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Tumor microenvironment

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Full-Text Articles in Medicine and Health Sciences

Gene Expression Analysis Of Atypical Fibroxanthoma Patients Reveals New Insights Into The Tumor Microenvironment, Nia Gyongyosi, Aya Al-Nazal, Shehbeel Arif Apr 2024

Gene Expression Analysis Of Atypical Fibroxanthoma Patients Reveals New Insights Into The Tumor Microenvironment, Nia Gyongyosi, Aya Al-Nazal, Shehbeel Arif

Tower Health Research Day

No abstract provided.


A Representative Clinical Course Of Progression, With Molecular Insights, Of Hormone Receptor-Positive, Her2-Negative Bone Metastatic Breast Cancer, Elizabeth Magno, Karen M. Bussard Mar 2024

A Representative Clinical Course Of Progression, With Molecular Insights, Of Hormone Receptor-Positive, Her2-Negative Bone Metastatic Breast Cancer, Elizabeth Magno, Karen M. Bussard

Department of Pharmacology, Physiology, and Cancer Biology Faculty Papers

Despite treatment advances, breast cancer remains a leading cause of death of women in the United States, mostly due to metastatic disease. Bone is a preferential site for breast cancer metastasis, and most metastatic breast cancer patients experience bone involvement at the time of death. The majority of patients with bone metastatic breast cancer are first diagnosed with and treated for early-stage disease, and from development of early-stage breast cancer to the recurrence of cancer in the bones, up to 30 years may elapse. Throughout this timeframe, a typical patient undergoes many treatments that have effects on the bone microenvironment. …


Immunotherapy Resistance In Solid Tumors: Mechanisms And Potential Solutions, Daniel Lefler, Steven Manobianco, Babar Bashir Feb 2024

Immunotherapy Resistance In Solid Tumors: Mechanisms And Potential Solutions, Daniel Lefler, Steven Manobianco, Babar Bashir

Kimmel Cancer Center Faculty Papers

While the emergence of immunotherapies has fundamentally altered the management of solid tumors, cancers exploit many complex biological mechanisms that result in resistance to these agents. These encompass a broad range of cellular activities - from modification of traditional paradigms of immunity via antigen presentation and immunoregulation to metabolic modifications and manipulation of the tumor microenvironment. Intervening on these intricate processes may provide clinical benefit in patients with solid tumors by overcoming resistance to immunotherapies, which is why it has become an area of tremendous research interest with practice-changing implications. This review details the major ways cancers avoid both natural …


Exosome-Based Smart Drug Delivery For Cancer Treatment, Shabnam Malik, Mohammed Sikander, Sheema Khan, Daniel Zubieta, Murali M. Yallapu, Subhash C. Chauhan Feb 2024

Exosome-Based Smart Drug Delivery For Cancer Treatment, Shabnam Malik, Mohammed Sikander, Sheema Khan, Daniel Zubieta, Murali M. Yallapu, Subhash C. Chauhan

School of Medicine Publications and Presentations

Advances in nanoscale materials have become indispensable for targeted drug delivery, early detection, and personalized approaches for cancer treatment. Among various nanoscale materials investigated, exosomes hold significant promise in drug delivery. Exosomes are nanoscale vesicles that are usually 30–150 nm in size and produced by cells for intercellular communication. Due to their unique composition and inherent tumor-targeting capacity, these particles are well suited for tumor-specific delivery systems. This chapter discusses exosome isolation, therapeutic loading methods, key roles of exosomes in the tumor microenvironment, current applications of exosomes in drug delivery, and possible clinical implications.


Pancreatic Cancer Tumor Microenvironment Is A Major Therapeutic Barrier And Target, Conner Hartupee, Bolni Marius Nagalo, Chiswili Y. Chabu, Mulu Z. Tesfay, Joycelynn Coleman-Barnett, John T. West, Omeed Moaven Feb 2024

Pancreatic Cancer Tumor Microenvironment Is A Major Therapeutic Barrier And Target, Conner Hartupee, Bolni Marius Nagalo, Chiswili Y. Chabu, Mulu Z. Tesfay, Joycelynn Coleman-Barnett, John T. West, Omeed Moaven

