1. |
- Aasebo, Kristine, et al.
(författare)
-
CDX2 : A Prognostic Marker in Metastatic Colorectal Cancer Defining a Better BRAF Mutated and a Worse KRAS Mutated Subgroup
- 2020
-
Ingår i: Frontiers in Oncology. - : FRONTIERS MEDIA SA. - 2234-943X. ; 10
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: Survival of metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) patients has improved, but mainly for trial patients. New predictive and prognostic biomarkers validated in the general mCRC population are needed. Caudal-type homeobox 2 (CDX2) is an intestine-specific transcription factor with potential prognostic and predictive effect, but the importance in mCRC has not been fully investigated. Methods: Immunohistochemistry analysis of CDX2 was performed in a Scandinavian population-based cohort of mCRC (n = 796). Frequency, clinical and tumor characteristics, response rate, progression-free survival, and overall survival (OS) were estimated. Results: Loss of CDX2 expression was found in 87 (19%) of 452 stained cases, in 53% if BRAF mutated (BRAFmut) and in 9% if KRAS mutated (KRASmut). CDX2 loss was associated with microsatellite instability, BRAFmut, and poor differentiation and inversely associated with KRASmut. Patients with CDX2 loss received less first-line (53 vs. 64%, p = 0.050) and second-line (23 vs. 39%, p = 0.006) chemotherapy and secondary surgery (1 vs. 9%, p = 0.019). Median progression-free survival and OS for patients given first-line combination chemotherapy was 4 and 10 months if CDX2 loss vs. 9 and 24 months if CDX2 expressed (p = 0.001, p < 0.001). Immediate progression on first-line combination chemotherapy was seen in 35% of patients with CDX2 loss vs. 10% if CDX2 expressed (p = 0.003). Median OS in patients with BRAFmut or KRASmut and CDX2 expressed in tumor (both 21 months) was comparable to wild-type patients (27 months). However, if CDX2 loss, median OS was only 8 and 11 months in BRAFmut and KRASmut cases, respectively, and 10 months in double wild-type patients. In multivariate analysis, CDX2 loss (hazard ratio: 1.50, p = 0.027) and BRAFmut (hazard ratio: 1.62, p = 0.012) were independent poor prognostic markers for OS. Conclusion: In a population-based cohort of mCRC patients, CDX2 loss is an independent poor prognostic marker. Expression of CDX2 defines a new subgroup of BRAFmut cases with a much better prognosis. Loss of CDX2 defines a small group of KRASmut cases with a worse prognosis. Patients with CDX2 loss receive less palliative chemotherapy with less benefit and rarely reach secondary surgery.
|
|
2. |
- Aasebö, Kristine Ö., et al.
(författare)
-
Consequences of a high incidence of microsatellite instability and BRAF-mutated tumors : A population-based cohort of metastatic colorectal cancer patients
- 2019
-
Ingår i: Cancer Medicine. - : WILEY. - 2045-7634. ; 8:7, s. 3623-3635
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: Immunotherapy for patients with microsatellite-instable (MSI-H) tumors or BRAF-inhibitors combination treatment for BRAF-mutated (mutBRAF) tumors in metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) is promising, but the frequency of these molecular changes in trial patients are low. Unselected population-based studies of these molecular changes are warranted.Methods: A population-based cohort of 798 mCRC patients in Scandinavia was studied. Patient and molecular tumor characteristics, overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) were estimated.Results: Here, 40/583 (7%) tumor samples were MSI-H and 120/591 (20%) were mutBRAF; 87% of MSI-H tumors were mutBRAF (non-Lynch). Elderly (>75 years) had more often MSI-H (10% vs 6%) and MSI-H/mutBRAF (9% vs 4%) tumors. Response rate (5% vs 44%), PFS (4 vs 8 months), and OS (9 vs 18 months) after first-line chemotherapy was all significantly lower in patients with MSI-H compared to patients with microsatellite stable tumors. MSI-H and mutBRAF were both independent poor prognostic predictors for OS (P = 0.049, P < 0.001) and PFS (P = 0.045, P = 0.005) after first-line chemotherapy. Patients with MSI-H tumors received less second-line chemotherapy (15% vs 37%, P = 0.005).Conclusions: In unselected mCRC patients, MSI-H and mutBRAF cases were more common than previously reported. Patients with MSI-H tumors had worse survival, less benefit from chemotherapy, and they differed considerably from recent third-line immunotherapy trial patients as they were older and most had mutBRAF tumor (non-Lynch).
|
|
3. |
- Backman, Max, et al.
(författare)
-
Extending the immune phenotypes of lung cancer: Oasis in the desert
-
Annan publikation (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Introduction: Tumor infiltrating immune cells are key elements of the tumor microenvironment and mediate the anti-tumor effects of immunotherapy. The aim of the study was to characterize patterns of immune cell infiltration in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) in relation to tumor mutations and clinicopathological parameters. Methods: Lymphocytes (CD4+, CD8+, CD20+, FOXP3+, CD45RO+), macrophages (CD163+), plasma cells (CD138+), NK cells (NKp46+) and PD-L1+ were annotated on a tissue microarray including 357 operated NSCLC cases. Somatic mutations and tumor mutational burden were analyzed by targeted sequencing for 82 genes, and transcriptomic immune patterns were established in 197 patients based on RNAseq data. Results: We identified somatic mutations (TP53, NF1, KEAP1, CSMD3, LRP1B) that correlated with specific immune cell infiltrates. Hierarchical clustering revealed four immune classes: with (1) high immune cell infiltration (“inflamed”), (2) low immune cell infiltration (“desert”), (3) a mixed phenotype, and (4) a new phenotype with an overall muted inflammatory cell pattern but with an imprint of NK and plasma cells. This latter class exhibited low expression of immune response-related genes (e.g. CXCL9, GZMB, INFG, TGFB1), but was linked to better survival and therefore designated “oasis”. Otherwise, the four immune classes were not related to the presence of specific mutations (EGFR, KRAS, TP53) or histologic subtypes. Conclusion: We present a compartment-specific immune cell analysis in the context of the molecular and clinical background of NSCLC and identified the novel immune class “oasis”. The immune classification helps to better define the immunogenic potency of NSCLC in the era of immunotherapy.
|
|
4. |
- Backman, Max, et al.
(författare)
-
Infiltration of NK and plasma cells is associated with a distinct immune subset in non‐small cell lung cancer
- 2021
-
Ingår i: Journal of Pathology. - : John Wiley & Sons. - 0022-3417 .- 1096-9896. ; 255:3, s. 243-256
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Immune cells of the tumor microenvironment are central but erratic targets for immunotherapy. The aim of this study was to characterize novel patterns of immune cell infiltration in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) in relation to its molecular and clinicopathologic characteristics. Lymphocytes (CD3+, CD4+, CD8+, CD20+, FOXP3+, CD45RO+), macrophages (CD163+), plasma cells (CD138+), NK cells (NKp46+), PD1+, and PD-L1+ were annotated on a tissue microarray including 357 NSCLC cases. Somatic mutations were analyzed by targeted sequencing for 82 genes and a tumor mutational load score was estimated. Transcriptomic immune patterns were established in 197 patients based on RNA sequencing data. The immune cell infiltration was variable and showed only poor association with specific mutations. The previously defined immune phenotypic patterns, desert, inflamed, and immune excluded, comprised 30, 13, and 57% of cases, respectively. Notably, mRNA immune activation and high estimated tumor mutational load were unique only for the inflamed pattern. However, in the unsupervised cluster analysis, including all immune cell markers, these conceptual patterns were only weakly reproduced. Instead, four immune classes were identified: (1) high immune cell infiltration, (2) high immune cell infiltration with abundance of CD20+ B cells, (3) low immune cell infiltration, and (4) a phenotype with an imprint of plasma cells and NK cells. This latter class was linked to better survival despite exhibiting low expression of immune response-related genes (e.g. CXCL9, GZMB, INFG, CTLA4). This compartment-specific immune cell analysis in the context of the molecular and clinical background of NSCLC reveals two previously unrecognized immune classes. A refined immune classification, including traits of the humoral and innate immune response, is important to define the immunogenic potency of NSCLC in the era of immunotherapy. © 2021 The Authors. The Journal of Pathology published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. on behalf of The Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland.
|
|
5. |
- Backman, Max, 1987-, et al.
