Tumor-Resident Microbes: The New Kids on the Microenvironment Block

Tumor-resident microbes (TRM) are an integral component of the tumor microenvironment (TME). TRM can influence tumor growth, distant dissemination, and response to therapies by interfering with molecular pathways in tumor cells as well as with other components of the TME. Novel technologies are improving the identification and visualization of cell type-specific microbes in the TME. The mechanisms that mediate the role of TRM at the primary tumors and metastatic sites are being elucidated. This knowledge is providing novel perspectives for targeting microbes or using microbial interventions for cancer interception or therapy

Microbiome and Cancer Immunotherapies

Here, we present 3 different perspectives on how the microbiome has impacted cancer patients, treatment, and clinical studies. We hear about the challenges of implementing microbiome analyses into the clinics, the impact these analyses might have on patients\u27 care, and treatment in the future, specifically for gastric cancer treatment. These are a few of the many voices that are highlighting the role of the microbiome in cancer development, treatment, and clinical outcomes

Pancreatic Cancer Early Detection trough Hyperpolarized MRI

https://openworks.mdanderson.org/sumexp23/1076/thumbnail.jp

Early Detection of Pancreatic Cancer by Hyperpolarized MRI

https://openworks.mdanderson.org/sumexp22/1096/thumbnail.jp

Early Detection of Pancreatic Cancer by Hyperpolarization and Artificial Intelligence

https://openworks.mdanderson.org/sumexp21/1099/thumbnail.jp

Distinction Between Pancreatitis and Early-Stage Pancreatic Cancer with HP-MRI

https://openworks.mdanderson.org/sumexp23/1045/thumbnail.jp

Bacterial and Fungal Characterization of Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma From Endoscopic Ultrasound-Guided Biopsies

INTRODUCTION: The tumor microbiome (TM) has been linked to pancreatic cancer prognosis. Specific microbes can confer tumor resistance to therapies. Early knowledge of the TM at time of diagnosis would be clinically relevant for precision therapy based on microbial composition. However, it is difficult to define the TM prior to surgical resection. METHODS: In this pilot feasibility study, patients underwent Endoscopic Ultrasound-Fine Needle Aspiration (EUS-FNA) biopsy of pancreatic adenocarcinoma. These samples were analyzed using 16S rRNA and internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequencing for characterization of the tumor bacteria and fungi. RESULT: After in silico decontamination and comparison to non-matched tumor, we were able to characterize the TM in biopsies, which was comparable to the TM from surgical specimens. DISCUSSION: EUS-FNA biopsy may represent a feasible modality to characterize the pancreatic TM prior to surgical resection with proper decontamination strategies and improvements in matched controls

Impact of High Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte Ratio on Survival in Hospitalized Cancer Patients With COVID-19

Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) has been studied as a prognostic factor for mortality in COVID-19 patients. Our study aimed to evaluate the association between NLR at COVID-19 diagnosis and survival during the following 90 days in hospitalized patients with solid cancer. Between May 2020 and June 2021, 120 patients were included in a retrospective cohort study. Univariable analysis showed patients with an NLR \u3e 8.3 were associated with an increased risk of death (HR: 4.34; 95% CI: 1.74-10.84) compared to patients with NLR \u3c 3.82 and with NLR ≥3.82 and ≤8.30 (HR: 2.89; 95% CI: 1.32-6.36). Furthermore, on multivariable analysis, NLR \u3e 8.30 independently correlated with increased mortality. In patients with solid malignancies with COVID-19, an NLR \u3e 8.3 is associated with an increased risk of death

VirMAP for Cancer: Characterization of the Intratumoral Virome in Virally-Associated Cancers and a Resource for Investigators

View full abstracthttps://openworks.mdanderson.org/leading-edge/1040/thumbnail.jp

ADAR1 Deletion Causes Degeneration of the Exocrine Pancreas via Mavs-Dependent Interferon Signaling

Adenosine deaminase acting on RNA 1 (ADAR1) is an RNA-binding protein that deaminates adenosine (A) to inosine (I). A-to-I editing alters post-transcriptional RNA processing, making ADAR1 a crucial regulator of gene expression. Consequently, Adar1 has been implicated in organogenesis. To determine the role of Adar1 in pancreatic development and homeostasis, we conditionally deleted Adar1 from the murine pancreas (Ptf1aCre/+; Adar1Fl/Fl). The resulting mice had stunted growth, likely due to malabsorption associated with exocrine pancreatic insufficiency. Analyses of pancreata revealed ductal cell expansion, heightened interferon-stimulated gene expression and an increased influx of immune cells. Concurrent deletion of Adar1 and Mavs, a signaling protein implicated in the innate immune pathway, rescued the degenerative phenotype and resulted in normal pancreatic development. Taken together, our work suggests that the primary function of Adar1 in the pancreas is to prevent aberrant activation of the Mavs-mediated innate immune pathway, thereby maintaining pancreatic homeostasis