School of Medicine Faculty Publications

Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is projected to become the 2nd leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the United States. Limitations in early detection and treatment barriers contribute to the lack of substantial success in the treatment of this challenging-to-treat malignancy. Desmoplasia is the hallmark of PDAC microenvironment that creates a physical and immunologic barrier. Stromal support cells and immunomodulatory cells face aberrant signaling by pancreatic cancer cells that shifts the complex balance of proper repair mechanisms into a state of dysregulation. The product of this dysregulation is the desmoplastic environment that encases the malignant cells leading to a dense, hypoxic …


Nano-Pulse Treatment Overcomes The Immunosuppressive Tumor Microenvironment To Elicit In Situ Vaccination Protection Against Breast Cancer, Anthony Nanajian, Megan Scott, Niculina I. Burcus, Brittney L. Ruedlinger, Edwin A. Oshin, Stephen J. Beebe, Siqi Guo Jan 2024

Nano-Pulse Treatment Overcomes The Immunosuppressive Tumor Microenvironment To Elicit In Situ Vaccination Protection Against Breast Cancer, Anthony Nanajian, Megan Scott, Niculina I. Burcus, Brittney L. Ruedlinger, Edwin A. Oshin, Stephen J. Beebe, Siqi Guo

Bioelectrics Publications

We previously reported that nano-pulse treatment (NPT), a pulsed power technology, resulted in 4T1-luc mammary tumor elimination and a strong in situ vaccination, thereby completely protecting tumor-free animals against a second live tumor challenge. The mechanism whereby NPT mounts effective antitumor immune responses in the 4T1 breast cancer predominantly immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (TME) remains unanswered. In this study, orthotopic 4T1 mouse breast tumors were treated with NPT (100 ns, 50 kV/cm, 1000 pulses, 3 Hz). Blood, spleen, draining lymph nodes, and tumors were harvested at 4-h, 8-h, 1-day, 3-day, 7-day, and 3-month post-treatment intervals for the analysis of frequencies, death, …


Tumor Integrin Targeted Theranostic Iron Oxide Nanoparticles For Delivery Of Caffeic Acid Phenethyl Ester: Preparation, Characterization, And Anti-Myeloma Activities., Barkley Smith, Yuancheng Li, Travis Fields, Michael Tucker, Anna Staskiewicz, Erica Wong, Handong Ma, Hui Mao, Xinyu Wang Jan 2024

Tumor Integrin Targeted Theranostic Iron Oxide Nanoparticles For Delivery Of Caffeic Acid Phenethyl Ester: Preparation, Characterization, And Anti-Myeloma Activities., Barkley Smith, Yuancheng Li, Travis Fields, Michael Tucker, Anna Staskiewicz, Erica Wong, Handong Ma, Hui Mao, Xinyu Wang

PCOM Scholarly Papers

Multiple myeloma (MM) is characterized by the accumulation of malignant plasma cells preferentially in the bone marrow. Currently, emerging chemotherapy drugs with improved biosafety profiles, such as immunomodulatory agents and protease inhibitors, have been used in clinics to treat MM in both initial therapy or maintenance therapy post autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (ASCT). We previously discovered that caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE), a water-insoluble natural compound, inhibited the growth of MM cells by inducing oxidative stress. As part of our continuous effort to pursue a less toxic yet more effective therapeutic approach for MM, the objective of this study …


Dna Methylation-Based Epigenetic Biomarkers In Cell-Type Deconvolution And Tumor Tissue Of Origin Identification, Ze Zhang Dec 2023

Dna Methylation-Based Epigenetic Biomarkers In Cell-Type Deconvolution And Tumor Tissue Of Origin Identification, Ze Zhang

Dartmouth College Ph.D Dissertations

DNA methylation is an epigenetic modification that regulates gene expression and is essential to establishing and preserving cellular identity. Genome-wide DNA methylation arrays provide a standardized and cost-effective approach to measuring DNA methylation. When combined with a cell-type reference library, DNA methylation measures allow the assessment of underlying cell-type proportions in heterogeneous mixtures. This approach, known as DNA methylation deconvolution or methylation cytometry, offers a standardized and cost-effective method for evaluating cell-type proportions. While this approach has succeeded in discerning cell types in various human tissues like blood, brain, tumors, skin, breast, and buccal swabs, the existing methods have major …


