scholarly journals Functions of Thrombospondin-1 in the Tumor Microenvironment

2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (9) ◽  
pp. 4570
Author(s):  
Sukhbir Kaur ◽  
Steven M. Bronson ◽  
Dipasmita Pal-Nath ◽  
Thomas W. Miller ◽  
David R. Soto-Pantoja ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Tumor Microenvironment ◽  
Tumor Suppressor ◽  
Immune Cells ◽  
Cancer Biology ◽  
Therapeutic Potential ◽  
Angiogenesis Inhibitor ◽  
Genotoxic Stress ◽  
Extracellular Vesicle ◽  
Adaptive Immune Cells ◽  
Thrombospondin 1

The identification of thrombospondin-1 as an angiogenesis inhibitor in 1990 prompted interest in its role in cancer biology and potential as a therapeutic target. Decreased thrombospondin-1 mRNA and protein expression are associated with progression in several cancers, while expression by nonmalignant cells in the tumor microenvironment and circulating levels in cancer patients can be elevated. THBS1 is not a tumor suppressor gene, but the regulation of its expression in malignant cells by oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes mediates some of their effects on carcinogenesis, tumor progression, and metastasis. In addition to regulating angiogenesis and perfusion of the tumor vasculature, thrombospondin-1 limits antitumor immunity by CD47-dependent regulation of innate and adaptive immune cells. Conversely, thrombospondin-1 is a component of particles released by immune cells that mediate tumor cell killing. Thrombospondin-1 differentially regulates the sensitivity of malignant and nonmalignant cells to genotoxic stress caused by radiotherapy and chemotherapy. The diverse activities of thrombospondin-1 to regulate autophagy, senescence, stem cell maintenance, extracellular vesicle function, and metabolic responses to ischemic and genotoxic stress are mediated by several cell surface receptors and by regulating the functions of several secreted proteins. This review highlights progress in understanding thrombospondin-1 functions in cancer and the challenges that remain in harnessing its therapeutic potential.

scholarly journals Glioma-Derived Extracellular Vesicles – Far More Than Local Mediators

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stoyan Tankov ◽  
Paul R. Walker
Keyword(s):  
Tumor Microenvironment ◽  
Immune Cells ◽  
Immune Escape ◽  
Basic Research ◽  
Extracellular Vesicle ◽  
Research Area ◽  
Low Oxygen ◽  
Adaptive Immune Cells ◽  
Challenges And Opportunities ◽  
The Many

Extracellular vesicle (EV) secretion is a ubiquitous cellular process with both physiologic and pathologic consequences. EVs are small lipid bilayer vesicles that encompass both microvesicles and exosomes and which are secreted by virtually all cells including cancer cells. In this review, we will focus on the roles of EVs in mediating the crosstalk between glioblastoma (GBM) cells and innate and adaptive immune cells and the potential impact on glioma progression. Glioma-derived EVs contain many bioactive cargoes that can broaden and amplify glioma cell mediated immunosuppressive functions and thereby contribute to shaping the tumor microenvironment. We will discuss evidence demonstrating that the low oxygen (hypoxia) in the GBM microenvironment, in addition to cell-intrinsic effects, can affect intercellular communication through EV release, raising the possibility that properties of the tumor core can more widely impact the tumor microenvironment. Recent advances in glioma-derived EV research have shown their importance not only as message carriers, but also as mediators of immune escape, with the capacity to reprogram tumor infiltrating immune cells. Exploring EV function in cancer-immune crosstalk is therefore becoming an important research area, opening up opportunities to develop EV monitoring for mechanistic studies as well as novel diagnostic glioma biomarker applications. However, robust and reproducible EV analysis is not always routinely established, whether in research or in clinical settings. Taking into account the current state of the art in EV studies, we will discuss the challenges and opportunities for extending the many exciting findings in basic research to a better interpretation of glioma and its response to current and future immunotherapies.

scholarly journals Regulation of Ovarian Cancer Prognosis by Immune Cells in the Tumor Microenvironment

Cancers ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (9) ◽  
pp. 302 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maureen L. Drakes ◽  
Patrick J. Stiff
Keyword(s):  
Ovarian Cancer ◽  
Tumor Microenvironment ◽  
Immune Cells ◽  
Intracellular Signaling ◽  
Conventional Therapy ◽  
Antitumor Immunity ◽  
Cell Activity ◽  
The United States ◽  
Adaptive Immune Cells ◽  
Immune Biomarkers

