Polymorphonuclear neutrophils and cancer : the impact of neutrophils on the sensitivity of lymphoma B cells to cancer therapy

Alors que le rôle des cellules du système immunitaires innées sur la progression tumorale est l'objet d'une investigation croissante, le rôle des neutrophiles sur la sensibilité à la thérapie n'a pas été précédemment décrit. Jusqu’au présent, nous avons effectué des cocultures de neutrophiles et des différentes lignées cellulaires de lymphome non hodgkinien (LNH) en présence de divers agents cytotoxiques ou des thérapies ciblées. Afin d’évaluer l'effet du traitement sur la prolifération cellulaire et la mort des cellules, des marquages CFSE et DAPI ont été effectués respectivement, en utilisant la cytométrie en flux. Les neutrophiles ainsi que les cellules HL60 différenciées avec des propriétés de neutrophiles, ont atténué la sensibilité de cellules de lymphome à des agents anticancéreux in vitro, à la fois dans les modèles 2D et 3D. L'effet protecteur des neutrophiles a été testée in vivo en injectant des cellules de LNH et des neutrophiles chez des souris SCID/CB17 traités avec vincristine. La coinjection de neutrophiles réduit la sensibilité des cellules LNH à la chimiothérapie. Cet effet protecteur a été validé en utilisant des cellules primaires, purifiée à partir de patients atteints de leucémie lymphoïde chronique, exposés à des agents cytotoxiques ou des agents ciblés en présence de neutrophiles autologues. La protection par les neutrophiles est contact dépendante. Elle est médiée par l'interaction de CD11b et ICAM1, exprimé par les neutrophiles et les lymphocytes B, respectivement, et par la molécule d'adhésion CD44. Elle est également dépendante de Mcl1 et est partiellement abrogée par un composé anti-Mcl1While the role of innate immune cells on tumor progression is the object of increasing scrutiny, the role of neutrophils on sensitivity to therapy has not been previously described. To this end, we performed cocultures of freshly purified human neutrophils and different non- Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) cell lines in the presence of various cytotoxic and targeted agents. CFSE and DAPI assays were performed to assess the therapeutic effect on cell proliferation and cell death, respectively, using flow cytometry. Neutrophils and differentiated HL60 cells with neutrophil-like properties attenuated the sensitivity of lymphoma cells to anti-cancer agents both in 2D and 3D models in vitro. The protective effect of neutrophils was tested in vivo using SCID/CB17 mice inoculated with NHL cells together with neutrophils, and treated with vincristine. The co-inoculation of neutrophils reduced the sensitivity of NHL cells to chemotherapy. Similar findings were made on primary cells, purified from patients diagnosed with chronic lymphocytic leukemia, exposed to cytotoxic agents or recently approved targeted agents (ibrutinib and idelalisib) in the presence of autologous neutrophils. Neutrophil-induced protection was dependent on cell-cell contact mediated by the interaction of CD11b and ICAM-1, expressed by neutrophils and B cells respectively, and by the adhesion molecule CD44. This protective effect was Mcl-1-dependent and was partially abrogated by an anti- Mcl-1 compoun

Neutrophiles polymorphonucléaires et cancer : l'impact des neutrophiles sur la sensibilité des cellules de lymphome B aux thérapies anti-cancéreuses

