An immune and epithelial–mesenchymal transition-related risk model and immunotherapy strategy for grade II and III gliomas

Grade II and III gliomas are heterogeneous and aggressive diseases. More efficient prognosis models and treatment methods are needed. This study aims to construct a new risk model and propose a new strategy for grade II and III gliomas. The data were downloaded from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO), gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA), and the EMTome website for analysis. The Human Cell Landscape website and the Genomics of Drug Sensitivity in Cancer website were used for single-cell analysis and drug susceptibility analysis. Gene set enrichment analysis, gene function enrichment analysis, univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses, Pearson’s correlation analysis, log-rank test, Kaplan–Meier survival analysis, and ROC analysis were performed. We constructed an immune-related prognostic model associated with the isocitrate dehydrogenase 1 (IDH1) mutation status. By analyzing the immune microenvironment of patients with different risk scores, we found that high-risk patients were more likely to have an inflammatory immune microenvironment and a higher programmed death ligand-1 (PD-L1) expression level. Epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT)-related gene sets were significantly enriched in the high-risk group, and the epithelial–mesenchymal transition phenotype was associated with a decrease in CD8+ T cells and an increase in M2 macrophages. Transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) signaling was the most important signaling in inducing epithelial–mesenchymal transition, and TGFB1/TGFBR1 was correlated with an increase in CD8+ T cytopenia and M2 macrophages. Survival analysis showed that simultaneous low expression of TGFBR1 and PD-L1 had better survival results. Through single-cell analysis, we found that TGFB1 is closely related to microglia and macrophages, especially M2 macrophages. Finally, we discussed the sensitivity of TGFB1 inhibitors in gliomas using cell line susceptibility data. These results demonstrated a potential immunotherapy strategy in combination with the TGFB1/TGFBR1 inhibitor and PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitor for grade II and III gliomas

Genetic heterogeneity in primary and relapsed mantle cell lymphomas : impact of recurrent CARD11 mutations

The genetic mechanisms underlying disease progression, relapse and therapy resistance in mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) remain largely unknown. Whole-exome sequencing was performed in 27 MCL samples from 13 patients, representing the largest analyzed series of consecutive biopsies obtained at diagnosis and/or relapse for this type of lymphoma. Eighteen genes were found to be recurrently mutated in these samples, including known (ATM, MEF2B and MLL2) and novel mutation targets (S1PR1 and CARD11). CARD11, a scaffold protein required for B-cell receptor (BCR)-induced NF-κB activation, was subsequently screened in an additional 173 MCL samples and mutations were observed in 5.5% of cases. Based on in vitro cell line-based experiments, overexpression of CARD11 mutants were demonstrated to confer resistance to the BCR-inhibitor ibrutinib and NF-κB-inhibitor lenalidomide. Genetic alterations acquired in the relapse samples were found to be largely non-recurrent, in line with the branched evolutionary pattern of clonal evolution observed in most cases. In summary, this study highlights the genetic heterogeneity in MCL, in particular at relapse, and provides for the first time genetic evidence of BCR/NF-κB activation in a subset of MCL

DNA repair genes are selectively mutated in diffuse large B cell lymphomas

DNA repair mechanisms are fundamental for B cell development, which relies on the somatic diversification of the immunoglobulin genes by V(D)J recombination, somatic hypermutation, and class switch recombination. Their failure is postulated to promote genomic instability and malignant transformation in B cells. By performing targeted sequencing of 73 key DNA repair genes in 29 B cell lymphoma samples, somatic and germline mutations were identified in various DNA repair pathways, mainly in diffuse large B cell lymphomas (DLBCLs). Mutations in mismatch repair genes (EXO1, MSH2, and MSH6) were associated with microsatellite instability, increased number of somatic insertions/deletions, and altered mutation signatures in tumors. Somatic mutations in nonhomologous end-joining (NHEJ) genes (DCLRE1C/ARTEMIS, PRKDC/DNA-PKcs, XRCC5/KU80, and XRCC6/KU70) were identified in four DLBCL tumors and cytogenetic analyses revealed that translocations involving the immunoglobulin-heavy chain locus occurred exclusively in NHEJ-mutated samples. The novel mutation targets, CHEK2 and PARP1, were further screened in expanded DLBCL cohorts, and somatic as well as novel and rare germline mutations were identified in 8 and 5% of analyzed tumors, respectively. By correlating defects in a subset of DNA damage response and repair genes with genomic instability events in tumors, we propose that these genes play a role in DLBCL lymphomagenesis

Genetics and genomics of extranodal natural killer/T cell lymphoma: from etiology to treatment

Extranodal natural killer/T cell lymphoma (NKTCL) is a heterogenous and unique epidemiological non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, which is strongly associated with Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection. Based on the development of various sequencing methods and molecular biology technologies, genome- and transcriptome-wide association studies of NKTCL have provided insight into the etiology and pathogenesis of NKTCL. Comparative genomic hybridization detected variations in tumor suppressor genes such as PRDM1, RUNX3, and EZH2. Whole-exome sequencing identified pathogenic variant such as DDX3X, and TP53. Signal pathways such as the Janus kinase/signal transduction and activator of transcription pathway and nuclear factor kappaB pathway are frequently abnormal in NKTCL. In addition, programmed death-1, programmed death ligand-1, and the human leukocyte antigen risk alleles are significantly associated with NKTCL pathogenesis. Meanwhile, epigenetics analysis has also exposited changes such as PTPRK, HACE1, microRNAs, and long non-coding RNAs, which play important role on the development and biology of NKTCL. EBV infection is tightly correlated with NKTCL. Viral genomic alterations and lytic genes of EBV are reported to have pathogenic effects on host cells that contribute to the etiology of NKTCL. We summarize the genomic and genetic alterations during the pathogenesis and development of NKTCL and exhibit the potential therapeutic targets that are worth exploring in future research and clinical trials