(författare)
-
Spatial immunophenotyping of the tumor microenvironment in non-small cell lung cancer
-
Annan publikation (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Introduction: Immune cells in the tumor microenvironment are associated with prognosis and response to therapy. We aimed to comprehensively characterize the spatial immune phenotypes in the mutational and clinicopathological background of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).Methods: We established a multiplexed fluorescence multispectral imaging pipeline to spatially quantify 13 immune cell subsets in 359 NSCLC cases: CD4 effector cells (CD4 Eff), CD4 regulatory cells (CD4 Treg), CD8 effector cells (CD8 Eff), CD8 regulatory cells (CD8 Treg), B-cells, NK-cells, NKT-cells, M1 macrophages (M1), CD163+ myeloid cells (CD163), M2 macrophages (M2), immature dendritic cells (iDCs), mature dendritic cells (mDCs), and plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs). Results: CD4 Eff cells, CD8 Eff cells, and M1 macrophages were the most abundant immune cells invading the tumor cell compartment and indicated a patient group with a favorable prognosis in the cluster analysis. Likewise, single densities of lymphocytic subsets (CD4 Eff, CD4 Treg, CD8 Treg, and B-cells), as well as pDCs, were independently associated with longer survival. However, when these immune cells were located close to CD8 Treg cells, the favorable impact was attenuated. In the multivariate Cox regression model including cell densities and distances, the densities of M1 and CD163 cells and distances between cells (CD8 Treg–B-cells, CD8 Eff–cancer cells, and B-cells–CD4 Treg) demonstrated positive prognostic impact, while short M2–M1 distances were prognostically unfavorable.Conclusion: We present a unique spatial profile of the in situ immune cell landscape in NSCLC as a publicly available data set. Cell densities and cell distances contribute independently to prognostic information on clinical outcomes, suggesting that spatial information is also crucial for diagnostic use.
|
|
6. |
- Backman, Max, 1987-, et al.
(författare)
-
Spatial immunophenotyping of the tumour microenvironment in non-small cell lung cancer
- 2023
-
Ingår i: European Journal of Cancer. - : Elsevier. - 0959-8049 .- 1879-0852. ; 185, s. 40-52
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Introduction: Immune cells in the tumour microenvironment are associated with prognosis and response to therapy. We aimed to comprehensively characterise the spatial im-mune phenotypes in the mutational and clinicopathological background of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).Methods: We established a multiplexed fluorescence imaging pipeline to spatially quantify 13 immune cell subsets in 359 NSCLC cases: CD4 effector cells (CD4-Eff), CD4 regulatory cells (CD4-Treg), CD8 effector cells (CD8-Eff), CD8 regulatory cells (CD8-Treg), B-cells, natural killer cells, natural killer T-cells, M1 macrophages (M1), CD163 thorn myeloid cells (CD163), M2 macrophages (M2), immature dendritic cells (iDCs), mature dendritic cells (mDCs) and plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs).Results: CD4-Eff cells, CD8-Eff cells and M1 macrophages were the most abundant immune cells invading the tumour cell compartment and indicated a patient group with a favourable prognosis in the cluster analysis. Likewise, single densities of lymphocytic subsets (CD4-Eff, CD4-Treg, CD8-Treg, B-cells and pDCs) were independently associated with longer survival. However, when these immune cells were located close to CD8-Treg cells, the favourable impact was attenuated. In the multivariable Cox regression model, including cell densities and distances, the densities of M1 and CD163 cells and distances between cells (CD8-Treg-B-cells, CD8-Eff-cancer cells and B-cells-CD4-Treg) demonstrated positive prognostic impact, whereas short M2-M1 distances were prognostically unfavourable.Conclusion: We present a unique spatial profile of the in situ immune cell landscape in NSCLC as a publicly available data set. Cell densities and cell distances contribute independently to prognostic information on clinical outcomes, suggesting that spatial information is crucial for diagnostic use.
|
|
7. |
- Caja, Laia, et al.
(författare)
-
The protein kinase LKB1 promotes self-renewal and blocks invasiveness in glioblastoma
- 2022
-
Ingår i: Journal of Cellular Physiology. - : John Wiley & Sons. - 0021-9541 .- 1097-4652. ; 237:1, s. 743-762
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The role of liver kinase B1 (LKB1) in glioblastoma (GBM) development remains poorly understood. LKB1 may regulate GBM cell metabolism and has been suggested to promote glioma invasiveness. After analyzing LKB1 expression in GBM patient mRNA databases and in tumor tissue via multiparametric immunohistochemistry, we observed that LKB1 was localized and enriched in GBM tumor cells that co-expressed SOX2 and NESTIN stemness markers. Thus, LKB1-specific immunohistochemistry can potentially reveal subpopulations of stem-like cells, advancing GBM patient molecular pathology. We further analyzed the functions of LKB1 in patient-derived GBM cultures under defined serum-free conditions. Silencing of endogenous LKB1 impaired 3D-gliomasphere frequency and promoted GBM cell invasion in vitro and in the zebrafish collagenous tail after extravasation of circulating GBM cells. Moreover, loss of LKB1 function revealed mitochondrial dysfunction resulting in decreased ATP levels. Treatment with the clinically used drug metformin impaired 3D-gliomasphere formation and enhanced cytotoxicity induced by temozolomide, the primary chemotherapeutic drug against GBM. The IC50 of temozolomide in the GBM cultures was significantly decreased in the presence of metformin. This combinatorial effect was further enhanced after LKB1 silencing, which at least partially, was due to increased apoptosis. The expression of genes involved in the maintenance of tumor stemness, such as growth factors and their receptors, including members of the platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) family, was suppressed after LKB1 silencing. The defect in gliomasphere growth caused by LKB1 silencing was bypassed after supplementing the cells with exogenous PFDGF-BB. Our data support the parallel roles of LKB1 in maintaining mitochondrial homeostasis, 3D-gliomasphere survival, and hindering migration in GBM. Thus, the natural loss of, or pharmacological interference with LKB1 function, may be associated with benefits in patient survival but could result in tumor spread.
|
|
8. |
- Corvigno, Sara, et al.
(författare)
-
High density of stroma-localized CD11c-positive macrophages is associated with longer overall survival in high-grade serous ovarian cancer.
- 2020
-
Ingår i: Gynecologic Oncology. - : Elsevier BV. - 0090-8258 .- 1095-6859. ; 159:3, s. 860-868
-
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.
|
|
9. |
- Corvigno, Sara, et al.
(författare)
-
Markers of fibroblast-rich tumor stroma and perivascular cells in serous ovarian cancer: Inter- and intra-patient heterogeneity and impact on survival
- 2016
-
Ingår i: Oncotarget. - : Impact Journals LLC. - 1949-2553. ; 7:14, s. 18573-18584
-
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.
|
|
10. |
- Corvigno, Sara, et al.
(författare)
-
Multi-parametric profiling of renal cell, colorectal, and ovarian cancer identifies tumour-type-specific stroma phenotypes and a novel vascular biomarker
- 2017
-
Ingår i: The journal of pathology. Clinical research. - : WILEY. - 2056-4538. ; 3:3, s. 214-224
-
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.
|
|
11. |
- Dadras, Mahsa Shahidi, et al.
(författare)
-
The polarity protein Par3 coordinates positively self-renewal and negatively invasiveness in glioblastoma
- 2021
-
Ingår i: Cell Death and Disease. - : Springer Nature. - 2041-4889. ; 12:10
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Glioblastoma (GBM) is a brain malignancy characterized by invasiveness to the surrounding brain tissue and by stem-like cells, which propagate the tumor and may also regulate invasiveness. During brain development, polarity proteins, such as Par3, regulate asymmetric cell division of neuro-glial progenitors and neurite motility. We, therefore, studied the role of the Par3 protein (encoded by PARD3) in GBM. GBM patient transcriptomic data and patient-derived culture analysis indicated diverse levels of expression of PARD3 across and independent from subtypes. Multiplex immunolocalization in GBM tumors identified Par3 protein enrichment in SOX2-, CD133-, and NESTIN-positive (stem-like) cells. Analysis of GBM cultures of the three subtypes (proneural, classical, mesenchymal), revealed decreased gliomasphere forming capacity and enhanced invasiveness upon silencing Par3. GBM cultures with suppressed Par3 showed low expression of stemness (SOX2 and NESTIN) but higher expression of differentiation (GFAP) genes. Moreover, Par3 silencing reduced the expression of a set of genes encoding mitochondrial enzymes that generate ATP. Accordingly, silencing Par3 reduced ATP production and concomitantly increased reactive oxygen species. The latter was required for the enhanced migration observed upon silencing of Par3 as anti-oxidants blocked the enhanced migration. These findings support the notion that Par3 exerts homeostatic redox control, which could limit the tumor cell-derived pool of oxygen radicals, and thereby the tumorigenicity of GBM.
|
|
12. |
- Ellingsen, Espen Basmo, et al.
