Review
Oncology
Xinyu Lin, Sheng Long, Congcong Yan, Xiaofeng Zou, Guoxi Zhang, Junrong Zou, Gengqing Wu
Summary: Angiogenesis is a crucial process in cancer growth and metastasis, but its inhibition can lead to acquired resistance. Vasculogenic mimicry is an alternative mechanism of tumor angiogenesis and is associated with poor prognosis. Inhibiting vasculogenic mimicry may be an effective therapeutic strategy to overcome the limitations of anti-angiogenic treatment when used in combination with other anti-tumor therapies.
FRONTIERS IN ONCOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Plant Sciences
Ting Xiao, Jiali Bao, Jiao Tian, Rong Lin, Zihui Zhang, Yuxin Zhu, Yiming He, Dandi Gao, Ronghao Sun, Fubo Zhang, Yexin Cheng, Jiadelati Shaletanati, Honggang Zhou, Chunfeng Xie, Cheng Yang
Summary: In this study, the extract of Chloranthus henryi was used to investigate its effects on hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and its target and molecular mechanism. The results showed that this extract can inhibit proliferation, migration, invasion, and vasculogenic mimicry formation in HCC through reversing the EMT process via the PI3K/Akt/NF-Kappa B signaling pathway by directly targeting CXCL12. Therefore, FKA may be a potential candidate drug and strategy for HCC therapy.
Review
Cell Biology
Gabriela Morales-Guadarrama, Rocio Garcia-Becerra, Edgar Armando Mendez-Perez, Janice Garcia-Quiroz, Euclides Avila, Lorenza Diaz
Summary: In solid tumors, vasculogenic mimicry (VM) involves the formation of vascular structures by cancer cells, contributing to tumor neovascularization, promoting metastasis, and driving resistance to antiangiogenic therapy. Various factors, including hypoxia and specific genes, play a role in this process.
Article
Immunology
Jie Wang, Wei Xia, Yujie Huang, Haoran Li, Yuchen Tang, Ye Li, Bin Yi, Zixiang Zhang, Jian Yang, Zhifei Cao, Jian Zhou
Summary: In this study, a novel risk score model and nomogram were constructed for gastric cancer (GC), showing satisfactory predictive performance. The study also confirmed the association between vascular mimicry (VM) and immune infiltration, and identified SERPINF1 and TFPI2 as immunologic and prognostic biomarkers related to VM in GC.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Oncology
Thomas J. Ettrich, Lukas Perkhofer, Thomas Decker, Ralf-Dieter Hofheinz, Volker Heinemann, Thomas Hoffmann, Holger F. Hebart, Thomas Herrmann, Carla V. Hannig, Petra Buechner-Steudel, Melanie Guthle, Patrick C. Hermann, Andreas W. Berger, Thomas Seufferlein
Summary: Nintedanib can be used for the treatment of mCRC, but the TRICC-C trial did not meet its primary endpoint. Although some parameters showed improvement in the F + N arm, the difference was not significant.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF CANCER
(2021)
Article
Immunology
Haitao Hu, Ting Ma, Nanqi Liu, Hong Hong, Lujiao Yu, Dantong Lyu, Xin Meng, Biao Wang, Xuefeng Jiang
Summary: Vasculogenic mimicry (VM) is a vessel-like structure independent of endothelial cells, commonly found in solid tumors. It is closely associated with tumor proliferation, invasion, metastasis, and poor patient prognosis. Various factors, including immune cells, cytokines, and signaling molecules, have been reported to be involved in ovarian cancer progression and VM formation. This review discusses the mechanisms regulating VM formation in ovarian cancer, the impact of cells, cytokines, and signaling molecules in the tumor microenvironment on VM formation, and the current clinical application of drugs targeting VM formation.