While the role of innate immune cells on tumor progression is the object of increasing scrutiny, the role of neutrophils on sensitivity to therapy has not been previously described. To this end, we performed cocultures of freshly purified human neutrophils and different non- Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) cell lines in the presence of various cytotoxic and targeted agents. CFSE and DAPI assays were performed to assess the therapeutic effect on cell proliferation and cell death, respectively, using flow cytometry. Neutrophils and differentiated HL60 cells with neutrophil-like properties attenuated the sensitivity of lymphoma cells to anti-cancer agents both in 2D and 3D models in vitro. The protective effect of neutrophils was tested in vivo using SCID/CB17 mice inoculated with NHL cells together with neutrophils, and treated with vincristine. The co-inoculation of neutrophils reduced the sensitivity of NHL cells to chemotherapy. Similar findings were made on primary cells, purified from patients diagnosed with chronic lymphocytic leukemia, exposed to cytotoxic agents or recently approved targeted agents (ibrutinib and idelalisib) in the presence of autologous neutrophils. Neutrophil-induced protection was dependent on cell-cell contact mediated by the interaction of CD11b and ICAM-1, expressed by neutrophils and B cells respectively, and by the adhesion molecule CD44. This protective effect was Mcl-1-dependent and was partially abrogated by an anti- Mcl-1 compoundAlors que le rôle des cellules du système immunitaires innées sur la progression tumorale est l'objet d'une investigation croissante, le rôle des neutrophiles sur la sensibilité à la thérapie n'a pas été précédemment décrit. Jusqu’au présent, nous avons effectué des cocultures de neutrophiles et des différentes lignées cellulaires de lymphome non hodgkinien (LNH) en présence de divers agents cytotoxiques ou des thérapies ciblées. Afin d’évaluer l'effet du traitement sur la prolifération cellulaire et la mort des cellules, des marquages CFSE et DAPI ont été effectués respectivement, en utilisant la cytométrie en flux. Les neutrophiles ainsi que les cellules HL60 différenciées avec des propriétés de neutrophiles, ont atténué la sensibilité de cellules de lymphome à des agents anticancéreux in vitro, à la fois dans les modèles 2D et 3D. L'effet protecteur des neutrophiles a été testée in vivo en injectant des cellules de LNH et des neutrophiles chez des souris SCID/CB17 traités avec vincristine. La coinjection de neutrophiles réduit la sensibilité des cellules LNH à la chimiothérapie. Cet effet protecteur a été validé en utilisant des cellules primaires, purifiée à partir de patients atteints de leucémie lymphoïde chronique, exposés à des agents cytotoxiques ou des agents ciblés en présence de neutrophiles autologues. La protection par les neutrophiles est contact dépendante. Elle est médiée par l'interaction de CD11b et ICAM1, exprimé par les neutrophiles et les lymphocytes B, respectivement, et par la molécule d'adhésion CD44. Elle est également dépendante de Mcl1 et est partiellement abrogée par un composé anti-Mcl

Regulation of EZH2 Expression by INPP4B in Normal Prostate and Primary Prostate Cancer

The phosphatases INPP4B and PTEN are tumor suppressors that are lost in nearly half of advanced metastatic cancers. The loss of PTEN in prostate epithelium initially leads to an upregulation of several tumor suppressors that slow the progression of prostate cancer in mouse models. We tested whether the loss of INPP4B elicits a similar compensatory response in prostate tissue and whether this response is distinct from the one caused by the loss of PTEN. Knockdown of INPP4B but not PTEN in human prostate cancer cell lines caused a decrease in EZH2 expression. In Inpp4b−/− mouse prostate epithelium, EZH2 levels were decreased, as were methylation levels of histone H3. In contrast, Ezh2 levels were increased in the prostates of Pten−/− male mice. Contrary to PTEN, there was a positive correlation between INPP4B and EZH2 expression in normal human prostates and early-stage prostate tumors. Analysis of single-cell transcriptomic data demonstrated that a subset of EZH2-positive cells expresses INPP4B or PTEN, but rarely both, consistent with their opposing correlation with EZH2 expression. Unlike PTEN, INPP4B did not affect the levels of SMAD4 protein expression or Pml mRNA expression. Like PTEN, p53 protein expression and phosphorylation of Akt in Inpp4b−/− murine prostates were elevated. Taken together, the loss of INPP4B in the prostate leads to overlapping and distinct changes in tumor suppressor and oncogenic downstream signaling

New analogues of 13-hydroxyocatdecadienoic acid and 12-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid block human blood platelet aggregation and cyclooxygenase-1 activity.