Table1_An immune and epithelial–mesenchymal transition-related risk model and immunotherapy strategy for grade II and III gliomas.DOCX

Grade II and III gliomas are heterogeneous and aggressive diseases. More efficient prognosis models and treatment methods are needed. This study aims to construct a new risk model and propose a new strategy for grade II and III gliomas. The data were downloaded from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO), gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA), and the EMTome website for analysis. The Human Cell Landscape website and the Genomics of Drug Sensitivity in Cancer website were used for single-cell analysis and drug susceptibility analysis. Gene set enrichment analysis, gene function enrichment analysis, univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses, Pearson’s correlation analysis, log-rank test, Kaplan–Meier survival analysis, and ROC analysis were performed. We constructed an immune-related prognostic model associated with the isocitrate dehydrogenase 1 (IDH1) mutation status. By analyzing the immune microenvironment of patients with different risk scores, we found that high-risk patients were more likely to have an inflammatory immune microenvironment and a higher programmed death ligand-1 (PD-L1) expression level. Epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT)-related gene sets were significantly enriched in the high-risk group, and the epithelial–mesenchymal transition phenotype was associated with a decrease in CD8+ T cells and an increase in M2 macrophages. Transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) signaling was the most important signaling in inducing epithelial–mesenchymal transition, and TGFB1/TGFBR1 was correlated with an increase in CD8+ T cytopenia and M2 macrophages. Survival analysis showed that simultaneous low expression of TGFBR1 and PD-L1 had better survival results. Through single-cell analysis, we found that TGFB1 is closely related to microglia and macrophages, especially M2 macrophages. Finally, we discussed the sensitivity of TGFB1 inhibitors in gliomas using cell line susceptibility data. These results demonstrated a potential immunotherapy strategy in combination with the TGFB1/TGFBR1 inhibitor and PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitor for grade II and III gliomas.</p

Image1_An immune and epithelial–mesenchymal transition-related risk model and immunotherapy strategy for grade II and III gliomas.JPEG

Grade II and III gliomas are heterogeneous and aggressive diseases. More efficient prognosis models and treatment methods are needed. This study aims to construct a new risk model and propose a new strategy for grade II and III gliomas. The data were downloaded from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO), gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA), and the EMTome website for analysis. The Human Cell Landscape website and the Genomics of Drug Sensitivity in Cancer website were used for single-cell analysis and drug susceptibility analysis. Gene set enrichment analysis, gene function enrichment analysis, univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses, Pearson’s correlation analysis, log-rank test, Kaplan–Meier survival analysis, and ROC analysis were performed. We constructed an immune-related prognostic model associated with the isocitrate dehydrogenase 1 (IDH1) mutation status. By analyzing the immune microenvironment of patients with different risk scores, we found that high-risk patients were more likely to have an inflammatory immune microenvironment and a higher programmed death ligand-1 (PD-L1) expression level. Epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT)-related gene sets were significantly enriched in the high-risk group, and the epithelial–mesenchymal transition phenotype was associated with a decrease in CD8+ T cells and an increase in M2 macrophages. Transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) signaling was the most important signaling in inducing epithelial–mesenchymal transition, and TGFB1/TGFBR1 was correlated with an increase in CD8+ T cytopenia and M2 macrophages. Survival analysis showed that simultaneous low expression of TGFBR1 and PD-L1 had better survival results. Through single-cell analysis, we found that TGFB1 is closely related to microglia and macrophages, especially M2 macrophages. Finally, we discussed the sensitivity of TGFB1 inhibitors in gliomas using cell line susceptibility data. These results demonstrated a potential immunotherapy strategy in combination with the TGFB1/TGFBR1 inhibitor and PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitor for grade II and III gliomas.</p

Ovarian Function, Not Age, Predicts the Benefit from Ovarian Suppression or Ablation for Premenopausal Women with Breast Cancer.

The role of adjuvant ovarian suppression or ablation (OS/OA) in premenopausal women with hormone receptor-positive breast cancer remains controversial. The purpose of our study was to examine which patients might benefit from the addition of OS/OA to tamoxifen. We analyzed the data of 2065 premenopausal patients with hormone receptor-positive invasive ductal carcinomas who were treated at Sun Yat-Sen University Cancer Center from 2000 to 2008. The five-year disease-free survival rate (DFSR) and overall survival rate (OSR) were compared by menstrual status and treatment. Compared with patients older than forty years of age, patients younger than forty years old had significant lower DFSRs and OSRs. The addition of OS/OA to tamoxifen increased the DFSR and OSR of patients with normal menstrual cycles after chemotherapy, regardless of their age at diagnosis. Patients with normal menstrual cycles after chemotherapy are the main beneficiaries of an adjuvant OS/OA

Survival curves by endocrine therapy (tamoxifen vs. tamoxifen + OS/OA).

<p>(A) and (B), DFS and OS of patients < 40 y/o + normal menses; (C) and (D), DFS and OS of patients < 40 y/o + amenorrhoea; (E) and (F), DFS and OS of patients ≥ 40 y/o + normal menses; G and H, DFS and OS of patients ≥ 40 y/o + amenorrhoea.</p

Multivariate analysis of disease-free survival and overall survival in patients with OS/OA or not.

<p>Multivariate analysis of disease-free survival and overall survival in patients with OS/OA or not.</p