INTERNATIONAL IMMUNOPHARMACOLOGY
(2022)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Xiaoxu Wei, Yunhua Chen, Xianjie Jiang, Miao Peng, Yiduo Liu, Yongzhen Mo, Daixi Ren, Yuze Hua, Boyao Yu, Yujuan Zhou, Qianjin Liao, Hui Wang, Bo Xiang, Ming Zhou, Xiaoling Li, Guiyuan Li, Yong Li, Wei Xiong, Zhaoyang Zeng
Summary: Overall, the use of VM inhibitors in combination with conventional anti-angiogenesis treatments is a promising strategy for improving the effectiveness of targeted angiogenesis treatments; further, considering the importance of hypoxia in tumor invasion and metastasis, drugs targeting the hypoxia signaling pathway seem to achieve good results.
Article
Plant Sciences
Xue Zhang, Ji-Gang Zhang, Wan Mu, He-Ming Zhou, Gao-Lin Liu, Qin Li
Summary: This study identified daurisoline (DS) as a potential anticancer agent for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) by inhibiting cell proliferation, inducing apoptosis, and repressing vasculogenic mimicry (VM) formation. DS was found to sensitize HCC cells to sorafenib and inhibit VM through inactivation of RhoA/ROCK2-mediated AKT and ERK-p38 MAPK signaling pathways.
Article
Oncology
Jing Xie, Xue Kong, Wei Wang, Yuan Li, Mengyu Lin, Heng Li, Jingjing Chen, Wenchao Zhou, Jie He, Haibo Wu
Summary: Vasculogenic mimicry (VM) was identified in oligodendroglioma, with VM positivity associated with higher malignancy and worse prognosis. Additionally, phosphorylation of ATM and ATR were linked to tumor progression and VM formation in oligodendroglioma. This suggests potential therapeutic targets for treatment.
PATHOLOGY & ONCOLOGY RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Oncology
Lih Y. Tan, Michaelia P. Cockshell, Eli Moore, Kay K. Myo Min, Michael Ortiz, M. Zahied Johan, Brenton Ebert, Andrew Ruszkiewicz, Michael P. Brown, Lisa M. Ebert, Claudine S. Bonder
Summary: This study reveals that melanoma cells with vasculogenic mimicry (VM) ability can actively recruit leukocytes to promote cancer cell survival. Analysis of patient samples confirms the presence of this mechanism in actual organisms.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Ilaria Giusti, Giuseppina Poppa, Sandra D'Ascenzo, Letizia Esposito, Anna Rita Vitale, Giuseppe Calvisi, Vincenza Dolo
Summary: Extracellular vesicles play a crucial role in cell-to-cell communication during cancer progression. Recent studies suggest that 3D culture models present a more accurate representation. Ovarian cancer cells were cultured using the hanging drop method to form tumor spheroids, allowing for the observation and isolation of extracellular vesicles.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Oncology
Maria Sol Recouvreux, Jiangyong Miao, Maricel C. Gozo, Jingni Wu, Ann E. Walts, Beth Y. Karlan, Sandra Orsulic
Summary: Tumors require a continuous supply of oxygen and nutrients for growth, and vasculogenic mimicry is a coping mechanism where cancer cells form vascular-like structures. FOXC2 gene expression is associated with vasculogenic mimicry and aggressive cancer behavior.
Article
Oncology
Huan Wang, Liya Wang, Qiming Zheng, Zeyi Lu, Yuanlei Chen, Danyang Shen, Dingwei Xue, Minxiao Jiang, Lifeng Ding, Jie Zhang, Haiyang Wu, Liqun Xia, Jun Qian, Gonghui Li, Jieyang Lu
Summary: Metabolism reprograming is a hallmark of cancer, and the aberrant metabolism in renal cell carcinoma leads to the accumulation of L-2-hydroxyglurate, which promotes vasculogenic mimicry in renal cancer cells by reducing the expression of PHLDB2 through the activation of the ERK1/2 pathway. These findings suggest a potential therapeutic target for RCC.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF CANCER
(2021)
Article
Cell Biology
Shuo Cao, Di Wang, Ping Wang, Yunhui Liu, Weiwei Dong, Xuelei Ruan, Libo Liu, Yixue Xue, E. Tiange, Hongda Lin, Xiaobai Liu
Summary: In this study, it was found that UBA2 and RALY were upregulated in gliomas, and their downregulation inhibited invasion and vasculogenic mimicry (VM) of glioma cells. It was also discovered that RALY could be SUMOylated, which increased its stability and promoted glioma cell migration and invasion by enhancing FOXD1 mRNA expression.
