Review
Physiology
Giulia Biffi, David A. Tuveson
Summary: Efforts to develop anti-cancer therapies have mainly targeted the epithelial compartment, but recent studies have shown the significant influence of cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) in tumor progression. CAFs not only promote cancer cell proliferation, therapy resistance, and immune exclusion, but may also restrain tumor progression in certain contexts. Research on CAFs has focused on their heterogeneity, plasticity, and functions across different cancer types and states, as well as advancements in therapeutic strategies targeting CAFs currently undergoing preclinical and clinical evaluation.
PHYSIOLOGICAL REVIEWS
(2021)
Review
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Zhenzhen Li, Chanjun Sun, Zhihai Qin
Summary: Cancer cells adapt their metabolism to proliferate and survive in harsh environments, with a close relationship between tumor microenvironment and cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) playing key roles in tumor growth and metastasis. CAFs act as major regulators in shaping tumor metabolism, especially through dysregulation of metabolic pathways, influencing cancer cell behavior and response to therapy. The interaction and crosstalk between cancer cells and CAFs contribute to metabolic reprogramming that impacts cancer cell growth and progression.
Review
Oncology
Nisha Kumari, Seung Hong Choi
Summary: Cancer immunotherapy has had limited success, but nanoparticles have emerged as crucial tools in targeting tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) and improving therapy outcomes. Current strategies include restricting TAMs survival, inhibiting TAMs recruitment, and repolarizing tumor-supportive TAMs to an antitumor phenotype.
JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL & CLINICAL CANCER RESEARCH
(2022)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Jasmine S. Owen, Aled Clayton, Helen B. Pearson
Summary: The continuous remodeling of the tumor microenvironment (TME) is critical for prostate tumor growth, progression, and drug-resistance. Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) are key players in TME and mediate various oncogenic events. Understanding fibroblast heterogeneity, recruitment, and differential functions can help in developing new therapies and biomarkers for prostate cancer patients.
Review
Cell Biology
Zhanhuai Wang, Qi Yang, Yinuo Tan, Yang Tang, Jun Ye, Bin Yuan, Wei Yu
Summary: Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) are heterogeneous cells in the tumor microenvironment that can both promote and inhibit tumor development. The activation state of CAFs can vary, leading to different roles in early-stage and advanced-stage cancer. Understanding the diverse functions and origins of CAFs is crucial for developing precise cancer therapies.
FRONTIERS IN CELL AND DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Oncology
Shaoquan Zheng, Jie-Ying Liang, Yuhui Tang, Jindong Xie, Yutian Zou, Anli Yang, Nan Shao, Xiaying Kuang, Fei Ji, Xuefeng Liu, Wenwen Tian, Weikai Xiao, Ying Lin
Summary: This study systematically assessed the expression of fibroblasts in cancer patients and investigated the role of biglycan (BGN) in immunotherapy response. The study found that CAFs were closely correlated with immune components and that BGN, a specific secreting factor of CAFs, served as an unfavourable indicator for overall survival and immunotherapy response.