(författare)
-
Characterization of the T cell receptor repertoire and melanoma tumor microenvironment upon combined treatment with ipilimumab and hTERT vaccination
- 2022
-
Ingår i: Journal of Translational Medicine. - : Springer Nature. - 1479-5876. ; 20
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: This clinical trial evaluated a novel telomerase-targeting therapeutic cancer vaccine, UV1, in combination with ipilimumab, in patients with metastatic melanoma. Translational research was conducted on patient-derived blood and tissue samples with the goal of elucidating the effects of treatment on the T cell receptor repertoire and tumor microenvironment.Methods: The trial was an open-label, single-center phase I/11a study. Eligible patients had unresectable metastatic melanoma. Patients received up to 9 UV1 vaccinations and four ipilimumab infusions. Clinical responses were assessed according to RECIST 1.1. Patients were followed up for progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS). Whole-exome and RNA sequencing, and multiplex immunofluorescence were performed on the biopsies. T cell receptor (TCR) sequencing was performed on the peripheral blood and tumor tissues.Results: Twelve patients were enrolled in the study. Vaccine-specific immune responses were detected in 91% of evaluable patients. Clinical responses were observed in four patients. The mPFS was 6.7 months, and the mOS was 66.3 months. There was no association between baseline tumor mutational burden, neoantigen load, IFN-gamma gene signature, tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes, and response to therapy. Tumor telomerase expression was confirmed in all available biopsies. Vaccine-enriched TCR clones were detected in blood and biopsy, and an increase in the tumor IFN-gamma gene signature was detected in clinically responding patients.Conclusion: Clinical responses were observed irrespective of established predictive biomarkers for checkpoint inhibitor efficacy, indicating an added benefit of the vaccine-induced T cells. The clinical and immunological read-out warrants further investigation of UV1 in combination with checkpoint inhibitors.
|
|
13. |
- Frödin, Magnus, et al.
(författare)
-
Perivascular PDGFR-β is an independent marker for prognosis in renal cell carcinoma
- 2017
-
Ingår i: British Journal of Cancer. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 0007-0920 .- 1532-1827. ; 116:2, s. 195-201
-
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.
|
|
14. |
- Garcia-Gomez, Pedro, et al.
(författare)
-
NOX4 regulates TGF beta-induced proliferation and self-renewal in glioblastoma stem cells
- 2022
-
Ingår i: Molecular Oncology. - : John Wiley & Sons. - 1574-7891 .- 1878-0261. ; 16:9, s. 1891-1912
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Y Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most aggressive and common glioma subtype, with a median survival of 15 months after diagnosis. Current treatments have limited therapeutic efficacy; thus, more effective approaches are needed. The glioblastoma tumoural mass is characterised by a small cellular subpopulation - glioblastoma stem cells (GSCs) - that has been held responsible for glioblastoma initiation, cell invasion, proliferation, relapse and resistance to chemo- and radiotherapy. Targeted therapies against GSCs are crucial, as is understanding the molecular mechanisms that govern the GSCs. Transforming growth factor beta (TGF beta) signalling and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production are known to govern and regulate cancer stem cell biology. Among the differentially expressed genes regulated by TGF beta in a transcriptomic analysis of two different patient-derived GSCs, we found NADPH oxidase 4 (NOX4) as one of the top upregulated genes. Interestingly, when patient tissues were analysed, NOX4 expression was found to be higher in GSCs versus differentiated cells. A functional analysis of the role of NOX4 downstream of TGF beta in several patient-derived GSCs showed that TGF beta does indeed induce NOX4 expression and increases ROS production in a NOX4-dependent manner. NOX4 downstream of TGF beta regulates GSC proliferation, and NOX4 expression is necessary for TGF beta-induced expression of stem cell markers and of the transcription factor nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (NRF2), which in turn controls the cell's antioxidant and metabolic responses. Interestingly, overexpression of NOX4 recapitulates the effects induced by TGF beta in GSCs: enhanced proliferation, stemness and NRF2 expression. In conclusion, this work functionally establishes NOX4 as a key mediator of GSC biology.
|
|
15. |
- Garcia-Vicien, Gemma, et al.
(författare)
-
Spatial Immunology in Liver Metastases from Colorectal Carcinoma according to the Histologic Growth Pattern
- 2022
-
Ingår i: Cancers. - : MDPI AG. - 2072-6694. ; 14:3
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Simple Summary In the era of immunotherapy, the tumor microenvironment (TME) has attracted special interest. However, colorectal liver metastases (CRC-LM) present histological peculiarities that could affect the interaction of immune and tumor cells such as fibrotic encapsulation and dense intratumoral stroma. We explored the spatial distribution of lymphocytic infiltrates in CRC-LM in the context of the histologic growth patterns using multispectral digital pathology providing data on three different scenarios, tumor periphery, invasive margin, and central tumoral areas. Our results illustrate a similar poor cell density of CD8(+) cells between different metastases subtypes in intratumoral regions. However, in encapsulated metastases, cytotoxic cells reach the tumor cells while remaining retained in stromal areas in non-encapsulating metastases. Some aspects are still unresolved, such as understanding the reason why most lymphocytes are largely retained in the capsule. Colorectal cancer liver metastases (CRC-LM) present differential histologic growth patterns (HGP) that determine the interaction between immune and tumor cells. We explored the spatial distribution of lymphocytic infiltrates in CRC-LM in the context of the HGP using multispectral digital pathology. We did not find statistically significant differences of immune cell densities in the central regions of desmoplastic ((d)HGP) and non-desmoplastic ((nd)HGP) metastases. The spatial evaluation reported that (d)HGP-metastases displayed higher infiltration by CD8(+) and CD20(+) cells in peripheral regions as well as CD4(+) and CD45RO(+) cells in (nd)HGP-metastases. However, the reactive stroma regions at the invasive margin (IM) of (nd)HGP-metastases displayed higher density of CD4(+), CD20(+), and CD45RO(+) cells. The antitumor status of the TIL infiltrates measured as CD8/CD4 reported higher values in the IM of encapsulated metastases up to 400 mu m towards the tumor center (p < 0.05). Remarkably, the IM of (d)HGP-metastases was characterized by higher infiltration of CD8(+) cells in the epithelial compartment parameter assessed with the ratio CD8(epithelial)/CD8(stromal), suggesting anti-tumoral activity in the encapsulating lesions. Taking together, the amount of CD8(+) cells is comparable in the IM of both HGP metastases types. However, in (d)HGP-metastases some cytotoxic cells reach the tumor nests while remaining retained in the stromal areas in (nd)HGP-metastases.
|
|
16. |
- Garcia-Vicién, Gemma, et al.
(författare)
-
The Tumor Microenvironment in Liver Metastases from Colorectal Carcinoma in the Context of the Histologic Growth Patterns
- 2021
-
Ingår i: International Journal of Molecular Sciences. - : MDPI. - 1661-6596 .- 1422-0067. ; 22:4
-
Forskningsöversikt (refereegranskat)abstract
- Colorectal carcinoma (CRC) is the third most common cancer. Likewise, it is a disease that has a long survival if it is prematurely detected. However, more than 50% of patients will develop metastases, mainly in the liver (LM-CRC), throughout the evolution of their disease, which accounts for most CRC-related deaths. Treatment it is certainly a controversial issue, since it has not been shown to increase overall survival in the adjuvant setting, although it does improve disease free survival (DFS). Moreover, current chemotherapy combinations are administered based on data extrapolated from primary tumors (PT), not considering that LM-CRC present a very particular tumor microenvironment that can radically condition the effectiveness of treatments designed for a PT. The liver has a particular histology and microenvironment that can determine tumor growth and response to treatments: double blood supply, vascularization through fenestrated sinusoids and the presence of different mesenchymal cell types, among other particularities. Likewise, the liver presents a peculiar immune response against tumor cells, a fact that correlates with the poor response to immunotherapy. All these aspects will be addressed in this review, putting them in the context of the histological growth patterns of LM-CRC, a particular pathologic feature with both prognostic and predictive repercussions.
|
|
17. |
- Goldmann, Torsten, et al.
(författare)
-
PD-L1 amplification is associated with an immune cell rich phenotype in squamous cell cancer of the lung
- 2021
-
Ingår i: Cancer Immunology and Immunotherapy. - : Springer Nature. - 0340-7004 .- 1432-0851. ; 70:9, s. 2577-2587
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Gene amplification is considered to be one responsible cause for upregulation of Programmed Death Ligand-1 (PD-L1) in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and to represent a specific molecular subgroup possibly associated with immunotherapy response. Our aim was to analyze the frequency of PD-L1 amplification, its relation to PD-L1 mRNA and protein expression, and to characterize the immune microenvironment of amplified cases. The study was based on two independent NSCLC cohorts, including 354 and 349 cases, respectively. Tissue microarrays were used to evaluate PD-L1 amplification by FISH and PD-L1 protein by immunohistochemistry. Immune infiltrates were characterized immunohistochemically by a panel of immune markers (CD3, CD4, CD8, PD-1, Foxp3, CD20, CD138, CD168, CD45RO, NKp46). Mutational status was determined by targeted sequencing. RNAseq data was available for 197 patients. PD-L1 amplification was detected in 4.5% of all evaluable cases. PD-L1 amplification correlated only weakly with mRNA and protein expression. About 37% of amplified cases were negative for PD-L1 protein. PD-L1 amplification did not show any association with the mutational status. In squamous cell cancer, PD-L1 amplified cases were enriched among patients with high tumoral immune cell infiltration and showed gene expression profiles related to immune exhaustion. In conclusion, PD-L1 amplification correlates with PD-L1 expression in squamous cell cancer and was associated with an immune cell rich tumor phenotype. The correlative findings help to understand the role of PD-L1 amplification as an important immune escape mechanism in NSCLC and suggest the need to further evaluate PD-L1 amplification as predictive biomarker for checkpoint inhibitor therapy.
|
|
18. |
- Hammarström, Klara, et al.
