Immunotherapeutic Interventions Research Articles

Molecular profiling of core immune-escape genes highlights TNFAIP3 as an immune-related prognostic biomarker in neuroblastoma.

Neuroblastoma (NB) is the most prevalent and deadliest pediatric solid tumor. With of over 50% of high-risk neuroblastoma cases relapse, the imperative for novel drug targets and therapeutic strategies is accentuated. In neuroblastoma, the existence of tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) correlates with an unfavorable patient prognosis. However, the clinical relevance and prognostic implications of regulatory genes linked to TAMs infiltration in neuroblastoma remain unclear, and further study is required. We conducted a comprehensive analysis utilizing transcriptome expression profiles from three primary datasets associated with neuroblastoma (GSE45547, GSE49710, TARGET) to identify hub genes implicated in immune evasion within neuroblastoma. Subsequently, we utilized single-cell RNA sequencing analysis on 17 clinical neuroblastoma samples to investigate the expression and distribution of these hub genes, leading to the identification of TNFAIP3. The above three public databases were merged to allowed for the validation of TNFAIP3's molecular functions through GO and KEGG analysis. Furthermore, we assessed TNFAIP3's correlation with immune infiltration and its potential immunotherapeutic impact by multiple algorithms. Our single-cell transcriptome data revealed the role of TNFAIP3 in macrophage polarization. Finally, preliminary experimental verifications to confirm the biological functions of TNFAIP3-mediated TAMs in NB. A total of 6 genes related to immune evasion were screened and we found that TNFAIP3 exhibited notably higher expression in macrophages than other immune cell types, based on the scRNA-sequencing data. GO and KEGG analysis showed that low expression of TNFAIP3 significantly correlated with the activation of multiple oncogenic pathways as well as immune-related pathways. Then validation affirmed that individuals within the TNFAIP3 high-expression cohort could potentially derive greater advantages from immunotherapeutic interventions, alongside exhibiting heightened immune responsiveness. Deciphering the pseudotime trajectory of macrophages, we revealed the potential of TNFAIP3 in inducing the polarization of macrophages towards the M1 phenotype. Finally, we confirmed that patients in the TNFAIP3 high expression group might benefit more from immunotherapy or chemotherapy as substantiated by RT-qPCR and immunofluorescence examinations. Moreover, the role of TNFAIP3 in macrophage polarization was validated. Preliminary experiment showed that TNFAIP3-mediated TAMs inhibit the proliferation, migration and invasion capabilities of NB cells. Our results suggest that TNFAIP3 was first identified as a promising biomarker for immunotherapy and potential molecular target in NB. Besides, the presence of TNFAIP3 within TAMs may offer a novel therapeutic strategy for NB.

Elucidating the multifaceted role of MGAT1 in hepatocellular carcinoma: integrative single-cell and spatial transcriptomics reveal novel therapeutic insights

BackgroundGlycosyltransferase-associated genes play a crucial role in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) pathogenesis. This study investigates their impact on the tumor microenvironment and molecular mechanisms, offering insights into innovative immunotherapeutic strategies for HCC.MethodsWe utilized cutting-edge single-cell and spatial transcriptomics to examine HCC heterogeneity. Four single-cell scoring techniques were employed to evaluate glycosyltransferase genes. Spatial transcriptomic findings were validated, and bulk RNA-seq analysis was conducted to identify prognostic glycosyltransferase-related genes and potential immunotherapeutic targets. MGAT1’s role was further explored through various functional assays.ResultsOur analysis revealed diverse cell subpopulations in HCC with distinct glycosyltransferase gene activities, particularly in macrophages. Key glycosyltransferase genes specific to macrophages were identified. Temporal analysis illustrated macrophage evolution during tumor progression, while spatial transcriptomics highlighted reduced expression of these genes in core tumor macrophages. Integrating scRNA-seq, bulk RNA-seq, and spatial transcriptomics, MGAT1 emerged as a promising therapeutic target, showing significant potential in HCC immunotherapy.ConclusionThis comprehensive study delves into glycosyltransferase-associated genes in HCC, elucidating their critical roles in cellular dynamics and immune cell interactions. Our findings open new avenues for immunotherapeutic interventions and personalized HCC management, pushing the boundaries of HCC immunotherapy.