CLINICAL AND TRANSLATIONAL MEDICINE
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Woosol Chris Hong, Da Eun Lee, Hyeon Woong Kang, Myeong Jin Kim, Minsoo Kim, Ju Hyun Kim, Sungsoon Fang, Hyo Jung Kim, Joon Seong Park
Summary: Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a deadly form of pancreatic cancer and the role of CD74 in PDAC is not well understood. Silencing CD74 in the pancreatic cancer cell line Capan-1 led to reduced cell proliferation, migration, invasion, increased apoptosis, and decreased expression and secretion of S100A8 and S100A9. The study suggests that CD74 may serve as a potential diagnostic biomarker and therapeutic target for pancreatic cancer.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Immunology
Songwei Feng, Yi Xu, Zhu Dai, Han Yin, Ke Zhang, Yang Shen
Summary: This study identified prognostic genes associated with cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) in ovarian cancer patients. The researchers used bioinformatics analysis to identify CAF-associated hub genes and constructed a prognostic signature. The analysis indicated that high-risk patients have worse prognosis, weaker immune response, and lower tumor mutational burden (TMB) status but may be more sensitive to routine chemotherapeutic agents. The study suggests that the CAF-related signature may serve as a pretreatment guide for anti-CAFs and prognostic markers in CAFs could be potential therapeutic targets to inhibit ovarian cancer progression.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Qin Li, Hang Yuan, Gang Zhao, Jie Zhang, Siqi Li, Di Gong, Tianyu Feng, Qiming Kou, Qijing Wang, Guanru Wang, Shan Li, Kai Li, Ping Lin
Summary: Breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths in women worldwide, and cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) play a critical role in its progression. However, the detailed molecular mechanisms of CAF activation are still unclear. This study found that loss of ZNF32 promotes the activation of CAFs, leading to increased growth and metastasis of breast cancer cells. Mechanistically, ZNF32 inhibits TGFB1 transcription, preventing fibroblast activation. This study implicates ZNF32 as a potential therapeutic target against breast cancer.
Review
Immunology
Pei-Yu Chen, Wen-Fei Wei, Hong-Zhen Wu, Liang-Sheng Fan, Wei Wang
Summary: CAFs are important and heterogeneous components of the tumor extracellular matrix, with different origins and biomarkers, playing a role in immune regulation of the tumor microenvironment and exerting immunosuppressive functions through various mechanisms. Inhibition of CAFs and targeted therapy against CAFs offer new adjuvant means for immunotherapy.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Seol Hwa Jo, Woo Hang Heo, Hye-Youn Son, Mingji Quan, Bok Sil Hong, Ju Hee Kim, Han-Byoel Lee, Wonshik Han, Yeonju Park, Dong-Sup Lee, Nam Hoon Kwon, Min Chul Park, Jeesoo Chae, Jong-Il Kim, Dong-Young Noh, Hyeong-Gon Moon
Summary: The direct co-culture of breast cancer cells with non-tumorigenic mammary epithelial cells leads to substantial changes in the molecular and functional characteristics of the mammary epithelial cells, with enhanced proliferation, migration, colony formation, and sphere formation capabilities. Dysregulation of cancer-related pathways is observed, along with upregulation of S100A8 and S100A9, suggesting a potential transition program mediated by these proteins in non-tumorigenic epithelial cells.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2021)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Xiangyu Chu, Yinmo Yang, Xiaodong Tian
Summary: This article reviews the mechanism of exosomal miRNAs in the crosstalk between PDAC cells and cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) in the tumor microenvironment, aiming to improve the understanding of TME regulation and provide evidence for designing diagnostic and therapeutic targets against exosomal miRNA in human PDAC.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Cell Biology
Ziqian Yan, Zhimei Sheng, Yuanhang Zheng, Ruijun Feng, Qinpei Xiao, Lihong Shi, Hongli Li, Chonggao Yin, Hao Luo, Chong Hao, Wenhao Wang, Baogang Zhang
Summary: Studies compared the effects of CAFs-derived exosomes and NFs-derived exosomes on breast cancer cells, finding that CAFs-derived exosomes had a stronger enhancing effect on migration and invasion.
CELL DEATH & DISEASE
(2021)
Article
Cell Biology
Yi Lu, Dan Li, Yixin Cao, Leqian Ying, Qing Tao, Fen Xiong, Zhangmin Hu, Yufei Yang, Xuehan Qiao, Chen Peng, Dongqin Zhu, Deqiang Wang, Xiaoqin Li
Summary: The study showed that evaluating CAF infiltration in tumors using FAMscore can independently predict prognosis and immunotherapy outcomes. High FAMscore is associated with immune-related genomic biomarkers, immune cell infiltration, and abnormal immune signaling pathways.