It is estimated that in the United States in 2018 there will be 22,240 new cases of ovarian cancer and 14,070 deaths due to this malignancy. The most common subgroup of this disease is high-grade serous ovarian cancer (HGSOC), which is known for its aggressiveness, high recurrence rate, metastasis to other sites, and the development of resistance to conventional therapy. It is important to understand the ovarian cancer tumor microenvironment (TME) from the viewpoint of the function of pre-existing immune cells, as immunocompetent cells are crucial to mounting robust antitumor responses to prevent visible tumor lesions, disease progression, or recurrence. Networks consisting of innate and adaptive immune cells, metabolic pathways, intracellular signaling molecules, and a vast array of soluble factors, shape the pathogenic nature of the TME and are useful prognostic indicators of responses to conventional therapy and immunotherapy, and subsequent survival rates. This review highlights key immune cells and soluble molecules in the TME of ovarian cancer, which are important in the development of effective antitumor immunity, as well as those that impair effector T cell activity. A more insightful knowledge of the HGSOC TME will reveal potential immune biomarkers to aid in the early detection of this disease, as well as biomarkers that may be targeted to advance the design of novel therapies that induce potent antitumor immunity and survival benefit.

scholarly journals Immunometabolism in the Tumor Microenvironment

2020 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Dominic G. Roy ◽  
Irem Kaymak ◽  
Kelsey S. Williams ◽  
Eric H. Ma ◽  
Russell G. Jones
Keyword(s):  
Tumor Microenvironment ◽  
Immune Cells ◽  
Cancer Biology ◽  
Antitumor Immunity ◽  
Immune Cell ◽  
Metabolic Reprogramming ◽  
Proper Function ◽  
Annual Review ◽  
Publication Date ◽  
And Function

Advances in immunotherapy have underscored the importance of antitumor immune responses in controlling cancer. However, the tumor microenvironment (TME) imposes several obstacles to the proper function of immune cells, including a metabolically challenging and immunosuppressive microenvironment. The increased metabolic activity of tumor cells can lead to the depletion of key nutrients required by immune cells and the accumulation of byproducts that hamper antitumor immunity. Furthermore, the presence of suppressive immune cells, such as regulatory T cells and myeloid-derived suppressor cells, and the expression of immune inhibitory receptors can negatively impact immune cell metabolism and function. This review summarizes the metabolic reprogramming that is characteristic of various immune cell subsets, discusses how the metabolism and function of immune cells is shaped by the TME, and highlights how therapeutic interventions aimed at improving the metabolic fitness of immune cells and alleviating the metabolic constraints in the TME can boost antitumor immunity. Expected final online publication date for the Annual Review of Cancer Biology, Volume 5 is March 4, 2021. Please see http://www.annualreviews.org/page/journal/pubdates for revised estimates.

scholarly journals Estrogens and the Schrödinger’s Cat in the Ovarian Tumor Microenvironment

Cancers ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (19) ◽  
pp. 5011
Author(s):  
Marija Gjorgoska ◽  
Tea Lanišnik Rižner
Keyword(s):  
Ovarian Cancer ◽  
Tumor Microenvironment ◽  
Tumor Growth ◽  
Immune Cells ◽  
Metabolic Pathways ◽  
Ovarian Tumor ◽  
Cancer Biology ◽  
Thought Experiment ◽  
Invasion And Metastasis ◽  
Established Tumor

Ovarian cancer is a heterogeneous disease affecting the aging ovary, in concert with a complex network of cells and signals, together representing the ovarian tumor microenvironment. As in the “Schrödinger’s cat” thought experiment, the context-dependent constituents of the—by the time of diagnosis—well-established tumor microenvironment may display a tumor‑protective and ‑destructive role. Systemic and locally synthesized estrogens contribute to the formation of a pro-tumoral microenvironment that enables the sustained tumor growth, invasion and metastasis. Here we focus on the estrogen biosynthetic and metabolic pathways in ovarian cancer and elaborate their actions on phenotypically plastic, estrogen-responsive, aging immune cells of the tumor microenvironment, altogether highlighting the multicomponent-connectedness and complexity of cancer, and contributing to a broader understanding of the ovarian cancer biology.

scholarly journals Anti-Tumor Effects of Chinese Medicine Compounds by Regulating Immune Cells in Microenvironment

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fengqian Chen ◽  
Jingquan Li ◽  
Hui Wang ◽  
Qian Ba
Keyword(s):  
Dendritic Cells ◽  
Chinese Medicine ◽  
Tumor Microenvironment ◽  
Cancer Therapy ◽  
Traditional Chinese Medicine ◽  
Tumor Cells ◽  
Immune Cells ◽  
Suppressor Cells ◽  
Myeloid Derived Suppressor Cells ◽  
Adaptive Immune Cells

