In vivo fluorescence flow cytometry reveals that the nanoparticle tumor vaccine OVA@HA-PEI effectively clears circulating tumor cells

Tumor vaccine therapy offers significant advantages over conventional treatments,including reduced toxic side effects.However,it currently functions primarily as an adjuvant treatment modality in clinical oncology due to limitations in tumor antigen selection and delivery methods.Tumor vaccines often fail to elicit a sufficiently robust immune response against progressive tumors,thereby limiting their clinical efficacy.In this study,we developed a nanoparticle-based tumor vaccine,OVA@HA-PEI,utilizing ovalbumin(OVA)as the presenting antigen and hyaluronic acid(HA)and polyethyleneimine(PEI)as adjuvants and carriers.This formulation significantly enhanced the proliferation of immune cells and cytokines,such as CD3,CD8,interferon-,and tumor necrosis factor-,in vivo,effectively activating an immune response against B16–F10 tumors.In vivofluorescenceflow cytometry(IVFC)has already become an effective method for monitoring circulating tumor cells(CTCs)due to its direct,noninvasive,and long-term detection capabilities.Our study utilized a laboratory-constructed IVFC system to monitor the immune processes induced by the OVA@HA-PEI tumor vaccine and an anti-programmed death-1(PD-1)antibody.The results demonstrated that the combined treatment of OVA@HA-PEI and anti-PD-1 antibody significantly improved the survival time of mice compared to anti-PD-1 antibody treatment alone.Additionally,this combination therapy substantially reduced the number of CTCs in vivo,increased the clearance rate of CTCs by the immune system,and slowed tumor progression.Thesefindings greatly enhance the clinical application prospects of IVFC and tumor vaccines.

Decreased LDHB expression in breast tumor cells causes NK cell activation and promotes tumor progression

Objective: Abnormal metabolism is the underlying reason for breast cancer progression. Decreased lactate dehydrogenase B(LDHB) has been detected in breast cancer but the function of LDHB remains unknown.Methods: Western blot was used to analyze LDHB expression in breast cancer cells. The impact of LDHB on tumor cell migration and invasion was determined using Transwell assays, wound healing assays, and a mouse lung metastasis model. Subcutaneous tumor formation, a natural killer(NK) cell cytotoxicity assay, and flow cytometry evaluated NK cell activation. Immunofluorescence and quantitative real-time PCR detected NK cell activation markers. Kaplan-Meier analysis evaluated the effect of immune cell infiltration on prognosis. Single-sample gene set enrichment analysis determined NK cell activation scores. A support vector machine predicted the role of LDHB in NK cell activation.Results: In this study we showed that LDHB inhibits the breast cancer cell metastasis and orchestrates metabolic reprogramming within tumor cells. Our results revealed that LDHB-mediated lactic acid clearance in breast cancer cells triggers NK cell activation within the tumor microenvironment. Our findings, which were confirmed in a murine model, demonstrated that LDHB in tumor cells promotes NK cell activation and ultimately results in the eradication of malignant cells. Clinically, our study further validated that LDHB affects immune cell infiltration and function. Specifically, its expression has been linked to enhanced NK cell-mediated cytotoxicity and improved patient survival. Furthermore, we identified LDHB expression in tumors as an important predictor of NK cell activation, with strong predictive ability in some cancers.Conclusions: Our results suggest that LDHB is a promising target for activating the tumor immune microenvironment in breast cancer, where LDHB-associated lactic acid clearance leads to increased NK cell activity. This study highlights the critical role of LDHB in regulating immune responses and its potential as a therapeutic target for breast cancer.