CELL BIOLOGY AND TOXICOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Oncology
Shiva Sabazade, Viktor Gill, Christina Herrspiegel, Gustav Stalhammar
Summary: Tumors from uveal melanoma patients that report a visual field shadow are likely to display vasculogenic mimicry (VM) and greater periodic acid-Schiff positive histological patterns density, explaining the association with poor prognosis.
JOURNAL OF CANCER RESEARCH AND CLINICAL ONCOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Oncology
Vito Amodio, Simona Lamba, Rosaria Chila, Chiara M. Cattaneo, Benedetta Mussolin, Giorgio Corti, Giuseppe Rospo, Enrico Berrino, Claudio Tripodo, Federica Pisati, Alice Bartolini, Maria Costanza Aquilano, Silvia Marsoni, Gianluca Mauri, Caterina Marchio, Sergio Abrignani, Federica Di Nicolantonio, Giovanni Germano, Alberto Bardelli
Summary: Patients with DNA mismatch repair deficiency (MMRd) in colorectal cancer (CRC) often respond to immune checkpoint blockade therapies, while those with mismatch repair-proficient (MMRp) tumors generally do not. MMRp CRCs with variable fractions of MMRd cells may impact immune surveillance. Modulation of the MMRd fraction in MMR heterogeneous tumors can enhance their immunogenicity.
Article
Oncology
Giancarla Bernardo, Valentino Le Noci, Emerenziana Ottaviano, Loris De Cecco, Chiara Camisaschi, Simone Guglielmetti, Martina Di Modica, Giorgio Gargari, Francesca Bianchi, Serena Indino, Patrizia Sartori, Elisa Borghi, Michele Sommariva, Elda Tagliabue, Tiziana Triulzi, Lucia Sfondrini
Summary: This study highlights the significant influence of mammary tumor microbiota on local immune status and the relevance of its treatment with antibiotics, in combination with breast cancer therapies.
Article
Immunology
Laura Quotti Tubi, Elisa Mandato, Sara Canovas Nunes, Arash Arjomand, Fortunato Zaffino, Sabrina Manni, Alessandro Casellato, Paolo Macaccaro, Nicola Vitulo, Sara Zumerle, Odile Filhol, Brigitte Boldyreff, Christian W. Siebel, Antonella Viola, Giorgio Valle, Federica Mainoldi, Stefano Casola, Valeria Cancila, Alessandro Gulino, Claudio Tripodo, Marco Pizzi, Angelo Paolo Dei Tos, Livio Trentin, Gianpietro Semenzato, Francesco Piazza
Summary: The role of CK2 in B-cell development and activation is not well understood. Using a CK2 beta(KO) mouse model, we found that CK2 beta(KO) mice exhibit increased marginal zone (MZ) B cells and reduced follicular B cells, suggesting a role for CK2 in the regulation of BCR and NOTCH2 signaling pathways. Further analysis revealed enhanced activation of the NOTCH2 pathway in CK2 beta(KO) mice, supporting MZ B-cell development. Additionally, CK2 beta(KO) mice showed alterations in immune response and B-cell activation processes. In vitro assays demonstrated impaired signaling downstream of BCR, Toll-like receptor, CD40, and IL-4R in B cells lacking CK2 beta.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Oncology
Arsela Prelaj, Monica Ganzinelli, Francesco Trovo, LailaC. Roisman, Alessandra Laura Giulia Pedrocchi, Sokol Kosta, Marcello Restelli, Emilia Ambrosini, Massimo Broggini, Gabriella Pravettoni, Dario Monzani, Alessandro Nuara, Ramon Amat, Nikos Spathas, Michael Willis, Alexander Pearson, James Dolezal, Laura Mazzeo, Sabina Sangaletti, Ana Maria Correa, Alfonso Aguaron, Iris Watermann, Crina Popa, Giulia Raimondi, Tiziana Triulzi, Stefan Steurer, Giuseppe Lo Russo, Helena Linardou, Nir Peled, Enriqueta Felip, Martin Reck, Marina Chiara Garassino
Summary: Despite the success of immunotherapy in treating aNSCLC, only a fraction of patients truly benefit from it. PD-L1, the only biomarker used for predicting IO outcomes, is not sufficient due to the complex nature of the immune system and tumor microenvironment. Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning are now utilized to develop decision-making tools to match treatments with individual patients, improve outcomes, and reduce the economic burden. I3LUNG, a funded study, aims to promote individualized treatment in aNSCLC through AI-based tools and create an integrated platform for IO administration.