(författare)
-
A Comprehensive Evaluation of Associations Between Routinely Collected Staging Information and The Response to (Chemo)Radiotherapy in Rectal Cancer
- 2021
-
Ingår i: Cancers. - : MDPI. - 2072-6694. ; 13:1
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Simple Summary Rectal cancer patients are often treated with radiotherapy, either alone or combined with chemotherapy, prior to surgery to enable radical surgery on a non-resectable tumor or to lower the recurrence risk. For some patients, the tumor disappears completely after preoperative treatment, while others experience little or no benefit. Accurate prediction of therapy response before treatment is of great importance for a personalized treatment approach and intentional organ preservation. We performed a comprehensive evaluation of the predictive capacity of all routinely collected staging information at diagnosis in a population-based, completely staged patient material of 383 patients representing a real-life clinical situation. Size or stage of the rectal tumor were independent predictors of excellent response irrespective of preoperative treatment, with small/early-stage tumors being significantly more likely to reach a complete response. Levels of the tumor marker carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) above upper normal limit halved the chance of response. Radiotherapy (RT) or chemoradiotherapy (CRT) are frequently used in rectal cancer, sometimes resulting in complete tumor remission (CR). The predictive capacity of all clinical factors, laboratory values and magnetic resonance imaging parameters performed in routine staging was evaluated to understand what determines an excellent response to RT/CRT. A population-based cohort of 383 patients treated with short-course RT (5 x 5 Gy in one week, scRT), CRT, or scRT with chemotherapy (scRT+CT) and having either had a delay to surgery or been entered into a watch-and-wait program were included. Complete staging according to guidelines was performed and associations between investigated variables and CR rates were analyzed in univariate and multivariate analyses. In total, 17% achieved pathological or clinical CR, more often after scRT+CT and CRT than after scRT (27%, 18% and 8%, respectively, p < 0.001). Factors independently associated with CR included clinical tumor stage, small tumor size (<3 cm), tumor level, and low CEA-value (<3.8 mu g/L). Size or stage of the rectal tumor were associated with excellent response in all therapy groups, with small or early stage tumors being significantly more likely to reach CR (p = 0.01 (scRT), p = 0.01 (CRT) and p = 0.02 (scRT+CT). Elevated level of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) halved the chance of response. Extramural vascular invasion (EMVI) and mucinous character may indicate less response to RT alone.
|
|
19. |
|
|
20. |
- Hammarström, Klara, et al.
(författare)
-
Stage distribution utilizing magnetic resonance imaging in an unselected population of primary rectal cancers
- 2018
-
Ingår i: European Journal of Surgical Oncology. - : ELSEVIER SCI LTD. - 0748-7983 .- 1532-2157. ; 44:12, s. 1858-1864
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: Pre-operative radiotherapy (RT) or chemo-radiotherapy (CRT) are sometimes recommended prior to rectal cancer surgery, but guideline recommendations vary. The aim was to describe stage distribution and other important characteristics required for the treatment decision of patients with primary rectal cancers utilizing magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in an unselected population. Patients and methods: All 796 histopathologically verified rectal adenocarcinomas diagnosed 2010-2015 in two counties in Sweden (population 630,000 in 2015) were identified. Staging with pelvic MRI unless contraindications were present, treatment and pathology followed Swedish guidelines.Patients and methods: All 796 histopathologically verified rectal adenocarcinomas diagnosed 2010-2015 in two counties in Sweden (population 630,000 in 2015) were identified. Staging with pelvic MRI unless contraindications were present, treatment and pathology followed Swedish guidelines.Results: Twenty-three % of cases (n = 186) had distant metastases at diagnosis, demonstrating more advanced tumor and nodal stages when compared with non-metastatic patients (p < 0.001), and they more often displayed MRI-identified mucinous features and extramural vascular invasion (EMVI) than non-metastatic tumors (p < 0.001 for both). In non-metastatic patients, 8% displayed clinical stage T1 (cT1), 21% cT2, and 53% cT3; one-third of the latter threatened or involved the mesorectal fascia (MRF+). Almost 20% had stage cT4 (4% cT4a, 14% cT4b) of which 50% were considered "non-resectable". EMVI was seen in 33% of cT3M0 tumors and in 48% of cT4M0 tumors.Conclusions: In an unselected population, approximately 80% of primary rectal cancers are referred to as "locally advanced" (stage or cT3-4 or N+), meaning that they, according to many international guidelines, are recommended neo-adjuvant treatment. This study provides a detailed description of the clinical stages and presence of characteristics identifiable on MRI which are of importance when assessing the needs for RT/CRT, when using different guidelines.
|
|
21. |
- Hammarström, Klara, 1990-
(författare)
-
Staging and therapy response in rectal cancer
- 2023
-
Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Every year, around 2,200 individuals are diagnosed with rectal cancer in Sweden. As a result of better tumour staging using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), pre-operative radiotherapy (with or without chemotherapy), and improved surgery, outcome has improved substantially during the past few decades. Today less than 5% of patients experience a local recurrence. Treatment response is highly variable, up to 30% of patients have a complete remission (CR) after pre-treatment while others do not benefit from the treatment. The aim of this thesis was to investigate factors associated with CR in rectal cancer as accurate response prediction already at the time of diagnosis could enable a personalized treatment approach. For this purpose, an unselected rectal cancer cohort of approximately 1,200 patients diagnosed between 2010-2018 was built. Paper I provides a description of tumour stages and other MRI characteristics required for the treatment decision in the rectal cancer cohort. In this unselected patient population, most tumours belonged to the risk groups with intermediate or high risk of recurrence and are thus recommended to pre-treatment.In Paper II, the proportions of patients recommended pre-treatment according to different guidelines were investigated to better understand the wide variability in treatment seen worldwide. This study concluded that between 38% and 77% of non-metastatic patients are presently recommended pre-operative treatment according to 15 international guidelines, when strictly applied to our non-selected rectal cancer cohort. To achieve a more personalized treatment approach and a stricter use of pre-treatment, predictive factors of tumour remission are needed. In Paper III an evaluation of the predictive capacity of all clinical and pathological factors used in the staging of rectal cancer prior to treatment decision was done. In Paper IV a combination of clinical and sequencing data was used in analyses to further assess associations with CR and which factors impact prognosis. Tumour size, stage, tumour marker CEA and treatment were predictive of CR. Moreover, genetic factors such as mutated SMAD4 and SYNE1 were associated with CR but further investigations are needed to determine clinical relevance. Mutated KRAS was an independent predictor of non-CR. BRAF V600E mutation increased the risk of recurrence.
|
|
22. |
- Herrera, Mercedes, et al.
(författare)
-
Prognostic Interactions between FAP plus Fibroblasts and CD8a+T Cells in Colon Cancer
- 2020
-
Ingår i: Cancers. - : MDPI. - 2072-6694. ; 12:11
-
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.
|
|
23. |
- Kerzeli, Iliana Kyriaki, et al.
(författare)
-
Elevated levels of MMP12 sourced from macrophages are associated with poor prognosis in urothelial bladder cancer
- 2023
-
Ingår i: BMC Cancer. - : BioMed Central (BMC). - 1471-2407. ; 23:1
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background Urothelial bladder cancer is most frequently diagnosed at the non-muscle-invasive stage (NMIBC). However, recurrences and interventions for intermediate and high-risk NMIBC patients impact the quality of life. Biomarkers for patient stratification could help to avoid unnecessary interventions whilst indicating aggressive measures when required.Methods In this study, immuno-oncology focused, multiplexed proximity extension assays were utilised to analyse plasma (n = 90) and urine (n = 40) samples from 90 newly-diagnosed and treatment-naive bladder cancer patients. Public single-cell RNA-sequencing and microarray data from patient tumour tissues and murine OH-BBN-induced urothelial carcinomas were also explored to further corroborate the proteomic findings.Results Plasma from muscle-invasive, urothelial bladder cancer patients displayed higher levels of MMP7 (p = 0.028) and CCL23 (p = 0.03) compared to NMIBC patients, whereas urine displayed higher levels of CD27 (p = 0.044) and CD40 (p = 0.04) in the NMIBC group by two-sided Wilcoxon rank-sum tests. Random forest survival and multivariable regression analyses identified increased MMP12 plasma levels as an independent marker (p < 0.001) associated with shorter overall survival (HR = 1.8, p < 0.001, 95% CI:1.3-2.5); this finding was validated in an independent patient OLINK cohort, but could not be established using a transcriptomic microarray dataset. Single-cell transcriptomics analyses indicated tumour-infiltrating macrophages as a putative source of MMP12.Conclusions The measurable levels of tumour-localised, immune-cell-derived MMP12 in blood suggest MMP12 as an important biomarker that could complement histopathology-based risk stratification.As MMP12 stems from infiltrating immune cells rather than the tumor cells themselves, analyses performed on tissue biopsy material risk a biased selection of biomarkers produced by the tumour, while ignoring the surrounding microenvironment.
|
|
24. |
- Kramer, Frederike, et al.