Automatic detection method of bladder tumor cells based on color and shape features

Bladder urothelial carcinoma is the most common malignant tumor disease in urinary system,and its incidence rate ranks ninth in the world.In recent years,the continuous development of hyperspectral imaging technology has provided a new tool for the auxiliary diagnosis of bladder cancer.In this study,based on microscopic hyperspectral data,an automatic detection algorithm of bladder tumor cells combining color features and shape features is proposed.Support vector machine(SVM)is used to build classification models and compare the classification performance of spectral feature,spectral and shape fusion feature,and the fusion feature proposed in this paper on the same classifier.The results show that the sensitivity,specificity,and accuracy of our classification algorithm based on shape and color fusion features are 0.952,0.897,and 0.920,respectively,which are better than the classification algorithm only using spectral features.Therefore,this study can effectively extract the cell features of bladder urothelial carcinoma smear,thus achieving automatic,real-time,and noninvasive detection of bladder tumor cells,and then helping doctors improve the efficiency of pathological diagnosis of bladder urothelial cancer,and providing a reliable basis for doctors to choose treatment plans and judge the prognosis of the disease.

Celastrol activates caspase-3/GSDME-dependent pyroptosis in tumor cells by inducing endoplasmic reticulum stress Author links open overlay panel

Objective:To investigate the pyroptosis-inducing effects of celastrol on tumor cells and to explore the potential mechanisms involved,specifically focusing on the role of the caspase-3/gasdermin E(GSDME)signaling pathway and the impact of endoplasmic reticulum(ER)stress and autophagy.Methods: Necrostatin-1(Nec-1),lactate dehydrogenase release(LDH)assay,and Hoechst/propidium iodide(PI)double staining were employed to validate the mode of cell death.Western blot was used to detect the cleavage of GSDME and the expression of light chain 3(LC3)and BIP.Results: Celastrol induced cell swelling with large bubbles,which is consistent with the pyroptotic phenotype.Moreover,treatment with celastrol induced GSDME cleavage,indicating the activation of GSDME-mediated pyroptosis.GSDME knockout via CRISPR/Cas9 blocked the pyroptotic morphology of celastrol in HeLa cells.In addition,cleavage of GSDME was attenuated by a specific caspase-3 inhibitor in celastrol-treated cells,suggesting that GSDME activation was induced by caspase-3.Mechanistically,celastrol induced endoplasmic reticulum(ER)stress and autophagy in HeLa cells,and other ER stress inducers produced effects consistent with those of celastrol.Conclusion: These findings suggest that celastrol triggers caspase-3/GSDME-dependent pyroptosis via activation of ER stress,which may shed light on the potential antitumor clinical applications of celastrol.

Revolutionizing tumor immunotherapy:unleashing the power of progenitor exhausted T cells

In exploring persistent infections and malignancies, a distinctive subgroup of CD8^(+) T cells, progenitor exhausted CD8^(+) T(Tpex) cells, has been identified. These Tpex cells are notable for their remarkable self-renewal and rapid proliferation abilities. Recent strides in immunotherapy have demonstrated that Tpex cells expand and differentiate into responsive exhausted CD8^(+) T cells, thus underscoring their critical role in the immunotherapeutic retort. Clinical examinations have further clarified a robust positive correlation between the proportional abundance of Tpex cells and enhanced clinical prognosis. Tpex cells have found noteworthy applications in the formulation of inventive immunotherapeutic approaches against tumors. This review describes the functions of Tpex cells in the tumor milieu, particularly their potential utility in tumor immunotherapy. Precisely directing Tpex cells may be essential to achieving successful outcomes in immunotherapy against tumors.

Multifaceted roles of lymphatic and blood endothelial cells in the tumor microenvironment of hepatocellular carcinoma:A comprehensive review

The tumor microenvironment is a complex network of cells,extracellular matrix,and signaling molecules that plays a critical role in tumor progression and metastasis.Lymphatic and blood vessels are major routes for solid tumor metastasis and essential parts of tumor drainage conduits.However,recent studies have shown that lymphatic endothelial cells(LECs)and blood endothelial cells(BECs)also play multifaceted roles in the tumor microenvironment beyond their structural functions,particularly in hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC).This comprehensive review summarizes the diverse roles played by LECs and BECs in HCC,including their involvement in angiogenesis,immune modulation,lymphangiogenesis,and metastasis.By providing a detailed account of the complex interplay between LECs,BECs,and tumor cells,this review aims to shed light on future research directions regarding the immune regulatory function of LECs and potential therapeutic targets for HCC.