Atm Deficiency Confers Specific Therapeutic Vulnerabilities In Bladder Cancer, Yuzhen Zhou, Judit Börcsök, Elio Adib, Sophia C. Kamran, Alexander J. Neil, Konrad Stawiski, Dory Freeman, Dag Rune Stormoen, Zsofia Sztupinszki, Amruta Samant, Amin Nassar, Raie T. Bekele, Timothy Hanlon, Henkel Valentine, Ilana Epstein, Bijaya Sharma, Kristen Felt, Philip Abbosh, Chin-Lee Wu, Jason A. Efstathiou, David T. Miyamoto, William Anderson, Zoltan Szallasi, Kent W. Mouw Nov 2023

Atm Deficiency Confers Specific Therapeutic Vulnerabilities In Bladder Cancer, Yuzhen Zhou, Judit Börcsök, Elio Adib, Sophia C. Kamran, Alexander J. Neil, Konrad Stawiski, Dory Freeman, Dag Rune Stormoen, Zsofia Sztupinszki, Amruta Samant, Amin Nassar, Raie T. Bekele, Timothy Hanlon, Henkel Valentine, Ilana Epstein, Bijaya Sharma, Kristen Felt, Philip Abbosh, Chin-Lee Wu, Jason A. Efstathiou, David T. Miyamoto, William Anderson, Zoltan Szallasi, Kent W. Mouw

Einstein Health Papers

Ataxia-telangiectasia mutated (ATM) plays a central role in the cellular response to DNA damage and ATM alterations are common in several tumor types including bladder cancer. However, the specific impact of ATM alterations on therapy response in bladder cancer is uncertain. Here, we combine preclinical modeling and clinical analyses to comprehensively define the impact of ATM alterations on bladder cancer. We show that ATM loss is sufficient to increase sensitivity to DNA-damaging agents including cisplatin and radiation. Furthermore, ATM loss drives sensitivity to DNA repair-targeted agents including poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) and Ataxia telangiectasia and Rad3 related (ATR) inhibitors. ATM loss …


A Novel Approach To Target Tumor Immune Microenvironment And Improve Checkpoint Immunotherapies, Poornima Devi Shaji, Ana Martinez, Melida Flores Cantu, Anupam Dhasmana, Meena Jaggi, Stephen W. Behrman, Murali M. Yallapu, Subhash C. Chauhan, Sheema Khan Oct 2023

A Novel Approach To Target Tumor Immune Microenvironment And Improve Checkpoint Immunotherapies, Poornima Devi Shaji, Ana Martinez, Melida Flores Cantu, Anupam Dhasmana, Meena Jaggi, Stephen W. Behrman, Murali M. Yallapu, Subhash C. Chauhan, Sheema Khan

Research Colloquium

Background: Pancreatic cancer remains 3rd deadliest disease, with less than 7-10% survival rate. Little progress has been seen in patient’s outcome due to high desmoplasia and chemo-resistance. Immunotherapy has shown promising results in cancers, except pancreatic cancer due to their characteristic fibrotic tumor microenvironment. The therapies are unable to penetrate fibrotic tumor leading to insufficient availability of therapeutic drugs at the tumor site. A recently identified mucin, MUC13 is aberrantly expressed in pancreatic tumors but not in normal pancreas, that makes it an excellent protein tumor target. This study is unique as it utilizes MUC13Ab for targeting the pancreatic …


Innate Immune System In The Context Of Radiation Therapy For Cancer, Boopathi Ettickan, Robert Den, Chellappagounder Thangavel Aug 2023

Innate Immune System In The Context Of Radiation Therapy For Cancer, Boopathi Ettickan, Robert Den, Chellappagounder Thangavel

Department of Radiation Oncology Faculty Papers

Radiation therapy (RT) remains an integral component of modern oncology care, with most cancer patients receiving radiation as a part of their treatment plan. The main goal of ionizing RT is to control the local tumor burden by inducing DNA damage and apoptosis within the tumor cells. The advancement in RT, including intensity-modulated RT (IMRT), stereotactic body RT (SBRT), image-guided RT, and proton therapy, have increased the efficacy of RT, equipping clinicians with techniques to ensure precise and safe administration of radiation doses to tumor cells. In this review, we present the technological advancement in various types of RT methods …


Editorial: Targeting Dna Damage Response To Enhance Antitumor Innate Immunity In Radiotherapy, Victoria Valvo, Emanuele Vitale, Marco Tigano, Rachel Evans, Meredith A. Morgan, Qiang Zhang Jul 2023

Editorial: Targeting Dna Damage Response To Enhance Antitumor Innate Immunity In Radiotherapy, Victoria Valvo, Emanuele Vitale, Marco Tigano, Rachel Evans, Meredith A. Morgan, Qiang Zhang

Department of Pathology, Anatomy, and Cell Biology Faculty Papers

No abstract provided.