International audienceUNLABELLED: BACKGROUND: Thromboxane A2 is derived from arachidonic acid through the action of cyclooxygenases and thromboxane synthase. It is mainly formed in blood platelets upon activation and plays an important role in aggregation. Aspirin is effective in reducing the incidence of complications following acute coronary syndrome and stroke. The anti-thrombotic effect of aspirin is obtained through the irreversible inhibition of cyclooxygenases. Analogues of 12-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid and 13-hydroxyocatdecadienoic acid were shown previously to modulate platelet activation and to block thromboxane receptors. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: We synthesized 10 compounds based on the structures of analogues of 12-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid and 13-hydroxyocatdecadienoic acid and evaluated their effect on platelet aggregation triggered by arachidonic acid. The structure activity relationship was evaluated. Five compounds showed a significant inhibition of platelet aggregation and highlighted the importance of the lipidic hydrophobic hydrocarbon chain and the phenol group. Their IC50 ranged from 7.5 ± 0.8 to 14.2 ± 5.7 μM (Mean ± S.E.M.). All five compounds decreased platelet aggregation and thromboxane synthesis in response to collagen whereas no modification of platelet aggregation in response to thromboxane receptor agonist, U46619, was observed. Using COS-7 cells overexpressing human cyclooxygenase-1, we showed that these compounds are specific inhibitors of cyclooxygenase-1 with IC50 ranging from 1.3 to 12 μM. Docking observation of human recombinant cyclooxygenase-1 supported a role of the phenol group in the fitting of cyclooxygenase-1, most likely related to hydrogen bonding with the Tyr 355 of cyclooxygenase-1. CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, the compounds we synthesized at first based on the structures of analogues of 12 lipoxygenase metabolites showed a role of the phenol group in the anti-platelet and anti-cyclooxygenase-1 activities. These compounds mediate their effects via blockade of cyclooxygenase-1

Thiazole derivatives as inhibitors of cyclooxygenases in vitro and in vivo

Cyclooxygenases (COXs) are important membrane-bound heme containing enzymes important in platelet activation and inflammation. COX-1 is constitutively expressed in most cells whereas COX-2 is an inducible isoform highly expressed in inflammatory conditions. Studies have been carried out to evaluate thiazole derivatives as anti-inflammatory molecules. In this study, we investigated the in vitro and in vivo effects of two novel thiazole derivatives compound 1 (N-[4-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)-1,3-thiazol-2-yl] acetamide) and compound 2 (4-(2-amino-1,3-thiazol-4-yl)-2-methoxyphenol) on prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) production and COX activity in inflammatory settings. Our results reveal a potent inhibition of both compound 1 (IC50 9.01±0.01 μM) and 2 (IC50 11.65±6.20 μM) (Mean±S.E.M.) on COX-2-dependent PGE2 production. We also determined whether COX-1 activity was inhibited. Using cells stably over-expressing COX-1 and human blood platelets, we showed that compound 1 is a specific inhibitor of COX-1 with IC50 (5.56×10-8±2.26×10-8 μM), whereas compound 2 did not affect COX-1. Both compounds exhibit anti-inflammatory effect in the dorsal air pouch model of inflammation as shows by inhibition of PGE2 secretion. Modeling analysis of docking in the catalytic site of COX-1 or COX-2 further confirmed the difference in the effect of these two compounds. In conclusion, this study contributes to the design of new anti-inflammatory agents and to the understanding of cyclooxygenase inhibition by thiazole.SCOPUS: ar.jinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishe

Reversal of lactate and PD-1-mediated macrophage immunosuppression controls growth of PTEN/p53-deficient prostate cancer