(författare)
-
Platelet-derived growth factor receptor β activation and regulation in murine myelofibrosis
- 2020
-
Ingår i: Haematologica. - : Ferrata Storti Foundation (Haematologica). - 0390-6078 .- 1592-8721. ; 105:8, s. 2083-2094
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- There is prevailing evidence to suggest a decisive role for platelet-derived growth factors (PDGF) and their receptors in primary myelofibrosis. While PDGF receptor β (PDGFRβ) expression is increased in bone marrow stromal cells of patients correlating with the grade of myelofibrosis, knowledge on the precise role of PDGFRβ signaling in myelofibrosis is sparse. Using the Gata-1low mouse model for myelofibrosis, we applied RNA sequencing, protein expression analyses, multispectral imaging and, as a novel approach in bone marrow tissue, an in situ proximity ligation assay to provide a detailed characterization of PDGFRβ signaling and regulation during development of myelofibrosis. We observed an increase in PDGFRβ and PDGF-B protein expression in overt fibrotic bone marrow, along with an increase in PDGFRβ–PDGF-B interaction, analyzed by proximity ligation assay. However, PDGFRβ tyrosine phosphorylation levels were not increased. We therefore focused on regulation of PDGFRβ by protein tyrosine phosphatases as endogenous PDGFRβ antagonists. Gene expression analyses showed distinct expression dynamics among PDGFRβ-targeting phosphatases. In particular, we observed enhanced T-cell protein tyrosine phosphatase protein expression and PDGFRβ–T-cell protein tyrosine phosphatase interaction in early and overt fibrotic bone marrow of Gata-1low mice. In vitro, T-cell protein tyrosine phosphatase (Ptpn2) knockdown increased PDGFRβ phosphorylation at Y751 and Y1021, leading to enhanced downstream signaling in fibroblasts. Furthermore, Ptpn2 knockdown cells showed increased growth rates when exposed to low-serum growth medium. Taken together, PDGF signaling is differentially regulated during myelofibrosis. Protein tyrosine phosphatases, which have so far not been examined during disease progression, are novel and hitherto unrecognized components in myelofibrosis.
|
|
25. |
- La Fleur, Linnea, et al.
(författare)
-
Targeting MARCO and IL-37R on immunosuppressive macrophages in lung cancer blocks regulatory T cells and supports cytotoxic lymphocyte function
- 2021
-
Ingår i: Cancer Research. - : American Association For Cancer Research (AACR). - 0008-5472 .- 1538-7445. ; 81:4, s. 956-967
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The progression and metastatic capacity of solid tumors are strongly influenced by immune cells in the tumor microenvironment. In non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), accumulation of anti-inflammatory tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) is associated with worse clinical outcome and resistance to therapy. Here we investigated the immune landscape of NSCLC in the presence of pro-tumoral TAMs expressing the macrophage receptor with collagenous structure (MARCO). MARCO-expressing TAM numbers correlated with increased occurrence of regulatory T cells and effector T cells and decreased Natural Killer (NK) cells in these tumors. Furthermore, transcriptomic data from the tumors uncovered a correlation between MARCO expression and the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-37. In vitro studies subsequently showed that lung cancer cells polarized macrophages to express MARCO and gain an immune-suppressive phenotype through the release of IL-37. MARCO-expressing TAMs blocked cytotoxic T cell and NK cell activation, inhibiting their proliferation, cytokine production, and tumor killing capacity. Mechanistically, MARCO+ macrophages enhanced regulatory T (Treg) cell proliferation and IL-10 production and diminished CD8 T cell activities. Targeting MARCO or IL-37 receptor (IL-37R) by antibody or CRISPR knockout of IL-37 in lung cancer cell lines repolarized TAMs, resulting in recovered cytolytic activity and anti-tumoral capacity of NK cells and T cells and down-modulated Treg cell activities. In summary, our data demonstrate a novel immune therapeutic approach targeting human TAMs immune suppression of NK and T cell anti-tumor activities.
|
|
26. |
- Lundgren, Sebastian, et al.
(författare)
-
Quantitative, qualitative and spatial analysis of lymphocyte infiltration in periampullary and pancreatic adenocarcinoma
- 2020
-
Ingår i: International Journal of Cancer. - : Wiley. - 0020-7136 .- 1097-0215. ; 146:12, s. 3461-3473
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Immunotherapeutic modalities are currently revolutionizing cancer treatment. In pancreatic cancer, however, early clinical trials have been disappointing. The optimization of immunotherapeutic strategies requires better understanding of the inflammatory tumor microenvironment. Therefore, the aim of our study was to perform a detailed in situ description of lymphocyte infiltration patterns in resected pancreatic and other periampullary cancers. Multiplexed immunofluorescence imaging was applied to tissue microarrays with tumors from a cohort of 175 patients with resected periampullary adenocarcinoma. A panel of immune cell markers including CD4, CD8α, FoxP3, CD20, CD45RO and pan‐cytokeratin was applied to allow for simultaneous spatial analysis of multiple lymphocyte populations. The majority of lymphocyte populations were significantly more abundant in intestinal (I‐type) compared to pancreatobiliary (PB‐type) tumors. Hierarchical cluster analysis revealed several immune cell signatures of potential clinical relevance. Notably, in the stromal compartment of PB‐type tumors, high infiltration of B cells, CD8α+CD45RO+ and single‐positive CD4+ T cells, but low levels of FoxP3+CD45ROhigh and single‐positive CD8α+ T cells were associated with improved overall survival (OS). The study also defined prognostic relevant topographical patterns of lymphocytic infiltration, in particular proximity of CD8α+ cells to cancer cells. Moreover, the presence of lymphocytes with potential T‐helper capacities (CD4+) in the nearest vicinity to CD8α+ cells was associated with a prolonged OS. Our data demonstrate that the composition and clinical impact of immune infiltrates in periampullary adenocarcinoma differ by morphological type as well as localization. Furthermore, spatial in situ analysis identified potential immunological mechanisms of prognostic significance.
|
|
27. |
- Lundgren, Sebastian, et al.
(författare)
-
Topographical Distribution and Spatial Interactions of Innate and Semi-Innate Immune Cells in Pancreatic and Other Periampullary Adenocarcinoma
- 2020
-
Ingår i: Frontiers in Immunology. - : FRONTIERS MEDIA SA. - 1664-3224. ; 11
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: The clinical management of pancreatic and other periampullary neoplasms remains challenging. In contrast to other cancer types, immunotherapies are largely ineffective, and the reason for the deprived immune response and the immune inhibiting cellular composition is only fragmentarily understood. The aim of this study was to comprehensively map the abundance, topographic distribution and spatial interaction of innate and innate-like immune cells in the tumor microenvironment of periampullary adenocarcinoma.Methods: Multiplexed immunofluorescent imaging was performed on tissue microarrays with tumors from a consecutive cohort of 175 patients with resected periampullary adenocarcinoma. To obtain a detailed spatial analysis of immune cell infiltration, two multiplex immune panels including antibodies against CD3, NKp46, CD56, CD68, CD163 and CD1a, CD208, CD123, CD15, CD68 and pan-cytokeratin were applied.Results: The infiltration of natural killer (NK) and NK-like T (NKT) cells was lower in malignant compared to benign tissue. NKT cells were more abundant in intestinal type compared to pancreatobiliary type tumors, and were associated with more favorable clinicopathological features and a prolonged survival. The interaction of NKp46(+)NKT cells with macrophages was also associated with a prolonged survival.Conclusions: This study provides a comprehensive map of the innate immune landscape in periampullary adenocarcinoma. NK cells, and even more so NKT cells, are revealed to be central players in the local immune response in a clinically relevant context.
|
|
28. |
- Mezheyeuski, Artur, et al.
(författare)
-
An immune score reflecting pro- and anti-tumoural balance of tumour microenvironment has major prognostic impact and predicts immunotherapy response in solid cancers
- 2023
-
Ingår i: EBioMedicine. - : Elsevier. - 2352-3964. ; 88
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: Cancer immunity is based on the interaction of a multitude of cells in the spatial context of the tumour tissue. Clinically relevant immune signatures are therefore anticipated to fundamentally improve the accuracy in predicting disease progression.Methods: Through a multiplex in situ analysis we evaluated 15 immune cell classes in 1481 tumour samples. Single-cell and bulk RNAseq data sets were used for functional analysis and validation of prognostic and predictive associations.Findings: By combining the prognostic information of anti-tumoural CD8+ lymphocytes and tumour supportive CD68+CD163+ macrophages in colorectal cancer we generated a signature of immune activation (SIA). The prognostic impact of SIA was independent of conventional parameters and comparable with the state-of-art immune score. The SIA was also associated with patient survival in oesophageal adenocarcinoma, bladder cancer, lung adenocarcinoma and melanoma, but not in endometrial, ovarian and squamous cell lung carcinoma. We identified CD68+CD163+ macrophages as the major producers of complement C1q, which could serve as a surrogate marker of this macrophage subset. Consequently, the RNA-based version of SIA (ratio of CD8A to C1QA) was predictive for survival in independent RNAseq data sets from these six cancer types. Finally, the CD8A/C1QA mRNA ratio was also predictive for the response to checkpoint inhibitor therapy.Interpretation: Our findings extend current concepts to procure prognostic information from the tumour immune microenvironment and provide an immune activation signature with high clinical potential in common human cancer types.
|
|
29. |
|
|
30. |
- Mezheyeuski, Artur, et al.