High Glucose-Upregulated Pd-L1 Expression Through Ras Signaling-Driven Downregulation Of Ptrh1 Leads To Suppression Of T Cell Cytotoxic Function In Tumor Environment, Chenggang Gao, Jiaoshun Chen, Jianwei Bai, Haoxiang Zhang, Yanyi Tao, Shihong Wu, Hehe Li, Heshui Wu, Qiang Shen, Tao Yin Jul 2023

High Glucose-Upregulated Pd-L1 Expression Through Ras Signaling-Driven Downregulation Of Ptrh1 Leads To Suppression Of T Cell Cytotoxic Function In Tumor Environment, Chenggang Gao, Jiaoshun Chen, Jianwei Bai, Haoxiang Zhang, Yanyi Tao, Shihong Wu, Hehe Li, Heshui Wu, Qiang Shen, Tao Yin

School of Graduate Studies Faculty Publications

Background: Nearly 80% of patients with pancreatic cancer suffer from glucose intolerance or diabetes. Pancreatic cancer complicated by diabetes has a more immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (TME) and is associated with a worse prognosis. The relationship between glucose metabolism and programmed cell death-Ligand 1 (PD-L1) is close and complex. It is important to explore the regulation of high glucose on PD-L1 expression in pancreatic cancer and its effect on infiltrating immune effectors in the tumor microenvironment. Methods: Diabetic murine models (C57BL/6) were used to reveal different immune landscape in euglycemic and hyperglycemic pancreatic tumor microenvironment. Bioinformatics, WB, iRIP [Improved RNA Binding …


Tumor Microenvironment As A Therapeutic Target In Melanoma Treatment, Naji Kharouf, Thomas W. Flanagan, Sofie Yasmin Hassan, Hosam Shalaby, Marla Khabaz, Sarah Lilly Hassan, Mosaad Megahed, Youssef Haikel, Simeon Santourlidis, Mohamed Hassan Jun 2023

Tumor Microenvironment As A Therapeutic Target In Melanoma Treatment, Naji Kharouf, Thomas W. Flanagan, Sofie Yasmin Hassan, Hosam Shalaby, Marla Khabaz, Sarah Lilly Hassan, Mosaad Megahed, Youssef Haikel, Simeon Santourlidis, Mohamed Hassan

School of Graduate Studies Faculty Publications

The role of the tumor microenvironment in tumor growth and therapy has recently attracted more attention in research and drug development. The ability of the microenvironment to trigger tumor maintenance, progression, and resistance is the main cause for treatment failure and tumor relapse. Accumulated evidence indicates that the maintenance and progression of tumor cells is determined by components of the microenvironment, which include stromal cells (endothelial cells, fibroblasts, mesenchymal stem cells, and immune cells), extracellular matrix (ECM), and soluble molecules (chemokines, cytokines, growth factors, and extracellular vesicles). As a solid tumor, melanoma is not only a tumor mass of monolithic …


Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Is Associated With Worse Oncologic Outcomes In Early-Stage Resected Pancreatic And Periampullary Cancers, Rachel Huang, Emma Hammelef, Matthew Sabitsky, Carolyn Ream, Saed Khalilieh, Nitzan Zohar, Harish Lavu, Wilbur B. Bowne, Charles J. Yeo, Avinoam Nevler Jun 2023

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Is Associated With Worse Oncologic Outcomes In Early-Stage Resected Pancreatic And Periampullary Cancers, Rachel Huang, Emma Hammelef, Matthew Sabitsky, Carolyn Ream, Saed Khalilieh, Nitzan Zohar, Harish Lavu, Wilbur B. Bowne, Charles J. Yeo, Avinoam Nevler

Department of Surgery Faculty Papers

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is the 3rd leading cause of cancer mortality in the United States. Hypoxic and hypercapnic tumor microenvironments have been suggested to promote tumor aggressiveness. The objective of this study was to evaluate the association between chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and oncologic survival outcomes in patients with early-stage PDAC and periampullary cancers. In this case-control study, patients who underwent a pancreaticoduodenectomy during 2014–2021 were assessed. Demographic, perioperative, histologic, and oncologic data were collected. A total of 503 PDAC and periampullary adenocarcinoma patients were identified, 257 males and 246 females, with a mean age of 68.1 (±9.8) …