PURPOSEPTEN loss-of-function occurs in ~50% of metastatic, castrate-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) patients, and associated with poor prognosis and responsiveness to standard-of-care therapies and immune checkpoint inhibitors. While PTEN loss-of-function hyperactivates PI3K signaling, combinatorial PI3K/AKT pathway and androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) has demonstrated limited anti-cancer efficacy in clinical trials. Here, we aimed to elucidate mechanism(s) of resistance to ADT/PI3K-AKT axis blockade, and to develop rational combinatorial strategies to effectively treat this molecular subset of mCRPC. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGNProstate-specific PTEN/p53-deficient genetically engineered mice (GEM) with established 150-200 mm3 tumors, as assessed by ultrasound, were treated with either ADT (degarelix), PI3K inhibitor (copanlisib), or anti-PD-1 antibody (aPD-1), as single agents or their combinations, and tumors were monitored by MRI and harvested for immune, transcriptomic and proteomic profiling, or ex vivo co-culture studies. Single-cell RNAseq on human mCRPC samples was performed using 10X Genomics platform. RESULTSCo-clinical trials in PTEN/p53-deficient GEM revealed that recruitment of PD-1-expressing tumor-associated macrophages (TAM) thwarts ADT/PI3Ki combination-induced tumor control. The addition of aPD-1 to ADT/PI3Ki combination led to TAM-dependent ~3-fold increase in anti-cancer responses. Mechanistically, decreased lactate production from PI3Ki-treated tumor cells suppressed histone lactylation within TAM, resulting in their anti-cancer phagocytic activation, which was augmented by ADT/aPD-1 treatment and abrogated by feedback activation of Wnt/β-catenin pathway. Single-cell RNA-sequencing analysis in mCRPC patient biopsy samples revealed a direct correlation between high glycolytic activity and TAM phagocytosis suppression. CONCLUSIONSImmunometabolic strategies that reverse lactate and PD-1-mediated TAM immunosuppression, in combination with ADT, warrant further investigation in PTEN-deficient mCRPC patients

STK11/LKB1 Mutations and PD-1 Inhibitor Resistance in KRAS-Mutant Lung Adenocarcinoma.

KRAS is the most common oncogenic driver in lung adenocarcinoma (LUAC). We previously reported that STK11/LKB1 (KL) or TP53 (KP) comutations define distinct subgroups of KRAS-mutant LUAC. Here, we examine the efficacy of PD-1 inhibitors in these subgroups. Objective response rates to PD-1 blockade differed significantly among KL (7.4%), KP (35.7%), and K-only (28.6%) subgroups (P < 0.001) in the Stand Up To Cancer (SU2C) cohort (174 patients) with KRAS-mutant LUAC and in patients treated with nivolumab in the CheckMate-057 phase III trial (0% vs. 57.1% vs. 18.2%; P = 0.047). In the SU2C cohort, KL LUAC exhibited shorter progression-free (P < 0.001) and overall (P = 0.0015) survival compared with KRASMUT;STK11/LKB1WT LUAC. Among 924 LUACs, STK11/LKB1 alterations were the only marker significantly associated with PD-L1 negativity in TMBIntermediate/High LUAC. The impact of STK11/LKB1 alterations on clinical outcomes with PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors extended to PD-L1-positive non-small cell lung cancer. In Kras-mutant murine LUAC models, Stk11/Lkb1 loss promoted PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitor resistance, suggesting a causal role. Our results identify STK11/LKB1 alterations as a major driver of primary resistance to PD-1 blockade in KRAS-mutant LUAC.Significance: This work identifies STK11/LKB1 alterations as the most prevalent genomic driver of primary resistance to PD-1 axis inhibitors in KRAS-mutant lung adenocarcinoma. Genomic profiling may enhance the predictive utility of PD-L1 expression and tumor mutation burden and facilitate establishment of personalized combination immunotherapy approaches for genomically defined LUAC subsets. Cancer Discov; 8(7); 822-35. ©2018 AACR.See related commentary by Etxeberria et al., p. 794This article is highlighted in the In This Issue feature, p. 781