Prognostic value of circulating tumor cells combined with neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma

BACKGROUND Circulating tumor cell(CTC)count and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio(NLR)are both closely associated with the prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC).AIM To investigate the prognostic value of combining these two indicators in HCC.METHODS Clinical data were collected from patients with advanced HCC who received im-mune therapy combined with targeted therapy at the Department of Oncology,the Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University,Sichuan,China,from 2021 to 2023.The optimal cutoff values for CTC programmed death-ligand 1(PD-L1)(+)>1 or CTC PD-L1(+)≤1 and NLR>3.89 or NLR≤3.89 were evaluated using X-Tile software.Patients were categorized into three groups based on CTC PD-L1(+)counts and NLR:CTC-NLR(0),CTC-NLR(1),and CTC-NLR(2).The relationship between CTC-NLR and clinical variables as well as survival rates was assessed.RESULTS Patients with high CTC PD-L1(+)expression or NLR at baseline had shorter median progression-free survival(m-PFS)and median overall survival(mOS)than those with low levels of CTC PD-L1(+)or NLR(P<0.001).Mean-while,patients in the CTC-NLR(2)group showed a significant decrease in mPFS and mOS.Cox regression analysis revealed that alpha-fetoprotein(AFP),CTC PD-L1(+),and CTC-NLR were independent predictors of OS.The time-dependent receiver operating characteristic curve showed that the area under the curve of CTC-NLR at 12 months(0.821)and 18 months(0.821)was superior to that of AFP and CTC PD-L1(+).CONCLUSION HCC patients with high CTC PD-L1(+)or NLR expression tend to exhibit poor prognosis,and a high baseline CTC-NLR score may indicate low survival.CTC-NLR may serve as an effective prognostic indicator for patients with advanced HCC receiving immunotherapy combined with targeted therapy.

Interplay and therapeutic implications of colorectal cancer stem cells,tumor microenvironment,and gut microbiota

This article discusses the interplay between colorectal cancer(CRC)stem cells,tumor microenvironment(TME),and gut microbiota,emphasizing their dynamic roles in cancer progression and treatment resistance.It highlights the adaptability of CRC stem cells,the bidirectional influence of TME,and the multifaceted impact of gut microbiota on CRC.The manuscript proposes innovative therapeutic strategies focusing on these interactions,advocating for a shift towards personalized and ecosystem-targeted treatments in CRC.The conclusion underscores the importance of continued research in these areas for developing effective,personalized therapies.

Circulating tumor cells in pancreatic cancer:The prognostic impact in surgical patients

Pancreatic cancer is associated with a poor prognosis,even in the early stages,mainly due to metastatic progression.New diagnostic techniques that predict unfavorable outcomes are needed in order to improve treatment strategies.Circulating tumor cells(CTCs)are showing promising results as a predictive biomarker for various tumors.In this editorial we comment on the article by Zhang et al,who published the first systematic review and meta-analysis evaluating the prognostic value of CTCs as biomarkers in early-stage pancreatic cancer patients undergoing surgery.CTCs were detected in peripheral or central venous system blood,before or during surgery.Positive CTCs showed a correlation with decreased overall survival and decreased relapse-free,disease-free and progression-free survival in this meta-analysis.However,the heterogeneity was significant.The authors suggest that this result was related to the separation methods used between studies,but other differences such as the margin status or the neoadjuvant and adjuvant treatments used are also important to consider.CTCs may be a potential prognostic biomarker in pancreatic cancer patients,but it is necessary to compare and standardize the platforms used to isolate CTCs,to compare different biomarkers from liquid biopsy and to determine the impact on prognosis when therapeutic changes are made based on CTCs levels.