Oncolytic Virus Immunotherapy: Development And Potential For Cancer Treatment, Olivia Guinness May 2023

Oncolytic Virus Immunotherapy: Development And Potential For Cancer Treatment, Olivia Guinness

Honors Scholar Theses

The American Cancer Society estimates that in 2023, 1,958,310 new cancer cases and 609,820 cancer deaths will occur in the United States [16]. A promising therapeutic option that has been supported by recent clinical trials is the use of oncolytic viruses to treat malignant tumors. The mechanism of action of existing treatments, such as chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and surgery, differs from that of oncolytic virus therapy because oncolytic viruses are able to affect cancer cells with specificity, minimizing side effects. When infecting a normal, non-cancerous cell, oncolytic viruses do not replicate, leaving healthy cells unaffected. In tumor cells, oncolytic viruses will …


Upregulation Of Cell Surface Glycoproteins In Correlation With Kshv Lana In The Kaposi Sarcoma Tumor Microenvironment, Sara R. Privatt, Owen Ngalamika, Jianshui Zhang, Qinsheng Li, Charles Wood, John T. West Apr 2023

Upregulation Of Cell Surface Glycoproteins In Correlation With Kshv Lana In The Kaposi Sarcoma Tumor Microenvironment, Sara R. Privatt, Owen Ngalamika, Jianshui Zhang, Qinsheng Li, Charles Wood, John T. West

School of Medicine Faculty Publications

HIV-associated epidemic Kaposi sarcoma (EpKS) remains one of the most prevalent cancers in sub-Saharan Africa despite the widespread uptake of anti-retroviral therapy and HIV-1 suppression. In an effort to define potential therapeutic targets against KS tumors, we analyzed previously published KS bulk tumor transcriptomics to identify cell surface biomarkers. In addition to upregulated gene expression (>6-fold) in the EpKS tumor microenvironment, biomarkers were selected for correlation with KSHV latency-associated nuclear antigen (LANA) expression. The cell surface glycoprotein genes identified were KDR, FLT4, ADAM12, UNC5A, ZP2, and OX40, as well as the endothelial lineage determinants Prox-1 and CD34. Each protein …


Exploring The Past, Present, And Future Of Anti-Angiogenic Therapy In Glioblastoma., Ashley B. Zhang, Khashayar Mozaffari, Brian Aguirre, Victor Li, Rohan Kubba, Nilay C Desai, Darren Wei, Isaac Yang, Madhuri Wadehra Jan 2023

Exploring The Past, Present, And Future Of Anti-Angiogenic Therapy In Glioblastoma., Ashley B. Zhang, Khashayar Mozaffari, Brian Aguirre, Victor Li, Rohan Kubba, Nilay C Desai, Darren Wei, Isaac Yang, Madhuri Wadehra

Department of Pathology, Anatomy, and Cell Biology Faculty Papers

Glioblastoma, a WHO grade IV astrocytoma, constitutes approximately half of malignant tumors of the central nervous system. Despite technological advancements and aggressive multimodal treatment, prognosis remains dismal. The highly vascularized nature of glioblastoma enables the tumor cells to grow and invade the surrounding tissue, and vascular endothelial growth factor-A (VEGF-A) is a critical mediator of this process. Therefore, over the past decade, angiogenesis, and more specifically, the VEGF signaling pathway, has emerged as a therapeutic target for glioblastoma therapy. This led to the FDA approval of bevacizumab, a monoclonal antibody designed against VEGF-A, for treatment of recurrent glioblastoma. Despite the …


Unveiling Similarities And Differences Between Cutaneous And Ocular Melanomas, Abdallah Badou, Nour El Imane Issam Salah, Mohamed Elbelhadji Jan 2023

Unveiling Similarities And Differences Between Cutaneous And Ocular Melanomas, Abdallah Badou, Nour El Imane Issam Salah, Mohamed Elbelhadji