CLINICAL LUNG CANCER
(2023)
Article
Gastroenterology & Hepatology
Rosaria M. Pipitone, Francesco Malvestiti, Grazia Pennisi, Oveis Jamialahmadi, Paola Dongiovanni, Giorgio Bertolazzi, Jussi Pihlajamaeki, Hannele Yki-Jaervinen, Umberto Vespasiani-Gentilucci, Federica Tavaglione, Samantha Maurotti, Cristiana Bianco, Gabriele Di Maria, Marco Enea, Anna L. Fracanzani, Vesa Kaerjae, Giulia Lupo, Ville Maennistoe, Marica Meroni, Roberto Piciotti, Sami Qadri, Rossella Zito, Antonio Craxi, Vito Di Marco, Calogero Camma, Claudio Tripodo, Luca Valenti, Stefano Romeo, Salvatore Petta, Stefania Grimaudo
Summary: The study found that the variation in the PDCD1 gene is associated with liver inflammation and progression to hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). The rs13023138 G>C variation was found to be associated with severe steatosis, NASH, and advanced fibrosis in individuals who underwent liver biopsy.
LIVER INTERNATIONAL
(2023)
Article
Cell Biology
Ubaldo Gioia, Sara Tavella, Pamela Martinez-Orellana, Giada Cicio, Andrea Colliva, Marta Ceccon, Matteo Cabrini, Ana C. Henriques, Valeria Fumagalli, Alessia Paldino, Ettore Presot, Sreejith Rajasekharan, Nicola Iacomino, Federica Pisati, Valentina Matti, Sara Sepe, Matilde I. Conte, Sara Barozzi, Zeno Lavagnino, Tea Carletti, Maria Concetta Volpe, Paola Cavalcante, Matteo Iannacone, Chiara Rampazzo, Rossana Bussani, Claudio Tripodo, Serena Zacchigna, Alessandro Marcello, Fabrizio d'Adda di Fagagna
Summary: SARS-CoV-2 causes DNA damage and alters the DNA damage response, leading to inflammation and cellular senescence.
NATURE CELL BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Cell Biology
Concetta Panebianco, Federica Pisati, Annacandida Villani, Annapaola Andolfo, Marynka Ulaszewska, Edoardo Bellini, Carmelapia Ferro, Renato Lombardi, Fabrizio Orsenigo, Tiziana Pia Latiano, Beatrice Belmonte, Claudio Tripodo, Francesco Perri, Valerio Pazienza
Summary: Pancreatic cancer has a low survival rate due to late diagnosis and resistance to therapies. The authors studied the effects of a specific probiotic blend on mice with pancreatic cancer and found that it reduced chemotherapy side effects and decreased cancer-associated stromatogenesis. The results suggest that manipulating the microbiota could be a desirable strategy to improve the quality of life and increase the chance of cure for pancreatic cancer patients.
CELL DEATH DISCOVERY
(2023)
Article
Oncology
Caterina Cascini, Chiara Ratti, Laura Botti, Beatrice Parma, Valeria Cancila, Adriana Salvaggio, Cristina Meazza, Claudio Tripodo, Mario P. Colombo, Claudia Chiodoni
Summary: Osteosarcoma (OS) is the most common primary bone tumor in children and adolescent. In this study, it was found that intralesional administration of a TLR9 agonist can effectively inhibit tumor growth and also have therapeutic effects on untreated contralateral lesions. The findings suggest that TLR9 agonist can act as an in situ anti-tumor vaccine, activating innate and adaptive immune responses to suppress tumor growth.
JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL & CLINICAL CANCER RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Immunology
Claudio Tripodo, Giorgio Bertolazzi, Valeria Cancila, Gaia Morello, Emilio Iannitto
Summary: This article establishes a pseudotemporal ordering for the transcriptional signatures of distinct microregions within reactive lymphoid tissues and applies it to order the transcriptomes of Diffuse Large B-cell Lymphoma cases. The study finds a correlation between a specific peri-follicular biology and DLBCL cases in the Unclassified/type-3 COO category, suggesting a potential extra-GC microenvironment imprint on these cases.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Oncology
Rodolfo Mauceri, Martina Coppini, Davide Vacca, Giorgio Bertolazzi, Valeria Cancila, Claudio Tripodo, Giuseppina Campisi
Summary: This study investigated the salivary microbiota composition in patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) using Oxford Nanopore Technology. Prevotella, Chlamydia, Tissierellia, and other microorganisms were detected as the most abundant in OSCC patients. If the connection between salivary microbiota composition and OSCC onset is confirmed, it could have significant implications for prevention strategies and follow-up visits.
Review
Cell Biology
Giancarla Bernardo, Valentino Le Noci, Martina Di Modica, Elena Montanari, Tiziana Triulzi, Serenella M. Pupa, Elda Tagliabue, Michele Sommariva, Lucia Sfondrini
Summary: Emerging evidence suggests that the composition of the gut microbiota is closely associated with breast cancer progression. In addition to their role in modulating the immune response and estrogen levels, recent research has revealed the presence of microbes in the breast tissue, which was once considered sterile, and their potential contribution to tumor progression. Specific bacterial species enriched in breast tumors have been identified, and their mechanisms of influencing cancer progression have been elucidated. Understanding the crosstalk between the gut/mammary microbiota and breast cancer holds promise for developing innovative therapeutic approaches.
Meeting Abstract
Oncology
Michal M. Hoppe, Patrick Jaynes, Shuangyi Fan, Yanfen Peng, Shruti Sridhar, Phuong Mai Hoang, Xin Liu, Sanjay de Mel, Limei Poon, Esther Chan, Joanne Lee, Choon Kiat Ong, Tiffany Tang, Soon Thye Lim, Chandramouli Nagarajan, Nicholas F. Grigoropoulos, Soo-Yong Tan, Susan Swee-Shan Hue, Sheng-Tsung Chang, Shih-Sung Chuang, Shaoying Li, Joseph D. Khoury, Hyungwon Choi, Pedro Farinha, Anja Mottok, David W. Scott, Carl Harris, Alessia Bottos, Gayatri Kumar, Kasthuri Kannan, Laura J. Gay, Hendrik F. Runge, Ilias Moutsopoulos, Irina Mohorianu, Daniel J. Hodson, Yen-Chee Lin, Wee-Joo Chng, Siok-Bian Ng, Claudio Tripodo, Anand D. Jeyasekharan
Meeting Abstract
Oncology
Caterina Cascini, Daniele Lecis, Laura Botti, Chiara Ratti, Valeria Cancila, Katia Scotlandi, Claudio Tripodo, Mario Paolo Colombo, Claudia Chiodoni
Article
Cell Biology
Annamaria Aprile, Laura Raggi, Simona Bolamperti, Isabella Villa, Mariangela Storto, Gaia Morello, Sarah Marktel, Claudio Tripodo, Maria Domenica Cappellini, Irene Motta, Alessandro Rubinacci, Giuliana Ferrari
Summary: Clinical evidence suggests a relationship between blood and bone, but the underlying mechanism is not fully understood. A study using beta-thalassemia as a model found that increased fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF23) levels in patients and mice with beta-thalassemia were induced by erythropoietin via ERK1/2 and STAT5 pathways. Inhibiting FGF23 signaling with carboxyl-terminal FGF23 peptide rescued bone defects and restored hematopoietic stem cell function in mice with beta-thalassemia. FGF23 may serve as a molecular link connecting anemia, bone, and the hematopoietic stem cell niche.
