ObjectiveTo summarize the research results of metabolites of breast cancer based on metabonomics technology, and systematically reviews them in order to provide a new direction for the research of metabolism of breast cancer.MethodBy searching the relevant literatures in recent years, the application of metabonomics in identifying high-risk breast cancer population, monitoring the progress of tumor and evaluating the response of radiotherapy and chemotherapy were analyzed and summarized.ResultsWith the development of high-resolution, high-sensitivity and high-throughput bioanalysis platform technology, metabolomics had been widely used in breast cancer research field by virtue of its unique perspective and technical advantages to more accurately, systematically and dynamically monitor the changes of host metabolites.ConclusionMetabolomics technology provides a new research direction for primary prevention, early screening and diagnosis of breast cancer and optimal treatment strategy selection.
ObjectiveTo introduce the research status of the immunoregulation function of cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) in tumor microenvironment.MethodThe literatures in recent years on the studies of role of CAFs in the regulation of immune response in the tumor microenvironment were collected and summarized.ResultsThe CAFs played a critical role as the components of the tumor microenvironment. The CAFs could product various growth factors and cytokines that were contributed to the immunoregulation including the polarization of the immune cells and the regulation of the function of immune cells in the tumor microenvironment and eventually resulted in the carcinogenesis, tumor progression, invasion, metastasis and therapy resistance.ConclusionCAFs play a significant role in the immunoregulation in tumor microenvironment, but as a potential target for breast cancer, more studies are still needed to discover the specific markers, heterogeneity, and key signaling pathways.
ObjectiveTo summarize the relationship between exosomes and the occurrence and development of gastrointestinal cancer.MethodsThrough online database, we collected the literatures about the relationship between exosomes and the development of gastrointestinal cancer at home and abroad, and then made an review.ResultsExosomes secreted by gastrointestinal cancer cells were related to tumorigenesis, tumor cell survival, chemoresistance, and early metastasis. Exosomes could play the role of information transmission, and regulation of cell physiology and pathological process in the development of gastrointestinal cancer through a variety of intercellular binding ways, and affectted the occurrence and development of gastrointestinal cancer via epigenetic regulation and tumor related signal transduction mechanism. They had been proved to be biomarkers, targets, and drug carriers for the treatment of gastrointestinalcancer.ConclusionIt is a new way to explore the molecular mechanism of exosomes in the development of gastrointestinal cancer.
ObjectiveTo systematically summarize the research progress of multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging (mpMRI) in assessing tumor microenvironment (TME) heterogeneity in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), and to discuss its future development directions, limitations, and challenges. MethodsA comprehensive review was conducted to review domestic and international research progress on the use of mpMRI techniques in evaluating TME heterogeneity in HCC. ResultsmpMRI techniques can reflect TME heterogeneity features associated with postoperative recurrence in HCC from multiple perspectives, including cellular structure, function, substance metabolism, and neovascularization. These features encompass structural heterogeneity, cellular composition heterogeneity, and metabolic heterogeneity within the TME. mpMRI emerges as a potential tool for TME heterogeneity assessment, offering advantages such as non-invasiveness, absence of radiation exposure, and excellent reproducibility. However, the application of mpMRI in evaluating TME heterogeneity in HCC is still in its preliminary stages. Most studies have not conducted in-depth and systematic explorations of the specific pathological and biological mechanisms closely related to TME heterogeneity when utilizing mpMRI. This limitation significantly restricts the further clinical translation of relevant findings and necessitates further research for confirmation. ConclusionsmpMRI hold immense potential and promising application prospects in assessing TME heterogeneity in HCC, offering greater benefits for prognosis evaluation and individualized management of HCC patients. However, further exploration of the related pathological and biological mechanisms is essential to facilitate its clinical translation.
ObjectiveTo summarize the research progress of tumor-associated macrophages (TAM) in immunotherapy and drug resistance of gastric cancer, and provide new ideas for the treatment of gastric cancer. MethodThe literatures about tumor-associated macrophages in immunotherapy and drug resistance of gastric cancer at home and abroad in recent years were searched and reviewed. ResultsThe incidence and mortality of gastric cancer in China were significantly higher than those in other countries. Surgical treatment remained the primary approach for gastric cancer, and targeted therapy combined with immunotherapy had become the standard first-line treatment for advanced gastric cancer. TAM were a large population of immune cells present in the tumor immune microenvironment and had emerged as novel therapeutic targets and prognostic indicators in individualized treatment strategies. As the relationship between TAM and malignant tumors was further elucidated, TAM was expected to become a key target for the development of novel cancer therapeutics. However, some patients developed resistance during treatment. Recent preclinical and clinical studies had demonstrated that targeting TAM had yielded promising results in gastric cancer treatment. ConclusionsThe mechanism of TAM and the key factors driving the phenotypic changes of TAM in the microenvironment of gastric cancer remain to be further study. How to inhibit the tumor promoting effect of TAM will provide new clues for the future treatment of gastric cancer.