Health Sciences

Melanomas are outstandingly aggressive cancers, still their incidence is increasing. They can occur in the skin as cutaneous melanoma or in the eye as ocular melanoma. Their pathogenesis is generally similar; however, the prognosis of ocular melanoma patients is still poor, due to its special genetic profile and tumor microenvironment. Here we review the similarities and differences between cutaneous and ocular melanoma, with a focus on their prognostic significance, their molecular signature, and their tumor microenvironment, in order to understand the strategies adopted to escape immune response. Gathering and understanding available knowledge of melanomas and their specificities may help to …


Principles Of Dormancy Evident In High-Grade Serous Ovarian Cancer, Trevor G. Shepherd, Frederick A. Dick Dec 2022

Principles Of Dormancy Evident In High-Grade Serous Ovarian Cancer, Trevor G. Shepherd, Frederick A. Dick

Paediatrics Publications

In cancer, dormancy refers to a clinical state in which microscopic residual disease becomes non-proliferative and is largely refractory to chemotherapy. Dormancy was first described in breast cancer where disease can remain undetected for decades, ultimately leading to relapse and clinical presentation of the original malignancy. A long latency period can be explained by withdrawal from cell proliferation (cellular dormancy), or a balance between proliferation and cell death that retains low levels of residual disease (tumor mass dormancy). Research into cellular dormancy has revealed features that define this state. They include arrest of cell proliferation, altered cellular metabolism, and unique …


Advances In 3d Culture Systems For Therapeutic Discovery And Development In Brain Cancer, Janith Wanigasekara, Patrick J. Cullen, Paula Bourke, Brijesh Tiwari, James F. Curtin Nov 2022

Advances In 3d Culture Systems For Therapeutic Discovery And Development In Brain Cancer, Janith Wanigasekara, Patrick J. Cullen, Paula Bourke, Brijesh Tiwari, James F. Curtin

Articles

This review focuses on recent advances in 3D culture systems that promise more accurate therapeutic models of the glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) tumor microenvironment (TME), such as the unique anatomical, cellular, and molecular features evident in human GBM. The key components of a GBM TME are outlined, including microbiomes, vasculature, extracellular matrix (ECM), infiltrating parenchymal and peripheral immune cells and molecules, and chemical gradients. 3D culture systems are evaluated against 2D culture systems and in vivo animal models. The main 3D culture techniques available are compared, with an emphasis on identifying key gaps in knowledge for the development of suitable platforms …


Modification Of The Tumor Microenvironment Enhances Anti-Pd-1 Immunotherapy In Metastatic Melanoma, Guilan Shi, Megan Scott, Cathryn G. Mangiamele, Richard Heller Nov 2022

Modification Of The Tumor Microenvironment Enhances Anti-Pd-1 Immunotherapy In Metastatic Melanoma, Guilan Shi, Megan Scott, Cathryn G. Mangiamele, Richard Heller

Bioelectrics Publications

Resistance to checkpoint-blockade treatments is a challenge in the clinic. Both primary and acquired resistance have become major obstacles, greatly limiting the long-lasting effects and wide application of blockade therapy. Many patients with metastatic melanoma eventually require further therapy. The absence of T-cell infiltration to the tumor site is a well-accepted contributor limiting immune checkpoint inhibitor efficacy. In this study, we combined intratumoral injection of plasmid IL-12 with electrotransfer and anti-PD-1 in metastatic B16F10 melanoma tumor model to increase tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes and improve therapeutic efficacy. We showed that effective anti-tumor responses required a subset of tumor-infiltrating CD8+ and CD4 …


A Novel Prognostic 7-Methylguanosine Signature Reflects Immune Microenvironment And Alternative Splicing In Glioma Based On Multi-Omics Analysis, Zihan Wang, Zhiwei Zhong, Zehua Jiang, Zepeng Chen, Yuequn Chen, Yimin Xu Aug 2022

A Novel Prognostic 7-Methylguanosine Signature Reflects Immune Microenvironment And Alternative Splicing In Glioma Based On Multi-Omics Analysis, Zihan Wang, Zhiwei Zhong, Zehua Jiang, Zepeng Chen, Yuequn Chen, Yimin Xu

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Glioma is the most common type of central nervous system tumor with increasing incidence. 7-methylguanosine (m7G) is one of the diverse RNA modifications that is known to regulate RNA metabolism and its dysregulation was associated with various cancers. However, the expression pattern of m7G regulators and their roles in regulating tumor immune microenvironments (TIMEs) as well as alternative splicing events (ASEs) in glioma has not been reported. In this study, we showed that m7G regulators displayed a close correlation with each other and most of them were differentially expressed between normal and glioma tissues. Two m7G signatures were then constructed …


