architecture of peritumoral tissue have been suggested to affect permissiveness for infiltration of malignant cells. Astrocytes constitute a heterogeneous population of cells and have been linked to proliferation, migration, and drug sensitivity of glioblastoma (GBM) cells. Through double-immunohistochemical staining for platelet-derived growth factor receptor α (PDGFRα) and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), this study explored the intercase variability among 45 human GBM samples regarding density of GFAP+ peritumoral astrocytes and a subset of GFAP+ peritumoral astrocyte-like cells also expressing PDGFRα. Large intercase variability regarding the total peritumoral astrocyte density and the density of PDGFRα+/GFAP+ peritumoral astrocyte-like cells was detected. DNA fluorescence in situ hybridization analyses for commonly altered genetic tumor markers supported the interpretation that these cells represented a genetically unaffected host cell subset referred to as PDGFRα+/GFAP+ peritumoral astrocytes. The presence of PDGFRα+/GFAP+ peritumoral astrocytes was significantly positively correlated to older patient age and peritumoral astrocyte density, but not to other established prognostic factors. Notably, presence of PDGFRα+/GFAP+ peritumoral astrocytes, but not peritumoral astrocyte density, was associated with significantly shorter patient overall survival. The prognostic association of PDGFRα+/GFAP+ peritumoral astrocytes was confirmed in multivariable analyses. This exploratory study thus demonstrates previously unrecognized intercase variability and prognostic significance of peritumoral abundance of a novel PDGFRα+ subset of GFAP+ astrocytes. Findings suggest clinically relevant roles of the microenvironment of peritumoral GBM tissue and encourage further characterization of the novel astrocyte subset with regard to origin, function, and potential as biomarker and drug target.
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| 8. |
- Magalhaes, Isabelle, et al.
(författare)
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Mesothelin Expression in Patients with High-Grade Serous Ovarian Cancer Does Not Predict Clinical Outcome But Correlates with CD11c+ Expression in Tumor
- 2020
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Ingår i: Advances in Therapy. - : Springer. - 0741-238X .- 1865-8652. ; 37:12, s. 5023-5031
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Introduction: Mesothelin (MSLN) is overexpressed in several tumors including ovarian cancer and is the target of current trials. There is limited and conflicting data on MSLN prognostic impact in ovarian cancer.Methods: We performed a retrospective study on patients with high-grade serous ovarian cancer, analyzing MSLN expression by immunohistochemistry and examining the correlation of its expression to overall and progression-free survival. Correlations of expression of MSLN, CD8, and macrophage markers in different tumor compartments were also investigated.Results: Positive MSLN expression was detected in 55.1% of primary tumors and 51.5% of the metastases. MSLN expression was not correlated with survival. We observed a significant positive correlation (r = 0.34, p = 0.01) between MSLN expression in the metastatic site and CD11c expression in total tumor area and perivascular area in the primary tumor.Conclusion: Our results show that MSLN expression does not correlate with clinical outcome. The impact of the correlation between MSLN and CD11c+ cells on immunotherapy outcome should be further explored.
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| 9. |
- Mezheyeuski, Artur, et al.
(författare)
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Survival-associated heterogeneity of marker-defined perivascular cells in colorectal cancer
- 2016
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Ingår i: Oncotarget. - : Impact Journals, LLC. - 1949-2553. ; 7:27, s. 41948-41958
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Perivascular cells (PC) were recently implied as regulators of metastasis and immune cell activity. Perivascular heterogeneity in clinical samples, and associations with other tumor features and outcome, remain largely unknown.Here we report a novel method for digital quantitative analyses of vessel characteristics and PC, which was applied to two collections of human metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC).Initial analyses identified marker-defined subsets of PC, including cells expressing PDGFR-β or α-SMA or both markers. PC subsets were largely independently expressed in a manner unrelated to vessel density and size. Association studies implied specific oncogenic mutations in malignant cells as determinants of PC status. Semi-quantitative and digital-image-analyses-based scoring of the NORDIC-VII cohort identified significant associations between low expression of perivascular PDGFR-α and -β and shorter overall survival. Analyses of the SPCRC cohort confirmed these findings. Perivascular PDGFR-α and -β remained independent factors for survival in multivariate analyses.Overall, our study identified host vasculature and oncogenic status as determinants of tumor perivascular features. Perivascular PDGFR-α and -β were identified as novel independent markers predicting survival in mCRC. The novel methodology should be suitable for similar analyses in other tumor collections.
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| 10. |
- Micke, Patrick, et al.
(författare)
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The prognostic impact of the tumour stroma fraction : A machine learning-based analysis in 16 human solid tumour types
- 2021
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Ingår i: EBioMedicine. - : Elsevier. - 2352-3964. ; 65
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: The development of a reactive tumour stroma is a hallmark of tumour progression and pronounced tumour stroma is generally considered to be associated with clinical aggressiveness. The variability between tumour types regarding stroma fraction, and its prognosis associations, have not been systematically analysed.Methods: Using an objective machine-learning method we quantified the tumour stroma in 16 solid cancer types from 2732 patients, representing retrospective tissue collections of surgically resected primary tumours. Image analysis performed tissue segmentation into stromal and epithelial compartment based on pan-cytokeratin staining and autofluorescence patterns.Findings: The stroma fraction was highly variable within and across the tumour types, with kidney cancer showing the lowest and pancreato-biliary type periampullary cancer showing the highest stroma proportion (median 19% and 73% respectively). Adjusted Cox regression models revealed both positive (pancreato-biliary type periampullary cancer and oestrogen negative breast cancer, HR(95%CI)=0.56(0.34-0.92) and HR (95%CI)=0.41(0.17-0.98) respectively) and negative (intestinal type periampullary cancer, HR(95%CI)=3.59 (1.49-8.62)) associations of the tumour stroma fraction with survival.Interpretation: Our study provides an objective quantification of the tumour stroma fraction across major types of solid cancer. Findings strongly argue against the commonly promoted view of a general associations between high stroma abundance and poor prognosis. The results also suggest that full exploitation of the prognostic potential of tumour stroma requires analyses that go beyond determination of stroma abundance.
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