The role of WTAP in regulating macrophage-mediated osteoimmune responses and tissue regeneration in periodontitis

Periodontitis, delineated by the destruction of structures that support teeth, is predominantly propelled by intricate immune responses. Immunomodulatory treatments offer considerable promise for the management of this ailment; however, the modulation of the periodontal immune microenvironment to facilitate tissue regeneration presents a substantial biomedical challenge. Herein, our study investigates the role of Wilms’ tumor 1-associating protein (WTAP), a critical m6A methyltransferase, in the immunomodulation of periodontitis and assesses its viability as a therapeutic target. We observed heightened expression of WTAP in macrophages extracted from gingival tissues impacted by periodontitis, with a strong association with M1 polarization. Via loss-of-function experiments, we demonstrated that diminishing WTAP expression precipitates a transition from M1 to M2 macrophage phenotypes amidst inflammatory conditions, thus improving the periodontal immune landscape. Further, RNA sequencing and indirect co-culture assays indicated that suppressing of WTAP expression modulates osteoimmune responses and enhances the osteogenic differentiation of bone marrow stromal cells. The local deployment of adeno-associated virus-shWTAP in murine models of periodontitis robustly validated the therapeutic promise of targeting WTAP in this disease. Collectively, our findings highlight the crucial role of WTAP in orchestrating macrophage-mediated osteoimmune responses and tissue regeneration in periodontitis, proposing novel avenues for immunotherapeutic interventions in its treatment.

The multifaceted role of PCSK9 in cancer pathogenesis, tumor immunity, and immunotherapy.

Proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9), a well-known regulator of cholesterol metabolism and cardiovascular diseases, has recently garnered attention for its emerging involvement in cancer biology. The multifunctional nature of PCSK9 extends beyond lipid regulation and encompasses a wide range of cellular processes that can influence cancer progression. Studies have revealed that PCSK9 can modulate signaling pathways, such as PI3K/Akt, MAPK, and Wnt/β-catenin, thereby influencing cellular proliferation, survival, and angiogenesis. Additionally, the interplay between PCSK9 and cholesterol homeostasis may impact membrane dynamics and cellular migration, further influencing tumor aggressiveness. The central role of the immune system in monitoring and controlling cancer is increasingly recognized. Recent research has demonstrated the ability of PCSK9 to modulate immune responses through interactions with immune cells and components of the tumor microenvironment. This includes effects on dendritic cell maturation, T cell activation, and cytokine production, suggesting a role in shaping antitumor immune responses. Moreover, the potential influence of PCSK9 on immune checkpoints such as PD1/PD-L1 lends an additional layer of complexity to its immunomodulatory functions. The growing interest in cancer immunotherapy has prompted exploration into the potential of targeting PCSK9 for therapeutic benefits. Preclinical studies have demonstrated synergistic effects between PCSK9 inhibitors and established immunotherapies, offering a novel avenue for combination treatments. The strategic manipulation of PCSK9 to enhance tumor immunity and improve therapeutic outcomes presents an exciting area for further investigations. Understanding the mechanisms by which PCSK9 influences cancer biology and immunity holds promise for the development of novel immunotherapeutic approaches. This review aims to provide a comprehensive analysis of the intricate connections between PCSK9, cancer pathogenesis, tumor immunity, and the potential implications for immunotherapeutic interventions.

Time-Dependent Variation in Immunoparalysis Biomarkers Among Patients with Sepsis and Critical Illness.

Immunoparalysis is a significant concern in patients with sepsis and critical illness, potentially leading to increased risk of secondary infections. This study aimed to perform a longitudinal assessment of immune function over the initial two weeks following the onset of sepsis and critical illness. We compared ex vivo stimulated cytokine release to traditional markers of immunoparalysis, including monocyte Human Leukocyte Antigen (mHLA)-DR expression and absolute lymphocyte count (ALC). A total of 64 critically ill patients were recruited in a tertiary care academic medical setting, including 31 septic and 33 non-septic patients. Results showed that while mHLA-DR expression significantly increased over time, this was primarily driven by the non-septic subset of critically ill patients. ALC recovery was more prominent in septic patients. Ex vivo stimulation revealed significant increases in TNF and IL-6 production over time in septic patients. However, IFNγ production varied with the stimulant used and did not show significant recovery when normalized to cell count. No significant correlation was found between mHLA-DR expression and other immunoparalysis biomarkers. These findings suggest the need for more nuanced immune monitoring approaches beyond the traditional 'sepsis' versus 'non-sepsis' classifications in critically ill patients. It also provided further evidence of a potential window for targeted immunotherapeutic interventions in the first week of critical illness.

Emerging Therapeutic Strategies to Overcome Drug Resistance in Cancer Cells.