(författare)
-
Digitalized multiparametric analyses of tumor stroma for identification of low perivascular PDGFBR expression and low vessel density as independent prognosis markers for stage IV CRC
- 2014
-
Ingår i: Journal of Clinical Oncology. - Karolinska Inst, Dept Oncol Pathol, Stockholm, Sweden. Belarusian State Med Univ, Dept Pathol, Minsk, Byelarus. Akad Univ Hosp, Uppsala, Sweden. Odense Univ Hosp, Dept Oncol, DK-5000 Odense, Denmark. Oslo Univ Hosp, Dept Genet, Inst Canc Res, Oslo, Norway. Oslo Univ Hosp, Dept Oncol, Oslo, Norway. Univ Oslo, Oslo, Norway. Haukeland Hosp, N-5021 Bergen, Norway. Karolinska Inst, Div Vasc Biol, Dept Med Biochem & Biophys, Stockholm, Sweden. Dept Surg, Uppsala, Sweden. Karolinska Inst, Dept Neurosci, Sci Life Lab, Stockholm, Sweden. : American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO). - 0732-183X .- 1527-7755. ; 32:15
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)
|
|
31. |
- Mezheyeuski, Artur, et al.
(författare)
-
Fibroblasts in urothelial bladder cancer define stroma phenotypes that are associated with clinical outcome
- 2020
-
Ingår i: Scientific Reports. - : NATURE PUBLISHING GROUP. - 2045-2322. ; 10:1
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Little attention was given to the interaction between tumor and stromal cells in urothelial bladder carcinoma (UBC). While recent studies point towards the existence of different fibroblast subsets, no comprehensive analyses linking different fibroblast markers to UBC patient survival have been performed so far. Through immunohistochemical analysis of five selected fibroblast markers, namely alpha smooth muscle actin (ASMA), CD90/Thy-1, fibroblast activation protein (FAP), platelet derived growth factor receptor-alpha and -beta (PDGFRa,-b), this study investigates their association with survival and histopathological characteristics in a cohort of 344 UBC patients, involving both, muscle-invasive and non-muscle-invasive cases. The data indicates that combinations of stromal markers are more suited to identify prognostic patient subgroups than single marker analysis. Refined stroma-marker-based patient stratification was achieved through cluster analysis and identified a FAP-dominant patient cluster as independent marker for shorter 5-year-survival (HR(95% CI)2.25(1.08-4.67), p = 0.030). Analyses of interactions between fibroblast and CD8a-status identified a potential minority of cases with CD90-defined stroma and high CD8a infiltration showing a good prognosis of more than 80% 5-year-survival. Presented analyses point towards the existence of different stroma-cell subgroups with distinct tumor-modulatory properties and motivate further studies aiming to better understand the molecular tumor-stroma crosstalk in UBC.
|
|
32. |
- Mezheyeuski, Artur, et al.
(författare)
-
Metastatic colorectal carcinomas with high SATB2 expression are associated with better prognosis and response to chemotherapy : a population-based Scandinavian study
- 2020
-
Ingår i: Acta Oncologica. - : Taylor & Francis. - 0284-186X .- 1651-226X. ; 59:3, s. 284-290
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: Survival and response to therapy in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) are very heterogeneous. There is an unmet need for better markers of prognosis and treatment benefit for mCRC patients. The homeobox 2 gene SATB2 has a highly specific expression in colorectal tissue and is associated with better prognosis in non-metastatic CRC.Material and methods: A population-based cohort of 798 mCRC patients was analysed. From primary tumour material, protein expression was assessed by immunohistochemistry. BRAF and KRAS mutation status was also determined. Associations with clinicopathological data, overall and progression-free survival and response to first-line chemotherapy were analysed.Results: Tumour tissue and clinical data were available from 467 patients. SATB2 was strongly expressed in 58% of cases, significantly more in left-sided, low-grade and wild-type BRAF tumours. Patients with high SATB2 tumours had longer overall survival compared with low SATB2 tumours (median 13 vs 8 months respectively, p < .001). Chemotherapy was given to 282 patients (63%). Patients with high SATB2 tumours had longer OS (median 22 vs 15 months respectively, p = .001) and more often responded to chemotherapy than those with low SATB2 (objective response 43% vs 29%, p = .02; clinical response 83% vs 67%, p = .004). Progression-free survival on first-line irinotecan chemotherapy was longer in high SATB2 cases (median 8 vs 4 months respectively, p = .019). Patients with both low SATB2 expression and mutated BRAF (n = 69) had particularly poor survival compared to the rest (median 8 and 12 months respectively, p = .001). In multivariable analysis, the SATB2 findings were independent of known clinicopathological prognostic markers, including BRAF mutation status.Conclusion: Patients with mCRC expressing high level of SATB2 have better prognosis and response to chemotherapy than those with low SATB2 expression. Patients with both low SATB2 expression and mutated BRAF had particularly poor prognosis and could thus benefit from more aggressive therapies.
|
|
33. |
- Mezheyeuski, Artur, et al.
(författare)
-
Multispectral imaging for quantitative and compartment-specific immune infiltrates reveals distinct immune profiles that classify lung cancer patients
- 2018
-
Ingår i: Journal of Pathology. - : John Wiley & Sons. - 0022-3417 .- 1096-9896. ; 244:4, s. 421-431
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Semiquantitative assessment of immune markers by immunohistochemistry (IHC) has significant limitations for describing the diversity of the immune response in cancer. Therefore, we evaluated a fluorescence-based multiplexed immunohistochemical method in combination with a multispectral imaging system to quantify immune infiltrates in situ in the environment of non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). A tissue microarray including 57 NSCLC cases was stained with antibodies against CD8, CD20, CD4, FOXP3, CD45RO, and pan-cytokeratin, and immune cells were quantified in epithelial and stromal compartments. The results were compared with those of conventional IHC, and related to corresponding RNA-sequencing (RNAseq) expression values. We found a strong correlation between the visual and digital quantification of lymphocytes for CD45RO (correlation coefficient: r = 0.52), FOXP3 (r = 0.87), CD4 (r = 0.79), CD20 (r = 0.81) and CD8 (r = 0.90) cells. The correlation with RNAseq data for digital quantification (0.35-0.65) was comparable to or better than that for visual quantification (0.38-0.58). Combination of the signals of the five immune markers enabled further subpopulations of lymphocytes to be identified and localized. The specific pattern of immune cell infiltration based either on the spatial distribution (distance between regulatory CD8(+) T and cancer cells) or the relationships of lymphocyte subclasses with each other (e.g. cytotoxic/regulatory cell ratio) were associated with patient prognosis. In conclusion, the fluorescence multiplexed immunohistochemical method, based on only one tissue section, provided reliable quantification and localization of immune cells in cancer tissue. The application of this technique to clinical biopsies can provide a basic characterization of immune infiltrates to guide clinical decisions in the era of immunotherapy.
|
|
34. |
- Mezheyeuski, Artur
(författare)
-
Stroma and vessel characteristics in cancer : impact on prognosis and response to treatment
- 2016
-
Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- A series of pre-clinical and clinical studies imply vessel and pericyte status as determinants of tumor growth, metastasis and response to treatment. These studies thus imply biomarkerpotential of these features. Earlier studies of vessels and pericytes have largely applied semiquantitative approaches. In the studies of this thesis, novel tools for quantification of vesseland tumor stroma-related features were developed and applied to different sets of clinically well-annotated tumor collections. Analyses of perivascular status in ovarian cancer and colorectal cancer identified independently expressed marker-defined subsets of perivascular cells with differential associations with survival. These studies also identified novel significant associations between specific oncogenic mutations and vascular phenotypes. Studies analyzing stage II/III colon cancer samples, derived from a randomized adjuvant study, identified two novel stroma-related “metrics” that acted as markers for benefit of adjuvant chemotherapy. Firstly, high vessel density in the invasive region, but not tumor center, was identified as a marker that characterized patients benefiting from adjuvant treatment. Secondly, a digital-image-analyses-derived “metric”, related to high complexity of the tumor stroma interface, also defined a group showing benefit of adjuvant treatment. Notably, both novel markers showed statistically significant interactions with treatment supporting their relevance as response-predictive markers. Furthermore, cell-type-specific analyses of claudin-2 expression in colorectal cancer indicated that CAF-expression of this marker was specifically associated with benefit of oxaliplatin-based treatment for metastatic colorectal cancer. Taken together, our findings suggest continued exploration and validation of stroma-derived features, for development of clinically meaningful prognostic and response-predictive tissuebased biomarkers.
|
|
35. |
- Mezheyeuski, Artur, et al.