As the main cause of death in the world, cancer is one of the major health threats for humans. In recent years, traditional Chinese medicine has gained great attention in oncology due to the features of multi-targets, multi-pathways, and slight side effects. Moreover, lots of traditional Chinese medicine can exert immunomodulatory effects in vivo. In the tumor microenvironment, tumor cells, immune cells as well as other stromal cells often coexist. With the development of cancer, tumor cells proliferate uncontrollably, metastasize aggressively, and modulate the proportion and status of immune cells to debilitate the antitumor immunity. Reversal of immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment plays an essential role in cancer prevention and therapy. Immunotherapy has become the most promising strategy for cancer therapy. Chinese medicine compounds can stimulate the activation and function of immune cells, such as promoting the maturation of dendritic cells and inducing the differentiation of myeloid-derived suppressor cells to dendritic cells and macrophages. In the present review, we summarize and discuss the effects of Chinese medicine compounds on immune cells in the tumor microenvironment, including innate immune cells (dendritic cells, natural killer cells, macrophages, and myeloid-derived suppressor cells) and adaptive immune cells (CD4+/CD8+ T lymphocytes and regulatory T cells), and the various immunomodulatory roles of Chinese medicine compounds in cancer therapy such as improving tumor-derived inflammation, enhancing the immunity after surgery or chemotherapy, blocking the immune checkpoints, et al., aiming to provide more thoughts for the anti-tumor mechanisms and applications of Chinese medicine compounds in terms of tumor immunity.

Mesenchymal Stem Cells, Immune Cells and Tumor Cells Crosstalk: A Sinister Triangle in the Tumor Microenvironment

2019 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
pp. 43-51 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mahboobeh Razmkhah ◽  
Shabnam Abtahi ◽  
Abbas Ghaderi
Keyword(s):  
Stem Cells ◽  
Mesenchymal Stem Cells ◽  
Tumor Microenvironment ◽  
Immune Responses ◽  
Tumor Cells ◽  
Immune Cells ◽  
Epithelial Mesenchymal Transition ◽  
Mesenchymal Transition ◽  
Adaptive Immune ◽  
Adaptive Immune Cells

Mesenchymal Stem Cells [MSCs] are a heterogeneous population of fibroblast-like cells which maintain self-renewability and pluripotency. Many studies have demonstrated the immunomodulatory effects of MSCs on the innate and adaptive immune cells. As a result of interactions with tumor cells, microenvironment and immune-stimulating milieu, MSCs contribute to tumor progression by several mechanisms, including sustained proliferative signal in cancer stem cells [CSCs], inhibition of tumor cell apoptosis, transition to tumor-associated fibroblasts [TAFs], promotion of angiogenesis, stimulation of epithelial-mesenchymal transition [EMT], suppression of immune responses, and consequential promotion of tumor metastasis. Here, we present an overview of the latest findings on Janusfaced roles that MSCs play in the tumor microenvironment [TME], with a concise focus on innate and adaptive immune responses.

scholarly journals Dendritic Cells The Tumor Microenvironment and the Challenges for an Effective Antitumor Vaccination

2012 ◽  
Vol 2012 ◽  
pp. 1-15 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fabian Benencia ◽  
Leslee Sprague ◽  
John McGinty ◽  
Michelle Pate ◽  
Maria Muccioli
Keyword(s):  
Clinical Trials ◽  
Dendritic Cells ◽  
Tumor Microenvironment ◽  
Immune Responses ◽  
Immune Cells ◽  
Therapeutic Potential ◽  
Human Cancer ◽  
Dc Vaccines ◽  
Tumor Clearance ◽  
Antigen Presenting

Many clinical trials have been carried out or are in progress to assess the therapeutic potential of dendritic-cell- (DC-) based vaccines on cancer patients, and recently the first DC-based vaccine for human cancer was approved by the FDA. Herewith, we describe the general characteristics of DCs and different strategies to generate effective antitumor DC vaccines. In recent years, the relevance of the tumor microenvironment in the progression of cancer has been highlighted. It has been shown that the tumor microenvironment is capable of inactivating various components of the immune system responsible for tumor clearance. In particular, the effect of the tumor microenvironment on antigen-presenting cells, such as DCs, does not only render these immune cells unable to induce specific immune responses, but also turns them into promoters of tumor growth. We also describe strategies likely to increase the efficacy of DC vaccines by reprogramming the immunosuppressive nature of the tumor microenvironment.