The rise of drug resistance in cancer cells presents a formidable challenge in modern oncology, necessitating the exploration of innovative therapeutic strategies. This review investigates the latest advancements in overcoming drug resistance mechanisms employed by cancer cells, focusing on emerging therapeutic modalities. The intricate molecular insights into drug resistance, including genetic mutations, efflux pumps, altered signaling pathways, and microenvironmental influences, are discussed. Furthermore, the promising avenues offered by targeted therapies, combination treatments, immunotherapies, and precision medicine approaches are highlighted. Specifically, the synergistic effects of combining traditional cytotoxic agents with molecularly targeted inhibitors to circumvent resistance pathways are examined. Additionally, the evolving landscape of immunotherapeutic interventions, including immune checkpoint inhibitors and adoptive cell therapies, is explored in terms of bolstering anti-tumor immune responses and overcoming immune evasion mechanisms. Moreover, the significance of biomarker-driven strategies for predicting and monitoring treatment responses is underscored, thereby optimizing therapeutic outcomes. For insights into the future direction of cancer treatment paradigms, the current review focused on prevailing drug resistance challenges and improving patient outcomes, through an integrative analysis of these emerging therapeutic strategies.

Application of spatial-omics to the classification of kidney biopsy samples in transplantation.

Improvement of long-term outcomes through targeted treatment is a primary concern in kidney transplant medicine. Currently, the validation of a rejection diagnosis and subsequent treatment depends on the histological assessment of allograft biopsy samples, according to the Banff classification system. However, the lack of (early) disease-specific tissue markers hinders accurate diagnosis and thus timely intervention. This challenge mainly results from an incomplete understanding of the pathophysiological processes underlying late allograft failure. Integration of large-scale multimodal approaches for investigating allograft biopsy samples might offer new insights into this pathophysiology, which are necessary for the identification of novel therapeutic targets and the development of tailored immunotherapeutic interventions. Several omics technologies - including transcriptomic, proteomic, lipidomic and metabolomic tools (and multimodal data analysis strategies) - can be applied to allograft biopsy investigation. However, despite their successful application in research settings and their potential clinical value, several barriers limit the broad implementation of many of these tools into clinical practice. Among spatial-omics technologies, mass spectrometry imaging, which is under-represented in the transplant field, has the potential to enable multi-omics investigations that might expand the insights gained with current clinical analysis technologies.

Identification and characterization of RAC1-related immune and prognostic subtypes of hepatocellular carcinoma.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a malignant tumor with significant variability in prognosis among patients. Ras-related C3 botulinum toxin substrate 1 (RAC1) is a key focus in the area of cancer research. However, the molecular mechanisms of RAC1 in HCC remain incompletely elucidated. In this study, bioinformatics analysis was used, and public databases were used to obtain information about HCC cases. The samples were categorized into two groups of high and low expression based on the expression level of RAC1 gene. The limma package was used to calculate the differentially expressed genes between the two groups, and univariate Cox regression analysis was used to screen the prognostic related factors. Consensus clustering analysis was performed using the ConsensusClusterPlus package to identify molecular subtypes of HCC patients. Immune cell infiltration and ESTIMATE scores were assessed using the single sample gene set enrichment analysis and ESTIMATE algorithms. The sensitivity of different isoforms to chemotherapeutic agents was predicted by the oncoPredict package. Finally, we also performed cell function experiments to validate the biological role of RAC1 in vitro. Initially, we classified patients into high and low expression groups based on RAC1 gene expression levels and identified 195 up-regulated genes and 107 down-regulated genes. Through univariate Cox regression analysis, we screened out 169 prognosis-related factors. Furthermore, HCC patients were categorized into two subtypes. Subsequently, Kaplan-Meier survival curves showed that there was a significant difference in prognosis between the two molecular subtypes. Further analysis indicated substantial differences in gene expression levels and TIDE scores between two molecular subtypes. Moreover, these two subtypes exhibited varying sensitivity to chemotherapy drugs, as evidenced by differences in IC50 values. In addition, we found that the silence of RAC1 could effectively inhibit the migration and invasion of HCC cells in vitro. This study sheds light on the molecular intricacies of RAC1 in HCC and identifies patient populations that may benefit from immunotherapeutic interventions, with potential implications for tailored treatment strategies.

HIV-1 Nef is carried on the surface of extracellular vesicles.