Circulating tumor cells as prognostic marker in pancreatic cancer

In this editorial we comment on the article by Zhang et al published in the recent issue of the World Journal of Clinical Oncology.Pancreatic cancer is the fourth most common cause of cancer-related mortality and has the lowest survival rate among all solid cancers.It causes 227000 deaths annually worldwide,and the 5-year survival rate is very low due to early metastasis,which is 4.6%.Cancer survival increases with better knowledge of risk factors and early and accurate diagnosis.Circulating tumor cells(CTCs)are tumor cells that intravasate from the primary tumor or metastasis foci into the peripheral blood circulation system spontan-eously or during surgical operations.Detection of CTC in blood is promising for early diagnosis.In addition,studies have associated high CTC levels with a more advanced stage,and more intensive treatments should be considered in cases with high CTC.In tumors that are considered radiologically resectable,it may be of critical importance in detecting occult metastases and preventing unnecessary surgeries.

Uptake of bacterial lipopolysaccharide and expression of tumor necrosis factor α mRNA in isolated rat intrahepatic bile duct epithelial cells *

AIM To study the uptake of bacterial lipopolysaccharides (LPS) and expression of tumor necrosis factor α mRNA (TNF α mRNA) with cultured rat intrahepatic bile duct epithelial cells.

Mycobacterium smegmatis enhances shikonin-induced immunogenic cell death—an efficient in situ tumor vaccine strategy

Tumor vaccines are a promising avenue in cancer immunotherapy.Despite the progress in targeting specific immune epitopes,tumor cells lacking these epitopes can evade the treatment.Here,we aimed to construct an efficient in situ tumor vaccine called Vac-SM,utilizing shikonin(SKN)to induce immunogenic cell death(ICD)and Mycobacterium smegmatis as an immune adjuvant to enhance in situ tumor vaccine efficacy.SKN showed a dose-dependent and time-dependent cytotoxic effect on the tumor cell line and induced ICD in tumor cells as evidenced by the CCK-8 assay and the detection of the expression of relevant indicators,respectively.Compared with the control group,the in situ Vac-SM injection in mouse subcutaneous metastatic tumors significantly inhibited tumor growth and distant tumor metastasis,while also improving survival rates.Mycobacterium smegmatis effectively induced maturation and activation of bone marrow-derived dendritic cells(DCs),and in vivo tumor-draining lymph nodes showed an increased maturation of DCs and a higher proportion of effector memory T-cell subsets with the Vac-SM treatment,based on flow cytometry analysis results.Collectively,the Vac-SM vaccine effectively induces ICD,improves antigen presentation by DCs,activates a specific systemic antitumor T-cell immune response,exhibits a favorable safety profile,and holds the promise for clinical translation for local tumor immunotherapy.

Evaluation of epithelial-mesenchymal transitioned circulating tumor cells in patients with resectable gastric cancer: Relevance to therapy response

AIM: To evaluate the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition(EMT) of circulating tumor cells(CTCs) in gastric cancer patients.METHODS: We detected tumor cells for expression of four epithelial(E^+) transcripts(keratins 8, 18, and 19 and epithelial cell adhesion molecule) and two mesenchymal(M^+) transcripts(Vimentin and Twist) by a quantifiable, dual-colorimetric RNA-in situ hybridization assay. Between July 2014 and October 2014, 44 patients with gastric cancer were recruited for CTC evaluation. Blood samples were obtained from selected patients during the treatment course [before surgery, after surgery and at the 6^(th) cycle of XELOX based chemotherapy(about 6 mo postoperatively)].RESULTS: We found the EMT phenomenon in which there were a few biphenotypic E^+/M^+ cells in primary human gastric cancer specimens. Of the 44 patients, the presence of CTCs was reported in 35(79.5%) patients at baseline. Five types of cells including from exclusively E^+ CTCs to intermediate CTCs and exclusively M^+ CTCs were identified(4 patients with M^+ CTCs and 10 patients with M^+ or M^+ > E^+ CTCs). Further, a chemotherapy patient having progressive disease showed a proportional increase of mesenchymal CTCs in the post-treatment blood specimens. We used NCI-N87 cells to analyze the linearity and sensitivity of Can Patrol^(TM) system and the correlation coefficient(R^2) was 0.999.CONCLUSION: The findings suggest that the EMT phenomenon was both in a few cells of primary tumors and abundantly in CTCs from the blood of gastric cancer patients, which might be used to monitor therapy response.