(författare)
-
Stroma-normalised vessel density predicts benefit from adjuvant fluorouracil-based chemotherapy in patients with stage II/III colon cancer
- 2019
-
Ingår i: British Journal of Cancer. - : NATURE PUBLISHING GROUP. - 0007-0920 .- 1532-1827. ; 121:4, s. 303-311
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- BACKGROUND: Identification of biomarkers associated with benefit of adjuvant chemotherapy in stage II/III colon cancer is an important task. METHODS: Vessel density (VD) and tumour stroma were analysed in a randomised-trial-derived discovery cohort (n = 312) and in a stage II/III group of a population-based validation cohort (n = 85). VD was scored separately in the tumour centre, invasive margin and peritumoral stroma compartments and quantitated as VD/total analysed tissue area or VD/stroma area. RESULTS: High stroma-normalised VD in the invasive margin was associated with significantly longer time to recurrence and overall survival (OS) (p = 0.002 and p = 0.006, respectively) in adjuvant-treated patients of the discovery cohort, but not in surgery-only patients. Stroma-normalised VD in the invasive margin and treatment effect were significantly associated according to a formal interaction test (p = 0.009). Similarly, in the validation cohort, high stroma-normalised VD was associated with OS in adjuvant-treated patients, although statistical significance was not reached (p = 0.051). CONCLUSION: Through the use of novel digitally scored vessel-density-related metrics, this exploratory study identifies stroma-normalised VD in the invasive margin as a candidate marker for benefit of adjuvant 5-FU-based chemotherapy in stage II/III colon cancer. The findings, indicating particular importance of vessels in the invasive margin, also suggest biological mechanisms for further exploration.
|
|
36. |
- Mezheyeuski, Artur, et al.
(författare)
-
Survival-associated heterogeneity of marker-defined perivascular cells in colorectal cancer
- 2016
-
Ingår i: Oncotarget. - : Impact Journals, LLC. - 1949-2553. ; 7:27, s. 41948-41958
-
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.
|
|
37. |
- Mezheyeuski, Artur, et al.
(författare)
-
The Immune Landscape of Colorectal Cancer
- 2021
-
Ingår i: Cancers. - : MDPI. - 2072-6694. ; 13:21
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- We sought to provide a detailed overview of the immune landscape of colorectal cancer in the largest study to date in terms of patient numbers and analyzed immune cell types. We applied a multiplex in situ staining method in combination with an advanced scanning and image analysis pipeline akin to flow cytometry, and analyzed 5968 individual multi-layer images of tissue defining in a total of 39,078,450 cells. We considered the location of immune cells with respect to the stroma, and tumor cell compartment and tumor regions in the central part or the invasive margin. To the best of our knowledge, this study is the first comprehensive spatial description of the immune landscape in colorectal cancer using a large population-based cohort and a multiplex immune cell identification.While the clinical importance of CD8+ and CD3+ cells in colorectal cancer (CRC) is well established, the impact of other immune cell subsets is less well described. We sought to provide a detailed overview of the immune landscape of CRC in the largest study to date in terms of patient numbers and in situ analyzed immune cell types. Tissue microarrays from 536 patients were stained using multiplexed immunofluorescence panels, and fifteen immune cell subclasses, representing adaptive and innate immunity, were analyzed. Overall, therapy-naive CRC patients clustered into an 'inflamed' and a 'desert' group. Most T cell subsets and M2 macrophages were enriched in the right colon (p-values 0.046-0.004), while pDC cells were in the rectum (p = 0.008). Elderly patients had higher infiltration of M2 macrophages (p = 0.024). CD8+ cells were linked to improved survival in colon cancer stages I-III (q = 0.014), while CD4+ cells had the strongest impact on overall survival in metastatic CRC (q = 0.031). Finally, we demonstrated repopulation of the immune infiltrate in rectal tumors post radiation, following an initial radiation-induced depletion. This study provides a detailed analysis of the in situ immune landscape of CRC paving the way for better diagnostics and providing hints to better target the immune microenvironment.
|
|
38. |
- Mezheyeuski, Artur, et al.
(författare)
-
The ratio of CD8+ lymphocytes to CD68+CD163+ macrophages is prognostic in immunogenic tumors and predicts immunotherapy response
-
Annan publikation (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Immune cells in the microenvironment shape tumor development and progression. Through in situ analyses we assessed 15 immune cell classes in 352 colorectal cancers and identified a simpleprognostic signature based on the ratio of anti-tumoral CD8+ lymphocytes to tumor-supportiveCD68+CD163+ macrophages in the tumor microenvironment. The prognostic ability of this signature was superior to the state-of-art immune score and was also demonstrated in four other tumor types. Single-cell analyses identified these CD68+CD163+ macrophages as the source of complement C1q, and the ratio of CD8A to C1QA gene expression levels in bulk RNA predicted survival in five tumor types. In single cell analyses, RNA-based versions of the signature also predicted response to checkpoint inhibitor therapy. This supports broad clinical applicability of immune scores considering CD68+CD163+ macrophages as prognostic and predictive biomarkers in common cancers.
|
|
39. |
- Mezheyeuski, Artur, et al.
(författare)
-
Treatment-related survival associations of claudin-2 expression in fibroblasts of colorectal cancer
- 2018
-
Ingår i: Virchows Archiv. - : SPRINGER. - 0945-6317 .- 1432-2307. ; 472:3, s. 395-405
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Claudin-2 is a trans-membrane protein-component of tight junctions in epithelial cells. Elevated claudin-2 expression has been reported in colorectal cancer (CRC). The aim of this study was to investigate the expression patterns of claudin-2 in human CRC samples and analyze its association with clinical characteristics and treatment outcome. TMAs of primary tumors from two cohorts of metastatic CRC (mCRC) were used. Claudin-2 IHC staining was evaluated in a semi-quantitative manner in different regions and cell types. Claudin-2 expression was also analyzed by immunofluorescence in primary cultures of human CRC cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs). Initial analyses identified previously unrecognized expression patterns of claudin-2 in CAFs of human CRC. Claudin-2 expression in CAFs of the invasive margin was associated with shorter progression-free survival. Subgroup analyses demonstrated that the survival associations occurred among cases that received 5-FU+oxaliplatin combination treatment, but not in patients receiving 5-FU +/- irinotecan. The finding was validated by analyses of the independent cohort. In summary, previously unreported stromal expression of claudin-2 in CAFs of human CRC was detected together with significant association between high claudin-2 expression in CAFs and shorter survival in 5-FU+oxaliplatin-treated mCRC patients.
|
|
40. |
- Micke, Patrick, et al.
(författare)
-
The prognostic impact of the tumour stroma fraction : A machine learning-based analysis in 16 human solid tumour types
- 2021
-
Ingår i: EBioMedicine. - : Elsevier. - 2352-3964. ; 65
-
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.
|
|
41. |
- Milosevic, Vladan, et al.
(författare)
-
Vessel size as a marker of survival in estrogen receptor positive breast cancer
- 2023
-
Ingår i: Breast Cancer Research and Treatment. - : Springer Nature. - 0167-6806 .- 1573-7217. ; 200:2, s. 293-304
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- PurposeAngiogenesis is crucial for tumor growth and is one of the hallmarks of cancer. In this study, we analyzed microvessel density, vessel median size, and perivascular a-SMA expression as prognostic biomarkers in breast cancer.MethodsDual IHC staining was performed where alpha-SMA antibodies were used together with antibodies against the endothelial cell marker CD34. Digital images of stainings were analyzed to extract quantitative data on vessel density, vessel size, and perivascular alpha-SMA status.ResultsThe analyses in the discovery cohort (n = 108) revealed a statistically significant relationship between large vessel size and shorter disease-specific survival (p = 0.007, log-rank test; p = 0.01, HR 3.1; 95% CI 1.3–7.4, Cox-regression analyses). Subset analyses indicated that the survival association of vessel size was strengthened in ER + breast cancer. To consolidate these findings, additional analyses were performed on a validation cohort (n = 267) where an association between large vessel size and reduced survival was also detected in ER + breast cancer (p = 0.016, log-rank test; p = 0.02; HR 2.3, 95% CI 1.1–4.7, Cox-regression analyses).ConclusionAlpha-SMA/CD34 dual-IHC staining revealed breast cancer heterogeneity regarding vessel size, vessel density, and perivascular a-SMA status. Large vessel size was linked to shorter survival in ER + breast cancer.
|
|
42. |
- Miranda, Alex, et al.
(författare)
-
Cancer stemness, intratumoral heterogeneity, and immune response across cancers
- 2019
-
Ingår i: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America. - : Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. - 0027-8424 .- 1091-6490. ; 116:18, s. 9020-9029
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Regulatory programs that control the function of stem cells are active in cancer and confer properties that promote progression and therapy resistance. However, the impact of a stem cell-like tumor phenotype ("stemness") on the immunological properties of cancer has not been systematically explored. Using gene-expression-based metrics, we evaluated the association of stemness with immune cell infiltration and genomic, transcriptomic, and clinical parameters across 21 solid cancers. We found pervasive negative associations between cancer stemness and anticancer immunity. This occurred despite high stemness cancers exhibiting increased mutation load, cancer-testis antigen expression, and intratumoral heterogeneity. Stemness was also strongly associated with cellintrinsic suppression of endogenous retroviruses and type I IFN signaling, and increased expression of multiple therapeutically accessible immunosuppressive pathways. Thus, stemness is not only a fundamental process in cancer progression but may provide a mechanistic link between antigenicity, intratumoral heterogeneity, and immune suppression across cancers.
|
|
43. |
- Moreno-Ruiz, Pablo, et al.