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) serve as pivotal mediators of intercellular communication in both health and disease, delivering biologically active molecules from vesicle-producing cells to recipient cells. In the context of HIV infection, EVs have been shown to carry the viral protein Nef, a key pathogenic factor associated with HIV-related co-morbidities. Despite this recognition, the specific localisation of Nef within the vesicles has remained elusive. This study addresses this critical knowledge gap by investigating Nef-containing EVs. Less than 1% of the total released Nef was associated with EVs; most Nef existed as free protein released by damaged cells. Nevertheless, activity of EV-associated Nef in downregulating the major cholesterol transporter ABCA1, a critical aspect linked to the pathogenic effects of Nef, was comparable to that of free Nef present in the supernatant. Through a series of biochemical and microscopic assays, we demonstrate that the majority of EV-associated Nef molecules are localised on the external surface of the vesicles. This distinctive distribution prompts the consideration of Nef-containing EVs as potential targets for immunotherapeutic interventions aimed at preventing or treating HIV-associated co-morbidities. In conclusion, our results shed light on the localisation and functional activity of Nef within EVs, providing valuable insights for the development of targeted immunotherapies to mitigate the impact of HIV-associated co-morbidities.

B Cell-activating factor (BAFF): A promising trans-nosographic biomarker of inflammation and autoimmunity in bipolar disorder and schizophrenia

Immune dysregulation is an important aspect of schizophrenia (SZ) and bipolar disorders (BD) pathophysiology, including not only inflammatory but also autoimmune process reflective of abnormal humoral immune responses. Given that B cell-activating factor (BAFF) is an integral aspect of B lymphocyte regulation, the current study investigated BAFF in SZ and BD. 255 SZ patients, 407 BD patients and 185 healthy controls (HC) were investigated across three aspects of soluble BAFF (sBAFF) by (i) comparing sBAFF circulatory levels across SZ, BD and HC, (ii) determining potential correlations between the circulating levels of sBAFF and the genotype distribution of a functionally relevant polymorphism, namely the TNFSF13B 3′UTR insertion-deletion polymorphism (GCTGT>A), (iii) analyzing relationships between both sBAFF levels and 3′UTR insertion-deletion genotypes and disease risk, patients clinical characteristics and circulating levels of potent inflammatory molecules. In addition, in subsets of patients, we also searched for possible correlations between sBAFF levels and stigma of past infectious events as well as positivity for circulating systemic autoantibodies or those directed against central nervous system (CNS) structures. Studying blood derived serum and DNA, weobserved that circulating sBAFF levels were significantly higher in SZ and BD patients, versus HC (p = 5.3*10-10and p = 4.4*10-09). Patients experiencing acute episodes, versus stable patients, in between acute episodes, exhibited higher sBAFF levels (p = 0.017).In SZ patients, positive correlations were observed between elevated sBAFF levels and: (i) elevated positive psychotic symptoms (PANSS pos), (ii) history of childhood trauma (physical abuse), and (iii) low scores on global functioning (GAF) (p = 0.024, p = 0.024, and p = 0.041).We also found that the distribution of the BAFF Ins/Del genotypes was significantly correlated with circulating sBAFF levels in SZ and BD patients (p = 0.0004). Elevated sBAFF levels were also correlated with increased levels of pro-inflammatory markers in both SZ and BD cohorts (p < 0.001). Regarding infectious stigma, only patients seropositive, versus seronegative, for herpes simplex virus (HSV)1 immunoglobulin (Ig)G antibodies exhibited a significant association with high sBAFF levels (p = 0.013). In contrast, positivity for systemic or CNS autoantibodies was significantly associated with reduced sBAFF levels, compared to patients without autoantibodies (p = 0.0017). Overall, our findings indicate that BAFF may be a promising trans-nosographic biomarker of inflammation that is likely to offer predictive, diagnostic, and prognostic tools for the management of SZ and BD. The results therefore have practicable clinical utility given the availability of immunotherapeutic treatment options including targeted monoclonal antibodies against BAFF.