Prognostic and predictive blood biomarkers in gastric cancer and the potential application of circulating tumor cells

Gastric cancer(GC), with its high incidence and mortality rates, is a highly fatal cancer that is common in East Asia particularly in China. Its recurrence and metastasis are the main causes of its poor prognosis. Circulating tumor cells(CTCs) or other blood biomarkers that are released into the circulating blood stream by tumors are thought to play a crucial role in the recurrence and metastasis of gastric cancer. Therefore, the detection of CTCs and other blood biomarkers has an important clinical significance; in fact, they can help predict the prognosis, assess the staging, monitor the therapeutic effects and determine the drug susceptibility. Recent research has identified many blood biomarkers in GC, such as various serum proteins, autoantibodies against tumor associated antigens, and cell-free DNAs. The analysis of CTCs and circulating cell-free tumor DNA(ctDNA) in the peripheral blood of patients with gastric cancer is called as liquid biopsy. These blood biomarkers provide the disease status for individuals and have clinical meaning. In this review, we focus on the recent scientific advances regarding CTCs and other blood biomarkers, and discuss their origins and clinical meaning.

Circulating tumor cells in pancreatic cancer patients:Enrichment and cultivation

AIM: To investigate the feasibility of separation and cultivation of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) in pancreatic cancer (PaC) using a filtration device.

Molecular detection of epithelial-mesenchymal transition markers in circulating tumor cells from pancreatic cancer patients:Potential role in clinical practice

AIM To evaluate the clinical properties of three subpopulations of circulating tumor cells(CTCs) undergoing epithelial-mesenchymal transition(EMT) in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma(PDAC) patients.METHODS We identified CTCs for expression of the epithelial cell marker cytokeratin or epithelial cell adhesion molecule(EpCAM)(E-CTC), the mesenchymal cell markers vimentin and twist(M-CTC), or both(E/M-CTC) using the CanPatrol system. Between July 2014 and July 2016, 107 patients with PDAC were enrolled for CTC evaluation. CTC enumeration and classification were correlated with patient clinicopathological features and outcomes.RESULTS CTCs were detected in 78.5% of PDAC patients. The number of total CTCs ranged from 0 to 26 across all 107 patients, with a median value of six. CTC status correlated with lymph node metastasis, TNM stage, distant metastasis, blood lymphocyte counts, and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio(NLR). Kaplan-Meier survival analysis showed that patients with ≥ 6 total CTCs had significantly decreased overall survival and progression-free survival compared with patients with < 6 total CTCs. The presence of M-CTCs was positively correlated with TNM stage(P < 0.01) and distant metastasis(P < 0.01). Additionally, lymphocyte counts and NLR in patients without CTCs were significantly different from those in patients testing positive for each CTC subpopulation(P < 0.01).CONCLUSION Classifying CTCs by EMT markers helps to identify the more aggressive CTC subpopulations and provides useful evidence for determining a suitable clinical approach.

Liquid biopsy in patients with pancreatic cancer: Circulating tumor cells and cell-free nucleic acids

Despite recent advances in surgical techniques and perioperative management, the prognosis of pancreatic cancer(PCa) remains extremely poor. To provide optimal treatment for each patient with Pca, superior biomarkers are urgently needed in all phases of management from early detection to staging, treatment monitoring, and prognosis. In the blood of patients with cancer, circulating tumor cells(CTCs) and cell-free nucleic acids(cf NAs), such as DNA, m RNA, and noncoding RNA have been recognized. In the recent years, their presence in the blood has encouraged researchers to investigate their potential use as novel blood biomarkers, and numerous studies have demonstrated their potential clinical utility as a biomarker for certain types of cancer. This concept, called "liquid biopsy" has been focused on as a less invasive, alternative approach to cancer tissue biopsy for obtaining genetic and epigenetic aberrations that contribute to oncogenesis and cancer progression. In this article, we review the available literature on CTCs and cfN As in patients with cancer, particularly focusing on PCa, and discuss future perspectives in this field.