(författare)
-
Stromal FAP is an independent poor prognosis marker in non-small cell lung adenocarcinoma and associated with p53 mutation
- 2021
-
Ingår i: Lung Cancer. - : Elsevier. - 0169-5002 .- 1872-8332. ; 155, s. 10-19
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- ObjectivesFibroblasts regulate tumor growth and immune surveillance. Here, we study FAP, PDGFβR and α-SMA fibroblast markers in a well-annotated clinical cohort of non–small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) for analyses of associations with immune cell infiltration, mutation status and survival.Materials and MethodsA well-annotated NSCLC cohort was subjected to IHC analyses of stromal expression of FAP, PDGFβR and α-SMA and of stromal CD8 density. Fibroblast markers-related measurements were analyzed with regard to potential associations with CD8 density, cancer genetic driver mutations, survival and PD-L1 expression in the whole NSCLC cohort and in subsets of patients.ResultsHigh stromal FAP expression was identified as an independent poor prognostic marker in the whole study population (HR 1.481; 95 % CI, 1.012–2.167, p = 0.023) and in the histological subset of adenocarcinoma (HR 1.720; 95 % CI, 1.126–2.627, p = 0.012). Among patients with adenocarcinoma, a particularly strong association of FAP with poor survival was detected in patients with low stromal CD8 infiltration, and in other subpopulations identified by specific clinical characteristics; elderly patients, females, non-smokers and patients with normal ECOG performance status. α-SMA expression was negatively associated with CD8 infiltration in non-smokers, but none of the fibroblast markers expression was associated with CD8 density in the whole study population. Significant associations were detected between presence of p53 mutations and high α-SMA (p = 0.003) and FAP expression (p < 0.001).ConclusionThe study identifies FAP intensity as a candidate independent NSCLC prognostic biomarker. The study also suggests continued analyses of the relationships between genetic driver mutations and the composition of tumor stroma, as well as continued probing of marker-defined fibroblasts as NSCLC subset-specific modifiers of immune surveillance and outcome.
|
|
44. |
- Nunes, Luís, 1995-, et al.
(författare)
-
Molecular characterization of a large unselected cohort of metastatic colorectal cancers in relation to primary tumor location, rare metastatic sites and prognosis
- 2020
-
Ingår i: Acta Oncologica. - 0284-186X .- 1651-226X. ; 59:4, s. 417-426
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: We have reported that BRAF V600E mutations and microsatellite instability-high (MSI-H) are more prevalent in a population-based cohort of metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) patients than has been reported from clinical trials or hospital-based patient groups. The aim was to explore if other mutations in mCRC differ in prevalence between these cohorts in relation to mismatch repair status and primary tumor location and if presence of bone or brain metastases is associated with any mutations.Material and methods: A population-based cohort of 798 mCRC patients from three regions in Scandinavia was used. Forty-four cancer related genes were investigated in a custom designed Ampliseq hotspot panel. Differences in survival were analyzed using the Kaplan–Meier estimator and the Cox regression analysis.Results: Determination of mutations was possible in 449/501 patients for 40/44 genes. Besides BRAF V600E, seen in 19% of the tumors, none of the other mutations appeared more prevalent than in trial cohorts. BRAF V600E and MSI-H, seen in 8%, were associated with poor prognosis as was right-sided primary tumor location (39%) when compared to left-sided and rectum together; however, in a multivariable regression, only the BRAF mutation retained its statistical significance. No other mutations were associated with poor prognosis. ERBB2 alterations were more common if bone metastases were present at diagnosis (17% vs. 4%, p = .011). No association was found for brain metastases. Fifty-two percent had an alteration that is treatable with an FDA-approved targeted therapy, chiefly by EGFR-inhibitor for RAS wild-type and a check-point inhibitor for MSI-H tumors.Conclusions: Right-sided tumor location, BRAF V600E mutations, but no other investigated mutation, and MSI-H are more commonly seen in an unselected cohort than is reported from clinical patient cohorts, likely because they indicate poor prognosis. Half of the patients have a tumor that is treatable with an already FDA-approved targeted drug for mCRC.
|
|
45. |
- Nunes, Luís, et al.
(författare)
-
Prognostic genome and transcriptome signatures in colorectal cancers
- 2024
-
Ingår i: Nature. - : Springer Nature. - 0028-0836 .- 1476-4687.
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Colorectal cancer is caused by a sequence of somatic genomic alterations affecting driver genes in core cancer pathways1. Here, to understand the functional and prognostic impact of cancer-causing somatic mutations, we analysed the whole genomes and transcriptomes of 1,063 primary colorectal cancers in a population-based cohort with long-term follow-up. From the 96 mutated driver genes, 9 were not previously implicated in colorectal cancer and 24 had not been linked to any cancer. Two distinct patterns of pathway co-mutations were observed, timing analyses identified nine early and three late driver gene mutations, and several signatures of colorectal-cancer-specific mutational processes were identified. Mutations in WNT, EGFR and TGFβ pathway genes, the mitochondrial CYB gene and 3 regulatory elements along with 21 copy-number variations and the COSMIC SBS44 signature correlated with survival. Gene expression classification yielded five prognostic subtypes with distinct molecular features, in part explained by underlying genomic alterations. Microsatellite-instable tumours divided into two classes with different levels of hypoxia and infiltration of immune and stromal cells. To our knowledge, this study constitutes the largest integrated genome and transcriptome analysis of colorectal cancer, and interlinks mutations, gene expression and patient outcomes. The identification of prognostic mutations and expression subtypes can guide future efforts to individualize colorectal cancer therapy.
|
|
46. |
|
|
47. |
|
|
48. |
|
|
49. |
- Osterman, Erik, et al.
(författare)
-
Beyond the NCCN Risk Factors in Colon Cancer : An Evaluation in a Swedish Population-Based Cohort
- 2020
-
Ingår i: Annals of Surgical Oncology. - : Springer. - 1068-9265 .- 1534-4681. ; 27:4, s. 1036-1045
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to investigate whether pT3-4 and pN-subclassifications, lymph-node ratio (LNR), tumour deposits, pre- and postoperative carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), and C-reactive protein (CRP)-all parameters commonly collected in clinical management-add information about recurrence risk against a background of routine clinicopathological parameters as defined by the NCCN.METHODS: The prospective cohort consisted of all 416 patients diagnosed with colon cancer stage I-III in Uppsala County between 2010 and 2015. Cox proportional hazard models were used to calculate hazard ratios for time to recurrence and overall survival. The results were compared with the entire Swedish population concerning parameters recorded in the national quality registry, SCRCR, during the same time period.RESULTS: The Uppsala cohort was representative of the entire Swedish cohort. In unadjusted analyses, pT3-subclassification, pN-subclassification, LNR, tumour deposits, elevated postoperative CEA, and preoperative CRP correlated with recurrence. After adjusting for T-, N-stage, and NCCN risk factors, pN-subclassification, sidedness, and elevated postoperative CEA levels correlated with recurrence. Survival correlated with parameters associated with recurrence, LNR, and elevated postoperative CRP.CONCLUSIONS: Additional information on recurrence risk is available from several routinely recorded parameters, but most of the risk is predicted by the commonly used clinicopathological parameters.
|
|
50. |
- Papadakos, Konstantinos S., et al.
(författare)
-
Expression of cartilage oligomeric matrix protein in periampullary adenocarcinoma is associated with pancreatobiliary-type morphology, higher levels of fibrosis and immune cell exclusion
- 2022
-
Ingår i: Oncoimmunology. - : Taylor & Francis. - 2162-4011 .- 2162-402X. ; 11:1
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Cartilage oligomeric matrix protein (COMP) is an emerging regulator of tumor progression. The aim of this study was to evaluate the expression of COMP in periampullary adenocarcinoma with respect to prognostic value for survival and relapse, levels of fibrosis and infiltrating immune cells. COMP expression was evaluated using immunohistochemistry in primary tumors and subsets of paired lymph node metastases in tissue microarrays including 175 patients with periampullary adenocarcinoma. Collagen content was assessed with Sirius Red-Fast Green staining. High COMP levels were detected in cancer cells and in stroma, in 46% and 57% of the patients, respectively. High COMP expression was strongly associated with more aggressive pancreatobiliary-type (PB-type) compared to intestinal-type tumors (p < .0001). Importantly, high expression of COMP correlated with the exclusion of cytotoxic T-cells from the cancer cell compartment of the tumors, particularly in PB-type tumors. Higher levels of fibrosis measured by the density of collagen fibers correlated with high COMP levels in both cancer cells and stroma. This in turn could lead to exclusion of cytotoxic T-cells from accessing the cancer cells, a recognized immunotherapy resistance mechanism. Targeting COMP could therefore be considered as a novel therapeutic strategy in PB-type periampullary adenocarcinoma.
|
|