Advancements in Immunotherapeutic Treatments for Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Potential of Combination Therapies.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the sixth most prevalent cancer and a significant global health burden, with increasing incidence rates and limited treatment options. Immunotherapy has become a promising approach due to its ability to affect the immune microenvironment and promote antitumor responses. The immune microenvironment performs an essential role in both the progression and the development of HCC, with different characteristics based on specific immune cells and etiological factors. Immune checkpoint inhibitors, including programmed death-1/programmed death-ligand 1 inhibitors (pembrolizumab, nivolumab, and durvalumab) and cytotoxic T lymphocyte antigen-4 inhibitors (tremelimumab and ipilimumab), have the potential to treat advanced HCC and overcome adverse effects, such as liver failure and chemoresistance. Phase II and phase III clinical trials highlight the efficacy of pembrolizumab and nivolumab, respectively, in advanced HCC patients, as demonstrated by their positive effects on overall survival and progression-free survival. Tremelimumab has exhibited modest response rates, though it does possess antiviral activity. Thus, it is still being investigated in ongoing clinical trials. Combination therapies with multiple drugs have demonstrated potential benefits in terms of survival and tumor response rates, improving patient outcomes compared to monotherapy, especially for advanced-stage HCC. This review addresses the clinical trials of immunotherapies for early-, intermediate-, and advanced-stage HCC. Additionally, it highlights how combination therapy can significantly enhance overall survival, progression-free survival, and objective response rate in advanced-stage HCC, where treatment options are limited.

Comprehensive Analysis of angiogenesis associated genes and tumor microenvironment infiltration characterization in cervical cancer

BackgroundCervical cancer is among the most prevalent malignancies worldwide. This study explores the relationships between angiogenesis-related genes (ARGs) and immune infiltration, and assesses their implications for the prognosis and treatment of cervical cancer. Additionally, it develops a diagnostic model based on angiogenesis-related differentially expressed genes (ARDEGs). MethodsWe systematically evaluated 15 ARDEGs using Gene Ontology (GO), Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG), Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA), and Gene Set Variation Analysis (GSVA). Immune cell infiltration was assessed using a single-sample gene-set enrichment analysis (ssGSEA) algorithm. We then constructed a diagnostic model for ARDEGs using Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator (LASSO) regression analysis and evaluated the diagnostic value of this model and the hub genes in predicting clinical outcomes and immunotherapy responses in cervical cancer. ResultsA set of ARDEGs was identified from the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO), and UCSC Xena database. We performed KEGG, GO, and GSEA analyses on these genes, revealing significant involvement in cell proliferation, differentiation, and apoptosis. The ARDEGs diagnostic model, constructed using LASSO regression analysis, showed high predictive accuracy in cervical cancer patients. We developed a reliable nomogram and decision curve analysis to evaluate the clinical utility of the ARDEG diagnostic model. The 15 ARDEGs in the model were associated with clinicopathological features, prognosis, and immune cell infiltration. Notably, ITGA5 expression and the abundance of immune cell infiltration (specifically mast cell activation) were highly correlated. ConclusionThis study identifies the prognostic characteristics of ARGs in cervical cancer patients, elucidating aspects of the tumor microenvironment. It enhances the predictive accuracy of immunotherapy outcomes and establishes new strategies for immunotherapeutic interventions.

Relevance of immune tumor microenvironment and its interaction with HABP4 and SERBP1 proteins in bladder cancer.

e15187 Background: This study characterized and compared the immunohistochemical signatures associated with the cytotoxic inflammatory response (IFN-γ, CX3CR1+CD8+ T cells, iNOS+ M1 macrophages), immune checkpoints (PD-L1, CTLA-4), and the presence of immunosuppressive cells (CD163+M2 macrophages, Foxp3+regulatory T (Treg) cells) within bladder cancer samples. Furthermore, it aimed to correlate these immune signatures with the functional dynamics of Hyaluronic Acid Binding Protein 4 (HABP4) and Serpin mRNA Binding Protein 1 (SERBP1), proposing a novel perspective on the immunobiology of bladder cancer and its implications for targeted therapeutic strategies. Methods: A total of 30 formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded bladder samples were obtained from patients aged 34 to 96 years (average 65 years) diagnosed with bladder cancer at the Municipal Hospital of Paulínia, Brazil. The samples were divided into three groups (n = 10 samples per group): Group 1 - Initial Non-Muscle Invasive Bladder Cancer (NMIBC); Group 2 - Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG)-unresponsive NMIBC; and Group 3 - Muscle Invasive Bladder Cancer. Subsequently, the samples were submitted to immunohistochemical analyses. The retrospective anonymous study was approved by the local ethics committee (Clinical Trial: RBR-6swqd2). Results: Our results demonstrated that total immunoreactivities for IFN-γ, iNOS and CX3CR1 were significantly higher (p &lt; 0.01) in Group 1 compared to Groups 2 and 3. CTLA-4 and PD-L1 immunoreactivities were significantly higher (p &lt; 0.01) in Group 1 compared to Groups 2 and 3. Conversely, immunoreactivities for CD163 and Foxp3 were significantly higher (p &lt; 0.01) in Groups 2 and 3 compared to Group 1. This study marks the first elucidation of HABP4 and SERBP1 immunoreactivities in the context of bladder cancer. We observed that immunoreactivity for SERBP1 was significantly higher (p &lt; 0.01) in Groups 2 and 3 than in Group 1, implicating its overexpression in the facilitation of tumor progression. In a contrasting manner, HABP4 demonstrated significantly greater immunoreactivity (p &lt; 0.01) in Group 1 compared to Groups 2 and 3, indicating a potential inhibitory effect on cellular proliferation. Conclusions: The augmented presence of Foxp3+Treg cells and CD163+M2 macrophages, concomitant with SERBP1 overexpression and the decrease of immune checkpoints, likely compromises the therapeutic efficacy of BCG. This immunosuppressive milieu hinders the activation, proliferation, and effector functions of CD8+ T cells, thereby promoting tumor progression. Conversely, a heightened infiltration of CX3CR1+CD8+ T cells and iNOS+M1 macrophages promotes a cytotoxic microenvironment, rendering it more amenable to immunotherapeutic interventions.