SCIENCE TRANSLATIONAL MEDICINE
(2023)
Meeting Abstract
Gastroenterology & Hepatology
Grazia Pennisi, Rosaria Maria Pipitone, Francesco Malvestiti, Oveis Jamialahmadi, Paola Dongiovanni, Giorgio Bertolazzi, Jussi Pihlajamaki, Hannele Yki-Jarvinen, Umberto Vespasiani Gentilucci, Federica Tavaglione, Samantha Maurotti, Cristiana Bianco, Gabriele Di Maria, Marco Enea, Anna Ludovica Fracanzani, Vesa Karja, Giulia Lupo, Ville Mannisto, Marica Meroni, Roberto Piciotti, Sami Qadri, Rossella Zito, Antonio Craxi, Vito Di Marco, Calogero Camma, Claudio Tripodo, Luca Valenti, Stefano Romeo, Salvatore Petta, Stefania Grimaudo
JOURNAL OF HEPATOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Oncology
Andra S. Martinikova, Miroslav Stoyanov, Anna Oravetzova, Yannick P. Kok, Shibo Yu, Jana Dobrovolna, Pavel Janscak, Marcel van Vugt, Libor Macurek
Summary: Oncogene-induced replication stress is a major cause of genome instability in cancer cells. This study reveals that increased activity of PPM1D exacerbates replication stress caused by cyclin E1 overexpression, leading to abnormal cell cycle progression and accumulation of DNA copy number alterations. Pharmacological inhibition of PPM1D can alleviate replication stress-induced genome instability.
MOLECULAR ONCOLOGY
(2024)
Article
Oncology
Alamelu G. Bharadwaj, Meghan E. McLean, Margaret L. Dahn, Hannah F. Cahill, Marie-Claire D. Wasson, Raj Pranap Arun, Olivia L. Walker, Brianne M. Cruickshank, Wasundara Fernando, Jaganathan Venkatesh, Penelope J. Barnes, Gillian Bethune, Gregory Knapp, Lucy K. Helyer, Carman A. Giacomantonio, David M. Waisman, Paola Marcato
Summary: ALDH1A3 regulates the plasminogen activation pathway to promote breast cancer metastasis. Co-expression of ALDH1A3 and tPA is associated with TNBC subtype, high tumor grade, and recurrent metastatic disease.
MOLECULAR ONCOLOGY
(2024)
Article
Oncology
Nayela N. Chowdhury, Yi Yang, Ananya Dutta, Michelle Luo, Zimu Wei, Sara R. Abrahams, Alexey S. Revenko, Fenil Shah, Lindsey A. Miles, Robert J. Parmer, Bas de Laat, Alisa S. Wolberg, James P. Luyendyk, Melissa L. Fishel, Matthew J. Flick
Summary: Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a highly fatal metastatic disease associated with robust activation of the coagulation and fibrinolytic systems. Primary fibrinolytic protease plasminogen promotes PDAC tumor growth and metastatic potential through engaging plasminogen receptors on tumor cells.
MOLECULAR ONCOLOGY
(2024)
Article
Oncology
Nuria Gendrau-Sanclemente, Agnes Figueras, Kristina Gracova, Alvaro Lahiguera, Elisenda Alsina-Sanchis, Juan A. Marin-Jimenez, August Vidal, Xavier Matias-Guiu, Sergi Fernandez-Gonzalez, Marc Barahona, Lola Marti, Jordi Ponce, Francesc Vinals
Summary: High-grade serous ovarian cancer (HGSOC), the deadliest gynecological malignancy, spreads through transcoelomic dissemination. This study reveals that platelet-derived growth factor receptor beta (PDGFRβ) is essential for the formation of tumorspheres in HGSOC. Inhibition of PDGFRβ blocks the clustering of ovarian cancer cells and prevents peritoneal dissemination.
MOLECULAR ONCOLOGY
(2024)