Influence of granulocyte-macrophage colonystimulating factor and tumor necrosis factor on anti-hepatoma activities of human dendritic cells

INTRODUCTIONDendritic cells (DCs) play a key regulatory role inantitumor immunity,especially in its immuneaccessory role via MHC-Ⅰ molecules.We haverecently reported that DCs were able to enhance thekilling activity of Lymphokine and PHA activatedkiller (LPAK) cells in vitro.In the presentstudy,we evaluated the effects of GM-CSF andTNF upon antitumor activities of freshly

Isolation and biological analysis of tumor stem cells from pancreatic adenocarcinoma

AIM: To explore the method of isolation and biological analysis of tumor stem cells from pancreatic adenocarcinoma cell line PANC-1. METHODS: The PANC-1 cells were cultured in Dulbecco modified eagle medium F12 (1:1 volume) (DMEM-F12) supplemented with 20% fetal bovine serum (FBS). Subpopulation cells with properties of tumor stem cells were isolated from pancreatic adenocarcinoma cell line PANC-1 according to the cell surface markers CD44 and CD24 by flow cytometry. The proliferative capability of these cells in vitro were estimated by 3-[4,5-dimehyl-2-thiazolyl]-2,5-diphenyl-2H-tetrazolium bromide (MTT) method. And the tumor growth of different subpopulation cells which were injected into the hypodermisof right and left armpit of nude mice was studied,and expression of CD44 and CD24 of the CD44+CD24+ cell-formed nodules and PANC-1 cells were detected by avidin-biotin-peroxidase complex (ABC) immunohistochemical staining. RESULTS: The 5.1%-17.5% of sorted PANC-1 cells expressed the cell surface marker CD44,57.8% -70.1% expressed CD24,only 2.1%-3.5% of cells were CD44+ CD24+. Compared with CD44-CD24-cells,CD44+CD24+ cells had a lower growth rate in vitro. Implantation of 104 CD44-CD24-cells in nude mice showed no evidenttumor growth at wk 12. In contrast,large tumors were found in nude mice implanted with 103 CD44+CD24+ cells at wk 4 (2/8),a 20-fold increase in tumorigenic potential (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). There was no obvious histological difference between the cells of the CD44+CD24+ cell-formed nodules and PANC-1 cells. CONCLUSION: CD44 and CD24 may be used as the cell surface markers for isolation of pancreatic cancer stem cells from pancreatic adenocarcinoma cell line PANC-1. Subpopulation cells CD44+CD24+ have properties of tumor stem cells. Because cancer stem cells are thought to be responsible for tumor initiation and its recurrence after an initial response to chemotherapy,it may be a very promising target for new drug development.

Thoughts about cancer stem cells in solid tumors

Cancer chemotherapy efficacy is frequently impaired by either intrinsic or acquired tumor resistance.A fundamental problem in cancer research is identifying the cell type that is capable of sustaining neoplastic growth and its origin from normal tissue cells.In recent years,the cancer stem cell(CSC) theory has changed the classical view of tumor growth and therefore the therapeutic perspective.Overcoming intrinsic and acquired resistance of cancer stem/progenitor cells to current clinical treatments represents a major challenge in treating and curing the most aggressive and metastatic cancers.On the other hand,the identification of CSCs in vivo and in vitro relies on specific surface markers that should allow the sorting cancer cells into phenotypically distinct subpopulations.In the present review,recent papers published on CSCs in solid tumors(breast,prostate,brain and melanoma) are discussed,highlighting critical points such as the choice of markers to sort CSCs and mouse models to demonstrate that CSCs are able to replicate the original tumor.A discussion of the possible role of aldehyde dehydrogenase and CXCR6 biomarkers as signaling molecules in CSCs and normal stem cells is also discussed.The author believes that efforts have to be made to investigate the functional and biological properties of putative CSCs in cancer.Developing diagnostic/prognostic tools to follow cancer development is also a challenge.In this connection it would be useful to develop a multidisciplinary approach combining mathematics,physics and biology which merges experimental approaches and theory.Biological models alone are probably unable to resolve the problem completely.