Racial disparities in the immunotherapeutic outcomes of patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC): An in-depth systematic review and meta-analysis.

1579 Background: The utilization of immunotherapy has become prevalent in the therapeutic approach to non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), owing to its association with enhanced survival outcomes. Nevertheless, a notable gap exists in the available information regarding potential variations in the survival benefits of immunotherapy based on the racial demographics of NSCLC patients. Methods: A systematic search for articles published until January 2023 was performed on PubMed, EMBASE, and Google Scholar databases. Articles that aligned with the research objective were included, while non-English articles, case reports, conference abstracts, studies combining immunotherapy with other cancer therapies, and studies on small-cell lung cancer were excluded. Data required for review and analysis was independently abstracted into separate Excel files by two reviewers. Furthermore, Statistical analyses were performed using the Review Manager software, and the methodological quality evaluation was done using the Newcastle Ottawa Scale. Results: Seven cohort studies were used for review and analysis. A subgroup analysis of data from these studies showed that Black/African American and Asian NSCLC patients receiving immunotherapy had improved overall survival (OS) than White patients (HR: 0.84; 95% CI: 0.75 – 0.95; p = 0.006 and HR: 0.53; 95% CI: 0.30 – 0.93; p = 0.03, respectively). However, the difference in OS is statistically insignificant when Hispanic patients are compared with white patients (HR: 0.68; 95% CI: 0.46 – 1.00; p = 0.05). On the other hand, the subgroup analyses did not demonstrate any significant difference in progression-free survival (PFS) when comparing Black/African American, Asian or Hispanic patients to White patients (HR: 0.93; 95% CI: 0.79 – 1.09; p = 0.35, HR: 0.89; 95% CI: 0.51 – 1.55; p = 0.69, and HR: 1.01; 95% CI: 0.82 – 1.23; p = 0.96, respectively). Conclusions: Among non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients undergoing immunotherapeutic interventions, it is discerned that Black/African American and Asian individuals exhibit superior overall survival (OS) outcomes compared to their White counterparts. However, it is noteworthy that the observed racial disparity does not appear to exert a discernible influence on the progression-free survival (PFS) of NSCLC patients subjected to immunotherapy.

A machine learning–based radiomics approach to predict MUC4 mutation and response to immunotherapy in cholangiocarcinoma.

e16203 Background: The immunogenicity of MUC4 made it a tumor antigen for immunotherapeutic interventions in cholangiocarcinoma (CCA). Identifying CCA patients with elevated MUC4 expression would be crucial for MUC4-targeted immunotherapies and the prediction response to immunotherapy. Methods: In this retrospective study, 55 CCA patients who received first-line treatment with pembrolizumab in combination with gemcitabine plus cisplatin (GP) chemotherapy were enrolled. Enrolled patients underwent surgery before, and their postoperative specimens were subjected to whole exome sequencing and proteomic sequencing, and matched magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) data were collected. We employed a random forest classifier based on radiomic features to predict the status of key genes mutation including MUC4 and tested it on an internal and an external validation CCA cohort. Odds ratio of MUC4 expression for objective response to pembrolizumab plus GP was tested with logistic regression analysis. Association of MUC4 expression with progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) was analyzed with a Cox proportional hazard regression. Results: A radiomics nomogram that incorporates radiomics signature and MUC4 mutation showed good calibration and discrimination in the training cohort (AUC = 0.762), internal validation cohort (AUC = 0.812) and external validation cohort (AUC = 0.801). The radiomics nomogram was an independent preoperative predictor of overall and recurrence-free survival. High expression of MUC4 portended significantly lower overall and recurrence-free survival than decreased MUC4 expression levels (P &lt; 0.001). Findings from cell experiments revealed targeting MUC4 with bosutinib showed inhibitory effects on cell proliferation and promoted apoptosis. Additionally, the combination of bosutinib with a PD-1 inhibitor increased the inhibitory effect. Investigating the feasibility of translating these findings into clinical trials for patients with CCA is an important next step. Conclusions: The integration of MUC4-based immunotherapy and incorporating radiomics-based biomarkers could significantly advance personalized medicine and contribute to more effective treatment strategies for CCA patients.