Unraveling The Effects Of Aerobic Exercise And Erk5 Signaling In The Solid Tumor Microenvironment Using Murine Models, Hannah Savage Aug 2022

Unraveling The Effects Of Aerobic Exercise And Erk5 Signaling In The Solid Tumor Microenvironment Using Murine Models, Hannah Savage

Dissertations & Theses (Open Access)

Solid tumors are comprised of multiple cell types which communicate and work together to promote tumor progression. Advances in the treatment of solid tumors have armed clinicians with more efficacious pharmacologic agents and combinations. However, a focus on drug adjuvants in the treatment of solid cancer has left gaps in knowledge regarding non-pharmacologic treatment adjuvants, like aerobic exercise. The current dissertation investigates pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic based approaches to remodel the solid tumor microenvironment landscape and alter therapeutic efficacy. We disassemble compartments of the tumor microenvironment, including tumor vasculature and immune infiltrate, using mouse models and single cell techniques, to elucidate …


Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors In Luminal Gastrointestinal Malignancies: Going Beyond Msi-H/Dmmr, Tmb And Pd-L1, Daniel S. Lefler, Adam E. Snook, Babar Bashir Aug 2022

Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors In Luminal Gastrointestinal Malignancies: Going Beyond Msi-H/Dmmr, Tmb And Pd-L1, Daniel S. Lefler, Adam E. Snook, Babar Bashir

Department of Medical Oncology Faculty Papers

In luminal gastrointestinal tumors, immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) targeting PD-1, PD-L1 and CTLA-4 have been investigated in multiple settings. The indications for these drugs are primarily dependent on specific biomarkers that imply immunogenicity: overexpression of PD-L1, tumor mutational burden, loss of mismatch repair proteins (dMMR) and/or high microsatellite instability status. Although these markers can be both predictive and prognostic, there is variability in how they are measured and used to guide therapies. Moreover, the use of ICIs can be further refined with a better understanding of the tumor microenvironment and interactions with other available therapies. The purpose of this review …


Influence Of Paclitaxel Nanomedicine On The Pancreatic Tumor Immune Components, Godwin Peasah-Darkwah Jul 2022

Influence Of Paclitaxel Nanomedicine On The Pancreatic Tumor Immune Components, Godwin Peasah-Darkwah

Theses and Dissertations

Pancreatic cancer (PanCa) is one of the leading causes of cancer-related mortalities in the U.S due to ineffective therapeutic options. Pancreatic tumors are highly desmoplastic and inhibit efficient uptake of therapeutic payloads. Paclitaxel (PTX) has been tested in PanCa therapy with marginally better clinical outcomes, but remain limited by its poor hemocompatibility, biodistribution and intracellular accumulation in tumor cells. Thus, we synthesized a next generation nanoparticle system for PTX to improve its pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics (PKPD) in treating PanCa. We also examined ability of the nano formulation to potentiate gemcitabine (GEM) activity in combating chemoresistance in the pancreatic tumor microenvironment …


Targeting Angiogenesis In Squamous Cell Carcinoma Of The Head And Neck: Opportunities In The Immunotherapy Era, Nabil Saba, Pooja Vijayvargiya, Jan Vermorken, Juan Rodrigo, Stefan Willems, Nina Zidar, Remco De Bree, Antti Mäkitie, Greg Wolf, Athanassios Argiris, Yong Teng, Alfio Ferlito Feb 2022

Targeting Angiogenesis In Squamous Cell Carcinoma Of The Head And Neck: Opportunities In The Immunotherapy Era, Nabil Saba, Pooja Vijayvargiya, Jan Vermorken, Juan Rodrigo, Stefan Willems, Nina Zidar, Remco De Bree, Antti Mäkitie, Greg Wolf, Athanassios Argiris, Yong Teng, Alfio Ferlito

Department of Medical Oncology Faculty Papers

Despite the lack of approved anti-angiogenic therapies in squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN), preclinical and more recent clinical evidence support the role of targeting the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in this disease. Targeting VEGF has gained even greater interest following the recent evidence supporting the role of immunotherapy in the management of advanced SCCHN. Preclinical evidence strongly suggests that VEGF plays a role in promoting the growth and progression of SCCHN, and clinical evidence exists as to the value of combining this strategy with immunotherapeutic agents. Close to 90% of SCCHNs express VEGF, which has …