FRONTIERS IN CELL AND DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Immunology
Qingqing Sang, Wentao Dai, Junxian Yu, Yunqin Chen, Zhiyuan Fan, Jixiang Liu, Fangyuan Li, Jianfang Li, Xiongyan Wu, Junyi Hou, Beiqin Yu, Haoran Feng, Zheng-Gang Zhu, Liping Su, Yuan-Yuan Li, Bingya Liu
Summary: The tumor microenvironment (TME) is closely associated with tumor progression and therapeutic outcome. This study divided gastric cancer (GC) into three subtypes based on TME infiltration patterns and explored their prognosis and gene expression differences.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2022)
Review
Allergy
Charlotte A. Alemao, Kurtis F. Budden, Henry M. Gomez, Saima F. Rehman, Jacqueline E. Marshall, Shakti D. Shukla, Chantal Donovan, Samuel C. Forster, Ian A. Yang, Simon Keely, Elizabeth R. Mann, Emad M. El Omar, Gabrielle T. Belz, Philip M. Hansbro
Summary: The prevalence of chronic immune and metabolic disorders is increasing rapidly, with significant associations found between alterations in the microbiome, diet, and mucous barriers in the onset and progression of these diseases. The interplay between diet, microbiome, and mucous barrier has gained attention in understanding major immune/metabolic disorders.
Article
Gastroenterology & Hepatology
Henrik Nienhuser, Woosook Kim, Ermanno Malagola, Tuo Ruan, Giovanni Valenti, Moritz Middelhoff, Adam Bass, Channing J. Der, Yoku Hayakawa, Timothy C. Wang
Summary: The study revealed that gastric Mist1+ isthmus cells are activated in response to injury and inflammation, playing a crucial role in the regeneration of gastric glands through the Wnt5a pathway.
Editorial Material
Sport Sciences
Howard Chi Ho Yim, Emad M. El-Omar
BRITISH JOURNAL OF SPORTS MEDICINE
(2021)
Editorial Material
Gastroenterology & Hepatology
Lan Gong, Emad M. El-Omar
Editorial Material
Gastroenterology & Hepatology
Emad M. El-Omar
Review
Gastroenterology & Hepatology
Keith Siau, Anand V. Kulkarni, Emad El-Omar
Summary: Peer-review is a fundamental quality control process in academia that helps improve the quality of articles and ensure professional standards. Good reviewers not only help improve the quality of articles, but also benefit the wider scientific community.
JOURNAL OF CLINICAL AND EXPERIMENTAL HEPATOLOGY
(2022)
Editorial Material
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Ermanno Malagola, Yoku Hayakawa, Timothy C. Wang
Summary: Recent research has identified distinct roles for Lgr4 and Lgr5 in directing gland reconstitution following H. pylori infection, shedding new light on the complexities of Rspo signaling during gastric regeneration and raising questions about antral stem cell hierarchy.
Article
Gastroenterology & Hepatology
Kentaro Sugano, Stuart Jon Spechler, Emad M. El-Omar, Kenneth E. L. McColl, Kaiyo Takubo, Takuji Gotoda, Mitsuhiro Fujishiro, Katsunori Iijima, Haruhiro Inoue, Takashi Kawai, Yoshikazu Kinoshita, Hiroto Miwa, Ken-ichi Mukaisho, Kazunari Murakami, Yasuyuki Seto, Hisao Tajiri, Shobna Bhatia, Myung-Gyu Choi, Rebecca C. Fitzgerald, Kwong Ming Fock, Khean-Lee Goh, Khek Yu Ho, Varocha Mahachai, Maria O'Donovan, Robert Odze, Richard Peek, Massimo Rugge, Prateek Sharma, Jose D. Sollano, Michael Vieth, Justin Wu, Ming-Shiang Wu, Duowu Zou, Michio Kaminishi, Peter Malfertheiner
Summary: This study aims to achieve international consensus on the new definitions of Barrett's esophagus, gastro-esophageal junction, and gastro-esophageal junctional zone, which will provide support for future research addressing many issues concerning this important anatomical area and hopefully lead to improved classification and management of diseases related to the gastro-esophageal junction.