Objective To summarize the changes in the tumor microenvironment (TME) of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) in the context of immunotherapy and their impact on treatment outcomes. MethodsA systematic review of recent studies on the TME of PDAC was carried out to analyze the immune properties, intercellular interactions, and biological functions of its cellular and non-cellular components, disclose the molecular mechanisms of immunotherapy affects on the TME, explore the advancements in targeted therapy and potential biomarkers, and analyze the challenges in clinical applications and their impacts on the quality of life of patients. ResultsThe TME of PDAC exhibits highly immunosuppressive and heterogeneous characteristics, rich in diverse cells (such as pancreatic cancer cells, stellate cells, cancer-associated fibroblasts, immune cells) and non-cellular components (such as extracellular matrix). Immunotherapy is capable of regulating the immune balance in the TME and enhancing the anti-tumor response. Despite the progress made in multiple immunotherapy strategies (such as immune checkpoint inhibitors, chimeric antigen receptor cell therapy), challenges such as difficulty in selecting targets, drug resistance, and side effects still persist. Meanwhile, potential biomarkers such as leukemia inhibitory factor offer new directions for individualized treatment. ConclusionsThe TME of PDAC undergoes continuous changes during immunotherapy. In the future, it is requisite to integrate new technologies to deeply explore targets and biomarkers, optimize multimodal precise treatment strategies, enhance the safety and efficacy of immunotherapy, and improve the prognosis of patients.
Objective To investigate relationship between hypoxia microenvironment and occurrence and development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Method The relevant literatures on researches of the relationship between the hypoxic microenvironment and the HCC were review and analyzed. Results The hypoxia microenvironment played an important role in inducing the drug resistance and angiogenesis of the HCC cells, and it was an important factor of affecting the ability of tumor metabolism, invasion, and migration. The hypoxia microenvironment could up-regulate the expression of hypoxia-inducible factors (HIFs) and promote its transcriptional activity, promote the expression of the vascular endothelial growth factor gene, and regulate the neovascularization in the tumor. Among them, the HIF-1α played a major role in regulating the angiogenesis, immune escape, tumor invasion and metastasis-related gene expression, participating in the glycolysis, regulating lysyl oxidase 2 and thus regulated epithelial-mesenchymal transition, then promoted the invasion and metastasis of the HCC; HIF-2α was a key regulator of the malignant phenotype involving in the cell proliferation, angiogenesis, apoptosis, metabolism, metastasis, and resistance to chemotherapy. The hypoxia microenvironment posed some difficulties for the treatment of HCC, but it was also a potential therapeutic breakthrough. Conclusion Hypoxia microenvironment can promote invasion and metastasis of HCC through various mechanisms, which provides new targets and strategies for clinical treatment of HCC.
This study aims to investigate the effect of substances secreted or metabolized by vascular endothelial cells on epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) of hepatocellular carcinoma cells under indirect co-culture condition. Human hepatocellular carcinoma cell line QGY-7703 was cultured in vitro, and then was co-cultured with conditioned medium of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC). The morphological changes of QGY-7703 cells were observed by inverted phase contrast microscopy. The migration ability of QGY-7703 cells was analyzed by scratch-wound assays. The effect of conditioned medium on the expression and distribution of EMT related proteins was detected by Western blot and immunofluorescence assays, respectively. The results showed that the QGY-7703 cells gradually changed from polygonal to spindle shape, the migration ability promoted significantly, and both the expression and distribution of EMT related marker changed in a time-dependent manner after co-culturing. The results confirm that vascular endothelial cells can induce EMT in hepatocellular carcinoma cells under indirect co-culture condition.
ObjectiveThis study aims to systematically review the dynamic evolution mechanisms of the tumor microenvironment (TME) in colorectal cancer liver metastasis (CRLM), to provide a theoretical basis for developing early diagnostic biomarkers and novel therapeutic targets for CRLM. MethodsBy integrating the present research, this review focuses on the key multi-step processes involved in CRLM-TME formation. And elaborates the complex interactions among tumor cells, stromal cells, immune components, and key signaling pathways during this process. ResultsThe formation of the CRLM-TME involves several key steps: remote regulation by the primary tumor, specific recruitment of immune cells, adaptive remodeling of the liver microenvironment, and final colonization of the metastatic sites. This process is collectively driven by various factors such as tumor-derived metabolites, specific immune cell subsets, stromal components, and neovascularization, ultimately acts on the entire cascade of cancer cell invasion, migration, and colonization to the liver. ConclusionsThe CRLM-TME plays a critical role in the development, progression, treatment and drug resistance of CRLM. In-depth exploration of its mechanisms can provide direction for the development of early diagnostic biomarkers and therapies targeting the CRLM-TME, thereby aiming to improve the prognosis of CRLM patients.
ObjectiveTo understand the single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) and its research progress in the tumor microenvironment (TME) of breast cancer, in order to provide new ideas and directions for the research and treatment of breast cancer. MethodThe development of scRNA-seq technology and its related research literature in breast cancer TME at home and abroad in recent years was reviewed. ResultsThe scRNA-seq was a quantum technology in high-throughput sequencing of mRNA at the cellular level, and had become a powerful tool for studying cellular heterogeneity when tissue samples were fewer. While capturing rare cell types, it was expected to accurately describe the complex structure of the TME of breast cancer. ConclusionsAfter decades of development, scRNA-seq has been widely used in tumor research. Breast cancer is a malignant tumor with high heterogeneity. The application of scRNA-seq in breast cancer research can better understand its tumor heterogeneity and TME, and then promote development of personalized diagnosis and treatment.