Unraveling the immunologic vulnerabilities of diffuse hemispheric glioma, H3 G34-mutant.

2082 Background: Recent insights into the molecular basis of diffuse hemispheric glioma, H3 G34-mutant (DHG-G34), an incurable high-grade glioma, have opened new therapeutic possibilities. The oncohistone mutation in DHG-G34 impairs the epigenetic regulator SETD2, which normally orchestrates DNA-mismatch-repair and negatively regulates the transcriptional silencing activity of the Polycomb Repressive Complex 2 (PRC2). In DHG-G34, a mismatch-repair-deficiency phenotype is predicted, but an anti-tumor immune response is notably absent in clinical observations, which we posit is linked to the aberrant transcriptional repression by PRC2. Here, we investigate DHG-G34 immunosuppression mechanisms in a large real-world multi-omics cohort and human cell lines. Methods: Clinical, molecular, and immunologic characteristics of a DHG-G34 cohort, sequenced (DNA and RNA) at Caris Life Sciences (Phoenix, AZ), are contrasted against diffuse midline glioma (DMG) and pediatric low-grade glioma (LGG). A significant difference between genomic subgroups was defined as fold-change &gt; 1.2. Statistical significance was determined using chi-square, Fishers-exact, and Mann Whitney U tests with corrections for multiple hypothesis testing (q &lt; 0.05).Hazard ratio (HR) was calculated using the Cox proportional hazards model. KNS-42 DHG-G34 cell line was exposed in triplicate to 1 µM valemetostat (an EZH1/2 inhibitor) or DMSO in vitro. Flow cytometry and RNA-sequencing were utilized to determine differential immunologic characteristics. Results: 29 DHG-G34, 51 DMG, and 52 LGG were identified in Caris database. Median OS among DHG-G34 was 15.4 mo., similar to DMG (HR = 1.1, 95% CI: 0.70-1.73, p = 0.686). Most frequent alterations in DHG-G34 were TP53 (93.1%), ATRX (69.0%), PDGFRA (31.0%). Tumor mutational burden (TMB) was high, &gt;=10mt/MB, in 10% of DHG-G34 and 0/51 in DMG and 0/52 LGG (p &lt; 0.01, q &gt; 0.05), but immune fractions including dendritic cells, T cells, macrophages, microglia, and antigen-presenting genes were decreased (fold-change: 0.19 – 0.83, q &lt; 0.05). In KNS-42, PRC2 inhibition upregulated MHC class 1 (p &lt; 0.001). Of 402 KNS-42 missense variants, transcription of 43 were upregulated following EHZ2 inhibition, and 4 were downregulated (q &lt; 0.05). Among immunostimulatory genes, P2RX7, which engages T-cells and stimulates an inflammatory response, was downregulated in patient samples (q &lt; 0.001) and upregulated in KNS-42 following EZH2 inhibition (q &lt; 0.001). Conclusions: DHG-G34 has an increased propensity for high TMB but remains immunologically cold. Our pilot experiment suggests inhibiting PRC2’s unique role in DHG-G34 may sensitize DHG-G34 to an immune response by inducing MHC class 1 expression and transcriptional readthrough of mutated transcripts. Understanding whether treatment induces TMB in DHG-G34 may affect timing of an immunotherapeutic intervention.

An innovative single-cell approach for phenotyping and functional genotyping of CAR NK cells

BackgroundTo accelerate the translation of novel immunotherapeutic treatment approaches, the development of analytic methods to assess their efficacy at early in vitro stages is necessary. Using a droplet-based microfluidic platform,...

Identification and Validation of Immune Implication of R-Spondin 1 and an R-Spondin 1-Related Prognostic Signature in Esophagus Cancer.

