Multiomic analysis reveals conservation of cancer-associated fibroblast phenotypes across species and tissue of origin

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Cancer Stem Cells and Circulatory Tumor Cells Promote Breast Cancer Metastasis

Breast cancer (BC) is a highly metastatic, pathological cancer that significantly affects women worldwide. The mortality rate of BC is related to its heterogeneity, aggressive phenotype, and metastasis. Recent studies have highlighted that the tumor microenvironment (TME) is critical for the interplay between metastasis mediators in BC. BC stem cells, tumor-derived exosomes, circulatory tumor cells (CTCs), and signaling pathways dynamically remodel the TME and promote metastasis. This review examines the cellular and molecular mechanisms governing the epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) that facilitate metastasis. This review also discusses the role of cancer stem cells (CSCs), tumor-derived exosomes, and CTs in promoting BC metastasis. Furthermore, the review emphasizes major signaling pathways that mediate metastasis in BC. Finally, the interplay among CSCs, exosomes, and CTCs in mediating metastasis have been highlighted. Therefore, understanding the molecular cues that mediate the association of CSCs, exosomes, and CTCs in TME helps to optimize systemic therapy to target metastatic BC.     

Efficacy of recombinant Marek’s disease virus vectored vaccines with computationally optimized broadly reactive antigen (COBRA) hemagglutinin insert against genetically diverse H5 high pathogenicity avian influenza viruses

The genetic and antigenic drift associated with the high pathogenicity avian influenza (HPAI) viruses of Goose/Guangdong (Gs/GD) lineage and the emergence of vaccine-resistant field viruses underscores the need for a broadly protective H5 influenza A vaccine. Here, we tested experimental vector herpesvirus of turkey (vHVT)-H5 vaccines containing either wild-type clade 2.3.4.4A-derived H5 inserts or computationally optimized broadly reactive antigen (COBRA) inserts with challenge by homologous and genetically divergent H5 HPAI Gs/GD lineage viruses in chickens. Direct assessment of protection was confirmed for all the tested constructs, which provided clinical protection against the homologous and heterologous H5 HPAI Gs/GD challenge viruses and significantly decreased oropharyngeal shedding titers compared to the sham vaccine. The cross reactivity was assessed by hemagglutinin inhibition (HI) and focus reduction assay against a panel of phylogenetically and antigenically diverse H5 strains. The COBRA-derived H5 inserts elicited antibody responses against antigenically diverse strains, while the wild-type-derived H5 vaccines elicited protection mostly against close antigenically related clades 2.3.4.4A and 2.3.4.4D viruses. In conclusion, the HVT vector, a widely used replicating vaccine platform in poultry, with H5 insert provides clinical protection and significant reduction of viral shedding against homologous and heterologous challenge. In addition, the COBRA-derived inserts have the potential to be used against antigenically distinct co-circulating viruses and future drift variants.     

不同照射方式下核黄素-A波紫外线兔巩膜胶原交联术对兔巩膜成纤维细胞生物力学特性的影响

目的　研究不同照射方式下核黄素-A波紫外线兔巩膜胶原交联术对兔巩膜成纤维细胞生物力学特性的影响。方法　取健康新西兰大白兔24只，随机将兔平均分为A、B两组，每组选取左眼为实验眼，右眼为对照眼。麻醉后暴露左眼鼻上方巩膜。在该处巩膜滴加5-磷酸核黄素5 min后，用波长为370 nm的紫外线灯照射。A组的照射时间为30 min，能量密度为3.0 mW·cm^-2；B组的照射时间为9 min，能量密度为10.0 mW·cm^-2。照射期间，每2 min滴加1次5-磷酸核黄素溶液，以保持巩膜的湿润。术后60 d，处死实验兔，培养实验眼交联部位及对照眼相应部位的巩膜成纤维细胞，用细胞微管吸吮实验检测巩膜成纤维细胞的杨氏模量、表观黏性。结果　A、B两组实验眼巩膜细胞的杨氏模量、表观黏性均较各自对照眼显著增强，差异均有统计学意义（均为P＜0.05）；而A、B两组实验眼间、及对照眼间巩膜细胞的杨氏模量、表观黏性差异无统计学意义（均为P＞0.05）。以上结果表明，交联术后巩膜细胞的黏弹性发生了明显的变化，黏弹性显著升高。而两种照射方式之间巩膜细胞的黏弹性无显著差异。结论　两种不同的照射方式，均能使巩膜成纤维细胞的生物力学性能发生显著增强，而两种照射方式之间并未见明显的差别。     