scholarly journals Lipid Metabolism and Cancer Immunotherapy: Immunosuppressive Myeloid Cells at the Crossroad

2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (16) ◽  
pp. 5845
Author(s):  
Augusto Bleve ◽  
Barbara Durante ◽  
Antonio Sica ◽  
Francesca Maria Consonni
Keyword(s):  
Lipid Metabolism ◽  
Immune Responses ◽  
Cancer Progression ◽  
Immune Cells ◽  
Therapeutic Potential ◽  
Myeloid Cell ◽  
Major Influence ◽  
Nutrient Competition ◽  
Adaptive Immune Cells ◽  
Inflammatory State

Cancer progression generates a chronic inflammatory state that dramatically influences hematopoiesis, originating different subsets of immune cells that can exert pro- or anti-tumor roles. Commitment towards one of these opposing phenotypes is driven by inflammatory and metabolic stimuli derived from the tumor-microenvironment (TME). Current immunotherapy protocols are based on the reprogramming of both specific and innate immune responses, in order to boost the intrinsic anti-tumoral activity of both compartments. Growing pre-clinical and clinical evidence highlights the key role of metabolism as a major influence on both immune and clinical responses of cancer patients. Indeed, nutrient competition (i.e., amino acids, glucose, fatty acids) between proliferating cancer cells and immune cells, together with inflammatory mediators, drastically affect the functionality of innate and adaptive immune cells, as well as their functional cross-talk. This review discusses new advances on the complex interplay between cancer-related inflammation, myeloid cell differentiation and lipid metabolism, highlighting the therapeutic potential of metabolic interventions as modulators of anticancer immune responses and catalysts of anticancer immunotherapy.

scholarly journals Innate and adaptive immune cells in the tumor microenvironment

2013 ◽  
Vol 14 (10) ◽  
pp. 1014-1022 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas F Gajewski ◽  
Hans Schreiber ◽  
Yang-Xin Fu
Keyword(s):  
Tumor Microenvironment ◽  
Immune Cells ◽  
Adaptive Immune ◽  
Adaptive Immune Cells

p53-Mdm2 Interaction Inhibitors as Novel Nongenotoxic Anticancer Agents

2018 ◽  
Vol 18 (8) ◽  
pp. 749-772 ◽  
Author(s):  
Surendra Kumar Nayak ◽  
Gopal L. Khatik ◽  
Rakesh Narang ◽  
Vikramdeep Monga ◽  
Harish Kumar Chopra
Keyword(s):  
Tumor Suppressor ◽  
Anticancer Agents ◽  
Therapeutic Potential ◽  
P53 Protein ◽  
Tumor Development ◽  
Direct Interaction ◽  
Genotoxic Stress ◽  
Vital Role ◽  
Recent Developments ◽  
Structural Aspects

Background: Cancer is a major global health problem with high mortality rate. Most of the clinically used anticancer agents induce apoptosis through genotoxic stress at various stages of cell cycle and activation of p53. Acting as a tumor suppressor, p53 plays a vital role in preventing tumor development. Tumor suppressor function of p53 is effectively antagonized by its direct interaction with murine double minute 2 (Mdm2) proteins via multiple mechanisms. Thus, p53-Mdm2 interaction has been found to be an important target for the development of novel anticancer agents. Currently, nutlin, spirooxindole, isoquilinone and piperidinone analogues inhibiting p53-Mdm2 interaction are found to be promising in the treatment of cancer. Objective: The current review focused to scrutinize the structural aspects of p53-Mdm2 interaction inhibitors. Methods: The present study provides a detailed collection of published information on different classes of inhibitors of p53-Mdm2 interaction as potential anticancer agents. The review highlighted the structural aspects of various reported p53-Mdm2 inhibitors for optimization. Results: In the last few years, different classes of inhibitors of p53-Mdm2 have been designed and developed, and seven such compounds are being evaluated in clinical trials as new anticancer drugs. Further, to explore the role of p53 protein as a potential target for anticancer drug development, in this review, the mechanism of Mdm2 mediated inactivation of p53 and recent developments on p53- Mdm2 interactions inhibitors are discussed. Conclusion: Agents designed to block the p53-Mdm2 interaction may have a therapeutic potential for the treatment of a subset of human cancers retaining wild-type p53. We review herein the recent advances in the design and development of potent small molecules as p53-Mdm2 inhibitors.

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