R-spondin 1 (RSPO1), which encodes a secretory-activating protein, is a promising therapeutic target for various tumors. The aim of this study was to establish a robust RSPO1-related signature specific to esophageal cancer (ESCA). Our comprehensive study involved meticulous analysis of RSPO1 expression in ESCA tissues and validation across ESCA cell lines and clinical samples using The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and GTEx databases. Using TCGA-ESCA dataset, we employed single-sample gene set enrichment analysis (ssGSEA) to elucidate the complex interaction between RSPO1 expression and the abundance of 22 specific immune cell types infiltrating ESCA. The biological significance of RSPO1 was further elucidated using KEGG, GO, and GSEA, demonstrating its relevance to pivotal tumor and immune pathways. This study culminated in the construction of prognostic nomograms enriched by calibration curves, facilitating the projection of individual survival probabilities at intervals of one, three, and five years. A substantial decrease in RSPO1 expression was observed within ESCA tissues and cell lines compared to their normal esophageal counterparts, and a significant decrease in the proportion of activated dendritic cells was evident within ESCA, accompanied by an augmented presence of macrophages and naive B cells relative to normal tissue. GSEA and KEGG analyses showed that RSPO1 was associated with tumor and immune pathways. Additionally, an independent prognostic risk score based on the RSPO1-related gene signature was developed and validated for patients with ESCA. Finally, RT-qPCR and western blotting were performed to confirm RSPO1 expression in normal and ESCA cell lines and tissue samples. In summary, our investigation underscores the pivotal role of RSPO1 in orchestrating tumor immunity and proposes RSPO1 as a prospective target for immunotherapeutic interventions in ESCA. Furthermore, the intricate profile of the two RSPO1-related genes has emerged as a promising predictive biomarker with notable potential for application in ESCA.

Distinct Infiltration of T Cell Populations in Bladder Cancer Molecular Subtypes.

Bladder cancer is a heterogenous disease, and molecular subtyping is a promising method to capture this variability. Currently, the immune compartment in relation to subtypes is poorly characterized. Here, we analyzed the immune compartment in bladder tumors and normal bladder urothelium with a focus on T cell subpopulations using flow cytometry and RNA sequencing. The results were investigated in relation to tumor invasiveness (NMIBC/MIBC) and molecular subtypes according to the Lund Taxonomy system. Whereas the NMIBC/MIBC differed in the overall immune infiltration only, the molecular subtypes differed both in terms of immune infiltration and immune compartment compositions. The Basal/Squamous (Ba/Sq) and genomically unstable (GU) tumors displayed increased immune infiltration compared to urothelial-like (Uro) tumors. Additionally, the GU tumors had a higher proportion of regulatory T cells within the immune compartment compared to Uro tumors. Furthermore, sequencing showed higher levels of exhaustion in CD8+ T cells from GU tumors compared to both Uro tumors and the control. Although no such difference was detected at the transcriptomic level in Uro tumors compared to the controls, CD8+ T cells in Uro tumors showed higher expression of several exhaustion markers at the protein level. Taken together, our findings indicate that depending on the molecular subtype, different immunotherapeutic interventions might be warranted.

Recent advances in immunotherapy in cancer treatment.

Immunotherapy has emerged as a transformative approach in cancer treatment, leveraging the body's own immune system to recognize and eradicate cancer cells. This review provides an overview of the recent advances and aspects in immunotherapy in cancer biology, from established therapies like checkpoint inhibitors and CAR-T cells to emerging innovative approaches and the challenges associated with their clinical translation. The exploration includes an examination of checkpoint inhibitors, elucidating the mechanisms behind programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1), programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1), and cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated protein 4 (CTLA-4) inhibitors. Recent clinical successes and ongoing trials demonstrate the efficacy of checkpoint inhibitors across diverse malignancies, underscoring the potential for durable responses and improved patient outcomes. CAR-T cell therapy represents a groundbreaking avenue in immunotherapy, involving the genetic modification of a patient's T cells to express chimeric antigen receptors (CARs) for targeted cancer cell recognition. Furthermore, the review touches on the challenges associated with immunotherapy, including resistance mechanisms and adverse effects. Insightful discussions on overcoming resistance through combination therapies, adaptive treatment strategies, and emerging technologies underscore the ongoing efforts to enhance the long-term efficacy of immunotherapeutic interventions. In summary, this extensive review provides a comprehensive overview of recent advances in immunotherapy in cancer biology, highlighting the transformative impact of these therapies on patient outcomes, the challenges faced, and the promising directions for future research and clinical applications.