A DNA vaccine expressing an optimized secreted FAPα induces enhanced anti-tumor activity by altering the tumor microenvironment in a murine model of breast cancer

Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs), major components of the tumor microenvironment (TME), promote tumor growth and metastasis and inhibit the anti-tumor immune response. We previously constructed a DNA vaccine expressing human FAPα, which is highly expressed by CAFs, to target these cells in the TME, and observed limited anti-tumor effects in the 4T1 breast cancer model. When the treatment time was delayed until tumor nodes formed, the anti-tumor effect of the vaccine completely disappeared. In this study, to improve the safety and efficacy, we constructed a new FAPα-targeted vaccine containing only the extracellular domain of human FAPα with a tissue plasminogen activator signal sequence for enhanced antigen secretion and immunogenicity. The number of CAFs was more effectively reduced by CD8⁺ T cells induced by the new vaccine. This resulted in decreases in CCL2 and CXCL12 expression, leading to a significant decrease in the ratio of myeloid-derived suppressor cells in the TME. Moreover, when mice were treated after the establishment of tumors, the vaccine could still delay tumor growth. To facilitate the future application of the vaccine in clinical trials, we further optimized the gene codons and reduced the homology between the vaccine and the original sequence, which may be convenient for evaluating the vaccine distribution in the human body. These results indicated that the new FAPα-targeted vaccine expressing an optimized secreted human FAPα induced enhanced anti-tumor activity by reducing the number of FAPα⁺ CAFs and enhancing the recruitment of effector T cells in the 4T1 tumor model mice.     

Single stage immediate breast reconstruction with acellular dermal matrix and implant: Defining the risks and outcomes of post-mastectomy radiotherapy

IntroductionThe objective of this study is to evaluate outcomes and complications in patients with single-stage ADM-implant based immediate breast reconstruction with and without radiotherapy (RT), highlighting the effects of RT on the reconstruction.Materials and methodsThis prospective study recruited 91 consecutive patients who underwent skin-sparing, nipple-sparing or wise-pattern skin reduction mastectomy with direct-to-implant breast reconstruction with ADMs using sub-pectoral or pre-pectoral approach at the two breast units. Early and late complications like seroma, delayed wound healing, wound breakdown, infection, capsular contracture, implant loss and revision surgery were evaluated in the RT and non-RT groups.ResultsIn the total cohort of 91 patients, 29 received adjuvant RT and 62 did not need RT. In the RT group, 3–7% of them had early complications like seroma, wound infections and delayed healing. 20.7% had post-RT capsular contractures which either required revision surgery with autologous flap (6.9%) or capsulotomy with exchange of implant (6.9%). In the non-RT group, 7–9% cases had seroma & wound infections, 3.06% had delayed wound healing and 7.25% had capsular contracture. 13.04% required revision surgery due to infection, implant loss or failure to achieve expectations. The total loss of implants in the cohort was 7.14% (RT group 6.9% and non-RT group 7.25%). The need for PMRT could have been predicted pre-operatively in the RT group in 55.17% cases based on the extent of disease, multifocality, tumour grade and positive LN status on imaging.ConclusionADM based reconstruction in patients anticipated to receive adjuvant RT is always debatable. Though there is no significant difference in the revision surgeries in our study of the 2 groups, the rate of capsular contracture as expected, was higher in the RT group. Hence, pre-operative discussion on the need for RT highlighting the risks and complications will help patients make a better-informed choice.