Article
Microbiology
Maryanne O'Donnell, Scott B. Teasdale, Xin-Yi Chua, Jamie Hardman, Nan Wu, Jackie Curtis, Katherine Samaras, Patrick Bolton, Margaret J. Morris, Cyndi Shannon Weickert, Tertia Purves-Tyson, Fatima El-Assaad, Xiao-Tao Jiang, Georgina L. Hold, Emad El-Omar
Summary: This study characterized the gut microbiota in patients with first-episode psychosis, antipsychotic naive or quasi-naive patients, and patients with established schizophrenia receiving clozapine therapy using an exploratory proof-of-concept approach. The study found that a 12-week lifestyle intervention led to significant increases in microbiota diversity in patients with established schizophrenia. This suggests that lifestyle interventions may have a positive impact on gut microbial diversity in patients with established illness.
Article
Virology
Fan Zhang, Andrew Gia, Guowei Chen, Lan Gong, Jason Behary, Georgina L. Hold, Amany Zekry, Xubo Tang, Yanni Sun, Emad El-Omar, Xiao-Tao Jiang
Summary: Viruses are abundant and important in ecosystems, and the two methods of whole genome shotgun metagenome and viral-like particle enriched metagenome sequencing are commonly used for comparing viruses in different environments. In this study, both methods were applied to investigate the stool virome in HCC patients and healthy controls, and they both successfully identified altered viral profiles in HCC patients. Ultra-deep sequencing recovered more viruses, and VLPM method can detect RNA viruses. Using both methods would capture different parts of the total virome and identify shared and specific viral signatures.
Article
Microbiology
Dheeraj Pandey, Michal Szczesniak, Julia Maclean, Howard Chi Ho Yim, Fan Zhang, Peter Graham, Emad M. El-Omar, Peter Wu
Summary: Recent research suggests that dysbiosis of the oral microbial community is associated with head and neck cancer. Saliva samples have the highest microbial diversity and stability, making them representative samples for microbiome studies in HNC patients. The oral microbiome of HNC patients differs compositionally from that of healthy controls.
Article
Cell Biology
Toni T. Lemmetyinen, Emma W. Viitala, Linnea Wartiovaara, Tuomas Kaprio, Jaana Hagstrom, Caj Haglund, Pekka Katajisto, Timothy C. Wang, Eva Domenech-Moreno, Saara Ollila
Summary: Growth factors secreted by stromal fibroblasts, such as NRG1 and EREG, play a crucial role in regulating the intestinal epithelium. NRG1 promotes epithelial regeneration and protects against radiation-induced damage, while also suppressing the stem cell pool and remodeling the actin cytoskeleton. Interestingly, NRG1 does not support the growth of pre-tumorigenic intestinal organoids lacking the tumor suppressor Apc, suggesting a tumor-suppressive function.
DISEASE MODELS & MECHANISMS
(2023)
Article
Gastroenterology & Hepatology
Michael Camilleri, Emad M. El-Omar
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Peter Malfertheiner, M. Constanza Camargo, Emad El-Omar, Jyh-Ming Liou, Richard Peek, Christian Schulz, Stella I. Smith, Sebastian Suerbaum
Summary: Helicobacter pylori infection causes chronic gastritis and can lead to severe gastroduodenal pathologies, including peptic ulcer and gastric cancer. This Primer summarizes the epidemiology, pathophysiology, diagnosis and management of this infection, and discusses patient quality of life and open research questions.
NATURE REVIEWS DISEASE PRIMERS
(2023)
Article
Oncology
Jung Eun Baik, Li Li, Manish A. Shah, Daniel E. Freedberg, Zhezhen Jin, Timothy C. Wang, Yiping W. Han
Summary: Fusobacterium nucleatum (Fn) is a common gram-negative anaerobic bacterium that promotes colorectal cancer development through the secretion of FadAc. This study found that circulating levels of anti-FadAc IgA were significantly increased in patients with colorectal cancer, particularly in those with proximal tumors. Therefore, anti-FadAc IgA may serve as a serological biomarker for early detection of colorectal cancer.
CANCER RESEARCH COMMUNICATIONS
(2022)