A Role For Adipocytes And Adipose Stem Cells In The Breast Tumor Microenvironment And Regenerative Medicine, Courtney K. Brock, Katherine L. Hebert, Maria Artiles, Maryl K. Wright, Thomas Cheng, Gabrielle O. Windsor, Khoa Nguyen, Madlin S. Alzoubi, Bridgette M. Collins-Burow, Elizabeth C. Martin, Frank H. Lau, Bruce A. Bunnell, Matthew E. Burow Nov 2021

A Role For Adipocytes And Adipose Stem Cells In The Breast Tumor Microenvironment And Regenerative Medicine, Courtney K. Brock, Katherine L. Hebert, Maria Artiles, Maryl K. Wright, Thomas Cheng, Gabrielle O. Windsor, Khoa Nguyen, Madlin S. Alzoubi, Bridgette M. Collins-Burow, Elizabeth C. Martin, Frank H. Lau, Bruce A. Bunnell, Matthew E. Burow

School of Medicine Faculty Publications

Obesity rates are climbing, representing a confounding and contributing factor to many disease states, including cancer. With respect to breast cancer, obesity plays a prominent role in the etiology of this disease, with certain subtypes such as triple-negative breast cancer having a strong correlation between obesity and poor outcomes. Therefore, it is critical to examine the obesity-related alterations to the normal stroma and the tumor microenvironment (TME). Adipocytes and adipose stem cells (ASCs) are major components of breast tissue stroma that have essential functions in both physiological and pathological states, including energy storage and metabolic homeostasis, physical support of breast …


Rorα Suppresses Cancer-Associated Inflammation By Repressing Respiratory Complex I-Dependent Ros Generation, Wei Mao, Gaofeng Xiong, Yuanyuan Wu, Chi Wang, Daret St. Clair, Jai-Da Li, Ren Xu Oct 2021

Rorα Suppresses Cancer-Associated Inflammation By Repressing Respiratory Complex I-Dependent Ros Generation, Wei Mao, Gaofeng Xiong, Yuanyuan Wu, Chi Wang, Daret St. Clair, Jai-Da Li, Ren Xu

Markey Cancer Center Faculty Publications

Breast cancer development is associated with macrophage infiltration and differentiation in the tumor microenvironment. Our previous study highlights the crucial function of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in enhancing macrophage infiltration during the disruption of mammary tissue polarity. However, the regulation of ROS and ROS-associated macrophage infiltration in breast cancer has not been fully determined. Previous studies identified retinoid orphan nuclear receptor alpha (RORα) as a potential tumor suppressor in human breast cancer. In the present study, we showed that retinoid orphan nuclear receptor alpha (RORα) significantly decreased ROS levels and inhibited ROS-mediated cytokine expression in breast cancer cells. RORα expression …


Innate Immune Activation By Checkpoint Inhibition In Human Patient-Derived Lung Cancer Tissues, Teresa W. M. Fan, Richard M. Higashi, Huan Song, Saeed Daneshmandi, Angela L. Mahan, Matthew S. Purdom, Therese J. Bocklage, Thomas A. Pittman, Daheng He, Chi Wang, Andrew N. Lane Aug 2021

Innate Immune Activation By Checkpoint Inhibition In Human Patient-Derived Lung Cancer Tissues, Teresa W. M. Fan, Richard M. Higashi, Huan Song, Saeed Daneshmandi, Angela L. Mahan, Matthew S. Purdom, Therese J. Bocklage, Thomas A. Pittman, Daheng He, Chi Wang, Andrew N. Lane

Center for Environmental and Systems Biochemistry Faculty Publications

Although Pembrolizumab-based immunotherapy has significantly improved lung cancer patient survival, many patients show variable efficacy and resistance development. A better understanding of the drug’s action is needed to improve patient outcomes. Functional heterogeneity of the tumor microenvironment (TME) is crucial to modulating drug resistance; understanding of individual patients’ TME that impacts drug response is hampered by lack of appropriate models. Lung organotypic tissue slice cultures (OTC) with patients’ native TME procured from primary and brain-metastasized (BM) non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients were treated with Pembrolizumab and/or beta-glucan (WGP, an innate immune activator). Metabolic tracing with 13C6-Glc/ …